Manila Standard - 2019 November 9 - Saturday

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Romualdez lauds ‘Yolanda’ first responders for caring

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Friday honored the first responders that included President Rodrigo Duterte, volunteers, local and international donors for showing compassion during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (“Haiyan”) in Tacloban City and Region 8 six years ago.

Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, joined the 6th year commemoration of the Yolanda tragedy where he also remembered the residents who perished and cited the survivors’ resilience.

“We thank the malasakit of all volunteers especially President Duterte who was then Davao City mayor for coming in to Yolandahit areas and helping us,” said Romualdez, who along with local officials led by Tacloban Next page

IN UNANIMITY. Communities from the Haiyan corridor lighted up candles which formed the words ‘Tindog’—a Waray term for standing up—as a demonstration of solidarity with the victims of the recent earthquakes in Mindanao during the Open House on Resilience: Economy, Community, EcologyCelebrating Community Resilience at the Charge Philippines Facility in Tacloban City on Nov. 5.

VP redraws drug war blitz

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 268 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Maguindanao massacre: SC moves verdict

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja THE Supreme Court has granted the request of Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for a one-month extension to resolve the decade-old Maguindanao massacre case, in which more than 190 respondents are accused of killing 58 people on Nov. 23, 2009.

“There are so many accused and victims. We allowed her to have an extension of one month. We hope she won’t ask for another,” Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said Friday in his first press conference as top magistrate.

Reyes submitted the case for decision in August after conducting a trial for over 10 years. Once a case is

By MJ Blancaflor and Rio N. Araja

V

ICE President Leni Robredo wants the administration to reassess its anti-drug campaign even as the Palace said Friday she should be given space as she fulfills her responsibilities as head of the effort.

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Robredo earlier vowed to pursue the campaign against narcotics with “vigor, intensity, and strength” within the bounds of the rule of law and standard procedures, amid allegations of police abuses during the conduct of anti-drug operations.

As Robredo joins raid and police operations, she will be exposed to the “realities on the ground,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

It’s a move also suggested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino, Robredo’s co-chairman on the government body.

“After that, she will plan how to succeed in her job. Give her space,” Panelo added.

The National Capital Region Police Office said Robredo may join police operations in Metro Manila if she wishes to do so.

BEST FOOT FORWARD.

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo, the new anti-drug czar, in cadence on the same path as they pool talents and time to crush the drug menace in the country, minutes after a general meeting with senior officials of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs as well as Dangerous Drug Board Chairman Catalino Cuy, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año at the Office of the Vice President in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

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Anti-crime body seeks to reopen SAF 44 incident

By Rio N. Araja ALONG with ex-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Friday filed a motion to reopen the Mamasapano case and reconsider new pieces of evidence.

In a seven-page motion, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, representing the kin of some of the 44 police officers Next page

Another PMA cadet dies, Peralta: Judge cleared laws in warrants vs. activists found at bottom of pool BAGUIO—Another cadet in the Philippine Military Academy has died, his body found apparently drowned in the campus swimming pool, police said Friday.

Police identified the student as Mario Telan Jr., a 4th class cadet.

The incident comes nearly two months after the fatal hazing of cadet Darwin Dormitorio, who died on Sept. 18.

Initial investigation showed that upper-class cadets searched for Telan at 1:20 p.m. They proceeded to the PMA’s Jurado Hall Next page

‘Ok boomer’: Millennials’ dig at oldies FILIPINOS will hear the phrase “OK, boomer” more frequently these days, if not already— and it’s not as cute as it sounds.

A catchphrase coined by the millennial or “meme” generation, it is used to dismiss out-of-touch, Next page

A QUEZON City judge who issued search warrants that led to some 60 activists being arrested cannot be investigated by the Supreme Court because she followed the rules, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said Friday.

This developed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines denied the harassment claims of some militant groups following the recent law enforcement operations in Bacolod City and Manila, which led to the arrest of dozens of suspected militants.

A rights group had condemned police who raided the offices of progressive organizations in Bacolod on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

In his first official press conference as Chief Justice, Peralta said the Supreme Court has not received a report on the matter but has so far gathered that she “followed all the rules.”

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YOUR HONOR, PLEASE. Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta fields questions from media during a meeting Friday with newshounds at the Supreme Court in Manila. Norman Cruz

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Makati gives P24m to quake aid

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati city government is giving P24 million in financial assistance to local government units affected by the series of earthquakes in the past weeks in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

The Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Mayor Abigail Binay, approved the financial assistance in a meeting Friday morning at City Hall.

Binay said she convened the council for an emergency meeting to expedite the release of financial aid to affected

localities in Mindanao.

On Thursday, health officials in Makilala, North Cotabato, reported that a six-month-old girl died of dehydration at an evacuation center. Official cited the lack of safe drinking water in the town’s evacuation centers for the death.

“The City of Makati empathizes with

the victims of the recent earthquakes, and we would like to help them get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Binay said. “Aside from financial aid, we will also share whatever resources we can spare.”

Binay said Makati will also donate school supplies to affected students in the two provinces. She also said the city may deploy psycho-social support teams to conduct stress debriefing and help the victims recover from their traumatic experience.

Also present during the meeting were City Administrator Atty. Claro Certeza, City Legal Officer Atty. Mi-

chael Camiña, DILG-Makati Director Atty. Cherry Melodias, and Councilor Jojo Javier, among other DRRM Council members.

Under the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010, the local DRRM Council may transfer funds to support other local government units which are declared under a state of calamity, upon the approval of the Sanggunian concerned.

The city chief executive said she expected the financial assistance to be included in the agenda of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in its regular session next week. With PNA

Iranian beauty Rains leave 3 dead; Cagayan declares calamity state queen granted refugee status

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice Refugee and Stateless Persons Protection Unit has granted refugee status to Iranian beauty queen Bahareh Zare Bahari.

In a two-page document released

by Bahari’s legal counsel Martelino Bacungan and Associates, the RSPPU sent a Notice of Recognition to 31-year-old Bahari indicating that her application for refugee status has been approved last Nov. 6.

“You are hereby informed that you are recognized as a refugee under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol in a decision, dated 06 November 2019…

This serves as Notice of Recognition,” the RSPPU said.

The DOJ-RSPPU also provided the Iranian beauty queen with a Refugee Identification Card.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete explained the difference between refugee and asylum.

According to him, refugee is “the status accorded under international law to one who is outside his or her country of nationality (or if without nationality, his or her habitual residence) because of a well founded fear of being persecuted on account of race, religion, and others.”

“Asylum is the protection given to that person by the country in which the application for recognition as a refugee is filed,” Perete said.

Peralta:...

From A1 As the executive judge of the Quezon City RTC, Villavert is authorized to issue search warrants to be served nationwide, Peralta said.

The executive judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court is the only other judge with this power, he noted.

“How can there be [harassment] if the search is covered by appropriate warrants issued by the court?” AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement forwarded to reporters Thursday night.

“That we submitted our application for Search Warrant to the scrutiny of the issuing judge and the latter finds probable cause to issue a SW shows that there are sufficient grounds to conduct the search,” Arevalo added.

The local judge also required the policemen or military men who implemented the warrant to report to the court within 10 days, Peralta noted. “[Villavert] conducted hearing to determine the existence of probable cause, she conducted the required searching questions, extensive questions and when she was satisfied with the existence of probable cause, she issued a search warrant,” the Chief Justice said.

“Can we now take the initiative to investigate her? There is no basis,” he said. PNA

Romualdez...

From A1 City Mayor Alfred Romualdez paid tribute to those who have helped the city devastated by Yolanda, one of the world’s most powerful typhoons in recent history.

“Every year, we remember the affected communities and honor the memory of thousands of lives lost in the tragedy. We are eternally grateful for the heroism, kindness and generosity with so many countless volunteers, donors and partners who have helped in saving lives, comforted us in our pain and grief and rebuilt our homes and communi-

Radioman’s killers nabbed; Palace approves

By MJ Blancaflor TWO suspects, including a former policeman, were arrested on Friday for the murder of 67-year-old radio broadcaster and block timer Dindo Generoso, officials said.

Retired Police Corporal Glenn Corsame and Teddy Reyes Salaw, 44, were detained at the Dumaguete City Police Station to face murder charges.

The suspects have links to a “powerful” politician in the province, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, but the police have yet to identify the mastermind and the motive behind Generoso’s murder.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, PTFoMS co-chairman, said the two were nabbed at 5 p.m. on Thursday, nearly 10 hours after Generoso’s murder.

Undersecretary Joel Egco identified Generoso’s alleged killers as Corsame, retired personnel of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office and Salaw of Batinguel, Dumaguete City.

The announcement of the arrest and preparations for the filing of criminal charges against the suspects was made through a PTFOMS Facebook post on Friday.

Generoso died on the spot on Thursday morning when the suspects shot him while he was on his way to dyEM 96.7 Bai Radio in Piapi village.

A .45-caliber Norinco pistol with eight rounds of live ammunition were seized from Corsame and Salaw, along with a phone containing their text messages about the killing.

The vehicle used during the murder was tracked down through CCTV footage, and it was owned by a certain Tomas Alegro, according to the authorities. With PNA

THREE people were killed as rain inundated the northern tip of Cagayan province for the fifth straight day, Gov. Manuel Mamba said Friday as he declared a state of calamity.

The tail-end of a cold front, or the interaction of cold and warm air from the Pacific Ocean, is bringing heavy rain to Cagayan and to the neighboring Ilocos Norte and Apayao provinces, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

The agency said severe Tropical Storm “Quiel” (international name “Nakri”) was likely to intensify into a

typhoon as it continued to bring rain over parts of the country on Friday.

In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Quiel was last spotted 380 kilometers west-northwest of Coron, Palawan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

But PAGASA weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said “Quiel” was expected to leave the country on Friday night or early Saturday.

Mamba said one Cagayan resident drowned, another was killed in a landslide while a third was electrocuted

during the rain that sent 3,900 people to evacuation centers.

“It was their first time to experience this kind of flooding in northern Cagayan,” Mamba told DZMM radio.

“Even in the national highway in Allacapan town, the flood was chesthigh. Residents in Ballesteros town this morning asked for rescue because the water was rising.”

Most farmers in Cagayan, which produces corn and rice, had harvested their crops and were preparing their land for another planting season when the rains hit, Mamba said. PNA

VP...

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have gunned down just over 5,500 suspects who fought back, though watchdogs claim the true number is at least four times higher.

The campaign has drawn fierce international criticism, especially from rights groups that allege the crackdown could amount to crimes against humanity. International Criminal Court prosecutors have launched a preliminary probe and the UN’s top rights body has voted to conduct an in-depth review.

Robredo told a press conference after the meeting that she plans to dig into the details of the crackdown, and believes any misconduct should be confronted by the Philippines.

“I would rather that we take care of whatever we have to take care of,” she said. “There are a lot of things that happened that should not have happened.”

President Duterte bristles at any criticism of his drug war, with public opinion polls saying he as the overwhelming backing of Filipinos.

Robredo said she saw her appointment “as a signal that the President is open to listen to a fresh perspective about the entire campaign.”

“Drugs are the enemy here. We are not at war with our countrymen,” she added.

Amnesty International took a supportive view of Robredo’s new post, calling it proof “global pressure is having an effect, and that the public mood in the Philippines is turning against the flawed approach of the so-called war on drugs.”

Duterte has previously vowed to continue the drug war until the end of his term in mid-2022, often deriding Robredo’s capability to potentially lead the country, which she would have to do if the President dies or cannot function.

But in a turnaround labelled by critics as a trap, Duterte said in a speech last week that the drug situation has “worsened” with the police on the “brink of surrendering.”

“It’s beyond my competence, but maybe she will do better,” Duterte told reporters last week, referring to Robredo.

On Friday, Robredo presided over her first meeting with the ICAD, along with Aquino, and asked law enforcement agencies to stop “senseless killings.”

She urged the members of ICAD to realize that the war against the illegal drugs could succeed even without killing any suspects or innocent civilians.

“Maybe, it could be high time that we think of shifting to another effective campaign that would not cost the lives of people senselessly,” she said.

Robredo said she wanted to erase the concept that the meaning of “tokhang” would be a war against the poor only.

The vice president was seated at the center of the table with Aquino to her right and Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Catalino Cuy to her left. The first meeting was held at the Quezon City Reception Hall in New Manila.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

so many victims. I think in the last century, I have yet to hear cases involving the massacre of so many people. The accused are all entitled to due process,” Peralta said, when asked if he was disappointed that the trial of the case dragged on for a decade.

“But we adopted several ways to fasttrack the resolution of cases. It’s good that the parties agreed to these tools that were adopted by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes in order to as early as possible resolve the cases,” the chief justice said.

“I am frustrated by what happened to the victims. But I think Judge Reyes did her best in order to give justice to the

victims and also in order to afford the accused the required due process of law under the Constitution,” he further said.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said he has already communicated to Reyes the decision to grant her request for an extension.

“This office finds the ground for your request reasonable and hereby grants the same,” Marquez said in a memorandum to Reyes.

“Please be reminded, however, that you are hereby granted a non-extendible period of 30 days from 20 November 2019, or until 20 December 2019, within which to decide the said criminal cases.”

killed in Mamasapano in 2015, urged Ombudsman Samuel Martires to hold former President Benigno Aquino III liable for homicide, saying the complainants had new evidence and a witness to present.

On Jan. 25, 2015, 44 Special Action Force commandos were killed in the botched “Oplan Exodus” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in their bid to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who had a $5-million price on his head being offered by the US Department of Justice.

Marwan was killed in the operation, along with 18 Moro Islamic Liberation rebels who clashed with the commandos, and seven civilians.

Two years after the botched operation, in July 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman filed in the Sandiganbayan charges of graft and usurpation of official functions against Aquino, former Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima, and Chief Supt. Getulio Napeñas, then SAF commander, for bypassing the PNP chain of command that led to the commandos’ deadly clash with Moro rebels and their armed allies.

They, however, were cleared of the more serious charge of reckless imprudence.

“We are respectfully urging the Ombudsman to reopen the reinvestigation of the above-captioned case against former President Benigno C. Aquino III for the deaths of the SAF 44,” Topacio’s motion says.

In a statement, the PMA said: “all needed actions and protocols are being undertaken to deal with any infraction and/or irregularity.”

Swimming classes at the campus are suspended “until such time that the incident has been properly addressed,” the military school added.

“PMA deeply grieves for this unfortunate loss of one of our sons. All necessary assistance will be extended to the be-

reaved family and loved ones,” it added.

Reacting to the incident, Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. appealed to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong “to exercise his supervisory authority” over the Baguio police as provided in the Local Government Code.

“We ask Mayor Magalong to do everything he possibly can to make sure no stone is left unturned and that the

PNP investigation is conducted with utmost professionalism and integrity,” Garbin said.

The lawmaker appealed to the academy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of National Defense “to keep the PMA from deteriorating into a graveyard where parents and communities send some of the best of the Filipino youth.” Maricel V. Cruz

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, acting director of the NCRPO, said arrangements could be made to include the Vice President during buy-bust operations if she wants to see the police in action.

“We don’t hide anything anyway.

Anytime the Vice President says she wants to join, no problem,” he said in a press briefing.

Robredo on Wednesday accepted her appointment and vowed to run after big-time drug lords and rogue policemen involved in the drug trade.

On Friday, she said she would reassess how the war on drugs has been waged, and said she saw illegal drugs not only as a criminal justice problem, but also a health and sociological problem.

“It’s time to think about a new campaign which is more effective, but no one is dying senselessly,” she said ahead of her first meeting with the Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs, which includes top law enforcement officials.

“I believe that in all police operations, anything can happen, but we oppose deliberate and planned killings of innocent people” added Robredo.

President Rodrigo Duterte rose to power in 2016 on a pledge to eliminate the nation’s drug problem by killing thousands of drug dealers and users.

Since then narcotics agents claim to

Maguindanao...

From A1 submitted for resolution, a judge has 90 days to set its promulgation.

In the Maguindanao massacre case, that date should fall on this month, but Reyes wrote the Supreme Court asking for a 30day extension because of the voluminous records that needed to be studied.

Peralta acknowledged the complexity of the case where the judge has to afford each of the accused a fair trial and due process.

“I was a fiscal, I was a judge. This is my first time to hear of cases involving

Another PMA...

From A1 and found the cadet’s belongings in the comfort room of the swimming pool.

After another hour of searching, the cadet’s body was found at the bottom of the swimming pool at 2:44 p.m. He was rushed to Fort del Pilar Station Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. ties,” said Romualdez.

“A truly borderless world has pull us on our feet. In what was thought to be a time of weakness, the Filipino people showed our greatest strength: our unmatched resilience and unfailing optimism that comes from our deep faith in God. Indeed, the Filipino people are truly stronger than a super typhoon,” Romualdez said.

“In that time of our greatest need, the whole world embraced us and helped us rise again from the ashes and debris left by the strongest typhoon in recorded human history.

Our cry for help was heard across the world and after the day that typhoon came, the world rushed to our aid to bring relief and hope in a sea of utter

destruction, an outpouring of support from every race and nation,” Romualdez added.

Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez, wife of Romualdez and the chairperson of the House committee on the welfare of children, asked for prayers for Yolanda victims, saying they should not be forgotten.

“Today is a day we will always remember. A time to remember all the lives lost, those who perished in the storm surge that swept our city.

“Today is a day for which we will always be grateful. A moment to thank God for all the lives saved, for all those who came to our aid,” said Yedda Romualdez. Maricel V. Cruz

‘Ok boomer’:...

From A1 condescending or closed-minded attitudes associated with the babyboomer generation and older people more generally.

On Thursday in Wellington, New Zealand, with the quickfire putdown, a 25-year-old Kiwi politician dismissed a heckler during a speech about climate change—highlighting the generation gap between herself and other members of Parliament (MPs) in a clip that has gone viral.

Closer to home, “OK, boomer” has been the favored retort to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr., who

Anti-crime...

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has been slammed by Pinoy netizens for undiplomatic behavior.

This was after Locsin shot expletives at a newspaper reporter on Twitter for tweeting President Rodrigo Duterte’s absence at the closing ceremony of the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, and at another journalist who reminded him of his role as the country’s top diplomat.

In recent months, “OK, boomer” has gained traction as a meme on apps like TikTok that have a predominantly young user base.

Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick used it to hit back at interjections while speaking this week in support of a bill to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. With AFP

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CJ Peralta says he’s not ‘favoring’ Marcos clan

SEARCH AND RESCUE. PNP/BFP personnel perform search and rescue operations along the flooded areas in San Juan, Ballesteros, Cagayan as Typhoon ’Quiel’ pummeled the province with heavy rains in the past few days and TRUCKLOAD OF RELIEF GOODS. Members of Philippine Coast Guard load floodwaters inundated farms and residential areas. PAGASA said that typhoon relief goods into 10 trucks on Friday, Nov. 1, at the Department of Social Welfare and Quiel remained along the Cagayan and Apayao provinces but is expected to exit Development warehouse in Pasay City. The food packs are intended for the victims Friday, Nov. 8. Meanwhile, PDRRM Cagayan and Apayao advised the populace to of the series of quakes that struck Mindanao in October. take precautionary measures and stay safe.

Norman Cruz

Carpio hits Palace, House for honoring Chinese envoy

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday criticized Malacañang and the House of Representatives for giving awards and honors to outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua.

“Our national heroes who died defending our territory against foreign invaders must now be turning in their graves,” Carpio said during a gathering of lawyers who are graduates from the University of the Philippines College of Law. Carpio, a UP alumnus, was the guest speaker for UP Law’s alumni homecoming at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

In his speech, the former SC justice questioned the basis for President Duterte’s conferment of the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu on Zhao in October and the House of Representatives’ grant of a Congressional Medal of Achievement to the outgoing ambassador last Monday.

The Order of Sikatuna is an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional services to the Philippines.

The Palace acknowledged Zhao for his “vital role in a growing and more robust bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China.”

Zhao is set to end his five-year tour of duty in the Philippines this month.

The House of Representatives, on the other hand, commended Zhao for fostering “stronger bonds of very good friendship between the Philippines and China” which led to the “golden age of Philippines-China bilateral relations.”

The House leadership acknowledged Zhao for facilitating four state visits of President Rodrigo Duterte to China and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Philippines in 2018, the first state visit by a Chinese president to the country in 13 years.

Under Zhao’s tour of duty, congressmen said China became the Philippines’ top trading partner and more Chinese tourists arrived in the country.

But Carpio lamented that in November 2018, Zhao wrote an article in The Philippine Star where he hailed China’s and the Philippines’ close geographic proximity and blood and cultural ties.

“Being separated by only a narrow strip of water, China and the Philippines have been close neighbors for centuries, sharing not only geographic proximity, but also blood bonds, cultural affinity and a long and sincere traditional friendship,” Zhao said, heralding the progress in Chinese-Philippine bilateral ties.

