Manila Standard - 2020 January 6 - Monday

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Thunderstorms due to cold front

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 326 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE tail-end of a cold front will affect southern Luzon and eastern Visayas while the northeast monsoon will be affecting the rest of Luzon, the weather bureau said Sunday.

In its 4 a.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Bicol, Romblon and Marinduque will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the cold front.

The agency warned residents that possible flash floods or landslides in high risk areas might occur during severe

thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora and Quezon will also experience cloudy skies with scattered light rain due to the northeast monsoon.

Palawan and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy skies to cloudy skies with isolated light rain due to the northeast monsoon. PNA

FROST. ‘Andap’ brought about by cold weather, occured early morning in Barangay Paoay, Atok Benguet covering highland vegetable produce in a layer of frost. PAGASA reported a dipping weather reading of 11.4 degrees Celsius due to prevailing northeastern monsoon and the Siberian cold front. No heavy damages to highland crops were monitored. Farmers have found ways to deal with the weather phenomenon. Dave Leprozo

Prepare for evacuation—Rody ban also mulled if Mideast tensions escalate Trump targets 52 Iran sites, vows Travel

By MJ Blancaflor, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta to hit them ‘very fast, very hard’ RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered security PRESIDENT Donald Trump warned Saturday that the US is targeting 52 sites in Iran and will hit them “very fast and very hard” if the Islamic republic attacks American personnel or assets.

In a saber-rattling tweet that defended Friday’s US drone strike assassination of a powerful Iranian general in Iraq, Trump said 52 represents the number of Americans held hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran for more than a year starting in late 1979.

Trump said some of these sites are “at

a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard. The USA wants no more threats!”

Late Saturday night, the president tweeted again, this time warning Iran that the US will hit Iran “harder than they have ever been hit before!”

Trump followed up with another tweet, saying the US would use its “brand new beautiful” military equipment “without hesitation” if the Iranians retaliate.

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officials to prepare for the immediate evacuation of some 1,000 Filipinos in Iran should conflict between Tehran and Washington escalate.

The commander-in-chief issued the directive during a meeting with the military and police top brass along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go at the Palace Sunday evening.

“His main concern is the evacuation of Filipinos there,” Go told the Manila Standard.

Iran has vowed to avenge the death of

its most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed after President Donald Trump authorized an overnight drone attack in Iraq.

Amid heightened tension, Washington sent some 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East, while Marines were ordered to man the US Embassy compound in Baghdad.

President Duterte tasked the military

DOH: Virus alert as 44 got sick in central China

Budget, water on Rody’s menu

By MJ Blancaflor and Rio N. Araja

By Macon Ramos-Araneta QUARANTINE officials are on the lookout for any sign of a mysterious viral pneumonia that has affected 44 people in China, the Department of Health said Sunday.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the Bureau of Quarantine is closely watching seaports and airports in response to reports from China, and checking all incoming travelers, especially those showing signs of fever or respiratory infection.

“I urge the public, especially those with history of travel from China, to seek immediate medical consult if experiencing any flu-like symptoms” Duque said.

Hospital officials in Hong Kong raised their alert level to “serious” on Saturday as a mystery viral pneumonia outbreak in China continued to spread.

The infection was first reported on Dec. 24 in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million— leading to online speculation about a resurgence of the flu-like SARS virus that killed hundreds of people in 2002-2003.

The number of reported cases has now risen from 27 to 44, with 11 people listed in serious condition, according to China’s public health watchdog.

The outbreak sparked fears in Hong Kong when a woman who travelled to Wuhan during the Christmas holiday was admitted to hospital on Thursday for treatment of respiratory infections.

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to monitor the impact of the incidents among Iran’s sympathizers and armed groups in the country.

The Philippine military was put on standby in case the repatriation of Filipinos from Iran using Philippine air assets becomes necessary, Go said.

The President was supposed to discuss the matter during a scheduled command conference at the Palace Tuesday, but decided the meeting “could not wait,” Go said.

Also present during the meeting were newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Felimon Santos Jr., Army chief Gilbert Gapay, Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Robert Empedrad and Philippine National Police acting chief Archie Gamboa. Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign the 2020 national budget and announce a new development in the concession agreement between the government and private water utility companies today, Jan. 6.

Congress submitted the proposed General Appropriations Act to the Palace on Dec. 20 last year but the ceremonial signing has been delayed for a week due to the President’s “thorough scrutiny,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

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SECURITY MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte gathers defense, military and police officials to an unscheduled meeting to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, taking into consideration the plight of overseas Filipino workers in the region.

Ampatuan seen as flight risk if detained in hospital

By Rio N. Araja MAGUINDANAO Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu fears that former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan might escape if he was allowed to stay in a hospital outside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

He called on Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court not to allow Ampatuan to go out of the NBP to stay in a private hospital.

But he said he would not oppose Ampatuan’s plea to be transferred to the NBP infirmary for health reasons. ‘‘If he is as sick as he and his lawyers claim him to be, then we leave it up to the NBP doctors and experts to determine it,” Ampatuan said in a statement.

“I am not against him seeking medical assistance as long as it is done within the confines of the NBP infirmary in Muntinlupa.

“Not at the Makati Medical Center or

any other high-end and private hospital, where he is allowed to stay comfortably inside a hospital suite.”

On Dec. 23 Ampatuan, through his legal counsel, filed an urgent motion seeking his transfer to the NBP infirmary.

But Mangudadatu questioned why the motion was only made public on Jan. 2.

“That alone raises suspicion. I can only hope that I am wrong for my sake and for the sake of the families who lost their loved ones in the massacre,” he said. Next page

PAO up in arms over budget cut

By Rio N Araja IN A last-ditch effort, close to 200 lawyers and other personnel from the Public Attorney’s Office are appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto an insertion in the 2020 General Appropriations Act slashing the P19.5-million budget for its Forensic Laboratory Division.

In a nine-page letter, the PAO lawyers “pleaded to President Duterte to use his veto powers and VETO the GAA for 2020 with regard to the special provision inserted by the congressional minority, led by (Albay) Rep. Edcel Lagman and (Iloilo) Rep. Janette Garin on Next page

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News

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Stop sending workers to Kuwait’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

R

EP. Enrico Pineda of Party-list 1-Pacman wants a total deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait following the killing of domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Pineda said such ban would force the Kuwaiti government to comply with its agreement with the Philippines to safeguard and protect the welfare of Filipino workers.

“It must be a total ban. Let us see if they [Kuwait] will comply with our memorandum of agreement to fix the problem, and that they will bring the accused to justice,” he said.

“If that would be the case, that would be quite satisfactory for us

and it will be a deterrent for the other employers to commit any wrongdoing. If they do so, they would face execution.”

