Manila Standard - 2019 December 3 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 292 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Lack of planning caused snafus’

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that the mishaps and shortcomings in the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games could have been avoided if the P6-billion fund was used “correctly.”

The President, who earlier apologized to athletes who had experienced incon-

veniences, said there was negligence on the part of organizers who failed to prepare for “unforeseen events.”

“If you would ponder on it, it’s actually negligence or unforeseen events that you failed to prepare for,” he said in a TV interview on the program “Unang Hirit.”

The President earlier ordered an investigation into the alleged irregularities in Next page

CLASS OF GOLD. Hidilyn Diaz stamps her class early in the snatch category of the 30th Southeast Asian Games where she lifted 91 kgs before pulling off 120 kgs in the clean and jerk for a total 211 kgs to claim her first SEAG gold since 2007. Above, a Philpost office worker shows off the new SEA Games designed stamps and souvenir sheets sold for P96 and P314 for a set with envelope. At left, awarding ceremony at the World Trade Center in Pasay City in the Wushu Taolo Men’s Taijijian, with Malaysia’s Choon How Loh (gold, center), the Philippines’ Daniel Latawan Paratac (silver, left), and Brunei’s Hosea Wong Zheng Yu (right, bronze). Lino Santos and Norman Cruz

SEA GAMES MEDAL TALLY (As of December 2/ 8:15 P. M.)

GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL PHILIPPINES VIETNAM MALAYSIA INDONESIA THAILAND SINGAPORE CAMBODIA BRUNEI MYANMAR LAOS TIMOR

38 15 10 6 6 3 1 1 0 0 0

20 20 2 11 9 7 3 3 5 0 0

13 16 7 12 16 7 13 3 14 2 0

71 51 19 29 31 17 17 7 19 2 0

PH juggernaut rolls on Diaz bags first SEAG gold; 7 other events boost medal count

By Peter Atencio

W

Thousands flee ‘Tisoy’ fury; some events on hold

ITH Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz leading the charge, the Philippine juggernaut continued on Day 2 of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, fueled by victories in arnis, weightlifting, cycling, duathlon, triathlon, pencak silat, lawn balls and 3x3 basketball.

By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano TENS of thousands of people were sheltering in evacuation centers as Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name: Kammuri) barreled towards the Philippines, threatening plans for the Southeast Asian Games events near Metro Manila.

Tisoy was expected to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday in the east with intense rains and potent wind gusts of up to 185 kilometers per hour, forecasters said.

The storm is on track to then pass close to Metro Manila, which is home to some 13 million people and the site for many of the SEA Games events.

Nearly 70,000 people have already fled their homes in the Bicol region, which is where the typhoon is expected to strike first.

“We hope there won’t be any damage, but given its strength, we can’t avoid it,”

Diaz emerged as the star of the show for Team Philippines when she finally bagged her first Southeast Asian Games gold with a dominant performance in women’s weightlifting.

The 28-year-old Diaz lifted a total of 211 kgs in topping the women’s 55-kg division before an appreciative crowd at the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Diaz added her breakthrough SEA Games gold to her glowing collection of medals that also include a gold in the Next page

Next page

Massacre case up for Dec. 19 ruling

By Rey E. Requejo THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court has set the promulgation of judgment on the Maguindanao massacre case on Dec. 19, or more than 10 years after the gruesome killing of 58 people, including 32 journalists.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City RTC Branch 221 said she will render judgment on the multiple murder cases in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre on Dec. 19 after terminating the trial of the case last August.

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TISOY’S THREAT. This handout image taken and received Monday, courtesy of Gladys Vidal, shows heavy rains and moderate winds (topmost) from Typhoon ‘Tisoy,’ the 20th storm to hit the Philippines, battering houses in Gamay, northern Samar—threatening plans for the Southeast Asian Games events near Manila. In Albay (top left) children play video games inside a school turned into an evacuation area in Legazpi City, Albay, while other coastal residents (top right) gather inside an evacuation area, also in Legazpi. AFP, Greenpeace

State agencies told: Brace for storm; classes scrapped

By MJ Blancaflor and Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all government agencies to make the necessary preparations for areas that will be hit by Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name “Kammuri”), which is expected to make landfall Tuesday as

a Category 3 hurricane, the Palace said Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Malacañang is closely monitoring areas that will be affected by the typhoon.

“We ask the public, especially residents who will be affected by the typhoon to stay vigilant, check the latest weather advisory

in their respective areas through government social media accounts and coordinate with their local disaster and risk reduction management offices for appropriate and responsive action,” Panelo said.

The typhoon has forced schools across the region to suspend classes. Cebu Pacific Airlines has also canceled a number of flights.

Next page

Hack-proof phone from China junked

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday the Chinese government had offered him a mobile phone that could not be hacked or accessed through computers or computer network.

He did not give details, but he made the statement when he was asked if China was capable of controlling the Philippines’ power grid.

“Right now they are listening to us, [through] satellites, without using the grid, the spies. They know, I know Next page

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Narco-killer’ eyed as new PNP chief P

By MJ Blancaflor

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he will appoint a policeman as the next Philippine National Police chief who can assure him that all drug lords would be killed in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Duterte has yet to choose the top cop who will lead the 40,000-strong police force, and more than three weeks after the retirement of former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde.

“If you will say, ‘Sir, if you choose me, all drug lords will be killed. ‘Ok, [then

I’ll appoint] you. If you can’t give me that guarantee, I won’t [appoint you],” Duterte told GMA 7.

The PNP is now led by officer in charge Archie Gamboa after Albayalde relinquished his post over a drug scandal even before his mandatory

retirement on Nov. 8.

Allegations that Albayalde protected the so-called “ninja cops” he had worked with when he was Pampanga police chief in 2013 prompted him to relinquish his post and go into non-duty status on Oct. 14.

The Interior department has recommended the PNP’s top three officials as possible successors: Gamboa, Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan and Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Duterte said while they were “all good,” he found it difficult to choose among them.

“I am having a hard time with the po-

Hack-proof...

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lice. I love my police officers, but I find officials difficult, he said.

“They are all good. I want a better deal. It is not enough that you recommend to me.”

Gamboa and Cascolan belonged to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, while Eleazar belonged to the 1987 class.

Later in the day, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte wanted an “honest cop” to lead the PNP. “He doesn’t want a cop that has been charged with any irregularity, infraction whether criminal or administrative,” Panelo told reporters.

‘Lack...

From A1

Here’s why Rody sacked Leni from anti-drug post

the country’s hosting of the SEA Games, as athletes and members of the media complained of accreditation, accommodation, food, facilities, and transportation woes.

But he exonerated House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who chairs the organizing committee, from allegations of corruption even before the Palace investigation started.

The President noted that snafus could have been prevented if there was adequate planning, since the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) had “many years to prepare.”

“It was a huge sum...You had so many years to prepare for it. So how come that it all happened?” he said.

“And even in the food, and in the billeting of the hotel that caused confusion. These things could have been avoided if you used the money correctly,” the President added.

The President was among thousands of spectators who attended the opening of the SEA Games at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan Saturday night.

The Palace earlier asked the organizers to rectify the errors in the country’s hosting of the SEA Games and offer “better services” and agreed with critics that there was indeed something wrong with the preparations.

The Palace on Monday congratulated Filipino athletes who won medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, saying it is pleased that their hard work is paying off.

“We congratulate our athletes who have won and brought honor to the country in this ongoing biennial multi-sport event,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

As of Monday, the Philippines had the most number of medals among 11 competing countries.

Panelo also expressed support for local athletes who will compete in the next few days.

President Duterte will give incentives to and confer the Order of Lapu-Lapu on Filipino athletes who bag medals.

The Philippines is fielding more than 1,000 athletes for the regional games.

The country won its first SEA Games overall championship in 2005 when it hosted the regional sports meet for the third time.

Meanwhile, the Palace said Davao City Mayor Sara-Duterte Carpio was right in saying that the song played during the opening rites of the 30th Southeast Asian Games does not represent the entire Philippines.

President Duterte’s daughter criticized the song choice “Manila,” which was played during the opening rites of the games held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan Saturday night, since it is not “inclusive.”

“The Mayor is right. We have to have a song that will reflect not only Manila but the entire Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. The song writers, including myself, are being alerted to make such a song,” Panelo said.

The song “Manila,” which reflects the sentiments of a man who has spent time overseas and wants to return home, was a 1976 pop hit.

In her post, Duterte-Carpio questioned the use of the song when the athletes represent the entire Philippines, not just Manila.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he had sacked Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chairman of the government’s anti-drug body because he feared she would mess up.

“What I fear is she would mess up. That’s why I’m afraid,” Duterte told GMA 7’s Unang Hirit.

“The more she stays with the ICAD, the more that she would create issues and the more that the people will be like wondering, ‘What is the truth here?’

“I’m afraid because she does not know anything.”

Meanwhile, Robredo said Monday she will release her report about the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign “very soon.”

She said she was just waiting for the right time to make public her findings and recommendations during her brief stint as cochairman of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs or ICAD. “We were about to submit on Wednesday

or Thursday last week because that was my third week on the job,” she said during her BISErbisyo LENI radio program.

Duterte fired Robredo on Nov. 24 as cochairman of ICAD 18 days after she assumed the post, and after he insisted there could be no trust between them as they belonged to opposing political parties.

The President appointed her in October, a post she accepted on Nov. 6.

“You know what happened. She made an asshole of herself,” Duterte said.

“First, I appointed her. The next day, she went to the US Embassy. That’s the one thing that I don’t like. If you are a sovereign nation, you should not be like an ass-licking guy.”

Duterte earlier said he disliked Robredo and would not give her a Cabinet-rank post for committing “missteps,” such as talking with groups and individuals critical of his campaign against illegal drugs, calling her a “scatterbrain” with “kneejerk” impulses.

Robredo “made an asshole of herself” when she reached out to the United Na-

tions Office on Drugs and Crime and Community-Based Drug Rehab Alliance, and US Embassy officials to discuss how to improve community-based rehabilitation centers, Duterte said.

During her short-lived stint in ICAD, Robredo also visited drug-infected barangays, asking for their cooperation to get rid of illegal drugs in their area.

Duterte also said he would restrict Robredo’s access to classified information on the drug menace, including the list of highprofile value targets, since she could “jeopardize” state secrets.

Robredo, however, said she would disclose matters she had discovered. The President dared her to do so.

“Leni keeps on harping on so many things―that it has not succeeded. We cannot tell her why so I said, ‘Why don’t you just join us? Actually it’s an exasperation thing for me. I said, ‘You join us so you would know,” Duterte said. MJ Blancaflor and Rio N. Araja

PH...

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Triathlon contributed its third gold medal as Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna teamed up with Fernando Casares and John Chicano to rule the mixed team relay at the Subic Bay boardwalk. It was the second gold for both Mangrobang and Chicano, who ruled the men and women’s triathlon, respectively, on Sunday.

The Philippines also captured the first gold medal in lawn bowls competition after ruling the men’s pairs at the Friendship Gate in Clark, Pampanga.

Rodel Labayo and Angelo Morales turned back the pair of Woramet Singkeaw and Uthen Ontong of Thailand, 19-11, to add to the gold medal tally of the Philippines.

Singkaew and Ontong settled for the silver, while Rais Muhammad Abdul and Rusli Muhammad Soufi of Malaysia took the bronze medal after beating Amli Muhammad Arrif and Omar Abd Rahman, 22-9 of Brunei.

Malaysian lawn bowlers took the gold medal in the men’s triple after posting a 14-8 win over the troika of Elmer Abatayo, Homer Mercado and Christopher Dagpin of the Philippines.

Singapore placed third after Leong Khim Hoong, Melvin Kwang Yong Tan and Noui Ming Fook Matthew trounced Pollangeon Saman, Pongsiri Kunanon and Manakitpaiboon, 23-14 Sonthi of Thailand.

Asian elite champion Monica Torres kicked off another productive day for the hosts as she sustained her energy despite an upset stomach to clinch the women’s duathlon gold early Monday at the Subic Bay Boardwalk.

Torres ruled the 10km run-40km bike-5km run after finishing in two hours, eight minutes and 44 seconds.

“I expected to be strong on the bike, but honestly, I threw up all my nutrition and gels,” she said in Filipino.

She added that she wasn’t pressured by the victories of her compatriots, John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang in triathlon. ‘‘I didn’t feel any pressure after our triathletes won yesterday. We already expected them to win because they’re really strong in

their events. More or less, we know each other, even those who join the tournaments within the region, except for a few surprise entries.

But we’re always ready for them. We also expect that some of them will have podium finishes in both the triathlon and duathlon,’’ said Torres.

The 3-time Powerman Asia Duathlon Champion was followed by Pareeya Sonsem of Thailand, who clocked 2:11:18, while Thi Phuong Trinh Nguyen of Vietnam delivered the first duathlon medal for her country by pocketing the bronze medal in 2:14:20.

Earlier, a disappointed Joey Delos Reyes finished second with a time of 1:53:05 for the silver medal in the men’s side.

“Of course I’m disappointed because we’re at home, so I really tried for the gold, but at least we got the silver,” he said.

Jauhari Johan gave Indonesia its second gold after ruling the grueling 10km run-40km bike5km run in one hour, 52 minutes, and 51 seconds.

Thailand’s Nattawut Srinate settled for a bronze medal with a 1:53:05 timing.

The run-bike-run event is returning to the SEA Games for the first time since the 2007 edition in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Pencak Silat delivered its maiden gold for the Philippines in the games through Edmar Tacuel, who topped the men’s seni tunggal event at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

The 20-year-old from Tubongan, Iloilo impressed the judges in his games’ debut and scored 470 points, edging Muhammad Iqbal Bin Abdul Rahman of Singapore who bagged the bronze with 461 points and Dino Bima Sulistianto of Indonesia who settled for the bronze with 460 points.

Tacuel, the sixth of the seven children of a farmer and a housekeeper, couldn’t contain his emotions after adding to the Philippines’ golden run.

“I’m happy that I won a gold medal,” he said. “I want to thank all the coaches, my teammates, my province-mates, the whole Philippines, many thanks.”

State...

From A1

A total of 434 families or 1,328 persons have been preemptively evacuated from the municipalities of Basud, Jose Panganiban, and Vinzons, Camarines Norte.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has also put in place stockpiles and set aside P2 billion in standby funds.

The Metro Manila Development Authority said Monday it is all geared up for Typhoon Tisoy, which is expected to bring heavy rains over parts of National Capital Region.

In a press briefing, MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said the agency is on alert in preparation for Typhoon Tisoy’s onslaught.

“We are 100-percent prepared for Typhoon Tisoy. As a matter of fact, we have already activated the four quadrants in the metro to facilitate a more efficient response when emergency situations arise during typhoon,” Garcia said.

The four quadrants of Metro Manila are as follows: • North Quadrant, composed of Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, San Juan; • South Quadrant, composed of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Pateros, and Taguig; • East Quadrant, composed of Marikina and Pasig; and • West Quadrant, consisting of Navotas, Malabon, and Manila.

Asian Games and a bronze in the world championship.

“I’m proud about winning a gold in an international competition here in the Philippines, but I was nervous because I didn’t know how to handle the pressure from the crowd,” she said in Filipino. “But I am thankful that because of their support, I was able to do this right. They pushed me to do well, so I hope they continue to support us.”

After winning 16 as of 8 p.m., Team Philippines improved its two-day gold-silver-bronze medal tally to 38-20-13 (71 total) to pull away from closest pursuers Vietnam (15-20-16) and Malaysia (10-2-7).

Arnis also shared the limelight as it scooped seven more gold medals to keep the Filipinos on top of the medal tally.

Led by Elmer Manlapaz, the Filipino arnis warriors dominated the men’s padded stick by winning three of the gold medals at stake, while four others in the distaff side topped their respective events on the second day of action at the Angeles University Foundation.

Manlapaz ruled the featherweight class, Jesfer Huquire was tops in bantamweight, and Carloyd Tejada won in the welterweight category.

Sheena Del Monte prevailed in the women’s bantamweight padded stick, Jedah Mae Soriano took the women’s featherweight padded stick, Abegail Abad secured the gold in the welterweight padded stick and Rosh Ashley Monville took the title in the lightweight finals.

The surge sustained arnis’ first-day romp, which saw the country’s national sport winning a total of seven out of eight gold medals at stake for the day. In all, the arnis warriors had won a total of 12 gold medals, eclipsing the 10 of the dancesport athletes on Sunday.

Cyclists John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira scored a twin-kill in the mountain bike downhill that set the tone earlier for another gold rush for the Filipinos.

“Our rescue personnel are on standby to respond to any emergency,” he said.

Garcia noted that all pumping stations in Metro Manila are functional.

“As of now, the MMDA has 61 pumping stations all over Metro Manila. These water pumps are expected to help alleviate flooding,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that the agency is in close coordination with the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and local government units.

Present during the briefing are representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Capital Region Police Office and Philippine Coast Guard.

Typhoon Tisoy is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning.

The Civil Aviation Authority, meanwhile, directed local air operators to prepare for the possible effects of the incoming typhoon.

CAA director general Capt. Jim Sydiongco instructed all airlines to revisit and activate their Airline Operations Disruption Management Manual.

As a general rule, major airport facilities are shut down when typhoons with winds greater than 170kph are three to six hours away.

In the event of the shutdown, the airport’s manager or facility incharge will issue a Notice to Airman of the non-availability of airport facilities upon the departure of the last aircraft. With PNA

Thousands...

From A1 Mark Timbal, spokesman for the national disaster agency, said.

“We have preemptively evacuated people in areas that are in the storm’s direct path.”

The weather bureau also warned of rain-induced landslides and possible storm surges of up to three meters (10 feet) which could hit coastal areas in the nation’s east.

The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, killing hundreds and putting people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty.

The country’s deadliest cyclone on record was Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

Kammuri is already snarling plans for the SEA Games, which opened Saturday for thousands of athletes from the region and is set to run through to Dec. 11 in and around Manila.

Windsurfing was halted as a precaution and triathlon events were held earlier than scheduled.

Organizers told reporters Monday that each sport is overseen by delegates and ultimately they would make the call on any possible cancellations or rescheduling.

Ramon Suzara, the chief operating officer of the organizing committee, said contingency plans were in place for bad weather, but the duration of the Games would not be extended.

“For example, basketball or volleyball, normally if there are typhoons, which has been done, the competition continues if necessary but without spectators,” he said.

The storm is the latest trouble for the Games, which saw a series of transport snafus and a rush of last-minute construction ahead of the opening.

This year’s Games in Clark, Manila and Subic are already particularly complex, with a record 56 sports across dozens of venues that are in some cases hours apart by car.

Around 8,750 athletes and team officials are expected at this year’s 30th

Massacre...

From A1 “Let the promulgation of judgment in the aboveentitled cases be set on Dec. 19, 2019 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning to be held at Quezon City Jail Annex, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City,” Reyes said in an order dated Nov. 29, copy of which was released to reporters only on Monday.

The controversial case, which involves the murder of 58 people by gunmen allegedly upon the orders of members of the influential Ampatuan clan, should have been decided last month as it had already been

because I have talked to him [Chinese President Xi Jinping], Duterte told GMA News.

“And as a matter of fact they offered to give me a cellphone that could not be hacked, but he refused the offer since he did want the public to suspect that he had secrets.

Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, along with some lawmakers, earlier raised concerns over China’s ownership of a 40-percent stake in National Grid Corporation, a private consortium that has been operating the Philippines’ power lines since 2009.

CNN earlier reported that the system was now “under the full control” of the Chinese government, which had the “full capability to disrupt national power systems.”

According to the CNN report, only Chinese engineers had access to the key elements of the system, and that power could in theory be deactivated remotely at Beijing’s orders.

Duterte earlier rejected the claim that China was capable of controlling the Philippines’ power grid, adding he still trusted Beijing.

“I will ask China now. I‘d like to address myself, respectfully to President Xi, what could be the reason because I do not believe that they will do. But if there is, what could be the reason for you to cut [the grid]? Duterte said.

“What could be the possible reason that China would spy or cut the grid?”

In August, Duterte met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in his five-day visit to China to assert the country’s arbitral victory that spelled out the Philippines’ marine entitlements in the South China Sea and rejected Beijing’s historic claims.

Duterte says Xi offered Manila a bigger share in the joint oil exploration in the South China Sea if the government would set aside the 2016 arbitral ruling.

Malacañang said the country would not abandon the 2016 Hague ruling while pursuing a joint oil exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea. Tacuel said his knowledge of arnis, his first sport since 2012, helped him in his transition to pencak silat. He became a member of the national team last April and trained rigorously in Singapore and Thailand.

In 3x3 basketball, the Philippines lived up to its top billing by taking the gold medal following a 21-9 shellacking of Indonesia, with CJ Perez leading the cagers’ assault with 10 points at the FilOil-Flying Sports Center in San Juan.

Afril Bernardino also unloaded 10 points in the Philippine women’s squad’s 17-13 beating of Thailand for the women’s division gold earlier.

Team Pilipinas, getting instructions from coach Ronnie Magsanoc, finished with an eight-winning run in stopping the Indonesia’s outside shooting.

“Indonesia had a lot of sharpshooters. We just wanted to protect the two-point line and make them earn their points,” the team skipper, Chris Newsome, said.

Newsome’s crew reached the finals following a six-game sweep of the elimination round, and after crushing Cambodia, 21-6.

They advanced to the finals following a 21-9 triumph over Thailand.

