Manila Standard - 2019 December 16 - Monday

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SENATORS URGED TO TAKE STEPS FOR CHARTER CHANGE

By Rio N. Araja CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Sunday called on senators to back a measure that would amend the 1987 Constitution, particularly a provision that would ensure three senators for each of the country’s nine regions.

“Many regions do not have the representation at the Senate,” Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, told a radio interview. “Many of them [the senators]

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 305 • 2 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

are from Metro Manila.”

“I hope our senators would listen. Just listen to all regions in our country who are always clamoring [for] …. representation in the Senate. Because the Senate also approves the budget. If there is no senator from their regions, they [feel] aggrieved,” he said.

Rodriguez’s committee, in an executive session, approved a resolution to amend the Constitution, including a provision to require the election of three senators from Next page

6.8 quake jolts Davao; kid dies Duterte safe; 37 hurt; rescue efforts in full swing

By Rio N. Araja

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POWERFUL earthquake hit Mindanao on Sunday, killing a child and damaging buildings in an area still recovering from a string of deadly quakes in October.

Police said a rescue operation had been Patients were evacuated from hospitals launched at a heavily damaged market as a precaution and nervous crowds massed building near the 6.8-magnitude quake’s outside shopping malls after the jolt and a epicenter, which is about 90 kilometers series of smaller, but strong aftershocks. from Davao City.

“We can no longer use our office be-

cause the walls cracked and the stairs collapsed,” local police spokeswoman Lea Orbuda said. “The power is off and the water taps are dry.”

She added that at least 24 people had been taken to the hospital, adding search operations continued. Another 13 were reported hurt in a neighboring area, police said.

Police said a six-year-old girl died when her house collapsed.

Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas said a team of rescuers has been sent to Next page

‘AFP takeover of water firms has legal basis’

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

Cracks and damages show in several buildings such as the Matanao High School (top) and Municipal Hall of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake (USGS) that struck Mindanao Sunday morning. A six-year-old child died when the family house collapsed while at least 24 other people were hurt but other reports said 13 more were injured. AFP

9-day Simbang Gabi rings in X’mas tradition, filial devotion

By Honor Blanco Cabie THE nine-day Midnight Mass starting today in Aglipayan and Catholic churches symbolizes the jubilant celebration of the Mass or Service of Worship in honor of the Nativity of Jesus, a tradition that began in the early 400s.

The Midnight Mass, its ninth edition on Christmas Eve which becomes a Christmas Day, is moored in the belief that Jesus was born at midnight.

Christians in this nation of 106 million, nearly 13 million of whom live in the thriving metropolis, gather in their

The Quiapo Church, officially called Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Ampatuan killings: 80 suspects at large

By Rio N. Araja TEN years after the Maguindano massacre took place on Nov. 23, 2009, 80 other accused, “mostly shooters,” have managed to evade arrest and prosecution.

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JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to order a military takeover of the operations of the two private water concessionaires in Metro Manila, saying the Chief Executive has authority to do so under the 1987 Constitution.

“Under the Constitution, the state may temporarily take over or direct the operations of privately owned public utilities or businesses affected with public interest—in case of national emergency and when public interest requires it,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

“These are factual issues that only the President, as chief executive, can determine,” he added.

The President earlier warned of a military takeover of the operations of Maynilad and Manila Waters after the two water concessionaires sued the Next page

Miss World dedicates win to ‘that little girl’ JAMAICAN psychology student Toni-Ann Singh was crowned Miss World 2019 Saturday at a ceremony in London, with Miss France and Miss India runners-up in the beauty pageant.

“To that little girl in St. Thomas, Jamaica and all the girls around the world— please believe in yourself,” Singh, 23, tweeted.

“Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams. This crown is not mine but yours. You have a PURPOSE,” she wrote.

Singh was crowned by last year’s winner, Mexican Vanessa Ponce de Leon.

Singh is the fourth Jamaican to win the title. France’s Ophely Mezino and India’s Suman Rao were the runnersup. AFP

Newly crowned Miss World 2019 Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh (center) smiles as she poses with her entourage during the Miss World Final 2019 at the Excel arena in east London on Dec. 14. AFP

Rights activists go to court over piglets

Tokyo’s heat-proof Olympic Stadium

LITTLE piggies go to market, but in Germany they also go to court.

In a legal first, animal rights activists have asked Germany’s top court to ban the practice of castrating young male pigs without anesthetic—with

TOKYO formally unveiled its 60,000-seater main Olympic Stadium Sunday, more than seven months before the 2020 Opening Ceremony—with a host of special features to beat the feared heat.

Built on the site of the former national

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Shell sets off new round of oil price hike

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil distributors are expected to raise the price of diesel and kerosene by P0.40 and P0.60 per liter, respectively, effective Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the international market.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. announced it will raise the price of diesel

by P0.40 per liter and kerosene by P0.60 per liter, but will not adjust gasoline prices starting 6 a.m. on Dec. 17.

“Expect fuel prices to have minimal movement next week [Dec. 17 to 23]. Diesel should increase by P0.25 to P0.35. Gasoline should have no price movement,” Unioil Philippines said in its weekly forecast.

On Dec. 8 and 10, most of the oil companies implemented a price cut on petroleum products. They cut gasoline prices by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter, diesel

by P0.10 per liter and kerosene by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter.

The year-to-date adjustments now stand at a net increase of P6.47 per liter of gasoline, P3.76 per liter of diesel and P0.61 per liter of kerosene.

World oil prices reacted to the reports of a closer resolution in the ongoing USChina trade war last week, but analysts are still watching developments from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC has decided to cut its production output to shore up oil prices.

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Nena Santos, a private prosecutor representing 38 of the 58 victims, said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 will read the verdict to only 107 respondents “since 80 others remain at large.”

When asked about the extent of their participation in the crime, she told the Manila Standard that “most of them were shooters from the military, police and civilian volunteer organizations.”

“Should they be arrested, they would face trial,” she said.

“They cannot be tried in absentia since they have not faced arraignment.”

All surnamed Ampatuan, 15 members of the principal accused, the late Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., remain scot-free.

One of them is the governor’s brother, Datu Kanor Ampatuan, as well as his son.

At least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed and buried alive while on their way to Shariff Aguak on Nov. 23, 2009 when armed men accosted and attacked them.

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the piglets themselves listed as the plaintiffs.

The group wants judges to recognize that pigs have rights similar to human rights and that these are being violated by the “cruel act” of castration without pain relief.

“Non-human entities like companies and associations have legal personhood.

So why not animals too?” said lawyer Cornelia Ziehm, who is supporting PETA in representing the piglets in court.

‘Little chance of succeeding’ PETA argues that under German law, animals cannot be harmed without reasonable explanation.

“The castration of piglets—with or without anesthesia—is in clear violation of this, giving Germany’s male piglets only one option: To sue for the enforcement of their rights in court,” the group said in a statement.

The crux of the case is their argument that in Germany “everyone” (jedermann) can file a constitutional complaint if they believe their basic rights have been violated—even a pig.

But Jens Buelte, a law professor at Mannheim university, doubted whether the judges in Karlsruhe would see it the same way.

“Animals do not have their own rights under German law,” he said, giving PETA’s lawsuit “little chance of succeeding.”

Alternatives German farmers, who remove testicles from roughly 20-million piglets each year, have long resisted the push to end castration without anesthesia.

They say there is a lack of workable alternatives to tackle boar taint, in an industry already struggling with fierce foreign competition.

Local anesthesia and gene editing are not yet viable or too expensive, they say, and would raise the cost of pork in a country famous for its love of schnitzel and sausage.

The government agreed in late 2018 to give the farmers a final two-year extension before the ban takes effect—a decision decried by the opposition Greens and far-left Die Linke, who argued it put the interests of the meat industry above animal protection.

‘No let-up vs. Reds amid peace bid’ T

By Francisco Tuyay

But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a relentless military campaign would be carried-out against the NPA terrorist as the talks progressed.

This developed as four communist rebels were killed in an encounter with security forces in Matnog town in Sorsogon on Sunday morning.

“No let-up even during the peace talks on our operations against their armed components who continue to wage war, Lorenzana said as he viewed the Samar attack as a deliberate attempt by the NPA to project their strength.

“That usually is what they do on the

eve of peace talks to project their socalled strength.”

Meanwhile, the family members of one of the victims of the communist rebels’ bomb attack in Eastern Samar last Friday asked the government to put an end to the decades-old insurgency.

Dario Rapada, 44, told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday that the rebel group should stop conducting treacherous attacks that had killed and wounded civilians, including the elderly and children.

The father of three is the husband of Mary Grace Rapada, 39, who suffered head fractures when the rebels detonated

an improvised explosive device on a section of the primary highway in Libuton village, Borongan City, around 3 p.m.

Mary Grace was heading home to San Julian town from the city on board a tricycle when the rebels detonated the explosive intended for a passing police patrol car. She is one of the civilians wounded in the attack and is now confined at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City.

“We don't really understand what they're fighting for, but we are suffering from their attack against the government, said Dario, a gasoline station cashier in Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar.

Lorenzana said the return to the negotiating table is a move aimed at bringing the underground fighters back to the society.

At least 13 other civilians, including three minors and four policemen, were also wounded in the ambush in a forested village in Libutan, Borongan, Samar.

AFP spokesman Edgard Arevalo said

6.8 quake...

cies have been mobilized to respond to the present conditions and provide immediate assistance to those in need.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said buildings at the Davao airport showed cracks after the quake struck. No damage, however, was reported to the airport’s runway.

There was no threat of a tsunami, said the US Geological Survey, which initially reported the magnitude at 6.9.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake’s epicenter was located at six kilometers west of Padada town around 12 kms south to Digos City.

The tremor occurred at 2:11 p.m., six kilometers northwest of Padada town.

Of tectonic origin, the quake had a depth of 30 kilometers.

Intensity 7 was felt in Matanao and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur, while Kidapawan City; General Santos City; Bansalan in Davao del Sur; Alabel and Malapatan in Sarangani, and Koronadal City experienced intensity 6.

Intensity 5 was felt in Tulunan and Matalam, Cotabato; Cotabato City; Davao City and Glam in Sarangani, while Kalilangan, Talakag and Dangcagan in Bukidon had in-

tensity 3.

Intensity 2 was felt in Impasug-ong in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro, and intensity 1 in Zamboanga del Sur. Three quakes above 6.0 magnitude hit roughly the same area of Mindanao in a matter of weeks in October, killing some two dozen people and heavily damaging office buildings, schools and apartments.

Tens of thousands of people were forced into shelters by the string of tremors, the government said, either because their homes were damaged or they were too afraid to return.

Most of the deaths in October were due to collapsing walls and falling debris, including a teenage boy who was crushed by a falling wall as he tried to escape his school.

Other fatalities were attributed to rock and landslides unleashed by the violent shaking that injured at least 400 people.

The Philippines has been hit by several very powerful earthquakes in recent decades, including one of magnitude 7.8 that struck the northern resort town of Baguio in 1990.

That tremor toppled multi-story buildings and hotels, killing some 1,200 people.

With AFP

2009 for another 15 years.

The review of the concession agreements with Maynilad and Manila Waters was initiated after the water distributors implemented rotational supply cuts and rationing amid limited supply, leaving residents in several parts of Metro Manila with dry taps.

On Sunday, Senator Cynthia Villar said she was not aware that her family-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. planned to offer its services to the government following the controversies houding Manila Water and Maynilad.

She said, howebver, that PrimeWater, run by her eldest son Paolo, was capable of distributing water in areas covered by Manila Water and Maynilad.

She also took a shot at the two concessionaires, saying PrimeWater was not engaged in crafting onerous contracts, and that unlike Manila Water and Maynilad, was not inherited but built up by her husband, former Senator Manny Villar.

“Remember, Manny did not inherit his business. He built it up on his own. Maybe the President was only saying that Manny worked hard to put up his business,” the senator said.

She said Manila Water was an inherited business while owners of Pangilinan and Consunji-led Maynilad came from wealthy families.

Manny Villar, with a net worth of $6.6 billion as of December, was declared the Philippines’ richest man in the Forbes’ 2019 list of the World’s Billionaires. He was ranked 317th richest worldwide.

The senator also backed the Duterte in demanding for a “fair” water agreement with Maynilad and Manila Water. She also believes the government’s contract with the two were disadvantageous to the people.

The government’s concession contracts with the Ayala-owned Manila Water and the now Pangilinan-led Maynilad were originally signed in 1997 during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.

While the agreements were set to expire in 2022, the government in 2009 extended them for another 15 years or until 2037. This was done during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, an ally of Duterte.

Also on Sunday, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers threatened to recommend the cancellation of the concession agreements between the MWSS and Maynilad and Manila Water.

In an interview over Dobol B sa News TV, Barbers, chairman of the House committee on public accounts, said lawmakers would have no second thoughts about cancelling their agreements if they were shown to be disadvantageous to the state and the people.

as Camalig in Albay and Minglanilla in Cebu―and the other Christian towns in the country―will intone yet once more the significance and message of the Midnight Masses which culminate on the eve of Christmas.

There will be those who talk of the simplicity the shepherds displayed, the first to go to Jesus in the manger and encounter, according to Christians, the world’s Redeemer, without even saying “transeamus usque Bethlehem (writer’s translation: Let’s go to Bethlehem).”

At the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church east of Manila, the parish priest Fr. Jaime Padilla has been talking about the Holy Year of Mercy and Compassion, wishing everyone should be able to welcome into their lives the mercy of God that Jesus had given to the faithful.

Priests, Aglipayans and Catholics, are one in saying while the Christmas story is captivatingly engrossing, there is something, the inroads of technology despite, that makes believers stop and think and realize that life is deeper than Yuletide’s commercialized portrayal.

And the cold winds from the Mongolian steppes, which have started to be felt in this tropical country in mid September, have been an apt reminder that before much too long the Church bells would start chiming the Midnight Masses.

In some streets of historic San Juan City, particularly Gilmore, Ortigas Avenue, Pinaglabanan and F. Blumentritt, including the square fronting the Agora Public Market, the colors have become a reminder that

Yuletide indeed is here.

In Makati’s Central Business District, Ayala Land has illuminated the six-lane Ayala Avenue with ornaments and light installations to mark the beginning of the Christmas season, with this year’s design showcasing bronze cone-shaped Christmas trees, angel wings and fan-inspired installations maximizing local products like capiz chandeliers.

The art installation near the Manila Standard office symbolizes light and life and sends what many describe as “a message of hope and strength” in this Southeast Asian archipelago, discovered for Europe by Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521.

Christmas songs as well have taken the night atmosphere―like the song Joy to the World, whose lyrics were written in 1719

by English hymn writer and theologian Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

"Joy to the World, the Lord is come!/ Let earth receive her King;/ Let every heart prepare Him room,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing."/ Elsewhere in the city, the Tagalog Christmas song “Pasko Na Naman” is being sung by young boys and girls in front of lanterndecorated houses.

"Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw./ Paskong nagdaan, tila ba kung kailan lang./ Ngayon ay Pasko, dapat pasalamatan./ Ngayon ay Pasko, tayo ay mag-awitan."/ (It's Christmas once again, the days roll by fast./ The past Christmas, 'twas like it had just passed by./ Now that it's Christmas, only proper we give thanks./ Now that it's Christmas, let's sing carols.//)

HE death of an elderly woman and a policeman following an NPA attack in Samar last Friday will not stop the planned resumption of the government’s peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, an official said Sunday.

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the town of Padada, where people were trapped inside a commercial building that collapsed.

The President and his daughter, Veronica, were in their house in Davao City when the earthquake struck but they were unhurt, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Mr. Duterte’s partner, Honeylet Avancena, was riding in a car at the time and was unhurt, the President’s spokesman Panelo said.

Jose Niembra, commander of the Presidential Security Group, said the President went back to sleep after the earthquake.

The President’s house was not damaged by the earthquake, he added, but it would still be checked for structural integrity.

Panelo asked the public to remain calm and be vigilant in anticipation of aftershocks.

“We likewise ask the public to refrain from spreading disinformation that may cause undue alarm and panic among affected communities,” Panelo said.

He said all concerned government agen-

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government—and won P10.8 billion as compensation—before a Singapore-based arbitration court.

The judgment caused President Duterte to rail against onerous concession contracts and threatened to file economic sabotage and plunder cases against the two water concessionaires for milking Filipinos of billions of pesos.

Duterte’s tirades and threats prompted Pangilinan-led Maynilad and Ayala-owned Manila Water to announce that they would no longer collect the P10.8 billion in compensation ordered by the arbitral court, supposedly to cover their losses after the government disallowed them from raising water rates.

Duterte said the government would not pay, and insisted that the agreements with the concessionaires be renegotiated to remove their onerous provisions and to better protect consumers.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System then revoked the extension of government’s concession agreements with Maynilad and Manila Water, saying this had “no legal basis”—even though it was the MWSS that had extended the contracts in

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respective parishes to celebrate the birth of Jesus, that moment, in the words of Roman Catholic Archbishop Diartmuid Martin “when the God who had existed before all ages took on human flesh for our salvation.”

Theologians say God took on human flesh and taught the believers what it meant to be human: The Christmas story getting past “a fascinating fairy tale: A wonderful story of simplicity set in the bleak and austere beauty of a cold winter’s night” nearly 8,800 kms away from this Land of the Morning.

Earlier on, the former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, recently appointed prefect of the Rome-based Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

by Pope Francis, reminded the Filipino Catholic faithful of the true essence of the Midnight Masses, saying these “are expressions of filial devotion that prepare the faithful as they receive Christ in their lives.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines itself previously underlined to the young Filipinos that they must “put God in their friendship” because the Midnight Masses were for worship and not for courtship.

Aglipayan and Catholic priests―from Gonzaga in Cagayan to Paoay and Pinili in Ilocos Norte down to Muñoz City in Nueva Ecija, Dagupan City in Pangasinan to Moncada and Gerona in Tarlac as well

the NPA carried out the attack despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to Secretary Silvestre Bello III to discuss with Jose Maria Sison how the peace negotiations could be resumed.

“In essence, the CPP-NPA under Mr. Sison and his stewards merely confirmed who they really are: opportunists in advancing the peace negotiations and transgressors of human rights masquerading as pro-people, Arevalo said.

Maj. Ricky Anthony Aguilar, Public Affairs chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said army and police forces from the 31st Infantry Battalion were on combat patrol in Tugas willage when they chanced upon 60 terrorists.

Aguilar said fighting followed and lasted for an hour, but the NPA group retreated and left behind four dead comrades.

He said the 60 NPA fighters were believed to have been planning a tactical offensive and at the same time conducting extortion activities in time for the CPP’s anniversary on Dec. 26 when they were spotted by government forces. With PNA

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each region, bringing their total number from the current 24 to 27.

Rodriguez said increasing the number of senators would allow Filipinos in the regions to have representatives in the Senate to protect them and to bat for development in the countryside.

He said the United States has a similar distribution, with two senators for every state.

Rodriguez also batted for longer terms and the removal of term limits.

A three-fourths votes of all members of Congress and the Senate are needed to approve the proposal, with each chamber voting separately.

“If the Senate does not back this, nothing really will happen. So we have to convince our senators to support this. Because if the Senate will not get three-fourths vote, that would be difficult,” he acknowledged.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, meanwhile, express concern over a provision that would allow foreign investors to own more than 470 percent of some Filipino businesses.

He said he was also taken aback over the approval of the resolution to amend political and economic aspects of the Constitution.

“I am more alarmed over the inclusion of a phrase ‘unless otherwise provided by the law,’” he said.

On Wednesday, the panel passed the resolution adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to the constitutional restriction that capped foreign ownership in certain businesses at 40 percent, he said.

He said Congress and the Senate are empowered to enact a law that would ease the restriction on foreign investments.

“There may come a time that Congress could pass a law mandating 60-40 foreign equity ratio, 80-20 or in fact, even a 100 percent foreign,” he said.

“With such amendment, we really would not know the extent of the control of foreign investors,” he added.

He said the proposal, if passed, would not provide “any stability at all.”

Each Congress may change the country’s economic framework depending on who could be good in lobbying to pass a certain law, he said.

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stadium used for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it has five floors above ground and two below, with greenery planted on the decks to provide shade from the scorching summer sun.

The eaves around the outer perimeter keep out sunlight and rain and will help channel breeze into the stadium. There are also eight mist spraying facilities, 185 fans and 16 air-conditioned lounges.

Opening the facility, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed its “top-level universal design” and “harmony with its surrounding environment.”

Renowned architect Kengo Kuma designed the stadium along traditional Japanese lines, with the use of wooden eaves and domestic lumber helping it to blend into the surroundings in central Tokyo.

The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies plus the flagship athletics events.

However, the marathon will not have its traditional finish there, as the event has been moved to Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido to avoid the expected heat and humidity of the capital.

The unveiling will come as a relief after the humiliation in September 2016, when Abe scrapped the original plans from late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid as the costs soared beyond $2 billion.

The stadium was also lowered to a height of 47 meters (154 feet) from the original design of 70 meters, which was criticized as too high and for being a potential eyesore on Tokyo’s skyline.

Total construction costs including design and supervising fees came to 156.9 billion yen ($1.45 billion), within the budget, according to officials. AFP

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lacson urges Duterte to veto pork in budget

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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ENATOR Panfilo Lacson urged President Rodrigo Duterte to veto what he insisted were “pork barrel” allocations in next year’s P4.1-trillion budget.

