Manila Standard - 2020 January 4 - Saturday

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A member of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi military network waves a national flag as he exits a burning room after breaching the outer wall of the US diplomatic mission in Baghdad on Dec. 31, 2019 during a rally to vent anger over weekend air strikes that killed pro-Iran fighters in western Iraq.

At left, the official FB page of Iraqi’s military joint operations shows a destroyed vehicle on fire following a US strike on Friday. AFP

Fresh Mideast conflict feared Latest crisis triggers oil price spurt

US kills Iran top general; revenge set

OIL prices soared more than 4 percent Friday following news that the US had killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of a conflict in the cruderich region.

The head of Iran’s Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad’s international airport early Friday, according to Hased, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.

Later, Donald Trump tweeted a picture of the American flag, and the Pentagon said he had ordered Soleimani’s killing.

Brent surged 4.4 percent to $69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 percent to $63.84 as investors grow increasingly worried about the effects of a possible flare-up in the tinderbox Middle East on supplies of the commodity. Both contracts later pared the gains but remained well up.

AGHDAD—A US strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad’s international airport Friday, dramatically heightening regional tensions and prompting arch enemy Tehran to vow “revenge.”

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 324 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Employer of murdered OFW arrested, work ban to Kuwait widened Meanwhile, Bello said the govern- the [returning workers] because they

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz charged soon, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Friday. ment will also ban the deployment of are just vacationing. But in consultation and Macon Ramos-Araneta

“Villavende who was allegedly beat- vacationing household service workers with the Department of Foreign Affairs THE Kuwaiti employers of murdered en black and blue will soon get justice to Kuwait and not only new ones as ini- they suggested that we include even the [returning workers],” Bello said in an Filipina domestic worker Jeanalyn Vil- after her Kuwaiti employers were de- tially announced.

Next page “Initially, I was inclined to exempt lavende have been arrested and will be tained,” Bello said.

B

The Pentagon said US President Donald Trump had ordered Soleimani’s “killing” after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in the Iraqi capital.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly vowed “severe revenge” for Soleimani’s death, the biggest escalation yet in a feared proxy war between Iran and the US on Iraqi soil.

As the US Embassy urged all American citizens to leave Iraq “immediately,” Trump tweeted a picture of the US flag without any explanation.

Iraqi President Barham Saleh called for restraint on Friday, as did most world leaders, who reacted with alarm.

“We call on everyone to restrain themselves,” Saleh said in a statement, Next page

Mindanao still in emergency state sans ML

By MJ Blancaflor MINDANAO remains under a state of emergency even if martial law was lifted on Dec. 31, Malacañang said Friday.

Under Proclamation 55 which was issued on Sept. 4, 2016, the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government were tasked to deploy police and military personnel to intensify intelligence operations against anyone committing or conspiring to commit lawless violence.

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Koko put to task for endorsing Joyride

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta A COMMUTER safety group on Friday questioned the endorsement of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III for the company JoyRide to the government’s pilot run for ride-hailing motorcycle taxi services.

Trixie Mangahas of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection on Friday said Pimentel could be liable

for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees by endorsing a private company to the government’s pilot run for motorcycle taxi services.

Noli Eala, JoyRide senior vice president for corporate affairs, earlier said they wrote Pimentel a letter in September 2019 seeking his endorsement to the Department of Transportation to be part of the study of the agency’s Next page

FRIDAY MASS. Catholic devotees flock to the Minor Basilica of the Black

Nazarene Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Manila’s Quiapo district to attend the first Friday Mass, only six days before the traditional Traslacion or the Feast of the Black Nazarene (inset) on Jan. 9. (Story on A3) Contributed Photos

Rights group says UN report names De Lima’s jailers HUMAN rights experts have urged the United States to look at a United Nations report from 2018 that would help pinpoint which Philippine officials should be sanctioned by Washington for the detention of Senator Leila de Lima.

A provision in Washington’s new

spending law tasks US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to apply penalties against PH officials under the Global Magnitsky Act, which includes preventing them from entering and freezing their assets in the country, ABSCBN reported Friday.

A group of human rights experts working with the UN had called for de Lima’s release in 2018, concluding in a report that the detention of the vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte over illegal drugs charges was arbitrary.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

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Victims’ kin to seek 2x damages T HE relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre will ask a Quezon City court to at least double the claim for civil damages that it awarded to them, their lawyer said Friday.

The victims’ next of kin were entitled to damages of P350,000 to P23.5 million under a special court’s decision in December, a month after the slaughter marked its 10th anniversary, said lawyer Harry Roque who represents 18 of the 58 victims’ relatives.

“The damages granted should at least be doubled because, first of all, life is more valuable and second, this cannot be claimed as long as the accused are still appealing,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, three members of the Ampatuan clan are challenging their convic-

Daily Tribune's Niñez Olivares passes away VETERAN journalist Niñez CachoOlivares, the founder of the Daily Tribune, passed away on Friday morning. She was 78.

Born on July 19, 1941, CachoOlivares succumbed to a lingering illness, according to the broadsheet in a Facebook post.

“Our mother died peacefully this morning. She is survived by her children Peter, Bambina, Michael and Pixie, her childrenin-law Tweety Quintero, Xandra Barretto and Jay Fonacier, and her grandchildren Carlo, Iñigo, Isabella and Enrique Olivares, Samantha and Jessica Wise, Julio Olivares and Noelle Fonacier,” the family said in an official statement.

The wake will begin on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Capilla de la Virgen of Santuario de San Antonio along McKinley Road, Forbes Park, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mass will be held by 5 p.m. The funeral mass will take place on Monday, Jan. 6 at Santuario de San Antonio around 9:30 a.m., the family added.

Cacho-Olivares started the Tribune, where she was also publisher and editorin-chief, in 1999 before selling the broadsheet to the Concept and Information Group in June 2018. She continued to write her column “Frontline” after stepping down, and her last column, titled “Nuff Said,” was posted online by the paper on Friday, the same day she died.

8 Pinoy nurses rescued in Libya THE Philippine Embassy in Tripoli has assisted eight Filipino nurses on Thursday from a clinic that is near the location of intense clashes in the Libyan capital.

Amid this situation in Libya, the embassy reiterated its call on Filipinos to be vigilant.

“The Philippine Embassy reiterates its appeal to Filipinos in Tripoli to evacuate from areas near where fighting is taking place to avoid being caught in the crossfire,” Chargé d’Affaires Elmer Cato said in a statement.

The Philippine government remains ready to assist other Filipinos near the frontlines in relocating to safer areas as long as the situation on the ground would allow the embassy teams to reach them.

Cato said more than 20 other Filipinos have evacuated their residences in Salahuddin District and are now staying with relatives and friends. PNA

Mindanao...

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The proclamation, which was signed following the bombing of the Roxas market in Davao City, was issued pursuant to the President’s power to call out the military to prevent lawless violence, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

This power, Panelo said, is “unique” since it can be used independently without the participation of Congress and its actual use cannot be subjected to judicial review unless constitutional boundaries are violated.

“Therefore, as long as the President deems it necessary to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion, or rebellion [such as at present times], then he is lawfully authorized to resort to this calling out power,” Panelo said.

“The Office of the President asks the citizenry for their usual cooperation, even as we assure them that the government will not allow any abuse of their fundamental civil and political rights during this state of national emergency,” he added.

The President lifted martial law in Mindanao at the end of 2019 upon the recommendation of security officials, who said extremist rebellion in Marawi City and other concerned areas have been addressed.

With PNA

tion in the Maguindanao massacre case before a Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Anwar Ampatuan Sr. and his two sons―Anwar Jr. alias Datu Ipi and Anwar Sajid alias Datu Ulo―filed two separate motions for reconsideration with Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Reyes.

Anwar Sr. maintains his innocence, saying he “actually cooperated in the commission of the crimes as charged.”

Reyes convicted Anwar Sr. for his participation in a meeting to kill the family members of then Buluan vice mayor Es-

Fresh...

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characterizing the strike as an “aggression” and saying Iraq would be destabilized if “voices of reason” did not prevail.

In Manila, two party-list congressmen raised concerns over the rising US-Iran tensions following the rocket attack in Baghdad, which caused oil prices to spike worldwide.

The Philippines, being oil import-dependent, is heavily affected by movements in the world oil market, which is exacerbated by the threats of war in the petroleumrich Middle East, from which the country gets most of its supply.

A full-scale mideast war would also force about 2.2-million overseas Filipinos working in the region to come home, including over one million OFWs in Saudi Arabia, a key US ally and rival of Iran in the region.

Rep. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan said any increase in oil prices locally will have a direct effect in freight and in transportation.

“We hope that the tension will de-escalate so as not to drag the Middle East region, which produces a third of the entire oil production in the world and affects the entirety of the global economy,” said Defensor.

“We have to watch the developments closely. If the tensions escalate to further armed conflict, then expect multiple issues that will trouble the Philippines from the rise of petroleum products that would generally lead to inflation to OFW issues,” added Rep. Jericho Nograles of PBA Party-list.

“Let us also not discount changes in US dollar values that will definitely affect our stock market,” added Nograles, a deputy majority leader.

Malacañang had yet to comment on the situation as of presstime. President Rodrigo Duterte was in Davao del Sur but had canceled his two scheduled appearances there (See story on A3).

Early Friday, a volley of missiles hit Baghdad’s international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force with close ties to Iran.

Just a few hours later, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Soleimani “was martyred in an attack by America on Baghdad airport this morning”.

The Hashed confirmed both Soleimani and its deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in what it said was a “US

Employer...

From A1

interview with CNN Philippines.

“These are workers who went on vacation during the holidays. So if they go back now they will be affected by this partial ban,” he added.

Bello noted that skilled workers and professionals will not be covered by the ban.

He also assured workers covered by the deployment ban that their employment contracts would not be affected.

“They will still be able to continue working once the partial deployment ban is lifted. They will still be able to work. Their employers need them,” Bello said.

“Their employers know that this was not the workers’ choice. This was an effect of an incident which showed that employers are not able to protect our workers. We deploy our workers to them to serve them and yet they end up getting killed,” he said.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines urged the government to immediately convene the joint monitoring committee provided for by the May 2018 agreement

Koko...

From A1

technical working group.

Pimentel on Friday acknowledged he had endorsed JoyRide’s request to join the pilot testing in 2019 but said the DOTr did not act on the endorsement.

The senator said the lawyers of Angkas, the established ride-hailing motorcycle taxi service, know that monopolies are prohibited under the law.

“In real life, if we make motorcycle taxis legal, it still cannot be a monopoly because that’s prohibited,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. “A pilot testing program must reflect real life situa-

mael Mangudadatu.

The Supreme Court needs to agree with Reyes’ verdict, which can take up to 24 months if contested by the accused, before the victims’ relatives can claim the damages, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon earlier said.

Three members of the Ampatuan clan who were found guilty of orchestrating the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre asked the court on Thursday to reconsider its ruling.

Zaldy Ampatuan, another of the accused, sought to be moved to the New Bilibid Prison infirmary because of poor health.

The victims’ families would not object to the transfer as long as it was limited to the national penitentiary, Roque said.

“What we don’t want is if he will go to

the Makati Medical Center, eat at a floating restaurant and stay at a suite even if he was found guilty,” he said.

On Nov. 23, 2009, the “private army” of the Ampatuans blocked a convoy of mostly female supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu, who were on their way to register his candidacy for governor, challenging one of the Ampatuans.

Some 100 armed men mauled 58 people, including 32 journalists, and then killed them execution style. They were buried in a shallow grave on a hill in Ampatuan town.

Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes found guilty 43 people, including brothers Zaldy and Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., 14 police officers and a member of the Ampatuan militia. Some 53 defendants were acquitted while 80 accused remain at large. Rio N. Araja

strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road.”

The Hashed is a network of mostly Shiite armed units, many of whom have close ties to Tehran but which have been officially incorporated into Iraq’s state security forces.

Soleimani headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force foreign operations arm and also served as Iran’s pointman on Iraq, visiting the country in times of turmoil.

Muhandis was the Hashed’s deputy chief, but was widely recogniZed as the real shotcaller within the group.

Both were sanctioned by the United States.

An Iraqi official told AFP that Muhandis had gone to Baghdad airport to pick up Soleimani, “which is something he usually doesn’t do.”

The pair will be buried on Saturday, and Iraq’s parliament is set to hold an emergency meeting on the strike on the same day.

The Pentagon said Soleimani had been “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.”

It said it took “decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani,” but did not specify how.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the US strike as “extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation,” as Khamenei declared three days of mourning.

The Iraqi prime minister said the strike was a “flagrant violation” of a security accord with the US, warning it would “spark a devastating war in Iraq.”

A paramilitary group, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, urged its fighters to be on high alert while militiaman-turned-cleric Moqtada Sadr reactivated his Mahdi Army, nearly a decade after dissolving the notoriously anti-American force.

And in Lebanon, the leader of the Tehranbacked Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, warned of “punishment for these criminal assassins”.

But there were daring celebrations in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of a three-month-old protest movement that has slammed the Iraqi government as corrupt and beholden to Tehran.

“Oh Qasem Soleimani, this is a divine victory,” demonstrators chanted as some danced in the streets.

Analysts said the strike—which sent world oil prices soaring—would be a game-

changer in the tensions between Iran and the US. “Trump changed the rules—he wanted (Soleimani) eliminated,” said Ramzy Mardini, a researcher at the US Institute of Peace.

Soleimani “didn’t appreciate that his actions of threatening another hostage crisis at the (US) embassy changed the way things were going to be done,” Mardini said.

Phillip Smyth, a US-based specialist in Shiite armed groups, described the strike as “the most major decapitation strike that the US has ever pulled off”.

He told AFP it would have “bigger” ramifications than the 2011 US operation that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the 2019 American raid that killed Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

“There is no comparison,” Smyth added.

The developments come after an unprecedented attack on the US mission in Baghdad.

A mob of Hashed supporters surrounded the US embassy on Tuesday angered by American air strikes that killed 25 fighters from the network’s hardline Kataeb Hezbollah faction, which is backed by Iran.

The US had acted in response to a rocket attack days earlier that had killed an American contractor working in Iraq.

Trump had blamed Iran for a spate of rocket attacks targeting US forces as well as the embassy siege, saying: “They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat.”

In the US Congress, which was not told in advance of Friday’s attack, reaction was split along party lines.

“Wow—the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically,” tweeted Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Democratic former vice president Joe Biden, his party’s leading contender for the White House, however warned that Trump had “just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox”.

Ties between the US and Iran have deteriorated since Washington pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.

The United States led the 2003 invasion against then-dictator Saddam Hussein and has worked closely with Iraqi officials since.

But its influence has waned compared with that of Tehran, which has carefully crafted personal ties with Iraqi politicians and armed factions.

AFP, with Maricel V. Cruz

between the Philippines and Kuwait to prevent a possible whitewash of Villavende’s case.

“The monitoring committee must be convened immediately because the spouse of the suspect is an employee at the Kuwait Interior Department and we fear that it might influence the government authorities investigating the incident and alter the facts and evidence of the case around Villavende’s death,” said TUCP president and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza.

Manila and Kuwait’s 2018 employment pact came after a string of cases of abuse and deaths of Filipino workers, including Joana Demafelis, whose body was found in her employer’s freezer.

The death of Demafelis prompted the Philippine government to suspend the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait and initiate a repatriation program for those who would like to come home.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Bello said the Philippines will negotiate a template contract for its workers in Kuwait, which would ban Kuwaiti employers from confiscating the passports and cell phones

of Filipino worker.

Filipino workers will also have working and sleeping hours under the contract, and cannot be transferred to another employer without the consent of the Philippine labor attaché, he said.

A lawmaker said the government should move to take Filipino workers out of the market for domestic help by offering them subsidized skills training.

“Our country should already depart from the household service market. This practice and policy have created a very wrong impression for our workers. Household services overseas have been regarded as jobs for the unskilled and most of those employed in this sector are Filipinos. We cannot allow this to continue,” said Rep. Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte.

“Most of our household service workers are skilled or very trainable and the Labor D, in cooperation with TESDA, should implement government-subsidized training programs to upgrade their skills for jobs in the hotel and tourism markets, where work is dignified and decently compensated. Our domestic workers deserve to be treated with dignity and humanely,” he added.

tion and there should be competition and not a monopoly.”

“When JoyRide asked to be endorsed to join the pilot testing initial period I endorsed their interest to the DOTr, which the DOTr did not accommodate,” Pimentel said.

He pointed out that the initial pilot period ended in December 2019, without JoyRide being allowed to participate.

Lawyers Raymond Fortun and Ariel Inton, meanwhile, threatened to file a graft complaint against DOTr’s technical working group for “serious irregularities” in allowing JoyRide and Move It to be the pilot companies for three months.

Rights group...

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But lawyer Tony La Viña, a member of the Committee for the Freedom of Leila De Lima, said naming specific individuals behind the arrest and “wrongful imprisonment” of the senator should be based on “credible information,” according to the US law’s provision.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman’s claim that there is an “extrajudicial killing” of press freedom under President Rodrigo Duterte’s watch is “nonsense,” Malacañang said Friday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the executive branch

US solon won’t be silenced by ’strongman tactics' of Du30

By MJ Blancaflor UNITED States Senator Edward Markey on Friday vowed to continue to fight what he called the “strongman tactics” of President Rodrigo Duterte, and even after he was barred from entering the Philippines for his support to detained Senator Leila de Lima.

“President Duterte is sorely mistaken if he thinks he can silence my voice and that of my colleagues, Markey said in a statement.

Markey, along with US lawmakers Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy, sponsored Senate Resolution 142 urging the Philippine government to release De Lima, who has been in detention since February 2017 due to drug charges.

De Lima on Friday defended renowned activist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Red Notice” Bill Browder against the coordinated political attacks from the Duterte camp on social media.

De Lima made the remark after Browder was attacked by the paid trolls and proDuterte bloggers for tirelessly campaigning to impose sanctions against human rights abusers from across the world, including De Lima’s persecutors, through the Magnitsky Act. “Attacks vs you are proof that rights abusers in PH have been notified alright. In fact, they're now erasing their dirty tracks, but the door to the world is closing in on them! Clock is ticking down, De Lima's post on Twitter read.

Latest...

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“This is more than just bloodying Iran’s nose,” said AxiTrader’s Stephen Innes. “This is an aggressive show of force and an outright provocation that could trigger another Middle East war.”

The killing of Soleimani is a dramatic escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran and comes after a proIran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in Iraq following deadly American air strikes on the hardline Hashed faction.

The attack on the embassy highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship, which officials from both countries have described as the “coldest” in years.

Oil prices saw a record surge in September after attacks on two Saudi Arabian facilities briefly slashed output in the world’s top exporter by half, with Trump blaming Iran for the attack and previous other blasts on tankers in the Gulf last year.

The crisis also comes as tensions between the US and North Korea worsen, with Kim Jong Un declaring a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests had ended, with US talks going nowhere.

“We are waking up to a less safe world than it was only hours ago, especially if we combine this with simmering tension in the Korean peninsula,” Innes added.

The drama sent investors rushing for the hills and safe-haven units rallied with the yen up 0.7 percent against the dollar and gold climbing more than 1 percent.

High-risk currencies retreated against the greenback, with South Korea’s won down 0.6 percent, Australia’s dollar down 0.4 percent and the South African rand down more than 1 percent.

Equities were mixed, having been enjoying the second day of the year rallying on trade optimism.

Hong Kong fell 0.2 percent by the break, while Shanghai shed 0.3 percent.

Singapore retreated 0.5 percent and Taipei dropped with Mumbai. But Seoul, Sydney, Wellington, and Manila were in positive territory.

Markets had all been well up before news of the strike, thanks to ongoing optimism fueled by the China-US trade agreement, looser central bank monetary policies and easing Brexit worries.

In the Philippines, the Energy Department said it is closely monitoring the movement of prices in the world market in light of the most recent events.

