Manila Standard - 2019 June 13 - Thursday

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Chinese boat sinks PH vessel, 22 Pinoys rescued

By Francisco Tuyay A CHINESE fishing boat collided with a Filipino fishing vessel in the West Philippine Sea Sunday, sinking it and abandoning its crew of 22, who were rescued by a Vietnamese ship, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

The 22 crewmen of the FB Gimver

were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel that was in the vicinity of Recto Bank, a shallow reef inside the territorial waters of the country, some 50 nautical miles off Palawan.

The Defense department condemned the behavior of the Chinese fishing vessel for endangering the lives of the 22 Filipinos on board the FB Gimver.

“We denounce the actions of the Chinese fishing vessel for immediately leaving the incident scene abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

Initial reports said the Filipino fishing vessel was anchored at the time when it was hit by the Chinese fishing vessel.

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 119 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SIGNS OF STRAIN. Filipino activists burn a mock Chinese flag with a map of the South China Sea during a protest rally Wednesday in front of the Chinese consulate in Manila against the Asian superpower’s growing sway in the Philippines as tensions rise over Beijing’s presence in the disputed South China Sea. AFP

‘Kapa in large-scale estafa’ NBI preparing charges; members join prayer rally

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE government prepared charges against officials of Kapa Community Ministry International for an alleged pyramid scheme that defrauded members of as much as P50 billion, but 3,000 of the groups followers gathered Wednesday at the Quezon Memorial Circle for a prayer rally to ask that the “investment” operations be resumed.

LET THERE BE LIGHT. And the lights from cellphones of members of the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. (KAPA), a Surigao del Sur-based religious corporation found by authorities to be soliciting investments from the public in a manner resembling a Ponzi scheme, during their prayer rally at the Quezon Memorial Circle Wednesday. Revoli Cortez

WellMed owner Ruling party undecided on House bet for Speaker loses court plea, By Macon Ramos-Araneta stays detained

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

THE ruling PDP-Laban has yet to choose among its three nominees who will vie for the position of speaker of the House in the 18th Congress.

PDP-Laban president Aquilino Pimentel III merely said a dinner meeting

hosted by Senator Manny Pacquaio in his Makati residence offered an opportunity for “great camaraderie” but did not offer any details on who the party would support for Speaker—reportedly one of the items on the agenda.

Outside of the party, Lakas-CMD president and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez,

a three-term congressman, is considered a strong contender for the position.

In a statement, Pimentel said he would delegate the task and responsibility of announcing the party’s nominee for the House Speaker to Pacquiao, who acted as the PDP-Laban campaign manager in the recently-concluded Next page national and local elections.

National Bureau of Investigation agents and police raided 14 KCMI offices nationwide and seized various documents Monday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the authorities to shut down investment scams like Kapa, operating mainly in Southern Mindanao.

“We are preparing the appropriate complaint against the founder and other officers of Kapa,” said lawyer Antonio Pagatpat, NBI deputy director for operations service.

Undercover NBI agents joined Kapa to investigate and found out that the Next page

THE co-owner of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center, accused of billing the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. more than P800 million for bogus dialysis treatments for members who were already dead, will remain detained, a Manila court and the Justice department said Wednesday.

Bryan Sy, one of the owners of WellMed, was arrested Monday, but his Next page

MMDA revives ban on driver-only cars

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government is considering reviving the traffic scheme prohibiting car drivers without companions along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during rush hours.

The Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle or HOV scheme will come into force soon after the planned crackdown on provincial buses is fully enforced on the 23.8-kilometer highway, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority.

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Fake news on FB

INDEPENDENCE DAY MOMENTS. The Philippines celebrates its 121st Freedom Day Wednesday with (from left) House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Guest of Honor at the Barasoain Church in Malolos City; mall goers in Cubao, Quezon City checking their thoughts out on a Philippine flag with a giant sun; Mayor Joseph Estrada and Vice President Leni Robredo at the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Luneta Park in Manila; and Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, at the Bonifacio Shrine in Caloocan City, underlining the importance of freedom and independence. Lino Santos, Manny Palmero, SC PIO

Rody’s clarion call: Work for true freedom

By Nat Mariano O T TAWA — E i g h t y - s i x percent of internet users have been duped by fake news—most of it spread on Facebook—according to a global survey published Tuesday.

Respondents said they want both governments and social media companies Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called on the Filipinos to collectively work for a “truly independent Philippines” as the country marked its 121st Independence Day. President Duterte honored the sacrifices of the nation’s forefathers who “bound their fates, their lives, and their fortunes to proclaim the independence of the Filipino people” over a century ago.

“It was the most significant event in our country’s history.

Not only did we put an end to more than three centuries of subservience, but we also resolved to determine the course Next page of our own destiny as a nation, Duterte said.

Angat dipping; supply cuts feared THE water at Angat Dam has breached the 180-meter critical level since last April as El Niño caused below-average rainfall across the country.

At 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12 the water hit 164.48 meters.

This is way below Angat Dam’s normal high water level of 210 meters.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the current level is nearing the lowest level recorded in July 2014 when the water Next page level dipped to 162.74 meters.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

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Poll bets get ultimatum on SOCE T HE Commission on Elections on Wednesday reminded the winning and losing candidates and political parties in the mid-term elections that the last day of filing their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures or SOCE is on June 13.

“This is to advise all candidates and political parties to file their SOCE before the appropriate Comelec office,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in a statement.

Republic Act 7166 requires every candidate and political party to file their SOCEs with the commission.

Also required to file the document are

Protesters, riot police clash in HK HONG KONG—Violent clashes broke out in Hong Kong on Wednesday as police tried to stop protesters storming the city's parliament, while tens of thousands of people blocked key arteries in a show of strength against government plans to allow extraditions to China.

Police used tear gas, pepper spray and batons to disperse crowds of black-clad demonstrators—most of them young people and students—calling for authorities to scrap the Beijing-backed law.

Clashes broke out shortly after 3:00 pm (0700 GMT) —the deadline protesters had given for the government to abandon the controversial bill.

Rows of riot police were quickly outnumbered by protesters—many wearing face masks, helmets or goggles—who gathered in the center of the city ahead of a scheduled debate in the city's legislature.

By late morning, with crowds swelling and major roads blocked by throngs of protesters, officials in the Legislative Council (Legco) said they would delay the second reading of the bill "to a later date."

In tense scenes echoing the Occupy movement in 2014 that shut down swathes

of the city for months, people flooded major roads and junctions, dragging barricades onto highways and tying them together.

Others plucked loose bricks from pavements.

After the deadline expired, protesters broke into the forecourt of the Legco offices in a bid to breach the building, and demonstrators were seen throwing missiles including metal bars at riot police.

Police beat back umbrella-wielding demonstrators first with batons and pepper spray, then with tear gas.

'Million' march Organizers of a gigantic march in the city on Sunday said more than a million people turned out to voice their objections to the proposed law, which would allow Hong Kong to send suspects to other jurisdictions around the world—including China.

But the record numbers failed to sway Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam, who has rejected calls to withdraw the bill.

Matthew Cheung, the city's chief secretary, on Wednesday called on demonstrators to withdraw, in the first official reaction to the latest protests. AFP

Chinese boat...

abandoning the Filipino crew. This is not the expected action from a responsible and friendly people,” he added.

“We call for the conduct of a formal investigation on the matter and for diplomatic steps be taken to prevent a repeat of this incident,” Lorenzana said.

In 2013, a Filipino fishing boat also sank near the Scarborough Shoal after it was rammed by a Chinese cargo vessel.

Last week, a Chinese military ship was spotted near Scarborough Shoal in the western frontier off the disputed WPS. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday also condemned the Chinese’s abandonment of 22 Filipino fishermen.

“I take my cue from Defense Secretary Lorenzana. What is contemptible and condemnable is the abandonment of the crew to the elements,” Locsin said.

“Vietnam’s rescue will be the basis of enhanced Vietnam-PH military cooperation,” he added. With Rey E. Requejo

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Lorenzana expressed gratitude for the quick actions taken by the Vietnamese vessel in responding to the distress calls of the Filipino fishermen who were floating in the rough waters of Recto Bank.

The skipper of the Vietnamese vessel that rescued the Filipinos handed them over to officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command.

Lorenzana said the Navy vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz, which was on routine maritime patrol in the area, was ordered to assist in the recovery of FB Ginver and its crew.

“We thank the captain and crew of Vietnamese vessel, for saving the lives of the 22 Filipino crew,” Lorenzana said.

“However, we condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly action of the suspected Chinese fishing vessel and its crew for

WellMed...

Ruling party...

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lawyers sought his release during inquest proceedings at the Justice department, arguing that his arrest without a warrant was illegal.

But Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen Devanadera denied the plea, citing the decision of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 to deny the respondent’s petition for the writ of habeas corpus.

The court’s ruling, Devanadera said, upheld the validity of Sy’s arrest.

Sy’s camp did not submit any evidence to counter the NBI’s complaint, which was then submitted for resolution.

“In the meantime, respondent will be detained at the NBI detention center while awaiting for the resolution of this case,” Devanadera said.

In its ruling, the Manila court denied the petition for habeas corpus filed by Sy’s wife Therese Francesca, who questioned the validity of the WellMed owner’s arrest while he was undergoing interrogation in NBI. After hearing the petition, Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali found no basis to grant the plea.

Sy and other WellMed officers were charged before the DOJ with estafa and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code.

Aside from Sy, the NBI complaint 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 Porshia Natividad and Joemie Soriano.

The charge sheet also listed whistleblowers Edwin Roberto and Liezel Aileen Santos, who exposed the clinic’s alleged “ghost dialysis scandal” and whose affidavits became basis of the charges.

Harry Roque, lawyer of the two former employees of WellMed, revealed that his clients would seek coverage under the DOJ’s witness protection program.

In an interview after the hearing, Roque said PhilHealth executives who were asked

by President Duterte to resign should have been charged before the DOJ also.

“He will do so after following an agreed upon process. Hence from now on please interview Senator Pacquiao when it comes to the PDP- Laban nominee for House Speaker,” Pimentel said.

Ron Munsayac, the party’s spokesperson, said they have narrowed the list to three— former speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales and Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco.

Alvarez was ousted as speaker and was replaced by Pampanga congresswoman and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the day President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address last year.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was believed to be behind Alvarez’s removal after he criticized her regional party, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

The HNP led by the Davao mayor who was also its campaign manager had campaigned for the administration’s-backed senatorial candidates in the midterm elections.

Gonzales was formerly a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD but switched to PDPLaban during the 2016 elections.

MMDA...

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The HOV lanes will ban driver-only vehicles from traversing EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Late last year, the MMDA suspended the traffic scheme after some senators urged the agency and its governing board, the Metro Manila Council, to conduct public consultations, to further study the ban and to provide real solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic congestion.

The traffic scheme also drew flak from motorists when dry runs were staged in August 2018.

MMDA EDSA Traffic Manager Edison Nebrija Jr. said they will revive the HOV policy once the agency has fully imple-

those whose campaigns were self-funded, those who did not incur any expenditures, and those who did not pursue their campaign activities despite filing their Certificates of Candidacy or those who withdrew their candidacies.

The office of an elected candidate who failed to file the SOCE will be considered vacant until he or she has complied with the requirement within six months from proclamation, otherwise the vacancy will be filled.

National political parties, party-list or-

ganizations and senators will have to pay P10,000 instead of the previous P30,000 for late filing.

Provincial political parties will be charged P8,500 from P22,500, while provincial governors and vice governors will have to pay P8,000 from P25,000.

Seven thousand pesos instead of P20,000 will also have to be paid by provincial board members, congressmen, local political parties, mayors and vice mayors, while councilors will have to pay P6,000 from P15,00. PNA

‘Kapa... group accepts anyone regardless of their religious background, with their “donation” being the only requirement.

“After filling up their forms as a member of a religious group, they would give their money [donation] and were scheduled to come back a month after to get their 30 percent earnings [love gift or blessing],” said Pagatpat.

He said his men could not find any source of investments where Kapa founder Joel Apolinario could get the 30-percent guaranteed return.

“It was clear that this was bound to fail because that money given to first investors were coming from new recruits. The day will come when no more payouts will be given because there will be no more recruits signing up,” Pagatpat told UNTV. He said the law requires any group or company to secure a license from the Securities and Exchange Commission before engaging in any kind of investment activity. Kapa is not a religious group as it claims, he said.

“From day one up to the time it was ripe for operations, not a single religious activity was conducted by the organization. In fact, they accept any members regardless of their religion as long as they have a donation,” Pagatpat said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He said those involved in the investment scam may face charges for large-scale estafa.

Lawmen came up with the raid based on the search warrants issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 against the firm for violating Sections 8 and 26 of the Securities Corporation Code of the Philippines.

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

Apolinario denied the allegations against them, saying Kapa is a legitimate religious group. Some members seconded Apolinario.

Pagatpat said they have not arrested any member of the group but the authori-

ties have confiscated several documents, records, books and equipment from the offices.

“No arrests have been made yet because when our teams reached all offices of Kapa, they were already non-operational, closed. But we were able to seize some vital evidence,” he said.

The NBI also recovered cash amounting to P2.2 million and P300,000 from two different Kapa offices.

In a press conference last Monday, SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino said they were building a case against Kapa.

“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,” Aquino said.

The group reportedly accepted investments, which it dubbed as “donations” of no less than P10,000 from each of its members, according to the SEC. The SEC considered the scheme to be among the biggest investment scams in the country since it has already taken no less than P50 billion from its members.

“With 5-million members, with a minimum investment of P10,000 per member, you’re looking at P50 billion,” said Aquino.

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,” he said.

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

At the Quezon Memorial Circle, Danilo Mangahas, Ahon sa Kahirapan Movement convenor and a Kapa member, said they would “pray that Kapa would be allowed to operate again.”

Asked to comment about reports that the NBI would file a large-scale estafa case against Kapa members, including those from Taytay, Rizal, he said: “Let us wait for the formal complaint.”

“Kapa is more than willing to be investigated,” he added.

Before elected as congressman in 2013, he was a provincial board member of Pampanga.

Velasco, who became congressman in February 2016 after he won in his election protest, was the emcee in the HNP campaign sorties.

Outside of the party, Lakas-CMD president and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a three-term congressman, is considered a strong contender for the position.

The Davao mayor has endorsed both Romualdez and Velasco.

The President endorsed former Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who has given up his Foreign Affairs portfolio for a chance to bang the speaker’s gavel in the 18th Congress.

Munsayac also said the PDP Laban is the party of President Duterte and is the biggest bloc in the House of Representatives with more than 80 members.

He earlier said that contesting their nominee for the speakership would be an exercise in futility.

“Others can try but it will be an exercise in futility,” said Munsayac.

Pimentel said it was imperative that the speaker should be come from PDP-Laban.

He said the party would unite behind a single nominee.

“We will stand united in ensuring that we will have a speaker who can truly work not only with his peers in the House but also

with the members of the Senate,” said Pimentel.

‘Most qualified’ Two lawmakers on Wednesday said Romualdez’s management and leadership skills make him the most qualified candidate for the speakership.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda recognized Romualdez’s track record and persuasive skills that would help the incoming 18th Congress back the President’s structural reforms.

“He is the most experienced and competent candidate and can handily win the speakership race in a free for all fight. Martin is a very credible leader who has the respect of his colleagues. His commitment to help President Duterte, especially in approving vital bills is beyond question,” said Suarez.

Salceda said Romualdez’s knowledge and vast experience in the financial markets and the field of economics would help expedite the enactment into laws of President Duterte’s economic reform agenda.

Pacquiao said President Duterte, the party’s chairman, will have the last say on who will be the PDP-Laban nominee for the House speakership.

He added that it is important that the nominee has the blessing of the President and Pimentel.

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mented its ban on provincial buses and those have moved their terminals outside Metro Manila.

“We see that the HOV is one of the best policies that we can implement in the sense it will reduce the volume on EDSA,” Nebrija told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

The HOV scheme, according to MMDA general manager Arturo Garcia Jr., is formulated to encourage motorists to engage in ride-sharing.

With the scheme, the MMDA is hoping to decrease by 30 percent the number of private vehicles traversing EDSA. “We are calling on the participation of everyone. Participate in the car-pooling program, Garcia said.

He said the government was open to amend the guidelines of the policy aimed at reducing the number of vehicles along Edsa while encouraging people to car-pool.

Fake news...

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to crack down on these activities, which are contributing to a growing distrust of the internet as well as negatively impacting economies and political discourse.

The United States took the lion’s share of the blame for spreading fake news, followed by Russia and China, according to the annual Ipsos survey of more than 25,000 internet users in 25 countries.

Fake news appeared to be most prevalent on Facebook, but also appears on YouTube, blogs and Twitter, the pollsters found.

The survey results showed people in Egypt were the most gullible while respondents in Pakistan were the most skeptical. AFP

Party-list coalition head richest man in House 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael Romero remained the richest congressman last year with a net worth of P7.858 billion.

This came up as the House of Representatives released a summary of its members’ statements of assets, liabilities and net worth as of Dec. 31, 2018.

Romero's wealth even ballooned by P567 million from P7.291 billion in December 2017 to P7.858 billion in December 2018.

As of December 2018 Romero, who was elected president of the Party-list Coalition of the incoming 18th Congress, had total assets of P7.933 billion and P75 million in total liabilities.

Romero is the owner of F&S Holdings Inc., the majority shareholder of Air Asia Inc., the corporation that owns and manages Philippines Air Asia.

Next to Romero was Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez with a net worth of P1.016 billion, up from P1.005 billion in 2017.

Last year, it was former Diwa Party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, who was the second richest House member.

Aglipay-Villar was then appointed Justice undersecretary.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos was the third richest lawmaker with P923.8 million. Maricel Cruz

Rody's...

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In other developments: As in the previous years, Duterte decided to skip the Independence Day ceremonies at the Luneta, and instead led the Independence Day rites in Malabang, Lanao Del Sur. • The fight against poverty is not at the forefront in the country’s fight for freedom, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Wednesday.

Arroyo, who was the Guest of Honor at the Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan, said the fight for freedom continues but it is now about fighting to bring all Filipinos out of poverty.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the biggest war we are waging is to free the nation and its families from the bondage of illegal drugs.

Liberal Party president Francis Pangilinan said Filipinos continue to be faced with external and internal challenges that erode our people’s hopes and threaten their freedom.

“For how can we be independent when our people are hungry for food, jobs and justice? he said Detained Senator Leila de Lima asked the Filipino people to voice out their collective disgust against the threats to the country's freedom, such as the influx of illegal Chinese workers and the unabated extrajudicial and summary killings in the country.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said celebrating our freedom means not taking it for granted. She said the civil liberties we enjoy today are hard-fought victories.

