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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 172 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

STORM TRACKER. Weather specialist Benison Estareja gives an update on typhoon ‘Hanna,’ which is expected to induce monsoon rain affecting Metro Manila and parts of northern Luzon. Hanna is forecast to exit PAR by Thursday. Manny Palmero

25 dead in Iloilo sea tragedy 3 boats capsize amid big waves, strong winds

MISHAP. Philippine Coast Guard personnel carries a victim of a boat accident that happened in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait when three motor boats capsized in rough seas while other rescue drivers place two corpses on top of parts of a boat left above water. In Manila, boatmen play it safe and take their watercraft to higher ground. AFP/Coastguard, MMRDC, Norman Cruz

By Francisco Tuyay

HE death toll from the sinking of three boats rose to 25 as rescuers retrieved more bodies from the sea off the Guimaras Strait near Iloilo City, officials said Sunday. Squalls tipped over the three woodenhulled outriggers in the strait Saturday as the rest of the country was battered by rains induced by seasonal southwest monsoon winds, the Coast Guard said. The bodies of 14 passengers and crew were recovered, civil defense official Franco Agudo said, taking the toll to 25. The office of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas reported that of the 25 dead victims, three were minors who all died upon arrival in different hospitals shortly after they were pulled up by responding rescuers in rough waters an hour after the incident. Regional police chief Rene Pamuspusan also confirmed Sunday that 25 people had died, with six others still missing. He said 55 people had been rescued. On Sunday the state-run Philippine News Agency released a dramatic photo of rescue divers placing two corpses, one still wearing a red life vest, on top of the only parts of one boat left above water. Reports from the Police Regional Office-6 said the 12 dead passengers were from M/B Chichi and 13 were from M/B Jenny Vince while no one perished from M/B Kezia. It also reported that a total of 59 passengers from the two motor boats survived the capsizing incident. The PRO-6 said M/B Chi Chi with 47 passengers, four crew memberss; and M/B Jenny Vince carrying 39 passengers were navigating the Guimaras Strait between Parola and Joardan wharfs when they were buffeted by big waves and strong winds past noon Saturday. Several hours afterward, the M/B Kezia with four crewmen but without passengers also capsized while traversing the rough waters of the strait. Next page

Expiring drugs, P18-b ‘hoard’ catch Justice probers’ attention By Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Justice department will look into an audit report questioning the Department of Health for having P367 million worth of soon-to-expire medicine and medical supplies stored in its warehouses to determine if there is a basis for a full-blown investigation. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would secure a copy of the Commission on Audit report to find out if the huge stock of expiring medicine was a result of corruption. Guevarra made the statement after a lawmaker asked the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the huge stock expiring drugs to determine the culpability of DOH officials led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“I have not received a formal request from Rep. Bernadette Dy regarding this matter of huge stock of expiring medicine of the DOH. But now that she has mentioned it, I will secure a copy of the COA report and look into any possible criminal aspect,” Guevarra said. “If the matter goes beyond simple administrative liability, then I will direct the NBI to do its own probe,” he added. The NBI is the main investigating agency of the DOJ. In its report, the COA said that as of January 2018, the DOH had stored in warehouses medicines and medical supplies worth P294.767 million. The COA added that these medicine and medical supplies had expiry dates set 12 months later. It said that P72.391 million worth of medicines were only distributed to DOH

Duterte plans talks with Xi in China visit

Freedom of speech ‘very strong’ under Duterte watch, survey says By MJ Blancaﬂor A NEW survey shows 59 percent of its respondents believe freedom of speech is “very strong” under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte—but half of them also said it was dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration. More than half or 59 percent of the 1,200 respondents agreed that they can say anything they want—openly and without fear—even if it is against the administration, according to the survey by Social Weather Stations. Eighteen percent disagreed while 23 percent were undecided.

The survey results also showed a net agreement score of +41, which is classified by SWS as “very strong.” This was 18 points higher than the +23 net agreement score, or moderate, in December 2018. The SWS also found that 67 percent agreed that the Philippine media have freedom of the press while 10 percent disagreed and 23 percent were undecided. However, the same survey also showed that 51 percent of Filipinos agree that it is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the Duterte administration while 29 percent were undecided and 20 percent disagreed. Next page

Franky’s flyboard feat ST MARGARET’S BAY, United Kingdom—A Frenchman who has spent years developing a jet-powered hoverboard zoomed across the English Channel on Sunday, fulfilling his quest just 10 days after failing in a first attempt when he fell into the water Next page while trying to refuel.

Sara in 2022 shakes the tree—Rody PRESIDENTIAL daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will surely win the presidency if she decides to run, Malacañang said Sunday. Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the mayor was qualified to run, claiming she was “more strict than the President with respect to governance in Davao. “If she decides to run, for sure she will win,” Panelo said in a radio interview. “President Duterte’s experience is mainly on mayoral post. That’s like

Mayor Sara...She’s more strict than the President with respect to governance in Davao,” he said. Duterte held the mayoral post in Davao City for more than two decades. His daughter, meanwhile, was elected Davao City mayor in 2016. Panelo’s statement came after religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who has close ties with the Duterte family, said Duterte-Carpio had already been chosen by God to follow the footsteps of her

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit China to meet President Xi Jinping amid criticism that his government has not been more assertive in dealing with Chinese incursions into the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. In a radio interview, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte and Xi are scheduled for talks this month to discuss issues that need to be addressed, including the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. “There’s no definite date yet,” he said. Senator Christopher Go, former Next page

Peppa Pig in a bottle BEIJING—Delicate designs painted on the inside of miniature Chinese snuff bottles by artists like Zhang Yuhua and her husband usually feature calligraphy, floral compositions and traditional rural scenes. Next page

20 KILLED AS GUNMAN FIRES AT WALMART STORE IN TEXAS WORLD B3

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Gordon sticks with majority By Macon Ramos-Araneta

E IS ready to lose the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, but he will stay with the majority bloc in the Senate, Senator Richard Gordon said Sunday.

“Of course, I am not picking a fight with the President. I am not fighting with [Senate President] Tito Sotto, said Gordon when asked if he would remain a member of the majority after receiving a tongue-lashing from the President. President Rodrigo Duterte had slammed Gordon for criticizing his appointments of retired military officials to several Cabinet positions.

Instead of meddling in his job as President and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Duterte said, Gordon, whom he called a ‘‘smart ass,’’ to focus on his stomach as he looked like a tadpole. Duterte further ridiculed Gordon’s looks, saying he walked like a penguin who was ‘‘a fart away from disaster.’’ But, saying Duterte was a friend since

they had been together as mayor, Gordon surmised that sycophants might have provoked the President into taking potshots at him after describing as ‘‘dangerous practice the President’s apparent militarization of the Cabinet. “I didn’t know. Some sycophants could have provoked him. Perhaps due to exhaustion he [Duterte] got mad, Gordon said. “Alam nyo naman d’yan, maraming nagpapalakas, magaling manggatong, said Gordon, adding he was just trying to help the President succeed. “I don’t take the side of the President only because he is my friend. It’s a principled stand, Gordon said. “If he’s right, I will support him. If there’s no evidence against him, I will

be brave enough to say, ‘No evidence! If there is, I will [say so].” Gordon also said he was not looking to meet with the President to discuss their recent squabble, given that he really was not offended by Duterte’s insulting remarks. Gordon has repeatedly stressed he took no offense from the President’s expletives towards him, even stressing that he remained a friend. The President has also cautioned Gordon against running for vice president, saying he would ensure his defeat. If Gordon wanted to be vice president, the President suggested he put up a corporation and make his family members incorporators to get himself elected vice president.

25 dead... From A1

In a radio interview, a certain Michael Salazar, a survivor said the boat he was riding was in the middle of the sea when suddenly it was whipped by strong winds causing it to lose balance and eventually turn upside down. He said most of the passengers jumped into the water in fear, some of them without a life vest. “I was beneath the capsized motor boat and saw some of the passengers without a life jacket,” Salazar said. Authorities in Iloilo province had reportedly permitted small seacraft to ply their routes since there was no gale warning that was raised. Trenas has canceled all boat trips from Iloilo to Guimaras and vice versa in the aftermath of the incident. The Philippine Coast Guard and local disaster crew have intensified search and rescue operations. The PCG has also started its investigation to determine whether the boats were overloaded and had enough life saving gear. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided blankets, used clothing, towels and food items to the survivors while stranded passengers were temporary housed in the Iloilo City municipal compound. Meanwhile, flash floods hit seven of 11 towns and one city in Batan province on Saturday, affecting nearly 8,000 families, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported on Sunday. Under one- to five-foot deep floodwaters were 11 barangays in Hermosa, five in Dinalupihan, three in Pilar, two in Abucay and one each in Balanga City, Orion and Morong. On Sunday, the water already subsided in many areas except in Barangays Almacen, Daungan and Pulo in Hermosa that were still under three to five feet of flood. Angel Ruiz of the office of Gov. Albert Garcia said 40 families were brought to evacuation centers in Hermosa and Pilar on Saturday but returned to their home on Sunday. Garcia, who chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, ordered the release of relief goods and the mobilization of all concerned agencies for rescue and relief operations. PDRRMO placed at 7,650 the total number of families affected by the twoday flood. Meanwhile, a steel bridge temporarily used as passageway by residents to cross the Sibacan River in Balanga City collapsed after debris clogged the waterway coupled with the onslaught of strong flood water. No one was hurt. Tropical depression “Hanna” intensified into a tropical storm Sunday afternoon. At 3 p.m., “Hanna” was estimated at 1,060 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan near the center with 65 kilometer per hour winds and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving north at 15 kph. It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday or Friday. “Hanna” gained strength and enhanced the southwest monsoon, bringing more rain to Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. With Rio N. Araja, AFP and PNA

Peppa Pig... From A1

But to keep alive the centuries-old art known as “guihuahu,” or “bottle painted by ghosts,” some painters are appealing to younger tastes with modern motifs— including the popular children’s character Peppa Pig. Concentrating hard as she holds a tiny paintbrush poked through the neck of a translucent glass bottle, Zhang traces ink across its interior, her steady hand leav-

Baguio solon pushes 4-day work week By Rio N. Araja BAGUIO City Rep. Mark Go is batting for a four-day work week to help decongest the stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue. In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Go said he had refiled a bill that would institutionalize a compressed work week from the current five- or six-day work week. He said the proposed ban on provincial buses could not totally fix the traffic woes on EDSA. He said the four-day work week was just one of several approaches to reduce the traffic on the major roads, particularly EDSA. About 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles passing through EDSA come from the provinces out of the total number of 367,728. Earlier, the Metro Manila Development Authority ordered an Aug. 7 ban on provincial buses entering EDSA and to close 57 provincial bus terminals in the area, but the Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued an injunction against it. “The ban on provincial buses has just a little effect in terms of traffic,” Go said. But he suggested banning taxicabs from waiting for passengers in front of EDSA terminals, and to build more Metro Rail Transit lines on EDSA. “We should also think about disciplining the motorists and drivers on EDSA,” he said.

Franky’s... From A1

AFTERMATH. Potholes along Araneta Ave. in Quezon City come about after two days of heavy downpour in Metro Manila. What usually follows is traffic congestion as motorists try to skirt around the crater-like holes. Manny Palmero left undistributed by the Health department. “We must stress that officials trusted with public resources are duty-bound to see to it that these supplies are used efficiently for the public good and benefit, and not just left to spoil away,” his statement read. “In this case, we sure hope the problem has nothing to do with the over-purchasing of medicines owing to possible enticements from large pharmaceutical suppliers,” it stated. The party-list lawmaker blamed “negligence” in the management of inventories for the non-distribution of the medicine, saying this was unacceptable, especially given that many poor Filipinos badly needed medicine. “In fact, we’ve come across many cases wherein patients in public hospitals are being told to buy their own medicines from private pharmacies because the [hospital’s] subsidized dispensary has run out of supplies,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, urged his colleagues to control their tempers as 12 committee hearings begin this week. Blue Ribbon committee chairperman Senator Richard Gordon they will proceed with the hearing on the issues hounding PhilHealth although Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will not attend due to the dengue outbreak in some parts of the country. While Gordon acknowledged Duque’s absence as valid, he said the secretary would not be able to duck further Senate hearings. Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson accused Duque of a conflict of interest as he revealed that the PhilHealth office in the Ilocos region is housed in a building owned by the secretary’s family. Duque has denied any conflict of interest on his part, saying he quit as president of his family corporation when he became Health secretary in 2018.

are being curtailed by the administration,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said. But the Palace said it was “cognizant” and “curious” about the finding that half the respondents felt it dangerous to speak out against the government. “The President respects criticisms as long as the same is not baseless, unfounded or false. He even urges the people, including writers and reporters, to freely express whatever sentiments they have,” he said. Panelo statement came in the wake of Duterte’s vicious personal attack on an administration ally, Senator Richard Gordon, after he criticized the President’s penchant for recruiting former

military officials into his Cabinet. Ridiculing Gordon’s girth, the President said he was “a smart ass that walks like penguin” and that he was just “a fart away” from a heart attack. But Panelo said: “Ours is a President who not only respects everyone’s right to free speech but listens to our plight as he ensures that the fibers of our country’s democracy are preserved and enhanced.” The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concern over the restraints on press freedom after Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa was arrested on tax evasion charges and Duterte threatened to withhold the franchise of TV network ABS-CBN.

She said she would wait and decide by January 2021. From A1 But when asked if she indeed had plans to join the 2022 presidential race, Dutertefather to become the country’s next leader. Carpio said: ‘‘Everything will be easier in The presidential daughter has said she the plan of God.’’ has not closed the door on the possibility Duterte has already said he would not of running for the presidency. allow his daughter to run for the highest

post in the government. “I know she will not run for President. She is wise,” Duterte said in a speech in April. “She’s just trying to shake the tree. Shaking the tree and getting rid of the dry leaves and everything. If you ask me, I do not like her to run for President.” MJ Blancaflor

ing a perfect impression despite barely being able to see what she is doing. The couple in their seventies have spent their lives practicing the craft, which began in Beijing in the 1800s, and now want to pass on their skill to the next generation. “For several years now we’ve looked for people to carry on the tradition,” Zhang’s husband Gu Qun told AFP. But with vast amounts of patience required to learn the intricate technique that takes years to master, it hasn’t been easy. “During an apprenticeship, which lasts

“I once painted a character from the cartoon Peppa Pig inside a bottle for a child who visited my shop,” said Wei, who sells the ornaments from his shop in the Chinese capital, where prices range from 60 to 6,000 yuan ($9 to $870). After seeing the child’s delight at his creation, Wei made a few dozen more featuring the pink pig and her friends, which sold very quickly. “People are bored of old-fashioned images and motifs. To widen the scope of our art, we need to use new elements,” he added. AFP

Expiring drugs... From A1

regional offices less than a year before their expiry dates. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo earlier said they would look into the non-distribution of the medicine and medical supplies. Domingo added that while 80 percent of the medicine has been distributed to areas where they are needed the most, the department will still look at what happened to the rest stored in warehouses. Meanwhile, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor called for an investigation of reports, also based on a COA report, that the DOH has overstocked on medicine worth P18.4 billion since 2015. Defensor filed a resolution urging the House committee on health to look into the “unusually huge hoard” of medicine

Freedom... From A1

The research firm used interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 and above nationwide with 300 in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from June 22 to 26, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. The Palace welcomed the survey results. “The survey results once again are a repudiation of the vociferous and unrelenting tirade of the critics and detractors of the President, as well as the opposition, that the freedoms of speech and of expression

Sara...

at least three years, young people don’t have a stable income, and all this stops them from dedicating themselves to this job,” he said. The bottles, which fit easily in the palm, were originally used to hold smokeless tobacco among Chinese high society in the 17th century, and only started to be painted for decoration many decades later. Today other “ghost” bottle painters, like Wei Dongfang, 48, are reviving the craft by adorning their works with more unusual designs inspired by popular culture.

Franky Zapata set off on his “Flyboard” from Sangatte on the northern coast of France at 8:17 am (0617 GMT) for the 35-kilometer (22-mile) trip to St. Margaret’s Bay in Dover, on England’s south coast. Escorted by three helicopters, he glided across the water in the early morning light and landed 22 minutes later in the picturesque bay, where dozens of onlookers and journalists awaited him. “Everything went great! Even though it was still tricky,” Zapata said after the flight, referring to a complex landing maneuver on a boat around three-quarters of the way across to pick up a fresh backpack full of kerosene. He said that based on the indicators in the visor of his helmet, he raced over the busy shipping lane at a speed of 160-170 km/h (100-105 mph), doing zig-zags as he neared the coast. “Then I saw England getting closer, so I tried to have some fun so I could forget the pain—my legs were on fire!” he said. He later broke down in tears of emotion while talking on the telephone to his son, who told him, “Dad, you’re the best!” “Frankly, I’m tired,” he said later. “I need a holiday.” ‘My dream’ Zapata, a 40-year-old former jet-ski champion, first tried to make the crossing on July 25, to coincide with the 110th anniversary of Louis Bleriot’s historic first crossing of the Channel by plane. But the bid was cut short when he tumbled into the water after failing to land on a boat to refuel—his backpack carries some 35 kilograms (77 pounds) of kerosene, enough to keep him aloft for around 10 minutes. Asked if he considered himself Bleriot’s successor, Zapata told BFM television later Sunday: “It’s not really comparable, he was one of the first men to fly.” “Let’s just say that I achieved my dream.” AFP

Duterte... From A1

aide of the President, also told reporters Saturday night that the Chief Executive’s planned trip to China this month was being worked out, possibly for the end of August. If the trip pushes through, it will be Duterte’s fifth to China since he took office in 2016. Last month, a Pulse Asia survey revealed that China was the least trusted country among its respondents. Seventy-four percent of the respondents said they believe that the country should not trust the world’s second largest economy. Go said the President is also planning to watch the national team play in the FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China. “He also plans to watch FIBA because he rarely gets a chance to do it,” Go said. Gilas Pilipinas will face Serbia, Italy, and Angola in Group D. The national basketball team’s first game will be against Italy on Aug. 31. MJ Blancaflor

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Palace says ‘NY Times’editorial on rights killings lacks research By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Saturday slammed the New York Time for publishing an editorial that cited an international watchdog’s survey showing the Philippines as the “bloodiest” country for land rights activists. In a statement, the Palace said the American paper “has not exerted research required of responsive journalism.” “The editorial of the NYT is not surprising since the newspaper has been dishing out false information and untruthful narratives on the Philippine situation under the leadership of PRRD,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said. “The American publication has not exerted the research required of responsive journalism. Neither did it conduct an in-depth independent study on such a delicate subject-matter,” he added. The New York Times released an editorial on Thursday titled “In the Fight to Save the Planet, Its Defenders Are Being Killed.” The opinion piece cited a survey by Global Witness which claimed that the country has the most number of murders of land rights activists last year. The survey reported 30 killings in the country in 2018. After the Philippines, Colombia ranked second with 24, followed by 23 in India and 20 in Brazil. “On this particular issue, the NYT relied heavily on the annual report of Britain-based human rights group called Global Witness, which missed the point when it cited the Philippines as a deadly nation for land rights,” Panelo said. He also denied that the government is behind those killings. “Global Witness made it appear that it is the government which is to blame for the situation while failing or omitting to factor the local communist movement and armed conﬂicts as critical components thereof,” he said. Earlier, the Palace blamed the reported rise in the number of killings to the “viciousness” of the claimants. Panelo also slammed the Times for relying on “false facts peddled by communist rebels, left-leaning organizations, and political opposition.” The Palace spokesman also defended the President, who was described as “brutal” in the publication’s editorial. “The President is not brutal. He does not allow any law enforcer to use savage methods in enforcing the law. “Anyone who goes against police protocols in effecting arrest and complying with court orders are prosecuted administratively and criminally. The President is very strict in enforcing the law. No friendship, alliances or blood relationship temper nor impede this enforcement. No one is spared from the harsh application of the law,” he said.

Solon resigns as NUP chief out of ‘delicadeza’ over Speaker bid By Rio N. Araja CAPIZ Rep. Fredenil Castro, the former House majority leader in the 17th Congress, on Sunday said he has resigned as the National Unity Party president and even as its member over his failure to back the speakership of Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano. Castro said that he resigned out of delicadeza, since it was the only proper thing to do when he did not support the party’s choice. Castro had openly displayed his support for Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, now the House majority leader, “I resigned out of delicadeza since I was open and unwaveringly frontliner for Congressman Martin Romualdez,” he said. The NUP leadership led by its chairman Ronaldo Puno had endorsed Cayetano as its Speaker. Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor lauded Castro for his statesmanly act and his display of delicadeza. “His [Castro] character is rare and uncommon among the new crop of political leaders nowadays as shown by those turncoats and abandon after the Speakership race,” he said.

ARCTIC ANIMALS. Students from Vicente P. Villanueva Memorial School look at the life-size replicas of Arctic animals such as penguins and Pacific Walrus during the Arctic in the South display at the SM City Dasmariñas, Cavite. The display aims to raise awareness on the imminent threat on the Arctics which continue to melt due to climate change affecting the natural habitat of the animals. Norman Cruz

Two NPA members linked to Negros murders nabbed By MJ Blancaflor

UMAGUETE CITY—Two suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army believed to be part of the group that allegedly tortured and killed four policemen in Ayungon, Negros Oriental last month were arrested on Saturday following a joint military and police operation in Barangay Mabato in the said town. Maj. Romel Luga, Ayungon police chief, on Sunday confirmed that the two suspects were among the several suspected NPA rebels responsible for the slaying of Cpl. Relebert Beronio, Pat. Raffy Callao, Pat. Ruel Cabellon, and Pat. Marquino de Leon, intelligence personnel of the 704th Mobile Force Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Central Visayas. Initial reports from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office identified the two suspects as Edmar Acibo Amaro and Jojo Torres Ogatis, who were arrested three hours apart during joint combat operations by personnel of the RMFB 7 Striking Force, the

704th MC RMFB7, and the 94th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. First to fall was Amaro, who was arrested at around 9 a.m. for alleged illegal possession of ﬁrearms and explosives in Sitio Yamot in Barangay Mabato, the same area where the four police intelligence operatives were killed. Recovered from Amaro were one riﬂe grenade, one .38-cal. revolver with no serial number and loaded with three live ammunition, one backpack, a pair of combat shoes, a set of uniform marked “PKP 50,” and other personal items. Three hours later, police and military troops swooped down on Ogatis in Sitio

Sook in Barangay Mabato. Ogatis was reportedly arrested on his wedding day. A witness had positively identified him as one of the suspects in the “summarybexecution” of the four policemen. Luga said charges for illegal possession of a firearm, ammunition, and an explosive will be filed for inquest against Amaro while murder charges are being readied against the two suspects. President Rodrigo Duterte has raised the reward for the capture of the perpetrators in the brutal killing of the four police officers to P5million. As this developed, President Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said that the president’s order for the military to give communist rebels “what they deserve” does not apply to those who have been arrested, saying the Chief Executive’s threat only covers armed encounters. Panelo said Duterte’s directive to the military only covers shootouts where the rebels fight back. “That’s what the President said... during shootouts, not during the capture or arrest,” Panelo said in a radio interview. “He clarified that. He said it won’t be applied to those who were arrested,” Panelo added.

Zero Waste Groups back bid for paperless Congress SEVERAL environmental groups have thrown their support behind a proposed shift to paperless transactions at the House of Representatives. Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Cavite 7th District Representative Crispin “Boying” Remulla had earlier announced that the chamber’s leadership is pushing for a paperless Congress to reduce paper costs estimated at P9 million a year and to digitize the legislative process. This is among the reforms being considered by the house leadership under the new rules of the 18th Congress to be adopted this coming December after the approval of the 2020 national budget. The move toward a paperless Congress has elicited support from green

groups working for a Zero Waste, toxics-free and sustainable society who cited the many beneﬁts of going digital and paperless. “We welcome the chamber’s planned switch to paperless transactions as this will surely cut the costs for procuring paper and for the printing of voluminous legislative documents such as bills that do not necessarily become a law. This will reduce long-term resource use and associated costs and bring greater transparency to the lawmaking process,” said Jovito Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. “A paperless Congress should improve legislative efﬁciency, while cutting the expenses not only for bond papers, but also for folders, inks, toners

and other supplies. The savings can be used instead for meaningful programs to meet our people’s basic needs,” suggested Sonia Mendoza, Chairman, Mother Earth Foundation. “Aside from reduced paper use and waste, going paperless will cut storage space for legislative documents that are often printed in multiple copies, as well as cut staff time in maintaining such documents. With more efﬁcient operations, we can hope for faster deliberation of important bills, particularly strategic environmental and health measures such as those banning single-use plastics, foreign waste importation, and hazardous chemicals, products and processes,” stated Rene Pineda, President, Consumer Rights for Safe Food.

