Manila Standard - 2019 December 23 - Monday

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MILITARY OFFERS HELP TO GO AFTER 80 MASSACRE SUSPECTS

By Rio N. Araja THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is more than willing to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) in tracking down and arresting the remaining 80 suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in which 58 people, including 31 journalists, were killed.

“The AFP vigorously supports the PNP in law enforcement operations as in the previous cases. The manhunt for the remaining suspects in the Maguindanao massacre who are still at large is no different,” Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 312 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Unsay Ampatuan

PARADE OF STARS. Movie celebrities aboard two of several colorful and thematic floats wave to their fans and onlookers during the Parade of Stars marking the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival held along M. L. Quezon Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Norman Cruz

15-day Yule truce in force Lasting peace tops Duterte ‘wish list’

Rody appoints Medialdea peace panel member

By MJ Blancaflor

By MJ Blancaflor

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wishes lasting peace and comfortable lives for Filipinos this Christmas, his spokesman said Sunday.

“Lasting peace is on the wish list of the President ever since. Those who express antagonism to the state may reintegrate into society, Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.

“Secondly, he wants comfortable UNITY IN UTRETCH. Peace panel members (from left Hernani Braganza for the government) and CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison lives for Filipinos. That’s his wish every forge their call for a receiprocal truce for 15-days with a handshake in the presence of Third Party Facilitator Kristina Revheim of Norway year.” and CPP-NDF’s Field Agcaoili.

Duterte will spend Christmas with his family in his hometown in Davao City.

Meanwhile, the Palace has appealed to the public to refrain from using fireworks during Christmas and New Year’s GOVERNMENT troops rescued two was behind some of the nation’s worst tants) and we were able to rescue them,” Eve to avoid accidents. abducted Indonesian sailors in a Sunday attacks—were killed during a 30-min- military commander Lieutenant General “We can also welcome Christmas and pre-dawn raid on an Islamist militant ute gunfight in the mountainous town Cirilito Sobejana said.

New Year with happiness without putstronghold which left two dead, a military of Panamao on the southern island of The pair were among three Indoneting our lives in danger, Panelo said. official said.

Jolo. sian sailors abducted by the militants in In 2017 Duterte signed Executive OrA soldier and a militant of kidnap“During the firefights, the two victims September off Malaysian waters near the der 28 limiting the use of firecrackers in for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf—which managed to scamper away (from the mili- southern tip of Mindanao.

Next page the country.

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HE government and the Communist Party of the Philippines have declared a 15-day “unilateral and reciprocal” ceasefire starting today until Jan. 7, 2020.

Two Indonesian hostages rescued from ASG lair

Angkas hits out at LTFRB rules

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Rio N. Araja

A PROPHET who defies a resurgent Islamic State in Syria. A shooting on Jerusalem’s sacred Temple Mount. And—just possibly—the coming of the Messiah.

Netflix could scarcely have picked a more controversial plot for its latest thrille

MOTORCYCLE ride-hailing platform Angkas on Sunday accused the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) of corruption and urged it to reconsider new regulations on its business.

“This is not regulation, it’s corruption,” said George Royeca, chief transport advocate of Angkas, about new rules that reduce its allotment of drivers in favor of two new players.

In a letter to the LTFRB’s motorcycle taxi technical working group, Angkas challenged six new provisions in the rules governing motorcycle taxi pilots.

These include a cap of 30,000 bikers for Metro Manila and 9,000 for Metro Cebu, and reducing Angkas’s allotment by 17,000 in favor of newcomers JoyRide and Move It. Angkas currently has 27,000 bikers serving about 30,000 riders a day.

Royeca said riders who could not get a ride from Angkas might switch back to

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IN FULL FORCE. Thousands of motorbike partners of Angkas ride-hailing firm flock to the Edsa stretch from White Plains Avenue to Kalayaan Shrine in a display of unity to protest against the Land Transport Board’s decision to impose a 10,000 limit to Angkas riders which they say will mean the loss of 17,000 jobs. Norman Cruz

New ‘Messiah’ plot thrills

T

President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered the reconstitution of the government negotiating panel for the peace talks with the CPP-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army—an official move toward the revival of the negotiations which the commander-in-chief terminated in November 2017.

The new panel will now include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as among its members..

“The Palace hereby announces that Next page

WEATHER

Wet Yule? Bad weather threatens

TWO weather disturbances moved closer to the Philippines ahead of Christmas, the state weather bureau said Sunday.

One, a tropical depression off Mindanao, is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday night or early on Monday and is forecast to make landfall over the Visayas or Min-

danao, PAGASA weather specialist Meno Mendoza said.

The storm was spotted 1,510 kilometers east of Mindanao at 3 a.m., moving west-northwest at 25 kilometers per hour and packing maximum winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph.

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News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

QC to Makati in 5 minutes still possible, Palace insists PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of a five-minute travel time from Quezon City to Makati by December 2019 did not come to pass, but Malacañang said Sunday it could still be done in the remaining years of the administration.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed optimism the President’s promise of a five-minute travel time from Cubao to Makati was still possible.

“His promise depends on certain factors that will give fruition to his promise,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“If those were not met, if those conditions were not present, then the promise would not be fulfilled.

“And that doesn't mean that if that didn't happen this year, it won't happen until his term expires.”

Panelo did not elaborate on the “factors” he was referring to.

But “As long as there is life, there is hope,” he said.

The President first issued the promise in March during a campaign rally of the ruling PDP-Laban, and he repeated it last June in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s program, “Give Us This Day.” “You just wait. God willing, in December it would be smooth sailing.

You don't have to worry about traffic.

Cubao and Makati is just about five minutes away, Duterte was quoted saying.

The traffic problem remains one of the Philippines’ top woes, especially after Duterte acknowledged his incapacity to solve it on EDSA, Metro Manila’s major thoroughfare, before his term ends in 2022.

Duterte has also said he is not interested in improving the situation in EDSA and will just let it “rot,” apparently fed up after lawmakers blocked his request for emergency powers due to fears of corruption and abuse of power.

Meanwhile, his spokesman Panelo was later challenged by critics to take public transportation after saying Filipinos should wake up early to arrive at their destinations on time.

MJ Blancaflor

Angkas...

From A1

The executive order confined the use of pyrotechnics to “community fireworks” centers and was credited by the Department of Health for reducing the number of fireworks-related injuries during New Year’s Eve. In 2018, for example, the government reported a 77 percent decrease in fireworks-related injuries compared to the five-year average.

Duterte has also previously said he wants Congress to pass a law banning fireworks and pyrotechnics.

Two...

From A1

Sobejana said a military operation was underway to rescue the other Indonesian captive.

“He could have escaped or militants could still have him, so we are expecting another firefight,” Sobejana said.

The rescue came a month after a British man and his wife were freed by soldiers and said they were threatened with beheading by militants if they did not deliver a ransom.

In May, Dutch birdwatcher Ewold Horn was killed by his captors as he tried to escape during a rescue operation, the military said, after being held captive for seven years.

The Abu Sayyaf group is also blamed by authorities for an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing of Sunday mass at a Catholic cathedral in Jolo in January that killed 21 people.

AFP

Wet...

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The weather disturbance will be named “Ursula” if it enters the Philippines and will become the 21st storm to enter the country this year.

Meanwhile, a shallow low-pressure area will bring scattered rain over Mindanao and eastern and central Visayas, PAGASA said

Duterte veto of budget ‘iffy’

By MJ Blancaflor

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is studying the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also said Duterte would wield his veto power to get rid of pork insertions in the proposed budget as claimed

by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

“Just like what we're saying ever since, the President will sign any proposed measure that complies with the Constitution, Panelo said in a radio interview.

“He will veto any provisions that violate the Constitution. That's what he always says.”

Meanwhile, employees of the Pub-

lic Attorney’s Office are asking the Office of the President to veto a special provision in the General Appropriations Bill limiting and preventing the use of its maintenance and other operating expenses fund for the operation of its forensic laboratory division.

PAO chief Persida Acosta, together with PAO lawyers and the other workers, sent a formal communication to President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, lamenting Albay Rep. Ed-

cel Lagman’s initiative to “introduce amendments to the National Expenditure Program/General Appropriations Bill affecting the PAO.” Lacson earlier claimed that about 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion were included in the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act, as congressmen’s “source” of funds for their pet projects.

He said he could not determine which of the two sets of projects were inserted “at the last minute” prior to the bicameral signing on Dec. 11 because “there is no preliminary explanation from the House regarding the two files.”

He said the provinces that received the biggest share of the supposed insertions were Albay (P670 million), Cavite (P580 million), Sorsogon (P570 million), Batangas (P502 million), Bulacan (P440 million), Pangasinan (P420

million) and Cebu (P410 million).

Panelo could not say as to when the President would sign the budget spending plan for next year, but Acting Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said in an interview that the proposed budget was scheduled to be signed by the first week of January.

The national government was forced to operate on a reenacted 2018 budget in the first few months this year because lawmakers had squabbled over the supposed insertions and realignments in the P3.757-trillion budget for 2019.

The President was only able to sign the budget on April 15 this year.

The delay in the budget’s passage was blamed for the slower GDP growth for the first quarter and second quarter at 5.6 and 5.5 percent, respectively―lower than the 6.6 and 6.2 percent recorded last year.

15-day...

Lasting...

President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the declaration of a unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire with the coalition of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“With the undertaking of these confidence-building measures—a reflection of the seriousness and commitment of the GRP, as well as a mark of goodwill on the part of the commander-in-chief—the Office of the President looks forward to the possible resumption of peace talks with the NDF, achieve accord with the whole coalition and ultimately, attain a lasting peace among the citizenry of our country,” the Palace official added.

Duterte ordered the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, to issue an official declaration for the national armistice with the communist rebels.

Hours before the Palace order, the CPP Central Committee also released its own ceasefire declaration.

“The purpose of the reciprocal and unilateral ceasefires is to generate a positive atmosphere conducive to the holding of informal talks preparatory to the formal meeting to resume the peace negotiations. These shall be measures of goodwill and confidence building during the traditional celebrations of Christmas and New Year holidays,” it said.

Over the weekend, representatives of the government and the NDF have signed a joint statement recommending a truce, CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said on his Facebook page.

The recommendation was signed on Dec. 21 in Utrecht, The Netherlands by Hernani Braganza, authorized negotiator for the government, and NDF negotiating panel senior adviser Luis Jalandoni and chairperson Fidel Agcaoili for the communist rebels.

The President recently ordered Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to talk to Sison in a bid to reopen the doors for peace talks.

Despite the ongoing peace initiatives, the Eastern Mindanao Command vowed to be more aggressive in ending communist armed conflict next year.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesman, said it would take the lead with the different local government units (LGUs) to address the decades-long communist insurgency.

“We will also run after the remaining armed group,” Balagtey said.

Balagtey cited the surrender of 696 regular NPA members, the arrest of 85 rebels, and the death of 56 members in encounters.

At the same time, a total of 689 were surrendered while 364 were seized during encounters, he said. With PNA

illegal habal-habal services, which are unregulated.

“This is exactly what happened when Angkas suspended operations the last two times. Passengers who cannot book Angkas might opt to ride the habal-habal,” he said.

This was risky, since habal-habal are not monitored by the government and are not covered by any insurance.

He also raised safety issues about the operation of two “untested” players, JoyRide and Move It. “Joy Ride claims to already have 7,000 bikers fully accredited to operate after only three months in operation.

While this does not mean they are less safe, the technical working group must be more cautious, given these seemingly lower standards,” he added.

Royeca said Angkas was able to train 117,000 drivers in three years.

He also questioned the LTFRB’s omission of the motorcycle taxi’s proposal to require participating companies to have dedicated emergency response teams with proper qualifications.

“If safety is the highest priority, then prudence necessitates more bikers proportionally be allowed to operate with the one with a track record,” Royeca said.

“Other plays should be allowed, but must ramp up at a more steady pace until they can properly prove both their operational teams and app platforms are truly functional at scale,” he added.

He said any new provider whose track record is lower than a 99.997 per-

cent safety record should carry a higher financial burden.

Angkas said his company took three years to learn how to manage 27,000 bikers, yet the new players are expected to handle 10,000 in three months. ”While Angkas has trained 117,000 in three years, it has failed over 70 percent of that to ensure very high and stringent standards resulting in only 27,000 remaining bikers to date,” Royeca said.

He said the new regulations allotting 10,000 drivers to each company would mean 17,000 Angkas bikers will lose their livelihoods.

“Even if these bikers transfer to the two new players, neither of those have access to over 3 million app downloads to ensure continuous demand for their services,” Royeca said.

Senator Imee Marcos said the Department of Transportation was putting commuters in danger and thousands of motorcycle drivers out of work with its new regulations that were imposed without proper consultation or debate.

Marcos said the department had conducted a series of closed-door meetings since November, and shut out the active participation of members of the Senate, House of Representatives, Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority, motorbike ride-hailing companies, and commuter associations.

The rules were approved only by an exclusive technical working group headed by retired police general Antonio Gardiola Jr., with representatives from the department and its line agencies, including the LTFRB and Land Transportation Office. – With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Egco noted they started the manhunt against the suspects at large in February 2018, but halted their operation to avoid further delaying the case.

Since the court already promulgated this first batch of suspects, Egco said they will continue hunting for the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, journalists from MindaNews, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalisn, and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines urged their fellow workers to go beyond the ordinary stories about the massacre.

Malou Mangahas, PCIJ co-founder, said the favorable ruling of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Reyes should not create a false euphoria, citing the case is not yet over.

“We still have an unfinished business.

There will be still an appeal before the higher court,” she said.

Saying the kin of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre are not yet that safe, Mangahas called on fellow journalists to look into the profile of those who were convicted as acces-

sories to the crime, mostlypolice officers.

“Are they still in office? Have they been suspended or dismissed? Those are the questions we have to ask from the Philippine National Police,” she said.

“This is important. In short to minimize the threat... This is not just a simple court conviction. There will be a residual [effect] on the lives of the relatives,” she said.

“These are the questions we should ask of the PNP, prosecution, Department of Justice and even the Presidential Communications Office since they (victims) were media workers,” she added.

She said the court must quickly enforce an arrest warrant against the 80 other accused who continued to remain at large.

Moreover, Mangahas, said the state prosecutors have failed to file a civil case against the Ampatuans and to preserve their assets.

She said the PCIJ has even come up with stories of how rich the Ampatuans were, citing some of properties of former Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Jr. were even sold to landlords in Angeles City, Pampanga and in several other areas.

“Unfortunately, the court came up with a freeze order 11 days after the sale,” she said.

“There are so many properties. A lot of high-powered guns of the Ampatuans that were seized were submitted to amnesty,” the group said.

Mangahas said some of the guns were given to high-ranking police of senior ranks as “gifts.”

“There was a lull (period) soon after Nov. 23, 2009. We have some witnesses who said the personal assets, jewelry and cash had been transported outside the Ampatuans’ mansion,” she said.

“Over the years, they started to disappear.”

She said the Ampatuans and their associates had 597 different bank accounts, over 300 guns and over 100 vehicles registered in their names.

“They have big mansions, too. The kin of the victims, the widows are in a sorry state,” she added. With PNA

Syrians across the border of Israel.”

That concept included building, at considerable expense, a scale replica of part of Temple Mount including the sacred Dome of the Rock, from where Muslims believe the prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven.

Filming at the iconic site was never a remote possibility—particularly given the violent nature of the scene in the show’s second episode.

But Petroni insists the show “doesn’t set out to offend anyone.”

“It’s not like I’m welcoming backlash,” he added. “We expect that there’s going to be a lot of noise around the show, and a lot of debate. I’m hoping for debate.”

A Change.org petition has already been launched calling for a boycott of the show, describing it as “evil and antiIslamic propaganda.”

In “Messiah” it is not specified to which faith the enigmatic leader—referred to by some characters as “Al-Masih”—subscribes.

Petroni refuses to be drawn on his

own religion. But two of the show’s producers, husband-and-wife Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, have a background in Christian faith-based programming.

‘Super careful’ Setting the action at such a sacred location as Temple Mount was necessary because it is a nexus of religion where Christianity, Islam and Judaism all converge, said Petroni.

“Obviously historically they don’t meet up happily. But that is where they all meet up. And so to me as a location to a story that’s about politics and religion, it was so symbolic.”

Filming took place in Jordan as well as the US, with action switching between the Middle East, Texas and Washington DC—providing an additional set of challenges.

Characters, including the dogged CIA agent played by Michelle Monaghan (the “Mission: Impossible” series), flit between English, Hebrew and Arabic— often mid-conversation.

Other US shows such as “Homeland,” which drew criticism over its portrayal

of the Middle East and Muslims, have been embarrassed by cultural and linguistic pitfalls.

That show saw a Hezbollah commander escort its heroine through a Berlin set doubling as a Syrian refugee camp, on which someone had graffitied in Arabic the words: “Homeland is racist.”

The first trailer for “Messiah,” released earlier this month, drew ridicule from some Muslim viewers, who noted that the name “Al-Masih” is used in Islamic theology by Dajjal, a false prophet comparable to the Antichrist.

Netflix quickly moved to quash claims this was a spoiler—its Twitter account accurately noted “That’s not actually the character’s name”—and plot details remain strictly embargoed.

Petroni, an Australian whose father grew up in Egypt, does not speak Arabic, and neither did the directors—meaning the show had to hire an experienced and reliable team of translators and dialect coaches.

“We were super careful,” said Petroni.

AFP

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Military...

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said AFP spokesman Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 earlier found Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan and other members of the powerful clan guilty of murder in the worst electionrelated violence and one of the deadliest attacks against journalists.

On the other hand, the court acquitted Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Datu Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan Sr. and several police suspects due to reasonable doubt.

The verdict was considered partial because 80 more suspects are at large.

One of the victims’ lawyers, Nena Santos, said many of these suspects were actual shooters in the massacre.

In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Presidential Task Force on Media Security executive director Undersecretary Joel Egco said they will continue hunting down the remaining suspects.

New..

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about a mysterious religious leader who emerges in the Middle East and is pursued across the globe by the CIA. “Yes it’s provocative—the show is provocative,” creator Michael Petroni told AFP. “But provocative isn’t offensive.”

“Messiah,” out January 1, imagines how modern society would react if such a figure appeared, spreading his message rapidly via social media in a world grappling with “fake news” and breathless 24-hour bulletins.

The question of whether the character —played by Belgian actor Mehdi Dehbi—is the genuine Messiah, a nefarious political agent or simply a trickster is at the heart of the show’s premise.

Petroni admits Netflix were “nervous” when he came to them with his idea.

“It was such an audacious concept, you know?” he said. “You read the pilot, this guy is going to march 2,000 Palestinian

From A1

News Leni to release report on drug war in January

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she would publicly release her report on the drug war of the Duterte administration in late December or in January.

“If it can be done in December, we will do so. But if not, if the tragedy is not yet over, may be in early January, after the New Year,” she said.

Robredo said she has to defer her plan to disclose her findings in her three-week stint as co-chairperson of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) due to the rescue and response operations when Davao City was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

“Many would want us to release the report (on Dec. 16). But we cannot do as if we do not have empathy on the victims (of the quake) who badly need help,” she said.

The Palace earlier dared the Vice President to release her report at the soonest time possible. ”What’s taking her so long? As the President said, ‘Bring it on, whatever you want to come out with,’” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo had said.

“It is difficult to release something you don’t have and if you are thinking what would you release. That will really take a long time.”

Meanwhile, although he felt awkward working with Robredo as co-chairman of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino had said he had all the respect for her.

He said contrary to Robredo’s statement that he was supportive in private but dismissive in front of the media, Aquino said he was the one who advised her to meet the four ICAD clusters one by one to better understand the committee.