Senator Loren Legarda said freedom also calls for promoting inclusive growth by translating our growth statistics into more job opportunities, stable employment, equitable access to quality education, health services and other social services, and safe and disaster-resilient communities for Filipinos. With Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Orlan Mauricio and Jun David

Angat...

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“Meron kaming na-observe na malalakas na rainfall sa may bandang Zambales, minsan sa bandang Bicol, Cavite, Laguna which is malayo naman sa watershed ng Angat Dam,” PAGASA Hydrologist Elmer Caringal said.

(We have observed heavy rainfall in areas near Zambales, occasionally in Bicol, Cavite, and Laguna which are far from Angat Dam watershed.)

According to the National Water Resources Board said the water at the dam may fall even lower, and may even fall below the 160-meter level, which could trigger service interruptions or result in poorer water quality.

It added, however, that at 164.9 meters, the water is still sufficient to supply the 46 cubic meters per second allocation to Maynilad and Manila Water.

But if rains don’t fall in sufficient quantities soon, the water level is projected to fall at a rate of 0.38 meters per day, which means it will dip below 160 meters in the next 10 days.

Regulators and water concessionaires now brace for the possibility that the low water level may cause more supply interruptions.

Authorities said they may opt to reduce allocation to water concessionaires which will lead to further service interruptions, or open the dam’s low-level outlet to maintain the water allocation for consumers.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rely on ourselves to solve PH problems—CJ

By Rey E. Requejo

Gov’t troopers stumble on BIFF gun factory In Maguindanao

C

HIEF Justice Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday urged Filipinos to rely more on themselves and not too much on other countries in resolving problems and challenges besetting country.

“We should not make it a habit to rely too much on foreigners to resolve our problems and challenges,” Bersamin said in his speech during the 121st Independence Day rites at the Andres Bonifacio Shrine in Caloocan City where he served as the guest speaker.

Bersamin said that only the country and its people can work for its development.

He noted that some nations offering assistance to the country are doing so out of their own vested interest.

“Tayo, bansa lang natin ang ating agenda,” he said.

The top magistrate also called on Filipinos to always remember the heroism and sacrifices of our forebears who fought for the country’s independence from the hands of foreigners.

“Let us always put in mind that we won our independence because of the blood and sacrifices of our ancestors.

Let us not disregard their sacrifices,” he said.

Bersamin said there are many ways that present-day generation of Filipinos could value the sacrifices of our heroes such as obeying the laws, adhering to Filipino traditions and values, and doing away with vices.

“Kaya natin gawin ito sa maraming paraan, kagaya ng pagpapanumbalik natin sa mga mabubuting asal, gawain, at kaugalian bilang pangkaraniwang mamamayan. Idagdag natin sa mga pamamaraan ang pagpuksa o pag-iwas natin sa mga mapanirang bisyo at gawain at ang pagiging masipag upang makamit ang marangal na pamumuhay, at katapatan sa lahat ng mga tungkulin,” he added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also echoed the call for Filipinos to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for the country’s independence.

Locsin said that these sacrifices should remind us of the need to honor, protect and preserve freedom until the end.

Locsin said these are the values that the Duterte administration have hewed to since Day One of the administration to fulfill its promise to uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

“These are the values of daily life the President has writ large in his governance to serve our countrymen, whatever their station in life may be, and wherever they may be in the world. These are also the values that sustain the resolve of the government to beat corruption, criminality, illegal drugs and other social ills,” Locsin said.

Nat’l ID system has safeguards to protect privacy—Drilon

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THERE are enough safeguards in the law to protect their privacy, assured Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, the principal author of the Philippines Identification System Act on Wednesday as he underscored that the law’s main objective is to enhance the delivery of basic services to the public.

“The law has enough safeguards to protect the sanctity of the individual’s information and protect their right to privacy,” Drilon said.

“It protects against unlawful disclosure of information and punishes those who will subvert the system for unlawful ends,” he added.

As author and principal sponsor of the measure in the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson also said the national ID system is more incentive rather than punitive in its intent and purpose.

“Having said that, more than the security and other similar considerations, this law is designed for the government to provide more efficient social services to our people, not to mention the convenience and ease that our people can transact business with government agencies as well as private entities,” he said.

“Once fully implemented, our people will appreciate how easy and convenient it is for them to deal with their day to day activities,” added Lacson.

FLAG RAISING. Senator Cynthia Villar and Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla led the flag raising rites at the balcony of the historic Aguinaldo shrine at Kawit town of Cavite over yesterday’s 121st commemoration of the declaration of Philippines’ independence which was then led by President Emilio Aguinaldo. Ey Acasio

PACC clears DA chief Piñol of corruption allegations

By Nat Mariano THE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday has cleared Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of corruption allegations over his supposed ballooning wealth.

In its Resolution No. 14 dated on Monday, the PACC found no evidence “pointing to [his] unexplained wealth.”

According to the agency, the Commission en banc approved the resolution after conducting a seven-month full lifestyle check on the Agriculture chief.

“The PACC commends Secretary Piñol for coming forward and volunteering to be subjected to a thorough lifestyle check

and investigation following allegations that he benefitted from transactions in his capacity as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture,” PACC chairman Dante Jimenez said in a statement Wednesday.

“The PACC gives great importance to this unprecedented action by a top government official and heralds this as a symbol of the success in the campaign of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for transparency and accountability in government service,” he added.

In December last year, Piñol gave the agency “blanket authority” to scrutinize his bank accounts and properties after suspected members of a rice cartel attempted to oust him from the Department of Agriculture over the issue

of rice importation.

“The objective is very simple and clear, which is to destabilize the DA secretary by raising issues of corruption until it reaches the ear of President Duterte,” Piñol said in December 2018.

“The main suspect in this demolition job are members of the rice cartel that has controlled and profited from rice trading,” he added.

Jimenez then lauded the DA chief for submitting himself to a lifestyle check to counter the alleged demolition job.

“Instead of issuing self-serving statements to defend himself, Secretary Piñol opened all of his records including his bank accounts and financial documents to the graft investigators,” the PACC chief said.

WEDDING RITES.

Leyte Rep. elect Martin Romualdez (right) congratulates newly-wed couple Rep. elect Shernee Tan of Kusog Tausug Party List and PAL International Pilot Marjani Tambot during a wedding ceremony at Garden Orchid Convention Center in Zamboanga City attended

by President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the principal sponsors.

Ver Noveno

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao— Joint military and police personnel stumbled on a gun factory in General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao as they were to serve a warrant against a wanted person in the area Tuesday.

Acting on a tip from civilians, the arresting team swooped down on the pinpointed safe house of Sukarno Buka, a sub-leader of Islamic Stateinspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, in Barangay Midconding for attempted murder charges but the latter managed to elude arrest.

The joint military-police team instead discovered a BIFF gun factory in the area,” Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said in a report Wednesday.

Sobejana said the law enforcement operation was carried out by the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Maguindanao.

Buka’s group operates in the peripheries of Gen. S.K. Pendatun, Mangudadatu, and Paglat towns in the province.

Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, 33IB commander, said civilians and village officials alike have told him that Buka is manufacturing firearms for the BIFF and is involved in illegal drug activities in Gen. S. K. Pendatun.

He said the 33IB’s regular engagement with the local communities has been gaining ground as civilians are helping the military fight terrorism.

Government forces seized several unfinished firearms, equipment, and ammunition, according to Col. Efren Baluyot, 1st MIB commander.

Baluyot said the discovery of the guns making facility, firearms, and bullets has degraded the BIFF’s fighting capability.

Sobejana lauded the locals for providing authorities with information of high-intelligence value that preempted lawless elements from harming civilian communities. PNA

‘Sidewinder’ missiles set to arrive in PH within the year THE delivery of the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air missiles, the primary armament of the South Korean FA-50 “Fighting Eagle” lightinterim fighter aircraft acquired by the country recently, will start within this year, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Wednesday.

“They [Sidewinder missiles] will be delivered within the year,” he said when asked for updates on the weapons project.

Andolong said that once the missiles arrive, the FA-50s will definitely have more “fangs” to use in protecting the country’s airspace aside from its 20mm automatic cannon.

A Notice to Proceed was issued to Diehl Raytheon of Germany on Aug. 31, 2017.

The “Sidewinder” contract is worth P1,016,734,088.

The DND spokesperson declined to give the specific number of the missiles that will be acquired for security reasons.

But he said the “weapons are sufficient for all of the country’s FA50s.” Andolong earlier said all AIM9s to be acquired are “all live rounds and fresh from the factory”, meaning all of its sensors, rocket motors and warheads are brand-new.

The AIM-9, which was developed by the US Navy in the 1950s, is one of the world’s most reliable and successful air-to-air missiles. It utilizes infrared homing for guidance and tracking and has a top speed of Mach 3 or three times the speed of sound.

The missile’s warhead weighs around 20 pounds and it has has a length of nine feet and 11 inches.

PNA

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Opinion

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

My late father PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said that soon, it would only take five minutes to get from Cubao to Makati via Edsa.

I said to myself, this is yet another of his pronouncements that need to be clarified. The only way you can achieve this travel time is to drive at 185 kilometers per hour.

The President is neither a miracle man nor a magician, is he?

And indeed now the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority says we should not take the President’s words literally.

He is a role model and a hero.

In another instance, after the PresiPresi dent saw firsthand the congestion at NAIA where flights were either delayed or cancelled because of a lightning alert, he said congestion would be solved in one month.

How exactly, when congestion has been a perennial problem?

I wonder when we can take the President’s words at face value. As a journalist, I cannot be forever imagining what he might have meant. *** I remember my father, a simple government worker in the pre-war Department of Education. He was a district school supervisor. He was my role model, my hero.

My father was born in Magsingal,

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Ilocos Sur, the second in a family of four brothers and a sister. My grandfather was a Spaniard, a mercenary from Malaga, Spain, and who was brought to the Philippines by the Governor Juan Salcedo. Governor Salcedo made my grandfather Abdon a guardia civil in charge of a stone tower on the coast of Magsingal.

In those days, coasts always had towers to guard the villages from pirates. The Chinese frequently pillaged villages in the Northern Philippines.

When my grandfather Abdon retired, he asked his brother Canuto to join him in the Philippines. Both set up a farm near the seacoast of Magsingal.

My father used to tell me that his Uncle Canuto had two beautiful daughters named Maria and Marciana,who were courted by plantation and hacienda owners. Maria got married to a Marquez, a coconut plantation owner from Tayabas. Marciana was married to a haciendero named Urdabe, who was from Pangasinan.

My father said he had to elope with my mother, Margarita Pacis, because the Pacis family discriminated against the Jurados, who were simple farmers.

The Pacis family on the other hand had a house beside the municipal building.

I consider elopement romantic.

Imagine a lover hanging on to a ladder!

My father just finished high school when he was tapped to become district supervisor of schools in Abra by the Secretary of Education, Camilo Osias.

In those days, there was a dearth of education graduates. My father had to go to Baguio every summer to earn credits so that he could get his bachelor’s degree in education.

When my father was district supervisor, our family had to go from one town to another. This is why three of

Independent, somewhat

E

VERY year on June 12, Filipinos hoist their flags and profess love for country. It’s Independence Day, after all—an occasion to remember how we have been freed from the clutches of colonialism and become able to determine the course of our own future.

This year is no different in terms of the celebratory mood and patriotic pronouncements.

But more than ever before, we need to take a look at what we are actually celebrating on independence day.

Are we truly free from threats to our democracy? No less than the President himself has characterized the present election system as riddled with fraud, asked the Commission on Elections to junk Smartmatic and find a more reliable, credible automated election service provider.

Are we free from the disempowering hold of fake news?

Many Filipinos have yet to

learn to be circumspect in receiving and spreading news items. It is increasingly becoming difficult to tell the genuine from the fake, and sadly, those with sinister motives are capitalizing on this carelessness— nay, ignorance—to achieve their own ends. Meanwhile, those who dare criticize or offer other ideas find themselves vulnerable to threats of reprisal, or marginalization.

Are we free from the toxicity of politics? The just-finished midterm elections have shown us the extremes to which opportunists masquerading as public servants are willing to go to put their self-interest first.

We are also seeing institutions being undermined, sometimes demeaned, by the very officials that run them.

Are we free from doublespeak? Our leaders swore to protect our sovereignty, put our welfare first, uphold the rule of law, respect everybody’s rights, and end corruption. Unfortunately, we hear them saying one thing and see them doing the exact opposite.

Finally, are we free from poverty and hopelessness? In the end, everything that really matters is whether Filipino families have enough food on the table, roof above their heads, clothes on their back—and a modicum of hope that somehow the next days would be better.

There will be another day to celebrate a “yes” answer to all these. For now, a stark realization that we need to get our act together might be enough. The alternative is to just get by and be somewhat free for the rest of our days.

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Gee, thanks, LTFRB POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE I WENT to work the other morning in a Grab.

“You didn’t have a difficult time getting a booking, ma’am?” the driver asked me when we were underway.

“No, not really,” I said.

“You’re lucky,” he replied. “Grab lost thousands of drivers recently. New slots are open but it will take time to fill them up.”

I had returned from quick trip to Cebu the night before and I loved how I could get a Grab booking there within seconds, unlike in Manila, when you can’t get even a Grab Premium during rush hours, much less a Grab Car or Share.

It’s a pity that Uber is gone, sold out to Grab because they were clobbered by the competition. Grab now operates as a virtual monopoly in the local transport network vehicle services industry. Business is cut-throat in any field and consumers have to choice but to lump it.

So it’s hard enough that passengers have practically no other choice (really, can you see an elderly person on an Angkas? It’s not safe), but now Grab has deactivated 8,000 drivers who were unable to apply for the renewal of their franchises—so-called ‘colorum’ drivers.

These 8,000 drivers made up 18 percent of Grab’s operators.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board opened 10,000 slots for new TNVS drivers and Grab says it will help the ‘colorum’ drivers to apply through its help desk.

However, drivers are complaining about the deactivation now being partially implemented. Hatchback Community chairman Leonardo de Leon led the group of TNVS operators and drivers in a driveby, horn-honking protest at the LTFRB office last Tuesday.

In a video interview posted at Inquirer’s Youtube page, De Leon said that if the deactivation continues, the

livelihoods of many drivers will be negatively affected. “We hope there will be an amnesty and the deactivated drivers restored…

“We wonder why [the LTFRB] is not following the memorandum circular they issued in February providing for a three-year transition period for hatchbacks… We will be filing a complaint about this matter.

“If the result will not go our way, the protests will continue because 8,000 drivers will lose their livelihoods. And it happens to be a time for spending because it’s school opening.”

De Leon said over a thousand drivers joined their protest.

Previously, he pointed out that drivers are having difficulty complying with the onerous requirements set by the LTFRB. As of June 7, there are eight steps for TNVS accreditation, as posted on Grab’s website. Here are the required documents for Step 1: Four copies verified application alleging proof of citizenship and financial capacity with annexes, and verification and certification of non-forum shopping; Photocopy of proof of Filipino citizenship (any of the following: authenticated birth certificate from Philippine Statistics Authority, valid Philippine passport, or voter’s ID); photocopy of government-issued ID with picture of the applicant; photocopy of Land Transportation Office Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration of authorized unit/s with year model made out to the applicant, with the vehicle no more than three years old; and Operators’ Data Sheet with complete details, latest picture, and valid driver’s license.

That’s just Step 1. In addition, all documents must be arranged in the above order and placed in a long orange folder—it can’t be any old folder.

And check out the list of required documents in Step 7: it’s nearly as long as the allotted space for my column.

Are LTFRB officials aware that one of the concepts in a quality management system is ‘customer focus’?

A company—or government agency—that is properly run must think of Turn to A5

ManilaStandard

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

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And then there was light This is the story of a remote village in Zambales province.

LIKE any typical 12-year-old in his town, Jaderick Castillo grew up idolizing NBA stars, dreaming of watching them play. But that’s as far as he can get then—dream.

For Jaderick, along with the rest of the 1,000 denizens of a remote village in San Marcelino in Zambales, grew up in the dark, almost literally as their town had been neglected for generations, with virtually no house in their community having the luxury of experiencing how electricity would work for them.

Until last June 7, when a Chinesefunded solar project lit up the mountain village of Baliwet. Electricity supply finally arrived in this remote village.

With the event coinciding with Dragon Boat Festival, the Chinese staff working for the State Grid Cor-

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

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

poration of China brought children who live in Baliwet dozens of zongzi, the sticky rice dumplings served during the annual Festival and they tasted traditional Chinese food for the first time.

It was a brand new experience for the children and the whole village as reported by Xinhua to have electricity, produced by solar stations donated by Chinese company SGCC. The solar project not only brightens up the remote village, but also offers a ray of hope to the poor villagers who have no access to electricity for decades and depended solely on kerosene gas lamps and batteries to power their TV sets and flashlights.

Due to its remoteness, no local power company is willing to invest in

Baliwet. Villagers had to travel sev several kilometers to town to charge their mobile phones.

As part of the closer ties between China and the Philippines, SGCC signed in Baliwet a memorandum of agreement in January with the Philip Philippine National Electrification Admin Administration and the Zambales II Electric Cooperative for the solar project.

Under the deal, SGCC’s “Brighten Up” project would install a solar panel system for Zameco II, capable of delivering power to over 1,000 residents including two schools with 108 students in the village. The project, which will be officially finished at the end of June, is hoped to lift the villagers out of poverty and lead them to a bright future.

According to Liu Ming, the deputy chief representative of SGCC Philippine Office, the “Brighten Up” project is the first charitable project independently launched by a Chinese-funded enterprise in the Philippines.

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

Justice delayed, justice denied RETIRED Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Brion recently called the attention of Congress to remedy the injustice done to the late Chief Justice Renato Corona regarding the denial of the late Justice’s retirement benefits.

In 2012, the Senate voted against the late Chief Justice, forcing him to be removed from office. Let me emphasize that the impeachment only carried the penalty of removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office. Nowhere in the Senate decision did it state that there is automatic forfeiture of retirement benefits.

The late Justice pursued for rightful claims, but abandoned it eventually upon the absence of hope in the political environment then. He died without getting the injustice rectified.

Responding to the call of retired Justice Brion, I filed a resolution that would investigate the possible grant of said benefits to the late CJ Corona’s

heirs. At this age where justice is most sought, it is a disservice to deny, without any fair and satisfactory reason, any person, of the benefits, as provided for by law. This is aside from the fact that the impeachment process itself was controversial. Issues regarding motive, the merits of the articles of impeachment,

Issues regarding motive, the merits of the articles of impeachment, allegations of heavy power and political brokering clouded the integrity of the entire process. allegations of heavy power and political brokering clouded the integrity of the entire process.

With this, let me call on my fellow legislators and the incoming legislators of the 18th Congress to look into this matter with fairness and justice, and

let us give the late Chief Justice Corona what is due him under the law.