The Philippines imports more than 99 percent its oil requirements and is vulnerable to any oil price movement in the world market. Alena Mae S. Flores and AFP preferred to ignore Lagman’s allegation rather than give him media mileage.

“We will not respond to another nonsense from him. Those issues have been bled dry by rambunctious critics like him, and have been responded to before,” Panelo said.

Lagman also insisted that the issue involving the renewal of the franchise of a radio-television network involves press freedom. He said “the grant of a congressional franchise to a radio and/or television network does not reduce press freedom to an ordinary privilege subject to the unfettered discretion of the State.”

Lagman made the statement in view of the looming expiration of the franchise to operate of the radio-television network ABSCBN Broadcasting Corp. Maricel V. Cruz

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Du30 skips visit to Davao del Sur quake victims anew

By MJ Blancaflor

COMMUTERS’ ADVOCATES. Lawyers Ariel Inton, Raymund Fortuna and Trixie Angeles—who represent commuters—reiterate their position to allow market forces decide which ride-hailing service providers will be preferred by commuters instead of government putting restrictions during the new decade’s first edition of Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel. (See story on A1)

‘Traslacion’ takes on new, shorter, route —church rector

By Vito Barcelo CATHOLIC church officials on Friday said that the procession for the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene will have a new route to ensure a safer, more secured, solemn and fast procession on Jan. 9.

Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said that new route for the “Translacion” was adopted taking into consideration the safety of the devotees.

According to Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar Fr. Douglas Badong, the Black Nazarene procession route will not pass through the Jones Bridge, the McArthur Bridge, and the Quezon Bridge, but will instead pass through the Ayala Bridge.

The “Translacion” will start at the Quirino Granstand, and will head towards Katigbak Road, Finance Road, LRT Taft station, all the way to Ayala Bridge and Palanca. The procession will follow the traditional route once it reaches the Quiapo area.

“Our route on January 9 will be on Ayala Bridge. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, it is the safest because it has been retrofitted recently,” he said.

The ropes that devotees use to pull the carriage forward will also remain part of the Traslacion, Coronel said.

“The procession will also stop at 14 prayer stations along the way, just like last year.”

"This time of the year when all eyes are on Quiapo Church, it is important to facilitate a solemn and orderly procession while highlighting the religious aspect of the feast,” he said.

Badong said the new route is 300 meters shorter than the old one.

This is also the first time that the procession will not pass through several barangays, he said.

“We will try to accommodate as many devotees as possible, but this is the first time that the procession will not pass through several barangays,” Badong said.

“What we’re expecting is for the Traslacion to become peaceful. It’s not about the length of the procession, but about how it will become orderly and organized,” he said.

Contrary to previous claims, there will still be the traditional rope for the devotees to touch, Badong said.

PARTIAL BAN. Applicants look for available jobs abroad at an employment agency in Malate, Manila yesterday.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed a very urgent memorandum partially banning of deployment of household workers in Kuwait, following the killing of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende.

Norman Cruz

Lawmakers slam ‘sudden’ price hike of beep cards

By Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

T

WO lawmakers from the left-leaning Makabayan Bloc on Friday denounced as "very callous and insensitive the sudden, but without prior notice" the move of the Light Rail Transit Authority to implement a P10 increase for stored value tickets or “Beep cards.”

The LRTA announced on Thursday that the issuance fee has been increased from P20 to P30 starting Jan. 1. It said the increase is in compliance with the concession agreement between the Department of Transportation and AF Payments Inc. The LRTA operates the LRT Line 2.

Party-List Reps. Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite said "The fee increase is another shocker and burden to commuters in Metro Manila, especially since another oil price hike occured and the third tranche of the TRAIN Law was implemented."

"Greed for more profit again trumps public interest," Zarate added.

Gaite, for his part, called on Congress to review the concession agreement between the government and the railway management system of the LRT. "We are also calling on the Supreme Court to already expedite the decision on the 2015 case filed by Bayan Muna and commuters' groups questioning the legal basis of fare rates imposed by the [Metro Rail Transit] and LRT rail systems," Gaite added.

He appealed to the SC to resolve the said case the soonest, especially “our prayer of returning the fare to its previous rates and for the accumulated funds from the fare hike to be returned to MRT and LRT commuters through discounted fare

like what the SC did with the Meralco overcharging in 2013."

Aside from lawmakers, the Department of Justice said it would also like to look into the price hike imposed on Beep cards.

According to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the P10 increase on Beep cards may be "taken up at the next Cabinet meeting."

"The DOJ will await a formal request from the DOTr (Department of Transportation) or a direct order from the President," he said.

"Currently, the DOTr is reviewing the said concession agreement and all its provisions, with the end view of determining how best to protect public interest," the statement said.

The DOTr, however, clarified that despite the increase in the cash issuance fee for Beep cards, there will be no fare increase for the Light Rail Transit.

The DOTr said that there was no increase in the actual fare of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1, 2, and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3.

In a statement, the DOTr said the increase that was reflected is the charge in the issuance fee of the Beep stored value card.

PNP set to hire 17,000 new policemen SC accepts nominees THE Philippine National Police on Friday said it will enlist a total of 17,000 new police officers this year.

The National Police Commission and the Department of Budget and Management have authorized the PNP to fill up 17,000 vacancies under its Recruitment Program for year 2020.

These vacancies comprise the 10,000 annual regular recruitment quota and 7,000 additional quota to replace retired, deceased, dismissed, AWOL (absent without leave), and other separated personnel.

"We want the largest pool of applicants that we can muster from which to select only the best and most qualified candidates that will be recruited into the police service,” PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said in a statement.

Gamboa said all "able-bodied Filipino" men and women aged 21 to 30 years old could apply "to serve a noble career in the police service."

“The annual recruitment program has taken Philippine law enforcement to

a higher level by closing the gap in the police-to-population ratio to within ideal limits set by law,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa said successful candidates will be appointed to the initial rank of Police Patrolman with a gross monthly salary of P29,668 with other mandated allowances and benefits.

Maj. Gen. Lyndon Cubos, PNP director for Personnel and Records Management, meanwhile, advised all applicants to prepare their clearances, certifications and other documentary requirements "to facilitate speedier processing of applications when the recruitment will eventually commence in the coming weeks."

All applications, Cubos said, may only be filed through the PNP Online Recruitment Application System (ORAS) portal at www.pnporas.pnp-dprm.com.

“We have adopted this digital information system in recruitment application to level the playing field for all applicants by eliminating opportunities for third party intervention in the rigid selection process,” Cubos said.

for 50 trial court judges-at-large

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has announced the opening for application of 50 of the 150 new positions for judges-atlarge or roving judges who will be mandated to handle and speed up resolution of cases of trial courts with overloaded dockets.

In an en banc resolution made public on Friday, the Judicial and Bar Council will now start accepting applications and nominations for the 50 new positions—30 for regional trial judges-at-large and 20 for municipal trial judges-at-large.

Deadline for applications or nominations will be on Feb. 11.

The seven-member council concurrently chaired by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta will conduct public interview of the applicants or nominees as part of its vetting process before submitting at least three candidates for each of new post for trial court judge-at-large.

The law, Republic Act No. 11459 or the Judges-at-Large Act of 2019, was signed by the President in August last year. It mandated the creation of 100 new positions for regional trial judges-at-large and 50 new posts for municipal trial judgesat-large.

Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez recommended the partial implementation of RA 11459 “since only 50 of the 150 positions were funded by Congress in the judiciary’s 2020 budget.”

Marquez said the other 100 positions are expected to be funded on 2021 and thus the posts will be open for application when the funds are ready.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte skipped anew his scheduled visit to earthquake victims in Malalag and Padada towns in Davao del Sur on Friday.

Two officials close to the President offered different explanations as to why Duterte skipped the event.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President was absent since he was recently deprived of sleep due to his punishing schedule, but Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the Chief Executive suffered from stomachache.

The events were originally scheduled on Thursday afternoon but it was moved to Friday since the President was not feeling well.

Go, as well as Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, attended the activity in behalf of the President.

It was not clear yet if the President would attend the change-ofcommand rites at the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to officially install Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., replacing Gen. Noel Clement.

This was not the first time Duterte canceled his public engagements due to sickness but the President himself has dismissed concerns about his health.

IN BRIEF MMDA to deploy 1k traffic cops THE Metro Manila Development Authority will deploy more than 1,000 traffic personnel starting Monday, Jan. 6 as thousands of Filipinos are expected to return to Manila from the respective provinces following a long holiday weekend.

The MMDA said it will deploy more traffic personnel on major thoroughfares, transportation terminals and other key areas in Metro Manila to manage traffic flow.

In a statement, the MMDA also said a "no day-off and no absent" policy will also be enforced among traffic enforcers on Monday up to Friday.

“Traffic personnel will be fielded on traffic chokepoint areas in Metro Manila such as vicinity of bus terminals, roads leading to seaports, harbors, and airports; and major churches,” the MMDA said.

The MMDA said traffic on Monday, where thousands of students and workers will be back is expected to be worse than usual, with the flow of traffic expected to be at 14 kilometers per hour (kph) from the usual 19 kph. This means a 20-minute trip may stretch to 45 minutes or more. Vito Barcelo

Angara wants EDCOM revived TO HELP the government in its efforts to improve the state of education in the country, the Senate is pushing for the revival of the Congressional Committee on Education.

Five senators, led by Sonny Angara, have filed Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 calling for the creation of the EDCOM, which will be composed of five members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The EDCOM will be tasked to review, assess and evaluate the formal, nonformal, informal and alternative learning systems, including continuing systems of education at all levels.

“A lot has been done to improve the country’s educational system over the years but it has become apparent that we need to do more to put us at par with the rest of the world,” Angara said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Protect youth from HIV—Win FOLLOWING a spike of Human Immunodeficiency Virus cases nationwide, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education (to strengthen interventions protecting the youth from sexually-transmitted diseases.

Gatchalian, chairman of Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, entails the full implementation of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11166).

At the end of 2019, the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau reported that 36 new cases were recorded per day, higher than the 35 new cases recorded in July 2019 and the 32 cases documented every day in 2018. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Opinion

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Standing with MVP, the Ayalas, and Lopezes FOR most of my professional life, as an environmental activist and public interest lawyer and as a former senior government official, I have clashed with many business and corporate interests. It comes with the territory as I usually represent other interests—indigenous peoples, local communities, and the general public. My priorities—environmental sustainability and social justice— would be different from those of my business and corporate colleagues.

So through the years, I have fought with mining and logging companies, opposed coal-fired power plants and destructive reclamation projects, pushed for consumer rights and fair competition, etc.

The business community should push back against this abuse of power.

Still, in more than three decades of attacking and being attacked by business and corporate interests, I have never made the fight personal. I have resisted being judgmental and have always sought ways to change the minds of my counterparts. I have also tried to listen to them and learn as much as possible from business and corporate colleagues while avoiding being coopted and being an accom-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

plice in greenwashing.

And so while I may have differences sometimes in the business decisions that Manny Pangilinan, the Ayalas, and the Lopezes make, I stand with them on the vitriol and abuse that is being inflicted on them by President Rodrigo Duterte. It might not be the popular thing, but it is the right thing to do.

I did the same thing when Bobby Ongpin was targeted at the beginning of the Duterte presidency. I wish the business community also stood with Ongpin in those early days as that was clearly a preview of the things to come.

While I will not claim any close working or personal relationship with them, I have engaged enough with MVP, JAZA, the Lopezes, and their executives to make a definitive judgment that they are good people and that they love this country, care for the poor, and are willing to take responsibility for the environment.

This conclusion is based on having engaged with all of them on many of their philanthropic and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Occasionally, I have also been asked to give input on sustainability issues these companies face. There is no doubt in my mind that they mean well and are motivated to do the right thing. While the notion of oligarchs still prevails, I can say for sure that Pangilinan and the Ayalas and Lopezes I know are not oligarchs but patriots of the highest degree.

This is not to excuse situations of business excesses and regulatory capture that must be corrected, not just by the government but also by the business community. In fact, it is

Francis’ forcefulness

P

OPE Francis is in the headlines again.

He slapped a female devotee's hand, stepped on a speedball apology then went into a quick denunciation of “every form of violence against women.”

ways been known to enjoy greeting the public, not the least having a reputation for speaking his mind and a forthrightly determined temperament.

The hand slapping incident, as the Pope walked by the Catholic faithful, immediately went viral on social media. But as quick was his personal apology for losing patience with the worshipper before using his New Year's Day address to denounce violence against women.

The Pope said, in the first Mass of 2020, “Love makes us patient. So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologize for yesterday's bad example...Women are sources of life. Yet they are continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb.

“Every form of violence inflicted

Francis had just greeted children before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter's Square on New Year's Eve and was turning away when a woman, who made the sign of the Cross then cried out something not picked up by media, pulled his right hand which nearly caused the 83-year-old Pontiff to trip over.

It might have been a lapse in security precautions. But the Pope has al-

upon a woman is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman.”

The Pope had rightly noted that the service traditionally celebrates the life of Mary, “the woman who wove the humanity of God,” and the blessing of God for all was “not magic but requires patience, patience and love.”

Some may describe the Pope's apology as a mere publicity stunt— he had previously thought the Church should not only apologize to a gay person it has offended, but to the poor, the women who have been exploited, the children who have been used by (being forced to) work but also for having blessed so many weapons.

We take the view that the Pope's forthrightness in apologizing demonstrated the strength of his character as leader of the faith and of the Christian flock.

Turn to A5

Begging for life in the time of Universal Health Care THE family just laid to rest an officer and a gentleman, a retired Colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In his full gala uniform and with the Philippine flag draped over his coffin, this 80-year-old soldier was accorded the full honors, complete with the 21-gun salute before finally being brought to his final resting place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

I met the man and his spouse years ago when his son and my daughter became engaged and decided to marry. A quiet, gentle, smiling guy he was. He was mild-mannered and spoke gently that I would not have guessed that he was a soldier if I was not told. I would later learn that he was, in every way, the pillar of his family, and an icon to his children.

Thus, he deserved all the honors.

He served his country for the better part of his life with an unblemished record. Before he passed, he was President of his local chapter of the Veterans Association of the Philippines. Beyond these, he was the epitome of a family man. He was, indeed, a hero in his own right.

What he and his family did not deserve was how our country’s health system failed to provide for his needs during his last months.

Indeed, at 80 years of age, health issues were expected. He had a heart condition and was admitted to the Philippine Heart Center on Oct. 18 of last year. Besides the PHC specialists, we have doctors in the family, my daughter and his son (my son-in-law) and so we were confident with the medical decisions that were made.

Our patient needed a life-saving heart procedure. Because of his age and other health conditions, the

doctors decided against an open heart surgery and opted for the very expensive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. The estimated cost was about P2.5 to P3 million.

The family decided to deal with the costs after. What was most important was to save his life. No middle-class family will readily have access to this kind of money but life was at stake.

After all, our patient was a senior citizen and a veteran, so the family was hoping for some assistance from PhilHealth and the Philippine

What a cruel joke.

Risking life to preserve nature’s memory

By David Salazar

Veterans Affairs Office. By law, the PVAO is supposed to shoulder a good part of the expenses. Also, isn’t the government singing hallelujahs to the new Universal Health Care Act? These were reasons to be hopeful.

Just days after the procedure, the medical bills were piling up. The first I saw amounted to P2.6 million despite having already paid a few hundred thousand pesos. Worse, the family was told that the PVAO would not shoulder any of the bills at that time because the Memorandum of Agreement between the PHC and the PVAO was not renewed for 2019.

The family needed to settle all the bills first and then, some would be reimbursed by the PVAO after some time. Great! I thought.

And so while taking care of the patient, we set forth to raising money for hospital bills. We were told that politicians contribute money for hospitalization. But we would need to ask them one by one. I despise asking for favors, especially money for my own purposes. My family has not done this until now. I have worked Turn to A5

FOR the last three decades, botanist Julio Betancur has braved minefields and penetrated deep into jungle territory infested with drug traffickers and armed gangs in a bid to document Colombia's rich biodiversity.

Colombia is second only to Brazil for its incredible range of fauna and flora. Armed only with a notebook and gardening shears, Betancur has taken considerable risks to collect plant cuttings.

He's contributed four percent of the 600,000 samples in the University of Colombia's herbarium.

There have been close calls including "a slightly violent" encounter with a group of drug runners Betancur and his colleagues came across in the jungle.

"Without realizing it, we were putting ourselves in the eye of the storm," Betancur told AFP. Fortunately, the drug traffickers accepted their explanations and left them alone.

On another occasion, local peasants freed them from a minefield.

"If it hadn't been for them, the communities, we wouldn't be here telling

za National Park some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the capital Bogota.

Suddenly, he stops in front of a plant with tiny yellow flowers known as a "chite" in Colombia: A member of the St. John's-wort family.

He takes a clipping and wraps it in newspaper soaked in alcohol.

Back in the university herbarium, where Betancur works as a curator, he jots down in his notebook the color, size, smell, coordinates and the sample number that betrays his vast body of research: 22,999.

"Every time I take a botanical sample it's like writing a page in the book of our forests," he said.

In the future, once the vegetation has disappeared from somewhere, people "will know what species lived there at a certain time and with that will reconstruct the natural history of this territory."

In his early expeditions, Betancur traversed Amazonian forests studying species that have since disappeared.

The Alexander von Humbolt Biological Resources Research Institute Book of forests in Bogota estimates that at least 2,100 Wearing an explorer's hat and with plant species are in danger of extinca rucksack on his back, Betancur tion due to deforestation. forges into the mountainous ChinganTurn to A5 the story," said Betancur.

The 59-year-old, a biologist, university professor and collector of bromeliadswhich include the pineapple, Spanish moss and queen of the Andes—says it's worth taking the risks so his country can "know about" its biodiversity.

While dangers lurk for Betancur, Colombia's biodiversity faces far more threats.

Deforestation—mainly from livestock farming but also illegal mining and coca plantations—has done untold damage to Colombia's jungles.

Almost five percent of the 169,000 hectares (650 square miles) of illegal coca plantations are in protected areas.

Illicit gold mining, using techniques that are harmful to the environment, cover 98,000 hectares—an area greater than Berlin.

Since 2010, more than a million hectares of Colombian jungle have been cut down, according to an official report.

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Opinion Go home!

RARELY can one find a Filipino who hates Americans. In fact, many of us love and emulate them, and speak their language, overwhelmingly influenced by the 38 years of American occupation that overshadowed 333 years of Spanish colonization.

But it's a totally a different matter when US politicians impose on us, meddling in our internal affairs.

United States democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin could not believe they have totally made a joke of themselves by coming to the country, expecting a rousing welcome and VIP treatment.

They easily would have been the eight-millionth and eight-millionand-first “tourists” welcomed and donned with colorful leis by Department of Tourism officials, along with over 1.5-million Chinese who have come to work in the country this year.

Unfortunately for Leary and Durbin, no cheering squad accompanied the welcome party of the Bureau of Immigration who met them at airport. US citizens are normally allowed an initial 30-day temporary stay in the country.

They made history when Immigration authorities on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte denied Leahy and Durbin admission to the country, literally tagging them “undesirable aliens” as well as threats to national security.

They may have to secure a tourist visa next time they plan to visit here.

A third US senator, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, has been barred to enter the Philippines for the same reason.

The three Democrats were among several US lawmakers who pushed for a provision in the approved 2020 US national budget imposing sanc-

It appears Leahy and Durbin came on too strong because in their minds was a picture of the “indios” of the Spanish and American colonial eras, who would bow to the American superiority. Sadly, quite a number share their delusion at the US Capitol.

If they had been admitted with open arms and accorded the usual Filipino hospitality, next thing you know they would have staged a black propaganda blitz with hosts Yellow media and desperate critics of the President, according to President Duterte’s allies in both houses of Congress.

