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RODY VOWS TO AVOID WATER CRISIS AMID SERVICE ROTATION By MJ Blancaﬂor and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will take the necessary measures to keep his promise to stave off a water crisis, the Palace said Sunday. “We will do something on the matter so the crisis will not worsen. If there’s a problem, there’s a solution,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo as the two private water concessionaires serving Metro Manila announced the beginning of service interruptions due to the low water levels in the Angat and Ipo dams. “The President will study it and he will do what is needed to avoid a water crisis,” Panelo told a radio interview. Maynilad said service interruptions were necessary due to the lower water allocation given them—40 cubic meters per second (CMS) compared to the normal 48 CMS. Manila Water also previously warned of possible service interruptions if Angat Dam’s levels continue to decrease and said this is necessary to ensure that the water supply will last even beyond the summer of 2020. They also warned that the water rationing may last until next year. Maynilad handles of the west concession zone while Manila Wate

IN THEIR ELEMENT.

Newly crowned Miss Earth 2019 Nelly Pimentel of Puerto Rico (2nd from left) and her entourage strike a winsome pose during the beauty pageant’s grand coronation held at the Okada Manila on Oct. 27, 2019. From left: Alisa Manenok of Belarus, Miss Fire; Emanii Davis of US, Miss Air; and Klara Vavruskova of Czech Republic, Miss Water. Teddy Pelaez

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 256 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IS supremo dead—Trump NFA hikes palay buy goal to beef up buffer stock

Al-Baghdadi killed in US raid in Syria

THE National Food Authority (NFA) has increased its rice purchasing target to 1.14 million metric tons (MT) from 389,000 MT of palay (unhusked rice) to maintain a 15-day buffer stock. In a press statement on Saturday, the state-run grains agency said the higher procurement goal was approved during the recent meeting of the NFA Council led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar. The NFA has stepped up its procurement of unhusked rice following the signing of Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law in February. Under RA 11203, the NFA is mandated to maintain the equivalent of 15 to 30 days of the country’s rice consumption. Next page

Palace condemns mayor’s ambush By MJ Blancaﬂor MALACAÑANG on Sunday condemned the killing of Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro, who was shot dead while he was being transported by police from the jail to inquest proceedings in city hall in Cebu City on Friday. Navarro’s associates told the police that they had been receiving threats even before he figured in an incident at a massage parlor in Cebu City that led to his arrest on assault charges. “We condemn that. We don’t want people to be killed as if they are dogs, chickens, or pigs,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview. Navarro was previously linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to what he called the “deadly game of drug trafficking” in March 2019. Duterte himself released a list of Next page

SLAIN. A picture taken on October 27, 2019 shows a destroyed vehicle at the site where helicopter gunfire reportedly killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha in the Idlib province along the border with Turkey, where “groups linked to the Islamic State group” were present, according to a Britain-based war monitor with sources inside Syria. The helicopters targeted a home and a car on the outskirts of Barisha after US media said IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (inset) was believed to have been killed following a US military raid in the same province. AFP

Bangkok next stop for Duterte By MJ Blancaﬂor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will attend the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand despite his doctors’ advice to limit his physical activities, Malacañang said Sunday. The Palace assurance came amid continued concerns about the President’s health, after he was seen holding onto a cane and wearing an air purifier around his neck last week. “The fact alone that we still see the President means he is okay. Otherwise, he will not attend it,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said. Duterte is expected to attend the 35th Next page

‘Casket capital’ forgoes festivity STO. TOMAS, Pampanga, the “casket capital” of the Philippines, will not hold its annual casket festival this year due to a lack of materials, time and funds for the October 31 event, a town official said. Next page

ASHINGTON— Jihadist supremo Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, the world’s most wanted man, was killed Sunday in a US special operation in northwest Syria, US President Donald Trump confirmed.

Baghdadi died after exploding in a suicide vest he wore to avoid capture as American special forces closed in on him, Trump told a press conference at the White House. No US service members were killed in the operation aimed at the Islamic State leader, which Trump previously approved, senior administration officials said. Trump had tweeted late Saturday night that “Something very big has just happened!” The elusive chief of the ISIS group was thought to be dead after the US military raid in the Idlib region in Barisha, Syria, US media reported early Sunday. A senior US military source, requesting anonymity, told Fox News Baghdadi’s identity has been confirmed with biometric tests and facial recognition. DNA tests to confirm his identity would come the day after, the source added. Next page

Robredo clarifies drug war yarn, opts for ‘review’ By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday denied telling the Reuters news service that she wanted to put a stop to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, saying she merely called for a review and a stop to wrong practices that did nothing to lower the number of addicts. “I have read the headline,” she told ra-

dio dzXL. “That’s wrong.” The Reuters headline read: “Philippine vice president says time for Duterte to halt failed drug war.” Quoting Robredo, Reuters said the President must allow the United Nations to investigate his war on drugs and abandon it. “I said a different thing. If you look at my interview, I only said that the government must assess if it is using the right

strategies. Because if those were wrong, there is a need to tweak. Tweak means you have to change since it seems there are things that they do that no longer are working,” she said. The Vice President said despite the government’s war on drugs that left over 5,000 people killed, the number of drug addicts and users went up from 1.8 million Next page

35,000 cops gird for All Saint’s Day THE authorities on Sunday started evicting vendors inside Manila North Cemetery following city hall’s order to enforce the no-vendors policy there. Around 35,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police will be deployed nationwide to ensure the security and safety of the public for the observance of All Saints’ Day on Friday, its spokesman said Sunday. Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told dzBB that nearly 100,000 volunteers were set to augment the police force during the holidays. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the number coding scheme will be lifted for all vehicles on Next page

WICK AND SEE. A girl minds the candle store in the runup to the All Saints’ Day. Candles of various shapes and sizes abound just about everywhere from the malls to a neighborhood store. Lino Santos

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

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Putin visit seen to boost Russia ties with PH By MJ Blancaflor THE upcoming visit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the country upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte will pave the way for strengthened relations between the two states, the Palace said Sunday. This came after Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev confirmed Saturday that Putin will visit the country for the first time. “If a head of state visits any country, his visit will give renewed ties between the two countries. If weak, it will strengthened. If strong enough, then much stronger,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview. “The purpose will always be the improvement of relations so both our needs will be met,” he added. No details or confirmed dates have been released yet by the Russian government. Earlier this month, Duterte toured Moscow and Sochi for a five-day visit where he met Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and took home 10 bilateral deals on trade and energy worth $12.57 million (about P643 million). Among these agreements were exportation of Philippine products, intent to explore the prospect of constructing nuclear power plants, and importation of technological products from Russian companies. Duterte also delivered a speech at the prestigious Valdai forum alongside Putin and other heads of state: Jordanian King Abdullah II, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Azerbaijan President Heydar Oglu Aliyev.

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Asean Summit and Related Summits in Thailand from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4. Asian leaders have also expressed their concern for Duterte, who was prompted to cut short his trip to Japan to attend the enthronement rites of Emperor Naruhito on Oct. 22 due to muscle spasms. He went home ahead of the schedule after he complained of unbearable pain in the pelvic and spinal parts of his body which was aggravated, according to Duterte’s doctors, by a motorcycle accident at the Palace grounds. Duterte returned to the country ahead of schedule and missed the banquets hosted by the Emperor and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, represented him in both events. Among those who expressed concern for Duterte were Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, and Japan’s Abe. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko also expressed their getwell thoughts for Duterte. Panelo said it was not surprising that Asian leaders have expressed their concern to the President. “They look up to the President for his bravery and political will. It is natural to express concern,” he said. “But we assure them, as the President assures them, he is okay. He does not do anything which will aggravate his pain and he takes on his medication,” Panelo added.

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Jun Pangilinan, executive secretary of Sto. Tomas Mayor Gloria Ronquillo, said at least P500,000 is needed to hold the festival that celebrates the number one industry of the town, with pottery a far second. Pangilinan said that in the past, about 300 family-owned casket makers, mostly located at barangay San Vicente, provided the funds for the festival, with a counterpart fund from the municipality. Other sponsors of the unique festival were the National Federation of Mortuary Stakeholders Inc. and the Sto. Tomas Tourism, Arts and Culture Council. But the festival will not push through this year ahead of Halloween and the All Saints’ Day/All Souls Day holiday “because of a lack of materials (to make special caskets), time and funds,” Pangilinan said. “Mayor Ronquillo assures everybody that next year the festival will be held,” he added. The festival features caskets in different colorful shapes, forms, and scary designs that are paraded and displayed in their respective booths on October 31 before the traditional “Undas” holidays. Romeo Dizon

Another Pinoy war veteran garners US congress medal F ILIPINO World War II veteran Jose Manzano-Somera has been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States’ Congress.

Texas Rep. Roger Williams awarded the medal to Manzano-Somera in a ceremony held in Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on Oct. 25, according to an article published by the American military newspaper Stars and Stripes. Manzano-Somera, 92, was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and daughter Josephine Manzano-Stettler. Meanwhile, Retired Royal Admiral Guy Richmond Griffiths and David Henry Mattiskie, both members of the Australian Navy when World War II broke out, recently arrived in Surigao City to join the three-day commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Surigao Strait from Oct. 23 to 25. The Australians were allied with the United States and the Philippines, which were among the allies that fought the

Identify goods tainted with ASF—solon By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo on Sunday urged Agriculture Secretary William Dar to name the processed meat products that have tested positive for the African swine fever. She said the Agriculture department must be transparent for the welfare of the consumers. To keep the buying public guessing could only “fuel unnecessary ASF scare on all these products that could affect supply and prices,” Castelo said. “We don’t want this to happen especially when millions of our countrymen are about to celebrate the Christmas season.” Castello, the vice chairman of the Metro Manila development committee, said the demand for canned goods and processed meat for Christmas was high among Filipinos, particularly those from Metro Manila. “The DA should also identify the goods not contaminated with ASF,” Castelo said. “So the DA should be transparent as public welfare and the meat businesses are of paramount concern. Doing so would also protect the industry not affected by the ASF.”

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in 2016 to about 7 million to 8 million by February this year. She based the figures on the Dangerous Drugs Board and the President himself. “Isn’t it only right? What’s wrong with what I said? Isn’t it only right to assess if there are things that are no longer working in the campaign? If from the start there are only 1.4 million drug addicts, and that despite the campaign, it swelled to 7 million to 8 million now, then that could only mean something must be worked out,” she said. A Palace spokesman said Robredo had been “brainwashed” by her colleagues in the opposition. At the same time, the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Aaron Aquino, disputed Robredo’s assessment that the drug war was a failure. “If we stop the campaign against the illegal drugs, all drug lords would again enjoy doing business, all the drug pushers and even our users,” he said. The war on drugs led to the confiscation of P36 billion worth of illegal drugs, the arrest of close to 200,000 drug personalities and declaration of 15,000 barangays as drug-cleared in two years and four months, he said. “What a waste if we do (stop). We have huge accomplishments. Why ask it (the campaign) to stop?” he said. “In the first eight months (this year), we were able to seize illegal drugs worth P7.6 billion. Most of those arrested were foreigners,” he said. “Once we arrest international drug syndicates, we consider them as drug lords already. The public just doesn’t see who we have arrested,” he added. He said in two years, 63 suspects have been killed by PDEA personnel, and each of these cases was being investigated. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Japanese forces. Griffiths, now 97 years old and Mattiskie, 96, flew to the Philippines to join the event. “War is a dreadful part of civilization,” Griffiths told PNA in an interview as he expressed gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for the peace that people are enjoying now. “You come from peace and suddenly, somebody wants to create war,” Griffiths said. The conferment of the award to Manzano-Somera was part of the implementation of the Filipino World War II Congressional Medal Act signed by former US President Barack Obama in December 2016. Manzano-Somera is one of the 260,000 Filipino war veterans who fought along-

IS...

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“We long suspected Baghdadi was hiding in Idlib,” the source told Fox, adding the raid at the area west of Aleppo in Syria, mainly controlled by Al Qaeda, involved 50 to 70 American Special Forces soldiers. Later, the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an organisation that includes former operatives from Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate that dominates the area, blocked access to the site of the raid, an AgenceFrance Presse correspondent reported. The White House had announced Trump would make a “major statement” Sunday at 9:00 am (1300 GMT), without providing details. In Ankara, Turkey on Sunday said there was “coordination” between Ankara and Washington before the operation which US media reports said targeted and killed Islamic State chief al-Baghdadi. “Prior to the US Operation in Idlib Province of Syria last night, information exchange and coordination between the military authorities of both countries took place,” the Turkish defence ministry said in a tweet. It did not give details. A war monitor said US helicopters dropped forces in an area of Idlib province where “groups linked to the Islamic State group” were present. The helicopters targeted a home and a car outside the village of Barisha in Idlib province, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information. The operation killed nine people, including an IS senior leader called Abu Yamaan, as well as a child and two women, but it was not immediately clear if Baghdadi had been in the area, it said. The helicopters targeted a home and a car outside the village of Barisha, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, in the operation which killed nine people. “To the best of my knowledge, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi arrived at this location 48 hours prior to the raid. We have been in close coordination with the relevant parties,” a senior Turkish official told AFP. “The Turkish military did have advance knowledge of last night’s raid,” the official said, while stating that “I can neither confirm nor deny that any intelligence was shared to facilitate last night’s operation.” The official added: “We will continue to coordinate our actions on the ground.” Some US media reports quoted government sources saying Baghdadi may

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Nov. 1, and for provincial buses on Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 due to the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays. The MMDA said the number coding scheme will be suspended to accommodate the large number of travelers going to or heading back from the provinces during the holidays. “A no-day off, no-absent policy will be

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services the east concession zone of Metro Manila and its nearby provinces. In March, President Duterte threatened to scrap the concession agreements of the two companies after millions of their customers were left waterless. Duterte also warned Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)

side American troops during the war between July 26, 1941 and December 31, 1946. From August 1946 to April 1949, Manzano-Somera enlisted as a private in the New Philippine Scouts of the US Army, a unit that helped track down and eliminate bands of Japanese fighters who refused to surrender. A decade after his service, ManzanoSomera took advantage of an offer for US citizenship, and he now lives in Georgetown, Texas. Steven Frank, III Corps command historian, said the sacrifices of Filipino World War II veterans were “immeasurable.” “They helped save thousands of American and Filipino lives and sped up the liberation of their homeland in countless ways,” Frank was quoted as saying by Stars and Stripes during the awarding ceremony for Manzano-Somera. To date, around 45 Filipino scouts have received the Congressional Gold Medal, the October article of Stars and Stripes said. PNA have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended. An AFP correspondent outside Barisha saw a minibus scorched to cinders by the side of the road, and windows shattered in a neighbour’s house in rural land dotted with olive trees. A resident in the area who gave his name as Abdel Hameed said he rushed to the place of the attack after he heard helicopters, gunfire and strikes in the night. “The home had collapsed and next to it there was a destroyed tent and vehicle. There were two people killed inside” the car, he said. US media cited multiple government sources as saying Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended. He was the target of the secretly planned operation that was approved by Trump, officials said. The commander-in-chief of the USbacked Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who have been fighting IS in Syria said the operation came after “joint intelligence work” with American forces. Ankara also said it had coordinated with Washington before the raid. “Prior to the US Operation in Idlib Province of Syria last night, information exchange and coordination between the military authorities of both countries took place,” the Turkish defence ministry said in a tweet. From the outskirts of Barisha, an inhabitant of a camp for the displaced also heard helicopters followed by what he described as US-led coalition air strikes. They “were flying very low, causing great panic among the people,” Ahmed Hassawi told AFP by phone. The AFP correspondent said the area of the night-time strikes had been cordoned off by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate controlling Idlib. Long pursued by the US-led coalition against IS, Baghdadi has been erroneously reported dead several times in recent years. Officials told ABC News that biometric work was under way to firm up the identification of those killed in the raid. Trump earlier tweeted, without explaining, “Something very big has just happened!” In 2014, IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and Baghdadi appeared in a video that summer announcing a “caliphate” in regions they controlled. At the height of IS rule, Baghdadi’s group implemented its brutal version of Islamic law on millions. But several offensives in both countries whittled down that land, backed by the air power of the coalition. AFP

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The NFA bought 5.9 million bags of unmilled rice from farmers from January to August 2019, exceeding its target of 5.3 million. The increase in procurement of unhusked rice is also seen as a way to help local farmers cope with falling selling prices of the country’s staple. “The National Food Authority will employ new ways to make it more responsive and effective under the Rice Tariffication Law regime,” the agency said in its statement. To serve more Filipino farmers in several provinces, the NFA said it also set up a total of 558 palay buying stations, 247 more than the previous 311. Dar said the NFA will focus on buying unmilled rice in Top 10 rice-producing provinces, which include Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, North Cotabato and Zamboanga del Sur. The NFA is also targeting buying unhusked rice in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, as well as in other traditionally major rice-producing areas. The grains agency said it would also ask local government units (LGUs) to allow the use of their gymnasiums and other appropriate facilities, especially in places where there are no NFA warehouses. The NFA said it would no longer divest its properties and warehouses, noting that “these could be used for buffer stocking.” It also announced the reduction of its selling price to accredited retailers to P23 per kilogram from P25 per kilogram. The NFA said this would give retailers a P4 per kilogram profit and enable it to sell its rice stocks faster. The NFA, however, said its rice should still be sold to consumers at P27 per kilogram. It added that it will also now sell its rice at P25 per kilogram to other government agencies, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and LGUs. Meanwhile, the NFA remains optimistic that Congress would soon pass a measure that will allow the distribution of rice instead of cash to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). PNA

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so-called narco-politicians ahead of the May elections. Clarin, who was number 31 on the list of 44, was reelected. “Our citizens should not be ambushed or killed. Whether they are allegedly involved in illegal drugs or wanted criminals, it should go under the process of law,” Panelo said. “Whether they are connected with drugs, we will not allow killings on roads. That is not the law that we follow,” he added. Panelo also said there may have been security lapses on the part of the police officers who accompanied Navarro when the ambush took place. “Maybe they were shocked and they were not expecting it since the police van was stopped,” he said. Navarro was on his way to face inquest proceedings at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office when he was ambushed by about 10 armed masked men who stopped the police convoy, pulled the mayor out, and shot him in the head. His escorts were also injured, police said. “We will let the police do their work and prosecute those behind the killing,” Panelo said. At least 12 mayors and seven vice mayors have been killed since Duterte took office in 2016. “It means that if those mayors were involved in illegal drugs, then they are now killing each other,” Panelo said. But Navarro’s sister Princess, who was with the mayor when he was killed, said in an interview that Navarro had political rivals in Clarin who could have been behind the killing. With PNA

enforced among our traffic enforcers on October 31, November 1 and November 4,” MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday morning recorded close to 25,000 outbound passengers at sea ports all over the country, and five days ahead of the observance of the traditional All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays. From 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday, the coast guard said the number of outbound passengers recorded at the ports nation-

wide was 24,971. Some vendors stayed in front of the Manila North Cemetery’s main gate, although the officers insisted they are were not allowed there. Other vendors selling flowers and candles managed to escape and hide from the authorities to continue doing business inside the cemetery. “Masakit sa aming mawalan ng puwesto lalo na ito ang hanapbuhay namin. Dito lang kami kumukuha ng pang-kain,” said vendor Abie Jimenez.

officials that they would get fired if he was not satisfied with their actions to address the water shortage. Militant groups have criticized the water concessionaires, saying that they should no longer be allowed to collect the remaining rate hike. “Are we facing a permanent water crisis? It appears that since the water crisis broke out in March 2019, there has been no significant improvement in the sourcing of water aside from that which comes from Angat dam,” Bayan Secretary-Gen-

eral Renato Reyes Jr. said. Both Maynilad and Manila Water were given substantial water rate hikes in October last year. The water elevation in Angat Dam in Bulacan on Sunday continued to dip due to a lack of rainfall. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the dam’s water level went down from Saturday’s 185.64 meters to 185.41 meters on Sunday, a decrease of 0.23 meters.

