Manila Standard - 2019 October 29 - Tuesday

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Red code up vs terrorist acts IS chief death triggers status

Duterte using ‘extraordinary powers’ for water crisis Story on A2

By Francisco Tuyay

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 257 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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HE MILITARY said Monday troops would be on high alert to foil possible attempts by terrorist groups to ride on the reported death of Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi over the weekend.

“Our troops in the frontlines remain on high alert to thwart possible attempts to ride on this development,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said, after the United States reported Baghdadi’s death in an American commando raid in Syria.

Western Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said strict security measures are being enforced in urban centers, public areas and military installations, which may likely targets of the terrorists.

“We are monitoring any (terrorist) hostile plans, to include their supposed lairs... They might target urban centers, places of convergence and of course military bases, detachments, company headquarters, battalion headquarters and brigade headquarters, so all of these are being advised to increase the level of vigilance,” Sobejana said.

The elusive ISIS commander was killed during a U.S. military operation somewhere in Syria Sunday.

Cops on full alert ahead of ‘Undas’

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THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is on full alert effective Monday to secure the country’s commemoration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

“Effective today, I am placing the entire Philippine National Police on full alert to ensure the availability of all personnel and resources for law enforcement and public

Cayetano open to extend term ‘if Lord says so’

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WEEKEND FESTIVAL. A participant

(above) in costume walks among gravestones in St Mary’s church graveyard beside the Abbey during the biannual ‘Whitby Goth Weekend’ festival in Whitby, northern England, on Sunday. Thousands of goths and alternative lifestyle fans from the UK and around the world gather for a weekend of music, dancing and shopping. (at far right) A little boy dressed up as the beheaded St. Denis the Martyr during the “Parade of Saints” led by Peter Martyr of Verona Parish in Hermosa, Bataan on Sunday has gone viral. (at right) Public school teachers stage a ‘trick or treat’ protest to denounce the sorry state of the Duterte administration’s planned pay hike for civilian government employees. (below right) Taking advantage of the pick and pay promo of a cut-flower farm in San Mateo, Isabela, young Jussan enjoys picking chrysanthemums as a traditional offer for her deceased friends, while Coast Guard authorities (below) inspect K-9 guards during a send-off ceremony at the PCG headquarters in Manila ahead of the All Saints Day/All Souls Day holiday rush to the provinces. AFP, FB page of St. Peter Martyr of Verona Parish, Lino Santos, Norman Cruz, and Ben Moses Ebreo

By Rio N. Araja SPEAKER Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday he is “open” to serving until the end of the 18th Congress in 2022” if Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, with whom he has a term-sharing agreement, tells him to do so.

“Am I open to the possibility? What if Congressman Velasco is the one directly telling me that I take charge? I cannot force him to be (the Speaker),” he said.

“We are just human. We are also public servants. We believe in our own leadership because how can other people believe in my leadership if I (myself) don’t believe in my leadership?” he added.

“Having said that, he (Velasco) also has the leadership (quality). He has his on following. He is also a party mate of the President, (and) I respect that.”

President Rodrigo Duterte brokered an agreement under which Cayetano Next page

Maguindanao girl 3rd polio case Palace ignores call to nix Sino oil deal

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday reported the third confirmed polio case in the country―a four-year-old girl from Datu Piang in Maguindanao.

He said the latest patient did not receive any dose of the oral polio

Peralta eyes security for SC justices, judges

By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta on Monday laid down a 10-point reform program to further strengthen the judiciary, including the creation of a security team patterned after the United States Marshal Service to protect the justices and judges in the country.

In his speech during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Next page CHIEF JUSTICE PERALTA. Norman Cruz

vaccine, and that hers was initially reported as a case of acute flaccid paralysis on Sept. 26, 2019, after she was brought to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.

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By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo MALACAÑANG on Monday said the coun country will proceed with its oil joint venture with China, ignoring a call from Vice President Leni Robredo for Beijing to first recognize Manila’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. Robredo was “divorced from reality” with her recent pronouncement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“As far as this President is concerned... we will move with respect to our foreign policy on the basis of whether it is to our interest and whether or not it will boost the develop development leading to the progress of this land,” Panelo said at a press briefing.

Earlier, Robredo said Manila should first dede mand Beijing recognize the country’s ownership Next page

WISH FOR TWINS. House Speaker Alan Cayetano blows the light out of his birthday cake after wishing he would have soon a twin offspring with wife Taguig City Rep. Lani Cayetano (to his left). Ver Noveno

Rody dares Leni to take on drug czar role for 6 months

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday dared Vice President Leni Robredo to take on his role as the country’s anti-ille anti-illegal drugs czar for six months, apparently irked by her remarks that the administra administration should reassess its campaign.

Duterte said he will send a letter through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to formally ask Robredo to assume the drug czar role.

“I just want to know if she has the capability. She talks too much,” Duterte told reporters after the oathtaking of new officials in Malacañang Monday evening.

“Call her. I can talk to her tonight and will order tomorrow that everybody should follow her in the matter of the drug issue,” he added.

Duterte made the move following a report by international news outfit Reuters quoting Robredo as saying that the Next page

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Red...

From A1 At least seven foreign terrorist operatives believed to be in the company of local terrorist groups—Abu Sayyaf, Daulah IslamiyahToraype and remnants of the Maute group, remain on the military’s radar.

“We are on alert. The first order I had was to issue a directive to all units within the Western Mindanao Command to intensify their intelligence operations, and monitor the hostile plans of the ISISinspired group in the area,” Sobejana said.

Foreign terrorist operating in Mindanao had pulled off at least four suicide bombing sorties this year, with the worst being the one in Nount Carmel Cathedralm which left more than 20 people dead.

Sobejana said the death of Bhagdadi has a demoralizing effect on its rank because it created a very big vaccum on its leadership. However, he is not that prominent among local leaders of ISIS-allied groups in the country.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo played down the possibility of any sympathy attacks from ISIS. “If they are to conduct any terrorist atrocity, it will not be for that reason, but we are ready to combat any eventuality,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo said the death of Baghdadi was a severe blow on terrorist organizations around the globe.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzanam on the other hand, said Baghdadi’s death would only be a “momentary setback” because of the depth of his terror group around the globe.

“Somebody will take his place to lead the ISIS. Maybe not as famous and well known,” he said.

The Palace welcomed the death of Baghdadi but added that “the death of the leader does not mean the extinction of their group.”

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said ISIS was already in Mindanao, saying the extremist group was “everywhere.”

At its height, Islamic State controlled swaths of Iraq and Syria in a self-declared state known as a caliphate.

The group planned or inspired terrorism attacks across Europe, while using expertise in social media to lure large numbers of foreign volunteers.

Long pursued by the US-led coalition against IS, Baghdadi has been erroneously reported dead several times in recent years.

The US State Department had posted a $25 million reward for information on his whereabouts.

Baghdadi left behind a horrific trail of beheadings, mass executions, rapes, abductions and ethnic cleansing in his five years as the self-proclaimed “caliph” of Iraq and Syria.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death of Baghdadi marked a turning point in the fight against terrorism.

Iran, on the other hand, warned that this was not the end of the Islamic State group.

“Baghdadi’s death is not the end of fighting Deash terrorism but just the end of a chapter,” government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a tweet. “(IS terrorism) is still growing and evident.

Growing via American policies and regional petrodollars, and evident in takfiri (Sunni Muslim extremist) ideology. These three sources must be extinguished,” he added.

A Russian defense official said they did not have reliable information about Baghdadi’s death.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron said Baghdadi’s death was just a stage.

“The fight will continue with our partners in the international coalition to ensure that the terror organization is definitively defeated. It is our priority.”With AFP

Maguindanao...

From A1 Meanwhile, the City of Taguig ranked first among Metro Manila’s local government units in implementing the Health department’s campaign against the polio virus.

On the 11th day of the 14-day program, Taguig received a rating of 102 percent, receiving the highest score among the cities and municipalities of National Capital Region. It successfully vaccinated 96,866 children.

These results were validated by teams from the Health department and the World Health Organization that conducted Rapid Coverage Assessment.

Duque said the latest patient presented signs of fever, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle pain.

On Oct. 24, her stool samples sent to the National Institute of Infectious DiseasesJapan tested positive for vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 (VDPV2).

The polio virus isolated was genetically linked to the VDPV2 from the confirmed Polio case in Morogong, Lanao del Sur. Duque said the samples from another suspected case were sent for testing, and that they were now awaiting results and confirmation.

As part of its polio response, the Health department will be conducting a vaccination campaign in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on Nov. 4 to 8 among 4,254 children aged 0 to 59 months.

Duque said the stocks of OPV were enough and that preparations were underway.

The Health department, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund will meet with the officials of Datu Piang on Oct. 28 to 29 to discuss their outbreak response.

“I enjoin all parents and guardians to ensure that all of your children are protected from all vaccine-preventable diseases,” Duque said.

Duque on Friday reminded parents and those taking care of children below five years old to bring them to the nearest health center for vaccination until Oct. 27 as part of his department’s campaign against Polio. With Joel E. Zurbano

‘Extraordinary powers’ for Du30 vs. water crisis

By MJ Blancaflor

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will use his extraordinary powers to address the looming water shortage in the country, as some cities experience water interruptions due to low levels of water in Angat and Ipo dams.

“I will use the extraordinary powers of the President. I cannot just allow people to go without water even for drinking,” Duterte said in a chance interview with reporters Monday evening.

“I have appointed enough men of equal talent to deal with the problem. I don’t know where they will get but for me, they have to produce water,” he said.

Asked how he intends to use his extraordinary powers to address the water crisis, Duterte said: “Expropriation or outright police power.”

He defended anew the Kaliwa Dam project which will be built by the China Energy Engineering Corp. and is seen to mitigate the low water supply in Metro Manila and

neaby provinces.

“So if your concern is local governments, it will pollute, it will destroy, just put safeguards (in place)...My concern is the welfare, the greatest good for the greatest number,” he said.

Earlier, Malacañang asked water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water to “shape out or ship out.”

“I suppose the fact that they have not undertaken corrective measures that will prevent the evolution of this upcoming crisis again would be a factor that would make the President decide on drastic action against them,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told Palace reporters.

“The message again is shape up or ship out.

Shape up or ship out. That has always been the message of the President. If you cannot do it, then leave,” he added.

Asked about the specific drastic measures the President might take, Panelo said the Chief Executive might terminate the contracts with water concessionaires and some heads could roll.

Maynilad handles of the west concession zone while Manila Water operations benefit the east concession zone of Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.

Last March, Duterte threatened to scrap the concession agreements of Manila Water and Maynilad after millions of their customers were left waterless.

The water level of Ipo Dam in the downstream of Angat Dam plunged from 100.34 meters to 100.31 meters, La Mesa Dam from 77.42 meters to 77.39 meters, Benguet’s Ambuklao Dam from 748.99 meters to 748.76 meters, Benguet’s Binga Dam from 573.61 meters to 572.88 meters, and Laguna’s Caliraya Dam from 286.54 meters to 286.44 meters from Saturday at 6 a.m. to Sunday 6 a.m.

Duterte: Police may be involved in Clarin mayor killing President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the Philippine National Police to halt all its investigations on the ambush of Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro, as he floated suspicions that the police themselves were involved in the killing.

Duterte said the PNP should let the National Bureau of Investigation take over to ensure fairness.

“I’d like the NBI to have it. So it will be fair. I’d like to order PNP to terminate and hand it to the NBI whatever proof they had,” Duterte told Palace reporters.

“What did the PNP do? Maybe they were the ones who killed him. They’re the ones who were near him,” he added.

Palace...

From A1 and sovereignty in the West Philippines Sea before entering a joint deal.

“For me, the basic premise should be even before we enter into any agreement with China, China has first to recognize our ownership and sovereignty over the area that will be subject to a joint exploration because that was the cause of the dispute, right?” Robredo told ABS-CBN News Channel.

“That should be one of our most basic demands: that before we enter into a contract with them, they recognize first our ownership and our sovereignty over those [areas],” she added.

The Philippines and China have been locked in a long-standing maritime dispute over Beijing’s expansive claims in almost all of the South China Sea. “We know that China is not recognizing our rights over there. In fact, they are saying that it’s theirs. Nevertheless, they’re open to negotiation. So, if it’s open then we will proceed provided the terms are to our favor,” Panelo said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said Chinese leader Xi Jinping promised to give 60 percent of the revenues to the Philippines from the joint venture, if the country will set aside the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed Manila’s sovereign rights over its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

This comes at a time as gas resources in the Malampaya fields are set to run out by 2024.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that the Philippines had legal rights to exploit gas deposits that China also claims in the Recto Bank, about 85 miles off the Philippine coast.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes

On Friday, Navarro was killed while inside a police van on his way to the Cebu city prosecutor's office for inquest proceedings over an assault complaint.

Gunmen blocked the police convoy, ordered Navarro to get out of the vehicle, then shot the mayor dead, authorities said.

Duterte confirmed that Navarro, whom he called his “supporter,” met with him two months before his death and told him that “someone is out to get him.”

Navarro was previously included in Duterte’s list of government officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

MJ Blancaf lor

Esperon Jr., who also chairs the national task force on the West Philippine Sea, said the proposed 60-40 revenue split was “more than fair” since Beijing will “spend for all the extraction and other things.”

But he said the 60-40 scheme is still subject to change as the inter-governmental steering committee that will supervise the projects will start the first round of talks next week.

Meanwhile, officials said a discussion of a code of conduct in the South China Sea in the upcoming 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Thailand is “unavoidable.”

President Rodrigo Duterte would also be expected to raise the creation of the code during the summit, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West said in a press briefing.

“I wouldn’t want to preempt what the President would say. But in terms of looking at the conditions, the situation on the ground or at the South China Sea, for example, I think the President would be expected to say something about it,” Mahilum-West said.

The President, in the previous Asean summit, expressed disappointment over the delay in the crafting of the code, which is expected to outline the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes between the claimants of the contested waters.

The binding document will set forth protocols and rules to ensure no violent conflicts will arise between China and Asean-member countries with claims in the resource-rich territories.

Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier agreed to speed up the negotiationson the draft COC. The Philippines is the current coordinator of the ASEAN-China Dialogue, which is currently working on the code in the South China Sea. During the summit, the President will be accompanied by the secretaries of Foreign Af-

Cops...

From A1 safety operations ahead of the traditional All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday this coming weekend,” PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.

Under full alert status, all leaves from duty by PNP personnel are cancelled to guarantee a 100-percent presence of personnel to perform police functions.

Meanwhile, in England, visitors descended on the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby today for the October edition of the Goth Festival, which sees goths and steampunks gather to enjoy live music, quirky fashion and beer tasting.

The goths are hugely popular with tourists who come to admire the impressive costumes on display when festival-goers stroll along the beach and walk through the grounds of the Whitby Abbey ruins.

During the three-day festival there are club nights, a modeling contest and the Bizarre Bazaar – a market featuring more than 100 stalls.

Whitby was traditionally seen as welcoming to goths because of its links to Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, which was inspired by the abbey there.

Gamboa said over 35,000 police personnel from the police regional offices and national support units will perform security and public safety duties this weekend when an estimated 15 million Filipinos are expected to troop to public cemeteries and memorial parks around the country.

He said the police regional offices and national support units would mobilize more than 99,000 force multipliers from local government units, civic action groups, civilian volunteer organizations and motoring clubs to man police assistance centers in providing road assistance and public safety services.

Security coverage would be laid out in all 83 airports and domestic air terminals, 333 seaports, 808 inland bus terminals, and 59 train stations in different parts of the country to assist travelers.

“The key element in this security operation is police visibility, considering both its crime deterrent and reassuring effect on the public. This is the general

fairs, Trade and Industry, and Social Work and Development.

President Duterte’s common-law wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña will also accompany him as she will join the Spouses Program, Chief Presidential Protocol Robert Borje said.

The Palace has yet to confirm the details on when the President will leave for the country, but Mahilum-West said the Asean Summit Plenary will begin on Nov. 2, Saturday.

On Nov. 3, the opening ceremonies of the Asean Summit will be held, followed by the Asean-China Summit, the Asean-India Summit, and the Asean-United Nations Summit.

The next day, Nov. 4, the Asean Plus Three Summit will be held among the 10 member states with China, Japan, and Korea where leaders are expected to share their views on regional and international issues affecting the region and beyond.

The Asean-US Summit will be also be held later that day.

A special lunch on sustainable development is also expected on Nov. 4 through the initiative of Thailand as chair.

In the afternoon, the 14th East Asia Summit, Asean-Japan Summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit or RCEP, are also scheduled.

The closing ceremony will be held in the evening, followed by a press conference.

The Mekong-Japan Summit Working Dinner is also scheduled that day.

There are also two major side events during the summi—the Asean Business and Investment Summit and the Indo-Pacific Business Forum.

Also on Monday, Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio said Monday the five claimant states in the South China Sea that are also Asean members should sign a convention to agree to settle territorial disputes in the Spratlys peacefully through negotiations.

guidance to all Police Regional Offices and National Support Units,” he said.

“My outstanding order to all units and personnel is to remain visible at all times along travel routes, transport terminals, public cemeteries and other public places to establish police presence in these areas,” he added.

Gamboa said that they will have walk-through inspections in major land, sea and air transportation terminals to assess the readiness of PNP units.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other ports nationwide were also placed on heightened alert due to the expected influx of passengers for the All Saints weekend.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the directive to prevent human trafficking syndicates from taking advantage of the holiday break to spirit their victims out of the country.

Morente also cited intelligence reports that international human smuggling syndicates might use the occasion to again use Manila as a transit point for illegal aliens who want to enter countries where they want to settle and work illicitly.

In other developments: * The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday conducted simultaneous surprise mandatory drug tests for drivers at bus terminals in the cities of Pasay and Quezon as part of efforts to secure passengers traveling to the provinces for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. * Government agents started conducting inspection in various transport terminals in Metro Manila to check the roadworthiness of vehicles, especially provincial buses, to ensure public safety in time for the holiday break this weekend. * Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso on Monday said no vendors would be allowed inside the Manila North Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery during the “Undas” as a sign of respect to the dead. Millions of Filipinos are expected to troop to cemeteries on Nov. 1 and 2, in observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively. The “no vendor” policy will keep the two big cemeteries in Manila clean and give the public more space and time to pray, the mayor said. Vito Barcelo, PNA

Rody...

From A1

administration should abandon the anti-narcotics drive since it is “not working.”

Robredo, however, clarified she did not say the drug war should be stopped.

“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 Reuters headline read: “Philippine vice president says time for Duterte to halt failed drug war.”

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 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.

President: Cold in Japan got to me; I don’t enjoy traveling PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he is suffering from cough and colds as he coughed repeatedly during his speech on Monday, blaming the cold weather in Japan that he visited last week.

“I have this virus. It’s cold in Japan especially at night. We, Filipinos, are not used to cold so our immune system will dive there,” Duterte said in his speech during the oath-taking of newly-appointed officials in Malacañang.

This was the President’s first public appearance after undergoing a medical check-up last week due to “unbearable pain.”

“I am so sick of traveling. Maybe you think that I’m enjoying it,” Duterte added.

The President went to Japan last week for the enthronement rites of Emperor Naruhito, but his back pain prompted him to cut short his trip.

Duterte underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on Wednesday after he complained of pain in the spinal and pelvic area.

Doctors, according to the Palace, suggested that Duterte’s back pains were “aggravated” by his motorcycle mishap last week within Malacañang compound.

Meanwhile, Duterte felt a considerable ease of pain in his body as he took on pain relievers for his muscles spasms, Malacañang said.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said he talked to Duterte who said the “pain is only one-fourth, the threefourths gone.” MJ Blancaflor

Cayetano...

From A1 would take the first 15 months as speaker, follows by Velasco, who would sit as Speaker for the remaining 21 months.

Cayetano said he intended to honor his agreement with Velasco, though he also said he would see the President after his 15 months were over to find out if he should just stay on the job.

On Monday, he also said he could not stop lawmakers from suggesting that he stay on as Speaker.

Earlier, two members of the Makabayan bloc urged Cayetano to abide by his termsharing agreement with Velasco.

Party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and France Castro of ACT Teachers said the agreement would be a sham if Cayetano stays on and will not give way to Velasco as part of the agreement that was brokered by President Duterte shortly before the 18th Congress convened.

“It’s a gentleman’s agreement, I hope they will abide by it,” Brosas said.

Castro said the pronouncement of Cayetano that he will have to consult with the President is an indication that he will not step down after his 15-month term.

Peralta...

From A1 Peralta urged his colleagues, officials and employees to unite and follow the rule of law.

“I have other numerous plans for the judiciary, especially as regards the strengthening of the employees’ sense of self worth so that each employee in the judiciary will take pride in saying that he/she is a public servant in the judiciary,” Peralta said.

He said one of his concerns was the many incidents of killings involving justices and judges which, he said, could be addressed by creating a security team.

“We hope that we can device the system either through legislation or through court initiative the creation of a security system patterned after the US Marshals,” Peralta said.

The US Marshals Service’s Judicial Security Division protects federal judges, jurors and other members of the judiciary.

One of the programs of the JDS is the National Center for Judicial Security and one of its functions is to provide protection to the judicial family.

Reports showed that since 1999 30 judges have been killed in the Philippines.

Peralta, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the 26th chief justice of the Supreme Court on Oct. 23, promised to be a public servant who would lead by example.

Peralta, who is an advocate of the speedy disposition of cases in the judiciary, said the high court and all other courts should work toward eliminating case backlogs.

