Manila Standard - 2019 December 31 - Tuesday

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Año named PNP handler Pending selection of new top cop

By MJ Blancaflor

Secretary Eduardo Año

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 320 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he has asked Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to supervise the Philippine National Police while he chooses the next top cop.

Seven weeks after PNP chief Oscar Albayalde resigned under a cloud of scandal, the President acknowledged he was having difficulty choosing a replacement, particularly from the capital.

“In the province, we have excellent policemen but in Manila? That’s why I didn’t appoint a PNP chief. That’s why I told Secretary Año, he should supervise it,” Duterte said in a speech in North Cotabato.

As the second-in-command, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa was assigned acting PNP chief, after Albayalde relinquished his post on Oct. 14 over his links to “ninja” cops who resold confiscated drugs.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has recommended the PNP’s top three officials as possible successors: Gamboa; Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan; and Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

All three are graduates of the Philippine Military Academy.

Duterte earlier said that while they are “all good,” he finds it difficult to choose who among the recommended officers will be chosen as the next PNP chief.

He also jested he would appoint as top cop somebody who could assure him that all drug lords will be killed in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Duterte again said he would kill any policemen who were involved in the illegal drug trade.

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YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS.

A store owner in Metro Manila prepares a statue of a rat as lucky charm (top) for the year of the rat 2020, according to Chinese zodiac.

This is a Year of Metal Rat, starting from the 2020 Chinese New Year on Jan. 25 and lasting to 2021 Lunar New Year’s Eve on Feb. 11. A fruit stall owner arranges her fruits (right) for sale in Divisoria in time for the New Year on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

Reds cancel Surigao meet; ‘Ursula’ damage Revelers liable for exploding illegal ‘crackers—police truce shaky

By Joel E. Zurbano exceeds P1b;

By MJ Blancaflor death toll at 47 THE damage to agriculture and infrastructure due to the onslaught of Typhoon “Ursula” has reached P1,079,311,046, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday.

In its latest situation report, the council said the damage to infrastructure amounted to P296,326,956 while the damage to agriculture was P782,984,090.

The damage was incurred in Regions MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII and VIII. Meanwhile, the number of fatalities remained at 47 while the number of wounded has reached 143. Nine people remain missing.

The council said a total of 482,350 families or 1,979,155 people were affected in 2,304 villages in MIMAROPA and Regions V, VI, VII, VIII and CARAGA. The council said a total of P25,462,803.22 worth of assistance was provided by the Office of Civil Defense as well as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and other local government units to the affected residents.

The houses damaged have been placed at 378,312, of which 103,118 were totally and 275,194 partially damaged in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, the damage to infrastructure and agriculture was estimated at P1,079,311,046 in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

POLICE on Monday warned New Year revelers that using illegal firecrackers is punishable under Republic Act 7183.

The National Capital Region Police Office offered this reminder after it destroyed confiscated illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics at the Central Police District-Kamuning Police Station over

the weekend.

The prohibited items, worth more than P103,000, were found during series of inspections in Metro Manila.

NCRPO director Debold Sinas said his men confiscated the prohibited items also based on Malacañang Memorandum Order No. 31, directing the police and other concerned agencies to strictly implement existing laws, rules and regulations on the

sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

“Despite the law prohibiting the sale of dangerous firecrackers, there are still those who try to sell these outlawed items,” Sinas said.

Republic Act 7183, the law regulating the sale, manufacture, and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, Next page

Rody to God: Don’t ‘Keep the embers of nationalism alive’ MJ Blancaflor, prolong my misery ByMacon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he had asked God not to prolong his life after he steps down from the presidency in 2022.

“I told God that after the presidency, don’t prolong my life. Just give me aneurysm. One [snap]. Or if I have cancer, I tell my wife, if it reaches third stage, no more,” President Duterte said.

“Why would I prolong a life of misery? Why would I prolong it if I will be sick?”

The 74-year-old Chief Executive, the oldest person to be elected President, also admitted he has had several medications including Viagra, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

“At 74, I have many medications including Viagra. This Viagra cures headache, blood vessels which dilate, and

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to keep nationalism alive as the country commemorated Dr. Jose Rizal’s 123rd year of martyrdom on Monday.

“Let us keep the embers of nationalism alive as we courageously face the challenges of apathy and divisiveness, and triumph over them just like what Rizal tenaciously did more than 120 years

ago,” the President said in his message.

President Duterte also urged the youth to think of the greater good just like Rizal, “whose life and legacy have inspired countless others to dedicate their lives to serve the nation.”

Rizal’s life, he said, inspired others to dedicate their lives in service of the country while his work in cultivating the “intelligence of his countrymen” led to the “reawakening of the Filipinos’ patriotism and sense of responsibility.” Next page

THE Communist Party of the Philippines has postponed its annual assembly and mass wedding ceremony in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, following the reported tension between the military and the rebels despite a unilateral ceasefire.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the CPP “can go ahead” with the gathering of their leaders, as well as members of the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front, noting that the holiday truce is still in effect.

A certain Ka Oto, who identifies himself as spokesman of the Guerrilla ront 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command, said government troops were deployed in the area, which prompted them to cancel the plenum.

He also said the journalists invited to cover the event were told not to proceed as there was security concerns and their safety could not be guaranteed.

But Lorenzana said the troops did not provoke tension with the NPA. Next page

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Du30 tells ABS-CBN: Dispose of network

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday told the executives of ABSCBN to sell the broadcast giant three months before its franchise expires because it is not going to be renewed.

He also accused the Philippine Daily Inquirer of being a “mouthpiece of oligarchs.”

President Duterte had previously told ABS-CBN that he would not renew its franchise even if Congress is mandated by the Constitution to enact the franchise

bills pending before it.

“Your contract will expire, ABS-CBN. If you renew it, I don’t know what will happen. If I were you, I would sell it,” Duterte said.

If the franchise is not granted, the country’s largest network will have to close down its television and radio operations by March 20, 2020.

Last November, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said he had a “personal complaint” against the bill that would renew ABS-CBN‘s franchise―even as he

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RIZAL’S EXECUTION. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) leads the flag-raising ceremony during the commemmoration of the 123rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in Davao City on Monday. Assisting the President are Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Armed Forces chief Gen. Noel Clement. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso (below) lead other officials in raising the tricolors at the Luneta Park.

Presidential Photo, Norman Cruz

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Second batch of Dengvaxia raps in the works T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Justice department will come out with its resolution in January on the second batch of Dengvaxia complaints filed against former and incumbent Health officials by the families of eight victims believed to have died after being inoculated by the untested anti-dengue vaccine.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, who has supervision over the department’s prosecution panel that conducted the preliminary investigation on the Dengvaxia complaints, said he was expecting to submit the resolution to Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento next month.

“I think we would be coming out

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“(If you enter the illegal drug trade), there is no other way to deal with you except to kill you,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Last month, Duterte said he would rather direct the PNP himself than appoint a corrupt chief, insisting that the next leader not to be involved in any allegation or case of corruption.

In a TV interview earlier this month, he said even if all contenders were “good” he wanted the next PNP chief to guarantee that all drug lords would be killed. With PNA

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“May his shining example to always think of the greater good be emulated by generations of our youth who look up to him today,” Duterte said.

The President also expressed hopes that the country’s freedom would be “cherished, further fortified, and kept thriving through solidarity” amid social ills such as illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality.

“Together, let us strengthen and protect our liberty that our heroes have so unselfishly shed their blood for,” he said.

The President led the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal Park in his hometown in Davao City, contrary to an earlier announcement by his spokesman Salvador Panelo that he would skip the rites and honor other heroes such as Gregorio del Pilar.

Duterte was accompanied by his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and AFP chief of staff General Noel Clement in the ceremonies in Davao.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led the Rizal Day rites in Luneta Park, Manila.

Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday exhorted the public to be heroes like the country’s national hero.

“Be courageous and in service,” said Pangilinan, also Liberal Party president.

“We stand as one in celebrating the heroism of Gat Jose Rizal, who throughout his life worked to lift up the condition of Filipinos and his country under siege, said Pangilinan.

“In the uncompromising stand of our national hero against tyranny and abuses, we are inspired to follow in his footsteps,” the opposition senator said.

“Let us remember Rizal for his fortitude and love of country, for fighting for the rights of all Filipinos and for truth,” he said.

“May we have his courage and strength to speak out against abuses and injustices that we still confront today,” he added.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker said it was “more feasible” to be like Rizal now, given the Internet, and said the youth should seize the advantages of digital technology.

“Rizal had the advantage of quality education, starting with the patient teaching of his mother, who opened his eyes to the vast inequality of the times he lived in” Rep. Fidel Nograles of Rizal said.

With the advent of the Internet and freer access to information, today’s youth “do not have to leave these shores to broaden their knowledge,” Nograles, vice chairman of the House committee on justice, added.

soon with the [resolution for the] second batch of Dengvaxia complaints by January,” Fadullon said.

He said while he might be able to complete reviewing the resolution prepared by the panel of prosecutors on the second batch of Dengvaxia cases by next month, it might not be immediately released because it had to be evaluated and subsequently

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“So they have a plenum? They can go ahead. Our troops are not prohibited from doing their other duties such [as] law enforcement and assisting the local populace,” Lorenzana said.

“The ceasefire prohibits them from engaging the NPA in combat. Our troops will only react in self-defense,” he added.

However, Major General Nemecio Gacal Jr., chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said that the communist rebels violated the ceasefire with their attempt to hold their plenum and mass wedding of their members near a community.

Gacal said the ceasefire agreement was “clear that the rebels should not have ventured out from their camps.”

CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said they will not pull out from the negotiating table because of the incident.

approved by the Prosecutor General.

“I can tell you straight off I will be submitting it from my end to the Prosecutor General. But if it [resolution] is not released, that would not be my call. He [PG Malcontento] has to approve it first before it can be released,” Fadullon said.

He said that while there was a prescribed 60-day period for investigation, a draft resolution goes through several levels of checking before it is released to the parties, and there is no fixed number of days for a resolution to be finally released.

“The period there is not clear,” he said.

A draft resolution crafted either by a prosecutor or a panel of prosecutors goes through the reviewers and the draft could go back and forth between them if they thought there were er-

rors or information that were missed in the draft. When it reaches his level, Fadullon would review it and if he thought there were errors not seen by the reviewers, he would send it back to the prosecutors.

Once he had approved the draft resolution, it would be forwarded to the Prosecutor General who would again go through the draft and if it does not meet his approval, he could send it back until the errors had been corrected.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Dacanay handled the second batch of Dengvaxia complaints.

The complaints were filed by parents, assisted by the Public Attorney’s Office, and concern the deaths of their children Roshaine Carino, Christine Joy Asuncion, Clarissa Alcantara, Erico Mendoza Leabres, Christine Mae de Guzman, John Paul Rafael, Michael Tablate and

Naomi Nimura.

The respondents in the case are former Health Secretary Janette Garin and Department of Health officials Vicente Belizario Jr., Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Gerardo Bayugo, Lyndon Lee Suy, Irma Asuncion, Julius Lecciones, Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Viianzon and Mario Baquilod.

Also named respondents were Food and Drug Administration officials Maria Lourdes Santiago and Melody Zamudio; officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding; and Philippine Children’s Medical Center official Sonia Gonzales and former official Raymundo Lo. Executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pastuer and local distributor Zuellig Pharma were also included as respondents.

“There was no exchange of gunfire and there was no bloody incident. This is too small to warrant a pull out from the negotiations,” Sison said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier invited Sison, who has been in self exile in the Netherlands for decades, for a oneon-one meeting in the Philippines, but the CPP leader rejected the offer, citing security risks.

On Monday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it would accept the challenge of leftist lawmakers for a congressional inquiry into the government’s program for rebel surrenderers.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said it would be an opportunity to place on the record the thousands of rebels who have surrendered and benefited from the program.

“The government won’t back down to the challenge of the leftist groups to hold an inquiry because there’s no corruption or anomaly in the program,” Año said in Filipino. “By all means, we urge Congress to do an inquiry so that

the public will know the truth about the success of the ECLIP program.”

Año said a congressional probe would allow the government to report to the public the significant accomplishments of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides a complete package of assistance to former members of the New People’s Army and Militia ng Bayan and their family members who have laid down their arms to become productive members of the society.

“If the Makabayan bloc thinks that the government would be shamed in this issue, they’re wrong. We would even be given the chance to show the public the number of NPA and Militia ng Bayan (members) who have returned to the fold of law and encourage the others to surrender because the government will help them,” Año said.

From July 2018 to November 2019 alone, a total of P171.6 million in financial assistance package have been re-

leased to 2,882 rebel surrenderers under E-CLIP of the interagency Task Force Balik-Loob, Año said.

Of the 2,882 total number of former rebels, 2,635 among them were granted immediate assistance; 1,788 with livelihood assistance; and 655 firearms remuneration amounting to P171.6-million through E-CLIP from July 2018 to November 2019.

Under the E-CLIP grant, surrendered rebels or their qualified beneficiaries are entitled to benefits that include guaranteed safety and security; monetary assistance such as a PP50,000 in livelihood assistance, P21,000 for meals costs and P15,000 per rebel returnee for mobilization expenses. They are also compensated for the firearms they turn it.

“If necessary, we would let the ECLIP beneficiaries attend the inquiry so that they themselves prove the government’s assistance to surrenderers like them. The public would know who’s telling the truth,” Año said.

With PNA

ASF-FREE. Quezon City is now free of the African Swine Flu virus that has almost decimated the pork industry. Thus spoke city officials during a gathering at Pasong Tamo Elementary School where they partook of lechon to show that it was safe to eat even the ASF-laden pork. Manny Palmero

Revelers...

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prohibit such firecrackers as Super Lolo, Goodbye Earth, Goodbye De Lima, Goodbye Napoles, Mother Rocket, Large Bawang, Judas Belt, Giant Whistle Bomb, Lolo Thunder, Atomic Bomb, Atomic Triangle, Piccolo, Bin Laden, Pillbox, improvised PVC cannons known as “boga” and other unlabelled firecrackers.

Violators face fines of P20,000 to P30,000 or imprisonment from six months to a year.

The government urged the public to celebrate the New Year as peacefully and safely as possible.

Environment Secretary Roy Ci-

matu, meanwhile, urged the public to help build a fresh tradition of welcoming the New Year without the pollution and danger from firecrackers and fireworks.

“Let the culture change we seek to create in the Boracay and Manila Bay rehabilitations likewise give birth to a New Year celebration that is safe and environment-friendly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justina Gabuyo, director of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc. and proprietor of Global Fireworks and Trading in Bulucan, noted there were fewer buyers this year compared to previous years.

“Some of my customers said that there have been reports that fireworks stores here have already stopped op-

Rody...

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even stomach. If you have ulcer, or any other diseases... many,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

His health took the spotlight this year as he cut short a trip to Japan because of “unbearable pain” in his lower back and hips.

The pain, Malacañang said, was due to a motorcycle mishap in the Palace compound that had grabbed headlines the

erations and that maybe the reason for the slow start of our business,” she said.

Gabuyo said that before, majority of fireworks stores in Bocaue would start to operate on a 24-hour basis around Dec. 15.

But this year, she said most of the stores began their 24-hour operation only after Christmas Day. Gabuyo also said prices of firework products are lower this year compared to the previous years.

She particularly cited as an example a three-deck pagoda which sells for an average of P600 compared to P800 last year; two-deck pagoda for P400 from the previous P600; and the one-deck pagoda for P150 compared to last year’s P250. With Rio N. Araja, PNA

week before.

This year, Duterte also revealed he had a rare neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis, an addition to a long list of ailments he claims he has.

He had also donned an air purifier in several events he attended and skipped the change of command in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in September due to fever.

Critics have been demanding the release of his medical bulletin, noting that transparency about the President’s health is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, but the Palace has repeatedly downplayed the concerns about his health.

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promised the House―which is dominated by Duterte’s allies―would be fair in tackling the measure.

Duterte and Cayetano, who were running mates in the 2016 elections, claim that ABS-CBN did not air their paid political advertisements, and that some leaders of the broadcast giant meddled unjustly during the campaign.

The threats came amid reports that Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, who has close ties with Duterte, recently formed the Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp.

Meanwhile, Duterte also slammed the Inquirer for allegedly favoring the oligarchs, even as he again expressed his rage over the government deals with Maynilad and Manila Water in the same speech.

“You are no better than a prostitute.

You sell your talent to the rich against the poor,” he said.

Duterte’s tirades against the media are nothing new. Even before his presidency, he had been known to lash out at the media with strong statements during press briefings and even challenging reporters in coverages.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte: Sorry to quake victims for late visit

By MJ Blancaflor

REMEMBERING RIZAL. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Domagoso lead other officials in raising the Philippine flag during the commemoration of the 123rd death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta Park in Manila on Monday. Norman Cruz

Two Filipinos die, four hurt in Singapore road mishap

By Rey E. Requejo TWO were confirmed dead while four others were injured after a vehicle on Sunday lost control and hit a group of Filipinos in Singapore, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported Monday.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today expresses its condolences to the families of two Filipinos who died after a car lost control and crashed into a group of Filipinos at Lucky Plaza in Singapore, yesterday afternoon. The accident also left four other Filipinos injured,” the DFA said in a statement sent to reporters.

The DFA said two Filipino women are still undergoing intensive treatment while two others are in stable condition, as reported to them by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.

According to the DFA, all victims are being assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.

“The DFA stands ready to provide all the assistance needed for the victims.

The DFA, through the Embassy, is now in touch with authorities for the repatriation of the remains of the Filipino casualties,” the DFA said, in a statement.

According to reports, the group of Filipino women were having a picnic outside Lucky Plaza when a black Honda Vezel suddenly ploughed into them.

Investigations are ongoing.

With PNA

Stash of seven gold coins discovered in Yavne, Israel JERUSALEM—Israeli archaeologists discovered a stash of seven gold coins dating back to 1,200 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority reported on Sunday.

The coins, from the early Islamic period, were discovered in a broken clay juglet during excavations in the city of Yavne in central Israel.

The archaeologists suggest that the shiny treasure may have been a potter’s personal “piggy bank.”

The excavation revealed a wide industrial area that had been active for centuries.

One of the coins is the gold dinar of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid (ruling between 786-809 AD), on whom the popular story “Arabian Nights” also known as “One Thousand and One Nights” was based.

According to archaeologists, “these gold dinars were issued by the Aghlabid dynasty that ruled in North Africa, in the region of modern Tunisia, on behalf of the Abbasid Caliphate centered in Baghdad.”

The large-scale excavation revealed an unusually large amount of pottery kilns that were active at the end of the Byzantine and beginning of the early Islamic period (AD 7-9th centuries).

