Manila Standard - 2019 August 22 - Thursday

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POLIO ‘RIPE’ FOR COMEBACK AMID DENGUE EPIDEMIC—DOH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 189 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE Philippines was declared polio-free in 2000, but since the last recorded case was in 1993, an official warned that the “setting is ripe” for the recurrence of the fatal and disabling disease.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo on Wednesday attributed the return of polio to the low vaccination coverage triggered by the Dengvaxia scare, and following the deaths of some children administered the anti-dengue vaccine.

Another factor for the recurrence of

polio is the poor hygiene and sanitation in some areas, Domingo said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines risked losing its polio-free status if it did not boost its immunization program.

Domingo told ANC’s Headstart no case of polio had yet been detected.

“However, the setting is ripe for it to come back and we have to prevent it,” Domingo said.

“We don’t want to lose that polio-free certification. We haven’t had a polio case Next page

SWAMP FEVER. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (inset) checks a patient with leptospirosis, an acute, infectious, febrile disease of both humans and animals, caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira during his visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. At least 27 leptospirosis patients have been accounted for at the NKTI in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

China suggests: Ban POGOs Presses for Pagcor crackdown on gaming

US blasts Sino ‘bully tactics’ vs. neighbors

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

C

HINA has urged the Philippines to ban all online gambling operations in the country, even as it lauded the decision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to suspend the issuance of new applications for Philippine off-shore gaming operators (POGOs).

By MJ Blancaflor THE White House on Tuesday accused China of “bullying tactics” in the increasingly tense waters of the South China Sea, as President Rodrigo Duterte continued to take a more assertive posture days ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“China’s recent escalation of efforts to intimidate others out of developing resources in the South China Sea is disturbing,” President Donald Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton tweeted.

“The United States stands firmly with those who oppose coercive behavior and bullying tactics which threaten regional peace and security.”

China has been accused of deploying warships, arming island outposts and

“We have taken note of the Philippine government’s announcement and appreciate it. We hope the Philippines will go further and ban all online gambling,” Next page

Cardema: I paid P2m to Guanzon’s emissary

Next page

Emulate Ninoy’s example—Rody

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday urged Filipinos to follow the example of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. in protecting freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

“Let his example guide us as we strive to uplift and protect the most vulnerable in our society and ensure that all Filipinos will enjoy the blessings of freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” Duterte said in his message in commemoration of Aquino’s death 36 years ago.

Vice President Leni Robredo cited the sacrifices of those who died to fight for freedom during martial law under Next page the Marcos regime.

By Vito Barcelo CHECK CONTINUES. A meat dealer unloads Wednesday pork for delivery at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City, at the same time that three barangays in Rodriguez, Rizal have been quarantined amid reports of an increase in the number of pig deaths in recent days. Genaro Inocentes of the MDRRMO has said live swines detected of having diseases are immediately culled and disposed of in a landfill. Manny Palmero

House leader assures marathon budget debates

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives will hold marathon sessions, both in the plenary and committee level, to ensure the passage of the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 before the year ends, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said Wednesday.

Saving tigers: A losing battle?

GENEVA—More than 2,300 endangered tigers have been killed and illegally trafficked since the turn of the century, according to a report published Tuesday, urging more action to protect the giant cats.

Next page

“The House members are in full agreement that we all have to work day and night, from Monday to Friday, to make sure that we approve the 2020 General Appropriations Act by October this year,” Romualdez said.

“This will give the Senate ample time to scrutinize the budget approved by the House. Hopefully,

we can have a bicameral conference early December, then approve the 2020 national budget before the year ends,” he added.

Romualdez said the House will move its plenary session from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day to make room for four committee hearings scheduled Next page

The Matrix returns LOS ANGELES—Sci-fi franchise “The Matrix” will return for a fourth film with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as kung fu-kicking, shades-wearing hero Neo, studio Warner Bros said Tuesday. Next page

FORMER youth commission chairman Ronald Cardema claimed Wednesday he forked out P2 million to a congresswoman to ensure that Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon would vote in favor of the accreditation of Duterte Youth party-list.

The claim drew an immediate comeback from Guanzon who dared Cardema to reveal the name of the congresswoman he alleged was his “bagwoman.”

Cardema has accused Guanzon of asking, through an emissary, P2 million from his camp in exchange for a favorable vote on the accreditation of Duterte Youth party-list.

He made the accusation after the Comelec First Division, of which Guanzon is a member, disqualified Next page

WEATHER ‘Ineng’ gains strength TROPICAL depression “Ineng” intensified into a tropical storm on Wednesday afternoon.

As of 4 p.m.!yesterday, the center of Ineng was estimated at 1,135 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the storm would continue to spawn scattered rains in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Quezon.

Ineng was moving northwest at 15 kilometers.

Ineng is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday. Rio N. Araja

A2

News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trafficking raps filed vs. 2 militant party-lists

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Justice department has summoned former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago to appear and answer the complaint for trafficking in persons and child abuse of “missing activistminors” filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

In a subpoena signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Christine Perolino, the department ordered Colmenares and Elago to appear before it on Aug. 27 and on Sept. 10 and 24 and submit their respective counteraffidavits in response to the complaints.

“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered as your waiver to present your defense in this preliminary investigation and the same shall be considered

submitted for disposition,” the order said.

Besides Colmenares and Elago, also covered by the subpoena are Tom Villarin, Alex Danday, Einstein Recedes, Vencer Crisostomo, Jayroven Villafuente Balais, Bianca Gacos and Charie del Rosario, all of Anakbayan.

But in the PNP-CIDG complaint, Villarin was mistakenly identified as a party-list representative of Anakbayan.

Villarin was a former representative of

Panelo denies role in Sanchez case

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Wednesday denied he had a hand in the impending release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez who was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of two University of the Philippines students.

Panelo was one of the seven lawyers of Sanchez in the 1993 rape-murder case of UP Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the death of her companion Allan Gomez.

Sanchez was found guilty and sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua in 1995.

“That was too long ago. I was his lawyer 27 years ago. I withdrew even before the appeal [of the mayor in his case],” Panelo told reporters in a phone call.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said the intervention of any person, including Panelo, would not be necessary in Sanchez’s release. The approval of President Rodrigo Duterte was also not needed.

Guevarra said the Duterte administration was merely implementing a law and a Supreme Court ruling ordering the retroactive application of the number of days credited to prisoners for their good conduct time allowance, study, teaching, mentoring and loyalty.

“The GCTA law was enacted by Congress

Saving...

From A1 With an average of more than 120 illegally trafficked tigers seized each year—which amounts to over two each week—since year 2000, conservation group Traffic warned there was little sign of respite for the species.

Report author Kanitha Krishnasamy, who heads Traffic’s Southeast Asia operations, said the numbers were deeply concerning.

“It looks like we are losing this fight,” she told AFP. In 1900, more than 100,000 tigers were estimated to roam the planet. But that fell to a record low of 3,200 globally in 2010.

Since then, population numbers have inched upwards, but there are still estimated to be fewer than 3,900 tigers left in the wild.

“This pernicious trafficking,evidenced by the continuously high number of whole skins, whole animals—both dead and alive—and bones is testament to the ongoing demand for Tiger parts,” Krishnasamy said.

“The time for talking is over: words must be turned into action to prevent further Tiger loss,” she said in a statement.

Traffic, which campaigns to protect endangered animals and help governments catch those who trade in their parts, published a new analysis looking at 19 years of tiger seizure data from across the globe.

It found that an estimated total equivalent to 2,359 individual tigers were seized from 2000 to 2018 across 32 countries and territories.

Skins are the single most frequently seized tiger part, with on average 58 whole tiger skins seized each year, the report found, also noting a clear increase in seizures of whole animals, both dead and alive. AFP

The Matrix...

From A1 Lana Wachowski will helm the project, returning to write, direct and produce the latest installment of the hugely popular series about humans trapped in a virtual reality by machines, which has netted more than $1.6 billion worldwide.

“We could not be more excited to be re-entering ‘The Matrix’ with Lana,” studio chairman Toby Emmerich said in a statement sent to AFP. “Lana is a true visionary—a singular and original creative filmmaker,” he added.

Lana and her sister Lilly—who were formerly known as the Wachowski brothers, Andy and Larry, before switching gender— directed the original trilogy.

Warner Bros did not specify if the new film would be a direct sequel, saying only that it was “set in the world of ‘The Matrix’,” and did not give a release date.

The original films followed a band of rebels who battled intelligent machines in a future where humans are enslaved within the Matrix—a virtual reality that resembles the contemporary world.

Reeves’ Neo was a hero on a mission to save mankind.

The dark fantasy featured a mix of pseudo-eastern philosophy and Western mythology, spectacular fight scenes and lavish special effects. AFP

and interpreted by the Supreme Court. The Executive department through the Department of Justice/Bureau of Corrections merely implements. We don’t have discretionary intervention of any sort, Guevarra said.

The former Laguna mayor might be released soon because of Republic Act 10592 expanding the good conduct time allowance and a Supreme Court decision in June applying the law retroactively, Guevarra said.

The GCTA provides additional time to be deducted from an inmate’s prison sentence as a reward for his or her good behavior.

“As correctly pointed out by Secretary Guevarra, there is no need for the intervention of anyone because there is a law granting freedom [to inmates],” Panelo said.

Sanchez will just be one of the thousands to benefit from the implementation of the law, according to Guevarra.

“We repeatedly say there is a rule of law. We have to abide by the rule of law,” Panelo said.

He also said he had no communication with Sanchez but wished him well in life if the authorities would grant him freedom.

“I wish him well. Like other lawyers who have imprisoned clients, of course, you will be happy for them because they can start a new life after their release,” Panelo said.

With Rey E. Requejo

Polio...

From A1 in 26 years. We don’t want it to come back because it’s debilitating, it’s a very deadly disease.”

Domingo said his department was moving to give polio vaccines to children below five years old. He said it was easier to convince parents to have their kids inoculated, adding their efforts were concentrated in Baseco and Tondo in Manila, which were considered “hot spots.”

On Monday, Manila Mayor Franciso ‘Isko’ Domagoso led the synchronized polio vaccination kick-off activity in Manila as he targeted 197,000 children in the city to be free of the polio virus.

The activity, with the theme “Olats ang Polio sa Maynila”, was held at the Del Paso covered court in Quiapo, Manila.

Domagoso was joined by Domingo, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and the UNICEF Country Representative.

The first round of polio vaccinations was set on Aug. 19 and will run until Aug. 30.

The second round will be given on Oct. 1 to 14 and the third round on Nov. 15 to 30.

Duque renewed his call to all parents and caregivers to give priority to the complete vaccination of their children, adding complete vaccination was still the best preventive measure against polio.

He said all children below one year old should complete their three doses of OPV and one dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine.

He told the public not to risk the health and future of their children due to a disease that could be prevented.

For the past years, he said, the vaccination coverage for the third dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine had fallen below 95 percent, the target required to ensure protection against polio.

He also said the surveillance on Acute Flaccid Paralysis had been consistently poor and the practice of open defecation and poor sanitation had been persisting in communities.

He said the Philippines was at risk of importing poliovirus from neighboring countries where the virus had recently been found to have recirculated.

Polio is a fatal and disabling disease caused by poliovirus, which is transmitted when there is poor environmental sanitation and hygiene.

Cardema:...

From A1

Cardema, 34, as nominee of Duterte Youth party-list for being beyond the age limit set by the law on party-list representatives for the youth sector, which is 25 to 30 years old on election day.

The word war between poll commissioner Guanzon and the former National Youth Commissioner chairman continues after the poll official claimed to received death threats immediately after the Comelec blocked Cardema’s nomination.

the Akbayan party-list group which does not share the same ideology as Anakbayan.

The respondents were charged by the PNP-CIDG on Aug. 1 for alleged violation of Republic Act 10364, otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, RA 11188 or the Act Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situation of Armed Conflict, Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code for Kidnapping, and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. They were also charged for alleged violation of RA 9852 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other crimes against Humanity.

The PNP-CIDG said the complaints were filed after the parents of a 17-year old student was reported “missing” following her recruitment by Anakbayan.

The teen’s parent, Relissa Lucena, was

China...

From A1 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a media briefing in Beijing Tuesday.

The Chinese official expressed hope that the Pagcor’s decision to suspend new applications would pave the way for strengthened law enforcement cooperation with China, which has outlawed online gambling.

China earlier urged the Philippine government to crack down on POGOs, casinos and other forms of gambling entities that were illegally recruiting Chinese citizens.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila expressed grave concern over a large number of Chinese citizens who had been illegally recruited to work in the Philippine gambling industry with some lured into working with only tourist visas.

Beijing also noted that a huge amount of Chinese funds are also “illegally flown

among the parents who testified at a Senate hearing that her daughter, who was enrolled at the Far Eastern University’s Senior High School Department, had joined the militant youth group.

It was during the Senate hearing that the PNP-CIDG disclosed the filing of the complaints.

Sought for comment, the National Union of People’s Lawyers led by Colmenares called the inclusion of his name in the complaints as “totally absurd” and part of the “legal blitzkrieg” against legitimate dissent and those who push back and stand their ground.

“Not all scripts of comical persons in authority are funny. How in heaven’s name could someone like Neri be even remotely involved, connected or liable for such inane and contrived charges that have been debunked? Totally absurd,” the NUPL said.

In other developments: • Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday called on the military not to invade the

schools, warning their presence might radicalize the students.

“The presence of the military and police in schools is wrong. The students would be radicalized further,” she said.

• Senator Joel Villanueva said he had reservations on the presence of law enforcers in schools.

“The point of universities is to encourage free thinking, freedom of expression and academic freedom,” he said.

• Senator Leila de Lima said the government must allow students the democratic space to organize, express themselves freely and petition the government for the redress of grievances.

“Just like in Hong Kong, young people are sending a strong message to their governments,” she said.

“They are ready to stand up for their right to freely express their thoughts about the abuses of this current administration.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta

out” of China and into the Philippines through cross-border money laundering.

Beijing said the situation “undermines China’s financial supervision and financial security.”

Earlier, China had also expressed reservations about a plan by Pagcor to move Chinese online gambling workers to selfcontained communities or hubs.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, said the government should work to ensure that sufficient actions are taken to address the unintended consequences of the rise of POGOs. These include rising real estate prices, the displacement Filipino workers brought about by the unlawful entry or stay of illegal foreign workers, the increase in crimes involving foreign nationals, including money laundering, and the heightened threats of espionage that may affect national security.

With the moratorium on new POGOs in place, he said, the government must begin reversing the damage caused by the sector

and putting the right regulatory measures in place.

He also advised the government to carefully study the benefits of this industry vis-a-vis the issues that have cropped up from the rise of this industry.

Earlier this month, Villanueva filed a resolution to examine the influx of illegal foreign workers, especially in POGOs, and whether this industry is really beneficial to our country.

He said at the moment, it looked like the Philippines was on the losing end of the POGO industry.

In a related development, the Philippine National Police said it has set up satellite offices of its Anti-Kidnapping Group near gambling hubs in view of the rising number of casino-related abductions.

A spokesman for the group, Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno, said they have already coordinated with casino supervisors and Pagcor.

Cereno said there have been 53 casinorelated kidnappings since 2017. A total of 120 Chinese nationals have been arrested.

US...

From A1 ramming fishing vessels in the resource-rich sea, also contested

by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Washington has repeatedly criticized China’s attempts to exert growing dominance in the disputed waters, but Bolton’s latest broadside comes as the two economic superpowers face off in a damaging trade war.

Duterte, who has been criticized for appeasing Beijing, said Wednesday he would insist on invoking Manila’s 2016 arbitral victory over China in his talks with Xi. “If I am not allowed as president of a sovereign nation to talk about what I want, then let’s not talk altogether,” Duterte said Wednesday in a speech in Romblon during the inauguration of a solar power project.

“Do not control my mouth because it is a gift from God,” he said.

In his fifth trip to Beijing from Aug. 28 until Sept. 2, Duterte has vowed to assert the ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which rejected China’s sweeping maritime claims in South China Sea. China, which claims almost the entire area, has refused to recognize the ruling that favored the Philippines.

Duterte has not invoked the arbitral ruling in the last three years, preferring to seek friendlier relations with Beijing. But the Chinese have been increasingly aggressive in the South China Sea, including areas held or claimed by the

Philippines, leaving Duterte open to criticism of being too soft on China.

Duterte said he would not pick a fight with China, just talk.

“As what you said, we talk to resolve this problem peacefully.

Now tell me how do we start to solve the problem peacefully.

There has got to be something,” Duterte said.

“You just cannot talk air. They said don’t bring it up. I said no… Whether you like it or not, whether it will make you happy or not, I’m sorry. But we have to talk about the arbitral ruling,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recently filed several diplomatic protests against China for the passage of its warships through Philippine waters without notifying the government while their identification systems were switched off.

On Wednesday, Duterte required passing foreign vessels to seek permission first from government, adding non-compliance may force the Philippines to act in an “unfriendly manner.”

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Panfilo Lacson supported the President’s stand on the passage of foreign vessels.

“I totally support this,” Zubiri said. “As a sovereign nation, we should be treated and respected as one.”

Lacson said the President’s message is unequivocal and clear, and deserves everybody’s support.

In his dialogue with Xi, Duterte is also expected to raise the joint exploration between the Philippines and China of oil-rich areas in the disputed islands. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, AFP

“Thousands of Filipino fell during the dark years of the dictatorship, resisting till their last breath the cruelty and corruption it brought,” she said.

The Commission on Human Rights called on the Filipino people “to be like Ninoy.”

“As we celebrate Ninoy Aquino Day, let us remember his readiness to suffer and sacrifice in order to light the torch of freedom,” the agency said in its Facebook post.

Duterte said Aquino could serve as a model for government workers and the youth to render public service with honor, integrity and purpose.

He recognized the late senator’s role in restoring the Philippines’ democratic institutions.

“His sacrifice altered the course of our nation’s history and still continues to ignite the spirit of heroism among our people,” Duterte said.

Aquino, who fiercely opposed the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was murdered on Aug. 21, 1983 upon his arrival at the Manila International Airport. It was later renamed after him

in his honor and the anniversary of his death is commemorated as a national holiday.

“Today, we remember Benigno S. Aquino Jr. and his important role in restoring our democratic institutions more than three decades ago. His sacrifice altered the course of our nation’s history and still continues to ignite the spirit of heroism among our people,” Duterte said.