“The ball is now in the court of the President, if he will believe our explanation that this is pork and that this should be removed,” said the senator, standing his ground that 2020 national budget was riddled with pork and parked funds.

Lacson said he recommends that the President veto these anomalous budget items.

“Let us leave this matter to the President. We have different points of view

and arguments on the matter,” he said.

The senator insisted that allocations that are not clearly identified are still considered “pork” even if they are not made post-enactment of the budget.

He cited as example a P50 million asphalt overlay project for an entire city which did not identify the exact site.

“What’s the difference between the P50 million asphalt overlay in an entire city which we don’t know the location to a post-enactment identification (banned)

in the Supreme Court ruling? That’s still pork barrel and that’s still unconstitutional. It is just the same,” Lacson said.

Earlier, Lacson said his office received from the House of Representatives through the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office a USB drive containing two files —a “source” file and the “list” file.

He said a preliminary scrutiny of the last-minute insertions made by the House would indicate that the source file was a list of 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion that was apparently used as congressmen’s “source” for their “list” of 742 projects worth P16.345 billion that were inserted in the bicameral report.

But House appropriations panel chairman Rep. Isidro Ungab said the budget bill approved by the bicameral confer-

ence committee has “no pork, no lastminute insertions and no parked funds.”

Lacson, however, insisted otherwise.

“The records won’t lie. This is not like something taken from thin air.

There are details,” he said.

“Construction works in Candaba, Pampanga worth P22 million. Where in Candaba? They will identify the roads when they already start construction. The same is true for the construction of roads in Apalit, Pampanga for P18 million and the concreting and widening of roads in Tumauini, Isabela worth P30 million.”

“These are not just vague allocations.

These are lump sum allocations,” Lacson added.

Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte will veto any unconstitutional items in the proposed national budget for 2020.

President Rodrigo Duterte confers the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kampilan on one of the wounded soldiers he visited at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu on Dec. 14. Presidential Photo

LGUs to get extra P5.6b next year LOCAL governments will get an extra P5.6 billion in 2020 as their 40-percent share in the annual proceeds from the development of the national wealth in their respective areas, Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Sunday.

“The new money is in the P4.1trillion 2020 budget, and will be distributed to provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays where the economic utilization of resources such as energy reserves and mineral deposits is generating not only gainful employment, but also additional income for the national government,” Pimentel said.

“The P5.6 billion is 75 percent higher than the P3.2-billion share of local governments this year in the money obtained from the productive use of the national wealth within their jurisdictions,” he added.

The Local Government Code provides that in addition to their Internal Revenue Allotment, local governments are entitled to 40 percent of the National Treasury’s annual gross earnings “from mining taxes, royalties from mineral reservations, forestry charges, and fees and revenues collected from energy resources” in their vicinity.

“Under the law, once the local governments receive their portions, they have to use the money to fund local development and livelihood projects,” Pimentel said.

“In the case of local governments that get their shares from the harvest of energy assets, they must use at least 80 percent of the money solely to reduce the cost of electricity in the communities that supplied the resources.”

Just like in the past, Pimentel said regions that produce a lot of hydrothermal, geothermal and wind energy, as well as those with plenty of metallic mineral and coal mining activities, are expected to get the bulk of the new money.

Wounded soldiers, police in ASG clashes receive Order of Lapu-lapu Solon seeks end to vaccine monopoly A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to look into the possible monopoly in the procurement of child pneumococcal vaccines.

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Nina Taduran underscored the huge government savings that could be generated if there will be a public, open and competitive bidding for the vaccines.

Taduran said the estimated P900million government savings could then be used to address other critical health projects of the government.

“The general rule should be public bidding unless there is a compelling reason to veer away from it and opt for a different procurement process,” said Taduran, chairperson of the House committee on health.

However, the lawmaker emphasized that if there is no valid reason to limit the bidding to only one vaccine supplier, then the President should look into the procurement of child pneumococcal vaccines with a budget allocation of P4.9 billion.

Last November, it was revealed that the tender was limited to only one supplier despite the pronouncement of global vaccine authorities that the two available vaccines have the same effect in preventing the disease.

This resulted in a public clamor urging the Department of Health to make the tender open and competitive.

“We are currently analyzing the cost effectiveness and potency of some pneumonia vaccines available in the market,” Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo said in a press briefing last month.

Domingo said although the DOH has always called for open tenders, the original call for bidding for PCVs had specifications that were specific to just one vaccine brand.

“Specifications for biddings should be generic so that all brands and suppliers can participate. We will also refer it to the National Immunization Committee to see the vaccines’ costeffectiveness,” Domingo added.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has commended 10 soldiers and three policemen who were wounded in recent separate clashes with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.

President Duterte visited the wounded personnel at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu on Saturday where he bestowed the Kampilan medal on them.

“As your Commander-in-Chief, I move forward with you as we advance the common good and promote the security of our nation,” Duterte said.

“We thank you for risking your lives to protect us from elements that threaten the security of our country,” he added.

“To our brave soldiers who are Recipients of Kampilan medal are as a result of his participation in activity 1Lt. Vergara Geronimo, Sgt. Vicente pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of with us today, you are here because you have answered the call to serve Calvin Belino Jr., Corporals Ariel the President.

The soldiers and policemen were your nation by ensuring peaceful Gormonit and Cornelio Olandag; Privates First Class Albert Aras, Jezzer wounded during the Dec. 4 and 7 armed and safe communities for all,” the President said. PNA Ea, Jay-Arr Redula, Francis Ybañez, encounters with members of the ASG. John Carlo Casintahan, and Glenn Acayan; Police Senior Manila Standard SEC Bacolod clarifies it is not supporting M/Sgt. Adil Salamat; Police TODAY Chief M/Sgt. Abdulmuidz Yanson 4’s stockholders meeting Marajani; and Police Cpl. Halkim Ibno.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Bacolod Extension Office has clarified that it did not support the alleged stockholders meeting of the four Yanson The Order of Lapu-Lapu, siblings on December 7 which was separate from the one held by the legitimate Rank of Kampilan, is awardmanagement of Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) led by co-founder and matriarch Olivia V. ed to an individual who was Yanson earlier in the morning on the same day. seriously wounded or suffered great loss of property In a certification letter issued on December 12, SEC-Bacolod officer-in-charge Atty.

SC strikes down mandatory tax remittance to FDCP

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has upheld its decision declaring as unconstitutional the provisions of Republic Act No. 9167 mandating local government units to remit amusement tax to the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

However, the 15-member bench through Associate Justice EstelaPerlas Bernabe directed the Cebu City government to remit to FDCP the amount of P76.8 million, which the FDCP was entitled to prior to the Court’s en banc final decision.

The ruling declared as invalid and unconstitutional Sections 13 and 14 of RA No. 9167 which provided for the tax treatment of certain graded films—film producers were to be entitled to an incentive equivalent to the amusement tax imposed and collected by the cities, subject to various rates depending on the grade of their film, to be remitted to the FDCP. In ruling against the appeal of FDCP, the high court said the agency failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reconsideration of its decision.

“On the constitutionality issue, FDCP’s arguments in its motion are mere rehash of its position in the main and hence, cannot be sustained,” the SC said.

Court records showed that sometime in 1993, the City of Cebu, in its exercise of its power to impose amusement taxes under Section 140 of the Local Government Code, passed City Ordinance No. LXIX or the Revised Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the City of Cebu.”

Sections 42 and 43, Chapter XI of the ordinance requires proprietors, lessees or operators of theaters, cinemas, concert halls, circuses, boxing stadium, and other places of amusement to pay an amusement tax.

Congress passed RA No. 9167 on June 7, 2002 creating the FDCP. FDCP asserted that from the time the new law took effect up to the present, among the covered cities, only the City of Cebu has failed to comply with the mandate of the law.

Annabelle Corral-Respall said she and other representatives of SEC Bacolod Extension Office attended the Yanson 4 meeting as mere invitees and observers, as requested

by Roy V. Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Y. Lopez, Ricardo V. Yanson Jr. and Emily V. Yanson who are collectively known as the Yanson 4.

“The attendance of SEC Bacolod Extension Office to the said meeting as observers of a corporation with pending intra-corporate dispute was neither a confirmation of the validity of the meeting, nor of the claimed shareholdings of the abovenamed individuals, nor the affirmation of a quorum during the meeting, but it acted strictly as observers of the proceedings,” she said.

Corral-Respall said the SEC Bacolod Extension Office did not participate in any manner during the meeting and did not give any opinion or legal advice. “As a matter of fact, the undersigned(Corral-Respall) declined when asked to be an administering officer for the oath-taking of Mr. Roy V. Yanson, Mr. Ricardo V. Yanson Jr., Ms. Emily V. Yanson and Ms. Ma. Lourdes Celina V. Yanson-Lopez after their election that afternoon,” she said.

She said the SEC Bacolod Extension Office’s representatives signed only one document during the meeting which was an attendance sheet.

Madrid Danao & Associates, representing VTI’s legitimate stockholders, said the certification proves that “SEC is in no way supporting the bogus stockholders meeting of the Yanson 4”.

“That alleged bogus meeting took place on December 7 in SEDA Hotel Bacolod to confuse people that they are the legitimate owners/management of VTI,” Madrid Danao & Associates said.

Madrid Danao & Associates represents VTI and its controlling stockholders, directors and officers led by co-founder and Yanson matriarch Olivia V. Yanson, Leo Rey V. Yanson, Ginnette Y. Dumancas, Charles M. Dumancas, Anita G. Chua, Arvin John V. Villaruel and Daniel Nicolas P. Golez who were elected at the company’s principal office in Bacolod City on December 7, 2019 (Saturday).

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

Madrid Danao & Associates said the certification from SEC Bacolod Extension Office “boosts the message that the group of Olivia V. Yanson and Leo Rey V. Yanson is the rightful and lawful owners of the company as they are in actual possession of company assets and are in charge of operations.”

The law firm earlier said that SEC-Bacolod has no authority and/or jurisdiction to interfere with the intra-corporate dispute of the two parties. It also urged SEC-Bacolod and its representatives to “immediately cease and desist from interfering, aiding, abetting, favoring and/or granting unwarranted benefits to the impostor Y4”.

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

P127 billion and counting CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ ONE hundred twenty seven billion pesos is supposed to have been lost by the two MWSS water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, from the scrapping of the extension of their concession agreement to 2037.

Come clean and renegotiate, or agree to be taken over.

That is the estimate of the stock analysts looking over the books of the publicly listed conglomerates controlling these two companies.

That is supposed to be part of a huge pile, the total of which can only be extrapolated given the reported profits which these two MWSS “agents/ contractors" (as they sometimes like to identify themselves) have amassed since 1997. One estimate has it that between them, total reported profits since taking over the government's assets was a low of P150 billion.

Imagine what they would most likely amass if the extension of 15 years from the date of their contracts' expiration in 2022 subsists.

In any event, they should have expected that revocation coming when President Rodrigo Duterte angrily ordered a review of the 25-year concession agreements they entered into in 1997, and extended for 15 more

years in 2009, 12 years before the expiry dates. After all, that extension was already questioned before the Supreme Court right after it was inked. That case was on top of three other cases, still pending before the High Tribunal, questioning the very concession agreements themselves as well as what the petitioners claim as unjust, illegal and unconscionable charges, fees and expenses which the two firms have passed on to consumers from 1999 to the present.

Now, if these two firms are concerned about the P127 billion in potential earnings lost due to the cancellation of their agreements, they better prepare to lose more as the review and reformation of their contracts get underway given the latest statements coming from no less than Justice Secretary Meynard Guevarra who chaired the review panel.

For starters, Guevarra noted that the extension was illegal from Day One, precisely because the MWSS privatization ordered by then-President Ramos did not even contain a provision for it. He noted that the contract spoke of "renewal of the contract upon expiration and...to early termination." Those two options, if we may call these such, are far, far different from simply extending the contract beyond the original period.

It is clear that any renewal of contract or early termination requires the bidding for a new concession. An extension is a gift, a giveaway, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

The fact that the extension was simply done via a memorandum of agreement between the government through then Finance Secretary Gary Teves (was he chairing or even just a member of the MWSS Board at

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

T

A state commitment

HE Presidential Communications Operations Office held a Freedom of Information summit last week in Makati City. By virtue of Executive Order No. 2 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte just a few days after assuming office in 2016, it is the PCOO that is tasked to coordinate among all government agencies to ensure that the administration’s FOI program—even as it only applies to the Executive Department—is properly implemented.

During the summit, Assistant Secretary and FOI Program Director Kristian Ablan provided updates on the progress of the government’s FOI initiative.

Among the successes are the increase in the number of local government units with FOI ordinances (21 in 2019 from just three in 2017), the number of agencies with FOI manuals (69 this year from 32 in 2017), and a success rate of 47 percent in 2019 from 41 percent two years ago. The present success rate means that, for every 10 requests made by the public, government agencies are able to respond nearly half the time. This is still quite far from the 80-percent ideal rate, however.

Ablan said that they are working on both the request side—educating the public that they could seek information from the government—and on the response side, by helping government agencies provide the needed information.

He added that aside from the ben-

efits to good governance, the data requested by the public—mostly from the statistics agency, health, education, transportation, labor and public works departments, as well as from the weather bureau—are also used for personal, educational and business purposes. Indeed, this is empowering the citizenry through the availability of information.

Then again, amid these gains, a freedom of information law remains absent in the Philippine setting. According to the chairman of the House committee on public information, Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo, there are currently 16 pending FOI bills for their review.

He acknowledges several challenges to building an FOI environment across all branches of government—the sorry state of record-keeping among agencies, and the inherent unpreparedness of government employees to share information with the public, citing several privacy concerns. But while these challenges appear formidable, the availability of

technology should make change easier.

The executive order on FOI issued by the President is good, but it remains just that—an order that was made under the prerogative of one man , the sitting chief executive. A law, on the other hand, would institutionalize such an environment and would clearly, unequivocally show the state’s commitment to openness, transparency and accountability.

For Diana Torres of the United Nations Development Programme, an FOI law is the centerpiece in ensuring state compliance. An EO is not enough, she said, because if a law is not present, everything would be at the discretion of whoever is in power.

Then again, for those countries that do have an FOI law already, implementation is a challenge. What more for those like the Philippines that don’t?

There was a time when there was public clamor for the passage of a law.

No self-respecting lawmaker, after all, would go out and declare that he or she is against the right to information. We wonder, thus, what would provide the impetus for this piece of legislation, and why Congress does not seem to act with urgency on this basic requisite for governance.

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In character

THIS writer is very much saddened by the departure from mortal life of our fellow columnist and dear friend—Ambassador Andy del Rosario. In this space, let me express my profound condolences to Mary and the family.

I received the sad news just as I was about to begin a comprehensive physical checkup in a Taipei hospital. Upon sad reflection Tuesday morning last week, I thought of “intimations of mortality” to contrast with Wordsworth’s ode to immortality. It was thus with a bit of nervousness that I began a series of tests in an ultra-modern facility in Taipei.

Mercifully my fears turned out to be rather unfounded, as I was given a clean bill of health afterwards, save for some minor ailments to which were prescribed a little medicine and plenty of exercise for a body used to sedentary habits. Thank God and my parents for better genetics.

Which I am sure Andy also had, having lived to the ripe old age of 78.

My last talk with him and Mary were in Taipei more than two years ago when they visited.

Andy’s life was well-lived with many accomplishments, both as an editor, a writer and a diplomat. When I first entered public service as postmaster-general under President Cory, Andy was one of the few editors who gave me encouragement to weave through the difficulties of unaccustomed public life. He was introduced to me by his Standard reporter then, Nixon Kua who had an untimely death last 2012, and who was a good friend and constant buddy.

Hail and farewell, Andy! *** The recent saga of our water contracts and the episode of President Rodrigo Duterte’s righteous anger at

the second defeat of the country in the Singapore settlements court over the privatized water concessions is another example of the President’s leadership qualities.

Simply put, it was “in character.”

Would any other previous contemporary president of the republic taken the bull by the horns and acted with such swiftness?

And would the water service purveyors, the “oligarchic” Ayalas and the Salim-controlled MVP business empires have immediately capitulated with a major peace offering if the President were not Duterte?

Imagine if we had a wimp leading us these days.

The peace offering is nothing to scoff at: Waiving their multi-billion-peso claims, collectively some P10.8 billion, which the Singapore arbitral court awarded to them.

But that is no longer enough, after the President had taken the matter straight into the court of public opinion in the strongest of terms.

Surely the concessionaires knew that things would come to a head pretty soon. The Singapore arbiters already awarded MVP’s Maynilad P3.4 billion in 2018. And having won on the same arguments, what reason would there have been not to award to Manila Water similarly premised claims? It was just a matter of time before Singapore likewise made the Ayalas win.

Months ago, Manila Water mostly and Maynilad partly turned off the supply of water to many homes in its service areas because Angat was drying up after a prolonged dry spell.

Consumers howled and the President himself was sufficiently riled, but nothing much happened other than a little rigodon in the MWSS, while everybody just hoped the rains would Turn to A5

Mr. Immigration Man I RARELY engage in blind item articles but this one is too intriguing for me to pass up.

My sources at the Bureau of Immigration shared with me some devious activities being perpetrated by a high ranking official in the agency.

According to sources, this official, whom they refer to as a certain Papa G, has reportedly perfected the art of making one’s name, especially those of Chinese citizens, suddenly appear in the BI’s watchlist, to allegedly extort money from his unsuspecting victims. To effect this, the sources said, Papa G would encode the name of his target victim in the BI’s computer system under his name, making it appear it was the National Bureau of Investigation making such request to hold that particular person.

Hence, when the victim shows up, he will be the one to transact with that particular person. And in exchange for a few hundred thousand pesos, presto!

That person’s name would be cleared.

His scheme was reportedly brought

out in the open after one of his wouldbe victims, a Chinese, sought the assistance of the NBI, after he was supposedly asked by Papa G to shell out P250,000 for his name to be stricken off in the Hold Departure Order List.

It was discovered then the NBI made

If the allegations are true, then this official is indeed very creative. no such request with the BI. Still, to date, the NBI has yet to release its findings and recommendations.

According to the sources, this was not the first time Papa G got involved

in illicit activities within the BI. As chief of a key division within BI, he allegedly asked P500,000 a month from all of the airports around the country. This was aside the fact, that he supposedly doesn’t know a thing in running an airport, and that his appointment to the post, as he reportedly claims, was courtesy of his padrino within the Department of Justice. In fact, the sources add that due to his incompetence, he would just send one of his deputies every time he had to meet with Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Because of this, he reportedly was stripped of his powers over the Travel Control and Enforcement Unit and the Border Control and Intelligence Unit.

The sources added Papa G has allegedly gotten himself in these illegal activities to support his and his girlfriend’s luxurious lifestyles— sporting Rolex watches, driving the latest Honda model, and checking into some posh hotels.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

Papa Rosso THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE I HAD mixed feelings when I first learned that Pope Francis has appointed Manila’s Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the Catholic Church, to serve as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. It instantly dawned on me that Cardinal Tagle will have to vacate the See of Manila—a big loss not only to the country’s mother archdiocese, but to the Catholic Church in the Philippines as a whole. Tagle is not only the archbishop of Manila’s four-million Catholics, but thanks to his weekly homilies streamed on YouTube, he has become a warm, jovial and astute shepherd of all Filipino Catholics especially those in the Filipino diaspora.

My first encounter with him was when he was yet the young articulate Father Chito, one of the country’s brilliant theologians. As a member of the International Theological Commission, he was invited to speak on then Pope John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in Asia” during one of the pastoral assemblies convened in the Archdiocese of Palo. Even then, I was awestruck not only by his articulateness but with his ability to explain the most complex of theological terms in simple language. That is why when he was appointed bishop of Imus in 2001, I was concerned that placing the burden of the episcopacy upon his shoulders would mean his years as a theologian and teacher had come to an end.

I would be proven wrong. As bishop he became a much sought-after speaker in several international gatherings.

Most striking were the catechesis he gave during the International Eucharistic Congresses in Quebec (2008) and Dublin (2012). On both occasions, he moved the audience of thousands to tears. His audience was no longer confined to the theology

Mr. Immigration...

From A4

If my sources’ allegations are accurate, the NBI, as soon as possible, should release its findings and recommendations, maybe effect an arrest, to put a stop to Papa G’s alleged illegal activities. *** Congratulations to Quezon City Congressman Alfred Vargas for being chosen as this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Men honoree for Public Service.

“I never expected that one day I

In character From A4

finally replenish Angat. The crisis at least goaded government to finally give the go signal for the construction of the Kaliwa Dam to add to Metro Manila’s water sources, and then the reconstruction of the Wawa Dam in Montalban.

Then again, the Supreme Court dunned the water service purveyors for their failure to live up to a clause in the contract that required them to put up sewerage mains to clean the putrid detritus that flow eventually into Manila Bay. Fact is, the two companies had been collecting fees for such a corollary service all these years, but helpless consumers didn’t even realize that they were not living up to the terms of their contract.

Months ago, we wrote a column in this space simply entitled “Water,” which detailed the transgressions of the water service oligarchs. But we also cautioned against rash action, particularly getting the government to take over the oligopolies and run the water system once again.