The Filipinas bounced back from a 20-22 loss to the Thais in the women’s elims, as they ended the group stage with a 4-1 slate.

They went on topple Vietnam, 21-12, in the semis and arranged a finals clash with the Thais.

Meanwhile, Canoe kayak’s competition manager on Monday decided to reschedule the games originally scheduled Wednesday to Dec. 6-8 due to typhoon “Tisoy.”

Bonnel Perez, one of the managers in charge for canoe kayak and traditional boat race, said the games were moved after the state weather bureau raised typhoon signal number one in most of the Luzon area.

Meanwhile, Len Escollante, one of the coaches of the Philippine Canoe Kayak and Dragon Boat Federation (PCKDF), expressed confidence that their athletes would win at least five of the 12 gold medals at stake in their events.

edition—the biggest ever—along with another 12,000 volunteers. Organizers hope more than 500 million viewers will tune in on TV by the end of the competition on Dec. 11.

The Philippines have made a strong start to the Games, rising to the top of the medal table with over 50 in total, ahead of Vietnam in second and Thailand in third.

The host nation added to their haul of gold medals on Monday with wins in downhill mountain biking and stick-wielding martial art arnis, while claiming a silver in the rescheduled men’s duathlon event in Subic.

A glitzy dancesport competition in Clark on Sunday saw the Philippines pick up 10 golds.

Tisoy intensified slightly while nearing landfall on Monday.

In Monday’s 5 p.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said the southern eyewall of Typhoon Tisoy is now bringing intense rainfall and violent winds over Northern Samar. The eyewall will also hit Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur in the next three hours.

submitted for resolution last August, but Solis-Reyes asked the Supreme Court for an extension.

Under the rules, a court has 90 days to issue judgment after a case has been submitted for resolution.

The high court granted Solis-Reyes’ request for a one-month extension, and she is expected to render a decision on or before Dec. 20.

Tried as principal accused in the multiple murder cases were former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his siblings, former ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Sajid Islam Ampatuan.

Their father, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is also among those charged

The eye of the typhoon was located at 155 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph, it was moving west at 15 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 3 remained in effect over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon and southern portion of Quezon (Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unison, Pitogo, Gumaca, Pitogo, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco and San Andres), Marinduque, Northern Samar, northern portion of Eastern Samar (Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad San Policarpio) and northern portion of Samar (Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao Calbayog, Tagapul-an, Almagro and Sto. Niño). With PNA

in the case, died in 2015 while under detention due to a lingering illness.

The trial of the case dragged on for 10 years due to the sheer number of the accused―197―and victims―58―the change of the counsel of the accused, many motions and pleadings and threats and the death of several witnesses.

Of the 197 accused, 90 are in detention including the Ampatuan siblings, 11 are out on bail including their brother, Sajid Islam, who was allowed to post bail by the court, eight have died including Ampatuan Sr., two accused discharged as state witnesses, while six others were dropped as respondents. With Rio N. Araja

News

Palace expects LGUs to ban plastics

By MJ Blancaflor

A

FTER President Rodrigo Duterte floated the idea of a nationwide ban on singleuse plastics, Malacañang on Monday said it expects local government units to follow suit.

This came after the Quezon City council decided to prohibit restaurants and hotels from distributing singleuse plastics and disposable materials including styrofoam, soaps and shampoos placed in sachets and singleuse containers, starting next year.

The ordinance seeks to reduce waste and promote sustainable development in Quezon City.

“The President has not yet said anything. But I suppose all local governments would follow suit, since the President has already made a stand on that,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

In November, Duterte said he is mulling a nationwide plastic ban during the 43rd Cabinet meeting in response to environmental problems, even as he recognized that his plan would require legislative action.

Panelo said it was up to lawmakers to pursue the passage of a bill seeking a ban on single-use plastic products in the country.

“That depends on the members of Congress. The President has already made a definitive stand on that. All they have to do is pursue that line,” he said.

Two measures seeking the prohibition of single-use plastics have been filed

by Senators Cynthia Villar and Francis Pangilinan, but these proposals were still pending at the committee level.

Both bills seek to ban food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers from issuing single-use plastics.

Single-use plastics include items such as grocery bags, food packaging, films and bags, manufacturing water bottles, straws, stirrers, containers, Styrofoam, cups, sachets and plastic cutlery.

Filipinos use nearly 48 million shopping bags daily; 16.5 billion smaller, thinner, and transparent plastic bags yearly; and 60 billion sachets annually, according to non-government organization Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives.

The Philippines is the third biggest source of plastic dumped in the world’s oceans, following China and Indonesia, a 2015 report stated.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has also warned that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean, if plastic pollution remains unaddressed.

Win files LPG Act bill in bid to protect consumers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

READY FOR ‘TISOY’. Workers start folding the giant tarpaulin along EDSA in Santolan, Quezon City in preparation for the coming of Typoon ‘Tisoy’ which could affect a large portion of Metro Manila. Manny Palmero

Arroyo camp welcomes dismissal of plunder case

By Maricel V. Cruz THE camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has welcomed the dismissal of what it described as “pahabol” complaint that was filed by the Ombudsman filed during the acquittal of the former President.

In a statement, Laurence Arroyo, counsel of the former President, welcomed the dismissal of the complaint: “We commend the Office of the Ombudsman for the dismissal of this case.”

“It takes as much moral courage and intellectual honesty to dismiss a case as it does to file and prosecute one. What has been said of a public prosecutor can be said of the Ombudsman: Its interest in a criminal prosecution is not that it shall win a case but that justice shall be done’,” Arroyo said.

Citing lack of evidence, the Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the last plunder complaint belatedly filed against Arroyo and several officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office over the use of the Confidential and Intelligence Fund.

In a 10-page resolution penned by Lucielo Ramirez Jr., Graft Investigation and Prosecution

Pay contributions limiting driving time online, SSS urges Bill for PUV drivers filed self-employed, OFWs STATE-RUN Social Security System strongly urged its self-employed, voluntary and overseas Filipino workers members to pay their monthly contributions or loan repayments online for safer, faster and efficient transactions in the comfort of their home or office.

Aside from paying over-the-counter in SSS branches, self-employed, voluntary, and overseas Filipino workers members may pay online through BancNet online, UnionBank online, and Globe’s GCash facility on or before the due date.

“Some SSS members miss their payment deadline of contribution or loan payments due to their busy schedules.

Late loan payments incur penalties, while missed monthly contributions affect their eligibility for benefit claims.

So, we encourage our members to pay their contributions and loans online to avoid these problems and have a safer and more convenient means of settling their obligations with SSS,” SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora C. Ignacio said.

The pension fund has informed members of the convenience of online payment transactions as it saves them time, money, and energy from paying over-the-counter in SSS branches. SSS members who are ATM cardholders of a participating BancNet member can just pay their SSS contributions through BancNet Online at www. bancnetonline.com with no required registration, no transaction fees, and no extra charges.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Monday pushed for the passage of a bill proposing a cap on the driving time of public utility vehicle drivers to promote road safety and decrease road accidents.

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte filed House Bill 1768 that penalizes public utiity vehicle operators who allow their drivers to drive 12 hours or more in a 24-hour period as drivers who do so.

Villafuerte said his proposal also aims to encourage self-discipline in the public transportation sector.

The bill also penalizes companies or institutions that allow their drivers to drive on duty without rest and driving shifts.

“One factor of road accidents is driver fatigue—more specifically, drowsiness. Long drives can be especially dangerous as drivers are prone to doze off and lose concentration, mostly during night,” Villafuerte said, in HB 1768 in underscoring the need to swiftly approve his proposal.

Passenger buses are especially prone to this dangerous practice as they cater to popular tourist destinations that are at least six to 13 hours away by land transportation from Metro Manila, said Villafuerte who represents the Second District of Camarines Sur. The province, which is home to numerous highly popular eco-tourism spots, such as Caramoan Island and the CamSur Watersports Complex, is about 10 hours away from Manila by bus.

Villafuerte said the American Academy of Sleep Medicine even likened drowsy driving to driving under influence.

He quoted the academy’s study as saying that drowsy driving “is similar to alcohol in how it compromises driving ability by reducing alertness.”

Studies have shown that at least a quarter of road accidents that happen are due to driver fatigue, he added. Maricel V. Cruz

Officer III, and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated Feb. 13, 2019 but received only recently, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint for Plunder, Malversation of Public Funds and violation of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act against Arroyo and her corespondents over the alleged misuse of P73 million in CIIF from 2004 to 2007 when Arroyo was president.

The said complaint argued that the case was filed in 2016 by the Field Investigation Office under then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in at about the same time the Supreme Court acquitted the former President of the plunder charge involving the PCSO CIFs for the period 2008 to 2010.

FILIPINO households will no longer have to deal with the consequences of having illegally refilled and poor quality Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders once the LPG Act is passed, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, has recently filed Senate Bill No. 1188 or An Act Providing for the National Energy Policy and Regulatory Framework for the Philippine LPG Industry which aims to strengthen and streamline the laws and regulations overseeing the domestic LPG industry.

This will govern the following activities in the LPG value chain: importation, refining, refilling, transportation, conveyance, distribution, marketing of LPG and manufacturing, requalifying, exchanging, and swapping of LPG pressure vessels.

The said act covers all LPG industry players from the bulk suppliers, refillers, brand owners and marketers to the dealers and retailers.

“By providing a comprehensive legal framework, this measure seeks to institute reforms in the LPG industry, address concerns in health, safety, security and the environment and effectively ensure that consumer welfare remains paramount,” Gatchalian said.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that in 2011, 53 percent or 49,174,460 Filipinos relied on LPG for their basic needs, such as cooking, water heating, and lighting needs. The DOE also reported that in the commercial sector, LPG consumption rose at a rapid pace of 10.4 percent annually from 2007 to 2017.

In filing the bill, Gatchalian took into consideration the reported LPG-related accidents this year and in 2018 which resulted in the loss of lives, limbs and properties.

“Notwithstanding the noteworthy contribution of LPG in addressing the energy needs of Filipinos and the Philippine economy, the regulation of the industry has failed to keep up. This is evidenced by a series of accidents involving LPG causing loss of life, limb, and property,” the lawmaker from Valenzuela said.

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Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A golden harvest for PH DAY ONE of the Southeast Asian Games, for the Philippines, showed that our athletes can excel in regional and international events if properly motivated and trained. My congratulations to all the winners.

Sadly, politics often enters the picture.

Last Saturday’s spectacle—the opening ceremonies—featured a display of pyrotechnics, dances and songs. All these dazzled locals and foreigners alike. I was amazed, too. I watched part of it on TV.

I am sorry to say I cannot buy the excuses of the organizers.

The question is, do all these erase from the people’s minds the blunders of the organizers?

I do not intend to belittle our initial wins and the fantastic opening ceremonies. I just want to put things in their proper perspective.

I still believe that the athletes who were stranded for hours because of logistical missteps on the part of the organizers should not be forgotten.

These not-so-nice experiences—delays in pick-up time, wrong hotels, kikiam for breakfast, the absence of scoreboards and the non-completion of competition venues—are already embedded in their minds.

Photos don’t lie, Santa Banana!

Of course I know that we should focus on encouraging our athletes

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

to do their best. But I also know that those accountable must also face the consequences of their ineptitude, my gulay!

I am sorry to say I cannot buy the excuses of the organizers. They say they only had eight months to prepare, that the media’s negativity was to blame, and so on. The House Speaker, Alan Cayetano, chairman of the organizing committee, claims there are four social media groups responsible. Well, all of them embarrassed us, my gulay!

No amount of grandiosity will erase the embarrassment that was brought upon us.

Cayetano also claims there were attempts to sabotage the SEA Games.

He should prove these claims. *** Whether President Rodrigo Duterte realizes it or not, he practically endorsed the candidacy of both Vice President Leni Robredo and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. He said Leni was incompetent, and that he did not want his daughter to experience all the hardships he is undergoing.

I say this is an endorsement because the Vice President, as chairman of the opposition Liberal Party, is presumed to be the opposition’s candidate. His claim of her incompetence is actually an endorsement.

Yes, it can be a Leni-Sara fight for the presidency in 2022. I am certain it will be Sara, my gulay! *** The President has given Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators three days grace period to settle their obligations—or else they will be shut down and their employees, mostly Chinese, deported.

Duterte’s ultimatum is directed at 218 POGO service providers reportedly not

W

Parochial view

HILE her 74-year-old dad grooved to the music during the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games on Saturday, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio complained that the pop song “Manila” from the 1970s was inappropriate because it did not speak to the entire nation.

In an Instagram post Sunday, Duterte-Carpio said, “We should be inclusive when we want to encourage our countrymen to cheer.”

She seemed defiant in the face of criticism that might be thrown her way.

“I am a Filipino but I don’t have one drop of Tagalog blood in me,” she said, taking pride in her southern roots.

The song “Manila,” a song popularized by eighties Filipino band Hotdog, was played as Team Philippines entered during the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony of the games at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Saturday.

The song is about a man who has spent some time overseas but is longing to return home to Manila, the

country’s capital.

The crowd danced and sang as the song played. Even President Rodrigo Duterte swayed to the music and clapped his hands as the Philippine delegation filled up the stage.

But in her post, Duterte-Carpio questioned the use of the song when the athletes represented the entire Philippines, not just Manila.

“Weren’t they bringing the Philippine flag?” she said in Filipino. “Why would you play the song Manila? Did Lapu-Lapu (the Cebuano chieftain who defeated and killed the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521) die for Manila?” she said.

The mayor’s remarks, though well-intended, seem surprisingly pa-

rochial. They fail, for instance, to take into account that often, a country by convention is represented by its capital. Thus Paris has come to represent France, London, the United Kingdom, and Tokyo, Japan. The French, the British and the Japanese who do not live in these cities do not complain that they are being misrepresented or under-represented.

They are sophisticated enough to understand that this is the way of the world.

The song itself is innocuous, and speaks to the longing for home that millions of Filipinos working abroad feel, regardless of whether they actually live in Manila.

Finally, on a historical note, the mayor should know that Lapu-Lapu did not die at the Battle of Mactan. In fact, there are no records of how or when he actually died. We do know, however, that regardless of how he died, it probably wasn’t for some grand vision of nationhood; that was to come much later, when Filipinos learned to set aside their parochial concerns in favor of a greater good.

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Unity for SEA Games and ‘Tisoy’

WITH the Southeast Asian Games properly launched last Sunday, the next two weeks could be unifying for the country. The opening ceremony was fantastic—though the lighting of the cauldron was underwhelming given especially its cost—and the performance of our athletes have so far been electrifying.

I actually liked the opening speech of Speaker Alan Cayetano; knowing personally that he values his Christian faith, I did not see politics in his words calling for unity: “Today, we put our faith in your hands but we put actions into our faith. Today, we gather as brothers and sisters, as a community of Southeast Asian nations. We gather as children of God seeking to build a better world...Today, we stand tall to tell the world that in Southeast Asia, there is so much diversity, but we do not fear because we have faith, because we have hope, because we put actions into our faith, and why? Because we love God, we love our community, we love our Southeast Asian brothers and sisters and through that love, we pray as one, we build as one, we work as one, and we win as one.”

President Duterte swaying to the beat of “Manila” also set a right tone for the games. As a Mindanawon and especially as a former overseas Filipino worker, I have always loved that song. Anywhere I have lived and worked and visited in the world, when Filipinos gather, this Hotdog classic never fails to make us sing along and dance to its rhythm.

Mayor Sara Duterte of course is entitled to her opinion. And of course she is right about the need to be inclusive. For sure, Yoyoy Villame’s song “Philippine Geography”, also a classic, is more inclusive as it mentions also most provinces (it has to be updated to included the newer ones) but that song would not resonate with our neighbors in the region. I also cannot imagine “Philip-

pine Geography” making us dance as “Manila” always does.

The criticism over the choice of a song aside, the tweet of Mayor Sara belies the conventional thinking that the criticism against the alleged anomalies and early blunders of our hosting is coming from the anti-Duterte people or from media. In fact, the Duterte coalition is crumbling as factions divide and unite to position themselves for the post-Digong era.

The opposition, exemplified by Vice President Leni Robredo and the political prisoner Senator Leila De Lima, has been unqualified in its support for the athletes.

It will be severely tested in the next few days.

I am with our athletes, too. Like our student activists and the young social entrepreneurs I know and like many of the students I teach, they are the best the country has to offer. I give them my unqualified support.

This is not to whitewash wrongdoing that might have tainted the hosting of the SEA games. Investigation must be conducted thoroughly and transparently and charges filed if evidence is there to support allegations of corruption. As for incompetence, there are lessons to be learned in giving great responsibilities to unqualified and inexperienced people.

Going back to the opening ceremony, I laud its celebration of Filipino culture and in particular its recognition of our diversity. I was happy to see the colors, garments, and dances of many of our indigenous peoples from Aparri to Jolo represented in the ceremony. It was, for sure, impressive.

But it would be more impressive if we actually do right by our indigenous peoples, including the Dumagat, whose homeland will be destroyed by the Kaliwa Dam, the Lumad in Mindanao Turn to A5

China close to wiping out absolute poverty

BY THE end of next year, China is expected to declare that it has already eliminated absolute poverty. This is in keeping with the centennial goal of the Communist Party of China, which was founded in 1921.

Eradicating poverty had been a longstanding goal of Chinese Communist Party leaders since they took power in 1949. But they made slow progress. During the Mao Zedong era from 1949 to 1976, some government programs, particularly the Great Leap Forward, led to hunger and famine in the countryside. Under Deng Xiaoping, who jumpstarted China’s economic liberalization in the late 1970s and 1980s, and later his successor, Jiang Zemin, who assumed office from 1993 to 2003, the gap between urban and rural incomes widened as the government focused its attention on developing urban zones in eastern coast.

Government policy directions began to change under Hu Jintao, who ruled between 2003 to 2013. China abolished agriculture taxes, waived fees for the first nine years of public

education in rural areas, and set up a basic social welfare network in the countryside. But poverty remained widespread with Chinese official data showing that 99 million people still lived in absolute poverty at the end of 2012 when Hu left office.

In total, more than 850 million Chinese people have been lifted out of extreme poverty in the past 40 years.

When Xi Jinping became president, he made the eradication of poverty a key target of his administration. He exhorted the party and the government to "win the tough battle of end-

ing poverty,” and urged provincial and municipal officials to look after those most in need in their region. He pledged to wipe out poverty by 2020 and to build a “moderately prosperous society.”

China’s achievements in poverty alleviation are said to be unequalled in modern history and have been recognized worldwide.

Government figures suggest that the number of poor Chinese in rural areas has fallen from 98.9 million in 2013 to 43.35 million in 2016. This translates to a decline in the poverty rate among the rural population from 10.2 percent to 4.5 percent, according to 2017 statistics compiled by of the State Council Poverty Alleviation Office.

In total, more than 850 million Chinese people have been lifted out of extreme poverty in the past 40 years, according to the World Bank.

The country’s poverty rate—defined as the percentage of people living on the equivalent of US$1.90 or less per day—fell from 88 percent in 1981 to Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

What a great show!

I CAUGHT the official video of the 30th SEAG opener on YouTube, and what a grand show it turned out to be indeed. The positive responses on Facebook have been pretty emotional, and understandably so; I was not a little moist-eyed myself.

Of course the yellow lice were being bitter online as usual. I especially liked the fulminations of one Raissa Robles, who did her undergrad degree proud—in “imaginative English writing,” and magna cum laude at that!—by complaining about ballet routines, the genealogy of rapper apl.de.ap, and comparing the show to Hitler’s 1938 Berlin Olympics opener. How sad it must be to be someone like her.

For the rest of us who’ve got our heads screwed on right, though, we shouldn’t have been surprised by the opener’s success. After all, Filipinos are known to put on good entertainment shows. But as I write this piece, the country has already won two gold medals, in track and wushu. Perhaps this is a harbinger of better things to come this week.

Will our athletes do as well as the entertainers did, notwithstanding the appalling record of our sports officials over the decades, not to mention the fury of incoming Typhoon “Tisoy?” It’s part of the magic of sports that we’ll have to wait to the very end to find out, and so very often can we be surprised. *** I was nailed to my seat from the very first dance number, featuring a costumed sarimanok—a folk figure that can be found in other ASEAN countries as well—dancing alone to pulsing tribal rhythms and—of all things—the repeated chanting of “Kyrie eleison.”

Any Catholic churchgoer knows that this is the Greek phrase for “Lord, have mercy” (“Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami”), the responsorial of the Penitential Act within the Mass. This must have been known— aside from the Filipinos—only to the delegates from Timor Leste, the only other Catholic Asian country thanks to their Portuguese heritage.

This opening number showed the

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paying taxes. According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., there are only some 60 licensed—and tax-paying—POGOs. All the rest are illegal.

This time, I believe Duterte is serious. Illegal POGOs are estimated to be costing the country more than P21 billion. Santa Banana, that’s a big chunk of money. These are funds that can be used for good purpose!

In my years as a journalist I have never seen so many foreigners cheating the government of what is due it. It’s about time we showed the Chinese they will not get away with everything, just because Duterte says they are his friends! *** I cannot understand why the President keeps on claiming that he killed people, mostly high-value targets, in the context of the war against drugs.

He claims also that he dumped their bodies in Manila Bay or threw them into ravines.

This is not the first time the President has boasted of killing people.

Recall that he said he had been doing

Unity...