‘Special Wi-Fi’ Access Team’ a vital part in PH disaster response SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto praised the Department of Information and Communications Technology for deploying what he called a “SWAT or Special Wi-Fi Access Team” to earthquake-hit Batanes, which enabled residents to call worried relatives and rescuers to synchronize their work. Recto said such should become part of government’s “standard first response” to disasters, given the important role of communications in rushing help to people and places reeling from a calamity. “Communications should be a constant—before, during and after a calamity. In this age, a cellphone, especially one hooked up to a broadband, has become a lifesaving device. Timely and accurate information saves lives and property,” Recto said. Recto said resilience is strengthened and damage is mitigated by good communications. “Bago dumating ang bagyo, di ba dapat may text alert? Ganoon din pagkatapos ng lindol. Kung baha, may apps na magsasabi kung saan malalim ang tubig.” Post disaster, rescue and relief efforts depend on a functioning voice and data ICT infrastructure, Recto stressed. “If it is down, restoring it becomes a priority because all emergency responses depend on the ability of those who provide it to communicate with the people and among themselves.” “In this scenario, DICT people should be among the first ‘boots on the ground.’ I think DICT should become a first responder, too. As chief overseer of telcos, it should ensure that the phone network is working,” he said. Recto said what the DICT did in Itbayat, Batanes, where it rolled out free Wi-Fi access points, should also be done in areas “facing the same trying circumstances.” “Isa lang dapat ‘yan sa DICT response package. Mas madami pa at mas kumplikado kung mas malawak ang pinsala,” Recto said.

Villar’s SIPAG honors 11 youth groups By Macon Ramos-Araneta

LOTENG OPERATORS. National Capital Region Police Office Chief of Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar presented the 12 arrested operators of the illegal game ‘Loteng’ at the NCRPO Headquarter at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Sunday, Aug. 4. They were arrested in a police operations in Taguig City, Quezon City, Las Piñas City, and Parañaque City. Norman Cruz

TO RECOGNIZE the efforts of the youth in creating positive change in Philippine society, Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance, through its AG Awards, honored 11 Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprises in a simple ceremony in Las Pinas City. “This is our way of supporting empowerment of our young people with the hope of further encouraging them and also inspiring others to signiﬁcantly contribute to our goals as a nation,” Senator Cynthia Villar said. Now on its third year, the Villar SIPAG Awards, is a friendly competition among Filipino youths

whose social enterprises contribute in alleviating poverty in their respective communities. Candidates for the awards are groups composed of college or students taking up masteral studies; out-of-school youth, young professionals, social enterprise groups, young entrepreneurs, youth organizations and other community organizations. After going through an evaluation, comprehensive screenings and rational project defense, the ﬁnalists were selected according to originality and uniqueness of service or product; adaptability, sustainabilitly and community upliftment. Each awardee received a cash prize of P150,000 to help their projects and initiatives on poverty alleviation.

Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

Destiny

SOME events in the first week of August, the beginnings of the “ghost month” in the Oriental lunar calendar, recalled to my mind a rather trite, but true observation in politics: that the presidency is a matter of destiny. President Rodrigo Duterte last week said that President Cory Aquino became popular only because her husband (Ninoy Aquino) was assassinated during the reign of President Marcos. One can interpret the President’s statement in various ways, not necessarily exclusive of each other. It could be a denigration of Cory’s role in our history; that she was just an accidental leader. Perhaps.

The answer is written in the stars. Kris Aquino very deftly thanked the President for attributing the death of her father in the hands of the previous dictator instead of publicly taking offense. Kris really knows how to properly communicate. It was almost like “touche” as the French would say. Whichever and whatever, the ascent of Cory Aquino after the assassination of her husband Ninoy at the tarmac of the international airport, the 36th anniversary of which the nation will commemorate 16 days hereafter, was certainly a matter of destiny. The death of Ninoy galvanized opposition to martial rule, and when Marcos mistakenly called for “snap” elections in November of 1985 in an ABC interview, the emotional demand for Ninoy’s widow to be the champion of the opposition in the

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

February 1986 elections reached crescendo levels. Doy Laurel, who had painstakingly built up the opposition ranks since 1982 under the United Nationalist Democratic Organization from the remains of the pre-martial law Nacionalista and Liberal parties, had to give way to the emotional outpouring for Ninoy’s widow. The rest is history. Despite the Comelec-certified results, events finally led to the mutiny, the break-away that precipitated the EDSA people power uprising. In four dramatic days of February, Marcos had to flee to Hawaii, and Cory Aquino became president of the country. Destiny. The other event last week was Mayor Inday Sara Duterte repeating an oft-stated reaction to questions about her political plans in 2022, that it was all up to the Almighty. But Pastor Apollo Quiboloy jumped the gun by proclaiming that he had received signs from heaven that Inday Sara would indeed be president of the land after her father. Again, whether you agree with Quiboloy or not, he invokes destiny. Let’s take a brief nostalgic trip to the past (at least as far as when I was already conscious): In March of 1957, on an early morning trip back to Manila from the old airfield in Lahug, Cebu, the hugely popular President Ramon Magsaysay, a cinch for reelection eight months after for a second term, perished in Mt. Manunggal in Cebu a few minutes after takeoff. His vice president, the obscure Boholano Carlos P. Garcia, who the Nacionalista Party was about to ditch as Magsaysay’s teammate, returned from a trip to Australia as the new president. Destiny. In 1957, the vice presidential candidate of the Liberals, a rather obscure Pampanga congressman who started his career in the foreign service, Diosdado P. Macapagal, triumphed over Jose Bayani Laurel Jr., Garcia’s vice

‘Divine intervention’

HE evangelist Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, last week endorsed Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, the President’s daughter, as God’s choice to replace her father when his term ends in 2022.

On his streaming video program Give Us This Day, the President’s friend and campaign benefactor said the mayor, like her father, “is chosen for that also” as the presidency is not a position that anyone can aspire for but a God-given gift. “It is God who determines it, you don’t aspire for it. In our experiences, those who aspire for it, where are they now? But for those people who don’t aspire for it, God gave it to them,” he said. Carpio, a guest on the pastor’s program, said she would ask God for wisdom to make the right decision. Quiboloy, who is a close friend of the President, said he would pray to

help Carpio prepare in the coming days, claiming that God had already shown him a glimpse of what is about to happen and that there would be “drastic changes” happening in her life in the coming years. Quiboloy said not everyone aspiring for the country’s highest position could ascend to the presidency because “I believe it is God who appoints.” “Maybe vice president, senator, you can aspire for that. But the presidency, I believe it is God who appoints,” he said. The pastor’s declaration came as a surprise to us, assuming as we did that in a democracy, it is the people who choose their leaders, not some deity that speaks to us through evangelists. Perhaps the good pastor was simply confused by the Latin phrase Vox Populi, Vox Dei—the voice of the people is the voice of God—and got the order wrong. President Rodrigo Duterte, who has viciously attacked the Catholic Church, apparently finds solace in his friend’s ministry, and says the

pastor’s TV show is now his favored medium for communicating his thoughts and ideas. "There’s one thing that you may have noticed, Pastor, I do not give interviews using other facilities private or not even the government-owned TV, seldom if at all," he said during one interview on Quiboloy’s program. "I like it here because God is so near and I tend to control my mouth and out of respect to you and the public,” he added, noting that he aimed to be on the program more often. Certainly we welcome Quiboloy’s moderating influence on Mr. Duterte’s infamous potty mouth. As for the pastor’s claim that he is privy to the will of God on who can best lead the country, we presume he is speaking to his flock and not to the rest of us. It will be up to them to accept or reject their leader’s words. But so long as everybody is clear that the rest of us enjoy the freedom to agree or disagree with what is being said— just as Quiboloy enjoys the freedom to express himself—democracy should remain alive and well.

Turn to A5

Back to the wild: How ‘ungardening’ took root in America

RETIRED union organizer Anna Burger lives by a busy road just a minute's walk from a metro station in the US capital Washington, but every morning she wakes up to a birdsong symphony. Butterflies, squirrels and even the occasional deer also come to visit the treecovered property that she has cultivated with a focus on native species that provide nesting space and nourishment for the local wildlife. Well-manicured grass lawns have long been associated with the American Dream, but a growing "rewilding" movement now seeks to reclaim yard space for nature. "We knew that putting chemicals on grass to try to keep it green seemed to be a futile process that wasn't good for kids playing or for the environment," Burger told AFP. She and her husband bought the house in 1990 and "we've tried to make it friendly, making sure that we have water sources, making sure that there are food sources so these trees aren't the most colorful but have great berries." The couple's home is surrounded by several houses whose occupants take a more traditional approach toward their green space, but a stroll through the leafy Takoma Park neighborhood reveals many more where "ungardening" has taken root. Precise definitions of what this means vary, but the concept of meddling less and celebrating nature more was notably popularized in 1993 book "Noah's Garden" by Sara Stein, a Bible for the movement. My energy space A few blocks away from Burger's house, Jim Nichols, a nurse consultant and massage therapist, shows off the "Certified Wildlife Habitat" sign he acquired from a local non-profit group after meeting requirements like feeding, nesting space and water supply. Nichols also eschews the use of pesticides in his yard, explaining: "We have a lot of insects and I try to work with the

insects," adding that he is particularly proud of the honey bees that come to water. "It's my energy space. It's where I get energy and feed off the energy from my garden," he added. Irving and Gail, retired public school teachers in their seventies from the same neighborhood, have a yard space filled with forest-like undergrowth and dozens of trees, attracting cardinals, blue jays and robins, but also plenty of mosquitoes. "People will come up and either love it or they think it's out of control," laughed Gail, declining to give her last name. That tension speaks to the conflicting views that have emerged about rewilding efforts, said Chris Swan, an ecologist at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. On the one hand is an opposition to "this American tradition of mowing a garden and having a lawn," in favor of letting nature take its course which in turn increases biodiversity of plants and animals, he said. But people think that often "looks messy, it looks unkempt." "I don't think people mind having something that looks like... a wild place or prairie, or a meadow but they don't like to see too tall. Anything over three feet (one meter) starts to make people uncomfortable," said Swan. Rewilding inner cities Looking beyond relatively affluent suburbs, Swan argues that rewilding efforts can be even more transformative in the inner cities. From 2014-18, he oversaw an ambitious experiment in the city of Baltimore, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Washington, where decades of population decline have left around 17,000 vacant lots. Most of these lots had very poor quality soil and were overcome with debris, but Swan and his colleagues showed they could turn eyesores into urban meadows Turn to A5

As iPhone sales sputter, Apple moves toward reinvention, again By Rob Lever WITH its latest financial results, Apple is showing it can move beyond the iPhone with gadgets and services that can help the California tech giant weather the slumping smartphone market. In the just-ended quarter, Apple took in less than half its revenue from the iPhone, the longtime cash and profit driver for the company, representing a milestone for the company. Apple managed to grow its overall revenues, albeit by a modest one percent, to $53.8 billion, even as iPhone revenues plunged nearly 12 percent in the April-June period. The company delivered strong growth from digital content and services that include its Apply Pay and Apple Music, along with wearables

and accessories like the Apple Watch and Air Pods. Apple is preparing to launch its branded credit card in August that ties into its digital wallet, as well as its own streaming television service to compete with Netflix and others, with at least $1 billion invested in original content. The results show Apple is lessening its dependence on the iPhone, analysts said. "As the smartphone market matures Apple can no longer rely on iPhones alone to power the company forward," said Avi Greengart of the consultancy Techsponential. "Apple has been signaling for a while that its plan was to diversify into services and we've seen from the latest results that this strategy is working quite well."

Apple's roadmap Apple's update should allay investor concerns that the company's growth could be hobbled by a sputtering smartphone market, said a research note from Gene Munster and Will Thompson of the equity firm Loup Ventures. "We believe the Street is systematically undervaluing Apple's ecosystem by focusing on hardware sales instead of revenue and earnings growth plus optionality," Munster and Thompson wrote. "We believe this quarter's results and the roadmap for the next two years will prove to be a turning point for investors to begin valuing Apple with a more appropriate multiple." Turn to A5

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Opinion Sierra Leone’s secret societies mark bodies and minds By Saidu Bah

volved in ancestral and secret rites. Bondo and Poro societies "still play a leading role in the social, religious and political life" of communities, he said. But President Julius Maada Bio's government faces a delicate balancing act over how to manage these influential organisations and their traditions. The pain of ritual, especially female genital mutilation—FGM—is increasingly under attack. Even Bio's wife, Fatima, was caught up in the debate early this year. She provoked a huge backlash after publicly declaring she was not against FGM, which practitioners call circumcision. The first lady later said she had been misunderstood and that she condemned the forcible excision of girls aged under 18. Yambundu Oile, who has initiated thousands of girls like Kamara, said "cutting" was only part of the initiation. "It is not only to circumcise them, we also teach them to be a woman, to cook, to respect the elders," she said. "After the initiation, they return to their community to continue their education until their marriage."

WEARING a fading Mickey Mouse T-shirt, her knees hugged to her chest, eight-year-old Musu Kamara sits in a corrugated shack in Sierra Leone's capital waiting for her initiation into a secret society. Kamara will leave for two weeks in the bush with a sisterhood called Bondo. There, she and other girls will learn ritual dances and chants and how to confront spirits as the group is groomed for adulthood and tribal duties. And Kamara will also have to endure female genital mutilation. For youngsters in Sierra Leone, the end of the school year often means passing through initiation into a Bondo or, for boys, an allmale group called a Poro. The ceremonies have deep roots and are jealously guarded in many villages, where they are defended as a vital moment in life. But many of the children who take part in them will be scarred, physically as well as mentally. Boys, whose retreats can last months, may be sliced on the back with razors to leave the "mark of the teeth" of a spirit that swallows them. Girls face "cutting": The removal of their clitoris, a practice found in other parts of Africa, the Middle Under pressure East, and Asia—and increasingly The societies are under pressure reviled. after a string of kidnappings and even deaths, forcing the government Social status to temporarily ban them. Secret societies have an enNow rituals cannot be imposed on trenched role in tribal and political minors without their consent, and life in Sierra Leone, as in other parts any discrimination for non-memberof West Africa. ship of a secret society is prohibited. Membership confers social status But analysts see little impact. and respect, even opening doors to "The challenge is to eliminate fetribal chief posts and government male genital mutilation, but not the jobs. Bondo culture," which plays an imJoe Alie, a professor of African portant role in society, says Rugiatu studies at the University of Sierra Turay, a former minister who supLeone, said more than 90 percent ports a ban on FGM. of the country's population was in"We have more Bondo sites than

As iPhone... From A4

Challenges ahead But some analysts warn that Apple still faces challenges as rivals chip away at the smartphone market, in which the iPhone's share is less than 12 percent. Daniel Newman of Futurum Research said it was "an impressively unimpressive quarter" for Apple highlighted by weak iPhone sales. "I believe the iPhone success is a double-edged sword for Apple, because it has become such a dependency for the company to achieve its growth targets, yet the market is clearly showing a stabilizing or even shrinking demand," Newman said in a research note. Newman said Apple has no other product as lucrative as the iPhone, which has seen problems in China and has failed to gain traction in low-

income countries. "I believe Apple is floundering a bit more than people want to believe," Newman said. "The company's strategy seems to be lacking vision. Apple's growth is coming from accessories and services, rather than iPhones and iPads. While diversification is a step forward, the company will need more of it, and fast." Richard Windsor of the research firm Radio Free Mobile said Apple "is still a one-product company" because its ecosystem revolves around the iPhone. "I still think that ending its dependence on the iPhone is a very distant dream meaning Apple will continue to live and die with the success of this product," Windsor said in a blog post. While Apple is showing gains in these new services, Windsor said Apple's trajectory remains somewhat murky.

Back...

Destiny

by planting native species like purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans that prospered beyond their expectations. Though the project eventually ended, Swan says he remains excited by its potential, and not just in Baltimore. About 15 percent of the land in US cities is deemed vacant, an area roughly the size of Switzerland, according to the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service. "The quality of the habitat changes, it attracts wildlife, the birds go crazy. And in the spring, we see an increase in pollinators," Swan says of the urban meadow project. Another species that prospers: human beings. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year found an almost 30 percent drop in gun violence around re-greened vacant lots in the city of Philadelphia. Another 2018 paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association, that also looked at Philadelphia, found selfreported poor mental health dropped by more than 60 percent compared to a control group. "And so being near those spaces actually contributes to community well being," concluded Swan. AFP

presidential teammate. And four years after, in 1961, Macapagal defeated Garcia to become president, after promising the fast-rising political star of the north, fellow Liberal Ferdinand Marcos, that he would serve only one term. In 1964, a year before the elections of 1965, Marcos, with the help of Speaker Jose B. Laurel Jr., jumped into the opposition Nacionalista party, and ran against incumbent Macapagal. Ferdinand Marcos ascended to the presidency, won reelection in 1969 against the Liberal’s Sergio Osmeña Jr., and through masterful political skills, even skullduggery, ruled for a total of 20 years and almost two months, close to fourteen of these as authoritarian leader. Destiny. In the EDSA uprising of 1986, the triggers were Marcos’ defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP vicechief of staff and the president’s cousin, Fidel Valdez Ramos. But a year into the destined Cory’s presidency, Enrile fell out of grace, while Ramos bided his time within the leadership circle during the tumultuous years that bedeviled Cory Aquino with several

From A4

schools in Sierra Leone... But it's hard to convince people to reform their practices because politicians fund circumcision ceremonies to win votes." Despite this, the outcry against FGM is leading to change. "I want none of my daughters to undergo genital mutilation, which leaves a mark for life," says Mabinty Bangura, who endured FGM 20 years ago—a ceremony whose pain, she said, "never seemed to end." "One woman covers your mouth, another is holding you by the chest and two others by the legs," she said. "Then they spread your legs, remove the whole clitoris and apply a tissue impregnated with medicinal herbs." No-FGM rituals In the northern regions of Tonkolili and Port Loko, a new type of ritual is emerging in which girls are initiated by the Sowei—the head of a female secret society— but are not "cut." It is the initiative of a Swiss aid worker, Michele Moreau, who in 2010 became the first European to join a Bondo, taking the name of Shema Roko. "Twenty-five Soweis have vowed before leaders to stop the circumcisions. They replaced their red scarves with yellow ones, creating the 'Yellow Bondo'," said Moreau, whose association supports the schooling and health of young girls. Since then, around 700 girls have been initiated in Tonkolili without undergoing FGM. Some applaud the initiative as a way of enrolling secret societies into the fight to stamp out mutilation. Others, though, oppose it as disrespectful. "I hope that circumcision continues, but with the consent of the girls," said Sento Kamara, a Bondo member. "It is part of our culture and our tradition." AFP

"If the Apple iPhone suddenly loses its mojo then these businesses which are being dressed up as iPhone independent are also likely to crater." Greengart said the fears are overblown, pointing out that Apple has a large and loyal base of iPhone users which allows the company to sell more accessories and services. "They're keeping their existing customers and there's still more switching to iPhone than away from iPhone," he said. Greengart said Apple has the potential to lead in mobile augmented and virtual reality, health and wellness services through its smartwatch, which has been dominating the segment. "Satisfaction with the Apple Watch is very high," the analyst said. "If you want a smartwatch and you have an iPhone the Apple Watch is compelling, and once you have the Apple Watch, you're not going to switch to Android." AFP

coup attempts. Ramos joined the humongous Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino headed by Cory’s brother, Peping Cojuangco Jr., and challenged then Speaker Ramon V. Mitra Jr. in party convention in 1991. He lost miserably to the traditional politician’s champion, Tata Monching. He bolted the party with only six congressmen, formed his own party, Lakas, then got Cory to endorse him as her choice. He squeaked into a narrow, very, very slim victory. Destiny. Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who was also a presidential candidate in 1992, decided mid-way through the campaign to slide down to vicepresident in the ticket of Danding Cojuangco. He won, and though side-lined in the Ramos presidency to chief cop under the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, gained tremendous popularity for the next electoral round of 1998. But a fly in the ointment appeared: the Nora Aunor recreated Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the former president’s daughter who, after topping the senatorial elections in 1995, became immensely popular as well, a political threat to Estrada. But for seeming paucity of resourc-

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

What comes first, the chicken or the corn? said. “Whether or not the consumers benefit, whether or not the producers are harmed, we are irrelevant. It is just a matter of revenue generation for the government.” Far from an industry-specific crisis, ASIDE from rice farmers and millers, the the predicament of the local poultry inlocal chicken industry also bore the brunt dustry has some dire overarching conof a series of government interventions sequences. For starters, some 8.3-millast year geared to arrest runaway infla- lion jobs depend on the industry, and tion. The Department of Trade and Indus- so its collapse will impact millions of try asked industry players to lower farm Filipino households. It can also spiral into a serious nationgate prices of poultry products then, only to be surprised when the Department of al security concern that affects a major Agriculture lifted the special safeguard food resource of the country. The price duty on the importation of mechanically competition between domestic and imported chicken might lead to the lowerdeboned meat. The result was thus doubly disastrous ing of the price of domestic chicken just for local producers as farm gate prices to compete. Unable to do so, the next of chicken in some areas reached a low to be compromised might be domestic of P38 and P90 per kilo in some public production. Declining market share of domesmarkets. These numbers, as they fall way below the local cost-to-produce, tic production and therefore declinunderstandably dealt local farmers with ing profits for the industry can set off huge losses, unable to compete with the a domino effect—reaching even local farmers of corn and rice and small to deluge of imports. Months into something so unsustain- medium scale feed millers. For instance, the adjacent feed millable, it is little wonder then the local chicken industry is practically pushed ing industry will necessarily have to adjust to whatto the brink of colever state the lolapse. According cal poultry industo data from the try finds itself in. National Meat InGovernment should While it can be spection Service, listen to industry expected to condressed chicken inventory is at experts in crafting policy tinue to support local farmers, they 33,655 metric tons, reforms. should be aided up almost 50 perproperly to ensure cent. More than quality harvests half, or almost 20,000 MT were imported while the that can pass the quality requirements remaining 13,748 MT were locally pro- for feed ingredients. An added complication is that the loduced. In the same way then that the imple- cal feed millers also have to compete mentation of the rice tariffication law with other industries buying locally led to the closure of many local rice sourced corn, whereas traders mostly millers, the unabated deluge of imports but the local harvest and sell it to feed in the local market is threatening to millers at a higher price. As corn constrangle the local poultry industry due stitutes about half of the total cost of feed, lowering its cost will redound to to tough competition. United Broiler Raisers Association the cost of chicken production. Just how low should the cost of corn president Elias Inciong warned that small and medium scale producers be in order to help make locally promight be pushed to just import to align duced chicken competitive with importwith what seems to be the government ed chicken? For perspective, to produce priority. “We’ve tried for decades to a dressed chicken at P100 per kilo, the convince the government that imports cost of corn should level at P11.25 per do not benefit the consumers, but they kilo. Currently, this is pegged at around P17 per kilo while imported buying is do not believe us,” he said. The irony is that while farm gate around P16.50. This means that to ensure a fairly comprice is now at P80 per kilogram from as high as P114 per kilo in June, retail petitive price of chicken, the price of corn prices have not followed suit, reaching should range between P11.25 to P15.35 between P150 and P170 per kilo even per kilo in Luzon and between P13.40 amid fluctuations. If the virtual deregu- and P17.75 per kilo in Mindanao. Clearly, helping keep the local poullation of the industry had not brought the kind of relief it was envisioned to, try industry afloat is a complex but also necessary undertaking. Governsomething is clearly amiss. Inciong explained: “There is a no- ment should listen to industry experts tion that importation benefits the con- in crafting policy reforms that will sumers, but it doesn’t. It is our position guarantee food production that is at par from the beginning that importation of with demand. Steps may include lowerpoultry products and most agricultural ing the cost of inputs, such as corn and products have not benefitted the con- other feed ingredients, in addition to the possibility of subsidies on corn farming sumers, especially the ordinary ones.” Whatever additional profit traders to meet this goal. More broadly, the government can amass, they don’t pass it on the consumers, which was the entire point of also take steps to curb the appeal of the government intervention. Worse, it importing by regulating traders and forces local producers out of business their so far untethered margins. That as they continue to bleed from massive the sector benefits from something losses. The status quo has no regula- that is demonstrably unsustainable tions in place for traders, the only sector for most should be discouraged. Fithat stands to benefit from the lowered nally, it is high time to review the tariff implementation for chicken, still tariff for chicken. “The priority will be the importers to guard against the collapse of an and that’s the reality of things,” Inciong already beleaguered industry.

es, GMA decided to postpone her political ambitions and settle for the vice-presidency with FVR’s endorsed Jose de Venecia Jr. The result: Estrada won in 1998, but GMA won as the vice-president. Partial destiny. Two years and seven months into the presidency of Erap, Edsa Dos happened. GMA as constitutional successor, became president. Truly destined. In 2009, the leading candidates to succeed GMA were the billionaire Manny Villar, the returning Erap, the heir to political and business fortune Senator Mar Roxas, the “kilabot ng kolehiyala” Senator Chiz Escudero, Olongapo’s Dick Gordon, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, even Marikina’s Bayani Fernando. Another obscure senator, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, was not even dreaming of the presidency in 2009. But on August 1, his mother Cory died after a lingering bout with cancer. In just a little over a month, the emotional outpouring favored Noynoy to become president by 2010. Destiny once more. And then in 2014, everyone thought Vice President Jojo Binay was a shooin for the presidency. But by the last quarter of that year, a lot of dirt on his storied past as mayor of Makati was

dug up. The descent started. So the adopted daughter of moviedom’s king FPJ, who many believed was cheated of the presidency by GMA in 2004, Grace Poe, decided to jump into the fray, and every betting man started flocking to her side. Yet, a mayor from the deep South started creeping into the national consciousness, slowly but surely beginning January of 2015. With a lot of political drama along the way, many quite controversial even, Rodrigo Roa Duterte triumphed overwhelmingly come May of 2016. Truly destiny. So what about 2022, when the still highly popular President Duterte, by way of constitutional term limit, ends his presidency? Will it be his daughter Inday Sara? Or Vice President Leni Robredo? Or the senatorial topnotcher Cynthia Villar, perhaps her husband Manny? Or Senator Ping Lacson? Or Senate President Tito Sotto? Senadora Grace Poe? Senator Dick Gordon? Speaker Alan Cayetano? Manny the Pacman Pacquiao? Senadora Imee or her brother Bongbong? Or even current political rockstar Mayor Isko Domagoso? The answer, too early to divine, is written in the stars.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 95, QUEZON CITY SPS. SIONG TIENG DAVID and ALICE C. DAVID, Plaintiffs, Civil Case No. R-QZN-19-00351-CV

-versus-

ANTONIO DUENAS TAN, ZULEIKA A. TAN, ET., AL., Defendants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

entering therefrom, removed from the Subject Property/ies premises, if found inside, prevented from erecting structure(s) and to remove the structure(s) from the Subject Property/ies, if any. 4.3 Likewise, Defendants’ presence inside the Subject Properties, forcibly entering the same, illegal occupation and their unjustified refusal to vacate the same despite receipt of Plaintiffs’ demand has unduly deprived, and continues to deprive Plaintiffs of the just and rightful possession and enjoyment of the Property as owners, for which Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them ought to be removed therefrom and complete possession thereof restored to Plaintiffs.