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Du30 backs construction of Kaliwa, Wawa dams

By MJ Blancaflor and Maricel V. Cruz

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday expressed his approval to the construction of the Chinafunded Kaliwa Dam and the Razon-led Wawa Dam, saying the structures would be the “last resort” to stabilize water supply in Metro Manila.

“This will be the last resort to have water for Manila. I will order them to go ahead,” Duterte said in a speech.

The President assured the public that those who would be affected by the controversial project would be paid and relocated.

The dam projects in Rizal and Quezon were seen to affect at least 56 indigenous people households and will place around 284 tribal households at risk of flooding, according to the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In his speech, Duterte blamed the indigenous communities and restraining orders from the courts for supposedly “delaying” the projects.

“Those who live there are, of course, they are all natives. They’re trying to delay the project and we need water for Manila,” he said.

Duterte last expressed support for the project in October, citing the water crisis that left dry faucets in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, a militant lawmaker has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to get tough on what he claimed as abusive players in the power sector in the same manner he did against water concessionaires.

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate claimed that socalled onerous contracts—similar to what earned the President’s ire in connection with billionaire-owned water firms— are also being pushed by some power

stakeholders.

“For the sake of consistency, President Duterte should be as tough on these power oligarchs as he was to these water concessionaires,” Zarate said, referring to Manila Water and Maynilad.

“They are also pushing for onerous contracts that will no doubt burden consumers,” added Zarate, who for years have warned the public on the disadvantageous nature of some proposed power supply agreements for the construction of several coal-fired power plants.

These power contracts are still pending before the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Zarate said President Duterte should also look into the power industry where “monopolies are also holding consumers hostage.”

“The constant threat of thinning power supply and brown outs in exchange for higher power rates or more onerous power supply agreements has been the bane of consumers for decades now,” Zarate said, reiterating an appeal to Malacañang in April 2019. During that month, the Luzon grid was placed under red alert status several times, leading to rotating brownouts in some areas.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday apologized to earthquake victims in Mindanao for not visiting them soon enough, adding that he has many “problems” in Manila including the “onerous” water concession deal.

“I share your grief, to be honest.

That’s why I’m here. And I must apologize, I am very sorry that I could not be here immediately,” Duterte said in his speech in Cotabato, one of the provinces that has been hit by a series of earthquakes last October.

More than 40 people have been reported dead or missing and nearly 800 were injured in the earthquakes.

“Natural disasters and other calamities have hit the region, taking many lives, destroying properties and depriving our people of vital resources,” Duterte said.

The President also assured them that the government would help until “you’re able to get back to your feet and start anew with renewed hope and greater capacity to lead your lives.” ”There were so many problems in Manila. I was busy cursing water concessionaires,” he said.

The President was referring to government’s water concession contracts with Ayala-owned Manila Water and the Pangilinanled Maynilad.

In his speech, Duterte also renewed his threats against the utility firms’ executives that he would jail them.

“If they make a mistake, those morons, I will really jail them.

You see, they do not react to any insult from me. For sure, syndicated estafa,” he said.

“They were only the distributor but as it turned out, they were the richest people as if they own water,” the President added.

The President previously assailed the two Metro Manila water firms for allegedly taking advantage of the concession agreements to “milk” Filipinos by the billions.

DOTr completes several infra projects for 2019 THINGS seem to be looking up for the Department of Transportation as it continues to push the infrastructure agenda of the Duterte administration this 2019 and several more in the pipeline.

According to a yearend report by the DOTr, the number of completed airport projects alone, from 2016 to 2019, has reached a total of 119 projects—with 70 projects under the DOTr and 49 under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

This does not include the 166 ongoing airport projects, with 138 projects directly under the DOTr and 28 under the CAAP. Some of the completed projects this year include the Marinduque Airport, inaugurated on April 11, 2019, which resumed commercial operations in the same month nearly six years after its last commercial operations in 2013.

The Sangley Airport, seen as one of the solutions to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

had its operational dry run on Oct. 29 with general aviation and turboprop cargo operations beginning November.

The Camiguin Airport has been

completed and ready for inauguration, with its expanded passenger terminal building, administration building, and a fire station building.

For ongoing airport projects, the highlights include the Bulacan International Airport which had its notice of award issued to the San Miguel Holdings Corp. on Aug. 14 and concession agreement signed on Sept. 18.

The Clark International Airport is 87.61 percent complete as of October 2019, with a new runway to be completed in July 2020 and its operations and maintenance turned over to LIPAD Corporation on August 16.

Following efforts to increase the operational efficiency of airports and reduce day-time flight congestion, 23 out of 42 commercial airports have been night-rated, with another 15 targeted for night-rating in 2022.

The DOTr has also continued the construction of several railway infrastructure projects this year with even

more to come.

A total of six railway projects are under construction, including the Metro Manila Subway—clearing phase of the construction began on December 21; the long-delayed Common Station which will connect the MRT-3, MRT-7, LRT-1 and the Metro Manila Subway; MRT-7 which is 49.95 percent complete as of November; the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, 30.74 percent complete as of October; the LRT-2 East Extension, 71.19 percent complete as of October 2019; and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban to Malolos) which began its actual construction on Feb. 15.

The rehabilitation of the MRT-3 is also ongoing which includes the overhaul of the rail line’s 72 light rail vehicles, replacement of mainline tracks, rehabilitation of power and overhead catenary systems, and other improvements to help the MRT-3 cope with the demand for efficient public transportation in Metro Manila. PNA

PH marshals to secure judges—Gordon

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon has said that the proposed creation of a Philippine Marshal Service that would ensure security and protection of the members of the Bench would not just protect judges but would also enhance the country’s judicial system.

Gordon, who chairs the Committee on Justice and Human Rights which is conducting a hearing on the proposed bills, said the marshals will also be tasked to go after fugitives from justice.

“In other words, the bill makes it a primary responsibility of our marshals to protect judges,” he said.

“But at the same time, it should be also a bill that would enhance the

judicial system. You know, matatakot sa inyo iyan dahil maaaresto ninyo sila, mahuhuli ninyo iyan. Hindi naman takot lang ang hinahabol natin it’s justice,” he added.

Gordon added that marshals would help in serving warrants of arrest issued by the courts and in collaring persons who jumped bail.

The bills being heard by the committee include Gordon’s Senate Bill No. 118, Senator Panfilo Lacson’s SBN 1209 and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s 1237. The next hearing is set for January 22.

In his bill, Gordon proposes the creation of a Philippine Marshal Service under the Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator.

LUCKY RAT. A store owner garnished a statue of a rat as a symbol of lucky charm for the Year of the Rat 2020. Norman Cruz

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Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Here we go again WITH the declaration of a bilateral ceasefire between the national government and the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) for the duration of the Christmas and New Year holidays, we see yet another glimmer of hope that the scuttled peace talks can resume and lead to a political settlement of the armed conflict.

For any peace talks to succeed, the proper atmosphere should be established.

But wait. Hardly had the ink dried on the agreement by the two sides when the New People's Army (NPA) launched attacks on government forces on two occasions, triggering fears that this round of peace overtures would end up with a resounding thud.

We have long argued that for any peace talks to succeed, the proper atmosphere should be established.

The "proper atmosphere" entails the declaration of a bilateral ceasefire for the entire duration of the talks, because how can the two sides demonstrate sincerity and good faith in talking peace while soldiers and police, on the one hand, and NPA guerillas, on the other, constantly engage in hostilities where they try to terminate the enemy with extreme prejudice?

The peace talks should probably be held behind closed doors with both sides bound by a mutually agreed gag

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

order to preclude a propaganda war between the two sides where each side tries to score political points at the expense of the other.

Then there should be other confidence-building measures.

For instance, the government can offer to release old and sickly political prisoners who have been charged with common crimes such as murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The government denies it is holding hundreds of "political prisoners" in jails throughout the country with the line that the rebels they have sent behind bars are not prisoners of conscience but common criminals already charged with crimes under the Revised Penal Code. Last we looked, however, the Supreme Court had already rendered a decision a long time ago that there is no such crime as rebellion complexed with murder, arson, and other crimes.

On the part of the NDF, they should come up with something that would clearly demonstrate their genuine willingness to talk peace. Perhaps a declaration that they are suspending the collection of "revolutionary taxation" from mining firms and business enterprises in areas where they operate, at least for the duration of the peace talks? After all, they claim to enjoy the support of the masses in their bid to wage armed struggle to overthrow the government. Didn't Mao advise his guerrillas to be self-reliant and engage in production even as they engaged in warfare?

The trouble with the government is that it wants total surrender from the communist movement without putting in place the economic, social and political reforms that would put an end to mass poverty and the wide gap between the rich and the poor in this benighted country.

The latest government strategy is to

I

Mind your own business

N A clear intrusion into domestic affairs, US Senator Patrick Leahy says the Philippine government should free Senator Leila de Lima, instead of threatening to deny visas for American citizens.

De Lima, a former Justice secretary, was arrested on drug charges in February 2017, and has been on trial for one count of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading before a Muntinlupa court since 2018. The process has been marked by delays—but this is nothing extraordinary, given the state of the Philippine justice system.

Leahy and US Senator Richard Durbin, taken in by De Lima’s posturing as a champion of justice and human rights, were responsible for a rider in the 2020 US national budget that bars entry to the United States any Philippine officials involved in her detention.

In retaliation, President Rodrigo Duterte barred Leahy and Durbin from entering the Philippines and said he would require all American citizens to obtain a visa before entering the country, if the travel ban on Filipino officials is enforced.

Leahy cried foul.

"Rather than responding by irrationally threatening to deny visas to American citizens, the Duterte government should either release Senator De Lima immediately or provide her the fair, public trial she is entitled to," Leahy said in a statement.

In so doing, Leahy demonstrated his ignorance of the case and the workings of the Philippine justice system, flawed and slow as it is.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra pointed out that the only way for De Lima to be released from detention is upon acquittal by the court and not upon the pressure exerted by Leahy and other American lawmakers.

"I wish Senator Leahy and his four other colleagues in the US Senate know that much of our constitutional law and rules on criminal procedure had their origin in US law. I also wish

they know that Senator De Lima’s indictment was upheld by the Philippine Supreme Court and that she has been freely exercising all the rights of an accused in a fair and public trial," Guevarra said.

If indeed the justice system is flawed, it is for Filipinos—not some foreign interloper—to point this out and remedy the situation.

And if De Lima feels aggrieved, she should remember it is the same system she used when she was Justice secretary to detain former President Gloria Arroyo for more than four years on plunder charges she was ultimately never able to prove in court.

In fact, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Mrs. Arroyo’s detention—instigated and carried out by De Lima— violated international law and was arbitrary on a number of grounds.

But perhaps Senator Leahy did not have all the facts when he chose to speak up on matters that do not concern him—and on which he is woefully ill-informed.

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Vim and vigor in the New Year NEW Year is associated with a new beginning. More than any other time of the year, New Year is the dawning of a new beginning where we leave the past behind without necessarily casting aside what we learned from past experiences and face the future with renewed vim and vigor. When we greet somebody Happy New Year, these are not merely empty words.

Through this short phrase, we convey a most meaningful message—that we move past heartaches, mistakes and transgressions at the same time make the correct adjustments in the way we live and relate with other people to lead a more meaningful life and a healthier environment for us and the people around us.

This is the post-Christmas message of Pope Francis to the Roman Curia this year. While the Holy Father is well-loved in and outside the church for his humility and modesty, some question his controversial reforms believing they will spell divisiveness within, if not the destruction of, the Catholic Church.

In this context, Pope Francis urged the Curia to not be afraid of change but to embrace it. In an unambiguous tone, he stated that change and reform is in the very nature of a church that is called “to be missionary,” in a world that is experiencing “a change of epoch.” He quoted Saint Cardinal John Newman’s famous saying: “Here on earth to live is to change, and to change often is to become more perfect.” Obviously, for the Pope, Newman “is not speaking about seeking change for change’s sake, or to follow the fashion, but rather to have the conviction that development and growth are the characteristic of earthly and human life, while, in the perspective

of the believer, at the center there is the stability of God.” However even when Pope Francis is urging the Curia to embrace change, he cautiously clarifies that these reforms are aimed to valorize all that is good that has been done in the complex history of the church,” further saying, “to appeal to memory does not mean to anchor oneself in self-conservation…. Memory is not static, it is dynamic. By nature, it implies movement. Tradition is not static, it is dynamic. It is the guarantee of the future, not the custodian of ashes.”

Indeed the Holy Father’s message to the Curia may not be aimed only to the members of the Curia, to bishops and Cardinals but also to all Catholics, and in fact to all of humanity.

We are all asked to step out of our comfort zone.

Changes may not be necessarily incompatible or averse to the Catholic faith. In the face of the massive falling away of many from the faith, particularly in the West and many other parts of the world, the Church is being called for a more innovative and dynamic approach to evangelization.

Yet these changes may be introduced while remaining faithful to the teachings of Christ, the magisterium and Holy Tradition.

The challenge then for the Roman Curia is to be able to find the perfect balance between change and doctrinal fidelity. I am fully confident that Cardinal Chito Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila that is heading to Rome to work in Vatican City as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, famously known Turn to A5

Asia’s first LGBT-focused streaming service tackles taboos

By Catherine Lai A ROM-COM about a lesbian flight attendant and a romance in a gay spa are among the shows featured on Asia's first LGBT-focused streaming service, which is pushing boundaries in an often highly conservative region.

GagaOOLala brings more than 1,000 feature films, shorts, web series, and documentaries to people across Asia, where censorship and traditional attitudes mean there has been little in the way of gay content in the mainstream media.

After launching in 2017 in Taiwan, a beacon for gay rights since becoming the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, it has expanded to 21 territories including several that still criminalize homosexuality.

"One of the main impetuses for me to create GagaOOlala, (is) to kind of dispel a lot of the myths and misconceptions that a lot of people might have about LGBT people,"

said Jay Lin, a prominent LGBT rights activist in Taiwan who founded the platform.

"We're not all living really tragic lives—we're entrepreneurs, we're fathers," the 46-year-old, who is raising twin boys with his partner in Taipei, told A FP. With about 280,000 members, made up mainly of gay people but also including a significant number of straight women, its success comes as some progress is made on LGBT rights in parts of the region.

As well as Taiwan's move to legalise same-sex unions in May, India's Supreme Court last year struck down a colonial-era ban on gay sex.

Dire rights situation But the gay rights situation remains dire in other countries where the platform operates—making its presence in those markets all the more important, supporters say.

Gay sex is still banned in Singapore as it is in Malaysia, where in the

past year women and men have been caned under Islamic laws for having same-sex relations.

The tiny, oil-rich sultanate of Brunei introduced death by stoning for gay sex as part of a harsh new sharia penal code earlier this year—but later rolled it back following a storm of criticism.

Censorship also persists in some countries, with Malaysia's film board this year cutting gay sex scenes from "Rocketman," the movie-musical based on the life of British singer Elton John.

The platform—which is planning a global launch next year—has not run into any regulatory hurdles so far, according to Lin, but he acknowledged the need to tread carefully in more conservative places.

The service often relies on closed chat groups, social media and LGBT influencers for promotion instead of advertising openly.

Lin's team started by building up Turn to A5

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Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Love the one you’re with’ THE above song lyric, from the great CSN&Y band, was originally directed at folks torn between two lovers, one of whom is either far away or in the past. It ought to resonate especially loudly with the many, many philandering Filipino husbands who seem to think that faithful monogamy is just a suggestion and not a Divine commandment.

Today the lyric comes up in the context, again, of a beloved who’s no longer available, whether geographically or historically. But now I’m talking about Filipinos living and working overseas, and the deep divide between those who’re abroad permanently or just temporarily— as well as between those who can be found in the West and those who aren’t—with respect to their feelings and entitlements regarding the motherland.

This came to my mind after news came out about the so-called Magnitsky law and how it was allegedly invoked by US Senators Durban and Leahy—within the language of no less than the US budget act for next year—in order to deny US entry to Philippine government officials who might be linked by “credible information” to the alleged persecution of detained Philippine Senator de Lima.

The qualifier “alleged” is emphasized in both cases above. As to the “persecution” of de Lima, that no longer applies when our Supreme Court no less already voted in favor of her detention, by a 9-5 majority.

One may quibble about the speediness of her trial, but not about a SC-sanctioned detention—unless one happens to be a know-it-all Fil-Am (but more on that later).

As to the two US senators’ actions, I came across a FB post by the redoubtable UA&P law professor Jemy Gatdula, who said he has scoured the entire US budget act of 2019—all 700plus pages of it—and found no specific reference to De Lima’s case, let alone the levying of sanctions around it. If he’s right, one may quibble about the failure of government lawyers to read the document too themselves before shooting their mouths off. But, as above, that’s another story, too. *** It’s well known that overseas Fil-

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as Propaganda Fide, will do a good job in achieving this balance. Our loss is the universal Church’s gain and I wish Cardinal Chito, whom I have known for 40 years since he was a seminarian and a professor in the Ateneo de Manila philosophy department, well in his new job. He will embrace this change with a strong sense of mission.

This is also the challenge to all institutions, communities, families, and individuals.

We are all asked in the New Year to step out of our comfort zones and dare ourselves to cast aside rigidity and fearlessly come to grips with changes in our lives that will make us better persons.

On a personal note, the latest scientific information on the global

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pursue local peace talks under what it refers to as the "whole-of-nation" approach. This strategy is nothing new as it is a variation of what is really a scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners policy. I don't see any real progress in the current counterinsurgency policy that would indicate real gains in bringing the armed rebellion to heel.

On the other hand, the trouble with the NDF is that it insists on their demand for a coalition government or power sharing when its army remains weak in relation to the AFP and its political infrastructure is just as weak.

How many NPAs are there now?

The military says no more than 3,000 ragtag guerrillas. Ranged against

ipinos are a big reason for Duterte’s popularity ever since he took office in 2016—a popularity that reached 87 percent this month, practically unheard-of for any president after his or her halfway point in office.

But the dynamics behind his numbers abroad are more interesting.

The President is popular among the OFWs—people who are abroad only temporarily, who expect to come back home sooner or later, and who cannot—or will not—irrevocably sever their umbilical cord. Most of them are found in the Middle East and nearby Asian neighbors, and to a lesser extent in Europe and other parts.

There’s a flip side to this: “Don’t expect to be loved any longer by the one you’re no longer with.”

To such OFWs, their host country will always be different from their homeland, which is where their families—their raison d’etre for being—still live. These are folks who still wear their Filipino identity matter-of-factly. For them, Duterte is still “their” president because he is in fact that—by legal definition, by filial domicile, by unabandoned allegiances and shared values.