The precise reason why President Fidel V. Ramos privatized water distribution services in the national capital region through public bidding in 1994 was poor and inadequate service. Millennials might no longer remember those times when nothing would pour out of our fau-

classroom; it had grown into the wider community of faith. No longer was he a simple theology professor, he became as every bishop should be—an authentic teacher of the faith.

Tagle became the 32nd archbishop of Manila in 2011, and as the occupant of the country’s principal archdiocese, he soon became a familiar face on global church scene. He became an active participant in the Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelization, a worldwide gathering of bishops to discuss the challenges confronting the Church’s mission of spreading the faith, which was convened by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. It was at the end of that synod, when it was announced that Archbishop Tagle would become the seventh Filipino to be elevated to the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Tagle continued to take

Cardinal Tagle has also become a warm, jovial and astute shepherd of all Filipino Catholics especially those in the Filipino diaspora. part in three successive meetings of the Synod of Bishops, impressing bishops from around the world with his joy, insightfulness and vision for the Church. As the president of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, he is highly regarded not only by his brother bishops, but even by his colleagues. In fact, his closeness with Pope Francis was visible when the Pope visited the Philippines in 2015, highlighting striking similarities between the two in terms of their own personal lifestyle, language and concern for the poor. Given his massive online following, he has effectively used social media as a powerful tool to

reach out to the faithful, especially to the youth and Filipinos overseas.

It appears providential that close to eight years since his elevation to the cardinalate, Cardinal Tagle has been appointed to the Vatican to oversee the missionary work of the Catholic Church. Equivalent to a Cabinet position in a secular government, his new role as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also traditionally referred to as the “red pope” or “il papa rosso,” is one of the most important offices in the Catholic Church. Formerly known as the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (or Propaganda Fide), its primary duty is to oversee the missionary activities of the Church, including the appointment of more than a third of all Catholic bishops around the world, especially in the mission territories, and in developing countries where the local Church is too small to be self-sufficient or where the local authorities are hostile to the Catholic faith. Furthermore, the Propaganda Fide also provides material support for the mission territories, especially for the formation of seminarians and missionaries.

The draft document expected to be approved soon by Pope Francis, entitled Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel), outlines the impending reform of the Roman Curia. While the document remains a working draft, media reports indicate that it includes the creation of a super dicastery responsible for evangelization which will rank next only to the Secretariat of State, and ahead of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog and the oldest of the nine congregations in the Curia. This move of making the Dicastery for Evangelization a preeminent office in the Vatican marks a shift in priority from doctrine and discipline toward evangelization.

These reforms are reportedly being made in order to place evangelization at the heart of the Church’s agenda.

(Continued next week)

would stand here today as an honoree and counted alongside my idols and the movers and shakers of our nation,” Vargas said as he accepted his award Friday night.

Vargas was recognized by TOYM for his efforts in providing affordable house and lot to several communities in Quezon City.

Vargas’ Palupa program was successful in providing several informal settler families with their own house and lot within Quezon City.

Vargas was also recognized for being the principal advocate of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. He dedicated his award to his mother, who died from cancer in 2014.

The law on cancer prevention will create cancer centers throughout the country, to aid in government efforts in extending financial and other forms of assistance to cash-strapped cancer patients.

With the theme, “Celebrating Excellence. Inspiring Filipinos,” the TOYM awards seek to give national recognition to men and women aged 18 to 40 whose selfless dedication to their profession or vocation has resulted in significant contributions to the welfare of Filipinos and the country, as well as to the advancement of their respective fields of endeavor.

Congratulations Cong. Alfred and to the rest of this year’s awardees.

cets unless you had a water pump, or had your own deep well to source non-potable water from. The lower-income classes had to line up for their supply of water each morning with their plastic drums and containers.

Together with better flowing water, FVR also liberated us from the most antiquated telephone services just in the nick of time, when the Internet was already prevalent in other countries and when cellphones would make our obsolete landlines a historic remnant of regulatory incompetence.

So blame not FVR for the privatized water concessions. Even expensive water service is better than having no water at all, to put the matter simplistically. But this is not to say that the partnered monopolies had every right to gouge huge profits from a basic public service.

And if his predecessors looked the other way around, well, that is not in the character of Digong Duterte.

The essential Duterte is what we captured in a simple slogan in 2015: “Tapang at Malasakit”—courage that draws from a wellspring of compassion deep in his heart for the downtrodden and what the Bisaya label as “yano ug kabus” (the everyday man and the marginalized) who have to struggle each day of their lives because ours is a polity that rewards a few who excise monopolistic rent thus perpetuating a most

unequal society despite measurable economic gains.

Duterte’s economic managers who are sensible believers in the ability of the free market to deliver goods and services more efficiently, have been able to temper the President’s leaning towards social justice in terms which perhaps no longer fit into the international economic order.

But for the President, enough is enough. And the water saga is what FPJ’s scriptwriters would call, “puno na ang salop.”

Imagine if we had a wimp leading us these days. Or a self-indulgent president easily swayed by deal-making.

When all this plays out, we would be thanking Duterte for taking up the cudgels for the ordinary man and voicing out in the strongest of words his righteous indignation.

No, water service will not go back to the inefficient bureaucrats of the old and discredited Nawasa (worry not about the return of the bad old waterless days), but the service purveyors will realize that corporate greed does not pay with a president made of sterner stuff.

And having set the template for leadership, would the Filipinos turn full circle and elect a president come 2022 whose spine would be less than Duterte’s “tapang” or could not measure up to his “malasakit”? One who would be putty in the hands of the usual suspects?

A5

Urgent power supply agreements THE Energy Regulatory Commission held a series of public hearings on six power supply agreements awarded under the required Competitive Selection Process. The results of these hearing will be critical considering the expiration of existing power contracts this month.

Meralco’s PSAs set to expire before the year-end include Masinloc coal-fired power plant (430 MW), Therma Luzon coal plant (350 MW), and a coal facility of SMEC (430 MW). These total to a whopping 1,210 MW! Now pending ERC approval are Meralco’s PSAs signed last September namely: PHINMA Energy Corp., a contract capacity of 200 MW with an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.7450/ kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT Inclusive) of P4.8849/kWh; San Miguel Energy Corporation for 330 MW at an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.6314/ kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT Inclusive) of P4.9299/kWh; and South Premiere Power Corporation's contract is for 670 MW and has an all-in headline rate (VAT Inclusive) of P4.6314/kWh and Computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P4.9300/kWh. All these totaling 1,200 MW in capacity.

The CSPs were done in accordance with the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular requiring Distribution Utilities to procure power through CSPs and administered by a Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) constituted pursuant to the DOE Circular.

The power utility said the prices from the PSAs are significantly lower than the average generation cost today of around P5.88/kWh (VAT inclusive). For Meralco consumers, the expected savings are around P0.28/kWh or P9.46 billion annually for 10 years.

The all-in rate of the PSAs already includes line rental and VAT and the cost of replacement power for all plant outages. There are also fines for generator companies that fail to deliver power which will be used to reduce the generation cost to consumers.

However, typical of public hearings, there were objections from some groups questioning why Meralco is replacing the expiring contracts with more coal powered plants which they call “dirty energy.” A repeating issue hitting on coal power plants’ impact on air pollution raised every time a new project is proposed.

Interestingly, data from the Environmental Management Bureau’s 2018 annual report paints a different picture. To quote: “The country’s air quality in terms of PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) is still within the air quality guide-

P127...

From A4

that time?) and the concessionaires made this initiative even more problematic.

In any event, Guevarra has rightly said that since Manila Water and Maynilad have both publicly—and might I add boldly—stated that they were ready to “renegotiate the terms of their original contracts,” what was there to extend? Guevarra emphasized that since they never questioned President Duterte's assertions that these contracts contained a number of onerous provisions, and which assertions were confirmed by the review panel, the more that such made the extension truly illegal.

Again, if the concessionaires are really as concerned as they claimed

line value of 60 µg/Ncm (micrograms per normal cubic meter).

A significant 49-percent decrease in concentration was noted from 76 µg/Ncm in CY 2011 to 39 µg/ Ncm in CY 2018.”

On the sources of Air Pollution, EMB reported: “The latest National Emissions Inventory by source conducted in 2015 showed

Pollution footprint of coal power plants is only a fraction of the daily emissions from fossil fuel-burning cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, etc. that the majority (65 percent) of air pollutants came from mobile sources such as cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses. Almost 21 percent were contributed by stationary sources such as power plants and factories. The rest (14 percent) were from area sources such as construction activities, open burning of solid wastes and kaingin in the uplands.”

In the National Capital Region, the Emissions Inventory for the National Capital region in the same year reported a huge 88-percent contribution of mobile sources to air pollution in the area compared to only 10 percent from stationary sources and a mere 2 percent from area sources.

The 2018 World Economic Forum released a new Environmental Performance Index that ranked the Philippines as 82nd out of 180 countries, a health rating higher than China (120), Thailand (121), Vietnam (132), and Indonesia (133). On air pollution, the country ranked 111th in terms of Air Quality mainly due to the use of solid fuels in households.

Clearly, the pollution footprint of coal power plants is only a fraction of the daily emissions from fossil fuel-burning cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, etc.

Watching our carbon emissions is important but without a viable alternative to cost efficient coal plants to supply our base load demand, and an apparent aversion towards nuclear energy, the best direction would be to accelerate the building of new High Efficiency Low Emission coal plant technologies to replace our aging power plants. Laudable is the ERC’s recent approval of a Provisional Authority to Operate issued to the San Buenaventura Power Ltd., the country’s 1st HELE power plant, to supply 500 MW of baseload capacity to the Luzon grid.

Anticipated this week would be ERC’s decision on granting provisional authority to to proceed for the pending PSAs that I am hopeful will avert a possible price hike if Meralco is forced to buy expensive power supply from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. No, not again please.

they are about the revocation of the extension, they should immediately buckle down to work and discuss the renegotiation of the onerous contract provisions rather than, as being repeated by their advocates, engage the administration in never ending exchanges about the rule of law and the sanctity of contracts.

At this point in time, the tendency to lecture government on good governance, issuing out barbs bordering on blackmail and similar bombasts will not end their headaches. It will probably even do the opposite—strengthen the administration's resolve to finally put an end to these decidedly one side, grossly disadvantageous and highly unconscionable contracts.

They have two choices: Come clean and renegotiate, or agree to be taken over. No ifs and buts about it.

A6

News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Leni accuses PDEA’s Aquino of peddling lies to her, media

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday took a swipe at Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino, who said he was better off leading the war on drugs without her.

She said Aquino even asked her to stay as co-chairperson of the Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs.

“He told me, ‘ma’am, don’t leave us.

Don’t leave us because there have been too many actions when you are here.’ He said, it is difficult those at the agency since I am just an undersecretary,” she also quoted Aquino as saying.

“He is saying now that my assistance is not significant as if he just preferred to be on his own,” she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo as ICAD co-chairperson, but fired her after three weeks.

“So I told him I will not leave them unless if I am removed. I assured him that I will not resign unless if I am fired. So that’s it. Two days after, I was sacked,” Robredo said.

“My point here is, why is he saying a different thing in front of me and the media? There were too many others who heard him say those things,” she added.

The vice president expressed her disappointment over the PDEA chief, saying “director general Aquino is from the Philippine Military Academy.”

“All the while, I was expecting that if you are a PMA-er, officer, you are a gentleman. How many times have he said the opposite thing in front of me and the media,” she said.

In a related development, the Dangerous Drugs Board vowed to sustain accomplishments and gains of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy.

With Duterte’s issuance of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy the DDB took different initiatives to prevent and control drug abuse on a “whole-of-nation approach” on drug abuse prevention and control.

PADS is the blueprint that prescribes how the government and all sectors should work together in cutting the supply of and demand for illegal drugs.

More countries open to hiring OFWs—Bello

Cops go after Chinese woman’s abductors

P

OLICE operatives are hunting down the suspects behind the abduction of a Chinese woman in Makati City.

Philippine National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told reporters that they have identified the suspects as well as the owner of the van used to kidnap the victim.

Lawmaker to probe reports of anomalies at TESDA House fetes TOYM awardee QC Rep. Vargas

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is now in the center of scrutiny when it failed to provide the Special Training for Employment Program starting kits meant for trainees, prompting Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza to intervene and use his oversight powers to know what’s really going on.

Atienza said he has been receiving numerous complaint letters of alleged corruption in the agency headed by TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña.

“Kung kinakailangan ipatupad ang oversight function ng Kamara para malaman kung ano ang ginagawa ni TESDA Director General Lapeña dito ay gagawin natin ito,” Atienza told reporters.

One of the issues hounding TESDA

Manila

TODAY

Markets and Securittes Regulation Department

CITYLAND, INC. -Registrant-

SEC MSRD Order No.44 Series of 2019 Registration of Commercial Papers

ORDER Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto filed on behalf of CITYLAND, INC., the Commission, in its meeting of 10 December 2019, favorably considered the application for registration of Eight Hundred Fifteen Million Pesos (P 815,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8 and 12 of the Securities Regulation Code.

Let a Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale be issued in favor of the subject company authorizing the sale and distribution of the aforementioned securities.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the Issuer in a newspaper of general circulation and uploaded in its website within two (2) business days from its issuance. The corporation is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this Order.

SO ORDERED. Pasay City, Philippines, December 12, 2019.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-DEC. 16, 2019)

volving Chinese nationals, but still fewer compared to hundreds of incidents in previous decades.

In 2018, 17 Chinese nationals were kidnapped, or more than double (112.5 percent) compared to eight in 2017. In the first half of 2019, six Chinese nationals were kidnapped.

The incidents came following the influx of Chinese tourists and workers in the Philippines as ties between Manila and Beijing continue to improve.

Relatives and friends of those killed in police operations staged a protest against the government’s drug war at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Sunday, Dec. 15.

Norman Cruz

Republic of the Philippines Standard Department of Finance Securities and Echange Commission : : : : :

as corner Perea St. in Legazpi Village.

Banac said PNP operatives ar now closely monitoring the movements of known personalities from China involved in criminal operations.

“Malakas ang ating pakikipagugnayan sa embahada ng China at counterpart ng pulis sa China para mapigilan ang ganitong mga insidente,” he said.

According to data from the PNP AntiKidnapping Group, there is an increasing number of kidnap-for-ransom cases in-

DRUG WAR PROTEST.

THE Department of Labor and Employment on Saturday said it is looking to deploy Filipino workers to other countries.

According to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, aside from China, the department is also in talks with Canada.

“In Canada. In Yukon. I have communication with my counterpart and they are willing to discuss a bilateral agreement,” he said in an interview.

Asked if the agreement has been signed, the DOLE chief said it is a "joint communiqué and is formal.”

As for the jobs in China, Bello added that the host country is looking for skilled workers.

"They need additional teachers with English proficiency,” he said.

The DOLE Secretary added that employment opportunities are also available in Russia.

Bello reported this week that Germany is planning to hire some 30,000 hospital workers.

He clarified, however, that the job offers are not solely for Filipino health workers. PNA

IN THE MATTER

“Ang pag-abduct ng ilang Chinese nationals, ‘yan ay agad nating tinugunan at inimbestigahan. Natukoy na natin ang mga suspek,” he said.

“Ang pinakahuli, sa Makati, patuloy na tinutugis ng ating pulis ang suspek.

Natukoy na ang may-ari ng van na ginamit.”

The Makati Police had identified the woman as Zhou Mei, 28, who was dragged by two men into a waiting van past 9 p.m. Monday along Paseo de Rox-

now was the STEP starting kits which 2018 graduates have yet to receive their starter tools and equipment as part of their training, costing to P800 million.

STEP is a scheme of TESDA’s Scholarship program meant to give trainees a good start in their work and employment and its funding was part of 2018 National Budget especially allocated to poor and indigent TESDA trainees.

But La Peña suspended its implementation and recommended a rebidding process, which reached P1.4 billion for the procurement of the said training kits, the complaints alleged.

Atienza said that those “affected by the delays were the impoverished and marginalized, as well as the indigenous people whom our government is really

reaching out providing solutions to unemployment and poverty which is the main root cause of insurgency.”

Based on a complaint letter sent to Atienza’s office, La Peña also issued a memorandum for a failure of bidding despite a winning bidder has already been determined in the procurement process. The TESDA chief was also criticized for centralizing his in the release of payments of claims of Technical Vocational Institutions and Training Centers or Providers causing much delay in producing skilled workers.

The memorandum resulted in inefficiency in the delivery of its mandated goods such as its failure to procure starter toolkits for 2018 STEP and 2019 starter toolkits for Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

TRAINING. Members of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Quezon City conduct training exercises at the Quezon Memorial Circle as part of their preparation for fire emergencies and other fire-related accidents. Manny Palmero

THE House of Representatives has commended Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas for being named as one of the country’s “The Outstanding Young Men” for 2019 by the Junior Chamber International Philippines and TOYM Foundation Inc. In a House Resolution authored by House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the House of Representatives has expressed its deep sense of pride for Vargas who is this year’s TOYM Awardee for Public Service.

“The House of Representatives proudly join the Junior Chamber International- Philippines Inc. and the TOYM Foundation Inc. in congratulating our colleague Representative Alfred D. Vargas who has proven his valuable public service to the Filipino people as acknowledged by the distinguished award giving body,” the resolution said.

“Now therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the House of Representatives to congratulate and commended our colleague Representatives Alfred D. Vargas for being awarded as one of ‘The Outstanding Young Men’ (TOYM) of the Philippines 2019 by the Junior Chamber International-Philippines Inc., and TOYM Foundation,” it added.

The TOYM awards is an annual project organized and presented by the JCI Philippines, also known as Philippine Jaycess and the TOYM Foundation Inc., since 1959. The award “seeks to recognize young men and women whose selfless dedication to their profession and fields of endeavor significantly contributed to Philippine society thereby benefitting the Filipino people.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Calabarzon drug users complete rehab program under DOH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta A TOTAL of 37 Person Who Used Drugs has successfully completed the first batch of Modified CommunityBased Rehabilitation Program of DOH-CALABARZON in its effort to help people with substance use disorders achieve and maintain a meaningful and sustained recovery.

Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated in his message the importance of forgiveness, acceptance and loving one’s self in order to gain full recovery.

The CBRP for PWUDs is a holistic wellness program and life coach training focused on improving one’s lifestyle.

It also intends to eliminate unwanted behaviors and become goal-oriented or forward thinkers through life coaching and actual practice of stress management.

Janairo said the program revolves around the concept of wholeness and applying it in the eight areas of life including intellectual growth, physical health, emotional health, spiritual,

social, occupational, financial and environmental health.

“It is a two-month program wherein PWUDs must undergo a three-day rehabilitation and life coaching training program and then seven weekly triad mentoring session for coaching practice and group life coaching sessions.”

The CBRP was piloted in two areas in CALABARZON namely, Bacoor City in Cavite with 19 successful PWUDs and Antipolo City in Rizal with 18 graduates.

The completion ceremonies were

held on Dec. 5 and 6, respectively.

Janairo added that the graduates will continue to have training in skills development that will be conducted by their respective local government units.

“This will provide them the personal development they need which will not only increase the opportunities for livelih0ood but will also empower them as an individual,” he further explained.

The CBRP for PWUDs was a joint endeavor with the local governments of Bacoor City and Antipolo City.

Sports

A7

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Southwoods nears its 2 7-peat nd

B

AGUIO CITY—Manila Southwoods is halfway into claiming its seventh straight title in the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament and tie its own record of having tournament’s longest streak.

Southwoods nearly matched its first day total of 155 with a 154 despite top man Aidric Chan counting out with a “meager” three over for 33 points for a whopping 309 total and 40-point lead in the premier Fil Championship flight Sunday.

But it was the tall lanky Lanz Uy, who carried the day after firing what could be the best score in the 23 years of Southwood in the tournament.

Uy was just so hot on day two at the Camp John Hay course as he fired a tournament-best, eagle-aided seven un-

der 62 for 43 points. The gangling Uy, who topped teammate Chan’s 41 on first day, made it at the par 4 eighth hole as he drilled in seven birdies on holes 1, 2 10, 13, 14, 16 and 17, marred by two bogeys on the dog-leg fifth and sixth.

Aguri Iwasaki was again the second man for Southwoods, which first joined the tournament in 1997, as he had a near to perfect round with five birdies on 2, 7, 8, 12 and 16, and two bogeys, at the “crows fly ninth,” John Hay’s most difficult and final hole.

Taiseu Shimuzu had an even par, while

15-year-old Sean Ramos followed up his opening round of 36, which did not count, with a similar output.

Uy also paces the individual race with 80 big points, followed closely by Iwasaki at 79 and the rest of the Southwoods crew completing the top 5 – Chan (74), Shimuzu (73) and Ramos (72). The closest who could get near the red hot Southwoods is Forest Hills’ Rocky Co with 70.

Royal Northwoods made the biggest move as it slashed down the lead of second-running Forest Hills to a single marker prior the break and the big Baguio Country Club showdown starting Tuesday.

Forest Hills dipped to 125 after an opening even par 144 for a 269 tally, just one up on Forest Hills which made a second best score of 131.

Co once again led Forest Hills with 34,

Leandro Bagtas and Jude Eustaquio had a pair of 32s, while Chino Raymundo counted with 27. Day one top notcher Dan Cruz had a 26 and did not count.

Despite a six-point dip in its performance, Northwoods still made the big leap with a balanced scoring from Carlo Miguel Villaroman (34), Nik Gatmaytan (33), Joaquin Fernandez (33) and Stephen Sul (31).

