Manila Standard - 2019 November 13 - Wednesday

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STANDARD SPORTS ED PENS SEA GAMES ANTHEM MORALE BOOSTER. Filipino athletes bound for the

Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 30 will get a major shot in the arm today when they hear the official music video Pilipinas— written by Manila Standard sports editor Riera Mallari and music arranged by Roman Prospero—played by his band Johnny Cross at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

MANILA Standard sports and technology editor Riera U. Mallari and his band Johnny Cross hope to boost the morale of the Filipino athletes with a rendition of their song “Pilipinas” at the TeamPhilippines’ Send-off Ng Bayan on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 272 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tax hike targets ‘sin’ items

Duterte pushes bill to paper over universal health care budget gap

By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PNP weighs in on martial law; crime rate dips

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday certified as urgent a measure to increase taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco and vapor products to generate additional funds for the Universal Health Care Act.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, President Duterte asked lawmakers to immediately pass a law increasing excise taxes on “sin products” to further “protect the right to health of the people.”

The proposal seeks to raise some P47.9 billion to cover a P59.1=billion funding gap for universal health care, data from the Department of Finance showed.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of ways and means committee, sponsored Senate Bill 1074 on Sept.

25 which seeks to align the tax rate of heated tobacco products and vape with that of traditional cigarettes at P45 starting next year.

For alcoholic beverages, Cayetano proposed to increase the tax on distilled spirits from P23.5 to P90 per Next page

DUTERTE MEETS MISUARI. President Rodrigo Duterte meets again—the fifth—with Moro National Liberation Front founding

chairman Nur Misuari at Malacañang Monday night and agreed on the creation of a coordinating body between the government and the MNLF. Presidential Photo

THE Philippine National Police said Tuesday there may be no need for another extension of martial law in Mindanao after military rule lapses by the end of the year.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the crime rate in Mindanao is on a decline and security forces are able to control the proliferation of loose firearms in the area.

“For now, we see that martial law in Mindanao can be lifted,” Banac said at a press briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

The PNP will submit its recommendation to the National Security Council in December, he said.

He also said a heightened alert status is still needed in some parts of the island.

“The alert level will remain high only in Sulu due to the presence of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group,” Banac said in Filipino.

He added that security officials Next page

Gov’t troops, NPA trade gunfire: Six dead, 20 hurt

By Francisco Tuyay and Ronald O. Reyes

a forested upland village in Borongan, Eastern Samar, Monday afternoon.

Capt. Reynaldo Aragones, public afSIX soldiers were killed and 20 others fairs chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry were wounded in a fierce gun battle Division, said the slain soldiers were with 50 New People’s Army rebels in killed by landmines that the rebels det-

onated before the firefight.

The three platoons of soldiers from the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion suffered heavy casualties after the simultaneous explosions followed by a 30-minute gun Next page

Rody to Pacman: ‘Body cams give cops an edge’ Rethink 2022 bid

By Rio N. Araja, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has urged his party-mate and Senator Manny Pacquiao to rethink his plan to seek the presidency.

He also reiterated his opposition to any attempt to field his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, in the Next page

CHRISTMAS TREE.

The spirit and festive air of Christmas is literally felt in nearly every corner of this predominantly Christian country of 106 million people, with people and malls, among others, celebrating the Festive Splendor as does SM Aura Premier’s spectacular Christmas Tree display at the Upper Ground Floor Mall Atrium.

THE Philippine National Police on Tuesday stood its ground that body cameras were advantageous in antiillegal drug operations, contrary to earlier claims of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano such cameras could endanger the lives of policemen.

PNP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told reporters the national police command had protocols on what to do Next page

CANDLE BLOWING. House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, beside his wife

Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, blows a candle during a surprise advance birthday celebration—he turns 56 on Saturday—prepared by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and wife Rep. Lani Cayetano at the Social Hall of the Office of the Speaker. Cayetano is finishing his share of the House highest post, with Rep. Allan Velasco of Marinduque waiting in the wings. Ver Noveno

House term-sharing deal: Rody won’t meddle in gentleman’s pact PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has maintained he will not meddle in the term-sharing agreement between House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, saying the House could run its own affairs.

He made the statement on Monday during the joint birthday celebration of

Velasco and his wife, Rowena, in San Juan City.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also said the Palace was firm in its position not to interfere with the affairs of the House of Representatives.

“He doesn’t interfere with that,” Panelo told reporters.

P10-m reward for witnesses

WEATHER

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‘Ramon’ gaining steam over Samar

By Rey E. Requejo

By Rio N. Araja

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines is offering a P10-million reward to encourage witnesses in the killings of judges, lawyers and prosecutors to help the authorities investigate those killings.

IBP national president Domingo Egon Cayosa said the reward system

A LOW pressure area east of Catanduanes developed into a tropical depression on Tuesday morning, named “Ramon” by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Weathermen said “Ramon” might intensify into a tropical storm in the

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Vaccine death toll at 148, PAO says T

By Rio N. Araja

HE Public Attorney’s Office has received another complaint following the death of a 13-year-old girl, and supposedly as a result of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said the number of Dengvaxia-related deaths had risen to 148 following the girl’s death as reported by her parents who hail from Parañaque City.

The parents, whose names were not released, asked PAO to examine the remains of their child to validate the cause

PNP...

From A1 have yet to discuss the possibility of imposing martial law only in selected areas in the region.

On Monday, Defense Secretary Lorenzana said he is not keen to recommend another extension of martial law in Mindanao but said he would wait for the recommendation from the police and military.

The Defense chief said the enactment of a stronger law amending Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007 is a better option than an extension of martial law.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. earlier said another extension of martial law would no longer be necessary if Congress is able to pass a measure that amends the HSA. RA 9372, which took effect on March 6, 2007, is meant to provide law enforcement and judicial authorities with the legal tools to confront terrorist threats.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Islamic State-linked Maute Group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. It has since been in effect after Congress, in special joint sessions, voted to approve its extension thrice—from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2017; from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018; and from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

Lorenzana said there are sufficient military and police units to secure Mindanao against further terrorist attacks.

“We have sufficient military and police [units] in the area to ensure that the terrorists can no longer do a Marawi-type operation. Plus, the LGUs [local government units] are clamoring for its [martial law’s] lifting such as (Davao City) Mayor Sara [Duterte],” Lorenzana said in a message to reporters late Monday.

But Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday the amendments to the Human Security Act should not be a prerequisite to the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

“Do not dangle lifting martial law in Mindanao in exchange for the speedy passage of the Human Security Act,” Drilon said.

“The passage or non-passage of the amendments to the Human Securities Act is not a ground for extending martial law in Mindanao,” he added.

Citing the Constitution, Drilon said martial law may be declared if actual rebellion exists and Congress may extend the declaration if the rebellion persists and public safety requires it. Macon Ramos-Araneta with PNA

Rody...

From A1

2022 presidential elections.

“You politicians should think about it carefully. Manny, I think Manny is entertaining, [but] you can’t get anything from this work except being tired,” Duterte told Pacquiao in his speech on Monday night.

Duterte has referred to Pacquiao as “president-to-be” first in November 2016 and second in December of that year.

Pacquiao, for his part, said the presidency is “God’s will” as he disclosed his plan to make a reelection bid as senator in the 2022 polls.

“Being a President is anointed by God. I will be in whatever God’s plan. But now, I’m thinking of my second term,” Pacquiao said during the press conference of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Tuesday.

“I ran for senator to help. Only God allows one to be a President. I am happy in fulfilling my duties as public servant for the sake of the people. It’s my mission to fight for their rights,” he added.

The ruling PDP-Laban appointed Pacquiao as its “leader” in the Senate last August.

‘Ramon’...

From A1 next 48 hours.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, its center was estimated at 670 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, it was moving west slowly.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was hoisted over the Visayas’ Eastern Samar and the eastern portion of Northern Samar.

Because of “Ramon,” light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may be experienced in Bicol, Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar, while light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will prevail over Romblon, Marinduque and southern Quezon on Wednesday.

of her death.

PAO said the victim, who received her first Dengvaxia shot in 2016, was taken to a hospital on Oct. 29 due to high fever and vomiting, but then died on Nov. 1.

Erwin Erfe of PAO’s forensic laboratory stood firm that the kin of those

whose deaths were believed to be linked to Dengvaxia had a strong case against former and incumbent health officials, Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp., and that they were guilty of homicide.

The autopsy on the latest victim discovered brain hemorrhage and enlarged internal organs, among other things, Erfe said.

“There is a strong link to Dengvaxia. It was Sanofi who made a statement that its product could pose higher risks or cause serious effects on a person without prior dengue in-

fection,” Erfe said.

“Sanofi said that.”

He reiterated PAO’s appeal to designate a special court that would hear and litigate only the Dengvaxia complaints filed with the Department of Justice and Quezon City courts.

The relatives of the victims accused former Health Secretary Janette Garin, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III other Health officials and executives of Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and Zuellig Pharma Corp. for the mass Dengvaxia vaccination of over 830,000 children and several adults since 2016.

House reso into bill firms up plan on budget MOE

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE House of Representatives has converted into a bill the resolution extending until Dec. 31, 2020 the validity of the budget for maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay of this year’s P3.757-trillion national budget.

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said the move was intended to avoid possible legal questions in the future.

“The SC [has] ruled that a mere resolution cannot amend or repeal a prior law which is an act of Congress. A Republic Act should also be amended or repealed by a Republic Act,” Ungab said.

The bill was expected to be approved on second reading last night after it was referred to the floor by the House committee on rules chaired by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

The House adopted House Joint Resolution 19 by a vote of 199 last Nov. 4.

Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda of Antique

Tax hike...

From A1 proof liter with a 20 percent ad valorem tax beginning next year.

Fermented liquors and alcopops would be taxed at P45 per liter, up from P25.4. A specific tax of P600 would be imposed on sparkling wines, while a specific tax of P43 would be imposed on still and carbonated wines beginning 2020.

For e-cigarettes under the heat-not-burn product category, the bill seeks to increase the current rates of P10 per pack of 20 to P45 per pack on Year 1 to be at parity with regular cigarettes.

For vapor products, there will be a distinction between salt nicotine and freebase.

From P10 per 10mL or less, salt nicotine will increase to P45 per mL, while freebase will increase to P45 per 10 mL on Year 1. These rates will increase by P5 every year until Year 4 then 5 percent every year thereafter.

In the House, its counterpart proposal was House Bill 1026, which also seeks to impose

‘Body cams...

From A1 and what to avoid in the use of body cameras.

Earlier, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said the police command could acquire at least 3,000 body cameras by 2020 if the post-qualification process of bidders was completed before the yearend.

Vice President Leni Robredo, the newly-appointed co-chairman of the Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs, had previously said body cameras were important in drug operations as they protected both law enforcement agents and the public.

At the same time, Robredo said she would look into whether the government should invest in body cameras.

Meanwhile, Robredo’s camp took a swipe at Cayetano for his tirades that she was leading the drug war “on the wrong mouth.”

Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s lawyer-spokesperson, said Cayetano’s remarks were “very, very disappointing” and “uncalled for.”

In The Source interview over CNN Philippines, Gutierrez said “we are grateful that the bulk of government agencies involved in the anti-drug campaign have expressed support. In fact, even the Palace stated yesterday (Monday) that they were going to support Vice Pres-

authored House Bill 5400 to amend section 65 of Republic Act 11260 or the 2019 General Appropriations Act. The House rules provide that the House will still have to withdraw the passage of the HJR 19 in favor of House Bill 5400.

Ungab said that the House decided to convert into bill the resolution on the 2019 budget validity in light of the SC ruling on the salary of public nurses.

He said the high court decision states that an amendment to the Philippine Nursing Act setting the salary grade of nurses from 11 to 15 through Joint Resolution 4 was “invalid.”

Congress moves to extend the validity of this year’s budget, citing the delays in the enactment of the 2019 General Appropriations Bill early this year and the election ban on the implementation of infrastructure projects and social services.

“The late passage of the 2019 GAA and the election ban on the implementation of infrastructure projects and social services in view of the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections resulted in the delay of the implementa-

tion of the infrastructure projects and basic social services,” the bill said.

Meanwhile, with the year about to end, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto asked Malacañang to submit government pay hike bill.

“When will it come out of the Palace kitchen? ‘Please expedite’ is not one marginal note we would like to send them, but a big shout out,” said Recto.

He recalled that Malacañang promised to increase the salaries of civil servants through SSL V, the Duterte Edition.

He said the money for the increases, in the amount of P31.1 billion, had been pre-parked in the 2020 national budget. “The money is there, the bill on its use will come later.”

“And there is nothing wrong with putting the cart before the horse, as it assures government employees that a salary increase is a done deal,” he added.

The SSL V would require a separate law.

It cannot be a rider in the General Appropriations Act. It also cannot be implemented via an executive order. It can only be authorized by a congressional act.

taxes on distilled spirits, fermented liquors, and wines.

Under the proposal, the tax would increase 7 percent annually starting in 2020 for wines, and in 2023 for distilled spirits and fermented liquors.

More than half of Filipinos aged 20 to 59 engage in the harmful use of alcohol in the form of binge drinking, according to Food Nutrition and Research Institute’s Clinical and Health Survey in 2015.

The same survey also showed among Filipino youth aged 10 to 19, 14.9 percent consume alcohol, and 36.7 percent of these are underage drinkers.

In July, Duterte signed a law raising excise taxes on cigarettes by P45 per pack by 2020, P50 per pack by 2021, P55 per pack by 2022, and P60 per pack by 2023.

Republic Act No. 11346 was expected to bring P15 billion revenue to boost funding for the Universal Health Care Law and programs of the Department of Health.

Revenues would be allocated and divided among the tobacco-producing provinces.

The increase in tobacco excise tax is part of the administration’s second tranche of tax

reform legislation.

Cayetano on Tuesday said “a vote for sin tax is a vote for our people’s health and well-being.”

She welcomed the President’s move to certify her bill as urgent.

“I am pushing for a version that recommends higher tax rates than those approved by the House of Representatives for two reasons: First, it will provide proper funding for the delivery of health services to all Filipinos; and second, it will effectively reduce the consumption of sin products,” Cayetano said.

“There is a need to increase sin taxes substantially for it to have any health impact.

Otherwise, we will fall short at meeting our health objectives,” she added.

“We cannot save lives by increasing the price of a sin product by a negligible amount.

We can only make this an effective measure when the price increase is substantial enough that people would think twice on the volume of the products they will purchase and consume,” Cayetano said.

Once a bill is certified as urgent, Congress can skip the three-day rule, allowing lawmakers to pass a measure on third reading immediately after it is passed on second reading.

ident Leni Robredo, so I think that Speaker Cayetano should reconsider his position here especially given that the vice president hasn’t really been on the job that long.”

The House Speaker, in an earlier CNN Philippines interview, said the Vice President started “on the wrong mouth” as the co-chairperson of ICAD, adding Robredo had dwelt more on “Operation All Talk” from the government’s Operation Tokhang.

He previously said the success or failure of the Vice President as the anti-drug czar would be the success or failure of the country.

Gutierrez said Cayetano’s statements were “contradicting,” asking him to “make up his mind.”

He called on the Speaker to stop the attacks on the Vice President, and to help in the campaign against the illegal drugs.

“If the Speaker has nothing to do in helping the Vice President in her job, he must at least stay away from criticizing her,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez reacted to a plan of Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, House committee on dangerous drugs chairperson, to invite Robredo “soon” so she could lay down her plans in tweaking the government’s antidrug drive.

He said the invitation was “premature.”

“If she’s called by the lower House, obviously she will go, but the only thing I can say... it will be premature to ask her barely a

week into her job to give the full outline, the full comprehensive list of her plans,” he said during the CNN Philippines’ The Source interview.

At the same time, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. expressed support to Robredo’s move to tap the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s help in beefing up the country’s fight against illegal drugs.

“Thank you Leni. I’ve been trying without success to get us engaged with Vienna’s UNODC which is focused on fighting drug trafficking and dealing, not coddling them like Geneva,” Locsin tweeted.

“UNODC is currently headed by a Russian so we can trust it,” Locsin added.

Yury Fedotov of the Russian Federation leads the UNODC as its executive director since 2010.

Robredo met with UNODC officials on Monday.

“We will give you an update [on the resolutions] after these meetings,” Robredo told reporters.

Meanwhile, Locsin vowed to deny entry of foreign human rights advocate Phelim Kine, former deputy director for Asia of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, a strong critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, if he tried to come into the Philippines to “advise” Robredo on how to end the so-called “murderous” crackdown. With PNA

Standard...

From A1 Pilipinas, written by Mallari with music from Roman Prospero of the Daily Tribune, is the official song of the Philippine squad in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The song was launched last week and was posted on the official Facebook account of Team Philippines for the 2019 SEA Games. Its official music video will also be shown today at the Pep Rally for Philippine athletes joining the SEA Games.

Mallari is Johnny Cross frontman, with Prospero on guitars, Yann Evasco on bass, and Kams Olea and Mikee Cabrera on drums.

“Wala kasing official anthem ang mga atletang Pinoy, so we filled that void with our song Pilipinas (Filipino athletes didn’t have an official anthem, so we filled that void with our song Pilipinas),” said Mallari. “We hope it becomes the anthem of all Filipino athletes, not just in the SEA Games, but in the Olympics and Asian Games, and all competitions as well.”

Also performing during the sendoff, which is free to the public, are Bamboo, The Juans and Silent Sanctuary.

Filipino sports heroes such as Olympic medalists Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr. and Pol Serrantes of boxing, bowling hall of famers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, Asia’s first chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, and track and field icons Lydia de Vega-Mercado and Elma Muros-Posadas, will also be at the Pep Rally to inspire the athletes, numbering 1,115 from 56 sports, all of them aiming to collectively reclaim the SEAG overall title for the country.

House...

From A1

Velasco said he would take over the Speakership on Oct. 18, 2020, on Monday.

“A gentleman’s agreement is a gentleman’s agreement. Based on the gentleman’s agreement, I will see you next year as the next Speaker of the House,” Velasco told reporters.

Cayetano said as far as he was concerned “nothing has changed” in the agreement, but he admitted that he would like to retain his post until 2022, and that he would consult Duterte on whether or not to relinquish the post to Velasco.

Under a term-sharing agreement that President had brokered, Cayetano is supposed to step down after 15 months to give way to Velasco until the end of the Duterte administration.

Cayetano and Velasco were the top contenders for the speakership of the 18th Congress, and they have sought the President’s blessing to put an end to the brawl that bugged the lower chamber for months.

Meanwhile, President Duterte assured his political allies he would throw his support behind any politician who plans to run for the presidency in 2022.

But he said he did not want his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to run for the top post.

“I dissuade my daughter from running. It’s a thankless job. It’s all about work, work, work,” Panelo said quoting Duterte. MJ Blancaflor

SEA Games dry run slated for Thursday

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it will lead a simulation exercise of the 30th Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony on Thursday on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and other major roads in the metropolis.

MMDA spokesperson Pircelyn Pialago said convoys would be coming from various hotels within the metropolis and other parts of Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Clark, and Subic.

She added the yellow lane on EDSA would be utilized by the convoys going to the Philippine Arena, the venue of the opening ceremony of SEA Games 2019 on Nov. 30 and will have the closing ceremonies on Dec 11.

“Stop-and-go traffic scheme will also be implemented during the dry run,” said Pialago.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim has ordered the deployment of 2,000 personnel in key areas in the metropolis to supervise and help manage the traffic flow, and provide assistance during the event.