“The clerk of court will be required to conduct a periodic inventory of all the cases pending in their divisions and consult with the court en banc as to how to solve the issue of backlogs and other concerns,” Peralta said.

He said all other courts were expected to continue to comply with the rules and guidelines on the prescribed periods for trial dates.

“I plan to impose time lines in resolving administrative complaints, including the complaints initiated by the court and time lines for the court to resolve the complaints,” Peralta said.

To eliminate the “hoodlums in robes,” Peralta said, he plans to adopt a system where the court may initiate the investigation of cases being handled by members of the judiciary even if there was no complaint.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

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Labor group dares DOF on job claims thru CITIRA

By Vito Barcelo

DISCUSSING EEZ. Former Ambassador to the USA Albert del Rosario delivered his welcoming remarks during the Forum on the ASEAN 2019: Advancing Partnerships in Promoting Peace, Security, Stability and a Code of Conduct (COC) that is Substantive, Effective, and in Accordance with the International Law. An open forum discussed the escalation of tension in the South China sea, increased presence of Chinese ships within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Reed Bank. Also speaking on the same forum was retired Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonio Carpio. Diana B. Noche

Leni wants PET to end electoral protest SAYING the electoral protest of exsenator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is just being used as a platform for lies," Vice President Leni Robredo n Monday called anew to end the case.

"I wish that we put an end to this protest because this is being used as an avenue to spread more lies. It is becoming a platform to propagate lies," she said.

"I know what is the truth. But he is making people believe on him. Those who believe in his lies are pitiful," she added.

On Oct. 15, the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, allowed the release of results of an initial recount without resolving the three-year-old protest of Marcos.

The results showed Robredo's lead widened by 15,000 based in the three pilot provinces chosen by Marcos.

When asked about her political plans in 2022, the Vice President said "to think of 2022 would be a big disservice to what we're doing now."

She said all of her political plans were not planned since the first time she ran for a congressional seat to vice presidency. Rio N. Araja

DA to release results of tests on seized meats THE Agriculture department said it would release the results of the tests made which were recently confiscated in Mindoro.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes on Monday told reporters that the tests conducted by at the Bureau of Animal Industry and United Kingdom laboratories will determine which of the more than 30 strains of ASF is present in the confiscated products.

The tests would also show if the strain found was live or not, as well as its virulence.

Also up for testing are meat products from China that were seized over the weekend, as well as samples voluntarily submitted by several processed meat manufacturers.

The DA, however, has yet to identify the brand of the processed meat product confiscated in Mindoro although Mekeni Food Corporation has already recalled its pork products from the market.

“We appreciate their initiative,” Reyes said.

“With the recall, sana bumalik na ang demand for processed meats.

Nasaktan na ang hog raisers and meat processors. All of them contribute to our economy,” Reyes he added.

Reyes also urged local government units currently implementing a ban on live hogs and pork products from ASF-affected provinces in the country to reconsider their orders.

Appointment of Muslim Justice to the SC backed

By Rio N. Araja

M

USLIM members of the House of Representatives have joined the "growing" clamor for the appointment of a fellow Muslim to the Supreme Court.

Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, the last governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said they back the bid of Court of Appeals Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, who was born in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, for the Supreme Court post vacated by Justice Mariano del Castillo, who retired on July 29.

"Time is ripe, candidate is qualified," he said.

Representatives Datu Roonie Sinsuat and Esmael G. Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Munir Arbison of Sulu, Rashidin Matba of Tawi-tawi, Yasser Alonto Balindong and Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Adiong of Lanao del Sur, and Amihilda Sangcopan of Anak Mindanao party-list joined Hataman in his call to President Rodrigo Duterte to select Dimaampao from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.

"It is high time that another Muslim join the High Court bench. If fortunate enough, Dimaampao will only be the second Moro to be appointed to the Supreme Court, next to Abdulwa-

hid Bidin, who was appointed associate justice in 1987 by then President Corazon Aquino," Hataman said in a statement.

"And their appointment will be exactly 32 years apart. That is how long we have been waiting for a Muslim magistrate in the high bench. And we believe that Associate Justice Dimaampao is competent, qualified and possesses both the moral and legal authority to sit as a member of the SC," Hataman said.

"The fact the the JBC deemed Dimaampao to make it to the shortlist is a testament to his high qualifications to join the SC. He has been a member of the Court of Appeals for the past 15 years. The time is really ripe for a Muslim to sit on the SC bench," he added.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through the Bangsamoro Parliament is also throwing its support for Dimaampao to replace Del Castillo.

"This is also to signify compliance, although coming very late, with an unenforced provision in the ARMM law for the appointment of a Muslim jurist coming from the region. ARMM is now defunct, but I believe we owe it to BARMM and the Moro people to give them proper representation in the Supreme Court," Hataman said.

"The whole Muslim community is behind Associate Justice Dimaampao. With the establishment of the BARMM, we look forward that this time, our hopes and dreams will be finally realized. And this includes proper representation in the highest court in the land," he added.

Use TRAIN money to help farmers, solon tells DA HOUSE Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero on Monday called on the Department of Agriculture and Department of Finance to use the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to directly disburse cash to farmers who are reeling from low palay prices.

In a statement, Romero said the Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 does not have provisions for cash grants, either conditional or unconditional.

“With palay prices at their record eight-year low and with cash flow pressure bearing down on farmers and their families, hard cash is what the farmers need to cope with the low market price for their harvests, not the various forms

of aid in the Rice Tariffication law,” Romero said.

Romero said under the TRAIN law, the unconditional cash transfers due to farmers’ families who are in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) should be funded and disbursed now.

“Those families can have hard cash to pay for the daily needs, schooling expenses, and preparations for Christmas,” Romero said.

The economist solon further highlighted that the TRAIN law has a catch-all clause in its Section 82 for “other social benefits programs to be developed and implemented by the government”, which could be used as another basis for direct cash aid to distressed farmers.

“Time is of the essence because Christmas is fast approaching and in November families need cash to pay for the tuition of their kids going to college,” he added.

The House leader said various executive agencies can be administratively ordered to source all their rice benefits for their operations and personnel directly from local farmers and the farmers’ cooperatives.

“The Department of Agriculture just has to work faster. The response measures should have been ready months ago, however it is not too late for them to catch up, but they must do so in the weeks ahead before this year ends. They have the funds as authorized by RA 11203,” Romero added. PNA

TRADE Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s biggest labor group, has challenged the Department of Finance (DOF) to come out with the assessment study from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank that millions of jobs would be created with the passage of the Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act (CITIRA).

In a statement, TUCP Vice President Luis Corral said the DOF claims that 1.5 million new jobs will be created once CITIRA becomes a law, but asks the department how and what kind of jobs would be created for millions of Filipinos looking for employment.

“We hope they did not pick out that number out of thin air. Where is their study on jobs that will be lost and jobs that will be created because of CITIRA? We gently ask the DOF these questions, because once the worker loses his job when CITIRA is passed, he will find there are no new jobs out there,” Corral asked..

The TUCP said around 700,000 workers in the country will be affected

by CITIRA because it would push investors to transfer to other countries.

CITIRA, the second package of the Duterte administration's comprehensive tax reform program, seeks to reduce the corporate income tax (CIT) rates from the current 30% to 20% in 2029, on a staggered basis.

Oil firms cut prices of diesel, gasoline

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL firms cut the price of gasoline by P0.45 per liter and by diesel by P0.10 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

This is the second consecutive week of oil price rollback for gasoline and the third consecutive week for diesel. The oil firms did not adjust kerosene prices this week.

“Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline by P0.45 per liter and diesel by P0.10 per liter effective 6am October 29,” the company said.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines and PetroGazz issued separate announcements of the price cuts.

On October 20 and 22, 2019, most of the oil companies implemented a price cut of P0.25to P0.40 per liter for gasoline, P0.10 to P0.15 per liter for diesel and P0.25 per liter for kerosene.

Prior to today’s rollback, year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P5.61 per liter for gasoline, P4.02 per liter for diesel and P0.96 per liter for kerosene.

Based on the monitoring by the Energy Department, oil prices have declined on signs of a rise in the US crude stocks, adding to concerns that world’s demand for oil may weaken amid further signs of economic slowdown globally.

Veloso’s deposition vs. recruiters set Dec. 12

By Rey E. Requejo

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE SENATE. Senate employees’ children posed with their Halloween costume os during a trick or treat at the Senate Office in Pasay City. Lino Santos

CONVICTED drug mule Mary Jane Veloso, who is on death row in Indonesia, may finally be able to testify against her two recruiters on Dec. 12.

Veloso’s lawyer Edre Olalia said Presiding Judge Anarica Castillo-Reyes of Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court, Branch 88, has tentatively set the date of Veloso’s deposition on Dec. 12 against her alleged illegal recruiters Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, who are facing criminal charges of human trafficking, illegal recruitment and swindling.

“Philippine trial court tentatively set on Dec. 12, 2019 the taking of Mary Jane’s testimony as the last prosecution witness by way of deposition through written interrogatories in Indonesia,” Olalia said.

However, Olalia admitted that this is still “subject to the resolution of the intended motion for reconsideration of the Philippine Supreme Court decision allowing her to do so to be filed by her accused recruiters through the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO); the resolution of the PAO’s pending Motion to Defer Action before the trial court; as well as the result of bilateral arrangements and preparations to implement it between the Philippines and Indonesian authorities.”

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Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Early Christmas at Balesin WHEN I learned that a date had been set for the launch of my book—November 26, at Manila Golf and Country Club, courtesy of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez—I had mixed feelings.

These questions came to mind: Whom will I invite? Will the greats and near-greats I mentioned all come? I hope they will accept my invitation.

My gulay, that’s not the end of my agony. Of course, the book will have to be marketed. That is the difficult part. I have seen books written by celebrities, politicians and pop stars gathering dust in many libraries. I am just a humble journalist-lawyer hoping to inspire the next generation of journalists.

In my Saturday column, I took time to express my eternal gratitude to all who made the book come into being.

Due to space constraints, I was unable to express my thanks to a couple—Dean Francis Alfar and Nikki Alfar, both Palanca awardees, who helped edit the first edition of my book.

There are many more I would like to thank.

In my close to 70 years as a journalist, my dream has been to make a change, no matter how small it was, in this world.

To a point, I believe I have, no matter how small. It seems to me “The Road Never Ends.” It’s an endless journey! *** The national spectacle of the Barretto family, a controversial gambling personality and a former Caloocan mayor is food for everybody who wants to talk about the misfortunes of others.

More so, with the Barretto sisters having good looks and wealth, it is not surprise they became the talk of the town.

For ordinary Filipinos, this is also a distraction from their daily struggles in

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

life, including their punishing commute, and providing for their family which thankfully is not as dysfunctional as the Barrettos.

It makes a good study of the Filipino character. It’s part of human nature that people are naturally curious about what is happening around them.

The problem, however, is that mainstream media—newspapers, radio and television—carry the story. I say, sobra na, tama na (Enough is enough)!

Santa Banana, we have so many other things to worry about! Leave the scandal to the tabloids!

I hate to say this but it’s media that

The island resort has great new rates. exacerbate spectacles like this. *** With the demise of Carlos Celdran, who died recently as a fugitive of the law to escape a forthcoming sentence against him for offending religious feelings, there have been some who have portrayed him as larger than life—even a hero of sorts.

But how could the erstwhile Intramuros tourist guide be a hero when he violated a provision of the Revised Penal Code against hurting religious feelings of people? Remember he dressed like Jose Rizal and went to church bearing a placard that said “Damaso” while an ecumenical mass was going on.

For that, he was brought to court.

Now, some sectors claim that the law is archaic. I disagree, not because I am a staunch Catholic, but because I believe that every right has a limitation.

Sure, Celdran had the right to protest.

He believed that the Catholic Church should not intervene in the passage of the reproductive health bill. But that

W

A tale of two surveys

E are getting better at cutting red tape, but we still are not doing right by our retirees.

fined as one that has some desirable features but come with "major weaknesses" that need to be addressed.

The study assessed a country's retirement benefits program on the grounds of adequacy, or if the pension payments are enough; sustainability, or the long-term fund life; and integrity, or its governance and regulation.

This was the first time the index covered the Philippines. MMGPI's evaluation is based on the operations of the Social Security System (SSS), which manages the retirement and other benefits of private sector workers and the self-employed.

In terms of integrity, the Philippine pension system is at the very bottom of the list. This area considered regulation and governance, protection and communication for members, as well as operating cost.

The country was the third lowest ranking in terms of adequacy. This sub-index considered the benefits provided to the poor, as well as design features that enhance the efficacy of the overall pension system.

On the upside, the Philippines was in the top 15 for the most sustainable in terms of level of funding—perhaps because benefits are so paltry.

As expected, the Palace made hay over the first survey.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the “remarkable improvement” in the country’s ranking was a “strong vote of confidence” in

This is the picture provided by two recent surveys that compared the Philippines to other countries.

First the good news.

The Philippines jumped 29 spots in the latest World Bank roster of economies ranked by the ease of doing business, landing in 95th place among 190 economies, up from 124th last year.

The World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 Report, released last week, showed the Philippines was one of the top three most improved in terms of doing business.

The World Bank report cited the Philippines’ implementation of regulatory reforms for starting a business, dealing with construction permits, and protecting minority investors.

On the other hand, an Australia-backed study shows the Philippines has one of the worst pensions systems for retirees compared to the rest of the world.

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index (MMGPI) 2019 rated the country's retirement income protocol at 43.7 out of 100. This placed the Philippines at the fourth-lowest rank, or 34th out of 37 countries.

The local system was rated "D," de-

President Rodrigo Duterte’s resolve to cut red tape.

He attributed the improved ranking to the enactment of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Services Act under the Duterte administration.

He thanked all government agencies, state-owned corporations, and other branches of government “for adamantly carrying out the President’s directive.”

“We expect even better results in the coming years as the government remains committed to give the Filipino people an easier and more comfortable life, thanks to the President’s strong political will to undertake these landmark reforms,” he added.

In sharp contrast, nobody in the administration—not even the SSS— bothered to comment on the country’s dubious distinction of having one of the worst pension systems in the world.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate was certainly correct when he said the MMGPI findings should prod the government to certify as urgent at least two bills that seek to increase pensions for senior citizens. The study, he added, should be a wake-up call to the administration on the need to alleviate the plight of the country’s senior citizens.

But if the official silence so far on the MMGPI survey is any indication, the Palace and the SSS seem content in their slumber.

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Newman and other new saints LATER this week, Roman Catholics celebrate All-Saints Day. A few weeks ago, last October 13, in a canonization ceremony presided over by Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, four women and one man were added to the communion of saints remembered when Catholics recite the Apostle’s Creed: Giuseppina Vannini, Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan, Dulce Lopes Pontes, Marguerite Bays, and most famous among the new saints—John Henry Newman.

When someone is canonized it is understood that he or she died in the grace of God and is now in heaven worthy to be invoked by the faithful.

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the sanctity of a deceased person through the process of canonization whereby he or she is elevated to the altar of the church for exhibiting exemplary and heroic virtues or offered his or her life for the faith. When someone is canonized it is understood that he or she died in the grace of God and is now in heaven worthy to be invoked by the faithful. In the Roman Catholic Church the act of canonization is the function of the Apostolic See. The process of canonization normally starts five years after a person’s death. Some however have to wait a long time before the process starts as in the case of St. Saint Bede who died in 735 but had to wait 1,164 years before he was formally declared a saint. However, the waiting period can be waived by a pope as in the case of St. Pope John Paul II and St. Mother Theresa where the process started shortly after their death. One more step involved is the declaration of the saint to be as a servant of God, an investigation of their life and death and miracles attributed to the intercession of the saint. During his pontificate St. Pope

John Paul II had canonized 482 in 110 causes while Pope Francis has decreed 896 new saints for veneration, including the five new saints.

St. Giuditta Vannini (7 July 1859—23 February 1911), was an Italian Roman Catholic nun, one of the founders of the religious congregation known as the Daughters of Saint Camillus of which she served as Superior General until her death. Early in life, Vannini tried joining the religious life but had to leave during her novitiate period after suffering from ill health. In the late 1970s she became titled as a Servant of God; and in 1882 as Venerable in 1992 upon confirmation of her heroic virtue.

St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan (born Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan; 26 April 1876—8 June 1926) was an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family.

She was reputedly known as a visionary and had frequent ecstasies as well as even receiving the stigmata which she hidden from the public. She spent most of her life on apostolic work her entire life and pushed for strict adherence to the rule of her order amongst her fellow religious.

St. Dulce Pontes, also known as Saint Dulce of the Poor (26 May 1914—13 March 1992) was a Brazilian Catholic Franciscan Sister who founded the Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce also known as the Charitable Works Foundation of Sister Dulce. During her lifetime, she cared for the poorest of the poor in her convent's chicken yard in Salvador, Bahia which exists even today catering to more than 3,000 people to receive free medical treatment. She also established CESA, a school for the poor in one of the most impoverished cities in the state of Bahia. In 1992, Sister Dulce was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and had two personal audiences with Pope John Paul II. Because of her charitable works she was named the most admired woman in the history of Brazil

by O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper and the most influential religious person in Brazil during the 20th century, by ISTOÉ magazine.

St. Marguerite Bays (8 September 1815—27 June 1879) was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. A Swiss seamstress by profession, she was a Roman Catholic mystic who lived a simple life as a Franciscan and adapted the tenets of the order's charism into her own life and social apostolate, especially afTurn to A5

A total overhaul YOU could probably be forgiven for thinking that with the spate of headlines of cops going astray from their sworn duty to serve and protect the public, the only viable solution is to abolish the institution altogether. However, that's tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater, as we need the good cops to protect us from the murderers, rapists, akyat- bahay and basag-kotsegangs and assorted other criminals who should really be locked up in jail and the keys thrown into the ocean.

The resignation of General Oscar Albayalde as chief of the Philippine National Police following a Senate hearing linking him to a controversial police anti-drug operation way back in 2013 underscores the need to institute thoroughgoing reforms in the organization.

Albayalde's resignation, as Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has pointed out, does not absolve him from a slew of criminal charges prepared by the

PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Count 'em: misappropriating seized illegal drugs, graft, qualified bribery, falsification of public documents, perjury and dereliction of duty.

This is what the PNP needs.

Albayalde's fall from grace comes as no surprise. After all, the PNP has acknowledged the involvement of a number of police officers and personnel in various criminal activities, including

trafficking in illegal drugs and kidnap-for ransom and extortion, among many others. This tells us very clearly that drastic measures should be undertaken to cleanse the PNP of bad eggs who bring disrepute to the institution as a whole.

According to PNP spokesman Brig.

Gen. Bernard Banac, there are 9,172 police personnel facing administrative cases ranging from tardiness and absenteeism to grave misconduct. Around 2,800 have so far been dismissed from the service for their involvement in crimes or for going AWOL or absent without official leave.

And the trend continues. Last week, Camp Crame said it would keep a close eye on policemen assigned to the New Bilibid Prison after two of them were caught trying to sneak liquor and tobacco into the national penitentiary.

The two members of the National Capital Region Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) are said to be under investigation.

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Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Course corrections GOOD news from the World Bank last week, as the Philippines climbed by a record 29 notches to capture 95th place out of 190 economies covered by this year’s ease of doing business (EODB) survey by the Bank.

This strong showing was fueled by significant improvements in the following areas: getting credit; protecting minority investors; and securing construction permits. It reflects in part a catching-up by the Bank with complaints aired by our officials over the methodology of last year’s survey, though implemented only this year.

Nonetheless, the achievements are real.

On the credit access issue, Finance Secretary Dominguez credited the recent passage of the new Personal Property Security Act (PPSA) to allow micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to collateralize their bank borrowings with moveable assets. This has got to be welcome news to small entrepreneurs with few property assets to offer a banking system that is traditionally fixated on real estate collateral.

As to construction permits and other licenses issued by government, Trade Secretary Lopez—whose agency also oversees the local construction industry—promised even more improvement with the recent establishment of the Anti Red Tape Authority.

Still another area where we might also do better, the World Bank suggests, is to reduce the time period for settling commercial dispute from the current average of 962 days in our country, bringing it closer to the much lower average of 568 days for the East Asia and Pacific region. The Bank suggests automating the filing of court claims, something that we ought to have done by now and on which, unfortunately, we still scored zero.

Between Secretaries Dominguez and

Lopez, we look forward to seeing our EODB scores advance to perhaps even the top quartile (number 45 or better) by the time Duterte leaves office in 2022.

That would be a worthy going-away gift to him. *** Another course correction involves government’s highly-touted Build Build Build program. Sad to say, the hype has far outstripped actual results on the ground, with only a few projects being started, let alone completed.

Everyone has come in for their share of blame on this: from bureaucratic planners and government lawyers, to front-line agencies plagued by lack of technical staff and internal red tape, to the discreet machinations of this or that business group pulling down their competitors.

Secretary Pernia has advised his people to “look at the big picture” and not get caught up by minutiae.

Moving past the mid-point of the Duterte presidency, NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia has finally summoned up the gumption to push for two major course corrections, if Duterte wants to leave office with less flash and more substance under his belt.

The first correction is for government to become more open to private public partnerships (PPP) as a viable mode for building out infrastructure, in lieu of— or in addition to—government’s preference to do it by themselves.

Wanting to go it alone in part reflects government’s allergy to assuming contingent—let alone real—liabilities to their private sector partners and consumers. This translates into an obsession with perfecting contracts to the minutest detail, no matter how long it

takes. This may be basic due diligence in investment banking—the professional background of certain Finance Department senior officials—but not the best thing for building infra projects as quickly as they should.

