Manila Standard - 2019 December 9 - Monday

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DU30 EASES OFF ON WATER FIRMS, OFFERS TO FIX CONTRACT

By MJ Blancaflor and Rey E. Requejo THE government is willing to negotiate with Manila Water and Maynilad to resolve the “onerous” provisions in the 1997 water deal between the government and the two private utility companies, Malacañang said Sunday.

This was in sharp contrast to its earlier pronouncement that President Rodrigo Duterte had the constitutional power to revoke the government’s contracts with

the water concessionaires.

“What the President says is fix the contract because it is wrong. In other words, negotiations. If they will agree, then there’s no problem. If no, they will be sued,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.

Panelo said that the President made no mention of rescinding the water deals after San Beda Graduate School of Law dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino had said that cancellation of contracts must undergo a process in courts.

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 298 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH secures SEAG crown Pinoys dominate biennial event with 105 gold

By Peter Atencio

C

APAS, Tarlac— Natalie Uy leaped to a height of 4.25 meters and into the record books in the pole vault competition at the New Clark City here on a day the Philippines virtually secured the overall crown of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

SEA GAMES MEDAL TALLY (As of December 7/ 8:00 P. M.)

VICTORY AT HAND.

On a day a six-year SEA Games record was shattered, Filipino athletes stamped their class snatching several gold in polevault, heptathlon (women’s), soft tennis, muay thai, golf, baseball among others and securing the crown for the host team whose medal count has reached 274 as against second-running Indonesia (203 medals).

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

105 65 61 55 43 35 3 2 1 0 0

81 61 58 73 30 33 16 4 5 5 0

88 77 75 73 41 48 37 21 6 17 0

274 203 194 201 108 124 56 27 12 22 0

Uy, who burst into the Philippine athletic scene in the National Open early this year by immediately taking down an 11-year national record, methodically shattered the six-year SEA Games’ mark of Thailand’s Sukanya Chomchuendee, whose 4.21-meter effort was achieved in the 2013 SEA Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.

The Fil-American Uy, a bronze medalist in the Asian Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar, cleared the bar at 3.5 meters during her first try and increased it by a tenth of a meter in succession. In the 9th round, she assured herself of the gold when she successfully leaped to 4.15 meters, which defending champion Chomchuendee Chayanisa of Thailand failed to clear.

With gold in her hands, the 5’8” standout from Eastern Michigan University then aimed for the SEAG record and succeeded after clearing 4.25 on her 11th jump. She tried to go higher 4.35 meters, but she fumbled on her three attempts.

“It was so much fun. And I just took it all in,” said Uy, who also clinched the pole vault gold in the PH Open with a recordsmashing 4.12 meters right in her first try to shatter an 11-year national women’s record of 4.11 meters recorded by Deborah Samson at the 2008 California Regionals.

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Market overheating: Makati sets moratorium on POGO permits Oh my GG! Scad jor reasons for her decision to stop more POGOs from operating in the country’s financial district.

The influx of thousands of foreign workers employed by POGOs increases the demand for housing and work stations, thus causing property rates in the city to spike. This puts the local property sector at risk of overheating, where its growth becomes unsustainable, she said.

The mayor noted that almost all POGO

MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay today said the city has declared an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of new business licenses and permits to service providers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) due to rising criminality and prostitution.

In a statement, the mayor said effective immediately, the city would cease issuing “Letters of No Objection” (LONO) and stop accepting new applications for

business permits from POGO service providers.

“We would no longer accept new applications for POGO service providers and crack down hard against illegal activities that are catering to POGOs and their employees within Makati,” she said.

In a statement issued to the press, the mayor cited the “overheating” market for residential and commercial space and the rising criminality and prostitution as ma-

SAF urged to join war vs drug lords

Peace talks in Manila: Rody offers Joma safe passage

THE Special Action Force (SAF) should be included in the anti-drug campaign, especially against high-value targets or big-time drug lords, a ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP’s chief of Directorial Staff, cited the police commando’s unquestionable integrity in his speech during the graduation of six classes from SAF courses on Friday.

“I firmly believe that you (SAF commandos) are the most qualified unit to run after big-time drug lords. The discipline, the bravery and the integrity you have make you the most qualified warriors that President Duterte has been looking for to finally finish off the illegal drugs problems in the country,” he said.

Eleazar admitted the government’s aggressive campaign against drugs has always been marred by the involvement Next page

By MJ Blancaflor AFTER communist leader Jose Maria Sison claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte wanted the peace talks to be held in the Philippines, Malacañang on Sunday assured him he would not be arrested on his return to the Philippines for the talks.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the venue for the peace talks

would not matter if Sison was “sincere” to sit on the negotiation table with the government.

“They will not be arrested. The President is promising that. All the pending warrants of arrest against them will be suspended in case the peace talks resume,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“If they are sincere, they will agree to talk in any venue.”

service providers located in Makati are PAGCOR-licensed and duly registered with the Business Permits and Licensing Office. This has led to the city earning more than P200 million per year in local business taxes from POGO service providers.

“We will always welcome legitimate businesses in the city that strictly adhere to all laws and ordinances, particularly Next page

But Sison said holding the peace talks here was “unacceptable” because it would put the National Democratic Front of the Philippines under “control” and “surveillance.”

Duterte said Thursday he has asked Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to talk to Sison, who is in self-exile in the Netherlands, in a bid to craft a peace deal and put an end to the decades-long insurgency, calling it his “last card.” Next page

prices soaring

AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar on Sunday advised the public to look for other sources of protein from fish as the price of round scad or galunggong, dubbed the poor man’s fish, had been soaring.

He told GMA News the public could substitute tilapia and milkfish for galunggong, which were relatively cheaper but also a good source of protein.

“Meron namang [ibang] mga sources ng protein, mas mura pa, ‘yung tilapya at bangus. The same protein ay mas marami pa rito kesa galunggong,” he said.

Meanwhile the Philippine Statistics Authority says the poverty incidence in the Philippines has declined as more Filipinos were lifted out of poverty in 2018.

On Friday, the agency set the poverty threshold, or the amount needed Next page

Pricey meal: Artist eats $120,000 work of art

Pet influencers: Internet stars

The move was bananas... or maybe the work was just too appealing.

A performance artist shook up the crowd at the Art Basel show in Miami Beach on Saturday when he grabbed a banana that had been duct-taped to a gallery wall and ate it.

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THEY have millions of followers on Instagram. They generate major profits for their owners. They are... pet influencers.

Grumpy Cat, Lil Bub, Boo the Pomeranian and Doug the Pug are just some of the internet’s star animals, who do Next page

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News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody foregoes X'mas break, opts for work PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wILL not take a break over the holidays, his spokesman said Sunday.

“The President is not resting. He is really workaholic, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.

“He is really devoted in his job as president.”

Meanwhile, Duterte on Sunday urged Filipino Catholics to embody the “holy example” of the Virgin Mary to remain committed to “genuine and lasting change” in line with the observance of the Immaculate Conception.

In a statement, he expressed hope that Filipinos would be inspired by the Blessed Mary in fostering peace, understanding, compassion and justice.

“May you be inspired by the Immaculate Conception to continue fostering peace and understanding among every citizen regardless of their faith or creed,” Duterte said.

Last month, the Palace announced that Duterte would take a three-day rest in his hometown in Davao City on the advice of his friends and colleagues.

The 74-year-old Duterte, however, still had public engagements.

During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit on Nov. 2 to 4, the state leaders from the neighboring countries noticed that Duterte appeared “overworked.”

“There were comments from ASEAN leaders. "Your President looks overworked. Don't let him work too much.

That's what they are saying, Panelo said in a press briefing last month.

Peace...

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The President wants to achieve peace and order in the entire country before his term ends in 2022, Panelo said.

“That is what he is always saying.

He leaves the window or the door ajar,” Panelo said.

Early this year, Diterte shut down a possible resumption of the peace talks through Proclamation 360 and told the communist groups to just “talk to the next President.”

Duterte said he would no longer entertain “any interventions or maybe persuasions in this democratic state of the Republic of the Philippines.”

He cited the government’s preference for localized peace engagements.

Last month, Duterte met with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to discuss the continuing antiinsurgency campaign.

During the meeting, Duterte stressed the need to focus government efforts on conflict-prone communities and provide them with housing, water, education and health.

Pricey...

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The banana was, in fact, a work of art

by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan titled “Comedian” and sold to a French collector for $120,000.

In a video posted on his Instagram account, David Datuna, who describes himself as a Georgian-born American artist living in New York, walks up to the banana and pulls it off the wall with the duct tape attached.

“Art performance...hungry artist,” he said, as he peeled the fruit and took a bite. “Thank you, very good.”

A few bystanders could be heard giggling before a flustered gallery official whisked him to an adjoining space for questioning.

But the kerfuffle was resolved without a food fight.

“He did not destroy the art work. The banana is the idea,” Lucien Terras, director of museum relations for Galerie Perrotin, told the Miami Herald.

As it turns out, the value of the work is in the certificate of authenticity, the newspaper reported. The banana is meant to be replaced.

A replacement banana was taped to the wall about 15 minutes after Datuna’s stunt.

“This has brought a lot of tension and attention to the booth and we’re not into spectacles,” Terras said. “But the response has been great. It brings a smile to a lot of people’s faces.”

Gallery director Peggy Leboeuf said that no legal action was planned against Datuna.

“He was not arrested, but we asked him to leave the booth and to leave the fair,” she said.

“We have his contact and everything, so we can go further, but I don’t think we will.” AFP

ICC can't touch Duterte—Palace

By MJ Blancaflor

Duterte also was not bothered that the ICC would finalize the results of its preliminary investigation to determine if it would probe the situation in the Philippines, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“They have no jurisdiction. Whatever they will do, nothing will happen, Panelo said in a radio interview.

Panelo earlier said the Palace believed the ICC would rule it had no jurisdiction over the country and the “false allegations” of state-sponsored killings did not fall within the court’s definition of crimes against humanity.

Former Bayan Rep. Neri Colmenares on Saturday claimed the President would struggle in his last two years in office “if a

warrant is issued for his arrest worldwide.”

“That’s just a wish of former Congressman Colmenares. That’s just his fervent wish. That will never happen, Panelo said.

The ICC earlier reported it was seeking to determine by 2020 if there was a need to conduct a full-blown investigation into the Philippines’ campaign against illegal drugs.

The Philippines pulled out from the ICC early this year after the ICC launched in February 2018 a preliminary examination of Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs based on the communication given by lawyer Jude Sabio, who accused the President of committing “crimes against humanity.”

The government has repeatedly said

PH...

meters on Saturday and Christine Hallasgo’s marathon triumph on Friday.

Knott, however, settled for the silver in the women’s 100-meters after failing to catch up with defending titlist Thi Chinh Le’s fast start.

“My leg is all numb and Im lying down.

Nerves got the best of me,” said Knott.

“Damn. It’s okay, she (Le) did a good race, I still got two more races so I have to go back inside.”

Le, who avenged her setback to Knott in the 200-meters the other day, clocked a season’s best time of 11.54 seconds.

Malaysian sprinter Muhammad Hanafi of Malaysia took the gold in 10.35 seconds, in the men’s 100-meters run in the absence of challenge coming from Fil-American Eric Cray, who missed the chance after being disqualified due to false start in the heats.

Cray, who is a former gold medalist in the event, was disqualified after moving ahead of the gun start twice in Heat 1 at the Athletic Stadium. It appeared that Cray did not hear the gun signal due to the noise from the crowd.

Unheralded Mariano Masano added a silver when he unexpectedly placed runner-up behind reigning champion Duong Van Thai of Vietnam in the men’s 1500-meter run.

Masano clocked 4:08.27, behind Duong’s 4:06.63, which is slower than the 3:51.44 that earned the Vietnamese the crown back in 2017.

Meanwhile, Filipino sprinter Anfernee Lopena placed second in Heat 2 to qualify for the finals. He timed 10.61 behind Lac bandit Chuangchai of Thailand (10.50).

After winning the women’s singles last Saturday, Noelle Conchita Corazon Manalac combined with sister Noelle Nikki Camille Zoleta to annex the women’s doubles gold in soft tennis.

Manalac beat Kawengai Anadeleyda of Indonesia, 4-2, for the singles’ crown and then combined with her younger sister to beat Sawitre Naree and Natchatjira Kerdsomboon of Thailand 5-0 in doubles play.

The doubles gold became doubly special because it was the 100th gold won by the Philippines.

The sisters were former tennis players who later moved to soft tennis. The sport was first played in the SEA Games in 2011.

“It’s very historic. Another gold for soft tennis. First gold in women’s doubles. I’m so happy that I and my sister gave honor to the country,” said Manalac.

In Subic, Phillip Delarmino and Ariel Lee Lampacan earned two tough victories to win the gold medals in the muaythai

of their being unable to raise their prices.

The President was outraged by the ruling.

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez earlier said the company is willing to sit down with government for a concession review, while Manila Water said it is working on a mutually acceptable manner for the implementation of the arbitral award.

Meanwhile, the MWSS said it initiated talks with the concessionaires for a postponement of water rate hikes which are supposed to be implemented by Jan. 1, 2020.

Panelo said the matter could be deferred if necessary.

“Anything is possible. Anything can be discussed. They can discuss if they can defer it,” Panelo said.

Last week, Duterte asked the DOJ and Office of the Solicitor General to craft new water concession agreements that are “favorable to the state and the Filipino people.”

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corporation owns a controlling stake in Maynilad while Manila Water is a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation.

The Justice Department, meanwhile, said the two water concessionaires must be willing to remove the “grossly disadvantageous” provisions of their agreements or the government would take legal action against them.

“We hope na it can be mutually agreed upon by the parties but otherwise the DOJ, OSG (Office of the Solicitor General), Department of Finance and many other agencies have drawn up a number of steps to take to address this problem,” said Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete in an interview over GMA News TV. The Palace on Thursday slammed the arbitration rulings and said the government would not pay Maynilad and Manila Water despite rulings by the arbitration court in Singapore. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE International Criminal Court has no authority to arrest President Rodrigo Duterte over THE alleged “crimes against humanity” committed in the government’s anti-narcotics campaign, Malacañang said Sunday.

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Uy’s achievement highlighted the Philippines’ virtual coronation as the SEA Games’ overall champion with a goldsilver-bronze harvest of 105-81-88 (274 medals), which second-running Indonesia, with a tally of 65-61-77, can no longer catch with only two days left in the games.

Vietnam (60-58-74), Thailand (55-7273) and Singapore (43-33-48) round out the top five. ‘‘Having the privilege of being both the PSC chairman and the chef de mission, I am witness to the many beautiful stories behind this event, and given a glimpse into the legacies that the SEAG will leave. The gains from this event do not end when the curtains come down on the 30th SEAG edition. On top of the victories, there are many long-term advantages — legacies — the SEAG gifted us with,’’ said Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

Uy’s feat coupled with Sarah Dequinan’s women heptathlon victory following a second-place finish in 800 meters brought athletics’ gold-medal haul to five, counting Ernest John Obiena’s win in the pole vault, Kristina Knott in the 200

Du30...

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Maynilad and Manila Water distribute water in Metro Manila and nearby provinces under agreements signed with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) during the Ramos administration, but a review by the Department of Justice revealed “onerous” provisions were stipulated in the deal.

President Duterte has earlier directed the Department of Justice to file charges against all those involved in the contracts with the utility firms, including their owners, legal counsels, and government lawyers for economic sabotage.

He also said the government would not comply with the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordering the government to pay Manila Water P7.39 billion and Maynilad with P3.4 billion for their respective losses as a result

SAF...

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of some policemen as protectors of drug syndicates or in drug-recycling activities.

This is the part where the SAF would fit in, he said.

“As members of the police elite force, you are PNP’s last bastion of integrity.

The kind of discipline that you have been molded into, the warrior that was brought out from each and every one of you, and the tried-and-tested integrity that your senior has shown make you the worst nightmare of drug lords,” Eleazar said.

He said the involvement of SAF that he envisions is more on operations since the intelligence aspect will still be at the hands of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police antinarcotics agents.

SAF commandos are highly-trained in combat and the best equipped in terms of firepower.

Eleazar said that if SAF commandos are

Market...

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deployed to run after drug lords, this would make the illegal drugs campaign more aggressive against high-value targets.

Eleazar, however, said the decision still remains with the President as their commander-in-chief.

Earlier, Duterte said he wanted the government’s anti-narcotics units or the next PNP chief to focus more on big-time drug offenders.

He said it was not enough to be presented with a list of contenders for the next PNP chief because he was expecting a “better deal.”

Duterte said the three police generals on the list of contenders for the next PNP chief are “all good”.

“They are all good. I want a better deal.

It is not enough that you recommend to me,” Duterte said in a televised interview.

The three contenders for the top police post are PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, deputy chief for operations, Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan and Eleazar, who was former Metro Manila police director. PNA units for POGO employees, there was also an increase in illegal apartment rentals. “These apartments are usually overcrowded with insufficient exits and faulty fire-alarm systems,” she said.

The mayor emphasized that Makati’s decision to impose a moratorium is aligned with the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to crack the whip against illegal activities related to POGO service providers.

Given its central location and availability of leasable office buildings with high speed internet, Makati is home to as much as 300 POGO service providers that employ thousands of workers, most of whom

the payment of taxes. And we will always strive to provide these businesses and their employees with a safe environment conducive to business growth and personal activities,” Binay said.

Makati recently experienced an increase in unlawful activities targeting POGO employees, who are mostly Chinese. In the last two months, the Makati city government closed four illegal POGO service providers, two establishments that were used as prostitution dens, and one unsanitary restaurant and catering company. The authorities also seized P2.5 billion worth of illegal drugs are Chinese nationals. These compafrom an apartment rented by a Chinese nies provide services like live e-casino national. video streaming, call center, marketing With the high demand for residential and other technical support to POGOs.

Oh...

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to sustain a family of five, at P10,727 for 2018, marking an increase of 13.5 percent from the P9,452 poverty threshold set in 2015.

Dar said one kilo of tilapia cost P120 to P130, while a kilo of bangus cost only P150.

“Ako mas gusto na bibili ng tilapya at bangus kesa galunggong. Wala namang problema ang tilapya basta maganda ‘yung areas where they are raising it,” he said.

At the Mega Q Mart on Thursday, not a single fish stall was selling galunggong because its price had increased from P150 to P300 per kilo.

On Sunday morning, only one vendor was selling galunggong at the Bulungan Fish Market in Parañaque City.

The fish was being sold at P240 to P260 per kilo.

Agriculture spokesman Noel Reyes said the price increase could be attributed to the closed fishing season, where fish had started to lay eggs and harvesting was no longer allowed.

“At the same time, mataas ang demand this Christmas season. Twice as much. Pangatlo, malamig ang karagatan. So ang mga isda, lumalayo.

Therefore ‘pag lumalayo, hinahabol ng ating mga mangingisda. Mas malaking gastos, logistics cost,” Reyes said.

The rising price of galunggong may already be the result of manipulation by unscrupulous traders, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said Friday.

To increase the supply, Dar said the government had already allowed the importation of 45,000 metric tons of galunggong.

the deaths of suspected drug offenders were not state-sponsored.

The Commission on Human Rights said it was willing to cooperate with the ICC on the case if it would be tapped for information. Panelo, meanwhile, brushed this aside.

“It’s up to them. We don’t interfere in the affairs of the Commission on Human Rights,” he said.

“No, [the President is not bothered]. I think it’s Colmenares who’s bothered.”

In a speech delivered on Nov. 30, Duterte said the ICC could not prosecute for a “thousand years.”

In August 2018, the families of the victims of the government’s war on drugs filed a second complaint against Duterte before the ICC. competition at the Exhibition and Convention Center.

Delarmino, the bronze medalist in the 2018 IFMA World Championship, survived a late flurry by Vietnam’s Long Doan Nguyen to rule the 57kg division through a unanimous decision, 29-28.

Baguio-native Lampacan bucked a lethargic start to his bout against Sakchai Chamchi, ending the match strong to win via UD (29-28) as well and emerge as champion of the 54kg weight class.