Vice President Leni Robredo called on the government to ensure that what happened to Villavende and Joanna Demafelis, who were killed in Kuwait, would not happen again.

Despite a memorandum of agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait toward the protection of Filipino workers, Robredo said, Filipino work-

ers were still dying.

“We already experienced the same thing before, that is why there was a suspension [of deployment] when Joanna died. We really need to study why things such as these still happen.”

Senator Cynthia Villar said Department of Foreign Affairs should hire the best legal team to ensure justice is served to the family of Villavende who met her tragic death in Kuwait in the hands of her cruel employer.

Villar said the department should guarantee that Villavende and her family would get justice.

The Filipina, who hailed from Norala, South Cotabato, was allegedly killed by her employers in December last year.

The suspects are in custody.

On May 11, 2018, the Philippines and Kuwait forged an agreement to protect

the welfare of Filipinos in Kuwait after the death of the domestic Joanna Demafelis.

“The only solution to prevent abuses is for us not to send unskilled workers, especially in the Middle East, since they get to be abused,” Pineda said.

“What I am telling our fellow government workers, especially those from the Department of Trade and Industry, that we must really spur the growth of business so that our people would no longer need to leave the country to work abroad.”

The Philippines must also exert all efforts to ensure the safety and protection of Filipinos in the Middle East amid the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, Pineda said.

Villavende, who wanted to go home months before her death, was beaten up and killed by her employer.

Prepare...

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Earlier in the day, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Bureau of Immigration will stop Filipino workers bound for Iran, Iraq and Libya once the government imposes a deployment ban in those countries.

Guevarra said the DOJ and the BI will fully implement the travel ban should the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment impose a deployment plan.

Some 1.2-million Filipinos are working in the Middle East.

The DFA, meanwhile, said it is ready to repatriate Filipinos in Iran if needed.

“Let me tell you, our teams in the Middle East—foreign affairs, embassies, consulates—we are ready to help you when the emergency happens,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said, in an interview over ABS-CBN. “We’ll get you out or we will be there with you to make sure that the same risks you run, we will run as well,” Locsin said.

Nonetheless, Locsin admitted that the government has yet to map out an evacuation plan for Filipinos in Iran and nearby countries.

“Let’s wait where the situation goes.

To evacuate is like a sign of no faith in the intelligence of the countries involved,” Locsin said.

Locsin earlier said he believed that tensions between the US and Iran will not escalate into “World War III” because “there is so much to lose for everybody.”

“The Iranians are probably the smartest race on the planet. They’ll think first,” he said.

Senators said the government must closely monitor developments in Iraq to ensure the safety of Filipinos working and living there.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the government should be prepared in case hostilities between the US and Iraq escalate, with plans to evacuate Filipino workers in countries in the Middle East.

Pimentel said the Department of Energy, too, should monitor world oil prices as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate. “[If] crude prices keep surging and [they] could batter our economy,” Pimentel said.

The senator, who chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations, also said the Energy department should find new sources of crude oil as early as now, in view of the flare-up in US-Iran relations.

“The government must study and seriously consider securing new sources of our crude oil. Spiking oil prices have led to recessions in the past.,” he said.

Trump...

From A1

Trump spoke out after pro-Iran factions ramped up pressure on US installations across Iraq with missiles and warnings to Iraqi troops--part of an outburst of fury over the killing of Qasem Soleimani, described as the second most-powerful man in Iran.

With the Islamic republic promising revenge, his killing was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiraling tensions between Washington and Tehran and has prompted fears of a major conflagration in the Middle East.

In the first hints of a possible retaliatory response, two mortar rounds hit an area near the US embassy in Baghdad on Saturday, security sources said.

Almost simultaneously, two rockets slammed into the Al-Balad airbase where American troops are deployed north of Baghdad, security sources said.

DOH:...

From A1

By mid-day Saturday, Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority had reported a total of eight cases to the city’s Health department.

Three are being treated under isolation conditions in a public hospital, while the other five have been discharged.

Officials in the international financial hub also implemented enhanced monitoring and infection control in public hospitals and clinics.

In China, authorities reported that the major cluster of recent infections have centered around a wet market in Wuhan where wild animals were sold.

They were still in the process of identifying the cause, but have determined that common respiratory diseases such as influenza, bird flu and adenovirus infection are not to blame.

So far, Chinese officials say there has been no human-to-human transmission, but Ho Pak-leung, director of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Infection, advised the city to brace for that possibility.

“Preventive measures should be as stringent as possible,” Ho told Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK, urging the mainland government to provide real-time updates.

Additional thermal imaging systems were put in place on Friday at Hong Kong’s international airport to check the body temperature of travellers arriving from Wuhan.

In Singapore, the health ministry also announced Friday that all travellers arriving from Wuhan would be subject to temperature checks.

In 2002-2003, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome killed hundreds of people around the world, with most of the fatalities registered in China and Hong Kong. With AFP

PAO...

From A1

MODERN MAGI. Three men representing the bibilical magi or wise men (Melchor, Gazpar and Balthazar) ride their horses, marking the end of the holiday season or the Feast of the Epiphany also known as Three Kings' Day at the Casa Espanol on Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila.

Norman Cruz

Budget,...

wield his veto power to get rid of those insertions in the proposed budget that were deemed unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, Panelo said the President would make an announcement about the 1997 water concession agreement, but was tight-lipped on specifics.

The President previously assailed the Manila Water and Maynilad for allegedly taking advantage of the concession agreements with “onerous provisions” to milk Filipinos by the billions.

These provisions bar the government from stopping the private companies from raising water rates—conditions the two utilities used to sue the Philippine government before a Singapore-based arbitral tribunal. When the tribunal ordered the state to pay Maynilad P3.4 billion and Manila Water P7.4 billion to cover their “losses” from being unable to raise their rates, Duterte became irate, threatening the two companies with charges of economic plunder.

The officials of the water distributors later wrote letters to the President expressing

their willingness to amend the supposed provisions of the 1997 water deal.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Sunday the signing into law of the 2020 budget would make it easier to realize the President’s goal of making life more comfortable for Filipinos.

“The President has been working hard to make a comfortable life for Filipinos.

The economic growth is attributed to the sound economic policy of President Duterte who has been pursuing structural reforms needed to guarantee the country’s economic takeoff,” he said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. added that the national budget “guarantees a better and more comfortable life for most Filipinos.”

“Our new budget for this year has been designed to support a very strong, sustainable, and equitable growth to be felt by ordinary Filipinos and an appropriations that will make the country more inclusive than what it was the year before,” he said.