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BIR loses P1.3-b tax case vs trader T By Rey E. Requejo

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue has failed to collect P1.3 billion from businessman Macario Lim Gaw in undeclared income, value-added taxes and interest and surcharges for taxable year 2007 after the Supreme Court sustained the decision of the Court of Tax Appeals dismissing the tax evasion case on technicality. In a three-page resolution, SC’s First Division resolved to affirmed the September 20, 2018 decision and July 3, 2019 resolution of the Court of Tax Appeals En Banc that set aside the tax assessment issued by the BIR on technicality. The September 20, 2018 decision of the CTA En Banc ruled that the BIR‘s

failure to comply with the rules on verification and certification of non-forum shopping warrants the nullification of its appeal seeking the reversal of the CTA’s First Division’s September 2, 2016 decision granting Gaw’s petition disputing the tax assessment. “After a judicious study of the case, the Court resolves to deny the instant

petition and affirm the September 20, 2018 decision and July 3, 2019 resolution of the Court of Tax Appeals En Banc for failure of petitioner Commissioner of Internal Revenue to sufficiently show that the CTA EB committed any reversible error in dismissing its petition for lack of proper verification and certification of non-forum shopping as required by the Rules of Court (Rules),” states the SC resolution. “While the existence of compelling reasons or special circumstances has been recognized as valid reasons for the relaxation of the Rules, such does not obtain in this case, considering that the CIR failed to rectify the procedural error despite having ample opportunity to do so, and no timely attempt at substantial compliance was made,” the SC added. The high court also did not give

weight to the concern raised by the BIR that the dismissal of its petition would endanger the entirety of its deficiency tax assessment against Gaw in the amount of P7.01 billion for taxable years 2007 and 2008. Based on its review of the decision issued by the CTA First Division, the SC stressed that the issues raised by Gaw pertained solely to the inclusion of taxable year 2007, as falling within the term “unverified prior years,” in the Letter of Authority (LOA) and resulting assessment issued by the BIR. “It is settled that when a LOA authorizes an examination for a taxable year and ‘unverified prior years,’ in contravention of Revenue Memorandum Order No. 43-90, it is not void in its entirety and shall be valid as to the declared taxable year,” the SC ruled.

Palace lauds Carpio’s service as SC justice

JIL @ 45. Senator Vicente Sotto III (middle) poses with Jesus Is Lord is founder Brother Eddie Villanueva (left) and Senator Joel

Villanueva (right) during the 41st anniversary of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on saturday night October 26, 2019. Norman Cruz

Urban Poor agency eyes govt land for office use By Rio N. Araja TO BE able to save taxpayers’ money, the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor is asking the National Housing Authority to allow it to occupy a 3,000-square meter lot at the National Government Center in Quezon City as its permanent office. In an interview, president chairperson and chief executive officer Alvin Feliciano lamented the PCUP has been spending “half a million peso a year for rent of an office space.”

He said the PCUP does not have its own “permanent home” in the past three decades. On Dec. 8, 1986, President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 82, paving the way for the creation of PCUP that shall be the direct link of the urban poor to the government. “For 33 years, the past administrations have not thought of having a permanent place,” Feliciano told the Manila Standard. “We could save a lot of money if we have our own building,” he said. The PCUP was formerly located

along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Project 7 before its transfer to another leased building on Quezon Avenue, also in Quezon City. “We have expressed the intent to buy the lot at 20 percent based on its assessed value,” Feliciano said. He said he has already taken up the matter with NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. The target lot is located between the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency near the Sandiganbayan along Batasan Road.

Online child trafficker caught in PH sentenced to 15 years in Canada By Ronald O. Reyes AN APPELLATE court in Canada has increased the prison term of Canadian national Philip Michael Chicoine who was originally ordered to spend 12 years in prison for the livestreamed sexual abuse of Filipino children in MacArthur town in Leyte. In November 2017, Chicoine pled guilty to 40 sexual offences committed

Gov’t agencies urged to utilize budget WITH the release of almost 96 percent of the P3.662 trillion national budget for 2019 as of end-September, Sen. Sonny Angara has urged all agencies to disburse and utilize their budgets for 2019 to achieve the country’s growth target this year. Angara said this would also make up for the delays in the implementation and completion of key infrastructure and social projects. The country’s economic managers, Angara said, have set a growth target of six to seven percent this year but because of the late budget approval and delays in project implementation there is a possibility that even the lower end of the target would be missed. The Senate finance committee chair also called on all government agencies to exert all effort to “provide the service that our people deserve” by catching up on spending even though there are just two months left in the year. “It’s not just infrastructure but also on the delivery of social services that have faced delays,” he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

De Lima raises alarm on rise of unhealthy kids

By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Sunday commended Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio who retired last week, saying he served the country well despite his critical stance in the Duterte administration’s handling of the maritime conflict in the West Philippine Sea. Carpio, who has served the Supreme Court for nearly two decades, retired from the judicial service on Oct. 28 upon reaching the mandatory age retirement of 70. “He has served his country well. He is a great Justice. We commend him for that,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview. “We do not agree in his position in the West Philippine Sea but then its a free country, he has a right to criticize and give suggestions. What is important is his stance, even if contradictory to ours, is rooted on his love for country,” Panelo said. Carpio was hailed by his colleagues as the quintessential scholar, a patriot and a leader who established the legal framework of the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea. He was one of the legal luminaries behind the Philippines’ case against China before the international tribunal that found “no legal basis” for China’s “ninedash line” claim in the area in 2016. The court favored the Philippines in 2016 and spelled out the country’s marine entitlements in the disputed waters. Since President Rodrigo Duterte has long refused to invoke the 2016 arbitral ruling, Carpio has repeatedly criticized him, and the former fired back against the SC justice.

IN BRIEF

against children in a span of six years, during which he spent more than $20,000 arranging for the livestreaming of child sexual abuse of victims, ages 2 to 9 years old living in Leyte, and in Romania. Upon his arrest in 2017, authorities uncovered his collection of more than 10,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse. Corporal Jared Clarke of the Royal Ca-

nadian Mounted Police (RCMP), formerly of the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit, testified that the images and videos were the worst he had seen in terms of their violent and graphic content. An offshoot of Chicoine’s arrest was an operation conducted by Philippine authorities in the province of Leyte on November 10, 2017, in coordination with the Interagency Council Against Trafficking

(IACAT Region 8), according to the nongovernmental organization International Justice Mission (IJM). Operatives from the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Woman and Children Protection Center (WCPC) – Visayas Field Unit arrested a female online trafficker and rescued her daughter and eight other children who ranged in age from 2 to 9 years old.

ACKNOWLEDGING the UNICEF global report that one out of three Filipino children under five years old is stunted while seven percent of them are too thin for their height, Senator Leila M. de Lima raised alarm over the ballooning number of unhealthy Filipino children in the country. The global report also said a tenth of Filipino adolescents are now overweight. it noted that children and adolescents in the Philippines have increased vulnerability to diseases due to poor health-seeking behavior, incomplete immunization, poor hygiene and care practices, and inadequate diet. UNICEF also reportedly cited poor diet, inadequate nutrition and a failing food system as the top reasons why more and more Filipino children are not growing healthily these days. Health authorities have attributed these conditions to failing food systems and improper diet. Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘PNP to hire more female officers’ Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel expects the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, who has yet to be named, to be more receptive than his predecessor to the idea of enlisting a greater number of female officers. “To achieve the ideal ratio of 1:500 – one officer for every 500 population – the PNP will be creating 10,000 new Police Officer 1 positions next year. It will also be filling up another 26,685 previously authorized positions that remain vacant,” Pimentel said. “We are counting on Gen. Oscar Albayalde’s successor to find ways to reserve for women up to 20 percent of all these new and unfilled positions,” Pimentel said. “This is no longer just about improving the PNP’s gender-sensitivity. This is about giving women the same opportunities as men to serve – to obtain gainful employment and to advance,” Pimentel said.

DOH-Calabarzon sets 3-year capacity building for govs, PHOs By Macon Ramos-Araneta

REFINERY PLANT. The local government of Lugus Sulu, in partnership with the British enterprise, Energy World International Limited

are set to construct a liquefied natural gas refinery plant in the municipality of Lugus during the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, it was headed by Lugus Mayor Hadar Hajiri (center), BARMM Transportation and Communications Minister Dickson P. Hermoso (left on shovel) Vice Mayor Almedzar A. Hajiri (2nd left) Western Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana (3RD left) Energy World Corporation Executive Director Engineer Graham Elliot (center left) Vice Governor Abdulsakur “Toto” Tan II (center right on shovel) and BARMM Police Regional Chief P/Gen Marti Marcos.The said project has an estimated cost of US$2.3 billion (P 163 billion), the largest single investment ever in the history of the Bangsamoro region. Mark Navales

TO CREATE an effective and responsive provincial health systems in support of the Universal Health Care Law, the Department of Health (DOH) - CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) in partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation Institute (ZFFI) for Health Leadership started the 3-year capacity building for Governors and Provincial Health Officers. Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said the program with the theme, “PHO4UHC – A Bridging Leadership Approach In Making Your Health System UHC-Ready” aims to develop strategic leadership, governance and management skills. He said participants will be provided with innovative and creative ways to attain the objectives of UHC. He said all programs in our health system should be in place “We can do this because we already have the Universal Health Care Law.

We will strengthen our health services in our primary health care,” emphasized Janairo. He acknowledged the significant role of PHO and our at ng LGUs in the success of UHC because they will lead the implementation of the program and the giving of direction, policies, regulations, deployment of resources to accomplish goals and ensuring that all these objectives are met. “You need to look beyond your mandate as a local leader and to a more significant role of being the principal administrator for the success of the UHC,” he added. “You need to be pro-active in planning and implementing health programs and responsive in addressing the needs of those needing health care and treatment. The PHO for UHC program is part of the 3-year capacity building program for governors and the Provincial Health Office teams enrolled under the Provincial Leadership and Management Program (PLMP).

Opinion

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

EDITORIAL

The world in flux FROM Asia to South America with the Middle East in between, the world is in flux, rocked by protest movements against government corruption, inequality and unemployment. Except in Hong Kong where a million people are defying the central government in Beijing because of infringement on their political rights due to the onerous extradition proposal, the three issues mentioned are stoking the flames of unrest.

What’s happening all around us? In Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq and Egypt, people are protesting against their leaders for enriching themselves while the populace remain impoverished. The middle class has joined the protesters because they too feel the pinch of poverty that could also affect them. In Chile, 19 people so far have died when the protests turned violent and the police used tear gas and water cannons. The issues in the protest-hit countries are also felt by Filipinos but not enough to send them off onto the streets. Poll surveys continue to show the Duterte administration’s acceptance rating remains high. Some of the issues in these res-

Adelle Chua, Editor

tive countries are also present in the Philippines but somehow have not reached a point of mass protests. We have high unemployment but Filipinos managed to find work in other countries easing the pressure point at home. Chile, which gained a prosperous economy after the fall of the Allende government, has fallen into a stagnant economy sparking unrest among the people. In Bolivia indigenous President Evo Morales is facing protests because of the widespread unemployment. Morales’ recent reelection is also being contested, allegedly because of attendant fraud. In Iraq which has never been the same since US troops dislodged dictator Saddam Hussein and his oppressive regime, demonstrators are protesting government corruption and high unemployment. Meanwhile, 39 bodies were discovered in a locked-up truck in Essex, England. Initially, British police said they were Chinese nationals but later reported autopsies will be done to determine the nationality of the victims. One of them was found out to be a Vietnamese woman. The Vietnamese embassy in London said they would work with British police to determine the nationalities of the other corpses. If indeed the victims were Chinese, then it can be said they could also be protesters who showed their disaffection with the Chinese government’s stifling control over the Hong Kong people. There are talks that the victims were Hong Kong protesters who are afraid they would be arrested after the unrest

The news on Facebook

OCIAL media giant Facebook has changed the way people connect. It has redefined the words “friend” and “share,” and has allowed its users to establish and maintain relationships even without the benefit of face-to-face interaction.

But it has also changed the landscape of how information is brought from source to consumer. In an op-ed for The New York Times, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges that the internet has drastically altered the business model of the news industry. “Advertising revenue that used to support journalism now goes to companies like mine,” he writes. “We have a plan to help fix that.” That plan is to include an in-app tab dedicated to “high-quality journalism.” Adds Zuckerberg: “For the first time, there will be a place in the Facebook app dedicated solely to high-quality news. Because people are still better at picking out the most important and highest-quality stories, the top stories in Facebook News will be curated by a team of diverse and seasoned journalists.” The feature was rolled out in select

US cities on Friday. By using the term “high-quality journalism,” Facebook implicitly acknowledges the existence of “low quality journalism.” And indeed it has been roundly criticized for allowing itself, for so many years, to act as a platform for disinformation and hate speech. For far too long, Facebook has washed its hands of the responsibility of ensuring that it carries only legitimate information. Given the sheer amount of information Facebook has on every single user—as of the second quarter of this year, it has 2.41 billion—it has, wittingly or unwittingly, been instrumental in furthering other entities’ dark designs. Some companies have harvested data points to target advertisements and propaganda. The company has many sins to atone for, and this, we hope, is just the beginning of a consistent effort to thwart the exploitation of

technology for purposes not contemplated in the beginning. People have grown accustomed to getting their news from Facebook instead of going directly to legitimate news web sites. This is skewed at the outset, because users are already limited to the information that their own circle of friends are sharing. Zuckerberg says the news feature will direct readers to the original, legitimate source of the stories, so that they can get the entire picture of how things are, instead of how bits and pieces have been curated based on the data points they give out about themselves. Facebook’s latest move is just one way to combat fake news. The real enemy is users’ lack of circumspection about the news they get and how they receive it. Social media is not a bad thing—it has done wonders to the way people connect with each other. Still, the pitfalls are real, and the only way users can protect themselves is to be recognize all the dangers, so that they can give and receive information deliberately.

Turn to A5

Water A RECENT article in the Financial Times caught my attention because it is portentous of events likely to happen in many parts of the world, especially in the tropics. Ethiopia and Egypt are disputing the use of the water in the river Nile, the world’s longest river that empties into the Mediterranean after passing several countries in Africa. The Nile has two major tributaries, the White Nile whose headwaters begin in Tanzania where the huge Lake Victoria sits, and goes through Uganda, Rwanda, the Congo, Kenya, Sudan and other countries, through Egypt where it empties into the sea. The Blue Nile, though shorter, sources its water from Ethiopia. The two rivers meet in Sudan, from whence the waters flow into Egypt. Ethiopia, one of the fast-rising economies in Africa, is building what it calls the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the upper reaches of the Blue Nile. Egypt fears that when the dam is operational, it will restrict the flow of water into the Egyptian part of the river, which is lifeline for the country, whose crops are dependent on it for irrigation. Cairo wants Addis Ababa to guarantee a minimum flow from the dam to maintain the level of its Aswan Dam farther downstream to ensure enough water for their agricultural and power generation requirements. Ethiopia, which has had a long history of conflict with its northwestern neighbor, balks at Egypt’s demands. The 4.8 billion dollar “renaissance” dam will be the largest hydropower project in Africa once it is completed by 2022, capable of generating 6 gigawatts of electricity. The Egypt-Ethiopia water conflict is but one of many possible conflicts between countries arising from the use of water resources. India and Pakistan resolved their water conflicts

by the Indus Water Treaty in 1960, creating a joint management body to oversee their shared water resources. In the volatile Middle East, Turkey, Syria and Iraq have conflicts over the biblical Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Similarly, the use of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized is disputed by Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. In the Indo-Chinese peninsula, Laos has been building hydroelectric dams and apart from their domestic use, they sell power to neighboring countries, principally Thailand. With the help of China, the Laotians are now building another giant dam, and its neighbors feel that this will constrict the flow of water to the Mekong and Tonle Sap.

Issues on this precious resource will continue to hound us. The bigger hold China has on the economies of the Indo-Chinese peninsulars, namely Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam is the geopolitical reality that the headwaters of their major rivers are situated in China, principally the Tibetan highlands, whose snow after the long winter flows into the low countries. In the Philippines, many of whose islands are limestone formations with little topsoil and even less aquifers beneath the land surface, water has become such a precious commodity whose scarcity impacts not only on its disparate islands like Boracay, but on mega-cities like the national capital region and Cebu. As far back as the time of President Cory, Gov. Lito Osmena had proposed to build a submarine pipe between his province and Bohol, to tap the Inabanga River and supply the water needs of the Cebuanos. But Bohol would hear none of it. Truth is, Cebu whose mountains Turn to A5

Space: A major legal void By Ivan Couronne THE Internet of space is here. SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted this week using a connection provided by the first satellites in his high-speed Starlink constellation, which one day could include 42,000 mini-satellites. The idea of putting tens of thousands more satellites into orbit, as compared with the roughly 2,000 that are currently active around the Earth, highlights the fact that space is a legal twilight zone. Experts debated the subject at length this week in Washington at the 70th International Astronautical Conference. The treaties that have governed space up until now were written at a time when only a few nations were sending civilian and military satellites into orbit. Today, any university could decide to launch a mini-satellite. That could yield a legal morass. Roughly 20,000 objects in space

are now big enough—the size of a fist or about four inches (10 centimeters—to be catalogued. That list includes everything from upper stages and out-of-service satellites to space junk and the relatively small number of active satellites. A disused satellite at an altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) will eventually fall back into the atmosphere, but only after about 1,000 years, according to French expert Christophe Bonnal. Bonnal, who chairs the International Astronautical Federation's committee on space debris, explains that during those years, the object— traveling 30,000 kilometers an hour —could end up colliding with a live satellite and killing it. For now, that possibility is rare —as an example, Bonnal says there are only 15 objects bigger than a fist above France at any given time. "Space is infinitely empty—this is not like maritime pollution," he told AFP.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, the head of France's space agency and the outgoing IAF president, also downplayed the issue. "There are practically no examples of satellite problems caused by space debris," Le Gall told AFP. "But this is starting to be a more urgent concern because of the (satellite) constellation projects. It's clear that even if we only had to think about SpaceX's constellation, the issue would need to be addressed." For Le Gall, Musk's company "isn't doing anything against the rules. The problem is that there are no rules. There are air traffic controllers for planes. We will end up with something similar."