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that is constantly red-tagged and attacked for defending their territory from mining and agriculture companies, and the Maranaos who cannot rebuild their ancestral homes in Marawi and now has the added burden of fighting an unwelcome military camp in that city.

Above, all we should not forget the Aetas who are being evicted from their ancestral domains in the Clark and Sub-

world how seamlessly our Catholic faith is today part of our culture and history, as the local Church comes up on its quincentennial in two years.

But it would also have been appreciated by the other non-Christian delegates, for whom the Deity by whatever name they call Him—Bathala, Panginoon, Al’lah—animates the enduring spirituality of our region. ***

Let’s sit back and enjoy the games.

As the different national delega delegations took to the stage—many of them, cellphone cameras held up high, obviously impressed by the size of the crowd in what is billed as the world’s largest covered arena—I was struck by how much we looked like each other. The Malaysians were a little swarthier, the Timorese a little fairer, but all in all, it was evident that we were all brothers (and sisters) to each other, on the skin and not just under it.

This was obviously the first meaning of the Games theme, “We win as one!” As the region forms closer bonds, not only for common growth but also for common protection against a common maritime bully, sports events like SEAG are important in bridging the waters that separate us from each other in order to find common ground.

The second meaning of the theme is a bit more conventional: a reminder that success, in life as well as in sports, depends on unity, team spirit, and teamwork. Are we asking too much to expect our own sports officials to start thinking less of themselves, and more of the athletes entrusted to their care, if we are to do better at events like this?

The third meaning was directed squarely at the largely Filipino arena audience and offsite viewership, in the imposing presence of our controversial president: We can win only as one nation. Fortunately for us, Duterte has achieved, and still enjoys, a singular level of unified popular support. There will always be the Raissas around, but if they can’t overcome their own irrelevancies, that’s their burden to bear.

I came across an FB post that answered, point by point, all the criticism that greeted the SEAG—from expensive cauldrons (most of the money goes into what’s under the pole) to visiting teams who had to sleep on hotel floors (it’s because they arrived ahead of schedule) to kikiam on the menu (actually chicken sausage for the benefit of Muslims).

Someone will have to answer for why this fake news got picked up so easily by the media abroad, almost as if it were all orchestrated.

For his part, Alan Cayetano has promised to subject himself afterwards to parliamentary and even COA investigation of the way the funds were managed. That is good enough for now; we can be sure that the Raissas of the world can’t wait to dig their claws into him. But right now, everyone’s still on a post-opener high, we’re winning medals, we’re getting a lot of free publicity abroad.

Let’s sit back and enjoy the games! *** In today’s first reading (Is 11: 1-10) the prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the new Davidic king, a “shoot that shall sprout from the stump of Jesse”, a king “whom the nations will seek out”. His is a kingdom where “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, the calf and the lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.”

It's a paradisiac vision that Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to proclaim to the world, following in the footsteps of the Twelve. When they return overjoyed at their success, Jesus blesses them and reminds them of His own divinity: “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Among those to whom He was revealed, many centuries later, was the 16th century Spanish missionary St Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Society of Jesus, whose feast we celebrate today. The “soldiers of the Pope” now have one of their own seated in the Papal chair. Over and above the athletic prowess of their local Ateneo charges on the basketball court, the continuing success of the Jesuits’ educational mission deserves our prayers.

A non-PMAer, female PNP Chief?

IT MAKES sense, the idea that President Duterte, the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, might as well be the concurrent Chief of the Philippine National Police.

The President said he'd rather not appoint anybody in the event he fails to find a general he can trust to lead the national police, apparently frustrated over the extent corruption that has plagued the PNP to the top.

We would like to believe that only a “nil percent” of the police organization is involved in such activities, but, truth be told, widespread corruption and illegal activities involving PNP personnel persist. These include jueteng and other illegal gambling operations.

I know for a fact that there is no dearth of skilled and brilliant police generals in the PNP, having covered the police beat and rubbed elbows with them for many years.

I just wish Manong Digong would easily find somebody like one officer and a gentleman I most admired, a retired police general who continues to render his no-nonsense public service in the country's summer capital.

I can understand Manong Digong’s frustration over the repeated foul-ups and screw-ups of the police leadership in handling heinous crimes and corruption cases involving cops.

Just one example is the unsolved case of Korean Jee Ick Joo, who was abducted then killed by crooks in uniform inside Camp Crame, Quezon City in October 2016. This was a low point in the PNP’s history.

China...

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this since he was mayor of Davao. Is it to warn others to take him seriously, or say he is a strong leader?

Whatever his purpose, I doubt if his critics would believe him. The problem is that those who don’t know him may believe him. And that, my gulay, is the problem! *** With information technology and social media, online lending entrepreneurs have proliferated.

This is because going down the socio-economic ladder, minimum-wage earners, contractual employees and everyone else below the poverty line do not have any access at all to institutional lending firms like banks. My gulay, even pawnshops require some form of assets!

This leaves countless people with no choice but to borrow from socalled 5-6 operators during times of great need!

With so many online lenders offering between P5,000 and P2 million in loans, the problem goes out of hand when these online lenders use the phone book to put to shame the families or close friends of the delinquent clients to get them to fully pay their loans. I have heard many such horror stories. This should be

stopped by the government!

Yes, we have the National Privacy Commission, whose mandate is to prevent people from dispensing their personal data. Still, I believe Congress should enact a law to protect people from being harassed by these online lenders!

I believe that the National Privacy Commission alone cannot stop the racket. My gulay, would you believe that personal data is even secured illegally using credit cards especially of the elderly? *** It has been over a week since the President fired Vice President Leni Robredo as chair of the Inter-agency Committee Against Drugs. Robredo has promised to expose what she discovered about the conduct of this bloody war, and hinted that the President himself was even covering it up!

Just what those discoveries are, we can only speculate.

Are they about high-value targets and narco-politicians? About the killings?

I do not think, however, that we can trust Robredo. She talks too much!

She has become a windbag, always criticizing Duterte but not being able to prove anything.

0.7 percent in 2015.

The central government said in 2015 that rural residents with an annual income of less than 2,800 RMB (USD427 or P22,000) were living in absolute poverty. The previous criteria set in 2011 was 2,300 RMB. Fourteen areas located in mainly mountainous regions were considered as suffering from particularly acute poverty.

China has already lifted 82.39 million rural poor out of poverty from 2012 to 2018, and its poverty rate— the proportion of people living below the poverty line—dropped from 10.2 to 1.7 percent in the same period, recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

According to the agency, the population living below the current poverty line in the rural areas was 16.6 million by the end of 2018, down 13.86 million from 2017, and the poverty rate in 2018 was also down 1.4 percentage points from the previous year.

By the end of 2018, the number of Chinese living in absolute poverty had fallen to 16.6 million, according to Chinese government statistics, out of a population of 1.4 billion.

China's poverty reduction campaign is comprehensive and is aimed at ensuring that no one in the countryside has to worry about food, clothing, housing, basic education and health care.

Beijing’s strategy to achieve its poverty alleviation targets includes several measures. Among them are

ic areas, both hosting some of the SEA Games events. This is unforgivable as these are our first peoples. What makes this doubly abhorrent is that the development in Clark and Subic is financially able to accommodate the needs of the Aetas. That we are not doing that and instead driving the Aetas to extinction and extreme poverty is evil and must be corrected. Only then can we truly celebrate our unity in diversity.

More than the SEA Games, our unity will be severely tested in the next few days as Typhoon Tisoy (international

name: Kammuri) passes over our islands.

Tisoy comes as the annual climate change conference, the 25th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, opens in Madrid, Spain.

I will be attending this meeting, originally to be hosted in Chile but cancelled because of the protests there. I will be going as an academic and civil society observer, and will follow especially the discussions on loss and damage and how the new scientific information on

climate change has increased the danger for all of us. As I travel to Spain, I recall that some of the worst climate events in the Philippines—Ondoy in 2009, Sendong in 2011, Pablo in 2012, Yolanda in 2013, and Ruby in 2014—happened during these climate conferences. I was there in Bangkok, Durban, Doha, Warsaw, and Lima during those conferences and it is not a good experience watching your country suffer over an issue you are negotiating on in a foreign land. My support goes to the Philippine delegation in Madrid as they do their work.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

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Then came the exposé on the socalled Ninja Cops under former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, who was Pampanga provincial police chief in 2013. It was an offshoot of the Senate probe into the massive irregularities in the Bureau of Corrections release of over 20,000 convicts from the national prison facilities. In many cases, the releases involved bribes or outright extortion by BuCor officials and personnel under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) parole program.

If he wished to go by the tradition of seniority, then he would have named one already in the past weeks. reserI share Manong Digong's reserany vation about trusting anybody anytime soon to designate as Chief PNP. Everyone should share the President's utter frustration.

Again, I do not believe Manong Digong is in a predicament of not having a single trustworthy PNP official.

He is rather faced with the challenge discovering and choosing the right one carefully.

If he wished to go by the tradition of seniority, then he would have named one already in the past weeks.

It won’t be a surprise if the President eventually picks a junior PNP official who may not be a PMAer, or decides so to appoint the first female police general as Chief PNP. This may not be a bad idea at all.

One thing I'm pretty sure of, the next Chief PNP will not go by the name Leni Robredo!

developing industries such as tourism and e-commerce to help people in the rural areas find a job after occupational training; relocating people living in geologically hazardous areas prone to earthquakes or landslides, or are based in remote areas; ensuring children get a basic education or occupational training to prevent poverty passing down the generations; developing public health services in poor areas as medical bills are a frequent cause of families falling into poverty, and ensuring the elderly and infirm will be eligible for social security payments.

While the government’s massive poverty eradication campaign is deemed a success, at the same time there is concern whether the gains made are sustainable or simply a temporary improvement due to the high level of government funding.

The government must be able to consolidate the gains made in poverty alleviation and let the rural economy continue to grow in the years ahead.

If China achieves its goal of ending absolute poverty by 2021, what's next? Experts are saying that poverty alleviation efforts will not come to a halt after the goal is reached. Even as basic poverty is eradicated, there will be relative poverty in different sections of society, which will have to be addressed by the central leadership with decisive measures. China's successful effort in licking poverty holds important lessons for other developing countries, including the Philippines, and we ought to study these lessons that we can apply to our specific circumstances. ernhil@yahoo.com

The priority now is to prepare for the worst in all the places this super typhoon is expected to visit. For a few days, the SEA Games must be put in the sidelines (although we must secure and make sure our guests are safe) and all eyes and hands must be on deck for what could be a major disaster.

Let us be united for the SEA Games and in responding effectively to Tisoy and its aftermath.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rizal solon seeks better protection for Sierra

Angara pushes for one-time condonation

By Maricel V. Cruz A NEOPHYTE legislator on Monday pushed for stronger protection of the Sierra Madre with the creation of specialized government body tasked with protecting Luzon’s longest mountain range.

Rep. Fidel Nograles of Rizal is seeking the establishment of the Sierra Madre Development Authority to prevent the range’s wanton destruction and ensure balanced development.

Many portions of the mountain range have been logged over while some parts have been quarried and turned into subdivisions.

The body’s main task would be to conduct a comprehensive survey of the physical and natural resources and potentialities of the Sierra Madre region and to draft a comprehensive and detailed plan aimed at conserving and utilizing the resources within the Sierra Madre range.

The survey in particular would identify Sierra Madre’s social and economic conditions, hydrologic characteristics, power potentials, scenic and tourist spots and regional problems.

The SMDA would also “make recommendations to the proper agencies on the peso or dollar financing, technical support, physical assistance and the level of priority to be accorded agricultural, industrial and commercial projects, soliciting or requiring direct help from or through the government or any of its instrumentalities.”

It would also “plan, program finance/ or undertake infrastructure projects such as river, flood and tidal control works, waste water and sewerage works, dams and water supply, roads, irrigation, housing and related works, when so required within the context of its development plans and programs including the readjustment, relocation or settlement of population within the region as may be necessary and beneficial by the Authority.”

“We need a government body with enough teeth to ensure Sierra Madre’s development is not done haphazardly and without regard for the indigenous peoples who have for centuries served as its custodians,” said Nograles.

Most of the country’s 68 Protected Areas, including national parks, watershed forest reserves, natural monuments, marine reserves, protected landscapes and seascapes are on the mountain range.

Manila

Standard

UPMG OFFICERS. United Print Media Group Philippines elected their new set of officers last Nov. 25, coinciding with their Christmas Party hosted by Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. held at Manila Prince Hotel. The UPMG Board of Directors for the year 2020-2020 (from left): Marvin Nisperos Estigoy (Business Mirror)-director, Jong Arcano (Philippine Daily Inquirer-P.R.O., Marisa Consuelo (Gadgets Magazine)-director, Annie Grefal (Manila Standard)-auditor, Barbie Atienza (Manila Bulletin)-president, Election Committee member Noel Godinez, Election Committee chairman Jacinto Jr. Aluad, Election Committee member Ken Lerona, Jay Sarmiento (PhilStar Media Group)-vice president, Vivienne Motomal (Journal Group)-treasurer, Sherly Ojo Baula (Chinese Commercial News)-director and Janette Dominguez (BusinessWorld)-secretary.

Drunk drivers ‘detected soon’ by breathalyzers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Grace Poe said it would not be long before the country’s traffic enforcers get armed with breathalyzers to detect drunk drivers following the Senate’s adoption of her proposal to allot P20 million for their purchase in the 2020 budget.

“You can have as many trained traffic enforcers on the road, but without the breathalyzers, their hands are tied in effectively apprehending violators,” Poe said.

If there’s an accident and the driver was drunk, the traffic enforcer could not say the driver reeked of liquor. That would not stand in court, she added.

Breathalyzers are instruments that test the alcohol level of motorists.

The findings obtained from the breathalyzers could be the missing piece to a successful prosecution of drunk drivers, Poe said.

Earlier, Poe stressed that road safety

TODAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air, with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Air Transport Services (A321NEO #6 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4123 and Serial No. MSN9150) on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road , Pasay City.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

(MS-DEC. 3, 2019)

programs needed resources for logistics and equipment to be effective.

Poe made the push to have an appropriation for the purchase of the equipment after finding out from the Department of Transportation about the absence of the budget for road safety programs for next year.

The Metro Manila Development Authority, in charge of managing traffic in the metropolis, only has a handful unit of breathalyzers that they use in the field.

“There has to be money for breathalyzers because they could prevent drunk drivers from plying the highways and

TO ENSURE the financial viability and continuous operation of local water districts around the country, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara is pushing for the grant of a one-time condonation of the interest in arrearages and penalties on the loans they incurred with the Local Water Utilities Administration.

Over the years, he said several LWDs had accumulated debts, which they had not been able to settle on time.

These loans have since incurred interest and penalties that have been added on top of the principal amounts.

“If these arrearages are not to be collected and paid, LWDs would be faced with the difficult choice of recovering their substantial loss either by increasing the water rate charged to their clients or by contracting new loans from LWUA. Either way, the quality of services offered by LWDs will be seriously affected,” Angara said.

Angara has filed Senate Bill 1161 granting a one-time condonation of outstanding interest arrearages and penalties assessed by the LWUA on qualified LWDs. Qualified LWDs are those which “do not have enough financial capacity to pay on time their loan amortization as may be determined by the LWUA.” The condonation will be undertaken only once “to assist qualified water districts in updating their loan amortizations to LWUA.” After the said condonation, the LWDs that benefited would no longer be qualified to another condonation of similar nature in the future.

“We are not encouraging the nonpayment of debts with this measure.

Our intention is to keep these water districts afloat by providing them with some form of relief from their financial burdens,” Angara said.

“These water districts play an important role in our communities so we must find ways to ensure their continuous operation,” Angara added.

Water districts are local corporate entities that operate and maintain a water supply system in one or more provincial cities or municipalities. There are over 500 water districts nationwide.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

causing mishaps that could endanger lives,” Poe said.

Poe said having breathalyzers was also in compliance to Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The law states that the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police shall acquire “sufficient breath analyzers” for the use of law enforcers and deputized local traffic enforcers nationwide, such as the MMDA. “We cannot be in a situation in which we cannot enforce the law because we lack the equipment,” Poe said, expressing optimism that the P20-million budget she pitched would see through the final copy of the budget law.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are currently deliberating to come up with the final version of the 2020 budget to be submitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Laguna LGUs, gov’t agencies get many Red Orchid Awards LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given to the public that an ExtraJudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of the late Pablo Caig Cueto, namely, Mercedita B. Cueto, Maria Agnes T. Cueto, and Maria Belinda Cueto Buenaventura, all of legal age, over personal and real properties, per deed executed on 24 November 2019, before Notary Public Atty. Rosalinda A. Montenegro per Doc. No. 241; Page No. 47; Book No. 27; Series of 2019

(MS-DEC. 3/10/17, 2019)

THE DOH-CALABARZON conferred most of the Red Orchid Awards to local government units and government agencies of the province of Laguna for strictly implementing the “No-Smoking Policy” for the year 2018 during the Regional Awarding Ceremony held in San Mateo, Rizal.

Regional Director Eduardo Janairo renewed his call to safeguard the health and welfare of children and inculcate in their young minds the harmful effects and hazards of smoking.

“As government officials, it is our duty to implement the law against smoking strictly in the community and as parents, let us ensure that our children are protected and understand the dan-

gers of smoking,” he emphasized.

“Giving our children the proper education and advice will provide them a more optimistic and encouraging attitude in life that will prevent them from trying to smoke”, he added.

Among the eight Red Orchid Awardees were LPH-Gen Cailles Memorial District Hospital in Pakil, Laguna; BJMP-San Pablo City District Jail; San Pedro Jose L. Amante, Sr. Emergency Hospital; City Government of San Pedro, Laguna; BJMP-Bacoor City Jail; DSWD Office—CALABARZON; 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, Philippine Army and BJMP-Sta. Rosa City Jail.

Two Pink Orchid awards were given to BJMP-

Sta. Cruz District Jail and BJMP-Batangas City Jail.

Two White Orchid awards were received

by BJMP-Lucena City District Jail and BJMPLipa City Jail.

There were three ROA—Hall of Famers given recognition namely the Provincial Health Office of Laguna, the Laguna Provincial Jail and the Laguna Medical Center for receiving the Red Orchid for three consecutive years.

The scores become the basis for the color of the orchid each nominee received. The White Orchid (71-80 percent) and the Pink Orchid (81-90 percent) and Red Orchid (100 percent) will become the winner. Macon Ramos-Araneta

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RIGHTS Manila

Standard

TODAY

HIV PROGRAM.

Quezon City launches most aggressive Local Government Unit HIV program led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and other officials during the Quezon City Summit Zero at 2030 held at Seda hotel in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

I, Raba B. Abdulwakil and Yusop Cabili Cadar, acknowledge that Trade Marks shown below are well known trademarks of LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER registered in the Philippines for, inter alia, bags, cases, pouches, wallets, shoes and clothing and that no one may use these trademarks without the permission of LOUIS VUITTON.

42 in Marawi siege get promotions SOME 42 additional policemen, recognized for their heroic deeds during the Marawi City siege in 2017, have been granted special promotions, the National Police Commission on Monday said.

NAPOLCOM Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said the Commission en banc had approved eight resolutions confirming the special promotion of the latest batch of cops who had risked their lives to free Marawi City from the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

“Their acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry in action and self-sacrifice clearly manifest their commitment to serve and protect the people and their noteworthy accomplishment earned distinct honor and credit not only for themselves but for the entire police organization as well,” Casurao said.

Casurao said 20 police from the PNP Intelligence Group were promoted for their exemplary

performance in providing assistance to the PNP Special Action Force in locating their armored vehicles and their crew who were trapped on the ground.

Ten policemen were also promoted for their bravery in action during the anti-carnapping operations. Two others, meanwhile, were promoted for their gallantry despite the gunfire from snipers in the battle area.

Casurao added the special posthumous promotion of three policemen who had sacrificed their lives to liberate Marawi City was also approved.

At present, NAPOLCOM already promoted a total of 948 policemen for their contribution in fighting local terrorists in war-torn Marawi City.

In October 2017, Marawi City was liberated from local terrorist groups led by the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon after more or less five months of battle.

Sports High hopes for Blu Boys, Girls, tennis bets, Alkhaldi LONGTIME sports patron Jean Henri Lhuillier has high expectations for the team sports and the individual athletes that Cebuana Lhuillier has been supporting the past years including soft ball and tennis.

“I’m confident that both our Blu Girls and Blu Boys will continue their dominance in the SEA Games. They have prepared hard for this and we have given them all the support that they need to retain the gold medals,” said Lhuillier, President of Cebuana Lhuillier and Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines.

In tennis, Lhuillier also expressed confidence that his Cebuana Lhuillier Sports Ambassadors Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales and Nino Alcantara will deliver medals in the ongoing SEAG. “I like their chances in the doubles events as they have been campaigning all year long in the ATP and ITF tennis circuit. I believe they have what it takes to win some gold medals,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, also the President of Unified Tennis Philippines.

Huey said he was confident about his and his team’s chances to win gold medals.

“We have prepared long and hard for this opportunity to compete in front of our countrymen and I would like to thank JHL for his continued support for tennis,” said Huey.

Lhuillier also singled out swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, saying he is confident that this time, “she will win the gold medals that have eluded her in past SEA games.”