He said the MMDA shall provide personnel and equipment along designated routes for seamless movement of delegates from airport to billeting hotels, sports venues and other engagement areas at the least inconvenience to the general public.

“Aside from deployment of traffic personnel to strategic areas, we shall provide motorcycle and mobile car escorts, ambulances, tow trucks as well as monitoring of road activities during the SEA Games,” said Lim. The 12-day event, according to Lim, is expected to gather thousands of athletes, sports officials, coaches, spectators and guests at sports and non-sports venues within Metro Manila.

Among the venues include the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Cuneta Astrodome, SM Mall of Asia Arena, SM MOA Skating Rink, World Trade Center, Philippine International Convention Center Forum, SM Megamall, Filoil Flying V Centre, Filinvest City, University of the Philippines Diliman Gym, Marine Corps, Muntinlupa Sports Complex, Starmall EDSA, Makati Coliseum, Manila Hotel tent, SM Megamall Ice Rink, World Trade Center, Philsports Arena, Amoranto Sports Complex and Manila Polo Club.

A temporary stop of traffic will also be observed as delegates’ convoy passes through roads and intersections.

Gov’t...

From A1 battle with 50 NPA fighters around 5 p.m. on Monday, according to initial reports reaching the Philippine National Police regional office in Tacloban City.

Killed were Sgt. Rex Jadulco, Cpl. Ronald Go, Cpl. Limar Banug, Pfc. Kent Loyd Agullo, Pvt. Charlie del Rosario, and Pfc. Junmar Buranday.

An NPA rebel was also killed during the armed encounter.

The 20 wounded soldiers were airlifted to Camp Lukban station hospital in Catbalogan City in Samar inside the headquarters of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division.

Pinanag-an Village, the site of the firefight, is about 22 kilometers upland from Borongan City.

The site is very remote with an air distance of 12 kilometers from upland Canloterio village, the nearest point accessible to vehicles.

The military was still conducting clearing and retrieval operations as of Tuesday morning.

The military has repeatedly condemned the NPA for using landmines in their attacks. The NPA attack also disregards the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, the military said.

Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar Island, remains a hotbed of insurgency with the continued presence of communist rebels.

Aragones said the soldiers were responding to persistent reports of NPA terrorists extorting money and food from farmers in the hinterlands of Brgy Pinanag-an and adjacent villages. With PNA

P10-m reward...

From A1 was part of the lawyers’ security program to persuade witnesses to come out and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in identifying the killers of judges, lawyers and prosecutors.

“This is to encourage witnesses and whistleblowers to expedite, investigate and prosecute, but more importantly to act as a deterrent,” Cayosa said, adding the money for the reward would come from the IBP itself.

“We have to encourage witnesses to help law enforcement agencies track down the perpetrators of this crime,” he said.

Cayosa said they were just waiting for the signing of a memorandum of agreement with law enforcement agencies governing the reward system before it was implemented.

The IBP, the mandatory national organization of lawyers in the country, counts more than 40,000 members.

Cayosa said included in the lawyers’ security program was the setting up of a hot line among IBP leaders, the judiciary and security forces for quick coordination, the training of lawyers in personal security, and the monitoring of cases of killings and other violent attacks.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Deal or no deal THE arrangement of term sharing as House Speaker between Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Alan Velasco looks like a dead deal after Cayetano publicly stated he wants to stay as Speaker up to 2022, the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

As anyone who had a taste of power, Cayetano no longer wants to let go of the House helm, claiming that the majority coalition wants him to continue a “job well done.” Cayetano’s words, not mine—nor a House member’s who has yet to come out publicly to support the Taguig representative’s claim of overwhelming support.

Then again, a House Speaker’s power is vast. He has the power of steering the Nation Appropriations Act that allocates funds for congressmen’s district projects. He also signs and approves all their foreign travel allowances. A bigger travel allowance can include expenses if the congressman brings his family along— in some cases, his mistress to also enjoy his perks and privileges.

But a deal is a deal. As brokered

by President Rodrigo Duterte, the arrangement is that Cayetano is supposed to serve as Speaker for 15 months. And then he turns over the Speakership to Velasco.

With this twist, we can expect a House in tumult with internecine politics taking priority over the passage of necessary bills for the people.

President Duterte has yet to make a statement on the House Speakership issue. Overworked and under supported by his Cabinet, the President, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, will work for a few days from his house in Davao. Exec-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

utive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will handle the volume of paperwork in Malacañang while the Chief Executive concentrates on the extension of martial law in Mindanao, the relief and rescue operations of earthquake victims in Cotabato and his home province of Davao—the two hardest-hit areas by three back-toback 6.5-magnitude tremors, plus the flooding caused by Typhoon “Quiel” in Occidental Mindoro, Cagayan and Isabela.

The President should now step in.

The President’s health has become a cause for concern particularly after he took a spill while riding his motorcycle. He was late for the Asean heads of state photo op in Bangkok and was only too glad the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Chile was canceled because of political unrest in the South American country.

Working out of the seat of government in Manila is not unusual. US Presidents have done this by taking their work to Camp David, the US presidents’ official residence outside of the White House in Washington.

The late US President Richard Nixon was remembered as also having taken his work to his residence in San Clemente, California.

We hope that after this short break from his rigid schedule in Malacañang, the President will be reenergized to tackle the volume of national problems from Manila.

Work while with partner Honeylet Avancena and their daughter would be good therapy for the President. He will also have time

100-day mark

L

OCAL executives who began their terms in July hurdled the 100-day mark this week. In those first days, after winning the vote of their constituents, they became visible to the media and articulated what they intended to do during their term.

High hopes were placed on some of the new executives for being able to topple political dynasties and powerful names in their areas. They will do things differently, avoid the same old traps, and be intrepid in introducing changes.

Some of them worked quietly and diligently even as they faced constant criticism from their predecessors’ supporters. It was a challenge to pursue

worthy initiatives, no matter under whose leadership these were begun, and amid the all-too-common tendency to do away with anything identified with their political opponent.

Some were weighed down by difficulties in getting anything started—it was a challenge to know where to even begin.

Some, too, made themselves available to the media and started fash-

ioning a national image.

All these made for an interesting first 100 days. But as in any honeymoon period, euphoria is bound to die down—and reality bound to set in.

We wish the new executives the stamina to follow through all their promises and early decisions. The next few months will no doubt be difficult, and may they sustain the interest and the political will they had when they started.

Certainly they are aware that the system makes it difficult even for the most optimistic and idealistic to keep faith. The remaining days of their term will separate the true leaders from the flashes in the pan.

Turn to A5

John L. Gokongwei Jr., 93 “IF YOU don’t work, you don’t eat.”

That is one of the most important lessons I learned from my good friend of many years, John L. Gokongwei Jr..

It is a formula for hard work—and entrepreneurship.

Big John died peacefully Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11:41 p.m. at the Manila Doctors Hospital, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 93. He is survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 62 years; their children Robina, Lance, Lisa, Faith, Hope, and Marcia; his in-laws and grandchildren; brothers Eddie and James Go, sister Lily; and nieces and nephews.

His was a riches-torags-to-riches story.

This year, two of the Philippines’ greatest taipans passed away, both peacefully. Their businesses are intact and growing under young and capable hands.

The richest Filipino, Henry Sy Sr. died in his sleep on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. He was 94. Tatang Henry Sy left a $20-billion fortune. The third-richest Filipino, Gokongwei, had a $5.4 billion fortune.

A third taipan, Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., son and namesake of Lucio Tan, died, Nov. 11 after he collapsed from playing basketball Saturday, Nov. 9. He was to succeed his father in managing and sustaining Philippine Airlines and the LT Group. Bong Tan was 53.

John’s only son Lance Gokongwei became JG Summit’s president and CEO in 2018 “having accepted the challenge to sustain the immense growth of the company over the past 25 years of being publicly listed, and to bring the

group to even greater heights.”

"We, the 75,000-strong employees of JG Summit Holdings and Robinsons Retail Holdings, join the nation in paying tribute to the founder of the first Philippine multinational conglomerate, a philanthropist with a passion for education," said JG Summit and RRHI in a joint statement on Sunday.

"Mr. John, as we fondly called him, was a visionary. He was an inspiration to entrepreneurs and businessmen around the nation, with his pioneering ideas, his strong work ethic, his passion, and perseverance."

Gokongwei built his business empire from scratch from 1957 as a cornstarch plant in suburban Pasig. It became one of Manila’s largest and most diversified conglomerates serving a growing middle class in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and Australasia.

John had a keen eye for big and hugely profitable businesses, preferably those with scale to bring cost down and enhance profitability, serving a robust market with unmet demand to ensure long-term sustainability, and industries serving basic needs like food, telecommunications, energy, petrochemicals, housing and hotels, and air transport. A voracious reader of business papers and financial reports, John could see trends far ahead of his competitors.

His Sun Cellular brought the power of wireless telephony to ordinary Filipinos and his Cebu Pacific the benefit of once elite air travel to everyone. His Cebu Pacific’s plane fares were lower than boat tickets for the same distance at 18 times the speed of travel.

A few businesses did not pan out as expected, like oil exploration and production, and cosmetics. JG’s cellular business was acquired by PLDT. JG Summit has market capitalization of P562.28 billion ($11 billion) and interests in branded consumer foods, air transportation, property, hotels, retail, petrochemicals, cement, telco, power, and banking. JG is the third largest conglomerate in market cap.

Turn to A5

Taiwan: A valuable partner in the global response to climate change

By Minister Chang Tzi-chin

Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)

CONCENTRATIONS of atmospheric carbon dioxide recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii hit a historic high of 415 parts per million in May 2019. The World Meteorological Organization has also released data showing that June 2019 was the hottest month in history, breaking records from New Delhi to the North Pole. As President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands, an ally of Taiwan, has urged the world, it is not worth arguing or debating whether climate change will come to pass, for it is happening right now.

As a member of the global village, Taiwan is striving to combat climate change and protect the Earth. Indeed, we are playing an indispensable part in the vital task of bequeathing a sustainable environment to future generations.

As a result of the current international political situation, Taiwan has been barred from participating in the Conference of the Parties held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Nevertheless, we continue to pursue means of making contributions to the international community. We have passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, setting long-term goals for Taiwan’s reduction of greenhouse gases, and formulated National Climate Change

Action Guidelines and a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan. We also drew up a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Emission Control Action Plan covering Taiwan’s energy, manufacturing, transportation, residential and commercial development, agricultural, and environmental sectors. With a clearly outlined roadmap for national carbon emission reductions, the key points of this plan include promoting energy transformation; assisting manufacturers to become green, low-carbon enterprises; developing green transportation and expanding the use of low-carbon vehicles; upgrading energy-saving design standards for the exteriors of new buildings; helping livestock farms recycle biogas; and strengthening methane recycling from waste landfills and industrial wastewater. Moreover, the approval of a Greenhouse Gas Control Implementation Plan proposed by local governments shows how Taiwan is responding to climate change collectively, from a central level to a local level.

Our government has made significant progress in developing Taiwan’s renewable energy sector in recent years, actively pursuing policies designed to reduce coal-fired power generation, increase our use of natural gas, and promote green development. By 2025, we expect solar- and wind-power generation to produce 20 GW and 6.9 GW of electricity per year, respectively, and we are also

launching numerous power-saving policies and actions under our Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program and similar initiatives. Meanwhile, our Green Finance Action Plan is focusing on such areas as finance, investment, fundraising, and talent incubation, supporting the development of the green energy sector by boosting financial incentives.

In terms of technological research and development, Taiwan’s green technology policy covers energy development, energy storage, energy saving, and systems integration, drawing on forward-looking materials, sustainable technology, advanced energy-saving, smart systems, and similar areas to engage industry with the fruits of research in the academic world. And since the launch of our FormoSat-3 satellite in 2006, Taiwan has amassed over 10 million items of meteorological data, which it has provided, free of charge, to experts and scholars around the world for use in their scientific research. Furthermore, data gathered following this year’s launch of the FormoSat-7 satellite will now improve accuracy even further when it comes to predicting severe weather events, making a great contribution to global weather forecasting and climate change action.

Taiwan has brought together the relevant central government agencies to formulate a National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, Turn to A5

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Opinion

By Val Abelgas WITH the recent raids on offices of leftist groups in Bacolod City and Metro Manila and the arrest of several militant activists, the Duterte administration continued its crackdown on dissent and assault on democracy that began when critics started opposing his programs, especially his deadly war on drugs.

At least 60 activists were arrested and jailed following the raids on offices of militant groups Bayan Muna, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Gabriela and the National Federation of Sugar Workers in Bacolod City and Tondo, Manila.

The raids were conducted on the basis of search warrants issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Cecilyn Burgos Villavert, who was seen talking with Metro Manila PNP Director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas hours before the raids in Bacolod City.

In that raid, 57 activists were arrested for allegedly participating in a firearms and explosives training when several guns and bomb devices were alleged seized during the raid. The groups claimed that the weapons and explosives were planted by operatives who participated in the raid.

A similar search warrant issued by Villavert was used to raid earlier Bayan’s office in Tondo where three activists were arrested also for alleged possession of guns and explosives.

Militant groups fear that several other search warrants issued by Villavert on Oct. 30 would be used to conduct raids on other offices of these left-leaning organizations, whom the military and President Rodrigo Duterte himself have tagged as communist fronts. Was probable cause established in issuing the warrants, except for unfounded claims that these organizations are being used as recruiting and training grounds by the Communist Party of the Philippines?

The military justified the raids when it claimed that firearms and explosives were found in these offices, and to claims that they were planted, a military spokesman ironically invoked a legal maxim that says ‘He who makes the assertions has the burden of proving his claim.’ Now, the military is shifting the burden of proof to the accused, instead of them proving that the accused militants are out to overthrow the government, as they claim.

Their only basis for arresting the activists were the guns and explosives allegedly seized during the raid, which will not pass the standard of “beyond reasonable doubt” because of claims that they were planted.

This latest crackdown on the militant left, which has been very vocal in opposing President Duterte’s deadly drug war and anti-poor programs, among other things, sends another chilling message to the administration’s critics and dissenters that it was willing to use strong arm tactics to crush legitimate dissent.

“Given the series of complaints of harassment by individuals and organizations that are vocal critics of the administration, we hope that the simultaneous raids are not intended to silence or curtail legitimate dissent and purport it as attempts to destabilize the government,” the Commission on Human Rights said in a statement.

It was not the first attempt of the Duterte administration to silence his critics and curtail legitimate dissent.

The very first and foremost victim, of course, is Senator Leila de Lima, who has been in jail for more than two years on obviously trumped-up drug charges that were filed on the basis of alleged testimonies by convicted drug lords.

Another high-profile victim is former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who faced impeachment proceedings in the Duterte-controlled House of Representatives and eventually removed from office by her subordinates in the Duterte-influenced Supreme Court on a quo warranto petition filed

Deal...

From A4

to spend with daughter Inday Sarah Duterte Carpio , the Davao City mayor and son Paolo.

But back to the House Speakership issue. The President should really enforce the gentleman’s agreement that he brokered between Cayetano and Velasco and tell the former that a deal is a deal. Otherwise, the President

by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

After the administration was stopped by the court to arrest and detain harsh critic former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, it turned to investigating supply deals made by the latter’s ailing 84-yearold mother with the Philippine Navy, prejudging them as “a clear case of conflict of interest.”

Duterte also threatened to block renewal of the franchise to operate network giant ABS-CBN, stop the operations of Rappler online new service, and actually applied business pressures on the Philippine Daily Inquirer. All three media outlets gained Duterte’s ire because of their critical reporting on his administration.

The House, under defeated Duterte vice presidential running mate Speaker Alan Cayetano, is now putting ABSCBN in a tight gauntlet to renew its franchise. Rappler and its head, Maria Ressa, on the other hand, are facing numerous charges filed by the government, while the Inquirer owners had to give up its lease on a government property in Makati.

Duterte has also placed a Damocles sword over the heads of the political opposition Liberal Party after claiming that the Liberals, whom Duterte’s avid allies call “Yellows” or “Dilawans,” were conspiring with the Communist Party of the Philippines to overthrow the government.

In December last year, Davao policemen arrested former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, along with 12 teachers, 4 pastors, 29 students and a community learning center administrator for transporting 12 lumad students from their school to Compostela Valley.

Just like the drug charges against De Lima, those filed against Ocampo and the others were obviously trumped-up charges meant to silence Ocampo, who writes a critical column for the Philippine Star, and Castro, who is also a Duterte critic in the House of Representatives, and to send a chilling message to progressives and other critics.

Backing the Davao police for the arrests, Duterte said: "Bayan [Muna] is a front of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Bakit pa tayo mag-drama?

Alam natin that KMU [Kilusang Mayo Uno], ’yan Gabriela, they’re all communist fronts or being used by the communists. Alam ninyo lahat ’yan," Duterte said. Again, the President made accusations without presenting evidence or filing subversion charges, but the threat of arrest now hangs on the heads of members of these groups with the President himself making the accusations.

And it is happening now with the recent arrest of 60 activists in the Bacolod and Manila raids with many more expected to be detained based on Judge Villavert’s search warrants.

Also in December last year, Duterte revealed a plan to organize his own armed civilian group to be called “Duterte Death Squad” allegedly to counter the New Peoples Army’s Sparrow Units, which PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde acknowledged has been non-existent for at least three years now.

“They will do nothing but look for idlers who are prospective New People’s Army members and take them out,” Duterte said. Remember that this is the President, the leader of the country and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the national police, talking about giving authority to civilians to be judge and executioner at the same time.

Are the recent raids a precursor to the dreaded plan’s implementation? Or are they, as leaders of the militant groups say, a prelude to martial law?

As we said before, tyrants have only one response to criticisms. Instill fear. valabelgas@aol.com Mr. Abelgas is a former editor of Manila Standard.

will look bad if Cayetano welshes on the deal and defies Duterte’s instructions. A lame duck president after three years, Duterte will appear even weaker if he cannot make Cayetano honor the brokered agreement.

Cayeteno, on the other hand, would also be damaged goods if he does not follow the agreed-upon deal. Whatever ambition he has for higher office is as good as dead in the water. He will be long remembered as someone who cannot be trusted.

A5

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Czarina

EvEryman

Crackdown on dissent intensifies

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

WHEN the news came out that President Rodrigo Duterte, likely in a moment of pique, offered to make Vice President Leni Robredo the head of the government’s drug war, I put on my analyst’s hat and thought of how the VP should react.

Pique on the part of the President was understandable because the VP had earlier chided him for a “failed” drug war, following the revelations about the Pampanga “ninja cops” and the early resignation of PNP chief O.D. Albayalde.

“The President has already made very serious threats to drug syndicates, to drug lords…and yet it’s still prevalent, so obviously, it’s not working,” VP Leni said.

The President a few days later, and before embarking on his trip to Bangkok for the Asean summit, challenged VP Robredo. In his mind, the President must have thought “Ah, ganoon? Gusto mo, ikaw na lang!”

In my mind, I thought the VP should have publicly accepted the challenge.

That would have placed the ball back on the court of Malacañang, for the President to prove his sincerity.

But no, her spokesmen and political allies immediately and publicly charged, in so many words, that she should not accept, because it was “a trap” and a mere political ploy.

Then, days after her allies “rejected” for her, VP Leni comes out saying she would accept. The timing, to my mind, was off.

Malacañang adroitly defined the terms of her “assignment” by way of the her appointment as “co-chairman” of a newly formed Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, signed before the presidential trip, but released upon President Duterte’s return.