Ampatuan, along with his father, the late Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., brother, former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., and several others were convicted of murder for the deaths of 57 people, including 31 journalists, in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

“My 10-year court battle with this

family showed me how devious and calculating they are. It is not remote that escape could be an option to him.

If that happens, the police could find it very difficult to rearrest him,” Mangudadatu said.

Reyes ordered the return of Ampatuan to his detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, a day before the Dec. 19 promulgation of the case.

Ampatuan was confined at the Makati Medical Center for 40 days.

On Nov. 23, 2009, the wife, sisters, relatives, lawyers and supporters of Mangudadatu, along with 32 journalists, were attacked, buried alive and killed by armed men in Shariff Aguak.

The Ampatuan patriach, Andal Sr., was tagged as the mastermind behind the massacre.

Out of the 32 journalists, only 31 were identified having been killed since the body of photojournalist Reynaldo Momay remained missing.

The Iraqi military confirmed the missile attacks in Baghdad and on al-Balad and said there were no casualties. The US military also said no coalition troops were hurt.

With Americans wondering fearfully if, how and where Iran will hit back for the assassination, the US Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin that said “at this time there is no specific, credible threat against the homeland.”

However, on Saturday, the website of the Federal Depository Library Program, a little-known US government agency, was breached by a group claiming to be linked to Iran, who posted graphics displaying the Iranian flag and vowing revenge for Soleimani’s death.

Separately, US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that information given to Congress by Trump, a Republican, “prompts serious and urgent questions about the timing, manner and justification of” the strike.

“The Trump administration’s provoca-

tive, escalatory and disproportionate military engagement continues to put service members, diplomats and citizens of America and our allies in danger,” said Pelosi, a Democrat.

Another prominent democrat, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called the president a “monster” for “threatening to target and kill innocent families, women and children”.

In a tweet, she said: “This is a war crime.”

While no one claimed Saturday’s attacks in Baghdad, a hardline pro-Iran faction in Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi military network shortly after urged Iraqis to move away from US forces by Sunday at 5:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

The deadline would coincide with a parliament session which the Hashed has insisted should see a vote on the ouster of US troops.

Washington has blamed the vehemently anti-American group for a series of rocket attacks in recent weeks targeting US dip-

lomats and troops stationed across Iraq.

Many fear the US strike that killed Iran’s military mastermind Soleimani would set off a wider conflict with Iran, and have braced for more attacks.

“This is no longer a proxy war,” said Erica Gaston, a non-resident fellow at the New America Foundation.

“What you have is America attacking an Iranian general directly, and groups are now openly fighting for Iran to avenge him. This is a direct war,” she said.

The US strike on Baghdad international airport early Friday killed a total of five Iranian Revolutionary Guards and five members of Iraq’s Hashed.

Among the dead was Hashed’s deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a top adviser and personal friend to Soleimani.

As head of the Guards’ foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, Soleimani was a powerful figure domestically and oversaw Iran’s wide-ranging interventions in regional power struggles.

Trump has said Soleimani was planning

From A1

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said President Duterte will not veto any provision in the budget bill, even if some lawmakers have expressed hopes that the Chief Executive will get rid of supposed “pork insertions” made by some members of the House of Representatives.

Malacañang earlier extended the validity of the 2019 budget up to the last day of 2020 to allow government agencies to spend funds for their daily operational costs, citing the delay in the passage of this year’s budget bill.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier claimed that about 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion were included in the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act as “source” of funds for pet projects of some congressmen.

The Palace has assured the public, however, that the Chief Executive would

Ampatuan...

From A1

the limitation imposed on PAO’s use of maintenance and other operating expenses. This provision prohibits PAO from using its MOOE budget in the operation of the Forensic Laboratory Division.”

Duterte is set to sign the 2020 GAA’s P4.1-trillion national budget this Monday.

“We, the lawyers and staff of the PAO nationwide, join this extremely urgent request,” the letter read.

The PAO appealed to Duterte to restore the P19.5-million budget cut in the agency budget for year 2020 when he signs the 2020 General Appropriations measure into law.

The budget cut of P19.5 million in PAO’s budget was initiated by the socalled “Yellow lawmakers” led by opposition Senator Franklin Drilon. The amount is intended for the agency’s budget for its Forensic Laboratory and Equipment, particularly for the poor litigants in its Dengvaxia crusade and other cases.

The signatories of the letter slammed Lagman and Garin, saying the “inserted” provision was a violation of the Constitution and existing laws, such as Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act, as well as the Dec. 12, 2017 Department of Justice memorandum order directing PAO “to assist possible Dengvaxia deaths, injuries and illnesses.”

PAO maintained the DOJ memo was “still standing and had not been revoked.”

It questioned its budget cut, saying it was also a “violation of the equal protection clause of the 1987 Constitution (Article 3 Section 1).”

“Why only the PAO Forensic Laboratory, why not the Commission on Human Rights forensic, too? Why discriminate the PAO clients, which have conflicts with the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation or CHR [itself]?” PAO said.

With Rey E. Requejo an “imminent” attack on US personnel in Baghdad and should have been killed “many years ago”.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised “severe revenge” for Soleimani’s death and Tehran named Soleimani’s deputy, Esmail Qaani, to succeed him.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis, including Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, political leaders and clerics attended a mass ceremony on Saturday to honor Soleimani and the other victims.

Tehran has slammed the strike as an “act of war” and Abdel Mahdi said it could bring “devastating” violence to Iraq.

The attacks on Saturday evening appeared to be precisely the reaction Iraqis had long feared: tit-for-tat strikes between the Hashed and the US on Iraqi soil.

Earlier, the Hashed claimed a new strike hit their convoy north of Baghdad, with Iraqi state media blaming the US. But the US-led coalition denied involvement. AFP

News

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MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOJ chief upbeat on future of new GCTA-IRR J USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday expressed optimism that the new Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10592 on expanding Good Conduct Time Allowance will hurdle future legal challenge.Guevarra made this comment after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez and fellow inmates challenging the constitutionality of the revised IRR of GCTA.

“Sanchez’s petition was dismissed on procedural grounds. I’m confident that if refiled, the same will be dismissed for lack of merit,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

“I prefer that the dismissal be on the merits, Sanchez has lawyers and they know what to do. The DOJ is ready to meet the legal challenge anytime,” the DOJ chief added as he welcomed the high court’s ‘more substantive’ ruling based on the merits instead of technicalities.

In its resolution on Dec. 3, the SC’s en banc turned down Sanchez’ petition for

failure to pay the required docket fees and failing to comply with other procedural requirements.

Last year, Malacañang said questions on the legality of the possible release of Sanchez should be addressed to Congress as the executive branch could only abide

by RA 10592 which was passed in 2013.

