Manila Standard - 2019 October 12 - Saturday by Manila Standard

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Water users can’t soak it up MWSS: No way can service providers pass on P921-m fine

By Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

EACTING to a warning from Manila Water that its rates could go up by as much as 780 percent, government regulators said consumers must not be penalized so that the utility can recover the P921-million fine imposed on it by the Supreme Court. “The agency assures the public that the financial penalties imposed on concessionaires by the Supreme Court may not be recovered or passed on to consumers. This is clearly provided for in the concessionaire agreement,” said Patrick Lester Ty, chief regulator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. He said the MWSS would give priority to protecting the interests of consumers. Manila Water and Maynilad separately filed motions for reconsideration asking the Supreme Court to revise its Next page

WASHED ASHORE. Nilo Germedia of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 240 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

shows dead mussels collected from the shoreline of Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park on Friday he says must have been killed by oxygen lack while an unidentified worker (inset) scoops up uncountable dead fish washed ashore on Freedom Island, a protected area for migratory birds, along Manila Bay. (Story on A2) Norman Cruz /AFP

3 cop officers in top-post list

Coding, coops eyed to solve traffic

By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo

A HOUSE panel on Friday proposed an odd-even number coding scheme along Metro Manila bus routes as a way to ease traffic congestion. Meanwhile, lawmakers are urging bus companies operating along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue to form a consortium that will have a single

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THREE senior police officials are vying to be the next Philippine National Police chief to replace General Oscar Albayalde, who will retire next month, Next page

COMMUTER CHALLENGE.

Gamboa

Eleazar

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, surrounded by smiling cameramen Friday, thumbs a ride to prove to himself there is no transport crisis, scoffed at by the masses who get the rides daily minus cameramen—and took him 210 minutes from Marikina to Malacañang which could have meant just 90 minutes in moderate traffic. Norman Cruz

Cascolan

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Friday made true on his promise to take public transportation to work, traveling 3.5 hours to arrive 46 minutes late at the Palace, but in-

DILG, 97 LGUs all over the country which were noncompliant will be issued show cause orders today. These were LGUs that garnered a failed rating in the validation conducted by the Department,” Interior Next page

Not so fast, Luzon not free yet of African swine fever By Joel Zurbano

Panelo late after 3.5-hour travel

Road clearing: 97 LGUs fail to make grade A TOTAL of 97 local government units failed to comply with the campaign to clear roads and sidewalks of obstructions nationwide, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Friday. “Following the strenuous validation efforts of the

dispatch system that can control the number of buses on the crammed thoroughfare, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said. Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the House committee on transportation, said his proposal will “turn EDSA’s rowdy and chaotic city buses into a fast, efficient and predictable mass transport system.”

areas in Luzon contained or controlled. the deletion of their recognition as nations Dar’s admission came Friday as South Ko- free of ASF. Dar said cooperation by the public was needed, AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar has rea and the Philippines have been listed as admitted the government cannot yet declare the among countries barred from transporting noting, in an interview with GMA News heard Next page dreaded African swine fever incidents in several pork and its products to Taiwan following

sisted he was not being insensitive when he said Filipinos should leave home early to arrive at their destinations on time. The Palace official took four jeepney rides and hitched a ride on a Next page

JBC bares aspirants for Carpio’s SC seat By Rey E. Requejo THE Judicial and Bar Council on Friday submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte a shortlist of candidates led by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and eight justices of the Court of Appeals to take over the seat to be vacated by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio when he reaches his mandatory retirement age of 70 in two weeks. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio members of the JBC, said that aside from Marquez, Next page

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

Ethiopia PM wins Nobel Peace Prize MEDIA CONGRESS. (from left) Philippine Daily Inquirer COO Rudyard Arbolado, Manila Bulletin EVP Hermino Coloma, former EIC of Bangkok Post Pichai Chuensuksawadi, Philippine Star

president Miguel Belmonte, UPMG Phils VP Jay Sarmiento, Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno, UPMG president Barbie Atienza, Manila Bulletin president Emilio Yap III, Manila Bulletin EIC Crispulo Icban Jr., Manila Hotel president Joey Lina, Philippine Star EVP Lucien Dytioco, and Business World EIC Roby Alampay at the Print Media Congress 2019: Printegrity at the Manila Hotel. Norman Cruz

OSLO, Norway―Hailed as a visionary and reformer, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with neighboring foe Eritrea. Next page

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SC lets Veloso testify in Indonesia By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has allowed the taking of the testimony of convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso against her recruiters by way of a deposition in Indonesia.

the written interrogatories in light of the conditions of Mary Jane’s reprieve and her imprisonment in Indonesia. In ruling against the alleged recruiters of Mary Jane, the Court found a reversible error in the appellate court’s decision when the appellate court gave due course to the petition for certiorari of respondents Maria Cristina P. Sergio and Julius L. Lacanilao, considering that the errors ascribed there were mere errors of judgment, which do not lie in a certiorari proceeding. The appellate court held that, contrary to the RTC’s findings, the conditional examination of witnesses in criminal proceedings were primarily governed by Rule 119 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure. But the high tribunal held that Section 15, Rule 119 of the Rules of Court was inapplicable in the Mary Jane’s case. Section 15 of Rule 119, which provides the examination of witnesses for the prosecution, says that “when it satisfactorily appears that a witness for the prosecution is too sick or infirm to ap-

pear at the trial as directed by the court, or has to leave the Philippines with no definite date of returning, he may forthwith be conditionally examined before the court where the case is pending.” The high court said such was not the case of Mary Jane, noting that she could not even take a single step out of the prison facility without facing severe consequences. Her imprisonment in Indonesia and the conditions attached to her reprieve denied her of any opportunity to decide for herself to voluntarily appear and testify before the trial court in Nueva Ecija, where the cases of the respondents of illegal recruitment were pending. It held that the appellate court, in denying the State’s motion for deposition, appeared to have strictly and rigidly applied and interpreted Section 15, Rule 119 without taking into consideration the concomitant right to due process of Mary Jane and the State, as well as the prejudice that would be caused to Mary Jane or the prosecution with its pronouncement.

Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando granted the Justice department’s petition seeking to reverse and set aside the Dec. 13, 2017 decision of the Court of Appeals that overturned the Aug. 16, 2016 Resolution of the Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court, Branch 88, that granted the motion of the prosecution to take the deposition by Veloso in Indonesia. Instead, the high court reinstated and affirmed with modification the ruling of the RTC and ordered that the deposition of Mary Jane be taken before the Philippine Consular Office and officials in Indonesia pursuant to the Rules of Court and principles of jurisdiction. The high court also referred to its Committee on Revision of the Rules for

its appropriate action the recommendation by the Office of the Solicitor General for the Court to promulgate a set of rules for the guidance of the Bench and the Bar in transnational cases, where a prosecution’s vital witness in a criminal proceeding is unavailable for reasons other than those listed in Section 15, Rule 119 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure relative to the enforcement of the accused’s constitutional right to confront witnesses face-to-face. According to the tribunal, to disallow the written interrogatories will curtail Mary Jane’s right to due process. The high court ruled that the RTC did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it granted the taking of the testimony of Mary Jane by way of deposition through

Road clearing:...

BFAR ordered to find root of Las Piñas fish kill

From A1

Secretary Eduardo M. Año told reporters in a press conference at the DILG office in Quezon City. Of the 97 LGUs, 18 are from Zamboanga Peninsula, 13 from Northern Mindanao, 12 are in Central Visayas, 11 are from Ilocos Region, and 10 from Region 5 (Bicol Region). Eastern Visayas has nine, followed by seven from Mimaropa, four each from Caraga and the Cordillera Administrative Region, three each from Davao Region and SOCCKSARGEN, and one each from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Western Visayas. “As clearly stated by the President in his SONA [State of the Nation Address], despite our victories, the public needs to see that those who did not follow the President’s order will be held liable,” said Año. “They can be charged with dereliction of duty, negligence―administratively, possible suspension depends on the Ombudsman,” he added. None of the 97 LGUs are in Metro Manila, Año said. During his 2019 State of the Nation Address on July 22, Duterte gave mayors 60 days, or until Sept. 29, to “reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends.” Garnering a high compliance rating are the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Valenzuela, Pateros, and San Juan. On the other hand, the cities of Muntinlupa, Pasig and Quezon City got a Medium Compliance rating, while Taguig City received a Low Compliance rating. “Taguig is still compliant and it passed our rating system but we will [make recommendations] on areas that need focus and strategies,” he said. PNA

Not so... From A1

nationwide, “Hog raisers, the hog traders and those who are still selling swill feeds, must stop selling already because these are the very sources.” He added animal quarantine checkpoints should be strengthened. “Checkpoints are properly manned. We have to enhance that. If there are meat being transported without documents, we must confiscate that. Hogs being transported without documents, we must confiscate those things. That’s the only way we can contain and control this disease,” he explained. In Taipei, government authorities have intensified their campaign against the entry of meat, canned goods and meat products in all sea and airport terminals, and imposed higher penalties for violators. It imposed tighter border controls for visitors from the Philippines and Korea as these Southeast Asian countries confirmed outbreak of ASF. This makes the Philippines and Korea the eighth and ninth Asian nations to have recorded ASF cases, following China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Laos, and Myanmar. In a meeting with the International Press Officers covering the Double Tenth National Day, Dr. Mei-Yi Hsu, section chief of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said violators would be subject to a fine of NT$200,000 ($6,350) for importing pork products, and those who fail to pay the fine would be denied entry to the island.

AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar on Friday ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to do everything to respond to the reported fish kill in Parañaque and Las Piñas. Thousands of dead fish were seen on the shores of Long Island, Las Piñas, and Freedom Island, Parañaque, on Thursday morning. “I have instructed the BFAR leadership to take action necessary or actions

necessary to act on this problem, Dar told GMA News. The cause of the apparent fish kill is being investigated. Among the species found on the shores were asuhos, kanduli, butete, sapsap, tilapia, and barracuda. Authorities had earlier said they had not yet determined the cause of the fish kill, but they noted that it took place in the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habi-

tat and Ecotourism Area, which is a protected nature reserve. The Las Piñas Agricultural Office had speculated that something must have been in the water. “Yung tubig na mula sa mga ilog baka nahalo du’n sa dagat kaya ‘di natin alam kung ano laman nu’n, kaya namatay ang mga isda,”Ceasar Canoy, an aide of the Agriculture department, said Thursday.

Isko lifts ban on Isetann as permits fixed By Vito Barcelo MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso lifted the closure order on the Isetann mall on Recto Avenue after its management secured the permits that the mall needed to operate. Bureau of Permits chief Levi Facundo said Domagoso signed the order lifting the closure order on Isetann, which was closed on Oct. 9, after the city government found that the mall lacked a business permit to operate. “Upon coordination with this Office and the submission of requirements, this is to confirm that you have substantially complied with the deficiencies/violations noted in the Closure Order in relation to the operation of your business,” the lift order said. Domagoso warned Isetann that “any future similar violation or any other violation of the terms and conditions of the business permit may constrain this Office to take similar action or may lead to the revocation of your permit.” The mall was able to produce the needed permit to operate two days after Domagoso served the closure order for various violations of city ordinances and misrepresentation. Isetann mall secured all of the permits to lease space and operate all of its cinemas. It has also correctly declared its occupied space and number of employees.

Water users... From A1

Coding,... From A1

Sarmiento’s proposal would turn the innermost lane of EDSA into an “express bus lane” that could be accessed through Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations. He said the express bus lane would circle EDSA, duplicating the route of the MRT3. “The buses will only load and unload passengers in a synchronized manner at the MRT stations so they are basically an extension of the MRT,” he said. He said there would be no traffic because the entire inner lane from Taft Avenue to North Avenue and vice-versa would be closed off and exclusive to the express bus lane. The three lanes in the middle of Edsa would be available for all types of private vehicles subject to the existing vehicle reduction programs like the number coding scheme, Sarmiento said. Private cars will only be allowed to use the outer lane when turning into an intersection, he added. Sarmiento said the outermost lane of EDSA or the “yellow lane” will be used as an exclusive city bus lane, which would also follow a centralized and synchronized dispatch system, with designated bus stops that are one kilometer apart. The lawmaker said the express bus lane would extend up to the Parañaque

JBC bares... From A1

the 7-member JBC shortlisted CA Justices Manuel Barrios, Edgardo delos Santos, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Jhosep Lopez, Pablito Perez, Ricardo Rosario, and Maria Filomena Singh for possible appointment by the Chief Executive. After 18 years as associate justice of the 15-member bench, Carpio will retire on Oct. 26. Marquez, Delos Santos, Dimaam-

Ethiopia... From A1

Abiy was honored “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea,” the Nobel Committee said. Since coming to power in April 2018, after years of civil unrest in the nation, 43-year-old Abiy Ahmed has started mending relations with Eritrea following decades of conflict between the countries. On July 9, 2018, following a historic meeting in Eritrea’s capital Asmara, Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki formally ended a 20-yearold stalemate between the countries in the wake of the 1998-2000 border conflict. A peace deal was signed later that year, and embassies have been reo-

Integrated Bus Terminal in the south and the Valenzuela Integrated Bus Terminal in the north and would move in a “carousel-type system.” Sarmiento said he is in close coordination with transportation officials, including the MMDA about his plan. EDSA traffic chief Edison “Bong” Nebrija said he recently got a call from Sarmiento, who told him: “We’re trying to pull everybody [bus firms]... [into] one consortium per route, they will be together, they will share the profit, they will own their buses.” Activist leader Renato Reyes, however, told the ABS-CBN News Channel that putting a schedule on bus firms is difficult because they are driven by “business interests, not public service.” “How will you integrate that, how will you put a schedule on these companies when they’re thinking, how will we earn?” Reyes told ANC. Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Authority said it may be able to rehabilitate the three substations damaged by fire earlier than expected. Paul Chua, LRTA deputy for operations and engineering, told the Senate committee on public services headed by Senator Grace Poe that the initial estimate of nine months was based on a worst-case scenario. He promised an updated estimate once they assess the actual damage done in about two days. pao, Garcia, Lopez, and Singh were also nominated for the SC justice post vacated by Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza who retired last Sept. 26. Meanwhile, Guevarra revealed that the JBC deferred taking action on the nomination for the most coveted post in the judiciary, which will be vacated by Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, until Oct. 15. Four incumbent magistrates have applied to succeed Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, who retires on Oct. 18: Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Andres Reyes Jr., and pened and flight routes between the countries resumed. The continent’s youngest leader has instilled a certain optimism in a region of Africa marred by violence. “There is a wind of hope blowing in the Horn of Africa,” UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said in September 2018. The Nobel jury stressed that the Peace Prize was “also meant to recognize all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions.” The Committee singled out Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki for praise, noting that “peace does not arise from the actions of one party alone.” “When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reached out his hand, President Afwerki grabbed it, and helped to formalise the peace process between the two countries.” AFP

Panelo... From A1

motorcycle to get from his home in Marikina to Malacañang, He left his home at 5:15 a.m. and arrived in Malacañang at 8:46 a.m., 46 minutes late. His whole trip, however, proves there is a mass transport crisis in Metro Manila, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr. said. Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Reyes “congratulated” Panelo for arriving at his office after nearly four hours of taking his “commute challenge.” He also said he wished to join Panelo in his commute, but observed that “parang ayaw naman niya akong kasabay (he didn’t want me for company).” Panelo said he was slowed down by members of the media who caught up with him in Cubao and in Gilmore. He would have also taken the LRT, but opted not do so since he did not want the media to inconvenience passengers, he said. In a press briefing after his commute, Panelo defended his earlier statement that commuters should wake up early to avoid being late to work. Users of social media have called him out for the insensitivity of his remarks, while militant groups urged him to take public transportation every day, without bodyguards and his private car. Jose Reyes Jr. The JBC screens applicants to judiciary posts and comes up with a shortlist for the president, who is mandated by the Constitution to pick his appointee from the list. Bersamin serves as the ex-officio chairman of the JBC, with Guevarra, Senator Richard Gordon, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon as ex-officio members. Retired justices Jose Mendoza and Noel Tijam and retired judges Franklin Demonteverde and Toribio Ilao Jr., are the council’s regular members.

3 cop officers... From A1

Senator Christopher Go said Friday. Police Lieutenant Generals Archie Gamboa and Camilo Cascolan, along with Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar, were in President Rodrigo Duterte’s shortlist, Go said. He said the three were the President’s “possible choices based on seniority.” Gamboa, Cascolan, and Eleazar will be promoted due to the retirement of Lt. Gen. Fernando Mendez, who is the Deputy Chief for Administration and number two man in the police force. On Saturday, Gamboa will assume the post of Mendez, while Cascolan will take Gamboa’s place as Deputy Chief for Operations. Cascolan, who is Chief Directorial Staff, will be replaced by Eleazar, who is current National Capital Region police chief. Gamboa and Cascolan are members of the Philippine Military Academy

verdict to fine them each P921 million for failing to complete their sewerage projects in the five years until 2009. Manila Water on Friday backed away for its warning, saying it never said it would pass the cost onto consumers. Rather, the increase was what would be needed to cover the cost of building wastewater facilities to comply with the Clean Water Act. “We never stated that it will be an impending increase nor did we make any statement about passing [it] on to consumers,” it added. In its motion, the company warned the Supreme Court that water rates may increase to as much as P26.70 per cubic meter should the Court push through with its plan to impose the penalties. Despite the assurances, the leftist Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives vowed to seek a congressional inquiry into any plan by the two concessionaires to pass on the fine imposed by the Court. “They [water concessionaires] were the ones who violated the law yet they have the temerity to pass the fine on to long suffering consumers. This is too much! This is the height of corporate impunity, insolence and greed,” said House Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza dismissed as “blackmail” the move of Manila Water. “This is the height of arrogance. Instead of complying with the Supreme Court order, they are now threatening consumers. This is blackmail,” Atienza said in a statement. Atienza said the water concessionaires for the past 22 years have been charging consumers an environmental fee purportedly to put up sewer lines connecting all households to the wastewater treatment facilities—but this has not happened.

Batch ‘86 and are set to retire next year. Eleazar, on the other hand, is a member of PMA Batch ‘87. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who chairs the National Police Commission, earlier said he will submit the list of contenders for the top PNP post to the President not later than Oct. 20. In an ambush interview, Eleazar said he does not see his promotion as a step closer to becoming PNP chief, despite being Metro Manila’s top cop. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to the 13 so-called ninja cops to attend the reinvestigation on Oct. 16 and submit additional evidence on their 2013 drug raid in Mexico, Pampanga. In a related development, Eleazar said authorities have referred a murder complaint against alleged drug queen Guia Gomez Castro before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, in connection with the killing of a certain ninja cop allegedly done by Castro in 2011. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

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Panelo hops on Angkas in last leg of commute

MAKILALA ANNIVERSARY. ‘Indak-Indak’ dancers gave it their best as they performed during the culmination program of SINABBADAN Festival in Makilala, North Cotabato. SINABBADAN Festival is a week-long celebration of Makilala 65th Foundation Anniversary. SINABBADAN is a celebration of unity among tri-people. Geonarri O. Solmerano

Solon lauds BSP-PSA agreement on nat’l ID By Maricel V. Cruz ONE of the principal authors of the national identification law on Friday welcomed the appointment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as the producer of the national identification system’s blank cards. Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones made the statement following the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Statistics Authority and the BSP on the production of the blank cards for IDs under the Philippine Identification System. “With the BSP as the producer of the blank ID cards, corruption will eliminated,” Aragones said. “This is great news. We can implement the PhilSys Law as soon as possible,” she said. Aragones chaired the House Committee on Population and Family Relations that led the deliberations for the passage on August 2018 of Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act during the 17th Congress. The BSP announced that it has set aside P3.4 billion for the production of 116 million blank cards, or amounting to P30 per card, that will be issued until 2022. The total projected cost is P30 billion. Aragones reiterated the need to produce the IDs at the soonest possible time, which she said are crucial in providing Filipinos with access to government and financial services. The PhilSys simplifies the processes for services offered both by the government and private companies, said Aragones, as only one ID would be required instead of the usual two, which millions of Filipinos do not have. The World Bank’s Identification for Development initiative reports that over 16.3 million Filipinos do not have proof of identity, which hinders them from availing of government and financial services. As this developed, the BSP said that the distribution of national IDs will increase financial inclusivity among Filipinos by reducing the number of documents needed to open bank accounts.

Gulfstream jet purchase part of AFP modernization D EFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday refuted allegations that the Gulfstream G-280 jet is a luxury plane, saying the acquisition of the aircraft is a necessary component of ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program.

