Manila Standard - 2019 September 23 - Monday

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Oil price intervention sought

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. urged the Energy department to intervene in the pricing of oil products to protect the interest of consumers from the hefty increase of as much as P2.35 per liter effective Tuesday, the second consecutive

weekly price increase.

“On prices, the Department of Energy should intervene that existing inventory products are priced at their pre-Saudi oil incident. The oil industry must not take advantage of a force majeure situation at the expense of the consumers,” LKI president Victorio Turn to A3 Dimagiba said.

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 222 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

95% of BuCor corrupt—Bantag New chief wants them replaced wholesale—Go

ASF scare leads to 20% cut in ham production

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

By Rio N. Araja A LARGE group of meat processors will cut its ham production by 15 percent to 20 percent due to a ban on meat from Luzon imposed by Cebu and Bohol amid fears that African swine fever (ASF) would spread there.

At a news conference in Quezon City, Jerome Ong, vice president of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi), said they would lose almost P1 billion in such a scenario and would have to stop the seasonal hiring of workers.

“It would be hard for us to produce the same number of hams as [we did] last year when we cannot distribute [the products] in some provinces,” he said.

Rey Agarrado, Pampi spokesman, said one of the association’s 83 members “will no longer produce hams for the Christmas season.”

“Expect fewer Christmas hams in the supermarkets,” he told reporters.

He appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to step into the matter. Next page

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HE newly appointed chief of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) believes that 95 percent of the agency’s official and personnel are corrupt and wants to replace them wholesale, a senator close to President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday.

Acosta evades blame on polio

By Rio N. Araja PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta took a swipe at “trolls” blaming her for the polio outbreak recently declared by the Department of Health.

“Trolls are out using DOH alleged outbreaks! Chief Acosta and PAO employees had been vaccinated with proven vaccines since childhood,” Acosta’s statement in her official Facebook account said.

“Please don’t use measles, dengue, polio, etc as a defense strategy to demolish and bully the Dengvaxia victims’ attorney and doctors! Don’t use PAO as an excuse. Blame the under-distribution of vaccines per Commission on Audit repot for 2014-2018,” she said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier declared an “epidemic” after a child was found positive for the polio virus in Lanao del Sur. A second case Next page has since been confirmed.

AIRBORNE ALLIES. At least 500 paratroopers from the Philippine Army and the United States take part in the first combined airborne operations exercise at the Cesar Basa Airbase in Floridablanca, Pampanga Sunday.

The exercise aims to strengthen the capabilities between two allied countries in airborne operations, particularly in the movement of troops at any given time in a desired target in actual security operations. Contributed Photo

Palace: Martial law a tool to save democracy but . . .

By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Sunday said the declaration of martial law is a “tool” to save democracy even as it recognized that the abuses committed during the Marcos administration had caused a “deep wound in an entire generation.”

A day after the 47th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, Presiden-

tial Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the period continues to haunt those who underwent traumatic experiences during the term of late president Ferdinand Marcos.

“The imposition of martial law and the abuses it spawned even as it instilled discipline among the citizenry at its inception, as well as reaping success in dismantling the then spreading communist

insurgency in the country, created a deep wound to an entire generation,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Regardless of political persuasion, the Marcos martial law continues to haunt those who have traumatic experiences during the one-man rule,” he added.

Martial law, however, is “precisely the very tool to save the exercise of democNext page racy,” he said.

Duterte’s war on drugs rated excellent, SWS says

WALK FOR A CAUSE. In its 47 years of helping out-of-school youths, the Alay-Lakad Foundation, together with various organizations and government agencies hold the annual benefit walk starting at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. Norman Cruz

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs has received an “excellent” rating in the latest with 82 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with the anti-narcotics campaign despite reports of abuses and illegal killings.In its second quarter survey, SWS said only 12 percent of the respondents said they were dissatisfied while six percent were undecided, for an “excellent” net satisfaction rating of +70 percent.

Respondents who said they were satisfied with the anti-illegal drug campaign said it has lessened the number of drug suspects, lowered the crime rate, and improved peace and order.

Those who were dissatisfied said there have been too many killings and wrongful arrests linked to the campaign even as the drug trade remains prevalent.

The survey was conducted from June 22 to 26 using face-toface interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, with sampling error Next page

Underwater proposal

GOT, Veep contend for Emmy’s glory

AN AMERICAN man has drowned after proposing to his girlfriend underwater in a resort in Tanzania.

According to CNN, the victim, Steven Weber, and his girlfriend, Kenesha Antoine, were staying in a wooden cabin

TV STARS from Westeros to the White House will hit the red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday as “Game of Thrones” and “Veep” take their final tilts at Emmys glory.

The long-running HBO smash hits

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In an interview on radio dzBB, Senator Christopher Go said BuCor chief Gerry Bantag has plans to carry out Duterte’s order for immediate reforms at the bureau in the wake of a scandal that saw the firing of his predecessor for early release on good conduct of almost 2,000 prisoners convicted of heinous crimes.

Go said Bantag’s recommendation was to replace everybody so that almost nobody would be left.

The BuCor revamp comes amid revelations before the Senate of detained drug lords carrying out their business from the New Bilibid Prison and widespread corruption among prison officials and employees.

At the hearings, Senate President Vicente also said drug lords send inmates out of the prison as assassins, then have them return so that no arrests can be made.

Sotto said Bantag, who served as jail warden in Manila City and Paranaque City jails would know how to deal with the drug lords and assassins inside NBP. Bantag still faces 10 counts of murder over the deaths of 10 inmates at the Paranaque City Jail following an explosion there in 2016.

Go had earlier said he wanted “a killer” to replace disgraced BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon, who was fired by the President.

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House draws up new priority list

By Rio N. Araja HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Sunday the proposed Salary Standardization Law 5 for civilian state workers, and the postponement of the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls to May 2023, are among the priority measures for approval of the House leadership before the 18th Congress’ adjournment in December.

Romualdez, the House committee on rules chairman, made the announcement after attending the meeting of the Legislative-Executive Coordinating Council, where the initial list of its common priority measures for inclusion in President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda had been identified.

The other measures to be taken up for immediate approval include the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers and free legal aid to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Let’s wait for the official communication from the Palace about the final list of the priority legislative measures it would be submitting to Congress,” Romualdez said.

“These are just the initial list. In the meantime, we have agreed to pursue these as our common priority measures.”

The House leadership is “eying the passage of the common legislative measures before Congress adjourns this December,” Romualdez said. Next page

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Locsin backs memo vs Iceland reso

By Rey E. Requejo

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OREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday defended the memorandum issued by the Office of the President enjoining all departments and other government agencies not to secure loans and grants from the countries that supported the Iceland-led resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council to look into President Duterte’s administration’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs.

Locsin even disparaged the aid from those countries, saying they never gave us or lent us anything that was worthwhile.

“Experience showed the same countries that voted for the Iceland resolution never gave or lent us anything worthwhile or offered with conditions more onerous than the loans we’d have to pay back. Yes, we take ODA from Japan which gives without precondition, Locsin said in a tweet Sunday.

A total of 18 out of 47 member-states of the UNHCR voted in favor of the Iceland-led resolution.

The 18 are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Those who cast negative votes were Angola, Bahrain, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Hungary, India, Iraq, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Somalia while Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Japan and Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia abstained.

Besides calling for an end to the killings associated with the anti-drug crackdown, the said states also called on the

Duterte administration to stop harassing human rights defenders, the Commission on Human Rights and members of the media.

The country’s top diplomat said such a move on the part of Malacanang, though already denied by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, was not an illadvised decision considering that even before the UNHCR resolution there was already a contempt for such loans and grants.

“Not ill-advised. Well before the Iceland vote there was widespread bureaucratic contempt for grants/ loans too much trouble to negotiate, get, and most of which went to foreign consultants of foreign donors or lender countries. Had no respect from old DOF hands, Locsin said.

“That’s also because we don’t want to borrow money from those whose defense of the drug trade and attacks on anti-drug trade campaigns makes us mighty suspicious about where the money’s coming from. Trading drugs is the most lucrative business in the world bar none.

“Yes, we pick and choose. To take indiscriminately is actually criminal.

For example, we can never take from narco-states like the most notorious one which voted for the Iceland resolution and had the entire Geneva laughing. Really.”

In the tweets he made on Friday and Saturday, Locsin also called the alleged memorandum a “good move” since the amount of loans involved was “small anyway.”

According to him, the DFA had long asked the European Union to get clearance from the department before donating to the Philippines and other NGOs in the country.

If such an order was indeed issued, it was not the first time that Malacanang rejected assistance from countries it perceived as opposed to its anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands since Duterte assumed power in 2016.

Last year, Manila rejected P380 million in aid from the EU while in 2017, it also refused to accept more EU grants, pegged at around P13.80 billion or more than 250 million euros after the regional bloc called on the Duterte administration to investigate the alleged human rights abuses in the drug war.

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Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon stressed the need for better records keeping at the national penitentiaries after more than the reported 1,914 heinous crime convicts surrendered to the authorities.

Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon and Justice committees investigating the GCTA issue, noted that the the excessive number of surrenderers proves that even the Department of Justice (DOJ) has no accurate record of prisoners.

“The DOJ, as the agency in charge of our prisons, should have accurate records of the inmates inside but it is clear that they do not have one,” Gordon said.

A television channel reported Friday that there were so many surrendering ex-convicts that the Bilibid social hall now resembled a city jail.

The congestion had gotten so bad that several surrenderers had to be moved to the BuCoR training hall.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Bantag asked if he could make personnel changes after he took his oath of office on Friday and assumed office right away.

“First thing he did was to request the detail or secondment of certain BJMP people whom he can trust to help him at BuCor,” Guevarra said, referring to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Asked how many BJMP personnel would be seconded to Bantag’s office, Guevarra said: ‘”It is still up for discussion.”

The BuCor is an attached agency of the DOJ while the BJMP is under the DILG. Before his appointment as the new BuCor chief, Bantag was the BJMP director for Region IV-B Mimaropa.

The new BuCor chief also served as warden of the city jails of Paranaque, Manila, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.

However, he also faced a string of cases. In October 2017, a Paranaque court issued a warrant for his arrest for murder in connection with a grenade explosion in his office that killed 10 inmates, including two Chinese nationals, on Aug. 11, 2016.

A police investigation blamed negligence on the part of Bantag and his men.

The Palace said the murder charges were already downgraded to homicide, a bailable offense.

In January 2014, Bantag was also charged in the Malabon City prosecutor’s office for allegedly not paying a restaurant bill and illegally firing his gun, a charge he denied.

Guevarra said BuCor has been ordered to speed up the processing of ex-convicts who surrendered to the authorities, even though they were not on the list of those released under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

“These people will be given a BuCor certification for their protection,” Guevarra said.

Duterte slated to visit Russia for bilateral gab PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will visit Russia in October to sign an agreement that will allow the deployment of Filipino workers in that country, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Sunday.

He said he will be part of the delegation of President Rodrigo Duterte to Russia, while Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte will visit Russia on the first week of October at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“May lalagdaan kaming kasunduan, bilateral agreement tungkol sa domestic workers,” Bello told Super Radyo dzBB. Once the agreement has been signed, they will prepare the implementing rules and regulations to pave the way for the deployment of Filipino workers to Russia, Bello said.

He said no limit has been set for the number of household service workers required by Russia.

“Wala naman pong limit na inilagay.

Ang importante, bukas na ang Russia para sa mga Pilipinong household service worker,” he said.

The salary will be higher than the P3,500 minimum wage of domestic workers in Manila, Bello said.

The hiring will initially be government-to-government, then will be through agencies, Bello said.

“Pagdating sa deployment ng household service workers, marami-rami ‘yan, baka hindi kayanin ng POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration],” he said.

Bello said employment agencies should ensure that no placement fee will be collected from household service workers, and that applicants will be at least 23 years old.

He advised those intending to work in Russia as household service workers to avail of training modules offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, such as those on care giving and housekeeping while the agreement and the IRR are still being worked out.

Duterte’s...

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FOOTBRIDGE VENDORS. Ambulant vendors occupy a portion of the Baclaran footbridge despite an order to reclaim roads, sidewalks, and public spaces. In the Baclaran area, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and city officials of Pasay and Parañaque have dismantled hundreds of structures and confiscated truckloads of assorted items during clearing operations. PNA

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Palace:...

ASF...

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He said the Salary Standardization Law 5 was another manifestation of the President’s compassion to government workers.

“We will work very hard to ensure funding for their salary increase,” he said.

According to Romualdez, the House leadership is forging a tighter coordination with the Palace and the Senate to avoid even a single presidential veto of the bills to be approved by the 18th Congress.

“Under the leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, we are committed to expeditiously act on these measures. We will continue to work in harmony with the Senate and Cabinet members to pursue and realize President Duterte’s desire of ensuring a comfortable life for the Filipinos,” Romualdez said.

“The House leaders will exhaust all means possible to make sure that the executive and the legislative departments are always in one direction with regard to the version of the priority and certified bills filed in the 18th Congress. We do not want to put to waste all the resources, time and effort which are normally spent in passing bills.”

Panelo said the framers of the 1987 Constitution—crafted after Marcos was ousted through a peaceful uprising—acknowledged its necessity to save the government from ruin against the enemies of the state.

“It is only when it is clothed with abuse by its enforcers that it becomes obnoxious. Necessarily, its proclamation arises only upon constitutional dictates,” he said.

The Palace official also said the Constitution has added safeguards to avoid its abuse.

He also urged the public to learn from the lessons during the Marcos martial law.

Marcos placed the entire country under martial law on Sept. 21, 1972, citing the threat of the communist insurgency.

Hundreds of thousands suffered human rights violations during the martial law period, which lasted 14 years, Amnesty International says.

“The Palace urges everyone to look at the past to guide us on what to do with the present, that it may serve us better in the future,” Panelo said.

In a statement, Pampi president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. assured the public that their processed meat and meat products are free from ASF. Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said consumers should look for meat inspection certificates to ensure that meat being sold has gone through a thorough examination by meat inspectors.

Consumers must also look for the stamp from slaughterhouses as proof that meat slaughtered is healthy and fit for human consumption.

She urged the public to report pork outlets selling meat without meat inspection certificates and proof from slaughterhouses to the city’s veterinary office at 988-4242 local 8036 for immediate confiscation and disposal.

Dr. Anamarie Cabel, city veterinary chief, said all of the city’s major markets and slaughterhouses have 24-hour checkpoints to ensure that meat being sold and slaughtered is safe.

She said meat inspectors are also assigned in different markets and slaughterhouses to conduct inspections.

margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Duterte administration will not allow visits by the United Nations to investigate its war on drugs, calling human rights experts “bastards” who have shown their bias.

“I already said those bastards, especially that woman, are acting like the queen in Alice in Wonderland. First, the judgement, then the trial,” Locsin said, clearly referring to Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

“No—I don’t want them coming here and then saying that everything they have been saying, but have not proved, is true ‘because we saw it.’ How? Are they going to exhume every body?”

Locsin said. “No. I’m not going to give them that chance.”

Locsin said the Iceland resolution seeking an inquiry into the human rights situation in the Philippines was nothing but a “dead resolution.”

“It’s a nothing resolution, because at the end of the road it failed… It did not pass. The majority was abstention and no, so it was a dead resolution,” he said.

Locsin noted that only 18 of the 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council voted in favor of the draft resolution filed by Iceland in July, but 14 of them voted no and 15 other states abstained.

Acosta...

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PAO has been representing relatives of children whose deaths have been linked to the government’s Dengvaxia inoculation program, and has filed multiple counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against former Health secretary Janette Garin, Duque, other former and incumbent health officials and executives of Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp.

DOH said the fear of vaccination as a result of the Dengvaxia scare was behind the resurgence of polio.

But citing a COA report, PAO said polio vaccine under-distribution was 98 percent in 2014, 63 percent in 2015, 57 percent in 2016, and 92 percent in 2017.

“Comedians are out to blame PAO and its chief. They don’t bother to see the real cause of the global outbreak and DOH COA report!” it said.

Acosta said the “indiscriminate” inoculation of Dengvaxia vaccine “without blood test and screening is the only issue.”

News Zubiri warns PMA execs on penalties against hazing SENATE Majority Leader Migz Zubiri yesterday warned the Philippine Miltary Academy (PMA) it will be subjected to harsh penalties under the new law he authored with Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the 17th Congress if they will not open themselves to an investigation.

Zubiri said R.A.11053 or the Strengthened Anti-Hazing Law is a stronger anti-hazing law crafted in the wake of the senseless killing of UST law student Atio Castillo from his supposed fraternity brothers.

Zubiri said that similarly, the cadets involved in the fatal hazing of Darwin Dormitorio of Cagayan de Oro must now pay with the full force of the law against them.

The senator said that as PMA cadets, they are expected to be models for other Filipino youths.

By ganging up on their victim, he said these young men and their organization or fraternity have actually thrown out the values espoused by the PMA. “They can’t be called fine officers and gentlemen as they exact obedience through fear, intimidation and physical pain,” said Zubiri.

“The death of a promising youth brings so much grief because we have passed a stern law just last year.

It seems fraternities haven’t learned their lessons,” Zubiri said.

“The young men who punched out the life of fellow cadet Darwin Dormitorio of Cagayan de Oro are deemed knowledgeable, disciplined and upright.”

According to Zubiri, it is distressing to repeat the process of seeking justice for hazing victims.

“Yet, we must soldier on to protect our youth. We shall monitor how the Judiciary will do its share with R.A. No. 11053 as their tool,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sonny Angara said the hazing culture will never change if senior officials of fraternities say it should not change.

“There will be no change if the seniors make the new members feel inferior if they do not go through this violent rites of passage. Let me tell you violence is not what begets loyalty or mental/physical toughness. There are ways to test these.Seems we never learn, or we prefer to learn the hard way,” Angara said.

While there is a law like the recently-amended Anti-Hazing Law, which is very strict, he said there is the socalled operational code or the culture the letter of the law.

As this developed, three suspects have already been identified as those responsible for Dormitorio’s death through hazing. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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with a bedroom submerged beneath the ocean surface at the Manta Resort in Pemba Island.

A video uploaded by Antoine on Facebook showed Weber holding a handwritten note against the bedroom windows before presenting a ring.

The note read: “I can’t hold my breath long enough to tell you everything I love about you. But...Everything I love about you I love more every day. Will you please be my wife? Marry me???”

Weber failed to return to the surface.

“You never emerged from those depths, so you never got to hear my answer, ‘Yes! Yes! A million times, yes, I will marry you!!’” Antoine wrote in a subsequent post.

Manta Resort CEO Matthew Saus confirmed the death over the weekend.

“Our sincerest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend, families and friends impacted by this tragic accident,” Saus said.

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helped the premium cable network raise the game for the small screen—with 74 Emmys between them, they are among the most decorated shows ever at television’s answer to the Oscars.

Both hope to add to their record hauls before they bow out at the glittering ceremony in downtown LA’s Microsoft Theater.

While the divisive final season of “Thrones” enraged many fans, it is the Television Academy’s 24,000-plus voters who get to choose the winners.

There is an “overwhelming” chance the blood-soaked fantasy epic will land the top drama series statuette, according to Pete Hammond, awards editor at

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Senate to tackle ATM fee hike S

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATE will begin today (Sept. 23) its investigation into the application of some banks for an increase in automated teller machine (ATM) fees, Sen. Grace Poe said on Sunday.

Poe said the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies will thoroughly examine the proposed hike.

The panel will also look into other fees imposed by financial institutions, such as finance charges and other fees for remittances or money transfers of overseas Filipino workers.

“We recognize the convenience of ATM machines and the need to keep

them working, but any increase should be warranted and should not be too burdensome on the users, especially the workers. P15 means a lot to the minimum-wage earners,” Poe said.

The committee, which she chairs, will preside over the public hearing, which will start at 10 a.m. at the Committee Rooms 2 and 3 of the Senate Building in Pasay City.

Poe had filed Senate Resolution No.

96 seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation on the looming increase in ATM fees following the BSP order lifting the moratorium on the fee increases.

Similar resolutions were filed by some of Poe’s colleagues at the Senate.

Currently, bank charges range from P10 to P15 for interbank withdrawals and P2 for interbank balance inquiry.

Poe said in her resolution that “an increase in bank charge is “disadvantageous to an estimated 4.1 million minimum-wage earners who would need to carry the burden of these fees as many of them receive their salaries through ATM cards and withdraw from these machines at least twice a month.”