“If you remember, I was even the one who asked the VP to join in one of our operations during the first ICAD meeting with the VP last Nov. 8 at her office in Quezon City, and for her to have a full understanding of what the law enforcers are doing,” he said.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace on water: Just wait and see M

By MJ Blancaflor

ALACAÑANG on Sunday remains tight-lipped on President Rodrigo Duterte’s “important” announcement next year about the 1997 water concession agreement.

The President had said that he would make an announcement on Jan. 6 on the water deals between the government and major water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, however, declined to provide specifics on the Chief Executive’s announcement.

“Let’s see. Let’s just wait,” Panelo said.

The President previously assailed the two Metro Manila water concessionaires for allegedly taking advantage of the concession agreements to “milk”

Filipinos by the billions.

Duterte has also threatened to file economic sabotage, plunder and graft charges against the people behind the concession deals and to order a military takeover of water distribution if the problem is not resolved.

Panelo could not say when the President would meet with officials of water distributors who wrote him a letter on Dec. 10 to express their willingness to amend the supposed “onerous” provisions in the 1997 agreement.

These provisions allowed the two

companies to take the Philippine government to a Singapore-based arbitral tribunal which ruled that the state had to pay Maynilad P3.4 billion and Manila Water P7.4 billion for their respective losses, earning Duterte’s ire.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday defended the president’s statement threatening to order a military takeover of the operations of the two private water concessionaires in Metro Manila, saying the Chief Executive has the 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

HELP FOR DISTRESSED OFWs.

Chief of the Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Robert Borje and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola discussed matters with Jeddah Consul General Edgar Badajos together with his team and partner law firm handling cases of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in Jeddah. Kimg Rodriguez/PPD

Enhance building safety standards against calamities—Lacson

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE devastation and loss of life caused by recent calamities, such as the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck Davao del Sur last Dec. 15, drove home the need to strengthen building safety standards in the Philippines.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson issued the statemet as he filed Senate Bill 1239

to help protect the public from the effects of natural and man-made disasters, while giving the antiquated 1977 National Building Code a much-needed update.

“Experience tells us that there is an urgent need to strengthen the overall policy on how buildings and structures are built in the country,” he said.

“Not to mention the country’s geographical location along the bound-

ary of major tectonic plates and at the center of the typhoon belt, coupled by its socially and economically vulnerable population, it becomes even more imperative to review our four-decadeold National Building Code,” Lacson said in his bill.

He noted that last Dec. 15, a deadly magnitude-6.9 quake hit Davao del Sur, which caused the collapse of at least

two buildings and a water reservoir.

Some sectors had called for updating building standards to make buildings earthquake-resilient.

On the other hand, Lacson’s bill is pushing for a multi-sectoral effort, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways, to make buildings resilient to other calamities such as fires and cyclones as well.

RESCUED.

Two Indonesian nationals (2nd and 3rd from left) have been rescued by Filipino soldiers during a raid Sunday on their abductors stronghold in Jolo. A soldier and an Abu Sayyaf Group fighter were killed. Another Indonesian captive remained in the hands of the ASG. Story on A1.

2019 a year for women empowerment and health, Hontiveros says

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DESPITE challenges, 2019 is still a year for women and health, said Akbayan Risa Hontiveros as the Senate adjourned its Session for the holidays.

“Marami man ang naging hamon, mas maraming batas ang napagtagumpayan para sa kababaihan at sa kalusugan,” Hontiveros claimed, noting the

determine,” he added.

The President earlier warned of a military takeover of the operations of Maynilad and Manila Water after the two water concessionaires sued the government—and won P10.8 billion as compensation—before a Singaporebased arbitration court.

The judgment caused 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 the Pangilinan-led Maynilad and the 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.

passage of landmark laws for women’s rights and better health services.

In 2019, during the tail-end of the 17th Congress, Hontiveros successfully led the passage of eight new landmark laws. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Hontiveros ushered the passage of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law or Republic Act No. 11210 which expanded working Filipinas’ paid maternity leave

from the original 60 days to 105 days.

“It is now the policy of the State to give mothers our due. Mas makakapagpahinga mula sa panganganak, mas maaalagaan si baby”, Hontiveros declared.

The law, signed by President Duterte in February this year, was an ‘historic legislation’, she also added. “Mula sa pagiging kulelat sa Southeast Asia sa bilang ng paid maternity leave days,

tayo na ngayon ay pumapangalawa, kasunod ng Vietnam”, she explained.

In July this year, the Philippines also passed the Bawal Bastos Law or the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) which penalizes genderbased harassment and abuse in public spaces. “2019 is the year we say goodbye to boy bastos”, Hontiveros, who served as the law’s principal author and sponsor, declared.

Grab’s surge pricing cap stop-gap move

By Macon Ramos-Araneta WHILE ride-hailing firm Grab gives temporary relief to passengers by reducing its surge pricing cap, Senator Win Gatchalian believes this is just a bandaid solution that will not effectively address Grab’s high fares brought about by the lack of available drivers especially during peak hours, and the lack of competitors in the market.

Grab has temporarily reduced its surge pricing cap from 2x to 1.7x on Friday after officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) met with Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) companies to address the mounting consumers’ complaints on the issues of lack of availability of TNVS vehicles and overcharging, among others.

The reduction will take effect only until the 24th of December.

Surge pricing is a component in the fare matrix of the ride hailing firm. It is computed based on the time covered and distance traveled in a trip, excluding the base fare.

“Pinaunlakan natin ang paanyaya ng LTFRB nuong Hwebes at narinig natin ang commitment ng Grab na babaan pansamantala ang kanilang surge cap hanggang December 24,” he said.

Gatchalian made the statement as he called for a Senate probe that will scrutinize the operations of Grab as a dominant player in the country’s ride hailing industry.

November 2019 data from the LTFRB showed that it had issued provisional authority to 49,226 operators and issued 11,305 certificates of public convenience, bringing the total number of TNVS units in the country to 60,531.

Grab, being the dominant player in the country’s TNVS industry since the departure of Uber last year, have 45,000 operators while the remaining 15,531 units were distributed among minor TNVS players.

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

What is your Christmas story?

CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ AFTER almost a year of non-stop commentaries on the foibles of men and the struggles of nations coping with the challenges of an ever-demanding and chaotic world and with Christmas just around the corner, I have decided to give space in this column to a piece (actually a sermon) written by the Episcopal Church Minister Michael “Fr. Mike” K. Marsh entitled “What is Your Christmas Story - A Christmas Sermon on Luke 2: 1-20.” The piece struck me as timely, given the shopping rush and the unending round of parties all designed to capture the “Christmas spirit.” Fr. Mike puts sense and proper perspective on why we celebrate Christmas at all which should give us pause and time to reflect on its eternal message.

Here goes: “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.”

That’s what the shepherds said after the angels had left them and gone into heaven. It wasn’t enough to just hear the good news. It wasn’t enough to just receive the birth announcement.

Somewhere deep within they wanted to be a part of this thing that had taken place. The angel’s good news wasn’t just an announcement; it was a calling.

They had to go and see. They left their fields and went to the manger and in so doing they moved from the event of Jesus’ birth to the experience of his birth. They made the Christmas story their own. That’s what I hope we’ll do tonight.

I want us to be like the shepherds. I don’t want us to just talk about Bethlehem, I want us to go there. I don’t want

us to figure out the meaning of “this thing that has taken place.” I want us to find meaning in “this thing that has taken place.” I want us to move from the event of Christmas to the experience of Christmas.

So let me start by asking you a question. What is your Christmas story?

I’m not asking about your family traditions, the gifts you exchange, the food you eat, or the way you celebrate

There is no single Christmas story. There are an endless number of Christmas stories and they are happening all the time.

Christmas, and I’m not asking you to tell me the Christmas story as recorded in the Bible (Luke 2:1-20). I’m asking about your Christmas story. When have you, like the shepherds, gone “to Bethlehem [to] see this thing that has taken place?” I want to hear about a time when you knew your life to be the manger of Christ’s birth. Tell me about a day when your life cradled new life, new hope, new possibilities.

The reason I am asking about your Christmas story is because I think we often leave ourselves out of the Christmas story. We always name Mary, Joseph, Jesus, angels, shepherds, wise men. But what about you and me? Do we name ourselves as essential characters and participants in the story? I sometimes wonder if we have become the forgotten characters of the Christmas story. I sometimes wonder if we focus on the particulars of Jesus’ birth, the event, to such a degree that we omit

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Charity begins at home D ESPITE the numerous problems our country is facing, many Filipinos cannot help being caught up in the spirit of the Christmas season: putting up decorations, seeing friends and relatives, exchanging gifts, buying new clothes.

The merry atmosphere allows them to endure the not-so-good aspects that come with the holidays: The horrific traffic, difficulty in getting public transportation, exorbitant ride-hailing surges, and choosy cab drivers, among others.

For ordinary employees in the private sector, one of the highlights of the season is the receipt of an amount greater than their usual monthly take-home pay – at the very least, their 13th month pay, which under the law must be given no later than December 24th of each year.

Some companies, especially if they are profitable or feeling charitable, go beyond this minimum requirement and give an extra month’s – or several’s – worth of salary.

But even the barest legal requirement can do much to alleviate shortfalls that may have accumulated over the months, or shore up savings that

had been depleted due to emergencies, or add a viand or two to the usual holiday fare on the table. Only those devoid of genuine charity and compassion will break the law or make their employees wait for something they need so badly.

It is also a given that conscientious employers provide basic benefits as well as adequate and timely salaries to their people even without prodding, so that they can subsist decently and have a semblance of order in their lives.

Aside from these, employers are also expected to act on special cases with fairness and urgency. For example, complaints of sexual harassment—or any other inappropriate behavior—should be taken seriously instead of swept under the rug.

Perpetrators, whatever their position is in the organization, should not be allowed to make light of ac-

cusations and treat the matter as a joke or a given. This only leaves victims to feel disempowered and helpless, and propagates a culture of misogyny and power-tripping among those in power.

Christmas is a time for thanksgiving, whatever one’s religious affiliations might be. Employees are no doubt thankful that they have jobs to go to every day, and that they get to contribute something meaningful to the bigger picture.

Conversely, employers can best show their sincerity by acknowledging that people are their most valuable assets. They give their best work, day after day, and persevere despite hardships. At the very least, employers should not stay in their ivory towers. They should listen, and listen hard to their people’s pulse.

We are most ourselves when we are with people nearest us, and who we are is determined by how we treat those we come in contact with every day. Real charity begins at home—everywhere else might just be for show.

Turn to A5

Culion I WAS privileged to watch, together with a daughter and my eldest grandson, the premiere of a movie that is one of the Metro Manila Film Festival’s offerings for the holiday season.

Together with us were Senator Ping Lacson, Secretary Liling Briones and her husband Caloy, and the AFP Chief of Staff, General Clement, along with many friends in media.

It is so difficult to classify as a mere love story between couples desperately seeking some happiness while being condemned by a then-incurable sickness to outcasts of the entire country, or a poignant historical drama set on an island so far removed and so desolate.

Culion is moving. The dramatic moments are so poignant they bring tears to the eyes.

This is one movie that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my human existence.

Culion is the island between Coron and El Nido in the northern part of Palawan where t he A me r ic a n s ex i le d eve r yone aff licted with Hansen’s disease or leprosy. At that time, there was yet no definitive cure for the ailment, and it was feared to be a highly contagious disease.

The movie details the loneliness of people shunned by their closest of kin and community, lives shattered by separation and clinging to the futile hope that one day soon, there would be a cure to their disease. But it is in the love stories woven into Culion’s story and screenplay by the inimitable Ricky Lee that we see how humanity trumps even the worst of situations for people considered sub-human by their fellows.

The lead actors, Iza Calzado and Joem Bascon, along with Meryl Soriano and Jasmine Curtis as supporting actors, gave stunning portrayals

that ought to win them acting awards.

Even the bevy of character actors deserve encomiums for their work. I am not one who has the time or interest to follow Philippine cinema, except for an occasional movie every now and then.

But Culion is one movie that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my human existence.

Shot entirely on location, it is a work of love by a couple who have made Palawan their home after my friend Peter Sing first stepped on its soil in 2007 to strategize for a political campaign and has stayed ever since, enthralled by the loveliness of paradise vivified by its cluster of pristine islands. When Peter and his wife Gillie visited the former leper colony, they were moved by its history, and the stories woven into that history.

The audience instinctively applauded the cameo appearance of the long-missing John Lloyd, who in the brief speechless moment when the camera showed his tearful face, proved once more why he is so missed by Filipino moviegoers.

See Culion. And through your Facebook and Twitter, spread the word to friends that Culion is a must-see. It is rather long, more than two hours I guess, but it is well worth your time and money. I would not even make a comparison with some of the sure money-makers in the usually inane flicks Culion shares company with in the two week phantasmagoria of local cinema. That is almost blasphemous.

I would rather compare it with some of the best—langorous compared to the fire of Heneral Luna, soft-spoken as in whispers of desperation versus the curses on the revolutionary hero’s rants, but an equally powerful portrait of an era long gone and almost forgotten by the Filipino people.

The movie ends with a surprising twist with a message of unexpected survival.

The Japanese had invaded the Philippines in December of 1941, but were afraid to go to Culion for fear of contagion. Then the residents of the segregated part of the island, the “sanos” or healthy, uninfected people who earlier shunned the lepers, joined them to be saved from the oncoming invaders.

In the most desperate of situations, we can be one with those we condemned from our midst.

Turn to A5

Back to basics THE resurgence of polio has underlined the importance of achieving zero open defecation, and that means, going back to basics—providing public toilets especially in informal settler communities.

However, as of this early, Anakalusugan Representative Michael “Mike” Defensor is already wary about tapping the Department of Health to build more public toilets, mainly on account of a previous anomaly in the highly centralized construction of health stations.

According to Defensor, no less than the 41,913 barangay governments are in the best position to put up the public toilets, as needed, because they are more familiar with local conditions, adding that a decentralized or community-based strategy would be more preferable to address the issue.

A large number of Filipinos without ready access to a toilet still choose to defecate in open fields, bushes, ditches, canals or exposed spaces.

In Metro Manila alone, an estimated 3.5 million residents, or 25 percent of the population, still do not have access to a household toilet.

Coupled with vaccination, ZOD is

regarded as one of the best preventive measures against the polio virus, a fatal and disabling disease transmitted via the fecal-oral route.

This measure is regarded as one of the best preventive measures against the polio virus. apThe problem with a centralized ap proach in constructing public toilets, according to Defensor, is that the DOH will just bid the project out to a private contractor that might bungle the job.

Last year, Defensor said that Health

Secretary Francisco Duque himself bared “wide and deep” irregularities in the DOH’s centralized P8.1-billion program to construct 5,700 barangay health stations during the Aquino administration.

The private contractor abandoned the project after getting the initial payment of P1.2 billion and completing only 270 of the stations.

Despite the project’s failure, the contractor sent a termination billing to the DOH worth P2.9 billion, prompting Duque to call for an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

By tapping the barangays to put up public toilets, Defensor said greater transparency and accountability will be better assured.

On top of whatever funds they generate on their own, barangay governAlments have their Internal Revenue Al lotment, some of which may be used to put up the communal toilets in their areas, Defensor said.

In the P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget, barangays are getting a combined P130 billion in fresh funding, Turn to A5

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

Papa Rosso THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE Continued from last week This means that Cardinal Tagle will have to play a very important role, especially in carrying out Pope Francis’ vision for the Church of today. In fact, it could be said that the decision to bring Cardinal Tagle to Rome could be his most important appointment made so far. By appointing him to the highest level of decision-making in the Church, Cardinal Tagle will definitely have a positive impact both on the papacy of Francis and on the Church in Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Two years ago, I was blessed to have a close encounter with Cardinal Tagle, when he visited Tacloban to ordain Bishop Rex Ramirez of Naval. The cracks on the runway caused a plane from Manila to get stuck when it hit the soft portion of the runway, forcing the total shutdown of the airport, just when the visiting bishops were about to board for their return flights.

Prior to his Tacloban trip, Cardinal Tagle presided over the feast of the Nazareno at the Quirino Grandstand and he barely had any chance to rest or sleep.

But despite being awake for more than 24 hours, although clearly exhausted, Cardinal Tagle patiently waited for his delayed flight and cheerfully conversed with us for more than four hours. Even when the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, invited him to join the other bishops, he preferred to continue talking to the lay staff and seminarians

Culion...

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*** As this is my last column for the year, I am quite thankful for the enthusiastic support that the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, our de facto embassy in Taiwan, has been getting in the last three years from our 160,000-strong Filipino community.

In a recent Christmas party organized by Filipinas married to Taiwanese in southern Kaohsiung, their first ever even for some who had been in Taiwan for more than 20 years, the fun of bonding was accompanied by the hope that Taiwan would learn more and understand the rather “foreign” culture of Filipinos.

A Taiwanese university professor who accompanied his Filipino wife along with a son and a musically talented daughter spoke about how he and his wife wished the Taiwanese government would be more pro-active in integrating foreigners into the mainstream of their society, and how Filipino culture could help enrich Taiwanese culture and vice-versa.

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ourselves from the story. When that happens, we deny ourselves the experience of Christmas and Christmas is just another event in history. We might as well sing Happy Birthday as O Come All Ye Faithful.

Let’s not do that. Let’s not limit the beauty and breadth of the Christmas story to the historical particularities of Jesus’ birth. It’s bigger than that.

It’s more than that. That Jesus’ birth happened within a particular set of circumstances – a specific place, a specific time, a specific woman – doesn’t mean his birth is limited to, defined by, or contained only within those circumstances. It means, rather, that we must look for and experience his birth in the particular circumstances of our own lives. Christ is born in the particularities of life, his and ours, then and now.

So where do we go to see this thing that has taken place and what does it look like? Start with the circumstances of your life. What does the manger of your life hold? Hope, fear, joy, sorrow?

Maybe grief and loss lie at the center of your life. Maybe it’s thanksgiving and abundance. Maybe it’s emptiness, a lack of meaning, or darkness that lie in your manger. Are you holding guilt, resentments, regrets? Is you manger full of pain? Where does it hurt? What concerns fill your life? What lies in the cradle of your life? Whatever it is, whatever your circumstances are this night, that is the manger in which you will find the Christ child.

The manger of your life and the manger of Christ are not separate. They are two ways of seeing and describing the same thing. There is only one manger.

For if Christ is not born in the real life everyday circumstances of our lives he

present. Not for an instance did he show his displeasure or discomfort, instead it was he who tried to assure his already worried hosts that he was well and okay.

The life and ministry of Cardinal Tagle has shown that the work of evangelization is something that is close to his heart. Not only is it something he is passionate about, it is task that he is adept at. There is no doubt that given his credentials and experience, Pope Francis

saw in him—an enthusiasm to bring the faithful to an encounter with Jesus. As Cardinal Tagle himself puts it: “A personal encounter with Jesus Christ is necessary because there is no mission, no proclamation of the Gospel without an encounter with Jesus who is the Gospel.”

Mission, evangelization and dialogue have been recurrent themes in Cardinal Tagle’s teaching, preaching and public speaking, and with his appointment, the Pope has reaffirmed his intention to put the Church on a permanent state of mission.

Cardinal Tagle, however, is not the first Filipino to be appointed to the Roman Curia. That honor belongs to the late Cardinal Jose Tomas Sanchez, who served in the

Vatican for 40 years, from Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 1985, and as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 1991 until his retirement in 1996. Still, the appointment of Cardinal Tagle is exceptional, because it solidifies the growing shift from a Eurocentric attitude within the Church toward a more open recognition that much of its growth and resources now come from its fastest-growing regions of Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

There is no doubt that Cardinal Tagle is currently one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Church in Asia today. His appointment to Rome, more importantly, reaffirms the strength and dynamism that the Filipino Church is called to offer at the service of the universal Church. Thus, his appointment is an immense blessing to the Church in the Philippines, especially at a time when our country is preparing to celebrate 500 years of the arrival of Christianity to our shores.

