Manila Standard - 2019 August 30 - Friday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 197 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SOAR SINAG, SOAR. ‘Raptors in Flight,’ featuring Philippine eagles flying and hunting, has been organized as a special event during Davao City’s Kadayawan festival, with the flag carrier Philippine Airlines adopting Sinag as a baby eagle in 2016 to highlight its interest in preserving the Philippine eagle and its natural habitat.

Why it took China long time to issue a formal apology?

By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo THE Chinese government had long issued a verbal apology over the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese trawler near Recto Bank, Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Thursday.

“The Chinese government, through the foreign ministry, has expressed they are very sorry about the incident through diplomatic channels already,” Sta. Romana said in a press briefing in Beijing.

But the government insisted that it wanted a public and written formal apology, and “that’s what took a bit of

time,” he added.

“We thought it was necessary for the Chinese boat owner to explain it himself not to me, not through DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs], not through the media, but directly to the public and that’s why there was this letter,” the envoy said.

This revelation came after the letter of apology was made public by the DFA hours before President Rodrigo Duterte flew to China where he is expected to raise the 2016 Hague ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. “This apology represents the ship owner but in a sense, I think through Next page

Du30-Xi gab: Shouting match ruled out

By MJ Blancaflor THE meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will be a “very civil and diplomatic discussion” and not a “shouting match,” Manila’s Ambassador to Beijing Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Thursday.

“He is here to build bridges, not to burn bridges with China. So I think the Chinese side has been reassured that it’s within the framework of the Philippines continuing a friendly and cooperative

relationship and that it will be a friendly and honest discussion,” he said in Beijing.

President Duterte met with Xi on Thursday night to discuss the status of the bilateral relations and issues between the two countries including the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. The President has vowed to raise with Xi the 2016 decision by United Nationsbacked Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating Beijing’s claim to the resourcerich South China Sea and spelled out Manila’s maritime entitlements.

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Navy gets tough on ship intrusions Vows to escort unfriendly vessels out of PH waters

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HE Navy plans to shadow or monitor foreign vessels intruding into the country’s territorial waters, especially if they fail to seek permission, flag-officerin-command Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad said Wednesday.

If the vessel is still not responding to radio calls or communication challenges, and has shut off its automatic identification systems, the next step will be the deployment of aircraft to take pictures of the ship and “shadow” or escort it out of Philippine waters, he added.

MARITIME EXERCISES. Philippine Navy officials participate in a send-off ceremony for the Philippine Navy BRP Ramon Alcaraz and 200 sailors and Marines for the 1st US-ASEAN maritime exercises from Sept. 2 to 6 in Thailand at Pier 13 at the Port of Manila on Thursday. Norman Cruz

19 STL outlets to reopen soon

By Francisco Tuyay

PRESIDENTIAL MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meet, in the company of their close advisers, at the Diayutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. Details of their meeting, Duterte’s fifth to the Chinese capital, were not immediately available. AFP

Ferry fire: PCG calls off search DAPITAN CITY—Search and rescue operations for possible survivors of the Lite Ferry 16 fire that left three persons dead were called off late Wednesday by the Philippine Coast Guard and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office here.

Rescuers had already accounted for the ferry’s 23 crewmen and none of the 245 rescued passengers were still looking for their relatives, PCG officials said.

The Coast Guard had said only 136 passengers were on the ship’s manifest, but Lt. Junior Grade Cherry Rose Manaay said 201 passengers were on the list sent by officials of Samboan Port in Cebu, where the ferry came from.

The PCG also stressed the ship wasn’t overloaded as it had a total passenger capacity of 317.

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If there is still no response from the foreign ship, the next option is to have the “shadowing” ship “cross the bow” of the intruding vessel, but not in a provocative manner,

Empedrad said.

He also said that the crew of the Navy ship will not be in general quarters— meaning that all hands on board must be able to go to battle stations quickly— while doing this maneuver.

“We [will be just] maneuvering to tell them that they are passing through our territorial waters [without permission) especially if their passage is not [done in an] expeditious [manner],” the Navy chief said. Next page

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Thursday said that the 19 small town lottery operators who were left out following the lifting of suspension arising from massive corruption can resume their day-to-day business for complying with the new guidelines set by the state lottery agency.

PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said the 19 STL operators, also known as Authorized Agent Corporations could resume their

4 drug lords freed under GCTA rules

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo FOUR Chinese drug lords were among the 2,000 inmates released by the Bureau of Corrections in June as a result of good conduct time allowance, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

The Bureau of Immigration said the four Chinese drug lords were in its custody and awaiting deportation.

“I don’t have all the details except that GCTA was again the reason for the release,” Lacson said.

“These are convicted Chinese drug

lords that have already been released,” Lacson said.

The senator said he asked for a list of inmates set for release on Aug. 20, which allegedly included the name of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez, but he was told the list was missing.

“We are trying to look for a copy of the August 20 release order in favor of Mayor Sanchez but apparently the copy has gone missing,” Lacson said.

BuCor said Thursday it has released 1,914 inmates convicted of heinous crimes on the basis of the good conductbased reductions in their prison terms.

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Rody’s ‘designated survivor’ proposed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz TWO BILLS have been separately submitted in the Senate and in the House of Representatives designating successors to the President in case of death or allowing the incumbent to designate his chosen successor.

In the Senate, to ensure continuity and

stability of operations in government, Senator Panfilo Lacson proposed Senate Bill No. 982, designating successors to the presidential seat in case of death, permanent disability and other circumstances.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the line of presidential succession only includes the Vice President, Senate President, and Next page House Speaker.

PNP vows to go after Reds on all fronts THE Philippine National Police on Thursday expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to end the communist insurgency.

“We support our President’s desire to end this insurgency problem. We will engage them in all their fronts in agriculture, labor, health and even in the academe and in the religious sector,” PNP chief Gen.

Oscar Albayalde told reporters.

“That’s the very reason we have the national task force. This is a whole-nation approach and not only a whole government approach.”

During the 31st anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program at the Department of Agrarian Next page

ANDREW TAN’S ALLIANCE GLOBAL ‘ADOPTS’ ILOILO CITY FOR CLIMATE AND DISASTER RESILIENCY.

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding company of tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan, has chosen Iloilo City as its ‘adopted city’ in the National Resilience Council’s Adopt-A-City program for climate and disaster resiliency. AGI, through its real estate company Megaworld, has a huge stake in Iloilo City as it develops the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district. Leading the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were (from left) Ambassador Roberto R. Romulo, National Resiliency Council Convenor; Hon. Jerry Treñas, Iloilo City mayor; Kevin Andrew Tan, CEO, AGI and chief strategy officer, Megaworld; and Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, president, National Resiliency Council.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Roque sues 11 PhilHealth execs

By Rio N. Araja

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X-PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday filed graft, usurpation of judicial functions and grave misconduct complaints against 11 former and active officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He accused PhilHealth president Roy the Perpetual Succour Hospital Inc., in Ferrer of reversing a Court of Appeals’ Cebu in 2015. suspension against an erring hospital, He named as respondents Ruperto

Aleroza, Celestina dela Serna, Eddie Dorotan, Joan Lareza, Hildegardes Dineros, Roberto Salvador Jr., Anthony Leachon, Charade Grande, Jonathan Mangaoang and Lora Mangasar, as well as the hospital itself.

The appellate court found the hospital guilty of two counts of extending a patient’s period of confinement in violation of the PhilHealth law.

It sanctioned the hospital with a three-month suspension and a P10,000 fine, upholding a previous PhilHealth

decision.

However, PhilHealth defied the Court of Appeals’ ruling, imposed a P100,000 fine and got back all the benefits unnecessarily paid for by it.

Roque said due to the reversal of the suspension order, the government lost P90 million in PhilHealth claims.

“Because of corruption, the fund of PhilHealth was washed out,” he said.

“The filing is sending a strong message that PhilHealth officials must stop corruption within the agency.”

Dengvaxia victims' kin gripe about lack of info

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE parents of the children administered with the largely untested Dengvaxia vaccine have complained to Senator Richard Gordon they were not given proper information or warned of any side effects before their children were given Dengvaxia shots.

During a consultation with Gordon, officials of the United Parents Against Dengvaxia said their children had now developed various ailments that they didn’t have before their inoculation.

In response, Gordon stressed the need for setting up the most advanced training program and testing facilities for dengue specialists because dengue has been an epidemic in the Philippines.

He said the move would also enable them to determine if the development of various diseases in the children inoculated with Dengvaxia was a side effect of the vaccine.

“We really have to conduct a lot of study first before we could even think about reinstituting this vaccine,” Gordon said.

The parents are appealing to Gordon because of their mistrust in the government’s immunization program.

“They are also appealing for assistance to those who were given the Dengvaxia without proper information and without complying with proper procedures such as checking their medical history,” Gordon said.

UPAD chairman Elvie Ligerald complained they were not given proper information or warned of any side effects prior to inoculation. She said their children, while fortunately alive, now had to take maintenance medications due to the different diseases that they developed after being inoculated.

She said their children had been diagnosed with kidney problems, high blood pressure and epilepsy, among other things.

Others had complained of joint pain, extreme weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dehydration and extremep aino nt hes ides.

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Empedrad said the Navy is not expecting a hostile response from ships being shadowed or subjected to these measures.

Earlier, the Department of National Defense announced that there is a need to coordinate first with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on how to carry out President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s instructions to require all foreign ships to secure clearance first before entering the country’s territorial waters.

“There needs to be SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures] that clearly define our responses in compliance with existing Philippine and international laws,” acting Defense spokesman Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna said.

The order came in the wake of repeated intrusions by Chinese warships into Philippine waters without notifying the Philippine government.

The Western Mindanao Command earlier reported that five Chinese naval vessels passed through Sibutu Strait in TawiTawi—four in July and the last on Aug. 4.

At the same time, Empedrad said the newly acquired BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) might be deployed to Palawan or Mindanao.

In a press briefing, Empedrad said the ship will be subjected first to an engine run test, which will take the corvette all over the Philippines, he added.

Once the test is completed, Empedrad said the Navy leadership will decide on whether the ship will be deployed to the Western Command area-of-operations or in Mindanao.

The Western Command is headquartered in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and covers the Kalayaan Island Group and parts of the West Philippine Sea. Empedrad said the BRP Conrado Yap is an ideal ship to deploy in both areas due to its various automated systems, including its weapons, making it very accurate to use against surface threats.

The BRP Conrado Yap is the former “Chungju” of the Republic of Korea Navy.

The Pohang-class corvette is armed with two 76mm Oto Melara automatic guns, two Oto Breda 40mm light cannons, depthcharge racks, and two triple torpedo tubes and surveillance systems like radar and sonar.

BRP Conrado Yap was formally turned over and commissioned to the Navy on Aug. 5 in ceremonies at Jinhae Naval Base in Changwon City, South Korea.

The corvette and her escort, the BRP

Davao Del Sur (LD-602) departed the South Korean facility last Aug. 12 for their voyage home which ended early morning of Aug. 18.

The Navy’s second missile frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), will be launched in the first week of September.

“Our second frigate will be launched [in the] first week of September. By that time, the first frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) will be finished [fitting its equipment],” Empedrad said.

The launching ceremonies will take place at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The BRP Jose Rizal, the country’s first missile frigate, was launched at the same facility on May 23.

The first missile frigate is expected to be delivered to the Navy by April 2020 while the BRP Antonio Luna is scheduled for September of the same year.

The Philippines and HHI signed a P16billion contract for two missile-armed frigates with another P2 billion set aside for their weapon systems and munition.

The steel-cutting for BRP Jose Rizal took place on April 1, 2018 while the same ceremony for BRP Antonio Luna was in November the same year. This signified the start of the actual construction of the frigates. PNA

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to help out the fishermen and [the] owner in the Philippines. And the question is how to quantify all this. So you obviously need expert advice,” Sta. Romana said.

He said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Justice will possibly play a role on this matter.

The Guangdong Fishery Mutual Insurance Association, which counts the owner of the Chinese trawler as member, has already asked the Filipino fishermen to seek compensation based on the actual loss.

Sta. Romana also said it was established during the exchanges with the Chinese officials that the boat from China’s Guangdong province was not part of the Chinese maritime militia and that June 9 incident was only an accident.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday clarified that he did not accept the apology of the owner of the Chinese vessel that rammed and sank a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank in June, but he merely noted it.

“Hey morons! I merely NOTED the Chinese apology. I did not accept it. I am not a fisherman,” Locsin said, in his Twitter account hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs posted a memorandum addressed to him, which contained a translated portion of the apology.

Locsin also observed that Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo “merely expressed satisfaction with the Chinese apology for the incident and the offer of compensation and nothing more.”

operation once President Rodrigo Duterte sign a new Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) after his return from China.

Days after the resumption of STL operations as ordered by the President, an initial draft of the new conditions set for the AACs include a cash bond deposit to the PCSO, which is equivalent to three months of the PCSO’s share in guaranteed retail receipts, aside from their existing cash bonds.

The other set of rules also states that failure by the AAC’s to fully remit in time the cash bond equivalent to three months of PCSO’s share in the guaranteed retail receipts will be automatically forfeited in favor of the PCSO without prejudice to other remedies that may be exercised by the government.

Under the new conditions, the PCSO is also requiring STL operators to submit a written undertaking, pledging that they “shall comply with their obligations under the STL agency agreement and will institute any claims, monetary or otherwise against the government and/or apply for a temporary restraining order (TRO) or injunction from any court to prevent the government from exercising its rights and prerogatives.”

The third condition set is that violations of the STL agency agreement would automatically terminates its franchise without prejudice to other remedies by the government.

Garma recently said that the PCSO should have been able to collect P1.04 billion from the cash bond of AAC’s, aside from the P23.4 million from STL operators’ shortfalls.

She said the closure of STL operations for a month has affected the agency’s income, but expressed optimism that it would recover and earn more under the new conditions from local lotteries.

“We have to sacrifice a little so that we will be able to gain more,” Garma said.

Duterte lifted the suspension of STL operations subject to new rules, a month after he shut it down due to fraud.

Findings by the Commission of Audit said the PCSO has yet to remit P8.4 billion to the government while criticizing the PCSO for waiving P1.43 billion in claims from STL agents.

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Interior Secretary Eduardo Año created a joint committee to undertake and complete the review in 10 days.

Sanchez, the former mayor of Calauan, Laguna, was sentenced to seven life terms of up to 40 years each for the rape and killing of University of the Philippines Los Banos student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her boyfriend, Allan Gomez, in 1993.

Malacañang and the DOJ insist that Sanchez should be excluded from GCTA coverage because he was convicted of heinous crimes, but the BuCor has already freed more than 1,900 inmates who were found guilty of similar crimes.

Guevarra admitted that the Palace has specifically requested that the processing of Sanchez’s case be held until factual and legal issues are resolved.

Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, filed a bill to prevent abuse in the computation of GCTA. The bill, he said, would protect the law from abuse by “powerful personalities whose years of imprisonment have not changed a bit the crooked and vil-

lainous character that made them commit crimes for which they have been convicted.”

Gordon’s bill, which seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code, would introduce additional measures for the implementation of Republic Act No. 10592 or the law providing for good conduct time allowance or GCTA. Among the bill’s proposals is to digitize jail records “to ensure there would be prompt and accurate information of the time served by a prisoner.”

“Computation of remaining service must be transparent and available to the public,” the bill said.

The Bureau of Corrections and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology would be required to also use computers and computer programs “to monitor the progress of detainees or prisoners convicted by final judgement, capable of incorporating time allowances that may be granted to each of them.”

Gordon’s proposal would also disqualify from good conduct release inmates proven to have violated prison rules.

Reform’s main office in Quezon City on Tuesday night, Duterte warned of “a little trouble” in the coming months and urged the military to end the communist insurgency, saying the government could not afford to pass it on to the next generation of Filipinos.

“So I am telling the military, ‘Can we end it now?’ We cannot afford to pass it on to the next generation. They might not be able to handle it. It has to be now,” Duterte said.

Duterte also hinted at imposing a “very radical change” in the government but did not elaborate.

“Revolution is no longer a vogue.

You cannot win a fight for social justice or for a better life in your country if you wage revolution,” Duterte said.

“It won’t work. You can’t even occupy one village, and in the coming days there will be a very radical change in the behavior of government.”

Duterte said the country would never prosper if the communist insurgency, criminality and corruption were not curbed.

On Tuesday, Albayalde met with top officials of the academe who enlightened them on the issue of academic freedom in connection with some militant student groups and organizations’ stand against the entry of military and police personnel in the campuses.

Albayalde said they only had the best intentions for the students and other members of the academe. PNA

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for the position.”

Castelo filed her bill as she voiced concern over the fact that heads, in an event like the annual State of the Nation Address of the President, gather in one venue.

She said there would always be security threats whenever the top officials of the land were in one place.

In her bill, Castelo cited the provision in the 1987 Constitution which states that should the President die, resign, be removed from office, or become incapacitated to occupy the position, the Vice President would fill in, followed by the Senate President and Speaker.

“However, in the unlikely chance that all of these officials become unavailable to fill in the role of the President, our supreme law does not provide a rule. During SONA, or during any other assembly where these officials are gathered, the probability of this hap-

pening becomes greater,” Castelo said in the bill’s explanatory note.

Just like in the US, the designated successor will be kept in a secure place until the gathering where top officials are is over and they have parted ways.

In case of death or permanent disability, the measure provides that the following elected and appointed officers who are not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President shall assume the Presidency in the following order: the most senior senator, based on the length of service in the Senate, the most senior Representative, based on the length of service in the House of Representatives the member of the Cabinet designated by the President.

Under the bill, the President shall designate a member of the Cabinet to be secured in an undisclosed location before any public or private activity, event or

function attended by the President, Vice President and ranking officials.

“In the event of an extraordinary circumstance resulting in the death or permanent disability of the President, Vice President and the officials mentioned… the designated member of the Cabinet shall act as President,” Lacson said.

He added that the Acting President’s official actions pertaining to day-today operation of the government shall remain effective unless revoked by the elected President within 90 days from his or her assumption or re-assumption of office.

Castelo said “Since our Constitution does not provide for the same rule, we can only imagine how tragic the outcome will be in case the unthinkable happens.”

Castelo’s bill was inspired by the popular Netflix series “Designated Survivor.”

“President Xi, I think, has a good measure of the President [Duterte]. So I think he expects an honest discussion, direct but friendly—in a friendly and cordial atmosphere,” Sta Romana said.

“So I think in that context, it’s not gonna be a shouting match. It’s gonna be a very civil and diplomatic discussion,” he added.

In a related development: Former Philippine Ambassador to ||Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. said in Manila Duterte’s raising the 2016 arbitral ruling against China in his fifth visit to Beijing might accelerate the signing of the code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea. Cuisia said China would still not acknowledge the Hague ruling, which invalidates its sweeping claims in the disputed sea.

“I’m sure China is not gonna budge in their position. They will not respect the ruling, but it could lead to the acceleration of the signing of the binding code of conduct,” he told ANC’s Early Edition.

“That would not only satisfy the Philippines, but also ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations].”