“The practice of imposing hefty bank fees, including ATM charges, is financially

disadvantageous to our country’s more than 58 million ATM cardholders,” she added.

The senator said she would ask the banks to justify their request for increase and to explain to the public where the extra pesos they intend to collect from the ATM users would go.

Poe added she would also seek explanation from the BSP on its next step following the lifting of the moratorium on ATM fee increases.

Among the invited guests who have confirmed attendance are Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno; Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Cacdac.

COMBAT-READY. Members of the Philippine Marines take their position next to newly-acquired Amphibious Assault Vehicles during an amphibious landing exericse at the lighthouse beach facing South China Sea in Subic Freeport in Zambales province on Sept. 21. AFP

Fernando wants to revive ‘Organized Bus Route’

By Rio N. Araja TO BE able to solve the traffic woes in Metro Manila, especially along the stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, the organized bus route (OBR) system must be revived, according to Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando, a former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman.

Interviewed on television, Fernando said he still considers the OBR project as a solution to end the EDSA traffic.

“I believe that what I started then when I was then the chairman... and when I left (the system there), is still the solution when it comes to EDSA (gridlock). That is the OBR,” he said.

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“The DOE is clothed with powers under the Oil Deregulation law to take affirmative action for the interest of the consumers,” he added.

Unioil Philippines and Pilipinas Shell are among the country’s oil firms that have announced a big time oil price hike of as much as P2.35 per liter to reflect the impact of the Saudi Arabia drone attack.

Shell said it was raising its pump prices

by P2.35 per liter of gasoline, P1.80 per liter of diesel, and P1.75 per liter of kerosene.

Unioil for its part urged motorists to load up accordingly. “Expect fuel prices to go up next week [September 24-30, 2019]. Diesel should go up by P1.70-P1.80 and gasoline should go up by P2.20-P2.30, “ Unioil said. entertainment news outlet Deadline.

“There was controversy over how it ended ... but that just shows the impact of this piece of television,” he told AFP. “I don’t see anything in the category that can compare ... it’s appointment television.”

“Thrones” already bagged 10 Emmys in lesser categories at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, including for the show’s special effects and elaborate costumes.

It needs three more statuettes to top its own record for most Emmys in a single season.

Nine of its stars—including Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Kit Harington (Jon Snow) and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)—are in the running for acting prizes.

They will all take to the stage as presenters too—US broadcaster Fox

“You could still a yellow lane (of the OBR), but some of these lanes were already erased in some parts of (EDSA).

That is how the system was neglect. Let us revive it,” he added.

In 2003, the MMDA under Fernando’s leadership passed MMDA Resolution No. 03-28 to implement the OBR scheme “as one of the possible solutions to efficiently manage the flow of buses along EDSA by controlling the headways between buses dispatched at terminals and by strictly enforcing rules on the use of public utility vehicle lanes and loading and unloading areas.”

Fernando said traffic solutions to EDSA must be permanent and would stay no matter who the sitting president

or the transport secretary is.

“A bus that is not full of passengers must not be dispatched at the terminal.

The number of bus must equate the number of the passengers,” he said.

While Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice wanted to ban around 300,000 private vehicles on EDSA from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during weekdays, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento proposed to convert the innermost lanes of EDSA into express bus lanes that could be accessible to the stations of the Metro Rail Transit 3.

The former traffic czar of the National Capital Region welcomed any proposals that could help fix the perennial traffic on EDSA.

The oil firms said pump prices could have gone up further, but fortunately Saudi Aramco announced that it will be able resume production, thus tempering worries of tightness in global oil supply.

On Sept. 17, most oil companies implemented a price increase of P1.35 per liter of gasoline, P0.85 per liter of diesel and P1 per liter of kerosene.

The Energy department reconvened with the proposed members of the Oil Contingency Task Force on Sept. 20 to finalize the working draft establishing an inter-agency working group that will implement contingency strategies in view of last week’s drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s state-run Aramco oil processing facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos and DOE spokesman Felix William Fuentebella co-chaired the meeting, while Oil Industry Management Bureau

Director Rino Abad led the presentation on the country’s current oil supply.

“We realize the importance of addressing issues beforehand so that the government may have contingency measures to sustain the country’s economic growth and provide basic services to the people,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“The activation of the OCTF is vital to our resiliency because we are currently dependent on oil imports.”

In a separate meeting, the Energy department called on oil industry players to talk about the effects on world oil prices that may affect the country’s economy.

The discussions revolved around the strict implementation of the Minimum Inventory Requirement, which is equivalent to stocks of 30 days for oil refiners, 15 days for bulk marketers and seven days for liquefied petroleum gas players.

hopes to squeeze a final ratings boost out of the global cultural phenomenon in a year which sees the Emmys go without a host.

Maisel”—Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic— HBO could achieve a rare clean sweep of all three major program categories.

“Chernobyl”—HBO’s drama about the 1986 nuclear catastrophe—is a hot favorite for the limited series prize.

It faces off against Netflix’s “When They See Us,” the searing true stor y of f ive New York teenagers wrongly accused of raping a Central Park jogger.

If “Chernobyl” prevails, said Hammond, it will be “a dagger in the heart of Netflix,” which despite hundreds of nominations has yet to win any of the top three program awards at the Emmys.

“The dominance of HBO this year— they really could be setting a precedent,” he said. AFP

‘Dagger in the heart’ Also on the star-studded list of presenters are Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas and Julia LouisDreyfus—who has won six straight Emmys as foul-mouthed vicepresident-turned-president Selina Meyer in political satire “Veep.”

The show won best comedy in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but took a forced hiatus last year as its star battled breast cancer.

But “Veep” is back this year in both categories with a critically acclaimed final season.

If it can overcome stiff competition including “The Marvelous Mrs

IN BRIEF Villar says PCA budget good for farmers WITH 69 percent of the P1.8-billion proposed budget for the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sen. Cynthia A. Villar is hopeful that it would help increase the income of coconut farmers, who earn a measly P1,500 a month, and to support the developmental activities of the agency.

“That’s why we are going now to plenary. We can be proud of the budget. 69% will be given as projects for farmers,” stressed Villar who presided over the hearing of the proposed budget of PCA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, had initially asked the PCA to allocate P900 million funds for the projects of farmers from the P1.8 billin budget for each agency.

She cited instances when the overhead expense exceed the cost of projects for the farmers.

“We are asking them to give more to the coconut farmers becausd they are the poorest in this country,” said Villar.

On the average, she noted that coconut farmers earn only P1,500 a month and the solution to their problem is the processing. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Cancel PGO hub plans—think tank AN INFRASTRUCTURE-oriented thinktank called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(PAGCOR) to cancel plans of setting up POGO hubs amid recent reports of cryptocurrency fraud and human trafficking tied to the country’s burgeoning offshore gaming industry.

“This week’s string of raids on fraudulent Chinese crypto firms and human trafficking rackets should give PAGCOR pause in implementing its proposal to establish POGO hubs in different parts of the country. In the face of porous bureaucratic enforcement and the level of investment pouring into POGOs, it will not be surprising to find these hubs similar to the petty and highlevel rackets seen in the Bureau of Corrections.”

This was the statement of Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor and former member of the House ICT committee.

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

EDITORIAL

Cracking down on delinquent POGOs AMID the controversy surrounding the Chinese workers’ influx in the country, supposedly to work for Chinese-operated Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, it’s nice to hear that no less than the agency in charge of the gaming industry and the POGOs, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, has thrown it support behind the government crackdown on delinquent online gaming operators.

PAGCOR says it upholds the law and recognizes the legal authority of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in closing establishments that evade taxes.

In a statement, PAGCOR categorically expressed its full support to the government in cracking the whip on POGOs that are delinquent in the payment of taxes. PAGCOR says that as a government-owned corporation, it follows the law and is cognizant of the legal authority of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in closing establishments that evade taxes.

“It is in fact issuing a letter to all

Adelle Chua, Editor

POGOs and service providers to this effect. Among the measures being implemented by the state-run gaming firm to hold POGO licensees accountable should they renege on their financial obligation are the imposition of interest on outstanding arrears, forfeiture of performance bond, imposition of demerits/administrative sanctions and charging of cash penalty, cancellation of license and endorsement to legal division for proper collection efforts,” PAGCOR’s statement read.

“And while PAGCOR ensures that the government gets its proper and legal taxes from these POGOs, it would like to reiterate that the moratorium on the issuance of licenses to new POGO applicants that it earlier implemented continues,” it added.

That’s welcome news. But it would be better if PAGCOR also initiated a crackdown on illegal POGOs and the workers these illegal outfits employ.

There have been reports of Chinese POGO workers being apprehended for lack of necessary papers. Sources also say there are several establishments housing POGOs without the necessary business permits.

PAGCOR has to really get serious in controlling and monitoring these locally-based online gaming operators. *** An international airline promoting Philippine tourism?

Recently, the Department of

A

Who’s in charge?

S THE deadline on President Duterte’s 15day grace period expired last week, the Justice secretary made a surprising appeal to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), asking it to suspend the arrest of convicts who had not yet surrendered.

The fact that this was framed as a request did little to hide the confusion that prevails over the misapplication of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which falls under the Justice Department’s supervision.

Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed how officials at the bureau misapplied the law to free on good behavior almost 2,000 felons convicted of heinous crimes—rape and murder, to name a few.

An outraged President immediately ordered their rearrest, giving them 15 days to surrender before they would be treated as fugitives from the law.

The President, known for his tough talk, said after the 15 days, the convicts would be wanted dead or alive, preferably dead to save on the cost of clothing and feeding them in prison.

The threat has worked well—one might say, even too well. On Fri-

day, the Justice Department reported that 2,009 convicts surrendered, even though there were only 1,914 of them on the BuCor list.

In the meantime, other disturbing allegations emerged from Senate hearings on the GCTA mess, including accusations that corrupt prison officials sold GCTA credits and hospital passes that allowed inmates at the national penitentiary to momentarily exchange the rigors of prison life for the comparative luxury of a hospital stay.

The President fired the BuCor chief, Nicanor Faeldon, and ordered a major revamp at the bureau—but with weak supervision, it may only be a matter of time before the same corrupt practices reemerge.

And what are we to make of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s request to the police, through the DILG, to hold off on arrests the President himself ordered?

Guevarra said Friday that of the 1,914 heinous crime convicts

freed through the GCTA Law, 1,717 had already turned themselves in as of 11 p.m. Sept.19.

The remaining convicts, Guevarra said, were in a “gray area” because they did not know if they were really convicted for heinous crimes.

“We want to make sure that those remaining are actually people that need to be arrested,” the Justice secretary said.

“Pending that verification, considering the number of those who have surrendered almost matched the original number 1,900 plus, then we deem it safe and prudent not to pursue any coercive law enforcement action at this time because we may unduly and unnecessarily endanger the life of not only the [prisoners], but even the law enforcement agents,” he added.

As if things were not confusing enough, a spokesperson for the Justice Department acknowledged that only the President who issued the arrest order may put it on hold, making the secretary’s request to the DILG seem foolish at best.

Amid all this chaos, it seems germane to ask: Who really is in charge?

Turn to A5

Visionary FINALLY, the long-awaited first step toward a real solution to the national capital’s airport congestion has been taken.

The Department of Transportation, through Secretary Art Tugade and San Miguel Corporation, through its CEO, Mr. Ramon S. Ang, signed the agreement to construct a new international gateway in the sleepy town of Bulakan, Bulacan.

For sure there were, and still are, other options presented, principal among which is the proposal to build a new airport in Sangley and the environs of Cavite City, right across the Manila Bay from the present NAIA. Meanwhile, the airport congestion has reached crisis proportions, stunting the growth of tourism, vexing both international and domestic passengers, and casting doubts among would-be foreign investors whose first and last brief impression of the country is the woeful inadequacy of our premier gateway.

Now Mr. Ang goes one step further, proposing a PPP for an all-steel 10-lane expressway connecting Macapagal Avenue in NCR’s southwest to Caloocan in the northeast to ease the humongous traffic that all must bear in EDSA and C-5 combined, while Senator Grace Poe and the executive department debate whether or not a needed grant of emergency powers to the president presented three years ago is still needed, even as the traffic along EDSA and C-5 continues to multiply.

And Mr. Ang promises that he can build his all-steel highway within 30 months, the same period, even less, since the debate over emergency powers began in Senator Poe’s Senate committee.

Flashback to the time when President Joseph Estrada still held court in Malacanang, and I was his Philippine Tourism Authority general manager at the same time Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs. The double job meant going to the then-Tourism headquarters in one of the neo-classical buildings at Agrifina Circle, now converted to the Museum of Natural History before eight each morning, then to Malacañang five

minutes away by car at past three each afternoon, thence leave the palace at around nine or ten at night.

In one of those palace routines, I chanced upon Mr. Ang who was waiting for his turn to speak to President Estrada. In casual conversation, I told him about a plan to turn the government property assigned to the then Public Estates Authority (now Philippine Reclamation Authority) into an entertainment center which would serve as a tourist magnet for Metro Manila. I intimated that I had talked to then PEA Chairman Frisco San Juan (of departed memory), and he approved of the idea.

But Mr. Ang came up with a different idea: “Why not sell Pagcor instead?”

He further explained that government should not be in the business of gaming, rather be a regulator of the industry.

“We sell it to the big boys, you know, Las Vegas types. Assume we get, say 10 billion dollars for it. With that as seed money, government can turn around and borrow at least ten times over. That’s a hundred billion dollars,” he said.

People like Ang see the future beyond the tips of their noses.

“We can then build super highways that would connect the tip of Luzon in the north all the way to Bicol, and even more. We can build a new international airport that looks like Changi in Singapore or Chep Lap Kok in Hong Kong.”

“Imagine the job creation, and the efficiency from the point of view of logistics; the convenience for passengers, both domestic and foreign travelers…”

Mr. Ang said, until the secretary summoned him for his meeting with the President.

That was the year 1999. The following year, Pres. Estrada’s reign was discombobulated by the revelations of Chavit Singson. By the end of January, he was out of the palace.

The new Pagcor chair was Ephraim Genuino. He got President MacapagalArroyo to approve the concept of an entertainment city cum gambling mecca in the reclamation area.

Turn to A5

EvEryman

Why Xi Jinping should be our riveting concern

By Ernesto G. Banawis ALL efforts to resolve the thorny problems involving our country’s relations with China are futile exercises. The issues have not been joined and will never be since China ignores them.

China can refuse to honor its commitment under international treaties since no court or international agency can enforce them.

No one recognizes this more clearly than President Rodrigo Duterte does. His pivot to China early in his term was an unabashed and realistic approach to gain the friendship, goodwill, support and cooperation of Xi Jinping for his own program of government.

President Xi made it doubly clear during the recent state visit that China is willing to discuss all cooperative endeavors with the Philippines but not the dispute on the West Philippine Sea. He even asked his guest to set aside the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

What then should our country do in the face of China’s intransigence and unbending position on the South China Sea? Sadly, for the moment, we can only bear our helpless position with silent outrage.

The man who holds the solution to our problem is China President Xi Jinping.

The man who should receive our

attention and concern on how he will be dealing with us for now and in the years ahead is Xi, whom The Economist and Forbes both described as today’s most powerful world leader.

How long Xi exercises awesome powers is of keen interest to us.

This is the grim reality that we should accept, with the hope that future internal developments in China or perhaps a change in leadership could radically alter the course of China\s policies and diplomacy with the rest of the world.

Who is Xi in the first place? How did he gain almost undisputed power?

How will he handle China’s relations with the United States, Russia, Japan, Turn to A5

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Connecting everybody, empowering everybody

Questions on the SOGIE bill tent with my Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly THE FIFTH states, “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts GOSPEL as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual JUDE ACIDRE acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life.

(Part 1) They do not proceed from a genuine WHEN the framers of the 1987 Con- affective and sexual complementarity. stitution decided to preface our coun- Under no circumstances can they be try’s foundational document with a approved. (CCC 2357)” prayer, “imploring the aid of the Almighty God,” it established firmly the role of religion in Philippine democMale and female are racy. Therefore, to say that the Philippines is a purely secular state is, to say not arbitrary, socially the least, inaccurate.

In the middle of the maelstrom imposed constructs. brought about by the debates on the They are rooted in our Sexual Orientation and Gender Iden- biology. tity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill now pending in Congress, proponents of the measure are often quick to dismiss that doctrinal or theological The same document, however, positions have no place in the shaping continues, “The number of men and our country’s laws. The constitutional women who have deep-seated homoprinciple of separation of Church and sexual tendencies is not negligible.

State is often misquoted as to mean This inclination, which is objectively that a strict divide between matters of disordered, constitutes for most of faith—and that of public life. them a trial. They must be accepted Present statistics affirm this fact. with respect, compassion, and sensiMore than 80 percent of the country’s tivity. Every sign of unjust discrimipopulation is Catholic. Consequently, nation in their regard should be avoidthe majority of them are presumed to ed. (CCC 2358)” espouse their religion’s doctrinal and The Church, therefore, is clear on moral teachings. Therefore, Catholi- one thing—persons who identify cism is a sure standard by which to themselves as LGBTQ must be “acshape public legislation that is mor- cepted with respect, compassion, ally acceptable to most, if not the ma- and sensitivity” and to discriminate jority, of Filipinos today. against LGBTQ persons goes against The doctrine of benevolent neutrali- the heart of the Christian message. ty, which former Chief Justice Renato Last April, Pope Francis received in Puno succinctly defined in his land- a private audience noted British gay mark 2003 decision, Estrada v. Escri- comedian Stephen K. Amos. speaking tor, “recognizes that government must through an interpreter, the pope said pursue its secular goals and interests “Giving more importance to the adbut at the same time strives to uphold jective rather than the noun, this is not religious liberty to the greatest extent good. We are all human beings and possible within flexible constitutional have dignity. It does not matter who limits.” Therefore, while the country’s you are or how you live your life, you law reflect a secular view of morality, do not lose your dignity. There are faith-based morality could be accom- people that prefer to select or discard modated as it as long as it does not of- people because of the adjective - these fend compelling state interests. people don’t have a human heart.”

Many of my friends identify themThe proposed SOGIE equality selves as LGBTQ, and many of them measure in Congress, in my opinion, know and respect my position on the does exactly the opposite—it puts imSOGIE bill, which is one that is consis- portance on the adjective, the label,

Why...

From A4

Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries?

Lee Kuan Yew described Xi as “a thoughtful man who has gone through many trials and tribulations,” adding that like Nelson Mandela, “he does not allow his misfortunes to color his judgment.”

In his youth, Xi worked as a laborer in a rural village. His application for membership in the Communist party was urned down ten times before he was accepted.

Other leaders of the world not only highly respect him but are aware of his inscrutable poise, diplomatic brilliance, and his inner courage.

How he gradually yet effectively gained his political and military ascendancy is truly phenomenal and astounding. Like Vladimir Putin, Xi’s fiercely loyalty to those under whom he served. This, plus his uncompromising war against corruption, were the two most important factors which propelled his ascendancyto China’s highest leadership positions.

Thorough and methodical, he carefully planned his moves in his journey through his country’s complex and labyrinthine political and ideological power structures. He gained control of the Central Political Commission or Politburo, the Military Commission

Cracking...

From A4

Tourism and Emirates inked a memorandum of agreement that aims to strengthen the Philippines’ presence in the European, Middle East and other international markets being serviced by the Dubai-based airline.

The agreement was formalized after successful discussions that explored possible avenues to increase air connectivity between various parts of Europe and the Philippines via Dubai.

“The lifeblood of Philippine tourism is connectivity. We are an archipelago and most of the tourists can reach us only by air. That is why I

ahead of the fact that all human beings are all entitled to same and equal human rights. For example, the rights and freedoms of all Filipinos are already guaranteed and protected by the country’s existing civil, criminal and even labor laws, including the Bill of Rights enumerated in the Constitution. So, it makes me wonder, what other rights of LGBTQ persons would require legal protection?

This begs the question whether legislating a SOGIE Equality Bill is still needed, so whether it will result in reverse discrimination, where preferential rights are given to a minority population who were previously thought to be discriminated against, but to the disadvantage of the majority who adhere to an opposing position. Passing the SOGIE Equality would institutionalize bias against position of the country’s Catholic majority in respect to the morality of homosexual acts.

The key question about incorporating SOGIE equality into our legal framework is the dispute on an objective categorization of sexual orientation and gender identity. Passing antidiscrimination statutes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity lacks objective criteria for legislation.

Note that the SOGIE bill makes it illegal for a parent to ask their son or daughter to take a medical or psychological exam, to address that person’s gender or sexual orientation. Therefore, would it is wise to craft public policy on a view of sexuality and gender identity that is subject to possible fluctuation?