Team Time Cargo Logistics is virtually out of the podium race after a 110 and 240.

Junjun Plana, who started Southwoods’ dominance in 1997 and was a stalwart of said team until last year, had a 27.

Southwoods is really on a roll now as the Am Championship side despite not playing at its best still managed to increase its lead to 19 from an opening round lead of 13, or a six-point gain going to the longer and easier CJH course.

Age-Group Triathlon set Jan. 26 in Subic Bay AFTER delivering the first two gold and silver medals of the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games, triathlon opens a new decade in the country with the launch of the 2020 season of the National Age Group Triathlon series, firing off with close to a thousand participants on January 26 in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

A joint project of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the season opening race will have participants challenging themselves with the Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run), Sprint Distance (750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) and Super Sprint Distance (500 M swim – 13 Km bike – 2.5 Km run) prepared for them with San Bernardino serving as the main venue for starting, transition and finishing.

At stake in the event supported by the SBMA, the Philippine Sports Commission, Standard Insurance, FINIS and Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines are gift packs and winners’ medals for the Top 3 winners of each age-group category per distance as well as the Team Relay category.

Triathletes can still register online by visiting https://www. active.com /sbma-zambales/t r iathlon/races/national-age-grouptriathlon-nagt-2020?int&f bclid=I wAR1xolMOL5zx7VTBk5SMRR WD-qO2MUcSHQhL8W9ohHhmnzx2AshJKb02vfA Entry fees are set at P3,750 for Standard Distance, P3,000 for Sprint Distance, P2,500 for Super Sprint Distance and P7,500 for the Team Relay. Inclusive with the entry fees are the post-race meal, the finisher’s medal and race t-shirt. Registration will end on December 31 or when all slots have been filled up.

For more information, contact the TRAP at trapsecretariat@gmail.com

FILLIES STAKES RACE CHAMP. Exponential owner Raymund Puyat receives the championship trophy from Philippine Racing Commissioner Reli de Leon after his horse ruled the 2019 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park recently. They are joined by Manila Jockey Club Racing Manager Ding Magboo and Philracom Commissioner Bienvenido Niles Jr. Exponential earned P1,200,000 for Puyat.

GIVING back to the sport that they love, the BanKo-Perlas Spikers conducted a volleyball outreach workshop to kids at Odiongan, Romblon over the weekend.

The club has been working since its inception as one of the pioneer Premier Volleyball League teams in 2017 to promote the sport to children in various grassroots communities in the Philippines through these volleyball camps.

“Ever since its inception, BanKo-Perlas’ program has always included grassroots development clinics and workshops in our annual activities. It’s our way of giving sustainability to the sport that we love by ensuring that we bequeath our knowledge to the future generations,” said team manager Charo Soriano.

“The grassroots program hopes to inspire the Filipino underprevileged youth through volleyball, as it elicits joy and ignites hope for these young kids,” she added.

The day-long clinic, which was participated by more than hundred of kids across Romblon, is backed by Nicole Tiamzon’s Spike and Serve program, Globe and Liberty Insurance in cooperation with the Municipality of Odiongan and its Sangguniang Kabataan federation.

“It’s kinda overwhelming because I didn’t expect din na babalik ako this year because my mindset is we are going back here for next year pa. Then super saya pa kasi kasama pa namin ang Perlas with Spike and Serve team,” said Tiamzon, who is also the Perlas Spikers’ team captain.

Among those BanKo-Perlas standouts who took part in the outreach program were Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball bronze medalist Dzi Gervacio, Sue Roces, Jem Ferrer, Ana Gopico, Roma Joy Doromal and Chi Sindayen.

Gervacio enjoyed taking part of every activity.

“I’m very grateful that BanKo-Perlas is also a platform for reaching out to the generation of next athletes. After the victory we have achieved in the recent SEA Games, it was clear that it was also time to give back to the community that molded me to become the person that I am today,” said Gervacio.

San Beda, Far Eastern score contrasting Freego Cup wins

Freego President Daisy Go makes the ceremonial toss marking the opening of the 8th PSSBC-Freego Cup on Saturday at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

PH volleyball teams grateful for support DESPITE challenges in the beginning, crucial support for the men’s and women’s volleyball teams came through For the Philippine volleyball teams, their drought of medals at the SEA Games for over a decade is a huge challenge to overcome— especially after a long, storied history of victory and domination in the regional tournament back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

In 2019, things changed for both the Philippine indoor and beach volleyball teams. Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc., the organization that helped form the Philippine volleyball teams, reached out to companies such as Rebisco for a partnership, allowing them to step up and provide everything the country’s volleyball delegates need in order to train and perform even better not only at this year’s SEA Games, but also in other tournaments around the world.

“Rebisco showed interest in helping the national team and initiated everything. With their help, as well as contributions from different organizations, we were able to train for the games earlier,” said men’s

Perlas Spikers give back to Romblon kids

indoor volleyball team captain John Vic de Guzman. “We also received income and allowances every time we trained, as well as better training facilities and equipment such as the Arellano University gym which we were able to use thanks to Pete Cayco, and the Ronac Fitness Center, which we were able to use thanks toPeachy and Dindo Medina from Uratex.”

“Before, only 12 to 14 players could train, but with the support of different organizations and Rebisco, around 20 players can now join, allowing for bigger tune-ups and scrimmages,” said women’s indoor volleyball team captain Aby Maraño. “We also got more local exposure after featuring us on social media and commercials, as well as international exposure as they helped us participate in more tournaments and training camps outside the country.”

“Each athlete dreams of representing their country, there’s no better feeling. Now we’re more prepared because more corporations like Rebisco are helping our team,” said women’s beach volleyball representative Sisi Rondina.

REIGNING NCAA titlist San Beda University and Far Eastern University scored contrasting wins Saturday to jumpstart their title bids in the 8th PSSBC-Freego Cup at the SGS gym in Quezon City.

The Red Cubs used a big second-quarter attack to beat the Xavier School Stallions, 100-66, in Group D action, while the Baby Tamaraws banked on the clutch plays of Vince Saldua and John Rey Pasaol to escape with a 72-68 win over NCAA runner-up Lyceum in Group C. Looking to win their third title in the event dubbed as “Tournament of Champions”, the Red Cubs trailed early but outscored the Stallions, 3114 in the second frame to pull away for good.

Five SBU players scored in double figures with Justine Sanchez leading the way with 24 points and 16 boards, while Rhyyan Amsali and Yukien Andrada combined for 27 points in a show of force for the Manu Inigo-mentored squad.

Miguel Tan expectedly led the Stallions with 28 points spiked by three triples on 11of-17 shooting from the field. He grabbed 12 boards to complete a double-double showing.

Games Monday

(SGS gym, QC) 9 a.m. – HCHS vs SSC-R 10:45 a.m. – CKSC vs FEU 12:30 p.m. – NU vs LSGH 2:15 – Adamson vs SBU

Ryan Yu added six points and seven rebounds in almost 27 minutes of action in the tournament headed by its chairman Eduard Tio of Freego.

Other members of the board are Dioceldo Sy of Blackwater Sports, Jimi Lim of IronCon Builders, Jimmy dela Cruz of Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Rudy Yu of Macbeth Underwear, Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste, Leoncio Chua and Terry Que of Poly Gloss-Rain or Shine.

The tournament was officially opened by Freego President Daisy Go. Other winners on opening day were La Salle Greenhills, which pipped La Consolacion College, 87-85, and Ateneo, which outlasted san Sebastian College, 81-76.

Allianz’s Futsal Games is Best Youth Sports Program ALLIANZ PNB Life received the silver award for the “Best Youth Sports Development Program” category of the Sports Industry Awards Asia last December 3, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, BGC. The global insurer was bestowed the honor for its Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational, the annual nationwide futsal competition it stages in partnership with the Henry V. Moran Foundation and in coordination with the Philippine Football Federation.

“We at Allianz believe that engaging in sports is a good way for children to learn discipline and achieve their dreams. With this award, we are further affirming our commitment to continue to provide a venue for Filipino kids to be trained in the sport of futsal or football under the best coaches, so they can reach their goal of playing as world-class professional football players,” said Gae Martinez, Allianz PNB Life chief marketing officer.

The ANYFI, which is now on its third year, has been instrumental in advancing futsal and football, and in discover-

ing young players across the country. More than 7,000 kids have already participated in the games. Some of them have gone on to become members of the National Football Team.

Others have discovered bigger opportunities outside of the country, like Konrad Keim Sollorin and JM Mitra, who were both members of its first batch of winners. Sollorin now plays for Sevenoaks Senior College in Australia, while Mitra is with the Los Angeles Surf Soccer Club in the US. It has also served as the search for talented Filipino kids who would participate in the prestigious Allianz Explorer Camp in Germany where they get to train under FC Bayern Munich coaches along with participants from other countries.

“Futsal and football’s progress in the country continues, and we are excited to see more kids getting into the sport and showing the world that they can compete with the best,” Martinez said.

This is the second year that the ANYFI has been recognized by the SPIA. In 2018, it

A victory for futsal in the Philippines. Allianz PNB Life Chief Executive Officer Alexander Grenz (left), together with former Bayern Munich football star Giovane Elber (fourth from left) and Allianz Chief Marketing Officer Gae Martinez (right), pose with young Filipino futsal players during the awarding ceremonies of the Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI), an annual nationwide competition that won a silver award for “Best Youth Sports Development Program” in the Philippines during the Sports Industry Awards (SPIA) Asia.

received a silver medal under the “Best Sports CSR” category.

SPIA Asia recognizes the achievements made by the sporting industry in the region through its Sports Industry Awards. Past award winners include the Australian Grand Prix, La Liga, Arabian Gulf League, Standard Chartered KL Marathon, and

Lagardère Sports, among others.

For this year’s awards held in Manila, boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao received the gold for the “Best Asian Sportsman of the Year” category. Tennis grand slam champion Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, was awarded the gold for the “Best Asian Sportswoman of the Year” category.

Sports

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

New move gives PH wrestler SEAG gold JASON Baucas studied well on how to perform a suplex against opponents while in Russia.

Suplex is a throw that involves lifting the opponent, and bridging or rolling to slam the opponent on their back.

Being proficient in the suplex after training in Russia for three months helped him win one of two golds for the Philippines in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games wrestling competitions.

“Maganda naman po ang naging resulta nito. Because of hard training, nakakuha po ako ng ginto. At dahil na rin po ito sa sakripisyo ko sa training,” said the 22-year-old Baucas.

Baucas was among the many athletes who were present when Go For Gold held a victory party for athletes that they are supporting at the Acero Hall of the Philippine Marine Barracks in Taguig City.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our athletes here at Go For Gold succeed in international tournaments such as the SEA Games,” said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go. The Philippines put an end to an eight-year gold medal drought following wrestling’s return to the biennial meet.

Competition was held at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga.

Baucas, along with Noel Norada clinched golds in the -63kg and -72kg greco roman category by sweeping their respective groups.

In the -72kg division, Baucas edged Vietnam’s Hong Phuc Duong, 11-6, in his last game to secure the first-place finish.

Norada overcame a tough challenge posed by eventual silver medalist Cong Thanh Nguyen, 14-7, in the first match before dispatching opponents from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia on his way to gold. Peter Atencio

Basilan, Binan post close victories BASILAN Steel groped for form and struggled past Sarangani Province, 8582, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Sta. Rosa Sports Stadium in Laguna.

With the Marlins threatening at 82-83, the Steel needed a 24-second buzzer-beater jumper by veteran Dennis Daa with four ticks left to pull off their sixth straight win and climbed to solo fourth in the South division of the 31-team league now being supported by Chooks-to-Go. The Marlins even had a chance to forge overtime, but Jorem Morada’s desperation heave from way out did not go in as time expired.

Basilan, which drew 15 points and 18 rebounds from Cris Dumapig, 15 points and nine rebounds from Daa, and 14 points plus five assists and six steals from Irven Palencia, raised its record to 15-8, trailing only Davao Occidental (19-3), Bacoor (18-5) and General Santos (15-7) in the 15-team South.

The Marlins, who even led at 67-64 on a jumper by Orin Catacutan, fell to 22-1. Catacutan wound up with a teamhigh 23 points on top of 6 rebounds while veteran Pari Llagas scored 17 and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Biñan City Luxxe White Krah staved off Imus Bandera’s finally rally to prevail, 88-83, in the night cap.

World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Terence Crawford (right) connects with a right to the head of Egidijus Kavaliauskas during their bout for Crawford’s title at Madison Square Garden. AFP

Crawford retains welterweight crown L

OS ANGELES, United States—Terence Crawford, still looking for a big money fight—survived some early jitters to retain his WBO welterweight title on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) with a ninth round knockout of former Olympian Egidijus Kavaliauskas at Madison Square Garden.

Failing to book fights against the elite in his division—like Manny Pacquiao, Errol Spence or Shawn Porter—Crawford faced the unheralded Kavaliauskas in a fight not many really wanted to see.

Crawford, who improved to 36-0 with 27 knockouts, survived a scare in the third round before finding his rhythm in the fifth, knocking the Lithuanian down once in the seventh, and then twice in the final round.

In a tougher than expected tussle, favorite Crawford finished the heavy underdog challenger off with a right hook to the left ear 44 seconds into the ninth.

“When I let my hands go that’s when I started landing more favorable shots,” the American said. “After I dropped him with my uppercut I was like, I am going to face his jab, and come out with my right hook.”

Kavaliauskas barely survived the end of the eighth round and Crawford wasted no time going to work in the ninth. He landed a barrage of punches to start the round, beginning with a left hook followed by a right that sent Kavaliauskas staggering back towards the ropes.

Crawford then moved in for the finish and connected with a right hook that floored Kavaliauskas (21-1-1, 17 KOs) for the third and final time as the referee stopped the bout.

Kavaliauskas, who competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, appeared to score the first knockdown of the fight in the third round. But the ref ruled that Crawford slipped. Regardless Crawford was in a load of trouble after absorbing an overhand right on the chin. AFP

Bucks gore Cavs to continue franchise best start LOS ANGELES, United States—Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points as the Milwaukee Bucks won their 18th straight game with a 125-108 victory over the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).

The Bucks dominated inside and out as they continued their franchise best start and moved within just two victories of equaling their all-time longest winning streak.

Milwaukee’s 24-3 start is the best in the 52-year history of the organization.

Their next two games though are against two top teams in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. The longest winning streak is 20 games set by the 1970-71 Bucks.

Elsewhere, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points as the Miami Heat recorded a 122-118 overtime victory over the Dallas

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) soars to the basket against hapless Cleveland Cavaliers defender Matthew Dellavedova. AFP

Mavericks in a game that saw Luka Doncic injure his ankle in the first quarter.

X-rays were negative for Doncic, who did not return to the game after stepping on the foot of Miami guard Kendrick Nunn while driving to the basket. He remained on the floor for several moments before hobbling off to the locker room.

Doncic, who was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018-19, entered the game averaging team-leading totals in points (30.4), rebounds (9.9) and assists (9.3) this season.

His streak of 20 consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists ended due to the injury.

In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets 110-102.

Toronto led by as many as 16 points during the first half and took a sevenpoint lead into the fourth quarter as they improved to 17-8 on the season in front of a crowd of 19,800 at Scotiabank Arena.

The Raptors have won 16 of their past 17 meetings with the Nets, including nine in a row at home.

Khris Middleton finished with 24 points and a half dozen Bucks scored in double figures.

Milwaukee jumped out to an 18-point halftime lead and extended it to as many as 28 points in the third quarter on the way to their 18th straight win. AFP

Top 3x3 hoopster helps train PH players

By Peter Atencio STEFAN Stojacic is taking his act to the Philippines The last time Stojacic was around, he helped Serbia rule the Fiba 3x3 World Cup for the third straight time last year when the Philippines hosted the tournament.

This time, the 30-year-old player performed a different role when returned to the country this week.

He did not play against any local team. Instead the 6’4” Stojacic held a training for players who will see action in the 2020 FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament this March in Delhi, India.

“Now, I’m helping as a coach. Because, last year, I was injured for 70 percent of the season,” said Stojacic after a session of the camp, which was organized by Chooks-to-Go Philippines.

Top 3x3 players from the Philippines, Joshua Munzon and Alvin Pasaol were in the training camp held at the Ronac Basketball center in Kalentong, Mandaluyong.

Stojacic is best remembered when Serbia edged Netherlands, 16-13, in the men’s final last year at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The top-ranked Serbians, made up of Dejan Majstorovic, Marko Savic, Dusan Bulut and Stojacic, went undefeated in the tournament as they swept their way to the championship.

Now that Stojacic has recovered from his injury, he is glad to be part of the Philippine 3x3 camp.

He will be back for another session of the camps this January.

“I was injured back then. But, still they called me to share my experience. To help them for the Olympic qualifiers,” added Stojacic.

Stojacic was born February 20, 1989.

His younger brother, Strahinja is also a basketball player. They played together in 2010–11 with Radnički Kragujevac.

Stojacic played for youth teams of Partizan. Stojacic was then moved to Mega Aqua Monta and signed his first professional contract in 2007.

NorthPort Batang Pier shoots for 2-0

By Jeric Lopez FOLLOWING its fiery Game 1 start, NorthPort looks to put Barangay Ginebra on the brink as it shoots for a 2-0 advantage in their semifinals duel in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The Batang Pier aims for a follow-up win while the Gin Kings are looking to equalize as they meet again in Game 2 of their bestof-five series tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Still with all the momentum, the Batang Pier shocked the Gin Kings by whipping them emphatically, 124-90, in the series opener Saturday night.

Behind the hot hands of Michael Qualls, NorthPort immediately grasped control in

the second quarter to breeze through the rest of the game, catching stunned Ginebra off guard.

Qualls finished with a game-high 38 points while Garbo Lanete also gave a big spark, scoring 24 points of his own for NorthPort.

NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio was happy with the head start that his team got and is looking to continue capitalizing on the Batang Pier’s sizzling run.

“We’re lucky we caught Ginebra on its off night, but we’re also clicking,” said Jarencio.

“We expect Ginebra to adjust but we hope to repeat to move closer to the finals.”

Overall, the red hot Batang Pier is riding a five-game winning streak, dating back to the elimination round.

The Gin Kings had no answer for the

Batang Pier’s relentless offense in Game 1 as they weren’t able to set up their defense.

Christian Standhardinger has been going full bore in NorthPort’s series against Barangay Ginebra.

Despite playing non-stop since the start of the playoffs, all the way through the 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Fil-German sophomore has been playing like a energizer bunny for the Batang Pier.

He had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists in the team’s victory over the Gin Kings.

Admitting that fatigue is fact catching up on him, Standhardinger had none of it during Game One of the best-of-five semis series.

“I’m a little banged-up, but I’m OK. And nothing could keep me off the court,” said the 30-year-old center.

NorthPort Batang Pier import Michael Qualls (24) tries to dribble past Barangay Ginebra defender Japeth Aguilar (25). PBA

IN BRIEF Lemery bank creditors receive PDIC deadline PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp. said creditors of the closed Rural Bank of Lemery Inc. have until January 14, 2020 to file their claims against the bank’s assets. Claims filed after the date will not be entertained.

Creditors refer to any individual or entity with a valid claim against the assets of the closed Lemery bank in Batangas province. They include depositors with uninsured deposits that exceed the maximum deposit insurance coverage of P500,000.

PDIC, the receiver of the closed Lemery rural bank, announced that creditors of the closed bank may file their claims personally at the PDIC Public Assistance Center at the 3rd Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City, Monday to Friday, 8:00 .m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays.

Creditors also have the option to file their claims through mail addressed to the PDIC Public Assistance Department.

Rural Bank of Lemery was ordered closed by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on October 31, 2019.

DTI to contest big fine against Philip Morris THE Department of Trade and Industry is studying moves to counter another court case filed against Philip Morris by Thailand for alleged customs violations.

A recent report said the Thai government through one of its courts fined the cigarette company’s Thai unit $40 million and dropped criminal charges against seven Philip Morris employees.

The charges filed against the company involved the undervaluation of over 270 entries of imported cigarettes from the Philippines between 2003 and 2006.

The incident allegedly cost the Thai government tax losses of more than 306 million baht.

Philip Morris said could not accept the severity of fines imposed on it. The company said it would appeal before the World Trade Organization to consider its plea, adding it had complied with all the rules of the importing country. Othel V. Campos

Business SMC submits proposal to build EDSA Skyway S

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AN Miguel Corp. submitted last month an unsolicited offer to the Department of Transportation to build a $3-billion elevated expressway along EDSA.

“We already submitted it a month ago,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

“I hope we can convince him [Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade] to expedite the processing. If once we do that, we [can] start building it, let’s say middle of 2020 and it can be completed around two years after,” he said.

Ang said the proposed project would stretch from Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City to Samson Road in Caloocan City or Balintawak, Quezon City.

He said earlier that the project would have 10 lanes, consisting of five southbound lanes and five northbound lanes.

San Miguel is looking at the 38-kilometer elevated steel expressway in Jakarta, Indonesia as the model of the project.

The steel road would be built above Metro Rail Transit Line 3 which runs along EDSA. San Miguel currently operates the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway System and the NAIA Expressway.

It is constructing the Skyway Stage 3, an 18.68-km, six-lane elevated expressway that will extend the existing Skyway from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City and link the South Luzon Expressway to NLEX. The project aims to decongest major thoroughfares, including EDSA while creating new transport routes.