While reading the news of his appointTament to the Vatican post, Cardinal Ta gle’s own prophetic words, in a message to Pope Francis at the close of the papal mass at Luneta, come into my mind, “Every Filipino wants to go with you.

Don’t be afraid. Every Filipino wants to go with you – not to Rome – but to the peripheries. We want to go with you to the shanties, to the prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance, arts, the sciences, culture, education, and social communication. We will go to those worlds with you to bring the light of Christ. Here in this place of new beginnings, please, Holy Father, send us as your missionaries of light. Send us.”

Those words, Pope Francis undoubtedly remembered.

The process though has begun for in the last three years. Strides have been taken, both by MECO and TECO which represents Taiwan in our country, to hasten such integration. Our native Pilipino has been introduced into the elementary school curriculum as an option, especially for children of mixed marriages. MECO brought in Filipino professors of Pilipino to Kaohsiung where they helped edit the books written by Taiwanese language teachers in a joint undertaking.

Another component of these programs is the conduct of language training classes, hoping to teach Filipino workers basic Mandarin and propagate the Filipino language through accreditation of Filipino language teachers. There has been more than a hundred participants from the south in this endeavor which is now also being replicated in our extension office in Taichung.

Some OFWs foresee advanced knowledge of Mandarin as a valuable key to better paying jobs in the future.

The Taiwan government and its universities have been quite supportive.

As part of our outreach programs for Filipinos in Taiwan, MECO has been conducting livelihood training

programs, empowering Filipinos with the skills to be able to put up their own small business and make sound investments when they return to our country.

A spin-off of our regular efforts to connect with the Filipino community, MECO’s field office in Kaohsiung has been holding trainings in food production and preparation along with basic accounting for entrepreneurs to enable returning overseas workers to support themselves as they reintegrate to the Philippines.

Close to half a million Filipinos have visited Taiwan this year, just as close to 300,000 Taiwanese visited our country, a record high.

Geographically so close, yet with cultural differences that have yet to be bridged. The efforts have been enhanced, thanks to the inspiration given by our president, Rodrigo Duterte, whose policy of being friend to all peoples and enemy to no country, along with the admonition to take care of overseas Filipino workers, is well taken and well observed.

Let me close by wishing our readers a bounty of blessings in this season of grace, and a hopeful New Year that will fulfill your aspirations.

isn’t born anywhere.

From that one manger we are all given new life, new hope, new possibilities. You see, that one manger holds more than circumstances and a baby. It always holds more than we can see. It held more than the shepherds could see.

That night, the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see this thing that had taken place and they found “the child lying in the manger” but they had no idea how much more that manger held.

• It held the peace with which Jesus calmed the storms; • It held the bread and fish that fed the 5000; • It held the new eyes by which the blind man saw; • It held the new legs with which the lame man walked; • It held the living water given to the Samaritan woman at the well; • It held the freedom given to the woman caught in adultery; • It held the beatitudes; • It held the tears Jesus wept over Jerusalem; • It held Lazarus’ new life; • It held the cross that destroyed death; • It held the “Father forgive them” that Jesus uttered from the cross; • It held the open tomb of resurrection; • It held the bread of life and the cup of salvation that here in a few minutes we will eat and drink; • It held the shepherds before God and God before the shepherds. And it still does today.

Christ’s manger, our manger, holds all this and more. It did for the shepherds and it does for us today. The manger has never been emptied of its power and meaning, and never will be. It’s the place where God’s life and our life meet and intersect. It’s the place where our lives are fed and sustained in the midst of and sometimes

in spite of our life’s circumstances.

How could it be anything less than that? After all a manger is just a feeding trough and this one stands in Bethlehem, the House of Bread.

So whenever you’ve experienced your life being nourished, grown, enlarged; anytime you’ve received or offered forgiveness; when you’ve seen the world with new eyes; whenever you’ve awakened to a deeper and more profound meaning of your life; every time you’ve united yourself with the pain of the world; wherever you’ve experienced the light pushing back darkness; when the impossible became a reality; when you’ve looked in the face of another and seen the holy; whenever you’ve joined your life to another’s and held nothing back; when consolation and strength carried you through loss and sorrow; anytime you feel yourself to be loved not because of what you have done or might do but simply because you are; whenever you’ve remembered and reclaimed yourself as a beloved daughter or son of God; whenever you’ve experienced any one of those or a thousand other things like them you have gone to Bethlehem and seen this thing that has taken place. It’s Christmas and Christ has been born anew in your time, your place, your life.

There is no single Christmas story.

There are an endless number of Christmas stories and they are happening all the time. There are at least as many Christmas stories here tonight as there are people. Remember what the angel told the shepherds, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people.” Not some people, not just the good people, not the believing people only; all people. No one is left out. So tell me, when have you been to Bethlehem? What did you see? What did you experience?

What is your Christmas story?

There is no doubt that Cardinal Tagle is currently one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Church in Asia today.

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Water supply, please

EVERY time we open our faucets, it is always to satisfy an immediate need to either quench our thirst or consume water for our domestic needs. Water is indispensable in all agriculture and industrial processes and of course, to all humans. Consequently, the prospect of a serious disruption of Metro Manila’s water supply is a horrific thought that brings back bad memories of the 1990s, when the Metro Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) was in charge. At that time, we had to resort to buying expensive and non-potable water that had to be delivered by those “water trucks” and pumped by hose to fill every water container in the house. It was a messy chore that almost every family in Metro Manila had to perform every few days. There were no mineral water delivery services then, so we had to boil all our drinking water.

In many communities, there were long lines of people lugging as many water containers that their strength can bear to the nearest or not-so-near water source, which was either a deep well or a scheduled truck delivery. And then there was the punishing lifting to a push cart or vehicle to shuttle to your home and back again to line up for another batch of precious water.

These scenes were the daily reality that affected Metro Manila, a crisis situation that prompted the Ramos administration to pass into law the 1995 Clean Water Act which shifted the distribution services of the MWSS to private concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad.

So much noise is out there about the issue but a review of historical facts on the performance of the two concessionaires, unfairly bashed by the administration’s social media propaganda machinery, is in order for a fair perspective.

The situation then was intermittent water supply with only 70 percent of Metro Manila with water connections. Having intermittent water flow exposed consumers to health risks because every time the rationed water flowed back, the water had a rusty, murky color from the residue pushed out from the old pipes. The water pressure was frustratingly low that only ground-floor faucets flowed.

Compounding the problem was so much wasted and lost revenue from tampered meters, illegal connections and pilfering from fire hydrants.

The move to privatize MWSS distribution systems in 1997 was to directly address the poor water services through a Public-Private Partnership model to connect the unserved communities with reliable and clean water.

The East zone was awarded to Manila Water, the West zone to Maynilad.

This proved to be a success, practically solving all the distribution problems but requiring billions in capital investments to replace all the old pipes, water meters, plug leaks and overhaul systems for efficient and viable operations. From about 780 thousand connections, there are now more than 2.5 million connections serviced by the concessioners. With distribution problems checked, the concessioners were already warning the MWSS to develop new raw water sources during the Arroyo administration because of the

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representing their 20-percent share of the P649-billion IRA for all local government units, according to Defensor.

Defensor cited estimates that only P20,000 is needed to build one functional toilet, excluding the costs of site acquisition, connecting the facility to a sewer line and maintenance.

Maybe it could well worth the try given the DoH’s questionable role in the anti-dengue campaign. *** Long overdue.

At long last, someone has seen the wisdom and logic of doubling the maximum insurance protection of the country’s 63 million bank depositors.

Under House Bill 5812, Makati Congressman Luis Campos seeks to increase the maximum deposit insurance coverage (MDIC) from P500,000 to P1,000,000 per depositor per bank.

The MDIC’s “full value of protection” has been eroded considerably by the general increase in prices over the

fast-growing population of Metro Manila. The concessionaires could not develop new reservoirs without the approval of the MWSS. Then a recent Supreme Court decision ordering the concessioners to comply with the Clean Water Act’s provision to build the sewerage infrastructure for 100-percent coverage of their concession areas, effectively reversing an earlier decision that extended the timeline because of practical engineering issues such as closure of the metro’s streets for hundreds of kilometers of excavation and spreading out the allowed tariff increase to ease burden on consumers. There is also the issue of the litany of permits from government agencies and local governments.

So much noise is out there about the issue but a review of historical facts on the performance of the two concessionaires is in order.

Next came the arbitral ruling awarding Manila Water P7.4 billion to recover losses incurred because the government unjustly slashed tariff rates in violation of the concession agreement. Maynilad also got a favorable decision in September 2018 and was awarded P3.4 billion in indemnity. These sparked stinging rhetoric from the President, highlighted by a threat to take over the concessioner’s operations. This sent shock waves in the local and international business community, putting to question the government’s respect for the sanctity of contracts. A big blow to investor confidence that would surely affect our competitiveness and potential funders of the government’s Build, Build, Build program.

Analysts see this regressive and will worsen the water problem because of the lack of capacity of government to operate a complex and capital-intensive operation. It will be destabilizing for the business environment.

In an unexpected but welcome announcement in the recent Congressional hearings investigating the water issue, the two distribution concessioners announced that they will no longer pursue the indemnity awarded by the arbitral courts. A move that demonstrates dynamism and move-forward attitude that looks at the long term and strategic win-win solutions, mindful of the serious repercussions if a water crisis is not averted.

After decades of delays, the current administration is now burdened with a looming water crisis that threatens to disrupt the lives of 12 million inhabitants of the megapolis. As the concessioners have already offered to cooperate and find a middle ground, it is to the best interest of the millions of consumers in the megapolis, not to mention all the industries and economic backlash of a full-blown water shortage. All this anti-oligarch spins may serve political objectives but will do nothing to solve the real problem.

For us consumers, we must seriously save water now. For government, please focus on the water supply and tap the proven capacity and expertise of your PPP partners. They know what they’re doing. last 10 years, Campos pointed out.

Campos cited the growing number of Filipino middle-class families, including those with breadwinners abroad, that now have more than P1 million in liquid assets that may be held in banks.

Since 2017 alone, tens of thousands of depositors have been affected by the collapse or closure of 41 banks, mostly rural lenders, according to the state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC).

The sad thing is that the system doesn’t give any concern as to the amount of a bank client’s deposit.

In 1963, the MDIC was initially fixed at P10,000. It was then increased to: P15,000 in 1978; P40,000 in 1984; P100,000 in 1992; P250,000 in 2004; and P500,000 in 2009.

So, whatever the amount of one’s deposit is, it can only be insured for a maximum of P500,000 then.

With Campos’ bill, at least it would be raised to P1 million.

Here’s hoping the amount of insurance should be equal to one’s total deposit.

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News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Removal of judge in PECO case sought

By Rey E. Requejo

M

ORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has filed an administrative complaint before the Supreme Court seeking the removal of a Regional Trial Court judge in Iloilo hearing its expropriation case against franchise-less Panay Electric Co. Inc. (PECO).

In a 33-page complaint lodged on Dec. 12, MORE Power accused Iloilo RTC Branch 35 Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular of grave misconduct, gross ignorance of the law, and violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

“All told, the actuations, utterances of the respondent judge, and his issuance of the order dated November 18,

2019 showed that he is underserving to stay as a judge. He should be removed,” read the complaint filed by company’s president and COO Roel Z. Castro and legal counsel Hector Teodosio.

The administrative complaint stemmed from the manner by which Amular handled the expropriation case in a bid to take over PECO’s power distribution assets upon

payment of just compensation.

The power distributor filed the expropriation case after securing its congressional franchise to distribute power in Iloilo City through Republic Act No. 11212 which President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Feb. 14.

PECO’s franchise expired on Jan. 18, 2019 but it was allowed to operate within a two-year transition period provided under the law to ensure that there is no disruption in power supply in Iloilo City.

Based on the complaint, MORE Power accused Amular of violating Canons 1 and 2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct “when he held a private conference inside his chamber attended by Roel Cas-

tro and Mikel Afzelius (of PECO) but prohibit(ed) the lawyers of MORE and PECO from attending.”

The chamber conference happened on Sept 23, 2019 at the Iloilo Hall of Justice.

The complaint alleged tha Amular “threatened and scared MORE Power that he could delay the proceedings and even advised MORE Officer Roel Castro not to discuss the matter with its counsel.”

The complaint also claimed that Amular “scolded and reprimanded” Castro in open court without giving the latter “the opportunity to know the charge and to explain his side which is in violation of Canon 3 Rule 3.04 of the Canons of Judicial Ethics.” This refers to the Sept

13, 2019 hearing where the judge reprimanded Castro for allegedlyviolating the court’s gag order and ordered Castro to apologize forgranting an interview with this paper.

Canon 3 states that a judge should perform official duties honestly,and with impartiality and diligence.

The third charge against Amular is the alleged delay in theimplementation of the writ of possession issued by another judge whopreviously handled the case in August 2019.

The WOP will empower MORE Power to take over PECO assets.

MORE alsodeposited more than P481 million as just compensation for PECO’sassets in compliance with the expropriation rules.

Cimatu urges public: Don’t be wasteful during X’mas

By Rio N. Araja ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Sunday urged the public to help lessen the impact of the holiday season on the environment by returning to the basics of solid waste management—reduce, reuse and recycle.

While many consider Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year, it is not so for the environment as the holidays are expected to bring in more waste from all the celebrations, Cimatu said.

“The Christmas season produces the biggest volume of garbage in the country, especially in Metro Manila, where the waste generation baseline target for 2019 had already been surpassed as early as June,” he said.

“Because of this, we really need to cut back on our consumption and waste, and get back to basics to make life easier and to help the environment in the process,” he added.

Earlier, the DENR chief said the National Capital Region has produced over 66,000 cubic meters of wastes in the first half of 2019, surpassing the agency's annual target of 58,112.31 cubic meters.

In this season of giving, Cimatu recommended the use of eco-friendly wrapping papers and gift bags, such as those made from bamboo, rattan, abaca and buri leaves, as these can be reused.

“The best way to reduce wrapping waste is to wrap a gift in something that’s part of the gift like a reusable tote bag,” he said.

Since many gifts end up lost, broken or forgotten, he suggested giving the gift of memory or experience, like going to nature parks or visiting an orphanage, home for the elderly or hospice.

"Well-thought presents, such as those that a family member actually needs or has always wanted are also more meaningful and don’t go to waste,” he said.

In hosting gatherings and parties, Cimatu advised people to use washable dinnerware and cutlery instead of paper plates and plastic cups, spoons and forks.

SEAFOOD BOUNTY. Manila Bay is an important source of food for Metro Manila and nearby areas, including Bulacan. In this photo, a fisherman waits for the tide to go high so he can lay his nets. Teddy Pelaez

Golden Rice variety certified ‘safe’—DA Visayas,

By Othel V. Campos THE Bureau of Plant Industry of the Agriculture Department announced that the Golden Rice variety “has been found to be as safe as conventional rice" after a rigorous biosafety assessment that took years of extensive trials and evaluation.

The biosafety permit, addressed to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), details the approval of GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for processing (FFP).

“With this FFP approval, we bring forward a very accessible solution to our country’s problem on Vitamin A deficiency that’s affecting many of our pre-school children and pregnant women,” said PhilRice executive director John de Leon.

Despite the success of public health

interventions like oral supplementation, complementary feeding, and nutrition education, Vitamin A deficiency among children aged 6 months to 5 years increased from 15.2 percent in 2008 to 20.4 percent in 2013 in the Philippines.

The beta-carotene content of Golden Rice can provide 30 to 50 percent of the estimated average requirement of vitamin A for pregnant women and young children.

“IRRI is pleased to partner with PhilRice to develop this nutrition-sensitive agricultural solution to address hidden hunger.

This is the core of IRRI’s purpose: to tailor global solutions to local needs.

The Philippines has long recognized the potential to harness biotechnology to help address food and nutrition security, environmental safety, as well as improve the livelihoods of farmers,” said IRRI director general Matthew Morrel.

The FFP approval is the latest regulatory milestone in the journey to develop and deploy Golden Rice in the Philippines.

To complete the Philippine biosafety regulatory process, Golden Rice will require approval for commercial propagation before it can be made available to the public. There had been field trials harvested in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and San Mateo, Isabela in September and October 2019.

The Philippines now joins a select group of countries that have affirmed the safety of Golden Rice.

In 2018, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Health Canada, and the United States Food and Drug Administration published positive food safety assessments for Golden Rice.

A biosafety application was lodged in November 2017 and is currently undergoing review by the Biosafety Core Committee in Bangladesh.

175 children sexually assaulted

by Catholic priests in Mexico-report MEXICO CITY—At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report published Saturday.

The founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, abused as many as 60 children, with a total of 33 priests or deacons acknowledged to have committed sexual assaults against minors since 1941, the document says.

The findings of the report – written by a commission created in June by the director general of the group, Eduardo Robles-Gil—spans from the group's founding in 1941 until December 16, 2019.

“The vast majority of the victims were adolescent boys between 11 and 16 years old,” the statement said, published on ceroabusos.org, which is supported by the Legionaries of Christ.

The report notes that 18 of the 33 individuals who committed abuses are

still part of the organization, but says they have been removed from tasks connected to the public or minors.

Fourteen of the 33 had themselves been victims of the Legionaries, which the report said highlights the existence of “chains of abuse” where “a victim of a Legionnaire, over time, becomes in turn an aggressor.”

“There are probably more cases of abuse than those in the report and the statistics will have to be updated regularly,” it added.

Ceroabusos also notes that a process of “reparation and reconciliation” with 45 victims is taking place, while acknowledging that it has yet to extend it to the others.

Maciel, who died in 2008, was ordered to retire to a life of prayer and penitence by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 after facing years of allegations that he had sexually abused boys and young men. He never faced his accusers. AFP

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK. A roving vendor peddles his wares, including native crafts and brooms, in Taguig City. Lino Santos

Mindanao voters support divorce bill THE results of an independent noncommissioned survey conducted last month indicate that the majority of the 43 percent of voters hailing from Visayas and Mindanao who are aware of the contentious divorce bill support its passage in Congress.

According to the results of Pahayag VisMin 2019, an independent noncommissioned survey conducted by consultancy firm PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc. among 2,000 registered voters in Visayas and Mindanao from Nov. 1519, only 36.7 percent of respondents indicated they are aware of the proposed divorce law.

Among the respondents aware of the divorce issue, 52 percent indicated support for the passage of a divorce law, with 42 percent opposing divorce and 6 percent being unsure.

Aureli Sinsuat, PAI executive Director and spokesperson, said support for divorce varies greatly from region to region.

“Support for divorce is strong in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga, while opposition against it is strong in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and BARMM,” Sinsuat said.

Sinsuat said although the divorce bill won a slim majority of support among aware respondents, the fact that 63.3 percent of Visayans and Mindanaoans are unaware of the issue makes it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the actual level of support for divorce in those critical island groups.

“Divorce has always been a contentious issue in the Philippines, but recently it has fallen off the radar.

Advocates of the divorce law would have to do a better job of educating our countrymen about the perceived benefits of divorce for the people if they want to win enough public support to revive discussions about the bill in a Congress filled with influential antidivorce lawmakers,” Sinsuat said.

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

Standard

TODAY

PBA-bound McAloney puts on show in MPBL farewell game CEBU CITY—In his last home game for the 2019-20 Chooksto-Go/MPBL Lakan cup, PBAbound Will McAloney made sure to give his fellow Cebuanos the perfect Christmas present.

The University of San Carlos product was at the forefront of the attack, pouring in 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting laced with 15 rebounds and two blocked shots to steer the Casino Ethyl Alcoholbacked squad to a 72-66 upset win over GenSan at the SWU-Aznar Coliseum here.