SUMMONS

: ANTONIO DUENAS TAN, KHIM TAN, ZULEIKA A. TAN, ANA MARIE ABADILLA, ---No. 7 and 8, Proj. 8, Quezon City Or at No. 7 Ferndale, Quezon City LUIS M. DE VERA --- Congressional Arcade, EDSA, Quezon City

GREETINGS: You are hereby required, within fifteen (15) days after service of this Summons upon you, to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff your answer to the complaint copy of which is attached, together with annexes. You are reminded of the provision in the IBP-OCA Memorandum on Policy guidelines dated March 12, 2002 to observe restraint in filing a motion to dismiss and instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the Answer. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and my be granted the relief applied for in the complaint. Witness the Honorable EDGARDO B. BELLOSILLO, Presiding Judge of this Court this 11th of FEBRUARY 2019 at Quezon City, Philippines.

2019,

(Sgd.) STEVE H.D. DE JESUS OIC-Legal Researcher II

Third Cause of Action 5.1 Plaintiffs replead herein by reference all of the foregoing allegations. 5.2 Defendants’ unlawful acts has caused Plaintiffs to suffer as they continue to suffer physical suffering, mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock and social humiliation in their community, for which, Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them ought to be ordered to jointly and severally pay Plaintiffs moral damages in the amount of at least FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php500,000.00).

Fourth Cause of Action 6.1 Plaintiffs replead herein by reference all of the foregoing allegations. 6.2 Due to Defendants’ unlawful acts, and in order to deter those who are similarly inclined to forge signatures and execute a void Deed of Sale, unlawfully entering and building structure(s) thereon without any right whatsoever to the prejudice of its lawful owner, Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them ought to be ordered to jointly and severally pay Plaintiffs exemplary damages in the amount of at least FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php500,000.00).

Fifth Cause of Action

RPUZ Republic of the Philippines National Capital judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Quezon City, Branch 95

SPS. SIONG TIENG DAVID and ALICE C. DAVID, Plaintiff(s),

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Civil Case No. R-QZN-00351-CV For: Annulment of Contract with Prayer for TRO, Preliminary Injunction with Damages

ANTONIO DUENAS TAN, ZULEIKA A. TAN, ANA MARIE ABADILLA LUIS M. DE VERA, JOHN and/or JANE DOES (those persons claiming rights or interests under them), Defendants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

AMENDED COMPLAINT PLAINTIFF, by the undersigned counsel, to this Honorable Court, respectfully states that:

Parties 1.1 Plaintiffs are spouses, both of legal age, Filipino citizens with address at c/o Chua Lim & Associates, nit 304 The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila. 1.2 Defendants Antonio Duenas Tan, Zuleika A. Tan, Ana Marie Abadilla and Khim Tan are all Filipino citizens, both of legal age and may be served with summons and court processes at No. 7 and 8, Road 23, Project 8, Quezon City or at Ferndale, Quezon City While, Luis M. De Vera may be served with summons and court processes at Congressional Arcade, EDSA, Quezon City. Defendants Antonio Duenas Tan, Zuleika A. Tan, Ana Marie Abadilla and Khim Tan may also be served with summons and court processes at c/o Luis M. De Vera at Congressional Arcade, EDSA, Quezon City. John and Jane Does are those under their control or claiming rights under them.

Statement of Relevant Material Facts 2.1 Sps. David are the owners of two (2) contiguous parcels of land located at Brgy. Sto Domingo with an area of Two Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Six (2,396) square meters, more or less, covered by TCT Nos. (T-14738) (237030) 0042018016744 and (RT-3874) (236031) 004-2018-16743. Copy of TCT Nos. (T-14738) (237030) 004-2018016744 and (RT-3874) (236031) 004-2018-16743. are attached hereto as Annexes “A” and “B”, respectively. 2.2 Sometime in August 2017, Sps. David noticed that the concrete fence of the Subject Property/ies was damaged and had the same fixed. However, the fence kept of being damaged and the Sps. David kept on fixing the same. 2.3 Sometime in late of 2017, Sps. David were informed that a certain Antonio Duenas Tan filed a Petition for the Issuance of New Owner’s Duplicate Copies of the Subject Properties. Copy of the Petitions are attached hereto as Annexes “C” and “D”, respectively. 2.4 In the Petitions, Antonio Duenas Tan is claiming to have acquired the Subject Properties and lost the Owner’s Duplicate Copy/ies of TCT Nos. RT-236030 (14738) and RT-3874 (236031). 2.5 Sps. David were also reliably informed that persons acting under the direction of Antonio Duenas Tan, including a certain Zuleika A. Tan, Ana Marie Abadilla, Khim Tan and Luis M. De Vera conspiring with one another, are forcibly entering the Subject Properties, are erecting structure(s) and have illegally occupied the property thereon without authority from the plaintiffs. 2.6 As proof of the acquisition, Antonio Duenas Tan attached in the Petitions a purported Deed of Sale executed on October 20, 2017 and notarized by Atty. Luis M. De Vera. Copy of the Deed of Sale dated October 20, 2017 is attached hereto as Annex “E”. 2.7 In the Deed of Sale, it was stated that the Senior’s Citizen ID of Siong Tieng David and Alice G. Co exhibited Senior Citizen ID Nos. 14819-R and 14820-R, respectively. 2.8 Likewise, Antonio Duenas Tan claims that he lost the Owner’s Duplicate Original of TCT Nos. RT-236030 (14738) and RT-3874 (236031) and executed an Affidavit of Loss. Copy of the Affidavit of Loss is attached hereto as Annex “F”. 2.9 Sps. David did NOT sell the Subject Properties to Antonio Duenas Tan. Neither did they execute the purported Deed of Sale. 2.10 It is physically impossible for Sps. David to execute the alleged Deed of Sale. 2.11 Sps. David were NOT in the Philippines on October 20, 2017. They were at China on October 20, 2017. They left Manila, Philippines on October 17, 2017 and returned on October 25, 2017 as shown by the stamp of the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines and China on their passports. Copies of the passports of Sps. David are attached hereto as Annexes “G” and “H”, respectively. 2.12 The Bureau of Immigration Travel Records of Sps. David indicating that they department from Manila on October 17, 2017 and arrived on October 25, 2017 are attached hereto as Annexes “I” and “J”. 2.13 Clearly, the signatures of Sps. David on the Deed of Sale are forged and the Deed of Sale is fictitious and void ab initio. 2.14 Undeniably, Antonio Duenas Tan, Luis M. De Vera and their cohorts, conspiring with one another, fraudulently made it appear that Sps. David were in the Philippines, signed/ executed the Deed of Sale and appeared before Notary Public Luis M. De Vera.

2.17 The Senior Citizens ID of Sps. David are Senior Citizen ID Nos. 037111 and 037110. Copy of Senior Citizen ID Nos. 037111 and 037110 are attached hereto as Annexes “K” and “L”, respectively. 2.18 Sps. David are also attaching the Certifications issued by the Punong Barangay of Barangay 299, Zone 29 of the City of Manila and the Certifications of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs of the City of Manila as Annexes “M” to “P” as proof that their Senior Citizens ID are Senior Citizen ID Nos. 037111 and 037110. 2.19 Aside from the above, the spuriousness of the Deed of Sale and the forgery of Sps. David’s signatures are shown by a comparison of the signatures. 2.20 Needless to state, the Owner’s Duplicate Copies of TCT Nos. RT-236030 (14738) and RT-3874 (236031) are NOT LOST and are in the possession of the rightful owners Sps. David.

D. Judge 19 in

2.22 Plaintiff’s also sent a letter demanding that defendants vacate the Subject Properties. Copy of the letter and the Affidavit of Service is attached hereto as Annexes “R” and “R-1”, respectively.

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Allegations in Support of the Application for the Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and/or a Writ of Preliminary Injunction/Mandatory Injunction 8.1 Plaintiffs adopts and repleads, by reference, the foregoing allegations in support of their prayer for injunctive relief and further alleges that8.2 Plaintiffs are entitled to the reliefs demanded, and the whole or part of such relief consists of the preservation of the plaintiffs’ right to the Subject Property/ies. 8.3 The acts of the Defendants depriving the their right to the Subject Property/ies would work injustice to the Plaintiffs and would cause grave and irreparable damage to Plaintiffs. 8.4 It cannot be overemphasized that Defendants actions are illegal, violative of the proprietary rights of Plaintiffs, and would tender any judgment ineffectual. 8.5 Unless a status quo order, temporary restraining order, writ of preliminary injunction and/or any other protective relief is issued, Plaintiffs shall suffer grave and irreparable damage and injury 8.6 It must be stressed that pending resolution of the foregoing, a status quo order or temporary restraining order is a matter of extreme urgency as 8.6 Unless Defendants are restrained and enjoined as prayed for in this complaint, the DAMAGE and INJUSTICE TO PLAINTIFFS would be INSTANTANEOUS and IRREVERSABLE and would render any judgment issued by this Honorable Court MOOT, NUGATORY, INEFFECTUAL and IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE. 8.7 As it is Defendants have already filed a Petition for Reissuance of and have in fact offered the Subject Property/ies for sale. 8.8 Plaintiffs are ready, able and willing to post a bond or any other form of security as this Honorable Court may reasonably fix or require, conditioned upon the payment of damages that defendants may suffer should it be finally adjudged that plaintiffs are not entitled thereto. 8.9 In further support hereof is Plaintiffs’ affidavit attached as Annex “Q” attesting to the foregoing.

Prayer WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that, after due hearing, judgment be rendered, as follows: 1. Immediately upon filing hereof, a seventy-two (72) hour initial Temporary Restraining Order or status quo order be issued restraining Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them from entering the Subject Property/ies, removing them from the Subject Property/ies (if found inside), desist from building or erecting structure(s) thereon and removing the structure(s) built, if any; 2. After hearing and pending the final outcome of the case, the foregoing temporary restraining order be converted into a writ of preliminary injunction/mandatory injunction and/or the status quo order already issued, if any, be extended and/ or issued, respectively, until further orders from this Honorable Court after the resolution of the instant Petition. 3. After trial, judgment be rendered, a. On the First Cause of Action, that the Deed of Sale be cancelled, annulled and declared void ab inito; b. On the Second Cause of Action, declaring the actions of the Defendants illegal and ordering Defendants to desist from entering the Subject Property/ies, building or erecting structure(s) and to remove and structure(s) built thereon making the injunction permanent and ordering Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them to vacate and turn-over possession of the Property to the Plaintiffs its rightful owner and possessor; c. On the Third Cause of Action, ordering Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them to jointly and severally to pay Plaintiffs moral damages of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php500,000.00); e. On the Fourth Cause of Action, ordering Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them to jointly and severally to pay Plaintiff exemplary damages of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php500,000.00); f. On the Fifth Cause of Action, ordering Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them to jointly and severally pay Plaintiffs attorney’s fees in the amount of at least TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php200,000.00) and such litigation expenses as shall be proved in the course of trial; and g. Ordering Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them to jointly and severally to pay the costs of suit. Other reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for. Pasig City for Quezon City, January 30, 2019. CHUA LIM AND ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff Unit 304, 3rd Floor The Orient Square Building F. Ortigas, Jr. Road (Ex-Emerald Ave.) Ortigas Center, Pasig City (632).7062276 (632).7062437 chualimlaw@lawyer.com

2.16 The Senior Citizens ID of Sps. David are NOT Senior Citizen’s ID Nos. 14819-R and 14820-R.

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7.2 As a consequence of Defendants’ continued and unlawful acts, Plaintiffs were compelled to engage the services of counsel for a fee and incur litigation expenses to protect and vindicate their rights, for which Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them ought to be ordered to jointly and severally pay Plaintiffs attorney’s fees in the amount of at least TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php200,000.00) and litigation expenses in such amount as shall be proved in the course of trial.

2.15 The fraudulent act(s) of Antonio Duenas Tan and Notary Public Luis M. De Vera are also emphasized by the fact that the Senior Citizen’s ID indicated on the Deed of Sale are false.

2.21 Plaintiffs through counsel notified the Defendants of their unlawful actuations and demanded that they desist from entering the Subject Properties, desist from building structures thereon and to remove any and all structures built. A copy of the letter and and Affidavit of Service is attached as Annexes “Q” and “Q-1”, respectively.

EZA

7.1 Plaintiffs replead herein by reference all of the foregoing allegations.

2.23 Yet, notwithstanding Plaintiffs’ demands, Defendants still unlawfully failed and refused and continue to fail and refuse to heed to Plaintiffs’ demand, to their great damage and prejudice.

First Cause of Action 3.1 The foregoing allegations are repleaded herein by reference.

By: (Sgd.) CLIFFORD E. CHUA Roll No. 51837 PTR No. 7324009/01.03.19/Q.C. IBP Lifetime No. 07481/Q.C. MCLE Comp. No. V-0020575/4.20.16

VERIFICATION and CERTIFICATION We, SIONG TIENG DAVID and ALICE C. DAVID, both of legal age, Filipino citizens, after being duly sworn according to law do hereby depose and state that: 1.

We are the plaintiffs in the above-entitled case;

2. We have caused the preparation of the foregoing Amended Complaint. 3. We have read the allegations therein and hereby affirm that the same are true and correct of our own personal knowledge and based on authentic records. 4. We have not heretofore commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency; to the best of our knowledge, no such action proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency. If we should learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency, we undertake to report that fact within five (5) days from notice. (Sgd.) SIONG TIENG DAVID Affiant Senior Citizen ID 037111

(Sgd. ) ALICE CO DAVID Affiant Senior Citizen ID 037110

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 07 FEB 2019 at QUEZON CITY, affiants exhibiting to me competent evidence of their identity/ies indicated below their names.

3.2 As seen above, the purported Deed of Sale is fictitious and void ab initio and should be annulled.

Second Cause of Action 4.1 The foregoing allegations are repleaded herein by reference. 4.2 Defendants’ unlawful entrance, building of structure(s) and improvements despite receipt of Plaintiffs’ demand has unduly deprived and violated, and continues to deprive and violate Plaintiffs of their right, for which Defendants and all persons claiming rights under them ought to be prevented from

Doc. No. 122; Page No. 25; Book No. II; Series of 2019.

(MStandard-July 29 & Aug. 5, 2019)