On the other side of the divide are the permanent immigrants and the holders of non-Philippine passports, especially those in the United States. These folks have already brought over their families to build a whole new home in another country. Their allegiances have shifted, their values are changing, their children will no longer be like them. And that is the way it should be, as CSN&Y remind us: Love the one you’re with.

But what’s distressing about many of them is the unspoken habit they’ve adopted of looking down on the Philippines just because they’ve moved to a superior country (and in strictly material terms, that’s true indeed).

Because they’re demonstrably better off, they think this entitles them to administer advice to a foreign country half the world away. And because they still look like the natives of that foreign country, they even claim the benefit of the doubt as to the sincerity of their intentions.

climate emergency, the failure of the Madrid climate conference, the experience of nonstop floods in Cagayan province, the destruction of the Amazon, and the devastation that Typhoons “Tisoy” and “Ursula” caused in our islands have reinforced my decision to spend more time in the next five years on climate change. While I love my teaching work and how that has scaled up to more than a dozen universities, I will start reducing this work in January and cut by half my teaching in the second half of the year and aim at a full sabbatical at some point so I can focus on the Glasgow climate conference in December.

I suspect that, depending on the result of the US elections that will be conducted on the eve of that critical conference, there will be a lot of work on climate change as well in 2021 which will merit full attention. I do plan to keep teaching my undergrad-

them is the AFP which has 150,000 personnel, with fighter aircraft, battle tanks and warships. Yet, the insurgency is still raging in the countryside after five long decades.

In other words, we seem to have an unwinnable war for both sides.

The CPP-NPA-NDF has been waging armed struggle for 50 years now without a reaching its goal of a strategic stalemate or parity with the government in terms of numbers and fighting capability. Years back—in the 80s, I think—the CPP-NPA-NDF boasted of having reached what it called the "advanced substage" of the strategic defensive. Since then, I have yet to read a CPP statement that it has already managed to reach the stage of strategic stalemate that should be the next logical step in its armed struggle. Rebel propaganda, of course, has insisted, since 1968 and

These are the folks who’re cheering that the Magnitsky Law may now exclude from the US even the venerable justices of our Supreme Court who voted against De Lima. They’re rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of Duterte somehow being “brought to justice” someday before unelected foreign courts. And if you talk to them about his popularity, they roll their eyes at the thought: What else would you expect from a benighted people like us?

Yes, as CSN&Y remind us, love the one you’re with. But there’s a flip side to that: Don’t expect to be loved any longer by the one you’re no longer with. *** The daily Gospels during this Christmas season continue to build upon the Nativity narrative of December 24-25. Last Sunday and Monday we were told about the flight from Egypt of the Holy Family and their return to Nazareth, where Luke tells us that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him” (Lk 2: 40).

Today we are presented with an entirely different view of Jesus by John, the most mystical of the four Gospel writers. In the luminous opening to his book (Jn 1: 1-18), we are reminded, not of Christ’s human history, but of His Divine origin and nature: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Writing later in a short treatise (1 Jn 2: 18-21), the same John in the first Mass reading talks a bit more about that darkness and its personification: “Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.”

By those standards, we can indeed find many antichrists among us today, some better-known than others. Is it at all possible to find—as I asked last week—common ground with them, no matter how small, in order to build together a better secular world, while still managing to abide by the strictures of our faith? That, I’m afraid, is the challenge we’re presented with.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

uate philosophy, negotiation, and environmental science classes and my environmental law classes. And for those speculating, I can tell you for sure that this decision to limit my law teaching has nothing to do with any exams and to think otherwise would be to your own peril.

In addition, I expect the defensive and offensive work on human rights to accelerate in the next year.

With a looming decision by the International Criminal Court on the Duterte case, with the Global Magnitsky Act operative, and the results of the upcoming United Nations review on the human rights of the Philippines, there will be a lot of work in this area and I have to step up to that. I will prioritize my work for the freedom of Senator Leila de Lima and my defense of youth and student activists, environmental defenders, and indigenous peoples.

Happy New Year, everyone!

up to 2019, that conditions are ripe for armed revolution.

Successive rounds of peace talks have been initiated by the government and the NDF since 1986, but with each screeching to a grinding halt as neither wanted to stop attacks against each other even as their negotiators professed to want peace more than anything else.

The question that both the government and the rebel movement should answer at this point is whether they are part of the problem or part of the solution. If both of them can answer that both are part of the problem and part of the solution at the same time, then perhaps they may yet reach a win-win solution that would end the violence and the bloodshed once and for all. ernhil@yahoo.com

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Why a 7-8 percent GDP growth remains elusive AN ANNUAL GDP (gross domestic product) growth of 7-8 percent has long been the target of Philippine economic planners, and this target is embodied in the current national economic blueprint, the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. The nation's economic managers and their lieutenant dutifully project an annual GDP growth rate of 7-8 percent in their assessments and discussions of the near-term performance of this country's economy.

Unfortunately the 7-8 percent GDP growth target has been attained only on a quarterly basis; an annual GDP growth rate within the targeted range has yet to be achieved. Still, 7 percent quarterly GDP growth is indicative of ability to post annual growth of 7 percent or more.

Annual GDP growth of 7-8 percent will continue to elude the Philippine economy if certain policy and operational deficiencies are not corrected.

These are the following: Corruption. The worst critics of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte claim that corruption within the government has never been as widespread or as pernicious as it is today. Whether or not this claim is true, there is no denying that governmental corruption today is virtually everywhere in the bureaucracy—even in departments and agencies that once were relatively upright—and involves amounts of money that once would have been considered incredibly large.

One only has to mention the P6 billion worth of shabu that slipped through the Bureau of Customs last year and the multi-billion PhilHealth scam to accept the truth of critics' claim. The Filipino people long ago forgave President Duterte for his campaign promise to rid this country of “drugs, crime and corruption” within three months. As the Senate revelations about the 2020 GAA (General Appropriations Act) have shown, corruption is by no means a monopoly of the Executive Department. The Duterte administration has to do a much better job of curbing corruption if the resources required by 7-8 GDP growth are not to leak away unto unholy pockets.

Agriculture. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This statement is highly applicable to the Philippines. This country is less than strong because its agricultural sector is weak. Once the backbone of the Philippine economy, accounting at its peak for around 80 percent of this country's GDP and its labor force, Philippine agricultural production is down to around 21 percent of GDP and employment is the nation's farms is a far smaller percentage of the national labor force.

The pain generated by the Rice Tarriffication Act, the steady rise in imports of sugar and the coconut industry's continuing loss of world market share exemplify the steady decline in the position of the agricultural sector in the Philippine economy. Over the decades successive governments' attitude to the agricultural sector has largely been one of lip service; that must change, if 7-8 percent annual GDP growth growth is

Asia’s...

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GagaOOlala's library with Western content, but has since branched out, making an effort to find content from across Asia.

Earlier this year GOL Studios, a sister platform, was launched to help LGBT filmmakers find talent and funding, as well as distribute and market their work.

Homegrown content The platform ramped up its production of original content this year, making its first Thai film, its first lesbian feature film in Japan and a Germany-Spain co-production.

"As we have developed..., we have realized that actually a lot of Asians also want to see Asian faces, and watch Asian stories and watch films take place in places or cities that they're familiar with," said Lin. For streamers focusing on niche areas like GagaOOLala, original shows are key to building their brands.

ever to be achieved.

Foreign Direct Investment. FDI (foreign direct investment) is an essential source of resources for a developing economy's transformation and growth.

FDI is valuable to a developing economy not only for the foreign exchange that it brings in but also for the technology that it introduces and the export markets that it creates. The record shows that for decades, the Philippines has been one of the lowest Southeast Asian represents of FDI, receiving for less that countries like Vietnam and Thailand. This country needs to do a

Corruption, agricultural-sector weakness, inability to attract much foreign investment and chronic external trade imbalance better job of attracting FDI because the alternative is foreign borrowings, which increases the nation's exposure to foreign exchange risk and the worsening of the foreign-debt-to-GDP ratio.

Obviously the best way to start a moreFDI program is to generally improve the tone of this country's relations with the world. Another major way is to make the framing and enforcement of economic policies more stable and less politics-driven.

Export-oriented production is essential to a developing country because it creates jobs and generates incomes while bringing in foreign exchange. Unfortunately, the history of Philippine economic development has not had an orientation towards a .broad-based merchandise export trade. From the Commonwealth era to the 1960s this country's export trade consisted almost entirely of unprocessed and semi-processed commodities—copra and coconut oil, logs and lumber, sugar, gold copper concentrate and chromite ore—and thereafter the advent of the Computer Age and negative changes in domestic and foreign policies affecting Philippine commodity exports gradually brought about a shift in the composition of Philippine export trade toward electronic products, especially semi-conductors. Exports of electronic products currently account for around 52 percent of total exports. With no substantial broadening of the export base having taken place, and with the higher import requirements of intensified economic growth, the current account of the BOP (balance of payments) has in recent years had to absorb in economies trade deficits. The 2019 deficit will likely reach $42 billion.

The problems that have been discussed here—pervasiveness of corruption, agricultural-sector weakness, inability to attract much foreign investment and chronic external trade imbalance—have shown themselves to be highly detrimental to the growth and stability of the Philippine economy.

Until they shall have been effectively addressed, annual GDP growth of 7-8 percent will remain an elusive target.

Lin said interest in the platform jumped after the recent release of the "Handsome Stewardess," a series about a Taiwanese, tomboyish lesbian who takes a job as a flight attendant to pursue her new love interest to Singapore.

"The Teacher," another original about a gay educator who is in love with an HIV-positive married man, also proved a hit, bagging best supporting actress at the Golden Horse awards, dubbed the Chinese-language "Oscars."

GagaOOlala is not alone in relying on original content to draw in viewers and boost its profile.

Bryan Seah, head of original productions at Southeast Asia-focused streamer Hooq, said people felt "pride" at seeing local performers on screen.

Viewers were sending a message that "I want to see my favourite Indonesian actor, I want to see my favourite Filipino director, fronting something that has the scale and ambition to match the best Korean content, "he said. AFP

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News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Approved measures to raise P65 billion’

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from the Bicol Region has said the House Ways and Means Committee will push bills expected to raise as much as P65 billion to sustain the funding of President Rodrigo Duterte’s key infrastructure and human development priorities.

Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay, chairman of the House ways and means committee, said the bills that have passed the panel included the measure establishing a tax regime for overseas gaming operations that is expected to raise P20 billion to P45 billion; the Motor Vehicle Road Users’ Tax bill aimed at raking in P16 billion; the mining fiscal regime designed to raise P2 billion and the bill imposing a tax on singleuse plastics that will raise P4 billion.

As chairman of the committee, Salceda said he would also find ways to improve tax administration by studying structural reforms in the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

“We will likewise try to raise taxpayer morale by studying digital transformation of the revenue collection agencies. We want to make taxpayer experience seamless. The aim, ultimately, is to encourage tax compliance and deter tax avoidance,” Salceda said.

“With a few tweaks in taxpayer experience, even if we improve compliance by just 1 percent of total BIR collections, that is already a revenue increase of about 22 billion.

We can of course do much more,” he added.

Salceda said the most important priority next year will be to pass the CITIRA bill.

“This is the single most important economic reform after the February 1986 People Power Revolt. I expect the Senate to pass CITIRA within the first two months of the new year. As the first proponent of a governing body for incentives, for me, one of the most crucial aspects of the reform will be the Fiscal Incentives Review Board.

No FIRB makes CITIRA meaningless. It’s the people’s seat at the table. Without reform, we will likely hit 500 billion pesos in tax incentives next year, while still making domestic corporations pay the highest tax rates in ASEAN.” He added: “I also expect the Passive Income and Financial Intermediaries Tax [PIFITA] and the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act [RPVRA] to pass in 2020. PIFITA will unlock the potential of our capital markets and encourage ordinary Filipinos to invest for their future. RPVRA will help complete Build, Build, Build by expediting right of way acquisition. Both are definitely crucial for growth.”

The committee has three goals that must be achieved by 2022: A-level credit rating, 8-percent GDP growth and widespread prosperity, Salceda added.

THANKSGIVING PROCESSION. Police go on double time Monday to clear Hidalgo Street and Plaza Miranda in Manila’s Quiapo district to give way for the thanksgiving procession of the Black Nazarene. Norman Cruz

SFLU port exceeds goal by P105m

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Port of San Fernando in La Union announced on Monday it had exceeded its P4.101-billion revenue goal for this year by P105 million.

San Fernando district collector and lawyer Rhea Gregorio said her port collected a total revenue of P4.206 billion. She added they had exceeded their full-year revenue target as early as Dec. 23.

“A challenging [task], considering that I took over during the time when the

volume of importation is projected to be on a down slope due to weather conditions and scheduled maintenance on the facilities of our regular importers,” explained Gregorio in meeting their annual target.

“Despite that, however, through the hardwork and cooperation of the men

and women of the port, we managed to look for non traditional revenue sources and took advantage of opportunities in the region to help us meet our target,” she added.

Gregorio was the district collector of Port of Manila, one of the biggest and so-called “billionaires ports” of the Customs bureau, before she assumed the top post in San Fernando by midyear.

She was also the district collector of Port of Subic and served as head of the Interim Customs Accreditation and Registration Unit unit.

San Fernando is one of the Customs

Girls better than boys, study claims

‘Ursula’ victims get P1.5m worth of relief goods SENATOR Franklin Drilon has extended P1.5 million worth of relief goods to Typhoon “Ursula” victims in Panay island provinces.

On his initiative, and in partnership with private organizations, Drilon put together 3,000 food packs to residents devastated by the typhoon that ripped through Western Visayas provinces on Christmas Day. Ursula, known internationally as Typhoon “Phanfone,” devastated mostly northern Iloilo, Aklan province and Capiz on Christmas Day, leaving thousands of residents displaced and devastated.

In addition to the 3,000 relief goods, 1,000 pieces of blankets will be given to displaced families. The assistance was coursed through local government units.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragedy. I express my sincere sympathy to all the victims, especially my kasimanwas who are going through difficult times,” Drilon said.

Meanwhile, in a visit to typhoon victims in Pontevedra, Capiz, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged government to immediately restore basic services, such as electricity and water.

He also called on the concerned government agencies to hasten the repair of roads, and provide basic commodities to victims most in need of government attention. .

More than 272 families composed of 1,015 individuals from five different barangays have been affected by the typhoon in Pontevedra.

The senator, who has been constantly visiting areas affected by such calamities, brought immediate relief assistance, such as food, groceries and cash assistance to the victims.

“As what I have promised to the Filipino people, in whatever corner of the Philippines, we will go there. I will go there to listen to your sentiments and provide help,” he said.

bureau’s 17 collection districts that remain committed in its drive to collect revenues and vigilant in its efforts to prevent smuggling and other fraudulent and illegal acts.

The agency is targeting to raise P677 billion for 2019.

Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is optimistic the bureau would still be able to surpass its P593-billion revenue collections in 2018.

Customs officials said the agency has regained the trust and confidence of stakeholders, thus, its collections continue to rise in line with its fiscal and administrative policies.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

BEATING THE RUSH. As New Year’s Day approaches, and due to a dampened sales of firecrackers, Quiapo has its share of vendors and buyers trying to beat the rush and checking out alternative noise makers such as these plastic horns that guarantee a safe celebration. Diana Noche

Without life jackets, 2 Chinese nationals drown CEBU CITY—Two Chinese nationals who did not wear life jackets while on board a “paraw” sailboat died due to drowning at Doljo Point in Panglao Island, Bohol on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas reported on Monday.

Lt. Junior Grade Michael John Encina, spokesperson of PCG-7, said the two fatalities identified as Luo Rennei, 63, male, and Lan Rong, 56, female, were thrown overboard after their sailboat “encountered strong waves.”

Encina said the Coast Guard station in western Bohol received a distress call through channel 16 from Motor Yacht Elizabeth 2 and reported that

they were conducting rescue operation to a distressed sailboat at Doljo Point.

“Immediately, Coast Guard Tagbilaran and Coast Guard Panglao personnel deployed their speed boards to assist the rescue operation and to further verify the report,” Encina said in his message sent to the media.

He said the PCG personnel investigated the incident while assisting the crew of the yacht in rescuing eight other Chinese nationals who were Luo and Lan’s companions on board the sailboat.

Rufino Labastida, 46, in charge of paraw operation when the incident happened, told PCG personnel that

two Paraws went on a sail at the famous diving site off Panglao Island four days after Typhoon “Ursula” hit some areas in the Visayas.

The sailboat carrying the 10 Chinese tourists was hit by huge waves which led to the victims being thrown overboard.

In the initial report which Encina supplied to media, the two guests were found not wearing life jackets.

The cadavers were turned over to Holy Name Funeral Homes.

“A joint investigation will be conducted by the PCG Bohol and the Bohol Provincial Police for the safety and [to determine] criminal liabilities of the operators,” Encina said. PNA

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has cited report showing that girls are better than boys in high school.

He said the latest Program for International Student Assessment revealed that the country’s female high school students outperformed their male counterparts in basic academic performance.

The PISA 2018 report shows that girls scored 27 points higher than boys in Reading Comprehension.

In terms of performance in Mathematics, girls scored 12 points higher than boys and scored four points higher than boys in Science.

The gender disparity in education, Gatchalian said, is not only evident in the Philippines.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 shows the persistence of gender inequalities in the acquisition of different competencies.

And while this year’s Global Gender Gap report highlights the growing urgency for action, here at home, Gatchalian is seeking intensified measures against teenage pregnancy.

The lawmaker puts emphasis on teenage pregnancy as it is the top reason why female students drop out of school.

According to the Philippines Statistics Authority’s Annual Poverty Indicators Survey 2017, “marriage or family matters” is the top reason why female out-of-school children and youth aged six to 24 are not attending school.

The PSA’s 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey also reported that 9 percent of 4.9-million teenage women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing.

In the goal to give the youth equal opportunity in education, he said it is important to identify the hindrances in attaining this goal.

“Fostering gender equality is about empowering half of our population with both the opportunities and skills to succeed in school and later on, in their professional lives,” Gatchalian added.

Sports Pacquiao’s team routs Edmonton 5 in Canada EDMONTON—Manny Pacquiao settled for a double-double as the MP Team subdued the Edmonton AllStars, 101-91, on Saturday, December 28 (Sunday, December 29, in Manila) in the windup of the Chooks-to-Go/ MPBL Canada Invasion at Edmonton Expo Center.

The MPBL Founder and CEO wound up with 33 points, including back-to-back triples that quelled Edmonton’s final rally, and 10 rebounds to go with seven assists and two steals that nearly duplicated his 31-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort in a 11699 victory over Team Casey Calgary on Friday.