“Sobrang saya kasi mas lalong merry yung Christmas namin.

Iniisip ko kasi yung magawa ko yung trabaho ko at anong maitutulong ko sa team,” said McAloney.

McAloney, who was selected as the 15th overall pick by the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2019 PBA Regular Draft, will fulfill his duty with Cebu first before heading to the pro-ranks.

And even with his life-long dream already in his pocket, the 6’5” bruiser vows to do everything

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Manila

Republic of the Philippines GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308

in his capabilities to lead the team that shaped him to become the best player he can be to the playoffs.

“Sobrang saya kasi dati pinapangarap ko lang na maging player at makilala sa lugar naming.

Ngayon parang marami na nakakakilala sa akin,” said the 26-yearold McAloney.

“All out naman ako every game kasi kung wala yung team Cebu ‘di rin naman ako magiging ganito at every game ibibigay ko yung one-hundred percent ko. Of course, dream ko makapag-PBA talaga, pero tutulungan ko pa rin yung team ko na makapasok sa playoffs.”

McAloney helped Cebu post a 10-12 standing in the Southern Division to keep their feet in the playoff circle which hopefully gives them another shot at a home game.

Meanwhile, the Gab Banal and the Bacoor City Strikers handed the hobbled Makati Super Crunch squad an 86-63 victory to keep the second spot in the Southern Division with a 19-5 standing.

Distracted Calano narrowly misses national record

By Peter Atencio

J

AVELIN thrower Melvin Calano won the gold medal but narrowly missed resetting the Philippine national record during the athletics meet of the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games.

A big distraction kept the 28-year-old Calano from a 10-year old mark that Danilo Fresnido continues to hold up to this day.

A week before he was to plunge into action, Calano got a call from his wife, who informed him that the roof of their home was blown away powerful winds while Typhoon Tisoy was entering the Bicol region last December 1. “’Yung bahay namin, dinaanan ng ipuipo, nadala lahat. Six days before competition nagkabagyo,” said Calano, who said that his family of two had to evacuate to their bathroom that was still intact after the disaster.

And he was relieved that they were later evacuated to a safer shelter, days before he was to compete.

“Nagkausap na lang kami ulit nung Dec. 6, four days before competition. Pero, hindi ko na inisip ‘yung pagkasira ng bahay. Inisip ko paano sinave ni Lord ‘yung pamilya ko,” said Calano.

The situation involving Calano’s family while he was competing at the New Clark City athletics stadium worried him.

But, Calano still managed to win the gold medal with his heave of 72.86 meters, and its 7/100th of a meter short of the Philippine record.

His heave allowed him to improve on his bronze medal finish two years ago, and beat Indone-

sian Abdul Hafiz, who settled for the silver with his 71-meter performance.

Nguyễn Hoài Văn clinched the bronze in 70.88 meters.

“Na surprise sila sa akin. Pero ako di na surprise. Kasi alam ko kaya ko maka gold medal. Kasi, sabi ni Lord, all things are possible, for those who believe,” said Calano.

His feat was the result of his continuous trained over the last two years.

Calano, made efforts to get the gold while still in college at Jose Rizal University, and after coach Jojo Posadas saw his potential while in Paracale, Camarines Norte.

Now that he has won a medal, and around P750,000 from the incentives and bonuses that were given him by the government and the private sector, Calano said he now has the proper resources to rebuild their family home with wife Sarah and son Vince.

“Pag-uwi ko sa Pasko ay mamadaliin ko na ang pagpagawa ng bahay namin, para kahit sa loob ng isang buwan ay matirhan na,” said Calano.

Calano said the loss of his home motivated him to train more and focus on his next goal, which is the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

While there, Calano may have a chance to break the national mark, which still belongs to Fresnido at 72.93 meters.

Cu siblings spearhead PH chess team to Singapore age group championships SIBLINGS Ivan Travis and Jericho Winston Cu will see action in the 36th Singapore National Age Group Chess Championships on December 27 to 30, 2019 at the 1 Expo Drive, MAX Atria @ Singapore Expo in Singapore.

Last September the siblings, alongside Ryan Taguba and Gregory Pe, spearheaded Xavier School Chess Team A coached

by Rolando “Rolly” Yutuc which won the overall championship in the 2019 Interscholastic Sports Association (ISSA) Grade School Division chess tournament held at the Brent International School Manila in Biñan, Laguna.

“We’ll be up against strong and more seasoned players in this tournament and I hope my luck continues there. Right now, I’m in deep preparation, doing more practice games,” said Ivan Travis who will be competing in the Boys Under 10 division where he will possibly encounter the top seed Candidate Master (CM) Goh Zi Han of Singapore (elo 2094).

Jericho Winston, on the other hand, also expressed his readiness to compete against some of the best young wood pushers in the region.

“It’s certainly one of the most challenging tournament for us because of all the promising young talent who are expected to be there.

We’ll just play one game at a time and make sure every round is important,” Jericho Winston said.

The Singapore chess campaign of the siblings is supported by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) thru its Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director FA Red Dumuk.

Also playing in the tournament are Jayson Jacobo Tiburcio (Boys Under 11), Dastan Earl Bueno (Boys Under 9), Jewelle Iris Anacio (Girls Under 7) and Jillianne Cait Keesha Micarsos (Girls Under 7) all carrying the Philippine flag and who hope to bring honor and prestige to our beloved nation.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offers shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM only.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on an “As-Is, Where-is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is, Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he/she wants to buy, as long as, he/she posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offers are only accepted through CASH basis payable within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS), without privilege of extension.

6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

Date of Bidding Name of the bidder Exact address of property you are interested to bid Transfer Certificate of Title No. Mode of Payment Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) Signature of the bidder/representative

7.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and must not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Offer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of a MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System.

9.

The following shall be inserted in a sealed bid envelope: A. ALL participating bidders must insert: a. properly accomplished BID FORM b. MANAGER’S CHECK payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer B. If the bidder is being represented by an authorized representative, a corresponding Special Power of Attorney (SPA) must also be included

A. He/she participated in actual bidding and B. Inserted the two (2) proofs of occupancy inside his/her bid envelope as indicated in Number 9 of these guidelines 12. If the occupant will exercise his/her Right to Match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she shall adjust his/her initial deposit based on the bid amount of the declared highest bidder. He/she must also pay the adjusted deposit on the day of bidding.

13. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within fourteen (14) calendar days of the actual bidding, the following documents: A. If the winning bidder is an individual, a. duly accomplished Personal Profile (with attached recent two (2) pieces of 2x2 ID pictures of the winning bidder) b. photocopies of two (2) valid IDs (at least one should be a government-issued ID) B. If the winning bidder is a corporate entity or partnership, a. duly accomplished Company/Corporate Profile b. Registration Certificate from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) c. Articles of Incorporation (if corporation), Articles of Partnership (if partnership), General Information Sheet, and By-Laws duly certified by the SEC d. Current Mayor’s Permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located C. If the winning bidder is a cooperative, a. duly accomplished Company/Corporate Profile b. Cooperative Development Authority Registration or any proof of such registration c. Current Mayor’s Permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located 14. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. The Bidder’s deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

15. The deposit equivalent to at least ten percent (10%) of the Bid Offer shall be paid on the day of bidding. The 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

16. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS will result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s total deposit.

17. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the said NOAS shall be deemed automatically revoked and the highest/winning bidder shall be informed in writing. The second highest bidder, if any, shall be informed in writing if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, he/she must remit the required non-refundable 10% deposit within three (3) working days after receipt of notice from GSIS. 18. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

19. For bidding inquiries, you may call the Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at trunk line numbers (02) 8479-3600, and (02) 7976-4900 local numbers 3228, 3374, and 3396.

C. If the bidder is the occupant of the subject property, two (2) proofs of occupancy must also be inserted. These are: a. Barangay certificate that the bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property; and b. Valid Government Issued ID with an address showing that the bidder is currently residing in the subject property, or the Latest Billing Statement under the Bidder’s Name that shows he/she is currently residing in the subject property.

10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope).

11. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided:

(MS-DEC 21, 22 & 23, 2019)

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

Harden’s 47 lift Rockets past Phoenix

Sports

NEW YORK, United States—NBA scoring leader James Harden, whose 38.5-point per game average is the only one ahead of Antetokounmpo’s 31.8-point average, poured in 47 points in Houston’s 139-125 victory at Phoenix on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).

Harden hit 15-of-27 shots from the floor, including 9-of-19 from 3-point range, and 8-of-9 free throws as well as contributing six rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets.

Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 10 assists while Clint Capela had 17 rebounds and 14 points for Houston.

Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered his third triple-double of the season and Khris Middleton scored a game-high 23 points to power the NBAleading Milwaukee Bucks over New York 123-102.

Greek star Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks, who improved their league-best Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives past Phoenix Suns rookie Ty Jerome during their game at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. AFP record to 26-4 with an eighth consecutive road victory.

Antetokounmpo made 8-of-10 shots from the floor, 2-of-4 from 3-point range and went 4-of-8 from the free throw line for the Bucks, who were coming off a Thursday triumph over the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’m not into stats,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m here to get the job done. Stats are going to be there if you are on the court and doing your best.

“The hard part is making your stats count. I just want to be on the court and help my team win.”

Kyle Korver had 17 points off the The decision to discontinue their bench as Milwaukee produced seven

By Peter Atencio bid to host the Palarong Pambansa double-figure scorers while the Knicks, came following a joint meeting of the who slid to 7-23, were led by Julius RanCCIDENTAL Mindoro was supposed to host the 2020 Provincial Peace and Order Council dle’s 20 points.

Palarong Pambansa, but local government officials have (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard scored 26 given way to Marikina.

Council (PADAC), at PDRRMC, on points, passed out nine assists, pulled Dec. 18. down seven rebounds and made four Local government officials said steals to power the Los Angeles Clippers Because of damage caused by Ty- ment said funds for hosting the event damage was incurred in the agriculture to a 134-109 victory at San Antonio. phoon Tisoy two weeks ago, Occidental were instead allocated to the victims of and fishery sector.

The Clippers improved to 22-9 and Mindoro begged off, paving the way for the typhoon.

Department of Education (DepEd) remained hot on the heels of the Lakers Marikina to serve as the new host of the This would have been the first time Secretary Leonor Briones met with in the West. annual scholastics sports meet. for the province to host a Palaro. provincial officials over their decision.

Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson This according to a memorandum reEscobedo tasked the Division of In the last Palaro, Southern Tagaeach scored 21 points to lead six doubleleased by the Department of Education Marikina City to submit a list of poslog had a 51-42-67 gold-silver bronze figure Philadelphia scorers as the 76ers (DepEd), Undersecretary Atty. Revsee sible sporting venues and billeting areas haul. Western Visayas was third (46ripped Washington 125-108.

Escobedo, who is Palarong Pambansa’s for the delegates.

25-47). Socsargen and Bicol Region Cameroonian Embiid grabbed a Secretary-General.

Marikina last hosted the Palaro in its were in fourth and fifth. game-high 13 rebounds while Australian Damage reportedly amounting to 1980 edition, which was then known as Thirteen-year-old Alexi Cabayaran guard Ben Simmons had 14 points, 11 more than P800 million was incurred the Palarong Bagong Lipunan. got the most medals with Xiandi Chua, assists and eight rebounds for the Sixers The National Capital Region will be by the Occidental Mindoro from Tyin the elementary girls division with (21-10) and Bradley Beal had 36 points seeking its 16th overall championship phoon Tisoy. five golds, a silver and a bronze. in a losing cause.

Officials from the provincial govern- crown.

Marikina to host 2020 Palarong Pambansa O

Charlo stops Harrison to reclaim super welterweight title

Jermell Charlo (right) keeps Tony Harrison at bay during their WBC World Super Welterweight Championship at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States—Jermell Charlo stopped Tony Harrison in the 11th round to reclaim the World Boxing Council super welterweight title on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) in a championship rematch in suburban Los Angeles.

Charlo knocked down Harrison in the second round and twice more in the 11th before referee Jack Reiss stopped the bout two minutes and 28 seconds into the 11th of 12 scheduled rounds in Ontario, California.

Charlo improved to 33-1 with his 17th victory inside the distance while Harrison fell to 28-3.

The showdown of 29-year-old Americans was the first fight for Harrison since he took a unanimous decision over Charlo last December in New York, the only loss of Charlo’s career.

“I got that belt back,” Charlo said. “I waited until the 11th but I didn’t leave it up to the judges.”

Charlo was leading on the scorecards of two of the three judges in the 11th when he landed a left hook on the champion’s chin,

staggering Harrison, who wobbled backwards into the ropes and onto his rear.

Charlo landed five punches in a row, a left hook and solid right, sending down Harrison again. Charlo climbed the far ropes to celebrate but Harrison rose and Reiss let him continue.

“I thought it was over,” Charlo said. “I’m not the referee. He come to fight. He did what he had to do. He had a lot of pressure on him.”

Once fighting resumed, Charlo landed another five punches while wobbly Harrison could only cover up, prompting Reiss to end it.

“I ain’t going to question whatever he saw,” Harrison said. “I started getting a little lax. I got caught between hooks. No excuses. He earned it. I got caught slipping in between. Don’t trade your offense for defense.”

Harrison wants a third fight between the rivals to settle who is best.

“I would love to do it one more time,” Harrison said. “I feel like I let (my hometown of Detroit) down. I think I let me down. It’s 1-1.

Hopefully we do it again.” AFP

PSL brings back foreign teams thru Super Cup PHILIPPINE Superliga (PSL) will be bringing back the Super Cup following its successful staging this year.

PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico yesterday said the Super Cup served its purpose of raising the level of play of local players so they are bringing it back before the league wraps up its season in December next year.

Based on the league calendar, the annual PSL Fans Day will kick off the season in the first week of February followed by the import-flavored Grand Prix, which will run until June.

Then, the PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup will be held late June followed by the first-ever PSL All-Star Weekend.

The All-Filipino Conference is set from July to October before the season-ending Super Cup in the first week of December.

Juico said the league is getting bigger and stronger than ever as star players like Aby Maraño, Rachel Anne Daquis, Mika Reyes, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat getting more exposure in the international play.

And the Super Cup aims to further hone their skills.

“Based on our proposed format of the Super Cup, the top three teams will face a guest team in a Grand Prix-style tournament,” said Juico, the former Philippine Sports Commission chairman who also heads the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

“We are raising the level of plays of local players by pitting them against quality teams from abroad. This is our contribution to the improvement of volleyball in the country.”

This year, the Super Cup was a massive success.

TNT, Meralco chase final spot in PBA championship

By Jeric Lopez THERE can only be one.

It’s winner take all when TNT KaTropa and Meralco Bolts clash one last time in the decider of their semifinals clash for the last berth in the finals of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. With the best-of-five series tied at 2-2, it now boils down to the deciding Game 5 at 7 p.m. tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City as the Tropang Texters and Bolts both want to advance to the big stage.

Barangay Ginebra is already in the finals and is awaiting its dance partner for the best-of-seven championship showdown.

“We’re facing another do-or-die situation and we need to stay focused and disciplined, especially on our defense,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

“That will be key for us.”

With its back against the wall, Meralco showed its survival skills by forcing the sudden death Game 5 after equalizing with a Game 4 victory.

The Bolts took Game 4 convincingly, 95-83, Saturday night to make sure their season continues.

Allen Durham and Baser Amer were at the forefront of Meralco’s triumph.

The former uncorked 36 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double while the former hit most of his 12 points in the crucial stretch.

TNT actually had a strong start but was unable to hold on down the stretch where Meralco took over.

The championship series starts on January 8.

BSU, CSB bets top PBA Press Corps sportswriting tilt BULACAN State University scored a 1-2 finish to emerge the biggest winner in the just revived PBA Press Corps sportswriting contest.

Justin Mhar B. De Jesus was declared champion of the one-day event held last Nov. 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, besting schoolmate Eriell G. Estrada for the top plum worth P10,000.

As runner-up, Estrada received P7,000.

Meanwhile, Kyle Janrey Bustos of College of St. Benilde was the winner of the special photo contest held as part of the meet’s 25th year anniversary celebration presented by the PBA, San Miguel Corp., NorthPort, and Sony Philippines. Bustos

received P10,000.

The formal announcement and awarding of winners were held at halftime of Game 4 of the Governors’ Cup semis series between Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort, with league commissioner Willie Marcial personally handing out the prizes and the corresponding certificates.

Placing third in the writing contest was Gillene Gustine C. Garcia of St. Dominic College of Asia, followed by Ron Jeric P. Faustino of Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School and Axell Swen A. Lumiguen of Polytechnic University of the Philippines at fourth and fifth places,

respectively.

Settling for runner-up honor in the photo contest was John Edward Gaspar of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School and Lucky Dela Rosa of University of the Philippines- Diliman.

The Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran, Tempo sports editor Rey Virgilio Lachica and Malaya assistant sports editor Noli Cortez served as judges in the writing contest. The photo tilt was judged by SPIN.ph and Sony Philippines ambassador Jerome Ascano, and award-winning and veteran lensmen August Dela Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Ernie Sarmiento of ESPN5.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and officers of the PBA Press Corps and PBA Press Photographers are shown with the winners of the revived PBAPC sportswriting tilt. Winners are from, 4th from left: Axell Swen Lumiguen, fifth place; Ron Jeric Faustino, fourth; Gillene Gustine Garcia, third; Eriell Estrada, second; and champion Justin Mhar De Jesus.

IN BRIEF Century completes 2,853 condo units CENTURY Properties Group Inc. said it completed a record 2,853 condominium units in 2019 as it expands its high-rise and affordable housing businesses.

Century said it was also bullish on its expansion into affordable housing through PHirst Park Homes and commercial leasing.

The company fully completed the ninth and final tower within the sixhectare Azure Urban Resort Residences in Parañaque City in November with the turnover of 846 units at the final tower— the Bahamas.

It completed all nine Azure towers comprising of 5,350 units with a total sales value of P26.2 billion, and with 98 percent of the inventory already sold out.

It also completed this year the Roxas West tower (500 units) at the 4.4-hectare The Residences at Commonwealth in Quezon City,with an additional 1,015 units expected for completion by the end of the year.

Century said the completion of the 492-units Acqua Iguazu YOO inspired

by Starck tower this year and the forthcoming opening of Novotel would mark the full delivery of the six-tower Acqua Private Residences masterplan in Mandaluyong City with a total of 3,168 residential units and a sales value of P18.4 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Google tweaks privacy measures, says NPC TECHNOLOGY giant Google updated its privacy measures, specifically on loaning apps, in response to numerous complaints filed by the Philippines Malaysia and Vietnam.

The National Privacy Commission said most of the loaning apps in mobile gadgets found their way online via Google play. Many of these app are engaged in financial scams.

“It’s a phenomenon that was heavily felt in the Philippines. There were reports that it (Google) has also received complaints from Malaysia and Vietnam.

That’s why in the recent ASEAN privacy forum, we summoned Google to also present these developments,” said NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro.

Google has instituted a new rule under Google Play, allowing an app that has a repayment period of 60 days.

Othel V. Campos

Business Govt starts subway clearing operations

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project formally began with the clearing works and fencing activities in parts of Valenzuela City and Quezon City representing the partial operability section of the P355-billion project.

The section of the subway includes the first stations in Valenzuela City and Quezon City, the line’s depot in Valenzuela City and buildings for the Philippine Railway Institute, the country’s first railway training center.

Dubbed as the “Project of the Century,” the underground rail line is expected to serve 370,000 passengers daily in its first year of full operations, and is targeted to be partially operable by 2021.

Once completed and fully operational, the Metro Manila Subway Project will have 15 stations, including a terminal station at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The Department of Transportation said the formal start of clearing operations at the subway’s Valenzuela depot is a part of agency’s efforts to muster

all factors needed to accomplish the underground railway project and deal with right-of-way acquisition issues.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade noted the progress in the rightof-way acquisitions both in terms of acquiring land from legal owners and relocation of informal settlers.