To address this malaise, NEDA Secretary Pernia has advised his people to “look at the big picture” and not get caught up by such minutiae. We can only hope that the armies of lawyers who man the different agencies also take his advice to heart.

The other correction is lengthening the Build Build Build project pipeline, from some 75 big-ticket items to over a hundred projects that are smaller and more feasible, like shorter roads and bridges. Pernia is going after projects with high multipliers, and he also clearly understands the value of getting something—anything—done earlier rather than later.

Again, more of such smaller projects will be another worthy gift for Duterte when he steps down. And again, we hope that all those government lawyers will listen. *** In the first reading today (Romans 8: 18-25) Paul seeks to inspire the Christians of Rome—living right in the center of imperial persecution—with the reassurance that “the sufferings of the present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us.” This glory is nothing less than the very purpose of creation itself, “to be set free from slavery to corruption” that was its original, and still is its current, state.

It is a movement through time that is as natural as nature itself—unseen by human eyes, so that, by believing in it only through hope, we too may be saved. In the gospel (Luke 13: 18-21) Jesus Himself compares it to the leavening of yeast into nourishing bread, or the growth of a mustard seed into a large bush that shelters the birds of the sky. Through Jesus, we join ourselves in hope to the unfolding of nature’s salvation by God’s grace.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

Why is Robredo lawyering for drug dealers?

LENI Robredo apparently was not hearing herself when she called on President Duterte to stop the war versus illegal drugs and allow the International Criminal Court to investigate the killings of drug suspects.

She does not seem to realize she is committing treason, as well as purveying fake news—a most abominable crime especially for a sitting Vice President, a lawyer at that.

In her latest interview with Reuters, again she parroted the argument that the campaign against illegal drugs is a futile exercise that has massacred over 200,000 poor people.

The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has amassed many billions of pesos worth of confiscated drugs in buy-bust operations and the arrest of thousands of drug traffickers.

Former Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde’s fall

A total...

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The Camp Crame spokesman laments this turn of events thus: "This is saddening but we will not stop. This is a continuing challenge for us to reform the organization. Our reforms will continue until we instill discipline in our organization."

Very well said, but how many times have we heard this from various Camp Crame spokespersons?

President Rodrigo Duterte increased the pay of policemen so that they will not be tempted to stray from the straight and narrow path and uphold honesty and integrity in the uniformed service.

But it appears that even with higher salaries for the lowest-ranked policeman to the PNP chief, the monkey business remains alive and well.

Iron discipline is what the PNP needs if it hopes to retain the trust and confidence of the people.

To be fair, if there are nearly10,000 cops facing administrative and crim-

Early...

From A4

right is not absolute.

How many times has President Duterte also offended religious feelings?

from grace owing to his involvement in so-called ninja cops’ illegal activities does not diminish the PNP's own accomplishments in the anti-illegal drugs drive.

Over 500 PNP personnel have been booted out in the organization’s internal cleansing which it is now compelled to continue with all seriousness in the wake of Albayalde's debacle.

Apparently, she wants to assume the presidency as soon as possible.

Davao City where there have been reports of abuses by some policemen ala ninja cops and allegedly planting shabu on innocent people to either extort or “shore up their accomplishments.”

They are the few scalawags, a nil percentage that ruin things for the 190,00-strong PNP. All in all, the government's war on anti-illegal drugs has been successful more than ever—that is why druglords are on the run.

Robredo and her cohorts advocate freedom, democracy and human rights on behalf of the illegal drugs syndicates, and she wants the United Nations human rights commission to intrude into our internal affairs.

The Vice President whose election’s validity remains in question could not wait to jail President Duterte for the deaths of narco-politicians and drug peddlers. I heard these Yellows are even ecstatic about Manong Digong's reported "failing health."

Apparently, Robredo wants to assume the presidency as soon as possible because she and her Yellow pals know the Filipino people will no longer fall prey to their political nonsense.

NEDA structure needs reexamination on which the private sector was evenly represented, were heads of economic-frontline Cabinet members, such as the Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of Agriculture. Of course, the NEC Council chairman, who approximated the chairman of the US’s THERE appears to be dissatisfaction Council of Economic Advisers, rein some quarters about the effective- ported directly to the President of the ness and performance of this country’s Philippines. national socio-economic planning More than other nations, developagency, NEDA (National Economic ing countries need economic planning and Development Authority). One of establishments—agencies manned by those quarters is the Senate, where a individuals with solid academic backsenator appears poised to file a bill grounds preferably supported by expesubstantially altering the socio-eco- rience. But planning is only one-half nomic policymaking structure of this of the job of economic development. country.

The other half is the government’s Whatever dissatisfaction there is capacity to translate the planners’ with NEDA almost certainly stems blueprints and programs into well-adfrom the impression of the largeness equately-financed and efficiently of NEDA’s governing body—the in- executed (read: corruption-free and decisiveness seemingly flowing from delay-free) projects. The impression such largeness. In the wake of the that government projects are slow structural change, in the early 70s, to obtain final approval and to break from the Comground is almost monwealth-era certainly the NEC (National source of the apEconomic Counparently growing There is, and there cil) to NEDA, the frustration with President of the long has been, no NEDA. Philippines beTruth to tell, came Chairman of need for a full-Cabinet there is, and there now-Cabinet-level membership. long has been, no agency and all the need for a NEDA Cabinet secretarwith full-Cabiies became memnet membership. bers of the NEDA Board. Whereas the The economic cluster of the CabiCouncil of the NEC was made up of net—this is composed of the Secreonly the heads of the socio-economic tary of Finance, the Secretary of SoCabinet departments, the entire Cabi- cio-Economic Planning, the Secretary net composes the NEDA Board. of Budget and Management, the SecMany independent-minded observ- retary of Trade and Industry, the Secers had doubts about the rationale of- retary of Public Works and Highways fered for making the President in effect and the Secretary of Agriculture— the nation’s chief socio-economic pol- represents a complete and powerful icymaker and for making the Cabinet intra-Cabinet body for the discussion the NEDA Board. Like the skeptics, I and execution (especially finance) of could not understand why the heads of the economic blueprints generated by departments that were not closely con- NEDA. Within the Cabinet cluster are cerned with socio-economic policy is- found the officials responsible for the sues—such as DND (Department of three elements of efficient economNational Defense) and DOJ (Depart- ic-development execution—planning, ment of Justice)—had to be members financing and project management. of the NEDA Board. Important and Even in a body as small as the Caburgent issues relating to the nation’s inet’s economic cluster, there has to defense or health or justice system be a point man for economic developare taken up and resolved in ordinary ment. In our case that person is Carlos Cabinet meetings, so it cannot be Dominguez III, the Secretary of Fisaid that such issues are deprived of nance. At the critical point in Japan’s the benefit of Cabinet discussion. My postwar return to economic preemifellow skeptics and I could not grasp nence that country’s government had why the heads of departments of DND a point man. He was the powerful and and DOJ have to sit in on discussions articulate head of MITI (Ministry of Inregarding taxes, fiscal incentives, in- ternational Trade and Industry), Kiichi frastructure problems and government Miyazawa. The Duterte administraborrowing. tion’s having someone who can perIn contrast, the NEC, which was form as well, or even nearly as well, as created in the era of President Manuel Kiichi Miyazawa will serve to assuage Quezon, was headed by a chairman the frustration and unease that seems to and the members of the NEC Council, be increasingly felt about NEDA.

Newman...

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inal charges in an organization composed of 150,000 personnel, that translates to only .06 percent of its total manpower complement.

But for an organization that is supposed to serve and protect the citizenry, the 9,172 cops facing charges is way too high a number.

One corrupt cop is one too many.

I distinctly recall that during the Erap presidency, when there were almost-daily reports of misconduct and wrongdoing within the police force, there were calls from various sectors for the PNP to be abolished outright.

Of course, you cannot just abolish the police force and leave the citizenry at the mercy of hardened criminals and assorted lawbreakers. I believe there are dedicated men and women who are doing their jobs in the PNP and who truly uphold their sworn duty to serve and protect.

Duterte should appoint as Albayalde's permanent successor someone whose integrity and competence are unquestioned. And yes, only after going his record with a fine-tooth comb.

In the case of Albayalde, it would ap-

pear that his performance had not been properly scrutinized and his alleged cover-up of the misconduct of the men under his command went unnoticed, until the Senate hearing.

The recruitment process should be reviewed and further tightened to prevent the entry of the unqualified and the incompetent—and the criminal-minded.

Then perhaps there should be harsher penalties for police officers for violations of rules and regulations, even more so for those found guilty of involvement in outright criminal offenses.

There's merit in the proposal to make the PNP Internal Affairs Service an independent body so it can investigate cases without having to be accountable to the PNP leadership.

It's no secret that corruption is systemic in the PNP. We should not allow this situation to continue as this would only undermine the integrity and reputation of the entire police force whose responsibility is to compel obedience to the law. ernhil@yahoo.com

ter she was cured of bowel cancer on 8 December 1854. She devoted much of her life on teaching catechism to children and often visited those who were ill. As a stigmatist, she bore the wounds of Christ, joining other notable holy stigmatists of the Catholic Church such as St. Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi.

St. John Henry Newman (21 February 1801—11 August 1890) was an important figure in the English religious history. He converted from Anglican to Roman Catholic becoming a priest and later as a cardinal. A formidable intellect and a holy person, Cardinal Newman has always been one of my favorite Catholic thinkers. No less than Prince Charles, who will one day be the head of the Church England, has sung the praises for this new saint. I end this column with excerpts from an opinion piece the Prince of Wales published on the eve of Newman’s canonization: “When Pope Francis canonizes Cardinal John Henry Newman tomorrow, the first Briton to be declared a saint in over forty years, it will be a cause of celebration not merely in the United Kingdom, and not merely for Catholics, but for all who cherish the values by which he was inspired.

In the age when he lived, Newman stood for the life of the spirit against the forces that would debase human dignity and human destiny. In the age in which he attains sainthood, his example is needed more than ever—for the manner in which, at his best, he could advocate without accusation, could disagree without disrespect and, perhaps most of all, could see differences as places of encounter rather than exclusion . . .

Newman engaged not merely with the church, but with the world. While wholeheartedly committed to the

I think the law remains relevant to this day. *** Santa Claus comes early to the Balesin Club members, their families and guests, courtesy of Bobby Ongpin, chairman of Alphaland that operates and manages

the Balesin Island Paradise Club.

There is an “Amazing Airfare Deal” for members and their immediate family.

Round-trip airfare will remain at P2,000 plus VAT per person. For non-members, the same will be P5,000 plus VAT. The new offer will last until January

31, 2020.

With these new rates, wedding and corporate events will also have a new set of rates. With the completion of the Balesin Marquee which can hold up to 600 persons for a banquet, and more than a thousand for theater-seat-

To recover from its tarnished cred credibility and shut up critics like Robre Robredo, the incoming Chief PNP, the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS), the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) must straighten up things in the PNP once and for all.

No one must be spared, even in

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Church to which he came through so many intellectual and spiritual trials, he nonetheless initiated open debate between Catholics and other Christians, paving the way for later ecumenical dialogues. On his elevation to the Cardinalate in 1879, he took as his motto Cor ad cor loquitor ('heart speaks to heart'), and his conversations across confessional, cultural, social and economic divides, were rooted in that intimate friendship with God. His faith was truly catholic in that it embraced all aspects of life. It is in that same spirit that we, whether we are Catholics or not, can, in the tradition of the Christian Church throughout the ages, embrace the unique perspective, the particular wisdom and insight, brought to our universal experience by this one individual soul. We can draw inspiration from his writings and his life even as we recognise that, like all human lives, it was inevitably flawed.

Newman himself was aware of his failings, such as pride and defensiveness which fell short of his own ideals, but which, ultimately, left him only more grateful for the mercy of God. His influence was immense. As a theologian, his work on the development of doctrine showed that our understanding of God can grow over time, and had a profound impact on later thinkers. Individual Christians have found their personal devotion challenged and strengthened by the importance he attached to the voice of conscience. Those of all traditions who seek to define and defend Christianity have found themselves grateful for the way he reconciled faith and reason. Those who seek the divine in what can seem like an increasingly hostile intellectual environment find in him a powerful ally who championed the individual conscience against an overwhelming relativism.”

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs ed events, Ongpin’s team compared its rates to other high-end competitors in Boracay, Mactan and El Nido.

Incidentally, I was in Baguio two weekends ago and I saw another of Ongpin’s developments—the Alphaland Mountain Lodge. It was simply amazing!

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard TODAY

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TODAY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Troops bomb NPA lair in Samar

By Francisco Tuyay

S

ECURITY authorities have stormed heavy concentration of New People’s Army in the hinterlands of Samar, but full details on casualties were not immediately available other than blood stains along the escape route.

Joint Task Force Storm and 8th Infantry Division command Maj. Gen. Pio Dinoso said some 50 NPA terrorists were surprised after Supersonic jets unleashed 500-pound bombs in the ridges of Brgy Caputoan, Las Vegas, Northern Samar early Saturday morning.

The NPA rebels led by Ceriaco Jesusalem, alias Cado, of the Northern Samar command was disrupted after Air Force attack aircraft pounded their lair.

Operating ground troops claimed the

Extra-judicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver of Rights Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the deceased ROMEO S. CAPARROS were ExtraJudicially settled among the heirs With Waiver of Rights as per Doc.No. 289; Page No. 59; Book No. 221; Series of 2019, before Notary Public Atty. Nelly B. Molina of Quezon City.

rebels scampered and fled, some of them critically wounded as indicated by blood stains along the withdrawal point.

Dinoso said the NPA group was monitored conducting extortion in the communities in the province, prompting ground troops to locate the terrorists.

“The JTF Storm orchestrated the joint operations to locate and annihilate the said NPA group which had been monitored doing extortion from the communities in the province,” Dinoso said.

The bomb run, he claimed, had obliterated makeshift huts and other improvised structures inside the camp.

The troops had recovered 11 civilian back packs, three military back packs, seven hammocks, two sacks of rice, assorted food supplies, one box of dried fish, two sacks of land mine, three cellphones, one ICOM handheld radio, one laptop, one landline tested, one roll detonating cord, four live Shotgun bullets, 13 M16 ammunitions, two improvised grenades, two anti-tank land mines, assorted medical supplies and documents.

“JTF STORM conveys its gratitude to the relentless support of the civilians who fearlessly report the intimidation and extortion activities conducted by the communist terrorist group,” Dinoso said.

“The communist rebels, however, are urged to voluntarily surrender by laying down their arms for them to enjoy the quality of life they deserve to live with their loved ones,” Dinoso added.

(MS-OCT. 29, NOV. 5, 12, 2019)

SEND-OFF RITUAL.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Newly appointed Philippine Coast Guard chief Vice Admiral Joel Garcia (not in picture) inspects Monday the service firearms of a special unit of the PCG during a send-off ceremony for augmentation teams in connection with Operation Undas at the PCG headquarters in Manila.

Norman Cruz

This is to inform the public that the following; 1. Mr. Jeffrey M. Rubiano 2. Christopher Tagpis has been appointed as the new Directors of Cirrus Global, Inc. effective September 28, 2019.

(MS-OCT. 29, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 106, QUEZON CITY FRANCIS MARVIN MALLARI LINGA, Petitioner -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-17-05876-CV For: Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Marriage.

MICHELLE CASTILLO PANA, Respondent. x--------------------------------------------x

ORDER OF SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION In a verified Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage filed on May 22, 2017, petitioner prays that, after due hearing, his marriage to the respondent which was solemnized on January 26, 2002, be declared NULL AND VOID, AB INITIO, on the ground of psychological incapacity of the respondent to comply with the essential marital obligations.

Second Alias Summons was issued on December 6, 2016.

The Server’s Return dated January 11, 2019 states that “respondent is currently working overseas and/or in Bahrain and the definite time of her return cannot be assured.”

On March 26, 2019, petitioner filed a “Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication.” On April 2, 2019, the court issued an Order granting the issuance of an Order of Summons by Publication.

NOW THEREFORE respondent MICHELLE CASTILLO PANA, whose last known address is at 251 Muzon, Alitagtag, Batangas, is hereby summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 106, Quezon City, National Capital Judicial Region, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Quezon City, her answer to the petition in the instant case within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last date of publication of this summons. In the event of failure to do so, this court shall direct the Public Prosecutor to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not collusion exists between the parties in the filing of the instant petition, and if it is determined that there is no such collusion, the petitions shall be allowed to present his evidence in support of the petition.

Let this Order, be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in the “The Standard”, a newspaper of national circulation, pursuant to P.D. No. 1079, at the expense of the petitioner.

Likewise, let a copy of the summons as well as a copy of the petition be deposited in the Post Office, postage pre-paid and sent by registered mail to the respondent at her last known address also at the expense of the petitioner. Petitioner is enjoined to submit to this court proof of compliance herewith.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, May 24, 2019.

(Sgd.) ANGELENE MARY W. QUIMPO-SALE Judge

Cc: Francis Marvin Mallari Linga Michelle Castillo Pana Atty. Don Mikhail A. Siccuan ACP Buenaluz, Jr. OSG

(Mstandard-Oct. 29 & Nov. 5, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 225, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE DECREE OF DIVORCE ON THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN MARIA CLARISSA ARROYO-GASPI aka MA. CLARISSA S. ARROYO AND HONESTO MORIEL BAZAR GASPI ISSUED BY THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY, STATE OF VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FOR A CHANGE OF STATUS FROM MARRIED TO DIVORCE Case No. R-QZN-19-11641-CV MARIA CLARISSA S. ARROYO-GASPI a.k.a.

MA. CLARISSA S. ARROYO, ` Petitioner x------------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed by petitioner through counsel on August 1, 2019 praying that after due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered: 1). Recognizing the Decree of Divorce rendered on the marriage between MARIA CLARISSA S. ARROYO-GASPI a.k.a. MA. CLARISSA S. ARROYO and HONESTO MORIEL BAZAR GASPI declaring as dissolved; 2). That such Decree of Divorce be properly recorded, registered and annotated with the Local Civil Registrar of Manila and the Philippine Statistics Authority; and 3). That the status of herein petitioner be change from “Married” to “Divorce”.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto.

WHEREFORE, let copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City. Hearing on the verified petition is hereby set on November 28, 2019 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, at which time and place, any person having interest in the petition may appear.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff/Process Server thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following places at the expense of petitioner: 1. At the main entrance of the City Hall Building of Quezon City; 2. On the Bulletin Board of the Court, Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, and 3. At the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resided.

Let copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City and Manila, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

SO ORDERED. August 9, 2019, Quezon City, Metro Manila (Sgd.) MARIA LUISA LESLE G. GONZALES-BETIC Presiding Judge (MS-OCT. 29, 2019)

(MStandard-Oct. 15, 22 & 29, 2019)

Solon wants BFP modernized

By Rio N. Araja TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Monday urged the government and Congress to prioritize all efforts to modernize the Bureau of Fire and Protection.

“I appeal to our government and Speaker Alan (cayetano) to prioritize all efforts aimed at modernizing the BFP for the best interest of the nation. Let us build fire stations and purchase modern equipment for our firefighters,” she said.

“Many towns in the countryside have been using old and dilapidated trucks,” she added.

She lamented that 26 out of 143 local government units in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) have fire trucks or fire stations.

Romualdez, committee on the welfare of children chairperson, made the call following a

17-hour fire that hit Robinsons Place mall in Tacloban City, Leyte a week ago.

Her husband, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, vowed to look for ways to “to embark on modernizing the equipment of fire fighters aimed at preventing the loss of lives and properties.”

The Leyte legislator is the chairperson of the powerful committee on rules.

“Our malasakit (compassion) for BFP is always there to ensure public safety,” he said.

The lady lawmaker said she recognized the heroism of firefighters and volunteers whose “malasakit” has been saving lives, homes, and properties from destructive fires.

She lamented the firefighters and fire victims were in great risks if firefighting equipment were not that reliable.

Hontiveros: Bawal Bastos Gordon wants Law a social game changer proper wages for nurses SENATOR Risa Hontiveros described the “Bawal Bastos Law” a game changer as it would promote positive policy, behavioral and cultural changes to end gender-based harassment in public spaces.

She welcomed on Monday the signing of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act or the Bawal Bastos Law. In a signing ceremony in Ortigas, Hontiveros said the law was a “game-changing” measure that would help in ending gender-based harassment and violence in public places and communities.

She noted the measure would strengthen existing laws and policies against gender-based harassment.

“This is a historical day. At last, the Bawal Bastos Law Lread has an IRR. Tne days of ‘Boy Bastos’ and all those wo will resort to gender-based public harassment are alteqdy counted,” Hontiveros said.

If fully implemented, she said the law would promote progressive changes in many aspects and levels.

She said this law would reform lur laws and policies on gender-based public harassment.

“This would change our attitude snd use of languages to women and the LGBT. Ths would push for a ndw and positive culture to Filipinos, replacing a rude culture on the road,” Hontiveros stressed.

Hontiveros, the law’s principal author and sponsor at the Senate, said the law’s IRR, which was subjected to intense review by government agencies, advocacy groups and members of the academe, would pave the way for the law’s full, just and effective implementation.

Biometrics required THE Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah has issued a circular on Massar (https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/account/hajsmartform) stating pilgrims in countries with Biometric enrollment centers must consider completing the mandatory biometric registration locally.

Registering biometric information before arriving at the entry ports of Saudi Arabia is recommended to save waiting time at the airports and to facilitate a smooth entrance to that country.