Carpio, who retired from the Supreme Court last month, has been advocating for the assertion of the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. He is also a staunch critic of President Duterte for refusing to enforce the arbitral ruling.

“Ambassador Zhao was saying to the entire Filipino people, the Philippines and China are already close neighbors because the nine-dash line is China’s national boundary in the South China Sea, leaving the Philippines with only a sliver of water as its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone,” Carpio stressed.

Palace welcomes ‘fast’ rd 3 quarter GDP growth

By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

M

ALACAÑANG on Friday welcomed the growth of the country’s gross domestic product in the third quarter of this year, saying it demonstrates the Duterte administration’s “competence” in economic matters.

GDP growth during the July to September jumped to 6.2 percent, faster than the 6-percent expansion in the same period last year and the average 5.5-percent growth in the first half, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo lauded the country’s economic managers for maintaining 6 percent GDP growth or above “fighting target.”

“While it is public knowledge that the hallmark of this administration is its unmatched advocacy for peace and order, this development illustrates its competence in other fields, such as protecting the health of the nation's economy notwithstanding inevitable setbacks it has encountered in the past,”

he said.

Across all sectors, services posted the fastest growth with 6.9 percent, industry has 5.6 percent, while agriculture has 3.1 percent, as recorded by the national statistics agency.

With the country's projected population reaching 108.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, per capita GDP grew by 4.5 percent, as government expenditures picked up after the delay of this year’s national budget.

The country is back on track with President Rodrigo Duterte’s socioeconomic goal, including the objective to lower poverty incidence to 14 percent by the end of the his term, Panelo said.

The PSA attributed the growth to trade

MMDA to close some roads during SEAG THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday proposed a ban on mall sales, class suspension, and partial road closures in areas around the venues of the upcoming Southeast Asian Games 2019 (SEA Games) in Metro Manila.

In a radio interview, MMDA spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago said they submitted a recommendation to Malacañang to implement a partial road closure on M. Adriatico St. and P. Ocampo St. in Manila starting Nov. 30, the official opening day of the SEA Games.

“Magkakaroon din po ng road closure-portion lang, dito po sa part ng Adriatico at saka P. Ocampo. Kasi sir, marami din pong event dito sa Rizal Memorial Stadium natin (There will be a road closure—but only a portion, in the parts of

Adriatico and P. Ocampo. Because there are many events at the Rizal Memorial Stadium),” Pialago said.

Routes to be used by athletes, visitors, and other VIPs during the games will have a “stop-and-go” scheme—a temporary stop in traffic for delegates to pass through roads and intersections— instead of the previous “special lanes” or exclusive lanes for visiting leaders and diplomats during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2017, she said.

“Stop-and-go scheme po tayo. Nagaalala kasi mga motorista natin kung magkakaroon ng special lane—wala sir, stop-and-go (We’ll have a stop-and-go scheme. Because motorists are worried there’ll be a special lane—there won’t be, just stop-and-go),” Pialago said.

Joel Zurbano

GREENING BASECO. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, led the planting of trees and cleanup drive over the weekend at Barangay 649, Gasangan, Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila as part of her campaign of ‘Greening Baseco.’ She was joined by officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Education. Lino Santos

and repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods, and financial intermediation.

The country’s GDP outpaced those of India, Indonesia, and China.

The GDP is an economic indicator which accounts for all the finished goods and services produced within the country in a specific period.

The government targets a 6 to 7 percent economic growth this year that will be met according to authorities, through slower inflation rate combined with easier monetary policy.

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, said the government’s “spending catch-up plan” will be key to meet the country’s GDP growth target.

“The contribution of the government is to step up its spending, meaning actual payment for goods and services delivered,” Angara said.

He also urged government agencies to be aggressive in spending their budget for the remaining period of the year.

“I hope that we will be doing all the smart moves in the last two months that would allow us to meet the finish line goal of 6 to 7 percent growth,” Angara said.

Lapid files Reversion of Maiden Name bill

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill seeking to allow women to revert to their maiden surname without the “tedious and expensive” court process associated with it.

Lapid’s proposed Senate Bill No. 985, also known as the Reversion to Maiden Name Act, intends to empower women to be truly independent in their social and economic affairs by granting them freedom to use their maiden surname.

Under his bill, Lapid explained that in the current law, a married woman has the option to use her husband’s surname, but is not required to do so.

However, with the current regulatory setup, Lapid pointed out that there are still barriers for the exercise of this right of reversion to maiden name.

He said there are still “discriminatory policies and practices” in some government agencies which require a married woman to adopt her husband's surname in application forms and other records and even refuse to process legitimate transactions of married women who opt to use their maiden name.

Lapid added: “Ang ganitong klase ng napakahigpit na panuntunin ay nakakahadlang naman sa karapatan ng ating mga kababaihan.”

Under Republic Act. No. 8239, otherwise known as the Philippine Passport Act, a divorce decree recognized under Philippine law, a declaration of annulment of marriage or declaration of nullity of marriage is a requirement for the issuance of passports for divorced or annulled women. The same law also provides that an amendment of a woman's name on her passport may only be done based on the following grounds: death of spouse, annulment of marriage or divorce initiated by a foreign spouse.

CHIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta on Friday assured the public that he will vote on the election protest filed by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. fairly and objectively, debunking insinuation that he has been favoring the Marcoses.

“It is not correct that I have been favoring the Marcoses,” Peralta said in his first press conference as Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, earlier ordered Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo to comment on the recount results and on other issues.

"If you ask me what would I do as Chief Justice on the petition, as I said, I would decide the case, although I'm not the ponente, based on the evidence and the law applicable," Peralta said. "You are assured of that."

Peralta was the author of the Supreme Court decision that allowed the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

However, Peralta said that this was the only decision in which he favored the clan but it was based on the merits of the case.

“This is the only decision that I favored the Marcoses. It is only in the burial," he said, even as he defended his decision where the SC voted 9-5 in 2016. Rey E. Requejo

IN BRIEF Drug cases eyed on judge’s killing CHIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta on Friday said police authorities are looking at two drug cases handled by slain Tagudin Regional Trial Court Judge Mario Anacleto Bañez in determining the possible motive for his death.

"Judge Bañez's [death] had nothing to do with search warrant. Based on the papers, he acquitted a drug lord and received death threats because of that.

That is what we heard," Peralta said, in his first press conference as chief magistrate.

"I think it is more on the drugs— one was convicted, the other one [drug case] was about to be terminated so they [police] are concentrating on investigating on these two drug cases," he added.

Last Tuesday, Bañez was shot to death by unidentified assailant along Barangay Mameltac in the City of San Fernando in La Union. Rey E. Requejo

PH, Chinese media seek stronger ties THE Philippines and the Chinese government has sought to strengthen cooperation in media and communications, particularly in radio and online platforms.

The China Media Group, during their Thursday courtesy visit to the Philippine Information Agency headquarters in Quezon City, expressed interest to exchanges in the new media.

“Besides the news exchanges and the film cooperation, we expect to have more cooperation in the radio and new media,” said Huang Chuanfang, a member of CMG’s editorial board.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office has previously forged multiple agreements with the Chinese-owned media outfits such as rebroadcasts, joint production, personnel and information exchanges, workshops, and seminars.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said that he hopes to maintain the good relationship between Chinese and local media outfits. MJ Blancaflor

PNP wields ax vs.

40 ‘corrupt’ cops THE Philippine National Police has relieved a total of 40 personnel from the Philippine National Police's Civil Security Group, the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies and Firearms and Explosives Office due to alleged corruption.

Police Major General Roberto Fajardo, director of the CSG, made the announcement of the latest PNP directive during a press conference held at Camp Crame on Friday.

"Despite the first major revamp in CSG two weeks ago, reports still persist on corruptions, delaying the processing of documents, collecting grease money, withholding of approved licenses, importation permits, etc.," Fajardo said.

"If you are relieved, you are placed at the admin holding unit para wala kang ma-influence. At the same time, to give 'yung pumalit sa kanya, tingnan natin kung he will be good in the service," he added.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

She’s bound to fail VICE President Leni Robredo is the new drug czarina. Will her approach end the menace of illegal drugs, finally?

Robredo’s ignorance of what the drug problem is all about highlights what is problematic about her appointment, and with Cabinet rank at that.

I wonder why President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo in the first place. Was it to end all her criticism?

But not even President Duterte, given all his political will, can end it.

As I have been saying many times over, the drug problem is not a peace and order issue. It is a health matter.

And it can only be solved if the demand is completely eliminated.

With no less than seven million to eight-million drug dependents throughout the country, illegal drugs is a profitable market for international syndicates in West Africa, Mexico, and China. My gulay, we are a thriving market!

So, even if the Duterte administration kills all the drug pushers, the problem will not end. It’s a problem throughout the world, not just in our country.

My point is that the campaign against illegal drugs will never truly succeed unless Duterte, and now Robredo, look at it the right way. They should really try to curb demand rather than focus on the supply.

I am not saying that I know better than experts. But I do know a little about the drug problem because I was vice president of DARE Foundation in the 1970s and 1980s. I have seen people who are being rehabilitated.

I cannot agree with the vice president that the drug problem can be solved just by stopping the killings.

During the martial law regime, President Ferdinand Marcos created special courts to try all the arrested drug users in an attempt to minimize the problem.

These special courts, I recall, determined whether one could still be rehabilitated or just sent to prison. Those in

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

the former group were sent to rehabilitation centers.

I must say rehabilitation is not easy.

Our success rate at DARE was only 75 percent. We had no idea if the remaining 25 percent would go back to the habit. Some of them even later on died of overdose.

Addicts build a shell around themselves, and for them to be rehabilitated, that shell has to be broken. Regular consultations with psychologists/ psychiatrists will help.

They’re going about the drug war the wrong way.

Going back to Robredo, I can almost probpredict that she would fail. The prob lem is so big and so daunting.

Her fellow Yellows have warned her against accepting the role, but she did so, anyway. Now she is in a predicament of her own making. *** With all the negative news we have been hearing, I thought the country was hopeless.

This is why the 6.2-percent GDP growth for the third quarter was welcome news. The economy is now rebounding.

And then, we hear that other airports—specifically those in Cebu and Iloilo—are among one of the best. This is refreshing after everything we hear about Ninoy Aquino International Airport. *** Some people may have mixed feelings about Senator Panfilo Lacson, but I think we need more people like him in government, especially given his stand on pork barrel.

The 2020 national budget may now look pork-free, but Lacson is questioning it nonetheless.

Senator Bong Go also swore there would be no more pork barrel in the budget. If this is true, more power, then!

Take it from the ‘tough guys’

T

HIS administration has no shortage of men who equate toughness with boorishness, and who appear stuck in the skewed mindset of male superiority.

gled the opportunity to carry out the drug war.

He was also the same man who shed copious tears during a congressional hearing as he claimed to feel badly for his subordinates, who always got bad press about the brutal way they implemented the campaign against illegal drugs.

Not to be outdone, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin took to Twitter to vent his feelings about a journalist from the Inquirer who reported that President Rodrigo Duterte was conspicuously absent during the closing ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Thailand.

“Uh, did you get the put*ngina (son of a b*tch) I sent you?" the secretary tweeted.

Later, Locsin said he did not know that the journalist was female. “Had I known that she was a lady I’d have let it pass,” he said. Mr. Locsin does not get that he was criticized, not because he cursed a woman, but because for someone occupying his position, he was not supposed to curse at anybody, period.

Locsin did not end there. “Say sorry.

Now,” he said, addressing the reporter and the paper she worked for. "I will

For example, Senator Ronald dela Rosa warned the new co-chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, Vice President Leni Robredo, about the perils of the position she had surprisingly accepted.

“This is war,” Dela Rosa said. “You have to fight. Hindi ka pwedeng pa-cute cute dito.”

We did not think anybody would dare imagine the fight against drugs to be a venue for cuteness.

Recall this is the same Dela Rosa who, in his brief but storied term at the helm of the Philippine National Police, had no qualms about using a mascot in his likeness and who dressed up as Santa Claus in a bid to endear himself to the public.

Perhaps he talks from experience—after all, despite attempts at cuteness, he bun-

apologize to the lady [if] she apologizes to Duterte for her slanders and that idiot newspaper vows never to slant stories about him again."

In response to this, yet another reporter, this time from the Philippine Star, quoted the law on the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Locsin retorted: “F*ck you.”

He deleted this tweet, but not before a BBC correspondent took a screen shot and shared it further.

These men could argue that they are being authentic—after all, don’t the majority of Filipinos, adore how authentic their boss is? Dela Rosa’s and Locsin’s words, however, convey arrogance and entitlement that they can say what they feel like, without regard for how it reflects on the institutions they represent.

What will likely happen is that these incidents will get relegated to memory once a new sound byte surfaces. Still, they contribute to the sense that our leaders feel they can do anything they please—just because they can, and because they are bound to outtalk those who dare call them out.

The impunity does not evoke confidence, security, or pride.

Addressing HIV: Women as the missing link HIV infection is a major problem in the Philippines. In fact, it is now considered as an epidemic. Worldwide, the number of new HIV infections are significantly decreasing. The Philippines is one of the few where the reverse is happening. New HIV infections in the country account for more than 85 percent of new cases in the Asia and Pacific. Around 36 new infections are recorded daily, mostly among 15 to 24 year olds.

It is highly probable that a lot of HIV cases in women are undetected, and therefore, unreported and untreated.

In July 2019, 1,111 new HIV-positive individuals were reported to the HIV/AIDS and Anti-Retroviral Therapy Registry of the Philippines (HARP).

18 percent (199) of them had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV infection or WHO clinical stage 3 or 4.

The first case of HIV infection recorded in the Philippines was in 1984.

Since then up to July 2019, a total of 69, 512 HIV cases have been reported.

38 percent (26,832) of the cases were in Metro Manila, 15 percent (10, 431) were in Region 4A, and 9 percent (6,543) were in Region 3. Thus, 62 percent of all HIV infections are con-

centrated in three regions in Luzon.

Of those diagnosed as HIV positive, 94 percent (65,162) were males and 6 percent (4,339), females. By age, 51 percent (35,426) belonged to the 25 to 34 age bracket, and 29 percent (19,820) were aged 15 to 24.

The top modes of transmission are: Among males, male to male sex (85 percent); male to female sex (11 percent), and sharing of infected needles (3 percent). Among females, male to female sex (93 percent) was the top mode of transmission, followed by needle-sharing (3 percent). Interestingly, according to the Philippine National AIDS Council, 68 percent of drug-injecting males had female sex partners, and 25 percent of those involved in MSM had female partners.

Mother to infant transmission also happens. To date, 181 children below 10 years old are HIV positive.

When HIV was starting, 62 percent of the 216 cases were among women, mostly sex workers. This was controlled through strict testing of prostituted women. Since 1991, the number of men infected with HIV has since been greater. However, for the same period, the number of diagnosed cases among women tripled. Moreover, the cases among young women aged 15 to 24 years old doubled. 92 percent of HIV-positive females were in their reproductive ages (WRA) when diagnosed.

The reporting of pregnancy status at the time of testing only started in 2011.

Since then, a total of 333 pregnant women were diagnosed to be infected.

54 percent (180) of them were aged 15 to 24, and 38 percent belonged to the 25 to 34 age bracket.

Yet, according to the 2017 National Turn to A5

Sabotage?

WERE the prolonged power outages and mysterious fire to hit power poles in Iloilo City a deliberate act to disrupt the transition of power distribution to a new management in the aforementioned city?

This possibility was raised by More Electric and Power Corporation or MEPC, newly-designated distribution utility (DU) in Iloilo City in last Wednesday’s hearing called for by the Energy Regulatory Board. The hearing was based on the complaint filed

by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas before Malacañang against the alleged threat to public safety by “inadequately-maintained lines, power outages and hazardous electric posts” owned

by Panay Electric Co. or PECO. Treñas had asked the Office of the President to direct the ERC to address Ilonggos’ mounting complaints against PECO, listing down nine in-

cidents of fire that hit PECO’s electricity poles from Oct. 19 to 21 alone based on the Bureau of Fire Protection’s report to City Hall.

The Iloilo City mayor said he was “obliged to take the necessary steps to address the needs of the people, considering that the problems and complaints raised against PECO have direct impact not only on the property but to the lives of the residents of Iloilo City.”

If it is, this is business competition at its lowest.

“While the attention of PECO had been repeatedly called (by the Office of the City Mayor) to address the (complaints), the city is still plagued by the same problems,” Treñas said in his complaint to Malacañang.

Treñas said that as the agency mandated under Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electricity Power Industry Re-

form Act (EPIRA) to handle consumer complaints to ensure promotion of consumer interests, the ERC had been given disciplinary powers to address the numerous consumer complaints against PECO. The ERC investigation into the safety standard violations of PECO coincided with another investigation by the Department of Energy into the twin power blackouts that hit the entire Panay Island and parts of Negros Island from Monday to Wednesday last week, including a complaint that PECO did not restore full supply to the entire city until Wednesday evening despite full restoration of supply from the national electricity grid in early morning of Wednesday, Engineer Jose Rey Maleza of DOE Visayas said.

But MEPC says the numerous pole fires and the prolonged power outages last week in Iloilo City could be part of a deliberate sabotage of the law-mandated transition of electricity distribution to its management from PECO’s.

MEPC president Roel Castro said his company worries that the electric pole fires and the prolonged power Turn to A5

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Opinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Saving the sugar industry

Redtagging divides the nation

(First of two parts) A WHOLE-OF-NATION approach to solve the country’s ills is correct.

Our societal problems are so enormous that it needs all of government and all of civil society to come together and address them. A disunited country, with anyone left behind, marginalized, or considered by the government as an enemy, will not be able to solve its problems.

It is contrary to a whole-of-nation approach.

Last Tuesday, Nov. 5, while presenting the AFP Modernization Program in a hearing at the House of Representatives, Major General Reuben Basiao, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence did exactly this—divide the country—by blatantly tagging many organizations and groups as communist front organizations.

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay correctly observed: “The accusations made at the House of Representatives by military officials are baseless, mere hearsay that will justify their impending attacks on organizations. These humanitarian and religious organizations have a long and solid record of providing services to disaster-stricken

and marginalized areas. Instead of acknowledging their efforts to reach out to as many Filipinos, this ungrateful and paranoid government views these advocacy groups as threats. It is useful to remember that during disaster situations where government was riddled with corruption and efficiency, it was these organizations who mobilized as first responders to victim-survivors.”

A counter insurgency campaign that redtags and attacks institutions, organizations and individuals is contrary to a whole-of-nation approach.

Such strategies have never result in the defeat of revolutionary movements; in fact, they strengthen insurgency forces, drive people to take up arms against the government, and divide us so much that our problems could only worsen.

Let’s take poverty as an example.

Poverty has been described as a beast with many hearts, a monster than can be slayed only through multiple efforts by many institutions and people done over time.

You need the government to reduce poverty but civil society organizations and people’s movements are also needed.

To illustrate, Paghidaet Sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) in Negros Island is one of the best people’s organization in the Philippines. A nonprofit organization formed in 1987, it provides support to the local initiatives of rural communities in Negros Occidental.

PDG should be supported and encouraged by government. Instead, it has been harassed and attacked, accused with absolutely no evidence of being a communist front. One of its founders, Attorney Ben Ramos,

was subjected to a smear campaign by the military and as a direct result of that was assassinated exactly a year ago this week. PDG expects to be raided any time, bracing for arrests, as the crackdown in Negros Island escalates. Nonetheless, their leaders, including Ben’s widow, my fellow Jesuit Volunteer Yesha Ramos, are courageously standing by with the people, continuing with their crucial work.

Inequality and social injustice is another such multifaceted monster.

It has been the biggest cause of all Philippine insurgencies—from the Philippine Revolution of 1896 to the Huk rebellion in the 1950s to the Mindanao conflict that hopefully is on the way to resolution and yes the ongoing revolution being waged by the National Democratic Front, Communist Party of the Philippines, and the New People’s Army.

The government alone cannot right an unequal and unjust society.

The basic sectors—workers, farmers, urban poor, indigenous peoples, women, etc—must be able to assert their rights so that new, better social arrangements can be achieved.

Party-list organizations like Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT-Teachers, Anakpawis and Kabataan Party-list do exactly this and they should be welcome in Congress.

Going after the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines is another travesty. Whether advocating human rights or simply ministering to the poor, the NCCP and RMP have made Christ present to the poor. That is not communist.

(Continued tomorrow)

Leni: Time to walk the talk IN HIGH hopes that Leni Robredo would successfuly steward the government's war against illegal drugs, let us assign credit where credit is due.

President Rodrigo Duterte deserves all the kudos, thumbs up and a round of applause for designating the sitting “Vice President” as drugs czarina.

One must appreciate Manong Digong's display of patience and a sense of fairness in response to Manang Leni's calls for a reassessment of a what she described as a disastrous anti-illegal drugs drive.

Apart from lawyering for druglords and drug pushers, the President apparently thinks Manang Leni must know something that he doesn't about putting an end to the reign of well-entrenched drug syndicates with international connections.