On other matters, there is another looming water shortage in various areas in Metro Manila. During the first quarter of 2019, we sought the commitment of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the two water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, on the resolution of the water shortage which occurred during the said period. Congress has adopted House Resolution No. 2592, co-authored by this Representation, urging MWSS and other concerned agencies to fast-track the mitigation of the water crisis and ensure provision of safe and stable water supply in the Metro. It is surprising that as we enter the rainy season, we still experience the same problem. Hence, I urge MWSS and the water concessionaires concerned to explain and address this water shortage immediately. The China-funded Kaliwa Dam Project will not be enough to provide adequate supsup ply to cover the water requirement in the coming years. Thus, it is imperative that concerned agencies implement long term solutions as what we have sought before. The public cannot live on empty faucets and empty promises.

Unreleased pension benefits UNIFORMED veterans numbering in the hundreds of thousands are still waiting for the release of their increased pension benefits. This is spite of the 2019 General Appropriations Act having been signed by the President and the unequivocal pronouncement of former Budget Secretary Ben Diokno in 2018 during a meeting with the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association.

In that meeting, he gave his word that the funds were available and would be released on January 2019. Well guess what, the promised funds have not yet been released.

Over the last couple of months, conflicting reports have been filtering to local veteran groups about the imminent release of the promised pensions but all these reports turned out to be false. The latest news came last weekend in the form of a text message saying that the Department of Budget has now issued fiscal directive No. 123690 for the release of the increased pension benefits to be effective June 16 which is just three days away. This fiscal directive is in compliance to Executive Order No. 0-1906 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The message did not contain any dates when these documents were signed.

Since there are numbers to the documents, this latest news at least seems reliable than the others that came before it. Let us hope that this time it will turn out to be true for the sake of all veterans who have been waiting for the money.

The problem is we do not know if the increased pension will include the unreleased differentials for the whole 2018 and the first five months of this year or not. If not, it will again be a struggle to get these 17-month differentials to be released. For retirees from the PNP, they are still waiting for 26 months pension differentials that have not yet been re-

My late...

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leased as a result of the salary increases during the term of President Arroyo.

With due respect to individual officials, like Nesty Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and others who I am sure are doing their best to improve the lot of veterans, the system now in place with regard to the treatment of veterans needs a major overhaul. Right now, veterans are just depending on leaders like the current President who are predisposed to improving the support for them.

If the leader happens to be selfish and uncaring, then veteran support is nonexistent like what happened in the last administration.

What is needed is a support system that takes care of veterans regardless of

Many veterans are living on borrowed time.

who the President is. After all, it is the moral obligation of any government to take care of its fighting men who are now retired. At the rate that the government is releasing veteran’s benefits, many of them will be dead before their money will ever be released. This is because the life expectancy of Filipinos is about 71. Many veterans are therefore living on borrowed time. The only tangible benefit right now accruing to veterans is that every time active duty personnel gets an increase in their pay, personnel in the retired list also gets the increase. This however, does not happen very often. Growing old is harsh for veterans if one has been unable to save to prepare for old age. Retirees with service connected disabilities are not given extra pension for medical expenses like other countries. It has been only the last four years that the Philippine Veteran Hospitals opened its doors to retired military personnel. Even that

to buy a car.

Alas, toward the end of the Japanese occupation, he got sick with Parkinson’s Disease, which forced his retirement. He was a patient and Godfearing man, always ready to help.

When provoked, however, he was like a different person.

I dedicate this column to him, with Fathers’ Day coming on Sunday. *** Tomorrow June 14 is the 78th anniversary of a momentous chapter in Philippine history. Guerilla groups belonging to the 121st Infantry of USAFIL-NL fought an uphill battle with the forces of Yamashita. This was the Battle of Bessang Pass.

It is tragic that the nation is not commemorating this day when no less than 1,400 Ilocanos and Igorots were killed—and soon forgotten.

Only two presidents honored the heroes of Bessang Pass—Ferdinand Marcos and Fidel Ramos. What a tragedy that the nation does not consider this victory big enough to celebrate.

my siblings—Manuel, Vicente and Petra—died in infancy. There was a lack of hospitals and doctors. Had they lived, we would have been seven in all! My father really did his homework.

He used to tell me stories about his job. He was always out visiting schools. One time, he came home with a spear and a shield, given to him by headhunters of the Cordillera mountains.

My father was a great swimmer.

That is one of my frustrations—I never learned how to swim. My mother was so protective of me, because I was the youngest.

I recall that during the rainy season, when the Abra River swelled, my father did the impossible—cross it.

My father was a horse fancier, branding horses with his initials ECJ. He trained them to be pacers. He had a reputation for breeding good horses and pacers. In fact, he sold two of his pacers for P1,500 so we would be able www.emiljurado.weebly.com

is not enough because there is only one Veteran’s hospital located in Quezon City. We need more.

There ought to be at least one veteran’s hospital in the Visayas and Mindanao. Maybe one of the many lawmakers in both Houses of Congress who served both in the police and military could sponsor a bill for the purpose instead of concentrating their efforts fighting for their pork barrel. Another bill that they can consider is for PVAO to become a separate department instead of being just a part of the Defense department. *** During an interview a few days ago, President Duterte made a statement that floored all those who heard it. He said that people should just relax because come December of this year, travel between Cubao and Makati will just take five minutes.

We do not know if he meant this literally or simply a figure of speech to mean that traffic will soon drastically improve. Now, all government officials involved in traffic management are scratching their heads trying to figure out how best to do something in order not to make a liar of the President.

In the forefront of course are the MMDA, LTFRB, and LTO. My first unsolicited advice to them is for them to ask the President for clarification if they can afford it so that time is not wasted trying to figure out exactly what the President wants to happen. December is not really not that far away.

The next thing they should do is to see whether reducing travel time between Cubao and Makati to five minutes is doable or not. If not which seems to be the thinking of everyone, these traffic officials should come out with the best thing that they can do and tell the President straight without any hesitation.

Given all that is known about the traffic conditions along EDSA, reducing travel along the road to five minutes cannot be done even if done between three and four in the morning where there is virtually no traffic. Even the entry of China, which the President mentioned in that TV interview, will not do the trick.

Gee,...

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how it can satisfy and even delight its clients. If LTFRB makes the process for TNVS accreditation very burdensome, no wonder drivers shirk it—they have better things to do, like working.

Not only will drivers and their families be affected, but their passengers too. Public transport sucks, and it is not safe nor ideal for certain demographics like the sick, elderly, persons with disability, and the like. This deactivation of 8,000 drivers is like toppling the first domino—it’ll start a chain reaction of consequences, all of them not good.

As I understand it, Grab has no choice but to deactivate the non-compliant drivers, because those are the rules. The ball is in LTFRB’s court now—guys, don’t fumble it.

How can we be productive if we can’t even get to where we need to be?

Good luck, Philippine economy. /FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Credit for economic performance: Leads and lags between action and result. On the other hand, this action same divergence causes the taking of leading action in order to ensure the production of results as designated points in the future; thus, DEVELOPMENTS in this coun- if the desire is to have a subway try and in the United States since line by 2025 and the constructhe 2016 presidential elections, tion period for that facility is and recent statements made by six years, the project proponent the winners of those elections— must make a leading decision Rodrigo Duterte and Donald and break ground for the subTump—have occasioned re- way line in 2019. The leads and newed interest in an element of lags concept applies as much as business-cycle theory known as to the individual decisions as to leads and lags. President Duterte government decisions. has been If heads heard to of state are say repeatelected or edly that decide to Time causes his admin- a divergence between stay in ofistration’s fice for policies and action and result. life—like actions are China’s Xi responsible Jinping or for the PhilMo Egypt’s Moippine economy’s robust growth hammed El-Sisi, the leads and during the last 30 months. On the lags concept will be of far less other side of the Pacific Ocean, significance because the chancTrump has been claiming that es are that a project or decision the US economy’s current strong taken today will become operaperformance is attributable to tional during the head of state’s the economic measures, includ- stay in office. But where terms ing a hefty corporate income tax of office are limited by law, the cut, taken by his administration. economic seeds planted during What are leads and lags ad one administration very likely how do they figure in the raging will, because of project gestadebate over which administra- tion periods become harvestable tion—the present or preceding during the succeeding adminisone—deserves credit for the tration. comparatively good times that Back to Mr. Duterte and Mr. the Philippine and American Trump. Can the Duterte adeconomies are experiencing? ministration claim most of the Are the historically high GDP credit for the above-6-percent growth rates being posted by the GDP growth rates of the last 30 Philippine economy entirely at- months? I don’t think so. Objectributable to the performance of tively, the Aquino administration Mr. Duterte’s economic manag- did a creditable job of managing ers, or is the present administra- the Philippine economy, espetion merely reaping the fruits cially in the fiscal arena. The of seeds that were planted by good results of that spilled over the economic managers of his to the administration that came immediate predecessor, Be- into office on July 1 2016. The nigno Aquino III? And, on the administration that comes into other side of the world, does office on July 1, 2022 likewise the Republican administration will benefit from the lagged efof Donald Trump deserve full fects of the Duterte administracredit for the present strong per- tion’s economy-strengthening formance—around 3 percent policies and actions. This is how GDP growth—of the world’s things go.

No. 1 economy, or has Mr. As for the US economy, I Trump, in the words last week tend to agree with Joe Biden. of Democratic presidential can- The Trump administration is didate Joe Biden, “merely inher- benefitting from the good ecoited a strong economy, like ev- nomic deeds of Barack Obama erything else that he has?” and Joe Biden during their eightBusiness cycle theory in year (2009-2017) stay at the top economics accords great im- of the US government. portance to the concept of leads A final note of caution. On and lags because of the simple the basis of the same concept, and obvious fact that almost an administration’s unsound everything that is done at one economic actions and polimoment cannot produce results cies will be experienced, on a in the next moment. This is the lagged basis, by the succeeding lag: Time causes a divergence administration.

And then...

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“The power supply project uses solar micro-grid to provide centralized power with a power generation capacity of 76kW and a battery storage capacity of 390 kWh. It basically meets the day-to-day needs of the villagers,” Liu says.

Liu said the “Brighten Up” project “is one that evolves as it does not stop at simply installing the power supply.”

“It provides long-term operation, maintenance and interactive exchanges, enabling everyone to continue to build relationships that strengthen the human spirit.”

Elanie Cawagas, a teacher at the Baliwet Elementary School, lauded the project, saying the whole village and even the residents of nearby villagers are benefiting from the project particularly teachers and students.

She said villagers used to grope in the dark but now the villagers are enjoying the fruit of the Chinese-funded project.

She said it was difficult for the teachers to make use of the video presentation in teaching due to lack of electricity. “We are forced to stop the presentation when the computer

battery is drained, and then wait for the next day when the battery is fully charged. That’s why we can’t maximize teaching time.”

Moreover, she said the students have a hard time focusing on the lesson because of the stifling heat inside the classrooms. “We don’t have electric wall fans to cool down the heat because there is no electricity to make the fans run,” she added.

The installation of solar power has a tremendous impact on the village and its people. “Now, our pupils are more motivated in the teachinglearning process. They are more cooperative in all school class activities because they can study their lessons at night,” she added.

Speaking of recreational activities, Cawagas said the villagers can now watch television and listen to the radio. And because the village is well lighted, she said villagers can do activities even at night.

“We are grateful for those who made this possible, especially our Chinese friends for bringing light into our village,” Cawagas said.

The project also provided job opportunities for the villagers.

With Baliwet having its own power now, Jaderick can now watch his favorite basketball stars play, including the NBA finals showdown.

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News

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Airport police arrest OTS officer at NAIA

JOB PLACEMENTS. Job applicants at the 2019 Kalayaan Job Fair organized by the Department of Labor and Employment in line with the commemoration of the 121st Philippine Independence Day at the San Andres sports complex in Manila. Lino Santos

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Office for Transportation Security (OTS), the controversial government unit some of whose members got involved in the so-called bullet planting scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is in the news again.

One of its officers was arrested for allegedly stealing money from a foreigner at the airport last Monday, airport police said.

The Manila International Airport Authority - Police Department placed Nissan Abellon Villarino, an OTS screening officer assigned at the NAIA Terminal 2, under arrest following a complaint lodged by Jackie Freeman Yuen who accused the suspect of stealing money from his friend, a Hong Kong tourist.

The Airport authority immediately ordered the cancellation and revocation of the access pass of Villarino and placed his name under the agency’s blacklist of personnel.

“During inquiry, Villarino voluntarily submitted his written [statement] admitting that he took the cash from the tourist. The Airport Authority removed him from his posting and revoked his access inside the airport terminal as administrative charges are being filed against him,” said MIAA chief information officer Connie Bungag.

World Food Prize Laureate named

BI supervisors, officers reshuffled

By Vito Barcelo

I

MMIGRATION Commissioner Jaime Morente has reshuffled top officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other international airports in the country as part of the bureau’s continuing program to end familiarization and corruption in its frontline units.

The reshuffle has been implemented involving BI supervisors and intelligence officers assigned at the three terminals of the NAIA, Cebu and Iloilo.

Among the reshuffled personnel are heads and supervisors of the Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, which conducts secondary inspection on travelers, and of the Border Control and Intelligence Unit, which performs intelligence and counter-intelligence activities at the airports.

The new TCEU-NAIA overall chief is Timmy Bariso who replaced Erwin

WASHINGTON, D.C.—US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn recently announced Simon Groot as the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate. Groot has played a transformative role in improving the health and economic opportunities of small farmer communities in the Philippines and in more than 60 tropical countries in the world by helping them move from subsistence farming to horticultural entrepreneurship.

Known as the “Nobel Prize for Food,” the 2019 World Food Prize honors the unique achievements of Simon Groot and his company East-West Seed over the past four decades.

Groot has successfully developed a dynamic, small holder-centric tropical vegetable seed industry, starting in Lipa City, Batangas in the Philippines and spreading throughout the rest of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

His work has invigorated both rural and urban markets for vegetable crops, making nutritious vegetables more widely available and affordable for millions of families each year, an official statement said.

“Like Dr. Norman Borlaug before him, Simon Groot has dedicated his life to improving the livelihoods of millions around the world,” said Kenneth Quinn.

“He and his company have, in effect, developed an impactful global network of seed producers who are transforming the lives of 20 million farmers every year. For this extraordinary accomplishment, he truly deserves to be named the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Section 1608 (b) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and in relation to Section 1603(b) and (h) of the same, the Tariff Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed reduction from 50% to 0% of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) out-quota tariff rate for corn, falling under ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) 2017 Subheading No. 1005.90.90B, applicable to 300,000 Metric Ton (MT) corn importations for 2019, initiated by the Department of Agriculture.

The product coverage of the public hearing is as follows: AHTN Code 2017 10.05 1005.90.90 1005.90.90A 1005.90.90B

Description Maize (corn).

- - Other: - - - In-Quota - - - Out-Quota

Existing Rate of Duty (%) 35 50

The public hearing will be held on 20 June 2019, 9:00 A.M. at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 4th Floor, West Insula Condominium, 135 West Avenue, Quezon City.

Interested parties are requested to submit to the Commission their comments, inputs and/or positions on the subject matter on or before 27 June 2019 using the position paper template provided in the Commission’s website, www.tariffcommission.gov.ph.

For inquiries, Acting Director Elvira C. Ignacio, of the Research, Investigation and International Trade Analysis Service (RIITAS), may be reached at Telephone Number 936-3319 or at info@ tariffcommission.gov.ph.

Issued this 11th day of June 2019, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-JUNE 13, 2019)

Ortañez, now assigned as Interpol Airport chief.

The TCEU-NAIA T1 head is Carelyn Tabuena vice Glenford Comia; while TCEU-NAIA T2 chief is Arlan Mendoza, replacing Benlando Guevarra; and TCEU-NAIA T3 head is Anthony Lopez in place of Virgilio Cadang.

Named new NAIA-BCIU chief is Atty. Rommel Tacorda in place of Bienvenido Castillo who is new deputy chief of the Anti-Terrorist Group, while Karen Mojica is the new POD chief of staff, replacing Fidel Mendoza.

Also given new assignments are Jane Hizon as NAIA-T1 TCEU deputy head; Ma. Bernadette Catipay named NAIA T2 Deputy head while NAIA-T3 deputy head is Raymond Nell Ganias; Cebu-Mactan International Airport TCEU head is Asuncion Palma Gil; Iloilo International Airport head is Sharon Mariano.

According to the BI chief, the second wave of reshuffle will take place in the coming weeks.

Morente said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the reshuffle of airport officials assigned at the NAIA and the rest from other international airports in the country.

The BI chief has ordered affected personnel to immediately report to their new assignments and assume their duties.

The reassignment will give them new tasks so they can face new challenges and responsibilities and avoid familiarity and lax performance of duties.

MR. SPEAKER. Bu-

hay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza discusses with members of media the raging Speakership race and current partylist controversies that confront the incoming 18h Congress during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum at Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila on Wednesday.

Lino Santos

CALABARZON dentists get 2-day refresher course

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DUE to their commitment to provide the best oral health care to those in need of dental treatment, the DOH-CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) concluded Wednesday a two-day “Refresher Course for Public Health Dentists” in Metro Manila.

The course, held in Mandaluyong City, gave training on the proper applications of fluoride varnish, pits and fissure sealants and glass ionomer cement.

“We must give our people the right oral care products and the highest standard of treatment for them to really feel that public health service is the best health care service in the country,” said Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.

“As public health specialists we must continue to improve our profession in order to protect and advance the welfare and interests of the people, especially those in the community,” he added.

To prevent further increase of oral health diseases, Janairo has directed the provision of surgical instruments (100 forceps) and hand instruments (100 sets of luxators), 50 units of portable dental equipment, 500 dentist’s health kit, 5,000 kiddie dental hygiene kits, 5,000 adult dental kits, 100 sets ultrasonic portable scaler, 500 gallons of sterilization and disinfection solution to various local government units.

In addition, two dental vans were donated to Binan, Laguna and Camp Capinpin in Tanay,

Rizal who will provide mobile dental service to remote areas of the region.

“Slowly but surely we will provide the needed logistics to our public dentists for them to properly provide appropriate preventive care and treatment to the community and also to address other issues and concerns such as the lack of equipment including dental chairs to cater to far flung barangays and also augment the lack of dentists in other rural areas of the region,” Janairo assured.

He said the regional office has already completed three batches of refresher course for dentists and is scheduled to conduct two more to complete the training of all public health dentists of CALABARZON. Dr. Edwina J. Go, Regional Oral Health Program Manager, the two-day course aims to promote oral health in the community, provide intervention including the use of fluoride varnish, pits and fissure sealants and tooth extraction for the reduction of tooth decay, especially among children and prophylaxis and restorative treatment for pregnant mothers, high school students, senior citizens.”

Public health dentists likewise were orientated on the Universal Health Care Law including the role of the public health dentist in the achievement of Universal Health Care and health promotion and preventive interventions for the planning of effective oral health programs.