An early and immediate acceptance of the presidential dare, call it challenge, whether serious or political ploy, could have been followed by the VP with a demand for “terms of reference,” conditions that would make her effective in the role of “czarina” of the government forces fighting the drug war.

And Malacañang would have had to give in, or at the very least given the position ample powers and proper authority, lest it is accused of insincerity in making the offer.

Whether it took the vice president

Taiwan:...

From A4

constructing a resilient system that responds to eight aspects of climate change: disasters, basic infrastructure, water resources, homeland security, coastlines, energy and industry, agriculture, and health. In the field of health care, we are placing special emphasis on medical hygiene and epidemic prevention, disaster reduction, and emergency and disaster recovery capacity, safeguarding national health and prioritizing the protection of our most vulnerable citizens. In terms of conservation, we will sustain our agricultural production resources and biodiversity, bolster monitoring and early-warning mechanisms, strengthen natural disaster rescue and insurance systems, and integrate technologies designed to boost the resilience of the agricultural, forestry, fisheries,

John...

From A4

John was not your typical rags-toriches taipan. He is, in fact, a riches-torags-to riches story. He was born with the proverbial silver spoon. In the late 1930s, his father, John Sr., was big time and one of the richest in Cebu.

Until his mid-teens, John was based in Cebu and led a life boys his age would envy. His father owned a chain of movie houses, including the first air-conditioned theater outside Manila.

He was the eldest of six children, lived in a big house in Cebu’s Forbes Park, and was driven by a chauffeur to an upscale school, San Carlos University. He was at the top of his class. He would bring classmates to his father’s movie houses. Life was good.

One day, when he was 13, John’s world of wonder stopped. His father died suddenly, from complications due to typhoid. “Everything I enjoyed vanished instantly. My father’s empire was built on credit. When he died, we lost everything—our big house, our cars, our business—to the banks,” he recalled.

Little Big John was left with a wid-

But the previous paragraphs are from a Machiavellian hat. The fact is, the vice president has joined the war against drugs, and her pronouncements of a “gentler” war are to be appreciated by every Filipino. We have to wish her the best.

If she uses the new position as mere political soapbox, as some detractors say, notably even the Speaker of the House, Alan Peter Cayetano, or if she shows she is there to learn more about the intricacies of “war” and eventually shows that she is made of sterner stuff—that remains to be seen.

This is a test of character, more than capability or intelligence, on the part of Vice President Leni Robredo, and for the sake of our country, we should welcome her intentions and resolve.

The past few days have seen the demise of two well-known businessmen—the legendary John Gokong-

wei and the sportsman son of Kapitan Lucio Tan, Bong, who a week before succumbing to aneurysm was promoted to become CEO of PAL Holdings Corp.

Bong is a good friend, and just last Wednesday, Nov. 6, I had dinner with him and a few friends. Last September, we were together in eerily quiet Hong Kong for a Moon Festival dinner given by a barrister-friend to celebrate the end of the “ghost month.”

He was complaining of a bum stomach the day before our last dinner, and said he may skip the sumptuous dinner, but brought two bottles of excellent wine, a Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 and a Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2010

by Chateau Canon. I noticed that he was not his usual happy-go-lucky self, whether it was because of the previous day’s slight illness or whether he was beginning to realize the gravity of the responsibilities he would sooner or later inherit from his dad, Kapitan Lucio and mother Carmen.

I was already in Taipei when news came of his collapse in a basketball game, yet later in the day, it was reported that he was in stable condition. The day after, the sad news came about his inability to survive a delicate medical procedure.

My profound condolences to the family as I bid goodbye to a good friend.

I never knew Mr. John personally, but one of my early breaks in private business came from his Universal Robina Corp. during the martial law years.

His purchasing manager was a hardbargaining buyer (barat in Pilipino), but eager to help a start-up owned by a trio of young men. We innovated processes to cut down on costs, but came up with a very good signage system for their Blend 45 instant coffee.

Low profit per unit, but URC ordered hundreds of signages. The break also opened doors for more business deals.

His business empire was built through years of hard work, and I need not repeat the legend of Mr. John Gokongwei in this article. Suffice it to say that his was one very admirable business success story and more importantly, a character story which must be emulated by more young men and women who often think only of the “easy” ways of life.

Hail and farewell, Mr. John.

and animal husbandry industries. We are also operating and managing nature reserves, establishing long-term ecological monitoring systems, and strengthening the conservation and appropriate use of our nation’s species and associated genetic material.

All of this is aimed at safeguarding food safety and establishing sustainable agricultural practices that are well adapted to climate risks.

According to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, more than 10,000 extreme weather incidents occurred globally between 1997 and 2016, taking countless lives and destroying homes. As the world continues to face climate change crises, this global issue requires a global solution. That means that every person, as a member of our global community, must join in and search for a solution.

It is unfair for Taiwan to be excluded from international organizations

on the basis of political prejudice.

Our exclusion contradicts the spirit of related climate conventions, which urge all nations to work together to combat global climate change, and overlooks both the concept of climate justice emphasized in the Paris Agreement and the significance of calling on all nations to take climate action. This breach of the UN Charter weakens our international framework and harms the entire world.

Taiwan is a responsible and sincere friend to the international community, and is ready to contribute. We would be pleased to share our experience in good environmental governance, disaster prevention and early-warning systems, upgrading to energy efficient technologies, and high-tech innovation and its applications. We are striving to make the world a better place, and believe that Taiwan can be a valuable partner in the global response to climate change.

owed mother and five siblings much younger than him. He sent his mother and four brothers and a sister to China.

In Cebu, they had nothing to eat, their future in limbo.

John worked. Hard and relentlessly.

With a bike, he sold roasted peanuts in the backyard of a now much-smaller home. When that wasn’t enough, he opened a small stall in a palengke, one much farther than the other markets “because there were fewer goods available for the people there. I woke up at five every morning for the long bicycle ride to the palengke with my basket of goods.”

At 15, John was selling whatever people needed—“soap to keep them clean, candles to light the night, and thread to sew their clothes.” Perhaps, without knowing it then, the teener upstart learned the first lesson of entrepreneurship—satisfy a need. As a young businessman, the tall and lanky teener had one advantage—he was young, strong, active, intense. “I did not tire as easily, and I moved more quickly,” he said.

“I was also more aggressive. After each day, I would make about P20 in profit! There was enough to feed my siblings and still enough to pour back into the business. The pesos I made in

the palengke were the pesos that went into building the business I have today.” He said: “I told myself, ‘If I could compete with people much older than me, if I could support my whole family at 15, I could do anything’!” And the best person to depend on in a crunch?

“Myself,” he grinned. “And so I continued to work.”

From Cebu, John expanded to Manila. He would transport tires on a small boat called a batel, travel for five days to Lucena, load his cargo onto a truck for the six-hour trip to the Philippine capital. He sat on his goods so they would not be stolen.

“In Manila, I would then purchase other goods from the earnings I made from the tires, to sell in Cebu. Then, when WWII ended, I saw the opportunity for trading goods in post-war Philippines.”

At 20 in 1946, John formed his first company, Amasia Trading which imported onions, flour, used clothing, old newspapers and magazines, and fruits from America. After two years, he made enough money to feel confident about retrieving his mother and siblings from China.

days to agonize over her decision to accept, or whether she was being pulled hither or dither by different cabals within her inner circle, we would not know.

We would not speculate about it, either.

The point is, she allowed the president time to rethink his dare, who forthwith drew his own terms of reference, making her co-chairman of the effort overseeing the war on drugs. Noises have been made by the palace spokesman to assure her of full support, and calling on the police and PDEA to fully cooperate with her, but nobody in government seriously buys that line.

This is a test of character, more than capability or intelligence, on the part of the VP, and for the sake of our country, we should welcome her intentions and resolve.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

A6

News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

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Gov’t OK’d to appeal dismissal of Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth

By Maricel V. Cruz

HARD-HATTED. Cashiers and salesladies wore their hard hats as they start work for the day. Kidapawan City was jolted by a magnitude 3.0 earthquake in the morning of Nov.12. Geonarri Solmerano

THE Sandiganbayan gave its permission to the government to appeal the dismissal of the P102-billion ill-gotten wealth case against former President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, as well as their 11 other cronies.

The anti-graft court's Second Division, in a five-page decision dated Nov. 6, granted government prosecutors’ motion for reconsideration on the anti-graft court’s Sept. 13 decision. The decision disallows the government’s appeal due to the state’s failure to provide notice of hearing—that is a violation of the Rules of Court.

The anti-graft court cited the Supreme Court ruling on Marylou Cabrera vs. Felix Ng as basis of its decision.

“It is undisputed that the Motion For Reconsideration (Re: Decision dated Aug. 5, 2019) was laden with procedural defects for failure to comply with the requirements of Rule 15. Although the inadvertence of the plaintiff's counsel is not a compelling or sufficient reason to relax the rule, the Court is of the view that the defendants' right to due process will not be impinged should the Court act on the earlier motion as they will still be

Gov't infra program a ‘failure’—Drilon

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and MJ Blancaflor

S

ENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday considered as a “dismal failure” the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build program” since only nine out of the 75 flagship projects that were proposed at the start of the administration have started construction, a claim that Malacañang has denied.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Drilon’s claim was ‘baseless.’

“Senator Frank, look at the administration you previously belong. Six years, not a single infrastructure was done. It was far from many [of this administration],” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“It’s baseless. This administration has done many,” he added.

Panelo went on to enumerate several “big-ticket projects” of the administra-

tion, which includes the LRT 1 Cavite Extension (Baclaran-Cavite), Metro Manila Subway, MRT Common Station, LRT-2 East Extension, PNR Clark, PNR Bicol, PNR Calamba, Subic-Clark Railway, Mindanao Railway, Bulacan Airport, Sangley Airport, NAIA Rehabilitation, and Clark Airport Expansion.

These projects, however, have yet to be finished.

The “Build, Build, Build” program is

the government’s medium-term goal to increase infrastructure spending from 5.4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2017 to 7.3 percent by the end of 2022.

This was the highest budget allocation for infrastructure in Philippine history.

The NEDA has identified a total of 75 infrastructure flagship projects for development, approval, implementation, and review.

As of July 31, these flagship projects have an indicative total financing requirement of P2.40 trillion.

Of this amount, some P2.01 trillion will fund 52 of the projects through Official Development Assistance while 14 of the projects worth P238 billion will be implemented as locally-funded projects.

The remaining projects are to be implemented through Public-Private Partnerships.

Of the 75 flagship projects, 37 items

worth P1.63 trillion have been approved by the Investment Coordination Committee and confirmed by the NEDA Board.

Under the proposed P4.1-trillion budget, P972.5 billion were allocated for infrastructure.

Drilon had said that the government must work overtime to finish these projects in the last two years of the administration.

“That is only 2 percent of the total,” he said.

“I don’t think any substantial progress insofar as that program is concerned will be achieved. I repeat, the execution is simply dismal,” said Drilon, who is also vice president of the Liberal Party.

Asked for the reason for the ‘failure,’ Drilon replied, “I do not know. We have to ask them.”

Told that the government targets to complete more than 40 projects, Drilon reiterated that only nine projects had been started.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday disclosed that two more Filipino sailors were abducted by pirates in West Africa.

The DFA said the latest incident brings to 11 the total number of Filipinos being held in West Africa.

Last week, nine Filipino seafarers were kidnapped in neighboring African state of Benin.

“The Philippine government is actively tracking the development of the case with the embassy in Abuja continuing its coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino seafarers,” the DFA said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs officials are also coordinating with the seamen's manning agency and their immediate family for updates on the case.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in

the world.

Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world’s 1.2-million sailors are manning oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks.

As this developed, Malacañang expressed concern over the series of kidnapping incidents.

“We are concerned about the kidnapping,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The unidentified Filipinos, along with a Greek and a Georgian, were brought by their abductors on board a Greek oil tanker named Elka Aristotle, 11 miles from the deep sea shipping port of Lome, according to reports.

Armed guards climbed aboard the Greek tanker and tried to fend off the pirates but one of the guards was wounded.

Last Saturday, a similar abduction took place when pirates boarded the Norwegianflagged M/V Bonita and abducted nine of its Filipino crew members.

DIRECTORS' MEETING. District Directors of the National Capital Region hold a press conference and give an update on crime accomplishments and the update of their preparation for the incoming SEA Games. They are (from left) Eastern Police Director PB General Johnson Almazan, MPD Director PBGEN Bernabe Balba and SPD Director PBGEN Nolasco Batahan. The meeting was held at the NCRPO Sattelite office at Station 10, Kamuning in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

New PAF aircraft to help in relief efforts THE Philippine Air Force formally accepted on Monday the fourth Airbus Defense and Space C-295M medium transport/command-and-control aircraft that will help deliver relief goods to earthquake-hit Mindanao.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana presided over the turnover ceremony held at the Haribon Hangar of the Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Monday afternoon, said PAF spokesperson, Major Aristides Galang, in a message to reporters.

The C-295M, the fourth in PAF service, was acquired as part of the Command-and-Control FixedWing Turbo Prop Acquisition (C2FWTPA) Project under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

Galang said the arrival of the fourth C-295M will boost the PAF's medium tactical airlift requirement of transporting troops and equipment, and support hu-

manitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

The aircraft will also be utilized as a command-and-control aircraft to cater to the domestic air transport of the President and other national and strategic defense leaders of the country.

The P1.8-billion aircraft arrived in the Philippines last October.

Lorenzana also extended his congratulations to the PAF for the new acquisition.

He also announced the future plans of the AFP to acquire additional C-295M aircraft to further protect the country’s maritime domain.

The symbolic turnover rites was followed by the blessing of and ceremonial pouring of champagne on the new aircraft.

The newly-acquired C-295M will begin its operational mission transporting troops, equipment, and relief goods for earthquake victims in Mindanao.

IN BRIEF 2 Chinese nabbed for shabu smuggling GOVERNMENT agents arrested in Mactan Cebu International Airport two Chinese nationals who tried to smuggle 15 kilos of dried seahorses out of the country.

Bureau of Customs officials did not identify the Chinese passegers but they said the foreigners were about to board a flight bound for Macau when they were intercepted over the weekend.

The dried seahorses were spotted during an x-ray examination conducted

by Frannies Candado, a security screening officer of the Office for Transportation Security during initial checking at the MCIA. Some 53 kilos of dried seahorses were also intercepted in the same airport early last month, also involving three Chinese nationals.

The three were arrested by personnel of the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Transnational Aviation Support Services Inc. and Counter-Terrorist Unit last Oct. 4.

Joel E. Zurbano

PH, US military install habitat reefs

11 Pinoy seamen abducted by pirates in Togo, W. Africa

By Rey E. Requejo and MJ Blancaflor

given an opportunity to study and meet the arguments therein for full review and appreciation by the Court,” the Sandiganbayan said.

In addition, the anti-graft court ruled that the government’s motion for reconsideration on the anti-graft court’s September decision cannot be considered as a second motion for reconsideration as it “does not assail the Decision dated Aug. 5, 2019 [junking the case] but seeks the reversal of the Resolution dated Sept. 13, 2019.”

“Wherefore, premises considered, the motion for reconsideration (Re: Resolution dated Sept. 13, 2019) filed by the Republic of the Philippines is hereby granted. The Resolution dated September 13, 2019 is hereby reversed and set aside, and plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration (Re: Decision dated August 5, 2019) is given due course,” the anti-graft court said.

“Accordingly, the defendants are given 10 days to file an opposition to the motion for reconsideration (Re: Decision dated August 5, 2019),” the anti-graft court added.

Last August, the Sandiganbayan junked the P102-billion forfeiture case involving the Marcos family and 11 of its cronies due to inability of the prosecution to present sufficient evidence.

"From airlifting personnel and logistical supplies to projecting military force as well as providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response, air mobility has been an indispensable capability that the Philippine Air Force provides through the competency of our pilots, crew and the aircraft that we possess. The aircraft personifies the guardians of our precious skies, and the bearers of hope," PAF commander Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez said.

Also present during the turnover ceremony was the Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, His Excellency Jorge Moragas, who expressed his sincere gratitude for the support and assistance in fostering the relationship between Spain and the Philippines.

He assured Filipinos the support of Spain and its Ministry of Defense to the modernization program of the AFP. PNA

New water resources bill proposed A JOINT panel in the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a substitute bill proposing the creation of Department of Water Resources that is eyed as a long-term solution to water crisis.

The House committees on government reorganization, and on public works and highways approved the bill after consolidating the 35 proposed measures on the subject.

One of the bill's proponents, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, underscored the need for Congress to enact a measure that will ensure a "reliable, safe, quality and affordable water supply."

“Water is a basic human right. Water is a public utility so it should be regulated by the government, ” Salceda said.

Under the proposed law, the DWR shall be the primary national agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated planning, policy formulation and management of water resources in the Philippines.

The bill also calls for the creation of the Water Regulatory Commission, an independent regulatory and quasi-judicial body, and shall be an attached agency of the the new department.

During the hearing, Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay thumbed down the creation of DWR, saying "creating a department will not solve the problem. Creating it only delays the solutions."

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco also welcomed the passage of the DWR that will primary focus on the country’s water resources.

Velasco, author of House Bill 4897, said the creation a new agency is needed to stave off a shortage such as the recent one that affected thousands of families in Metro Manila. Maricel V. Cruz

MORE than 500 United States and Philippine military personnel and representatives from the government and non-government organizations and local residents have participated in the second “Operation Pamamalakaya” project aimed at installing artificial habitat reefs in Maragondon, Cavite last Oct. 8, 2019.

In a statement released by the US Embassy in Manila, a total of 60 jackstonetype artificial habitat reefs were installed off the Maragondon coast.

Last August, the group also installed 30 artificial habitat reefs in the coastal area of Calatagan, Batangas.

“Coral will eventually cover the sunken structure, revitalizing marine life and improving fishing livelihoods in the coastal communities of Cavite,” the statement said.

The project, named Operation Pamamalakaya, included support by personnel from the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, DV Boer Farm, Magsasaka, Municipality of Maragondon and Cavite local government and residents, as well as US service members. Rey E. Requejo

BI agents arrest Italian pedophile IMMIGRATION agents arrested an Italian pedophile who was accused of preying on Filipino minors in the Mindanao during his frequent visits to the country, while trying to board an aircraft at the Davao International Airport.

Nabbed was Lorenzo Marchesi, who was about to leave when he was intercepted at the airport by officers and intelligence agents who prevented him from boarding his flight due to a mission order for his arrest that was issued against him

by Morente.

The 57-year-old Italian is presently detained at the holding facility of the BI district office in Davao City while undergoing deportation proceedings and pending resolution of the criminal complaints that were lodged against him by his alleged victims.

According to BI intelligence officer and Mindanao Intelligence Task Group head Melody Gonzales, Morente issued a mission order against Marchesi upon knowledge of the latter’s immoral activities which make him an undesirable alien.

Gonzales said that Marchesi is also a respondent in several criminal complaints filed with the Davao City prosecutor’s office and Philippine National Pol. Vito Barcelo

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

21 charged in MPBL game-fixing Rey E. Requejo and Peter Atencio

T

HE Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League has filed 17 counts of game fixing complaint before the Department of Justice against 21 persons, including former Philippine Basketball Association player Kevin Espinosa, officials and players of team SOCCSKARGEN Marlins and three Chinese nationals.

