Manila Standard - 2019 December 11 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 300 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OVERALL CHAMPION. The 30th run of the Southeast Asian Games slows down to a halt Wednesday at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium north of Manila, with the participating nations’ flags (top left) and the gold medal haulers on the eve of the 12-day sports spectacle, Team Philippines (above) celebrating after winning the gold against Thailand in the soft tennis event; Eric Gray grabbing the gold in the men’s 400-meter hurdles (left above); and Nesthy Petecio (right above) awarded the gold after beating Myanmar’s Oo Nwe Myanmar and Aries Toledo (below)winning another gold in men’s javelin. Lino Santos

SEAG crown in the bag: 13 more gold medals at endgame

Maynilad, Manila waive P10-b award

By Peter Atencio CAPAS, Tarlac—The 30th Southeast Asian Games comes to an end today at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium with a party-like closing ceremony serving as a coronation day for the Philippines, the overall games’ champion.

With only beach handball as the remaining event to be played early Wednesday, the games are officially closed when the flames which burned for 12 days atop the cauldron are extinguished and the SEA Games flag is turned over to next host, Vietnam.

A message from Philippine Olympic Committee President and Tagaytay Rep. Bambol Tolentino will highlight the official declaration of the closing of the games, with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea extinguishing the cauldron’s fire and turning over the hosting responsibilities to Vietnamese officials.

The Philippines is running away with the overall championship of the games only for the second time in history with an unofficial loot of 145 golds, 114 silvers and 116 bronzes, Next page for a total of 375 medals.

Agree to review deals, defer rate increase

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo

T

JUST A TOY. A photo of one

of the miniature dolls gifted to President Rodrigo Duterte by toy maker Dennis Mendoza during their meeting Monday at the presidential palace on the banks of the Pasig River. Presidential Photo

SEA GAMES MEDAL TALLY (As of December 9/ 8:00 P. M.)

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

148 95 91 72 53 53 4 4 2 1 0

1016 85 99 82 58 46 18 6 5 5 1

117 103 122 111 71 67 49 36 6 27 5

381 283 312 265 182 166 71 46 13 33 6

HE two water concessionaires on Tuesday committed not to collect the P10.8 billion granted to them by the arbitral court in Singapore.

At a hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ committee on government and public accounts, the Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. said they will comply with the wishes of the government and the President.

President Duterte earlier said he 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 P3.4 billion for their respective losses after they were not allowed to raise water rates.

Manila Water president and CEO Jose Almendras said his company would no longer ask the government to pay the P7.39-billion arbitral award.

Almendras also declared that Manila Water has decided to work with the government “to look for solutions to the arbitral award,” adding that it is “more than willing” to discuss the onerous provisions in the concession agreement.

At the same time, Almendras said the Manila Water would defer its approved water rate increase in January 2020.

Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the water company made a similar position to comply with the President’s directive “not to pursue the historical arbitral award.”

He added the Maynilad will cooperate with the review of the concession agreement.

Similarly, Fernandez said the Maynitions after it was recommended by the lad is “open to delay” the water rate hike.

Office of the Court Administrator.

Next page Hosaka said two television cameras of the government-owned PTV4 will be allowed inside the courtroom under the supervision of the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office.

PTV4 is required to allow other media entities to tap into its network for the live broadcast.

Next page

Rody: Martial law High court OKs live airing of massacre judgment won’t be extended By Rey E. Requejo

By MJ Blancaflor and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has decided not to extend martial law in Mindanao after it expires on the last day of the year, based on the unanimous recommendation of defense and security advisers, the Palace said Tuesday.

President Duterte made the decision following the “weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion, as a result of the capture or neutralization of their leaders, as well as the decrease in the crime index,“ Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

He also said the Palace is confident in the capability of security forces to maintain peace and security without extending martial law in Mindanao.

“The people of Mindanao are assured that any incipient major threat in the region would be nipped in the bud,” Panelo said.

This decision of the President shows how he responds to the situation on the ground, the Palace official added.

Next page

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the requests by various media organizations to allow live coverage of the Dec. 19 promulgation of a Quezon City court’s decision on the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 where 58 persons—including 32 journalists—were killed.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes earlier set the promulgation for 9 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the Quezon City jail annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City, after the Supreme Court granted her request for 30-day extension to resolve the mass murder case.

Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the Supreme Court en banc granted the request of various media organiza-

Gov’t panel, Reds No compromise on human rights—Bono try to restart talks By Angelica Villanueva

By Joyce Pangco Pañares LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III met with Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison in The Netherlands from Dec. 7-8 in a bid to revive peace negotiations which was terminated by the President in November 2017.

Bello was joined by Hernani Braganza, who served as government Next page

PAUL Hewson, more commonly known as Bono, will perform tonight with his rock band U2 at the Philippine Arena as part of the Asian tour of their 1987 album The Joshua Tree.

When asked if he was going to pay a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte, Bono said he had no plans to meet the President.

The Irish front man is also known as an advocate and activist, but he chose to keep mum when asked about human

rights in the Philippines and left a “soft message” for President Duterte.

“I think we’re trying to make a difference here rather than make headlines. I am a member of Amnesty International, I have been all my life, and I think human rights are critical,” Bono said.

“My impression of the Philippines is a country of very caring, very sophisticated people. I understand that when Next page

ROCK BAND U2.

Bono, the frontman of the Irish rock band, speaks to the media during a news conference at the Philippine Red Cross headquarters in Mandaluyong on Tuesday.

Manny Palmero

A2

News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Robredo bides time, teases proposal on drug war

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo said Tuesday she will announce her findings and recommendations on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs on Dec. 16.

She said she was just waiting for the Southeast Asian Games to end on Thursday before making her announcement.

But she said she could not make it on that day since she would be in Basilan and Marawi the rest of the week.

“Most probably Monday,” Robredo said.

She made her statement even as Immigration officers intercepted a wanted member of a big-time Chinese drug syndicate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport who tried to flee the country.

The authorities arrested Hong Liangyi who was stopped at the NAIA Terminal 3 departure area before he could board a flight to Istanbul en route to Tehran, his final destination.

BI-Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said Hong was barred from leaving after immigration officers found that he was in the bureau’s hold- departure list and the subject of arrest warrants against him in Cavite and Batangas.

Robredo assured the government there was nothing to be afraid of in her report. With Vito Barcelo

Rody:...

From A1 Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in May 2017 after the Maute terrorist group overran Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Even after the city was liberated on Oct. 17, 2017, the Duterte sought two extensions: in 2018 and until the end of 2019.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. earlier said they were no longer inclined to recommend another extension of martial rule in Mindanao.

Instead, they called for a tougher anti-terrorism law and amendment of the Human Security Act, saying this would be a “better arrangement than martial law” and would “give some teeth” to the country’s law enforcement.

Two lawmakers on Tuesday welcomed the Palace’s announcement that Duterte will no longer extend martial law in Mindanao.

Representatives Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol Party-list group and Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte applauded the decision of the President.

Garbin, vice chairman of the House committee on justice, described the President’s decision as “wise and compassionate.”

“But I ask the President to please wipe out all the warlords, the private armies, and the small pockets of terrorist elements that hide in some corners of Mindanao,” Garbin said.

Garbin added, “It is time to end the proliferation of guns and explosives in Mindanao. Please end this scourge that keeps Mindanao’s economy from taking off. “ Fortun, a lawyer, said he is hoping that “the remaining pockets of extremist, communist, warlord lawlessness, and private armies in particular areas will be squelched for good because their terror activities continue to occasionally disrupt peaceful citizens’ lives, prevent economic growth and ward away investors.”

No compromise...

From A1 progress is made, sometimes people make what they think are compromises for that progress.

“And I would just say that you can’t compromise on human rights. That’s my soft message to President Duterte.”

Bono made his statement even as green advocates on Tuesday praised the results of a three-year investigation of the Commission on Human Rights of 47 biggest fossil fuel firms in the world for climate-related human rights violations against the Filipino people.

Gerry Arances, Center for Energy, Ecology and Development executive

Chinese woman abducted in Makati Initial reports from the Makati City police station showed that the abductors, who were also described as Chineselooking men, dragged the screaming woman into a gray van with registration plate number LSA-880.

Police said the abduction happened in front of the Salustiana D. Ty Tower Building on Paseo de Roxas and Perea in Legazpi Village around 9:06 p.m.

In related developments: • "I have ordered greater police visibility to ensure the safety and protection of all Makatizens, including foreign nationals who work and conduct business in the city," Makati Mayor Abby Binay said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I also urge everyone to make use of

the Makatizen app to report crimes and other urgent concerns to the authorities, so as to ensure immediate police or emergency response. Contacting our authorities should be our first course of action.

• The Palace on Tuesday reminded the public to be vigilant following the kidnapping incident in Makati City, but assured Filipinos that it was still safe to go out on the streets since the case was “isolated.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said suspicious people should be reported immediately to authorities.

• The alleged kidnapping of a Chinese woman in Makati’s financial district was not a cause for alarm, said Senator Ronald dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief.

“It’s not really a concern... if that’s a kidnap-for-ransom victimizing wealthy Filipino businessmen, it’s a cause of concern to all Filipinos... but if the kidnapping was among Chinese, was there a Filipino kidnapped by a Chinese?

But still, it is a crime and should be stopped," he said.

Investigators cited a witness as saying the victim “shouted on top of her voice asking for help.”

Another witness also captured a video showing the van speeding off with its door still open.

The witnesses told investigators they thought the incident was only a petty quarrel involving a couple.

Police gathered some pieces of evidence, including photocopies of the van’s deed of sale and photocopies of the identifications of one Mr. Jianwei, a Chinese national and resident of Unit 4C Richview Res. 33 Ortigas St. Pasay City; and a certain Mr. Chen Tangbin, also a Chinese National and resident of Eton Residences Greenbelt, Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City.

The authorities said the documents were left by the victim minutes after the incident.

Further investigation showed that the vehicle, with registration plate LSA880, was an aspen white Mitsubishi with l300 c-chassis and 2011 model, and was registered at the Land Transportation Office on Nov. 29, 2018. The vehicle had no previous record with authorities.

Makati City police commander Rogelio Simon immediately formed a team to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter. He said the woman could have known her abductors.

The authorities are now investigating the series of criminal incidents in the southern part of Metro Manila where most of the victims were Chinese nationals and employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

“We are looking into cases involving Philippine offshore gaming operations or online companies run by the Chinese, where their employees must have done something wrong,” said Simon in an interview with ABS-CBN. The Makati City government earlier declared an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of new business licenses and permits to service providers of POGO due to rising criminality and prostitution.

In a statement, Mayor Abigail Binay said effective immediately, the city would cease issuing “Letters of No Objection” and stop accepting new applications for business permits from POGO service providers.

“We will 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. With MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

High court...

Maynilad...

with Maynilad and Manila Water.

Even former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might be sued by the Duterte administration if they are part of the “conspiracy” in the 1997 water deal, Panelo said.

“He said he will file economic sabotage [against] those involved...against all of them. Everybody that is involved in the drafting and approving of that concessionaire agreement,” Panelo said.

The 25-year water concession agreements were signed during the Ramos administration. Under the term of Arroyo, the deal was extended to 2037, long before its expiration in 2022.

President Duterte on Monday censured former Presidents Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III, saying they allowed the country’s Constitution to be bargained away over what he called “plunderous” agreements with the utility firms.

The Senate committee on public services chaired by Senator Grace Poe will conduct a hearing on proposed measures to establish a central water agency that would focus on water, sewerage and sanitation.

It will be jointly conducted by the committees on civil service, government reorganization and professional regulation, ways and means and finance.

“We need a lead agency whose ultimate responsibility would be the provision of adequate and safe water supply, not just for household and commercial needs, but for our farms,” Poe said.

“What we currently have is a fragmented regulatory framework for water that has limited powers, which has a significant impact on the delivery of water and sanitation services in the country,” she added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Joel E. Zurbano

A

T LEAST two men abducted a female Chinese national in Makati City’s central business district Monday night, police said Tuesday.

From A1

From A1

One television camera will be focused, in a wide-angle shot, on the judge and the court personnel who will read the decision, he said, while a second camera will be focused, in a wide-angle shot, on the parties to the case and their lawyers.

Due to limited space, only accredited media representatives will be allowed inside the courtroom.

No cellular phones, cameras, audio recorders and other recording gadgets will be allowed. No interviews will be allowed inside the courtroom before, during or after the promulgation of the decision.

The justices also ordered the chief of the Court’s Public Information Office to immediately upload the decision on the Supreme Court website (sc.judiciary.gov.ph).

Investigation showed that the victims were part of a convoy that accompanied the registration of then Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu for the 2010 gubernatorial election. Many of those killed were beheaded and their bodies mutilated.

After conducting a preliminary investigation, the Department of Justice filed multiple murder cases against 197 accused led by prominent members of the Ampatuan clan.

Reyes should have resolved the cases on or before Nov. 20, 2019 or 90 days after they were submitted for resolution in August. However, the judge sought a 30-day extension to resolve the cases, a request the Court granted.

Reyes said she requested an extension because of voluminous records involved in the cases—165 volumes of records of proceedings, 65 volumes of transcripts of stenographic notes, and eight volumes of prosecution’s documentary evidence.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System approved Maynilad and Manila Water’s rate increase petition in 2018.

For Maynilad, the approved rate increase is P5.73 which will be applied on a staggered basis for five years or until 2022. Manila Water had been allowed a rate hike of P6.22 to P6.50.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the decision of the two private concessionaires to no longer pursue the arbitral award was a welcome development, but said the review of their existing agreements would push through to remove their onerous provisions.

“This is a very positive development, although the President has said that the government will not pay these arbitral awards, at least during his term anyway, this gracious manifestation on the part of the water concessionaires nonetheless removes a potential liability from the books of account of the government,” Guevarra said.

However, the DOJ chief said what is most important to the government is removing the “burdensome” provisions in the water concession agreements.

On Monday, Guevarra said a composite team of lawyers from the DOJ, Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel and the Department of Finance are being formed to review the contracts.

Early this week, Guevarra said the DOJ has found a dozen provisions that were onerous and disadvantageous to the government and the consuming public in the 1997 water concession agreements of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System with

Maynilad and Manila Water.

“Most notable were the prohibition against government interference in rate-setting and the provision on indemnity for possible losses in the event of such government interference,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra said the DOJ also found the “extension of these contracts to 2037 irregular, considering that the extension was granted 12-13 years before the original expiration of the 25-year concession agreements in 2022.”

The concession agreement took effect in 1997 and covers a 25-year period, which ends in 2022.

A Memorandum of Agreement extended the concession agreement for another 15 years, to 2037.

On Tuesday, the President said he would expropriate water operations if he is not satisfied with the explanation of those behind the 1997 water concession agreement.

In a speech in Malacañang, the President reiterated that he would like to talk with government lawyers and executives of water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water over supposed “onerous provisions” in the contract.

“I would like to ask them: What the fuck did you do and screwed the country?” Duterte said.

“Now, if I am not satisfied, I will expropriate everything. I will take everything. File a case all you want. I only have two years in the office,” he added.

He also threatened to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to force the lawyers who are involved in the concession agreement to face him in the Palace.

Earlier in the day, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President will not spare anyone who is involved in the government agreement

SEAG...

From A1 During the “Miracle of 2005,” Filipinos won the overall games’ championship for the first time with a haul of 112-85-93. Vietnam (92-85-103) and Thailand (91-97-122) are neck to neck in the race for runner-up honors with only a gold separating the two.

Indonesia (71-80-108) and Malaysia (53-57-71) round out the top five.

Apl.de.ap and the Black Eyed Peas will lead the performers at center of the stadium, with Arnel Pineda singing the Philippine national anthem. Classic rock band KO Jones and Pineda’s band, Journey, will also entertain the crowd with a 20-minute set each.

A 45-minute drone show will fill the NCC sky, to be followed by the parade of athletes.

Surfing champion Roger Casugay will carry the Philippine flag this time around.

Casugay got the honor after he saved

the life of his drowning Indonesian rival Arip Nuirhidyat during surfing competitions last week in La Union.

All SEA Games’ volunteers will be acknowledged in the program in recognition of their efforts to help get the competitions organized.

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano will hand out four special awards, namely Best Male and Female Athletes, Fair Play, and the Overall Championship.

In the penultimate day of competition Tuesday, Filipinos continued their dominance on several fronts.

In the centerpiece event of athletics, Aries Toledo delivered the sport’s 11th gold after a 15.03-second run in the 110-meter hurdles of decathlon at the New Clark City stadium.

Before Toledo’s feat, Eric Cray concluded a roller-coaster ride by retaining the gold medal in his favorite event, the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

Cray, who started the his campaign on

the wrong foot with a false start and a disqualification in the 100-meter heats, clocked 50.21seconds when he reached the finish line, almost two seconds short of the 49.40 performance he had when he won it for the first time back in 2015.

“This gives me back the love and the excitement that I needed on the track after being down on myself,” said Cray, who also won the gold two years ago in 50.03 seconds.

The Philippines ended its campaign in the shooting competition by winning a gold and a silver medal at the Ilanin Forest in Subic.

The men’s trap team of Carlos Carag, Eric Ang and Alexander Topacio pieced together scores of 23-24-24-20-24 for a five-round total of 338, giving the Philippines its third gold medal in the discipline.

Carag returned later and settled for a silver medal in the men’s Trap (shotgun) finals with 41 points behind Thailand’s Savate Sresthaporn, who topped the event with 44. With Joel E. Zurbano and MJ Blancaflor

director, said “the CHR’s statement is welcome news, especially as we observe International Human Rights Day. “For the longest time, these carbon majors have been recklessly emitting pollutants with no regard for the social impacts of their actions.”

Bono led the launching and announcement of the first drone blood delivery service in the Philippines on Tuesday.

In partnership with Zipline, the Philippine Red Cross aims to deliver thousands of blood bags and other medical products to health centers across the country through a drone.

Bono was joined by PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung

Kim, and Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo who all signed the partnership at the Philippine Red Cross Headquarters.

Among the causes of death of Filipinos is the failure to have access to medicines and blood bags especially in emergency situations.

In a statement, PRC and Zipline said more than two-billion people across the globe are unable to have access to vital medicines “they need to stay healthy and alive because of last-mile transportation challenges.”

“Geography and Mother Nature can get in the way of our work in reaching the most vulnerable, making it difficult for them to get access to blood and vital medicines,” Gordon said.

“We are excited to bring the newest

technology in fulfilling our mission.

The Philippine Red Cross will soon be able to reach patients at the hospitals across the country on demand and within minutes.

“Zipline’s instant drone delivery service was designed to help solve that problem. We’re honored to work with the Philippine Red Cross to make sure that patients across the country can access the blood they need to stay alive no matter where they are and no matter the circumstances,” said Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo.

Zipline plans to start the initiative in the summer of 2020 in three distribution centers within the Visayas and to expand the service to eastern Visayas and Mindanao. With Rio N. Araja

Gov’t...

From A1 negotiator for backchannel talks with the NDF while formal talks remained stalled, while Sison was accompanied

by NDF chairman Luis Jalandoni and NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili.

As this developed, the Interior department said it is not inclined to recommend a ceasefire with the communist rebels this Christmas season.