“May this auspicious occasion remind us of what we had lost so that we may remain committed to our solemn duty to safeguard the freedoms that we now enjoy.”

Aquino’s death sparked the People Power Revolution of 1986 and catapulted his wife Corazon to the presidency.

Early this month, Duterte said the late President Corazon Aquino was only popular today because her husband had died.

In his message to the public, Duterte said much had to be done to solve the ills that had been besetting the country even during Aquino’s time.

“Despite our gains in these past three years, there is still a lot that needs to be done if we are to completely eradicate the poverty, corruption and injustice that had plagued our nation even during Ninoy’s time,” Duterte said.

With Rio N. Araja

“Cardema should name that congresswoman or he should shut up,” Guanzon said in a Twitter post with a photo of a toilet bowl.

In an interview, Guanzon said Cardema should name the congressman who he claimed to be her bagwoman, so they could file charges against each other.

“They are the ones talking to each other, and why implicate me? He refused to name the congresswoman and how should I know her?” the poll official said.

Cardema, a known close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, recently accused

Guanzon of trying to extort P2 million in exchange for the Comelec accreditation of the party-list group.

He said he received text messages from an unidentified congresswoman who served as Guanzon’s emissary.

However, Guanzon denied the accusations of Cardema, whom she described as a liar and name dropper.

“This one I can say to Ronald Cardema: you have not yet been born, I am already a lawyer,” said Guanzon, adding “don’t threaten me with impeachment, because you admitted you attempted to bribe me.”

Emulate...

From A1

House...

From A1 by the House committee on appropriations for budget deliberations.

“We will hold four budget hearings daily at the committee level almost simultaneously. The hearings are scheduled at 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.,” the House leader said.

“House members may have to shuttle between hearings in order to maximize their participation in the budget deliberations. I am thankful that all the House members agreed to this schedule, which is really a tall order,” he added.

Romualdez noted that House leaders also decided to extend the session days in the House past the regular Monday to Wednesday schedule to allow exhaustive deliberation of the budget at the plenary level.

“We are also extending our session days beginning Sept. 12. We will hold plenary sessions even on Thursdays and Fridays to make sure that the national budget will get the House members’ nod on time,” the House leader said.

Romualdez said he had also approved the request of House committee on appropriations chairman and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab to allow the holding of committee hearings on the budget even after the plenary proceedings have started at 5 p.m.

“This means that the appropriations committee may hold budget hearings at the committee level simultaneous with the plenary debates on other pending bills and resolutions,” Romualdez said.

“This will ensure that plenary deliberations on other pending issues, such as the vital revenue measures, will push through even as we are working round the clock on the budget bill,” he added.

Under Section 71 of the House Rules, congressmen are deemed present in a House session if they are attending committee meetings authorized by the House committee on rules, which is currently chaired

by Romualdez as majority leader.

News

A3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte’s plan to send drugs, vaccines to provinces backed

HISTORIC TARMAC.

Former Senator Heherson Alvarez and members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement offered flowers to the markers where the former senator was gunned as they reflected on the extraordinary sacrifice and cold-bloodied assassination of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport during the observance of 36th death anniversary of Ninoy held at the NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019.

Norman Cruz

ACT lambasts proposal to give teachers ‘paltry’ salary increase THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers protested the P31-billion allotment for salary increase of government employees based on the proposed 2020 budget submitted by the budget agency to Congress yesterday. ACT said that the allotment would only amount to a “measly P1,845 monthly increase or P61 per day” if the 1.2 million government employees will be given equal pay hikes.

“The teachers are very disappointed.

This is not what President Duterte has promised us. This amount does not even fit the definition of ‘enough to tide us over.’ We need substantial salary increase, not crumbs. This is unacceptable,” cried Joselyn Martinez, ACT chairperson.

Martinez called out the Duterte administration’s ‘favoritism of the police and the military. She said it is ‘extremely unfair’ for the government to spend P76 billion for the salary increase of more than 300,000 uniformed personnel but is only willing to give ‘less than half of the amount for civilian employees who are four-folds in number.’

“The Duterte government’s salary scheme tells so much of its partiality to war and repression over life, education and basic services. Clearly, all of President Duterte’s sweet talk about ‘malasakit’ is but a farce. Naduterte kami, pero hindi kami papayag!” said Martinez.

Martinez warned that the actual planned pay hike for teachers might even be lower than their calculations as ‘previous Salary Standardization Laws always gave less to rank-and-file employees and more to high officials.’ She said given Education Secretary Briones’ stance that salaries of public school teachers should not be too far from what private school teachers are paid, teachers have all the reason to be more worried.

Human Security Act amendment pushed

By Francisco Tuyay THE Department of the Interior and Local Government said it supports the proposed amendment of the Human Security Act of 2007, particularly the longer wiretapping and detention period that they cited will “improve the government’s capacity to fight terrorism and ensure the safety and security of the entire country.”

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año says that terrorism is a coordinated crime mounted over time, sometimes years, which can be countered through calculated strategies and intelligence efforts, as he pointed out that an extended wiretapping and detention period will advance the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

“We are facing new and old terrorism challenges. To meet this challenge, our laws must adapt as well to the changing security environment,” he said in a statement.

“Based on experience, tackling terrorism is massively different from other crimes. Investigating terror groups or individuals can be tedious, hence, requires time and the proposed extension of wiretapping and detention period can definitely boost the government’s counterterrorism efforts,” said Año.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Du30 to lead ex-MILF’s decommissioning

By MJ Blancaflor

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will lead the decommissioning process of the ex-Moro Islamic Liberation Front members on Sept. 7, his peace adviser said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez said around 1,206 MILF combatants and 920 weapons would be deactivated in a ceremony as part of the normalization process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The public launch of the decommissioning process will be on Sept. 7 and will be attended by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte,” Galvez said in a Palace briefing Tuesday.

Twelve thousand MILF members are expected to participate in the decommissioning process this year.

To ensure long-lasting peace in Mindanao, Galvez said President Duterte is also open to create a regional government in Sulu for the Moro National Liberation Front, distinct from the MILF-dominated BARMM. “That is the presidential guidance and we will look into it,” Galvez said.

The BARMM is created through

the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law after government’s negotiations with the MILF, a breakaway faction of the MNLF. MNLF leader Nur Misuari has opposed the creation of BARMM, saying it was in favor of their rival MILF and has excluded his group.

Galvez also said that appointing an MNLF member as deputy chief minister of the BARMM is also a possibility.

He said he would meet with Misuari on Wednesday, but refused to give further details on what they would discuss.

The President had repeatedly expressed hope of reaching an agreement with Misuari, who warned of war should government fail to pursue a shift to federalism.

House consolidates Inquiry on waning ROTC volunteers set bills on teachers’ pay, allowances

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education, chaired by Rep. Roman Romulo of Pasig City, has created a technical working group that will consolidate the bills that propose to provide salary adjustments and allowances for public school teachers.

The committee will craft a measure that shall provide additional support and compensation for educators in basic education based on House Bills 6, 2475, authored respectively by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and couple Reps. David Suarez of Quezon and Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez of ALONA party-list.

The two bills were among the 36 measures filed by different lawmakers which seek to promote the rights and welfare of public school teachers.

The committee named one of its vice chairpersons, Rep. Rosanna Vergara of Nueva Ecija, as the TWG head.

Cayetano’s HB 6 or the proposed “Teachers Salary Increase Act of 2019” noted the long-time clamor of public school teachers for urgently needed support, since their present compensation package puts them in a peculiar situation of being just within the present poverty threshold.

The bill also aims to remedy the current problems of teachers relative to the provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

“Since its enactment in 1966 remains unimplemented and to prevent the massive exodus of members of the teaching profession who are seeking jobs in other countries, the type of brain drain that the country cannot afford.”

Suarez, for his part, said throughout his experience as a public servant for two decades, it was unavoidable that a lot of his engagements were with teachers.

AMID waning Reserve Officers’ Training Course graduates volunteering for the Ready Reserve, Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution to conduct an inquiry into the implementation of the National Service Training Program, particularly its ROTC component.

In filing Proposed Senate Resolution No. 97, Gatchalian noted that a “comprehensive review of the NSTP law, particularly its ROTC component is necessary to measure its effectiveness and introduce appropriate legislative measures or amendments in the existing law with the goal of strengthening the country’s Reserve Force.”

The lawmaker said that the implementation of NSTP Law in 2002 led to the “drastic reduction” of enrollment in the ROTC program.

According to Gatchalian, from 314,225 in School Year 2000-2001, the number of enrollees dropped to 170,071 in SY 2002-2003, and further down to 106,892 in SY 2004-2005, “effectively creating serious repercussions on the AFP Reserve Force.”

“The state of the ROTC program

today shows that it is challenged in many fronts—primarily issues not on waning enrollment but in a lack of ROTC graduates volunteering for the Ready Reserve, issues on leadership and diverse policies on designation of commandants in the ROTC units, the lack of manpower, logistics and funding, the lack of adequate training facilities,” he said.

Gatchalian added there were also “issues on the Program of Instruction, which is not congruent with the warfighting and nation-building mission of the Reserve Force to which the ROTC plays a vital role in producing the reservists it needs, as well as not fitting it to the generation of students today.”

He argued that “while the existing NSTP classes stir up the civic consciousness of our students, these do not fully attain the objective of developing military and defense preparedness among our youth especially in light of non-traditional threats brought about by natural disasters and climate change, as well as threats against our national security.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRIORITY BILLS. Priority tax reform bills and Palace certified proposed legislation

in the 18th Congress were discussed by Senators Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate ways and means committee, and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles at Kapihan Sa Manila Bay Breakfast Forum in Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila. Norman Cruz

SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday expressed his support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to buy P19.1 billion worth of drugs and vaccines for this year and send 80 percent to the provinces to avoid their expiration.

The purchase order, Recto said, is contained in President Duterte’s 36-page Budget Message for 2020, which serves as his cover letter to the voluminous documents detailing the proposed P4.1trillion 2020 national budget sent to Congress Tuesday.

In his message to lawmakers, Duterte said that 80 percent of 2020 purchases “shall be allocated to provinces where the incidence of diseases is highest.”

By imposing this earmark, Recto said the President is making the “right drug prescription.”

“By adopting this new distribution formula, government is saying that it has learned its lesson and that there will no longer be a repeat of drugs spoiling in DOH warehouses,” Recto said.

“If the medicnes are fast-acting, its distribution should also be fast-acting.

This rule in dispensing drugs is as old as the proverb ‘Aanhin pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo?’” Recto said.

Funds for the purchase of pharmaceutical products are lodged in the DOH budget and account for 20 percent of its proposed P92.2 billion allocation for next year, Recto added.

The Senate leader said more stocks in the “government’s medicine cabinet,” will reduce Filipino households’ “out-ofpocket” yearly expenditures for drugs, which in 2017 reached P187 billion.

But he added that health officials should not wait for next year to heed the presidential instructions on the distribution of drug stocks.

“They should do it now, because drug spoilage is not a blockbuster movie that merits sequels.”

The Commission on Audit recently flagged the DOH over its large hoard of medicines.

The state auditors said DOH had an end-2018 inventory of P18.5 billion worth of medicines, with P295 million worth nearing expiry as of January this year.

Recto remains confident that the drug distribution problem is now being “competently handled by the DOH leadership.”

Eco group wants selling of unsafe toy swords stopped

By Joel E. Zurbano PROTECT children from unsafe toy swords.

Environmental group Ecowaste Coalition made this appeal to consumers after it discovered the sale in the local market of light up toy swords contaminated with lead, a health-damaging chemical.

Taking its cue from a product recall order in the United Kingdom last Aug. 12 for a China-made light up toy sword due to its lead content, the group bought eight samples of such toys for P40 to P100 each from toy wholesalers and retailers in Divisoria, Manila.

The light-up toy sword recalled in UK contains a silver paint with lead measuring 112 parts per million (ppm). “A child may put the toy in the mouth,” the recall order said, noting that “exposure to lead is harmful for human health and cause developmental neurotoxicity.”

“We bought some light up toy swords, also known as flashing stick or Star Wars lightsabers, to check if such toys sold locally do not present a lead exposure risk to their young users,” said Thony Dizon, Ecowaste chemical safety campaigner.

Using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analytical device, the group detected lead on two of the eight samples of light up toy swords.

One has 136 ppm of lead and the other has 944 ppm, exceeding the 90 ppm maximum regulatory limit for lead in paint. Also, three of the samples were found to contain high levels of antimony and bromine.

“We also found all the eight samples unlabeled or mislabeled with important information as age grading, cautionary warning and manufacturer’s marking missing,” said Dizon.

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

My best friends

EDITORIAL

tion. He had to struggle to achieve his goals. He was a big help to his mother. We had a lot in common.

Before going into business, as a graduate of accounting at University of the East, he joined the Philippine Constabulary and retired as a colonel.

He was a good friend of Jaime Cardinal Sin and Cardinal Luis Tagle.

I was saddened when he was diagnosed with cancer. But I cannot forget how good a friend he was to many.

Ka Imon Cuevas was something else. Whenever the Iglesia Supremo Erdie Manalo traveled, he was always with him. This is why I always knew in advance whom the Iglesia would support during elections.

Cuevas was a fisherman from Cavite, who then became a gasoline station attendant. While he never went to college, he sent his brother, former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, to law school.

Ka Imon struck it rich during the Vietnam War when he got the contract to supply Clark Air Base with oil and gasoline. When the Marcos administration came to power, he won, through a public bidding, the supply of motor vehicle licenses.

I can never forget my friends. All three of them were nation-builders.

Most importantly, they gave back to the poor and needy. *** The Civil Service Commission has been tasked to come up with implementing rules defining “nominal” and “insignificant” gifts under our anti-graft laws. This, after President Duterte told policemen that it was all right to accept nominal and insignificant gifts as a sign of gratitude and

AS I was going over my memorabilia over the weekend, I found three of my friends who have all passed on. They were part of my life as a journalist.

They were Leonardo Siguion-Reyna, Antonio Cabangon-Chua and Felimon Cuevas.

Siguion-Reyna is from the SiguionReyna Ongsiako and Montecillo Law Offices. He came from an upper middle class family in Pangasinan.

He was first with the law office of his father-in-law, the pre-war fiscal Alfonse Ponce Enrile, who was also the father of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

They were all nation builders, and they gave back to the poor and needy.

Sig and I became close when he became a regular at the 365 Club at the old Hotel Intercontinental, which we founded in 1972. He was almost always with his famous wife Armida.

I used to kid him that he was the historian of our club because he knew everybody’s backgrounds—at least those of the greats and the near-greats.

Tony and Ka Imon had humble beginnings and I admired them for their inspiring stories.

Tony, for instance, used to sell cigarets during the Japanese occupa-

Adelle Chua, Editor

The buzz on Acosta

T

HE chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, Persida Acosta, says she is not a mosquito that brings the dreaded dengue, so she must not be blamed for the epidemic.

The statement would be hilarious if it didn’t have a profound impact on the health of millions of Filipinos now threatened by the disease.

The Aquino administration entered into a P3.5-billion deal with the manufacturer, Sanofi, which later on said recipients of the vaccine could still be at risk if they have not had a previous exposure to dengue.

But now a doctors’ group has issued a statement calling for the lifting of the ban on Dengvaxia amid the soaring number of dengue cases.

Another doctors’ group has rejected the use of the vaccine as a way to deal with the current epidemic.

Because it’s the rainy season, and the number of dengue cases—and resulting deaths— have been unprecedented, accusations and counter-accusations involving Acosta, her agency, the Department of Health and those facing

charges in the Dengvaxia scare take on an even greater significance.

Earlier this month, a group of unnamed lawyers from the PAO asked the Office of the Ombudsman to look into Acosta’s move to purchase of office supplies and obtain extra funds, supposedly for the Dengvaxia cases. Other lawyers in the agency have expressed support for Acosta, though, who claims the letter is “fake news” meant to taint her good name. Also tagged in the complaint is Erwin Erfe, her so-called forensics expert.

Acosta and Erfe are also accused of pursuing patients who have supposedly gotten sick because of the vaccine.

In her zeal, Acosta has been accused of fanning a scare among parents who have since refused to have their children vaccinated against other diseases. Several months ago, there was a spike in measles

cases attributed to much lower vaccination rates among children.

Hysterics, fear-mongering and sound bytes do little to assuage people’s doubts or empower them to seek the right information to protect their families. There are numerous other ways to prevent the disease even as we wait for a definitive, science-based decision on how safe the vaccine is. Heaping blame on others and forcing outcomes just to build an argument will not prevent dengue—any disease, for that matter—from claiming children’s lives.

Agencies of the government must not take positions against each other because they have the same mandate—serve the people—under whatever administration.

Finally, while all tasks are important, some are more urgent than others. The cases have been filed and will be given due course. These days, it is crucial to beef up the information drive for prevention, and provide adequate support for treatment of patients who are already sick.

Turn to A5

Who’s manipulating what US PRESIDENT Donald Trump just wouldn’t learn.

Still reeling from his Huwaei bluff which backfired, Trump tried to amplify his trade war with China anew, this time labeling his country’s second largest trading partner a currency manipulator.

This was after the Chinese yuan depreciated to a level lower than seven yuan to a dollar.

Of course, Trump had reasons to suspect this was a China retaliatory tactic as it was his government which imposed a 10 percent tariff on $300 billion worth of goods coming to the United States starting September 1.

By allowing its currency to weaken against the dollar, US importation with China, particularly agricultural products, could severely be affected.

In Trump‘s own words, that particular move by China will “steal our business and factories, hurt our jobs, depress our workers’ wages and harm our farmers’ prices.”

However, Trump’s words run counter to that of the opinion of the United States Treasury.

In a statement released by the Chinese Embassy, Trump and his administration’s claim cannot be more false, as according to the United States Treasury, a country becomes a currency manipulator if they do all these three things: (a) They have a significant trade surplus with the United States; (b) The have a material current account surplus of more than 3 percent of GDP; and (c) There is persistent one-sided intervention in its currency market.

Among these three, the Chinese Embassy insists only one applies to them, which is that they have a significant trade surplus with the US, and as such, it is unfair to label them as a currency manipulator seeing that it did not even do the other two actions that would make it one in the first place.

Furthermore, no less than the International Monetary Fund has disproved the Trump statement by releasing a report concluding that the exchange rate of the Chinese yuan was “broadly

in line with medium-term fundamentals,” and that the Chinese monetary authority barely intervened in the foreign exchange market.

The report stated that the People’s Bank of China, which is the country’s central bank, had “little FX (foreign exchange) intervention.”