Recently, Saudi Arabia reported that hundreds of visitors to the country were rejected an entry and sent back from the airport due to not following the correct visa procedures.

To avoid such unfortunate incidents, pilgrims must apply the right category of visa through the travel agents registered with the country’s Hajj and Umrah Committees, the Ministry said in a statement.

It added: “It is important to note that the newly introduced tourist e-visa cannot be used to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah.

“It only allows tourist to attend concerts and sporting events happening in the Kingdom. Without the right visa and documentations, pilgrims will encounter fines and/or deportation to the home country.”

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon, stressing the significance of Filipino nurses on the primary health care system of the country, said that nurses, both in the government and private health institutions, should be compensated fairly.

“We are not producing nurses just to send them abroad. We want them to stay and take care of our people and so we need to give them the salary that they deserve and what has been authorized by the law,” he said.

Gordon strongly supports the Supreme Court’s recent decision to endorse Section 32 of Republic Act 9173 or The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.

The law states that the minimum base pay for nurses working in the government hospitals and health institutions should start at salary grade 15 or P31,545 per month.

“Our nurses are overworked but underpaid. I hope our government will directly act on this by immediately implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling pertaining to their salary,” he said.

Last July, Gordon also filed a bill amending Republic Act 9173 or The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 that proposes a new comprehensive policy for Filipino nurses that will give them opportunities to advance themselves in the nursing field while they serve the country’s growing needs for healthcare professionals.

According to the bill, “Once nurses graduate and become licensed, they should have the option to be hired by the government at a just pay and dispatched to places in the country where they are needed the most.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Team Sibol gets P1M-pledge for individual SEA Games gold AIMED at encouraging our national esports athletes to haul in several gold medals for the Philippines, Smart launched its “Get Gold!” campaign, which offers cash incentives to Sibol athletes and their coaches and managers for every gold medal won.

P2 million in cash prize will be given to team events (Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Arena of Valor), while P1 million cash prize is up for grabs in individual events (Tekken 7, Hearthstone, Star Craft 2).

“This is a huge milestone for esports, and it is our greatest honor to support the best Filipino gamers as they prove that we have the talent, skill, and drive to dominate this increasingly growing scene,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and current President of Smart Communications, Inc. Sibol is comprised of veterans in their respective games, brought together to heed the call of flag and country as our representatives. United through the battle cry "Lakad Matatag", the national team aims for the very top of SEA

Games competition, walking strong and proud no matter the challenge.

As a stalwart in the Philippine esports and gaming scene, Smart is fully committed in its support to the team through several initiatives.

To further enable Sibol's quest for gold, Smart has also opened the doors of the Smart Sibol Training Ground to the team, making it their headquarters and fitted with the latest mobile network innovations. The team's training doesn't end there, as there will be pocket tournaments and test events in the coming weeks to ensure Sibol is honed to fighting form for the SEA Games.

“We are very happy that Smart is joining us in our first outing with Sibol—no less than the 30th SEA Games! With the combined efforts of Smart and their Get Gold! program, as well as our other partners and the whole country, we believe that Sibol now has taken firm root and will be able to face all challenges that come their way on their path to victory,” said Ms. Jane Jimenez Basas, PSEU coChairman.

Smart has officially partnered with Sibol, the Philippines’ first national esports team in their bid for SEA Games gold.

Astros near World Series title Aussie racing pledges millions for retired horses SYDNEY—Australia's racing industry on Monday pledged millions of dollars for the care of retired racehorses, as it scrambles to address the fallout from animal cruelty allegations that sparked a major outcry.

National broadcaster ABC revealed this month that thousands of retired animals were being sent to abattoirs in secret, where many were allegedly beaten and abused before being killed.

Racing Victoria said it would spend at least Aus$25 million (US$17 million) over the next three years to expand an existing program of rehoming retired horses and to create a new welfare taskforce designed to prevent cruelty to racing animals.

The organization's chairman, Brian Kruger, said it was clear the industry needed to "step up and do more."

"It's incumbent on us to ensure our horses have opportunities for a rewarding life after racing," he told reporters in Melbourne.

Separately, the Victoria Racing Club said 10 percent of ticket sales from the Melbourne Cup Carnival and five percent of annual membership fees would go toward a new equine welfare fund, which it is seeding with an initial Aus$1.5 million.

About 300,000 people attend the four-day Carnival each year, with tickets to next week's prestigious Cup race costing $90 for a general admission pass and up to hundreds of dollars for exclusive packages.

Liz Walker, the CEO of animal welfare charity RSPCA in Victoria, said the measures were a "good start" but did not go far enough. AFP

Eala, wushu artists grace PSA Forum TENNIS prodigy Alex Eala graces the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum for the very first time on Tuesday at the Amelie Hotel-Manila.

Eala, currently no. 13 in world junior rankings, will discuss her plans for the rest of the year after recently seeing action in the World Super Juniors Tennis Championships. She will be accompanied by her father Mike Eala in the 10:00 a.m. session.

The wushu duo of Agatha Wong and Daniel Parantac also share the limelight with Eala in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Wong and Parantac will talk about wushu’s bid for the golds in the 30th Southeast Asian Games to be held in the country next month.

PSA members are enjoined to attend the forum, livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m.

W

ASHINGTON—A masterful pitching performance from Houston ace Gerrit Cole sparked the Astros to a 7-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, lifting them to the brink of their second World Series title in three seasons.

Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa and George Springer each smacked two-run homers as the Astros seized a 3-2 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final.

"If we win in front of our fans, it's going to be so special," Correa said. "I think I'll black out for the first time in my life."

Cole struck out nine and surrendered only one run on three hits over seven innings as the Nationals dropped a third straight home game, having batted only .175 in the span.But after dropping the first two games of the series at home, the Astros are far from overconfident.

"These next 27 outs we're going to have to get to wrap this thing up are oing

to be the hardest we've had to get all year," Cole said.

Game six is set for Tuesday in Houston, where a seventh game would be played Wednesday if necessary.

"We've got a lot of fight in us left. I know we do," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We're going to fight.

We're going to finish this thing."

The Astros can secure a second title in three seasons Tuesday when Justin Verlander takes the mound against Washington's Stephen Strasburg.

The Nationals must win twice in Texas, as they did in the first two games of the series, to capture the first title in the franchise's 50-year history and the first

for Washington since 1924.

"It has been pretty even this series.

They are a game up with two games left. Let's worry about Tuesday," Martinez said. "I like our chances."

The Astros could become only the third team in World Series history to lose the first two games at home and win the title, the first since the 1996 New York Yankees.

In sweeping three games at Washington, where the World Series hadn't been played since 1933, the Astros outscored the Nationals by a combined 19-3 after falling twice by a combined 17-7 in Houston.

Cole allowed five runs on eight hits over seven innings in a game-one loss but mystified Nationals batters Sunday, throwing 71 of his 110 pitches for strikes with only Juan Soto's solo homer in the seventh spoiling a shutout effort.

"The stuff was crisper," Cole said. "I thought we executed more pitches." AFP

Another nightmarish loss for Warriors LOS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors suffered their second mauling of the season on Sunday, crashing to a 120-92 defeat against a rampant Oklahoma City Thunder.

As Americans began gearing up to celebrate Halloween, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was left digesting another horror story from his depleted squad.

The Warriors had been routed emphatically 141-122 by the Los Angeles Clippers in their season opener on Thursday.

But that defeat was surpassed on Sunday as the Thunder outplayed the Warriors in every department to win by 28 points.

"In the first half we didn't come out ready to play and Oklahoma City just took it to us right from the beginning," a dejected Kerr said afterwards.

"I was really pleased with the effort of everyone in the second half. But we needed to start the game with that kind of attention to detail. I mean. we had 12 turnovers in the first half.

"We were throwing the ball all over the yard and our defense was breaking down."

The Warriors ragged first-half performance saw them in trouble from the outset, quickly falling behind 35-

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

20 by the end of the first quarter.

By half-time, the Thunder had opened up a monstrous 70-37 lead, all but guaranteeing victory for coach Billy Donovan's team.

Dennis Schroder led the scoring from the bench for OKC, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Four other Thunder players made double figures, with power forward Danilo Gallinari adding 21 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishing with 19.

Golden State responded with 23 from Stephen Curry but their offense was all too often bullied by the Thunder defense. AFP

Jeson seeks to stretch run in PPS tourney

JESON Patrombon hopes to keep his run of good form in pursuit of another championship as he leads the chase for the men’s singles Open crown in the PPS-PEPP Pintaflores Festival unfolding today (Tuesday, Oct. 29) at San Carlos City Tennis Courts in San Carlos, Negros Occidental.

From his emphatic victories in the Gov. Umali Cup, Fr. Suarez Cup, Brookside Open and Actifit Open this year, Patrombon sets out for another title romp against the likes of doubles partner Vicente Anasta, Fritz Verdad, Rodolfo Barquin Jr. and John Mari Altiche in the week-long event held as part of the host city’s Pintaflores Festival celebrations and organized by Criston Carmona.

Others in the 32-player draw in the premier division of the tournament, sponsored by Mayor Rene Gustillo, Rep. Gerardo Valmayor and Gov. Bong Lacson, are Jeremiah Macias II, Alberto Villamor and Joshua Kinaadman.

Sharing center stage with the country’s leading players are the rising junior netters clashing in their side of the duel, a Group I tournament offering ranking points in nine age-categories, and the veterans disputing top honors in the Legends 40s, 50s and 60s and women’s doubles.

“This is going to be another exciting week for tennis and enthusiasts with our top players ready to slug it out and the juniors chasing ranking points in a Group I tournament,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Bliss Bayking and Ellaine Bahonsua and John David Velez and Cedric Bravo head the cast in the girls’ and boys’ 18-and-under division, respectively, with Velez and Bravo also loom as the players to beat in 16-U play.

Siblings Ashley and Khymberly McKenzie, on the other hand, are tipped to dispute the girls’ 16-U diadem along with Mia Gemida and Joshea Malazarte.

For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Khymberly McKenzie also spearheads the title chase in 14-U category along with Jeffnani Denopol, Faith Blanco and Davelane Gauran while Gerald Gemida, John Bona, Axel McKenzie and Francis De Juan brace for a fierce duel in the boys’ 14-U section.

FEU caps UAAP men's chess domination, claims 15th crown

Members of the FEU chess team display their championship trophy.

NOT even a final round defeat could deny Far Eastern University the title of greatest UAAP Men’s Chess team of all time.

The Tamaraws suffered their very first defeat of the tournament at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, a 1.5-2.5 beating in the 14th and final round, but the UAAP Season 82 Chess Tournament was already a foregone conclusion several rounds before.

Minus the final round setback, it was a performance to remember nonetheless as FEU finished with 43 points, or an unforgiving 7.5 points ahead of eventual second placer UST with 35.5 points.

It was the 15th title for the Moraytabased chessers, the most by any UAAP schools, that underscored their status as

the league’s best collegiate chess team.

It will take a very long time before anyone could lay claim on FEU’s status as both La Salle and UST have only seven crowns apiece.

And it looked like the Tams will build a dynasty as they will parade practically the same team anchored on their Big Three—Jeth Romy Morado, RK Sevillano, and JM Jacutina—in seasons to come.

All three won gold on the top three boards with Morado and Jacutina sharing the Most Valuable Player award and Sevillano and Jacutina named as coRookie of the Year awardees.

Another Tamaraw, Israelito Rilloraza claimed the gold on board six to cap FEU’s domination of the tournament.

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

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

I

NZAI—Tiger Woods said Monday his latest injury comeback to win the Zozo Championship and tie the US PGA Tour's win record had ended the "most challenging" phase of his storied career.

Woods held off Hideki Matsuyama at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club to equal Sam Snead's record of 82 wins and move to number six in the world rankings from 10th.

It was his first tournament since arthroscopic left knee surgery in August and came after he started the tournament on Thursday with three straight bogeys.

Four back surgeries, countless knee operations, marital strife and run-ins with the law meant Woods had not won a major since 2008 and no tournaments since 2013 when he teed up at the Players Championship at East Lake, Atlanta, just over a year ago.

He had endured two years out of the game and hobbled out of the February 2018 Dubai Desert Classic with back spasms on his long-awaited return.

His ranking plummeted to 656 at the end of 2017, and with form and fitness deserting him many observers felt he might never get the three further tour wins he needed to tie Snead, let alone another major.

Not only did he win the Tour Championship for his first victory in five years, but Woods went on to secure a fifth Green Jacket and 15th major at Augusta earlier this year to stand just three behind Jack Nicklaus's record 18.

And now he stands unsurpassed as the most successful PGA Tour golfer of all time after victory at the weather-delayed inaugural tournament in Japan.

"Well, it's satisfying to dig my way out of it and figure out a way," said Woods, who finished three shots clear on 19-under par.

"As far as playing, I didn't really know that I would come back and play at this level.

"But I've come back with different games over the years, moving patterns, and this one's been obviously the most challenging," he said, after four stunning rounds of 64, 64, 66 and 67 for a three-stroke win.

Olympic ambition

"Then having another procedure a couple months ago and again coming back and winning an event, not easy to do, but I trust my hands and today was no different."

Blue Dragons edge Scorpions, reach UCBL final ROBBI Darang hit a tough jumper in the last seven seconds as top seed Diliman College snatched a 64-63 victory over a stunned Centro Escolar University side to claim the first finals berth in the PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez College gym in Sucat yesterday.

The top-seeded Blue Dragons also shackled the Scorpions with their pesky defense in the stretch, the last forcing CEU’s Maodo Diouf to issue an errant pass that preserved Darang’s late-game heroics, keeping the former on track for a first-ever back-to-back championship in the league.

The No. 4 Scorpions, who needed two victories to barge into the finals, appeared headed closer to a dream championship stint as Eric Tuadles rifled in a triple to shove CEU to a lead at 63-62 with only 35 seconds left in the contest that was close throughout.

But after three flubbed Diliman College shots, including two from Abdoulaye Niang, and a turnover, the Blue Dragons went to their defense to force CEU to a turnover in the last 17 seconds, leading to that Darang’s gamewinner.

The Blue Dragons will face the victor in the Olivarez College-University of Batangas duel, being played at presstime, for the crown set next week. As the No. 2 seed, the Olivarez Sea Lions need only a victory to arrange another title clash with the Blue Dragons.

A UB victory, however, will force a sudden death for the other finals berth on Nov. 4, also in Sucat. Matches are shown on a delayed basis on Solar Sports.

Kevine Gandjeto topscored for Diliman with 13 points while Billshan Digno fired 12 points in the first three quarters but was held scoreless in the last 10 minutes although Niang, who scored 10 points, and Jethro Sombrero took over to keep the Blue Dragons in step with the Scorpions before Darang turned hot in the clutch.

Sombrero finished with 11 markers, including five straight spiked by a triple that put Diliman back on top at 58-56 heading to the last 3:55.

But the Scorpions, swept by the Blue Dragons in the double-round elims, kept on pressing their bid with Diouf hitting a jumper to tie it at 58 and Christian Malicana delivering a twinner to lift CEU to the lead again.

Sports Tiger equals Snead’s record 82 PGA wins

Tiger Woods of the US delivers a speech during the awarding ceremony of the PGA ZOZO Championship golf tournament at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai, Chiba prefecture. AFP

Woods recalled as a five-year-old in 1981 getting to play with Snead for the only time.

"I played with Sam at, I think, it was Calabasas Country Club," said Woods.

"He was doing an outing there and I had come out to play the 17th and 18th holes with him. "I remember hitting the ball into a little creek and playing

it out of the water and making bogey.

I bogeyed the last and he went par-par.

"It was the only time I ever got a chance to play with Sam Snead—I was two-down through two," he smiled.

While Snead registered his 82nd win at the age of 52, Woods is nine years younger.

"As far as playing until 52, I hope

that's the case," said Woods.

"If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but certainly the future looks brighter than it has."

And that includes coming back to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics next year before defending his Zozo Championship. AFP

Ateneo’s San Juan is baseball’s MVP GRADUATING Ateneo Blue Eaglet Matt San Juan will haul the majority of the individual awards in the UAAP Season 82 Juniors Baseball tournament.

San Juan, a first baseman, is set to win the regular season Most Valuable Player award to go along with the Best Hitter and Best Slugger honors.

The awarding ceremony will be held after Game Three of the Finals on Tuesday, October 29.

He had a batting average of .471 while slugging a .706. Moreover, San Juan

powered Ateneo to the top seed after the elimination round with a 4-2 slate.

"Being in my final year in the UAAP juniors it is extraordinarily special for me to deliver what is expected of me by my teammates. They expect me to do what I have been doing the whole tournament," said the 17-year-old, who tallied the most RBIs a season ago.

"Especially now in the championship in the final game of the season, they need me to do what I can or exceed what my teammates expect of me to lead them to

back-to-back championships. " Also garnering awards are his teammates Zach Urbina and Kean Agcaoili.

Urbina was adjudged as the season's Best Pitcher, allowing no earned runs in all of the games he played, while Agcaoili had the most stolen bases for the season with three.

Their personal achievements though will all go for naught if the Blue Eaglets could not bring home the championship.

"Since this is my last year in UAAP juniors, I would like to leave in the most memorable way possible which is winning that gold medal," said San Juan, who was part of the NCR team that won third during the 2019 Palarong Pambansa. "The whole team has been working hard to be able to get where we are now and has been working hard to be able to get the win against UST to become back to back championships.

"So I would li ke to help lead this team towards our end goal since eleven of us will be graduating."

Tallying the most RBIs this season was Regie Omana of National Un iversity with five.

Ateneo's Matthew San Juan in action

PH jr soft netters finish in Top 4 KUNMING, CHINA—The Philippine Junior team bowed to Hong Kong China, 0-2, in the battle for third place at the close of the recent 2019 Colorful Yunnan Belt And Road Initiative Kunming International Tennis Tournament here at the Gloria Hotspring Resort Tennis Center in Kunming, China.

Exequiel Jucutan and Jufe-ann, Cocoy dropped hard-fought matches to their more experienced Hong Kong rivals for a respectable 4th-place finish in a field of eleven nations.

Jucutan and Cocoy were joined by Jude Hidalgo and Minette Bentillo in the Kunming netfest witnessed by Philippine Tennis Association president Atty.

Antonio Cablitas.

The PH Junior squad earlier lost to eventual champion Anning China, 0-2, in the crossover semifinal encounter.

Their senior counterparts dropped out of the premier Mixed Team Event despite defeating Mongolia, 3-2, during the group round-robin stage.

A triple tie ensued with Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines but a lower quotient prevented the Filipinos from advancing to the Top 4.

Hong Kong China squeaked past Malaysia, 3-2, to bag the Mixed Team Event of the annual Colorful Yunnan Belt And Road Initiative tournament, sanctioned by the China Tennis Association.

Federer withdraws from Paris Masters PARIS—World number three Roger Federer announced on Monday that he was withdrawing from this week's Paris Masters in order to "pace" himself for the next year.

"I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Paris Masters," he said in a statement.

"I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour.

"I am sorry for my French fans who I will see next year at Roland Garros."

Tournament director Guy Forget said he was "disappointed" with Federer's late decision to withdraw.

The 38-year-old Federer warned on Sunday after winning his 10th Basel title that he may skip the trip to Paris.

"My fitness is fine, I'm happy with how I feel," he said.

"I just don't know if I should play next week. I'll figure it out with the team."

Federer returned to the Paris Masters last year for the first time since 2015 and reached the semi-finals where he lost a three-set semi-final thriller to Novak Djokovic, who is top seed ahead of Rafael Nadal in the French capital this year.

Federer will be replaced by a lucky loser in the main draw. AFP

Pactolerin tops ‘Play with Masters’ MANY-TIME Philippine Masters champion Robert Pactolerin cashed in on his local knowledge of the Villamor Golf Club layout, shooting a threeunder 69 and beating recent National pro-am winner Rey Pagunsan by three to rule the “Play with the Masters” golf tournament in Pasay recently.

Tony Arevalo, Leonardo Sanchez and former Philippine Open winner Mario Manubay all carded 73s while Domeng Umadhay made a 76 and Ernie Rellon, Luis Paraiso and Herman Umadhay scored identical 79s in the 18-hole tournament that featured some of the country’s leading seniors and graced by a number of amateurs and golfing ladies from various sectors.

Danny Fortusa shot an 80, Mario Siodina and Abad Jorge carded identical 81s and Bong Sanchez, Sonny Barbo and Arnaldo Gomez each made an 82 in a rare gathering of players who dominated the local tour during their prime.

The tournament, organized by the Senior Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines and backed by Ellesse, RMN Media and Marketing Ventures, Seven Echo, Serve Well, Lubestraders Corp., distributor of Shell Oil and GCAP Ventures Philippines, was also staged to raise funds for the training and upgrading of the senior pros' teaching skills.

Sharing center stage were winners in various categories, including Paniong Bandoquillo (low gross-73); Jose Casanova (Regular Class A-net 70); Efrain Pedregoza (Class B-net 71); Andrew Pastoril (Class C-net 75); Freddie Po (Seniors Class A-net 71); Ding Kalinga (Class B-net 71); Manny Diaz (Class C-net 73); and Nora delos Santos, who made a net 71 to edge Glenda Da Roza, who scored a net 75, for the ladies crown.Other fun-hole winners were Gene Sermonia (most accurate drive), Josel Casanova (longest drive), Pedregoza (nearest to the pin) and Choi Byung Man (longest putt).