“No. I will not recommend a ceasefire, but we can give lasting change by welcoming those who will return to the fold of the law and start a new life,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters Tuesday.

Sison, in a statement released yesterday, said military and police advisers of President Rodrigo Duterte appeared bent on sabotaging efforts to revive the peace talks by pushing for the holding of the negotiations in the Philippines.

“In good faith, the NDF has proposed goodwill measures, such as the reciprocal unilateral ceasefires and the release of sickly and elderly political prisoners in order to create a favorable climate for peace negotiations,” Sison said.

“By rebuffing the NDF proposal of goodwill measures, the military and police authorities generate doubts about Duterte’s offer of peace negotiations and indicate a malicious scheme to attack the people and the revolutionary forces without any pause. It is highly probable that Duterte’s offer of peace negotiations, preconditioned by resuming them in the Philippines, is a prelude to the escalation of attacks against the people and the revolutionary forces,” he added.

The Palace, however, insisted the venue should not matter to Sison if he was really sincere in wanting the peace talks to move forward.

News House OK’s move to impose tax on single-use plastic bags

By Maricel V. Cruz

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t restructures NCR police districts

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE government is set to restructure and strengthen the five police districts in Metro Manila to further improve law enforcement service to the people.

crease in manpower to further enhance the performance and delivery of service of the police districts.

NAPOLCOM vice chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao said there would be an additional seven positions to be created for the rank of Police Colonel (P/Col) in each police district due to the upgrading of the rank of the existing six Chiefs of Support Staff from Police Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) to P/Col and the creation of the District Comptrollership Division.

“The creation of a District Comptrollership Division in each of the five NCR Police District Offices is necessary to assist and advise the District Direc-

This after the present administration ñaque, Makati, Las Piñas, Taguig and found that the current policing struc- Muntinlupa) and Northern (Caloocan, A COMMITTEE in the House of Reptures are no longer fit for the ‘modern Navotas, Malabon and Valenzuela)— resentatives approved on Tuesday a bill world’ crime fighting. be reorganized and networked to imthat sets a P20 excise tax on every kilo It recommended the five police dis- prove efficiency. of single-use plastic bags removed from tricts—Manila, Central (Quezon City), In a resolution signed last month, the the place of production or the Bureau of Eastern (San Juan, Marikina, Pasig and National Police Commission approved Customs warehouse where it was taken for Mandaluyong), Southern (Pasay, Para- the organizational adjustments and instorage after importation.

Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said House Bill 781 will not only generate funds for the government but will also discourage the use of plastic bags that have always been blamed for clogging waterways, thus causing floods during downpours.

Salcedo said that once signed into law, some P4.8 billion will be collected on the first year from its implementation alone.

He added that once enacted, seven centavos will be added to the cost of every plastic sando bag.

Only single-use plastic bags were included on the list of the pollutive materials to be taxed because imposing levies on other types of plastic packaging materials like sachets may trigger an increase in the price of food and basic commodities like shampoo and toothpaste.

“This is just the opening salvo. The next step is a tax on primary plastic packaging especially sachets since it accounts for 66 percent of solid waste and garbage,” Salceda said.

All of the revenue collected from the excise tax on single-use plastice bags will be given to the solid waste management fund provided under Section 46 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

At least 15 bills regulating or banning products made of single-use plastics have been pending before the House Committee PLASTIC-FREE CHRISTMAS. Members of the EcoWaste Coalition staged a campaign for a plastic-free on Ecology, while similar proposals are and waste-free celebration of Christmas at Barangay Sta. Teresita in Quezon City in support of the people’s right to a healthy environment, which it said is basic human right. Manny Palmero also being tackled in the Senate.

tors in budgeting, accounting, financial management and internal auditing. This move shall promote transparency and accountability and shall ensure sound utilization of financial resources and prompt release of funds to subordinate units and personnel,” Casurao said.

The resolution stated that the existing 30 Chief of Support Staff positions in the five district offices shall also be upgraded from Lt. Col to P/Col. in consideration of the peculiar nature and complexity of policing in Metro Manila, as well as the decision-making responsibilities attached to the said positions and in recognition of the enormous tasks that Support Staff perform.

6 new players join Angkas in 6-month pilot study MOTORCYCLE-HAILING service Angkas will soon face competition as the technical working group responsible for motorcycle taxis is set to include new players in the proposed six-month extension of its Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Implementation.

In a bulletin on Tuesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the extension of the MTPI, which was originally supposed to end on Dec. 26, would allow for the participation of new players in the study to further explore the viability of motorcycles as a safe mode of public transportation.

It added that the TWG had submitted its recommendation and a decision on the proposed extension is set to be released soon.

LTFRB board member, retired Police Maj. Gen. Antonio Gardiola Jr. said the extension of the study and inclusion of new motorcycle taxi providers was in the interest of “giving the riding public a wider choice, and thus push the multiple providers to ensure a higher standard of service.”

“We also want to determine whether or not motorcycles are really a safe and viable form of public transportation.

That is always our priority—the safety, security, and comfort of the riding public,” Gardiola said.

The LTFRB said the extension would provide the TWG more time to widen the scope of the study on appropriate standards and capacities for motorcycles to be considered safe, convenient, and eligible for franchise.

On Nov. 20, the Department of Transportation received proposals from six different motorcycle taxi providers— Citimuber, JoyRide, MoveIt, EsetGo, Sakay, and VroomGo—to participate in the pilot 1study. PNA

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Impeachment

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Triumph or failure, live

Electoral College system, because he won by just an 80,000-vote margin in three small battleground states. He lost the popular vote nationwide, by three million votes, to Hillary Clinton.

In the US Constitution, the president UNDER the Philippine Constitution, can be impeached on three grounds: the President can be removed from of- treason, bribery, or other high crimes fice only by impeachment. and misdemeanors.

This is, of course, if the President According to the US House Judidoesn’t die or resign voluntarily. Three ciary Committee, “High Crimes and presidents died in office—Manuel Misdemeanors” refer mainly to acts Quezon in 1944, Manuel Roxas in committed by public officials, using 1948, and Ramon Magsaysay in 1957. their power or privileges, that inflictJoseph Estrada resigned in his mind, ed grave harm on the political order. according to the Supreme Court, un- Those include treason, bribery, serider an act called “constructive resig- ous abuse of power, betrayal of the nation”. Actually, Erap was a victim national interest through foreign enof a coup in 2001—just like Ferdinand tanglements, and corruption of office Marcos in 1986. and elections. “Officials who abused, Under our Constitution, the follow- abandoned, or sought personal benefit ing are impeachable from their public offenses: Culpable trust—and who violation of the Conthreatened the stitution, treason, rule of law if left In a democracy, no bribery, graft and in power—faced corruption, other one is above the law and i m p e a c h m e n t . high crimes, or beEach of these trayal of public trust. above justice. acts, moreover, In the 1935 and 1973 should be plainly constitution, betraywrong to reasonal of public trust was able officials and not an impeachable offense. persons of honor. When a political ofTreason is going against one’s coun- ficial uses political power in ways that try or “giving aid and comfort to the substantially harm our political sysenemy.” Bribery is when the public of- tem, Congress can strip them of that ficer does something in consideration power.” of any offer, promise, gift or present, or The US House Judiciary Committee when the officer accepts gifts by rea- notes: “The Framers (of the Constituson of his office. tion) were careful students of history Corruption is enriching oneself or and knew that threats to democracy can accumulation of property or money out take many forms. They feared wouldof proportion to one’s salary. be monarchs, but also warned against Betrayal of public trust is “betrayal fake populists, charismatic demaof public interest, inexcusable neg- gogues, and corrupt kleptocrats. The ligence of duty, tyrannical abuse of Framers thus intended impeachment to power, breach of official duty by mal- reach the full spectrum of Presidential feasance or misfeasance, cronyism fa- misconduct that menaced the Constivoritism, etc. to the prejudice of public tution. Because they could not anticiinterest and which tend to bring the of- pate and prohibit every threat a Presifice into disrepute.” dent might someday pose, the Framers Other high crimes are “offenses adopted a standard sufficiently general which like treason and bribery, are so and flexible to meet unknown future serious and enormous a nature as to circumstances: “‘Treason, Bribery, or strike at the very life or the orderly other high Crimes and Misdemeanworkings of the government.” ors’.” This standard was proposed by In America, presidents have been re- (George) Mason and was meant, in his moved for much lesser offenses. Rich- words, to capture all manner of ‘great ard Nixon for bugging Watergate Ho- and dangerous offenses’ against the tel; Bill Clinton for having a sexual act Constitution. with a young White House intern, with The main point of impeachment is the help of a cigar. that in a democracy, no one is above Donald Trump has committed far the law and above justice. graver offenses. Yet, a large minor“Unlike Britain’s monarch, the Presity (per latest poll, 43.6 percent) of ident would answer personally—to Americans do not think he should be Congress and thus to the Nation—if he impeached. By party, 83.2 percent engaged in serious wrongdoing,” says of Democrats think Trump should be the 52-page report of the US House Juimpeached, as do 43.7 percent of In- diciary Committee last Saturday, Dec. dependents. Republicans? Just 9.1 per- 7, 2019. cent want one of America’s worst pres“Impeachment is the House’s last idents, out. and most extraordinary resort when Why is this so? I think times have faced with a President who threatens changed. It is the age of demagogues, our constitutional system. It is a tertyrants and dictators. The more corrupt rible power, but only ‘because it was or insane or vile they are, the better, it forged to counter a terrible power: the seems. despot who deems himself to be above Or maybe, it is the Spartacus effect, the law’,” the House Judiciary Comthe Roman-era gladiator Netflix series mittee report concludes. where leaders and other characters rou“The consideration of articles of tinely copulate, in public, (with people impeachment is always a sad and solwho are not their spouse), commit acts emn undertaking. In the end, it is the of corruption and bribery, and kill—all House—speaking for the Nation as a together in just one episode. whole—that must decide whether the Life must be so boring or values President’s conduct rises to the level of have so depreciated in America that ‘high Crimes and Misdemeanors’ warthe likes of Donald Trump are still ranting impeachment.” welcome as a leader. To start with, Trump became president, via the biznewsasia@gmail.com

W

E LAUD the decision of the Supreme Court to allow live media coverage of the promulgation of the decision on the Maguindanao Massacre case.

Ten years ago, on Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people were killed in what has come to be known as the worst case of election-related violence and the bloodiest single-day attack on media workers—32 of the 58 worked for various news organizations—in the Philippines.

The tragedy happened in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, and it stunned the world for its impunity.

The victims were part of a convoy of family members and supporters of the then-challenger to the Ampatuans, Esmeal Mangudadatu,

who were on their way to file his certificate of candidacy on his behalf. The media workers were covering the story.

The past 10 years after the massacre have not been easy. After the initial outrage at the boldness and the cruelty of the killings, the trial receded into the background of Filipinos’ consciousness amid our many concerns. Over 10 years, while nearly 200 individuals have been charged, one of the principal accused, patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., has died.

While brothers Andal Jr. and Zaldy are in jail, Sajid Ampatuan is out on bail and is mayor of a town in Maguindanao. Many witnesses have died or dropped their testimonies.

After a protracted trial, the verdict is set to be promulgated next week—Dec. 19, after the trial court asked for a 30-day extension to review the evidence.

The live coverage, according to the Supreme Court, will be through People’s Television. The court said it

allowed the coverage “because of the paramount public interest involved in this case.”

The coverage of the promulgation, which will take place at 9 a.m. on said date at the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, will seek to provide some measure of justice and closure to the families of the deceased. Many of them are not in Metro Manila and will otherwise have no access to the decision, much less be able to learn why the court came to its verdict.

The verdict itself will be remembered for what it will—or will not— do. Will the court tell us that impunity has no place in our society, no matter how powerful or wealthy or well-connected one is? Will the people be assured that justice, no matter how delayed, still works, or will we be aghast that powerful individuals can still get away with evil?

It will be the triumph or failure of justice that will be for everybody to see.

In Iceland, Christmas means a ‘flood’ of books under the tree

By Jeremie Richard IN THE land of the Sagas, it isn't Christmas if there isn't a deluge of books under the tree—literally.

The Jolabokaflod, or Christmas Book Flood, is a much-loved tradition that has been celebrated in Iceland since 1945.

It's a bit like Britain's "Super Thursday," when hundreds of hardbacks hit the shelves on the first Thursday of October, but much bigger: Two-thirds of books in Iceland are published in November and December.

Hundreds of new titles go on sale in bookshops and supermarkets at reduced prices, a yuletide custom that has also become vital for the publishing industry's survival.

On Christmas Eve, Icelanders traditionally exchange books and spend the evening reading—perhaps curling up by the fireside with the latest crime novel by Arnaldur Indridason, who's topped bestseller lists for the past two decades in his native country of 360,000 people.

"Literature is very important in Iceland and it is, I guess, the art form that is something the whole public can re-

late to," artist and mother-of-two Sigrun Hrolfsdottir, who lives in Seltjarnarnes, a small district in the Reykjavik area, told AFP. Her daughter and son, Duna and Gudmundur, have already picked the books they want out of the "Bokatidindi", an 80-page catalogue of novels, poetry and children's books distributed free of charge to all households.

The 2019 catalogue features 842 new titles.

Almost seven out of 10 Icelanders buy at least one book as a Christmas gift, according to the Icelandic Publishers Association.

To be Icelandic is to read Iceland's literary tradition was born about 900 years ago with the Sagas, widely seen as a gem in world literature and still studied in school by Icelandic children today.

The Icelandic Sagas describe events among inhabitants of Iceland in the 10th and 11th centuries. Written in the 13th century, they focus on history, especially genealogical and family history, reflecting the settlers' struggles and conflicts.

The Jolabokaflod dates back to the end

of World War II, when Iceland, a poor country, imposed strict currency restrictions that limited imports.

But paper remained affordable, so books became the Christmas gift of choice.

Iceland had also just gained independence after seven centuries of Norwegian and Danish rule.

The custom "has something to do with the importance of literature during the Icelandic fight for independence and the Icelandic search for identity: part of being an Icelander was to read books," said Halldor Gudmundsson, an author and the former head of Iceland's biggest publisher, Forlagid.

While books are increasingly being published at other times of the year, the Jolabokaflod remains crucial for the publishing industry, accounting for 40 percent of book sales in 2018, according to Statistics Iceland.

"It's so important that if this tradition dies, Icelandic publishing dies. It's very clear," said director Pall Valsson, at Bjartur, Iceland's second-biggest publisher, where the Jolabokaflod accounts for 70 percent of annual sales.

Writing is in Icelanders' blood The deluge of books can however make it difficult for authors to break through.

"Unfortunately, so many good books just drown in the flood," admits thriller writer Lilja Sigurdardottir, whose works have been translated into English and French.

Iceland may be the most sparsely populated country in Europe, but it publishes the most titles per capita behind Britain, according to the International Publishers Association.

Around one in 10 Icelanders publishes a book in their lifetime.

And they're big readers. The country counts more than 83 libraries—one for every 4,300 inhabitants.

More than 90 percent of Icelanders read at least one book a year, and half read more than eight a year, according to a 2013 study from Bifrost University.

In particular, the country has a thriving appetite for crime fiction and boasts a host of crime writers, who over the last couple of decades have placed it on the world map of police detective novels alongside their Swedish, Norwegian or Danish counterparts.

Industry struggles Some books are bought during the Jolabokaflod at supermarkets, where bookshelves are set up near the produce, frozen foods or bread sections, at hardto-resist prices.

At full price, the average hardback costs 6,990 kronur (about 52 euros, $57), more than twice the cost in France or Britain.

"You can't buy books all year because you would just go broke," says Brynjolfur Thorsteinsson, a 28-year-old sales assistant at Mal og menning, one of Iceland's oldest bookshops in Reykjavik.

Part of the high cost comes from the value-added tax on books, hiked from seven to 11 percent in 2015, which comes on top of already high printing and import costs—as Iceland has almost no forests, books have to be printed abroad.

The high prices have had a negative impact on the book market, with sales almost slashed in two since 2010.

In a bid to support the industry, the government decided this year to reimburse 25 percent of the production costs for books published in Icelandic, for both original and translated works. AFP

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News Solon warns of looming extinction of farmers

By Maricel V. Cruz WHILE the government is having a hard time ensuring food security, the Philippines is witnessing the extinction of its farmers, a party-list legislator said on Tuesday.

“With the next generation running after globally-competitive careers, and with only a few willing to absorb the practice and knowledge of agriculture, this ‘extinction’ poses a great threat to the country’s food security,” AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin said as she pushed for the speedy passage of House Bill 3596, or the the Young Farmers Program Act. The bill seeks to attract incoming college students to choose and complete a field in agriculture and fisheries, while providing institutionalized programs on those disciplines in public and private tertiary schools.

“We want the youth to immerse themselves once again in the noble practice of agriculture. There is a need to reinforce the idea that it is a viable career option. We must also dispel the notion that farming is tedious, unsustainable, and unglamorous. Indeed, the timeless Christian proverb, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,’ has become relevant more than ever,” Garin said in a statement.

As of October 2018, agricultural workers comprise just 25 percent of the country’s labor force, from 35.7 percent in 2016, and 39.5 percent in 1998, Garin said, quoting data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Upon the enactment of the bill, the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System which is an integrated system of agriculture and fishery education covering both public and private institutions in all three levels of the shall be created.

The bill provides that once enacted, the Young Farmers Committee to be chaired by the Commissioner on Higher Education, with arepresentatives of NAFES as vice chairman shall oversee the implementation and the creation of the rules implementing the measure.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

Aquino moved out of ICU—Valte

By Rio N. Araja

L

AWYER Abigail Valte, spokesperson of former President Benigno Aquino III, on Tuesday said the former president was transferred from the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical City to a regular room.

She said Aquino wanted to be separated from other hospital patients so he would not be disturbing them.

When asked, Valte said “he [Aquino] is in the same condition as yesterday [Monday], which means good.”

She insisted that the former

president’s hospital visit was part of his executive checkup.

She said Aquino wanted to extend his appreciation and gratitude to those who had expressed their concern for his health.

The former president was just “al-

right and in high spirits, thanks everyone for their concern,” she added.

Aquino’s youngest sister, actress Kris Aquino, denied her brother’s plans to leave the country.

“Please stop showing the world na puro fake news ang alam nyo [all you know is fake news] by making this out to be a ploy about Noy wanting to leave the Philippines for treatment,” she said.

“For more than three months he could have easily traveled abroad, he chose not to because there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than

THREE types of deadly microbes (or serotypes) that cause pneumonia in children five years old and below are still prevalent in the country and using the proper vaccine as a preventive measure is critical, said Dr. James Wee, Pfizer medical director.

These 3 serotypes, he said, cause serious infections and serotype 19A is the most prevalent and is highly associated with antibiotic resistance.

Serotype 3 is associated with pneumonia especially complicated (necrotizing) pneumonia. Serotype 6A is also an important cause of invasive pneumococcal disease. Pneumonia is the No. 1 cause of death among children all over the world, worse than AIDS, malaria and measles combined, he said.

The Philippines is vulnerable because scientificx data show that these three strains are present in 19.36 percent of samples extracted from infected children in previous years.