Clearly, the SOGIE bill teaches a view of human embodiment that is contrary to Christian principles.

Christianity embraces the body and soul as an integrated whole; each person is a unique creation who was created male or female. Male and female are not arbitrary, socially imposed constructs. They are rooted in our biology. In contrast, the thinking behind the SOGIE Equality Bill assumes an “expressive individualism” where our bodies become instruments of the will (products of the will), capable of being re-created according to preference and desire.

[To be continued]

and the entire bureaucracy with ease and with hardly any opposition. He also created special agencies on security and espionage concerns. But the most powerful body he created was a supervening commission which exercised judicial and legislative powers over and above the Supreme Court.

He accomplished all these in seamless and speedy fashion, leaving thousands of formerly powerful high officials and potential rivals biting the dust and in shame.

Still young at 65 and considered much more decisive and courageous than Mao Zedong, Xi is determined to stay in the leadership saddle, evident by his abolishing the ten year limit on the residential term.

He can now get elected president for life.

Now that he has reached the apex of power, a personality cult has started evolving around him. His place of birth and places where he lived are being spruced up and turned into tourist havens.

Xi’s Thoughts on Socialism with Chinese characteristics has been annexed to the constitution just like those of Mao and Deng.

Xi’s dream is to make China the most powerful nation on earth . He wants to regain China’s glory as the center of eastern civilization. He hopes to establish the foundations for the realization of this dream during his lifetime. He has started assembling a

team of younger colleagues whom he hopes will make his dream come true.

Xi’s timeline is to attain is to have his dream realized by 2049, the centennial anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

He is pursuing his dream with deadly precision, short of sacrificing the lives of China’s over 2 billion people.

He is himself a realist who knows the odds and the risks he has to confront and overcome in the pursuit of his ambitions.

He knows that he cannot ignore other nations, particularly the United States. The citadel of democratic governance, still the most powerful in military and economic terms, the United States of America can, as effectively as China, undermine the economies and military strength of other nations.

No matter how fast and how much more wealth, products, and advances in science and technology China amasses in the coming years, the country cannot assume world dominance if the other nations on earth stop dealing with it and close their stores.

Xi has been the most widely-traveled leader of China. He is courageous, shrewd and astute in dealing with the leaders of other nations.

China’s leader may bow out of the scene even sooner than expected. But for Filipinos, China-watching will be a continuing and consuming preoccupation.

consider initiatives like this as critical to the continuing development of our tourism market. We are opening more gateways and with it, wider access for visitors,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

Under the new partnership, the DOT and Emirates will jointly explore and implement various activities to promote tourism in the Philippines with the goal of boosting inbound arrivals in the country.

Emirates’ Country Manager to the Philippines, Satish Sethi, said that since the launching of Emirates’ inaugural flight from Manila almost 30 years ago, they have been utilizing their broad network of global destina-

tions to not only connect Filipinos to the world, but to also bring in more tourists to the Philippines so they can experience what “this beautiful country has to offer.”

“We are very honored to be working with the Department of Tourism in achieving its goal of 8.2 million tourist arrivals in 2019, and we remain as committed to contributing to the growth of the local tourism industry as we have been when we started operations here in 1990," Sethi added.

Joint marketing efforts will focus on branded advertising and promotional campaigns targeting Europe inbound traffic to the Philippines. The two parties will also utilize digital marketing

A5

ADDRESSING the trative operations. rollout delays of the Investing in a robust nationwide free puband secure broadband lic Wi-Fi hotspots is network to serve all on top of the priorities government requireof recently confirmed ments will result in Department of Informulti-sectoral benefits mation and Communications Technol- that developed countries are able to ogy (DICT) Secretary Gregorio B. Ho- leverage as an essential development nasan. asset. Delivering free WI-FI services “We will first connect everybody to to the unserved barangays and public each other—government to govern- schools will open profound opportuniments, domestic to global, government ties and expand participation in an ICT to business, government to the citizens enabled economy. Imagine our national and everybody to each other. And we will and local governments totally retooled do this in a faster, cheaper if not in a free with cloud-based applications that manner and in a more secure manner,” would solve the operational inefficienSec. Honasan said. cies and corruption prone bureaucratic Critical will be the lighting up of the layers that continues to waste billions nationwide broadband infrastructure of resources that we all must pay for using the existing dark fiber network thru our taxes. of the National Grid Corporation of the Unlike the trillions of pesos needed to Philippines and the completion of the fund the hard infrastructure projects of Luzon Bypass linking the two subma- Build, Build, Build, the free Wi-Fi projrine cable landing stations on the west ect will only be a fraction of the cost, and east coast of Luzon now being built but the scope of coverage will be counin partnership with Facebook. This net- try-wide and targeted at areas where work will have the capacity to deliver connectivity is most needed. As budget fast internet connection to all govern- deliberations are ongoing, our legislament offices, public schools, govern- tors should make sure that the DICT ment hospitals will be ready with and public spaces adequate financial down to the baranresources to exThese are Secretary gays. ecute the marching As of May 2019, Honasan’s priorities. orders of President 662 municipalities Duterte to connect in 73 provinces everybody to evand 17 regions erybody. have free public WiFi sites under the Secretary Honasan sees the urgenFree Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public cy in moving fast within the next 18 Places project. The DICT’s goal is to months, not just on priority projects, activate 10,000 sites nationwide. but also on institutionalizing policies “The marching orders of the Presi- that would go beyond the Duterte addent is to connect everybody to every- ministration and to realize a complete body, faster, cheaper and more secure,” digital transformation of the country. said Honasan.

“We hope to set in motion programs According to the Digital 2019 report that even though whoever is the Presiby Hootsuite, Filipinos are the top inter- dent, these programs will continue. net users with an average time online of That even though some officials try to over 10 hours and are also the top social meddle with it, it will be to their disadmedia users logging-on at an average of vantage,” he said. almost five hours a day, with Facebook “Our fellow Filipinos in many areas as the preferred platform. In terms of us- still cannot tap into the ICT due to the ing mobile devices the Philippines ranks lack of resources and connectivity. This second to Thailand with 72 million out of is slowing down our transformation or the 76 million internet users. These fig- leapfrogging into a digital society. The ures show that Filipinos have embraced challenge therefore for us now is how the online technology and are ready to to change the narrative.” harness the strategic benefits of fast and We will have an opportunity to hear reliable connectivity. his policy directions during the upcomDays after Honasan assumed office, ing Technology and Innovation Sumfree WI-FI Access points were inaugu- mit entitled, “Innovative Philippines: rated in three public hospitals in Quezon Transforming Barriers to Productivity, City. He vowed to accelerate this effort all Transparency and Inclusive Growth” over the country. Though initially aimed hosted by the Stratbase Group in partat providing free mobile communica- nership with the DICT Office of the tions for patients, the potential impact of Secretary. Thought leaders from govproviding fast broadband connectivity ernment and industry leaders from to the whole public health system will the private sector will be discussing make available e-health technologies that strategies to cope with fast-changing can change the way government delivers challenges in the spirit of harmonizing health services. Implementing the Uni- government and private sector goals by versal Health Act will need new systems addressing policy barriers and maxito ensure efficient front-line and adminis- mizing existing technologies.

Visionary From A4

Meanwhile, Ramon Ang proceeded with public-private-partnership projects, and built so many new highways, including the extension of the toll expressways in the north. (Balintawak to Pozorrubio is now doable in two hours, and by next year it will end in Rosario, La Union, from where you ascend Marcos Highway to Baguio). In a matter of a few years of feverish construction, we now have the NAIA airport tollways that connect the gateway to the entertainment city, to Makati and Taguig, as well as the SLEX. He is soon completing the connector highways that will span NLEX and SLEX, thereby alleviating the traffic load in EDSA as well

strategies, tapping into the different social media platforms and other emarketing campaign initiatives to assert the Philippines’ presence in the international travel market.

Another focus of the partnership is the people-to-people exchanges, particularly to attract Europe-based consumers, trade and media agents by launching familiarization trips and tours in the Philippines. Under the agreement, both parties will also engage in joint roadshows, bringing together Philippine industry and key market trade partners, to boost opportunities for trade.

DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon described the agreement as a welcome development. The DOT works

as other main thoroughfares, traffic that has been a daily curse upon almost every NCR resident or transient.

And now the Bulakan international airport and a promise of four parallel runways, with future expansion if needed to six runways, versus NAIA’s single runway. Along with connector roads to the NLEX-SLEX connector, and another connecting highway through Navotas and into Manila.

It is visionaries like Ramon S. Ang, a private person who heads the huge conglomerate built originally from beer, who see the future beyond the tips of their noses, and rather than just dream, or drool at what they see in other foreign countries, utilize their talents to build, build, build. And put money where others can only offer their mouth.

to improve air connectivity from countries in Europe and the Middle East, considering Emirates flies to more than 40 destinations in Europe and operates more than 250 flights per day globally. European traveller numbers to the Philippines have grown by an average of 8.95 percent per year.

In 2018 alone, inbound arrivals from Europe to the Philippines increased by 9.03 percent over the previous year from 675,399 to 736,421 chalking up 10.33 percent of the total international visitor arrivals to the Philippines.

Arrivals from Middle East, on the other hand, grew by an average of 3.96 percent per year for the last five years.

So, what happened to Philippine Airlines? Just asking.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

A6

TODAY

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC to Comelec: Proclaim winner in S. Cotabato congressional race

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections to proclaim Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles as the dulyelected congresswoman for the first district of South Cotabato in the May 13 elections.

In a nine-page en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Rosemari Carandang, the SC voted 14-0 in granting the petition filed by Nograles, a former vice mayor who who ran and won as lawmaker in the last elections.

Nograles’ petition sought to nullify a Comelec resolution suspending the election for the first legislative district of South Cotabato and ordering the declaration of the votes cast for the candidates running for the said position as “stray.”

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and the other associate justices concurred with the ruling, except for Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, who was on official business when they voted to resolve the petition.

The SC also directed the poll body to convene a Special Provincial Board of Canvassers to proclaim Nograles as the winning candidate.

“The elections for the First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato scheduled on May 13, 2019 should not have been suspended, and the candidate obtaining the most number of votes for the said position must be proclaimed,” the High Court said.

With Nograles’ proclamation, the SC said the holdover provision of Republic Act No. 11243 which reapportioned the first legislative district and created the lone legislative district of General Santos City need not apply “since there would already be a newly-elected and qualified representative.”

Despite the Comelec’s order to suspend the elections in the district, there were still votes cast and Nograles garnered 68.55 percent of the votes or 194,929 out of the total 284,351 votes.

RA No. 11243 took effect on April 4, barely a month before the mid-term elections.

The Comelec, for its part, said they deferred the elections in South Cotabato because they were already finished with most of the preelection activities, and it had no time to revise or modify the electoral data in the automated election system in the remaining 38 days before the mid-term polls.

Congressional spouses launch art exhibit with Pinto Art Gallery

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., headed by its new president and chairperson Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano, will launch today “Pinto sa Kongreso: An Art Appreciation Exhibit,” a fundraising art exhibition at the South Wing Lobby of the House of Representatives.

The art exhibit is in partnership with the Pinto Art Gallery and will run until October 3.

Guests of honor include Speaker Alan Cayetano and Dr. Joven Cuanang from the Pinto Art. This is the first project of the CSFI in the 18th Congress.

“The Art Exhibit envisions an exhibition that generously present contemporary art practice, putting a spotlight on the remarkable Filipino talent, creativity, and imagination. Proceeds from the exhibit will be for the benefit of the livelihood programs and projects of the CSFI,” Cayetano said.

The exhibit will feature over 75 prominent artists in Philippine visual arts. Their works, which portray various themes—from abstract expressions to figurative depictions of every day life to fantastical representations of surreal imagery—enrich the Filipino culture that captures the noble spirit of the nation, she added.

CSFI is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of the spouses of the members of the House of Representatives.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offers shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM only.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on an “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

5.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he/she wants to buy, as long as, he/she posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or an accredited through External Financing Institution (EFI).

6.

Interested bidders through EFI must first secure a conditional loan approval with EFI accredited bank. Insert the document in the bid envelope along with the duly filled out and signed bid form.

7.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Date of Bidding b. Name of the bidder c. Exact address of property you are interested to bid d. Transfer Certificate of Title No. e. Mode of Payment f.

Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) g. Signature of the bidder/representative

8.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and must not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Offer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

9.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System.

10. The following shall be inserted on a sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. Pro-forma Certificate of due diligence (for occupied or unoccupied) d. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative e. Pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable f.

Two (2) proofs of occupancy, if applicable f.1. Barangay certificate that Bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property and any of the following: (1) Valid Government Issued IDs, or (2) Latest Billing Address under Bidder’s Name 11. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope)

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13.If the occupant will exercise his/her Right to Match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the full 10% deposit based on the matched bid amount in cash on the day of bidding.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within fourteen (14) calendar days of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two (2) valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. The Bidder’s deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17. In case the bid is through EFI, winning bidder shall submit the Letter of Guarantee (LOG) within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of bidding. The equity, if any, shall be paid in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of LOG by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the Offered Bid Amount and LOG amount.

18. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS will result in the forfeiture of the 10% bidder’s deposit.

19. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the said NOAS shall be deemed automatically revoked and the highest/ winning bidder shall be informed in writing. The second highest bidder, if any, shall be informed in writing if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued a NOAS. 20. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

21. For bidding inquiries, you may call the Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at trunkline telephone numbers (02) 479-3500, (02) 479-3600 and (02) 9764900 local numbers 3228, 3374, and 3396.

P2.4b to restore heritage schools THE Department of Education is spending another P384 million next year to renew and preserve heritage public school buildings all over the country, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said on Sunday.

“The amount is on top of the P2.06 billion already earmarked this year for the conservation and restoration of Gabaldon and other historical school houses,” said Gullas, House appropriations committee member.

“We have nationwide around 1,800 Gabaldon school blocks, of which over 140 are in Cebu,” he added.

Many of the remaining Gabaldon school structures were built during the early years of American colonization, and are now well over a century old.

“They were constructed under what was basically the country’s first public school building program,” said the lawmaker.

The program was introduced by Isauro Gabaldon, a member of the 1907 Philippine Assembly who authored the law that appropriated P1 million “for the construction of school houses of strong materials in barrios with guaranteed daily attendance of not less than 60 pupils.”

“Our Gabaldon school houses are valuable cultural assets that hold pieces of our history,” Gullas said.

Gullas also cited the need “to safeguard the heritage school structures to remind future generations of Filipinos of the grandeur and aesthetic splendor of the architectural designs of the past.”

The conservation and restoration of Gabaldon school buildings is mandated by Republic Act No. 11194, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law in January.

(MS-SEPT. 21,22 & 23, 2019)

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Growling Tigresses slip past Lady Tamaraws to snap skid

Choy Bahuyan (7) of the FEU Lady Tamaraws, dribbles past University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses defender Grace Irebu (right) during the FEU-UST UAAP Women’s Basketball game.

ANTIPOLO—University of Santo Tomas put an end to its two-game skid and escaped with a tight 56-55 escape over Far Eastern University Sunday in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament at Ynares Center here.

Grace Irebu led the Golden Tigresses with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks as they averted disaster after losing a 13-point lead in the third frame.

“We are lucky to win this game,” said coach Haydee Ong. “We had crucial passing errors that were converted by FEU. We are just fortunate to get this one” Choy Bahuyan led the Lady Tamaraws’ rally, with her split from the line cutting the deficit down to one with 1:33 remaining.

Clare Castro had a chance to win the game for FEU, but her short stab rimmed out as UST grabbed crucial offensive boards to pull off the slim victory.

Lon Rivera added nine points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Jeorge Panti

had seven points, six boards, and two dimes in the win to improve its standing to 3-2 and force a three-way tie for second place with FEU and Adamson.

Bahuyan carried the Lady Tamaraws with 16 points and five rebounds, while Judy Abat had 12 points, five boards, two assists, and two steals.

Castro was limited to just three points as she shot 1-of-10 from the field in the defeat.

“It’s not easy to defend Clare because she is stronger and taller than me. I needed to not see that and do my best on both offense and defense,” said Irebu, the league’s reigning MVP. The scores: UST 56 – Irebu 21, Rivera 9, Panti 7, Callangan 5, Ferrer 3, Gonzales 3, Soriano 3, Tacatac 3, Portillo 2, Gandalla 0, Javier 0.

FEU 55 – Bahuyan 16, Abat 12, Jumuad 10, Mamaril 6, Quiapo 5, Castro 3, Vidal 3, Adriano 0, Antiola 0, Bastatas 0, Delos Santos 0, Payadon 0.

Quarter scores: 19-15, 32-27, 49-42, 56-55.

Obiena cracks top 10 in world pole vault

By Peter Atencio

E

RNEST John Obiena reached the 10th spot in the men’s pole vault world rankings of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Obiena’s ranking went up after winning gold medals in the recent Asian Athletics Championships and Universiade.

Because of this Obiena improved from 15th place last August after getting a performance score of 1277 in the IAAF rankings.

Obiena is also the first Filipino to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

Obiena qualified after he cleared 5.81 meters in the men’s pole vault competition of Salto Con L’asta in Italy on September 3. This went beyond the Olympic standard

of 2.80 meters.

The 23-year-old Obiena exceeded his previous record of 5.76 meters during 2019 Summer Universiade in Italy last July.

The 6-foot-2 Obiena cleared the height on his third and last attempt, and bested five others for the gold medal.

Obiena later went for the Asian record by attempting to clear 5.9 meters. but failed to clear the height.

And Obiena will compete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games this November.

Obiena needed five years of intense and dedicated training to make it to the Olympics.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association chief Philip Ella Juico said Obiena’s feat was made possible with the help of, “the most modern coaching techniques and support.”

And all these was achieved with help from the Philippine Sports Commission, Ayala Corp, private individuals and most recently, the Management Association of the Philippines.

evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF DE JESUS, JOSHUA LINSANGAN to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. x------------------ x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares:

2. My present place of residence is Block 2 Unit 3 Windgate Villas, Visayas Ave., Brgy. Culiat City/ Municipality of Quezon City Province of NCR and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) 1988-#6 Happy Homes, Campo Sioco, Baguio City 1988-1990- #18-B Phase 6, Green Valley Subd. Baguio City 1990-1996-150 A. Valino St., Aduas Sur, Cabanatuan City 3100 1996-1998/2005-Present-Blk 2, Unit 3 Windgate Villas, Visayas Avenue, Brgy. Culiat, Q.C. 1998-2005-936 A. Valino St., Aduas Sur, Cabanatuan City 3100 3. I was born on February 07, 1988, in Baguio City, Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of United States of America.

4. My father's name is Rodrigo Hernandez De Jesus and he was born on September 15, 1946, in Balayan, Batangas.

He is a citizen or subject of United States of America. My mother's name is Ma. Eloisa Correa Linsangan and she was born on April 23, 1951 in Cabanatuan City. She is a citizen or subject of Philippines/United States of America.

5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N.A. and from which I derive an average annual income of N.A. inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances.

My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, (2) name of school: University of Santo Tomas and (3) year graduated: 2010 who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship. (1) Juris Doctor (2) University of The East (3) 2018

MAN OF THE HOUR. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno speaks during the

WNCAA Season 50 opening at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last weekend.

League officials led by president Yolanda Co and executive director Vivian Manila along with the mayor opened the Hall of Greats where past WNCAA players and officials were honored and other memorabilia put on display.

Xavier School rules 2019 ISSA Grade School chess meet THE Xavier School Chess Team A reigned supreme in the 2019 Interscholastic Sports Association (ISSA) Grade School Division chess tournament held at the Brent International School Manila in Biñan, Laguna last weekend.

Playing for Xavier School Chess Team A were Board 1 Ivan Travis Cu (5/5-gold), Board 2 Ryan Taguba (4/5 - silver), Board 3 Jericho Winston Cu (4.5/5 - gold) and Board 4 Gregory Pe (3/5 - bronze).

The team scored 16.5 points to capture the crown.

The Xavier School Chess Team B (14.0 points) placed second. They include on Board 1 Karl Zachary Fajardo (4/5-silver), Board 2 Martyn Matthew Judd (2/5), Board 3 Alexander Miguel Lim (3/5) and Board 4 Andres Zafra (5/5-gold).

The Xavier School Chess Team A and B is coached by Rolando “Rolly” Yutuc.

Running third was the International School of Manila Team C (13.5 points) followed by International School of Manila Team A (10.0 points).