Thousands of pieces of junk Jan Woerner, the director general of the European Space Agency, admits: "The best situation would be to have international law... but if you ask for that, it will take decades." Turn to A5

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Opinion The need for prophets THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE

Part 2 (Continued from last week) POPE Francis has challenged bishops to live out as pastors among their flock and the laity to respond more fully to their calling as baptized Christians. In a more concrete sense, he said that good Catholics should even meddle in politics—a challenge to the today’s widely accepted doctrine of the separation of Church and State. While expressing fidelity to the Church’s unchanging doctrine, he has called for creative ways of evangelization—reaching out for greater dialogue with Christians of other denominations and even those who belong to other faiths. He invited the Church to live more closely as “the bride of the Lord” and not just like a mere non-government organization. In the crowds of millions who followed him to Brazil, he showed the world that religion was not an outdated reality but one that is very much alive in the world today. To those who preached conformity and uniformity in the ageless traditions of the Church, he preached that the Catholic youth make noise in their dioceses and communities. To those who once portrayed the Church as a rigorist institution, he preached a Christian morality shaped by a sincere conviction in the mercy of God—a morality “triggered by the mercy of God.” To those who would want to build walls to keep the Church from the creeping secularism from the outside world, he has shown open-mindedness to divergence ideas and attitudes, never failing to extend to them the message of God’s forgiveness. In the face of prevalent material poverty, he reminds the world not to forget the reality of a spiritual poverty, where is characterized by man’s rejection of God and objective standards of morality. The power

Water From A4

are mostly denuded and even inhabited, has few sources of water. Population pressures through the last 30 years have worsened the water problem of Cebu, particularly the capital city, neighboring Mandaue and Lapu-lapu. Now the city officials are thinking of desalination as a source of potable water. But the process, although improved through the years, can still be quite expensive. Thus, many Cebuanos balk at the poten-tial high cost of their daily water needs. But then again, if push comes to shove, do they have much choice? In the NCR area, we experienced extreme scarcity last summer, when the water level in Angat, which feeds La Mesa Dam, went down to precarious levels. Angat also supplies irrigation water for Bulacan, and last summer, our water managers had to deprive the Bulacan farmers of water from their own source. There was relief when the rains came in July, but now we are told the water levels in Angat have once again receded. In some parts of Metro-Manila, the two water distribution

Space:... From A4

So far, only France has stipulated in its own laws that any satellite in low orbit must be removed from orbit in 25 years. The US space agency NASA and others have adopted rules for their own satellites, but without legal constraints. So the space agencies and industry power players are hoping that every-

of his words and the sincerity of his gestures are even reinforced by the strength of the witness of his life and mission. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American one, the first pope from the Third World. He is the first pope to be ordained after the Second Vatican Council. The many “firsts” that his papacy represents give a lot of reasons for today’s Catholics to look at a renewed and reinvigorated Church in the future—as a witness to what Saint Augustine refers to as “Beauty ever ancient, ever new.” Here is a pope who is not afraid to face the world with so much

Pope Francis’ time is marked by many firsts. optimism amidst the pain, suffering and violence that is happening around the world. Even in light of the Syrian crisis, he did not consign himself to some diplomatic realpolitik that seem to confound even the world’s top superpowers but instead asked the entire world to join him in prayer and fasting. He has shown surprising conviction to bring reforms to the Church, reforms that could renew the self-understanding of one of the world’s oldest surviving absolute monarchies. For someone who is pope of a two-thousand year old Church in the twenty-first century, Francis the pope, the prophet is but a breath of fresh air—a sign of God’s enduring providence for our times. Francis the pope takes inspiration from an even earlier prophet—Francis of Assisi. A son of an Italian merchant, he gave up the comfort of a wealthy life to live among the poor in radical fidelity of the Gospel. Francis of Assisi preached a message of peace, in a time in history, when peace was thought to be the ability of one secular power to control and subjugate the rest. He challenged the witness of the Church by living out radical poverty which the so-called princes of the Church

lived an extravagant lifestyle. He preached the brotherhood of men, in a time when nations and cities rose against each other in an almost unending cycle of political and social strife. The historical realities must have changed, from Francis of Assisi to Francis the pope, but the message of their lives and their witness to the Gospel remains even more relevant for us today. But the sad part is that prophets are often misunderstood by the people of their time. Some years after his death, the followers of Francis of Assisi argued among themselves the extent of embracing a life of poverty that Francis of Assisi himself taught, resulting in divisions and misunderstanding among the very people who claim to be his spiritual children. In the Scriptures, we read of countless prophets who were despised, rejected, persecuted and even martyred by their own people. I am sure the same will be true for Francis the pope. Even now, some people think the present pope needs to speak more strongly against the moral evils of our time. But still there are those that he is merely trying to put on a good face—in a way, a good public image for an embattled Church. Evil will work to confuse us with our discontent. But, in the end, we are more than confident that the Holy Spirit never fails to come to the help of his Church. The Spirit blows as it wills. Even in our times, God continues to raise prophets to arouse our often lukewarm hearts so as to strengthen our minds to respond more fully to our Christian calling. Have you ever thought how could the message of a pope who has never spoken the world’s lingua franca, English, at least not as often in public—reach out and appeal to people of diverse cultures, nations and languages? It must be the Holy Spirit working with the gifts of tongues. I am confident that with Francis the prophet as pope, we are on the threshold towards a new Pentecost in the Catholic Church.

facilities, privatized since the Ramos presidency, are limiting supply to certain hours of the day. On the demand side, we keep increasing our numbers, and each added member of our race increases the water requirements, not to mention the number of tourists as well as the POGO employees we import. On the supply side, our traditional water sources are affected by climate change. It will get worse. So our government has to look for additional sources, and good for Metro Manila, we have some other than Angat. There’s Laguna de Bay. There’s Wawa in Montalban. Farther off, we could pump up the waters of Lake Taal, purify the same in Mount Gonzales, and let gravity course the water from pipes to the capital region, even neighboring Laguna. But our private distributors, Manila Water for the eastern section, and Maynilad for the west, have done little to tap other sources, even if this is provided for in the concession agreement signed with MWSS or what we used to call Nawasa when NCR’s water service was privatized. Neither have they built wastewater treatment facilities, so the Supreme Court no less has ordered them to im-

mediately do so, but the construction timetable is not only too expensive; it would mean digging up our already traffic-choked streets. That would not only worsen carmaggedon; it would mean absolute gridlock. Fortunately, government has finally given the green light for the construction of Kaliwa Dam in location bordering Quezon and the Sierra Madre foothills of Rizal. Once completed four to five years from now, that would relieve us of having to rely solely on Angat. There are the usual objectors, from the Dumagats to environmentalists, as well as the noisy Left which rides on every issue that could unnerve government. Of course, Duterte is not easily unnerved, which is why he keeps riding a motorbike despite his age and brittle bones. Or perhaps to get his mind off the so many problems he inherited from his Luzon predecessors by becoming the first president from Mindanao. But water issues will continue to hound us, whether it is because costs need to be borne by ever-complaining consumers who multiply ever so often, even as climate change impacts negatively on the supply of this most basic of all commodities (other than air).

one will voluntarily adopt rules of good behavior, defining things like the required space between satellites, coordination and data exchanges. Various codes and standards were put down on paper from the 1990s, notably under the auspices of the United Nations. One of the most recent charters was created by the Space Safety Coalition—so far, 34 actors including Airbus, Intelsat and the OneWeb constellation project have signed on. The problem with such charters is

that one major new satellite constellation project that refuses to play along could make things difficult for everyone. "It's a very classic problem with polluters," says Carissa Christensen, the CEO of Bryce Space and Technology, an analytics and engineering firm. "This is very typical of issues where there are long-term challenges, and costs and benefits." In addition, national space agencies would like to clean up Earth's orbits,

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

The growing specter in ASEAN fatal “hit and run” ramming of a wooden Filipino fishing vessel of a steel-hulled Chinese trawler are still fresh memories that has given a human face to the bullying of our poor fishermen. IN A few days the 35th ASEAN This is the geo-political theater that Summit will again gather the top the ASEAN is facing when the memrepresentatives of member nations ber representatives start meetings in to discuss economic, socio-cultural, Bangkok. Reviewing the fundamenand most certainly political-security tal principles that the member states issues of the region. adopted in the Treaty of Amity and The summit convenes in the heels Cooperation in Southeast Asia of of escalating incidents between Ha- 1976, ASEAN states then committed noi and Beijing. According to Marine to: Traffic, the Chinese oil survey vessel 1. Mutual respect for the indepenHaiyang Dizhi 8 dence, sovereigninvolved in a sety, equality, terrious three-month ritorial integrity, standoff in VietThe stakes are just and national idennam controlled so high. tity of all nations; waters finally left 2. The right under the escort of every State to of Chinese ships. lead its national China continues to assert its “nine- existence free from external interferdash-line” claim of the entire energy ence, subversion or coercion; and marine rich waters of the South 3. Non-interference in the internal China Sea. This claim was effective- affairs of one another; ly nullified more than three years 4. Settlement of differences or disago with the July 2016 decision of putes by peaceful manner; the Permanent Court of Arbitration 5. Renunciation of the threat or use (PCA case number 2013–19). The of force; and tribunal ruled that China’s claim has 6. Effective cooperation among “no historical rights.” themselves. This historic Philippine victory It is to the great interest of 654 invalidated China’s imaginary “nine million inhabitants of ASEAN that dash” claim and clarified our entitle- all its nations must faithfully adments including our Exclusive Eco- here to these principles. Threats of nomic Zone (EEZ). That decision is the use of force including threats of now part of International Law. It’s a war is by no means a viable option stunning legal blow that Beijing con- for China or for any other country tinues to disrespect with even more as this will be catastrophic to global illegal acts of incursions and land trade and fuel supply. reclamation. Prof. Dindo Manhit, President of Increased presence of Chinese Stratbase ADR Institute said, “Amid ships has been reported in Thi Tu all its geo-economics and geo-politiisland in the Spratly in April 2019 cal challenges, ASEAN remains the and then the following month, Chi- best platform to settle differences and nese coastguard patrolled the Lu- unite on key issues. Recent developconia Shoals violating the EEX of ments in South China Sea cannot be Malaysia. ignored by the ASEAN members.” Malaysian Foreign Minister “This year’s Summit and Related Saifuddin Abdullah in a statement Summit is the best time to advocate delivered in parliament said that for a rules-based order in the region Malaysia wants to “control the pres- and resolve potential conflicts to ence” of warships in the sea and must ensure completion of an effective, strengthen its navy to better defend practical, and legally-binding Code the country’s waters. of Conduct for the South China Sea”, He said: “We need to improve Manhit said. our asset capabilities to control the On the part of the Philippine govwaters, especially in the context of ernment, the 2016 Arbitral Award is facing superpowers in the South the strongest leverage that our repreChina Sea," sentatives must use to inspire ASETo assert freedom of navigation AN states to uphold international law rights, the United States has been send- for sustainable peace and prosperity ing its Navy ships in more frequent sor- in the region. ties close to Chinese controlled islands Stakes are high and the consein the South China Sea, the latest of quences will hit all of us should the which happened last month. ASEAN fail to reverse this growing Here in the Philippines, the near specter of conflict.

in the former British colony is subdued. If extradited to mainland China, the protesters fear they don’t have a chance of a fair trial. In the Philippines, living conditions have not reached critical level. The number of hungry people have in fact decreased in the third quarter of the year, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey. Corruption is still prevalent in the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine National Police but generally kept at low level by the Duterte administration. Despite allegations of extra judicial killings in the police operations against drug trafficking, the people feel that the rule of law still exists. What is disquieting though are the daily reports of assassinations of public officials, mostly from the local government sector which authorities

claim are politically motivated. Aside from corruption in some government agencies, the administration has to address certain health issues like dengue, polio and the African Swine Fever which is causing hardship in the local processed meat industry. Pampanga the source of most of these processed meat like tocino, longganisa and chicharon or crispy fried pork intestines is asking the Food and Drug Administration to assure consumers that processed pork is safe since it is cooked long in high heat. Ham, a traditional food during the Christmas holidays, has gone up in price this early. The government is offering financial help to hog raisers to ease their difficulty. The people in the pork industry are being asked not to hide ASF-infected hogs so as to prevent its spread. The side effects of the swine flu scare has raised the prices of other basic Filipino food like fish, chicken and beef, including vegetables.

which are now strewn with junk from 60 years of space history. Three large US rocket stages mysteriously "fragmented" last year, says Bonnal—that created 1,800 pieces of debris. The French expert says removing just a few large objects a year would help. One example would be the stages of the Soviet-era Zenit rockets, which each weigh nine tons and are nine meters long. Every month, they pass within 200 meters of one another.

If two of them collide, it would double the number of objects in orbit. But for now, no one knows how to remove these giant objects from space. In the short term, a best practices manual may be the best solution. Experts also hope that SpaceX manages to maintain control of its satellites as Starlink takes shape. Already, of the first 60 satellites launched, three of them—five percent—stopped responding after just a month in orbit. AFP

The world... From A4

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Sports

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Magnolia Hotshots boost bid for playoffs

Knott, Ubas clinch gold in athletics’ test events

Games Wednesday (Cuneta Astrodome)

4:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs. NLEX 7 p.m. — Blackwater vs. Ginebra

MAGNOLIA survived Columbian Dyip’s unrelenting offensive, anchored on four gunners and posted a 118-103 victory that bolstered its playoff chances in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The crucial win enabled the Hotshots to heave a sigh of relief after their campaign went on an alarming nosedive for losing their previous three outings, including against Barangay Ginebra last Oct. 20 (105-83). The Hotshots spent the entire first half sizing up their foes before waxing hot in the second half to turn the tables on the Dyip, who surprisingly played inspired basketball all game long. Romeo Travis, Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, Rome Dela Rosa and Mark Barroca alternated on offense as they got the better of their duels with Columbian’s foursome in CJ Perez, Khapri Alston, Rashawn McCarthy and Juami Tiongson. Travis cut loose with 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Sangalang tallied 24 points, and eight rebounds, with Jalalon finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Also instrumental in Magnolia’s win was Barroca, who finished with 10 points, four rebounds and seven assists, aside from providing the much-needed leadership. The Dyip, who were coming off a 106-104 win over Phoenix last Friday, had four of their gunners becoming a big headache to Magnolia’s defense. CJ Perez, easily the most consistent among the Dyip, tallied 28 points and eight rebounds, Alston added 26 points and 14 rebounds, while McCarthy had 18 points on top of five rebounds and six assists. Tiongson was the only other Dyip in double figure with 13 points. However, the four failed to keep the Dyip from tumbling to their fifth loss in nine games. The scores: Magnolia 118 - Travis 28, Sangalang 24, Jalalon 19, Dela Rosa 16, Barroca 10, Pingris 8, Herndon 6, Lee 5, Pascual 2, Melton 0. Columbian 103 - Perez 28, Alston 26, McCarthy 18, Tiongson 13, Cahilig 6, Corpuz 5, Khobuntin 5, Calvo 2, Faundo 0. Quarterscores: 27-29, 61-52, 88-76, 118-103.

Aussies Sam Betten (left) and Dimity Lee Duke flash the no. 1 sign after their victories.

Betten, Duke crowned 5150 triathlon champs By Reuel Vidal

CEA SUBIC BAY, Zambales—There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

Aussies Sam Betten and Dimity Lee Duke ruled their respective categories in the 2019 Black Arrow Express 5150 Subic Bay Philippines, but took different paths to victory in the 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run race here yesterday October 27. Betten led from the get-go to beat hard-charging Czech Jakub Langhammer in the men’s division while Duke had to erase a two-minute deﬁcit after the swim to overcome the challenge of Laura Wood of New Zealand. Betten led by two minutes after the swim. He extended that advantage to three after the bike. Langhammer tried

to close the gap but could only chop a minute off Betten’s lead in the run to ﬁnish second. In contrast, Duke trailed by two minutes after the swim. She trailed by 24 seconds after the bike. Duke ﬁnally overtook Wood in the run and won pulling away. Betten expressed his appreciation at being able to participate in another Sunrise Events race. “Sunrise Events races are world class and as a professional athlete you want to compete in those events that set a high standard. Sunrise Events races are just the best there are and the experience of the events is just so amazing that I always want to keep coming back every year,” said Betten. Langhammer agreed with Betten’s assessment of the well-run, world class triathlon races. “Sunrise Events organizes the best events in IRONMAN circles in the world. It is a team of really friendly people who love their work which is re-

PH Dancesport Team to train with Polish coach

Fil-Chinese seniors out to regain ASEAN title REINFORCED by two more former Philippine Basketball Association players, the Filipino-Chinese Veterans Basketball Association leaves for Chang Mai, Thailand today determined to regain its lost glory when the ASEAN Veterans Basketball Tournament stages its 28th edition starting tomorrow. FCVBA’s three-year reign in the annual event was snapped last year, prompting the association’s “godfathers” Terry Que of Rain or Shine and Jimi Lim of Ironcon Builders to tap the services of former Crispa player Joel Gomez and Roberto Poblete. “Both players are good additions to the team so we are confident we can regain our title,” said Lim. Former Crispa guard Bong dela Cruz has long been a regular fixture in the association having played in the 50-andabove and 60-and-above divisions before. Other members of the team, according to Que, are former Adamson captain Ching Ka Lee, Antonio Go, Zotico Tan, William Lao, Alfonso Kaw, and Andrew Ongteco. “I think we are much stronger this year so we have a very good chance,” said Que. FCVBA has a rich winning tradition in the league, stamping its class not only in the 65 and 60 but also in the 50-andabove. The association, however, will not field teams in the 60s and 50s this time. When it hosted the event three years ago, it won all four age categories as Kenneth Duremdes led the 40-andabove squad to the championship. PBA four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera suited up for the 50s that easily topped their division.

ally important. Sunrise Events provides the best hospitality and event quality for all participants and I think this is why their races are so popular,” said Langhammer. Meanwhile, Jose Fernando Casares came in first in the Male Asian Elite category. Following him are national triathlete John Leerams Chicano who will represent the Philippines in the coming Southeast Asia Games and Jorry Ycong. Alexandra Ganzon was the lone entry in the Female Asian Elite. Black Arrow Express is the title sponsor of the race. Venue hosts are Subic Bay and ACEA Subic Bay. Other sponsors are TYR (official swim brand), GU (official energy gel), David’s Salon and F2P Sportswear as major sponsors. Media partners are ONE Sports on Cignal, Crosstrain.ph, Trilife, AsiaTri.com and FInisherPix. Alaska, AlcoPlus, Australia Harvest, Cetaphil, DeVant, Sanicare, Regent, Storck and Timex are marketing partners.

FIL-AMERICAN Kristina Knott and Janry Ubas were battling personal issues, but still came through with golden performances in the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ Test Event in Athletics late Saturday at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium. The 24-year-old Knott, who in the future is hoping to clinch a berth to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, posted a time of 24.43 seconds to beat fellow Fil-Am campaigner Kayla Richardson (26.18). Brunei’s Maziah Mahisin settled for the bronze. In the 4x400-meter relays, Knott salvaged a bronze with teammates Eloisa Luzon, Jessel Lumapas and Maureen Schrijvers with a time of 3:51.62, behind gold winner Thailand (3:43.56) and silver medalist Malaysia (3:44). “Training has really been hard. I hope I hit it,” said the Knott, who bucked some minor injuries she refused to complain about. “Kristina Knott is still undergoing treatment for some issues. She still has to peak. She should be ready in four weeks for the 200 meters and the relays,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Juico. Meanwhile, Ubas leaped to his season-best 7.52 meters to clinch the gold in the long jump, where beat fellow locals Aries Toledo (7.49m) and Algin Gomez (6.83m). “Janry Ubas had a lot of problems to tackle back home in Cagayan de Oro and couldn’t focus on training as much as he and the coaching staff wanted, but he still did well. Janry has two events, long jump and the big one, decathlon. His long-jump performance will certainly earn quite a bit of points to put him within striking distance of the podium in decathlon,” said Juico. Reigning champion Tran Ti Yen Hoa of Vietnam edged Filipina Melissa Escoton for the gold in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.04 seconds. In the men’s side, Malaysian Rayzam Shah Bin Wan Soﬁan clinched the gold with 14.50 seconds, slower than his 13.13-second performance during the Kuala Lumpur edition of the games in 2017. His local counterpart Alvin Vergel came in 14.57 seconds for the silver. Meanwhile, Thailand’s men’s squad, topped the 4x400 meter relays, after three of four members of the team that claimed the gold in 2017 led the team to the gold (3:08.71) against bets from the Vietnam (3:09.76) and the Philippines (3:10.47).

Carlos Correa (left) and George Springer of the Houston Astros celebrate their team’s 8-1 win against the Washington Nationals in Game Four of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. AFP

THE Philippine DanceSport Team is coming off a one-week dance camp in Italy as it ramped up its preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which the country hosts from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, 2019. But it doesn’t end there. This week, the team gets to be trained by a certiﬁed world champion in Polish coach/athlete in Alina Nowak, who only last Oct. 19 won the Adult Latin Division of the World Open Championship with dance partner Edgar Marcos Borjas. “’Yung mga athletes ko, they just came from Italy, where they attended a dance camp, they are in rigid training. And then I have a coach coming in this week, si Alina Nowak. They are focused on their training now, they are all passionate about the sport, they are dedicated,” said DanceSport Council of the Philippines president Becky Garcia. DanceSport swept the two gold medals at stake when the Philippines last hosted the biennial meet in 2005, but Garcia refused to give a ﬁgure as to how many golds her dancers will deliver for the country out of the 12 medals at stake this time. “We are the hosts and it’s not right (to predict). All I can say is we always hope for the best. The last SEA games that we hosted here, we had 2

golds and 2 silvers. We had a very good showing then. Now, our athletes are really doing their best, training hard, magagaling naman talaga tayo,” Garcia said. Philippine Sports Commision (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez, meanwhile, said he is elated with the outcome of the athletes’ foreign exposure. “Our athletes have shown determination to improve,” Ramirez said. “There are reasons to be hopeful of a better performance when the Sea Games come.” Leading the charge for the team will be Sean Micha Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla in the Standard Discipline, and Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo for the Latin Discipline. “Sila talaga ang mga pambato natin, plus ‘yung couple from Cebu,” added Garcia, referring to Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda, also in the Latin category. Others in the team are Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen (standard discipline event.), Yer Lord Ilyum Gabriel (Bboy Breaking) and Alyanna Talam (BGirl Breaking). The leading pairs will compete in 3 dance events, while the supporting tandem dances in 2 events in competitions that will be held in Clark, Pampanga.