And, after opposing the President's offer and urging their Yellow matriarch to reject what they suspected as a ploy and a hoax post set up for her guaranteed failure, her minions are now basking in euphoria and revelry as Manang Leni decided to take on the challenge of the drug war.

Addressing...

From A4

Demographic and Health Survey, only 25 percent of WRA have comprehensive knowledge about HIV; 45 percent know where to get tested; and only 5 percent have ever been tested. Of the young women, only 20 percent is reported to have knowledge about HIV. The lack of knowledge on HIV of women was also revealed in the baseline survey on reproductive health that my group did in Payatas, Quezon City’s poorest barangay. From the survey, 63.3 percent of the respondents said they knew nothing about HIV and AIDS. 68 percent said that they had zero knowledge about existing programs on HIV. 50 percent of the respondents said that one can have HIV infection through the use of public toilets while 20 percent said they did not know. The 46 percent thought that they could get infected through kissing, while 19 percent said they did not know.

Huh, Malacañang may be right in saying she is in fact “smarter” than her hypocritical minions!

Let us extend to her our prayers and full support.

They have blamed Manong Digong for allegedly over 20,000 casualties of Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel, mostly poor drug suspects.

Now Leni finds herself at the command post of the war against the drug menace and the assigned task is clear—just win it for Juan dela Cruz.

The Yellow opposition and critics of the President have never acknowledged or cited the sterling performance and accomplishments

What the data are telling us is clear: While men make up the big majority of those infected with HIV, women (including young women) are increasingly getting more vulnerable (again) to the virus. Women are involved in all modes of transmission: More than 60 percent of males who share infected needles have female sex partners, 20 percent of those involved in MSM (males having sex with males) also have female sex partners, male to female sex, and mother to baby transmission. At the end of the day, most males who are at risk of getting infected go back to their families and communities and have sex with their female partners.

It cannot be denied that in order to address HIV and AIDS, interventions involving women are MUST have.

However, virtually all HIV and AIDSrelated programs only target what the HIV community calls “key populations”—MSM and those who inject drugs. Women, who figure in all modes of transmissions, are invisible. They are NOT targeted by existing interventions.

Because of this invisibility, it is high-

of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police, seizing some P22 billion worth of shabu (crystal meth) and other illegal drugs, and arresting hundreds of high-value drug personalities since 2016.

They've also refused to note that crime incidence has gone down drastically owing to the demise of drug dealers and less drug use.

In deference to the President's stroke of genius in enthroning Manang Leni as Drug Queen, let us then extend to her our prayers and full support. Let's see how she can help fix what the Yellows and attack dogs say actually needs fixing.

As co-chairperson of the InterAgency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, the nation needs from her more of effective solutions and less of whining over extrajudicial killings and “Ninja cops.”

Three years from now, she may be in a better position to speak her truth about the very thing she had discredited.

But for now, it's time for Manang Leni to walk the talk.

ly probable that a lot of HIV cases in women are undetected, and therefore, unreported and untreated. Who knows how many women have died without even knowing that they had AIDS? Despite the country’s efforts to curb HIV infections, and the many billions of money poured into HIV programming from the public and international development agencies, the programs remain weak, and the results, wanting. From the target of 80 percent in 2015, only 50 percent of MSMs used condoms, and only 16 percent knew of their status through testing.

Beyond the fact that government entities and schools remain reluctant to aggressively promote consistent and proper use of condom, the cheapest and most effective way to prevent HIV infections, they are forgetting a most vital population—the women. Imagine what women can do to help get a fuller picture of HIV in the country and prevent further infections. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

I VIVIDLY recall my younger days as student activist, we demanded the abrogation of the Laurel-Langley Agreement (LLA) claiming it was a carryover of the infamous Bell Trade Act which provided “free trade” between the Philippines and the US. The Agreement was an extension of the parity rights upon which preferential tariff was given to sugar exporters until 1974.

The LLA was a mercantilist-protectionist economic policy. While it seeks to impose a monopoly on our exports, protectionism was designed to obligate the Philippines to export specific commodities like sugar, pineapple, coconut oil and hemp, thereby preventing us from developing and exporting other products just to meet the export quota that only benefited the few landlords.

It was a colonial economic system that effectively prevented us from diversifying and seeking new markets to allow the economy to develop to a higher level like creating a manufacturing industry.

The LLA signed in 1955 cannot be an example of US economic trade liberality. It was intended to assure the US industries the continued supply of sugar caused by Cuba’s decision to nationalize all lands in 1953, which as a former US colony, was forced to export sugar upon the approval of the Platt Amendment in 1901. The Bell Trade Act of 1946 that preceded the LLA was given a deceptive title of “parity rights agreement” as a condition to the grant of “independence.” Many of our local politicians and landlords went agog fantasizing that free trade was the exact formula the country needed to attain economic emancipation.

The approval of the LLA intensified the communist insurgency in the 50s. The government was compelled to arm the landlords to prevent a communist takeover of their lands. But as the rebellion raged, there was change in the tenor of their demand to one of land reform. This was expected because our ratification of the LLA saw the reconsolidation of agricultural lands to comply with the increasing export quota for sugar. The landlords went on a buying spree to acquire agricultural lands, clearing new lands for conversion to sugar plantation, buying the lands of small farmers and even grabbing farmlands.

The period was characterized by social unrest much that it saw the birth of the haciendas. We have to remember that the haciendas or big agricultural estates were introduced by the Americans because of demand by the colonial economy.

When the Americans colonized this country, the encomiendas were almost extinct or their lands occupied by the natives planting crops for their own consumption. Agricultural production was mainly confined to the planting of tobacco, corn, rice and vegetables.

Famine was unheard of, except in areas where able-bodied men were forced to render labor or polo to the Spanish authorities.

After the approval of the Schurman Commission in 1902, William Taft bought for the US government, huge agricultural friars lands to be sold to American carpetbaggers and businessmen and to the moneyed ilustrados for

Sabotage?

From A4

outage last week in the city despite restoration of supply from the national electricity grid could be part of PECO’s effort to sabotage full transition to MEPC’s takeover of the city’s electricity distribution service.

Recalled that PECO’s franchise was not renewed by Congress when it expired on Jan. 19 because of a huge outpour of consumer complaints against PECO’s inadequate response to their problems, especially safety concerns from its ageing distribution system like leaning electric poles, spaghetti-like hanging electricity lines, over-billing that raised their bills by as much as 1,000 percent, and unfriendly and unprofessional consumer complaint personnel.

Armed with a resolution of the Iloilo City Council calling on Congress to not renew PECO’s franchise, the Senate and the House of Representatives granted the DU franchise to MEPC. To ensure a smooth transition

cultivation to satisfy the demand of the US market for sugar. That saw the early beginning of the hacienda.

The US, being an advanced capitalist economy with a colony, needed raw materials to quench the thirst of its industries. The cultivation of sugar, coconut and pineapple was most ideal and lucrative. That treaty obligation to satisfy the US market saw the transition of our economy from a feudalistic to one of serving the needs of an imperialist state, thus justifying the communist categorization of the Philippines as a semi-feudal and semi-colonial. At its peak, the LLA created its own economic class different from the Spanish ilustrados. They were called the “sugar barons”, a derisive title borrowed from the 18th century wealthy Americans of the Gilded Age where corruption and monopoly was rampant. They control the steel industry, the railroad and the banks. As finance moguls, they likewise controlled politics.

It’s a lesson we never learned.

The emergence of the sugar barons coincided with the formation of the big haciendas like the acquisition by the Yulos of Canlubang Estate in Laguna and Hacienda Luisita by the Cojuangcos in Tarlac. Most of the haciendas were acquired through behest loans, taking advantage of the “Filipino First Policy” of President Garcia of which many were not paid. Haciendas were formed in Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Bulacan, Batangas, Negros, Iloilo and Bukidnon, all guarded to prevent the intrusion of insurgents. These private armies formed the nucleus of political warlordism much that big landlords began to mix their status by financing, supporting and providing armed goons to their lackeys.

The late Eugenio Lopez even boasted at one time that nobody becomes the President of this country without his blessings. This was true because the sugar bloc cornered the largess in the revenue in our sugar export while enjoying an assured market. They became the ultra rich class while the farmers called sacadas wallowed in poverty.

The sacadas migrated from hacienda to hacienda hoping to be hired as sugar cane cutters and paid below the minimum wage.

While the sugar barons savored the fruits earned in the export of sugar our farmers were mired in extreme poverty.

As observed, keeping the haciendas to cater to the economic demands of the US market has long been a losing economic proposition intended to preserve the mercantilist-protectionist policy.

It prevented the country from venturing to the production of high-value crops to promote real free trade as what China has done to its economy.

Besides, the Philippines can no longer produce sugar cheaper than Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia proving that the government can no longer subsidize a dying industry that only benefits the landlords. Only by providing our people income and make their livelihood a self-sustaining one could we be able to cut off the bond of subservience that justifies the colonial economy like that of the Philippines. rpkapunan@gmail.com

to MEPC’s takeover of the distribution system, MEPC’s franchise law— Republic Act No.11212—allowed the ERC to give PECO a temporary Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) because only companies with congressional franchise could operate any public service business under the 1987 Constitution, Castro pointed out.

A CPCN requires a power utility to ensure public safety and efficient supply service to the public, he added.

PECO has also filed several court cases against MORE’s expropriation of its distribution assets so the new DU could take over the system within two years as required under RA 11212.

If indeed it could be proven the pole fires and power outages were part of a sabotage perpetrated by PECO, the government should order a complete ban on future transactions with the said distribution utility.

This is business competition at its lowest. The public should not in any way be affected in the business squabbles of rival companies.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

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News

TODAY NOVEMBER 9, 2019 SATURDAY,

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Woman caught with P40m worth of shabu G

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

OVERNMENT agents arrested a Filipina passenger caught in possession of more than P40 million worth of shabu Friday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The suspect―Marie Ruzol, a resident of Marikina City―was caught with six kilos of shabu at the NAIA Terminal 3 after she arrived on board Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J-258 from Siem Reap, Cambodia around 4 a.m.

Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said Ruzol’s backpack was subjected to X-ray scanning which yielded images of suspected dangerous drugs.

She added her men placed the baggage under 100-percent physical examination and discovered the prohibited substance concealed in a tea foil pack.

“The passenger and the six kilos of shabu shall be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for the institution of inquest proceedings,” said Talusan.

She said the suspect would be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) in relation to Sections 118 (Prohibited Importation), 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) and 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of the Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Talusan said similar shipments of shabu from Siem Reap, Cambodia were also seized in Terminal 1 and in Terminal 3 last October.

Talusan earlier assured the bureau remains vigilant against the entry of prohibited drugs and other contraband at the airport.

“The Bureau of Customs is very much on board in the country’s war against drugs and we will exert our efforts to continue protecting our nation and prevent the use of our ports in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country,” she said.

Talusan said the Customs bureau is closely coordinating with other law enforcement agencies like PDEA in its campaign against smuggling of prohibited drugs.

LEGAL NOTICE Since Aug. 30, 2017, Customs-NAIA has also Notice is hereby given to the been very proactive and relentless in its effort to public that an Extra-Judicial Settlement has been executed combat the smuggling of illegal drugs. by the heirs of the late Luciano The bureau was able to intercept an estiTungol Sr., namely: Gloria G. Tungol, Maria Rosario mated P3.436 billion worth of illegal drugs and Tungol Viejo, Maria Theresa arrested a total of 23 drug personalities.

Tungol Catedral, Maria Anna G. Tungol, Maria Cristina PDEA officials said methamphetamine G. Tungol and Giovanni G. hydrochloride, marijuana and party drug Tungol, all of legal age, over real properties, per deed ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed executed on 18 October 2019 in the streets and these prohibited substances before Notary Public Atty. Raul V. Macatangay, per Doc. No. are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and 16; Page No. 5; Book No. 32; Mexican drug syndicates.

Series of 2019.

(MS-OCT. 26, NOV. 2 & 9, 2019)

INVITATION TO BID 1.

2.

ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends to apply the sum of Eight Million One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php8,100,000.00), inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of vehicles requisitioned by the Procurement Section, Finance Services Department, and Technical Services Department; ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission of Eligibility Documents.

Submission of the same by the interested bidders must be duly received

by ORMECO, INC. BAC from 11-15 November 2019, at ORMECO, INC. Main Office, Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Bidding documents will only be made available to the prospective bidder after it has been duly accredited by ORMECO, INC. The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed athttps://web. facebook.com/OrmecoOGMOfficial, and may be requested through email ormeco_coop@yaho.com, including the numbers listed above;

3.

ORMECO, INC. now invites PhilGEPS registered suppliers for the following: COST OF BID ABC ITEM FUNDING DOCUMENTS LOT DESCRIPTION (INCLUSIVE OF SOURCE (NONVAT) REFUNDABLE) of two (2) I Supply Php2,000,000.00 Php 5,000.00 Service Vehicles 5% of one (1) II Supply Php700,000.00 Php1,000.00 Reinvestment Service Vehicle Fund Supply of eleven III (11) Utility Cargo Php5,400,000.00 Php10,000.00 Truck

4.

5.

A Customs agent inspects the six kilograms of suspected shabu worth P40.8 million, intercepted from a Filipino passenger at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Friday. The apprehended Filipina arrived from Siem Reap, Cambodia via flight 5J258.

The suspect’s backpack was subjected to X-ray scanning and found to contain what authorities said was the illegal substance.

Norman Cruz

Makati gives pre-school, grade 1 pupils free educ’l field trips

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government is giving some 11,938 public pre-school and Grade 1 pupils in the city free educational field trips from Nov. 4 until Dec. 10.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the off-campus activities was in line with her Project FREE (Free Relevant Excellent Education) to promote the holistic development of students.

“We continue to support educational tours outside the school campus to enhance classroom learning with firsthand experience of the outside world. We have carefully selected our tour sites to stimulate our youths’ natural curiosity and eagerness to learn and discover, and also enable them to apply concepts and ideas learned in the classroom in a practical setting,” she said.

Divisoria street vendors allowed to sell

By Vito Barcelo THE Manila City Hall allowed some street vendors in Divisoria, Manila to sell their wares along selected streets for the coming holiday season but with strict conditions to comply.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he would allow these vendors for the sake of giving them income this Christmas season but not to sell there permanently.

He said the streets where the vendors could sell their goods were Carmen Planas, Tabora and some portion of Ilaya and Moriones streets in Binodo, Manila.

However, no street vendors would be allowed on major roads in Manila like Juan Luna street and Recto Avenue.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the NEA Memorandum NO. 2017-019: Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedures for Electric Cooperatives, IRR-RA 10531 (2017);

ACTIVITIES

Pre-Bid Conference

ManiPopCon will have tabletop games, collectible card games, Dungeons and Dragons, miniature wargames, among many others, in the 2,400-square meter Tent at Solaire Resort and Casino on Nov. 16 and 17.

SCHEDULE 09 November 2019 (Saturday) 11-15 November 2019, (Monday to Friday) Office Hours, at ORMECO, INC. Office of the General Manager 1:00 pm for Lot I 18 November 2019 (Monday) at ORMECO, 2:00 pm for Lot II and INC. Board Room Lot III

1:00 pm for Lot I Deadline of Submission, 02 December 2019 Opening, and Evaluation (Monday) at ORMECO, 2:00 pm for Lot II and of Bids INC. Board Room Lot III Post-Qualification 05-06 December 2019 (Thursday and Friday) Approval through Board Resolution and Issuance First Meeting for the Month of December 2019 of Notice of Award Delivery Schedule 15 days upon receipt of Purchase Order Awarding

Per Lot

6.

Only those who have bought the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to attend or participate during the Pre-Bidding Conference, where their presence is MANDATORY;

7.

All bids shall be opened and read in the presence of Bidders or their duly authorized representatives. All bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Security payable to ORMECO, INC., in the form of Cash, Cashier’s Check, Manager’s Check, or Bank Draft issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank, equivalent to two percent (2%) of the ABC. Only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference;

8.

The winning bidder shall issue Performance Security in the form of Cash, Cashier’s Check, Manager’s Check, issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank, equivalent to five percent (5%) of the ABC; and

9.

ORMECO, INC. reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Certified by: Signed ENGR. MICHAEL O. GUICO Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) (MS-NOV. 9, 2019)

Noted by: Signed ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Head Of Procuring Entity (HOPE)

The Mayor warned that should vendors violate the conditions set by the Manila government to allow street vendors in selected areas, Domagoso said he would tear down the stalls and never allow them to sell again.

Among the conditions set by the city Mayor is that the streets should be open to vehicles while vendors must stay on the sidewalks.

“I will make their Christmas sad. We gave them the opportunity to sell on the condition that they observe discipline,” he said.

Another condition set by the city government was that their stalls should measure 1 meter by 1 meter. If vendors exceed the space allotted for them, it would be like they were mocking the government.

Domagoso said street vendors should police their ranks or would terminate the plan.

GEEKS INVASION.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

Release of Invitation to Bid Submission of Letter of Intent and Eligibility Documents

The city chief executive said the children would then proceed to Kidzania Manila where they will get to play the role of a police officer, firefighter, doctor, nurse, educator, journalist, and other essential members of the community.

“We hope that the role-playing exercise will help shape their dreams for the future and inspire them to excel in their studies,” she said.

Binay also said for the safety of the students, DepEd Makati had ensured that section advisers and the school nurse will accompany the students on every trip. Each kindergarten pupil has also been allowed to bring one parent as companion.

Last July and August, some 6,000 Grade 7 students in Makati public high schools had their off-campus activity at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. They watched the informative theater show “Ibong Adarna” for free.

Binay said the tour sites scheduled for kindergarten pupils include Manila Ocean Park in Pasay City, Rizal Park and Fort Santiago.

Grade 1 pupils have been scheduled to visit and familiarize themselves with various government offices in Makati through a community tour that includes Makati City Hall, Makati City Fire Station and Makati City Police Station. They will then proceed to Kidzania Manila in Taguig City, she added.

“We have included the community tour in the program as part of the civic education of the children. Our goal is to develop a strong sense of civic duty among them. We want them to understand and appreciate the roles and functions of key government workers who serve their community, including police officers, firefighters and city hall officials and personnel,” Binay said.

ManiPopCon opens at Solaire Nov. 16 THE Manila Pop Culture Convention, or ManiPopCon, will host different geekdoms under one convention.

Producers Marco Aventajado and Freddie Tan are hoping conventioneers can geek out for two days in the 2,400-square meter Tent at Solaire Resort and Casino on Nov. 16 and 17.

The convention will have tabletop games, collectible card games, Dungeons and Dragons, miniature wargames, geek sundries, Toys, Funko Pops, adult collectibles, comic books, science fiction, eSports, VR games, midway games, cosplay, mascots, and celebrities you didn’t know were geeks, they said in a press release.

ManiPopCon is divided into sectors. Laro will be the center of all the games. Highlighting this 680-seat sector are the Magic: The Gathering National tournament, Gold Rush 2019 presented by Ludus Distributors and the Epic Dungeons and Dragons event, the Conclave 2019 presented by the Greasy Snitches. Gold Rush 2019 aims to have more than 500 participants while The Conclave will have 100 and 200-player Epic Adventures.

There will also be tournaments and demos of Warhammer 40,000, Transformers TCG and KeyForge, not to mention dozens of tabletop games including the Filipino classic, Game of the Generals.

There will also be side events for MTG and D&D. Concourse de Geek will have ManiPopCon event partners and sponsors’ booths as well purveyors of toys and VR games. Cignal’s booth will be where the eSports geeks will be congregating with tournaments for Mobile Legends, Tekken 7 and DOTA VR for in game prizes and gear.

ABS-CBN will be bringing the Ravelo Komiks Universe heroes so guests can line up for selfies with Darna, Lastikman, and Captain Barbell.

Big Boy Toys will be front and center for the toys and adult collectibles with a convention exclusive collaboration between artists Quiccs x Markdwin as well as special deals for ManiPopCon attendees. Mox Gen Merch will have a good selection of current and nostalgic toys that even the most discerning geek would be happy to get a great find.

Artist Alley will be the place to go to for the adult collectibles, comic and science fiction, and other geek sundries.

Up-and-coming vinyl toy artists Milo San Juan and Creon will be on hand to exhibit their newest drops and ManiPopCon exclusives, for autograph signing as well.

IN BRIEF Villar wants plastic banned SINCE the Philippines is one of the world’s largest producers of plastic wastes, Senator Cynthia Villar on Friday cited the urgency to ban the use of plastic as she welcomed reports indicating President Rodrigo Duterte was considering a nationwide ban on the use of plastic.

“With the President taking the lead in this campaign, I am confident we will be making a significant headway and finally remove us from that disconcerting title as one of the world’s largest producers of plastic wastes,” Villar said.

Villar made this statement during the tree-planting and clean-up activity she spearheaded in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at Barangay 649, Gasangan, Baseco Compound.