“I would like to make some clarifications on the acquisition of the Gulfstream G-280 aircraft for the Philippine Air Force, which has been in the news the past few days. Let me emphasize that we do not consider the G-280 as a luxury aircraft, but a necessary component of the AFP modernization program for command and control of our Armed Forces to manage operations on air, land, and sea,” he said in a press statement. The G-280 will be utilized as commandand-control aircraft, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong earlier said. “This type of aircraft is necessary for a 24/7 real-time command-and-control, especially during crisis situation. The Gulfstream G280 acquisition is part of our efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of

the Philippines,” Lorenzana added. He said the G-280 will be operated with other command-and-control platforms that the AFP has and those to be acquired in the future. Lorenzana also denied claims that the aircraft is intended to be used as a presidential plane, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave instructions that he is not interested in acquiring an executive jet for himself. “The President has stated from the beginning that he does not want the procurement of an executive jet for his own use. This aircraft was not intended to be a presidential plane but as a commandand-control plane of the AFP and the DND. The justification of its procurement says so: ‘For Command and Control,’ which was approved by the DND/AFP

senior leaders last year specifically for the purpose stated,” the DND chief added. Aside from its command-and-control functions, the G-280 will also be used for flights to ferry wounded soldiers and critically ill civilians that need to be quickly transported to hospitals. “Other Cabinet secretaries and high government officials in their official trips around the country could also use it,” Lorenzana said, noting the plane will also facilitate the country’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts with its ASEAN neighbors. As regards to whether the Chief Executive will be using the aircraft, Lorenzana said all assets of the AFP are at the disposal of the Commander-inChief. “Will the President be using it? As the Commander-in-Chief, all assets of the AFP are at his disposal when he needs them. The Filipino people can rest assured that, contrary to what is being passed around in an obvious attempt to discredit the national leadership, the acquisition of the Gulfstream aircraft is not a frivolous pursuit, but rather a result of careful planning with due consideration to the needs of our Armed Forces,” he added. PNA

Japan OFWs told to steer clear of ‘Hagibis’ By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday advised Filipinos in Japan to take precautionary measures, particularly those on the path of Typhoon ‘‘Hagibis,’’ saying they should avoid traveling to areas that may be lashed with its heavy rains and strong winds. “The [Philippine] Embassy has asked Filipinos in Japan to be careful as heavy rains, strong winds, high waves, and storm surges are likely to occur, and to avoid traveling to potentially affected areas until the typhoon has dissipated,” the DFA said, in a statement. Japan is home to some 290,000 Filipinos. This came after Japan’s Meteorogical Agency warned that areas from the west to the northeast of the country would

experience “brutal winds and violent seas.” Overnight, Typhoon Hagibis was downgraded slightly from its “super typhoon” status, but was still forecast to be packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometers per hour when it makes landfall late today, Saturday. The DFA said that the storm has already forced the cancellation of 2 Rugby World Cup matches, disrupted the Suzuka Grand Prix and grounded flights. Train operations in Tokyo may also be suspended. The public should monitor updates from public transportation firms and the Japanese government, while Filipinos in need of help can contact the Embassy hotlines +81 80 4928 7979 and +81 80 7000 7979, added the agency. The massive storm is expected to dump up to half a meter (nearly 20 inches) of

rain on the Tokyo area in the 24 hours to midday on Sunday, with up to 80 centimeters forecast for the central Tokai area. Japan is hit by around 20 typhoons a year, though the capital is not usually badly affected. Hagibis is bearing down on the region just weeks after another powerful storm, Typhoon Faxai, hit the area with similar strength, killing 2 and causing major damage in Chiba, east of the capital. More than 36,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in Chiba, and the local government has urged those in damaged buildings to take shelter elsewhere during the storm. Local officials equipped with satellite phones will be dispatched across the region to ensure communities can seek help during and after the storm.

Police arrest 5 online traffickers in Biliran By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—A joint police operations led to the arrest of five alleged traffickers who were caught offering minor girls for sexual exploitation online in exchange for money from an online predator on Oct. 9 and 10. The five suspects—aged 22, 23, 26, 28, and 30—were arrested at several different locations in Biliran province. Five victims, with ages ranging from 14 to 17 years old, were also rescued during the operations by members of the police’s Women and Children Protection Center—Visayas Field Unit, Philippine National Police units in Biliran, and other international agencies. Aside from the five rescued victims, four other children were removed as “atrisk” for assessment to determine if they, too, were victimized.

They include a 10-month-old, an 11-month-old, and two 2-year-old, according to the International Justice Mission, a global organization that protects the poor from violence by partnering with local authorities to rescue victims, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice system. “The Online Sexual Exploitation of Children is a crime that my team at WCPC will continue to stand up against,” said captain Lawrence Nino Ibo. “Wherever the perpetrator is, the WCPC-VFU will work closely with International agencies to ensure that these criminals are punished for their crimes. Regardless of poverty or nationality, we will fight to protect our children from those who seek to victimize them online,” he said.

COPS AND ROBBERS. QCPD Director Police Colonel Ronnie S. Montejo, along

withy NCRPO Director Police Major General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, present to reporters the four robbery suspects of convenience store in Fairview, Quezon City in a press briefing held at Camp Karingal in Quezon City. Montejo identified the leader of the group as Arvin Pancho, and his cohorts as Raymar Cadigoy, Danilo Bautista and Jouiejay Lacaba. Recovered from the suspects include an improvised shotgun, with one ammunition, an M-203 grenade launcher and a gray Nissan Almera car used by the group during the heist. Manny Palmero

THREE jeepneys and three hours into his controversial commuter challenge, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo ended up riding a motorcycle taxi to finally bring him to Malacañang. Senator Ralph Recto, who authored a bill pushing for the legalization of motorcycle taxis, said it was a smart move for Panelo to use such a vehicle to finally get to the Palace. “It would have actually taken more time for Panelo to get to the Palace without Angkas. We can really cut travel time and beat traffic crisis by taking alternative transportation like Angkas, and get to spend more time with our families,” the senator said. For her part, Manila Rep. Cristal Bagatsing said: “Secretary Panelo’s use of a motorcycle taxi in his commuting challenge is a testament to the usefulness of the platform in helping Filipino commuters. “We must all work together to help legislate and regulate legitimate and professional motorcycle taxi services such as Angkas to fill the gaps in the country’s problematic mass transport system,” Bagatsing added. Colloquially dubbed as “habal habal,” motorcycle taxis have been informally used for decades in the Philippines. In 2016, Angkas, the first motorcycle ride-hailing app in the Philippines, came into the country and formalized the service. In June this year, Angkas was granted a Department of Transportationsanctioned six-month pilot run to assess the service’s safety and viability.

IN BRIEF DOJ orders probe on Bilibid blast THE Department of Justice on Friday directed Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag to conduct an investigation into the explosion that took place inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra stressed that the probe will be done along with the Philippine National Police assigned at the national penitentiary. “The DOJ oversight team has directed the BuCor chief to submit a written report and to commence investigation in coordination with the PNP contingent stationed at the NBP,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters. According to the DOJ chief, the incident at the national penitentiary only shows how bad the security inside the NBP. Rey E. Requejo

Respect PH customs, Boracay tourists told ILOILO CITY—Officials of the Boracay Inter-Agency Management and Rehabilitation Group and the Philippine National Police on Friday encouraged tourists visiting the world-famous Boracay Island to respect the country’s culture and tradition. Foreign tourists should observe proper decorum as a form of respect for Philippine culture and tradition, BIAMRG chief Natividad Bernardino said a day after images of a female Taiwanese tourist, wearing just a twopiece string bikini, went viral on social media. “We have our own cultural values as Filipinos and Asians. They should be able to respect that,” Bernardino said in a phone interview. “There is no dress code (being followed). Maybe it is just common sense,” she added. PNA

Regulate use of drones—Pimentel SAYING that some drones used for recreational and commercial purposes might be exploited by terrorists, used to violate rights, or could pose a hazard to aircraft, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III wants to regulate its use. He noted that the drone attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that struck two key oil installations inside Saudi Arabia. It damaged facilities that process the vast majority of the country’s crude output and raising the risk of a disruption in world oil supplies. Because of this, Pimentel seeks to penalize private individuals who are not authorized to own and operate drones either for recreational purposes or for commercial use. Over the last two decades, he said drones are used for photography. They are also used to increase crop production in commercial use and to conduct surveillance and law enforcement operations. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

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Clean water is non-negotiable LAST Aug. 6, 2019, the Supreme Court released a decision, which if affirmed by denying the pending motions for reconsideration, would be the most important environmental decision it has ever made. Maynilad vs. DENR will be hailed in the future for its vision, decisiveness, and impact on Metro Manila’s waterways—Manila Bay, Pasig River, Laguna Lake, and other water bodies in this metropolis.

The decision is good for public health and for all of us. Maynilad is a decision far more important than Oposa vs. Factoran in 1994 that recognized the right of citizens to a sound environment and the standing of future generations to be represented in present controversies that will affect them in the future. As good as that decision was, it did not result in protecting our forests as that case did not result in the cancellation of the timber license agreements that was wrecking havoc on our forests. Logging continued on for another decade and millions of hectares of forests were lost because of that. Maynilad is a decision that will have more impact than Concerned Citizens vs. MMDA decided in 2008. In that case, the Supreme Court ordered government agencies and concerned private actors, including the protagonists in this case Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), to clean up Manila Bay. That, too was a great decision, introducing a new environmental writ of Continuing Mandamus. But 11 years later, Manila Bay is many times dirtier than when

Concerned Citizens was decided. Not only has the government agencies and the private sector failed to comply with the order, but by the local governments and national agencies allowing more development—malls, casinos, reclamation projects, etc.—things have turned for the worse for Manila Bay. This case could be different. In essence, the Court upheld the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and found the two water companies Maynilad Water and Manila Water, jointly with the MWSS, liable for fines for violation of the Philippine Clean Water Act by not installing as required by law a sewerage system for Metro Manila. Maynilad was fined for the total amount of P921,464,184.00 while Manila Water is found liable for the total amount of P921,464,184.00. Both companies have filed motions for reconsideration and have launched a public relations campaign to reverse the decision, warning that our water bills will increase as a consequence of the decision. These are the same tactics employed by oil companies in the 1990s when they tried to delay as long as possible the phaseout of lead gasoline. As it was then, what is at stake is public health. Already, there is resurgence, an outbreak of polio that in my view is not attributable to Public Attorney Persida Acosta’s legal work on Dengvaxia. The state of sanitation in the country, including Metro Manila, is also to blame. For the record, I do not support Attorney Acosta’s prosecution of government officials for Dengvaxia as the evidence beyond reasonable doubt for cases like this are near impossible to obtain; what is always a better strategy is to go after those with deep pockets, the companies that created the problem (Sanofi in the case of Dengvaxia) in the first place out of pursuit for profit. In the same way, it’s not consumers and ordinary people that are causing and accelerating the climate emergency—it’s the large carbon emitters—the oil, coal, cement, big agricultural (meat, soy bean, etc.), palm oil, and similar companies that are to blame.

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Challenge accepted

RESIDENTIAL Spokesman Salvador Panelo must have felt painted into a corner after the near-universal outrage over his denial of a transport crisis. He had no choice but say “Game!” to a challenge posted by some citizens that he take public transportation. Panelo left his Marikina home at 5:15 Friday morning. To get to his workplace at Malacañang, he had to take four jeepneys. It was said he found it difficult to get a ride that a policeman had to help him get one. During the last leg of his trip, he hitched a ride with a man on a motorcycle who was conveniently nearby. He arrived at the office at 8:46, after three and a half hours on the road. He should have left his house earlier. It was a good thing the location of his office did not require the spokesman to take the train—and experience standing in line for

hours, and squeeze into coaches, and entertain the very real possibility of the train breaking down. It is unlikely that Panelo went back to Marikina in the same manner, or that he would happily do the same thing again on Monday, and the day after that, and yet after. What thoughts were going on in his head, we do not claim to know, but we hope it is more than being preoccupied about being proven wrong, or about saving face. At the very least, despite his lateness at work Friday, Mr. Panelo does not have to worry about deductions to his salary. “It’s okay,” he told those who asked whether he

was worried about his tardiness. It’s not farfetched to imagine that the whole publicity stunt was, in fact, part of the job—in which case, he was way too early, starting the work at 5:15. Panelo’s Friday-morning commute was in fact the least of the challenges he should get worried about. It should have awakened him to the fact that there is, indeed, a transport crisis, and it is one that ordinary people have no choice but to face every day. He was wrong to have denied the mess, because it is there, and only after an acknowledgment of the problem can there be real, lasting solutions. Now perhaps Panelo can go back to his boss and his colleagues and have meaningful, sensible discussions. And then take on the greater challenge of empathizing with the people’s plight, instead of preaching from their privileged perches.

Turn to A5

Death by bigotry IT WAS a Thursday and I was about to leave to watch a play when my phone rang. It was Ria apologizing for disturbing me, but Carlos (Celdran) had her call because he was being arrested. I could hear Carlos in the background saying, “I’m being arrested!” repeatedly. They were at the Manila Cathedral and Carlos was accosted by security guards and being brought outside, and eventually, to the police precinct on UN Avenue. Ria apprised me of what was happening. The night before, we (Carlos, myself, and other advocates of the then RH bill) were having a meeting for the mobilization we were planning in front of the offices of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for Friday of that week. The following morning, I saw a tweet of Carlos’ saying that he heard that an anti-RH event was happening at the Manila Cathedral and that he would go and see what it was. I remember calling him because he was supposed to be doing something for the mobilization the next day but there he was going to make “usyoso” somewhere else. He said he only wanted to take pictures for posting on Facebook. And then Ria called. I immediately told Rep. Edcel Lagman what happened and before we knew it, we were all at the police station for Carlos. I learned then than indeed, Carlos wanted to have pictures of him taken with the Damaso sign. He even promised Ria halo-halo so she would take the pictures. In the course of looking for a good shot, it started to rain so he went in and he found himself in front of the people gathered for the event. He has been quietly holding the white board (he used this for his tours) with Damaso written on it for a few minutes before someone noticed him and the guards were called. It was when he was accosted and being brought outside that he shouted, “Stop meddling in politics!” Thus, the Damaso protest was a spur of the moment decision for Carlos. It was unplanned. That was 2010, a little over nine years ago. Carlos was charged with the crime “offending the religious feelings” under Art. 133 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). A law from the Span-

ish-era making it archaic and obsolete but nonetheless remains in our RPC. For comparison, Spain no longer has this as it was repealed a long time ago. Carlos’ Damaso protest and the arrest that ensued drew national attention to the RH bill. A lot of people became aware of the bill and the manner by which dissent was dealt with by the Catholic church. Support for the RH bill’s passage became even stronger after the incident. The bill was eventually passed into law in December 2012. Carlos’ ordeal though was far from over. Through the years he worked with the system. I was witness to virtually everything since my group supported him all throughout. He was convicted by the lower court and such was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code must be repealed. Intermittently and after each defeat at the Courts, Carlos would mull just serving the jail term meted to him. None of us agreed that he should. Navigating through the case was not easy for me and those who supported him. We could only imagine how it was for Carlos. The case did not paralyze Carlos. He continued to be very productive. He went on with his tours, shows, art, and even gave the city he loved the most, Manila, its first Biennale. Despite the fact that Carlos was loud and had an opinion on everything, he was not one to burden people with his personal problems. But those who knew him would time and again feel how he was being affected by the case. Towards the end of 2018, I received word that the SC has reaffirmed the decision convicting Carlos of the crime of “offending the religious feelings.” Carlos and his family did not know it yet. This was it. Carlos could still appeal but the chance that the SC would change its decision was next to impossible. We went to see Carlos but he was doing a tour and would finish late. We spoke with his wife Tesa and informed her of the unfortunate development. The following day, I was informed that Carlos was already out of the country. He eventually proceeded to Madrid. Turn to A5

Gadon’s suspension LATE last week, news regarding a suspension order issued by the Supreme Court against controversial lawyer Larry Gadon came out. The suspension order, published last June 26, was good for 90 days. The decision to suspend Gadon stemmed from the disbarment case of dermatologist Helen Joselina Mendoza filed against him in 2009. Mendoza reportedly got into a dispute with Gadon when the Ambulatory Health Care Institute, where Gadon was vice president at the time, reduced the doctor's clinic hours after a patient complained. Demanding to be restored her clinic hours, Mendoza, in her complaint, said Gadon called her letters "very stupid" and mocked her strategy of filing legal

suits which he said can take up to 10 years. And that was what supposedly earned Gadon his suspension—his remarks on the slow justice system in the country which tended to paint the legal system in a bad light, according to the SC order.

He is still humble enough to express gratitude to whomever it is due. But as he was in Russia last week as part of the business delegation which joined President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip, Gadon was only able to issue a statement upon arriving in Manila early this week. And it turns out, that bad*ss lawyer as he is when it comes to his opponents, Gadon is still humble

enough to express gratitude to whomever it is due. In his statement, Gadon never questioned the decision and instead expressed appreciation to the justices, who were at the opposing side in cases he has handled, for seeing the wisdom in dismissing the petition for disbarment and opting instead for a threemonth suspension. As Gadon specifically mentioned Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, whose appointment as Chief Justice he had viciously opposed earlier, and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, whom he had been criticizing for his alleged biases on the election protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand Ro “Bongbong” Marcos against Leni Robredo. “I thank Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for being objective that a mere three- month suspension is meted out instead of disbarment or a two-year suspension. I thank him for being Turn to A5

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Opinion Why is Robredo so afraid? MAY. This is a word that expresses possibility. Remember this word, because its interpretation could determine who gets to sit at the second-highest position in our country. As I write this column, the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has deferred for the second time the voting on Bongbong Marcos’ election protest against sitting Vice President Leni Robredo. The PET reset the voting this coming Oct. 15. A mob of more or less 700 people gathered in front of the Supreme Court on Padre Faura, Manila shouting militant-style slogans in support of Robredo while at the same time viciously berating Bongbong. A group even went to extreme lengths by burning an effigy of the election protest document filed by Marcos in 2016—reminiscent of scenes in communist-backed militant groups’ protests. They strongly urged the PET to dismiss Marcos’ election protest because they claimed, the former senator did not show substantial in his three pilot precincts in the recount of votes. I pity our Supreme Court justices who had to endure this circus right in their backyard. Robredo and her yellow cohorts were betting that by harassing and intimidating the justices, they would win them over. This is a serious misstep. By letting this rowdy mob loose, they may have caused the SC justices to become averse and inadvertently turn the tide in favor of Bongbong. The Robredo group obviously has insider information on the contents of the report of Justice Benjamin Caguioa. There is no doubt they used that advance information in controlling the narrative in this issue. The media apparatus of the

Clean water... From A4

This is exactly what the DENR and the Supreme Court does in the Maynilad case. Thankfully they did not go after the usual suspects—the poor, informal settlers that we blame for polluting Manila Bay. It’s not them—it’s the government through the MWSS and the water companies entrusted with responsibility to be the stewards of our water resources that must bear the responsibility for our dirty water. Clearly the Supreme Court, speaking eloquently and clearly through Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando (this is his first major opinion, according to Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in his concurrence) understands what is at stake in this controversy over the water companies’ responsibility for our water resources. “All told,” according to the Court, “the case before Us is monumental.” It explains why: “Water is not a mere commodity for sale and consumption but a natural asset to be protected and conserved. Sanitation is its corollary constant, as a poor state of sewerage systems is one of the pillars of people's miseries. We have a collective responsibility to preserve water resources and improve sanitation facilities for future generations. *** As humanity have always known, water is one of the most essential resources in the world and its preservation a top priority. It is an ever-active but unsung

Death... From A4

The following times I spoke with him, it was already online. He never stopped helping others though he was away. He would ask me for advice on behalf of a friend who was abused by a partner, and the like. He was away but his social media presence remained. Carlos liked being with people and being alone in Madrid was difficult. He was open about feeling lonely there especially in the beginning. He had to make a lot of adjust-

Gadon’s... From A4

objective and considerate despite my public pronouncements that he should not be appointed Chief Justice after the ouster of Atty. [Lourdes] Sereno,” Gadon’s statement read. “As I was telling the media then, seniority in the judiciary means the total number of years in the judiciary including the lower courts, not only the years served in the Supreme Court. And despite my public pronouncements that Associate Justice Carpio may be a subject of impeachment complaint for encroaching on the executive

Liberal Party was already in full swing long before this week’s deferment. Social media was abuzz with memes and Facebook posts in favor of Robredo. Even washed-out columnists emerged from the woodwork to throw in their skewed opinion. Having a lot to lose if Robredo is defeated, LP’s top brass has removed the proverbial kid gloves and opened its war chest to finance an enormous media campaign to discredit Marcos. Notwithstanding the drama, the argument peddled by yellow columnists and pro-Robredo Facebook pages call for the immediate dismissal of the case and frequently cite Rule 65 of the PET as a compelling reason.