Ryan Jakiri, Islay Bomogao, and Jenelyn Olsim could not say the same, settling for silver in their respective finals matches.

Also in Subic, Melcah Jen Caballero captured her 2nd gold medal in the rowing competition at the ACEA Bay. Caballero topped the lightweight women’s scull after recording a winning time of 7:50.89. On Friday, Caballero and Joanne Delgado topped the women’s lightweight double sculls. ‘‘I gave it my best shot because this is my final event,’’ said the 23-year-old Caballero, who hails from Camarines Sur.’’ I dedicate this win to my parents.’’ Caballero and the rowing team trained in China before the SEAG. “I would like to thank the Philippine Sports Commission for supporting us,’’ said Caballero.

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everything from support worthy causes to promote major brands.

The death this week of Lil Bub, a cat whose tongue was always hanging out due to genetic anomalies, inspired a wave of emotion that highlighted the internet’s power to elevate just about anything to cult status.

“She was a ray of pure joy in my life and so many others,” said one Instagram user, who uses the handle @missmaddyg.

Lil Bub rose to fame after her adoption in 2011, when her owner, music producer Mike Bridavsky, began posting photos and updates about her online.

Her story garnered three million followers on Facebook, 2.4 million on Instagram and more than 800,000 on Twitter.

Bub’s fame eventually caught the attention of scientists.

In May 2015, researchers at the University of Missouri sequenced her genome as part of a project to determine what genetic variations had caused her adorable deformities.

Bridavsky also started a national fund for special needs pets, the first of its kind, with Bub serving as its face.

“Bub has made a huge difference in the world of animal welfare and in the lives of millions of people worldwide,” Bridavsky wrote on Instagram, noting the fund has raised $700,000 for “animals in need,” with $75,000 raised in 2018 alone.

Over the course of her life, the Indianabased cat lent her star power to multiple causes supported by Greenpeace and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Since 2013, Lil Bub has also been the face of campaigns with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) promoting sterilization and pet adoption, as opposed to buying designer breeds.

Lil Bub “used her stardom to make the world a better place for animals,” PETA said in a tribute tweet. “Honor her legacy by remembering her message: always adopt, never shop.”

But while PETA campaigns director Ashley Byrne welcomes pet influencers’ charitable ventures, she is also adamant that the work must not come at the expense of the pets’ welfare.

Nobody should “treat animals as accessories or frivolous possessions,” she told AFP. Instead, “it’s important for people with animals who have an audience on the internet to encourage their followers to treat their pets like members of the family.”

That, says animal talent manager Loni Edwards, is exactly what makes pet influencers so successful.

Edwards’s talent agency, The Dog Agency, manages pet influencers of all species, from Bruno the fat cat to CEO Edwards’s own French bulldog. AFP

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘ABS-CBN franchise up to Congress’ P

By MJ Blancaflor

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s resolve to block the renewal of the franchise of broadcast giant ABSCBN will not affect the decision of lawmakers who tackle legislative franchises, Malacañang said Sunday.

The renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise would still be up to Congress, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“Congress will initially decide on it. We don’t know yet if Congress will approve it,” Panelo told dzIQ in an interview.

Panelo could not tell, however, if the President would approve the congressional franchise that will be forwarded

to him by the Congress through a bill.

“Circumstances will prompt him to approve it or not,” Panelo said.

Duterte on Tuesday said the broadcast giant should not expect its franchise to be renewed once it expires on March 30, 2020. He earlier accused ABS-CBN of not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign.

If its franchise is not renewed, ABSCBN would be forced to stop its radio and television operations.

“You are expecting that your franchise will be renewed. I am sorry. I will see to it that you are out,” Duterte said.

Panelo also denied that Duterte’s pronouncement against ABS-CBN was part of the President’s “political vendetta” as claimed by detained Senator Leila de Lima.

In a statement released Saturday, De Lima said Duterte’s renewed threat against the media firm merely proved his “regime’s blatant crackdown, broader propaganda, misinformation against media, opposition leaders and organizations who criticize and challenge his crooked and brutal policies.”

Last month, House Speaker Alan

Peter Cayetano said he has a “personal complaint” against the bill that would renew ABS-CBN‘s franchise, even as he promised the Lower Chamber would be fair in tackling the measure.

Under Republic Act No. 3846, radio and television stations are required to seek franchise from Congress.

Cayetano, the running mate of Duterte in the 2016 polls, claimed that some leaders of the broadcast giant meddled unjustly during the campaign.

Despite this, Cayetano said the House would give “due process” to the network when the committee on legislative franchises tackles the bill before the end of 2019.

ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through RANo. 7966 on March 30, 1995.

Oil firms slash prices of gasoline, kerosene

By Alena Mae Flores OIL players are expected to cut pump prices this week by as much as P0.40 per liter effective Tuesday due to the movement of prices in the world market.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. announced it will slash prices by P0.40 per liter and gasoline and kerosene. There will be no price movement for diesel.

Rival Petron Corp. will implement a price rollback of P0.30 per liter gasoline and kerosene and P0.10 per liter for diesel.

“These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron, the country’s biggest oil firm, said.

The rollback came after US President Donald Trump announced a possible comprise between the US and China on their ongoing trade war.

Last week, oil firms raised the price of diesel by P0.65 per liter, kerosene by P0.50 per liter and gasoline by P0.30 per liter.

The oil firms also raised the price of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas by P0.25 per kilo on December 1 due to the higher contract price of LPG in the world market.

Oil firms adjust pump prices on a weekly basis. LPG prices, on the other hand, are adjusted on a monthly basis.

FESTIVE SIGHT. Hundreds of spectators lined up along the street of Megaworld ‘s township in Fort Bonifacio Taguig City for the annual Mckinley Hill Grand Christmas Parade on Dec. 7. Manny Palmero

Palace denies state-sponsored ‘fake news’ MALACAÑANG on Sunday denied peddling false and misleading information following a study which claimed that state-sponsored propaganda in the Philippines has led to the “silencing, self-censorship, and chilling effects among dissenters and the public at large.”

The study by North Atlantic Treaty Organization said the state-sponsored propaganda model assumes “intentionality from the President himself to intimidate and harass his critics.”

“This involves him deploying the fake news label in tirades against mainstream media. His outbursts are usually a response to their unsavory reports of the government and his policies, most notably the war on drugs,” the study read.

“His message is taken forward by his so-called ‘keyboard army,’ consisting of hyper-partisan political pundits, social media influencers and fans,” it added.

The spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte said the chief executive has no intention of silencing his critics.

“The President only has one rule: to give protection and to serve the public. That guides him as leader of this country,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“He is the one being harassed by critics,” he added.

A report from the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked the Philippines as the fifth most dangerous country for journalists, next to Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and South Sudan.

Despite this, Panelo said freedoms of expression and of speech in the country remain vibrant.

“No one criticizing the government is being jailed. Listen to the commentators from various government stations. Read the columnists and you will see our country, very free,” he said. MJ Blancaflor

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Second Sunday of Advent beginning to doubt in God’s providence, feeling that he has abandoned his people. It was a message of hope amidst hypocrisy, violence and greed, conflict and confusion. It was at this time when everything seemed hopeless that God ST. MATTHEW, the Evangelist, sent a messenger to rekindle the hope of announces the coming of John the the people, calling on them to put their Baptist, the precursor of the Messiah. trust in the Lord.

Gone were the days when the people’s Every person’s relationship with God faith in one God and their leaders was is a microcosm of the Chosen People’s solid as a rock as in the time of the historical experiences. Sometimes a Macabees. The Idumean Herod the person is driven to a point so low such Great, the client king of the Romans that he teeters on the verge of despair. It and a polarizing figure in Jewish society, is as if God has concealed his face from is long dead; many religious factions him. Regardless of the extent of one’s adhering to diverse religious views, such spiritual maturity, it’s possible to reach as the Pharisees, Sudducees, Essenes, this point to actually feel that everyone Zealots and —even God what have you, —has made have emerged h i m s e l f in their midst scarce. It was further dividing at this point Always, God never fails and confusing in life that to intervene. the community.

King David, Roman Emperor hiding in a Tiberius divided cave being Israel among pursued by Herod’s sons, his enemies, assigning Judea cried out in and Jerusalem to Herod Archelaus. There despair—How long, O Lord? Will you was no trusted leader among the people forget me forever? unlike in the Davidic era. Caiaphas John the Baptist spoke the words of and his father-in-law Annas were God, but he also acknowledged that mistrusted because of their questionable there is one greater than him whose allegiance as they were seen as lackeys sandal he is not worthy to unstrap. The of the Roman oppressors. The Roman Prophet was speaking about Jesus, the emperor’s stranglehold over Jewish Prophet of all Prophets. God answered society remain stronger than ever. In the people’s cries through Jesus Christ other words, John came into the scene who revealed Himself to redeem during one of the most turbulent times in humanity from the bondage of sin and Jewish history. reconcile mankind with the Father. The It is a time of uncertainty and insecurity Messiah brings hope and salvation to all, when John came out of the wilderness to Jews and gentiles alike. preach the gospel of repentance, urging Does our world and society not the people to be baptized. His message mirror the kind of social environment resonated among the people who were Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

United against corruption

D

We believe this is a laudable principle, even as we think the administration could do more in showing its sincerity and will. For instance, no more recycling, transfer or even promotion of those previously removed.

Corruption at the local level is harder to detect, and combat.

This is where conscious action by individuals and citizen groups in general would be vital in telling those in power that their office is not a fiefdom or a personal turf, but an opportunity to serve.

Today we are reminded that while there is so much good in the world, there are many things that could be immensely better if not for the entrenched evil of corruption.

The solutions are difficult and slow to yield results, but they are not impossible.

ECEMBER 9 is International AntiCorruption Day, an international commemoration that highlights how corruption is an obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Corruption is an age-old practice where people in power abuse the trust given them by their constituents, to further personal gain. Alas, this personal gain costs others their freedom, health, life and future.

Corruption, too, is not limited to poor societies or weak institutions. Even rich nations suffer from corruption, albeit in less obvious or perceptible ways. Wherever it occurs, it hurts the poor because it deprives them of basic services that should be delivered to them.

What is amazing is that the effects of corruption are known and even obvious. And yet people in power continue to do it.

Even more amazing is that people who are adversely affected by it continue to accept it as a way of life just because it has always been done and for as long as progress is still attained, however slowly.

Here at home, President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed that he would not hesitate to fire government officials, even his allies and his appointees, at the slightest “whiff of corruption.”

Crisis and Opportunities between widening access to learning, and ensuring a higher quality of education in Philippine schools continue, especially with the passage of the Enhanced Basic Education Act in 2013, and the adoption of the K+12 curriculum. The reason behind the K+12 reform was to HAVING the first public school system in “give every student an opportunity to Southeast Asia, Filipinos are very proud receive quality education that is globally of our highly literate English-speaking competitive based on a pedagogically population. In fact, the advantage of sound curriculum that is at par with being able to communicate in English international standards.” with significant fluency contributed to Six years after the adoption of the a comparative advantage in terms of K+12 curriculum, the time is ripe for our country’s human resources. The our education policymakers to establish fact that there are Filipinos nowadays whether or not keeping students for working in almost every country in the two more years of basic education world and in almost every industry and have produced the desired quality of trade, seem to implicitly indicate our learning, at par with global standards. people’s superior learning capability Last year, for the first time ever, compared to that of other developing Filipino students participated in the countries, coupled of course with our Program for long-recognized International c r e a t i v i t y, S t u d e n t diligence and Assessment adaptability.

(PISA), one The current The results showed a of the most state of the influential tools disheartening and dismal quality of used globally failure. education in to measure the Philippines the capacity seemed to be of learners to the elephant in apply their the room that knowledge in the education sector tried to avoid. everyday situations. A brainchild of the For many years, attention was given Organization for Economic Cooperation to widening access to learning—thus and Development (OECD), PISA is ensuring that more and more funds conducted once every three years by an were allocated towards building more international team of education research classrooms, purchasing more learning experts in order to establish whether a equipment and hiring more teachers school system is becoming more or less with the clear intent of bring more effective in preparing their students for children to school. further studies or for the workplace. It In many ways, it did produce the also measures whether fifteen-year-olds results of improving our country’s have acquired the necessary ability and literacy and school participation rates. knowledge in reading, mathematics More than any other time in our history, and science and the right social or there are more children in school, and emotional skills in order to meet realmore innovative strategies are being life challenges. tapped to provide alternative learning The 2018 PISA results were released even for out-of-school children and two weeks ago. Among 79 countries youth. in the international assessment, the Last month, the long overdue Philippines ranked lowest in reading Alternative Learning System Bill comprehension, the second lowest in authored by Tingog Party Rep. Yedda both mathematics and science.

Marie K. Romualdez, which seeks to The results showed a disheartening institutionalize the alternative learning and dismal failure. system as “the other lung” of the The PISA results also showed that the Philippine educational system was socio-economic status of the students approved by the House Committee on adversely affected their performance Higher and Technical Education. It in school. In other words, students is now awaiting second reading, and from poorer families were found to be hopefully, its approval by the House of performing even more poorly in school.

Representatives.

Surely, the PISA results has But then again, an apparent dissonance Turn to A5

Team Philippines

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Team Philippines and the medal haul it has achieved in the last ten days! Every Filipino must have a deep sense of pride.

Last Thursday, we received a vibered message from BCDA president Vince Dizon, followed by a phone call from Chito Clavano, a board member and Clark president Noel Manankil.

EJ Obiena, our bet for the pole vault contest had earlier broken his pole during practice. His father ordered a replacement from the US, and the pole was in the Taoyuan airport waiting to be transshipped by air. The airline refused to take the cargo because it was too long

Team Philippines, which includes every Filipino and not just the athletes and officials, achieved a marvelous feat.

and would not fit in the cargo hatch.

Our concerned officials asked if MECO could assist in getting it loaded as the competition would happen the day after.

As we were having a board meeting, I asked my secretary, Karen Ku to call up China Airlines, and while they really could not load the pole in the regular flight, they

had a cargo plane leaving that night, and EJ’s pole would be loaded.

It arrived in the wee hours, in time for the competition. EJ Obiena not only won another gold for our team; he topped the SEA Games record with a 5.45 meter vault.

Last November 28, our deputy Assistance to Nationals officer, Nestor Mayo, called me about the problem of an Afghan national who applied for an entry visa to the Philippines. Our consular office refused to give the visa because of a DFA standing order that only the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan had authority to issue entry permits to nationals of Afghanistan.

The applicant, Ajmal Ishaqzai was an Afghan national currently residing in Taipei where he teaches qurash, a sport with similarities to judo and taekwondo.

He presented his appointment paper as a referee to the 30th SEA Games, but the Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net 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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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion The Education We Need

THOSE who are criticizing the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) undertaken by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showing that Filipinos fare the worst in reading literacy and second lowest in both mathematical and scientific literacy as fudged or even baseless should calm down. They should take note of the results, analyze the data properly and come around to understanding what really ills Philippine education. For truth be told, we are really lagging behind not only the OECD countries but, in more ways than one, even our neighbors in ASEAN as far as the quality of our education is concerned. This is a real, honest-to-goodness wake up call and we should be humble enough to face up to this reality and move on to conquer our prejudices and, yes, our encrusted theories about educational reform.

In this regard, we are not alone. No less than a host of known American educators have themselves come out with solid criticisms about the manner by which the so-called American educational system has failed to improve the quality of US education and even worsened societal inequality. For the purpose, I am excerpting part of the introduction of the book “The Schools We Need” written

by E. F. Hirsch, Jr., author of the much applauded book, Cultural Literacy, who has been studying the “rocky road” upon which America has been traveling for long in the educational field which has not measured up to the public’s expectations.

Here goes: “...When business people, philanthropists and parents turn to experts for guidance, they continue to hear the

high sounding, anti knowledge advise that has been offered for more than sixty years—the very prescription (now to be facilitated by ‘technology) that have produced the system’s failures. These continually reformulate slogans have led to the usual absence of a coherent knowledge based curriculum but are nonetheless presented as novel theories based on the latest research and as remedies for the diseases they themselves have caused. The rhetorical success but educational failure of these slogans bespeaks an intellectual Gresham’s law

This is a real, honestto-goodness wake up call.

where under bad ideas drive out good. In the midst of much expenditure of money and energy, this intellectual stasis largely explains the failure of educational reform efforts to date...” “...The failure is easily documented.

Despite much activity, American school reform has not improved the nation’s K-12 education during the decade and more since publication of A Nation At Risk: the Imperatives for Educational reform (1983). Among those of developed nations, our public schools still rank near the bottom and in absolute terms, our children’s academic competencies have not risen significantly. One reason for this continued stasis: the difficulty of spreading reform out into the vast system of fifteen thousand independent school districts. But it is doubtful that educational reform movements have succeeded even

Second...

From A4

that John the Baptist was in? Ours is a society so permeated with violence, fear, insecurity, poverty, hypocrisy, disrespect for cherished values and all forms of societal ills that hope can only be derived in Jesus Christ. Is it not that communities are now so detached from God that people would preoccupy themselves with their own secular devices, plots and schemes rather than cultivate a good relationship with God? Without Christ we are nothing. By his life and teachings, He has shown to us that there can be peace even in the midst of the direst of situations in life; that God will never abandon the faithful who repose their trust in him. Ours is a faithful God of history. He intervenes in every point of human events even when sometimes we do not recognize him. It is understood as God’s breaking into this political and social history. Always, God never fails to intervene. He walks amongst us even as we try to survive in the darkest of hour. A true believer clings to his faith despite the promptings of forces telling him not to trust in his God because

Team...

From A4

DFA directive would not allow MECO to issue him a visa.

Calls from a DFA protocol officer to his brother, who is a MECO officer to reconsider could not be given due course, until, as I insisted, DFA writes us a directive to exempt. On Thursday, November 29, I talked to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano about the matter, and he agreed that we could not risk approval of the entry without a specific directive from DFA. He had the same arranged after some calls, and the Afghan national, who had been re-booking his flight to the Philippines each day since Tuesday, was finally able to enter our country on Friday, just in time for his qurash refereeing duty.

These were only two of many hitches that occurred in the course of our hosting the biggest SEA Games and were thankfully resolved just in the nick of time. One can only imagine the thousand and one major and minor problems that the organizers who were roundly upbraided in social media by nitpickers had to face up to.

In all, the games are about finished, and as a country we are all proud of what we have collectively achieved. Team Philippines, which includes every Filipino and not just the athletes and officials, achieved a marvelous feat. *** The Manila Economic and Cultural Office and its attached agencies held a Christmas party at the Howard Plaza Hotel

Crisis...

From A4

established that the current quality of learning that young Filipinos receive is far from being globally competitive, or being at par with international standards.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones calls it a wake-up call, for us to look into Philippine education for “what it is.”

The first step towards solving a problem is to admit that one exists. Secretary Briones is to be lauded for taking that step.

Now we know where the problem lies— the very quality of learning that students receive in our schools.

One cannot avoid but trace the declining quality of education to the problem of mass promotions. With teachers worrying more about students dropping out of school, students worry less about failing grades, knowing that their teachers would promote them to the next grade level anyway,

within the confines of their own model projects.”

And so on and on. Hirsch proceeds with a wicked slicing of the very roots of this systemic failure which, for all intents and purposes, needs to be done as well in our own. “...While the ideological terms ‘conservative’ and ‘progressive’ are maybe two of the most effective labels by which the old educational ideas continue to sustain themselves, the educational community exhibits a further tendency toward terminological polarization and intellectual caricature.

Premature polarization of viewpoints is the chief device by which the educational community maintains the intellectual status quo. ‘Modern’ and humane ‘reforms’ are pitted against a ‘traditional’ evil empire. The following rhetorical pairings are typical: Traditional vs Modern; Merely Verbal vs HandsOn; Premature vs Developmentally Appropriate; Fragmented vs Integrated; Boring vs Interesting and Lockstep vs Individualized...” “...Parents presented with such choices for the education of their children would be unlikely to choose traditional, merely verbal, premature, fragmented, boring and lockstep instruction over modern, hands-on, developmentally appropriate, integrated, interesting and individualized instruction...This technique of oversimple contrast is so effective, and at the same time so misleading,... overshadowing the complexities hidden beneath the polarization...”