30. First, the psychological incapacity of the respondent is GRAVE. The behavior and acts of respondent MICHELLE indicated that there is high probability that she is suffering from a mental disorder called “Narcissistic Personality Disorder”. The symptoms characterizing said mental disorder are FRANCIS MARVIN MALLARI LINGA, manifest in the respondent. Petitioners, 31. Respondent MICHELLE has an inflated sense of her own importance, a deep -versusneed for admiration, and lack of empathy CIVIL CASE NO. 17-05876-CV for others. She is unwilling to empathize with other’s feelings, wishes or tendency to FOR: Declaration of Absolute react with rage or contempt whenever she is Nullity of Marriage corrected. She belittles FRANCIS in order to make herself appear superior. MICHELLE CASTILLO PANA, 32. MICHELLE disregarded the feelings, Respondent, wishes and needs of FRANCIS and their child. x---------------------------------------------x She neglected their child and left him to the care of FRANCIS’s parents during the time that they lived together. When she got involved PETITION Petitioners. FRANCIS MARVIN MALLARI and became pregnant with a man who is not LINGA, by and through the undersigned her husband, MICHELLE manifested utter counsel, unto this Honorable Court respectfully disregard for the feelings and needs of not only her husband but also that of their child, RALPH. avers that: After they separated, MICHELLE continued to THE PARTIES neglect their child as the latter is now left to the 1. The petitioner, FRANCIS MARVIN care of the former’s parents. MALLARI LINGA (hereinafter “FRANCIS”), is 33. Furthermore, MICHELLE was more of legal age, Filipino, married to the respondent, preoccupied with satisfying her own needs and is currently a resident of Novaliches, and wants, oblivious of her family’s needs. She Quezon City, and he may be served with orders, seldom helped around the house nor bothered summons and all other court processes through to establish a relationship with FRANCIS’ undersigned counsel with address at: parents. FRANCIS felt and apparent lack of concern from MICHELLE to strengthen SICCUAN LAW OFFICE their relationship as husband and wife as the Counsel for the Respondent Door 2, 2/F TRDC Building, Dr. A. Santos Ave., former was engulfed with her own needs. While FRANCIS strived hard to earn money abroad, Brgy. San Isidro, Paranaque City, MICHELLE was preoccupied with finding a 1700 Metro Manila better partner who will provide her with the Contact No. 09754705399 constant admiration that she needs. 2. The respondent. MICHELLE CASTILLO 34. As a consequence, the petitioner PANA (hereinafter “MICHELLE”) is likewise of legal age, Filipino, married to petitioner, and and the respondent can no longer maintain a whose last known address is at 251 Muzon, normal and functional married life. In case of Alitagtag, Batangas, where she may be served Perez-Ferraris v. Ferraris, the Supreme Court ruled, to wit: with summons and other court processes. “The malady or mental disposition of one NATURE OF THE PETITION or both of the spouse must be such as to 3. This is a petition for declaration of seriously and effectively prevent them from nullity of marriage pursuant to the provisions having a functional and normal marital life of the Family code, as amended. The petition clearly conducive to bringing up a healthy is anchored on the psychological incapacity of personal inter-marital relationship within the the respondent which is grave, antecedent and family which is necessary for its growth. It must incurable in accordance with Article 36 of the be a psychological illness afflicting a party even Family Code of the Philippines, to wit: before the celebration of the marriage.” “Article 36. A marriage contracted by any 35. The respondent is clearly incapable party who, at the time of the celebration was of faithfully carrying out the ordinary and psychologically incapacitated to comply with essential duties required in a marriage due the essential marital obligations of marriage, to her Narcissistic Personality Disorder. She shall likewise be void even if such incapacity is without regard to the sanctity of family life becomes manifest only after its solemnization. as shown by her ack of empathy towards her 4. It would be shown and indubitably proved husband and their child as well as her selfin the succeeding paragraphs the respondent absorbed behaviors. is COMPLETELY UNABLE to fulfill the basic 36. The relationship of petitioner and marital covenants the must be assumed and respondent is no longer susceptible to discharged by both parties to a marriage. These growth. MICHELLE hot pregnant with another marital obligations are those mandated under man while FRANCIS was away on order to Article 68 of the Family Code, to wit: financially support her and their child. Worst, “Art. 68. The husband and wife are obliged she left the petitioner and cohabited with to live together; observe mutual love, respect another man while their marriage subsists. and fidelity, and render mutual help and By those facts alone can it be said that support.” obligation to live together, observe mutual 5. The petitioner will set forth the factual love, respect and fidelity. Her constant need bases to warrant the issuance of a decree of for self-affirmation, superiority and entitlement absolute nullity of marriage to free the parties limited her ability to function in relationships such that she already neglected her duties to from a marriage that exists in name only. the conjugal union and bought dishonor to the petitioner and their family. JURISDICTIONAL FACTS 37. Second, respondent’s psychological 6. The petitioner is a resident of Novaliches, Quezon City, and now files for the nullity of incapacity is ANTECEDENT. his marriage which is within the exclusive 38. Jurisprudence dictates that it is not jurisdiction of this Honorable Family Court. required that the psychological incapacity Photocopy of the Barangay Certification of of the spouse is manifest even before the Residency is here to attached and marked as marriage. It suffices that it is more apparent after marriage. ANNEX “A”. 39. The manifestation of respondent 7. Petitioner and respondent celebrated their marriage on January 26, 2002 at the MICHELLE’s mental disorder before they got Invencion De La Sta. Cruz Parish, Alitagtag, married was not apparent, however it was observable. The petitioner and the respondent Batangas. only dated for six (6) months before they were Photocopy of the Certificate if Marriage is constrained to get married. They already had here to attached and marked as ANNEX “B”. issues with regard to MICHELLE’s unfounded 8. Their union produces one (1) child in the jealousy brought about by her insecurities. name of RALPH RAYMOND P. LINGA who was However, FRANCIS brushed it aside at tat time as he thought that it was normal in a born on February 12, 2003. relationship at its early stages. Photocopy of the Birth Certificate of RALPH 40. I was only during the marriage that RAMOND P. LINGA is here to attached and FRANCIS experiences the gravity of the marked as ANNEX “C”. mental disorder of MICHELLE. The behavior 9. The property regime governing the of MICHELLE before their marriage worsened marriage of the parties is Absolute Community during their marriage as he experienced firstof Property, there being no pre-nuptial hand the consequences of her mental disorder agreement that was executed. which hindered her from performing essential marital obligations and broke the solidarity of NARRATION OF FACTS their family. 10. Sometime in June 2011, petitioner 41. Lastly, the psychological incapacity of FRANCIS and respondent MICHELLE started the respondent is INCURABLE. working together at Jollibee where they first 42. During their married life, the mental met. FRANCIS was 17 years old the while illness of MICHELLE persisted ad even MICHELLE was 20 years old. became worse to the point that she left the 11. The two were immediately attracted petitioner and got pregnant with another man to each other so it did not take long before during the subsistence of her marriage with the the became couple. Their relationship was petitioner. The respondent consistently showed very intimate considering their age, and went manifestations of said mental disorder which on for about six (6) months, before they were affected her married life with the petitioner. constrained to get married. 43. The psychological patters involved 12. MICHHELE became pregnant during are of such long duration that major the time that they were dating. As a result, psychotherapeutic endeavors would not both their families insisted, if not forced affect significant, lasting, and permanent them, that they get married in order to avoid changes. It is apparent that respondent will any embarrassment or disgrace from the not change. Respondent MICHELLE never neighborhood, friends and other relatives in made an effort to change her ways. Despite Batangas. the efforts of the petitioner to save their 13. However, FRANCIS was very reluctant marriage. the respondent just continued to be to marry at such a very young age. He was self-absorbed and unwilling to empathize with hesitant as he just turned 18 years old at others—valuing her own feelings and wishes, that time. In fact, he almost left their house in disregarding that of her family’s. Batangas if not only from the plea of her parents 44. Premises considered, the marriage to do the favor (marrying the respondent) for must be dissolved and/or declared a nullity, in the family. accordance with law and jurisprudence. In the 14. Unfortunately, MICHELLE suffered a case of Valerio Kalaw vs. Ma. Elena Fernandez, miscarriage days before the intended date of the Supreme Court pronounced, to wit: their marriage. At this time, FRANCIS wants to “In dissolving marital bonds on account cancel the marriage ceremony for the reason Of either party’s psychological incapacity, the that they no longer needed to get married Court is not demolishing the foundation of immediately. Both the petitioner and respondent families, but it is actually protecting the sanctity knew that they were not yet ready to enter of marriage, because it refuses to allow a marriage, considering that they have just been person afflicted with a psychological disorder, dating for months, aside from that fact they who cannot comply with or assume the they were still very young then and have many essential marital obligations, from remaining issues in their relationship prevailing during the in that sacred bong. It may be stressed that time that they were dating which is rooted from the infliction of physical violence, constitutional the fact that they have not yet fully known each indolence or laziness, drug dependence or other very well. addiction, and psycho sexual anomaly are 15. However, their parents were very manifestations of a sociopathic personality persistent and demanded that they push anomaly. Let it be noted that in Article 36, there through with the marriage ceremony so as is no marriage to speak of in The first place, as not to waste the preparations already made the same is void from the Declaration of nullity and to avoid putting to shame their families. under Article 36 will Simply provide a decent Thus, FRANCIS grudgingly agreed to marry burial to a stillborn Marriage.” MICHELLE on January 26, 2002 at the 45. The totality of evidence presented Invencion De LA Sta. Cruz Parish, Alitagtag, clearly reveals a situation where the Batangas. respondent could not have validity entered into 16. Constrained to marry each other, both a marriage and could not dutifully perform the tried to carry on their married life. The thought of responsibilities of marital life by reason of a being “forced” into marrying each other turned grave and serious mental disorder existing at cold their relationship. They tried to engage in the time it was celebrated. The marital bond sexual activities more often, and eventually between the petitioner and the respondent have a baby that could somehow rekindle their is no longer sacred as it is filled only with an failing relationship. abundance of the respondent’s inflated sense 17. Not long after their marriage. , of her own importance, her deep need for MICHELLE got pregnant again. She gave birth admiration and utter ack of empathy for others to her son with FRANCIS on February 12, 2003 especially towards the petitioner and their child. and named him RALPH RAYMOND P. LINGA, Hence, petitioner FRANCIS implores for this court to set him free from this kind of marriage 18. They decided to live with the parents of with respondent MICHELLE. FRANCIS as they did not have the means yet to PRAYER find a place of their own. WHEREFORE, premises considered, it 19. However, few months into the marriage is most respectfully prayed that judgement be and after giving birth, FRANCIS noticed that MICHELLE was indifferent towards him, their rendered: child, and his parents. She neglected their child 1. Declared the marriage between the in such a way that she frequently left their child parties NULL and VOID AB INITIO on the basis to the care of FRANCIS’ parents. MICHELLE of the psychological incapacity of respondent; seldom Regional helped out Trial in household and Multi-purpose ID, and Government Court chores as Unified well as shown any interest in establishing a Employee ID, thattheshe learned, however, 2. Ordering Local Civil Registrars National Judicial Region relationship Capital with FRANCIS’ parents. She was concerned and the National Statistics Office to that her of birth has been erroneously veryQuezon uncooperative it comes to family delete ordate City,when Metro Manila from their registries the entry inexpunge her Certificate of Live Birth matters and focused only in her own endeavors. stated of marriage between the parties and such other Branch 223 “16 February 20. MICHELLE likewise displayed irrational as documents pertaining1964” thereto.instead of “27 1962”, as evidenced by her insecurities as time passed by. seem toINlook September IN RE: CORRECTION OFShe ENTRY OTHER measures to relief just and of Live Birth; that her surprise, for any fault to start a fight equitable under premises are to likewise prayed THE CERTIFICATE OF with LIVEFRANCIS, BIRTH and Certificate has an unfounded jealousy, even of FRANCIS’ the for. Certificate of Live Birth issued to her OF LOLITAtoLUCIO REQUINALA co-workers the extent that whenever the indicated a different birth date; that the latter came home late due to overtime work, the Respectfully submitted. was unaware of such discrepancy; former would become furious and start insulting petitioner LOLITA LUCIO REQUINALA, Paranaque City of Quezon City could no longer ask her parents of FRANCIS and shout derogatory words at him. that May she 16, 2017 Petitioner, Whenever FRANCIS would try to respond to her the possible cause as they are already both baseless accusations, MICHELLE would result deceased; SICCUAN LAW OFFICE that to avoid confusion and to -versusSPEC. PRO.and CASE NO. to threatening him with anger hostility to the put properCounsel for the Respondent order the Certificate of Live Birth R-QZN-19-08417-SP point that she physically assaulted him. Door 2, 2/F TRDC Building, Dr. A. Santos Ave., of the petitioner, it is necessary San Isidro, Paranaquethat City,the said 21. FRANCIS had to work hard and do error beBrgy. corrected, as follows: 1700 Metro Manila overtime work in order to earn more so he THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF Contact No. 09754705399 Correct Entry could financially their living. However, Erroneously Entry QUEZON CITY,support THE NATIONAL MICHELLE was relented. She belittled the work By: Birth: Date of Birth: STATISTICIAN ANDand CIVILREGISTRAR that FRANCIS does only saw it the way Date of(Sgd.) ATTY. T. SICCUAN1962 1964 ALFEO 27 September GENERAL THE PHILIPPINE she wanted OF to-that FRANCIS was only flirting 16 February Roll of Attorney No. 33790 with his femaleAUTHORITY, co-workers whenever he went PTR. STATISTICS thatNo.the correction sought the 1039341, 09 Jan. 2017.byCavite late.all This self-absorbed of MICHELLE and other persons attitude who have or Chapter petitioner will not unduly prejudice the persisted as years V-0000204; Claim to have anpassed. interest that would State orMCLE any Compliance third persons because the 22. Due to the financial struggle that they 25 July 2013; Pasig City be affected, the 14 trueApril facts and experienced as a Respondents. married couple, FRANCIS same Validwould from 15only Aprilreflect 2016 until 2019 decided to work in Saudi Arabia. He was offered circumstances concerning her status. x--------------------------------------------x (Sgd.) ATTY. DON MIKHAIL A. SICCUAN to work there continuously for two (2) years and Petitioner prays that upon due notice, Roll of Attorney No. 66332 four (4) monthsORDER starting mid- 2005 up to 2008. publication,IBPand hearing, judgment be Lifetime No. 015051 23. Despite the hardships FRANCIS This is a verified petition for the rendered the Dasmarinas Local Civil City/ Registrar PTR directing No. 1559608/ experiencedof working he continued January correction entry in abroad, the Certificate of Liveto of Quezon City05and Civil 2017 Registrar General strive hard in order to send money for support MCLE Exempt pursuant MCLE No. Birth of Lolita Lucio Requinala Juneso and National Statisticianto of the G.B.O. Philippine to MICHELLE and their son. He dated was busy 1, s.2008 6,he 2019, filedfrequently by LolitacallLucio could not them Requinala, and ask how Statistics Authority to correct the entry of Copyof furnished: they were doing. MICHELLE continued to date through counsel. birth on the petitioner’s Certificate belittle the efforts made by FRANCIS and insult ofOFFICE OF THE GENERAL Live Birth fromSOLICITOR 16 February 1964 to 27 allegeswhenever that she is the a himPetitioner om trivial matter they had 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, 1962. Filipino, legal age, married to Rogelio September chance tooftalk. Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines S. Requinala, andend withof residence WHEREFORE, finding the 24. After the his contractatin4182 2008, OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTORPetition Diam St., went General Street,To sufficient in formBldg. and in substance, the FRANCIS back T.to De the Leon Philippines. 4F Hall of Justice his disdain and out that same Valenzuela City humiliation, where she he mayfound be served is given Diliman, Quezondue Citycourse. Set the hearing MICHELLE was already with summons, notices,pregnant orders, with and another other of this case on October 18, 2019 at 8:30 man. MICHELLE confessed to FRANCIS that court processes from this Court; that o’clock in theEXPLANATION morning at the Session she found in another man the attention and this petition for declaration of the respondent Localfailed Civilto Registrar of Hall Copies of thisofBranch of Court, on which affection that FRANCIS give her during Absolute by registered mail Quezon Cityheiswas a abroad. government agency date andNullity time, were any served interested person may the time that After confessing, due to time and distance constraints, and for MICHELLE by immediately left FRANCIS without appear mandated law to record and register andundersigned’s show cause, any,can whyserve the lack of the staffif who any consideration feelings as well as petition data pertaining as to tothehis civil personality not be granted. the sameshould in person. effect of suchasinfidelity separation ofto the persons such birth, and marriage, andon Let this Order be published once a their only child. DON MIKHAIL A. SICCUAN other matters relative thereto and it may week for ATTY. three (3) consecutive weeks, 25. MICHELLE did notnotices, bother to make be served with summons, orders of dailyAND circulation in amends with FRANCIS. They lived separately in a newspaper VERIFICATION and of this Their Courtchild at the Philippines fromother each court other processes up to the present. beforeOFthe hearing to be CERTIFICATION NON-FORUM Quezon Diliman, Quezon City;as selected by raffle was left toCity the Hall, care of MICHELLEs parents SHOPPING pursuant to PD 1079, she was absorbed in pursuing her own that the already respondent National Statistician at I,theFRANCIS expense MARVIN of the petitioner. also MALLARI Let LINGA, needsCivil and wants. and Registrar General of the copies legal age, Filipino, married, a resident of of this Order be and posted at the 26. FRANCIS felt aggrieved Philippine Statistics Authority and is humiliated likewise lobby Novaliches, Quezon City, having sworn of (1) Quezon Cityafter Justice Hall, (2) by the actsascommitted by MICHELLE behind impleaded the central custodian of all Quezon in accordance with law, hereby dispose and City Hall and (3) Barangay Hall of his back. He was striving to work hard abroad that: records of births in the country and they thestate barangay where the petitioner reside, in order to provide financial support for the may withMICHILLE, notices, orders I amthirty the Petitioner in this prior case; to the latter be andserved their son. on the and other at 1.least (30) days other of this her Court at PSA scheduled hand,court was processes busy validating self-esteem 2. I havehearing. caused the preparation and filing with another withoutQuezon any regard Complex, Eastman, Avenue, City; to thatthe of the foregoing Petition; read the same; and Letunderstand copies of and this contents Order bethereof. furnished to sacrifices of FRANCIS of their fully the petitioner was bornand onthe 27 needs September child. FRANCIS longer desireDel to be Monte, bound by the petitioner Lolita Lucio Requinala; the 1962 in Sanno Francisco 3. All the allegations contained in this marriage to the respondent who is incapable of Office of the the Office of are Solicitor true andGeneral; correct based on my Quezon City; and thatperforming her maiden name is Petition understanding essential marital knowledgethe of facts onRegistrar authentic City Prosecutor; Localand Civil Lolita Gulinao Lucio, as evidenced by her thepersonal obligations. Quezon City; and the National Statistician Baptismal Certificate; that the petitioner of documents. 4. Civil I certify that General there is no pending case Registrar of the Philippine Hence, this instant petition.Lucio and and was 27. born to parents Eusebio involving Authority. the same issues raised in this The petitioner is Eugenia Gulinao; that her parents were Statistics Petition before any court, tribunal or agency. DISCUSSION married on 07 January 1962, as evidenced directed to furnish the said government 5. If with it should thereafter that aand similar a copy of thelean petition its by their Marriage Certificate; that the offices RESPONDENT’S PSYCHOLOGICAL action or proceeding has been filed or is within five (5) days from receipt INCAPACITY petitioner’s parents are both deceased, annexes pending in any court, tribunal or agency, I this undertake Order andtomanifest to this Court as evidenced by oftheDimayuga-Laurena Certificates of v. ofshall report such fact to this 28. In the case compliance Officetherewith. with five (5) days therefrom. Court of Appeals’, the Supreme Court had hisHonorable Death; that throughout her life, petitioner the occasion discuss the requirements and INSO knew that hertodate of birth is September WITNESS WHEREOF, I have here unto ORDERED. guidelines allow the a marriage on affixed my signature this May 19, 2017 in 27, 1962, tohence, in nullity all herof documents, Quezon City, the basis of Psychological Incapacity Act. 36 of Paranaque City. Philippines, June 14, 2019. transactions, other dealings, she the Family Code,and to wit: HON. CARIDAD M. WALSE-LUTERO has been indicating September 27, 1962 (Sgd.) “(a) Gravity – it must be grave and serious (Sgd.) FRANCIS MARVIN MALLARI LINGA as birth, as be evidenced Judge Affiant suchherthatdate the ofparty would incapablebyofCopy Furnished: Presiding her old Service Records,duties Personal Data carrying out the ordinary required in aTHE OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL SUBSCRIBE ANDVillage, SWORN to before me marriage;Equivalent (b) JudicialRecord Antecedents it must134 Amorsolo Sheets, Form, –Report St., Legaspi this City May 19, 2017 affiant FRANCIS MARVIN be the rooted in the of the party antedatingMakati on First Dayhistory of Service of a Teacher, MALLARI LINGA, having exhibit to me his OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR the marriage, overtRating; manifestations and Nationalalthough Board the Exam that OFFICE Building, City Hall Complex, ID w/Quezon No. 04-1150663-0 as competent may merge only after the marriage; and (c)DOJSSS Diliman, City inIncurability her government issued Identification of identity. – it must be incurable or even if it proofQuezon LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Cards, she alsothe indicated September (Sgd.) ATTY. DON MIKHAIL A. SICCUAN were otherwise, cure would be beyond27, theQuezon City Notary Public meansasof her the party 1962 dateinvolved.” of birth, as evidenced NATIONAL STATISTICIAN Roll No. 66332/IBP No. 015051 ANDLifetime CIVIL PTR No. 1559608/ Dasmarinas City/05 January 2017 by her Mutual Doc No. 12GENERAL MCLE Exempt pursuant to MCLE G.B.O. No. 1S 2008 29. Home The Development above-mentioned factsFund proveREGISTRAR StatisticsComission Authority valid until December 31, 2018 Page No. 3 that the marriage of the partiesRegulation should bePhilippine Transaction Card, Professional Door 2, Avenue, 2nd Floor TRDC Building, Dr. A. Santos Ave., PSA Complex, East Brgy. San Isidro; 1700. Paranaque City, M.M. Book No. considered a nullity owing the psychological Commission (PRC) ID,to Philhealth ID, Quezon City II Series 2017 incapacity of the respondent. (MStandard-July 22, 29 & xx, Aug.& 5, (MStandard-July xx,2019) 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 106

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Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez visited dengue patients at the Tacloban City Hospital and Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center. Region 8 has over 8,600 reported dengue cases, with 29 deaths. Ver Noveno

Penalty for unpaid SSS, GSIS contributions lowered

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the penalty imposed on employers for failure to remit employees’ compensation contribution to the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance Sysrem has been reduced from 3 percent to 2 percent. In a board resolution, the Employees’ Compensation Commission revised the schedule of penalties. “ECC amended its rules on employees’ compensation in response to the penal provisions on the collection of contributions of SSS and GSIS,” said Bello, who also sits as chairman of the ECC board. “By revising the penalty for unpaid contributions and setting the penalty at uniform rate, the Commission, with its implementing agencies, the SSS and the GSIS can better facilitate the implementation of its EC Program,” added ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald dela Rosa has filed a bill seeking to provide security of tenure to all casual and contractual employees in government. Under Senate Bill No. 235, Dela Rosa wants to grant permanent and regular employment to the thousands of eligible government workers. “This is in honor to the dedication and hard work of our government employees who have carried out the tasks desirable and necessary and in the service of the Filipino people,” the senator said. The proposed measure will provide security of tenure for all casual and contractual civil servants who have worked in the government for at least five years continuously for the national agencies or a total of 10 years continuous service in the case of local government units. However, Dela Rosa said such requirement of continuous service may be waived if the service of the official or employee concerned prior to the completion of the said years was interrupted by not more than three years, taken cumulatively, due to either abolition of the position, reorganization of the office, or reduction in force. A recent report of the Civil Service Commission showed that in 2017, more than 27 percent of the 2.4-million government workers— equivalent to about 660,390—are considered as job order or contract of service employees.

PNP supports plan to arm firemen THE Philippine National Police said plans of President Rodrigo Duterte to arm uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection will bolster law enforcement and help maintain peace and order. “This move of tapping the BFP as force multiplier by allowing its uniformed personnel to bear ﬁrearms would also further bolster the government’s campaign against criminality and effectively capacitate the BFP in responding to national emergency,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement. He said Republic Act No. 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 allows the PNP, BFP and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to assist the

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Armed Forces of the Philippines addressing national emergencies upon the directive of the President. “Many times, responding firemen hesitate to enter a fire scene without sufficient security cover by their local police counterparts due to past incidents wherein angry mob attacked firemen at the fire scene out of frustrations,” Banac said. “If licensed private security guards are allowed by law to carry licensed firearms to serve as force multipliers of the PNP, then there’s more reason that uniformed BFP personnel, who could also be targeted by criminals, shall also be issued firearms for self-defense, with proper training on marksmanship and gun safety, and for peace and order tasks,” he added.

Higher funds pushed for teaching supplies By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is proposing to increase the allowance of teaching supplies by 185 percent from the current P3,500 to P10,000 allocated by the Department of Education per teacher for a school year. Recto said Senate Bill No. 42 seeks to institutionalize the grant of a Teaching Supplies Allowance for the 840,000 public school teachers nationwide. The DepEd chief, Recto said, shall be mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance. “With this additional allowance, the burden on public school teachers will be alleviated and their working conditions will certainly improve,” he added. According to Recto, public school teachers, who receive salaries that are not commensurate with the volume of their work and responsibilities, have to shell out their own money to buy the materials they use. Although the DepEd had increased the allowance of teaching supplies from P2,500 in 2018 to P3,500 in 2019, Recto said the current allowance translated to only P16 of subsidy per day. He said the present allowance is insufﬁcient in assisting classroom teachers to deliver informative lectures for 22.1-million public school students.

Pacific leaders want summit focus on climate change, not China WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND —Pacific island leaders insist climate change, not China, will top the agenda when they meet in Tuvalu this month as western-aligned nations push to curb Beijing’s growing influence in the region. Once regarded as a sleepy backwater of the diplomatic world, the islands are now a hotbed of aid projects and charm offensives as anxiety over China’s presence grows. Australia has labelled its campaign the Pacific Step-Up, New Zealand has the Pacific Reset and Britain the Pacific Uplift, while the United States, Japan, and France have also intensified their efforts to court the region. But local leaders attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu from Aug. 13 to 16 are wary their concerns will be sidelined if they become pawns in a wider power struggle. The 16-member forum mainly consists of small island nations, along with Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. PIF secretary-general Dame Meg Taylor said the forum, whose members collectively refer to themselves as the Blue Pacific, was at a pivotal moment in its history. “While we are the subject of the geopolitical maneuvering and strategies of others, the Blue Pacific collective remains focused on charting our own destiny,” she said. The primary concern for island leaders—many of whom live in low-lying nations threatened by rising seas—is climate change. In a pointed message to Australia’s conservative government, Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga has warned Canberra’s step-up strategy will fail unless it finally takes meaningful action to address the issue. “They know very well that we will not be happy as a partner, to move forward, unless they are serious,” he said. China has been active in the Pacific for well over a decade and, though it still ranks far behind Australia as the region’s biggest aid donor, there is growing discomfort over its interest in an area Canberra regards as its sphere of influence. AFP

Sports Golden State, Green agree to 4-year pact SAN FRANCISCO, United States— Three-time NBA champion Draymond Green has agreed to a four-year maximum contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, linking him to the club until mid-2024, ESPN reported on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time). The 29-year-old power forward, an emotional leader as well as a versatile playmaker, was set to become a free agent next July but will stay with the Warriors, his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN. Green’s remaining contract now goes for five years and pays $118 million. Green provides inside power and rebounding that helps provide room for 3-point sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to maximize their outside shooting skills. After helping the Warriors win the 2015 NBA crown, he combined with All-Star center Kevin Durant on a formidable Warriors’ dynasty lineup that brought titles in 2017 and 2018 before Durant was hurt in the 2019 playoffs and Golden State lost the NBA Finals in June to the Toronto Raptors. Green, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, has been on the NBA’s All-Defensive first or second team for five consecutive seasons. Since his NBA debut in 2012, Green has a team-high 22 triple-doubles and the fifth-most in the NBA in that span. Along with guard D’Angelo Russell plus Curry and Thompson, Green gives the Warriors four NBA All-Stars under contract as they move into a new $1 billion arena in San Francisco next season. Thompson, who suffered a major left knee injury in the NBA Finals, signed a five-year maximum deal worth $190 million in July. Russell was obtained in a trade deal that helped Durant wind up in Brooklyn and signed to a four-year contract worth $117 million. Green has career averages of 9.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocked shots a game in the regular season. In his 123 career playoff appearances, those figures all rise to 12.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks a game. AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pagunsan targets record PGT run J

UVIC PAGUNSAN heads to Riviera this week looking to set a norm on the Philippine Golf Tour—win four straight championships— as he banners a stellar international ﬁeld in the ICTSI Riviera Classic beginning Wednesday, August 7 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite. Pagunsan swept the last three legs of the four-stage PGT Visayas swing in Bacolod, Negros and Iloilo last June, matching Tony Lascuña’s couple of streak of feats in 2014 and 2016 and making him the marked man in the P2.5 million event serving as the sixth leg of the 10th season of the country’s premier circuit. But the long break could pave the way for a wide-open battle for the top P450,000 purse in the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI with the cream of the crop, led by reigning Order of Merit champion Jobim Carlos, plus a slew of foreign aces, including Cebu leg titlist and Manila-based Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands, eager and ready to foil Pagunsan’s drive for a fourth win-in-row. The region’s former No. 1 is actually seeking to make it back-to-back at Riviera this year following his breakthrough victory on PGT Asia

last March where he beat Angelo Que by seven. But extending his PGT run won’t come easy for the smoothswinging Negrense given the depth of the competing ﬁeld that is also priming up for a four-leg Mindanao joust next month. They include Jay Bayron, who like Carlos, has also reigned at Riviera in 2016 where he nipped Clyde Mondilla in sudden death, along with PGT Asia leg winners Jhonnel Ababa, James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban and Joenard Rates and perennial contenders Michael Bibat, Zanieboy Gialon, Ruﬁno Bayron and Keanu Jahns and former club pro Marvin Dumandan. Carlos edged Lascuña in the PGT Asia leg at Riviera last year in a victory that sparked the former national amateur champion’s surge that saw him win two more PGT legs on his way to clinching the OOM crown. But the locals will be up against a host of talented foreign rivals, headed

by Korean-American Micah Shin, the former The Country Club Invitational winner who honed his talent and skills in Davao, and Thais Kammalas Namuangruk and Tawan Phongpun. Also tipped to contend in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. are Korean Hwang Myung Chal, Aussie Calum Juniper, Japanese Ryo Nishimura and Keisuke Takahashi, Argentina’s Emilio Parodi and Jesus Rafael Parra of Venezuela. A select number of pros, meanwhile, will team up with ofﬁcials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including ICTSI, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc., in the traditional proam tournament tomorrow, Tuesday.

Juvic Pagunsan displays fine form while teeing off. He heads to Riviera this week looking to set a norm on the Philippine Golf Tour win four straight championships. He will banner a stellar international field in the ICTSI Riviera Classic beginning Wednesday, August 7 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Eager Nadal leads field at ATP Montreal Masters Cruz hammers three home runs to power Minnesota to victory MONTREAL, Canada—Defending champion Rafael Nadal heads the field for the ATP Montreal Masters that starts on Monday (Tuesday Philippine time) with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer opting out of the key US Open tuneup. With Djokovic and Federer putting a return to action on hold after their dramatic Wimbledon final, 33-year-old Nadal will be seeking to retain the title he earned last year in Toronto, when he beat rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The Greek is back, taking the fourth seeding behind a pair of fellow young guns in number two Dominic Thiem of Austria and Germany’s Alexander Zverev, seeded third. Federer and Djokovic aren’t scheduled to resurface until the Cincinnati Masters starts on August 12, giving them one tournament prior to the August 26 start of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, the final Grand slam of the year. Federer has been training on hardcourt at home in Switzerland after falling to Djokovic in a dramatic five-set final at the All England Club three weeks ago, in which the Swiss great held two match points. Djokovic has been pictured relaxing at various European beach resorts with his family prior to picking up the racquet once again. Nadal, meanwhile, is pacing himself after another season marred by injury, insisting despite the pleas and inducements of Cincinnati officials that he won’t decide

Second seed Thiem has purposefully left it late for the hardcourts, preferring to stay as long as possible on European clay by entering both Hamburg and Kitzbuehel. Thiem, beaten by Nadal in the last two Roland Garros ﬁnals, has a special goal driving him when he lands in francophile Canada. “I’ve never won a match in Canada, I’d like to change that.” he said. “I’m just hoping to play well. “Canada is a big goal – I’m really hoping to get a win there.”

Spain’s Rafael Nadal, in this file photo, eyes the ball before playing a forehand return Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann during their men’s singles first round match during the 2019 French Open. AFP

whether to play there until he sees how he feels after Montreal. “Depending on what happens in Montreal, I’ll take a decision on Cincinnati,” he said. “Cincinnati is still an option. But I want to arrive well prepared and ready for the US Open, the last major of the season.” Nadal could face a challenge in the second round after a bye, with a possible match against Australian Alex de Minaur – winner of the Atlanta title last weekend.

Thiem will open his campaign against either Canadian Denis Shapovalov or Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Third seed Zverev, who won the title here two years ago with a win over Federer in the final, will open against either Briton Cameron Norrie or Hungarian Martin Fucsovic. Tsitsipas will bid to better his 2018 finals showing but must first get past either home-grown Milos Raonic, the 2013 finalist, or American Taylor Fritz, runner-up to de Minaur in Atlanta. AFP

Hamilton plans surprise for pole-sitter Verstappen

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the qualifying session of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary. AFP

BUDAPEST, Hungary—Lewis Hamilton said he still believes he can win Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix despite winding up third on the grid after Saturday’s (Sunday Philippine time) closely-fought qualifying. It was only the third time in 12 outings this year that the defending ﬁve-time world champion had failed to qualify on the front row in his Mercedes. Max Verstappen secured his maiden pole position for Red Bull, qualifying narrowly ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. “It’s a long way down to Turn One,” said Hamilton, who is seeking a recordextending seventh Hungarian win. “So, I am going to be giving it everything I can. I am still in with a chance and third is a position that I can ﬁght from.”