Villar said a 2015 report on plastic pollution conducted by the international group Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment ranked the Philippines as the third biggest source of plastic leaking into the oceans, following China and Indonesia.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has also warned that if plastic pollution is not addressed, by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.

“The fish will eat all the plastic and they will all die and our ocean will become virtual desert,” Villar said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

911 command center in Baguio SENATOR Christopher Lawrence Go said budgetary support for Baguio city’s 911 command center, issued by the Office of the President, was also turned over to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

The 911 command center, intended to manage traffic, peacekeeping and disasters in Baguio City, it was patterned after the 911 emergency services that President Rodrigo Duterte established in Davao City when he was serving as its mayor.

To discourage prank calls, the senator has filed a bill seeking to penalize prank callers to emergency hotlines.

He has also filed several bills that aim to strengthen the emergency response mechanisms of the government, including the Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019, Disaster Resilience Act of 2019 and Emergency Medical Services System Act of 2019.

Go was in Baguio City for the opening of the 50th Malasakit Center in the country. He also witnessed the turnover of P200-million check that will be used in establishing the city’s 911 command center.

The Malasakit Center, dubbed as a “onestop shop” for financial assistance, was opened at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center. Macon Ramos-Araneta

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Solon seeks inquiry into laws for sports development

Chief Justice Peralta predicts UST victory

By Maricel V. Cruz CAVITE Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. on Friday sought a legislative inquiry on the existing laws and regulations governing sports development.

Under House Resolution 505 filed by Barzaga, a former mayor of Dasmariñas City, the legislator wants to find out if national athletes are receiving the needed support from the government.

Barzaga cited the case of chess Grandmaster Wesley So, who left the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and now plays for the United States Chess Federation.

So, who was born in Bacoor, Cavite and whose mother was an accountant of De La Salle University Hospital in Dasmariñas City, recently shocked the world when he toppled World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen to win the inaugural World Fischer Chess Championship.

To be fair, Barzaga said So was not entirely deprived of support during his years in the Philippines, receiving backing from the Philippine Sports Commission, the NCFP, headed by Rep. Prospero Pichay, and chess patrons like Reginald Tee, who took So under his wings.

The NCFP earlier insisted that So still received a monthly allowance reserved for elite national athletes from the PSC even after moving to the US on the invitation of former women’s world champion Susan Polgar to play for Webster University in Missouri.

“Yet there was no question about the disenchantment over the system that So bottled up inside for so long until it reached breaking point after one incident where, in his own words, he got caught in the middle of a feud among the kings of the sports bodies,” Barzaga said.

This happened back in 2013 after So’s gold medal from the World Universiade Games in Kazan, Russiahad some quarters raising the possibility of a sevenfigure incentive from the government.

In the end, however, he got none, Barzaga wrote in the resolution.

It was reasoned out that the Universiade wasn’t among the international events where gold medalists are guaranteed monetary incentives from the government under the old RA No.9644, otherwise known as the Athletes’ Incentives Act.

PH projects...

By Rey E. Requejo

TWO STRAIGHT FOR UNION BELL. Volleyball star Bea de Leon (7th from left), whose family owns Philracom Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race 2nd-leg winner Union Bell, displays the champion’s trophy. She is joined by Philracom Commissioner Bienvenido Niles Jr., Metro Turf racing manager Rudy Prado and his deputy Arthur Escala and representatives of the winning breeder and trainer.

Bo: UP will treat UST game as a KO match

By Peter Atencio

T

HE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are raring to meet the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Sunday.

The second-seeded Fighting Maroons have the twice-to-beat advantage in their stepladder encounter with the Growling Tigers in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Coach Bo Perasol said the team won’t waste time against the UST when they clash at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We are treating this game as a knockout game,” said Perasol.

The Growling Tigers have beaten the Fighting Maroons during the eliminations.

In the first round, UST came away with an 85-69 win over UP before pulling off an 84-78 triumph in the second round.

“In the two games that we had against them, they really outplayed us,” said Perasol.

The Growling Tigers come into the fight bearing the momentum they got after turning back the third-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 81-71.

UST has always been known to come from the bottom of the standings and reach the finals with important wins in

the second round.

The Tigers were in the same situation back in 2015 when they reached the finals behind the pair of Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag.

But the Maroons won’t be a pushover.

“The team will be complete. We need to address our lapses,” added Perasol.

Four key players are expected to make a difference for UP. There’s Kobe Paras with his averages of 17.42 points, 5.67 rebounds, 1.92 assists and 1.35 blocks.

Support for Paras will revolve mainly around Bright Akhuetie, Javi Gomez de Liano and June Manzo.

Akhuetie can deliver 14.25 points per game, to go with norms of 11.64 rebounds, 2.07 assists and 1.57 steals.

PH cyclists rule Stages 5, 6 of Indonesia bikefest NATIONAL team riders Jonnel Carcueva and Rustom Lim took center stage in the ongoing races of the Tour de Singkarak in Indonesia.

Carcueva, who is in the midst of preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, ruled Stage 5, while Lim topped the following stage, to join Ismael Grospe in taking the top honors in this UCI 2.2 category event.

Because of this Carcueva jumped to no. 3 in the overall classification standings behind Team Sapura’s Jesse Ewart and teammate Cristian Raileanu.

The 24-year-old Carcueva, who is with Team Go For Gold, clocked five hours, 34 minutes and 33 seconds in taking stage 5, which is a 206.5 km course from Payakumbuh to Embun Pagi Agam.

In stage 6, Lim (Team 711) reached the finish line of the 204.1-km course from Singkarak to Solon Selantan in 5:38.08, some five seconds ahead of Indonesian bets Pourseyedi Mirsamad and Sai-Udomsin Phuchong.

With two more stages left, Grospe hopes to remain in third behind Ewart, who has kept the overall leadership after dominating the first two stages. Peter Atencio

MAGISTRATES of the Supreme Court are impartial in the court of law and justice, but they have shown their bias in the court of basketball.

This came after Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta made a fearless forecast that it will be University of Santo Tomas’ Growling Tigers versus the Ateneo de Manila’s Blue Eagles in the coming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 finals.

When asked of what he thought about the upcoming semifinal fight between UST and the University of the Philippines, Peralta, a true Thomasian, said: “Wala naman laban ‘yung UP.” Peralta, the 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was a working student and graduated from the UST Faculty of Civil Law in 1979, and later taught at his alma mater.

“Dalawang beses na natalo and UP,” Peralta told reporters during his first press conference as chief justice.

Peralta said perhaps even before the end of first half it will already be obvious that UP will lose.

“Baka first half pa lang, alam mo na talo ang UP...Kaya lang baka may tsamba. ‘Yun ang delikado,” he said adding that Ateneo is also hoping that the UST Growling Tigers will be defeated.

However, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen strongly dissented.

“I am confident that the true facts of this controversy will be proven without a shadow of the doubt within the next few days,” he tweeted.

Leonen, a graduate of the UP College of Law and also served as UP Law Dean, even used the hashtag #UPFight.

In the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Semifinals, only three teams remain namely, the UST Growling Tigers, UP Fighting Maroons, and Ateneo’s Blue Eagles.

The defending champion Ateneo is already waiting for its challenger, whether its UST or UP.

From A8

Fil -Am Alohi Robinson-Hardy was also dropped from the list as her Philippine passport is still under process.

The Philippine Women’s Volleyball pool is made up of Alyssa Valdez, Julia Morado, Mika Reyes, Iris Tolenada, Eya Laure, Abigail Maraño, Mary Joy Baron, Maddie Madayag, Roselyn Doria, France’s Molina, Aiza Pontillas, Mylene Paat, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Dawn Macandili and Kathleen Arado.

Philippine Sports Commission funded the Japan training of the women’s team last month and has also approved the two-week training of the Men’s Volleyball team in Japan this November to likewise improve its chances of a medal finish in the SEAG.

It’s Knights...

From A8

The second-seeded Junior Pirates bounced back from their 74-85 loss to the Staglets in Game 1 of their Final Four showdown.

The Junior Pirates will meet the San Beda Red Cubs in a best-of-three finals affair this Tuesday.

Barba, one of nine graduating players, scored on an assist from Mclaude Guadana in the last 5.1 seconds to hand the Junior Pirates a five-point lead in the remaining time.

“Sobrang blessed kami. Nagkaroon pa rin kami ng chance pagkatapos namin matalo nu’ng unang game,” said Junior Pirates’ coach JC Docto.

The Staglets, who got a game-high 18 points from Dylan Darbin, ran out of time when Milo Janao’s triple found its mark with 2.2 ticks to go.

Guadana, capped a 9-3 run in the last 7:03 with a three-point play to give the Junior Pirates their biggest edge, 66-57.

The Staglets, with Kim Bulasa hitting 15 points, got their last taste of the lead of two freebies from Darbin, 49-47.

Two treys from Roie Panganiban with 1:45 left in the third handed Lyceum the lead for good, 56-51. Peter Atencio

Ollero wins ‘69 Hits Gold golf GLENN Ollero fired a career-best 64 to emerge as overall champion in the ’69 Hits Gold Golf Tournament Monday at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City.

Ollero, 60, eclipsed Gie Ejercito, Benny Fulgencio and Manny Gomez in this tourney organized by the Upsilon Sigma Phi batch 69 as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.

The festivity will culminate with a grand bash today at the Okada Hotel Manila with around 500 guests in attendance.

“This is my first-ever championship. I really prepared for this tournament and played my best,” Ollero said. “This is my best performance in my career.”

Ejercito carded a 68 to rule the Founders’ Cup, while Fulgencio and Gomez registered identical 69s as runners-up of the tournament which used a modified double-barrel scoring system.

Eugene Espantero tallied a 66 to clinch the President’s trophy, ahead of Deo Ig-

nacio and Dennis Gelacio who carded a 67 and 69.

Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association president Martin Romualdez praised the organizers of the event, led

by Willie Fernandez and Erdie Malveda, after they also raised funds for the annual “Pumapalo Para sa Bayan” golf tournament on Dec. 2 at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City.

Romualdez said the proceeds of “Pumapalo” will be used to fund the organization’s other projects like construction of school buildings, playgrounds, anti-dengue drives, livelihood projects, tree-planting activities, feeding programs and medical missions.

“We have a regular Upsilonian event, the ‘Pumapalo Para sa Bayan,’ that aims to foster fellowship and camaraderie,” said Romualdez, the Leyte lawmaker and majority floor leader who is also the president of Manila Golf and Country Club.

“In this occasion, our brothers think that they are having fun playing golf,

The winners, led by overall champion Glenn Ollero (center), are joined by the organizers of the ’69 Hits Gold Golf Tournament at the Manila Golf and Country Club.

but they are actually making contribu- and ideals we have inculcated— we tions for a better cause,” Romualdez said. gather light to scatter. Whatever we “This has always been part of the belief have, we share.”

Hernandez storms to 5-shot lead in MVPSF Amateur Golf despite 73 SILANG, Cavite—Jet Hernandez put in a gutsy twoover 73 in tough conditions at Riviera’s Langer course yesterday as he upstaged a slew of fancied rivals to post a huge five-stroke lead over Josh Jorge at the start of the Riviera MVPSF Amateur Championship here.

Hernandez fought back from a one-birdie, three-bogey game at the front with three birdies against a bogey in the first four holes at the back but he failed to sustain his charge to the finish, dropping strokes on Nos. 14 and 16 that somewhat enabled his rivals to come within striking distance after succumbing in a challenging day at the hazard-laden par-71 layout.

Jorge never recovered from his two bogeys and a double bogey in the first three holes and limped with a 78 but still took the challenger’s role as Dan Cruz hobbled with a 79 and recent Northern Luzon Regional winner and SEA Games-bound Sean Ramos shot himself in the foot with two 40s for an 80.

Joining Ramos at fourth are Paolo Barro, Miguel Ilas and Korean Jung Jaehyun while Kim Tae Soo, also from Korea and Santino Laurel hobbled with identical 81s to fall eight strokes off Hernandez in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation wand backed by PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments.

The rest of the 30 starters lay too far behind with Lee Sang Min and fellow Korean Rho Hyun Ho and Masaichi Otake fumbling with 83s and Robert Manalo and Joachim Yu matched 84s in one of the country’s toughest courses.

But the title chase in the women’s side of the annual event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines could head to a downto-the-wire finish as Korean Kim Seo Yun and Rianne Malixi turned in a pair of 74s to share the lead and Junia Gabasa stood just behind with 76.

With Kwon Min Seo carding a 77, Laurea Duque

scoring a 78 and Hee Yeon Bang putting in a 79, the battle couldn’t get any tighter with Kim out to get back at Malixi, who foiled her back-to-back title drive in the Northern Luzon Regional at Luisita two weeks ago.

Malixi, in pursuit of a fourth crown this year, actually took charge with a 35 start but stumbled with three bogeys in a birdie-less backside stint, ending up with a two-over card while Kim which snatching the solo lead with a last-hole bogey for a pair of 37s.

But looming large is Gabasa, who stayed within sight of the joint leaders despite a pair of 38s marred by six bogeys against two bogeys.

Also on tap are the Special Division (for boys’ and girls’ 12-years-old-and-below) which serves as part of NGAP’s grassroots program, the Mid Amateur category and the seniors section. For details, visit www. ngaponline.net or www.facebook.com/ngap.circle or call NGAP at (02) 7065926.

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Bolts crush Dyip for 4th straight win Game today

(Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City) 5 p.m. -- San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine

MERALCO streaked to its fourth straight win with ease, destroying Columbian Dyip, 92-74, in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts, relying on an unrelenting offensive anchored on Allen Durham, Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan, dominated the game from start to finish as they chalked up their seventh win in nine outings.

The victory bolstered the Bolts’ bid for top 4 finish, which carries a twiceto-beat advantage in the 8-team quarterfinal round.

Durham finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, which reinforced his shot for another Best Import award in the season-ending conference.

The hard-working Durham, who had won the award twice already, got ample support from Almazan who dropped 18 points and cornered 24 rebounds, and Newsome, who added 10 points as the trio carried the Bolts’ offensive all gamelong.

CJ Perez banged away 21 points and collared six rebounds, while Kaphri Alaston added 19 points and 16 rebounds but they were not enough to prevent the Dyip from falling to their sixth loss in 10 outings.

The Bolts did pretty well on both ends of the court right from the start, building a 25-11 lead in the first quarter. They kept their fine showing all the way to the second to build a 4529 margin at the turn as the Dyip continued to struggle.

The Dyip found their rhythm at the onset of the second period—albeit lasting only for a while—as they uncorked a 10-to-nothing salvo highlighted by a triple each by Andreas Cahilig and Juami Tiongson.

That enabled the Dyip to move within 45-39, and send Norman Black suing for time early in the third period.

Columbian Dyip’s Khapri Alston is challenged by Meralco’s Cliff Hodge on his way to the basket.

PH projects 220 golds in SEAG

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Philippines could earn at least 220 gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Leaders of various national sports associations came up with their individual figures, projections and projections following Thursday’s coordination meeting.

Combat sports account for most of the gold medal projection, with arnis tipped to get at least 15 golds from the 20 events on tap.

At least five golds each will come from judo, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, sambo, wrestling, according to predictions forwarded

by National Sports Association heads.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman and Team Philippines chef de mission William Ramirez got hold of these figures during the meeting.

Outside of combat sports, Dancesport is projected to get 10 gold medals, while athletics and gymnastics are confident of getting nine.

Skateboarding, which will be bannered by Asian champion Margielyn Didal, are eyeing a sweep of the eightevent competition.

Meanwhile the Philippine Olympic Committee is finalizing its list of flagbearers for the opening ceremonies.

There will be a total of five flagbearers when the games are formally opened during festivities at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Nov. 30.

Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz,

Didal, boxer Eumir Marcial, gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena will serve as flagbearers of the country.

POC president Abraham Tolentino said they will exempt anyone who will have an event on the day after the opening rites.

Meanwhile the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team’s chances of a podium finish in the 30th Southeast Asian Games remain high even with the possible loss of its key player Fil-Am Kalei Mau. Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. President Joey Romasanta and LVPI training director Peter Cayco both agree that the National Women’s team have enough talents to win a medal in the 30th biennial games.

Cayco said the Philippine Women’s Volleyball team’s two-week intensive

It’s Knights vs Lions in NCAA finals

Cool Smashers shoot for title repeat, record sweep in PVL MORE than the second straight PVL Open championship, a fired-up Creamline side will be driven by its desire to set a record that could be tough to match when the Cool Smashers face the embattled PetroGazz Angels in Game Two of the Finals at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

A win away from completing a grand 20-game sweep of the tournament, expect the defending champions to pour it all out in their 6 p.m. clash and outdo themselves to better what was already an impressive performance in the opener of their best-of-three series that saw them dominate the Angels in the opening frame, rally from a huge deficit in the second set before outlasting their Reinforced Conference tormentors in the third to fashion out a 25-14, 25-22, 27-25 victory last Wednesday.

Game Three, if necessary, will be played next Wednesday.

“This is the Finals. We expect nothing but an all-out game from both sides,” said Alyssa Valdez, who dished out the game expected of her in powering the

Games today (Saturday) 4 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs Motolite 6 p.m. – Creamline vs PetroGazz

Cool Smashers to that straight-set romp.

The former Ateneo superstar blasted in 17 kills and added two aces and drew solid backup from Jema Galanza (15 hits) and Michele Gumabao (10 points) in offense with Risa Sato and Celine Domingo taking care of the middle to produce five points apiece.

Ace playmaker Jia Morado anchored Creamline’s offense with 21 excellent sets, completely dominating PetroGazz counterpart Chie Saet, who made only eight excellent sets as the Cool Smashers also banked on their strong serves to disrupt the Angels’ play patterns.

Coming into the title series, the Angels are billed as the league’s best receiving team. But they came up short against a side that boasts of a slew of power hitters and which stepped up on the service plate.

“Since PetroGaz is the No. 1 team in re-

Unless the PetroGazz Angels come up with a big surprise, the Creamline Cool Smashers could be heading to a grand bash tonight.

ceive, coach Tai (Bundit) wants us to come up with strong serves,” said Galanza.

Though the Cool Smashers scored just three aces out of 75 service attempts, their service game unsettled the flow of the Angels’ offense with middles Jeanette Panaga and Cherry Nunag struggling on their quick plays and finishing with just a

combined nine-point output.

But for sure, PetroGazz coach Arnold Laniog and the Angels will come up with key adjustments, particularly in keeping their composure in nerve-wracking situations, including in long exchanges which the Cool Smashers virtually dominated with their counter-attacks in Game One.

Altas spikers shoot for NCAA grand slam

By Dennis Abrina

The reigning NCAA champion Perpetual Altas Spikers during their Spiker’s Turf campaign, where they ended up fourth place. Dennis Abrina

training in Japan last month has tremendously improved the gelling and bonding of the players and this was very prominent during their practices and scrimmages with Japanese ball clubs there.

Romasanta admitted that powerhouse Thailand will be hard to defeat as it is among the best women’s teams in the world but the Phl squad can stand against Indonesia and Vietnam.

Only four teams are competing in the the 30th SEA Games as Singapore pulled out its team due to lack of competitive players to put up a formidable team.

Jaja Santiago and Dindin SantiagoManabat, who are playing as imports in a Japanese League, also begged off from the team after failing to secure permissions from their foreign ballclubs.

Turn to A7

BACK-TO-BACK champion Perpetual Altas Spikers are now back in hard training in preparation for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 men’s volleyball tournament, which unfurls on Jan. 6, 2020.

The grandslam-seeking Altas of multi-titled coach Sinfronio ‘Sammy’ Acaylar personally supervised the team’s daily training after their stint at the Spiker’s Turf, where they ended up fourth place after sweeping the entire Pool C group, including a four-set triumph against perennial contender PLDT in the eliminations, before squeaking past Philippine Navy in the quarterfinals.

“We will go all out to defend

our crown on Season 95,” said coach Acaylar.

Back-to-Back NCAA MVP Joebert Almodiel hopes the Spikers’ Turf outing carries over to the NCAA with the help of two new recruits -- Hero Austria from fivepeat champions Junior Altas and Kennry Malinis from Bogo, Cebu, as they proved to be consistent forces in both offense and defense during the pre-season tournament.

The Altas Team has been the most dominant volleyball team in the league this decade after winning seven championships in nine years from 2010 to 2019.

The Las Pinas City-based setters are also the second winningest team in the league with 12 overall titles behind Letran Knights with 13 crowns.

The Acaylar-mentored Altas spikers were also title holders of the 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 season.

Comprising the team are holdovers Ronniel Rosales and Jeric Atentar, who will be suiting up for their last playing year, setters EJ Casaña and JC Enarciso, Team Captain Ridzuan Muhali, Gilbert Balmores, Joederick Balmores, sophomore middle blocker Loiue Ramirez, John Rick Baggayan, Aljoe Sereño, Awie Abdulla and KC Andrade.

Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Joebert Almodiel, a 2nd year, BPED Major in PE, believes that their experience in the Spikers’ Turf will make them stronger for their “three-peat” bid in the oldest collegiate league.

THE Letran Knights are back in the finals.

The Knights took charge by as much as 14 points in the fourth period and protected their lead to the finish as they weathered the Lyceum Pirates’ spirited rally to pull off a 92-88 win yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The win put the Knights in a bestof-three finals showdown with the San Beda Red Lions, who will be seeking their 23rd title in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament in Game 1 when it starts on Tuesday.

Fran Yu banged in 20 points, including a split free throw in the last 45.8 seconds allowing the Knights to keep a five-point cushion in the remaining time.

Larry Muyang added 19 points, with his layup from an opening on the left side allowing the Knights to preserve their five-point edge at 92-87 and weather Lyceum’s final bid to come back.

Jaycee Marcelino knocked in 26 points for the Pirates, while Mike Nzeusseu added 19.

Nzeusseu’s split charity in the last 9.3 seconds allowed Lyceum to move close by four for the final count.

Yu fired eight points in the final canto, with his triple finding its mark in the last 6:34 and during a 15-2 burst that made Letran unreachable with their 84-72 spread.

The Knights will now have an opportunity to go for their 18th title.

They won the crown in 2015.

“I give it to my veterans. Sinabi ko sa kanila that they have to put something in their game na ‘di nila ginawa nu’ng past games. And siyempre, they are looking forward to taking this to the next level. So, ‘di sila nag-give up. They had the dedication and determination to beat the Pirates,” said Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan. Meanwhile, John Barba struck with 36 points to lead the Lyceum Junior Pirates to 78-76 triumph over the San Sebastian Staglets and into their first finals’ stint in the junior division.

Turn to A7

IN BRIEF

Globe Telecom vows to build more cell sites

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it will continue building cell sites next year amid slow progress in the government’s common tower program.

“From a planning perspective, we will do it as if we are building everything ourselves and we will continue to do so,” Globe chief technology officer Gil Genio said “The reason why we are keeping the same model [beacuse] there’s no real tower that has been set up for multi-tenant use. At the moment, it has not happened yet and certainly for 2020, we are not pinning our hopes,” Genio added.

Globe recently signed memorandum of understanding with Aboitiz InfraCapital and Frontier Tower Associates Philippines to build common telecom towers in the cities of Cebu, Davao and Olongapo.

The Ayala-led telco also signed an MOU with ISOC Infrastructure Inc. and Malaysia-based tower giant edotco Group Sdn. Bhd. to support the common tower initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

The DICT plans to build at least 50,000 new common towers across the country in the next seven to 10 years.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

MWSS chief assures Wawa Dam approval

THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System assured Prime Infra’s Enrique Razon that the water agency will give its final approval to the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, stressing it remains a major flagship project of the Duterte administration’s water security program.

MWSS Chairman Reynaldo Velasco made the assurance, adding the MWSS board would tackle and approve the Wawa Dam project to help address the water supply deficit in the Eastern Zone under Manila Water.

The Wawa Dam is an integral part of the overall short-, medium- and longterm water flagship projects of MWSS to ensure water security,” Velasco said.

“We are in a catch-up mode as far as water supply source is concerned. Wawa Dam, which used to be the water source for Metro Manila before Angat Dam was completed on 1967 and became operational, has been identified by water experts as the best potential water supply source for Metro Manila,” Velasco added.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

B1

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PUV MODERNIZATION. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., one of the country’s leading local automotive companies, marks another milestone after receiving the first five units of the HD50S Modern Jeepney Class 2 from assembly partner Del Monte Motor Works Inc. in support the country’s PUV Modernization Program. At the rolloff ceremony are HARI president and chief executive officer Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo (third from left), Del Monte Motor president Narciso Morales (fourth from left), and HARI chief operating officer and chief finance officer Ladislao Avila (extreme right).

Eagle Cement raises profit by 35% to P4.7b E

By Jenniffer B. Austria

agle Cement Corp., a listed cement company owned by business tycoon Ramon Ang, registered a net income of P4.7 billion in the first nine months of 2019, up 35 percent from P3.5 billion year-on-year, on double-digit growth in sales.

Eagle said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday net sales amounted to P15.3 billion in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 25 percent from P12.2 billion it posted a year earlier.

The sales were boosted by a 19-percent increase in volume and supported by the rise in the average selling price of cement.

The cement company also attributed the higher volume growth to the strong domestic environment for cement and robust private consumption.

“Eagle is poised to deliver doubledigit growth towards the remainder of the year, as local demand for cement is expected to remain high in line with the anticipated pickup in construction activities coming from both public and private sectors,” Eagle president and chief executive Paul Ang said.

“Our year-to-date solid financial performance is stirred by our relentless efforts to provide world-class, quality cement products at affordable prices while still maintaining our operating efficiencies,” he added.

Gross profit amounted to P6.7 billion, up 20 percent from a year ago level.

Eagle said net income in the third quarter reached P1.4 billion, up 18 percent on year. Third-quarter net sales also climbed 21 percent to P4.8 billion.

“As we operate in a more competitive environment, we will continue to embark on our organic growth strategy and penetrate new geographies to maximize

the growth potential of the cement industry and drive sustainable returns for the Company,” Ang added.

Meanwhile, the cement company said its grinding capacity expansion was under way, increasing the annual cement capacity by 1.5 million metric tons to 8.6 MMT in its Bulacan plant by 2020.

Share price of Eagle on Friday gained 2 percent to P15.50.

Integrated energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp., meanwhile, posted a consolidated net income after tax of P8.25 billion in the first nine months, down five percent from P8.66 billion on year.

SMPC reported a 278-percent improvement of net income after tax quarter-on-quarter to P2.58 billion from P0.68 billion last year.

“The good performance in the current nine-month period was mainly contributed by better coal sales and higher energy generation and power revenue by one of its subsidiaries, Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. (SLPGC),” SMPC said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

AC ENERGY Philippines Inc. of Ayala Corp. will purchase the stake of Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure in North Luzon Renewables Energy Corp., which owns and operates an 81-megawatt wind farm in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, for P2.7 billion, subject to adjustments.

“With this acquisition, the company will increase its effective interest in North Luzon Renewables, which is a generating asset with stable cash flows from feed-in-tariff (FIT) under the Renewable Energy Act,” AC Energy Philippines said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

AC Energy Philippines, formerly Phinma Energy Corp., signed on November 4 an agreement to acquire PINAI’s shares in Philippine Wind Holdings Corp.

PhilWind directly and indirectly owns 67 percent of North Luzon Renewables, through a 38-percent direct interest and 28.7-percent indirect interest through its 100-percent whollyowned subsidiary, Ilocos Wind Energy Holding Co., Inc. North Luzon Renewables, meanwhile, is a joint venture of AC Energy Philippines’ parent firm, AC Energy Inc., UPC Philippines Hold Co I B.V., Luzon Wind Energy Holdings B.V. (an affiliate of Mitsubishi Corporation) and PINAI. AC Energy, prior to the transaction, already held the single biggest equity of 36 percent in North Luzon Renewables, which owns the country’s second biggest wind farm that started commercial operations in November 2014.

“With this acquisition, the Company will increase its effective interest in North Luzon Renewables, which is a generating asset with stable cash flows from Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) under the Renewable Energy Act,” AC Energy Philippines said.

Completion of the transaction will be subject to Philippine Competition Commission approval. AC Energy Philippines expects the transaction to be completed on or before June 30, 2020.

“The acquisition supports the Company’s strategic objective to be the growth platform of the AC Energy Group in the country and helps meet the Company’s goal of achieving two gigawatts (equivalent to 2,000 MW) of attributable renewable energy capacity by 2025,” it said.

ING: Capital formation recovery to lift GDP

Panda Express to open 1st branch in SM Megamall FILIPINOS will soon be able to have a taste of a wide variety of authentic American-Chinese cuisine as Panda Express is set to open its first branch at SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Panda Express, an American Chinese original, is the largest Asian dining concept in the US. Founded and family-owned and operated since 1983, it is best known for creating a wide variety of authentic American Chinese cuisine.

Each dish at Panda Express is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles.

After years of trying to bring Panda Express to the Philippines, Panda Express co-founder and co-CEO Andrew Cherng felt he found the right partner in Jollibee Foods Corp. founder and chairman Tony Tan Caktiong.

JFC announced last year that it entered signed a 50-50 joint venture with Panda Restaurant Group to form JBPX Foods Inc. that will bring the iconic US restaurant brand in the Philippines.

Cherng felt both companies share the same values in dedication to quality and people-first culture and Tan Caktiong is excited of opportunities that the partnership will bring.

“We’re excited to open the first Panda Express in the Philippines. Based on the consumer enthusiasm for the upcoming opening, we’re encouraged that the local market will also love this food concept—a boost to JFC’s roster of restaurant chain,” said Tan Caktiong in a statement.

Consumer interest in Panda Express started in 2016 when food sites consistently listed it as one of US-based brands that Filipinos can’t wait to open in Manila. Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

AC Energy ups stake in wind farm for P2.7b

NLEX to complete C3-R10 road shortly

NLEX Corp. said it expects to complete the construction of the C3-R10 section of the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 by January 2020.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo Franco said the construction of the 2.6-km road between C3 Road, Caloocan City and R10, Navotas City is expected to be completed by January next year, while the NLEX Segment 10 Malabon Exit Ramp is expected to open to the public by December this year.

The C3-R10 section is the extension of the all elevated 5.7-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 that originates in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City over Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City and Caloocan Interchange in 5th Avenue Caloocan City.

The NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 was opened in February this year, improving the accessibility and connectivity between the key areas of Metro Manila and the northern provinces of Luzon via NLEx. Traversing the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon and Caloocan, the 5.65-km, sixlane NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 is seen to divert 30,000 vehicles daily away from the busy streets of Metro Manila.

With the new road, travel time between C3 and NLEx will only take 5 minutes.

Darwin G. Amojelar

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

By Julito G. Rada A STRONG recovery in capital formation will help propel economic growth to the low end of the target range of 6 percent to 7 percent this year, ING Bank Manila said in a report Friday.

The bank’s senior economist Nicholas Mapa considered capital formation as the “missing link” in the country’s growth story for the past months, weighing down the expansion by an average of 1.3 percentage points over the last two quarters.

“Had capital formation remained in positive territory, overall GDP may have easily cleared the 6-percent handle but with the sector posting twin contractions, growth has been held back,” Mapa said.

He said the weakness in capital formation could be traced largely to the pullback in durable equipment investment, posting contractions of -12.8 percent in the second quarter and -9.1

percent in the succeeding quarter.

Mapa said by far the biggest drag on growth has been the consecutive decline in road vehicle, mirrored in lackluster car sales data released by both the AVID (car importers) and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. “... Meanwhile, construction vehicles were the other main reason for the weakness in durable good investment, catering by 23.7 percent and 43.8 percent in second and third quarter ostensibly as the government budget conundrum mothballed projects and postponed importation of these earthmoving machinery,” he said.

He also said the successive bouts of policy rate hikes and the subsequent tightening in liquidity conditions had sapped investment appetite from corporates to households alike while the budget delay, which stymied government construction outlays, could not have come at a worse time.

SEC eyes probe of R&L Investments fiasco

4 1600 CHRISTMAS AT MOA. The SM Mall of Asia launches its Christmas festivities opening doors to amazing activities to bring happiness and cheer to its shoppers. They began with the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree and live performances from the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and UST Choir and the first ever state-of –the-art Indoor and Music Lights Show. Santa Clause leads the celebrations under the tree and amid confetti.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission wants Capital Markets Integrity Corp. to thoroughly investigate the reported theft that nearly wiped out the position of stock brokerage firm R&L Investments.

CMIC acts as the independent audit, surveillance and compliance arm of the Philippine Stock Exchange in line with its mandate to reinforce the confidence of the investing public in capital market institutions.

“The SEC expects CMIC to conduct a thorough investigation to unearth the truth behind the transactions in question, identify all parties involved, and uncover the extent of the damage to the stock brokerage, its clients and the overall market,” the corporate regulator said.

The SEC said the investigation should also provide clarity as to how such transactions could have slipped past multiple control measures.

The SEC noted that rules requires broker-dealers to conduct a monthly security examination, count and verification to account for discrepancies.

An R&L employee, identified as Marlo Moron, reportedly diverted P700 million worth of stocks to another broker and even eventually sold them.

Meanwhile, SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong said in a separate text message the SEC would closely monitor the issue in parallel with CMIC probe.

As a self-regulatory organization, CMIC is tasked to enforce Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code, and the pertinent rules and regulations. Among its powers and functions is to investigate and resolve violations by trading participants of the securities law as well as trading-related irregularities and unusual trading activities involving issuers. Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market closes virtually flat T HE stock market closed virtually flat Friday, with investors digesting the latest figures from the gross domestic product that showed a robust growth of 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 8.05 points, or 0.1 percent, to 8,065.76 on a value turnover of P6.8 billion. Losers beat gainers, 100 to 70, with 66 issues unchanged.

Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan slumped 6 percent to P10.62, while DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group dropped 5.2 percent to P7.63.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, electricity and water distribution, hospitals and infra-

structure, declined 3.7 percent to P4.65, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. fell 2.1 percent to P848.50.

The rest of Asian markets declined on Friday as investors took their foot off the pedal after another healthy week, with eyes fixated on the next move in the China-US trade talks.

Hong Kong fell 0.8 percent in the afternoon following a six-day advance, while dealers in the city were bracing for a fresh weekend of protests after the death of a student who sustained head injuries when he fell during clashes with police.

Shanghai gave up 0.5 percent after data showed Chinese exports and imports fell again last month, though not as quickly as expected, while Singapore was off 0.9 percent and Seoul retreated 0.3 percent.

Taipei lost 0.2 percent and Jakarta gave up 0.1 percent.

Mumbai fell 0.2 percent and India’s rupee

sank 0.5 percent after Moody’s lowered its ratings outlook on the country’s debt.

News out of Beijing that it had agreed a plan with Washington to start rolling back tariffs if negotiations progress fired a rally in late business on Thursday, and helped the Dow and S&P 500 to more records.

The announcement fanned hopes the world’s economic superpowers—who are currently finalizing a mini trade pact as part of a wider deal—can resolve their long-running tariffs war that has hobbled the global growth outlook.

It also eased worries about the negotiations caused by reports that a hoped-for signing ceremony this month between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping could be delayed until December.

“The elevation of discussion from a trade truce to a possible tariff rollback is important and suggests both China and the US have come under pressure to seal a deal,” National Australia Bank’s Tapas

Strickland said in a note.

But dealers were unable to carry the baton further in Asia after the White House failed to comment on the Chinese claims, while a report said there was some opposition within the administration to such a move.

Adding to the malaise was a certain amount of profit-taking after another strong week across equity markets, which have been on a rally since last month as the trade talks showed progress.

Referring to the lack of response from Washington, AxiTrader’s Stephen Innes said: “Missing this critical piece of the puzzle, there remains a touch of uncertainty.”

He added that, assuming the “phase one” agreement is signed, “it’s hard to expect much, if anything else, to propel expectations in a positive direction further. If the phase one deal is signed, the markets will then pivot to the degree of rollbacks in exchange for harmony on remaining structural issues.” With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Friday, noveMBer 9, 2019

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

55 96.35 1.9 155.9 1.29 25.7 18.4 13 4.47 67.65 0.9 12.72 20.65 44.9 175.7 57.2 26 203.6 1,866 60.75 1.09

55 98 1.91 159.5 1.29 25.7 18.4 13.12 4.52 67.65 0.9 12.72 20.65 45.25 176 57.9 26 203.6 1,866 60.75 1.09

54.8 95.2 1.9 155.9 1.23 25.45 18.4 12.72 4.46 66.65 0.88 12.72 20.6 44.8 174.1 57.05 25.85 196 1,866 60.05 1.09

55 97.5 1.91 159.5 1.23 25.45 18.4 12.88 4.52 67.55 0.89 12.72 20.6 45.05 175 57.9 25.85 203 1,866 60.1 1.09

2,100 1,492,080 5,000 938,870 16,000 78,000 10,400 674,700 154,000 2,085,560 329,000 1,200 500 37,700 990 11,980 31,300 223,760 10 6,440 8,000

115,488 143,909,637.50 9,530 148,570,494 19,950 1,990,625 191,360 8,668,284 688,230 140,222,035 289,660 15,264 10,310 1,697,785 173,029 685,210 810,035 45,220,221 18,660 387,892 8,720

-3,288 -19,841,467 3,099,300 630,370 -248,992 1,781,783.50 -57,200 672,085 -6,964 -3,383,789 -

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

0.37 2.05 26.3 3.3 39.8 2.58 1.52 7.69 5.54

0.37 2.06 26.7 3.3 40 2.59 1.52 7.73 5.54

0.37 2.01 26.05 3.3 39.15 2.5 1.46 7.67 5.5

0.37 2.06 26.7 3.3 40 2.56 1.49 7.73 5.5

290,000 1,315,000 1,343,400 20,000 9,048,700 282,000 12,962,000 3,805,800 31,500

107,300 2,683,120 35,399,740 66,000 360,846,520 718,480 19,189,710 29,298,645 173,336

-1,107,320 54,872,625 -5,086,679 -

SERVICES 2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

10.62 18.32 1.55 11.4 0.52 0.04 2.56 10.72 95 6.53 5.8 9.07 1,887 5.26 418.4 10.5 1.62 124 3.62 0.106 4.75 13.64 3.19 0.91 19.52 0.41 2.5 1.1 14.22 3.49 8.08 4.85 149.9 3.01 1,100 0.68 0.48 40 75.7 9.05 2.7 0.67 0.32 0.67 17.16

11 18.36 1.59 11.42 0.52 0.04 2.56 10.84 95 6.57 6 9.28 1,915 5.3 439.8 11.46 1.62 124 3.62 0.109 4.8 13.64 3.28 0.91 19.7 0.41 2.55 1.1 14.22 3.6 8.38 4.85 155 3.04 1,119 0.69 0.485 40.4 77 9.12 2.7 0.68 0.34 0.67 17.2

10.62 18.14 1.53 11.3 0.5 0.04 2.47 10.68 94 6.47 5.8 9.03 1,868 5.26 418.4 10.34 1.6 121.2 3.62 0.105 4.73 13.64 3.15 0.91 19.32 0.405 2.48 1.05 14.22 3.45 7.8 4.77 149.9 3 1,099 0.67 0.475 39.5 75.7 9.05 2.63 0.66 0.32 0.66 16.86

10.98 18.2 1.59 11.38 0.51 0.04 2.52 10.76 94.35 6.47 5.9 9.08 1,900 5.26 439.8 11.46 1.62 123.8 3.62 0.106 4.77 13.64 3.16 0.91 19.5 0.405 2.5 1.05 14.22 3.55 8 4.82 155 3.03 1,110 0.68 0.475 39.7 77 9.12 2.65 0.67 0.33 0.66 17.2

6,700 80,100 25,000 9,607,800 1,965,000 6,100,000 645,000 8,415,800 58,370 1,096,400 279,000 31,700 38,070 73,300 50 2,200 531,000 902,090 5,000 1,870,000 898,000 500 212,000 109,000 952,100 80,000 291,000 19,000 200 4,082,000 120,500 35,000 570 448,000 45,170 2,488,000 2,530,000 6,118,400 802,450 5,500 1,291,000 793,000 7,740,000 73,000 1,515,400

73,162 1,461,508 38,830 109,209,732 995,260 244,000 1,615,830 90,612,692 5,510,218 7,132,789 1,632,888 288,328 72,094,720 386,099 21,134 23,100 853,070 111,446,615 18,100 198,480 4,270,610 6,820 672,710 99,190 18,558,608 32,500 726,080 20,850 2,844 14,540,200 955,220 168,760 86,875 1,346,260 50,042,330 1,688,230 1,212,750 243,030,610 61,782,741 ( 50,146 3,422,090 529,650 2,535,150 48,310 25,835,732 3

-6,600 -18,379,920 -63,750 2,560 -12,182,548 -2,234,955.50 -174,799 -5,400 20,372,815 44,444,038 -47,560 -3,153,636 109,560 -325,740 60,260 58,130 71,885 -108,050 -789,125 -1,084,590 -210,450 -17,531,905 42,576,003.5) 1,510,790 42,250 ,221,461.9998

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

38.8 2.66 13.6 0.67 1.28 4.15 0.247 103.1 2.55 15.5 8.05 17.28 31 65.15 70 2.13 5.75 5.42 8.53 15.38 10.4 7 25.4 79 52 2.3 14.3 8.1 1.49 226 5.11 3.58 9.3 19.44 13.4 17.12 346.2 0.183 1.7 5.05 9.5 10.82 33.95 5.4 5.46 1.87 1.94 0.98 11.84 90 7.89 0.129 1.05 150.5 1.32 1.12