Cuisia said Duterte’s raising the arbitral ruling in his bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart would “score him positive points with the Filipino people.”

Sta. Romana also noted it would be the eighth bilateral meeting between the two leaders and they had established “a high level of rapport” in their previous discussions.

“They have become, you know, good friends. So when you are friends, there’s nothing you cannot discuss with each other,” he said.

“He’s not coming here to impose it on China. He’s not coming here to provoke the Chinese. He’s coming here to exchange views, to understand where the differences lie. And to have a deeper understanding, and to see where there are areas where the gaps can be bridged,” he told reporters in Beijing.

Early this month, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said Beijing would continue to not recognize the ruling after Duterte said he would bring up the matter in his meeting with Xi. As a response, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo insisted that Duterte “will not alter his position on the matter in the same way that the Chinese government as it says will not.”

“We have no illusion that we can solve the issue overnight. I think the important thing is to bring it to the fore of the diplomatic agenda. However, as the saying goes, the disputes do not define the entirety or the totality of the bilateral relations,” Sta. Romana said.

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Danilo Lines, the ferry’s operator, had already extended financial assistance to the families of the fatalities, which included a baby, and said it would do the same to the survivors.

Two of the injured passengers who were rushed to hospitals here were already resting in hotels, the Dapitan CDRRMO said, and most of the rescued had returned home.

The Maritime Industry Authority is expected to investigate what cause the fire on the ferry, currently anchored in the town of Plaridel with its 25 rolling cargoes still on board.

diplomatic discussion with the Chinese side, we have made it clear that this had a negative impact, an adverse impact on the bilateral relations particularly on the Chinese image,” Sta. Romana said.

The Chinese boat left 22 Filipino fishermen abandoned at sea for hours before they were rescued by Vietnamese fishermen.

The envoy noted that the memorandum sent to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. was a result of “intense negotiations.”

“There are additional details like they knew they heard the shouts for help but they couldn’t understand the language and they were overcome by fear. And then that they reported instead to the fishing authorities of China what happened as they were leaving,” Sta. Romana said.

“It does not excuse them for their responsibility. Their responsibility includes that by the way, the fact that they did not rescue our fishermen,” he added.

Sta. Romana said the Chinese fishermen should have reported the incident to Philippine fishing authorities.

“I think if they knew they were Filipinos maybe it would have been a different story,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sanctions on the Chinese crew members and the compensation for Filipino fishermen are still subject to further discussion, he said.

“But we will probably proceed and try

Of the 22,049 inmates released from 2014 to 2019 due to GCTA, 1,914 had been convicted of heinous crimes, BuCor data shows. These include 797 sentenced for murder, 758 for rape, 274 for robber with violence or intimidation, 48 for drug-related offenses, 29 for parricide, five for kidnapping with illegal detention and three for destructive arson.

The inmates were freed on the basis of Republic Act No. 10592, a 2013 law that increased GCTAs or days that may be deducted from prison terms of qualified prisoners who show good behavior while in prison. In June, the Supreme Court said the law should be applied retroactively, making it possible to release thousands of inmates from as far back as the 1990s—including Sanchez.

Amid a public outcry over Sanchez’s possible release, the Department of Justice suspended the processing and awarding of GCTA for 10 days, pending a review of the early release guidelines.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and

“This bill … seeks to provide an exhaustive line/order of presidential succession in the event of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the Acting President to ensure that the office of the President is never vacated even in exceptional circumstances,” Lacson said.

In the House, a bill allowing the President to designate his chosen successor in case he and all of his constitutional successors get killed at the same time has been filed at the House of Representatives.

House Bill 4062 filed by Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo allows the President to pick a successor “in the event that the Chief Executive, the Vice President, the Senate President and the Speaker die or become unable to fill in

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PAGCOR, cops unite vs. casino-related kidnaps

By Julito G. Rada

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HE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said that its officials held a meeting with licensed casino operators in the Entertainment City and Clark as well as with the representatives of the Philippine National Police AntiKidnapping Group and the Bureau of Immigration “to address casino-related kidnappings.”

In a statement released to the media on Thursday, PAGCOR has noted reports about the increase in kidnapping cases of casino players ‘perpetuated mostly by loan sharks in the casinos.’

At the same time, PAGCOR said that along with major players in the local gaming industry, it denounces ‘these criminal acts and we will not sit idly in the face of these injustices.’

PAGCOR added that to safeguard the integrity of gaming and entertainment business in the country, the agency, together with casino licensees, will strengthen its security protocols ‘by enhancing casino surveillance facilities such as facial recognition cameras; enable information sharing among casino operators on suspected criminals; augment security personnel; and constantly coordinate with concerned government agencies such as the PNP, BI, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the casino host cities.’

“We likewise intend to accredit and regulate casino financiers subject to the implementing rules and regulations on lending companies by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies,” the statement also stated.

PAGCOR said that while gaming contributes significantly to government revenues, casinos must not be used as a vehicle for abuse and injustices. “As the country’s gaming regulator, we condemn these dreadful acts and we will ensure that the local gaming industry will maintain the integrity of its operations.”

TESDA should have more funds, say Romualdez, Defensor

By Maricel V. Cruz MAJORITY Leader Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives on Thursday said enough funds should be given to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to ensure more employment for Filipinos.

Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules and representative of Leyte’s First District, made the statement in support to the clamor for more funding for TESDA for 2020.

Romualdez attended the Thursday’s House committee on appropriations hearing on the proposed P11.851-billion TESDA budget that Director General Isidro Lapeña defended under the 2020 P4.1-trillion national budget.

“TESDA should be given more funds to ensure better and competitive employment opportunities for Filipinos. It’s their mandate to reach out the unemployed and marginalized people,” Romualdez pointed out after learning that TESDA budget for next year is lower by 6 percent or from this year’s P12.55 billion to P11.85 billion in 2020. The agency proposed P19.9 billion.

“Our budget proposal [is] in the amount of P19.9 billion and we are just given P11 billion, your Honor. We will be needing about P8 billion,” Lapeña told the panel.

Romualdez and Lapeña also held a brief meeting at the Majority Leader’s office at the Batasan Pambansa Complex where the TESDA chief admitted that the agency needs additional

P2.8 billion.

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor backed Romualdez’s call to give additional funds for TESDA. “Let us allocate more resources to TESDA whose main mandate is to provide skills, livelihood and job opportunities for Filipinos,” said Defensor who also attended the hearing.

Unlike other agencies which mandate is to promote education, TESDA budget for next year gets a smaller amount than the Department of Education’s P551.7 billion and the Higher Education’s P68.5 billion.

In the same hearing, RECOBODA Party-list Rep. Godofredo Guya also echoed the call for additional TESDA funds for skills training.

Lapeña said more funds are very crucial for TESDA operations, explaining Filipinos should have better access to job and livelihood opportunities at all times.

“If we have more budget, we can serve more kababayans that need assistance, especially the unemployed and even those marginalized, and this will improve the pyramidal structure of our society, improving our middle class,” said Lapeña.

Reports said that out of P11.851-billion TESDA budget for next year, P11.302 million will go to Technical Education and Skills Development Program, P84.3 million to Technical Education and Skills Development Regulatory Program and P49.8 million to Technical Education and Skills Development Policy Program.

‘Use social media to monitor bad cops’ NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office chief, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Thursday ordered police commanders to monitor incidents of crime and abuses committed by their personnel on social media.

Saying that he already started to utilize social media, Eleazar said commanders should veer away from the mindset that social media is only for millennials or young people.

The NCRPO chief said that for instance, he is forwarding information he received or read from social media applications to concerned unit commanders for verification and appropriate action.

“If these are not acted upon, it is the police organization that is usually being bashed for alleged inaction, which is unfair because we have repeatedly proven that we would immediately act if complaints are made,” Eleazar told reporters.

He said such social media complaints have been instrumental in running after police abuses in the past.

He said the NCRPO, which was recently named as the best regional police office, has been using social media to monitor the good and bad deeds of Metro Manila cops.

“Your NCRPO is now social media active. In fact, we were able to monitor, identify and punish or reward our policemen through the photos and videos posted and shared in various social media platforms,” he said.

Eleazar also said while the NCRPO is quick in punishing abusive policemen, it is also expedient in rewarding those who deserve praises.

The Metro Manila top cop also urged millennials to share good stories as well as the bad deeds of policemen through social media to boost the ongoing efforts to cleanse and regain the integrity of the police force. PNA

BIKE COPS.

The Manila Police District Bike patrol cops undergo training on proper bike handling and riding in Manila on Thursday, August 29.

Norman Cruz

Tax evasion filed against Kapa founder’s wife

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has been asked to prosecute for tax evasion the corporate secretary of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. for failure to pay P168.2 million in taxes for the years 2017 and 2018.

In a complaint filed Thursday, the Bureau of Internal Revenue accused businesswoman Reyna Apolinario, wife of Joel Apolinario, of tax evasion for failing to settle its tax liabilities in the amount of P163.9 million in 2017 and P4.3 million in 2018.

The BIR claimed that Apolinario did not

file income tax returns from 2012 to 2015 and then declared an income of P206,578 in 2016; P171,100 in 2017; and P12.06 million in 2018.

“However, in 2018, the declared beginning capital of Reyna in her audited financial statements ballooned to P306.90 million,” the BIR noted.

The bureau said this points to undeclared sources of income amounting to P307.70 million for 2017, including P140 million in cash, P27.6 million worth of luxury vehicles, P65.7 million in heavy equipment, P45.1 million in real properties, and other assets or

investments.

The BIR also discovered that a list provided by the Land Transportation Office showed that Apolinario failed to declare in the financial statements of nine vehicles registered under her name.

The agency noted that the KAPA official has 13 businesses ranging from retail and quarrying to media and marketing and a hotel.

The tax evasion complaint is the latest blow against the beleaguered religious corporation, which the Securities and Exchange Commission ordered closed last June.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Our man in Beijing PHILIPPINE Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana, the true diplomat that he is, fielded questions from the Filipino press covering President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to Beijing.

Fluent in Mandarin, Sta. Romana learned the intricate Chinese official language in his years of exile in China during the Marcos martial law.

Sta. Romana cannot be sold down the river.

“President Duterte’s approach is to build, not burn bridges, to China,” he explained, adding that as a friend of Chinese President Xi Jinping, he can bring up any subject in their one-on-one meeting. Yes, any subject, including the arbitral ruling favoring Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone mandate under UNCLOS and rejecting Beijing’s sweeping claim of nearly the entire South China Sea. There are six agreements to be signed, including a contract for joint exploration of oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea, said Sta. Romana. He also begged off on questions outside his purview and on the details of the agreements, saying he’s not the entire government and that some of the issues will have to be answered by the proper authority like the Secretar-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

ies of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade and Industry.

On a very important matter, Sta. Romana revealed China has apologized for the Reed (Recto) Bank ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a large Chinese fishing boat. He said the Philippine delegation has received a copy of the Chinese investigation of the incident. The owner and captain of the Chinese vessel apologized and admitted that it was a mistake to abandon the Filipinos in their halfsubmerged boat. But whether the owner of the Chinese fishing boat would compensate for the damages and loss of livelihood by the Filipino fishermen is still subject to further discussion, said Sta. Romana. He said the Philippines would take it one day at a time.

Sta. Romana said that among the topics at the Philippine-China bi bilateral talks are the proposed three bridges to be built through Chinese financing under the Philippines’ Build Build Build infrastructure program. These will ease vehicular traffic along EDSA, particularly the Guadalupe bridge seen as the bottleneck between Quezon City and Makati.

Sta. Romana fielded questions with clear and and concise answers. Appointed during the last days of the Noynoy Aquino adminsiration, Sta. Romana was retained by President Duterte who saw that he would have a competent envoy in the former leftist militant who spent years of exile in China. Sta. Romana was also chief correspondent and Beijing station manager for ABC News, a US network.

Our man in Beijing cannot be sold

Train to Clark

T

HE Philippines needs a truly modern railway station that will cut across Laguna, Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac to decongest traffic.

Big local companies lately submitted bids for the three contract packages under the Malolos-Clark phase. It will feature the country’s first airport express railway service. Once completed, it will allow commuters to reach the Clark International Airport from Buendia in Makati in just 55 minutes, compared to two hours by private vehicle via expressway. The second phase of the railway system alone is expected to accommodate 340,000 passengers in its opening year in 2022.

The rail network project is key to the further economic development of the industrial provinces of southern and northern Luzon. Aside from easing traffic, the rail

The North–South Commuter Railway, or NSCR, and also known as the Clark–Calamba Railway, is one major infrastructure project that aims to ease traffic and make traveling convenient to commuters.

The Department of Transportation should pursue the railway project at all costs, after the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency both endorsed its economic viability.

The 147-kilometer elevated Clark-Calamba railway project, which will run from Calamba to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac and cost a total of P778 billion, is already in several stages of implementation.

will speed up the flow of goods and produce from these provinces, after being linked to other future railway networks.

Another component of the government railway system is the P175-billion Philippine National Railways South Railways project, a 639-kilometer line from Manila to Matnog, Sorsogon. Connecting the southernmost part of Luzon to the central provinces will boost productivity and commerce in the main island.

The government should give top priority to rail projects across the Philippines and within Metro Manila and other urban centers. All right-of-way problems should be settled soon to assure their speedy construction. They should also be spared from unnecessary delays and the petty issues normally raised by local government units.

Turn to A5

Military modernization an urgent need WE HAVE one of the weakest armed forces right now among the 10 ASEAN countries in terms of combat capability and modern equipment.

The reason behind this is our overdependence on the United States to protect us from any external threat since the postwar era.

We concluded the Mutual Defense Treaty or MDT with the United States in the 1950s. Under this treaty, both sides agreed to come to the defense of the other in case of an attack by a third party.

We also signed the Military Bases Agreement with the US after the Second World War, which allowed us to go under its security mantle until its abrogation in 1991. This treaty was abrogated in 1991, with the two main bases, Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, converted to civilian use.

Apart from these, we were also the recipient of surplus American vessels and aircraft under the term of the RPUS Military Assistance Pact.

These three treaties allowed the Philippines to concentrate on socioeconomic development from the 1950s up to around the 1990s, when we realized that we needed to modernize our military to keep up with current geo-political realities and to wean ourselves away from the US for our defense requirements. We contented ourselves with receiving second-hand jet fighters, helicopters and World War II-era naval vessels from the US as we simply could not afford to purchase state-of-the-art equipment.

The modernization of the Philippine military only began in earnest during the Ramos administration. To raise funds for AFP modernization, a big chunk of Fort Bonifacio was sold to the private sector.

With consistent economic growth

from year 2000 to the present, the nation can now set aside more resources for military modernization that would allow us to maintain a credible defense posture.

We need to beef up our military in the years ahead in light of changed conditions in the region. There’s our territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. This requires that we have enough jet aircraft and Coast Guard and Navy ships to conduct regular patrols in the West Philippine Sea that’s part of our Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

With consistent economic growth, we can now set aside more resources for military modernization that would allow us to maintain a credible defense posture.

China has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea as part of its so-called “nine-dash line” covering nearly all of the vital sealane through which billions of dollars of international trade passes on a regular basis.

This recent development has raised serious concern among Filipinos whether our government has already surrendered or ceded our sovereign rights over certain areas in the South China Sea, such as Reed Bank and Scarborough Shoal.

As of now, the policy of the Duterte administration is to take a two-track approach. One track is to discuss contentious issues in SCS through a bilateral consultation mechanism, or BCM. This body composed of an equal number of officials from either

Turn to A5

Red wine could be good for the gut

By Issam Ahmed TIME to raise a glass to better gut health?

Scientists at King’s College London have found that red wine drinkers have a greater diversity of bacteria in their digestive tracts, a marker of gastrointestinal wellbeing, than those who drink other alcohol.

Their paper, published in the journal Gastroenterology on Wednesday, explored the effects of beer, cider, wine and spirits on the population of microorganisms in the gut—the “microbiome”—and other health indicators in 916 female twins in the UK.

Red wine was linked to the greatest positive impact on gut health—and it was also associated with lower levels of obesity and “bad” cholesterol.

There were no such associations for beer, cider or spirits, but a minor effect linked to white wine.

Lead author Caroline Le Roy told AFP that while there had been some previous research on animals and in lab experiments that showed red wine expanded gut microbiota, there had never been a large human study.

“The more diversity there is, the better it is for us in some ways. You will be more able to fight disease and produce more metabolites from food,”

she told AFP. An imbalance between “good” and “bad” microbes can lead to adverse outcomes like reduced immunity, weight gain and high cholesterol.

The team even noted a slight reduction in the hormone insulin, too much of which can lead to diabetes, but suspect that effect is not mediated by the gut microbia and something else may be at play.

Alcohol still bad One of the major drawbacks of socalled “association” studies based on Turn to A5

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Opinion The first digital bank IF YOU deposit money or make a payment through a UnionBank branch, chances are the bank teller won’t give you a receipt or hard copy of the transaction.

UnionBank has gone digital.

Which means paperless, cashless, wireless. No human contact, if possible. Which means speed.

Have you ever done a teller transaction with a BDO branch? If you are not a senior citizen, it can take you about an hour before the teller can attend to you. The lines are as long as the lines buying a cheap kilo of rice.

At UnionBank, the transaction is handled by a robot or a computer, if you like. The robot uses artificial intelligence, which means the computer is not stupid. Unlike us, humans. The teller will text your phone to confirm your deposit or payment transaction.

UnionBank, under President Edwin Bautista, believes it must go digital or perish.

Otherwise, its business will be taken away by the likes of Jollibee, McDonald’s, 7-11, LBC Padala, Palawan Express, or any entity which has a network of outlets that attends to customers at the corner. These outlets don’t have what they call brick and mortar facility, like a bank branch. They can handle bank transactions without being a bank and without having bank vaults.

UnionBank must have been doing well with digital. Its No. 2 man, Eugene Acevedo, has been pirated

by Helen Dee’s RCBC to become its president. Eugene’s forte is digital banking. So expect RCBC to go digital too to catch up with its peer group rivals.

This is the era of financial technology or fintech.

UnionBank has seen the tremendous improvements in the Philippines’ digital environment—67 million Filipinos having access to the Internet, 61 million Filipinos with mobile phones, and a 403-percent increase in Internet speed from 2017.

How does a bank like UnionBank cope, then? Well, join the fun. So it has what it calls Total Digital Transformation. It has two aspects: “Tranformation A” is becoming the Best Digital Bank while “Trans-

Military...

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side meets regularly to discuss an agreed upon agenda, such as access by our fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds and presence of Chinese maritime vessels in areas that we consider part of our EEZ. The other track is to enhance twoway trade with China, encourage investments by Chinese state-owned and private firms in such areas as infrastructure and renewable sources of energy, encourage more Chinese tourists to visit our country, and enhance cultural and people-topeople contacts.

As an archipelagic country, we need a strong navy and air force, apart from a standing army, to protect our territory from any external threat. And Congress should recognize this need to modernize our military so that we can adequately

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down the river. The Chinese politburo knows he can speak fluent Mandarin.