Playing without relief to satisfy the longing of the crowd, Senator Pacquiao was ably supported by younger brother Congressman Bobby, who accounted for 26 points and four rebounds in the third and last exhibition game.

With MP Team ahead, 83-67, Edmonton sprung to life with 11 straight points, the last eight by CJ Liwanag, to threaten at 83-78 with still 6 minutes and 35 seconds left.

Batangas Athletics center Jhaymo Eguilos, however, completed a threepoint play and Pacquiao, the eight-division boxing world champion who’s passionate about basketball, knocked in the triples to restore order, 94-78, less than five minutes left.

Davao Occidental Tigers star Mark Yee missed his usual double-double with nine points, 15 rebounds and two steals while Eguilos finished with eight points for MPT, which also got seven points and five rebounds from Bicol Volcanoes’ Chris Lalata.

Other members of MPT, which was coached by Cong. Dong Gonzales, owner of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, and assisted by MPBL Deputy Commissioner Zaldy Realubit, were Paolo Hubalde (Valenzuela Classic), Jeff Viernes (Batangas), Michael Juico (Pampanga), Aris Dionisio (Manila Stars) and Gerald Anderson (Imus Bandera).

Completing the team were MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, Operations Head Emmer Oreta and panelists Christian Luanzon, Martin Antonio and Rodney Santos.

In the opener, Anderson played the hero’s role as Imus Bandera Luxxe Slim thwarted Wysman Storm,89-88, in overtime.

Anderson scored the game’s last four points, including the winning spinning layup, as the Bandera clawed their way back from a 45-21 deficit and seized control at 73-66, on a triple by Anderson, who ended up with 14 points.

Imus was ahead, 79-77, entering the homestretch but Wysom’s Stefan Favis drilled in a jumper with 1.5 seconds left to force overtime.

Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, behind the guns of Alvin Pasaol and Anton Asistio, coasted to a 108101 victory over Edmonton Team 2 in the second game.

Zamboanga beat Imus Bandera, 8872, in an official game of the Lakan Season on Friday.

The MPBL delegation will be heading home on separate flights on Sunday with Pacquiao, wife Jinkee and their children staying behind.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Dolphins stun Pats; Chiefs win L

OS ANGELES—The Miami Dolphins stunned the New England Patriots 27-24 on Sunday, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to seize an NFL first-round playoff bye with a 31-21 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The heavily favored Patriots’ loss on their home field at Gillette Stadium, coupled with the Chiefs’ win, means Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl champions will play in the wild card round for the first time since 2009— when they were thumped at home by the Baltimore Ravens.

“We didn’t play the way we’re capable of playing and it ended up costing us,” New England’s superstar quarterback Brady said. “Just too many bad mistakes.”

The Pats will host the Tennessee Titans in the wild card round.

With plenty at stake on the final day of the regular season, Raheem Mostert ran for two touchdowns and Dre Greenlaw made a game-saving defensive tackle as the San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 26-21 win over Seattle.

The 49ers (13-3) will get a bye in next weekend’s wild-card round while the Seahawks (11-5) get the No. 5 seed and will play at No. 4 seed the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in the final game of wild-card weekend.

The Titans secured the last American Football Conference berth with a 35-14 win over the Houston Texans.

That result extinguished the faint hopes of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders.

Green Bay locked up a National Football Conference first-round bye in dramatic fashion in Detroit, where Mason Crosby kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Packers to a 23-20 victory over the lowly Lions.

With quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggling, the Packers trailed by two touchdowns in the second quarter, and didn’t

take the lead until Crosby came through.

The Eagles locked up the final NFC berth, clinching the NFC East division title with a 34-17 victory over the New York Giants.

That result rendered the Dallas Cowboys’ 47-16 victory over the Washington Redskins meaningless.

‘Hail to the Dolphins’ The Patriots’ road to a title repeat was suddenly looking a lot tougher after their shock loss to the 5-11 Dolphins.

“It was a great chance for us to not play next week, and we didn’t take advantage of it,” Brady said after the Pats fell to No. 3 in the AFC behind the Baltimore Ravens and the Chiefs. “We just didn’t play good enough.”

New England have never won the Super Bowl without benefit of a firstround bye.

They looked set to escape with a victory when James White pulled down a screen pass and ran for a 13-yard touchdown that put New England up for the first time with 3:53 remaining.

But the Dolphins marched 75 yards in

three minutes and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick found tight end Mike Gesicki for the winning TD with 24 seconds left.

Brady struggled much of the day, completing 16-of-29 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

Brady’s first TD pass of the day moved him past Peyton Manning into second on the NFL’s all-time touchdown pass list headed by Drew Brees.

But his pass intercepted by former teammate Eric Rowe in the second quarter was returned for a touchdown that gave the Dolphins a 10-3 lead.

“It was just a bad throw,” the 42-yearold Brady said, insisting that he had no physical problems on the day.

New England’s top-ranked defense allowed a season-high in yards to a Dolphins offense led by Fitzpatrick -- who threw for 320 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a TD. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs didn’t waste the opportunity provided by the Pats’ defeat, locking in the AFC second seed and a bye with a gritty win over the Chargers. AFP

Japan star Nishikori out of ATP Cup, Aussie Open

FASTEST SPRINTER. Smokin Satuday owner Bobby Inigo (5th from left) displays the Philracom Grand Sprint Championship trophy won by his filly recently at the MetroTurf Racing Complex in Malvar, Batangas. He is joined by Elmer de Leon (7th from left), representing trainer Donato Sordan, winning breeder Raymund Puyat (6th from left), Philracom’s Randy Reyes, Metro Turf racing manager Rudy Prado (4th from left) and his deputy Arthur Escala (2nd from left).

P2.5M in prizes at stake in Juvenile race

A TOTAL guaranteed prize of P2.5 million is being put up by the Philippine Racing Commission as it concludes the 2019 racing season with the Juvenile Championship today at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The Juvenile Stakes Race features the country’s best two-year-old horses, led by Union Bell and Exponential.

Easily the most impressive in the sixhorse field, Union Bell (sire Union Rags, USA; dam Tocqueville, ARG), will be shooting for a fourth straight win in the Juvenile Series and the whopping P1.5million prize that goes with it.

The Elmer de Leon-owned Union Bell started its amazing streak with an emphatic five-length win in the 1st leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite last October, before making

it two in a row in the 2nd leg at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas the following month.

Proving that it is one of the country’s fastest-rising young horses, Union Bell completed a hat trick of sorts by winning the Juvenile Colts Stakes Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in December to declare its readiness to compete against the big guns in the Triple Crown series next year.

But first things first. The Juvenile Championship crown is up for grabs.

“Masyadong magaling ang kabayo ko, ready na ito next year sa Triple Crown, pero may mga karera pa na dapat takbuhin,” confidently declared Union Bell’s jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez.

On the same day that Union Bell won the Juvenile Colts’ title, Exponential quietly took the female side of the se-

ries, topping the Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race with an impressive five-length triumph, with interestingly, JB Hernandez, on its mount.

Hernandez, however, will ride Union Bell in the Juvenile Championship, leaving the Raymund Puyat-owned Exponential to the guidance of jockey PM Cabalejo.

Standing in the way of these two favorites are SC Stockfarm’s coupled entries After Party (jockey MM Gonzales) and Our Secret (Kevin Abobo).

Completing the participants are Lucky Savings (jockey JA Guce, owner Antonio Coyco) and Puro Asset (JL Paano, Melanie Habla).

Runner-up gets P562,500, while third and fourth placers will receive P312,000 and P125,000, respectively. The breeder of the winning horse pockets P75,000.

PERTH—-Japanese star Kei Nishikori pulled out of the Australian Open and the inaugural ATP Cup Monday as he continues to struggle with an elbow injury that has kept him out since the US Open.

The former world number four, who has slipped to 13, said he was disappointed not to be able to begin his season as hoped for in January.

“Unfortunately I have to pull out of the ATP Cup and the Aussie Open,” he said in statement.

“Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 per cent ready or healthy to compete at the highest level.

“This decision was not taken lightly as Australia is one of my favourite places to compete,” he added.

Nishikori’s elbow needed surgery in October and he has not played since.

Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top-ranked player in Japan’s ATP Cup team in Perth. Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event earlier this week, with Toshihide Matsui called up instead.

Nishikori’s absence follows Britain’s Andy Murray also pulling out of both tournaments over the weekend with a pelvic injury.

The innovative ATP Cup, from January 3-12, offers $15 million in prize money and a maximum of 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points in the new men’s warm-up tournament for the opening Grand Slam of the year.

It will see 24 nations split into six groups, with eight teams emerging from the round-robin stage to compete in the knockout phase.

Sydney will host the finals, along with group games which will also be h e l d in Brisbane and Perth. AFP

Lakers outmuscle Mavs; Thunder surprise Raptors LOS ANGELES—Anthony Davis had 23 points and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-95 on Sunday at Staples Center.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came off the bench to score 19 points while LeBron James, who turns 35 on Monday, finished with a double double, 13 points and 13 assists.

James became the ninth player in league history to reach 9,000 career assists.

Luka Doncic, who entered the contest as the NBA’s third-leading scorer at 29.1 points per game, had 19 points on five-of-14 shooting and seven assists.

The Mavericks got a scare in the second quarter when Doncic was slammed to the ground by Lakers Dwight Howard, who was hit with a foul on the play.

Doncic was driving to the basket and in the air when Howard reach in with his left arm sending Doncic crashing to the floor.

This is the second vicious hit by Howard on Doncic this season. In November, Howard bloodied the 20-yearold Slovenian with an elbow to the head.

Delon Wright added 14 points off the bench, while Kristaps Porzingis managed 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

The Lakers outshot the Mavericks 48.7 percent to 36 percent.

The Mavericks also played most of the game without

Tim Hardaway who left the contest with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter after suffering a hamstring injury.

Hardaway, who had 25 points in the Mavericks’ win at Golden State on Saturday, seemed to hurt himself after a dunk.

Champions beaten Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nailed the go-ahead jump shot with 36 seconds left and equalled his career best with 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors 98-97.

Chris Paul scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half as the red-hot Thunder won their sixth game in their last seven.

Paul added 11 rebounds and eight assists, Nerlens Noel tallied 13 points and Darius Bazley scored 12 for Oklahoma City.

Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet each scored 20 points for the Raptors. Patrick McCaw added 13 points, Serge Ibaka had 12 and 14 rebounds while Terence Davis had 11 points in the loss.

Toronto led by six points halfway through the second quarter. After the Thunder cut into their deficit, VanVleet’s three-pointer pushed the lead back to eight with 3:44 left before halftime.

The Thunder went on an 11-0 run, capped by Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-pointer to lead by three points with 1:26 remaining. The Raptors pressed late

and the game was tied 47-47 at halftime.

The Thunder led by eight with 9:35 left in the third quarter but Toronto bounced back to take a two-point lead on Chris Boucher’s three-pointer.

Toronto led 80-76 after three quarters.

In the final quarter, the Raptors failed to hold their lead and the Thunder led by three points on Paul’s jumper with 9:04 left.

In New Orleans, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball scored 27 points each as the host New Orleans Pelicans defeated the injury-hit Houston Rockets 127-112.

Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore added 25 each and Derrick Favors had 12 points and 16 rebounds as the Pelicans won for the fifth time in six games.

The Rockets played without Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who sat out with a sore toe. Harden is averaging a league best 38.3 points per game.

Westbrook sat out because the Rockets were playing two games in as many days after beating New Jersey 108-98 on Saturday.

Danuel House scored 22 points, Eric Gordon added 20 to lead the Rockets. AFP

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

A bountiful 2019 for PH Sports

By Peter Atencio

T

HE year 2019 was a bountiful time for Philippines. There were many athletes who came up with shining moments. There were upsets and there victories that came following a long journey after going through many ups and downs.

Their success stood side by side with the overall championship that the Philippines won in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Here is a rundown of the year’s Top 10 sports stories of the passing year.

1. Beermen’s dominance

San Miguel Beer won its eighth crown in 14 conferences in the Philippine Basketball Association.

The Beermen outplayed and outworked the TNT KaTropa to capture the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown via a 102-90 win last August before a big crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was one of the sweetest championships for the Beermen in franchise history as they made it back-to-back from their Philippine Cup title conquest.

Chris McCullough followed up a 35-point game with another 35-point job in the Beermen’s final game of the conference as they bagged their eighth title in 14 conferences and 27th overall.

And they held on to the lead they got failed to clear the height. and pulled away by as much as 13 points Before going to Italy, Obiena cleared off King Caralipio’s two freebies, 69-59, a height of 5.76 meters during a gold in the closing minutes of the third. medal-clinching feat at the World University Games on July 12, 2019.

4. Yulo’s grace and artistry Carlos Edriel Yulo capped his cam6. Still not over the hill paign in the 41st FIG Artistic GymnasManny Pacquiao defeated Keith tics World Championships on a stirring Thurman via split decision for Thurgolden note last October in clinching man’s WBA (Super) welterweight title the men’s floor exercise title at the Hans on July 20, 2019, in Las Vegas at the Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.

MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Performing next to last among the eighth finalists, Yulo came through with an awe-inspiring display of grace, artistry and athleticism in securing the gold with an eye-popping score of 15.3 points.

Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat was the frontrunner with 15.2 points until the Pinoy bet’s turn came up.

Also playing a major factor in the victory was the degree of difficulty of Yulo’s routine - the highest among the entries at 6.500 to Dolgopyat’s 6.400. This proved to be his winning edge.Yulo’s stint in

The Miracle of 2019: Filipino athletes won as one.

Kristina Knott and Zion Corrales-Nelson

The Ateneo Blue Eagles completed a perfect 16-0 title season.

2. A perfect season for the Eagles

The Ateneo Blue Eagles achieved a perfect season in 2019.

Finals MVP Thirdy Ravena unloaded 17 and led the Blue Eagles to a 86-79 subduing of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers last October at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ateneo’s Game 2 win allowed the Blue Eagles to complete a historical 16-0 sweep of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball finals.

No team has ever done this before as Ateneo’s feat is now considered the longest winning streak in 26 years. The Blue Eagles, who alo took Game 1 with a 9177 triumph, remained champions for a third straight season and after they

3. The Knights’ true grit

In Game 3 of the NCAA finals at the Mall of Asia Arena last October, the Letran Knights lost two key players to cramps and leaned on the defensive heroics of Jerrick Balanza in the dying seconds to upset the defending champion San Beda Red Lions, 81-79, and snatch the 95th NCAA men’s basketball crown.

Balanza blocked a three-point attempt

by Evan Nelle at the buzzer, allowing the Knights to claim their 18th crown since 1938.

Balanza banged in a game-high 15 points for the Knights, who wrested the title in almost the same way when they last won at the Red Lions expense and with Aldin Ayo still calling the shots back in 2015.

The Knights put the Red Lions in an unfamiliar situation when they took the upperhand at halftime, 44-38, off a layup and triple from Ato Ular and Allen Mina.

Stuttgart earned him a qualifying seat to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

5. First Olympic qualifier

The 23-year-old Ernest John Obiena was the first qualifier to the Tokyo Olympics quadrennial meet in athletics next year after he surpassed the qualifying standard last September.

Obiena, who is the 2019 Asian Athletics championship pole vault gold medalist and Philippine record holder, cleared 5.81 meters during pole vault meet in Chiara, Italy.

Because of this, Obiena went beyond the Olympic standard of 5.80 meters.

The 6’2” Obiena cleared the height on his third and last attempt, and bested five others for the gold medal.

Obiena later went for the Asian record by attempting to clear 5.9 meters, but he

Late in the first round, Pacquiao hit Thurman with a right hand and knocked him down. Thurman was moving backwards after a Pacquiao combination of body and head punches.

The first five rounds went to Pacquiao, who bloodied Thurman’s nose and forced him into a very intense fight.

Thurman looked to have regained his composure in the middle rounds and adjusted to Pacquiao’s offense in the second half of the fight.

Thurman was able to catch Pacquiao with some hard shots, but the Filipino icon would catch his foe again in the 10th round, Two judges ruled in favor of Pacquiao with a score of 115–112 and one in favor of Thurman with a score of 114–113.

7. A beloved record shattered

Filipino-American sprinter Zion Corrales-Nelson shattered a 33-year-old Philippine women’s 200-meter run national record set by track legend Lydia de Vega-Mercado.

The 20-year-old Corrales-Nelson submitted a clocking of 23.18 seconds during the West Preliminary National Collegiate Athletic Association Finals in Sacramento California on May 23.

Her clocking eclipsed the 23.35-second

mark of De Vega-Mercado during a meet in Walnut, California back in 1986.

It was Corrales, who first broke De VegaMercado’s mark this year, followed by Kristina Knott in the Southeast Asian Games.

shone the brightest for the Lady Bulldogs as she capped off her collegiate career with the Finals MVP plum.

NU also pulled off its latest feat without its star center Jack Animam, who missed the finals series due to an eye injury.

10. A world champion

NU MVP Monique Del Carmen

8. The Miracle of 2019

The Philippines emerged as the overall champion of the 30th Southeast Asian Games campaign on home soil.

This was a repeat of what took place in 2005, when the country also hosted the biennial sporting event.

Filipino athletes collected a total of 149 golds, 117 silvers, and 121 bronze medal, surpassing the haul of 14 years ago with 113 golds, 84 silvers, and 94 bronzes.

Arnis collected the most number of gold medals, gathering 14, while athletics had 11, and dancesport chipped in 10 gold mints.

Taekwondo, boxing, and wushu also had significant contributions in the gold medal haul.

Nesthy Petecio crowned herself as the second Filipina world boxing champion when she ruled the featherweight division of the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships last October 13 in Ulan Ude, Russia.

The 27-year-old Petecio won via split decision over the host country’s bet, Liudmila Vorontsove, with 3 judges—Australia (30-27), Korea (3027) and Ireland (29-28) ruling in the former’s favor.

She kept her composure throughout the fight and delivered the clearer and more solid blows in the three-round affair.

Petecio ended the Philippines’ world championship gold-medal drought after seven years.

She follows in the footsteps of Josie Gabuco’s title win in the light flyweight division over China’s Shiqu Xu back in 2012.

9. 96 straight wins and counting

The Letran Knights stunned the favorites—the Red LIons—for the crown.

The National Lady Bulldogs came up with another perfect run to claim their sixth straight University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s title.

NU, coached by Patrick Aquino, stretched its streak to 96-0 after beating University of Santo Tomas in the finals.

Monique del Carmen Home is the world champ Nesthy Petecio.

Best Player of Conference race a brawl

SMB’s JuneMar Fajardo

THE fight for the coveted individual plum in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup is a virtual barroom brawl.