Indeed, we should take time to go over the results of this OECD document not label it baseless and proceed with utmost sincerity and transparency in dissecting the failures pointed therein. Only by admitting our lapses and the gaps in our ongoing educational reform efforts can we succeed in coming out with the real and responsible solutions to our current state.

those who persevere until the very end will be amply rewarded.

What does this faith mean in the time of the climate emergency, the consistent attacks against human rights, the prevalence of corruption and sexual violence? What are we called to do as believers to respond to these challenges?

This Advent, the Lord is once again calling on us all to renew ourselves. Just as John called upon his people to prepare the way for Jesus, we too are being called to welcome Him this Advent Season and illumine, by our good example, the dark path that surrounds us.

As Pope Francis said about John the Baptist’s attitude of “he must increase, I must decrease,” even suffering in prison the “interior torture of doubt,” we too have the mission to make Christ reign in us. “To diminish, diminish, diminish.” That “was the life of John,” Pope Francis repeated. “A great man who did not seek his own glory, but the glory of God”—a man who died in such a prosaic manner, in anonymity, the pope reflected. This Advent let us make the cry of John the Baptist our guiding principle— “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

in Taipei last Friday night, with a Filipino band that plays regularly at Taipei’s Grand Hyatt volunteering to entertain.

It was a night for celebration as the year has been a good year for MECO, not only in terms of increased visitor arrivals and more investments generated for the country from Taiwan businessmen, but also in reaching out to the 159,000 Filipino nationals temporarily residing and working here.

We thanked our staff for the services they have rendered which made all these possible, particularly in their swift response to problems of our fellows, as shown in assistance to the kin of the three Filipino fishermen who died in the Yilan bridge collapse months ago.

We take pride in these, as well as the overall goodwill generated among Taiwanese and most especially, our overseas workers in many parts of the island.

Yesterday, we hosted a Paskong Pinoy affair for our OFWs, which was held in an outdoor plaza provided by the mayor of Taoyuan City where close to 20,000 Filipinos work, about 40 minutes from the heart of the capital Taipei.

Fortunately the weather had cleared, and for the first time in a week, the sun was up after days and days of rain. The winter chill did not dampen the joys of bonding that the Filipino community experiences each year on two major occasions, the national day celebrations in June and the Christmas holidays.

Similar Paskong Pinoy celebrations were held simultaneously in Taichung and Kaohsiung where MECO has consular extension offices to serve our nationals in central and southern Taiwan.

whatever their final grade is. The rigidity and discipline of passing one’s periodical exams seemed to have been relegated to mere compliance, and as a result, students are moved up the education ladder without the sure intellectual prerequisites needed for further learning. Instead of motivating students to work harder, their poor performance and proficiency is simply tolerated.

Of course, funding education is another challenge. To improve quality of education, having the right learning environment is a necessary criterion. This means finally closing the gap in the number of classrooms needed, and hiring the right number of qualified teachers. Unfortunately, while education continues to have the lion share in our national budget, there have been disturbing cuts in the allocation for basic and higher education. If we were to improve the quality of learning in our schools, there

is a need to shift more intently towards an asset-based approach in funding education services, where spending may be better thought as investing in our country’s human resource. Thus, providing the equipment, laboratories and infrastructure needed in our schools must be of paramount importance.

If education means investing in our country’s human resource, then it is necessary to ensure a seamless alignment of our education policy—especially in terms of curriculum content and delivery structure. The time has come for our education policymakers to review our existing trifocalization approach of dispersing the government’s education bureaucracy into separate agencies for basic education, higher education and technical education. This will allow closer coordination between the three learning streams, and enable a more effective transition from lower to higher levels of learning.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

A5

Acting On The Garbage Crisis materials and more recyclable content, and 3) No Plastic by using materials and new packaging formats.

Local programs now being implemented by Unilever are: the “Misis Walastik” Program which collects postconsumer sachet waste in over 300 THE Stratbase Pilipinas Conference communities across Metro Manila held recently saw a rare assembly of through a product exchange incentive government, big industry leaders and program; the “Kole Kilo Kita para sa environmental advocacy groups working Walastik na Maynila”—an incentivized towards a convergence of initiatives and collection program for flexible plastic strategies to solve what the Department waste under the “May Pera sa Basura” of Environment and Natural Resources project of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Secretary Roy A. Cimatu called a Domagoso; the Office and Factory Solid “garbage crisis.”

Waste Management Program to eliminate To put in perspective, according to waste generated at the source or recycled DENR figures, Metro Manila’s population off-site at DENR accredited waste of around 12.8 million is estimated to haulers; Packaging Innovations to make generate 59,112 cubic meters for 2019 materials easier to recycle and alternative but already reached 34,574 or 59 percent packaging through research partnerships; in the first quarter of the year alone. The Alternative next quarter, Delivery Systems total garbage piloted in three volume already high-traffic malls surpassed the as the “All Things annual baseline Hair Refillery” Secretary Cimatu volume for the which the rightly pointed out the year. company intends Secretary to scale pending need to modernize the Cimatu rightly FDA guidelines; inefficient and outdated pointed out and Multi-sectoral the need to solid waste management P a r t n e r s h i p s modernize to develop and systems. the inefficient implement and outdated programs towards solid waste “Zero Waste.” management From the public systems, develop utilities sector, and enhance the policy approaches sustainability strategies were discussed for plastic waste management and a by Maynilad’s president and CEO holistic or balanced approach to policy Ramoncito Fernandez. He pointed out interventions. the two major sources of pollution in Senator Cynthia Villar as chairperson waterways leading to Manila Bay being of the Senate Committee on human waste from open defecation or Environment and Natural Resources poorly-constructed/-managed septic echoed Cimatu’s call for collaboration tank systems coming from 89 percent between government and the private of the total number of barangays in sector. She affirmed the need to shift to the metropolis and illegal discharges the circular model of keeping resources form 63 commercial and industrial in circulation for as long as possible to establishments found directly draining get the maximum value and encouraging untreated wastewater. the creation of new products out of Based on the original timeline waste materials. She also mentioned approved by the MWSS, Maynilad that the 2020 budget has provisions to plans to implement the following: four create plastic recycling facilities in all sewerage projects from 2018 to 2022 provinces and cities. to reach 47 percent coverage by 2021; Responding to the government’s 11 projects from 2023 to 2027 to reach thrust to prevent further environmental 68 percent; 12 projects from 2028 to degradation, some of the country’s 2032 to reach 87 percent; and four industry leaders shared their global projects between 2033 and 2037 to get and local initiatives and environmental 100 percent coverage by the end of the commitments and vowed to support concession period. an all sector strategy for responsible Fernandez also cited serious obstacles environmental stewardship. created by the five-year timeline ordered Coca-Cola Philippines General by the Supreme Court decision such as Manager and President Winn Everhart the land that needs to be expropriated to presented their “World Without Waste” build the facilities, the huge traffic jams global initiative. Aligned with the caused by road closures to finish laying circular model, the company aims to 450 kilometers of sewer lines, and abrupt collect and recycle every bottle or can tariff adjustments. sold by 2030. This not just a campaign Maynilad’s sustainability strategies but a brick and mortar commitment to highlighted were the “Sining Ipo”— build a P1-billion PET bottle recycling an award winning program for the facility that would substantially help Dumagat Tribe; “Plant for Life” that reduce the waste leakage in the Mega has so far planted 800,000 trees and Manila area. This can spark the growth of mangroves in the Ipo Laguna Lake a recycling industry that will potentially and Malabon Watersheds, and the create new economic opportunities Coastal areas of Manila Bay; the beyond addressing the plastic problem. “Daloy Dunong” education program As an example, the Blastik project that teaches children and parents about of the Coca-Cola Foundation is a “full water sanitation and environmental circle collection and recycling program” protection; and the Non-Revenue Water ongoing in 13 provinces: Bataan, (NRW) Program wherein over 2,300 Cavite, Albay, Baler, Palawan, Siargao, kilometers of old pipes were replaced Davao, Boracay, La union, Negros and 360,000 leaks repaired resulting in Occidental, Marinduque, Sarangani and the recovery of 700 million liters over Metro Manila. Several NGOs have also the last 12 years. An estimated P40.7 partnered to implement this program. billion has been spent in the NRW Unilever Philippines chairman, Mr. Program.

Benjie Yap, presented its Zero Waste to Stratbase Group Managing Director Nature (ZWN) program and discussed the and CEO, Prof. Dindo Manhit said, company’s “ambitious new commitments “A smarter approach other than the to collect and process more than it sells traditional regulatory tools imposing and halve use of virgin plastic.” This bans or taxes is to focus on instilling initiative commits to produce 100 percent discipline for consumers to responsibly reusable, recyclable and compostable dispose of trash in parallel with enabling packaging by 2025 and to invest in policies that encourage new innovations proving and sharing a technical solution for packaging materials and waste to recycle sachets with the industry. management systems.”

The strategy deploys a three-pronged He stressed that, “Stewardship of the framework of : 1) Less Plastic using environment should be everybody’s lighter, stronger and better materials concern. The task to protect and which have lower environmental impact, preserve the environment is not just the 2) Better Plastic to eliminate problematic government’s business, it’s everybody’s and unnecessary plastics with recyclable business.”

It also means strengthening publicprivate partnership in education and affirming the role that private schools play not only in the delivery of education services, but in ensuring the diversity of learning strategies and strengths.

Finally, teacher training is the single most important factor in the educational system. Investments towards this end are absolutely necessary. This requires an updating of our teaching training curricula especially in the education courses offered in our colleges and universities. Better trained teachers are indispensable in improving the quality of learning in our schools. Especially with the emphasis on outcome-based learning in senior high school, there is a need to train more instructors who specialize on specific learning areas. More teachers must be hired to reduce the teaching load, and in order to encourage teachers to take further studies.

In like manner, in order to attract the best and the brightest to the teaching profession, it is important to ensure the well-being and welfare of teachers not only by increasing their salaries, but more importantly by providing them with an enriching professional experience. To this end, it might be necessary to review the Magna Carta for Teachers enacted in 1969.

There is a long list of what could have been better with our education system, and an even longer list of what needs to be done. But our hope is that with this wake up call, the appropriate attention and action will immediately be undertaken in order to respond to, as Secretary Briones puts it, “the biggest lingering challenge of basic education in the country—quality, particularly of our students’ learning outcomes.”

After all, isn’t it not that the best way to address a crisis is to transform it into an opportunity to be better?

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News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Tisoy’ destroys 250k plus infra, mostly in Luzon, —NDRRMC report TYPHOON ‘Tisoy’s strong winds and torrential rains have damaged more than 250,000 infrastructure, according to a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Most of the 254,765 damaged structures were reported in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VIII, CAR, and CARAGA, NDRRMC said.

The agency reported that at least 55,874 houses and a health facility were totally damaged, while 710 schools and 20 health facilities were partially damaged.

A total of 117 roads and bridges were also affected by the typhoon, of which 22 remained not passable, while 196 areas experienced flooding.

Meanwhile, the total damage to crops, fisheries,livestock and agricultural infrastructure in Regions III Calabarzon, Mimaropa V and VI has already reached over P2 billion.

NDRRMC also reported that 12 died and 54 were injured.

Over a million people were affected by the typhoon, 90,582 of whom sought shelter in 592 evacuation centers while 15,659 were being served outside evacuation centers.

At least 301 areas encountered power interruption as 17 transmission lines in Luzon and Visayas were affected by the Tisoy.

The NDRRMC added that 358 domestic flights and 2013 international flights were canceled due to the weather disturbance, but all of them have already resumed as of Dec. 4.

SSS releases 13th month pay for advance pensioners

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Social Security System has announced the release of the 13th month pension of those who have availed of the 18th-month advance pension starting Tuesday.

President and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said the releases to be given to over 2.83 million SSS pensioners are part of the P12.71 billion 13th month pension disbursements in 2019.

“As of 5 December, 45 of our 62 part-

ner banks have already credited the 13th month pension to the bank accounts of our regular pensioners wherein the earliest recorded was on November 18,” she said in an official statement.

“Today, we are expecting the remain-

ing 17 banks to credit the said benefit,” she added.

The 13th month pensions of over 14,000 pensioners paid throughchecks were released since last Nov. 26.

Ignacio said they have already notified the Postmaster General to fasttrack the release of the pension.

“We are happy to provide an additional financial resource during this holiday season to our pensioners who during their working years have contributed to the success of the pension fund,” she said.

Check legality of bike-for-hike service—solon DEPUTY Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte on Sunday called on transport officials to look into the legalization of bike-for-hire service as another mode of transportation to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers.

He filed House Bill No. 4652 to legalize the app-based motorcycle-forhire service as a second app-based motorcycle, requiring service providers to obtain insurance coverage for drivers and passengers as well as insurance to cover third-party liabilities.

“No. 1 priority in transporting people is the safety and welfare of the passengers and the drivers. In welcoming a new age of public transportation, this bill seeks to set the groundwork to make motorcycles safe and secure for the riding public and the operators,” he said.

HB No. 4652, if passed, would amend Section 3 and 7 of Republic Act No. 4136 to include motorcyclefor-hire in the definition of terms and in the classification of vehicles that would be required for registration with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“The LTFRB may allow motorcycles-for-hire to choose and use online ride-hailing platforms or pre-arranged transportation platforms, accredited by the proper government agency under the applicable laws and rules and regulations: Provided, that such online ride-hailing platforms or pre-arranged transportation platforms shall provide a fare estimator that enables users to estimate the cost of a trip, and issue an electronic receipt afterwards,” the proposed measure read.

Last May, the Department of Transportation allowed the operation of the mobile-app Angkas as motorcycle taxi in a six-month test run starting the last of June. Rio N. Araja

ALWAYS READY. The holiday season has not deterred employees of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center from conducting regular emergency drills. Present are Jameson Dy (center) CGH senior vice president of overall operations and administration; Jaime Dy (left), director for information communications and technology; and lawyer Glecy Mendoza, vice president for human resources management.

Congressional probe on effect of vaping opened VALENZUELA City Rep. Weslie Gatchalian, Chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, opened a congressional hearing on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) amid the vaping ban imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte and the “unmitigated misleading information” surrounding the new products.

Gatchalian said there are currently 15 measures that have been referred to the House Committee on Trade and Industry that push for the regulation of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the Philippines. “The Committee on Trade and Industry is duty-bound to hear, deliberate and recommend the approval of the House of Representatives on a policy that will be most effective to advance the interests and promote the welfare of the people,” he said.

“Because of a number of issues that have recently gained media attention both in the Philippines and abroad, the

use of ENDS and HTPs is now a national concern, so much so that the President recently issued a directive banning the importation and use of ENDS and HTPs in public spaces. This committee respects the directive of the President, and sees this as an opportunity for the Philippines to finally regulate this innovative device,” he said.

Gatchalian said the hearing seeks to determine the best public policy on these products which are viewed as less harmful alternatives to cigarettes or combustible tobacco products. “The Philippines is in a very unique position to set a global standard. Every day, there are new studies being published both in favor of the complete ban and the regulation of these devices, making the market hardly an exact science. What is clear however is that these new technologies are here to stay. Over-zealous regulation could impede its growth but regulation that is too lax can be prone to abuse,” he said.

Data from the World Health Organi-

zation show that smoking combustible cigarettes remains the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world as it kills more than 8 million people every year. Around 80 percent of the 1.1 billion smokers in the world live in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines.

The latest survey conducted by the Department of Health and the Philippines Statistics Authority found that of the 108 million Filipinos, some 15.9 million were smokers representing 14.7 percent of the population. Of these smokers, 12 million or 76 percent are interested or plan to quit smoking tobacco.

The Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) claims that ENDS and HTPs can play an important role as they provide a less harmful choice for those who wish to quit smoking regular tobacco. This is supported by data from the European Commission which found that 61 percent of those who start using e-cigarettes do it to stop smoking.

Romualdez lauds Du30’s efforts to cut the number of poor Pinoys

Romualdez

MAJORITY Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Sunday lauded the efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte for cutting the number of poor Filipinos by 5.9 million.

“The significant drop in poverty incidence is attributed to the sound economic policy of President Duterte who has been pursuing structural reforms needed to guarantee the country’s economic takeoff,” he said.

“The numbers now are good. All poverty indicators are at all-time low.

We just need to stay on the course and make sure that all the programs and policies are in place for the next phase

of the war against poverty,” he added.

According to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, 5.9 million Filipinos have been moved out of poverty in 2018.

At least 17.6 million Filipinos or about three million households still struggle to afford basic needs and live below the poverty threshold in 2018.

The National Economic and Development Authority said “the significant reduction in poverty is largely attributed to the improved labor market conditions that increased the salaries and wages of the poor.”

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., National Unity Party president, along with Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, cited

the President’s economic policy that pushed the economy to grow at a faster pace in the third quarter of 2019.

“We expect a better economy by end the of the year as Christmas time approaches because the people will have more money to spend arising from the 13th month pay, etc., and there will also be higher cash remittances from our overseas Filipino workers during the holiday period,” Barzaga said.

Salceda, for his part, said the reduction on poverty incidence “is by far the most significant positive news in the first thee years of the Duterte administration.” Rio N. Araja

People must help gov’t solve garbage problem – DENR

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta GOVERNMENT alone cannot solve the country’s garbage crisis, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said on Sunday.

“Solid waste management is not the government’s responsibility alone. It is everyone’s business,” Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny Antiporda said.

He called for concerted efforts from the public as well as from all stakeholders to address the problem.

Without a concerted effort, the garbage situation threatens to get worse, he said.

“We shouldn’t wait for the time when there are more trash than fish in the ocean,” he added.

Antiporda is the agency’s National Solid Waste Management Commission chairperson.

Secretary Roy Cimatu has declared that the country, particularly Metro Manila, “is in the middle of a garbage crisis.”

His declaration came amid government efforts to revive the heavily-polluted Manila Bay, the repository of trash and untreated sewage from households and businesses in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Antiporda said local governments play a crucial role in solid waste management, having been tasked to ensure proper waste segregation and disposal under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The law requires the LGUs to come up with a 10-year solid waste management plan and convert open dumps into sanitary landfills.

Antiporda said the citizens could also help in solving the garbage woes by observing proper waste segregation and disposal, and not throwing rubbish anywhere.

“If we do not properly manage our waste, it can end up in drains and rivers, and eventually makes its way to the sea,” he said.

Lawmaker wants to remove some subjects from kinder to Grade 3 students PASIG City Rep. Roman Romulo wants to ease the kindergarten to Grade 3 pupils with overloaded subjects to enable them to concentrate on reading, mathematics as well as good manners and right conduct.

Romulo, House committee on basic education and culture chairperson, raised alarm over the country being the poorest among 79 countries as far as the students’ reading comprehension was concerned based on the results of the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Since August, educators had asked the Department of Education to lessen the number of subjects in kindergarten to grade 3 so that pupils could concentrate more on the most basic ones, he said.

“We need GMRC, mathematics and reading. Those are just basic (subjects). We need to focus more on these to ensure that pupils in grade 1 could be able to comprehend what they are reading,” he said.

The scores that the Philippines received in PISA 2018 are not far from the results of the National Achievement Test (NAT), an examination administered to grade 6 and grade 10 students to gauge their learning competencies, he said.

NAT results would show that there were many non-readers among the grade 6 and grade 10 students, he said.

Meanwhile, in the weekly radio program of Vice President Leni Robredo, her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said “even if the results were not impressive, at least we came to know that there is a problem such as this. The challenge to us is, what must we do?”

Robredo was in Bicol for relief operations for those affected by typhoon “Tisoy.”

Gutierrez echoed the Vice President’s position that education is the key to success of the youth.