The Department of Health website, citing the World Health Organization, said in 2015 alone, almost a million children aged five and below died of pneumonia-related causes worldwide.

In the Philippines, pediatric death is at 23.4 per 100,000. The Philippines is among 15 countries which account for 75 percent of childhood pneumonia cases.

“Our children are at risk and vaccination is key. PCV 13 can hold at bay these strains,” he said.

The DOH has been using PCV 13 since 2014. Globally, the vaccine is used by 126 out of 159 countries with ongoing national immunization programs. The United States and China are on PCV 13 exclusively.

MMDA offers free ferry ride on Go’s urging

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

DAY OF PROTESTS. A group of militants gathered in front of Bonifacio Boulevard in Lawton, heading to Mendiola Manila for

Worldwide RED TAG Action: Hands Off Trade Unions staged in Manila on Tuesday Dec. 10. A die-in protest, meanwhile, was staged members of the League of Parents of the Philippines in front of The Netherlands Embassy in Makati City seeking for the immediate extradition of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison before the party's 51st anniversary on Dec. 26.

Norman Cruz and Lino Santos

Palace hits Filipino couple for using Du30 to seek US asylum

By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Tuesday criticized a Filipino couple for citing President Rodrigo Duterte as their reason in seeking political asylum in the United States, saying that the couple’s application was “highly doubtful” since they have been illegally overstaying in the country.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo claimed that the Flores couple’s attendance in political rallies and issuance of anti-Duterte statements while in the US are “more of a stratagem of their law-

home,” she added.

The anti-graft court, in 2017 issued a hold-departure order on the former president for his alleged negligence in the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force troopers.

Last Monday, Valte refuted the statement of Makati City police chief Rogelio Simon that Aquino had to undergo heart surgery.

She said Aquino went to the Makati Medical City for a scheduled checkup and routine procedure.

‘Pneumonia top killer of kids in PH’

Senate’s Public Assistance Center renovated SENATORS yesterday announced that the newly renovated Public Assistance Center has a counter for “malasakit” center, whose establishment would soon be institutionalized after President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law.

Senator Cynthia Villar joined Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Bong Go during the ribbon-cutting and blessing of the newly renovated center.

The facility, which was renovated through the personal funds of Villar, can now serve more constituents.

Villar said the Senate PAC serves as a one-stop shop for the public seeking assistance from legislators and hopes that the modern facility will serve more people efficiently.

“It will serve more people in a more orderly and modern facility,” Villar said.

She said the center is a good way for the senators to reach out to more people and provide them the needed medical assistance.

Through the PAC and Malasakit center, she said they can focus more on the medical requests of the public. In return, it would be easier for the public to make transactions under one roof.

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yer for them to stay permanently” and “to shield them from being deported.”

Rene and Joy Flores, who went to the United States in 2000 to visit their relatives, sought political asylum for fear of persecution from the government if they are sent back to the Philippines.

The couple asked the help of an immigration lawyer after US President Donald Trump’s tightened rules on undocumented immigrants. They later joined protests against President Duterte over alleged state-sponsored killings.

“Apparently, they have opted for

an easy way out at the expense of the Duterte administration,” Panelo said.

“This circumstance alone casts doubt on the scheme employed by the Floreses,” he added.

On Dec. 3, San Francisco Immigration Judge Ila Deiss granted the couple a reprieve from their deportation.

“The ignorant granting of the judge of their application would therefore set a dangerous precedent to other illegal alliens who can abusively use politics as a scapegoat in violating immigration laws of the United States,” Panelo said.

Asylum is granted to individuals in the United States who are unable to return to their home country due to “well-founded fear of persecution” on the grounds of religion, race, and political stand.

Panelo also maintained that the administration does not resort to “any form of persecution and welcomes criticisms as long as they are based on facts and not on rumors or fake information.”

“No citizen of this country has been charged in court nor clamped in jail by reason of criticism against the policies of the present government,” he said.

PASSENGER who will be riding the ferry boats in Pasig River will enjoy a free ride until Jan. 31.

The Metro Manila Development Authority agreed to give free rides to the public following a request from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who wants to make the transport service accessible to all during the Christmas season.

“I appealed for a free ride until January 31 or until the MMDA can bear with the free ride. I urged the MMDA and the Department of Transportation [DOTr] na maging libre ito o maging minimal ang bayad because this can help our people,” he added.

Saying he fully supports the ferry transport system to ease the traffic gridlock, Go also expressed interest to help augment the number of ferries presently in service.

Go attended the relaunching ceremony for the Pasig River Ferry Service on Monday at the Quezon Bridge Ferry Station in Lawton, Manila.

The neophyte senator also disclosed that he will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to ask concerned agencies to work in finding ways to make the fare minimal so that the transport service can benefit more Filipinos.

The only water-based transport service in Metro Manila, the Pasig River Ferry Service serves passengers from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City going to Intramuros in Manila.

However, the service experienced decline in the previous decades due to the pollution of the river.

But in 2014, the ferry service was revived to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila. In April 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte also approved a proposal to institutionalize the Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program which includes plans to build seventeen more stations for the Pasig River ferry system in the next four years, from the current 12 stations. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

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News

Solon: Save ‘unreleased’ P4-b Marawi funds A

By Maricel V. Cruz

LEADER of the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Palace not to allow the more than P4 billion in unreleased Marawi rehabilitation funds to expire and revert back to the national coffers, calling it a great travesty of justice.

Instead, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman said Malacañang, through Task Force Bangon Marawi, should find ways to “save” the 2018 funds from expiring, as this would con-

sequently deny the victims of the 2017 Marawi Siege the justice that they have been painstakingly looking for over two years now.

“We are appealing on behalf of

Marawi, of Maranaos, of its people, to preserve more than P4 billion in funds intended for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city,” said Hataman, a former governor of the now defunct ARMM. “Now, more than ever, the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi is under a rigorous lens of scrutiny because of delays in the past,” he added.

“We should try to save this fund and use it for its intended purpose, which is to fast-track the reconstruction efforts of the ravaged city,” Hataman said.

Hataman added that the House is

Registration of over 200 Zamboanga Bajaus backed ZAMBOANGA CITY—More than 200 Sama Bajaus were provided with birth certificates Tuesday, in a pilot birth registration project spearheaded by the Zamboanga City local government and supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The distribution is the culmination of a pilot birth registration project for Sama Bajaus.

Due to their itinerant way of life and because of generations of non-registration among families, the Sama Bajaus face documentation issues, which in turn lead to their being at risk of statelessness.

It is thought that there are 10,000 Sama Bajaus living in Zamboanga alone, around 85 percent of them without birth certificates.

UNHCR and UNICEF are providing technical assistance to the project under the UNHCR-UNICEF Joint Strategy for Addressing Childhood Statelessness, they said in their joint statement.

The pilot registration initiative also supports the Sustainable Development Goals and is a significant advance towards leaving no one behind.

“The Philippines, a signatory to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, has identified the Sama Bajaus as a population at risk of statelessness. After a series of consultations with Sama Bajau communities, UNHCR, as a leading UN agency toward ending statelessness by 2024, arrived at a recommendation to conduct a birth registration to address their documentation issues,” said Shinji Kubo, UNHCR Representative to the Philippines.

Kubo added: “A birth certificate will help the community assert their rights. Ensuring birth registration also supports our global initiatives to prevent statelessness.

“This pilot birth registration demonstrates the commitment of the Government of the Philippines toward achieving the SDGs, ‘leaving no one behind.’”

Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Philippines Representative said: “Every child/human has the right to a name and identity. Birth registration forms the basis of identity. It has much larger implications on children to have access to education, health care and social services.

“This is invaluable for the indigenous population and those at risk of stateless such as the Sama Bajau we have reached.

“UNICEF is pleased to work with UNHCR in reaching the outlying communities facilitating access to birth registration that will have significant impact on their lives.”

eyeing the possibility of filing a joint resolution calling for the suspension of strict procurement rules over the unreleased funds, at least on the aspect of its expiration.

Media reports indicate that of the P5.1-billion funds for the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program in the national budget for 2018, only 17 percent or P871.7 million had been released as of last November.

Currently, there is pending legislation to extend the validity of the 2019 budget until December 2020, but no

PASIG REHABILITATION. Manila Mayor Francisco

‘Isko’ Domagoso inspects and warns operators of an illegally docked tugboat and barge as part of rehabilitation efforts of Pasig River in Manila on Tuesday. Domagoso, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, MMDA Secretary Danilo Lim and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Joel Garcia have joined forces to push the beautification and rehabilitation of Pasig River. Norman Cruz

Group pushes for raised taxes on HTPs, et al.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta A GROUP of health advocates called on senators Tuesday to vote on the proposal to raise taxes on alcoholic beverages, heated tobacco products, and vapor products by the end of the week.

“Raising taxes on alcohol, HTPs, and vape is an urgent health measure that must quickly be approved to safeguard the health of the Filipino people,” Sin Tax Coalition co-convener Dr. Anthony Leachon said.

“Given that this is a reform that has already been certified as urgent by the President, we hope that our senators facilitate the immediate passage of this bill, and vote on the measure by the end of the week,” he said.

Senate Bill 1074, sponsored by Ways and Means committee chairperson Pia Cayetano, was certified as an urgent measure by President Rodrigo Duterte last month.

Her proposal seeks to align the tax rate of HTPs and vape with traditional cigarettes at P45 beginning next year, P50 in 2021, P55 in 2022, and P60 in 2023, with 5 percent annual increases from 2024 onwards.

Leachon emphasized the need to raise taxes on HTPs and vape to prevent an epidemic of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), similar to what is happening in the United States. In the US, almost 2,300 cases of EVALI have been reported, and 48 people have lost their lives.

Last month, the Department of Health reported the first case of EVALI in Cebu City. The patient was a 16-year-old girl who had been using e-cigarettes for the past six months.

“Increasing the tax on e-cigarettes and vape is necessary to make these products less affordable and accessible.

In doing so, we will be able to discourage Filipinos from consuming these products, and curb the number of EVALI cases in the country,” Leachon said.

Cayetano also mentioned the need to err on the side of caution when it comes to HTPs and vape, given the lack of conclusive evidence that the products are indeed safer than traditional cigarettes.

“HTPs and vape are considered the cigarettes of the future, and clearly the industry would promote this in the best way they can, which is to address it as a healthier product. This is no problem

if it in fact is healthier, but until this is declared as such by the health experts, we cannot endorse this as a safer product, and cannot recommend a lower tax rate,” she explained.

Meanwhile, for alcoholic beverages, Cayetano proposes to increase the tax on distilled spirits from P23.5 to P90 per proof liter with a 20 percent ad valorem tax beginning next year.

Meanwhile, fermented liquors and alcopops would be taxed at P45 per liter, up from P25.4.

Finally, a specific tax of P600 would be imposed on sparkling wines, while a specific tax of P43 would be imposed on still and carbonated wines beginning 2020.

The revenues raised from the tax increase will also generate funds for the Universal Health Care Law. Calculations from the Department of Finance have shown that Cayetano’s measure is expected to generate around P47.9 billion, which would help bridge the funding gap for the UHC’s implementation starting next year.

The period of interpellations for SB 1074 was closed in Monday’s plenary session, and the period of amendments will proceed on Tuesday.

BRP Rizal first sea trials successful THE first sea trials of BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country’s first-ever guidedmissile frigate, proved successful.

“The first sea trials [which took place last Nov. 23 to 27] was successful even in Sea State 4 conditions,” Philippine Navy public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Tuesday.

Sea State 4 refers to conditions at sea where waves are reaching four to eight feet in height.

BRP Jose Rizal can withstand up to Sea State 7 or conditions with very high waves.

“Another set of sea trials is tentatively scheduled for Dec.16,” Roxas added.

BRP Jose Rizal’s first sea trials took place off the open waters of Ulsan, Busan, and Mokpo in South Korea and done to measure its performance and general seaworthiness.

Present were the technical crew of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries along with representatives from the international provider of classification, compliance and consultancy services to the marine indus-

measure yet to address the expiring 2018 funds.

“We should carefully study extending the validity of the 2018 Marawi funds. Hindi kasalanan ng mga tao na hindi ito nagamit. And we found out in our hearings that TFBM had lapses in procurement and implementation,” Hataman lamented.

During the last hearing of the House Sub-Committee on the Marawi Rehabilitation on the status of the rehab efforts, lawmakers were surprised to find out that the TFBM was wanting in terms of the “big picture.”

try, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

Roxas said the sea trials were the last phase of construction before the frigate’s delivery to the Philippines scheduled tentatively in April or May 2020.

This took place six months after the vessel was launched at the HHI shipyard for the first time in Ulsan last May 23.

“The P8-billion warship is a bigticket acquisition of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that is poised to be the benchmark of PN’s transformation journey,” she added.

Incidentally, BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), the sister ship of BRP Jose Rizal, was launched in the same facility last Nov. 8.

The contract for the two ships was pegged at P16 billion with another P2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.

These ships are capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Electronic Warfare Operations and it is fully equipped with surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, torpedoes, launchers, and weapon systems. PNA

LEARNING CENTER. Pupils from Malasila Elementary School in Makilala town in

Cotabato use plastic water-proof sheeting or tarpaulins for their Temporary Learning Center, continuing their class the other day, with their campus occupied by evacuees from Barangay Luayon.

Anti-hunger program MOU inked THE memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership against Hunger and Government Program, the Duterte administration’s main initiative to fight hunger nationwide, has been signed, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.

In a press statement, Nograles said the memorandum was inked at Malacañan Palace on Monday.

“MOU on the implementation of the EPAHP program, the government’s main initiative to combat hunger and malnutrition (is) now signed,” Nograles, chairman of the EPAHP steering committee, said.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the EPAPH during the 42nd Cabinet meeting at Malacañang on Oct.11.

It seeks to involve more state departments that will work closely to eradicate hunger in the country by 2030.

The EPAPH added more members to its original agency members, which include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The other agencies that are now part of the EPAPH are the departments of Education, Health, Local Government, and Science; the National Nutrition Council, the National Youth Commission, and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Present during the signing of MOU were Secretaries Rolando Bautista (Social Welfare), Eduardo Año (Local Government), William Dar (Agriculture), John Castriciones (Agrarian Reform), Francisco Duque III (Health), Ramon Lopez (Trade), and Leonor Briones (Education).

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Isidro Lapeña, National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Noel Felongco, National Irrigation Administration Administrator Ricardo Visaya, LandBank chief executive officer and president Cecilia Borromeo also witnessed the signing.

Also in attendance were Science Undersecretary Brenda Manzano, Commission on Population deputy executive director Lolito Tacardon, National Nutrition Council executive director Azucena Dayanghirang, United Nations World Food Program Deputy Country Director Mats Persson and UN Food and Agriculture Organization officer-incharge Tamara Palis-Duran.

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Bautista lifts AFP Cavaliers past PSC five in UNTV Cup

Chooks-to-Go supports Pacquiao’s cage league

Games Sunday (San Juan City gym) 2 p.m. – NHA vs PhilHealth 3:30 p.m. – Judiciary vs Agriculture 5 p.m. – PITC vs DENR

DEFENDING champion Armed Forces of the Philippines rode on another torrid shooting from Boyet Bautista to subdue Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission, 77-65, to clinch an outright semis berth in the 8th UNTV Cup held over the weekend at the San Juan City gym.

The 5-foot-7 former Letran star scored all his 24 points from threepoint zone apart from posting five boards, three steals and two assists as the Cavaliers recovered from a shock defeat to Judiciary the last time.

As they hiked their record to 7-1, the Cavaliers will still advance automatically to semis even if they drop their last assignment in the second round of the elims as the Kamao fell to 5-3 – the same record of National Housing Authority.

Newcomer Department of Environment and Natural Resources still leads the standings with an immaculate 6-0 mark in the event organized by UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon for public servants.

The Judiciary Magis continued their rise as they clobbered the PhilHealth Plus, 112-86, to move to a share of fifth to seventh places with Department of Agriculure and PITC. Christopher dela Cruz starred for the Magis this time, scoring 9 of his 24 points in the first half thaw the two-time champions erect a 61-35 advantage.

The NHA Builders likewise kept their bid for the second outright semis berth with a 71-63 win over the PITC Global Traders in the event offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team.

Four NHA players scored in double figures with Michael Dizon leading the way with 17 points.

PH ends shooting SEAG campaign with gold, silver THE Philippines ended its campaign in the shooting competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games by winning a gold and a silver medal at the Ilanin forest in Subic on Tuesday.

The men’s trap team of Carlos Carag, Eric Ang and Alexander Topacio pieced together scores of 23-2424-20-24 for a five round total of 338, giving the Philippines its third gold medal in the discipline.

Malaysia, bannered by Bernard Yeoh, Ong Chee and Chen Foo, got the silver medal with 330 points while Savate Stresthporn , Yodchai Phachonyut and Kornthawat Thadtongcam of Thailand settled for the bronze with 321 points.

Carag returned later and won a silver medal in the men’s Trap (shotgun) finals with 41 points behind Thailand’s Savate Sresthaporn, who topped the event with 44. Malaysia’s Ong Chee settled for the bronze with 34.

The two other gold medals for the Philippines were delivered by Nay Lt. Commander Marly Martir who ruled the women’s WA 1500 PPC Individual and also powered the Filipino to victory.

Indonesia emerged as the competition’s overall champion with seven gold, six silver and two bronze medals, while Thailand also had three golds.

Boyet Bautista puts on a shooting clinic to lead AFP to a 77-65 win over Malacañang in the 8th UNTV Cup at the San Juan City gym on Sunday.

Giannis scores 32, carries Bucks to 110-101 victory

L

OS ANGELES—Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points as the Milwaukee Bucks downed the Orlando Magic to extend their winning streak to 15 games on Monday and maintain their grip on the Eastern Conference standings.

Antetokounmpo delivered a dominant performance in a 110-101 victory, making 12 of 22 shots from the field while chipping in with 15 rebounds and eight assists.

Khris Middleton had 20 points while Donte DiVincenzo had 12 off the bench as the Bucks improved to 21-3 at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks were in control from the outset, building an 11-point cushion by the end of the first quarter to lead 31-20 and remaining in front for the rest of the game.

Evan Fournier led the Orlando scoring with 26 points, with Terrence Ross add-

ing 23 off the bench.

Antetokounmpo admitted he was delighted with the Bucks’ winning streak.

“It’s amazing. I’m not gonna lie,” he told reporters. “When you go home and sit down and think about it, it’s amazing.

And we can still extend it.

“But at the end of the day, the job’s not done. We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got to keep working hard and playing well.”

Although the Bucks led almost from start to finish, Antetokounmpo insisted his team had been pushed hard by Orlando.

“Every once in a while, you want

games like this,” he said. “It’s good to have close games because you can learn from that, instead of always winning by 20 or 30 points. We got the win, grinded it out.”

Celtics in pursuit The Boston Celtics remain hard on the heels of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference race, improving to 17-5 after a 110-88 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

The Celtics jumped into a 29-18 lead in the first quarter and kept the throttle down, at one point leading by 29 points.

All five Boston starters finished in double figures, with Kemba Walker leading the points tallies with 22.