The conclusion of the International Monetary Fund provided authentic evidence that China is committed to keeping the yuan generally stable and it has not been artificially depreciating the yuan for trade advantages as what the Trump administration has accused it of doing.

What is the US president saying?

It was market forces that led to the Chinese yuan’s recent depreciation, forces that were influenced by the trade war of the Trump administration.

The problem with Trump, is that in his obsession to get back at China, his moves seemed to be out of place, illadvised or even lack any study to begin with.

With Huwaei fast gaining traction against iPhone’s market, Trump ordered American companies to stop any dealing with the Chinese cellphone manufacturer, including Google, which supplies Huawei’s operating system— the Android OS. But unknown to them, Huawei has already developed its own operating system independent of Google. Thus, instead of forcing Huawei to its knees, it was the US companies which were made to suffer with billions of dollars lost in potential sales.

And now, after imposing another round of tariff on Chinese goods, Trump was quick to cry foul after the Chinese currency dropped significantly for the first time in a decade, but which the IMF branded as but normal market dictates.

Clearly, Trump appears to be the one manipulating in his attempt to outwit the Chinese in the trade which he himself had initiated. Unfortunately for him, everything backfires right in his face.

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Cash still rules in high-tech Japan

By Anne Beade ONCE A pioneer in cashless transactions, Japan is now lagging behind as the world's biggest economies increasingly embrace electronic payments—because its ageing population still prefers physical money.

Four out of five purchases are still made with cash in Japan, despite its reputation as a futuristic and innovative nation. In South Korea, some 90

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

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

percent of transactions are digital, while Sweden aims to be a cashless society as early as 2023.

But in Japan, where crime and counterfeiting is virtually non-existent so people feel more comfortable carrying cash, consumer response has been sluggish.

At Katsuyuki Hasegawa's bike repair shop customers are invited to settle their bills using PayPay—a tieup between Softbank and Yahoo—us-

ing a QR code via their smartphones.

But only "two or three" people a week are using the service, Hasegawa tells AFP. "In a place like this, everything is very slow. We get lots of old people who like to chat while getting out their money. They don't need quick transactions," says the 40-year-old shopkeeper.

"Personally, I prefer cash. With Turn to A5

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion A delicate balance POWER and telecommunications are public utilities covered by Section 11, Article 7 of the Constitution. These two industries are natural monopolies requiring high start-up costs which necessarily limit possible investors.

There have been discussions on easing the restrictions in the telecommunications industry to allow for better and more competitive services. While there may be practical wisdom to this, still the constitutional limitations prevail, and should be followed.

The provision allows operation of a public utility to “citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizen.” Foreign ownership, if at all, is capped at 40 percent maximum.

Section 11 further states: “The participation of foreign investors in the governing body of any public utility enterprise shall be limited to their proportionate share in its capital, and all the executive and managing officers of such corporation or association must be citizens of the Philippines.”

Apart from obvious national secu-

rity reasons, power and telecommunication entail interconnectivity and exchange of information. I believe the rationale behind Section 11 is now challenged by investments of China both in our power and telecommunications industries.

National security is non-negotiable.

Dito Telecommunity Corporation, previously known as the Mislatel consortium, has been granted by the government a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity as the third telecommunications provider in the country last July. The Mislatel consortium is composed of the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc., Udenna Corporation with 35 percent share, Chelsea Logistics Corporation with 25 percent share, and State-owned China Telecommunications Corporation which owns 40 percent.

The National Grid Corporation operates the state-owned power grid which transmits electricity in most parts of the country. At present, the NGCP is owned by the consortium of State Grid Corporation of China, One

Taipan Holdings Corp., and Calaca High Power Corporation. The State Grid Corporation of China holds 40 percent stake, while One Taipan Holdings and Calaca High Power Corp. each have 30 percent. Last Congress, I filed House Bill No. 5209 which proposes to limit the ownership of the NaPhilip tional Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) exclusively to Filipinos.

At present, China holds a 40-percent stake in two of our nationalized, most sensitive industries. China Telecommunications Corporation owns 40 Cor percent of Dito Telecommunity Corporation and the State Grid of China owns 40 percent of NGCP. To be clear, I agree that our country will benefit from the infusion of capital, knowledge and new technology from foreign investors. However, we must strike a delicate balance between modernizing our industries while maintaining the integrity and sovereignty of our public utility companies, from a big picture perspective.

We must be cautious of the extent and breadth of authority and involvement granted to them, particularly in this case where the same country is sole foreign investor. The involvement of just one country in two vital public utilities casts a shadow of vulnerability to our country’s security. As I’ve always said, national security is nonnegotiable.

Gifts REPUBLIC Acts 6713 and 3019 not only discourage but also prohibit government officials, regardless of rank, from receiving gifts as a consideration for performing their official duties.

The rationale for these two laws are simple—to avoid corruption.

But in a speech to the police early this month, the President basically told the police gathering that it is all right to receive gifts as a show of appreciation when they perform their official duties.

He went further by saying that with regard to video karera, the notorious game which is the scourge of young school children who spend their pocket money playing the game instead of using their money to buy their snacks, “ipaubaya na yan sa pulis.” Loosely translated, it would appear that the proceeds derived from video karera operation can be pocketed by police personnel to augment their income.

After his speech, public reaction was generally negative. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo in his regular media briefing reacted by saying that the pronouncement of the President did not violate the Code of Conduct of Public Officials if the gifts were not demanded prior to the service rendered and that the gift must be insignificant, which R.A. 6713 actually allows.

A few days after the President’s speech, Senator Bato de la Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, admitted receiving a Lacoste Tshirt as a gift and lechon while still in the police service. We do not know why he felt it necessary to issue the statement; it just added fuel to the debate.

Since the law does not mention the amount in order for the gift to be considered insignificant, the term could be considered relative and be subject to a lot of interpretation. What exactly is an insignificant gift? Let us take the case of that Lacoste shirt and lechon.

The cheapest genuine Lacoste shirt in the market is about P3,700, going up to about P6,500 for the more expensive styles. A whole lechon on the other hand, depending on the size could cost between P7,000 to P10,000—

Cash...

From A4

PayPay, you don't keep track of your money," he adds.

With Japan becoming the first "super-aged" society with more than 28 percent of people 65 or over, it is harder to persuade consumers to take up new technology, according to Yuki Fukumoto, an analyst at the NLI Research Institute.

"The challenge from now on is how to motivate people" to change their habits, said Fukumoto.

This is a serious challenge in a

maybe more. Does this mean that for a Chief PNP, a Lacoste shirt and lechon are insignificant, but and significant if given to an ordinary policeman?

The law is clear about the prohibition on public officials receiving gifts in consideration of performing official duties. It is not clear, though, about officials receiving gifts during Christmas or birthdays. Maybe this is what the law allows and we see this happening all the time during Christmas holidays and birthdays.

Gift-giving is an old Filipino custom but on many occasions we can no longer distinguish whether the so called gift is already a bribe or just a gift.

We need a definitive guide on what is prohibited and what is allowed.

I remember when I was working as the senior military aide to former President Fidel V. Ramos when he was the Chief of Constabulary. It was his practice to be out of town during his birthdays to avoid big celebrations.

One time, somebody sent him an expensive watch—he sent it back immediately. Another incident was during a trip to Baguio. We were having dinner at the old Pines Hotel when somebody tried to pay for our meal. That person probably did not think anything was wrong, but he received an earful.

Since it was martial law, gift giving during Christmas was not as prevalent as it is now. Still, some old friends would send gifts to the office. All gifts were distributed to units in Camp Crame with the barracks of the Women

country with more than 200,000 ATMs and where most small shops will only take cash to avoid high transaction costs.

Many were also put off when retail giant Seven & I Holdings suffered a hacking attack immediately after launching a new QR-code payment system and was forced to scrap the scheme.

Outdated and collectable Yet it was way back in the 1990s that Japanese firm Denso Wave developed the first QR codes now frequently used in cashless payments, while Sony has offered a chip used

Auxiliary Corps getting majority of the stuff. Nothing was brought home.

During those times, there was no RA 6713 to prohibit anything except the sense of delicadeza of the public official concerned.

Given that corruption and illegal drugs are two of President Duterte’s two major priority concerns, he should probably not have said anything about receiving gifts. But maybe he was only trying to raise the morale of the police.

It is no secret that he usually opens up every time he is in the company of the police and military because he feels very comfortable with them.

One would think that there is only one step to take and that is in order to avoid the appearance of public officials benefiting from their positions, there should be stricter rules against receiving any kind of gifts in exchange for performing one’s duties.

We have to remember that big things start from small things.

Besides, the President have already doubled the pay of active uniformed personnel and the pension benefits of police and military retirees. This should be more than enough of an incentive for the police. Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government recently issued a memorandum prohibiting the Police from receiving gifts, but the Palace does not seem to have changed its position which is somewhat similar to the West Philippine Sea situation.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has been issuing strongly worded statements with regard to the intrusion of Chinese ships into our territorial waters, but if the Palace does not back this up and does not issue stronger objections to the intrusion, nothing much will happen. To the Chinese, only the word of the President matters.

I am not altogether sure that the clarification of Palace Spokesman Panelo is enough to put the gift issue to rest. There is a need for a more definitive guide so that there can be no mistaking of what is prohibited and what is allowed. Let us not wait for a test case to happen.

on public transport and for payments since the 2000s.

Payment cards for transport systems in Tokyo and other cities are also often used for small purchases from vending machines or convenience stores, but cash remains preferred for other transactions.

The Japanese government is hoping to seize on a wave of tourists expected to flood in for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to double the amount of electronic payments to 40 percent by 2025.

It also plans to introduce a points system to partially reward customers paying by cashless means as a way to mitigate a controversial hike in con-

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

What tariffication was not intended to achieve not—repeat, not—promise the Filipino people. For one thing, it did not promise that farmgate and retail prices would fall or rise to certain levels; those are the results of the importing and selling deciTHE media have been reporting sions of traders operating in a free that some sectors of Philippine so- rice market. For another, the Act ciety are unhappy with the terms did not promise that Filipino rice and implementation of the Rice farmers overnight would become Tariffication Law and that some competitive with the farmers of the farmers and congressional groups countries from which rice imports are preparing the repeal of argu- come; this country’s rice farmers ably the most significant piece of are capable, with sustained and rice industry-specific legislation dedicated government assistance, in the post-war era. The law was of being competitive with the passed by the 17th Congress in its farmers of the countries that are the last year.

Philippines’ rice suppliers. And the The dissatisfaction being felt Act certainly did not promise that about the Rice prices in the Ta r i f f i c a t i o n retail market Act reminds me would always The law should be of the popular be sufficiently 1970s song “I given a chance to grow remuneraBeg Your Partive for this and prove its worth. don.” The first country’s rice two lines of farmers and, that lilting song at the same were “I beg your pardon, I didn’t time, affordable for its rice concon promise you a rose garden.” Obvi Obvi- sumers. ously, the person at the receiving The Rice Tariffication Act (1) reend of those words expected more placed the quota mechanism, profrom the other person than the lat- hibited by WTO (The World Trade ter had intended to give.

Organization) that previously had If the groups that are unhappy been allowed in order to ease the with the terms and the implemen- eventual shift to a tariff system tational provisions of the Rice and, (2) as already stated, transTariffication Act are feeling that ferred rice import activity from the way, it is because they thought government to the private sector. that the new law—in the words of That is all that Congress intended the 1970s song—promised them a to achieve with the Act. rose garden. They are wrong. The The trouble with the critics of Act did not promise anyone a rose the Rice Tariffication Act—and garden. the reason why they are badmouthThe objective of the Rice Tariffi- ing it—is that many people in this cation Act is made up of two parts. country, including legislators and The first part was to shift the activ- merchants, have become so used ity of bringing foreign capital from to import controls, quotas, subthe public sector to the private sec- sidies, limits and other unsound tor. The second part, an offshoot regulatory concepts that they are of the first, was to generate gov- uncomfortable with the notions of ernment revenues with which to market competition and operationprovide government financial as- al efficiency. At the first sign of sistance to the Philippine rice in- difficulty or discomfort, they give dustry. That, no more and no less, up and run to Mama Government. is the garden that the Act promised The Rice Tariffication Act is still to the Filipino people. in its infancy. It should be given There are numerous things that a chance to grow and prove its the Rice Tariffication Act did worth.

My best...

From A4

*** Here we go again. The President has warned that the government would act accordingly to respond to the entry of foreign vessels into Philippine waters without permission. But he has not said what the response would be.

Frankly, I cannot imagine our Philippine Navy ever going against Chinese warships if the latter defied Duterte’s warnings.

The President indeed uttered some fighting words. The question is, can we ever really prevent the Chinese from doing as they please? *** If Beijing really wanted to quell the continuing protests, it can very easily order the military to intervene. There seems to be a possibility, however, that it will not. Beijing knows too well the consequences of such an action.

From the looks of it, the massing of tanks and armed forces at Hong Kong’s borders could just be a show of force.

Still, I am truly worried about what can happen to Hong Kong.

appreciation from the public.

Some sectors have suggested a certain percentage of the annual salaries of public servants. A senator said a Lacoste shirt or lechon were ok. But I think these are too expensive. The suggestion is anti-poor.

I also don’t think money should be given at all to public servants. It could be habit forming. Even addictive, like drugs.

After all, public servants are already being paid through their salaries. What Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew did was to increase their salaries to discourage corruption. *** Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has again declined his automatic nomination to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He may well go down in history as the best chief justice we never had.

If seniority traditions are to be followed, next in line are Justices Diosdado Peralta and Estela Perlaswww.emiljurado.weebly.com Bernabe.

sumption tax from eight percent to 10 percent from October.

Tokyo perhaps has an eye on the costs of such a dependence on cash, estimated by a Boston Consulting Group survey at two trillion yen ($18 billion) to maintain ATMs and transport money around securely.

Companies too are doing their best to promote a cashless society—earlier in the year, mobile company Rakuten started "100-percent cashless" stadia for its baseball and football teams.

Akiko Yamanaka, who runs a chic restaurant called "Koguma" ("bear"), said a 10-percent discount introduced

by PayPay for diners who settle the

bill using their system had attracted several people.

"The more campaigns there are like this, the more people will convert to cashless," said the 54-year-old.

And Rakuten boss Hiroshi Mikitani is convinced that the future is cashless, even in Japan.

"One day soon, money as we know it—notes and coins that we carry with us—will be as outdated and collectable as vinyl discs are now," he said in a recent blog.

Nevertheless, he admitted that "security has to be improved" for this to happen, especially in the wake of the QR hack. AFP

News

A6

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MOA for OFWs. The Chinese Gen-

eral Hospital & Medical Center, owned and operated by Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Millicent Productions, Inc., and Buhay OFW Foundation headed

by CEO/president Marissa del Mar together with her daughter Princess Adriano, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the CGHMC MAB 10th Floor, Boardroom.

Through this Memorandum of Agreement, overseas Filipino workers and their immediate families can avail special discounts on medical services from CGHMC. This partnership will give assurance to the health and wellbeing of our OFWs as well as their families here in the Philippines.

PCCAI/CGHMC is represented by CEO/president Dr. James G. Dy and his wife Julieta, chairman of the board Dr. Benito Goyokpin, chairman emeritus Florante Dy, vice chairman Antonio Tan, executive vice president Kelly Sia, vice chairman and CGHMC senior vice president for Overall Operations Jameson Dy, special assistant to the president and director Robert Yang, PCCAI directors Dr. William Lee, Michael So, Manuel Co, Peter Lim,; FCGCCI directors Mariano Ko, Edmund Santos, Ricky Ty, and head of the different departments of CGHMC.

‘Road-clearing big fight vs. corruption’

By Maricel V. Cruz BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza has urged Malacañang to issue an executive order that will deal with all the road excavations left unattended by public works contractors and private firms supplying water, gas, electricity and telecommunications services.

“We need highly disciplined road diggings, considering that there could be up two million of them nationwide every year, including those done by utility companies,” Atienza said.

“Road excavation permit applicants should be billed rising hourly fees so they will be coerced to complete their work without delay,” said Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila.

Atienza also said public works contractors and utility firms should also be required to pay extra charges if they chose to do their work on weekdays, instead of weekends.

He also urged Malacañang to order ‘highly disciplined’ road diggings by public works contractors and utility firms.

“Every Tom, Dick and Harry illegally occupying and obstructing a public road or sidewalk is paying a bribe to somebody,” Atienza said.

“This is why we consider President Rodrigo Duterte’s road and sidewalkclearing push as a Herculean fight against corruption,” Atienza said.

Atienza described the State’s police powers as “the ability of Malacañang down to local government officials to compel obedience to laws, and to regulate behavior and enforce order for the improvement of public welfare.”

BoC to donate 800 seized vehicles Solon wants new province T created

ment Operations and Coordination Group emphasized that creating a legal team would exHE Bureau of Customs will donate more than 800 pedite the President’s order to seized imported secondhand vehicles to various dispose of and distribute the vegovernment agencies and put them in good use rather hicles to identified government agencies such as the Local Govthan destroy them. ernment Units, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PhilIn a statement, the bureau said it that are located in far-flung areas. would create a legal team tasked Deputy Commissioner Edward ippine National Police, among to review in donating the second- James Dy Buco of the BOC Assess- others. hand vehicles, seized inside the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority due to a government ban on importation of said cars.

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 156, prohibiting the importation of secondhand vehicles into the country to strengthen the local automotive industry and to deter smuggling.

District Collector Arienito Claveria of the Port of Aparri, Cagayan said the Bureau had to coordinate with CEZA management as to the disposition of the vehicles that have been seized and stocked within the facilities of CEZA. Earlier, President Rodrigo RoaDuterte stated that he planned to have the seized vehicles distributed to various government agencies rather than having them destroyed.

The announcement was made to address the need of various government agencies especially those

By Vito Barcelo

IN LOVING MEMORY OF NIEVES SANTOS CABRERA QUARANTINE CHECK. Department of Agriculture officials do a quaratine check

Wednesday in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez—formerly Montalban—Rizal after three barangays were placed under quarantine because of the possible presence of African swine fever, a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease in pigs and boars. Manny Palmero

A LAWMAKER from Mindanao has sought the creation of the province of Maguindanao North, and naming the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat as its capital.

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, in House Bill 3405, said the creation of the province of Maguindanao North would not only expedite the delivery of basic services to the communities but would also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of promoting development and growth at the local level.