She does not want to look into the results of the 2016 elections in the ARMM. It reads as follows: “Dismissal; when proper.—The Tribunal may require the protestant or counter-protestant to indicate, within a fixed period, the province or provinces numbering not more than three, best exemplifying the frauds or irregularities alleged in his petition, and the revision of ballots and reception of evidence will begin with such provinces. If upon examination of such ballots and proof, and after making reasonable allowances, the Tribunal is convinced that, taking all circumstances into account, the protestant or counter- protestant will most probably fail to make out his case, the protest MAY forthwith be dismissed, without further consideration of the other provinces mentioned in the protest.” Two things stand out when you closely examine Rule 65. First, is the use of

the word “may,” which means that the justices are in no way compelled to dismiss the case solely based on the results in the manual recount. More so, her recovery of votes as alleged in the report also puts into question how the elections were managed in the pilot provinces as it showed serious errors and numerous breaches of the protocol were committed. Second, the phrase “taking all circumstances into account,” which means that the manual recount figures in the Caguioa report would only be a part of the facts that would be considered by the magistrates. In a case like this, where the integrity of the entire election process is at stake, it is paramount that the justices take a big-picture approach in resolving this case. In truth, there are a lot of mitigating circumstances that are reason enough “erfor this case to move forward. The “er rors” found in the pilot provinces would pale in comparison to what the PET could uncover should it decide to proceed with Bongbong’s third cause of action calling for a technical examination of election results in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan. Is this the reason why Robredo and her team are moving heaven and earth to dismiss the case, so they could stop the reception of evidence of massive cheating in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections? Marcos’ camp alleges that massive fraud happened in the ARMM. This position was bolstered by the findings in a technical report from Comelec on another election protest alleging that up to 80 percent of votes cast were fake. Safe to say that if this is true, Leni’s days as vice president are numbered. The PET should decide on the case once and for all because further delays only damage their reputation as swift dispensers of justice. It is no longer just about determining who loses or wins but ultimately who stands for the truth. Justice or not.

hero in human progress—a natural resource vital for conservation of life, environmental protection, and economic development. It cannot be gainsaid that the role of water spans from the nuclear to the astronomical. Yet this "giver of life" is threatened by various adversities. Local incidents of water scarcity are fast becoming normal occurrences because of extended El Niño conditions resulting from climate change. Our sewerage systems are antiquated, if not defunct or nonexistent, and far too neglected—he fact that urban informal settlers by the creeks use the same as their bathrooms and trash bins has reached the status of common knowledge. That water has become an ironically expensive resource is ever more apparent, and unstable access to potable water is afflicting more and more areas over time. While their importance is all too obvious, the state of the Philippines' water supply and water sanitation appear hopelessly grim. The principal duty of the State and the water industry to supply drinking water and provide top-notch wastewater services through provisions of sewage and septage treatments to households and businesses needs no further emphasis. People have perpetually guarded themselves against water contamination and have evolved from conveying raw waste to natural bodies of water to devising complex sewerage systems. In more ways than one, water and water quality has been a strategic resource which can cause considerable health, sanitation,

and biodiversity impacts. Its sociological effects also proliferate in the cultural and economic lives of each individual.” Acknowledging the basic tenet that water is a vital part of human existence, the Supreme Court introduces in Maynilad vs. DENR the Pubic Trust doctrine. This is an excellent development and long-warranted not just for water resources but also for all utilization of natural resources whether by the state or by private entities the state entrusts the utilization of natural resources, too. Justice Hernando’s opinion is brilliant and innovative as it links the better-known doctrines of the Regalian doctrine and parens patriae to the Public Trust doctrine using the latter to give a new interpretation to the former doctrines, filling up gaps in the current jurisprudence. Justice Leonen’s concurring opinion is also brilliant in nuancing the same doctrines and emphasizing the significance of the introduction of Public Trust in our jurisprudence. For sure, the result of this new approach to natural resources it that it puts an additional strain upon the duty of the water industry to comply with the laws and regulations of the land. And that is good for public health and for all of us. In my next column, I will elaborate on the reasoning of the court and how it reached this great environmental outcome.

ments in his lifestyle. Eventually, things started to look up. He was getting invitations to travel and do lectures, he was developing his Camino Rizal tour in Madrid, and had in fact conducted a few, and, he was preparing to go to Venice this month for the Biennale. Thus, getting the news that he passed was surreal. I said that it must be a sick joke. I could not believe it, I did not want to believe it even as Tesa confirmed it to me. Carlos left because he was going to be punished for a “crime” under an Spanish-era law that is completely biased towards religion. He went on vol-

untary exile. Carlos loved his country. He loved Manila. He pursued social justice, human rights, and women’s rights. He was uprooted because of the “offending the religious feelings” law that allows and reinforces bigotry. Such was used against him. Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code must be repealed. We owe it to Carlos Celdran. He had health problems and he was open about those. But as far as I am concerned, Carlos Celdran’s case is death by bigotry.

prerogatives over the issue of South China Sea. Thus, I respect him for his objectivity for meting out a suspension of mere three months after 10 years that the case was filed,” his statement further read. “I also take note of the objectivity of Associate Justice Caguioa for concurring with the three months suspension despite public knowledge that I have been very critical of the snail paced process of and the glaring bias and treatment of the protest of Senator Bongbong, Gadon added. In fact, Gadon says the three-month suspension “is a silver lining compared to being kicked out as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in obvious refer-

ence to Sereno whose appointment as Chief Justice was invalidated. But of course, Gadon would not be himself if he would not be giving his “bobo” critics a ribbing. “I am so amused and elated that the three-month suspension has been a toast of national news when other lawyers who get disbarred or suspended for two years did not merit any attention by the public,” noted Gadon. According to Gadon, his three-month suspension was a result of a case of disbarment filed against him for using temperate and insulting language on a fellow lawyer, and not on some stupid action taken by some lawyers, particularly, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

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Tossing back the responsibility to the SC en banc would require time to examine the case. Rather, Caguioa cockily induced his colleagues to contest his shoddy draft to wisely cover the truth that his principal motive was to delay the case by all conceivable technicalities. His motive was to mire the petition into receiving INDEED, there is a sinister move to evidence of fraud he purposely omitted. further delay the decision rendered by It was in that predicament why the justhat shameless classmate of B.S Aqui- tices have to set aside the shoddy draft no in the most desperate attempt to because the Court is under obligation to throw out the petition by sheer tech- make a decision based on evidence. On the other hand, to affirm the disnicality. This we have to state because the decision to postpone made by the missal of the petition is to reward the Supreme Court on the draft decision classmate by delaying further the pemade by the chairman of the Pres- tition until such time when the period idential Electoral Tribunal already to decide would finally lapse to render amounts to maliciously vexing the the office sought for functus oficio. In effect, the Supreme Court will bear the rightful cause of the petitioner. According to sources, the over- brunt for dismissing or delaying in comwhelming majority of the justices want ing out a decision in violation its own rules. Invariably, to pursue the case, it would have the which is to proeffect of absolving ceed to the recepthe classmate betion of evidence to Once again, cause the court was determine if there given not enough was an electoral demagoguery has time to decide on fraud in the vice triumphed over our the merits of the presidential condemocratic process. petition. test referring to To repeat, when the 263,473 votes courts demand speassailed in the election results in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and cial fee called protest fee from protestNegros Oriental. “The reception of ev- ing candidates for a recount of the elecidence is to determine if there was an tion result, the court is under obligation actual electoral fraud in the vice presi- to conduct a recount unless there are obvious and palpable reasons to deny dential contest.” To postpone the decision is to re- the petition as frivolous. The protest fee ward that tardy classmate for coming partakes of a commitment to do its work out a much-delayed draft that took him in the name of upholding the sacredness more than three years to draft, only to of our democratic electoral system. The be thrown into the wastebasket. Section fee may be costly because it imposes 15, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitu- upon the court a burden to make a retion already gives the Supreme Court count, and courts cannot do away with 24 months to decide after a decision that assignment like dismissing the pewas submitted by the PET under Batas tition as in other cases. This explains why the protest free Pambansa Blg. 884 or “An Act Constituting an Independent Presidential posted by Bongbong Marcos of P36 Electoral Tribunal to Try, Hear and De- million is non-refundable because a cide Election Contests in the Office of recount is a service done by the court. the President and Vice President of the Otherwise, protest free becomes an exPhilippines. Section 4 of Blg. 884 states tortionary process to deter anybody who to quote: SEC. 4. The Tribunal must felt aggrieved by electoral cheating. On decide the contest within 12 months the other hand, if Robredo, as respondafter it is filed. X x x No motion shall ent, loses the case, she has to return all be entertained for the opening of a case the emoluments, allowances and salabut only for the reconsideration of a ries she received for styling herself as decision based on the evidence already vice president. Such does not imply her of record. No party may file more than direct involvement in the commission one motion for reconsideration, copy of fraud but is unavoidable because she of which shall be served upon the ad- is the direct beneficiary of that fraud. verse party who shall answer it within Otherwise, such would constitute an ilfive days after the receipt thereof. Any legal disbursement of fund. Should that day come when the peripetition for reconsideration must be resolved within 10 days after it is submit- od to render a decision lapses by inacted for resolution. X x x SEC. 5. In case tion, the court cannot declare respondthe protestant is declared the winner, he ent guilty of electoral fraud. Robredo shall assume office by taking his oath can trot around as the resurrected icon in accordance with the Constitution as of democracy and freedom. The classsoon as the judgment has become final. mate can shout to high heavens for This laggard classmate of B.S. Aqui- saving the entire Filipino electorate by no grossly violated the privileges ac- his legal prowess of circumventing the corded by law. The 12 months accord- law—which allowed her to win as vice ed to PET to decide already exceeded president fraudulently by technicalithree years. This shameless classmate ty. Gullible Filipinos will be lured by is so cocky that to dismiss the case, he propaganda to believing that indeed she expects the petitioner to appeal to the won the vice presidency. In the end, she High Court proper to reverse his shoddy could become a towering political chaldecision for violating of Section 15, Ar- lenger against the administration, and ticle VIII if the Constitution, to quote: this is the tipping point why the yellows “… No decision shall be rendered by want her to win at all costs. Her resurrected popularity will soar any court without expressing therein clearly and distinctly the facts and the to gloss over all her fraudulent past, to be remembered this time as the chamlaw on which it is based.” The shameless classmate put the en- pion of our faith and honesty primed tire collegial body in a bind to further to become the next president in this delay the decision by forcing the major- God-forsaken land of ours. The justices will start seeking to get ity of the members to conduct their own examination to prove the claim of fraud the favor by political patronage of bowwhen that aspect should have been done ing to one who conceived the greatest by the PET. Effectively, the Supreme electoral perfidy of our time. Since our Court acquiesced to the anomalous judicial system can be swayed by their strategy of the classmate to set aside his political loyalty to one in power, it is shoddy decision they suspect was rigged predicted that the present government and was wantonly biased. For that, they would find it more difficult to gain the can no longer point the blame on him support of people because their decimuch that it was premeditated as a trap sion could be translated to one of levby his submission of the draft decision erage to be identified to one in political by the nick of time to prevent the case power. Once again, demagoguery has triumphed over our democratic process. from becoming moot and academic. If the justices opted to proceed with the reception of evidence, necessarily it rpkapunan@gmail.com

“I was not suspended due to ignorance and stupidity like what Atty. Chel Diokno did in filing the Petition for the Writ of Kalikasan where he failed to secure the authorization of the alleged petitioners who turned out to have no knowledge and permission to use their names. And also for ignorance of procedures that Judicial Affidavits must be attached to the Petition,” Gadon stressed. Gadon says suspension is common among tough and well-known fighter lawyers. “Sometimes it is hard to resist being sarcastic using insulting language on the shallow arguments of a fellow lawyer which was the ground for the

suspension,” he says adding that the suspension order is petty which happens to lawyers whose emotional outburst cannot be avoided under unique circumstances. Nonetheless, even with his suspension, whether its effectivity has commenced on the date of publication which was last June 26 and should have therefore lapsed, or still has to take effect upon his receipt of the copy of the order, Gadon’s stock has never diminished or has ever been affected at all. As a matter of fact, another lawyer friend jokingly commented Gadon’s suspension might even be proof he has already arrived.

News

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lanao Sur opened to mass anti-polio vaccination M ARAWI CITY—Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Bombit Adiong Jr. has opened the province to mass anti-polio vaccination, as health authorities have set immunization of childten zero to five years old on Oct. 14.

This developed as Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong invited local chief executives of the province’s 36 municipalities, and other ofﬁcials to a Provincial Board inquiry on a reported outbreak of polio, recurring in the country after 19 years. Last month, health authorities announced an outbreak of polio, 19 years after the World Health Organization declared the country free of the infectious disease. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

is also helping the province cope with the current polio health issue, deemed to have reached an epidemic proportion in the country by health authorities. The Provincial Board’s Committee on Health has announced on billboards and tarpaulin sheets conspicuously hung on strategic places that a Mass Polio Immunization activity will be held, by reaching out to all barangays—house-to-house on Oct. 14. Adrew Morris, UNICEF regional representative, said Local Government Units would have to ensure support for

a wider Polio Campaign Coverage. Morris said an effective antipolio campaign would have to enlist the support of the Municipal Health Offices, along with the strengthening of Barangay Health Workers, recognizing the importance of emergency calamity funds, and coordinating with barangay officials and the community people. Health Secretary Francisco Duque Jr. said government scientists had confirmed a “reemergence of polio,” citing a case in Lanao del Sur and another suspected case of the disease. Duque blamed the polio return in Lanao Sur, a predominantly Muslim province, on “poor immunization coverage,” “lack of sanitation and proper hygiene and poor surveillance by health workers.” In contrast, the five daily prayers

performed in the world’s Muslim regions, prescribe strict practice of hygiene. “A single conﬁrmed polio case of vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 or two positive environmental samples that are genetically linked isolated in two different locations is considered an epidemic in a poliofree country,” Duque added. Dr. Alinader Minalang of Integrated Provincial Health Ofﬁce said polio, known as “poliomyelitis,” was a highly contagious viral infection that could lead to paralysis, breathing problems, or even death. Minalang said the main cause of polio was “poliovirus,” a virus that spreads from person-to-person (fecal-oral route) and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord. Nash B. Maulana

Manila

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Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

3 are as follows:

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SPC ISLAND POWER CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rate: 1. Dispatchable Reserve (DR): PhP0.85/kW/hr

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity Applicable Rate: 1. Contingency Reserve (CR): PhP2.25/kW/hr (max) 2. Dispatchable Reserve (DR): PhP1.25/kW/hr (max) xxx

Incidental Energy Cost Cost of Incidental Energy (“IE”) shall be computed using the formula below:

ERC CASE NO. 2019-061 RC NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SPC ISLAND POWER CORPORATION, Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------------x

IECR = {[G* (AR + Fuel + VOM)] - REVWESM-G} + {[PminCR * (Fuel + VOM)] - REVWESM-PminCR} IEDR = {[G* (AR + Fuel + VOM)] - REVWESM-G}

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

14.

Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery of its opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

15.

The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

Notice is hereby given that on 16 August 2019, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and SPC Island Power Corporation (SIPC) filed an Application, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

Ancillary Service

The pertinent provisions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1.

PDPP 1 Dispatchable Reserve PDPP 3 Dispatchable Reserve * Contingency Reserve w/o Pmin * Contingency Reserve w/ Pmin

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and SIPC dated 3 July 2019, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

Applicant SIPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal place of business at 7th Floor Citibank Center, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of the Panay Diesel Power Plants 1 and 3 (“Generation Facility”) located at Dingle, Iloilo City which was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the forms of, among others, Contingency Reserve (“CR”) and Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”). ANTECEDENT FACTS

Republic Act No. 9136 (“EPIRA”) provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”)2, adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system.3

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs to the ERC.4

AS as defined in Section 4(b) of the EPIRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on different dates published in newspapers of general circulation a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services.

On 4 September 2013, the Applicants filed an application for the approval of its ASPA dated 18 April 2013 docketed as ERC Case No. 2013-181RC. Through the Order dated 11 November 2013, the Honorable Commission provisionally approved the application, viz:.

WHEREFORE, the foregoing premises considered, the Commission hereby PROVISIONALLY APPROVES the application filed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and SPC Island Power Corporation (SIPC) for the approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA), subject to the following conditions:

16.

Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Visayas.

17.

The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence immediately upon the effectivity of the provisional approval, or in the absence thereof, the final approval of the instant Application. In the event that the provisional or final approval, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties.

18.

SIPC, as a generation company, falls within the ambit of Sections 6 of the EPIRA. Attached are copies of relevant documents proving SIPC’s due registration as a generation company, relevant permits to operate the Generation Facility and audited financial statements, as follows:

Due to the necessity of extending the services of providing the same ancillary services, the Applicants again entered into a new ASPA. NGCP agreed to procure and SIPC agreed to supply AS in the forms of CR (non-firm contracted capacity) and DR (firm and non-firm contracted capacities). A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement between NGCP and SIPC dated 3 July 2019 (with Addendum to the ASPA of SIPC - Clarification on Schedules 1 and 3 dated 25 July 2019) is attached as Annex “A”.

20.

As mentioned above, the Honorable Commission has already declared that there is a necessity for NGCP to procure the contracted ancillary services capacity of SIPC to maintain the reliability of the operation of the transmission system and electricity supply in the Visayas Grid.

21.

SIPC must continue to provide the current contracted ancillary services beyond the 2013 ASPA to maintain the reliability of the power grid. Based on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Visayas Grid, the firm contracted AS have not yet met the required levels of the ASPP. The copies of the relevant actual data and its corresponding graphical presentations showing the required and available levels of AS in the Visayas Grid, entitled: Visayas Contingency Reserve Availability and Visayas Dispatchable Reserve Availability are attached hereto as Annexes “J” and “J-1”, respectively.

22.

NGCP must be guaranteed that there are available AS on a daily basis to assure reliability of the grid. There is no assurance that the non-firm capacities would be available when needed. NGCP cannot gamble on this chance. As the grid operator, the contracted capacity of SIPC, especially its firm capacities, are greatly needed.

23.

Thus, NGCP and SIPC agreed to execute another ASPA for a period of another five years. With this ASPA, the Visayas Grid is assured of AS until 2024.

24.

Also, as the demand for power in the Visayas increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

25.

Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Visayas Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Riza C. Ereño of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is attached as Annex “K”. PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

For PDPP 1: Under Accreditation No. 2019-V0016

For PDPP 3: Under Accreditation No. 2019-V0017 CR (Manual Mode) Charlie - 7.0MW; Echo - 7.0MW; Golf - 8.0MW; Hotel 8.0MW DR (Manual Mode) Charlie - 12.0MW; Echo - 12.0MW; Golf - 13.0MW; Hotel -13·0MW

Firm Contracted Capacity:

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

Panay Diesel Power Plant (PDPP) 1:

The name and address of such person;

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - up to 10MW, 24hrs

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

However, in the meantime that the 230kV Cebu Negros Panay backbone is not yet completed, NGCP may schedule the Service Provider only during hours when the Dispatchable Reserve capacity will not be subject to transmission line constraint. Once the transmission line constraints are addressed by the transmission upgrades, the Service Provider shall be scheduled for 24 hours. B.

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 3 July 2019 (with Addendum to the ASPA of SIPC - Clarification on Schedules 1 and 3 dated 25 July 2019); and

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 23 October 2019 (Wednesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at Seda Atria, Pison Avenue, Atria Park District San Rafael, Mandurriao Iloilo City.

FIRM AND NON-FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, SIPC shall provide NGCP with the following AS as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA, follows:

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

The copies of NGCP Accreditation Certificate Nos. 2019-V0016 and 2019-V0017 both dated 5 April 2019 are attached as Annexes “B” and “B-1”, respectively.

Non-Firm Contracted Capacity: PDPP 1:

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. (This space is intentionally left blank.)

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - up to 5.0MW If Non-Firm DR is not scheduled, the unscheduled unit may serve as a standby replacement unit in case a scheduled unit for Firm DR becomes unavailable.

“I”

It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPIRA). To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS.

During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Generation Facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing:

DR (Manual Mode) Unit 2 - 5.0MW; Unit 3 - 5.0MW; Unit 5 - 5.0MW

Annex “D” “E” “F” “G” “H”

19.

xxx”

0.0665 0.0377 0.1253

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

An initial evaluation of the instant application discloses that the ASPA entered into by and between NGCP and SIPC will redound to the benefit of the consumers in terms of continuous, reliable, efficient and affordable power supply as mandated by the EPIRA [Section 2. Declaration of Policy - (b) “to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power].

11.

0.0168

32.8594 18.6105 61.8754

While SIPC is a co-applicant, it manifests that the instant Application shall neither modify, diminish or constitute a waiver of SIPC’s rights nor expand its obligations and responsibilities as a generation company under EPIRA.

“The Commission believes that the contracted Ancillary Services capacity is needed to augment the deficiency in the Ancillary Services reserve capacity. This will ensure reliability in the operation of the transmission system and the electricity supply in the Visayas Grid.

10.

8.2836

731.38 414.23 1,377.21

Document Certificate of Compliance (COC No. 16-11-M-00286hhV Summary of Existing Power Supply “E” Agreement Certificate of Incorporation (SEC Reg. No. “F” A200106300) 2019 General Information Sheet Audited Financial Statement (for the year ended 31 December 2018) Certification issued by Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Inc., dated 25 October 2018

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary ServicesCost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

184.37

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation for SPC Island Power Corporation - Panay Diesel Power Plants 1 & 3 (SIPC - PDPP 1 & 3) is attached as Annex “C”.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Indicative Rate Impact Php/kWPhp/kWh month equivalent

*For comparison only

THE PARTIES 2.

Cost, Php Mn

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 24th day of September 2019 in Pasig City.