Rio N. Araja

Sports

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Bahamut Gaming to represent PH in Lenovo tilt

Delarmino, Lampacan bag muay thai golds

AFTER a day filled with intense PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) action held recently at the SM Megamall Activity Center, Bahamut Gaming emerged victorious from the Philippine qualifying tournament and won the right to represent the country in the upcoming Lenovo Legion of Champions IV at Pantip Pratunam Mall in Bangkok, Thailand from December 12 to 15.

Consisting of Mark Myles “Shrykos” Chin, Mark Gerald “Ryujin” Licanto, Brandenn “BMG_Rui” Buenviaje, and Larry “ShinRyuji” Yoro, Bahamut Gam- Members of the Bahamut Gaming Team (center) are shown with Lenovo Philippines’ Consumer Lead Sally Yu (second from left) and Product ing bested 47 other teams during the Manager for Legion and Desktop Tristan Gonzales (rightmost).

Philippine LoC qualifying tournament.

Aside from representing the Philippines in LoC IV, the team also won a cash prize of US$ 1,000.

“The Legion of Champions tournament is Lenovo’s testament to foster the gaming community, both here in the Philippines and in the entire APAC region. Truly, the rise of the competitive gaming scene can no longer be ignored, and Lenovo is thrilled that the event has been steadily growing ever since it started. As the gaming phenomenon further develops, rest assured that Lenovo night, he is the governor. The governor of AUDI ARABIA—Anthony Joshua would not Legion and the LoC will continue to the division.” be drawn on his future plans after regaining his provide eSports teams a competitive Joshua, meanwhile, said he had never platform where they can enhance and world heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz on doubted his ability to regain the titles dehone their skills,” said Michael Ngan, spite his shocking defeat in New York, Saturday.

General Manager, Lenovo Philippines. when Ruiz knocked him down four times Now in its fourth series, the Legion of in one of heavyweight boxing’s greatest Champions comes back bigger and betThe British star won back his WBA, Ruiz meanwhile is eager for a third upsets. ter featuring the two new crowd-favorite “I’ve said it was like sitting an exam,” IBF and WBO belts with a one-sided meeting with Joshua. Although Joshua games in its fold: PUBG and CS:GO. In unanimous defeat of Ruiz in Diriyah out- indicated he would be happy to face the Joshua said. “I failed the exam first time. addition, teams from 12 markets in the side Saudi Arabia’s capital.

Mexican-American again, that fight is This time though I studied, prepared and I region, now including Australia and New just knew I was going to pass.”

The victory reinstates Joshua as a ma- unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Zealand, will be battling it out for glory.

Joshua also defended his cagey tactical jor player in boxing’s most glamorous diIn the short term, Joshua faces mandaLocal champions and grand finalists vision, and instantly renews speculation tory title defenses against IBF challenger style, saying he had consciously avoided will be competing for a total combined about a possible unification superfight Kubrat Pulev and WBO contender Olek- being sucked into a slugfest against the prize pool of USD$89,100 (approxihard-hitting Ruiz. with WBC champion Deontay Wilder. sandr Usyk. mately PhP 4.51 million). At the end of “There were times when I looked in But Joshua, 30, said while he remained Promoter Eddie Hearn also declined to the competition, the team winning the Andy’s eyes and I wanted to put my fist open to a fight with the unbeaten Wilder, elaborate on Joshua’s future plans.

PUBG tournament will walk away with he would not “chase” the fight.

“Tonight’s about celebrating victory,” through his head,” Joshua said.

USD$4,000 and USD$10,000 worth of “But this is boxing. It’s dangerous. I had “It’s difficult to unite them,” said Josh- Hearn said. “We’ll speak to the governLegion devices, while the winners of a gameplan, I had a strategy and I wanted ua, who had seen negotiations with Wild- ing bodies and see who goes first.”

CS:GO will go home with USD$5,000 er’s camp fall flat several times before his “We are going to celebrate. Anthony to follow it through. and USD$12,500 worth of Legion de“I can knock people out when I want to, defeat to Ruiz in June.

Joshua is an amazing ambassador for the vices.

“We’ll see what happens. Chasing that sport. Tonight, in Saudi Arabia, he be- and I can box when I want to. Tonight was For a recap of the LoC IV Philippine fight wasn’t playing to my benefit, so I’m comes the two-time heavyweight cham- just about winning. qualifying tournament, visit Lenovo’s “If I box for the crowd, or box for other going to let the path takes it course. pion of the world and that is beautiful. official Facebook pages at https://www.

“When the opportunity presents itself “They wrote him off. They said he was people’s opinions, I might not have been facebook.com/lenovophilippines/ and to become unified heavyweight cham- all hype. He had to come back from hu- victorious. So I’m just going to follow my https://www.facebook.com/LegionPH/. pion I’ll take it.” miliation at Madison Square Garden. To- instincts and box for myself.” AFP

Joshua mum on future after reclaiming titles S

SUBIC—Phillip Delarmino and Ariel Lee Lampacan earned two tough victories to win the gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ muaythai competition Sunday at the Exhibition and Convention Center here.

Delarmino, the bronze medalist in the 2018 IFMA World Championship, survived a late flurry by Vietnam’s Long Doan Nguyen to rule the 57kg division via unanimous decision, 29-28.

On the other hand, Baguionative Lampacan bucked a lethargic start to his bout against Sakchai Chamchi, ending the match strong to win via UD (2928) as well and emerge as champion of the 54kg weight class.

Ryan Jakiri, Islay Bomogao, and Jenelyn Olsim could not say the same, settling for silver in their respective finals matches.

The most crushing of them all was Jakiri’s loss in the 63.5kg division.

Jakiri, who has been competing in ONE Championship, lost via referee’s stoppage during the second round of his bout against Thailand’s Norapat Khundam.

Before the stoppage, Jakiri appeared all set to snare the gold as he dictated the tempo of the match to the delight of the jampacked hometown crowd.

Figured in a tight clinch with 1:26 left in the second round, the Thai connected on a well-placed knee to the body of Jakiri that resulted in a knockdown. Though the 27-year-old native of Zamboanga City was able to make the count, the referee decided to stop the bout, not seeing Jakiri fit to continue.

Meanwhile, Bomogao fell to Thailand’s Ketmanee Chasing via a 29-28 decision in the women’s 45kg division while Olsim lost via a lopsided decision, 3027, to Vietnam’s Bui Yen Ly in the 54kg class.

Thai cagebelles...

Games and Amusements Board gives Casimero rousing welcome

Although she is presently a free agent, Bias, in between WNBA seasons, has also brought her skills in Hungary and Israel, and now to Thailand.

In an interview at the Mall of Asia Arena, while she was watching the Thailand-Malaysia men’s game, she described the competition at the SEA Games as aggressive.

“All the teams want to win medals. Of course, our team will be in the finals,” said Bias, who is also into modeling and sideline reporting in Dallas.

When asked what she thinks of the Philippine team which she will be playing against for the first time, Bias replied: “You have some bigs and your girls are scrappy, but we can compete with them. My confidence level in my teammates is high and we came here for the gold. That’s it.”

She may be biased for the Thais, but Bias is ready to deliver on her promise.

GAMES and Amusements Board Chairman Baham Mitra, Commissioners Mar Masanguid and Ed Trinidad and GAB employees gave newly crowned World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion John Riel ‘Quadro Alas’ Casimero a rousing hero’s welcome recently at the GAB main office in Makati after he successfully demolished his South African rival, Zolani Tete, by technical knockout at the Arena Birmingham in Birmingham, England on Sunday.

The 30-year-old boxing star from Ormoc, Leyte destroyed Tete with barrage of punches in the middle of the third round and eventually knocked the defending champion out.

The challenger Casimero, who stopped the crowd favorite and South African boxing idol Tete in 2:14 seconds of the 3rd round, has captured world championship titles in at least three weight classes, namely International Boxing Federation World Light Flyweight, IBF World Flyweight, and WBO Bantamweight.

“Masayang masaya kami sa GAB at

From A8

SEA Games...

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the curtains comes down on the 30th SEAG edition. On top of the victories, there are many long-term advantages — legacies — the SEAG gifted us with,’’ said Ramirez, who added that after the SEAG, the country will have the wide pool of new athletes eyeing to become the next Watanabe, Didal, Obiena, Yulo, Diaz, and other world-class Pinoy athletes.

He also praised the volunteers for their efforts.

“Sports instills values like discipline, dedication and respect for others –values needed for a healthier society — a mandate of the PSC. It awakened the bayanihan spirit and volunteerism among us. The very spirit shown by the heroism of Roger Casugay who gave up his chance for a golden finish to save an opponent at risk of losing his life to the very waves they play in. Truly a class act, a solid show of Filipino spirit.’’

GAB officials, led by Chairman Baham Mitra, laud the accomplishment of John Riel Casimero, who won the WBO bantamweight belt recently.

madadagdagan na naman ang ating boxing heroes. Mayroon na tayong apat na boksingero na nag-champion sa tatlong magkakaibang weight classes—si Senator

Pacquiao, Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire at ang ating bagong kampeyon na si John Riel Casimero. Talaga namang maituturing na isang positibong balita ang panalo

ni John Riel para sa mga atletang Filipino na lumalahok sa SEA Games ngayon dahil ang pagkapanalo niya [Casimero] ay isang testament na kaya ng isang Pinoy na manalo sa isang professional world title match. Higit sa lahat, isa itong patunay na hindi humihina ang boksing sa Pilipinas,“ said GAB Chairman Baham Mitra.

Meanwhile, Casimero praised GAB for its nonstop support and he asked Chairman Mitra to continue to work for the welfare of Filipino boxers.

“Everybody thought that Tete was indestructible. Sabi pa nila maliit at maiksi si John Riel pero hindi nila alam na isang Filipino boxer pala ang tatapos at tatalo kay Tete. Kaya maraming salamat sa ating kampeyon sa pag-uwi ng regalo para sa ating bansa bago matapos ang taon,” added Chairman Mitra.

Chairman Mitra also announced the possible unification title bout between John Riel‘ Quadro Alas’ Casimero and Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue of Japan as WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel said in an interview with the Japanese press that there is a good possibility of WBOrelated superfights in the future.

Caballero captures 2nd rowing gold in SEA Games SUBIC--Melcah Jen Caballero of the Philippines captured her 2nd gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games rowing competition at the ACEA Bay here.

Caballero topped the lightweight women’s scull after recording a winning time of 7:50.89. On Friday, Caballero and Joanne Delgado topped the women’s lightweight double sculls. ‘‘I gave it my best shot be-

cause this is my final event,’’ said the 23-year-old Caballero, whp hails from Camarines Sur.’’ I dedicate this win to my parents.’’ Caballero and the rowing team trained in China before the SEAG. ‘’ I would like to thank the Philippine Sports Commission for supporting us,’’ said Caballero.

Thailand’s Rojjana Raclao settled for the silver in 7:54.23, followed by Indonesia’s Putri Mutiara. in 7:56.85.

MYTHICAL FIVE. At the end of the two-day Gatorade-PBA Draft Combine on Friday, Rey Suerte, Rey Publico, Mike Ayonayon, Roosevelt Adams and Cris Bitoon were named to the Mythical Five of the rookie camp’s mini tournament. Also in photo are (from left) Coach Biboy Ravanes, Governor Robert Non, William Koo (Head of Operations of Watchworks), SMB PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and IC Sta. Maria (Marketing Manager, Gatorade).

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Josefa Ligmayo from the Philippines competes the women’s heptathlon javelin heat event at the SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) the athletics stadium Clark City, north of Manila. AFP

SEA Games awaken Filipinos’ sense of patriotism WITH over a hundred golds to show on Sunday, the Philippines is virtually assured of the overall title in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

But while the Philippines is two days away from repeating the “Miracle of 2005”, Philippine Sports Commission chairman and chef de mission William ‘’Butch’’ Ramirez said the biennial games also showed what unity can do to a country burdened by negativity and various differences.

Ramirez, also the chef de mission, when the Philippines took the overall title in 2005, said the sense of patriotism among the Filipinos was awakened by the SEA Games.

Filipinos from all walks of life passionately cheered the nationals, win or lose. The cheering, of course, was heard round the country.

“Almost to the final stretch, and I am grateful to God for the steady performance of our team. More than the medal haul, I am thankful for all the sacrifice and hard work that went behind pushing their chances for a shining moment of victory. However, I mean to train the light on the stories beyond these victories. The stories that teach us all lessons, as a sporting community, as a people and as a nation,’’ said Ramirez in his message.

As of this writing, the Philippines is the runaway leader in the overall medal tally, some 30-plus golds ahead of its “closest” pursuer in Indonesia.

Under Ramirez, the PSC continues to focus on the grassroots, but the agency’s heartfelt support to the athletes has resulted to a robust delegation bursting with pride, talent and dedication as can be gleaned by the results. ‘‘Having the privilege of being both the PSC Chairman and the Chef de Mission, I am witness to the many beautiful stories behind this event, and given a glimpse into the legacies that the SEAG will leave. The gains from this event does not end when Turn to A7

Cone: We won’t hold back vs Indonesians

By Arman Carandang

A

S THE Philippines guns for a spot in the gold-medal round of the 30th Southeast Asian Games today, expect the nationals to give everything they could offer on both ends.

“We’re gonna go out and show our wares out on Monday (today). We’re not gonna hold anything back, we’re gonna go after them,” said national coach Tim Cone.

Cone seldom utters those kind of words, even in the Philippine Basketball Association. But in the Filipinos’ semifinal confrontation with Indonesia, Cone obviously wanted the nationals not to be overconfident.

That’s how he respects the Indonesians who are being handled by a familiar coach who sports enviable credentials.

“We respect them (Indonesians) so much, we know anything can happen against their country,” said Cone.

You see, the Indonesians have Rajko Toroman as their bench tactician and Cone saw the dramatic improvement of

Indonesia under him.

“We all know who their coach is over there. We all know he’s been with the original Gilas team and he coached in the PBA,” said Cone. “We all know how disciplined his teams are, they show great discipline, usually very good shooting teams.”

The Filipinos topped Group A with a 3-0 sweep of the eliminations, beating their opponents by an average margin of 54 points. They capped their elimination campaign with a 69-point blowout win (136-67) against Myanmar last Saturday.

The Indonesians on the other hand finished second in Group B with 2-1 slate.

Their average winning margin in their two victories against Malaysia and Camboa was 19 points, but they lost by 22 points to Thailand.

Somehow, teams seem to play with

Games today

(Mall of Asia Arena) 3:45 p.m. – Thailand vs. Vietnam (Semis 1) 6 p.m. – Indonesia vs. Malaysia (women) 8:15 p.m. – Philippines vs. Indonesia (Semis 2)

great resolve during the playoffs, hence the Filipinos are expected to give their best in the 8:15 p.m. crossover semifinal duel with the Indonesians at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We’ll be the favorite team, but we’re used to that at this point so we’re gonna go out and get them,” said Cone.

“He’s a good friend of mine and it’s always difficult to play against, coach against a good friend. But he has something he has to do, we have something we have to do,” he added.

Thailand, which defeated its opponents by an average margin of 16 points, swept Group B, 3-0, and will play Vietnam (21) in the other half of the semifinals at 3:45 p.m.

The Philippines is gunning for a shot at an 18th title in the biennial games.

Thai cagebelles reinforced by WNBA veteran

By Lito Cinco

Tiffany Bias

FANS, who watched the women’s basketball game between Thailand and Malaysia in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games should have been impressed by the cat-quick point guard of Thailand, her three-point shooting and playmaking style.

She’s one of the reasons why the Thais are favored to march all the way to the finals.

The player is Tiffany Bias, a legitimate WNBA player now showing her basketball skills in the SEA Games for the first time.

This is the first time, too, that she is playing for the national team of Thailand, although she has been staying there and training with the national team for quite some time.

The 27-year-old Thai-American, a product of Andover Central in Kansas and the Oklahoma State University, has already played for three WNBA teams.

Bias was drafted as the 17th pick in the second round by Phoenix.

During her rookie year, the team won the WNBA crown, with Bias staying on for two years before moving to Dallas and then New York.

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Manalac sisters deliver 2 soft tennis golds for PH IT’S a sister act for the Philippines in the soft tennis competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Sunday.

After winning the women’s singles last Saturday, Noelle Conchita Corazon Manalac combined with sister Noelle Nikki Camille Zoleta to annex the women’s doubles gold.

Manalac beat Kawengai Anadeleyda of Indonesia, 4-2, for the singles’ crown and then combined with her younger sister to beat Sawitre Naree and Natchatjira Kerdsomboon of Thailand 5-0 in doubles play.

The doubles gold became doubly special because it was the 100th gold won by the Philippines.

The sisters were former tennis players who later moved to soft tennis. The sport was first played in the SEA Games in 2011.

“It’s very historic. Another gold for soft tennis. First gold in women’s doubles. I’m so happy that I and my sister gave honor to the country,” said Manalac.

The sisters swept Group B by beating Laos, 5-0, and Cambodia, 5-0, to set up the gold medal match against Thailand.

Thailand tops wakeboard; PH rules wakeskate competition THAI wakeboarders finished their stint on a high note by securing the overall championship in the 30th Southeast Asian Games wakeboard and waterski competition on Sunday at the Deca Wake Park Clark in Pampanga.

Thailand flexed its muscle as it swept the wakeboard category, while host nation Philippines dominated the wakeskate competition.

Patcharapon Jungguluam topped the wakeboard ladies’ after scoring 72.33 points followed by Filipinas Samantha Bermudez (62.67) and Nadya Sinaga (45.33).

Sanya Phonthip had a 72.67 showing to quash Raphael Trinidad of the Philippines, 69.33, and rule the men’s wakeboard. Trinidad’s compatriot Ralph Gelo Villaro settled for the bronze at 61.00 points.

The Philippines’ Susan Larsson and Jhondi Wallace, meanwhile, bagged the gold medals in the wakeskate finals.

Larsson posted a 61.00 score to beat Thip Penpayap of Thailand (50.00) and Alysha RIzwan of Singapore (39.33).

Wallace had 70.33 points and came out on top of silver medalist Polapat Romchatngoen of Thailand (67.00) and bronze finisher from the Philippines, Christian Joson (64.33).

Thailand wound up with two gold and three silver medals, followed by the Philippines’ 2-2-2 gold-silverbronze haul.

Indonesia finished with one gold and one bronze while Malaysia and Singapore brought home one bronze apiece.

Go taken no. 1 in Gilas Draft; Adams 1st in Regular Draft

By Jeric Lopez

Philippine polo team co-captain and party-list Rep. Mikee Romero (left) welcomes Prince Jefri Bolkiah (center) and Prince Abdul Mateen prior to the start of the 0-2 goals division of polo competition of the 30th SEA Games at the Miguel Romero Field in Calatagan, Batangas.

JUST as expected, Isaac Go was the first name called in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Draft held in Robinson’s Place Manila in Ermita yesterday.

In a special five-player Gilas Draft preceding the Regular Draft, Columbian Dyip selected Go from Ateneo De Manila.

For the second pick, Rey Suerte was tapped

by Blackwater, while NLEX took Matt Nieto. Rounding out the Gilas Five Draft were Allyn Bulanadi for Alaska and Mike Nieto, who was selected by Rain or Shine.

These five cagers will be loaned to Gilas Pilipinas in its preparations for the 2023 FIBA World Cup and their rights will be with the teams who respectively drafted them.

In the Regular Draft, it was Filipino-

American Roosevelt Adams, who was taken first overall also by Columbian Dyip.

Fellow Fil-Am Maurice Shaw followed suit at No. 2 as he was taken by the Elite.

The Road Warriors took Myk Ayonayon with its third pick, the Aces had Barkley Ebona at No. 4 and the Elasto Painters got Adrian Wong at No. 5.

The following rounded out the first round: No. 6 Clint Doliguez (Rain or Shine), No. 7 Prince Rivero (Rain or Shine), No. 8 Sean Manganti (NorthPort), No. 9 Aris Dionisio (Magnolia), No. 10 Arvin Tolentino (Barangay Ginebra), No. 11 Kib Montalbo (TNT) and No. 12 Christian Balagasay (Columbian).