The Hungarian race has been won by a driver starting from the second row of the grid four times in the last decade, including a Hamilton triumph in 2009. “It’s not a terrible day and it’s not a great day,” Hamilton added. “Unfortunately, I got to qualifying and lost some performance somewhere, so I’ve just got to ﬁgure out where.” The Briton was quickest on medium tyres in Q2, but could not match the pace that Verstappen and Bottas found on soft tires in Q3. “I didn’t feel as though the car was really under me,” he said. “It wasn’t the same as it was in P3, for whatever reason.” Meanwhile, Max Verstappen said his strongest feeling after grabbing his maiden pole position for Hungarian Grand Prix was not excitement, but relief. AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States—Three was the charm for Nelson Cruz again on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) as the Minnesota Twins designated hitter belted three home runs in an 11-3 pounding of the Kansas City Royals. Cruz’s outburst came just 10 days after he smacked three homers in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Cruz, who notched his fourth game of the season with five runs-batted-in, got the ball rolling with a two-run homer to the opposite field in the first inning that put the Twins up 2-0. One inning later he belted a 466-foot shot to left center field. His third homer of the night came in the sixth inning, when he deposited a pitch from Royals reliever Jorge Lopez into the right field bleachers. Cruz now has 11 homers and 23 runsbatted-in his last nine starts. The 39-year-old became the first player in Twins history to have multiple three-homer games in a Major League Baseball season. Meanwhile, Aaron Sanchez made his Houston debut one to remember by pitching six outstanding innings to launch the Astros toward a combined no-hitter in a

9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Sanchez, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the July 31 trade deadline, teamed with relief pitchers Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to keep the Mariners without a hit. It was the second time in less than a month that Seattle were no-hit by multiple pitchers. The Angels used two pitchers in a combined no-hitter against Seattle on July 12. “Just trying to have a good ﬁrst impression,” said Sanchez, who was a Major League Baseball All-Star in 2016, when he led the American League in earned run average, but was struggling this season when he was traded by the Blue Jays. When he arrived in Houston, Sanchez had lost 13 straight decisions, his 14 losses the most for a starting pitcher in the major leagues. With two outs in the ﬁrst he hit Omar Narvaez, but then retired the next nine batters he faced. Sanchez walked Daniel Vogelbach with two outs in the fourth, and he walked Mallex Smith with one out in the sixth before retiring the next two batters he faced to end the inning. AFP

Fernandez rules Tiwi rapid chessfest DANDEL FERNANDEZ of Maynilad Water Services Inc. captured the 10th leg National Executive Chess Championship dubbed as Coron Festival at the 24/7 Balikbayan Resort in Barangay Bariis in Tiwi, Albay over the weekend. Fernandez tallied ﬁve points in the 6-round Swiss System rapid format competition followed by National Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad of Talisay, Camarines Norte in second with 4.5 points in the National Chess Federation of the Philippines sanctioned event supported by Mayor Jaime C. Villanueva and Tiwi Chess Club and organized by Alexis Orlain. Chief Arbiter is Alexander “Alex” Dinoy of the Chess Arbiter Union of the Philippines. Noel Leron and National Master Glennen Artuz of Naga City, Camarines Sur scored identical four points to share the third and fourth place.

Trailing were 3.5-pointers Architect Marvid Zuniga and Nationa Master Carlo Lorena , Dr. Johnny Corrales (3 points), Emil Valleza (3 points), Pedro Olaguer (3 ), Rodel Lasala (3), Ricardo Martin (2.5), Harold Alianza (2.5), Dr. Jenny Mayor (2.5), Albert Olavere (2), Melchor Jullado (1) and Jojo Capa (1). Meanwhile, Mark Rodrigo prevailed via tiebreak the 2019 Concepcion Dos Chess Club Active Chess Championship at the Dawg’s Boardgame Cafe, Lilac Street, SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City. Rodrigo, tied for ﬁrst-second places with Narcisco Gumila 4.5 points apiece in the 30 minute time control event organized by Pastor Ranier Pascual and International Memory Champion Robert Racasa dubbed as God Father of Philippine Memory. With the highest tiebreak points, Rodrigo took the title while Gumila ﬁnished second.

Sports

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

Fil-American swimmers set PH records By Peter Atencio TWO Filipino American swimmers set two Philippine national records on Day 3 of the 2019 Phillips 66 US National Championships in California last Friday. According to the results released on the official website, the feats of Jarod Hatch and Jean-Pierre Khouzam made them candidates for the national team to the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Their respective times broke the national 100-meter butterfly marks in the senior and junior divisions respectively. The 21-year-old Hatch set a new 100m record at 53.91 seconds to reset his previous best of 54.36, which he registered last June at the Santa Clara International meet. Hatch, who will be a junior student of University of California in the coming school year in the United States, first held the record last year when he eclipsed Jessie Lacuna’s time 55.08 at the Pan Pacific Championships. This is the second time that Hatch has surpassed Lacuna’s mark. The time that Hatch set moved him closer to the Tokyo Olympics Selection Time “B” 53.52 seconds The 17-year-old Khouzam, who is competing for the Philippines at the 7th FINA Junior World Championships, set a new juniors national record of 55.56 seconds in the 16 to 18-year-old age group level. This eclipsed Rafael Barreto’s 55.93 second record, which he clocked at the 41st SEA Age Group Swimming Championships in Brunei two years ago. This will be Khouzam’s second junior national record. Last May, Khouzam erased Jessie Lacuna’s 2:03.01 record in the 200-meter butterfly event by clocking 2:00.72 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Bloomington. He later lowered his time when Khouzam submitted a 2:00.67 at the SE Richard Quick Invitational in USA last June. Hatch is tipped to join the Philippine National Open this August, while Khouzam is skipping the national qualifiers to the SEA Games. This is because Khouzam will be representing Philippines at the 7th FINA Junior World Championships in Budapest at that time, There are two other FilAms who may seek the cut in the national squad. They are Parker Macy and Jonathan Cook. Macy still has to seek Philippine Swimming Inc. membership next year in time for 2021 SEA Games. On the other hand, Cook is planning to join the final qualifying event of the 2019 SEA Games, along with Hatch.

Blackwater Elite rookie Bobby Ray Parks (right) protects the basketball just before trying to drive past Columbian Dyip fellow rookie CJ Perez (7). PBA Media

Parks, Perez lead best player race

HEIR teams may have been eliminated but rookies Bobby Ray Parks of the Blackwater Elite and CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip kept their hold on the top two spots for the race to become the Best Player of the Conference this 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Parks holds a 37.2 Statistical Points average while Perez totes a 36.1 average despite the Elite reaching only the Quarterfinals and the Dyip not even advancing to the playoffs. Jayson Castro, of the TNT KaTropa which advanced to the Finals against the San Miguel Beermen, clung on to third spot. He is the highest-ranked player belonging to teams who advanced to the Final Four. Robert Bolick of NorthPort bumped off TNT KaTropa’s RR Pogoy at fifth spot at the close of the semis. From fifth, Pogoy dropped all the

way down to No. 9 with 30.8. At No. 6 was Sean Anthony (32.45), followed by Chris Banchero (31.1), Moala Tautua (30.9), Pogoy and Matthew Wright (29.4) to round out the Magic 10. Meanwhile, it has turned out to be an interesting battle for Best Import between Terrence Jones of TNT KaTropa and Chris McCullough of SMB. After the semis, Jones was already on top of the race with 58.2, relegating Justin Brownlee (57.5) down to second, with McCullough is within striking distance at third place at 55.7.

Their matchup in the best-of-seven ﬁnale could decide who goes home with the coveted award. The Best Player of the Conference and the Best Import will be announced before Game Four of the championship series between TNT and SMB on August 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Jones and McCullough are both ﬁrst-round NBA draftees which is a rarity in the local pro league. The TNT import was drafted 18th overall by Houston in 2012. He spent four years with the Rockets before suiting up for Milwaukee and New Orleans. He reunited with the Rockets early this year. The SMB reinforcement was selected by Brooklyn at 29th overall in 2015. He saw action for the Nets and later the Washington Wizards.

Teen star Gauff wins first WTA title by partnering with McNally

Coco Gauff, in this file photo, addresses the media during the Citi Open - Preview at Rock Creek Tennis Center in Washington, DC. AFP

WASHINGTON, United States—US teen Coco Gauff, the 15-year-old who electrified Wimbledon with a fourth-round singles run last month, captured her first WTA title Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) at the Washington Open in women’s doubles. Gauff and partner Catherine McNally, who combined to win last year’s US Open junior women’s doubles title, defeated Hungary’s Fanny Stollar and American Maria Sanchez 6-2, 6-2 to hoist their inaugural WTA trophy. The teens jumped into each other’s arms and later hugged in celebration of the breakthrough milestone triumph. Gauff electrified Wimbledon after her qualifying run by defeating idol Venus Williams in her opening match and rolled into the fourth round before losing to eventual champion Simona Halep. At the time Gauf said the experience felt like a dream. “It has been a big change. People recognize me in the airport, at the movie theater. It’s great people recognized who I am. It was definitely a big change,” Gauf said.

Gauf made her WTA main draw debut in March at the Miami Open, ousted 44th-ranked Williams in round one at Wimbledon, then dispatched Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova and saved two match points in defeating Slovenia’s 60th-ranked Polona Hercog before falling to Romania’s Halep. Gauf said she learned a lot from Wimbledon as a player and a person. But most of all the experienced meant a lot her as Coco the person. “I learned I’m capable of doing things I never thought of and that I have a fighting spirit. It taught me a lot about myself and showed I’ll fight no matter what,” Gauf said. Gauff, in her first post-Wimbledon singles appearance, qualified for the Washington main draw but lost her first match 6-4, 6-2 to Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas. McNally, a 17-year-old American who made only her fourth WTA appearance in singles, took her first three tour match wins to reach the semi-finals, where she lost 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Saturday to Italy’s Camila Giorgi. AFP

Alaska IRONKIDS showcases future of PH triathlon THE future of Philippine triathlon takes the spotlight ahead of the pros as they dispute top honors in various age divisions in the Alaska Fortiﬁed IronKids Philippines on Saturday, August 10 at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu. Now back as a swim-bike-run event, the chase for crowns in four age groups ranging from six to 14 years old is expected to be ﬁerce with Cebuana Moira Erediano gunning for back-to-back titles in the girls’ 13-14 category (400m swim, 12km bike, 3km run). Three hundred and 48 kids have so far registered as of Friday with the roster expected to swell before the deadline set on August 7. For details, log on to ironkidsphil.com. Other titles to be disputed are in the 11-12 (300m swim, 9km bike, 2km run), 9-10 (200m swim, 6km bike, 1.5km run) and

6-8 (100m swim, 3km bike, 1km run) age categories. Fresh faces are also expected to shine as they seek to upstage the fancied names in the event starting at 6 a.m. which also serves as a fitting appetizer to the second Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships powered by Philam Vitality on Sunday, August 11 in Mactan, Cebu. The Herbalife IronGirl will actually kick off the IRONMAN 70.3 weekend on Friday with 1,400 joining the 5k fun run for girls’ 12-years-old-and-above. Other activities lined up on Saturday are the TYR Swim Out, the Expo Open, the pro race briefing, and a race-day tips from IRONMAN legends Lance Watson and Belinda Granger. Launched over a decade ago, the Alaska

IronKids has become one of the highlights of each IRONMAN competition. Organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and sponsored by Alaska, the event is staged to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids and at the same time serves as venue for family bonding. It is also held to help kids develop the values of discipline, hard work, integrity and determination through a series of races. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Mauricio Mendez braces for a strong challenge from the likes of former world champion Tim Reed and multi-titled Sam Betten along with fellow Australians Tim Van Berkel, Luke McKenzie, Lindsey Lawry, Mitch Robins and Justin Ghosh, Czech Jakub Langhammer, Bahrain’s Eric Watson and New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone in the centerpiece men’s pro category of the eighth IRONMAN 70.3 to be staged in the country’s triathlon hub.

Moira Erediano crosses the finish line after winning another Alaska Fortified IRONKIDS race. She is seeking to cap her final IRONKIDS stint with a victory.

PLDT beats winless Marinera PLDT Home Fibr pounced on winless Marinerang Pilipina in straight sets, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20, to regain its winning ways in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference last weekend at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. Coming off a frustrating three-set loss to defending champion Petron last week, Grethcel Soltones sparked the Power Hitters to bounce back and send the Lady Skippers to their 12th straight loss after a 90-minute encounter. Soltones nailed 10 kills for 11 points leading PLDT and also put up a tremendous floor defense with 19 digs and 13 excellent receptions in this battle that prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport. Aiko Urdas was also instrumental with nine markers laced with 16 digs while Sasa Devanadera had nine markers and setter Jasmine Nabor dished out 14 excellent sets and hit five markers. PLDT tightened its grip at the No.6 spot with an improved 4-7 win-loss record, but head coach Roger Gorayeb already accepted that they would be facing the No.3 team in the knockout quarterfinals. “At least we got a win today. We’re just trying to get confidence from our remaining games,” said Gorayeb, who has three last games against Cignal, Generika-Ayala and F2 Logistics. “We only have a slim chance to rise from number six so we just have to maintain it and get ready for the next round.” The Lady Skippers put up a gallant stand in the second set building a 14-11 lead before the Power Hitters stormed back. A neck-and-neck duel figured down the stretch of the second frame before Jerrili Malabanan delivered the finishing touches for the twoset lead. Nobody scored in double figures for Marinerang Pilipina with veterans Ivy Remulla and Nica Guliman leading the way with nine and eight points, respectively, only for their team to reel at No.8 with a 0-12 card.

Knights face QC Capitals at Flying V THE streaking San Juan Knights aim for win No. 8 when they tangle with the Quezon City Capitals today, Monday, August 5, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Game time is at 8:30 p.m., with the Knights, champion of the MPBL Datu Cup, trying to keep their clean slate and top spot against the Capitals, who tote a 4-3 card. Other games pit Batangas City Athletics against the dangerous Pasay Voyagers at 4 p.m. and the Muntinlupa Cagers against the Nueva Ecija MiGuard at 6:30 p.m. The Knights were tested to the limit by the Bataan Risers before pulling off an 87-79 overtime victory on July 27 at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legaspi City. Skywalkers Mike Ayonayon and Jhonard Clarito will again be at the forefront of the Knights’ charge together with former pros John Wilson, Mac Cardona and Larry Rodriguez. The Athletics, the inaugural MPBL Rajah Cup titlist, are on a two-game roll, but must be wary of the Voyagers, who are riding the, momentum of an 83-78 conquest of the Bacolod Strikers on August 1. Spearheaded by Jhaymo Eguilos and Jeff Viernes, the Athletics have a 3-1 slate, while the Voyagers, powered by Jan Jamon and Raymund Ilagan, are at 4-5. Toting a 3-5 card, the Cagers are favored over the MiGuard, who are reeling from ﬁve straight defeats after an initial victory over the Marikina Shoemasters.

IN BRIEF Bangsamoro execs need planning skills FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said executives of the new Bangsamoro government must learn fiscal management, financial planning and budget-related matters to ensure the long-term fiscal stability of the autonomous region in Mindanao. Dominguez over the weekend directed key DoF officials led by Undersecretary Gil Beltran to guide executives of the new Bangsamoro government in running their finance and budget departments, as well as in crafting sound policies and implementing effective revenuegenerating measures. Dominguez also asked Beltran to tap the Philippine Tax Academy to help educate the new set of government officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on fiscal management, financial planning and budget-related matters. Dominguez told Beltran to form a technical working group together with the Department of Budget and Management, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Local Government Finance of the DoF, and the Commission on Audit in assisting the Bangsamoro government to run its finance and budget departments. Julito G. Rada

RCEP nations upbeat on forging trade deal MINISTERS of the sixteen participating countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement expressed optimism that the biggest trade deal will soon be concluded in November this year. The ministers gathered during the 8th RCEP Inter Sessional Ministerial Meeting to resolve some key issues and provide guidance to the trade negotiators on how to move forward in concluding the negotiations. “Signiﬁcant progress had been made in key chapters such as market access and investments, and some issues affecting the speed of the negotiation had been addressed” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. “Parties are more pragmatic in the spirit of wanting to reach conclusion. We are seeing more ﬂexibility and they are mindful of the sensitivities of each country taking into account the level of its economic development,” added. Othel V. Campos

Business Banks see GDP growth nd below 6% in 2 quarter S By Julito G. Rada

ECURITY Bank Corp., the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, expects gross domestic product growth in the second quarter to be stronger than 5.6 percent in the ﬁrst quarter but not enough to go beyond 6 percent because of the sluggish government spending.

Security Bank chief economist Dan Roces said GDP growth would likely reach 5.9 percent in the April-to-June period. “We expected real GDP growth in the second quarter to rebound following a sluggish ﬁrst quarter. However, leading indicators suggest otherwise and as such, second-quarter [GDP] is bound to be unremarkable,” Roces said. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. also said GDP growth would likely to remain below 6 percent in the second quarter, “prompting the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] to further cut [policy] rates at its upcom-

ing meeting.” Roces said the sluggishness in the economic growth was mostly due to reduced government spending because of the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget which was signed only in April, followed by a spending ban ahead of the mid-term elections on May 13. “The government vowed to implement a catch-up spending plan postelections to mitigate the impact to little effect as government spending fell by 2.3 percent year-on-year to around P812.2 billion in the second quarter. In fact, government spending was at a surplus for April and May, and only

reverted to the deficit by June suggesting that the effects of the delayed budget have crept into the quarter,” Roces said. He also said that the growth in the imports of capital goods between April and May were relatively flat (by 0.03 percent year-on-year), which suggested tepid developments in the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of the Duterte administration. “Overall, this means that the secondquarter growth will be hard-pressed to reach or exceed 6 percent, with lackluster government spending continuing to be the main drag; despite a rebound in private consumption because of tapering inflation,” he said. Inflation averaged 3.4 percent in the first half, well within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Inflation peaked at 6.7 percent in October 2018. Roces, however, said government spending would likely accelerate in the second half as the infrastructure spending program got underway with the release of funds for several projects.

Meralco spends P10b to improve network MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, spent P10 billion in the first six months of 2019, including P8 billion solely for network system improvement and reliability. Meralco spent most of the first-half capital expenditure program for system requirements, including for those new load and customer requirements and system reliability during the period. Meralco allocated P12 billion in capex for the entire year. “For the first half, Meralco spent P8 billion out of P12 billion. About P2.16 billion were projects that address load growth requirements. We also spent significant amount for the relocation of poles to support PPP/BBB (Public Private Partnership/Build,Build, Build) projects of government,” Meralco head of networks Ronnie Aperocho said. The capex aimed to ensure adequacy and address reliability, power quality and network resilience while providing enhanced customer service for the company’s more than six million customers. Alean Mae S. Flores

BIGGER SHIPYARD. Aboitiz Construction Inc., the construction arm of Aboitiz & Company Inc., completes the expansion of the shipyard of Austal Philippines. The six assembly designed and built by Aboitiz Construction is part of the number of projects it obtained in a bid to become one of the best construction companies in the Philippines and the preferred contractor in the region.

10 electric co-ops tapped to help Paleco By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN National Electriﬁcation Administration is bringing together 10 electric cooperatives to help Palawan Electric Cooperative with its rehabilitation and improve the reliability of its electric services in Palawan. NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong announced over the weekend the creation of a task force that would speed up the rehabilitation of the power distribution system of Paleco. Task Force Kapatid Paleco will be composed of 10 electric cooperatives from Luzon and the Visayas. Each electric cooperative will deploy six technical personnel with boom trucks and necessary equipment and logistics to aid Paleco in undertaking rehabilitation activities of power lines within its coverage area. “The rehabilitation of Paleco will

start in the second week of August. We are sending 10 electric cooperatives to form part of the task force,” Masongsong said. The 10 electric cooperatives are Batangas Electric Cooperative I, Batangas Electric Cooperative 2, First Laguna Electric Cooperative, Aklan Electric Cooperative, Antique Electric Cooperative, Capiz Electric Cooperative, Iloilo II Electric Cooperative and Cebu Electric Cooperative I, II and III. NEA deputy administrator for technical services Artis Nikki Tortola said the task force would start the rehabilitation works in Palawan on Aug. 16 and would stay in the province for at least three months. Tortola said the decision to send a task force to Palawan followed a meeting on July 23 between NEA ofﬁcials and Paleco acting general manager Nelson Lalas and board chairman Jeffrey Tan-Endriga.

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

Six Pogo firms remit P200m in income taxes By Darwin G. Amojelar SIX Philippine offshore gaming operators remitted P200 million in income taxes withheld from their foreign workers in July, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. BIR deputy commissioner Arnel Guballa said the six offshore gaming operators started remitting the withheld personal income taxes from their foreign workers. Most of these workers are from China. The BIR official did not identify the six POGO firms and cited the bureau’s duty of confidentiality to the taxpayers. Guballa said the BIR was expecting collections from POGO workers to further rise in the coming months as the agency intensified its campaign against unregistered foreign nationals. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said the BIR continued to process the tax identification numbers of POGO workers seeking to register with the tax bureau. Dominguez said while the BIR had limitations in delivering the volume of TINs being required by gaming operators, the POGO companies could begin withholding the income tax from their foreign workers. Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko said the BIR’s pace in releasing the POGO TINs was “pretty fast” considering that the tax agency had to manually register the names of foreigners applying with the bureau. Tionko said the BIR had to be very careful with the spelling because the English translation of many foreign workers’ names, who are mostly Chinese, are similar. “I told them to complete the personal information with date of birth, gender and everything. They are in the process of getting their TINs, like they issued them around 10,000,” Tionko said. The finance official said POGO operators could withhold the income tax as long as they would remit the amount to the BIR. Tiokno said that if POGO operators failed to remit the withheld income tax, “that is worse, the penalty for that is double, and it’s a criminal offense.” She said that foreign workers could enjoy lower income tax rates as long as they could prove that they have a legal residence status.

Smart makes first Asean 5G standalone video call SMART Communications Inc. said it successfully made the first 5G standalone video call in Southeast Asia, using Nokia’s 5G SA equipment. “This is the first 5G implementation which is completely standalone. We don’t need LTE for it. Most 5G implementations today actually need LTE―in fact they’re actually only fast LTE,” said PLDT-Smart chief information and technical advisor Joachim Horn. “What we’re seeing here―this is real 5G. For the first time, we are experiencing the true capabilities of 5G. For example, 5G’s real low latency can only be achieved in this configuration. This is just the first milestone to show what is possible, and we brought it here to the Technolab,” Horn said. PLDT-Smart executives led by Horn, Smart chief financial officer

PAG-IBIG TAPS PAYMAYA. The Home

Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and PayMaya formally sign a partnership agreement to offer digital payment options for PagIBIG Fund members online and through the agency’s branch channels, delivering greater convenience and accessibility to its members nationwide. Leading the signing ceremony at the Pag-IBIG Fund Head Office in Makati City are (from left) Pag-IBIG Fund officerin-charge for support services cluster and chief legal counsel Robert John Cosico, Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Acmad Rizaldy Moti, PayMaya founder and CEO Orlando Vea and PayMaya COO and managing director Paolo Azzola.

Chaye Cabal-Revilla, PLDT business transformation office head Ricky Vargas, PLDT-Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering Mario Tamayo and Nokia officials led by country head for the Philippines Andrew Cope made the video call using Nokia’s 5G SA core, radio and user equipment installed at the PLDT-Smart 5G Technolab. PLDT described 5G SA as ‘pure 5G’ as it relies solely on 5G for data transmission and allows the full benefit of 5G capabilities to be tested and demonstrated. In contrast, 5G NSA (non-standalone) combines the use of 5G and existing 4G/LTE resources to transmit data. The technology paves the way for a variety of new industry applications that utilize 5G’s full features such as

massive connectivity for thousands of devices, ultra-low latency of under 10ms, ultra-high reliability, distributed cloud computing, unified security and network slicing PLDT-Smart and Nokia signed a memorandum of understanding in March this year to deploy 5G SA solutions in the Philippines, particularly for schools. Using the combined capabilities of the PLDT-Smart 5G Technolab and the Nokia Technology Center in Quezon City, the companies are collaborating to identify innovative 5G SA solutions, such as artificial intelligence, drones and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. PLDT-Smart launched the Ateneo de Manila University as the first “Smart 5G campus” in April. Darwin G. Amojelar

Creba pushes for P270-b fund for housing By Othel V. Campos THE largest group of property developers pushed anew for a P270-billion funding scheme to narrow the 6.75 million housing backlog with the creation of the Human Settlements and Urban Development Department under Republic Act No. 11201. The Chamber of Real Estate & Builders Associations Inc. welcomed the passage of the DHSUD after a 27-year wait to allow the government to better and more efﬁciently address the massive housing backlog. Creba national chairman Charlie Gorayeb said the new department would be a game-changer as it would provide the huge housing problem the attention it deserved at the cabinet level.

“We are hopeful that housing will not only be elevated as a top government priority but also be given the support it needs in undertaking programs that will address, if not totally eradicate, the 6.57 million housing backlog,” he said. Creba through its “5-Point Agenda for Housing” is pushing for “a home for every Filipino” by accelerating national housing production to t500,000 units a year over a period of 20 years. Creba also renewed its call for the establishment of a Comprehensive Home Financing Program that will make all income-earning Filipinos entitled to ﬁxed, low-interest, long-term housing loans whether or not they are members of the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System or PaglBIG Fund.