Other participating teams were British School Manila (8.0 points); International School of Manila Team B (8.0 points); Xavier School Team C (8.0 points); Brent International School Team Z (6.0 points) and Brent International School Team X (6.0 points).

The final standings: 16.5 points, Xavier School Team A; 14.0 points, Xavier School Team B; 13.5 points, International School of Manila Team C; 10.0 points, International School of Manila Team A; 8.0 points, British School Manila, International School of Manila Team B, Xavier School Team C; 6.0 points, Brent International School Team Z, Brent International School Team X.

6. My civil status is SINGLE, I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on in N/A. She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have N/A child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Name N/A

Date of Birth N/A

Place of Birth N/A

Residence

Little Merry Hearts Montessori Center Montessori Child Learning Center Little Merry Hearts Montessori Center Little Merry Hearts Montessori Center

Place of School Mulawin I, Bitas, Cabanatuan City 116 Visayas Avenue Brgy.

Culiat. Q.C. Mulawin I, Bitas, Cabanatuan City Mulawin I, Bitas, Cabanatuan City

Dates of Study 1993-1996

Highest Grade Completed Grade I

1996-1998

Grade III

1998-2001

Grade VI

2001-2005

4th Year High School

11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

N/A

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ x ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ x ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ x ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ x ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ x ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ x ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: Affidavit of Support, Boy Scouts of the Phil. Certificates BIR Certification of Non-Filing of Income Tax Return (ITR) BPI Statement of Account for US Dollar.

BPI Statement of Account for Peso

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 22nd day of MAY, 2019.

JOSHUA LINSANGAN DE JESUS Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: Block 2 Unit 3 Windgate Villas, Visayas Ave., Brgy. Culiat, Q.C. Telephone Number: 0977-8506822 Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY) S.S.

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines:Tagalog

Name of Child

14. My character witnesses are Pedro Dela Rosa and Renato Justo Abila both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at Area 5-A, Sitio Cabuyao, Brgy. Sauyo, Q.C. and 15 Mars St., Zytex, Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Q.C. respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease.

The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to USA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

1. My full name is JOSHUA LINSANGAN DE JESUS, but I have also been known since childhood as JOSH or I have been judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) .

N/A

Tigers beat Basilan Steel in Bacolod BACOLOD CITY—Mark Yee did not get his usual double-double, but it did not stop the Davao Occidental Tigers from beating the Basilan Steel, 76-71, last weekend in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s first game here at University of St. La Salle Gym. Getting more offensive-minded, Yee fired a game-high 22 points and settled for five rebounds for the Cocolife-supported Tigers, who tallied their 13th win against two losses and kept top spot in the South division of the 31-team league founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Master Sardines banked on local icon Paolo Javelona and Cebuano star Mark Tallo to subdue the Soccsksargen Marlins, 89-80, in the nightcap and improve to 6-8.

Javelona scored a game-high 27, including 14 in the second, while Tallo contributed 22 points, including 16 in the third quarter, where Bacolod surged ahead, 74-64.

They shared best player of the game honors with Javelona adding 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and Tallo chipping in 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals.

Jopher Custodio supported the former pros with 11 points and so did Jerick Canada with 5 points and 11 assists.

The Marlins, who absorbed their 14th straight defeat in as many games, drew 23 points from Norman Gonzales and 18 from Exeqiel Biteng.

Yee, who boasts an MPBL best 29 double-double performances, got support from Emman Calo with 13 points, Chester Saldua with 10, and Yvan Ludovice with 8 points, 8 assists and 2 steals.

The Jumbo Plastics-supported Steel trailed by as many as 14 points, 43-57, and suffered their sixth loss in 15 games.

Jerald Bautista scored 18, Jay Collado added 14, while Cris Dumapig chipped in 11 points plus 10 rebounds for the Steel.

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

Name and Place of School N/A

I, JOSHUA LINSANGAN DE JESUS of legal age and a resident of Block 2 Unit 3 Windgate Villas, Visayas Ave., Brgy. Culiat, Q.C. after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

JOSHUA LINSANGAN DE JESUS Name and Signature of Petitioner SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at Quezon City this 22nd day of May 2019.

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have

(MS-SEPT. 23, 30 & OCT. 7, 2019

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Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Ateneo Blue Eagles guard Thirdy Ravena (0) glides to the hoop past National University big man Issa Seny Diouf Gaye (10) and Fran Yu. The Blue Eagles went on to swamp the Bulldogs, 71-50, in Antipolo.

Macau stint helps SMB’s PBA Grand Slam bid MACAU—Champion coach Leo Austria believes San Miguel Beer’s stint in the East Asia League Terrific 12 will go a long way in the team’s bold bid to complete a PBA grand slam.

Austria said there’s no better way for the Beermen to prepare and get ready for the final piece of their Triple Crown campaign – the season-ending Governors Cup – than to play against some of the best players and ballclubs around Asia.

“We’ve gained a lot of knowledge and experience in this tournament.

It was a great opportunity for us to learn,” said Austria’s of the Beermen’s first ever stint in the Terrific 12.

Too bad, the franchise fell short of advancing to the finals as it suffered a sorry 111-89 loss to Lance Stephenson and the Liaoning Flying Leopards in their semifinal encounter Saturday night to the disappointment of the huge Filipino crowd at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.

The highest San Miguel could achieve is to finish third place against the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, who the Beermen are playing as of press time.

“We’ll take it seriously (third place) because as we’ve said we’re here not just to participate, we’re here to compete,” said Austria.

“This will help us in future tournaments, especially with the third conference just started,” he added. “We have to develop the team’s winning attitude so every game is really important for us.”

The Beermen kept pace with the Flying Leopards early on and even held a 28-26 lead on eight straight points by Von Pessumal bridging the first and second quarters.

But Stephenson and former fellow NBA player Salah Mejri began to wax hot as Liaoning outscored the Beermen the rest of the way, 25-2, and found themselves trailing by a huge margin at the half, 51-30.

The 29-year-old Stephenson, who was with Lebron James with the Los Angeles Lakers just last season, poured in 23 of his 35 points in the first half, which he capped by draining a long three pointer to beat the halftime buzzer. He also finished with 10 rebounds.

Mighty Blue Eagles maul winless Bulldogs

By Peter Atencio

F

IFTEEN straight wins and counting.

The defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles pulled off another win, this time with a resounding 71-50 swamping of the National University Bulldogs yesterday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Keeping an eye on Dave Ildefonso all throughout, the Blue Eagles quickly decided the outcome of the match right in the first half as they went on to post their fifth consecutive victory in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

The Blue Eagles thrived on the big games of Angelo Kouame inside the paint in posting their 15th straight win since the first round last year.

Ateneo, which started its winning

streak with an 81-66 demolition of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the second round of season 81, held the Bulldogs to just 11 points in the first period.

This kept the Blue Eagles in the solo lead, and ahead of the Fighting Maroons (4-1).

After the Blue Eagles went on to take a 20-11 edge at the end of the first period, three main players put the team further ahead.

SJ Belangel, skipper Mike Nieto and Kouame struck in succession, and handed the Blue Eagles a 27-13 spread with 6:32 left.

Kouame shot a game-high 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Blue Eagles, including six points in the second period to help his squad take a 41-24 halftime spread.

The Bulldogs, who went down to their fifth straight setback, got only 10 points from Ildefonso, while his brother Shaun could only produce nine.

And they were able to cut down At-

UST’s Babylove Barbon (left) and Gen Eslapor after scoring a point against the University of the Philippines’ Rosie Rosier and Euricka Eslapor.

Elasto Painters bounce back with, 96-90 decision over nemesis Columbian Dyip THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters bounced back in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup with a hard-earned, 96-90, victory over the Columbian Dyip Sunday, September 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine import Joel Wright, rested the entire third quarter because of foul trouble, converted back-to-back layups to push the Elasto Painters to a 91-89 lead.

At the other end CJ Perez lost control of the ball after being double-teamed by Gabe Norwood and Ping Exciminiano.

The Elasto Painters then gave the ball back to Wright who drove to his right, past defender Khapri Alston, to convert a layup which hiked

eneo’s lead to 14, 27-41, in the remaining 8:10 of the third off RJ Minerva’s attack.

Ateneo experienced its biggest edge in the final canto, when they took a 25-point lead, 65-40, off Adrian Wong’s jumper with 3:56 left.

“Our defense is doing a good job. It’s generating turnovers and converting those into easy points on the fastbreak,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin.

Earlier, the Fighting Maroons got away with their third straight win with 62-56, beating of the University of the East Warriors last Saturday.

Bright Akhuetie made 16 points for the Maroons, who got a big play from Kobe Paras when he assisted JD Tungcab for a trey with 1:09 left, and handed UP a 61-56 spread.

The La Salle Green Archers, behind Andrei Caracut, turned back the Adamson Falcons, 68-61. Caracut’s two triples in the last 28.3 seconds gave La Salle a 66-61 cushion. Justine Baltazar made 15 points while Caracut added 15.

his team’s advantage to four, 93-89, with just 14 seconds left to play.

Wright would add a free throw to push the Elasto Painters away beyond recall, 94-90.

The Dyip (1 win, 1 loss) and the Elasto Painters (1-1) thus landed into a tie behind the NLEX Road Warriors (1-0), Meralco Bolts (10) and North Port Batang Pier (1-0).

The other teams include the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (0-1), the Phoenix Fuel Masters (0-1) and Alaska Aces (0-1). San Miguel Beermen, TNT KaTropa and Blackwater Elite have not yet played. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is playing its first game against Alaska as of press time.

Jet Spikers beat BanKo Perlas in 3 AIR FORCE kept soaring with another superb all-around game, smothering first round tormentor BanKoPerlas, 26-24, 25-8, 25-21, yesterday to further bolster its semifinal drive in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Jet Spikers rode on the momentum of their stirring come-from-behind victory in the opening set and pounced on the disorganized BanKo-Perlas side in the next before holding sway to complete the victory and avenge their previous loss to the team in the same straight-set fashion last Aug. 17.

Veteran Joy Cases came away with 14 kills and finished with 15 markers to spearhead another impressive Air Force attack that came on the heels of the team’s string of victories over Chef’s Classics, Choco Mucho, PacificTown Army and Motolite.

After dropping its first five games, Air Force is now back in the hunt with five straight wins. Though they remained at sixth, the Jet Spikers now have the momentum and confidence needed in what looms to be a wild chase for the three semis slots.

BanKo-Perlas slipped to 6-4, now in joint third with a surging PacificTown Army with Motolite wresting solo second at 6-3 and PetroGazz aiming to hike its 5-2 card against winless Chef’s Classics at presstime.

With 10 straight wins, titleholder Creamline is a cinch to nail the first Final Four berth in the season-ending conference organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC. “Our hard work and training have been paying off. But we’re trying not to be pressured by our streak. We just play pressure-free, try to be more consistent and improve on our weaknesses,” said Cases.

UST swamps UP in beach volleyball UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor scored a quick 21-11, 21-6 win over University of the Philippines’ Rosie Rosier and Euricka Eslapor for a smashing start in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament Sunday at Sands SM

By The Bay. The four-peat seeking Tigresses are looking good to extend their reign even in the post-Sisi Rondina.

Although Barbon and Eslapor are tipped to win it all, it will take a lot of hard work for UST to cement its status as the most successful women’s beach volleyball program.

Rondina built the Tigresses’ dynasty, winning four of five titles during her highly-successful collegiate sand court stint.

“Kung ano ang experience na nakuha namin sa mga off-season leagues, yun ang ina-apply namin,” said Barbon, the Quezon, Bukidnon native who along with Eslapor represented the Philippines in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 1-Star in Boracay last May. Also enjoying a winning start is the De La Salle pair of Tin Tiamzon and rookie Justine Jazareno, who overpowered National University’s Andrea Abian and Chlea dela Fuente, 21-11, 21-4.

Far Eastern University’s Sheila Mae Kiseo bucked cramps late in the third set, helping Sheena Gallentes to a 22-20, 1721, 15-12 conquest of Ateneo’s Ponggay Gaston and rookie Roma Mae Doromal.

Adamson University’s Kring Uy and Chen Ave rallied from a set down to beat University of the East’s Lyen Ritual and returning Juliet Catindig, 13-21, 21-13, 15-7, in the last match.

Unlike in the previous years where a team that completes a 7-0 sweep in the elimination round will gain an outright championship, the undefeated team will now go through the Final Four. The unbeaten team, though, will still have the twice-to-beat advantage in the semis by finishing no. 1 in the elims.

Arellano University’s Salado making up for lost time AFTER missing Arellano’s Season 94 campaign due to an ACL tear in his right knee, it is safe to say that Kent Salado is making up for lost time in the NCAA Season 95 Seniors’ Basketball Tournament.

The latest evidence of which was last Friday. With his squad down seven in the final frame against Perpetual, Salado put the Chiefs on his back and carried them to a gutsy win.

Behind the graduating guard, Arellano overcame its deficit with a 16-1 run for an eight-point lead.

Salado’s heroics did not end there. When the Altas came knocking to within two, he drove hard to the basket and dished to Dariel Bayla who then converted a basket.

With 14 seconds left in the match, he once again flaunted his playmaking brilliance by setting up Justin Arana underneath to seal Perpetual’s fate.

The 5-foot-8 playmaker wound up with 18 points, 12 assists, four steals, three rebounds and, most importantly, the win that arrested the Chiefs’ threegame losing skid.

With his exceptional performance, Salado earned the Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week award.

“Sinasabihan ko lang yung teammates ko na kaya pa naman natin kasi kaya nga natin yung malalakas, humahabol nga tayo. Wag lang dapat kami mawalan ng gana,” said the Cagayan de Oro native about Arellano’s playoff hopes.

Salado edged Noah Lugo of Mapua, James Canlas of San Beda and Jaycee Marcelino of Lyceum for the weekly recognition given by print and online scribes covering the country’s oldest collegiate league.

IN BRIEF New 20-piso coins set to replace banknotes THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will launch in December the new 20-piso coins to replace the 20-piso banknotes currently circulating in the financial system, Governor Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend.

“It’s a go and we will submit it to the President. But I already saw the prototype... The timeline (of the launch) could be as early as December this year,” Diokno told reporters in an interview.

He said the launch would be timely because the 20-piso banknotes were usually used by many as gifts for children during the holiday season.

Diokno said the phaseout of the 20piso banknotes would proceed as previously planned by monetary authorities.

The BSP has been printing the bills in largest numbers compared with the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1000-piso bills.

“These 20-piso bills are too many and its printing is more expensive compared to other bills because after six months the BSP prints again,” said Diokno, citing the 20-piso bills were the ones most commonly used. Julito G. Rada

Employment outlook in Q4 is less upbeat THE employment outlook in the last quarter of 2019 turned less bullish as the percentage of firms with expansion plans is lower compared to the third quarter, results of the Business Expectations Survey for the third quarter conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The employment outlook index for the fourth quarter 2019 remained positive although lower at 19.6 percent compared to the third-quarter survey result of 26 percent.

“This suggests that more firms will continue to hire new employees, although the number that said so are lower compared to the Q2 2019 survey result.

Expansion plans are lower, while capacity utilization increases,” the BSP said.

The percentage of businesses with expansion plans in the industry sector for the fourth quarter of 2019 was lower at 30.4 percent from the second quarter survey result of 33.5 percent for third quarter 2019. Julito G. Rada

Business PSALM loses bid to junk case vs SMC power unit S

By Alena Mae S. Flores

TATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. suffered a setback in its bid to terminate the contract with South Premiere Power Corp., a subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., over the management of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan power plant.

The Court of Appeals dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by PSALM against the order of Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 212 in favor of South Premiere Power.

SMC Global Power, a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., said in a disclosure to the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on Sept. 20 that it received the resolution of the CA Fifth Division on Sept. 19.

PSALM wanted to terminate the contract with SPPC over alleged payment default, but SPPC, which signed the independent power producer agreement on

the Ilijan plant after winning the bidding conducted by PSALM in 2010 with an $870-million offer, secured a preliminary injunction from the Mandaluyong court against PSALM. The Mandaluyong RTC on Sept. 15, 2016 issued an order granting a preliminary injunction against PSALM but PSALM through the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel brought up the matter to the CA to prevent the Mandaluyong RTC from exercising jurisdiction over the case.

“We advise that the Court of Appeals, Fifth Division, in a resolution dated Aug.

23, 2019, a copy of which we received from our external counsel on Sept. 19, 2019, dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. against South Premiere Power Corp.,” SMC Global Power said.

The CA said it dismissed the petition which also called for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction due to several “infirmities.”

The resolution noted that PSALM had failed to state the names and addresses of the parties in the case, as required under Section 3, Rule 46 of the Rules of Court. It said PSALM also failed to furnish a copy of the petition to SPPC, as required under Section 3, Rule 46 of the same rules issued by the Supreme Court of the Philippines Mandatory Continuing Legal Office.

It said PSALM also failed to implead or join in the lawsuit, the Mandaluyong RTC, the public respondent in the case, as required under Section 5, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.

DOF starts assisting Bangsamoro govt THE Department of Finance, along with the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Local Government Finance, is assisting the Bangsamoro government on how to organize and effectively run its finance, budget and management ministry.

Officials of the three agencies recently presented an overview on how officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao can coordinate with the national government in appointing local treasurers, assessing the performance of local government units and in creating special procedures for customs processing in areas within BARMM’s jurisdiction.

A meeting held recently at the DOF office in Manila focused on issues raised

by BARMM officials on the functions of the autonomous region’s counterpart offices that will function as its BOC, which is under the supervision of BARMM’s finance, budget and management ministry, and the operation of the BLGF and its linkages with the same ministry.

Julito G. Rada

SAFE MEAT. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez leads the price monitoring of pork, fish and other agricultural products in three markets in Quezon City on Sept. 19 amid the African Swine Fever scare affecting some areas of Bulacan and Rizal. Lopez said consumers should ask market vendors for their National Meat Inspection Service certificates to ensure that the products they are buying are clean and safe for consumption. The DTI found that pork prices are at P220/kilo, chicken at P160/kilo and galunggong at P180/kilo during the price monitoring.

DOTR ready to take over regional airports if private bidders back out

By Darwin G Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said it is ready to take over the development of regional airports if private proponents will not push through with their unsolicited offers.

“Whether they push through or not, we’re doing it,” Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Tamayo said.

The agency earlier returned all unsolicited airport offers after the government decided to standardize and pattern the draft contract to the operation and maintenance contract for Clark International Airport, which covers provisions for MAGA or material adverse government action.

Under the clause, proponents will only be compensated for adverse government action from the execu-

tive branch and not for any change in future laws. If MAGA occurs during the operation and maintenance period, the project proponent is entitled to compensation equal to the additional costs incurred and/or loss of revenue.

Aboitiz InfraCapita lnc., a unit of the Aboitiz Group, earlier said it submitted a revised unsolicited proposal to DOTR to upgrade, expand, operate and maintain the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental province.

The company said it patterned its revised proposal after the Clark O&M [operation and maintenance].

The P42.7-billion project involves the capacity augmentation through expansion or construction of new passenger terminals, installation of required equipment and enhancement and development of airside facilities.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

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PAMPI assures consumers of safe processed meat products

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. assured the Filipino consumers that processed meats and meat products produced by its members are free from the African swine fever.

“We assure and guarantee our consumers that we do not import pork materials from countries that have been infected by the ASF virus,” PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. said in a statement.

The group said it purchases pork cuts certified by the National Meat Inspection Service as it upholds internationally-accepted and recognized standards of food safety and manufacturing practices.

All processed meat products are cooked at temperatures ranging from 70 to 116 degrees Celsius for 40 to 60 minutes, a process that ensures the destruction of harmful bacteria and viruses, PAMPI said.

“Hence, our processed meat products cannot be carriers of the ASF virus,” it said.

PAMPI said while ASF proved contagious to pigs, it did not affect humans.

PAMPI continued its full and unequivocal support to the national government and private sector to contain and eradicate ASF in the country.

“Unfortunately, during the past two weeks, the movement, distribution and sale of processed meat products were banned by some local government units on the mistaken belief and unfounded fear that they will cause harm to their hog raisers. However, such move has absolutely no basis in fact and science,” Tiukinhoy said.

PAMPI asked the LGUs to take a second look and consider lifting the ban immediately as it appealed to the national government to promptly issue unified and coordinated guidelines for adoption by all LGUs on the movement, distribution and sale of pork products, both raw and processed, to avoid disruption of trade and damage to the economy.