In the second round, Letran star Jerrick Balanza was taken No. 13 overall by the Gin Kings, No. 14 was Richard Escoto (Blackwater), No. 15 Will McAloney (NLEX),

No. 16 Rey Publico (Alaska), No. 17 JC Marcelino (Alaska), No. 18 Aaron Black (Meralco), No. 19 Vince Tolentino (Rain or Shine), No. 20 AC Soberano (NLEX), No. 21 Yankie Haruna (Magnolia), No. 22 Kent Salado (Barangay Ginebra), No. 23 Wendell Comboy (Rain or Shine) and No. 24 Renzo Subido (NorthPort).

For the third round, Bon Batiller was taken at No. 25 by Columbian, Cris Bitoon at No. 26 (Blackwater), Gelo Vito at No. 27 (NLEX), Ralph Tansingco at No. 28 (Phoenix), Mike Canete at No 29 (Meralco), Luke Parcero at No. 30 (Rain or Shine), Cris Dumapig at No. 31 (NorthPort), Alvin Capobres at No. 32 (Magnolia), Francesco Asuncion at No. 33 (Barangay Ginebra), Simon Camacho at No. 34 (TNT) and Travis Thompson at No. 35 (San Miguel).

IN BRIEF

SM Markets to open 24/7 SM MARKETS said 29 of its stores will open for 24

hours starting Dec. 8 to give shoppers ample time to shop for their Christmas needs.

SM Hypermarket Mall of Asia is the first one to operate 24 hours from Dec. 8 to 23 and Dec. 26 to 30, followed by SM Hypermarket North Edsa, Fairview, Pasig, Marketmall, Jazz, Las Piñas, Sucat, Lopez, Bicutan, Clark, Taytay, Novaliches, Monumento, Cainta, Antipolo and Cherry Congressional on Dec. 16 to 23 and Dec. 28 to 30.

Other stores adopting the non-stop operations are SM Supermarket Fairview and North Edsa on Dec. 16 to 23 and Dec. 27 to 30. Savemore Market will follow the 24/7 operations on Dec. 18 to 23 and Dec. 27 to 30 with Savemore Market Angono, Alapan Imus Cavite, Amang Rodriguez, A. Venue, Light Residences, Anonas, Novaliches, and Cedar Peak Baguio. SM Hypermarket Muntinlupa and FTI will also follow on Dec. 22 to 23 and Dec. 29 to 30.

“They can now shop for Noche Buena after work and those on night shifts can make their Christmas visits at wee hours of the night. Morning people can finish their groceries even before getting ready for work and those who hate crowds can now choose to shop at later hours for their convenience,” SM said.

SM Markets has more than 300 branches nationwide.

Vallacar Transit elects directors THE stockholders of Vallacar Transit Inc., the coun-

try’s largest bus transport company, held their annual stockholders’ meeting on Dec. 7, 2019 (Saturday) where they elected their board of directors, who subsequently re-appointed Leo Rey Yanson as the president of the company.

Under the company’s by-laws, the annual stockholders’ meeting should be held every first Saturday of December at its principal office in Bacolod City.

Pursuant to the by-laws, the company’s stockholders led by co-founder and matriarch Olivia Yanson held the annual stockholders meeting at the company’s principal office at Ceres compound, Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City.

The stockholders elected matriarch Olivia Yanson, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Arvin John Villaruel, Anita Chua and Daniel Nicolas Golez as members of the board of directors.

The elected directors will serve for one year until December 2020, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The meeting was presided over by incumbent VTI chairman and president Leo Rey Yanson, with Olivia Yanson as corporate secretary.

Following the election of the directors, the board held an organizational meeting and re-appointed Leo Rey Yanson as the president of the company and Olivia Yanson as treasurer and corporate secretary.

The stockholders also ratified the acts of the board of directors led by Leo Rey Yanson.

Dutertenomics lifts 6m poor Filipinos ‘DUTERTENOMICS’, the socioeconomic blueprint

of the Duterte administration, through its massive ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program funded by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, has lifted about six million Filipinos from the quagmire of poverty.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House ways and means committee, said saving such a huge number of the population from the clutches of penury is “by far the most significant positive news in the first three years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.”

“The number of poor individuals decreased by almost six million from 23.5 million in 2015 to 17.6 million in 2018,” said Salceda, a known economist who coined the catch-call ‘Dutertenomics’ for the masterplan he presented to Duterte during the first year of his administration.

Quoting recent government data, the lawmaker said “poverty incidence among individuals fell substantially by 6.7 percent to 16.6 percent in 2018, from 23.3 percent in 2015”.

Among families, poverty incidence fell by 5.8 percent to 12.1 percent from 17.9 percent during the same period, liberating 1.1 million families from poverty, from 4.1 million down to three million.

Salceda, who also principally authored the TRAIN Law, the first package of the administration’s economic reforms, said the “magnitudes of poverty reduction are among the biggest since 1986, and more so, it breaks the usual trend where poverty incidence is lower but the number of poor people is higher due to higher population growth in poor families which are typically bigger-sized.”

Business SMC wants to extend MRT Line 7 to Bocaue S

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AN Miguel Corp. said it plans to extend Metro Rail Transit Line 7 to Bocaue, Bulacan from San Jose Del Monte City.

“Yes, we are in talks to extend the MRT 7 to Bocaue from San Jose Del Monte,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

Bocaue, a first-class municipality, is located northeast of Bulakan town, the proposed site of the New Manila International Airport which San Miguel will also build in the province.

The P69.3-billion MRT 7 project, which will have 14 stations from North

Ave. in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, is being built by SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. under SMC’s infrastructure subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Inc. San Miguel tapped Hyundai Rotem and EEI consortium to build the railway which will have stations in North Ave., Quezon Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala and San Jose del Monte.

The Department of Transportation last week said the 22-kilometer MRT Line 7 project was 49.15-percent into completion as of October 2019. The agency expects MRT 7 to start partial operations by 2021.

The MRT-7’s 20-hectare depot start-

ed to take shape after the writs of possession issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 and 98 in favor of DOTr and concessionaire SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. were successfully enforced by sheriffs of the two courts.

Works on the depot formally started on Nov. 26.

The DOTr and SMRT7 identified the new depot site along Quirino Highway in Barangay Lagro, Quezon City, which was found optimal for right-of-way implementability, asset constructibility, capital expenditure and operational expense efficiency and operational reliability and maintainability.

Once completed by 2021, the 22-kilometer rail line will reduce travel time between Quezon City and San Jose del Monte City from two to three hours to only 35 minutes.

DTI expects investment pledges to hit P1.5t next year

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department expects investment pledges to reach a record P1.5 trillion next year on the back of more power and manufacturing projects.

Trade Secretary and Board of Investments chairman Ramon Lopez unveiled the target after the investment commitments approved by the BOI in the first 10 months this year breached the P1-trillion mark for the first time.

“It should only be better. It should only be more. The economy demands more business support,” Lopez said over the weekend.

Infrastructure, energy and power, telecommunications and manufacturing will

remain the growth areas for investments expansion in 2020, he said.

He said that with full-year investment pledges in 2019 likely to reach P1.1 trillion to P1.2 trillion, the target of P1.5 trillion next year would be achievable.

Lopez said the country’s rising demand for business support would fuel the intention of investors to invest here.

The BOI expects large projects such as a new international airport and large power plants to register with the BOI in 2029.

“We’ve never had enough of power [projects] especially in Luzon. So we need to show that there are economic opportunities there,” Lopez said.

Investments approved by the BOI amounted to P1.040 trillion in the first

10 months of 2019, up by 139.6 percent from P434 billion generated in 2018.

Local investments went up by 78.2 percent to P709.1 billion, while foreign investments surged 818 percent to P330.9 billion from P36 billion in 2018.

Singapore emerged as the biggest foreign investor with P170 billion in capital infusion, followed by China with P84.9 billion and South Korea with P39.1 billion.

Meanwhile, Lopez said merchandise exports were expected to remain flat this year, while service exports would continue growing at a single-digit level.

“Combined, exports will show positive growth. For 2020, we expect exports growing by 4 to 6 percent withe the recovery of some sectors,” Lopez said.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

B1

AC Energy investing $1b in 1,500-MW plants in 2020

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY Inc., the power unit of the Ayala Group, plans a “significant and massive” $1-billion investment next year for its 1,500-megawatt expansion here and abroad.

“Next year will be a significant and massive investment year for AC Energy as a group,” AC Energy chief executive Eric Francia said.

Francia said the company raised $1.5 billion from several fund-raising activities, such as asset sales and from the capital market.

“Around $500 million of that is already deployed and committed, so we still have a billion [dollars] to deploy next year,” Francia said.

He said the company was looking at investments in “predominantly renewables” in six markets, such as Vietnam, Australia, India, Myanmar and the Philippines.

“We’re looking to build over 1,500 MW of attributable capacity to AC Energy, over 1,500 MW for financial close by 2020. That’s where we’ll deploy the billion dollars,” he said.

He said the company was more focused on investments in the Philippines, Australia and Vietnam, each of which would capture a fourth of the new 1,500-MW capacity.

The remaining capacity would come from India, Myanmar and other potential markets.

“The critical mass so far for us is really the Philippines, Australia and Vietnam,” he said.

Francia said the projects would begin construction next year and were expected to take only a year to build expect those in Australia which could take longer because of labor restrictions.

B2

Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Sideways market seen this week

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARES are seen to trade sideways this week as investors continue to weigh the developments overseas, especially the US-China trade negotiations and the impeachment hearings against US President Donald Trump.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said while the market managed to crawl back to the 7,800-point level,

the increase was not sustainable due to continued risks.

“The week’s close at 7,801.72 highlights the bounce is not sustainable. Risk lies at the break below 7,700 which paves the way for a test of the year’s low at 7,514.05, which could occur in the near term,” he said.

Luis Limlingan, head of sales of Regina Capital Development Corp., said investors were opting to stay on the sidelines as the impeachment proceedings against Trump had gained momentum.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week closed rose 0.8 percent to 7,801.72 on bargain hunting

following the positive inflation data.

The broader All Shares Index added 0.3 percent to 4,645.96.

Three of the six sectoral indices posted week-on-week gains, namely financials which advanced 1.8 percent, holding firms which rose 1.6 percent, and property which gained 1.4 percent.

The mining and oil index dropped 6.7 percent, while the services and industrial registered week-on-week declines of 3 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

Foreign investors were net buyers last week by P444 million, a turnaround from the previous net foreign selling of P8.3 billion .

The average daily value traded, however, dropped P6 billion from the previous week’s average of P9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which advanced 7.8 percent to P52.80; Jollibee Foods Corp., which increased 5.1 percent to P202; and SM Prime Holdings Inc., which rose 3.9 percent to P40.80.

Weekly top price losers were Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which dropped 14.8 percent to P3.66; Manila Water Co Inc., which declined 12.8 percent to P16.30; and Universal Robina Corp., which fell 9.4 percent to P136.

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

DECEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume

Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

54 156.50 89.00 1.91 0.96 25 7.95 18.46 12.86 4.05 7.58 0.59 1.19 0.370 67.95 0.8 13 20.50 35.80 58.05 112.1 173.6 24.3 195.8 1771.00 58.00 1.05

11,710 7,892,100 18,993,480 99,000 614,000 394,800 300 29,600 3,092,200 26,000 600 9,000 75,000 670,000 10,379,140 956,000 103,700 500 3,754,600 9,330 60 5,130 634,400 4,838,470 240 270,460 673,000

FINANCIAL 629,482.50 1,244,775,487.00 1,671,942,449.00 184,610.00 591,690.00 9,872,395.00 2,095.00 538,342.00 40,184,304.00 105,790.00 4,548.00 5,310.00 88,730.00 253,400.00 701,495,842.50 767,810.00 1,318,660.00 10,250.00 138,184,495.00 539,293.50 6,726.00 897,677.00 15,588,515.00 962,450,890.00 432,200.00 15,777,484.00 706,870.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

AC Energy Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cement Corp.

Alsons Cons.

Axelum Basic Energy Corp.

C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Fruitas Holdings Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

34.6 2.41 13.72 0.57 1.25 1.28 3.03 0.237 21.40 2.17 15.34 164.1 5 68.95 71.85 28.9 2.06 5.19 5.33 8.480 14.62 10.30 7.19 24.75 73.55 1.43 40.85 2.0800 13.88 7.7 1.400 202.00 4.77 3.55 8.14 16.3 12.1 16.7 0.179 326.00 5.50 1.35 4.10 4.20 9.60 9.60 11.28 33.15 4.97 5.43 2.08 1.95 0.95 10.36 88.7 7.9 0.117 1.05 136 2.6 1.12 0.93

3,346,000 8,506,000 2,574,400 1,585,000 1,000 42,000 13,106,000 320,000 392,800 10,689,000 893,400 9,710 3,840,500 3,650 530 15,400 184,000 345,600 62,100 6,691,600 2,370,100 839,700 22,204,400 6,585,000 512,090 497,679,000 37,100 33,368,000 568,800 356,700 168,000 2,362,540 8,400 26,000 9,800 11,003,800 196,000 3,553,100 1,200,000 664,750 37,500 14,832,000 10,744,000 7,751,000 156,800 300,100 316,100 1,883,600 5,662,900 213,900 16,092,000 33,000 648,000 396,400 384,100 2,216,100 1,920,000 258,000 7,240,170 9,000 17,273,000 3,433,000

INDUSTRIAL 115,587,455.00 20,719,880.00 35,370,972.00 911,760.00 1,250.00 51,990.00 41,072,510.00 72,950.00 8,279,244.00 23,893,450.00 13,601,682.00 1,636,960.00 19,225,504.00 238,023.00 35,610.50 429,625.00 375,140.00 1,799,234.00 326,476.00 57,286,814.00 35,389,208.00 8,646,452.00 158,843,697.00 162,375,920.00 37,941,093.50 756,335,240.00 1,493,235.00 67,302,490.00 7,833,128.00 2,767,707.00 224,750.00 469,208,386.00 41,046.00 88,820.00 78,704.00 194,780,196.00 2,392,386.00 59,747,620.00 216,660.00 213,744,918.00 198,332.00 19,814,710.00 42,019,110.00 33,893,420.00 1,523,847.00 2,912,535.00 3,488,944.00 62,922,110.00 28,311,761.00 1,157,422.00 33,226,080.00 64,490.00 608,450.00 4,178,772.00 34,077,331.50 18,811,152.00 221,820.00 263,160.00 1,026,754,930.00 22,430.00 18,990,370.00 3,197,640.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land Log Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.750 52.80 11.12 0.71 6.60 12.12 0.920 0.950 828 3.330 6.9 6.05 13.00 0.228 900 5.41 78.90 5.05 5.21 5.9 0.5 3.75 11.5 0.560 3.66 6.2000 1.370 3.00 159.00 2.2 1078.00 1.23 0.83 217.800 500.00 0.2140 0.216

17,586,000 8,343,260 53,185,400 980,000 60,800 44,700 5,635,000 2,474,000 2,021,100 3,510,000 8,322,900 115,682,900 1,254,300 620,000 315,390 4,683,900 6,758,110 6,500 2,200 182,000 126,000 5,582,000 17,168,700 145,000 281,164,000 64,977,600 1,302,000 116,000 876,620 1,000 2,940,070 191,000 205,000 3,260 4,460 2,830,000 3,070,000

HOLDING FIRMS 13,279,310.00 423,871,311.00 588,439,822.00 688,950.00 398,389.00 543,802.00 5,121,620.00 2,323,690.00 1,665,421,535.00 11,844,920.00 57,371,556.00 726,895,831.00 16,560,546.00 137,660.00 223,816,681.00 25,339,382.00 529,650,712.50 33,152.00 11,468.00 1,073,800.00 62,490.00 22,120,400.00 194,505,118.00 80,440.00 1,118,005,570.00 6,316,402.00 1,793,760.00 348,000.00 139,878,508.00 2,200.00 3,138,419,320.00 234,850.00 157,520.00 690,038.00 2,259,856.00 628,330.00 628,450.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp.

14.800 0.75 8.90 1.480 0.830 45.500 1.98 4.76 6.47 0.560 0.75 0.840 0.192 0.400 10.320 18.9 0.440 0.121 1.51 1.18 4.27 0.197 1.3100 0.4200

880,200 1,361,000 29,200 452,000 7,175,000 54,689,400 2,253,000 2,141,000 205,200 41,753,000 36,000 247,000 160,000 2,540,000 248,900 694,600 1,920,000 200,000 78,616,000 2,469,000 114,621,000 42,640,000 3,410,000 5,710,000

PROPERTY 13,061,958.00 988,370.00 259,098.00 679,420.00 5,891,860.00 2,514,745,325.00 4,465,840.00 10,213,940.00 1,284,424.00 23,408,790.00 27,030.00 207,940.00 30,880.00 1,020,300.00 2,571,008.00 13,378,552.00 837,950.00 24,200.00 117,947,290.00 2,935,820.00 497,428,460.00 8,844,470.00 4,452,170.00 2,272,700.00

NOVEMBER 25-29, 2019 Close Volume Value 53.7 151.80 85.95 1.85 1.05 25.1

6,890 18,366,100 25,762,000 65,000 216,000 344,300

370,606.50 2,777,664,324.00 2,266,677,452.00 122,210.00 223,230.00 8,629,850.00

18.2 12.82 4.25 7.70 0.59 1.21 0.380 66.25 0.85 12.7 22.15 37.50 57.6 112.1 176.2 24.75 205 1805.00 59.55 1.06

155,600 1,126,100 379,000 600 2,000 3,000 460,000 15,081,610 219,000 22,600 5,500 5,202,300 3,170 140 4,630 300,200 2,814,310 1,135 21,710 1,668,000

2,812,048.00 14,463,776.00 1,574,850.00 4,620.00 1,180.00 3,630.00 181,700.00 1,016,521,437.50 186,170.00 287,020.00 113,320.00 202,693,345.00 183,488.00 15,694.00 807,085.00 7,454,570.00 570,220,058.00 2,051,495.00 1,281,558.00 1,775,150.00

34.45 2.46 13.96 0.57

33,137,700 14,445,000 1,600,800 2,637,000

1,128,274,050.00 36,027,850.00 22,197,124.00 1,582,030.00

1.25 3.35 0.238 18.68 2.28 15.22

160,000 15,342,000 4,610,000 1,100 4,952,000 990,700

197,470.00 54,057,350.00 1,057,740.00 19,646.00 11,542,440.00 15,031,418.00

5.08 70 67.7 29.6 2.06 5.33 5.25 8.770 14.98 10.30 7.20 25 75.05 1.71 40.50 1.8700 13.96 7.86 1.320 192.00 4.75 3.56 8.20 18.7 12.5 17.08 0.182 319.00 5.25 1.32 4.10 4.54 10.00 9.60 11.08 33.1 4.96 5.46 1.95 1.91 0.99 10.78 90 8.67 0.115 1.04 150.1

3,107,900 5,890 4,260 1,400 1,105,000 12,000 24,100 9,231,800 962,700 4,268,500 16,461,400 7,565,000 831,790 675,655,000 124,800 38,568,000 373,500 305,800 202,000 6,206,470 463,000 44,000 92,600 7,406,000 683,900 3,426,300 300,000 1,652,050 9,900 21,810,000 24,000 5,594,000 50,800 7,200 45,400 2,218,100 2,041,000 68,900 11,988,000 7,000 520,000 2,869,800 971,900 3,885,000 18,090,000 1,172,000 5,493,400

16,601,923.00 386,474.00 289,779.50 40,985.00 2,233,370.00 63,990.00 128,262.00 81,222,822.00 14,410,446.00 44,059,762.00 118,758,655.00 181,017,310.00 62,725,520.50 1,409,662,200.00 5,053,360.00 76,391,240.00 5,193,494.00 2,425,485.00 268,220.00 1,177,298,925.00 2,272,595.00 154,770.00 743,961.00 135,058,892.00 8,339,500.00 58,598,674.00 54,600.00 527,535,888.00 53,719.00 29,366,550.00 97,520.00 25,658,190.00 503,470.00 69,084.00 499,774.00 72,217,140.00 10,204,440.00 376,722.00 24,158,750.00 13,510.00 504,150.00 31,110,402.00 86,017,410.50 34,022,424.00 2,159,850.00 1,191,700.00 831,706,578.00