Returning OFWs urged to avail selves of free school

By Maricel V. Cruz

RETURNING migrant workers who are not college graduates are encouraged to take advantage of the government’s tuition-free technical vocational education and training programs to enhance their skills.

Armed with the skills that they will receive from such programs, ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said the workers might seek higher paying jobs or put up their own businesses.

“Congress has set aside P3.9 billion this year so that Filipinos, including OFWs, who are not college graduates may freely enroll in state-run or accredited private TVET schools without having to pay for any tuition or miscellaneous fees,” said Bertiz.

Bertiz urged those aspiring to study for free in TVET schools to visit the website of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“In the TESDA website, returning OFWs can search for a new skill that they want to learn, and also find online the nearest school that offers the desired program for free,” Bertiz, a former OFW, said.

Zero tuition in TVET schools forms part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, according to Bertiz.

“Actually, tuition and other fees are now free not just in state universities and colleges, but also in government-run TVET institutions and even TESDA-registered private schools,” Bertiz said.

Bertiz cited some of the “highvalue” TVET programs available for free to all Filipinos, including returning OFWs and their family members: • Aircraft maintenance and technology; • Agricultural crops production; • Animal health care and management; • Animal production; • Animation and 3D animation; • Automotive servicing; • Bread and pastry production; • Computer systems servicing; • Cookery; • Dressmaking; • Electrical installation and maintenance; • Electronic products assembly and servicing; • Refrigeration and air-conditioning servicing; • Shielded metal and gas tungsten arc welding; and • Visual graphic design.

“We say high-value because there is great demand nowadays—both here and abroad—for human resources that can look after technical equipment or perform practical work—for people skilled in the technique of a craft or art,” Bertiz said.

“TVET program completers can easily sell their skills to prospective employers or, better yet, use their proficiencies to establish small taxexempt shops under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Law,” Bertiz said.

TVET is schooling that provides knowledge and competencies for immediate employment by combining formal, non-formal and informal learning.

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Liverpool FC launches official account on TikTok

Helterbrand joins Imus Bandera in MPBL IMUS—The Imus Bandera-Khaleb Shawarma/GLC has signed former PBA MVP and national team stalwart Jayjay Helterbrand for the upcoming 2019 MPBL Lakandula Cup, which will start on June 12, 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We’re happy to have finally signed Jayjay Helterbrand into our roster. His overall experience, basketball IQ, and leadership would definitely provide a huge boost for our bid in the upcoming season,” said Imus BanderaKhaleb Shawarma/GLC team manager Lou Abad. “Kaya kayang pa niya maglaro. As you can see, he is still well-conditioned given that he has not stopped in playing regularly sa iba’tibang mga liga. He can still keep up with the young guys.”

Helterbrand, a six-time champion and six-time PBA all-star, was the season Most Valuable Player of the 2009 PBA season. He was also a two-time All-Star MVP, two-time Mythical 1st Team selection, and the Finals MVP in the 2007 All-Filipino Cup. With a much-decorated 16-year PBA career, Helterbrand has been named as one of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History.

The 42-year-old guard will join a stacked roster composed of the likes of MC Caceres, Chad Alonzo, James Martinez, Mikee Reyes, Floyd Dedicatoria, Khasim Mirza, Mark Doligon, Gelo Vito, and Jarrell Lim. Budds Reyes will be the head coach of the Imus Bandera squad.

Helterbrand will also join two-way guard Gerald Anderson, who emerged as one of the league’s top defensive players after finishing in the Top 10 in steals per game last season.

“We’re thrilled to have Jayjay Helterbrand and Gerald Anderson play side-by-side with each other. Their additions, along with the other players that we have, will surely bolster our squad,” said Abad.

Creamline nips BaliPure in PVL Game Saturday

(Iloilo City) 4 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs Creamline

CREAMLINE slowed down in the third frame but still found a way to subdue a luckless BaliPure side, 25-19, 25-18, 2523, and firm up its hold of the second spot in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Alyssa Valdez took over from imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Aleoscar Blanco, blasting in 12 kills and adding four aces for a 16-point performance as the Cool Smashers racked up their fourth straight victory after an opening day stumble to the PetroGazz Angels to close out their first round elims campaign at second.

Kaewpin backed her up with 11 points while Blanco added nine markers for the defending champions who will head next to Iloilo for the league’s first outof-town game on Saturday against the BanKo-Perlas Spikers.

The Angels, who are playing with the Perlas Spikers at presstime, face the Water Defenders while the Motolite Power Builders and the PacificTown Army Lady Troopers tangle in Imus, Cavite on Sunday.

With Jia Morado ably providing the set plays for Creamline’s hitters, the Cool Smashers took the first two sets in lopsided fashions with coach Tai Bundit trying different combinations. But the Water Defenders parlayed their fancied rivals’ slow start in the third and wrested control at 10-4, only to crumble in the face of the Cool Smashers’ strong comeback.

Eric Fermin, Max’s COO, left, POC secretary-general Patrick Gregorio and Robert Trota, Max’s president and CEO, right, seal the deal with a fist-bump.

POC, athletes get boost from OCA, Toyota Motors P HILIPPINE Olympic Committee secretary-general Patrick Gregorio announced yesterday that the Olympic Council of Asia has approved the release of the equivalent of P1.5 million for the purchase of an official transport for the POC.

For their part, Toyota Motor Philippines has agreed to cover the cost of the balance of a 29-seater Toyota Coaster, listed at P3.453M “This is part of our marketing efforts per instruction of POC president Ricky Vargas. Our marching orders were to source P100M in sponsorships and we are already at 90% of that goal after only a little over a year. We are confident that we will hit the target by end 2019”, Gregorio said.

Shortly after Vargas took over the POC reins last year, a total of P76M went into the POC coffers from San Miguel Corporation (P50M), MVP Sports Foundation (P20M) and the Philippine Basketball Association (P6M).

Summit Water and Milo also affirmed

their continued support with their sponsorships of P1M and P1.225M, respectively.

Alfrancis Chua, San Miguel Corporation sports director said in a statement: “We have a lot of respect for Mr. Vargas who is also our chairman in the PBA. Although our teams are fierce rivals on the court, he has always conducted himself with fairness, competence and professionalism.”

“This is why San Miguel Corporation, through our president Mr. Ramon S. Ang, did not think twice in showing full support to Pres. Ricky’s programs in the POC”, Chua added.

The Max’s Group Inc (MGI) also recently committed a P10.5M sponsorship for athletes who will compete in the 2020

Tokyo Olympics, with the amount going not only to the athletes, but also to their families.

MGI president and CEO Robert Trota said “what better way to support Filipino athletes than to help them raise the country’s flag in international competitions?

We share the vision of the POC and we are confident that under Pres. Vargas’ leadership, the athletes will benefit directly.”

Gregorio is enthusiastic at the private sector’s generosity.

“All these will go to the athletes, who are the centrepiece of Mr. Vargas’ programs. As a matter of fact, a total of P14.9M from the sponsorships, was given out as incentives to medalists in the last Asian Games and Youth Olympics. And we can do a lot more if only we could isolate sports from politics. I hope our fellow sports leaders would realize this”, Gregorio concluded.

Recently, all NSAs with athletes competing in the SEA Games received P100K each from the POC as assistance for their training expenses.

Unknown Jaraula forces 4-way tie for lead MURCIA, Negros Occidental—Unheralded Reymon Jaraula stood out from a star-studded group that teed off late, spiking his lead-sharing five-under 65 with an eagle as he joined Michael Bibat, Rufino Bayron and Spain’s Marcos Pastor at the helm at the start of the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge here yesterday.

Jaraula ripped the Bacolod Golf Club’s backside with four straight birdies from No. 12 then bounced back from a bogey on No. 17 with an eagle on the par-5 No. 5 as he turned in a 33-32 card to find himself a bewildered co-leader for only the second time in a young career, one ahead of another unfancied bet in Richard Sinfuego.

But the rising Del Monte star, who tied for 18th in last week’s Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational won by Dutch Guido Van der Valk in wire-to-wire fashion, will need three more solid rounds to realize a dream finish with a mix of talents likewise launching their respective title drives at the par-70 layout in impressive fashions.

“My driving was quite okay but I struggled a bit with my putting,” said the soft-spoken Jaraula, who, however, missed the fairway on No. 17 and muffed a couple of birdie putts at the front.

Bibat, seeking to end a long title spell, scorched the frontside with five straight birdies and bucked a two-birdie, two-bogey game at the back to put himself in contention after finishing joint second at CFdC in Danao City.

“I played well, stayed focused and didn’t mind the scores of the rest,” said Bibat, who rued his being impatient at the back that led to bogeys on Nos. 10 and 17. “But I had a good game overall and got some good breaks.”

In contrast, Bayron leaned on a fiery backside of five birdies in the last eight holes to card a 35-30 in a big rebound to a floundering finish of 76 that dropped him to joint 16th in Cebu last week.

“I struggled with my driving and putting in the first nine holes, missed the fairways and greens on Nos. 6 and 7. But I hit my stride at the back and made the putts,” said Bayron, who turned what had been a so-so game into a flourishing finish with four straight birdies from No. 14.

Reymon Jaraula putts his way to a share of the lead at 65

Pastor launched his bid at the back and eagled the par-5 15th then birdied Nos. 18, 1 and 7 to turn in a bogey-free 33-32 round on a day where the lesser lights upstaged the fancied players in the P2.5 million championship put up by ICTSI at the short but tricky layout that yielded a number of eagles for the long hitters but punished those with wayward shots.

The Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (Foreign) topnotcher last February could’ve actually grabbed solo control if not for his flubbed birdie chances from close range.

“My driving and irons are very good but had some problems with my putter and missed at least five birdie chances from clublength distance,” said Pastor, who broke par just once at the par71 Club Filipino de Cebu layout and tied for 22nd.

Undermanned CEU Scorpions continue magical D-League run THE Centro Escolar University Scorpions continue to fend off adversity, finding ways to win despite having only eight players in their roster.

And while most were expecting the eventual exit of the Derrick Pumarenmentored squad, it looks like such will only happen once the 2019 PBA DLeague champion is crowned.

Even better, the Scorpions could have a chance at being champions although they face a mighty task ahead facing AteneoCignal—a team that Pumaren considers

the best in the land right now.

“We are facing the number one college team in the land. With CEU, I think (probably outside the NCAA and the UAAP) we were able to prove that we can go as far with them thanks to our basketball program,” said Pumaren Obviously, the perennial underdogs when they face the Blue Eagles on June 13 at the Arena in San Juan, the Scorpions are expected to enter the court as they would in any normal basketball game.

For Pumaren, making it this far is already

like winning the championship given the team’s current predicament.

“Yes, I think for me parang nag champion na kami. Biruin mo seven lang kami tapos umabot pa kami dito (PBA D-League Finals),” said Pumaren who could not explain this magical run of CEU. The veteran coach also revealed that he and team officials sat down with the remaining players and reminded them about the importance of sticking to the system and playing their hearts out once the game buzzer sounds.

“I was able to sell them the system kahit undermanned kami at na kaya pa naming manalo. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, when you step on the floor, it is all about winning. When the buzzer starts, it’s still five-on-five. It’s not 15 vs. 8, it is still five on five,” said Pumaren.

Looking ahead of that PBA D-League Finals matchup, Pumaren admits that they have their work cut out for them against Ateneo-Cignal. He admits that anything can happen—including pulling off some victories against a powerhouse Blue Eagles squad.

LIVERPOOL FC has launched its official account on TikTok, the world’s leading destination for short-form video.

The club, which has become the first Premier League side to join and create content for the popular video sharing platform, will use the app to reach and engage with new audiences online, particularly younger fans.

The new account, @liverpoolfc, will share short videos and behind-the-scenes footage from around the club, including training ground moments, entertaining clips and stand-out goal celebrations from the first team players.

Available on iOS and Android, TikTok enables everyone to be a creator and encourages users to share their passion and creativity through their videos. TikTok is currently available in over 150 markets, and in 75 languages, with a robust localisation strategy to encourage users to create and interact with content that is culturally relevant.

LFC already reaches over 66 million fans via social media, with a presence on a range of global platforms which cater to fans across the world. It recently became the first Premier League football club to reach two million subscribers on YouTube, making the account one of world football’s leading YouTube channels.

Markus Breglec, Senior Vice President Marketing and Media at Liverpool F.C., said: “We’re always looking for creative and innovative ways to strengthen our close ties and engage with our fans around the world. Today we are proud to launch our new official channel on TikTok - we see a lot of potential to reach a new and younger audience with interesting, engaging video content.”

Normanno Pisani, Partnership Manager at TikTok, said: “We are honoured to have such a legendary team on TikTok and to be able to support them in sharing their amazing stories. Liverpool FC has always created incredible content to connect with its fans around the world. With TikTok’s unique format, we believe fans will be able to enjoy this content in a fun and engaging way.”

In early 2018, TikTok was one of the most downloaded apps in the world and is committed to building a fun, positive and embracing community by encouraging users to share their passion and creativity through 15-second videos.

Corpus grabs lead with 72 CARL Corpus pounced on Aidric Chan’s shocking frontside meltdown then outshot the erstwhile leader at the back to overcome a six-stroke deficit and move up by one with a 72 in a topsy-turvy third round at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac yesterday that also saw five others dispute the third and last berth in the 2019 SEA Games men’s team.

Corpus fumbled with a 37 after nine holes but Chan fared a lot worse with two double bogeys and two bogeys in an atrocious start for the reigning national junior champion who had appeared to be in firm control after staying 6-up over the former after Tuesday’s round.

Chan actually moved up by two again with a birdie on No. 11 but bogeyed the 14th and Corpus surged ahead on a clutch two-shot swing (birdie-bogey) on the par-5 No. 16, finishing with a gutsy 37-35 for a 500 heading to the final 18 holes of the gruelling eight-round elims for the three spots for the national team vying in this year’s SEA Games organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Chan, who had led the chase after the third round of the first of two-part elims, limped with a 79 and slipped to second at 501.

“My game was nothing of the extraordinary. I just kept my cool and took advantage of the good breaks while making the most of the bad (breaks),” said Corpus, an incoming San Jose State University in California, who hit one birdie against two bogeys at the front then birdied the par-5 16th and parred the rest to save an even-par round.

Chan, who looked a cinch for top honors with a 66 and 70 in the fifth and sixth rounds, dropped two strokes each on Nos. 1 and 3 and bogeyed No. 6 and 9 before yielding the lead with a closing 37 for that seven-over card.

Despite his skid, the Univ. of Arizonabound Chan vowed to strike back and re-claim his place on top.

“All the aspects of my game turned off. But it’s helpful for me to know what to work on,” said Chan.

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

Kevin Durant

KD injury rocks NBA free agency

NorthPort Batang Pier masked man Moala Tautua (7) drives to drive through three Magnolia Hotshots defenders, from right: Rodney Brondial, James Farr and Robbie Herndon. PBA Media

Galedo eyes rival Cariño’s LeTour crown

NorthPort beats Magnolia, 102-99, to grab share of lead

By Peter Atencio

By Reuel Vidal

MARK Galedo is looking forward to another crown in this year’s Le Tour de Filipinas.

And he could take the glory away from defending champion El Joshua Cariño.

“Kung may pagkakataon. Bakit hindi. Sana maulit. Ito ang tsansa ko na makalaro ulit,” said Galedo, who last won it in 2014.

Now riding for Celeste Cycle, Galedo gets ready to see action when the five-day Le Tour de Filipinas 2019 cycling competitions fires off on Friday in Tagaytay City.

Cariño, who will don the national team jersey and won’t ride for Standard Insurance-Philippine Navy, will be looking for a second straight title, and as he prepares for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“Mas matindi ang karera ngayon. Pero, handa kami,” said Cariño.

Stage 1 on Friday will be a short and demanding 129.5-kilometer Stage 1 on an out-and-back course in Tagaytay City.

After that, 75 riders from 15 teams will be in for a bigger challenge in Stage 2.

And that’s the 194.9-km ride from Pagbilao, Quezon, to Daet, Camarines Norte.

The second lap, the Le Tour’s longest route, is considered by most experts as the “killer lap,” even as organizers celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the bikefest.

This Category 2.2 event is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

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.

O STANLEY Pringle. No problem The NorthPort Batang Pier hardly felt the absence of star player Stanley Pringle by relying on their height and heft advantage to build a big lead then survived the Magnolia Hotshots rally to prevail, 102-99, yesterday June 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

N

Marc Barroca and Paul Lee each drilled a three-pointer to cut the NorthPort lead to just five points, 96-91, but Sean Anthony countered with a jumper during NorthPort’s next play to hike the lead back to seven points, 98-91, with just 1:05 to go in the game.

Ian Sanggalang then scored from underneath followed by two free throws

by Justin Melton which cut the NorthPort lead to just three points, 98-95, with still 35 seconds left to play.

Sean Anthony then converted four free throws against field goals by Marc Barroca and James Farr to preserve the 102-99 victory.

Anthony finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and five steals to win Player of the Game honors.

With the win the Batang Pier (5 wins, 1 loss) climbed into a tie at the top of the standings of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup with the Blackwater

Elite (5-1). The other teams include the TNT KaTropa (4-1), the Alaska Aces (4-2), the Meralco Bolts (3-3), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-2) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-2), Bringing up the rear are the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters (1-3), the Columbian Dyip (1-3), the Hotshots (0-2), the San Miguel Beermen (0-2) and the NLEX Road Warriors (0-5).

TNT and Ginebra are playing as we went to press.

Jonathan Grey and Moala Tautuaa each drilled a three-pointer to fuel a 9-2 NorthPort run which turned a 39-41 deficit into a five-point, 48-43, advantage at halftime.

The Batang Pier continued the assault in the third to hike their advantage to as much as 14 points before settling for an eight-point, 70-62, lead after three quarters.

Racasa climbs to top of standings in Asean chess

WORLD’S HIGHEST PAID ATHLETE. Argentina’s Lionel Messi,

here taking part in a training session at Manuel Barradas Stadium in Brazil, is the world’s highest paid athlete over the past year according to Forbes magazine. AFP

THE Philippines’ youngest Woman Fide Master (WFM) Antonella Berthe “Tonelle” Murillo Racasa outlasted compatriot Ruelle “Tawing” Canino of Cagayan de Oro City to assume solo leadership after three rounds of the 20th Asean + Age Group Chess Championships 2019 on Tuesday at the Golden Mandalay Hotel and Hotel Hazel in Mandalay City, Myanmar.

The win enabled the Mandaluyong City bet Racasa to raise her score to three points in three outings and grab the lead for the top position in the Under-12 girls’ division of the standard time control format.

“Antonella Berthe beat Ruelle in Round 3 after 50 moves of Modern defense.

Praise God for this victory,” said father/ coach Roberto Racasa.