About 460 lots are required for the partial operability section of the subway. The department already issued 364 offers to buy those lots based on current market value appraised by Land Bank of the Philippines.

The agency said the owners of 285 lots of the 364 lots already accepted or were completing documentation requirements for selling their properties to the government, It said 178 out of 183 affected families were also resettled to a better and

safer location in Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela City with the support of the Valenzuela City government.

Following the official transfer of the properties from the landowners to the DOTR, contractors started the clearing and fencing of portions of the depot.

“With our funding in place, contractor signed-up, detailed designs completed, and right-of-way substantially acquired and under the strong willed leadership of our leader, Secretary Arthur Tugade, partial operability of the Duterte administration’s flagship Metro Manila Subway Project is on track to delivering its promise of a more comfortable life to every Filipino,” Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said.

The subway system will be financed via official development assistance from Japan, with an interest of 0.10 percent per annum, payable in 40 years, inclusive of a grace period of 12 years.

Japan International Cooperation Agency already signed a loan agreement with the Philippine government to provide a loan of up to 104.53 billion yen for the first phase of the project.

ADB: New Clark City a model PPP project NEW Clark City will provide a modern, livable space for more than one million people, easing pressure on Manila, the Asian Development Bank said in a video entitled How Public-Private Partnership Is Building A New Smart City in the Philippines.

The ADB noted that the New Clark City project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, as the country’s first smart, resilient and sustainable city, was developed under a public-private partnership program in the most transparent and aboveboard way.

ADB’s Office of the Public-Private Partnership provided transaction advisory services to BCDA on all financial, technical, and legal aspects of the project.

TRAIN law raised P91.3b in 1st three quarters, says DOF COMBINED revenues of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs from the implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law exceeded estimates in the first nine months, the Department of Finance said over the weekend.

Total revenues from TRAIN reached P91.3 billion from January to September, outperforming the target of P77.3 billion during the period, enabling the Duterte administration to allocate more funds for its aggressive spending on infrastructure and human capital development.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the actual total revenues surpassed the estimates by P14.1 billion, or 18.2 percent above the target.

He said that in terms of share to the full-year estimate, the revenue haul was about 80.8 percent of the projected P113.1 billion full-year tax collections.

Chua said when compared to the actual TRAIN revenues last year, this year’s nine-month haul surged 107 percent.

“This means we are now closer to completing the 2019 estimates, compared to where we were last year when we were trying to reach the 2018 estimates. This is definitely welcome news, especially for the infrastructure and human development objectives of TRAIN,” Chua said.

Both the BIR and the BOC outperformed the government’s estimated collections from TRAIN, as BIR’s TRAIN tax haul exceeded estimates

by P9.4 billion, while the BOC exceeded estimates by P4.7 billion.

Major gains in the first three quarters came from personal income tax, imported petroleum excise tax, sweetened beverage excise tax, tobacco excise tax and the documentary stamp tax whose total take showed an increase of P42.4 billion. Julito G. Rada

FOOD SHOW. Twelve Philippine companies bag $4.34 million (around P219 million) in sales from their participation in the SIAL Middle East at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Dubai on Dec. 9 to 11. Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the country’s delegation showcased food products across various segments that are certified as Halal in the Philippines. Shown are Ambassador to UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana (sixth from left), Trade Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman (seventh from left), officials from Philippine International Trading Corp., Export Marketing Bureau and CITEM, and executives from the participating Philippine companies.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

B1

Lucio Tan firm files notice to pursue floating LNG terminal

By Alena Mae S. Flores BATANGAS Clean Energy Inc., a company controlled by taipan Lucio Tan, applied for a notice to proceed with a liquefied natural gas project in Batangas province.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said the company’s application for the floating storage regassification unit in Batangas was under process.

“It’s a consortium. Their captive market [includes] JG Summit, Tanduay, Eton, Asia Brewery,” Marcos said.

“Their business model, or captive market, to assure viability [includes] Tanduay, Asia Brewery, Eton, JG Summit and others,” he said.

Gerry Tee, head of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, said in June that the planned LNG facility might be built at the group’s 38-hectare Batangas property. “[It is a] project of Lucio ‘Bong’ Tan Jr. and his dad to utilize the Pinamucan property in Batangas as a possible site for LNG project. We’ve been looking at our assets, and we saw this,” Tee said.

He said the power unit of the group was planning to team up with a foreign company for the LNG facility.

Tee said the Pinamucan property houses Himmel Industries Inc., a chemical trading company while a part of the property houses fuel jet tanks of Philippine Airlines. The property also has unutilized space.

He said Himmel Industries might be relocated to another site if the planned push through.

Tee said they were also looking at putting up power plants with a combined capacity of about 1,000 megawatts. “[Based on] initial data, we need around $1.5 billion for the power plant, regas and distribution. We are in the Initial stages of getting permits and to reconfigure the land to put up the equipment,” he said.

Tee said there was still room for growth in the emerging LNG space.

“We can compete. It’s a big pie. Our advantage is we own the land and it is near the substation and transmission lines. We know that Malampaya is depleting soon, so we want to take this opportunity to expand and utilize the land. It would be renewable and clean energy, but not in the magnitude of Aboitiz and Lopez, but we are going there. We are just looking for better partners,” he said.

Laguna section of CALAX expected to be fully operational this week MPCALA Holdings Inc., the tollway unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said it expects the Laguna section of the Cavite Laguna Expressway to become fully operational this week.

MPCALA Holdings president and general manager Roberto Bontia said the toll operating permit was expected to be issued by the Toll Regulatory Board by Monday as promised by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.

He said that once the permits were issued, the section would be fully operational and covered by MPCALA’s fulltime traffic management teams and 24/7 emergency roadside services.

Villa said the 10-kilometer section of the Cavite Laguna Expresswaybetween SLEX Mamplasan Interchange and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna would initially benefit about 10,000 motorists daily.

“I have requested the concession company, MPCALA Holdings to keep this section open and so that our holiday goers can continue to enjoy this shortcut from Manila to Tagaytay City. We all know that Tagaytay City is a traditional Christmas holiday destination of our kababayans and this is our way of making their family road trips as convenient as possible,” Villar said.

Partially open since Oct. 30, 2019, the

16% of companies plan to hire more in Q1

By Julito G. Rada ABOUT 16 percent of companies plan to hire more people in the first quarter of 2020, but the number is slightly lower than the previous quarter, according to the results of the latest Business Expectations Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The employment outlook for the first quarter of 2020 and the next 12 months remain positive, results of the fourth-quarter survey showed.

The employment index in the first quarter and the next 12 months stood at 16.6 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively, lower than the third-quarter survey results of 19.6 percent and 35.8 percent, respectively.

“This suggests that more firms will

continue to hire new employees, although the number that said so are lower compared to the third-quarter 2019 survey results,” the BSP said.

“The decline in the employment outlook index for both periods stemmed from the moderation of employment prospects in the industry and wholesale and retail trade sectors,” it said.

The percentage of businesses with expansion plans for the first quarter 2020 was also lower at 29.2 percent from the third-quarter survey results at 30.4 percent, but higher for the next 12 months at 38.1 percent from the Q3 survey results at 37.9 percent.

The average capacity utilization in the industry and construction sectors for the fourth quarter was lower at 75.1 percent from 76.1 percent in the third quarter 2019.

expressway section already benefited thousands of daily commuters who are able to bypass the traffic choked Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa road.

Villar said no toll would be collected for this section until February 2020.

The rest of the 45-kilometer CALAX is currently under construction.

Once completed, the 2x2 lane expressway will provide a high speed alternate route between Cavite Expressway in Kawit, Cavite to South Luzon Expressway at Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. CALAX will have eight interchanges in Kawit, Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Silang, Silang

East, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd. and Laguna Technopark.

“The CALAX showcases advanced tolling technology and features the new automatic license plate recognition system that, for the first time, enables motorists to enjoy barrier-free entry into the expressway system and eliminates queuing at both entry/exit points,” Bontia said.

Bontia said the traffic management system would feature strategically installed (IP Based) speed detection cameras and high-definition CCTV system to ensure motorist safety and quick emergency road side services.

Darwin G. Amojelar

TAX TALK. Insular Life hosts a learning session called ‘Tax Talk’ for companies wanting to know more about the expected tax reforms in 2020, and how these will impact their business operations. InLife first vice president and corporate sales head Carlito Lucas (left) awards a certificate of appreciation to Cherry Liez RafalRoble (center), SGV tax partner and main speaker of Tax Talk.

With them is Karen Kaye Sta. MariaConstantino, who addressed questions from the audience during session at InLife Makati Ballroom on Dec. 10.

B2

Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market likely to trade flat S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TOCKS are expected to trade sideways with a downward bias during this shortened trading week as investors continue to lighten up on their positions amid current volatile market conditions.

Papa Securities trader Gabriel Jose Perez noted that the market seemed to be contented in maintaining the 7,700-point level support, with index able to go back to this level despite recent declines.

Analysts, however, saw a possibility that the index could bounce back to 7,900 points on bargain hunting as the local shares have been battered in the past trading sessions.

The market’s recent decline will also lure investors to take position on stocks that are expected to sustain growth for 2020.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week fell 1.3 percent to

close at 7,773.12 on volatile trading. The broader All Shares Index declined 1.4 percent to 4,598.83.

Four of the six sectoral indices ended in the red led by industrial, which declined 3.6 percent, financials which dropped 3.2 percent, property which lost 1.3 percent and financial which slipped 0.4 percent.

Mining and oil rose by 0.9 percent while services advanced 1.5 percent.

Foreign investor were net sellers for the week by P5.8 billion, while the average daily value traded accelerated to P10 billion from the previous week’s P5.6 billion on heavy foreign selling.

Weekly top price gainers included DMIC Holdings Inc., which jumped 15 percent to P6.38, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which climbed 8.3 percent to P3.26, and San Miguel Corp., which rose 3.3 percent to P158.

Weekly top price losers were Manila Water Co. Inc., which slumped 25.7 percent to P7.44, First Gen Corp., which dropped 10 percent to P22.90 and Manila Electric Co., which fell 10 percent to P286.

Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, streaked to fresh records on Friday, propelled by continued positive sentiment on trade and solid US economic data.

Stock markets elsewhere were mixed, while the dollar gained and oil prices slipped on profit taking after six straight gains.

“Once you get to a new high, it doesn’t take much to get to another one,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities, who described investors as “content.”

“Tariffs are probably peaked out and

we’ll probably see fewer tariffs in 2020,” Hogan said, citing last week’s US-China announcement that called off new tariffs.

Investors are also more confident than earlier in the year that the United States will avert a recession following a stream of mostly solid economic data.

Official figures released Friday confirmed third-quarter US growth at 2.1 percent.

Meanwhile, the dollar, which has retreated somewhat in recent months, advanced against major currencies, bolstered by strong US personal income and consumer confidence data, as well as the stock market records.

Still, BK Asset Management’s Kathy Lien warned the greenback could be vulnerable.

“The US economy is not improving as fast as everyone hopes, the central bank has no plans to tighten, although the chance of further easing is slim as well,” Lien said. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

DECEMBER 16-20, 2019 Close Volume

Value

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

53.5 155.40 87.00 2.09 0.85 24.85 7.95 18.1 12.24 4.08 7.01 0.6 1.15 849.00 0.370 68 0.77 12.7 20.50 34.50 57.05 114 173 22.6 183 1800.00 58.40 1.08

4,750 12,910,030 19,289,910 310,000 444,000 477,800 200 9,900 3,946,700 252,000 22,700 4,000 49,000 730 440,000 20,780,440 178,000 451,500 502,100 1,193,500 37,880 150 18,720 375,000 4,964,910 635 86,610 153,000

FINANCIAL 255,379.50 2,014,091,467.00 1,625,021,649.00 596,290.00 402,200.00 11,883,440.00 1,411.00 179,322.00 48,759,814.00 980,480.00 159,127.00 2,260.00 57,310.00 612,110.00 165,350.00 1,354,071,840.50 137,490.00 5,730,972.00 10,293,050.00 41,946,965.00 2,162,408.50 16,853.00 3,235,759.00 8,627,635.00 936,553,178.00 1,159,495.00 5,012,416.00 165,190.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

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

Axelum Basic Energy Corp.

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

34.05 2.31 13.3 0.54 1.22 2.54 0.239 17.52 1.97 15.5 162.5 3.82 64.5 66.55 28 2.19 5 5 9.300 14.06 9.72 7.20 1.61 22.9 66.95 1.07 40.00 1.9300 13.88 7.9 1.290 213.00 41.55 4.6 3.1 6.75 7.44 12.1 16.5 0.153 286.20 5.49 1.91 3.80 3.87 9.97 11.50 33.3 5 5.27 2.14 1.8 0.89 9.9 85.5 8.2 0.115 1.00 144 2.57 1.12 15.14 0.89

10,119,200 16,895,000 1,782,800 1,723,000 578,000 13,838,000 7,540,000 111,500 14,212,000 4,723,200 1,670 969,000 2,800 5,070 158,300 22,207,000 100 99,900 19,347,600 761,700 1,855,900 2,761,700 10,000 5,119,600 431,430 73,740,000 1,006,600 32,937,000 584,800 1,933,200 328,000 5,096,240 900 67,000 4,000 122,700 356,509,200 2,621,000 3,066,600 980,000 2,079,040 121,800 34,079,000 45,000 10,975,000 172,300 296,700 1,294,400 8,419,900 71,400 9,897,000 103,000 298,000 2,397,300 494,190 934,300 730,000 575,000 5,620,860 4,000 4,728,000 11,100 5,391,000

INDUSTRIAL 336,267,000.00 37,830,260.00 23,981,826.00 918,510.00 709,260.00 35,985,370.00 1,804,230.00 1,987,400.00 28,402,020.00 72,558,576.00 275,855.00 3,807,910.00 185,844.50 357,484.50 4,446,725.00 46,356,900.00 500.00 499,182.00 179,722,561.00 10,863,662.00 17,953,128.00 19,815,119.00 16,020.00 102,407,240.00 29,221,424.50 80,205,310.00 40,275,390.00 64,106,420.00 8,075,246.00 14,872,681.00 422,320.00 823,823,554.00 37,395.00 312,240.00 12,870.00 800,274.00 2,439,693,429.00 31,517,850.00 51,297,652.00 150,200.00 623,893,956.00 598,708.00 65,032,530.00 174,700.00 44,341,010.00 1,700,540.00 3,387,310.00 43,123,435.00 42,098,351.00 370,092.00 21,087,490.00 188,150.00 256,200.00 23,982,339.00 42,558,548.00 7,244,879.00 83,880.00 571,470.00 806,614,834.00 10,150.00 5,317,090.00 171,778.00 4,806,250.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.820 51.55 11.50 0.71 6.42 10.76 0.930 0.930 779.5 2.980 6.65 6.38 4.24 3.61 13.20 0.213 839 5.26 80.10 5.96 5.2 5.22 0.5 3.73 12 0.560 3.26 2.6 4.3000 1.220 2.80 158.00 2.21 1065.00 1.22 0.80 214.000 175.00 0.2020 0.209

58,571,000 7,306,870 107,088,300 1,185,000 66,100 50,800 3,255,000 485,000 3,962,330 4,277,000 16,842,700 102,641,200 1,000 1,000 405,400 260,000 711,560 10,036,900 14,627,700 221,800 100 207,500 56,000 2,471,000 19,147,500 602,000 496,734,000 11,000 142,000 2,238,000 264,000 861,180 1,000 3,229,500 402,000 119,000 44,980 9,590 8,950,000 1,010,000

HOLDING FIRMS 46,221,600.00 370,959,338.00 1,218,404,992.00 806,480.00 422,190.00 557,002.00 2,984,080.00 453,770.00 3,005,084,055.00 12,934,570.00 112,776,873.00 509,315,331.00 4,240.00 3,610.00 5,378,972.00 55,530.00 588,820,360.00 54,241,925.00 1,150,859,862.50 1,211,354.00 520.00 1,215,134.00 27,290.00 9,309,690.00 226,270,988.00 341,380.00 1,601,349,480.00 28,600.00 602,260.00 2,689,390.00 765,220.00 132,750,127.00 2,210.00 3,390,053,780.00 490,600.00 91,510.00 9,599,916.00 1,676,604.00 1,834,910.00 194,350.00

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 Phil. Estates Corp.

14.760 0.70 8.82 1.300 0.800 46.000 1.97 4.73 6.47 0.560 0.76 0.870 0.178 0.385 9.960 19.08 0.410 0.100 1.50 1.20 4.00 4 0.190 1.2700 0.4300

2,331,000 2,833,000 100 980,000 13,203,000 66,655,600 1,876,000 2,223,000 125,900 92,944,000 137,000 290,000 6,740,000 1,364,800 802,600 1,644,800 2,000,000 5,980,000 51,082,000 754,000 31,000 150,384,000 56,270,000 4,660,000 1,200,000

PROPERTY 34,463,720.00 1,971,270.00 882.00 1,314,700.00 10,638,260.00 3,057,120,505.00 3,728,290.00 10,461,220.00 813,037.00 51,372,670.00 101,460.00 239,490.00 1,203,240.00 507,000.00 7,975,071.00 31,520,132.00 826,150.00 619,500.00 76,060,650.00 875,660.00 124,110.00 611,334,120.00 11,344,730.00 5,811,670.00 493,000.00

DECEMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume Value 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

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

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

34.45 2.32 13.6 0.56 1.25 2.85 0.231 19.00 2.13 15.24 170 4.22 69 72.4 28.1 2.06

3,760,100 18,150,000 1,509,000 2,893,000 139,000 18,495,000 1,920,000 207,800 4,229,000 21,867,600 3,490 1,631,900 19,700 33,030 67,200 1,612,000

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 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

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 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

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 11,212,000 216,400 495,300 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

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 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

0.750 52.40 11.16 0.71 6.72 11.5 0.950 0.970 782 3.080 6.7 5.55 3.8

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 5,192,500 163,773,100 20,000

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 35,000,862.00 904,834,804.00 76,030.00

13.26

224,300

2,955,664.00

895 5.30 81.90 5 5.69

333,520 452,800 8,410,790 61,400 5,100

296,797,785.00 2,407,690.00 678,135,689.50 105,765.00 26,879.00

0.5 3.78 11.9 0.570 3.01

79,000 946,000 7,444,600 215,000 490,275,896

38,540.00 3,583,670.00 87,456,298.00 120,680.00 2,312,523,740.00

5.0500 1.370 2.99 153.00

563,100 1,196,000 151,000 780,460

2,881,837.00 1,631,390.00 446,010.00 120,848,422.00

1069.00 1.25 0.81 210.800 202.00 0.2130 0.209

1,799,690 11,315,000 454,000 4,680 63,210 1,570,000 2,100,000

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

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 0.4600

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 3,430,000

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 1,516,200.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 16-20, 2019 Close Volume

DECEMBER 9-13, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

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

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

0.300 45.00 2.07 27.50 2.09 3.1 41.45 2.48 1.170 7.300 5.480

1,830,000 1,000 3,089,000 12,292,700 435,000 316,000 62,606,700 1,607,000 45,711,000 17,430,800 462,100

579,100.00 45,000.00 6,317,410.00 331,372,955.00 914,910.00 994,950.00 2,543,426,210.00 3,893,330.00 51,313,830.00 127,771,261.00 2,504,542.00

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 Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

9.42 15.82 1.49 11.48 0.390 0.042 18 4.5 11.26 90.4 6.9 4.9 5.50 1.9 7.78 890.5 2016 5.25 436.00 10.54 1.03 130 1.66 8.5 6.20 0.097 2.9000 1.89 13.5 2.42 0.84 16.52 0.370 3.35 2.08 0.99 1.00 2.340 2.49 7.30 4 5.00 7.6 148.00 2.43 1000.00 0.320 0.570 39.95 75.00 8.76 2.68 0.630 0.275 0.600 17.840