Business

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market consolidation to continue L By Jenniffer B. Austria

OCAL stocks are expected to continue trading sideways this week with a slight downward bias as renewed concerns over the US-China trade war and anemic earnings results could dampen investor sentiment.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market would continue with its base-building consolidation as it gathered steam to try the 8,500-point levels in the near-term. While the Philippine Stock Exchange Index managed to rebound and stay above the 8,000-point level, Papa Securities trader Gabriel Jose Perez said negative sentiments due to developments overseas could still hamper market sentiment. “Might be too soon to say that the index is out of the woods despite it being bought up at the close. Continue to monitor US markets for further developments as this

could dictate regional market movement in the coming days,” said Perez. Investors are expected to monitor second-quarter earnings of listed companies after initial reports showed weak results. Among the companies scheduled to release second-quarter results this week are Ayala Land Inc., SM Investments Corp., Globe Telecom Inc., San Miguel Corp. and Petron Corp. The PSEi last week lost 0.67 percent to 8,129.93, while the broader All Shares Index dropped 0.6 percent to 4,926,56 as the trade war between the US and China escalated further.

Four of the six sectoral indices ended in the red, led by services (-2.35 percent), holding firms (-1.22 percent), property (-0.53 percent) and industrial (-0.48 percent). The mining and oil index rose 2.9 percent while the financials added 0.7 percent. Foreign investors were still net buyers during the week by P292.8 million, while the average daily value traded stood at P6.3 billion from the previous week’s P6.6 billion. Weekly top price gainers were Philex Mining Corp., which rose 13.4 percent to P3.90; Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., which climbed 6.7 percent to P30.40; and JG Summit Holdings Inc. which advanced 4.9 percent to P69.50. Weekly top price losers were Globe Telecom, which declined 5.4 percent to P2,100; Aboitiz Power Corp., which dipped 5 percent to P34.80; and Robinsons Land Corp. which lost five percent to P26.60.

Equity trading screens, meanwhile, were bathed in red on Friday after US President Donald Trump stunned investors by unveiling new tariffs on China, cranking up trade tensions between the world’s top two economies. The announcement on Thursday that Washington will impose 10 percent tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese goods sparked a broad-based sell-off across the globe. All three major Wall Street indices sank to their lowest levels since June, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording their worst weekly losses of 2019. News that demand for US exports had weakened underscored concern that trade was becoming a trouble spot for economies worldwide. Trump’s announcement means virtually all of the $660 billion in annual merchandise trade between the world’s two biggest economies will be subject to punitive tariffs on it, with the latest duties due to take effect September 1. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

JULY 29-AUGUST 2, 2019 Close Volume Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

57.65 150.00 92.40 2.31 1.23 26.85 7.95 18.78 12.42 4.69 7.80 1.32 770.00 0.460 75 1.01 13.12 20.50 48.90 59 191 30.4 180 1800.00 60.70 1.12

10,080 9,247,970 12,021,090 3,646,000 16,000 643,900 2,000 50,900 3,043,400 248,000 4,100 38,000 100 570,000 13,402,320 9,106,000 393,200 1,700 2,062,700 28,480 9,000 2,083,900 1,576,760 285 79,070 689,000

FINANCIAL 586,472.00 1,374,177,052.00 1,087,226,833.00 8,196,310.00 19,280.00 17,358,905.00 14,318.00 952,130.00 37,587,640.00 1,145,120.00 31,859.00 50,190.00 77,000.00 261,100.00 1,011,378,722.00 9,957,710.00 5,179,672.00 35,475.00 101,976,630.00 1,689,901.00 1,706,216.00 63,100,280.00 287,073,227.00 502,200.00 4,767,960.50 782,350.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

34.8 14.28 0.77 1.34 0.270 99.5 16.86 3.11 14.42 116 14.6 75 89.95 41.75 2.02 5.19 6.37 10.200 14.5 11.00 7.60 1.7 26.15 85.95 68.30 2.1700 14.06 9.42 1.700 258.00 29.30 4.2 3.43 9.00 22.85 13.96 18.98 0.195 372.60 5.58 1.88 4.86 5.48 9.05 2.42 11.98 38.5 5.4 5.10 1.55 2.3 1.1 13.96 102 6.92 0.127 1.12 169.6 2.46 1.39 16.12 1.22

12,820,300 4,742,000 4,447,000 790,000 4,680,000 120 6,200 71,657,000 1,463,800 170 1,458,100 23,470 5,080 1,700 258,000 61,100 451,900 19,169,200 4,920,100 1,513,700 7,135,000 3,000 10,757,800 938,920 2,479,090 37,101,000 3,371,800 785,700 383,000 6,915,510 20 5,000 12,000 24,400 8,852,100 1,626,000 1,593,400 610,000 854,200 270,700 26,879,000 203,000 7,424,200 3,466,000 109,464,000 97,400 781,000 59,700 2,021,200 3,765,000 199,000 1,173,000 1,402,500 965,020 765,000 210,000 710,000 6,786,260 173,000 57,281,000 2,100 23,105,000

INDUSTRIAL 450,468,795.00 67,407,632.00 3,325,980.00 1,041,010.00 1,250,200.00 11,737.00 100,718.00 213,843,160.00 21,513,712.00 19,379.00 22,268,012.00 1,821,296.00 449,758.50 70,975.00 523,180.00 317,119.00 2,883,694.00 195,621,940.00 71,383,164.00 16,566,014.00 53,808,090.00 5,090.00 283,777,035.00 81,246,901.00 157,875,514.50 81,800,810.00 47,342,026.00 7,470,254.00 640,770.00 1,760,365,978.00 793.00 21,000.00 41,050.00 216,140.00 206,103,900.00 22,727,864.00 30,106,682.00 115,540.00 315,616,088.00 1,495,554.00 48,246,180.00 979,700.00 41,080,289.00 31,194,486.00 267,367,840.00 1,162,756.00 30,065,235.00 307,110.00 10,115,613.00 5,433,350.00 440,070.00 1,250,910.00 6,547,516.00 97,590,167.50 5,227,801.00 26,670.00 786,690.00 1,121,528,516.00 426,560.00 76,767,090.00 33,852.00 28,741,560.00

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Ayala Land Log Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.940 52.60 15.50 0.72 7.02 15.34 1.270 1.330 950 4.040 6.78 10.30 4.01 13.86 0.226 928.5 6.40 69.50 6.05 0.5 4.54 14.38 0.680 4.8 0.0390 1.470 2.90 178.50 2.48 1000.00 1.39 0.89 259.000 0.2380 0.295

269,286,000 6,179,390 18,866,800 2,720,000 425,400 585,600 27,980,000 3,337,000 1,448,690 35,534,000 3,056,300 29,304,700 27,000 51,578,100 1,050,000 428,110 357,600 6,761,070 4,200 550,000 2,566,000 8,409,700 40,923,000 91,029,000 28,200,000 6,934,000 33,000 1,131,160 84,000 2,389,285 319,000 2,676,000 305,050 1,800,000 11,510,000

HOLDING FIRMS 266,855,390.00 330,279,228.50 292,663,234.00 1,934,130.00 2,979,125.00 9,494,036.00 36,011,210.00 4,352,280.00 1,380,897,520.00 144,805,330.00 21,034,140.00 300,503,726.00 120,470.00 712,805,828.00 234,340.00 400,842,395.00 2,290,555.00 451,023,079.00 26,860.00 270,500.00 11,545,180.00 120,841,096.00 29,592,250.00 435,925,010.00 1,099,800.00 10,244,310.00 96,250.00 199,171,584.00 208,530.00 2,384,343,835.00 436,320.00 2,382,600.00 79,068,430.00 418,670.00 3,279,850.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings

15.840 0.82 11.14 2.080 0.980 51.000 2.27 5.05 6.1 0.590 0.80 0.880 0.236 0.465 11.400 24.7 0.470 0.125 1.90 1.39 6.24 0.320 1.7000 0.4450 0.395 2.05 26.60 2.42 3.18 37.60

1,937,300 3,824,000 132,200 970,000 123,875,000 32,033,620 3,125,000 2,962,700 351,100 87,672,000 283,000 818,000 20,690,000 3,790,000 8,062,400 1,704,200 3,480,000 290,000 184,533,000 5,511,000 72,254,800 72,600,000 35,696,000 1,860,000 1,050,000 4,379,000 10,023,300 8,986,000 1,070,000 57,482,700

PROPERTY 30,582,232.00 3,150,790.00 1,395,688.00 1,967,350.00 130,781,770.00 1,608,367,829.50 6,934,230.00 14,993,973.00 2,135,510.00 52,419,460.00 226,060.00 732,180.00 4,891,240.00 1,714,200.00 89,002,286.00 41,537,020.00 1,627,350.00 36,030.00 354,998,010.00 6,568,900.00 442,783,051.00 23,884,300.00 63,102,030.00 827,750.00 418,800.00 8,952,980.00 271,669,865.00 21,980,100.00 3,461,620.00 2,144,634,890.00

JULY 22-26, 2019 Close Volume

Value

58.5 148.20 90.60 2.28 1.17 27 7.98 18.6 12.3 4.78

11,660 9,303,240 9,626,200 384,000 326,000 722,300 600 86,000 3,891,000 353,000

683,723.50 1,387,522,925.00 872,201,734.00 880,080.00 384,020.00 19,759,485.00 4,788.00 1,607,180.00 48,146,322.00 1,679,650.00

1.32 790.00 0.460 75 1.15 13.24 22.90 50.30 59.4 188 28.5 185 1760.00 60.00

27,000 220 1,630,000 10,933,470 6,866,000 233,600 100 6,026,820 119,590 12,260 579,200 1,229,320 1,230 130,820

36,070.00 173,800.00 763,100.00 827,565,142.00 7,606,800.00 3,084,142.00 2,290.00 305,738,307.50 5,930,980.00 2,297,883.00 16,379,005.00 227,877,014.00 2,210,000.00 7,849,443.50

36.65 14 0.77 1.31 0.270 99.6 16.86 2.8 14.7 106 16.4 81.4 93.35 41 2.08 5.19 6.21 10.420 14.58 10.92 7.59 1.6 26.9 87.05 59.10 2.2200 14.00 9.47 1.690 252.00

6,492,400 3,474,800 5,977,000 942,000 10,430,000 70 2,700 37,893,000 3,119,000 690 2,606,000 47,930 45,170 10,200 2,230,000 39,500 714,100 10,659,000 4,899,500 1,995,900 4,634,500 22,000 10,723,700 1,392,760 637,760 26,838,000 2,559,400 2,118,000 874,000 22,918,320

240,593,040.00 49,134,086.00 4,665,860.00 1,239,020.00 2,847,950.00 6,400.00 42,538.00 102,125,450.00 46,708,700.00 74,756.00 44,742,226.00 3,957,619.50 4,151,802.50 418,200.00 4,629,500.00 205,173.00 4,514,220.00 110,812,084.00 71,873,672.00 21,893,344.00 34,766,472.00 36,220.00 288,580,665.00 122,622,517.00 36,845,600.50 61,075,670.00 28,074,402.00 19,791,071.00 1,478,960.00 5,706,753,370.00

4.2

537,000

2,295,940.00

8.87 23.55 14.2 18.7 0.187 375.00 5.50 1.67 4.78 5.60 9.05 2.53 11.98 38.7 5.47 5.09 1.54 2.2 1.07 14 100.3 6.7 0.128 1.13 171 2.48 1.24 16.12 1.26

27,900 1,878,800 3,480,700 4,952,200 690,000 676,670 103,700 19,854,000 569,000 18,753,400 3,937,300 166,514,000 204,700 2,142,100 909,200 905,200 17,000,000 85,000 1,419,000 1,157,400 796,370 973,300 1,920,000 1,663,000 4,122,920 386,000 14,866,000 2,800 21,025,000

249,947.00 45,452,430.00 49,653,178.00 91,612,350.00 129,970.00 257,071,000.00 579,728.00 34,000,370.00 2,749,410.00 106,029,596.00 35,683,379.00 439,980,750.00 2,441,860.00 81,309,595.00 5,002,848.00 4,526,168.00 25,625,690.00 187,220.00 1,550,970.00 16,052,444.00 80,996,372.00 6,370,654.00 247,220.00 1,874,050.00 703,122,191.00 958,870.00 18,721,540.00 45,630.00 27,662,150.00

1.040 56.00 15.80 0.73 7.02 17.1 1.300 1.330 983 4.260 7 10.38 4 14.00 0.235 969 6.43 66.20

148,490,000 8,909,610 21,152,100 6,343,000 1,659,000 1,651,400 17,134,000 2,503,000 2,612,280 66,176,000 4,429,700 20,633,100 100,000 386,300 650,000 766,000 389,200 5,614,070

151,451,130.00 504,614,863.00 331,910,714.00 4,614,290.00 11,614,551.00 29,036,628.00 22,080,820.00 3,308,990.00 2,534,976,735.00 275,727,700.00 31,304,453.00 217,924,870.00 400,000.00 5,406,490.00 152,430.00 714,868,825.00 2,516,845.00 384,573,732.50

0.485 4.54 14.68 0.700 4.75 0.0390 1.420 3.00 174.80 2.69 1010.00 1.37 0.86 260.000 0.2390 0.280

1,014,000 12,997,000 14,170,700 40,225,000 60,912,000 12,300,000 15,898,000 620,000 772,320 13,000 1,431,605 651,000 3,937,000 4,350 3,480,000 41,420,000

506,405.00 60,094,500.00 211,494,520.00 27,841,680.00 290,898,440.00 481,200.00 24,744,740.00 1,824,250.00 132,919,453.00 34,860.00 1,420,310,660.00 894,080.00 3,421,620.00 1,127,020.00 821,070.00 11,877,200.00

15.840 0.86 11.34 2.140 1.060 51.350 2.3 5.08 6.16 0.610 0.79 0.900 0.238 0.460 10.200 24.5 0.475 0.124 1.93 1.39 6.25 0.335 1.7600 0.4800 0.405 2.11 28.00 2.42 3.16 37.50

1,382,100 7,640,000 30,400 680,000 54,836,000 27,076,390 3,773,000 5,765,600 351,100 135,164,000 386,000 212,000 6,160,000 7,780,000 2,808,500 1,815,500 7,660,000 50,000 116,323,000 11,113,000 70,940,500 98,390,000 30,937,000 7,211,000 1,450,000 3,116,000 23,998,200 5,339,000 945,000 33,756,700

21,860,464.00 6,462,850.00 331,798.00 1,471,800.00 57,354,860.00 1,405,609,265.00 8,762,830.00 29,303,642.00 2,138,312.00 82,687,880.00 308,310.00 191,130.00 1,470,040.00 3,569,200.00 29,036,180.00 44,313,120.00 3,612,300.00 6,440.00 224,907,110.00 15,595,830.00 449,188,854.00 34,475,700.00 53,907,250.00 3,405,690.00 592,800.00 6,651,270.00 664,852,395.00 12,643,870.00 3,019,900.00 1,277,243,045.00

STOCKS

JULY 29-AUGUST 2, 2019 Close Volume Value

JULY 22-26, 2019 Close Volume

Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

2.2 6 0.810 7.840

3,050,000 843,700 512,000 26,219,600

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

10.9 18.6 1.5 0.520 0.049 18.16 2.5 11.48 0.0600 93.4 7.19 7.32 6.00 2.1 10.04 895 2100 5.38 423.80 10.00 1.95 129.7 1.88 9.7 5.55 0.116 5.3100 3.13 14.68 3.64 0.92 19.38 15.18 0.490 3.28 2.69 1.43 1.45 2.480 2.79 8.62 2.91 5.35 9.25 135.00 4.25 1150.00 0.710 0.710 44.85 79.50 9.29 3.24 0.750 0.35 5.49 0.760 15.880

39,100 1,378,000 948,000 6,890,000 66,800,000 7,500 6,298,000 11,566,000 50,840,000 1,309,900 162,100 4,502,600 667,100 6,000 120,200 10 228,165 392,600 3,280 1,400 12,690,000 6,726,380 94,000 30,900 41,800 6,400,000 9,109,300 20,000 14,300 6,920,000 1,089,000 4,192,300 200 2,744,000 324,000 20,338,000 51,000 14,000 11,300,000 9,336,000 236,600 4,000 458,200 11,300 88,090 27,254,000 491,060 161,255,000 63,317,000 2,108,610 2,291,730 60,900 12,626,000 16,630,000 13,470,000 243,913,600 21,829,000 13,271,600

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

0.0017 1.28 2.67 12.84 1.1400 1.1400 2.72 0.270 7.55 1.460 0.209 0.112 0.121 0.010 0.0110 1.07 2.58 1.03 0.4700 0.8400 0.0130 0.0120 3.90 10.68 0.0110 6.0400 23.15 0.0066

MINING & OIL 324,000,000 543,600.00 57,496,000 72,620,470.00 208,000 555,890.00 89,100 1,132,586.00 16,000 18,390.00 203,000 231,420.00 1,689,000 4,618,150.00 1,240,000 334,800.00 115,900 880,735.00 5,281,000 7,653,640.00 7,670,000 1,634,510.00 14,880,000 1,603,560.00 3,340,000 381,320.00 616,000,000 5,767,600.00 255,000,000 2,390,300.00 2,265,000 7,674,810.00 15,127,000 38,122,390.00 732,000 749,420.00 424,000 211,050.00 5,363,000 4,476,950.00 27,600,000 331,300.00 2,757,700,000 33,786,100.00 16,954,000 63,486,210.00 37,031,100 367,247,550.00 63,000,000 683,600.00 5,891,800 23,227,512.00 22,445,900 522,457,360.00 23,000,000 148,200.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Alco Preferred C Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred 2A PCOR-Preferred 2B PCOR-Preferred 3A PCOR-Preferred 3B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred 1 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMPFC Preferred

17.5 101 105 490 500 101 105.2 498 497 5.46 928 949 99.6 0.99 100 994 1019 1013 1018 101.7 107.4 995 75.2 77.55 74.8 75 75.5 74.55 75.95 74.5 1.74

942,300 7,660 1,000 29,090 13,040 178,280 127,120 400 3,110 28,100 3,080 1,530 6,980 8,144,000 6,270 2,670 4,800 143,720 22,665 11,000 760 18,190 101,310 99,710 65,690 468,400 497,890 46,060 254,710 715,880 7,000

LR Warrant

1.800

759,000

Italpinas Xurpas

6.67 1.03

17,840,800 12,819,000

First Metro ETF

121.3 10.26 10.1 1

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

6,586,650.00 5,055,553.00 417,040.00 201,481,991.00

Value

2.12 6.14 0.820 7.800

8,539,000 1,122,800 1,307,000 28,412,400

17,370,960.00 6,923,839.00 1,047,680.00 220,182,651.00

10.6 18.5 1.52 0.520 0.049 19.9 2.61 11.60 0.0660 95.5 7.14 7.55 6.39 2.06 9.61 895 2220 5.37 420.00

77,800 2,790,200 141,000 23,515,000 97,790,000 12,000 2,345,000 30,581,200 152,230,000 1,260,420 235,100 9,390,900 166,500 13,000 163,000 120 174,580 734,800 3,730

849,540.00 53,473,217.00 210,900.00 12,316,830.00 4,837,720.00 237,640.00 6,377,600.00 353,900,884.00 9,752,840.00 120,677,556.50 1,647,908.00 70,814,725.00 1,018,610.00 26,780.00 1,618,379.00 106,900.00 386,191,200.00 3,946,631.00 1,561,884.00

2.12 133 1.94 9.7 5.55 0.112 5.4500 2.98 14.14 3.74 0.91 19.76 14.12 0.510 3.55 2.67 1.50 1.46 2.530 2.94 9.01 2.91 5.34 8.23 160.00 4.10 1135.00 0.790 0.730 45.60 78.00 9.28 3.20 0.740 0.365 5.51 0.810 15.940

4,892,000 6,137,790 34,000 70,300 42,900 10,760,000 25,502,900 68,000 11,900 3,966,000 2,806,000 2,089,700 2,900 1,925,000 1,306,000 15,859,000 115,000 63,000 20,497,000 472,000 100,000 31,000 401,300 100 58,380 9,439,000 618,495 150,489,000 24,335,000 2,832,500 4,902,580 91,000 26,182,000 18,691,000 21,460,000 10,032,300 38,519,000 33,921,400

10,408,390.00 833,398,348.00 64,460.00 678,486.00 243,030.00 1,228,090.00 107,873,329.00 200,610.00 169,142.00 14,697,070.00 2,573,760.00 41,195,032.00 41,044.00 994,300.00 4,550,530.00 42,858,530.00 172,450.00 94,360.00 51,885,050.00 1,395,360.00 914,838.00 90,320.00 2,083,796.00 823.00 5,909,665.00 39,019,930.00 712,350,320.00 122,655,650.00 18,470,780.00 129,712,200.00 384,795,035.50 858,927.00 86,604,850.00 14,266,520.00 7,649,950.00 55,092,118.00 31,152,210.00 538,963,848.00

0.0017 1.20 2.67 12.80 1.2200 1.1400 2.75 0.275 7.72 1.450 0.225 0.108 0.122 0.007 0.0075 1.12 2.55 1.07 0.5500 0.8600 0.0120 0.0120 3.44 8.39 0.0110 5.4900 23.80 0.0065

724,000,000 21,698,000 634,000 202,300 1,000 12,000 2,637,000 3,010,000 78,000 17,350,000 11,360,000 4,840,000 1,140,000 43,000,000 54,000,000 4,251,000 54,434,000 802,000 780,000 3,092,000 48,800,000 3,551,100,000 2,917,000 12,399,400 85,200,000 16,549,200 12,202,200 13,000,000

1,230,300.00 26,325,830.00 1,704,550.00 2,646,210.00 1,220.00 13,750.00 7,318,360.00 827,900.00 609,585.00 26,274,660.00 2,667,030.00 522,350.00 132,200.00 317,800.00 402,800.00 4,870,020.00 142,122,110.00 849,670.00 407,440.00 2,708,860.00 581,500.00 43,115,400.00 10,350,680.00 107,296,227.00 932,400.00 107,138,478.00 297,865,580.00 84,900.00

17.56 101 102 495 498 99.5 105.3 481.2 490 5.46 928 921 99.65 1.04 102.4 993 1010 1010 1017 101

1,934,200 6,280 1,000 4,900 8,260 80,020 34,030 230 36,400 4,926,600 1,580 730 5,970 37,021,000 16,080 1,350 100 16,330 31,830 23,710

34,847,398.00 628,680.00 102,000.00 2,384,760.00 4,077,310.00 7,967,920.00 3,463,345.00 97,656.00 17,813,000.00 26,357,623.00 1,461,060.00 672,710.00 591,823.00 38,440,640.00 1,610,360.00 1,340,520.00 101,000.00 16,507,295.00 32,305,485.00 2,371,010.00

990 75.75 77 73.75 75.5 75 75 75 75 1.4

18,480 46,520 11,780 893,950 47,540 123,730 63,600 226,790 5,470 16,000

18,017,660.00 3,489,624.50 902,775.50 65,933,792.00 3,565,515.00 9,279,735.00 4,773,435.00 16,963,708.50 410,280.00 21,800.00

1.820

1,571,000

2,830,940.00

6.62 1.04

19,919,500 24,244,000

122,794,831.00 25,760,100.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 59,850 7,238,868.00

122.6

35,650

4,389,397.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 32,200 330,120.00 3,900 39,390.00 29,800 29,559.00

10.28 10 0.99

43,820 4,000 37,300

449,914.60 40,891.00 36,807.00

SERVICES 420,904.00 25,217,828.00 1,484,880.00 3,539,530.00 3,154,600.00 140,920.00 15,115,210.00 132,035,294.00 3,182,110.00 122,770,035.00 272,623.00 33,423,667.00 2,396,109.00 12,480.00 1,182,571.00 8,950.00 492,771,810.00 2,109,198.00 1,354,454.00 13,910.00 25,242,870.00 892,963,302.00 178,160.00 291,557.00 236,355.00 717,830.00 48,335,290.00 61,370.00 204,036.00 24,862,090.00 993,950.00 79,630,544.00 3,036.00 1,379,250.00 1,072,140.00 53,968,790.00 73,110.00 20,300.00 28,277,260.00 25,179,160.00 2,099,415.00 11,640.00 2,514,112.00 97,067.00 13,800,745.00 110,246,730.00 562,692,090.00 117,994,890.00 43,881,530.00 94,896,365.00 179,598,920.00 565,708.00 40,496,540.00 12,139,180.00 4,783,000.00 1,336,734,161.00 16,692,750.00 207,941,782.00

PREFERRED 16,511,152.00 773,460.00 105,000.00 5,762,500.00 6,472,222.00 17,956,902.00 13,371,923.00 195,490.00 1,525,378.00 149,588.00 2,858,460.00 1,445,830.00 694,623.50 8,168,390.00 626,548.00 2,648,230.00 4,848,045.00 145,652,425.00 23,062,400.00 1,110,130.00 81,624.00 17,860,500.00 7,717,867.50 7,693,621.00 4,911,702.00 35,131,000.00 37,496,797.50 3,433,328.00 19,176,138.00 53,694,675.50 11,830.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,372,740.00 SME 122,544,016.00 13,175,100.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Abra Mining Abacus Cons. `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Travellers Filinvest Land,Inc. PremiereHorizon Arthaland Corp. Phinma Energy

VOLUME 2,757,700,000 616,000,000 324,000,000 269,286,000 255,000,000 243,913,600 184,533,000 161,255,000 123,875,000 109,464,000

STOCKS SM Investments Inc. SM Prime Holdings Jollibee Foods Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Travellers Universal Robina Bank of PI Metrobank

VALUE 2,384,343,835.00 2,144,634,890.00 1,760,365,978.00 1,608,367,829.50 1,380,897,520.00 1,374,177,052.00 1,336,734,161.00 1,121,528,516.00 1,087,226,833.00 1,011,378,722.00

Aboitiz Equity to boost profit of non-power business units CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. plans to boost the income contribution of each strategic business units to 15 percent to 20 percent to reduce the company’s dependence on the power sector. AEV chief finance officer Manuel Lozano said in an interview over the weekend the company wanted other subsidiaries like infrastructure, financial services and food to eventually increase their contribution to the total business amid the conglomerate’s aggressive expansion plans. “Eventually what we really like to see is our other subsidiaries like food, financial services and infrastructure, for each of them to become 10 to 15 percent and even up to 20 percent so power does not dominate the contributions so much,” Lozano said. The company may not find it easy to reduce the income contribution of the power business because of expansion plans both here and abroad, but Lozano sees its share at less than 50 percent by 2025. Power accounted for 67 percent of the conglomerate’s income in the first half of the year, followed by banking and financial services which contributed 24 percent, food at six percent, infrastructure at two percent, and land at one percent. Lozano expects the income contribution of the food business to reach 10 percent in the near future following the firm’s acquisition of Gold Coin Management Holdings Ltd., one of Asia’s largest privately-owned agribusiness corporations. The group is also adding other components to its infrastructure portfolio, like airports, water and common tower businesses. Only the company’s cement business under Republic Cement & Building Materials Inc. is currently is in the infrastructure group so far. The company has two pending unsolicited proposals—the P42.7-billion Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport project. The company started construction of the Apo-Agua bulk water supply project in Davao City. The project is scheduled for completion by 2021. The company, meanwhile, has ventured into the common tower business that aims to improve the mobile connectivity across the country. Jenniffer B. Austria

8990 concedes oversight, offers PCC settlement MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. offered a settlement with the Philippine Competition Commission on the company’s alleged violation when it assigned a sole internet provider to residents and tenants. 8990 Holdings president Willibaldo Uy said in a recent interview the company had already allowed other internet service providers to offer their facility to the company’s condominium buildings. “We made an offer already and but the final decision will be up to PCC,” said Uy. “We saw our mistake and we see where they are coming from. But 8990 won’t be affected. From now on, we have to be careful about these things,” he said. He said the the company did not block ISPs from the company’s condominium development in Tondo, Manila. The ISPs did not want to come in as they did not see low-cost housing as a viable market, he said. “So as a property developer we have to look for an internet provider that is willing to come in. But right now, there is no more exclusivity” he said. In April,the Enforcement Office of the PCC filed a case against 8990 Holdings and Urban Deca Homes Manila Condominium Corp. for breaching the antitrust law by engaging in an exclusive internet service tie-up on its property in Tondo, Manila. The exclusive deal between Urban Deca Homes Manila and Itech Rar Solutions Inc. marked the first abuse of market dominance case filed before the PCC in violation of Section 15 of the Philippine Competition Act, which prohibits abuses of dominant position. Based on the investigation conducted by the PCC, 8990 Holdings’ exclusive partnership with one ISP prevented the entry and access of other providers in Urban Deca Homes Manila. It also found that Urban Deca Homes Manila’s property manager blocked other ISPs from installing fixed-line internet on units and from marketing their services to interested residents. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gunman kills 20 at Walmart store in Texas

TENSIONS UP. Residents stand in a queue as they hold empty cans to get filled at a gas station in Srinagar on August 4, 2019. The Indian military on August 4 claimed to have killed several Pakistani attackers trying to cross the de facto border in Kashmir, as tensions ratcheted up in the disputed region and sent thousands of tourists fleeing. AFP

L PASO―A gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 20 people Saturday when he opened fire on shoppers at a packed Walmart store in Texas, the latest mass shooting in the United States.