Although a political appointee, Sta. Romana is the best choice as our man in Beijing. Not even the career diplomats at the Department of Foreign Affairs can dispute that. *** In another part of the world, Britain is starting to feel the impact of its exit from the European Union. Foremost

formation B” is becoming a “Fintech that happens to have a banking license.”

This dual transformation is needed both to ensure: 1) UnionBank’s relevance as banking and financial services expands with many new players and 2) that UnionBank can best reach out to more unserved and underserved communities to achieve inclusive prosperity (so that “all boats rise, as the tide rises”). Note that at least 60 million Filipinos do not have a bank account or have no access to a bank.

Welcome to the age of fintech.

other new branches have opened.

UnionBank has since launched 20 more ARKs nationwide from the first ARK at the Insular Building along Ayala Avenue in Makati. By end-2019, UnionBank targets to have 46 ARKs across the Philippines.

Another innovation is the EON or selfie banking. The machine has a camera. It records your face and your physical features, including the color of your hair, eye and eyelids, the shape or your nose or lips. It records your fingerprint. It is called biometrics. These things are done already by your cellular phone. So why not a bank machine?

Your biometrics are fed to more computers which then learn of your credit record—if you have money, if you have assets, or if you have tendency not to pay loans or debts on time. The machine also knows your personal background—how many wives or girlfriends you have, if any.

Meanwhile, UnionBank’s Open Banking Feature allows customers to use any Visa/Mastercard debit or prepaid card to enjoy seamless online purchases.

The bank now allows you to open a bank account without submitting documents or going to a physical bank branch.

The bank has 24/7 access to the EON Starter Kit, the first prepaid card in the Philippines to be available in convenience and online stores.

Last year, EON partnered with PeraHub to provide agency banking and bring financial services to rural areas. And currently, UnionBank is also creating synergy with the rural banks that it has purchased by providing the EON platform to these banks.

In the future, UnionBank will behave like the central bank itself.

It will issue its own currency. That currency has no printed bills. It is just embedded in the innards of a computer. Its records are handled by a so-called block chain.

What is block chain? It is like an accounting record where everybody has access to. Imagine your Tagalog or Bisaya broken down into binary numbers I and O and you use those binary numbers to create a language everybody understands and recording the transactions paperless, cashless, wirelessly.

I don’t understand it myself.

That’s the beauty and mystery of going digital. Nice, di ba?

In its pursuit to become the best digital bank, UnionBank introduced several innovations for faster, safer, efficient and convenient banking operations.

One is The Ark, now almost two years old and is claimed to be the Philippines’ first fully digital bank branch. It has changed the landscape of branch banking in the Philippines.

The Ark on Ayala Avenue has the look and feel of an airline VIP lounge. There are no tellers, only ambassadors. There are no counters, only a counter dispensing coffee, tea, and “me”—the beauteous ambassador. Since there are no tellers, only coffee or tea, you do things yourself. That is called selfservice—by going to a machine that looks like an ATM machine.

Self-service transactions speed things up. Since The Ark’s opening, cash deposit through the machines reached 6,300 transactions or an average of 570 per month with a volume of P150 million or P13.6 million per month.

Other transactions like account opening, product application, check encashment, request for manager’s check, telegraphic transfer, bank certification, well, are still handled by tellers plus the machines.

Thus, an account opening is speeded up from one hour before digitization to 15 minutes after digitization.

In terms of accounts opened and average daily balance, The ARK had, by end 2018, over 1,000 bank accounts opened with almost P200 million in average daily balance.

This is six times more than what biznewsasia@gmail.com

address both internal and external ber of absences during session days.

The May elections saw an ex-actor threats. jailed for several years on plunder Senate goes to seed charge reelected as senator. Another When was the time the Senate was actor, whose record as senator in the truly an august body in whose hal- past left much to be desired because lowed halls reverberated the com- of his meager lawmaking output and manding presence of such illustrious aversion to intelligent discourse, was lawyer-statesmen as Claro M. Recto, also reelected.

Jose W. Diokno and Jovito Salonga?

Two others barged their way to the Alas, those days have long gone. Senate mainly based on their closeness Today, we have a Senate some of to the Palace occupant rather than on whose members are less than quali- solid credentials and are expected to toe fied for the huge responsibility of the official line on every issue. guiding the nation towards a better We’re glad, however, that there are and brighter future. still sober and rational voices in the At its helm is a TV host-come- Senate who are independent-minded dian—the third highest in the line and can be counted upon to dissect isof succession to the presidency, no sues with a keen and analytical mind. less—whose comments on raging isBut sad to say, as things now stand, sues sometimes leave us wondering the Senate’s reputation is in tatters bewhether he really deserves to sit in cause the majority of its members apsuch high office. pear totally beholden to what MalaAnother senator prefers to give prior- canañg says instead of what is good for ity to his boxing career rather than to the nation and in the public interest. lawmaking and has racked up the dubious distinction of having the most num- ernhil@yahoo.com

of these effects is the pound sterling’s decline against the US dollar. Outside the EU, Britain’s trade has shrunk with many foreign investors fearful of further erosion of their funds in an isolated United Kingdom.

China is a potential market for Britain but the current Hong Kong people’s protest has clouded such an option. Hong Kong is a former British colony turned over to China in 1997 and political freedom is a visceral issue with the Brits. To do trade with a repressive regime in China runs counter to British principle.

The new British Prime Minister has requested Queen Elizabeth to suspend parliament. But the British people are against dragging the Queen to Boris Johnson’s plan to shut out the noise he also created in ousting Brexit advocate Theresa May. Will Boris Johnson be able to do what former PM Margaret Thatcher did when she brought back the British economy from the tyranny of the trade unions that also flattened the pound one to one against the US dollar? Johnson does not look like he has the firm leadership of a Thatcher.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

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A hip hop hub—in Karachi

By David Stout HAUNTED by gang violence and poverty for decades, Lyari was once considered one of Pakistan’s most dangerous areas, but those grim realities also inspired a generation of artists and spawned a burgeoning hip hop scene.

With its close proximity to the sea and history of smuggling, the largely ethnic Balochi neighborhood in Karachi stands apart for its history of violence and lawlessness—even

by Pakistan’s standards.

When Karachi served as a major transport hub during the Afghan jihad against the Soviets, Lyari was hit hard by the influx of weapons and drugs—and the surge in brutality such black market businesses bring.

Heavily armed gangs and political hit squads exerted iron-fisted control over large swathes of Lyari, squashing economic growth while residents battled with the fallout, including rampant drug abuse and poverty.

“Lyari was a notorious place because of the gangs and the war. It was almost impossible for outsiders to even think about entering,” explains resident and new rapper Mohammad Omar.

But in recent years, the gangs have been brought to heel following a heavy-handed operation by paramilitary forces that kicked off in 2013 and saw the streets turned into virtual war zones.

In the battle for Lyari, gangs infamously used rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles to fight security forces, with the crossfire shuttering schools and businesses and also keeping kids off the streets.

“Children used to cry listening to the fierce gunfire,” says Omar, adding: “The poor people were the victims of those gang wars. We witnessed all those things.”

Showing reality But the worst of the violence has abated, and an increase in security has led to flowering creativity.

The embattled neighborhood now clings fiercely to its reputation for producing top footballers, ironchinned boxers, and most recently socially conscious rappers.

The rise of hip hop in Lyari mirrors the genre’s own birth decades ago in New York’s Bronx borough, where it largely centered around street performances and featured lyrics that addressed social ills and life in urban ghettos.

Hip hop became a global phenomenon, but the genre initially failed to generate much traction in Pakistan where music fans tended to listen to pop, Bolly-

Red wine...

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observations about populations is that they do not demonstrate causation, and a one-off finding that appears to show a positive correlation can be the result of luck.

The higher standard randomized clinical trials, in which researchers closely control the inputs given to subjects, are generally used to test new medicine but rarely applied to studies related to human diet, partly because of ethical concerns.

The researchers therefore tested and replicated their findings in two more groups—in the US and in the Netherlands—each of about 1,000 people, and a final set of twins in Britain.

Recruiting twins had the benefit of removing potential outside factors (known as “confounders”) such as genetic predisposition and early socioeconomic background.

The team suspect polyphenols, micronutrients found in grape skin, were responsible for the greater GM diversity.

That conclusion is seemingly supported by the fact that white wine was also linked to a positive association with GM diversity, although to a far lesser extent.

White wine has similar alcohol content to red, but with six to seven

wood soundtracks or traditional Sufi music.

The occasional forays by Pakistani musicians into hip hop over the years largely served as interludes in pop songs that veered closer to comedy.

Not so in Lyari where rappers were influenced by the likes of Tupac Shakur and looked to their own experiences for lyrical inspiration.

“In other cities and provinces, there’s rap but it’s mostly about beautiful women and luxury cars,” says producer Qammar Anwar Baloch.

“We are showing reality.”

This artistic expression with a bass line first burst onto the nation’s airwaves in 2017 following the release of the hit song and video “The Players of Lyari” by the Lyari Underground.

The anthem doubles as an ode to the neighborhood’s love for football in cricket-obsessed Pakistan along with a fiery rant lambasting the country’s sporting authorities for neglecting the neighborhood’s football talent.

“The young people in Lyari represent one of the first times in Pakistani history where kids from the working classes are contributing to the music that upper classes listen to as well,” explains writer Ahmer Naqvi.

“They’re using this moment to sort of assert their own place within Pakistani society, to not be content with being on the margins,” he adds.

Digital underground For years, their voices and stories were largely invisible in Pakistan.

With little performance space available Lyari’s rappers have largely turned to the internet to share their clips of their songs, which generate millions of views online.

“I want to highlight the issues in Karachi and my own area in Lyari,” explains eight-year-old rapper Waqas Baloch, who released a video under the moniker Thousand earlier this summer.

The young MC is just one of dozens of rappers to pick up a microphone in recent years, according to residents following the scene closely.

For cleric Jameel Ahmed—who runs a madrassa in Lyari—youth interest in music and personal expression is a welcome relief after years of tough times.

“It is far better than drugs, booze and other such menaces. Music is helping them stay away from such things,” says Ahmed.

He adds: “Now, their minds are opening up.” AFP

times less concentration in polyphenols.

Nik Sharma, a neuroscientist at the University College London, who was not involved with the work, cautioned that more research is still required, “perhaps using mouse models to establish the nature of the relationship and to further explore the underlying mechanisms.”

But he added that “the work is robust” and the use of twins added weight to its conclusions, as did the replication of its findings across other groups.

While that might seem positive, Le Roy urged people to avoid hitting the bottle, especially if they are nondrinkers.

Alcohol is responsible for more than 200 medical conditions, according to the World Health Organization, from mental and behavioral disorders to liver cirrhosis, some cancers and heart disease.

“Potentially drinking one glass of red wine every two weeks is enough to have a beneficial effect, which is quite a good message because obviously alcohol is still bad for us,” said Le Roy, adding that several fruits, vegetables, nuts and even chocolate are also rich in polyphenols.

Blueberries and red onions are among these healthier alternatives.

“You don’t have to drink red wine and you don’t have to start drinking red wine if you don’t drink it,” she concluded. AFP

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Du30 signs 4 laws naming tourist spots Proposed bill imposes life for statutory rape

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on the welfare of children has filed a bill imposing life imprisonment for the crime of statutory rape against minors who are under 16 years old, regardless of the sexual orientation of the offenders or the victims.

Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, head of the committee, filed House Bill 4160 that raises the age of statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16 years old.

It also increases the penalty for offenders, whether they be male or female.

HB 4160 is co-authored by Romualdez’s husband, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, representative of the First District of Leyte.

“If this measure is passed into law, any adult who has sexual intercourse with a minor below 16 years old is guilty of rape. Even if the minor has given his or her consent to the sexual act, it is still rape,” Rep. Yedda Romualdez said.

“The sexual orientation of the offender is of no importance.

Men and women, even members of the LGBT community, may be charged with statutory rape. No

one is above the law,” she added.

In common law jurisdictions, statutory rape is non-forcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent or the age required to legally consent to the behavior.

Current Philippine laws provide that sexual intercourse with children below 12 years old is illegal and tantamount to rape.

In addition, sexual activity with a person below 18 years of age may constitute child abuse and exploitation.

But Romualdez noted the current age for determining the crime of statutory rape was not compliant with the international average as evidenced by a 2015 report released by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific Region.

“In fact, the same study revealed that the age of sexual consent in the Philippines is the lowest in the Southeast Asian Region,” she pointed out.

“The establishment of a minimum age of sexual content is a critical component in shielding minors from sexual violence. Minors who are below 16 years old are still considered without power to resist to give their genuine and fully informed consent to any sexual activity,” she said.

By MJ Blancaflor

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed four laws declaring new tourist spots in Luzon, three of which are from Ilocos Sur.

The new travel destinations are Mount Bulaylay in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija (Republic Act 11406), Candon City Ecotourism Zone in Ilocos Sur (RA 11407), Santiago Cove in Santiago, Ilocos Sur (RA 11408) and Pinsal Falls in Santa

Maria, Ilocos Sur (RA 11409).

The Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways will be tasked to prepare a tourism development plan “involving the construction, installation, and maintenance of such appropriate

facilities and infrastructure.”

These facilities and infrastructure must “improve the overall feature of the area” to ensure accessibility and security of tourists.

Under the law, the plan must ensure the “preservation and conservation of the historic significance of the area.”

The funding from the act will be included in the annual budget.

All four laws were signed by Duterte on Aug. 22 but copies of the documents were only released to reporters on Thursday.

BURN THEM, BURN. Lawyer

Ferdinand Topacio sets on fire posters bearing the images of alleged left-leaning personalities during a protest action along Morayta Street in Manila on Thursday (above), condemning the alleged recruitment of students by the leftists while government workers dramatize their protest to demand more fair and meaningful salary increase in a rally in front of House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF FONTANA RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB, INC. (“Club”): Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on the last Monday of September shall be postponed upon the approval of the Board of Directors. The reason for the postponement is the present reorganization of the Club’s management and the finalization of the other reports necessary for the presentation, appreciation and approval by the Stockholders.

We shall inform you of the new date and time of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, which is tentatively rescheduled on the last Monday of October 2019.

Sincerely yours,

Republic of the Philippines MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

(SGD) JUAN MIGUEL VICTOR C. DE LA FUENTE Corporate Secretary

SEARCH FOR PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MMSU BOARD OF REGENTS The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is currently accepting nominations for one (1) Private Sector Representative to the MMSU Board of Regents (BOR).

Nomination forms are available at the Office of the Board Secretary, Room 209, FEM Hall (Administration Building), Mariano Marcos State University, Brgy. Quiling Sur, City of Batac, lIocos Norte. Forms can also be downloaded from the University Website: https:// www.mmsu.edu.ph/downloads/MMSU_PSR_NOMINATION_FORM.docx

(MS-AUGUST 30, 2019)

A.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDUCT OF AN EXPIRY REVIEW OF THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY IMPOSED AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF WHEAT FLOUR FROM THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY (AHTN 2017 Subheadings 1101.00.11 and 1101.00.19) FOR:

ANTI-DUMPING MEASURE (Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8752) Investigation No. AD-2019ERWheatFlourTR

x--------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF INITIATION OF EXPIRY REVIEW AND CONDUCT OF PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE Notice is hereby given that the Tariff Commission (TC) received a properly documented application from the domestic wheat flour industry for the initiation of an expiry review on the Anti-Dumping Duty imposed against the importation of Wheat Flour (AHTN 2012 Subheading 1101.00.10/ AHTN 2017 Subheadings 1101.00.11 and 1101.00.19) from the Republic of Turkey. The application alleged that the expiry of the definitive anti-dumping duty would likely result in a recurrence of dumping and injury to the domestic wheat flour industry. Pursuant to Section 3 (0) of Republic Act (RA) No. 8752 (Anti-Dumping Act of 1999) and Section 19 (b) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 8752, TC made an initial evaluation on the submissions and found sufficient evidence to justify said initiation.

All interested parties, including parties on record in the original investigation of the antidumping application against importation of wheat flour from the Republic of Turkey (TC Anti-Dumping Investigation No. 2014-01), are required to appear at the Preliminary Conference to be held on 09 September 2019 at 9:00 A.M. at the Tariff Commission Conference Room, 4th Floor, West Insula Condominium, 135 West Avenue, Quezon City. Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of the investigation, appearance of counsel/s and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents, confidentiality of documents, submission of position paper/s, memoranda, and adjustment plan/s, conduct of inspection and verification of data, schedule of public hearing, and other activities and matters that may aid in the timely disposition of the case.

For inquiries, Ms. Elvira C. Ignacio, Acting Director III, Head of the Task Force on the Expiry Review of the Definitive Anti-Dumping Duty Against the Importation of Wheat Flour from the Republic of Turkey, may be reached at Telephone Number 9363319 or at TC.Assist@mail.tariffcommission.gov.ph.

Issued this 29th day of August 2019, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARlLOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-AUG. 30, 2019)

CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE (PSR) Nominees for PSR to the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Board of Regents (BOR) must satisfy the following criteria:

1.

2.

3.

Must be a prominent Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines; Must be at least forty (40) years old; Must be a person of unquestioned integrity and probity and must not have been convicted of any administrative offense or crime; 4. Must be successful in his/her profession or chosen field; 5. Must be from the industry, business, or profession that can contribute to the pursuit of the mandate of MMSU; 6. Must have at least five (5) years proven experience in a managerial position or corporate governance; 7. Must have solid contribution to the community and/or country; 8. Must not be connected with MMSU in any manner for two years prior to the nomination; 9. Must have an extensive record of employment, business, expertise, and connection with the private sector. If the nominee previously worked in any capacity with a government entity or was a consultant in any government undertaking or whatever nature, the proportion of the time the nominee served in government should not exceed one-fourth of the entire time served in the private sector; 10. Must not in any way be presently employed or appointed to any position in any government agency or entity (national, local, or government-owned or controlled corporation), be it on a full-time or part-time basis, at the time of nomination; and 11. Must explicitly manifest availability of time and commitment to the service of MMSU. Nominees will be evaluated according to the following: 1. Achievement(s) in profession or chosen field - 30% A. Personal (Educational Qualification, Training Seminars/Conferences Attended, Membership in Professional Organizations) -20% B. Awards/Recognition - 10% 2. Solid Contribution(s) to the Community and/ or country - 40% A. Contribution where MMSU is located and to the country in general (Nature of contribution, Role of Nominee, Awards for the contribution) - 30% B. lntegrity and Probity - 10% 2. Experience - 30% B. 1.

2.

3.

C.

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS - Nominators/Nominees for the position of PSR should provide all pertinent details, as follows: Duly accomplished and notarized nomination form; Supporting documents: - Curriculum Vitae of nominee with duly certified documents in support of data specified therein (e.g., academic records; past and current employment/ service records; awards received, SEC Registration of companies owned by nominee; etc.)

- Certification that nominee is not connected with MMSU; - Certification that nominee is not currently employed in any government agency/office; - Original NBI clearance; and Nominee’s Conforme - Nominees should indicate their acceptance of the nomination by signing their conforme on the designated portion of the notarized nomination form.