MPBL through its commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and the National Bureau of Investigation accused the respondents of committing 17 counts of betting, multiple counts of game-fixing and point shaving, as defined under Section 1 and 3 of Presidential Decree no. 483, which penalizes betting, game-

fixing or point shaving and machinations in sports contests, as amended by Presidential Decree 1602.

Named respondents were SOCCSKARGEN Marlin team owner and player Espinosa, who used to be a PBA player of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters basketball team, and team players Jake

Diwa, Exequiel Biteng, Jerome Juanico, Matthew Bernabe, Julio Magbanua Jr., Abraham Santos, John Patrick Rabe, Ryan Regalado, and Ricky Morillo.

The list of respondents also include three Chinese nationals, identified only as Mr. Sung, Kein, Emma, together with Sonny Uy, Serafin Matias, EJ Avila, Niño Dionisio, Ferdinand Melocoton, Nice Ilagan, Janus Lozada, and Joshua Alcober.

The incidents of game-fixing took place between June to October this year in several areas such as Pasay City; Pasig City; Navotas City; Caloocan City; Muntinlupa City; Batangas City; Bacoor, Cavite; Malolos, Bulacan; Angeles, Pampanga; and Bacolod City.

According to NBI agent-on-case Al-

lein Rey Delfin, they have 11 witnesses but could not disclose their names.

Without giving a detailed explanation, Delfin said the modus operandi of the alleged game-fixing is that the players are allegedly given instructions to limit their scoring points.

This comes a week after Senator Manny Pacquiao, the chairman and founder of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, suspended the entire SOCCSKSARGEN team due to allegations of “game-fixing and other related scheming activities.’’

The MPBL chief said that this decision to suspend a team in the MPBL is a difficult one for him.

“Galit ako sa mga pandaraya sa sports,” said Pacquiao.

Salilig, Nava lead Fore by Four at Eagle Ridge golf club LINDSAY Salilig and partner Ronnie Nava are leading the pack in the premier Class A division at the halfway mark of the 2019 Fore by Four Invitational memberguest tournament of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Salilig and Nava made 68 points at the Faldo course and a 46 at the Aoki for a two-day 114 total.

Ryan Lorenzo and Lex Macaranas are close by with 110 (66-44) followed by the pair of Arnaldo Bautista and Joaquin Sayoc 107 (63-44).

Two teams—Constanino Navarro and Bong Brobio and James Lugluban and Dominic Villamor—are locked in for joint leadership in Class B with 88 apiece with Eagle Ridge director Fred Pareja and Willy Segun just one point behind.

Other frontrunners are Levi San Buenaventura and Romeo Lopez (122) in Class C,; Toti Barcelon and Hiroshi Nishimura (84) in Class D; and Eden Hernandez and Arvi Lobangco and Stella Valle and Nila Patricio (136) in Ladies.

Eric Arbues and Carlito Colorado pulled away in the member-member division with 163. Erik Smith and Danny Gale had 137 in guest-guest. Hong Ky Young and Yoon Jung Hoon assembled 278 in the sponsors category.

Sta. Lucia Land Inc. is the annual event’s diamond sponsor while Cheq Systems, LK Golf Marketing, Hapchun Jip Homes and Turf Company are platinum sponsors.

Lending support are K&G, Pin High Golf Shop and Converge ICT. Hole in one sponsors are J-Ten Sports, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Areza Group of Companies/ Hyundai Binan, Ogawa and Kart Plaza Manufacturing Corp.

AFAD officials link hands as a sign of unity. They are Alaric Topacio, President; Edwin Ano Jr., Vice President; Mary Jane Roxas, Treasurer and Imelda Reyes, AFAD officer.

AFAD Sporting Arms Show 2nd part set EDUCATION is the start of responsible gun ownership.

With this untiring crusade as the forefront of its campaign, the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. holds the second part of its 27th AFAD-Defense and Sporting Arms Show on Nov. 14 to 18 at the Megatrade Hall of the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Taking the cue from the success of the show’s first part last July at the same venue, AFAD president Alaric Topacio said more than the usual Arms Show is in the offing as over 61 member exhibitors have joined to showcase the biggest collection of firearms, ammunition, gears and paraphernalia.

Aside from the product displays, the AFAD, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police, has lined up

seminars and educational programs on self-defense, responsible gun ownership, firearms safety handling, regulation policy on gun-ownership and other exciting activities.

“AFAD is using the show as a platform to educate people about responsible gun ownership as we join the government’s efforts to fight the proliferation of illegal guns,” said Topacio. “Also, enthusiasts can bring their families, as well, as we have lined up programs and activities for wives and children.”

Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa and Ralph Recto have confirmed their attendance as guest speakers in the opening ceremony set at 10 a.m. Also invited are the officers and representatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies.

“The PNP together with the AFAD is also providing an LTOPF caravan to help gun-owners process their gun-license application and renewal, so our visitors have the luxury of faster processing for their gun licensing needs, while viewing the best products available,” said Topacio.

Topacio said that the AFAD is steadfast in the promotion of sports shooting and responsible gun ownership for all qualified individuals.

“AFAD is not just for supplying the best firearms, ammunition and accessories for recreational, sporting activities and security details. The firearms industry breaks bread with all stakeholders and helps the government in its fight against the illicit trade of firearms and for the promotion of responsible gun ownership,” said Topacio.

Knights...

From A8

PSC: More than 50% of sports equipment have arrived

for the Knights, with one of his two triples with Yu in the last 3:45 putting Letran ahead, 62-60.

“Our three-point shots left us today.

But I believe and I’m sure my players are capable of coming back, and can make those shots on Friday,” said SBU mentor Boyet Fernandez.

The Red Lions came off a 25-day layoff after sweeping the eliminations, capped by an 85-62 rout of Lyceum, to take an automatic’ finals berth.

James Canlas dished out 11 points with Oftana, while Donald Tankoua had seven markers and 13 rebounds.

SPORTS equipment that will be used for the Southeast Asian Games have begun arriving since last week.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez said this with three weeks left before the opening ceremonies of the games.

“More than 50% of the equipment have been delivered since last week,” said Ramirez.

Among the equipment that were purchased were those involving shooting, rowing, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics were the most expensive.

The government has allocated a total of P6.5 billion for the games, with half going

to the procurement of equipment of all 57 participating national sports associations.

The procurement of equipment got slowed down by the delays in the release of the budget for the games.

The biennial meet is set to kick off on Nov. 30 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The PSC revealed that shooting’s equipment cost around P73.9 million, while rowing’s were pegged at P58.5 million.

The agency spent P43.1 million for athletics, while weightlifting got P35 million. Wrestling equipment cost P33.3 million while gymnastics had P33.1 million.

Surfing gear was listed at P549,000, squash

got P535,000, while netball had P1 million.

Taekwondo equipment cost P2.2 million, while chess had a procurement worth P2.3 million. Jiu-jitsu had P2.3 million and triathlon was at P3.9 million.

Among the equipment that needed to be purchased, those of shooting, rowing, athletics, weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics were the most expensive.

Meanwhile, foreign participants are expressing their worries on issues ranging from uncompleted facilities to information technology problems and headaches caused by the notorious traffic snares in Manila.

Peter Atencio

Cocolife Tigers bounce back with win over Tamaraws THE Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers vented their ire on the Mindoro Tamaraws and scored a big 99-84 win to bounce back to life after absorbing a heartbreaking upset loss at home in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup second-round elimination at the Batangas State University Gymnasium in Batangas City recently.

King Tiger Mark Yee put on another sterling performance as he provided an early spark, along with veteran playmaker Bonbon Custodio to lead the team’s breakaway at 22-10 on a step-back triple by gunner Joseph Terso with a second remaining in the first quarter.

Yee posted his 33rd double-double in the league after scoring 25 points and hauling 16 rebounds, while issuing 3 assists to bring his team, owned by Dumper Party List Congresswoman Claudine Bautista and backed by Cocolife President Atty. José Martin Loon, FVP Joseph Ronquillo, AVP Rowena Asnan and SVP Franz Joie Araque, get a firmer grip on the top spot with a 16-3 record in the south division of the league organized by Senator MannyPacquiao.

“We set aside our heartbreaking home upset against Valenzuela in Davao City recently, stayed focused in our road game against Mindoro and bounced back,” said Davao Cocolife team manager Dinko Bautista” You heard the Tigers’ roar in Batangas.”

Davao coach Don Dulay used his vaunted run-and-gun formula as the Tigers seized control of the game and never let any uprising from the Mindorenos, who skidded to an 8-12 record.

Centro Escolar favored in WNCAA finals CENTRO Escolar University will be the overwhelming favorite in the WNCAA Season 50 senior basketball championship when it seeks a ninth straight title beginning Nov. 16 at the University of Makati gym.

CEU will face San Beda CollegeAlabang in a best-of-three finals after disposing of its 49th season victim, Philippine Women’s University, in the semifinals, 87-36.

SBCA made it past UMAK, 74-71.

They collide at 11 a.m.

In the midgets’ division finals, threepeat seeking Miriam College advanced after a 59-26 win over St. Stephen’s High School in the Final Four.

Miriam will go for a third straight crown against St. Paul College Pasig.

They open finals hostilities at 8 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., Chiang Kai Shek College opens its bid for a fourth straight juniors title versus De La Salle Zobel.

All Game 2s will be played the following day when La Salle CollegeAntipolo and Miriam also dispute third place in the juniors’ division.

Asian University Basketball Championship slated Nadal bows to Zverev in opener

By Graham C. Lim THE Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, in partnership with the Asian University Basketball Federation, will host the 11th Asian University Basketball Championship.

The AUBC opening ceremony will be held on Monday, at 10 am., at the Lyceum of the Philippines University gymnasium in Intramuros, Manila.

The AUSF was established in 1998 and it has since sanctioned all the AUBC competitions in the past.

The 11th AUBC tournament is being organized by the FESSAP. For the technical operations and the tournament proper, the Basketball Association of the Philippines has been tapped to coordinate with the FESSAP National Secretariat in the running of the games.

Six university basketball teams, including four foreign entries, are seeing action in the 11th AUBC tournament, namely Nippon Sport Science University and

AUBC Organizing Committee Chairman Robert Milton A. Calo (right) and Commissioner Leonardo Andres

Kindai University from Japan, KLBA from Malaysia and HCMC from Vietnam.

Aside from the Lyceum of the Philippines University as the tournament host, one other local possible entry is 9th AUBC Champion University of the East.

The FESSAP is the lone university sports

association in the country, recognized by the International University Sports Federation as a regular voting member since 2009.

The opening game of the 11th AUBC tournament will feature Nippon Sport Science University of Japan against Lyceum following simple ceremonies.

Prominent personalities expected to attend the opening include FESSAP officials led by its president Angel Ngu, FESSAP Chairman Alvin Tai Lian, FESSAP Vice President Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, and FESSAP Honorary President David Ong. AUBF President Shin Dong Pa of Korea will be represented by Park Hyun Mo, AUBF Deputy Secretary General.

Invited Guest of Honors include Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and Presidential Adviser for Sports Dennis Uy. The AUBC Organizing Committee is composed of Robert Milton A. Calo as OC Chair, Executive Assistant Cecille Sarmiento, Antonio A. Quiza, and Fructuso Raytos, and Sean Elijah Siy.

LONDON—Rafael Nadal refused to make excuses after being outplayed by defending champion Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals on Monday as Stefanos Tsitsipas got his campaign off to a flying start.

The Spanish top seed, who has never won the season-ending event, came into the tournament at London’s O2 Arena under an injury cloud and was well short of his imperious best as he went down 6-2, 6-4.

In the earlier round-robin match in Group Andre Agassi, sixth seed Tsitsipas beat Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, admitting their spiky relationship had made his job tougher.

Nadal is locked in a battle with Novak Djokovic to finish as the year-end number one but was not serving flat out in practice last week due to an abdominal strain that forced him to pull out of the Paris Masters at the semi-final stage.

The 33-year-old led Germany’s Zverev 5-0 in head-to-head contests coming into the match but was unchar-

acteristically sloppy in the first set, conceding two breaks of serve.

Buoyed by his dominant start, Zverev, seeded seventh, broke in the first game of the second set to take an iron grip on the match.

Nadal dug deep, urging himself on but his 22-year-old opponent proved too strong. He did not concede a single break point in the entire match.

Zverev hit a total of 26 winners -double his opponent’s tally -- and Nadal managed just three forehand winners in the entire match.

“The physical issue was not an excuse at all,” said the Spanish 19-time Grand Slam champion, who said he did not feel any pain from his abdominal injury. “The only excuse is I was not good enough tonight.”

“What really matters is I need to play much better in two days. That’s the only thing,” he added. “We knew that it was going to be tough, because the period of time since the injury until today is very short, but we are here trying.” AFP

Sports

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

A8 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

LA Clippers struggle but still turn back Raptors

Larry Muyang of Letran and Donald Tankoua of defending champion San Beda University jockey for rebounding position in Game 1 of the NCAA finals at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Knights won, 65-64. Dennis Abrina

Filipino icons to inspire PH team in SEAG FILIPINO sports heroes led by Olympic medalists Mansueto ``Onyok’’ Velasco Jr. and Pol Serrantes of boxing will motivate Filipino athletes bound for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Team Philippines Send-off Ng Bayan on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Bowling hall of famers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo will likewise provide the inspiration for the national squad to perform at their best during the Games on Nov. 30-Dec. 11 as well as Asia’s first chess grandmaster Eugene Torre.

Track and field icons Lydia De VegaMercado and Elma Muros-Posadas will also share their stories of triumph to the 1,115 Filipino athletes from 56 sports, all of them aiming to collectively reclaim the SEAG overall title for the country. ``Our athletes are the heart and soul of the country’s campaign in the Olympics,’’ said Team Philippines chef de mission and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William I. Ramirez.

Besides Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and House Speaker and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano will rally the athletes, including Filipino paralympic athletes, to accomplish the feat.

Senator Bong Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, is also invited along with Manila City mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso. ``With the all-out support of the government, I’m positive that our athletes will deliver,’’ said Ramirez, who also led Team Philippines as CDM to its firstever overall title during the 2005 Manila SEAG. Bamboo, known as the Prince of Philippine Rock, will be the main act during the entertainment segment of the sendoff ceremony where Pilipinas, the theme song of Team Philippines will also be unveiled.

Pilipinas will be played live by Johnny Cross and his band before local bands The Juans and Silent Sanctuary will entertain the athletes, coaches, and officials.

Majority of the golds for Team Philippines is expected to come from combat sports such as taekwondo, boxing, karatedo, judo, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, arnis, wushu, wrestling and muay.

Knights end Red Lions’ 18-game run, near title

By Peter Atencio

L

ETRAN fought for possession in the dying seconds and got what it was looking for to bring down defending champion San Beda University for the first time this season, 65-64, moving the Knights one win away from the crown in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Larry Muyang scored two of his seven points in the last 1:24 off a pass from Fran Yu and the Knights held on in the remaining time to score the win.

Point guard Evan Nelle, who led San Beda with 20 points, accounted for two of three crucial misses in the final minute and hesitated to go for another attempt in the dying seconds. Nelle decided to heave the ball to season MVP Calvin Oftana, who could have scored the winning

basket in the last 4.7 seconds.

But Oftana missed a crucial attempt, allowing the Knights keep the ball in their possession until the end and snap the Lions’ 18-game winning streak in the elimination round.

This put the Letran within reach of their first crown in four years and their 18th overall.

The Knights go for a sweep of their best-of-three finals’ series with San Beda University in Game 2 on Friday.

Edson Batiller, who tallied a gamehigh 11 points for the Knights, kept the ball in Letran’s hands as the clocked winded down after Yu bungled two attempts with 2.4 ticks left.

“One game pa lang naman. But we’re happy with that win. You can see that it’s a tall order to beat this kind of team.

We were out-rebounded in the first half, so we addressed that at halftime,” said Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan. The Knights, who needed three quarters before their running game finally went into full gear, were able to convert 25 of their 60 field goal attempts, while San Beda canned in 26 of 86 tries that afternoon.

Nelle kept San Beda close for the last time at 64-65 with a layup past Muyang in the last 37.5 seconds.

But they could not score again after Letran turned the ball over off a 24-second violation by Jeo Ambohot.

Jerrick Balanza scored 10 points Turn to A7

Fiery clashes loom at The Duel VI golfest MEMBERS of Team North, led by coach Cookie La’O (standing, left), pose as they brace for a face-off with their South counterparts in The Duel—North vs South.

Members of Team South, headed by coach Charles Hong (standing, left), are all geared up for their showdown with their North counterparts in The Duel— North vs South.

The country’s top guns mix it up one last time in this year’s Philippine Golf Tour but in team play format as the Duel—North vs South VI unwraps today (Wednesday) with the four-ball at Sta. Elena Golf Club in Laguna.

Man for man, the South squad appears to have the edge with Tony Lascuña, Reymon Jaraula and Jhonnel Ababa, who swept the last four legs of the milestone 10th season of the country’s premier circuit, spearheading the charge of the side that has won three of the first five editions of the event serving as highlight of each PGT season put up by ICTSI. But the Northerners have put emphasis on cohesion rather than individual skills, frustrating their fancied rivals the last time out at John Hay that saw them dominate the foursomes and four-ball formats to

North coach Cookie La’O (left) and South mentor Charles Hong (right) hold the huge trophy with Luigi Tabuena, event manager of the Philippine Golf Tour, ahead of The Duel—North vs South at Sta. Elena.

seize control before holding sway in the singles to pull off a three-point win and cut South’s series lead to 2-3.

North coach Cookie La’O and South counterpart Charles Hong have both expressed confidence in the run-up to the three-day event with each side hoping to draw the best from their combinations in the opening four-ball (best-ball) featuring six matches.

La’O is putting up the Keanu JahnsGerald Rosales pair against the multi-titled Jay Bayron and Albin Engino while Ira Alido teams up with Mars Pucay as they go up against Elmer Salvador and Jaraula of the South squad.

North’s Justin Quiban and new member Eric Gallardo clash with South’s Zanieboy Gialon and Jerson Balasabas with Lascuña and Nilo Salahog testing the mettle of Michael Bibat and Jun Bernis.

Rufino Bayron hopes to cash in on good form following a pro-am victory Monday as he and fellow Davaoeño Ababa tangle with North’s Ryan Lam and Fidel Concepcion then Jobim Carlos and Joenard Rates of North cap the day’s duel with Arnold Villacencio and Rene Menor of South.

Road Warriors shoot for 6th straight win

NLEX’s Manny Harris drives to the basket against Magnolia’s Romeo Travis in a PBA game won by the Road Warriors.

LEAGUE-LEADING NLEX, on a ter for the next round,” said Guiao, Games today roll with five straight victories, has looking wary of their meeting with (Smart Araneta Coliseum) made it a point not to lower its guard at the Batang Pier – a team which, he 4:30 p.m.—NorthPort vs. NLEX 7 p.m.—Alaska vs. Phoenix this point in the PBA Governors’ Cup. said, could have gone better had “We need to preserve our gains Robert Bolick been around and had by improving our consistency and this game is a big Christian Standhardinger joined them much earlier. test,” said Road Warriors’ coach Yeng Guiao, refer“If NorthPort hadn’t lost Robert Bolick and Cring to their 4:30 p.m. encounter with NorthPort to- Stand (Christian Standhardinger) had come in earlier day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. with their new import they would be higher in the The Road Warriors are riding on a string of five standings,” noted Guiao. victories capped by a come-from-behind 86-85 win The Batang Pier, who lost their last two games, are over Magnolia last Sunday in a game where Manny currently sharing the 8th and 9th slots with Alaska. A Harris, JR Quinahan and Jericho Cruz combined for win today will put them back to magic 8, and Guiao 49 points. knows the Batang Pier would give his Road Warriors The Road Warriors have already secured a spot a good fight. in top four with their 8-1 win-loss slate, but Guiao NorthPort is expected to rely heavily on Michael has made it clear they won’t take their remaining Qualls, who has been averaging 34.0 points, 14.3 two games lightly, more so today’s game against the rebounds, 2.67 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.67 blocks, and Batang Pier who are fighting for life.