FORMIDABLE SEAG TEAM. Bemedalled triathlete

Mary Pauline Fornea will be competing for the first time in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games under the Standard Insurance women’s duathlon team. Fornea recently won the championship in the Northeast Duathlon Sprint held recently in Maryland, USA. She also qualified for Team USA in the 2020 ITU Standard Duathlon World Championship. Training under USNA running coach Karen Boyle, Fornea will be joining Asia’s duathlon queen Monica Torres and veteran campaigner Jelsie de Vera Sabado in the women’s division to form a formidable team in the SEA Games this December at the Subic Bay Freeport.

IN BRIEF Pag-IBIG funded over 18,000 low-cost homes

PAG-IBIG Fund has financed 18,715 socialized homes of minimum-wage and low-income members from January to September 2019, its top executives said.

Socialized homes make up 29 percent of the 65,375 units financed by the agency in the last nine months. In terms of amount, socialized home loans made up P7.18 billion out of the record-high P58.73 billion home loans released by the agency for the period.

“Pag-IBIG Fund has a socialized housing program designed specifically to help minimum and low-wage workers secure their own homes at the price of renting one. We call it the Affordable Housing Program and it is aligned with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to government institutions to carry out programs that address the needs of the underserved sector,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

The Affordable Housing Program is open to members earning not more than P15,000 per month within the National Capital Region and those earning not more than P12,000 per month if outside of NCR.

SEC: BSP may cap rates of lending firms

THE Securities and Exchange Commission asked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to consider a cap in the interest rates and other fees that lending and financing companies may charge on consumer and payday loans.

SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino in a letter to BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno cited the power of the central bank’s Monetary Board to prescribe the maximum interest rates, fees and other charges that lending companies and financing companies may impose.

A lending or financing company can freely agree with a borrower on the terms and conditions of their loan contract, including the imposable interest rate and other charges, such as transaction fees and penalties for late payment under Central Bank of the Philippines Circular No. 902-82.

Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, allows LCs to grant loans in amounts and reasonable rates and charges as may be agreed upon with borrowers.

The same provision, however, gives the Monetary Board an authority to peg interest rate as may be dictated by prevailing economic and social conditions.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Online lender clears names in financing fiasco FCASH Global Lending Inc. denied it was among the 67 online lending entities accused of committing debt-shaming of clients, saying its operations were above board and legitimate.

Dean J.V. Bautista, lawyer of FCash Global Lending Inc., said “the company’s business operations are completely legal and regulations-compliant. It is duly registered with SEC as a corporation, and has been issued the requisite license to operate as lending company.”

He said despite the spate of news that cast aspersion on what seems to be a growing subsector of the financial system, some online lenders operate above the ground and form part of the formal lending sector.

“These online lending firms pay taxes, they issue receipts, and are officially registered with government. They have their business permits along with official business addresses. Because they operate officially, they could sue and be sued. In brief, these are the legitimate online lenders,” he said.

FastCash has been lumped along with online lenders, which operate illegitimately, don’t have a Securities and Exchange Commission permit, conduct backroom operations indiscriminately and create a climate of uncertainty and discord on what online lending is all about.

It is further aggravated by unscrupulous third-party service providers, who allegedly harass and threaten borrowers and their families and loved ones, especially when they fail to remit their debt repayments.

The SEC raised legitimacy issues against some of these online lenders specifically those, which had no known business addresses. All they possessed were online applications, which served as bases of their lending operations. Because of difficulties to locate them, the SEC had to come out with published notifications, asking their board of directors and corporate officers to appear before it.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

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BDO, LandBank post record profits T

By Julito G. Rada

WO of the largest banks reported solid net incomes in the first three quarters on the back of strong growth in loans and deposits.

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by the Sy family, said Monday net income in the first nine months jumped 49.3 percent to a record P32.1 billion from P21.5 billion a year ago, driven by the expansion in recurring core revenues.

The nine-month profit nearly matched

the full-year income of P32.7 billion in 2018.

The bank said in a statement the threequarter net profit translated into a return on common equity of 12.5 percent, higher than 9.5 percent in the same period last year.

Customer loans increased 6 percent year-on-year to P2.1 trillion, led by the sustained growth in the middle-market and consumer segments.

Meanwhile, total deposits rose by 3 percent to P2.4 trillion, with low-cost current account/savings account or CASA deposits increasing by 6 percent and accounted for 72 percent of total deposits.

Net interest income increased to P88.5 billion, with net interest margins further improving in the third quarter.

Non-interest income climbed to P44.1

billion, led by fee-based income and insurance premiums which accelerated by 14 percent and 23 percent to P25.4 billion and P10.8 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, state-run Land Bank of the Philippines, the fourth-largest lender in terms of assets, said net income in the first nine months surged23 percent to P13.97 billion from P11.36 billion a year ago.

LandBank said the nine-month net profit exceeded by 12 percent its target of P12.48 billion for the period.

Bank president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo said the latest numbers convinced her that the bank was on track to meet its full-year income target of P16.64 billion.

The bank’s return on equity in the third quarter was at 13.41 percent while net in-

terest margin stood at 3.41 percent.

Income from loans increased 50 percent on higher yield and growth in its loan portfolio. Gross loan portfolio grew to P869.31 billion as of end-September this year from P838.75 in the same period last year.

“We continue to grow LandBank’s financial position as the bank’s profitable operations allow us to consistently drive support for our priority sectors, especially farmers and fishers,” Borromeo said.

Total assets also grew by 11 percent to P1.96 trillion from P1.77 trillion as of September last year, driven by growth in loans and investments.

Deposits expanded by 11 percent to P1.74 trillion from P1.57 trillion, while capital grew by 16 percent to P144.87 billion from P124.88 billion.

DMCI bags deal to build NLEX-SLEX link road

By Darwin G. Amojelar

MORE to invest P1.7b for Iloilo modernization

ILOILO City’s new electricity distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. is spending close to P1.7 billion in the next three years to modernize the electricity distribution facilities in Iloilo City after securing the franchise from Congress in December last year.

MORE president Roel Castro said the investment would be spent for “system reliability projects, system loss reduction projects, system capacity projects and improvement projects.”

MORE has sought to expropriate all the ageing distribution network of Panay Electric Co. in Iloilo after President Duterte signed the former’s franchise into law. The franchise empowered MORE to take over all and any facility and property it needs to ensure Iloilo City and nearby municipalities have continuous and assured supply of electricity. Alena Mae S. Flores

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

CEBU-BUSUANGA FLIGHTS. Cebu Pacific starts direct flights between Cebu and Busuanga—the gateway to Coron, Palawan.

Operated by CEB through wholly-owned subsidiary, Cebgo, the route has two flights daily. Attending the launching ceremony are (from left) Department of Tourism Region VII regional director Shalimar Hofer Tamano, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. head of airline marketing Aines Librado and Cebu Pacific director for marketing Michelle Eve de Guzman

Meralco earns P18.5b as power sales climb 6%

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday core net income climbed 11 percent in the first nine months to P18.5 billion from P16.7 billion in the same period last year as electricity sales grew 6 percent during the period.

Meralco said net income, adjusted to exclude the effect of foreign exchange gain or losses and other transactions, reached P18.3 billion from January to September, up 1 percent from P18.212 billion a year ago.

Power sales reached 35,005 gigawatthours, with residential customers posting the highest growth of 8 percent, followed by commercial at 6 percent and industrial at 5 percent.

It said the low inflation of 2.8 percent in the first nine months, a more favorable interest rate environment, stable foreign remittances and stable foreign remittances and a growing services sector provided the backdrop for the stable growth in sales volume.

“The 6 percent and 11 percent volume growths within the Meralco and Clark Electric franchise areas, respectively are testaments of the robust distribution systems we have built and maintained, even while we await further regulatory approvals for capital expenditures filed,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“Manageable inflation together with increased liquidity in the financial system provides opportunities for growth across all customer segments,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said Meralco was expected to end the year with a core net income of P23 billion.

“There is no doubt that Meralco has performed responsively in respect of its franchise mandate to provide power at least, while maintaining highly reliable and resilient facilities. With the combined efforts of the entire organization and our subsidiaries, we expect to end 2019 with consolidated core net income of over P23 billion,” he said.

Meralco’s peak demand reached

7,740 megawatts on June 4, 2019, while Luzon peak demand hit 11,344 MW on June 21, 2019.

Electricity revenues reached P235.4 billion, up 6 percent in the same period last year on higher generation charges from higher prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, increased consumption across all sectors, appreciation of the peso versus the dollar and the commercial operations of the 500-MW San Buenaventura supercritical power plant in Quezon province on Sept. 26.

“The core distribution business, which continues to drive the growth of Meralco, shall be supported by the contribution from Meralco PowerGen’s San Buenaventura Power Ltd. beginning Sept. 26, 2019 when it declared commercial operations. SBPL going online, on schedule and within the budgeted project cost is no mean feat given multiple challenges through project conceptualization, developments and construction completion,” Meralco president Ray Espinosa said.

NLEX Corp. said it tapped D.M. Consunji Inc. to build the first section of the P23.3-billion NLEXSLEX Connector Road Project.

NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said the company appointed DMCI as the contractor for the NLEX Connector Road Project Section 1.

NLEX Section 1 is a 5-kilometer road that runs from Caloocan connecting to C3 all the way to España Boulevard in Manila.

“Next week, we will sign the contract and then the first bored pile that will be executed will be second week of November. So between today and the second week of November, DMCI will start preparing for mobilization,” Bautista said.

The project will be completed in 20 months.

The P23.3-billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is an eight-kilometer elevated four-lane expressway extending NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 on C3 Road Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila and connecting to Skyway Stage 3 by mostly traversing the PNR rail track.

The project includes two interchanges at C3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan and España in Manila.

Once completed by 2021, the project will reduce travel time from SLEX to NLEX from two hours to just 20 minutes. Some 35,000 motorists are expected to use the project.

It will also reduce the travel time from Clark in Pampaga to Calamba, Laguna from about three hours to one hour and 40 minutes.

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

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

PMFTC pivots business to smoke-free products

PEPSI AWARDS. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. joins the Asia CEO Awards Circle of Excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility through the company’s commitment to uplift the Filipino community. Attending the awarding ceremony are (from left) PCPPI senior vice president Allan Frias II, vice president for legal, government and corporate affairs Atty. Manuel Lope Jr., senior manager for corporate affairs and communications Monique Castro, senior vice president for human resources Vivian Cheong and senior manager for legal and corporate affairs Atty. Ari Fabros.

PHILIP Morris International unveiled a new direction to pivot its 170-year-old business to promote a smoke-free Philippine society during an information technology summit held in Pasay City on Oct. 22.

PMFTC president Denis Gorkun made the bold revelation in his presentation during the plenary session of the “SOFTCON.ph 7: The Philippine Software Industry Conference” organized by the Philippine Software Industry Association, a non-profit organization composed of around 150 IT companies. PMFTC Inc. is the Philippine affiliate of PMI. Gorkun cited a need for PMI to innovate responsibly but stressed that this was more difficult in practice as he referenced removing combustion.

Recognizing the fact that anything put on fire produces harmful chemicals, PMI is taking on the challenge to develop and commercialize products that are better al-

ternatives to continued smoking.

“As a company we have developed— and continue to develop—a suite of smoke-free platforms that eliminate combustion but deliver the experience that people who would otherwise continue to smoke desire,” Gorkun said.

Gorkun said the new PMI vision is anchored on an advocacy they call “Unsmoke” which focuses on three simple messages: “If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t quit, change.”

In his remarks, Gorkun said: “despite the implementation of stricter measures [on smoking], the cold hard reality is that there are still 16 million smokers in the Philippines with a cold turkey quit rate of just 4 percent. The World Health Organization estimates that there will still be more than one billion smokers worldwide in 2030, about the same level of smokers we have today.”

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Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks climb; BDO, Metrobank rise

T

HE stock market gained Monday after China and the US said they were close to agreeing to a mini trade deal.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 24.03 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,946.53 on a value turnover of P5.9 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 105 to 81, with 65 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 2.8 percent to P152, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest bank, advanced 3.1 percent to P65.35.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei added 2.5 percent to P75, while Sun Trust Home Developers Inc.

jumped 36.8 percent to P1.71.

Asian markets rallied Monday, while the pound struggled to recover on fresh Brexit uncertainty while EU leaders consider extending a deadline for Britain to leave the bloc.

Investors tracked a strong lead from Wall Street, where the S&P 500 flirted with another record, after the US Trade Representative’s office said the top-level negotiators had held talks Friday and were “close to finalizing” an agreement.

And the Chinese Commerce Ministry said both sides agreed to “properly address each other’s core concerns” fueling hopes the economic superpowers are on course to a resolution to their long-running and painful tariffs spat.

The two are aiming to get the pact ready to be signed by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping when they meet at next month’s APEC meeting in Chile.

Hong Kong rallied 0.8 percent and Shanghai ended up 0.9 percent. The tech-heavy Shenzhen composite index jumped more than one percent after Chinese state news reported Xi as saying China would boost investment in blockchain technology and speed up its development.

Bitcoin soared more than 15 percent to nearly $10,000—its highest level for a month—before ticking back slightly.

Tokyo and Seoul each ended 0.3 percent higher and Sydney was marginally up. Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta were also higher.

However, while the agreement would be a big positive for markets, analysts point out that it is still the first part of a wider deal that could take some time to complete.

And Ray Attrill at National Australia Bank said: “What’s not yet clear yet is if both sides have agreed that even if the planned December 15 tariff increases won’t go ahead

if phase one is agreed, whether there will be any wind back of the higher tariffs imposed on September 1.”

That issue, he said, was “something China was said to be demanding toward the end of last week but we doubt the US is ready to concede on.”

Still, the mood on trading floors is positive and expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its latest policy meeting this week were also providing support.

Sterling edged up but was generally flat with focus on Westminster, where MPs will vote later in the day on whether to grant Boris Johnson a December 12 general election, which he has called for to break the Brexit deadlock.

With lawmakers refusing to pass his divorce deal before Thursday’s deadline, the prime minister wants a snap poll he hopes will give him a majority of MPs who will push it through parliament. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Monday, octoBer 28, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 53 24,920 99 2,401,680 2.08 32,000 152 3,282,840 1.16 10,000 25.05 198,400 18.6 800 12.2 162,700 4.55 737,000 0.43 190,000 65.35 3,265,740 0.93 538,000 12.7 1,700 44 16,700 174.1 1,620 130 1,980 58 1,050 25.9 10,300 203.6 335,200 1,835 275 60.05 14,500 1.14 1,000

1,355,333 237,728,993.50 66,000 495,193,561 11,600 4,962,330 14,860 1,987,960 3,393,630 80,050 213,212,968.50 491,500 21,590 734,810 283,479 257,400 60,821 266,175 67,918,537 504,625 870,336.50 1,140

386,000 57,157,950 202,061,007 -2,155,495 -459,668 9,360 38,372,341.50 -126,590 -13,970 -298,750 22,215,743 -255,813 -

38.25 2.82 12.32 0.67 1.3 3.7 0.24 89.1 2.41 15.2 112 8 17.5 30.4 65.3 70 2.06 5.55 8.52 15.12 10.3 6.99 1.59 25.05 78.9 47.3 2.25 14.16 7.93 1.46 223 49.5 5.11 8.7 19.96 13.16 17.68 355.8 0.183 1.67 4.12 5.04 9.35 10.8 33.6 5.35 5.24 1.81 0.99 11.22 92.1 7.3 0.128 1.05 148 2.41 1.27 1.12

INDUSTRIAL 39.05 919,500 2.82 8,822,000 12.88 767,800 0.67 600,000 1.3 12,000 3.72 11,750,000 0.243 950,000 102.6 50 2.45 2,195,000 15.26 1,293,100 112 170 8.04 528,700 17.88 300 32 16,300 69 130 71.5 1,960 2.13 97,000 5.6 1,800 8.52 1,432,900 15.14 79,000 10.3 363,300 7 702,200 1.59 4,000 25.3 398,400 79 3,730 47.5 23,900 2.34 9,333,000 14.6 1,052,900 7.94 131,900 1.49 157,000 223 501,830 54 560 5.11 27,500 9.18 28,800 19.96 43,300 13.3 22,600 17.72 767,500 355.8 228,730 0.183 30,000 1.73 2,284,000 4.13 4,000 5.04 317,700 9.36 15,000 10.98 36,300 33.65 145,700 5.4 116,100 5.39 148,800 1.83 2,291,000 1 48,000 11.22 58,200 92.3 266,060 7.39 2,900 0.131 90,000 1.06 232,000 150.5 946,770 2.5 6,000 1.29 5,579,000 1,645,000 1.12

35,802,570 25,026,060 9,820,470 403,160 16,010 44,425,830 229,080 4,626 5,347,900 19,681,662 19,040 4,267,598 5,288 514,720 8,931 139,911 205,590 10,015 12,269,268 1,197,202 3,745,718 4,914,791 6,360 10,075,965 300,094.50 1,136,110 21,684,830 15,121,218 1,047,608 232,420 112,772,642 29,670 140,771 255,481 867,934 298,810 13,602,414 81,551,224 5,490 3,888,540 16,510 1,603,609 140,300 396,444 4,902,500 625,895 793,151 4,199,060 47,720 655,304 24,559,837.50 21,207 11,550 251,290 142,257,317 14,550 7,181,980 1,851,270

1,139,645 -2,073,700 -461,910 629,980 -937,520 1,442,762 4,800 -253,000 911,869 336,094 -3,417,928 -3,299,196 -300,470 -36,848.50 523,135 999,400 -40,248 -201,546 6,939,128 -420,346 -19,800 -8,870,058 -38,860,928 -333,670 -247,959 -20,726 -2,367,715 -5,380 -25,740 20,935,616 -8,185,056 -2,500 -2,226,920 -27,200.00

0.87 55 11.7 0.76 6.55 13.68 1.14 1.14 866.5 3.7 6.8 8.28 13.4 3.75 0.224 880 5.62 75 5.53 0.51 4.3 13.76 0.6 4.95 0.038 1.45 2.81 169.1 2.38 1,029 0.87 1.3 400 218.6 0.218 0.235

0.85 54.4 11.44 0.7 6.51 12.78 1.12 1.13 852 3.53 6.65 8.01 13.12 3.75 0.224 865.5 5.62 72.55 5.53 0.485 4.28 13 0.57 4.84 0.038 1.41 2.81 165.7 2.34 1,010 0.85 1.3 400 218.6 0.218 0.224

HOLDING FIRMS 0.86 5,602,000 55 1,039,250 11.62 3,959,200 0.71 396,000 6.51 12,600 13.48 24,100 1.12 553,000 1.13 140,000 860 148,080 3.56 1,997,000 6.8 375,800 8.18 11,449,600 13.4 17,900 3.75 7,000 0.224 50,000 870 40,770 5.62 1,500 75 2,021,330 5.53 2,000 0.51 12,000 4.29 205,000 13 4,594,800 0.6 1,330,000 4.9 19,512,000 0.038 7,200,000 1.43 78,000 2.81 1,000 168.6 86,100 2.34 1,172,000 1,024 1,117,960 0.87 143,000 1.3 2,000 400 10 218.6 140 0.218 20,000 0.235 850,000

4,812,000 57,002,794.50 45,855,540 282,160 82,438 323,164 619,470 158,600 ( 127,356,490 7,209,010 2,549,035 93,247,079(36 238,910 26,250 11,200 35,593,030 8,430 151,110,303 11,060 5,895 880,200 61,110,988 769,840 95,238,460 273,600 111,410 2,810 14,408,336 2,750,730 1,144,629,605 122,540 2,600 4,000 30,604 4,360 191,000

25,800 4,720,199 8,020,118 -13,400 112,999.9999) -5,436,700 -192,180 1,859,846 ,611,459.0001) -36,870 -6,301,005 46,822,600.50 -47,150 2,570,752 58,710.00 -16,520,390 4,745,062 4,437,965 30,604 -

14.64 0.83 10.12 1.74 0.87 48.8 2.02 4.65 6.34 0.59 0.85 0.209 0.48 10.22 20.8 0.52 1.62 1.26 4.5 4.9 0.295 0.44 1.54 0.38 2.04

14.62 0.81 9.21 1.74 0.85 48.1 1.99 4.55 6.14 0.57 0.85 0.209 0.465 10 20.5 0.46 1.59 1.22 4.5 4.82 0.285 0.405 1.4 0.375 2.01

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

55 99 1.99 149.3 1.16 25 18.5 12.24 4.7 0.42 64.9 0.89 12.7 44.3 175 130 57.25 25.9 199 1,835 60 1.14

55.75 99.3 2.1 152 1.16 25.05 18.6 12.4 4.8 0.44 65.8 0.93 12.7 44.6 175 130 58 25.9 203.6 1,835 60.05 1.14

53 98.5 1.99 148.4 1.16 24.95 18.5 12.14 4.55 0.415 64 0.89 12.7 43.85 174.1 130 57.25 25.8 198.7 1,835 60 1.14

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

38.25 2.86 13 0.69 1.34 4.01 0.24 89.1 2.47 15.3 112 8.3 17.5 30.4 69.35 71.5 2.12 5.55 8.65 15.14 10.3 7 1.59 25.35 79 47.3 2.3 14.58 7.97 1.5 227.2 49.95 5.13 9.04 20 13.2 17.8 363 0.183 1.74 4.12 5.07 9.35 10.82 33.7 5.4 5.24 1.87 0.99 11.5 92.8 7.3 0.128 1.12 150 2.41 1.29 1.12