PDPP 3: Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve) - up to 30MW Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve) - up to 50MW JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for the Legal Service

xxx If scheduled as CR, it can no longer be scheduled for DR. Note that the capacities listed above are in the maximum ancillary service capacities that can be provided from each generating unit. However, nomination and scheduling of capacities shall be based on the latest AS Certificates.

2 3

13.

The Applicable Rates for the capacity covered by the ASPA as provided in Schedule

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (c); Section 9 (d); Section 6.3.1.2; (MS-OCT 5 & 12, 2019)

TOP 20. Bureau of Customs Port of Subic expressed gratitude to the Top 20 Revenue Contributors of the Port for the 3rd quarter of the Year 2019 by CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK awarding Plaques of Recognition. The awarding is led by the District Collector, Maritess T. Martin, together with her Deputy Collector for Assessment Bienvenido Entico, Law Division chief Willie Sarmiento, and Chief Assessment Division, Belinda Lim. The Port of Subic has reached its full year Target this September with a Surplus of P7 billion.

Drilon wants nurses’ salaries now upgraded By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon urged the Senate Committee on Finance Friday to look for means to fund the increase in the salaries of government nurses following the Supreme Court ruling that upheld that the minimum base pay of entry-level nurses should not be lower than salary grade 15. “We should look for ways to provide the necessary funding to implement the Philippine Nursing Act which we passed when I was Senate President in 2002,” Drilon said. Drilon explained that under the present salary scheme, the minimum base pay of nurses in public hospitals should be P30,531, the equivalent of SG 15 as provided for in the law. “There are excess fats in the P4.1-trillion 2020 spending outlay which we can use to augment the minimum base pay of thousands of government nurses in accordance with the Republic Act 9173 and pursuant to the ruling of the Supreme Court,” Drilon stressed. The proposed 2020 national budget is being heard in the Senate and will be brought to the ﬂoor for deliberation when Congress re-

sumes session in November. Drilon said that there are around 7,193 authorized nurse 1 positions in government, which will entail additional P1 billion to implement RA 9173 starting 2020. “If the government is willing to buy a P2-billion jet and if it can boldly ask Congress for a recordbreaking P8.2-billion intelligence and confidential fund, I do not see any reason why we cannot fund the adjustment in the salary of our nurses,” Drilon said. Drilon identified three possible funding sources: The Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, the proposed budget for the 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and some unutilized revenues from the Sin Tax Law. He stressed: “We owe it to our nurses who provide patients 24/7 health care in overcrowded government hospitals, which sometimes comes at the expense of their own health and wellbeing.” Republic Act 9173, or the Philippine Nursing Act, Drilon explained, clearly provides that “the minimum base pay of nurses working in the public health institutions shall not be lower than salary grade 15.”

Duterte’s diplomatic refocus bears fruits, says Villafuerte By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s focus on Russia will result in wider diplomatic, security and commercial ties with that country. The same will be true with the countries in Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East where the Duterte administration will seek better ties, Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said. “President Duterte shifted his foreign policy recalibration to high gear during his just-concluded official visit to Russia that has led to stronger economic ties between Manila and Moscow,” Villafuerte said. Villafuerte added that President Duterte’s “friendship” with Russia has borne fruit as that country expressed for the Philippine’s anti-terrorism campaign. “We expect stronger economic and political relations between Manila and other nations, including non-traditional allies, following the President’s commitment to further expand his foreign policy thrusts to include Latin America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East in the remaining half of his presidency,” said Villafuerte, who was part of the President’s official delegation to Moscow. At the same time, Villafuerte commended the President for seeking better protection for migrant Filipinos in pushing a labor deal for OFWs during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the President’s official visit to Russia, the Philippines signed at least 10 business deals estimated to be worth $12.57 million. The President said the gains “we have made in this visit bring us a step closer to our objective of a stable, comfortable and secure life for all Filipinos.”

7 ‘trafficking’ victims rescued By Vito Barcelo SEVEN suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after they were intercepted for possessing spurious travel documents. “These fraud syndicates continue to ignore our warnings. There will be no letup in our campaign against human trafficking and their victims will not be allowed to leave if they are caught,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said. Morente issued the statement after the seven passengers were stopped from leaving the country in three separate instances at Terminals 3 and 1 of the NAIA. The five passengers pretended to be tourists in attempting to leave for Malaysia. “They admitted paying their re-

cruiters fees ranging from P125,000 to P175,000 each in exchange for processing their jobs and travel papers to Australia, which was their ﬁnal destination,” according to BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina. The passengers were reportedly accompanied by a woman who was also stopped due to a pending court cases of estafa and illegal recruitment. “They also presented fraudulently manufactured employee IDs which were given to them by their handlers to make it appear that they are gainfully employed here and are thus legitimate tourists,” Medina added. Earlier, the BI’s travel control and enforcement unit reported that a Malaysia-bound woman was intercepted also at NAIA 3 for having a spurious United Kingdom visa and tampered pages on her passport.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Mondilla, Bibat catch Alido at the helm as Lascuña lurks D AVAO— Clyde Mondilla and Michael Bibat birdied the last hole from close range in separate ﬂights, carding a 68 and 70, respectively, and catching halfway leader Ira Alido at the helm in a thrilling third round duel in the ICTSI South Paciﬁc Classic here yesterday. And Tony Lascuña guaranteed a final round shootout by coming through with his own version of a 68 that pulled him within one stroke off the leaders and kept him on track for a third straight championship after winning in Taiwan and at Apo the last two weeks. “The pressure is now them,” said Lascuña, who started the day four shots off Alido but gunned down six birdies at the South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates to negate a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 No. 3. Alido rued his day-long bout with his balky putter, missing three birdie chances from close range but his 71 and a 209 still lined him up for a breakthrough win in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI. “I flubbed three short birdie putts (Nos. 4, 10 and 13),” rued the 18-year-old Alido, out not only for his maiden victory but also to erase the stigma of his final round fold at Philippine Golf Tour Asia leg at Wack Wack which he led in the third round but wavered in the last 18 holes and wound up fifth. “I need to stay focused on my game,” said Alido. He also needs to watch out for Mondilla and Bibat, two veterans also motivated by desire to end a slump in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., and Lascuna, who threatened at 210. Mondilla, whose form took a dip after claiming the Philippine Open at The Country Club last April, pressed his bid with four birdies in the first 15 holes. He stumbled with a bogey on the 17th but recovered the stroke with a birdie from four feet on the 18th. Bibat, still in pursuit of a crown since winning at Palos Verdes in 2013, actually took charge with a four-birdie binge at the front. But the former Asian Games bronze medalist, who lost to Juvic Pagunsan in a playoff in Iloilo last June, hobbled at the back, bogeying Nos. 12, 14 and 17 but

rolled in a six-footer for birdie on the last to gain a shot at the crown worth P550,000. The rest would need to shoot low rounds to sneak into the title picture with Richard Sinfuego and obscure Rico Depilo

moving to joint fifth but three strokes behind the leaders at 212 after a 71 and 72, respectively. Japanese Ryo Nishimura and Fidel Concepcion from Australia emerged as the top foreign bets after 54 holes at 213 after a 66 and 71, respectively, in a tie with Paul Echavez, who shot a 70, while KoreanAmerican Micah Shin rallied with a 68 but stood five shots behind at 214 with Japanese Kei Matsuoka and Ferdie Aunzo, who carded 70 and 71, respectively.

Students from General Trias City and Imus City, who will represent the Philippines in the Pattaya Chess Club Open 2019 slated October 19 to 24 in Pattaya, Thailand— face the media during their formal introduction.

Micarsos leads PH youth team JILLIAN Cait Micarsos (7 years old), Jewelle Anascio (7), Tyrone James Tabernilla (11) and Mia Michaela Rigo (15)—students of Academia de Julia Victoria—will banner an eight-man Imus squad that will compete in the Pattaya Chess Club Open 2019 slated from October 19 to 24 in Pattaya, Thailand. Calling the shots for the Imus team is City of Imus Chess Association founding president coach Assi Legaspi Bagaipo, Cavite delegation head coach Ederwin Estavillo and Academia de Julia Victoria coach Israel “Ice” Landicho backed up by City of Imus Chess Association founding chairman mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi, Cavite 3rd District Representative Alex “AA” Advincula and Vice Mayor Arnel “Ony” Cantibuhan. Other members of the Imus team, also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission through National Chess Federation of the Philippines of deputy-secretary general and executive director FA Red Dumuk, are Lovelyn Sarcilla (15, Gen. Tomas Mascardo National High School ), Lorenz Diaz (12, La Trinidad Academy), Rei Vincent Cayabyab (11, Saint Edward) and Enriche Nalundasan (12, Saint Edward). Imus Chess Association founding president coach Assi Legaspi Bagaipo yesterday said they are ready for the showdown and are geared to showcase their chess skills. “We know we have a huge task to prove our capabilities at the Pattaya, Thailand chess meet. However, we have a young squad that is hungry for success and eager to market themselves through this tournament. A win will boost our morale. We are fully prepared for the Pattaya chess meet,” he said. Cavite Delegation Head coach Ederwin Estavillo added, “I am confident that we are not going to just add numbers, but to compete.” “I wish the team all the best,” said Academia de Julia Victoria coach Israel “Ice” Landicho. Manila

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TODAY

Clyde Mondilla watches the flight of his ball after a making a shot from the fairway.

UP Fighting Maroons face UE Red Warriors as UAAP action resumes cord, behind the unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles. They will again bank on the big games THE University of the Philippines Fight- of Kobe Paras, who chipped in 22 points ing Maroons may have suffered their the last time around. The Warriors (3-6) will loss this season against seek to bounce back from the Far Eastern UniGames today their 73-101 loss to the versity Tamaraws last (Mall of Asia Arena) 2 p.m. – AdU vs NU (Men) University of Santo ToSunday but substitute 4 p.m. – UP vs UE (Men) mas Growling Tigers. coach Ricky Dandan is Earlier, the Adamson not disappointed and is Falcons will meet the still satisfied at how the team stood up against the Tams when they National University Bulldogs at 2 p.m. Dandan said the team showed character lost in overtime, 79-82. Dandan, who is subbing for suspended when they fought their way back from 16 coach Bo Perasol, will be around when the points. “That’s their potential that showed. We Fighting Maroons clash with the University of the East Warriors at 4 p.m. today in were down what, sixteen or seventeen the 82nd University Athletic Association points? And they made a r un, made a of the Philippines men’s basketball tour- game out of it. They could have just easily given up—they could have easily nament at the Mall of Asia Arena. “We can’t be satisfied. We’re in the mid- done that, but no. They chose to fight and dle of the tournament already. We didn’t make the game out of it, they forced overget the win, so we’ll go back to the drawing time. And it was just breaks of the game board and prepare very hard for UE,” said (that cost us) in overtime,” added Dandan. The Bulldogs, who won over the Tams, Dandan. The Fighting Maroons are still in 85-79, last Wednesday, are banking on the second spot with their 5-3 win-loss re- big games of Dave Ildefonso.

By Peter Atencio

Alphaland hosts Bolico Memorial chess tourney FOLLOWING the successful staging of the first Joshwe Bolico Chess Memorial in 2019, Red Kings is staging the second edition on November 24, 2019 at the Alphaland Foodcourt, Magallanes, Makati. The tournament offers more than P150,000 in total cash prize with the champion bagging P40,000. Around 60 teams are expected to participate with the country’s leading titled woodpushers leading the way. The team of Fide Master Randy Segarra and former San Beda stalwarts Richard Villaseran and Joseph Navarro looms as one of the title favorites. The tournament which is organized in memory of former chess prodigy National Master Joshwe Bolico, will feature teams of four players with a maximum average Elo rating of 2100 with maximum of one titled player per team and one lady titled player. A side individual tournament is slated for kiddies players (14 years old and below) and offers 4,000 to the champion. The tournament will be seven-round Swiss System and will utilize time control of 20 minutes plus five seconds delay. Match points system will be implemented. For registration, teams may contact organizer Erwin Tabor thru 09278749017. Early bird registration fee is 3,000 per team and P400 for the kiddies individual.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The MARINO Party-list is hereby serving notice to inform the public of its updated list of nominees as approved by the Commission on Elections En Banc through Resolution 19-0931 promulgated on 7 October 2019. The following are the nominees of the Marino Party-list: DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extra-Judicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the late MARIANO CARMONA RAMIREZ, namely: Emelina B. Ramirez, widow, Jonathan B. Ramirez, married, Rammel B. Ramirez married, Criselda R. Carmona, married, Elmar B. Ramirez, married, and Sheryl B. Ramirez-Maderazo, married all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 22 November 2018 before Notary Public Atty. Ben John A. Maralit Doc. No. 190; Page No. 38; Book No.11; Series of 2018

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Estate of EMMA V. TEODORO was extra-judicially settled among heirs as per Doc. No. 195; Page No. 39; Book No. 25-A; series of 2019 before Notary Public Atty. Jose Floro P. Crisologo of Quezon City.

(MS-OCT. 5/12/19, 2019)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Carlo Lisandro L. Gonzalez Macnell M. Lusotan Rodel E. Castro William George L. Estanislao Francis Joseph P. Tiu

Quezon City, 9 October 2019 By: ANNA VANESSA GATMAITAN Secretary General Marino Party-list

(MS-12, 19 & 26, 2019)

ERRATUM

(MS-Oct. 12, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation

This refers to the ERC Notice Case No. 2019031 CF of SFELAPCO which was published last October 9, 2019. The following should have read as follows: 1. In 5.6., “Annex p” should be “Annex F” 2. In 8., “franchise tax is a pass-1through item” should be “franchise tax is a pass-through item” 3. In Prayer (2.), “PhP o.01367” should be “PhP 0.01367” 4. In the footnotes section, (2.), “See 3d paragraph” should be “See 3rd paragraph” (MS-OCT. 12, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that REPOWER ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Hydropower Resources [1.50 MW Tignoan River (Upper Cascade) Hydroelectric Power Project] in Barangay Tanauan, Real Quezon to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513). Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

TOLL REGULATORY BOARD 5th Floor, The Columbia Tower, Barangay Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City 1550

NOTICE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ADD-ON TOLL RATE PHASE 1 OF SEGMENT 1 (R-1 EXPRESSWAY) ENHANCEMENT OF THE MANILA-CAVITE TOLL EXPRESSWAY) Notice is hereby given that the Toll Regulatory Board has approved the Petition for Approval of the Add-on Agreed Toll Rate for Phase 1 of Segment 1 (R-1 Expressway) Enhancement of the ManilaCavite Toll Expressway Project, jointly filed by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), granting the PRA and CIC the authority to collect the add-on toll rates. Consequently, the following adjusted toll rates, incorporating the approved add-on toll rates, inclusive of Value-Added Tax, are allowed to be implemented effective October 24, 2019 at 12:01 a.m., and upon PRA and CIC’s compliance with the legal requirements outlined under the 2013 TRB Rules of Procedure, and other relevant laws and jurisprudence: R1-Expressway (Seaside to Zapote), 6.475 kms.

AUTHORIZED RATE PRIOR TO ADJUSTMENT (2009)

(SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service (MS-OCT. 12, 2019)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that REPOWER ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Hydropower Resources [1.40 MW Labayat River (Lower Cascade) Hydroelectric Power Project] in Barangay Lubayat, Real Quezon to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513). Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service

VAT Inclusive

Vehicle Class

ADD-ON TOLL RATE TO CAVITEX ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, PHASE 1

TOTAL ADJUSTED RATE

Class 1

P 24.00

P1.00

P25.00

Class 2

P 48.00

P2.00

P50.00

Class 3

P 72.00

P3.00

P75.00

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City. October 10, 2019. By Authority of the Board: (SGD) ENGR. ABRAHAM P. SALES Executive Director II/Hearing Officer

Date of First Publication: October 12, 2019

(MS-OCT. 12, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

Columbian Dyip routs Blackwater By Jerick Lopez COLUMBIAN Dyip got back on the winning track with a systematic demolition of Blackwater, 102-90, to notch a much needed win in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Friday night. The triumvirate of Rashawn McCarthy, CJ Paerez and Khapri Alston led the charge once again for the aspiring Dyip. McCarthy took home team-high honors with 25 points while Perez and Alston each scored 24 markers with the latter adding 20 rebounds for a double-double. Behind the trio’s offensive exploits, Columbian gained an early lead that set the tone for the rest of the contest. The Dyip was off to a rousing start, opening a double-digit lead right away, 28-18, at the end of one. Gaining its bearings, Columbian protected its lead in the middle quarters, heading into the fourth with a 77-67 advantage. Nothing changed in the payoff period as the Dyip remained in the driver’s seat until securing the smooth victory. Columbian enjoyed its biggest lead of 15 points multiple times in the final 12 minutes. The Dyip improved to 3-2 to get itself back in the thick of things in the upper echelon of the standings. On the other side, the Elite suffered a critical defeat, falling to 1-3 near the bottom of the heap. The returning Aaron Fuller top scored with 26 points and 10 rebounds for his double-double in the losing cause for Blackwater. Meanwhile, San Miguel (3-0) and Magnolia (3-1) are locked in a titanic battle, as of this report, to see who takes No. 2 in the standings. The scores: Columbian Dyip 102—Rashawn McCarthy 25, Khapri Alston 24, CJ Perez 24, Reden Celda 12, Juami Tiongson 8, Jackson Corpuz 5, Joseph Gabayni 2, Andreas Cahilig 2, Lervin Flores 0, Jonjon Gabriel 0, JP Calvo 0. Blackwater Elite 90—Aaron Fuller 26, Ray Parks 21, Allein Maliksi 9, Roi Sumang 7, Mac Belo 7, Rabeh Al-Hussaini 6, Mike Cortez 5, Carl Bryan Cruz 5, Mike Digregorio 3, Chris Javier 1, Paul Desiderio 0, Diego Dario 0. Quarter scores: 28-18, 49-42, 77-67, 102-90.

Kim Aurin (with the ball) of the Perpetual Altas glides to the hoop as he challenges the defense of Jeo Ambohot (18) of Letran during the third quarter of their match, Friday, October 11, 2019 at NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament held at Fil Oil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. Dennis Abrina

Knights trounce Altas to advance to Final 4 By Peter Atencio

HE Letran Knights are back in the Final Four. Jerrick Balanza and Christian Balagasay showed the way for the Knights’ bid to gain a semis berth for a second straight year in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament. Balanza and Balagasay eked out 18 points apiece as the Letran Knights put away the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 88-69, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. Knights coach Bonnie Tan noted that the game of many of his players are reaching their peak, after they notched their 11th win in 17 games. “Hopefully, bumabalik na ang mga laro nila,” said Tan now that the Knights have secured the no. 3 seeding in the Final Four. Meanwhile, the second seeded Lyceum Pirates, with Jaycee Marcelino

knocking in 23 points, won over the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 77-64, in a no-bearing match that improved their slate to 13-4. In the junior division, Maclaude Guadana hit a triple with 16 seconds left to carry the Lyceum Junior Pirates to a 70-69 triumph over the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers. This moved the Junior Pirates closer to the no. 2 Final Four berth with their 11-6 slate. Letran’s Fran Yu, back from an injury, joined Balanza and Balagasay during a big scoring in the second quar-

ter, making nine of 14 points as the Knights moved away from a close, 2216, advantage in the first quarter. Balanza made seven points and Balagasay added six points leading the Knights to a 50-30 halftime spread. “Importante ang mga laro namin. Kailangang manalo kami sa parehong laro namin. Dahil ang laro namin ay pataas na. Kapag natalo ay baka bumaba pa,” said Balanza, the team skipper and a member of the 2015 squad that reached the finals. Edgar Charcos and Jielo Razon banged in 15 points apiece for the Altas, who dropped to eighth at 5-11. Andrei Romenez topscored for 15 points as the Perpetual Help Junior Altas eased the Letran Squires out of contention, 81-77, with a drive from Kyle Cuevas in the last 11 seconds sending the Junior Altas to their sixth win in 14 matches. The loss of the Squires (7-10) put them out of the running.

Motolite Power Builders face BaliPure in PVL tiff

TURNING JAPANESE. Tennis star Naomi Osaka—here with the Toronto Raptors Mascot at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan—has decided to choose Japanese over American nationality with an eye on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Japanese law stipulates that a Japanese with more than one nationality must chose one before turning 22 years old. AFP

MOTOLITE, fired up by its shock fiveset win over PetroGazz the last time out, takes on BaliPure today, Saturday, confident of its chances against a team that has nothing to lose at this crucial stage of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference elims at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. Motolite didn’t only stop PetroGazz’s amazing eight-game streak last Wednesday but its 22-25, 25-13, 25-16, 16-25, 1511 victory also firmed up its hold of the hotly-contested No. 4 slot heading to the last two weeks of the double-round elims. A victory over the also-ran BaliPure side in their 2 p.m. clash will put Motolite in step with third-running BanKo-Perlas at 9-5 for a big cushion over three other teams seeking at least a playoff for the last Final Four seat in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision. They include Choco Mucho and Air Force, which will tangle at 4 p.m. in what could serve as a knockout setto with the Flying Titans (6-8) hoping to stay in the hunt and the Jet Spikers (5-

Games today, Saturday 2 p.m. – Motolite vs BaliPure 4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Air Force

7) likewise seeking to keep their slim hopes alive. With 12 straight victories, Creamline remains the only team assured of a stint in post-season play as PetroGazz missed clinching at least a playoff for the last semis berth after yielding to a surging Motolite. But BaliPure, long out of the race with a 4-10 slate, will surely be going all out to play the spoiler’s role, bow out in style and muddle up the semis race in the tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC. Tots Carlos and Bernadette Flora, who combined with setter Fem Emnas in stopping PetroGazz on its tracks, are again tipped to spearhead Motolite’s charge along with the likes of Aie Gannban, Isa Molde, Jessma Ramos and Myla Pablo, who remained far from regaining her old fierce form following a foot injury.