Police probing shooting as possible hate crime EL PASO―Texas authorities are investigating the Saturday mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso as a possible hate crime, the city’s police chief said, as authorities study an online manifesto linked to the suspect. A 21-year-old from Allen, a suburb of Dallas, surrendered to police outside the store after the rampage that left 20 people dead and 26 wounded. US media identified him as Patrick Crusius, who is white, and linked him to a “manifesto” posted online that includes passages railing against the “Hispanic invasion” of Texas. “Right now we have a manifesto from this individual that indicates to some degree he has a nexus to potential hate crime,” El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said at a news conference. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso in Congress, said “the manifesto narrative is fueled by hate.”

“And it’s fueled by racism and bigotry and division,” she added, speaking at a press conference with El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “El Paso has historically been a very safe community. We have been safe for decades. We will continue to be safe.” “This is someone who came from outside our community to do us harm. A community that has shown nothing but generosity and kindness to the least among us. Those people arriving at America’s front door,” she said. El Paso, a nine-hour drive from the Dallas area, lies on the Rio Grande River that marks the US border with Mexico. It has a population of 680,000, of which 83 percent are of Hispanic descent, according to US census figures. The city averaged 18 murders a year over the past five years and has a sig-

nificantly lower violent crime rate than similar-sized US cities. In recent months, El Paso has also become one of the busiest entry points for undocumented migrants, especially from Central America, seeking asylum in the United States. On weekends, the city attracts droves of shoppers from Mexico, including from its Mexican sister city Ciudad Juarez, population 1.5 million. Three of those killed on Saturday came from Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador tweeted. And there are six Mexicans among the wounded, the country’s foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard said. Crusius wrote that the attack “is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” and made references to the Christchurch shootings in New Zealand, where a white gunman killed 51 mosque worshipers in March. AFP

Pro-democracy protesters set to launch two major HK rallies HONG KONG―Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong are set to defy Chinese authorities with another two major rallies later Sunday, a day after police fired tear gas to disperse them in one of the city’s most renowned tourist districts. Tsim Sha Tsui, a harbor-side district known for its luxury malls and hotels, was filled with acrid plumes of tear gas on Saturday night as small groups of hardcore protesters battled police in streets usually brimming with tourists and shoppers. Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has seen two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing this week signalled a hardening stance. Dozens of protesters were charged with rioting and the Chinese military said it was ready to quell the “intolerable” unrest if requested. But the largely leaderless protest movement remains unbowed. Two simultaneous marches are

As President Donald Trump led the condemnation over “an act of cowardice” that police are treating as a possible hate crime, calls rang out to end the “epidemic” of gun violence. It was the second fatal shooting in less than a week at a Walmart store in the US and comes after a mass shooting in California last weekend. One suspect was taken into custody while authorities were studying an extremist manifesto purportedly written by the gunman. Footage shot on camera phones appeared to show multiple bodies lying on the ground in the store’s parking lot while other footage showed terrified shoppers running out of the store as gunfire echoed. “Twenty innocent people from El Paso have lost their lives,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott told a press conference. “We as a state unite in support of these victims and their family members... We pray that God can be with those who have been harmed in any way and bind up their wounds.” Police chief Greg Allen confirmed that in addition to the 20 confirmed fatalities, there were 26 wounded. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said three Mexican citizens were killed and Foreign

FLASHMOB. An Indonesian dancer holds a mask during a flashmob entitled ‘Tunjukkan Indonesiamu’ or ‘Show your Indonesia’ in Jakarta on August 4, 2019. AFP

planned for Sunday afternoon as well as a city-wide strike on Monday, making further clashes all but inevitable. One of Sunday’s marches will try to end in a park near the Liaison Office, the department that represents China’s central government in the semi-autonomous hub. Two weeks ago the office was pelted with eggs and paint in a move that infuriated Beijing and sparked the rapidly escalating warnings from the mainland. The last fortnight has seen a surge in violence on both sides with police repeatedly firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse increasingly hostile projectile-throwing crowds. A mob of pro-government thugs also attacked demonstrators, putting 45 people in hospital, with many accusing the police of being too slow to respond. This weekend has seen no let up in the violence. In Tsim Sha Tsui masked demonstrators smashed the windows of cars in a police parking lot and daubed nearby walls with graffiti. AFP

Albanian mussels suffocate as global warming takes its toll BUTRINT, Albania―Violet Mihasi doesn’t hide her concern while working on her barge on a salt lagoon in the southern tip of Albania, her mussels clinging to ropes dangled in the water. The mussel farmer fears another poor harvest this year of the particularly fleshy mussel, dubbed the “Queen of Butrint”, which is suffocating as temperatures rise. The warmer waters of the Butrint Lagoon on the Ionian coast, not far from the Greek border, also encourage parasites that starve the once thriving bivalves of oxygen. To rid the mussels of the microorganisms, the farmers pull the ropes out of the water, allowing them to “breathe” on the surface for two days before plunging them back in, Mihasi says. Nevertheless, harvests have still significantly dropped over the last three decades. In 1990, some 6,000 tons of mussels were pulled from the ropes dangling from the barges, according to agriculture ministry figures. Nowadays, in a good year, the haul

for the lagoon’s around 60 mussel farmers is barely half that. And last year, it dropped to 2,000 tons, when water temperatures were stuck at more than 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Half of the young mussels, known as spat, which were immersed on the ropes at the start of the summer, died in 2018. In the three previous years, the devastation was even worse, at closer to 90 percent, one of the Butrint mussel farmers told AFP. The deadly temperature threshold has already been reached this summer, although July storms brought some relief. “When the heatwave suffocates the mussels... everything is lost,” says Mihasi, in her fifties, with a sun-weathered face. After the mussels mature on the ropes, they are hoisted up with old rusty winches. For Mihasi’s hard work under a blazing sun -- warded off by an old parasol and often eased by a strong wind -- the

mother of two earns slightly less than 500 euros ($560) a month, about 100 euros above the average for Albania. But her income all depends on the success of the year’s haul and she and other producers worry about the future amid dire warnings by experts. Roland Kristo, deputy agriculture minister and a biologist, told AFP that the fall in the mussel population was “a direct consequence of global warming, which deteriorates the quality of the water and reduces the solubility of the oxygen” vital for the mussels. For Edmond Panariti, a toxicologist from the capital, Tirana, global warming now threatens the “very survival” of the Butrint mussel. “The rise in water temperatures in recent years has aggravated the problems for the ecosystem,” he told AFP. It’s not the first setback for the producers. The Butrint mussel farmers remain under a 1994 European Union export ban over distribution problems, but they still find ready customers among Albania’s markets and restaurateurs.

A single prolonged heatwave can be fatal for the spat. “For the past three or four years, more than half of the annual production has been destroyed in a few days,” said Alket Shabani, a 27-year-old worker on a mussel boat. If the mercury continues to rise this summer, “everything will be over,” he said. His 67-year-old boss Hysni Mane, who also runs a seafood restaurant, noted that the mussels are defenseless against the heat: “They cannot move to find another cooler place.” The problems are exacerbated, he said, by an upset in the exchange of seawater with that of the lagoon and nearby cooler freshwater sources, as well as rising sea levels and precipitation regimes, which he blamed on global warming. On this summer’s hottest days, temperatures reached nearly 30 degrees Celsius on the surface, penetrating as much as two and a half metres (eight feet) into the water, said Kristo, the deputy agriculture minister. AFP

Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter six others were wounded. Various news reports said the ages of victims being treated at hospitals ranged from two to 82 years. Police said that Walmart was “at capacity” at the time of the shooting, with 1,000-3,000 customers inside. Police confirmed that a 21-yearold from Allen, Texas, was the only person in custody. US media identified him as Patrick Crusius, who is white. He surrendered to police about a block away from the Walmart. “Right now we have a manifesto from this individual that indicates to some degree, it has a nexus to potential hate crime,” Allen said. The “manifesto” purportedly written by Crusius that was circulated online includes passages railing against the “Hispanic invasion” of Texas and the author makes clear that he expected to be killed during his attack. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso in Congress, said “the manifesto narrative is fueled by hate.” “And it’s fueled by racism and bigotry and division,” she said at a press conference with El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and Governor Abbott. Witnesses said the gunman appeared to be shooting at random when he opened fire around 10:30 am. AFP

IN BRIEF Police detain 800 Russian protesters MOSCOW―Police detained over 800 people at an opposition gathering in Moscow on Saturday, as authorities increased the pressure on top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny by launching a criminal probe into his anti-graft group. Crowds walked along the capital’s central boulevards in a protest “stroll” over the refusal by officials to let opposition candidates run in September polls for city parliament seats—a local issue that has turned into a political crisis. Most of those candidates and opposition leaders, including Navalny, are being held by police following a protest rally last weekend, in which 1,400 demonstrators were detained—one of the biggest crackdowns in years. On Saturday, riot police were deployed in large numbers in central Moscow, some shops and cafes were shut, metal barriers were erected, mobile internet was down for many hours, and a metro station was temporarily closed. Some 828 people were detained during the rally, independent protest monitor OVD-Info said. Police said only 1,500 people took part in the gathering. AFP correspondents said the turnout was likely in the thousands but a precise estimate was difficult as the protest was spread over several neighborhoods. AFP

Canada resident flees Iran prison OTTAWA―An Iranian serving a life sentence on a conviction of designing a pornographic website has fled the country while on short-term release from prison and has arrived in Canada, the foreign ministry and his family said. “Canada welcomes the news that Saeed Malekpour has been reunited with his family in Canada,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement received by AFP. “We have advocated for Mr Malekpour’s release and are pleased that he is now in Canada,” the spokesman said, without elaborating due to privacy considerations. Iranian authorities on Saturday confirmed state television reports that Malekpour, who is also a permanent resident of Canada, had left the Islamic republic. “This individual was barred from leaving the country and has apparently left... via unofficial channels and has not returned,” said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili. “This individual was sentenced to life in jail and had served more than 11 years of his sentence,” Esmaili said, quoted by the judiciary’s official news agency, Mizan Online. He said Malekpour was given a threeday furlough on July 20 and by the end of it did not turn himself in to the prison. His sister posted a video on Twitter confirming he had returned to Canada. AFP

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

QC clears major roads

LGUs

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

P80-m Isabela townhall soon to rise

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

UEZON City’s Task Force for Transport and Trafﬁc Management has buckled down to work in clearing major roads of illegal obstructions. “In compliance with the directive of Mayor Joy Belmonte, we went immediately to work,” task force chief Ariel Inton said Sunday. The clearing operations dubbed as “Bayanihan sa Lansangan” has emerged from Belmonte’s desire to provide livelihood to those who are displaced by the city’s campaign to clear roads, he said. “This stemmed from the desire of the mayor to provide the vendors the opportunity to [still] earn. We cannot just ignore them,” he added. The task force, on the first week since its inception, has focused on Mabuhay Lanes on the initial week of clearing operation. “The first day was the whole of West Avenue, the second day is Del Monte up to Mayon Street. The third was the whole stretch of Mindanao Avenue until part of Congressional (Avenue). The fourth is Congressional all the way to half of Luzon Avenue going to Katipunan corner Aurora Boulevard,” he said. Next week, the Task Force will continue clearing operations on Mabuhay Lanes as mandated by President Rodrigo Duterte and the local government unit, “specifically on the 60-day period to at least on the minimum clear the whole of Mabuhay Lanes.” According to Inton, the barangays, in coordination with the task force, are doing their own clearing operations in their areas of jurisdiction. In her directive, Belmonte authorized the task force to focus on the regulation of tricycles and pedicabs, the orderliness and safety of all forms of public utility vehicle terminals, including identified loading and unloading points and the management of vehicular traffic. The task force will remain in place until a new body, the Quezon City Department of Traffic and Transport Management, is created and become fully operational as part of Belmonte’s 14-point executive agenda.

By Jessica M. Bacud SAN Agustin, Isabela—Rep. Allysa Sheena Tan of the 4th District of Isabela, Mayor Cesar Mondala, Vice Mayor Mark Guerrero and the Sangguniang Bayan Members spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony of the municipal edifice here on July 26. The 3,000 sq. m. three story building will cost P80 million, local and Department of Public Works and Highways officials said. Tan expressed gratitude to Mayor Mondala with the Municipal Council for the chance to grace the simple ceremony. “I will be working hand in hand with your local chief executive (Mayor Mondala) for the development and advancement of your locality in as much that San Agustin town with the villagers is so close to my heart. “If it needs be, I will even be asking for the support of Governor Rodolfo ‘Rodito’ T. Albano III just to facilitate every programs and projects that will help in the progress of your town and worth beneficial to all.” Meanwhile, Mondala emphasized that with the erection of a modern municipal hall soon, we will have a One-Stop Shop in a roof to cater the services of the government to the townspeople. “It will be a three - storey building with an initial fund of 10-million with no target of completion since it will be done phase by phase thru the assistance of good hearted Senators, Party list and provincial government of Isabela Governor Rodito Albano and our very own Congresswoman Sheena Tan,” the mayor said. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Mark Guerrero reiterated that through the synergy effort of the Legislative body they will fully support the programs of Mayor Mondala towards a progressive locale.

DOE, private sector seek end to power crisis in Palawan THE light at the end of the tunnel is now in sight for the long-suffering residents of Palawan following efforts of the Department of Energy to ramp up support for a multi-sectoral program to end the recurrent brownouts in the province once and for all. In a meeting last week, various stakeholders in the public and private sectors came up with various programs based on the recent findings and recommendations of the DOE’s Task Force PALECO. The special task force was created in February by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi to address the power interruptions in Puerto Princesa and other parts of Palawan . The Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee and the Task Force met with the representatives of the Palawan Electric Cooperative, the National Power Corp., and provincial government agencies on Thursday (July 25) to discuss the progress of the implementation of their respective action plans. PALECO has been facing an angry backlash from both its consumers and the local government since 2017 due to unreliable electricity services in the province. In February this year, Secretary Cusi directed TF PALECO to look into the power interruptions perennially bugging Palawan through a Performance Audit and Assessment. To this end, the Task Force conducted two site validations in February and March. The Task Force’s findings included the uncoordinated synchronization of the protection system of PALECO and NPC’s distributions lines; overloaded substations; vegetation obstruction along distribution lines; and the slow coordination among various government agencies on distribution line maintenance and improvements.

By Rio N. araja

WATERPROOF KIDS. Makati Mayor Abby Binay and other city and school officials pose for a snapshot with kindergarten pupils of Rizal Elementary School wearing new raincoats and rain boots distributed Thursday. The students are among 6,745 preschoolers in 25 public elementary schools scheduled to receive free rain gear this school year under Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) of the city. With them are (from left) 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, RES principal Benson German, and Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo.

SM denim workshop inspires future artists, designers By Jun David IN PARTNERSHIP with Guhit Pinas Bulacan Chapter, SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag as well as SM Center Pulilan recently launched a denim workshop for aspiring artists and designers with the #DENIMversityatSM. This year’s participants brought an array of thought- provoking work that both explore creative techniques and global issues we face today. Pulling inspiration from art, students used repurpose denim and reinvent them with designs that address global, social concerns while weaving in bits of contemporary, pop culture flair. “It was heartening to see fresh minds using denim design as a platform to address environmental and social issues” shares SM City Marilao Mall Manager Emmanuel Gatmaitan. Students had freedom expressing their concepts in their designs and experience the magic of customizing their own denim pieces. Concepts with strong purpose and strong emphasis around sustainability stood out and took precedence across workshops in SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan. Design pulls inspiration from

wildlife preservation, women rights to pop art culture and many more. “Technique and creativity are limitless on this generation of aspiring artist. With their artworks, we reimagine denim as a unique avenue towards selfexpression” says SM City Baliwag As-

sistant Mall Manager Rodora Tolentino. #DENIMversityatSM is one of the many programs of SM Supermalls to celebrate individuality while giving exciting retail experience. It also hopes to inspire next generation of fashion stylists, designers in the province.

SM City Baliwag gathered young and talented artists from Guhit Pinas Bulacan Chapter for an afternoon of self-expression and colorful paint session reimagined on the different styles and cuts of denim. Jun David

BFP rolls out OPLAN ‘Ligtas Pamayanan’ By Ben Moses Ebreo

FIGHTING HPV. To protect children and adolescents from vaccine-preventable

diseases, the Quezon City government, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education introduced the inclusion of Human Papiloma Virus vaccine in the SchoolBased Immunization program for all public elementary schools in the city. In photo are the students of Betty Go Belmonte Elementary School forming a ribbon to pledge to fight the disease. Manny Palmero

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Bureau of Fire Protection here has implemented its OPLAN ‘Ligtas Pamayanan’ which seeks to empower barangay officials and volunteers on fire prevention and suppression. Provincial Fire Marshal Andres Galapia said the OPLAN ‘Ligtas Pamayanan’ has been piloted in selected barangays in the province after its launching in January this year. The program was also embodied in a directive of the Department of the In-

terior and Local Government which requires local government units to support the implementation of the He said the program has been conceived by the BFP due to the increasing fire incidents among residential houses. “We have observed that the number of fire incidents among business establishments were going down while fire incidents among residential houses however, increased that is why we are bringing the campaign closer to the barangays,” Galapia said during the PIA-sponsored ‘Tungtongan ti Tribu Biskayano’ media forum.

Floods, firefights twin woes for disaster workers By Nash B. Maulana DATU PIANG, Maguindanao—Disaster workers have had to face twin challenges in families fleeing flooded homes and areas of persuasive military offensives against suspected lairs of local extremists in Maguindanao. Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Murad Ebrahim yesterday deployed his government’s Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council workers to serve close to 600 families displaced either by massive flooding in five municipalities, or by persuasive military operations on extremists holed in interior villages. Interior and local government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the region’s trained DRRMC workers were deployed both on rescue operation and for humanitarian works to areas affected by floods and armed conflict. Sinarimbo said 236 families have left homes in Barangay Bakat in Rajah Buayan, and 590 more families have evacuated in Barangay Ganta in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. DRRMC-BARMM workers dubbed Rapid Emergency Assistance to Disaster Initiative were also out to rescue residents believed being barred from fleeing by extremists believed positioned in Barangay Dasawaw, an interior village in Datu Piang town. Ebrahim has created READI under Executive Order No.12 and is provided with funds drawn from his office. Sinarimbo said BARMM’s READI placed under his office is served by humanitarian personnel trained on rescue operations in emergency situations. He said the team was planning on another strategy to get in touch with residents and officials of Dasawaw village, after a “no-go” military advisory had prevented them to move in on Friday. Sinarimbo said military personnel had escorted his team of READI workers but that they were prevented from proceeding on road to Dasawaw village. Nash B. Maulana

Life FOOD

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

‘Food your was how?’ Start with dessert, end with appetizer in this 4-course dinner

Noisette Exotique

By Bernadette Lunas

OU know how we are always told to “save room for dessert” when having a multi-course dinner? Well, in this steakhouse, dessert gets all the room it needs in the tummy as the sweet ending comes at the beginning during its special backwards four-course dinner.

Tomato Espresso with a side of Gruyere pudding toast

Rosemary Crusted US Angus Beef Tenderloin

Every Thursday, Marriott Hotel’s Cru Steakhouse offers the “Upside Down Dinner” to adventurous guests willing to try a “normal set dinner presented in a different way.” How different, you asked? Upon entering the acclaimed restaurant, servers greet guests not with a “Welcome” but with a “Thank you, for dining with us.” They will then be led to a disheveled table—as in utensils and napkins in disarray—which looks like it was already used. But not; everything is clean. Diners will be presented with a farewell gift and their bill, which they need to settle first, then they will be asked if they would like coffee or tea. If this is already confusing or exciting, diners are up for more experience in reverse as food comes out the kitchen. The first course is dessert: the Noisette Exotique, a dome-shaped hazelnut dacquoise with almond lemon crumble, praliné noisette mousse, yuzu crémeux, and orange passion compote covered with yellow exotic glacage and served with raspberries, strawberries, and mango bits, adding bright citrus flavors to the sweet treat. In an interview with Manila Standard, Cru’s senior executive sous chef Rej Casanova said the dessert is served in such a way that it looks like a salad what with all the colors and the presentation. After a generous serving of dessert, the next course is grilled Rosemary Crusted US Angus Beef Tenderloin served with potato puree, brown butter glazed vegetables, and pink peppercorn sauce. The serving of the meat comes at 180 grams, filling enough for a main course but diners still

have ample space for the next two. The non-meat alternative is a succulent barramundi fish. Next is soup course—the Tomato Espresso served in an espresso cup complete with a frothy top. The light, warm, and sourness of the soup blends well with the flavor f ul,

Crab and Apple Salad

creamy and nutty Gruyere pudding toast served on the side. “If you’re still missing the carbs, Cru’s signature bread in tomato, spinach, and parmesan with herb butter and Davao cheese spread is served with the soup,” said Chef Rej. For the last course, an appetizer will be served. The Crab and Apple Salad is a bitesize savory dish made of organic cherry tomatoes slow-cooked in the oven for two to

three hours—infused with olive oil, herbs, and spices—stuffed with rich and creamy crab salad and pine nut gremolata, and served on a honeycomb-shaped layer of avocado mousseline and crème fraiche. The dinner ends when the server introduces themselves to the guests. And in true backwards dinner experience fashion, Chef Rej said he sometimes goes out of the kitchen to ask diners: “Food your was how?” (How was your food in reverse). “When guests hear it, they sometimes think it’s French or Italian. They look confused and ask me whether I’m from a different country,” he shared. The bizarre dining concept, according to the hotel’s executive chef Meik Brammer was inspired by the same concept done in several restaurants in Germany. But Chef Rej told Manila Standard Cru’s Upside Down Dinner took four to five years of planning and testing before it was officially rolled out on July 4. “We had to consult with other departments. There was a lot of questions raised, whether doing it was worth it or how the guests will react to it, so we needed to justify it,” he related. But after years of planning and a series of food tasting and product testing (down to the right cream to use and the ratio of sweetening agent), they finally came up with the aforementioned menu and a “real upside down dinner.” Chef Rej said the first two-week run of the dinner had been successful. “They (diners) were very surprised that something like this concept can be done,” he enthused. “When the dessert came to their table they wondered whether they made the right decision, but in the end they said they were happy.” “All tests and discussions prior to launching it,” Chef Rej said, “paid off.” Cru Steakhouse’s Upside Down Dinner is available every Thursday until December for P2,800 nett. Prior reservation is required. Call (02) 988-9999 or go to www.manilamarriott.com.