In Chicago, the NBA champion Toronto Raptors were given a scare before securing a late 93-92 victory against the Bulls. AFP

Coca-Cola official SEAG beverage partner COCA-COLA Philippines stays true to its mission of refreshing people, inspiring moments of optimism and happiness, and making a difference as it supports the 30th South East Asian Games.

Not only is Coke refreshing the best Filipino and other SEA region athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators with millions of bottles of different Coca-Cola products—from Wilkins Pure to Thunder Supersoda, to Viva! Mineral Water to Coca-Cola—it is also encouraging and engaging people to advocate for a cleaner and a litter-free sports competition.

“As a total beverage company, the mission of refreshing people means providing people what they want when it comes to their hydration needs and beverage choices. Our 19 different brands in the Philippines—from your favorite Coca-Cola to our Wilkins Pure water to the newest Thunder Supersoda and more—allow us to cater to the requirements of the athletes, which are different from what the sports enthusiasts want to drink,” said Winn Everhart, President and GM of Coca-Cola Philippines.

Hosted by the Philippines, the 30th SEA Games feature 11 participating countries squaring off through 529 events in 56 sports. A total of 5,630 athletes will compete in different venues including the newly-built Clark City, the Rizal Memorial Stadium, and the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We are honored to be powering and supporting the best players in South East Asia, most especially our Filipino athletes who have dedicated their heart, sweat, and tears to make their fellow Filipinos proud,” Everhart added.

The Company, globally, is also a proud supporter of different sporting events with almost century-old partnerships with some. Everhart shared further, “The Company and all

Coca-Cola goes beyond refreshing athletes and sports fans

the brands we carry have long been committed to using events like the 30th SEA Games to advance and promote inclusivity amongst the different countries and build camaraderie despite differences in culture and race. At the same time, we also use these platforms to promote awareness on topics that are close to the heart of our business.”

He continued, “In the 30th SEA Games, we are actively working together with the SEA Games committee and the Philippine government to do capabilities training together with the volunteers on how to implement a holistic solid waste management system in the 529 events that are happening. This is aligned with our vision of a World Without Waste where we aim to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can we sell so that they do not end up as waste in places where they shouldn’t be. Truly, when we all work together—we win as one.”

Pru Life UK brings high-octane races to Clark in March

PRURide PH 2020 ambassadors Zoren Legaspi and Gretchen Ho, together with PRURide PH Race Director Ian Alacar, join SVP and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga for a celebratory toast.

PRU Life UK is set to launch another edition of PRURide PH, the country’s biggest cycling festival.

In 2020, Pru Life UK is bringing its high-octane races to Clark, Pampanga from March 11 to 15.

Next year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 2,500 cyclists, including 18 local and international professional teams, who will race in 10 categories. Competing participants can join the Virtual PRURide, and PRURide Criterium which feature different races, including fixed gear, road bike, and mountain bike races. Meanwhile, non-competitive rides such as the Gran Fondo is perfect for families, beginners and hobbyists, while the Striders Cup is for children aged

two to six, who will race using nonpedal bikes. The event next year will also include the Fun Cycle, a new cycling activity meant for Pru Life UK agents and employees.

Another highlight of the event will be the PRURide UCI 2.2 Stage Races, a three-day race accredited by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world’s governing body for cycling, which will allow cyclists to chalk up points to advance to bigger international competitions. This is PRURide’s second year to be included in the UCI World Calendar.

“We are excited to launch PRURide PH 2020 after the success of our first three editions. Since becoming UCI 2.2-accredited in 2019, PRURide PH is expected

to grow bigger and become more exciting,” shares Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

“It is now a five-day marquee featuring recurring cycling activities made more thrilling with the addition of new routes in Clark and Tarlac. With these, we aim to offer the best PRURide PH yet to our recreational and professional cyclists from the Philippines and Asia.”

The festival will also usher the return of PRURide PH’s celebrity ambassadors, Gretchen Ho, Kim Atienza, and Zoren Legaspi.

Together with other participants, they are expected to compete in various full-powered festival rides.

CHOOKS-TO-GO entered into a long-term partnership with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, Tuesday morning.

The agreement was officially unveiled at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, exactly one week ahead of league owner Senator Manny Pacquiao’s 41st birthday.

“Dahil ang MPBL ang tunay na tahanan ng mga Manok ng Bayan, we are committed to sponsor this league for five years,” said Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. President Ronald Mascariñas.

Since 2016, Chooks-to-Go has been supporting numerous athletes, sports, and league in its effort to help promote nationalism through sports.

On the other hand, Pacquiao built the MPBL to give a new avenue for the Filipino basketball player to showcase his talent.

From 10 teams in its first season, the league has expanded to 31 teams.

And with Chooks-to-Go on his side, Pacquiao is just glad to have a partner on his side to help grow his league.

“This is just the beginning of a strong and long partnership between the MPBL and Chooks-to-Go. We all know that Chooks-to-Go has been helping in sports development.

Helping us is their way of helping a very successful business venture for me,” Pacquiao said.

“As the father of the MPBL, I’m very happy that Chooks-to-Go has recognized the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as a solid league with a bright future ahead of it. It is integral in MPBL’s vision to be the league for every Filipino. And with you, we will be able to help more Filipinos.”

Also gracing the event were Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas director of operations Butch Antonio, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Legal Commission chairman Aga Francisco, BAVI chairman Tennyson Chen, MPBL governor and Pampanga congressman Dong Gonzales, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league commissioner Eric Altamirano, and former Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes.

Mascariñas, meanwhile, looks to use the MPBL’s machinery to promote his mission, calling all the 31 teams to help them as well.

Thailand tops sepak takraw; PH 2nd overall THAILAND completed a double win in the men’s and women’s regu event of sepak takraw Tuesday, while the Philippines settled for a decent pair of podium finishes in the 30th SEA Games at the Subic Gym. The Thais made short work of Vietnam 21-11, 21-13 to complete a 4-game sweep and bag the crown they had secured as early as last Monday with a similar 2-0 win over the host squad.

The Thailand women’s team also completed a sweep after drubbing the Filipinas 21-11, 21-10 to capture the crown they had in the bag early as yesterday afternoon. Vietnam and Malaysia settled for the silver and bronze, respectively.

In all, Thailand bagged three gold medals in the six-event sepak takraw competitions.

Malaysia finished second in the men’s regu event with a 21-9, 21-11 win over the Philippines.

The Filipinos settled for third, replicating the bronze medal finish of the women’s squad.

Overall, the Philippines won two gold medals and two bronze medals to finish second in the overall tally behind Thailand, a big improvement from the one-silver, one bronze finish back in the 2017 biennial meet in Kuala Lumpur.

The hosts last week reigned supreme in the men’s and women’s hoop events.

Superior technique brings win

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

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

CAPAS, Tarlac—In track races where winning or losing is determined by hundredths of a second, technique is always the key to victory.

Clinton Kingsley Bautista proved this again as he leaned forward at the finish line to snatch the gold from rival Rayzam Wan Sofian of Malaysia in the finals of the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the New Clark City Stadium here Monday.

Bautista wowed a big hometown crowd that came to cheer for their heroes on Day 4 of the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletics meet.

The 27-year-old Bautista and the Malaysian both submitted a similar time of 13.97. A review revealed that Bautista, who had better extension as he leaned forward, crossed ahead of his opponent.

Bautista, who hails from Camiling, Tarlac, benefitted from his move, as this earned him the gold medal during his closely-fought encounter with Sofian, who settled for the silver This is the first time that Bautista has gone below 14 seconds after clocking 14.06 seconds during the Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar last April.

“Hindi ko inexpect ito. Pero may target kami ng coach na mag 13 seconds ako,” said Bautista, who is coached by Dario Darosas.

Philippines’ Clinton Kingsley Bautista (second from right) is a split second ahead of Malaysia’s Rayzam Shah Sofian Wan during the men’s 110m hurdles event at the SEA Games This put Bautista closer to the national (Southeast Asian Games) in Clark, Capas, Tarlac. AFP record of 13.91 seconds, which Patrick Unso clocked during the 2017 Thailand Open.

Laotian runner Anousone Xaysa settled for the bronze with a time of 13.99 seconds.

Meanwhile, Melvin Calano heaved 72.86 meters to claim the men’s javelin throw gold.

This was an improvement from the 65.94 meters which earned him the bronze in 2017.

Abdul Hafiz of Indonesian settled for the silver again at 71 meters, his effort higher than the 69.3 meters he made two years ago.

Hoai van Nguyen of Vietnam took the Knott said this was the best effort that

By Peter Atencio bronze at 70.88 meters. Peter Atencio the team has done since after they were only assembled last week.

TEAM Philippines celebrate its astonEW CLARK CITY—Eric Cray ended days of “We got around the track, and passed ishing success at the 30th Southeast frustration, bucked a false start by teammate Francis the baton real quick. And this team was Asian Games and look forward to Dejust put together last week,” said Knott, cember 18 when they meet President Medina to retain the gold medal in the men’s who spoke for the team.

Rodrigo Duterte face to face in Mala400-meter hurdles on Day 5 of the 30th Southeast Asian This will be Knott’s fourth medal after she canang during the incentives awarding Games athletics meet at the New Clark City stadium here. took a gold medal in the women’s 200-mefor all winners. ter dash in record time as well, and a second Republic Act 10699 provides for Cray clocked 50.21second when he Team Philippines finished with a silver gold in the 4x100-meter mixed relays. cash incentives for winners of the SEA A silver medal came in the 100-meter reached the finish line which was almost medal in the women’s 4x100 meter reGames to receive P300,000, P150,000 two seconds over his 49.40 second per- lays on Monday night at the New Clark dash. This was after Knott bowed to Vietand P60,000 respectively for gold, silver nam’s Tu Chien Le. Le retained the cenformance in 2015.

City stadium here. and bronze finishes.

By Tim Obligacion “This gives me back the love and the Knott earned a total of two gold medals tury dash crown in 11.56 seconds.

The President is expected to give out Knott earlier captured the gold medal in excitement that I needed on the track and two silvers after four days of the 30th additional incentives of P250,000 for WITH their gold medals in the boxafter being down on myself,” said Cray Southeast Asian Games athletics meet, the women’s 200-meter dash finals. Knott gold, P150,000 for silver and P100,000 ing competitions of the 30th Southcame in fast from the left side of the tartan who ruled the event for the fourth con- and in record-breaking fashion again. for bronze medalists. east Asian (SEA) Games safe in secutive time. He also won gold in NayThailand’s foursome of On Uma Chat- track at 23.01 seconds and upset Le. Philippine Sports Commission Chairtheir collection, Eumir Marcial and And she made history as Knott broke pyidaw in 2013; in Singapore, 2015; and tha, Kwonrutai Pakdee, Tassaporn Wanman and Team Philippines’ Chef de MisNesthy Petecio now shift their foKuala Lumpur, 2017. nakit and Supawat Thippat finished first Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega-Mercasion, Butch Ramirez is all smiles when cus on 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualido for the third time this year.

This gave the Philippines its 10th in 44.38 meters. he broke the news yesterday, following fiers while Charly Suarez is unsure Knott clocked 23.07 seconds to break gold medal, to go with six silvers and The 24-year old Knott, with teammates a courtesy call by the Philippine surfing of what lies ahead but said he is six bronzes.

Zion Corrales-Nelson, Kayla and Kyla de Vega-Mercado’s record for the second team at the PSC office in Manila. ready to take on a bigger challenge.

Vietnam is leading in athletics with Richardson, settled for the silver in 44.57 time in topping the morning heats.

“We were all hoping and praying The trio’s finals matches were the Her clocking shattered the 23.16 sectheir 12-11-9 gold-silver bronze haul, seconds, which is a new Philippine record. for this, but it is still a sweet surprise last three lined up on a busy Monday with Thailand in second with 12-9-11.

This erased the 44.81 seconds clock- ond national mark which Zion Corralesnow that it is actually happening. I am night for Team Philippines’ boxing Meanwhile, Kristina Knott emerged ing of Eloisa Luzon, the Richardson sis- Nelson set back in the NCAA West so proud of our athletes. All of them team as they watched most of their as the most bemedalled member of the ters and Nelson when they claimed the Preliminary meet in Sacramento, Calideserve our respect and love,” said teammates win and some of them fornia last May 25.

Philippine national athletics team after bronze medal back in 2017.

Ramirez who stood as the father-figure lose. They made sure the pro-Filipifor the delegation from preparation to no crowd at the PICC Tent in Manila, competition. who waited for their turn to fight, Eighteen months prior to the hosting got their money’s worth as they witof the multi-sport event, PSC already nessed smashing performances to planned out the preparations intended cap the hosts’ seven-gold haul in the to improve our national team’s perforbiennial meet.

NEW CLARK CITY—Aries Toledo a distance of 37.25 meters (first) and mance. Ramirez openly expressed that Suarez, a professional fighter who was crowned the “Greatest Athlete” placed fifth in the pole vault with a supporting our athletes may be our is campaigning in the AIBA World of the 30th Southeast Asian Games vault of 3.80 meters. He threw only way to duplicate the “Miracle of Series of Boxing, made a triumphant after retaining the men’s decathlon the javelin to a distance of 2005 SEA Games” where the country return to the national team with a 54.37 meters then finished gold. bagged its first overall championship in bruising 5-0 unanimous victory over Toledo, 27, retained his SEAG de- second in the 1,500 meter run. the event with a total medal haul of 112 Pidnuch Khunatip of Thailand in the The title of “World’s cathlon crown during the second day gold, 85 silver and 93 bronze medals. It men’s lightweight (60kg) division. of competition at the NCC Athletics Greatest Athlete” is trawas the first overall crown for the host The 31-year-old said he missed playditionally given to the Center here.

Philippines in the biennial event. ing for flag and country in front of The Central Luzon State University person who wins the Ramirez also mentioned the legacies his countrymen. finished with 7,033 points to rule the decathlon in the of the games, giving emphasis on the “Sa professional kasi iba eh. Yung This event. Vietnam’s Van Sui Bui wound Olympics. intangible but important bequests like sarili mo na pag game mo. Dito up second with 6,911 while fellow began when King character and values that sports show kasi sa bansa mo eh magbigay ka Filipino Janry Ubas finished at third Gustav V of Swethe youth of the Southeast Asian region. ng gintong medalya sa bansa. Wala den told Jim Thorpe, “You, sir, with 6,759.

“Our athletes give them varied choicding mga Filipino na professional Toledo ran the 100-meter dash in are the world’s greatest athlete” afes of good role models to emulate,” said na naglaro dito sa larangan ng com11.02 seconds (first) before leaping ter Thorpe won the decathlon at the Ramirez citing surfer Roger Casugay petition,” said Suarez, who took the 7.54 meters (first) in long jump. He Stockholm Olympics in 1912. who made the headlines when he gave bronze in the light welterweight diviThe decathlon is a combined event then threw the shotput 11.68 meters up his gold medal ride to save his Indosion in the 2017 edition of the Games (second) before leaping 2.08 meters of 10 track and field events. Events nesian opponent. in Kuala Lumpur and now awaits if in the high jump (second). He ran the are held over two consecutive days With Casugay beside him, the PSC an Olympic call comes his way.

400 meters in 50.69 seconds (second) and the winners are determined by chief excitedly informed the team that “Sa akin wala pa (call for Tokyo the combined performance in all. Aries Toledo of the Philippines displays after the first day. the PSC board just approved a cash reOlympics) as of now. Wala pa akong In Day 2 Toledo took first place in Performance is judged on a points the form that earned him the gold medal ward for Casugay to acknowledge his idea pero prepared naman ako kung the 100-meter hurdles with a time of system in each event, not by the posi- in decathlon during the 30th Southeast heroism and sacrifice. Casugay went on ano ang opportunity na ibibigay sa 15.03 seconds. He threw the discus to tion achieved. Peter Atencio to win a gold in another event.

Asian Games. AFP akin,” he added.

Sports

PRRD will hand out incentives to athletes

Cray streaks to fourth consecutive SEAG gold N

Marcial, Petecio set their sights on Olympics

Toledo is ‘Greatest Athlete’ of 2019 Games

Team Liyab’s Enderr rules StarCraft II TEAM Liyab’s Caviar “Enderr” Acampado beat his Singaporean opponent in the finals to win the first-ever StarCraft II gold medal in the Esports event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Acampado lived up to his monicker after ending Thomas “Blysk” Kopankiewicz’s title bid, by winning 4-1 in the title match at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“I’m really happy and at the same time relieved that I didn’t disappoint our countrymen and all of our fans and supporters. My opponents were really tough but fortunately my preparation along with the program we had prior to the SEA Games helped me a lot. This is for all who believed in us,” Enderr said after his historic win.

Enderr, one of several Team Liyab mainstays who made it to the national Esports team, topped Group B with an unblemished record. Team Liyab is the professional Esports team of Globe in partnership with Mineski. Enderr topped his group, including a win over Kopankiewicz in the eliminations, to advance to the knockout round with a perfect record.

In the semis, Enderr had to dig deep against a very familiar opponent and tormentor in the winners’ bracket. Against Vietnam’s Tran Hong Phuc, Enderr proved steadier in the clutch to eked out a thrilling win over his rival to enter the gold medal match. Enderr won the match in heart stopping base race to assure him-

self at least the silver medal.

Kopankiewicz, on the other hand, bounced back from his earlier loss to Enderr by beating local bet Derick Santos and compatriot Toh Wei Liang Alvin in four games to clinch the other ticket in the finals.

“Enderr’s hard work, perseverance and faith finally gets rewarded. And it couldn’t come at any better place than the biggest sporting event in the region. Hopefully, his win will solidify further the acceptance and recognition of Esports as a legitimate discipline in the country and solid source of gold medals in future Southeast Asian Games.

This augurs well for the further development of Esports in the Philippines,” Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO adds.

Team Liyab’s Caviar ‘Enderr’ Acampado (center) accepts the gold medal after ruling StarCraft II competition in the Esports event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

IN BRIEF October exports barely grew 0.1%

EXPORTS barely grew by 0.1 percent in October to $6.31 billion while imports declined 10.8 percent to $9.57 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This resulted in a trade deficit of $3.25 billion in October, lower than the $4.42-billion shortfall in the same month last year. The trade deficit in the first 10 months also went down by 11 percent to $31.258 billion from $35.289 billion a year earlier.

“The modest recovery in the country’s trade figures for October 2019 backs the expectations that the export sector will remain relatively steady despite the global slowdown associated with the US-China trade war. This also aligns well with the country’s overall GDP growth target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent for 2019,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

“Possible downside risks, particularly the lingering vulnerabilities and spillovers associated with the trade tensions, need to be managed,” he said.

Pernia underscored the need to improve competitiveness through the institutionalization of policies and processes that would streamline, facilitate and bring down the cost of doing business, which are important factors in making the country more flexible to any eventualities that may impact the economy. Julito G. Rada

Business VIRTUAL BANKING APP.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. teams up with software and IT solutions provider Multisys Technologies Corp. to power the country’s first financial inclusion accelerator virtual bank, DiskarTech.