Judiciary, Malacañang-PSC battle separate rivals in UNTV Cup MALACAÑANG-Philippine Sports Commission tries to add GSIS to its growing list of victims when they clash tomorrow, Sunday while twotime champion Judiciary goes for back-to-back wins in the 8th UNTV Cup at the Pasig City Sports Center. The Malacañang-PSC Kamao battle the Furies at 2 p.m. with the former shooting for their third straight win in the annual tournament designed for public servants. Led by former national pool member Erick dela Cuesta and Ian Garrido, the Kamao started strong by beating NHA, 77-76 and Judiciary, 64-60 in

Games Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – GSIS vs Malacañang-PSC 3:30pm – Ombudsman vs PhilHealth 5 p.m. – Judiciary vs NHA

Group B elims. The Furies, on the other hand, have dropped their first two games and need huge numbers from Rene Boy Banzali if they are to upset the Kamao. Clashing in the other Group B match at 5 p.m. are the Judiciary Magis and the NHA Builders while PhilHealth hopes to chalk up its first win when it tackles Ombudsman in

the lone Group A. Both Judiciary and NHA are sporting similar 1-1 cards, thus guaranteeing another exciting match in the tournament offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team. Also expected to deliver for the Kamao are JA Roque and Visnu Das Javier who also finished in double figures in their win over the Builders. NHA’s Alvin Vitug should be a marked man after exploding for 34 points the last time. Defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines leads Group A with a perfect 3-0 record.

PH Navy, STC-Pasig rule Sepak Takraw meet By Lito Cinco IT WAS the first ever true national championships for sepak takraw with teams from North and South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao qualifying for the event hosted by the Rizal Technological University (RTU) at its newly opened wellness gym. The honor of emerging as inaugural champions in the Philippine Sepak Takraw League-Season 1, Champions’ League went to Philippine Navy (PN) in the men’s division while STC-Pasig ruled the distaff side of the recently-concluded three-day event. PN swept aside host RTU 21-16, 21-13 in the finals while earlier in the semifinals, it was the same story as the Navymen beat DAVNOR from Mindanao 21-14, 21-18, en route to the finals. RTU meanwhile came from behind in the semis against Tandag, losing the first set19-21 before regrouping to take the next two sets 21-18, 21- 12 to book its seat in the finals. “We will send the men’s champion team to the Malaysia Sepak Takraw League tournament on December as an incentive. Definitely the event was a big success in boosting the growing popularity of the sport. At the same time, we made it the test event tournament in preparation for the SEA Games,” said Philippine Sepak Takraw Association Inc. President Karen-Tanchanco Caballero, the moving force behind the growth of the sport in the country. In the women’s side, STC-Pasig won the crown with a similar straight set victory, 21-13, 21-19 in the finals against Sagay. Earlier, Pasig beat Dipolog 21-12, 21-15 in the semis while Sagay took the other finals seat with a 21-12, 21-10 victory against Tandag to advance to the finals. Tournament Director Jolly Labay also disclosed that the PSTA is looking at sending the champion teams here to the Arafura Games and the Asian Championships next year.

Bernzon Franco, here driving strong to the hoop, will likely provide the firepower for the Ombudsman Graftbusters when they clash with the PhilHealth Plus in the UNTV Cup tomorrow.

IN BRIEF

UnionBank taps Now’s 5G network

UNIONBANK of the Philippines tapped Now Corp.’s 5G technology for the bank’s digital transformation. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Oct. 9 to enable UnionBank’s resilient digital transformation with new capabilities and platforms, including the next-generation 5G network technology. The MOU would allow both parties to undertake co-marketing activities to promote Now’s broadband capabilities including NGN and UnionBank’s digital transformation, as well as technological products and services enabled by next generation networks including 5G which both parties may collaborate on. “We are excited to work with UnionBank of the Philippines as we co-market the use of next generation networks which includes 5G,” Now deputy chief executive Rodolfo Pantoja said. “The potential for 5G in financial services would include reduced video lag for realtime video chat and consultations between bankers and consumers, full-power mobile pop-up branches, shift to the cloud for mobile banking, and more accurate fraud detection and cybersecurity,” he said. Now is currently the country’s largest fixed wireless access broadband provider. Using the pioneering Fiber Air technology, it delivers guaranteed broadband services to enterprises and commercial and residential buildings. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Firms told to prepare sustainability reports

P&A Grant Thornton asked Filipino companies to start their sustainability journey. “The sustainability roadmap is a global framework that will inform companies at what particular level they are and from there they can progress to the next level,” Michael Gallego, P&A Grant head of knowledge management, said during the sustainability forum with Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines in Makati City. Data showed that of the 999,000 companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, less than 400 had clearly undertaken steps towards having a sustainability report. Most of them are companies registered at the Philippine Stocks Exchange and banks. “Listed companies are required by regulator to have their distinct sustainability reports. In encouraging more of other Philippine companies to have theirs, we still have a long way to go,” Gallego said. Sustainability should start from strategy to governance to operations, according to Gallego. Othel V . Campos

Vallacar files case vs 4 Yanson siblings over missing vehicles VALLACAR Transit Inc., the country’s largest bus line operator, said it filed a complaint against four Yanson siblings and their accomplices for allegedly taking control and possession of four vehicles belonging to the company. VTI said in a statement material control department head Gary Manayon filed the complaint-affidavit before the City Prosecutor Office in Bacolod City on behalf of the company on Aug. 29 against Ricardo Yanson Jr., Roy Yanson, Emily Yanson and Ma. Lourdes Celina Yanson Lopez along with Jerica Leanne Ramos, Jerina Louise Ramos, Ma. Judy Alcala, Police BGen. Noli A. Romana, PCol. Jomil John S. Trio and other accomplices and/or accessories. VTI authorized the filing of the case against the four Yanson siblings and their accomplices for allegedly conspiring, cooperating and confederating with each other, or indispensably assisting and abetting in the commission, perpetration and/or for their express/tacit conformity and approval of the crimes of Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10883); Grave Coercion under Article 286 of Revised Penal Code; and other applicable crimes. The case stemmed from the accused individuals’ alleged illegal taking of control and possession, with intent to gain, of two Mitsubishi L300 utility vans and two Foton wing-van trucks owned by VTI in July this year. VTI uses the vehicles for its “Ceres Bus” daily transport and logistics support. Representatives of the four Yanson siblings were unavailable for comments as of press time. Established in 1968, the 52-year-old VTI founded by the late Ricardo Yanson Sr. and his wife Olivia V. Yanson, is considered the largest bus conglomerate in the Philippines transporting goods and 700,000 passengers daily. It is the company behind Ceres Liner, Ceres Tours, Sugbo Transit and Sugbo Tours. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

Moody’s keeps 2019 PH growth forecast at 5.8%

BIR seizes P206-m tax stamps, machines

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said it confiscated P206.6 million worth of counterfeit tax stamps and several units of machines used for printing them and packaging bogus cigarette brands in a recent joint operation with police and local government officials in a factory in Villasis, Pangasinan. BIR deputy commissioner Arnel Guballa reported to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III that the operation in September yielded fake tax stamps worth P6.6 million. Twenty units of machines valued at P200 million were also confiscated. The BIR apprehended and seized several printing, gilding, cutting, stamping and module machines at a factory in Barangay Bacag, Villasis, Pangasinan. “The unregistered equipment were being used to illegally produce and print fake cigarette packing and packaging, and bogus cigarette tax stamps,” Guballa said in a report. Guballa said other confiscated materials such as inks, rollers, cardboards, straps and chemicals used in the illicit activity were accounted for and witnessed by representatives from the Philippine National Police and the local government of Villasis. Julito G. Rada

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

METROREMIT’S AWARD. The MetroRemit service of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. is recognized the ‘Remittance Product of the Year’ in the recently concluded The Asian Banker Philippine Awards 2019. MetroRemit is Metrobank’s brand of remittance service that offers a wide array of remittance products and services through a large network of about 300 remittancecenters, partners and tieups worldwide. Receiving the award are (from left) Metrobank International Offices and Subsidiaries Group-Remittance Operations Division head Jay Wong, Metrobank International Offices and Subsidiaries Group officer-in-charge Allen Alcantara and Metrobank product development officer Raymund Calpo.

Seven-month FDIs dipped 39% to $4.1b By Julito G. Rada

ET inflows of foreign direct investments dropped 41 percent in July to $543 million from $926 million a year ago, pulled down by the lower equity capital placements during the month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. The BSP said in a statement nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments, composed mainly of intercompany borrowings between affiliates, reached $357 million while non-residents’ net investments in equity capital amounted to $99 million in July. “On the latter, the level was lower compared to that posted a year ago due to the decrease in equity capital placements by 39.6 percent, to $168 million [from US$278 million] and expansion of equity capital withdrawals by 302.4

percent, to $69 million [from $17 million],” it said. Equity capital infusions came mostly from Japan, Germany, Singapore, the United States and South Korea and were directed largely to financial and insurance, real estate, manufacturing and human health and social work industries. Reinvestment of earnings increased by 15.8 percent to $87 million in July from $75 million in the same month last year. The sluggish FDI performance in July brought the net inflows in the first seven months to $4.1 billion, down 39 percent from $6.8 billion in the same period last year. “This stemmed from the decline in non-residents’ net investments in equity capital by 75.1 percent to $459 million [from $1.8 billion] and in debt instruments by 30.3 percent to $3.1 billion (from $4.4 billion), reflecting the impact of the weak pace of global economic activity that took toll on investors’ business confidence and investment decisions globally,” BSP said. Placements of equity capital contracted by 49.2 percent to $1 billion (from $2 billion), and equity capital withdrawals

increased by 215.8 percent to $569 million (from $180 million). Equity capital placements during the period emanated largely from Japan, the United States, Singapore, China, and South Korea. These were channeled mainly to financial and insurance, real estate, manufacturing, transportation and storage, and administrative and support service industries. Meanwhile, reinvestment of earnings expanded by 12.6 percent to $595 million from $528 million in the same period last year. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier expressed optimism that the net inflows of FDIs would hit the target of $9 billion. Diokno said while the BSP was open to the idea of revising downward the $9 billion target for 2019 because of the poor numbers in the first half, a recovery was expected in the second half. “I think FDI slowed down because of the second package [of the comprehensive tax reform program], the uncertainty how the second package would look like and because of the [mid-term] elections [when] usually investors were in a wait-and-see mode,” Diokno said.

CORTEVA-DA AGREEMENT.

Agriculture leader Corteva Agriscience signs a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Agriculture to lift the nation’s rice and corn productivity. The collaboration will focus on three projects—Rice EduFarm, Corn EduFarm and Fall Armyworm Mitigation. Signing the agreement are (from left) Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Corteva Agriscience country manager Arun Mittal, and Corteva Agriscience ASEAN managing director Farra Siregar.

Sarangani Energy opens another 105-MW coal plant By Darwin G. Amojelar SARANGANI Energy Corp., a subsidiary of Alsons Power Group, said it started the commercial operations of the second 105-megawatt unit of the 210-MW baseload coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani. “SEC Section 2 has completed all the necessary commissioning and testing stages and with the recent issuance of a certificate of compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission, we are now officially declaring the start of commercial operations for SEC 2,” Alsons Power vice president for project management Fernando Corrales said. SEC Section 1 began operating in April 2016 and introduced 105-MW of much-needed baseload power

capacity that helped alleviate the power shortage in Mindanao. SEC 1 currently delivers power to more than three million people in the General Santos-Sarangani area and other parts of Mindanao. SEC 2, which began construction in February 2017, is set to contribute another 105 MW of baseload power to more than three million people in Koronadal, Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos and other key areas in Mindanao The $570 million SEC plant, the single largest power investment in Sarangani province and the entire Soccsksargen Region, is majority owned by Alsons Thermal Energy Corp., a partnership between the Alcantara Group’s Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. and Global Business Power Corp.

SEC’s other shareholder is Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corp. “With the impending start of commercial operations for SEC 2, the combined SEC plant will be able to provide up to 210 MW of baseload power to help fuel the economies of major population centers such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Pagadian. This is our way of contributing to the economic rise of Mindanao,” Corrales said. Alsons Power, Mindanao’s first and most experienced private sector power generator, also begun preliminary construction works on the P4.25-billion 14.5-MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River basin in Maasim.

GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service on Friday kept the 2019 growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.8 percent. Moody’s said in its latest update and credit opinion for the Philippines on Oct. 10 that the catch-up spending implemented by the government would have a spill-over effect to the economy next year, which is projected to grow stronger at 6.2 percent. “We expect that public spending will rebound in the second half of 2019 given government’s efforts to speed up the execution of the delayed 2019 budget,” Moody’s said. Citing the latest available data, Moody’s said that in the first two months of the third quarter, national government expenditure excluding interest payments rose 71 percent, much higher than the 1.9-percent decline recorded in the first two quarters of the year. Moody’s said the ongoing “catchup” on several infrastructure projects and other “shovel ready” projects as well as scheduled public sector salary hikes should add to the fiscal impulse through the remainder of the year. “We expect these trends to continue into 2020, with the government’s catch-up spending spilling over into next year. In addition, the proposed 2020 budget calls for a further 12-percent increase in national government expenditure, mostly in the areas of infrastructure, social services, and income transfers to poorer households,” it said. “As such, we project real GDP growth to pick up slightly to 6.2 percent next year from 5.8 percent in 2019, in contrast to the slowing trend we have forecasted for more trade-dependent economies in Asia,” Moody’s said. The economy grew 5.5 percent in the first half, slower than the 6.2-percent expansion in the whole of 2018, weighed down by the lower government spending due to the four-month delay in the approval of the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019. Aside from the delayed budget approval, other factors that exacerbated the sluggish growth of the economy were the weakening external environment and adverse weather conditions that impacted the agricultural sector. Julito G. Rada

SEC asks Google to restrict online lending apps that victimize Filipinos By Othel V. Campos THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday asked Google to clarify its policy of accepting apps to its network including online lending apps found to be illegal. SEC commissioner Kelvin Lester Lee said the agency would meet Google’s representatives in the Philippines to find out how the apps of illegal lenders went online through the Google App Store. “We are reaching out to Google. I asked my staff to set up a meeting with them Monday next week to talk to them about their app store. I’m not familiar with their requirements, if there are any or any restrictions if any,” he said. Lee also encouraged Google to set some standards to filter legitimate from illegitimate apps in via the Google Play Store. He said he would like to know the parameters that Google employed to allow these apps to quickly set up operations online. “To tell you frankly, these online lending apps are too many, and they are so fast in setting up apps online. They multiply quickly and have victimized so many people already,” he said. Most of the illegal online apps are of multi-national identities but are utilizing Filipino manpower for their call center operations. The SEC already took down 30 apps and plans to request for the closure of more apps in the next few weeks.

Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; DMCI up

TOCKS rose for a second day amid strong buying on hopes of progress in the China-US trade talks, with President Donald Trump saying they were “going very well”.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 84 points, or 1.1 percent, to close at 7,849.94 Friday. It was also up 5.1 percent since the start of the year. The broader all-share index also gained 49 points, or 1.1 percent, to settle at 4,741.49 on a value turnover of P4.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 121 to 58, while 48 issues were unchanged. Sixteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by DMCI Holdings Inc. which rose 3.9 percent to P9 and Robinson Retail Holdings Inc. which added 2.8 percent to close at

P79.90. Meanwhile, most Asian equities also advanced as negotiators from the world’s top two economies kicked off much-anticipated talks on resolving their long-running tariffs row on a positive footing, easing worries that they might be cut short. Without elaborating, Trump told reporters: “I will say I think it’s going really well. We had a very, very good negotiation with China.” Adding to the positive vibes was news that Trump would meet China’s top trade envoy Liu He at the White House. The developments allowed dealers to breathe a sigh of relief as tensions between the two sides appeared to be growing after the US put new restrictions on Chinese firms over human rights abuses and reports Beijing had narrowed the issues it was willing to discuss. “The fog of trade war is beginning to

lift, giving way to an air of trade optimism sweeping through global capital markets,” said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader. “Investors are starting to believe there is light at the end of the... tunnel as hope springs eternal.” Hong Kong led gains across Asia, jumping more than two percent, while Tokyo added more than one percent, and Shanghai and Sydney each put on 0.9 percent. Singapore and Seoul both gained 0.8 percent, with healthy gains also recorded in Wellington, Manila, Mumbai and Jakarta. In early trade London fell 0.2 percent but Paris rose 0.3 percent and Frankfurt put on 0.9 percent. Talks are expected to resume on Friday with hopes they can at least lead to a delay in tariffs, due next week, being imposed on China.

“The prospect of US-China trade truce that results in the suspension of further planned tariffs increases is rightly welcome news,” Rodrigo Catril at National Australia Bank said. “But as it is often the case, the devil will be in the detail,” he warned, adding that if the optimism is to last “a meaningful de-escalation in tensions is required”. Markets are also getting some support from rare signs of progress in the Brexit saga after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar said they could see a route towards striking a possible divorce deal. After hours of talks regarding the vexed question of Northern Ireland, the two issued a joint statement that said: “Both continue to believe a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal.” With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Friday, octoBer 11, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

57.4 91.45 2.11 145 1.17 24.8 18.6 11.82 4.72 1.21 770 0.4 67.8 0.91 12.8 20.55 43.45 178.9 139.9 57.85 26 198.8 59

57.4 93 2.11 147 1.3 24.95 18.6 12.04 4.87 1.21 770 0.4 68.45 0.91 12.8 20.55 43.45 178.9 139.9 57.95 26.5 199 59.05

57.4 91.45 1.91 143.7 1.17 24.8 18.58 11.82 4.63 1.21 770 0.4 67 0.91 12.8 20.5 42.8 175.5 135 57.85 26 194.8 59

FINANCIALS 57.4 1,500 92.95 1,061,230 2.09 13,000 147 1,205,100 1.28 679,000 24.95 38,700 18.58 1,300 12.04 383,000 4.87 186,000 1.21 2,000 770 50 0.4 70,000 68 2,603,060 0.91 7,000 12.8 86,500 20.5 1,200 42.85 387,500 175.5 160 135 450 57.95 710 26.5 17,500 198 494,960 59 20,060

86,100 98,614,734.50 26,370 176,291,819 811,720 963,680 24,164 4,587,954 886,160 2,420 38,500 28,000 176,740,572 6,370 1,107,200 24,650 16,653,745 28,185 62,302 41,117.50 455,920 97,558,704 1,183,604.50

11,236,937 83,568,925 1,566,142 -34,688,226 -3,745,130 -22,067,104 -789,482

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

37.3 15.8 0.67 1.29 4.53 0.25 2.42 15.12 8.5 18 31.4 71.45 2.03 6 5.65 8.35 15.4 10.06 7 24.95 79.35 46.9 2.35 14.46 7.87 1.47 229.2 5.18 3.23 7.84 20.25 13.1 18.4 365 0.187 5.44 1.7 4.3 5.02 9.48 11 34.05 5.33 5.1 2 2.33 1 11.32 90.2 7.38 0.122 1.02 158 1.19 1.08

38.35 15.94 0.69 1.32 4.58 0.25 2.44 15.12 9.14 18.58 32 71.45 2.03 6 5.89 8.58 15.66 10.5 7.03 25.3 79.5 47.8 2.4 15 8.47 1.54 232 5.28 3.52 7.84 20.3 13.1 18.78 365.2 0.201 5.44 1.72 4.3 5.17 9.7 11 34.25 5.56 5.1 2.04 2.33 1.03 11.4 90.5 7.4 0.122 1.05 159.8 1.2 1.13

36.65 15.8 0.67 1.29 4.44 0.249 2.4 15.04 8.5 18 31.4 71.45 2.03 6 5.65 8.35 15.4 10.06 6.95 24.6 79.3 46.5 2.35 14.34 7.87 1.47 229.2 5.18 3.23 7.82 20.1 13 18.04 359 0.182 5.04 1.66 4.02 5.02 9.44 10.78 34.05 5.33 5.1 1.93 2.33 1 11.14 89.9 7.3 0.122 1.01 157 1.17 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 38.35 1,289,000 15.88 29,500 0.69 420,000 1.32 91,000 4.5 9,932,000 0.25 730,000 2.41 1,075,000 15.08 351,400 8.92 1,314,900 18.58 1,600 32 200 71.45 10 2.03 1,000 6 30,000 5.65 5,400 8.58 6,072,300 15.6 1,065,400 10.46 244,800 7 2,464,300 25.25 1,171,200 79.3 34,470 47 224,500 2.4 7,270,000 14.9 665,100 8.42 463,100 1.52 127,000 231.2 216,770 5.28 20,200 3.52 7,000 7.82 1,700 20.25 1,239,500 13.08 32,200 18.1 1,546,900 365.2 83,270 0.201 540,000 5.04 300 1.7 1,858,000 4.3 98,000 5.1 939,300 9.44 48,000 11 18,500 34.2 761,100 5.48 259,200 5.1 1,000 2 3,368,000 2.33 2,000 1.03 25,000 11.2 270,000 89.95 275,070 7.35 74,800 0.122 340,000 1.04 393,000 158.5 284,200 1.19 1,621,000 1.11 1,743,000