Sanchez was sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment) for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her companion, Allan Gomez, in 1993.

The new IRR was signed in September last year amid concerns that unqualified persons deprived of liberty were benefiting from the provisions of RA 10592.

The law amended the provisions of the Revised Penal Code that would allow the much earlier release of PDLs. Sanchez and other inmates had sought nullification of the revised IRR which disqualify recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and those convicted with heinous crimes from benefiting from the GCTA. Rey Requejo and PNA

DENR personnel ordered to help in Bay rehab

By Rio N. Araja

Marcos cautions DA on importation of tons of red onions

SECRETARY Roy Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has directed officials and employees to conduct daily cleanup activities at Manila’s Baywalk area and Baseco beach as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay. He said he is banking on the “bottomless support” from all agency personnel.

“I want DENR personnel to be out there, cleaning daily, and those with desk jobs to experience how it is to work in the field,” he said.

The directive was addressed particularly to those holding office at the DENR’s central office and regional offices within the Manila Bay region, including bureaus and attached agencies.

Cimatu said he wanted the DENR personnel to become “more visible” in the Manila Bay rehabilitation this year.

“For the year 2020, I am confident that we will again prove to the Filipino people that indeed there is a Department that takes care of their environment and natural resources,” he added.

Undersecretary for Priority Programs and Field Operations-Luzon and Manila Bay task force ground commander Juan Miguel Cuna issued a memorandum to the officials and employees assigned to conduct the daily cleanup drive from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10.

Under the memorandum, 150 DENR workers shall be deployed to the Baywalk and Baseco beach every day, except on Jan. 9 when the annual procession of the Black Nazarene is to be held.

Cimatu ordered the National Capital Region and its four field offices to plan for the succeeding weeks of the cleanup.

SENATOR Imee Marcos on Sunday called on the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the government agency’s plan to import 35,000 metric tons of red onions would not affect local harvests in March.

The DA said it decided to import red onions to make up for a supply shortage.

Angara lauds SC creation of judges-at-large

T-SHIRT FOR THE BLACK NAZARENE. A merchant prepares the silkscreen for the printing of T-shirts with the image of the Black Nazarene. Norman Cruz

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Marcos fears that a glut in imported red onions would end up rotting in government warehouses, without bringing down the price of the farm produce.

A similar situation happened last year when the National Food Authority imported millions of pesos worth of rice but was unable to bring down market prices significantly, Marcos said.

Also, Marcos said the importation of rice from other countries has significantly hurt the livelihood of many Filipino farmers.

She warned that imported onions might flood the local market which could adversely affect local ionions which will be harvested in March. “So what will then happen?”

“Ibebenta na lamang nang palugi

ang mga lokal na sibuyas natin gaya sa nangyari sa lokal na palay sa bansa, na ikalulugi na naman ng ating mga maliliit na magsasaka,” she said.

The wholesale price of red onions in December averaged P195 per kilo, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

At groceries and supermarkets, red onions sold for P150 to P200 per kilo.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PH completes phaseout of paints with lead content

THE phaseout of all types of lead-containing paints in the Philippines is an excellent example of a successful chemical policy directive aimed at preventing and reducing children’s exposure to lead, a highly toxic substance, from paints.

The EcoWaste Coalition and the Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers marked the historic transition of the country’s paint and coating industry to full non-lead production effective Jan. 1 with the completion of the phaseout period for lead-containing paints used for industrial applications.

Under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds, manufacturers of lead-containing paints for industrial uses were directed to phase out such paints by Dec. 31, 2019. Leadcontaining architectural, household and decorative paints were phased out at an earlier time on December 31, 2016. Lead paints are paints or other similar surface coatings containing lead compounds in excess of 90 parts per million.

“The conclusion of the phase-out period for lead-added industrial paints wraps up a positive process of replacing lead-based additives, particularly pigments, with non-lead raw materials for all paint formulations,” said Ely Kenneth Ong Sue, President, PAPM. “The industry-wide shift to lead-free paint manufacturing is a superb way to usher in 2020. It’s a milestone made possible by unique government, industry and civil society collaboration,” he added.

JOYRIDE. Thousands of rider applicants gather at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila for JoyRide’s mass registration. Marshalls hold up signs in support of the government. Norman Cruz

PCUP eyes to conduct 80 caravans nationwide THE Presidential Commission on Urban Poor is eyeing to establish at least 80 caravans in Luzon, including the National Capital Region, the Visayas and Mindanao this year.

Chairman and chief executive offic-

er Alvin Feliciano said the caravans would cater to the poor to help them seek employment, and provide services from various government agencies and the private sector.

The agency was f looded with re-

quests on social media, particularly on its official Facebook page, from the netizens coming from different provinces for the PCUP to conduct more on-the-go caravans in 2020, he said.

SENATOR Sonny Angara welcomed the announcement of the Supreme Court on the creation of 50 judges-atlarge posts as a significant step towards providing swift justice in the country.

Angara, the principal author of Republic Act 11459 or the Judges-atLarge Act, said the implementation of the law will help ensure that justice is served swiftly by freeing up the courts of its dockets.

“Our justice system has long been criticized for being excruciatingly slow. The huge caseload of the courts has resulted in the slow disposition of cases, to the detriment of both the victims of crimes, as well as the accused, many of who are innocent but are deprived of their liberty,” Angara said.

“For the victims of crimes and their families, the long wait for the resolution of cases adds to the emotional and financial burden that they have to bear on top of the pain they already experienced. For the accused who are innocent, the fact that they are deprived of their liberty is an injustice to them. This is why we want cases to be resolved expeditiously,” Angara added.

The law mandates the creation of 100 judges-at-large posts for the Regional Trial Courts and 50 posts for the Municipal Trial Courts.

From 57 places in 2019, the PCUP is targeting to hold 80 caravans nationwide to offer medical missions, job fairs, micro-f inancing and skills training, among others. Rio N. Araja

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Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

So what?

AS THIS is our first column for the new year, let me join every reader in wishing that this leap year will add many stones to the edifice that is the Filipino nation.

Who the hell do they think they are?

There are so many things that we as a nation will need to do if only to be able to catch up with some of our Southeast Asian neighbors. The current leadership is doing so many of these undertakings all at the same time: From fighting criminality and eliminating the scourge of illegal drugs to keeping the peace, minimizing corruption in government, ending civil strife and decades-long insurgency, building major infrastructure that is the cornerstone of continued progress, to growing the economy, creating more jobs and reducing poverty.

But leadership, no matter how well-intentioned and how purposive, needs the support of the citizenry, and the best way to help is for citizens to be united, disciplined and imbued with a high sense of nationalism and national purpose.