NOMINATION PROCESS Nominators shall submit their nominations and all supporting documents to the Office of the MMSU Board Secretary, Secretariat of the Search Committee, located at Room 209, FEM Hall (Administration Building), Mariano Marcos State University, Brgy. 16-S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, 2906 lIocos Norte, not later than 6 September 2019, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The Search Committee shall only consider nominations with complete supporting documents.

CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on the Search for Private Sector Representative to the MMSU BOR, please contact: Ms. Luvee Hazel C. Aquino; Acting Board Secretary, MMSU ; Office of the Board Secretary; Rm 209, FEM Hall (Administration Building); Brgy. 16-S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, lIocos Norte; Tel. No. 077-600-0459; Email: mmsu.univsec@ gmail.com

Librarian accuses DepEd official of misconduct

By Rio N. Araja A DEPARTMENT of Education official from Taguig City is facing a complaint of misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged instruction to create a fictitious Facebook account.

In a seven-page complaint-affidavit, Joseph Son, a DepEd librarian, accused George Tizon, DepEd’s School Governance and Operations Division chief in Taguig City over 48 public high schools, of directing him to do tasks that were not directly connected with his job, such as creating FB accounts using fictitious names and personalities “to vilify those who are critical of his administration” sometime in May last year.

Moreover, he alleged Tizon then poured water over his appointment paper.

Despite such incident, Son said Tizon had no other way but to approve his promotion.

He said Tizon, also an acting principal of Senator Renato Cayetano High School, turned down his promotion as librarian II, and accused him of taking sides with the official’s enemy, one Dr. Isidro Aguilar.

Also on Thursday, DepEd supervisor Salome Castro filed a complaint of grave misconduct against Tizon, the alleged “creator, handler and user of the FB account Deped Pens George Tizon.”

She said Tizon had attacked her persona on the social media.

Last July 10 and Aug. 1, teachers and other supervisors of DepEdTaguig City filed complaints of graft and corruption against Tizon with the Ombudsman.

COA flags Dept. of Tourism THE Commission on Audit has flagged the Department of Tourism for spending P507.304 million without supporting documents.

In a 2018 audit report, the state auditors said P484.160 million went to the DOT main office with a breakdown of P292.916 million for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2017 convention with incomplete documentation, P153.893 million for video materials without copies as proof of production and airing, P30.346-million financial assistance, P5.729-million cash advances for foreign trips, and P1.274-million payments of inventories.

“Non-submission of the necessary documents affects the validity and propriety of the disbursements made and an indication of weakness in the internal control over disbursements of central and regional offices,” the report read.

The other expenditures of the regional offices were P80,000 in professional fee for the conduct of Japanese and Mandarin language courses, P209,300 honoraria for a resource person, and P586,200 for vehicle rentals.

The Tourism department vowed to submit the required documents.

COA said P9.097-million disbursements “contravened some of the existing government rules and regulations or deviated from the proper standard process or procedures on disbursements.” Rio N. Araja

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Circumcisions, pageants held in Philippine hoop courts INDOOR courts are central to life in tens of thousands of towns and cities across basketball-mad Philippines, hosting everything from funerals and beauty pageants to “circumcision season.”

These so-called “covered courts” are essential in remote or poor communities, where they are often one of just a few public buildings.

So when people are forced to flee violent storms in the disaster-prone nation, they seek refuge on the basketball courts.

“It doesn’t get empty, it’s overused,” said Roel De Guzman, who’s in charge of the courts in one part of the capital Manila.

“It’s not just for basketball.”

In one recent week one of his courts hosted a government seminar, a class for would-be motorcycle taxi drivers, an amateur boxing match promoted by national legend Manny Pacquiao and, of course, some basketball.

The courts are also the scene of deeply rooted cultural events such as so-called “circumcision season”, when boys across the country have their foreskins removed en masse as a rite of passage to adulthood.

The improvised clinics at the gyms pop up yearly and contribute to the Philippines, a majority Christian country, having one of the world’s highest rates of non-religious circumcision.

The fact that daily Filipino life is deeply entwined with the courts is no surprise, given basketball’s immense popularity in the Philippines.

It’s a love affair that goes back to the 1900s when basketball was introduced to the archipelago by the Americans.

The sport flourished to the extent that the Philippines became the first Asian nation to found its own professional league.

To this day basketball jerseys are an ubiquitous choice of attire, while local leagues and favorite NBA teams are on TVs from the capital’s wealthiest homes to the humblest bamboo shack in the provinces.

For Rafe Bartholomew, an American journalist who wrote a book on Philippine hoops culture, the omnipresence of covered courts is proof of Filipinos’ love for the game. AFP

Racasa upsets Russian foe in World Cadet Chess THE Philippines’ youngest Woman Fide Master (WFM) 45th seed Antonella Berthe “Tonelle” Murillo Racasa (Elo1380) beat 9th seed Olga Dm.Karmanova (Elo1838) of Russia after 85 moves of Benoni defense using the black pieces to share fifth in the seventh round of the Under-12 Girls division World Cadet Chess Championships at the Yujing Hotel in Weifang, Shandong, China last Wednesday.

The 12-year-old student of Home School Global Racasa hiked his total to 5.0 points, good for a tie with 11 others from 5th to 16th that includes Woman Candidate Master (WCM) 7th seed Dilyana Ivanova (Elo1380), her eighth round opponent.

“Racasa (Antonella Berthe) upsets Russian foe. Major, major upset.

Thank You Lord. Tomorrow’s opponent is Dilyana Ivanova of Bulgaria,” said father/coach Roberto Racasa, also an International Memory champion, dubbed as the founder and father of Memory Sports in the Philippines.

“At first I thought it was impossible.

Beating Russians in chess is like beating Mayweather in boxing. Thank you Lord for the victory.” he added.

Karmanova is the fourth higher rated player beaten by Racasa. In this case, Karmanova is nearly 500 Elo rating points higher than Racasa,” said veteran journalist and chess guru Ignacio “Iggy” Dee. Her China trip is sponsored by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chair and CEO Andrea Domingo, D. Edgard Cabangon of ALC Group of companies, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, Councilor Charisse Abalos, Rogelio Lim of Boni Tower and Makati Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Rose Montenegro.

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Igot tows Cebu to archery lead

By Peter Atencio

P

UERTO PRINCESA, Palawan— With Aldrener Igot, Jr. doing a lot of heavy lifting, Team Cebu City is poised to take the team honors in the archery event on Day 4 of the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Finals here.

The 14-year-old Igot bagged his sixth gold medal, and led Cebu City close to the team gold as well following the end of the cub boys Olympic round.

“Confident naman kami,” Cebu City coach Mike Solier after Igot outscored Nathaniel Carlos of host Puerto Princesa, 6-2.

Igot’s efforts allowed Cebu to move in front of the team standings with 3872 points, along with teammates Khalil Abel-

la and Adrielle Parayno.

Inspiration from his half-brother Orlando Anora, a member of the national team in the past, is keeping Igot going.

And now, Igot will have a chance to seek two more golds and earn more gold medals in the boys team finals, and the mixed team finals with Abella and Torreon respectively.

“I got into archery because of my brother, Kuya Orlando. Now that with summer

training helping, I have taken the game seriously,” said the 20-year-old Igot, who is from Pasil.

The eight-grader of the Don Carlos A. Gothong School, earlier swept the golds in the 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m and FITA events.

In the distaff side, Naina Dominique Tagle of Dumaguete repulsed Shane Dinopol of Cebu in the girls’ side to hike her gold medal haul to five.

In athletics, Laguna bet Magvrylle Matchino of Laguna snared two more golds to emerge as the most bemedalled trackster with four and a silver.

The 14-year-old from Siniloan Integrated School towed the girls’ 4x100m and 4x400m squad of Janine Dauba, Evita Ruth Belloso and Kyla Elona to golds

with times of 52.4 seconds and 4:17.30, respectively.

She had earlier taken the 2000m steeplechase mint in 7:38.8 to add to Matchino’s silver medal finish to barefoot Camarines Sur runner Lheslie de Lima.

“Kulang ako sa tapang ng loob nung naglaban kami ni de Lima. Pero, habang tumatagal, nag-enjoy na ako at lumakas ang loob ko,” said Matchino, the daughter of a caregiver working in London.

Igot’s efforts was still not able help Cebu City move in front of the overall standings.

Baguio is up in ahead has 17 gold, 14 silver and 21 bronze medals following victories in judo from Leerenz Tindaan (-50kgs class), Aoen Lance Kim (-55kgs), and Wright Lonogan (-60kgs).

Resorts World stages Run With Me X at SM MOA

Beneficiaries of Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) annual fun run for charity Run With Me X, at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds, display oversized checks representing the cash they will received from generous donors.

McIlroy targets world number one spot CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland —Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) his “focus for the rest of the year” is to close the gap on world number one Brooks Koepka in the rankings, as he returned to Europe following his FedEx Cup triumph last weekend.

The four-time major champion capped a strong year on the PGA Tour by winning the Tour Championship at East Lake and taking the $15 million prize for finishing atop the season’s points standings ahead of Koepka.

The Northern Irishman will play his first event on European soil since missing the cut at his home British Open at Royal Portrush last month in the European Masters at Crans Montana on Thursday (Friday Philippine time).

“Brooks has got about a three-point lead on me,” said world number two McIlroy, who has not been ranked number one since September 2015.

“I don’t know if that’s attainable with the tournaments I have left. Obviously Brooks will play a little bit of golf as well. It’s a goal to get closer, to keep playing well.

“There’s still a lot to play for. That’s my focus for the rest of the year, getting closer to that number one spot.”

Rory McIlroy watches the flight of his ball after playing a shot during a pro-am tournament ahead of the PGA European Tour golf tournament Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana. AFP

McIlroy, who tees off alongside Englishmen Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace in Switzerland, has failed to seriously challenge for a fifth major title this year despite notching 14 top-10 finishes in total.

“We play 25 tournaments a year, it’s not as if the other 21 don’t count. There’s

big tournaments and a lot to play for,” insisted the 30-year-old.

“I’ve won majors, they are the biggest tournaments in the world. Because of them you can’t discredit all of the other tournaments and the guys who win those.

“There have been wonderful players over the years who haven’t won a major.” AFP

HEAVY rains the night before did not prevent over 7,000 runners in attending Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) annual fun run for charity Run With Me X, at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds, Sunday, August 25. The turnout broke last year’s record of 5,000 with five teams racing for the benefit of five charity institutions. Almost 30 celebrities signed up for this year’s event, the biggest in the annual race’s four-year history.

The GREEN team, led by actress Ara Mina and celebrity couple Chuckie and Yen Dreyfus, emerged as overall champions with a collective time of 4 hours, 6 minutes and 31 seconds for a P1.1 million slice of the total proceeds for Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. On 2nd spot was the YELLOW team for a P1 million donation for its charity beneficiary, HERO Foundation. Coming in on 3rd was the ORANGE team who won P900,000 for the EPCALM Adult Leukemia Foundation; the BLUE team at 4th, winning P400,000 for the ERDA TECH Foundation; and on 5th place was the RED team winning P400,000 for the Right Start Community Development, Inc. “We are very thankful for being one of Run With Me’s chosen charities. The donation from the run will go a long way as it will benefit more of our scholars and the purchase of more wheelchairs for our beneficiaries,” said Tahanang Walang Hagdanan’s PR and fundraising manager Ramon Apilado.

“More than the proceeds, charity events like Run With Me X remain significant because it creates a community among people who want to be fit and help others while raising awareness on our respective advocacies,” shared recording artist and Right Start Community Development, Inc. Vice Chairperson Acel Bisa-Van Ommen.

With a three-prong approach that promotes health, charity, and camaraderie through running, Run With Me has become a significant contributor to its beneficiaries’ advocacies. “We are also advocates of healthy lifestyles.

With the proceeds from Run With Me throughout the years, we were able to further help more of those who need spiritual, financial, and medical assistance,” according to EPCALM founder Dr. Erlyn Demerre.

Black Mamba beats Hyperwash, 91-83, in PBA D-League action

Francis John Munsayac (12) of Italianos Homme tries to dribble past Alberei defenders Mark Ollano (15) and John Pareno (15) during D-League action.

BLACK Mamba beat Hyperwash, 9183, and inched closer to a playoff spot in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Bobby Balucanag led the Energy Drink’s well-deployed attack with 21 points on a perfect 10-of-10 field goal shooting, while also hauling down nine rebounds in the win.

Jett Vidal produced 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists, Kim Medina supplied 13 points, while PJ Barua added 12 markers as Black Mamba improved its card to 3-1.

“Sabi ko nga, we’ll try to win this game to be close sa playoff spot. At 3-1, I think we’re safe already,” said coach Vis Valencia, as his side rose to third place in Group B. Black Mamba seized control of the match late in the payoff period, slithering away from a close 79-76 lead with a 12-5 blitz, punctuated by Tayongtong’s free throws that gave it a 91-81 lead with 1:17 left to play.

JR Cawaling tried to spark one last run for Hyperwash with a lay-up

Games Monday

(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig) 1:30 p.m. - Black Mamba vs BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare 3:30 p.m. - CEU vs Hazchem 5:30 p.m. - McDavid-La Salle Araneta vs Alberei

seconds later, but the rest of the Vipers could not buy baskets in the clutch.

Lord Casajeros paced Hyperwash with 17 points in the loss that dropped the Vipers to 2-3.

Khazim Mirza had 14 points, while Arvie Bringas and Mac Montilla added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

The Scores: BLACK MAMBA 91 – Balucanag 21, Vidal 14, Medina 13, Barua 12, Tayongtong 6, Santiago 5, Carongoy 4, Castro 4, Bolos 3, Caranguian 3, Boholano 2, Derige 2, Gadon 2, Sison 0.

HYPERWASH 83 – Casajeros 14, Mirza 14, Bringas 11, Montilla 10, Cawaling 8, Julkipli 7, Fortuna 4, Buenafe 4, Dadjilul 4, De Ocampo 2, Ferrer 2, Cariaga 0, Jumao-as 0.

Quarter scores: 9-12, 23-23, 66-61, 91-83.

Sports

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

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Serena Williams of the US celebrates her victory against Caty McNally of the US during Round Two Women’s Singles match of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AFP

Scouting key to Gilas success

By Peter Atencio

S

COUTING and leg work will be key to the success of Gilas Pilipinas.

Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao said this before he departed Thursday morning with the rest of the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team for China to participate in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. “Ang nakita ng mga scouts (Italy) ay iyung mga game natin sa Spain, and in the windows. At nakita na rin natin silang maglaro,” said Guiao.

Gilas will be on its second consecu-

tive World Cup stint after first making it in 2014.

“They have scouted us, and we have scouted them,” said Guiao of their opponents in Group D. The Philippines will be facing big challenges, considering that they will be playing Italy, Angola, and favorite Serbia.

First for the Philippines will be Italy on Saturday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m., with Angola on Monday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Italy is ranked no. 13 in the world.

Guiao hopes NBA players Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari won’t be around for the Italians when they meet.

The Italians enter their campaign with seven losses in their final eight tune-up games this summer, including a 32-point rout inflicted by Serbia.

“We are just hoping na di maglaro iyung dalawa,” said Guiao in jest.

The games against Italy will be crucial, but there’s Angola as well.

Angola is supposed to be an underdog, but it could be a difficult team to face as well.

The preparation by Gilas included two tuneup games against the Adelaide 36ers of Australia. This helped coach Guiao decide on his final 12 roster.

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

The tuneup games between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australians came more than a year after a fight broke out on July 2 last year 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 wanted to erase bad memories of the past, and replace them with good memories of Australia,” said Guiao.

Realtors blast Nueva Ecija; Risers subdue Supremos PASIG blasted Nueva Ecija, 85-72, to continue to make its presence felt for a playoff run in the MPBL Lakan Season Wednesday night at the Pasig Sports Complex.

The Sta. Lucia backed-squad picked up its eighth win in 11 games and solidified its hold of the fourth spot of the tough northern division in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Also picking up back-to-back victories were the Bataan Risers, who ended Caloocan Supremos’ five-game winning run following a 90-77 triumph in the other game.

Jai Reyes took the spotlight, this time, for the Jong Uichico-mentored Risers, who notched their sixth win in 11 games and start the two thirds of the elimination round on a winning note.

Reyes hit seven of his 12 threepoint attempts as the Risers’ torrid shooting were once again in full dis-

play. Chito Jaime also had a productive night, adding 14 markers for his beloved hometown.

Five players finished in double figures in Pasig’s latest win led by Fil-Am guard Robbie Manalang.

Acquired at the last minute by the Realtors prior to the start of the season, Manalang continued his impressive showing in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league. He knocked in 17 points to lead the way for the Realtors, who just picked up another home win before another packed crowd.

Jeric Teng tallied 16 points followed

by Jeric Serrano, who had 14. Josan Nimes and Lander Canon had 12 and 10 points, respectively for the Realtors.

Bataan’s win put the squad in a threeway tie for sixth to eighth places with the Pasay Voyagers and the Bulacan Kuyas while relegating the Supremos to ninth spot in the northern division.

Pampanga also got back in the win column, this after the Giant Lanterns Alfred Batino of Bataan (22) and Rene Pacquiao of Caloocan Risers battle for better position during a rebound play. outplayed the Navotas Clutch, 83-74.

BanKo-Perlas subdues Choco Mucho Titans

Nicole Tiamzon’s power, the BanKo-Perlas spiker Nicole Tiamzon hammers a down-the-line spike past the double block put up by the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

RANGED against a tall, young squad boasting of one of the league’s leading hitters, BanKo-Perlas relied on their net defense to slow down Choco Mucho led by Kat Tolentino and post its first back-to-back victories in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Open Conference.

The Perlas Spikers held the former Lady Eagle, who normed 18 points in the Flying Titans’ first three games, to just eight markers, leading to their 25-18, 25-20, 25-23 victory late Wednesday for a hold of solo second place behind unbeaten Creamline (5-0).

Former UP stalwart Kathy Bersola stood at the forefront of BanKo-Perlas’ solid net defense, producing five kill blocks on top of putting up a teamhigh 15-point effort that helped break the team’s win-loss-win-loss-win roll for its first back-to-back romp in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

“We did watch out for Kat since she’s the team’s top scorer,” said

BanKo-Perlas’ skipper Nicole Tiamzon, who backed Bersola in offense by churning out an 11-hit showing, all via kills, as the Perlas Spikers moved up the ranking with a 4-2 card.

“Kathy’s blocking helped us a lot.”

Tolentino had a forgettable 7-of-40 spiking clip, forcing Maddie Madayag to step up but even her 15-point output had failed to prevent the Flying Titans to drop to 2-2.

Aside from shackling Tolentino, Tiamzon also cited the returning Jem Ferrer’s playmaking skills, whose 22 excellent sets paved the way for the Perlas Spikers to score 51 attack points.

Veterans Dzi Gervacio and Sue Roces also chipped in 13 and eight markers, respectively, with Ella de Jesus adding six points and matching Gervacio’s seven excellent receptions.