39.05 2.88 13.2 0.69 1.34 4.04 0.243 102.6 2.47 15.3 112 8.3 17.88 32 69.35 76.7 2.13 5.6 8.65 15.5 10.4 7.01 1.59 25.35 80.95 48.55 2.35 14.6 7.97 1.54 229.8 55 5.13 9.41 20.2 13.3 17.8 363 0.183 1.74 4.13 5.07 9.36 10.98 33.7 5.4 5.39 1.9 1 11.5 93.4 7.39 0.131 1.12 152 2.5 1.29 1.15

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

0.86 54.7 11.7 0.76 6.55 13.4 1.12 1.14 852 3.7 6.65 8.23 13.3 3.75 0.224 880 5.62 73.2 5.53 0.51 4.29 13.46 0.58 4.91 0.038 1.41 2.81 166.7 2.38 1,029 0.86 1.3 400 218.6 0.218 0.225

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

14.62 0.82 9.21 1.74 0.86 48.5 1.99 4.6 6.14 0.58 0.85 0.209 0.47 10.2 20.5 0.46 1.62 1.22 4.5 4.86 0.29 0.44 1.4 0.38 2.02

VOLUME

PHP

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

25.8 2.26 3.28 38.8 2.71 1.41 7.68 5.4

25.95 2.31 3.28 38.9 2.71 1.85 7.69 5.67

25.15 2.26 3.22 38 2.6 1.41 7.66 5.25

25.95 2.31 3.22 38.1 2.65 1.71 7.68 5.6

1,608,200 470,000 4,000 5,533,900 424,000 193,469,000 1,670,400 107,800

41,635,820 1,078,930 12,940 211,919,655 1,120,310 319,149,250 12,827,120 579,653

19,747,835 -2,280 -69,373,790 2,670 30,849,380 -9,170,574 -

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

10.3 18.5 1.55 11.5 0.52 0.041 17.2 2.32 10.2 93.2 7.09 6.79 9.1 910 1,901 5.2 430 1.6 122 7.9 0.108 5.01 2.48 14.88 2.98 0.91 18.7 0.405 3.35 2.4 1.08 3.36 2.8 8 2.94 5.12 7.5 139 3.06 1,100 0.68 0.51 40 78.7 9.22 2.6 0.68 0.325 0.68 16.52

11 18.8 1.55 11.52 0.52 0.042 18.8 2.38 10.3 94.45 7.09 6.83 9.26 910 1,901 5.25 430 1.6 123.4 8 0.11 5.04 2.48 14.88 3 0.93 18.86 0.41 3.4 2.43 1.08 3.4 2.8 8.28 2.94 5.13 7.5 144 3.09 1,109 0.69 0.51 41.3 79 9.29 2.61 0.69 0.33 0.68 17

10.2 18.5 1.55 11.46 0.49 0.038 17.2 2.32 10.1 93 6.9 6.75 9.03 910 1,865 5.2 429.6 1.55 121.6 7.3 0.107 4.81 2.4 14.86 2.98 0.91 18.6 0.405 3.35 2.39 1.08 3.2 2.76 8 2.94 5.12 7.5 139 3.01 1,091 0.67 0.495 40 77.7 8.91 2.55 0.68 0.315 0.66 16.4

SERVICES 11 18.52 1.55 11.5 0.5 0.042 17.8 2.33 10.2 93.8 6.9 6.76 9.05 910 1,865 5.22 429.6 1.58 122.4 8 0.11 4.85 2.4 14.86 3 0.92 18.82 0.41 3.4 2.42 1.08 3.27 2.76 8 2.94 5.13 7.5 144 3.04 1,092 0.69 0.495 40 78.75 9.29 2.56 0.68 0.32 0.68 17

85,400 433,400 4,000 15,461,100 16,168,000 32,300,000 86,800 573,000 2,880,700 22,020 2,100 274,400 56,500 20 33,450 82,900 490 681,000 1,122,820 14,500 200,000 1,922,000 201,000 200 83,000 439,000 514,000 180,000 106,000 279,000 7,000 7,655,000 96,000 11,000 1,000 5,000 100 5,280 272,000 205,075 1,675,000 14,471,000 225,600 946,640 43,800 2,196,000 1,722,000 3,220,000 341,000 771,400

923,484 8,021,408 6,200 177,564,444 8,123,155 1,293,500 1,511,770 1,335,350 29,340,178(5, 2,067,351 14,515 1,863,485 512,090 18,200 62,801,820 432,107 210,590 1,070,490 137,402,609 114,529 21,540 9,383,140 489,590 2,974 247,640 402,760 9,652,546 73,400 359,550 670,940 7,560 25,249,110 266,990 88,258 2,940 25,645 750 753,010 821,380 224,584,315 1,149,220 7,209,265 9,060,215 ( 74,559,574.50 405,339 5,638,400 1,170,990 1,037,350 228,040 13,087,938

-6,120 12,896,214 -823,650 1,404,250 -1,151,200 761,742.0001) 615,929 -182,529 -34,474,530 -21,053,576 757,220 -1,486 -6,000 -694,844 -540,800 -3,200 705,040 -199,170 -14,616,625 762,930.00 425,550 622,794.9996) -24,710,584 -1,691,890 -940,440 16,000 -50,258

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

0.002 1.15 2.53 12.3 1.1 2.58 0.275 7.88 1.71 0.218 0.106 0.108 0.009 0.009 1.17 3.94 1.03 0.84 0.011 0.012 0.011 10.16 3.61 13.18 23.75

0.002 1.15 2.6 12.3 1.1 2.58 0.29 7.88 1.72 0.218 0.107 0.11 0.009 0.009 1.17 3.96 1.03 0.86 0.012 0.012 0.011 10.5 3.64 13.22 23.75

0.002 1.13 2.53 12 1.1 2.58 0.275 7.55 1.68 0.205 0.105 0.105 0.009 0.009 1.11 3.84 1.01 0.84 0.011 0.011 0.01 10.08 3.55 12.9 23.1

MINING & OIL 0.002 1,000,000 1.13 1,802,000 2.55 342,000 12.3 2,200 1.1 5,000 2.58 292,000 0.275 40,000 7.82 3,400 1.68 1,344,000 0.205 580,000 0.107 10,990,000 0.11 720,000 0.009 16,000,000 0.009 5,000,000 1.17 87,000 3.88 3,853,000 1.03 126,000 0.86 40,000 0.012 12,700,000 0.011 681,900,000 0.011 61,500,000 10.38 473,700 3.6 390,000 13.04 2,420,900 23.7 846,100

1,600 2,047,810 ( 868,820 26,760 5,500 753,360 11,150 26,116 2,268,060 119,640 1,170,220 77,540 145,600 46,000 99,470 14,918,810 127,350 33,620 147,600 8,182,700 674,900 4,861,938 1,393,940 31,630,930 19,913,975

316,689.9997) -592,990 3,220 -2,692,820 -2,000 -539,492 332,350 -1,989,456 -134,665

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.8 103.4 100.3 109.5 501 5.15 98.15 1 101 1,030 1,050 1,059 100.3 108 996 78 75.1 76.05 75.5 75.7

17.8 103.4 101.5 109.5 501 5.15 98.15 1 101 1,030 1,050 1,060 102 108 996 78.3 75.1 76.05 75.5 75.7

17.76 103.4 100.3 109.5 501 5.04 98.15 0.99 101 1,030 1,049 1,059 100.2 107.9 996 78 75.1 76.05 75.1 75.7

PREFERRED 17.76 63,400 103.4 80 101 13,330 109.5 150 501 300 5.14 26,600 98.15 600 1 727,000 101 22,850 1,030 5 1,049 1,050 1,060 4,050 102 1,900 108 1,120 270 996 78.3 1,700 75.1 5,000 76.05 14,700 75.1 1,037,670 75.7 751,000

1,126,700 8,272 1,344,525 16,425 150,300 136,671 58,890 725,830 2,307,850 5,150 1,102,450 4,289,950 190,741 120,913 268,920 132,810 375,500 1,117,935 78,341,471 56,850,700

-1,126,700 133,143 -

LR WARRANT

1.55

1.55

1.5

WARRANTS 1.51 56,000

85,670

-

2,109,845 6,340,188 4,635,610

3,040 11,250 -4,750

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 14.62 0.82 10.12 1.74 0.86 48.8 2 4.55 6.34 0.58 0.85 0.209 0.48 10.22 20.55 0.495 1.6 1.24 4.5 4.86 0.295 0.415 1.54 0.375 2.03

570,000 495,000 6,100 53,000 1,515,000 5,076,900 773,000 90,000 51,100 10,046,000 66,000 70,000 2,760,000 184,800 47,400 31,510,000 5,378,000 353,000 2,000 13,262,000 15,210,000 110,000 11,091,000 150,000 222,000

8,333,418 405,770 56,272 92,220 1,291,000 246,596,690 1,549,460 412,820 320,814 5,827,420 56,100 14,630 1,295,850 1,884,112 980,540 15,648,000 8,592,230 437,090 9,000 64,450,630 4,414,500 46,300 16,690,430 56,850 447,960

-883,052

-860 -15,556,590 -490,570 -50,750 255,619 51,590 1,190,756 -40,835 -2,699,450 -1,953,570 1,909,180 147,850 -624,870 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.44 11.4 0.95

6.54 11.4 0.97

6.31 11.1 0.9

FIRST METRO ETF

118.8

118.8

117.8

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.02 0.97

10.02 0.98

10.02 0.97

Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,069,931

INDUSTRIAL

58,072,791

HOLDING FIRMS

66,092,050

PROPERTY

302,433,826

SERVICES

109,359,098

MINING & OIL

802,759,688

GRAND TOTAL

1,357,717,532

6.54 11.1 0.9

SME

331,600 565,200 5,028,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.6 3,780 DDS 10.02 0.98

200 35,700

PHP

447,696 2,004 34,812

-

-

-

VALUE 1906.9 (UP) 30.11 1,161,586,537.65 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,447.3 (DOWN) 22.77 720,476,282.28 HOLDING FIRMS 7775.39 (UP) 30.35 2,007,084,162.28 PROPERTY 4,148.83 (DOWN) 17.46 1,526.89 (DOWN) 4.64 969,715,364.09 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,142 (DOWN) 67.23 917,474,947.13 PSEI 7,946.53 (UP) 24.03 89,576,027.905 All Shares Index 4,774.25 (UP) 7.22 Gainers: 81; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 65; Total: 251 5,879,449,134.14

Suntrust plans to join tourism business, eyes higher capital

By Jenniffer B. Austria SUNTRUST Home Developers Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan is increasing its capital stock by more than six fold to P23 billion from P3 billion as its plans to venture into tourism-related businesses.

Suntrust said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved to amend the primary and secondary purposes of the company to allow it to focus on tourism-related businesses.

The board during the same meeting approved to raise the capital stock to P23 billion divided into 23 billion common shares with a par value of P1 apiece.

Suntrust said the proposed amendments would be submitted to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2019, representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding capital stock of the company, to obtain their written consent.

“The proposed amendments will allow the corporation to venture in tourism-related businesses, and facilitate investments therefor,” said Suntrust.

Following the disclosure, share price of Suntrust on Monday surged 36.8 percent to P1.17 from rgw previous close of P1.25.

Suntrust was also the top gainer Monday and was one of the most actively traded stocks.

Suntrust is engaged in real estate development, especially mass housing, townhouses, residential subdivisions and other horizontal developments.

The company does not have any business operations at the moment and is not offering any product or service.

However, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Oceanic Property Management Inc., the company is engaged in property management of residential and office buildings and private estates.

Suntrust in July was included in Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion list of 200 top-performing public companies in the region.

RCBC starts offer of fixed rate peso bonds worth P3b

By Julito G. Rada RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp., the ninth-largest lender in terms of assets, plans to raise at least P3 billion through the issuance of three-year fixed-rate peso bonds that started Monday.

The bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the issuance was the third drawdown off its P100-billion bond and commercial paper program. The bonds are offered at a fixed interest rate of 4.426 percent per annum. “... The target size is a minimum of P3 billion. The public offering will commence on Oct. 28, 2019 and will run until Nov. 6, 2019. The bonds are set to be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Nov. 13, 2019,” it said.

RCBC tapped Standard Chartered Bank as the sole arranger and book runner of the transaction.

RCBC first tapped the local bond market with its P15 billion Asean Green Bond issuance in February this year and followed that up witt its P8-billion Asean Sustainability Bonds in June 2019.

The bank’s board of directors on July 29, 2019, approved an increase of the program to P100 billion from the initial size of P30 billion. The increase is part of the bank’s strategic liquidity management, which will extend the duration of its liabilities and further strengthen its regulatory liquidity ratios.

RCBC is one of the leading banks in the country that offers a wide range of financial products and services. It is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the oldest and largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia.

Earlier, bank officials said RCBC was expecting to sustain the growth of its consumer lending business by double digit by yearend, on the back of the strengthened performance after the bank merged with its thrift bank unit RCBC Savings Bank middle of 2019.

RCBC Consumer Lending head Rommel Latinazo said in a briefing in Makati City that the consumer lending grew 14 percent in 2018.

“We at least have to sustain the 2018 numbers. We don’t want to grow slower than that,” Latinazo said.

“The merger took effect July 2019.

After that, our consumer lending remained intact. It is now the major business group of the bank,” Latinazo said.

“Consumer lending and SME lending will be our main pillars of growth going forward. We will continue our expansion plans and introduction of new products in auto, home, personal and salary loans,” Latinazo said.

World

B3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Joblessness stirs unrest in Arab nations

D

UBAI― Unemployment and sluggish economic growth are fueling social tension and popular protests in several Arab countries, the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

The unrest is in turn contributing to slower growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, alongside global trade tensions, oil price volatility and a disorderly Brexit process, the IMF said in a report on the regional economic outlook.

Earlier this month it lowered the 2019 forecast for the region―taking in the Arab nations and Iran―to a meager 0.1 percent from 1.1 percent last year.

The IMF slashed its outlook for the region’s three largest economies-Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The risks around the forecast of earlier this month “are skewed to the downside and are highly dependent on global factors,” the IMF said in its report on Monday.

“The level of growth that countries in the region are having is below what is needed to address unemployment,” said Jihad Azour, the IMF’s director for the Middle East and Central Asia.

“We are in a region where the rate of unemployment at the youth level exceeds 25-30 percent and this requires growth to be higher by 1-2 percent” in order to make a dent in joblessness, Azour told AFP in an interview.

The IMF report said that the high unemployment was worsening social tensions in Arab countries.

“Unemployment averages 11 percent throughout the region versus seven percent across other emerging market and developing economies,” it said.

“Women and young people are particularly likely to be out of work, with more than 18 percent of women... without jobs in 2018.”

Violent protests have broken out in several Arab countries since early 2010 and turned into bloody civil wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

A new wave of demonstrations erupted over the last year in Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and Lebanon, typically demanding economic reforms and action against corruption.

In Lebanon, where protesters have brought the country to a standstill with demands for a full overhaul of the political system, the economy grew at a very slow pace over the past few years, Azour noted.

“The government has to act firmly and swiftly in order to address those imbalances, bring confidence back by addressing the fiscal situation, and lower expenditure,” he said.

The IMF also said that public debt levels were very high in many Arab countries―exceeding 85 percent of gross domestic product on average, with rates of more than 150 percent in Lebanon and Sudan.

“Having built over many years, the cost of public debt burdens has become sizable, preventing investments critical to the region’s long-term economic future,” it said.

The IMF said that Iran, which is subject to crippling US sanctions, has entered a steep economic recession and faces a battle against spiraling inflationary pressures. AFP

Trump seen milking the death of al-Baghdadi

CELEBRATION. Argentina’s president-elect Alberto Fernandez and vice-president Cristina Fernandez hug at the party’s headquarters in Buenos Aires on October 27, 2019. Peronist candidate Alberto Fernandez won Argentina’s presidential election in the first round, official results showed, bringing to an end the crisis-plagued rule of market-friendly incumbent Mauricio Macri. AFP

Romania, Hungary recruit workers in Asia BUCHAREST―Sporting yellow safety helmets, about 30 men are busy at work on a construction site south of Bucharest, exchanging a few words in Vietnamese.

Faced with a growing labor shortage that threatens their economies, Romania and Hungary are courting Asian workers, going against Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s anti-immigration rhetoric.

“My friend, my friend,” a Romanian worker says to his Vietnamese colleague in English at the Bucharest construction site, trying to break the language barrier.

Very little bridges the gap between the two cultures―from cigarette breaks, where the Vietnamese use a PVC pipe for an improvised puff, while for lunch a Vietnamese chef prepares several dishes for his compatriots to eat in a dining hall.

District mayor Daniel Baluta says the city was forced to recruit far beyond EU borders.

“We had money to renovate dozens of public housing units, but not the necessary manpower,” he tells AFP. In neighboring Hungary, the government has been quietly opening up the market to foreign workers.

This year it is issuing 75,000 permits, mainly for workers from Ukraine but also some from Vietnam, China and India, up sharply from 13,000 in 2015.

“It is impossible to realize a large-scale project without foreign workers,” Eva Toth, a representative of the chemical industry trade union, tells AFP, adding that Hungarian workers should be paid more and have better work conditions to entice them to stay.

In construction alone, an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 additional workers are needed, according to Gyula Pallagi, head of the sector’s union.

At one industrial site―a new polyol factory owned by Hungarian oil and gas

giant MOL about 160 kilometers northeast of Budapest-a so-called “container city” has been built to house up to 2,500 foreign workers.

Romania issued more than 11,000 work permits in the first half of the year, already more than the 10,500 granted for the whole of 2018 to fill the shortage left by four million of its own citizens emigrating north to look for better paying jobs.

Vietnamese, Moldovans and Sri Lankans are most numerous. Many are hired by recruitment companies which specialize in Asian labor, whose number has exploded.

“At first we were solicited for small projects, but for the past three years the demand for workers for large projects has increased significantly,” Corina Constantin, director of recruiter Multi Professional Solutions, tells AFP. AFP

Chile’s President Pinera lifts state of emergency SANTIAGO―Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday ended a state of emergency that lasted more than a week amid mass protests, but demonstrations continued nonetheless.

The decision to lift the decree at midnight, just two days after more than a million people took to the country’s streets demanding economic and political change, comes after the equally unpopular week-long nighttime curfews ended on Saturday.

Authorities imposed both the state of emergency and curfews last weekend after Chile was rocked by its worst civil unrest in decades.

What originated as a student protest against a modest hike in metro fares

quickly got out of control as demonstrations turned deadly.

A message on the presidency’s official Twitter account said the state of emergency, which had seen 20,000 soldiers and police deployed on the streets, would end “in all the regions and towns where it was established.”

This measure came a day after Pinera said he had “asked all ministers to resign in order to form a new government.”

“We are in a new reality,” Pinera said on Saturday. “Chile is different from what it was a week ago.”

But demonstrations continued on Sunday as thousands of people marched to the seat of Congress in Valparaiso, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the

capital Santiago.

“The strength of the social movement that has taken over the streets has been its... peaceful and constructive character,” said Jorge Sharp, Valparaiso’s mayor.

Some 100,000 people participated in the march, which ended in isolated clashes between demonstrators and the police, according to Sharp.

The government has been struggling to craft an effective response to the protests and a growing list of economic and political demands that include Pinera’s resignation.

A group of around a thousand cyclists stopped outside the presidential palace in Santiago on Sunday, chanting: “Listen up Pinera: go to hell.” AFP

Japanese support female emperor AWARDS.

Geena Davis speaks onstage during the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences’ 11th Annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on October 27, 2019, in Hollywood, California. AFP

TOKYO―The vast majority of Japanese voters back allowing women to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, a new poll shows, as the royal family struggles with a dearth of male heirs.

The survey, conducted in the wake of last week’s enthronement proclamation ceremony for Emperor Naruhito, found 81.9 percent favor Japan having a woman take the throne, with 13.5 percent opposed.

The Kyodo News agency poll, carried out over the weekend, comes as there is renewed debate about succession in the royal family, with inheritance of the throne limited by law to male members of the imperial line.

There are currently just three heirs― the emperor’s younger brother Crown Prince Akishino, 53, his 13-year-old son Prince Hisahito, and 83-year-old Prince Hitachi, the emperor’s uncle.

The dwindling ranks of male heirs have rekindled debate about allowing female royals to ascend the throne, with top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga saying they would “cautiously”

study the issue after a series of imperial ceremonies this year.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have one child, 17-year-old Princess Aiko.

Not only are women precluded from inheriting the throne, but they lose their royal status if they marry a commoner, and their children are no longer considered part of the imperial line.

Japan’s Conservatives remain strongly opposed to revisions to the Imperial House Law to allow women to ascend the throne.

Last week, a group of politicians suggested instead enacting a special law allowing men from branches of the royal family that were abolished in post-war reforms to “rejoin” the line, in a bid to bolster the ranks of male potential imperial successors.

The survey, covering 732 randomly selected households, polled 1,009 people in total.

The results are in line with surveys in recent years suggesting public support for a woman taking the throne. AFP

WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump took a victory lap Sunday over the killing of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—and he’s likely just getting warmed up.

“This is the biggest there is,” Trump said at a White House appearance, reaching into his customary arsenal of superlatives after announcing the dramatic raid by special forces into Syria.

The raid was, by US accounts, a remarkable success of intelligence gathering, cooperation with multiple foreign powers in the Syrian war, and ruthless execution by helicopter-borne American soldiers.

But Trump―threatened by a snowballing impeachment threat in Washington and stung by widespread criticism of his overall Syria policy― needs the victory to be his.