Skyway Stage 3 has four sections: Section 1 will run from Buendia to Plaza

Dilao; Section 2 from Plaza Dilao to Aurora Blvd.; Section 3 from Aurora Blvd. to Quezon Avenue; and Section 4 from Quezon Ave. to EDSA/Balintawak. The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

The company is also constructing Skyway Stage 4 which will start from the south of Metro Manila Skyway to Batasan Complex in Quezon City. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

SMC Infrastructure is also building the 22-km Metro Rail Transit Line 7 from North Ave. in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

The Department of Transportation said the construction of MRT-7 was nearly half-completed. It said the ongoing civil works include the guideway construction, underground/depressed and at-grade excavation or concreting works and installation of coping beam, girder and transslabs on the elevated structures.

Aside from expressways, SMC Infrastructure has interests in water, airport and port businesses.

NTC tops collection target by over P2b THE National Telecommunications Commission said Friday it exceeded its collection target for 2019 by P2.16 billion as of November 2019.

The agency’s target collection for 2019 was pegged at P4.786 billion, while actual collection stood at P6.949 billion.

“The agency had hoped to exceed its collection target by P2 billion this year and I am grateful to each and every one in the NTC for making sure we achieved this,” said NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba.

“This achievement demonstrates the NTC and DICT’s full support to the national government and the public service programs used by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte—priorities of which are on infrastructure, agriculture and real development and peace and order,” he added. Darwin G. Amojelar

Foreign debt rose 8.2% to hit record $82.7b in September

By Julito G. Rada THE country’s foreign debt stock increased by $6.3 billion or 8.2 percent to hit a record $82.77 billion as of endSeptember from $76.41 billion a year ago, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

It was boosted by net debt availments amounting to $5 billion this year, foreign exchange revaluation adjustments amounting to $1.2 billion and prior periods’ adjustments translating into $812 million.

The upward impact on the debt stock was partially offset by the transfer of Philippine debt papers from non-residents to residents at $843 million.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said that on a quarterly basis, the outstanding external debt also rose 1.7 percent or $1.4 billion to $82.7 billion from $81.3 billion as of end-June.

“The rise in the debt stock during the third quarter was due to net availments of $2.2 billion attributed to bond issuances of the national government and private local banks,” Diokno said in a statement.

“Increase in residents’ investments in Philippine debt papers issued offshore amounting to $426 million, negative foreign exchange revaluation of $211 million, and prior periods’ adjustments of $114 million partially offset the uptick in the debt stock,” he said.

External debt refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents, following the residency criterion for international statistics.

Diokno said the key external debt indicators “remained at prudent levels despite the rise in external debt.”

Data showed that the gross international reserves stood at $85.6 billion as of end-September, representing 5.4 times cover for short term debt under the original maturity concept.

FILINVEST PROJECT. Filinvest Alabang Inc. Inc. breaks ground for co-living spaces with The Crib—a three-tower development along Corporate Woods Avenue that offers affordable yet comfortable and secure residence for students and employees, particularly those studying and working within the vicinity of Filinvest City. Leading the ceremony are (from left) architects Juan Seriña Jr. and Raymond Hernandez of H1 Architecture and Design; Daphne Sanchez, vice president of Filinvest Alabang; Catherine Ilagan, president and COO of Filinvest Alabang; Winnifredo Lim, senior vice president of Filinvest Land Inc.; Eliseo Aurellado, vice chairman and COO of Metro Stonerich; and Fernando Villanueva, manager of International Trading Corp.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

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2 water firms face bankruptcy over cancellation of agreements

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE two private concessionaires of state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System face bankruptcy if the government will pursue the cancellation of the extension of their concession agreements which will expire in 2022, a top executive said over the weekend.

Consumers will also deal with water shortages in the future with the suspension of the water firms’ capital expenditure program, according to Maynilad Water Services Inc. vice chairman Isidro Consunji.

Consunji expressed grave concern over the possible impact of the government’s plan against Maynilad, which holds the concession for the west zone and Manila Water Co. Inc. which manages the east zone.

MWSS earlier said it revoked the resolution extending by 15 years the 25year concession agreements of Manila Water and Maynilad which were originally signed in 1997 during the term of former President Fidel Ramos.

This would mean their roles as concessionaires would end in 2022, unless the agreements are renewed.

“I am concerned if they are going to be level-headed about the whole thing, if they cancel the extension, the two companies will be bankrupt. Under our loan covenants, any material change in the contract, all loans become due and demandable. That’s standard for all contracts,” Consunji said.

He said Maynilad has a debt exposure of around P42 billion while Manila Water is also seen to have the same level of debt.

“Any material change in contract or a loan becomes due and demandable, so technically if they do that, the banks can call in their loans. Both companies for sure will close,” Consunji said.

Consunji said Maynilad had suspended the implementation of its capital expenditure projects worth P30 billion until the extension issue resolved.

“All our capex are suspended...you will sign contract, you will ask for a loan but what if you cannot get a loan?”

Consunji said.

“It appears that if the contract is shortened, the capex to provide for supply, waste water treatment will be suspended because it cannot be paid by 2022. You’re ensuring a water shortage in the future if this capex program is suspended because this is for additional water supply and additional wastewater treatment,” Consunji said.

Govt schedules talks with private sector to lift agribusiness sector

By Othel V. Campos THE government will consult with the stakeholders in the agribusiness community on Dec. 17 to get their inputs on the implementation of game-changing reforms in the sector, the Department of Finance said over the weekend.

The DOF expects more than 500 participants in the discussion of issues affecting the sector at the 10th Sulong Pilipinas this week at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.

It teamed up with the Department of

Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to host the large delegation of public and private/business sector stakeholders for the Sulong Pilipinas 2019 Agribusiness Summit on Dec. 17.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the country’s public and private stakeholders would continue to work together in “transforming traditional agrifishery farms into inclusive, resilient and globally competitive agribusiness enterprises.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez

III said the holding of the Sulong Pilipinas for Agribusiness shows how the publicprivate partnership works. “The government side delivers the medium. The private sector delivers the content. It is a productive symbiosis,” he said.

Sulong Pilipinas involves a series of consultative conferences between the Duterte administration and the private sector, which started in June 2016 also in Davao City before Duterte took over as president.

Participants from the agribusiness community will discuss a wide range of issues

to produce actionable recommendations to help the government focus its efforts on implementing game-changing reforms in the agribusiness sector for the 10th edition of the dialog.

There will be workshops on poultry and livestock; grains (corn and rice); fisheries; coconut; high-value crops (cacao, coffee, rubber, banana, mango and vegetables); infrastructure; and farm consolidation/ clustering and agri-tourism.

Recommendations to accelerate the implementation of these actionable programs will then be presented to Duterte.

Saudi Aramco briefly hits $2-t target SAUDI Aramco’s market value on Thursday briefly hit the $2-trillion valuation target sought by the kingdom’s de facto ruler as the energy giant’s share price surged again on its second day of trading.

The valuation milestone, which defies widespread skepticism from investors, was coveted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ever since he first floated the idea of listing the world’s biggest oil firm four years ago.

Aramco’s market value crossed the $2-trillion level several times during the day before ending just below it, at $1.96 trillion, on Riyadh’s Tadawul stock exchange.

Aramco shares closed up 4.55 percent at 36.80 riyals ($9.81), off their highs of the day, after soaring by the maximum allowed 10 percent on Wednesday.

“This rally is unlikely to be sustained,” Capital Economics said in a comment on Thursday.

“Indeed, reports suggest that the authorities pressured local investors and wealthy families to purchase shares on the secondary market to ensure that the debut didn’t fall flat,” the Londonbased consultancy firm said.

The listing of Aramco, with its huge capital value, boosts the Saudi bourse to the ranks of the world’s top 10.

But international investors have baulked at the company’s high valuation, with investment research firm Bernstein putting its value at $1.36 trillion.

“Saudi Aramco is the largest, most profitable oil company in the world— but size is not everything,” Bernstein said in a research note, highlighting the risk of “anemic” net income growth amid flat oil prices.

Aramco’s market debut also comes with oil prices under pressure due to a sluggish global economy hit by the USChina trade war and record output by non-OPEC crude exporters.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN. The Junior Chamber International Philippines recognizes this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Men during the awarding ceremony on Dec. 13, 2019 at Manila Hotel Ballroom in Rizal Park, Manila. Receiving the awards are (front row, from left) Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Reyes Chua for business-tourism, Gerardo Francisco Jr. for arts and humanities in dance, Aisa Mijeno for science and green technology, Alfredo Paolo Vargas III for public service and Abellana Reynaldo for arts and humanities in music as well as (second row, from left) Adiong Ziaur-Rahman for government service, Casiano Choresca Jr. for fisheries and aquaculture, Marc Paul Lopez for medicine colon and rectal surgery, Alfonso Tomas Araullo for broadcast journalism and Glenn Fernandez for youth participation in disaster risk reduction.

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Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Tepid trading expected this week

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE price are expected to continue trading sideways this week despite positive developments on the US-China trade talks.

Analysts said investors would likely remain on the sidelines and wait for the trading volume to significantly improve that could signal an active market and a breakout in the current trading range.

While a Santa Claus rally could still happen, analysts expect it to be a short bounce or a technical rebound from the previous week’s decline.

One factor that could boost the market moving forward is the recent pronouncement that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might consider cutting rates by about 50 basis points (bps) in 2020.

The Monetary Board on Thursday decided to hold key interest rates in its eighth and final meeting in 2019.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week rose 1 percent to 7,877.63, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 0.4 percent to 4,662.07 on weak trading volume.

Except for holding firms which declined 1.5 percent, all other sub-indices ended in the green led by property, gained 2.3 percent; industrial which advanced by 1.72 percent, services which rose 1.72 percent, financials which increased 1.5 percent; and mining and oil index which added 0.05 percent.

Foreign investor were net sellers for the week by P1.42 billion, while the average daily value traded declined to P5.6 billion from the previous week’s average

of P6 billion.

Soft drink maker Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. emerged as the week’s top gainer, after its share price jumped 40.74 percent to P1.90. The company reported that South Korea’s Lotte Chilsung Beverage had made an offer to acquire up to 2.134 billion common shares in the local at a tender offer price of P1.95 apiece.

Other top gainers include Jollibee Foods Corp., which surged 9.5 percent to P221, and Universal Robina Corp., which advanced 6.6 percent to P145.

Weekly top price losers were Manila Water Co. Inc., which slumped 38.5 percent to P10.02, and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which fell 17.7 percent to P3.01 after the board of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System voted to cancel the contract extension of Maynilad Water Service Inc. and Manila Water.

Meanwhile, London stocks and the British pound jumped Friday after an election triumph for Conservative Prime

Minister Boris Johnson that analysts said will bring clarity to Brexit proceedings and unlock stronger economic growth.

Other European stock markets--although lagging buoyant London, which rose over two percent at one point—also powered ahead, supported by confirmation of a partial trade deal between the United States and China.

However, Wall Street’s rally petered out, with American equities finishing little changed on the day both Beijing and Washington finally said they were on the same page.

Stocks had rallied Thursday in anticipation of the trade deal with China, but then declined when the pact was announced.

“You got a pretty good example of ‘buy the rumors and sell the news,’” Art Hogan of National Holdings told AFP, referencing the saying indicating equities rise more in anticipation of an event than after the event itself.

“But it’s certainly great news on Brexit and US-China trade war.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

AC Energy Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Axelum Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

DECEMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume 53.9 160.10 91.00 1.76 0.94 25 7.95 18.2 12.96 4.07 7.00 0.6 1.15 839.50 0.400 67.5 0.83 12.7 20.50 36.20 58.45 112.1 173 24.15 200 1805.00 58.25 1.09 34.45 2.32 13.6 0.56 1.25 2.85 0.231 99.95 19.00 2.13 15.24 170 4.22 69 72.4 28.1 2.06 5.16 8.800 14.56 9.90 7.20 1.76 25.45 70.2 1.15 40.70 2.0200 13.90 7.73 1.370 221.20 48.00 4.73 3.48 7.15 10.02 11.9 16.88 0.155 318.00 5.05 1.9 3.89 4.18 10.00 9.75 11.50 33.5 5 5.35 2.12 1.88 0.86 9.98 89 7.72 0.116 1.05 145 2.56 1.13 15.80 0.89

Value

1,010 8,949,530 8,093,990 173,000 156,000 570,900 200 42,100 1,229,400 404,000 3,400 24,000 16,000 860 560,000 11,003,240 228,000 8,200 162,400 765,200 18,190 420 6,230 82,400 2,135,470 190 72,360 1,108,000

FINANCIAL 54,360.50 1,423,923,004.00 722,042,141.00 313,650.00 148,190.00 14,261,225.00 1,590.00 761,192.00 15,838,718.00 1,611,080.00 23,815.00 14,230.00 18,460.00 692,680.00 216,600.00 740,501,389.00 180,890.00 104,260.00 5,813,200.00 27,574,995.00 1,060,808.50 47,082.00 1,083,154.00 1,989,220.00 423,962,198.00 342,085.00 4,183,089.00 1,180,720.00

3,760,100 18,150,000 1,509,000 2,893,000 139,000 18,495,000 1,920,000 120 207,800 4,229,000 21,867,600 3,490 1,631,900 19,700 33,030 67,200 1,612,000 660,300 17,033,100 145,700 1,921,900 1,055,800 8,000 5,985,900 598,030 216,405,000 61,400 32,194,000 458,500 1,745,700 353,000 2,439,840 100 18,000 160,000 82,900 33,233,700 911,900 3,157,800 4,800,000 649,300 30,800 103,188,000 47,000 11,212,000 216,400 77,600 495,300 2,748,300 2,286,700 191,900 45,067,000 46,000 444,000 2,748,900 312,960 250,600 4,180,000 103,000 8,413,190 21,000 12,773,000 12,700 17,393,000

INDUSTRIAL 128,182,905.00 41,875,320.00 20,492,850.00 1,581,730.00 171,660.00 51,952,210.00 443,070.00 10,816.00 4,336,989.00 9,039,380.00 333,367,798.00 577,002.00 7,233,428.00 1,476,594.00 2,612,502.50 1,859,000.00 3,311,920.00 3,422,947.00 144,479,721.00 2,145,578.00 19,594,746.00 7,593,975.00 14,100.00 147,369,500.00 43,190,343.00 253,220,440.00 2,457,440.00 64,219,390.00 6,364,980.00 13,476,463.00 453,150.00 520,392,996.00 4,800.00 85,480.00 508,540.00 607,840.00 410,795,142.00 10,694,734.00 47,190,714.00 782,900.00 206,563,024.00 157,961.00 188,483,680.00 185,350.00 47,950,510.00 2,138,856.00 769,031.00 5,564,706.00 91,994,205.00 11,434,351.00 1,031,885.00 96,549,490.00 87,100.00 397,230.00 27,371,643.00 27,550,792.00 1,961,935.00 482,460.00 105,460.00 1,196,700,994.00 53,780.00 14,608,280.00 201,340.00 15,287,960.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.750 52.40 11.16 0.71 6.72 11.5 0.950 0.970 782 3.080 1275.00 6.7 5.55 3.8 13.26 895 5.30 81.90 5 5.69 0.5 3.78 11.9 0.570 3.01 5.0500 1.370 2.99 153.00 1069.00 1.25 0.81 210.800 202.00 0.2130 0.209

7,189,000 6,333,260 46,644,500 1,767,000 37,100 94,500 2,940,000 1,347,000 1,832,390 23,471,000 40 5,192,500 163,773,100 20,000 224,300 333,520 452,800 8,410,790 61,400 5,100 79,000 946,000 7,444,600 215,000 490,275,896 563,100 1,196,000 151,000 780,460 1,799,690 11,315,000 454,000 4,680 63,210 1,570,000 2,100,000

HOLDING FIRMS 5,392,570.00 325,827,786.50 518,949,202.00 1,216,910.00 247,625.00 1,113,940.00 2,743,870.00 1,287,580.00 1,452,508,400.00 72,346,600.00 50,625.00 35,000,862.00 904,834,804.00 76,030.00 2,955,664.00 296,797,785.00 2,407,690.00 678,135,689.50 105,765.00 26,879.00 38,540.00 3,583,670.00 87,456,298.00 120,680.00 2,312,523,740.00 2,881,837.00 1,631,390.00 446,010.00 120,848,422.00 1,917,714,855.00 13,915,420.00 342,350.00 1,008,264.00 15,198,348.00 337,410.00 424,830.00

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

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

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

14.800 0.73 8.82 1.450 0.850 46.900 2.01 4.7 6.34 0.540 0.76 0.840 0.190 0.400 10.200 19.46 0.420 0.121 1.52 1.16 4.12 4.3 0.219 1.2700

1,525,900 2,289,000 17,600 289,000 3,902,000 37,886,000 2,140,000 1,804,000 112,500 63,663,000 148,000 183,000 1,070,000 4,810,000 311,600 1,004,700 5,450,000 70,000 31,698,000 1,581,000 78,000 125,084,000 91,630,000 5,257,000

PROPERTY 22,623,638.00 1,626,000.00 165,652.00 409,660.00 3,248,760.00 1,721,950,550.00 4,293,780.00 8,498,020.00 723,982.00 34,663,090.00 113,130.00 156,550.00 194,050.00 1,921,800.00 3,159,359.00 19,176,252.00 2,306,800.00 8,470.00 47,693,230.00 1,855,110.00 325,180.00 535,715,070.00 18,501,930.00 6,706,380.00

DECEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume Value 54 156.50 89.00 1.91 0.96 25 7.95 18.46 12.86 4.05 7.58 0.59 1.19 0.370 67.95 0.8 13 20.50 35.80 58.05 112.1 173.6 24.3 195.8 1771.00 58.00 1.05

11,710 7,892,100 18,993,480 99,000 614,000 394,800 300 29,600 3,092,200 26,000 600 9,000 75,000 910 670,000 10,379,140 956,000 103,700 500 3,754,600 9,330 60 5,130 634,400 4,838,470 240 270,460 673,000

629,482.50 1,244,775,487.00 1,671,942,449.00 184,610.00 591,690.00 9,872,395.00 2,095.00 538,342.00 40,184,304.00 105,790.00 4,548.00 5,310.00 88,730.00 732,575.00 253,400.00 701,495,842.50 767,810.00 1,318,660.00 10,250.00 138,184,495.00 539,293.50 6,726.00 897,677.00 15,588,515.00 962,450,890.00 432,200.00 15,777,484.00 706,870.00

34.6 2.41 13.72 0.57 1.28 3.03 0.237

3,346,000 8,506,000 2,574,400 1,585,000 42,000 13,106,000 320,000

115,587,455.00 20,719,880.00 35,370,972.00 911,760.00 51,990.00 41,072,510.00 72,950.00

21.40 2.17 15.34 164.1 5 68.95 71.85 28.9 2.06 5.33 8.480 14.62 10.30 7.19

392,800 10,689,000 893,400 9,710 3,840,500 3,650 530 15,400 184,000 62,100 6,691,600 2,370,100 839,700 22,204,400

8,279,244.00 23,893,450.00 13,601,682.00 1,636,960.00 19,225,504.00 238,023.00 35,610.50 429,625.00 375,140.00 326,476.00 57,286,814.00 35,389,208.00 8,646,452.00 158,843,697.00

24.75 73.55 1.43 40.85 2.0800 13.88 7.7 1.400 202.00

6,585,000 512,090 497,679,000 37,100 33,368,000 568,800 356,700 168,000 2,362,540

162,375,920.00 37,941,093.50 756,335,240.00 1,493,235.00 67,302,490.00 7,833,128.00 2,767,707.00 224,750.00 469,208,386.00

4.77 3.55 8.14 16.3 12.1 16.7 0.179 326.00 5.50 1.35 4.10 4.20 9.60 9.60 11.28 33.15 4.97 5.43 2.08 1.95 0.95 10.36 88.7 7.9 0.117 1.05 136 2.6 1.12

8,400 26,000 9,800 11,003,800 196,000 3,553,100 1,200,000 664,750 37,500 14,832,000 10,744,000 7,751,000 156,800 300,100 316,100 1,883,600 5,662,900 213,900 16,092,000 33,000 648,000 396,400 384,100 2,216,100 1,920,000 258,000 7,240,170 9,000 17,273,000

41,046.00 88,820.00 78,704.00 194,780,196.00 2,392,386.00 59,747,620.00 216,660.00 213,744,918.00 198,332.00 19,814,710.00 42,019,110.00 33,893,420.00 1,523,847.00 2,912,535.00 3,488,944.00 62,922,110.00 28,311,761.00 1,157,422.00 33,226,080.00 64,490.00 608,450.00 4,178,772.00 34,077,331.50 18,811,152.00 221,820.00 263,160.00 1,026,754,930.00 22,430.00 18,990,370.00

0.93

3,433,000

3,197,640.00

0.750 52.80 11.12 0.71 6.60 12.12 0.920 0.950 828 3.330

17,586,000 8,343,260 53,185,400 980,000 60,800 44,700 5,635,000 2,474,000 2,021,100 3,510,000

13,279,310.00 423,871,311.00 588,439,822.00 688,950.00 398,389.00 543,802.00 5,121,620.00 2,323,690.00 1,665,421,535.00 11,844,920.00

6.9 6.05

8,322,900 115,682,900

57,371,556.00 726,895,831.00

13.00 900 5.41 78.90 5.05 5.21 0.5 3.75 11.5 0.560 3.66 6.2000 1.370 3.00 159.00 1078.00 1.23 0.83 217.800 500.00 0.2140 0.216

1,254,300 315,390 4,683,900 6,758,110 6,500 2,200 126,000 5,582,000 17,168,700 145,000 281,164,000 64,977,600 1,302,000 116,000 876,620 2,940,070 191,000 205,000 3,260 4,460 2,830,000 3,070,000

16,560,546.00 223,816,681.00 25,339,382.00 529,650,712.50 33,152.00 11,468.00 62,490.00 22,120,400.00 194,505,118.00 80,440.00 1,118,005,570.00 6,316,402.00 1,793,760.00 348,000.00 139,878,508.00 3,138,419,320.00 234,850.00 157,520.00 690,038.00 2,259,856.00 628,330.00 628,450.00

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

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

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

4.27 0.197 1.3100

STOCKS

DECEMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume

DECEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil. Estates Corp.