The Best Player of the Conference derby heads to a curious finish, with not a single player from finalists Barangay Ginebra and Meralco making the Top Five in the stats’ race.

San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Columbian Dyip super rookie CJ Perez, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger, NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena and TNT KaTropa’s Jayson Castro slug it out in the BPC rumble.

Meanwhile, two-time Governors’ Cup Best Import winner Allen Durham and one-time Commissioner’s Cup top reinforcement Justin Brownlee are again chief rivals for the coveted ware.

With outside chances for the Best Import honors are TNT’s KJ McDaniels and North-

Port’s Michael Qualls.

But it could well be either Durham or Brownlee as they’ve remained class acts, with their topnotch performances leading to a third finals duel in the season-ending tourney.

The BPC award is a battle among Fajardo, Perez, Standhardinger, Ravena and Castro – all with strong cases to win the award.

Fajardo (with an average of 38.8 stats points) narrowly won the stats’ race over Perez (37.2), the season’s top draft selection who made good impression all season long, including in the Governors’ Cup where he showed the way in scoring (23.2) and in steals (2.5).

Standhardinger (35.1 SPs) and Castro (31.6 SPs) were two candidates who were able to carry their teams to the semis while Ravena earned taps on the back with his fine showing coming from his

long FIBA suspension.

Three Ginebra stalwarts in Stanley Pringle (30.8), Japeth Aguilar (29.9) and LA Tenorio (28.0) narrowly missed the Magic Five together with TNT’s RR Pogoy (30.4) and Meralco’s Chris Newsome (29.8).

Tied with Tenorio at 10th spot was Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (28.0) then came another rookie in Bobby Ray Parks (27.5), followed by Raymond Almazan (27.4), Jeth Troy Rosario (27.0) and Matthew Wright (26.8) to round out the Top 15.

Fajardo collected averages of 19.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks to contend for a second BPC award in the season following his BPC coronation in the all-Filipino tourney.

Meanwhile, Castro, the Commissioner’s Cup best player, normed 14.9 markers, 5.9 dish-offs, 4.4 boards and 1.7 steals.

IN BRIEF Smart to transform cell cites into LTE SMART Communications Inc. unveiled a plan to equip all its cell sites with long-term evolution capability to offer faster mobile data service nationwide.

The company said that as of the third quarter, it increased the number of LTE base stations by 34 percent from end-2018 and deployed them in more areas of the country.

Smart’s goal is to equip all its cell sites with LTE, which offers the best mobile data service.

Underpinning Smart’s network deployment is the continued expansion of PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which grew by 26 percent versus end-2018 to more than 307,000 kilometers nationwide. Smart said the unmatched fiber infrastructure was a critical advantage for the company.

According to international mobile analytics firm Opensignal report covering the period Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2019, Smart customers were getting superior 4G Availability in both rural and urban areas.

It also said that Smart continued to deliver much faster LTE download speeds in both rural and urban areas. Darwin G. Amojelar

Education to lift PH workforce LABOR market education is important to “future-proof” the next generation of Filipino workers, according to an official of the Labor Department.

Ciriaco Lagunzad, Labor Undersecretary for workers protection and internal auditing, said it is crucial to lay down the foundation of 21st century skills to ensure that current and subsequent members of the labor force would be able to compete globally and cope with the demands of the future of work.

“Providing our youth with timely and accurate labor market signals would enable them to prepare and harness their potential to its fullest by establishing strong foundations during their education,” Lagunzad said during the Annual Public Policy Conference organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies this year.

He said the Labor Department issued its Labor Information Report 2022 to guide students in making informed career decisions and help career advocates, career counsellors and training institutions to come up with strategies that will increase the potential of current and future members of the Philippine workforce.

Business

Hyundai eyes 3,000 auto sales in December

By Othel V. Campos HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc., the exclusive distributor of the Korean automotive brand in the Philippines, said it expects sales to surpass the 3,000 mark in December.

HARI said it sold 2,981 vehicles in November, up by 4.4 percent from October’s 2,856 units. This marked the company’s third highest monthly sales in 2019.

It said that in the first 11 months, total sales slipped 7.9 percent to 30,599 units from 32,882 units sold in the same period in 2018.

The company said that despite the drop in the 11-month period, sales in December would likely surpass the 3,000-unit mark as it welcomes the new decade.

“December is historically a good month for HARI due to increased consumer spending. Coupled with lower interest rates and inflation, we expect our sales to be further bolstered. Beyond these factors, our main drivers remain the quality, reliability, and ease of maintenance of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles,” said Hyundai president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

The company said that passenger car sales grew by 6.8 percent in November to 1,556 units, led by its dynamic duo―the Hyundai Reina and the Hyundai Accent.

HARI said that since its introduction in late January, the Reina consistently grew sales and became the top-seller for Hyundai in November. The Reina is also the second strongest model in its industry segment while the Accent sustained its position as the third in the volume driving segment. A total of 16,116 Hyundai passenger cars were sold in the first 11 months of 2019.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

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BSP expected to cut rates by 50bps

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to resume its policy easing cycle in the first half next year to stimulate the economy, German financial firm Deutsche Bank AG said in a report.

“Given the likelihood of a negative output gap persisting for several quarters yet, we expect the BSP’s easing cycle to continue, with two more rate cuts likely in the first half of 2020 bringing the policy reverse repo rate to 3.50 per-

cent, following the 75bp [basis points] delivered so far,” the bank said.

“The central bank still has space to ease further with CPI [consumer price index] likely to keep running in the lower half of the monetary authority’s target band of 2 to 4 percent over 2020,” the bank said.

It said the BSP would also likely deliver another 2 percentage points of reserve requirement reductions early next year, as it continued its agenda of reducing historical distortions in the monetary system.

“These cuts will take the RRR to 12 percent by end-2020 as the central bank continues its bid to reach single-digit levels by mid-2023. This additional liquidity―including from the 4ppt of cuts undertaken in 2019―is likely to show

up in rebounding credit growth and rising asset valuations in the coming quarters―and, in turn, in inflation down the road,” it said.

The policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral kept the benchmark interest rate steady at 4 percent on Dec. 12, taking into account the continuing benign inflation environment.

The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also kept unchanged at 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

The Monetary Board’s decision was based on its assessment of a benign inflation environment. The latest baseline forecasts indicate that the future inflation path remains within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2020 to 2021, with well-anchored inflation

expectations.

The board cut the reserve requirement ratios of banks from 14 percent to unleash more liquidity into the system.

Analysts estimate that around P90 billion worth of additional liquidity is unleashed for every 1-percent cut in RRR. Reserve requirement, also cash reserve ratio, is a central bank regulation that sets the minimum fraction of customer deposits and notes that each bank must hold as reserves.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said he was aiming to reduce the RRR to a single-digit level within his term.

Inflation in November reached 1.3 percent and 2.5 percent in the first 11 months, within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

UnionBank sees GDP growing 6.6% next year

Oceana welcomes Dar’s confirmation PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of William Dar as Agriculture secretary is one of the highlights of 2019, according to Oceana.

Oceana vice president Gloria Estenzo Ramos said the Commission on Appointments’ swift confirmation of Dar as DA secretary reveals the high regard for his leadership, expertise and integrity in steering the country towards the goal of food security.

Oceana said it was supporting the department’s thrust towards restoring the abundance of oceans, and thereby helping coastal communities attain sustainable livelihood for their families.

Oceana expressed high hopes that Dar’s leadership under the “New Thinking for Agriculture” will bring about long-term benefits to artisanal fisherfolk who are among the poorest of the poor and the most marginalized in Philippine society.

Oceana also welcomed the creation of a separate Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to institutionalize science-based methodologies in the 12 fisheries management areas, being among the key proposals at the recent Sulong Pilipinas 2019 Agribusiness Summit.

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

2019’S FINAL TRADING. Directors and officers of the Philippine Stock Exchange lead the bell-ringing ceremony to officially close the market trading for 2019. Attending the event are (from left) PSE director Alejandro Yu, Luys Securities Company Inc. vice president Aurora Shih, PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines COO Renee Rubio and PSE controllership and treasury division head Roberto Jose Jimenez.

SEC orders two warring camps of VTI to stop ‘misinformation’

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday warned the two warring camps of Vallacar Transit Inc., from spreading misinformation on the regulator’s statements and actions over the company’s intra-corporate dispute.

It said in a statement it would not tolerate misinformation and disinformation as they would negatively impact not only the warring factions but also the investors, the consumers and the overall market.

“In this light, both parties are advised to be mindful in presenting in the media and to the general public the statements and actions of the commission with regard to their intra-corporate dispute over the control of Vallacar Transit,” SEC said.

“Both parties must give the appropriate respect to the commission, the primary registrar and overseer of corporations like Vallacar Transit,” it said.

The SEC said both camps had issued press statements wherein certain actions and statements of SEC Bacolod Extension Office and SEC Office of the General Counsel were structured against or in favor of either party.

The SEC Bacolod Extension Office attended a stockholders’ meeting organized by the faction composed of four of the Yanson siblings―Roy, Emily, Ricardo Jr. and Ma. Lourdes Celina Yanson-Lopez on Dec. 7, 2019. The SEC Bacolod attended the meeting strictly as observer, in response to a formal request by the so-called Yanson 4 and pursuant to the general supervisory power of the commission over registered corporations.

The SEC Bacolod did not participate in the meeting, in any manner. It neither gave any opinion or legal advice nor signed any document aside from the attendance sheet.

It said the attendance of the SEC Bacolod in the disputed stockholders’ meeting was either misrepresented or misinterpreted as a recognition of the legitimacy of the claims and actions of the Yanson 4.

Madrid Danao & Associates, the law firm representing the faction of family matriarch Olivia Yanson and siblings Leo Rey Yanson and Ginette YansonDumancas called out the SEC Bacolod for attending the meeting organized by the Yanson 4.

The SEC Bacolod then issued a cer-

TV5 open to block-time agreement with ABS-CBN amid franchise row

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE chairman of TV5 Network Inc. is open to the possibility of a block-time agreement with ABS-CBN Corp. if Congress refused to renew the franchise of the Lopez-led broadcast network.

“We have lots of highways, setting aside the politics, if they want to block time ... We don’t have much entertainment content after all,” TV5 chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan, however, said there were no ongoing discussions between the two networks.

“They haven’t approached us. Nobody was talking to us,” he said.

“I don’t want to be presumptuous, to come and talk to us. We don’t want to think about it. We don’t want to take the first step,” he said.

Pangilanan, however, said he was “reluctant” to any possible agreement with ABS-CBN because of the political issues.

ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.

Five bills were filed in Congress to seek the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise.

President Duterte earlier said ABSCBN’s franchise would not be renewed once it expired on March 2020. Duturte accused ABS-CBN of not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign.

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

ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through RA No. 7966 on March 30, 1995.

ABS-CBN earlier reported a 53-percent increase in net income to P2.26 billion in the first nine months of 2019 from P1.48 billion in the same period last year.

ABS-CBN generated consolidated revenues of P32 billion as advertising and consumer sales increased 8.6 percent.

tification of its attendance as observer in the disputed stockholders’ meeting, upon the request of Madrid Danao & Associates.

It also clarified that its attendance as observer in a meeting of a corporation with pending-intra-corporate dispute was neither a confirmation of the validity of the meeting or of the claimed shareholdings of the faction, nor an affirmation of the presence of a quorum during the meeting.

The SEC however, noticed that the certification was either misrepresented or misinterpreted again as if the SEC Bacolod Extension Office had dismissed the claims and actions of the Yanson 4 in favor of the other faction.

The SEC’s OGC responded to another letter from Madrid Danao & Associates questioning the acceptance of a general information sheet filed by the Yanson 4 under the name of Vallacar Transit.

The OGC said in a general sense that it was the ministerial duty of the SEC to receive a general information sheet from any person filing in behalf of a corporation and that doing so did not amount to affirmation of the truthfulness of the declarations made therein.

Best practices.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. garners recognition from the Asset ESG Corporate Awards for employing industry best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibility and corporate governance.

Receiving the awards are RCBC chief risk officer Jamal Ahmad (left) and segment head of central funding division Jose Maria Borromeo.

UNION Bank of the Philippines, the country’s eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, expects the gross domestic product to grow 6.6 percent in 2020, amid expectations that the government budget will be signed on schedule.

“With the extension of the validity of the 2019 national budget and the almost-there legislation of the 2020 budget of P4.1 trillion, 2020 GDP growth is expected at 6.6 percent,” the bank said in its Economic Research-2020 Outlook.

“This sort-of ‘dual stimulus’ may act as double insulation from the continuing and anticipated global economic and trade growth uncertainties,” the report said.

UnionBank’s 2020 GDP growth projection was within the growth forecast of the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee at 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent from 2020 until 2022.

The DBCC said the comprehensive tax reform program could help ensure a reliable revenue base and, more importantly, enhance the modernization of the economy.

The DBCC, however, reduced the growth forecast for 2019 to 6 percent to 6.5 percent from the previous estimate of 6 percent to 7 percent, amid the lingering trade tension between the US and China that were impacting global growth.

It is composed of the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Data showed that in the first three quarters, the GDP growth averaged 5.8 percent, below the low end of the Duterte administration’s target range of 6 percent to 7 percent, weighed down by the delayed approval of the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019.

The economic management team was aiming for a growth of at least 6.7 percent growth in the fourth quarter to hit the lower end of the target.

UnionBank said economic growth this year was led by an industry sector recovery and the continued strength of the services sector. Agriculture, with meager growth in the first half, recovered in the third quarter.

Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Dubai plans record spending to lift economy DUBAI unveiled a 2020 budget, projecting record spending of $18.1 billion, up 17 percent on this year, as it seeks to revive its flagging economy.

The Gulf city state expects revenues too to rise sharply next year as it hosts Expo 2020, the global six-month trade fair set to open on Oct. 20.

But it still foresees a deficit for the fourth year in a row of $700 million.

The government is hoping that Expo will draw some 25 million visitors, many of them from abroad, and is projecting a 25 percent increase in revenues to $17.4 billion.

Dubai is the only government in the Gulf not dependent on hydrocarbon revenues, and projects around 94 percent of income to come from non-oil sources.

Dubai is renowned for its skyscrapers, like the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, but its key property sector has been sliding since 2014.

Last year, growth slowed to 1.94 percent, less half the 2017 figure and the worst in a decade.

It picked up slightly to 2.1 percent in the first half of this year but the government is keen to do more to stimulate consumer spending and the real estate market.

Meanwhile, the UAE denied reports that a popular mobile application developed in the country was used for government spying.

Apple and Google removed the ToTok app from their marketplaces last week following a report claiming it allowed the UAE government to track users’ conversations, movements and other details.

But the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said in a statement that UAE laws “prohibit any kind of data breach and unlawful interception”.

It continued: “The TRA reaffirms that all certified telecommunications applications in the UAE are in compliance with these standards.”

ToTok became popular by offering free calling and messaging to millions of users in countries like the UAE where internet calling services like Skype are blocked.

But US intelligence officials and a security researcher determined the app was being used by the UAE government for detailed surveillance, The New York Times reported on Dec. 22.

Security researcher Patrick Wardle, who assisted the newspaper, said in a blog post that ToTok appeared to be part of a “mass surveillance operation”, which “likely afforded in-depth insight in a large percentage of the country’s population.”

ToTok appeared to trick users of iPhones and Android devices into handing over access to their location and private data on their devices, Wardle said.

It was also promoted by what appeared to be fake reviews, he said.

AFP

Asian stocks mixed on year-end A SIAN markets were mixed Monday with activity thinning as investors wind down for the end of the year, with lingering optimism over easing US-China trade tensions driving some gains.

Stocks took their lead from a mixed finish to a quiet week on US trading floors after the Dow edged to a fresh record on Friday, but the Nasdaq retreated after 10 straight all-time highs.

Hong Kong was up 0.40 percent and Shanghai almost one percent higher.

Tokyo’s Nikkei lost 0.76 percent as investors cashed in ahead of the

New Year holidays, but the final day of trading still saw the benchmark end 18.2 percent up from a year earlier.

The bellwether index jumped 18.2 percent from a year earlier to end at 23,656.62 points after a 12-percent loss the previous year.

The broader Topix index was up 15.2 percent in 2019 at 1,721.36 points.

On Monday alone, the Nikkei lost 0.76 percent and the Topix fell 0.68 percent as investors cashed in ahead of the New Year holidays.

Sydney and Jakartawere also marginally down.

“Investors appear to be growing a tad apprehensive about chasing the record setting US equity market risk-reward premise into yearend,” Stephen Innes, chief Asia

market strategist at AxiTrader said in a note.

Analysts have attributed the latest run of US records to upbeat investor sentiment based on a lower risk of recession in the immediate future, a mellowing of US-China trade tensions, and accommodative monetary policy.

Stocks have followed a nearly unbroken line upward since early October, drifting higher much of last week in the quiet period between the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“The overall picture is one of book squaring and profit-taking in Asia with investors preferring to wait until next week before loading up on the first trades of a new decade,” Jeffrey Halley, senior Asia Pacific market analyst at OANDA said in a note.

Investors will also be watching for key policy announcements in the region this week.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is to give his set-piece New Year’s speech on Wednesday, with all eyes on nuclear-armed Pyongyang’s threat of a “new way” after its endof-year deadline for sanctions relief from the US. China’s Xi Jinping is also scheduled to give a New Year’s address, while traders will also be watching for the Tuesday release of China’s official manufacturing PMI data.

Elsewhere Monday, oil prices edged higher on continued demand, mainly sidestepping comments from OPEC on Friday that the cartel would discuss ending production curbs next year. AFP

Ethiopia gov’t charges 50 for profiteering from Blue Nile

Invited guests clap during a ceremony to mark the end of trading year at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on Dec. 30, 2019. AFP

Iraqi protesters block oil field, hold strike to demand jobs NASIRIYAH—Iraqi anti-government protesters blockaded an oil field and rallied in southern cities Sunday while political factions remained paralyzed in their attempts to form a new government.

Several hundred people demanding jobs shut off access to the Nassiriya field, 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of Baghdad, which produces 82,000 barrels of oil per day, executives said.

The two-day-old blockade is the first to disrupt operations in OPEC’s second largest producer since the start of the popular revolt set to enter its fourth month in early January.

The youth-led protests demand the ouster of the entire political class that has run the country in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Demonstrators have vented their fury at what they consider inept politicians

who have mismanaged the economy, enriched themselves and are beholden to powerful neighbour Iran.

Sit-in protests have shut down state offices and schools across the Shiite-majority south for weeks, and demonstrators again declared a “general strike” in Diwaniya on Sunday, the first day of the working week.