1.11 0.94

21,782,000 5,230,000

24,019,510.00 5,128,090.00

0.760 48.95 11.06 0.73 6.75 12.48 0.940 0.970 806 3.390 6.81 6.50 13.38 0.209 894.5 5.40 76.90 5.2 5.22

31,298,000 35,561,220 425,346,600 602,000 119,500 27,100 8,438,000 3,876,000 2,835,490 4,294,000 8,483,400 574,048,100 310,100 550,000 504,310 14,282,600 13,251,630 41,200 3,900

24,651,940.00 1,743,120,485.50 4,642,046,142.00 428,240.00 821,672.00 333,734.00 7,785,070.00 3,650,860.00 2,264,434,945.00 14,594,290.00 59,816,271.00 3,812,198,853.00 4,098,450.00 113,600.00 444,799,625.00 77,127,658.00 1,016,614,823.00 209,989.00 20,367.00

0.5 4.04 11.06 0.560 4.3 0.0370 1.390 3.00 159.20 2.25 1060.00 1.26 0.78 219.000

2,410,000 850,000 10,814,200 1,064,000 133,772,000 1,047,300,000 1,736,000 3,000 251,290 14,000 2,258,145 188,000 289,000 4,200

1,162,605.00 3,433,660.00 126,088,220.00 587,820.00 577,823,690.00 43,856,800.00 2,278,530.00 9,000.00 39,803,042.00 31,500.00 2,444,008,015.00 233,570.00 226,790.00 896,086.00

0.2230 0.211

1,470,000 1,530,000

319,160.00 327,470.00

14.860 0.71 8.86 1.600 0.830 45.500 2.04 4.7 6.47 0.580 0.76 0.870 0.180 0.410 10.340 19.6 0.440 0.121 1.54 1.22 4.43 0.217 1.2700 0.3950

752,600 2,343,000 6,200 816,000 6,826,000 83,587,100 3,515,000 1,201,000 246,200 97,893,000 193,000 311,000 37,410,000 2,770,000 750,200 1,311,300 17,900,000 20,000 39,373,000 1,312,000 94,879,000 59,440,000 5,818,000 30,000

11,170,804.00 1,665,310.00 55,210.00 1,267,970.00 5,743,910.00 3,646,185,985.00 7,015,450.00 5,649,520.00 1,615,396.00 57,424,340.00 145,030.00 270,560.00 6,862,830.00 1,155,400.00 7,725,274.00 25,360,682.00 8,038,350.00 2,420.00 60,812,290.00 1,601,860.00 426,567,190.00 13,550,210.00 7,473,070.00 11,850.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume

NOVEMBER 25-29, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes Vistamalls

0.330 46.00 2.01 25.80 2.15 3.23 40.80 2.48 1.260 7.580 5.500

550,000 8,500 960,000 7,182,500 225,000 10,996,000 43,779,100 818,000 39,569,000 25,829,500 287,700

181,900.00 391,000.00 1,930,250.00 183,662,840.00 482,380.00 34,964,320.00 1,760,683,110.00 2,038,450.00 47,623,370.00 191,628,566.00 1,570,015.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel AllHome APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Chelsea DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

9.8 17.36 1.48 11.52 0.470 0.040 18 3.73 10.12 92 5.56 5.60 8.60 890.5 1944 5.28 425.00 1.22 120 1.83 7.6 4.90 0.103 4.2000 2.27 13.9 2.71 0.90 17.20 0.405 3.37 2.13 0.99 1.03 2.950 2.5 7.63 5.00 9.1 145.00 2.70 1052.00 0.440 0.600 38.90 73.70 9.14 2.47 0.660 0.28 0.600 18.420

35,600 1,089,900 203,000 19,227,800 5,560,000 2,700,000 898,100 24,915,000 14,599,300 328,710 2,418,900 167,400 63,600 200 160,965 770,700 65,160 8,330,000 7,393,880 34,000 98,000 65,000 3,740,000 15,198,000 7,000 21,400 1,365,000 151,000 3,270,500 3,680,000 208,000 6,656,000 92,000 14,000 23,484,000 281,000 46,200 70,000 100 8,080 950,000 377,685 25,520,000 9,275,000 2,478,900 1,096,570 49,200 14,436,000 6,496,000 11,100,000 1,906,000 16,316,300

SERVICES 354,640.00 18,391,438.00 293,950.00 221,013,590.00 2,571,650.00 110,400.00 16,266,224.00 85,186,550.00 156,393,500.00 30,338,252.50 13,470,495.00 874,255.00 556,089.00 178,255.00 314,675,850.00 4,007,844.00 28,142,866.00 10,164,620.00 898,057,922.00 57,570.00 752,640.00 310,100.00 378,740.00 61,537,840.00 16,020.00 298,440.00 3,720,590.00 135,620.00 57,375,840.00 1,485,750.00 702,060.00 14,407,980.00 91,620.00 14,320.00 67,069,000.00 699,940.00 353,681.00 333,540.00 910.00 1,207,096.00 2,555,520.00 401,311,745.00 11,762,600.00 5,632,120.00 97,331,525.00 81,973,134.50 441,992.00 35,011,520.00 4,264,810.00 3,122,150.00 1,142,320.00 306,455,974.00

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

United Paragon

0.0015 1.04 2.38 11.08 0.9800 2.58 0.280 7.58 1.520 0.210 0.096 0.106 0.0082 0.94 2.98 1.04 0.4700 0.8100 0.0120 0.0120 3.10 9.25 0.0100 8.0000 20.00 0.0054

68,000,000 2,360,000 480,000 99,000 61,000 3,091,000 580,000 496,300 101,512,000 700,000 1,830,000 170,000 18,000,000 1,479,000 62,184,000 905,000 860,000 254,000 92,900,000 679,500,000 1,418,000 4,157,100 119,900,000 3,010,600 13,805,600 16,000,000

MINING & OIL 105,000.00 2,484,120.00 1,164,450.00 997,754.00 63,260.00 7,926,190.00 160,150.00 3,663,433.00 154,499,240.00 144,890.00 179,150.00 17,270.00 148,800.00 1,365,090.00 181,057,230.00 916,690.00 395,500.00 195,320.00 1,091,500.00 8,807,200.00 4,554,480.00 40,944,072.00 1,299,400.00 25,367,655.00 286,360,117.00 88,500.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred 2B PCOR-Preferred 3A PCOR-Preferred 3B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred 1 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H

15.9 101.5 502 505 100.3 108 482 500 5.04 971 1000 97.65 1.03 100.1 1026 1030 1055 100 104.7 1028 997.5 78.05 75.25 75.95 77 75.3 75.5 76

804,700 84,660 10,100 6,960 22,100 62,220 1,280 48,000 847,400 2,852,830 13,420 36,210 277,000 81,140 11,675 8,210 80 510 20,140 2,420 4,100 215,760 4,080 22,100 25,850 13,800 4,650 19,850

LR Warrant

1.470

2,000

PREFERRED 12,854,038.00 8,576,190.00 5,070,300.00 3,506,310.00 2,214,923.00 6,884,315.00 608,722.00 24,180,000.00 4,272,104.00 7,805,930.00 13,429,600.00 3,565,083.00 280,370.00 8,180,189.00 11,978,550.00 8,387,245.00 84,050.00 51,250.00 2,128,012.00 2,484,050.00 4,095,825.00 16,830,977.50 307,765.00 1,678,495.00 1,977,857.00 1,039,300.00 350,265.00 1,504,765.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 2,950.00

0.330 46.00 2.01 26.20 2.14 3.2 39.00 2.44 1.330 7.600 5.500

1,190,000 12,030 903,000 12,597,300 2,396,000 356,000 54,993,600 1,731,000 45,754,000 13,566,700 245,700

409,500.00 547,277.00 1,815,820.00 336,065,650.00 5,217,570.00 1,126,030.00 2,149,677,160.00 4,194,070.00 65,017,350.00 102,935,984.00 1,268,892.00

10.08 17.44 1.5 11.52 0.465 0.040 18 2.83 11.14 92.5 5.85 5.19 8.74 910 1940 5.20 410.00 1.13 123.6 1.72 7.9 4.20 0.103 4.0900 2.24 13.98 2.75 0.90 18.00 0.415 3.39 2.29 1.05 1.03 2.840 2.5 7.65 4.94

33,000 180,400 700,000 12,554,000 6,050,000 74,600,000 1,097,600 5,727,000 10,708,000 554,360 2,232,100 122,300 112,700 560 230,455 666,600 37,800 9,878,000 8,409,940 49,000 7,100 69,000 4,100,000 11,480,000 57,000 15,500 2,047,000 243,000 6,126,600 10,580,000 100,000 2,244,000 43,000 10,000 9,164,000 273,000 54,000 9,000

327,872.00 3,131,576.00 1,075,450.00 144,537,598.00 2,817,700.00 2,876,300.00 19,726,680.00 16,258,640.00 121,213,670.00 50,901,725.00 13,053,394.00 641,823.00 997,382.00 500,710.00 445,574,635.00 3,500,719.00 16,277,670.00 11,849,370.00 1,031,850,950.00 88,310.00 56,052.00 275,060.00 419,910.00 48,128,990.00 128,450.00 216,612.00 5,713,710.00 218,380.00 110,547,002.00 4,380,550.00 339,000.00 5,098,500.00 44,070.00 10,300.00 26,401,220.00 689,110.00 419,283.00 41,740.00

149.90 2.75 1075.00 0.490 0.620 40.15 79.00 9.00 2.64 0.670 0.275 0.610 18.500

42,370 977,000 606,380 132,039,000 3,710,000 3,982,300 1,266,520 54,000 5,104,000 4,622,000 25,470,000 3,976,000 8,720,900

6,355,488.00 2,665,800.00 664,381,585.00 63,162,615.00 2,328,730.00 159,512,050.00 95,952,660.00 488,902.00 13,501,610.00 3,089,200.00 7,459,500.00 2,421,320.00 159,244,168.00

0.0015 1.07 2.40 11.46 1.1900 2.54

305,000,000 4,150,000 816,000 16,900 1,000 3,451,000

488,500.00 4,432,300.00 2,069,230.00 180,630.00 1,190.00 8,685,310.00

7.55 1.650 0.206 0.099 0.102 0.0084 0.97 3.09 1.03 0.4900 0.8200 0.0120 0.0110 3.30 10.48 0.0110 9.0900 21.80 0.0058

5,100 30,376,000 6,320,000 12,660,000 7,130,000 9,000,000 2,536,000 40,220,000 63,000 611,000 324,000 121,200,000 1,301,000,000 1,800,000 2,528,600 123,300,000 7,396,400 12,160,500 1,000,000

37,782.00 53,412,770.00 1,276,770.00 1,262,460.00 726,910.00 76,400.00 2,553,100.00 132,221,910.00 65,720.00 307,695.00 259,970.00 1,409,600.00 15,610,800.00 6,095,290.00 27,464,928.00 1,355,400.00 70,458,325.00 261,232,685.00 5,800.00

16.8 100 509 501 100.1 112 499 500 5.05 1000 1000 97.05 1.01 101 1026 1030 1066 100.5 107 1028 998 78 75.05 75.95 76.6 75.2 75.45 75.15

146,500 6,090 7,500 5,400 302,090 1,870 160 20,320 954,200 14,270 31,480 31,160 748,000 690 3,085 21,795 2,880 4,000 1,410 24,255 210 510,340 1,031,900 422,440 1,080,550 854,900 1,072,520 908,080

2,472,600.00 609,852.00 3,777,730.00 2,706,140.00 30,356,579.00 205,190.00 76,260.00 10,156,040.00 4,839,631.00 14,262,900.00 31,396,020.00 3,023,089.50 756,740.00 69,096.00 3,165,385.00 22,779,340.00 3,069,580.00 402,000.00 148,323.00 24,948,255.00 206,490.00 39,796,576.00 77,545,620.00 32,040,188.00 82,769,870.00 64,204,668.50 80,761,494.00 68,247,249.00

1.550

205,000

287,800.00

SME 37,500.00 6,507,330.00 23,065,432.00 5,327,250.00

4.23 11 0.86

2,265,000 5,093,000 10,919,000

10,022,970.00 61,085,160.00 9,615,790.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.5 3.87 10.6 0.87

15,000 1,618,000 2,074,700 6,112,000

First Metro ETF

116.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 27,660 3,235,167.00

116

69,280

8,069,746.00

10.3 10.3

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 8,990 91,957.40 9,870 100,726.40

10.04 10

13,980 20

141,195.60 200.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `B’ Fruitas Holdings Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Philodrill Corp. `A’ DMCI Holdings Megaworld Ferronickel Oriental Pet. `A’ Filinvest Land,Inc. Abra Mining

VOLUME 679,500,000 497,679,000 281,164,000 119,900,000 115,682,900 114,621,000 101,512,000 92,900,000 78,616,000 68,000,000

STOCKS SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings Bank of PI Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Universal Robina Security Bank I.C.T.S.I.

VALUE 3,138,419,320.00 2,514,745,325.00 1,760,683,110.00 1,671,942,449.00 1,665,421,535.00 1,244,775,487.00 1,118,005,570.00 1,026,754,930.00 962,450,890.00 898,057,922.00

Leisure Resorts abandons plan to build $550-m Boracay casino LEISURE Resorts & World Corp. will no longer pursue a plan to build a $550-million world-class integrated resort and casino in Boracay Island in partnership with Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd..

LRWC acting chairman Eusebio Tanco said in a recent interview the company would keep the property in Boracay for land banking.

“I’m keeping that piece of land and just hold on to it. I will just land bank it,” Tanco said.

He added talks with GEG were not proceeding.

GEG in December 2017 said was looking at the possibility of developing a world class beach resort and casino in Boracay island with LRWC. LRWC said the integrated resort would redefine the standards of luxury resorts in the country with the bulk of the gross floor area allocated to premium hotel rooms and other amenities, like wellness centers, bars, lounges and fine dining restaurants.

The casino and gaming area’s maximum footprint, according to the conceptual design, will not exceed 7.5 percent of the total floor area of the resort.

Construction was supposed to start in 2020, with completion scheduled after two years.

President Rodrigo Duterte in April last year rejected plans to build a casino on Boracay Island, which is one the top tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Tanco said it will focus on expanding LRWC’s core businesses and rationalizing the group.

The company will redeem next year all its outstanding preferred shares worth P1.65 billion.

The 1.65 billion worth of preferred shares, issued in 2013, will be redeemed on January 21, 2020 at a price of P1 per share.

Tanco said the company would use the proceeds from the recent private placement to fund the redemption of preferred shares.

LRWC early this year raised P4.4 billion from the issuance of 1.2 billion shares through a private placement.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Cavitex expects toll revenues to hit P3b by 2020

By Darwin G. Amojelar CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp. expects revenues to reach P3 billion in 2020, boosted by higher vehicle traffic volume at the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

“We’re going to hit our targets. We will be hitting a little over P2 billion revenues. We’re going to hit that, maybe P2.2 billion,” said Cavitex president and general manager Roberto Bontia, said.

“For next year, we’re targeting P3 billion,” he added.

Bontia attributed the increase in revenues this year and in 2020 to the higher vehicle volume traffic at Manila-Cavite Expressway and the start of operations of the Laguna segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, as well as the C5 Link Expressway.

“Were also hoping to get our toll fee increase for 2011 and 2014,” said Bontia.

Cavitex in October 19 secured an approval from the Toll Regulatory Board to impose an additional toll of P1, P2, and P3 for vehicle class 1, 2, and 3, respectively for the 7-kilometer Cavitex Segment 1.

The TRB also approved the initial toll for the first 2.2 kilometers of the Segment 3A-1 portion of the C-5 Link Expressway, which forms part of the Cavitex Expressway.

MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., in November opened to the public the Laguna segment of the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway.

The first segment starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.

The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022.

MPCALA tapped Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side and local contractor DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna segment.

The Cavite segment comprises 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer CaviteLaguna Expressway.

World IN BRIEF At least 43 killed in Delhi factory fire NEW DELHI―At least 43 people have died in a factory fire in India’s capital New Delhi, with the toll expected to rise, police told AFP. The blaze broke out in the early hours in the city’s old quarter, whose narrow and congested lanes are lined with many small manufacturing and storage units.

“We... have since rescued at least 50 people,” Sunil Choudhary, New Delhi’s deputy chief fire officer, told AFP. They were “laborers and factory workers sleeping inside this four-or-five story building,” he said, adding that the fire had been extinguished but rescue operations were ongoing.

A senior Delhi police official said eight or nine people were carried out later, bringing the overall number rescued to at least 58.

Fire officials said it was very difficult to access the dark, poorly lit premises in the commercial hub of Sadar Bazar.

Local news channels aired footage of firemen carrying people out of the narrow lanes to nearby emergency vehicles. AFP

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hong Kongers mark anniversary H ONG KONG― Vast crowds of democracy protesters thronged Hong Kong’s streets on Sunday in a forceful display of support for the movement on its six-month anniversary, as organizers warned the city’s pro-Beijing leaders they had a “last chance” to end the political crisis.

Tens of thousands snaked their way through the financial hub’s main island under crisp winter skies in what looked set to be the biggest turnout in months.

The rally, which received rare police permission, comes two weeks after pro-

establishment parties got a drubbing in local elections, shattering government claims that a “silent majority” opposed the protests.

Many of those attending voiced anger that chief executive Carrie Lam and Beijing have ruled out any further concessions despite the landslide election defeat.

“No matter how we express our views, through peacefully marching, through civilized elections, the government won’t listen,” said a 50-year-old protester, who gave his surname Wong.

“It only follows orders from the Chinese Communist Party.”

“What has been stirred up in society the past few months won’t simply fade away if the government refuses to solve the problem of systematic injustice,” added Sirius Tam, 21, who donned a giant mask of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon character who has become an irreverent symbol of the protests.

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been battered by increasingly violent demonstrations in the starkest challenge the city has presented to Beijing since its 1997 handover from Britain.

Millions have hit the streets in protests fueled by years of growing fears that authoritarian China is stamping out the city’s liberties.

The last fortnight has seen a marked drop in street battles and protester vandalism after the landslide win by prodemocracy candidates.

Police took the unusual step of allowing the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to hold Sunday’s march―the first time the group has been granted permission since mid-August―but they warned they would have zero tolerance for violence by radicals.

The movement’s demands include an independent inquiry into the police’s handling of the protests, an amnesty for those

arrested, and fully free elections.

“This is the last chance given by the people to Carrie Lam,” CHRF leader Jimmy Sham said.

The protests are largely leaderless and organized online. They were initially sparked by a now-abandoned attempt to allow extraditions to the mainland but have since morphed into a popular revolt against Beijing’s rule.

The CHRF, which advocates non-violence, has been the main umbrella group behind record-breaking rallies earlier in the summer that saw huge crowds regularly march in searing heat.

Authorities have repeatedly banned major rallies in recent months citing the risk of violence from hardcore protesters.

Large crowds have simply ignored the bans, sparking near-weekly tear gas and petrol bomb clashes that have upended Hong Kong’s reputation for stability and helped tip the city into recession.AFP

30,000 attend mass alms-giving

MANDALAY―Thirty-thousand monks assembled in the early morning chill in Myanmar on Sunday for a spectacular alms-giving event, partly organized by a controversial mega-temple under scrutiny across the border in Thailand.

With many barefoot, Buddhist monks from Myanmar and Thailand and senior religious officials from a dozen countries collected alms next to an airport in the central city of Mandalay, that is also a heartland of the faith.

As the sun rose over the ancient town, a sea of saffron and maroon-robed monks assembled in an area the size of a football field.

They meditated, prayed and collected alms in an event meant to tighten the relationship of “monks and Buddhists between [the] two countries” and to “strengthen the monkhood” in the region, according to a statement.

“I hope we can continue to hold bigger events in the coming years,” said U Thu Nanda, a 24-year-old Burmese monk.