58,100 783,500 380,000 9,261,500 10,230,000 12,000,000 116,900 10,654,000 17,060,900 368,150 2,800 2,469,700 302,700 20,000 83,600 450 335,345 349,400 1,490 15,300 8,508,000 18,057,840 7,000 55,300 91,200 5,450,000 15,728,000 159,000 43,800 2,508,000 982,000 3,574,700 1,720,000 177,000 3,104,000 38,000 71,000 9,492,000 161,000 90,600 1,000 22,700 47,900 683,760 3,003,000 847,620 57,760,000 6,942,000 6,245,000 1,746,810 252,300 7,055,000 11,955,000 10,350,000 7,427,000 10,153,200

SERVICES 560,899.00 12,539,424.00 536,000.00 106,186,610.00 4,142,050.00 504,000.00 2,119,330.00 44,221,810.00 187,217,980.00 33,664,493.50 19,320.00 12,141,266.00 1,575,905.00 38,920.00 662,723.00 400,740.00 672,956,970.00 1,832,886.00 646,714.00 161,056.00 9,067,520.00 2,354,351,423.00 11,620.00 466,215.00 559,200.00 527,860.00 47,772,830.00 315,910.00 591,224.00 6,290,080.00 871,430.00 60,786,488.00 658,650.00 596,130.00 6,558,680.00 27,520.00 71,530.00 23,087,910.00 399,190.00 670,145.00 2,690.00 111,972.00 366,927.00 92,308,859.00 7,403,970.00 844,387,725.00 19,708,300.00 3,975,320.00 249,014,830.00 127,906,063.00 2,245,566.00 18,404,970.00 7,235,110.00 2,809,500.00 4,347,490.00 185,301,108.00

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ 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 0.90 2.41 10.92 1.0300 2.67 0.270 6.91 1.700 0.204 0.092 0.101 0.0072 0.0080 0.85 2.96 1 0.4200 0.7500 0.0110 0.0120 2.65 8.14 0.0100 7.2000 21.55 0.0053

MINING & OIL 530,000,000 793,100.00 5,242,000 4,801,230.00 201,000 486,130.00 3,000 30,946.00 44,000 47,180.00 4,293,000 11,503,360.00 250,000 116,400.00 1,164,700 8,042,648.00 65,528,000 108,114,380.00 1,080,000 216,280.00 3,880,000 359,590.00 870,000 85,170.00 146,000,000 1,155,600.00 18,000,000 141,400.00 1,723,000 1,461,740.00 19,510,000 57,662,780.00 766,000 740,640.00 840,000 355,900.00 468,000 346,720.00 324,400,000 3,588,400.00 2,452,900,000 27,633,800.00 3,319,000 9,215,590.00 2,088,900 17,563,489.00 136,100,000 1,491,200.00 1,230,000 8,460,119.00 7,408,400 156,666,690.00 11,000,000 58,600.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

14.7 101.3 501 505 101 107.9 508 5.06 995 990 99.8 1 101 1049 1050 1057 102.3 109 1030 997 77.8 75.2 74 75.55 75.2 75 75.2 1.36

689,500 140 3,000 18,000 51,590 1,580 4,210 66,700 200 8,510 23,020 565,000 4,290 45 17,305 6,965 290 350 5,060 2,330 52,850 12,800 62,030 101,250 1,330 42,510 62,010 1,000

LR Warrant

1.200

64,000

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.48 3.59 9.8 0.77

219,000 2,138,000 1,432,400 11,157,000

First Metro ETF

116.6 10.28 10.28 0.96

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

0.330 45.00 2.02 26.80 2.14 3.24 41.80 2.46 1.120 7.100 5.480

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

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

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

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

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

1.18 126 1.66 8.19 6.00 0.100 3.3500

3,853,000 10,323,090 1,000 19,900 19,700 7,010,000 30,049,000

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

13.5 2.71 0.89 17.20 0.385 3.39 2.11 0.99 1.03 2.620 2.5 8.00

10,600 1,363,000 127,000 1,105,400 990,000 129,000 4,460,000 69,000 18,000 21,970,000 251,000 38,500

142,120.00 3,666,920.00 113,450.00 18,754,152.00 384,500.00 437,200.00 9,424,890.00 69,250.00 18,540.00 60,460,900.00 633,240.00 289,426.00

5.45

24,500

116,812.00

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

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

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

0.0015 0.95 2.42 10.96

67,000,000 4,926,000 488,000 25,200

100,500.00 4,865,410.00 1,201,980.00 258,704.00

2.7 0.270 7.11 1.590 0.207 0.095 0.086 0.0082

6,449,000 1,280,000 1,479,200 12,124,000 1,890,000 9,280,000 850,000 28,000,000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.4 4.12 9.9 0.85

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

199,360.00 8,618,230.00 16,913,815.00 5,075,940.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 84,800 9,774,737.00

118.1

32,600

3,806,756.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 29,130 296,261.20 13,380 135,554.40 20,100 19,096.00

10.28 10 0.92

25,550 16,370 30,900

262,937.80 165,833.00 28,504.00

PREFERRED 10,414,754.00 14,402.00 1,503,000.00 9,090,000.00 5,194,951.00 170,874.00 2,136,590.00 344,161.00 199,000.00 8,509,500.00 2,263,731.00 565,390.00 428,390.00 46,860.00 17,986,130.00 7,361,220.00 29,497.00 38,125.00 5,208,955.00 2,324,510.00 4,116,628.50 962,250.00 4,665,248.50 7,652,552.00 100,016.00 3,167,410.00 4,739,582.50 1,360.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 77,850.00 SME 536,270.00 8,044,700.00 13,678,097.00 8,871,880.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `B’ Abra Mining Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Manila Water Co. Inc. Oriental Pet. `A’ Megaworld Manila Mining `A’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Alliance Global Inc. DMCI Holdings

VOLUME 2,452,900,000 530,000,000 496,734,000 356,509,200 324,400,000 150,384,000 146,000,000 136,100,000 107,088,300 102,641,200

STOCKS SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ SM Prime Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Metrobank

VALUE 3,390,053,780.00 3,057,120,505.00 3,005,084,055.00 2,543,426,210.00 2,439,693,429.00 2,354,351,423.00 2,014,091,467.00 1,625,021,649.00 1,601,349,480.00 1,354,071,840.50

SEC clears higher capital base of P23b for Suntrust

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved an increase in the authorized capital stock of Suntrust Home Developers Inc. to P23 billion from P3 billion, paving the way for the entry of Hong Kong’s Suncity Group Holdings Ltd. into the company.

Suntrust said in a disclosure to the stock exchange over the weekend shareholders also approved the proposed amendments to the corporation’s primary and secondary purposes to allow it to focus on tourism-related businesses.

Of the P20-billion net increase in the company’s capital stock, 25 percent or P5 billion will be subscribed by Suncity’s subsidiary Fortune Noble Ltd. Suncity after the transaction will have a 51-percent stake in the company, while the ownership of Megaworld Corp., Suntrust’s parent, will be reduced to 34 percent from 42.48 percent.

Suntrust in October entered into an agreement to develop Westside City, a 31-hectare integrated resort and casino in Entertainment City of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in Parañaque.

Suntrust plans to lease the project site “for development of the main hotel casino and Westside is to appoint Suntrust as the sole and exclusive operator and manager of the main hotel casino.”

The lease will cover a period of 20 years at the annual rental of $10.6 million starting from the date of handover to Suntrust and automatically renewable for a further term of 25 years.

“Suntrust believes that the tourism sector, which has seen significant growth in the recent years, will continue to show sustainable growth and attract more investments. Suntrust is also optimistic that with the support of its shareholders, it will be able to drive more growth for the company and contribute to the tourism industry,” Suntrust earlier said.

Westside will be the fourth resort and casino development to rise in Entertainment City. he first three are Solaire Resorts & Casino of Razon-owned Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which opened in March 2013, City of Dream Manila of Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. which started in Decemner 2014, and Manila Bay Resorts of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, which wss launched in 2016.

Synergy Grid’s shareholders okay share swap deal

By Alena Mae S. Flores SHAREHOLDERS of listed Synergy Grid & Development Philippines Inc. approved a share swap with businessmen Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr., the major shareholders of National Grid of the Corp. of the Philippines.

Synergy Grid director and corporate secretary Vicente Gerochi IV said the company would now seek the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Now that we have shareholders’ approval, the first thing we need to do now is to get clearance of PCC because we cannot proceed without the clearance of PCC. We plan to do that immediately, the start of new year,” Gerochi told reporters at the sidelines of annual stockholders’ meeting Friday.

“Once we get that approval, then we can file with the SEC to amend the articles to increase the capital because that is necessary for the share swap,” he said.

Synergy Grid will own 40.2 percent of NGCP, the country’s transmission operator, once the transaction is completed, according to director and corporate secretary Vicente Gerochi IV. Sy and Coyiuto are also majority shareholders of Synergy Grid.

An information statement earlier filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange showed Synergy Grid would increase its capital stock to P5.05 billion, divided into 5.05 billion common shares, in order to swap a 67-percent stake in One Taipan, which is owned by Sy and Pacifica21 of Coyiuto.

One Taipan owns controlling shares in Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., which holds 30 percent plus one share in NGCP, while Pacifica21 has controlling shares in Calaca High Power Corp., which in turn owns 30 percent minus one share in NGCP. The State Grid Corp. of China holds 40 percent of NGCP. “After the share swap, SGP will not own 100% of One Taipan and P21, only 67 percent each. If we compute, that’s 40.2 percent effective shareholding interest (in NGCP),” Gerochi said.

World

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

Moscow asks where winter has come

IN BRIEF No Christmas mass at Notre Dame PARIS―Notre-Dame cathedral will fail to hold a Christmas mass for the first time since 1803, French officials confirmed on Saturday, as workers continue to repair and rebuild the Paris landmark eight months after a devastating fire.

The cathedral’s press office said midnight mass would still be celebrated on Christmas Eve by rector Patrick Chauvet but it would be held at the nearby church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois.

Notre-Dame, part of a UNESCO world heritage site on the banks of the River Seine, was ravaged by the April 15 blaze―losing its gothic spire, roof and many precious artifacts.

The building had remained open for Christmas through two centuries of often tumultuous history―including the Nazi occupation in World War II―being forced to close only during the antiCatholic revolutionary period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

President Emmanuel Macron has set a timetable of five years to completely repair the eight-centuries-old structure, which remains shrouded in scaffolding with a vast crane looming over it.

Paris prosecutors suspect criminal negligence and opened an investigation in June, suggesting a stray cigarette butt or an electrical fault could be the culprit.

The culture ministry said in October that nearly one billion euros ($1.1 billion) had been pledged or raised for the reconstruction. AFP

Kim discusses boosting military SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed strengthening his country’s military capability with top military officials, state media reported Sunday, with Pyongyang’s end-of-year deadline for the US to offer concessions approaching.

The North promised an ominous “Christmas gift” earlier this month if Washington does not give ground by the end of December. The denuclearization process has been largely deadlocked since the collapse of a summit in Hanoi at the start of the year.

Pyongyang has carried out a series of static tests at its Sohae rocket facility this month after a number of weapons launches in recent weeks―some of them described as ballistic missiles by Japan and others.

North Korea is banned from carrying out such tests under UN sanctions.

Kim held an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, for which he serves as chairman.

There, he “gave analysis and briefing on the complicated internal and external situation... to bolster up the overall armed forces of the country,” the North’s official KCNA news agency reported.

“Referring to merits and demerits in the recent work of the People’s Army and matters to be rapidly overcome”, KCNA said, “the Supreme Leader indicated in detail the direction and ways to be maintained” to boost the armed forces.

“Important issues for decisive improvement of the overall national defense and core matters for the sustained and accelerated development of military capability for self-defense,” were also discussed, it added.

The report came a day after the nuclear-armed state warned Washington it would “pay dearly” over criticism of its human rights record by a US state department official. AFP

Cuba gets first prime minister HAVANA-Cuba’s first prime minister in more than four decades―long-serving tourism minister Manuel Marrero―took office Saturday as the country resurrected a post last held by Fidel Castro.

The appointment of Marrero, 56, as head of government is part of a process of decentralization and generational change from the revolutionary old guard that is aimed at extending and protecting the rule of the Communist Party on the island.

“This proposal was duly approved by the political bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba,” President Miguel DiazCanel said, presenting it to the country’s National Assembly, which unanimously signed off.

Immediately after his presentation, Marrero received a handshake from former president Raul Castro, the leader of the Communist Party.

Marrero served as tourism minister from 2004, late in revolutionary hero Castro’s administration, continuing in the post under Fidel’s brother Raul and the current president, Diaz-Canel.

He began his career in government in 1999 as vice president of the powerful Gaviota Hotel Group belonging to the armed forces, becoming its president a year later -- a post he held until 2004.

“Throughout his career... [Marrero] has been characterized by his modesty, honesty, work capacity, political sensitivity and loyalty to the party and the revolution,” Diaz-Canel said.

The new premier “has led the tourism industry in a commendable fashion, which constitutes one of the main lines of development of the national economy,” he added. AFP

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MASS WEDDING. Brides and grooms arrive to participate in a mass wedding ceremony in Surat on December 21. AFP

Australian PM visits beleaguered firemen

S

YDNEY―Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited firefighters battling Australia’s bush fire crisis on Sunday as he apologized for a Hawaiian holiday that ended early after public outrage.

Morrison toured the headquarters of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service―whose exhausted volunteers have been struggling to contain deadly, outof-control-blazes for months on end― where he admitted he had erred in traveling overseas.

Morrison had departed for a family holiday amid record bush fires that have destroyed an area the size of Belgium and cloaked major cities from Brisbane to Sydney to Canberra to Melbourne in choking toxic fumes.

“I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress,” he said.

“If you had your time over again and the benefit of hindsight we would have made different decisions.”

News of his holiday prompted street protests and widespread criticism on social media, with Australians deploying the hashtag #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYa?

“I apologize,” he said. “There have been lessons learned this week,” adding that he believed it was time to move on from the controversy.

“I’m sure Australians are fair-minded and understand that when you make a promise to your kids, you try and keep it,” the conservative leader said by way of explanation.

The embattled prime minister again acknowledged some link between climate change and weather patterns that scientists say has fueled the fire crisis, but he indicated there would be no change in pro-coal policies.

Morrison also praised volunteer firefighters, who in the last 24 hours have faced catastrophic conditions brought by a record heatwave, gale-force winds and prolonged drought.

Australia’s firefighting force is overwhelmingly made up of volunteers who have been strained by the intensity and the length of this year’s fire season.

Conditions eased markedly on Sun-

day, giving them time to try to contain massive blazes near Sydney that are only likely to be extinguished with heavy rainfall.

Large scale back-burning is planned over the next few days before conditions are expected to worsen again in a week’s time.

Rain is expected in some fire-hit areas of New South Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday, a welcome Christmas gift for many.

But firefighters are still measuring the toll of Saturday’s destruction.

“We’ve seen widespread damage and destruction being reported across a number of these fire grounds,” said New South Wales Rural Fire Services boss Shane Fitzsimmons, who earlier described Saturday as “an awful day”.

“The devastation is shocking,” said New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian. “We have got the devastating news that there’s not much left in the town of Balmoral.”

The state of South Australia has also been hit hard. Two people died in fires there over the past two days, and dozens of firefighters and residents have been treated for injuries and smoke inhalation. AFP

Do you have a user-friendly vendor ‘menu’ in your organization?

KARLA JAYNE A. RIVERA

Green LiGht

By Karla Jayne A. Rivera IMAGINE ordering food from a restaurant that does not have a menu. It’s difficult, right? You don’t know what it offers, and will end up ordering the same thing not knowing that other choices are available. In order to know the restaurant’s full offerings, you could ask the waiter what food choices are available. He can verbally recite a long list of food and drink items that you might not even remember. It is likely that you might not know what you want at the end of it.

I work in supply chain department and specifically in the procurement group of one of the biggest quickservice restaurants globally. In procurement, we “shop” for several items and services strategically.

In each requirement, more than ensuring we get the lowest total cost of ownership, we undertake vendor management to ensure that we build better relationships with our partners, and consequently shop more efficiently. We partner with reputable suppliers through an accreditation process.

In each “shopping” requirement, our team can search and ask suppliers if they have a certain item that we need, but enquiring from multiple suppliers could take up a lot of time and effort. Also, we might be limiting our selves to the frequent suppliers we use, even if we have an extensive list of accredited suppliers.

What if we had a “menu” containing a list of suppliers and the products and services that they offer?

This “menu” could be a database, from which any employee of the company can search for an item that needs to be procured (ex. Laptop, aircon, IT hardware, creative agencies etc.). The menu would then filter the relevant suppliers that can offer the company’s specific requirement.

I worked with my team to develop a “menu” for our company which we call the “Vendor Master List.” Three concepts were vital in creating an effective vendor mas-

ter list. The first is usability. When a product is usable the user can effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily perform his or her intended activity. We had an existing vendor list, but it did not have the products and services each suppliers offer; hence, it was not usable. Our team identified the information that were vital to make the tool effective, efficient and satisfactory when being used.

Since we curated the information we want to be seen, we could have just easily provided access and use the tool but we formalized the use through training. In implementing any new products or tool, it is wrong to assume users can figure it out by themselves. Training is essential to properly communicate to users the objective and functionalities of the new tool or product so that users can optimize its use. Training could also lead to future improvements, as the users are given the voice to ask questions or provide suggestions. Providing access without proper training will not guarantee effective use of the vendor master list.

Our experience proved that a business tool or technical solution can be maximized if the human elements are seriously taken into consideration. Beyond supply chain and procurement, technical solutions should serve as an enabler for organizations to connect and build relationships with other organizations.

As the CIO of Nortel would say “Companies don’t compete, Supply chains compete.” An effective and user-friendly menu does not only make the procurement process more efficient, but also improves supplier relations, ensuring that we deliver the right product to our customers at the right time. In supply chain, internal customers, end-customers, and suppliers are all partners, with whom we should build relationships to create equal opportunity for growth and success.

Karla Jayne A. Rivera is a Contracting and Procurement Manager at Golden Arches Development Corporation (McDonald’s Philippines). She will graduate from De La Salle University, with a Master of Business Administration degree in February 2020. She welcomes comments karlajayne1rivera@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.

MOSCOW―Winters in Moscow usually look like something out of a picture book: the Russian capital is covered in snow, people go skiing, and temperatures are well below freezing.

But this year things are different.

For the past two weeks, temperatures in Moscow have easily topped four degrees Celsius and are expected to move as high as 7C next week―compared to the normal average for December of around minus 6C. Snow is nowhere to be seen, the city’s ski resorts are closed, and even the first spring buds on the trees are beginning to show― three or more months too early.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has always been reluctant to acknowledge the link between human activity and global warming.

At his traditional year-end annual news conference last week, he again insisted that “nobody knows” the causes of climate change.

But Putin acknowledged the consequences of global warming could be catastrophic for a country that is one of the world’s biggest producers of carbon fuel and a fifth of whose land lies within the Arctic circle.

Putin said that the rate of warming for Russia was 2.5 percent higher than elsewhere on the planet.

And “for our country, this process is very serious,” he said.

Climate change was a particular risk for Russian regions where buildings are built into permafrost and there “could be very big consequences if it melts,” Putin warned.

In the botanic garden of Moscow State University, rhododendrons, snowdrops and crocuses are already beginning to bud.

“I’ve never seen this before,” chief gardener, Anton Dubenyuk, told AFP. “I like this weather, it’s a normal European winter,” says one visitor, pensioner Svetlana Zolotukhina. “When the flowers blossom, it makes you feel better.”