Standhardinger, who has been averaging 25 points, “Our focus is on execution and trying to get bet- 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists. Arman Carandang

LOS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard endured a difficult night against the club he led to an NBA title but his Los Angeles Clippers surged late Monday to beat reigning champion Toronto Raptors 98-88.

The Clippers grinded defensively through the fourth quarter, allowing Toronto only 10 points in the final period as the Raptors missed six of their first seven shots while Lou Williams came off the LA bench for a game-high 21 points.

“Just compete on the defensive end, contest their shots and get back on transition,” Leonard said as the secret for the Clippers’ late success.

Leonard had 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists but shot only 2-of-11 from the floor and 0-of-4 from three-point range.

“That’s what a championship team is about,” Leonard said. “When your star is not making shots, they step up and pull it out. That’s what it’s all about.”

Leonard was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for Toronto in June when he sparked the Raptors over Golden State in the best-of-seven championship series, but he departed for his hometown Clippers in July.

“It was fun to compete against them,” Leonard said, calling the experience emotional but keeping his trademark composure.

“We had a fun ride last year. On and off the court we had fun.”

Celtics extend streak Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 16 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 6-of-17 from the floor.

The Raptors, without injured Kyle Lowry, lost forward O.G. Anunoby to injury after only two minutes on the court.

Boston guard Kemba Walker scored 29 points before leaving late in the game with an injury, leading the host Celtics over Dallas 116-106.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens called the setback “a little whiplash” and did not expect it was serious.

Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds, his second consecutive double double, on a night when Jayson Tatum went 1-for-18 from the floor and Luka Doncic led Dallas with 34 points.

“I’m just trying to keep winning, whatever I’ve got to do,” Brown said.

“We wanted to be aggressive defensively. We did a pretty good job. Luka Doncic picked us apart but other than that we did a really good job, They can’t all be pretty but we got the job done.” AFP

Maroons try to go all out vs Tigers THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are expected to go all out against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers when they meet in a do-or-die encounter at the Mall of Asia Asia Arena.

The twice-to-beat Fighting Maroons will seek to bounce back from their 69-89 to loss to the Growling Tigers in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball stepladder semifinals.

If they hurdle the Growling Tigers, the Fighting Maroons will be able to make it to the best-of-three finals against the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles for the second straight season.

But UST will be ready for the Fighting Maroons, who have never won against the Growling Tigers in their last three games this season.

“They’re going to adjust. I think they’re going to be physical. Sa akin, kapag mga do-or-die games, nangyayari ‘yun -- doing whatever it takes,” said Growling Tigers’ coach Aldin Ayo. If the Tigers score their fourth straight win against UP, they will be in their ninth championship appearance.

“Unang-una, we have to recover ‘yung conditioning namin. I have to commend my assistant coaches, especially my conditioning coach and our PT (physical therapist). Grabe ‘yung ginagawa ng dalawa to prepare the players namin in terms of the physical aspect,” added Ayo. Once again, big man Soulemane Chabi Yo will try to stay his ground against UP’s slotman Bright Akhuetie.

“We have to be a lot better. A lot better (against UST),” said UP coach Bo Perasol.

The Growling Tigers succeeded in limiting UP’s key player Kobe Paras to under 10 points.

For Paras, who leads UP with an average of 16.77 points, it was the first time he has been shackled this way. Peter Atencio

Ayala Corp.’s profit doubled to P46.2b in nine months

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Tuesday net income nearly doubled in the first three quarters to P46.2 billion from a year ago, fueled by the strong contribution from core businesses and the one-time gain from the sale of thermal assets.

AC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange equity earnings from business units grew 77 percent to P51.9 billion, boosted by contributions from Bank of the Philippine Islands, Ayala Land Inc. and AC Energy.

The group also recognized gains from the merger of AC Education with iPeople and from the partial divestment of AC Energy’s thermal assets.

All these tempered the impact of weaker results from Manila Water Co. Inc. and AC Industrials.

Net income in the third quarter rose 7 percent to P8.3 billion, supported by robust results from BPI and AC Energy.

“We are pleased to see sustained growth in most of our core businesses continuing to provide stability in our earnings. AC Energy has quickly become a significant contributor to our portfolio,” AC president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said.

“We continue to be mindful of the challenges in some sectors, particularly AC Industrials and the global manufacturing space. We believe the strategies put forth in AC industrials continue to be promising but are saddled by nearterm by geopolitical and trade issues.

The pipeline of opportunities remains strong and efforts to manage the effects of this near-term uncertainty are being aggressively addressed,” he said.

Manila Water’s nine-month net profit dropped 11 percent to P4.4 billion as Metro Manila’s water crisis early this year continued to weigh down on core concession.

AC Industrials, which is experiencing headwinds from one of the sharpest and most widespread downturns in global manufacturing that significantly weighed on most of its business lines, posted a net loss of P1.6 billion in the first nine months.

AC Energy registered a nine-month net profit of P24.3 billion boosted by the recovery of costs incurred from adjustments in the construction and operations of its power plants and gains from the partial divestment of thermal assets.

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

B1

7 groups bidding for Sangley airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar

S

EVEN groups bought bid documents on the proposed $10-billion international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite, according to Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla.

Remulla identified the seven companies as Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Philippine Airport Ground Solutions Inc., Mosveldtt Law Offices, PICTO, Langham Properties Inc., MacroAsia Properties Development Corp. and China Communications Construction Co. DM Consunji Inc., Ayala Corp. and SM Group that were earlier identified

by Remulla as interested in the project

were not among those who acquired bid documents.

The deadline for the submission of bids was Nov. 25, 2019.

The provincial government of Cavite is the lead proponent and implementing agency of the project under a publicprivate partnership scheme.

The selected joint venture partner will provide the necessary equity in-

Groups present reports showing e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful

“INDEPENDENT scientific reports that have come out in recent years have concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95-percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes,” said Vishal Daswani, vice president of the Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association.

Daswani was responding to a doctor who was recently interviewed by several media outlets. “The doctor claimed that most of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are also present in e-cigarette vapor. This is untrue. Even Centers for Disease Control says e-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than the deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from regular cigarettes,” said Daswani.

The misinformed anti-vaping proponent also claimed that e-cigarette advocates did not have hard evidence that e-cigarettes were less harmful than combustible cigarettes. “The doctor is obviously not up to date with the emerging research on vaping,” Daswani said.

Daswani cited the conclusions of “Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes”, a

2018 consensus study report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine which said there was conclusive evidence that completely substituting e-cigarettes for combustible tobacco cigarettes reduced users’ exposure to numerous toxicants and carcinogens present in combustible tobacco cigarettes.

Daswani said there was substantial evidence that except for nicotine, under typical conditions of use, exposure to potentially toxic substances from e-cigarettes was significantly lower compared with combustible tobacco cigarettes.

The US Food and Drug Administration commissioned NASEM to complete a review of the science that can inform the understanding of public health risks and benefits of e-cigarettes.

NASEM are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the U.S. and the world. They produce groundbreaking reports that help shape sound policies, inform public opinion, and advance the pursuit of science, engineering, and medicine.

vestment and credit enhancements subject to a further competitive process or price test.

Aside from the legal, technical and financial qualifications set by the provincial government, the selected JV partner should also pass the credit standards of project lenders.

The request for proposals will require project feasibility study, instructions to candidate JV partners and the draft joint venture and development agreement.

Cavite expects to award the project by end of November and start the construction by January next yer. It would separately bid out the operations and maintenance of the new international airport.

PXP offers to take over Malampaya

By Alena Mae S. Flores LISTED oil and gas company PXP Energy Corp. controlled by the camp of businessman Manuel Pangilinan submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Energy Department to take over the operations of the $4.5-billion Malampaya gas project once the contract of the consortium running it expires by 2024.

PXP Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it submitted an unsolicited proposal on the strategic development and utilization of an integrated gas hub in Malampaya in northwest Palawan upon the expiry of service contract No. 38 in 2024.

The Malampaya platform provides natural gas to the country’s five natural gas facilities with a combined capacity of more than 3,000 megawatts.

BPO sector cuts ‘22 revenue goal to as low as $29b

By Othel B. Campos THE information technology-business process management sector revised downward its 2022 revenue target to as low as $29 billion from an earlier goal of $38.9 billion.

IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines president and chief executive Rey Untal said the industry recalibrated its revenue forecasts to a range of $29 billion to $32 billion by 2022 under the revised IT-BPM roadmap.

Under the old roadmap, the IT-BPM sector was expected to generate $38.9 billion worth of revenues and 1.8 million direct employees by 2022.

“Factors that contributed to this include geo-political developments and uncertainties brought about by policy changes and disruption in technologies. Amidst this downturn, the ITBPM sector faces the challenges together and took the necessary steps to keep the Philippines competitive and relevant,” Untal said during the opening of the International Innovation Summit 2019.

Employment is expected to reach only 1.42 million to 1.57 million by 2022, lower than the earlier estimate of 1.8 million.

The group said that globally, the IT-BPM industry was experiencing subdued growth which became more pronounced for contact centers, business processing and IT services compared to healthcare, animation and game development.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks end flat; SM Prime rises T HE stock market closed virtually flat Tuesday in dull trading, with investors keeping tabs on the latest developments in the ChinaUS trade talks.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 2.96 points, or 0.04 percent, to 8,012.34 on a value turnover of P4.7 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 100 to 76, withy 57 issues unchanged.

Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan climbed 3.2 percent to P11.64, while SM Prime Holdings, the biggest integrated property company, rose 2 percent to P39.90.

DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group gained 2 percent to P8.06, but Aboitiz Power Corp. of the Aboitiz

Group fell 2.6 percent to P37.75.

The rest of Asian markets broadly rose Tuesday, while Hong Kong saw a slight recovery after the previous day’s steep losses.

The pound held gains after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was given a boost by news the Brexit party would not run against his Conservatives in hundreds of seats in next month’s general election.

Shanghai climbed 0.2 percent, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei each ended 0.8 percent higher, Singapore added 0.6 percent, and Jakarta put on 0.1 percent.

However, Sydney fell 0.3 percent.

While there is a broad expectation China and the US will eventually reach a mini trade pact, the waters were muddied over the weekend after Donald Trump appeared to dismiss Beijing’s claims they had agreed a plan to roll back tariffs as the talks progress.

The comments reminded dealers that the negotiations, while advancing, remained fragile and that a wider deal will have some bumps along the way.

“Markets have been skittish,” Matt Forester, chief investment officer at BNY Mellon’s Lockwood Advisors, said.

“We will need more concrete information about the structure and timing of any kind of final trade arrangement, but in the meantime we are operating on scraps of information.”

Stephen Innes at AxiTrader said a speech by Trump at the New York Economic Club later in the day “could be the main event this week, especially if the president dangles any tangible details about his upcoming meeting with President Xi (Jinping).”

Hong Kong rose but traders moved cautiously after stocks plunged more than two percent Monday as the city was

wracked by some of the worst violence seen during months of protests, with one person shot and another set on fire.

The city remains on edge, with sporadic protests taking place on Tuesday, while the US expressed “grave concern” over the situation in Hong Kong and called for restraint by security forces and protesters.

“It is the 24th week of unrest and it is still very unclear what can de-escalate the situation,” said National Australia Bank’s Tapas Strickland. “Nevertheless, for as long as Beijing gives Hong Kong latitude to deal with the protests, it is likely the unrest will only have an isolated impact on financial markets.”

OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley said concerns about Chinese intervention would increase, “potentially putting another nail into a Hong Kong economy that is now deep in recession.”

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review tueSday, noveMBer 12, 2019

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

54.45 97.3 2.05 155 1.14 25.45 18.6 13.4 4.41 0.4 68.5 0.87 44.6 175 116.6 25.85 200.6 61.5

54.45 98 2.05 156.4 1.15 25.45 18.6 13.64 4.43 0.4 68.75 0.88 44.95 175 116.6 25.9 201.4 61.5

54.3 96 2.05 153 1.14 25.1 18.6 13.24 4.35 0.4 67.6 0.87 43.85 175 116.5 25.7 195 60.05

FINANCIALS 54.35 10,650 96.5 1,246,900 2.05 3,000 156.4 2,173,660 1.15 53,000 25.1 32,100 18.6 5,900 13.5 2,974,800 4.43 149,000 0.4 20,000 68.4 2,003,860 0.88 157,000 44.5 37,000 175 80 116.5 110 25.75 14,600 195.5 842,790 60.25 1,800

579,349.50 120,213,768 6,150 335,710,901 60,520 807,070 109,740 40,108,960 650,320 8,000 137,035,328.50 137,090 1,638,425 14,000 12,822 377,035 165,117,278 109,134

261,310 -13,404,811 12,381,271 -72,855 18,431,254 90,740,124 0 41,090 -18,025 6,195,428 -

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

39.15 2.69 13.68 0.65 1.27 4.12 0.247 2.51 15.1 7.91 17.9 31 69 2.12 5.55 5.48 8.88 15.16 10.3 7.29 24.65 79 48.15 2.17 14.24 8.1 1.45 224 40.2 5.11 3.5 9 19 13.26 17 345.4 5.15 1.7 4.12 5.01 9.55 11.18 33.9 5.19 5.47 1.92 1.92 0.97 11.88 91.1 7.78 0.126 1.06 154.6 1.33 1.07

39.15 2.78 13.7 0.65 1.31 4.12 0.247 2.57 15.18 8.05 18.48 31 73.65 2.12 5.55 5.49 8.88 15.36 10.5 7.42 24.75 79 48.75 2.22 14.44 8.1 1.45 224.8 40.2 5.11 3.57 9.2 19.2 13.26 17.2 347 5.59 1.76 4.12 5.01 9.7 11.2 33.95 5.3 5.5 1.98 1.92 0.97 11.88 91.35 7.8 0.129 1.08 157 1.34 1.09

37.65 2.68 13.54 0.64 1.2 4.03 0.241 2.49 15.02 7.85 17.9 31 69 2.1 5.55 5 8.7 15.02 10.28 7.2 24.25 78.4 47.5 2.16 14.2 8.01 1.43 220 40.2 5.11 3.44 8.81 18.9 13.08 16.5 341.2 5.15 1.66 4.12 4.97 9.55 11 33.4 5.17 5.47 1.88 1.92 0.97 11.7 89.8 7.64 0.126 1.06 153.2 1.3 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 37.75 1,953,200 2.74 12,846,000 13.7 222,200 0.65 637,000 1.31 943,000 4.04 2,316,000 0.247 30,000 2.52 1,769,000 15.14 3,382,600 7.99 307,800 18.48 12,800 31 1,600 73.65 310 2.1 158,000 5.55 15,000 5.04 56,700 8.7 1,346,200 15.08 200,900 10.44 425,400 7.26 438,700 24.35 961,800 78.5 11,490 48.2 24,200 2.19 8,276,000 14.44 63,600 8.08 160,200 1.43 177,000 220 734,710 40.2 100 5.11 40,100 3.57 6,000 9.19 9,700 19 970,900 13.08 2,541,100 16.7 1,848,100 347 95,900 5.15 1,000 1.76 4,957,000 4.12 5,000 5 2,483,800 9.55 75,800 11.18 56,600 33.45 148,500 5.2 46,800 5.49 112,000 1.97 1,696,000 1.92 1,000 0.97 26,000 11.8 415,300 89.8 268,550 7.8 68,700 0.126 280,000 1.08 106,000 156 387,420 1.3 11,769,000 1.09 764,000

74,136,305 35,058,400 3,034,746 410,530 1,169,410 9,411,690 7,350 4,464,500 51,169,184 2,444,243 233,942 49,600 22,127.50 333,500 83,250 296,723 11,816,961 3,033,464 4,403,932 3,177,026 23,416,155 904,199.50 1,157,375 18,087,850 917,554 1,286,948 253,700 162,683,404 4,020 204,911 20,960 87,339 18,381,294 33,411,264 30,853,606 33,075,154 5,254 8,540,890 20,600 12,401,315 729,982 628,160 4,970,590 245,618 614,605 3,275,930 1,920 25,220 4,898,798 24,142,437.50 534,033 35,330 113,810 60,258,573 15,609,250 820,330

-41,213,040 -1,565,740 180,396 122,190 -406,880 -7,818,182 80,422 -49,600 -193,740 -1,463,923 346,522 -3,228,368 -754,863 -12,286,105 -375,260.50 -298,640 9,205,760 -106,582 -528,445 -117,950,026 -7,487,168 27,708,646 -25,476,768 -2,644,716 2,330,560 -4,939,859 -2,248,970 -94,340 -58,200 483,908 -19,070,761 14,630 5,049,594 -6,976,010 -16,050

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 JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

0.86 54.4 11.38 0.73 6.55 12.4 1.11 854.5 3.5 6.91 7.95 13.38 3.86 0.206 890 77.5 0.51 4.15 12.7 4.7 0.037 1.33 165.5 2.26 1,058 0.84 1.27 400 221 0.235

0.88 55.1 11.72 0.74 6.56 12.78 1.14 854.5 3.55 6.91 8.09 13.38 3.86 0.206 909.5 78.95 0.51 4.17 12.7 4.75 0.037 1.39 165.5 2.26 1,068 0.84 1.3 436.2 221 0.235

0.85 54.2 11.14 0.73 6.55 12 1.11 838 3.5 6.79 7.82 13.14 3.78 0.204 875 77.3 0.49 4.15 12.42 4.64 0.037 1.33 163 2.25 1,054 0.84 1.27 400 218 0.23

HOLDING FIRMS 0.87 18,957,000 55 891,600 11.64 20,756,700 0.73 108,000 6.56 13,000 12 154,300 1.13 693,000 840 560,130 3.5 1,079,000 6.9 10,292,100 8.06 12,753,600 13.38 4,800 3.78 21,000 0.204 180,000 904 47,340 78 911,980 0.51 19,000 4.16 696,000 12.42 4,944,700 4.64 18,035,000 0.037 27,000,000 1.39 147,000 163.8 114,330 2.25 13,000 1,068 129,930 0.84 60,000 1.3 139,000 400 400 218 1,900 0.234 110,000

16,394,470 48,705,803.50 239,751,204 79,010 85,275 1,883,266 780,340 471,262,450 3,784,800 70,252,679 102,233,879 63,144 80,200 36,920 42,106,445 71,103,715.50 9,375 2,888,660 61,572,642 84,359,560 999,000 202,600 18,748,415 29,290 138,410,270 50,400 176,560 160,362 417,642 25,440

-2,079,120 -18,684,648 -32,604,856 -12,400 -205,507,250 -70,490 243,381 7,108,049 -2,628 1,517,285 21,506,499.50 -45,670 -17,022,780 17,141,650 -10,270,380 22,697,070 -

14.84 0.8 0.9 46.25 2 4.67 0.59 0.86 0.201 0.46 10.02 19.82 0.465 1.63 1.25 4.83 0.28 1.42 0.37 2.01 45.15 25.15 2.2 3.24 39.15