48,984,100 468,586 284,910 117,420 44,822,790 182,390 2,596,460 5,304,420 11,760,452 28,858 6,340 714.5 2,030 180,000 31,302 51,608,417 16,565,984 2,540,524 17,237,626 29,372,315 2,736,121.50 10,560,240 17,329,700 9,772,702 3,839,441 191,340 50,111,330 104,646 23,170 13,308 25,099,945 420,106 28,696,864 30,284,200 100,110 1,592 3,149,050 398,720 4,795,685 457,142 203,104 26,014,655 1,417,150 5,100 6,630,640 4,660 25,170 3,021,494 24,751,973 547,767 41,480 403,470 44,922,095 1,933,300 1,942,080

-12,189,245.00 132,276 -5,772,040 -2,490 -636,420 3,361,950 266,206 -3,200 -546,827 6,862,408 -1,435,206 -13,888,413 6,505,465 -1,373,950 9,854,970 26,150 -671,204 1,479,141 8,540,718 -12,799,730 -50,840 -8,243,234 10,220,968 338,880 787,968 18,136,005.00 408,744 204,000 -2,313,586 15,079,875 -2,425,394 45,230 55,100

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

0.86 52.4 10.78 0.72 6.61 12.76 1.13 1.14 861.5 3.45 6.69 8.75 13.02 4 840.5 5.63 70.9 5.56 0.5 4.34 13.44 0.6 4.88 0.038 1.43 161.9 2.44 1,000 0.84 220.8 0.23 0.221

0.87 53.8 10.9 0.72 6.61 12.76 1.14 1.15 877 3.53 6.81 9.02 13.38 4 852 5.63 72.4 5.56 0.51 4.38 13.46 0.6 5 0.038 1.5 164 2.44 1,050 0.88 223.2 0.23 0.23

0.85 51.9 10.74 0.69 6.6 12.22 1.11 1.13 861.5 3.4 6.69 8.72 13.02 4 839.5 5.63 69.3 5.56 0.48 4.32 13.22 0.58 4.85 0.038 1.42 161.8 2.44 989 0.84 220.6 0.221 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.86 5,131,000 53.2 674,240 10.78 3,994,700 0.71 537,000 6.6 5,700 12.66 54,700 1.14 709,000 1.15 112,000 870 247,560 3.49 7,623,000 6.8 1,074,600 9 15,633,500 13.38 12,300 4 120,000 844 112,300 5.63 182,700 72 686,080 5.56 1,000 0.51 89,000 4.38 282,000 13.28 3,544,500 0.6 212,000 4.95 11,353,000 0.038 100,000 1.47 2,060,000 164 138,120 2.44 294,000 1,010 299,910 0.84 302,000 220.6 1,240 0.223 650,000 0.23 580,000

4,388,960 35,621,504 43,178,502 372,390 37,640 685,386 794,140 128,170 215,376,280 26,103,650 7,280,138 139,863,887 161,570 480,000 94,521,935 1,028,601 49,131,474 5,560 43,205 1,221,470 47,064,586 124,320 56,112,900 3,800 3,026,200 22,560,528 717,360 303,828,240 253,750 273,878 145,900 128,320

-97,920 2,169,671 -19,493,260 -276,000.00 -91,700 -68,458,585 119,070 3,393,488 -45,117,923 -3,930 -80,160,925 -1,028,601 -2,326,963.50 -207,660 -3,795,084 60,180 6,081,360 -29,400 -1,085,041 19,711,142.50 -181,142 -

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE

15.04 0.83 1.88 0.85 46.9 2.06 4.71 6.08 0.54 0.73 0.87 9.8 20.4 0.435 1.53 1.18

15.04 0.83 1.88 0.87 47.95 2.06 4.78 6.29 0.55 0.73 0.87 9.84 20.8 0.44 1.57 1.2

15.04 0.79 1.88 0.85 46.7 2.01 4.71 6.08 0.54 0.73 0.87 9.8 20 0.435 1.52 1.18

PROPERTY 15.04 54,500 0.82 4,881,000 1.88 3,000 0.87 1,181,000 47.95 2,754,900 2.04 216,000 4.72 78,000 6.29 5,800 0.55 9,126,000 0.73 10,000 0.87 500,000 9.82 50,600 20.5 463,300 0.44 640,000 1.55 26,786,000 1.2 153,000

819,680 3,918,090 5,640 1,017,130 131,207,910 435,770 367,720 35,385 4,966,260 7,300 435,000 496,643 9,502,360 278,550 41,431,760 181,940

-24,064 22,360 23,490,960 -10,180 -37,720 30,240 37,285 1,752,540 18,885,830 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

4.61 4.57 0.3 0.44 1.37 2.04 25.5 2.29 3.25 38.45 2.8 0.94 7.6 5.67

4.61 4.66 0.305 0.44 1.37 2.04 25.5 2.32 3.25 38.9 2.8 0.94 7.73 5.76

4.61 4.57 0.295 0.44 1.34 2.01 24.9 2.29 3.25 38.2 2.71 0.9 7.5 5.65

4.61 4.62 0.305 0.44 1.36 2.03 25.35 2.32 3.25 38.8 2.75 0.93 7.6 5.75

20,000 15,916,000 3,140,000 340,000 380,000 91,000 1,439,400 17,000 203,000 6,410,300 870,000 299,000 16,108,500 31,300

92,200 73,476,920 943,650 149,600 514,110 183,810 36,504,895 39,350 659,750 248,419,120 2,387,790 274,020 122,201,591 177,417

-33,388,040 4,726,995 9,750 129,242,150 -15,234,912 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

10.32 18.3 1.67 11.52 0.6 0.043 17.54 2.34 10.9 0.048 92.3 6.8 8.9 1,820 5.18 430 10.2 1.58 120.3 0.11 4.96 2.84 11.5 2.97 19 3.4 2.46 2.96 2.83 8 4.98 138 3.15 1,110 0.69 0.52 40.7 77.05 9.2 2.53 0.68 0.315 0.68 16.8

10.32 18.32 1.67 11.54 0.61 0.043 17.54 2.38 11.06 0.05 92.4 6.96 9.26 1,823 5.24 440 10.96 1.62 121.4 0.11 5.05 2.84 15.98 3.03 19 3.4 2.47 2.98 2.88 8.29 4.99 138 3.17 1,133 0.71 0.53 40.7 79.9 9.2 2.54 0.68 0.32 0.7 16.88

10.2 18.1 1.66 11.48 0.59 0.043 17.22 2.31 10.74 0.048 91.85 6.8 8.9 1,812 5.18 430 10.2 1.58 118.5 0.108 4.9 2.84 11.5 2.97 18.8 3.4 2.41 2.92 2.83 8 4.98 138 3.11 1,108 0.69 0.51 40.45 76.4 9.2 2.48 0.67 0.31 0.68 16.66

SERVICES 10.3 18.28 1.66 11.54 0.59 0.043 17.24 2.38 11 0.05 92.2 6.92 9.24 1,818 5.2 440 10.96 1.61 120 0.108 4.98 2.84 15.5 3.03 18.82 3.4 2.44 2.98 2.88 8.29 4.99 138 3.16 1,108 0.7 0.53 40.6 79.9 9.2 2.51 0.68 0.32 0.69 16.78

14,700 37,000 39,000 29,707,700 7,510,000 7,000,000 10,600 95,000 2,469,500 16,200,000 134,830 545,900 82,300 17,100 35,100 430 600 304,000 2,132,150 320,000 1,632,000 2,000 7,500 31,000 201,900 5,000 110,000 1,244,000 22,000 2,800 12,000 107,830 198,000 93,580 322,000 5,666,000 367,000 728,120 2,400 1,391,000 1,342,000 3,080,000 867,000 307,400

151,604 671,364 65,070 342,197,856 4,462,210 301,000 183,620 224,340 27,033,706 797,400 12,428,545 3,766,952 752,685 31,074,720 182,919 187,600 6,196 485,190 255,899,034 34,600 8,109,370 5,680 107,778 93,220 3,807,626 17,000 268,510 3,672,560 62,910 22,709 59,870 14,880,540 623,730 104,469,955 225,300 2,947,980 14,900,995 57,864,279.50 22,080 3,488,860 910,700 976,550 596,100 5,161,722

-144,386,464 -1,190,000 45,404 -11,353,892 245,000 2,392,051.50 13,800 -1,061,970 -86,467,850 383,170 6,030 3,264,860 -48,680 -107,200 0 -47,240 24,204,785 -16,640 1,945,140 574,475 -227,610 -703,250 471,126

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

0.0017 1.13 2.51 12.64 1.13 2.6 1.7 0.213 0.106 0.0096 1.11 4.09 1.04 0.475 0.85 0.012 0.011 9.8 3.65 12.5 23 0.0061

0.0017 1.15 2.51 12.64 1.13 2.64 1.75 0.217 0.106 0.0097 1.14 4.22 1.07 0.48 0.9 0.012 0.011 10.54 3.7 12.88 23 0.0064

0.0017 1.13 2.51 12.6 1.13 2.6 1.7 0.204 0.106 0.0096 1.1 4.09 1.01 0.475 0.85 0.012 0.011 9.75 3.65 12.26 22.7 0.0061

MINING & OIL 0.0017 10,000,000 1.14 973,000 2.51 96,000 12.6 9,100 1.13 2,000 2.6 711,000 1.74 27,517,000 0.215 930,000 0.106 150,000 0.0097 11,000,000 1.14 64,000 4.14 8,268,000 1.05 334,000 0.48 60,000 0.85 197,000 0.012 6,800,000 0.011 24,800,000 10.5 3,433,700 3.7 1,041,000 12.3 1,595,500 22.9 1,370,600 0.0062 4,000,000

17,000 1,111,060 240,960 114,668 2,260 1,857,840 47,627,000 191,360 15,900 105,800 71,040 34,426,100 342,910 28,600 167,650 81,600 272,800 35,086,903 3,829,100 20,065,702 31,384,050 24,800

-278,620.00 -2,260 26,000 3,300 -7,219,100 -236,526 -961,900 3,259,056 -9,076,700 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.8 509 100.3 109 98.25 0.99 101.4 1,040 1,079 102 108 77.65 76.5 75.9 75.7 76

17.8 509 100.3 109 98.25 0.99 101.4 1,050 1,079 102 108 77.65 76.5 75.9 75.7 76

17.4 502 100.3 109 98 0.99 101.4 1,040 1,079 102 108 77.65 76.5 75.9 75.7 75.65

PREFERRED 17.64 48,100 502 70 100.3 20 109 341,510 98.25 520 0.99 565,000 101.4 300 1,050 415 1,079 5 102 1,000 108 1,000 77.65 5,250 76.5 5,000 75.9 5,000 75.7 11,500 75.65 161,380

848,972 35,280 2,006 37,224,590 51,057.50 559,350 30,420 434,540 5,395 102,000 108,000 407,662.50 382,500 379,500 870,550 12,208,880

-813,692 -

LR WARRANT

1.64

WARRANTS 1.64 1,000

1,640

MS ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.34 10.28 0.89

6.48 11.52 0.9

6.31 10.28 0.89

FIRST METRO ETF

116.8

117.6

116.5

Trading Summary

FINANCIAL

7,464,184

INDUSTRIAL

51,503,444

HOLDING FIRMS

76,056,257

PROPERTY

93,731,878

SERVICES

91,921,292

MINING & OIL

103,365,035

GRAND TOTAL

428,870,710

6.44 11.4 0.9

SME

149,200 3,625,500 1,051,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.5 2,390

949,385 39,849,526 940,290 280,058

27,306 -81,700 -

VALUE 1,821.17 (up) 9.12 614,475,700.71 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,677.38 (up) 90.82 570,057,006.10 HOLDING FIRMS 7,670.38 (up) 93.93 1,379,045,499.12 PROPERTY 4,129.68 (up) 56.23 SERVICES 1,526.32 (up) 14.21 740,139,209.59 MINING & OIL 9,178.36 (up) 68.62 981,070,974.71 PSEI 7,849.94 (up) 84.91 177,093,715.722 All Shares Index 4,741.49 (up) 49.59 4,503,902,087.75 Gainers: 121; Losers: 58; Unchanged: 48; Total: 227

PSE approves Phoenix’s plan to sell P7b worth of preferred shares By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P7-billion preferred shares offering of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. The indicative term sheet filed by Phoenix with the PSE showed the company led by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy planned to sell 5 million preferred shares, with an over-allotment option for another 2 million preferred shares at P1,000 apiece. It said the dividend rate on Oct. 17 and the offer period on Oct. 21 to 29. The non-voting and non-convertible preferred shares will be listed under the main board of the PSE on Nov. 7. Chinabank Capital Corp. is the sole issue manager and sole book runner while PNB Capital is a joint lead underwriter for the offering. The net proceeds from the offering will be used for depot and network expansion and improvement and reimbursement of the cash advances related to the company’s recent overseas ventures. Phoenix, the country’s fourth largest oil company, opened it 650th fuel station in the Philippines in September. The group is also expanding overseas. Phoenix acquired a 75-percent equity interest in Origin LPG (Vietnam) Limited Liability Company, a company engaged in LPG marketing and distribution in Vietnam in February this year. PNX Petroleum Singapore Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phoenix, also recently signed a partnership with Singapore-based Hengyi Industries International Pte. Ltd. for an LPG off-take venture in Brunei. Phoenix signed a memorandum of understanding with Philippine National Oil Co. and CNOOC Gas and Power., a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., to explore and discuss business opportunities and cooperation in relation to their equity investments in Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc.

PNB lists P4.6-b LTNCDs with bond exchange By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the fifth-largest lender in terms of assets controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan, listed on Friday P4.6 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. PNB said in a statement the LTNCDs represented the second tranche of its P20-billion program approved by regulators. The amount was equivalent to an oversubscription of almost 2.3 times the announced issue size of P2 billion. “This second tranche puts our total LTNCD issuance for the year to P12.82 billion. It brings the aggregate new PDEx listings for the year to P26.70 billion,” PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso said. “We thank the investors for supporting PNB and its strategy focused on Safe, Aggressive Growth,” he said. The bank has been very active in offering investment opportunities to clients. Aside from business expansion, the LTNCD issuances support the bank’s efforts to diversify funding sources to meet the financial needs of clients. HSBC is the sole arranger and bookrunner of the transaction and is also a selling agent alongside PNB, First Metro Investment Corp. and Multinational Investment Bancorporation. PNB remains one of the strongest banks in the country in terms of assets, loans, deposits and total branch network. Net in the first half fell 28 percent to P3.9 billion from P5.4 billion in the same period last year because of a “onetime gain” from the sale of foreclosed assets in 2018. Total consolidated assets, however, jumped 24 percent to P1.09 trillion as of June 2019, or an increase of P211 billion over a year ago. Loans and receivables, supported by the double-digit growth in loans to commercial and small and medium enterprise segments, increased by 13 percent to P594.1 billion. PNB’s stable retail banking franchise catapulted its deposit liabilities to a 15-percent growth to P775.1 billion.

World MOURNING KAREL GOTT. Thousands of mourners queue on a bridge to pay their last respects to the late Czech pop singer Karel Gott in Prague, on October 11, 2019. Gott, who was a particular favorite in neighboring Germany, died on October 2, 2019, at the age of 80 after suffering from acute leukemia. Karel Gott, once dubbed the ‘Sinatra of the East’, sold tens of millions of albums in a career spanning almost six decades. AFP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Migrants block US-Mexico border crossing, force closure CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico―Hundreds of Central American migrants blocked a border crossing Thursday between the Mexican city of Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas, demanding the United States let them in to apply for asylum. The migrants camped out on the border bridge overnight, leading officials to close it for more than nine hours, said US and Mexican authorities. They finally agreed to leave the bridge under a deal brokered by local officials, said Matamoros Mayor Mario Alberto Lopez Hernandez. “We have reached a deal on good terms with the migrants, and also held talks with the authorities in Brownsville,” he told AFP. He said Matamoros, a bustling crossing point between the two countries, had felt the impact of the closure. “It affected the city, because that bridge is used for daily trade. Anyone trying to

Syria Kurds battle Turkish invasion Protesters T in London ALL TAMR, Syria―Thousands of civilians fled air strikes and shelling as Syria’s Kurds battled to hold off a Turkish invasion on Thursday, with fears mounting of a developing humanitarian crisis.

lay siege to airport

LONDON―A climate protester glued himself to a plane and another held up a flight with a speech on global warming Thursday as campaigners tried to “occupy” a London airport near the capital’s global financial hub. London police reported making more than 1,000 arrests over four days of protests by the group Extinction Rebellion, which have been staging a global effort stretching from Sydney to New York. Their biggest British action to date saw hundreds try to lay siege of London City Airport in protest at its management’s expansion project. AFP reporters saw uniformed officers carry or escort around 100 demonstrators from outside its main entrance. One man in a brown business suit climbed over coils of barbed wire and onto the roof of the east London airport’s entrance before coming back down and being led away by the police. Dozens more staged a sit-in at the nearby train station during the morning commute. “I decided to come and join them because I think they have a just cause,” pensioner Steve Phillips told AFP as around 100 campaigners rallied in the presence of dozens of police. “People are flying in and out, and the cost for the planet is unimaginable.” A morning flight to Dublin was delayed by nearly two hours after a passenger got up to make a speech about the climate as the plane prepared to take off, airport and Aer Lingus airline officials said. A London City Airport spokesman said the captain exercised his right to arrest the passenger under international flight safety rules. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said “some interesting attempts” had been made to disrupt flights. “One man had glued himself to the top of an aircraft,” Taylor said in a video message. “He has of course now been removed and our policing operation continues there.” UK media identified that person as 2012 London Paralympic Games cycling bronze medalist James Brown. AFP

US President Donald Trump tried to justify the de facto green light he gave his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for an assault seen as a blatant betrayal of Washington’s erstwhile Kurdish allies. Later Trump suggested that Washington could mediate between Turkey and Kurdish groups and a US official said Trump has asked American diplomats to broker a ceasefire. But international condemnation of the Turkish assault was overwhelming and the response to the operation was discussed in an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” over the violence, while the council’s five European members urged Turkey “to cease the unilateral military action”. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for an emergency meeting of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group. Syrian Kurdish forces lost 11,000 personnel and played a major role in the years-long battle to eliminate the “caliphate” IS had set up in the region. In scenes all too familiar since the start of Syria’s war in March 2011, civilians

were seen abandoning their homes Thursday, in vehicles or on foot with their belongings on their backs. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Thursday estimated that 70,000 people have been newly displaced since Ankara launched its operation. “We’re heading to the countryside because we’re scared of renewed bombing and intensified clashes,” said Rizan Mohammad, 33, who fled the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli with his family. After launching the assault with air strikes and intense artillery fire on Wednesday, the Turkish army and its Syrian proxies crossed the border into Kurdish-controlled areas. On Thursday, Turkish jets carried out fresh strikes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a Kurdish military official said. Fighting broke out in several locations along the roughly 120- kilometer-wide front where operations are focused, they said. Turkish forces and allied rebels captured 11 villages in the area, the Observatory said. Fighting mostly centred around Tal

Abyad—one of the main Kurdishcontrolled towns in the area coveted by Ankara. Clashes also raged around Ras al-Ain further west, the other main town in the zone that Turkish media reports say is the first goal of the offensive. The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said at least 29 fighters and 10 civilians have been killed since the start of the assault. AFP correspondents saw fighters crossing into Syria in dozens of vehicles. Turkey, which staged two previous offensives into Syria since the start of the conflict, relies heavily on Syrian proxy fighters, many of whom once battled President Bashar al-Assad’s troops. Erdogan wants a buffer zone to which he can send back some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees his country hosts. On Thursday he warned the European Union that the alternative was to allow the refugees to head to its shores instead. “If you try to frame our operation there as an invasion... we will open the doors and send 3.6 million migrants to you,” Erdogan said. Fourteen humanitarian organisations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and Mercy Corps, warned that hundreds of thousands of people were in danger. AFP