“I’m raring to go! I’ve been training like crazy the past year for this SEAG. I want to show our countrymen we have what it takes to excel in the sport of swimming. Thanks to Sir Jean Henri Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier for the support they have extended to me the past year,” said Alkhaldi.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Doncic powers Mavs past Lakers

L

OS ANGELES, United States—Luka Doncic finished just shy of a triple double as the Dallas Mavericks gave the Los Angeles Lakers a reality check Sunday (Monday Philippine time) by snapping their 10-game win streak with a 114-100 win.

Doncic was just one rebound short of the triple double finishing with 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, as the visiting Mavericks avenged a 119110 overtime loss to Los Angeles one month ago.

“It’s a great win that means a lot to us,” Doncic, 20, said. “It shows that we

can play against big teams, too. We just need to keep it rolling.”

In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored 35 points and the Toronto Raptors turned a 40-point halftime lead into a 130-110 win over the Utah Jazz.

Fred VanVleet added 21 points and 11 assists for the Raptors, who are a club record 9-0 at home to open the Doncic season.

They also are on a season-best seven-game winning streak overall.

Mike Conley had 20 points for the Jazz, who have lost three of their past four games on a five-game road trip.

Elsewhere, Chris Paul scored seven

of his 16 points late in the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 107104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Also, Jimmy Butler scored 20 points, Bam Adebayo had 17 points and 16 rebounds and the Miami Heat scored the final 10 points for a 109-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

The first-place Mavericks improved to 13-6 on the season and were too much to handle for the Lakers, whose win streak came against 10 teams, all with losing records.

The last time Los Angeles played a team with a better than .500 record, which was the Toronto Raptors on No-

UNSMOKE YOUR WORLD AT SEA GAMES. Athletes

and spectators of the 30th Southeast Asian Games are greeted with the Unsmoke Your World campaign as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority receives the donation of Unsmoke parasols and trash bins from PMFTC Inc. The parasols were installed in several places around the Freeport Zone for the expected 2,000 plus visitors for the games.

Unsmoke sends a clear and simple message: If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, quit.

If you don’t quit, change.

Seen in photo are (from left) SBMA Board Director Bryan Patrick Gordon, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Amy Eisma, PMFTC Communications Director Dave Gomez and PMFTC executive Gracey Publico.

Crisostomo, Nicomedes top Forest The Front Runner marks MJC’s 150th year Hills golfest CESAR Crisostomo submitted 44 points to capture the overall title, even as Dennis Nicomedes made a 42 for the overall low gross award at the close of the Cherrylume Forest Hills Chairman’s Cup held in Antipolo.

Jong Sug Han won the premier Class A division with 36, while Jason Yap topped Class B with 42 in the event, presented by Cherrylume, held in honor of club chairman Atty. Ferdinand Santos over the weekend.

Other winners were Nelson Sanvictores (Class C), Stanley Chua (Class D), Cielo Conti (Ladies 1), Anli Wu (Ladies 2), Martin Limgenco (Seniors 1), Antonio Herrera (Seniors 2), Jo Barredo (Sponsors-Nicklaus) and Eddie Bagtas (Sponsors-Palmer).

Golf course construction executive Nicer Landas scored his first hole-inone after he aced the 179-yard No. 15 of Palmer with a Honma 5-iron and a Titliest Pro-V. Landas, who is in the business over the last three decades, won a GAC GA4 sedan worth around P750,000 plus cash of P30,000. His flight mates were Alison Vega, Rodel Rivera and Bong Hilario.

The two-day Chairman’s Cup was sponsored by Escala Tagaytay, Megaforce Security, Golforce and City Advertising and with support from Elm’s Kapihan Group, J-Ten Sports Inc. and Luisita Golf Club.

Logitech Philippines, Metro Rail Transit Dev. Co. and Klio International and hole-in-one sponsors are GAC, Turf Company, J-Ten Sports, Taishan Insurance Brokers Philippines, Hoher Inc., and Silicon Computers were backers.

THE Manila Jockey Club is marking its sesquicentennial anniversary through The Front Runner, a coffee table book that traces the history of horse racing – the sport, the spectacle, and the way of life – in the Philippines.

“No such chronicle of horse racing history has been produced before,” said Atty. Alfonso Victorio G. Reyno III, President of MJC. “The book captures the essence of how horse racing was born and kept alive in the Philippines over the course of 150 years, and how MJC played a central role in all that.”

The Front Runner is produced by Media Wise Communications/ Muse Books , a multi-awarded publisher of coffee table books, under the executive/ creative directorship of Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz. Editor Achilles Mina headed a team of writers that explored many facets of the MJC’s history.

The Front Runner begins with an account of how a merchant became one of the founders of the MJC, and how the San Lazaro Hippodrome at the heart of Manila was built, grown and expanded to house a distinctly Filipino way of life, before and after the war.

Also a picture book depicting the exquisite beauty of horses and giving a glimpse of how the sport has evolved since the 1800s, The Front Runner talks not only about horse owners and enthu-

PH launches bid in SEA Games polo IF THE weather cooperates today, the Philippine team hopes to launch its gold medal bid in the 0-2 goals division of polo competition in the 30th SEA Games in grand fashion at the beautiful Miguel Romero Polo Field in Calatagan, Batangas.

Polo officials are hoping the Romero Field will remain playable despite the threat of Typhoon “Tisoy,” which is expected to slam Bicol Region, particularly Virac in Catanduanes, today.

“We’re praying that it will not rain so hard here so we can start our event,” said PH team captain and Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero. “We’re all excited to play.”

If the field is not playable, the fourday event will be moved tomorrow with the final on Sunday.

Other members of the team are Coco Garcia, Nicole Eusebio, Jam Eusebio and Santi Juban – all raring to go all the way to the Promised Land after the country’s final defeat to Malaysia in the 4-6 goals division on Sunday.

“Everybody is determined to contribute to the country’s bid to win the overall championship and we are all inspired after the explosive first day,” said Romero.

The draw was scheduled late yesterday with Team PH ready whoever it meets first.

Apart from Malaysia, also out to beat the team PH team are Indonesia and the powerhouse team of Brunei.

Prince Jeffri and Prince Qawi—both members of Brunei’s royal family—will spearhead Brunei’s gold medal bid.

Diaz...

From A8

Shown here are (from left) Media Wise Communications Inc./Muse Books Editor Achilles Mina, Manila Jockey Club Inc. VP for Marketing Eduardo Ramirez de Arellano, Manila Jockey Club Inc.Deputy COO & VP for Resource Admin Atty. Peter G. Zagala, Manila Jockey Club Inc. President & CEO Atty. Alfonso Victorio G. Reyno III, Manila Jockey Club Inc. Director, Corporate Counsel and General Counsel, Atty. Ferdinand. A Domingo and Manila Jockey Club Inc. VP for MIS Carlos S. Tan, Media Wise Communications Inc.

siasts, but also of the men and women who worked at the racetracks and built a community around it, before and after the war.

Change came upon the entry of the present management, in the form of the transfer to a much bigger and modern horse racing facility in Carmona, Cavite, and a stronger commitment to enact positive change in Philippine society.

“MJC’s history is long, but it is by no means linear,” said Cruz. “This book shows how the company has evolved over

the times, and how it continues to innovate and gallop toward a rosier future through bold business strategies and strategic partnerships,” says Cruz.

The Front Runner also features some long-time racing workers and aficionados, their stories closely intertwined with the story of the company.

“The book itself will form part of horse racing history in the Philippines,” said Atty. Alfonso Victorio G. Reyno III, President of MJC.

better. Kaya yan. On to the Tokyo Olympics,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dave Lloyd Pacaldo and Ellen Rose Perez were not as lucky, as they both placed fourth in the men’s 61kg and women’s 49kgs events, respectively.

Pacaldo lifted 250kg to lose the bronze to Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin (283kgs) in the event won by Irakan Eko of Indonesia (309kg), while Thach Kim Tuan of Vietnam (304kgs) took the silver.

Perez could only come up with 171kgs to miss the bronze by one against Ngo Thi Quyen of Vietnam (172kgs) in the event ruled by gold winner Aisah Windy of Indonesia (190 kgs) and Myanmar’s Phyo Pyae Pyae (180kgs) who took the silver.

Judiciary ends AFP’s win streak in UNTV Cup

Team...

From A8

with the Thais.

Two two-pointers from Jack Danielle Animam with 7:15 to go shattered a 4-all deadlock, and the Filipinas went on to establish an 11-5 spread.

“Malaking advantage nung nakascore kami ng mga two points at nakawala kami,” said team skipper Janine Pontejos.

The Thais made it to the finals after they waylaid Malaysia, 16-14.

vember 10, they lost 113-104.

Delon Wright came off the bench to tally 17 points and nine assists while Dwight Powell, Kristaps Porzingis and Justin Jackson contributed 15 points apiece in the win.

Anthony Davis had 27 points and 10 rebounds and LeBron James tallied 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Los Angeles. James also had six of the Lakers 17 turnovers.

The Lakers’ next two games are against Denver and Utah, who are one and two atop the Northwest Division standings.

Kyle Kuzma shot just one of 13 from the floor while Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo each scored just four points as the Mavericks’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserve 43-29. AFP

Marlon Martin led the PITC Global Traders to a 68-58 win over the Malacañang Kamao in the UNTV Cup by scattering 17 points on Sunday.

UPSETS marred the 8th UNTV Cup National Housing Authority Builders, Games Sunday on Sunday as defending champion 74-72.

(San Juan City gym) and erstwhile unbeaten Armed Forces The win improved PITC’s record 2 p.m. – PhilHealth vs Judiciary of the Philippines and two other to 4-2 while the Builders likewise en3:30 p.m. – NHA vs PITC 5 p.m. –AFP vs Malacañang-PSC frontrunners suffered hearthanced their bid for a quarterfinal berth breaking defeats at the San with a 4-3 mark—the same record of Juan City gym. the Food Masters in Group A. First to fall were the AFP Cavaliers who lost to The top two finishers after the second will advance the Judiciary Magis, 78-72, in Group A elims of the outright to the semis while the third to sixth placers play event organized by UNTV president Dr. Daniel Razon another round in the quarters and the bottom two will be for public servants. eliminated.

Former Ginebra player Chester Tolomia and Jearomel First Game Serrano waxed hot from afar, scoring 17 and 15 points, JUDICIARY 78—Tolomia 17, Serrano 15, Salamat respectively, as the Magis snapped AFP’s six-game win- 10, Ybañez 8, Puno 6, Litonjua 6, Dionisio 4, Mustre 4, ning streak dating back the elims.

Marquez 3, Dela Cruz 3.

The two-time champions Magis evened their record AFP 72—Cordero 32, Tan 8, Lumongsod 8, Fernanat 3-3 while leaving the Department of Environment dez 6, Rosopa 5, Quiambao 4, Zuñiga 2, Bautista 3, Pasand Natural Resources as the only unbeaten team in the cual 2, Almerol 2.

8-team second round with a 6-0 mark.

Quarters: 23-21, 46-39, 62-51, 78-72.

Also falling by the wayside were Malacañang-PhilipSecond Game pine Sports Commission and Department of Agriculture.

NHA 74—Mercado 28, Lustestica 12, J. Dizon 12, The Kamao dropped to 5-2 in Group B after losing Prado 8, W. Tibay 7, Adolfo 3, M. Dizon 2, Crisostomo 2. to the Philippine International Trading Corporation DA 72—Casaysayan 17, Silva 11, Fernandez 10, Oreta Global Traders, 68-58, while the DA Food Masters 9, Mastelero 8, Manigo 8, Comerciase 6, Dematera 3. lost for the second straight after being outlasted by the Quarters: 16-11, 38-32, 54-51, 74-72.

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

PH softball teams win openers CEBUANA Lhuillier-backed RP Blu Girls’ title-defense in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games is off to a flying start after beating Singapore 6-0.

“I’m confident of the girls’ chances of winning the SEAG gold medal again. They are well-prepared for this tournament,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president of Cebuana Lhuillier and ASAPHIL. The RP Blu Girls has made waves the past three years in the world stage with impressive performances in the World Cup, Canada Cup, and Asian Championships boasting of victories over top 10 teams such as Australia, Canada, China, Chinese-Taipei and Mexico, among others.

“The girls played well today especially in our defense. We’re all confident we will be able to retain the gold medal in front of our countrymen.

Sir Jean Henri Lhuillier has given everything we need to prepare the whole team for this battle, said RP Blu Girls head coach Randy Dizer.

Meanwhile, the similarly Cebuana Lhuillier-backed RP Blu Boys’ titledefense in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games is also off to a flying start after beating Thailand, 12-0.

Lhuillier said he was likewise confident of the Blu Boys’ chances of winning the SEAG gold medal again because they are as well-prepared as the Blu Girls.

The RP Blu Boys have been busy competing the past two years in the world stage including the Makassar Open International Softball in Makassar, Indonesia; Men’s Softball Asian Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia; and World Men’s Softball Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

“The boys played well today especially in our defense. We’re all confident we will be able to retain the gold medal in front of our countrymen. Sir Jean Henri Lhuillier has given everything we need to prepare the whole team for this battle,” said RP Blu Boys head coach Apol Rosales.

Hidilyn Diaz salutes the flag during the playing of the Philippine national anthem after she won the gold in weightlifting. She is flanked by Nguyen Thi Thuy (left) of Vietnam and Klarisa Juliana of Indonesia. Lino Santos

Diaz grabs weightlifting gold

By Tim Obligacion

H

IDILYN Diaz dominated the field to romp off with the gold medal in the women’s 55kg in the weightlifting competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games before a wildly cheering crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Monday.

The 28-year-old Zamboanga City native stamped her class early in the snatch category where she lifted 91kgs before pulling off 120kgs in the clean and jerk for a total of 211kgs to claim her first SEA Games gold since she first competed in the 2007 Games in Thailand.

Diaz nearly had a perfect evening by lifting five of six in the competition but she failed to get 94kgs in the snatch, which the pro-Filipino crowd easily dismissed even as a festive atmosphere

pervaded over the proceedings to start off a new week.

Nguyen Thi Thuy of Vietnam settled for the silver with a total of 197kgs where she scored 82 in the snatch and 115kg in the clean and jerk to fall way behind.

Klarisa Juliana of Indonesia took the bronze by lifting a total of 175kgs.

But the night belonged to Diaz, who admitted feeling the weight of the Filipinos’ expectations which she used as a fuel to add her first SEA Games gold to her 2018 Asian Games conquest and 2016

Rio Olympics to her growing collection.

She later described the warm reception given to her by the crowd as “overwhelming.”

“Unang-una proud ako na naka-gold tayo sa isang international competition dito sa Pilipinas. Pero kinakabahan pa rin ako dahil hindi ko alam kung paano i-handle ang pressure ng ating mga kababayan. Pero nagpapasalamat ako dahil sa suporta ninyo nagawa ko ito ng tama,” Diaz said.

“Hindi ko alam kung paano i-control yung crowd pero they pushed me to do well. Kaya sana ipagpatuloy ninyo ang suporta.”

This early, Diaz is training her sights at an international tournament in Rome before resuming her training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.

“I lifted five out of six times kanina.

Dapat makuha ko all six. I can still do Turn to A7

Team Pilipinas completes sweep of 3x3 basketball tournament

By Peter Atencio CJ Perez scored 10 points for the Philippine men’s basketball team as they repulsed Indonesia, 21-9, to complete a two-gold sweep of the 30th Southeast Asian Games 3x3 basketball tournament yesterday at the FilOil-Flying Sports Center in San Juan.

Afril Bernardino also unloaded 10 points in the Philippine women’s squads’ 17-13 beating of Thailand for the women’s division gold earlier.

Team Pilipinas, getting instructions from coach Ronnie Magsanoc, finished with an eight-zero winning run in stopping the Indonesian’s outside shooting.

“Indonesia had a lot of sharpshooters.

We just wanted to protect the two-point line and make them earn their points,” said team skipper Chris Newsome.

Newsome’s crew reached the finals following a six-game sweep of the elimination round and after crushing Cambodia, 21-6.

They advanced to the finals following a 21-9 triumph over Thailand.

They were slightly ahead, 4-3, when Newsome initiated a 6-0 run with his drive past Itun Surliyadin.

Members of Team Pilipinas women’s basketball team acknowledge the cheers of fans atop the podium.

They are, from left: Clare Castro, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos and Jack Danielle Animam.

Peter Atencio

And they went on to protect a 9-4 20-22 loss to the Thais in the women’s They went on topple Vietnam, 21-12, spread with 7:27 left. elims, and as they ended the group stage in the semis and arrange a finals clash Turn to A7 The Filipinas bounced back from a with a 4-1 slate.

SEA Games serve as Subic showcase

By Lito Cinco THE ongoing Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) inside the Subic Freeport is a showcase of its people and capabilities.

This was the assessment made

by SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Atty. Wilma Eisma who has been very visible in the different venues.

“Hosting the SEA Games gave us the opportunity to show what we have to offer and the kind of people we have working here. In fact our staff are doing double, triple jobs and working way beyond regular working hours,” she said.

SBMA invested additional funds to upgrade its sports facilities together with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“These are all existing revenue-generating facilities for us so it will all be worth it and can only benefit us in the future.

We are planning to maintain the beach volleyball venue as a permanent one and maybe tie up with school leagues for their tournaments. Definitely the SEA Games has strengthened Subic positioning as a sports tourism center,” said Eisma.

“In general, everyone is happy about the results of our hosting, our hotels and restaurants are full, thanks to the influx of SEA Games participants, guests, and visitors. I also would like to clarify that for the venue for trap shooting, we did not denude any part of our forest as we made use of an existing clearing already, “ said Eisma.

Torres dominates women’s duathlon

WINNING PAIR. Philippine Dancesport partners Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla dance their way to three gold medals, ruling the Tango, Viennese Waltz and Five Dance events during the 30th SEA Games. AFP

SINGAPORE-based Monica Torres completely dominated the women’s division of the 10K run-40K bike-5K run duathlon event yesterday morning in Subic to win the third gold medal for triathlon but Joey de los Reyes had to settle for silver in the men’s side as he faded in the last 500 meters against Indonesian Johan Johari for a split performance for the host country.

The 35-year-old Torres, a many time national duathlon and long distance triathlon champion bucked a bum stomach just prior to the race but it did not show any effect on her gold performance, her very first in the SEA Games. Torres led practically from the start of the race en route

to a solo finish in 2:08.44, before a jubilant crowd at the finish line.

Thai entry Pareeya Sonsom settled for the silver in 2:11.18 as she was left behind by Torres in the bike leg while Vietnamese Thi Phuoung Trinh Nguyen salvaged the bronze medal clocking 2:14.20.

In the men’s side, local bet de los Reyes conceded the race in the last 500 meters as he opted to protect his second place position rather than chase after Johari who sprinted ahead when he saw de los Reyes slow down to drink water.

“Pag slow down ko sa water station, kinargahan niya. Nag maintain na nga lang ako kaysa malampasan ako nung taga Thailand,” said a dis-

appointed de los Reyes who finished the distance in 1:53.04 to Johari’s 1:52.51, and just a second ahead of bronze medal winner Nattanut Srinate’s 1:53.05.

Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco said the national team is still on pace to achieve the goals they set for the SEA Games. “ I am still within my target of four of the six golds at stake. Three out of four already and we should be able to win the triathlon mixed relay,” said Carrasco who added that mixed duathlon set on Thursday will be up for grabs.

“Malakas mga kalaban dito sa duathlon,” he said. Lito Cinco

IN BRIEF Veterans Bank swings to profit of P504.6m

PHILIPPINE Veterans Bank reported a net income of P504.6 million in the first nine months of 2019, a 28.4-percent return on equity—one of the highest in the banking industry.

The net income figure already exceeded the bank’s full year target of P500 million for 2019 and is the highest recorded net profit since the bank reopened in 1992. The nine-month income was a complete financial turnaround from a net loss of P574 million for the full year of 2018.

The robust net income results were driven mostly by the bank’s lending business from both corporate and retail loans.

Total loans rose P21.3 billion from P18.7 billion year-on-year. Total deposits grew 11 percent to P50.6 billion in the nine-month period from P45.4 billion on year.

“We are finally reaping the benefits of the major reforms in the areas of operations, compliance and risk management which were our focus since 2014 when I came in as chairman” said PVB chairman Roberto de Ocampo.

PVB president Renato Claravall said “this year’s unprecedented growth levels show that all the hard work and sacrifice were worth it. Our primary mission is to give value to our shareholders—the families of Filipino WWII veterans.”

PVB is owned by some 384,000 Filipino World War II veterans and their designated heirs.

Pioneer Float Glass says sales declining

UNCHECKED incidence of smuggling and the proliferation of substandard glass pulled down the sales of the country’s biggest flat glass manufacturer—Pioneer Float Glass Manufacturing Inc. by 40 percent to 50 percent in 2019.

Pioneer president and chief executive Paul Vincent Go said almost all kinds of glass variants suffered from slowdown despite the increased compliance to the Build, Build, Build program of the government.

“We’re in the same predicament as that of steel. There are a lot of imported glass that are substandard and, in fact, do not pay the proper taxes,” he said.

He said imported glass items not up to Philippine standards were threatening to ruin the local glass manufacturing industry.

Go said despite the safeguard measures, many importers could still circumvent the law and had resorted to undervalue their imports—another form of technical smuggling. Othel V. Campos

Business

Unioil Group set to acquire 56.97% stake in Chemphil

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE majority shareholders of Chemical Industries of the Philippines Inc. led by businessman Antonio Garcia agreed to sell their controlling stake in the company to a group associated with the Unioil Group of Companies.