Tamaraws rout Warriors to barge into Final 4 ANTIPOLO—Far Eastern University emphatically barged into the Final Four of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament, routing University of the East, 82-58, Sunday at Ynares Center here. It was a blistering shooting performance for the Tamaraws, going 12-of-31 from beyond the arc to lock up a spot in the semifinals with their 8-6 card. Wendell Comboy led that barrage with 17 points on a 5-of-7 shooting from threes, while also hauling down four rebounds, while Ken Tuffin also buried nine points on a 3-of-8 clip from downtown, alongside three boards and three assists. L-Jay Gonzales also was all over the floor with his 12 points, 10 re-

bounds, and four assists, as Royce Alforque came off the bench and registered 13 points and three assists. “Well, who would have thought of us making it to the Final Four?,” said a jubilant coach Olsen Racela. “Walang naniwala sa amin except sa mga nasa loob ng circle namin, and of course, the FEU community.” With UE ﬁghting back and cutting the 40-26 halftime lead down to just 11, 53-42, FEU responded with four straight points to ﬁnish the third canto before their three-point shots continued to fall in the fourth quarter, with Xyrus Torres’ three pushing the lead up to 24, 67-43, with 5:37 left. It was a sweet victory for the

Tamaraws, but Racela is well aware that the bigger wars are still ahead of them. “We’re not done yet,” he said. “Our goal every year is to make it to the Final Four, then we move on. We’ve achieved our first goal, next goal na kami.” Rey Suerte notched 16 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and four assists for UE, which suffered its fifth consecutive loss to drop to 3-10. Alex Diakhite registered a double-double of 13 points, 10 boards, three blocks, and two dimes in the Red Warriors’ loss. Nick Abanto served his one-game suspension in this game, stemming from the hit he did against Ateneo’s Will Navarro last week.

FEU’s Wendel Comboy drives to the basket

IN BRIEF PT&T teaming up with Virtalus of US PUBLICLY-LISTED Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Co. forged a strategic partnership with US-based Virtalus to deliver public and private cloud solutions for the Philippine market. The two companies through the partnership are now in a position to offer public and private cloud solutions to PT&T’s enterprise clients in the Philippines, powered by Virtalus. The partnership on PT&T’s Cloud Powered by Virtalus was signed by PT&T’s IT Services business unit headed by Ella Mae Ortega and James Velasquez, president and chief executive ofﬁcer of PT&T, and Virtalus CEO Virtalus Mazhar Durani and Virtalus business development consultant for Southeast Asia Hanna Mortel. “Our partnership with Virtalus enables PT&T to launch value for money cloud services to empower more businesses,” said PT&T president and chief executive James Velasquez. Darwin G. Amojelar

BPI may exceed 2018 net income—Consing BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, may surpass this year the net income of P23.08 billion in 2018, as its core businesses continue to show good numbers, its top executive said in an interview over the weekend. “I hope so... I think we ended the ﬁrst three quarters at P22 billion... Last year was a little over P23 billion. So I think there is a good chance of doing better this year,” said BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing. The bank posted a full-year income of P23.08 billion in 2018, up 3 percent from the P22.42 billion it booked in 2017. Consing said some of the growth in net income in the ﬁrst three quarters of 2019 are trading related but a lot of it came from core operations. Julito G. Rada

Business Major car parts maker anxious over CITIRA bill G By Othel V. Campos

LOBAL automotive parts innovator Continental Temic Electronic (Phils.) Inc. said the passage of the proposed Corporate Income Tax Incentive Reform Act may affect its competence as an exporter. “The increase in taxes will make our operations here in the Philippines less competitive. CITIRA is an existential threat to our industry. We would like it to be a competitive advantage, not a competitive disadvantage,” Continental Temic vice president and country manager Glenn Everett said during the annual CEO forum led by the Semiconductors and Electronics Industry of the Philippines Inc. on Friday. Continental Temic called on other semiconductor and electronics companies to share their views on CITIRA and how this would impact on exporting companies. Everett said the objective was not to discredit the government but to educate legislators about the negative effects of CITIRA on foreign investments.

The company, which has operations globally with several factories in China and the ASEAN, is at a phase where it is shutting down ﬁve manufacturing plants as a part of its restructuring program. “Worldwide Continental Corp. is restructuring to support changes in automotive industry. There are parts of the industry that are shrinking like engines [that] are going to nothing. But there are parts growing dramatically like electriﬁcation of cars,” Everett said. Everett said the Philippines would not be affected by the restructuring program. “Philippine operations is involved in the safety of cars, automotive that do automatic braking, right stability, wheelspeed sensors, radar sensors that are used in automated driving, among many other products,” he said.

He said the Philippines is among the countries that can easily innovate products that will fit the specification of a customer because it the company has a research and development office here. Continental Temis has two factories in the Philippines which have their own research and design teams that serve the specific requirement of a client. The parent company usually farms out projects through internal bidding where the plant that submits the lowest cost gets the business. “About 20 percent of our business is ramping down and starting up every year. And every year, we have to win new business to replace those ending. We’re always competing,” Everett said. He said this is the reason why the Philippine subsidiary could lose its competitiveness if taxes went up under CITIRA. “We’re very much concerned about the tax environment. We want to make sure that there is a long term positive tax environment. CITIRA’s not done yet. I’m hopeful that we can work positively, collaboratively with the government to make a CITIRA conducive to business,” he said.

SSS: Unemployment benefits reach P84m STATE-RUN pension fund Social Security System disbursed over P84 million worth of unemployment benefits in the first two months of the implementation of the landmark provision of Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018. SSS president and chief executive Aurora Ignacio said over the weekend the pension fund provided immediate financial assistance to more than 6,900 actively-paying members of SSS who were involuntarily separated from the workforce. “We are now seeing the fruits of labor of our lawmakers, stakeholders and SSS representatives who have crafted the SS Act of 2018. We are able to provide cash benefits to the qualified members who needed the SSS the most when they unexpectedly lost their jobs,” said Ignacio. Julito G. Rada

NOW taps Korean company to roll out 5G services in PH By Darwin G. Amojelar NOW Corp. said affiliate NOW Telecom Co. Inc. teamed up with South Korea’s SK Telecom to roll out 5G or fifth-generation wireless technology in the Philippines. Under the agreement, SKT will support the entire process of 5G commercialization of the former in the Philippines. NOW which has a fixed wireless access network may also enter the mobile communications space with SKT as a strategic partner which will provide the latest technologies and consulting services for the entire process of 5G commercialization and offer B2B solutions. NOW Telecom chairman Mel Velarde said with SKT’s global leadership in 5G, NOW can leapfrog competition and hit the mobile gigabit ground running with almost zero trial and error. “Imagine the kind of compelling customer experience enjoyed by Koreans from 5G to arrive on our shores by a flick of a finger. That’s what this collaboration is all about,” he said. NOW chairman Thomas Aquino said the partnership marked a significant step for NOW as it expands its network and joins forces with the number one telco operator that launched 5G commercial services. “5G is said to unleash gigabit of speeds and it is said to spur growth in the enterprise sector most especially in the areas of internet of things and smart cities. We are excited for this partnership as we grow NOW in new horizons,” Aquino said. The partnership will leverage on SKT’s expertise to build an advanced telecom network. NOW and SKT will work together in developing 5G technology in the Philippines and the cooperation includes utilizing 5G enabled enterprise IT applications such as iOT, enhanced media experience and smart office.

MARITIME SILK ROAD AGREEMENT. National Museum of the Philippines chairman Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas and Museum of Nanyue Palace director Quan Hong lead the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ at Rizal Park Hotel in Manila on Oct. 24. Norman Cruz

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

PECO warns MORE against expropriating power assets By Alena Mae S. Flores PANAY Electric Co. warned More Electric Power Corp. against expropriating the former’s assets, saying the case is now with the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals on Oct. 3 denied the bid of PECO to stop the expropriation of its distribution assets in Iloilo City by MORE—the new franchise holder and distributor in the city. PECO, in a statement, clarified that the denial of the 18th division of the Court of Appeals (CA) of Cebu City on Oct. 3 of its petition to suspend or stop the expropriation case filed by was moot and academic. “The Court of Appeals case is already moot and has been overtaken by events because the matter is now with the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land. The SC has already ruled in favor of PECO in denying MORE’s prayer for temporary restraining order sought by MORE,” PECO legal counsel Estrella Elamparo said. The 18th Division, in a resolution penned by CA Associate Justice Alfredo Ampuan, ruled to deny PECO’s petition for a temporary restraining order against the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court, and another petition for a writ of preliminary injunction against the same court, after the lower court ordered the expropriation of PECO’s distribution assets by MORE. “The SC has, in fact, required MORE to show cause why it should not be declared in contempt for continuing with the expropriation. A CA ruling cannot supplant a Supreme Court ruling and if MORE attempts to proceed with the expropriation, it will be answerable to the SC,” Emparo said. PECO filed a motion to withdraw the petition on Sept, 24 to the CA as the case was already with the Supreme Court at the time. PECO said the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court rendered another judgment in the petition for declaratory relief on July 11, 2019 declaring Sections 10 and 17 of RA 11212 void and unconstitutional “for infringing on PECO’s rights to due process and equal protection of the law.” The Mandaluyong RTC enjoined MORE and any of its representatives from enforcing, implementing and exercising any of the rights and obligations set forth under RA 11212, including but not limited to commencing or pursuing the expropriation proceedings against PECO under the assailed provisions, and from takeover by MORE of PECO’s distribution assets in the franchise area.

PH expects to exit 12-month watch for money laundering black list By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno expressed optimism that the Philippines will successfully exit the 12-month observation for high-risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions in terms of international anti-money laundering/ counter-terrorism ﬁnancing. Following the adoption of the Mutual Evaluation Report, the Philippines entered a 12- month observation period, the completion of which requires the country to submit a comprehensive progress report to the Asia/Paciﬁc Group on Money Laundering focused on the implementation of its recommended actions.

Diokno said the 12-month observation period gave the country an opportunity to remedy identiﬁed shortcomings in the Mutual Evaluation Report. “I enjoin everyone to work even harder to ensure that the Philippines is able to successfully exit the 12-month observation period. We cannot afford to have the Philippines in the Financial Action Task Force’s list of high risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions…,” Diokno said during the 18th anniversary of the Anti-Money Laundering Council at the Bangko Sentral on Oct. 23. “Hence, we should be very strategic in our focus for the next 12 months. With perseverance, a reinforced secretariat and

a closer link with partner agencies, I am confident that we will be able to address the country’s weak AML/CFT areas,” Diokno said. Diokno said prior to the ME Report, the AMLC conducted a self-assessment based on the existing legal framework, operations of competent authorities and statistics to forecast the evaluation results. The assessment reflected accurate ratings for seven out of the 11 immediate outcomes on effectiveness, while on technical compliance, the assessment reflected accurate ratings for 34 out of the 40 FATF recommendations. He said last year was a productive one

for AMLC as it adopted the 2018 implementing rules and regulations. The new rules ensure that covered persons will be held accountable for their violations of the AMLA. It also requires covered persons to adopt robust anti-money laundering and terrorism ﬁnancing prevention programs. The AMLC also issued the guidelines on identifying beneﬁcial ownership which seeks to promote transparency in the use of legal persons, legal arrangements and nominee arrangements. This is to ensure that these types of arrangements will be legitimately used and not for the purpose of distancing one’s identity from the proceeds of crime.

Widus building P12-b resort in Clark By Othel V. Campos THE Widus Group, the owner and developer of the Widus Hotel & Casino and the Clark Marriott Hotel, signed an agreement with state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority to build a P12-billion luxury mountain resort on a 450-hectare lot in New Clark City. Under the agreement, the luxury mountain resort called Hann Lux will be located in the southernmost portion of New Clark City. Hann Development Corp. president and chief executive Dae Sik Han expressed optimism for the venture which he said would draw more visitors to New Clark City. Hann Development is a member of the Widus Consortium. “Clark is fast becoming one of the top destinations in Northern Luzon for

both tourists and investors. We hope to attract more with the development of a new leisure resort in New Clark City, one that is in keeping with the vision of BCDA,” Han said. Phase 1 of the leisure resort will include the development of Angsana Hotel, Banyan Tree Hotel, an 18hole championship golf course and a clubhouse. The development of the ﬁrst phase, involving an investment of P5 billion, is expected to be completed within ﬁve years. Phase 2 will include the development of Westin and Luxury Collection by Marriott, two 18-hole championship golf courses, outdoor recreation facilities, premium villas and residences, a mixeduse commercial center and a 10-hectare public park for a total investment of P7 billion.

The Widus Group, owner and developer of Widus Hotel & Casino and Clark Marriott Hotel, and the state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority sign a lease agreement to develop the Hann Lux, a luxury mountain resort in New Clark City. Leading the signing ceremony are (from left) BCDA senior vice president for business development and operations Engr. Joshua Bingcang; BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon; Daesik Han, president and CEO of Hann Development Corp., a member of the Widus Group; and Widus assistant vice president for corporate planning and compliance Agnes Liwanag.

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Sideways trading seen this week T By Jenniffer B. Austria

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain sideways during this shortened trading week as investors monitor the outcome of the US Federal Reserve slated this week. US Fed, which is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time this year, is slated to meet on Oct. 29 to 30. Bank of Japan is also meeting toward Oct. 31. Meanwhile, release of third-quarter earnings will also continue to affect the market trading this week. So far several banks and cement ﬁrms have reported positive third quarter earnings results. Likewise, investors will likely take their positions ahead of the MSCI rebalancing next month. “The week’s close at 7,926.88 con-

tinues to highlight the market to consolidate within the 7,700/8,000 levels in the near-term. Expect the bounce to stretch towards the 8,000 levels in the near term. Failure to try the 8,000 level could cause some proﬁt taking and retest the 7,700 level,” said BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week rose 0.45 percent to 7,922.50 while the broader All Shares Index inched up 0.2 percent to 4,767.03. Four out of the six sectoral indices

ended in the green. The mining and oil index gained 3.4 percent, while the ﬁnancials rose 1.9 percent. Holding ﬁrms climbed 0.9 percent while services added 0.08 percent. The industrial index, however, declined 1.6 percent while the property sector dipped 0.3 percent. Foreign investors were net buyers for the week by P1.47 billion while the average daily value traded stood at P5.2 billion. Weekly top price gainers included Semirara Mining and Power Corp., which rose 5.7 percent to P23.80; D&L Industries Inc., which advanced 4.2 percent to P8.65; and Bank of the Philippine Islands, which gained 4.1 percent to P99. Weekly top price losers were DMCI Holdings Inc., which tumbled 9.8 percent to P8.20; ABS-CBN Corp., which fell 4.6 percent to P18.50; and Universal Robina Corp., which dropped 4 percent to P150.

Wall Street, meanwhile, finished a solid week on an upbeat note Friday as the S&P 500 flirted with a record following upbeat comments from US trade officials about progress in China talks. The US Trade Representative’s office said officials were “close to finalizing” some parts of the a trade agreement with China announced two weeks ago. Details have remained scarce and the two sides have not announced plans to roll back any more tariffs after Washington held off on some duty increases this month. Yet a more “constructive” tone on trade lifted sentiment along with benign economic data and decent earnings, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities. “The news is good and the reaction of the market is good,” Hogan said. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC À’ RCBC B Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities Aboitiz Power Corp. AC Energy Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Axelum Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co À’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

OCTOBER 21-25, 2019 Close Volume 55.8 147.80 99.00 1.80 1.16 25 18.52 12.2 4.75 7.71 1.26 750.00 0.410 71.65 0.88 12.8 21.75 43.90 58.15 130.1 175 25.9 202 203 1835.00 59.20 1.09 38.4 2.85 12.54 0.69 1.34 4.01 0.247 104.6 17.66 2.5 15.4 8.27 65.8 76.7 31 2.1 5.8 5.59 8.650 15.14 10.40 7.00 1.6 25.4 79 48.60 2.2900 14.60 7.99 1.510 226.20 50.00 5.13 3.51 9.34 19.96 13.2 17.88 0.186 356.20 5.10 1.73 4.10 5.07 9.39 2.75 11.00 33.7 5.4 5.24 1.89 2.17 1 11.22 93 7.39 0.131 1.12 150 2.52 1.28 16.86 1.12

Value

51,670 5,423,460 12,181,130 143,000 185,000 772,900 18,200 3,142,000 1,732,000 800 159,000 1,690 270,000 13,831,340 744,000 40,400 3,300 835,600 11,370 1,070 7,230 108,500 401,260 1,465,070 750 34,450 111,000

FINANCIAL 2,869,272.50 801,347,590.00 1,193,608,947.00 263,580.00 212,370.00 19,301,255.00 337,280.00 38,324,354.00 8,159,290.00 6,168.00 200,310.00 1,278,040.00 110,350.00 986,895,478.00 661,450.00 517,138.00 68,435.00 37,288,965.00 661,870.50 135,788.00 1,270,001.00 2,828,555.00 80,322,826.00 293,861,074.00 1,386,050.00 2,041,773.00 120,990.00

3,865,400 59,711,000 3,786,200 7,191,000 477,000 26,300,000 17,870,000 250 99,300 9,211,000 1,869,400 2,147,400 260 138,940 131,500 1,087,000 9,900 41,600 9,444,400 334,900 1,905,800 4,968,100 9,000 5,695,600 1,912,050 157,900 51,399,000 1,654,500 758,600 993,000 1,807,060 3,580 74,500 3,000 296,900 9,145,200 506,700 13,034,400 160,000 741,380 44,800 14,567,000 634,000 3,351,000 48,600 52,137,000 229,500 4,092,000 410,100 1,313,400 9,471,000 27,000 433,000 762,600 206,720 172,200 8,380,000 884,000 7,785,600 512,000 29,426,000 400 7,691,000

INDUSTRIAL 150,699,520.00 167,682,770.00 53,790,576.00 4,991,200.00 619,220.00 110,325,240.00 4,562,150.00 24,002.00 487,568.00 23,864,500.00 28,917,566.00 18,463,145.00 17,520.00 10,429,265.00 4,129,835.00 2,285,300.00 57,420.00 5,862,940.00 82,400,652.00 5,085,364.00 19,728,762.00 34,802,164.00 15,260.00 143,302,790.00 151,074,718.00 7,647,045.00 126,738,840.00 24,503,694.00 6,090,478.00 1,483,470.00 410,749,520.00 181,164.50 384,576.00 10,530.00 2,936,123.00 182,768,196.00 6,720,200.00 228,172,122.00 30,230.00 267,981,564.00 240,560.00 25,969,930.00 2,581,040.00 17,019,458.00 453,690.00 147,292,300.00 2,516,236.00 136,531,710.00 2,209,689.00 6,817,538.00 18,607,010.00 59,310.00 433,710.00 8,569,804.00 19,069,358.50 1,264,438.00 1,076,070.00 982,270.00 1,195,177,174.00 1,329,790.00 37,757,880.00 6,744.00 8,764,990.00

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

0.860 54.70 11.70 0.74 6.89 13.4 1.130 1.150 849 3.700 6.75 8.20 3.6 13.40 0.224 880 5.63 73.20 5.04 0.5 4.3 13.36 0.600 4.9 0.0380 1.410 2.94 166.00 2.41 1027.00 1.26 0.88 217.000 400.00 0.2200 0.230

56,875,000 4,032,240 28,551,200 3,757,000 42,900 778,100 1,585,000 330,000 1,448,600 7,623,000 5,023,500 53,957,800 153,000 122,800 610,000 294,050 345,900 6,934,620 3,900 485,000 1,538,000 54,872,900 385,000 115,132,000 16,600,000 3,158,000 21,000 934,990 67,000 3,776,590 134,000 462,000 5,850 520 1,650,000 1,870,000

HOLDING FIRMS 50,463,400.00 219,085,550.50 334,976,484.00 2,763,570.00 283,455.00 9,773,164.00 1,793,040.00 382,290.00 1,249,781,965.00 28,156,430.00 33,316,436.00 463,954,268.00 476,420.00 1,638,742.00 130,880.00 256,866,780.00 1,948,947.00 507,495,312.50 20,149.00 237,030.00 6,636,430.00 739,349,344.00 229,700.00 566,628,230.00 634,800.00 4,584,640.00 62,040.00 155,427,446.00 161,470.00 3,822,353,072.50 168,840.00 398,490.00 1,279,894.00 208,874.00 363,720.00 424,680.00

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

14.620 0.84 10.14 1.790 0.860 48.500 2 4.58 6.29 0.580 0.75 0.850 0.210 0.480 10.200 20.55 0.450 0.121 1.60 1.22 4.50 4.86 0.295 1.3900 0.4100 0.390