The eight-time Illinois USA chess champion International Master (IM) Angelo Young, the country’s representative in the 2019 Bucharest, Romania World Seniors Chess Championships had something said, “ May you lead our youth in giving honors and good examples and your sacrifices to our nation will be more fruitful and successful.”

Racasa’s Myanmar trip is sponsored

by Hermie Esguerra of Herma Group of Companies, Makati Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Rose Montenegro and Rogelio Lim of

Rotary Club of Pasig.

She was also supported by Boni Tower, Philippine Constructors Association Metro Manila Chapter and sportsman Reli De Leon as she takes on Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Nghi in the fourth round.

Antonella Berthe who is celebrating her 12th birthday on Wednesday also beat Moe Thu Aung of Myanmar in Round 1 and another Pinay entry Jersey Marticio in Round 2.

PH chess wizards Oshrie Jhames Reyes of Dila Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga, meantime defeated countryman Herson Bangay of Lipa City, Batangas to create a three-way tie for second with 2.5 points after three games of play in the Under-8 Boys’ open division. Also with 2.5 points are Nguyen Nghia Gia Binh and Nguyen Manh Duc of Vietnam.

The seven-year-old Reyes, a Grade 3 pupil of GNC Montessori in Guagua, Pampanga, will face tournament solo leader Duong Vu Anh of Vietnam in Round 4. Duong beat Vivaan Vijay Saraogi of India to notch perfect 3.0 points.

PH chess genius Al-Basher “Basty” Buto of Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal dismantled Doan The Duc of Vietnam to scored 3.0 points and share the lead with Nguyen Thai Son of Vietnam in the Under-10 Boys’ open division.

Warriors face must-win game against Raptors OAKLAND, United States—Inspired by injured teammate Kevin Durant and facing an emotional must-win game, the Golden State Warriors are counting upon resiliency and fighting spirit to stay alive in the NBA Finals.

Defending champion Golden State, seeking a third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons, entertains Toronto in game six Thursday needing a victory to pull level at 3-3 and force a game seven Sunday at Toronto.

“We’re going to have to will ourselves for another 48 minutes to stay alive,”

Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “And whatever it’s going to take from every single guy in our jersey.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a speech in the locker room, if there’s going to need to be words at all. We understand the moment and I think we can rally.”

Durant, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, sat out a month with a right calf injury before making a return in game five Monday only to go down with a right Achilles tendon injury, needing help to leave the court and

crutches to exit the arena.

The 30-year-old superstar’s brief comeback effort, leading the Warriors in the playoffs with 34.2 points a game, has provided extra motivation for the teammates who saw him give everything he had in the championship quest.

“We’ll be suiting up in front of Oracle Arena and with the amazing atmosphere and opportunity to play for him, and to kind of honor the sacrifice he made in terms of putting his body on the line,” Curry said. AFP

Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) reacts to a call while playing against the Toronto Raptors in Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals. AFP

OAKLAND, United States—When Kevin Durant fell to the court with a right Achilles injury, he sent shockwaves across the NBA, some teams having prepared for years to make him huge free agent offers in July.

Now the Golden State Warriors superstar forward is looking at a year of intense rehabilitation and another season working his way back to peak form, changing the dynamic of where dozens of top players might play next season.

Durant, who missed the past month with a right calf injury, suffered a right Achilles tendon injury in Golden State’s 106-105 NBA Finals victory over Toronto on Monday, pulling the Warriors within 3-2 in the best-ofseven series.

Suddenly the landscape of decision making has changed under NBA salary cap rules, the first domino expected to fall having been Durant’s choice.

Now maybe he doesn’t opt out of his Warriors contract and takes $31.5 million to rehabilitate in familiar surroundings with teammates who see him as a “brother.”

“We miss him. That’s our brother,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson, himself a free agent come July.

“This is the best player in the world.

With him we are really one of the greatest teams to ever play.”

Or maybe he’s unhappy about how he was used by the Warriors while hurt and is pushed to leave even more, having already been 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in winning his first two league crowns.

Then there is the market of NBA clubs. Do they risk a maximum offer to an injured Durant who might never again be the same dominating player he has been?

The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are among clubs that have made moves for years to clear cap room for this moment. But Durant’s impact on the court is delayed at least a year if not longer.

Durant, who turns 31 in September, jilted Oklahoma City and star playmaker Russell Westbrook to join the Warriors after the 2016 campaign.

His fate will still impact the next teams for such stars as Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard, who can opt out of his contract even if he leads the Raptors to the NBA crown, plus Boston’s Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler.

Teams might also work harder for a deal with New Orleans for star big man Anthony Davis rather than take a Durant risk. AFP

Filipina chases Olympic berth in archery FILIPINO bet Kareel Hongitan stayed in contention for an Olympic berth.

Hongitan advanced into the last 32 of the women’s individual recurve after beating two rivals in the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships in the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

According to the tournament’s official website, the 79th seeded Hongitan got past her first two matches in the Olympic Round.

And this made her the last remaining bet of the five-man national recurve squad.

The 21-year-old Hongitan upset 34th seed Melanie Gaubil of France, 6-2.

She also had a 6-2 outcome when she upended World Cup gold medalist Peng Chia Mao Chinese Taipei.

Hongitan, who came up with her best finish in a world level competition was 9th during the 2015 World Cup in Shanghai, will now test her skills against multi World Cup gold medalist, an Olympic bronze winner, and second seed Lei Chie Ying, Lei is also from Chinese Taipei.

Hongitan is looking forward to entering the semifinals.

If she is able to do this, Hongitan will earn and Olympic berth to next year’s Tokyo Games. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF Foreign tourist arrivals increased 12% in April INTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals in April hit 662,987, up 12 percent from over 591,137 visitors year-on-year, the Tourism Department reported Wednesday.

The top five markets, according to data released by the department, were China with 139,177, up by 26.8 percent; Korea with 130,707 or an increase of 13.7 percent; US with 87,710, up 2.5 percent; Japan with 57,724, or 17.8 percent higher; and Australia with 28,683, up 13.4 percent.

“With the heightened marketing initiatives with the private sector and travel trade counterparts in the various markets, improved connectivity arising from new flights, additional frequencies and expanded capacity brought about by new and upgraded airports, we anticipate more visitors to keep this upward trend sustained,” said Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Meanwhile, foreign visitorsin the first four months totaled 2,867,551, up 8.6 percent from 2,642,241 on year.

“We also attribute increased travel movement and consumption to continued efforts in developing new and existing tourism circuits all over the country in pursuit of sustainable tourism,” Puyat said. Othel V. Campos

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

PLDT pushes sale of main office building in Makati City

Grab,Citi launch first credit card venture GRAB, Southeast Asia’s leading super app, has teamed up with Citi to introduce their first and exclusive co-branded credit card in the Philippines.

The new Citi Grab co-branded credit card allows both companies to benefit from each other’s respective strengths.

For Grab, the ride sharing app will be able to offer its users credit card benefits and rewards and extend its offering to Citi’s cardholder base in the Philippines.

“Citi has been a long-term partner since 2016 and there is great synergy between both Citi and Grab. The Citi Grab credit card is a natural next step as we create more value for our digital first, always in GrabPay users,” said Huey Tyng Ooi, managing director of GrayPay Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

“This will bring us one step further in realizing our vision of becoming the leading everyday super app in SEA (Southeast Asia),” she added. Darwin G. Amojelar

Diokno: BSP backs fintech innovations BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said pushing for the responsible use of financial technology remains a priority agenda of the regulator because of its significant impact to financial inclusion efforts of the government.

In front of a diverse audience comprised of both public and private fintech stakeholders, Diokno talked about the BSP’s policy goals on financial innovation, safety and resilience, and consumer protection during the Bank of Thailand and International Monetary Fund highlevel conference held recently.

“The adoption of fintech innovations has provided support to the BSP’s thrust to foster a responsive, efficient, and inclusive financial system. Because of this, fostering the responsible use of fintech is a priority agenda of the BSP,” Diokno said in his speech.

Diokno also shared insights on the BSP’s financial technology roadmap band and how it addresses the 12 policy considerations laid out in the Bali Fintech Agenda. Julito G. Rada

SEC defers rules on initial coin offerings

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission has again delayed the issuance of rules on initial coin offerings and sale of cryptocurrencies to the second half of 2019.

SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said in an interview the corporate regulator wanted to thoroughly review the new ICO rules that would pave the way for the legal sale of cryptocurrencies in the country, citing they could be used as another form of investment scams.

“We want that out (ICO rules) because these are additional investment products.

But we are also concerned because some investment scams are saying that they are into cryptocurrencies. So we may be adding more problems and we don’t want to do that,” Aquino said. “But definitely we want that out soonest.”

ICOs refer to the distributed ledger technology fundraising operations involving the issuance of tokens in return for cash, other cryptocurrencies or other assets.

They involve coins (or tokens) being issued in order to raise money from the general public through online platforms.

The SEC earlier warned the public about investing in several companies engaged in selling cryptocurrencies, which are not registered with the corporate regulator.

The SEC initially planned to finalize the ICO rules in 2018. However, it decided to defer it to the second quarter of 2019 pending further public consultations.

Under the draft circular issued in August, the SEC will assess an ICO in two stages—the initial assessment and registration proper.

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ePLDT-SCHNEIDER DEAL. ePLDT Inc. signs a partnership agreement with Schneider Electric Philippines for the transformation of its first purpose-built data center in the country. Sealing the agreement with a handshake are Nerissa Ramos (left), senior vice president and chief operating officer of ePLDT, and Alex Vermot, country president of Schneider. With them are Richard Lagcao (leftmost), services director of Schneider, and Dave Simon, chief technology officer and cloud and data center business operations head of ePLDT.

Tugade rushes work on Sangley Air Base

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

RANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the 24/7 construction of Sangley Airport in Cavite to meet the operational timeline set by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tugade ordered the hiring of additional manpower, the implementation of extended working hours and the infusion of additional equipment starting June 13 to ease congestion in main airport Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“Whatever it takes, we need to make sure that the directive of the President is delivered. Hire more manpower to work 24/7,” he said.

President Duterte on Tuesday ordered the transfer of domestic flights from Naia to Sangley Air Base to ease airport congestion.

“The President directed the operations in Sangley Point to start immediately,”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said. The President wanted the Sangley Airbase to accommodate domestic flights by November.

He said this was a month earlier than Tugade’s target to transfer the domestic flights from Naia to Sangley Airbase by December.

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 prom-

ised passengers for the government to come up with a remedy within a month.

Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez met with members of Task Force Sangley on June 12 in compliance with Tugade’s directive for the accelerated construction of the Sangley Airport, In attendance were representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Philippine Air Force, the ferry system, and the project contractor.

Lopez reported that critical developments in the project were well under way. These include the runway, apron, Passenger Terminal Building, its power supply, drainage system and site development.

Lopez further relayed Tugade’s instructions to CAAP to work closely with the DOTr on the civil works so that the support facilities can be immediately incorporated for the airport to commence operations at the soonest time possible.

PLDT Inc. is pushing through with a plan to sell properties in Makati City to fund the building of its headquarters in the southern part of Metro Manila.

PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said the company was selling the Ramon Cojuango Building general office at the corner of Makati Ave. and Ayala Ave. and its Smart Tower.

“The sale of the properties will fund most of he requirements for the new campus,” he said.

The new headquarters would be similar to those built by Google and Facebook in the US. Pangilinan, however, said no decision was reached yet for the final location of its new headquarter.

“Its a big debate internally, I can’t decide because it affects a lot of people—staff, suppliers or vendors. If we move to the south or in the north, it’s too far,” he said.

PLDT earlier reported a net income of P6.7 billion in the first quarter of the year, down 3 percent year-on-year.

The country’s largest telecom company said core net income rose 6 percent to P7.2 billion as consolidated service revenues climbed 7 percent to P38 billion in the three-month period.

PLDT set a core profit target of P26 billion.

Service revenues of three major business groups, which accounted for 94 percent of total service revenues, reached P35.8 billion, up 12 percent from the same quarter in 2018.

The 12-percent increase was higher than the 6-percent growth registered in the whole of 2018.

Data and broadband service revenues grew 21 percent to P24.4 billion and accounted for 68 percent of total service revenues excluding international operations.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PH pork producers to benefit from Johnsonville plan

By Othel Campos SALES of local pork producers may receive a boost from the proposed local facility of sausage producer Johnsonville LLC. The US-based company is teaming up with the processed meat producing unit of Frabelle Fishing Corp. for the exclusive distribution of Johnsonville meat products in the Philippines.

The joint venture company, Frabelle Corp., is looking at several options to expand the partnership in the near future. This may

include housing the production of Johnsonville products in Frabelle’s manufacturing plant in Caloocan City.

“The high tax and tariff on imported products coming from the US most certainly did influence Johnsonville producing here. It’s a 40 percent tariff coming in today out of US for sausages. If we could produce here, we can offer much more economic solutions for the sausage category on the high-end,” said Frabelle Corp. president Nick Meriggioli.

Johnsonville is categorized as a

super premium sausage brand and uses 100 percent pork without any extenders or mechanically deboned meat, unlike those in low-priced and mid-ranged hotdog makers in the Philippines.

Johnsonville officials conceded that the brand could possibly be the most expensive of all imported sausages sold in the domestic market.

Once the products are locally produced, the joint venture may reduce pricing to remain competitive with other imported brands.

Wisconsin-based Johnsonville is

top national sausage brand in the US producing brats, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links, breakfast sausage, summer sausage and meatballs.

Johnsonville products are served in over 130 professional, college and semi-pro sports stadiums throughout the US. It is present in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Meanwhile, Frabelle Fishing is a local-company based in Manila.

It is engaged in diverse business lines, primarily in fishing, seafood processing, meat products, shipbuilding, energy and real estate.

DoF wooing lawmakers on tax reform bills

By Julito G. Rada THE Department of Finance plans to communicate better with lawmakers in the 18th Congress so that the remaining packages of the Duterte administration’s tax reform program will be passed into law by the end of the year, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Dominguez in a recent executive committee meeting ordered DoF officials to study ways of actively engaging lawmakers in the incoming Congress to speed up the approval of the rest of the Duterte administration’s tax reform packages.

He also listed the DoF’s priorities when a new set of lawmakers assumes office in the 18th Congress on July 22.

The legislative priorities include increasing tax collections by collecting the right amount of taxes from Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and their foreign employees; ensuring that the Bureau of the Treasury is functioning well; and privatizing idle state assets.

The government is also collecting unpaid obligations due Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and further increasing the dividend contributions of government-owned and -controlled corporations.

Dominguez instructed DoF officials to accelerate the full implementation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the fuel marking program, and to assist in the proper implementation of the rice tariffication law.

“We have to improve our engagement with the legislature, and we have to get it more organized. We have to get our tax reform packages passed by the end of this year,” Dominguez said during the meeting.

The rest of the tax reform packages include Package 2, which aims to lower the corporate income tax and modernize the fiscal incentives regime; Package 3, which institutes reforms in the property valuation system; and Package 4, which rationalizes capital income taxation.

SM CDO DOWNTOWN OFFICE. SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Philippines’ leading integrated property company through its business unit, SM Offices, announces the launching of SM CDO Downtown Office in Cagayan de Oro. SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier Mall also opened its doors to the public on May 12, 2017. It is SM Prime Holding’s 61st mall, the sixth in Mindanao, and the second in Cagayan de Oro.

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Business

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Asian markets fall; HK stocks battered

H

ONG KONG―Asian markets fell Wednesday after two days of healthy gains with Hong Kong the worst performer, sinking two percent as a huge protest paralyzed key roads in the city and a number of local businesses shut up shop.

Profit takers moved in while investors keep a nervous eye on developments in the China-US trade saga and an expected meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan this month.

The US president repeated on Tuesday that he expects to hold a face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Osaka and said Beijing wanted a deal “very badly.”

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross tempered expectations the leaders would reach an agreement by saying the meeting could lead to progress but not a “definitive agreement.” However, he said he was

confident an agreement would be reached eventually.

The comments out of Washington were keeping traders on edge, though a broad narrative of central bank easing―with the Federal Reserve tipped to begin cutting interest rates and the European Union sticking to a softer outlook―is providing much-needed support.

“While there was only a sliver of hope a deal would get done before the G20, (Trump’s) comments hardly suggest he’s heading to Osaka in the most agreeable spirits,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets.

“Investors are clinging on to hope, buttressed by significant central bank backstops, that the G20 can somehow pull a rabbit out of the hat and as such don’t want to be caught short if the event produces a (trade) deal.”

Tokyo shed 0.4 percent, Singapore down 0.4 percent and Wellington 0.1 percent off. Mumbai and Jakarta were also well down while Sydney was marginally off.

Shanghai closed 0.6 percent lower, while Hong Kong sank two percent as the city was rocked by a demonstration by tens of thousands of people against government plans for a controversial extradition law.

Major thoroughfares were blocked by the protests as lawmakers prepared to debate the bill, which would allow extraditions to China and that many fear will hammer Hong Kong’s reputation as an inter-

national business hub.

Transport, social work and teaching unions have either called on their members to not go to work or encouraged them to attend the protests, while a bus driver union said it would call on staff to drive slower than usual.

“Uncertainty on local policies will confuse investors and affect the flows in and out of Hong Kong stocks,” Ronald Wan, chief executive of Partners Capital International, told Bloomberg News.

“Investors now need to ponder whether or not to pull out of the market given the local events and global factors including the trade war.”

The Hong Kong dollar strengthened as the rate banks charge each other to borrow cash―known as the Hong Kong Interbank Borrowing Rate (Hibor)―rose to its highest since 2008 as lenders pulled cash out of the financial system. The rate

has been rising for days.

Some observers suggested the increase in Hibor could be down to concerns about fund outflows from the city, though others suggested the money was being used to pay dividends or to meet seasonal demand, which often happens in June. Alibaba’s flagged initial public offering has also been tipped to suck up liquidity, experts said.

On oil markets both main contracts sank nearly two percent after US data pointed to a jump in US stockpiles, exacerbating worries about oversupply and weakening demand.

“Oil prices have struggled to retain bullish gains as traders stay cautious over heightened geopolitical risks and persistent weakness in the global economic backdrop,” said Benjamin Lu, commodities analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore.

AFP

Big brands break vow not to destroy forests

By Patrick Galey PARIS―A rainforest area the size of Spain will be destroyed by firms growing consumer staples like palm oil in the decade to 2020, industry’s self-imposed deadline to end deforestation, Greenpeace said Tuesday.

Some of the world’s largest consumer brands―including Nestle and Unilever―had pledged in 2010 to reach net zero deforestation within a decade through “responsible sourcing” of cattle, palm oil, soya and other commodities.

But since that pledge was signed, the pace of deforestation linked to commodities has increased “dramatically” and helped destroy at least 50 million hectares of forest, according to a new analysis carried out by Greenpeace.