PLDT invested P2.15 billion in Multisys for a 45.73-percent interest last year. Leading the partnership launch are RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer Lito Villanueva (right) and Multisys president and CEO David Almirol Jr. Behind them are (from left) PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan, RCBC chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee and RCBC president and CEO Eugene Acevedo.

British investors still bullish on PH

THE Philippines remains an attractive destination for British goods, services and investments, according to the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

It said the growing market of Philippines is highly attractive for UK companies especially in the food and beverage manufacturing, energy and infrastructure.

“The interest level between the Philippines and the United Kingdom continues to rise. We work closely with the UK government and the Philippine government, as well. We make sure that UK companies looking into Southeast Asia will also look into the Philippines for investments,” said BCCP chairman Chris Nelson.

He said the sectors that generate high interest among British companies are retail, construction, education and training, healthcare and business consultancy.

Nelson said many UK firms were aware of the Philippines’ strategic location in Southeast Asia.

“Many of them are trying to work their way into the Philippines, so they can also penetrate other markets in Southeast Asia,” he said. Othel V. Campos

NOW Telecom taps two tower builders

NOW Telecom Inc., a company led by the Velarde family, signed an agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. and Frontier Tower Associates Management Pte. to roll out common tower facilities nationwide.

The parties agreed to discuss and negotiate the lease of build-to-suit sites, towers and passive telecommunications infrastructure and facilities that will be made available for the installation of NOW’s facilities and equipment to provide telecommunications and/or internet services.

Signatories to the MOU were NOW Telecom president Rodolfo Pantoja, NOW Corp. chief technology officer Rene Rosales, AIC chief operating officer Cosette Canilao and FTA executive chairman and CEO Patrick Tangney.

“We welcome the government’s initiative to foster tower sharing because it reduces the cost of deployment while also accelerating the network rollout as ‘difficult or costly to acquire’ sites become feasible as the cost is shared among operators,” Pantoja said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Govt eyes extension of motorcycle taxi trial

THE inter-agency Technical Working Group formed by the Department of Transportation is eyeing a six-month extension of the motorcycle taxi pilot implementation to allow the participation of new players.

The TWG aims to gather data to determine the viability of motorcycles as a safe mode of public transportation which may be useful in the deliberation of several pending bills in both houses of Congress.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board member retired P/Maj. Gen. Antonio Gardiola Jr. heads the TWG. Its members include representatives from the DOTR, LTFRB, Land Transportation Office and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic.

The pilot implementation will end on Dec. 26, 2019. Darwin G. Amojelar

FDI net inflows fell 37% to $5.1b in first nine months

By Julito G. Rada NET inflows of foreign direct investments went down by 2.9 percent in September to $566 million from $582 million a year ago, pulled down by the adverse effects of the prolonged trade dispute between the US and China, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

“However, the reversal of net equity capital investments from net outflows to net inflows mitigated the decrease in net investments in debt instruments,” the BSP said in a statement.

Non-residents’ net equity capital investments posted a 182-percent growth to $96 million in September from net equity capital withdrawals of $117 million in the same month last year as placements increased by 79.5 percent to $125 million from $69 million.

Top sources of equity capital placements during the month were Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. These funds went to financial and insurance, manufacturing and real estate.

The latest number brought the net inflows of FDIs in the first nine months to $5.1 billion, down 36.9 percent from $8.1 billion net inflows a year ago.

“The slowdown in inflows reflected the adverse effects of the prolonged trade disputes, which continued to affect global growth negatively and prompted foreign investors to hold off their investment plans in emerging markets including the Philippines, until global growth outlook improves,” the BSP said.

Non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments in the nine-month period declined by 32.6 percent to $3.7 billion from $5.5 billion.

SteelAsia CEO asks govt to ban induction furnace

By Othel V. Campos

S

TEELAsia Manufacturing Corp., the country’s largest reinforcing bar producer, asked the Trade Department to impose strict standards on steel manufacturing technologies such as the controversial induction furnace which was banned in China.

SteelAsia president and chief executive Benjamin Yao, the country’s representative in the prestigious World Entrepreneur of The Year Awards in June 2020, made the comment in response to reports that the agency would study the new insights on the steel-making industry after the Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association presented a position in favor of induction furnace.

Induction furnace involves electromagnetic induction to heat and melt iron, steel, copper, aluminum and other metals.

SteelAsia, on the other hand, uses modern rolling mills for rebar production.

Yao said that if the government would continue to make everybody “happy”, it would not help good technology to survive.

“I hope BOI [Board of Investments] will not take a stand to try to make everybody happy. I hope they will be proactive in that. They should be. Reports showed that the number of induction furnace operators were increasing,” Yao said in a lunch briefing in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Yao said the Trade Department should seriously consider imposing a ban on induction furnace not only for the lack of standards in producing steel products, but also for the risks to consumers using substandard rebars.

SteelAsia chief operating officer Rafael Hidalgo said there were induction furnace companies operating in the Philippines.

Induction furnace technologies produce 1 million metric tons of the total

JG Summit, DHL form P60-m joint venture in logistics DHL Supply Chain, the global market leader for contract logistics solutions, formed a joint venture with JG Summit Holdings Inc. to provide transport and distribution solutions for local and international businesses in the country.

Both parties agreed to invest P60 million in the joint venture company to be called DHL Summit Solutions Inc. JG Summit said in a disclosure to the stock exchange DSSI would leverage the strengths of both parties to enhance domestic transportation operations to improve safety, compliance and customer experience in the Philippines.

“The Philippines economy is expected to grow by 6 percent year-on-year and businesses will need to invest in world-class logistics and warehousing services to stay ahead of the competition,” said JG Summit president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei.

“With our diverse business portfolios and local networks, we are committed to help homegrown and international companies in the Philippines achieve their next phase of growth.

Working with DHL is the ideal move for us, as we leverage their global footprint and tap onto their expert knowledge to provide integrated industry-leading services,” he said.

DSSI will engage in the business of providing domestic transportation, logistics, warehousing and distribution of cargoes and other supply chain management activities.

The newly-formed joint venture is expected to start commercial operations in June 2020.

Terry Ryan, chief executive of DHL Supply Chain for Asia Pacific said: “We are seeing greater investment by the government on enhancing infrastructure such as setting up integrated logistics and industrial parks, and customers can count on our expertise in this aspect to serve their needs. Our global network and local expertise puts us in good stead as the most reliable logistics partner they need, to fully capitalize on the market opportunities.”

The Philippines economy is projected to grow exponentially, supported by the government’s Development Plan for the period 2017-2022 which is aimed at accelerating infrastructure programs and projects especially for the healthcare, telecommunication, electronics and retail sectors.

JG Summit is the latest conglomerate to foray into the fast-growing logistics industry. Ayala Corp., SM Investments Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. also made significant investments in the sector. Jenniffer B. Austria

local steel requirement of 11 million MT. Two more such plants are under construction in Misamis Occidental and Davao.

“The government has all the facts.

They don’t need more facts. They know what’s being done by induction furnace, and they know what’s bad about it. The government know who they are and what their violations are. It’s just up to them to act on it. We, as private entities, don’t need to tell them more,” Hidalgo said.

Yao said many operators of induction furnace were clever entrepreneurs who knew the trade secret in putting up a steel mill without any investments.

“We don’t stand a chance against substandard steel. These IF technology which was banned in China and found their way here, are mostly 10-percent to 20-percent underweight. In the provinces where they land, hardware stores have no idea what is standard or substandard, so how can we compete with them,” he said.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

B1

Uy transforms ISM into listed telecom firm

By Jenniffer B. Austria ISM Communications Corp. is being transformed as the listed telecommunication company of businessman Dennis Uy. ISM president Dennis Uy said during the annual stockholders meeting the company would soon be renamed DITO CME Holdings Inc. and would become Udenna Group’s corporate vehicle that will own a 60-percent equity in DITO Telecommunity, the country’s third telecom player.

Uy said DITO CME Holdings would also invest in other related businesses that have synergies with Udenna Corp., the unlisted holding company of the Davao-based businessman.

“DITO CME will be focused on investments in telecom venture. The asset planned to be injected by Udenna will be its investment in telco business.

We think this will present better value to current and prospective ISM shareholders,” Uy said.

Uy said the asset injection was expected to be completed by mid-2020 subject to regulatory approval. The corporate structure of ISM will be finalized after the asset injection.

ISM obtained shareholders’ approval to increase its authorized capital stock to P40 billion from P2.8 billion.

ISM was earlier seen as the backdoor listing vehicle for Udenna Corp. ISM shareholders approved in January to change its corporate name to Udenna Holdings Corp. and increase its authorized capital stock to P75 billion.

That plan was superseded by this latest move.

ISM director Adel Tamano said that once the asset injection was completed, the company would conduct a fundraising activity through equity offering or private placement.

ISM shareholders also approved the acquisition of Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp., which is intended to be the parent entity that holds the Udenna Group’s shares in telecommunications, media and entertainment businesses.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; MPIC advances S TOCKS fell for a second day amid thin trading, as investors remained nervous over the US-China trade talks with less than a week until Washington is due to impose fresh tariffs on Chinese goods.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 43 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 7,736.18 on Tuesday. Despite the loss, the bellwether was still up 3.6 percent since the start of the year.

The broader all-share index also went down by 27 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,610.01 on a value turnover of P3.87 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 139 to 55, while 44 issues were unchanged.

Six of the 20 most active stocks ended

in the green, led by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which climbed 3.7 percent to P3.67 and Megaworld Corp. which gained 1.7 percent to P4.25. Ayala Land Inc. rose 1.2 percent to P45.25.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also traded lower Tuesday amid lingering concerns over the US-China trade talks.

The general consensus is that the two superpowers will eventually hammer out a partial pact as part of a wider agreement, which has fueled a global equity rally for weeks, though comments from both sides—both optimistic and downbeat— are keeping dealers on their toes.

While the week is chock-full of key events including the UK general election and central bank decisions in the US and Europe, observers say the China-US negotiations are the only game in town.

The key concern for now is that with the December 15 deadline approaching, Donald Trump still has not scrapped planned levies on $160 billion of Chi-

nese goods, which many fear could derail the long-running talks.

“Given the market has bought into the December tariff delay in a big way, all hell could break loose if the tariffs don’t get postponed,” said Stephen Innes at AxiTrader.

“Indeed, that would be a bitter pill for investors to swallow as the reality sets in that they have yet again been taken down the trade talk garden path only to end up at the cliff edge.”

Still, agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue provided some hope to markets when he said he did not think the levies will be imposed, though analysts pointed out that while this is positive, the ultimate decision is in Trump’s hands.

Hong Kong and Singapore each slipped 0.1 percent in the afternoon and Tokyo ended 0.1 percent lower, while Sydney and Taipei both fell 0.3 percent.

Manila, Mumbai and Jakarta were also in negative territory but Shanghai

gained 0.1 percent, while Seoul and Wellington were each 0.5 percent higher.

There was little early reaction to data showing Chinese consumer inflation picked up in November but not as much as expected, with surging pork prices the key reason owing to African swine fever, which has seen a vast culling of the country’s pig herd. However, the drop in factory prices eased, soothing concerns about future inflation rates.

Sterling remains well-supported going into the final straight of the UK national vote, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson tipped to win a clear majority that will help him drive through his Brexit deal.

“As we saw in the last three years, opinion polls don’t always get it right, but the consistent lead by Boris Johnson’s party has encouraged dealers to buy into the pound,” said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK. AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review tueSday, deceMBer 10, 2019

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

88.95 160 0.95 25 18.46 12.74 4.03 7 0.6 0.395 68.2 0.82 35.5 178.6 58.1 24 199.4 1,855 57.5 1.04

88.95 160 0.95 25.05 18.46 12.8 4.17 7 0.6 0.405 68.2 0.82 35.95 178.6 58.7 24.05 199.6 1,855 57.5 1.04

86.5 158.8 0.95 24.85 18 12.7 4 7 0.6 0.39 66.65 0.82 35.5 173.5 58.1 24 196 1,800 57.5 1.04

FINANCIALS 86.5 1,356,830 159.9 1,096,780 0.95 155,000 25 173,800 18 32,000 12.76 130,600 4.17 279,000 7 1,500 0.6 5,000 0.39 270,000 67 1,921,390 0.82 12,000 35.65 120,200 174.6 1,110 58.7 2,020 24 17,900 196 449,670 1,800 15 57.5 1,750 1.04 400,000

118,800,457.50 175,308,396 147,250 4,343,145 576,046 1,662,814 1,117,130 10,500 3,000 108,250 128,794,927.50 9,840 4,284,365 192,796 117,667 429,725 88,941,552 27,525 100,625 416,000

-38,925,588 39,741,133 34,860 -180,000 358,190 -10,500 13,486,799.50 358,775 -90,292 -1,018,502 -

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

34.5 2.38 13.7 0.56 1.28 2.84 0.228 2.14 15.4 161 5.02 22 28.5 68.95 72 2.06 5.25 8.35 14.9 10.3 7.19 1.78 24.5 73.5 1.25 40 2.05 13.62 8 1.4 207 4.76 3.25 15.3 12.4 16.96 326 0.163 5.62 1.39 4.06 4.28 9.6 10.92 33.5 4.99 5.36 2.16 1.9 0.9 10.24 88.7 7.95 0.12 1.05 138.3 1.14 16.5 0.88

34.75 2.38 13.72 0.57 1.28 2.86 0.235 2.19 15.42 163 5.04 22 28.5 68.95 72 2.06 5.25 8.36 14.9 10.32 7.24 1.78 24.7 73.5 1.27 40 2.05 13.84 8 1.4 207.6 4.76 3.25 15.3 12.4 16.96 326 0.163 5.62 1.41 4.06 4.3 9.8 11.2 33.8 5 5.4 2.17 1.9 0.91 10.4 88.7 7.95 0.12 1.05 142 1.15 16.5 0.88

33.8 2.25 13.5 0.53 1.28 2.57 0.228 2.12 15.1 160 4.5 20.5 26.5 65 66.7 2 5.15 8.26 14.6 10.28 7.17 1.76 23.9 73.1 1.03 39.2 1.92 13.54 7.68 1.4 201 4.75 3.1 14 11.98 16.54 321 0.163 5.61 1.37 3.9 4.25 9.6 10.92 33.2 4.99 5.35 2.13 1.9 0.9 9.8 87.45 7.8 0.118 1 138.3 1.12 16.5 0.82

INDUSTRIAL 33.8 1,117,400 2.26 6,475,000 13.68 93,400 0.57 1,863,000 1.28 7,000 2.6 3,764,000 0.235 110,000 2.17 865,000 15.24 2,498,800 163 390 4.52 443,300 20.55 23,000 28.45 600 65 220 66.7 610 2.05 149,000 5.15 6,900 8.29 4,623,100 14.6 13,800 10.3 218,700 7.19 161,400 1.76 8,000 24 257,100 73.1 4,650 1.16 98,770,000 40 25,900 1.98 5,564,000 13.82 1,100 7.68 312,900 1.4 2,000 201 183,340 4.75 12,000 3.1 14,000 14.5 4,910,200 12 125,200 16.6 1,003,500 321 68,650 0.163 140,000 5.61 300 1.4 9,007,000 3.9 23,000 4.3 1,293,000 9.8 33,400 11.2 44,900 33.45 212,100 5 605,000 5.4 39,600 2.13 3,283,000 1.9 21,000 0.91 30,000 9.8 133,100 88.4 66,290 7.83 60,400 0.118 200,000 1.04 46,000 141.5 610,220 1.14 2,153,000 16.5 100 0.87 1,696,000

37,954,505 14,913,050 1,274,650 1,012,570 8,960 10,139,310 25,150 1,872,710 38,014,080 62,950 2,065,066 494,995 16,295 14,418.50 42,959 301,430 35,635 38,442,092 203,030 2,252,572 1,158,876 14,100 6,231,545 340,724 112,282,360 1,035,680 11061660 15,062 2,403,852 2,800 37,382,754 57,020 43,980 71,173,094 1,502,392 16,658,182 22,092,058 22,820 1,684 12,598,440 91,180 5,535,390 326,555 496,162 7,090,135 3,024,950 212,628 7,052,610 39,900 27,040 1,336,832 5,838,662 473,148 23,900 46,780 85,922,623 2,451,990 1,650 1,458,470

-18,600,585 247,300 8,312 584,180 -1,122,130 -386,970 -18,655.00 -7,105,738 -128,710 -933,428 -551,175 -70,317 824,430 744,140 4074649.9999 -88,270 -9,705,550 -22,141,506 492,982.00 -14,087,758 -5,650,396 -3,190,390 -39,200 -345,960 -695,605 -3,000,000 -77,958 9,000 -1,081,866 -3,405,368.50 7,850 -2,766,287 1,700

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

0.77 50.6 11.1 0.69 6.6 11.92 0.92 0.95 815 3.32 1,250 6.75 5.95 13 895 5.3 77.5 5.21 0.485 3.84 11.76 0.56 3.54 5 1.4 159.9 1,060 0.8 1.23 380 218.8 0.214

0.77 51.35 11.1 0.7 6.76 12 0.95 0.97 820 3.32 1,250 6.99 6.03 13 895 5.3 79 5.21 0.5 3.85 11.78 0.57 3.72 5.35 1.4 159.9 1,069 0.81 1.24 385 218.8 0.214

0.75 50.15 11.04 0.68 6.6 11.88 0.92 0.95 807.5 3 1,250 6.75 5.79 13 873 5.3 77.5 5.21 0.485 3.76 11.36 0.56 3.53 5 1.28 157.5 1,051 0.75 1.23 200 212.6 0.214

HOLDING FIRMS 1,292,000 0.76 51.1 447,410 11.08 14,118,800 0.7 316,000 6.72 30,200 11.9 25,000 0.94 514,000 0.97 325,000 815 77,240 3.04 19,562,000 1,250 25 6.79 13,900 5.9 14,215,600 13 200 873 25,150 5.3 240,000 79 730,360 5.21 2,000 0.5 16,000 3.76 125,000 11.62 2,108,700 0.56 146,000 3.67 49,530,000 5.06 188,300 1.38 244,000 158.1 166,500 1,051 159,510 0.81 74,000 1.23 62,000 201 23,330 212.6 120 0.214 100,000

970,170 22,827,112.50 156,418,560 218,100 203,336 297,504 478,120 311,450 63,015,030 60,091,550 31,250 94,920 83,517,588 2,600 22,224,295 1,272,000 57,645,049 10,420 7,805 475,790 24,155,788 81,780 179,206,970 965,570 322,060 26,275,595 167,872,050 56,710 76,280 5,840,870 25,674 21,400

8,250 4,010,960 -26,637,246 10,350 -202,676 258,200 -22,850,420 1,080,950 -31,250 10,123 -17,262,573 -5,670,035 -79,500 28,977,350.50 -30,400 -246,360 -60,266,850 67,840 -2,447,658 -118,947,105 27,000 -2,126 -21,400

14.84 0.72 9.15 1.37 0.82 44.3 2 4.63 0.52 0.73 0.84 0.18 0.39 10.04 18.6 0.43 0.121 1.47 4.2 4.18