But another visitor, Svetlana Gribkova, says she finds the situation “abnormal.”

“I want snow because it protects plants in the winter,” says the trained botanist. AFP

Fed-up French travelers face traffic chaos PARIS―Travelers across France scrambled on Saturday to begin their Christmas getaways with trains canceled, roads jampacked and nerves tested as a strike over a pension overhaul shows no signs of letting up.

Hopes of a holiday truce were dashed after talks between the government and union leaders this week failed to ease the standoff, with train operator SNCF warning the traffic would be “severely disrupted” over the festive period.

SNCF said its aim to allow 850,000 ticket holders to travel this weekend was being upheld-but only half of its usual services were running.

“I’m upset, this strike is unbearable... The government must do something,” said Jeffrey Nwutu Ebube, who was in the northern port town of Le Havre trying to find a way back home to the southern city of Toulouse, some 850 kilometers away.

Late Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron, called on the strikers to embrace a “spirit of responsibility” and for “collective good sense to triumph”.

“I believe there are moments in the life of a nation when it is also good to call a truce to respect families and the lives of families,” he said, speaking in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Ivory Coast, where he is on a visit.

Many stranded travelers have turned to car rental agencies or sharing platforms since the strike began on December 5, but the lastminute surge in demand meant vehicles were hard to come by.

“We tried other ways, BlaBlaCar, etc, but everything is full, everything is taken,” said Jerome Pelletier, a manager in the textile industry.

President Macron wants to forge the country’s 42 separate pension regimes into a single points-based system which the government says will be fairer and more transparent.

It would do away with schemes that offer early retirement and other advantages to mainly public-sector workers, not least train drivers who can retire as early as 52.

While some unions support a single system, almost all reject a new “pivot age” of 64―beyond the legal retirement age of 62― which workers would have to reach to get a full pension.

Macron will renounce the pension he will be entitled to as former president, the Elysee palace said Saturday.

He will also not take his seat on the Constitutional Court, of which former presidents are members for life and receive an allowance of 13,500 euros ($14,950) the Elysee added. AFP

LGUs

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

BARMM LGUs reap awards

By Nash B. Maulana

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AVAO CITY—Thirty awards of provincial and municipal recognition have sent the Bangsamoro to the country’s top five and the first in Mindanao’s list of winning regions of the Seal of Good Local Governance and the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Government.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) honored two provinces and 30 towns in a dinner that regional officials recentlyl hosted here for the local chief executives of the winning local government units.

BARMM Interior and Local Governments Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said he and Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua added P2.5 million in incentives to each of the 28 SGLG and two SCFLG Awards recipient-municipalities on the instruction of Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

Macacua, who is also a member of the Bangsamoro Parliament, said the feat “celebrates a milestone for the Bangsamoro for which he and other officials were grateful for.”

BARMM provinces awarded with the SGLG this year are Basilan and Maguindanao. In the city category, Lamitan in Basilan is the sole recipient of the award in the region.

The municipal level winners are Maluso and Sumisip in Basilan; Balabagan, Buadiposo Buntong, Calanugas, Kapatagan, Piagapo, and Taraka in Lanao del Sur; Barira, Buldon, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Guindulungan, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Paglat, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan sa Barongis, and Upi in Maguindanao; Talipao in Sulu; and Sibutu and Simunul in Tawi-Tawi.

“We honor, recognize, promote, provide incentives to our performing LGUs CFLG, P2.5 million in incentives which our LGUs can use to support their priority projects for each of the winning local government,” Sinarimbo told mayors and representatives of interna-

Local government executives receive P2.5 million each in incentives from BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof A. Macacua (second from right) and Interior and Local Governments Minister Atty. Naguib G. Sinarimbo (second from left). Nash Maulana

tional and local civil society organizations.

More than its monetary value, the incentives provide support to the local governments’ priority social undertakings that can unify the leaders and the constituents as one, Macacua said.

“Imagine what more we can do as a people when we are united and what we could lose if we are not,”

Macacua said.

The DILG national gave the awards during ceremonies at the Manila Hotel last November 6. Of the country’s 17 regions, BARMM placed fifth in overall standing. Only three in Mindanao made it to the top 10: Region X is sixth with 23 SGLGs, and Region XIII (Caraga) is eighth with 19 awards.

Army disposes recovered rebel IEDs in Isabela GAMU, Isabela—The Army’s 5th Infantry (Star) Division spearheaded the disposal of numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered from the communist New People’s Army at the 5th Division Training School at Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz here.

Maj. Gen. Pablo Lorenzo, 5ID commander, said the IEDs included 22 anti-tank landmines and 10 anti-personnel mines with power galvanometer and detonating cords.

They were recovered during different tactical engagements of 502nd Infantry Brigade and 95th Infantry Battalion against the rebels, he said.

Lorenzo said the NPA rebels belong to the Central Front of Komiteng Rehiyong-Cagayan Valley in Central Isabela province particularly in the municipalities of San Mariano, Benito Soliven and the remote areas of Ilagan City.

According to the 5ID Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, the IEDs are very critical and sensitive that exposure to heat, shock and friction may trigger their explosion.

Lorenzo said the immediate disposal of these explosives is necessary to prevent unintentional damage to life and properties.

“The disposal of the recovered IEDs will save many lives especially the civilian populace in the area,” Lorenzo added.

He also emphasized that the use of IEDs is prohibited under the international and national laws due to its “uncontrollable and devastating effect to humanity.”

He urged the communist NPA members to stop using IEDs and submit themselves to the government that they may live peacefully together with their families again.

Meanwhile, a former rebel only identified as Ka Ronie was reportedly responsible in making the IEDs that were disposed.

Ka Ronie was recruited by the NPA due to his knowledge on electronic circuitry, the military said. Brenda Jocson

Santiago City cops on double Christmas alert

By Brenda Jocson

Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin and City Council members lead the recognition ceremony of the top taxpayers in the city on December 18. Tim Yanes

Tacloban recognizes 2019 top businesses, real estate taxpayers

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez recenty led the awarding of the top 10 businesses and outstanding real property taxpayers in the city.

The 2019 Outstanding Real Property taxpayers of Tacloban are Robinson’s Land Corporation, HEVA Management Development Corporation, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., Wilcon Depot Inc. / Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, Petron

Corporation, Fast Autoworld Philippines Corporation, Eastern Visayas Telephone Company, Hotel Alejandro / Hotel Lorenza Inc. / Citron – Tacloban Property Holdings, Inc., and Uytingkoc Development Corporation.

Comprising the Top 10 businesses of the city are Sanford Marketing Corporation, Gaisano Central Store, Gaisano Capital – Tacloban Store, Mercury Drug Corporation – Salazar Branch, Mercury Drug Corporation – Rizal Branch, PMFTC Inc. (Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco

Victory Liner taps Globe Business for free WiFi service across buses GLOBE Business, the enterprise arm of Globe Telecom, and Victory Liner, one of the country’s most recognized names in the transport industry, has partnered to boost bus services with connectivity solutions.

Victory Liner has signed up for Globe Business’ Boost Data Plan, which allows the bus company to power 1044 bus units with WiFi and offer its customers fast and reliable internet access supported by a robust and broad domestic network.

“We continuously improve our operations to achieve a level of excellence that is comparable across the transport industry,” said Marivic del Pilar, Victory Liner Vice President for Finance and Marketing.

“We know how important comfort and value for money is for our customers, thus we put our trust in Globe Business to help us deliver a differentiated and one-of-akind travel experience,” she added.

Peter Maquera, Globe Business Senior Vice President, said: “We are thrilled and privileged to have been chosen by Vic-

Company Inc.), Jollibee, Toyota Tacloban, Leyte Inc., Watson, and Ford Tacloban.

“My role as the city mayor is to make sure that we have the proper atmosphere for good business here in Tacloban,” said Romualdez in time for the 11th anniversary of Tacloban as first and only highly-urbanized city in Region 8.

“Our role is not to police, it is to work in consonance with all the businesses, so we can come up with a win-win solution for all,” added the mayor.

He acknowledged the role and coop-

tory Liner as their partner for their digital transformation journey. We are very excited for the partnership and we look forward to the different ways Globe Business can help grow their business through the services that they availed from us.”

Victory Liner, Inc. is one of the most recognized bus companies in the Philippines. As the company celebrates 75 years of service and breakthroughs in transportation and energy sources, Victory Liner continues to live its vision of being “the transport company of choice” and to “move people better and safer by providing quality transport service.”

Globe Business continues to redefine how businesses work—which goes beyond functions, numbers, and performance. It likewise enables its clients and partners to catapult their enterprises to success by providing the right technology, infrastructure, and know-how to create a positive impact and transform people’s lives.

eration of the businessmen in the economic growth of the city, particularly after the devastation from the Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Romualdez added that Tacloban “has slowly recovered its economy because of the contribution of investors and business establishments.”

Joining the mayor during the awarding ceremony were Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, City Councilors Dalisay Erpe, Brian Steve Granados, department heads and city employees.

SANTIAGO CITY—In celebration of the 2019 Christmas Season, the Philippine National Police here has doubled their full red alert status from December 16, 2019 to January 5, 2020.

Police expect an increase in economic activities and the influx of people particularly in the urban centers like malls and department stores, hence the heightenend security.

According to Police Col. Juan Ramel Aggasid, Santiago City Police Director, “The situation may trigger the increase of street crimes traffic congestion and traffic accidents.”

Likewise, the traditional use firecrackers and fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices and the illegal discharge of firearms to celebrate Christmas and New Year are likewise expected to cause accidents that may result in loss of lives and limbs of persons and damage to property, Aggasid added.

The Santiago City Police office with its two police stations intensified its intelligence and counter-intelligence and anti-criminality campaign to prevent nefarious activities and thwart possible atrocities by lawless elements, he said.

SM Foundation turns over Ampid wellness center JUST before the Christmas break, SM Foundation Inc. turned over its 165th Felicidad T. Sy wellness center in Barangay Ampid 1, San Mateo, Rizal province to the three barangays of 28,000 residents using this vital health facility.

Barangay Ampid 1 is one of the biggest barangays in San Mateo, where SM City San Mateo is located. It is also one of the town’s competitive barangays, being the center of business and trade. It was awarded a drug-free barangay citation for 2019.

With the foundation’s improvement, the health center is expanding its services to include TB DOTS, medical consultation, dental services, vaccination, animal bite treatment center, pharmacy (free medicines from the local government and the Department of Health), OB Gyne consultation, and a wellness center for children and the elderly.

Dr. Eric Cayabyab, the municipal health officer, said the improvements would give more comfort to both health staff and patients, improve the staff’s productivity in treating patients and providing privacy to doctors and patients during consultations.

The most common cases handled by RHU3, he said, are common cold and cough that could lead to pneumonia; dog bites; and lifestyle diseases (diabetes, hypertension, etc.).

Official of SM Foundation Inc. turn over its 165th Felicidad T. Sy wellness center to Barangay Ampid 1, one of the biggest barangays in San Mateo, Rizal.

Life

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

FOOD

Merry sweet Christmas

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

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Heavenly Buttered Bundt Cake

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CHRISTMAS feast becomes more special when it ends on a sweet note. Like a delightful surprise at the end the meal, we at Manila Standard Life make a last-minute suggestion of sweet treats that will bring cheer to Noche Buena and Media Noche.

Buttered Bundt cake

Like a lovely Christmas wreath, Andrew Café’s Heavenly Holiday Buttered Bundt Cake is a perfect addition to the table.

The classic buttered cake features a festive twist with an additional surprise infusion of a generous red velvet layer.

It is then drizzled with delectable white chocolate ganache and topped with Swiss meringue butter cream shaped into classic green holly leaf, generous servings of glazed cherries, and red and and silver dragees.

Call (02) 230-5100 local 1888 to pre-order.

All Butter Mince Pies

Santa Wobbler Tin

Pudding, Mince Pies, and everything nice

Christmas is truly a sweet time at M&S Café as it offers the intensely fruity 6 Months Matured Christmas Pudding, made with four varieties of vine fruit.

It’s filled with Vostizza currants from Greece, extra large Chilean flame raisins, Turkish sultanas and raisins, and Italian cherries soaked in brandy. The mixture is enriched with stout, cider, rum, and more brandy.

For a truly British treat, there’s All Butter Mince Pie, a crisp and golden shortbread pastry filled with vine fruits, cranberries, clementine, and Cognac.

Adding more sweetness to the season are The Santa Wobbler Tin with All Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Stars, Belgian Collection Biscuit Tin, Delicious Milk Chocolate HO HO HO, and Musical Rotating Tree Biscuit Tin with All Butter Mini Shortbread Trees.

Also available are Merry Percymas Tin with All Butter Mini Shortbread Percy Pigs, Swiss Chocolate Truffle 6 Months Matured Christmas Pudding Assortment, and Limited Edition Baked Check out M&S Cafe at Marks & In Edinburgh All Butter Scottish ShortSpencer Mall of Asia south main mall. bread Assortment Tin.

Villa Del Conte gift set with Italian wine

Bibingka Pancakes

Strawberries and Cream

Bibingka pancake

Two favorite breakfast treats, pancake and bibingka, come together in one limited edition delight.

Pancake House serves Bibingka Pancakes until Jan. 15, 2020. The mini pancakes come with slices of quezo de bola and salted egg, topped with butter, and served with muscovado sugar and grated coconut on the side.

Go to Pancake House branches nationwide.

Bespoke Christmas cake

Naked cake

Italian chocolate

Here’s a cool gift idea: Italian chocolates with wine or coffee.

Villa Del Conte puts its signature artisanal chocolates in a wooden box which can be paired with a bottle of Italian wine or a can of Italian coffee. These premium gift boxes can be customized according to budget, including ribbons and gift tags.

Villa Del Conte is at Greenbelt 5 and SM Megamall.

Chocolates in sleeves

Cake supplier to the stars, Naked Patisserie joins the merry season with its lovely bespoke Christmas cakes and madeto-order cakes—that look so pretty you wouldn’t probably dare slice them.

The bespoke Christmas cake collection features multi-tiered cakes with holiday trimmings and other decorations.

The made-to-order cakes, on the other hand, feature unique flavor combinations such as the award-winning Strawberries and Cream, Chocnut Cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Calamansi Cheesecake, Toasted Coconut Cream Dulce de Leche, Pick-me-Up Espresso Chocolate Cheesecake, Chocoholic Truffle Cake, Pucker Up Lemon Cheesecake, and its Signature Red Velvet Cake.

Go to www.nakedpatisserie.com or contact them at 0945-4685141 or 0965-1396609.

A sweet giveaway to friends and loved ones, Toblerone chocolate comes in limited edition blank packs inspired by the top 12 gifts Filipinos want to receive this Christmas.

With the theme “12 Days of Christmas with Toblerone,” the limited edition Toblerone Blank Packs include sleeves for the stylish maven, the pet lover, the techie, the plant lover, the beauty addict, the bookworm, the toy collector, the shoe addict, the gym buff, the jetsetter, the always connected, and those wishing for good fortune.

While each pack has a specific theme, one can #BeMoreImaginative by writing thoughtful messages on the blank side of the pack.

Toblerone Blank Packs are available at leading supermarkets nationwide.

Toblerone’s Christmas Blank Packs

Christmas cupcakes (left) and Red Velvet Cake

Christmas cakes and cupcakes

M Bakery’s series of Christmas-themed cakes are made to share at home or elsewhere. Snowman Cake is made of either classic vanilla or chocolate cake; Red Velvet Cake is designed with white vanilla buttercream and decorated with a green border and festive holly confetti sprinkles; And Yule Log cake, available in red velvet, vanilla, or chocolate, comes with buttercream icing and finished with festive seasonal decoration.

Its cupcakes, meanwhile, include Winter cupcakes, classic vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and snowflakes design; Christmas cupcakes, with vanilla buttercream and festive Christmas decorations; and Holiday Piped cupcakes, decorated with vintage holiday designs.

The more, the merrier with the Ornament Box consisting of one dozen assorted vanilla and chocolate mini cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream and edible seasonal decorations.

Call (02) 847-9829 or go to M Bakery at One Bonifacio High Street Mall in BGC, Taguig.

Life

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

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Festive feast, Japanese-style

HRISTMAS and chopsticks for special Japanese holiday feasts.

These two restaurants offering authentic cuisine from the Land of the Rising Sun invite holiday revelers to partake.

RECIPE FILES

Something to share with the family THE Maya Kitchen shares two recipes of holiday treats that are best when shared with loved ones.

Yamazato

Okura Hotels and Resorts’ signature traditional fine dining restaurant Yamazato serves special Japanese Christmas bento on Christmas Day. The festive Christmas Bento includes a delectable variety of seasonal appetizers, three kinds of sashimi, chawanmushi (steamed Japanese egg custard), Chef Mouri’s signature yaki goma dofu kani (homemade sesame tofu with crab meat), grilled salted mackerel, rice set, and dessert. The Christmas Bento special lunch set is P3,800+++.

On New Year’s Eve, it will serve an authentic Japanese Irodori Dinner Set. Highlights include assorted seasonal appetizers, two kinds of sashimi, grilled black cod with miso, simmered shrimp with small ball-shaped gluten cake, deep-fried sardines with shiso leaves, red and green sweet chili pepper and lemon, ozoni (traditional Japanese New Year soup), chawanmushi, rice set, and dessert.

The Irodori Dinner set is priced at P3,800+++ or with special sake pairing at P4,800+++.

Yamazato is open Tuesdays to Sundays. Call (02) 5318-2888.

Yamazato’s Christmas Bento

Roast Chicken with Three Mushrooms

Japanese Iridori Dinner Set

Kitsho Three featured bento box options at Kitsho Japanese Restaurant are discounted on all days of December.

Diners enjoy 25 percent off (from the regular price of P1,025) when they order Kitsho Special that’s filled with tuna sashimi, crispy tuna maki, tuna nigiri, yakisoba, miso soup, and shrimp tempura. Also dis-

counted is the Mediterranean Bento Box, loaded with ika nigiri, pork shogayaki salad, salmon sashimi, beef fried rice, miso soup, and grilled kingfish (sawara).

The Norwegian Bento Box, on the other hand, is every salmon lover’s dream what with its salmon nigiri, spicy salmon roll, salmon sashimi, grilled

salmon with garlic butter sauce, miso soup, and salmon salad.

On Dec. 24, lunch buffet is priced at P888 (VAT inclusive). The Yuletide buffet spread features Japanese delicacies.

Kitsho is on the ground floor of Hotel Jen Manila along Roxas Boulevard.

Call (02) 8994-3623.

Ingredients: Herb butter chicken seasoning 1 whole chicken 2 1/2 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 1 tsp. fresh marjoram leaves 1 cup onions, peeled and diced 1/4 cup celery, diced 1/4 cup oil salt and pepper to taste Sauce 1 1/2 tbsp Maya All Purpose Flour, sifted 2 cups chicken stock 2 tbsp. butter 1 cup fresh button mushrooms 1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed 1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms, pre-soaked salt and pepper to taste Garnish thyme leaves marjoram leaves 1 1/2 tbsp. brandy 1 tsp. parsley, chopped Procedure: Chicken 1. Mix the herb butter seasoning and set aside at room temperature.

2. After washing and drying the chicken, season with salt and pepper. With your fingers, insert them in between the skin and the meat.

3. Get some of the butter and insert it evenly.

4. Truss the chicken.

5. Mix the onion, carrots, and celery. Place them on the roasting pan and place the chicken in the middle.

6. Sprinkle with some oil and roast it for about 60 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken.

7. When it has a nice golden roasted finish, set aside and start preparing the sauce.

Sauce 1. Degrease the roasting pan and remove all burnt ingredients.