IN BRIEF Coach shrugs off Trump criticism LOS ANGELES―Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose response to the NBA’s rift with China was criticized by US President Donald Trump, Thursday bemoaned the loss of dignity in the White House. “I was just the shiny object,” Kerr said before the Warriors’ pre-season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves when asked if he’d taken Trump’s criticism to heart. “There was another one today, and there will be another one tomorrow, and the circus will go on.” Trump on Wednesday said he thought Kerr―a longtime critic of the president―”looked like a little boy” when he declined to comment on the NBA’s public relations crisis in China―where authorities were angered by a tweet from Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey offering support to pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. Kerr had said he preferred to withhold comment until he knew more about the matter, prompting a mocking reference from Trump. “He couldn’t even answer the question, he was shaking, ‘Ohhhhh, I don’t know ... I don’t know,’” Trump said. Kerr said he wasn’t at all surprised by Trump’s comments, going on to contrast them with his interactions with five prior US presidents, including a visit to Ronald Reagan’s White House after Kerr’s father was killed in Lebanon in 1984 when he was a professor at the American University of Beirut. “Wow, has the office sunken low,” Kerr said of his reaction to Trump’s remarks, saying he would like to see a “mature unifier from either party to sit in that chair and try to restore some dignity to the Oval Office again.” Tension between the NBA and China―where the US league enjoys a huge following―promises to be a continuing theme as the coming season gets underway. AFP

A million Californians without power

CELEBRATION. Jane Carter and Aaron Carter attend WE tv Celebrates The 100th Episode Of The ‘Marriage Boot Camp’ Reality Stars Franchise And The Premiere Of ‘Marriage Boot Camp Family Edition’ at SkyBar at the Mondrian Los Angeles on October 10, 2019. AFP

In Nairobi, recycling poo is cleaning up the slums NAIROBI―”When I started, there was poop in bags everywhere,” said Ricky Ojwang, skillfully navigating a rubbishstrewn canal in Mukuru, a Nairobi slum where he’s worked to improve sanitation since 2012. “People would use bags because there were no toilets, and they would throw them out the window. The slum was a mess.” Less of these “flying toilets”, as they’re locally known, befoul the cramped alleyways of Mukuru these days, thanks in part to an expanding fleet of eco-friendly lavatories managed by Ojwang and his team. More than 100,000 people use the

cross in either direction was affected.” He did not give further details on the deal reached with the migrants. US Customs and Border Protection said cross-border traffic “was temporarily halted at about 1:30 am after a group of 250 to 300 migrants without entry documents... gathered at the midpoint of the Gateway Bridge.” The United States has dramatically restricted access for migrants seeking to request asylum, most of whom President Donald Trump’s administration says are “economic refugees,” rather than people actually fleeing for their lives. Trump has pushed Mexico to crack down on the surging number of Central Americans crossing its territory toward the United States. In June, he threatened to impose steep tariffs on Mexican goods if President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s government did not do more to stop irregular migration. AFP

ubiquitous blue-and-yellow latrines every day, says Sanergy, the enterprise behind the sanitation scheme. Instead of being flung out the window, the waste collected from these toilets is taken to a facility outside Nairobi and recycled into fertilizers, with other products under development. It’s an innovative approach to a multipronged challenge confronting city planners, not just in Kenya but around the globe: slum populations are projected to mushroom from one billion today to three billion by 2050, says UN Habitat. As people pour into cities, slums rise faster than governments can lay sewage

lines, build toilets or develop systems for managing waste. Mukuru has roughly one public latrine for every 547 households, and very few are connected to sewers, concluded a 2017 report on the slum by Kenyan and international researchers, including a team from UC Berkeley. “It’s packed,” said Sanergy managing director Michael Lwoyelo at their Nairobi headquarters. “You could imagine the process you’d have to go through to lay a sewer in a place that densely populated. It’s virtually impossible. You have houses literally every three metres.” Population estimates vary consid-

erably for Mukuru, from hundreds of thousands to more than half a million. The informal settlements are densely packed onto a narrow strip of land in East Nairobi. So Sanergy uses waterless toilets instead, which don’t rely on sewers and are far cheaper to erect among the nooks and crannies of Mukuru’s dense alleyways. In the dead of night, sanitation teams safely remove the human waste in sealed barrels and spirit it away using wheelbarrows to negotiate Mukuru’s uneven back-alleys. Some of the cost is born by the community under a franchise model. AFP

LOS ANGELES―More than a million Californians were without electricity due to preemptive blackouts Thursday, but localized fires broke out as hot, windy conditions spread south toward Los Angeles. Some 600,000 customers in northern California were in the dark after Pacific Gas & Electric began switching off power the previous day, in a bid to prevent a repeat of last year’s catastrophic inferno which killed 86 people. That figure was slightly below the 800,000 feared, which would have left 2 million people unplugged. The power cuts enable utility companies to inspect high-voltage lines for damage during particularly flammable conditions caused by high winds and dry vegetation. With high-risk “red flag” winds spreading to the Los Angeles area further south, around 13,000 customers of Southern California Edison also had their electricity cut Thursday. In the far south of the state, San Diego Gas & Electric warned 30,000 customers living in high-risk areas they could potentially lose their power if conditions worsen. Meanwhile fire-fighting planes and helicopters were called in to tackle a fire east of Los Angeles which spread to 500 acres (200 hectares), and was described by officials as not contained. Urban Los Angeles itself was not expected to be at-risk, although police Wednesday night said they would clear some vulnerable homeless camps. Several other small fires were reported further north but quickly tackled by firefighters. Schools and universities closed and people have been stocking up on gasoline, water, batteries and other basics, with frustration mounting at blackouts condemned by some as “third world.” AFP

GIVING PERSONALITY to your

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

ONDO living is growing more popular in the Philippines’ urban centers. With people flocking to the cities, many want to live closer to their places of work, and leisure. Thus, condos are popping up everywhere. But being smaller than single-family homes, decorating condos can be tricky. These simple decorating tips can take your condo from average to just perfect.

BRING A BIT OF COUNTRY INTO YOUR CONDO There’s a good chance your condo is in a city, and doesn’t offer much for nature with a lack of trees and plants. Invest in some plants for your patio and indoors. If you’re not big on keeping plants alive, look for succulents or plants that don’t need watering often. You can also invest in artificial plants so you have those little bursts of green around your condo without the hassle of watering. ART AND ACCESSORIES Art is a gorgeous way to spice up your condo. You will probably be hanging art on at least one wall of your home. Find a wall with enough space to display your pieces and go right to work finding the best layout for your art frames. You may also want custom framing for your pieces, which can be found at most art supply stores. Accessories can really step up your style game in a condo. Space is the main issue, and the key to solving that problem is finding the best layout for your furniture and accessory items. Creativity is your friend when it comes to accessory styling. Large wall mirrors can help make your condo look bigger when placed

on walls that have good natural light. Mirrors also add a look of sophistication into a room. Other ways to save space can be hanging bookshelves, that still allow you to display your books and accessories while also preserving floor space. Additionally, you can mount your tv to the wall. Entertainment centers can be very big and bulky, take them out of the equation and you have a lot more room to work with. PAINT AND LIGHTING TO DO THE TRICK Paint can be another element that broadens the space of a condo. Soft and vibrant colors can give a warm feeling, especially with a dark drape contrast. Natural light really makes a space feel homey, but don’t hesitate to add artificial lighting where needed. Natural lighting and an airy feel can have lots of added benefits in your home. Starting your morning in a bright and sunny room can already lift your spirits before you even leave the house. GOING MINIMALIST When picking out your furniture, make sure to have specific reasons for your pieces. You definitely want to avoid having too much furniture, especially if it isn’t functional.

COOKIE-CUTTER CONDO

Simple designs with dark colors have been known to make the room feel bigger. Minimalistic decorations are always good for small rooms. White and soft pastels are key in your decor elements like paint colors, furniture, and accessories. Another tip for your living room furniture is to pull your pieces away from the wall a few inches to give off a look of more space. Translucent materials will also help

PICTURESQUE TOWNSHIP ALONG C-5. Property developer

Megaworld is building its second residential development in its 12.3-hectare Arcovia City township along C-5 Road in Pasig City. The Arcovia Palazzo will be composed of three residential towers: the 40-storey Altea Tower, 45-storey Benissa Tower, and the 49-storey Cantabria Tower. With a total residential inventory of 1,472 units, the Arcovia Palazzo will offer a wide variety of residential units ranging from Studio with or without balcony (up to 32 square meters); onebedroom with or without balcony (up to 46.5 square meters); two-bedroom with balcony (up to 77 square meters); and three-bedroom with balcony (up to 193.5 square meters). Arcovia Palazzo is designed by UK-based architectural firm, Broadway Malyan. Megaworld expects to generate around P12-billion in sales from this new residential project, which is due for completion in 2025. Currently, the township is home to Landers Superstore and the Arcovia Parade commercial area, as well as the Arco de Emperador, the township’s landmark.

THIS JAILHOUSE ROCKS. In the town

of San Vicente, there is an abandoned jailhouse, with nine hectares of land, which is now a farm school which helps address food sufficency in the city of Catbalogan. Science teacher Archimedes Fabellar teaches high school students to become professional farmers by honing their skills, knowledge and attitude about the land. Through the help of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the Catbalogan comprehensive national high school (CCAIS) is now closely reaching its vision of becoming a centre of excellence in farming in the Eastern Visayas. CCAIS is now making its operations

sustainable so it does not rely so much on government funds. It has a demonstration farm with a vermi-composting area and chicken coop, where students can apply the skills they learned in the classroom. The school is also starting to build a livestock farm, focusing on hogs, cows, and carabaos. CCAIS currently delivers close to 15 trays of brown eggs every day. The income is used to purchase feeds for the school’s animals, and for mass produce blue ternate (or butterfly pea flower) for a high-end farm in Leyte. This year, SCB is turning over four agribusinesses to 41 (from the first batch of SHS graduates in April) students to help them become young agripreneurs (Seen in photo).

with openness. Glass coffee tables and side tables give off the illusion of more room. Wood or marble-like materials will make the room feel more weighty. Metallic or mirrored pieces also will reflect light and bring in space. CREATIVE STORAGE A smart way to decorate a condo is coming up with creative storage options. You must start with identifying areas you don’t use as often and reduce those

spaces to the bare necessities. Also, consider using furniture that is dually functional, like a trunk or ottoman as a coffee table that has storage inside. If you’re looking for extra bathroom space, try making your bedroom where you get ready, rather than having toiletries and cosmetics everywhere in the bathroom. You can make this area very attractive in the bedroom with a vanity and beautiful bench. HAVE FUN WITH YOUR WALLS An element to really step up your decor game is wallpaper. A wallpaper accent wall or wallpapered hallway can be exactly what your condo needs.You can really add a touch of extravagance in a smaller space without it feeling as overwhelming as a larger space. Do an accent wall in the living room or bedroom behind the couch or bed, respectively. A hallway is a great place to experiment with fun styles because they are a smaller area that you dont occupy for very often. Wallpaper can express more in one item than a whole gallery wall. Choose a pattern or design that best suits your room, theme, color palette, and personality.

Best developers celebrated at Dot property awards 2019

BEST OF THE BEST.

one for excellence.

Winners of the Dot Property Philippines Awards 2019 hoist

SM DEVELOPMENT Corporation romped off with three awards this year, including Best Developer Philippines, at the third Dot Property Philippines Awards 2019. The Peninsula Manila welcomed real estate’s best with more than 20 awards given out. PROJECT OF THE YEAR Anticipation was greatest for the announcement of the very first People’s choice award for “project of the year” with a total of 11 projects vying for to the opportunity to be named the best in the industry. Park Cascades from Alveo Land received the most votes and the trophy for people’s choice award for “project of the year”. That was one of four awards Alveo Land took home. In the developer categories, the company was named best developer Metro Manila while Park Cascades won best mid-rise development in addition to people’s choice award for “project of the year”. Alveo Land was also presented with

best office development for Tryne Enterprise Plaza. Robinsons Land Corporation took home two awards for their outstanding projects under the Robinsons communities brand. This marks the second consecutive year Robinsons communities was honored at the annual awards. SPECIAL RECOGNITION Santos Knight Frank received the Box Brownie special recognition award for online marketing. “We are excited to be finally be hosting an event in the Philippines,” said Adam Sutcliffe, Dot property director, events and international markets. ”We would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners for their hard work and commitment to excellence.” The Dot Property Philippines Awards honors the country’s best developers, projects and companies that contribute to the sector. It is part of the Dot Property Awards series that also includes events in Vietnam and Thailand.

Life

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

ARTS AND CULTURE

‘The Red Vineyards near Arles’ (1888) is belived to be the only painting Vincent Van Gogh sold in his lifetime.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ (1889) is one of the most recognized paintings in the history of Western culture.

Van Gogh is alive (and mainstream)

By Steph Llarena

HE ongoing—and hopefully ending—word war on social media between a calligraphist and hundreds of Filipino netizens about the upcoming Van Gogh Alive exhibit is quite ironic, really, considering that the Dutch impressionist never experienced fame and success when he was alive. Van Gogh was considered the quintessential tortured artist, a failure, a madman; he lived a tragic life peppered with psychotic episodes, with no raving fans cheering behind him. He only sold one painting in his lifetime: “The Red Vineyard near Arles.” It was only after he took his life, in July 1890, that he attained critical and commercial success. Today, Van Gogh’s works are among the world’s most expensive paintings sold; even the revolver he used to kill himself was sold for €162,500 (or P9.2 million). His life and his work have been memorialized in literature (“Letters to Theo”), music (Don McLean’s “Vincent”), and film and television (“Lust for Life,” “Vincent & Theo,” “Loving Vincent”). His painting “The Starry Night,” currently in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is one of the most recognized

Van Gogh’s self-portrait (1887)

‘Sunflowers’ (1889)

‘Sorrowing Old Man’ (1890)

paintings in the history of Western culture, not to mention one of the most reproduced, from canvas to mobile phone case. So the perceived “gatekeeping” and “elitism” of the young calligraphist, who took to Twitter to ex-

press her worry that the painter has become “super mainstream” and the audience of the multi-sensory exhibit won’t be able to appreciate his works on digital screens, is quite pointless, because Van Gogh is popular, and dare I say, “super mainstream.”

The Bonifacio Art Foundation and One Bonifacio High Street, together with Globe bring Van Gogh Alive, created by Grande Exhibitions, to the Philippines on Oct. 26. The multi-sensory exhibition on the fourth level of One Bonifacio High Street will run until Dec. 8. The immersive art exhibition features Van Gogh’s works set to an evocative classical score and colorful lights. Over 3,000 inspirational images will transform every surface—walls, columns, ceilings, and even f loors—of the venue. Visitors have the chance to examine the artist’s sources of inspiration via photographs and video displayed alongside his works. Globe Platinum and Postpaid subscribers get dedicated fast last for onsite ticket purchasing, Platinum subscribers get 5 percent discount. Go to www.vangoghalive.ph for more information.

Foundation launch gathers Filipino artists

Justin Nuyda (left) with National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose

‘Continuum: Connecting Mindscapes’ features artworks of 30 artists, including Justin Nuyda’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ and ‘Passion.’

IT WAS a feast for art lovers and a gathering of Filipino artist when Ayni Nuyda, daughter of master painter Justin Nuyda, officially launched the Search Mindscape Foundation. According to the younger Nuyda, the foundation aims to serve as a platform that will help develop artists and expand the access of art in its future programs and partnerships. The establishment of

the foundation, she said, was motivated during the time when her father started collecting artworks created by young contemporary artists. “It also strengthened my belief that Filipinos do have a lot to offer not only in the local art scene, but internationally as well,” she added. “Coming back to Manila, I felt the need for me to fully participate in promoting

Philippine visual art.” The launch—which coincided with the 75th birthday of Justin Nuyda—featured the 30-man exhibit “Continuum: Connecting Mindscapes.” Interior designer Jigs Adefuin wove the artworks of 30 Filipino contemporary artists into a narrative that bridges the legacy of Nuyda as one of the pillars of Philippine contemporary art and the

next generation of artists who will eventually move on to greater heights. On display at the exhibit, which is ongoing until Oct. 16 at LRI Design Plaza, are the works of Orley Ypon, Bullet Dematera, Rom Villaseran, Azor Pazcoguin, Mark Andy Garcia, Olivia d’Aboville, Kenneth Montegrande, Beatrix Syjuco, Michelline Syjuco, Robert Lucas Shook, Marko Bello, Janos Delaruz, Vincent de Pio, Jaime Gubaton, Clarence Chun, Rey Aurelio, Aileen Lanuza, AADA, Leo Aguilar, Meneline Wong, Michael Pastorizo, Jayson Muring, Jojoy Zabala, Tammy de Roca, Jel Suarez, Fitz Herrera, Josep Pascual, Sam Penaso, and Jay Ragma. Mediums range from oil and acrylic to textile and collage.

Turn to C2 Marko Bello

Life

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A tale of two nations From left: Chinese Culture and Art Association Limited president Zhou Yanzhao, China Daily Asia Pacific editor in chief Zhou Li, Deng Jun, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines HE Zhao Jianhua, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, MET Board of Trustee chairman Joselito Campos, and MET president Tina Colayco lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

N ITS efforts to bridge business between the Philippines and China, Bank of China Manila, in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Chinese Culture and Art Association, and the China Daily Asia Pacific, is spearheading a cultural exchange program and art exhibit. Emphasizing that real communication starts from cultural exchange, Bank of China country head Deng Jun said, “The cultural exchange program is our way of nurturing the trust between the Philippines and China. We hope that through this endeavor, our two countries will realize that they have so much in common despite their apparent differences.” This year’s program is a two-way exchange, during which artists from two countries get a chance to experience each other’s cultures. The residencies are held in places that evoke the beauty and delicate nature of the environment. During the Philippine phase, the artists—renowned Filipino painters Manuel Baldemor, Rico Lascano, Phyllis Zaballero, Norberto Carating, and Jonahmar Salvosa, and their Chinese counterparts Kuku Chai Bukuk, Cai Zhixin, Ding Jie, Hao Ping, and Liu She—spent time together in Palawan

amidst the lush tropical forests and scenic ocean views. It was the first time for the Chinese artists to see Palawan, who were in awe of the natural wonders of the province, even describing it as “Impressive,” “Inspiring,” and “Beautiful.” For the second leg, the 10 artists will travel to Liling in China’s Hunan Province, where they will experience the region’s unique features—including towering mountains and flowing waterscapes—among autumn foliage. Under the program, the bank has initiated an international art exhibition with an environmental theme inspired by the shared concern of both countries for the protection and preservation of nature. The ongoing art exhibit at the MET, entitled “In Harmony with Nature,” aims to promote environmental stewardship and green living. The second phase will be at the Art Wharf Gallery in Shenzhen, China on Oct. 26.

NO BORDERS. Bank of China Manila country head Deng Jun (center) looks on as Filipino and Chinese artists (from left) Liu She, Hao Ping, Ding Jie, Kuku Chai Bukuk, Phyllis Zaballero, Rico Lascano, Norberto Carating, Manuel Baldemor, and Cai Zhixin collaborate for ‘In Harmony with Nature.’ Several artists expressed their excitement for the next phase of the program in Hunan. Norberto Carating, who has been to China for a previous exchange in 1977, said he wants to see the big changes to the region since he was there last. Meanwhile, Kuku Chai Bukuk sees this as an opportunity to share Filipino art to Chinese audiences. At the heart of the cultural exchange program is the Bank of China’s goal to unveil the subtle similarities shared by two neighboring, but culturally different, countries. “Art has no borders,” said both Manuel Baldemor and Phyllis Zaballero. And while the artists have different styles and different languages, they were able to showcase a shared sensibility and a kinship for art and what it Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Deng Jun at the MET Museum, where the artworks stands for. of the participating artists are currently displayed.

Sogetsu Ikebana’s 30th year exhibit

EXHIBIT

The late photographer John K. Chua (second from left) with Ifugao tribesmen

Banaue through the lens of John K. Chua SEE the beauty of Banaue in a different light through the eyes of renowned photographer, John K. Chua in “Falling in Love with Banaue and Beyond,” a photo exhibition at the Fo Guang Yuan Manila Art Gallery. The ongoing exhibition, which opened on Sept. 29 and runs until Dec. 1, features moving pictures of family and community living, rituals, as well as ethnic games taken by the photographer from 1970 to 2015. The late John K. Chua was one of most respected photographers in the country known for his technical expertise and taking on challenging photo shoots. For more than four decades, he had worked with different clients, shot a variety of subjects, and cemented his place as a top-notch architectural, commercial, and advertising photographer. An adopted son of Banaue, Chua devoted his life to documenting Ifugao culture and teaching photography to kids battling cancer and children with autism. The award-winning advertising photographer was also an advocate for people with disabilities. He organized Photography with a Difference, among many other initiatives, and taught photography to the visually impaired through the Photography Beyond Sight program.

Foundation... From C1

Completing the exhibit are two oil on canvas paintings donated by Justin Nuyda (“Moonlight Sonata” and “Passion”), which were sold through a silent auction. Nuyda’s works along with all of the

IN CELEBRATION of its 30th anniversary, Sogetsu Ikebana mounted an exhibition anchored on the theme “Flower Focus.” The exhibit featured works by some 60 members of the association from Manila and the provinces. Arrangements on display featured different kinds of flowers as the exhibitor’s flower of choice was highlighted in their respective creations. There were carnations, orchids, sunflowers, calla lilies, heliconias, mums, chrysanthemums, and dahlias. The Sogetsu School of Ikebana, founded by Sofu Teshigahara, allows the arranger freedom of expression by incorporating the use of unconventional materials. “Sogetsu can be done by anyone, anywhere, anytime with any kind of materials so long as it conforms with the basic rules of shape line and form.” Part of the exhibit were demonstrations of Nageiri and Moribana styles of Sogetsu by teachers of Sogetsu. Madam Ihoko Haneda, wife of Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, graced the opening of the exhibition.