Similarly, Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Ping Lacson have condemned the US senators' lawyering for the former Justice secretary.

During her term, persecution and massacre victims cried for justice to no avail.

Leahy was quoted as saying they have come to support the Filipinos' freedom of expression, implying that De Lima was jailed for emphatically criticizing Duterte and his administration for “human rights violations.”

There is nothing more contrived than such statement.

Well, Duterte sent a clear message to everyone around the world: “ You are not welcome in the country if you pry in our internal business.”

Begging...

From A4

with politicians for many years and I have always been careful to not ask for personal favors.

I have reached out to a few, those with whom I have developed relationships, and only for the benefit of others in critical need, never for myself or any of my family members. The situation we were in was different. We needed to beg for life.

I made a list of politicians I would personally call, and the rest were assigned to my son-in-law and his siblings. Then the begging began by calls, letters, visits to offices, unending followups. These went on for more than two months.

It did not help that because of the family’s inability to pay the bills in full, there were times, I think twice, when the hospital threatened to stop the treatment and medications for our patient unless he was in critical condition.

Universal health care you say? We learned the hard way that it does not exist.

So we experienced how it was to be at the receiving end of politicians’ “awa” and it does not feel good. We know that whatever was contributed was people’s money but still, we feel that somehow, we owe these politicians. This is the reason why ordinary people feel beholden to them. This is pure and simple patronage politics.

Do not get me wrong, we are thankful to those who helped, especially the few who needed no follow-up and readily contributed to the hospital bills of our soldier. We are also grateful to family friends who assisted by approaching government officials they know.

Still, our health system is such that you will not get the medical services you need if you are without money, and know no one in position. Obviously, public money is there but the system placed it under the discretion of politicians who then disburse them as political favors. This makes people feel small, very small, in relation with their patrons. The unequal power relations become more pronounced.

Still, what we raised was not enough to cover the hospital bills and the family still has substantial amounts to pay.

On Dec. 23, our patient was released and was supposedly home for the holidays. But he was again rushed to the PHC the following day where sadly, he expired.

The family buried an honorable soldier as a hero but our health system did not treat him as one. In the end, his many years of service to the country he loved was not even given due consideration. If someone like him was failed by the system, what can we expect on behalf of the millions of ordinary Filipinos?

Our health system sucks and the universal health care is a cruel joke. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Risking life...

From A4

Of the 30,000 plants the institute has documented in Colombia, 26 percent are endemic.

Betancur's work is displayed on rickety shelving at Colombia's national university.

The botanist compares the herbarium to the Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt, one of the most significant libraries of the ancient world.

Baptism needed At Betancur's apartment in Bogota, he has a large terrace where he looks

after his collection of bromeliads.

These plants, with their colorful flowers ranging from red to green, provide a water source for animals during times of drought.

Among them is a species that had never before been documented until Betancur noticed it while out driving.

He spotted it high up in a tree in Bogota's savannah and climbed up to take some clippings.

"I still don't know what to call it because I have to baptize it," said Betancur, one of the Colombians to have named the largest number of plants.

AFP

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US still treats the Philippines as a captive colony

tions to Filipino individuals responsible for what they consider “politically motivated” incarceration of Senator Leila de Lima.

Majority of the Filipinos believe allowing them to barge into the country would have made everyone look like wimps in the face of this glaring US intrusion in the country’s internal affairs, particularly the judicial process in De Lima's multiple drug cases.

President Duterte has sent a clear message.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

US SENATE Resolution No. 142 sponsored by senators Edward Markey (DMassachusetts) and Dick Durbin (DIllinois) was unanimously approved. It called for the immediate release from detention of Senator Leila de Lima and a stop to the harassment of Rappler’s CEO identified as Maria Ressa. The Senate resolution described De Lima as a “prisoner of conscience detained solely on account of her political views and for legitimately exercising her freedom of expression.” In the case of Ressa, her case is “part of the government pattern to weaponize the rule of law to suppress independent media.”

Malacañang, for its part, accused the US Senate of being misinformed and for stepping into Philippine sovereignty through its resolution. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was quoted saying that “it is brazen and heedless affront against the dignity not only of the Philippine government but also of our country’s sovereignty as well. It is an undisguised and outrageous intrusion into the internal affairs a sovereign state, and there can no excuse for the US Senate committee not to know that the Philippines has long ceased to be a colony of the United States.”

If we are to give our observation about this latest political skirmish in our relations with the US, this column suggests that the US senators better concentrate their strategy on how to impeach President Trump. That way, they would not be creating more enemies that will contribute to the further political isolation of the US. Just like many of our hypocritical politicians, the US senators are into their usual grandstanding, hoping they would be able to entice Filipino-Americans to vote for them considering that US election is just around the corner.

What makes the issue unusual is the fact that Senator De Lima was arrested on drug-related charges, specifically for receiving bride money from a high profile convicted criminal involved in a kidnapping-for-ransom identified as Jaybee Sebastian, now serving and acting as kingpin inside the National Penitentiary.

No proof is needed that De Lima, then the Secretary of Justice of the discredited Noynoy Aquino administration, was involved or connived in the distribution of illegal drugs. Her singing and dancing inside the maximum security prison area where Sebastian put up his own nightclub with De Lima almost serenading the criminal kingpin is prurient, vulgar and demeaning, not to say that she made all the guards in the National Penitentiary her accomplice in violating the rules of

Standing...

From A4

such excesses and regulatory capture that actually make business vulnerable to presidents like Duterte.

The water contracts, for example, do need correction. I have said so myself in my writings. I reviewed these contracts in 1997 when I was a government official and saw clearly that the environmental and sanitation provisions were terrible as it allowed the companies to escape from these responsibilities. I was not in a position to change those terms at that time. They were sent to my office the day before the signing as my boss, then Environment Secretary Victor Ramos, was going to sign it as a witness.

The justification given for the disregard of the environment was the costs, which I thought was not acceptable. In any case, we had the chance to correct that when the Supreme Court ordered the clean-up of Manila Bay in 2008. Again, the water companies resisted.

It took a Supreme Court decision last year once again to resolve the sanitation issue in Maynilad vs.

DENR by introducing the public trust doctrine to make the water companies realize that water is a natural resource and not a contractual matter and that putting in place sanitation facilities quickly is an overriding concern that

the Bureau of Prisons. How she sang and danced in front of those convicted murderers show just how morally depraved she is to be absolutely unfit to her position as Secretary of Justice. In that, would any sane person still demand evidence to pin her down or insist she is “a prisoner of conscience”?

The same can be said of this American mascot named Maria Ressa. This self-styled crusader for press freedom is suspected to be sporting dual citizenship. If proven, that gives the government the right to deport her without much ado. It is no longer for her to argue that the government should prove she is an undesirable alien or has violated our laws for which a deportation proceedings can be initiated against her, for logically, she could invoke the American laws as a citizen why she is being unjustly punished?

The records will bear this out.

had in mind she was able to get away with the law. Ressa is pretending to be clever having in mind that our officials were born yesterday like those hillbilly senators defending her and De Lima.

The problem is she forgot to declare that the funds supposedly donated

by American media tycoon, Pierre Omidyar, is taxable. Her late declaration of said donation for the corporation gave rise to another case against her for tax evasion, specifically for “violating Section 255 of the Tax Code or failure to supply correct information in the Income Tax Return (ITR) for 2015, and Value Added Tax (VAT) returns for the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2015.”

Because of her difficulty explaining the charges, her battery of media hackers cum foreign mercenaries are accusing the Duterte government now of harassment. This gave the hillbilly US senators reason to pressure on the government to release a morally-depraved senator and to stop harassing their mascot.

Another item this column would like to raise is the demand of the US Senate resolution to release a person who is already under detention for violation of our laws and for which she is now being prosecuted. Those yokels should know that once a case is filed in court, and the accused has already been charged and arrested, the case is already outside the control and jurisdiction of the President. He cannot even exercise his power to pardon or commute the sentence. He can only exercise that power after the accused has been sentenced by the court or to put it bluntly, after conviction. To demand the release of De Lima is a direct affront to our judicial system which nobody in this country could violate.

Pardon and commutation is only applicable after she has been sentenced.

On the other hand, not a single instance has the US surrendered any of its citizens who are accused or have violated our laws. The US has accorded their soldiers stationed here that they cannot be criminally prosecuted. If the issue has become sensational, they just whisked them away from our jurisdiction to be forgotten by history.

On our extradition treaty with the US, it seems the treaty has been working exclusively in their favor, viz. against us. An extradition treaty is supposed to work mutually in favor of the contracting parties. But in our case, our extradition treaty with the US has consistently been working against us, for it seems we are the only ones obligated to surrender our citizen who is wanted or has committed offense in the US. The records will bear this out. There has never been an instance where the US has surrendered any of its citizens to our court for trial and possible sentencing if found guilty.

If we cannot punish our own citizens on the ground that they are sporting dual citizenship, we might as well kick her out, and let the country of her choice resolve that problem she has created. Let us not bother ourselves about the consequences of her act. Let the person that created that problem resolve that issue.

Dual citizenship is an indelible mark indicating she holds no loyalty to this country much that patriotism is indivisible to a person’s love of country.

To revoke her dual citizenship status cannot reduce her to a stateless person to say that her human rights were violated. Kicking her out is like returning her to the country of her first choice.

Aside from the libel case she faces, there are serious charges filed against her and this involves her act of openly making a travesty of our laws. She acts as though she is above our law. The irritating fact is she is acting recklessly because as an American mascot, she is protected by the US government.

Ressa knows that a foreigner is not allowed to own mass media in this country. Her having dual citizenship or even a citizen of this country is not a birthright. When she put up Rappler, a foreign-owned social media with her as its front, she knows she would be violating not only the laws of the land but of our Constitution. She cannot pretend to be ignorant because freedom of the press connotes that she is knowledgeable enough to know and write about our laws.

We have to point out that when she made a last-minute strategy to demand from her foreign funder to donate funds to Rappler and its officers, and present it now as their capital, that mascot rpkapunan@gmail.com

must outweigh all other considerations so the obstacles are overcome.

My misgivings notwithstanding about the water contracts, there is a way to correct them without resorting to bullying and threatening MVP and the Ayalas with syndicated estafa. I can say for sure as someone who once taught criminal law that there is no factual and legal basis for such an accusation. I was the government that drafted and approved the contracts, and in the case of MVP and Metro Pacific and its partners, they were not even involved at that time.

This is nothing but a shakedown to coerce concessions from the Ayalas and MVPs for whatever reason. We will have to see if the fear this is being done to favor cronies will materialize.

As for ABS-CBN, this is clearly also not right and an abuse of power for Congress and the executive branch to refuse without due process—which requires hearing of evidence and due consideration—the renewal of its broadcast franchise. Yes, franchises are a right and not a privilege but the Congress and the executive branch does not have absolute discretion on the matter as that would be an abuse of power.

What we need in this country is for the business community to push back against this abuse of power. This is rehash of the Marcos playbook in 1972. Do we really have to wait for a

change of administration to combat such abuse?

Hopefully, the business community can also be enlisted against the crime against humanity being committed against the poor in the war against illegal drugs. And since I am on this issue of rule of law, perhaps they can also be courageous in speaking out against the illegal detention of Senator Leila de Lima and against the massive displacement of indigenous peoples and the urban poor because of Build Build Build. Because we allowed this government to go after and disregard the rights of Ongpin, De Lima, Trillanes, poor addicts and their families, environmental and human rights defenders, social activists, the Aetas in Clark, the Dumagat in Kaliwa River, and the Lumad in Mindanao, there is no one left to protest when business leaders are threatened and bullied.

I stand with MVP, the Ayalas, the Lopezes, and the business community. I hope they too will stand with others whose rights have also been and will be disregarded under this administration.

We do not need rule by law but the rule of law. The former benefits only the rulers while the latter favors all.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

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News

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC junks petitions vs. MMDA on bus ban

Makati orders restaurant closure after explosion

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Makati City government ordered on Friday the closure of a Chinese restaurant, operating without a sprinkler system, that exploded due to an alleged gas leak.

Makati City Police chief Col. Rogelio Simon said the City of Makati had issued the closure order against the Judian Chuan Ba Restaurant, located along Yakal Street, after four Chinese nationals were injured during the Thursday night explosion.

Preliminary estimates of damage had been placed at P180,000, according to officials.

"Notice is hereby given that this establishment is closed for violation of the regulatory provisions of existing city ordinances, laws and regulations," the order read.

"The management is, therefore, ordered to cease and desist from operation," it added.

The city's Bureau of Fire and Protection said it found the Chinese restaurant only had a fire safety inspection certificate from 2017.

Authorities were checking if any safety inspection was done in 2018 and 2019.

The police identified the victims as: Yue Qzang Cao, 45; Liang Zhang, 37; Ting Tang, 26; and Long Liun Yun, 27 Yue Qzang Cao is in the intensive care unit of Makati Medical Center, while the three others are recuperating.

All of the victims are Chinese nationals: Two are employees of the Judianchuanba Restaurant, while two were passersby, official sources said.

Eduardo Labrador, chief of BFP-Makati’s investigation unit, said the explosion, which occurred at around 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, was caused by a gas leak in the piping system of the restaurant.

The establishment had no gas leak detector, which the fire code requires of establishments.

Labrador said a cigarette butt and lighter were left lying around, and the stove was left unattended, most likely causing the fire.

THE Supreme Court has dismissed on technicality the three petitions that assailed the constitutionality of a controversial Metro Manila Development Authority’s regulation banning provincial buses from plying along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, a traffic-clogged major highway in the metropolis.

In a resolution released on Friday, the SC junked for violation of hierarchy of courts the three petitions, saying the case involved determination of facts and presentation of evidence on the procedures undertaken by the MMDA in issuing the regulation.

The three petitions were filed by Ronald Ang and Alfredo Garbin Jr. of AKO Bicol Party-List, Albay’s Joey Salceda, and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares and House members identified with the Makabayan Bloc.

The three petitions claimed that MMDA "exceeded its powers" when it issued the regulation "because it does not possess legislative nor police powers."

The SC ruled that the petitions should have been filed before the proper regional trial court or the Court of Appeals which also has jurisdiction to issue writs of certiorari.

Certiorari “is a special civil action brought by an aggrieved party against a tribunal, board or officer exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions to determine whether it has acted without or in excess of jurisdiction, and there is no appeal or any plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law for the purpose of annulling or modifying the proceedings of such tribunal… granting such relief as law and justice may require.”

Earlier, MMDA had said that Regulation 19-002 was aimed at easing traffic along EDSA, a traffic-clogged main thoroughfare that traverses several cities, and eventually within Metro Manila.

The regulation moves the loading and unloading zones of the provincial buses to the integrated terminal in Sta. Rosa in Laguna for those coming from the south, and to the terminal in Valenzuela City for those from the north.

It also mandates local government units to revoke or stop the issuance of business permits to provincial bus operators for their terminals along EDSA.

CA affirms misconduct charges vs. mayor THE Court of Appeals has said the reelection of a local government official facing charges of misconduct in his previous term can no longer be considered as a condonation of the act.

In a 14-page decision dated Dec. 13, 2019 the appellate court, through Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, dismissed a petition filed by Guagua, Pampanga Mayor Dante D. Torres questioning the charges filed against him before the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon.

The so-called Aguinaldo doctrine instructs that a reelected public official could not be removed for administrative misconduct committed during a previous term since his reelection to office operated as a condonation of the officer’s previous misconduct.

“This doctrine was already abandoned in the case of Carpio-Morales v.

CA, which was promulgated [in] November 2015 and which attained finality on 12 April 2016,” the CA said, adding that when Torres was reelected again as municipal mayor in the 2016 elections, “the doctrine was already abandoned,” Associate Justices Ramon A. Cruz and Gabriel T. Robeniol concurred.

The case arose from a complaint filed by a certain Juan Pring alleging irregularities in the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Manuel P. Santiago Municipal Town Plaza, also known as the MPS Park.

The complainant said the project was overpriced and that no competitive public bidding was conducted for a sole contractor that was entertained.

Bidding was conducted a month before the completion of the project in June 2014 and was implemented without coordination with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, despite monuments of important personalities in the area.

Charges of technical malversation were eventually filed by the Ombudsman against the mayor for applying to the MPS Park P2.76 million in municipal funds originally earmarked for other projects. PNA

GAS EXPLOSION. Shattered glass and other debris scattered following an explosion due to an alleged gas leak at a restaurant in Makati City on Thursday, where four people have been reported wounded. Norman Cruz

Typhoon ‘Ursula’ damage now P3.4b in agri, infra D

AMAGE to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Typhoon “Ursula” has amounted to P3,435,725,790, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Friday.

In its 6 a.m. update signed by Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, the NDRRMC said damage was recorded in the Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions.

Meanwhile, 431,586 houses in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas were damaged.

Of the figure, 107,035 were destroyed while 324,551 were damaged.

The number of houses destroyed by Ursula in Eastern Visayas alone has now reached 233,353, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported on Friday.

Of the number, a total 16,161 houses were totally damaged and 217,192 partially damaged, said Theo Felices, DSWD (Eastern Visayas) regional disaster response operation division

project development officer.

“Most of the totally damaged houses are those made of light materials and built along coastal villages,” Felices said.

Leyte has the highest number of destroyed houses at 129,835, followed by Western Samar (43,515), Eastern Samar (35,364), and Biliran (24,639). The typhoon has affected 371,132 families from 1,778 villages in over 70 towns regionwide.

Felices clarified that the number was not yet the final count.

“We set the deadline for the submission of reports per local government units on Dec. 29. Right now, we are still consolidating and finalizing the report, and see to it that all validated data has been accounted,” he said.

After the assessment, Felices said, LGUs together with other concerned

agencies, will convene for a consultation meeting to determine the appropriate recovery phase programs for the affected towns.

“We will finish the assessment report as soon as possible so we can proceed now to the next step and formulate the best recovery plans to be endorsed to the central office for funding,” he said.

This includes emergency shelter assistance and cash-for-work programs, the official added.

As of Jan. 2, a total of 22,839 family food packs have been transported to towns in Eastern Visayas that requested for augmentation. This amounts to P9,169,402.

Each food packs contains six kilos of rice, four cans of corned beef, four cans of meatloaf, six sachets of coffee good for three to five days for a family of five members.

Also distributed are non-food items such as shelter and hygiene kits.

The DSWD reminded the public that the relief items were not for sale. PNA

THE SALE RESUMES.

After a long celebration of the Christmas and New Year, and still trying to finish off left over food from the Media Noche feasts, vendors at a public market start to get busy selling fish and sea food Friday, away from the highcholesterol holiday food.

Diana Noche

Du30 orders opening of airport M’LANG, North Cotabato—President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the immediate completion of the mothballed Central Mindanao Airport here and asked Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to source out funds for it.

During his visit on Dec. 30, 2019 here, where he turned over relief and financial aid to thousands of quake victims, the President said the airport must be opened and utilized.

The President issued the remark after Mindanao Development Authority chairman, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, and North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco sought his intervention for the immediate operation of the airport here to boost economic development in mainland Mindanao.

With this, the President verbally asked his former assistant Go to coordinate with the Department of Transportation and source funds for the completion and operation of the airport.

In a statement on Thursday, Piñol said that he and Catamco had earlier briefed President Duterte on the actual status of the airport, also known as the M’lang airport.

The airport's construction started in 2004 when Piñol was governor. The 1.8-kilometer runway and terminal building were completed in 2010.

Present when the President issued the instruction were Go, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., M’lang Mayor Russel Abonado, Piñol, and Catamco.

The airport’s terminal building has been completed but the facility has not been operated because the provincial government of North Cotabato has not turned over the 62-hectare property to the DOTr. PNA

CA junks dead seafarer kin’s compensation claim THE Court of Appeals dismissed the belated claim to death benefits of a family of a Filipino seafarer who died at sea while employed in a foreign ship.