Trapped gold miners found dead

JOHANNESBURG―Four gold miners trapped underground after a tremor caused a rockfall in northeast South Africa have been found dead, their union said Sunday.

A fifth miner was rescued with serious injuries on Friday after the accident at the Tau Lekoa Mine in the town of Orkney, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said.

“The four mineworkers were found dead,” a union statement said after the rescue team lost contact with the four men deep underground early Saturday.

“The last person we talked to said: ‘We are suffocating please, bring us some oxygen’,” said NUM president Joseph Montisetse.

Deadly accidents involving miners are common in South Africa, which has the deepest mines in the world.

Last year 81 people died in the country’s mines, according to the department of mineral resources. AFP

Veteran interred on sunken ship

LOS ANGELES―With speeches and salutes, veterans and officials on Saturday commemorated the 78th anniversary of the 1941 sneak attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, which brought a previously reluctant United States into World War II. A ceremony in Hawaii honoring survivors was attended by US Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Washington’s ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris.

It was held within sight of the sunken USS Arizona, which was bombed in the opening moments of the attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans.

Later in the day, the remains of Lauren Bruner, who died in September aged 98 and was among the last sailors rescued from the Arizona after it exploded into flames, was interred in the wreckage.

Bruner had expressed in years past his wish to be buried alongside fellow sailors who died on that fateful day. AFP

‘LAST CHANCE.’ People take part in a pro-democracy rally from Victoria Park to Chater Road in Hong Kong on December 8, 2019. Hong Kong democracy protesters were hoping for huge crowds on December 8 at a rally they had billed as a ‘last chance’ for the city’s pro-Beijing leaders in a major test for the six-month-old movement. AFP

France’s Macron to hold pensions meeting as strike bites PARIS―French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill.

Transport in Paris remained paralyzed Sunday, with only the two driver-less lines of the Metro in operation while national rail operator SNCF warned just one in six high-speed trains would be running.

The strikes, which began on Thursday over the plans for a single points-based pension scheme, recall the winter of 1995, when three weeks of huge stoppages forced a social policy U-turn by the thengovernment.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted his government would not abandon the plan.

“If we do not make a far-reaching, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will make a really brutal one tomorrow,” Philippe was quoted as saying

by Le Journal du Dimanche.

But the leader of the hard-line CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the paper “We will keep up until the withdrawal” of the reform plan.

The prime minister is due to unveil full details of the reform to merge the 42 existing pension plans, which could spark

more union anger.

“We can provide extremely positive answers for many people who suffer injustices in the current system: women, farmers, and career-changers in particular,” he said.

Unions have vowed a second series of mass demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday and there is expected to be little easing of the transport freeze over the coming days.

In a joint statement, the three main rail unions called for the strike to be stepped up on Monday.

The strikes could prove to be the biggest domestic challenge yet for Macron, who came to power in 2017 on the back of promises to radically reform France and has sought a prominent place on the international stage as Europe’s number one statesman.

Macron was widely believed to have ridden out the challenge posed by the “yellow vests” whose weekly Saturday protests against inequality in France had shaken the government over the last year.

But the yellow vests have also sought to use the momentum of the strike movement and held a fresh protest in Paris on Saturday and others in several cities across France.

Unions say Macron’s proposal for a single-pension system would force millions of people in both the public and private sectors to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62.

At least 800,000 took part in rallies around the country on Thursday, according to the interior ministry -- one of the biggest demonstrations of union strength in nearly a decade.

A crucial week now lies ahead: commuters will struggle to get to work on Monday and more giant nationwide protests are planned for Tuesday.

Transilien, the operator of the Paris region rail network, warned of severe shortages Monday and recommended using other means of transport such as carsharing.

The international Eurostar and Thalys rail services have been hit by cancellations.

Tourists in Paris also faced some disappointments: the world-famous Louvre Museum said some rooms would be closed due to the strikes, while the landmark exhibition of painter El Greco at the Grand Palais was closed.

The Paris Opera and several theaters in the capital have canceled performances over the last few days due to the strike.

AFP

Smoke haze settles over Australian capital Canberra as bush fires burn

SYDNEY―Smoke haze from bush fires raging in Australia spread to the capital Sunday, as firefighters raced to contain more than 140 blazes ahead of a heatwave forecast early this week.

Australia is experiencing a horrific start to its fire season, which scientists say began earlier and is more extreme this year due to a prolonged drought and the effects of climate change.

Residents of Canberra in the country’s southeast woke up to see the capital shrouded in haze Sunday, joining those in Sydney who have endured weeks of toxic air pollution caused by bush fire smoke.

Officials said favorable weather conditions had given them a chance to bring several blazes under control before the

forecast return of strong winds and high temperatures Tuesday.

Among those is a “mega fire” burning across 250,000 hectares within an hour’s drive of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, where ash from the fires has occasionally fallen.

Firefighters are now bracing for Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to reach above 40 Celsius in parts of New South Wales state―worst-hit by the bush fires―and gusting westerly winds are likely to fan the flames.

“Today [fire] crews will be doing what they can to consolidate and strengthen containment lines, which in some areas will include back-burning,” NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Greg Allan told AFP. But the state’s Bureau of Meteorol-

ogy warned that the massive fires are “in some cases just too big to put out at the moment”.

“They’re pumping out vast amounts of smoke which is filling the air, turning the sky orange & even appearing like significant rain on our radars,” the department tweeted.

Nearly 50 reinforcements from the United States and Canada have been flown in to support fatigued firefighters in recent days, with the international contingent tasked with providing logistical assistance.

In neighboring Queensland, the focus was also on managing fatigue among front line firefighters―who in both states are almost all volunteers―as weather there provided a brief reprieve from weeks of battling blazes.

“We’re just looking to wind down and recover and prepare for the next round, whenever that may be,” a Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesman told AFP. Since the crisis began in September, six people have been killed, more than 700 homes destroyed and an estimated two million hectares (almost five million acres) scorched.

Though the human toll has been far lower than the deadliest fire season in 2009—when almost 200 people died— the scale of this year’s devastation has been widely described as unprecedented, as Australians grapple with the impacts of a changing climate.

Official data shows 2019 is on track to be one of the hottest and driest years on record in Australia. AFP

Suu Kyi set to make history in genocide case THE HAGUE―Former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is set to make legal history when she defends Myanmar in The Hague this week against charges of genocide targeting the Buddhist state’s minority Rohingya Muslims.

The tiny west African state of Gambia, acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will ask the International Court of Justice to take emergency measures to halt Myanmar’s “ongoing genocidal actions”.

But in a highly unusual move, the office of Nobel Peace laureate and Myanmar civilian leader Suu Kyi has said she will lead a team to the UN’s highest court, based in the turreted Peace Palace in the Netherlands.

Legal experts said Suu Kyi would be one of the first national leaders to personally address the tribunal since it was set up in 1946 after World War II to rule in disputes between countries.

Her plan to appear before the court’s judges for the three-day hearing starting Tuesday was “unprecedented and also very unwise”, Cecily Rose, an assistant professor in international law at Leiden University, told AFP. “States never ever send politicians to lead legal teams at the ICJ,” she said.

Although Oxford-educated Suu Kyi’s background was “impressive, she has no legal qualifications and would be completely at sea before the court,” Rose added.

Around 740,000 Rohingya were forced to flee into camps in Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military launched a violent crackdown on the group in 2017, which UN investigators concluded amounted to genocide.

The case will be the first international legal attempt to bring Myanmar to justice over the crisis, and is a rare example of a country suing another over an issue to which it is not directly a party. AFP

LGUs

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

B4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

LAKE LIGHTS. The Sampaloc Lake Boardwalk is lit up with Christmas trees, lights and other Yuletide decorations as San Pablo City Mayor Loreto “Amben” Amante

(inset, center), carrying his baby Ben-ben, opens the 11th Pascocohan Festival over the weekend. Joining Amante are his wife Madette, ABC Chairman Ariston Amante (left), Vice Mayor Justin Colago, Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones (right) and SPC Tourism Officer Donnalyn Brinas. Roy Tomandao

Ayta tribe backs SEAG shooting range in Subic

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—“Please don’t take this pride away from us.”

This was the appeal made recently by the Magbukun Ayta tribe of Morong, Bataan after some groups questioned the construction of a shooting range for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) here.

The tribe, whose ancestral domain includes the area where the SEAG project is built, called for a press conference with the assistance of the Subic Indigenous Peoples Assistance Group (SIPAG) and urged groups that opposed the project to stop making an issue about it.

“Ipinagmamalaki po namin na ang bahagi ng aming ancestral domain ay ginagamit para sa pagdaraos ng SEA Games. Masaya po kami na kahit papaano ay mayroon po kaming ambag sa kaganapan (We are proud that part of our ancestral land is being used for the SEA Games. We are happy to know that we are able to contribute to this event),” said Joseph Salonga, the Magbukun tribal vice-chieftain.

“Patahimikin na po natin ang isyu.

Huwag ninyong alisin sa amin ang pagkakataong ito (Please stop making an issue about this. Do not take this pride away from us),” Salonga added during the press conference at the Golden Dragon Restaurant here.

Salonga, along with tribal chief Belinda Restom and eight other Magbukun officials and elders, also pointed out that the former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) area where the shooting range is being built is part of the tribe’s ancestral domain.

Ex-ARMM workers to get paid

By Nash B. Maulana

C

OTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government will soon compensate its employees who were first to be separated from service in October.

Breaking the good news Friday morning, Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said the national government has already released about P500 million in gratuity funds to compensate the employees of the defunct ARMM, much to their delight.

Macacua said the employees and the transitional BARMM administration

were thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte and to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado for the prompt releases of the service separation funds.

More than 6,000 employees will be terminated from service, as they were deemed to have lost their positions under the new BARMM setup.

ARMM employees are being separated in three batches—on October 31, November 30, and on December 31.

Macacua said about P234 million from the national government is for paying the claims of the first batch of separated employees of the ARMM Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) and the region’s Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-ARMM).

ORG includes workers of the Office of Media Affairs (MAD), insiders said. The fund is covered by Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) No. D-19-0025121 from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Macacua added.

He said the DBM had also sent in a total amount of P268 million covered

by NCA No. D-19-0024898 for employees first to have separated from the Bacoor City Mayor Lani Revilla (2nd from right) shakes hands with SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie Angeles after unveiling the Sagip Center’s marker and its refurbished facilities (inset).

CEMEX, McDonald’s build Bahay Bulilit learning center in Imus INSPIRED by the dream to make educational opportunities more accessible to children, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc. (RMHC), supported by CEMEX Holdings Philippines (CHP), recently inaugurated a new Ronald

McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center in Barangay Malagasang I-G in Imus, Cavite.

A turnover ceremony led by McDonalds Managing Director Margot Torres, Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, and Cavite 3rd Dis-

The Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center is designed to prepare kids from ages 2 to 5 for formal schooling, develop values and dreams, and have fun while learning. Attending the turnover ceremony are (from left) CEMEX Philippines Foundation Officer Tina Gallardo, McDonald’s Philippines Operations Consultant Paritz Toledo, CEMEX Corporate Communications Manager Erlinda Lizardo, McDonald’s Philippines Operations Manager Mildred Tungala, McDonald’s Philippines Market Manager Grace Capulong, Ronald McDonald House Charities Executive Director Marie A. Angeles, McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director and RMHC Vice President Margot Torres, Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, Cavite Rep. Alex Advincula, Imus Vice Mayor Arnel Cantimbuhan, Malagasang I-G Brgy. Captain Mark Oliver Valerio, Imus Social Welfare and Development Officer Hermana B. Revilla, and Homeowners Association President Estrella Bardoquillo.

trict Rep. Alex Advincula was held to officially open the Bahay Bulilit Learning Center.

CEMEX and McDonalds are on a mission to make a difference in the lives of children through programs that support their need for shelter, education,

and happiness, officials said.

To date, there are 32 Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers in the Philippines, and 65,564 children have been served by the program.

CEMEX is supporting the initiative, as it is aligned with the company’s “Build the Nation” umbrella social advocacy program that is dedicated to build stronger, empowered communities and uplift the lives of more Filipinos.

At the Bahay Bulilit Learning Center, children will be taught basic skills, lessons, and group activities facilitated by accredited social workers and community volunteers.

The program is implemented in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units.

Sogo on Timog sets grand opening HOTEL Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the Philippines, continues to expand its hotel services to patron guests, travelers and families who are looking for a quick stop from the hassle and bustle of the metro with its 39th branch perfectly situated in a district brimming with life.

Strategically located in the heart of South Triangle, Quezon City, Hotel Sogo Timog Avenue branch is your gateway in experiencing top of the class service, authentic Filipino hospi-

tality and comfortable lodgings at exceptionally affordable rates.

With more than 100 rooms, the hotel takes pride as it showcases a refreshing look of its lobby and the first Hotel Sogo branch to introduce the selfcheck-in kiosk.

The kiosk is part of Hotel Sogo’s modernization and is designed to allow guests a digitized and more discreet transaction of their hotel stay. Transactions are then processed and checked at the front desk.

ARMM’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Under the BARMM organizational set up, the DENR-ARMM is now Ministry of the Environment Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), which Macacua heads concurrently.

Irene Fernandez Gonzales of ARMM Bureau of Public Information and Richard Sanlocan of Properties and Supplies Division of the ORG—both mid-level employees—said they were looking forward to their turn to receive the BARMM separation package before the year ends.

They both belong to the second batch of employees to leave the BARMM this year.

SM refurbishes Sagip Buhay Bacoor facility

BACOOR—The SM Foundation has turned over a refurbished Sagip Buhay and Recovery City Health Center to the local government of Bacoor City to ensure quality health and medical services to 129,021 residents of Bayanan.

It includes the nearby communities of Barangays Ligas I, II, & III; Mambog I-IV; and San Nicolas I, II & III. This is the 161st SM Wellness Center following the turnover of the Butuan Medical Center less than a month ago.

Sagip Buhay and Recovery City Health Center houses the City Health Unit of Barangay Bayanan.

Its renovation by SM Foundation was made through the initiative of Bacoor City Health Officer Dr. Ivy Marie Yrastorza, who with Mayor Lani Mercado- Revilla requested the upgrade of the facility.

Sagip Buhay is a two-story building located within the Bacoor Government Center, with the Bacoor City Health Office occupying its second floor and the Basic Medical Services (City Health Unit–Bayanan) on the ground f loor.

The refurbishment included the provision of new furniture, appliances, and basic medical equipment. A lounge was provided for seniors, and a play area for children.

Part of the renovation and refurbishment were the Pharmacy, Dental Clinic, Physical Therapy Clinic, Doctors’ Clinic, Animal Bite Center, Smoking Cessation Clinic, Children’s Clinic and Cold Chain Storage Area.

Strategically located in the heart of South Triangle in Quezon City, Hotel Sogo Timog Avenue is the first branch in the country’s largest hotel chain to introduce the self-check-in kiosk.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

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A treasure trove of Chinese dishes

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HEN Cantonese Master Chef Lam Pui Hung served his Empress Treasure Pot during an exclusive press launch of The Empress Dining Palace at BGC late last month, the showstopper dish was, without exaggeration, nothing short of extraordinary.

The celebratory pot, called poon choi in Cantonese, is filled with premium delicacies such as abalones, sea cucumbers, Peking duck slices, and shiitake mushrooms, among others.

“This is a traditional Chinese food served usually during New Year or when there is an occasion. This was a specialty of my father, too, and he’d cook it whenever there is a special event at home,” Chef Lam said in Cantonese, as translated by one of the restaurant’s staff.

“It is a complete meal in itself— there’s different kinds of meat and vegetables. I did not adjust the taste because I want Filipinos to enjoy an authentic Cantonese dish. We are in luck as the Philippines is abundant in the ingredients we need for our dishes,” he added.

According to Aida Velasco, the restaurant’s chief operating officer, not all Chinese restaurants can offer the treasure pot in their menu.

“Magastos kasi (It’s expensive because) the ingredients are all premium.

But here at Empress, you don’t even have to reserve in advance to order the treasure pot—just give us about 30 minutes in preparation time. That is how confident we are of the quality and freshness of our ingredients,” she said.

The other dishes served during the press launch were equally fit for royalty. There was Peking duck imported from Hong Kong, xiao long bao (soupy pork dumpling), steamed sea bass fillet with Cordycep flower and fungus, and chicken with minced mushroom in egg white wrapper.

Dessert was the deceptively simple yet refreshing almond beancurd with longan (the almond jelly imported straight from Singapore to ensure consistent silken texture unlike the coarser local counterpart).

While The Empress Dining Palace serves an extensive menu of classic Cantonese cuisine, it also has select dishes from the Northern region, from mouth-watering appetizers to its highly praised seafood choices.

There’s crispy eel from Wu Xi town, for example, which is known for dishes on the sweet side.

Its main dining hall can accommodate 108 guests fit for every occasion, while its VIP rooms can hold up to 48 guests for a more private and dedicated service host.

On Dec. 7, the fine dining restaurant also began offering its The Empress Royal Dim sum Buffet.

Guests can feast on unlimited baskets of wide selection of dim sums and la mian noodles with braised beef brisket for only P888+ per head. The selection includes the restaurant’s signature steamed soup pork xiao long bao, steamed shrimp dumpling hakau, and baked bo lo BBQ pork buns.

I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

The Empress Peking Duck

Chicken with Minced Mushroom in Egg White Wrapper

Steamed Seabass Fillet with Cordycep Flower and Fungus

Master Chef Lam Pui Hung and The Empress chief operating officer Aida Velasco

CHEERS!

‘Tis the season to drink up BRING out the glasses because it’s time to celebrate the merry season.

Fizzy but guilt-free

Bottled and corked in distinctive, intricately designed embossed glass, Healthy Options Sparkling Grape Juice is made of 100 percent all-natural grape juice combined with fruit flavors such as wildberry, passion fruit, acai, gold apple, red grape, and rosé. Each bottle has no alcohol, nor added sugar, preservatives, colorings.

Healthy Options Sparkling Grape Juice is available at Healthy Options outlets.

The goodness of grapes pressed from the freshest Concord and Niagara varieties is bottled in Welch’s Sparkling Juice. The non-alcoholic beverage is available in red and white grape flavors Welch’s Sparkling Juice is available Healthy Options Sparkling Grape Juice at leading supermarkets nationwide.

Still and delightful

Empress Treasure Pot

Welch’s Sparkling Juice

Healthy Options offers Aderum organic wines from the Mureda vineyards of Spain. Vino varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

Aderum wine is available at Healthy Options outlets.

Johnnie Walker wraps its regular variants in limited edition packaging—great as a gift to your buds, boss, in-laws, or to yourself.

The limited edition gift pack is available for Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Gold Label Reserve, Green Label, Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old and 18YO. The packs are designed Aderum organic wines

by London-based designer Richard Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky is available in leading superMalone, and will have provisions for a personalized name or greeting. markets and liquor stores nationwide.

Life

C2

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Christmas potlucks and parties P

ARTIES and get-togethers are meant to be fun and memorable, especially when they only happen rarely. Party planners tasked to organize the event or guests who want to impress have a handful of help to make holiday potlucks or parties a hit.

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel offers party packages inclusive of international buffet menu selections and more.

Party at a restaurant

Party at a hotel Both Ortigas and Eastwood branches of Richmonde Hotel offer Christmas Party packages and holidaythemed menus for either intimate or big events.

Party package at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas includes a sumptuous lunch or dinner buffet, one round of iced tea or soda, and a basic sound system. It starts at P1,100 nett per person for a minimum of 25 guests.

For big events that demand international buffet menu selections, bottomless iced tea or soda, mobile sound system, and centerpieces, Eastwood Rich-

Dencio’s 13 locations nationwide can be booked for reunions or Christmas parties. The flexible set menu packages start at P300 per person.

Menu includes a wide array of classic and reimagined Pinoy favorites—from appetizers such as Calamares to bestselling meals like Krispy Sisig.