Chemphil said in a disclosure to the stock exchange majority shareholders Philippine Indochem Corp., Chemholdings Corp., A2K Holdings Corp., Chemphil Employees Livelihood Foundation Inc. and Antonio Garcia signed a share purchase agreement covering 5,866,001 common shares representing a 56.97-percent stake in the company to Lavish Sources Limited, Quantumlink Realty Corp.

Citiworld Properties & Development Corp. and Exquadra Inc. for P1.04 billion.

The buyers are acquiring Chemphil shares at P177.63 apiece, representing a 36.6-percent premium to the stock’s closing price of P130 per share when it was last traded on Nov. 11.

Chemphil said the closing and the completion of the sale would be subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions including the conduct of a tender offer by the buyers in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code.

Chempil, incorporated in 1958,serves as the parent company of CAWC Inc. which is engaged in the manufacture of industrial chemicals, Chemphil Manufacturing Corp. which manufactures liquid caustic soda and other industrial chemicals and Kemwater Phil. Corp. which produces and trade chemicals for the water and sew-

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

B1

Bulacan airport work postponed S

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AN Miguel Corp. said Monday it postponed the groundbreaking of the P734-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan province after the Department of Finance raised some issues over the concession agreement.

“The groundbreaking was delayed because it was put on hold. There was new issue raised. [The DOF] sent a new letter, causing the delay,” San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang told reporters.

The Department of Transportation and San Miguel Holdings Corp. signed a 50-year concession period for the Bulacan airport project in September.

Transportation Secretary Arthur

Tugade said the DOF, while not objecting to the proposed project, wanted clarification on the government’s role.

“He [Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez] is not making objection.

He just wanted to clearly see what we are saying is in favor of the government.

In other words, it’s an issue of wordings and interpretation,” Tugade said.

Tugade said the DOF wanted to

clarify issues on material adverse government action and liability cap for the project. He said the Department of Justice would review the contract, particularly the MAGA and the liability cap.

Tugade said while he was hoping that the groundbreaking of the project would be held this year, they had to wait for the position of the DOJ. “If I were to be followed and once all the issues were clarified, we would hold the groundbreaking before the end of the year. We just had to wait for the comments and position of DOJ,” he said.

The airport project in Bulakan, Bulacan was supposed to commence construction by the end of the year in line with its target to start commercial operations within four to six years.

San Miguel tapped the services of

global firms Groupe ADPi, Meinhardt Group and Jacobs Engineering to design and build the New Manila International Airport.

All three companies were involved in building world-class airports including Changi Airport in Singapore, Atlanta Airport in the US and Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.

The initial designs, some of which were released earlier, envision a futureready airport focusing on overall passenger experience and sustainable technologies consistent with the needs of the environment and the local communities of Bulacan and nearby provinces.

San Miguel said it would also engage a world-class airport operator to help manage the country’s future premier gateway.

DOE rejects PXP’s offer to take over Malampaya

By Alena Mae S. Flores

BCDA defends Clark deal with MTD Capital

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority on Monday said its joint venture agreement with MTD Capital Berhad for the development of New Clark City Phase 1A, which includes the sports facilities being used in the SEA Games, was implemented in the “most transparent” and “aboveboard” way possible.

Government Corporate Counsel Elpidio Vega and BCDA president and chief executive officer Vince Dizon stressed the partnership with the developer underwent all the legal requisites and processes, and that it was very advantageous to the government.

Dizon said “the OGCC never gave an unfavorable opinion” in the January 30, 2018 contract review by OGCC. “The OGCC gave its comments and suggestions to which BCDA addressed and clarified. The OGCC, in response to clarifications made by BCDA, unequivocally said that the ‘provisions of the executed JVA and the legal framework of the Project are in compliance with the existing laws, rules and regulations’,” he said.

Othel V. Campos

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

ASEAN BANKERS’ SUMMIT. The Bankers Association of the Philippines joins the 49th ASEAN Banking Council Meeting hosted by The Association of Banks in Cambodia to present its training online booking platform and discuss efforts on digitalization and sustainability. The event was attended by more than 150 senior banking executives from 10 ASEAN economies.

First phase of NAIA rehabilitation seen completed by 2022 THE Department of Transportation said Monday the first phase of the P102billion rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport is expected to be completed by 2022.

“We will soon see much-improved air traffic handling and operations once NAIA is rehabilitated. The improvement of the country’s primary gateway is proof that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is seriously thinking of the convenience and safety of every air passenger who is either flying off or arriving in our country,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The project was proposed by NAIA Consortium that includes Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

It aims to alleviate the worsening air traffic congestion at NAIA and resolve

its capacity constraint by reconfiguring and renovating existing facilities and enhancing operation and maintenance.

This will allow for the accommodation of more traffic.

The rehabilitation project also aims to broaden NAIA’s role as a key economic and tourism driver for Manila and the whole Philippines; deliver capital infrastructure investment to improve the airport’s efficiency and increase its capacity to meet the growing passenger demand from the Philippines and the Asia Pacific Region.

It will also deliver best-in-class passenger experience as a capital city airport, which is demanded by increasingly sophisticated travelers and create a positive first and last impression for Filipinos and visitors.

The NAIA rehabilitation project will be implemented in three phases from 2021 to 2024.

The agency said Phase 1 involves the immediate improvements and reconfig-

uration of the existing airport terminals with the aim of improving the NAIA’s capacity from 31 million passengers per annum to 47 million passengers.

Phase 2, which is expected to be completed by 2023, covers the development of a new passenger building (Terminal 2 Annex) and the improvement of the corresponding apron area to increase the capacity from 11 MPPA to 21 MPPA and the reconfiguration and expansion of Terminal 3 building and apron layout to increase terminal capacity from 23 MPPA to 24 MPPA. Phase 3, seen to be completed by 2024, will see the construction of new terminals and expansion of existing terminals as the O&M works are being carried out to increase NAIA’s capacity from 58 MPP to 65 MPPA. Phase 3 will also see the completion of the New Terminal Annex Building which aims to add 5 MPPA to NAIA’s capacity, resulting in a total terminal capacity of 26 MPPA. Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Energy said it denied the unsolicited proposal of listed oil and gas firm PXP Energy Corp. controlled by the camp of businessman Manuel Pangilinan to take over the operations of the $4.5-billion Malampaya gas project by 2024.

“We advised PXP that we cannot take cognizance of their unsolicited proposal. The reason is very basic,” Energy assistant secretary Leonido Pulido III said in a briefing.

PXP Energy earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal for 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.

“We have what we call the PCECP [Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program] and under that legal framework, there are only two ways in order to get the service contracts for oil exploration in the Philippines―one is through predetermined areas and two is under nomination on open areas,” Pulido said.

“However, what they did is they submitted an unsolicited proposal over an area with an existing service contract, so we had to deny the unsolicited proposal of PXP,” he said.

The Malampaya gas project provides natural gas to five natural gas facilities in Batangas province with a combined capacity of more than 3,000 megawatts.

SC 38 is controlled by the Malampaya consortium led by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. as the operator with a 45-percent stake, Chevron Malampaya LLC also with 45 percent and state-run PNOC Exploration Corp. with 10 percent.

Chevron Malampaya sold its stake to Udenna Group of businessman Dennis Uy. but the transaction has yet to be completed.

Cusi now downplays China’s threat but calls for audit of NGCP operations ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Monday downplayed China’s alleged intention to shut down the Philippines’ power grid but still called for an audit of the operations of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

“This situation of ours in not unique―China is also operating in Australia. The question is also, if China can do it, will they do it? We are going to give them the benefit of the doubt. But the most important to us is―the government does its function in protecting the interest of the country and people,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a news briefing.

President Rodrigo Duterte said last week he continued to trust China despite the controversy.

Senators earlier raised concern over the possibility of China remotely shutting down the country’s power infrastructure through NGCP, which is 40-percent controlled by State Grid Corp. of China. The remaining 60 per-

cent is controlled by Filipino businessmen.

NGCP operates the country’s transmission network through its concession agreement with the government.

Cusi said earlier that with new technologies, it is “potentially” possible for China to shut down the grid.

“Is that threat real or imagined? That can only be answered by us, government inspecting it and making sure the oversight function of government is carried, and we put in place whatever measures to prevent it from happening whether the threat is real or imagined,” Cusi said.

He said the inspection would put a closure on the perceived or imagined threat to the country’s power sector.

“The threat that people are talking to put a closure to that and for government to put up measures that we need to protect the republic and the people, so why not inspect it first,” Cusi said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

WORLD BANK LOAN. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (left) and World Bank country director Mara Warwick sign on Nov. 28 the loan agreement for the Second Social Welfare Development And Reform Program to provide additional financing for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The additional financing from the World Bank worth $300 million will continue to support the delivery of conditional cash transfers to millions of beneficiaries until 2022.

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Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market jumps on bargain-hunting

T

HE stock market surged Monday on bargain-hunting along with the rest of Asia, as investors cheered data showing a surprise jump in Chinese factory activity.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 138.23 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,877.19 on a value turnover of P5.3 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 104 to 86, withy 49 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. advanced 4.3 percent to P841, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, rose 3.1 percent to P197.90.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, climbed 4.1 percent to P158, while sister unit and integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings

Inc. added 2.6 percent to P40.

The rest of Asian markets rose Monday, while oil prices bounced from last week’s sharp losses after Iraq said top producers could announce a cut in output this week.

But while the week started on a positive note, worries about the trade talks were revived by China’s Global Times newspaper saying Beijing wanted all US tariffs rolled back as part of a mini deal, a move observers said Washington is unlikely to agree to.

China said on Saturday that its manufacturing sector expanded in November for the first time in seven months, providing a much-needed boost to investors looking for signs of optimism in the world’s number-two economy. Another survey Monday of smaller firms also showed a better-thanexpected pick-up in factory activity.

The news comes as Beijing and

Washington put the final touches to a partial trade deal, the expected passage of which has helped global markets rally for weeks.

“This improvement in the manufacturing (purchasing managers index) is important because we can say with more certainty than at the beginning of the year that China’s macro outlook is indeed stabilizing,” Aninda Mitra, senior sovereign analyst at BNY Mellon Investment Management, told Bloomberg News.

“A phase one-related pause, which seems to be around the corner, could herald the end of further, scheduled tariff hikes and the rollback of those imposed in September.”

In afternoon trade, Hong Kong rose 0.4 percent and Shanghai edged up 0.1 percent, while Sydney and Seoul each finished 0.2 percent stronger.

Tokyo ended up one percent at a

14-month high, Taipei and Mumbai added 0.1 percent and Jakarta also rose.

But Singapore, Wellington and Bangkok fell.

“Recent manufacturing PMI data does appear to be showing signs of an improvement, not only in the US, but across the rest of the world,” said Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK. “This would appear to be a welcome respite to what has been an awful year for the manufacturing sector, which has to all intents and purposes been in recession for most, if not all, of this year.”

However, analysts raised concerns about an article in the Communist Partylinked Global Times, which tweeted that the government wants levies imposed on China to be removed as the US talks continue. It also said leaders wanted tariffs lined up for December 15 to be taken off the table. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Monday, deceMBer 2, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 54 2,000 86.4 2,842,330 1.85 20,000 158 1,224,630 0.98 20,000 25.05 47,000 18.2 900 12.76 147,100 4.29 1,000 0.59 1,000 1.21 1,000 0.4 120,000 67.5 2,832,170 0.83 20,000 12.7 10,000 36.7 1,153,600 178 520 58.25 5,560 24.5 55,100 206 398,390 1,805 145 59 28,160 1.05 105,000

107,900 244,799,703 37,050 191,029,592 19,600 1,179,075 16,380 1,887,850 4,290 590 1,210 46,400 191,152,427.50 16,600 127,000 42,358,500 92,025 319,820.50 1,352,870 81,784,472 262,100 1,661,756 110,470

-105,751,531.50 30,394,799 -642,080 -278,478 71,741,654.50 -18,968,830 -17,700 -39,365 -24,787,204 -1,044,421.50 -

INDUSTRIAL 34.8 583,000 2.42 1,922,000 13.86 321,600 0.57 82,000 1.28 35,000 3.24 3,064,000 0.237 60,000 2.29 5,330,000 15.2 179,500 4.93 745,600 29.5 1,100 67.3 140 2.03 93,000 5.35 2,800 8.75 473,900 14.88 318,600 10.3 96,500 7.2 268,400 25.05 2,346,000 75 158,910 1.42 231,679,000 41 5,100 1.99 3,090,000 13.96 200 7.9 12,600 1.31 74,000 197.9 411,200 8.15 1,200 18.98 1,907,800 12.56 26,600 16.98 449,500 322 82,720 0.181 200,000 5.68 12,800 1.37 1,653,000 4 166,000 4.48 964,000 10.04 57,600 11 13,300 33.35 253,700 4.96 39,000 5.46 2,800 2.05 2,683,000 1 102,000 10.5 157,700 89.95 40,180 8.8 226,200 0.116 330,000 1.06 123,000 149.5 657,330 1.12 3,835,000 0.93 650,000

20,227,055 4,663,230 4,462,882 47,010 43,100 9,840,760 13,700 12,209,290 2,723,010 3,651,878 31,950 9,422 189,640 14,765 4,147,714 4,744,870 993,992 1,930,460 58,571,345 11,923,028.50 361,790,680 205,420 5,947,880 2,792 99,870 97,140 81,354,953 9,780 36,217,722 331,472 7,626,982 26,629,558 36,200 68,074 2,230,740 653,190 4,348,150 576,918 145,552 8,456,900 193,600 15,284 5,299,550 96,680 1,665,648 3,592,554.50 1,962,950 38,090 126,160 98,310,181 4,213,190 612,470

-2,750,605 -1,463,370 4,250,738 2,503,550 10,781,910 1,392,212 24,134 -5,800 -57,400.00 -1,233,029 -2,808,818 -106,122 -1,664,981 25,127,200 -4,436,307.50 1,146,050 -76,580 96,580 12,690 -5,257,881 -5,719,872 -31,194 -919,810.00 5,610,364 282,540 -159,940 -10,000 3,807,435 -1,088 -10,050.00 -1,386,278 -1,155,443.50 98,334 -43,546,115 41,200 3,720

3,061,160 40,490,690 68,207,616 56,510 229,159 79,464 737,680 304,400 233,263,170 6,961,270 17,813,215 172,895,781 541,256 36,220 49,432,875 121,154,476.50 27,202 1,073,800 17,140 674,680 10,145,334 14,320 93,060,780 1,276,800 66,830 330,000 5,438,380 192,778,345 3,160 5,000 8,760 412,550 20,700

-248,140 20,430,235 4,633,290 256,500 108,309,050 -197,220 1,195,158 1,351,952 -536,016 7,683,975 43,860,156.50 -323,200 828,560 11,767,070 214,600 330,000 -1,944,371 4,638,250 -

280,904 579,030 171,699 20,350 754,860 269,080,400 998,450 1,368,750 850,759 6,404,580 1,500 104,160 1,910 231,200 312,874 1,717,340 724,450 14,977,280 329,330 85,034,820 2,251,070 107,750 755,870 115,500 617,570

-279,414 131,317,780 -390,090 9,320 -393,460 122,440 -19,876 -5,379,360 -28,603,940 -86,690 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

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

53.9 86.9 1.86 153 0.98 25.1 18.2 12.9 4.29 0.59 1.21 0.38 67.6 0.83 12.7 37.7 172.9 57.6 24.75 205 1,880 59.55 1.06

54 86.9 1.86 158 0.98 25.2 18.2 12.94 4.29 0.59 1.21 0.4 67.95 0.83 12.7 38.45 178 58.25 24.75 206 1,880 59.55 1.06

53.9 84.9 1.85 151.8 0.98 25.05 18.2 12.76 4.29 0.59 1.21 0.38 66.25 0.83 12.7 36 172.9 57.5 24.5 201.6 1,805 59 1.05

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

34.45 2.46 13.68 0.6 1.23 3.37 0.237 2.28 15.2 5.1 29 67.3 2.05 5.04 8.77 14.98 10.3 7.2 24.95 75.75 1.75 40 1.89 13.96 7.9 1.31 196 8.15 18.88 12.5 16.9 321.8 0.181 5.23 1.32 4.01 4.5 10 10.86 33.2 4.97 5.46 1.95 0.98 10.78 88.1 8.65 0.115 0.99 152.9 1.12 0.94

34.85 2.51 13.9 0.6 1.28 3.37 0.237 2.32 15.2 5.23 29.5 67.3 2.05 5.36 8.79 15 10.4 7.22 25.05 75.75 1.8 41 1.99 13.96 7.95 1.32 198.6 8.15 19.18 12.86 17 322 0.181 5.69 1.37 4.01 4.57 10.1 11 33.45 4.97 5.46 2.05 1 10.88 90 8.85 0.116 1.07 152.9 1.14 0.95

34.1 2.41 13.64 0.57 1.23 3.1 0.224 2.26 15.06 4.74 29 67.3 2 5.04 8.7 14.86 10.3 7.19 24.25 74.9 1.4 40 1.87 13.96 7.9 1.31 196 8.15 18.8 12.2 16.82 320 0.181 5.23 1.31 3.81 4.46 10 10.86 33 4.96 5.42 1.93 0.94 10.38 88 8.6 0.115 0.99 149 1.05 0.93

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

0.76 48.95 11.1 0.73 6.31 12.48 0.91 0.97 810 3.38 6.81 6.5 13.1 0.214 899 76.9 5.04 5.9 0.51 4.04 11.3 0.55 4.3 0.036 1.38 3 159.2 1,060 0.79 1.25 219 0.223 0.206

0.76 49.8 11.1 0.73 6.79 12.48 0.94 0.97 841 3.39 7.07 6.52 13.36 0.214 904 78.65 5.05 5.9 0.52 4.04 11.5 0.57 4.42 0.038 1.38 3 159.2 1,080 0.79 1.25 219 0.224 0.211

0.74 48.95 10.98 0.7 6.31 12.18 0.9 0.95 807 3.32 6.68 6.24 13.1 0.206 894 76.4 5.03 5.9 0.5 4.04 11.26 0.55 4.3 0.036 1.3 3 158 1,060 0.79 1.25 219 0.213 0.206

HOLDING FIRMS 0.76 4,085,000 49.8 814,600 11.06 6,179,600 0.72 79,000 35,600 6.5 12.3 6,500 0.92 805,000 0.95 320,000 841 280,450 3.36 2,067,000 7.07 2,608,400 6.4 27,189,700 13.36 41,000 0.206 170,000 899.5 54,970 78 1,548,700 5.05 5,400 5.9 182,000 0.51 34,000 4.04 167,000 11.5 887,400 0.57 26,000 4.37 21,270,000 0.037 34,700,000 1.37 50,000 3 110,000 159.2 34,200 1,080 179,670 0.79 4,000 1.25 4,000 219 40 0.213 1,850,000 0.211 100,000

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

14.9 0.71 8.85 1.6 0.83 45.45 2.04 4.66 6.47 0.58 0.75 0.84 0.191 0.405 10.34 19.6 0.44 1.54 1.22 4.41 0.218 0.395 1.28 0.33 2.02

14.94 0.75 9.49 1.6 0.86 47 2.04 4.77 6.47 0.58 0.75 0.84 0.191 0.41 10.36 19.8 0.44 1.54 1.24 4.47 0.219 0.4 1.31 0.33 2.02

14.84 0.7 8.83 1.55 0.83 45.1 1.98 4.65 6.21 0.56 0.75 0.84 0.191 0.405 10.22 19.5 0.435 1.5 1.2 4.41 0.214 0.395 1.27 0.33 2.01

PROPERTY 14.84 18,900 0.74 811,000 9.49 19,300 1.56 13,000 0.85 900,000 47 5,839,400 1.99 503,000 4.7 291,000 6.21 136,700 0.56 11,307,000 0.75 2,000 0.84 124,000 0.191 10,000 0.41 570,000 10.36 30,300 19.52 87,700 0.44 1,660,000 1.51 9,900,000 1.21 273,000 4.43 19,207,000 0.214 10,440,000 0.4 270,000 1.3 585,000 0.33 350,000 307,000 2.01

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

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

46 26 2.12 3.2 39 2.47 1.33 7.59 5.46

46 26.2 2.15 3.2 40 2.5 1.37 7.6 5.5

46 25.9 2.12 3.19 38.9 2.44 1.31 7.55 5.13

46 26 2.15 3.2 40 2.44 1.34 7.6 5.5

500 840,000 65,000 24,000 9,924,000 257,000 1,134,000 488,300 21,100

23,000 21,863,045 137,900 76,790 395,696,880 638,080 1,513,050 3,705,853 114,291

-7,924,100 19,100 220,592,215 -14,820 -2,395,018 -

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

9.8 17.44 1.55 11.5 0.465 0.041 18 2.84 11.4 92.55 5.75 5.59 8.71 1,944 5.2 412 1.14 1.67 121.5 7.86 0.104 4.09 14 2.75 0.9 18.1 0.39 3.38 2.29 0.98 1.02 2.84 2.5 7.65 9.1 149.9 2.74 1,100 0.63 0.49 40.15 78 8.99 2.64 0.67 0.28 0.62 18.6