Mass rallies and picket lines also paralysed Kout, al-Hilla, Amara and the shrine city of Najaf, AFP correspondents said.

The protests have continued despite being met with batons, tear gas and, at times, live rounds in violence that has claimed nearly 460 lives and left some 25,000 people wounded.

The activists scored a partial success in November with the resignation of prime minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, who however remains in charge in a care-

taker role.

Pro-Iranian and other political factions have since wrangled over finding a successor -- so far without success.

And although parliament has just voted for an electoral reform package, there has been no indication that the early polls many citizens are calling for will be held anytime soon.

Heightening the turmoil, President Barham Saleh last week threatened to resign rather than put forward the name of a pro-Iran candidate to form the next government.

Nassiriya student demonstrator Osama Ali praised the head of state, saying he had “foiled the attempts by parties and militiamen to kill off the revolution to protect their own interests”.

“This gives us hope to continue our peaceful movement until we obtain all our demands,” he told AFP. AFP

ADDIS ABABA—The former head of Ethiopia’s public electric company and 49 others were charged with corruption linked to a dam on the Blue Nile river, the state-owned ENA press agency said Friday.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, set to be Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam, has already troubled relations with neighboring Egypt, which depends on the downstream Nile River for almost all of its water.

Azeb Asnake, former head of Ethiopian Electric Power, and 49 other people were “charged with corruption in relation to a forest clearing project for the country’s flagship mega hydro project, a 5,150 Mega Watts hydro dam,” the Ethiopia News Agency reported.

When the project was launched in 2011, the cost was estimated at four billion dollars and it was expected to provide electricity for Ethiopia’s population of more than 100 million.

But in September 2018, Asnake was forced to resign as head of the EEP amid allegations of corruption and bad management of several Ethiopian energy projects.

It was not clear if she was placed in detention Friday, and the identities of the others indicted on the latest charges were not revealed.

The GERD measures 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) long and 145 meters (480 feet) high, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 and full operations by 2022.

If the dam’s reservoir is filled too quickly however, it would seriously affect Egypt, which depends on the Nile River for 97 percent of its surface water.

Roughly 95 percent of Egypt’s 100 million inhabitants live close to the aquatic lifeline, according to UN data.

The GERD has been dogged by allegations of corruption and mis-management almost from the start. AFP

North Korea’s Kim warns of ‘grave’ economic challenge, calls for measures SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned top ruling party officials of the “grave situation” facing the nuclear-armed state’s economy and called for urgent corrective measures.

His comments, reported Monday by state media, came on the second day of a key party meeting held ahead of a year-end deadline for Washington to shift its stance on stalled nuclear talks with Pyongyang.

Kim, who chaired the meeting, said the time had come to bring about a “decisive turn” in the North’s economic development.

He presented the assembled officials with “tasks for urgently correcting the grave situation of the major industrial sectors of the national economy,” the official KCNA news agency reported.

The North does not publish economic statistics of its own, leaving outside estimates as the only available figures for its financial performance.

In July, the South Korean central bank estimated that the North’s sanctions-hit economy had shrunk by 4.1

percent in 2018—the largest contractions since the devastating famine of the 1990s.

Talks on denuclearizing the Korean peninsula have been largely deadlocked since a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump collapsed in Hanoi at the start of this year over what the North was willing to give in return for sanctions relief.

China and Russia—the North’s biggest economic partners—have proposed the easing of UN sanctions imposed over the North’s nuclear weapons program, and Pyongyang has given Washington until the end of the year to offer fresh concessions.

The KCNA report indicated the plenary session of the party leadership was headed into a third day Monday— marking the first time since 1990 that it has lasted more than two days.

“Pyongyang’s decision to host the plenary event for multiple days illustrates how gravely it views internal and external situations,” said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the private Sejong Institute. AFP

INNOVATION. Fujitsu Philippines Inc. holds the Manila leg of its Fujitsu World Tour Asia Conference 2019 at the New World Hotel, Makati City. This year’s theme is Human-Centric Innovation: Driving a Trusted Future, which emphasizes Fujitsu’s strong belief that driving a better future requires rebuilding trust in business and society.

World

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bush fires threaten Melbourne as heat waves fan Aussie blazes

FOGGY IN NEW DELHI. A

man pushes a bicycle loaded with water bottles along a street under foggy conditions in New Delhi on December 30, 2019. AFP

MELBOURNE―Fire threatened three Melbourne suburbs Monday, with residents warned it was too late to flee and they must “act immediately to survive,” as a heatwave fueled Australia’s deadly bush fire crisis.

Authorities declared a bus fire emergency as an out-of-control blaze bore down on homes in Australia’s secondbiggest city.

In Bundoora―just 16 kilometers north of the city center and home to two major Australian university campuses―fire was “threatening homes and lives”, Victoria Emergency said.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,” the agency said in a message to residents. “The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”

Local media showed images of water bombers flying over the neighborhoods and families dousing their homes with

water hoses in the hope of halting the fire’s spread.

It is the latest emergency in Australia’s devastating summer fire season, which has been turbocharged by a prolonged drought and climate change.

Ten people have been killed, more than 1,000 homes destroyed and more than three million hectares―an area bigger than Belgium―have been scorched.

Conditions worsened on Friday with high winds and temperatures soaring across the country―reaching 47 degrees Celsius (117 Fahrenheit) in Western Australia and topping 40 degrees in every region―including the usually temperate island of Tasmania.

More than a dozen blazes are also raging in the East Gippsland countryside, where authorities said “quite a number” of the 30,000 tourists visiting the usually picturesque region had heeded calls to evacuate. AFP

Kim Jong Un’s New Year speech awaited IN BRIEF S Pastor jailed for ‘inciting’ subversion

BEIJING-China on Monday jailed the leader of an unofficial Protestant church for nine years for “incitement to subvert state power”.

Pastor Wang Yi, whose Early Rain Covenant Church was the target of a government crackdown last year, was also found guilty of “illegal business operation” by a court in southwest China’s Chengdu, according to an announcement on an official court website.

Wang was detained in December 2018 in a raid by authorities in which dozens of members of his “underground church” disappeared.

China’s officially atheist government is wary of any organized movements outside its own control, including religious ones.

Protestants in the country are split between unofficial “house” or “underground” churches like the Early Rain Covenant Church, and state-sanctioned churches where Communist Party songs also feature in the order of service.

Catholics are similarly divided between unofficial churches led by bishops recognized by the Vatican and those who follow official prelates.AFP

EOUL―North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for “offensive measures” to strengthen security ahead of a New Year speech that could flesh out the nucleararmed nation’s threat to seek a “new way” forward after the expiration of its year-end deadline for US sanctions relief.

Kim’s latest comments, made during a meeting of top ruling party officials in Pyongyang, came amid concerns that the North could formally close down dialogue with Washington and resume nuclear and long-range missile tests.

Addressing the officials, Kim stressed the need “to take positive and offensive measures for fully ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country,”

the state news agency KCNA reported Monday.

Nuclear talks between the North and the US have been largely stalled since the collapse of a February summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi.

Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while Washington is insisting it takes more tangible steps towards giving them up.

The North has not so far specified the “new way” it would adopt if the US does not offer fresh concessions by the end of the year, and Kim is expected to make it clearer on Wednesday.

This month China and Russia—the North’s biggest economic partners -- proposed loosening UN sanctions against Pyongyang, and analysts say Kim is likely to seek to exploit rivalries between Washington, Beijing and Moscow.

The “new way” was more likely to be an old way with de-nuclearization firm-

ly off the table, said Henri Feron, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy in the US. “What North Korea refers to as a new path is new in the sense that it will differ from its relatively engaging posture the past two years, but will actually be a return to the posture it maintained notably in the Obama era,” he told AFP. “It will focus on developing its military leverage and economic resistance to sanctions, while demanding unconditional peace and normalization before there can be any talk on de-nuclearization.”

Speculation has mounted that Pyongyang could abandon its moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests -- although its ominous threat of a “Christmas gift” to the US appears to have fizzled.

US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said that Washington would be “extraordinarily disappointed and we’ll demonstrate that disappointment” if Pyongyang carries out a long-range missile test.

Scientist who gene-edited babies jailed

Che Guevarra loyalist dies at 81 HAVANA―Harry Villegas, a Cuban guerrilla who served under Che Guevara in his doomed Bolivia campaign and subsequently walked in his funeral procession, has died in Havana, state television reported on Sunday.

The cause of death for the 81-year-old Villegas was multiple organ failure, the report said.

Nicknamed “Pombo,” Villegas served in the guerrilla force iconic Argentineborn revolutionary leader Guevara commanded for Cuba in Congo in 1965 and then in Bolivia between 1966 and 1967.

He was one of the five guerrillas―three Cubans and two locals―who escaped the Bolivian military siege that annihilated the rebels and led to Guevara’s death.

After returning to Cuba in 1968, Villegas held senior military posts and served in two military missions during the Angolan civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1991.

A retired brigadier general, Villegas had received the honorary title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba.

In announcing his death, state media celebrated Villegas’s boundless commitment to the regime, and his loyalty to longtime President Fidel Castro. AFP

Putin condemned for WWII ‘lies’ WARSAW―Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Sunday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for blaming Poland for the outbreak of World War II, saying Moscow was lying to deflect attention from recent failures.

Poland’s foreign ministry had already summoned the Russian ambassador in protest on Friday, recalling that the war began with a Soviet-German alliance and that Poland lost around six million citizens in the conflict.

“President Putin has lied about Poland on numerous occasions, and he has always done it deliberately,” Morawiecki said in a statement.

“This usually happens when Russian authorities feel international pressure related to their activities.... In recent weeks Russia has suffered several significant defeats,” he added.

As examples, Morawiecki mentioned that the European Union had prolonged sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea, Russian athletes were suspended for four years for doping and Russia “failed in its attempt to take complete control over Belarus.” AFP

“But we have a lot of tools in our toolkit, and additional pressure can be brought to bear on the North Koreans.”

Wednesday’s speech will be Kim’s eighth New Year address, after he revived the tradition started by his grandfather -- North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung -- but discontinued during his father’s rule.

It is a key moment in the North Korean political calendar, reviewing the past and setting out goals for the future, and printed in full in the Rodong Sinmun mouthpiece newspaper.

“Kim’s delivery of New Year’s speeches has evolved over time, from standing before a pulpit in a party uniform in his early years, to sitting in an office in a Western-style suit and tie in 2019,” said Rachel Minyoung Lee, senior analyst at specialist site NK News.

Pyongyang has been ramping up the pressure with static tests at its Sohae rocket facility and a series of weapons launches, some described as ballistic missiles by Japan and others—which are banned under UN resolutions. AFP

PHOTO-SHOOT in XIAMEN. A couple prepares during a photo-shoot with a wedding photographer at Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, in Fujian province, on December 9, 2019. AFP

Pakistanis fight back against smog with purifiers, suits LAHORE―For the past few months Hasan Zaidi’s phone has been ringing nonstop with calls from desperate residents in Pakistan hoping to get their hands on his newly invented air purifier as smog blankets the country.

“Some days, I had so many calls that I couldn’t answer,” says Zaidi during a recent interview with AFP in his workshop.

Tired of choking on putrid air, Zaidi spent six months perfecting his homemade device as he looked for a low-cost solution to battle the increasingly toxic scourge overwhelming Pakistan.

During this winter alone the 31-yearold engineer has already sold some 500 units, which are priced at just 16,000 Pakistani rupees ($103), but admits to refusing hundreds of orders in recent weeks due to lack of manpower and resources.

In cash-strapped Pakistan Zaidi’s “Indoor Forest” purifiers are cheaper than imported models, which typically cost about two to five times more.

“Now it is less of a luxury and more of a necessity,” explains Sadia Khan,

whose company Autosoft Dynamics recently acquired a dozen of Zaidi’s purifiers so his 180 employees can “breathe safely”.

In the past five years, air pollution has worsened in Pakistan, as a mixture of low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal crop burn off, and colder winter temperatures coalesce into stagnant clouds of smog.

In 2015, 135,000 Pakistanis died due to poor air quality, according to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet.

Pollution tends to be at its worst in the country’s eastern province of Punjab during winter, particularly in the 12-million strong city of Lahore near the border with India.

In November schools were closed for several days across the province with the level of PM2.5—tiny particles that get into the bloodstream and vital organs—repeatedly exceeding 200 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The World Health Organisation’s recommended safe daily maximum is a measurement of 25.

Pakistan is ranked one of the worst countries in the world for air quality and Lahore consistently ranked in the top 10 most smog-hit cities, according to the pollution monitoring site AirVisual.

But Tanveer Waraich, director general of the Punjab’s environmental agency, dismisses those figures, saying pollution readings cited by monitors and activists are not from “authentic machines”.

“To say that Pakistan and Lahore are among the top polluted cities… this statement is not based on facts,” he says, but concedes the country’s air quality is largely unacceptable.

Public awareness about the issue is growing due to increased activism on social media about the dangers of pollution and the dire challenges climate change is bringing to Pakistan.

Yann Boquillod, who co-founded AirVisual, said subscribers to the site from Pakistan have increased tenfold this year.

“In Pakistan, there was a problem but no one knew about it. Pakistanis are (now) mobilising,” Boquillod says. AFP

BEIJING―A Chinese court on Monday sentenced the doctor who claimed to be behind the world’s first gene-edited babies to three years in prison for illegal medical practice, state media reported.

He Jiankui, who shocked the scientific community last year by announcing the birth of twins whose genes had allegedly been altered to confer immunity to HIV, was also fined three million yuan ($430,000), Xinhua news agency said.

He was sentenced by a court in Shenzhen for “illegally carrying out the human embryo gene-editing intended for reproduction”, Xinhua said.

Two of his fellow researchers were also sentenced. Zhang Renli was handed a two-year jail term and fined one million yuan while Qin Jinzhou was given 18 months, suspended for two years, and fined 500,000 yuan.

The trio had not obtained qualifications to work as doctors and had knowingly violated China’s regulations and ethical principles, according to the court verdict, Xinhua said.

They had acted “in the pursuit of personal fame and gain” and seriously “disrupted medical order”, it said.

Xinhua said a third gene-edited baby was born as a result of He’s experiments, which had not previously been confirmed.

He announced in November last year that the world’s first gene-edited babies—twin girls—had been born that same month after he altered their DNA to prevent them from contracting HIV by deleting a certain gene under a technique known as CRISPR. The claim shocked scientists worldwide, raising questions about bioethics and putting a spotlight on China’s lax oversight of scientific research.

Amid the outcry, He was placed under police investigation, the government ordered a halt to his research work and he was fired by his Chinese university.

Gene-editing for reproductive purposes is illegal in most countries. China’s health ministry issued regulations in 2003 prohibiting gene-editing of human embryos, though the procedure is allowed for “non-reproductive purposes.” AFP

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

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 2019

Adiong calls for martial law to stay in Lanao MARAWI CITY—Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Bombit Adiong Jr. has reiterated his call for the extension of the state of martial law in Mindanao, particularly in his province.

Adiong’s call came in the wake of the killing last week of Police Officer Amen Lucman Macalangan, acting municipal police chief of Binidayan, Lanao del Sur, and his companion in Pagayawan town by still unidentified attackers.

The governor also sought public support for the police and military pursuit operations against suspects in the killing of another town chief of police and a Philippine Army Scout Ranger last week.

“Due to the killing of a police officer and soldiers in Pagayawan, Governor Mamintal Bombit Alonto Adiong Jr. reiterates the call for the extension of martial law,” a statement released Sunday by the Lanao Sur Provincial Information Office said.

“The security sector is out maintaining peace and order in Lanao del Sur. We condemn the killing of Police Officer Amen Lucman Macalangan, OIC of the Binidayan MPS, and his companion in the Municipality of Pagayawan by unknown perpetrators.

Macalangan was passionate in his anti-criminality campaign and we applaud his dedication and hard work,” the statement added.

Adiong urged the Philippine National Police “to be both vigilant and rigorous in (its pursuit) of those behind the merciless killings.”

“I also ask the public to bring any useful information to the police for prompt resolution of this case,” he said. Nash B. Maulana

Thousands flock to BARMM Job Portal at launch COTABATO CITY—Thousands have electronically trooped to the Job Portal of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during its first week of launch.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim said the platform was created as part of the Bangsamoro Government’s call for moral governance and its policy to strictly implement a meritbased hiring process and credible job placement.

Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua said the Bangsamoro Job Portal is BARMM’s way to relieve applicants from traveling to seek employment.

BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said candidates may apply through the portal, so that even if they are from the farthest part of the Bangsamoro, they need not spend a fortune to get your application to the region.

BARMM Cabinet Secretary Asnin Pendatun said the region’s job portal—accessible through www. j o b s b a n g s a m o r o . g o v. p h — w a s launched on Dec. 30 and the year’s last Bangsamoro Cabinet Meeting on Dec. 23.

“We have officially launched the Bangsamoro Job Portal in which prospective applicants to the new positions in the bureaucracy can conveniently search and apply for job openings,” Pendatun said.

Ebrahim said his government opens the portal to all, and that people with integrity, skills, and the passion to serve the Bangsamoro have a place in the new bureaucracy. Nash B. Maulana

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MUNTI DRUG AWARD. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (center) awards a

citation to Muntinlupa Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Officer Col. Florocito Ragudo (second from right) and DILG Muntinlupa Field Office acting chief Bernadette Ferino (right), representing Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, during the recent 2019 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Awarding Ceremony. DILG feted Muntinlupa for the functionality of its local ADAC and its innovations in the fight against illegal drugs, including the community-based rehabilitation program Mamamayan at Pamilya Laban sa Droga.

ARMM workers bid tearful farewell QC teams up with DILG in C

By Nash B. Maulana

OTABATO CITY—The yearend marks their last day together after 30 years.

Like young graduates, it was a sad adieu for more than 6,000 Muslim and Christian separated employees of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Many were seen in tears, amid emotional embraces, amicable kisses and exchanges of well wishes on their last day in office.

Chief Minister Ahod Balawag AlHadj Murad Ebrahim of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said it was time, more than anything else, “to thank these hardworking men and women in the government service who have laid the vital foundations of the bureaucracy that we have today.”

“As we all bid goodbye, may we stay connected and share this beautiful bond of ours throughout our lives. It has been a wonderful and memorable journey,” said Al Ambia, ARMM legislative director for Research and Reference, who has worked for the region in all 25 years of his life.

“Everything that happens, happens for a purpose,” he added, as Ambia wished newcomers well and addressed them a line of encouragement.

“Seeing everyone go is not easy for

me. It does not only bring tears to my eyes but also into my heart. I wish you all the best and thank you for your cherished friendship...my dear colleagues,” said Baisar Binsuan-Baraguir of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Maguindanao, one of five ARMM component provinces.