39.6 2.66 13.8 0.67 1.3 4.15 0.247 103.1 2.55 15.5 8.16 18.02 31 65.15 70 2.13 5.75 5.42 8.78 15.64 10.6 7 25.4 79.25 52 2.3 14.56 8.46 1.49 228.4 5.11 3.58 9.3 19.44 13.4 17.24 349.8 0.188 1.7 5.05 9.51 11 34 5.4 5.46 1.93 1.94 0.99 12.28 91.4 7.89 0.129 1.09 154.5 1.33 1.12

38.5 2.58 13.6 0.65 1.28 4.07 0.247 102.7 2.47 15.3 7.91 17.28 31 65.15 70 2.13 5.54 5.3 8.53 15.12 10.4 6.99 24.3 78.75 50 2.25 14.3 8.1 1.48 226 5.11 3.58 9.3 19 13.22 17.06 342 0.182 1.65 5 9.5 10.82 33.55 5.39 5.46 1.86 1.92 0.93 11.84 89.5 7.6 0.129 1.05 149.5 1.29 1.1

39.6 2.59 13.8 0.65 1.3 4.09 0.247 102.7 2.5 15.32 8 18.02 31 65.15 70 2.13 5.54 5.3 8.78 15.5 10.6 7 24.7 78.75 50.5 2.28 14.56 8.39 1.49 228 5.11 3.58 9.3 19.18 13.3 17.18 349.8 0.188 1.67 5.01 9.5 11 33.95 5.4 5.46 1.87 1.94 0.99 11.92 91 7.8 0.129 1.09 151.5 1.33 1.1

905,400 9,984,000 312,200 1,480,000 21,000 1,938,000 10,000 30 1,725,000 31,300 377,000 1,100 85,600 300 220 41,000 52,500 58,700 2,100,000 1,216,600 335,100 770,900 1,370,000 22,000 19,410 3,945,000 113,200 380,400 76,000 394,910 8,300 3,000 5,500 622,200 95,900 982,400 150,820 260,000 3,777,000 765,400 11,900 61,900 124,900 125,000 11,600 1,275,000 47,000 225,000 721,800 319,120 130,900 20,000 21,000 637,660 3,881,000 739,000

35,424,655 26,039,150 4,296,044 962,480 26,900 7,943,740 2,470 3,088 4,318,610 481,754 3,005,406 19,082 2,653,600 19,545 15,400 87,330 297,549 311,858 18,196,169 18,848,038 3,531,846 5,392,344 33,860,555 1,734,357 982,316.50 8,989,380 1,644,962 3,174,775 112,670 89,740,624 42,413 10,740 51,150 11,887,112 1,274,642 16,827,272 52,293,296 48,020 6,307,680 3,837,684 113,052 677,214 4,233,760 674,335 63,336 2,426,310 90,340 211,660 8,623,236 28,831,423 1,014,236 2,580 22,090 96,421,039 5,088,060 819,910

-13,412,900 -2,263,160 142,584 3,250 1,294,670 506,420 138,908 170,316.00 -2,480,000 -311,858 3,770,370 7,766,062 478,292 -4,502,517 -25,045,060 -1,211,665.50 -183,869 18,060.00 -366,030 1,207,288 -18,802,750 2,631,802 1,026,398 -10,146,800 -8,635,894 1,960,200 84,754 -53,348 -2,104,795 -226,800 5,638,878 -20,666,792 775,000 -32,188,735 -190,920 -12,240

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

0.0017 1.11 2.57 12.22 2.55 0.28 1.9 0.211 0.105 0.108 0.0089 1.1 3.88 1.07 0.84 0.012 0.012 0.011 11.1 3.44 12.38 23.45 0.0059

0.0017 1.12 2.57 12.22 2.59 0.285 1.95 0.213 0.105 0.109 0.0089 1.12 3.95 1.07 0.84 0.012 0.012 0.012 11.5 3.45 12.38 23.8 0.0059

0.0017 1.1 2.57 12.22 2.55 0.28 1.82 0.207 0.104 0.104 0.0089 1.07 3.77 1.05 0.83 0.011 0.012 0.011 10.98 3.43 12.12 23.2 0.0058

0.0017 1.1 2.57 12.22 2.59 0.285 1.84 0.21 0.105 0.109 0.0089 1.1 3.86 1.07 0.83 0.012 0.012 0.011 11.2 3.44 12.16 23.8 0.0058

57,000,000 1,504,000 119,000 100 360,000 60,000 10,154,000 310,000 440,000 3,360,000 5,000,000 544,000 13,805,000 3,000 295,000 15,000,000 34,100,000 11,600,000 1,165,000 46,000 304,700 1,608,200 4,000,000

96,900 1,661,590 305,830 1,222 927,100 17,050 18,975,280 64,920 45,830 350,470 44,500 594,630 53,409,010 3,190 244,900 177,500 409,200 133,000 13,079,148 158,240 3,705,262 38,051,175 23,300

-460,650 -305,830 2,828,500 88,100 -8,571,970 4,980 -6,000 -494,210 -646,180 19,962,850 -

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

0.83 55.35 11.12 0.74 6.7 13.1 1.14 870 3.53 6.93 8.05 13.12 3.77 0.205 898 5.57 78.5 5.49 0.52 4.28 13.3 0.58 4.83 0.037 1.41 170 2.25 1,060 0.87 1.3 225.6 0.212 0.22

0.84 56 11.12 0.75 6.7 13.1 1.14 870 3.54 6.93 8.05 13.38 3.82 0.205 900 5.57 78.7 5.49 0.54 4.29 13.36 0.59 4.85 0.037 1.46 170 2.25 1,070 0.87 1.3 225.6 0.215 0.22

0.82 54.4 10.44 0.73 6.6 12.6 1.11 846 3.51 6.87 7.43 13.12 3.77 0.205 890 5.57 77.3 5.49 0.51 4.26 13 0.58 4.65 0.037 1.41 165.3 2.25 1,051 0.85 1.28 224.4 0.211 0.22

0.82 56 10.62 0.74 6.6 12.88 1.13 848.5 3.53 6.91 7.63 13.38 3.82 0.205 900 5.57 78.5 5.49 0.52 4.26 13.02 0.59 4.65 0.037 1.46 170 2.25 1,070 0.85 1.28 224.4 0.212 0.22

8,241,000 535,420 80,092,100 132,000 7,000 18,400 318,000 405,110 588,000 3,004,400 72,220,900 17,600 5,000 610,000 42,630 1,500 1,288,890 1,000 58,000 353,000 952,500 20,000 36,384,000 600,000 271,000 171,480 4,000 658,675 60,000 193,000 160 2,750,000 120,000

6,821,450 29,742,139 850,728,474(37 97,610 46,286 233,518 359,170 346,055,515 2,074,100 20,750,537 551,098,711 235,416 18,900 125,050 38,303,085 8,355 100,881,664 5,490 30,190 1,508,850 12,413,544 11,620 171,663,390 22,200 386,690 28,927,903 9,000 700,492,525 51,200 248,360 35,978 588,600 26,400

-1,296,190 1,028,094 9,684,525.9996) -152,347,130 -84,620 2,850,944 -169,340,728 -68,236 7,626,225 55,632,363.50 -46,980 -8,054,638 -12,008,460 52,170 -13,117,968 541,598,780 -6,768 -430,000 11,000

PREFERRED ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.6 505 101 109.5 505.5 5.14 990 99.7 1.01 101 1,034 1,050 101 109 1,033 999 78.5 75.15 75.4 76.1 75.15 75.7

17.6 505 101 109.5 505.5 5.15 990 99.7 1.01 101 1,034 1,050 101 109 1,036 999 78.5 75.15 75.4 76.25 75.65 75.7

17.5 503 101 109.5 505.5 5.14 990 99 1.01 101 1,034 1,050 100.5 109 1,033 999 78.2 75.1 75 76 75.1 75.7

17.5 503 101 109.5 505.5 5.14 990 99 1.01 101 1,034 1,050 100.5 109 1,036 999 78.2 75.15 75.1 76.1 75.15 75.7

4,100 5,960 90,000 200 30 131,100 2,960 210 48,000 143,230 15 1,735 5,000 570 11,930 1,530 11,170 61,200 40,960 180,000 176,000 137,100

71,850 2,999,920 9,090,000 21,900 15,165 674,965 2,930,400 20,852 48,480 14,466,230 15,510 1,821,750 502,590 62,130 12,353,510 1,528,470 874,066.50 4,597,895 3,076,360 13,698,182.50 13,270,918 10,378,470

-54,250 -21,900 -502,125 4,965 -3,905,720 -

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.67

1.67

1.58

1.58

9,000

14,940

-

SME ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

6.88 12.3 2.56 1.09

6.96 12.5 2.56 1.16

6.75 12.04 2.56 1.05

6.89 12.48 2.56 1.12

784,400 954,400 25,000 25,954,000

5,397,658 11,757,092 64,000 29,148,660

89,041 -18,450 -236,970

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

14.88 0.81 9.53 1.7 0.9 47.05 2.02 4.6 0.61 0.84 0.201 0.465 10.18 20.1 0.46 1.64 1.24 4.94 0.29 0.4 1.55

14.88 0.82 9.53 1.7 0.9 47.1 2.02 4.67 0.62 0.86 0.206 0.465 10.3 20.4 0.465 1.64 1.25 4.94 0.295 0.4 1.56

14.8 0.8 9.53 1.7 0.88 46.35 1.99 4.6 0.59 0.84 0.2 0.46 10.16 19.98 0.45 1.61 1.24 4.85 0.29 0.395 1.46

14.8 0.8 9.53 1.7 0.89 47 2 4.63 0.59 0.86 0.206 0.46 10.3 20.05 0.46 1.62 1.24 4.9 0.295 0.4 1.46

310,300 322,000 4,300 88,000 1,096,000 7,780,900 691,000 178,000 43,040,000 2,000 3,030,000 620,000 127,900 473,600 1,150,000 7,922,000 499,000 8,257,000 2,330,000 3,010,000 3,025,000

4,614,040 260,640 40,979 149,600 981,820 363,202,880 1,381,930 824,420 25,922,180 1,700 609,110 286,650 1,314,284 9,510,189 521,600 12,854,800 619,140 40,277,380 679,700 1,190,000 4,520,180

-208,320 13,600 -232,873,465 -932,000 -19,080 1,134,416 -1,350,190 22,500 -1,481,290 -2,008,220 -1,186,000 -359,390

FIRST METRO ETF

120.6

119.3

120.6

13,840

1,661,130

14,376

NAME

MS EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.4

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL

SHARES 7,862,080

43,502,837

HOLDING FIRMS

272,291,577

PROPERTY

113,183,131

SERVICES

63,699,989

MINING & OIL

160,781,996

GRAND TOTAL

689,053,250

VALUE 1,946.75 (up) 4.00 669,942,820.63 FINANCIAL 10,478.33 (up) 72.88 INDUSTRIAL 632,804,565.506 7,933.32 (down) 52.72 HOLDING FIRMS 3,542,564,543.26 PROPERTY 4,170.89 (down) 0.96 1,551.96 (up) 4.20 SERVICES 927,420,383.34 9,092.61 (down) 24.39 MINING & OIL 880,280,987.32 8,065.76 (down) 8.05 PSEI 132,493,374.51 All Shares Index 4,823.80 (up) 1.03 6,833,535,214.57 Gainers: 70; Losers: 100; Unchanged: 66; Total: 226

Fruitas says P1.2-b IPO to push through on Nov. 18

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FRUITAS Holdings Inc., a leading food and beverage kiosk operator, is pushing through its P1.2-billion initial public offering scheduled this month even as other companies with plans to conduct a share sale through the equities market deferred their fund-raising activities.

Fruitas chief financial adviser Calvin Chua said in an interview during the recent investors’ briefing the company was not deferring the IPO amid the strong performance of the stock market.

“The market is strong and we believe in the growth story of our company,” Chua said.

Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines) Inc. early this week postponed its planned P10.67-billion IPO due to a weak market response and volatile conditions.

“After careful consideration, including extensive discussions with the underwriters, the company has decided not to pursue the Offering at this time.

The company believes that the initial valuations indicated by the market does not fully reflect the company’s strong performance and growth prospects,” Cal-Comp said.

“Furthermore, due to volatile market conditions, the company has decided that it will be in its best interest to defer its Offering and re-evaluate its listing plans. In the meantime, the company will continue to focus on the growth of its business in the Philippines and ensure that its targets continue to be met,” it added.

Sta. Lucia Land Inc. in October also deferred an P8.4-billion share sale due to volatile market conditions.

“The decision to defer the followon offering is primarily due to current market conditions which has been recently volatile,” SLI said.

Fruitas will offer up to 533.660 million in primary shares with an overallotment option of up to 68.340 million in secondary shares at a maximum price of P1.99 each.

Fruitas will announce the final offering IPO price on Nov. 14. It scheduled the offering period from November 18 to November 22.

It tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and First Metro Investments Corp. as joint underwriters of the offering.

BDO Capital president Eduardo Francisco said Fruitas’ maiden share offering could probably the last IPO this year. He said the market could easily absorb the shares, noting that the proceeds would only amount to P1.2 billion based on the maximum price.

Aboitiz Group sees ‘challenging’ period amid the ASF scare

By Othel V. Campos THE Aboitiz Food Group expects a challenging year-end performance that may stretch until the first half of 2020, with the current outlook on pork-based products bleak due to the African Swine Flu scare.

Group chief operations officer for foods, feeds and animal nutrition Tristan Aboitiz said the current pork scare might have a dent on sales in the short-term period that could last until next year.

“First half of next year will probably be challenging but will continue to recover in the second half. It’s still early days, many remains to be seen with this situation of ASF,” he said.

He said the impact of the epidemic to the company’s farms would be evident and that sales could slow down.

The public is still skeptical about pork purchases because of the transport bans limiting the movement of both swine carcass and parts and pork-based items.

The company did not notice the repercussion of the epidemic on operations until the last week of September and the entire month of October.

Unit Pilmico Foods Corp. is set to commission a pork-processing plant by the end of November and hopes to weather ominous signs from the swine industry.

Aboitiz conceded the ASF epidemic would impact on the farm business and the animal feeds division.

The group, however, saw a silver lining beyond the Luzon situation with a projected surge in the Mindanao and Visayas feed milling operations.

The farm and food business of Abotiz Equity Ventures include Pilmico, Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corp.and AEV International Pte. Ltd. The foods division contributed P1 billion to the total revenues of the mother company in the first nine months of 2019, down 31 percent from P1.5 billion on year.

World IN BRIEF Five killed in Iran quake TEHRAN―A night-time earthquake in northwestern Iran on Friday killed five people and injured 120, according to early reports on state television.

The 5.9-magnitude quake struck about 120 kilometers southeast of the city of Tabriz, in East Azerbaijan Province, in the early hours of the morning, the Iranian Seismological Center said.

Described as “moderate,” the shallow quake was eight kilometers deep and was followed by five aftershocks.

Provincial governor Mohammad-Reza Pourmohammadi told local media that at least 30 houses had been destroyed.

Rescue operations were underway in 41 rural villages, but the damage was largely concentrated in two areas.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued an alert warning that “significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread”.

Iran sits where two major tectonic plates meet and experiences frequent seismic activity.

The country has suffered a number of major disasters in recent decades, including at the ancient city of Bam, which was decimated by a catastrophic earthquake in 2003 that killed at least 31,000 people. AFP

B3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New outrage over student’s death H ONG KONG—A Hong Kong student who sustained head injuries when he fell during clashes with police died on Friday, triggering a fresh wave of outrage from the pro-democracy movement and fears of more violent unrest.

Alex Chow, a 22-year-old computer science undergraduate, was certified dead on Friday morning, according to the hospital where he was being treated.

Chow was taken unconscious to hospital early on Monday morning following late-night clashes between police and protesters in a middle-class district.

He was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood inside a car park that police had fired tear gas towards after protesters hurled objects from the building.

Although the precise chain of events

leading to Chow’s fall are unclear and disputed, his death marks the first student fatality during five months of demonstrations challenging China’s rule of the city.

Chow’s case has been embraced by the protest movement, which is demanding Beijing loosen its control over the city and allow more democratic freedoms.

“Today we mourn the loss of the freedom fighter in HK,” Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy campaigner, said on Twitter.

“We will not leave anyone behind―

what we start together, we finish together. Given the losses suffered by HK society in the past month, the gov must pay the price.”

Online forums used by the largely anonymous and leaderless protest movement also quickly filled up with calls for city-wide vigils on Friday night to mourn Chow’s death.

Chow was a student at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The college held its graduation ceremony Friday morning, and university head Wei Shyy paused the proceedings to announce Chow’s death.

Fellow students had been holding a vigil for Chow as doctors battled to save his life.

Sources told AFP doctors had performed two operations in a bid to reduce swelling in his brain.

Jackie Chan’s Vietnam visit canceled over China sea row

Japan seizes 400 kg of cocaine TOKYO―Japanese authorities have seized a record-breaking 400 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $73 million in a bust at a port in the city of Kobe, a customs spokesman said Friday.

The discovery in the western city was made last month but came to light on Friday, with officials saying they could not provide additional details because the investigation was ongoing.

“This is record-breaking, in terms of volume” for a cocaine bust, the spokesman told AFP. It far exceeds the previous record set just months earlier in August, when authorities seized 177 kilograms of cocaine at another port, in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture.

It was unclear yet where the cocaine came from, and Kyodo News agency, citing unnamed investigative sources, said the drugs may have been sent to Kobe by mistake.

Japan has strict drug laws and users face severe public opprobrium if caught.

Drug use and possession by even moderately famous people, including television actors and little-known athletes, can make national headlines for days. AFP

UN condemns US embargo on Cuba UNITED NATIONS―The UN General Assembly on Thursday condemned the nearly 60-year-old US embargo on Cuba for the 28th year in a row, calling for an end to it by a vote of 187 to three.

Only Israel and Brazil voted with the US against the resolution. Two other US allies―Ukraine and Colombia―abstained.

First imposed on October 19, 1960 in response to Havana’s nationalization of US-owned oil refineries, and extended in 1962, the embargo is an enduring legacy of the Cold War hostilities between the two countries.

It was denounced as “anachronistic” and “inhumane” during two days of debate by the General Assembly.

In 2016, the US abstained for the first time in the annual UN vote amid a historic rapprochement with Cuba under former president Barack Obama.

But the diplomatic relations between the two countries have turned cold since Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez charged there has been “an escalation in aggression against Cuba” under Trump, whose government, he said, “does not hide its intention to economically asphyxiate Cuba and increase the damage, shortages and suffering of its people.” AFP

OUT OF CONTROL. This handout picture taken and received from Kelly-ann Oosterbeek on November 8, 2019, shows flames from an out-of-control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington, some 335 kilometers northeast of Sydney. AFP

Americans waiting longer to buy first homes WASHINGTON―Americans are waiting longer to buy their first homes, have more debt and more often need family help to make the purchase amid a supply crunch that is pushing up prices, according to a new data released Friday.

But African Americans and Hispanics continue to make up a very small share of home buyers in the United States, far below their share of the population, according to National Association of Realtors report.

While low interest rates have made mortgages more accessible, and historically low unemployment means more Americans have a steady paycheck, the influx of buyers combined with a shortage of workers means homebuilders have not been able to keep up with demand.

The report shows the median sales price in September was up to $272,100 compared to $259,300 for all of 2018 and $197,100 five years earlier.

NAR has long highlighted the shortage of homes on the market but the report puts the implications of that problem in

Anger over Las Vegas ordinance banning sleeping on the streets LOS ANGELES―Faced with a growing number of homeless people, Las Vegas has passed a controversial law that bans sleeping on the street and imposes punishments of a $1,000 fine and six months in prison.

The ordinance―the latest in a series of measures by US cities to grapple with rising vagrancy―comes into force Sunday, but its criminal provisions will not be applied until February.

Sleeping on the streets of the gambling hub will only be illegal in downtown Las Vegas and residential areas― not the famous casino “Strip,” which comes under a different jurisdiction.

It will not apply when homeless shelters are full.

Opponents of the law focused their anger on Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman before and during the vote late Wednesday.

Demonstrators outside City Hall chanted “Housing, not handcuffs” and held signs proclaiming “Poverty is not

Chow fell from a ledge of the multistory car park in Tseung Kwan O, a residential area where clashes between protesters and police have occurred regularly.

Police officials have acknowledged that tear gas had been used to disperse protesters near the car park where Chow fell on Sunday night.

But they denied any wrongdoing, saying their use of tear gas was justified.

They have also denied allegations of interfering with rescuers treating the student, or blocking the ambulance that took him to hospital.

Millions of people have taken to the streets since the unrest began in June, with protesters calling for greater police accountability as well as democratic freedoms. AFP

a crime,” local media reported.

Goodman said the law is necessary for a city that is highly dependent on tourism revenues and to protect “the health and safety of the entire community.”

The law is not intended to punish the homeless but to help with their reintegration into society, she said, according to NPR radio.