10.12 17.44 1.58 11.5 0.47 0.041 18.24 3.3 11.4 93.8 5.75 5.59 8.71 1,980 5.29 448 1.15 1.67 124.5 7.86 0.104 4.17 14 2.75 0.9 18.1 0.415 3.38 2.29 0.98 1.02 2.86 2.5 7.8 9.1 149.9 2.74 1,100 0.63 0.49 40.15 78 8.99 2.64 0.67 0.29 0.63 18.74

9.8 17.3 1.48 11.4 0.46 0.039 18 2.84 11.14 91 5.51 5.59 8.66 1,933 5.2 411 1.1 1.65 121.5 7.86 0.104 3.88 14 2.7 0.9 17.68 0.39 3.38 2.23 0.98 1.02 2.68 2.48 7.5 9.1 149.9 2.69 1,062 0.62 0.465 39.9 74.55 8.99 2.54 0.66 0.275 0.6 18.46

SERVICES 10 17.42 1.48 11.48 0.46 0.04 18.24 3.13 11.26 92 5.56 5.59 8.67 1,980 5.2 425 1.14 1.65 124 7.86 0.104 3.9 14 2.72 0.9 18 0.415 3.38 2.29 0.98 1.02 2.78 2.5 7.8 9.1 149.9 2.7 1,064 0.62 0.47 40.05 75 8.99 2.57 0.66 0.285 0.6 18.5

18,900 29,600 16,000 3,195,600 930,000 2,700,000 601,800 3,289,000 2,772,900 23,760 709,500 400 22,300 60,055 87,200 22,420 617,000 27,000 1,384,170 23,000 800,000 3,379,000 200 524,000 115,000 263,000 40,000 3,000 334,000 2,000 10,000 2,003,000 67,000 22,800 100 60 178,000 62,110 627,000 4,400,000 173,800 262,070 300 950,000 1,713,000 3,280,000 259,000 3,689,600

190,116 514,752 24,210 36,660,078 430,250 110,400 10,856,640 10,015,680 31,204,528 2,189,106.50 3,958,918 2,236 193,771 117,945,065 455,553 9,656,526 692,800 44,740 171,351,476 180,780 83,200 13,352,490 2,800 1,425,630 103,500 4,732,278 15,850 10,140 750,380 1,960 10,200 5,470,500 166,980 174,210 910 8,994 481,870 66,351,400 388,940 2,080,350 6,961,445 19,665,976.50 2,697 2,436,290 1,131,600 925,850 156,610 68,393,804

-7,123,944 92,000 5,688,000 -162,500 -1,176,706 269,980.50 88,651 32,261,385 13,200 20,221,258 287,840 578,462 144,580 307,080 -50,000 -5,996 -29,750 -34,884,685 -155,620 161,500 2,768,600 -7,847,112 804,950 321,420 7,763,730

12,500 7,836,916 1,019,770 323,880 544,384 1,172,480 75,600 33,854 27,941,750 25,140 50,000 1,030 232,780 81,725,370 720,690 372,000 181,410 366,000 8,477,200 193,000 1,597,800 5,674,698 54,992,800

-256,941 -167,480 -307,190 -18,691,010 23,750 -54,119,660 -311,760 -128,496 -12,411,040

NAME

MS ABRA MINING AC ENEXOR APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0016 9.1 1.06 2.37 11.44 2.54 0.28 7.23 1.64 0.211 0.1 0.103 0.95 3 1.03 0.485 0.79 0.011 0.012 0.01 3.38 10.48 21.85

0.0016 9.12 1.06 2.54 11.44 2.54 0.28 7.59 1.64 0.212 0.1 0.103 0.98 3.15 1.04 0.485 0.81 0.012 0.013 0.011 3.39 10.68 21.85

0.0015 8.67 1.05 2.36 10.06 2.53 0.28 7.23 1.44 0.203 0.1 0.103 0.95 2.8 1 0.44 0.75 0.011 0.012 0.01 3.17 10.48 21.5

MINING & OIL 0.0016 8,000,000 8.74 888,700 1.05 963,000 2.47 128,000 10.06 54,100 2.53 462,000 0.28 270,000 7.39 4,600 1.45 18,661,000 0.21 120,000 0.1 500,000 0.103 10,000 0.98 245,000 2.9 28,442,000 1.04 713,000 0.485 810,000 0.81 236,000 0.012 31,500,000 0.013 652,100,000 0.011 17,800,000 3.18 483,000 10.52 539,100 21.6 2,544,200

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2R DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

16.68 500 100.2 109 499 500 5.04 1,000 1,001 97.1 1.01 100.1 107.1 1,028 78 76.6 75.7 75.5

16.98 502 100.2 109 499 506 5.04 1,000 1,005 97.1 1.02 101 107.1 1,028 78 76.6 75.7 75.5

16.68 500 100 109 490 500 5.03 1,000 1,001 97.1 1.01 100 104 1,025 77.95 76.5 75.7 75.5

PREFERRED 16.7 30,900 502 1,260 100 6,100 109 3,650 490 30 506 44,000 5.03 171,800 1,000 7,000 1,005 5,000 97.1 20 1.02 145,000 101 60,680 104 18,600 1,025 330 78 1,710 76.5 25,560 75.7 400 75.5 2,000

517,324 630,330 610,123 397,850 14,790 22,180,000 865,685 7,000,000 5,024,600 1,942 147,050 6,119,177 1,962,550 338,340 133,373 1,955,475 30,280 151,000

-346,988 -615,300 14,790 -15,180,000 -761,544 10,913 -

LR WARRANT

1.48

1.48

1.47

WARRANTS 1.47 2,000

2,950

-

XURPAS MAKATI FINANCE ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH

0.85 2.5 4.3 11.3

0.89 2.5 4.3 11.3

0.85 2.5 3.98 10.88

SME 0.88 2.5 4.08 11.06

2,783,650 37,500 3,005,380 2,568,552

357,970 -

FIRST METRO ETF

116.6

117.1

116.5

730,369

23,320

24,698.40 19,800

-

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.04 10

Trading Summary

10.04 10

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,419,165

INDUSTRIAL

266,092,767

HOLDING FIRMS

106,490,703

PROPERTY

79,810,102

SERVICES

42,054,475

MINING & OIL

765,545,214

GRAND TOTAL

1,277,589,192

10.04 10

3,182,000 15,000 737,000 233,100

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.1 6,260 DDS 10.04 10

2,460 1,980

VALUE 1,878.05 (up) 36.25 1,137,484,475.27 FINANCIAL 9,845.00 (up) 63.71 INDUSTRIAL 804,555,888.284 7,780.06 (up) 149.63 HOLDING FIRMS 1,567,693,987.55 PROPERTY 4,132.38 (up) 88.78 1,541.91 (down) 4.57 SERVICES 964,492,322.62 7,795.74 (down) 258.33 MINING & OIL 637,311,277.23 7,877.19 (up) 138.23 PSEI 193,583,596.5596 All Shares Index 4,686.68 (up) 53.84 5,314,261,535.51 Gainers: 86; Losers: 104; Unchanged: 49; Total: 239

Ayala Land, Gatchalians end planned partnership

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Inc. and Philippine Estates Corp. of the Gatchalian Group terminated a planned joint venture partnership to develop a 21-hectare property in Valenzuela City known as “Plastic City.”

Ayala Land in a disclosure to the stock exchange said unit Avida Land Corp. along with with PHES and units Wellex Industries Inc. mutually agreed to terminate the memorandum of agreement executed by the parties in December 2012.

“PHES and subsidiaries of Wellex have decided to reevaluate its concept and feasibility studies on the property while Avida will focus on its ongoing and other planned projects,” Ayala Land said.

Wellex in 2012 singed an agreement with Avida Land, the middle-income property development arm of Ayala Land, to develop the 21-hectare property in Valenzuela, which forms part of the entire 60-hectare Plastics City.

The plan was to develop the property into a mixed-use residential and retail development over a period of 10 years. Other components of the project include an educational complex and office buildings for business process outsourcing firms.

Plastic City used to house the warehouse facilities of Plastic City Industrial Corp. and Philfoods Inc. until the two companies ceased operations in 2002 due to losses.

Wellex in 2018 said it might pursue the redevelopment of the entire Plastic City after the rehabilitation case against its subsidiaries was terminated and the loans with Philippine National Bank were settled.

Wellex said the termination of the corporate rehabilitation case also enabled its subsidiaries to continue with the agreement with Avida Land.

Once the property is fully developed, Wellex said it would generate cashflows to the subsidiaries involved in the project.

Share price of Ayala Land on Monday rose 3.3 percent to P47 while the stock price of Wellex fell 4.5 percent to P0.213.

UnionBank sees November inflation rate rising to 1.3%

By Julito G. Rada UNION Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said inflation in November likely inched up to 1.3 percent from 0.8 percent a month ago, as the base effect of higher inflation level last year starts to dissipate.

“November 2018 recorded inflation level at 6.0 percent, lower from October 2018’s 6.7 percent. While October 2019 recorded a year-low 0.8 percent, it is expected an uptick may occur due to the lower base effect, year-on-year,” Unionbank said in an economic research bulletin released Monday.

“Moreover, food prices may have risen due to weather-related reasons and the continuing impact of the African Swine Fever (ASF) on pork products. The ASF may have caused prices of alternatives/substitutes to rise due to higher demand,” the bank said.

It said another factor for inflation uptick was higher consumption demand in general as Christmas drew near.

The bank said with the 2019 inflation average well-entrenched between the government’s target of 2.0 to 4.0 percent at 2.6 percent so far, “there is ample traction to the BSP governor’s recent mention of a potential rate cut in the Monetary Board’s December meeting.”

The bank sees the 2019 inflation to settle at 2.4 percent, well within the target range.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said inflation in November 2019 likely picked up slightly from 0.8 percent a month ago, due to higher fuel and food items.

The BSP Department of Economic Research projected the November 2019 inflation to settle within the 0.9 percent to 1.7 percent range.

“The increase in electricity rates as well as higher prices of gasoline, LPG [liquefied petroleum gas], and selected food items are seen as the primary sources of upward price pressures for the month,” it said.

World

B3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

ROAD WITH A VIEW. This picture taken on December 1, 2019, shows a view of the entrance of the city of Richelieu in central France. AFP

China sanctions US over HK unrest BEIJING―China on Monday slapped punitive measures on the US in retaliation for its backing of a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, announcing sanctions on NGOs and suspending visits

by US warships and aircraft.

“In response to the unreasonable behavior of the US side, the Chinese government has decided to suspend reviewing the applications for US warships to go to Hong Kong for [rest and] recuperation as of today,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.

Sanctions will apply to NGOs that had acted “badly” over the recent unrest in Hong Kong, including the National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House, Hua said.

“China urges the United States to correct its mistakes, stop any deeds and acts of interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs,” she added. AFP

HK set to record first budget deficit

Hong Kongers settling in Taiwan Samoa govt K shuts down over measles

WELLINGTON―Samoa ordered a government shutdown to help combat a devastating measles outbreak Monday, as five more children succumbed to the virus, lifting the death toll in the tiny Pacific nation to 53.

The government said almost 200 new measles cases had been recorded since Sunday, with the rate of infection showing no sign of slowing despite a compulsory mass vaccination program.

The scheme has so far focused on children but Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said it was time to immunize everyone in the 200,000 population aged under 60.

To achieve the goal, he said government services and departments would close on Thursday and Friday this week in order to allow all public servants to assist with the mass vaccination campaign throughout the country.

He said only electricity and water utility workers would be exempt and called on the nation to stand together to contain the outbreak.

“In this time of crisis, and the cruel reality of the measles epidemic, let us reflect on how we can avoid recurrence in the future,” Malielegaoi said in a national address.

Since the crisis began in mid-October, there have been 3,728 measles cases, accounting for almost two percent of the population.

Infants are the most vulnerable and form the bulk of infections, with 48 of the fatalities aged four or less.

A state of emergency was declared in mid-November, with schools closed and children banned from public gatherings, such as church services, to minimize the risk of contagion.

The outbreak has been exacerbated

by Samoa’s low immunization rates, which the World Health Organization blames on overseas-based anti-vaccine campaigners.

Malielegaoi was unequivocal in his message, telling his people “vaccination is the only cure... no traditional healers or kangen [alkaline] water preparations can cure measles.”

“Let us work together to encourage and convince those that do not believe that vaccinations are the only answer to the epidemic,” he said.

“Let us not be distracted by the promise of alternative cures.” AFP

AOHSIUNG―The protests that have paralyzed Hong Kong for nearly six months are pushing residents to seek new lives abroad, with many turning to nearby democratic Taiwan to escape the uncertainty at home.

Taiwan has long attracted Hong Kongers seeking an alternative to their city’s frenetic pace and sky-high rents.

But the number granted short-term and permanent residency in Taiwan rose nearly 30 percent to over 4,000 between January and September from a year earlier, with investment from Hong Kong almost doubling.

Leonardo Wong was in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung last month scouting locations for a restaurant he plans to open when he moves to the island in January.

“Hong Kong is no longer safe. You don’t know what would happen tomorrow. There are too many external forces that could change the course of things,” the 27-year-old told AFP. “Now it feels rather like things could never go back to the way they were.

We can’t see what kind of future [Hong Kong] is heading towards.”

Taiwan does not recognize the legal concept of asylum or accept refugee applications, fearful of a potential influx from the authoritarian mainland.

But Hong Kongers can apply to live on the island through a variety of means, including investment visas.

Former system analyst Chow Chung-

ming recently obtained a residency permit through a scheme that requires a Tw$6 million ($197,000) investment, a fraction of the costs associated with other popular immigration destinations such as Australia, Canada and the United States.

The 41-year-old moved to Kaohsiung attracted partly by lower rents, which have helped him realize a childhood dream of opening a cat cafe this July, but also the island’s relative freedoms.

“In Taiwan, freedom of speech is in the present tense. People can elect the president and lawmakers―rights that Hong Kongers don’t have and I don’t see any chance of ever having,” he said.

The protests in Hong Kong erupted in response to a proposed legislation that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland, but have snowballed into demands for greater freedoms in the city.

Beijing officially espouses a so-called “one country, two systems” policy on Hong Kong, allowing the city greater freedoms and rule of law, but protesters argue that has been gradually eroded.

A 50-year guarantee of that status will expire in 2047, with many Hong Kongers convinced their freedoms will keep shrinking until the city is fully ab-

sorbed into the mainland.

“I think the tightening on freedom will continue in Hong Kong until it’s ‘one country, one system’,” Chow said.

The current departure of Hong Kongers abroad is described by some as a “third wave,” after many residents went overseas ahead of the 1997 British handover and, in smaller numbers, after the 2014 failure of the pro-democracy “Umbrella Movement”.

Businesswoman Suki Lui has regularly participated in pro-democracy protests, but she now plans to relocate to Taiwan, hoping to give her twoyear-old daughter a better future.

“My emotions have gone through so many ups and downs and I feel I have endured more emotion than I can handle,” the 37-year-old said.

“I hope she can get a better education, can enjoy freedom, can realize her dreams in the future... I hope she can choose and live in a city with hope.”

But even those who move to Taiwan will live under a cloud cast by China.

Beijing sees the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it, by force if necessary, even though the two have been governed separately for the past seven decades.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in 2016, refuses to acknowledge that the island is part of “one China” and has repeatedly voiced support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters. AFP

HONG KONG―Hong Kong is set to record its first budget deficit in 15 years, the city’s finance chief warned Monday, as the business hub reels from the twin shocks of the trade war and seething democracy protests.

In the latest grim assessment for the city, financial secretary Paul Chan told lawmakers that the economy was set to contract 1.3 percent in 2019 hitting the city’s usually bulging coffers.

Chan blamed the 2019-2020 deficit on decreased tax revenues, a slowdown in land sales and recent economic sweeteners he unveiled in a bid to win over the public during a tumultuous year of unrest.

“At the end of the financial year, the SAR government will be in the red,” Chan said, using an abbreviation for the Hong Kong government.

“Hong Kong’s economy is now in extremely difficult times,” he added, as he called for political violence to cease.

The city has been battered by nearly six months of protests triggered by rising public anger over China’s rule and the police’s response to protests.

Crowds are pushing for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability but the city’s pro-Beijing leadership has refused any major political concessions.

The increasingly violent rallies have hammered the retail and tourism sectors, with mainland Chinese visitors abandoning the city in droves.

Figures released last week showed mainland arrivals fell a record 46 percent in October, a usually crucial holiday period in China known as “Golden Week”.

But the economy has also taken a pumelling from the US-China trade war in a city that serves as a crucial link between the authoritarian mainland and the global markets.

The last time Hong Kong recorded a budget deficit was in the aftermath of a deadly 2003 outbreak of the Sars virus that killed some 300 people.

The city’s budget usually ends the year in an enviable position and successive fat years have built up an impressive cushion. AFP

Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines TODAY COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City

RESOLUTION

Subject:

No. 2019 - 024 Date: NOV. 25, 2019

Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001 on the Guidelines on the Utilization of the Budgetary Allocations of the Offices of the Senate Officers, Senators and Committees A and B of the Senate of the Philippines

WHEREAS, in the performance of its legislative functions and investigatory authority in aid of legislation, the Senate of the Philippines, through its Committees and Sub-committees, conduct public hearings and consultations concerning issues of national security, political, economic and social significance with the proper government offices, and the various sectors and special interest groups affected thereby; WHEREAS, in carrying out such hearings and consultations, the Senate of the Philippines, through its investigating Committees and Sub-committees, engage in activities and transactions which are highly peculiar and different from the common or routinary governmental processes and transactions involving expenditure of public funds; WHEREAS, to effectively and efficiently perform its functions, the Senate of the Philippines promulgated Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001 providing guidelines in the grant of budget and liquidation of cash advances of its Senate Officers, Offices of the Senators, Offices of Committee A and Committee B, and establishing the procedural and documentary requirements in the utilization of the budgetary allocation thereof; WHEREAS, through letter dated September 2, 2019, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III submitted Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001 for consideration of the Commission on Audit as guide in the audit of transactions of the Senate of the Philippines; WHEREAS, this Memorandum Circular have a direct bearing on the existing rules and regulations on similar subject matter promulgated by the Commission on Audit in the exercise of its exclusive authority, under Section 2(2), Article IX-D of the 1987 Constitution, to define the scope of its audit and examination, establish the techniques and methods required therefor, and promulgate accounting and auditing rules and regulations, including those for the prevention and disallowance of irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable expenditures, or uses of government funds and properties;

ACCIDENT. This picture obtained from the Instagram account of dtp38rus shows a bus crash site at

Kuenga River, some 60 km from Sretensk, Siberia, on December 1, 2019. The passenger bus plunged off a bridge onto a frozen river, killing 19 of the more than 40 people on board, authorities said. A tire on the bus burst as it was crossing the bridge over the Kuenga river in eastern Siberia's Zabaikalsky region. The vehicle, which was traveling from Sretensk to Chita, skidded off the road and onto the ice. AFP

Iraq’s PM bows out as protesters mourn their dead BAGHDAD―The government of Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi ended Sunday after two months of violent unrest that has left more than 420 people dead and thousands mourning them in nationwide marches.

As anti-government demonstrators across the strife-torn country massed to honor the fallen activists, parliament met to accept the resignation which the 77-year-old had offered two days before.

While Abdel Mahdi stays on initially to lead a caretaker government, President Barham Saleh will now be asked to name a suc-

cessor to face the challenge of resolving the political chaos that has engulfed the nation.

The protest movement is Iraq’s biggest since the US-led invasion of 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein and installed a democratic system in the oil-rich but povertyplagued nation.

Tens of thousands have vented their anger at a governing class they despise as inept, corrupt and beholden to foreign powers, especially neighboring Iran, whose consulate in the city of Najaf was torched last Wednesday.

The rallies spread Sunday from the protest

epicenter in Baghdad and the mostly Shiite south to the northern, majority-Sunni city of Mosul, where hundreds of students dressed in black organized a mourning march.

Some protesters cautiously welcomed the departure of the premier, who came to power just a year ago based on a shaky alliance between rival parties, but they demanded far more deep-rooted change.

“Abdel Mahdi should go―and so should parliament and the political parties and Iran!” said one young demonstrator in the capital. AFP

WHEREAS, this Commission, however, is of the view that cash advances for MOOE/ OMOE should not entirely be liquidated through “Certification” considering that there are expenditures that can be validated or documented through presentation of Official Receipts (ORs) and/or other documents evidencing their incurrence; WHEREAS, the efficacy of guidelines emanating from other government agencies, offices and instrumentalities requires, as a matter of policy, the concurrence of the Commission on Audit, in the exercise of its exclusive constitutional authority to examine, audit and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipt of, and expenditure or uses of funds; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Audit RESOLVES, as it does hereby RESOLVE, to concur in the guidelines contained in the aforesaid Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001; RESOLVED, further, that cash advances for MOOE/OMOE should not entirely be liquidated through “Certification”.

RESOLVED, furthermore, that Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001 shall apply only to transactions of the current Senate of the 18th Congress; RESOLVED, finally, that these guidelines shall be subject to periodic review by this Commission, and the Commission reserves its right to modify or altogether scrap the guidelines contained therein, with prior notice to the Senate of the Philippines, when the interest of the government and effective state audit so require.

This Resolution shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Quezon City, Philippines.

MICHAEL G. AGUINALDO Chairperson JOSE A. FABIA Commissioner

ROLAND C. PONDOC Commissioner (MS-DEC. 3, 2019)

LGUs

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

B4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

Botolan hosts biggest National Scout Jamboree

By Rex Arcadio R. San Diego II

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MODEL LGU.