“These companies are destroying our children’s future by driving us towards climate and ecological collapse,” said Anna Jones, global project lead for forests at Greenpeace UK. “They’ve wasted a decade on half-measures and in that time, vast areas of the natural world have been destroyed.”

Since 2010, the area of Brazilian rainforest planted with soya― which is used to feed animals sold for meat―has increased by 45 percent.

In Indonesia, palm oil production is up three quarters since the start of the decade and the footprint of cocoa production in the Ivory Coast has surged 80 percent, said the charity.

Bob Watson, chair of the UN’s IPBES biodiversity panel that warned in April that one million species are threatened with extinction, said in a foreword to Tuesday’s report that the world’s agricultural system is “broken.”

“If we keep producing food using current unsustainable agricultural practices, we will undermine future food production,” he said.

A double threat The 2015 Paris agreement on climate aims to limit global temperature

rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) and to 1.5C if possible.

To do so, nations must drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, yet those emissions continue to rise year-on-year.

Rainforests currently absorb up to 30 percent of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions and are vital hotspots of biodiversity, containing plants from which around a quarter of all medical drugs are made.

Cutting them down provides a double threat to the environment: it removes a vital sink for planet-warming gases in our atmosphere and produces more carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide used and expelled by industrial-scale agriculture.

The global meat industry alone is estimated to account for as much as 18 percent of all man-made emissions. Meat consumption is forecast to soar 76 percent by mid-century and emissions from livestock expected to rise in lockstep.

In addition, labyrinthine global supply chains, including processing and shipping, pump ever more greenhouse gases into the air with very little oversight from governments or monitors.

The most recent assessment by Global Forest Watch said the world lost tree cover of 24.8 million hectares in 2018―an area around the size of Britain.

Greenpeace accused firms of failing to follow through on their pledges to reduce the ruinous environmental impact their business plans were having.

“They should be in crisis talks right now, but they’re still trying to grow demand for products that will drive forest destruction even further,” said Jones.

The Consumer Goods Forum, which meets this week in Vancouver, told AFP that its members stood by their promises to work towards net zero deforestation.

“But over the last nine years we have also learned that the forces driving deforestation are more complex than almost any stakeholder realized in 2010,” it said. AFP

Since 2010, the area of Brazilian rainforest planted with soya—which is used to feed animals sold for meat—increased 45 percent. AFP

The Bell Nexus concept ‘flying car’ is shown at the Uber Elevate summit in Washington, DC on June 11, 2019, one of several that will make up a fleet of electric aircraft Uber expects to deploy by 2023. Uber on June 11 selected Mebourne, Australia, as the first non-US city for its aerial ridesharing service expected to launch in 2023 as it unveiled new partners for the ambitious initiative. AFP

China inflation rate climbs to highest Uber picks Melbourne in flying plan level in 15 months BEIJING―Inflation in China rose to its highest level in more than a year in May driven by surges in pork and fruit prices caused by the African swine fever epidemic and bad weather, official data showed Wednesday.

But while prices are increasing, demand remains weak because of the trade war with the United States and economic uncertainty.

The consumer price index (CPI)―a key gauge of retail inflation―hit 2.7 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, compared with 2.5 percent in April and the highest since February 2018.

The data was in line with a forecast of analysts polled by Bloomberg News.

The rise was “largely the result of renewed acceleration in food price inflation,” and pork supply disruptions caused by African swine fever, Capital Economics said in a note.

Millions of pigs have been culled recently as the disease cuts through China and beyond, devastating global food chains and impacting pork prices from the food markets of Hong Kong to US dinner tables.

The price of pork soared 18.2 percent in May, China’s NBS said. The price of fresh fruit on-year was up 26.7 percent as bad weather hammered supplies.

Beijing’s official statistics say around one million pigs have been killed since the first outbreak in August―but that is widely considered to be an underestimate.

The producer price index (PPI), an important indicator of domestic demand, hit 0.6 percent in May, from 0.9 percent the previous month.

Economic “growth could slow further on escalating US-China trade tensions,” Nomura International said in a note.

“We expect Beijing to undertake further easing/stimulus measures to bolster confidence and to stabilize growth.”

US President Donald Trump is expected to meet China’s Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan this month to discuss the long-running trade row, but US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has warned that it will not be a stage for a “definitive agreement.” AFP

WASHINGTON―Uber on Tuesday selected Melbourne, Australia, as the first non-US city for its aerial ride-sharing service that is expected to launch in 2023, as it unveiled new partners for the ambitious initiative.

Melbourne was named the third official pilot city for Uber Air, joining Dallas and Los Angeles. Test flights are to start in 2020 with commercial operations planned for 2023.

The news came at the Uber Elevate Summit in Washington, where the California-based ride-hailing giant offered new details on its vision for flying taxis as a way to ease traffic congestion and improve urban mobility.

“Australian governments have adopted a forward-looking approach to ride-sharing and future transport technology,” said Susan Anderson, Uber’s manager for the region that includes Australia.

“This, coupled with Melbourne’s unique demographic and geospatial factors, and culture of innovation and technology, makes Melbourne the perfect third launch city for Uber Air. We will see other Australian cities following soon after.”

Since first announcing its plan for shared aerial transport, Uber has been adding new partners and details for the initiative.

This week, Uber announced it was adding new aircraft partners to the program, including Pennsylvania-based Jaunt Air Mobility, which will produce a rotor- and fixed-wing light aircraft.

Uber also revealed and air taxi cabin design in collaboration with French engineering group Safran.

“Together with Safran Cabin, we’ve designed for the first time in history, a bespoke aircraft cabin that is truly mission-driven for aerial ride-sharing on Uber Air,” said John Badalamenti, Uber Elevate’s head of design.

Uber also displayed the concept Bell Nexus flying quadcopter vehicle unveiled this year, expected to be part of the Uber fleet, and new designs for its “skyports” that will make up the network for the aircraft.

Air rides ‘for masses’ The Uber Air service is designed to work in tandem with Uber’s car service as a “multimodal” option that helps speed passengers to their destinations.

The aerial option will be included on the Uber smartphone app that will include ground and air transportation and pool travelers into one aircraft.

Uber last week announced a first step toward the aerial ride-share program, a helicopter service to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport from lower Manhattan. AFP

KKR gets majority stake in Axel Springer BERLIN, Germany—German media group Axel Springer said Wednesday it has signed a deal for investment firm KKR to become its largest shareholder, with the American group making a public offer to buy up Springer’s shares.

Shares in the Berlin-based publisher of major newspapers Bild and Die Welt had surged last week after the two companies revealed the talks were underway.

Under the terms, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) will offer all existing Springer investors 63 euros ($71) per share, 31.5 percent higher than the average price over the past three months.

The American firm has also struck a deal with Axel Springer’s two existing biggest shareholders.

Friede Springer, widow of the group’s founder, and chief executive Mathias Doepfner will not give up their stakes of 42.6 and 2.8 percent.

That means “no decisions on the shareholder level can be taken without the consent of Friede Springer,” the group said, adding that this would provide “continuity in the governance and management of the company.”

Elsewhere in its statement, Axel Springer cut its business forecast for 2019, pointing to revenue growth slower than hoped in an environment of sluggish economic expansion and in the teeth of a new French tax on digital firms.

The publisher now expects revenues to decline slightly compared to 2018, rather than holding steady as previously forecast, with a similar picture for adjusted operating, or underlying profit.

Last year had seen Springer boost revenues 4.1 percent, to 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion), for an operating profit up 4.7 percent at 528 million euros. AFP

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump bashers having a good time at tech show in China

PARALYSIS. Protesters shelter under umbrellas during a downpour as they occupy roads near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019. Tens of thousands of protesters paralyzed central Hong Kong, blocking major roads in a defiant show of strength against government plans to allow extraditions to China. By late morning, with crowds continuing to swell, officials in the Legislative Council said they would delay the second reading of the bill ‘to a later date.’ AFP

Catalan separatist trial closes MADRID―The trial of Catalan separatists accused of trying to prise their region from Spain is scheduled to end on Wednesday after four months of intense hearings that affected national politics.

In proceedings broadcast live on television, 12 defendants have been in the dock every week, their role in organizing an illegal referendum on secession and a short-lived declaration of independence in October 2017 under meticulous scrutiny.

For some, they are “political prisoners” repressed by the Spanish state―and a protest by independence supporters is planned in Barcelona to mark the end of the trial.

For others, they broke the law and risked Spain’s unity in the country’s worst political crisis since its transition to democracy in the 1970s.

Nine are charged with rebellion, including Catalonia’s former vicepresident Oriol Junqueras who risks 25 years in jail, the heaviest sentence, and three face lesser charges of disobedience and misuse of public funds.

All 12 are expected to take the stand one last time on Wednesday.

Beyond the closely-watched proceedings at Spain’s Supreme Court, the trial has shone the spotlight back onto key figures in Catalonia’s independence drive, some of whom have been behind bars for over a year and a half.

With Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, the main protagonist of the secession attempt, conspicuously absent after he fled Spain, that spotlight has shone brightest on his former deputy Junqueras.

“I am being prosecuted for my ideas and not for my actions,” he told the court in February, prompting a later retort by prosecutors that the defendants were on trial for having broken the law, not for their opinions.

Not content with sitting through four months of hearings, the 50-yearold was elected lawmaker to the national parliament in an April general election along with four other fellow defendants. They were later suspended from parliament. AFP

China extradition bill protest paralyzes HK H ONG KONG―Tens of thousands of protesters paralyzed central Hong Kong on Wednesday, blocking major roads in a defiant show of strength against government plans to allow extraditions to China.

Black-clad demonstrators, most of them young people and students, surrounded government offices, bringing traffic to a standstill as they called on authorities to scrap the Beijing-backed law.

Rows of riot police were far outnumbered by protesters―many who wore face masks, helmets or goggles―just hours ahead of a scheduled debate in the city’s legislature.

By late morning, with crowds swelling, officials in the Legislative Council (Legco) said they would delay the second reading of the bill “to a later date”.

In scenes echoing the Occupy movement in 2014 that shut down swathes of the city for months, people flooded major roads and junctions in the heart of the

city, dragging barricades onto highways and tying them together. Others plucked loose bricks from pavements.

Some protesters in cars deliberately stopped their vehicles in the middle of one key artery and jumped out, blocking the road.

Police used water cannons and pepper spray on protesters outside the Legco building and held up signs warning demonstrators they were prepared to use force.

Organizers of a gigantic march on Sunday said more than a million people turned out to voice their objections to the proposed law, which would allow Hong Kong to send suspects to other jurisdictions around the world― including China.

But the record numbers failed to

sway pro-Beijing chief executive Carrie Lam, who has rejected the calls to withdraw the bill.

Matthew Cheung, the city’s chief secretary, called on demonstrators to unblock key arteries and withdraw, in the first official reaction to the latest protests.

“I also urge citizens who have gathered to show restraint as much as possible, disperse peacefully and do not defy the law,” he said in a video message Wednesday.

Many opponents are fearful the law would entangle people in the mainland’s opaque courts, leaving them vulnerable to a justice system seen as acting at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party.

More than 100 Hong Kong businesses said they would close Wednesday in a sign of solidarity with the protesters, and the city’s major student unions announced they would boycott classes to attend the rally. AFP

IN BRIEF HK footbal fans boo Chinese anthem HONG KONG-Hong Kong football fans booed the Chinese national anthem and held signs opposing government plans to allow extraditions to the mainland at a home match against Taiwan on Tuesday night.

The fan protest came as the international hub is rocked once more by huge anti-government protests with record marches over the weekend and demonstrators seizing major highways on Wednesday morning.

The latest protests have been sparked by a proposal to allow criminals to be rendered to China for the first time.

Many are fearful the proposed law will drag people into the mainland’s opaque courts in politically motivated trials and hammer Hong Kong’s reputation as an international business hub.

Footage posted on social media from Hong Kong’s 0-2 defeat by Taiwan on Tuesday night showed fans booing loudly as China’s “March of the Volunteers” anthem was played.

Fans have booed the national anthem for years but it has become much more commonplace ever since huge pro-democracy protests in 2014 failed to win any concessions from Beijing.

China bristles at any disrespect of its anthem and has fine-tuned legislation on the proper way and place to sing the anthem, tightening rules that already bar people from performing it at parties, weddings and funerals. AFP

UN condemns violence in Sudan

CROSSING. Locals and Central American migrants use a makeshift raft across the Suchiate river from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Chiapas State, Mexico, on June 11, 2019. Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico will discuss a ‘safe third country’ agreement with the US—in which migrants entering Mexican territory must apply for asylum there rather than in the US—if the flow of undocumented immigrants continues. AFP

Water tankers prove a lifeline for India’s parched villages SHAHAPUR, India―As Gajanand Dukre parks the water tanker in a drought-stricken Indian village, dozens of locals―mostly women in saris― come running with jerry cans, buckets and stainless steel pots.

Over the next two hours Dukre helps them empty the 12,000-liter tank, providing a lifeline to this small community as India reels from one of its worst droughts in years.

“We are working overtime,” says 41-year-old Dukre, who conducts four rounds of deliveries a day to hamlets around Shahapur in the parched western state of Maharashtra.

Dukre is one of 37 drivers operating

SHANGHAI―It might be the most low-tech item at a Shanghai consumer electronics fair, but a bash-able Donald Trump is eliciting perhaps the most physical reaction from visitors amid his tech-and-tariff war with China.

A kiosk at the center of the Consumer Electronics Show Asia (CES Asia) bills itself as a “stress-relief” station where you can smash a life-sized bobble-head likeness of the US president with a hammer.

The not-for-sale prototype serves as a proxy for more oblique Trump-bashing heard at the annual tech fair.

“It would be better if I could use my hands and feet. I think the hammer isn’t satisfying enough,” attendee Wang Dongyue, 31, said after sending the presidential noggin lurching back and forth.

“I don’t have a good impression of him to be frank, because he’s not very friendly to China now.”

The trade show, which is organized by the US Consumer Technology Association (CTA), opened this week under the shadow of the escalating trade war.

China and the United States have hit each other with steep tariffs on more than $360 billion in bilateral trade, rattling financial markets and business confidence.

Technology is a key battleground, with the United States pressing governments across the world to drop Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from their 5G network development plans, saying it could be used by Beijing for espionage.

Huawei denies the charge. AFP

government-run water tankers in the area, which is situated around 100 kilometers from India’s financial capital Mumbai.

The tankers run seven days a week between March and June, when water is at its scarcest in India.

The Asian giant’s hot season has been particularly harsh this year, with temperatures rising above 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in Rajasthan state.

Almost half of India―an area home to more than 500 million people―is facing drought-like conditions because of deficient pre-monsoon rainfall, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

In Shakar Pada village, water levels in

the well are dangerously low, meaning villagers are relieved to see Dukre roll in, attach a hose to the back of the tanker and start to fill up everyone’s vessels.

“There has been a scarcity of water for the past month,” Pramila Shewale tells AFP as she carries a freshly filled pot of water on her head to her home.

“If it wasn’t for the water tankers we would have to rely on the well, which would be very difficult,” the 25-year-old adds.

The village’s 98 families survive on agriculture, growing mostly rice and vegetables that they sell at markets in nearby cities. During drought there is no water for agriculture or livestock.

Falling groundwater levels and poor irrigation techniques mean they are overly reliant on India’s June-to-September southwest monsoon, which provides the country with most of its annual rainfall.

Three of the last five monsoons have been deficient and while the IMD is predicting a normal monsoon this year it is already a week late and that worries farmers.

“Every year the drought gets worse. I pray to God that there is sufficient water [this time],” Naresh Rera, a 32-year-old farmer, tells AFP. Dukre will keep delivering water until the monsoon is in full swing in Maharashtra, likely by the end of the month. AFP

UNITED NATIONS—The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned recent violence in Sudan and called on Khartoum’s military rulers and protest movement to work toward a solution to the crisis.

In a unanimous statement, the council called for an immediate halt to attacks against civilians and stressed the importance of upholding human rights.

The appeal from world powers came a week after Russia and China had blocked a similar draft statement on the crisis in Sudan.

More than 100 people were killed in a crackdown on protesters on June 3, according to a committee of doctors, but officials have said the death toll is much lower.

Sudan has been led by a military council since it toppled president Omar al-Bashir on April 11 after months of nationwide protests against his autocratic rule.

As protests demanding an end to military rule continued, Sudan’s security forces violently broke up a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on June 3.

Following a mediation led by Ethiopia, protest leaders agreed to return to talks with Sudan’s generals.

The council called on all sides “to continue working together towards a consensual solution to the current crisis” and voiced support for African-led diplomatic efforts. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FREEDOM DAY RITES. Boy Scouts in Marilao, Bulacan help an SM employee posing as Inang Bayan (Motherland) wave the Philippine flag as the rest salute the tricolor to mark Independence Day on Wednesday. Elsewhere (inset photos), dancers from the Regional Lead School for the Arts perform classic Filipino folk dances in colorful costumes during SM City Taytay’s celebration. In Laguna, Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Ejercito and former Laguna Gov. Jorge ER Ejecito lead the flower offering at the monument of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal at the Liwasang Don Manuel Soriano along Sanguniang Bayan members, Pagsanjan Chief of Police PCapt. Jollymar Seloterio, and BFP Chief SInsp.Santiago Janda Jr. Jun David, Norman Cruz and Roy Tomandao

Alaminos marks Independence Day with literary pieces ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan—The Tanghalang Sandaang Pulo Cultural Group Inc., a non-profit and non-government organization, staged on Tuesday a literary open microphone event that centered on the different concepts of freedom, as part of the advanced celebration of the 121st Philippine Independence Day celebration on Wednesday.

The event was held at Plaza Marcelo Ochave Barangay Poblacion, Alaminos City.

Alyssa Contreras, TSP’s Literary Arts and Performance Group member and event chairman, said the activity called LIRIP: Ang Unang Kalayaan is an open mic event participated by everyone.

“We have not set any age limit or any qualifications. We tried to reach to as many audiences as possible as this is for the entire community. Amateur and professional artists, working members of the community, students and out-of-school youths are all invited and there is no age limit,” she said in an interview Monday.

Contreras noted the event aims to tackle socially relevant issues and provides opportunities for creative and artistic interpretations for every Pangasinense.

“This is a free event and not a competition. No entrances and registrations required. No ratings, rankings, and or awards whatsoever will be presented to the performers. However, certificates of recognition and participation will be given,” she said.

In a Facebook post, TSP explained that ‘Ang Unang Kalayaan’ (the first freedom) symbolizes the act of being released, breaking free, or achieving liberty in any form or circumstance, from any chain that holds one back—be it a person, thing, situation, memory, or an idea or expectation. PNA

tobacco Twin celebrations for Legazpi Enforce control laws, Erap: I’ve done my part, may go back to acting

By Vito Barcelo OUTGOING Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said Wednesday he has done his part in serving the public for almost 50 years, and now wants to enjoy his retirement from public service.