It has been backed by Las Vegas’ Chamber of Commerce.

According to the latest census, 5,500 people sleep on the streets of southern Nevada each night. Only 2,000 beds are available through municipal services and charities.

The measure has drawn criticism from beyond Las Vegas, including from several Democratic presidential candidates.

The explosion in the number of homeless people in the United States― especially in California and New York, where housing prices have soared in recent years―could become an issue in the 2020 election. AFP

stark relief.

African Americans comprise just four percent of home buyers, despite making up 13 percent of the US population, the report said.

Hispanics make up seven percent, while they are 18 percent of the population.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat how low the Hispanic and African American home buyers [rate] has been and... how far it’s fallen from before the recession to today,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of Demographics and Behavioral Insights.

With homeownership for blacks in particular at historic lows, this has “very large implications for their ability... to build wealth and to be able to build a nest egg,” Lautz told AFP. She notes research showing minorities are less likely to apply for a loan, more likely to be denied for mortgages and less likely to have family help, “which is a key down payment source for first time home buyers today.”

One third of first-time home buyers

have family help for their down payment, either through a gift or a loan, she said.

At the same time, African American first-time homeowners “have significantly more student loan debt than white home buyers do... which is in a significant hurdle, holding back many potential buyers.”

The report showed 39 percent of firsttime buyers had student loan debt, a median amount of $30,000.

More buyers are waiting longer before buying their first home―the median age hit 33 for the first time―and an increasing number are joining forces with friends rather than partners or spouses in order to be able to afford a place in their desired location, the report showed.

There is “a growing share of people who are embracing homeownership through unique means, purchasing with a non-romantic partner,” Lautz said.

And 12 percent of home buyers purchased a multi-generational home, to take care of aging parents, because of adult children returned home, and for cost-savings, the report showed. AFP

HANOI―Martial-arts film star Jackie Chan’s planned visit to Vietnam for a charity has been canceled following an online backlash related to Beijing’s expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea. The Hong Kong-born actor was set to visit Hanoi on November 10 to support Operation Smile, a charity that gives free surgery to children with facial disfigurements.

But the plans were scrapped after thousands of angry Facebook users flooded the charity’s official page when his visit was announced last week.

Some of their comments claimed Chan had spoken in support of China’s so-called nine-dash line―its historic justification for its territorial claims in the resource-rich sea.

However, Chan has not explicitly expressed public support for the controversial maritime assertion.

Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei all have competing claims in the waterway that overlap with China’s—long a source of tension in the region.

Issuing a mea culpa Friday for failing “to predict the reaction” of the Vietnamese public, the charity asserted that their work is “non-political”.

“We are very sorry... Operation Smile will not organize any activities with (Chan’s) involvement” in Vietnam, they said.

Vietnam is one of Beijing’s most vocal critics over the flash point South China Sea issue.

The foreign ministry on Thursday repeated its usual proclamation on the sea, citing the country’s “full legal basis and true evidence to affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty”, deputy spokesperson Ngo Toan Thang told AFP. Chan has in the past been accused of siding with China over Hong Kong’s democracy protests after calling the unrest in his hometown “sad and depressing”.

The comment sparked ire in Hong Kong but was warmly received by many in China where he has a massive fan base.

Earlier this month Hanoi pulled the DreamWorks film “Abominable” from theaters over a scene featuring a map showing the nine-dash line. AFP

HOLIDAY SEASON.

From lefrt, Erin Michelle Cummins, Tika Camaj and Kellie Stewart attend GUESS Kicks off Holiday Season at The Peppermint Club on November 07, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.

AFP

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

CELEBRATING PH REAL ESTATE’S ‘Pocket greenspace’ PICK AND PERFECTION to rise north of Metro Manila

AYALA Land, Inc. (ALI) is developing an 11-hectare district in Quezon City, where it plans to build a pocket urban development dubbed The Junction Place, appropriately called because it sits between two of QC’s busiest thoroughfares: Quirino Highway and Tandang Sora Avenue.

The Junction Place is located in Novaliches, on the western side of the city.

The location is a mix of homes, schools, markets, retail, and hospitals with about 15% of the city’s population either live or work there.

“We’re creating a comfortable and refreshing new neighborhood that will connect people to other hubs in Quezon City and beyond,” said Stephen Comia, ALI estate head..

The Junction Place is planned to ease some of the urban congestion in the area.

Through the creation of a road between Quirino Highway and Tandang Sora Avenue, the connection will provide an alternative access for motorists, and will cut travel time between the two roads.

TRANSPORT HUB The project will have its own transport hub to link Novaliches to other key hubs across QC and Manila, including Trinoma, Balintawak and Blumentritt.

The district will also benefit from the upcoming Mega Manila Subway project, as planned stations in Quirino Highway and Tandang Sora Avenue will be less than a kilometer away from this new development.

The Junction Place will feature residential, commercial and recreational elements that fit the needs of the nearby communities. The estate development will be anchored by an Amaia Land residential development.

BUILT ON THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL INTERACTION The development will soon welcome a 5,000 sqm WalterMart, that is set to bring its anchor tenants like WalterMart Supermarket, W Department Store, Abenson, Homeplus, food choices, and service outlets.

At the heart of The Junction Place is a community center that integrates retail, dining, and service options with activity nodes for community fairs and events.

The Junction Place will also be built on the concept of encouraging social interaction with multi-purpose areas for sports and recreation.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ALI will construct the development with tree-lined roads, energy efficient street lighting, walkable connections between the residential to the commercial spaces, and ample convergence spaces.

“Staying true to our commitment to responsible and sustainable estate development, we are putting in place tried and tested principles to provide an organized, safe and convenient environment here at The Junction Place,” Stephen said.

About 8,000 sqm. of commercial lots facing the development’s spine road, have been sold to enterprising investors to date. ALI envisions to spur economic activity in the area, providing the needs of this bustling location.

“Buyers can put up their own office buildings, event venues, car showrooms or service centers,” explained Stephen. “These are bite-size areas, averaging 1,200 sqm lots, that are ready to be developed into whatever an innovative entrepreneur has in mind.”

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Lamudi unveils shortlist of nominees for The Outlook Awards 2019

F YOU’RE looking for one of the best indicators for a thriving economy, or one that is mired in the doldrums, you can’t go wrong with real estate. If the property scene is doing well, it means people and businesses have the wherewithal to invest in landed real estate, condominiums, offices, commercial projects, and even industrial estates.

This is why The Outlook Philippine Real Estate Conference last month (seen in photo) was a big deal. The event forecasted trends, talked about the strength of the market, the areas for improvement, and how the market can use digital to make it even better.

Come November 14, Lamudi unveils its biggest event for the year, The Outlook Awards 2019 HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EVENT Lamudi’s annual event, is just as highly anticipated as the October conference. The latter provided a valuable avenue for insightful discussion spanning a wide range of topics from sustainability to alternative ways of investing in real estate.

Last week, Lamudi revealed its

shortlist of nominees for each category. The leading real estate platform also announced two new categories for the third installment of The Outlook Awards.

The Outlook Awards, co-presented by Holcim Philippines, Inc., aims to gather property developers from all over the Philippines to recognize their contributions in the growing real estate sector in the country. According to the real estate platform, there has been a 30 percent increase in the overall number of nominations from 2018, with Visayas and Mindanao nominations showing a 90 percent increase.

Lamudi has a total of 19 awards to give away on November 14, with two new awards–Best Co-Working Space and Best Co-Living Space–added in response to changing demands and lifestyle of property seekers.

The Outlook Awards 2019 is a yearly event to look forward to as it brings together developers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to celebrate the emerging trends in the real estate sector. This year, Lamudi is supported by the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) in recognizing the industry’s best in houses, condominiums, and mixed-use developments.

At the end of the night, The Outlook Awards also names the Personality of the Year “in recognition of the individual whose overall body of work in real estate is a positive force in the

industry, whose voice and actions contribute to moving the industry forward, and whose influence will reverberate for years to come.”

Lamudi will be giving away a total of 19 awards during the gala night.

Categories for Luzon • Best Affordable Condo • Best Premium Condo • Best Luxe Condo • Best Affordable House • Best Premium House • Best Mixed-Use Development Categories for Visayas and Mindanao • Best Affordable Condo in Visayas and Mindanao • Best Premium Condo in Visayas and Mindanao • Best House of the Year • Best Mixed-Use Development of the Year Special Awards • Best Green Project • Best Innovation Project • Best Co-living Space • Best Co-working Space • Personality of the Year Grand Awards • Best Boutique Developer of the Year (VisMin) • Best Developer of the Year (Visayas and Mindanao) • Best Boutique Developer of the Year (Luzon) • Best Developer of the Year (Luzon) For the complete list of the nominees, visit lamudi.com.ph/outlook2019.

MEGAWIDE REACHES OUT TO SURIGAO

Megawide Foundation and the World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WFSP) recently conducted a 3-day surgical mission, providing free major and minor surgeries at the Surigao Del Norte provincial and district hospitals. Over 200 patients were given free surgical treatments with an economic value of close to five million pesos at the mission, which was held in partneship with Sun Life Foundation. The project makes high-cost surgeries and state-of-theart medical equipment available to indigent patients. The Surigao Del Norte mission helped a total of 145 Surigaonons, with 14 pediatric and 44 adult major surgeries; 69 treated minor cases; as well as a number of fine needle aspiration biopsies and hispathologies. (Inset) A patient undergoing a laparoscopic procedure for hernia at the provincial hospital. (Main photo) The surgical mission team, headed by Sheila Lynn Nawata and Dr. Marcus Lester Suntay, arrive at Siargao, Surigao del Norte.

KEEPING COOL, THE SMART WAY. Hi-Cool Engineering has

been the country’s go-to source for air-conditioning systems for the past forty years. Powered by global airconditioning leader, Hitachi, Hi-Cool designs, installs, manages, and maintains sustainable cooling systems for public and private structures. They have installed climate control systems for many shopping malls, business high rises, hotels, schools, industrial facilities, and government buildings. “A building’s air-conditioning is merely there to provide comfort. But it means a lot more to those in the real estate sector,” explained Hi-Cool Chairman Conrado P. Acedillo. “A project developer and owner thinks about how he can bring his immediate investment costs down while still maintaining high quality and aesthetics. A building engineer weighs efficiencies and compliance to codes and standards. And an end-user, such as an office or condominium buyer/tenant, may consider things like how much it will cost them in their monthly electric bill.” Shown here is the Petron Mega Plaza which increased the property’s appraised value, and reducing actual average power consumption by 26.56%.

This translated to average savings of P4,717,441.13 per month.

KOHLER TACKLES NEW DESIGN TRENDS, CONCEPTS. Global kitchen and bath products maker Kohler Co., recently held its first-ever design forum in the Philippines. The event served as a platform for designers to share experiences and exchange ideas for new inspirations and innovative design creations. This year’s forum focused on the company brand’s perspective of the year, “experiential luxury.” The concept encourages these designers to embrace a new mindset – to create rich and dynamic environments that indulge the senses on multiple levels through the harmonious union of technology, color, pattern, and material, thereby challenging the limits of design. Forum speakers shared their definition of experiential luxury, and how they apply this design concept to their creations. At the event were (from left to right): Kohler Philippines country manager Jonathan Kwong; Asia Pacific director- marketing Kesinee Charoenchitpaisarn; BLINK founder and CEO Clint Nagata; Atelier Almario founder and creative director Cynthia Almario; Atelier Almario principal interior designer Ivy Almario; PDP Architects manager for business development Matthew Pirante-Pérez; Kohler Asia Pacific president Angel Yang; Kohler SEA general manager Adam Quek; Kohler director-design consulting Annie Sim; and host Manolet Garcia.

Life

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

ARTS AND CULTURE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

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Filipino Christmas on Ayala Avenue

FESTIVE ARTISTRY. This year’s Christmas display along Ayala Avenue celebrates Filipino artistry as it features bronze-colored, cone-shaped Christmas trees and angel wings that showcase details such as abanico-shaped installations, Capiz chandeliers, and solihiya and adarna feather patterns.

F

ILIPINO artistry is front and center in this year’s Christmas décor along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

Always a much-awaited event during wings with intricate patterns reministhe Yuletide season, the lighting of the cent of the decors that lined and lit up street on Nov. 5 saw bronze-colored, the city’s lamp posts decades ago. cone-shaped Christmas trees and angel “The trees have always been a sym-

Lighting installation in Dela Rosa Walkway.

This year’s Christmas décor is inspired by a row of Christmas trees that lined Ayala Avenue in this photo taken in 1965.

bol of life and light, and we wanted to use these elements to impart a message of hope and strength to everyone.

It’s always a joy to be able to share a meaningful Christmas with every Filipino family through our installations,” enthused Cathy Bengzon, corporate marketing head of Ayala Land.

Designed by premier event stylist and interior designer Zenas Pineda, the entire stretch features local materials and products such as abanico-shaped installations and Capiz chandeliers, as well as solihiya and adarna feather patterns, which signify the rich heritage of Filipinos.

Gracing the street lighting were

Lighting installation in Washington Sycip Park.

Ayala Land executives and Makati City officials, including Ayala Land Inc. Chairman Emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Inc. president and chief executive Bobby Dy, Congressman Luis Campos, and Mayor Abby Binay, among others.

In addition to the lighting of Ayala Avenue, several activities are in store, including new additions to the light and sounds display and never-before seen installations showcasing brilliant Filipino talent.

The Ayala Avenue Street Lighting is part of the Gallery of Lights, which is a roster of light and art installations in the

A reclamation of one’s heritage

By Diana B. Noche THERE exists a certain grudging respect for the culture of most indigenous groups in the Philippines. A token acknowledgment, perhaps, but little seems to stop the curious glances that indicate the smallness of some people’s mentality.

It’s easy for a child of an indigenous community to go into negativity and grow up with a dwarfed self-esteem and a distorted sense of his future. Theirs is a generation disaccustomed from tribal traditions to the point where native speech, learned at their mother’s knees, is in danger of extinction. Among their languages are Mag-indi, Mag-antsi, Abellen, Ambala, and Marivelenyo.

To help demystify most of the notions surrounding these indigenous people and their culture, there is a need to understand the psychological subculture of class prejudice and come up against the strain of adaptation to the mainstream and simultaneously nurture old traditions.

The National Museum of the Philippines, founded in 1901, has, for its primary mission, to acquire, preserve, exhibit, and foster interdisciplinary study and cognizance of works of arts, specimens, and cultural and historical relics in the Philippines.

To celebrate the Museums and Galleries and the Indigenous People’s Month with a supplementary program for an exhibition called “Biyay: Tradition, Ecology and Knowledge Among The Philippine Negrito Communities,” the National Museum of the Philippines and the Sentrong Pagpapalakas ng Negritong Kultura at Kalikasan (SPNKK) recently conducted a public lecture and demo of hilot and other Ati herbal heal-

ing and medicinal practices.

Theirs is an alternative way of healing ailments which can benefit even those who subscribe to modern medicine and pharmaceuticals for their wellbeing. It is also one method to understand the lifestyle of indigenous people like the Negritos.

Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, a former Department of Health Secretary, has worked with and documented the lives of these people and the many ways with which they use local plants against sicknesses.

He also authored a book called Hilot: The Traditional Filipino Massage.

The SPNKK, an NGO, aims to establish a communal activity by forming an umbrella intercrossing the many Negrito groups all over the Philippines.

The Negritos are members of a darkskinned people, short in stature, who lived in Oceania and parts of Southeast Asia. They have African-like features (dark skin and frizzy hair) similar to that of the Aeta or Agta group who lived in scattered, isolated mountainous parts of Luzon.

The Aetas have skin ranging from dark brown to very dark brown, small in frame, with hair of curly to kinky texture. They also possess a higher frequency of naturally lighter color (blondism), and have small nose and dark brown eyes.

Aetas are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants in the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations.

They arrived through land bridges from the Asian mainland, one of which was the Bering Land Bridge. Resisting Spanish assimilation, they remained living in the mountains. They brought with them iron tools and weapons, bows

city that paves the way for a dynamic Christmas celebration by Ayala Land.

The Gallery of Lights includes the annual Festival of Lights, giant lanterns, and 3D video mapping which will be launched on Nov. 12 at Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Holiday bazaar Circuit Holiday Night Market on Nov. 15-17 at Circuit Makati will showcase homegrown and Filipino items, while the Makati Street Meet on the Nov. 17, Dec. 1, and Dec. 15 will feature good food, music, and fun activities. There will be Anticipated Simbang Gabi on Dec. 15-23 at Ayala Triangle Gardens.

A female Aeta from Guimaras shows some of the natural medicines from plants and tree barks.

Old prints showing Aetas displayed at the Museum of Anthropology.

and arrows, and were considered to be fearsome warriors.

There are Aeta groups in Northern Luzon, such as the Pugut, from the Ilocano word meaning goblin or forest spirit. Other groups have settled in Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Panay, Bataan, and Nueva Ecija.

When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in June 1991 the Aetas resettled in the lowlands of Tarlac and Pampanga. Most of them have become extremely nomadic due to the social and economic strains on their culture and the way of life that they have been used to for hundreds of years.

Other groups include the Agta, Ati, Ata, and Batak.

The Aetas of Mt. Pinatubo worshipped Apo Na. They are also animist and believe in the environment spirits (good or evil) in the river, sea, sky, mountain, hill, valley, and in many other places. They also believe in Gutugutumakkan (the Supreme Being), Kedes (god of the hunt), Pawi (god of the forest), and Sedsed (god of the sea).

The women wore wraparound skirts while the men wore loin clothes. These days, they have adapted to wearing Tshirts, pants, shoes, and rubber sandals.

Their population started to decline in the early Hispanic period in the 1600s because of a high death rate due to encroachments by outsiders, deforestation, depletion of their traditional game sources, and a widespread poverty and disease.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 aims to protect and help them cope with matters such as access to jobs and livelihood support. Cultural revivals through festivals involving children and a continuing education which does not alienate the youth from their own heritage are also provided.

Recently at the Museum of Anthropology, Aeta communities from Nueva Valencia in Guimaras shared and demonstrated their knowledge of traditional healing. Hilot sessions were offered, plus methods of how to effectively draw from endemic plants their medicinal use. A group of Aetas likewise showed their traditional wear and danced to the accompaniment of their native music.

Old roots do not wither in a night.

Indigenous people have always been bound together by close kinships with the same blood strains, skin tone, eyes.

Finding their place in an unfamiliar society can be extremely dreadful and

A hilot from Nueva Valencia demonstrates her knowledge during a session.

painful. Right now is their turn to erase all the scars of disconnectedness, open the door to complete assimilation yet still retain an enduring sense of their own intrinsic history and ethnological beginnings, heritage, and a high sense of their traditional culture.

Life

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Putting Asia on the line dance choreography map A

By Honor Blanco Cabie

SIA, but particularly South Korea, has chased the rhythm and the beat in line dance choreography, thanks to two choreographers and instructors from the “Land of the Morning Calm” who pooled their talents to make history for their country and region.

Line dance aficionados from the United States and other countries in October gathered at the Crowne Plaza and the Ohare Hotel and Conference Center in Chicago for this lifetime experience of the best in line dancing, which started in the US of A in the latter part of the ‘70s.

The eight-member Korean team, quarterbacked by Eun Hee Yoon and cochoreographer Christina Yang, went up against gritty competition, but showed grace and self-confidence nonetheless.

They took home the second place.

First placer was Chris Jacquel of the United States, with Daniella Portelada, also of the United States, in third place.

Dancing to the beat of country music “Homegrown Honey” by American singer and songwriter Darius Rucker, the Koreans—one of two teams from that country which attended the workshop—found themselves in a 32-wall, four-level and easy intermediate type of repertoire before five judges, including Amy Baily and Megan Wheeler, all from the United States.

Both Eun Hee and Christina are interested in country music and the latter suggested “Homegrown Honey”—entered as “Homegrown Baby”—for their participation in Windycity Linedancemania 2019.

“We liked this song because of the special rhythm and beat; we thought it was very attractive, so it would be suited for the competition,” Eun Hee told the Manila Standard in an interview.

A 7-point judging criteria were before the participants: 1. How well do the steps fit the music?

2. How well do the steps flow and how is the ease of execution through the dance?

3. Contents (originality of steps).

4. How much mass appeal does this music have?

5. How much mass appeal does the dance have?

6. How well was this dance taught?

7. How well did the steps on the sheet match the dance.

Eun Hee, president of the Korea Noble Line Dance Association and owner The eight-member Korean Line Dance team wins second place in the Windycity Linedancemania 2019. of a dance salon in Sungnam City near Seoul, started line dancing in 2007 and has been a choreographer since 2016, four years after Christina, owner of CY Line Dance and first placer in country beginner part of World Dance Master 2018 choreography competition in England.

When the Koreans learned they got second place, Eun Hee said they were “very much surprised because we didn’t expect it; our members were very happy.”

The judges and many in the audience congratulated them, with the judges quoted as saying “Really a great job, we are so proud of you and we are really honored that we did it together. Congratulations.”