Let us all start the new decade by being conscious of our duties, more than our rights even, as citizens of this sovereign nation which could, despite the failures of the past, rise up to become not only a strong economy but a more equal society. *** Having stated our New Year wish, let me now focus on something that

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

we should all unite against—the outright intervention of some American legislators who think they still have colonial powers over our land.

So they will deny Filipinos entry permits to their country on the sayso of an imprisoned legislator who is facing charges under our judicial system? Who the hell do they think they are?

If taking the word of Leila de Lima about her “persecution” and accepting her list of people who participated in her alleged persecution is not an insult to our sovereignty, how else could you describe that? Why, one of her lawyers even threatens on national television that De Lima is preparing a longer list of those who have persecuted her. The gall!

Which is why President Duterte is right in also banning their entry into the Philippines, and more than that, requiring American citizens other than those with dual citizenship, the other being Filipino, to apply for entry visas to our country should they wish to come.

After all, we Filipinos have to line up on Roxas Boulevard and face their consular officers who without need of any reason whatsoever, can deny us that entry permit to their country.

And how many Filipinos have likewise been humiliated by intense grilling from their immigration staff in their ports of entry? Is it all worth it?

So tit for tat. So what if they deny some or even all of us entry into their country?

If you examine closely the number of “American” tourists who come in to the Philippines, you will note that most of them are “balikbayans”— Filipinos who are either green card holders or who have become American citizens, either by birthright (the jus soli principle) or who have lived there long and have taken another citizenship.

So if we allow visa-free entry to those dual citizens and deny the

Wisdom, not whim

“W

E TOOK action last night to stop a war,” said United States President Donald Trump.

“We did not take action to start a war.”

Trump uttered these words defending his decision to take out an Iranian military officer, Qassim Suleimani, with four others in a precision drone strike at Baghdad International Airport. The White House claims that the killing was preemptive; the Revolutionary Guards were supposedly planning an attack on American troops and diplomats in the Middle East.

Suleimani had been a force to reckon with for many years; Donald Trump’s predecessors, the Republican George W. Bush and the Democrat Barack Obama, were said to have considered the same option but decided against it, “not for lack of nerve but for fear of undue escalation and an unnecessary war with Iran,” says Jonathan Stevenson, writing for the New York Times.

What prompted Mr. Trump to go where Bush and Obama dared not tread was, supposedly, the death by rocket attack of an American

contractor before yearend. Trump ordered the strike without consulting congressional leaders. “As with his other displays of martial fiat, his immediate impulse was probably to shock the liberal domestic audience, vicariously make himself feel tough, and assert raw executive power by going around the normal channels of decision making,” Stevenson continues. He enumerates what a well-functioning military and intelligence mechanisms would have done, had there been a sound, deliberate, collaborative and coherent logical policy in place. But there was none.

The attack comes amid efforts to impeach Trump for supposedly engaging the Ukrainian president to dig up dirt on a political opponent in exchange for aid. Many believe the tough stance on Iran may have been meant to deflect attention from the embarrassment of the process, even as the Senate, if the vote were to be

made along party lines, is likely to let Trump off the hook.

Perhaps, too, Trump simply wants to be perceived as intrepid.

The former National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, writes in an op-ed: “When Iran does respond, its response will likely be multifaceted and occur at unpredictable times and in multiple places. President Trump will then face what may yet be the most consequential national security decision of his presidency.”

Certainly the action will have consequences, not only for Americans but even for Filipinos—those working as OFWs in the Middle East, their families, and those who will be affected by fluctuations in the price of oil, which is essentially everyone.

We should be watching developments in Iran if only for these—and also to learn that such far-reaching decisions should not be made in a pique, or on a whim, or in a fit of bravado, but in careful consideration of profound consequences, using the advice of experts and one’s moral compass as guide.

Turn to A5

Wars CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ

WE WERE about to conclude that finally there may be a de-escalation of the long-raging conflicts in the Middle East, most of which are holdovers from the decades old anti-terrorist campaign after 9/11 (some analysts insist these go over back even farther to the days of imperial conquests). Thus, we were shocked back to reality with that precision drone missile attack

by US military helicopters on a car convoy coming out of the Baghdad International Airport. The attack killed the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (Foreign Branch), General Qassem Suleimani, and his closest associate in Iraq, Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, the deputy chief of the radical paramilitary network Hashed Al Shahabi.

That network has been at the forefront of the weeks-old siege of the US Embassy in Baghdad which culminated in the burning of one of the outposts in that heavily guarded compound in Iraq’s Green Zone.

Hours before the attack on the Suleimani car convoy, there were indications that bigger crowds would be besieging the embassy, prompting the US to send reinforcement troops to the war-torn country.

Now, there will definitely be more troops pouring back into Iraq and the nearby Gulf Cooperation Council countries—at least in Kuwait and the UAE, probably even Saudi Arabia and Bahrain—all of which have been under the US’ protective umbrellas raged against what they termed a “dangerous expansion of

influence by Iran and its proxies in the region.”

Will this trigger a bigger war, maybe even a world war? This was the frequent question asked by friends and acquaintances alike right after that bold attack which has been condemned by Iran and its allies as a “declaration of war” which will be met with “severe revenge.” My short answer is “no.”

This should calm the waters. For now.

I don’t think this attack, though deadly and provocative and by some accounts brazen and unwarranted, will not rise up to the level of a Pearl Harbor attack which drove the US to the Pacific war theater in World War II, or the attack on the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, weeks before World War I erupted in Europe.

Still, definitely, this will trigger a series of major attacks on US citizens and assets, in and around the world, as the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini promised. How that will play out, no one knows. Given the experience of the past decades where Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Quds Force has been involved, say in Iraq in the aftermath of the US decapitation of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Baath Party and its revolutionary forces, the long-playing Syrian and Yemeni civil wars and the other operations it participated in the region, these can be messy and bloody.

One good thing is the tempering that immediately ensued. No less than US President Trump Turn to A5

Overload on train to Kashmir’s Internet oasis

By Parvaiz Bukhari EVERY day the train to Kashmir’s remote cyber oasis Banihal is packed as people travel for hours to get online in the disputed region where Internet has been cut for five months.

The mountain town of fewer than 4,000 people has six Internet cafés, which are booming due to a security clampdown by the Indian government.

“The speed is very slow,” admitted Irfan, manager of one of the cafés where customers pay up to 3,000 rupees ($40) an hour to link their laptop to the snail’s-pace broadband.

“Scores of Kashmiris, mostly students and income tax professionals, come visiting every day,” said Irfan, who only gave one name.

In early August New Delhi made a sudden move to axe Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status, shutting down communications and sending tens of thousands of extra troops into

what was already one of the world’s most militarized zones.

While phone calls and very limited text messages are now possible, the Internet is still down.