PROPERTY 14.84 38,900 0.74 187,000 9.5 17,100 1.37 221,000 0.83 794,000 45.25 6,292,400 2.02 318,000 4.71 508,000 0.53 20,612,000 0.73 8,000 0.84 11,000 0.18 700,000 0.4 4,210,000 10.2 30,500 19.16 248,100 0.44 1,000,000 0.121 70,000 1.5 5,533,000 4.2 36,000 4.25 10,597,000

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD

14.84 0.72 9.15 1.43 0.82 44.8 2.02 4.71 0.55 0.73 0.84 0.18 0.4 10.04 18.82 0.43 0.121 1.52 4.25 4.18

14.9 0.74 9.5 1.51 0.83 45.4 2.03 4.71 0.55 0.73 0.84 0.19 0.4 10.24 19.24 0.44 0.121 1.52 4.25 4.26

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

0.187 0.395 1.31 2.02 45 25.5 3.24 40.8 2.43 1.23 7.47 5.51

0.187 0.395 1.33 2.02 45 25.9 3.24 41 2.48 1.28 7.5 5.51

0.18 0.395 1.29 2.01 45 25.15 3.15 40.65 2.36 1.1 7.44 5.24

0.181 0.395 1.31 2.01 45 25.9 3.15 40.9 2.45 1.12 7.49 5.5

8,390,000 30,000 887,000 311,000 1,000 1,214,200 25,000 5,173,600 271,000 7,410,000 2,966,900 53,800

1,524,070 11,850 1,154,840 625,150 45,000 31,051,015 80,150 211,476,535 662,190 8,510,460 22,182,427 292,661

1,723,015 106272144.9997 -618,185 -

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

9.9 17 1.51 11.5 0.45 0.039 18 4 10.58 91.5 7.08 5.72 5.16 8.55 1,931 5.28 420 1.24 117.6 8.3 5.66 0.104 4.15 13.4 2.7 0.9 16.9 0.39 3.36 2.14 11.5 2.94 2.49 7.62 5.17 158.9 2.65 1,033 0.6 0.43 39.6 75 8.84 2.5 0.64 0.285 0.59 18.1

10 17 1.56 11.5 0.46 0.041 18 4.01 10.58 91.85 7.08 5.75 5.16 8.55 1,946 5.29 425 1.27 119.3 8.3 5.66 0.104 4.16 13.4 2.71 0.9 17 0.39 3.39 2.14 11.5 2.94 2.58 7.62 5.17 158.9 2.7 1,033 0.6 0.43 39.6 75 9.14 2.5 0.64 0.295 0.6 18.1

9.85 16.7 1.49 11.44 0.45 0.039 18 3.8 10.4 91.1 7.08 5.48 5.16 8.31 1,930 5.19 419 1.13 117 8.3 5.66 0.1 3.42 13.3 2.7 0.9 16.62 0.39 3.36 2.1 11.5 2.6 2.46 7.62 5.17 158.9 2.65 1,000 0.56 0.42 38.6 73.6 8.83 2.46 0.63 0.285 0.59 17.96

SERVICES 9.85 16.74 1.5 11.5 0.455 0.041 18 3.9 10.5 91.35 7.08 5.51 5.16 8.55 1,930 5.2 425 1.14 117 8.3 5.66 0.1 3.63 13.3 2.7 0.9 16.86 0.39 3.39 2.11 11.5 2.68 2.53 7.62 5.17 158.9 2.69 1,000 0.56 0.42 38.8 75 9.14 2.48 0.64 0.285 0.6 17.98

4,100 146,900 5,000 2,732,500 480,000 18,000,000 135,000 2,400,000 391,400 71,660 100 603,300 2,200 11,500 12,185 33,700 280 1,325,000 1,046,210 8,100 2,200 2,510,000 9,839,000 4,100 298,000 1,000 74,400 170,000 18,000 1,118,000 800 6,750,000 93,000 900 300 10 436,000 295,135 5,918,000 2,820,000 2,462,200 116,820 22,300 2,343,000 701,000 3,580,000 140,000 1,210,600

40,525 2,467,064 7,570 31,405,822 216,200 730,900 2,430,000 9,348,820 4,099,384 6,545,077.50 708 3,346,498 11,352 96,760 23,539,220 175,881 117,610 1,552,770 122,792,086 67,230 12,452 254,760 37,598,520 54,730 804,810 900 1,246,624 66,300 60,780 2,360,110 9,200 18,402,220 235,980 6,858 1,551 1,589 1,162,120 296,858,020 3,418,710 1,193,050 95,656,400 8,754,233 197,332 5,808,290 444,660 1035300 82,750 21,801,998

-241,714 13,500 2,430,000 -116,400 2,158,670 -2,405,696 -83,036 1,667,200 40,600 -65,216,937 -155,500 745,200 20,050 416,520 -83,140 -191,060 -1,589 -26,550 -264,569,905 -591,950 -93,250 -2,662,885 -4,349,763 4,934,890 -235,160 -142499.9997 -14,061,892

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

0.0015 8.46 1.02 2.42 11.06 2.65 0.27 7.47 1.51 0.201 0.096 0.0085 0.96 2.97 1.01 0.47 0.012 0.011 3.06 9.1 20.2

0.0015 8.46 1.02 2.51 11.06 2.85 0.275 7.52 1.52 0.21 0.096 0.0085 0.96 2.99 1.04 0.47 0.012 0.011 3.06 9.2 20.3

0.0015 7.75 1 2.42 11 2.65 0.27 7.39 1.48 0.199 0.093 0.0085 0.93 2.87 0.99 0.455 0.011 0.01 2.95 9.04 20

MINING & OIL 0.0015 17,000,000 7.75 202,400 1 1,900,000 2.42 42,000 11 200 2.78 2,210,000 0.27 560,000 7.39 2,800 1.52 2,045,000 0.209 1,360,000 0.094 3,980,000 0.0085 11,000,000 0.93 110,000 2.99 3,212,000 1.04 201,000 0.455 180,000 0.012 43,600,000 0.011 17,200,000 2.95 636,000 9.1 326,500 20.15 1,613,600

25,500 1,600,457 1,906,450 101,910 2,206 6,122,150 151,350 20,742 3,064,780 271,470 375,640 93,500 105,300 9,355,890 199,580 83,000 499,600 187,200 1,899,690 2,968,483 32,486,040

-72,364 -131,870 -75,290.00 -400 -135,000 966,210 384,370 20,000 -187,350 15,487.00 -18,757,725

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

15.82 501 505 5.02 999 1,000 98 100.1 1,040 1,037 1,062 104.7 1.36 997.5 78.4 76.1 77 75.6 76.8

15.82 501 505 5.03 999 1,000 98 100.1 1,040 1,037 1,062 104.7 1.36 997.5 78.4 76.1 77 75.8 76.8

15.36 501 505 5.02 999 1,000 98 100 1,040 1,037 1,060 104.7 1.36 997.5 78 76.1 77 75.6 76.8

PREFERRED 15.6 160,000 501 830 505 3,570 5.03 10,100 999 1,000 1,000 1,750 98 15,000 100 1,200 1,040 6,000 1,037 335 1,060 480 104.7 100 1.36 5,000 997.5 8,000 78.05 28,870 76.1 150,000 77 275,550 75.8 22,540 76.8 81,600

2,501,654 415,830 1,802,850 50,802 999,000 1,750,000 1,470,000 120,048 6,240,000 347,395 509,360 10,470 6,800 7,980,000 2,254,704 11,415,000 21,217,350 1,707,204.50 6,266,880

-1,519,428 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

3.95 10.2 2.47 0.9

3.99 10.22 2.47 0.9

3.89 9.48 2.4 0.87

3.89 9.73 2.4 0.88

FIRST METRO ETF

116.8

116.8

116.2

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.28 0.96

10.3 0.96

10.28 0.92

MS 577,288 134,680 161,050 312,860 655,740 282,763,560 641,820 2,383,650 10,962,010 5,840 9,240 126,500 1,682,000 309,334 4,678,116 430,100 8,470 8,231,860 151,340 44,870,600

-238,924 160,100 8,220 -6,412,230 -62,710 355,930 11,680 -22,180 284,150 8,600 -529,160 13,635,540

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

Trading Summary FINANCIAL

SHARES 7,679,244

INDUSTRIAL

155,089,619

HOLDING FIRMS

105,634,864

PROPERTY

79,619,945

SERVICES

68,561,877

MINING & OIL

107,478,173

GRAND TOTAL

525,650,702

SME

157,000 546,200 47,000 828,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.2 7,970 10.3 0.92

DDS

21,790 10,900

613,810 5,347,394 115,360 730,730

-

927,369

61,725

224,337 10,104

-

VALUE 1,872.21 (DOWN) 22.84 620,519,464.10 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 9,531.24 (DOWN) 119.10 665,888,873.835 HOLDING FIRMS 7,613.61 (DOWN) 34.42 1,107,979,134.23 PROPERTY 4,093.83 (UP) 22.30 1,486.81 (DOWN) 10.36 696,546,396.03 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,513.15 (DOWN) 24.02 709,172,530.675 PSEI 7,736.18 (DOWN) 43.62 61,528,487.22 All Shares Index 4,610.01 (DOWN) 27.87 3,869,371,292.49 Gainers: 55; Losers: 139; Unchanged: 44; Total: 238

PAL to launch Manila-Perth flights in March

By Darwin G. Amojelar Philippine Airlines said it will launch a regular service between Manila and Perth, the first nonstop air link between Western Australia and the Philippines, in March 2020.

“We are thrilled to welcome Perth to our network,” PAL chief marketing officer Eugene Go said.

“Our pioneer nonstop flights will allow us to vigorously promote the Philippines as a top-notch tourist experience for residents of Western Australia, and we look forward to extending our gracious Filipino hospitality to them from the moment they step on board our brand-new planes flown by our experienced professional crew,” he said.

PAL will deploy its long-range Airbus A321neo aircraft on the Manila-PerthManila route.

PAL operates the largest network of flights between the Philippines and Australia.

Perth is PAL’s fourth Australian gateway, joining Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, all of which are served with nonstop flights using Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft.

PAL offers 19 weekly nonstop flights to these four Australian destinations, three weekly flights to Auckland, New Zealand and four weekly flights to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Australia is the Philippines’ fifth largest source of tourist visitors. Data showed that 279.821 Australians visited the Philippines in 2018, while more than 203,000 Australians visited the country in the first nine months of 2019.

PAL Holdings Inc., the parent firm of PAL, earlier reported a net loss of P7.86 billion in the first nine months, up 139.2 percent from P3.29-billion losses last year. Consolidated revenues in the January to September period increased 5.6 percent to P117.92 billion.

The 14,436-TEU vessel MSC Faith makes its maiden call at Puerto Aguadulce, the joint venture terminal of International Container Terminal Services Inc. and PSA International Pte. Ltd. at Colombia’s Port of Buenaventura on Dec. 4, 2019.

ICTSI’s Colombia venture services 14,436-TEU vessel SOCIEDAD Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce set a new operational milestone at the Port of Buenaventura after servicing the 14,436-TEU vessel MSC Faith, the largest ship ever to dock in Colombia.

MSC Faith, with a length of overall of 366 meters, made its maiden call in South America at Puerto Aguadulce, as part of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s weekly service between Asia and Latin America’s west coast.

With privileged access to the “Golden Triangle” of the Colombian economy― comprised of the cities of Bogota, Medellin and Cali―SPIA is fully-equipped to handle the largest vessels plying Latin America today using the largest port handling equipment in Colombia and a deep berth.

SPIA, a container and bulk handling facility jointly developed by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and PSA International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, can handle mega boxships with capacities of up to 18,000 TEUs. Miguel Abisambra, Puerto Aguadulce General Manager said: “Puerto Aguadulce, with its quay structure, its depth of 16.5 meters, its latest generation equipment and its strategic location, is very well-positioned to receive these types of vessels. Thanks to our well-trained workforce and our highlevel quality and service standards, the operations on this record vessel have been concluded successfully.”

Built in Korea in 2019, MSC Faith is one of the most modern and energyefficient 14K+ TEU vessels added to MSC’s green fleet in 2019. Designed with environment and efficiency in mind―the latest generation MSC vessels are powered by Tier III diesel engines for its main propulsion and auxiliary power, and are 75-percent cleaner than the Tier II standard set by the International Maritime Organization.

World

B3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Devastation after volcano eruption

W

HAKATANE, New Zealand― Tales of heroism, devastation and horrifying injuries emerged Tuesday after New Zealand’s smoldering White Island volcano exploded, killing an estimated 13 people and turning what should have been an intrepid day trip into a nightmare.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were five confirmed fatalities and eight more people were presumed dead after Monday’s eruption, while dozens of injured had been airlifted to hospital burns units across the country.

Among the 47 people caught on the island during the sudden blast were tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China, Germany and Malaysia, as well as local tour guides.

As relatives of the missing faced an agonizing wait to discover the fate of their loved ones, police said conditions remained too dangerous for recovery teams to set foot on the volcano.

Amid questions about how tourists were allowed on the island, police said they were opening an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries―but they backtracked on suggestions it could lead to criminal charges.

Ardern praised the crews of four rescue helicopters for landing on the island soon after the eruption.

“Those pilots made an incredibly brave decision under extraordinarily dangerous circumstances in an attempt to get people out,” she told reporters.

Intensive care paramedic Russell Clark was among those dispatched by helicopter to the volcano, which sits semi-submerged 50 kilometers out to sea.

He was confronted by an “overwhelming” and “shocking” scene of devastation.

“We didn’t find any survivors,” he told TVNZ, remembering a dust-covered helicopter grounded with its rotor blades damaged.

“It was like.. I’ve seen the ‘Chernobyl’ mini-series and it was just everything was just blanketed in ash.

“I can only imagine what it was like for the people there at the time –- they had nowhere to go and an absolutely terrible experience for them.”

New Zealander Geoff Hopkins’ tour boat was leaving the island when a huge plume burst from the volcano―at what scientists said was supersonic speed―

followed by a “menacing” cloud of gray ash.

Despite the danger, Hopkins said the boat moved closer to the shore after seeing survivors jump from the island into the sea to escape.

“I don’t think there was anyone that came off who wasn’t badly burnt,” he told the New Zealand Herald, describing how victims screamed and went into shock as fellow tourists tried to tend to their blistered skin.

Top New Zealand health official Pete Watson said 27 of the 34 survivors were being treated for burns to more than 71 percent of their bodies.

“It’s important not to underestimate the gravity of the injuries suffered,” he said.

After an initial rush, concerns about further eruptions, poisonous gases and choking ash stalled efforts to recover bodies. AFP

IN BRIEF

Manila

Standard

Police to probe volcano deaths

TODAY

WELLINGTON―New Zealand police on Tuesday announced an investigation into how an eruption at the White Island volcano led to an estimated 13 deaths.

The threat level at the volcano was raised in the week before Monday’s disaster, prompting questions about whether tour groups should have been allowed to visit the popular destination off the North Island coast.

Police said in a statement that they “commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries” at the volcano.

However, they backed away from an earlier announcement that the probe was a criminal investigation, saying instead it was being carried out on behalf of the coroner.

No reason for the reversal was immediately provided.

The investigation would run parallel to a probe conducted by the workplace watchdog Work Safety New Zealand.

Officials have confirmed five fatalities and say another eight are missing presumed dead after New Zealand’s most active volcano exploded while tourists were exploring it on Monday afternoon.

Speaking before the investigation was announced, travel operator White Island Tours said it took safety responsibilities extremely seriously. AFP

Bar code co-inventor dies at 94

MIAMI―US engineer George J. Laurer, who co-invented the bar code and helped to transform the retail world in the 1970s, has died at age 94.

The former IBM employee’s funeral was held Monday in his hometown of Wendell, North Carolina, according to a family obituary. He died at home last week.

Laurer is recognized as the co-inventor of the Universal Product Code (UPC), or bar code, which can be found on millions of products, services and other items for identification.

The marking―made up of black bars of varying thickness and a 12-digit number―can be scanned, quickly identifying the product and its price.

In 1969, Laurer rose to become senior IBM engineer and scientist in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, according to a tribute posted on the company’s website.

“Only a few years later, in 1973, Laurer went on to spearhead the development of the now-ubiquitous Universal Product Code symbol that revolutionized virtually every industry in the world,” it said.

Fellow IBM employee Norman Woodland, who died in 2012, is considered the pioneer of the bar code idea, which he initially based on Morse code. AFP

Performance artist was ‘hungry’

NEW YORK―Performance artist David Datuna waited two hours until “I was hungry” before eating a pricey banana artwork in Miami, he explained with laughter on Monday after returning to New York.

“It’s the first time one artist eats art of another artist,” he said in a mirth-filled press conference.

The Tbilisi-born Datuna, who has lived in New York for 22 years, shook up the Art Basel Florida modern art show Saturday when he ate the real banana that had been plastered to the wall as part of a work by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The work had been sold for $120,000.

In spite of the price, “it tasted like a regular banana,” Datuna said.

Datuna added that he didn’t need the publicity. But he basked in his latest exploit, boasting that a video of his “performance” had generated 40,000 to 50,000 messages on Instagram, many of them congratulatory.

Georgian-born artist Datuna praised Cattelan, who is perhaps best known for his work “America,” a toilet made of 18-carat gold.

Cattelan’s ideas are “genius,” said Datuna, who has never met the Italian.

“But I like also what I did.”

Datuna has previously shown works at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington and recently opened a gallery in Long Island City, New York. AFP

Toxic bush fire haze blankets east Australia

SYDNEY-Toxic haze blanketed Sydney Tuesday, triggering a chorus of smoke alarms to ring across the city as “severe” weather conditions fueled deadly bush blazes.

Fire engines raced office-to-office in the city center with sirens blaring, as inland bush fires poured smoke laden with toxic particles into commercial buildings.

Emergency services responded to an “unprecedented” 500 automatic callouts inside a few hours according to New South Wales Fire and Rescue’s Roger Mentha.

A regional fire headquarters miles from the nearest blazes was itself evacuated while throngs of mask-wearing commuters choked their way through thick acrid air and the organizers of a harbor yacht race declared it was unsafe to proceed.

“The smoke from all the fires is just so severe here on the harbor that you just can’t see anything, so it’s just too dangerous,” said spokeswoman Di Pearson of an event that normally foreshadows the famed Sydney-Hobart yacht race. “The vision is just so poor.”

Some of the city’s commuter ferries were also canceled “due to thick smoke” and school kids were kept inside at break time and sent home early as pollution levels soared far above “hazardous” levels.

For weeks the east of the country has been smothered in smoke as drought and climate-fueled bush fires have burned. But the scale of the problem on Tuesday shocked even hardened residents.

Bruce Baker―an 82-year-old who lives in Gosford, north of Sydney― said he was skipping his daily morning walk because of the smoke.

“This is the worst it’s been, for sure,” he told AFP. “It dries your throat. Even if you’re not asthmatic, you feel it.”

Authorities recommended that the vulnerable cease outdoor activity altogether and that everyone stay inside as much as possible. AFP

N OTICE FOGGY IN SRINAGAR. People walk inside a park amid fog in Srinagar on December 10, 2019. AFP

Female frontliner upends HK gender stereotypes HONG KONG-Chris Wong has transformed from a quiet student who used to blush when friends swore into one of the thousands of female front liners battling police in Hong Kong’s democracy protests.