The Korean team with It is not yet clear if the Koreans will choreographers Christina Yang and Eun Hee Yoon. fly to Palm Springs in June 2020 where the next competition will be held.

Choreographer Eun Hee Yoon

ON THE SHELF

3 lessons from Bettina Carlos’ debut book

The Day of Dead celebration in Manila It was raining tequila during the fourth annual Day of the Dead celebration of Jose Cuervo at The Island in Bonifacio Global City.

JOSE CUERVO brings to the Philippines two beloved traditions of Mexico: tequila and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

On October 31, the leading tequila brand staged its fourth annual Day of the Dead celebration at The Island in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Thousands came and spent the night partying to the beats of SP Espinosa, Kat DJ, and Marc Naval.

“Who needs to travel to Mexico to experience the Day of the Dead, when Jose Cuervo brings it right to Manila every year?” enthused Em Lingao, business unit head of Premier Wines and Spirits, Inc., the local distributor of Jose Cuervo in the country.

Jose Cuervo’s Day of the Dead parties are held all over the world. Día de los Muertos honors the memory of ancestors while celebrating the gift of life.

Every year, the entire country of Mexico comes out to commemorate the Day of the Dead from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Brightly colored skulls are displayed in the home, while families and friends take to the streets to honor

Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead attendees wearing their best Halloween costume.

the living and departed in an awe-inspiring parade.

The first annual Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead party in the Philippines took place in 2016 at Green Sun Makati. The sold-out event showcased a start-studded lineup of globally and locally renowned DJs, as well as the unveiling of brand new cocktails from Jose Cuervo.

In the years since, the party has become an annual event celebrated throughout the Philippines. As one of

iPhoto IAM Worldwide makes its mark Networking marketing company IAM Worldwide Corporation, led by its founders Allen Marvin Eder and Aika Lorraine Uy (second and third from left, respectively), graced the 11th Red Charity Gala held at Shangri-La at The Fort in Taguig.

IAM Worldwide Corporation was one of the co-presentors of the fashion and philanthropic event. Also present at the event were ambassadors Heart Evangelista (fourth from left) and Maritoni Fernandez (rightmost) as well as general manager Joanna Mañego.

the leading events of the Halloween season, this year’s Jose Cuervo Day of the Dead party attracted a host of attendees from the world of entertainment, such as Teejay Marquez, among others.

“Jose Cuervo’s Day of the Dead parties just get bigger and better every year!” exclaimed Xyline Lorenzana, brand manager of Jose Cuervo in the Philippines. “If this year’s party was this wild, I can only imagine what they have in store next year!”

MEDIA personality, entrepreneur, and to learn to wait on Him while He is presingle mom Bettina Carlos is no stran- paring our heart to receive what we are ger to heartbreaks. Heartbreaks are asking for in His timing!” something everyone goes through at Forgiveness is a choice, one point, but when there’s heartbreak, not a feeling she said there’s breakthrough.

The author relates her falling-out This is the message she wants to share through her first book Heart- with the father of her daughter Gumbreaks & Breakthroughs. In this book, my, many years past, and how she realCarlos gives her testimony: how she ized the importance of forgiving him, made sense of God’s purposes for pain, no matter how hard it was. “I knew I and how He has helped turn her heart- had to forgive though I didn’t feel like it,” she conbreaks into fesses in b r e a kChapter 5. throughs.

“So I had P u b to choose lished by it, even OMF Litthough I erature, st r uggled H e a r t with it.” breaks & And strugB r e a k gled she did throughs for a while. shares her B u t jou r ney— t h a n k s from sickto God’s ness to full grace, Carr e c o v e r y, los found, as not just in she would the physical share in latbut emoter chapters, tional and the heart spiritual and opporaspects as tunity to well. Aureconcile thentic, with Gumcandid, and Bettina Carlos shares how she made sense of God’s my’s father, at times purposes for pain in her debut book ‘Heartbreaks & not as lovdow n r ig ht Breakthroughs’ ers, but as hilar ious, partners in each chapter shares a “Heartbreak” episode parenting their daughter. in Carlos’ life that God used to show We are never alone Himself and His power, as well as the Perhaps Carlos’ biggest break“Breakthrough” where she learned important lessons from the heartbreaks through is the realization that although she is raising Gummy on her own, she she went through.

Here are some of the important les- has God both as her Father Provider sons Carlos hopes single mothers, and her Faithful Partner. She narrates and everyone, will pick up from read- various heartbreaks of solo parents, which include making ends meet, time ing her book: management, decision-making, and God has a purpose in our loneliness, among others. Then she lists down her learnings about God because waiting Chapter 1 of the book opens with a of these heartbreaks, like how God is story of how Carlos’ health deteriorated our Companion and Friend, Refuge and as she juggled multiple responsibilities. Strength, and Healer.

As she waited for her medical results, “I share my story with you with hopes she came to several realizations. She that you too will see the loving hand of shares, “God used this time to show God on everything happening in your more of Himself to me—that He’s our life,” Carlos tells the readers in the openProvider, Guarantee, Father, and Com- ing pages of her book. “May you be confort—and also for me to discover more vinced that He is above all and in control things about myself.” of everything, causing all things to work She encourages readers to not panic out for your good and His glory.” when it seems that nothing is happenHeartbreaks & Breakthroughs is availing despite constant prayers. “God able at National Book Store, OMF Lit remains in control and He is still at Bookshop, Passages, and other leading work,” she assures. “Sometimes God bookstores for P250. The book can also be really makes us wait because we need ordered online through omflit.com.

Entertainment

saturday, november 9, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Track record W

hile you can’t blame music listeners for gauging an artist’s worth merely on the credit of a hit song, it pays for talents who have yet to score a breakthrough to rather focus on their track record. looking at your own run and things you have achieved is one way of boosting your confidence while waiting for the big break.

Small wonder that your profile plays a key factor when you intend to seal a big gig regardless of whether you have a certified hit or not.

Besides, there’s really no formula in producing a hit tune. Yet, there is in beefing up one’s accomplishments.

That is, by continuously performing live, recording tracks, and always keeping your act together. each effort technically goes straight to your bucket checklist and keeps you move forward.

Three new songs that came off in digital formats last month are vying for the next big hit plum. But for the sake of this piece, focus is given on the acts behind them and what they have done so far.

First is “One Time Big Time” by alternative rock band Tanakuta, released under Dna Music.

Dna is associated with Star Music, which according to the band inked a “co-production deal” with them from which they released their first single “Sampung Taon” in 2017. early last year, the group performed

Extra International...

From C4

Dean became a global star in the 1950s, acting in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden before his life was cut short, though he has remained a celebrated youth icon and an enduring heartthrob.

His part in the new film is as rogan, described as a secondary lead role.

“We SearCheD high and low for the perfect character to portray the role of rogan, which has some extreme complex character arcs, and after months of research, we decided on James Dean,” said co-director Anton Ernst.

“We feel very honored that his family supports us and will take every precaution to ensure that his legacy as one of the most epic film stars to date is kept firmly intact.”

But the concept was not greeted with universal acclaim, with Captain America star Chris Evans tweeting: “This is awful.

Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso.”The complete lack of understanding here is shameful.”

Dean’s image will be created through computer-generated imagery (Cgi) using archive footage and photos, while another actor will provide his voice. The film, which is to go into production shortly, is due for release next november. AFP

Tanakuta is behind the newly released ’One Time Big Time‘

at OneMusicPh’s Be Discovered Live.

Formed in 2014, Tanakuta is composed of lead singer and guitarist Dalton Gamao, drummer Lancelot Mejia, bassist-vocalist Kutoy Atienza, and lead guitarist Edlord Negapatan.

The quartet won a couple of Battle of the Bands: Papi’s grill Battle of the Bands (2015) and Yellow room Music Philippines Battle of the Bands (2016). They were included in FhM’s 5 Underrated Bands in July 2017 while

an award-giving body, nDM Music awards, named their song Bitaw Best alternative Song.

Second, we have the track “Stuck” (composed by Robster Evangelista) which is about “finding the one you would want to be stuck with the rest of your life.” it is sung by Cavite pride Myko Mañago, a three-time defending champ on It’s Showtime’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” he’s been singing since nine, influenced by the

music of South Border. his YouTube vlogs are definitely a portal to his range and raw power as a singer.

Then there’s Ensayado, a mix of pop rock and retro by Jessa Mae Gabon who writes her own songs. Jessa is involved with Teatrong Mulat Ng Pilipinas, a theater group catering to children’s literature and asian puppeteering. her voice was honed by her work as vocal coach, professional back-up singer, and recording cover singer for several

Karaoke discs. ensayado, arranged by topnotch player Jun Tamayo, is an upbeat ditty about facing one’s reservations.

Both Myko and Jessa are under rJa Productions and their songs distributed to streaming sites by Curve entertainment.

Often we hear it’s not the destination but the journey. Same thing with a musician’s life cycle, it’s how far you can trace back.

Resorts World OPPA scholars pursue art studies at Benilde Original Pilipino Performing arts (OPPa), an initiative of the resorts World Philippines Cultural heritage Foundation, inc., recently announced its new batch of scholars under the Maarte Series, a campaign which aims to enlighten the youth on the “merits of pursuing a career in the performing arts.”

Two chosen scholars are presently pursuing their studies at the De la Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DlS-CSB), where they are currently meticulously mentored by the institution’s roster of awardwinning artists and renowned industry practitioners.

Theater Arts With influences from his favorite musicals such as Ang Huling El Bimbo, Rak of Aegis and Three Stars and a Sun, Arjay Rosales, 18, found both solace and joy whenever he performed on stage. he believes that through his craft, he will be able to be an inspiration and touch other people’s lives.

Upon the discovery of his potential, his sister encouraged him to explore his talent by taking the Special Program in the arts (SPa) with focus on Theater arts and by honing it further through a Performing arts track in Senior high School. his early art education offered him the opportunity to take part in various local contests such as in the national Commission for Culture and the arts (nCCa) Taga-Alog Dramahon, an event that promotes Pasig river as “a space for cultural identity and collective memory,” where his team finished off as the Grand Winner.

Rosales first heard of his present grant from seniors OPPa scholars, who pushed him to audition for the prestigious scholarship.

“Benilde is a school where you can hone your abilities,” he beamed. “The environment is really welcoming and it has facilities and perfect spaces that would help us to train well.” he also confessed that being an OPPa scholar in itself inspired him to strive harder towards his dream of becoming a well-known artist in the Philippines.

Currently, rosales is a member of community theater group Dulaang Apolonio Samson as its associate Company Manager and devotes his time as a youth leader of he Cares Foundation, an organization whose mission is to feed the homeless.

Production Design Coming from an artistic and sporty family, Roberta Marie Santos, 20, specializes in installation and performance art with works that delve in the context of healing, societal stigma, Philippine tattoo, and sex and body consciousness. She is currently practicing hand poke tattooing.

Santos religiously served in their church’s art

ministry groups and traversed visual arts under local talents including Lyte Seneres, Marc Cosico, Gerry Leonardo, Nuki Cuizon, Karen Ocampo Flores, and Joel Alonday. her years at the Philippine high School for the arts (PhSa) gave her opportunities in various exhibitions at the gSiS Museum, arts Space and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Santos was also invited to PerYakToi: KarnaBal Young Performance Maker’s laboratory Mentorship Program under JK Anicoche and Chris Aronson where she developed her desire for devising. She has also worked on various theatrical showcases of Sipat Lawin Ensemble and Komunidad X as facilitator and designer. in addition to her painting and illustration skills, Santos discovered her urge for creating sculptures and installations, which later led to performance.

She believes that her chosen field is a source of empowerment and self-actualization and, through Benilde’s Production Design Program, she trusts she will be able to see more facets of its beauty through the college’s activities, facilities, and networks.

“OPPa Foundation is an organization that truly respects the craft and the potential of its artists and the performing arts and i’m very grateful i received their support,” Santos beamed. “education has always been important to me for i can practice and play at the same time. There aren’t many courses like mine in the Philippines.”

The other scholars are taking their respective degrees at MinT College, University of Santo Tomas, and St. Scholastica’s College.

Original Pilipino Performing Arts (OPPA) scholars De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Production Design student Roberta Marie Santos and Theater Arts student Arjay Rosales

TLC Festival goes live

TLC rocks out with IV of Spades on Nov. 16 for one of the biggest food and lifestyle events of the year.

CaTCh one of the biggest food and lifestyle events of the year as TlC Festival goes live on nov. 16 in Bonifacio high Street. returning with its engaging food and lifestyle activities plus musical performances from beloved Filipino artists, TlC Festival is poised to deliver another sure-fire hit with fans.

Join the fun with guest celebrities and personalities Janet Hsieh, host of TlC’s Fun Taiwan, and Rikki-An Quiapon, esports shoutcaster, as they roam the festival grounds to enjoy the

music, food, and art.

Tune in as Angie King, car racer and businesswoman, and Pam Pastor, writer and mental health advocate, share their own stories during the festival. Don’t miss hosts from TlC and asian Food Channel Sarah Huang Benjamin, Anton Amoncio, Matthias Rhoads, and May Yacoubi as they exhibit their prowess in the kitchen with exciting cooking demos.

Participate in various activities planned at this year’s Festival such as live basic culinary technique and

food styling lessons at C1 park and live creative arts and crafts activities at One Bonifacio high.

Be part of the i aM TlC campaign by defining your own labels and sharing it with the rest of the world at the i aM TlC mural. rock out with funk rock band IV of Spades and rock icon Rico Blanco as they round off the night at the main stage. admission is free so the whole family and crew can come down to Bonifacio high Street and experience the best TlC Festival yet.

Entertainment

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

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Eight years of promoting praise music A SONG of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival has been providing outlet and platform for aspiring and professional songwriters to achieve their passion for praising God through music for eight years now. It also serves as vehicle for numbers of praise music enthusiasts to honor the Almighty through their musical vernacular.

Since its kickoff in 2011, praise songs have developed for the last eight years with its growing popularity and changing style of genres that suit the taste of the millennials through this weekly songwriting contest of UNTV. After 12 months of thorough compe-

tition, ASOP will now stage its finals night tomorrow, Nov. 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.

Twelve varieties of praise music will vie for the much-coveted “Song of the Year” award with P800,000.00 (tax-free) cash prize as announced by Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, Inc. (BMPI) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kuya Daniel Razon. Razon made the announcement in last year’s finals night that cash prizes will increase a hundred thousand every year.

Celine’s demise is fake news A WEBSITE created seven days ago claims that Canadian music icon Celine Dion died in a plane crash, without providing details. This is false; Dion’s talent agency told AFP the singer is alive, and the website used an altered video from CNN’s New Day program, although the US news channel never reported Dion’s death.

“Superstar and singing legend Celine Dion dead at 51,” is the headline shared hundreds of times on Facebook.

Those who click on the link in their social media newsfeed are directed to a webpage where a single video seems to confirm the news. However, the video is a cut and altered news segment from CNN’s New Day news show, which lasts just long enough for co-host John Bergman to say the words, “We have some terribly sad news to report this morning, heartbreaking, and devastating.”

On the bottom of the screen, a fake news banner again proclaims Dion’s death. The video then stops, and in order to play more online users are forced to share the link on Facebook.

A search for the words “Celine Dion dead” yields

no results on CNN’s website. The original video used in the hoax was a news segment announcing the death of US chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain on June 8, 2018.

The webpage that features the news of Dion’s death was created on Nov. 2, according to domain identification tool Whois. This is often a good indication of a news website’s lack of credibility.

The 51-year-old singer announced she would leave her residency of 16 years in Las Vegas in June 2019, and began a world tour to showcase her new album Courage in her native Canadian province of Quebec in September. AFP

Cash prizes of P50,000.00 each are up for grab for two special awards, “Best Interpreter” and “People’s Choice” and P200,000 for “Bro. Eli Soriano’s (BES) Choice” award.

ASOP Music Festival is hosted

by Richard Reynoso and Toni Rose Gayda and airs every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. on UNTV. For more information about ASOP Music Festival, visit its official website at https://www.asoptv.com. You can follow ASOP on Facebook via facebook. com/asop.untvand Twitter at twitter.com/ asoptv.

ASOP music fest hosts Richard Reynoso and Toni Rose Gayda

Pinay queens off to OLYMPICS OF BEAUTY

Canadian diva Celine Dion

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James Dean ‘cast’ in new movie, 64 years after death

Celebrated youth icon and heartthrob James Dean

MORE than 60 years after his death, movie legend James Dean is set to return to the screen thanks to special effects that recreate his image from old footage and photographs.

Dean, who died aged 24 in a car crash in 1955, has been “posthumously cast” in Vietnam War action-drama Finding Jack, the Hollywood Reporter said Wednesday.

Production house Magic City Films obtained the rights to use Dean’s image from his family for the screen adaption of Gareth Crocker’s 2008 novel. The book tells the story of US military dogs that were deployed and later abandoned in Vietnam. Continued on C3

Neocolours ‘Tuloy Pa Rin’ in a reunion concert THREE decades, numerous covers of its hits and several behind-the-scene careers later, ‘80s vocal group Neocolours finally found its way back to where it truly belongs—the concert stage.

The OPM band is finally having its aptly-titled reunion concert Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Banda at the Music Museum happening next Saturday, Nov. 16.

The band, composed of musical enthusiasts Jimmy Antiporada, Ito Rapadas, Paku Herrera, Josel Jimenez, Nino Regalado, and Marvin Querido, was formed some 32 years ago.

Despite going through separate paths since, their hits “Tuloy Pa Rin”, “Maybe”, “Kasalanan Ko Ba” and “Hold On,” among others, have managed to stay on the airwaves and even received new flavors thanks to various recording artists.

The band also boasts of having iconic collaborations with some of OPM’s biggest names like Sharon Cuneta, Jose Mari Chan, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez.

Speaking on behalf of their group, Marvin Querido himself is very much excited for their reunion concert.

“It’s always good to reconnect with former bandmates, who have been like my brothers in this industry.

More so for a band that has opened so many doors for us,” he said.

Having launched a new song just last year, titled “Giliw,” the legendary

band has always been passionate about continuing their craft and love for OPM. “Most of us are still very active in the music industry as tv and concert music directors, record producers and executives, session artists, arrangers, etc. Music continues to connect us even outside of the band,” Querido said about their individual pursuits following their group’s disbandment.

For what it’s worth, Neocolours’ fans will definitely be having a good trip down the memory lane in Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Banda, which will be directed by Frank Lloyd Mamaril.

Jett Pangan, Nicole Asensio, and Jamie Rivera are the special guests.

For tickets, visit ticketworld.net or contact Maris at (+639) 66 891 5560.

Neocolors is back on the concert and performance circuit.

Binibining Pilipinas Charity Inc.'s Stella Marquez-Araneta with Binibining Pilipinas queens (from left) Andrea Abesamis, Resham Saeed, Gazini Ganados, Emma Tiglao, Leren Mae Bautista, and Samantha Bernardo.

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LOWER bouquets were presented by BPCI Chairperson Madam Stella MarquezAraneta to three of her queens as good luck wish for their coming competitions abroad during the triple send-off ceremony held at the Monet Hall, Novotel Manila, Araneta City on Monday.

The event also served as a grand homecoming fete for the 2nd runner-up finish of Leren Mae Bautista at the recent Miss Globe 2019 pageant in Montenegro, Miss Universe-Philippines 2019 Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados, vibrant in a Cary Santiago yellow gown, was flanked

by Miss Intercontinental Philippines 2019Emma Mary Tiglao and Miss Supranational Philippines 2019 Resham Saeed, gorgeous in twotone red with silver gowns, as they gave their statements on their preparations and expectations for their respective competitions.

Bb. Pilipinas runner-ups Samantha Mae Bernardo and Maria Andrea Abesamis were also present to give moral support to their Binibini sisters.

Ganados, a 24-yearold Fil-Palestinian and Tourism graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, is aiming for a historic back-to-back Miss Universe win when she competes in Miss Universe 2019 to be held at the Tyler Perry

Studios, a sprawling complex built on a former Confederate army base, in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 8, where reigning champion Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will pass on her crown at the end of the coronation finals.

Fil-Pakistani Saeed, a 25-year-old model and Psychology student from Buluan, Maguindanao, will fly to Poland for the Miss Supranational 2019 pageant in Katowice, Silecia on Dec. 6.

Will she equal Mutya Datul’s feat who brought home the crown in 2013?

Tiglao, a 24-year-old Tourism graduate from Pampanga, is also aiming for a back-to-back to succeed reigning Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman when she relinquishes her title at the Miss Intercontinental 2019 to be held at the Sharm-El Sheik in Egypt on Dec. 20.

Follow Ganados, Saeed and Tinglao’s journey as they carry the national flag on the world stage with best results to solidify the Philippines’ top ranking for the “Country of the Decade” award in the world of beauty pageants.

Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados is on a mission to score a back-to-back victory in the world's most prestigious beauty pageant.