“House Bill 3405 is drafted with the primary intention of bringing services to the people efficiently and immediately,” Mangudadatu said.

He noted that the naming the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat as the provincial capital was the most practical choice due to its accessibility via air, land and sea.

Aside from its viability to all forms of transportation, Sultan Kudarat holds historical significance among Muslims.

“The name of the municipality itself is named after Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat who ruled the Sultanate of Maguindanao for more than 50 years.

For us, he is our hero, a great leader who fought and defended the Islam faith and our domain from foreign invaders. With this, we hold his memory close to our hearts,” Mangudadatu said.

The creation of Maguindanao North would mean dividing the Maguindanao into two provinces, namely Maguindano North and Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu rationalized that while Maguindanao is vastly rich in natural resources, it has remained considerably poor because government projects and programs are not equally distributed. ”With the establishment of this new province, its constituents will and can expect a more accessible, accountable and responsive local government unit,’ said Mangudadatu. Maricel V. Cruz

DOH-Calabarzon conducts UHC orientation

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Nieves Santos Cabrera, mother of Manila Standard’s chief photographer Roberto Cabrera, died on Tuesday due to heart failure. She was 87.

She is survived by her children Zenaida Cabrera-Ferrer, Edgardo Cabrera (+), Roberto, Remedios Cabrera, and Miriam Cabrera.

Her remains lie in state at the St. Peter’s Memorial Chapel in Sampaloc, Manila.

THE Department of Health-CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) conducted a weeklong orientation on Universal Health Care for leaders of Sangguniang Bayan and Panlalawigan and Association of Barangay Captain Presidents of Batangas and Quezon.

“We will continue our advocacy campaign for UHC and provide a forum for all stake holders. local leaders, especially in the pilot areas, on the objectives and provisions of UHC and how important their role in the success of its implementation at the grassroots level,” Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said.

He said education and proper information on the application and execution of the UHC program would redound to its success.

However, Janairo also cited the need for valuable political leadership

and support of all the local leaders working together to achieve the beneficial purpose of the program.

Republic Act 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Law, is defined as access to the full range of the most appropriate health care and technology for all Filipinos at the lowest possible price including social health protection.

Regional UHC Point Person Dr. Monica Jennifer Victorino said the UHC advocacy team will continue to reach out to all local government unit leaders and inform them on how they can benefit in the various health system reforms under the UHC. “They are the recipient of health care services and it is important that they recognize their role in the service delivery network under the proposed province or city-wide health system which will deliver the required health care services for their constituents.”

“It is very important that all issues

and concern regarding the implementation of UHC must be resolved and all stakeholders will come into an agreement and convey their support towards the implementation, institutionalization and sustainability of the in their respective provinces,” she explained.

DOH-CALABARZON has been conducting a regionwide advocacy, planning and workshop for local chief executives together with their provincial/city/municipal health officers.

It has prepared action plans for the implementation of the province-wide Universal Health Care which will include signing of the Universal Health Care Resolution after all LGUs are oriented and well-informed.

Janairo assured that inequities in LGU health services, including human resource for health (HRH), health services, medicines and equipment will be resolved.

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Cebu-based student sports/academic league 1st to harness student power CEBU CITY—The year 2019 marks a milestone in the history of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. as season 19’s production and coverage, marketing, and digital media committees are organized and managed by student volunteers from the league’s various universities.

CESAFI is the only student league in the Philippines to have such student-managed production, media, and marketing teams. Season 19 of the league begins on August 31 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The CESAFI Season 19 student-volunteers handle the various aspects of production, from directing the coverage, handling the cameras, streaming, and other production equipment, anchoring, commentating, and courtside reporting; of marketing, putting together proposals and making pitches with prospective sponsors; and of digital media, producing articles, photos, videos, and graphic

design for the official CESAFI Season 19 website and social media platforms (FB, YouTube, Twitter and IG).

An initiative of CESAFI Commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr., the CESAFI Season 19 student-volunteers corps is called CESAFI LIVE. It provides the students with training and practical realworld experience in the fields of marketing, creative design, media, and production, while drumming up support for the league’s events, players and contenders.

“We take CESAFI one step further this Season 19, not only by improving the environment for our student-athletes and other event contenders, but also by including more students not merely as spectators and fans, but as actual organizers and managers of various committees that make CESAFI a success,” said Tiukinhoy.

“This way, we can truly say that CESAFI is not just for the students, but also of the students and by the students. Basta

CESAFI, estudyante!”

CESAFI Season 19 starts with an opening program, parade and oath-taking of student-athletes, and basketball games to be played by Don Bosco Technological Centre versus Cebu Eastern College (high school) and Cebu Institute of Technology-University versus University of San Jose-Recoletos (college).

Season 19 is presented by Cebu Landmasters Inc., PayMaya, Sun Cellular, and co-presented by Qualfon, Virginia Food Inc., and CDO Foodsphere Inc. It is sponsored by Marco Polo Hotels, UPB Gen and Sonak Trading. Media partners include the BusinessMirror, Skycable, Cebu Daily News, Sun Star Cebu, The Freeman, Superbalita Cebu and Banat.— CESAFI Media Bureau The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. is an association founded in 2000 to encourage closer inter-school relationships while creating a platform to pro-

Over 100 student volunteers from various CESAFI member-universities complete their preparations for CESAFI Season 19. The volunteers are shown here with CESAFI Commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. (middle, third row from bottom) at their Grand Final Meeting held at the Cebu Institute of Technology-University.

mote the physical and intellectual abilities of Cebu-based student-athletes through sports and academic competitions. The competitions run for seven months, beginning in August and ending in March the following year.

CESAFI’s member schools are University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, Southwestern University-PHINMA, Uni-

Tokyo ‘20 hailed, but hotels a concern T OKYO—The Paralympics chief has said the 2020 Games are “on track,” but raised alarm bells over a dearth of accessible hotel rooms in Tokyo with only one year to go.

“I couldn’t be happier with the preparations so far. With one year to go, we’re totally on schedule, on track,” Andrew Parsons told AFP in an interview to mark 12 months until the start of the games on August 25, 2020.

However, he admitted that his “biggest concern” was still the poor selection of hotel rooms equipped for the thousands of disabled supporters, journalists and coaches poised to descend on Tokyo for the 13-day competition.

Athletes and some support staff will be housed in the Olympic village where there will be enough wheelchair-friendly rooms.

But outside the village, currently only half of the fully accessible rooms needed for the Games are available and Paralympic officials do not want hotels to be too widely dispersed around the vast Japanese capital for fear of creating a knockon transport headache.

Japanese legislation previously required hotels with 50 or more rooms to have just one wheelchair-friendly option and although this has recently been slightly improved to ensure one percent of rooms are accessible, the change will not come into effect until after the Games.

Parsons said the lack of accessible hotel

rooms highlighted a social stigma sometimes faced by disabled people in Japan.

“Most probably it is perceived in Japan that people with disabilities don’t travel for leisure, for business, so why have accessible hotel rooms?” said the 42-yearold Brazilian.

The change in legislation will be a positive legacy from the Games and Parsons hoped the competition would also promote a change in attitude.

“What the Games will hopefully show is that persons with disabilities can travel, they can do anything that anyone else can if you offer them the conditions,” he said.

He cautioned that the hotel problem “may affect the Games and it may affect the Games experience of some of our clients” but said organisers and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government were working

on a solution.

“They understand they have an issue.

They understand this is a problem for us, for the Games, so we are working on it together.”

‘Over-protective’ attitude Parsons said he hoped the later start date for the Paralympics would reduce some of the problems feared from heat and humidity during the Olympics but noted that there were specific issues faced in disability sport.

For example, many quadriplegic athletes are unable to sweat, meaning they need to take additional measures to cool their body, he said.

Like the Olympics, organisers have brought forward the start time for the marathon to beat the blistering sun but this also brings its own challenges for Paralympians. AFP

Lim returning to Perpetual 5

By Peter Atencio

FRANKIE Lim is returning to coach the University of Perpetual Help Altas this Friday.

Lim took a leave of absence after the Altas lost badly to the defending champion San Beda Red Lions, 56-102, last Aug.16 in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. The Altas will meet the San Sebastian Stags to seek their fourth win in nine games, with Lim taking over from Myk Saguiguit.

“Lim is back with the ALTAS after missing the game against EAC last Tuesday as he was on leave. We have to move on and focus on our campaign,” said Franki Gusi, the school’s management committee representative to the NCAA. With Saguiguit coaching last Tuesday, Rey Peralta unloaded 21 points to help lift the University of Perpetual Help Altas to an 88-87 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals for their third triumph in eight outings.

Obama jersey sells for $120k

NEW YORK—A basketball jersey once owned by former US president Barack Obama sold Monday for $120,000, according to the Dallas auction house that sold it.

The number 23 jersey belonged to 18-year-old Obama while he was a senior at Punahou high school in Hawaii, where he lived at the time, according to Heritage Auctions. The jersey was valued at $100,000 before it was sold.

Obama is a known basketball fan and was often seen playing during his tenure at the White House, with presidential staffers, celebrities or other guests. AFP

Enriquez resumes PPS tennis hunt SYDNEY Enriquez hopes to flash top form coming off a break as she shoots for another two-title sweep in the PPSPEPP Cotabato City national age group tennis tournament, which gets going today (Thursday) at the Cotabato City Tennis Society courts.

Close to 200 players are vying for top honors in various divisions in the Group 2 tournament with the sponsoring Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala and host Cotabato City Tennis Society putting up a novel 8-unisex division to accommodate the kids wanting to get a feel of tournament play.

“It’s inspiring to see that players as young as eight years old and below have shown interest in playing in a tournament format and we hope to put up more of this (8-unisex) category in our future tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, referring to the youngest division that features siblings Matteo and Uno Calingasan, Rafa Ubag and Reuben Calzado, among others.

But focus will still be on the 16-yearold Enriquez, the star from Salug, Zambo del Norte who has dominated her age bracket and the premier 18-andunder category in the Gen. Santos City, Kidapawan, Ozamis, Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental stops of the nationwide circuit presented by Dunlop.

The Palarong Pambansa champ, however, expects to have her hands full this week against the likes of Judy Ann Padilla, Mae Gulagula and Teya Quinanola with Zkyla Cervantes, Joanne Gornez, Shiela Balinas and Jlo Ramirez joining the title chase in 18-U play.

Keen competition is also seen in the

WWE World Heavyweight champion Sheamus is greeted by kids from the Christian Mission Service Philippines.

WWE superstar Sheamus wows Manila fans; PH show set FOR the WWE Universe in the Philippines, the talk of the town was the return of four-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Sheamus last week.

The Celtic Warrior’s 24 hours in the Philippines included an obstacle run and a meet and greet with select members of the WWE Universe.

After landing in Manila on Wednesday night, Sheamus hit the gym to recover from a long and grueling flight. The following morning, Sheamus took to the streets of Metro Manila for a quick photo shoot before joining the kids from the Christian Mission Service Philippines, via Children’s Hour

Philippines, for a fun obstacle run.

“That was amazing!” Sheamus shared.

“A lot of these kids were jumping all over the walls. They were active and they were having fun!”

Sheamus then sat down for a series of interviews with the local media.

“If I get back into the ring, the Intercontinental Championship will be the first thing I go after. It’s definitely the one I want to finish the collection. It’s that one Infinity Stone. Once I get it, in the click of my finger. Boom!”

Later that afternoon, the WWE Universe in the Philippines braved the infa-

mous Manila traffic for an exclusive meet and greet at Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar in Bonifacio Global City. For the hundreds in attendance, it was the chance to personally interact with one of the most decorated Superstars in sports-entertainment history. From his numerous WWE World Heavyweight Championship wins to his incredible tag team run as one-half of The Bar with Cesaro, an entire generation of Filipino WWE fans grew up watching Sheamus’ battles inside the squared circle.

“I’ve always said that what makes a country great are the people in it,” Sheamus added. “The food is amazing, the

people here are amazing. Everyone here is so proud to be from the Philippines- everyone is so nice and respectable.”

WWE SmackDown! will make its long-awaited return to the Philippines on Sept. 20, live at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide and online at http:// www.ticketnet.com.ph.

For additional information about Sheamus and WWE, please visit: http://www.

WWE.com or follow the WWE on its social media pages: Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/WWE) | Twitter (https:// www.twitter.com/WWESEAsia) .

Batangas fights back from 16, edges Bacoor

Cignal...

From A8

He said instead of crying over the lost opportunity, they will just troop back to the drawing board and ploy how they can play like real champions.

“We knew the quality of this Cignal team right from the start of the conference. They have a tall and very deep lineup,” said Delos Santos, who is looking to forge a rematch with the Cargo Movers in the finals starting this Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

versity of Visayas, University of San JoseRecoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Inc., Cebu Institute of Technology-University, Cebu Doctors University, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Don Bosco Technical CollegeCebu, Cebu Eastern College, Velez College, and University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Gerald Anderson of Imus Bandera prepares to help out during a rebound play.

BATANGAS CITY—Inaugural champion Batangas City fought back from 16 points down before turning back powerhouse Bacoor, 87-86, in the MPBL Lakan Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Jason Melano and Jeff Viernes each produced a doubledouble performance late Tuesday night, propelling the Tanduay-backed Athletics to an emotional home win in a gripping match in front of a raucous crowd.

Melano came away with 20 points and 13 rebounds and completed a steal that led to the game-winning lay up at the other end for Mon Rogado to send Batangas City to its fifth win in eight games in the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

The loss was the third in 11 games for the Strikers, who dropped to third spot of the southern division of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league in the country.

Viernes, the spitfire guard, returned to help the Athletics after missing the team’s last two games. He came back

and produced a double-double of 11 points and 10 assists, but his three-point basket touched off a 14-3 wind up by Batangas City, which played the unusual role as underdog this time.

Earlier, Basilan and Imus pulled off contrasting victories to bolster their respective campaigns.

Still licking the wounds of their painful setback to Makati a few days ago, the Steel unveiled their most productive game of the season in giving the Navotas Clutch a sound beating, 113-94.

The 113 points was the franchise’s best for Basilan, which also shot a high 60-percent shooting from the field (48-of-79) and drew 78 points from inside the shaded area, 44 more than its counterpart.

The Steel’s bench also proved to be more superior as their shock troopers outplayed their rivals, 63-45.

Imus edged Nueva Ecija, 75-73, in the other game as Jayjay Helterbrand hit three of four free throws down the stretch that bailed the Bandera out of trouble and propelled the team to its third win in nine games.

Cignal tries to dethrone Petron in PSL

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

A8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

Game Today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 7 p.m. — Cignal vs Petron

Sports Beermen’s ‘slam’ bid gains steam THE clamor for the San Miguel Beermen to go for a grand slam continues.

And this time, members of the team and coach Leo Austria may just accept the challenge given to them by the management and their fans.

Austria said that with an intact lineup that they have going in to Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup, the Beermen may just be able to pull it off.

“Since we won the first and second conference, we have a chance to go for a grand slam. We will try our best,” said Austria.

Austria said this during the team’s victory party Tuesday at the SMC main office in Mandaluyong City.

San Miguel Brewery president Bobby Huang reminded the team of this clamor from employees and fans during the celebrations.

“Ipapaalala ko lang ang aking munting kahilingan. Simple lang.

Isang grand slam,” said Huang.

A few months back, fans and management made clamors for the San Miguel Beermen to go for the grand slam before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup. Now, Austria’s outlook has changed after the Beermen won over the TNT KaTropa, 102-90, in Game Six of their best-of-seven finals as they finished the finals’ series with a 4-2 slate.

During their game against the KaTropa, import Chris McCullough stepped up for San Miguel Beer with 35 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

The Beermen’s next challenge now is that they are one title away from duplicating their own 1989 and 2014 grand slams.

In 1989, the Beermen pulled it off with Mon Fernandez and Hector Calma leading the team, and coach Norman Black calling the shots.

Twenty-five years later, the team duplicated the feat with coach Tim Cone steering the ship.

In the coming conference, San Miguel Beer is bringing in Dez Wells to help its cause.

The 27-year-old Wells is a 6’5” forward who played for Xavier and Maryland in the US NCAA. He also played in the NBA GLeague for the Oklahoma City Blue before taking his act to Greece and Italy, most recently.

Cignal’s Jovelyn Gonzaga keeps the ball from going out of bounds.

Guiao, staff having difficult time picking Gilas’ Final 12 A

By Peter Atencio

FTER June Mar Fajardo, Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario returned to practice on Monday evening, members of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff will take its own sweet time to decide on the composition of the national team.

Two tuneup games against the Adelaide 36ers of Australia will help national coach Yeng Guiao decide on his final 12 roster.

Fajardo, who skipped the Monday evening victory part of the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, practiced with Gilas for first the time with Pogoy and Rosario.

“Up to now, me and the coaching staff are having a hard time deciding on the final 12. We know that it’s a tough group that we’re in,” said Guiao during a sendoff lunch yesterday at the Meralco gymnasium in Pasig City.

Guiao spoke in the presence of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas officials

led by Chairman Emeritus Manny Pangilinan and president Alfredo Panlilio, alongside 36ers’ CEO Ben Kavenagh, head coach Joey Wright and members of their team.

The 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool is on its final phase of preparation for the 2019 Fiba World Cup in China, with less than two weeks to go before the start of the tournament.

“We will battle the best teams in the world, and that’s 32 of them,” said Panlilio.

The national pool, which welcomed the addition of Robert Bolick Jr. and CJ Perez in their tuneup game in Spain, will face the 36ers in two tuneup games on Friday and on Sunday.

While injured Matthew Wright is still sitting out practices, Guiao said he hopes that their game with the 36ers will allow them a chance to face a squad that is known for playing high quality basketball.

The 36ers are the four-time champions of Australia’s National Basketball League.

And their coach in Wright used to play for PBA squad Presto, with Allan Caidic.

The tuneup games between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australians come more than a year after a fight broke out on July 2 during the Philippines’ game with the Australian Boomers in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Since then, the SBP replaced many players who were suspended, and Guiao eventually took over from Chot Reyes.

“This is something that I thought will be good for Philippine basketball. I want to erase bad memories of the past, and replace them with good memories of Australia,” said Guiao.

Thailand bets sizzle with 66s to lead by 2 shots LIPA City, Batangas—Nemittra Juntanaket picked up from where she left off last week, shooting a six-under 66 for a share of the lead with a late-charging fellow Thai Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang as they wrested control by two at the start of The Women’s Championship at Summit Point here yesterday.