PROPERTY 14.84 15,100 0.8 196,000 0.93 5,852,000 46.5 4,686,800 2.03 808,000 4.7 327,000 0.61 46,486,000 0.86 2,000 0.203 200,000 0.465 970,000 10.2 52,600 19.84 167,000 0.48 1,320,000 1.63 13,192,000 1.25 657,000 4.85 13,179,000 0.29 9,580,000 1.42 1,778,000 0.37 410,000 2.02 67,000 50 920 26.35 956,900 2.21 672,000 3.24 23,000 39.9 4,420,300

224,616 156,960 5,437,090 217,938,640 1,637,970 ( 1,543,350 27,897,120 1,720 40,380 446,900 538,490 3,328,357 628,600 21,712,790 834,290 63,981,510 2,711,250 2,546,240 151,750 135,240 45,039 24,993,205 1,491,660 75,280 174,948,550

-26,712 -60,486,225 119,729.9997) 9,270 -197,230 -1,706,668 -9,600 -2,408,820 -2,873,760 -616,700 775,175 16,517,635

8990 HLDG A BROWN 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 INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG

14.88 0.81 0.9 46.8 2.03 4.67 0.59 0.86 0.201 0.465 10.34 20 0.48 1.64 1.28 4.89 0.29 1.43 0.375 2.02 45.15 26.05 2.27 3.32 39.25

14.88 0.81 0.95 46.85 2.06 4.75 0.62 0.86 0.203 0.465 10.38 20.1 0.49 1.66 1.29 4.9 0.29 1.48 0.375 2.02 52 26.4 2.27 3.32 39.9

VOLUME

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NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

2.48 1.5 7.69 5.53

2.58 1.59 7.71 5.53

2.45 1.5 7.67 5.4

2.46 1.58 7.69 5.48

3,304,670 29,157,580 20,428,420 134,741

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

10.56 18.08 1.52 11.34 0.495 0.041 2.57 10.78 96 6.44 9.03 895 1,918 5.29 420.2 10.44 1.58 1.8 126 8 3.25 0.106 4.78 13.54 3.1 19.22 0.405 3.4 2.48 1.05 3.2 2.63 8 2.87 4.73 3 1,117 0.68 0.465 39.25 76.75 9.12 2.72 0.69 0.325 0.66 17.22

10.56 18.18 1.58 11.36 0.52 0.041 2.62 11 96 6.49 9.15 895 1,918 5.3 430 11.08 1.6 1.8 126 8.21 3.25 0.107 4.79 13.98 3.2 19.74 0.405 3.4 2.49 1.05 3.3 2.76 8.25 2.87 4.73 3.02 1,117 0.68 0.48 39.7 76.75 9.29 2.83 0.69 0.335 0.67 17.7

10 18 1.52 11.2 0.49 0.041 2.56 10.78 94 6.4 8.99 890.5 1,881 5.25 419.6 10.44 1.57 1.8 122 8 3.11 0.105 4.7 13.54 3.06 19.2 0.405 3.4 2.39 1.05 3.12 2.63 7.96 2.87 4.63 2.98 1,105 0.66 0.46 38.4 75.85 9.01 2.72 0.68 0.325 0.66 17.2

SERVICES 10.08 18 1.58 11.36 0.51 0.041 2.6 11 94.9 6.48 9.15 890.5 1,910 5.27 419.6 11.08 1.58 1.8 123.9 8.21 3.11 0.107 4.71 13.98 3.06 19.44 0.405 3.4 2.47 1.05 3.24 2.76 8 2.87 4.73 3 1,108 0.67 0.475 38.4 76.65 9.29 2.81 0.68 0.33 0.67 17.4

1,330,000 18,734,000 2,657,600 24,800 43,300 162,000 36,000 9,189,100 7,438,000 2,500,000 371,000 1,741,900 16,660 651,600 32,600 200 20,060 225,400 300 600 457,000 5,000 1,226,030 18,400 13,000 970,000 1,379,000 800 339,000 450,400 40,000 1,000 1,148,000 15,000 6,315,000 41,000 71,000 2,000 6,000 373,000 46,105 1,456,000 8,550,000 185,200 420,570 21,500 2,963,000 714,000 630,000 151,000 4,121,700

446,060 2,921,156 54,780 104,080,100 3,703,745 102,500 961,480 19,076,598 1,587,988.50 4,192,191 293,461 178,230 38,159,470 1,187,545 126,564 6,328 723,710 9,000 151,844,469 149,605 41,910 102,330 6,518,200 11,140 1,045,710 8,811,474 16,200 3,400 2,771,360 15,750 20,241,440 108,630 567,500 5,740 28,100 1,114,060 51,067,495 974,480 4,032,100 7,141,530 32,236,117.50 195,365 8,239,430 2 485,630 207,050 99,850 71,791,278

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

1.11 2.55 12.24 1.09 2.55 0.28 1.84 0.205 0.104 0.0092 1.1 3.57 1.07 0.5 0.82 0.012 0.012 0.011 11.38 3.41 12 23.7 0.0061

1.13 2.55 12.24 1.09 2.55 0.28 1.84 0.21 0.104 0.0092 1.1 3.61 1.07 0.5 0.84 0.012 0.012 0.011 12.2 3.42 12.32 23.75 0.0061

1.11 2.55 12.24 1.09 2.54 0.28 1.78 0.204 0.103 0.0091 1.06 3.39 1.03 0.5 0.82 0.011 0.012 0.011 11.12 3.36 11.84 23.5 0.0061

MINING & OIL 1.11 1,571,000 2.55 1,000 12.24 100 1.09 10,000 2.54 204,000 0.28 120,000 1.8 5,484,000 0.208 340,000 0.104 2,050,000 0.0091 7,000,000 1.07 821,000 3.6 16,498,000 1.06 16,000 0.5 50,000 0.84 12,000 0.011 26,300,000 0.012 9,400,000 0.011 3,200,000 12.2 3,151,200 3.38 884,000 12.3 764,700 23.55 344,700 0.0061 10,000,000

1,763,880 2,550 1,224 10,900 518,200 33,600 9,817,960 69,920 213,150 64,000 873,820 57,863,430 16,550 25,000 9,860 302,200 112,800 35,200 37,657,278 3,003,050 9,307,804 8,122,010 61,000

-562,000 -492,760 466,700 127,700 3,008,180 157,958 105,300 -2,173,910 -246,395 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 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

17.3 507 101 109.5 506 5.24 980 982 99.95 1.01 101.5 1,034 1,050 1,078 101.9 109 1,030 998 78.5 75.1 75.15 76.1 75.15 75.8

17.4 507 101 109.5 506 5.24 980 1,000 99.95 1.02 101.5 1,035 1,050 1,082 101.9 109.5 1,034 998 78.5 75.1 77 76.1 75.15 75.8

17.1 504 101 109.5 506 5.24 980 982 99 1.01 100.9 1,034 1,050 1,078 101.9 109 1,030 998 78.15 75.1 75.15 76.1 75.1 75.4

PREFERRED 17.4 295,800 507 3,000 101 101,180 109.5 19,960 506 1,000 5.24 200 980 1,000 1,000 8,980 99 3,780 1.02 101,000 101 1,990 1,035 10 1,050 150 1,080 7,450 101.9 90 109.5 4,430 1,032 3,160 998 10 78.15 6,720 75.1 75,000 77 13,380 76.1 4,200 75.15 65,000 75.7 235,800

5,138,600 1,518,000 10,219,180 2,185,620 506,000 1,048 980,000 8,973,390 377,260 102,020 200,985 10,345 157,500 8,049,700 9,171 482,915 3,256,170 9,980 525,329 5,632,500 1,027,390 319,620 4,883,000 17,845,400

-304,488 -199,650 -309,000 -

LR WARRANT

1.53

1.6

1.53

WARRANTS 1.6 16,000

25,180

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

6.9 14 2.57 1.03

7.07 15.4 2.57 1.07

6.83 13.58 2.57 1.01

SME 6.88 14.12 2.57 1.06

6,314,824 113,387,356 46,260 8,817,030

361,022 -408,572 -53,500

FIRST METRO ETF

119.8

119.9

119.4

519,790

119,800

MS Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

9,737,419

INDUSTRIAL

66,699,692

HOLDING FIRMS

119,525,827

PROPERTY

131,236,750

SERVICES

56,501,423

MINING & OIL

88,399,030

GRAND TOTAL

489,230,606

913,100 7,755,900 18,000 8,437,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.9 4,340

-441,550 -29,450 -8,302,312 -29,693,556 92,060 -7,830 4,326,732 164,658 -95,315 97,955 10,807,970 -185,769 -21,600 395,960 61,200 -3,792,632 -115,730 433,700 -13,910 -62,680 -10,512,630 -163,110 -839,700 -3,075,895 -1,752,154 ,368,390.0001 52,284,274

-

VALUE 1,923.37 (down) 5.59 802,727,828.99 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,410.90 (down) 23.40 681,777,063.26 HOLDING FIRMS 7,897.27 (down) 7.43 1,617,661,006.05 PROPERTY 4,143.47 (up) 20.16 1,553.68 (up) 4.12 718,189,823.42 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,870.17 (down) 2.79 654,413,085.70 PSEI 8,012.34 (up) 2.96 129,907,839.32 All Shares Index 4,788.62 (down) 0.66 4,733,765,132.12 Gainers: 76; Losers: 100; Unchanged: 57; Total: 233

ICTSI hikes profit by 29% to $184.9m

By Darwin G. Amojelar INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said net income in the first nine months of the year rose 29 percent to $184.9 million year-on-year on increased revenues from local operations and port expansion.

“ICTSI has continued to deliver strong financial performance driven by organic volume growth, diligent cost management, and the continued ramp up of newer terminals. Positive progress has been made across the business which in part has been enabled by the prudent investments we make in our brownfield terminals,” said ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. “While we remain conscious of the current geopolitical trade tensions, we are well-positioned to deliver value for all our stakeholders,” he added.

Revenue from port operations increased three percent to $355.6 million from $344 million.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 7,590,090 twenty-foot equivalent units in the first nine months of 2019, up six percent from 7,152,392 TEUs in the same period in 2018.

The increase in volume was mainly due to continuing ramp-up at ICTSI’s new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea, improvement in trade activities in Subic, Philippines, Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Basra, Iraq, new contracts with shipping lines and services at Victoria International Container Terminal in Melbourne, Australia, Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia Poland, Adriatic Gate Container Terminal in Rijeka, Croatia and Contecon Manzanillo S.A. in Manzanillo, Mexico.

IN BRIEF

Cebu Air’s net income jumps 143% to P6.8b

CEBU Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, registered a net income of P6.75 billion in the January-to-September period, up sharply by 143 percent from P2.78 billion yearon-year, on higher passenger revenues.

The airline owned by the Gokongwei Group said revenues amounted to P63.625 billion in the nine-month period, up 17.7 percent from P54.037 billion on year.

Passenger revenues jumped 17.9 percent to P46.598 billion from P39.537 billion last year.

CEB attributed the growth to the 10.4-percent increase in passenger volume to 16.7 million from 15.1 million last year as the group added bigger A321 aircraft to its fleet.

The increase in average fares by 6.7 percent to P2,794 in the first nine months from P2,617 on year also contributed to the increase in revenues. Darwin G. Amojelar

Century Properties offering P3-b shares

THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P3-billion preferred shares offering of Century Properties Group Inc. CPG said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the SEC approved a planned offering of 20 million preferred A shares, with an oversubscription option of up to 10,000,000 preferred A shares at a price of ₱100 apiece.

CPG tapped ChinaBank Capital as the sole issue manager and underwriter of the offering.

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to finance development of leasing projects within Century City in Makati.

Meanwhile, Century posted a net income of P1.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 81 percent from P661 million on year.

Nine-month consolidated revenues rose 36 percent to P9.8 billion from P7.2 billion yearon-year. Jenniffer B. Austria

Ayala unveils P18-b Tarlac estate project

AYALA Land Inc. is investing P18 billion to develop its newest mixed-use estate, a 290-hectare property in Tarlac City called Cresendo.

Cresendo estate head John Estacio said in a press briefing Tuesday that Cresendo would be the company’s 29th estate development. It will have various components, including commercial, industrial, residential and educational developments.

“Our vision is to encourage more homegrown entrepreneurs and new businesses at Cresendo. The property is strategically located and has a young and growing population that makes it one of the promising areas in the region,” Estacio said.

Out of the P18-billion programmed spending for the estate, about P5.5 billion has been allocated for phase 1 of the project, which will see the rise of a 1.5-hectare civic plaza, church, school, retail strip, residences and transport terminal. Jenniffer B. Austria

Call for competitive power bidding backed

THE Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities expressed support to the call of the Department of Energy for Manila Electric Co. to open the competitive selection process to more power suppliers.

“In adherence to the prescribed spirit of free and fair competition, both existing and new power plants should be allowed to join Meralco’s upcoming bidding for a 1,200-megawatt power supply agreement (PSA),” said ICSC senior policy advisor Pedro Maniego Jr. in a statement. Alena Mae S. Flores

B3

World

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

Strange disease hits coral reefs

Rocket fire after Palestinian killed

JERUSALEM—he Israeli army said Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip pounded the Jewish state with “substantial” rocket fire Tuesday after Israel killed a commander of Islamic Jihad.

“There is substantial fire,” army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told journalists in a conference call.

Rockets struck the south of Israel and warning sirens wailed in Tel Aviv, although there were no immediate reports of hits on the seaside city.

“We are preparing for a number of days of fighting,” Conricus said.

The army ordered “non-essential” workers in Tel Aviv and central Israel to stay at home like those in the Gaza border region, ordered schools and universities to close and banned public gatherings.

Israeli public radio said that more than a million pupils and students were missing their studies Tuesday.

The flareup came after a dawn strike on the Gaza home of Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu Al-Ata, 42. The group said Ata’s wife was also killed.

Israel blamed Ata for recent rocket fire into its territory and said he was preparing further attacks.

The strike raised the possibility of a severe escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, which is ruled by Islamist movement Hamas, which is allied with Islamic Jihad.

Three wars have been fought between them since 2008.AFP Hamas in a statement threatened revenge on Israel after the strike. AFP

FIGHTING FIRE. A Rural NSW Fire Service plane drops fire retardent on an out of control bushfire near Taree, 350 kilometers

north of Sydney on Nov. 12. A state of emergency was declared on Nov. 11 and residents in the Sydney area were warned of “catastrophic” fire danger as Australia prepared for a fresh wave of deadly bushfires that have ravaged the drought-stricken east of the country. AFP

Project finance for renewable energy MAYA BALTAZAR HERRERA

integration AS FIRES continue to wreak havoc in California and the Amazon and prospects of a water shortage looms anew in Metro Manila, the question of sustainability has become an ever more urgent concern.

For developing countries such as the Philippines, growth is reliant on the country’s ability to provide basic services and infrastructure and access to energy is a critical element for economic growth. The rapid increase in access to energy must be met with solutions that consider both the country’s commitment to renewable energy as well as its limited fiscal space.

Project finance is a potent tool for mobilizing the capital for renewable energy.

This week, I thought I would share the executive summary of an article on project finance and renewable energy that I co-authored with Joe Barroco.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Developing countries must finance rapid growth with limited financial resources and without the mature capital markets, access to foreign capital, institutional capacity, and corporate governance of more developed countries.

This challenge is compounded for renewable energy (RE) projects given their resource availability uncertainty, intermittency, long development cycles and typically smaller project sizes.

Project finance (PF) can unlock much needed capital for RE projects in developing countries.

Under corporate finance (CF), the traditional

financing method for infrastructure project, the parent company provides the capital directly to the project or indirectly by providing credit support. PF, on the other hand, expands funding by raising capital exclusively against project assets, mainly future cash flows. PF also enhances project risk management and transparency, and can drive economic growth in developing countries.

This paper examines factors driving the financing method choice between PF and CF in the power sector in the Philippines over the decade following enactment of the Philippine RE Law. A dataset containing 120 new power plants with detailed project-level data was created for this paper. One of the key PF drivers studied was the feed-in tariff (FIT), an above-market government-guaranteed fixed-rate per kilowatt-hour available to eligible RE projects. While there are many studies on how the FIT impacts RE investment in developed countries, the literature is much scarcer on how FIT impacts the financing method choice in developing countries.

After the RE Law was approved in 2008, RE capacity increased but RE share in energy mix decreased. FIT resulted in increased investments in RE, primarily in solar and wind.

Results show that PF incidence is higher for baseload, high-capacity utilization, nonintermittent technologies; non-FIT projects with revenue contracts; and larger projects owned by public companies. Contrary to expectation, PF was less utilized for FIT-eligible RE, and projects owned by private or small investors. PF was utilized primarily by well-capitalized investors, and mostly by power and financial companies.

The figure below shows the percentage of capacity project financed or corporate financed per technology.

THE breathtaking reds, yellows and purples of the Mesoamerican Reef have been turning sickly white, leading researchers on a desperate hunt to understand and fight the mysterious disease killing the Caribbean’s corals.

In a little over a year, the Mexican Caribbean has lost more than 30 percent of its corals to a little-understood illness called SCTLD, or stony coral tissue loss disease, which causes them to calcify and die.

Experts warn the disease could kill a large part of the Mesoamerican Reef, a magnificent arc of more than 1,000 kilometers of coral shared by Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

SCTLD has put the region in a bind: it could potentially devastate the vital tourism industry around the reef, the second-largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

And yet, it is highly possible that too much tourism is in fact fueling the problem, scientists say.

SCTLD, which has also been infecting coral off the coast of Florida since 2014, was first detected in the Mexican Caribbean in July last year, near the reef’s northern tip.

It has since spread 400 kilometers to the south, reaching Belize and causing more coral loss than ocured in the past 40 years in the region, according to the environmental group Healthy Reefs for Healthy People.

The disease takes just weeks to kill off coral tissue that took decades to grow, said Melina Soto, the organization’s coordinator in Mexico.

“If we keep going at this rate, this ecosystem is going to collapse in the next five to 10 years,” she told AFP. AFP

Protesters strike HK transportation network H ONG KONG— Hong Kong protesters struck the city’s transport network for a second day running on Tuesday as western powers voiced concern over spiralling violence after police shot a young demonstrator and another man was set on fire.

The flare-up is the latest in the 24 straight weeks of increasingly violent rallies in Hong Kong, aimed at securing greater democratic freedoms from China.

Small bands of masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects onto rail

tracks and held up subway trains, sparking cat-and-mouse clashes with riot police and renewed chaos throughout the day.

Universities were a major flashpoint with police firing tear gas at protesters who had blocked roads leading to the City University of Hong Kong.

An AFP photographer saw protesters using a three-person slingshot to fire bricks at police from a footbridge during the sporadic clashes.

Masked activists also built barricades and blocked roads at both Hong Kong University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

And at Polytechnic University, clashes broke out as police tried to arrest a female student.

Owan Li, the student representative on the university’s governing body, said he was beaten by police as he tried to mediate.

“The officers were rather arrogant and unbridled,” Li told AFP, sending pictures of bruises to his hand and leg.

“They said I was being aggressive and obstructing their work, then six to seven of them dragged me out and gave me a round of beating and kicking.”

In Central district, home to many blue-chip international firms, thousands of office workers held lunchtime flashmob protests, chanting: “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong!”

Small bands of masked protesters also blocked roads in the area, the second day in a row such a tactic has been deployed, prompting the deployment of riot police.