A new home for an old guard SWAGAT Indian Cuisine, an old guard in the Legazpi Village food scene for almost two decades now, has moved to a new location, still in Makati City. Swagat, which means “welcome” in Hindi, has brought to The Columns at the corner of Amorsolo Street and Arnaiz Avenue its authentic Indian dishes that have been delighting locals and expats alike since 2003. “Through our restaurant, we want Filipinos to continue having a cultural and healthful gastronomic adventure into the heart of India without hurting the budget,” said owner and chef Komal Khanchandani. The soft-spoken restaurateur said Swagat’s philosophy of not resorting to shortcuts remains, including the use of a variety of spices such as black and green cardamom, cloves, coriander, mustard seeds, turmeric, and saffron.

Roghan Josh

Over the years, Swagat has been rewarded with accolades for its commitment to serving authentic dishes, including the Philippine Quality Awards for Business Excellence and the Global Brands Awards. But perhaps the best reward and testament to Komal’s dishes is the loyal patronage of Swagat’s customers who have enjoyed her

home-cooked style over the years. “It is tiring to cook Indian dishes, but seeing our customers coming back regularly makes it worth it,” said Komal. She has also positioned Swagat as a vegetarian and halal restaurant to cater to Muslim visitors and expats, as well as the growing legion of vegan diners. As has been the case in the past, there are still no ornate interiors, belly dancers or banghra musicians to entice customers to try Swagat. But what the restaurant lacks in the frills department, Komal more than compensates with her tasty dishes. And together with these dishes is Komal’s dare to every customer since Swagat first opened 16 years ago: “Don’t pay if you are not satisfied with the food.” Diners are, happily still, paying their bills. I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com

Sangam Biryani, house specialty

Swagat owner and chef Komal Khanchandani

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Life

Cajun-style chicken pops in the south

RUE to its promise to open more stores in the country, Popeyes welcomes diners to its second outlet on the ground floor of Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City.

The American fast food chain brings its bestsellers, including original honey biscuits, Cajun fries, and the mouthwatering Popeyes fried chicken that’s packed with distinct Cajun flavors from Louisiana, USA to its first southern metro branch. Popeyes Alabang will also be delighting its diners this side of the metro with new treats such as the hazelnut and white chocolate biscuits, which can be paired with fried chicken or eaten as a dessert, and Popeyes Spaghetti, the brand’s exclusive addition to the menu in the Philippines. Complementing the whole Popeyes experience is its new global restaurant image, which was first unveiled in ArcoVia City. The restaurant features a hip and vibrant ambiance and interiosr, an ideal venue where family and friends can bond over meals. “Following the successful opening of our first Popeyes Philippines restaurant in ArcoVia City, Pasig, we are very thrilled to bring it closer to the people from the South. We know that they have been waiting for this, and now it’s here!” enthused Francis Reyes, chief financial officer of Kuya J Group, the parent company of Popeyes in the Philippines. Southern metro diners can now get a taste of Popeyes’ bestsellers such as Cajun fries, fried chicken, and biscuits, as well as Philippine-exclusive menu items like Popeyes Spaghetti.

From left: Popeyes Philippines chief operating officer Rami Chahwan, Kuya J Group chief operating officer Gretz Rivera, chairman Lowell Yu, president Winglip Chang, and chief financial officer Francis Reyes

M Bakery offers cupcake icing classes CUPCAKE lovers can learn how to ice like a pro as bakeshop M Bakery offers in-store cupcake icing classes beginning August 17. During the two-hour sessions, held every Saturday of the month, students will learn the intricate art of designing cupcakes from flat top icing, inscription making, piped flower designing, to making filled cupcakes, which is popular in gender reveals, debuts, and themed parties. Participants will also get to learn about M Bakery’s signature swirl, a coveted technique that has been trademarked in the US back in 2012, and takes over 40 hours of practice to perfect. Students get to take home six cupcakes they decorate during class. Aside from weekend classes, M Bakery also offers special scheduled classes for families, friends, and companies that want to use these classes for team-building exercises. A class is offered to individual participants at P2,500; group reservations of at least 10 participants get discounted rates. Call (02) 847-9829 or 0917-6331718 for inquiries. Participants to M Bakery’s cupcake icing classes learn the intricate art of designing cupcakes.

Students will also learn about the bakeshop’s trademarked signature twirl.

GrabFood Hero beats Gutom Jones

GrabFood now delivers 24/7 ONLINE food delivery platform GrabFood boosts its service as it now operates 24/7 in Metro Manila and Cebu on the back of increase in late-night and early morning orders since March of this year. GrabFood has teamed up with over 1,000 restaurant-partners in Metro Manila and Cebu to allow 24/7 delivery service in at least 20 locations including Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Pasig, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Marikina, Muntinlupa, San Juan, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Malabon, Pateros, Navotas, Taguig, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue. “With the rapidly growing hectic lifestyle, Filipinos now demand more convenient ways of addressing their daily needs. We at GrabFood recognize the need to empower Filipinos to beat hunger anytime. Today, students stuck working on a project at school, professionals slugging it through a working lunch, even parents tending to their children can now satisfy their hunger 24/7 via GrabFood,” said GrabFood head EJ dela Vega. With the upgraded food delivery service, Filipinos can now order from McDonald’s, KFC, BonChon, and Bully Buffalo Wing Bar; get their milk tea and beverage fix from Chatime, Jamba Juice, and Happy Lemon; and

GrabFood head Ej dela Vega

savor meals from Burger King, Pizza Hut, Mister Kabab and Ersao; among many others. The delivery service also has an ongoing #GoneAngGutom Deals that include free food and drinks from quick service restaurant-partners, food bundles, as well as buy-one-get-one offers. Further, customers also get free delivery for their orders worth P400 and above using the promo code: GUTOMGONE valid until August 23 on participating restaurants. There’s also a special digital stamp card promo that rewards users with a P50 voucher for their GrabFood orders. Today until August 31, users simply have to collect a pair of electronic stamp card stickers with no minimum purchase requirement from the following merchants: McDonald’s, Chatime, BonChon, Bully Buffalo Wing Bar, Chatime, Cha Tuk Chak, Ersao, Happy Lemon, Mister Kabab, and Pizza Hut. Each order from a merchant will automatically reward the customer with an e-sticker. Customers can earn as much as 10 vouchers when they complete the stamp cards for each merchant. The voucher will be automatically included in the members’ “My Rewards” wallet once they complete the required number of stamps per merchant.

Entertainment

'Balitang Amianan' is anchored by seasoned TV journalist CJ Torida, and award-winning local news correspondents Joanne Ponsoy and Jasmin Gabriel-Galban.

Very Wang... From C4

Ejay Falcon was part of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus and has starred in both in top-rating television series and blockbuster films such as Pasion de Amor, The Greatest Love, The Blood Sisters, and Ganarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad to mention a few. Alex Castro is a singer and actor who is currently a Board Member elect of the 4th District of Bulacan, which includes Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Sta. Maria, and the city of San Jose Del Monte. Ryle Santiago is a part of It’s Showtime’s Kilig Ambassadors Hashtags. In between his hosting duties on ABS-CBN’s top-rating noontime variety show, Ryle has appeared in a number of cult favorite films such as Bakwit Boys and #ParangNormalActivity. Jane Oineza started as a child star on Goin’ Bulilit and Kung Fu Kids. She has then top-billed numerous TV shows and movies. Jane has also received an International Emmy Nomination in 2012 for her riveting performance on the “Manika” episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya. Kitkat is one of the industry’s most accomplished sexy comediennes and singers who recently gained recognition as Best Actress In A Featured Role in the 2016 Aliw Awards for her performance in the musicale D.O.M. (Dirty Old Musical). Ria Atayde is a rising dramatic star who is consistently delivering superb performances in Star Cinema box-office hits and ABSCBN’s top-rating programs such asThe Hows Of Us, Halik, and Maalalala Mo Kaya. Carlo, Matt, Ejay, Alex, Jane, and Ria are all brand ambassadors of the amazing line of products under Beautéderm while Kitkat is a brand ambassador of Slender Sips of RD Healthy Living Corporation, which is a sister company of Beautéderm Corporation. “My heart is overflowing with so much joy with the continuous expansion of our Beautéderm family,” says Rhea. “We are gearing up for a lot of exciting events and milestones and I am humbled to share all of these wonderful events not only to our brand ambassadors and to our dear friends from the press but also to all our resellers and distributors as well.” For more exciting news and cool updates on Beautéderm Corporation, follow @beautédermcorporation on Instagram and like Beautéderm on Facebook.

‘Balitang Amianan’ elevates local news reporting with new look, beefed-up content

MA Regional TV’s top-rating local news program in North Central Luzon, Balitang Amianan, unveils today a fresh, new look and leveled-up content as part of its commitment to deliver news from the regions.

The new set boasts of a more relaxed set-up not usually seen on typical newscasts—with the anchors seated on couches and not behind the desks. Indeed, theBalitang Amianan studio becomes an extension of viewers’ living room, further connecting the news anchors and the viewers. The top-rating and award-winning newscast is anchored by seasoned TV journalist CJ Torida, and awardwinning local news correspondents Joanne Ponsoy andJasmin GabrielGalban. Joining them are the various

local news teams based in Pangasinan and local news stringers based in different parts of North Central Luzon. With the tagline “Sandigan ng katotohanan. Serbisyong totoo lamang. Solid Amianan,” Balitang Amianan features comprehensive and indepth delivery of news and information in North Central Luzon. It airs from Monday to Friday at 5:00 p.m. GMA Regional TV’s flagship local news program in Luzon has been consistently lording over competition. It is simultaneously broadcasted in key

WHAT is most laudable about the ongoing GMA Artist Center acting workshop with internationally-acclaimed New York-based acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova is the fact that the Kapuso network knows that apart from dancing, hosting and singing, acting truly makes a lasting impression. Bova is back, with able assistance from facilitator Anna Feleo, as he introduces and supervises an extensive set of workshops on self-empowerment and

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, August 5, 2019

55 Makes the most of 56 In a deeply personal manner 59 Reminder 60 Oak or elm 61 Fast transport 62 Twinge 63 Edible roots 64 Prefix for “trillion” DOWN 1 Ca++ and Cl2 Composts 3 Monograms 4 Just a —! 5 Hits dead-center 6 Arizona city 7 Distinct period 8 Wage-earner 9 “Kubla Khan” setting 10 Vivacity 11 Fictional captain 12 Develops 13 Pasture sound 17 Fishing spot 22 Heavy metal 24 Country addr. 25 Matterhorn echo 26 Something else 27 German river 28 Snouts 29 World-weary

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are proud to present a bigger, better Balitang Amianan. Rest assured that we are not only modernizing our sets and studio—we continue to be consistent in providing quality service to our regional viewers,” Amoroso adds. On top of winning the ratings, the program has been consistently recognized by various award-giving bodies. Its “Kapuso sa Panagbenga: The Balitang Amianan Special Live Coverage” received an Anak TV Seal last 2018, affirming that the newscast is “child-friendly”. At the 3rd Annual Aninaw Media Awards by the PHINMA University of Pangasinan’s Communication Arts Department, Balitang Amianan once again triumphed as Best News Program with its anchors gaining recognitions as well. CJ was conferred the Most Outstanding News Presenter of the Year (Male Category) award and he also won as the Most Popular TV Personality of the Year. Jasmin was named as Most Outstanding News Presenter of the Year, while Russel Simorio took home the Best Field Reporter award. Balitang Amianan also took home the Most Development-Oriented News Program award last year at the Gandingan 2018: The 12th UPLB Isko’t Iska’s Multi-media Awards. “The high ratings performance and accolades we continue to receive are just small additions to what we have accomplished throughout the years— for Balitang Amianan to emerge as a force to reckon with in Northern and Central Luzon in terms of news and information. We thank our Kapuso in the regions because we couldn’t have done these without them,” Amoroso shares. GMA Regional TV marked another milestone in broadcast history as it made its local newscasts available to more viewers nationwide last July 27 through GMA Regional TV Weekend News, which now airs on leading news channel GMA News TV every Saturday at 5:00 p.m.. On Saturday (Aug. 3), Balitang Amianan’s CJ Torida, Jasmin GabrielGalban, and Joanne Ponsoy started bringing the latest news from all over the Philippines straight from GMA Dagupan station. All the freshest news, events, and updates about GMA Regional TV are now available on www.gmaregionaltv. com. Follow GMA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gmanetwork and GMA Regional TV at www.facebook. com/GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

Acting master meaningful character portrayals. A former protégé of Eric Morris, Bova has been regularly visiting the Philippines to work his ‘magic’ on the Kapuso network’s most promising artists. Two years ago, GMAAC stars underwent a series of intensive acting exercises that further honed their skills and enabled them to attack roles differently. Bova explains what actors learn from his workshop class. “In my class, we focus on you, on the

Bova with some of the workshop participants from GMA Artist Center.

ACROSS 1 Tall flower 5 “Da” opposite 9 Lucy Lawless role 13 Trailblazer Daniel — 14 Atmosphere 15 Shake — — (hurry) 16 Letdown 18 Handle 19 Like some mgrs. 20 Wing 21 Baby grands 23 Annoys 25 Textile measure 26 Flowery 29 Happily 33 Oar pin 34 Fraught 35 Pigskin prop 36 Teakettle sound 37 “Star Wars” heavy 38 Smile broadly 39 Compass pt. 40 Slander’s kin 41 Desist 42 Put differently 44 — retriever 45 Mountains or river 46 Autobahn vehicle 47 Rogue 50 Retiree’s kitty 51 Sincere

cities and provinces in North and Central Luzon (NCL), specifically in Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pampanga thru GMA Network’s local channels GMA TV 10 Dagupan, GMA TV 5 Ilocos Norte, GMA TV 48 Ilocos Sur, and GMA TV 7 Abra. “We at GMA Regional TV continue to find ways to further improve the way we deliver news to our Kapuso all over the regions. As technology develops and with more people getting their information online, our regional news teams are challenged to be more efficient and creative in producing stories,” says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso. “But this only fuels us to be always on our toes and to be not complacent with what we have already achieved. This is why, starting August 5, we

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

30 Place 31 Car option 32 Mideast nation 34 Price tag 37 Zest 38 Disparage 40 Dr. Zhivago’s love 41 New England catch 43 Arizona territorial capital 44 Largest of the Marianas 46 Sign after Pisces

47 Type of roast 48 Between ports 49 Tractor-trailer 50 Gossip tidbit 52 Caboose’s spot 53 Bone below the elbow 54 Peacock spot 57 Gun owner’s org. 58 Unusually bright

actor. You know, there is substitute to your uniqueness. Your uniqueness is what we must cultivate. In the exercises that we do, all your layers are being stripped off. We will be removing your emotional blocks. Your vulnerability will be exposed. My workshop and the exercises are designed to bring out your authentic self, how to be free, especially when it comes to your feelings.” Currently enrolled in his workshop are 50 Kapuso artists, of different

Internationally-acclaimed New Yorkbased Anthony Bova is in Manila to introduce a new series of extensive workshops to GMA Artist Center talents.

backgrounds, age, newbies and the more experienced ones in the entertainment business. He likens these artists to: “You know, Filipino actors are like the salt of the earth, they are grounded, no pretentions, very attuned and connected to their emotions. They are not afraid of themselves, of their humanity and their feelings,” he says. “They are too humble. You know, there is a fine line between humble and being subordinate. Humble does not mean subservience, when that lines get blur, I have to work with ego development,” Bova shares his opinion on the only flaw he sees in local talents. Does he believe that there are bad actors? Bova responds quickly, “Great question. We react on situations and instances uniquely. We are affected differently by circumanstances, your biggest weapon is your unique self. For those who believe they are bad actors, please take that away from your thoughts as that will stunt your growth. You are building your own block. In acting, what is most important is showing to the world who you are. When you show to the world your vulnerability, more rewards way because of your honesty and openness. ” Benjamin Alves, one of the Kapuso network’s leading men enthuses, “I am addicted to learning and you know, it will be disastrous to think or even assume na I am good. What I like most about Anthony, as a teacher, he is so invested on you. He is like a dad na best friend mo, you get jittery when you do the exercises but you do it pa rin because you know, you are not going to be judged. You learn more because he guides you well to uncover the truth.” Another workshopper, Vaness del Moral avers, “ It is always wonderful to discover new things about yourself and your co-actors. You are learning and with these new knowledge, it excites me to use it when I am given a new character.” Bova’s training program with GMAAC stars is currently on going and concludes on Aug. 8.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Entertainment

MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019

What to expect at U2’s first concert in Manila? WELL, the concert is going to be nothing but explosive. Hot on the heels of the highly successful 2017 tour in celebration of the band’s seminal 1987 album ‘The Joshua Tree’, Live Nation and MMI Live are excited to confirm that U2 will bring their acclaimed Joshua Tree Tour to Manila on Dec. 11 at the Philppine Arena. This will be the band’s first ever time to perform in the Philippines. The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 will see U2—Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, and Adam Clayton—make a much anticipated live return to Australia and New Zealand, and see the band return to Tokyo for the first concerts since the Vertigo Tour in 2006, as well as bring the

band to Singapore and Seoul—for the first time ever— with what promises to be very special concerts from “the biggest band in the world” (The Guardian). Bono said, “It’s only taken me 30 years to learn how to sing these songs and it’s great to be able to say that I’ve finally caught up with the band. Our audience has given the Joshua Tree a whole new life on this tour. Doing these shows has been very special for us, a lot of emotion… From the despair of how relevant some of the dark songs still are, to the joy, pure fun of the staging… it’s quite a ride. Manila is a first… and that has everyone on their toes…. this has to be one of the great ones!” “We really wanted to bring The

Joshua Tree Tour to Asia.” added The Edge. “We’d always hoped that it would include a show in the Philippines and now we can ﬁnally say that we will see you in December... We are very excited.” Presale for U2.com subscribers (see www.U2.com for details) will begin on Sept. 1 (10 a.m.) through Sept. 3 (5 p.m.). Smart subscribers will also receive a one day presale on Sept. 4 (10 a.m.–11:59 p.m.). General on sale will begin, Sept. 5 (10 a.m.) via SMTICKETS.COM. There will be a four-ticket limit for subscribers and an eight-ticket limit for public sales. Tickets start at P2,499 with General Admission tickets at P5,250 (plus applicable service fees).

The world's biggest Irish rock band U2 is finally coming to Manila in Dcemeber.

The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 kicks off in Auckland on Nov. 8 and will visit Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth, before moving on to Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul and Manila. For complete tour, VIP Package and

Leading wellness and beauty brand collaborates with Star Magic talents

Rhea Anicoche-Tan (center) of Beautéderm with Star Magic talents (from left) Matt Evans, Ejay Falcon, Kitkat, Jane Oineza, and Ria Atayde. Carlo Aquino, Hashtag Ryle Santiago, and Alex Castro.

EAUTÉDERM, one VERY of the fastest-growing WANG wellness and beauty NICKIE brand in the country, has no WANG shortage of innovative products. The same thing can be said of its numerous campaigns and efforts to bring the brand closer to its target market. While Beautéderm, as a solidly rising brand, tours the country and some key cities in the Asian region, it receives generous support from its celebrity ambassadors and endorsers. “It was only recently that I ask for assistance from a celebrity to promote our products. I want to establish the brand. I want to ensure that the brand will speak for itself simply because of our products’ quality and effectiveness,” said Beautéderm head honcho, Rhea Anicoche-Tan. “As of today, we have at least 40 brand ambassadors. Sylvia Sanchez became our ﬁrst celebrity endorser some few years back,” she added. As the countdown of Beautéderm Corporation’s 10th anniversary celebration draws nearer, the company continues to break new grounds as it formally introduces the ﬁrst batch

of its new breed of young celebrity ambassadors under the management of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, namely Carlo Aquino, Matt Evans, Ejay Falcon, Alex Castro, Hashtag Ryle Santiago, Jane Oineza, Kitkat, and Ria Atayde. Established in 2009 by Rhea Anicoche-Tan, the company embodies her guiding principle that beauty begins by taking care of one’s self, and by doing so a person will become more healthy, and shall exude beauty not only in the outside but in the inside as well. As one of today’s top leaders in the beauty and wellness industry, Beautederm prioritizes safety and effectiveness above all with its FDA Notiﬁed products, which only uses plant-based ingredients that are perfectly synergized to deliver the fastest and most effective long-term

and sustainable results. A consistent Superbrands awardee, some of the ﬂagship brands of Beautederm include Beautederm Skin Care Sets for both the face and body; Reverie by Beautederm Home which includes a collection soy candles and room sprays; and Beautederm’s perfume collection which includes Origin Senses perfumes for men among many others—all topselling products in the market today. Currently, Beautederm has over a thousand resellers both locally and internationally as it ships products every day both here and abroad with its strong partnership with DHL. The brand also has physical stores throughout the country and one in Singapore; and has almost 40 brand ambassadors which include actors and actresses, TV personalities, singers, beauty queens, politicians, comedians, and social media inﬂuencers. The achievements of Beautéderm’s young breed of ambassadors are as diverse as the many fabulous products of the brand. Each of them is currently creating their individual indelible marks in the industry. Carlo Aquino is the most seasoned of the group as one of today’s hottest young leading men with a consistent string of top-rating TV series as

well as blockbuster and critically acclaimed movies under his belt – from TV’s Playhouse and The Better Halfto the big screen’s Exes Baggage, to the upcoming Isa Pa With Feelings. Matt Evans first started on ABS-CBN as a contender on the first season of the reality television show Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition, and has since evolved as an accomplished character actor starring in numerous TV series and feature films such as Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko, Tanging Yaman and Shake, Rattle, & Roll 9. Continued on C3

ticket information, visit: www.u2.com. U2: The Joshua Tree Tour concert in Manila is produced by Live Nation Global Touring and is promoted locally by MMI Live and Prestige Worldwide in association with Smart.

First PLDT-Smart converged store in QC opens at Vertis North TELECOMMUNICATION and digital services leaders PLDT and Smart mark another milestone with the unveiling of the first-ever PLDT-Smart converged Store in Quezon City. The unique lifestyle hub is located at Vertis North, a central business and lifestyle district along Quezon Avenue. It is a one-stop experiential hub and digital lifestyle store for customers of the country’s two biggest telcos—PLDT and Smart—featuring customer-centric design and innovative digital installations that will raise the bar in in-store service experience. “We’ve received great feedback from our first PLDT-Smart store in BGC, and we would like to replicate that experience for our customers in the metro north area,” PLDT’s Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilo said. “Quezon City has always been a key market for us, and we look forward to serving our customers better through our industry-leading digital solutions and support services.” As a digital hub, the PLDT-Smart Store features superior technologies such as the self-service InfoTouch Booth, which allows customers to view and print billing summaries, check account details and submit repair requests, among others; the Smart Super Kiosk, which lets customers pay their bills or request a change of SIM card without having to queue; and the Broadband Visualizer, which allows customers to check data usage for different types of online activities as well estimate download and upload times. This is useful for customers who are deciding on the most suitable broadband plan based on their specific needs. An Interactive Table is also set up for guests who would like to browse, play, watch or listen while waiting for their companions in-store. As the country’s largest and most populous city, Quezon City is a vital business hub. For PLDT and Smart, Quezon City has the second largest subscriber base nationwide for the fixedline business and has the biggest number of wireless subscribers in Metro Manila. Currently, PLDT’s stores in Quezon City are located at SM North EDSA, Diliman, Fairview, Balara. Smart also has stores in key areas in Quezon City including SM North EDSA, Eastwood Mall, Robinson’s Magnolia, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Araneta Gateway, SM Novaliches, Ali Mall Cubao, and SM Fairview. Moreover, Sun’s standalone stores are in New Farmer’s Cubao, Ali Mall Cubao, Robinson’s Magnolia, SM North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Novaliches, SBCentris, SB Fishermall. PLDT-Smart SVP and Consumer Business Customer Development Head Alex O. Caeg added, “With the opening of the newest PLDT-Smart Store in a strategically located and upscale mixed-use development in the north, we are expanding our footprint and strengthening our brand presence in this area. We want to ensure that our customers have access to the best of what we offer by bringing our services closer to them.” The PLDT-Smart Store is at the 4th floor of Ayala Malls Vertis North, Quezon City.

PLDT’s Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilo (center) joined by celebrities (from left) Rica Peralejo and Nicole Cordovez and other executives at the opening of the first PLDTSmart converged store at Ayala Malls Vertis North, Quezon City.