The 82-year-old mayor made the statement during the 121st celebration of the country’s independence, as he graced the commemoration at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park with Vice President Leni Robredo.

Estrada will turn over his post to Manila Mayor-elect Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on June 30. The former actor turned politician served as the country’s 13th president from 1998 to 2001 but was ousted by an uprising due to alleged massive corruption in his administration.

He continues to deny allegations that he benefitted from the illegal numbers game called “jueteng” and engaged in other forms of corruption.

Estrada was pardoned by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and became mayor of Manila in 2013, beating former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim. Estrada, who portrayed a tough guy in more than 100 movies, said he might also return to acting while enjoying his retirement from public service.

During the Independence Day event, the mayor asked his constituents to fully support his successor and move forward for the betterment not just of Manila but for the entire country.

“Let’s get together so that our country will move forward,” was Estrada’s message.

L

EGAZPI CITY—The true meaning of freedom is the unity of all people in the community by way of sharing responsibility and by providing high-quality education for the new generation to prepare the country’s future and responsible leaders, City Mayor Noel E. Rosal said Wednesday.

The mayor sent this message during the celebration of the 121st Independence Day and the 60th commemoration of Legazpi City Charter Day at the Peñaranda Park here.

The activity started with a Holy Mass officiated by Monsignor Noe Thomas and participated in by various sectors of society, including city government officials and employees.

It was then followed by the parade of troops from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Part of the morning activity was a

MOST BEAUTIFUL.

A woman from Peñaflorida Atelier poses with the winning entry in ‘Barbie in the East,’ the competition at SM Taytay that coincides with the 118th Araw ng Lalawigan ng Rizal.

The exhibit, featuring Barbie dolls dressed in various Filipiniana, runs from June 11 to 19.

Norman Cruz

Floods swamp 3 elem. schools COTABATO CITY—Three public elementary schools in Maguindanao have been underwater due to torrential rains affecting the province and the rest of Mindanao the past few days.

The flooded schools are the Pagatin Elementary School in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town; Sambulawan Elementary School (Shariff Saydona Mustapha); and Barurao Elementary School (Sultan sa Barongis).

Alibai Benito Aliuden, Maguindanao 1st division schools’ superintendent, quoted a report from the school principals of the affected schools that flooding had been a perennial problem.

“Even if it is not raining in Maguindanao, but raining in North Cotabato, South

flag-raising ceremony in front of the Albay Capitol and the release of doves and balloons into the air.

The Philippine Veterans Affairs, Mason Fraternity, Department of Education, and employees of the provincial government of Albay also joined the activity.

Rosal said the Independence Day celebration reminds all Filipinos to show respect and gratitude to the country’s heroes who fought for freedom.

“We are now free from the hands of foreign invaders but we need to fight always for progress and development in order to put our country in the right direction towards prosperity so our constituents will continue to benefit,” he said.

Rosal promised that the city administration will continue to work to improve the city’s tourism industry and invite big investors to put up more business establishments in this city to give the people more employment opportunities.

Rosal and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Secretary Dante Jimenez led the wreath-laying ceremony at the city hall compound during the commemoration of the 60th Legazpi City Charter Day. Legazpi became a city under the Becerra Law of 1892, constituting the municipalities of Legazpi, Bay Nuevo, and Daraga, but it was dissolved under the American occupation in 1900.

It again became a city on July 18, 1948, when Legazpi and Daraga were combined to constitute its territory under Republic Act (RA) 306.

However, on June 8, 1954, RA 993 was approved, recreating both towns and the city was dissolved anew. With PNA

Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces, we still experience the sudden rise of water in our school grounds,” said Barurao school teacher Amera, who requested that she would use a pseudonym during a phone interview Wednesday for lack of authority to speak.

The water in the schools reached up to the knee-level but teachers and students continue holding classes.

“Somehow, we are used to it, but we expect the regional or provincial government to do something (about this),” Amera said. She also took their school’s plight to social media by posting a photo of their students carrying plastic chairs and braving the flood to transfer to another classroom. PNA

EV LGUs told

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Advocacy groups Rights Network and Katarungan-Leyte asked local government units in Eastern Visayas to ensure the implementation of tobacco control laws, particularly the joint memorandum circular 2010-01 of the Department of Health and the Civil Service Commission.

“The tobacco industry had been very creative in their dealings and interference. Thus, we would like to help in raising awareness within the community and the local government units that there are existing laws on tobacco control and tobacco industry interference,” said Florina Reyes of Rights Network during a forum in Tacloban City on Tuesday.

Reyes, Rights’ Leyte team leader for anti-tobacco campaign, sought the commitment of the newly elected local government officials in ensuring the implementation and information dissemination of the said memorandum.

“As farmers, and as parents, we are at a point when we cannot afford to get sick, much less inflicted with the health problems that come with smoking, what with copra and palay prices at its level low and we are encountering many challenges in farm production,” added Lolita Candaza, spokesperson of Katarungan-Leyte.

During the forum attended by over 70 representatives from various sectors and government offices, Candaza appealed to LGU officials to pass municipal ordinances and “ensure an honest to goodness smoking cessation program to aid those who are willing to stop smoking.”

“The tobacco industry is ensuring that they have a captive customer base in the youth, with the introduction of vapes and other products that promise less tar, less nicotine and less addictive.

We have yet to see the full-blown effects of these products to our youth,”

Carrier-grade Smart Wi-Fi rolls out for tourists in Baler PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. is ramping up the rollout of carrier-grade Smart Wi-Fi across the country and is making high-quality connectivity available to residents and tourists visiting Baler in Aurora.

Smart Wi-Fi is now available at the Baler Municipal Plaza, Baler Central Terminal and Museo Baler, the latest additions to Smart Wi-Fi-powered establishments across the country. Smart has also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Mount Carmel College of Baler and launched Smart Wi-Fi in their campus.

“With Smart Wi-Fi now available in Baler, we are putting world-class connectivity within the reach of residents,

tourists and students alike, uplifting their everyday lives and helping them be more productive while on-the-go,” said Juan Victor Hernandez, senior vice president and head of Enterprise for PLDT. “By working with our government and school partners, we are able to better empower our customers in Baler with consistent and reliable high-speed connectivity,” said Alex O. Caeg, PLDT-Smart senior vice president and head for Consumer Business-Customer Development.

“With Smart Wi-Fi in place, tourists traveling through the Baler Central Terminal and Museo Baler can stay connected, residents dropping by the Baler Municipal Hall can also access online

services, and students at Mount Carmel can use the internet for their data-intensive academic work,” Caeg added.

Present during the Smart Wi-Fi launch at the Baler Municipal Plaza were Baler OIC Mayor Reynaldo Mapindan, PLDT-Smart vice president and Head for Luzon Customer Consumer Development John Palanca, Luzon Regional Marketing head Richard Dimagiba, AVP and Head for NCL Customer Consumer Development Leonides Nivado, VP and head for Access Patrick Belicena, Nueva Ecija Aurora Tarlac Zone head Gerry Marquez, PLDT Enterprise Relationship manager Sheryl Soriano, and Aurora Provincial distributor Arnel Quirijero.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

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e m i t g n i d n o B n a m e h t h t i w

r u o h e h of t

T

HE provider, the protector, the “foundation” of the home. He is one thing and many things, but to his children, he is father. Every child has a different kind of father: there is a strict one; there is a funny, loves-tocrack-corny-jokes one; there is one that falls in between.

And any kind of father would greatly appreciate feeling like the most important man on his special day, Father’s Day. So gather the whole fam for a day or two of bonding with dad.

Commercenter Alabang treats dads to fun activities and exciting deals such as fitness gear and big bike displays.

Hit the Alabang town Bikes, basketball, and more. Commercenter Alabang has a lineup of treats and activities for dad and the family.

He can feast on Ducati goodness as it displays its most popular and sturdiest bikes until June 23 at the ground floor activity area. Epic Cycles, meanwhile, has an Ellsworth Buddha Buy 1 Take 1 Father’s Day promo. And Bridgestone gives a free tire for every purchase of the eco-friendly Ecopia, the powerful Potenza, and the all-terrain Dueler.

Focus Athletics is offering a special one-on-one session for dads who would want to discover the athlete in them, while Johnson Fitness brings its home fitness gear and state-of-the-art equipment on display until June 23.

Dads can conquer the court during the Commercenter basketball shootout by simply presenting a receipt purchased this month worth

Teddy was a good man

By Diana B. Noche HE WAS Doreng to his wife; to the neighbors, Ka Doreng.

His friends (and they were many) called him Teddy; to his seven children, he was Daddy.

Teddy laughed easily; the dimples perpetually set on his face were always ready to enrich his hyper-smiley disposition. His friends remember him as an affable, gracious man; charming down to his ankle joints, and good-looking with clear brown eyes and light brown hair which he kept slickly in place with several dabs of pomade. He had a coffee-andcream skin and was vertically-gifted which made him stand out among the average male height and definitely taller than Mother’s less-than-five-feet height.

Teddy was always sprucely dressed; hated wrinkles on a shirt, and on the pleats on his pants. His underpants (loose white that almost reached the knee), socks, and handkerchiefs were likewise neatly pressed. His shoes were always polished, spit-shined, and spotless. A total dandy, Teddy was.

In today’s health-conscious age, Teddy would be an anachronism. He loved to smoke tobacco—stick or pressed into a pipe; second-hand smoke was unheard of yet. The children loved the rich aroma and the paper ring that came with the tobacco stick; it became a prized jewelry on our fingers. Teddy would inhale the smoke and we would ooooh! as he exhaled it in circular forms we watched glide over our

at least P1,000. Dads who earn the top spots will get a chance to win prizes and gift certificates from participating establishments, and movie passes to Commercenter’s premium and first-class cinema.

After a day of checking out gear and playing ball, dads can experience the south’s superior lifestyle offerings with Commercenter Alabang’s variety of retail therapy treats.

Local and exclusive brands join the celebration with a 50 percent discount on selected items. Luxuri Manila offers 50 percent discount on selected designer bags, shoes and accessories for the whole family.

Akrotiri restaurant serves healthy Mediterranean dishes with a side of musical performances from Kat Marana and Hoochie Coochie Mikkie on June 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Freedom, food, festivity It’s a double celebration at Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as it marks Independence Day and Father’s Day with retail deals and unique flavors.

Until June 16, select shops at Paseo Outlets, Laguna Central, and Arcadia offer up to 80 percent discount.

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.

Select shops at Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna has an ongoing Independence Day weekend sale.

Main dish with a side of shopping Cravings restaurant is treating all dads on June 16 with a gastronomic and curated retail experience at the Cravings Events Hall in Katipunan.

Families get to share memorable moments over a lavish lunch meat buffet for only P850 per person.

On June 15 and 16, special dad treats include a test-drive pass for a Mazda CX-5 FWD (for the first 25 dads). They will also have the chance to get a style upgrade for less with discounted items from footwear store The Playground Premium Outlet and Shirts Avenue.

On June 16, a free car wash or change oil are up for grabs at Pertua and free car wash at K’archer (open to first 30 dads).

The first 20 dads who will dine in also have the chance to get a snazzy new haircut at the Ilustrado Barbershop booth for just P100 (instead of P450). Vintage Pens by G and LifeKit, a brand of safety and survival kits, is also present at the event.

The man of the hour also gets free GI.Jo Fitness passes, free consultation at the SingerStudio booth from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and a 20 percent discount to Pawikan Pansol Private Pools (open to first 30).

Cravings serves a lavish lunch meat buffet on Father’s Day.

Teddy adored his children and considered each of them a gift. (Photo by Dario B. Noche)

heads and across the living room. These days that would be frowned upon but in those times the air was mightily cleaner and safer than the kind of air we poison ourselves in.

He adored us, and deeply so; we were the feathers on his brown fedora hat, the band in his safari hat.

He was always proud of his children; did not pressure us to do supremely in school. But we did our homework and read our books well enough to get good school grades he could brag about. We did not bring him school medals but Teddy never skimped on indicating he was proud of us. It was always reassuring to find him in the audience, clapping and looking pleased as we performed our parts on the school stage and on graduation days.

The lesson we learned, one that created an extraordinary impact on our lives, was the worth of acquiring knowledge and skills—a legacy, he said, not of material wealth but quite substantial, nonetheless, not by birthright or innate talent— a thing to keep for all of one’s life, neither to be taken away nor diminished no matter what.

Life with Teddy had many fun parts, filled with small, simple pleasures. Boy, he can cook. Adobo in turmeric, red Turn to C2

Life

C2

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Sarah G

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas urges ‘unbanked’ Filipinos to open a savings account.

on independence, learning how to cook

6 reasons its wise to open a bank account THE latest “State of Financial Inclusion in the Philippines” report of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed the number of deposit accounts in the country has increased by 6.8 percent to 57.1 million in 2017 from 53.5 million in 2016, on account of BSP’s efforts to grow banking offices nationwide and encourage more people to open bank accounts.

To further encourage more to be “banked,” Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, through its “Good to Know!” campaign, shares a few benefits of owning a deposit account.

ents teach their children the value of saving at an early age.

Money is safe in the bank

Depositors can now access their accounts whenever they need to and wherever they are. They may inquire account balance and view transaction history using the bank’s ATMs here in the Philippines and abroad, or in the comfort of home or office through their online or mobile banking facilities.

The obvious benefit of saving money in banks is that it eliminates the temptation of spending it (You don’t spend the money you can’t see). More importantly, the money put in a bank account is safe and secure as all Philippine banks are closely monitored, supervised, and regulated by the BSP.

Money in the bank is insured

All legitimate Philippine banks are members of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. PDIC is a government agency created to protect depositors in the event a bank fails and can’t refund their customers’ money. If, for any reason, like rare cases where a bank closes, a bank is unable to reimburse its customers, the PDIC steps in, repaying each depositor up to P500,000.

Money earns interests in banks

Savings accounts in banks earn from 0.10 to 1.56 percent interest per year.

On the other hand, money in a fixedterm deposit, such as PSBank Time Deposit, gets higher interest rates in as fast as 30 days for an initial placement of P10,000. Depositors could even get higher earnings when they place their money in investment instruments such as Money Market Funds.

Monitor transactions easily

Sarah G is royalty on stage and, soon, in the kitchen as she pursues her passion for cooking.

Conveniently do other transactions

Banks offer other services that make life more convenient. These include paying bills, transferring funds, applying for loans online, among other things, using the bank’s electronic channel facilities. For instance, PSBank made the transfer of funds between PSBank and other banks easier via InstaPay and PesoNet, which are available through PSBank Online or the PSBank Mobile There are various types of app. The two payment schemes under the National Retail Payment System bank accounts Banks have many types of savings allow seamless, secure, and reliable accounts depending on a person’s electronic fund transfers and payneeds. One can open an account with a ments at a minimal cost. passbook, an ATM card, a checkbook, or all three in a single account. There are also accounts for kids to help par-

P PSBank offers a variety of savings accounts and lets depositors easily monitor their transactions through mobile banking app.

Teddy...

From C1

tomatoes in coconut milk and shrimp paste, suman Batangueño. He definitely cooked better than Mommy did whose specialties were Ilocano dinengdeng and pinakbet. Mealtimes were yummy times when Teddy was in the kitchen.

Never of finicky manner, he had this wiser-than-wise brand of machismo that he carried off quite naturally. As often as the children grew in number, he did, just as often, trekked to the river half-amile faraway from our house to wash the linens Mommy and the midwife used.

To him every new child was a gift to love and nurture, not an indicator of his virility. It was also in this river where he did the laundry—while Mommy took care of the kids—straining himself under an aluminum batya down a narrow lane of wild shrubs, anthills, and nasty cow dung. It was also in this river where Teddy, with his Cal .38, and my big brother with his air gun, practiced their aim using coconuts carried by the river stream as targets. In college, I was with the school’s Women Auxiliary Training Corps and had no difficulty with a rifle and hitting the bull’s-eye.

As his income steadied, he spoiled his children with more revelations of

his love. One fine Sunday afternoon he took us to a restaurant which featured a treehouse. Looking up at that marvelous sight—how did it get up there?—in my chicken’s eye view of things, that treehouse, or all treehouses for that matter, is the living celebration within the mothballed cabinet of my nostalgia moments.

Teddy played no favoritism among his children; inflections of a resentful sibling were nonexistent. We all grew up independently of each other, but were always on hand to help out at a moment’s notice.

Hawkishly protective of us, he had also this I’ll-be-your-father attitude toward our playmates and saw to it that the house was accident-proof. He let us play ball in the living room. The Lladros were wisely put away in the cabinet. As long as we were inside the house nobody went home with a bump, knee scrape, a bloody nose, or tears shed. To this day that kind of caution remains in my house except for the ball bit even if there are no Lladros to break.

Happiness came in the form of a tiny box of a radio with which we connected to the world and human drama.

Soap opera was the ultimate entertainment: Rafael Yabut was the news broadcaster, Eddie Ilarde was the af-

OPSTAR Royalty Sarah Geronimo shares her two cents on being an independent woman: you should know how to pursue what you want in life.

“Para po sa ‘kin, being an independent person means kaya mong gawin ‘yung mga bagay na gusto mong gawin. As an independent woman, gustung-gusto ko pong magexplore ng mga bagay na di ko pa nagagawa, and also learn more about myself in the process (For me, being an independent person means you can do the things you want to do. As an

independent woman, I like to explore things I haven’t done yet and also learn about myself in the process),” says the 30-year-old singer-actor.

One passion she decided to pursue is cooking. “Ang sarap po kasi ng pakiramdam na kaya mong ipagluto yung sarili mo (It feels good when you know you can cook for yourself). Whenever I cook, I get that sense of freedom in my

own kitchen. I’m free to experiment, try new dishes, or recreate my Mom’s recipes,” she adds.

“Kaya to all independent women out there, I advise that you learn how to cook. It’s very empowering to rely on yourself, and a good start will be in the kitchen.”

As testament to her newfound independence in pursuing her passion, Geronimo even shared some easyto-cook recipes in the cookbook that comes with every purchase of the new Phoenix Super LPG at select super hubs.

ternoon voice, Sylvia La Torre was the total performer.

Then Teddy brought home a TV set.

Ta-da! Tom Jones in black-and-white!

Then one day he surprised us with the “pride of his life”—a humongous toylike chug-chug lime green Ford: two windows refused to roll down, the driver’s door opened only from the outside, the rusted body badly needed paint. He loved to take us for a spin in that antiquated car as we cowered in the spacious back seat and hoped none of our classmates would see us.

Flexible yet authoritarian, he could silence simmering sibling feud with a single alto whistle and a deadpan stare.

When Teddy looked us in the eye that said, “That’s it,” that was it. The end.