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

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

0.4600 0.330 45.00 2.02 26.80 2.14 3.24 41.80 2.46 1.120 7.100 5.480

3,430,000 250,000 7,500 942,000 8,185,400 547,000 76,000 32,947,100 3,567,000 41,228,000 20,833,700 219,900

1,516,200.00 86,050.00 337,500.00 1,893,600.00 215,726,220.00 1,162,580.00 243,840.00 1,357,938,295.00 8,553,940.00 50,987,550.00 155,333,958.00 1,189,091.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel AllHome APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

9.7 16.5 1.52 11.48 0.440 0.042 18.5 4.14 11.00 92.4 7.08 5.03 5.25 1.96 8.36 890.5 1978 5.25 425.00 1.18 126 1.66 8.19 6.00 0.100 3.3500 13.5 2.71 0.89 17.20 11.50 0.385 3.39 2.11 0.99 1.03 2.620 2.5 8.00 5.45 150.00 2.56 1001.00 0.440 0.580 40.50 74.90 9.09 2.50 0.650 0.28 0.620 18.500

35,500 934,900 38,000 13,162,600 4,710,000 96,400,000 547,200 14,514,000 13,956,300 393,760 2,100 7,864,200 970,700 28,000 104,100 730 145,740 301,100 910 3,853,000 10,323,090 1,000 19,900 19,700 7,010,000 30,049,000 10,600 1,363,000 127,000 1,105,400 800 990,000 129,000 4,460,000 69,000 18,000 21,970,000 251,000 38,500 24,500 1,233,990 2,128,000 647,510 6,870,000 14,081,000 6,415,400 531,200 1,104,200 9,178,000 18,140,000 12,590,000 3,001,000 11,895,000

SERVICES 348,861.00 15,634,044.00 57,180.00 151,227,398.00 2,054,600.00 4,057,700.00 9,949,600.00 58,295,170.00 148,564,990.00 35,739,097.50 14,596.00 39,925,329.00 3,013,048.00 55,560.00 873,858.00 649,845.00 285,113,825.00 1,573,905.00 382,714.00 4,555,860.00 1,249,153,640.00 1,660.00 160,652.00 108,707.00 702,160.00 108,558,960.00 142,120.00 3,666,920.00 113,450.00 18,754,152.00 9,200.00 384,500.00 437,200.00 9,424,890.00 69,250.00 18,540.00 60,460,900.00 633,240.00 289,426.00 116,812.00 172,763,115.00 5,549,710.00 653,923,755.00 2,948,900.00 8,195,290.00 250,891,755.00 39,781,929.50 9,957,684.00 22,899,240.00 11,610,640.00 3,579,650.00 1,808,250.00 214,992,564.00

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

United Paragon

0.0015 0.95 2.42 10.96 1.0900 2.7 0.270 7.11 1.590 0.207 0.095 0.086 0.0082 0.93 2.96 1.03 0.4400 0.7800 0.0120 0.0110 2.93 8.99 0.0110 7.2000 20.40 0.0060

67,000,000 4,926,000 488,000 25,200 1,000 6,449,000 1,280,000 1,479,200 12,124,000 1,890,000 9,280,000 850,000 28,000,000 2,125,000 21,530,000 250,000 930,000 420,000 196,800,000 600,000 1,862,000 3,222,800 125,500,000 1,941,400 12,392,600 10,000,000

MINING & OIL 100,500.00 4,865,410.00 1,201,980.00 258,704.00 1,090.00 17,362,820.00 346,050.00 13,529,032.00 18,597,420.00 378,040.00 876,590.00 77,530.00 231,900.00 1,990,250.00 63,779,920.00 249,090.00 419,750.00 318,540.00 2,237,400.00 6,600.00 5,552,300.00 29,037,259.00 1,338,100.00 14,354,823.00 251,670,334.00 56,400.00

Leisure and Resort SMPFC Preferred GMA Holdings Inc. ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

1 1.36 5.19 15.72 75.45 75.5 75.7 75.95 76.75 77 78.45 97.7 98.05 100.2 100.6 100.7 101.3 105.1 108.1 490 500 500.5 505 997.5 999 1000 1025 1026 1035 1055

639,000 5,000 153,900 869,700 38,700 23,600 347,770 178,070 144,400 528,250 178,830 66,890 109,010 77,770 10,300 40,200 73,610 106,060 40,000 20 14,260 7,370 28,570 17,370 8,000 33,470 11,080 9,450 7,540 14,400

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.4 4.12 9.9 0.85

81,000 2,096,000 1,694,000 5,871,000

First Metro ETF

118.1 10.28 10 0.92

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

0.4200 0.330 46.00 2.01 25.80 2.15 3.23 40.80 2.48 1.260 7.580 5.500

5,710,000 550,000 8,500 960,000 7,182,500 225,000 10,996,000 43,779,100 818,000 39,569,000 25,829,500 287,700

2,272,700.00 181,900.00 391,000.00 1,930,250.00 183,662,840.00 482,380.00 34,964,320.00 1,760,683,110.00 2,038,450.00 47,623,370.00 191,628,566.00 1,570,015.00

9.8 17.36 1.48 11.52 0.470 0.040 18 3.73 10.12 92

8.60 890.5 1944 5.28 425.00 1.22 120 1.83 7.6 4.90 0.103 4.2000 13.9 2.71 0.90 17.20

35,600 1,089,900 203,000 19,227,800 5,560,000 2,700,000 898,100 24,915,000 14,599,300 328,710 300 2,418,900 167,400 6,000 63,600 200 160,965 770,700 65,160 8,330,000 7,393,880 34,000 98,000 65,000 3,740,000 15,198,000 21,400 1,365,000 151,000 3,270,500

354,640.00 18,391,438.00 293,950.00 221,013,590.00 2,571,650.00 110,400.00 16,266,224.00 85,186,550.00 156,393,500.00 30,338,252.50 2,070.00 13,470,495.00 874,255.00 11,890.00 556,089.00 178,255.00 314,675,850.00 4,007,844.00 28,142,866.00 10,164,620.00 898,057,922.00 57,570.00 752,640.00 310,100.00 378,740.00 61,537,840.00 298,440.00 3,720,590.00 135,620.00 57,375,840.00

0.405 3.37 2.13 0.99 1.03 2.950 2.5 7.63 5.00 145.00 2.70 1052.00 0.440 0.600 38.90 73.70 9.14 2.47 0.660 0.28 0.600 18.420

3,680,000 208,000 6,656,000 92,000 14,000 23,484,000 281,000 46,200 70,000 8,080 950,000 377,685 25,520,000 9,275,000 2,478,900 1,096,570 49,200 14,436,000 6,496,000 11,100,000 1,906,000 16,316,300

1,485,750.00 702,060.00 14,407,980.00 91,620.00 14,320.00 67,069,000.00 699,940.00 353,681.00 333,540.00 1,207,096.00 2,555,520.00 401,311,745.00 11,762,600.00 5,632,120.00 97,331,525.00 81,973,134.50 441,992.00 35,011,520.00 4,264,810.00 3,122,150.00 1,142,320.00 306,455,974.00

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

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

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

1.03 5.04 15.9 75.25 75.3 75.5 75.95 76 77 78.05 97.65 100.1 100.3 100

277,000 2,000 847,400 804,700 4,080 13,800 4,650 22,100 19,850 25,850 215,760 36,210 81,140 22,100 510

280,370.00 2,720.00 4,272,104.00 12,854,038.00 307,765.00 1,039,300.00 350,265.00 1,678,495.00 1,504,765.00 1,977,857.00 16,830,977.50 3,565,083.00 8,180,189.00 2,214,923.00 51,250.00

101.5 104.7 108 482 500 502 505 997.5 971 1000 1028 1026 1030 1055

84,660 20,140 62,220 1,280 48,000 10,100 6,960 4,100 2,852,830 13,420 2,420 11,675 8,210 80

8,576,190.00 2,128,012.00 6,884,315.00 608,722.00 24,180,000.00 5,070,300.00 3,506,310.00 4,095,825.00 7,805,930.00 13,429,600.00 2,484,050.00 11,978,550.00 8,387,245.00 84,050.00

2.5 3.87 10.6 0.87

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

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

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 32,600 3,806,756.00

116.8

27,660

3,235,167.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 25,550 262,937.80 16,370 165,833.00 30,900 28,504.00

10.3 10.3

8,990 9,870

91,957.40 100,726.40

PREFERRED 639,440.00 6,800.00 784,115.00 13,744,796.00 2,914,125.00 1,800,216.00 26,408,184.50 13,546,916.50 11,046,680.00 40,680,165.50 13,962,864.50 6,563,437.50 10,738,293.00 7,831,711.00 1,036,180.00 4,048,180.00 7,456,693.00 11,170,079.00 4,324,000.00 9,800.00 7,131,360.00 3,696,760.00 14,353,920.00 17,323,365.00 7,966,400.00 33,162,755.00 11,336,285.00 9,779,760.00 7,734,525.00 15,198,540.00 SME 199,360.00 8,618,230.00 16,913,815.00 5,075,940.00

5.56 5.60

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Fruitas Holdings Oriental Pet. `A’ DMCI Holdings Philodrill Corp. `A’ Megaworld Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Apollo Global MRC Allied Ind. Abra Mining

VOLUME 490,275,896 216,405,000 196,800,000 163,773,100 125,500,000 125,084,000 103,188,000 96,400,000 91,630,000 67,000,000

STOCKS Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings I.C.T.S.I. Universal Robina DMCI Holdings Metrobank

VALUE 2,312,523,740.00 1,917,714,855.00 1,721,950,550.00 1,452,508,400.00 1,423,923,004.00 1,357,938,295.00 1,249,153,640.00 1,196,700,994.00 904,834,804.00 740,501,389.00

D&L ready to offer other options amid plastics ban

By Jenniffer B. Austria D&L Industries Inc., the country’s largest specialty foods ingredients, plastics and oleochemicals firm, said it is ready to provide product substitutes to companies amid the potential ban on singleuse plastics.

D&L said in a statement over the weekend units D&L Polymers & Colours Inc. and First in Colours Inc. had the capability to serve the requirements of the local plastic industry and even the export market if they decided to switch to more sustainable and biodegradable packaging materials.

D&L is the only company in the Philippines that manufactures bio-degradeble plastics and additives that are internationally certified.

“The potential ban on single-use plastics presents both challenges and opportunities to everyone in the industry.

While this will likely put pressure on manufacturers of single-use plastics, there is a greater opportunity for us to increase our relevance to customers and provide innovative and higher valueadded products,” said DLPC and FIC managing director Lester Lao. Lao, however, noted that it might not be possible to completely ban the use of single-use plastics instantly. This is true especially in medical, personal care, and other sectors where single-use plastics are necessary for sanitary and safety purposes.

“Plastic is a technological advancement that continues to play a crucial role in modern-day society. We believe that educating people to properly dispose, sort, and segregate, is the key to address the negative environmental impact of single-use plastics. At the same time, plastics must be reduced, reused, and recycled,” Lao said.

He said the company had been proactively doing R&D works in the environment-friendly and sustainable plastic materials space as part of an advocacy to promote “green chemistry.”

DLPC & FIC to date have successfully developed two proprietary product lines, Biomate and Biorez, which can provide solution for companies to alleviate singleuse plastic pollution in the country.

“These products make plastics biodegradable and are certified by international standards,” Lao said.

Multisys, GCash link up to integrate with Bayad Center

By Darwin G. Amojelar GCash has teamed up with leading software solutions company Multisys Technologies Corp. to integrate systems with Bayad Center’s bills payment services.

The partnership will allow GCash app to gain access to thousands of billers nationwide.

“This system integration is one to look forward to, as it will allow GCash users to transact with thousands of billers nationwide—all in one app,” said MultiSys founder and chief executive David Almirol Jr. “MultiSys will help GCash achieve a streamlined and seamless business process, which is crucial in a digitally driven world,” he added.

Under the partnership, MultiSys will integrate Bayad Center’s billers with GCash’s in-app Pay Bills service, and enable GCash payments in more platforms and websites through Web Pay. “We are confident that this partnership with MultiSys and Bayad Center will not only fortify our existing linked systems but also pave the way for more institutional connections with our mobile platform,” said Anthony Thomas, chief executive of Mynt, the company behind GCash said.

“GCash aims to link with more government agencies and businesses, which will allow us to provide convenience to more Filipinos who wish to transact conveniently online, wherever they may be,” Thomas added.

Manuel Tuason, Bayan Center chief executive and president, was also pleased with the system integration.

“With this integration of GCash and Bayad Center through the technological know-how of MultiSys, Filipinos will be able to enjoy bills payment and convenience for other transactions via online and mobile, better than ever,” Tuason said.

MultiSys provides a wide range, cost-effective, and full-scale IT services to companies.

Business/World 50 bodies unearthed from mass grave

FOGGY IN NAJAF. Iraqi commuters make their way under heavy fog in the central holy shrine city of Najaf on December 15, 2019. AFP

Chilean song against rape TUNIS―Around 60 Tunisian women on Saturday performed the feminist flashmob song “The rapist is you!”, a Chilean creation that went global, in front of the seat of government in Tunis.

“We are here to denounce all forms of violence... social, institutional [and] domestic violence” said participant Shames Radouani.

The Tunisian event comes as numerous women in the North African nation have complained of sexual harassment on social media, under the hash-tag #EnaZeda―the local incarnation of the #MeToo movement.

The posts were sparked by a video that went viral in October showing a newly elected lawmaker allegedly masturbating outside a school. The footage was shot by a young girl.

The lawmaker, Zouheir Makhlouf, said he is diabetic and had been urinating into a bottle.

He walked free after being investigated for alleged sexual harassment and public indecency.

Launched in late November in Chile by feminist collective Las Tesis, the anthem against violence “The rapist is you!” is a very visual dance, involving wearing a black blindfold and a scarf.

The women arrange themselves in line, singing their refusal to tolerate excuses for unwanted sexual advances, culminating in the words “the rapist is you!,” sung with accusing fingers pointed forwards.

The mobilization in Tunis on Saturday follows dozens of similar performances around the world, including in Paris, Madrid, Beirut and New York.

The Tunisian activists who took part in the flash-mob performance were responding to a call by local feminist group “Falgatna,” an AFP journalist said. AFP

Protests rage in northeast India GUWAHATI―The protests against a divisive new citizenship law raged Saturday as Washington and London issued travel warnings for northeast India following days of violent clashes that have killed two people so far.

Many in the far-flung, resource-rich northeast fear the new legislation will grant citizenship to large numbers of immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, whom they accuse of stealing jobs and diluting the region’s cultural identity.

Several thousand protesters rallied in the capital New Delhi late Saturday to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to revoke the law, some holding signs reading: “Stop Dividing India.”

“People are not gathered here as Hindus, or Muslims, people are gathered here as citizens of India. We reject this bill that has been brought by the Modi government and we want that equal treatment as is enshrined in our constitution,” said protester Amit Baruah, 55, a journalist.

Protests turned violent in West Bengal state, a hotbed of political unrest, with at least 20 buses and parts of two railway stations set on fire as demonstrators blocked roads and set fire to tyres. No injuries were reported.

Tensions also simmered in Guwahati in Assam state, the epicenter of the unrest, where medical staff said two people were shot dead and 26 hospitalized late Thursday after security forces fired live rounds.

Assam police chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told the Press Trust of India late Saturday that 85 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, and that officials are working to identify violent demonstrators caught on video.

Friday’s funeral procession of 18-yearold Sam Stafford, who was killed in the demo, was attended by hundreds of angry and distraught mourners who shouted, “long live Assam.”

“We were watching news all day on TV about the protests when my nephew left home in the evening. We asked him not to go but he went with his friends,” the student’s aunt Julie Stafford told AFP. Anticipating further unrest, authorities extended an internet ban across Assam until Monday. Most shops were shut and anxious residents stocked up on supplies Saturday when the curfew was relaxed during the day. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New Zealand eruption death toll up to 18 as search goes on

IN BRIEF GUADALAJARA―The bodies of at least 50 people have been unearthed from a mass grave at a farm outside Mexico’s western city of Guadalajara, local authorities said.

The grim site was discovered just over three weeks ago in Jalisco―a state hardhit by violence linked to organized crime.

The local prosecutor’s office said Saturday 13 of the dead―12 men and a woman―have been identified and the remains given to their families.

The process of identifying more of the victims and how they died will continue, it added.

A mass grave with 34 bodies was discovered in a suburb of Guadalajara on September 3, while another was found nearby in May with the remains of 30 people.

Nearly 2,500 murders were reported between January and November in Jalisco―where the powerful Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel is based―state authorities have said. AFP

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

UN climate talks stagger toward ’mediocre’ result M ADRID―A UN climate summit in Madrid stumbled towards the finish line Sunday after marathon talks between countries exposed deeper divides than ever over how to enact humanity’s plan to avert global warming disaster.

More than 36 hours after the negotiations were due to end, delegates were close to agreement on contentious issues, including how ambitious each nation is in its individual plan to fight climate change.

Faced with fire-alarm warnings from science, deadly extreme weather made worse by climate change, and weekly strikes by millions of young people, negotiations in Madrid were under pressure to send a clear signal that governments were willing to double down in tackling the crisis.

But observers and delegates from nations already bearing the brunt of climate-related disasters said the COP 25 in Madrid had resolutely failed to live up to its own slogan: Time for action.

“We wanted provisions that were in the Paris agreement to remain and what we see at every COP it just seems to be another opportunity to erode those,” Gre-

nada envoy Simon Stiell told AFP. “There are one or two parties that seem hell bent on ensuring any calls for ambition, action, environmental integrity are rolled back,” he added.

Delegates from nearly 200 nations are in Madrid to finalize the rulebook for the 2015 Paris agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).

The accord enters in to action next year, and it had been hoped COP 25 would show the world that governments had listened to the weekly protests, irrefutable science and more extreme weather events to redouble their efforts.

Yet the key issue of ambition―how far each country is willing to slash carbon emissions or assist less wealthy peers to do likewise—has largely failed to materialize.

Veteran observers of UN climate talks were stunned by the state of play.

And youth activists, who held several protests during the summit, called out governments dragging their feet.

Alexandria Villasenor, a 14-year-old climate activist, said she was “disappointed” in the lack of action at COP 25.

“The difference between the youth on the streets and the negotiations is that the youth on the streets are acting with urgency,” she told AFP. “COP 25 has failed us and it’s another

year of failure.”

The push for a strengthening of voluntary carbon cutting plans is led by small-island and least-developed states, along with the European Union.

These have called out nations they see as blocking consensus for all countries to step up, notably the United States, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

China and India, the world’s No. 1 and No. 4 carbon emitters, have made it clear they see no need to improve on their current emissions reduction plans, which run to 2030.

These emerging giants have chosen instead to emphasize the historical responsibility of rich nations to lead the way and provide financing to poor countries.

“It seems like it’s inching along but it’s not the strong call for climate ambition that we needed to come out of this,” said Catherine Abreu, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada.

“It will be a pretty mediocre outcome.”

The COP 25 summit was also meant to finalize a chapter on carbon markets in the Paris rulebook.

Some nations, notably Brazil and Australia, want to count carbon credits accumulated under a previous climate deal as part of their commitments under the Paris goals. AFP

The chicken and egg problem: Job experience or career potential?

BRYAN PEREZ BALAGTAS

Green LiGht FOR young people pursuing their dream jobs, don’t lose hope, even if you lack the work experience that most companies require. Some organizations, recognizing the chicken-and-egg dilemma, open their doors to those with great potential. Let me share with you my story.

When I started applying for a new job, I noticed that many companies require at least two years of job experience. Because of this preference to those with several years of experience, those with limited or none at all are placed at a disadvantage even though they may have greater potential. This is because organizations want employees that can produce results as soon as possible. The assumption is that experienced hires can perform better and faster than those with limited to no work experience.

Candidates with limited experience have difficulty getting into careers that they want because most organizations would prefer to hire a candidate with more experience. Thus, the candidate with less experience does not get the opportunity to gain experience to get into their desired career path, resulting in a vicious cycle—the classic chicken-andegg problem.

To candidates with limited job experience, do not fret, as there are some managers that might see your potential and give you a chance at a career

of your dreams.

But, of course, in the current world that we live in, you would need to find ways to open these doors of opportunity for yourself. In my case, for example, I was able to shift to a career in supply chain from an Information Technology career even without experience in supply chain because the hiring manager was aware that I had an industrial engineering bachelor’s degree and that I was to about to earn my MBA in De La Salle University (DLSU).