In a 12-page decision dated Dec. 27, 2019 the CA's 8th Division, through Associate Justice Ramon R. Garcia, turned down the claim filed by the legal wife of seafarer Jowe Alap-ap Banagua, saying she had failed to substantiate her claim that she is entitled to claim for compensation.

“While we commiserate with [the] petitioners, we cannot grant their claim for death compensation benefits in the absence of substantial evidence to prove their entitlement thereto since to do so will cause an injustice to the employer,” the court said.

Associate Justices Zenaida T. Galapate-Laguilles and Walter S. Ong concurred. Jowe Alap-ap Banagua was hired sometime in 2014 by BB Shipping Management

Corp. to work as a fisherman for its foreign principal, Chin Cheng Ming Fishery Co., Ltd. with a basic monthly salary of $250 (about P12,000).

On Oct. 5, 2015 while on board the fishing vessel F/V Jin Tsai Fu, Jowe informed the captain that he was feeling sick and uncomfortable and had an open wound on his right leg.

On Oct. 17, 2015, he had a seizure and eventually died at the Honiara International Medical Center in the Solomon Islands.

His body was subsequently returned to the Philippines.

The doctors determined that the cause of death was “uremic syndrome as a consequence of renal failure.”

On Jan. 27, 2016, Arlita Denial and Andronica Banagua, the declared surviving spouse and mother of the deceased received from BB Shipping a total of

PHP626,000 representing claims from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, insurance claim benefits, and burial assistance benefits.

On Oct. 26, 2017, however, a complaint for payment of death benefits was filed by Felisa T. Banagua and her two minor children, claiming that she was the deceased’s legal wife having been married in 2001 before they separated in 2006.

The legal wife theorized that she was entitled to compensation since the death was caused by her estranged spouse’s employment.

The labor arbiter and the National Labor Relations Commission ruled against her claim, prompting her to bring the case to the CA. Ruling against her, the CA said “awards of compensation cannot rest entirely on bare assertions and presumptions.” PNA

Sports

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Aguinaldo joins Thai League 1 club Trat FC

Tennis...

From A8

By Peter Atencio CERES-NEGROS Football Club will start its busy year without defender Amani Aguinaldo, who has signed up to join Thai League 1 Club Trat FC. Aguinaldo won’t be around when the Busmen see action in the qualifying playoff preliminaries of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation Champions League.

The 24-year-old Aguinaldo was on loan last season at Malaysia Super League outfit PKNP FC. This was after Aguinaldo tried out at South Korean club Incheon United in a bid to have a stint with the K League organization.

Aguinaldo was one of the many players who played for host Philippines during the 30th Southeast Asian Games last month.

The Busmen, who who will be reinforced by members of the Philippine Junior Azkals, are set to meet Shan United of Myanmar on Jan. 14.

The winner will move up to the second prelims against Shar Khodro of Iran.

There are 28 teams vying for eight slots that are still available in the Group Stage.

On the other hand, another Philippine squad, Kaya FC, is getting ready for AFC Cup Group Stage this February. They will clash with Shan United on Feb. 12.

Meanwhile, organizers are prepaering to unfurl the Qatar Airways-Philippine Football League this March.

It will be now on its fourth season, which was revived following the disbandment of the Premier League.

Six clubs are expected to take part.

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by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, listup for the 25th WExpress RVF Cup Amateur Open Golf Championship on Feb. 11-14 in Canlubang is ongoing. For details, call NGAP at telefax No. (02) 7065926 or at Riviera Golf Club, Inc. at (02) 888-9089 or 0956-8821149 email ngap2009handicap@yahoo.com.

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas hits a return against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov during their men’s singles match at the ATP Cup tennis tournament in Brisbane. AFP

Canadian young tennis gun Shapovalov whips Tsitsipas B

RISBANE—Canadian young gun Denis Shapovalov edged world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas in his country’s clean sweep against Greece on the first day of the inaugural ATP Cup on Friday.

The 20-year-old Shapovalov downed the world number six 7-6 (86), 7-6 (7/4) in Brisbane to give Canada an unassailable 2-0 lead after Felix Auger-Aliassime thrashed Michail Pervolarakis 6-1, 6-3.

The two then combined in the doubles to beat Pervolarakis and Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3.

“It was definitely a great start to the event—these boys played awesome,” Canadian captain Adriano Fuorivia said. “It’s easy to support them when they’re playing like that.”

Shapovalov’s left-handed serve was working beautifully in his match against Tsitsipas, who faltered at key moments in both tiebreaks.

Tsitsipas, 21, had a superb end to 2019, winning the ATP Finals in his tourna-

ment debut and reaching a career-high world ranking of five.

He went into the match as slight favourite over the Canadian, ranked nine places below him.

Both players were relatively untroubled on serve but Shapovalov made the clutch points in the two tie-breakers to take the match in just over two hours.

“It’s definitely a huge win for me,” Shapovalov said.

“Obviously, he had an unbelievable end to the season and he’s defi nitely one of the top players in the world right now so to beat a guy like this fi rst match of the year, it’s really special for me.”

Tsitsipas conceded he had returned poorly, which proved the difference.

“I don’t know whether it was because he was a lefty. I don’t really usually have this much trouble playing lefties, but today I think he was serving well—that was pretty much it,” Tsitsipas said.

“His serve was better than mine and a few points in the tiebreak, I didn’t work out what I had to do and I didn’t have a clear picture of how I have to play.”

World number 21 Auger-Aliassime was far too strong for Pervolarakis, 466 places further down the ATP rankings.

The Canadian cruised through the fi rst set before Pervolarakis—playing his fi rst match on the main ATP tour—could adjust to the pace, but the 19-year-old was never in trouble and wrapped up the match in 69 minutes.

“I was happy that overall in the match I had a great first set, couldn’t ask for any better, and I was able to be solid in the second,” Auger-Aliassime said. AFP

Porter...

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CHAIRMAN’S CUP CHAMP. Philracom officials Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, commission-

ers Reli de Leon, Dante Lantin and Lyndon Guce, together with Philippine Racing Club officials, led

by Donnie Selda, handed the awards of Shanghai Gray’s winning connections, namely jockey Kelvin Abobo, trainer Ruben Tupas and owner Melanie Habla, represented by Richard Tupas. Shanghai Grey fashioned out a coast-to-coast victory in the 2019 Chairman’s Cup at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite. Ridden by star jockey Kelvin Abobo, the Melanie Habla-owned Shanghai Grey was in command from the get go as it expertly mastered the field in the 2,000-meter race en route to a four-length win, achieved in 2:05 with quartertimes of 24, 23, 24, 24 and 26 seconds.

with a dominant defensive performance, holding the reigning champion Toronto Raptors to 31.5 percent shooting in an 84-76 victory.

Bam Adebayo led Miami with 15 points and 14 rebounds and the Heat out-scored the Raptors 21-16 in the fourth quarter to pull away in a close contest, improving their league-best home record to 16-1.

The Raptors, still missing injured Spanish big man Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam, were led by the 19 points and 10 rebounds of center Serge Ibaka.

Jazz edge Bulls Utah won a close one in Chicago, where the Jazz’s two-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert came up big in the waning seconds.

The French center forced a miss from Chicago’s Zach LaVine with the Jazz up 100-98 and less than 25 seconds remaining.

Utah corralled the rebound and Donovan Mitchell made two free throws to give the Jazz a four-point lead.

Gobert blocked another LaVine attempt with 7.6 seconds left and the Jazz emerged with the victory in a game that saw 13 lead changes.

“We knew that they were a very aggressive team, especially Zach, so I just had to do what I do and be there for my teammates,” said Gobert, who finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Bojan Bogdanovic, who led the Jazz with 19 points, said Gobert’s contribution was key.

“He’s huge every single game for just his presence in the paint,” Bogdanovic said. “It’s big. Whoever’s coming into the paint, he’s changing every single shot.”

Luka Doncic, who led all vote-getters in early All-Star game voting returns released Thursday, celebrated with 31 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 123-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

The 20-year-old star scored 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Mavs handed the injury-depleted Nets their fourth straight defeat. AFP

ATP Cup being staged in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

‘The real heroes’ Tournament director Tom Larner announced that each ace served at the 10-day event would deliver Aus$100 to bushfire relief.

The initiative is forecast to raise around Aus$150,000, with more than 1,500 aces expected to be sent down over the duration of the January 3-12 tournament.

“Most of the players are already keen to score aces and win a quick point, and having the chance to raise money for the bushfire appeal will give them that extra bit of motivation,” he said.

Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said he was working with the ATP and WTA to extend the move to all tournaments in Australia this month, including at Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.

“During the Australian Open we also plan to honour and recognise the incredible work of our firefighters, emergency services workers and volunteers who serve our communities so tirelessly,” he said.

“I know fans will turn out in force to the AO Rally for Relief to support this great cause, as well as get involved in all our other fundraising activities.”

There are fears that smoke haze from the fires could impact the ATP Cup in Sydney, with officials relying on on-site medical experts to monitor air quality, although there were no concerns on Friday.

The third cricket Test in Sydney between Australia and New Zealand is also monitoring for smoke, with players wearing black armbands Friday as a mark of respect for those who have died.

Two of the biggest hitters in the game, Lynn and Glenn Maxwell, said they would donate $250 for every six they smash during the ongoing Big Bash League Twenty20 tournament.

“Hey Guys, for every six I hit in this years Big Bash League I will donate $250 towards the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal,” tweeted Lynn.

“It is special to see so many athletes from various sports getting in behind the real heroes who are fighting to save lives and properties around our country.”

Maxwell, back in action after a short mental health sabbatical, replied: “Love it Lynny!! I’ll match you on $250 per six I hit in this years BBL.” D’Arcy Short, who was last week added to Australia’s squad for their upcoming one-day tour of India, also jumped on board with the same commitment.

Expect...

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“The fi re should always be there, the desire to always improve and be a better version of yourself should always be there so I don’t remain stagnant and I always remain expecting.”

He knows that he has the capability of being one of the best martial artists to come out of the Philippines – and the only way to prove that is to keep on impressing in The Home Of Martial Arts.

“I am visualizing that I will keep on winning, and hopefully be a top contender,” Adiwang said.

“I want to close 2020 and enter 2021 as one of the top athletes and closer to a title shot—that’s what pushes me to keep the fire burning in this sport.”

In the meantime, ONE Championship returns to martial arts action on January 10 for ONE: A NEW TOMORROW at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Catch all the action live and for free on the ONE Super App

Top seed NM Emperado rules Metropolitan chessfest TOP seed National Master Emmanuel Emperado lived up to expectations as he ruled the Metropolitan Chess Club Grand Reunion Standard Open Chess Tournament recently at the Starmall Edsa Shaw in Mandaluyong City.

Emperado, who boasts of the highest NCFP rating of 2207 in the tournament, fi nished with six wins and one draw (6.5) against fellow NM Efren Bagamasbad in this sevenround Swiss event, sanctioned by the NCFP and organized by MCC in cooperation with MILO. Emperado brought home the championship trophy plus the gold medal and the P4,000 top prize.

The draw led Bagamasbad for a tie

from second to third places along with USCF Master Jose Aquino Jr. with 5.5 points each. However, due to a better tie break, Bagamasbad grabbed runner-up honors and received P2,500 plus a silver medal. Aquino took third place and received P1,500 plus bronze medal.

Rounding out the Top 10 winners were John Kenneth Gelua (4th); Leonito Raul Villate (5th); Clark Kaeron Kwan (6th); Lorenzo Cochanco (7th); Arnel Ellis (8th); Joel Ambas (9th); Alwin Sopungco (10th). Finishers from 11th-20th who were awarded bronze medal each were: Venz Dwight Kwan (11th); Jose Layones II (12th); Bejie Paulo Aclao (13th); Christopher

Jed Dayo (14th); Leo Aldrin Caraig (15th); Andrew Sopungco (16th); Ivan Gelua (17th); Roville Viatrice Ceron (18th); Alexander Gelua (19th); and Kezia Ligutan (20).

Category top performers were Alwin Sopungco (Top 55-46); Mady Anonuevo (Top 45-36); Burlington Tiu (Top 35-20); David Joshua Orense (Top 19-15); Karlycris Clarito Jr. (Top 14-11) and Julie Gelua Jr. (Top 10-under). The top Milo Checkmate Performers (High School and Elementary) were John Andrei Abrantes and Nathan Maligaya, respectively.

The youngest participant was sixyear-old Jayden Aquino.

Shown here standing at the center is champion NM Emmanuel Emperado, while on his left is NM Efren Bagamasbad (runner-up). At his right is USCF Master Jose Aquino Jr. (third placer), along with the tournament officials, MCC organizer Mila Emperado and the other winners.

For details, visit the organizer’s The next MCC event is set on Feb. 1 and 2, a Standard Youth Open Tourna- Milo Checkmate Chess Clinics and ment for those who were born on the year Sports Academy Facebook page or 2001 onwards. contact 0922-822-0319.

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

Luka edges Giannis for NBA voting All-Star lead NEW YORK—Dallas’ Slovenian guard Luka Doncic edged reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee for the overall lead in early NBA AllStar Game voting results released on Thursday.

Doncic, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, topped all players with 1,073,957 fan votes with “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo trailing by only 599 votes and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James third on 1,020,851.

Fans have 50 percent of the voting power to decide the 10 starters in this year’s All-Star Game at Chicago on February 16 while current NBA players voting counts 25 percent and a media panel counts for the final 25 percent to determine two guards and three frontcourt starters for the Eastern and Western conferences.

Voting will conclude on January 20 with starters and captains to be revealed on January 23. Each captain will select starting and reserve lineups from the available players regardless of conference. All-Star reserves will be revealed January 30.

Doncic topped the Western Conference guards with NBA scoring leader James Harden of the Houston Rockets well back in second on 749,080 and Portland’s Damian Lillard a distant third on 202,498.

James, a five-time NBA MVP, paced the West frontcourt with teammate Anthony Davis next on 955,246 and 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers third in 740,657. A distant fourth was Clipper star Paul George on 280,894.

Antetokounmpo led East frontcourt balloting with Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid of Philadelphia second on 606,534 and his compatriot Pascal Siakam of reigning champion Toronto, last season’s NBA Most Improved Player, third on 544,302. Miami’s Jimmy Butler was fourth on 431,483.

In the East backcourt, which features the tightest voting race for a starting berth, Atlanta’s Trae Young was the leader on 443,412 with Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving second on 432,481 and Boston’s Kemba Walker in third, only 450 votes behind Irving.

Australian Ben Simmons of Philadelphia ranked sixth among East guards in fan votes with 159,065. AFP

Pelicans’ rookie star Williamson back in practice LOS ANGELES—Number one draft pick Zion Williamson could make his NBA debut soon after taking part in full practice with the New Orleans Pelicans for the first time since having knee surgery in October.

“If it was up to me, I would have been out there two weeks ago,” Williamson said after returning to practice on Thursday. “It was just good to get back out there.”

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters there was no target date for the 19-year-old Williamson to take the court.

He said it would not be during the Pelicans’ upcoming road trip, which tips off with a game against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday.

“That won’t happen,” Gentry said.

“We really do have to take it a day at a time to see what kind of progress he makes,” Gentry said. “See what happens after he goes through practices and things like that. AFP

Michael Porter Jr #1 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Porter keys Nuggets’ NBA victory L

OS ANGELES—Rookie Michael Porter Jr. scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 124-116 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Porter came off the bench and connected on 11 of 12 shots from the field—a 91.7 percent success rate—as the Nuggets shook off a slow start and rebounded from a New Year’s Eve loss to the Houston Rockets.

“I felt really comfortable out there,” Porter said. “It’s amazing to start the year like this. It’s an amazing feeling and I have my teammates and coaches to thank.”

The Pacers raced to a 14-point lead with 5:23 remaining in the first quarter, with the Nuggets’ efforts to get back on terms hindered by foul trouble for Nikola Jokic.

Denver wouldn’t take the lead until Gary Harris drained a three-pointer with 9:16 left in the third to make it 73-72.

Porter poured in 10 points in the third quarter and Jokic added eight of his 22

points in the period as the Nuggets took a 92-88 lead into the final frame.

Denver opened the fourth on an 11-6 scoring run and the Pacers— led by Jeremy Lamb’s 30 points— couldn’t recover.

Jokic—forced into three fouls in just eight minutes in the first half -- scored 20 points in just 16 minutes after the interval to help the Nuggets notch their third win in four games.

At 24-10, the Nuggets are locked in battle with the Los Angeles Clippers for second in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Clippers improved to 25-11 with a 126-112 home win over the

Go banners women’s cast in Stroke Play tilt LOIS Kaye Go will all have the motivation to shoot for a repeat as she banners the women’s field in the National Stroke Play Championship firing off Jan. 7 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Member of the gold medal winning teams in the Asian Games in 2018 and in the SEA Games last December, the University of South Carolina senior hopes to keep her winning ways in the event she ruled last year by humbling the likes of Asian Games and SEAG gold medalist Bianca Pagdanganan and Thai world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul at the hazard-laden par-71 layout.

Go surged past Thitikul with a third round 70 then held off Pagdanganan’s final round charge with another one-under card to claim the coveted crown.

Though the fancied duo won’t be around to challenge the Cebuana ace, this year’s cast remains as talent-laden as ever with reigning WExpress RVF Cup and MVPSF Visayas regional champion Junia Gabasa, Philippine Junior Amateur, Phl Amateur Open Match Play and Northern Luzon Regional titlist Rianne Malixi leading the roster of challengers.

Put in Cangolf Open winner Nicole Abelar and Riviera MVPSF Amateur champion Kim Seo Yun of South Korea, Go indeed headed for another challenging week at one of the country’s toughest courses.

Beefing up the roster in the 72-hole championship kicking off this year’s PLDT Group National Amateur Tour are Diana Araneta, Tomi Arejola, Laia Barro, Sophia Blanco, Sofia Chabon, Samantha Dizon, Laurea Duque, Bernice Ilas, Samantha Martirez and Eagle Ace Superal with Hong Kong’s Vivian Lee out to pull off a surprise.

Japanese Riko Nagai, a sophomore at Radford University in Virginia, is also in the list, ready to foil Go and the rest of the locals with hopes of completing a sibling sweep of the event with Gen Nagai seeking to defend his crown in the men’s side of the tournament sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and backed by Cignal, Metro Pacific Investments and Summit Ridge as official hotel.

Other Koreans in the roster are Bang Hee Yeon, Jane Jeong, Kim Ka He, Kim Ye Rin, Min Seo Kwon and Park Hyun Jo, all hoping to cash in on their local knowledge of the layout in quest of the championship in the event organized and conducted

Lois Kaye Go

Turn to A7

Expect big things from Lakay’s newest sensation

Lito ‘Thunder Kid’ Adiwang

IF Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang’s 2019 is any indication of the year that he is about to have, then expect big things from the newest sensation from Team Lakay.

In the past 12 months, Adiwang broke out from Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series and onto the ONE Championship main roster in seamless fashion, going unbeaten in all of his matches from the developmental league to the big stage.

The 26-year-old scored impressive wins over Alber Correia “Magayver” Da Silva and Anthony “The Antidote” Do in OWS before culminating his year with a first-round stoppage victory over veteran Senzo Ikeda at ONE: CENTURY PART I. “It’s like a dream,” Adiwang said. “It was a fruitful year for me in my career. I was successful in OWS and then in

my debut with ONE, so I am very happy. I learned a lot this year. I saw how if you are entirely focused with what you truly want, then you will get it.”

The scariest thing for the rest of the strawweight division is that Adiwang will only get better.

He gets a chance to prove that when he battles Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit at ONE: FIRE & FURY on January 31 at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

The key for the Baguio City native is to not get lost in the moment.

“I just have to make sure I remain grounded and focused.

I just have to keep the fire burning, even though I have reached my earlier goals,” Adiwang said.

Turn to A7

Detroit Pistons.