Officials of Muntinlupa City stand with the 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance marker received from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for its outstanding delivery of public service in seven assessment areas of governance.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Rep. Ruffy Biazon and other local officials present the Seal to Muntinlupa City Government officials and employees during the city’s flag raising ceremony last Dec. 2.

Navotas hospital receives silver trailblazer award THE Navotas City Hospital bagged the Silver Trailblazer Award from the Institute for Solidarity in Asia for its efforts to promote good governance.

NCH Director Dr. Christia Padolina received the award following the public revalida for the Compliance Stage in ISA’s Performance Governance System.

“This award reflects our continued efforts to improve our services, especially in the health sector. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to give our best as we promote the welfare and wellbeing of every Navoteño,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

The PGS consists of four stages namely, initiation, compliance, proficiency, and institutionalization.

Since its initiation in November 2017, the NCH instituted policy reforms and realignment of resources to realize its strategic position of being “a pioneer in community-linked secondary healthcare in CAMANAVA (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela).”

Among the changes that NCH implemented was the creation of the Office of Strategic Management and Multi-Sector Governance Council.

The OSM monitors the progress of NCH units in achieving their respective strategic goals. The MSGC, on the other hand, helps formulate new programs such as #NotoSolo, #GamotMoSagotKo and #JuanCard to further serve the needs of Navoteños.

The hospital is also working with the Department of Health for the installation of iHOMIS and iClinicSys computer systems that will help make the information system and electronic medical records of the NCH interoperable with those of the city health centers.

Furthermore, the NCH is currently expanding to become a secondary-level hospital with 100-bed capacity. To ensure its sustainability, it secured the nod of the Navotas City Government to retain 20 percent of its income as supplementary budget.

The hospital also pursued advocacy projects, facilitated by specialty physicians, to promote healthy lifestyle and preventive health care.

It secured partnership with Tondo Medical Center to implement an Electronic Ticketing System for effective patient referral. Jun David

Makati unveils ‘Paskuhan Kubol’ for Christmas gifts

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Monday led the ceremonial opening of the “Paskuhan Kubol” (Christmas booth) at the city hall quadrangle and reassured residents that the annual Christmas gift bags are all packed and ready for distribution.

“Yearly, we see to it that the distribution of Christmas gift bags will be done early December so that residents can plan for their Noche Buena and make good use of the products contained in the bag,” said Binay.

The city chief executive said some 97,172 bags will be distributed to residents per household of all 33 barangays of the city.

She added each bag contains a Makatizen shirt, three cans each of plain canned tuna, flavored canned tuna and

SAFE LECHON. Enterprising vendor Roger Confieso of Patul Village, Santiago City, Isabela displays his native lechon in his barn.

Despite the African Swine Fever epidemic down south, native hogs in Isabela remain safe, according to city veterinary office. With these reasons, Mang Roger’s Lechon became more in demand among his patrons as Yuletide Season approaches.

Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong offers lots for gov’t agencies BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— Mayor Ralph Lantion said lots are being offered for occupancy among government agencies who are interested to construct their own office buildings.

The donated 2-hectare lot in barangay La Torre North is part of the huge lot of the Daniel Lantion Foundation being managed by Mayor Ralph and

Pampanga mayors back Charter change

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Local officials supported the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution by signing a Pledge Commitment during a Town Hall Meeting on Constitutional Reform here.

Minalin Mayor Edgardo Flores, President of the Pampanga Mayors League, said that under the commitment, local executives pledge to become active partners of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in upholding and advocating the promises of Center of Federalism and Constitutional Reform.

Flores said the municipal mayors and their duly authorize representatives signed the pledge of commitment during

corned beef, a can of luncheon meat, two cans of sausage, a pack of spaghetti sauce, a pack of pasta, a can of fruit cocktail, a can of condensed milk, a slab of cheese, and a pack of cream.

During the ceremony, Binay also handed Pamaskong Handog bags and tickets to the barangay captains for distribution to their respective barangay officials and employees.

For senior citizens numbering over 76,000, the distribution of Christmas goodies started earlier, coinciding

with the distribution of their yearend cash gift on scheduled dates in their respective barangays from Nov. 16 until Dec. 9.

Aside from over 9,000 city government employees, other beneficiaries of the project include 6,265 solo parents and families under Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the city.

In all, around 230,000 bags have been allotted by the city government under the Pamaskong Handog project this year.

In addition to the Paskuhan Kubol at the City Hall Quadrangle, the gift bags will also be distributed through satellite claiming centers in selected barangays per district from Dec. 3 to 6.

Remaining Christmas gift bags can be claimed at the kubol until Jan. 31, 2020.

the meeting at the Kingsborough International Convention here.

“We would initiate efforts and actively participate in the activities geared towards reforming the present constitution of the country,” Flores said.

The mayor said the PML will actively participate to change the Charter or the fundamental law of the land that will benefit not only of the province but also the entire country.

During the meeting, four pillars were highlighted, namely: decongest Metro Manila while developing the provinces; governments for the people not for traditional politicians; open economy for the benefit of the people; and a new constitution for next generation of Filipinos.

his older brother, retired police general Thompson Lantion.

“We are offering this for interested government agencies to construct their own office buildings as part of our vision to transform our municipality as a center of government,” he said.

The lot is also a part of the 3,000-square-meter Sports Complex,

TACS EXPO. Armscor Global Defense Inc., an arms and ammunition manufacturer brand based in the Philippines, recently staged the TACS Expo, now on its third year, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. The annual event promotes defense, security and survival for sustainable living.

Pictured (from left) are Datu Basher ‘Bong’ Alonto, chairman, Metro Manila Muslim Community for Justice and Peace; lawyer Dennis Bernard Acorda, Pasay City administrator II; Senator Ronald dela Rosa; Ma. Cristina TuasonGonzalez, director, ARMSCOR; LTC Gina Marie Angangco, GSC PA (RES), SEVP and Deputy CEO, ARMSCOR; Elizabeth Tuason, SVP for Global Marketing and PR; Martin Tuason, president and CEO, ARMSCOR; and Usec. George Apacible, Presidential Communications undersecretary.

which is funded in part by the Lantion’s Foundation.

The P45 million state-of-the-art sports complex has been funded initially with P5 million, according to Lantion.

“The sports complex will house indoor games such as basketball, volleyball, boxing and other events,” the mayor added. Ben Moses Ebreo

IF THERE are those who believe the appeal of scouting in the Philippines is waning, the number of participants to this year's National Scouts Jamboree hosted by the BSP Central Luzon Region might be enough to change those doubters' minds.

Almost 25,000 scouts and scout leaders descended at Camp Kainomayan in Botolan, Zambales as the 17th National Scout Jamboree was held from Dec. 1 to 7.

The event attracted more than 19,000 young scouts along with more than 6,000 adult scout leaders and support staff from 105 local councils throughout the Philippines to form the largest gathering of the Boy Scouts since more than 34,000 delegates joined the 1998 Centennial Jamboree hosted by the Province of Bulacan.

And several international scouters from South Korean and Boys Scouts Association of America are among those in attendance.

This year's National Jamboree has the theme 'Saving Lives, People, Nature and Nation,' NOT JUST AN OATH Usec. Diosdado San Antonio, representing DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, tackled the significance of the Scout Oath and Law in making a better nation for and of Filipinos.

"If only we Filipinos will love and apply in our daily lives the scout oath, our country could be like paradise— less problems with more competent, disciplined and responsible citizens," explained San Antonio.

The former Regional Director of Region 4A also made a pitch for the Education Department's revitalized thrust to ensure quality learning, noting that "Filipinos should not only know how to read, but to read well and fluently."

Biopesticides highlighted in ‘FIESTA’

By Butch Gunio LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Biopesticides developed through science and technology researches were pitched to potential investors during the Cluster Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda event on Biofertilizer and Biopesticide.

FIESTA is a technology transfer and promotion platform initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology.

The pitching during FIESTA recently held in Valencia City, Bukidnon, was attended by farmers and investors across Region 10, Gian Carlo Camacho of the PCAARRD Applied Communication Division relayed to newsmen here.

Leticia A. Lutap of Mariano Marcos State University presented the MMSU Bio-In 3. She described the technology as a plant-based biopesticide that specifically targets tomato fruitworm.

An alternative to the conventional synthetic insecticide, she added that the MMSU Bio-In 3 will help reduce farmers' reliance on harmful chemical sprays for their crops.

Dr. Roger R. Alferez of Cebu Technological University presented the Plantmate wood vinegar. The technology, he noted, is a natural pesticide that can be used in organic farming. He described it as an alternative to chemical pesticides.

He said the pesticide is also capable of enriching the soil, enhancing root formation, improving seed germination, and increasing resistance to diseases.

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019

C1

Speak out, listen up

T

HE Philippines is not a women-friendly country.

According to Singapore-based research firm ValueChampion, the country is among the “most dangerous places” for women in Asia.

We ranked in the bottom three, following Indonesia and India (the lowest), when it comes to safety, healthcare, and opportunities.

According to global direct-selling company Avon, there is at least one raping incident in every 72 minutes here in the Philippines. And at least one in 20 women aged 15 to 49 have experienced sexual violence.

It also cited records that reveal half of all Filipinas who have been harassed took no action. “It’s a grim reality that stories about gender-based violence is often ignored, ridiculed, or discredited,” the “company for women” said in a statement.

As a strong advocate for women, Avon Philippines is rallying behind UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by launching the #SpeakOutListenUp campaign to encourage victims and survivors to

speak out and share their stories and urge everyone to listen up.

For 16 days, orange has been chosen as a symbol of a brighter future where women won’t fear violence in their own homes, on the streets, or online.

Since adapting the color is one way to show solidarity with women all over the world, Avon has gone orange across its social media platforms since Nov. 25 (UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) until Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day).

The company aims to amplify the message, spark conversations, and raise awareness of different forms of violence that prevent women from reaching their full potential as well as the many ways they can protect themselves and report instances of abuse.

As part of its efforts for the 16 Days of Activism, Avon has partnered with World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to ensure more women and girls are able to identify gender-based violence and identify resources to safely seek help.

The partnership has launched a new training and awareness program for Avon Representatives and girl scouts in the Philippines as well as

The 16 Days of Activism started on Nov. 25 and will run until Dec. 10, right in time for Human Rights Day.

SILENT NO MORE. The #SpeakOutListenUp campaign of global company Avon aims to encourage victims and survivors of gender-based violence to speak out and share their stories and urge everyone to listen up.

in Argentina and South Africa.

Avon prides itself on having a strong legacy of championing programs that help in the promise of putting an end to Violence Against Women and Girls, contributing more than $65 million globally to women-

Members of team Ocean’s 4 who developed PaWIKAN, an ocean waste collecting system, together with Space Apps leader Dr. Paula Bontempi and other officials.

centered organizations like Malala Fund and Vital Voices.

In the Philippines, Avon has constantly been collaborating with and making donations to Women’s Care Center, Inc. in Manila; Inang Makabayan Aksyon Foundation in Pampanga; Gender Watch Against

Violence and Exploitation in Dumaguete; and Luna Legal Resource Center for Women in Davao to further the cause.

“Avon’s 16 Days of Activism is part of its enduring commitment to stand with and stand for women. After all, women’s rights are human rights.”

Pinoy hackers going deep into addressing real-world problems on Earth and space.

Pinoy-made tech systems to join NASA global hackathon TWO teams from the Philippines are advancing to National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Global Space Apps Challenge for their ocean garbage collector and dengue mapper systems.

Garbage collector

De La Salle University electronics and communications engineering students Samantha Maxine Santos, Antonio Miguel S. Alejo, Grant Lewis Bulaong, and Janos Lance L. Tiberio of Team Ocean’s 4, who also joined the last year’s hackathon, developed a deployable autonomous ocean waste collection system utilizing NASA’s Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time data to determine possible locations of ocean garbage patches using GPS. Dubbed PaWiKAN, it uses a pair of deployable, dynamically reconfigur-

able boats capable of trapping and returning ocean waste back to ground. It is equipped with extended-range radio system based on LoRa technology and Arduino to communicate with sensors and controlled by a deployment station.

“Our global bodies of water are actually littered with plastics. This is a very futuristic solution to help get rid of plastics currently floating or submerged in global waters. It is timely and relevant solution,” said Monchito B. Ibrahim, industry development committee chairman of the Analytics Association of the Philippines and former undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

ledo, Frances Claire Tayco, and Jansen Dumaliang Lopez, developed a forecasting model of dengue cases using climate and digital data and pinpointing possible hotspots from satellite data.

Correlating information from Sentinel-2 Copernicus and Landsat 8 satellites, DOST-PAGASA for climate, and trends from search engines, potential dengue hotspots will be displayed in a web interface.

Indices like Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index are used in identifying areas with green vegetation while Normalized Difference Water Index to identify areas with water. According Dengue mapper to the developers, combining these Meanwhile, Team Aedes, composed indices reveal potential areas of stagof Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, Mark To- nant water capable of being breeding

grounds of mosquitoes.

The system aims to offer a solution to the nations plagued by dengue.

Here in the Philippines, the World Health Organization recorded 271,480 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 this year. A total 1,107 deaths was recorded in that period.

“It benefits the community especially those countries suffering from malaria and dengue, just like the Philippines. I think it has a global impact. This is the new science to know the potential areas where dengue might occur. It is a good app,” enthused Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, deputy executive director of the Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOSTPCIEERD).

Ibrahim added, “It is very relevant

to the Philippines and other countries which usually have problems with dengue. The team was able to show that it’s not really difficult to have all the data you need and integrate all of them and make them accessible to everyone for them to be able to use it.

It’s a working model. It is something can actually be made usable in a short span of six months.”

The two finalists won the NASA Space Apps Challenge held in October in Manila. The competition, now in its eighth year, is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage with NASA’s free and open data to address realworld problems on Earth and in space.

Turn to C2

Life

C2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

HEALTH BULLETIN

National immunization conference highlights opportunities toward vaccine resilience

T

HE Philippines recently experienced a drastic drop in vaccine confidence, posing a threat to public health.

Vaccines can save up to three million lives annually, according to the World Health Organization. High vaccine coverage (>95 percent) leads to community immunity which provides protection even to individuals who have not yet been immunized. Some vaccine-preventable diseases include measles, polio, pneumonia, dengue, rubella, mumps and tetanus.

There are 13 recommended vaccinations for children and young adults from 0 to 18 years old. But misinformation has led parents to postpone or forego necessary immunization for their children.

The vaccine hesitancy rate of 33 percent is putting lives at risk and undermines the previous achievements of vaccination. The return of polio, when the country was already declared poliofree back in 2000, is a consequence of vaccine hesitancy.

The low vaccine coverage and vaccine hesitancy is multifactorial, as pointed out by Department of Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Enrique “Eric” Tayag.

A vaccines advisory group to WHO cited complacency, inconvenience in assessing vaccines, and lack of confidence as among the reasons why people choose not to vaccinate. It added that support for healthcare professionals, especially those in communities, is crucial so that they may provide trusted, credible information on vaccines.

With this, restoring vaccine confidence and establishing resilience were the highlights of this year’s Philippine National Immunization Conference, organized by the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) together with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

“Way back in the ‘90s, we were really putting vaccination at the forefront of the public health program. We successfully increased vaccine coverage to a very high level—much higher than the United States, and diminish child mortality and morbidity. The Philippines was the first country to do national immunization drives, wherein millions of children were vaccinated as catch up.

[Now] we are becoming the biggest vaccine-hesitant country in the world,” lamented PFV executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo.

Emphasizing the role of doctors and medical societies in strengthening vaccine confidence, Dr. Josefina Carlos, a pediatrics infectious disease specialist and moderator in one of the 20th PNIC panel discussions said, “There is no one strategy that works to address vaccine hesitancy. However, we are good influencers as healthcare providers.”

Effective communication and rapport building is vital in dealing with patients.

Dr. Carlos reiterated the importance of clear and consistent messages in addressing patient concerns to create a positive experience and to motivate them to be proactive in disease prevention through vaccination. She also underscored the crucial value of spreading accurate information on vaccines and vaccination.

20th Philippine National Immunization Conference scientific chair Dr. Benny Atienza (seated, center), Philippine Foundation for Vaccination president Dr. Shelley dela Vega (seated, third to the right) and beside her are PFV executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo, and Dr. Josefina Carlos, together with the organizing committee, in Lima Park Hotel, Batangas.

PMA vice president and scientific chair of this year’s PNIC, Dr. Benny Atienza also suggested a patient-centric approach in promoting vaccines as a cost-effective healthcare tool that prevents suffering and deaths.

“For example, chicken pox vaccination is affordable. But an unvaccinated child will miss two weeks of school if they’re infected. If the child is sick, the parents also can’t go to work and would need to pay high medical bills. An individual can only get this type of viral in-

fection once in life but it can make a big effect on the child and his family and community,” said Dr. Atienza.

Through the DOH’s Expanded Program on Immunization, vaccines are being made accessible for more Filipinos nationwide. Making vaccination as part of PhilHealth benefits, according to PFV president Dr. Shelley dela Vega, would help increase coverage and contribute to the objectives of the Universal Health Care Act. “People would not have to discuss if

a vaccine is expensive or not because it is already free under PhilHealth. That is the essence of Universal Healthcare.”

Dr. Bravo added, “What we need is to cultivate the resiliency of the immunization program from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine resilience. Vaccine resilience is about [being] able to address [issues].

You look at your immunization program and plan what to do next if this kind of issue happens. We have preparedness plan for disasters, that’s what we need to do for vaccines.”

Saving oceans, one glass bottle at a time THE alarming number of marine animals affected by plastic trash have moved Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan into establishing a CSR initiative called “EcoConserve” program.

The program covers all environmentfriendly practices that have been incorporated into the daily aspects of both

resorts’ operations to help lessen the properties’ ecological impacts. A major component of which is the resorts’ goal of minimizing plastic trash.

From small practices like the replacement of plastic straws with paper or metal ones, the use of refillable pumps for the bath amenities, to bigger and more long-term applications like the in-

The EcoPure water is elegantly packaged in a glass bottle sterilized before and after use.

Pinoy-made...

From C1

Space Apps leader Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, the acting deputy director of the Earth Science Mission, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate was impressed of these solutions presented in Manila.

“The top two are really good. There were definitely a few projects right behind them. There is a lot of good talent out there. It was nice to see,” said Bontempi.

Rex Lor from United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines commended the use of the Sustainable Development Goals on Good Health and Well-Being, and

Life Below Water of the winning solutions showcasing the “pivotal role of cutting-edge digital technologies in the creation of strategies for sustainable development in the face of evolving development issues.”

Space Apps 2019 included over 29,000 participants at more than 230 events in 80 countries.

The event in the Philippines was held in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Industry, DOST-PCIEERD, Animo Labs technology business incubator, PLDT InnoLab, American Corner Manila, the US government, and part of the Design Week Philippines with Department of Trade and Industry-Design Center of the Philippines.

stallation of a more sustainable source of drinking water, both resorts are committed to finding ways to better care for the environment.

This 2019, Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan have invested in EcoPure Water Bottling System that transforms tap water to clean drinking water. The system utilizes the Classic Crystal Tropical Purification technology which includes a seven-stage water purification system that destroys microorganism and other harmful substances that may be present in tap water.

The resulting EcoPure water is pure and safe for drinking and comes in either still or sparkling. It is elegantly packaged in hygienic glass bottles that are sterilized before and after use.

This new water system eliminates the resorts’ need for commercially sold bottled drinking water. The use of glass bottles also completely takes away any health concerns arising from plastic chemicals leaching into the drinking water.

According to several studies published in www.gogreen.org, the production of plastic water bottles requires up to 17 million barrels of oil each year, enough to maintain up to one million cars fueled for an entire year. It also uses energy that can power 190,000 homes, not to mention three times the amount of water needed in the production of one plastic water bottle.

That large amount of water used becomes unusable due to its exposure to chemicals during the production process. Once the water in the plastic bottle is consumed, it takes 700 years for one PET plastic bottle to start decomposing.

Last year, both resorts consume an average of 12,542 bottles of water per month. The use of EcoPure water system eliminates the use of plastic bottles which can save both resorts and the environment a total 150,504 plastic bottles in one year.

Both champions will join teams around the world to be evaluated by NASA to approximately select the top 30 projects as global finalists in early December, and the top six winners will be announced in January 2020.

Winners shall be invited to visit the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Florida in 2020.

Last year, team iNON used a citizen science platform by NASA to develop an application seeking to communicate scientific data to fishermen even without Internet connection, which led them to victory as the first Pinoy global winner. Their project called ISDApp is currently being incubated by Animo Labs.

How to prepare for a run The Run-Walk Method is a great way for new runners to get started, and for experienced runners to improve their race times.

JOINING a running event requires at least the basic preparation to equip the body with strength and endurance to last from start to finish.

Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, which is staging its biggest health and fitness event Maxifest on Dec. 15 at Central Park SM by the Bay, Mall of Asia Complex, offers this list of things that runners, beginner or otherwise, must do days, or even weeks, before the race.

sleep because you might feel sluggish the following day.

Eat properly and hydrate

You shouldn’t run when you are hungry or full. Eat a healthy, balanced meal the night before. If you wake up feeling hungry on the day of the run, have a low-fiber breakfast at least two hours before the race starts.