Both degrees are relevant to the supply chain industry. My formal education opened the doors for me to the career path that I wanted. But the journey was not easy because I was not able to translate my education into immediate work results. It took me about three months to get a hang of things, and to produce quality results consistently. Using this experience as an inspiration for my final MBA paper, my collaborators and I saw that having a well-designed on-boarding program and training could help new hires adjust to their new organization and produce results more quickly.

I hope that more organizations will have a shift in mindset, and consider hiring candidates with limited experience, but with great potential. However, this should also be partnered with a well-designed on-boarding and training program that can unleash the potential of these candidates. Hiring candidates with limited experience and developing them could be more cost effective than

hiring candidates with extensive work experience. Furthermore, candidates with limited experience can have insights for improvement that candidates with extensive experience might not be able to see.

Both candidates with limited work experience and the hiring organization have a role to play in breaking the vicious cycle. Candidates with limited work experience can gain knowledge and skills through formal education, especially one related to one’s desired career. Hiring organizations can develop an on-boarding and training plan to equip new hires with essential skills and tools while also paving the path to unleash the new hire’s potential.

Breaking the chicken-and-egg vicious cycle can potentially increase employee job satisfaction as more candidates are given opportunities at the career that they want. As Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Bryan Balagtas was a software test analyst at Hewlett Packard for five years, but has successfully shifted to a career in supply chain as an Assistant Manager at McDonald’s Philippines. He will graduate from De La Salle University, with a Master of Business Administration degree in February 2020. He welcomes comments at brybalagtas28@ gmail.com. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

WELLINGTON―The death toll from New Zealand’s White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said.

A land search early Sunday failed to find any sign of the missing pair and divers returned to the sea in the afternoon amid increasing speculation both could be in the water.

Deputy police commissioner Mike Clement said there was “every chance” the bodies had been washed into the sea from the stream where they were last seen Monday.

He added that searchers were “satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of the bodies.”

“The rescue teams are frustrated. We understand completely how frustrating it is for loved ones who want the bodies back,” Clement said.

Forty-seven people were on the island―a popular tourist attraction― when the explosion happened.

The death toll now stands at 18 after an Australian victim who had been repatriated to Sydney died in hospital almost a week after the deadly eruption.

Another 26 survivors remain in New Zealand and Australian hospitals, of which 20 are listed as “critical” and fighting for their lives after the eruption on the desolate island, which is the country’s most active volcano.

The family of the latest victim have requested his name and age not be released.

Police on Sunday named seven victims who have been officially identified including New Zealand tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24. AFP

Tensions rise over French unions’ strike PARIS―Tensions between the French government and unions opposed to pension reforms mounted Sunday as a crippling transport strike entered its 11th day.

The overhaul, unveiled this week

by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, would do away with the 42 separate pension systems—some of which offer early retirement and other benefits to public-sector employees such as train drivers, dockers and even Paris Opera employees.

Philippe angered unions further by proposing a reduced payout for people who retire at the legal age of 62 instead of a new, so-called “pivot age” of 64.

Strike organizers have announced a massive protest for Tuesday when tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets again.

Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995, when they forced a right wing government to back down on pension reform after three weeks of metro and rail strikes just before Christmas.

The prospect of a protracted standoff has businesses fearing big losses during the crucial year-end festivities, and travelers worried that their holiday plans will fall through.

Philippe told the Parisien daily in an interview for its Sunday edition that the French would not accept being “deprived” of festive transport options.

“I can well see that everyone is worried as they see Christmas near. Christmas is an important time,” he said.

On Friday, he asked SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou to draw up a list of exactly which trains would be running during the festive season.

But the unions have said they will not give in—and that the government would have to.

“If the government wants the conflict to end before the holidays, they have all of next week to take the wise decision and scrap the pointbased pension plan,” Laurent Blum, the general secretary of the hardline CGT-Cheminots, the main SNCF union, told AFP. France’s moderate CFDT union joined the action after the government’s announcement that those who retire before the “pivot age” of 64 would not receive a full pension.

“It’s very simple: for the CFDT to take another look at this bill, the government must agree to withdraw the pivot age. One point, that’s all,” CFDT leader Laurent Berger told Le Journal du Dimanche. AFP

LGUs

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Singapore SEAG team gifts ‘Abe’ to Duyan kids CLARK, Pampanga—The spirit of Christmas was evident during the gift-giving event headed by Christopher Chan, Secretary General of the Singapore National Olympic Council, in partnership with Quest Plus Conference Center Clark last Dec. 9 at the Duyan ni Maria Children’s Home.

Chan was inspired to donate and give gifts when he received an Abe bear gift from Quest Plus Clark, wherein proceeds from the purchase of the toy will be donated to chosen beneficiaries, one of which is Duyan ni Maria, a home for orphaned children in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Together with the athletes of the Singapore Team, Chan visited the orphanage where they were happily welcomed by the children and by Sister Alessandrina Casas, the founder of the organization.

The Singaporeans donated Abe bears, clipped with the official Singapore Team’s SEA Games pin, cakes and pastries from Quest Plus, and a generous amount of shopping vouchers, which will be used to make the children’s Christmas wishes come true.

The Singapore athletes also had the chance to interact with and inspire the children during the activity. They gamely posed for photos and were all smiles as they handed Abe bears to each child.

Others may also grant the wishes of the children of Duyan ni Maria and other beneficiaries of Quest Plus Clark. For every purchase of Abe the Christmas bear and Disenyong Pinatubo ornaments at the hotel lobby, part of the proceeds will be donated to the beneficiaries. For more information, please call (045)599 8000, or message Quest Plus Clark on Facebook.

Quake victims gain 5k bottles of drinking water NATIONWIDE solidarity is continuously expressed through donations and aid for Filipinos affected by the series of earthquakes that struck Davao and the rest of Mindanao in recent months, that scaled up to a magnitude 6.6 followed by frequent aftershocks.

One of the companies that made noteworthy contribution to the cause was ARC Refreshments Corp. with its turnover of 488 boxes or 5, 856 bottles of Alon purified drinking water to help Davaoeños affected by the earthquake in rebuilding their lives.

ARC donated 250 boxes to the Office of the Vice Mayor of Davao, while 238 boxes were allotted for ABSCBN’s Sagip Kapamilya Foundation for distribution. Alongside safe drinking water, packs of noodles were also donated by the beverage company.

“We had to help out fellow Filipinos in need especially in time for the Christmas season—and they need all the support they can get even beyond the Holidays,” noted James Loverio, ARC Refreshments Corporation’s Head of Marketing.

“We not only decided to deliver this donation as part of our commitment to nation-building, but even more important, because it’s simply the right thing to do for our countrymen and women facing crisis,” he added.

Making high quality beverages more accessible to Filipinos is one of the core values of ARC. Proud of its Filipino roots, the company launched Alon this year to provide “a wave of safe water for every Juan.”

“Supply of fresh, safe water is important for everyday life. We’re making sure that those affected by the earthquake get access to this basic necessity,” said Loverio.

VILLAR WORKS. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (right) discusses the opening of the

Dagat-Dagatan Ramp of NLEX Harbor Link after a progress inspection of the 2.6-km R10 Section and the 8-km NLEX Connector elevated expressways in northern Metro Manila. Later, Villar joins his family—tycoon Manny Villar, Senator Cynthia Villar, Las Piñas Rep. Camillle Villar, Vista Land CEO Paolo Villar, and his wife DOJ Usec. Emmilene Aglipay Villar (inset)— as they welcome President Rodrigo Duterte, who graces the inauguration of the Tent at Vista Global South, the newest, biggest venue in the south of Metro Manila for personal or corporate events, located at C5 Extension Road in Las Piñas. Norman Cruz and Lino Santos

New ‘House of Hope’ in Davao inaugurated

D

AVAO CITY—Ayala Foundation Inc. recently led the inauguration of the newly improved House of Hope, a halfway house for pediatric cancer patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center here.

The facility was constructed with the help of Ayala Corp. and under the supervision of Ayala Foundation.

“We celebrate with you in this priceless charitable endeavor of giving back to the community,” said Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, in a statement read by Councilor Edgar Ibuyan during the inauguration.

“With approximately 10 children diagnosed with cancer each day in the Philippines, the fight against this disease must be furthered strengthened—a fight that involves not only the pediatric patients,

but their families and their healthcare attendants. To reduce its numbers is not the sole responsibility of the medical industry and the government. Rather, it demands all our concerted and individual efforts,” she added.

Davao Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte likewise expressed his support for the project.

“The Davao City Government will continue to support you in providing shelter and services to countless children while also promoting health awareness and education,” the vice mayor said in a statement

read by Antoinette Principe-Castrodes during the event.

The SPMC Cancer Institute handles over 200 cancer cases annually. While many of its patients come from Davao City and other parts of Mindanao, it also serves patients from as far as the Central Visayas and Bicol regions.

“It is a privilege for the Ayala group to work with the SPMC Cancer Institute in providing a space for healing and recovery for young patients,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala president and chief operating officer.

“With this gift, we would like to show young cancer patients and their families that there is always hope, and that our country has excellent medical professionals who can aid in their treatment and recovery,” he added.

Opening the new toy library of the House of Hope in Davao City are (in front, from left) Dina Orosa, general manager, Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Davao City Councilor Petite Principe; Miwa Nishihama, Japan Consul General; Dr. Mae Dolendo, Pediatric Oncologist, Southern Philippines Medical Center; Margaux Atayde; and (at the back) Ruel Maranan, president, Ayala Foundation Inc. They later join the kids at the halfway house for the pediatric cancer patients of the SPMC with Maranan and Orosa.

Malabon taps ‘bayanihan’ spirit vs. malnutrition A FAMOUS proverb teaches that it takes a village to raise a child. Nowhere is this truer than in Malabon City, where an entire community has made it a mission to raise a healthy young population.

Led by Mayor Antolin ‘Len’ Oreta III, Malabon over the last three years has embarked on a series of programs to combat childhood malnutrition.

In the past, Malabon was ranked as having one of the highest incidences of malnutrition, with a stunting rate of 16.3 percent in 2013, according to data from the National Nutrition Council.

Malnutrition not only causes stunting, but it also leads to poor academic performance and social participation.

“Building a healthy youth sector in Malabon is a key thrust of the city. Malnutrition has been a challenge in Malabon, and one can only fight a grassrootslevel problem with a grassroots-driven solution,” shared Mayor Oreta.

In 2016, Malabon began conducting an annual 90-day feeding program to improve food intake of underweight children identified through Operation Timbang Plus. In true spirit of bayanihan, businesses and organizations in Malabon and nearby cities donated many key food ingredients for the program.

“There was a misconception in the community that healthy food is expensive. We conducted an education campaign where we showed our fellow Malabonians that one can make healthy dishes using available ingredients at a very low cost. This was important to sustain the nutrition program and bring the message inside the homes of Malabonians,” said Chef Melissa Oreta, Malabon First Lady and City Nutrition Action Officer, who designed the menu for the feeding program.

Interestingly, Mayor Oreta also saw a huge opportunity to harness the unique culinary culture of Malabon—home to many famous delicacies—to address the high incidence of malnutrition.

LARC marks 4th year with poster contest on climate change

By Roy Tomandao LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—To raise awareness on the impacts of climate change on water resources, LARC conducted its 4th poster making contest as part of its fourth founding an-

niversary on Dec. 10.

With the theme “Combating the Negative Impacts of Climate Change to Our Water Resources,” the contest targeted elementary school students all over Los Baños, Bay, Calauan, Victoria and Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Residents line up at a libreng tawag and charging station in Barangay Rizaliana, Mauban, Quezon. More than 13,000 families evacuated their homes as Typhoon ‘Tisoy’ caused damage to infrastructure and power lines in the province.

Almost 30 participants submitted entries, which was later on narrowed down to 12, which were then posted at the LARC Facebook page. A portion of the final score were based on the number of FB likes the entries were able to achieve for the duration of the online

voting.

The top 3 winners were hand-picked by the esteemed board of judges -Althea Roa of UP Painters club, Leo Gerardo C. Leonardo from Philippine High School for the Arts, and Janelle Cabrera UP Painters Club.

PLDT, Smart come to ‘Tisoy’ victims’ aid RECOGNIZING the urgent need for communication in times of calamities, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. recently deployed emergency mobile and connectivity services for communities hit by Typhoon “Tisoy” and the floods in Cagayan and Isabela provinces.

A few days after the typhoon, Smart offered free 300 MB data to subscribers in the affected areas to help them get immediate updates and reach out to their loved ones here in the Philippines and abroad.

The free 300 MB data package was valid for two days and given to Smart, Sun, and TNT subscribers in Masbate, Quezon, Surigao del Norte, and other areas

heavily affected by Tisoy.

PLDT and Smart also set up libreng tawag (free calls) and charging for the use of affected residents and responders in more than 20 locations all over the Philippines, including Cagayan and Isabela, which were affected by the heavy rains that recently hit some parts of Luzon after Tisoy’s onslaught. ‬‬ Even as they worked on restoring network and mobile data services in areas hit by Tisoy, PLDT and Smart extended libreng tawag and charging in areas where commercial power was limited and/or infrastructure and facilities were damaged.

Christmas Special

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 advertise@manilastandard.net

Celebrating the holiday season

THROUGH FESTIVE FILIPINO WAY ‘T

By Shana Angela S. Cervania

IS the season to be jolly! It really is during the holiday season that one can proudly say “It’s more fun in the Philippines!” with the 4-month Christmas celebration in this predominantly Catholic nation.

As early as September, people decorate their homes with twinkling lights, and shiny green and red decor. Truly a bearer of different cultures, there would be fixtures of the Nativity scene along with the Belen statues, a big Santa coming down the chimney and faux evergreens, adorning not just the Filipino homes but also malls and store establishments nationwide. Despite Halloween taking place first in November, Christmas decors are more popular to put up.

As the Jose Mari Chan memes hint as early as June, you will already hear his familiar melodious voice as soon as the “-ber” months start until the end of January. And by December, street carolers will serenade houses with their make-shift instruments and ensemble to uplift the holiday mood and spirit, as a way for them to also earn some coins during Christmas.

SIMBANG GABI As soon as the middle of December starts, the simbang gabi novena masses will commence until Christmas Day. It is a Filipino tradition to complete the simbang gabi. Some even wake up at dawn to get ready for the 3 a.m. novena mass and even go so far as to visit nine different churches. But as this is impractical for people who are productive throughout the day, they choose to attend the anticipated Eucharistic celebration usually scheduled around 8 p.m., right after they come home from work.

From the crunching of the leaves on the gravel to the lively giggles of children frolicking at the church courtyard, the festive

scent of the night air, the quiet chatter of people before the eucharistic celebration, and the occasional yells from the street vendor peddling his freshly-made bibingka and puto bumbong, with steam still wafting off the delicious moist goods… Ah, yes! These are just some of the things that make Paskong Pinoy so familiar, soothing and comforting.

Commonly sold outside these churches are sticky rice cakes or bibingka, some with salted egg and coconut shavings on top, and puto bumbong or purple rice desserts with brown sugar and also coconut shavings. Some choose to pair the sticky goodness with steaming hot chocolate to warm the cold gloomy Christmas weather.

PASKONG PINOY Truly a celebration for Filipino families, it is also the time when overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) come home to reunite and spend a short but joyous time with their families. As such, it really is something to look forward to for them to finally see their children after a long time—some, even, after long years of not seeing them.

And of course, they do not forget the pasalubong they have for relatives and loved ones stored in their humongous balikbayan boxes filled with the must-have chocolates, toys, lotions, bath goods, keychains, food, and other stuff they got, especially for their children to make up for the lack of time and the moments they had missed.

With family-centric values molded in the hearts of Filipinos, it is common for them to

go back to their hometowns in the provinces to spend the holidays with their relatives and loved ones. Definitely a moment for long anticipated get-togethers, Filipinos truly look forward to this season as they save up for food and gifts for the special occasion.

All kinds of Christmas sale will pop up every now and then, whether in malls or through discounts that one can avail online; some even save money, or work overtime or both, or have already planned to spend for their 13th-month pay or Christmas bonus, for noche buena, media noche, monito-monita, aguinaldo and other Christmas events.

A tradition of some kind which is popular for locals is to go to the markets or to the stalls of Divisoria to buy gifts in bulk to save a little money. With a lot of relatives lined up for the gift-giving season, this is one of the best ways to spend less but is actually giving more.

Some famous go-to places include Quiapo, Greenhills, and Baclaran. There will also be a lot of Christmas bazaars open around this time but expect to be overwhelmed by the crowd, especially for those who are hunting for yuletide gifts at the very last minute.

For those who plan to put up the holiday decor, some Christmas goers like to take a visit to Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City where people can buy inexpensive but quality items for Christmas decors.

To avoid the Christmas madness, buy things needed for Christmas as early as you can as crowds begin to gather around the start of November, from large department stores to the cheap bargain stalls in Divisoria.

Another popular method nowadays would be to shop online for your needed Christmas items. However, it would also be wise to do it early so as to not get your shipping delayed

along with the numerous orders they have.

Christmas parties are also very popular in the Philippines as this is a yearly event for work associates to relax and have fun; college students to take a breather; and longtime friends to catch up. Potlucks, where every individual in the party brings food, is the most popular way to save more but still have more than enough to keep all visitors full throughout the whole celebration.

Taking place right on Christmas day is the Misa de Gallo, where families come together, even the ones who do not go to church often to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

It starts at 10 p.m. on Christmas eve, just in time for noche buena right after the mass.

Another midnight feast will also take place on New Year’s Eve—the media noche.

People would usually spend the actual Christmas day on a relative’s house where a feast would again be held with Christmas dishes such as lumpia, lechon baboy, mango graham, tiramisu, leche flan, fruit salad, and sweet ham with queso de bola. Children also come to get their aguinaldo sealed in ang pao.

All these Christmas festivities would last until the Three Kings’ Day which falls on the sixth of January. The celebration of Epiphany —also called the Pasko ng Matatanda—takes place on this day also to honor senior citizens.

For some, the Filipino Christmas spirit never truly dies until the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January 9, and the Feast of the Santo Niño every third Sunday of January.

Furthermore, sometimes some people extend their Paskong Pinoy celebrations until Feast of Our Lady of the Candles every February 2 which marks the 40th day from Christmas in correspondence to Lent. Some church still keep the nativity scene up to this day as this is when Mary participated in a rite of purification and Simeon revealed his prophecy about the Holy Child to both Mary and Joseph.

Life

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Holiday feast for the no-cook, non-alcoholic reveler C

HRISTMAS is literally around the corner now—eight days away, to be exact.

You know the holiday season has reached its penultimate level as Grab fares go crazily high and Edsa traffic becomes crazily slow, all amid a backdrop of non-stop partying and get-togethers and mad, mad lastminute shopping.

As for me, I can’t cook and neither can I really do alcohol, but I don’t allow these handicaps to limit my revelry.

There is always the trusty soda or iced tea, but for a truly festive Yuletide drink, I turn to Welch’s line of sparkling juices in red and white grape flavors. Fizzy but guilt-free, bubbly sans the alcohol, it is a drink that adults, kids, and kids-at-heart will surely enjoy.

I am partial to the white grape flavor, served chilled. You can almost fool yourself that you are drinking something harder than sparkling juice.

As for cooking, there was never an incentive for me to learn how to cook.

My mom is a whiz in the kitchen. And I mean sinigang na baboy and prawns in butter and garlic for breakfast, beef tapa with kalamansi and paksiw na salmon head for lunch, and so on and so forth— every single day.

It’s not that I never tried. From time to time, I’d attempt at cooking pasta.

I’d psych myself up—how can you go wrong with this dish? You just boil the pasta, drain the pasta, and toss the pasta with your sauce of choice. I even try to be meticulous in my ingredients: sun-dried tomatoes, anchovies, olive

Chef Laudico Guevarra’s Roast Chicken Sinampalukan

Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice

Chef Laudico Guevarra’s Beef Kare-Kare

oil, parmesan, you get the drift. I serve the pasta and it tastes nothing like how pasta should taste. I cry like a certified loser on the inside, and flash my winning smile.

And mom? She’d look at the refrigerator, pick this and that ingredients, and serve a delicious puttanesca.

It must have been for people like me that chefs Rolando “Lau” Laudico and Jac Laudico of Chef Laudico Guevarra thought of coming up with Handaan Kahit Saan party trays that are available in two sizes, with servings good for six to eight persons or 12 to 15.

“I still remember our family Sunday brunches. We didn’t rely on convenience products or instant stuff, and part of the enjoyment was in the preparation.

It took a lot of time and effort but it was worth it since the food was absolutely delicious,” related Chef Lau. He continued, “That’s the same dedication that I instill in my kitchen staff, to do everything the long and traditional way, the way how our lolas and lolos cooked but with my own signature style.”

Reasonably priced, the party trays are excellent alternatives to doing

the cooking yourself. If you are organizing a gathering, you can order several items and put together your own Guevarra’s buffet wherever and whenever you want to. And imagine being spared from getting a headache for those potluck reunions with Guevarra’s having your back.

The Handaan Kahit Saan includes the mainstays of the restaurant buffet such as lechon, pugon-roasted US Angus beef shortplate, kare-kare, kaldereta, and tamarind and lemongrass-spiced roast chicken, among others.