Authorities confiscate P13.7b worth of fake items THE National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights said its members confiscated about P13.7 billion worth of contraband goods from January to July 2019, preventing the products from reaching the local consumers.

Items seized by the National Bureau of Investigation represented the bulk of the value with P9.32 billion. The Bureau of Customs impounded P3.90 billion while the Food and Drug Administration confiscated P2.82 billion.

Partially validated data covered P1.83 billion or a fifth of the total inventory.

Cigarettes and alcohol products took up 25 percent or P456.80 million while pharmaceuticals and personal care products accounted for another 25 percent or P455.20 million; handbags or wallets, 25 percent or P449.88 million; optical media, 10 percent or P190.72 million; and footwear, 7 percent or P130.12 million.

The NCIPR had not yet authenticated NBI’s P8 billion worth of haul which

comprised mostly of tobacco. Customs’ capture of mostly wearable items worth P3.9 billion in a Divisoria mall had yet to be validated.

The value of items confiscated in the seven-month period this year represented nearly 60 percent of the overall capture in 2018 which reached P23.6 billion.

“The implementation of the hike in new and huge taxes on tobacco will start next year. Also, we are closely watching developments on the proposal to impose taxes on alcohol products and e-cigarettes and other vapor products. As early as now, we are readying ourselves for the possible rise of counterfeiting of these products by intensifying our exploration of new enforcement strategies to employ,” said Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines director-general Josephine Santiago who is also the vice-chairman of NCIPR. NCIPR underwent a brief but inten-

sive capacity-building workshop last week on intellectual property rights enforcement.

The two-day workshop was organized by the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office and attended by the Enforcement authorities representing each Association of Southeast Asian Nation member.

The workshop is one of the series of IPR enforcement capacity-building events that NCIPR engages to find insights on the best practices it can adopt.

“The NCIPR is also aggressively widening its network to put on board other government agencies into IPR Enforcement, “ Santiago said.

The inclusion into the NCIPR-team of more government agencies, particularly the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Immigration and the Information and Technology Departments, will be one of the topics in the first high-level NCIPR meeting on Sept. 25 at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Othel V. Campos

PMI promotes wage equality, gender balance

ONE PAYMENT PLATFORM. National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. makes online payments available to its borrowers through PayMaya’s ‘one payment platform’. Borrowers can pay their housing loans online at the NHMFC website with any debit, credit or prepaid card and PayMaya account. At the signing of the partnership agreement are (from left) PayMaya business head for government sector Marvin Santos, PayMaya enterprise head Mar Lazaro, PayMaya founder and chief executive Orlando Vea, NHMFC president Felixberto Bustos Jr., NHMFC executive vice president Livia Alicia Ramos and NHMFC corporate planning and MIS manager Rajewen Zabala.

PHILIP Morris International placed wage equality and gender balance at the core of its business strategy as it transforms from a traditional cigarette manufacturer to a science and technology-centered company with a raft of innovative smoke-free products that are significantly less harmful to health in the pipeline and set for rollout shortly.

“We’re a tobacco company, and we want the world to become smoke-free.

You need the best talent you could possibly get, and you need a lot of inclusive voices and diversity to achieve this” Stacey Kennedy, PMI president for South and Southeast Asia, said during The Wall Street Journal CEO Council on Sept. 20 in Singapore.

“It’s shocking to think that as we approach the year 2020, men and women are still not paid equally for equal work

in many parts of the world. A gender gap is a talent gap,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said to bridge this gap, PMI sought the equal pay certification by third-party Equal-Salary Foundation, thus becoming the first international company to earn the citation.

The certification confirms PMI’s commitment to equality and is an important building block on the road to creating an inclusive, gender-balanced workplace.

“One of the hardest things for any company to do is to decide where you start when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion. So we decided to pick a real, tangible action that would draw a line in the sand. Make sure that we are sending a very clear message to the talent pool that’s out there, women and men, that we pay equally,” she said.

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Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market to track sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week ahead of the Monetary Board’s sixth policy review meeting scheduled on Sept. 26.

Analysts are expecting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to announce another 25-basis point reduction in benchmark interest rates based on previous statements of BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno.

The US Federal Reserve last week cut interest rates by 25 basis points to boost the American economy.

The BSP since the start of the year has reduced the benchmark interest rates by a total of 50 bps, lowering rates for overnight reverse repurchase, overnight

deposit and overnight lending to 4.25 percent, 3.75 percent and 4.75 percent, respectively.

Investors will also monitor the rebalancing of the Financial Times Stock Exchange that takes effect Monday.

With the FTSE rebalancing overhang over, the next catalyst next week should now be the BSP’s policy decision. Consensus expects the central bank to cut by 25bps,” Gabriel Perez, a trader from Papa Securities, said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week declined 1.5 percent to 7,871.11 points, while the broader All Shares Index fell 1 percent on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

All major sub-indices ended in red, led by mining and oil which dropped 2.3 percent, financials which declined 2.5 percent and services which decreased 2.1 percent.

The property index lost 1.9 percent,

followed by holding firms and industrial, which slipped 0.9 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P1.75 billion, while the average daily value traded stood flat at P6.2 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were mostly third-liners led by Phinma Corp., which rose 30.6 percent to P12; D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc., which rose 5.2 percent to P9.83; and Starmalls Inc., which advanced 3.6 percent to P5.99.

Weekly top price losers were Megaworld Corp., which declined 4.8 percent to P4.92; First Gen Corp., which dipped fell 4.8 percent to P24.80; and PLDT Inc., which dropped 4.7 percent to P1,147.

Meanwhile, a rally on hopes for progress in the US-China trade war fizzled late Friday, sending Wall Street into the red after bourses elsewhere had drifted

higher earlier in the day.

A delegation of Chinese officials on Friday abruptly canceled hastily-scheduled visits to farms Nebraska and Montana.

While mid-level trade talks continued uninterrupted in Washington, the visits’ sudden cancelation spooked investors on Wall Street, sending all three major indices in the red.

US stocks fell for the week after three straight weeks of gains.

Earlier in the day, reports that President Donald Trump was exempting hundreds of Chinese imports from tariffs imposed last year had lifted spirits in Frankfurt, Paris and Shanghai.

The results capped a tumultuous week during which attacks on Saudi oil facilities sent oil prices skyrocketing, and investors reacted ambivalently to a widely-anticipated interest rate cut by the US central bank. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2019 Close Volume Value

SEPTMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

56.05 140.40 91.10 2.02 1.16 25.7 7.95 18.6 12.1 5.56 1.32 760.00 0.440 67.5 0.93 13.1 20.80 45.80 57.8 118 180 27.2 199 1835.00 59.00 1.14

1,400 11,982,310 18,222,120 7,000 61,000 1,242,800 1,000 4,100 2,336,600 6,842,400 666,000 2,620 520,000 12,946,440 711,000 104,800 400 669,600 14,600 480 15,680 108,300 2,948,890 945 167,150 43,000

FINANCIAL 78,560.00 1,681,744,373.00 1,695,778,290.50 14,810.00 70,830.00 31,984,355.00 7,292.00 76,220.00 28,011,540.00 38,763,501.00 865,520.00 1,989,200.00 229,150.00 885,263,315.50 663,810.00 1,366,598.00 8,360.00 30,847,535.00 840,395.00 56,552.00 2,818,303.00 2,969,580.00 589,488,069.00 1,726,330.00 9,929,514.00 47,380.00

57.7 142.60 94.30 2.17 1.20 25.95 7.95 18.5 12.12 5.35 1.21 755.00 0.445 69.95 0.98 13.2 21.00 46.75 57.5 115 181 27.45 206 1810.00 59.50 1.14

13,010 8,736,370 14,419,700 31,000 143,000 825,800 8,200 318,700 1,553,000 12,052,000 67,000 550 420,000 17,894,420 771,000 20,700 2,000 383,000 31,960 500 14,170 98,300 2,235,870 1,455 31,360 152,000

739,237.00 1,246,326,403.00 1,338,736,973.50 64,340.00 165,830.00 21,359,160.00 59,927.00 5,896,736.00 18,832,304.00 67,065,805.00 81,870.00 410,925.00 187,550.00 1,249,655,245.50 741,610.00 269,400.00 42,000.00 17,866,205.00 1,845,586.50 56,680.00 2,600,850.00 2,700,375.00 457,770,364.00 2,615,875.00 1,865,305.50 169,070.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

39.95 15.84 0.74 1.32 0.250 107.9 18.98 2.67 14.02 121.7 10.22 75.45 78 31.7 2.11 6.13 5.94 9.290 15.84 10.50 7.18 1.77 24.8 81.4 49.50 2.4000 14.16 8.5 1.550 220.00 5.3 3.56 8.60 22.1 13.86 18.92 0.189 371.00 5.30 2.08 4.48 5.14 12.00 2.69 11.00 33.15 5.2 5.14 1.87 2.2 1.11 11.84 91 7.4 0.127 1.10 169 2.42 1.26 16.10 1.32

11,020,200 1,020,600 8,659,000 355,000 7,670,000 50 115,400 10,606,000 7,433,300 6,240 4,212,600 2,880 2,980 340,500 1,978,000 71,500 207,300 1,930,700 8,667,500 1,524,500 8,623,900 17,000 13,226,400 551,920 349,230 48,466,000 2,083,100 1,282,100 190,000 2,797,390 423,000 69,000 16,300 4,355,400 1,298,500 3,378,000 150,000 1,064,000 65,000 31,053,000 90,000 21,635,100 935,600 149,288,000 1,237,400 23,810,600 533,000 572,700 4,752,000 848,000 1,385,000 4,387,800 1,330,170 226,200 2,790,000 3,601,000 4,215,670 92,000 18,084,000 2,500 14,447,000

INDUSTRIAL 437,923,375.00 16,223,274.00 6,269,870.00 464,550.00 1,904,760.00 5,144.50 2,075,406.00 28,451,010.00 104,218,032.00 727,521.00 44,042,192.00 210,786.00 235,018.00 10,896,515.00 4,140,510.00 431,417.00 1,250,389.00 17,670,014.00 136,156,556.00 15,943,540.00 62,054,628.00 29,580.00 340,518,585.00 45,104,196.00 17,421,077.00 116,743,640.00 28,617,172.00 10,978,801.00 296,410.00 626,172,060.00 2,222,172.00 237,620.00 136,100.00 95,639,840.00 18,073,548.00 64,399,368.00 28,510.00 394,520,228.00 338,900.00 64,065,960.00 396,310.00 115,830,574.00 11,447,551.00 413,267,060.00 13,194,506.00 799,671,740.00 2,808,636.00 2,942,898.00 8,664,610.00 1,971,990.00 1,501,970.00 52,499,444.00 121,148,145.00 1,590,164.00 360,790.00 4,049,100.00 708,503,976.00 222,640.00 23,215,980.00 40,250.00 18,842,240.00

38.95 15.98 0.7 1.3 0.246 110 17.50 2.73 14.26 124.9 10.42 75.6 80.95 32.75 2.07 6.14 6.05 9.130 15.46 10.56 7.20 1.74 26.05 82.5 52.25 2.4500 13.98 8.94 1.610 222.20 5 3.47 8.36 22.2 14.46 19.28 0.190 366.40 5.23 2.15 4.39 5.20 9.19 2.95 10.88 33.8 5.19 5.10 1.82 2.1 1.15 12.1 90.4 7.25 0.124 1.16 170.5 2.43 1.3

8,694,700 2,192,400 2,467,000 1,004,000 3,610,000 770 144,300 24,618,000 1,750,400 460 8,914,400 2,010 5,840 1,173,800 750,000 248,000 278,300 3,490,400 3,742,700 2,695,900 4,342,500 12,000 10,910,200 483,050 572,590 55,188,000 4,760,000 985,400 851,000 5,817,070 55,100 37,000 13,100 2,821,900 3,950,800 6,269,400 510,000 887,470 36,400 52,234,000 202,000 5,050,800 46,600 88,127,000 363,600 3,095,900 329,600 254,700 10,137,000 136,000 3,466,000 2,205,000 1,052,600 374,900 480,000 15,866,000 2,574,860 91,000 60,538,000

331,279,970.00 34,589,842.00 1,716,000.00 1,309,030.00 873,060.00 83,534.00 2,475,152.00 67,058,770.00 24,711,174.00 53,388.00 101,924,188.00 148,856.50 469,976.50 37,974,445.00 1,540,820.00 1,496,167.00 1,679,960.00 31,437,762.00 56,690,016.00 27,121,901.00 31,302,639.00 20,320.00 285,564,965.00 40,035,000.00 29,299,534.00 125,849,390.00 65,760,940.00 8,744,720.00 1,363,720.00 1,309,953,354.00 277,755.00 125,530.00 109,633.00 62,635,710.00 56,818,414.00 121,105,408.00 97,620.00 321,182,518.00 191,550.00 108,225,220.00 862,060.00 26,251,073.00 427,387.00 261,626,070.00 3,841,230.00 104,294,430.00 1,703,395.00 1,299,578.00 17,649,370.00 287,710.00 3,911,920.00 26,585,712.00 95,152,223.50 2,700,155.00 60,030.00 18,510,090.00 434,664,836.00 221,130.00 428,941,960.00

1.31

112,228,000

159,237,410.00

82,651,000 5,798,610 25,758,500 2,846,000 22,900 137,200 8,729,000 1,203,000 1,996,290 15,995,000 5,250,500 28,564,400 77,000 219,200 230,000 557,750 638,800 10,229,320 111,900 3,800 800 1,827,000 2,252,000 7,307,600 830,000 86,597,500 27,300,000 1,176,000 34,000 1,232,520 27,000 2,201,230 817,000 1,416,000 6,070 90 620,000 10,250,000

HOLDING FIRMS 76,222,950.00 318,001,965.50 319,784,130.00 2,243,460.00 158,159.00 1,823,148.00 10,489,260.00 1,464,900.00 1,795,672,030.00 56,597,370.00 35,675,369.00 256,981,399.00 331,380.00 2,991,994.00 54,000.00 495,652,695.00 3,743,294.00 763,860,966.00 606,598.00 19,524.00 4,160.00 929,910.00 10,179,800.00 106,079,840.00 531,580.00 437,034,266.00 1,050,300.00 1,626,030.00 104,830.00 217,536,118.00 65,900.00 2,209,462,752.50 1,051,050.00 1,210,650.00 1,401,894.00 40,482.00 142,000.00 2,580,040.00

0.920 54.20 12.68 0.81 7.00 13.78 1.250 1.240 908 3.630 6.9 9.19 4.16 13.74 0.244 920 6.10 74.50 6.3 5.22 5.21 0.52 4.55 14.44 0.650 5.14 0.0380 1.330 3.19 174.80 2.42 1017.00 1.32 0.85 232.200 450.00 0.2350 0.235

75,495,000 3,691,580 21,127,400 7,456,000 56,800 252,300 10,915,000 1,154,000 999,710 23,669,000 3,314,200 36,796,800 19,000 47,700 1,640,000 704,050 38,700 7,410,920 4,600 4,500 58,100 1,072,000 7,355,000 9,957,500 1,080,000 87,949,000 23,100,000 1,656,000 1,561,000 617,380 6,000 1,983,355 377,000 2,849,000 6,690 10 900,000 4,710,000

69,027,280.00 196,390,770.00 261,050,912.00 5,997,730.00 395,773.00 3,504,136.00 13,295,250.00 1,423,710.00 696,717,025.00 82,368,090.00 22,761,031.00 334,820,009.00 85,640.00 649,704.00 380,270.00 652,474,950.00 231,837.00 543,300,692.50 26,125.00 24,909.00 300,872.00 542,100.00 33,187,520.00 143,199,704.00 677,550.00 452,460,624.00 888,500.00 2,237,800.00 4,775,180.00 107,386,864.00 14,520.00 2,017,201,615.00 487,230.00 2,468,930.00 1,551,366.00 4,500.00 210,640.00 1,132,180.00

3,230,200 18,578,000 3,000 324,000 35,068,000 55,322,000 4,121,000 7,120,000 17,400 66,902,000 90,000 392,000 2,480,000 820,000 1,637,900 770,700 770,000 310,000 39,168,000 2,708,000 51,000 64,935,300 16,090,000 8,242,000 1,220,000 510,000 2,751,000 10,609,100 350,000

PROPERTY 49,207,292.00 16,149,030.00 28,750.00 597,570.00 33,093,310.00 2,695,337,620.00 8,889,080.00 35,195,800.00 102,906.00 37,299,120.00 66,980.00 330,010.00 546,880.00 327,000.00 15,840,594.00 16,237,585.00 349,650.00 37,620.00 64,373,360.00 3,382,730.00 231,140.00 326,522,327.00 5,073,200.00 12,460,920.00 535,950.00 199,550.00 5,688,190.00 266,272,220.00 830,380.00

15.260 0.84 10.70 2.010 0.920 49.900 2.18 4.8 6 0.560 0.76 0.880 0.219 0.400 9.340 21.7 0.465

2,537,200 7,387,000 6,200 603,000 12,841,000 34,862,460 2,473,000 2,334,000 50,900 34,945,000 138,000 166,000 12,710,000 3,660,000 1,109,500 600,900 930,000

38,791,008.00 6,235,570.00 65,853.00 1,117,220.00 11,398,460.00 1,717,368,046.00 5,404,120.00 11,125,980.00 298,956.00 19,527,740.00 100,970.00 142,480.00 2,799,520.00 1,469,500.00 10,381,828.00 12,877,120.00 422,650.00

1.66 1.22 4.70 5.17 0.315 1.4800 0.4500 0.400 2.1 25.40 2.35

79,034,000 3,147,000 50,000 62,868,600 33,760,000 16,762,000 2,590,000 940,000 2,292,000 10,395,300 721,000

130,629,580.00 3,910,630.00 217,200.00 321,627,413.00 10,574,100.00 24,874,140.00 1,704,300.00 364,400.00 4,725,580.00 262,984,770.00 1,717,300.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land Log Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings 8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell

0.950 55.60 12.26 0.80 6.90 13.42 1.200 1.210 895 3.500 6.78 8.40 3.58 13.70 0.242 880 5.86 75.30 5.4 5.1 5.2 0.52 4.47 14.72 0.650 5.01 0.0390 1.350 3.09 179.10 2.44 1000.00 1.29 0.88 232.000 449.80 0.2300 0.260 15.180 0.88 9.90 1.870 0.950 47.900 2.15 4.95 6.1 0.570 0.76 0.870 0.220 0.405 9.830 20.5 0.455 0.130 1.65 1.22 4.71 4.92 0.320 1.4900 0.4400 0.390 2.09 25.05 2.38

STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2019 Close Volume Value

SEPTMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume Value

Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

3.3 34.75 2.47 5.99 0.920 7.650

118,000 48,979,500 5,830,000 1,518,600 495,000 15,515,700

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

10.14 19 1.83 0.710 0.048 18.26 2.37 11.10 0.0570 94 6.6 7.34 5.80 2.17 10.22 920 1910 5.25 430.00 9.86 1.63 131.4 1.85 9.2 4.50 0.113 5.4100 2.87 14 3.19 0.91 19.40 0.445 3.45 2.50 1.16 1.24 3.300 2.85 8.12 2.76 5.03 137.70 3.20 1147.00 0.560 0.720 42.00 80.35 9.18 2.82 0.700 0.345 5.72 0.710 16.280

61,900 1,010,000 2,944,000 235,224,000 5,690,000 300 846,000 10,180,400 35,310,000 928,120 4,900 5,936,900 5,500 174,000 753,200 9,610 232,770 695,900 1,480 500 7,027,000 5,959,540 60,000 3,200 81,200 8,790,000 11,994,600 7,000 4,000 2,023,000 955,000 1,306,300 550,000 159,000 2,231,000 489,000 71,000 14,969,000 279,000 29,800 2,000 16,900 444,130 3,480,000 521,995 78,646,000 6,427,000 4,538,200 1,567,230 62,800 7,539,000 1,904,000 77,780,000 19,497,700 3,546,000 18,430,200

SERVICES 631,576.00 19,759,898.00 5,181,210.00 160,468,270.00 271,280.00 5,478.00 2,064,650.00 112,608,402.00 1,994,920.00 84,974,812.00 32,932.00 42,182,770.00 32,238.00 359,880.00 7,744,806.00 8,584,140.00 446,957,610.00 3,679,836.00 636,414.00 4,930.00 11,916,290.00 785,280,585.00 112,460.00 29,648.00 382,710.00 1,001,460.00 64,130,990.00 20,090.00 56,238.00 6,536,180.00 885,970.00 25,563,742.00 255,500.00 545,010.00 5,616,940.00 588,430.00 88,350.00 50,082,220.00 781,650.00 243,291.00 5,520.00 80,348.00 61,952,766.00 11,325,220.00 604,252,085.00 44,570,750.00 4,618,820.00 192,161,490.00 125,521,991.00 574,954.00 21,183,550.00 1,326,860.00 28,260,500.00 107,047,734.00 2,471,230.00 303,319,860.00