Chinese state media on Tuesday praised Hong Kong’s police for its “restraint,” but warned that the People’s Liberation Army was on hand if necessary to support the force. AFP

Protesters use a catapult against police during a protest Hong Kong’s City University on Nov. 12 following a day of prodemocracy protests. A Hong Kong police officer shot at masked protesters – hitting at least one in the torso – during clashes broadcast live on Facebook, as the city’s rush hour was interrupted by protests. AFP

The table below summarizes the PF drivers, the research hypotheses and results.

The Philippine FIT was perceived as financially attractive but tight deadlines, low technology-specific capacity caps and the absence of project-size limits increased revenue uncertainty, resulting in high concentration of project ownership and potential erosion of public support. Smaller investors that typically are less well capitalized and could have relied on PF had uncertainty been lower, were not able to finance their projects or had to sell a majority stake of the project to larger investors. These smaller investors are critical to the deployment of RE for economic, social and political reasons.

Moreover, widening the base of investors results in increased competition, which increases social welfare.

Policymakers can increase revenue certainty by (a) eliminating tight deadlines and avoiding low capacity caps; (b) defining a project-size limit to avoid crowding out by large projects which is especially important in the presence of FIT caps; (c) designing policies to increase the availability of long-term revenue contracts to energy investors by mandating distribution utilities and retail electricity suppliers to fully contract, not only their current demand, but also their future demand; (d) minimizing uncertainty in direct support policies (DSP) implementation by defining clear and strict guidelines and targets; (e) mobilizing public support by quantifying DSP benefits and displaying them in the consumer’s bills; and (f) tailoring DSP’s to small investors, such as developers and community organizations, to broaden investor participation and increase public support.

Given the intrinsic uncertainty of RE and developing countries, policymakers need to design policies to minimize revenue uncertainty, enable PF and broaden the investor base.

••• Source: Barroco, J., & Herrera, M. (2019).

Clearing barriers to project finance for renewable energy in developing countries: A Philippines case study. Energy Policy, 135, 111008.

To access this article: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111008 Energy Policy is an international peerreviewed journal published by Elsevier since 1973 addressing the policy implications of energy supply and use from their economic, social, planning and environmental aspects. CiteScore: 5.45; Impact Factor: 4.88; ABS: 2; Google h-5 index: 91 Joe Barroco teaches project finance at AIM. His research interests are project finance, energy, infrastructure and risk management. Email: jbarroco@aim.edu ••• Maya Herrera is a professor of strategy and finance at AIM. Her publications are in social innovation and public policy. Email: mherrera@aim.edu For more about the Asian Institute of Management, please visit their site at: https://www. aim.edu Readers can email Maya at integrations_ manila@yahoo.com or through her Facebook page, integrations manila. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

Baghdadi successor in US crosshairs US PRESIDENT Donald Trump placed the Islamic State group’s new chief in the crosshairs as he marked Veterans’ Day by celebrating the killing of the jihadists’ former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

While US presidents traditionally mark the day by laying a wreath at a vast military cemetery in Arlington, near Washington, Trump traveled to New York where he made an address ahead of the city’s annual parade of veterans.

Trump was widely criticized after announcing a full withdrawal of US troops from Syria last month, with opponents and even some allies saying it could allow Islamic State to rebuild as well as leaving US-allied Kurdish fighters vulnerable to a Turkish invasion.

But the US president used his speech in New York to claim that the IS leadership was running scared in the wake of Baghdadi’s death in a raid in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Oct. 26.

“Just a few weeks ago, American special forces raided the ISIS com-

pound and brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice,” he said.

“Thanks to American warriors, alBaghdadi is dead, his second in charge is dead, we have our eyes on number three.”

“His reign of terror is over, and we have our enemies running very, very scared. Those who threaten our people don’t stand a chance against the righteous might of the American military.”

After the death of Baghdadi and Islamic State’s main spokesman, Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, in a raid the following day, the organization named the little known Abu Ibrahim alHashimi al-Quraishi as its new leader.

Following the uproar over his announcement of a full troop withdrawal, Trump said that he would leave some troops in the region to protect valuable oil fields.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview at the weekend that US troop levels in northern Syria would probably stabilize around 500. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY JUVIT P. FERRER, Petitioner, CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-17-09411-CV FOR: DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE -versusABIGAIL E. CUNANAN-FERRER Respondent. x------------------------------------------------x

DECISION WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered: 1. Declaring the marriage of petitioner Juvit P. Ferrer and respondent Abigail E. Cunanan-Ferrer solemnized in Quezon City on October 6, 2005 null and void ab initio with all the effects thereof as provided by law; 2. Allowing the respondent to use her maiden name “Cunanan”; 3. Dissolving the absolute community of property and that no liquidation is ordered it appearing that the petitioner and respondent have not acquired any property during the marriage; 4. Directing the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority to record this Decision after it has become final and executor in accordance with law and upon payment by the petitioner of the lawful fees.

Pursuant to Section 19 (2) A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC (Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages), let the dispositive portion of the decision be published at the expense of the petitioner, once in a newspaper of circulation to be chosen by raffle.

Let also a copy of the Decision be sent by registered mail to the last known address of the respondent.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, August 22, 2019.

(Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA Presiding Judge (MStandard-Nov. 13, 2019)

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Pasay hosts 9th Family Summit for OFWs, kin PASAY City on Tuesday hosted the yearly gathering of overseas Filipino workers and their beneficiaries at the World Trade Center.

The 9th OFW and Family Summit, spearheaded by the Villar Family through its foundation, the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), was attended by more than 4,000 OFWs and their families. This year’s theme was “Kabuhayan sa Sariling Bayan.”

“We are happy because many of our OFWs came and showed interest in the livelihood or business opportunities here in the Philippines that they can earn from and place their income in during or after their time abroad,” Senator Cynthia Villar said.

For the past years, the summit has evolved into a one-stop shop for OFWs where government and nongovernment organizations as well as business owners and franchise holders have set up booths and attended to the needs and queries of the attendees from starting a business to availing of government assistance and services.

Villar was joined by Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Nick Reyes, representing Pasay Rep. Tony Calixto, during the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Resource persons were invited to discuss topics on financial literacy, business start-ups/trends. OFWs turned successful entrepreneurs also provided guidance on how to seize opportunities and become entrepreneurs.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

CEZA LICENSE. Escudar Co. Ltd. CEO Sanghyun Lee (center) receives the Financial Technology Solutions and Virtual Currency Exchange Provision Principal License from Secretary

Raul L. Lambino (2nd from left), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority Administrator and CEO, during a ceremonial awarding held at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel on Tuesday. Joining them are (from left) CEZA’s Special Assistant to the Administrator Raymundo Roquero and Deputy Administrator Agrimero Cruz, and Ramon Garcia, President and CEO of I.Wave Inc. Lino Santos

QC, Robinsons ink biz center pact

By Rio N. Araja

T

O make tax payments available in malls and more convenient for citizens, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has signed an agreement with Robinsons Land Corp., one of the largest mall operators in the country, to establish the city’s business centers in three of its malls.

Through the partnership, the business centers will open in Robinsons Galleria, Magnolia and Novaliches malls in January 2020 to accept real-property tax assessments and payments and local busi-

ness tax payments.

“We are pursuing the installation of payment kiosks in strategic places with heavy foot traffic, like malls, because we want to make our citizens’ lives eas-

SUN LIFENUVALI TIEUP.

FCF journalism training for SK leaders staged

Fitness trainers and participants exercise during the GoWell Grand Community Workout at the Solenad Activity Area in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna over the weekend. It was part of the launch of the Sun Life Bright Circuit outdoor gym and Interactive Mural just outside the venue (inset left).

The mural was designed by Jappy Agoncillo, while the event was graced by Sun Life health and wellness ambassador Enchong Dee, chief marketing officer Mylene Lopa, and Sun Life and Nuvali executives (inset right).

By Ben Moses Ebreo SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya—FCF Minerals Corp. has provided journalism and communication training for Sangguniang Kabataan leaders to increase the awareness of villagers on responsible mining and development.

Ian Moller, FCF Minerals general manager for Sustainability, said the training held at the PLT Resort in Barangay Bascaran here will equip the youth in practicing community journalism as a tool to empower their respective communities.

“This training is part of our Golden Ribbon Program to develop the skills of SK leaders as our partners in sharing development and useful information to our various stakeholders,” he said.

Moller said the trained SK leaders will soon be managing their community newspaper “Balitok” (gold in the local dialect), which is circulated to various stakeholders in Cagayan Valley.

The participants, which came from barangays of Quezon and Kasibu towns, also crafted their Priority Programs, Projects and Activities for funding and implementation.

They seek to address issues and concerns on illegal drugs, environment protection, livelihood opportunities, campaign to reduce teenage pregnancy and solid waste management, among others.

FCF Minerals operates the goldmolybdenum project in barangay Runruno in Quezon town.

ier. This is just one of our approaches to bring our government closer to the people,” Belmonte said.

“At the same time, through this, we’ll be able to empower our business owners, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises, by giving them an easier, time-saving way of managing their business,” she added.

The mayor, along with city treasurer Edgar Villanueva, signed the agreement with Robinsons Land Corp. executive vice president Faraday Go and senior vice president Arlene Magtibay.

SM City Baliwag unveils ‘Glittering Holiday Express’ BALIWAG, Bulacan—Hues of light dominated SM City Baliwag as the mall officially welcomed Christmas with its futuristic holiday centerpiece infused with hundreds of LED lights in symphony of colors.

Bulakenyos will feel a lot like Christmas with all the festivities and entertainments the mall has in store all throughout the holiday season, officials said.

Its main attraction is a picturesque Christmas tree, 25 feet high and 15 feet

in diameter, carrying the theme “Glittering Holiday Express.”

The grand centerpiece “transports shoppers’ imagination into a holiday ride recreated through a gigantic Christmas tree with electrifying blasts of colorful light installations,” the mall said in a statement.

“The fusion of lights bring to life the classic Christmas elements surrounding the tree. Shoppers may also relive the classic Warner Bros. Pic-

tures’ ‘Polar Express’ movie with a fun train ride around the centerpiece,” it added.

“We at SM City Baliwag always aspire to make every Christmas as memorable as possible for every Bulakenyo.

This year, we hope to give them the best experience in lights and colors as we infused LED installations to form unique Christmas elements on our centerpiece,” shared SM City Baliwag mall manager Rodora Tolentino. Jun David

OPTE brings relief to Davao Sur BANSALAN, Davao del Sur―SM Foundation’s OPTE (Operation Tulong Express) team has rushed to this town to extend assistance to victims of the earthquake that hit Davao Del Sur. A total of 2,000 “kalinga” packs (relief packs) were distributed in Bansalan and Magsaysay towns for the earthquake victims from the Philippine Stock Exchange, SM Foundation, SM Markets, and SM Supermalls.

In Bansalan, the OPTE team visited barangays Anonang, Bitaog, Bonifacio, Buenavista, Mabunga, Sibayan, Tinongtongan, and Union.

The SM Emergency Response Team of SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier, Davao City OCD/911 and Fire Volunteers, SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premier, MDRMO and MSWD of Bansalan helped in the relief distribution.

Operation Tulong Express volunteers from the Philippine Stock Exchange, SM Foundation, SM Markets, and SM Supermalls help distribute relief goods in Bansalan and Magsaysay towns in Davao del Sur.

Belmonte assured citizens planning to settle their dues they would no longer endure long queues at city hall when the business center kiosks in malls are finally opened.

The mayor invited the citizens to dine and shop afterward as a way of patronizing mall concessionaires, whom she calls the “lifeblood” of the city.

Talks with Mallers Management Corp. and Ayala Corp. for the establishment of the other business centers in Fisher Mall and Fairview Terraces, respectively, are already in the pipeline.

MMDA signs insurance deal for employees

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority has signed an agreement renewing its partnership with Pru Life UK to provide MMDA employees a P100,000 insurance package in case of accident while in the line of duty.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said Pru Life UK extended its commitment to provide accident insurance coverage to agency’s 8,000 personnel with premiums fully waived for another year as he express gratitude to the private firm.

“We thank Pru Life UK for granting our 8,000 agency employees - permanent, casual and job personnel - free accident insurance for the third consecutive year. The program will surely protect them and grant assurance to their loved ones in the event of an accident while performing their duty,” said Lim. The memorandum of agreement was signed during the MMDA’s 44th anniversary celebration on Thursday.

To date, 26 family beneficiaries of insured MMDA employees have received financial assistance under the said partnership.

The agreement is in line with the life insurance’s advocacy to raise awareness on the importance of safe road usage for the welfare of motorists, pedestrians and other road users through the Safe Steps Road Safety Program.

Safe Steps program is a groundbreaking public service initiative aimed at raising awareness about one of the world’s leading causes of death.

It also aims to help save lives by disseminating clear and simple educational messages on road safety through a series of 60-second public service announcement videos.

Pru Life UK officials said the firm and MMDA “share the commitment to advocate the increased public awareness on the importance of road safety.”

Under the partnership, MMDA will use the Road Safety videos as educational materials across its communication platforms, such as its field offices, website, social media sites, and LED billboard along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, among others.

Pru Life UK had previously supported various road safety-related initiatives of MMDA, including the first MMDA Road Safety Forum in observance of the National Road Safety Month in 2016.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

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Louison drop earrings with scarletcolored crystals

Perfection drop earrings with pearl and green stones

By Bernadette Lunas

which the brand said a symbol of protection, affection, and harmony.

Feather designs and tarot motifs shine in the on-trend Swarovski Remix Collection. Palace, meanwhile, features vintage-style floral motifs in sapphire and emerald crystal colors.

North features constellations shining through a refined mix of slender lines and Swarovski crystal clusters, “designed to echo shimmering glaciers.”

Louison comes in two styles—bracelet and earrings—in dramatic red Swarovski crystal. When paired together, they make a wonderful gift set for anyone who’s been a little bit naughty.

The timeless pearl gets a modern update with an injection of striking green tones and sparkling embellishment in Perfection. While Magic keeps its simple with an endearing and playful angel motif.

The highlight watch for the holiday season is the Crystal Rose. Each timepiece comes with a bezel adorned with 215 Swarovski crystals. It is the first time the brand features its signature micro-pavé technique on watches.

A

QUICK Google search or scan along bazaars reveals a host of crystal accessories claiming to be Swarovski—or at least their shoddy tags claim so.

To avoid becoming a victim of imitation, Manila Standard asked Jam Tan, Stores Specialist Inc. associate merchandise manager, how to spot a fake Swarovski jewelry. And we discovered it’s all about the swan.

“All Swarovski merchandise will always have the Swan symbol in them or the Swan Swarovski label. For example, the clasps of the necklaces have the Swarovski Swan,” explained Tan, adding, “Even our figurines and home accessories will always have the branding.”

When it comes to the crystals, experts say a real Swarovski has no bubbles and has a uniform surface luster; no scratches, no swirl marks.

Swarovski jewelry and accessories are a favorite of women in their late 20s to early 30s, according to Tan. Hence for the brand’s holiday col-

Naughty or Nice Spotting fake Swarovski jewelry, holiday collection for modern women

Swarovski’s holiday 2019 collection features sparkling pieces that celebrate the many facets of today’s woman—may it be naughty or nice.

lection, they launched a campaign that celebrates the “many facets of today’s modern woman,” may it be naughty or nice.

“This season, we want to celebrate in style with sparkling silhouettes that will dial up the glamour of the holidays and create brilliant moments for all,”

enthused Swarovski creative director Nathalie Colin.

Divided into two categories, Naughty and Nice, the holiday season collection highlights colors, crystals, and styles.

On the Nice side are collections distinguished by their clean, simple, and classic designs. Those catego-

rized as Naughty are “more playful, more adventurous.”

Nice features mostly silver, and white and green crystals; while Naughty highlights gold and rose gold, and red and dark-colored crystals.

The Naughty or Nice collection features a black and a white angel feather,

The Swarovski Naughty or Nice Collection is now available at Swarovski boutiques and on swarovski.com.

Leila Alcasid keeps it Nice and simple.

Naughty necklace with black crystal pavé

Nice necklace with shimmering crystal pavé

Crystal Rose in black Instagram personality Ciacia Mendoza on the Naughty side.

Long sleeve floral dress, Yadid boots, and sling bag complete an ensemble for reunions or parties.

Magical merrymaking A LITTLE bit of magic doesn’t hurt when shopping for holiday outfits. “‘Tis the season for all things magical, from fun frou-frou fashion to bewitching beauty looks and glorious gifting ideas,” The SM Store said in a statement.

As the go-to destination for everything holiday-related, The SM Store upgrades shopping experience, taking it up a magical notch. For the holiday season, the department store features a wide merchandise selection, cool window displays, and festive decorations.

Elegant pieces ideal for parties and reunions from The SM Store include asymmetrical tops, ruff led detailed pieces, prints on prints in f lorals and stripes, and checkered and plaid patterns, among a whole lot others.

Shimmery halter top and tulle skirt for her and bomber jacket and pants for him.

Deck the halls with disco balls and pair them with striped sweater.

Life

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Unfiltered self-expression P

ROVOCATIVE, raw, bold. The special capsule collection that celebrates the 50 years of Calvin Klein captures the characteristics the brand has long highlighted.

Dubbed the CK50, the collection introduces classic silhouettes with unexpected logo placements, for everyday pieces with a modern twist.

Prints include an all-over repeating monogram and high-impact logo detailing across women’s denims, dresses, and sweatshirts; and men’s denims, relaxed hoodies, and crewnecks.

T-shirts, Modern Cotton underwear, and a curated selection of accessories, which comes in a seasonal color palette of washed black, blue, and red, round

out the collection.

Certain styles in the capsule are also finished with a CK50 leather patch.

The campaign, photographed by Glen Luchford, features friends of the brand in a series of visuals that reflects historic moments and themes across multiple decades.

Justin Bieber is back in his Calvins, this time alongside wife Hailey, marking the couple’s first campaign together. Also starring in the campaign are A$AP Rocky, Kendall Jenner, Troye

Parker Van Noord

Justin and Hailey Bieber wear Calvins in their first campaign together.

Sivan, Liu Wen, Parker Van Noord, and Rebecca Leigh Longendyke.

A celebration of Calvin Klein’s perpetual pop relevance, the campaign captures the rebellious spirit that has shaped the brand over the last 50 years.

The CK50 collection is now available at Calvin Klein Jeans Shangri-La East Wing, Calvin Klein Underwear Shangri-La Main Wing, Calvin Klein 158 Designer’s Blvd. Mall of Asia, Rock Calvin Klein Underwear Rockwell, and Calvin Klein Underwear Bonifacio High Street for a limited time.

Kendall Jenner

VANITY CORNER

Lucky shoppers win Boracay getaway ALL they did was shop their sun care essentials at Watsons, and these 20 loyal card members got to share a trip to Boracay with a loved one.

Health and beauty retailer Watsons took the lucky winners of the Share the Sun campaign on an exciting three-day/two-night getaway in Boracay. The winners are Watsons card members who bought at least P500 worth of any of the participating products.

Out of thousands of Watsons’ loyalty cardholders, 20 lucky winners were drawn to share the sun with family and friends at Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa on Oct. 25-27.

In addition to a luxurious stay, the vacationers received loot bags filled with island essentials such as a micellar cleanser for

a smooth base, face masks for a glowing complexion, sunblock to keep skin protected, and an after-sun spray to stay refreshed all day, among others.