Born into an apolitical blue collar family on a public housing estate, Wong says she has been awakened by the tumultuous events of the last six months.

And her personal journey illustrates the key role women are playing in Hong Kong’s street protests―including at the vanguard.

“This is everyone’s fight, regardless of gender,” the 19-year-old told AFP, using a pseudonym.

Women account for some 25 percent of the 5,900 people arrested since early June while hospital admissions show a similar proportion at 28 percent.

During the weekly tear gas and rubber bullet skirmishes with police, women are a common sight among the ranks of black-clad hardcore activists dubbed “the braves”, hurling petrol bombs and rocks.

Wong describes herself as an introvert who before the protests wouldn’t dare run a red light and fretted about speaking up in class.

She joined the movement early but kept away from the front lines, designing fliers and organizing rallies.

But she became more radicalized in August, as Beijing and city leaders refused concessions and as police adopted increasingly aggressive tactics.

One afternoon she looked on helpless as riot police jumped out of a private vehicle to make arrests, her face burning from

Notice is hereby given that DEVELOPER SOFT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SEA INC. with office address at Unit 709, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Brgy. San Antonio, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Services Export Provider under Export Activities-Services Exports [BPO-Technical Support (Developer Express International Support)] on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Unit 709, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Brgy. San Antonio.

tear gas canisters disgorging smoke at her feet.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, “I realized how useless I was―incapable of saving anyunder oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the one-so I started to train myself,” she recalled. date of this publication.

Earlier this month, she was one of hundreds fighting a (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA pitched battle against thousands of riot police at PolytechDirector nic University in one of the most violent moments of the Infrastructure and Services Industries Service movement.

(MS-DEC.11, 2019) Her motivation is the belief that Beijing is stamping out Hong Kong’s Republika ng Pilipinas freedoms.

National Irrigation Administration “The city is in such a bad shape (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III that there is no future and no leeway Email address: niar03@yahoo.com for our generation if we do not fight,” Office Address: Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Telephone Nos.: (044) 766-2467 / 766-4839 / 816-6808 Telefax No. (044) 766-2467 she said.

Website: www.region3.nia.gov.ph TIN No. 000-979-570-000 Online forums that serve as virtual command centers have filled with INVITATION TO BID discussion about female participation Improvement of Various Irrigation Facilities of AMRIS Lat. D-1-A, D-1-B, Lat. C-2-A, Lat. C-2-E, Lat. C-2-01, Lat. C-2-H, Dam and whether it is helping to counter D-1-D,D-2, Lat. C-2-A, 2, Dam 2A, Lat A, Lat B, Lat C, & D-9 certain stereotypes.

ITB No. NIAR3-2020-BUL-AMRIS-21 Many say their actions are shattering the “gong nui”―Hong Kong 1. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, hereby invites all interested PhilGEPS registered contractors to bid for the project, through the General Appropriations Act of CY girl―caricature that portrays some 2020, intends to apply the sum of Fifty Two Million Nine Hundred Seventy Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Five Pesos and 39/100 (P 52,970,765.39) being the Approved women as apolitical, vacuous types, Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the contract for No.NIAR3-2020-BUL-AMRIS-21 Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. more interested in Instagramming must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for their food and planning trips over- 2. Bidders Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Non-compliance will be a ground for disqualification. seas.

3. Only those who submitted Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS including updated company profile by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in But there is also a patriarchal strain the bidding. running through much online com- 4. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 now invites bids for Improvement of Various Irrigation Facilities of AMRIS Lat. D-1-A, D-1-B, D-1-D,D-2, Lat. C-2-A, Lat. C-2-A, mentary. AFP Lat. C-2-E, Lat. C-2-01, Lat. C-2-H, Dam 2, Dam 2A, Lat A, Lat B, Lat C, & D-9, located in Apalit, Candaba & San Luis Pampanga. Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.

5.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

6.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on November 28, 2019 to December 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except and holidays and December 20, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifty Two Thousand Pesos (P 52,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

8.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 6, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open to all interested parties.

9.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 12:30 p.m.

(PST) of December 20, 2019 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 1:00 p.m. (PST) of December 20, 2019 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

10. All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR. 11. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12. For further information, please refer to:

CONVERSATION. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg hosts a conversation with leading

climate scientists during the event ‘Unite behind the science’ within the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 at the ‘IFEMA - Feria de Madrid’ exhibition center in Madrid on December 10, 2019. UN climate negotiations in Madrid remained bogged down in the fine print of the Paris treaty rulebook, out-of-sync with a world demanding action to forestall the ravages of global warming. AFP

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

(SGD.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC – Chairperson

Noted by: (SGD.) JOSEPHINE B. SALAZAR Regional Manager

(MS-DEC. 11, 2019)

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Pancit Malabon Festival shows city as a family MALABON City Mayor Lenlen Oreta headlined the Pancit Malabon Festival held Tuesday to showcase the city’s iconic culinary treat.

“This festival is part of our city’s rich culture,” Oreta said during the festival.

“This is a happy occasion because we can show the unity and togetherness of the Malabonian Family. It is important for us to stay united so our city can continue to improve,” added Oreta.

The highlight of the event is the giant Pancit Malabon, measuring 15 feet in diameter and overloaded with toppings and treats for the town to share.

Mayor Oreta and Councilor Enzo Oreta, with other city officials, also participated in the boodle fight prepared for the 500 Malabonians who attended the festival.

At the same event, 11 retired teachers from Concepcion Elementary School were recognized for their service to the community.

Previously called Luglugan, the Pancit Malabon Festival is celebrated annually and marks the end of the celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion.

Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta (left) and Councilor Enzo Oreta serve Pancit Malabon during the Festival held Tuesday, along with other city officials.

DOT backs Intramuros renewal T

HE Department of Tourism has affirmed its support for the Intramuros Administration as it continues to advocate for greater convergence between sustainable tourism, culture and heritage.

“Ensuring a sustainable tourism industry entails a holistic management plan that starts with a great vision, and the Intramuros Administration’s vision is inclusive for integrating its people’s welfare, both the residents and tourists, with economic development and cultural heritage preservation,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“This is exactly what we want to foster

in other cultural heritage sites across the country, to emphasize that tourism is serving a huge impact to the country’s economic progress and the development of people surrounding these sites,” Puyat stressed.

The 2022 Onwards vision is anchored on three pillars: 1) convergence of urban regeneration, 2) cultural heritage and 3) sustainable tourism, which will enable Intramuros to become a “sustainable

creative urban heritage district.”

Intramuros Administration head lawyer Guiller Asido said: “With the help of the national government, we are progressively accomplishing our programs for our Intramuros.”

“We’re done with some of our infrastructure projects, such as establishment of Museo de Intramuros, lighting and landscaping projects on Muralla street, Burgos and Bonifacio Drives, reclaiming of public spaces, and the rehabilitation of Fort Santiago, among other projects as well,” he added.

Six priority programs are slated to achieve this vision, namely: 1) prepa-

UP’s Florendo appointed new SEARCA deputy

A supporter of former Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio gives a gift to a child, while other children partake of the food served during the giftgiving activity (inset).

By Brenda Jocson

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna―Professor Joselito G. Florendo, outgoing vice president for Planning and Finance of the University of the Philippines System, has been appointed as deputy director for Administration of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture effective Dec. 1, 2019.

Hosted by the Philippine government on the campus of UP Los Baños, SEARCA is mandated to strengthen institutional capacities toward agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through its programs on graduate education and institutional development, research and development, and knowledge management.

Florendo is an associate professor at the UP Diliman Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business.

Having served as vice president for Planning and Finance of the UP System from May 2014 to November 2019, Florendo brings with him an extensive experience in administration.

Shell International’s Biofuels Sustainability Compliance officer Helen Scholey (1st row, 6th from left), Pilipinas Shell vice president for External and Government Relations Serge Bernal (1st row 5th from left), JNJ Industries AVP for Finance Arold Jao (1st row 7th from left) and members of the Agdangan Cooperative witness the opening of the COCO Hub Facility in the town in Quezon province.

ration and implementation of the first Intramuros’ Conservation Management Plan (CMP), 2) pedestrianization of the streets, 3) Manila’s Tourism Circuit, 5) open spaces redevelopment, and 6) the SIMPLE program or the Strategy for the Effective Mainstreaming of People’s Living Entitlements which will address the long standing concern on the problem of informal settlers.

The CMP aims to provide guidelines for the preservation and improvement of Intramuros as an urban heritage site.

This plan also includes a disaster resiliency component to ensure safety of all people within Intramuros.

Navotas fetes teachers, unveils free school Wi-Fi

By Jun David THE Navotas City Government recently held a mini concert and launched free Wi-Fi in public schools in celebration of Navotas Teachers’ Day. For three hours, Itchyworms, Richard Gutierrez and Moira dela Torre performed to honor and entertain the 1,800 public teachers in the city.

In his speech, Mayor Toby Tiangco thanked the educators for their commitment to ensure quality learning for the Navoteño youth and for their steadfast support to the city government.

“Your constant support to the city’s programs and projects has made us achieve prestigious recognitions. Among these are the Seal of Good Education Governance in 2018 and 2019, the Galing Pook award, and the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance,” he said.

The mayor then led the ceremonial launching of the NavoConnect free wi-fi in the 24 public elementary and high schools in the city.

Each hotspot can accommodate 100 users per hour, and each user will have free internet connection for an hour.

Meanwhile, Rep. John Rey Tiangco related a story about an Alternative Learning System teacher who had to fetch her students from their homes just to ensure that they go to school.

“Your dedicated service helps us secure a bright future for our next leaders. We hope that in due time, the seeds of knowledge and love for learning that you planted in our youth will equip them when their time to run our city comes,” he said.

Eusebio siblings lead annual Christmas gift giving to street children AS PART of the Christmas tradition of the Eusebio family, former Pasig City Mayor Robert “Bobby” Eusebio, together with his siblings, spearheaded their annual gift-giving even to street children of Pasig at Dona Juana Subdi-

vision Covered Court in Rosario, Pasig City last Dec. 7.

Each of the five Eusebio siblings were tasked to prepare Christmas gift bags for 100 beneficiaries, making it a total of 500 beneficiaries.

During the gift-giving activity, there were performances from magicians and clowns. There were also games and prizes for all those who participated in the games. The festivities ended with a simple feast for

the participants.

The annual gift giving started in 1992 and it has become an annual festivity. This year, the Eusebio family focused on granting the Christmas wish list of the children.

Coco Hub trains farmers on alternatives CONSIDERED one of the Philippines’ major crop exports, the coconut, over the years has lived up to its name as the tree of life. Still, it can be hard for Filipino farmers to sustain themselves through the crop alone.

But over the last year, Shell International and Pilipinas Shell, through its social investment arm Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., have partnered with JNJ Industries and the Quezon province farmers and cooperatives to change this.

Their sustainable and alternative livelihood initiative, the Collaboration for Coconut Productivity and Nurturing Farmers’ Trade, or

Project COCONUT, aims to help coconut and copra farmers provide higher quality products and a more stable income.

On Nov. 11, Shell International, PSFI and JNJ Industries opened the COCO Hub Facility in Agdangan Quezon. This is the second facility in the area, following a hub in Kabulihan Unisan which opened in April 2019.

The hubs are helping farmers make their coconuts go further. Once a coconut is harvested, the copra (dried coconut flesh) is processed into coconut oil for their production of food products, oleo chemicals and biofuels.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

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‘Tis the season to be stylish C

HRISTMASTIME is party time. As glitz and glamor mark the season of merriment and festivities, it’s the perfect time for ladies and gents to dress to the nines.

For her

Criselda Lontok dials up the glamor—but with a youthful twist—with ensembles and separates in vibrant colors. Ladies can turn up the style with voluminous sleeves and ball gown skirts, or go casual with floral embellished jackets and chic cigarette pants.

Chicness and comfort are queen for Jill as the brand dresses the powerful woman in versatile pieces that can easily be mixed and matched, such as wide leg pants and kimono tops, and accessories like bucket bags.

Luna, on the other hand, lounges with an array of breezy pajama sets and kaftans in lovely prints and patterns.

Lady Rustan delights with refreshing silhouettes made of breathable fabrics to celebrate women’s femininity. Each piece lets wearers move effortlessly whether while hosting an intimate party at home or heading out to a Christmas cocktail.

The epitome of effortless elegance, Oleg Cassini dresses up women with classic, versatile styles made to conquer the hustle and bustle of the day.

Power suits and blazers come in muted tones and vibrant, eye-catching palettes; while tops dresses feature exclusive prints.

Lotus puts a playful touch to this season’s tidings with vibrant prints and relaxed silhouettes, helping wearers stay comfy and cozy as they hop from party to party at the beach, resort, or any tropical vacation.

SMART CASUAL

in U My Philippines ensemble of Carambola T-shirt with printed cuffs and Cebu pants in beige.

BELLE OF BALL

in Blush Cheska halter top and pleated ball skirt from Criselda Formal.

For him

Dapper gentlemen can get into the merry vibe of the holiday season in sharp and sleek suits, tailored trousers, and clean-cut crisp button down shirts from U My Philippines.

Meanwhile, Oleg Cassini Man is all about a polished holiday look complete with jackets, polo shirts, and chinos that come in rusty tones of orange and red or shades of blue.

The master of construction and timeless design, Ricardo Preto creates a wonderful collection that not only allows gents to confidently wear the pieces this season, but even in the seasons after.

Simple lines and strong silhouettes define each piece, made more versatile by a universal palette of black, navy, and burgundy.

FROM WORK TO PARTY

in Oleg Cassini Jane teal turtleneck midi dress and Bertha bag in tan brown.

These pieces are part of the holiday collection of Rustan’s Private Labels exclusively available at Rustan’s department stores and rustans.com.

Rich Plum Festive Sack (left) and Juicy Pear Festive Sack

DASHING GENT

in Ricardo Preto’s Orion blazer and trousers in navy, Pasteur long sleeves dress shirt in white, and high cut boots in tan.

GIFT GUIDE

Beauty comes in different packages UNWRAP the most beautiful gifts this holiday season. Indulge loved ones or yourself to these skin-caring essentials.

Beauty Bar Coconut Hibiscus gift set (left) and Smashbox Primer Trio

The Body Shop The Body Shop’s Rich Plum Festive Sack is a fruity and floral collection composed of body scrub and hand cream.

Creamy and indulgent Warm Vanilla Delights come with a double pick from Warm Vanilla Range: Warm Vanilla Body Butter, Warm Vanilla Shower Gel, and an Ultra Fine Bath Lily.

The Juicy Pear Festive Sack is stuffed with goodies from this Christmas-only range of The Body Shop enriched with pear extract from Italy.

Other skin-loving gift sets from the company include the Soothing Almond Milk and Honey Premium Collection, the delightful Festive Body Butter Trio, and The

Rocket Gift Set. Glow like the sky’s brightest star with The Body Shop’s Party Makeup Collection consisting of Drops of Gold Lustre Finish Creator for instant luminosity, glossy Shine Lip Liquid to finish the look, and Matte Lip Liquids in rich, intense, and flattering shades.

Every purchase at The Body Shop between November and December will help support Plan International to provide training for 1,500 girls in Indonesia and Brazil.

The Rocket Gift Set

12 Days of Christmas gift set (top) and Chris Moose gift set

Lush

Skin-caring gift sets from Lush are detectable with the Lush Lens feature on the #LushLabs app, an innovation developed

by Lush’s in-house team of Tech Warriors.

To discover which Naked products are inside, open up the Lush Lens feature on the Lush Labs app and scan. The Lush Labs app replaces the need for

excess packaging with a digital solution, reducing impact on the environment. The collection will start with five Christmas gifts and five all year

Beauty Bar Beauty Bar packs favorite personal care products in holiday gift sets perfect as stocking stuffers.

The sets— for men and women — offer a complete range of bath and shower necessities. It also includes individual cosmetic essentials.

S o m e rset gift set, also available at Beauty Bar, includes bath and body products from the Somerset Toiletry Company. Somerset’s all-year-round gift collection includes Luxury

Soap on a Rope, Scented Bath Salts, Mini Hand Care Sets, Bath Fizzer Bars, and boxed Greeting Cards with a heartshaped soap.

For those who love to create cosmic-level look for the holidays and beyond, pick a set or two from Smashbox Holiday Collect ion 2019 whose Bergamot p a c k a g i n g Amber and was designed Vanilla gift set by California artist Kessica Weymouth. The collection consists of Primer Trio Set, Palette Trio Set, Brush Set, and Lunar Highlighter.

Life

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

S

CENES straight out of old Hollywood movies are captured in the holiday 2019 advertising campaign of American label Guess.

The campaign features models Erin Cummins, Kellie Stewart, and Francesco Monte in a sequence of photographs showcasing the most sought after looks for the holiday season.

Chief creative officer Paul Marciano directed the campaign, which was shot through the lens of Tatiana Gerusova in Los Angeles, California.

Marciano, who personally selected the models, shared, “It is the first campaign for Kellie Stewart and Francesco Monte in North America and with the company, and we welcome them to the Guess family.”

This season’s women’s collection features an extensive selection of denim in the form of jeans and jackets, styled with lace body suits.

Standouts from the line include a faux fur jacket in black as well as faux leather pants and moto jackets in a variety of colors.

Houndstooth print pencil skirts paired with rocker-chic moto jackets are perfect for upcoming seasonal soirees.

For Guess guys, refined button-downs are offered in various colors and patterns. Denim jeans and jackets remain at the forefront of the men’s collection. Options on offer are a mixture of distressed and clean styles in both black and blue washes and are complemented by cozy hooded logo sweatshirts.

The collection is now available at Guess outlets nationwide.

Old Hollywood glam BEHIND THE GLAMOROUS SCENES. The holiday 2019 campaign of American label Guess features three models in a sequence of photographs that offers a glimpse

of old Hollywood glam.

Faux fur jacket and faux leather pants for women, and denim jeans and jackets for men are the star of Guess’ holiday 2019 collection.

EB treats partners in beauty

From left: Blackwater brand manager Ivan Banez, Ever Bilena brand manager Elin Katipunan, marketing manager Olive Padilla, Niña Singanon, Careline brand manager Miya Inomata, and EB Advance brand manager Creole David.

(Inset) Ever Bilena’s range of cosmetics on display.

J.Lo for Coach NEW York-based luxury leather goods label Coach now has “Jenny from the Block” herself as its newest global face.

Like the house—which was founded in New York 78 years ago—Jennifer Lopez shares a belief in possibility and authentic self-expression. Known for its legacy of leather craftsmanship, quality, and New York style, Coach today is defined by a spirit of optimism, inclusion, and authenticity.

“Jennifer is so authentic. She’s determined and she’s an original who has followed her own path to do things her own way––she really embodies the attitude of Coach and our new campaign,” said Coach creative director Stuart Vevers.

Vevers mentioned particularly the time when Lopez carried the Coach Signature bags in her 2002 music video for All I Have.

“She’s from New York like Coach, which creates another authentic connection with our heritage, and I’m particularly excited about bringing Jennifer and Juergen Teller together,” added the house’s creative director.

J.Lo will debut as the brand’s latest endorser in the Spring 2020 season campaigns for leather goods, readyto-wear, and footwear.