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

United Paragon

0.0017 1.20 2.55 12.14 1.1800 1.1700 2.68 0.295 7.97 1.710 233.000 0.110 0.110 0.0120 0.0120 1.17 4.32 1.16 0.5400 0.9200 0.0120 0.0120 3.90 12.30 0.0120 9.7000 23.05 0.0064

MINING & OIL 2,465,000,000 4,191,900.00 9,232,000 11,297,150.00 90,000 230,280.00 28,600 354,784.00 12,000 14,290.00 5,000 5,890.00 4,782,000 12,801,510.00 2,690,000 771,600.00 142,400 1,110,682.00 134,567,000 239,732,450.00 5,080,000 1,185,520.00 5,010,000 552,260.00 2,990,000 328,800.00 170,500,000 1,691,650.00 175,400,000 2,140,900.00 772,000 913,250.00 76,098,000 321,373,610.00 550,000 621,960.00 917,000 482,230.00 4,061,000 3,684,460.00 147,700,000 1,774,900.00 19,200,000 230,400.00 1,532,000 6,087,370.00 6,625,900 84,153,348.00 28,900,000 325,700.00 11,980,800 114,945,068.00 18,633,100 437,151,070.00 25,000,000 161,800.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

18.5 102 106 510 502 102 107 500 5.09 994 980 96.6 0.99 101.5 1005 1026 1054 1090 982 100 109 982 77.6 75.05 76.5 77 75.25 76 76.75

751,500 4,260 10,500 17,740 1,440 39,840 15,520 5,000 486,500 1,260 3,090 56,020 6,400,000 8,500 110 1,555 1,455 1,275 500 12,810 320 1,930 62,120 19,500 242,550 5,620 55,070 44,780 73,630

LR Warrant

1.620

215,000

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.3 6.79 10.88 0.99

6,000 10,963,600 9,804,000 21,078,000

First Metro ETF

117.8 10.38 10.02 0.98

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

566,050.00 1,702,747,150.00 13,914,290.00 8,971,548.00 456,430.00 118,824,887.00

3.4 34.50 2.48 5.78 0.930 7.690

1,796,000 47,057,600 5,103,000 407,700 4,896,000 16,569,900

6,148,620.00 1,624,061,105.00 12,105,300.00 2,315,511.00 4,650,530.00 127,254,112.00

10.4 19.84 1.62 0.570 0.049 19.76 2.5 11.40 0.0580 94.7 6.98 7.27 6.29 2.23 10.58 919 1968 5.27 435.00

60,100 1,040,800 143,000 38,912,000 85,560,000 200 2,377,000 22,566,800 71,400,000 366,530 1,800 3,861,700 11,700 8,000 4,969,000 1,210 150,995 1,069,700 1,380

613,838.00 20,696,015.00 229,980.00 22,615,000.00 4,270,780.00 3,952.00 5,798,090.00 248,995,146.00 4,107,440.00 34,583,771.00 12,564.00 27,950,026.00 67,958.00 16,800.00 57,102,424.00 1,081,245.00 296,041,540.00 5,664,842.00 599,424.00

1.77 131.4 1.99 9.49

4,603,000 4,781,130 47,000 6,000

8,222,650.00 637,719,332.00 88,450.00 57,075.00

0.115 5.5000 2.86 14.4 3.35 0.93 19.64 0.470 3.47 2.57 1.20 1.28 3.500 2.9 8.40 2.8 5.05 143.70 3.42 1204.00 0.580 0.730 42.80 80.10 9.19 2.90 0.700 0.355 5.46 0.680 16.720

6,590,000 9,535,100 11,000 3,600 3,935,000 1,522,000 9,066,500 210,000 245,000 4,348,000 140,000 4,000 115,789,000 1,079,000 31,200 6,000 38,800 220 4,067,000 392,950 77,592,000 6,774,000 5,449,500 2,986,190 42,100 13,774,000 5,141,000 35,390,000 4,458,100 7,858,000 4,435,400

744,250.00 52,418,017.00 32,640.00 51,022.00 13,088,630.00 1,403,630.00 174,679,472.00 94,500.00 833,910.00 10,935,640.00 168,370.00 5,120.00 431,696,660.00 3,035,420.00 261,584.00 16,800.00 184,297.00 30,573.00 13,580,470.00 464,565,315.00 47,441,130.00 4,898,130.00 234,308,825.00 232,459,709.50 388,588.00 39,745,410.00 3,537,110.00 12,413,000.00 24,300,720.00 5,351,310.00 74,031,512.00

0.0018 1.22 2.58 13.00 1.1500 1.1500 2.7 0.280 8.10 1.730 0.225 0.110 0.110 0.0095 0.0120 1.19 4.4 1.14 0.4850 0.8900 0.0110 0.0120 4.05 12.44 0.0110 10.0600 23.75 0.0066

7,227,000,000 20,092,000 93,000 62,200 180,000 167,000 1,448,000 220,000 260,000 174,163,000 13,730,000 4,540,000 3,100,000 50,700,000 67,700,000 2,138,000 66,886,000 621,000 110,000 3,390,000 4,700,000 25,000,000 4,347,000 21,622,400 46,800,000 9,873,400 6,608,500 12,000,000

12,285,900.00 24,398,150.00 241,130.00 774,004.00 210,800.00 191,960.00 3,915,360.00 61,600.00 2,136,649.00 292,655,570.00 3,164,570.00 500,040.00 341,890.00 482,540.00 761,600.00 2,534,100.00 290,971,530.00 687,290.00 53,050.00 2,923,210.00 52,400.00 300,000.00 17,340,080.00 265,642,502.00 517,800.00 98,618,721.00 155,114,295.00 77,800.00

18.62 102 101 504 504 101.7 107 500 5.12 994 980 99.6 1 100.3

1,424,100 840 11,120 1,380 1,340 12,740 24,630 1,050 903,200 1,000 20 5,320 1,818,000 13,160

26,540,646.00 85,680.00 1,120,682.00 690,690.00 672,245.00 1,287,371.00 2,637,572.00 525,050.00 4,631,115.00 993,960.00 19,690.00 524,359.00 1,269,080.00 1,325,863.00

1030 1015 1080

5,590 2,505 36,295

5,713,780.00 4,655,175.00 38,824,255.00

100.2 108.5 998 78.95 75.9 76 78 76 75.6 76.55

4,960 580 4,560 56,120 4,800 135,520 36,600 13,260 38,400 34,140

503,721.00 62,935.00 4,541,480.00 4,430,523.00 364,073.00 10,283,862.00 2,842,920.00 1,013,690.00 2,923,210.00 2,613,688.00

1.720

1,169,000

2,016,300.00

6.2 12.3 0.98

6,700,900 9,958,700 102,099,000

42,900,299.00 111,934,554.00 110,650,460.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 27,370 3,246,985.00

119.8

23,070

2,746,212.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 7,090 73,554.20 35,620 360,602.00 5,000 4,904.00

10.4 10.1 0.98

65,860 2,930 25,500

680,398.20 30,079.00 25,387.40

PREFERRED 13,926,628.00 434,360.00 1,077,000.00 8,983,670.00 724,345.00 4,056,365.00 1,660,737.00 2,498,500.00 2,483,099.00 1,226,480.00 2,998,600.00 3,841,060.50 6,336,020.00 853,186.00 110,340.00 1,593,110.00 1,527,460.00 1,112,410.00 491,000.00 1,285,412.00 34,880.00 1,924,630.00 4,877,221.50 1,471,895.00 18,413,556.00 435,690.00 4,145,707.00 3,393,405.00 5,606,242.50

WARRANTS & BONDS 351,970.00 SME 13,800.00 75,124,075.00 119,494,392.00 21,064,960.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining APC Group, Inc. Manila Mining `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Phinma Energy Oriental Pet. `A’ Ferronickel Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Abacus Cons. `A’ PremiereHorizon

VOLUME 2,465,000,000 235,224,000 175,400,000 170,500,000 149,288,000 147,700,000 134,567,000 86,597,500 82,651,000 78,646,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ SM Prime Holdings Bank of PI Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metrobank Pilipinas Shell I.C.T.S.I. JG Summit Holdings

VALUE 2,695,337,620.00 2,209,462,752.50 1,795,672,030.00 1,702,747,150.00 1,695,778,290.50 1,681,744,373.00 885,263,315.50 799,671,740.00 785,280,585.00 763,860,966.00

AboitizLand teams up with Point Blue on micro studios ABOITIZLAND Inc., the property unit of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., has teamed up with Point Blue, a pioneer in the integrated micro-studio market, to build 20 apartment buildings over the next two years.

AboitizLand said in a statement over the weekend the 50:50 partnership would construct micro-studio rental apartments within walking distance of Metro Manila’s Central Business Districts to meet the growing demand of young professionals looking for affordable living spaces near their workplace, without sacrificing privacy, style and convenience.

“For 25 years, AboitizLand has been creating better ways to live through innovative concepts translated to thriving residential, commercial, and industrial communities. This strategic joint venture partnership allows us to offer the same elevated way of living for young urban professionals in Metro Manila,” said AboitizLand first vice president of operations Rafael de Mesa.

“Point Blue is an innovative company that created the micro-studio category in the Philippines. They have proven that you can deliver beautifully designed living spaces at affordable prices and convenient locations, delivering the best possible residential experience at a price that is accessible to Manila’s young and dynamic workforce,” de Mesa added.

Point Blue designs, develops and manages apartment units that range from 10 to 15 square meters in size, and are rented out from P12,000 to P15,000 monthly all-in.

It currently operates 302 units in three locations, with three more buildings becoming available before the end of 2019.

The micro-studios are leased ready for move-in and all units are equipped with a bed, ample storage space, a desk and chair, roller blinds, air-conditioner, microwave and free high-speed Internet. A private shower, water heater and bidet also come as standard with each unit.

All Point Blue buildings are located within a 15-minute walk to central business districts like Makati or Bonifacio Global city, making them perfect housing alternatives for the millions of traffic-weary professionals who have to commute in and around the metro daily for work. Jenniffer B. Austria

DHL Express set to raise shipment price by next year

By Darwin G. Amojelar DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, will increase prices starting January 1 next year.

The company said the average shipment price would be 4.9 percent higher than in 2019.

“It is our goal at DHL Express to support our customers in reaching their business goals by tailoring our services to the needs of their business. As a prerequisite, we have been investing heavily in our international network,” said DHL Express Philippines country manager Nurhayati Abdullah.

Abdullah said the annual price adjustment would allow the company to invest in infrastructure, facilities, fleet and online tools.

It also enables the company to use innovative technologies and enhance delivery processes to ensure best-inclass customer solutions.

“These advances, along with other digitalization programs that we are continually developing, will immensely support the growth of e-commerce here in the Philippines,’ Abdulla said.

“We are also gearing up for further expansion across the country to better serve businesses and individuals requiring fast, efficient and reliable international shipping services,” she added.

Prices are adjusted on an annual basis by DHL Express, taking into consideration inflation and currency dynamics such as administrative costs related to regulatory and security measures.

These measures are updated by national and international authorities on a regular basis in each of the more than 220 countries and territories that DHL Express serves.

Depending on local conditions, price adjustments will vary from country to country, and will apply to all customers where contracts allow.

DHL offers a portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfilment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management.

Manila

Standard MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

World CONFERENCE. Jenna Dewan

speaks onstage on the Create & Cultivate Conference at SVN West on September 21, 2019, in San Francisco, California. AFP

HK protesters fly home ahead of anniversaries W ASHINGTON―Prominent Hong Kong protesters were flying home from Washington Saturday night buoyed by international support and determined to press on with their struggle well beyond two looming anniversaries.

In an interview with AFP, Joshua Wong, 22, and pop star Denise Ho, 42, downplayed the personal toll of standing up to authoritarian China and its pro-Beijing leadership in the global financial hub.

They have become the faces of a protest movement which is leaderless and whose activists take to the streets masked, partly to protect themselves from reprisals in their push for universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into alleged police abuses.

Wong and Ho are returning to Hong Kong after raising awareness in the United States, Germany, Taiwan and Australia about the pro-democracy protests that have continued for more than three months despite escalating rhetoric from Beijing.

Next Saturday is the fifth anniversary of the 79-day Umbrella Movement, which Wong helped spearhead after Beijing rejected a call for uni-

versal voting rights in the former British colony.

Ho said she worries about what might happen around that date because police have been rejecting requests for marches even though “it is in our rights to peacefully assemble.”

By not allowing the rallies, authorities are violating the Basic Law that underpins the city’s semi-autonomous status, she said.

“I do think this is a situation that might go on for quite a bit of time, and one of the ways to stop it is probably really to get the international communities come together to voice their concerns over this issue,” Ho, short-haired and wearing a militarystyle jacket and heavy boots, told AFP in an interview.

Three days after the Umbrella Movement commemoration will be the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,

but Ho said she does not think China’s communist rulers would want any clashes on that day. Nor would they deploy People’s Liberation Army troops, she said.

“But then you have to understand that these Chinese police are already here, they are already infiltrating the Hong Kong police force,” said Ho, whose music has been banned in mainland China for her activism.

“We do expect there will be a huge number of people who would be going on the streets” to protest on October 1, she said.

The Hong Kong demonstrations, which drew millions, began against a now scrapped plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.

They grew into a wider campaign for democracy, fueled by animosity towards the police, with hardcore protesters turning to violence.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal, the city has rights and liberties that do not exist on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech, but demonstrators say freedoms are being eroded by Beijing. AFP

NICE DAY. Participants, parents, volunteers and staff enjoy the day at The Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Campionships at Torrey

Pines Golf Course on September 21, 2019, in La Jolla, California. AFP

IN BRIEF Hong Kong curbs airport links HONG KONG―Hong Kong reduced rail and bus links to the city’s airport on Sunday and police stepped up security checks in a bid to scupper plans by prodemocracy protesters to disrupt the bustling transport hub.

The airport―the world’s eighth busiest―has become a frequent target for a protest movement pushing for greater democratic rights and police accountability.

Online forums used by the largely leaderless movement had called for a “stress test” of the airport on Sunday, code for disrupting travel links or occupying buildings.

But in a bid to stop large numbers of protesters making their way to the airport, transport operators on Sunday reduced the number of stations the city’s Airport Express train would stop at and also pared down bus services.

Millions of pro-democracy supporters have taken to Hong Kong’s streets for the past three months in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s handover from Britain in 1997.

With few protester demands met, violent clashes have become more intense and frequent.

Early on in the movement protests at the airport were peaceful, with goodnatured crowds of activists using the arrival hall to educate travelers about their goals.

Protesters then took a more hard-line approach in a bid to ramp up pressure on Beijing and city leaders by denting Hong Kong’s reputation as a stable business destination.

In late August, flights were severely disrupted for two days after crowds occupied the arrival and departure halls, physically halting passengers from taking flights and later beating two men they accused of being Chinese mainland spies.

A third major disruption occurred on September 1 when road and rail links to the airport were blocked, forcing many travelers to abandon vehicles and drag their luggage for kilometers.

In recent weeks police have shown a better ability to stymie attempts to disrupt the airport. AFP

Trump, Biden spar over Ukraine WASHINGTON―Joe Biden accused Donald Trump Saturday of “an overwhelming abuse of power” and called for an investigation into accusations the US leader pressured his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the presidential candidate’s son.

Biden’s allegations prompted a swift rebuke from Trump, who himself accuses the Democratic front runner of wrongdoing in Ukraine during his time as vice president under former president Barack Obama.

The back-and-forth recriminations stem from a Washington Post report stating a whistlevblower complaint had been filed over Trump’s communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a “promise” allegedly made by the US leader.

Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky to investigate possible corruption involving Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked with a Ukrainian natural gas company while his father was vice president.

Trump has urged media to “look into” Biden’s comments in early 2016 when the then US vice president said the Obama administration would freeze $1 billion in US loan guarantees unless Kiev fire its top prosecutor, who was looking into the gas company.

“This appears to be an overwhelming abuse of power, to get on the phone with a foreign leader who is looking for help from the United States and ask about me,” Biden told reporters on the campaign trail in the state of Iowa.

“I know what I’m up against, a serial abuser. That’s what this guy is,” Biden continued. “If he sees any threat to his staying in power, he’ll do whatever he has to do. But this crosses the line.”

Biden had on Friday demanded Trump immediately release the transcript of a July 25 call with Zelensky while saying reports that the president sought to coerce his Ukrainian counterpart, if true, amounted to “clear-cut corruption.” AFP

As global leaders meet, the Amazon rain forest burns RIO DE JANEIRO―The fires that burned through the Amazon rain forest last month sparked international outcry and offers of help, but as world leaders meet in New York, the planet’s largest rain forest remains engulfed in flames.

The latest satellite data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) shows 131,600 fires burning since January within the country, where 60 percent of the Amazon lies.

The fires, which are mostly caused by humans with the goal of clearing land for farming and cattle ranching, are having a grievous effect on the forest: the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has nearly doubled since farright President Jair Bolsonaro came to power on January 1, with the equiva-

lent of 110 football fields of land being cleared every hour.

“It’s sad to see Brazilians attacking me for fires in the Amazon, as if they hadn’t always existed,” Bolsonaro wrote on Facebook Thursday.

We “remain below the average of the last 15 years. But I’m accused of being a Nero, who sets fires everywhere.”

Yet fires are at a seven-year high, according to INPE data, and despite a slight drop at the start of the month, the number of active fires recorded in Brazil from the start of the year to September 19 was up 56 percent over the same period in 2018. Nearly half of the blazes are in the Amazon.

Bolsonaro is a climate change skeptic, but last month he sent soldiers to

help put out fires in the Amazon region after Brazil came under criticism at the G7 summit, with the host French President Emmanuel Macron among the most outspoken detractors.

Under that deployment, which was renewed Friday for another month, nearly 7,000 soldiers and 16 aircraft are fighting both the flames and “deforestation and illegal mining,” Brazil’s defense ministry said.

Marcio Astrini, a Greenpeace official in Brazil, said the deployment is making little difference.

“We did a lot of fly-overs. We did not see anything happening on the ground, apart from the deforestation that is progressing. It’s tragic,” he told AFP.

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TODAY CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Experts sent by the United States, logistical equipment from Japan, and four aircraft from Chile are all fighting the blazes, while firefighters sent from Israel have departed, the defense ministry said.

Bolsonaro however has blanched at other international offers to help put out the fires, rejecting $20 million from the G7 and accusing members France and Germany Bra2 cols.ofx“buying” 36 cms. zil’s sovereignty.

On Monday, Macron will launch a “call for mobilization” on the Amazon together with his counterparts Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Ivan Duque of Colombia during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission IN THE MATTER OF

: : CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT : CORPORATION : x----------------------------------------x

REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 6 September 2019, a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION for the registration of One Billion Four Hundred Million Pesos (Php1,400,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers.

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/ directors of the corporation: Name Dr. Andrew I. Liuson Stephen C. Roxas Grace C. Liuson Josef C. Gohoc Atty. Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. Peter S. Dee George Edwin Y. SyCip Helen C. Roxas Benjamin I. Liuson Emma A. Choa Rudy Go Melita M. Revuelta Melita L. Tan Romeo E. Ng Rosario D. Perez Winefreda R. Go Atty. Emma G. Jularbal Dorothy U. So Catherine Grace T. Wong

Position Director/Chairman of the Board Director/Chairman of the Executive Committee Director/Vice-Chairman of the Board Director/President Director Independent Director Independent Director Director Director Executive Vice-President/Treasurer Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/ Compliance & Corporate Information Officer/Data Protection Officer/Investor Relations Officer Vice President/Alternate Compliance & Corporate Information Officer Vice President Vice President Vice President - Executive Affairs Vice President - Purchasing Department Vice President - Legal Affairs/Corporate Secretary Assistant Vice President-Head of Internal Audit Department Assistant Corporate Secretary

Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS”) are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS and the Prospectus dated 6 September 2019 and the corresponding updated version may be downloaded from www.cityland.net.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO Director Markets and Securities Regulation Department

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(MS-SEPT. 20 & 23, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY BRYAN G. SOBERON, Petitioner, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-19-03261-CV

MA. ZYREL C. MENDOZA, Respondent. x---------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: MA. ZYREL C. MENDOZA Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City GREETINGS: WHEREAS, a Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage has been filed by petitioner Bryan G. Soberon against Ma. Zyrel C. Mendoza; WHEREAS, on July 23, 2019 petitioner through counsel filed “Ex-Parte Motion to Serve Summons by Publication”, which was granted on July 26, 2019. Consequently, the court directed that service of summons and the copy of the Order dated July 26, 2019 be effected upon respondent by publication; WHEREAS, in the Petition, the relief/s prayed for are hereby quoted as follows: “WHEREFORE, premises, considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that, after due notice and hearing, a declaration of ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF MARRIAGE between the Petitioner and Respondent be ORDERED on the ground of PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY, and ordering further that: “1) The Civil Registrar of San Juan City, Metro-Manila and the Philippine Statistics Authority shall cancel their Marriage Certificate from their respective Books of Marriage; “2) Bryan Zyre Mendoza Soberon shall retain his legitimate status; “Petitioner prays for other reliefs and remedies, just and equitable under the premises.” (Italics in original).