Reserves Montrezl Harrell with 23 points and Lou Williams with 22 led the Clippers, who shook off the early exit of Paul George to out-score the Pistons 3716 in the third quarter and take control of the game.

“We took care of business,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after his team won a second straight game for the first time since they won four in a row from December 8-14.

Rivers had no immediate information on George, who departed in the second half with a tight hamstring.

The Miami Heat launched 2020

Turn to A7

Tennis, cricket stars rally behind Aussie bushfire relief SYDNEY—Tennis and cricket stars spearheaded by Nick Kyrgios and Chris Lynn on Friday pledged support for victims of bushfires raging around Australia, donating cash for every ace or six they hit.

The blazes have claimed 18 lives and forced mass evacuations, with the country bracing for a weekend heatwave expected to fan the deadly infernos.

Tennis Australia also announced a “Rally for Relief” exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on January 15 ahead of the Australian Open, with “the world’s top players” taking part.

It also made a Aus$1.0 million (US$690,000) donation to help communities repair and rebuild tennis facilities damaged or lost in the bushfires.

Kyrgios, a controversial figure with a bad boy reputation, has been at the forefront of building support and pledged Aus$200 for each ace he serves in the Australian summer of tennis, starting with the ATP Cup, which began Friday.

“I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer,” tweeted the 24-year-old, who was handed a 16-week suspended ban in September after a series of outbursts.

His Australian teammate at the inaugural ATP Cup Alex de Minaur went one better.

“I like this, I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate,” he replied, with Australian veteran Samantha Stosur also pledging $200 per ace.

Kyrgios, who will also play the upcoming Kooyong Classic and the Australian Open, on Thursday issued a call for fundraisers for victims of the blazes, which have been a big talking point at the 24-team Turn to A7

IN BRIEF

Tarlac set to move offices to Clark City

THE provincial government of Tarlac will soon establish and operate its offices as well as other institutional facilities in New Clark City in Capas town.

A memorandum of agreement recently signed between the Tarlac provincial government and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority sealed Tarlac’s commitment to locate provincial offices inside the 52-hectare land within New Clark City, the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis.

“Finally we have a place in the center [of the] biggest hub, the most vibrant place in Central Luzon. To be part of it and to be in it is such an honor and a privilege for the Tarlaceños,” said Governor Susan Yap. Under the agreement, the five-hectare portion will be allocated for the development of Tarlac’s offices. The other 47 hectares will house the provincial government’s other institutional facilities.

Yap praised the development of New Clark City as she expressed gratitude on the “outpouring of the rate of investments of the national government in the region.”

Othel V. Campos

Business

Anti-graft charges readied vs DOTr

LAWYERS for Commuter Safety and Protection on Friday said the group will file graft and corruption charges by next week against an official of the Transportation Department over the alleged irregularities on the issuance of the guidelines for the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxis.

“Right now, what LSCP is planning to do is to file necessary complaints against the erring public officials who claimed to be part of the TWG,” said lawyer Raymond Fortun, a member of LCSP, in a press briefing. “[We are] in the process of filing an anti-graft... obviously all of those who participated in that kind of decision,” Fortun said, referring to the Revised General Guidelines for the Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on December 19.

Fortun cited “very serious irregularities” in the process of selecting two new players for motorcycle taxis.

Under the guidelines, the LTFRB extended the pilot run from December 23, 2019 to March 23, 2020 with additional providers JoyRide and MoveIt. Darwin G. Amojelar

Judge wants PECO case tried outside of Iloilo THE regional trial court judge handling the expropriation case filed

by More Electric and Power Corp. against Panay Electric Co. wants the case transferred outside of Iloilo City because it has become too politicized.

“This case has been observed to (be) too politicized. It may be respectfully suggested for the best interest of the parties that this case be transferred outside the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court of Iloilo to be tried and heard by the designated judge herein,” Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular of the Regional Trial Court of Iloilo, Branch 35 said.

Amular issued the statement in response to the administrative complaint filed against him in the Supreme Court on December 12 by MORE president Roel Castro and counsel Hector Teodosio.

MORE wants to remove Amular as the judge handling the expropriation of the distribution assets of PECO, whose franchise expired in January last year.

The new utility owns the franchise to distribute electricity in Iloilo City after the president approved and signed its franchise in February last year.

Castro and Teodosio asked the SC to remove Amular after accusing him of grave misconduct, gross ignorance of the law and violation of the Code of Judicial Ethics in relation to Amular’s handling of the expropriation case.

The two MORE Power officials alleged that Amular had delayed resolution of the case in favor of PECO as shown by his order to MORE to agree to a settlement of the case with PECO during a meeting with Castro and a PECO official in his chamber in September. Alena Mae S. Flores

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

B1

Astoria Group bullish, unveils P650-m hotel expansion plan

By Othel V. Campos

Standard Chartered is top book runner

STANDARD Chartered Bank, the oldest international bank in the country, remains the top book runner of peso-denominated bonds in the league table published by Bloomberg in December 2019.

The bank has lead-arranged a record P102.4 billion ($2 billion) worth of pesodenominated bonds for a 30-percent market share that secured its leading position in the local debt capital markets.

Chief executive Lynette Ortiz said in a statement Friday the bank’s strong and highly-awarded capital markets franchise both in the domestic and international markets had enabled the bank to become the partner of choice for issuers in the country, including the government.

She said this highlighted the bank’s dedication to deliver noteworthy transactions for its clients.

“We will continue to leverage on our deep local expertise, capabilities and relationships, bringing the extensive network of SCB to ensure the best outcome for our clients,” Ortiz said. Julito G. Rada

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

ORGANIC FARMING. Axelum Resources Corp. chairman Romeo Chan (second from right) poses with members of the Holy Family Farm Workers Association and their Most Outstanding Farmer’s Group Regional Organic Agriculture Achiever Award from the Department of Agriculture. Integrated coconut products manufacturer Axelum is among a few that have actively advocated and practiced organic farming. The company’s organic farm sits on a 10-hectare land in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental and has been operational for over a decade.

Mitsubishi reduces stake in Manila Water amid row

By Jenniffer B. Austria

J

APAN’S Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp. trimmed it holdings in embattled Manila Water Co. to 4.78 percent from 6.62 percent, citing the uncertainty over the utility’s concession deal with the government.

MUTB as a result has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the common shares of Manila Water, the water utility said Friday in a regulatory filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Manila Water said MUTB through units First Sentiler Investors (Australia) IM Ltd., First State Investments (Hong Kong) Ltd., First Investments (Singapore), First Investments International Ltd. and First Sentiler Investors (Austriala) RE Ltd. collectively sold 98.799 million Manila Water shares from No-

vember 8, 2019 to December 18, 2019.

The five MUTB subsidiaries sold their shares at between P5.73 and P19.22 apiece MUTB is the trust banking arm of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, a Japanese financial services group that is the largest in the world in terms of assets.

The stock price of Manila Water plummeted to a 52-week low of P5.01 per share on December 17 from a 52week high of P27.85.

Share price of Manila Water started to decline in October after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to take over the water operations from the two water concessionaires if another water crisis erupted.

Some 1.2 million customers of Manila Water in March experienced water interruptions due to the decreasing water levels at the La Mesa reservoir in Quezon City.

With the water level in Angat Dam remaining below the normal operating volume of 212 meters at the start of the year, water supply interruptions in Metro Manila are expected to continue until

the rainy season.

Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services Inc. earlier said they would no longer collect or enforce the recent arbitral awards to appease President Duterte.

They also expressed willingness to renegotiate the alleged inequitable provisions of the concession agreement.

But on Thursday, President Duterte said he would pursue the filing of charges against the owners of the water concessionaires on alleged “onerous” concession contracts with the government.

Manila Water is owned by conglomerate Ayala Corp. while Maynilad is majority-held by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. of Indonesian tycoon Anthoni Salim.

Earlier, the two private concessionaires said it might face bankruptcy if the government would pursue the cancellation of the extension of their concession agreements.

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

More customers purchasing clean energy—Aboitiz Power

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. has touted its Cleanergy portfolio as more consumers become more aware in availing of the benefits of renewable energy.

“We are truly honored to have been chosen as a partner of all these successful businesses and organizations. It is our commitment to continue providing ample, reliable, and reasonablyproduced power to our customers by maximizing renewable energy for as long as feasible, while at the same time using the reliability and cost-efficiency of fossil-fired power plants,” said Aboitiz Power president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio.

Aboitiz Power and its partners are generating 1,254 megawatts of electricity, or about 27 percent of the company’s net sellable capacity.

Aboitiz Power’s renewable energy portfolio includes solar, geothermal, run-of-river hydro, and large hydropower facilities across the Philippines.

One of the companies that signed up with Aboitiz Power was NEO Property Management Inc., which renewed a partnership for the supply of 13.5 megawatts to its facilities in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig in January last year.

NEO teamed up with Aboitiz Power in 2013 for the supply of Cleanergy, the latter’s brand for clean and renewable energy.

“We want to give our customers an overall ‘green’ experience, from the design and architecture of our buildings, up to the power supply we use,” said NEO chief executive officer Raymond Rufino earlier.

Food and beverage industry leader Nestlé Philippines made the switch to Cleanergy in 2017, partnering with AboitizPower for the supply of clean and renewable energy to its manufacturing facility in Lipa, Batangas.

Following the switch, more Nestle facilities have been powered by Cleanerg—factories in Cabuyao, Laguna and Tanuan, Batangas, as well as its corporate administrative office in Makati City.

The 17-MW aggregated energy demand of the Nestlé facilities comes from Aboitiz Power’s MakBan geothermal power plant in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu, one of the country’s top resort destinations, also chose Aboitiz Power’s Cleanergy to power their operations and support their environmental sustainability initiatives.

EXCELLENCE AWARD. Bloomberry Resorts Corp. receives the Corporate Excellence Award for Hospitality, Food Service & Tourism Industry during the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 presentation ceremony held recently at the Shangri-La Fort Manila. Bloomberry chief financial officer Estella Occena-Tuazon (left)and president and chief operating officer Thomas Arasi show off the award.

ASTORIA Palawan is pursuing a P650-million expansion program on prospects of a 20-percent growth in the occupancy rate in Palawan province in the next three years.

Parent Astoria Hotels & Resorts also expects an increase in the number of tourists visiting Puerto Princesa.

Astoria Hotels chief operating officer Vivian Ng said the company saw the need to further upgrade the facilities of Astoria Palawan in order to take advantage of the growth in tourist arrivals in Puerto Princesa.

“In the next three years, our growth drivers will be the day-tour packages, the MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) market, European leisure travelers and weekend family staycations. We are hoping to increase occupancy by 20 percent across the board by addressing these different market segments and targeting market by seasonal promotions,” Ng said.

Astoria Hotels is bullish on the tourism prospects of Puerto Princesa, especially with development projects being implemented by the national and local governments in the area.

These include the completion of the Puerto Princesa International Airport, the upgrade of the seaport that will attract more international cruise ships, the widening of the city roads to six lanes, and a street lighting project so tourists can continue to enjoy the city even at night.

In 2018, around 1.8 million tourists visited Palawan, up 21 percent from 2017. The bulk of the 1.27 million tourists went to Puerto Princesa.

The city’s main attraction is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, adjudged as one of the new “Seven Wonders of the World.”

Astoria Palawan said part of the P650-million investment would go to the construction of a new 52-room building with a private pool, a children’s playroom and a laundry room for guests.

Expert bats for realistic rules on e-cigarettes A RISK-PROPORTIONATE and realistic regulatory framework will help maximize the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vapes) as an effective harm reduction and smoking cessation strategy for the promotion of public health.

This was the key message of Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos in his testimony before the Joint Trade and Health Committee of the House of Representatives last month. The committee is tackling several bills that seek to regulate the manufacture, importation, packaging, use, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

“The best example of a comprehensive and fully implemented regulatory framework on e-cigarettes is the Tobacco Products Directive [TPD] of the European Union,” said Farsalinos, who is an Adjunct Professor at the King Abdulaziz University, and researcher at Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, University of Patras and National School of Public Health, all in Greece.

The TPD was promulgated in 2014 and adopted into the national legislation of all EU member states in 2016. It regulates e-cigarettes under a separate section that does not classify them as tobacco products.

“This is appropriate because ecigarettes do not contain any tobacco.

All e-cigarette products in the EU are marketed as consumer products with limited restrictions. The Philippines has an opportunity to use the TPD as a guide in creating an e-cigarette regulatory framework that will maximize public health benefits and minimize potential risks,” said Farsalinos. He urged local lawmakers to consider several principles in creating an appropriate e-cigarette regulatory framework.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; URC, ICTSI gain T HE stock market surged Friday on bargain hunting after a steep fall in the first trading day of the year, with select blue chips leading the advancers.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 97.26 points, or 1.3 percent, to 7,839.79 on a value turnover of nearly P5.6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 108 to 68, with 59 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, advanced 5.6 percent to P149, while parent JG Summit Holdings Inc. climbed 5.1 percent to P82.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. increased 4.2 per-

cent to P135.50, but Manila Water Co. Inc. fell 5 percent to P9.22.

Oil prices, meanwhile, soared more than four percent Friday following news that the US had killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region, with Tehran warning of retaliation.

The drama sent investors rushing for the hills and safe-haven units rallied with the yen up 0.7 percent against the dollar and gold climbing 1.4 percent towards $1,600 and a near seven-year high.

High-risk currencies retreated against the greenback, with South Korea’s won down 0.6 percent, Australia’s dollar off 0.4 percent and the South African rand down more than one percent.

Equities were mixed, having been rallying for the second day of the year on China-US trade optimism.

Hong Kong fell 0.3 percent, Shang-

hai ended down 0.1 percent and Singapore retreated 0.7 percent, while Mumbai eased 0.5 percent.

But there were gains in Sydney, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei.

Regional energy firms were the big winners, with Santos surging more than two percent in Sydney and while Hong Kong-listed PetroChina climbed more than three percent.

Markets had all been well up before news of the strike, thanks to ongoing optimism fueled by the China-US trade agreement, looser central bank monetary policies and easing Brexit worries.

“Investors are worried that the situation in Iran will worsen, since there could be some retaliation,” said Steven Leung at Mizuho Bank. “People will want to cut risk ahead of the weekend. Stocks have rallied a lot in the past month or so, so any bad news flow is a reason to take profit.”

The head of Iran’s Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad’s international airport early Friday, according to Hashed al-Shaabi, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.

Later, Donald Trump tweeted a picture of the American flag, and the Pentagon said he had ordered Soleimani’s killing.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe revenge” for “the criminals who bloodied their foul hands with his blood,” while the country’s foreign minister called the move a “dangerous escalation.”

Brent surged 4.4 percent to $69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 percent to $63.84 as investors grow increasingly worried about the effects of a possible flare-up in the tinderbox Middle East on supplies of the commodity. Both contracts later pared the gains but remained well up. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Friday, January 3, 2020

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 54 50 89 1,849,370 1.86 66,000 155 2,449,500 1 58,000 25 233,400 8.49 700 18.38 8,300 12.18 280,000 3.93 41,000 850.5 260 65 3,384,710 0.83 312,000 20.4 2,600 36 244,500 175 280 130 70 57.5 2,080 23.5 161,000 189 575,500 1,825 110 57.8 1,790

2,700 163,315,684.50 122,290 381,438,443 58,040 5,827,510 5,943 151,448 3,388,484 156,720 221,055 219,926,854.50 250,340 53,040 8,878,560 49,000 9,100 119,582 3,783,610 108,860,477 201,500 103,532

15,006,841 5,580 -43,034,247 40,320 348,396 -113,195,688.50 0 -6,125,320 17,250 -32,094,713 -

34 2.31 13.46 0.49 1.28 2.66 0.232 103.6 2.03 15.18 3.86 29.8 64 66.55 2.15 4.9 9.49 14.5 9.41 7.2 23 68 1.2 37.5 1.85 13.48 7.75 1.23 213.8 6.2 8.93 11.76 16.16 310.4 1.91 4.1 4 10 11.62 32.9 4.86 5.2 2.15 0.8 9.89 83.8 8.33 0.114 0.98 142 2.55 1.18 0.85

INDUSTRIAL 34.95 1,961,100 2.44 7,947,000 13.46 253,300 0.52 654,000 1.28 2,000 2.9 4,253,000 0.232 600,000 103.6 10 2.09 4,890,000 15.5 598,600 4.96 6,972,000 30 239,300 64 590 72.45 210 2.19 338,000 4.9 3,000 9.6 846,300 14.74 600,300 9.41 166,800 7.22 123,200 23 842,500 68.4 60,430 1.37 74,788,000 38.4 9,900 2.01 15,278,000 13.7 214,100 8.14 339,300 1.23 18,000 214.8 1,396,990 6.25 13,000 9.22 23,151,200 11.86 1,242,400 16.22 171,900 312.4 145,910 1.91 7,640,000 4.1 19,000 4.18 1,686,000 10.06 34,100 12 29,600 34.2 647,400 4.86 61,800 5.3 8,900 2.22 1,707,000 0.84 381,000 9.9 174,600 84 266,350 8.43 129,100 0.117 1,500,000 1.01 330,000 149 594,060 2.6 2,000 1.18 1,666,000 0.88 825,000

68,857,995 19,224,090 3,409,430 331,830 2,560 11,916,900 139,680 1,036 10,297,800 9,227,338 32,300,210 7,179,380 37,781 14,034.50 736,990 14,700 8,089,590 8,857,206 1,586,310 888,364 19,553,390 4,125,641 99,928,340 379,010 29,796,550 2,911,042 2,726,207 22,170 301,408,846 81,081 215,551,644 14,735,140 2,801,688 45,925,674 14,593,410 77,900 7,019,220 341,138 350,812 21,902,325 301,125 46,615 3,737,360 313,780 1,729,083 22,370,693.50 1,085,581 172,330 324,770 88,211,538 5,150 1,977,460 707,350

36,634,225 -1,480,860 4,050 -1,298,500 -3,635,300 3,296,510 -2,463,820 101,730 76,650 3,987,900 -6,304,788 -1,399,381 -264,434 -5,193,730 -2,249,110 -918,730 165,030.00 299,560 -718,324 -685,780 -6,709,942 14,599,977 113,656 820,096.00 16,133,154 -9,091,900 -879,190 -6,048 -3,361,410 24,300 -2,120 -1,672,653 -6,034,010 30,198,801 307,480 -

5,817,920 63,402,692 26,304,572 186,460 1,974 223,417 1,895,620 370,806,250 4,530,590 8,131,410 29,384,768 15,716 4,100 90,019,030 343,066 160,886,798 228,861 13,860 389,440 63,781,794 29,180 56,399,630 4,450 335,360 26,971,543 217,467,150 11,280 186,914 104,788 213,000 59,500

-436,700 25,290,226.50 -4,431,626 44,685 -8,416,840 322,830 335,466 -3,839,380 1,744,550 -312,000 24,034,944.50 -48,220 -14,666,572 18,908,950 -1,304,505 -19,171,795 87,702 13,300

5,005,790 312,160 61,410 497,610 414,862,890 437,800 914,830 1,153,736 273,690 26,720 1,563,000 1,198,725 5,101,880 59,550 10,010 10,797,900 1,200 168,137,960 1,412,090 8,350 3,211,790 59,350 1,019,490 99,996,515 157,360 22,470

-209,160 -36,000 11,520 -111,036,000 -17,800 913,014 10,600 11,900 -668,930 1,614,068 3,316,520 -17,641,400 -1,839,780 50,362,370 -28,840 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG MANULIFE METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

54 88 1.85 154 1.07 25 8.49 18.02 11.78 3.81 850 64.8 0.8 20.4 35.7 175 130 57.5 23.6 190.2 1,835 58

54 89.9 1.86 158.3 1.07 25.05 8.49 18.38 12.2 4 851 65.95 0.83 20.4 36.7 175 130 57.5 23.6 192.8 1,835 58.1