Forcing people offline has crippled the economy and made it impossible to pay utility bills, make applications or just send a message to family outside the stricken zone.

Some Kashmiris make special trips to New Delhi or Jammu city—an eight-hour drive from the regional capital Srinagar—to connect.

Banihal, a two-hour train ride from Srinagar, is the nearest town with any access.

Internet trek The government said it cut phones and the Internet to prevent unrest in Kashmir, where an insurgency in the past three decades has left tens of thousands dead. India blames Pakistan, which also claims Kashmir, for the troubles.

To get to Banihal, students Bhat Musaddiq Reyaz and Aqeel Mukhtar

fought their way onto a train at Awantipora—a town more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away, south of Srinagar in the Kashmir valley.

“I tried getting Internet at a government kiosk set up in my district but I waited for two hours on two different days and never got a turn,” said Reyaz as he waited for the train.

The 19-year-old wanted to register for exams to gain access to a graduate medicine course. Mukhtar, 25, recently completed a degree in education and wanted to apply online for scholarships.

“It is a complete hassle to have to travel so much just to send applications online,” said Mukhtar.

The two students took two hours on one train and then had to change to another which was another 90-minute standing trip to Banihal.

They waited in the snow for a bus to take them from the station to the town and its prized Internet cafes in a crowded lane.

Reyaz was able to complete his Turn to A5

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Opinion Times and seasons THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE GONE with the old, in with the new.

We bid adieu to 2019, and welcome a new decade. The last two weeks were replete with well wishes and resolutions.

2019 was an election year, and as everyone expected, the administration allies topped the senatorial race. This overwhelming electoral victory cemented President Rodrigo Duterte’s hold on the current affaires d’état, bringing several election first-timers to the upper house. After the midterm elections, President Duterte was instrumental in brokering an uneasy truce among contenders to the speakership in the House of Representatives, avoiding an unnecessary break in his ranks. With the socalled 15-21 formula, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano would serve for 15 months, after which Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco would continue with the remaining 21 more months of the Duterte administration. The third contender, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, was elected Majority Leader, serving for the full three terms of the Eighteenth Congress.

A solomonic decision, so it seems.

Six months after the elections, President Duterte continues to enjoy the overwhelming confidence of the people, if the surveys were to be believed. Surprisingly, even the people’s trust in Congress seemed to have a significant boost, making the legislature one of the trusted institutions in the country.

If the last elections were to serve as a vote of confidence on the Duterte administration, there is no doubt that the President has passed with flying colors. Despite the controversies and criticism, support for Duterte remains unwavering, indicating

perhaps the unusual political optimism that pervades the country’s population.

Unusual because in most previous administrations, support for a president tends to wane on the last three months of the term of office.

Such is not the case for the current occupant of Malacañang. If he continues to keep the people’s confidence, it would not be surprising for Duterte to have a hand in selecting his successor—something that was denied to all of his post-EDSA predecessors.

edies with “sure-fire” box office formulas.

For starters, could Senator Bong Go and Secretary Danny Lim please require the reshowing of quality films with true artistic merit in the last Metro-Manila Film Festival which the powerful lords of cinemas (SM, Robinson’s and even Ayala) summarily removed from their theaters after a few days of showing because of low box office results?

And replaced them with the usual Vice Ganda, Coco Martin and Vic Sotto starrers simply because they could not compete?

Talaga bang pera-pera na lang lahat?

The problem is that every business venture in this country is captured by rent-seekers.

Yes, that economic evil called rent.

In businesses that are subject to regulatory capture, be it telecommunications, water service, power. Or even the “boundary system” that is the practice of bus companies, taxis and even the lowly jeepneys. That too is “rent”.

Even cinema. Do you know that a producer shares 50-50 the gross receipts in the box office with SM, Robinson’s and all those other malls where movies are shown? That is pure rent.

Which is why quality movies like Culion and Mindanao are pulled off their theater assignments to give way to the trash that comes from the usual productions of Vice and Vic. What a country!

Insulted by foreigners and abused by rent-seekers whose every act is motivated by profit, indeed, greedy profit. *** Just as I am preparing to lay this column to bed and transmit the same to our editors Saturday morning, I am deeply saddened to learn that the inimitable Ninez Cacho Olivares passed away.

Ninez was a dear friend and mentor, who in the latter days of the Marcos rule, gave me space though anonymously in her Manila Bulletin columns. And sometime in August of 2001, I started writing twice-a-week articles in The Daily Tribune, which she “husbanded” bravely through more than 20 years despite all adversities including the bare-faced attempt of the Arroyo administration to close it down.

We have since been close friends, even traveling together with common friends, the last being to Hokkaido in the winter of 2017. She will be dearly missed.

Hail and farewell, NCO.

to start a war himself targeting US diplomats and troops in the Middle East.”

As if to reassure the Iranian leadership after their understandably heavy outbursts and calls for “severe revenge,” Trump also said that the US was “not interested in regime change.” That, coupled with

cautious statements of restraint from other major powers—China, Russia and the European Union— should calm the waters. For now. So there is not going to be a rush-up escalation. Rather we will probably see a prolonged series of attacks on both sides, US and Iran, directly or through proxies.

What we would say at this point is for the administration to call on our countrymen abroad, specially in the Middle East, to take cautionary measures and to prepare for any eventuality. Our emergency task force units should also be on the alert in the event there is need for any evacuation of movement

Exciting times are up ahead for the Philippines this year.

Whom will he choose is a matter that we have yet to be determined.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has been mentioned several times as a possible contender in the next presidential elections. Manny Pacquiao is said to be gearing up for a presidential fight, as well as the opposition’s number one, Vice President Leni Robredo. Other familiar names of course crop up from time to time.

But then again, this is no longer politics as usual. It seems that the president from the South has effectively redefined Philippine politics, and we may have to wait and see if such change in political behavior and temperament among voters and candidates alike, will continue on to the next elections.

It may be a little more than two more years to the next election, but there is no doubt that 2020 will jumpstart the pre-election intramurals, as candidates and reelections position themselves for a win.

But there are significant small wins that are worth considering.

Tingog Party-list, a regional political party based in Eastern Visayas, successfully landed a seat in

From A4

task. But when the pair returned to the railway station for the long trip home they were told the last train had been canceled due to snow on the tracks.

No taxis would take them but after a few hours, a truck driver heading to the Kashmir valley finally offered a lift.

The truck also became stuck in the snow and the students had to sleep there for the night.

From A4

same to singularly American citizens regardless of race or color, then why ever not? The loss in visitor arrivals would be marginal.