The winners were given ample time to explore the islands while being sun-protected from head to toe. They also shared a meal during the thanksgiving dinner on the first night which Watsons hosted at Shangri-La’s magical Cielo Arena.

The promo was part of Watsons’ efforts to reward loyal card members. With a lifetime membership, Watsons Card offers exclusive discounts, two times more points on Watsons-branded products, five times points on the member’s first transaction during their birthday month, and exclusive access to member-exclusive events.

Winners enjoying a banana boat ride.

Far Away Glamour

Exotic glamour With a bouquet of exotic ingredients spreading in every spritz, the new fragrance from Far Away line promises to take one’s senses on a trip.

Glamour is the newest addition to Avon’s bestselling fragrance line.

Launching the new sophisticated perfume is Avon’s newest face, Heart Evangelista.

Far Away Glamour brings out the side of Heart that loves to discover new and exciting cultures—

a passion she satisfies with extensive travel.

“Heart inspires us to travel and get lost in all the experiences that the world has to offer. She represents the cosmopolitan Filipina that the new fragrance is meant for,” says Avon Philippines marketing director Tisha Rodriguez.

Get this new perfume at www.avon. ph or from an Avon Lady.

Share the Sun promo winners fly to Boracay for a 3-day/2-night getaway.

Loot bags contain island essentials to keep them fresh.

SALE ALERT

Maybelline brings back ‘Crazy Sale’

Tea Tree AntiImperfection Peel-Off Mask

Battling blemish in 15 minutes Harnessing the purifying and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil, the new Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection PeelOff Mask promises to decongest and purify skin in 15 minutes.

The new addition to The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Range is made of Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya, which is known to help purify skin; aromatic lemon tree oil, which is renowned for

its purifying properties; and vitamin E, which is celebrated for its moisturizing and soothing properties.

The gentle peel-off mask is soothing and leaves skin feeling refreshed and matte. The Body Shop says it also helps minimize pores.

This mask is available at The Body Shop stores nationwide.

AFTER nationwide sale events on 11-11 (Nov. 11), American makeup brand Maybelline is ready for another as it brings its “Crazy Sale” back from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

Select makeup items are offered at up to 50 percent off. Surprise flash sales and freebies are also happening at Maybelline counters nationwide.

Here are some items offered at lower prices during the Maybelline Crazy Sale—perfect for holiday gift-shopping.

Superstay Liquid Foundation and Powder Foundation (from P499 to P399)

Total Temptation Mascara (from P399 to P299) Define and Blend Brow Pencil (from P249 to P199)

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Jonas Brothers buddy up on the red carpet THE Jonas Brothers Nick, Joe, and Kevin pose on the red carpet at the NRJ Music Awards on Saturday (Nov. 9) at the Palais des festivals in Cannes, France.

Arriving in style, the trio was

'Cold Feet'is a charming romantic comedy directed by Wolfgang Groos.

awarded the Prix d’honneur Award, a recognition for their achievement in the music industry.

The boys also took the stage and performed their hit song, “Sucker.”

Photo from AFP

In 'Good Bye, Lenin!' a young man must go to great lengths to keep his mother from learning that her beloved nation of East Germany as she knew it has disappeared.

4 German Film Week th

at SM Cinema

'The Lives of Others' follows a story of an agent of the secret police in 1984 Eat Berlin.

'25km/h' is a comedy adventure about two desperate brothers who reunite at their father's funeral.

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OVIEGOERS are in for a special treat as the Goethe-Institut Philippinen and SM Cinema present the 4th German Film Week with an exciting line-up of 12 critically-acclaimed German films at SM City Manila and SM Megamall.

This year’s German Film Week is especially meaningful as it commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. To commemorate this historical event, half of the festival’s programming will be dedicated to films offering perspectives of life in East and West Germany during the divide.

These include this year’s opening film Balloon (Ballon, 2018), an enthralling drama based on actual events about two families and their plan to escape from East Germany to the West with a homemade hot air balloon. The

film was awarded 2019 Best Feature Film at the Washington DC Film Festival.

Also included in this specially-curated program for the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall are mustsee films namely Berlin Blues, Good Bye, Lenin, Gundermann, The Lives of Others, and Barbara.

This year’s movie selection offers moviegoers a glimpse into German culture and history, and is sure to delight film enthusiasts young and old, and romance, comedy, and action fans. Not to be missed are award-winning German

films 25km/h, 100 Things, A Regular Woman, All about Me, Cold Feet, and The Keeper.

Amazing surprises also await moviegoers at SM City Manila and SM Megamall with the Watch ‘n Win contest.

Moviegoers can simply join the quiz and get a chance to be the lucky winner of an all-expense roundtrip to Germany.

Tickets to the German Film Week are at P100 for all films, with a special discounted price of P50 for students.

The premiere night on November 6 is free and open to all on a first-come-firstserved basis while tickets for the rest of the Manila screenings may be purchased at SM City Manila and SM Megamall cinema ticket booths.

The German Film Week, which runs until today, is also supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and is one of the many exciting cultural events at SM Cinema.

UST filmmakers strut their wares

By Seymour Barros Sanchez STUDENT filmmakers from the University of Santo Tomas have recently registered their mark in different local film festivals.

The short films Heist School (Last Minute Films) and Gáring (1PM Films) and the documentary Beyond the Mats: The UST Salinggawi Journey (Tiger Media Network) have competed in different film festivals such as Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Cinestudyante, Maginhawa Film Festival, One La Salle Film Festival, and De La Salle University’s Indie Un-Film Festival.

Heist School bagged the Audience Choice award at this year’s Cinemalaya short film category. It also won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Trailer and Best Sound in last year’s Sine Reel competition organized by the UST Communication Art Students’ Association. In addition, it was also officially selected to the IUF, the inaugural edition of the One La Salle Film Festival and the first Maginhawa Film Festival.

The short film tells the story of two best friends who form a group of students to steal their teacher’s answer key to their examination from the faculty room. Joedel (Jemuel Cedrick Satumba) and Omar (Bryan Bacalso)

GMA stars...

From C4

“Thank you so much for your time, your cheers, your love, and for all the reasons that you came to the show. We love you and we really appreciate you,” said Christian.

Meanwhile, Lani is a true epitome of world-class Pinoy talent with her vocal prowess. Her enchanting voice left the Kapuso abroad wanting for more.

“We are really overwhelmed with the reception. Thank you so much. To those of you who came to watch us,

pull off every trick available to them as they try to save their friendship and themselves from the brink of failing high school. Providing support is Teri Lacayanga as their teacher Ms. Suzy, Ella Mae Libre as Reymarie, Son De Vera as Jerique, Brylle Parzuelo as Jacob, and Kevin Ramos as Edward.

Director Julius Renomeron Jr. teamed up with his classmates Johmar Damiles, Klaire Ellise Dulay, John Paolo Barrameda, Alvin Jamora, Keanu Managuas, Ezren Caneda, Pauline Carlos, and Zhino Koe. They have been friends who have created short films long before their film production class in UST. Gáring, on the other hand, brought home Second Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actress for Chin Jongko and Best Trailer at Sine Reel this year. After winning at Sine Reel, it was officially selected to the IUF and Cinestudyante. The short film tells the story of a loving mother who faces the hardest challenge of her life, pushing her to the brink of how far she will go to save her son.

Director Dan Pablo also took charge of lighting and editing the film, as he got ample support from production manager Katarina Mendoza, screenwriter Georgie Cerbolles, associate producer Ynna Dizon, assistant director and casting director Charlaine Mutia, felthank you for your support. We felt your love, talagang Kapuso. Sana ay patuloy ninyong suportahan ang iba pang programs ng GMA Pinoy TV,” said Lani.

Finally, Golden showed everyone what a real champion is made of with her all-out performance. Golden has come a long way after she became the first grand champion of The Clash and this concert is her way of thanking her supporters, especially the GMA Pinoy TV viewers.

“Maraming salamat po na kahit nasa Los Angeles we still felt your love by coming to our concert. We really do

low A.D. Emery Principe, production designer Shaira Calleja, casting director and location manager Alex Garcia and art director Barbara San Diego.

Meanwhile, Beyond the Mats is a documentary on the inspiring story of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. Dan Angelo Eligadodirected, photographed and edited the documentary, with the help of executive producer Gwen Segarra, supervising producersJomari Hernandez and Pauline Linsangan, writer Oscar David Poblete, co-editor Ma. Lynette Pamintuan, and production assistants Mivel Ambas, Charlene Jaranilla, and Clarissa Sulit.

Apart from Sine Reel, UST holds two other student film festivals in the campus.

Sine Abierto, formerly Sine Tomasino, is founded in 2015 and organized by the Thomasian Film Society, which counts Renomeron and Damiles as alumni.

It was initially restricted to UST filmmakers, but after a year, a category was opened to non-Thomasians. On the other hand, Sining Sine is a film competition of the UST College of Fine Arts and Design for students enrolled in a film elective.

TFS President Kathleen Doblado hopes these film festivals will discover fresh new talents from among the Thomasian community and encourage them to join film festivals outside UST. hope that they enjoyed our perfomances,” she said.

Coinciding with the celebration of the Filipino-American History Month, each artist also performed with a selected group of Filipinas from Southern California to celebrate the wonderful talents of the Kapuso abroad. The night ended with a happy Christmas spirit as Aiai surprised the crowd in a Christmas tree outfit and sang a Christmas medley with the three Kapuso stars before bidding farewell.

Gracing the event was Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles Adelio Angelito

Japanese ensemble performs in PPO concert THE third concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 37th season will feature the SORA Ensemble of Japan on November 15, 2019 under the baton of PPO music director and principal conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Main Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) at 8:00pm.

Program for the said concert consists of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony no.9 op.70, Franz Joseph Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante op. 84 in B-flat Major and two works by Arturo Marquez, Danzon no.7 and Danzon no.8.

The group, composed of oboe player Hiromasa Iwasaki, bassoonist Rei Ishiguro, violinist Kana Kobayashi and cellist Keiichi Yamada, was formed by Hiromasa Iwasaki, the principal oboist of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra and young musicians in 2008. Along with the motto “Music at Anytime, Anywhere”, they have performed more than a hundred concerts annually to cities, towns

and villages in Hokkaido and other parts of Japan, to bring to people the energetic live performances of chamber music, symphony and other ensemble music.

The First album “SORA with Hokkaido” was released in 2018 commemorating the group’s 10th Anniversary.

Ticket prices are P1500/1200/800/500/400, with discounts available to students, senior citizens and groups. For inquiries, please call the CCP Box Office at 8832-3704.

Very Wang...

To celebrate the much-awaited opening of Jollibee’s Level Up Joy Store in Katipunan, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and store blessing program was held on Nov. 5, attended by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) Chief Real Estate Officer William Tan Untiong, Jollibee Philippines President JJ Alano, Jollibee Global Brand CMO and JFC Philippines Country Business Group and concurrent Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head Francis Flores, Jollibee Regional Business Unit Head for Metro North Joan Aquino, as well as teen actor and brand ambassador Joshua Garcia.

“The opening of the first Level Up Joy Store in Katipunan marks another significant milestone in our journey. It is a symbol of our commitment to elevating dining experience and bringing next level joys to our loyal customers,” said William Tan Untiong.

Modern yet familiar Home of Joy Out of the current 1,181 branches nationwide, the re-opened Jollibee Katipunan store is the 33rd newly renovated store that features a contemporary and fresh, cool vibe that is sure to appeal to customer of all ages.

From its modern store design, brightlycolored digital menu board, sleek lighting and fixtures, and vibrant murals, customers stepping inside the Level Up Joy Store will be transported to a new and elevated world of joy that will make their dining experience and bonding moments extra joyful and special.

Jollibee Katipunan has two floors, with a total seating capacity of 404 and has two spacious party areas for celebrations and

gatherings. It also features a multi-level and secure parking area for customers within its compound.

Self-Order Kiosks and Wireless Charging Station Jollibee’s first Level Up Joy Store features many innovations that seek to offer greater convenience and more pleasant dining experiences to time and energy-starved fast-food goers, including the most discerning ones who expect both great ambience and food.

One such major innovation is the SelfOrder Kiosks which was first piloted

by Jollibee in 2018. The new Jollibee Katipunan has three self-order kiosks, enabling customers to order at their own pace and giving them the option to customize their orders according to their preference. It also has a user-friendly interface that enables customers to get their Jollibee favorites in three simple steps: order, pay, and claim.

These self-order kiosks are available in 25 Jollibee stores nationwide including its 1000th branch in BGC Triangle Drive, Ayala Mall in Cebu, Bay Laguna and Lagao, South Cotabato —with an additional 40 stores in the pipeline for 2020.

The Jollibee Katipunan Level Up Joy Store also features a wireless charging station where busy and on-the-go customers can automatically charge their phones by simply placing them on top of the charging terminals. Charger cables won’t be necessary and customers will be able to stay connected and attend to other things while enjoying their favorite Jollibee meals.

Customer convenience remains a topmost priority indeed for Jollibee as its new and improved delivery website was relaunched on Nov. 7 in Metro Manila— with enhanced features and more importantly, updated security to further strengthen data protection of customers.

S. Cruz who thanked the GMA artists for giving Southern California Pinoys a wonderful time.

After the concert, Christian and Golden together with The Clash Season 1 Finalists Mika Gorospe and Rachel Bergado had a meet and greet event in partnership with Xfinity with the Kapuso abroad in San Francisco. They also made a courtesy call to the Philippine Consul General in San Francisco. Capping off their trip was a quick side trip to Union Square and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The show is produced by Kapuso Concerts, a joint project of GMA Pinoy

TV, GMA Entertainment Group, GMA Sales & Marketing Group, and GMA Regional TV, in association with Starmedia Entertainment.

Viewers can continue to watch the four artists on The Clash Season 2, Sunday Pinasaya, and Studio 7 via GMA Pinoy TV. Learn more about GMA’s international events through the website, www.gmapinoytv.com; Facebook page www.facebook.com/ GMAPinoyTV; Twitter and Instagram via @gmapinoytv; and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

From C4

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

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Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

GMA stars give Kapuso abroad an unforgettable early Christmas present COMEDIAN AiAi delas Alas, balladeer Christian Bautista, and pop diva Lani Misalucha with The Clash first Grand Champion Golden Cañedo went all out for the All 4 You The Clash Concert held at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center in Arcadia, California last Oct. 19.

The two-hour musical celebration started on a high note with a stellar performance from The Clash panel AiAi, Christian, and Lani, before introducing its first ever champion Golden Cañedo.

AiAi’s hilarious performance of “Let It Go,” complete with snow magically coming out of her hands, was a big hit. The audience was also treated to a K-pop number from AiAi, Christian

and Lani where they all roared with laughter.

“I was able to bring hom ether great memories I had with the Pinoys in the US. Christian, Lani, Golden, and I were able to share the Christmas feeling with GMA Pinoy TV subscribers. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng GMA Kapuso fans na nanood sa aming concert sa US. Merry Christmas and thank you po, GMA Pinoy TV!” said AiAi. Christian, who was also celebrating his birthday during the concert, serenaded the audience and the winners of Miss Philippines USA 2019 with a medley of classic OPM songs and power ballads that provided a heartwarming vibe to everyone. Continued on C3

'All 4 You The Clash Concert' stars spreading the Christmas spirit with the Kapuso abroad.

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

WWII movie defeats competition in box office battle MIDWAY, a new take on the pivotal naval battle Michael Key, andJohn Leguizamo.

Last Christmas, a rom-com from Universal between the US and Japan in the Pacific during World War II, opened atop the North American about a British woman who works as an elf in a box office this weekend with an estimated year-round Christmas store and falls for a guy $17.5 million in ticket sales, an industry group who is charming, good-looking and almost suspiciously cheerful, finished fourth with an said Sunday.

Director Roland Emmerich’s PG-rated $11.6 million take at the box office.

In fifth was Paramount’s Terminator: film from Lionsgate looks at the four-day battle between Japanese and US aircraft carrier Dark Fate the sixth and latest installment groups in June 1942 that is widely considered a in the storied franchise. It reunites Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton with turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Also in its debut week, the Warner Bros. series creator James Cameron and cost $185 horror flick Doctor Sleep, based on a novel million to make. AFP of the same name by Stephen King, came in second with $14.1 million in revenue, Exhibitor Relations said.

In this followup to King’s horror classic The Shining, Ewan McGregor plays the now-adult Danny Torrance, who grapples with alcoholism as he endures the trauma of his creepy childhood at the Overlook Hotel and tries to help a young girl with the same “shining” sensory power.

In third place for the Friday-to-Sunday period, with $12.8 million, was Playing With Fire, a Paramount comedy about a crew of tough firefighters who rescue three feisty siblings and end up having to babysit Director Roland Emmerich (left) and actor/rapper Ed Skrein pose after for them. It stars John the premiere of Lionsgate's war drama 'Midway' on November 05, 2019 Cena, Keegan- in Westwood, California.

OMPOSER and record producer Jonathan Manalo explained why One Music X, the biggest international Filipino music festival, had to be staged outside the country for several times first before finally coming home.

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Manalo, who acts as One Music X festival audio content head, wanted to introduce the music fest overseas to establish it as an international festival that trains the spotlight on Filipino artists.

“It was our intention to do it outside the country first to create an image that the festival is a global music event. It’s very strategic to start holding it abroad before staging it in the Philippines,” M a n a l o told Manila Standard.

One Music X (1MX) finally comes home as it is all set to rock Manila on Nov. 22 at the Centris Elements in Quezon City following the sold-out concerts in Dubai, UAE, and Singapore, where world-class Filipino artists conquered the international stage.

“The stars this time will get to showcase their singing prowess in their homeland,” Manalo said.

The festival will be headlined by the country’s biggest music acts including KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino, Darren Espanto,Sandwich, Itchyworms, Mayonnaise, IV of Spades, and Agsunta.

One Music X was launched in 2017, spearheaded by record label Star Music, FM radio station MOR 101.9 For Life!, music channel MYX Philippines, OPM music portal One Music PH, and the global multiplatform media hub for Filipino news and entertainment, The Filipino Channel (TFC), with a goal to showcase Pinoy talents on the world stage.

The music festival is also part of ABS-CBN’s continuing efforts to bring immersive Kapamilya experiences in awe-inspiring live shows, fan meets, theater productions, and concerts here and abroad.

International Pinoy music fest goes home Pop stars KZ Tandingan and Darren Espanto headline the country's biggest international Filipino music festival, One Music X 2019 (1MX).

Indie band Agsunta is popular for its acoustic and soft melodic rock sound influenced by Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

Tickets cost P899 for VIP and P499 for General Admission. To get your tickets, visit www.ticketnet. com.ph. ***

A Jollier experience with Joshua Garcia

Kapamilya actor and Jollibee ambassador Joshua Garcia

Jollibee takes customer joy and convenience to a brand-new level with the opening of its first Level Up Joy Store in the Philippines – the new Jollibee Katipunan in Quezon City.

Students and residents have

From left: Jollibee Katipunan Restaurant Manager Cherry Chua, Joshua Garcia, Jollibee Philippines Metro North RBU Head Joan Aquino, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Jollibee Philippines President JJ Alano, and Jollibee Global Brand CMO and PH Marketing Head Francis Flores.

been eagerly anticipating the grand re-opening of this Jollibee branch in Katipunan which underwent major renovation last year.

On Nov. 6, the jolliest hangout and landmark along Katipunan Avenue has finally opened its doors once again - showcasing the coolest and Instagrammable store design of the country’s number one fast-food chain as well as exciting innovations that bring greater customer convenience.

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