BanKo-Perlas, meantime, hopes to build on its streak as it tries to close out its first round elims assignments with victories over BaliPure and Motolite in the next two weeks.

Serena, Federer scramble to victory NEW YORK, United States—Serena Williams nearly crashed out of the rainhit US Open on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) while top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic battled through shoulder pain and Roger Federer advanced despite a weak start.

US eighth seed Williams, seeking her 24th career Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court’s all-time record, got a scare before ousting 17-year-old US wildcard Caty McNally 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.

McNally, who hadn’t been born when Williams won her first Slam at the 1999 US Open, threatened a struggling Williams from the start before the six-time US Open champion won nine of the last 11 games to escape under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I survived tonight. I’m not too pleased with the way I played at all,” Williams said. “’Serena, you made way too many errors today. What were you thinking?’

But I’m alive. I’m happy. I’ll do better next time. I promise.”

Djokovic, winner of four of the past five Slam titles and 16 in all, was treated for a sore left shoulder throughout his 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 victory over Argentina’s 56th-ranked Juan Ignacio Londero.

“It was definitely affecting my serve and backhand,” Djokovic said of his shoulder injury. “I was definitely tested.”

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam winner who last won the US Open in 2008, rallied to beat 99th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The 38-year-old Swiss third seed, who also dropped the first set against Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal in his opener, answered the wake-up call despite 17 first-set unforced errors.

“It’s just a bit frustrating more than anything, especially when the level is that low and there are that many errors and the energy is not kind of there,” Federer said. “But can only do better, which is a great thing moving forward. AFP

Bulldogs hope to improve UAAP finish THE National University Bulldogs are hoping to improve on their seventh place finish last year.

With seniors like Matt Aquino, Rev Diputado, Troy Rike and Dave Wilson Yu gone after graduation the National University Bulldogs will rely on the talented Ildefonso brothers—Dave and Shaun—to provide leadership for the team.

That’s because the Ildefonso brothers are seen to be able to take care of NU’s offense.

After settling for 4-10 win-loss record in season 81, eight remnants of the team from last year are raring to take on the challenges in front of them in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

This is what will face the likes of veterans John Lloyd Clemente, John Galinato, JV Gallego, Issa Gaye, Enzo Joson, Dave Ildefonso, Shaun Ildefonso and Jonas Tibayan.

Joining them in their quest are returnees Robert Minerva, Migs Oczon and Chino Mosqueda, who just recovered from an injury.

And with coach Jamike Jarin still calling the shots, improvements in NU’s game plan could happen. Peter Atencio

Catindig advances in Asian Juniors soft tennis tourney NATIONAL team mainstay Princess Catindig hurdled her first two matches to stay in the hunt for a podium finish in the 1st Asian Junior Soft Tennis Championships at the Colegio San Agustin indoor tennis court in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on Thursday.

Catindig, a San Beda University player and current MVP in the NCAA, nipped favorite Ana Kawingian of Indonesia 3-2 (8-6) before eliminating Rin Sothery of Cambodia 3-0.

Catindig has to beat Asees Khaurchahay of India in her next match to book a quarterfinal berth in the 13-nation competition.

Meanwhile, Chubby Prince Dan Alano squeezed past Nischal Kayastha of Nepal 3-2 (7-5) in the boys’ 12-under category and towed along MJ Luna of

College of St. Benilde, Angela Valdez of Greenland Academy Cainta, Nadine Tiburcio of Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Beda’s Virvienica Bejosano.

Luna outplayed Warakorn Khongraksa of Thailand 3-1 in men’s 21-under category; Valdez blanked Jiani Wei of China 3-0 in the girls’ 15-under category; Tiburcio routed Rima Ray of India 3-0 and Bejosano outclassed Enkhzul Batsaikham of Mongolia 3-0.

Asian Soft Tennis Federation (ASTF) vice president and Philippine Soft Tennis Association (PSTA) president Col. Jeff Tamayo, ASTF secretary general Tasuo Kasai, CSA rector Rev. Fr James, CSA and PSTA secretary general Dr. Joven Sepino of University of Perpetual Help graced the Indigenous Peoples’ themed opening ceremonies.

IN BRIEF Senate asks status of electrification THE Senate energy committee chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked the Energy Department to submit a comprehensive rollout plan in pursuit of the total electrification agenda.

Gatchalian said the agency promised to provide concrete data during the previous hearings in the 17th Congress on the government’s electrification program in April and August 2016.

Gatchalian asked the department for the status of the country’s electrification as the committee started the hearing on a bill that would spur microgrid development in unserved and underserved areas nationwide.

Gatchalian said that during the hearing of Senate Bill No. 175 or The Microgrid Systems Act, he and other members of the committee asked Mario Marasigan, director of the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, on updates regarding the progress of the electrification program.

“One of the most important reasons for the department’s existence is to make sure that electricity is available in all of our households and the target is 2022. We cannot achieve it in 2022 if we do not have a strategy,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

PCC clears merger of Infineon, Cypress THE Philippine Competition Commission said it cleared the acquisition of shares in Silicon Valley-based Cypress Semiconductor Corp. by German chip-maker Infineon Technologies AG The transaction involves the merger between IFX Merger Sub Inc., an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Infineon and Cypress Semicon.

After the merger, Cypress Semicon will be the surviving corporation to become the wholly-owned subsidiary of Infineon. IFX will be merged into Cypress and the separate corporate existence of IFX will cease.

The PCC said in a decision issued on Aug. 28 that the transaction would not likely result in the substantial lessening of competition as the candidate relevant geographic market of the deal is global in scale and the parties had limited presence in the Philippines.

It said that post-transaction, there would still be competitive constraints from other semicon and chip manufacturers in the global market for integrated circuits or microchips. Othel V. Campos

Business All Home, Axelum get nod to hold October IPO T

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the application of coconut processor Axelum Resources Corp. and homeware store chain operator All Home Corp. to hold initial public offerings in October this year.

AllHome, based on the offer terms approved by the PSE, plans to list its shares on the main board of the PSE on Oct 10. Axelum aims to list its shares on Oct. 7.

Axelum Resources, which will use the stock symbol “AXLM,” will offer 1.13 billion shares at a price of up to

P6.81 apiece.

AllHome, with the ticker “HOME,” will offer 1.125 billion shares at a price of up to P16 each.

The determination of the offer price for the securities of both companies will undergo a book building process.

“We are excited with the back-toback maiden offerings as we know investors have been waiting for IPOs in the stock market. We are pleased that Axelum and AllHome decided to raise capital through the equities market as both companies are a welcome addition to the roster of listed firms in the exchange,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon.

Monzon said the upcoming IPOs would have a local small investor component where 10 percent of the offered shares would be allocated for LSIs. Axelum is a fully-integrated manufac-

turer of coconut products for domestic and international food and beverage companies, confectioneries, bakeries, private label supermarkets and grocery store chains, food service industries, coconut coffee creamer manufacturers, cosmetics and diet prepared food market.

It plans to use the proceeds from the IPO for strategic acquisitions, expansion of domestic and international distribution network, installation, improvement and expansion of manufacturing facilities, retirement of loans and reduction of payables and other capital expenditure requirements.

AllHome is a chain of home stores owned by the Villar group. Net proceeds from the maiden share offering will be used to fund the company’s capital expenditures and initial working capital to support the expansion and debt repayment.

Group promotes energy efficiency THE Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance on Thursday urged the government to slowly move toward incorporating energy efficiency as a mainstream resource in planning the energy mix.

PE2 president Alexander Ablaza also promoted energy efficiency as a new infrastructure asset class in the energy market.

“Eventually, energy efficiency should be planned as a resource in any country’s energy mix. Our economy needs to mobilize $243 billion in energy efficiency capital to harvest 45,900 megawatts from the demand-side of the Philippine energy market in the next 21 years,” Ablaza said in a statement following an energy panel discussion of the Philippines Infrastructure Conference on Wednesday.

Ablaza also said private capital could be tapped for initial investments in energy efficiency projects hosted by government agencies through expanded procurement regulations that would enable energy service company contracts.

He said the implementing rules and regulations of the Republic Act 11285 also known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act should provide clear guidelines that would enable the procurement of ESCO contracts for government energy efficiency projects. Alena Mae S. Flores

ABS-CBN prepares nationwide rollout of mobile television ABS-CBN Corp. on Thursday announced the nationwide rollout of its mobile digital television device to accelerate the digital migration in support of the government’s thrust to switch off the analog transmission.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go is the on-thego version of the TVplus box and turns Android smartphones into a “handheld TV” without consuming mobile data by acting as a digital TV broadcast receiver.

ABS-CBN said it was targeting Filipino commuters who have no time to catch their favorite ABS-CBN shows and channels at home.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go works in areas where digital TV signal is available, including Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Baguio City, Cavite, Laguna, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City. It is available for only P799.

TVplus Go is simple and easy to use. It works with USB-OTG Android phones with a micro USB port (typeC port may function using a micro USB-OTG adaptor with data support) and a few other base specifications, such as Android 5.0 operating system or higher, 1GB RAM or higher and a dual-core processor or higher.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go follows the success of ABS-CBN’s innovations― ABS-CBN TVplus, which made the company the country’s pioneer in digital terrestrial television when it was launched in 2015.

ABS-CBN Tvplus already sold more than 8 million boxes as of July 2019. Meanwhile, iWant, a streaming app for Filipino movies and TV shows launched last year, was downloaded 11.3 million times.

Darwin G. Amojelar

UP GETS NEW ID. The University of the Philippines ramps up its bid to become the most innovative university in the Philippines with the release of the new UP ID powered by PayMaya. Through the new ID initially released for employees of the UP system, faculty and staff can easily gain access to the various facilities of the university, use it for daily attendance records and use the ID’s payment feature to pay for food, services and other items within the university. The new IDs will also be released to students of UP Diliman soon. Launching the new ID are (from left) PayMaya senior enterprise manager Tisha Quinitio, PayMaya founder and CEO Orlando Vea, UP president Danilo Concepcion, UP executive vice president Teodoro Herbosa and UP vice president for development Elvira Zamora.

Credit and liquidity level to support GDP growth—Diokno

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said credit and liquidity conditions in the country remain supportive of economic growth.

Diokno, in his presentation during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines forum in Manila this week, said credit grew 10.5 percent as of endJune 2019 while domestic liquidity expanded 6.4 percent during the same period.

“Notwithstanding the slower growth in loans for production activities, we continue to see sustained business demand on account of favorable macroeconomic conditions in the country, particularly with the easing of inflation in 2019,” Diokno said.

Inflation eased to an average of 3.3 percent in the first seven months, on the back of slower increases in the prices of

food and other commodities. This was within the 2019 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government.

Diokno said the continued lending activities by domestic banks indicated their effectiveness in facilitating a smooth flow of funds in the economy, boosting economic growth in the process.

“Banks remain sufficiently capitalized, while their past due ratios have consistently declined over the years.

This enhances their capacity to manage risks and at the same time increase profitability,” he said.

Diokno said these improvements were expected to continue given the positive outlook on the macroeconomy.

He said notwithstanding the external risk factors, the performance of the domestic financial markets would continue to be influenced by favorable domestic developments.

“The country’s relatively strong macroeconomic fundamentals―of which a manageable inflation environment plays an important part―have helped support investors sentiment,” Diokno said.

The GDP growth slowed to a four-year low of 5.5 percent in the second quarter from 5.6 percent in the first quarter, weighed down by the delayed approval of the national budget for 2019.

This brought the average growth in the first half to 5.6 percent, below the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent for the year.

Economic managers expect a strong rebound in the second half as the government vowed to ramp up fiscal spending for the rest of the year, particularly on infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration.

SKYJET AIR FRANCHISE.

President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law Republic Act No. 11410, granting a 25-year transport franchise to Magnum Air Inc., the operator of SkyJet Airlines. Under the franchise, Skyjet Airline is allowed to operate local and international air transport services.

SkyJet Airline, which started regular commercial operations in 2012, has direct flights from Manila to Coron via Busuanga, San Vicente, Palawan, Camiguin, Batanes, Siargao and vice versa. It has two British Aerospace 146 -100, which carries 80 passengers and two British Aerospace 146200 with 92 seating capacity.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

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Cebu BRT seen to start operations by end of 2021

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation said Thursday the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit is on track to start partial operations by December 2021.

The agency said the Cebu BRT was on its final design and implementation stages. Its improved design plan provides for a wholly dedicated BRT corridor to ensure the reliability of service, better connectivity and enhanced ease of movement, in contrast to the previous design that only featured a combination of dedicated BRT corridors with mixed-traffic sections.

A part of the Cebu Integrated and Intermodal Transport System, Cebu BRT aims to promote enhanced mobility and connectivity for Cebuanos traversing through various modes of public transportation such as roadbased land transport, railway and other transport infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

The DOTr said to assess the technical feasibility and soundness of the design plan of the project, it engaged the service of Egis International as technical support consultant, a move supported by the World Bank and the Agence Française Développement.

Egis crafted the Metro Cebu Integrated Intermodal Transport Plan which identified corridors where mass transit systems should be developed. In serving its purpose to guide the alignment of future mass transit developments, the MCIITP aims to provide a seamless and integrated mass public transport system not just in Cebu City but also in adjacent cities.

The department said that with the help of the TSC, it meticulously refined the Cebu BRT design plan to ensure that the project, along with others under the CIITS, would comprehensively improve the traffic situation in Metro Cebu, help spur regional growth even in adjacent cities and towns and bring comfort and convenience to the commuters of the sprawling metropolis in the central Philippines.

Transportation Undersecretary for road transport Mark De Leon said the design plan for the Cebu BRT was an improved version of the initial project design approved by the National Economic and Development Authority in 2014.

House must pass second tax reform package to support ‘Build, Build, Build’ FINANCE Undersecretary Gil Beltran said the passage of the remaining packages of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program will ensure a reliable revenue base to support the modernization of the Philippine economy.

Beltran, who is also the Finance Department’s chief economist, said in a news briefing the tax reforms would ensure the equitable sharing of funds for the government’s social and infrastructure program while securing fiscal stability long into the future.

He said that for 2020, revenue collections were projected to reach P3.5 trillion of which P187.1 billion would come from tax reforms.

These include P153.8 billion from the first CTRP package or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law; P15.7 billion from Republic Act No. 11346, which raised excise taxes on tobacco products; and an estimated P20 billion from Package 2 Plus, which aims to increase excise taxes on alcohol and e-cigarette products.

Package 2 Plus was already approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on Aug. 20.

Expenditures for 2020 are expected to reach P4.2 trillion or 19.8 percent of GDP, which translates into a deficit target of P677.6 billion or 3.2 percent of GDP that “is well within the norm for deficit spending,” Beltran said at a briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee for senators on Thursday morning.

“The executive branch will continue to be engaged with the legislature in passing the remaining tax reform packages that will generate additional revenue streams for government to fund social amelioration programs,” said Beltran who represented Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at the briefing. Julito G. Rada

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Business

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs; Aboitiz Power up

S

TOCKS rose for the second straight day Thursday as a follow-through on the market rally in the previous session, with select blue chips again leading the advance.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 45.31 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,892.81 on a value turnover of P8.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 109 to 87, with 47 issues unchanged.

Aboitiz Power Corp., a major generator of electricity, advanced 4 percent to P37.85, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, gained 2.4 percent to P233.60.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, added 1.4 percent to P147, while conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Go-

kongwei rose 2.3 percent to P70.50.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Thursday but investors remain on edge over China-US trade talks and after a closely watched recession indicator hit a level not seen since just before the financial crisis.

The pound remained under pressure after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson forced an extended suspension of parliament, heightening the prospect of a no-deal Brexit and leading to speculation of a snap no-confidence vote.

Asian markets started with losses across the board by some managed to claw themselves back as the day progressed.

Hong Kong shed 0.4 percent, Shanghai retreated 0.1 percent and Tokyo ended down 0.1 percent. Seoul and Wellington each lost 0.4 percent, while Mumbai shed more than one percent.

However, Sydney, Singapore and Taipei bounced into positive territory.

Wall Street provided a healthy lead but nervousness remains after the weekend’s face-off between China and the US that saw each side impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of goods and Donald Trump label Xi Jinping at one point an “enemy.”

While the US president later said toplevel officials from Beijing and Washington had spoken by phone and talks would resume soon, China was reluctant to confirm this, while analysts warn the strategy is undermining market confidence.

“At each round of escalation in the US-China trade war, whether that is new retaliatory tariffs or new sanctions proposals (like cutting Chinese firms off from the US financial system), investors are growing more and more uncertain,”

said Hannah Anderson, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management.

“There does not appear to be an off ramp to this path of continued escalation.”

The row comes against a backdrop of slowing global growth and uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s plans for cutting interest rates to support the US economy.