Five days after scoring a wire-to-wire breakthrough triumph in the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Classic, Juntanaket is at it again, bucking another fumbling start with a startling run of birdies although she missed grabbing the solo lead with a bogey on the par-3 17th of the par-72 layout which boasts of 18 of the world’s premier golf holes.

That enabled Pattaranakrueang to grab a piece of first day honors as she gunned down six birdies in a flawless backside finish that lined her up for a crack at the second Ladies Philippine Golf Tour crown following her maiden romp at Luisita last year.

But Korean Hwang Min-Jeong and another Thai Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro churned out a pair of 68s and Tiranan Yoopan, also from Thailand, shot a 69 she spiked with an ace on No. 6 and Chihiro Ikeda, Ajira Nualraksa and defending champion Yupaporn Kawinpakorn turned in identical 70s in a first day battle marred by early drizzle and ended in scorching condition.

Nemittra Juntanaket seems to have never missed a beat since scoring a breakthrough at Mount Malarayat.

“The course is great and very easy to manage,” said Juntanaket, whose faulty start sparked hopes of another successful campaign in the P750,000 tournament sponsored

by ICTSI. The 22-year-old Pha-Yao native also made a triple-bogey to open her campaign at Mount Malarayat but bounced back to salvage a 72 and went on to win the event by six for her first LPGT triumph and second career win.

“I mishit my approach shot on No. 1 and it went into the water. But I was able to recover again and my putting clicked,” added Juntanaket, who birdied the next six holes after that double-bogey start, added two more on Nos. 9 and 11 then negated a bogey mishap on No. 13 with back-to-back birdies before dropping another stroke on the 17th.

Coming off a missed cut stint in Taiwan, Pattaranakrueang was more than satisfied with her fiery start she anchored on superb putting then said she would rather play it smart tomorrow and stay focused on the task at hand.

“My game is great compared to last week in Taiwan. I missed just three fairways and two greens and my putting had been very good,” said Pattaranakrueang, who nipped Cyna Rodriguez in playoff to snare the Luisita crown last year.

Curry finances college golf team for 6 years

STEPHEN CURRY

WASHINGTON—Three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors said Monday he will support the creation of Howard University’s first top-level golf program for the next six years.

Curry, a six-time NBA All-Star guard and avid golfer, was inspired to make the contribution by Otis Ferguson IV, a senior at the Washington DC university who Curry met during a campus visit earlier this year.

Ferguson had been campaigning to establish a golf team at Howard. He found a backer in Curry, who decided establish men’s and women’s golf at the historically black college.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable

Player Curry also persuaded golf equipment manufacturer Callaway to promise equipment and sport apparel giant Under Armour, who are one of his sponsors, to provide uniforms.

Curry, who often plays in celebrity golf events, played on his high school golf team. He hosts and produces the golf-themed reality game show “Holey Moley” and has twice played in PGA developmental tour events.

“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” Curry said.

“It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these pas-

sionate student athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough.

“I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”

The Bison plan to a debut for the men’s and women’s golf teams in the 2020-21 academic year.

Golf will join 19 other top-level Division 1 sports programs at the university after having previously been at a secondary, club level, sport.

“Howard University is honored to partner with NBA champion Stephen Curry to launch what is sure to be-

AFTER posting an earthshaking win in their first encounter, Cignal tries to dethrone Petron in a sudden-death semifinal battle of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Action fires off at 7 p.m. with the HD Spikers looking to complete a massive upset of the Blaze Spikers to punch a ticket to the best-of-three finals showdown of this prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport.

F2 Logistics had already booked its finals ticket following a masterful 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-19 conquest of Foton in the other semifinal battle late Tuesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

That makes this do-or-die match doubly interesting as Petron suddenly finds itself fighting for dear life after ruling this mid-season conference for the past couple of years and winning all but one game in the double-round preliminaries.

Veterans Rachel Anne Daquis and Jovelyn Gonzaga spearheaded the ambush, delivering clutch hits in the deciding set to power the HD Spikers to a 25-20, 10-25, 16-25, 27-25, 15-11 win in their first semifinal encounter of this tourney that also has ESPN5 and Kapatid TV5 as broadcast partners.

Cignal coach Edgar Barroga lauded his wards, saying that the pressure is on Petron as it tries to keep its dream of winning a three-peat alive.

“We came here with nothing to lose.

The pressure is now on Petron,” said Barroga following their thrilling encounter that lasted until the wee hours of Tuesday.

“We’re going to do our best in this fight of our lives.”

But Petron won’t simply buckle down to pressure.

Head coach Shaq Delos Santos said losing to Cignal in a high-stake battle didn’t come as a surprise ass it is known to be a quality team with a merry mix of veterans like Gonzaga and Daquis, rising stars like Mylene Paat and Janine Navarro with a savvy Filipino-American playmaker like Alohi Robins-Hardy.

Turn to A7

Vermosa aquathlon set Aug. 25 CLOSE to 300 youths and seasoned multisport athletes from around the nation are ready to test their mettle in the Vermosa Sports Hun Aquathlon 2 event set for August 25 at Vermosa Sports Hub along Daang Hari, Imus City, Cavite.

In this latest event of the ongoing Vermosa Sports Hub Multisport Series 2019 and the Sun Life Aquathlon Series organized by Bike King Philippines, participants will perform in their respective categories (with age-appropriate distances) using the Vermosa Sports Hub’s world-class Olympic-sized swimming pool and the highly modern track oval.

The shortest course is composed of a 100-meter swim and 600-meter run for the kids (age 7-10), while the longest course is 1 Km swim and 7 Km run (for participants aged 15 and older).

At stake in the event supported by Vermosa Sports Hub, Smart, Standard Insurance, official timer Garmin, SPEEDO, Apollo Petroleum Jelly and hydration partners Pocari Sweat and Sip Purified Water are specially designed medals and gift packs for the top 3 finishers of each age-group category.

More notably, this event will serve as the final race of the Vermosa Sports Hub Multisport Series 2019 which includes an aquathlon (March) and a triathlon (June).

The Top Athletes of 2019 of the Vermosa Sports Hub Multisport Series 2019 will be awarded after the race.

Also up for grabs are points for the Top 20 finishers in the standard distance category which will be counted for the for the search of 2019’s Top Aquathlete in the ongoing Sun Life Aquathlon Series. Vermosa Sports Hub will host the concluding aquathlon series event – the Sun Life Aquathlon Series Championship – on October 13.

The awarding ceremony will take place at around 10 a.m. near the swimming pool area. Spectators and companions of participants are welcome to spend time at the race expo located at the same area.

IN BRIEF

Power distributors get one-year leeway DISTRIBUTION utilities affected by the Supreme Court ruling on the competitive selection process can seek a one-year leeway to comply with the decision and continue to serve their consumers, according to the Energy Department.

“Distribution utilities with PSAs that have been invalidated by the SC decision can apply for CSP exemption as provided by the 2018 department circular. The exemption will only be for one year so they will still have to supply for one year while they conduct the CSP to replace the contracts affected by the SC decision,” Energy assistant secretary Redentor Delola said.

The department issued a CSP advisory to guide industry stakeholders on the way forward following the Supreme Court’s decision on the petition of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Inc. against the Energy Regulatory Commission.

The high court’s decision is seen to affect 99 PSA contracts that supply power to 52 distribution utilities serving 13 million electricity consumers nationwide. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

IPO asks universities to pursue inventions THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines is encouraging universities and colleges to undertake more studies that could lead to new and better inventions.

“As we go up the rankings of the World Innovation Index, we see the need to encourage our partners to step up and give our people the benefits of new discoveries, not only in the field of pharmacy but in other sectors, as well,” IPOPHL deputy director Teodoro Pascua said at the sidelines of the Innovation and Technology Support Office President’s Summit 2019.

Results of the latest GII or World Innovation Index showed that the Philippines moved up the rankings from 73rd to 54th.

The massive jump placed the country to be part of the 42 percent leading innovative economies, marking a huge improvement from the past four years when it was within the 60 percent top innovation drivers.

“We still have many areas we can explore, areas or sectors that lag behind where our ITSO partners can put more emphasis on like electronics, for example. There are still many plants with medicinal values but only our indigenous Sambong and Lagundi were considered pharmaceutical products among hundreds of plants that have medicinal properties,” Pascua said. Othel V. Campos

NLEX Corp.’s income rose 6% to P3b in first half NLEX Corp. said net income rose 6 percent in the first semester from a year ago on sustained vehicle traffic growth across North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway and following toll adjustments.

The operator of NLEX and SCTEX posted a net profit of P3.03 billion from January to June, up from P2.85 billion in the same period last year.

Consolidated net revenues increased 11 percent in the six-month period to P7.44 billion from P6.68 billion in the same period last year.

NLEX attributed the growth in net income to the higher traffic volume in NLEX and SCTEX and incremental toll revenues arising from the toll adjustments that took effect on March 21 for NLEX and June 14 for SCTEX. Average daily traffic at NLEX reached 268,222 daily vehicle entries, up by 5.3 percent from the same period last year, while average daily traffic in SCTEX reached 70,809, higher by 12.2 percent than the previous year.

The company said that in addition to toll revenues, it also generated revenues from advertising, toll services and utility facilities and rental and service income amounting to P147 million in the first half, higher by 47 percent than P100 million posted in the same period last year.

NLEX earlier said it planned to submit a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to build a P20-billion extension of North Luzon Expressway from San Fernando, Pampanga to Dinalupihan, Bataan or the NLEX Phase 3.

NLEX Phase 3 with an estimated cost of P20 billion is a 40-kilometer, 2x2 lane expressway from San Fernando to Dinalupihan.

Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

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Cignal TV to produce more content for Netflix

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NREB seeks longer deadline for renewables THE National Renewable Energy Board expressed hope that the Energy Department will extend the deadline and expand the allocation target for biomass and run-of-river power projects to avail of the feed-in tariff.

NREB chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said the agency would file a request with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for the extension and expansion of the allocation target.

NREB is the implementing agency of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 which grants feed-in tariff incentives to renewable energy developers. The FIT guarantees eligible renewable energy plants an entitlement to the FIT for a period of 20 years.

“For NREB, we will request. We’ll formalize our request to the secretary to accommodate all the capacity that will be tested for FiT eligibility. For run-of-river, there’s no excess capacity. It will be filled up but they won’t be able to meet it within the year. It’s just that they can’t do the testing this year.

For biomass, they will meet it within the year but it’s excess capacity,” Dimalanta said. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

ABOITIZ SUPPORTS ROBOTICS. The Aboitiz Group reinforces its long-standing support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the country as it launches the ‘Kabataan Inyovator: An Aboitiz Robotics Competition’—an initiative that aims to support the country’s young scientists, starting with the Davao leg. Attending the launching of the competition in Davao City are (from left) Davao Light president Rodger Velasco, Department of Education Davao City School Governance and Operations Division head Dr. Teresita Del Valle, Pinoy Robot Games founder Melvin Matulac, Davao City councilor Pilar Braga and Aboitiz Foundation chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

Oil investors still keen on West Philippine Sea

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Energy Department said the West Philippine Sea continues to receive strong interest from international oil and gas companies such as Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. and NWP Ventures.

“Despite the current situation involving the contentious areas, investors remain eager and committed to explore the area for petroleum resources,” the department said in a statement.

“In fact, noteworthy companies, particularly Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. and NWP Ventures, both UK-based companies, have likewise nominated blocks for petroleum service contract applications within the disputed areas,” the agency said.

“Multiple companies, including Spanish firm Repsol, have also shown interest in farming in the West Philippine Sea area,” it said.

The department said many other interested parties were awaiting the government’s policy direction in the West

Philippine Sea and expressed their desire to explore the area once the current moratorium due to force majeure was lifted.

Other areas of interest are Sulu Sea, Quezon province, Ragay Gulf and Mindoro.

The Energy Department said that even before the nominations for areas for oil and gas exploration were accepted under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program, many companies expressed interest towards the Northwest Palawan and Recto Bank areas, with some firms already having nominated various areas in the disputed zones.

Among those companies is PXP Energy, the operator of Service Contract 72

in Recto Bank.

“To date, the DOE has received a total of six requests for area clearances from multiple companies for the Northwest Palawan-Recto Bank area,” it said.

The agency said that under the nomination process, interested companies may submit their letter of intent for the proposed area for nomination. It will then notify the proponents to publish their nomination which will be subject to challenge within 60 days from publication.

The required documents for legal, technical and financial evaluation will be submitted after the lapse of the 60day period and if the submission/application is found compliant with the existing laws and guidelines, the department will recommend to the President the execution of the appropriate service contract.

The agency also said that the recent opening of applications under PCECP affirmed the continued interest of investors in the country’s upstream petroleum industry.

CIGNAL TV Inc., the pay-television unit of MediaQuest Holdings Inc., said it is in talks with Netflix Inc. to create more content for the subscribers of the US video streaming company.

Vitto Angelo Lazatin, vice president and head content management acquisition and strategy at Cignal, said his company and Netflix had discussed the possibility of producing more content.

“We definitely want to be able to pitch more of our past and future projects,” Lazatin told reporters during the announcement of its partnership with Netflix.

“We would like to get eyeballs outside the Philippines and to have our content seen outside the Philippines that is exciting for us,” Lazatin said.

Netflix earlier acquired the international rights to stream “Ang Babaeng Allergic sa Wifi”, a commercial film produced by Cignal in cooperation with October Train Films and The IdeaFirst Company.

“This our first partnership with Netflix. We hope it would be the first of many since we’re not going to stop producing content. We’re gonna keep producing series and we’re gonna keep producing movies,” Lazatin said.

It is also the first title from Cignal to be shown on Netflix.

“We believe that content is king and distribution is queen. As such, we are committed to improving and scaling up our original content lineup and are determined to distribute these to all relevant platform,” said Cignal TV president and chief executive Jane Jimenez-Basas.

Lazatin said Cignal TV would spend P100 million a year in the next two years to produce more content.

“I think at least P100 million per year over a couple of years. That’s [for a] combination of some movies and series,” Lazatin said.

“We wanna keep producing movies we like and series we like,” he said.

Cignal Entertainment has already produced five movies and 10 series ranging from horror, romantic comedy and dramas.

SEC approves merger of RCBC and thrift bank unit

By Julito G. Rada THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the merger between Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and subsidiary RCBC Savings Bank.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued Circular 2019-059 on Aug. 19 to inform its supervised financial institutions about the merger.

It said the SEC approved on July 22, 2019 the plan of merger and articles of merger executed on Nov. 27, 2018 and March 19, 2019, respectively, by RCBC and RCBC Savings Bank with the former as the surviving corporation.

It said that with the merger, the entire assets and liabilities of RCBCS would be transferred to and absorbed by RCBC. The merger took effect on July 22, 2019.

The merger was approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on June 17, 2019. The union was seen to improve RCBC’s financing and operational cost efficiencies.

RCBC is one of the leading banks in the country that offers a wide range of banking and financial products and services.

RCBC’s consolidated net income jumped 23 percent in the first half to P2.7 billion from the P2.2 billion a year ago on sustained strength of core businesses.

The bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the strong growth in net income resulted from sustained efforts in strengthening the bank’s core business with double-digit growth in net interest income by 10 percent and fee-based income by 23 percent.

Net interest income rose 10 percent to P10.6 billion,

driven by the growth in the outstanding loan portfolio of key select markets. Loans to small and medium enterprises grew by 20 percent to P60.5 billion.

Rizal Microbank’s loans to micro and small business enterprises went up by 18 percent to P1.2 billion.

RCBC’s loans to consumers—which include mortgage loans, auto loans and credit cards—increased by 18 percent to P120.6 billion. Gross outstanding credit card receivables accelerated by 37 percent to P25 billion with an active card base of 788,000.

Non-interest income in the first half jumped 102 percent to P6.1 billion, coming from stronger contributions in treasury-related and fee-based income.

The bank booked P3.2 billion in trading gains and P2.1 billion in fee-based income.

Metro Manila has fastest internet in PH—study MOBILE broadband subscribers in Metro Manila enjoy faster internet speeds than in four other largest cities in the Philippines, according to London-based Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics company.

Opensignal, in its analysis of download and upload speed experience in five of the Philippines largest cities, found that Metro Manila beat out Angeles, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao in both metrics—in many cases by very large margins.

“Users in Manila have a distinct mobile broadband speed advantage over their counterparts in other Filipino cities,” the report said.

Opensignal said the metro area is by far the largest urban zone in the Philippines.

“We expect speeds to be faster in cities than in the country as a whole. But in this case, one city in the Philippines

is much faster than the rest—and the differences in speed are quite large,” it said.

“Our users found that in Manila the average overall download speed of 11.6 Mbps [megabits per second] was 47 percent faster than in Angeles, 73 percent faster than in Davao and Cebu and 81 percent better than in Cagayan de Oro,” it said.

It said that in terms of upload speed experience, the distance between Manila and the other cities was not quite as large, but it was still significant.

“Our users in Manila experienced overall upload speeds of 3.4 Mbps, which was 26 percent higher than the average upload speed experience in Angeles and at least 36 percent higher than the average for Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro,” it said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

MANULIFE-PNB DEAL. Manulife Asset Management and Trust Corp. and Philippine National Bank sign a memorandum of agreement that makes the Manulife Asia Pacific REIT Fund of Funds available to PNB clients. The fund is a unit-paying unit investment trust fund that seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation and generate income by investing primarily in real estate investment trusts in the Asia Pacific region. Signing the agreement are (seated, from left) Joy Jasmin Santos, head of trust banking group, PNB; Chester Luy, head of strategy and financial advisory sector, PNB; Wick Veloso, president and chief executive, PNB; Aira Gaspar, president and chief executive, MAMTC; and Zed Matubis, vice president and head of wealth sales, MAMTC.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Asian stocks dip before Powell speech

H

ONG KONG, China—Equities stuttered in Asia on Wednesday as investors took a step back after recent gains, with focus now turning to a key speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell at the end of the week.

Rising hopes for China-US trade talks have provided a much-needed lift to markets over the previous two days but with few fresh catalysts, dealers are keeping their powder dry ahead of Friday’s address.

After positive signals from Donald Trump and some of his top advisers on Monday over progress in the talks with Beijing, and an olive branch with the delay of a ban on Huawei purchases, there have been few developments for traders to buy on.

“Our trade-war headline-inspired relief rally appears to have run its course as I suspect there is still a lot of nervous-

ness among US investors as the global economic realities are just too hard to ignore,” said Stephen Innes at Valour Markets.