2. Cook it for about 4 minutes or until it starts to be golden brown.

3. Add the flour and mix it well so it is no longer visible.

4. Add the stock and mix well as it will gradually thicken.

5. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, then strain it into a sauce pan and continue to simmer it.

6. Meanwhile, heat the butter and sauté the mushrooms for about 3 minutes then add them to the simmering sauce.

7. Adjust the seasoning with herbs, salt, pepper, and brandy.

8. When the sauce is right, keep hot.

Assembly 1. Remove the string and place the chicken on a serving platter.

2. Spoon the sauce and mushrooms on the sides.

3. Garnish with chopped parsley and sprigs of thyme and marjoram.

Kitsho’s (clockwise, from left) Norwegian Bento Box, Mediterranean Bento Box, and Special Bento are available at discounted prices this December.

EAT OUT Unlimited starters and meats at Ruby Jack’s

Ruby Jack’s holiday tasting menu includes five starters and five meats.

Diners at Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse and Bar can taste the spirit of a “meaty” Christmas for two hours.

The upscale steakhouse offers a special holiday tasting menu, during which diners can have unlimited servings of the restaurant’s classic dishes.

For P4,200, diners get complimentary bread selection, sides, and desserts, and, of course, unlimited orders of six starters (Ruby’s Caesar Salad, Don Papa Sizzling Bacon, Crabbe Cake Donuts, House Smoked Salmon Salad, Jack’s Cobb Salad) and steaks and meats (45 Dry-Aged Prime Rib, 200 Days Grain-Fed Cube Roll, Cherry-Smoked Premium Lamb, Slow-Roasted Black Angus Sirloin, and Bacon-Wrapped Kurobuta Pork Medallion).

The tasting menu is available today until Jan. 1, 2020.

Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse and Bar is on the upper ground floor of City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City.

Restaurant Verbena’s 3-course holiday meal Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon prepares a three-course holiday menu for diners celebrating the Yuletide season in chilly Tagaytay.

The P1,285+ meal starts with Roasted Chestnut and Carrot Ginger bisque served with Turkey Croquettes and garnished with smoked paprika and edible flowers. It is then followed by Braised Short Ribs with truffle sweet potato purée, roasted Brussels sprouts, aged balsamic, and kale cracker for the main.

A dessert of Pumpkin Pie with Bacon and Parmesan Ice Cream wraps up the meal.

Restaurant Verbena is at Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay City.

Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon’s three-course holiday meal.

Chocolate Fudge Orange Cupcake Ingredients: 105g 210g 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 pc.

110g 1c 90g

Maya All-Purpose Flour brown sugar baking powder baking soda egg mayonnaise boiling coffee Quickmelt Cacao, melted pinch of salt Chocolate ganache 100g cream 75g unsweetened dark chocolate, cut into small pieces 125g dark semi-sweet chocolate, cut into small pieces candied orange zest Procedure: 1. Sift all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Make a hole in the center.

2. Add the egg, mayonnaise, and boiling coffee.

3. Fold in the melted chocolate.

4. Line cupcake mold with paper cups.

5. Pour mixture equally into 15 cups.

6. Bake at 180-degree Fahrenheit oven for 10-12 minutes.

Ganache 1. Boil the cream in a pot. Fold in the chocolate. Mix until smooth.

2. Decorate each cupcake with a big rosette of fudge and candied orange zest.

Entertainment Seasoned actor Allen Dizon, despite being underrated, is one of the most reliable actors on indie and mainstream scenes.

Male W

hen you converse with Allen Dizon, leading man of Judy Ann Santos in Brillante Mendoza’s Mindanao, he immediately strikes you as pleasant, with no air of superiority whatsoever.

screenings in France and is currently being shown in Japan.

Persons of Interest, another opus by director Jover was an official selection to the Shanghai International Film Festival. his latest artistic collaboration with the Palm D’or winning director, Mindanao had a red carpet premiere in the Busan Film Festival held in Korea and he also attended the Cairo International Film Festival which gave Santos her first international best actress trophy. how was it like working with Judy Ann? he quickly replies, “She’s good. And she is always in her character. Alam mo, sa pelikula ni direk Brillante, he just says to us what happens in a particular scene and improv na ang lahat. She is an

Dizon with 'Mindanao' co-star Judy Ann Santos and director Brillante Mendoza.

RADIO GMA’s listeners can look forward to more exciting and bigger prizes this new year as the nationwide proof-of-purchase (POP) promo ”RGMA Pera Sorpresa” comes back with more prizes ready to be given away.

From Dec. 2 to March 13, 2020, “Pera Sorpresa” will draw five weekly winners who will receive P1,500 from each of the 15 RGMA areas (Manila, tuguegarao, Dagupan, Baguio, Lucena, naga, Legazpi, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Kalibo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos).

An additional P500 cash will be awarded to the participant if his or her entry bears the “Sorpresa Word of

the Week.”

Aside from the weekly prizes, there will be five bonus prize winners of P20,000; fifteen bonus prize winners of P10,000; and fifteen more winners of P5,000 which will all be drawn randomly during the 6-week period.

All non-winning entries will still get a chance to win during the grand draw. Fifteen winners coming from each of the RGMA stations will receive P25,000 while five winners of P50,000 each will be drawn from South Luzon, north Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Mega Manila.

And for the grand prize, one lucky winner will get to bring home P1 million. All prizes are tax-free. this season’s participating

nickie.standard@gmail.com

intelligent actress. She knows what to do.” his most memorable scene with the actress, divulges Dizon, “When we first met after I came from an encounter. Pagkakita niya sa akin, niyakap niya agad ako, Mahigpit.

At that moment, she was not my coactress anymore, she became my wife and the mother of our sick child.

With you Judy Ann, you cannot afford na hindi ka prepared. Kasi she surprises you. Minsan sa facial expression. Minsan sa mga pagtingin niya sa iyo.”

People who have seen the film, are proclaiming in unison that he has a good chance in bringing home the MMFF best actor trophy. he smiles sheepishly and reacts, “If that happens, thank you. Pinaghirapan ko naman yung character ko and sino ba ang hindi gustong maging best actor, Winning an award is like a great tap on your shoulder that you did well. Kung papalarin, sobrang saya. Kung hindi naman, whoever brings home the trophy, tiyak naman deserving.”

Allen’s ultimate desire for Mindanao is for the movie to figure prominently in the MMFF box office race. he declares, “Masarap manalo ng acting award but when your movie is being watched and kumita sa takilya, mas lalong masarap sa pakiramdam. I think people will be curious about it because it is a family drama. May animation. We also showcased some interesting aspects of the culture of Mindanao, the dances, myth, yung ilang tradisyon at ritwal. Sigurado rin akong the movie goers will have a good cry kasi punom-puno ng puso.”

What is next for the male attraction then? he shares, in conclusion, “I am starring in a movie entitled Latay.

It’s with Lovi Poe, it is about the story of battered. For iWant, I am part of The Beauty Queens with Joel Lamangan as our director. Mga real life beauty queens like Gloria Diaz, Maxine Medina at iba pa ang kasama ko.”

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TGIFridays marks 25 years with grand ‘90s themed shindig It WAS all about the funky 90s vibe with fun, great food, good music, and heart-warming memories as tGIFridays celebrated its 25th birthday in the Philippines. tGIFridays’ management and staff, loyal guests, friends, members of the media and influencers gathered together in a party held on nov. 26 at the Glorietta Activity Center located in the same mall where it opened its first branch in 1994. tamagotchis, cassette tapes, rubiks cubes, and other items reminiscent of the decade embellished the venue to showcase the 90s feel. the photo wall, meanwhile, was a mix of everything symbolic of the decade’s pop culture. Guests were requested to come in swinging 90s garb or in red and white stripes, the colors of Fridays.

For 25 years, tGIFridays has been part of countless birthday celebrations, with its staff participating with upbeat songs for the birthday celebrants. this time, it was tGIFridays’ turn to throw its own birthday party on one memorable night.

Vibrant host Candy Gamos led the pulsating party that commenced with a

attraction

As he shares his stories and points of view, you get hooked. he is no smooth talker. he does not make you bola. he speaks in the vernacular with sincerity that is why he connects. And yes, it does help that his Filipino features are easy on the eyes.

Winner of a Gawad Urian for best actor in Jason Paul Laxamana’s Magkakabaung, Dizon was victorious nine times, bringing home international best actor trophies from film festivals abroad, one of which came from the A-List Warsaw Film Festival, where he was given a special jury prize for acting, in Ralton Joven’s Bomba.

One of his most interesting sharing is about Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who watched during the recently concluded celebrity screening of the film.

Says Dizon, “I don’t know her personally. Pero syempre kilala ko siya. Who does not know Ms. Sharon Cuneta. She said to me, ‘Uy, Uy, napanuod kita. You are so good. Ang husay mo sa movie. At ang guwapo mo sa screen,’ and then she said, ‘Ano nga pangalan mo?” Allen guffaws after the reveal.

2019 is a banner year for the actor.

Some of his most impressive film projects were Alpha The Right to Kill, another Mendoza motion picture, had

monday, december 23, 2019

25th Anniversary AVP that showcased all ‘Fridays Believers’ – customers, partners, and friends who shared wonderful tGIFridays memories. this was followed by a digital countdown and ceremonial lighting of a marker that symbolized 25 years of tGIFridays, led by the Bistro Group’s William Stelton, Chairman and CeO; Jean Paul Manuud, President and COO; and the company’s execom Committee.

A party wouldn’t be complete without a birthday cake. So as the whole venue lit up, a special cake was rolled in and candles were blown. At that instant, the tGIFridays staff and crew sang the special “Fridays birthday song” together with the crowd.

As soon as the last confetti dropped, guests were treated to a flairtending exhibition and a performance by standup comedian, Alex Calleja. the revelry was far from over and rose to fever-pitch as a dynamic performance of party band Verse Two concluded the rockin’ milestone.

“Our team is happy to spend tGIFridays’ 25th year with our guests tonight who have been and will always be part of our jour

Management and staff, loyal guests, friends, members of the media and influencers gathered together to celebrate TGIFriday's 25th year in the Philippines.

Misa de Aguinaldo at the CCP the Cultural Center of the Philippines will hold the “Misa de Aguinaldo” or Christmas eve Mass tomorrow at the CCP Main theater at 8:00 p.m.. the event is a culmination of the Misa de Gallo (Simbang Gabi) or nine-day series of Dawn Masses. this tradition is now in its 15th year. An average of 800 people per day attends the novena masses; and last year, it reached a total of almost 2,000 patrons during the Christmas eve Mass.

For the Christmas eve Mass at the CCP Main theater, the renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers will again be the mass choir who will lead the 100-voice chorale

in rendering “Carol of the Bells” and handel’s “Messiah” (hallelujah Chorus). the choral groups from the Madz et.Al. (choral groups being managed by the Philippine Madrigal Singers) will also perform a 30-minute pre-mass carols to serenade the mass goers.

Prior to the mass, an excerpt of “Panunuluyan” shall be performed by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and the tanghalang Pilipino Actors’ Company.

Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, SSP will be the mass celebrant.

For more information, please call the CCP Venue Operations Division at 8832-1125 loc. 1412 or 1413.

This annual tradition st the Cultural Center of the Phillippines attracts 10,000 patrons from day one until Christmas Eve.

Happier New Year awaits new ‘RGMA Pera Sorpresa’ winners

sponsors are Maxvit, Creamsilk, Bear Brand, nescafé Creamy White, Speed, and Pepsi. to join, just purchase any product from the participating sponsors and simply write down your name, age, address, contact number, the “Sorpresa Word of the Week”, and signature on a piece of paper and enclose it together with the required proof-of-purchase in a white envelope. At the back of the envelope, participants must write “RADIO GMA PeRA SORPReSA”, week number, POP/brand attached, and RGMA Station that they listen to. Participants can drop their entries in designated drop boxes located in RGMA Stations or via registered mail to RGMA Stations. entries will

only be accepted until March 13, 2020.

Deadline of dropping of entries for each weekly draw will be at 12:00 noon every Wednesday of the playing week while weekly draws will be held every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in all RGMA stations nationwide.

All winners will be notified via text message and registered mail, and announcements over RGMA stations.

For additional details and to know the “Sorpresa Word of the Week,” tune in to Barangay FM and Super Radyo AM stations nationwide, like the promo’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/PeraSorpresanationwidePromo, watch the Pera Sorpresa mechanics plug, or see posters and visit www. gmanetwork.com/radio.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2019

ABS-CBN unleashes explosive 2020 TV offerings MEDIA giant ABS-CBN unveils a bounty of fresh and exciting television series starring the biggest names in the industry, the return of well-loved reality singing competition, and the premiere of the biggest Asian dramas.

After more than a year of waiting, the tandem of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil finally makes their TV comeback this January in the newest series Make It With You, which was shot in Croatia.

Gerald Anderson, Nash Aguas, Yves Flores, Elmo Magalona, Vin Abrenica, Jerome Ponce, and Carlo Aquino come

Love teams of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil (left) and Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber are ABS-CBN's top bets for primetime TV in 2020.

together in a drama that will bear stories of brave soldiers,A Soldier’s Heart.

Set to rule TV are new Asian dramas, including the most awarded one in 2019, Yang Xi and Flower Crew Dating Agency starring South Korean actor and rapper Kim Min-jae.

Meanwhile, reality-singing competition The Voice Teens, now with returning coach Apl. De.Ap, comes back for a new season in February.

Love will fill the air in March as Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber make their teleserye debut in When We Fall In Love, which was shot in Japan.

VIC SOTTOMAINE MENDOZA

Singapore censors same-sex smooch in new ‘Star Wars’ film

magic on the big screen

’Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' contains a brief scene where two minor female characters share a kiss.

A BRIEF kiss between two women in the new Star Wars movie was cut from the version released in Singapore, local media said.

The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion to the nine Star Wars films that stars Daisy Ridley, was released in the Asian citystate on Thursday.

The film contains a brief scene where two minor female characters share a kiss -- but the moment is omitted in the version screened in Singapore, according to Yahoo Lifestyle SEA. The news site reported on Friday that the women were seen embracing but not kissing. A spokesperson from Singapore’s media regulatory agency told Yahoo and other local online media that a short scene had been cut from the release, but did not specify which one.

“Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker has been rated PG13 for theatrical release in Singapore,” the spokesperson said. “The applicant has omitted a brief scene which under the Film Classification Guidelines

would require a higher rating.”

The agency did not immediately respond to an inquiry from AFP. Under the guidelines, films containing LGBT themes or content as a subplot may be restricted to viewers aged 18 and above, while films focusing on homosexuality may be hit with a 21-andover age rating.

Although open support for gay rights has grown in recent years, official attitudes towards homosexuality are often highly conservative in Singapore.

Sex between men remains technically illegal under a colonial-era law, albeit one that is not actively enforced.

The scene in Rise of Skywalker, the first same-sex kiss in the franchise’s history, was hailed as historic by some, but the fleeting moment between two peripheral characters was criticized as tokenism by fans hoping for greater LGBT representation.

Disney did not immediately respond to an inquiry from AFP. AFP

'Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity' lead cast members (from left) Vic Sotto, Pokwang, Maine Mendoza, and Jake Cuenca.

SNAPSHOT

Winford Manila, PAGCOR outreach program grows WINFORD Manila Resort and Casino (WMRC), in partnership with the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), recently hosted the third Paskong Pasasalamat mula sa WINFORD at PAGCOR, an annual Christmas gift-giving and meal-sharing activity for the less fortunate citizens of neighboring barangays.

In attendance were no less than a thousand residents of Santa Cruz and neighboring barangays—up from 500 attendees last year—to receive their gifts and enjoy a yuletide meal courtesy of WMRC and PAGCOR. The beneficiaries of the community outreach initiative were identified and selected by their respective barangay captains, with whom both proponents

have maintained a close and healthy relationship since the luxury casino hotel opened its doors to the public in 2017.

“Winford Manila & PAGCOR feel a debt of gratitude to the local community for the unwavering support they have shown us since we started our operations three years ago,” WMRC President & COO Jeff Evora. “Through Paskong Pasasalamat, we are happy to share our blessings with the less fortunate members of the neighborhood in the hope that it helps brighten their Christmas season.”

Attendees were also treated to a live performance by Psalm of David Harmonic Orchestra who serenaded them with catchy renditions of their favorite Christmas carols.

From left: WMRC President & COO Jeff Evora, WMRC Vice President Atty. Alfonso Victorio G. Reyno III, PAGCOR Chairman & CEO Andrea Domingo, and PAGCOR Branch Manager Jethro Chancoco.

T

HERE’S an inside joke among the Dabarkads, the solid clique of Eat Bulaga program hosts.

They say that Maine Mendoza has already signed a ten-year contract with Vic Sottoso that she would play the role of her daughter in whatever projects that the two will do onscreen.

“We had agreed on that even before Daddy’s Gurl,” Maine told Manila Standard in a previous interview.

“Actually the contract is going to last forever,” Vic said in jest during the grand media launch of Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity.

“However, she’s not my daughter in our new film. Nonetheless, we’re still together.”

From their boob tube pairing in the weekly sitcom, Vic and Maine take their tandem to the silver screen once again, this time, in a Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 entry.

In the action-comedy movie, they are joined by an amazing ensemble cast headed by Powkang, Jake Cuenca, Wally Bayola, and Jose Manalo.

Directed by Mike Tuviera and with a script written by Don Santella, Michelle Ngu, and Aloy Adlawan, the movie is described by producers APT Entertainment Inc. and MZET Productions as edge-of-your-seat and high octane heist movie for all ages.

Mission Unstapabot is centered on master straiegisi Don Roberi Foriun (Vic) who assembles a motley crew of experts collectively known as “The Dons,” which consists of magician Zulueta (Pokwang), wrestler Johnson

(Jake), car racer Kikong (Jelson Bay), and the mysterious master computer hacker Donna (Maine).

The Dons, under the leadership of Don Robert, will pull-off the biggest plan to obtain the famed and heavily guarded Pearl of the Orient (Perlas Ng Silangan) from the hands of Don Robert’s scheming brother Benjamin “Benjie” Fortun (Jose) and to vindicate his name from a heinous crime he did not commit.

It should be noted that his brilliant portrayal of Don Robert in Mission Unstapabol is the most thrilling role ever portrayed by Vic Sotto to date in the illustrious history of his consistent participation in the annual MMFF. Don Robert is not only an excellent strategist, but the character is also pure of heart.

“Don Robert will do everything to vindicate himself for a crime he did not commit,” said Vic. “He will be in a relentless quest for truth and justice. It’s both interesting and exciting to see how his character will evolve in the film.”

Mission Unstapabol also offers a lot of other firsts that moviegoers could look forward to. For one, this is the very first full-length mainstream movie of Maine Mendoza after appearing in the criticallyacclaimed romantic-drama Isa Pa, With Feelings opposite Carlo Aquino.

Comedienne Pokwang reunites with Bossing in Mission Unstapabol for the very first time after years of working with him in film. It has been almost a decade since Pokwang last collaborated with Bossing in 2011’s Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!, while Jake Cuenca works for the very first time with the iconic actor.

Jose Manalo deviates from being Bossing’s sidekick as he plays the villainous Benjje Fortun while Wally Bayola plays a key role and Jelson Bay provides a different comedic flavor as Don Robert’s loyal sidekick.

Adding more color to the bunch is an amazing support cast lead

by Tonton Guttierez, Max Collins, Lani Mercado, Clint Bondad, Pekto, Dino Pastrano, and Sarah Lahbati.

“The movie is jam-packed with positive Filipino values,” Mike Tuviera said of the film. “There is a lesson to be learned here - the good will always be rewarded and justice will always be served to the innocent. At the end of the movie, people will also discover that the most important things this Christmas season are family, forgiveness, and love.”

Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity is showing in cinemas nationwide starting Dec. 25.

Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza take their tandem to the big screen via this season's biggest action comedy film, 'Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity.'