2,304,300 1,434,000 11,100 562,000 4,561,000 22,424,200 2,528,000 3,831,000 47,000 73,289,000 65,000 338,000 5,420,000 35,300,000 3,008,900 882,400 77,020,000 3,480,000 44,607,000 4,916,000 46,000 69,690,000 16,720,000 9,269,000 220,000 1,380,000

PROPERTY 34,181,376.00 1,191,160.00 104,285.00 1,014,940.00 3,986,530.00 1,096,033,820.00 5,059,520.00 17,267,460.00 295,292.00 42,887,850.00 48,510.00 290,330.00 1,098,200.00 16,910,550.00 30,488,360.00 18,132,060.00 37,006,650.00 424,250.00 71,488,370.00 6,032,700.00 210,960.00 338,679,720.00 4,958,100.00 13,102,150.00 92,250.00 529,600.00

OCTOBER 14-18, 2019 Close Volume Value 57.4 145.60 95.10 2.00 1.26 24.95 18.6 12.24 4.72

15,610 3,690,700 12,306,530 21,000 24,000 374,000 302,200 3,387,600 1,464,000

892,370.00 546,005,389.00 1,191,271,188.00 42,670.00 29,590.00 9,340,140.00 5,614,568.00 41,433,656.00 7,019,990.00

1.27 760.00 0.400 70.9 0.91 12.8 22.55 43.85 58.2 116.1 176.6 26.8

217,000 1,280 150,000 18,395,710 418,000 63,200 11,400 274,500 14,250 4,950 2,810 2,596,500

268,070.00 966,960.00 60,550.00 1,119,857,355.50 372,290.00 809,028.00 234,295.00 10,627,555.00 824,975.00 572,348.00 501,264.00 67,887,180.00

199.5 1835.00 59.00 1.09

3,698,840 215 30,390 10,000

734,086,061.00 386,215.00 1,795,372.00 10,920.00

8,543,100

332,071,205.00

15.9 0.69 1.3 4.4 0.265

649,600 2,759,000 138,000 34,171,000 13,800,000

10,283,028.00 1,933,140.00 179,270.00 151,159,950.00 3,554,720.00

18.24 2.6 16 8.96 70 73 31.8 2.06 5.8 5.49 8.300 15.14 10.44 7.00 1.6 25 79 48.30 2.4700 14.86 8.1 1.490 230.00 50.00 5.25 3.51 10.80 20.2 13.48 17.9 0.187 360.60 5.48 1.85 4.12 5.05 9.41 2.84 11.00 33.1 5.4 5.09 2.02 2.22 1.03 11.2 91.5 7.35 0.127 1.10 156.3 2.61 1.29

7,300 6,819,000 4,984,900 3,142,600 2,310 950 47,800 109,000 50,000 146,600 23,846,100 262,900 557,800 5,047,800 2,398,000 10,506,700 460,850 495,200 33,363,000 1,141,300 2,710,900 1,155,000 2,014,720 8,290 107,400 22,000 906,200 3,813,400 1,506,800 6,744,900 360,000 918,240 500 24,789,000 155,000 3,613,900 399,200 225,427,000 114,900 2,576,700 1,114,400 87,400 11,708,000 163,000 156,000 1,990,900 1,407,530 502,200 300,000 1,998,000 3,358,480 3,000 36,263,000

132,540.00 17,063,040.00 77,727,062.00 28,170,620.00 159,515.00 69,315.00 1,536,215.00 222,950.00 296,500.00 809,879.00 201,509,509.00 4,037,634.00 5,823,694.00 35,382,547.00 3,836,640.00 263,443,865.00 36,445,008.00 23,911,240.00 80,882,570.00 16,964,136.00 22,451,773.00 1,716,800.00 470,164,400.00 419,310.50 558,816.00 72,620.00 10,020,241.00 76,928,768.00 19,551,916.00 121,474,204.00 68,220.00 333,534,356.00 2,737.00 44,617,380.00 651,780.00 18,378,808.00 3,762,249.00 610,109,730.00 1,259,280.00 85,997,225.00 6,019,772.00 445,235.00 23,174,210.00 363,870.00 157,700.00 22,294,810.00 127,442,045.50 3,677,364.00 36,650.00 2,171,710.00 534,374,207.00 7,830.00 45,872,680.00

1.15

9,552,000

10,954,200.00

0.900 53.60 11.64 0.71 6.62 12.7 1.150 1.170 855.5 3.770 6.39 9.10 3.76 13.40 0.227 873 5.67 72.60 5.06 0.51 4.36 13.72 0.590 4.85 0.0380 1.400 2.98 167.60 2.4 1003.00 1.26 0.86 224.200 403.00 0.2200 0.231

58,195,000 1,834,620 39,221,300 1,466,000 11,500 101,700 2,633,000 1,167,000 1,891,290 11,290,000 8,122,900 58,729,700 107,000 88,400 550,000 423,720 557,400 5,291,560 26,800 155,000 1,966,000 4,131,200 1,079,000 263,448,300 11,300,000 2,500,000 62,000 645,250 216,000 2,220,965 112,000 783,000 2,120 150 940,000 2,080,000

52,030,170.00 98,496,069.00 451,160,226.00 1,036,870.00 76,118.00 1,290,302.00 2,995,960.00 1,355,570.00 1,649,436,405.00 41,026,520.00 53,505,819.00 522,163,734.00 407,480.00 1,172,176.00 119,790.00 363,423,585.00 3,144,651.00 386,029,118.00 141,753.00 75,280.00 8,477,140.00 56,954,498.00 641,210.00 1,310,782,884.00 431,000.00 3,497,800.00 181,450.00 107,432,753.00 525,990.00 2,225,087,242.50 141,150.00 662,630.00 465,786.00 60,888.00 208,760.00 483,220.00

15.000 0.85 9.99 1.850 0.860 49.000 2 4.65 6.28 0.590 0.73 0.870 0.205 0.465 9.810 20.45 0.440 0.122 1.62 1.20 4.50 4.8 0.300 1.3800 0.4050 0.380

3,233,400 3,310,000 7,100 73,000 4,091,000 24,106,100 10,518,000 1,850,000 11,200 101,719,000 64,000 209,000 3,380,000 20,290,000 345,800 678,300 1,220,000 340,000 92,933,000 1,051,000 17,000 104,518,000 18,110,000 4,554,000 8,430,000 950,000

48,556,450.00 2,695,540.00 66,899.00 129,590.00 3,522,270.00 1,172,200,910.00 21,310,780.00 8,551,430.00 70,446.00 57,774,550.00 46,720.00 181,740.00 692,170.00 9,024,150.00 3,386,815.00 14,011,310.00 531,600.00 41,210.00 149,511,080.00 1,264,880.00 76,720.00 497,683,040.00 5,410,500.00 6,209,400.00 3,490,650.00 355,900.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 21-25, 2019 Close Volume

OCTOBER 14-18, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings 311,342,428,964.00 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes Vistamalls

52.00 2.05 25.75 2.25 3.22 38.85

20 4,304,000 6,967,600 698,000 129,000 31,203,000

1,040.00 8,933,850.00 178,462,020.00 1,584,940.00 419,200.00 1,204,032,370.00

52.95 2.04 25.50 2.3 3.27 38.75

960 506,000 8,895,100 581,000 184,000 2 9 , 0 6 6

51,104.00 1,021,980.00 226,085,620.00 1,318,390.00 599,860.00 , 8 0 0

2.69 1.250 7.690 5.400

1,899,000 1,099,510,000 16,180,000 390,600

5,083,330.00 1,102,510,280.00 124,471,457.00 2,179,230.00

2.7 0.920 7.730 5.650

6,752,000 433,000 15,568,000 287,000

18,067,470.00 390,230.00 119,558,979.00 1,614,082.00

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

10.3 18.5 1.55 11.5 0.520 0.042 17 2.32 10.20 93.2 7.15 6.78 5.50 2.08 9.10 920 1915 5.22 430.00 12.00 1.60 122.7 1.74 7.9 0.108 4.9900 2.5 13.52 3.00 0.91 18.60 12.52 0.410 3.4 2.42 1.10 3.290 2.8 8.20 5.13 8.67 144.00 3.06 1099.00 0.510 0.680 40.00 79.00 9.22 2.59 0.690 0.325 0.660 16.460

185,100 1,257,100 322,000 40,624,100 60,844,000 11,100,000 154,800 1,113,000 19,415,100 888,020 7,300 2,156,400 10,000 523,000 590,300 100 161,995 453,300 43,850 3,300 2,802,000 7,333,300 83,000 39,800 580,000 12,464,400 208,000 14,200 1,377,000 5,462,000 450,900 2,000 420,000 255,000 1,788,000 44,000 33,253,000 167,000 26,400 22,700 2,000 44,040 3,317,000 376,445 78,081,000 5,624,000 3,280,300 4,062,730 133,600 7,477,000 12,599,000 27,580,000 2,917,000 7,616,900

SERVICES 1,952,260.00 23,827,656.00 500,500.00 468,334,142.00 33,181,620.00 467,400.00 2,659,340.00 2,611,530.00 202,076,646.00 83,769,920.50 51,125.00 14,761,098.00 55,000.00 1,087,840.00 5,509,906.00 92,000.00 308,520,130.00 2,366,716.00 19,584,236.00 37,884.00 4,525,210.00 900,404,685.00 145,310.00 314,542.00 63,020.00 61,089,600.00 532,880.00 191,844.00 4,137,460.00 5,238,070.00 8,434,428.00 25,046.00 174,400.00 864,000.00 4,288,370.00 49,470.00 109,009,820.00 475,710.00 215,805.00 113,035.00 17,340.00 6,124,490.00 10,270,400.00 419,505,095.00 41,053,630.00 3,805,730.00 131,603,080.00 310,758,690.50 1,166,561.00 19,481,290.00 8,563,740.00 8,998,750.00 1,957,070.00 64,606,530.00

10.1 19.4 1.66 11.58 0.570 0.042 17 2.41 10.64 92.7 6.91 6.9 5.50

50,300 1,041,000 129,000 80,277,700 36,268,000 28,100,000 86,300 121,000 12,868,300 2,452,860 700 2,751,100 77,000

511,460.00 19,952,150.00 208,110.00 925,973,442.00 20,982,580.00 1,181,900.00 1,470,090.00 288,060.00 136,521,664.00 232,856,738.00 4,863.00 19,272,635.00 432,328.00

9.10 925 1875 5.22 439.00 11.50 1.66 121.7 1.76 8 0.110 4.8600 2.5 13.52 2.99 0.94 18.84 13.00 0.415 3.33 2.39 1.10 3.090 2.86 8.23 5.17 8.69 139.00 3.19 1110.00 0.520 0.680 41.30 76.55 9.00 2.64 0.670 0.32 0.690 16.400

148,000 210 271,485 375,000 1,510 2,600 3,146,000 7,553,090 2,000 12,300 2,280,000 11,615,300 1,641,000 3,300 1,352,000 535,000 1,474,700 700 320,000 192,000 2,176,000 256,000 17,907,000 240,000 17,400 149,500 300 990,110 2,057,000 226,145 12,159,000 25,234,000 8,634,900 2,079,880 224,300 11,615,000 6,016,000 15,230,000 4,613,000 5,709,800

1,349,290.00 191,240.00 504,272,750.00 1,955,772.00 657,214.00 27,450.00 5,089,190.00 917,212,715.00 3,520.00 100,005.00 246,300.00 56,888,250.00 4,185,010.00 50,888.00 4,048,790.00 482,160.00 27,211,980.00 9,100.00 131,950.00 644,980.00 5,224,540.00 282,190.00 54,887,370.00 688,810.00 143,779.00 751,934.00 2,569.00 132,748,729.00 6,510,320.00 251,115,055.00 6,312,230.00 14,431,750.00 349,894,535.00 161,234,647.50 2,056,154.00 29,643,130.00 4,085,410.00 4,870,150.00 3,122,870.00 93,586,040.00

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

0.0016 1.14 2.52 12.08 1.1200 2.6 7.65 1.720 0.205 0.106 0.110 0.0092 0.0093 1.17 3.94 1.02 0.4750 0.8500 0.0120 0.0110 3.60 12.96 0.0110 10.4200 23.80 0.0062

243,000,000 5,504,000 368,000 29,300 2,000 1,412,000 14,200 30,121,000 3,888,000 7,570,000 1,140,000 19,000,000 8,000,000 482,000 32,165,000 720,000 153,000 212,000 36,100,000 684,200,000 2,047,000 7,882,500 57,300,000 6,994,400 6,444,100 40,000,000

MINING & OIL 391,000.00 6,304,060.00 942,450.00 349,838.00 2,240.00 3,675,900.00 106,164.00 50,788,140.00 853,740.00 809,520.00 124,490.00 175,600.00 75,320.00 551,180.00 124,944,740.00 514,380.00 73,200.00 178,310.00 416,100.00 7,526,200.00 7,442,740.00 100,141,284.00 628,400.00 71,940,310.00 149,507,530.00 243,800.00

0.0017 1.14 2.50 12.44 1.1200 2.63 7.69 1.680 0.210 0.107 0.106 0.0098 0.0110 1.15 3.85 1.06 0.4750 0.8500 0.0120 0.0110 3.64 12.36 0.0110 10.3000 22.50 0.0060

858,000,000 4,062,000 413,000 76,200 18,000 1,831,000 20,200 90,661,000 19,880,000 3,970,000 2,290,000 12,400,000 26,700,000 455,000 39,436,000 508,000 350,000 1,163,000 40,700,000 15,200,000 1,169,000 2,484,700 28,600,000 10,545,500 1,605,500 39,000,000

1,454,500.00 4,609,870.00 1,034,790.00 937,646.00 20,240.00 4,770,580.00 151,953.00 155,222,580.00 873,690.00 418,940.00 245,930.00 122,950.00 275,000.00 516,010.00 155,788,260.00 521,030.00 166,150.00 989,920.00 475,000.00 177,200.00 4,250,250.00 30,610,808.00 320,300.00 112,810,460.00 36,482,880.00 238,300.00

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

17.74 100.7 101.4 498 100.4 109.5 500 501 5.12 970 970 99.5 1 101 1037 1050 1059 102 108 990 77.9 75 75.1 76.6 75.5 75.5 75.7

1,117,100 300 500 16,850 78,780 2,230 1,100 140 800,500 8,550 4,210 2,210 2,754,000 31,260 820 8,365 19,265 2,480 1,820 6,840 56,210 56,000 31,850 92,460 72,950 32,630 656,510

18.12 103.8 101.2 500 100.5 107.7

860,200 34,810 220 10,610 274,250 21,150

15,677,348.00 3,512,398.00 22,264.00 5,308,150.00 27,657,475.00 2,293,246.00

503 5.15

4,280 726,600

2,170,260.00 3,668,327.00

971 99.8 0.99 101 1025 1055 1079 101.5 108 997 77.75 75 76 76.6 76 75.7 75.7

360 70,180 4,470,000 46,080 705 14,075 4,995 11,950 200 3,960 143,700 37,850 90,230 65,300 25,950 88,920 818,370

354,290.00 6,934,844.00 4,426,230.00 4,656,922.00 726,050.00 14,791,875.00 5,364,970.00 1,217,875.00 21,600.00 3,946,090.00 11,171,063.50 2,851,850.00 6,825,021.00 5,026,030.00 1,969,570.00 6,775,560.00 61,909,498.00

LR Warrant

1.550

121,000

1.560

58,000

92,160.00

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.78 6.43 11.4 0.95

18,000 1,858,700 3,201,400 17,860,000

SME 47,690.00 12,296,818.00 37,072,816.00 17,006,910.00

2.79 6.83 11.7 0.9

203,000 2,362,300 14,916,000 4,248,000

504,530.00 15,947,426.00 180,978,650.00 3,802,710.00

First Metro ETF

118.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 27,030 3,199,589.00

118

17,440

2,061,663.00

10.28 10.1 0.97

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 11,470 116,642.80 6,260 63,188.80 152,600 148,022.00

10.3 9.9 0.98

20,320 13,940 221,000

206,272.00 138,641.60 215,120.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

PREFERRED 19,956,482.00 30,480.00 50,700.00 8,430,052.00 7,929,632.00 241,791.00 549,780.00 70,140.00 4,038,946.00 8,065,960.00 4,085,670.00 217,378.50 2,748,780.00 2,147,250.00 833,435.00 8,752,670.00 20,432,080.00 249,760.00 196,550.00 6,800,150.00 4,384,973.00 4,204,070.00 2,392,487.00 7,091,849.00 5,509,498.50 2,458,676.50 49,677,637.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 185,160.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Oriental Pet. `B’ Abra Mining Metro Paciﬁc Inv. Corp. PremiereHorizon Empire East Land Century Property Megaworld APC Group, Inc. AC Energy

VOLUME 1,099,510,000 684,200,000 243,000,000 115,132,000 78,081,000 77,020,000 73,289,000 69,690,000 60,844,000 59,711,000

STOCKS SM Investments Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ SM Prime Holdings Universal Robina Bank of PI Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Metrobank I.C.T.S.I. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

VALUE 3,822,353,072.50 1,249,781,965.00 1,204,032,370.00 1,195,177,174.00 1,193,608,947.00 1,102,510,280.00 1,096,033,820.00 986,895,478.00 900,404,685.00 801,347,590.00

LRWC bares plan to redeem all its preferred shares in 2020 By Jenniffer B. Austria LEISURE and Resorts World Corp. said it will redeem all outstanding preferred shares worth P1.65 billion early next year. LRWC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the redemption of 1.65 billion preferred shares on January 21, 2020 at a redemption price of P1 apiece. “The redeemed shares will be treated as treasury shqares until and unless the shares are retired or reissued. To date, the Company has no plans to reissue the said shares,” LRWC said. LRWC said the redemption of the preferred shares would have minimal effect on the company’s foreign ownership level, “Based on end September 2019, the number of foreign-owned shares as of September 30, 2019, the foreign ownership level of all outstanding shares (voting and non-voting) is 18.43 percent. Assuming the same data remains on redemption date, the foreign ownership level will be 18.37 percent,” LRWC said. LRWC in 2013 issued the 1.65 billion preferred shares. Had the company opted not to redeem the shares, it would most likely pay a higher dividend. LRWC early this year raised P4.4 billion from the issuance of 1.2 billion shares through a private placement. The gaming firm plans to accelerate expansion plans using proceeds from the private placement. LRWC plans to open or acquire 10 to 15 new bingo sites under wholly-owned unit AB Leisure Exponent Inc. It is also looking to expand its ecasino business under Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., the operator and licensee of PAGCOR eGames stations and slot arcade business under Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corp. The company will renovate and modernize its gaming sites for the players’ first-class gaming experience. LRWC at the end of 2018 had 192 gaming sites, including the nine new ones it opened last year. LWRC plans to use a big portion of the the proceeds from the private placement to refinance obligations to improve cash profit and reduce interest expenses.

Exchange to miss capital-raising goal of P200b this year By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said it may likely miss this year’s capital raising target of P200 billion after Metro Paciﬁc Hospital Holdings Inc. decided to defer a planned P83-billion initial public offering. “It looks like we will not hit our internal targets but we will still have a healthy captain raising amount,” said PSE president Ramon Monzon. He noted several fund raising activities scheduled in the last quarter of the year. Capital raised through the stock market as of Oct. 24 amounted to P72.3 billion, down from P181.6 billion recorded in the same period last year. Two more IPOs and two follow-on offerings are slated before the end of the year. Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines) Inc. and Fruitas Holdings Inc. last week secured the approval of the PSE to proceed with their maiden share offerings. Cal-Comp is raising as much as P10.67 billion from 371.43 million common shares and 55.71 million in over-allotment shares at an price of up to P25 apiece. The offering period is set from Nov. 11 to 15 and the listing date on Nov 25. Fruits Holdings, meanwhile, plans to raise as much P1.2 billion from 533.66 million shares with an over-allotment option of up to 68.34 million shares at a maximum price of P1.99 each, or up to P1.2 billion in total. The offering period is scheduled from from November 18 to November 22. Property ﬁrm Sta Lucia Land Inc. plans to conduct a follow-on offering to raise as much as P8.4 billion in proceeds, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. will re-issue up to P15 billion in preferred shares. MPHHI early this month deferred its IPO plan after to raising P35.3 billion from selling a portion of its shares in the hospital business to global investment fund KKR and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte.