Hong Kong was flat in the afternoon and Shanghai was barely moved by the close with Tokyo ending down 0.3 percent. Sydney fell almost one percent, Singapore shed 0.3 percent and Wellington was 0.9 percent lower.

Taipei finished flat and Seoul added 0.2 percent.

In early trade, London rose 0.2 percent, Paris added 0.4 percent and Frankfurt was up 0.3 percent.

The Fed releases minutes of its July

meeting later Wednesday which will provide an insight into its deliberations when cutting interest rates for the first time since the financial crisis.

But Powell’s talk at the central bankers’ gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is the key event and will be closely pored over for clues about the bank’s plans for next month, with experts unable to agree on whether or not he will announce further cuts.

There has been increased speculation that central banks and governments will step in with stimulus support to head off a global downturn, but analysts warn they could be disappointed by what Powell has to say regarding Fed action.

Wall Street and Trump “are anticipating that Mr Powell will signal that the Federal Reserve is about to embark on a reinvigorated wave of easing, following its global peers”, said Jeffrey

Halley, OANDA senior market analyst for Asia-Pacific.

“The US data of late simply does not support the need for an aggressive easing cycle. Despite the US-China trade tensions making their presence felt in European and Asian data prints, this has simply not happened with the United States to any significant degree.”

Also, Trump on Tuesday insisted the economy was doing well, denying warnings from some quarters—including top economists—that the US was heading for a recession within two years.

“I think the word recession is inappropriate,” he told reporters in the White House. “We’re very far from recession.”

On currency markets, the euro was struggling against the dollar as a political crisis in Italy—the eurozone’s number three economy—offset hopes that Germany’s government would unveil measures to

avert a downturn.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned and hit out at far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for pursuing his own interests by bringing an end to the government coalition.

President Sergio Mattarella must now decide to form a new coalition or call an election, throwing up more uncertainty and another possible budget standoff with the European Union.

However, the single currency was performing better against the pound as Britain’s exit from the EU without a divorce deal grows increasingly likely.

Oil prices extended gains as data showing a drop in US stockpiles indicated improving demand for the commodity. Both main contracts have risen about five percent over the past week, with support also coming from trade talks hopes. AFP

American ports brace for surge of imports ahead of tariffs on China

By John Biers NEW YORK, United States—The latest lurches in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China set the stage for a potential repeat of late 2018 when goods flooded into America’s ports to beat new tariffs.

US importers, retailers and shippers are bracing for a new round of punitive duties on Chinese goods set to hit in two steps, September 1 and December 15, likely to drive a rush to get products before the holiday shopping season as they did last year.

The surge in late 2018 helped major US ports notch all-time cargo records. But the rush also raised costs as importers raced to get their items in under the wire, only to be forced to let them sit for exceptionally long periods on ships or in warehouses, where tight capacity meant premium rates.

“Folks didn’t need the goods that were coming in. It was simply a financial play to avoid the higher taxation,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

Now the ports on the frontline of the grinding US-China trade war, are feeling some deja vu, with Trump’s latest tariff announcement tailor-made to produce another year-end holiday rush.

But some experts think the import surge could be more modest this time around.

More time for importers Trump announced on August 1 his plan to impose 10 percent tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods on September 1—targeting all products not hit by earlier tariff rounds.

But after an outcry from retailers over the impact on consumers, Trump last week relented and delayed tariffs on more than half the list, sparing toys, cell phones, laptops and other items until December 15.

The new schedule provides a big enough window for shippers to consider frontloading their orders cargo, accelerating their orders to beat the new taxes.

Shippers are asking themselves “Can the factories produce quickly enough, can we advance orders?” Seroka told AFP. “It’s a similar conversation to the ones we had last year.”

Joe Shamie, owner of Delta Enterprises, a New York retailer specializing in cribs, baby gear and children’s furniture plans to accelerate orders again this year, although he describes the benefits as marginal.

“We will frontload,” Shamie told AFP. But, he said, “There’s limits to how much I can finance. There’s limits to what I can store.”

The December 15 tariffs include infant walkers, highchairs and bouncers —all items sold by Delta.

In 2018, Delta ordered more than 10,000 cribs to beat 25 percent tariffs that were expected to take effect January 1, 2019, but were not imposed until May. Delta increased prices to offset the hit, Shamie said.

The surge in late 2018 helped main US ports notch all-time cargo data.

A big bump for ports?

Los Angeles is among the ports that scored record volumes in 2018 and has continued to report impressive numbers in 2019, offsetting declining trade with China with increased volumes with Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries, Seroka said.

Situated on the West Coast, Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach comprise the San Pedro Bay Port Complex that have relied on China for the vast majority of its trade by value.

Ports in the Northeast, Southeast and Gulf Coast benefited to a lesser extent from frontloading, experts said.

Jonathan Gold, a vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, said importers are still poring over tariff lists released only last week to decide their next steps.

“Retailers are still trying to figure out their strategy,” he said.

But they are mostly out of luck when it comes to the goods on the September 1 list because some were already in transit when Trump announced the tariffs.

“It’s very difficult to go back and negotiate with your vendors when product is already on the water,” Gold said.

Limited warehouse capacity at US ports nationwide provides another challenge, while new international low-sulfur fuel standards going into effect on January 1, likely will take some vessels out of service late in the year for upgrades, said Walter Kemmsies, a managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate firm.

Still, Kemmsies expects another surge, saying “I think it’s going to be every slot filled.”

A strong US consumer ensures strong demand for product, but depressed trade with China due to earlier tariff rounds of 25 percent tariffs could soften the impact on ports. Recession fears in the US also could dampen demand.

Daniel Hackett, a partner at Hackett Associates, a trade consultancy, predicted less frontloading this time compared with the 25 percent level last year.

“I think we’ll see a slight bump,” he said, adding in an email that “it’s really hard to tell what’s real when policies are announced via Twitter.” AFP

SUSTAINABLE ASEAN. AirAsia unveils a new ‘Sustainable Asean’ livery on its newest Airbus A320 in conjunction with Asean Day celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand. Alongside the Asean Chairmanship logo, the special livery features the best of Asean tourism icons, helping to advance and support AirAsia’s sustainability partnership with Asean nations and its mission to create a globally recognised Asean brand. Attending the launching are (from ninth left) Busadee Santipitaks, director-general of the Department of Information and spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fenandes and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand advisor Vijavat Isarabhakdi with the rest of AirAsia’s management team and cabin crew.

8990 Holdings SEC expresses concern over PSE’s set to launch three proposal to amend valuation rules residential projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said it plans to launch three residential projects in the second half of the year with a projected sales value of P14.5 billion.

8990 Holdings president Willibaldo Uy said in a recent interview the three new projects are located in Meycauyan (Bulacan), Talomo (Davao) and Leganes (Iloilo).

Uy said the company continued to aggressively launch projects as demand was strong not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.

“Everything has been good lately. The strong demand for Metro Manila projects is one evidence we feel that it is going to help us meet if not surpass our targets,” Uy said.

“But even provincial sales have been good. So whatever we are doing, we will just keep on doing it because we feel we are doing things right,” he said.

The Bulacan project will offer 5,000 residential units with total sales value to P8 billion while the Davao project will offer 3,200 units worth P4 billion.

The company is also launching a new project in Iloilo that will offer 2,100 units with a total sales value of P2.5 billion.

The mass housing developer saw its net income grow 18 percent in the first half to P2.82 billion from P2.39 billion a year ago as consolidated revenues climbed 17 percent to P7 billion.

The property firm said it delivered 4,934 units in the first half, up 19 percent year-on-year.

Sales from high-rise buildings contributed 42 percent to total revenues, followed by horizontal projects which accounted for 35 percent.

It said that on a regional basis, 67 percent came from Luzon, 23 percent from the Visayas and 10 percent from Mindanao.

Uy earlier disclosed plans to spend P1 billion to acquire a 180 to 200-hectare property in Pampanga which would be developed into mass housing projects similar to Urban Deco Homes Tondo and Urban Deca Homes Ortigas.

The company had a landbank of 712 hectares as of June.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission expressed concern over the Philippine Stock Exchange’s proposal to amend the guidelines for fairness opinions and valuation reports.

Under the PSE proposed amendments, the exchange will select and engage the valuation provider from three accredited valuation providers selected by the company that is conducting the tender offer.

This aims to ensure the independence and the impartiality of the valuation provider, according to the PSE. A top-ranking SEC executive said, however, that this could expose the PSE to reputational risk as the bourse would be involved in the process.

“The issue of valuation is a very, very difficult thing and usually proven wrong over time because it is forward-looking.

So there is a reputational impact on the exchange,” the SEC official said.

The SEC said that while there was a problem in terms of conducting a fair valuation, there might be a better solution to the issue instead of PSE taking the risk.

“Is PSE going to get into more trouble by trying to solve it this way? Will the cure be worse than the disease? That is what we are

weighing right now,” the SEC official said.

Under the present setup, a company that plans to delist directly taps a fairness valuation provider based on a list accredited by the PSE. The PSE decided to revisit the current rules amid the concerns raised by minority shareholders on the fairness valuation of Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. when it conducted a tender offer related to its planned delisting earlier this year.

The same issue resurfaced this week after Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the owner and operator of integrated gaming and leisure complex Resorts World Manila, reported that it would delist its shares from the PSE and conduct a tender offer.

TIHGI said it would conduct a tender offer at P5.50 per share, representing the higher part of the P5 to P5.70 range in the fair value opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers and ocal partner Isla Lipana & Co. TIHGI said the tender offer price of P5.50 was 2.3 percent and 0.8 percent higher than the six-month volumeweighted average price and threemonth volume-weighted average price, respectively. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO, Western Union expand partnership

By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender, expanded its remittance partnership with Western Union Co. that allows money transfers worldwide to be available for pickup at the bank’s branches across the Philippines.

The extended collaboration involves the offering of cash pick-up of Western Union money transfers at more than 1,100 BDO branches in the country.

Western Union and BDO initially launched a credit to account service in 2015 allowing remitters to send money straight to BDO accounts from more than 70 countries via www.westernunion.com and through Western Union agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

The bank said that with the expanded collaboration, customers who do not have a BDO account yet may conveniently claim Western Union remittances at BDO and its rural bank subsidiary—BDO Network Bank which has over 130 branches nationwide.

BDO’s presence inside SM Supermalls allows customers to claim Western Union remittances more conveniently as the branches are open up to 7 p.m. including weekends and selected holidays.

This serves as one-top-shop for customers as they may claim remittances and purchase their basic needs, in just one go.

Genie Gloria, senior vice president and head of BDO Remittance, said the bank’s extended collaboration with Western Union was a proof of continuous commitment to make remittances from almost any part of the globe convenient to receive.

“Western Union has helped us in bridging not only Filipino workers from different parts of the world but also other global senders and their remittance beneficiaries in the Philippines, who can rely on us through our accessible and convenient cash pick-up locations. The Western Union-BDO collaboration delivers a kind of service that is reliable given the two institutions’ credibility and trust they’ve both earned through the year,” Gloria said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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World

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TODAY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Forest fires surge in Brazil

FASHION WEEK. Designer Manish Malhotra (3R) greets the audience after presenting his creations at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter Festive 2019 as Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif (C) and other models applaud in Mumbai on August 20, 2019. AFP

US OKs sale of fighters to Taiwan W ASHINGTON―The US State Department on Tuesday approved the sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan, in a move expected to anger Beijing.

Taiwan will get the latest version of the Lockheed Martin-built fighter, the F-16C/D Block 70, in the $8-billion deal, the State Department said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that President Donald Trump had green-lighted the proposed sale after Congress was notified last week.

The F-16s “are deeply consistent with the arrangements, the historical relationship between the United States and China,” Pompeo said.

“Our actions are consistent with past US policy. We are simply following through on the commitments we’ve made to all of the parties.”

Taiwan’s plan to upgrade its air defenses comes amid increasing Chinese military incursions into its air space.

A spokesman for the Taiwanese president released a statement saying the jets would “substantially enhance our air defense capabilities to help Taiwan’s self-defense and maintain the people’s freedom and welfare.”

The sale’s approval will have a key role in “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and region, especially in the wake of China’s frequent military actions... in the region in recent years,” the statement said.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China awaiting reunification, but the

island is self-ruled and is a close ally of the United States.

In a statement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees US foreign military sales, said Taiwan’s purchase of the F-16s “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

“This proposed sale will contribute to the recipient’s capability to provide for the defense of its airspace, regional security, and interoperability with the United States.”

On Monday, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said US arms sales to Taiwan “severely violate” agreements between Washington and Beijing and “constitute severe interference in China’s internal affairs.”

The United States should “immediately cancel the planned arms sales, and stop selling weapons and military

contact with Taiwan,” he said.

“Otherwise, the US will have to bear all the consequences.”

Taiwan already has a fleet of oldmodel F-16s purchased in 1992, which have undergone several crucial upgrades.

Manufacturer Lockheed Martin says the newest version, the F-16 Block 70/72, includes many avionics, weapons and radar technologies not in existence when earlier models were created.

It is structurally stronger, the company says, so that it “can fly and fight to 2070 and beyond.”

The approval of the sale comes as Washington and Beijing face off in tough trade negotiations that economists say are hurting both of the superpowers, as well as dragging down the global economy. AFP

Welcome wears thin for Rohingya in Bangladesh COX’S BAZAR―When hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar into Bangladesh two years ago, local communities were mostly welcoming.

Today that welcome has worn thin, and resentment, anger and fear are creeping in.

“At first, as a member of the Muslim community, we helped them,” said Riazul Haque, 28, a labourer from Hakimpara, near the border town of Ukhiya.

Haque allowed around 60 Rohingya families to settle on a piece of his land, thinking they would remain for two or three months at most.

“Now it seems the rest of the Rohingya living in Burma [Myanmar] will arrive soon in Bangladesh,” he complained.

Ukhiya was home to around 300,000 people, but the refugee influx of August 2017 has swelled the population to more than three times that many.

Most of the refugees are housed in the sprawling Kutupalong camp, but others-particularly those with resources―ventured out in search of opportunity.

Locals blame them from everything from increased pollution and a rise in petty crime, to a lack of work.

Mohammad Sojol said he lost his job as a rickshaw driver because vehicle owners now prefer to hire refugees for less pay—even though officially they aren’t allowed to work.

“They are stealing marginal jobs from us by bribing law enforcers,” he told AFP. Some of the Rohingya who settled outside the official camps are now being forced to return and children enrolled in local schools are being expelled.

The largely Muslim Rohingya fled a military crackdown in Myanmar that the UN has likened to ethnic cleansing, joining some 200,000 already in Bangladesh. AFP

SAO PAULO―The number of forest fires in Brazil surged in the first eight months of 2019, official data show, as President Jair Bolsonaro faces growing criticism over the rampant destruction of the Amazon.

Nearly 73,000 fires were recorded between January and August, compared with 39,759 in all of 2018, the embattled National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said late Monday.

That is the highest number of forest fires for any year since 2013 and follows two years of declines.

“What we are seeing is a consequence of the increase in deforestation seen in recent figures,” said Ricardo Mello of WWF’s Amazon Program.

Forest fires tend to intensify during the dry season, which usually ends in late October or early November, as land is cleared to make way for crops or grazing.

The INPE figures show fires have been concentrated in states occupying the Amazon.

Thick smoke has blanketed several cities in recent days and even caused a commercial flight to be diverted.

The data comes as Bolsonaro faces growing criticism over his anti-environment rhetoric, which activists blame for emboldening loggers, miners and farmers in the Amazon.

Norway on Thursday joined Germany in halting Amazon protection subsidies, accusing Brazil of turning its back on the fight against deforestation. AFP

Indonesia’s Papua hit by fresh unrest MANOKWARI, Indonesia―Indonesia’s Papua was hit by fresh unrest Wednesday as more than 1,000 security personnel were sent to the restive region after violent protests that saw buildings torched and street battles between police and demonstrators.

Jakarta has called for calm in its easternmost territory—where an insurgency against Indonesian rule has simmered for decades— following riots triggered by the detention of dozens of Papuan students at the weekend.

On Wednesday, about 1,000 people protested in the streets of Timika city, where an AFP reporter saw demonstrators throw rocks at police and try to rip down a fence surrounding the local parliament building.

The crowd began to disperse as riot police fired warning shots in the air.

There were also demonstrations in the town of Fakfak on the western edge of the island, which is divided between the Indonesian province of West Papua and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea.

The latest protests come after several cities in resource-rich Papua were brought to a standstill this week, including in Manokwari where businesses and the local parliament building were set ablaze by angry demonstrators.

Police said on Tuesday that they were hunting for more than 250 inmates who had escaped from a prison in Sorong city that was set ablaze during the riots. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg. F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Casa Isabel Phase I) with a capacity of 235 economic and low-cost units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site Brgy. San Isidro Norte, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-in-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 22, 2019)

NATIONAL DAY. Fireworks burst over the Danube River, the Buda Castle (L) and the oldest Hungarian Bridge the ‘Lanchid’ (Chain Bridge) (R) in Budapest on August 20, 2019, during the celebration of Hungary’s national day. Hungary marks the 1,019th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state, established by the first king of Hungary, Stephen I. AFP

Families demand answers for ‘unaccounted for’ deaths SRINAGAR, India―Rafiq Shagu’s wife died shortly after Friday prayers in India’s Muslim-majority Kashmir when tear gas smashed through a window in their home and filled the room.

Now, with Indian authorities denying their troops have caused any civilian deaths while enforcing a lockdown of more than two weeks in the Himalayan region, he is facing what may be a futile quest to hold those responsible to account.

“They [the police] are not ready to take responsibility for the death. We want answers but I don’t know where to seek justice,” Shagu said.

In an interview with AFP, Shagu recalled the horrific events of the August 9 afternoon when he said his wife, Fehmeeda, was teaching her two children at their home in Srinagar, the largest city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Shagu said there had been small clashes between government forces and protesters nearby, then police started firing tear gas and pepper shells into residential houses.

The clashes occurred four days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi’s government stripped Kashmir of its autonomy, with tens of thousands of extra troops deployed there ahead of the announcement to stop residents from protesting.

“We couldn’t see each other in the room as the smoke was so dense. There were three huge thuds when the canisters burst,” Shagu said.

“We somehow removed the children from the room and as she tried to run out amid the chaos, she fell. By the time we moved her out of the room she was unconscious and frothing.”

He said Fehmeeda was taken to hospital on a motorcycle where doctors were unable to revive her.