54 87 1.83 154 0.99 24.9 8.49 18.02 11.78 3.8 850 64.7 0.8 20.4 35.7 175 130 57.1 23.5 186.3 1,825 57.8

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

34 2.34 13.5 0.51 1.28 2.66 0.238 103.6 2.04 15.18 3.86 30 64.1 66.55 2.15 4.9 9.5 14.78 9.79 7.22 23.65 68 1.2 38.3 1.87 13.5 7.9 1.23 215 6.2 9.6 12 16.24 312.8 1.91 4.1 4.01 10.08 11.62 33.1 4.88 5.3 2.23 0.82 9.9 84.05 8.4 0.115 0.99 142 2.55 1.22 0.86

35.9 2.48 13.5 0.53 1.28 2.9 0.238 103.6 2.18 15.5 4.97 30.9 64.1 72.45 2.19 4.9 9.64 14.78 9.79 7.22 23.65 68.95 1.41 38.4 2.01 13.74 8.19 1.26 218 6.25 9.9 12 16.38 318.8 1.92 4.1 4.22 10.08 12 34.4 4.89 5.3 2.23 0.85 10.02 85 8.49 0.117 1.01 151.5 2.6 1.23 0.89

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

41.85 2.48 1.16 7.59 5.6

43.35 2.48 1.26 7.6 6

41.6 2.41 1.15 7.56 5.6

42.8 2.41 1.26 7.57 5.89

11,589,300 62,000 6,169,000 3,862,700 771,300

493,804,680 151,270 7,564,060 29,245,942 4,347,480

16,300,925 -370,000 -20,979,308 -

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

10.3 15.9 11.58 0.385 0.042 18.5 4.12 10.84 88 7.08 5.76 4.99 8.88 891 2,026 5.39 438.4 1.04 1.67 128.6 8.09 7 4 12.74 2.38 0.87 16.94 2.09 0.89 2.51 2.5 7.79 4.52 140 2.52 1,000 0.58 0.345 40.05 79.95 8.96 2.65 0.62 0.28 0.6 17.94

10.3 16 11.64 0.415 0.042 18.5 4.2 10.92 91 7.08 5.89 5 9.3 891 2,030 5.45 438.4 1.08 1.67 136.2 8.09 7 4 12.74 2.38 0.87 16.96 2.16 0.95 2.59 2.5 7.79 5.14 140 2.52 1,031 0.6 0.37 40.3 80.1 8.96 2.71 0.63 0.28 0.62 18

10.1 15.7 11.5 0.385 0.042 18.5 3.6 10.56 87 7.08 5.75 4.8 8.75 891 2,002 5.39 422 1.03 1.66 128.6 8.09 7 3.76 11 2.36 0.87 16.5 2.09 0.89 2.51 2.5 7.21 4.51 140 2.35 999 0.57 0.335 39.8 78.5 8.8 2.6 0.6 0.265 0.6 17.9

SERVICES 10.1 15.9 11.62 0.415 0.042 18.5 3.6 10.56 87.95 7.08 5.83 4.8 9 891 2,020 5.4 438.4 1.08 1.66 135.5 8.09 7 3.78 11 2.37 0.87 16.5 2.16 0.95 2.54 2.5 7.21 5.14 140 2.5 1,008 0.6 0.36 39.8 80.1 8.8 2.64 0.6 0.27 0.6 17.9

2,600 268,600 705,800 1,580,000 2,000,000 1,100 2,256,000 3,926,300 456,570 200 903,100 495,000 57,000 10 30,520 546,200 680 827,000 4,000 2,122,790 3,500 5,400 5,000,000 5,000 843,000 75,000 140,800 389,000 4,000 1,015,000 4,000 4,900 25,800 5,030 1,218,000 117,520 3,145,000 19,220,000 187,400 302,150 108,000 4,339,000 1,504,000 5,710,000 205,000 4,782,000

26,350 4,268,900 8,185,596 642,250 84,000 20,350 8,714,910 41,929,684 40,766,068.50 1,416 5,243,696 2,474,270 509,845 8,910 61,703,360 2,962,223 297,084 877,100 6,650 286,850,160 28,315 37,800 19,181,230 56,392 1,997,070 65,250 2,374,642 825,620 3,680 2,580,640 10,000 38,029 117,641 704,200 2,952,690 119,227,140 1,850,230 6,813,650 7,483,360 24,130,437.50 956,756 11,451,710 905,840 1,524,150 124,530 86,013,346

-1,664,412 1,490 -10,037,378 -24,981,409 159,609 17,930,980 58,494,756 32,900 -1,401,510 -56,392 -896,130 -2,106,996 50,490.00 -10,000 7,000 -1,733,850 19,448,870 -646,680 123,500 312,355.00 13,523,766 7,503,610 10,600 -2,720,182

MINING & OIL ABRA MINING ACE ENEXOR APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0014 10.1 1.05 2.41 10.96 1.13 2.9 0.27 6.93 1.78 0.202 0.092 0.0074 0.98 3.2 1.02 0.73 0.01 2.86 8.5 22 0.0053

0.0015 10.54 1.08 2.52 10.96 1.13 2.9 0.27 7.3 1.79 0.202 0.095 0.0074 1 3.24 1.02 0.74 0.011 2.93 9.2 22.5 0.0053

0.0014 9 1.04 2.41 10.96 1.13 2.89 0.27 6.93 1.71 0.198 0.092 0.0072 0.95 3.1 0.98 0.7 0.01 2.86 8.47 22 0.0053

0.0014 9.5 1.07 2.5 10.96 1.13 2.9 0.27 6.97 1.73 0.202 0.095 0.0074 0.99 3.15 1.02 0.7 0.011 2.92 8.98 22.2 0.0053

134,000,000 2,229,000 2,411,000 1,876,000 100 10,000 405,000 90,000 29,700 3,707,000 130,000 110,000 18,000,000 260,000 4,727,000 3,000 138,000 90,600,000 524,000 1,421,800 233,200 1,000,000

200,600 21,828,160 2,533,500 4,533,690 1,096 11,300 1,171,980 24,300 205,862 6,432,860 26,140 10,180 132,000 254,620 14,922,990 3,020 99,160 929,800 1,523,300 12,642,796 5,202,825 5,300

-123,993.00 -268,420 800,830 144,640 8,640 433,000 158,896 3,042,540 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

15 500 505 98.8 100.2 111.9 5.34 995 97.75 101 1,074 1,049 1,055 101.5 108 1,030 997 77.5 75 76.1 75.15 75 75.2

16.94 501 505 98.8 101 111.9 5.45 995 97.75 101 1,074 1,050 1,055 101.5 108 1,030 997 77.9 75 76.1 75.15 75.1 75.2

15 500 505 98.8 100.1 111.9 5.34 995 97.6 100.4 1,074 1,048 1,050 101.5 108 1,024 997 77.5 75 76.1 75.15 75 75.2

PREFERRED 16.9 51,300 501 11,340 505 2,000 98.8 10 101 12,510 111.9 10 5.45 84,000 995 2,720 97.6 90 100.4 510 1,074 15 1,050 19,010 1,050 150 101.5 80 108 1,000 1,030 1,565 997 610 77.9 26,320 75 5,000 76.1 700 75.15 500 75.05 47,600 75.2 10

791,018 5,671,340 1,010,000 988 1,261,501 1,119 452,330 2,706,400 8,796 51,504 16,110 19,960,380 157,625 8,120 108,000 1,609,250 608,170 2,041,838 375,000 53,270 37,575 3,571,618.50 752

-169,000.00 452,330 50,500 53,270.00 -

LR WARRANT

1.38

1.38

1.25

WARRANTS 1.25 17,000

21,770

-

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

3.59 9.8 2.47 0.79

3.77 10.48 2.47 0.8

3.59 9.8 2.47 0.77

SME 3.68 10.08 2.47 0.78

939,870 2,864,845 61,750 3,429,020

-9,000 -

FIRST METRO ETF

116.1

118.1

116.1

4,994,274

96,268

USD DMPL A1

10

10

10

25,000

-

MS

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

0.9 52.25 11.22 0.67 6.58 10.2 0.92 776.5 2.94 6.84 6.5 13.48 0.205 863 5.43 79.55 6.5 0.485 3.7 12.02 0.59 3.36 4.45 1.2 164 1,040 0.81 208.8 214 0.201 0.19

0.91 53.2 11.44 0.7 6.58 10.2 0.94 797 2.98 6.84 6.65 13.48 0.205 879 5.43 82.4 6.64 0.5 3.75 12.04 0.59 3.45 4.45 1.29 164 1,069 0.81 208.8 214 0.201 0.2

0.88 51.65 11.18 0.67 6.58 9.92 0.9 764 2.9 6.73 6.45 13.02 0.205 856 5.17 78.3 6.08 0.485 3.7 11.88 0.56 3.3 4.45 1.2 161.8 1,019 0.75 190 211.8 0.2 0.19

HOLDING FIRMS 0.89 6,551,000 52.35 1,206,880 11.3 2,320,700 0.67 276,000 300 6.58 10.06 22,400 0.9 2,082,000 776 474,510 2.92 1,550,000 6.8 1,199,000 6.45 4,517,000 13.02 1,200 0.205 20,000 874 103,330 5.2 66,000 82 1,970,160 6.08 36,500 0.5 28,000 3.72 105,000 12 5,315,300 0.59 52,000 3.44 16,488,000 4.45 1,000 1.28 267,000 164 165,020 1,051 207,525 0.81 14,000 204.8 940 214 490 0.2 1,060,000 0.2 310,000

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP

14.76 0.72 1.26 0.8 44.05 1.99 4.74 6.9 0.54 0.85 0.4 9.8 19.2 0.425 0.101 1.51 1.2 3.92 0.187 0.42 1.21 0.31 2.1 28.85 2.12 3.21

14.78 0.73 1.34 0.82 45.2 1.99 4.83 6.9 0.54 0.85 0.41 9.85 19.2 0.43 0.101 1.53 1.2 4.14 0.197 0.42 1.27 0.32 2.18 29.8 2.13 3.21

14.7 0.71 1.26 0.79 44.05 1.99 4.7 6.69 0.53 0.82 0.4 9.8 18.8 0.425 0.1 1.5 1.2 3.92 0.184 0.415 1.21 0.31 2.05 28.1 2.06 3.21

PROPERTY 14.78 339,500 0.72 434,000 1.34 48,000 0.82 621,000 44.75 9,280,200 1.99 220,000 4.8 192,000 6.7 170,300 0.54 515,000 0.83 32,000 0.4 3,830,000 9.8 121,800 18.86 269,900 0.425 140,000 0.1 100,000 1.51 7,104,000 1.2 1,000 4.07 41,665,000 0.197 7,290,000 0.415 20,000 1.22 2,623,000 0.31 190,000 2.17 478,000 29.5 3,430,700 2.06 76,000 3.21 7,000

Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,845,372

INDUSTRIAL

165,863,098

HOLDING FIRMS

46,941,750

PROPERTY

103,112,932

SERVICES

64,741,877

MINING & OIL

262,710,449

GRAND TOTAL

659,198,497

257,000 282,200 25,000 4,374,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.6 42,360 10

DDS

2,500

VALUE 1,844.48 (up) 12.47 1,026,019,333.53 FINANCIAL 9,684.14 (up) 196.67 INDUSTRIAL 1,112,187,651.88 7,631.72 (up) 114.19 HOLDING FIRMS 1,306,099,550.91 PROPERTY 4,173.67 (up) 28.55 1,547.27 (up) 12.97 SERVICES 1,310,758,887.746 8,020.76 (up) 10.80 MINING & OIL 758,411,514.78 7,839.79 (up) 97.26 PSEI 72,708,784.00 All Shares Index 4,655.54 (up) 36.79 5,598,484,155.79 Gainers: 108; Losers: 68; Unchanged: 59; Total: 235

Aboitiz Equity bares plan to to issue dollar bonds in 2020

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. plans to issue US dollardenominated debt paper this year.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday wholly-owned unit AEV International Pte. Ltd. appointed five banks to arrange a series of fixedincome investor meetings and conference calls in Hong Kong, Singapore and London starting January 6.

It tapped The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Standard Chartered Bank as joint global coordinators. It also named DBS Bank Ltd., HSBC, Mizuho Securities (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., MUFG Securities Asia (Singapore) Limited and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers and joint book runners of the offering.

“An offering of U.S. dollar-denominated Regulation S only senior unsecured notes may follow, subject to market conditions. The notes, if issued, are expected to be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by AEV and unrated,” AEV said.

The company did not provide other details, including the size and terms of the offering, and the use of proceeds from the planned fund raising activity.

AEV in November reported plans to issue up to P10 billion in fixed rate bonds in the first half of 2020.

The P10-billion bond offering represents the second tranche from its P30billion bond shelf registration program earlier approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

AEV chief finance officer Manuel Lozano said it would use the net proceeds from the offering to fund infrastructure, food and planned common towers project.

The conglomerate is expanding its food business with the construction of a meat processing plant. It is also expanding the feed milling business.

It has lined up several infrastructure projects, including the 330-million-liter-per-day Apo-Agua bulk water project in Davao and the planned rollout of telecom towers starting this year.

AEV is one of the country’s largest conglomerates with investments in power generation, distribution and retail electricity supply, financial services, food manufacturing, real estate and infrastructure.

Petron starts fuel marking in Bataan oil refinery—Ang

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp., the bigger of the two oil refineries in the country, started fuel marking at its facility in Bataan province in support of the government’s efforts to curb smuggling.

Petron started fuel marking on December 23 at its refinery in Bataan that supplies nearly a third of the country’s fuel demand.

“We are optimistic that the fuel marking program will significantly address fuel smuggling, which has been a constant deterrent to the continued growth of our economy. Consumers also stand to gain once everyone gets on board as it will ensure that all fuel products in the market will be legitimately sourced,” said Petron president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang in a statement.

Petron also also fuel marking at its import facility in Misamis Oriental province at the end of 2019.

“These developments in our facilities testify to our firm commitment to support the government in their fight against smuggling. We also continue to work with their fuel marking team for the installation of the Automatic Injection System (AIS) in our refinery,” Ang said.

Petron echoed the the sentiments of other Philippine Institute of Petroleum members, and expressed support to the fuel marking program as long as it is enforced on a level playing field.

Petron since 2018 has been coordinating with the Finance Department, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

Petron earlier called for a level playing field, noting that despite the decrease in Philippine volumes, its stations within free port zones performed better than those outside of them.

Enterprises like service stations within the free port zones like Clark and Subic do not pay local and national taxes, including excise taxes.

Petron’s retail volume inside the Clark Freeport Zone registered a 54-percent increase over the same period a year ago.

Manila

World

Standard SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

Disgraced Weinstein faces justice N

EW YORK―Harvey Weinstein’s high-profile sex crimes trial opens on Monday, more than two years after the scandal triggered the #MeToo movement that led to the downfall of dozens of powerful men.

The disgraced movie mogul faces life in prison if convicted of predatory sexual assault charges by a New York state court, in what is expected to be a sixweek trial.

Almost 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have accused the 67-year-old of sexual misconduct since The New York Times detailed allegations against him in October 2017.

But Weinstein, once one of Holly-

wood’s powerful people, is being tried on charges related to just two women, highlighting the difficulty of building cases around incidents going back years.

Former production assistant Mimi Haleyi alleges that the “Pulp Fiction” producer forcibly performed oral sex on her in his New York apartment in July 2006.

The second alleged victim is anonymous. She says Weinstein, the co-found-

er of Miramax Films, raped her in a New York hotel room in March 2013.

The indictment was amended in August to include testimony from “The Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra as the prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Weinstein engaged in a pattern of predatory sexual behavior.

A conviction would signal a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement in the fight against sexual harassment and abuse of power in Hollywood and beyond.

Since the movement emerged from a deluge of allegations against Weinstein, almost all men felled from their positions, be it in the world of entertainment

or business, have escaped prosecution.

The only other trial on the horizon is that of R&B singer R. Kelly, who was charged last year with several assaults on young women, but allegations of sexual impropriety have dogged him for years.

American comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to at least three years in prison in September 2018, although the proceedings had started in late 2015, two years before the post-Weinstein surge of allegations.

“It’s a case that will be covered all [over] the world,” lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents Haleyi and Sciorra, told AFP. AFP

IN BRIEF Flood rescuers hunt for missing JAKARTA―Indonesian rescuers mounted a desperate search Friday for those missing after flash floods and landslides sparked by torrential rains killed at least 43 people across the Jakarta region while health authorities raced to prevent disease outbreaks.

Around a dozen people were still unaccounted for after record rains that started on New Year’s Eve pounded the capital and left swathes of the megalopolis, home to some 30 million, under water and with thousands homeless.

Around 192,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters, according to authorities, with many unable to return to waterlogged homes in neighborhoods turned into wastelands of debris and overturned cars.

“We’re encouraging people whose houses are still inundated to go to a safer place,” said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo.

The agency said 43 people had been confirmed dead in Greater Jakarta and neighboring Lebak regency in the south of Java island.

Waters had receded in many areas and power, which had been shut off across many districts, was being restored.

In hard-hit Bekasi, on the outskirts of the city, swampy streets were littered with debris and crushed cars lying on top of each other—with waterline marks reaching as high as buildings’ second floors.

The government said Friday it would start cloud seeding to the west of the capital—inducing rain using chemicals sprayed from planes—to prevent approaching rainfall from pounding the region. AFP

Fight to save ancestral tongue ISTANBUL―If there’s one thing Dora Beraha regrets in her twilight years, it is not passing on the 500-year-old language of Istanbul’s Jews, Ladino, now on the point of extinction.

“After us, will there still be people who speak this language?” says 90-year-old Beraha.

“Surely, very few. It is possible that it will disappear.”

Ladino is a unique mix of medieval Castilian and Hebrew, with sprinklings of Turkish, Arabic and Greek, that emerged when Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, with many ending up in the Ottoman empire.

Turkey now has the largest community of Jews in the Middle East outside of Israel—around 15,000—some of whom are belatedly fighting an uphill battle to preserve the language before it disappears.

Ladino was passed down through the generations, peaking in popularity in the 19th century, but increasingly fell out of use in favour of French among Jews in the later Ottoman period.

Minority cultures and languages were deliberately suppressed when modern Turkey was formed in the 1920s. “Citizens, speak Turkish!” was a rallying cry of the new republic.

Beraha made a conscious decision to avoid teaching Ladino to her children, wanting them to assimilate as much as possible.

“We wanted them to succeed,” she says.

Turkey’s neutrality during the Second World War spared Ladino-speakers the decimation of Jewish communities in other parts of the region, but today the remaining practitioners are mostly advanced in age.

According to UNESCO, more than 100,000 people still speak Ladino around the world, mostly in Israel where tens of thousands of Jews from the former Ottoman empire have immigrated to in recent decades. AFP

EVACUATION. This handout photo taken on January 3, 2020, and released by the Royal Australian Navy shows people being evacuated from Mallacoota, Victoria state, on a landing craft to MV Sycamore during bush fire relief efforts. AFP

Republicans praise strike that killed Soleimani WASHINGTON―Republican lawmakers quickly spoke out Thursday in strong support of President Donald Trump’s attack that killed Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, as Congress complained it received no advance notice of the strike.

The high praise from the right stood in stark contrast to the reaction from the Democrats, who severely criticized Trump’s latest move in a sign of Washington’s polarization ahead of this year’s presidential elections.

“In a display of resolve and strength,

we struck the leader of those attacking our sovereign U.S. territories,” top House Republican Kevin McCarthy said in a statement.

The sentiment was swiftly echoed by his fellow Republicans.

“Wow—the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically,” Senator Lindsey Graham, a close confidant of Trump, wrote on Twitter.