Business/World IS head Baghdadi believed dead

15 dead in Syria clashes BEIRUT―Clashes in northeast Syria between pro-Ankara fighters backed by the Turkish air force and a Damascus-backed force led by Syrian Kurds left 15 dead on Saturday, a monitor said. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP that nine pro-Turkish fighters and six members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a zone between the towns of Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ain. State news agency SANA said earlier Syrian government forces had entered the provincial borders of Ras al-Ain near Turkey’s border on Saturday, an area that was taken by Turkish forces in the latter’s weeks-long offensive against Syria’s Kurds. The Observatory said the Syrian government’s deployment there was its largest in years. Syrian government troops had also deployed along a road stretching some 30 kilometers south of the frontier, SANA said. Turkey and its Syrian proxies on October 9 launched a cross-border attack against Kurdish-held areas, grabbing a 120-kilometer-long swathe of Syrian land along the frontier. The incursion left hundreds dead and caused 300,000 people to flee their homes, in the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria’s brutal eight-year war. Turkey and Russia this week struck a deal in Sochi for more Kurdish forces to withdraw from the frontier on both sides of that Turkish-held area under the supervision of Russian and Syrian forces. On Saturday, the Britain-based Observatory said some 2,000 Syrian troops and hundreds of military vehicles were deploying around what Turkey calls its “safe zone”. Government forces were being accompanied by Russian military police, the Observatory said. AFP

Most notorious Australian killer dies SYDNEY―Australia’s most notorious serial killer Ivan Milat, whose murder of seven young backpackers in the 1990s terrified the country, has died in hospital, officials said Sunday. Milat was serving consecutive life sentences for the brutal killing spree that took place near Sydney between 1989 and 1992. A spokeswoman for Corrective Services New South Wales said in a statement that the 74-year-old died at Long Bay Hospital at 4:07 am on Sunday. He was diagnosed with terminal stomach and esophagus cancer in May and had been in hospital to receive pain relief since October 11, according to national broadcaster ABC. His seven confirmed victims were Britons Caroline Clarke, 21, and Joanne Walters, 22, Australians James Gibson and Deborah Everist, both 19, and German backpackers Simone Schmidl, 21, Anja Habschied, 20, and Gabor Neugebauer, 21. In each case, he had offered the young hitchhikers a lift, stabbed or shot them in thrill killings and buried the bodies in shallow graves in a forest in the NSW southern highlands. Milat was arrested in 1994 following one of Australia’s biggest police investigations, which was sparked by the discovery of the bodies in 1992 and 1993. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dread builds in Vietnam over fate of UK migrants

IN BRIEF WASHINGTON―Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was believed to be dead after a US military raid in Syria’s Idlib region, US media reported early Sunday. Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended, media said citing multiple government sources. He was the target of the secretly planned operation approved by President Donald Trump, officials said. Long pursued by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, Baghdadi has been erroneously reported dead several times in recent years. Officials told ABC News that biometric work was underway to firm up the identification of those killed in the raid. The White House announced Trump would make a “major statement” Sunday at 9am (1300 GMT), without providing details. Baghdadi, a native of Iraq and around 48 years old, built the violent jihadist movement into a potent force, in 2014 establishing its own “caliphate” territory across large swathes of Syria and Iraq. It was blamed for the deaths of thousands of civilians, in summary executions and beheadings, and accused of war crimes. But Baghdadi has been on the run since a US-led coalition slowly destroyed the group’s organization and ousted it from its claimed territory in a two-year campaign, finally declaring victory over IS in March of this year. The United States had posted a $25 million reward for information on his whereabouts. In rare video and audio messages this year Baghdadi called on IS fighters to regroup and try to free thousands of their comrades captured by the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria. AFP

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. From left, Jonathan, David, Balkissa, Venscelau and Lila cook as they take part in a job training program ‘Cuisine mode d'emplois’ for the unemployed in La Bresse, eastern France, on October 24, 2019. AFP

Millions face power cuts as California fires spread H EALDSBURG― California officials warned Saturday that “extreme” wind conditions were set to fan the wildfires across the north of the US state as residents were ordered to evacuate and millions faced power cuts.

Nearly 90,000 people were ordered to flee their homes in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, a number that rose over the course of the day as the Kincade Fire spread after breaking out on Wednesday. The blaze, which is burning in remote steep terrain, threatens tens of thousands of structures and had already forced the evacuation of the small community of Geyserville and nearby vineyard operations. By Saturday evening, a total of 77 structures, among them 31 residential buildings, had been destroyed by the blaze, as more than 2,800 personnel were called to the scene, according to Jonathan Cox, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “This is definitely an event that we’re calling historic and extreme,” David King, a meteorologist for the US National Weather Service, told The Los Angeles Times. “What’s making this event really substantial... is the amount of time that these winds are going to remain.” A “strong and potentially historic offshore wind event” was forecast to begin Saturday evening in the San Francisco Bay area, according to the National Weather Service. The wind was expected to increase overnight and peak Sunday morning, reaching speeds of 60-80 miles per hour (95-130 kilometers per hour), Ryan Walburn, a me-

teorologist with the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay area, told reporters at a press conference. Those winds, which have caused a red flag warning indicating a high risk level, will last into early Monday, meteorologists said. California’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., said it expected to cut off power to 940,000 customers— a precautionary shutdown that local media reported would affect about two million people. “The weather event could be the most powerful in California in decades,” PG&E said. “PG&E will need to turn off power for safety several hours before the potentially damaging winds arrive,” it added. “Winds of this magnitude pose a higher risk of damage and sparks on the electric system and rapid wildfire spread.” The Kincade Fire, which is only 10 percent contained, has grown to 25,955 acres (10,500 hectares), Cox said. By evening, 39,000 people had been ordered to evacuate the area, Mark Essick, sheriff for Sonoma County, told reporters, following a call for 50,000 earlier in the day. “I can’t explain it,” 70-year-old Tina Tavares, who was evacuated from her Geyserville home, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It’s like you’re in a bad earthquake, the ground is opening up... and you’re seeing it and don’t know what to do.” PG&E has come under fierce scrutiny after power was earlier shut down to nearly 28,000 customers in Sonoma County this week, but some high-voltage transmission lines were still operating when the fire broke out. The same type of line was responsible for California’s deadliest wildfire

ever—last year’s Camp Fire, which killed 86 people. PG&E, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, has been blamed for several other fires in the state in recent years. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and hit out at the company on Friday, saying it had put “profits over the people of California for too long.” He said it was “infuriating beyond words” that a state such as California had to endure blackouts. “It’s about dog-eat-dog capitalism meeting climate change,” he said, referring to PG&E. “It’s a story about greed, and they need to be held accountable.” Farther south in California, most evacuation orders were lifted after tens of thousands of residents left their homes near Santa Clarita, just north of Los Angeles, due to the so-called Tick Fire that scorched over 4,000 acres. Officials said Saturday that human remains were found in the burn area, but that authorities had determined the death had not been caused by the fire, according to the Los Angeles Times. The blaze forced the shutdown of all schools in the area as well as a major freeway, creating traffic chaos for commuters. Some 1,325 firefighters backed by air tankers and helicopters had battled the flames close to densely packed communities. Wildfires also erupted over the border in Mexico’s Baja California state, where local civil protection authorities said on Friday that three people had been killed and over 150 homes destroyed. The state’s director of civil protection, Antonio Rosquillas, said that the municipality of Tecate, bordering the United States, was the worst hit. AFP

Are retirement benefits going extinct? plan was pretty good when he started working. He mentioned that his retirement benefits include a pension that is equivalent to his monthly income by the time he retires. That would be more than enough for what my parents need for their monthly living expenses. His retirement plan also includes free medical consultation in his company’s in-house mini-hospital and an allocation for medicine. That’s why he is urging me to look for a company that offers a good retirement plan. But these companies are becoming rare nowadays. Even my father’s company is no longer offering the kind of retirement plan that he has. Maybe, financial considerations prevent companies from offering generous retirement benefits anymore. But offering such can have significant advantages to their company. It can be a strategy for organizations to attract potential employees. With less and less companies offering such benefits, it can become

SARAH KATRINA S. CHAN

Green LiGht RETIREMENT plans are slowly being removed by some companies in their employee benefit plan offers. I remember asking about it when I signed my contract with my first company. With a slight frown on her face, the HR staff replied that the company did not offer any. The same was true with my second company. Constantly reminded by my elders to prepare for retirement as soon as one starts working, I am concerned about that more and more companies are not offering retirement plans anymore. What if my savings would not be enough to cover all of my expenses when I retire? What if I get sick and need a large amount for medications and operations? Given the time value of money, my savings would effectively be smaller by the time I retire. I envy my father whose retirement

a recruitment advantage for those that do. Personally, this is one of my considerations in looking for a company. I hope that companies reconsider their reasons for not offering retirement plans, so that they don’t go extinct. As millennials become wiser in looking for a company and become more concerned about their future, offering this benefit (aside from improving general work conditions) just might be the thing that would prevent them from leaving the company. Sarah Katrina S. Chan is a Master of Business Administration student at De La Salle University (DLSU). She has been a software engineer for five years, and is currently working at an international IT company. She welcomes comments at sarahkatrinachan@yahoo.com. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

NGHE, AN, Vietnam―Dread mounted across Vietnam on Sunday as the relatives of migrants feared to be among the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain revealed new gut-wrenching details of their last contact with their loved ones. The driver of the refrigerated trailer discovered in an industrial park on Wednesday has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and people trafficking in a case that has shocked Britain and cast light on the extreme dangers facing illegal migrants seeking better lives in Europe. The 31 men and eight women were initially believed to be Chinese, but several Vietnamese families have now come forward with fears their relatives are among the dead. Many are believed to have come from impoverished villages in central Vietnam, where some families now fear the worst. Le Minh Tuan has not heard from his son Le Van Ha since a message over Facebook around a week ago saying “I’m about to board a car to Britain. I will contact the family when I arrive in England, Dad.” That was two days before the refrigerated trailer stuffed with bodies was discovered in Essex, east of London. “We’ve heard no news from him since,” Tuan told AFP, his eyes red from crying. “For sure he was in that lorry. I just want my son’s [body] back home,” he said in Yen Hoi village, Nghe An province. The 30-year-old left his two young sons and wife in Vietnam in June, traveling to Turkey then Greece and France en route to the UK. Ha hoped to find work to pay back the $30,000 paid to smugglers to get him to Europe, and another $8,500 loan to build the family home. “He wanted to go to pay the debts... and send money back to his kids so they would have a better life,” said his father, clinging to his grandson and weeping. Nearby, the mother of missing 28-yearold man Vo Ngoc Nam said she had not yet heard anything on the fate of her son, who had been working in Romania and planned to travel to Britain. “I have been waiting anxiously over the past few days for any news from him, but we got nothing,” the stricken mother told AFP. Villagers planned to gather for Sunday mass later in the day to pray for the 39 victims. Central Vietnam is a common feeder for illegal migrants chasing promises of riches overseas. Many end up working in Britain illegally in nail bars or on cannabis farms, heavily indebted and subject to exploitation. Five people have so far been arrested in Britain in connection with the tragedy, the country’s largest murder probe since the 2005 London suicide bombings. Vietnam’s ambassador, Tran Ngoc An, visited police investigating the case on Manila Saturday and also Standard LEGAL NOTICE spoke TODAY on the phone Notice is hereby given to to British interior the public that an Extraminister Priti Patel, Judicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the the embassy said. late Alfredo G. Fernando, Essex police say namely: Maxima H. Fernando, Adriano H. Fernando, Felix they want to fast- H. Fernando, Maria F. Disto, track the process of Sergio H. Fernando, Marina F. Marcelo, and Reynaldo H. fingerprint identi- Fernando, all of legal age, fication and DNA over real properties, per deed executed on 10 October 2019 testing, but said it before Notary Public Atty. would take time. Dante R. Cruz, per Doc. No. 71; Page No. 16; Book No. I; AFP Series of 2019. (MS-OCT. 28, NOV. 4 & 11, 2019)

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 11-B Sunrise Drive. Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City

NOTICE OF CALL FOR PAYMENT OF ANY OR ALL ERC STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS To All ERC Stockholders: PIease be informed that the Board of Directors of Educational Resources Corporation (ERG), in a meeting held on July 27, 2019 at Cucina, Marco Polo, unanimously approved the following resolutions: RESOLVED THAT: 1. The authorized capital of Educational Resources Corporation be raised from P4,000,000.00 to P10,000,000.00. 2. The twenty five percent (25%) of P6,000,000 additional authorized capital or P1,500,000.00 be offered for subscription to ERC stockholders of record as of October 1, 2019 in proportion to their stock ownership of the corporation. 3. The Twenty five percent (25%) of the twenty five percent (25%) of the additional authorized capital subscribed be paid in full not later than November 30, 2019. 4. All unpaid shares of ERC stock as of November 30, 2019 shall be dedared delinquent and shall be distributed to stockholders of record and fully paid as of December 1, 2019 in proportion to their percentage of ownership of ERC shares of stock. Please give or send your payment to the Treasurer of the Corporation, Mrs. Raquel C. Bilasano at the office of the Corporation at 11-8 Sunrise Drive, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City on or before Novermber 30,2019. (SGD) ATTY. LACANDOLA S. LEANO Corporate Secretary (MS-OCT. 7, 28 & NOV. 18, 2019)

LGUs

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

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

More Navoteños gain medical, health services By Jun David

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

AGAINST OBESITY.

Stakeholders gather for the One Against Obesity campaign at the Novo Nordisk Obesity Awareness Forum held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taguig City. Pictured (from left) are Jim Saret, Fitfil head coach; Serdar Kizilcik, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines; Ambassador Grete Sillasen, Embassy of Denmark in Manila; Dr. Rosalie Paje, Department of Health Bureau Chief, Lifestyle Related Disease Division; Luz Tagunicar, National Nutrition Coordinator for DOH; Dr. Mia Fojas, President, Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity; and Ma. Theresa Dioko, Head of Patient Access and Public Affairs of Novo Nordisk Philippines. Manny Palmero

UMak inks pact for Makati cops P

HILIPPINE National Police personnel in Makati City will now have a higher chance of putting up their own business upon retirement, with the help of the University of Makati and JC Binay Foundation Inc.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay, acting president of the University of Makati, led the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Makati PNP and JC Binay Foundation Inc. at the Makati city hall. The MOU, signed by the mayor together with PCol. Rogelio P. Simon, representing Makati PNP, and Ambro-

sio L. Mana-ay, treasurer of the JCBF, aims to provide sustainable livelihood programs and training to the retired members of the city police force. Mayor Abby said it warms her heart to present the customized curriculum to train the retirees from PNP, and give them a higher chance to succeed in the business they wish to take.

“It is an honor for our city to be given the opportunity to help PNP retirees through this project, which is the first of its kind in the country. This is also the first time in the history of UMak that we have opened our doors for a partnership with the city’s law enforcers,” she said. “The PNP, UMak, and JCBF have created a framework of cooperation and partnership to create a livelihood training and developmental programs for an effective and sustainable post-retirement economic plan for PNP Makati personnel. We want to make sure that we are able to give back to our law en-

ENTERTAINER.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go serenades an old woman as he visited 169 families who survived a fire in the city of San Pedro, Laguna. Go provided financial assistance to the fire victims and support coming from various government agencies. Actors Philip Salvador and Robin Padilla also entertained the crowd at the town center. Roy Tomandao

Next Quezon City Scouts programs integrate SDGs

ABOUT 50 million young people involved, 2 million local actions, 3 billion service hours. These are among the scouting movement’s contributions in the name of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) leading up to 2030. With this in mind, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Quezon City Council sets its sights on higher level targets by focusing its attention on the inclusion of SDGs for its future programs. During a seminar workshop on Sustainable Development Goals and the Better World Framework held last October 5, speakers and scouts officials urged the participants to adopt the Better World framework to encourage scouts and non-scouts to align all programs and join efforts in collaborative projects that support the development of active citizenship focused on social impact. The discussants include Scouters Florencio B. Antonio, Eugenio Real, Cyren Lady Ann C. Castañarez, John Kenneth L. Gallardo and Alexander Rivera Jr. Participants in the day-long workshop were tasked to develop project proposals that target specific areas of engagement. These include the He or She campaign on gender equality, the Go Solar energy drive, cultural conflict resolution and mediation of individual differences through the Messenger of Peace program and network. Rex Arcadio R. San Diego II

Ebrahin vows to collect IRA share for LGUs in BARMM

COTABATO CITY—Chief Minister Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim has met with mayors of Bangsamoro municipalities that have not been given shares of the national internal revenue allotments (IRA) for years. This developed as President Rodrigo Duterte has named three Cabinet members to the bilateral intergovernmental relations (IGR) mechanism on Budget, Management and Finance, in response to Ebrahim’s call on Malacanang to appoint its representatives to that body. The IGR bodies, as provided under RA 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, bridge and define relationships between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on particular levels of governance, programs, and concerns. Ebrahim and Regional Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo had earlier told an assembly of mayors, governors and members of local legislative bodies that granting IRA to regionally-created towns, tops the governing agenda of the BARMM. Nash B. Maulana

forcers for their hard work in keeping the city safe,” Mayor Abby added. Under the MOU, the University of Makati, as part of its social extension service, shall develop and implement a livelihood and entrepreneurship program for the selected PNP Makati retirees who came up with a good business proposal. The Makati PNP shall identify retiring personnel among their ranks who are potential candidates based on eligibility protocols drafted for the program. These candidates shall then be interviewed and assessed by the University of Makati.

THE City Government of Navotas, under Mayor Toby Tiangco’s leadership, has provided more Navoteños with medical and health services. During Tiangco’s first 100 days in office, the city’s 11 health centers provided a total of 196,363 services and procedures. These included 52,588 medical consultations; 7,330 immunizations for children and adults; treatment to 269 residents with tuberculosis; and 4,620 patient assessments for Philippine Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PhilPEN). Also included were 33,811 blood pressure monitoring; 5,664 pre- and post-natal check-up; 5,703 family planning services; 42,673 dental services; and others. The city also conducted the 1st Persons with Disability Summit, which provided participants with free medical and dental services. The Navotas City Health Summit, themed “Creating Synergies for Health Systems Strengthening,” was also held to acknowledge the support and participation of stakeholders in the health sector. It was followed by a Barangay Health Summit where Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups were given seminars on healthy lifestyle. “Healthy people are productive that is why we put premium in our preventive and curative health care programs and services. We believe that for Navoteños to have a better life, they should be well enough to pursue their goals and dreams,” the mayor said. The Navotas City Hospital provided health services to 2,192 patients, including 652 live birth deliveries. Its subspecialty services were able to help 16,099 patients in the emergency room and 11,724 in the out-patient department. Other hospital services and procedures granted to Navoteños included dental, 1,592; ultrasound, 530; x-ray, 3,100; and laboratory such as blood chemistry, clinical microscopy and serology, and blood bank services, 29,722.

Save water, Joy urges QC govt offices By Rio N. Araja

AMID the ongoing water shortage in Metro Manila and in the upcoming months, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday urged all city government departments, barangays and public schools to practice responsible water use. She issued a memorandum to all city’s department heads and task forces, enjoining them to use water responsibly and to practice water conservation measures. “Check individual households and offices for leaks and report such to the General Services Department, your barangay officials and/or water concessionaires,” the memorandum read.

“When storing water, make sure that water containers/drums are covered with lid/plastic to avoid breeding grounds for dengue carrying mosquitoes,” it added. Belmonte told Ricardo Aureo of the General Services Department, together with the head of engineering department, to do an inventory of all schools and city-owned buildings for the possible installation of rainwater harvesting systems and water storage tanks and to install half or full flush in all toilets. She said the GSD shall record baseline data on water consumption per office, building and villages, and come up with an incentive scheme for those who would be able to reduce their water consumption per month.

Life FOOD

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

Sweet treats sans the tricks WHEN the night turns eerie and the “creatures” appear, it’s time for some hair-raising feast and sinful treats.

Monster cake from Andrew Café

BUCKET OF GOODNESS.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary in the Philippines, casual dining restaurant TGIFriday’s serves three limited edition dishes including the Bucket of Bones consisting of signature glazed ribs, chicken wings, and pork chop.

years of great Fridays

Andrew Café at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde offers a spooky but delectable centerpiece for any Halloween feast. The Mysterious Monster Cake is a delightful dessert made of moist chocolate cake with rich custard filling. The adorable confection is made Halloween-themed with striking orange butter cream frosting spikes. Completing the look are googly eyes made of mouthwatering dark chocolate balls and fudge layered with decadent white chocolate ganache, and a smirk styled with Oreo cookie topped with red fondant. Call (02) 230-5100 local 1888.