“These are the items that are most

requested—we get complaints when they’re not available,” said Chef Jac. Best of all, these life-saver party trays are available all year round. The dishes can be picked up from Chef Laudico Guevarra’s at 387 P. Guevarra corner Argonne Streets, Addition Hills, San Juan or sent through the various delivery services available such as Grab and Lalamove.

Now, open that Welch’s sparkling juice and we’re all set to toast to a truly joyous Christmas.

I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

Festive Yuletide feast THANK goodness for hotels around the metro, countless son go on without a hitch. They also come prepared should we lunches and dinners and parties and reunions this holiday sea- need something sweet or anything delectable to give as gifts.

New World Makati A decadent degustation on Christmas Eve awaits diners at The Glasshouse in New World Makati Hotel. The five-course dinner is priced at P3,888 nett.

Meanwhile, Café 1228 is serving a Yuletidethemed buffet until Dec. 30. The spread, complete with honey-glazed ham, prime rib, and more, is priced at P2,300 and P2,800 for lunch on weekdays and weekends, respectively, and P2,500 for dinner daily.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, an even fancier feast for lunch and dinner

awaits. At Café 1228. Prices are P2,300 for Christmas Eve lunch, P2,988 for Christmas Eve dinner as well as Christmas Day lunch and dinner. Over at Jasmine restaurant, set menus are priced at P1,960, P2,070, and P2,180 nett per person, for a minimum of two guests.

Two customizable holiday hampers filled with treats such as bourbon cake, pralines, and cupcakes are priced at P4,288 and P6,888 nett.

Call (02) 8811-6888 or email reservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.

Bring home Marriott’s Whole Roasted Turkey or Smoked Bone-In Ham.

New World Makati’s customizable holiday hamper.

Eastwood Richmonde’s Gingerbread Wagon.

Marriott Hotel Manila

Savor a flavorful feast at Marriott Café which serves a Christmas Eve Dinner for P3,300, Noche Buena Buffet for P1,900, Christmas Day lunch for P3,300, and Christmas Day Dinner for P3,300. Better still, ring in the year 2020 with a New Year’s Eve Dinner for P3,300, New Year’s Day Lunch for P3,300, and New Year’s Day Dinner for P3,300.

Those who want to bring home the feast may purchase the Whole Roasted Turkey (P6,680 nett) and Smoked Bone-In Ham (P5,700 nett) packages good for 10 to 12 persons. Both come with delectable side dishes, and are available until Jan. 1, 2020.

Marriott also has a number of festive treats, from cakes in can and edible Christmas Baubles to gingerbreads and chocolates, and a whole lot more. Hampers are also available: the Grand Hamper is priced at P4,888++ and Deluxe Hamper at P3,688++.

Call (02) 8988-9999 or visit manilamarriott.com.

Café 1228 serves a Yuletide-themed buffet.

Richmonde Hotels

Diamond Hotel’s Corniche offers a spread of holiday treats.

Diamond Hotel

On Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan 1, Diamond’s in-house restaurants serve a diverse lineup of dining delights, from bounteous buffets to laid-back dinner dates.

Corniche restaurant’s lunch and dinner buffet are perfect for reunions with families and friends.

Meanwhile, Yurakuen serves a lavish menu of Asian cuisine crafted for groups of up to six persons.

Lobby Lounge takes charge on delightful pastries and classic recipes that pair well with a glass of wine. While Bar27, whose snazzy signature drinks, chill vibe, and bayside view, offers an ideal venue for a holiday evening out.

Get up to 30 percent discount by purchasing dining vouchers at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.

Call (02) 8528-3000 ext. 1121.

Baked treats and other sweet goodies abound at Richmonde hotels.

First off, its famous Ensaymada, which also comes in ube flavor, is available at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Also available in all properties is the indulgent Richmonde Chocolate Cake.

The Ortigas property offers classic baked goodies such as Food for the Gods, Revel Bars, Rum Cake, as well as freshly baked breads, among many others, until Jan. 10.

Eastwood Richmonde, on the other hand, offers a whimsical collection of unique creations such as Santa’s Little Helper cookies and Gingerbread Wagon. Homemade liver pate, tomato jam, and onion marmalade are also available until Jan. 5.

Call (02) 8638-7777 (Ortigas), (02) 85707777 (Eastwood).

Li Li offers a six-course set menu and all you can eat dim sum.

New World Manila Bay

Relish in classic holiday dishes which include Christmas ham, roast turkey, Christmas Yule log cake, and other holiday treats at Market Café’s Yuletide Buffet, available on Dec. 24 dinner and Dec. 25 lunch and dinner at P3,500 per person.

For Cantonese feast, head over at Li Li, which serves six-course set menus and a decadent All You Can Eat Dim Sum. The Christmas Yum Cha is priced at P2,288 per person, while the Festive Special Menu comes in two special sets at P2,888 and P3,488 on Dec. 24 and 25 for lunch and dinner, for a minimum of two persons.

The Pastry Boutique likewise offers Christmas baskets full of decadent treats such as chocolates and cookies.

Call (02) 8252-6888 or email dining.manilabay@newworldhotels.com.

Entertainment

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

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‘Keanu Reeves day’ as ‘Matrix,’‘John Wick’ sequels set KEANU Reeves’ “renaissance” is about to step up a gear.

May 21, 2021 has been dubbed “Keanu day,” with both his hotly anticipated Matrix and John Wick sequels due to hit theaters simultaneously in the US. The scheduling appears to be a coincidence, with kung fu-inflected sci-fi flic The Matrix 4 being distributed by Warner Bros, and hitman thriller John Wick: Chapter 4 coming from rival studio Lionsgate.

While either date could shift, that has not stopped die-hard fans of the Point Break and Bill and Ted actor from flocking to social media to share their excitement.

“Motion to make May 21... a national Keanu Reeves holiday,” tweeted Meagan Navarro.

“We should just make May 21st Keanu day from here out,” added @WeWatchedAMovie.

Canadian actor Reeves, 55, has surged in popularity in recent years, in a phenomenon dubbed the “Keanuaissance.”

Embraced by the video game community for his enthusiastic voiceover and motion capture work on titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, he has been showered with praise for his down-to-earth demeanor and perceived rejection of the superficial Hollywood lifestyle.

In June, the New Yorker ran an article titled Keanu Reeves Is Too Good For This World. He has been dubbed the “internet’s boyfriend” due to the number of memes based on photographs of him going about his everyday life.

Several real-life “Keanu stories” about the A-lister have gone viral, including a time he reportedly helped bus fellow passengers home after their plane was forced to make an emergency landing in California.

The Matrix franchise, about humans trapped in a virtual reality by machines, has netted more than $1.6 billion worldwide.

Warner Bros has not specified if the new film will be a direct sequel, saying only that it is “set in the world of ‘The Matrix’.”

The original films followed a band of rebels who battled intelligent machines in a future where humans are enslaved within the Matrix—a virtual reality that resembles the contemporary world.

Reeves’ Neo was a hero on a mission to save mankind. AFP

May 21, 2021 has been dubbed 'Keanu day,' with Keanu Reeves' hotly anticipated "Matrix" and "John Wick" sequels due to hit theaters simultaneously in the US.

It’s girls vs. boys on ‘The X Factor: The Band’ SIMON Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger return as judges on The X Factor: The Band—where either a girl group or boy band will battle it out to be crowned the nation’s new pop sensations.

No other music show in the world has such an enviable track record of creating globally successful bands including One Direction, Little Mix, and Fifth Harmony. In total, acts discovered

by The X Factor have sold more than 400 million records globally to date.

Now with The X Factor: The Band, the show is bidding to create the next big girl or boyband…in just a matter of weeks!

Simon and Nicole’s expertise when it comes to successful pop groups is second to none – with Simon famously guiding the careers of a host of world-beating groups during his illustrious career and Nicole first finding fame in globally successful girl group Pussycat Dolls, who have just reunited after a decade apart.

The pair will be joined by a host of music industry stars-including artists Leona Lewis and Ella Eyre as well as superproducer Naughty Boy. The nation’s favourite host Dermot O’Leary also returns to oversee proceedings - and give his legendary hugs to those auditioning.

The X Factor: The Band goes back to basics in the music business, starting with hopefuls auditioning in Simon’s office at Sony HQ in London where they try out in front of the music mogul, Nicole as well as a panel of advisers who include Naughty Boy - who has worked with stars including Beyonce; multi-platinum selling song-writer Carla Williams and Grammy-winning producers Lil’ Eddie and Fred Ball.

Those who make it through this stage then face the next big challenge – arena auditions in front of thousands in Birmingham.

Simon and Nicole are joined for this stage by guest judge Leona Lewis, who returns to the show she won in 2006 albeit more than 30 million record sales later!

The judges will also again be joined by the music industry experts, who – as well as Carla, Naughty, Eddie and Fred also include Ella Eyre, who won a Brit award with Rudimental in 2014 for single “Waiting All Night.”

It will be here that both the boy and girl band will be created by the judges – before the two groups go head-tohead in a live final to battle to win the prize of a life-changing and coveted

record contract.

Dermot says he can’t wait for viewers to see The X Factor: The Band.

He said: “Simon and the show have discovered some of the biggest pop groups in recent music history, One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix – they’re all stars and have sold millions of records.

“In previous years, you’ve seen the judges put individual singers in a group - usually with their decision making and reasoning off camera, but this time 'Culion' lead stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Meryll Soriano, and Iza Calzado people will get to see the process take place. ten by Sir Ricky, so honestly depicted the strugN APPARENT mutual “The judges will select girls and gles and sufferings, the triumphs and victories of boys to form new bands just like they admiration for their love the people who once lived in Culion when there did with One Direction and Little Mix was still no cure for Hansen’s disease. More than of craft and acting is not and then both will go head to head to be highlighting the horrors of the affliction, what the crowned the winning group with a live a career PR just a profession for audiences can look forward to is the stories of arena finale in Birmingham survival, tenacity, hope and of course, love. Not them, but a vocation they are the romantic kind all the time, but that love for people.” most passionate about and an appreciation What they think of each other, the trio con brio is more than willing to reveal of each other’s individualities, as women, Calzado discloses, “In terms of clocking in art, Meryl was friends and artists—these are the ties that ahead of us. Seasoned is the best adjective to describe her. As an bilib na bilib ako sa kanya. Generous.” bind Iza Calzado, Meryl Soriano, and Jas- actress, On Jasmine, enthuses Iza: “I’ve always heard good things mine Curtis-Smith. about her. Sobrang matagal na kaming magme-message sa isa’tisa na gusto namin magkatrabaho. Feeling naming,feeling ko They are the femme fatales who star in the most anticipated magkahawig kami, very, very slightly. She is serious when it Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 film in competition, Alvin comes to her work. She is hungry to prove herself but I don’t Yapan’s Culion, with the living legend and most reveredRicky think she needs to prove much. Nandoon na siya sa path na iyon, Lee, writes its screenplay. na respetado siya.”

Calzado begins,”I will not deny the fact that I am happy and Anne Curtis’s younger sister, divulges: “I admire these laat the same time, I feel privileged that I am breathing and giving dies, not just in their craft but as how they prove themselves life to Anna. I feel strongly about this film. It is meaningful and as women. They stand for what they believe in. Doon pa lang, important. It is the story that needs to be told. We need to tell feeling ko, gusto ko na i-align ang sarili ko sa kanila, kung naand share their story of courage and hope, the people of Culion.” saan sila. Individually, we are supporting each other, from the Two masters, film director Alvin Yapan and screenplay writer eyes itself hanggang before the take. We’d stare at each other Ricky Lee are the anchors and forces to this historical drama. and you’d really feel that we all give in to our characters. NaraOn working with director Yapan, Smith shares, “May ramdaman ko rin iyon as an actress myself. They are not themibang director, they give limited instructions. You have to find selves anymore but the roles they are playing. We are in the zone your way through it but there are some directors na parang sila and we are living in the character.” na ang nag-a-act for you. With Direk Alvin, you really have to And for Meryl, “Dami na nilang sinabi. Basta, pareho silang pay attention, you have to give your presence, and for me that magaling!” is good, because for me, I really love respecting my directors. I Culion also stars Joem Bascon, Suzette Ranillo, Mike Lihave learned that ever since I was in high school. Kaya pag may wag, Nico Loco, and many others. Showing this Dec. 25 and sinabi sa iyo, okay sige ito ang gagawin ko. If you want me to beyond in cinemas nationwide. add to it, I will try my best. I love it because it is very honest, very straight to the point on what he wants. That makes you feel good.”

Calzado’s rejoinder, “With Direk Alvin, very generous with his encouragement and validation. As we finished a scene, parang I felt somewhat blocked. Which happens but he was so comforting after. Sobrang grateful ko na ganoon klase ng director meron kami. Bukod doon, sinabi ko na first day pa lang, nagkwentuhan kami and I said gustong-gusto ko siyabecause he is detail-oriented. He is very respectful of his craft and someone else’s work.”

“Hiniling ko talaga sa universe itong Culion at ibinigay naman sa akin,” Soriano declares. “You know, it is my first movie written by the Ricky Lee and the way he wrote the script, I cannot help but gush at first, and then naramdaman ko na lang umiiyak ako.”

'The X Factor' judge Nicole Scherzinger She carries on, “It affected me so much because the script writ- The three female lead stars on the set of 'Culion.'

Femme Fatales

A

Super Radyo DZBB no. 1 in Mega Manila’s AM radio list; rules primetime morning block SUPER Radyo DZBB 594 held the number one spot anew in Mega Manila’s AM radio list based on the latest data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement.

GMA Network’s flagship AM radio station consistently ruled the airwaves for the entire month of November 2019 as it registered a total week average audience share of 27.8 percent, which surpassed DZMM’s 22.3 percent and DZRH’s 20.7 percent. DZBB’s impressive performance in the primetime morning block provided a major boost in its topline results.

Jumpstarting the strong weekday morning line-up is Melo Del Prado sa Super Radyo DZBB at 5:30 a.m. followed by the powerhouse newscast of GMA News pillar Mike Enriquez with Joel Reyes Zobel in Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide. Enriquez further anchors Saksi sa Dobol B while Zobel comes next with the news

DZBB anchors (from left) Susan Enriquez, Melo del Prado, ArnoldClavio, Mike Enriquez

commentary Anong Say N’yo?.

Keeping the listeners tuned in are GMA News pillar Arnold Clavio together with Zobel and Ali Sotto in Sino? as they deliver juicy commentaries along with the well-loved segments Jengjeng and Balitawit.

Continuing to dissect the day’s hottest

news in Dobol A sa Dobol B at 10:00 a.m. are Clavio and Sotto while Susan Enriquez’s Kay Susan Tayo! Sa Super Radyo DZBB maintains the momentum in time for Super Balita Sa Tanghali, Nationwide hosted by Orly Trinidad and Lala Roque.

Similarly during the weekend, the top-

rating programs for the period were Super Radyo Nationwide with Melo del Prado; Super Balita sa Umaga hosted by Sam Nielsen andRowena Salvacion on Saturdays and with Nimfa Ravelo on Sundays; I M Ready sa Dobol B with Nathaniel ‘Mang Tani’ Cruz; Pinoy M.D. sa Super Radyo

DZBB with Connie Sison; Super Balita sa Tanghali Saturday and Sunday edition hosted

by Manny Vargas and Julee Ann Mae Cabrera; Buena Manong Balita with Orly Trinidad; Dobol B, Bantay Balita sa Senado also with Ravelo; Liwanag sa Balita anchored

by Benjie Liwanag; Dobol B, Bantay Balita sa Kamara with Divine Reyes; and MMDA sa GMA. Recently, Super Radyo DZBB 594 was hailed as the Best AM Radio Station at the 2019 Platinum Stallion Media Awards.

For the up to date delivery of news and information, tune in to Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz or watch Dobol B sa News TV on GMA News TV, Mondays to Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, via free TV channel 27 and abroad via GMA News TV International.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

advertise@manilastandard.net

Christmas Special

Bringing back the magic of Christmas

By MJ Blancaflor WHEN I was younger, Christmas season excites me. I look forward to school parties where my classmates and I would play games and exchange gifts. As early as October, my parents and I put up a Christmas tree as we decorate our house with lanterns and lights. My mother cooks spaghetti and arroz a la valenciana for noche buena while my father usually comes home with ham. It used to be a delightful occassion, and my father would not miss celebrating it with bottles of beer, telling jokes.

For many Filipinos, Christmas is the most jovial time of the year. The festivities and abundant food remind everyone to take a break from work and reconnect with family and friends. People are more likely to smile, say hello, and wish others well. We buy gifts for those who are important to us to express our gratitude and love.

But the seasonal call to rejoice might turn into the heaviest of obligations.

I lost my father early this year. And for the first time in my life, I felt that celebrating Christmas is something I am bound to do.

I woke up on March 15 as my mother screamed for help. I found my father lying in bed, unconscious, struggling to breathe. It was heart attack. He was gone just like that—my strong and jolly father—79 days before my college graduation. There were neither goodbyes nor warnings. It was too sudden that I still dream about him at night.

The magic of Christmas was lost to me. The sparkly, celebratory season turned into a humdrum. Attending parties and buying gifts became a joyless, meaningless activity. The mere thought of decorating a Christmas tree brought back so many memories that I hated having one in our house. But I couldn’t just throw it away. We hold on to those things in the same way that we hold on to the memories of those who are now gone.

This is my saddest December, my first Christmas without him. I would no longer hear his jokes and hearty laugh as he drinks his favorite beer. He would no longer be around to slice our holiday ham. From now on, there would only be mom and I for noche buena.

Dear Reader, maybe you are missing an estranged friend or a deceased family member, too. Perhaps, like me, you wanted to bring back your old life when everything was simpler and happier. This season, we are not only unwrapping boxes of gifts. We also open our wounds, grieve for our loss, and recognize our pain.

Christmas decorations transform our homes and communities, but a change in thought can also bring a difference in how we see our lives. There is always something to celebrate. And during Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of our Savior Jesus Christ who knows are suffering. Even in the darkest of Decembers, we can still find the light in our lives.

As you flip through the pages of our Christmas supplement, I hope you will be reminded of the real reason as to why we have this special occassion.

My father is very much alive in my thoughts—eating with Mom and I at our dining table for noche buena, holding a glass of beer.

3 DIY Heartfelt Gifts That You’d Want for Yourself This Christmas

By Elizabeth Nicole C. Regudo

T

HERE are only a few days left until the most magical day of the year!

Everyone is already experiencing the rush of the busiest shopping season.

Holiday shoppers are busting mall doors and the worst traffic is creeping in. If you’re one of those people who are already far ahead of their holiday gift planning, don’t worry. We’ve gathered the BEST do-ityourself Christmas gift set ideas for you because nothing is more heartfelt than a one-of-a-kind handmade gift.

There’s something special about giving someone you care about a gift that you made yourself. It carries a thoughtful meaning that you took the time and effort to make an extraordinary gift just for them. And this season is the perfect time to show the people closest to you that you love them, with a unique gift from the heart! From knitting to baking, there are plenty of creative ways to personalize a gift for everyone whether they’re for your friends, family, or strangers.

Knitted Bottle Sleeve, Coaster, and Potholder Do you want an elegant-looking gift that’s going to be useful?

We’ve got the answer for you—a knitted bottle sleeve, coaster and potholder. These pieces are hard to let go so you better make one for yourself as well.

A ball of yarn only costs around P10 to P15 so a knitted piece won’t even cost you P50.

If you’re in doubt because you don’t know how to knit, you’re in luck. The web offers tons of video tutorials on knitting. There are several patterns you can use for each piece. You just have to choose which one to follow.

You can personalize the color of the yarns by matching it to the preferences of those special people on your list.

Once you successfully finished all three pieces, bundle them and you’ll have the perfect gift for your co-worker, friend, and

family member. A coaster for your co-worker who drinks too much coffee, a bottle sleeve for your friend who carries her water bottle everywhere, and a potholder for your Mom who loves to cook. This set is an ideal project for anyone who wants to learn knitting and give a personal and practical Christmas gift.

Baked Cupcakes and Sugar Cookies What could possibly make the holiday season even sweeter?

A batch of Christmas-themed cupcakes and sugar cookies!

Whether your guests prefer vanilla- or chocolate-flavored cupcakes better, they will definitely enjoy them with fresh berries, whipped cream and syrup as toppings. If that’s not enough, sugar cookies make a delicious addition to any dessert platter. It’s a staple around the holidays and they come in so many different designs. They’re popular as brightly colored cookies that are dusted with red and green sprinkles. There are hundreds of recipes available online.

These sugar cookies are easy to bake and are fun to frost using vanilla buttercream. You can decorate them as a candy cane Christmas tree, ginger man, penguin, Santa Claus, snowman or whatever joyful image reminds you of Christmas that will surely set the holiday mood. A festive and classic holiday treats that’s perfect for Christmas parties and gift giving!

Potted Plants Go green this holiday season! I bet you or your family have cascading plants lying around your house that needs to be divided.

Pot them in decorative containers and give them as gifts. You can even design the pots on your own if you don’t have an extra on hand. Look around your house if you can recycle anything.

There’s no need to spend money! You can also include a care instruction with your personal touch so the recipients would know how they can maintain the beauty of the plants.

A potted plant is an ideal gift for your co-workers and friends.

They can put them on their window ledges, bookshelves, or office desks. The plants will brighten and uplift their mood for a year or even more.