The strike on Soleimani, which occurred at Baghdad’s international airport on Friday in Iraq, also killed the deputy chief of Iraq’s p o w e r f u l

Military evacuates fire-hit town in Australia NOWRA, Australia―Australia’s military launched the seaborne evacuation of hundreds of people trapped in a southeastern town Friday, as the country braced for yet more catastrophic bush fire conditions.

A navy landing craft from HMAS Choules docked in the town of Mallacoota, where residents who had been stuck on the foreshore since New Year’s Eve clambered aboard with family, pets and a few belongings.

“Around 1,000 people should have been evacuated out of that area by this afternoon,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

At least 20 people have died, dozens are missing, more than 1,300 homes have been damaged in an unprecedented months-long bush fire crisis that has torched an area roughly double the size of Belgium or Hawaii.

And with temperatures expected to rise well above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) again on Saturday, a state of emergency has been declared across much of Australia’s heavily populated southeast.

Tens of thousands of people have been told to leave their homes across three states.

“There is still a window for people to leave,” said New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian. “If you don’t need to be in the area, you need to leave... that window will close.”

Thousands of residents and tourists have been heeding that warning, fleeing a popular 300-kilometer length of coastline, with queues of cars stretching toward Sydney and Canberra.

On the road north of Nowra, families sat amid the haze in cars loaded with dogs, surfboards and bicycles, with traffic at a virtual standstill.

E l o i s e EXTRA JUDICIAL Givney, 26, esSETTLEMENT caped from the Notice is hereby given the estate of the late blazes with po- that HONORATO ARAOLA lice escort after SANTOS,who died on 17 2019 at 18 Tindalo she and a large February St., Valle Verde 3, Pasig group of fam- City, has been extrajudicially through a Deed of ily members settled Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of the Late had spent four Honorato A. Santos with days isolated Waiver of Rights notarized Atty. John Evan Baron on without power, by 17 December 2019, as per phones or in- Doc. No. 142; Page No. 30; Book No. 27; Series of 2019. ternet. AFP

Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force.

It came after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy following deadly American air strikes on a hardline Hashed faction.

The US had called the strikes in response to a rocket attack days earlier that killed an American contractor working in Iraq.

N OTICE The White House traditionally Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing gives warning to senior members of business under the names and styles of Cebu both parties in the Senate and House Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air, with office address at of Representatives ahead of major Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City, is applying for registration with military action. AFP the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator

(MS-DEC. 21/28 & JAN. 4, 2020)

of Air Transport Services (A321NEO #8 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4125) with a capacity of 236 passenger seats on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-JAN. 4, 2020)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air, with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Air Transport Services (A321NEO #7 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4124) with a capacity of 236 passenger seats on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

PARADE. Bikers wearing Santa Claus costumes ride their bikes during a Santa Claus parade on their way to a children's hospital

(MS-JAN. 4, 2020)

to deliver toys to patients in Belgrade on December 21, 2019. AFP

Dying has become a luxury in crisis-hit Argentina BUENOS AIRES―No one can escape Argentina’s biggest economic crisis in almost two decades―not even the dead.

The cost of buying, renting and maintaining graves and tombs is so high that many people opt to cremate their loved ones instead.

Juan Tapia runs the Cocheria Tacuari undertakers in Buenos Aires, which has been operating for 60 years.

“It’s an economic problem. People

B3

TODAY CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

don’t have enough money to pay for a service. Family members help each other, ask for loans; some come and pay with US dollars that they’ve saved or kept under the mattress,” he told AFP. Undertakers are constantly forced to drop their prices “because unfortunately people don’t have the same spending power of a few years ago.”

Paying for a funeral “means, for a family, that they might not eat this month,” said Tapia.

The cheapest service offered by Cocheria Tacuari is a cremation without a wake, which costs 25,000 pesos ($415)—almost 50 percent more than the minimum wage of 16,875 pesos a month.

More expensive options can cost up to 180,000 pesos, but few are interested in those.

“Almost 90 percent ask for cremation. Young people want nothing to do either with graves, niches (cubbies for storing remains urns) or

tombs,” said Tapia.

His estimations are not far off from official statistics.

In 2018, 78.5 percent of corpses in Buenos Aires were cremated, according to an AFP count of public records.

That’s the highest proportion over the last decade.

“To lease a niche in the cemetery, you have to pay a huge amount every year, and many don’t want to and can’t do it, so they opt for a cremation,” said Tapia. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air, with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Air Transport Services (A320NEO #5 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4110 and Serial No. MSN9353) with a capacity of 188 passenger seats on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-JAN. 4, 2020)

PERFECT GIFT FOR OFWS, FAMILIES.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who came home to the Philippines for the holidays want to make full use of their short time back in the country. This is usually a time spent going around the Philippines, visiting famous travel destinations with the family, and taking a break from the hard work they do overseas the rest of the year. Last month. the Mall of Asia offered an additional place of interest for expatriate home seekers and their families: the Lamudi housing fair.

Held last December at the MOA music hall, the event welcomed property seekers as they went through the booths of various property developers, banks, and other companies in the real estate industry.

B4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PH REAL ESTATE BULLISH ON GOV’T PUSH FOR SUSTAINABLE POWER IN 2020

T

HE real estate sector, one of the Philippine economy’s consistent growth drivers for the past decade, looks forward to the impact of more stable and reasonably-priced power for their property developments, with the successful conduct of the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) late last year.

“Reliable sources of power keeps prices of real estate developments stable for consumers, and adds value to the concerned project,” Jeffrey Ng, president of Cathay Land, told the Manila Standard.

“This serves as an inspiration, or benchmark, to future projects from developers of all scales.”

Added Antonio Jaime Jose V. Fernandez, strategic management consultant, of Menarco Development Corp.: “power is important for developers…this is what our customers want. If the government and private sector can deliver on this, this would be an ideal scenario.”

TRANSPARENT, MARKET-DRIVEN The CSP, borne out of a Supreme Court ruling that all power supply agreements (PSAs) are now obliged to undergo the CSP, allows all potential suppliers to bid for the contract, and get the best power deal for consumers.

The PSA is a requirement from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage generation companies to build power plants in order to meet the country’s demand aimed at making the cost of electricity product more transparent and market-driven.

Fernandez pointed to the Menarco Tower, a 32-storey office building along the 32nd tower in BGC, by the Menarco Development Corporation. The project, which recently garnered a Well gold certification from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) Asia, is an example, of a development which measures and monitors the health and wellbeing of buildings and its occupants.

A chief executive officer of a leading real estate development company emailed the Manila Standard, noting that

most of their customers “expect that stable and reliable power is a given.”

The CEO, who declined to be identified, explained that power supply is critical, for example for BPO-type projects that run for 24 hours.

“You’d be surprised how much power a fully-staffed BPO office consumes,” the executive, whose company recently tied up with a Japanese real estate giant to build a major condominium/mall project in one of Metro Manila’s central business districts, said.

“Its not just the masses of computers, but also the large servers and other equipment, plus the A/C needed to keep everything and everyone cool,” he explained.

Power is one of the biggest expenses of this type of company so, a predictable power cost is an advantage because BPO companies will need to commit to their clients a stable processing fee for the work that they do.”

REAL MARKET FORCES The first CSP conducted by power distributor Meralco, and administered by a ThirdParty Bids and Awards Committee (TBAC), last October resulted in three successfully bidded PSAs with three companies for the supply of a 500 MW megawatt of mid-merit capacity for a term of five years.

Meralco signed the PSAs with First Gen Hydro Power Corp., Phinma Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group and South Pre-

miere Power Corp. of San Miguel Corp. after their respective offers were declared to be the best bids by the third party bids and awards committee.

Various industries lauded the PSAs, which reportedly paves the way for market forces to determine the electricity rates small, medium and large-scale businesses would pay. The policy to subject power supplies to a competitive selection process, or bidding, makes the cost of electricity product more transparent and market-driven, businessmen pointed out.

“FPI welcomes the news of this muchneeded additional power, to meet the growing demand of our country,” said FPI chairman Jesus Arranza in a statement.

“We welcome the entry of any and all generation companies interested in contributing to the grid, in order to create a more secure power supply situation for all industries, and ultimately, all consumers.”

The group, a prime mover of Philippine industries, expressed support for the Energy Department circular requiring distribution utilities to procure power through the competitive selection process, or bidding.

HANDS ON APPROACH FPI thanked the government for its hands-on approach with the CSP. “As the entire process was personally witnessed by representatives of the DOE,

industries can rest assured that the results are fair, transparent, and most especially beneficial to customers and consumers of power,” Arranza said.

The CSP drew the interest of other companies. Besides the three winning gencos in the 1,200-MW contract, two more companies, SMC Consolidated Power Corp. and Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., joined the procurement process.

The results of the bidding will reportedly benefit electricity consumers. They can save around P0.28 per kwh or P9.46 billion annually for 10 years starting in 2020 from the new 1,200-MW PSA. On the 500-MW contract, consumers are expected to save another P4.4 billion annually over the next five years. This is equivalent to an additional rate reduction of around P0.13 per kWh for consumers by the end of the year.

The CSP imposes penalties on the winning bidder if it fails to honor its contract.

The terms of the supply deal stipulate that the generator that fails to follow through with the contracted capacity will pay a fine of P908 multiplied by each megawatthour per day. The fine will be used to reduce the generation charge to consumers.

Constructing new power plants is an urgent measure to solve the country’s energy security requirements. The ostensible objective is to avoid the serious power

shortages in the early 90s that crippled the Philippine economy.

AID IN EXPANSION PLANS OUTSIDE MM “We are confident that the prices resulting from this bidding are the least cost to consumers,” said the real estate CEO who requested anonymity. “For us developers, we are encouraged by the promise to reduce plant outages which can affect our projects and operations, as well as penalties that will be slapped on generator companies who are unable to deliver as they promised.”

Cathay land’s Ng said the government and private sector push for more reliable electricity will help developers as they push for expansion outside the country’s capital, expanding into other urban centers as they search for strategic places to expand their businesses, and diversify their portfolio.

“We’re looking at key growth areas or cities,” he explained. “As we study the current needs of these areas based on their key industries and market profile, power will play a key role in servicing population, density, proximity to industrial centers or places of work, city competitiveness, and demographic factors such as income, age, and livelihood sources, factors which we look at before deciding on the type of product to develop.”

REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT All the developers interviewed by Manila Standard agreed that more sustainable, and affordable power supply would benefit at least five cities, aside from Metro Manila, amid steady growth in their economy, tourism and property demand. These are the cities of Clark, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao.

“Due to a lack of exposure to regions outside of MM, there are times these regions have a false negative connotation in terms of reliability, livability and accessibility,” Ng said. “By incorporating a sustainable and reliable source of power into projects, it not only aids the market in better appreciating the surrounding regions of MM, but also potentially helps reduce carbon footprint.”

Added Fernandez, by incorporating sustainable features, power-driven amenities, LEEDS and similar certifications, developers like Menarco can show that a development is ready to accommodate not only industries of today, but also of the future. “A sustainable power supply can help widen our market scope,” he said.

ETON PROPERTIES LAUNCH EWESTMALL IN MAKATI. Lucio Tan-owned Eton Properties Philippines continues to

intensify its retail portfolio with the opening of eWestMall, the newest boutique mall within the Eton WestEnd Square township in Makati City.

The development has two floors of retail spaces with a total leasable area of approximately 3,750 square meters. Some establishments already opened its doors to the public such as Muhan Samgyupsal (shown here), Black Scoop Café, The Black Bean, Anytime Fitness, Nails.Glow, and PNB. Located at the corner of Chino Roces, Yakal, and Malugay Streets, the project will serve the needs of the residential and office market within the west Makati area. Apart from the mall, eWestpod, also opened four storeys of office space. Blakes Tower, the 36-storey office and residential building within the township was topped off earlier this year. Eton WestEnd Square has over 23,800 square meters of combined retail and office leasable space, and over 13,900 square meters of residential leasable space.

MORE FUN IN DAVAO. Searching for the best spot to spend the

holidays in with your family, friends and loved ones? Head over to Davao City where Sta. Lucia Land recently unveiled SotoGrande hotel suites Davao.

“We’ve long seen the potential of Mindanao, specifically the city of Davao, as a thriving and growing hub not only for businesses but also for tourism,” said Sta. Lucia Land president Exequiel Robles. “This is also the reason why, after developing several communities and condominium projects in the city, we decided to venture in the hospitality sector through our SotoGrande Hotel brand.” Located at the Davao riverfront corporate city complex, SotoGrande hotel suites is within walking distance to the Davao crocodile park, butterfly house and the Tribu K’ Mindanawan cultural village.

“Sta. Lucia Land will remain committed to its promise of delivering only the best developments that individuals could enjoy and find value from,” said Robles. “Our commitment does not end with building houses and communities. We will also help contribute in the growing tourism industry.”

COTABATO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS GET CLEAN WATER. Megawide Foundation and Citicore Summa Waters

recently supplied potable water to 400 evacuee families in Barangay Bulakanun, Makilala, Cotabato City, by installing a special filtration system. The Malasila River served as the source of water for the project. “After a series of earthquakes late last year, the families in Makilala had no access to safe drinking water,” explained Sheila Lynn Nawata, Megawide Foundation chief operating officer. “The foundation partnered with Citicore Summa Waters to install a filtration system for the community last November, and is committed to providing it until the supply of potable water is stabilized.” Shown here are some residents of the community using the filtration system, and a municipal inspector evaluating the quality of the water (inset).

Life

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

ARTS AND CULTURE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

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Dreams accomplished with pandas Lalique launches Han Meilin collaboration; to partner with a Filipino artist

By Bernadette Lunas

B

EFORE the end of 2019, French crystal glass art company Lalique launched its limited edition Panda collection by Chinese artist Han Meilin—a symbolic partnership celebrating the 55 years of diplomatic relations between France and China.

The art collection features two pandas, a sitting male named Yuan-Yuan, which according to Daniel Ong, Lalique regional director for Southeast Asia and Oceania, means “round, accomplishment,” and a supine female MengMeng, which “means a dream.”

Together, the two pandas convey the message of “accomplished dream.” The two bears were named in honor of Yuan-Meng, the first panda to be born at Beauval Zoo in France in 2017.

Pandas play a huge role in China.

The East Asian country has long used “panda diplomacy” to strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries by sending live pandas as a gift. The first recorded example of the practice dates back to 685 AD, when Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang dynasty sent a pair of pandas to Emperor Tenmu of Japan.

In the ‘70s, China sent more than a dozen bears to countries including the US, the UK, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Japan, and France—the home of glassmaker and jeweller René Lalique.

Yuan-Meng’s parents Huan Huan and Yuan Zi have lived in France since 2012.

Chinese artist Han Meilin

Panda thus became the ultimate symbol of bonds that link China and France, the bond the company highlights by teaming up with an artist whose artistic repertoire is dominated by the adorable, herbivorous white and black bear.

“Han Meilin is very fond of panda,” Ong told Manila Standard in an interview. “Panda is rare, protected. And he has a message in creating this. In Lalique crystal, the message of harmony, relationship is important; protect and treasure what we have.”

The partnership complements the two, Ong noted, as “all Lalique designs are based on nature; the three Fs: flora, fauna, and femininity.”

A fragile species, the panda reigns majestically over Han’s body of work.

The Chinese artist’s fondness of animals are seen in his sketches and models. He is most recognized for his creation of the Fuwa (good luck dolls), the mascots used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

For the Panda collection, Han captures the two images of pandas living in the wild, eyes wide open. The large glass sculpture is only available in 55 pieces for each design, an homage to 55 years of diplomatic relations. They were made using the centuries-old lost-wax technique, which has been revived by the artisans of Lalique.

E a c h piece is born in a plas-

Han Meilin’s fondness of panda is evident in his artistic repertoire dominated by the adorable, herbivorous black and white bear.

Meng-Meng and Yuan-Yuan from Lalique’s limited edition Panda collection.

ter mold, in a single sheath, which is fired and then cooled again for hundreds of hours before processing in the cold-glass workshops, where it is cut and sanded to produce the repolished satin finish that is Lalique’s trademark technique.

The pair Lalique brought to the Philippines bears the number 16. There is only one piece for each design here in the country.

Meanwhile, the little Yuan-Yuan and Meng-Meng pandas are available in an edition of 888 pieces—an auspi-

cious number in Chinese numerology; triple fortune.

In creating the little pandas, a steel mould was created on the basis of a drawing by Han. An impression in the mold reproduced the effects desired by the artist down to the last detail—from the six-clawed paws to the puckered muzzle. The crystal was meticulously hot-pressed into the mold, then cooled and reheated for a hundred hours.

Ong revealed this is the first time the French company tapped an Asian artist to design a collection; and this

Lalique artisans cut and sand the glass to create the details and the repolished satin finish.

won’t be the last.

“We are also looking into having a Filipino artist,” he said. “Hopefully every Asian country will have one representative.”

When asked about the plan to launch a Lalique collection designed by an artist from the Philippines, the official said they haven’t chosen a name yet.

“Because of this launch, we were so inspired to talk about it today.”

Lalique is available at Rustans in Makati, Shangri-La, and Cebu.

Malang painting fetches P1.5m; Anading’s sold for P700k THE recent Under the Tree: The Holiday auction of Gavel&Block held at The Podium saw the sale of Mauro Malang Santos’ oil on canvas painting at P1,518,400, three times higher than its original estimate.

Mall-goers witnessed the live auction organized by Salcedo Auctions’ subsidiary, the first of its kind held in a mall.

According to Salcedo Auctions, Malang’s “Untitled” (2000) painting is the highest selling piece by the artist for its size of just 12 x 10 inches.

Meanwhile, a bidding battle for Poklong Anading’s “Untitled” oil on canvas ended in the final sale price of P700,800, eclipsing its original estimate by 17 times. Anading’s

Mauro Malang Santos’ ‘Untitled’ (2000), oil on canvas, sold for P1,518,400

Salcedo Auctions’ chairman and chief specialist Richie Lerma leads the country’s first auction in a mall, ‘Under the Tree: The Holiday Sale,’ at The Podium.

painting is the highest selling work by the artist at auction.

In addition to the aforementioned artworks, the auction curated by Salcedo Auctions and Gavel&Block, featured an exceptional range of over 350 lots ranging from fine art, original prints, exquisite jewelry and timepieces, design collectibles, and historic memorabilia.

Poklong Anading’s ‘Untitled,’ undated oil on canvas fetched P700,800.

Salcedo Auctions chairman and chief specialist Richie Lerma led the sale at The Podium’s West Tower.

Prior to the sale, the Under the Tree: The Holiday Sale was preceded by a week-long preview giving mall-goers an exclusive opportunity to view the lots on offer before going under the hammer.

The preview’s launch was attended by

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap and wife Carol; Salcedo Auctions founders Richie and Karen Kua-Lerma, and managing director Victor Silvino; Escuela Taller Chairman of the Board Jun Capistrano and executive director Tina Bulaong; and host Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi.

The auction house also launched the innovative online donation platform, Bid for the Future, at The Podium.

Conceptualized by Joaquin Lerma, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at the International School Manila, Bid for the Future will help support the cultural heritage preservation projects of Escuela Taller, an NGO that educates and trains underprivileged youth to gain the skills necessary to preserve and restore the country’s built cultural heritage.

Life

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Manila Fame in retrospect F

OR over three decades, Manila Fame has been showcasing Filipino craftsmanship, design innovation, and artisanship— establishing itself as the country’s premier design and lifestyle trade show.

Before it has grown to what it is today, which recently staged its 70th edition in October, the bi-annual show has always been envisioned for great things.

Former deputy executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) Lourdes Ilusorio said, “It was such an exciting period because it was the only show of its time that met international standards.”

Manila Fame has since become the second longest-running trade event for furniture, décor, and accessories in the Asia Pacific region.

Holiday crafts displayed at Manila Fame.

A grand fair

At the helm of it all was Mina Gabor, who founded CITEM and Manila Fame under the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1983. The export industry then took a turn and had a wider platforms to showcase their products in Manila.