Margot Perez Chua devoted his life to documenting Ifugao culture and teaching photography to children with cancer and autism.

Falling in Love with Banaue and Beyond is at Fo Guang Yuan Manila Art Gallery, 656 P. Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. other artworks featured in the launch will be available for viewing and purchase until the last day of the show. All proceeds will be used to fund future projects of Search Mindscape Foundation. Also present at the event were National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, and several other contemporaries of Nuyda.

Amy Robles

Madam Ihoko Haneda (center) joins (from left) Ikebana International Manila Chapter president Christina Abalos, Japan Information and Culture Center first secretary director Sato Junko, Margot Perez, and Virgie Cheng at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Sogetsu Ikebana’s 30th anniversary exhibit.

Christina Abalos

Liliana Iskandarsjah

iPhoto

RCBC cardholders get discount on ‘Cats’ tickets RCBC Bankard cardholders an the exclusive privilege of up to 15 percent discount on tickets to Cats musical, which are available at TicketWorld outlets and online, today until Nov. 3. The sungthrough musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber will open on Nov. 6 at The Theatre at Solaire. Present during the press conference are (from left) RCBC Bankard marketing program manager Nelson Lumbres, GMG Productions chief executive officer Carlos Candal, theater actress Joanna Ampil (who will play Grizabella), RCBC Bankard first vice president and marketing group head Ma. Angela Mirasol, and TicketWorld chief executive officer Robert Sewell.

Entertainment

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

UE CFAD films make waves here and abroad By Seymour Barros Sanchez

Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta, and Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez melt the hearts of the audience at the Gabay Guro Grand Gathering.

Gabay Guro culminates

yearlong initiatives with tribute concert for teachers

ABAY Guro, PLDT-Smart Foundation’s flagship advocacy program for teachers, recently celebrated its 12th anniversary with a prize-filled and all-star Grand Gathering, along with the launch of the Gabay Guro app on Sept. 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

This year’s event, Gabay Guro gathered over 20,000 teachers from all over the country to experience a historical Teachers’ Tribute, which was headlined by the country’s biggest stars such as Aegis, Angeline Quinto, Christian Bautista, Eat Bulaga’s Jose and Wally, BakClash and Broadway Boys, Erik Santos, Ian Veneracion, Jaya, Jay-R, Jayson Dy, Jed Madela, Jona, K Brosas, Klarisse De Guzman, Kyla, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Moira dela Torre, Ogie Alcasid, Piolo Pascual, Pops Fernandez, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Zephanie Dimaranan, and Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta, who were reunited by a performance on-stage after a very long time. In support for the Gabay Guro, talent managements Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. and Eat Bulaga enlisted their celebrity talents to perform for the Grand Gathering as volunteers. In addition to all the artists that entertained the teachers during the event, Department of Education secretary Leonor Briones also graced the evening with her presence. Many prizes were given away to the attendees, but two lucky teachers won the event’s grand prizes―Mary Jean Libot of Mother Divine Providence School won a brand new Foton Gratour van, while Maricel Bustillo of Las Pinas City National Senior High School – CAA Campus won a new house and lot. The launch of the Innovations pillar The highlight of this year’s celebration was the launch

Piolo Pascual and Christian Bautista make the crowd swoon with the songs they rendered during the event.

of Gabay Guro’s seventh pillar: Digital Innovations, which highlights the newlylaunched Gabay Guro app. The Digital Innovations Pillar takes its place among the original six core pillars established in 2007: classroom donation, scholarships, teachers’ training, livelihood programs, Connectivity and Computerization, and the Teachers’ Tribute. The new Digital Innovations Pillar of Gabay Guro aims to reinforce the digital transformation for Filipino teachers, school leaders, and stakeholders by equipping them with new modes of teaching and the latest technology that will enable them to create, grow, and evolve their craft for the benefit of their students. Backed by this new learning pillar, Gabay Guro introduces an application for teachers

From left: PLDT-Smart Foundation President Esther Santos, Alexandria and the Centers of Wisdom Corp. (Philippine Distributor of XSEED Education) Chairman John B. Echauz, Maricel Bustillo of Las Pinas National Senior High School, CAA Campus, winner of brand-new house and lot and Gabay Guro Chairperson, PLDT SVP & Smart CFO Chaye Cabal-Revilla

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, October 12, 2019

ACROSS 1 “Tomb Raider” heroine 5 Gather together 10 “My Way” composer 14 Ayla’s creator Jean — 15 Sound thinking 16 Ride the updrafts 17 Baby buggy 18 Sumptuous 19 Crocus “bulb” 20 Flea or mistletoe 22 Submissively 24 She has a habit 25 Repair a tear 26 Cantina offering 29 Overjoyed 32 Partner of alas 33 Revise 35 Impress deeply 37 Rx giver 38 Football charge 39 Set 40 Triumphant cry 41 Uptight 42 Nutshells 44 For some time 47 Strike out 48 Sheik colleague 49 Famous cathedral town

27 Luau greeting 28 Rain forest parrot 30 Two under par 31 Lived 33 Of greater age 34 Shovel 36 “What — could I do?” 38 Thought 42 Chip in 43 James Joyce masterpiece DOWN 1 Reindeer herder 45 Steals 2 Subtle emana- 46 Little devil 47 Merchant tion 3 Emulate a bronco 4 Poor Richard’s book 5 Skiing event 6 Lose hair 7 The chills 8 Fam. member 9 Excessive sentimentality 10 Upward movement 11 Obscure corner 12 Philosopher — Marx 13 Ant horde 21 Be pouty 23 Notable time 25 Jupiter or Ra 26 “I did it!” (hyph.) 50 Cookbook entry 53 Memento 58 Part of the eye 59 Not shy 61 Aching 62 Money factory 63 Wed secretly 64 Wool sources 65 Just scrapes by 66 Talk out of 67 It eats change

that will provide e-learning content and interactive technology and ready-to-use online tools that are aligned with the DepEd and CHED curriculum. This will provide teachers with the latest and easily accessible educational resources right at their fingertips. The new Gabay Guro app will be launched before the end of the year. “Gabay Guro continues to develop innovative programs for our teachers and our partners in nation-building,” Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye CabalRevilla said. “Every year, it is our great honor to be able to give back to our teachers through a grand tribute and we always look forward to continuing this mission and empower them through Gabay Guro’s previously six and now seven core pillars of learning.” This coming Oct. 24, Gabay Guro is bringing the program closer to the teachers in the Northern part of the country. A regional Teachers’ Tribute will be staged in Ilocos Norte, to bring quality entertainment and to give away a lot of prizes to the Ilocano teachers who did not make it to the Grand Gathering. It is one of Gabay Guro’s ways to show its sincerity in giving back and being inclusive to all the teachers all over the Philippines. For more information and updates about Gabay Guro, visit gabayguro.com, like and follow the official Gabay Guro Facebook account, Twitter and Instagram at @ PLDTGabayGuro.

STUDENT films from the University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design are gradually making their presence felt in the international and local film arena. This year, Yero (Corrugated Galvanized Iron) won Best Short Documentary at the third 21 Islands International Short Film Festival in New York. The 13-minute documentary also competed recently at the 21st Ismailia International Film Festival for documentary and short films in Egypt and is part of the official selection of the exground filmfest 32 in Germany from Nov. 15 to 24. A final project for the video production class under Prof. Richard Legaspi, it reveals the harsh conditions inside a corrugated-iron recycling factory, as seen through the life of two workers, Armando Bucog and Rowil Galicia. UE CFAD Advertising Arts graduates John Lanbert Rafols, Jay Condeno, and John Nico Nunag documented the daily struggle of the workers inside the hazardous environment, as they scavenge through metal scraps without safety tools or protection for themselves from persistent hazards and imminent danger. Yero also vied for honors at the 30th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video or Gawad Alternatibo at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and at the 6th Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition or Nabifilmex 6 in Compostela Valley. Meanwhile, How the Beasts Got Hyped by Elvin Jay Macanlalay, Bryan Marticio, and Mars Sanchez was part of the official selection of the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival in India, the Kinolikbez X Documentary Film Festival in Russia, the first Philippine International Film Festival in Korea, the 17th Hyperfest International Student Film Festival in Romania, the AFFF Athens Fashion Film Festival in Greece, the Lift-Off Global Network – First time Filmmaker Sessions in the United Kingdom, and the 2019 Music Shorts Film Festival in the USA. Like Yero, it also competed at Nabifilmex 6 and 30th Gawad Alternatibo, among others. The documentary, also a final project under Prof. Legaspi’s class, focuses on the daily routine of “hypebeasts” or people who are “beasts” (obsessed) about the “hype” (in fashion) and their mutual interest in street-style fashion, which provides a sense of community among its followers. Originally focused on showing the day-to-day activities of a group of eccentric kids, it has evolved to become a story that recognizes the importance of collective identity, camaraderie and solidarity in the face of animosity, or just simply rediscovering a lost freedom. Another UE entry, the animated film “Maling Akala: Ang Misteryo ng Unamuno” by Macanlalay and Arvileen Yongzon,

Extra International... From C4

The visit has brought a touch of Tinseltown to Asia’s largest film festival, with hundreds of fans camping outside the Busan Cinema Centre in preparation for a red carpet walk from the stars before an evening outdoor screening. “I did not expect this kind of welcome in Korea,” said Chalamet. “It’s deeply gratifying.” Among those to have played King Henry V in the past are acclaimed British actors Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh, while more recently Tom Hiddleson tackled the role in the BBC’s award-winning “The Hollow Crown” series in 2012. The New York-raised Chalamet said he had called up the services of an English speech coach in order to nail the accent, but had been more concerned with working “through the lens of the 15th century”. “I went to a drama high school and one of the things the teachers there wanted us

has been recently nominated in AnakTV’s Sinebata 2019. Produced by Piko Productions as a requirement for Prof. Ronwell Bacani’s class, the five-minute animation takes on a legendary Philippine mythical creature named Bungisngis and a mischievous child named Ron Ron, as they journey through the woods after a calamity hits their village, Unamuno. Their paths cross and they go on an adventure together. Maling Akala also vied for awards at Nabifilmex, Gawad Alternatibo, the student category of Pagwanawanan Film Festival, second Manila Student Film Festival, Recoletos Film Festival, 11th Philippine Animation Festival or Animahenasyon 11, and CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival. It was also exhibited at the Sinehan sa Summer 2019 in New York and is one of the 20 finalists in the open category of the 6th Urduja Film Festival in Pangasinan this month. Yero, How the Beasts Got Hyped, Maling Akala, and Dumbo, another animated film project under Prof. Bacani’s class, represented UE in the first Cinestudyante Film Festival at Santolan Town Plaza from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1. Dumbo is directed by Jonica “Nica” Aque based on the story and character design by Ariane Semana, produced by Zyon Kierulf, edited by Kim Bautista, production design by Charl Cercado Poyaoan and cinematography by Jessa Victoriano and Matthew Bautista Adolfo. A short traditional animation about a kid who unknowingly becomes depressed from feeling left out, alone and from having inattentive parents, which are too much for him to bear, it was also nominated at AnakTV’s Sinebata 2019. Another UE student work, Rexie Robles Tamayo’s Mga Bangkang Papel sa Sapang Delubyo will compete in the short film category of the 26th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival or FACINE in San Francisco, California on Oct. 26. The short film revolves around Tutoy, a naïve child with a penchant for Greek mythology, who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a tragedy and feuding siblings.

Student filmmakers John Lanbert Rafols, Jay Condeno, and John Nico Nunag documented the daily struggle of workers inside a hazardous environment in their short film, 'Yero.'

to learn was to choose the roles that are daunting rather than the roles that are in your wheel house, or that you are more comfortable with,” said Chalamet. He said Henry was “universally relatable” for youngsters who “don’t have the skill set, mentally or socially, to deal with the circumstances”. “I am excited that a new generation can see his kind of material,” he said. “It’s just a great opportunity and I had to jump at it.” Australian Michod, previously acclaimed for his gritty crime world drama “Animal Kingdom” (2010), said when writing the screenplay with Edgerton they had turned to the work of Shakespeare as a “starting point”, but then had created a story of their own. “Very early we decided to build a story of our own, taking some pieces from Shakespeare, taking stuff from the deep research that we did, but also just making stuff up,” said Michod. “But it is testament to the power of his writing that even though it is so old it still feels relevant today.” AFP

Richard... From C4

50 Hoarfrost 51 Kramer or Estrada 52 Movie 53 Highlander 54 Where hackles rise 55 Bay at the moon 56 Chocolate cookie 57 — tube 60 Bullfight yell

This is only the first of many appearances the two will do as they will visit various ABS-CBN shows for exclusive stories and sneak peeks on their upcoming wedding. Meanwhile, Richard and Sarah appreciate the amount of love they have received as they enter the new chapter of their lives. “We are super grateful. We made it official to our parents, kids, and friends. Now, it’s time to make it official to our supporters and announce it properly,” said Sarah. Richard, on the other hand, added, “We are thankful to ABS-CBN and for the people working behind all this. This is very special to us and we can’t wait to share more details about our big day soon.” The two revealed that they are already finalizing their guest list and principal sponsors. Sarah will also fly out of the country for her wedding gown fitting next month. Aside from the wedding preparations, Richard is currently busy doing a film under Star Cinema with Bea Alonzo, with whom he will also be pairing for a TV series, and Angelica Panganiban. He will also star for the first time on MMK tonight alongside Elisse Joson.

Entertainment

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

Kapuso Network leads September TV ratings GMA Network firmly held the top spot in the TV ratings competition in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila according to the latest data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. GMA recorded an average of 31.7 percent total day people audience share in Urban Luzon, which was ahead of ABS-CBN’s 30.7 percent for the month of September (with Sept. 22 to 30 based on overnight data). The viewer-rich area accounts for 72 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country. The Kapuso Network led in the morning block with 24.9 percent people audience share, while rival network got 24.1 percent. GMA also continued its winning streak in the evening block with 34.9 percent

versus ABS-CBN’s 32.3 percent. In Urban Luzon’s list of top 30 programs, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) consistently remained in the number one spot. The award-winning magazine program also dominated the list of most-watched shows in National Urban Philippines. Following KMJS were Sahaya, 24 Oras, the Alden Richards starrer The Gift, Beautiful Justice, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, newest primetime offering One of the Baes, Love You Two, and Amazing Earth. The recently-launched second season of The Clash also made it to the list of the network’s ratings drivers for the month, followed by StarStruck, The Better Woman, Pepito Manaloto, Daddy’s Gurl, Magpakailanman, 24 Oras Week-

HOLLYWOOD A-lister Timothee Chalamet admits he was intimidated by the prospect of playing the title role in a new film version of Shakespeare’s Henry V, but then he also likes a challenge. “To do Shakespeare and be an American playing an English king is properly intimidating,” said Chalamet, in Korea to promote The King at the 24th Busan International Film Festival. “But I try to work on things that are challenging, things that are scary.” The 23-year-old American was Oscarnominated for his breakout turn in Call Me by Your Name (2017) and said in some ways he could relate to the tale of the English king who was thrown into the adult world at an early age. “Even right now there’s a room full of adults and I’m the young person here,” said Chalamet. “It can feel some version of not normal to be young and to deal with adults in a professional manner.” Chalamet was joined on stage Tuesday by The King director David Michod and fellow Australian and co-star Joel Edgerton. Also making the trip to South Korea were producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner from the Oscar-winning production house Plan B, which is co-owned by Brad Pitt. “I have so far worked on material that is very different to this,” Chalamet said, “but I leapt at this opportunity. Traveling around the world with a film like this is the kind of thing that when you are a kid you dream about. It’s a wild ride.” Continued on C3

Timothee Chalamet is the latest US actor to tackle Shakespeare, playing Henry V in 'The King.'

Richard and Sarah reveal wedding details

FANS are invited to Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati’s journey to forever as the showbiz couple will soon appear in various ABS-CBN shows and other Kapamilya multimedia platforms to reveal details about their much-anticipated wedding in March 2020. The grand announcement already happened on ASAP Natin ‘To last Sunday where Kapamilya singers Moira Dela Torre, Jason Dy, Ogie Alcasid, andMartin Nievera serenaded the couple with heartfelt love songs. “We are very grateful to ABS-CBN, our bosses, our ASAP family, and to the singers who performed. It’s like our practice for our wedding,” said Sarah who got emotional during their appearance on ASAP Natin ‘To.” Continued on C3

Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez excite their fans after the couple announced their wedding happening next year in March.

Television drama 'Beautiful Justice,' starring (from left) Bea Binene, Yasmien Kurdi, and Gabbi Garcia, is giving its competition a run for its money.

An effulgent star called

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Chalamet goes unto the breach with Henry V role

end, and Wowowin. With official data from Sept. 1 to 21, GMA Network similarly won in Mega Manila, which accounts for 60 percent of all urban viewers in the country. The Kapuso Network posted 31.7 percent average total day people audience share, beating ABS-CBN’s 28.1 percent. More Kapuso shows also made it to Mega Manila’s top programs list with 18 out of the top 30 shows. Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s client pool covers a total of 32 clients/ subscribers consisting of 6 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV and CNN Philippines, among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, and 1 digital agency).

SARAH GERONIMO VERY WANG

“I

NICKIE WANG

’VE always been given movie projects with a screen partner, mostly romcom,” Sarah Geronimo told Manila Standard in a one-on-one interview. “Throughout my career, people see me with a leading man. I felt frustrated that I was only given romcom movies wherein I know I can do more. I can still tackle projects that center on love but not necessarily the kind of love between a man and a woman. It can be with an animal, with family members. There are a lot of stories that can be explored. It’s my conscious effort to have this kind of project,” she continued. The pop superstar, who made a mark as a screen star via Viva Films’ A Very Special Love series that raked in almost P800 million at the tills, is returning to big screen with Unforgettable, a movie which the singer and actress considers as my dream project. “We had this material even before we did Miss Granny, it’s one of the dream projects. I’m glad that it’s a collaborative journey

Sarah G with Milo, a Jack Russell Terrier that serves as her companion in the upcoming feature film, 'Unforgettable. '

for me and the directors. They were very open, from script to the scenes we’re filming. It’s a very strong material with a good storyline. And the timing for this film was perfect that’s why we were able to finish it.’’ Sarah is starring in a full-length dog movie, a project which she has long wanted to do. Conceptualized and co-directed by the multiawarded and internationally acclaimed director Jun Lana (Die Beautiful, Bwakaw) and awardwinning filmmaker Perci Intalan (Bwakaw, Distance, Dementia), and featuring Milo, the Jack Russell Terrier with numerous viral videos, this Viva Films presentation promises to be truly “Unforgettable.” “My character is a special girl who is very loving and very pure. She’s so honest and transparent. My character here teaches people, well I’d like to borrow this from Bob Marley, you will never know how strong you are until being strong is the

only choice you have. Sarah plays Jasmine, a young woman on a journey to Baguio. Her goal is to bring Happy to her sick grandmother. The moment Happy came into Jasmine’s life, the dog proved to be a blessing. Now Jasmine believes that Happy would be instrumental to her grandmother’s healing. As the two make their way to the City of Pines, they meet different kinds of people. With Jasmine’s sharp memory and Happy’s remarkable skills, they are able to help people somehow, touching lives in every place they pass by. And every step brings them closer to the person whose life Jasmine wants to save the most. “Iba siyang magmahal” goes the tagline of Unforgettable. The movie shows that special human-animal bond, compassion for our fellowmen, and the willingness to go the extra mile for our family – different kinds of love that make a mark in the mind and in the heart. Popsters need not worry because their idol always gives her best in her performances. Director Jun Lana said so himself on his Twitter post on June 6th: “I know Sarah just won Best Actress. But her performance today is a whole new level of brilliance. #onetakeactress #unforgettableday2” The incredible tricks of Milo are certainly something to look forward to in this movie. This wonder dog also starred in Vice Ganda’s box office hit, Fantastica. As early as 2017, Milo has been appearing in various TV programs, showcasing his ability to play dead, roll, spin nonstop, jump through his master’s arms, remove his master’s socks, do a massage, and even pray before eating. No wonder Sarah said that she was always excited about going to the set and seeing Milo. Milo was only two months old when his owner Daryl Tristan Huertas started to train him. As if the Sarah-Milo tandem is not enough, big stars like Regine Velasquez, Anne Curtis, Cherie Gil, Tirso Cruz III, Yayo Aguila, Ara Mina, Kim Molina, Meg Imperial, and Gina Pareño complete the cast. Witness unforgettable love in Unforgettable. This could be that kind of movie you’ll remember for the rest of your life. From Viva, the film unspools in cinemas nationwide on Oct. 23. Sarah Geronimo wants to explore other facets of her acting career. It's her conscious effort to tackle unconventional roles so she can showcase her talent as a dramatic actress.