The medical report seen by AFP said she “had inhaled toxic gas from a tear gas shell” and that a possible cause of death was a “toxic lung injury.”

Indian authorities have sought to block any news coming out of Kashmir since imposing the lockdown.

Aside from deploying the extra troops, they cut off telephones, mobile phones and the internet—though some landlines have now been restored.

Authorities say there is no credible

proof that anyone has died in Kashmir as a result of the lockdown, and only that eight people have been injured.

But multiple hospital sources told AFP at least 100 people had been hurt, some of them by firearm injuries.

Others were treated at home, fearing that they may be arrested if they visit hospitals, people who had been hit by pellets told AFP. AFP also spoke with relatives of two other people they allege died due to violence from the security forces.

One of the reported victims was Usiab Ahmad, 15, who drowned on August 5.

His family said Ahmad was near his home when police used live ammunition and tear gas shells and chased protesters towards the river bank where the student drowned.

“His body was taken out after five hours from the water and his funeral was attacked by police,” one of Ahmad’s relatives who could not be identified for security reasons told AFP. “They tried to snatch away the body because they feared more protests,” he said. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg. F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Casa Isabel Phase 2) with a capacity of 239 economic and low-cost units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site Brgy. San Isidro Norte, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-in-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 22, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that THE NEW APEC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg. F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Casa Isabel Phase 3) with a capacity of 328 economic and low-cost units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site Brgy. San Isidro Norte, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-in-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-AUG. 22, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Chinese, four others arrested for kidnap try

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

By Joel E. Zurbano

B4

ALERT members of the Makati City police station foiled an attempt of five men led by a Chinese national who tried to kidnap a fellow Chinese in Barangay Poblacion early Wednesday morning.

The authorities arrested the suspects led by Zhaochun Chen, known as Zhan Hao, the alleged leader of the group, who also tried to bribe the apprehending lawmen with P100,000 cash.

Also arrested were Mark Anthony Pareno, 39, of Rizal Avenue; John Muega, 24, of Washington Street; Reyan Villanueva, 35, of Purok Santol, New Cabalon, and Joe Marie Lavilla, 31, of Geronimo Street, all of Olongapo City.

Southern Police District spokesperson Jenny Tecson identified the victim as 36-year-old Ma Zhi Rui. She said the incident happened at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Burgos Street in Barangay Poblacion at around 2 a.m.

Tecson said members of the Makati City police—P/Cpl. Rene Boy Gonzales, P/Cpl. Kay Razvi Quijano, P/Cpl. Caren Medina and P/Cpl. Israel Ngeteg—were conducting their routine patrol operation when they chanced upon a commotion involving the six individuals.

The policemen noticed the victim was being forcibly dragged by five men inside a white Toyota Super Grandia VX1750, prompting them to intervene and made the arrest against the suspects.

The Chinese suspect also tried to resist arrest and even offered P100,000 in bribe to the arresting police officers.

The policemen brought the five men to the police station and seized the vehicle and the bribe money which they will use as evidence against the suspects.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Ex-gov summoned over rape case C

EBU CITY—The Ombudsman for the Visayas has set the preliminary hearing of the rape and administrative charges filed against a former governor of Southern Leyte on Aug. 28.

Former Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson Yap was summoned by the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas for the preliminary hearing of the criminal cases filed against him for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.

In its two-page notice, the Ombudsman ordered Yap to appear before Prosecution Officer Darius Sagadal.

Yap, who is no longer in public office, is a businessman from Sogod town who was elected vice governor in 2016 and was installed as governor in August 2017 when the Ombudsman dismissed then Governor Damian Mercado for alleged graft.

The complainant was supported in filing the case by the Crusade Against Violence Visayas led by Thelma Chiong.

In her complaint filed before provincial prosecutor Efren Mendoza, the victim alleged that she was raped by Yap the first time they got acquainted in November 2016, when Yap was still vice governor.

She said together with a friend, she was invited to a drinking session with Yap by his driver/assistant Romeo Gonzales. She said was invited by Yap to get inside his sports utility vehicle where he allegedly raped her.

“I could not shout and be heard because the music was loud and the Montero’s doors were locked. I was also afraid of him because he was the vice governor of Southern Leyte back then,” the victim said in her affidavit.

The victim said Yap attempted to rape her again two weeks after the first incident when Yap’s assistant asked to join another drinking session.

Together with a friend and a male cousin, the victim was brought to a gasoline station owned by the former vice governor.

In her affidavit, the victim said Yap followed her to the comfort room and attempted to rape her again.

Her male cousin heard her screaming and started shouting outside the toilet, prompting Yap to let her go.

Mayor moves vs. youth gangs

Taguig conducts PWD awareness workshop

By Nash Maulana COTABATO CITY—Mayor Cynthia Frances Guiani-Sayadi said the city government is keeping a close watch on gangs involving juvenile delinquents as she ordered auxiliary peacekeepers to invite these minors for counseling.

On Tuesday, Guiani-Sayadi met members of the city council on the need to pass a city ordinance banning the formation of gangs in and out of school.

She said trained social workers have started a continuing process of psychosocial intervention on 30 members of two identified gangs during a dialog in her office, where she also warned parents they could be responsible for the misdeeds of their misguided children.

She said many of the youth-gang members are children of overseas parents from neighboring towns.

The mayor appealed to parents to cooperate with the city government’s drive against juvenile delinquency and young offenses.

City Councilor Florante Formento said in his daily radio program that about 5,000 children and youth from different neighboring towns were involved in juvenile gangs.

Places under watch in this city include cemetery and sanitary landfill grounds as well as abandoned buildings where initiation of young recruits supposedly take place.

By Joel E. Zurbano

LIKE A TOTEM POLE. Meralco linemen instal an electric post along IBP road in Barangay Batasan, Quezon City. Manny Palmero

2 NBI offices in Bataan approved

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, led by Vice Governor Cris Garcia, has approved the establishment of 2 more offices of the National Bureau of Investigation in Bataan.

The provincial legislative body unanimously passed two resolutions authorizing Gov. Abet Garcia to enter into an

agreement for the setting up of an NBI district office in Orani and an NBI satellite office at the Freeport Area of Bataan in Mariveles, respectively.

A tripartite agreement will be inked among the provincial government of Bataan, the Orani local government/ Freeport Area of Bataan, and the NBI. The first NBI satellite office is already operating at the provincial capitol compound.

THE Taguig City government on Wednesday conducted a Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Workshop which aims to raise awareness and understand issues faced by persons with disability.

Mayor Lino Cayetano and other city government officials attended the event held at Lakeshore Hall in Barangay Lower Bicutan. The event was also participated by residents with disability from District 2.

“As a caring community, Taguig continues to push for programs for PWDs in the city,” Cayetano said.

Among the projects being implemented are priority lanes for PWDs in all city offices; scholarships under the Priority Courses and Skills Training of the city’s Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-Need scholarship program; hiring of deaf encoders for the Taguig City Integrated Survey System; and training on sign language for city employees.

The city government also made improvements on the Special Education Program Center (Sentro Kalinga) which is recognized by the Department of Education and has now additional manpower, including occupational and physical therapists.

Under Ordinance No. 29, all registered PWDs in the city receive P1,000 as birthday cash gift since 2017.

The city government is also in the process of building the Disability Resource and Development Center, a five-story building located on Ipil-ipil Street, Purok 7, Barangay North Signal.

The center will provide different services for PWDs in Taguig, including livelihood trainings, transition programs and tutorial services. It will also feature a showroom that will showcase handicraft products made by PWDs residing in the city.

8 young leaders to undergo leadership training in NZ DAVAO CITY—Eight young leaders from various parts of Mindanao will be departing on Friday to Wellington, New Zealand for a four-month bespoke leadership program.

The Mindanao Young Leaders Program will expose the scholars to new ideas and institutions, inspire them to think critically about what they can apply in their own communities, and develop their research, evaluation, and communication skills to contribute in the sustainable and peaceful development of their communities.

“New Zealand is committed to do what it can to support peace and stability in Mindanao. We recognize the pivotal role youth will play as agents of change,” New Zealand Ambassador to the Phil-

ippines David Strachan said during the send-off dinner.

“It is our pleasure to host these talented young leaders. We hope that their New Zealand experience will help them develop their own communities and contribute to peacebuilding,” he added.

Vicente Lao, New Zealand honorary consul to Mindanao, said he looks forward to the participants’ return and their contributions to the region through their chosen sectors.

“These young men and women can learn from what the best of New Zealand has to offer and share these solutions for the development of Mindanao,” he said.

The program is supported by the New Zealand government and managed by

UnionAID in collaboration with International Alert Philippines and Victoria University of Wellington.

New Zealand has allocated more than P97 million for the program.

“I’m deeply honored to be part of this pioneer batch of MinYLP scholars,” said Abubakar Basman, 23, from Marawi City. “I appreciate that the program will help me learn the best mechanisms and practices not only in managing disasters, but in managing risks, which is what New Zealand is proud of.”

During the Marawi siege in 2017, Basman was part of the white helmets volunteer rescue group that saved some 1,700 lives by going into the battle zone.

Marikina revives Nutribun to arrest undernutrition

KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. Public Works chief Mark Villar (inset) leads the inauguration of the new northbound entry of NLEX in Balagtas, Bulacan. Norman Cruz

TO ENSURE that the health and nutrition needs of its 21,000 kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils in public schools are met, the Marikina City government revived the Nutribun program.

“Our bread is made of malunggay, squash, eggs and flour. It comes with milk. The nutritional content of these ingredients are appropriate for growing children,” Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said during the launch of the program on Tuesday.

After 120 days, Teodoro said the children will be weighed and their health condition and performance in school will be assessed.

The fund for the Nutribun program, he said, will come from the Special Nutrition Fund of the city government.

“We want all children in the city to be healthy and happy by providing them proper nutrition. That’s why I came up with (the idea) reviving the Nutribun program for 21,000 Kinder

and Grade 1 public school children,” Teodoro said.

He said they have monitored cases of under-nutrition among public school students, prompting the need for a timely intervention, which is the Nutribun.

“We found out that some children do not have anything to eat so they cannot eat anything nutritious,” Teodoro said.

“Malnutrition affects the children’s performance in school, so this must be addressed.” PNA

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

Nature thrives

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STAYCATION

in a progressive city

Relish a slow morning while indulging in a buffet breakfast with the whole family.

Weekend family fun

CONCRETE AMID GREENS. An invigorating environment thrives at Filinvest City in Alabang as it provides wide, open spaces and long stretches of greenery.

“W

E AIM to show everyone that progress and respect for nature is possible.”

In the age where most of the old green spots in Metro Manila are being paved over and turned into a concrete jungle, some developers make it possible to integrate development with lush environment and fresh air.

Motivated by creating an inspiring and invigorating environment that promotes ease of movement and active lifestyle, Filinvest City in Alabang provides wide, open spaces and long stretches of greenery that allow members of its community to breathe clean, fresh air and to fully experience the great outdoors.

“Greens definitely benefit people and we want to ensure the quality of life is prime in Filinvest City. This is why we registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design),” says Don Ubaldo, Filinvest Alabang Inc. vice president for townships.

Although it is primed for business, Filinvest City has responded to the need for breathing room by drawing up a masterplan that seamlessly weaves structures with nature to achieve a perfect balance between open spaces and buildings.

Among the features that make the community truly green are its major parks, which also feature stimulating and relaxing installations.

The Spectrum Linear Park is a kilometer-long greenbelt that connects the northern and southern zones of the central business district. Its tree-lined walkways are perfect for recreational

Citizens of the community can take part in a number of outdoor activities or simply enjoy the fresh air outside.

outdoor activities, or simply a space to hangout, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.

Meanwhile, the Central Park is envisioned to be one of the public event spaces within Filinvest City. It is an ideal location for concerts and outdoor activities as it serves as both venue and open space for the community.

Set to be a major iconic space within Filinvest City, the Creekside Park offers a more natural setting and has a distinctive mix of developments and public art.

Other parks at the CBD are the Festival Mall River Park where people can walk along the creek waterline and experience the harmony of nature within an urban setting, the Festival Mall Water Garden where al fresco dining can be enjoyed, and the Filinvest Axis Park where people can gather, interact, and enjoy activities

within its signature vibrant combination of nature and business.

The Alabang community’s masterplan makes it a place where people not only work but also play whenever they feel like it. Runners and walkers can indulge their passion in comfort, as lush tree canopies protect sidewalks from the harsh sun. Integrated bike lanes in the CBD’s major thoroughfare allow bikers to pedal around safely and comfortably.

Community members and visitors can enjoy the amazing variety of wild birds that live and roam in the city.

By integrating green, recreational spaces into its masterplan, and creating a network of green oases in and around the CBD, Filinvest City preserves the laidback and relaxed yet still fast-paced environment that makes this part of Metro Manila distinctive and attractive.

Itching to go on an adventure with the family this weekend? A premier hotel in Bonifacio Global City offers an all-inclusive package that’s filled with everything that makes a fun weekend staycation.

“Bonifacio Global City is an exciting 24/7 city where everyone can play, work, and live. A staycation at the center of a young and dynamic community is anything but boring.

It’s a perfect balance of fun and relaxation,” said John Rice, general manager of Shangri-La at the Fort.

Starting at P10,000 per night, families can stay at Shangri-La at the Fort where upon check-in at 2:00 p.m., they will enjoy spacious rooms or suites with floor to ceiling windows that feature a breathtaking Metro Manila cityscape, and spend the rest of the afternoon by jumping in any of the property’s two outdoor swimming pools.

Mom and dad can squeeze in a bit of exercise as they get a full access to Kerry Sports Manila’s fitness facilities. Those who are feeling a little competitive may take a swing at the fitness center’s squash and tennis courts.

On the other hand, kids 12 years old and below have an access to ShangriLa at the Fort’s Adventure Zone, Metro Manila’s largest indoor jungle gym at 1,000 square meters. The demon drop slide is a must-try for daring kids (and adults, too) with a height of almost twostories. Parents are advised to pack their

young ones’ long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and socks, which are the required attire at the play area.

If kids want to go out, BGC has other child-friendly spots such as The Mind Museum, which boasts over 250 interactive exhibits; Central Square, a four-level upmarket retail destination located directly across the hotel; and Bonifacio High Street, which offers a mix of retail shops, restaurants, gardens, interactive art pieces, and an urban amphitheater.

Families will wake up to a steady weekend morning and indulge in a buffet breakfast at High Street Cafe, a modern food hall lined with an array of offerings from different stations or “neighborhoods” which include Japanese, Mediterranean, Chinese, Western, Seafood and Raw Bar, Salad Bar, Rotisserie, and Dessert sections.

After a hearty breakfast, parents and their kids can go an early morning stroll around the city with the complimentary use of Bambikes, a locally handmade bamboo bicycle.

Just check with the hotel’s concierge to check the availability.

If not, guests can stay in and enjoy the weekend a bit more, as there’s no need to rush because they may be able to check-out late, at 2:00 p.m.

The offer is valid for stays on Fridays to Sundays until November 30. It’s also valid on August 26. Go to www.shangri-la.com for more information.

Spend a night or two in a deluxe room.

Relax on rainy days

The soon-to-open Creekside Park will be the home to a mix of developments and public art.

On weekends when the rain may get the gang down, Crimson Hotel in Muntinlupa City offers staycation packages.

Families can spend the night in any of the hotel’s charming deluxe rooms for as low as P2,800 ++ per night.

Meanwhile, a staycation with breakfast and P500 food and beverage credits is also available at P4,000++.

The Flexi Stay package comes with an overnight stay and P1,500 dining credits for P5,600++.

To make indoors more fun, the Glampcation package, whose rates start at P8,400++ includes an over-

night stay in two connecting Premier Rooms, glamping set up for kids, breakfast for four people, and P500 dining credits.

Finally, an overnight stay in onebedroom suite is priced at P9,600++ or two-bedroom suite at P11,200++ comes with buffet breakfast, complimentary one round of mini bar, and P2,000 food and beverage credits.

All room packages include complimentary use of facilities such as swimming pool and fitness center, free Wi-Fi access, and parking pass.

Go to www.crimsonhotel.com for more information.

Life

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A ‘walkable’ lifestyle in Ortigas CBD

WALKABLE CITY. The Sapphire Bloc complex in Ortigas CBD has created a community where residents are in close proximity to key establishments and

R

lifestyle destinations. It also offers well-appointed units and premium amenities.

Aside from accessibility and lifestyle RLC calls, the upwardly-mobile “cityESIDENTS of a condominium tower in the bustling Ortigas options, the Robinsons Land Corpora- zens” and discerning investors. central business district enjoy a dynamic “walkable” lifestyle The well-appointed units range from tion development provides residents a as key places of interests are only within walking distance. wide array of amenities. The Sapphire 28 to 49.50 square meters. With only

Bounded by Onyx, Garnet, and Sapphire Roads, The Sapphire Bloc complex enjoys proximity to Robinsons Galleria, The Podium, The Medical City, St. Pedro Poveda College, the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and a number of offices.

Residents need not go far to experience distinctive dining and pamper-

ing sessions as the Art Deco-inspired property’s al fresco retail promenade features handpicked, artisan concepts, including Cazuela, Sobremesa, Shinsen, Kko, The Stockpile, Cable Car, The Moonshine P.U.B., and Starbucks Reserve. More establishments are opening soon such as Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, and the Spa Sedona.

Bloc boasts an award-winning grand lobby, function rooms, fitness gyms, game room, lush landscaped gardens, children’s playground, a gazebo, adult and kiddie pools, a pool deck, and a basketball shooting area.

The newly launched 44-story East Tower, the complex’s third tower, offers spacious studio, one-bedroom, and executive one-bedroom units for, what

16 units per floor, privacy of and ample breathing space for each resident are guaranteed.

“All these facets make The Sapphire Bloc a good investment because of its prime location, perfectly-sized living spaces, ample amenities, and its wellcurated retail row,” RLC said in a statement.

The property have won many awards

including Best Residential Interior Design in 2017 by the Philippines Property Awards and Asia Pacific Property Awards, Best Residential High-Rise Development 2015-2016 by the Asia Pacific Property Awards, Best Condo Development (South East Asia) in 2015

by South East Asia Property Awards, Best Mid-Range Condo Development (Metro Manila) in 2015 by the Philippines Property Awards, and Best Condominium Development in 2015 by the Philippines Property Awards.

Understanding gentle parenting

The Spot the Gift tool lets parents answer questions that will determine their children’s possible gifts or talents.