But our pride as a sovereign nation should not, and should never be taken for granted by foreigners who act like they are pro-consuls who can hector us on what we should or should not do. *** Senator Bong Go’s suggestion that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority should organize another all-Filipino film festival in the summer, perhaps the week beginning Easter Sunday and nine days therefrom, is well-taken.

The movie industry needs assistance, especially those producers, directors, scriptwriters and actors who want to elevate the artistic taste of the people and who tell the history of our country in stories that imbue a sense of national identity to our younger generation.

But not to further the profit-seeking of those who pander to low-level tastes, who churn the same fare year after year, cinematic “block-busters” bereft of any redeeming artistic value and merely pander to slapstick com-

Wars From A4

attempted to lower the decibel, so to speak, as he advised that the US “did not take that action (Soleimani’s killing) to start a war.” Rather, he was prompted to do it as “Soleimani was about

Traffic was still halted the next day and the students had to walk 10 kilometers past stranded cars and trucks to get back to Banihal railway station.

There, they waited seven hours for the only train that left that day.

Reyaz called his trek to make his application “unbelievable”.

“Something that would take me half an hour at home, took me two gruelling days,” he said.

“I will never do this ever again in my life,” added Mukhtar. AFP

A5

Wishes for 2020 2019 was quite a decade-ender for the country. For me, it felt like a “never-a-dull-moment” year. Pondering the many year-ender lists and decade-starter predictions can raise your blood pressure a few notches with mixed emotions of happiness and excited anticipation clashing with “dark side” feelings of sadness, fear and even anger. I’ll start this year by sharing with you my wish list for 2020, mostly inspired by the various advocacies and thoughts discussed in this column.

On the environment, top of mind is developing our resilience on the extreme weather bought about by climate change and managing our garbage problem. I wish that all would realize this and be pro-active in taking care of the environment as individuals and as institutions. Responsible stewardship of the environment is everybody’s business. I wish that our policy makers would adopt a smarter approach to our garbage problem and go beyond default regulatory tools of banning and taxing to the more holistic and inclusive circular economy mindset.

Scientists are predicting another El Niño this year. This threatens to wreak havoc on countries around the Pacific Ocean. 2019 has been recorded to be one of the costliest on record with the thousands of Filipino families still reeling from the devastation of the year-end typhoons. I wish that our local and national leaders would further strengthen and invest wisely on the appropriate equipment and have ready resources for whatever the El Niño throws at us.

On the power supply situation, the Department of Energy has warned many times of a power shortage mainly driven by the fast growth of demand from our expanding economy and population. Based on DOE estimates, we need to build around 43 thousand megawatts of baseload capacity by 2040. That means an average of more than 2 thousand megawatts of new supply should be fired up each year; we also need to replace old inefficient power plants with new technologies that are efficient and more environment friendly.

I wish the DOE, the ERC and the power sector can work faster on keeping up with the rising demand for affordable and reliable electricity. The government is right to implement a balanced and technology—neutral power mix policy to ensure that there will never be a repeat of debilitating power crisis of the ’90s. Failing to meet this demand will surely be a showstopper for the country’s economic momentum.

Relevant to public services and the rule of law is the raging water concession controversy highlighted by the President’s verbal attacks on the two water distribution concessionaires. The allegation of “onerous” provisions in the decades old concession agreements is, in my opinion, a politicized issue that is deceptively deflecting the real problem, which is not water distribution services that the concessionaires managed to deliver from the milieu of the ’90s water crisis. A fact that is unfairly forgotten and buried under all the noise.

I wish for everybody to focus on the real problem which is water supply.

Despite the typhoons, water levels at Angat Dam, our main source of water for Mega-Manila, is still below normal levels. We need new raw water supply now!

On Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, the national surveys overwhelmingly show Filipinos’ near-unanimous objection to Chinese incursions and incidents continue to pile up. The latest is Indonesia’s protest over the presence

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the House of Representatives with Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez as its representative. Now, its voice can now be heard in the halls of Congress. In its first six months in office, it successfully championed several pieces of landmark legislation, including the Alternative Learning System Bill, the Disaster Resilience Bill and the recently signed Malasakit Center Act. Several other priority bills remain in the pipeline, among them the long-overdue establishment of a DOH-run tertiary hospital in Samar island, the increase in the age for determining statutory rape, the creation of the Leyte Industrial Ecological Zone and the Magna Carta of Commuters.

My prayer is that 2020 will be a much better year for the Philippines. I hope there will be less politicking and more performance. With the impending passage of the third tranche of the tax reform package, the administration is confident that this will lead to an upgrade in the country’s credit rating—which will, in turn, attract more investors and create more jobs for Filipinos.

Exciting times are up ahead for the Philippines this 2020. The season for elections is over, and the time has come for us to roll up our sleeves and work for our country’s growth. I hope that with the strong trust that he continues to enjoy the President would spend his political capital to fulfill whatever is left of campaign promises in the last two years of his term. In the same way, I would like to see a political opposition that will remain unrelenting in its resolve to fiscalize and criticize whatever needs change and correcting. Because, even as the times and seasons change, or the political colors shift—the Philippines will always be our home and Filipinos we will always and ever be.

For richer, or poorer—the choice will always be ours.

Happy New Year!

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

of a Chinese coast guard vessel within its exclusive economic zone.

I wish that instead of being submissive to China, our government should listen to our people who believe it is important to regain control of the West Philippine Sea and that it is wrong to do nothing. All in the context of peace and the rule of law.

On corruption, no less than President Rodrigo Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address: “We find corruption everywhere in government with every malefactor watching his cohort’s back in blatant disregard of his oath when he assumed public office.”

Responsible stewardship of the environment is everybody’s business.

I wish the administration would wield its political will in harnessing the appropriate technologies as an anti-corruption and productivity tool.

It is the most logical option that government can rapidly operationalize.

Automating bureaucratic processes using secure cloud-based productivity and anti-corruption solutions like e-procurement, for instance, neutralizes malicious human intervention and makes transactions transparent, curbing the incidence of bribes. Shifting from manual and paper-based processes with electronic systems not only increases efficiency but also guarantees transparency.

There are existing technologies that can be applied to processes like taxation and customs processing, two areas long beleaguered by seemingly incurable corruption. Again, the rationale is the same: By automating the process, the need for personal interaction between individuals and public officials are lessened, which means the opportunities to bargain are also reduced.

Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos said that the Philippines is losing around P700 billion, or around 20 percent of the country’s total budget appropriation, yearly, due to corruption. So, if we are able to minimize by only half, there should be no need for more taxes to further burden our citizens.

On our mineral resources, the accelerating pace of technological innovation is creating an emerging surge in demand for mineral resources creating new opportunities that the Philippine mining industry should be ready to exploit. I wish that the trillion-dollar potential of our mineral resources will be released from its policy chains.