“It all started with Mina Gabor. She was the one who laid out all the groundwork, and asked the buyers to come here,” shared Ilusorio. “She was very much for upgrading export standards of the manufacturers in the country.”

The trade show occupied various venues to accommodate the growing number of exhibitors. These included the Philippine Trade Training Center, the Philippine Convention Center, and even parts of the Golden Shell Pavilion.

The Golden Shell Award

Before Katha Awards, there was the Golden Shell Award which was given to small-scale manufacturers for excellence in design, product quality, and technical applications. Prizes included P25,000 and

Exhibitors at the trade show are able to reach a wider market, while customers get easy access to Filipino-made products made in different parts of the country.

The furniture and furnishings category is the ‘most exciting part’ of the fair.

a plane ticket to an international design fair in any country.

One of the first awardees in 1983 was Shelmed Cottage Treasures, a 46-yearold company that is still active in manufacturing Bicol-made crafts and woven

successful exporters of handwoven fabric.

Among the first 12 Golden Shell awardees was designer Mario Katigbak, who created shoes under the MARO label using local luxury materials like fossilized shells and Ikat fabric.

fabric for décor and fashion.

Another recipient of the 1983 Golden Shell Award was Narda Capuyan of Benguet for her efforts in reviving the then-dying craft of weaving Cordillera ikat. Since then, Narda’s has become one of the most

He went on to become a consultant and general manager for luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Hermes.

Visitors and buyers would likewise make a beeline for the furniture exhibits to see the latest design trends, and also check out how the booths were styled. “The furniture and furnishings category was always the most exciting part of the fair,” recalled Ilusorio.

Look back

Fame’s current theme of “Heritage: Reimagined” encourages designers and manufacturers to delve into their archives to rework or find inspiration from their old designs.

The show’s archives revealed products and furniture from 1983 to 1987 that were timeless in material and form, along with some fashion accessories and clothing with styles that appear ontrend more than 30 years later.

The 70th edition unleashed the most iconic and forward-looking pieces from its collection and infused them with the vision of the new—creating an exciting amalgamation that honored a legacy of design excellence.

The pavilions of the Philippine Trade Training Center once hosted the bi-annual design and lifestyle trade show.

The country’s future rests in our hands THIS is the message animation student Isabella Hilario aims to convey through her winning comics “For The Future.”

Hilario is the winner in the student category of the Manila 2019-2050: City of the Future Comics Contest, a competition organized by the Embassy of France in Manila. It encouraged homegrown professional and amateur illustrators to showcase their visions of Manila 2050 through original comic strips.

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student’s winning artwork depicts how the present decisions affect the succeeding events.

“I want my comic to speak about the malleable nature of our future as a country,” shared Hilario. “What happens next is very much in our hands—our actions have a lot of influence in shaping the rest of our lives, so it’s a part of our responsibility to speak up and take action if we feel that something is not right.”

The participating artists in Patikim! The Art of Filipino Hospitality exhibit, with Mama Sita Foundation president Clara Reyes-Lapus.

Isabella Hilario’s ‘For The Future’ comic strip depicts how the present decisions affect the succeeding events.

The competition highlights what the metropolis can potentially become in 30 years: “A region of sustainability, a center of economic and technological progress, and more importantly, a home for its inhabitants.”

The project aims to seamlessly blend “French and Filipino experiences and expertise in sustainable and liveable urban development.”

The jury was composed of French author and comics writer Benoît Peeters, Komiket co-founder Paolo Herras, Alliance Française de Manille executive director Jean-Pierre Dumont, and French Embassy Audiovisual Attaché Martin Macalintal.

‘For The Future’ wins the student category of the Manila 2019-2050: City of the Future Comics Contest.

“For The Future” is on view until January 11 at the Alliance Française de Manille Gallery, 209 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City.

A taste of Filipino food, hospitality THE recent Patikim! The Art of Filipino Hospitality exhibit at the Art Center in Megamall honored the roots of Filipino food, agriculture, and hospitality The show, curated by Sarah Alcantara, featured paintings and sculptures by Filipino artists from different movements.

The Mama Sita Foundation and the Art Circle Gallery inaugurated the exhibit to help foster Philippine culinary heritage through various forms of visual art. Proceeds from the fundraising event will benefit aspiring FilipinoAmerican chefs from the Academy of Culinary Education in California.

Norma Chikiamco, columnist and author of various cookbooks, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, while former Commission on Filipinos Overseas Undersecretary Mary Grace Ampil Tirona facilitated the program, which featured a solemn tribute to Finance Secretary Ernest Leung, whose

legacy helped establish a competitive Philippine currency.

The highlight of the exhibit opening was a forum that tackled challenges in the Filipino food industry, including the implications of the Republic Act 8172 or the nationwide salt iodization law, which hindered the progress of local salt makers. The salt law was passed in 1995 with the intent of fighting against iodine deficiency. The forum questioned the relevance of the salt law in the current health, economic, and food milieu.

In addition to the “patikim” of art, the guests were treated to a satisfying lunch of Filipino favorites such as barbecued laing, beef caldereta, pork humba, and boneless chicken inasal.

Afternoon snacks also included servings of arroz caldo, heirloom rice champorado, adlai paella, and jicamapapaya salad.

Entertainment

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Kiana uncovers ‘Hide My Love’

GMA Regional TV is proving to be the Filipinos’ regional channel of choice as it continues to gain viewership against competition and earn recognition from various award-giving bodies.

GMA Regional TV reaps honors from various award-winning bodies G MA Regional TV is proving to be the Filipinos’ regional channel of choice as it continues to gain viewership against competition and earn recognitions from various award-giving bodies including the “Best Regional TV Network” award at the 2019 Platinum Stallion Awards.

This is the third time that the regional arm of GMA Network took home the major award from the Trinity University of Asia.

Meanwhile, at the 41st Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), GMA Regional TV also proved its strength in producing effective campaigns and quality programs. Its “#SpreadKindness” campaign was a finalist in the Best TV Ad Public Service category.

Launched last year, “#SpreadKindness is an advocacy and public service campaign in the regions which aims to recognize and celebrate random acts of kindness made by ordinary people.

Securing finalist positions as well are various GMA Regional TV-produced programs and special coverage led by GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas.

The pioneering unified Hiligaynon newscast was short-listed in the Best News Program category—the only regional newscast to be included alongside national and cable newscasts.

At the same time, the “Dinagyang Festival: Hala Bira!—The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Live

Coverage” and “Pit Senyor: Sinulog Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage” were both finalists in the Best Special Event Coverage category.

Capping off the list is block timer program, Biyaheng Do30, which was shortlisted in the Best Adult/Education Program category.

This year, various programs and special coverage of GMA Regional TV have also been honored by Anak TV as “childfriendly”.

Receiving the iconic Anak TV Seals were local newscasts GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan (for North Central Luzon), GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, and GMA Regional TV One Mindanao.

Earning Anak TV Seal as well were the various special coverage: “Dinagyang Festival: Hala Bira!—The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Live Coverage”, “Pit Senyor: Sinulog Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage”, “Kapuso sa Kadayawan Festival– The GMA Regional TV One Mindanao

Special Live Coverage’, and “Kapuso sa Panagbenga Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan Special Live Coverage”.

Biyaheng Do30, which airs on Regional TV Mindanao stations, also received the Anak TV Seal.

“On behalf of the men and women of GMA Regional TV (RTV), I would like to thank the Trinity University of Asia (TUA), the Catholic Mass Media Awards, and the Anak TV Foundation for recognizing our work,” says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso.

“Such recognitions inspire us to continue producing local TV programs and specials, and mount relevant regional activities. With #LocalNewsMatters always in our minds, these awards motivate us to continue leading relentless programming efforts that are more attuned to stories, voices, and viewership outside of Metro Manila as we enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere. From our teams all over the Philippines—GMA Dagupan, GMA Ilocos, GMA Bicol, GMA Cebu, GMA Iloilo, GMA Bacolod, GMA Davao, GMA Cagayan de Oro, and GMA General Santos—we thank our loyal viewers, advertisers, and partners for supporting our efforts and initiatives, and making us No. 1 in their hearts and minds. Indeed, we are ending the year with grateful hearts.

Rest assured that we will continue to give them quality programs and events in the coming years,” he ends.

GMA Regional TV have also been honored by Anak TV as 'child-friendly' with eight Anak TV Seals

Very Wang…

From C4

As one of the lead stars of the ABSCBN primetime teleserye Pamilya Ko, Sylvia continues to earn critical acclaim for her dramatic mettle, which has made her one of the Kapamilya network’s first-call actresses.

Given the chance, however, she would love to dabble in more comic roles. “My first TV exposure was actually comedy,

when I worked with Rene Requiestas in Bhoy (1989-1991),” she recalls.

Sylvia is also optimistic about working behind the scenes as a movie producer, and hints at two forthcoming indie films set to roll next year.

Apart from her hectic shooting schedule, she also calls the shots for Powerhouse Arte Inc., a talent management company handling seasoned actors as well as young upstarts.

The proud mom is thankful for the

flourishing showbiz careers of her kids, Arjo and Ria Atayde. She said, “I want them not just to be prolific actors, but also to be one of the best, the kind who earn the respect of their fellow actors.”

When it comes to endorsements, Sylvia takes a no-nonsense approach.

“I try the product and see if it’s effective. I also want it to have some relevance to my life,” she explains, citing some brands she grew up with and which have withstood the test of time.

SINGER Kiana Valenciano ends 2019 on a high note while simultaneously setting her sights on bigger things this 2020, starting with the release of her latest single “Hide My Love,” produced under ABS-CBN Music’s Tarsier Records.

The track, a chilled out tune perfect for laid back listening, showcases the singer-songwriter’s soothing voice complemented by the record’s slow jam and soft beats. Its lyrics, however, present a realized sense of love, in which a person embraces the beauty of letting his/her love out for the world to see.

Reflecting on the process of writing the song, Kiana said, “This song came naturally when I was exploring different cities, meeting new people and learning about myself and the kind of love I want to give and receive. I see it belonging with Alternative R&B, Chilled R&B.” “Hide My Love” was vocally arranged

by Jesse Barrera, produced by Nick Pacoli, and recorded in Los Angeles, California in the U.S..This is the followup to the artist’s first full-length album See Me released early this year, which featured 10 self-written tracks, including the carrier single “5:30.” She has also dropped other successful singles such as “Circles” and “Does She Know.”

This 2020, Kiana will undoubtedly continue to reach out to the world through her music, in continuation of ABS-CBN’s commitment to introduce the unique artistry of Filipino talents to the international music scene.

Show some love for Kiana’s “Hide My Love” by listening to the song on all digital platforms, and watch its music video on Tarsier Records’ YouTube channel.

For the latest on Kiana, follow Tarsier Records on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @tarsierrecords.

Kiana's 'Hide My Love' marks the first of so much more to come from the pop and R&B singer.

myxRadio…

From C4

In just over a month, the station has drawn one million listeners, averaging 35,000 a day.

“We are excited to partner with Philippine media giant ABS-CBN to launch myxRADIO on Dash Radio last month.

We pride ourselves on diversity and saw a demand in the marketplace for a station that features fresh music first from around the world including the Philippines and Asia, Latin America, Europe and more. There aren’t a lot of places where you can discover new music and artists from around the world and you can see from the station’s initial beta launch that listeners are engaged as well,” said Dash Radio Founder Scott Keeney. myxRADIO features unique weekly programming such as Heavy Rotation, an international podcast featuring R&B and Hip-Hop music made by Filipinos across the world with exclusive interviews and countdowns by DJ Marlino.

Marlino is a former on-air mixer & personality for popular commercial radio stations like Clearchannel’s Jammin Z90 in San Diego and Wild 94.9 in San Francisco. The program Sound Trip is produced by Dannie Boi, who is a program director, host and DJ for Manila’s top radio station Wav 89.1. The show features today’s biggest hits mixed alongside the best in up and coming artists, including those from innovative global music collectives/labels like 88 Rising, Tarsier Records, and Soulection.

On Nov. 1, the station launched in beta.

The official launch was on Nov. 27 at the 143Thx music festival, powered by myxRADIO and myxTV, the night before Thanksgiving. The event had a soldout millennial audience of over 3,000 that came out for headlining artists like 112, A-Trak, and P-Lo -- artists that were handpicked by 143 founders SoSuperSam and Partytime -- who can also be heard frequently on the station. myxRADIO aired exclusive backstage interviews with the headliners that can also be seen on myxTV, the official and exclusive media partner for the event.

Social media is buzzing with myxRADIO listeners across the country sharing posts while they are discovering new music and talent featured in heavy rotation on myxRADIO. There have been posts made on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok daily about new artists being discovered like popular sister duo Ceraadi, who

were recently signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and co-headliners of the Kollective Hustle hour at the annual SCPASA college games, Billboard chart-topping Bay area rapper Saweetie, Manila Killa, a young producer who just finished a nationwide tour of the U.S., Kiana V., an R&B singer-songwriter from the Philippines, who recently booked shows in the U.S. through the discovery of her music in the region.

“In our first six months of successfully - yet challenging experience - of launching Iñigo Pascual to a new, international audience via ABS-CBN Music International (AMI), we found that there were very few platforms that welcomed music from other countries,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Music & Talent Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias.

“We were told that no matter the quality of the music or how many online streams or fans an artist had, without significant major record label budget, that it is nearly impossible to get your music heard on the radio in the US and Canada.

We wanted to help solve the problem that global artists face when looking to launch their new music in the pop, R&B, Hip Hop & dance genres, while also providing our audience with music they want to hear.” Cobarrubias said.

“Our myxRADIO station on Dash Radio is carefully curated by tastemakers and professional radio DJs who have a passion in amplifying the discovery of good, new music that might not be heard on commercial radio. myxRADIO and myxTV as platforms are a part of our new music ecosystem that we’re building to help serve music lovers in North America. We will also continue to produce and co-produce live music events that will spotlight the best in new talent as well as on other platforms like Spotify and Tik Tok, through myxRADIO playlists and featured artists,” Cobarrubias added. “myxRADIO’s partnership with Dash Radio is a key part of our strategy to bring Filipino talent to the world stage,” said ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Jun Del Rosario.

“We are confident that with Dash Radio’s expansion as a leader in curative live audio experience, the featured Filipino talents on myxRADIO will get the best exposure to fans who are open to their fresh, creative music sounds.”

To listen to myxRADIO, download the Dash Radio mobile or smart TV app searching “myxRADIO” or online at www.dashradio.com

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Mariah Carey makes another history with ‘Christmas’ POP DIVA Mariah Carey has had a long list of hits over the years, but her classic holiday song has helped her make history as the first artist to top the Billboard charts in four separate decades.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated Jan. 4, 2020, based on sales, radio airplay and streaming data—its third week atop the rankings.

That means Carey has had a number one single in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

and 2020s.

The bubbly, ubiquitous holiday tune was first released in 1994 and gained new fame after its inclusion on the soundtrack for the 2003 film Love, Actually. But it only topped the charts for the first time in late 2019, thanks to a change in Billboard’s rules as to what can be included on the top songs list.

Carey dropped a new video for it— which counts towards Hot 100 placement—and released the song as a standalone CD single for the first time. It is

her 19th number one hit, according to Billboard, putting her just one song behind The Beatles’ overall record of 20 top songs.

The singer—who will not confirm whether her age is 49 or 50 because she says “time is not something I acknowledge”—was low-key about her historymaking achievement.

“Yaaaaaaaaay!!! WE. DID. IT,” Carey wrote on Twitter, with a stream of champagne and party emojis.”But.... what’s a decade?” AFP

Pop diva Mariah Carey has become the first musician to own the Hot 100 in four different decades.

How the Ataydes celebrated the holidays

F

OR THE holidays, television actress Sylvia Sanchez and her family took their well-deserved showbiz break by flying to the United Arab Emirates.

In an Instagram post, the 48-year-old actress said, “Being with my family on the first day of the year fills my heart. If this is how the year will be, then I look forward to it. I’m happy, peaceful, and inspired.”

She ended the post by saying that she’s ready and well-equipped for 2020 and the rest of the (new) decade.

Last year, the Ataydes were in Japan to welcome the New Year. This time, Sylvia and husband Art Atayde, and their children Arjo, Ria, Gela, and Xavi chose Dubai for their much needed bonding time.

“It’s been our tradition to celebrate the holidays together as a family. After the celebrations, we have our own commitments so we make it a point to be together no matter what,” Sylvia said.

Right after their vacation, Sylvia and her children Arjo and Ria would have a few days more before going back to their normal schedule. Sylvia is doing Pamilya Ko, while Ria is promoting Manillennials, which is streaming now on iWant.

Asked what people can expect in the series that has been renewed for another season Sylvia told Manila Standard in an interview, “Mahaba pa ang tatakbuhin ng kwento ng Pamilya Ko. For our book two, you will see reconciliations, characters making amends. We still have a lot to offer that’s why we are happy that the show has been extended.”

AVL Talent Circuit welcomes Sylvia Ending the year on a high note, the Pamilya Ko actress signed with Arnold Vegafria’s talent management outfit, ALV Talent Circuit, to be part of its roster of stars.

The award-winning drama actress disclosed that the new partnership aims to explore potential movie projects and endorsement deals.

She points out, “Above all else, I expect a family. Trust and loyalty are important to me, and I’m confident that this new venture will point me in that direction.”

For his part, Vegafria asserts, “Of course, Sylvia’s acting talent is beyond reproach. She is a brand unto herself, and that’s what I’m more excited to explore.

Besides, there’s so much room for creative and artistic collaboration.”

Continued on C3

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Dash Radio partners with ABS-CBN to launch myxRADIO

A family photo of the Ataydes taken at the lobby of the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.

BACK in 2018, TechCrunch quoted Dash Radio founder Scott Keeney or DJ Skee, a well-known DJ with stints on LA’s KISS-FM and Sirius XM, as saying, “(On the streaming side with Apple and Spotify), there’s not going to be room for much else.

But when it comes to radio, it’s the wild, wild west.”

Keeney started Dash Radio, an internet radio platform, with $2 million seed funding in 2014, then raised $8.8 million in 2018 after it reached 10 million monthly listeners. While everyone online was focused on live video, Dash Radio concentrated on live audio.

Today, Dash Radio is the largest all-original live audio platform in the world, with over 12 million monthly listeners, 80 stations and over 500 DJs and shows. Dash Radio has over 50 distribution partners that include all mobile devices like the iOS and Android, smart speakers like Amazon’s Alexa and Sonos, car companies like Honda and Jaguar, smart TV platforms like Apple TV, Chromecast, Pluto TV and more.

Celebrities and entertainment brands like Snoop Dogg and Kylie Jenner have stations alongside the UFC and Insomniac Group.

One of the biggest music festivals

in the world called “EDC or Electric Daisy Carnival” livestreams exclusively on the Dash Radio platform.

They have multiple studios which include storefronts on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Empire State Building in New York, downtown Atlanta, and will be launching Nashville soon.

“Radio was the first social network, the first time people really listened together,” Keeney was quoted

by TechWeek. “And we want to bring that feeling back, but with more freedom than what FM and satellite can offer.”

On their website, the mission of Dash Radio is clear: “Dash Radio was created by the world’s biggest DJ’s who became fed up with the limitations of regular FM radio (and hate the internet playlists that pose as radio powered by soulless computers). Together, we formed Dash with one goal: to provide the best radio platform in the world. This means all the variety you ever wanted with ZERO commercials… oh ya, all live, 24/7 for free.”

And this is the platform where myxRADIO—a new 24/7, commercial-free radio station—has launched, and not surprisingly, to quick success.

Continued on C3

Sylvia Sanchez with ALV Talent Circuit's Arnold Vegafria

The family goes on a dessert safari adventure in the tourism capital of the Emirates.

myxRadio is also instrumental in launching the international music career of Iñigo Pascual (rightmost)