A tool to discover a child’s gift

At Johnson’s Gentle House, parents learn about the three Cs of gentle parenting.

IN A world where babies and kids are becoming more exposed to harsh elements, a baby care brand encourages parents to raise their young ones in a gentle manner.

“As parents, our first instinct is to toughen our children up because we think that this is what will prepare them to face an equally tough world. But we at Johnson’s believe that what we need today is to build a better, gentler world where every child can thrive—something that we can achieve through the immense, transformative power of gentle,” said Johnsons Baby Southeast Asia marketing director Maimai Punzalan.

To further promote the gentle parenting movement, the brand recently hosted an event at the Johnson’s Gentle House, where celebrity parents shared their two cents on the topic with hundreds of parents and their children.

“It’s easy to scream or get mad at our kids when they do something we don’t like, especially when we’re tired,” said gentle parenting advocate John Prats.

Meanwhile, another gentle parenting advocate, Bianca Gonzalez-Intal reiterated the importance of the #ChooseGentle parenting movement, saying it “is a reminder for us parents to be mindful with our choices. Instead of choos-

Interactive art installation by Leeroy New

ing to raise our voice at our children, we are reminded to approach them instead with care, love, and gentleness.”

The attendees went through the three rooms of the Johnson’s Gentle House to learn more about “three Cs,” based

on Sarah Ockwell-Smith’s The Gentle Parenting Book, which guided parents in practicing gentle parenting.

Moms and dad learned about building strong Connection with their children through daily habits of positive interactions with them, practicing positive Communication that looked beyond a kid’s “naughty behavior,” and being Consistent with them by becoming more present and mindful with their actions.

In an effort to raise awareness of this gentle form of parenting, the brand partnered with contemporary artist-designer Leeroy New to create a one-ofa-kind interactive installation that aims to remind parents to always #ChooseGentle in their parenting choices. The installations will be exhibited in different public places in the Philippines.

“As Johnson’s transforms its products into its gentlest ever, we hope to rally parents to make better, gentler choices and help build a gentler world for our babies and kids,” closed Punzalan who is also a mom of 3.

According to the brand, the new Johnson’s gentle products now have 50 percent less ingredients, with no parabens, phthalates, dyes, sulfates, petroleum ingredients and fragrance allergens.

NURTURING a child’s talent or gift starts with discovering it. To help parents help their children reach their full potential, Promil Four launches the Spot the Gift tool.

The Spot the Gift tool is like a multiple choice personality/behavior test that parents can answer based on observations on their children. After completing it, moms and dads can discover the possible gifts that their kids might have, such as Musical Gift, Bodily-kinesthetic Gift, Spatial Relation Gift, Naturalist Gift, Interpersonal Gift, Intrapersonal Gift, Linguistic Gift, or Logical-Mathematical Gift.

“As a mom, knowing my child’s gift is advantageous as at an early stage. I am able to support him realize his full potential. Nurturing his gift will all the more make him feel certain about his talents, which is a great confidence booster. I was able to confirm my son’s unique gift when I took the Promil Four’s Spot the Gift test,” shared Mommy Berlin.

Meanwhile, Mommy Badet related, “I thought I already know all of Gwen’s talents. But after taking Promil Four’s Spot the Gift test, I’m glad that she has other gifts like Linguistic and Intrapersonal Gifts. Dahil d’yan, mas magiging equipped na ako (Because of that, I’ll be more equipped) to understand and support her needs.”

Promil Four suggests that once parents know which gifts their child has, they can tailor-fit activities to further help nurture them and bring out the best in them.

Spot the Gift was inspired by Thomas Armstrong Ph.D.’s “Multiple Intelligences” Theory. Dr. Armstrong is a Multiple Intelligences expert and executive director of the American Institute for Learning and Human Development.

The Spot the Gift tool was then validated by Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho, president of Philippine Center for Gifted Education.

To take the test, parents simply need to go to www.promilnurturethegift. com.ph/stg-home and sign up with the information needed.

Discovering the child’s gift allows parents to help them develop it.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Local crime drama ‘VERDICT’ to premiere at Toronto fest

Max Eigenmann in the film that tells the story of an abused wife who is seeking justice

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OLLOWING its announcement as competition film under the Horizons (Orizzonti) section at the 76th Venice Film Festival, crime drama feature Verdict by Raymund Ribay Gutierrezcontinues to make rounds in international film festivals as it will have its Canadian premiere at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this Sept. 5 to 15.

The only Filipino feature film selected at this year’s TIFF, Verdict is a product of Armando Lao Found Story School of Filmmaking and the Brillante Mendoza Film Workshop. It is produced by director Gutierrez’s mentor and film auteur Brillante Mendoza.

Verdict film revolves around an abused wife who seeks justice and stars Max

Eigenmann, the late Kristoffer King, Jorden Suan, and Rene Durian.

The Verdict cast and crew who will participate at the Venice Film Festival will receive assistance from FDCP through the Agency’s International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP).

The crime drama film will be screened under the Contemporary World Cinema

Behind-the-scenes shot from 'Verdict' by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

(CWC) program which, according to a statement from TIFF, “offers a global snapshot of the world through essential storytelling.” It also “features a wide range of thought-provoking stories that delve into cultural issues and social struggles in poetic and captivating ways.”

Apart from Verdict, the Filipino short film We Still Have to Close Our

Eyes by John Torres will have its North American premiere at TIFF under the Wavelengths section (Lives of Performers). It previously premiered at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, Korea as part of the Special Screening from ACC Cinema Fund-Re-visionary Frame.

The documentary footage was captured from the film shoots

No, Shaina isn’t going anywhere AMID all the speculations of a network transfer, Shaina Magdayao breaks her silence and says she is still very much a Kapamilya.

In a recent interview where she talks about her latest projects and upcoming assignments this year, the 29-year-old actress reaffirms her being a happy Kapamilya.

“There are things which are really meant to stay. In this case, it’s actually beyond me. I wasn’t really the deciding factor. Truth is, I wanted to take a break from the spotlight and just do light projects,” she says.

Surprisingly, it’s during that period when good offers came along. One concrete example is her inclusion in the hit daytime soap Nang Ngumiti ang Langit.

“It came unexpectedly. There’s also this movie I’ll be doing whose script is written by Ricky Lee. You see, it’s been a good year for me. I can say that things are falling into their proper places. For one, I’m simply grateful to still be considered for meaty parts and be included in projects that have advocacies.”

After all these years, it’s clear that she’s still happy with her home studio.

“Oh, yes! For someone who has already plans of resting and slowing down from the ‘biz, I have no right to complain.

My career is still doing great. I’m really happy. I’d like to believe that I’m in a good place as of now,” she affirms.

Shaina Magdayao in a recent mediacon where her inclusion in the series 'Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit' was announced

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, August 22, 2019

ACROSS 1 Cookie quantity 6 Bakery purchase 10 Pigeon talk 14 Mix-up 15 Place of exile 16 Pronto 17 Paper quantities 18 Claw badly 19 Gather leaves 20 Huff and puff 21 Having a gentle voice (hyph.)

23 Tribal healer 25 AWOL school kid 26 Tease 27 Melodramas 29 Mars explorer 32 Table extender 33 Spot 37 — kwon do 38 Left the runway (2 wds.)

41 “The Raven” author 42 Joule fractions 44 Unexplained sightings 45 Over 47 Coffee and steamed milk 49 Yes vote 50 Uphold 53 Changes for the better

56 Formerly 59 Europe-Asia mountain range 61 Remove the peel 62 Small remnant 63 String-quartet member 64 False witness 65 Novelist — Ferber 66 Per — (yearly) 67 Plumbing bends 68 Guy 69 Must-haves DOWN 1 Ice floe 2 Survey findings 3 Rubbish 4 Liken 5 Box-score fig.

6 Seafood garnish 7 Norwegian monarch 8 Lean against 9 Shakespeare’s fat knight 10 Live it up 11 Honshu port 12 Of durable wood 13 Shelled out 21 Give in the middle 22 Snoop

24 Trading center 27 Black tea 28 Far East land 29 I-90 30 Paddle cousin 31 — out (relax) 32 Garret 34 Resort 35 Taro-root paste 36 Itch 39 Passe 40 Ms. Dunaway 43 Splinters 46 Real 48 Onassis nickname

49 A Little Woman 50 Pome fruit 51 Delicate 52 Untamed 53 Pond scum 54 Bagpipe sound 55 Cantina toast 57 Pakistan’s language 58 Transmit 60 Makes a getaway 63 FedEx truck

This is an indication that she is meant to continue her acting career.

“Well, yes! Back then, I was already considering taking a break from the scene. I was planning to slow down for two years. As it turned out, it didn’t materialize. Practically speaking, it’s hard to resist work if it just comes effortlessly and lands onto your lap.

This is exactly what happened to me so you can still see me now,” she relates.

How about the rumor that she was intending to move to rival network GMA? “Honestly, there’s nothing like that.

In the first place, there is no offer whatsoever. As I’ve said, I remain as a Kapamilya until now.”

Interestingly, in the event that she truly receives an offer from GMA and it’s tempting, will she consider?

“If that happens, I will not hide it.

The entertainment press will know about it. But at this point, I want to concentrate instead on my projects with ABS-CBN,” ends Shaina. *** Atty. Joji Alonso’s directorial debut in Belle Douleur (Beautiful Pain) is a resounding success. It’s a well-written May-December love story between a clinical psychologist (Mylene Dizon) and a much younger antique store owner (Kit Thompson).

Atty. Alonso’s handling of the material is commendable. Her angle shots are well-conceptualized and

Kit Thompson and Mylene Dizon, stars of the movie, 'Belle Douleur'

refreshing to the eyes. She really found a good and heartwarming story to tell. For one, all of Mylene and Kit’s intimate scenes in the film were artistically shot and done in good taste. Viewers will fall in love with the two characters as they present not only the sweet but also the challenges people in a May-December love affair experience.

The movie presents very real emotions and highlights the fine acting chops of both Mylene and Kit. With all the positive and encouraging feedback Atty. Joji is presently getting for Belle Douleur, it will be no surprise if she’ll be busy shooting her next project.

of Lav Diaz (Sine Olivia), Erik Matti (Reality Entertainment), Eduardo Dayao (Epicmedia/Globe Studios), Mac Alejandre(Produced by Ricky Lee, Lav Diaz, and Mac Alejandre), Dan Villegas (Project 8 corner San Joaquin Projects), Joel Ferrer (Regal Entertainment), and Bradley Liew (Epicmedia).

SKYdirect Jam brings smiles to Pampanga with Marlo Mortel ABS-CBN’S Umagang Kay Ganda host, Marlo Mortel, brought smiles to Kapamilya fans in Pampanga as he serenaded them at the SKYdirect Jam in SM City Telabastagan on Aug. 17 and 18.

The Kapamilya heartthrob’s appearance in the two-day event was one of the many exciting activities that mall-goers got to enjoy at the SKYdirect Jam. Visitors also got nostalgic as they posted their “SKYdirect from the heart” stories on the stories board in the event area. These were stories of their bonding moments with the family while watching their favorite cable TV shows on SKYdirect .

Guests sang their favorite songs at the SKYdirect Jam videoke booth and joined the fun pop quiz where they got giveaways and won special prizes.

Friends and families also got to enjoy product live demos and interactive activities from channel partners HBO, AXN and KBS World.

The SKYdirect Jam is SKY’s way of saying thank you to over one million subscribers nationwide who chose SKYdirect for its array of exclusive and top-rating channels.

Take advantage of the SKYdirect Jam as it is the perfect time to sign up for a SKYdirect subscription to avail of the P500 off promo.

SKYdirect is the direct-to-home satellite service of SKY offering exclusive and top-rating channels. It is available on prepaid and postpaid plans nationwide.

Singer and TV host Marlo Mortel

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

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Entertainment

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019

Hello, Love,

ALDEN

two parties before it can happen,” Alden told Manila Standard.

Keep yourself protected campaign

Alden Richards with event host Karla Aguas

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O NEW VERY method WANG had NICKIE been tried by the WANG people behind the massively successful Hello, Love, Goodbye in ensuring that the audience would experience some of the most intense and captivating performances of young actors in a film. They just endeavored to present an “ordinary story” where the characters stayed true to their emotions. And Alden Richards, one of the stars of the film, couldn’t agree more.

For the 27-year-old Kapuso actor, it’s the bitter sweet tale of Joy and Ethan that makes them so relatable. Their dilemmas and their passion to love make them genuine and universal characters -- which anyone, of any social status, gender, or even nationality, can understand.

“It’s really how we were able to tell a great story. It’s really the material. Personally, the film inspired me to do more films that are current, films that tackle the daily lives of people,” Alden said in an interview.

“Being an actor, being seen on TV and cinemas, that’s our way of telling a story. It’s our way to showcase the lives of people here in the Philippines and around the world,” he added.

Now that the film has raked in more than P700 million (domestic and international box office gross combined), the actor couldn’t help but feel stoked for the cast and the people behind the movie.

“I couldn’t believe it, that’s the highest gross that any of my movies, that I became part of, has ever reached. So, it’s a cloud-nine feeling for me,” Alden shared adding that he and the cast and crew have a Viber group where they are kept updated on the film’s box office performance.

With the film turning a profit, and fans clamoring for a sequel, Alden believes that everything will happen in proper timing. Still, his crossing his fingers with great optimism.

“I’m looking forward to it but we all know that the director will go on a break. And there has to be negotiations between

Meanwhile, the Kapuso actor has recently participated in a Facebook live organized by Watsons Philippines. Alden was among the roster of stars including Matteo Guidicelli, Yassi Pressman, and Sam YG that rallied for the brand’s “Keep Yourself Protected” campaign.

The campaign stresses that going out of the house is like going to battle. First, we face the stresses brought about by the daily commute and traffic. Then there are environmental pollutants. We also need to face the harsh weather—you leave the house when it’s sunny and very hot and humid and an hour later, it’s raining heavily. The rainy season also brings additional health concerns.

“Extreme weather, pollution, and dirt can cause damage to your skin and hair. Stress can result in premature aging and skin conditions. Heavy rains and weather changes, meanwhile, can cause cough, colds, fever and other ailments like leptospirosis and skin diseases. It can also lower your immune system, a condition that could lead to serious diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis,” said in a statement by Watsons PH. Watsons has healthcare and wellness solutions from head to toe inside and out so you stay happy and healthy always.

At Watsons, you can get vitamins and supplements to boost your immune system and protect your body from environmental pollution. There are also over-the-counter medication for common ailments like the cold and weatherrelated allergies and also doctor-prescribed drugs more serious diseases. Watsons also has a complete line- up of items for your first aid kit and for any emergency.

Because cleanliness and good grooming are also important, Watsons also carries oral care, hair care, sanitary protection and grooming items for children, men and women. Skincare and beauty supplements protect your hair and skin from weather and environmental pollution.

Get everything you need during the rainy season with participating brands like Olay, Snailwhite, Neutrogena, Celeteque, Head N Shoulders, Palmolive, Nivea, Myra E, Fern C, Lola Remedios, Neozep, Strepsils, Gyne Pro, Listerine, PH Care, Swish, Bigen, Novuhair, Freshman, Bench, and Old Spice.

For the Keep Yourself Protected With Watsons promo, Watsons Card Members get more with additional discount on participating brands, FREE personal accident insurance and a chance to be one of the winners of up to P1 million worth of Watsons shopping points.

For more information on other Watsons products and services, visit www.watsons.com.ph Follow its Facebook page facebook.com/WatsonsPH/ and Instagram @watsonsph.

Matteo Guidicelli and Yassi Pressman talk about the campaign while promoting Nivea products.

Arnell Ignacio is back on TV via IBC 13's newest magazine show

‘Arnelli in the Haus’ TV HOST, singer, and comedian Arnell Ignacio livens up IBC 13’s primetime block with a new magazine show entitled Arnelli In The Haus.

The program is a fresh take on a magazine show as it delivers prompt service and information on the different areas of government. It features a wide range of topics and human interest features that will be worth watching.

In the segment “Imbyerdegador,” Arnell serves as a mediator for the public and government agencies as they attempt to resolve misunderstandings.

Other segments include, “Step Brother”- a guide on common agency

process; “Pa-Promo”- a feature on new government services, “Happy 2 Serb”- success stories of a government program, “Like Mo Siya”—a feature on a government employee, and “Dear Mamser”—Arnell’s opinion and editorial on the issue.

With Arnell Ignacio’s witty remarks and his background in government service, Arnelli in the Haus promises to be a lively and insightful program. His ardent desire to bring the gap between the public and the government agencies will be highlighted.

Watch Arnelli in the Haus every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. starting today on IBC Channel 13.

Indie pop group This Band

This Band hot streak continues with new single ‘Nang-Iwan’ POWER pop group This Band is still on a hot streak. With its hit single “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na” still a staple on radio stations around the country and a certified chart-topper on Spotify with 61 million streams, Apple Music Philippines Top 100, and YouTube now peaking at 211 million views, This Band is stoking the fire with the release of a new single “Nang Iwan.”

The Las Pinas-based group, a six-piece pop band that includes singer Andrea Manzano, guitarists, and chief songwriter Euwie Loria and Raymat Gubat, bassist Michael Galvan, drummerJohn Macaraas, and keyboardist Melvin Carson, has already notched a couple of hit singles on its members’ collective belt. Among the band’s most recent single, “’Di Na Babalik” which did well posting an impressive 16 million streams on Spotify alone. Likewise, its songs “Hindi Na Nga,” “Bitaw Na,” and “Tampisaw” are also in their millions.

When it comes to a particular type of “hugot” song, sophomore group This Band has got its brand of sound down pat. This much is true with its latest song “Nang Iwan.”

And as the title suggests, the song is a forlorn treatise about how heartbreak wreaks havoc on a person. It’s also about the fear of missing out that results in melancholy as depicted in the morose tones of singer Andrea Manzano and words of Euwie Von Loria.

But though the song is about heartbreak, in particular, we can’t help but admire the sound that This Band has found; a pop-cum-power-ballad sound with a bit of an edge that’s distinctly Pinoy. But don’t take our word for it, you can listen to This Band admire it yourself.

This Band recently won the MOR 101.9 Awards for best digital artist.

This Band has also reaped a handful of nomination in the upcoming 32nd Awit Awards for Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist, Best Performance by a New Group, and Best Cover Art. It also aced two major nominations with Song of the Year for Von Loria and Record of the Year for “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na.” This Band’s latest single “Nang Iwan” was released on July 26 and is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other digital music stores.