NOW, THEREFORE, You, respondent MA. ZYREL C. MENDOZA, is hereby summoned and required to file with this Court your verified Answer or any responsive pleading to the Petition of herein petitioner within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication, serving a copy thereof upon petitioner. If you fail to file your answer within the said thirty (30) –day period, petitioner shall take action as authorized under the law and ask from the Court the relief/s applied for in the said Petition.

Let this Summons and a copy of the Order dated July 26, 2019 be published by the petitioner at his expense once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, and likewise, to deposit copy of the same, as well as, of the Petition and its Annexes in the Quezon City Port Office, postage prepaid and by registered mail addressed at respondent’s last known address.

WITNESS MY HAND SEAL of this Court, this 29th day of July, 2019 at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) Atty. MA. ADORACION J. BAETIONG Clerk of Court V Cc: Turqueza Law Office – 4-E Maunlad St., Pinyahan, Quezon City Ma. Zyrel C. Mendoza – Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY BRYAN G. SOBERON, Petitioner, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-19-03261-CV

MA. ZYREL C. MENDOZA, Respondent. x---------------------------------------x

ORDER When this case was called for hearing on the “Compliance and Motion” and the “Ex-Parte Motion to Serve Summons by publication”, the petitioner and his counsel, Atty. Generoso L. Turqueza, are in court. Prosecutor Arceli C. Ragsac appeared for the State.

As prayed for, the Psychological Evaluation Report of the petitioner is admitted and made part of the records of this case.

On July 23, 2019, petitioner filed an “Ex-Parte Motion to Serve Summons By Publication”, praying that summons be served by publication to the respondent considering the Sheriff’s Return of Summons dated June 19, 2019 which states that summons was not served upon the respondent because the respondent is no longer residing at her given address in Brgy. Kumintang, Ibaba, Batangas City.

After a careful perusal of the Ex-Parte Motion to Serve Summons By Publication dated July 23, 2019, this Court resolves to grant the same. It appears that this is one of the instances wherein summons by publication may be allowed. Section 6, A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC (Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages in relation to Rule 14 of the Rules of Court) provides: “Sec. 6. Summons. – The Service of summons shall be governed by Rule 14 of the Rules of Court and by the following rules: a) Where the respondent cannot be located at her given address or her whereabouts are unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service of summons may, by leave of court, be effected upon him by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines and in such place as the court may order. In addition, a copy of the summons shall be served on the respondent at his last known address by registered mail or by any other means the court may deems sufficient. b) The summons to be published shall be contained in an order of the court with the following data: (1) title of the case; (2) docket number; (3) nature of the petition; (4) principal grounds of the petition and the reliefs prayed for; and (5) a directive for respondent to answer within thirty days from the last issue of publication.

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, let service of summons and a copy of this Order be effected upon respondent Ma. Zyrel C. Mendoza by publication at the expense of the petitioner once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle pursuant to P.D. 1079.

Respondent shall be given a period of thirty (3) days from the last issue of publication of the summons to file her answer serving a copy thereof upon the petitioner.

Likewise, let copies of this Order, summons and petition be sent to respondent at her last known address by registered mail.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, July 26, 2019.

(Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: ACP Arceli C. Ragsac Bryan Soberon OSG-134 Amorsolo St., Legazpi Village, Ma. Zyrel C. Mendoza Makati City Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City Turqueza Law Office No. 4-E Maunlad St., Pinyahan, QC. (MStandard-Sep. 23 & 30, 2019)

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

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Giant ‘minasa’ tops SM Food, Art ‘BESTival’

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

AN IMAGINARY rice field made of 20-foot giant minasa cookies highlighted the celebration of the province’s thriving agri-food industry during the launch of SM City Baliwag’s Bulacan Food and Art BESTival.

Home Technology Food and Management Service students from Bulacan State University worked hand in hand for several hours to create 500 minasa pieces and to carefully mold them with intricate “palay” designs.

To create the enormous minasa that measured 12 inches long per segment, students used premium ingredients such as 450 pieces of eggs, 58 kilograms cake flour, 73 kilograms sugar, 2 kilograms baking powder, 58 kilograms cassava flour and 48 kilograms butter. The unique Students of Bulacan State University.Giant carefully cut giant minasa cookies recently unveiled at SM City Baliwag. Measuring 20 feet, the unique attraction is composed of 12-inch giant attraction yielded 20,000 servings which cookies, yielded 20,000 servings and were given freely for shoppers to enjoy. Jun David was given freely for shoppers to enjoy.

Minasa cookies, derived from the Tagalog word “masa” or “hand kneading” is Bulacan’s pride pastry originated in the town of Bustos. A favorite pastry among every Bulakenyos, Minasa is a popular pasalubong and gift idea among local and tourists.

“The biggest serving of food is more than a feast of the province’s best flavors but also a way of fostering patronization in our local products”

By Jun David shares SM City Baliwag Assistant Mall Manager Rodora Tolentino.

NAVOTAS has bagged the Seal Following the unboxing of Bigof Good Education Governance gest serving of food, the celebration (SGEG) from Synergeia Foundation also featured fun food art activities But these words, he emphasized,

By Macon Ramos-Araneta for the second, consecutive year. It and workshops for aspiring Bulakeño inspired him to Resist temptations is in recognition of its exceptional chefs. Selected students from different E WAS poor in the slums of Tondo and literally grew up in and to remain upright and do his job endeavor to provide quality educaschools in Bulacan had the rare chance well.

He only Lamented that some the streets, looking for leftovers to eat and recyclable goods tion to its constituents. to experience a hands-on training on people were judgmental. to sell.

Mayor Toby Tiangco, together with the intricate and step-by-step process “After the lapse of one month…

Assistant Schools Division Superinof doing minasa. Jun David That’s why Manila Mayor Francisco ter he buckled down to work as mayor, two months… today’s my second tendent, Buenafe Sabado, Youth DeDomagoso stressed Sunday there is no Domagoso said there were Insinuations month And 18 days, and still countvelopment Officer, Kathryn Anne need for him to steal or receive bribes to he was merely introducing himself to po- ing if I am going to be tempted,” said Hilario, and Sangguniang Panlungsod lead a luxurious life. tential “donors,” political or otherwise. the mayor who also served as UnderEducation Committee Chairperson Domagoso said he has been accusWord also went around, Domagoso secretary of the Department of SoArnel Lupisan, received the award tomed to leading a simple life even be- said, that he merely wanted to com- cial Welfare and Development. during the 13th National Education fore he entered showbusiness or joined mand a “higher price” to stop his drive Despite growing up poor and inSummit at PICC last Thursday. politics, starting as Manila councilor. against corrupt government Officials heriting poverty from his parents, a Tiangco acknowledged all educa“I ate your left-over foods, which I and employees on his turf, illegal park- Housewife, and a stevedore in the Pier, tion partners and said that the award found from heaps of garbage,” Doma- ing and street Anarchy, among others.

Domagoso said he has no Regrets in was made possible by their commitgoso told the country’s top Investors, He recalled he was even offered a being poor. ment and genuine desire to give the businessmen and entrepreneurs at the huge sum of money to stop going after In fact, he was thankful for his life Navoteño youth the best education Foundation for Economic Freedom foillegal vendors who have conquered the Experiences—the lessons he learned

By Brenda Jocson they deserve. rum held in Makati City. streets in the city and blocked its roads which he is using now in a bid to Ef“The quality and holistic education In his campaign against corruption afwith their wares. fectively rule the country’s capital.

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Officials that our city has is the outcome of our from the ministries of education, lastakeholders’ collective effort. It is bor, and vocational training from the CMC KIDNEY CLUB. Dr. Nickson Austria, the unfailing support of our teachers, 11 Southeast Asian countries, as well Calamba Medical Center Dialysis Chairman, parents, local school boards, school as heads of specialist institutions of Dr.Jose Enrico Juliano CMC Business Devp. governing councils and all other eduthe Southeast Asian Ministers of EduOfficers, Mr Rene Mudin Dialysis Manager, and cation stakeholders that led us to this cation Organization, recently met in Head Nurse of the kidney department Rosette recognition,” he said.

Alcaraz hold the card of the Dialysis Kidney Brunei Darussalam to discuss the situDuring a panel discussion which foclub to highlight the Dialysis Center’s (inset) ation of technical and vocational educused on the topic, Parents and Chil1st year move-in Anniversary celebration on cation and training in Southeast Asia. dren’s Character Development, Tianpatient-focused kidney care, among the array A delegation from the Department gco noted that education should bridge of various medical and treatment services and of Education and the Technical Educathe gap between traditional upbringactivities in line with CMC’s 30th Anniversary tion and Skills Development Authority this September. Roy Tomandao ing and old school values, and the use represented the Philippines in the forum of modern technology to fully-prepare held September 8-9 to develop strateand equip students with the right valgies to improve regional cooperation ues and comprehensive learning necand harmonization for the region. essary in their journey to adulthood.

The Bangkok-based SEAMEO Sec“We should put our focus on buildretariat, headed by a Filipino, organing our children’s character by instillized the 5th High Officials Meeting ing in them ethics, and good morals on Southeast Asia-Technical and Voand ideals. This will ensure that they cational Education and Training. can face the world head on, and justly Themed “Strengthening Efforts tochase their dreams,” he said. wards TVET 4.0,” the HOM on SEATVET determine and plan regional directions and strategies to advance the quality of TVET in Southeast Asia.

Isko vows to stay ‘incorruptible’

Navotas bags Education ‘Seal’ Award anew

H

ASEAN lifts TVET via Brunei gab

US Army, PH Coast Guard team up in Palawan medical mission U.S. SERVICE members, Philippine Coast Guardsmen, local health workers, and local government employees partnered to conduct a basic medical and dental knowledge expertise exchange in Bataraza, Palawan, from Sept. 17-18.

More than 60 participants from the Philippine Coast Guard (PGC) Palawan District, Bataraza Municipality Health Office, Barangay Buliluyan Health Workers, and the U.S. Army exchanged information about general health, basic sanitation, oral hygiene and disease prevention, and dengue and malaria prevention.

The sharing of best practices with local barangay health workers allows

them to better serve the residents and communities of Bataraza.

“The status of oral health in the municipality of Bataraza Palawan is in a state of neglect with only 1 dentist to cover 86,000 residents,” said Lt. Marvin Balan, dental service officer of the Philippine Coast Guard Palawan District.

“PCG Palawan District’s dental and medical service, working with Bataraza municipal health workers and with the support from our longtime friends and allies U.S. Army Civil Military Support Elements, will take these challenges head-on. Through proper health education of Barangay Health Workers and plans to conduct medical and den-

tal missions, we can make a difference in the lives of our countrymen of Bataraza, Palawan,” Balan added.

“We are honored to be working with our partners the Palawan Coast Guard and Bataraza Regional Health Unit, while addressing such an important issue as health education and prevention.

We are confident that together, we can make a difference for the people of Bataraza,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Gonzalez, U.S. Army.

As longstanding friends, partners, and allies, the United States and the Philippines continue to strengthen our relationship through various civil military subject matter expertise exchanges.

Bataan dads eye historical marker for Tomas Pinpin CHEVENING SCHOLAR. British Embassy Head of Political & Economic section Iain Cox (left) hands Chevening Scholar James Earn Esperida his certificate. Through its community investment arm Prudence Foundation, Pru Life UK partnered with the British government to grant the Chevening Scholarship to financial literacy educator and two-time Cha-Ching awardee Esperida.

BALANGA CITY, Bataa—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided by Vice Gov. Cris Garcia has asked the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to put historical marker to the monument of hero Tomas Pinpin in the province.

The provincial board during regular session passed the resolution acting on the letter of Gov. Abet Garcia request-

ing NHCP “to establish and install historical marker to the monument of Tomas Pinpin located in Brgy. Mabatang Plaza, Abucay, Bataan”.

Board Member Popoy Del Rosario, chairman of the Committee on Tourism, motioned for the approval of the resolution.

“Aside from historical significance, installing marker to the monument of

our prominent hero is also a boost to our tourism”, the board member said.

The province is enticing tourists by offering natural wonders and historicity.

Pinpin, a native of Abucay, was the first Filipino printer. He published and printed a book, “Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla” in 1610, entirely written by him.

Butch Gunio

Life

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

FOOD

@MStandardLIFE

Oh, honey!

FIND YOUR HONEY. Langnese Honey offers five variants that match different kinds of food and mood. (From left) Feel relaxed with

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

T

Loco for CoCo

It can be used for a variety of meals, from appetizer to dessert.

Aside from complementing food, German honey company Langnese Honey relates the flavors of its products to certain moods.

“Langnese Honey enhances one’s mood when one knows the right variant that perfectly complements the food,” said Emie San Beda, senior product manager of Fly Ace Corporation, the honey brand’s local distributor.

San Beda added, “It is known for its purity and versatility, which makes it a kitchen staple that can warm the hearts of Filipino consumers. Whatever your lifestyle needs are, there is a Langnese Honey for you.”

The brand offers five variants, namely Golden Clear, Acacia, Wild Lavender, Wildflower, and Black Forest.

Give a hearty breakfast a sweet kick with Acacia Honey. Its sweet and subtle flavor pairs well with pancakes, breakfast cereals, fruits, and spreads, which promises to make one “feel optimistic” about the day ahead.

For those who need a little boost, the Black Forest Honey, with its dark color and full-bodied taste, renders itself easily as a luxurious quality honey that makes one “feel strong.”

Wild Flower Honey is collected by bees from numerous wild blossoms in the sun-drenched natural countryside of Germany, thus giving it a bright golden color and lightly balanced taste. One is said to “feel delighted” as it is the perfect ingredient for those who love to cook and bake.

For those who are looking to eat healthy and “feel light,” a drizzle of Wild Lavender Honey adds a delicate and mildly sweet floral taste to salads.

At the end of a busy workday, there is nothing like unwinding with coffee or tea, and adding a teaspoon or two of Golden Clear Honey to your drink. This has been a popular favorite among generations of honey lovers since 1927.

Langnese prides itself on being all-natural and unfiltered, so it retains the natural goodness of

THE milk tea fever has taken over the Philippines, as seen on the long queues at virtually every milk tea shop.

One of the strong players in the milk tea game is Taiwan-based CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, which has been warmly received since Larry Tan brought it to the country five years ago. “A cup is sold every four minutes via GrabFood alone,” the company reported.

Bringing back the love to its Filipino patrons, CoCo recently mounted the CoCo Chill Camp, a three-day event held at SM Mega Fashion Hall during which CoCo buddies enjoyed fun activities for a chance to win CoCo merch and GCs. Here are five items from its menu which curious customers should try.

Golden Clear, feel optimistic with Acacia, feel delighted with Wild Flower, feel light with Wild Lavender, and feel strong with Black Forest.

HERE is more to honey than sweet. Its unique and nuanced taste profile and versatility have in fact earned it the tag “liquid gold,” the edible kind, that is.

C1

By Angelica Villanueva

Superfood Salad drizzled with Langnese Wild Lavender honey

CoCo Milk Tea

Its version of milk tea is all about being milky and creamy, perfectly blended with the taste of black tea. What makes the people say CoCo’s milk tea’s “worth the wait” is the balanced taste of its three fundamental ingredients—milk, tea, and sugar—resulting in a refreshing drink.

Roast Chicken glazed with Langnese Bee Easy Wild Flower Honey

honey without compromising its taste and nutritional benefits. The brand’s products are distributed in 45 countries, and the Philippines is one of the first Asian markets it serves.

“We are proud for being the chosen partner of Langnese, which gives us even more opportunity to provide a variety of top quality products that Filipino consumers can easily avail of and enjoy,” enthused Ramon Daez, general manager of Fly Ace Corporation.

Langnese Honey variants are available in supermarkets nationwide.

From left: Fly Ace general manager Ramon Daez, Langnese head of sales and marketing for Southeast Asia Mark Bumgartner, Fly Ace category head for Philippines Emie San Beda, The Wholesome Table’s Bianca Araneta-Elizalde, Fly Ace president Jun Cochanco, and Fly Ace marketing head Abbie Ng Reyes.

Wholesome Granola paired with Langnese Black Forest Honey

Caramel Chocolate Cream Slush

The newest addition to the brand’s growing menu has perfectly combined two favorite flavors—caramel and chocolate. It is topped with salty cream, that brings a whole new layer of flavor.

Passion Fruit Tea Burst

Feel the summer anytime of the year with this refreshing drink. It features a well-blended fruity taste and comes with coconut jelly and pudding that match the taste of passion fruit tea.

iPhoto

Popeyes chicken lover wins trip to Louisiana AVID fried chicken lover, Nichael Joseph A. Muncal (left), won a five-day, four-night stay for two to Popeyes’ hometown in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Popeyes Philippines chief operating officer Rami Chahwan (right) awarded to the Pop-a-Trip contest winner of the Popeyes Arcovia City branch hotel accommodation, round-trip tickets, and pocket money worth 500 USD.

Panda Milk Tea

Like the colors of the beloved panda, this milk tea comes with small white pearls and the regular black pearls. Make no mistake, though, as these pearls were not just added to the drink for no reason, they add a distinct flavor and freshness to the beverage, thus making it one of the bestsellers of CoCo.

Salty Cream Chocolate

CoCo’s signature topping, Salty Cream, has always been giving a kind of balanced yet luscious taste to its lineup of drinks. But with this one, the saltiness of the cream matches the richness of the cocoa. The added pudding makes it more delicious.

Get these at CoCo outlets nationwide.

Life

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Philippine Culinary Cup 2019 highlights Filipino talent T

City of Dreams Manila’s chefs took home 32 medals in 13 categories.

Twenty-three-year-old Rier Franco and 25-year-old Jomari Miranda headlined the list of winners, bagging gold medals in the Young Chefs Team Challenge category. Their win has made them eligible to compete at the 2019 Shanghai International Young Chef Cup to be held at Shanghai New International Expo Centre on Nov. 12-14.

Along with Franco and Miranda, City of Dreams Manila’s other stellar chefs who won gold medals included Javier Honofre, Guk Cho “Peter,” and Drigo Lim in the US Potato, Pasta, and Crea-

HE recently concluded 10th Philippine Culinary Cup, the country’s most prestigious culinary competition, featured hundreds of aspiring and seasoned chefs who showcased their talents on plates.

tive Breakfast categories, respectively.

Silver medalists were Allan Delos Santos, Carol Maximo, Drigo Lim, Jerald Bulaong, Jelord Advincula, Kathleen Magaoay, Rier Franco, Loui Sabino, Darylle Tamago, Mary Grace Gajol, Jeffrey Casauau, Aaron Laroga, and Jemaico Zurbito in six categories: Pasta, US Beef, Dream Team Challenge, Sous Vide, US Beef, and Filipino Challenge.

On the other hand, Herbert De Leon, Francis Ivan Tabilog, June Ian Lovino, Trisha Embradura, Nerissa Perez, Yong Iin Chua, Julius Javin, Kevin Raymundo, Maureen Servo,

and Elbert Maranan took home bronze medals in seven categories: Filipino Challenge, US Lamb, US Pork Chinese Style Cooking, US Poultry, Dress the Cake, French Touch, and Creative Breakfast.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our chefs who showcased exemplary talent in a well-respected culinary competition.

This recognition is a testament to the immense skills of our culinary team, who also acts as the driving force in making City of Dreams Manila a dining destination,” enthused Kevin Benning, City of Dreams Manila’s chief operating officer.