Fang-tastic night at Café+Bar

Bring the gang to Eastwood’s Café+Bar on Oct. 31 and enjoy a Fang-tastic Halloween Night where guests can take advantage of buy-one get-one offer on local beers, alcopops, and sparkling wines. Guests also get a chance to win hotel gift certificates when they come in their best vampire-themed costumes. The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Call (02) 8570-7777 or email erh@richmondehotel.com.ph.

By Steph Llarena

WENTY five years ago, casual dining restaurant TGIFriday’s arrived in the Philippines to spread good ‘ol time best shared with families and friends. A fun, memorable dining experience that always feels like it’s Friday was promised and continuously delivered.

“One of TGIFriday’s best-kept secret for staying on top is its credo of always being genuine and relevant to its constantly changing and ever-evolving guest profile. This explains the various expansion, store openings, and the recent refurbishment of its Glorietta branch from the vintage atmosphere to a fresher, more hip look and feel,” the brand said in a statement. And as the New York-born chain celebrates its 25th year in the country, new items on the menu, treats for loyal patrons, and other special anniversary promos are rolling out leading up to its official birthday on Dec. 11. “In keeping with today’s trends, TGIFriday’s takes to heart what its guests want, continuing to innovate with new dishes to give them more reasons to come back and enjoy Fridays,” said the dining establishment. First in the new limited edition (available only until December) menu items is the Prime Ribeye Steak, a 16-oz finegrained USDA ribeye. Each serving of this juicy, flavorful dish comes with mango chipotle coleslaw and a choice between truffle rice or mashed potato. Speaking of truffle, the new pasta dish, Truffle Pasta, is made with fennel, bacon, and truffle. Those who love bones in their meat are in for a treat with the new Bucket of Bones. The bucket consists of delicious, fall-of-the-bone signature glazed

Chills and thrills at The Exchange

The restaurant is known as a favorite place for friends to share good times. (Photo from TGIFriday’s Philippines/Facebook)

Meals made for sharing. (TGIFriday’s/FB)

ribs, eight pieces of chicken wings, and two pieces of Friday’s pork chop, served with mac and cheese, garlic rice, and French fries. A portion from each order of the Bucket of Bones goes to Action Against Hunger, an organization that aims to fight hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines. Another way to try this bucket of meaty goodness is by winning in the Best Fridays Experience contest. From today until December, diners may share old or recent photos or videos of them

celebrating or having a memorable time at the restaurant for a chance to win a free Bucket of Bones. Twenty five winners will be selected weekly. “It could be anything that shows how memorable dining experiences are at TGIFridays. It may be old photos of them celebrating an important occasion with the family or partying with friends, having that first date with someone special on Valentine’s Day, or a recent video of them being serenaded by our staff during their birthday,” said TGIFriday’s vice president RC Tiongson. Meanwhile, Citibank cardholders buying one Friday’s Favorites will get another of equal or lower price for free. The food choices include Fridays Chili Ball Park Nachos Regular, Fridays Signature Burger, Caesar Salad (to share), and half rack of Baby Back Ribs. The promo runs Tuesday to Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until Nov. 28. Finally, on Dec. 11, a simultaneous celebration is happening across all branches nationwide. From 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., all tables will each get a serving of Chili Ball Park Nachos and drinks of their choice for free. The restaurant staff will also do their special

Experience the chills and thrills on Oct. 30 at The Exchange in Richmonde Hotel Ortigas as scary turns into happy (hour) with IT’s Halloween party. Get spooked by creepy clown characters while enjoying a drink-all-you-can spree of San Miguel Beer products and featured cocktail drinks, a buffet of delectable bar chow, and live band music. The Halloween shindig, happening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., is priced at P798 nett. All guests get a chance to win hotel GCs in the raffle. Call (02) 8638-7777.

Keep calm and feast at Café 1228

Those with a monster appetite are invited to New World Makati’s Café 1228 for lunch or dinner on Nov. 1-3. Aside from a buffet spread of delectable fare, the dessert station will be filled with Halloween-themed sweet treats. Loot bags with Ovaltine snacks and products will be given to diners. The fang-tastic feast is priced at P2,888, inclusive of taxes and service charge. Call (02) 8811-6888 or email reservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.

Monsters at Market Café

Market Café at New World Manila Bay is hosting a monster-rific adventure on Oct. 30-31. The Monster Camp: Halloween Fun Fest serves hauntingly delicious flavors of Halloween with a delightful dinner buffet featuring a spread of international cuisines, signature dishes, and decadent desserts. Diners with the best Halloween costume will receive a special prize. The buffet dinner is priced at P2,600 net per person, while children 12 years old and below are charged half the price and kids 5 below eat for free. Call (02) 8252-6888 or email dining.manilabay@newworldhotels.com. Prime Ribeye Steak

Truffle Pasta

Life

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Winning seafood combinations to try

RESHLY cooked seafood dishes make gatherings festive and fun. And when mixed and matched right, they make for a wonderful feast. Popular paluto-all-you-can restaurant Isla Sugbu Seafood City offers these seafood combinations which can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner, starting at P797. Stir Fried Scallops with Veggies + Steamed Pompano with Tausi This combination is perfect for vegetable lovers. Light and packed with nutrients, the Stir Fried Scallops is made with garden fresh cauliflower and broccoli, crisp carrot slices, and steamed scallops. Complementing it is the Steamed Pompano with Tausi, which is topped with savory flavors and a hint of spices from the combination of chili garlic, soy sauce, and crushed tausi.

Stir Fried Scallops with Veggies

Salted Egg Shrimp + Salt and Pepper Calamari The perfect pair to munch on with a glass of sub-zero beer, the Salted Egg Shrimp and Salt and Pepper Calamari are both packed with flavors, making them instant crowd favorites. Seafood City has elevated the shrimp’s natural flavors with a unique sauce made of salted egg yolk, butter, and milk. Meanwhile, the Salt and Pepper Calamari is showered with slices of chives, and red and green bell peppers.

Salted Egg Shrimp (left) and Salt and Pepper Calamari

Sinigang na Salmon + Black Pepper Crab Sinigang is a classic Pinoy staple that can definitely be paired with any dish. The restaurant elevates this Filipino comfort food by loading it with chunky salmon cuts. Balance the tanginess of the Sinigang na Salmon with Seafood City’s signature dish, the Black Pepper Crab, whose exciting flavors include sweet crab meat and addicting peppery sauce. Other combinations to try with a cup of steamed rice are Salted Egg Shrimp + Black Pepper Crab, Salt and Pepper Calamari + Stir Fried Scallops with Veggies, or Sinigang na Salmon + Steamed Pompano with Tausi. Sinigang na Salmon

Isla Sugbu Seafood City is at Venice Grand Canal in McKinley Hills and in Cebu.

CHEF’S CORNER Culinary coach Massimiliano Pauletto “YOU can be the best chef in the world but without a team you are nobody.” Novotel Manila Araneta City warmly opens its kitchen to the collaborative philosophy of its new executive chef Massimiliano Pauletto, who is bringing along his more than two decades of culinary experience. Chef Massi alongside with f&b director Matt Salcedo will oversee the operations of Novotel Manila Araneta City’s five dining outlets: Food Exchange Manila, Gourmet Bar by Novotel, Sabor Bar de Vinos, Indulge Gelato, and 6th Pool Bar and Lounge. They will also handle all event and meeting banquet requirements. Hailing from Castellanza, Varese, Italy, Chef Massi grew up in a traditional Italian family way of preparing food and festively dining together. Sharing his fond childhood memories, he recounts that he, his brothers, and cousins would chase chickens, pick fresh produce from their vegetable garden, and assist in getting the food from the fire while roasting. “Until today, my family believe that basically the food needs to be produced by yourself. So, no MSG. No chemical.” His interest in food was strongly influenced by his late grandmother Esterina who was the cook of the family. “She was a really good cook. I started following her recipes and this carried me through my culinary career.” After spending five years in a culinary school in Milan, Chef Massi entered his first apprenticeship under the tutelage of the esteemed Chef Gualtiero Marchesi, who is considered the founder of modern Italian cuisine at the three Michelin-starred Albereta Hotel. “I learned a great deal about old French cuisine from him. At that time, they were all doing molecular approach while we were still using the duck press,” Chef Massi fondly recalls. After a few years of serving as chef for the Italian Navy, his culinary journey took him further to learn from other celebrated chefs including Michelin-starred chefs Davide Bisetto and Alberico Penati. He went on to grow and build his culinary portfolio across London and Brussels, until in 2004 when he ventured to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for five years. “In Europe, we throw pot and we scream at each other; something that

in Asia you cannot do. I start as a little Gordon Ramsay. They just make me understand that you cannot,” he shares. Chef Massi embraced the cultural difference between the East and the West and developed a higher respect for food which is an integral part of the daily life of Asians. “In Asia, everywhere is food; in the little street, little corner, and the market. The street food is something that in Europe we lost by years. So, this is one of the beautiful things about Asia.” His sojourn across Vietnam, India, and Africa has finally led him to the Philippines. “Accor as a company is one of the biggest players now in the world. It is time to be a part of it,” he said. Novotel Manila Araneta City’s new executive chef Massimiliano Pauletto

“I’m very happy to start with this hotel in this part of the city. We are not in Makati. We are not in Bonifacio. We are in Quezon City,” enthuses Chef Massi. “Quezon City will explode in the next years or so, I would have marked up my name here.” Applying his strong culinary background, Chef Massi starts introducing techniques that reinforce the global f&b team of Novotel Manila Araneta City in order to provide better quality palatable dishes and unique dining experience. “My team is fantastic. Basically, I just push them in the right direction. I always tell them you guys carry on and I will come from the other side and slowly we’ll go together.”

Chef Roseller Fiel II tells story through food

Memories from the

deli

Deli Snack at Century Park Hotel is known for its delectable yet affordable breads, pastries, cakes, and deli meats.

GOOD memories fill Century Park Hotel’s Deli Snack. The food outlet is known for its wide array of breads, pastries, cakes, and deli meats. From generation to generation, Deli Snack has become synonymous to providing baked goods and deli items to complement any occasion. Its reasonable prices have also made the outlet a byword to its loyal patrons through the years. Some of its bestsellers include banana walnut loaves and raisin breads made with generous servings of bananas and raisins. For the health-conscious, rye, kornpep, mini-French and farmhouse dark breads are available to fit one’s healthy lifestyle. The outlet’s classic cream puffs and chocolate eclairs tickle taste buds and satisfy those with sweet tooth. Special occasions call for heavenly Cream Cheese Cake and Red Velvet Cheese Cake. Cake lovers may also savor the goodness of Supermoist Cake’s layers of chocolate ganache or Torta Nocciole Di Cioccolato’s chocolate-covered coffee beans which are guaranteed to be the highlight of the party. One of the best homemade luscious sweets available at Deli Snack includes Crispy Bonbon, a milk chocolate with crunchy nut filling made of divine wafers and fine almonds. Cappuccino Praline is another sweet treat that tops the list: its dark Belgian chocolate and rum are blended into a smooth texture. Bonbons and pralines are prepared inside the hotel’s chocolate room and can be purchased in boxes of six or 12.

For most chefs, their stories are told not in words but in the food they cook—among them is Chef Roseller Fiel II, winner of a nationwide cook-off. Competing against hundreds of chefs in the country in Solane Kitchen Hero, Chef Roseller prepared dishes handed down to him by his family, leading to his win. Hailing from Lanao del Norte, Chef Roseller is a professional chef for almost 10 years now. He is currently the executive chef at Soy Café and Diner and a culinary instructor at Sweet House Pastry School. His love for food developed, he says, because of his parents. “They are my kitchen heroes,” he shares. “It’s because of them that I learned how to love food, how to love the kitchen.” Solane Kitchen Hero champion Chef Roseller Fiel II

Supermoist Chocolate Cake

Not to be outdone, Deli Snack’s original cold cuts such as all-natural smoked bacon, black forest ham, luscious pastrami, sausages, smoked salmon, and selections of chorizo are carefully made by the hotel’s remarkable chefs and are readily-available at the outlet. “Deli Snack will always be one of Century Park Hotel’s greatest assets. Our pastries and cold cuts are specially crafted by our very own outstanding chefs,” said CPH general manager Anthony Tan. The food outlet is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Armed with a story to tell, Chef Roseller whipped up a winning threecourse meal with his creative interpretations of iconic dishes from his region: a salad of Kilawin na Baboy with butter-poached lobster, grilled talong and ampalaya, and cococream vinaigrette; the main dish of Humba Bisaya with brown rice pilaf; and a dessert of Dodol with carameltisa sauce and peanut-ginger brittle. “The dishes that I served for this competition are my family. The kilawin represents my father because he is that one who cooks it in the family. Meanwhile, humba is our family dish. Every time I ask my mom to cook dinner, she would make humba.” He adds, “I may have made very simple and very safe dishes for the competition but the difference I made is that I cooked with my heart, I cooked with passion, and I kept true to my advocacy which is to make local global—using local flavors and ingredients of Mindanao, incorporating them in the dishes that my family used to make.” His mission to share his family recipe and to bring local food to the global stage is now made possible with the prizes he took home from the competition: P100,000 cash and a culinary trip to Japan with customized stops at different food and drink destinations. “I will be flying to Canada soon to help my brother open his Filipino restaurants there. The prize I will receive will really go a long way in helping me achieve my advocacy of making local dishes global.”

Entertainment

Thakur (India Earth), Hiromi Amako (Japan), Eri Takayanagi (Japan Asia), Malaythong Sirisak (Laos), Nadia Jooste (New Zealand), Alice Lee Soo Bee (Singapore), Roxanne Theresa Wang (South Africa), Melodie Chen (Taiwan), Apipapha Jankaen (Thailand), and Misuzu Akagi (Tokyo).

Quinto, who nearly backed out of the contest when he figured in a road accident before his departure to Thailand, is the grand winner of the ABS-CBN Umagang Kay Ganda “Gwapulis 2016 contest. He is a native of Pampanga and presently works at the Valenzuela City Police Station. “I chose my work (as a police) because I want to help others. By helping others, especially, the children, they would help you in return, they are the future of our country,” Quinto’s answer when asked the question ‘why he chose his work’ during the final interview. Quinto followed on the feat of another cop Neil Perez who won Mr. International 2014. Quinto was also awarded one of the three Ambassadors of the Young Thai Organization, with Borneo and Malta. His Ifugaoinspired national costume was made byEdwin Uy. Michelle Anne Constantino guided Quinto in this journey to Thailand. The USA and Colombia were named first and 2nd runner-up, respectively, while Thailand and Cambodia finished as 3rd and 4th runners-up, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were India, Laos, Cameroon, Malaysia and Brazil. Special awards were USA, Mr. Strong Man; Cameroon, Mr. Body Perfect; Lao, Mr. Friendly; Vietnam, Mr. Smart Man; Brazil, Mr. Sexy Man; Switzerland, Mr. Charming; Mr. Cambodia, Mr. Photogenic; Mr. Talent, Mr. Andres Island; Mr. India, Best in Relationship; Mr. Malaysia, Best in National Costume; and Ambassador of Working Men, Thailand. *** Mrs. Tourism 2019 coronation tonight Six crowns are at stake when the 3rd edition Mrs. Tourism 2019 pageant unfolds in Tanghalang Pasigueño tonight. Nearly thirty delegates, married women and single mothers, from all over the world, will vie for the titles of Mrs. Tourism Universe, Mrs. Tourism World, Mrs. Tourism International, Mrs. Tourism Earth, Mrs. Tourism Globe, and Mrs. Tourism Queen Mother. Mrs. Tourism 2019 is a presentation by Megastar Productions, headed by its CEO/president and founder Ovette Ricalde, in cooperation with the Pasig City Hall and the city’s Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office. Ricalde has been discovering and handling many national beauty queens since 1989 and got involved with Mrs. World as the longrunning license for the original pageant for married women from 1999 to present. The winners of Mrs. Tourism 2019 will be the face and voice of the pageant’s advocacy to stop racial discrimination while at the same time promote her own personal social platform. Each of the six winners will be dubbed “The Mother Who Cares for the World.” The country’s representatives are Giselle Legaspi Barrion (Philippines) and Cheryl Fordan Villanueva (PhilippinesSouth). Barrion, a 38-year-old entrepreneur from Quezon City, is a facilitator at University of Santo Tomas Graduate School and is a Philippine Empowered Woman of the Year 2019 Awardee. She received her Master’s degree in Business Administration at UST Graduate School and pursues her PhD in Organization Development at S A I D I Graduate School of Organization Development. Villanueva, a 42-year-old educator awardee and recognized National Resource person from Makati City, is Mrs. Universe Philippines Finest Woman Universal Tourism 2019 and MUPFW World’s Fashion and Arts. The other candidates are Olive Wheeler (Australia), Farhana Afrin Oyshe (Bangladesh), Jonabel Zambrano (Canada), Manisha Gaur (Indi Universe), Aneeta Bhusal (India World), Deepali Gokhe (India International), Kavita

Very Wang... From C4

Returning to Cinema One Originals are Victor Villanueva and Kevin Dayrit, who made their feature film debuts with Cinema One Originals. Villanueva’s resumes his fascination with the intertwining of rom-com tropes with supernatural tinges that made My Paranormal Romance a quirky treat withLucid, in which Alessandra De Rossi plays a lucid dreamer whose waking life and dream life start to blur when she meets JM De Guzman. Kevin, whose Catnip was the multi-awarded darling of its year takes on vampirism, necrophilia, the drug wars and rom-coms in O which stars Anna Luna, Lauren Young, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith. Giancarlo Abrahan whose second feature was the Best Picturewinning Cinema One Original Paki returns with Sila Sila, which stars Gio Gahol and Topper Fabregas and which he describes as an LGBT ghosting story and which finds him taking another look at the interstitial dynamics of yet another extended family, a group of friends nursing consensual emotional traumas. Denise O Hara makes her Cinema One Originals debut and her second feature with Tayo Muna Habang Hindi Pa Tayo a rom-com inversion with JC Santos andJane Oineza, about the underside of trauma that even the truest of loves have. Cinema One Originals has been producing breakthrough films with thought-provoking content for the Filipino audience for 15 years. This year’s celebration will be held in line with the 100th anniversary of Philippine Cinema and the 25th anniversary of leading cable channel Cinema One.

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Gwapulis Willy Quinto wins at international pageant in wThailand

Police Corporal Willy Quinto edged out 15 other delegates in the Mr. Working Men International male pageant in Thailand.

OLICE PAGEANT Corporal Willy CONCEPT Quinto bested ETON fifteen working men CONCEPCION from around the world to capture the first Mr. Working Men International 2019 title, in the finals held in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday night.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Mrs. Tourism 2019 candidates

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

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP, OWN, AND OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN DEDICATED POINT-TO-POINT LIMITED FACILITIES TO CONNECT TO THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OF NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BISCOM, INC. (BISCOM),

disconnection will solely affect BISCOM and will have no effect on the Visayas Grid or other connected customers; The Project is included in the DOE List of Private Sector-Initiated Power Projects for Visayas. 22. The Project is included as one of the committed power projects in the DOE List of Private Sector-Initiated Power Projects for Visayas as of June 30,2018;22 The Transmission Line is technically feasible. 23. The SIS review conducted by NGCP shows that the connection of the Project through the Transmission Line is technically feasible subject to the condition that “[t]he Project should come on-line only upon completion of the Cebu-NegrosPanay 230kV Backbone Project Stage 3 of the NGCP;23

ERC CASE NO. 2019-017 MC

Applicant. x--------------------------------------------------------x

24. BISCOM proposed the Transmission Line connection because of its viability and technical feasibility for the connection of the Project. The Project will connect to the Visayas Grid via tap connection on the Kabankalan-Binalbagan 69kV subtransmission line owned by NOCECO;

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

25. BISCOM ensured that the design and technical specifications of the Transmission Line are consistent with the standards of the Philippine Grid Code24 and that the Project is consistent with the Transmission Development Plan of NGCP;25

Notice is hereby given that on 18 July 2019, Biscom, Inc. (BISCOM)1 filed an Application dated 09 July 2019 (Application), seeking the Commission’s approval of its authority to develop, own, and operate, and maintain dedicated point-to-point limited facilities to connect to the transmission system of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), with prayer for provisional authority.