“The catalyst that can break this market out is clearly a move, forward-looking, and a clear agreement with China to move forward and stop this escalation with the trade war,” Brett Ewing, First Franklin Financial Services chief market strategist, told Bloomberg TV. “Also, I think the market is looking for a Fed that can get ahead of these rate cuts instead of just meeting market expectations.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 56 1,520 87.5 2,391,370 2.12 3,131,000 147 1,836,560 1.15 59,000 26.2 16,800 18.6 500 11.62 113,300 4.77 284,000 1.34 61,000 750 20 0.45 360,000 70.55 2,756,090 0.93 29,000 45.5 63,600 187 1,020 57.85 293,110 27 21,500 195.4 1,226,160 60.05 19,550

83,545.50 208,657,961 6,263,360 266,482,480 67,850 440,605 9,300 1,313,694 1,361,760 81,290 15,000 163,650 195,496,109.50 27,070 2,889,485 190,740 16,956,413.50 583,890 235,265,368 1,176,635

-1,096 28,462,086.50 -6,220,000 14,173,094 -217,800 -541,094 -152,640.00 5,802,378.50 -825,960 -29,745 3,348,771 -311,900.50

36 14.98 0.71 1.3 0.244 2.94 14.02 109.9 10.5 33.5 72.6 80 2.02 5.7 5.41 8.91 14.88 9.45 7.24 26 82.9 48.95 1.93 14.48 8.01 1.47 226.6 4.89 3.39 8.2 22.1 13.5 18.5 360 0.203 1.74 5.13 9 2.69 10.94 32.35 5.06 5.1 1.57 1.08 12.26 90.5 7.08 0.125 1.02 171 2.45 1.12 16.1 1.23

INDUSTRIAL 37.85 4,156,900 15.3 549,400 0.72 4,357,000 1.3 25,000 0.255 16,420,000 2.98 5,396,000 14.08 465,000 110 90 10.7 187,100 33.5 13,300 74 1,040 80 9,010 2.04 60,000 5.8 8,400 5.7 9,600 8.94 437,600 14.96 257,000 9.8 1,037,400 7.26 1,927,600 26 2,273,100 83 41,390 50.9 79,800 2 5,418,000 14.6 420,400 8.01 151,600 1.6 296,000 233.6 532,340 4.89 36,500 3.41 5,000 8.7 5,300 22.1 104,500 13.62 13,700 18.8 1,585,300 369.8 180,450 0.203 20,000 1.78 6,903,000 5.19 392,600 9.2 507,800 2.78 20,530,000 11.2 59,100 32.35 1,607,100 5.1 254,000 5.1 1,300 1.6 148,000 1.1 107,000 12.34 164,700 90.9 726,420 7.16 38,100 0.125 170,000 1.06 1,203,000 172 1,664,760 2.45 28,000 1.17 10,907,000 16.1 200 1.25 6,655,000

155,923,400 8,298,422 3,204,540 32,500 4,229,300 16,133,490 6,519,950 9,899 1,988,468 448,285 76,465 724,191 121,600 48,030 52,178 3,912,694 3,835,788 9,976,313 14,005,876 59,297,250 3,436,073.50 4,073,735 10,711,330 6,175,084 1,217,664 456,470 123,420,990 182,235 16,990 44,555 2,318,440 185,700 29,646,474 66,029,878 4,060 12,259,200 2,027,852 4,670,727 56,965,730 659,674 52,458,760 1,312,220 6,630 235,110 117,400 2,032,226 66,295,616 274,233 21,290 1,254,110 286,107,196 68,600 12,785,610 3,220 8,352,570

50,822,615 1,756,564 -188,580 71,840 -411,370 -1,489,574 2,339,814 5,727,941.00 -10,033,896 -19,618,405 -1,915,985.50 24,410 98,910 -3,287,580 -302,778 34,563,174 10,170 -1,347,205 -1,364 28,470,370 22,270,336 4,060 -78,100 -540,470 -4,600,000 -1,793,960 5,500 -48,338,385 15,918 -24,742 -37,491,184 10,200 -10,932,316 68,600 -3,413,630 91,990

0.81 50.45 12.78 0.86 7 13.5 1.28 1.31 929 3.43 6.75 8.85 13.5 0.24 865 6.28 67.9 6.15 5.06 0.48 4.6 13.76 0.61 4.77 0.039 1.33 172.1 2.48 990 0.87 1.3 0.23 0.249

HOLDING FIRMS 0.85 34,252,000 52 2,750,980 12.98 5,030,300 0.9 146,338,000 7 34,300 14.02 26,200 1.3 3,946,000 1.33 455,000 935 268,530 3.47 1,045,000 6.78 476,500 9.1 5,478,400 13.74 5,300 0.24 10,000 890 169,010 6.28 100 70.5 2,847,500 6.15 4,500 5.06 10,000 0.51 490,000 4.61 131,000 14.2 1,991,500 0.66 1,527,000 4.83 25,579,000 0.04 105,700,000 1.39 635,000 175.5 56,700 2.5 6,000 1,020 248,585 0.87 8,394,000 1.32 35,000 0.235 640,000 0.265 12,040,000

28,776,120 141,429,329.50 65,118,706 156,974,910 240,100 365,516 5,115,460 596,780 250,898,900 3,626,550 3,232,114 49,524,976 71,700 2,400 148,635,160 628 198,945,233.50 27,854 50,600 247,100 604,850 28,248,916 965,120 123,402,750 4,309,300 873,460 9,911,430 14,920 252,308,442.50 7,692,240 46,150 149,450 3,182,670

5,193,210 -73,736,347 -3,253,964 -99,660 69,900 0 -65,348,315 169,680 -465,374 -25,522,034 -4,128 -12,401,960 -628 63,409,352.50 -161,440 7,408,600 -71,494,760 344,400 -3,463,676 -2,408,807.50 18,400 -365,600

10,332,750 493,510 46,816 552,700 2,060,000 579,186,240 592,470 1,732,800 1,339,832 1,194,620 6,030 8,400 347,510 316,000 1,533,588 50,935,865 248,050 3,630 15,727,580 833,840 183,524,598 3,838,300 4,500 7,358,190 350,500 476,950 98,950,160

-652,576 -151,300 -74,706,475 -36,970 5,600 196,181.00 8,898,020 -216,200 -1,303,420 -13,383,998 6,400 54,080 -17,818,440

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

57 86.9 2 145 1.15 26.25 18.6 11.54 4.82 1.3 750 0.45 71.8 0.95 45.65 187 57.85 27.6 192.1 59.1

57 87.5 2.14 147 1.15 26.25 18.6 11.7 4.89 1.34 750 0.465 71.8 0.95 45.7 187 57.85 27.6 195.4 60.7

54.6 86.8 2 142.5 1.15 25.95 18.6 11.54 4.77 1.3 750 0.45 70.55 0.93 45.05 187 57.85 27 189 59.1

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

36.6 15.02 0.71 1.3 0.244 2.95 14.02 109.9 10.7 34.7 77.9 85 2.02 5.8 5.41 8.95 15.16 9.45 7.26 26.15 83.25 48.95 1.97 14.72 8.06 1.48 228.2 5.15 3.41 8.41 22.35 13.5 18.5 362 0.203 1.74 5.18 9.2 2.69 11 33.6 5.3 5.1 1.6 1.11 12.26 93.5 7.08 0.127 1.07 172 2.45 1.12 16.1 1.28

37.85 15.3 0.76 1.3 0.265 3.03 14.08 110 10.7 34.7 77.9 85 2.04 5.8 5.7 9.09 15.16 9.8 7.3 26.6 84.4 52.5 2 14.76 8.07 1.63 233.6 5.15 3.41 8.79 22.5 13.64 18.8 369.8 0.203 1.81 5.2 9.2 2.81 11.2 33.75 5.4 5.1 1.6 1.11 12.48 93.55 7.24 0.127 1.08 172 2.45 1.24 16.1 1.29

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.82 51.7 12.78 1.17 7 13.58 1.32 1.31 940 3.5 6.81 8.94 13.74 0.24 868 6.28 68.85 6.19 5.06 0.495 4.64 13.76 0.65 4.85 0.04 1.35 175 2.48 1,008 0.99 1.31 0.235 0.26

0.87 52.3 13.16 1.27 7 14.16 1.33 1.35 942 3.54 6.85 9.1 13.76 0.24 890 6.28 70.5 6.2 5.06 0.51 4.64 14.3 0.66 4.87 0.043 1.44 175.5 2.5 1,025 1 1.33 0.235 0.275

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

15.34 0.8 9.71 1.88 0.85 48 2.16 4.7 5.82 0.55 0.76 0.84 0.234 0.4 9.37 22.5 0.45 0.121 1.62 1.21 5.06 0.31 0.45 1.35 0.385 2 25.2

15.46 0.8 10.78 1.88 0.9 48 2.19 4.72 6.16 0.56 0.76 0.84 0.237 0.4 9.4 22.55 0.465 0.121 1.64 1.25 5.09 0.32 0.45 1.45 0.405 2.04 25.2

15.34 0.79 9.7 1.86 0.85 47.4 2.16 4.65 5.82 0.55 0.75 0.84 0.234 0.4 9.3 21.9 0.45 0.121 1.59 1.21 5.01 0.305 0.45 1.35 0.385 2 24.8

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VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.3 3.25 35.2 2.4 5.8 0.96 7.39

2.37 3.3 35.5 2.42 5.85 0.98 7.39

2.3 3.1 35 2.39 5.6 0.89 7.3

2.36 3.28 35 2.39 5.75 0.94 7.39

261,000 208,000 9,039,700 408,000 192,100 2,431,000 6,251,200

607,390 666,890 318,295,400 976,060 1,092,033 2,271,130 46,022,935

16,450 -77,251,685 148,180 -4,402,758

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

10.26 19 1.51 0.57 0.046 18.52 2.3 9.95 0.058 95.1 6.99 7.17 10.6 1,900 5.3 425 1.57 2.03 131 0.113 4.96 2.86 14 3.11 0.97 18.3 0.47 3 2.35 1.24 1.28 15.16 3.5 2.7 8.1 3.18 1,120 0.69 0.51 44.3 77.5 9.09 2.73 0.69 0.37 5.46 0.69 16.76

10.26 19.82 1.55 0.6 0.047 18.52 2.36 10.1 0.058 95.95 6.99 7.17 11.36 1,924 5.36 433 1.68 2.07 131 0.138 5.09 3.09 14 3.2 0.97 18.46 0.5 3 2.39 1.24 1.28 15.16 3.79 2.7 8.1 3.26 1,130 0.69 0.65 44.9 78.5 9.39 2.79 0.7 0.385 5.46 0.72 16.9

10.04 19 1.49 0.56 0.046 18.5 2.3 9.95 0.056 95 6.99 7 10.04 1,890 5.3 415 1.55 2 128.3 0.109 4.86 2.86 14 3.11 0.93 18.22 0.46 3 2.35 1.15 1.28 15.16 3.25 2.67 8.05 3.05 1,111 0.68 0.5 43.75 77.25 9.09 2.69 0.69 0.36 5.45 0.68 16.74

SERVICES 10.04 19.8 1.55 0.58 0.046 18.5 2.32 10 0.057 95.5 6.99 7.01 10.04 1,924 5.36 432.8 1.65 2.07 130 0.115 4.93 3.09 14 3.14 0.94 18.3 0.46 3 2.39 1.15 1.28 15.16 3.38 2.69 8.08 3.1 1,125 0.68 0.63 43.75 78.5 9.39 2.7 0.69 0.37 5.46 0.7 16.88

3,700 181,500 5,000 6,342,000 6,100,000 9,000 180,000 4,557,300 16,880,000 64,170 900 591,700 894,200 36,325 142,200 7,560 3,823,000 55,000 3,071,800 165,140,000 1,782,000 8,000 1,200 188,000 610,000 90,300 840,000 32,000 867,000 253,000 30,000 100 30,870,000 218,000 10,200 1,979,000 174,690 1,077,000 204,151,000 316,800 467,780 9,700 1,818,000 174,000 12,500,000 4,427,400 853,000 1,032,600

37,418 3,570,856 7,550 3,654,380 280,700 166,620 419,680 45,603,973 963,250 6,114,014 6,291 4,163,138 9,454,120 69,564,375 759,461 3,209,208 6,200,930 112,000 398,170,347 20,636,890 8,864,820 23,220 16,800 594,460 576,200 1,653,674 403,200 96,000 2,057,880 300,280 38,400 1,516 108,138,470 585,970 82,388 6,304,850 195,277,510 735,420 123,841,150 13,902,350 36,537,199.50 90,638 4,941,780 120,130 4,633,950 24,139,420 597,290 17,393,128

166,620 -26,203,159.00 -658,155.50 14,028 103,930 39,940,705 -1,454,732 -99,900 59,730,675 -262,460 583,660 -3,200 574,802 94,700 962,020 -53,400 -348,580 -134,249,790 -323,680 2,877,570 -10,328,410 4,263,348.50 -335,790 -8,208,892 13,030,464.00

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

0.0016 1.29 12 2.7 0.28 7.75 1.43 0.205 0.111 0.11 0.0093 0.01 1.03 2.53 1.03 0.48 0.82 0.012 0.012 0.011 9.1 3.76 13.54 23 0.0065

0.0018 1.34 12.4 2.7 0.28 7.87 1.46 0.3 0.118 0.12 0.0095 0.011 1.05 2.66 1.1 0.48 0.92 0.012 0.012 0.012 9.33 3.84 13.92 23.1 0.0084

0.0016 1.29 11.54 2.7 0.28 7.75 1.43 0.204 0.109 0.11 0.0093 0.01 1.01 2.53 1 0.48 0.82 0.012 0.012 0.011 7.58 3.76 12.9 22.9 0.0065

MINING & OIL 0.0018 4,676,000,000 1.34 29,429,000 12.38 12,000 2.7 635,000 0.28 80,000 7.8 1,200 1.45 1,354,000 0.229 166,600,000 0.111 9,000,000 0.119 220,000 0.0095 10,000,000 0.011 33,200,000 1.03 463,000 2.61 8,957,000 1 507,000 0.48 30,000 0.83 3,773,000 0.012 3,100,000 0.012 38,600,000 0.011 12,700,000 8 5,795,600 3.84 1,335,000 12.9 4,517,600 23 697,700 0.0065 476,000,000

7,950,800 38,612,230 142,464 1,714,500 22,400 9,360 1,963,280 43,495,290 1,019,070 24,910 94,000 348,600 476,440 23,383,730 531,490 14,400 3,310,500 37,200 463,200 139,800 48,664,090 5,085,770 60,752,598 16,043,660 3,438,700

86,700 -790,030 -57,050 30,900 4,511,200 -21,800 6,130 -135,311 49,410 2,313,204 1,275,475 -36,300

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

18.32 496.4 503 101 105 490 505 5.14 995 990 0.99 996 1,030 1,040 107 76.6 78.95 75 76 76.9 75.65 76

18.48 496.4 504 101 105 490 505 5.18 995 990 1 996 1,030 1,040 110 76.6 79 75.5 76 76.9 75.7 76

17.9 496.4 500 101 105 490 505 5.14 995 970 0.99 996 1,030 1,036 107 76.6 78.7 75 76 76.5 75.5 76

PREFERRED 18.48 107,500 496.4 2,100 500 60 101 2,000 105 200 490 40 505 40 5.18 100,000 995 590 970 21,750 0.99 207,000 996 300 1,030 1,350 1,036 550 110 270 76.6 360 79 2,380 75.05 20,000 76 1,500 76.5 18,200 75.5 10,930 76 27,620

1,979,888 1,042,440 30,070 202,000 21,000 19,600 20,200 517,996 587,050 21,290,300 206,280 298,800 1,390,500 571,800 29,190 27,576 187,788 1,501,150 114,000 1,397,584 826,328 2,099,120

1,305,820.00 -21,000 -

LR WARRANT

1.55

1.65

1.55

WARRANTS 1.6 86,000

138,010

-

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

7.85 14.5 0.92

7.85 15.58 0.96

7.53 12 0.9

SME 7.64 12.56 0.94

7,295,349 115,937,408 2,422,430

500,249 -397,910 -109,480

FIRST METRO ETF

118.1

118.5

117.9

365,850

153,400

USD DMPL A1

10.2

10.3

10.1

185,731

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 15.4 0.79 9.71 1.88 0.88 47.7 2.18 4.65 6.16 0.56 0.75 0.84 0.235 0.4 9.4 22 0.465 0.121 1.59 1.25 5.01 0.315 0.45 1.42 0.4 2.03 25.1

672,100 617,000 4,800 294,000 2,332,000 12,162,700 273,000 369,000 230,200 2,167,000 8,000 10,000 1,480,000 790,000 163,600 2,309,400 540,000 30,000 9,788,000 681,000 36,408,800 12,210,000 10,000 5,247,000 880,000 235,000 3,957,200

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

16,089,791

INDUSTRIAL

217,911,011

HOLDING FIRMS

160,385,777

PROPERTY

311,175,954

SERVICES

248,524,754

MINING & OIL

1,611,750,167

GRAND TOTAL

2,592,618,092

955,900 8,386,900 2,573,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.5 3,100 10.1

DDS

18,220

VALUE 1,792.09 (down) 35.03 1,520,967,391.79 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,906.58 (down) 90.42 2,382,811,232.78 HOLDING FIRMS 7,620.50 (down) 152.04 3,623,149,035.20 PROPERTY 3,942.30 (down) 74.39 SERVICES 1,568.14 (down) 21.75 3,428,955,224.18 MINING & OIL 8,191.54 (up) 117.54 2,117,849,882.63 PSEI 7,747.38 (down) 142.03 171,213,491.1835 All Shares Index 4,706.80 (down) 63.58 13,472,903,546.97 Gainers: 88; Losers: 124; Unchanged: 39; Total: 251

PSE board OKs buyback plan to reduce brokers’ hold

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Thursday its board of directors approved a share buyback program and the creation of preferred shares in a bid to reduce brokers’ ownership in the local bourse to 20 percent.

The PSE said in a disclosure the board authorized the repurchase of up to P532 million worth of shares owned by broker shareholders of the exchange.

The buyback will be implemented until Sept. 30, 2019, unless extended by the board of directors.

The PSE said it would repurchase the shares using cash. It will book the repurchased shares as treasury stocks.

“The buyback program shall be implemented in an orderly manner and should not adversely affect the company’s and its subsidiaries’ prospective and existing projects.

The PSE also approved the creation of 3.5 million preferred shares to be issued only to brokers.

The preferred shares are non-voting, cumulative in payment of dividends, non-convertible and redeemable at the option of the board on the third anniversary date.

“The non-voting preferred shares shall only be issued to brokers. The terms and conditions of the issuance of non-voting preferred shares to brokers, including the dividend rate thereof, shall be fixed by the board of directors,” said the exchange.

The PSE said the share buyback and creation of preferred shares were the latest moves to reduce brokers’ ownership in the local bourse to 20 percent as provided under the Securities Regulation Code.

The code states that “no person may beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of the voting rights of the Exchange and no industry or business group may beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 20 percent of the voting rights of the Exchange.”

Sta. Lucia to sell common shares to generate P8.4b STA. LUCIA Land Inc. plans to raise as much as P8.4 billion in fresh capital through a share sale scheduled in December this year.

Sta. Lucia said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would sell up to 2.7 billion common shares with an over-allotment of 300 million common shares through a follow-on offering.

The company is selling the shares at an offer price of between P2.26 and P2.80 per share. It tapped ChinaBank Capital Corp. as issue manager and underwriter of the offering.

Sta. Lucia plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to partially finance capital expenditures of existing projects, strategic land banking and general corporate purposes.

It set the offering period from Nov. 18 to 29, and the listing date tentatively on Dec 9. The shares comprise up to 26.79 percent of the company’s outstanding capital stock.

At an offer price of between P2.26 and P2.80 per share, Sta. Lucia’s market capitalization upon listing will increase to between P25.30 billion and P31.35 billion.

Sta. Lucia is one of the leading real estate developers in the Philippines. The company earlier announced plans to spend P20 billion in capital expenditures over the next three years to expand its presence across the country.

Sta. Lucia is spending over P16 billion to develop a pipeline of projects in key locations within and outside Metro Manila, including Bulacan, Rizal, Batangas, Iloilo, Pangasinan, Palawan, Cebu and Davao provinces.

Sta. Lucia this year is set to launch 28 new residential and commercial projects and five condominium/hotel developments. The projects are expected generate an estimated P20 billion in reservation sales over the next three years.

Among the residential projects set for launching are Sotogrande Fairview, Acropolis Loyola in Quezon City Orchard Towers in Pasig City, Ponte Verde de Sto. Tomas and Yanarra Seaside Residences in Batangas, Colinas Verdes Expansion in Bulacan, Woodside Garden Village in Pangasinan, Metropolis in Iloilo, and Valle Verde in Cebu.Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

South Korean court orders retrial of Samsung heir Lee

TOUR. A boat sails past the ArtScience Museum (L) with a view of the financial district of Singapore on August 29, 2019.

AFP

SEOUL―South Korea’s top court on Thursday ordered a new trial for Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who was convicted of offenses including bribery and embezzlement in connection with the scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye.

The de facto head of the world’s biggest smartphone and memory chip maker, Lee was jailed for five years in 2017 but freed a year later after an appeals court dismissed most of his bribery convictions and gave him a suspended sentence.

The Supreme Court set aside that decision Thursday and sent his case back for new proceedings.