City of Dreams Manila chief operating officer Kevin Benning (top row, center) with the chefs who won 32 medals in 13 categories of the recently concluded Philippine Culinary Cup.

Celebrating s e o r e h g n u s n u

Eden encourages everyone to celebrate the birthdays of regular people who work hard to effect positive change.

GRADUATING student Dara Mae Tuazon regularly teaches at least 30 street kids various practical and values-based lessons in her makeshift classroom along Gastambide Street in Manila.

Through this endeavor, Tuazon hopes to make a difference in her community by instilling the value of education to these kids.

“I want the kids to be able to study or graduate so when the time comes, they can use it. Education is also for them, too. It will allow them to work and overcome life’s challenges,” Tuazon mused about her passion project.

Currently taking Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Early

Childhood Development, she is also the chairman of Bangketa Eskwela and Bully Life Free Advocates.

Tuazon and other people like her are highlighted in Eden’s new campaign that encourages everyone to honor the “unsung heroes” by celebrating their birthdays.

“I love how Eden’s Birthday Campaign was able to create a platform to recognize the efforts of regular people who work hard for what they believe in and who are able to impart change,” said Tuazon.

Visit Eden Facebook page to watch Dara Tuazon’s story.

F1 Hotel team’s winning dishes.

F1 Hotel Manila’s culinary team’s unique approach helped them bag the gold medal in the Filipino Cuisine Category.

The team presented dishes inspired by the regions in the Philippines, and cooked using a variety of ingredients and techniques.

The first dish, Imbaliktad, which originates from Ilocos, was made of beef cooked in local herbs and the region’s famous sukang Iloco. Sinigang na Pata sa Catmon ug Dilang Baka is a crispy pork knuckle dish braised in sour broth mixed with edible cactus. A tropical fruit called katmon intensified the flavor of the dish.

Another favorite was Utan Ala Piyangang which stews vegetables in coconut juice along with burnt coconut, creating the smoky flavors in the dish. The last dish presented—a personal concoction of Executive Chef Angelo Timban— was Sangag na Kan-on sa Bubok Itum, a local style fried rice with Sarawak dried shrimp.

These wining dishes will soon be avail- F1 Hotel Manila’s chefs took home the gold medal in the Filipino Cuisine category. able at F All Day Dining Restaurant.

Cappuccino ala Nico Bolzico NICO BOLZICO is a proof that a man can be handsome, funny, and great at making coffee at the same time.

“It was the first time I made a cappuccino in my life,” exclaimed Bolzico, who still couldn’t believe he was able to whip up different barista-style coffee concoctions in a matter of minutes, with a quick push of a button.

Bolzico never had a problem making good food, but making good coffee, he admitted, was a completely different level, which is why he always leaves it to the pros and gets his daily caffeine fix from coffee shops.

“Not until I found this baby,” he said, patting his Nespresso machine like an old buddy. “Now, making my own cup is faster, more convenient—perfect for busy days, which I just never seem to run out of.”

He was even able to create his own recipe, The Bolziccino.

It is a gorgeous mix of milk, maple syrup, and Nespresso Corto, one of the new flavors from the Nespresso Barista Creations. “I’m telling you, it’s delicious!”

“Solenn is very impressed—with Nespresso, not with me,” he quipped.

Bolzico recently showcased his barista skills using the Nespresso machine at the Nespresso Boutique in Power Plant Mall, Makati. He showed how to create perfectly crafted milk and coffee recipes and shared coffee making tips.

Guests also enjoyed the three Barista Creations flavors: Chiaro (which means “light” in Italian), Scuro (meaning “dark), and Corto (which means “short”).

Inspired by Brooklyn baristas, Chiaro was created especially for smooth and sweet coffee and milk recipes. When milk is added to create a mild cappuccino, it unlocks sweet notes of caramel and biscuit.

Scuro, on the other hand, was inspired by baristas in MelThe Bolziccino is made of milk, maple syrup, and Nespresso Corto.

Nico Bolzico shows his barista skills with the help of Nespresso machine.

bourne. It has the perfect balance between milk and roasted coffee notes. Its profile remains intense and roasted, but balanced with milk, creating a delicious strong cappuccino.

Inspired by Spanish baristas, Corto has a powerful taste and a syrupy texture for recipes with just a little touch of milk. With a very dark, spicy, intense roasted, and smoky flavor profile, it’s ideal for traditional Spanish cortado.

Nespresso Barista Creations are available at the Nespresso Boutique in Power Plant Mall, SM Podium, and Greenbelt 5.

Entertainment

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

71st Emmy Nominated Shows

You Can Enjoy on FOX+

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HE long wait for the awards ceremony finally ends on today. The Emmy’s will be once again awarding TV shows and movies for their exemplary performances in different fields and the competition this year is tight. So, if you are looking to binge on Emmyworthy shows (whether it’s comedy, horror, or documentary) while waiting for the big show, FOX+ got your back!

the common man, audiences see the absurd ways that name who makes money by unboxing toys? Or what humans and vampires are actually a lot alike. about an Israeli anti-terrorist expert who believes that teachers and pre-school students should have Modern Family the right to bear arms? These are but some of the Nominations: characters that Sacha uses to interview bigwigs like Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Bernie Sanders, Jill Stein, and Roy Moore.

Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation A show that changes our perspective on what a perfect family is supposed to be, Modern Family tells the story of three different families that range from “conventional” to what most people would consider as “unconventional”. We see that no matter how strikingly different each family is, they all still go through the same struggles of raising kids, connecting with their partners, and figuring out how to handle the day-to-day. At the end of the day, we learn that a perfect family is one that is anchored in love, trust, and acceptance—no matter how hilarious the journey Here’s a list of all the nominated shows that you to getting there may be. can watch on FOX+:

What We Do In The Shadow Nominations: Outstanding Cinematography For A SingleCamera Series (Half-Hour) Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And AnimationIf you mix apartment sitcoms with vampires, then you’ll get What We Do In The Shadows. Set in modern day New York, join four vampire roommates who lived together for hundreds of years as they go about their daily lives. In their hilarious quest to blend in with

Leaving Neverland Nominations: Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/ Nonfiction Program Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction ProgramOutstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Program (Single Or Multi-Camera) Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Program (Single Or Multi-Camera) Directed by British filmmaker Dan Reed, Leaving

Hostile Planet Nominations: Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series

Who Is America?

Nominations: Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety ProgrammingOutstanding Variety Sketch Series Sacha Baron Cohen is back for another jawdropping and controversial political satire. A far-right conspiracy theorist who is also a citizen journalist?

A Finnish YouTuber with an incomprehensible

IT IS a milestone year for Philippine cinema, as it celebrates 100 years of masterful storytelling and filmmaking.

From stories rooted in folklore to a tribute to heroes to triumph over hardships— all these are insightful studies into the Filipino way of life. iflix has put together a collection of these film classics that could pretty much be a crash course in Pinoy film history. Binge-watch these film classics that showcase the best of Filipino filmmakers and the stories they tell: Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) Based on the classic novel by Edgardo M. Reyes, the film tells the story of Julio (in a brilliant portrayal by Bembol Roco), a poor fisherman, who makes his way to Manila in search of his lady love, Ligaya.

Faced with hardships at every turn, Julio struggles against loneliness, poverty and

Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program An award-winning documentary that explores nothing but the earth’s extremes, Hostile Planet shows you the most frightening parts of our shared home. In six episodes, join National Geographic and discover how life adapts in the most extreme environments.

From the hottest, lava-rich volcanoes, to the deepest depths of the ocean, up to the coldest areas of the arctic—life will always find a way to live.

Neverland tells the story Wade Robson and James Safechuck, and the trauma that they’ve gone through after being sexually abused by Michael Jackson. The show has been one of the most controversial pieces in the last year, causing a massive divide among Michael Jackson fans.

Be the first to stream The 71st Emmy Awards Live on FOX+!

iflix celebrates 100 years of Philippine Cinema social alienation to survive life in the big city.

Considered to be one of the greatest Filipino films ever made, the creative team behind the film boasts of industry legends—producer Mike de Leon, scriptwriter Doy del Mundo and director Lino Brocka. Maynila: Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag also stars Hilda Koronel and Lou Salvador, Jr. Metro Manila (2013) Oscar (Jake Macapagal) moves to Manila in the hopes of escaping a life of poverty. They fall victim to unscrupulous individuals until Oscar finds work with an armoured car company. Unfortunately, he, once again, finds himself in the midst of trouble as his colleagues plot a robbery that goes awry. When push comes to shove, he has to find it in himself to do the right thing. John Arcilla, JM Rodriguez, and Angelica Kanapi co-star in the movie written and directed by Sean Ellis.

Metro Manila was premiered internationally at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, followed by screenings in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK before making its way to the Phlippines in October of that year. The film and its actors also garnered a number of awards in various international festivals.

Dyesebel (1996) In this retelling of this Mars Ravelo classic, Dyesebel (played by Charlene

Gonzalez) is a mermaid born to human parents. Bullied and taunted as an evil spirit on earth, she finds happiness living in the undersea kingdom with other mermaids. But fate had other plans, as Dyesebel falls in love with a human. With the help of an enchanted conch, she can turn her mermaid’s tail to legs and is able to live on land. However, there are people who are envious of Dyesebel and would do anything to get her out of the way.

Jose Rizal (1998) Cesar Montano leads an all-star cast of acting legends (Joel Torre, Jaime Fabregas, Gloria Diaz, Gina Alajar, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Pen Medina, among others) in this unique retelling of Jose Rizal’s life and works. The story unfolds in a series of non-linear flashbacks which touch on the various aspects—writer, propagandist, lover, friend, brother, doctor and the man that inspired a revolution—of our national hero’s life. The movie was produced by GMA Films.

Bayaning Third World (1999) Part-investigative documentary and part-satire, Bayaning 3rd World (3rd World Hero) is a unique look at the mystery that surrounds the life and death of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. Director Mike de Leon shot the film—which he co-wrote with Doy del Mundo-entirely in black and white. A veritable who’s who of acting legends, Bayaning 3rd World stars Ricky

Davao, Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Cherry Pie Pecache, among others.

Magnifico (2003) When you hear that Maryo J. Delos Reyes is the director behind a family drama, you can pretty much expect a heartwrenching story with lots of tears.

Such is the story of Magnifico.

Child actor Jiro Manio plays the titular character, who lives in poverty with his parents, grandmother, and two siblings.

Amid life’s many hardships—including a sister with cerebral palsy and a cancerstricken grandmother—simple-minded

Magnifico takes on the responsibility of helping his parents through their darkest days inspired only by his young, kind and sympathetic heart. The film also stars Lorna Tolentino, Albert Martinez and Gloria Romero.

Darna: Ang Pagbabalik (1994) Darna, played in this incarnation by former beauty queen Anjanette Abayari, is in a bit of a bind. She has lost her magic pearl, and her superhero abilities right along with it. In that time, Valentina (her archenemy) is spreading her message of doom through subliminal messages on religious TV shows. As her alter-ego plucky reporter Narda, Darna must rely on her wits and her normal human strength to find the pearl and foil Valentina’s plans.

This classic Filipino superhero story is directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes, based on a script by Floy Quintos.

El Filibusterismo at Noli Me Tangere (1962) At the end of Jose Rizal’s epic tome Noli Me Tangere, Crisostomo Ibarra has left the Philippines. The story picks up 13 years later inEl Filibusterismo, where Ibarra returns as Simoun, a rich jeweler who is a confidante of the CaptainGeneral, and is seeking revenge against the Spanish Philippine system responsible for his misfortunes.

Gerardo de Leon directs the film adaptation of one of the Philippines’ greatest literary works, with a cast led by the enigmatic Pancho Magalona.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, September 23, 2019

ACROSS 1 “Fernando” band 5 Bargain-hunt 9 Subside 13 Comical 14 Fiscal period 15 Superman’s mom 16 Convalesce 18 Military group 19 Wine served warm 20 — vous plait 21 Soda fountain treat 23 Auto-parts store 25 Peanut shell 26 Heavy betting 29 “Jeopardy!,” for one 33 Quavering sound 34 Pass the buck 35 Spanish gold 36 Pierre’s head 37 Typefaces 38 Syllogism word 39 NW state 40 Hops a jet 41 Type of spray 42 Manages 44 Fire alarms 45 Hans’ home 46 Fearless 47 Slalom trail

(2 wds.)

50 Blimp title 51 Pick pears 55 Amateur 56 Sudden, heavy rainfall 59 Mighty steed 60 Maine, from Utah 61 “— vincit amor” 62 Censors 63 Pixels 64 On a voyage DOWN 1 District 2 Dark beer 3 Lake Tana is its origin (2 wds.)

4 High mountain 5 Lebanon neighbor 6 Recover 7 Nose-bag bit 8 Takes liberties 9 Fails the test 10 No man’s — 11 Opera solo 12 Turnstile 13 Rx givers 17 “NBA Friday” broadcaster 22 Exploiter 24 Yahoo! rival 25 Tool handles 26 Top story 27 Tenet

28 Saturn’s largest moon 29 Kelly and Hackman 30 Pommel — 31 Bodily structure 32 Fleeces 34 Makes muddy 37 Sashayed 38 Tympanums 40 Wife, in Berlin 41 Zilch 43 More than aches 44 Gavel-pound-

er’s word 46 Contests 47 Iffy attempt 48 Actress — Sedgwick 49 Persia, nowadays 50 Overhead 52 Sea eagle 53 Largest continent 54 School org.

57 Mekong native 58 Jungle snake

Ang Hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna (1972) One of the most beloved of Filipino legends—based on the novel by Francisco Baltazar—Ibong Adarna tells the story of Prinsipe Alfonso Prinsipe Albano and Prinsipe Adolfo and their quest for the magical Ibong Adarna to cure their father’s illness. The prince who can find the bird and bring it home will inherit the kingdom. This film classic classic stars three of the Philippine’s comedic greats —Babalu, Dolphy, and Panchito.

Entertainment

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

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Rapper Dave wins UK’s Mercury Prize as PM gets slammed “Fuck Boris Johnson!” he screamed as he took the stage, stripped to his waste, a mask of the right-wing UK leader in his hand. “Fuck everything!”

But Dave, a 21-year-old South London rapper whose album Psychodrama is a full-frontal assault on institutional racism, softly asked his mom to join him on stage after holding up the winning statuette.

“I did not expect this,” he admitted, his left hand draping his mother’s shoulder.

Dave’s two siblings have served time in prison and he devoted his award to one of them, Christophe, who “inspired this album”.

“This is your story that we told, even though you can’t be here,” Dave said. AFP

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

‘JOWABLE’

From a viral hit short film to a best-selling book, 'Jowable' is now ready to hit it big on the big screen.

but single

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

V

IVA is launching the career of Kim Molina as a lead star via Jowable, a film inspired by its young director’s short film that went viral in 2018. It follows the story of a “desirable” young woman who can’t find a boyfriend.

Posted on Vincentiments’ Facebook page in 2018, Jowable is a short film written and directed by Darryl Yap. Many people were able to relate to the character’s sentiments, and the video hit one million views overnight, and the Vincentiments page instantly hit 100,000 likes.

Darryl made two more short films for the Jowable series, before he turned it into a novel. The book was released last March this year, and was also an instant hit.

In the film version, Kim is Elsa, a 30-something No-Boyfriend-SinceBirth girl, who wishes for a love life and a boyfriend.

During the media conference for the Viva Films big screen project, the actress described her character as pretty, sexy and funny.

“Although her drinking habit gets out of control sometimes, she is not a bad catch at all. So what is wrong with her? She’s just single and can’t really find a life partner,” she said.

“The story follows the life of Elsa.

She lives with her mother Liberty (Kakai Bautista), who changes boyfriend as often as she changes clothes. Her friend Karissa (Cai Cortez) is happily in love, too,” Kim added.

Despite being surrounded and supported by friends, Elsa still feels miserable and envious of every couple she sees. Finally, Lady Luck smiles upon her and she meets a guy, and the attraction is instantly mutual.

“So, the film wanted to ask: Is this the love she’s been waiting for all her life? Will this be the happiness she has been searching for, or will she find her happiness somewhere else? ” Kim continued.

Kim had her professional theatre debut in 2013 when she was included in the cast for Disney’s Tarzan. She then played the role of Frieda in Carrie the Musical, and Louise in the musical stage adaptation of the movie Ghost.

In 2014, Kim got her first lead role as Aileen in the hit Pinoy Musical Rak of Aegis, where she was awarded Best Actress in a Musical by Gawad Buhay.

She is also an in-demand actress for television, playing noteworthy roles like Savannah in Kadenang Ginto, and

A scene from the film that launches Kim Molina

ANGST-FILLED rapper Dave scooped up Britain’s coveted Mercury Prize on Thursday in a politically-charged London finale that included an expletive shouted from stage at Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

A new wave of 12 rebellious voices vied for the 2019 edition of British or Irish album of the year.

Rage against injustice coursed through the lyrics and spilled into interviews, reflecting a jaded era in which Britain is cutting ties with Europe and economic worries weigh.

Few expressed those frustrations more explicitly than Slowthai, a 24-year-old rapper from small-town England—and the bookies’ early favorite.

An acting accolade for Martin del Rosario GMA Artist Center talent Martin del Rosario received his first-ever Best Actor award in the Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2019 for his exceptional role as Daniel Panti in the comedy flick The Panti Sisters.

The 26-year-old actor could not help but feel overwhelmed by the great turnout of his career this year, “I feel like I was able to portray a memorable character. It’s overwhelming because apart from being the top-grosser, nanalo pa ako ng Best Actor, kasabay pa ‘yung world premiere ng The Gift. Overflowing ‘yung blessings, hindi ko na maexplain ‘yung saya na nararamdaman ko.”

Martin is now gearing up for his role in the GMA primetime series The Gift, where he plays Jared, a politician and Sep’s (Alden Richards) halfbrother. According to him, his new role is a big shift from his character in The Panti Sisters, but he is up for the challenge.

“I really wanted to play different roles. I make it a point to give my best whenever I play a certain character. So, when you are recognized for your hard work, like this award, it inspires me more to be better at what I do. It’s an affirmation that I am headed in the right direction in terms of my career choices.”

Furthermore, Martin also shared his

preparations for yet another complex role in The Gift, “Physically, ngayon nag-palaki ako. Two weeks na akong nag-gym kasi kontrabida eh, Alden is taller than myself, and we have a lot of confrontations so I need to keep up with him. It has be believable even physically.

I even had to sport a different haircut and I wear glasses now so I would look realy different.”

Catch Martin in The Gift, Mondays to Fridays, after Beautiful Justice on GMA Telebabad.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2019 Best Actor Martin del Rosario

SNAPSHOT

Bella Hadid on the catwalk for Fendi’s show Kim Molina with 'Jowable' writer and director Darryl Yap

Billet in The General’s Daughter.

In 2016, Kim got her first movie lead role in the hit film Camp Sawi, with Bela Padilla, Arci Munoz, Yassi Pressman, and Andi Eigenmann.

Apart from acting, Kim is also a singer, and she won Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist at the 2017 Awit Awards for her debut single “Naluluha Ako” under VIVA Records.

For Jowable, Kim also performed the movie’s official soundtrack, with the same title. Only a day after the music video’s release, it already reached over 60,000 views.

Originally a theatre writer and director, Darryl only started making short films in 2017. His first short film Squatterina was screened at the North Luzon Film Festival, where he became the first to win the Best Director award. Squatterina was also chosen as the Philippine delegate for

the Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards in Taiwan, and it is now recognized as one of the 10 Best Short Films of National Commission for Culture and the Arts | Cinema Rehiyo for the 1st 10 years. Other award-winning short films by Darryl are Oyayi, Bago ako Lumipad, and Ellipsis.

From short film, to a novel, now Darryl makes his first full-length film debut with Jowable. Kim, on the other hand previously worked with Darryl for the short film BossaBoss, a part of Vincentiments’ Kung Pwede Lang series.

Audiences will be in for a roller coaster of emotions as Darryl Yap explores further into the life, misery, despair, hope and happiness of a Jowable in this full-length movie.

Find out who, what and where Elsa will find her happiness when Jowable unspools in cinemas nationwide on Sept. 25.

AMERICAN model Bella Hadid joined other top catwalk superstars including Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Gigi Hadid strut their stuff at Fendi’s show in Milan. The model, 22, walked in the Fendi Spring Summer 2020 show on Sept. 19 and dominated the runway in an oversized khaki coat. AFP

Model Bella Hadid was on the catwalk at Fendi's show in Milan