Better yet, give the gathering a unique mess hall experience with grilled, fried, or combination Boodle Feasts all while letting it loose in a laid-back yet elevated homegrown ambience.

monde Ortigas offers it for as low as P46,100 nett for buffet lunch or dinner for a minimum of 30 persons.

The all-day dining restaurants and bars of the Richmonde Hotel properties may also be booked for exclusive functions with minimum guaranteed revenue requirements.

Contact Richmonde Hotel Ortigas at (02) 86387777 or rhobanquets@richmondehotel.com.ph, or Eastwood Richmonde Hotel at (02) 8570-777 or erhbanquets@richmondehotel.com.ph.

Dencio’s flexible set menu for parties consists of a wide array of Filipino favorites.

Go to nearest Dencio’s or go to its Facebook page for more information.

Bring pizza

Yellow Cab Baked Mac Pasta Tray and Wings Tray

What’s better than a box of pizza? A triple decker pizza box.

Get three Regular Pan Pizzas in one box as Pizza Hut brings back its Holiday Triple Treat Box. Enjoy three bestselling flavors, namely Pepperoni Supreme, Hawaiian Supreme, and Bacon Cheeseburger Supreme, for P599.

It’s available at Pizza Hut branches nationwide until Jan. 6, 2020. Call 8911-1111 or go to order.pizzahut.com.ph to order.

Bring pasta and chicken Assigned to bring the carbs and chicken? Yellow Cab offers new party trays for potlucks or any gatherings.

The Baked Mac Pasta Tray is perfectly cooked macaroni dish and savory ground beef in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce. Meanwhile, the Mac and Cheese Pasta Tray is good ‘ol macaroni and cheese dashed with spices and topped with crumbled bacon.

Thirty two pieces of flavorful wings comprise the Wings Tray, which may include up to four variants per tray. Choices are Hot Chix, Garlic Parmesan, Sweet Soy, Sriracha, Lemon Pepper, and Smoked Chipotle.

Pizza Hut Holiday Triple Treat Box

Go to Yellow Cab’s official Facebook page to know more.

On-demand food delivery service now serves VisMin

Isla Sugbu Seafood City offers Unlimited Seafood promo for lunch and dinner.

Unlimited seafood party LOOKING for a different way to feast with friends?

Seafood lovers are in for a treat at Isla Sugbu Seafood City, which lets diners satisfy their cravings to the fullest.

The Unlimited Seafood offering serves an array of fresh and live seafood, which customers can request to be cooked to their liking—fried, steamed, grilled, pan-seared, broiled, poached, or any other method.

Unlimited Seafood must-tries include Sinigang na Salmon, Black Pepper Crab, Stir Fry Scallops, Salt

and Pepper Calamari, and Salted Egg Shrimps.

Enjoy these delicious dishes and more for P888 per head (lunch and dinner) at the Venice Grand Canal in McKinley Hills, Taguig; and P797 per head (lunch) and P848 (dinner) at the Cebu branch.

The promo includes fish, shrimp, squid, crabs, and oysters. Premium items such as lobster, mud crab, live suahe, sea mantis, and grouper, on the other hand, are not included in the Unlimited Seafood package.

The offer includes fresh and live seafood that can be cooked to the customers’ liking.

CUSTOMERS in key cities in Visayas and Mindanao now enjoy on-demand online food delivery service courtesy of pink riders. foodpanda has recently expanded its operation in Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in Davao (North Davao), Cebu (Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue), and Bacolod.

Through the app, customers can easily order food from dozens of restaurants.

“We are very happy to continue expanding and opening new cities to the list of areas we deliver to,” said Argie Muyco, head of expansion for foodpanda Philippines.

Muyco added, “As we turned five this year, the team believes that the region of Visayas and Mindanao has a similar potential to Manila in terms of growth On-demand online food delivery service foodpanda now serves key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. and expansion, with a lot of potential Tagaytay), Pampanga (Angeles and San for food delivery. We intend to bring the partner restaurants and customers.” best experience to consumers and are Earlier this year, foodpanda started Fernando), Laguna (San Pedro), Batanexcited to see positive reactions from its delivery in Cavite (Bacoor, Imus, gas (Lipa), and Baguio.

SIP The Dalmore unveils rare 60-year-old whisky IN CELEBRATION of 180 years dedicated to creating masterpiece whiskies, The Dalmore unveiled a rare, limited edition 60-year-old single malt whisky.

The Dalmore 60 Year Old has been created from two twin casks—the last casks of the great Mackenzie era—which have been lying in repose side by side in the Scottish Highlands.

Master Distiller Richard Paterson, who has been the creative force behind the brand since 1970, created The Dalmore 60 Year Old by reuniting two extremely rare ex-sherry casks from six decades ago. Filled with spirit first distilled on June 7, 1951, these two ex-sherry casks have been slowly maturing and building layers of depth and complexity, with the whisky in each cask evolving in an entirely different direction for 60 years.

“The Dalmore 60 Year Old is a fitting tribute to the masterful talents of our distillers past and present, who The Dalmore 60 Year Old single malt whisky have all helped to create an incredible body of work,” spirits has produced an unforgettable whisky that is truly enthused Peterson.

“For me personally, nurturing and caring for these two greater than the sum of its parts.”

The rare single malt whisky is limited to just three decanters. casks has been a true labor of love. The reunion of the two

Entertainment

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

SNAPSHOT

Dashing men in Hollywood RAPPER and actor Will Smith (left) and English Tom Holland walked the red carpet before the Spies in Disguise premiere at the El Capitan Theatre.

Spies in Disguise is an animated spy comedy film. Smith and Holland lend their voices to the lead characters. The story is about a highly famous super-spy Lance Sterling (Smith) to protect it from grave threats, who in turn often counts on the technical smarts of young scientist Walter Beckett (Holland) to fashion great gadgets to accomplish his missions in spite of himself. AFP

BTS is most-streamed K-Pop artist in PH, globally

PPO Christmas concert at CCP Aimee Mina Dela Cruz

CELEBRATE the Yuletide season with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra on Dec. 20, 8:00 p.m. at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Guest soloists are percussionist Aimee De la Cruz, child soprano Alexa Kaufman, and clarinetist Franz Jensen Andra.

Maestro Herminigildo Ranera leads the PPO. Program includes two works

by Samuel Barber (“Adagio for Strings” and “Die Natali op.36”), Carl Maria von Weber’s “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra, op.26”, Cesar Franck’s “Panis Angelicus”, Felipe De Leon’s “Payapang Daigdig”, Pietro Yon’s “Gesu Bambino”, Darius Milhaud’s “Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra”, andPeter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s “Capriccio Italien op.45”.

Aimee Mina De la Cruz holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Saint Paul University Manila under the Extended Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, and a Diploma in Creative and Performing Musical Arts from the University of the Philippines. As a soloist, Aimee performed under the baton of the late Maestro Oscar Yatcowith the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and also with the PhilBanda Wind Orchestra at the Singapore International Band Festival.

Most recently, she was one of the featured soloists in the “OH-Asian Percussionists” Concert in Chai Wan, Hong Kong.

Alexa Isobel Kaufman is the youngest member of the Philippine Opera Company. Likewise, she is the youngest student of Emeritus Professor of the University of the Philippines College of Music and Gawad CCP Maestra Fides Cuyugan Asensio.

She has undergone vocal coaching with National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, tenor Francisco Aseniero and soprano Karla Gutierrez and has attended several

Masterclasses by Nick Lizaso, Robbie Guevara, Ronnie Fortich, Menchu Lauchengco, and Maynard Peñalosa.

Franz Jensen Andra is currently a scholar at the Philippine High School for the Arts under the tutelage of Prof. Ariel Sta. Ana, principal clarinetist of The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He recently won 2nd prize at the First Macao International Clarinet Competition in the 18 years under category. Franz is one of the finalists of the First FilKor Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and was featured as soloist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in their Family Concert of 2019. At present, Franz is the concert master of the community-based General Trias Youth Symphonic Band, and also a member of the Sta. Cecilia Band 89 of General Trias, Cavite and The Philippine Youth Symphonic Band.

Ticket prices are P1500/1200/800/500/400, with discounts available to students, senior citizens and groups. For inquiries, please call the CCP Box Office at 88323704.

From C4

The event signaled the opening of a three-day Sustainability Fair at the Legazpi Street entrance of PLDT Makati General Office last week which also coincided with the National Climate Change Awareness Week and the 91st anniversary of PLDT. At the same time, a collaborative Gabay Kalikasan street artwork by renowned muralist and environmental advocate AG Sano, who led and created “SmART for Nature,” was unveiled. The 145feet mural covers the exterior of PLDT Makati General Office and was a joint effort between Sano and PLDT-Smart. #SmartPlanet also introduced a phone recycling system that presents a proper way of reusing discarded mobile devices to avoid harmful effects of electronic waste on people’s health and on the environment.

Pangilinan said, “We as Filipinos have a powerful motivation to be active when it comes to taking care of our planet. We are at the frontlines of climate change. Several recent international studies have warned that

HANKS to its trademark earworm melodies, distinctive choreography, and slick production values, K-Pop has truly become a worldwide phenomenon that has captured the hearts of its adoring fans in synchronized perfection.

T

On Thursday, Spotify revealed its Global K-Pop Top Lists reflecting how 248 million people around the world listened to and discovered K-Pop music in 2019.

Spotify’s data shows that record-breaking Korean boyband BTS is the most streamed K-Pop artist in 2019 with over 3 billion streams globally this year alone. Making yet another feat, this year’s most-streamed K-Pop song is the boys’ hit track “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)”, amassing more than 300 million streams on Spotify in 2019. In fact, in less than a year, “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” has set a new

Franz Jensen Andra

Artists...

Spotify has released its annual year-end feature, Wrapped, which compiles the year's most-streamed artists and tracks. BTS ends up the most-streamed K-pop artist or group.

the Philippines is among the countries that are being most adversely affected by the changing climate. Let us take action to protect our planet. And let us create hope for a better future for our people.”

At the helm of the newlyinstitutionalised PLDT-Smart Sustainability Group, PLDT SVP and Smart Chief Financial Officer Revilla said, “PLDT and Smart go beyond business. Caring for our environment is just as important as taking care of our people and hitting our profit targets. The impact of climate change affects everyone pervasively. This includes our safety, our health, our existence.”

She added, “At this critical point for our environment, we commit ourselves to provide impassioned, stronger, and more proactive campaigns that will allow us to conduct our business in ways that will secure the future of our children. And to protect these future generations, it has become crucial that we protect our home, our Earth.

More than for compliance, we want Sustainability embedded in PLDT and Smart’s DNA and culture,” CabalRevilla concluded.

MISS Philippines Gazini Ganados makes her bid to bring home the Miss Universe crown for a back-to-back win for the country when she competes today in the 68th Miss Universe to be aired live via satellite from the US on ABS-CBN and iWant at 8:00 in the morning.

Hailing from Talisay, Cebu, Gazini first impressed pageant enthusiasts during her performance at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 where she showed confidence, grace, and wit, ultimately taking home the coveted title.

Now, fans are excited to see her strut as the country’s representative in the popular pageant with her signature “Ganado walk” and be the successor of the current Miss Universe titleholder Catriona Gray.

Hosted by comedian Steve Harvey, the Miss Universe coronation night will be held at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Filipinos can also root for the country’s bet via SKYcable channels 167 (Metro Manila) and 700 (regional areas), as well as online via SKY on Demand.

Pageant fans, meanwhile, can relive Gazini’s battle against the other candidates from 92 countries on Metro Channel (channel 52) on Dec. 17 at 7:00 p.m., with replays on Dec. 18 (8:00 a.m.), Dec. 20 (9:00 p.m.), Dec. 22 (8:00 a.m.), and Dec. 25 (3:00 p. m.).

record, becoming the most-streamed BTS track on Spotify.

To date, the band has amassed more than 5 billion streams on Spotify from fans all around the globe.

Group domination is the name of the game for K-Pop artists on Spotify in 2019, with BLACKPINK, TWICE, EXO and Red Velvet rounding out the top 5 list of Most Streamed K-Pop Artists of 2019.

BLACKPINK displayed major girl power, taking 3 out of the 5 top spots on the Most Streamed K-Pop Tracks List. “Kill This Love” was the second most-streamed track of the year alongside their catchy collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, Dua Lipa on “Kiss and Make Up,” the 2018 earworm “DDU-DU DDU-DU” and finally, BLACKPINK member Jennie’s “Solo”.

East meets West as Spotify reveals the most streamed K-Pop collaborations in 2019 for the first time. BTS commands this list having worked with an impressive repertoire of international acts across various genres and backgrounds such as Steve Aoki, Charli XCX, Zara Larsson, Nicki Minaj and Halsey amongst others.

ABS-CBN airs Gazini Ganado’s fight for backto-back Miss Universe victory

Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados

Entertainment

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

C4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Martin and Pops reunite onstage for a grand New Year’s Eve concert at Solaire WELCOME the New Year belting out tunes and dancing to your favorites with the legendary Philippine concert royalties Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez as they rose the room to their feet in The Royal Affair: 2020 New Year’s Eve Countdown happening at The Tent at Solaire.

Just a few weeks after a sold-out tour in the United States, the highly demanded reunion of the duo on the Philippine concert stage comes blazing hot to deliver an extraordinary night of knockout numbers that garnered them their monikers.

Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez gained their respective stardom as individual performers in the ‘80s, but it proved that together, they were a force to be reckoned with.

An undeniable chemistry that often

Picasso rouse the celebrations with their smooth and seamless tones to unveil the spectacular performances from one of the Philippines’ unparalleled performance duos, Martin and Pops.

Guests from The Tent are up for a show with a poolside after-party with an incredible drone exhibition plus the music of 3rd Avenue and performed by the leading men and leading ladies of Philippine Theatre —Arman Ferrer, Floyd Tena, and Gian Magdangal, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Carla Laforteza, and Yanah Laurel.

Adding more glamor to this New Year’s bash, Solaire’s Waterside

eludes pairs on stage radiated naturally between the two artists—a quality that has set them apart from music icons then, and even now. Their perfectly complementing voices, exciting energy, entertaining repertoires, and engaging rapport have drawn unprecedented crowds that have come to be their loyal following until today.

The Royal Affair is expected to draw in a crowd of both local and international guests that are eager to welcome the new year with sensational artistry. Enjoy an evening of free-flowing beverages, fine dining, and fantastic music at The Tent while quartet Fourtissimo and showband Red

Former couple Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez headline a New Year Eve's party at Solaire.

LOUISE ticks off

biggest questions in

‘My Bakit List’

Louise delos Reyes plays another heartwarming role in 'My Bakit List,' her fourth film project in 2019.

According to director Bona Fajardo, the story doesn't require Louise delos Reyes to have intimate scenes with leading man Ivan Padilla.

Louise with her co-star Prince Stefan who plays a pivotal role in the film.

CREEN actress Louise Delos Reyes is definitely on a roll. This year alone she’s done four films, two of which had been commercially released followed by the third movie that unspools on Dec. 11 and another one due to be released early next year.

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“I’m just so grateful that Viva still trusts me and they believe in my talent as an actor,” the 27-year-old star said.

In her new film, entitled My Bakit List, she plays the character Dess, a breadwinner who earns a living as head writer of a drama anthology.

“She’s in her late 20s. When the pressure at work gets way too much, she quits her job,” she said of her role.

Getting no sympathy from her family whose only concern is how her current status would affect their lives, Dess goes all the way to Ilocos Norte with her best friend Brutus (Prince Stefan) to take a breather.

This momentary escape from her toxic life might just be what she needs to find the answers to her questions.

But when she accidentally comes face to face with her ex-boyfriend Ejay (Ivan Padilla), she refuses to listen to his explanation as to why he left her without a word. Dess is in dilemma

if she should open her heart to him again. Will a second chance at love be the answer to all the “Whys” in her life or will it just create more questions in her mind? And if everything comes down to one question: “to hold on or to move on”, what will she choose?

Directed by Bona Fajardo (I Found My Heart in Santa Fe, Kahit Ayaw Mo Na, and Iliw), the story itself is the one that determines which actor/s is/are suitable to portray the lead role/s.

“Naniniwala ako na ‘yung istorya ang pumipili ng karakter, ng aktor . And once it’s been determined, it’s important that the preferred actors would also believe in the characters for the project to get going. Ang importante maniwala sila sa karakter para pumayag sila na gagawin nila ang project,” Fajardo shared.

Louise once revealed that she had been blinded by love towards a former boyfriend. Having that kind

will rewind the decades decked in art deco gold and platinum with hits from the roaring 20s to the blazing 2000s all the way to the hip tunes of the present starting at 7:00 p.m. with a live feed of poolside countdown beginning at 11:00 p.m..

Book your tables and buy your tickets to be part of a wickedly fun and exciting New Year’s Eve bash at Solaire. The Royal Affair prices start at P8,000* for Silver, P10,000* for Gold, and P15,000* for Platinum. You may purchase your tickets by visiting www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 8891-9999. For table reservations at Waterside and more information you may call 8888-8888 (*prices are exclusive of TicketWorld charges).

of experience, not to mention being a good and dedicated actress, she has fully embraced the role of Dess. Apart from believing in the character, she said that it’s also important to have complete trust in your co-actors. This is the first time for Louise to work with Ivan Padilla. Witness their chemistry as they play an ex-couple who are still not over each other.

Ivan Padilla co-starred with Cristine Reyes in Maria last March and was the leading man of Alessandra de Rossi in 12. His acting experience includes appearances in Hollywood shows such as *CSI (Crime Scene Investigation, in the NY, Miami and NBC episodes), Lucifer (Fox), Castle, ER, The Closer, Criminal Minds and Dexter (in six episodes).

Another thing to look forward to in the movie is Louise’s rapport with Prince Stefan (Working Beks, Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo May Boyfriend) who accompanies her in her soul searching journey.

The movie’s official soundtrack is “Sanay Naman Ako” by singersongwriter Jo. E. Viva Films and BluArt Productions invite you to include watching My Bakit List in your To-Do List this Christmas season.

GMA Network holds TV ratings leadership in Urban Luzon, Mega Manila LEADING media company GMA Network sustained its lead in the TV ratings game in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila according to the latest data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the month of November (with Nov. 24 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average of 33.3 percent total day people audience share in Urban Luzon, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 29.6 percent. The said viewer-rich area accounts for 72 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country.

The Kapuso Network continued to win in the afternoon block with 35.6 percent people audience share while ABSCBN registered 28.4 percent.

GMA similarly led in the evening block with 35.3 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 31.9 percent.

Award-winning magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) was still unbeatable in the number one spot in Urban Luzon’s list of top-rating programs for the month. It also kept its position as the most viewed program in the nationwide list.

Following KMJS in the list of top programs for November were 24 Oras, The Clash, The Gift, Magpakailanman, Beautiful Justice, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Pepito Manaloto, Daddy’s Gurl, One of the Baes, Amazing Earth, Prima Donnas, Eat Bulaga, Wowowin, 24 Oras Weekend, and Magkaagaw.

Likewise in Mega Manila (with official data from Nov. 1 to 23), GMA Network recorded 33.9 percent average total day people audience share as compared to ABS-CBN which only managed to get 27 percent.

Meanwhile, Kapuso shows took 18

spots out of the top 30 shows in the said area, which accounts for 60 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s client pool covers a total of 32 clients/subscribers consisting of 6 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV and CNN Philippines, among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, and 1 digital agency).

Alden Richards as Sep in the primetime show, 'The Gift. '

Artists, celebrities join hands with PLDT and Smart to protect the environment LOCAL artists and celebrities have joined the cause to protect and preserve the environment as the leading telco and digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. announced its continued and stronger commitment in creating a more sustainable future for families, communities, and the country.

Singer-actress Pops Fernandez, along

with musical artists Joey Ayala, Unique Salonga, Rice Lucio, and Telay Robles, have joined hands with PLDT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan and newly-appointed PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Chaye Cabal-Revilla, at the launch of PLDT’s Sustainability Program, dubbed “Gabay Kalikasan.” Continued on C3

PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (3rd from right), Chaye Cabal-Revilla (center), singeractress Pops Fernandez, and other PLDT and Smart executives.