The decision is a blow to the company, which is by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in the world’s 11th-largest economy, and crucial to the country’s financial health.

It already faces a weak global chip market and fresh challenges from the export restrictions imposed by Tokyo over key chip-making chemicals amid a long-running dispute between the neighbors over wartime history.

Japan’s move threatens to disrupt memory chip production and Lee has called it a “crisis”, visiting Tokyo to seek to secure materials.

His court case centered on millions of dollars his firm paid to Park’s secret confidante Choi Soon-sil, allegedly for government favors such as ensuring a smooth succession for Lee to take over the leadership of the sprawling conglomerate from his ailing father.

Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su said Thursday that Lee’s case would be sent back for new proceedings to readdress multiple allegations, including bribery convictions that had been overturned by the appeals court. AFP

China ‘rotates’ its troops in Hong Kong H ONG KONG― China’s military on Thursday said fresh troops had arrived in Hong Kong as part of a routine “rotation”, as the financial hub prepares for more political rallies against Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.

State media published a video of armored personnel carriers and trucks driving across the Hong Kong border.

“The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Thursday morning completed the 22nd rotation since it began garrisoning Hong Kong in 1997,” Xinhua news agency re-

ported.

The well-publicized troop movement comes days before a planned new mass rally on Saturday which was expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the Hong Kong’s streets.

Hong Kong has sunk deep into political unrest, prompting Beijing to ramp up its rhetoric, describing some protest actions as “terrorist-like”.

Permission for Saturday’s mass rally was denied by Hong Police on security grounds, raising the likelihood of another weekend of clashes between police and protesters, who will likely come out in defiance of the ban.

In a letter to the rally organizers the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), police said they feared some participants would commit “violent and destructive acts”.

Protesters have so far carried out “ar-

son and large scale road blockades” and “used petrol bombs, steel balls, bricks, long spears, metal poles, as well as various self-made weapons to destroy public property”, the letter said of previous rallies.

The protests were ignited when the city’s Beijing-backed government tried to pass a bill allowing extraditions to mainland China.

But they have evolved into a wider call for greater democracy and an investigation into allegations of police brutality.

The mainly young protesters say freedoms within the semiautonomous city, unique within China, are being eroded by Beijing.

On Sunday police deployed water cannon and fired a warning gunshot to fend off radical

IN BRIEF China to hold big anniversary parade

BEIJING―China will hold a massive military parade showcasing some of its most advanced weaponry to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the communist state, authorities announced Thursday.

It comes as the trade war with the US threatens to engulf the international economy, with Beijing and Washington’s navies jostling for influence in Southeast Asia, and continuing unrest in Hong Kong.

The military and civilian parade, held in the capital on October 1, is expected to be the biggest in its history.

“We have to point out that this military parade won’t be targeted at any countries or districts and any specific incidents,” said General Cai Zhijun, a member of the Chinese Army General Staff, at a press conference in Beijing Thursday.

Cai said that the size of the military parade was not a sign of aggression and the Chinese army was “committed to safeguarding world peace and regional stability.”

However, the largest army in the world “will show some advanced weapons for the first time,” he added.

Chinese president Xi Jinping is also set to make “an important speech” to the nation, said Wang Xiaohui, executive vice minister of publicity in the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee.

Other plans for the anniversary celebration include an awards ceremony, fireworks, souvenir stamps and coins, an official documentary, and a musical. AFP

Iran: US must observe nuke deal

KUALA LUMPUR―The United States must observe a landmark nuclear deal and halt “economic terrorism” against Iran if it wants to hold talks, the Islamic republic’s foreign minister said Thursday.

Tehran and Washington have been locked in a bitter standoff since last year when US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 deal that gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its atomic program.

Trump said Monday he was ready to meet Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani within weeks, in a potential breakthrough reached during a G7 summit in the French seaside resort of Biarritz.

But Rouhani has said Washington must first lift sanctions imposed since its withdrawal from the nuclear deal, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that message.

“The United States is engaged in economic war against the Iranian people, and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing a war, engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” he told reporters during a visit to Malaysia, “We spoke to the United States, we spoke at length with the United States, we reached an agreement and they need to implement the agreement that we have reached before they expect to have more talks,” he added, referring to the nuclear deal. AFP

PREMIERE. Laura Pieri attends the premiere of Vertical Entertainment’s ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’ at ArcLight Hollywood on August 28 in California.

AFP

Australian accused of spying in China pleads to go home SYDNEY―An Australian academic arrested in China accused of being a spy has asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison to help him “go home as soon as possible”.

Yang Jun, an outspoken writer who also goes by his pen name Yang Hengjun, has been detained in China since January without access to his lawyer or family.

Beijing announced his formal arrest last Friday on spying charges, which could bring a lengthy prison sentence.

Yang on Thursday pleaded for Morrison to “help me go home as soon as possible” and expressed his gratitude to Australian officials for their work on his case, in a statement released via a consular official.

A Chinese investigator “told me that Australia was small and wouldn’t care about me”, Yang said in the letter, obtained by national broadcaster ABC. “He said Australia was dependent on China for its trade and economy, and Canberra wouldn’t help me, let alone rescue me. He said Australia wouldn’t help because I am not white.

“This is nonsense. He was wrong.”

Ties between the two sides have markedly deteriorated in recent months and China’s near-silence about Yang’s fate has only further strained relations. AFP

protesters after a sanctioned rally turned ugly, in some of the worst violence of the past three months.

This Saturday’s rally was set to mark five years since Beijing rejected political reforms in Hong Kong, a decision which sparked the 79-day Umbrella Movement.

The CHRF, responsible for the largest rallies the city has seen in decades, said they would appeal the decision.

“You can see the police’s course of action is intensifying, and you can see (Hong Kong leader) Carrie Lam has in

fact no intention to let Hong Kong return to peace,” the group’s leader Jimmy Sham told reporters.

Sham said he was attacked on Thursday as he ate lunch by two “masked men armed with a baseball bat and a long knife”, but escaped unhurt.

Anti-government demonstrators have been urged to gather in the city center and march to the Liaison Office, the department that represents China’s central government in Hong Kong, but both aspects, which need permission from authorities, have been banned. AFP

Quezon Governor Danilo E. Suarez hands the awards for over all champion-Infanta, General Luna as champion for category B headed by Mayor Matt Florido, and Real as champion for Category A in the booth competition of Niyugyugan Festival 2019. Suarez is assisted by Govenor’s Office chief of staff Jenny Suarez-Lopez, provincial administrator Roberto “Obet” Gajo, and Niyugyugan festival director Dominic Reyes. Benjie A. Antioquia

Q

UEZON Province has just wrapped up the 7th edition of the Niyogyugan Festival, considered the most-awaited, most spectacular event of the province that highlights primarily its premier crop― the coconut―from Aug. 16-26.

7 Niyogyugan Festival th

rocks Quezon Province

Conceptualized in 2012 by current brainchild of Rep. Aleta Suarez, was Quezon 3rd District Rep. Aleta Suarez, held for the first time in this year’s fesNiyogyugan is a playful combination tival to revive the traditional ritual of of two Tagalog words, “niyog” which drinking Lambanog, also called coconut means coconut and “yugyugan” which vodka, which comes from the sap of the means to beat, shake or dance. coconut flower.

As a single word, Niyogyugan means The “tagayan” booth drew the particisimply to celebrate the coconut tree, pation of various provincial government hence it is being played merrily to dance officials and personalities of the provbeats for the entire duration of the fes- ince who want to partake of the riotous tivities held at the provincial capitol drinking celebration still being practiced grounds and Perez Park here. in several remote barangays in Tayabas It all began simply as an agriculture City, Sariaya, and other towns of the and tourism fair, which Rep. Suarez and province. her son, then-Governor David “Jayjay” The 11-day festivities kicked off with Suarez had thought to expand to a fes- the live television coverage of ABStival.

CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” and in Since then, it the afternoon the formal has drawn opening h u g e and ribcrowds b o n of visicuttors, tourting ists and sightwhich seers yearly from w a s all the 39 mua t nicipalities and tended by two cities of the Suarez the province, family, the neighVice Govboring ernor Sam provinces Nantes, sevof Cavite, eral Laguna, memBatanbers gas and of the Rizal, Sangand even g u f r o m niang Metro Manila.

Panglalawigan, This year, incumbent provincial governGov. Danilo Suarez inment officials, and troduced several muNatalya Margaret Lindsay from Atimonan, Quezon his innovanicipal and is crowned Bb. Niyogyugan 2019. tions to the barangay offestival, which included the Tagayan sa ficials.

Niyogyugan and Employees’ Night, and On the second day, a dog show was the more than 2,000 coconut seedlings held in the morning and in the evening placed as decoratives at the park. was the Bb. Niyogyugan pre-pageant The Tagayan sa Niyogyugan, also the show. The Lucena Half Marathon event

Dance Competition Champion was held the next day, which drew more than 400 runners for 25 kms., 15 kms., 10 kms. and 5 kms. distance run from the capitol ground to Dalahican port area and back. In the evening of the same day, the Gabi ng Kulturang Quezonian was held, which showcased the diverse talents of the youth in song, dance and poetic performance.

On Aug. 19, provincial officials led

by Gov. Suarez and representatives of different government and nongovernment agencies trooped to the monument of the late President Manuel L. Quezon for flower offering ceremonies. This was immediately followed by the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan awards for the 7 outstanding citizens of the province held at Queen Margarette Court in Bgy. Domoit here.

The 16-man QMK awards committee led by Atty. Vicente Joyas chose for this year awardees Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar for police service, Azucena Romulo for education, Ede-

lissa Ramos for agriculture, Hamilton Villapando for education, Lloyd Luna for literature, Genoveva Verdaguer for education, and Joy dela Pena Talens for educational research.

of German dictator Adolf Hitler before World War 2.

Movie heartthrobs Bela Padilla and RK Bagatsing graced the grand parade a n d street dance competition the following day. By evening on Sunday, another Cocojam featuring Aegis and Wacky Kiray was held with a jampacked audience at the Convention Center.

During the last day of the festival, awarding ceremonies was held for various competitions, such as the street dance and best floats during the grand parade. For the booth competition, which showcased the artistry, creativity and skills of Quezonians in every town, several LGUs were declared winners.

ce

Booth Category A 1st Pla

Float Winner

A multitude of youth packed the Cocojam on Aug. 20 at the Convention Center featuring Sponge Cola and Itchyworms.

The following evening, Aug. 21, the Bb. Niyogyugan coronation night was held.

On Aug. 22, Sen. Cynthia Villar was invited as guest of honor and speaker at the Araw ng Pamilyang Magsasaka, which saw the gathering of a huge number of farmers from all over the province at the Convention Center.

A movie of the late Booth C President Quezon was ategory B 1st Pla shown at the same venue in ce the morning the following day. More than 5,000 students from various high Consolation prizes of P100,000 schools came to see Quezon’s another were given for the rest of the competing story of heroism about the hundreds of booths that did not make it to the winJews he rescued from the death camps ners list.

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

C1

#HashtagDay: Popular hashtags on Twitter Philippines

4 E

Aspiring artists can create their masterpieces at KidZania Manila's newly revamped Bookstore and Art Studio by National Book Store.

things to do at KidZania’s bookstore and art studio

DUCATIONAL play city KidZania Manila invites aspiring storytellers, writers, and artists to nurture their skills at its newly revamped Bookstore and Art Studio by National Book Store.

The reopening of the bookstore and studio is part of the interactive kids city’s “FUNtastic at 4” anniversary celebration this August.

Here are four activities young writers and artists can do at the NBS studio:

Make artworks

Budding artists get to use shapes, colors, and their imaginative minds and Members of KidZania Manila CongreZZ at the launch of the NBS studio.

Read solo or with companions

What is a bookstore without a space for reading? The bookstore supports brilliant senses as they paint murals and kids’ love of reading by giving them a chance to enjoy browsing through create cool artworks. books at their own pace and time. This activity is also open for toddlers and Write and tell stories Kids can unleash their imagination by their companions. writing their own stories in the book writCreate ‘FUNtastic’ ing activity. Another great way to share greeting cards their own tales is by bringing them to life The NBS studio lets kids design their during creative storytelling sessions that own party greeting card to celebrate fellow kids can enjoy and appreciate.

KidZania Manila’s 4th FUNniversary.

Also part of the 4th anniversary celebration, KidZania Manila offers FUNtastic at 4 multipazz, which entitles one kid and one adult entry passes to KidZania four times on any weekend or holidays until Nov. 3.

Meanwhile, kids who turned 4 years old from Sept. 1, 2018 to August 31 this year may enter the play city for free and extend 14 percent discount to their companions.

ON AUGUST 23, 2007, Twitter user Chris Messina tweeted a suggestion to use the # symbol to group conversations on the platform. Twelve years later, it remains a useful tool for the Twitter community to share their voice and join conversations.

Hashtags have helped galvanize Alden Rich some of the most important conards and versations in recent history. One in 'Hello, Lo Kathryn Bernardo ve, Goodbye click and you’ll be able read pub' lic tweets that used the hashtag, or p e r join the topic. formance in Hello, As the Twitterverse celebrated Love, Goodbye.

Hashtag Day on August 23, Twitter Phil5. #MaymayEntrata ippines revealed the popuMaymay Entrata lar hashtags in the country made waves this year affrom January to July this ter showcasing her modyear. elling and acting chops.

1. #MaineMendoza 6. #KissesDelavin Fans of Maine MenMany teens look up to doza continue to supKisses Delavin’s beauty port their idol online and brains. and offline.

7. #VoteKathryn2. #DyisIsItManila Bernardo Radio listeners use This hashtag trended Maine Mendoza (Photo @mainedcm) this hashtag to request when fans showed supfor their favorite OPM port for Kathryn Bersongs and know which nardo’s nomination for local hits made it to MOR 101.9’s the Favorite Pinoy Trending Award in countdown. this year’s Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice 3. #MayWard Awards—it worked because she won.

The Maymay Entrata and Edward 8. #HelloLoveGoodbye Barber love team makes their fans The movie continues to sweep the blush with kilig. nation, achieving box office and criti4. #Alden- cal acclaim here and abroad.

Richards 9. #UAAPSeason81Volleyball Alden This year, the hype on volleyball got R ich a rd s’ more intense as Ateneo Lady Blue Eastar shines gles and UST Lady Tigresses vied for bright this the championship crown. year as he 10. #ManilaEncounters recently Twitter users unleash their storyw o w e d telling skills using this hashtag that fans and mixes the urban setting of Metro Mac r i t i c s nila with Filipino mythology, urban maymay) @ with his legends, and superstitions. to o h (P ard MayW

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘Kapamilya Love Weekend’

kicks off to bring joy, public service to Filipinos

A

BS-CBN has begun to visit different communities in the Philippines to bring joy and public service to Filipino families through the “Kapamilya Love Weekend.”

A part of the Kapamilya network’s 65th anniversary celebration, the first “Kapamilya Love Weekend” was held at Brgy. Muzon in Taytay, Rizal last Aug. 18. It included free medical and dental check-up for residents aside from other services delivered with the help of volunteer doctors and partner organizations.

ABS-CBN officials and employees participated in the first leg of the event with Kapamilya artists Richard Gutierrez and Christian Bables, delighting the people of Brgy. Muzon with fun games and prizes.

The “Kapamilya Love Weekend” is just one of the many public service activities launched and are being conducted by the company in its more than six decades of being in the service of the Filipino. It is an opportunity for the Kapamilya network to express its gratitude for the love and support in the past 65 years.

“Kapamilya Love Weekend” will go to different barangays in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao starting this month.

Kids enjoyed the storytelling session with Kapamilya employees at the ‘Kapamilya Love Weekend‘ event.

Former X-Factor UK contestant

Garrett Bolden and Mirriam Manalo release individual singles

Maria Laroco

launches debut album

By Clay Moreno MARIA Laroco, the teen singer who competed in The X Factor UK in 2018, has released a debut album and is now available in various digital platforms. Entitled Just Maria, the 18-year-old singer said that album will be released internationally as well via the label Ordic Records.

Maria said, her stint in The X Factor UK opened a lot of opportunities for her.

Not only that she’s able to travel, she’s able to showcase young Pinoy talents with the rest of the world.

“The show really taught me a lot of things, from singing techniques to how I project myself on stage, that experience is something that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life,” she told Manila Standard in an interview.

The teen singer admitted that she and her team were preparing for something big for her fans and supporters, and the idea of releasing an album was just presented on the table and was not part of the original plan.

GMA Music proudly presents two new singles from The Clash alumni Garrett Bolden and Mirriam Manalo.

Garrett is delighted to share his second single “Handa na Maghintay” to music listeners, following his debut single “Lilipad Na.” The song is composed by Rodel Buban, Jam Ruiz, Vehnee Saturno, together with Filscap Camp Isang Lahi.

He hopes that the audience will relate to the lyrics of the song, “I’m so excited to share this new journey sa inyo

“In October last year, we told you that we were cooking up something big. We were referring to a tour and concerts. The album was not part of the original plan,” she told the author.

But with her own catalogue now, Maria excitedly shared that a concert is not far from happening.

“Hopefully, it will happen soon. I want to perform my own songs and the songs that I grew up with,” she said.

Just Maria contains 10 original songs with a carrier single entitled “Imagine.”

“It is a love song and tackles the magic of love that mostly teenagers like me running through nowadays,” she admitted.

Just Maria is now available on digital music platforms like BandCamp, Spotify, Deezer, Spinner, iTunes, and many more.

mga Kapuso. Sana maka-relate kayo dahil tagos sa puso ang kantang ito. Para ito sa mga selfless magmahal sa kahit na anong sitwasyon.”

Meanwhile, “Una Ka” is Mirriam’s debut single under the label. Elmer Blancaflor provided the music and it’s written by Romer Timbreza.

According to the Kapuso Fierce Diva, this song is dedicated to her daughter Layla, who also has a special appearance in its official music video directed by Phillip Lazaro.

“My daughter is my number one priority, sa lahat ng ginagawa ko, nauuna ko siyang isipin talaga, which is why this song really reflects my love for her.”

“Handa na Maghintay” and “Una Ka” are both now available for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify and other digital stores worldwide.

New adventures and songs await kids in REP’s ‘The Quest for the Adarna’ THE story of the Ibong Adarna has captivated children across the Philippines for generations. Now, Repertory Philippines is bringing the colorful tale to life for families everywhere with a new English version called The Quest for the Adarna.

Produced through RTYA (REP’s Theater for Young Audiences), the vibrant original musical will be running from Sept. 14 to Jan. 26 at Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1.

The play takes place in the peaceable and prosperous kingdom of Berbania, which is ruled by the beloved King Fernando and his equally loved wife, Queen Valeriana. They are blessed with three sons–all mighty warriors.

The eldest and heir to the throne is the pompous Prince Pedro; the second son is the dashing Prince Diego; and, the youngest, the kind-hearted Prince Juan.

Their idyllic life is shattered when King Fernando is struck by a mysterious sickness and can only be healed by the song of the mythical bird, Adarna.