ARMM was first established on Aug. 1, 1989, and completed its turnover into the new BARMM entity last Feb. 26.

Republic Act 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, provided specific rates of benefit packages for separated employees, as an offshoot of the dissoluttion of the ARMM: Those who have served for up to 10 years will receive 100 percent gratuity in separation benefits, based on their latest basic salaries, multiplied by number of years in service; Separated employees having served the defunct ARMM for more than 10 years will receive 200 percent gratuity in separation benefits computed on the basis of their latest basic salaries, times 200 percent multiplied by number of years in service.

Separated employees are encouraged

by the BARMM leadership to reapply.

But they can not do so under the law, if they choose to apply for and receive separation benefits.

The employees’ welfare has been discussed in several foums attended by representatives of the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Budget and Management, the employees union, and ARMM officials, even prior to the ratification of the BOL last Jan. 27.

The amount of gratuity in separation benefits will be over and above the cash equivalent or monetary conversion of their earned leave credits during their entire period of employment.

As he expressed gratitude to the more than 6,000 permanent ARMM personnel, who will be separated from service, Ebrahim said: “Words can never be enough to [commend] the exemplary service you have given to the Bangsamoro through the years.”

BARMM Executive Secratary Abdulraof Macacua said the DBM has already released about P700 million in gratuity and separation funds for the benefit packages of many among the first batch of ARMM employees, who opted to leave government service last October yet.

Bangsamoro Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said: “In behalf of the leadership of the Bangsamoro Government, from the bottom of our hearts, we say ‘thank you.’”

DEFUSED.

Illegal firecrackers are presented to Philippine National Police Acting Chief Director General Archie Gamboa by Bulacan Police Provincial director Col. Emma Libunao at the vending area near Bocaue, Bulacan on Sunday. Orlan Mauricio

CCTV project

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has stepped up efforts to make the city safer through a partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government for installation of 1,500 high-definition closed-circuit televisions on major roads and other crucial areas.

She said the project aims to contribute to the improvement of peace and order and disaster risk reduction and management measures, and the further development of cities.

As the seventh city to join the DILG’s endeavor, the Quezon City mayor hopes they could better predict, detect, prepare for and respond quickly to incidents.

The partnership is a big step toward the fulfillment of one of her 14-point agenda—building a safer and more resilient city, Belmonte said.

“We are glad to receive the CCTV cameras from DILG. This is a smart solution as we improve our monitoring system in the city,” she said.

“With our policies and programs, we can better provide fast, efficient, and reliable emergency response services to all our citizens,” the mayor added.

The collaboration aims to establish an intelligent monitoring system that will enable both DILG and the city government to prepare for and respond to security and disaster situations, help reduce crime incidents, and improve crime solution efficiency and improve emergency services, fire protection and jail management and penology services.

Belmonte said the project could also enhance the capacity for effective and efficient delivery of public services, thus increasing investors’ confidence, improving the tourism industry and public confidence.

Sen. Go pledges P40 million for new municipal building in Nueva Vizcaya town BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has allotted P40 million of his congressional funds for the construction of a new municipal building for the upland town of Kayapa.

The fund was assured by Go during the recent groundbreaking of the proposed three-story Kayapa Municipal Building.

Mayor Elizabeth Balasya said the assis-

tance from Go was a timely Christmas gift for Kayapa villagers who have been longing for a new municipal building.

“We, the people of Kayapa are so much grateful for Senator Go’s assistance. Indeed, we are very happy for this timely Christmas gift and assistance,” she said.

The recent groundbreaking program was graced by Go’s representative, lawyer

Danny Yang, with DILG Regional Director Jonathan Paul Leusen Jr., Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, provincial officials led by Vice Governor Jose Tomas, and municipal and barangay officials of Kayapa.

Balasya said construction will start next year as soon as the bidding process is completed.

The funding for the proposed municipal building was supported by Cu-

aresma and Tomas for submission to the office of Go. Kayapa is a home of upland indigenous farmers composed mostly of the Kalanguya, Ibaloi, Iwak and Kankanaey tribes.

It serves as one of the major sources of vegetables of Nueva Vizcaya, making the province the “vegetable bowl” of Cagayan Valley.

BDO honors Pampanga OFW families SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga―BDO Unibank recently honored Kapampangan overseas Filipino worker families through an all-star show during the final leg of its nationwide Pamaskong Handog 2019 at SM City Telabastagan here.

BDO together with SM Supermalls once again brought a one-of-a-kind Christmas celebration to OFWs and their families with star-studded Pamaskong Handog events.

Now in its 8th year, Pamaskong Handog presents separate events for OFWs and their families in Cebu, Davao, and Pampanga this month, with SM hosting the venues.

Pamaskong Handog is BDO’s way of givCelebrity love team Xian Lim and Kim Chiu serenade overseas Filipino families ing back and recognizing overseas Filipino and the Kapampangan crowd during the final leg of SM-BDO Pamaskong families for their trust and loyalty as BDO Handog 2019 at SM City Telabastagan. Earlier, BDO’s social media personality ‘Boss Teteng’ held a talk on financial education as part of OWWA’s Pre-Departure Kabayan Savings account holders. BDO Kabayan Savings is BDO Remit’s flagship Orientation Seminar.

service, the heart of the bank’s service to the Overseas Filipinos and their families.

Through this service, customers receive remittances in a fast, safe and convenient manner, and at the same time, are entitled to unique and long-term benefits that aim to protect their future such as free life and accident insurance.

This year’s Pamaskong Handog final leg at SM City Telabastagan in San Fernando, Pampanga brought together some of the country’s biggest celebrities and performers, featuring love team Xian Lim and Kim Chiu, OPM icon Ogie Alcasid, Star Magic talent Dominic Roque, X-Factor Philippines finalist Mark Mabasa, The Voice PH finalist Leah Patricio, Regine Velasquez impersonator Regina Otic, and comedy stars Donita Nose, Ate Gay, and MC & Lassy.

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

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Fun and healthy holiday season

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ESPITE the increased risk of acquiring health complications—from weight gain to high cholesterol and sugar levels—due to overindulging in the holiday season, it’s possible to have fun while staying healthy.

Since it is almost always difficult to avoid feasts during the Christmas season, adopting healthy habits will go a long way in helping one stay healthy amidst the parties and festivities. An international brand of home appliances shares a few tips that allows everyone to have their cake and eat it, too (pun intended).

Go easy on the buffet

Attending a party does not mean that you have to try everything on the buffet table. The doable way to stay MERRY MEATY SEASON. While indulging in a bit of meat—which is usually present in feasts especially during the holiday season—is healthy is to choose only a few “re- not bad, overconsumption may lead to increased cholesterol, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems. ally want to try” items, or those one doesn’t get to eat often just to satisfy that craving. Then stay away from the rest. This way helps revelers avoid overeating which could lead to indigestion, bloating, and excessive gas.

Steer clear of the dessert table

It’s important to remember that what we eat almost always gets converted to sugars, particularly carbohydrates, so skipping dessert can spare an individual from eating too much sugar. Instead of pastries and cakes, go for the fruit platter instead.

While fruits also have sugar, they are When at a buffet, it’s ideal to opt for fresh fruits and vegetables. Choosing a few food items to try, such as those rarely enjoyed, helps prevent healthier and rich in fiber at the same time. overindulgence.

Say no to soda

It’s helpful to note that one can of soda can contain almost 10 teaspoons of sugar, more than the recommended daily limit which is between four to six teaspoons per day or even less. Opt for unsweetened and freshly squeezed lemonade instead.

Minimize meat intake

The Christmas table is never complete without dishes made with meat and high game. While meats per se is not bad, too much meats in diet can pose short- and long-term health issues. Too much meat has been linked to dehydration and constipa-

tion. Long term effects of excessive meat consumption are increased cholesterol, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems.

visit the salad bar instead of the carving station. A good plate of Waldorf salad is just as filling and delicious as any dish and is not heavy on the belly. Also, finishing off the meal with Choose fresh a fruit platter gives that sweet rush Try taking more fresh vegetables without the unwanted calories from and fruits when attending parties; refined sugar.

Beko refrigerators are powered with technology that helps keep food fresh for longer.

Don’t waste leftovers

During the holidays, managing leftovers allows one to enjoy meals for longer.

Beko’s RDNT440E50VZP top mount no frost is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, such as the EverFresh+ that delivers a precise humidity control that minimizes condensation in the crisper, helping keep fruits and vegetables fresh for even up to 30 days.

It is also packed with the NeoFrost Dual Cooling technology that maintains ideal airflow and optimal temperatures with a high level of humidity, as well as Active Fresh Blue Light technology that allows continuous photosynthesis in the crisper, retaining natural flavors of fruits and vegetables, as well as its nutrients such as vitamin C.

City of Dreams Manila promotes employee wellness

Duty Free Luxe offers high-end fashion, cosmetics, and food brands.

Why Duty Free Luxe is today’s hottest pasalubong center

WHENEVER Filipinos travel, among the things that is part of their itinerary is buying pasalubong or souvenirs for family and friends back home.

Just in time for the Yuletide season, Duty Free Philippines Corporation opened the doors of Duty Free Luxe to help balikbayans as well as foreign tourists in buying their gifts and pasalubong.

Luxe is DFP’s newest downtown store that offers some of the world’s high-end and finest brands of fragrances, fashion, cosmetics, wines, and, of course, chocolates.

Here are four reasons Duty Free Luxe is the next best pasalubong center.

Kors, Longchamp, Victoria’s Secret, Hogan, and Hugo Boss. Shoppers can also grab Gucci, Chanel, Tom Ford, Armani, YSL, and La Mer products exclusive only at Luxe.

Beauty enthusiasts can also look forward to MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Sulwhasoo, and Shiseido.

It features high-end and international products.

Luxe offers the world’s finest retail brands such as Kate Spade, Michael

Luxe is located at Pacific Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, near airport and hotels and casinos. It is open daily from 11:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m.

It promotes local products.

What makes Luxe an outstanding pasalubong center is that it does not only feature international brands but also promotes locally made products to support our Filipino entrepreneurs.

Among its stores is Department of Trade and Industry’s Go Lokal shop that showcases the country’s excepIt helps Filipino travelers have a tional products and other Filipino favorite souvenirs and delicacies. hassle-free trip.

Among the reasons Duty Free esIt contributes to the Tourism detablished its downtown store is that it wants the Filipino travelers, especially partment.

Among the good benefits in buying OFWs, to have a hassle-free trip and not to spend more in excess baggage at Luxe is that 10 percent of the amount of product bought will go to the Tourbecause of their pasalubong.

Filipinos tend to buy many souvenirs ism Promotions Board of the Departfor each member of their family and for ment of Tourism.

TPB is the agency responsible for their friends, resulting in excess baggage.

But with Duty Free Luxe, balikbayans can promoting the Philippines as “domesbuy the same products available abroad tically and internationally world-class and even bring their families to the store. tourism and MICE destination.”

PUTTING employee wellness at the core of its business culture, City of Dreams Manila strives to foster a people-centric workplace through its “Employee Love” program.

“We always put our employees’ well-being and growth first. As the company’s prized assets, we go above and beyond to provide them a healthy, caring, engaging, and supportive workplace environment, which will also allow them greater success in both their personal and professional lives,” said City of Dreams Manila senior vice president and chief operating officer Kevin Benning.

CoD Manila’s compensation scheme is considered to be among the best in the industry, with an average monthly wage that is nearly 200 percent higher than the 2018 Philippines Wage Index of P13,847.

The company offers various economic rewards that also go beyond government mandated benefits, among these are three salary increases in the last 2.5 years, and a one-month Fifth Anniversary bonus.

Its medical insurance offers the Second Layer for Dreaded Diseases with the same amount as the initial Maximum Benefit Limit. Parental coverage in the medical insurance of single/unmarried staff is also offered, just as discounted flu vaccination is extended to colleagues’ family members.

A congenial leave policy that allows employees flexibility in the application of vacation and sick leaves is established, and unlimited buffet 24/7 at the

Integrated resort City of Dreams Manila fosters a people-centric workplace, putting employees’ well-being and growth first.

Colleagues’ Dining Room provides a generous meal benefit.

CoD Manila is also the first and only integrated resort in the country with a Memorandum of Understanding with POPCOM for Reproductive Health and Education of colleagues.

Its annual The President’s Awards recognizes the most outstanding colleagues from both front of the house and the heart of the house, and awards them with special prizes.

As a testament to this commitment, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited—developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia including City of Dreams Manila—was honored in October this

CoD Manila employees and their family members benefit from a number of perks, opportunities, and recognitions from the company.

year at the 2019 Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) Philippines for its talent development program for its workforce in both Manila and Macau.

SBA recognized Melco for its workforce development program, which embraces a holistic “Whole Person Development” training approach, empowering its colleagues and focuses on their personal growth.

CoD Manila’s employees embody this holistic development approach, with some even making a mark in the international arena. One of whom is the property’s landscape manager Cirilo Alerta who was named as “Asia’s Unsung Hero of the Year” at the Stelliers Awards held in May 2019 in Singapore.

CoD Manila also has programs to put into spotlight the outstanding achievements of its colleagues.

For community development, City of Dreams Manila is also proud of the strong spirit of volunteerism among its workforce with the active engagement this year of more than 3,000 employees in more than 80 dynamic long-term corporate social responsibility activities undertaken for charitable and environmental advocacies.

Other annual programs of City of Dreams are: Pasikatan, where employees showcase their talents in singing and dancing; Palakasan, a sports competition for employees; and Mr. and Ms. COD, a beauty pageant which highlights grace, wit, and talent.

Life

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

How to prevent flu during the holidays C

HRISTMAS break may be long, but diseases don’t take a vacation.

Fever and flu can easily affect kids and thus dampen the holiday season. To help parents prevent and manage flu of their children, healthcare company GSK offers the following tips.

Get vaccinated

Children are generally more prone to catching the flu than adults, highlighting the importance of getting kids vaccinated. It’s also important that the rest of the family gets one too to ensure that the flu bug is contained.

The World Health Organization recommends regular consultations with a doctor to get family routine vaccinations. According to the Philippine Pediatric Society, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, and the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, children above 6 months old are encouraged to get influenza shots once per year.

Practice good hygiene

During Christmas break, kids will be staying in close proximity with their peers, making it easy for germs and viruses to spread. Parents are advised to train kids to form a habit of washing their hands frequently, especially when coming into contact with those who are sick.

If any of the family member gets the cold or flu, it’s best to wear masks to prevent germs from spreading. Teach

children to cover their mouth or nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing, and properly disposing them after.

At home, clean and disinfect household objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with germs. It’s also important to not let the house from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes by (1) turning over water storage containers when empty and properly storing them; (2) changing water in vases and removing water from plant pot plates; and (3) maintaining roof gutters and removing debris or leaves to prevent pools of water from forming.

Manage fever symptoms

Parents must gauge their child’s symptoms when they have a fever.

Children tend to vocalize fever differently depending on their age. It is Parents are advised to important to not only observe changes teach their kids good in appearance but also behavior, such hygiene to prevent flu. as loss of appetite.

One foolproof way to assess fever is to check their temperature using a thermometer. The general rule of thumb is mends to give them paracetamol as that temperatures above 38-degree Cel- first-line treatment.

Dr. Carmina A. delos Reyes, pediasius constitute a fever. trician and infectious disease specialist, explains that paracetamol is Give them paracetamol GSK said that if the child has a a trusted antipyretic among pediatritemperature above 38-degree Celsius cians and parents, as it is available and is under 3 months old, it’s best to over the counter and can safely be seek local medical attention immedi- used across all ages. It works both as ately. If they are older, WHO recom- an analgesic or pain reliever, and antipyretic or fever controller.

To get the full benefits of paracetamol, administer the correct dose. Take the child’s weight and follow the recommended dosage as instructed in the product label. Use the dosing tool provided in the medicine package to reduce errors.

“Scientific evidence shows that when given at a dose of 15 mg per kilogram, paracetamol produces a larger relative temperature reduction compared to when given at 10 mg per kilogram.

After 30 minutes, 15 mg/kg dose decreases body temperature by 0.71-degree Celsius, while 10 mg/kg reduces body temperature only by 0.36-degree Celsius,” says Delos Reyes.

Paracetamol brand for kids Calpol provides the recommended dosage of WHO. Its 15mg/kg formulation works on fever in 15 minutes.

school, especially if he/she is generally active or looks fine? As a rule of thumb, it’s best to let a sick child stay at home until the fever subsides to avoid passing on the flu to other children.

To help them recover fast, ensure that they drink plenty of fluids. Also, monitor their temperature using a thermometer and check for rashes or fatigue regularly. If fever persists, children can take paracetamol again every four to six hours, but it should not exceed four times in a given day.

Take the child to the doctor when needed

Here are common red flags to know when not to wait it out and already consult a local doctor: • Difficulty in breathing • Difficulty in swallowing • Lethargy, looks weak or pale, drowsiness, loss in appetite • Vomits persistently or frequent bouts of diarrhea • Suffers from stiff neck, persistent headache or light hurting the eyes

Monitor child’s progress at home

Ensure sick children get plenty of water to help them recover fast.

When do you send your sick child to An estimated 12 million Filipinos suffer from migraine, which is a common noncommunicable disease in the workplace that affects productivity.

Watsons strengthens pharmacists’ knowledge

Watsons Philippines pharmacists undergo a three-day intensive training facilitated by experts from Philippine Pharmacists Association and Philippine College of Chest Physicians.

IN A bid to improve its pharmacists’ competency, Watsons Philippines has partnered with the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) for educational training program.

The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on Oct. 16 at Watsons Philippines’ head office. The signing was attended by Watsons executives led by its general manager Danilo Chiong, officers of PPhA headed by its president Dr. Yolanda Robles, and officers and members of the training team of PCCP led by its president Dr. Malbar Ferrer.

“In line with our commitment to improve the health of Filipinos, we partnered with PPhA and PCCP to enable our pharmacists to deliver better patient education and make them our customers’ most trusted health and wellness partners in the community,” said Chiong.

As part of the partnership, Watsons conducted the Asthma Educator Program for its pharmacists. It is a certificate course on delivering patient education to asthmatic patients.

The pilot batch of selected pharmacists from different Watsons branches

Seated from left: PCCP chairman Dr. Josephine Blanco-Ramos, PCCP president Dr. Malbar Ferrer, Watsons Philippines general manager Danilo Chiong, PPhA president Dr. Yolanda Robles, and PCCP training and development consultant Loree Mante.

nationwide went through the three-day intensive training facilitated by experts from PPhA and PCCP on Oct. 28-30.