So amid a sometimes surprising level of detail in his account of the raid, the president shoehorned in plenty of politics—lines that had less to do with counter-terrorism than they did with Trump’s need to boost Donald Trump.

The Baghdadi victory wasn’t just the “biggest.”

It had to be bigger than the killing in a similarly daring raid in 2011 of Al-Qaeda founder and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Perhaps that’s because bin Laden was killed under Trump’s predecessor, Democratic president Barack Obama.

“Osama bin Laden was big, but Osama bin Laden became big with the World Trade Center. [Baghdadi] is a man who built a whole, as he would like to call it, a country,” Trump said.

The 45th president has long struggled, politically speaking, with the mantle of commander-in-chief. AFP

IN BRIEF Trump booed at baseball game WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump was booed by baseball fans as he attended a World Series game with his wife Melania in Washington Sunday.

Trump attended the tie-breaking game five of the series on the day his administration announced the death, long-sought by the Pentagon, of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

After the game’s third inning, the stadium’s video display showed military members in attendance―but then quickly cut to Trump.

The cheering crowd immediately switched to loud and sustained boos.

When the display cut back to the soldiers, the booing died down, but fans soon took up a chorus of “Lock him up!”―a play on the chant frequently heard at pro-Trump rallies against Hilary Clinton, but now often used against the president.

Demonstrators sitting behind the home plate also unfurled “veterans for impeachment” banners during the game, in reference to the House of Representatives investigation into whether Trump abused power by withholding military aid to Ukraine. AFP

Island scoured for missing Brit PHNOM PENH―Cambodia deployed soldiers, police and divers to scour an island popular with backpackers after a British tourist went missing there four days ago, an official told AFP on Monday.

Nearly 200 members of the army, navy and police have fanned out across Koh Rong in southern Cambodia in an attempt to find Amelia Bambridge, who was last seen at a beach party around 3:30 am on October 24.

“Divers are searching in the sea around Koh Rong while the others are scanning the jungle,” said Kheang Phearun, a spokesman for the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration.

“We have not yet found the missing British woman.”

British media reports said the 21-year-old had befriended other tourists, but the alarm was raised after she failed to check out of her hostel.

The mystery deepened after authorities said they found her bag and phone where she was last seen, a late-night hangout called Police Beach. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

Casimiro takes reins of Cag. Valley cops

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

By Jessica M. Bacud

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

COPS IN ACTION. Philippine National Police Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa visits injured cops in Rizal Province with Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Victor DF Ramos, PNP Director for Comptrollership, and PRO4A Acting Regional Director Brig. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. They also condole with the widow of Police Staff Sergeant Michael Cayambas Cabillo. Previously, Gamboa witnessed the turnover of command of the Calabarzon region to Danao from outgoing regional director Brig. Gen. Edward E. Carranza at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City. Inset shows Brig. Gen. Angelito Casimiro, the new Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 2, who replaces outgoing regional director PBGen Jose Mario M. Espino. Roy Tomandao and Jessica M. Bacud

TUGUEGARAO CITY—Following the major revamp implemented by the Philippine National Police as a result of the “ninja cops” controversy, Police Brig. Gen. Angelito Casimiro assumed the post as new Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 2, replacing outgoing regional director PBGen Jose Mario M. Espino.

Hailing from Nueva Vizcaya, Casimiro is the former Director of the PNP Logistics Support Service in Camp Crame, Quezon City, and a proud member of the Philipine Military Academy 1988 “Class Maringal.”

PBGen Gilberto DC Cruz of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Northern Luzon, administered the assumption of office together with the Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PBGen John Cornelius A.Jambora.

Cruz challenged Casimiro to take charge of the flagship of one of the largest regions in the country.

“It will never be easy, I tell you. But I am confident that you will not be frightened by this responsibility because you are equipped with enough passion and dedication to service,” he said.

Casimiro assured the compliance of the stand-up policies and PNP programs being enforced on all policemen, especially in the intensified campaign against illegal drugs, anti-insurgency drive, and the decisive implementation of the PNP’s Internal Cleansing Program.

“As your newly designated ARD, I cannot do this alone; I need a strong work force to achieve the goals we have. I know that we can all do these if we work hand in hand,” Casimiro said.

“Rest assured that we will work together with whatever happens and I hope that through our combined efforts, we will succeed in our endeavor of serving and protecting our country and its people,” he added.

In his speech during the change of command ceremony, Casimiro said all incumbent police officials in the province will remain in their posts in acting capacity, as they are expected to deliver and attain their respective targets for a month. Otherwise, they will be relieved from their positions.

He stressed the “no take” policy on material or monetary and other forms of bribery (No to Kotong), no use of recovered vehicles, and no use of PNP vehicles without plate numbers or conduction stickers.

Parañaque ranks high in biz city tally Belmonte vows to get rid of QC city hall ‘fixers’

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government has vowed to get rid of fixers inside the city hall in line with the thrust of Mayor Joy Belmonte of good governance.

One of the 14-point executive agenda of Belmonte is to implement good governance, and eliminate corrupt officials and employees.

She lauded Business Permits and Licensing Department chief Margarita Santos for her strict compliance to weed out fixers, following the arrest of one Myline Rivero of Barangay Lourdes last Oct. 25.

“I am glad that we have set an example to show that illegal transactions are not allowed inside city hall. We will make it ensure that the arrested fixer would be held liable,” Belmonte said.

According to Santos, Rivero submitted a fake locational clearance dated July 29 when it conducted a post-evaluation of her application for a business permit.

Such clearance is one of the requirements in applying for a business permit.

Rivero has been charged with falsification of public documents before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

The city government also filed raps against two supposed employees of the Valenzuela City hall, identified as Catherine Brondo and Normita Dimalanta, whom Rivero pointed to as the source of her falsified documents in exchange for P50,000.

“We call on the public to furnish us with genuine copies of required documents and not to resort to fraud in applying for permits and other licenses,” the BPLD chief said.

clude the size and growth of the local economy (measured by business registrations, capital, revenue, and permits), capacity to generate jobs, cost of living, cost of business, among others.

In terms of “economic dynamism,” which measures the economic activity and productivity of an LGU, the top ten consisted of, in descending order: Pasay, Davao, Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Baguio, Parañaque, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro. Quezon City topped the “infrastructure” list, followed by Manila, Davao, Pasay, Makati, Cebu, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Parañaque, and

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry has recognized the City of Parañaque as the third most improved among highly urbanized cities in the country.

The DTI gave the special citation to Mayor Edwin Olivarez and other city officials during the 7th edition of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The 7th Regional Competitiveness Summit is participated in by 1,518 lo-

cal government units (LGUs).

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the ranking would mean Parañaque City can do more in formulating programs more investments in order to improve competitiveness.

The Economic Dynamism Pillar of CMCI measures the economic activity and productivity of an LGU, which in-

Mayor Toby Tiangco congratulates Navotas City Hospital director Dr. Christia Padolina on receiving the “Strong Partner in Health Service Delivery” award from PhilHealth.

Jun David

Navotas hospital named ‘Strong Health Partner’

By Jun David THE Navotas City Government has been recognized for its outstanding health services.

The Navotas City Hospital (NCH) received a citation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for being a “Strong Partner in

Health Service Delivery.”

NCH director Dr. Christia Padolina, Dr. Spica Mendoza-Acoba, and Dr. Liberty Domingo received the award during the PhilHealth Regional Office’s LGU Executive Forum and Recognition.

“The award we received not only brought honor to our city. It also vali-

dated our efforts to provide premium public services to our fellow Navoteños,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“May this inspire us more to continuously improve our services and think of ways to help our constituents, especially those who have less in life,” he added.

Navotas was selected based on its sustainable and progressive health initiatives.

Cagayan de Oro. DTI also recognized local government units that significantly improved their performance in the CMCI. For Highly Urbanized City category, Valenzuela and Malabon shared the top spot, followed by Angeles, Pampanga (2nd) and Parañaque and Caloocan (3rd).

Records show the city’s economy has improved tremendously as business activity expanded under the leadership of Olivarez from 20,000 registered business establishments in 2013 to more than 25,000 in six years later.

FCF pours aid for PNP mess hall

By Ben Moses Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Australian firm FCF Minerals Corp. recently provided assistance to the Philippine National Police provincial headquarters here.

Police Col. Richard Saavedra, police provincial director, said FCF helped improve and refurbish the PNP Mess Hall inside Camp Saturnino Dumlao.

“We are very grateful for the help of FCF Minerals Corporation. Indeed, the company showed its care and support for the needs of our policemen and the organization in general,” Saavedra said.

The project, which was named Aglugub Mess Hall, was named after Police Col. Jeremias Aglugub, former police provincial director who initiated the project last year.

Aglugub, who was succeeded by Saavedra, is now the chief of the PNP regional staff support group based in Tuguegerao City.

The Aglugub Mess Hall’s recent inauguration was also attended by PNP regional director Brig. Gen. Mario Espino, Quezon Mayor Dolores Binwag, and Engineer Joel Fernandez and Fredo Mina, FCF Minerals’ Compliance and Risk Manager and Security Consultant, respectively.

BDO, Cameleon build safe haven for abused kids BDO Foundation and CAMELEON Association, an international non-profit organization that promotes the rights of children, have completed the construction of CAMELEON Negros Center, a safe haven for abused children in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Located at Barangay E. Lopez, roughly 30 minutes from Bacolod City, the center was officially opened in ceremonies witnessed by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, BDO Negros OccidentalSilay branch head Price Castor, and officers of partner organizations.

In attendance were Cooperation Humanitaire Luxembourg president Francois Prum, Silay City mayor Mark Andrew Golez and Zonta Club of Makati-Ayala representative Rita Dy. They were joined by CAMELEON officers led by its president Atty. Jose Cochingyan III, executive director Heide Foulc and founder Laurence Ligier.

“Together, we can do great things,” Ligier remarked. “CAMELEON is supported by countries like Belgium, France and Luxembourg, private NGOs, foundations and big corporations all over the world. However, we cannot depend on

foreign funding forever. I’m grateful to BDO Foundation, our biggest local partner, for co-financing the construction of CAMELEON Negros Center with us.”

The center is the result of a partnership BDO Foundation forged with CAMELEON back in 2016.

The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank staunchly supports CAMELEON’s advocacy to promote the dignity of children and protect their human rights. Through this corporate citizenship initiative, the foundation hopes to contribute to the rehabilitation of abused and underserved Filipino youth.

Officials cut the ribbon to open CAMELEON Negros Center, a partnership project of BDO Foundation and CAMELEON Association, that is the third shelter for abused children CAMELEON has built in the country.

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

Sit back and relax like President Duterte, Alden Richards

By Bernadette Lunas

E

XECUTIVES, celebrities, and heads of state are arguably among the most exhausted and stressed individuals in the world. Their schedules are often packed, and they are expected to always appear put together.

When even the most famous or richest can afford a few minutes to sit back and relax, we found out they do so, literally.

“Most of our customers are celebrities; they buy a unit for their homes,” Marianne Rodillo, marketing manager for Ogawa Philippines told Manila Standard.

Rodillo was of course referring to Ogawa’s massage chairs.

Some of its A-list clients include actor Alden Richards, model Doug Kramer, businessman Henry Sy, Manny Villar, and our president Rodrigo Duterte himself.

Ogawa, born in Malaysia in 1996, started as a health and wellness retail store until it expanded its reach in the Philippine market in 2011 with 38 stores and pop-ups nationwide including the newly opened branch at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in

Parañaque City.

The newly opened outlet carries the brand’s state-of-the-art massage chairs, including the top-of-theline Master Drive in Black Edition (P499,000), a 4D Thermo Care Massage chair that precisely targets acupunctura l points—from head to toe, including knees—for optimal energy restoration through human-like full-body massage.

Also in store are Master Drive in Espresso and Fox Red, Smart Edge Plus in Black Khaki, Smart Vogue Plus in Brown and Dark Brown, My Sofa 2, Mobile Seat XE, OmKNEE Therapy Plus, Tapping Foottee, and Snazzy Touch, among other massage chair and mobile products powered by innovative Japanese technology.

According to Rodillo, most of the company’s clients are from A and B markets as massage chairs’ prices range from P499,000 to P149,000.

However, Ogawa also offers relatively affordable wellness products such as the Mobile Seat XE (P15,990, discounted until Oct. 31), a massage cushion that features three mas-

sage zones heat function; as well as the Snazzy Touch (P9,990), a wireless and rechargeable massager with interchangeable heads.

Products are divided into six main categories, thereby allowing customers to choose which one suits their needs.

Categories include Relaxation, Therapeutic, Beauty, Slimming, Fitness, and Mobile Series.

Snazzy Touch features interchangeable massage heads that help deliver vibration therapy.

“We have wellness advisors present in every store and pop-up to provide more details

about the products such as the benefits of each massage chair to help customers make a decision,” said Rodillo.

Rodillo clarified, however, that anyone is welcome to try the massage chairs for free, “they can simply come by and experience the products.”

Because as she put it, “It’s not just a marketplace, it’s like a wellness experience center. We are not just selling the products. It’s our advocacy to promote the ‘Art of Living’ in the age of digital wellness here in the country.

“We’re here to share our wellness intelligence with everyone,” emphasized Rodillo.

The Art of Wellness is defined through art created by mind, body,

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TAKE A SEAT.

Ogawa promotes wellness through its innovative massage chairs that promote better health and relaxation, such as the Master Drive in Fox Red that precisely targets acupunctural points for optimal energy restoration.

and soul, in collaboration with Ogawa massage chair as the instrument of art, the brand said in a statement.

“A nurtured mind and body are essential for one’s wellbeing, as Ogawa strongly believes that everyone deserves to enjoy good health and to experience the art of wellness,” said Rodillo Ogawa’s pop-up and outlet stores nationwide are located at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Edsa Shangri-la Plaza, SM Seaside Cebu, Greenhills Promenade, Lucky China Town, Robinsons Galleria, SM City Clark, Ayala Malls Solenad, Ayala Malls Glorietta, Ayala Malls Circuit, Venice Grand Canal, Evia Lifestyle Center, and Alabang Town Center.

Master Drive in Black Edition

Ogawa Philippines marketing and communications manager Marianne Rodillo (fifth from left) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open Ogawa at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Joining Rodillo are (from left) Ms. Ogawa Philippines 2019 Amara Ui, Ayala Malls Manila Bay operations associate Jake Quisumbing, Dr. Ian A. Banzon, business consultant Niko Wong, branch supervisor Mark Dan Luzares, Mikaela LagdameoMartinez, Marc Nelson, Chuckie Dreyfus, and Mr. Ogawa Philippines 2019 Russell Tee.

More colors on the plate for a healthy wellbeing FILIPINOS today are not fond of eating vegetables, data reveal.

From a daily average of 145 grams of greens in 1978, Filipinos consumed only 110 grams of vegetables a day in 2008, based on the latest available data of the National Nutrition Council.

Meat consumption, on the other hand, is at an all-time high thanks to many ready-to-eat canned products as well fast food chains. While eating meat is a good source of protein, experts say excessive consumption can increase the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol.

Reduced fruit and vegetable consumption is also linked to poor health and increased risk of non-communicable diseases. An estimated 3.9 million deaths worldwide were attributable to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in 2017, according to the World Health Organization.

The way to combat the risks of these diseases is to promote a healthy lifestyle by eating meat in moderation and consuming the right amount of fruits and vegetables.

The WHO suggests consuming more than 400 grams of fruits and vegetables per day to improve overall health and, reduce the risk of certain NCDs. A European brand of home appliances shares these following tips to add more colors to one’s diet.

Add fruits and vegetables to the menu

Cook dishes that make fruits and vegetables more appealing to encourage kids to eat them more.

been challenging for parents. The solution is to create meals that make use of vegetables as the key ingredient. Roasted broccoli with melted cheese, roasted sesame seeds with asparagus toasts and poached eggs, corn cilantro salad, and shrimp and asparagus pasta are just some of the delicious vegetable-based recipes kids will love.

Make it a point to put vegetables and fruits on the plate. Vegetables as side dishes and fruits as desserts are not only healthy Store your greens and fruits properly but add variation and texture to any meal. It also introduces What good are the nutrition of fruits and vegetables if they more flavors to the meal without the worry of preservatives. can’t be kept fresh long enough? Using the right appliances to store food better is also part of promoting good health.

Serve salads as merienda For instance, Beko’s RCNT415E50VZWB bottom freezer, For people who love snacking, salads are a better way to no frost inverter refrigerator is equipped with the innovative make merienda a healthy meal. Salads are packed full of nu- EverFresh+ technology, keeping fruits and vegetables fresh tritional benefits such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Those for up to 30 days with a precise humidity control that miniwho like fancy texture in salads may throw in almonds, ha- mizes condensation in the crisper. zelnuts, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts. These not only add It also boasts the Active Fresh Blue Light technology that crunch but are rich in protein, vitamins B and E, folates, retains the natural flavors of fruits and vegetables, as well as magnesium, oleic acid, calcium, omega 3, and so much more. the benefits of vitamin C as it allows for a continuous photosynthesis in the crisper. It also has IonGuard that neutralizes Experiment with recipes that make bacteria, viruses, and particles in the refrigerator using negavegetables and fruits more appealing tive ions, allowing air inside to continue circulating so foods Getting children to eat vegetables and fruits has always stay clean for much longer.

Keeping fresh produce in an innovative refrigerator helps promote healthy lifestyle in the household.

Life

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

HEALTH BULLETIN

O

The huge fight against obesity

BESITY, which is characterized by excess body fat that can threaten or affect an individual’s health, is now recognized by medical experts as a progressive chronic disease similar to diabetes or high blood pressure.

In 2016, The World Health Organization estimated that at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of overweight/obesity associated with the occurrence of chronic diseases that has dire social and economic consequences.

By 2025, it is estimated that 2.7 billion adults will be suffering from obesity.

In the Philippines, three out of 10 Filipino adults are overweight or obese. The more alarming news is that in 10 years, the prevalence of obesity among Filipino adults almost doubled from 20.2 percent in 1998 to 37.2 percent in 2018.

One out of four Filipino children aged 6-10 years old and one out of every 10 Filipino adolescents are overweight/obese as of 2018. Research has also pointed out that obese children are more likely to stay obese until they become adults.

Overweight and obesity are the top nutrition issue in the eight cities of Metro Manila according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, with the prevalence of overweight and obesity in highly urbanized cities higher than the national estimates.

Knowing that obesity has become one of the most important public health concerns in the world, global healthcare company Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Philippines) Inc. collaborated with other stakeholders in an obesity awareness media forum titled “One Against Obesity” which aimed to change the public’s perspective on obesity, the stigma surrounding it, and how to care for people who are obese and overweight.

“There is more to obesity than what meets the eye. There are a number of environmental, physical, and psychological factors involved needing a multi-stakeholder approach,” said Cihan Serdar Kizilcik, vice president and general manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines.

Kizilcik continued, “First, we must understand that obesity is a critical health issue in the Philippines. We must be concerned for people with obesity not because of appearances but because of how this affects their overall wellbeing including risk for early death.”

Many representatives from the health sector including the government discussed how to overcome the challenge of obesity as a nation. Grete Sillasen,

Three out of 10 Filipinos are overweight or obese, which increases their risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, or other chronic non-communicable diseases.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Philippines, graced the forum as guest-of-honor in support of obesity awareness.

Dr. Mia Fojas, president of the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity shared the current statistics on obesity prevalence in the Philippines, risk factors, and treatments available, while vice president Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus discussed the challenges in weight management.

Azucena Dayanghirang, executive director III of the National Nutrition Council focused on debunking diet myths.

The Department of Health also shared the various efforts of the government to combat obesity through awareness and management, while

Coach Jim Saret shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle.

Novo Nordisk Philippines vice president Cihan Serdar Kizilcik leads the One Against Obesity forum.

fitness coaches from FitFil gave tips on living a healthy lifestyle through its Move It to Lose It program.

Roughly, a person is considered obese if he/she has a Body Mass Index, or weight and height correlation of 30 and above. But in order to better diagnose obesity, a person needs to see a doctor so other evaluation can be made.

Obesity leads to higher chances of acquiring diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and more.

The biggest factor that contributes to weight gain is associated with eating more calories than burning them through physical activity.

The environment one lives in also plays a role in a person’s inabil-

ity to stay fit and maintain a healthy weight. Such environmental factors include the lack of affordable gyms, not having parks or sidewalks conducive to jogging or cycling, and the lack of supermarkets that sell affordable healthy food.

Some medical conditions and other factors may also lead to obesity such as genetics, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women, and an underactive thyroid. There are also certain medications that may cause weight gain such as steroids and antidepressants. Lack of sleep, stress, and emotional factors may also lead to higher food intake.

One of the reasons why it has become difficult for people living with obesity to overcome this disease is the discrimination they suffer from society. Weight stigma refers to discriminating or negatively perceiving people based on their weight and size.

Obesity is preventable and manageable but it takes a shift in perspective as well as empathy towards people living with obesity in order to make this fight successful.

The first line of treatment for obesity, experts said, is lifestyle therapy.

This involves proper diet and exercise as well as counselling in order to help patients overcome obstacles in weight loss. For those with a BMI above 27 and have obesity-related complications, and 30 above with or without complications, doctors may also recommend anti-obesity medication in addition to lifestyle therapy. Weight loss surgery may also be an option for patients with a BMI of 40 and above and also have obesityrelated complications.

To fight obesity, the society must become more sensitive and empathic towards people living with obesity in order to encourage them to live better and to fight this disease. Healthier food and lifestyle choices need to become easier and more accessible options combined with empathetic support from family and society. Advances in pharmacotherapeutic options can also help augment lifestyle changes in achieving and maintaining weight goals for patients with obesity.