Anyone wanting to capture the bird must travel to its home on Mount Tabor, a journey that is difficult and froth with danger. After his first two brothers fail on their quest, Prince Juan bravely takes on the task to save his father.

An enduring epic that remains one of our great cultural treasures, the

‘The Quest for the Adarna’ is a must-see for its bright, colorful costumes, fun, child-friendly music, and its new English translation of a Filipino classic.

Ibong Adarna story is reborn as an entertaining play with original music.

Suitable for children of all ages, The Quest for the Adarna is an original RTYA Production under Creative Director Joy Virata, assisted by co-directors Jamie Wilson and Naths Everett, with music

by Rony Fortich and book and lyrics

by Luna Griño-Inocian.

A wonderful cast completes this production, featuring both stage veterans and fresh faces. The titular Adarna will be played by Carla GuevaraLaforteza, Shiela ValderramaMartinez,Andrea Monique Alvarado, and Cara Barredo. Joining them are Arion Sanchez, Jim Andrew Ferrer, Ade Valenzona as Prince Pedro, Vinni Todd, Luis Marcelo, and Sean Nolasco as Prince Diego, and Leo John Guinid, Diego Aranda, and Neo Rivera as Prince Juan.

The final play in REP’s illustrious 2019 season, Adarna teaches kids unforgettable lessons about family, courage, forgiveness, and love, all wrapped in an entertaining stage production.

With great ticket prices, families have every reason to bring their kids to see this magical musical. Orchestra center seats cost P800, orchestra side is priced at P600, while balcony seats go for P500.

For show-buying, block-buying, and ticket inquiries, contact REP at 4511474 or 0966-905-4013. You may also purchase tickets by calling Ticketworld at 891 9999, or throughwww.ticketworld. com.ph.

For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, or like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.

‘The Clash’ alumni Mirrian Manalo and Garrett Bolden take their professional music careers to the next level by launching their own single.

Motoring

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

C3

Ford kicks off 12th Driving Skills program CST Tires has become a $3.8-billion company, employing at least 20,000 workers with presence in 150 countries.

On a roll: More gumballs, aggressive sales blitz for Taiwan’s CST Tires

By Lester Dizon

W

hat began as a bicycle tire making company has morphed into a diversified mini-conglomerate. CST Tires now ranks as the world’s eight largest tire producer whose products include gumballs for a wide range of vehicles.

For the uninitiated, “CST” stands for “Cheng Shin Tire” and we realized that we’ve been using the bicycle tires made by this company. Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. was established in 1967 in Yuanlin City, Changhua County, Taiwan, by Luo Jye and began as a producer of bicycle tires. We learned that after penetrating the world market with their bicycle tires, Cheng Shin expanded into tires for motor vehicles including motorcycles, passenger cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), trucks and buses.

8th Largest Tire Maker We were impressed to learn further that Maxxis Tires, which has now become popular as a motorcycle, scooter, automobile and SUV tire brand, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheng Shin and that the company had worldwide revenue of over $3.85 Billion in 2015. Today, CST is the 8th largest tire manufacturer in the world, covering a wide range of market segments including tires for motorcycles, auto, truck, all-terrain, industrial, agricultural, and lawn and garden. With markets in 150 countries around the globe, CST employs a workforce of 20,000 people and utilizes world-class manufacturing procedures and highly efficient logistics to set the highest standards of excellence in its industry.

CST has expanded its manufacturing facilities from Taiwan to Xiamen, China where three factories are equipped with world-class manufacturing equipment, innovative technology, and a strong emphasis on increased quality, timely delivery, and improved customer satisfaction.

CST factories comply with stringent in-

ternational standards such as ISO 9001, E-Mark, and TS 16949, while attaining recognition from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

CST was also bestowed with the “China Well Known Brand” award.

Innovation is Key With this knowledge in hand, we eagerly attended the launch of CST’s new passenger car radial (PCR), SUV and 4×4 off-road tires for the Philippine market.

CST Tires Director of Sales and Business Development, Jaybee Atanacio, emphasized it succinctly when he said, “Innovation is at the heart of CST. We are always on the lookout for new developments and changes in the Filipino’s tire usage and the country’s road conditions to improve the products and the services we offer.

With the continuously rising demand for high-quality tires in the Philippines, we are glad to be part of the road stories of Filipino families and motorsports enthusiasts.”

Atanacio pointed out that some popular tire brands have become too expensive for the market while the quality of some “affordable” brands is questionable and not fit for the Philippine road conditions. “We found a large gap in the market between the high-priced, high-quality tires and the low-priced, low-quality tires for SUVs and pickups, which is now the largest automotive market segment”, he explained.

“With a wide range of sizes and applications, CST tires are reasonably priced but with the quality, performance and durability of the more popular brands. We now have thousands of satisfied customers that have shifted to CST tires and the de-

mand is increasing.” Anastacio said that this demand is the primary reason why they decided to introduce five new CST tire models – the Parkour PK01, Marquis MR61, Medallion MD A1, Sahara A/T II, and Sahara M/T II. 2019 CST Tire Products and Warranty The Parkour PK01 is a versatile highspeed tire with an optimized tread pattern design that offers comfort, handling and road-holding performance in wet and dry conditions. The Marquis MR61 was designed for enhanced durability and lower rolling resistance for improved fuel mileage and a quiet ride experience.

The Medallion MD A1 offers steady handling and longer tread life with its highstiffness rib design and closed-shoulder groove design.

The Sahara A/T II is an all-terrain tire that features a reduced tread pattern void ratio, square profile design, flat contact patch and serrated edges that is ideal for long drives, heavy loads and optimum off-road performance. The Sahara M/T II is a mud and terrain tire equipped with innovative sidewall armor and advanced 3D tread design for improved mud dispersal, maximized sidewall traction and high resistance to punctures especially in rocky driving conditions.

The CST Tire product launch was followed by a dealership fellowship night where the sellers and retailers were briefed with the performance and unique selling features of the five new tires and then feted to a memorable evening with CST Tire officials. “We shall be aggressively promoting CST Tire products around the country”, said Atanacio.

“When the tires of your SUV or pickup or passenger car need to be replaced and you’re keeping a close eye on the budget, please consider these new offerings from CST Tire because we’re the only one that offers a long-term warranty on our tires.

That’s how confident we are with the quality of CST Tire products.”

For more information about CST Tire’s latest products and promotions, please visit www.csttires.com.ph or drive to your favorite tire dealer and ask for CST tires.

BRINGING to life its long-standing advocacy on road safety, Ford Philippines has launched the Driving Skills for Life program, one of its biggest corporate social responsibility programs.

A United Nations-recognized training program, the DSFL is now on its 12th year in the Philippines and has successfully trained over 23,000 Filipino drivers since 2008. Over the years, the program has made itself relevant with the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations.

The DSFL program is a combination of classroom training that includes modules on vehicle handling, driving in special conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving, as well as a hands-on driving simulation that allows participating drivers to apply their learnings from the classroom sessions. The DSFL program is offered to participating drivers for free.

This year, the DSFL is aiming to cover 2,500 participants composed of student and private drivers, public utility drivers such as jeepney, bus and school bus drivers, drivers from fleet partner companies, traffic regulators and call center employees in key areas in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. DSFL started to roll out in Visayas and Mindanao in 2017.

“One of our commitments at Ford is to help promote and improve road safety in the country. Our aim every year is to increase driver safety awareness with the DSFL, practicing the proper skills required of anybody who gets behind the wheel and ensuring that drivers and their passengers get to their destinations safely

all the time,” shares EJ Francisco, director for Communications at Ford Philippines.

DSFL participants can expect to learn more about the dangers of distracted driving, drunk driving, as well as tips and techniques in driving under special conditions and vehicle handling in this year’s sessions.

They will also be refreshed with key road statistics and relevant regulations such as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. Focused on helping eliminate road accidents, road altercations, and traffic congestion, the DSFL addresses the root cause of these road issues by educating drivers on basic road courtesy, safe driving techniques, and traffic signs and regulations.

Working together with long-time partner Tuason Racing School, Ford provides an immersive and interactive training experience in its DSFL sessions. DSFL participants are provided with useful tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills, as well as practical hands-on driving sessions to apply their learnings.

The DSFL has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. Early this year, it bagged a Gold Award in the road safety category of the 3rd Driven to Serve Awards of the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ).

Driving Skills for Life was established in the United States in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the U.S. Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts, to teach newly licensed drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what is learned in standard driver education programs.

UN-recognized driver training program, Ford’s DFSL is on its 12th edition.

Nissan pitstop: Free PMS service for 3 years AS PART of its ongoing Nissan PitStop promotion, customers can enjoy big cash discounts and exciting service packages when they buy a Nissan vehicle to September 30, 2019. This exclusive deal covers the Nissan Almera, Juke, Navara, Terra, Sylphy, X-Trail, Patrol, and Urvan to give buyers a wide range of options.

Those who purchase any of these Nissan models will be entitled to a FREE periodic maintenance service (PMS) for up to three years. The support comes with the

standard and complete PMS package.

Patrons who buy a vehicle through EastWest Bank, RCBC, BPI, and Maybank can receive a reduced down-payment promotion. They can drive away in a brand new Nissan vehicle, for as low as P33,000. Those who obtain financing from EastWest Bank are entitled to an additional P10,000 discount on select variants. Meanwhile, redemption using cash payment and purchase order, or financing with non-participating banks can receive discounts of up to P100,000.

Nissan’s thrilling deals are part of its commitment to changing the way people drive and live through innovative products and the best end-toend experience. The Japanese automaker aims to do this by upholding its key pillars: products, service, customer experience, and people. Lester Dizon

F3 Asian Championship certified by FIA unveils 2020 calendar SHANGHAI—The F3 Asian Championship certified by FIA has announced a compact calendar for its third season in 2020, one which will enable drivers to bank Super License points ahead of the start of the racing seasons in Europe and Japan.

The efficient, cost-effective calendar, held across four FIA Grade 1 circuits, kicks off on December 14-15 at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. Making its debut in the Middle East, Thursday to Saturday back-to-back triple-headers follow at the Dubai Autodrome in support of the Dubai 24 Hours on January 10-11, and at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on January 17-18. Returning to Asia and to the Sepang track on Saturday, February 15, the 2020 season concludes at Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit on February 23. Both final rounds will run alongside the Asian Le Mans Series.

Commented championship organizer Davide De Gobbi, General Manager of Top Speed, a driving force in Asian motorsport development: “The 2020 F3

Young drivers can gain super license points through the F3 Asian Championship series.

Asian Championship calendar is designed specifically to meet the needs of the drivers, who are looking to develop their careers as quickly as possible, as well as for the teams. With zero compromise on the quality of the championship, we have minimized costs and travel time, maximized track time, and enabled drivers to earn Super Licence points from the championship even before the start of the traditional European and Japanese seasons.”

The provisional calendar is subject to ratification by the FIA single-seater commission.

The championship provides a high-profile platform for drivers, with live streaming of all races on Facebook and YouTube as well as across several Chinese online platforms such as Youku, Huya and Douyu ensuring they reach a massive Asian audience. In addition, coverage in traditional media includes Guangdong TV news and the region’s major automotive media expands that audience yet further.

Among the drivers who have enjoyed the benefits of a heightened profile in

Asia, and the resulting manufacturer attention, include Estonian Martin Rump, now an official Audi Sport Asia driver, and New Zealander Brendon Leitch, who is contesting the F3 Asian Championship this year and was recently named a Lamborghini Squadra Corse Junior Driver.

Notable international names who began their careers in Asian junior single seaters include Daniel Ricciardo and two-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner Earl Bamber.

The single-chassis, single-engine F3 Asian Championship certified by FIA was an immediate success on its launch at the start of 2018, as it pioneered the FIA’s new driver development vision. The international nature of the field gives drivers a realistic global benchmark against which to measure their progress, and all drivers compete in the same Tatuus F3 T-318 race car, thus ensuring success is dictated by driver skill rather than budget.

The championship is strictly policed and run by an English-speaking experienced international team of scrutineers, race officials and stewards.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

TWIN TREATS • Honda City , Jazz Sport LE Variants roll out

By Lester Dizon

J

APANESE carmaker Honda through its automobile business unit in the Philippines, has launched the sporty limited edition variants of the Honda City and Honda Jazz. This offering aims to satisfy the desire of the Filipino customers aspiring to own a sporty and fun-to-drive Honda vehicle.

New Honda City 1.5 Sport CVT As one of Honda’s locally produced and best-selling models here in the Philippines, the City has established itself as one of the top of mind vehicles for customers in the competitive sub-compact sedan category. Thanks to its powerful

and efficient 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, spacious interior and cargo capacity, and various convenience features. For 2019, the New City 1.5 Sport CVT now comes with a more dynamic appearance enhancing the City’s sporty image. Upfront, The New City Sport is equipped

with LED headlights and LED fog lamps for a more aggressive front fascia.

At the side, power folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals and chrome door handles give this variant a sporty yet premium profile. While at the rear, the New City Sport features a ducktail spoiler and Sport Edition emblem to distinguish this City from the other variants. The New City 1.5 Sport CVT will be available for a suggested retail price of P899,000 and will only be available in two colors, Taffeta White and Modern Steel Metallic.

New Honda Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT Together with the City Sport, the Jazz is another Honda nameplate that is well established in the Philippine Market.

With a strong following contributed by its hatchback body styling, impressive packaging, and powerful yet efficient

drivetrain, the Jazz has become the bestselling subcompact hatchback in its segment. The New Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT variant gives Honda’s subcompact hatchback a sporty treatment upgrade. Honda has equipped this limited edition offering with new exterior features derived from the Jazz RS variant including 16-inch RS design black alloy wheels, RS design tailgate spoiler and black door mirror caps to give it a more aggressive stance on the road. To complete the overall sporty image, the New Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT will also come with a Sport Edition emblem, which can be found at the rear. The New Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT will be available at a suggested retail price of P933,000 and will be exclusively available in Brilliant Sporty Blue.

Only 30 units of these Limited Edition variants will be available nationwide.

Vettel hoping to re-boot his season one year on from last win SEBASTIAN Vettel hopes to re-boot his and Ferrari’s season this weekend in pursuit of his first victory in more than a year as Formula One returns to action at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion won last year’s race at the majestic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, but has been without a victory since and needs to make the most of Ferrari’s power advantage to add to his career total of 52 triumphs.

“This is a legendary track and it is definitely one of my favourites,” said the German ahead of Sunday’s race after he and the rest of the F1 circus re-grouped following the now-traditional mid-season European summer break.

“It has climbs and drops and so much of it runs through forests – once you learn it and you know it, it is impossible not to love it.”

To win, however, Vettel knows he must not only overcome his fast Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, but also series-leading defending five-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton holds a 62-point advantage ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was 30 on Wednesday and is expected to be confirmed as staying with the team next year, in the title race.

Last year, he pulled off a victory, but then plunged to defeat to Hamilton in a fiercelyfought Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home event.

Monza hosts the next race again a week after the Belgian showdown.

For Vettel, there could not be a more critical scenario than these two Grands Prix, as he battles to save his season, his reputation and, perhaps, his career.

His Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto al-

lowed himself a glimmer of hope when he said: “I think that Spa is more power-sensitive, but there is nothing that is given, of course.

Ferrari pin hopes on power “And I think the situation will be very different to Budapest so we will try to prepare the best we can to seek our first victory.”

While Hamilton and Mercedes revelled in delivering a tactical master-class in Hungary, Ferrari were again left trailing and will pin their hopes on their greater power and straight-line speed paying off.

Vettel and Hamilton have each recorded three previous wins at Spa where Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo has won four times, the most of the current grid.

Hamilton, however, has also won eight of this year’s 12 races to control the title contest.

Bottas has won twice and Max Verstappen of Red Bull also has two wins.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, relieved at the Hungarian recovery of form after what he called their “Armageddon” in Germany, said they will be taking nothing for granted now as they go into the final nine races of the 21race season.

“We’re approaching the start of the second half of 2019 more like the start to a new season,” he said. “And we are looking forward to the fight.”

That fight is as likely to come from Verstappen, who welcomes a new team-mate in Thailand’s Alex Albon – promoted from Toro Rosso in a swap with Pierre Gasly – as from anyone.

The Dutchman will again have massive support from his orange army and hopes to add to his two wins in four outings, but knows also that he may have a power disadvantage with his Honda-powered Red Bull. AFP

HYUNDAI HINTS AT CONCEPT EV SEOUL—Hyundai Motor will display the company’s focus toward the future direction of car design at the forthcoming IAA Frankfurt Motor Show (Sept. 1022, 2019). Inspired by looking back at the brand’s first model in the 1970s, the “45” fully-electric concept car will act as a symbolic milestone for Hyundai’s future EV design.

The new concept accentuates the forward-driven design direction while exploring the evolution of Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language. ‘Sensuous’ stands for enhanced emotional

values that customers can experience through design, and ‘Sportiness’ is determined to implement those values through innovative mobility solutions. The design philosophy strips away complexity celebrating the clean lines and minimalistic structure of the original Hyundai Pony.

The Hyundai “45”concept car will be unveiled to the world on Sept. 10 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Hyundai will showcase various future innovations in vehicle technology and integration of lifestyle applications to illustrate ‘style set free.’

Car importers upbeat about sales recovery

By Othel V. Campos THE Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) reported a total of 50,164 units sold at for the first 7 months of 2019, a slight dip of 1 percent from the 50,505 units sold in the same period last year.

The group, however, is confident that sales will pick-up in the latter part of the year with more favorable market conditions coming into play.

“The downtrend in inflation and continuous surge of OFW remittances are two factors that will improve consumer confidence, especially high-ticket acquisitions such as vehicles, in the coming months. The completion of infrastructure projects, specifically road and connector links, will hopefully ease traffic and remove one of the hurdles to vehicle ownership in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” said AVID president Fe Perez-Agudo.

In July alone, the automotives group reached a total of 6,987 units an 11 percent decrease versus July 2018 due to higher interest rates and stiff competition.

AVID’s passenger cars (PC) segment slid by 5 percent in year-todate sales with a total of 17,706 units compared yo 18,582 units in same period last year.

Hyundai continued to be the top contributor in PC sales with 10,565 units followed by Suzuki with 5,085 sold since the start of the year.

The light commercial vehicles (LCV) segment grew by 1 percent or 31,878 units sold in the first seven months of the year from 31,671 units.

The segment continues to be AVID’s top volume driver led by Ford with 12,217 units followed by Hyundai with 8,645 units.

The commercial vehicles (CV) segment grew by 140 percent as Hyundai led the segment with 580 units versus 242 units during the same period last year.

CV sales were expected to remain strong in lockstep with increased government spending and economic activity.

AVID continues to work closely with key partners in the private and public sectors to push for sustainable mobility and responsible technology.

Recently, AVID members attended and joined the 7th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS). During the summit, representatives from various industries discussed the challenges and solutions in mainstreaming electric automotives.

“We are at the cusp of a new age in automotive as evidenced by the resources being poured by carmakers all over the globe into their electric technologies. In the Philippines, government and infrastructure support are still being set-up but the EV landscape is bound to get even bigger,” Agudo said.