Mind your water intake. Drink from eight to 16 ounces of water at least an hour before running. Avoid drinking Condition your body too much so you do not feel bloated and Set up a training plan to avoid in- would not need a restroom break in the juries and help improve your body middle of the run. for the physical exertion of running.

If you are not used to exercising and Set a plan then you have to run several kilomIf you are a beginner, do not force eters, chances are you will feel a lot yourself to run far. Choose a running of stiffness and soreness afterwards. course that your body will be comThe Run-Walk Method is a great fortable with, and set a plan on how to way for new runners to get started, complete it. Stop or slow down when and for experienced runners to im- you feel discomfort. It is important to prove their race times. A suggested feel happy and energized when you combination is a 30-second run, reach the finish line. followed by a 2-minute walk, to be Maxifest offers a variety of race caterepeated for the entire duration of gories to accommodate different kinds your run. of runner. There is a 500-meter dash for three to 12-year-old kids, a 2-kiloPrepare everything meter Senior Sprint for 60-year-olds and above, the basic 3k, easy distance the night before To avoid cramming on the day of of 5k, and the athletic 10k and 16k. the run, sort out and prepare your This year’s event will also feature a things the night before. Prepare your Maxicare Market, a one-stop shop of socks, shoes, shorts, and shirt. It ready-to-eat plant-based alternatives. would be best to have a small bag to Maxicare will also set a new Guinness hold other essentials such as a visor, World Record for the most number of sunglasses, water bottle, extra shirt, people hugging a soft toy simultaneas well as wallet, phone, and keys. ously. All runners and guests of the event will be given a Maxibear, MaxiGet enough sleep care’s official stuffed plushie, which Runs can be exciting but that is they will hug simultaneously. no reason to stay up all night. You Runners have the option to keep the need plenty of rest the day before Maxibear as a souvenir, or to donate it so you will have enough energy the to kids of Kythe Foundation, Inc., the following day. beneficiary of the event, as an early Get at least eight hours of sleep the Christmas gift. night before so that your muscles can stand the physical activity you will be To register for the run, visit www.runrio. doing. It is also important not to over- com/race/registration/maxifest-2019.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

American actor Leonardo DiCaprio, seen at an event in New York on Sept. 28, has denied allegations from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that he funded a group linked to fires in the Amazon.

DiCaprio denies Bolsonaro accusation of link to Amazon fires AMERICAN actor Leonardo DiCaprio on Saturday denied a claim by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that he had helped fund groups allegedly linked to fires in the Amazon rain forest.

“While worthy of support,” the 45-year-old DiCaprio said in a statement on his Instagram account, “we did not fund the organizations targeted.”

In his weekly broadcast Thursday, Bolsonaro accused DiCaprio of “collaborating with the fires in the Amazon” by donating $500,000 to a group he said had started fires in the ecologically sensitive forest in order to attract donations.

While citing no evidence, Bolsonaro said that DiCaprio had earmarked a part of the $500,000 “for the people who were setting fires.”

The far-right Brazilian president repeated the accusations on Friday.

DiCaprio, long an environmental activist, said in his denial that “the future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake, and I am proud to stand with the groups protecting them.”

He offered praise for those in Brazil who work “to save their natural and cultural heritage.”

Since 2018, the Alter do Chao volunteer

fire brigade has helped firefighters combat huge blazes in northern Para state, including a recent fire in the Alter do Chao region that destroyed the equivalent of 1,600 soccer fields.

But regional police claim that some members linked to the group have actually started fires in a bid to raise international funding.

Four of the group’s members were arrested on Tuesday before being released two days later.

Investigators say the volunteers set several fires in order to sell photos of the blazes to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for use in a campaign to raise international donations -- including from DiCaprio. AFP

How Bea and Angelica rekindled their friendship

T

V AND movie stars Bea Alonzo and Angelica Panganiban admit that their friendship was put to test at one point in time.

In fact, during that period, they stopped talking to each other.

“There were ill feelings between us before. We had a misunderstanding. But I guess, it’s normal in any friendship, right? Actually, when we were shooting our currently film, Bey (her term of endearment to Bea) and I reminisced our gap in the past. We’ve talked of some things and I realized that we’re really friends and that our friendship just had to undergo tests, conflicts and challenges in the process,” Angelica says.

“Fortunately, Angelica and I had the chance to face and settle things during the shooting of Unbreakable. Perhaps, after your judgment towards each other has ended and your hidden ill feelings as well, true friendship starts. That’s where true happiness opens up and the positive hope you have for each other.

It appears that time has arranged it perfectly,” Bea butts in.

Interestingly, if there’s one thing that the two popular actresses share closely these days is their being able to move on and bounce back from their previous heartbreaks. The public knows about Angelica’s aborted reconciliation with former boyfriend Carlo Aquinoand Bea’s much-talked about falling out with former steady Gerald Anderson.

“Honestly, it’s a big thing that both of us had to go through painful chapters in our respective love life. We were able to relate with each other. That way, we got more bonded. You help each other heal your wounds and move on. You pull each other up,” Bea avers.

“I agree!” seconds Angelica. “It’s like sharing notes on our similar situations.

Now, I can say that my friendship with Bea is much, much deeper. Unlike when we were younger when what we usually do was to take pictures when there’s a nice background or talk about non-sense things. It was like a day-off from work. Now, it’s much deeper and serious.

“Come to think of it, perhaps fate brought us together because we can help each other. We draw strength from each other. What’s good about us is that we don’t experience the lows at the same time. When I’m down, she’s the opposite and vice-versa. Yes, we pull each other up.

“When one is groping in the dark, the other will guide her to see the light.

That’s how our friendship is right now.

We are guarding each other’s back. Our friendship is really strong and deep.”

Angelica reveals that Bea is one of her closest friends in and out of show business right now.

“Of course, she’s in the list! In fact, I will already put her photo in the wall of my house. I display pictures of my closest friends in my abode. From there you can see how I value my friendship with her.”

On her part, Bea reveals they have plans of traveling together.

“Yes! We’ve already made lots of plans, only we don’t have the time yet.

I hope that they will push through in the near future. That will be exciting!” ***

Bea Alonzo (right) shares on Instagram an old photo of her and Angelica Panganiban taken in 2007.

On her social media, Angelica shares a photo of her and Bea with caption,'Ganda ng Mami ko!.

As they worked together in the currently showing horror presentation The Heiress, which also stars Maricel Soriano, McCoy de Leon and Janella Salvador, realized how they’ve grown in their craft as actors since the first time they shared the frame in the hit daytime series Be Careful with My Heart a few years ago.

“I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about my entry into the ‘biz through that soap opera. As everybody knows, Janella played one ofRichard Yap’s children there. It was my maiden screen exposure. I was still an extra then, a talent.

“Fortunately, the director took notice of me. He gave me a role. That was the start of my acting career. I was initially cast as a school bully until later I became the third wheel to the love team of Janella and Marlo Mortel in the story. For the record, Janella is my first on screen partner.

I also remember doing one episode with her in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

“Now that we were paired in The Heiress, I felt that we returned to our younger days.

Imagine, how time flies! And it took four years before we were given the opportunity to work together for a project again. It’s simply nice,” says McCoy. The two Kapamilya stars have only good words for each other while filming their latest big screen starrer.

“We have a smooth-sailing working relationship on the set. We’ve also discovered new things about each other.

Like, I didn’t know that Janella is a voracious eater. That’s one of our favorite bonding moments---eating. We’re very much alike when it comes to that. Janella is usually hungry when break time comes,”

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McCoy says in jest.

“But seriously though, she’s hasn’t changed. As ever, she remains serious to her craft. She always gives it her hundred per cent. Just like here in ‘The Heiress’, she really studied all the nuances of her character as a provincial lass. She’s very hard working and that’s what I admire so much in her,’ he adds.

Meanwhile, Janella speaks positively on McCoy’s growth as an actor.

“His transformation is just amazing,” she states. “In ‘Be Careful with My Heart’, I’ve witnessed how uncomfortable he was in front of the cameras. He couldn’t deliver his lines well because of shyness.

But now, he’s more comfortable in facing the cameras. Obviously, he has gained confidence.”

Interestingly, the two young stars are products of disbanded love teams. As everyone knows, Janella was paired then with Elmo Magalona while McCoy had Elisse Joson for his maiden love team. For Janella, it’s just okay with her if McCoy is her latest leading man.

“I have no issues with love teams because it really helps in establishing new and young stars. But since I came from a love team before, I don’t want to be exclusively tied with it all over again.

You get limited to just one screen partner.

Personally, I want to work with other actors to grow as an artist. That way, you can do many things in terms of your craft, right?”

McCoy has the same line of thinking.

“If you get to work with different stars, you widen your horizon. It’s for your own good. It’s beneficial to your career. For one, you can explore,” he ends.

Kris Bernal wins top acting award at the 2019 Gawad Amerika Awards CTRESS Kris Bernal took home the Most Outstanding Filipina Actress in Television award at the 2019 Gawad Amerika Awards held last Nov. 23 at The Celebrity Center Franklin Avenue in California.

Kris personally flew to California to accept the recognition for her remarkable performance in GMA Network’s Afternoon Prime drama series Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko where she played the role of Rachel.

Humbled by the honor, Kris expressed her gratitude to the awardgiving body and to all her avid supporters. She said, “Thank you Gawad Amerika Foundation for this recognition, Most Outstanding TV Actress 2019. Never in my wildest dream would I ever think that I would be coming here in California to receive such a prestigious award.”

“I am truly honored to be here alongside other brilliant awardees who best exemplify the talent, pride, and excellence of the Filipino people. I am deeply humbled and inspired.

Sending hugs and kisses to all the Filipinos all over the world! Thank you for your undying love and support, for watching my shows, and appreciating my efforts.

Maraming salamat po!,” she ended her speech.

Gawad Amerika Awards is an annual celebration which recognizes the excellence of individuals and entrepreneurs who have gone above and beyond in their area of specialty. It is an independent award-giving body mainly composed of newspaper publishers and selected reputable community leaders.

Organized by Gawad Amerika Foundation (GAF) in California, it aims to create an environment where Filipino-Americans can validate their importance in the American society and construct innovative projects to continually endorse fresh ideas and talents.

Kapuso star Kris Bernal shows off the trophy she received from 2019 Gawad Amerika Awards

Brillante...

From C4

Jessica Kiang of Variety. com echoed Hosny in her Mindanao review: “At his most celebrated, such as with his divisive but Cannes best directorwinning Kinatay, Mendoza’s blunt, unblinking style is an asset, provoking discomfort by forcing us to confront brutally upsetting realities.”

The Variety writer also praised Santos who worked with Mendoza for the first time in Mindanao. Kiang added, “Santos turns in a de-glammed, gently anguished, remarkably sympathetic performance.”

Wendy Ide of Screen International commended Santos as well for “retaining grace and dignity” in her portrayal. “The film’s main asset is the presence of actress Judy Ann Santos, who is luminous in the role

of the mother, Saima,” noted Ide in her review posted on ScreenDaily. com.

After its global debut at the BIFF, Mindanao was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

With all the rounds thatMindanao has made internationally, Mendoza admitted that he is all the more looking forward to his film’s screenings in the Philippines.

Mindanao, which has been recently awarded a Grade A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, is an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival in December.

Mindanao is from Center Stage Productions. Its producers are Mendoza and Carlo Valenzona.

Editing was by Diego Marx Dobles, cinematography was helmed by Odyssey Flores, production design was done by Dante Mendoza, and music was care of Teresa Barrozo.

It will be shown nationwide in the Philippines on Dec. 25.

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

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Entertainment

Kapamilya stars share early Christmas treat Actor Aljur Abrenica serenades the crowd

KAPAMILYA stars joined together and made Caviteños feel the enduring love of family this Christmas season as they showed gratitude to fans’ unwavering support at the “Bida Kapamilya Family is Forever” event in Bacoor, Cavite two Saturdays ago.

Fans rushed to the Strike Gymnasium to express their love to various ABS-CBN celebrities, led by the stars of Love Thy Woman Xian Lim and Yam Concepcion, who sang their

hearts out for the audience.

The cast of the afternoon series Sandugo Aljur Abrenica, Jessy Mendiola, Elisse Joson, with loveteams na KarJon (Karina Bautista and Aljon Mendoza) at ReignLi (Reign Parani and Ali Abinal) earned loud shrieks from fans as soon as they stepped on the stage.

Also joining the festivities were PBB Otso teens Gian Wang, Missy Quino, Tan Roncal, and Ashley Del Mundo, who performed a “kilig”inducing number.

The boys of Bidaman, meanwhile,

Brillante’s ‘MINDANAO’ continues film fest run overseas ONE month since its world premiere at the 24th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the latest work of Brillante Ma Mendozahas been selected by prestigious film fests in Taiwan, India, Estonia, and Egypt.

The film was part of the lineups in the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (TGHFF), Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (TBNFF), and Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), which are all happened in November.

Penned by Honee Alipio and starring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon, the film is about the struggles of Saima (Santos), wife to military medic (Dizon) and mother to a young girl battling cancer.

Mindanao was screened on Nov. 8, 12, and 18 as part of the Viva Auteur section at the TGHFF. The TGHFF, which started in 1980 as a non-competitive event, ran from Nov. 7 to 24.

Mendoza’s 123-minute film was also an entry to Kolkata’s International Competition: Innovation in Moving Images. It had screenings on Nov. 11 at Nazrul Tirtha and Nov. 13 at Rabindra Sadan. The 25th KIFF screened 366 movies in 17 venues from Nov. 8 to 15.

Mindanao had its European premiere at the TBNFF in Estonia on Nov. 15, followed by screenings on Nov. 19 and 21. Tallinn is among the 15 A-list film festivals rated by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. According to the synopsis provided by Liisi Rohumäe on

‘Kadenang Ginto’ star Dimples Romana finds gold in JuanLife

Judy Ann Santos bagged the best actress award at the 41st Cairo International Film Festival for her performance in the film.

the Tallinn website, “Undoubtedly this is a difficult movie, but there is also lightness here. Enchanting Mindanao catches your breath.” The Tallinn film fest ran from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1.

After Tallinn, Mindanao headed over to Cairo, home to the oldest yearly film festival in Africa, the Arab World, and the Middle East. It was part of the CIFF’s International Competition.

The CIFF, which ran from Nov. 20 to 29, is also an A-list film fest.

“Brillante Mendoza expresses a complex of human emotions depending on a harsh and painful reality as well as a very special life experience, in a unique cinematic style that combines animation to tell the epic tale of Princess Mindanao who casts a shadow over the civil war that tore the Philippines apart,” Rasha Hosny wrote on the CIFF website. Continued on C3

Janella Salvador talks about being intimidated by Maricel Soriano YOUNG star Janella Salvador has been vocal in saying that she felt intimidated

by Diamond Maricel Soriano from the moment she found out that they were filming a movie together, The Heiress, produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc. Being an institution in the showbiz industry, it does not come as a surprise that younger actors get intimidated by Maricel.

But Janella later found out that some impressions are not true, which was the case with Maricel in their upcoming horror flick.

“I felt so pressured,” admits Janella about working with the Diamond Star.

“Of course, just the thought that I would be working with her already made me feel nervous. So, when I saw her, I told Tita Beth, my handler, ‘Tita, di ko alam kung paano ko pakikibagayan. Nahihiya ako kasi na-starstruck ako.’

“But, when I started talking to her, she’s very warm, then I learned a lot from her because ang dami na din niyang pinagdaanan, lalo na in terms of acting din.

For her part, Maricel reveals that it was her who broke the ice between her and Janella.

She says that it was not new to her that younger actors feel intimidated by her, which is why she takes the initiative to reach out.

She explains, “I’m the one who approaches them. I understand that they’re young, I kind of feel that they’re a bit intimidated because of the generation gap.”

The seasoned actress also relates how she made Janella be comfortable around her.

“I made her feel relaxed. Kinuwentuhan ko muna nang kinuwentuhan. Pinatawa ko muna nang pinatawa, o, di ba? Then I told her, ‘O, ano, at ease na, ha, wala nang problema.’”

After that, Maricel continues that Janella became more comfortable with her and they even had talks about personal stuff.

However, Maricel says she prefers to keep their private talks private.

“Alam mo kasi ako, I don’t ask personal questions when it

turned up the heat with their song and dance number. Star Music artists Sam Mangubat, Kritiko, and Angie Kristine, on the other hand, earned applauses as they impressed the crowd with their voices.

Aside from the entertaining performances, free medical and dental consultations with free breakfast were provided to the attendees.

At the end of the program, the Kapamilya stars went down the stage to take selfies with their fans as they sang along to the ABS-CBN Christmas station From left: Karina Bautista, Aljon Mendoza, Ali Abinal, and Reign Parani ID 2019 “Family is Forever.”

comes sa mga bata, kasi they will be the ones to tell you kung ano nararamdaman nila. Hinahayaan ko siya. Their secret is safe with me,” says Maricel.

The veteran actress also adds that while younger actors may feel intimidated by her, she prefers that their shooting be at ease.

“Of course, ‘di ba, parang gusto ko kasi maging at ease sila, yung mag-enjoy lang kami sa shooting. I want them to enjoy and have fun on the set.”

The Heiress tells the story of Luna, a powerful “mambabarang” (demon sorceress) who’d ruthlessly punish or kill anyone who would steal from her the love and attention of her niece Guia (Janella), including her biological Mother, Carmen (Sunshine Cruz), and her boyfriend, Renz (McCoy de Leon).

Unbeknownst to Guia, she is the next heiress, and the only one who can stop the evil spirit Malalarang that controls Luna.

But at the same time, since she is the heir, Guia is also capable of inheriting the powers of her aunt and can also be a threat to those who will belittle her.

The movie boasts a very well thought of story and promises to exceed in visuals and production value, which are evident in the previous movies of Regal Entertainment, Inc. such as Shake Rattle and Roll franchise movies, Haunted Mansion (MMFF2016) andHaunted Forest (MMFF2017).

The film is directed by Frasco Mortiz, who proved his mettle in horror genre with his exceptional work in Pagpag, which was an MMFF blockbuster in 2013.

The Heiress is now in cinemas nationwide and is graded B by the Cinema Evaluation Board and R13 by the MTRCB.

Another brand is entrusting its name to TV star Dimples Romana as she was launched as JuanLife Personal Accident Insurance celebrity ambassador.

T

ELEVISION star and social media “meme queen” Dimples Romana has recently partnered with Agile Insurance Agency and Business Technologies Inc. (or simply Agile). She was launched as the company’s brand ambassador for JuanLife Personal Accident Insuranceduring a grand launch held at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel on Nov. 27.

Dimples recently fired up the digital space through her iconic character, Daniela Mondragon in ABS-CBN’s drama, Kadenang Ginto.. While she appears in many television and movie projects, Dimples maintains a very strong voice as a mother, daughter and a wife, as evident in her social media posts.

“Dimples is a relatable brand endorser for JuanLife because she represents our

a unique business ecosystem for the insurance industry. This is a sustainable service model that builds loyalty and creates value for all stakeholders.

For more information about Agile Insurance Agency and Business Technologies Inc. and JuanLife Personal Accident Insurance, please visit their official website at www.juanlife.com. ph and their social media accounts *** Agile Insurance Agency and Business Technologies Inc. executives with actress Dimples Romana

target market: family nurturers who are central in every Filipino family and will do anything to ensure their loved one’s security and success.” said Roselle C. Masirag, General Manager of Agile. “They are resilient, problem-solvers, solutionseekers and entrepreneurial by heart, who lives day-by-day making decisions for their family” JuanLife is a personal accident insurance that was designed to serve the Filipino family. The product’s name, which is a play on the common Pinoy monicker Juan, puts an emphasis that every “Juan” or every Filipino, only has “one life” to live.

Developed in partnership with non-life insurance company, Stronghold Insurance Company, Incorporated, JuanLife Personal Accident Insurance covers death and injury due to accident and acts of nature.

Unlike the typical personal accident insurances in the market, JuanLife, covers a wider age range (from 7 to 60 as opposed to the common 18 to 60), people with hazardous occupations and accidents resulting from acts of nature

such as flood, earthquake, etc. Pricing was mindfully developed to apply the same price, regardless of age and type of occupation. Traditional personal accident insurance products apply a higher price for children below 18 and for people with high-risk jobs.

JuanLife is Agile’s first partnership initiative with an insurance company.

Masirag stressed Agile’s advantage of being an insurtech, “Through technology, Agile brings closer insurance companies’ brands closer to the consumers by making insurance accessible 24/7 through its website www.juanlife.com.ph and through our community-based distribution partners, The JuanLife Kakampi,” she explained.

As an insurtech, Agile partners with insurance companies that seek a competitiveness in the digital space. It serves as an innovations arm, offering product development, marketing, distribution, claims facilitation and administrative services to insurance companies.. It also creatively engages with new distribution channels and companies with related goods and services, building

Twice the Rush

Winford Manila Resort & Casino (WMRC) Wheels for the Win doubles the rush as it gives members a chance to win one of two brand new Toyota Rush sports utility vehicles (SUV). For the first time ever, WMRC is raffling off not one but two sets of wheels—one for Classic/Silver members and one for Gold/Platinum members. Simply earn 30 points on slots or table game or present your Bingo receipt worth at least P3,000 between Dec. 1 and 28, for a raffle ticket.

Raffle draw is at Hippodrome Bar & Lounge at 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 28.