“The Asthma Educator Program aims to provide Watsons pharmacists with basic knowledge, attitudes, and skills on asthma diagnosis and treatment. The program will also help them better educate Watsons customers who are asthmatic patients as well,” added Chiong.

Asthma is a condition in which a per-

son’s airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult, and trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. For many asthma sufferers, attacks can be debilitating and even potentially fatal.

Watsons, whose goal is to make people look good and feel great, aims to help asthma patients achieve better asthma control and an improved quality of life through this program.

Headache at work?

HR managers play key role in creating healthier workplaces HUMAN Resource managers play a key role in creating healthier workplaces in order to boost productivity, retain and attract talent, foster workforce diversity, and drive the Philippine economy.

This was the key message of a highlevel expert roundtable held recently at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

The pioneering roundtable was organized by the Progressive Alliance Towards Healthy Workplaces (PATHw), a Pan-Asia coalition of HR and business leaders committed to creating healthier workplaces.

PATHw members include the global multi-stakeholder organization Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), leading international provider of telemedicine Medgate, the Swiss Embassy in the Philippines, and Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

The expert roundtable gathered HR and business leaders, occupational and behavioral scientists, health economists, medical specialists, and policymakers who have a shared goal of developing a comprehensive and longterm action plan to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the workplace.

One of the workplace-related NCDs discussed in the roundtable was migraine, which participants described as “a silent epidemic that needs an immediate and comprehensive solution.”

“Migraine is not just a headache but a disability that has a negative impact on the quality of life of sufferers. It is a complex disease and therefore migraine patients need to consult experts for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment,” said Dr. Regina Macalintal-Canlas, president of the Philippine Headache Society.

An estimated 12 million Filipinos suffer from migraine, according to a global disease study. There is low awareness on the difference between migraine and headache. Many Filipinos with migraine self-medicate with over-the-counter pain medications instead of consulting a doctor.

“We need to enhance the culture of health and safety in the workplace,” said occupational health expert Dr. Ria Fajardo. “There is an urgent need for HR leaders to work with neurologists and occupational health specialists in developing a workplace culture that challenges existing ecosystems around migraine and encourage the employees to seek early intervention.”

In line with the PATHw mission, the roundtable participants agreed to work together in shedding light on the implications of migraine, and sensitizing workplaces to address health issues among employees and how these can impact productivity and the economy.

They also committed to promoting awareness of migraine and the need for employers to consider accommodating employees with these conditions so that they can continue working for as long as possible thereby creating a positive impact at work.

Jugo Tsumura, president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Inc., said, “A large population of Philippine workforce is affected with migraine, a non-communicable disease that has a major negative impact on quality of life and economic productivity.”

“At Novartis Philippines we implement workplace wellness programs, such as Energized for Life, which aim to protect and promote our employees’ health in and outside of work,” he added.

Entertainment

tuessday, december 31, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

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SNAPSHOT

Genetics pioneer spreads her cause FIlIPInO geneticist Dr. Carmencita Padilla (2nd from right) posed with (from left) Reckitt Benckiser (RB) regulatory affairs managers Celia Velasco and Ria Rebueno, Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics President Dr. Eva Cutiongco-Dela Paz, RB Head of medical affairs Dr. Ben-Rod De Leon, and RB medical science liaison manager Khristine Cabanayan inside the Reckitt Benckiser booth during the Asia Pacific Conference on Human Genetics held at Makati Shangrila last nov. 9. The call for expanded screening of newborn disorders was spearheaded

by Dr. Padilla who said, “Early identification and timely intervention can lead to a significant reduction of morbidity, mortality, and associated disabilities in affected infants. We need to change their diet.”

The lady genetics pioneer has supported the intake of a special milk to address the matter in line with Mead Johnson nutrition/ Reckitt Benckiser donating specialized milk formula from the US to children with disorders. For the coming new decade, she hopes to spread her cause through various media platforms.

JuDy Ann sAntos top-caliber actress

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vEn before bagging the Best Actress plum at the 45th edition of Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), screen star Judy Ann Santos also says that bringing home the Best Actress trophy in the recentlyconcluded 41st Cairo International Film Festival for her outstanding performance in Mindanao was something unexpected.

The award, which makes her the second Filipina to bring home such honors after Nora Aunor in 1995 for The Flor Contemplacion Story, was just icing on the cake as her intention was to be part of an international film event.

“A part of me still couldn’t believe that I did it,” she avers.

“This experience made me realize that dreams can indeed come true. Before, I just wished to be part of an international film fest but not to win an acting award. That’s too much! I thought that just to be a part of it is already a huge thing. now, it was given to me. Wow! I’m simply grateful.”

It just so happened that the 41-year-old actress wasn’t able to receive the trophy personally. Her leading man Allen Dizon did on her behalf. She received the official word from their director Brillante Mendoza.

“I was scrubbing the floor when Direk Brillante broke the good news. Of course, I had some regret not having received my first international acting award personally but I’m also aware that things happen for a reason. Perhaps, if I was in attendance, I couldn’t have made it to the stage,” she says in jest.

“Maybe, I fainted upon hearing my name.

But seriously, in that proud moment, when you’re a star, it’s your dream to come up the stage and receive the recognition yourself. It’s one thing that you’ll be very proud to show your children,” she adds.

Juday’s recent triumph made her realize the essence of waiting for the right project. “ I won’t deny that with this positive development, I feel more inspired to work and hone my acting craft. Suddenly, I became choosy when it comes to the

projects being offered to me. Imagine, my last big screen outing was Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, which was shown in the early part of 2018. now, I realized it’s worth the long wait,” she enthuses.

Judy Ann says that she had prayed for the opportunity to work with director Brillante whose caliber, according to the MMFF 2019 Best Actress, is top-notch.

“It came at the perfect time. Imagine, before Mindanao, we didn’t even know each other personally.

We haven’t worked previously on any project. Then one day, he came up with what I can consider one of my landmark films ever. I guess that’s destiny!”

The critically-acclaimed actress is just so proud of bringing honor and prestige to the Philippines.

“It’s already enough for me that I was able to make my country proud through my craft. It’s truly a great accomplishment in any actor’s career. I’m really grateful.”

Definitely, Judy Ann is sitting on top of the world at present.

All aspects of her life are doing okay.

“2019 has really been a fruitful year for me. Apart from the international acting plum, I also have a successful soap opera running (Starla), there are my business ventures and happy family life as well. Indeed, I’m blessed and thankful! I couldn’t ask for more at this point,” she ends. *** GMA recently released a teaser as to who will headline its latest weekly noontime variety show All-Out Sunday (AOS), which will start airing this January replacing Sunday Pinasaya.

Pambansang Bae Alden Richards leads the pack along with other popular Kapuso bets Julie Ann San Jose, Rayver Cruz, Ken Chan, Rita Daniela, Glaiza de Castro, Paolo Contis, Boobay and Super Tekla, Kyline Alcantara, Miguel Tanfelix, Gabbi Garcia, Migo Adecer, Derrick Monasterio, and Mavy and Cassy Legaspi.

They will be joined by music heavyweights Christian Bautista, Mark Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Betong Sumaya, The Clash winners Golden Cañedo and Jeremiah Tiangco plus StarStruck 7 grand winners Shayne Sava and Kim de Leon.

This early, many are already thrilled with the fresh combination of talents that the show will offer. After SOP, Party Pilipinas, Sunday AllStars and Sunday Pinasaya, GMA came up with a new program that promises to add more spice to Sunday noontime viewing.

Seeing the heavy line-up of its mainstays, it can be said that AOS is ready to battle it out in the ratings game.

Judy Ann Santos receives the top acting award at the MMFF 2019 Gabi Ng Parangal. Photo by Teddy Pelaez

TBA Studios' 'Write About Love' is one of the most decorated films at the MMFF 2019 Gabi Ng Parangal.

‘Write About Love’ looks forward to bigger audience following MMFF awards, critical acclaim

FROM the get-go, it would seem like TBA Studios’ Write About Love has everything going for it: a fresh take on the rom-com genre, a winning soundtrack, and a multi-talented cast.

But despite some early favorable feedback from its premiere screening, the film struggled in the first few days of the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival as many moviegoers instead trooped to see the usual family comedies headlined by stars that have been dominating the annual Christmas season festival for years.

Write About Love, which opened on Christmas Day was even pulled out from cinemas where it did not perform as well as the expected top grossers.

The film, however, pulled the biggest surprise of the MMFF Awards night when it took home a whopping eight awards including Second Best Picture and Special Jury Prize for the writing of a full-length feature. Write About Love also won Best Supporting Actor for Joem Bascon, Best Supporting Actress for Yeng Constantino, Best Screenplay forCrisanto B. Aquino and Janyx Regalo, Best Editing for vanessa De Leon, Best Musical Score for Jerrold Tarog and Best Original Song for the hit single Ikaw Ang Akinperformed

by Yeng Constantino and written by Crisanto B. Aquino.

These honors have validated what critics have been raving about the film all along.

Philippine Daily Inquirer entertainment editor Rito Asilo called Write About Love a “gem of a film” that will win audiences with “its simplicity and affable earnestness.”

Reviewing the film for ABS-CBN news, Fred Hawson described it as a “sweet, smart and engaging ‘film within a film’ that highlights the various forms and styles the Pinoy rom-com had evolved

through the years.”

Chuck Smith of GMA news who described the film as “smart, intimate” and even “awe-inspiring” likewise pointed out that Write About Love is “why we love romantic movies so much” and “should delight anyone who is looking for love this Christmas season.”

Echoing a similar view, Wanggo Gallaga of Click The City says Write About Love will speak to anyone who has “known love or pain by any degree” while Earl Maghirang of popular blog, TheFanBoySEO wrote that while “the film finds a good balance between drama and comedy, you can feel from the get-go that the film is a romantic film through and through.”

On social media, there is a strong clamor for Write About Love to be screened in more theaters given its critical acclaim and recent slew of MMFF awards. netizens feel that the film deserves to be seen by more people and that can only be possible if it is screened in more cinemas.

Write About Love has already resonated with audiences who have been tweeting some of its more memorable lines like “You’re my greatest love and also my greatest pain…but I will choose to forgive you every day,” “People who love are capable of hurting,” and “Walang love story na walang pain.”

Write About Love is TBA Studios’ official entry to the MMFF 2019.

Directed by Crisanto B. Aquino and also starring Miles Ocampo and Rocco Nacino, the film received a G rating (suitable for all audiences) from the MTRCB and a B-Grading from the Cinema Evaluation Board.

The film’s award-winning official music soundtrack by Yeng Constantino was released by Star Music Philippines.

‘Flower Crew: Dating Agency’ hits local TV this January ABS-CBn brings viewers back to the Joseon era as it premieres the hit Korean drama Flower Crew: Dating Agency on Jan. 6.

This fairy tale brings the story of lee Soo (Seo Ji Hoon), an ordinary countryside blacksmith, who is in love with the slave, Gae Ddong (Gong Seung-Yeon) and hires the matchmaking experts of the Flower Crew Dating Agency, as he intends to propose marriage to her. On the day of their supposed wedding, he disappears, but later emerges as the king of Joseon.

But becoming royalty does not change his feelings for Gae

Ddong. This time, he faces the impossible because as king, he cannot marry a woman with a humble background. He then looks for and seeks help from the Flower Crew to transform Gae Ddong into a noblewoman.

The task proves to be difficult for three men from the agency— Ma Hoon (Kim Min-Jae), Do Joon (Byeon Woo-Seok) and Go Young Soo (Park Ji-Hoon)—as they are confronted with complex choices between politics and etiquette, loyalties and emotions, and adversaries and their very own friends

A scene from the top-rating Korean drama, 'Flower Crew: Dating Agency'

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

TUESSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

Alden Richards

PEOPLE NICKIE WANG Julie Anne San Jose

E

ARLY this month, actor Rocco Nacino traveled on a scooter all the way from Tanay, Rizal just to attend the premiere of his film, Write About Love in Mandaluyong City.

Julie Anne, Alden lead GMA’s grand New Year’s countdown IT’S time to say farewell to the wonderful year that was as GMA Network ushers in the New Year with a night filled with entertainment and festivities via The Kapuso Countdown to 2020: The GMA New Year Special at SM MOA, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City tonight.

To kick off the year-long celebration of its 70th anniversary, the leading media network is treating its loyal fans to an exciting merry-making event hosted by no less than the brightest and biggest stars as they welcome 2020 with spectacular and world-class performances.

Leading the grand celebration is Alden Richards as he turns up the party with high energy dance production numbers and serenades the crowd with heartfelt melodies. Set to deliver a hot and fiery opening song and dance number is GMA’s powerhouse vocalist Julie Anne San Jose.

Bringing non-stop entertainment to the countdown special are Aicelle Santos, Mark Bautista, Katrina Halili, Kris

Rocco’s gone loco Rocco Nacino made it a point to attend the premiere of 'Write About Love' at SM Megamall Cinema by riding a scooter from Tanay, Rizal braving horrendous traffic jam and heavy rains.

Bernal, Rocco Nacino, Sanya Lopez, Sef Cadayona, Betong Sumaya, Kristoffer Martin, Jak Roberto, Migo Adecer, Klea Pineda, Kyline Alcantara, Arra San Agustin, P-POP Generation, and Buganda.

GMA Music recording artists Golden Cañedo, Hannah Precillas, Garrett Bolden, Jong Madaliday, and XOXO treat everyone with their show-stopping production numbers.

StarStruck Season 7’s Shayne Sava, Kim de Leon,AllenAnsay, Lexi Gonzalez and The Clash Season 2’s Jeremiah Tiangco, Thea Astley, Antonette Tismo, Nef Medina, andJeniffer Maravilla shall bring the house down with their explosive numbers on stage.

The Kapuso Network is also excited to share a sneak peek at big launches happening in the new year.

Pre-show begins at 8:00 p.m. and live telecast starts at 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on GMA.

Araneta City gives back to communities with

‘All-New Grand China Acrobatic Circus’ Rocco with 'Write About Love' costar Miles Ocampo

The 32-year-old actor was on the set of GMA’s latest action drama, Descendants of the Sun, but he didn’t want to miss the premiere of the film, which also stars Miles Ocampo.

“When I arrived at the venue in SM Megamall, someone took my helmet from me, my stylist was there, I was literally dressing up while walking. I had to be ready for media interviews in a few minutes. Thank God I was right on time,” he told Manila Standard in an interview.

“You were witness, it didn’t show what I had gone through just to be at the premiere. The film is very close to my heart so I had to be there, I wanted to support the director and my co-star,” he added.

Rocco continued that the total mileage he had traveled on a scooter was more than 200 kilometers, adding the road he had to traverse “on a Vespa” returning to Tanay while there was a storm.

“I know it was dangerous, but I didn’t have a choice. If I drove using a car, I would be late for the premiere. And going back to Tanay, I would be late as well for the taping,” Rocco shared.

His co-stars in Descendants of the Sun were supportive of him but warned the actor not to do it again.

“They’re proud because I’m the one who represents the film, but at the same time they were really worried.”

“I was soaking wet when I came back from the premiere, so Dong (Dantes) told me, ‘wag mo na uulitan yan ah.’

He also rides the motorbike but he was really worried because of the weather and the road condition. But for me, it’s all worth it. You know, I can’t not be there,” the actor explained.

Talking about the film, Rocco hopes

The actor in a scene from the only romcom movie in this year's MMFF.

that more people will appreciate how the story is presented. He said that it’s a refreshing romantic comedy that allows the audience to have their own version of its ending.

“People like open-ended stories. I like how our director ended it so people would have their own version of the film’s ending or what would happen between the two characters. It triggered discussions on how the film should end, so Direk Crisanto somehow brought the scriptwriter in every one of us,” he told the author.

In the only romcom selected in this year’s MMFF, a young writing protégé (played by Miles Ocampo), must work and learn from an older, more experienced and edgy screenwriter (played by Rocco Nacino). Despite

their clashing personalities, sparks fly between the two and if the trailer is any indication, viewers will most likely hope that the two end up together.

“Write About Love tackles all sorts of love. There is love between family. Love of work (writing). Love of friends. Love of a special someone. Love of self,” explained Rocco.

“It involved a lot of internalizing and talking to Miles so that I can piece together her actual (or lack of) experience when it comes to love,” he said. “The role is simply made for her.”

Directed by Crisanto B. Aquino, Write About Love also stars Joem Bascon and music superstar Yeng Constantino playing the “reel” roles.

THE Smart Araneta Coliseum opened its doors anew to thousands of audiences from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, members of the press, charities, children with disability, senior citizens and nearby communities to watch the much-awaited All-New Grand China Acrobatic Circus.

A day before its debut, The Grand China Acrobatic Circus held a special performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum giving tributes to Filipino heroes and families. More than a thousand uniformed men spent a day-off with their families at the Christmas show given by Araneta City.

Apart from these, the show was also enjoyed by a hundred of differently-abled children from PEDYA Camp, more than 200 (two hundred) Senior Citizens from Brgy. E. Rodriguez Sr. Quezon City and the Little Sisters of the Abandoned and more than a hundred members of the Orthopedic Society.

The show was also opened to more than a thousand families from Brgy. Socorro, Quezon City, Baseco Compound, Channel of Hope, Villa Maria Chapel, Immaculate Concepcion Parish, St. Peter Parish and Saint Martin Parish.

Annually, the Smart Araneta Coliseum opens its doors to the public to witness a special run-through performance of the Christmas show. As for this year, spectators were treated with the multi-awarded performances of the China National Acrobatic Troupe in a one-hour–thirtyminute show titled: The All-New Grand China Acrobatic Circus.

One of the acts performed at the special show is the multiawarded Ninth Wa v e Skills on Poles an interpretation of the famous Russian painter Ivan Aivazovsky’s work depicting soldiers

Ninth Wave-Skills on Poles is an interpretation of the famous Russian painter Ivan Aivazovsky’s work depicting soldiers braving the angry ocean.

braving the angry ocean. Audiences were also enthralled by the majestic and hypnotizing performance of the Rose Bud Contortionist.

Founded in 1950, the China National Acrobatic Troupe was the first National performing arts group established by the Central Government of China. From its beginnings in Beijing where the troupe hone and perfected their craft, CNAT became one of the most decorated acrobatic troupe in Asia with 67 golden awards from local and international award-giving bodies.

CNAT brings to the Philippines its world-class acts recognized by prestigious award-giving bodies as the most spectacular, most enthralling, boldest, most daring and eye-pleasing acts in the world.

The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus is for the family and all ages.

The show opened on Christmas Day and will run until Jan. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Buy your tickets at www. ticketnet.com.ph or through the Araneta City Mobile app. Interested buyers may also call 8911-5555.

Rose Bud contortionist in her hypnotizing stance