We were in a muffled generation; the elders always knew what was best for the kids. Most of the time they were necessarily correct; we do learn a lot from our parents by simply listening to them.

But Teddy was neither critic-proof nor was he the ultimate straight-arrow.

Between the Mr. Nice Guy openness and the absolute zero mean streak with his children, a few kinks showed up; there were times of occasional lapses that injected variety into our lives. No, he did not hit Mommy. He never did. He liked the company of friends. He would

come home past midnight, one beer too many, and Mommy would rant in her famous Ilocano expletives. Teddy would merely shut his ears and sleep the tipsiness away. But those times were few and far between. He gave up the beers and tobacco after an appendectomy at age 40.

Despite the habitual kindness, he was overhasty sometimes. Teddy disliked being overtaken when he drove his Ford. He would let out a stream of half-serious lashes directed at other drivers. He would slam the brakes, charged out of the car and brandished his Cal. 38. There were no fired shots, ever, but we somehow tensed. Teddy did not have a love for fast drivers. He also missed the fact that his beloved lime-colored Ford was a dinosaur straggling on concrete.

There was a hint of an affair with another woman; whatever it was, it was a cautious one, nothing flagrant. His shirt collar still smelled of his favorite Reve D’Or, he still came home to roost, the paycheck was intact, and you couldn’t hear Mommy’s jealous rants. The sexual pot did not boil over and left no one with a third-degree scalding. It might have been just that: a personal, private transgression that quickly ended and the marriage continued till death did they part.

He was, however, a confirmed cavalier as a single man. An aunt, his sister, told how a jilted girlfriend’s balisong found its way through Teddy’s breastbone, its point mercifully frozen halfan-inch off his heart. It was tough to be a beloved man.

At age 59 Teddy died of colon cancer. He was bedridden for a year. The physical degeneration was too painful to witness—the smiling brown eyes lost their glow and shrunk into his forehead, the brown hair receded, the handsome face became emaciated.

It was tough for a man used to being strong and esteemed to be a patient, to be vulnerable, to know that he couldn’t fight back.

The idea of perfection disagrees with the actualities of life. Flaws make a man; inconsistencies make us human.

What stays is the power of Teddy’s examples, the useful words that worked into our consciousness; their largeness enshrining the inviolability of human behavior no matter how compromised.

Words like, “Ang ‘di mo kailangan huwag mong bibilhin. Ang di mo kayang bilhin huwag mong kailanganin,” on prudent spending and resourcefulness, and, “Marry a person who is an improvement of yourself,” on finding a mate. Isn’t it rich…to be someplace when he said that.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

GMA Network wins Best Station at 7th Kagitingan Awards

Brillante Mendoza’s ‘Hilom’ at SM Megamall

LEADING broadcast company GMA Network dominated the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU)’s 7th Kagitingan Awards for Television after winning the “Pinakamagiting na Himpilan ng Telebisyon” award along with 15 other major recognition for various Kapuso programs and personalities.

The awarding ceremony held last May 29 in Balanga City, Bataan recognized the network’s flagship primetime newscast 24 Oras as “Pinaka-magiting na News Program” while public affairs show Alisto was cited as “Pinakamagiting na Public Service Program.”

Meanwhile, top- rating comedy

Director Brillante Mendoza, SM SVP for Marketing and Communications Millie Dizon and Undersecretary of Health Dr. Mario Villaverde during the launch of 'Hilom, A tribute to the Doctors to the Barrios' in SM Megamall.

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NTERNATIONALLYACCLAIMED film director Brillante Mendoza recently presented his latest masterpiece, Hilom, A Tribute to the Doctors to the Barrios, during the launch and screening of the film at SM Megamall Cinema 12.

Written by Boots Agbayani-Pastor, Hilom follows the story of Dr. Elenita “Ellen” Sancho-Peralta, MD as she goes to a remote municipality in the Bicol region to serve her two-year stint. At the same time, her husband, Doc Alex, whom she recently married, goes to another Bicol town to serve his term as a “Doctor to the Barrios.”

Starring Julia Montes and Kean Cipriano with Archie Adamos, Ruby Ruiz, Philip Palmos, Red Ibasco, Bibo Bayona, Ryan Sandoval, Dexter Macaraeg, Cataleya Surio, Lito Capina, and Red Martin, this film is dedicated to the “Doctors to the Barrios”—then, now and in the future.

The film is a project of the Department of Health through the Health Promotion and Communication Service and the Health Human Resources Development Bureau. It is based on The Doctors to the Barrios(DTTB) Program of the DOH Human Resource for Health Deployment programs, which was created in May 1993 to respond to the inequitable distribution of scarce resources and varying pace of development in the 271 doctorless municipalities identified in 1992.

The DTTB program is a strategy of the national government to redistribute doctors to increase access to quality healthcare services by the marginalized, vulnerable and underserved population of the country.

The Program is in line with the strategies of Fourmula One Plus, to ensure equitable distribution of Human Resources for Health (HRH). DTTBs serve as frontline health care workers

'Hilom' lead actor Kean Cipriano with wife actress Chynna Ortaleza and daughter Stellar.

that deliver critical community health services in support of the attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC).

This project between DOH and Brillante Mendoza aims to highlight the efforts of volunteer doctors and other medical staff who regularly visit barrios to hold free checkups on the poor as well as encourage future doctors to be part of the program.

The launch and screening of Brillante Mendoza’s Hilom, A Tribute to the Doctors to the Barrios is one of the many exciting events at SM Megamall.

Morgan Freeman embarks on a new global quest to unlock the mysteries of spirituality and the shared transformative beliefs that bind humanity, in the new season of 'The Story of God with Morgan Freeman.'

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, June 13, 2019

ACROSS 1 Emotional states 6 Punch 10 Roman foe 14 Go along with 15 Dr. Zhivago’s love 16 Radar blip 17 Show surprise 18 Mouse target?

19 Roughen from cold 20 Kesey or Russell 21 2,000 pounds 23 Remembrances 25 Irish tongue 28 Long-legged bird 29 Estimated 31 Owls’ cries 33 Pilot prefix 34 Ziegfeld offering 35 Date regularly 38 Delicate 41 Posh lobbies 43 Cooling device 44 Dull and unoriginal 46 Turn pancakes 47 Cut down 48 Sweet roll 50 Asparagus unit 52 Beau 54 Intrigue 55 Allow 56 Bratty kid

59 Elbow 60 Name of a thing 63 Flawless 65 Long reed 66 Senora’s house 67 Roundup gear 68 Copied 69 Depot info 70 Fidgety

32 Face sketcher’s start 34 Mr. Descartes 35 Muggiest 36 Arab chief 37 Observe 39 Hardhat’s support (hyph.)

40 “— of Arabia” 42 In that case (2 wds.)

DOWN 45 Come-ons 1 Grade 47 Paid attention 2 Curved molding to 3 Long-armed Su- 48 Cobbler matran primate 49 Hun leader 4 Holiday mo.

5 Medium-size sofa 6 Russian pancakes 7 Fond du — 8 Spanish gold 9 Wishes to leave (2 wds.)

10 Small lizards 11 Dark yellow 12 Express gratitude 13 Jumps 22 Ancient 24 Web-toed mammal 26 Beside oneself 27 Ernesto Guevara 29 Large fishhook 30 Halo, of sorts

50 Piece of fabric 51 Ring up 53 Arm bones 54 Humane org.

57 M, to Einstein 58 Stratagem 61 Nose-bag morsel 62 IOC member 64 Rather or Aykroyd

AFTER Logging nearly 75,000 miles and visiting 30 cities, the Emmynominated The Story of God with Morgan Freeman returns with a third season from executive producers Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary, and James Younger of Revelations Entertainment.

National Geographic and Revelations Entertainment explore the ways humanity has sought and received faith throughout our history in season three of the Emmy-nominated hit series, premiering on National Geographic and video-streaming service FOX+, on June 20 at 9.00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

anthology Dear Uge took home the “Pinaka-magiting na Comedy Show” while the “Pinaka-magiting na Drama Series” award was won by wellloved Afternoon Prime series My Special Tatay. The “Pinaka-magiting na Drama Anthology” award went to Magpakailanman.

BPSU also recognized GMA News TV programs Investigative Documentaries as the “Pinaka-magiting na Investigative Program,” Biyahe ni Drew as the “Pinaka-magiting na Magazine Program,” and Reel Time as the “Pinaka-magiting na Documentary Program.”

Several Kapuso personalities were also honored that night.

GMA News pillars Jessica Soho and Arnold Clavio were named as “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng News Program” for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho and “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Public Service Program” for Alisto, respectively.

Maki Pulido won as “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Documentary Program” for Reporter’s Notebook while Malou Mangahas was chosen as “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Investigative Program” for Investigative Documentaries.

Drew Arellano, on the other hand, was recognized as “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Magazine Program” for Biyahe ni Drew.

Completing the list of Kapuso winners were Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza who won as “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Comedy Show” for Daddy’s Gurl while versatile Kapuso actor Ken Chan brought home the “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Drama Series” for My Special Tatay.

The BPSUKagitingan Awards for Television recognizes programs and personalities that promote bravery (kagitingan) in maintaining social and personal values.

Ken Chan brought home the “Pinaka-magiting na Personalidad ng Drama Series” for his role in 'My Special Tatay.'

Freeman again travels to the far reaches of the globe to visit some of humanity’s most sacred sites in a quest that explores the different ways that spirituality and transformation have established a connection with the divine, and how our search for God’s presence has informed our shared history, culture, beliefs and even individual behavior.

The Story of God with Morgan Freeman takes viewers on an interfaith journey around the globe, traveling to 30 different cities of historical and anthropological importance, including Jerusalem, Kathmandu, Jericho, Rome,

Bethlehem, Paris, Prague, Hanoi, Toronto, and Lourdes.

The series’ filmmakers logged more than 50,000 total miles, which is the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe twice, and met with 13 religious experts, eight priests, three druids, three shamans, one imam, one rabbi, one former executioner, one nun, two living goddesses and hundreds of monks.

The series takes an expansive look at religions celebrated around the world, exploring practices that date back thousands of years before the Common Era, as well as new denominations founded less than 100 years ago, and interviewing believers of many faiths including Christians, Jews, pagans, druids, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, animists, Buddhists and agnostics.

Each of the six episodes in the new season is centered around a different question about our relationship to the divine: Search for the Devil; Gods Among Us; Visions of God; Deadly Sins; Divine Secrets; and Holy Laws.

To explore these topics and more, the series travels to some of the world’s most sacred sites, including the Chapel at Lourdes, where thousands of believers claim to have been cured by the waters of its spring; the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where the faithful believe Jesus was born; the ancient city of Pergamon in Turkey, dubbed “Satan’s Throne”; the spectacularly preserved Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii, Italy; the Gheralta mountains of Ethiopia, where Coptic Christian priests scale the side of a mountain to reach an ancient cave; the temple palace of the Kumari in Nepal; and Tel Megiddo, an archaeological site containing one of the oldest known references to Jesus Christ as God. The first two seasons of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman are available to stream on video streaming service, FOX+.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Entertainment

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

ABS-CBN cements commitment to serve with love on Independence Day

TNT Boys singing ‘Lupang Hinirang‘ at the flag-raising ceremony special of ABS-CBN.

MEDIA giant ABS-CBN cemented its commitment to serve Filipinos with love on the Philippines’ 121st year of independence with a special commemorative flag-raising ceremony, which aired yesterday after Umagang Kay Ganda.

The event paid tribute to the resilient spirit of the Filipino even in the face of hardship, tragedy, and calamity.

It also recognized and celebrated the individuals who have stood with ABS-CBN to extend help to millions of Kapamilyas in need through the company’s various public service efforts over the past 65 years.

In his speech, ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez thanked all the donors, partners, and volunteers who shared ABS-CBN’s mission to be of service to Filipinos since the beginning.

“Together we help children have better nutrition, access to education, and freedom from abuse, and help parents have access to more livelihood opportunities and better health. In times of tragedy, we stand together to help our fellow Filipinos through our rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts,” Lopez said.

“We also take care of our forests, our seas, and our lands for future generations. To the best of our abilities and with the help of our kababayans, we will continue to help Filipinos achieve their dreams for the next 65 years because every Filipino is a Kapamilya,”

the executive added.

Viewers can also help fellow Filipinos achieve the dreams of every Filipino family through advocating environment and safety, children’s rights and education, and livelihood and health. Leading the pledge on Independence Day were ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, together with ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) managing director Susan Afan, and Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. president Rina Lopez Bautista.

Hosted by TV Patrol anchors Noli “Kabayan” De Castro and Bernadette Sembrano, the ABS-CBN Flag-Raising ceremony featured the world-renowned singing group TNT Boys, who led the singing of “Lupang Hinirang” and performed a new song by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab alongside singing group The Company.

Also present in the flag-raising ceremony were ABS-CBN COO of Broadcast Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN Films Productions Inc. managing director Olive Lamasan, and some Kapamilya artists.

The flag-raising ceremony has been an annual tradition in ABS-CBN, where employees and staff from the company’s various regional stations in the country, news bureaus abroad, and subsidiaries participate.

DJ Angela of online radiopilipinas showcases her singing talent with a full-length indie album also carrying the title of her morning program 'It’s All About Music.'

Dedicated DJ AS A music columnist who plays in a band, I naturally get the privilege of listening to various artists, becoming friends with them, and sometimes even musically collaborating with a few.

DJ Angela, wife of Indiepinoy label head Nolit Abanilla, has her vocals featured in a couple of songs I wrote and had recorded with my longtime band Syato. Having laid in some tracks at their home studio, she eventually did a duet with our vocalist Mark Villagomez for our Christmas song “Regalo” and put in extro vocal lines for “Alay Sa Mga Bigo,” which also includes rapper Blanktape. She simply possesses a voice rightly influenced by the ‘90s generation of raw power singing.

I recall she was profusely sweating doing her part as she purposely kept the room’s air-conditioning turned off while recording. It was a good take and you can hear that when you stream “Alay Sa Mga Bigo.” No sweat!

DJ Angela is, an online radio jock for radiopilipinas, anchoring a daily 9 to10 morning show called It’s All About Music. Being informed she’s releasing her own album with the same title is, at least for me, an exciting development given my band’s good experience working with her.

It’s All About Music (The Album) will be launched tomorrow at Taumbayan Restobar on T. Gener St., Kamuning, Quezon City. The package will be available for streaming and downloading on Spotify, Deezer, iTunes/Applemusic, Amazon music, and other digital platforms, with

YUGEL LOSORATA limited CDs to be made available during the event.

Digging from her singing bouts at several bars and restaurants in both Marikina and Cainta, DJ Angela took the opportunity to work with tried-andtested musicians from the indie scene, including her husband Nolit who plays bass for The Boxers. Nolit’s bandmates drummer Mon Valdecantos and keyboardist Samuel Valdecantos, along with guitarist Marvin Bea, backed her up on recording, while topnotch live performer Skarlet provided back up singing on the carrier track “Umasa.”

The album is peppered with melodramatic lines pushed on by alternative pop-rock arrangements held together by her consistently relaxed singing — never-ever sounding forced.

More than half of the 10 tracks (produced by Indiepinoy) are written by herself, namely, “Only A Dream,” “Panahon,” “Kapit Kamay,” “Kasama Ka,” “Sana’y Muling Magkita,” and the opening, lead track.

Other collaborators in the album are Wendell Quinto of Date with Fate, Bandstand champ Carlos Miguel Beer Araneta, and composers Jing Enriquez and Leo Fantone.

Even with the relatively easy process to release proper recordings, it still requires a dedicated talent to be able to produce at least one song. Few artists nowadays come out with albums especially a debut one.

A

TLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group is proud to be staging Broadway’s awardwinning hit, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, running from June 14 to July 7 at the Meralco Theater, Pasig City.

Playing the titular role is Kayla Rivera, who made her professional musical theater debut playing Nina Rosario in Atlantis’ acclaimed staging of In The Heights in 2011.

She has also played Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin, Carrie White in Carrie, Wednesday Addams in The Addams’ Family, Sherrie in Rock of Ages, and Violet Hilton in Side Show.

To play King’s husband and writing partner, Gerry Goffin, is Nick Varricchio, who was last seen onstage in Manila as Double J in Atlantis’ touring production of Saturday Night Fever. His musical credits include A Chorus Line, Happy Days, Light in the Piazza, and Spring Awakening.

Joining them are some of the country’s most acclaimed upcoming theatre stars. Mikkie BradshawVolante, last seen on the Atlantis stage as Lauren in Kinky Boots, will play Cynthia Weil, Carole’s friend and rival. George Schulze, last seen as Earl in Waitress, will play Barry Mann. Gab Pangilinan, currently starring in Ang Huling El Bimbo, will play the lead singer of The Shirelles and Marilyn Wald.

Jill Peña, who last appeared in Side Show plays one of the Shirelles and Janelle Woods. Teetin Villanueva, who previously appeared in Waitress, will play Little Eva and one of the Shirelles. Maronne Cruz, fresh from her critically acclaimed performance as Dawn in Waitress, will be playing Betty, Carole’s childhood best friend.

Among the actors who will be playing The Drifters are; Tim Pavino, who recently played the title role in Miong; Arman Ferrer, who last appeared in Side Show; Jep Go, who recently appeared in Eto Na! Musical nAPO!; and Markus Mann, last seen as Judas in Godspell in Florida.

Nelsito Gomez, who recently concluded his critically acclaimed turn as Louis in Angels in America, will play a number of roles including Neil Sedaka. Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, who last appeared in Kinky Boots, will play one of the Righteous Brothers.

Joining them are Gabby Padilla, Dean Rosen, and Alex Reyes.

Theatre veterans, Jamie Wilson and Carla GuevaraLaforteza, who were previously seen in Ang Huling El Bimbo, also join the cast as Don Kirshner and Genie Klein.

With a book by Douglas McGrath, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical has been thrilling theatergoers with the inspiring true story of one woman’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From the string of pop classics she wrote for the biggest acts in music, to her own life-changing, chart-busting success with

Kayla Rivera with Nick Varrichio

Kayla Rivera plays Carole King in the 'Beautiful' musical

A beautiful

MUSICAL 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' is an inspiring true story of one woman’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Drifters Tim Pavino, Arman Ferrer, Jep Go, and Markus Mann

Tapestry, Beautiful Beautifultakes you back to where it all began—and takes you on the ride of a lifetime.

F e a t u r i n g unforgettable classics like “You’ve Got a Friend”, “One Fine Day”, “So Far

Away”, “Take Good Care of My Baby”, “Up on the Roof”, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, and “Natural Woman”, this Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning musical phenomenon is filled with the songs you remember—and a story you’ll never forget.

Beautiful continues to run on Broadway and on US National Tour.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is directed by Bobby Garcia in celebration of Atlantis Theatrical’s 20th anniversary season. For tickets, visit www. ticketworld. com.ph or call 8919999.