BISCOM has the technical and financial capability to develop, construct, operate and maintain the Transmission Line.

In the said Application, BISCOM, INC. alleged the following, among others: THE APPLICANT 1.

26. BISCOM has the technical and financial capability to develop the Transmission Line. The Transmission Line will be constructed by BussBarr Corporation;26

BISCOM is a power generation company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Unit 604, Legaspi Towers 200 Condominium, 107 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi Village, Brgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City 1226. It may be served orders and other legal process through its undersigned counsel;

27. The development and construction of the Transmission Line will be funded through internal funds27 The Transmission Line will be used exclusively by BISCOM for the operations of the Project and will not serve end-users. Hence, the Transmission Line will not have an impact on the transmission rates currently being charged to the public;

BISCOM’s primary purpose is to manufacture centrifugal and refined sugar and other products derived from sugarcane such as molasses, syrups and alcohol, as well as by-products of bagasse;2

Among the secondary purposes of BISCOM is to engage in the selling of excess electricity generated by its facilities to other entities;3

BISCOM is a registered renewable energy (“RE”) developer of the Department of Energy (“DOE”) with an operating contract for the exploration, development and utilization of biomass energy resource, among others;4

In the 2016-2040 Demand-Supply Outlook, the DOE recognized the growing demand for power in the Philippines. For the Visayas Grid, the DOE projects the energy demand to increase by 7% which is the highest average annual growth rate from 1,878 MW in 2016 to 9,210 MW in 2040. Based on the foregoing, the Visayas Grid still needs 9,180 MW of additional capacities of 5,330 MW baseload plant, 3,000 mid-merit plants, and 850 MW peaking plants to meet the electricity demand;5

Recent developments in the power industry, as indicated in the presentation by the DOE Secretary regarding a briefing on the Electric Power Industry6 showed that the required power system capacity addition for the Visayas Grid between the years 2016 to 2040 is 9,180 MW;

To help address the need for additional capacity in the Visayas Grid, BISCOM will design, engineer, procure, construct, supply, start-up, test, commission, own, operate, and maintain a Biomass plant with a capacity of approximately 48.5 MW (the “Project”), located in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. The Project’s target date of completion and energization is on 2020 or 2021, depending on the upgrade of the Cebu-Panay-Negros Line. Power for export generated from the biomass plant shall be delivered to the Visayas Grid;

28. After completion, BISCOM will carry out the operations and maintenance of the Transmission Line through NGCP; 29. BISCOM undertakes to file an application for a Certificate of Compliance with the Honorable Commission; 30. The foregoing clearly shows that the proposed Transmission Line complies with Section 9 of the EPIRA, and the relevant regulations issued by this Honorable Commission; Motion for Provisional Authority and Allegations in Support of Prayer for Provisional Authority 31. Rule 14 of the Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure authorizes the issuance of a provisional authority or an interim relief prior to a final decision, provided that the facts and circumstances warrant the issuance of the same; 32. BISCOM respectfully prays that the Honorable Commission provisionally authorize the development, ownership, and operation of the Transmission Line considering that the facts, circumstances and the magnitude of the opportunity costs entailed by any further delay in the interconnection of the Project warrants the issuance of a Provisional Authority; 32.1

BISCOM hopes to be able to complete development and construction of the facilities at the soonest possible time in order to be able to dispatch electric power supply to the Visayas Grid;

32.2

The Project is one of the energy projects under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to accelerate the development and utilization of the country’s RE sources. Thus, it is in the interest of the government to help RE developers such as BISCOM to achieve commerciality and commence operations at the soonest practicable time;

In connection thereto, the DOE approved and issued a Biomass Renewable Energy Operating Contract (“BREOC”) and accompanying Certificate of Registration;7

On March 21, 2019, the DOE issued a letter addressed to this Honorable Commission stating that the Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality is onprocess and endorsing the Project of BISCOM for testing and commissioning;8

32.3

10. To test, commission and dispatch its generating facility, BISCOM proposes to connect it to the Visayas Grid through a dedicated point-to-point limited interconnection facility (the “Transmission Line”) to be constructed by BussBarr Corporation;9

The construction of the Transmission Line is a prerequisite for the testing and commissioning, and ultimately, the commercial operations of BISCOM. The Project is calculated to be completed and energized by the 3rd Quarter of 2019;

32.4

Moreover, the use of biomass energy reduces the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, which not only minimizes harmful carbon greenhouse emissions in the environment but also reduces the country’s exposure to price fluctuations in the international markets;

32.5

Given the immediate need for additional capacity, the completion of the Project and the Transmission Line within the time frame is critical to ensure that additional capacity will be available to the Visayas Grid in a timely manner;

32.6

The issuance of a provisional authority is also critical in light of the deadline for qualification for the Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) allocation. It is thus necessary for Biscom to secure the provisional authority to immediately commence and complete the construction of the Transmission Line so that it can avail of the FIT, which is essential to the economic viability of BISCOM; and

11. BISCOM has secured the relevant permits for the Project and the Transmission Line; 11.1 On April 19, 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (“DENR-EMB”) issued the Environmental Compliance Certificate (“ECC”) for the Project;10 11.2 BISCOM will apply with the DENR-EMB for the issuance of a Certificate of Non-Coverage for the Transmission Line.11 12. BISCOM intends to connect the Transmission Line to the Visayas Grid via tap connection on the Kabankalan-Binalbagan 69kV sub-transmission line owned by Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (“NOCECO”)12 The Transmission Line will be around 2-4 kilometers;

33. In view of the foregoing, BISCOM respectfully prays that the provisional authority be issued immediately for the development and construction of the proposed Transmission Line.

13. The proposed connection for the Project and the Transmission Line route shall be as follows:13

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, BISCOM respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission: 1. Immediately ISSUE an order provisionally authorizing BISCOM to implement the development, ownership and operation of a dedicated point-topoint limited transmission facility to connect the Project to the Visayas Grid; and 2. After due notice and hearing, GRANT BISCOM the authority to develop, own and operate and maintain a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facility to connect the Project to the Visayas Grid. Other reliefs as may be appropriate under the circumstances are likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 13 November 2019 (Wednesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 AM) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

14. The target completion and commissioning of the Transmission Line is in the 3rd Quarter of 2019.14 The estimated cost for the Transmission Line is One Hundred forty Million Two Hundred Forty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Pesos (Php 140,247,520.00), based on the Transmission Line cost estimates;15

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:

15. The proposed connection of the Project is the most Viable and reasonable option among the interconnection schemes considered, recommended and evaluated by BISCOM, which will enable it to dispatch the Project’s capacity when the need arises.16 15.1

15.2

A System Impact Study (“SIS”) on the proposed Transmission Line has been conducted and based on the results, the said interconnection is technically feasible.17 The SIS has been reviewed and approved by the NGCP;18 A Facilities Study has been undertaken by EAGLEngineering Solutions Corporation and has been approved by the NGCP;19

A generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities that are consistent with the TDP: Provided, that such facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system, and are used solely by the generating facility, subject to prior authorization by the ERC. 18. In compliance with Section 9 of the EPlRA, BISCOM hereby seeks the Honorable Commission’s authorization to develop, own, and operate the Transmission Line, which is a dedicated point-to-point limited interconnection facility, to connect the Project to the Visayas Grid;

The Transmission Line is a dedicated point-to-point limited interconnection facility whose sole purpose is to connect the Project to the Visayas Grid and is considered a “Connection Asset” under ERC Resolution No. 23, Series of 2016 (“ERC Resolution”);

19.2

The Transmission Line will be used exclusively by Biscom for the operations of the Project, and will not serve any end-user;

19.3

The Transmission Line is technically feasible;

19.4

BISCOM has the technical and financial ability to develop, construct, operate, and maintain the Transmission Line;

The Transmission Line is a dedicated point-topoint transmission facility and will be used exclusively by BISCOM. 20. The Transmission Line is designed for the sole purpose of connecting the Project to the Visayas Grid. The single-line diagram21 of the proposed interconnection shows that the Transmission Line will be used exclusively by BISCOM, and is not designed or configured to serve end-users; 21. The Transmission Line is classified as a “Connection Asset” under the ERC Resolution as it is primarily designed to connect the Project to the Visayas Grid, and will be used for the conveyance of electricity from the Project to the Visayas Grid. If the Transmission Line is taken out of the transmission system of NGCP, the

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.

1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon. All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is 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. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 2nd day of October 2019 in Pasig City.

19. The proposed Transmission Line meets the requirements provided in Section 9 of the EPlRA and the relevant regulations issued by this Honorable Commission; 19.1

The petitioner’s name and address;

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 Applicant rests its 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:

16. BISCOM has obtained the Certification20 issued by NOCECO regarding the status of the Connection Agreement, Transmission Service Agreement, and Metering Service Agreement; 17. Section 9 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (“EPIRA”) provides:

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal A copy of Biscom’s Secretary’s Certificate dated 12 March 2019 authorizing the filing of the Application and designating Mr. Jose L. Chan as the authorized representative is attached as Annex “A” and made an integral part hereof. Copies of Biscom’s Certificate of Incorporation, Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws are attached as Annexes “B”, “B-1” and “B-2” and made integral parts hereof. 3 ld. 4 A copy of Biscom’s Certificate of Registration as an RE Developer is attached as Annex “C” and made an integral part hereof. 5 A copy of the Power Development Plan 2016-2040 (please see Figure 17 Visayas Demand-Supply Outlook, 2016- 2040, P.46) is hereto as Annex “D” and made an integral part hereof. 6 A copy of the DOE presentation by Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi is attached as Annex “E” and made an integral part hereof. 7 A copy of the BREOC is attached as Annex “F” and made an integral part hereof. 8 A copy of the DOE letter dated 21 March 2019 is attached as Annex “G” and made an integral part hereof. 9 A copy of the description and scope of the project denominated as Project Description is attached as Annex “H” and made an integral part hereof. 10 A copy of the Environmental Compliance Certificate is attached as Annex “I” and made an integral part hereof. 11 A copy of the Affidavit of Approval from Concerned Agencies is attached as Annex” J” and is made an integral part hereof. 12 A copy of the conceptual engineering design is attached as Annex “K” and is made an integral part hereof. 13 Figure 1. Transmission Line Route as illustrated is made an integral part hereof. 14 A copy of the Project Schedule Gantt chart is attached as Annex “L” and made an integral part hereof. 15 A copy of the cost estimates is attached as Annex “M” and made an integral part hereof. 16 The discussion of the options/alternatives considered in lieu of the proposed Transmission Line is attached as Annex “N” and made an integral part hereof. 17 A copy of the System Impact Study is attached as Annex “0” and made an integral part hereof. 18 Ibid. 19 Copies of the Facilities Study and the NGCP Letter dated 19 November 2018 are attached as Annexes “P” and “P-1” respectively and made integral parts hereof. 20 A copy of the Certification issued by NOCECO on status of the Connection Agreement, Transmission Service Agreement, and Metering Service Agreement is attached hereto as Annex “Q” and made an integral part hereof. 21 A copy of the Single Line Diagram is attached hereto as Annex “R” and made an integral part hereof. 22 A copy of the DOE List of Private Sector-Initiated Power Projects (Visayas) as of June 30, 2018 is attached as Annex “S” and made an integral part hereof. Please see p.4. 23 A copy of the NGCP letter dated 9 August 2018 is attached as Annex “T” and made an integral part hereof. 24 A copy of the Statement of Compliance to the Philippine Grid Code is attached as Annex “U” and made an integral part hereof. 25 A copy of pp. 179-180, Table A3.7 Awarded Biomass Projects of the Transmission Development Plan 2014-2015 is attached as Annex “V” and made an integral part hereof. 26 A copy of the Company Profile of BussBarr Corporation with a list of the projects it has undertaken is attached as Annex “W” and made an integral part hereof. 27 A copy of Biscom’s General Information sheet, Audited Financial Statements, and Projected Financial and Economic Cost Analysis are attached as Annexes “X”, “Y”, and “Z”. (MS-OCT. 28, 2019) 1 2

Entertainment

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

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

Stars weigh in to celebrate teachers month EVERYONE, whether you are famous or an ordinary person, has one unforgettable teacher in his lifetime from whom we owe the knowledge that we have now. And what better way to celebrate them by remembering them on World Teachers Day. Olivier and Tony Award-winning singer/actress Lea Salonga said “I have two absolute favorite teachers: my first grade teacher, Mary Tabaquero, and my London singing teacher, Mary Hammond.” Former actor and now Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said, “My favorite was Mrs. Laceste, my grade 2 teacher at Rosauro Almario Elemtary School in Tondo. She gave me first honor medal.” Former Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP) director-general and now Sen. Imee Marcos cited her favorite teachers as her grandmother Josefa, her mother Imelda, Señorita Garcia at the Institucion Teresiana, Mother Milagros in the old Assumption Herran, theater icon Zenaida Amador, National Artist for film Lino Brocka, and National Artist

for Theater Rolando Tinio. Oprah Winfrey, in one of her interviews has said, “I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Mary Duncan.” Hong Kong superstar and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actor Chow Yun Fat in 2010 starred in a biopic ﬁlm entitled Confucius on the life of the great ancient teacher and philosopher to pay tribute to the very people who have educated him. To honor all the world’s teachers, young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs of Anvil Business Club last Sept. 25 led multi-sectoral groups to hold the advance celebration of World Teachers Day (declared as Oct. 5 by UNESCO starting 1994) and Confucius’ 2,570th birth anniversary (which is Sept. 28) at the Chinese Garden of Rizal Park, Manila. Special guests at this event were led by Philippine National Police (PNP) National Capital Region Police Ofﬁce (NCRPO) director Major GeneralGuillermo Eleazar, China Embassy diplomats led by Cultural

SM Little Star winner Nyle Quinzel Tapdasan and Danaielle Haley Magtoto

Mother Lily Monteverde welcomes new Regal babies

From left: SM Supermalls COO Steven Tan, Regal's Mother Y. Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde

REGAL Entertainment president and eminent star-maker Mother Lily Monteverde has been part of the success of many of the industry’s biggest stars. Now, she, together with her daughter and Regal Entertainment vice president Roselle Monteverde, continues to discover a new string of talented young stars as she includes the two winners of SM Little Stars as official talents of her company. A bright future in show business is ahead of SM Little Stars 2019 Boy and Girl Grand winners Nyle Quinzel Tapdasan of SM City North EDSA andDanaielle Haley Magtoto of SM City East Ortigas after they signed an exclusive management and movie contract with Regal Artist Entertainment. Tapdasan and Magtoto were hailed as the winners during the grand finals, held at the SMX Convention Center in the MOA Complex, Pasay. Both of them played the piano beautifully during the competition. Magtoto is also a talented singer. “I feel happy because I’ve never joined any contest before and I have never signed any contract. This is the first time I will go on TV and movie so that makes me happy,” said eight-yearold Tapdasan. “I am also happy because it has been my dream to be famous,” added Magtoto. “I want to be a pianist when I grow up. I also want to be an artist and a singer.” Now on its thirteenth year, SM Little Stars continues to be a platform for kids to share talents, enhance their personalities, and develop their confidence. The competition not only recognizes the shining and brightest kids, but it also celebrates the start of their journey in becoming stars in the future as they inspire more children to discover their innate talent. Aside from the contract, they also received a full scholarship grant of any four-year course at National University, five-days and four-nights trip to China for two, P100,000 worth of cash and SM gift certificates, a brand new Chevrolet Sail, a two-night stay for two with buffet breakfast at Taal Vista Hotel, P30,000 worth of Toy Kingdom Gift Cards, and year-round passes for SM Bowling, SM Ice Skating and SM Storyland.

Counsellor Tian Shanting, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, and First VicePresident AlexYap Cho Ti, Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA) leaders, college professors, other educators, ofﬁcers of diverse civic groups, etc. Anvil Business Club was led by chairman Wilson Lee Flores, president Patrick Cua, chairman emeritus George Siy, honorary chairman Reynold Siy, project heads Richmond Co, and Sheryll Yuamong others. The highlight of the celebration was the ancient ceremony of three bows by multi-sectoral groups before the granite Confucius monument (which was donated by Anvil Business Club in 2009 under then chairman Wilson Lee Flores and president Eduardo Cobankiat, with support by then Tourism Secretary Ace Durano). Fresh rose ﬂowers were then given by VIP guests and civic leaders to all the teachers and educators. Speeches

AT THE TEACHERS DAY and Confucius rites, from left: Anvil Business Club Chair-

man Wilson Lee Flores, PNP Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Federation of Fil Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) Pres. Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, China Embassy Counsellor Tian Shanting, Anvil Pres. Patrick Cua . Photo below (from left) Sen. Imee Marcos, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and world-class Filipino actress-singer Lea Salonga.

eulogizing teachers and Confucius were Shanting and instead of a speech, Wilson delivered by Gen. Eleazar, Henry Lee Flores recited his new FilipinoLim, Patrick Cua, Counsellor Tian language poem.

DENNIS TRILLO’S

Kapuso star Dennis Trillo joins the cast of Star Cinema's scream movie, 'Hellcome Home,' which opens Oct. 30 nationwide.

turn to cross over A

FTER the successful big screen projects of Maine Mendoza, Dingdong Dantes, and Alden Richards with ABS-CBN’s production arm, actor Dennis Trillo is the latest Kapuso talent to step on the Kapamilya ground for another ﬁlm assignment.

In the upcoming scream flick, Hellcome Home, Dennis stars alongside Beauty Gonzalez, Raymond Bagatsing, Alyssa Muhlach, Gillian Vicencio, andTeejay Marquez, among others. “I’m happy to work with Star Cinema because it’s a great experience. They’re known for quality projects so you know you’re in good hands,” says Dennis. Helmed by young director Bobby Bonifacio, Jr., the movie revolves around two families (the Domingos and the Villareals) that both want the same thing: to have a peaceful home away from all the outside noise. However, it seems they cannot escape their inner chaos. Upon settling in, their dream home becomes a nightmare from hell as things happen—sounds and whispers too uncanny to ignore, strange shadows lurking at every corner, and trespassers bearing offerings. Both families experience horrifying phenomena that are erriely parallel. Perhaps the house is evil itself, hungry for souls and wants to feed, once every few years. “Basically, it’s a story of two families who lived in the same house. When they arrived in the house, they started being haunted, ginugulo sila ng kung anu-anong klaseng evil spirits,” says Bonifacio. Hellcome Home unspools in cinemas on Oct. 30.

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Cinema One originals marks 15th year

For its fifteenth year, Cinema One Originals proudly declares what it’s stood for all these years, originality in all its permutations, and challenging old and new audiences if they’re ready for the Cinema One Originals Experience—an experience that goes beyond cinema, beyond cinephilia, beyond entertainment. All these years, the Cinema One Originals mandate has been to give filmmakers, first-timers and otherwise, a platform to fully express their visions. This year, eight original narrative features get P3 million worth of grant each. There are four first time filmmakers, three previous Cinema One Originals alumni, and one d i r e c t o r

'O' cast Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Lauren Young, Anna Luna and Sarah Carlos with director Kevin Dayrit

making her second feature and her Cinema One Originals debut. Diverse as the four first-time filmmakers’ visions are, they find common ground in the way they invert their genres, and subgenres, of choice: a bildungsroman, a noir, a gothic horror, and a resurrection rom-com. J.E.

'Yours Truly, Shirley' lead stars Regine VelasquezAlcasid and Rayt Carreon with director Nigel Santos

Tiglao makes his feature debut with Metamorphosis which stars Gold Aceron, Iana Bernardez, Ivan Padilla, Ricky Davao, and Yayo Aguila in a coming-of-age drama about intersexuality that’s as wistful as it is provocative. Dustin Celestino reverses the wrong time/wrong place dynamics of noir with a little help from a comet in Utopia, a blackly comic riff on the genre starring Enzo Pineda, Joem Bascon, and Aaron Villaﬂor. Eve Baswel’s Tia Madre is a gothic horror featuring Cherie Gil and Jana Agoncillo in which a young girl starts to suspect her mother has been changed into something not quite herself and perhaps not quite human either. Nigel Santos’ Yours Truly, Shirley casts Regine Velasquez as a widow who believes a young pop star (Rayt Carrion) is the reincarnation of her late husband. Continued on C3

'Lucid' director Victor Villanueva with lead stars Alessandra de Rossi and JM De Guzman