“We need to view obesity as a chronic non-communicable disease with its own challenges including that of weight regain,” according to Dr. Nicodemus.

“To support obesity prevention and treatment, we need to provide the necessary education and treatment from doctors and other healthcare professionals as well as providing opportunities for lifestyle change. A 5-10 percent weight loss will make a big difference in the quality of life but also lower the risk for heart attack, diabetes, and other cardiovascular events.”

5 ways to protect yourself from breast cancer

Healthway Medical’s HealthCheq package now comes with 10 free sessions at Saddle Row fitness center.

Health package comes with 10 fitness sessions

A SOUGHT-after health package got more comprehensive with the inclusion of free fitness sessions at Saddle Row. Healthway Medical provides companies and individuals a quick, lasting, and effective solution to their health goals through HealthCheQ which offers comprehensive diagnostic procedures and a physical evaluation. In addition to a pampering experience in the form of an overnight stay in a hotel or a body massage, it now gives HealthCheq customers a third option: free 10 fitness sessions consisting of indoor rowing and other reinvigorating activities.

Saddle Row, which opened in the Philippines in 2015, is a unique boutique fitness concept that creates tailorfit indoor workouts for cycling, rowing, and its signature realign classes.

It merges customized and measured

workouts in a stylish dual-concept studio space in Central Square BGC, Taguig and Powerplant Mall, Makati.

“This partnership is a win-win situation for our corporate clients and individuals who will avail of the HealthCheQ package,” says Carmie De Leon, vice president for sales and marketing of Healthway Medical.

“After our client undergoes the medical check-up, they can avail of the free fitness options in Saddle Row to make sure they follow through with what the doctor advised them. Saddle Row’s free sessions revolve around cycling and rowing, which can help them get in shape and improve their muscles and cardiovascular system, just to name a few health benefits.”

Contact customer care hotline at (02) 751-4629 for more details.

THE Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer cases in Asia, according to data.

Experts say one in 13 Filipino women will get breast cancer. And while most experts point out that there is no known cause of breast cancer, most agree that there are ways to reduce the risk.

Dr. Rachael Marie Rosario, executive director of the Philippine Cancer Society, a non-profit organization that seeks to help the Filipinos cope with cancer through education, has these tips to help everyone protect themselves against breast cancer:

Have regular health checkups

“Early detection can save lives. It improves the chances of getting cured,” says Dr. Rosario. She adds that when breast cancer is detected early, patients only need a one-time operation.

The American Cancer Society said that a patient would need several treatments, depending on the stage of the disease, if breast cancer was detected late. Treatments usually include surgery and radiation therapy, often along with chemotherapy or drug therapies before or after surgery.

Treatment for metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) is usually a systemic (drug) therapy. Experts advise women to do breast self-examination once in a while and to consult a doctor if they suspect something is wrong.

Regular breast selfexamination is vital in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, says Dr. Rosario. If you do not have the time to go to the gym, even the simplest physical activities like walking and cleaning the house will help, she says.

Educate yourself

Dr. Rosario says there is a lack of awareness of breast cancer among Filipinos. Many patients would consult a doctor only when the cancer is in a late stage.

She says there are many factors that could increase the risk of having breast cancer such as having no children by the age of 30, a family history of breast cancer, and early menstruation or late menopause. If a woman Live a healthy lifestyle A healthy lifestyle is primary preven- has one or more of these factors, she tion. This means eating a balanced diet should see a doctor regularly. and maintaining an ideal weight. Being Avoid vices overweight or obese increases the risk Aside from being conscious about of breast cancer.

what a person eats, they should also avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol. Medical experts suggest that these habits can increase breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women.

Get critical illness insurance coverage

Many people are intimidated by cancer because they worry about the medical cost. Women avoid screening for breast cancer for fear they will not have enough money and also will no longer be able to work.

Insurance provider Axa Philippines’ Health Start and Health Max offer protection from life-threatening illnesses at an affordable price. The insurance plans cover critical illnesses, including cancer, stroke, and heart attack. Go to www.axa.com.ph.

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Movie fans flock Sushmita Sen look-alike wears PH to ‘Joker’steps sash at Miss Tourism International in New York

SNAPSHOT

TOURISTS are flocking to a flight of stairs in the Bronx area of New York that Joaquin Phoenix dances down in an iconic but controversial scene from hit movie Joker.

Film buffs have even had to queue before being able to snap photos of themselves recreating the character’s pose that appears on the poster of the Todd Phillips-directed blockbuster. AFP

Young Filipino artist set to take the world by storm Better known by his stage name No Rome, Guendoline Rome Viray Gomez is a London-based Filipino musician who's making waves on the international music scene.

By Peter Paul Duran

L

AST month, British pop-rock band The 1975 returned to Philippine shores in a one-night concert in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Despite the monsoon rains, a plethora of young fans braved the inclement weather to sing along with heir favorite songs like “People,” “Give Yourself a Try,” and “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME.” But amid the sea of screaming Pinoy fans, one Filipino artist stood out, owning the stage before ushering in the big act of the night in front of all his “kababayans.”

“I used to play shows here like in small bars, in small clubs. This is like just the bigger version of all that” said Guendoline Rome Viray Gomez a.k.a. No Rome in the music industry.

Before heading to the concert stage at the MoA Arena in Pasay, reporters had the chance to chat with the up-andcoming London-based Filipino artist.

He shared how he got to tour the world with The 1975, his biggest (and hottest) gig yet, and who he wishes to collab with other artists in the local music scene.

No Rome made headlines in 2019 when he played at the Coachella Music Festival as his brand of ever-expanding techno-pop style has turned heads to

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

this Manila-born global artist.

“Three words. Coachella was fun, scary and also, damn hot!” he said in the intimate interview about his biggest break yet, saying that even though he tours the world stage, he still gets nervous whenever he performs.

“Yes I still get anxiety before I play.

But I think it’s important though, when you get scared, you still care, it still excites you,” he said.

No Rome and the 1975 are both currently signed to Dirty Hit, and the 22-year-old collaborated with his coartists in the label to come up with “Narcissist,” which has since raked up 7.8 million views on YouTube as of this writing.

The song comes off of No Rome’s third EP RIP Indo Hisashi in 2018.

For 2019 he comes out with another Extended Play Crying in the Prettiest Place.

“I make situational pop music, so whatever the situation is at the moment, I would write a song about it,” he said.

Sharing that sometimes he would see a movie and be inspired by the visuals and the score. “So I go, ‘woah’ I want to write something about

that,” No Rome shared who started his formal music career back in 2011.

But take note, music has been his whole life.

“I would just write songs when I was younger. For me it was my form of expression,” he said. “I’d be home just playing the guitar and just writing songs.”

Touring with The 1975, however, has been a whole new learning process and self-discovery.

“It’s been a great experience. I learned a lot from them and vice versa. It’s more like a nice creative space because we kind of like know each other’s sound and they also help me develop mine.”

Asked which Filipino artist, this time, he wants to collab with, his answer was immediate: Nadine Lustre.

“Locally, I would love to work with Nadine Lustre. She’s got a good voice. She gives me kinda like Ariana vibes. But I only met her once, and it was ages ago.”

After he opened The 1975’s second concert Manila though, his fans can still get a glimpse of this young talent when he does his own show this coming October 6, 2019 at Market!

Market!.

Looking back, No Rome sets his feet firmly to the ground and writes music that will express and not impress.

“When I was playing in small clubs, I just really wanna make music, playing in these big shows is just a bonus,” he said.

“Ultimately, I just wanna contribute something to music. Something that lasts forever.”

C Y R I L L E Payumo, the Mutya Pilipinas 2019 first runner-up, who replaced disqualified Mutya PilipinasTourism International 2019 Tyra Goldman, is now in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to vie for the 22nd Miss Tourism International crown.

The 22-year-old, 5-foot-9 native of Pampanga, and a graduate of BS Tourism Management from Holy Angel University in Angeles City, will compete against more than 40 delegates from around the world.

“We come to a decision to send Cyrille who was born in the Philippines.

She was surprised by the news, but she has risen above her fears and apprehension and trained very hard, for less than a month, and now she is ready,” said Cory Quirino, president of Mutya Pilipinas organization.

“Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi , President of the Miss Tourism International organization, told me that this year they have tighter contract and they have to follow the rule that the delegate should be born in their country of representation. Goldman, who is a Filipina, was born in Nevada, USA. We respect the rules of the

organization and assure them of our 100 percent compliance,” said Quirino during the send-off press conference for Payumo held at CWC Interiors, in BGC,Taguig City.

She assured that Goldman will still be given the opportunity to compete in another respectable i n t e r n a t i o n a l competition.

The statuesque Payumo, who has a strong resemblance with Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen Sen, trained u n d e r Kagandahang Flores beauty camp and will compete in an evening gown d e s i g n e d by Benj Leguiab IV and her national costume by designer Rich Sabinian.

She will be aiming to bring home the Miss Tourism International title for the fifth time after JJannie Loudette Alipoon in 2017, the back-to-back wins of lateRizzini Alexis Gomez in 2012 the late (she died in 2015) and Angeli Dione Gomez in 2013 and Maria Esperanza Corazon Manzano in 2000.

The Miss Tourism International 2019 coronation night is set on Nov. 8 at the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia, where reigning Miss Tourism International 2018 Astari Vernideani of Indonesia will pass on her crown to her successor. *** Twenty-five married women were named as candidates of Mrs. Philippines International 2019 pageant during press presentation held at Amore Hotel Alabang on Oct. 13. Darling of the Press went to Michelle Encarnacion of Albay with Risa Dormiendo of Taguig City and Mary Grace Avanzado of Laguna as up.Septi Magaspi of runners up.

Cebu City was awarded Mrs.

Maris Racal, Iñigo Pascual share refreshing lifestyles ONE thing that defines today’s generation of young Filipinos is that they have their own interests and passions that they strongly advocate. Some want to travel and see the world, pursue the highest possible educational degree, and even participate in volunteer programs.

Then, there are individuals like Maris Racal and Iñigo Pascual, who work hard to share their talents, entertain and inspire others.

Popularly known as MarNigo, these two stars are not only passionate about their artistic careers but also in promoting a clean lifestyle and responsible living among the youth.

What it means to live a ‘clean’ lifestyle

Drinking eight bottles of water every day is the principle that Iñigo has been living by since he was a student. He shares, “Growing up in the States, I was the guy that would bring eight water bottles to class because it was so expensive there. Personally, I believe that drinking water is the best way to cleanse so I make sure to always have a bottle with me.”

Like Iñigo, Maris also opens up about being a fan of drinking water. She also shares a habit that she recently developed to help her work towards a better lifestyle: going to the gym.

Maris tells, “It was only last year that I got into working out. I make sure to keep active and fit by going to the gym thrice a week. And

even there, I always bring water to keep me refreshed.”

The two young celebrities agree that it is important to be aware and take care of one’s self, not just through hydration, but also in having a positive approach in life. “Better lifestyle starts on the inside. Have a positive approach on the way you go about in life, as well as surround yourself with people who will push you to take care of yourself,” Iñigo said.

Stay updated on the latest promos by following Refresh Mineral Water on Facebook (@RefreshWaterPH) or visiting Universal Robina Corporation’s website atwww.urc. com.ph.

Screen tandem Maris Racal and Iñigo Pascual

Philippines Aura Care.

Winners of the pageant, to be known at the finals set in December, will be sent to TKS Mrs. International pageant in Singapore.

Mrs. Philippines International 2019, which focuses on this year’s theme “Crown for Compassion,” a resilient statement for women empowerment in all aspects, is presented by Glamore Productions, Co., headed by Maan Cueto Aris, in partnership with 3 Stars Productions, headed by CEO Aries Concepcion. Glamore also launched the World Tourism Festival on its 3rd year, held alternately in Japan and the Philippines, and co-founded by Aiko Tanaka Yamamoto of In the Field Co., Ltd. Glamore is also home to the newly branded Prince and Princess of the Philippines with the winners to be sent to the different international pageants for kids and teens.

Completing the list of candidates are Aimmee Angelika Ebreo (Calapan City), Cecil Bayanes (Baguio City), Karen Cortes (Taytay, Rizal), Sarah Jean Bayocot(San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur), Cherryl

Cyrille Payumo is competing in the Miss Tourism International 2019 pageant in Malaysia.

Dacua (Cebu), Catherine Flores (Caloocan City), Melanie Tranie (Cebu North), Krysta Elaine Torino (Batangas City),Ma. Glovel Tasico (Malvar), Loudly Telidua (Pinamungjan, Cebu), Mary Sept Alvarez (Zamboanga City), Mari Joyce Mortega (Bicol), Jeanet Garcia (Bauan, Batangas), Easter Lane Pescadera (Bohol), Jucil Marie Juntilla (Danao, Cebu), Athens Lucena (Paranaque), Rizzalie Joy Ebreo (Batangas), Darling Edralin(Cagayan de Oro City), Divina Gracia Carpio (Quezon City), and Marie Abigail Bayuga (Marikina).

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

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

‘In Full Bloom’ at Winford Weddings LUXURY hotel Winford Manila with Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) and Michael Ruiz Events Styling, recently joined creative forces to host a unique bridal show dubbed Winford Weddings: In Full Bloom.

Held in September, the exclusive showcase took place in WMRC’s massive ballroom on the hotel’s 4” floor. Attendees of the by-invitationonly affair were limited to VIP guests and members of the press, who were feted with the culinary expertise of Choi Garden Manila and Copa De Manila.

Delicious dessert was catered by Hearts & Bells, and overflowing drinks courtesy of Emperador and The Bar. While traditional shows of this

nature typically feature bridal couture only, In Full Bloom offered a fresh twist by presenting nuptial fashion for the groom as well. Top billing the program were celebrity guests Alex Gonzaga and Diether Ocampo, who played the roles of the blooming couple effortlessly, parading the stunning creation of FDAP members on the runway. Both were flanked by Mutya ng Pilipinas beauties and celebrity ring bearer Jacob Lim, who formed part of their entourage for the evening.

Gorgeous floral arrangements decked out the entire WMRC ballroom consistent with the motifs blue and white hues, first seen in the wedding invitations produced by AAP Printers.

Completing the ethereal mood were

high-powered lights and a crystal-clear sound system delivered by S One, while a modern Ting Hun set up by New Victory and Chinoy TV by the entrance welcomed guests as they filed into the ballroom.

“In Full Bloom is the theme of our showcase because like flowers in bloom, it also describes the blossoming love between two people ready to tie the knot,” saidJeffrey Evora, President and Chief Operating Officer, WMRC. “More than that, the words ‘in full bloom’ can also be used to describe Winford Manila because we like to think that we too are blooming after reaching an important milestone— our 2nd Anniversary in the hospitality business earlier this year.” Continued on C3

A psycho-thriller

that plays with your

mind

Shot in Greenland, 'Nuuk' is a psycho-thriller that features interesting characters that cross paths in the capital of the arctic country.

A

GA Muhlach and Alice Dixon return to the big screen via Nuuk, a psycho-thriller movie that takes place in one of the least inhabited areas in the world.

until a mystery comes along, it appears that nobody recognizes Mark but Elaisa.

“Nuuk is the first Filipino movie shot in Greenland,” Aga shared adding that it NICKIE was also produced in cooperation with the WANG Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark, the one who governs over Greenland.

From the same director of the heart-breaking romanticcomedy set in Iceland, Through Night and Day (2018), starring Paolo Contis and Alessandra De Rossi, FAMAS and Gawad Urian nominee Veronica “Roni” Velasco presents a very interesting and intriguing story, which they describe as a film that will play with your mind and make things around you seem too good to be true.

Nuuk opens in cinemas Nov. 6. ***

VERY WANG

In the film, Aga portrays the role of Mark Alvarez, a mysterious man who becomes a confidant to Elaisa Svendsen (Alice), a Filipina who longs for her deceased husband.

“I’m reading a lot of comments from people online from people speculating about the twists in my character and the story,” Aga said during the film’s press conference.

“Am I a ghost? A figment of Alice’s character’s imagination?

Rivermaya I would love to share a few details but we cannot reveal anything because you have to see the full movie for you to be at SM North EDSA Skydome able to understand it,” he carried on.

Rock band Rivermaya returns to the mainstream concert Nuuk is the capital city of the autonomous country circuit with Balik-Tanaw: A Night Of OPM on Nov. 3 (Sunday, Greenland. This country has the record of having the highest 7:00 p.m.) at SM North EDSA Skydome. rate of suicide in the world, with speculations that it’s because of the cold weather or its isolation from other countries, The real reason why suicide often occurs in the country is still unknown.

It’s in Nuuk where Alice’s character Elaisa Svendsen lives.

“She’s a Filipina who lives in the arctic country. She is in despair after her husband dies. With nothing but alcohol and medicine to depend on, she becomes miserable, then one day, she crosses paths with Mark Alvarez, a fellow Filipino who is almost the same age as her,” the actress said of her character.

Mark becomes Elaisa’s friend, She confides and feels at ease around him, and eventually starts to fall for him. Things are finally starting to get better for Elaisa because of Mark,

Top OPM rock band Rivermaya

Fans and music lovers can look forward to an unforgettable evening of old school ‘90s rock music as the iconic Filipino rock band dishes out its greatest hits such as “214,” “Kisapmata,” Umaaraw, Umuulan,” and “Liwanag Sa Dilim” among many other mammoth chart-toppers culled from its impressive catalogue of multi-platinum studio albums.

A production of Istudyo Ni Pipay Co., the concert also features OPM’s fastest rising stars such as RJ Dela Fuente, Lady Pipay, and Sandra Jung among many other guest artists.

Tickets to the concert are available at BLIIMO and SM Tickets.

Aga Muhlach sets off to a chilly adventure in 'Nuuk,' a film that marks his reunion with Alice Dixson on the big screen.

Celebrity guests Alex Gonzaga and Diether Ocampo play the roles of the blooming couple at Winford's 'In Full Bloom' event.

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Streaming TV war kicks into gear with Apple, Disney launches THE streaming television war is set to enter a new phase as titans Apple and Disney take direct aim at market leader Netflix, vying for consumers abandoning their cable TV bundles for on-demand services.

The shift away from “linear” television is likely to escalate with powerful new entrants to streaming coming this year and in early Apple has enlisted stars such as Steve 2020.

Carell, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer The new landscape has impor- Aniston for its new streaming television tant implications for longtime service to rival Netflix. segment leader Netflix, which is now locked in a battle with deeppocketed rivals for actors, directors, and producers to win and keep audiences.

“The Cinderella ride that Netflix has been on has some stormy weather ahead,” said Wedbush Securities equity research managing director Daniel Ives.

“You are talking about some of the biggest brands in technology involved in this battle.”

An Apple TV+ service will launch Nov. 1 in more than 100 countries at $4.99 per month. Apple is spending heavily on new content and promises a “powerful and inspiring lineup of original shows, movies, and documentaries.”

Entertainment colossus Disney will launch its own online streaming service, chock full of popular franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel superheroes, on Nov. 12 in the US, Canada, and the Netherlands, before rolling out worldwide.

And more competition looms on the horizon, as AT&T’s WarnerMedia will launch its “HBO Max” in early 2020 after reclaiming the rights from Netflix to stream its popular television comedy Friends.

NBCUniversal’s Peacock service is also launching next year. AFP ***

Kanye West drops new album, film AFTER blowing past yet another release time for his long-anticipated album, Kanye West finally dropped Jesus Is King on Friday, coinciding with the release of its companion IMAX film of the same name.

His new work paints a portrait of the artist as a saved man, coming in a year that’s seen West tour with his impromptu “Sunday Service” Kanye West performs a 'Jesus Is King' a church-esque album and film experience in California. performances, concert series featuring gospel choirs.

The IMAX film, which clocks in at approximately 30 minutes, shows a Sunday Service at Roden Crater in Arizona’s Painted Desert.

It primarily features static shots of a choir, and ends on West gently singing a rendition of his song “Street Lights,” from 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak, to a baby that appears to be his son Psalm. AFP

Pinoy dramas in Myanmar GMA continues to be the premier source of Filipino content in Myanmar with the recent premiere of three of its dramas in the country through partnerships built

by GMA Network’s content distribution subsidiary, GMA Worldwide, Inc. (GWI) with content distributors in the region.

The top-rating series My Korean Jagiya starring Heart Evangelista (Beautiful Strangers, Juan Happy Love Story Story), and K-Pop artist Alexander Lee recently completed its run on MWD Channel’s primetime, through distributor Dream 99 Media. The series that was shot on location in Seoul and Manila was GMA’s most successful romantic comedy series in 2017.

R o m a n t i c drama Once Again premiered on Oct. 23 on Myanmar’s 5 Plus free-to-air television channel through GWI’s partnership with Family Entertainment.

The series stars Janine Gutierrez (Legally Blind Blind) opposite Aljur Abrenica as starcrossed lovers reincarnated to give their love another chance.

Finally, GMA’s award-winning romantic comedy series The One

That Got Away premiered on Oct. 19 on Channel 7, the second free-to-air channel of Myanmar’s Forever Group Co., Ltd. The series bagged a Silver Screen Award in the 2018 US International Film and Video Awards in the dramatic comedy category. It features a powerhouse cast led byDennis Trillo, Lovi Poe, Rhian Ramos, and Max Collins. It tackles how modern women handle love, friendship, and relationships.

Alexander Lee and Heart Evangelista of 'My Korean Jagiya.'