“I’m so excited for this collaboration with Coach,” she said. “It is a timeless brand that I’ve always been a fan of and the upcoming collection really speaks to my personal style––an uptown downtown mix.”

Coach is located at Powerplant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, City of Dreams, and Greenbelt 5.

The Bronx babe Jennifer Lopez is the new global face of New York label Coach.

LOCAL cosmetics company Ever Bilena marked another beautiful year with a carnival-themed thanksgiving celebration.

Over a hundred beauty influencers, content creators, media partners, and valued patrons joined Ever Bilena’s Fun Fair Thanksgiving Party. Guests were treated to fun activities, including carnival attractions, exhibitions, and a thrilling bull ride machine.

Each brand offered fun games to guests—there was a balloon dart game at the Ever Bilena booth, a ring toss game at the EB Advance booth, claw machines at the Careline booth, and a basketball arcade game at the Blackwater booth.

The night became more exciting during the “Bucks or Unbox” game where participants were asked to choose between cash or a secret special prize inside the box. Lucky guests took home gift vouchers and cash prizes as much as P40,000.

Guests also got a sneak peek of soonto-be launched products from all various EBCI brands for the coming year.

Israel-based online store Spire Jewelry offers personalized necklaces and rings.

Personalized jewelry from Israel now in PH

ISRAEL-BASED online seller Spire Jewelry brings its high quality, personalized jewelry to the Philippines.

The company, whose design philosophy is anchored on making quality yet affordable jewelry to a generation of fashion-forward women, offers budgetfriendly necklaces and rings which can be personalized.

“At Spire Jewelry, you can choose wonderfully crafted pieces free to be customized with beautifully made typefaces and fonts. From n`ecklaces to refined rings, we got you all covered in the most wonderful time of the year,” enthused Spire Jewelry chief executive officer Noam Sinansky.

Each piece is handcrafted by a local artisan, and made with special gemstones and gold-plated metals.

Pieces from Spire’s Heart Collection, which feature elegant heart shape designs, range from P1,450 to P2,200.

The Monogram, Infinity, and Bar necklaces are priced at the same range.

The Name Rings, on the other hand, are priced at P1,550. Prices include shipping for a limited time only.

Launched in 2018, Spire Jewelry has now garnered thousands of customers

Each piece is handcrafted by a local artisan.

from all over the Philippines. Its custom jewelry products can be purchased online through Cash On Delivery. According to the brand, it currently has a strong following in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central and Western Visayas, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.

Go to spire.store or @SpireJewelry to know more.

Personalized necklaces are made of goldplated materials.

Entertainment ‘Malvar’ announces star-studded launch

City where the probable all-star cast of Malvar led by Senator Manny Pacquiao shall be announced by Camarines Sur Vice. Gov.Imelda Papin, who line produces the film. Sec. Salvador S. Panelo, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson, will be the keynote

L

OCAL streaming platform iWant is going full out for the celebration of its relaunch’s first anniversary as it unlocks a premium world for all its subscribers.

Reintroduced as a streaming platform with original video content in November 2018, iWant makes ten premium movie titles accessible for free to all its users every week for seven weeks, until Jan. 5.

The binge fest began on Nov. as iWant’s free anniversary treat offered Kita Kita, Sid and Aya, Never Not Love You, Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, My Ex and Whys, I Love You, Hater, Changing Partners, I’ve Fallen For You, Loving in Tandem, and 100 Tula Para Kay Stella.

More options were be made available to those who planned their movie marathons from Nov. 25 until Dec. 1 with Barcelona: A Love Untold, First Love, Sakaling Maging Tayo, Sin Island, My Perfect You, Die Beautiful, Last Night, Saving Sally, Last Fool Show, and My Fairy Tale Love Story.

Aside from the free premium titles, iWant continues to produce original movies and series that resonate with Filipinos as it goes into its second year.

This December, users can look forward to the series Manillennials, about five millennials coming to terms with their careers and identities in Manila, as well

speaker and Batangas Gov. Hermilando I. Mandanas will be the guest of honor and speaker.

Malvar is the true-to-life story of Gen. Miguel Malvar as Supreme Commander of Filipino Forces during the 1899-1902 Philippine-American War.

as Pet Rangers, iWant’s first animated original series for kids.

Joseph Marco and Yam Concepcion also team up for the first time in the original series Uncoupling.

On iWant, pageant aficionados were able to follow Bb. Pilipinas Gazini Ganados’ journey in the Miss Universe 2019 competition. After the successful UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball, sports fans can also catch select SEA Games events live and on replay, as well as Dayories, an iWant original sports documentary featuring UAAP stars Ange Kouame, Rhenz Abando, and Ricci Rivero.

Since its relaunch in November 2018, iWant, which boasts the biggest library of Filipino video content, has produced original movies, series, and documentaries month after month—setting itself apart from other streaming platforms and changing the landscape of Filipino entertainment and digital content. iWant has also enlisted different creators, producers, and filmmakers to make original titles, including the viral romance Glorious, socio-political piece Bagman, the satirical comedy Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3, the sexy comedies Call Me Tita and MOMOL Nights, coming-of-age romance drama Past, Present, Perfect? and advocacy series Mga Batang Poz about HIV-positive teens that won Best Original Programme by a Streamer/OTT at this year’s Asian Academy Creative Awards.

Watch premium movies on iWant for free until Jan. 5 on the iWant app (iOs and Android) or iwant.ph.

In celebration of Lee Jeans’ 130th anniversary, they will bring collectibles and exclusive anniversary merchandise for the consumers via a popup store tour that will kick off in Manila, Philippines and make its way through China, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

To make it more remarkable, they brought Julie to General Santos to visit her fans in a “Meet and Greet” Mall Show at KCC GenSan last Nov. 29. The event, which featured a pop-up exhibit

with fun-filled D.I.Y. activities, was wellattended despite the weather, having hundreds of fans from different areas in the country flew over to GenSan to see and groove with Lee Jeans’ newest female ambassador.

Lee is one of the world’s most iconic signatures of quality, innovation and denim craftsmanship. Following the establishment of the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company by Henry David Lee in Kansas, U.S., in 1889, Lee starts on its journey to becoming a legendary denim brand.

Over the years, Lee has made history with its many product innovations such

Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi is a passionate activist who is engaged in the fight against gender-based violence.

THe Miss Universe crown is back to South Africa after Zozibini Tunzi bested 89 candidates from around the world at the finals of the 68th Miss Universe competition held at theTyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia Monday morning.

She succeeded outgoing Miss Universe Catriona Gray who crowned her with the new $5 million Mouawad crown bejeweled with a 62.83 carat golden canary diamond.

Tunzi, a 26-year-old BTech in PR student from Cape Town became the third South African to win the title after Margaret Gardiner in 1978 and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters in 2017.

Tunzi is passionate activist fighting against gender based violence.

A hard-core Marvel fan and Game of Thrones addict, she named South

as the world’s first-ever zip fly jeans – the 101Z in 1926, the iconic Hair-on- hide leather label and the Lazy S back pocket stitching. From the launch of the 1st Lee bib overalls to the 13oz 101 cowboy jeans, Lee has demonstrated an undying passion for innovation, and has transformed itself from a practical and durable work-wear maker to a contemporary and trend setting fashion giant.

As the new face of the brand, Julie devotes to resonate Lee Jeans’ undying passion for innovation through fashionforward OOTDs, inspiring her fans and the Filipinos to look their best and elevate their personal style.

as wildcard pick continuing the Philippines 10-year consecutive, semifinalist streak. But the 23-year-old Cebuana failed to make the Top 10 cut, that included Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, Miss Iceland Birta Abiba Þórhallsdóttir, Miss France Maëva Coucke, Miss Peru Kelin Rivera, and Miss Indonesia Frederika Alexis Cull.

Rounding out the Top 20 were from Africa and Asia-Pacific, Miss Vietnam Thuy Hoang and Miss Nigeria Olutosin Araromi; from europe, Miss Albania Cindy Marina, Miss Croatia Mia Rkman, and Miss Portugal Sylvie Silva; from Americas, Miss Dominican Republic Clauvid Daly, and the Wildcard, Venezuela Thalia Olvino, Miss India Vartika Singh, and Miss Brazil Julia Horta.

The 68th Miss Universe also had its first open gay contestant in Miss Myanmar Swe Zin Htet who followed last year’s first transgender delegate Miss Spain Angela Ponce. Former Miss America Vanessa Williams and Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo co-hosted the live show. ***

Binibining Pilipinas Queens shine on the Kulturang Kawit fashion show stage

The 26-year-old pageant queen is also a huge advocate for natural beauty.

African Olympic gold medalist middle distance runner Caster Semenya as her role model.

Miss Puerto Rico Madison Anderson Berrios, a 23-year-old Public Relations and Marketing student, and Miss Mexico Sofia Aragon, a 25-year-old visual culture and marketing graduate and author, finished as first and second runners up, respectively.

Facing the judges for the Top 3 final question “What is the most important thing we should teach young girls today?” Tuzin said “I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time, not because we don’t want to, but because of what society has labeled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world and we should be given every opportunity. Nothing is more important than taking up space in the society.”

Miss Colombia Gabriela Tafur Nader, a lawyer, and Miss Thailand Paweensuda Drouin, a Kinesiology pre-medical degree graduate, were named in the Top 5.

Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados made it to the magic 20

Joseph Marco and Yam Concepcion team up for the first time in the original series ‘Uncoupling.’

From C4

C3

breaks the mold

Watch premium content for free on iWanT

Trendy...

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Zozibini Tunzi

SNAPSHOT

LAWYER Jose Malvar Villegas, Jr. (left), grandson of National Hero, Gen. Miguel Malvar and producer of the upcoming film, Malvar, receives the Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar Gawad Plaridel Manananggol ng Bayan Award from the Samahang Plaridel, Association of Philippine Journalists, Inc. from Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando (right).

Villegas, founding chairman of the Katipunan Kontra Krimen at Korapsyon (KKK-CCW), announces that JMV Films/ Dreamwings-Papin Entertainment, will have a Christmas Party on Dec. 22 at Aberdeen Court in Quezon

wednesday, december 11, 2019

Kulturang Kawit Fashion Show, the closing event of the four-day expotourism event dubbed “One Love, One Kawit,” featured the 2019 Binibining Pilipinas queens with Kapuso and Kamilya talents.

Hosted by actor Juancho Trivino and Mutya Pilipinas AsiaPacific 2016 Ganiel Krishnan, the fashion show was the first ever held at the historic Aguinaldo Shrine, Liwasang Aguinaldo, a pet project of the Municipality of Kawit, Cavite, headed by Mayor Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo in cooperation with the Kawit Tourism Office.

The Bb. Pilipinas models included Miss International 2019 Top 8 finalist Atty. Patricia “Patch” Magtanong, Miss International 2018 first runnerup Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Globe 2019 2nd runner-up Leren Mae Bautista, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 Emma Mary Tiglao, and Bb. Pilipinas 2018 1st runner-up Vicky Rushton, together with Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Akeel and Mutya ng San Sebastian College 2019 Via Colleen Cruz.

The male models included Kapuso artist Eugene Runas, Kapamilya talent Gab Lagman, commercial model Miguel Villasis, model Dean Manalastas, Star Magic talent Kirst Viray, singer Yuki Sakamoto, JM Canillas, Adrian Pura, Aaron Davis, and Man of the World 2018 1st runnerup Clint Karklin.

The models shone in the breathtaking creations of homegrown Kawit designers of Jolex H. Remos, Marlon Jay Victa, Jhoemar Jack and Edmir Lagui.

The Municipality of Kawit has stepped up efforts to promote the town’s rich cultural heritage to local and foreign tourists aside from activities to enhance sports, education, social responsibility, trade and industry development.

Beauty queen models at Kulturang Kawit Fashion Show.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019

A heart-tugging movie within a movie Singer and TV host Julie Anne San Jose is the new face of Lee Jean's, which celebrates its 130th anniversary.

Trendy and fashion-forward JULIE Anne San Jose has literally done everything. From acting to performing, and from songwriting to hosting, she has done and conquered them all.

Now, the multitalented performer is ready to take on the world of fashion with her influential sense of style as Lee Jeans’ newest female ambassador.

Being used to the glitz and glamour of showbiz, Julie has graced red carpets one after the other with much confidence. What a lot don’t know about her is that off-cam, she prefers to rock denim outfits as it combines comfort and chic at the same time.

Lee Jeans has been a cult-favorite over the decades, creating the world’s most iconic signatures of quality, innovation and denim craftsmanship.

The trend-setting fashion giant is set to release a collection under their new line

‘Write About Love’ stars Rocco Nacino, Miles Ocampo, Yeng Constantino, and Joem Bascon.

IF YOU think Write About Love’s almost three-minute trailer has given far too much about the romantic film, all the more that you should watch its entirety as this Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 entry is a surprisingly perfectly written feature.

While the film’s execution shouts very much millennial, its appeal transcends generations of audiences passionate about romantic genre.

In the movie, our heroine known simply as Female Writer (played

by Miles Ocampo) learned the hard way, writing a script that will get a major studio to greenlight the project for filming. A hopeless romantic, she succeeded in getting one foot inside the door by initially presenting an original story called Just Us to a whole team of studio executives. A few days later, however, she gets a call back: Sorry, she’s told, but there’s an upcoming film with a similar plot.

But all is not lost. The studio heads would like a rewrite but only under the guidance and direction of a more experienced scriptwriter.

Enter Male Writer (Rocco Nacino), whose last film project became a box office hit.

Working together with a seasoned writer meant not just a few but a lot of dynamic changes to the original script. No more boy meets girl and the subsequent stages of falling in love (i.e. friendship, attraction, denial).

To the studio heads and Male Writer’s point of view, Just Us should be written as purely, a relationship story.

Enter the script’s characters namely Joyce (Yeng Constantino) and Marco (Joem Bascon) who are celebrating their first 100 days as a couple. In the script, Marco works as a construction engineer while Joyce is a talented singer for an up and coming band.

The two writers must now find ways to complicate this initially happy relationship and inject the script with all sorts of drama. So that by the time the fictional couple reaches their 200-day anniversary, things were already rocky

‘Lee 101 Plus,’ headlined by Julie, which includes well-structured, fashionable yet versatile piecesthat everyone can wear to a casual date or even a night out.

Like most of us, Julie’s chosen goto jeans through the years is Lee. It has become a staple in her wardrobe because of its practicality and for being a durable work-wear maker which makes the brand perfect for her lifestyle as a celebrity.

The 25-year-old Kapuso artist embodies the brand with her unapologetic attitude of living life to the fullest—all while having fun. Being one of the Clash Masters of GMA’s all-original Filipino singing competition The Clash and a mainstay performer in the weekend variety show Sunday PinaSaya,’ Julie approaches the spotlight with her uncompromising personality. Continued on C3

The story will give us a peek into the writing process for a romance film.

By employing an imaginative movie-withina-movie storytelling treatment in Write About Love, writer and director Crisanto B. Aquino has provided a fresh take on how art imitates life and vice versa. for Joyce and Marco. And it all finally came to a head when Marco makes Joyce choose between him or her career.

As the two screenwriters with contrasting views on love and relationship further develop the story, they start to realize that many of the choices and circumstances in Joyce and Marco’s lives are actually mirroring their own.

Like Joyce, Female Writer also comes from a broken family and is trying to find some sort of silver lining by creating a script based on her parents’ own love story which started as sweet and movieworthy until her father left them for a woman he depicted as his “one great love.” Unlike the “true-to-life” story which Just Us is based on, Female Writer wants to end her story on a happy note.

Like Marco who later faces what seems to be something insurmountable midway to the story, Male Writer is also dealing with his own personal struggles, unbeknownst to Female Writer.

The cast of 'Write About Love' with director Crisanto Aquino (rightmost) and TBA Studios executive Eduardo Rocha (center)

As the two writers slowly begin to set aside their differences and work together to create a compelling and believable story about love that movie audiences can relate to, the writing process leads them to a fulfilling path of self-discovery.

In the end, they realize what it truly takes—to write about love.

Write About Love will show viewers that writing a love story is as personal as it gets. Like Marco who becomes a total wreck when Joyce chooses her career, a parallel story in real time will show Female Writer getting hurt when Male Writer suddenly leaves her in the middle of an immersion trip just when things are beginning to click for both of them.

They may not realize it but the two writers are actually living in the movie that they themselves created. How it all plays out for both of them as well as for Marco and Joyce is what makes Write About Love stand out as it does away with all the contrivances that has characterized many other romcoms as of late.

Director Crisanto B. Aquino who cowrote the script with Janyx Regalo is known for being the country’s most sought after First Assistant Director and has worked with the likes of directors Chito Roño, Olivia Lamasan, Rory Quintos, Laurice Guillen, Cathy Garcia-Molina and the master himself, Jerrold Tarog.

Clearly, this director knows what works and what doesn’t work.

By employing an imaginative moviewithin-a-movie storytelling treatment in Write About Love, Aquino has provided a fresh take on how art imitates life or vice versa. Such a refreshing new approach to the genre may likely set some sort of a template for how love stories are presented on the big screen from hereon.

As further enhanced by the equally winning score by TBA’s most celebrated filmmaker Jerrold Tarog, it may not be surprising at all if Write About Love emerges as the sleeper hit of this year’s MMFF 2019.

Write About Love opens Dec. 25 in cinemas nationwide and is TBA Studios’ official entry to the MMFF 2019. It recently received a G rating (suitable for all audiences) from the MTRCB and a B-Grading from the Cinema Evaluation Board.

The film’s official music soundtrack

by Yeng Constantino is now out via Star Music Philippines.

Idina Menzel (C), who voices Queen Elsa in “Frozen 2,” poses with other actors on Nov. 17 at the European premiere of the film in London

‘Frozen 2’ tops box office anew IN A rare show of box-office stasis, the top five films in North American theaters were unchanged this weekend from last, led again

by Disney blockbuster Frozen 2, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The animated musical, which has Queen Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) and the gang traveling to an enchanted forest, took in an estimated $34.7 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, boosting its domestic total to $337 million and its global take to $920 million.

That lifted Disney’s global ticket sales for 2019 past a record $10 billion, according to Hollywood Reporter.

In second again was Lionsgate’s murder mystery Knives Out, at $14.2 million for the weekend.

The film stars Daniel Craig—a detective with a droll, over-thetop Southern accent—Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans in an

‘Knives out’ cast members Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans

Agatha Christie-worthy tale that critics have called “deliciously entertaining.”

In third was Fox’s Ford v. Ferrari, at $6.5 million. The film, based on a true story, tells how a team at Ford built a car to challenge Ferrari’s dominance of France’s classic 24-hour Le Mans race. Matt Damon and Christian Bale star.

Universal’s Queen & Slim placed fourth, taking $6.5 million. Daniel Kaluuya of Get Out fame and Jodie Turner-Smith, a British-born model and actor, play an AfricanAmerican couple whose terrible first date turns even worse when they have a disastrous encounter with a racist cop.

And in fifth was Sony’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, taking in $5.2 million. The drama recounts the true story of how a cynical and distrusting journalist is befriended by beloved TV star Fred Rogers, played by Tom Hanks. AFP