The passing into law of the new mining revenue bill now pending in Congress should satisfy the industry killing provisions of Executive Order 79 banning the issuance of new mining permits. The government must let the legitimate (not the illegal) mining industry operate competitively and under strict responsible mining regulations. The multiplier effect that a robust mining industry will create will produce more revenues for government than new taxes.

And finally, on public health, the Universal Healthcare Act and the National Integrated Cancer Control Act are landmark pieces of health legislation that now need huge funding. The successful implementation of the programs mandated by these laws will benefit every citizen of the country. I wish that with more resources, the Department of Health would be able to retool and upgrade its capacity and adopt the best technological solutions to provide true universal health care for all.

Many Cheers to health, happiness and prosperity in 2020! by our people. In the meantime we should join the call for restraint on the part of the parties in the conf lict and enjoin all concerned to tell those on the ground, specially those bearing arms, to hold back from further fueling the already tense situation with unwarranted, provocative actions.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 Standard A6 TODAY Class

Rate (VAT-inclusive) Php 4.50/km Php 9.00/km Php 13.50/km

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3

8. The TRB likewise confirmed the authority of the CALAX Concessionaire to charge the above VAT-inclusive approved-Initial Authorized Toll Rates5, subject, among others, to its compliance with existing laws, rules, and regulations, and the fulfillment of conditions for its implementation. The TRB Director’s Certificate dated 26 May 2014 is part of Annex “A” of the CALAX Concession Agreement.

1

. Capitalized words and expressions used in this Petition shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.0 of the Concession Agreement. . Attached as Annex “A” of this Petition.

3 . Subject to the approved Detailed Engineering Design and Independent Consultant certification.

4 . Attached as Annex “B” of this Petition.

5.

Should be read as Initial Base Toll.

2

9. In the interest of immediately opening the tollway facility to serve the motoring public, MPCALA is targeting the opening of Subsections 6, 7 and 8 of the CALAX to commercial operations on 17 December 2019. Progressive inspections have been conducted by representatives of the DPWH, the CALAX Independent Consultant, TRB, MPCALA, and its contractor.

10.As of date, civil works for Subsections 6, 7 and 8 are now 95% complete and MPCALA anticipates the issuance by the DPWH of the Certificate of Substantial Completion on 06 December 2019.

11. Pursuant to Section 2, Rule 4 of the 2013 Revised Rules of Procedure of the Toll Regulatory Board (“TRB Rules”), Presidential Decree No. 1112, and consistent with what is contemplated under the CALAX Concession Agreement, MPCALA most respectfully seeks the Honorable Board’s immediate issuance of a Notice to Start Collection effective 01January 2020, allowing the following: (i)

the implementation of the TRB-approved Initial Base Toll Rates for CALAX; and

(ii) the imposition of the corresponding Toll, computed by multiplying the Initial Base Toll Rates with the Road Section Lengths of the applicable Subsections, based on the Independent Consultant Certification and DPWH Certificate of Substantial Completion.

12. Furthermore, in view of the anticipated issuance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion by DPWH for Subsections 6, 7, and 8 of the CALAX and in accordance with the CALAX Concession Agreement, MPCALA most respectfully seeks for the Honorable Board’s issuance of a Toll Operation Permit, which will authorize MPCALA to operate the said Subsections in accordance with the CALAX Concession Agreement, including the collection of Toll.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR PROVISIONAL RELIEF 13. The implementation of the Initial Base Toll Rates for CALAX is a contractual right to which MPCALA is entitled under the CALAX Concession Agreement. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure the sustainability and viability of the CALAX and the comfort and safety of motorists and other users of the toll expressways.

14. The immediate end-to-end opening of Subsections 6, 7, and 8 of the CALAX to motorists has become imperative in view of the growing traffic demand in the various areas of Laguna and the need to decongest Laguna Boulevard and Aguinaldo Highway.

Likewise, the collection of the provisional end-to-end toll will ensure that high standards of safety, performance, and reliability shall be provided to motorists.

15. Thus, in order to attain the above-mentioned objectives, MPCALA respectfully prays that pursuant to Rule 5, Section 1 of the TRB Rules, which authorizes the Honorable Board to motu proprio or upon verified petition or motion grant the application for approval of provisional toll rates, including the date of its implementation, this Honorable Board allow the implementation of the VAT-inclusive TRB-approved Initial Base Toll Rates and the collection of the corresponding provisional initial toll: Vehicle Class Class 1 Class 2 Class 3

Initial Base Toll Rates Php 4.50/km Php 9.00/km Php 13.50/km

Provisional initial toll for the entire 10.664km. length of Subsections 6, 7 and 8 PhP47.00 PhP95.00 PhP143.00

*Inclusive of Value Added Tax

16. MPCALA most respectfully submits the attached affidavit issued by its authorized representative, incorporated in the Verification and Certification hereof, showing that the above provisional initial toll conform to the Honorable Board’s VAT-inclusive approved rates, as indicated in the TRB Director’s Certificate dated 26 May 2014,that the matter is of extreme urgency, and MPCALA will suffer great damage and/or irreparable injury before a decision on the merits can be rendered by the Honorable Board, and/or failure to immediately implement and collect the provisional initial toll would unduly affect the Concessionaire and the progressive completion of the remaining Subsections of CALAX. 17. Pursuant to Rule 5, Section 1 (c) of the TRB Rules, MPCALA is willing to post a surety bond in such amount and under such terms and conditions as the Honorable Board may prescribe, to guarantee the refund of the provisional initial toll to affected toll users in such manner as the Honorable Board may determine, in case it is finally ascertained that MPCALA is not entitled thereto.

18. Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Board issue a Notice to Start Collection and an Order approving the implementation of the TRBapproved Base Toll Rate effective 01 January 2020, pending the resolution of the Petition.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, the foregoing premises considered, MPCALA most urgently and respectfully prays that the Honorable Board: (a) Immediately issue an Order ex parte granting MPCALA’s prayer for provisional relief, i.e. an Order implementing the initial Base Toll Rates and the corresponding provisional initial toll, effective 01 January 2020, and authorizing MPCALA to collect the same, as follows: Vehicle Class Class 1 Class 2 Class 3

Initial Base Toll Rates Php 4.50/km Php 9.00/km Php 13.50/km

Provisional initial toll for the entire 10.664 km. length of Subsections 6, 7 and 8 PhP 47.00 PhP 95.00 PhP 143.00

*Inclusive of Value Added Tax

(b) Issue a Toll Operation Permit authorizing MPCALA to operate Subsections 6, 7, and 8 of the CALAX in accordance with the CALAX Concession Agreement, including the collection of Toll. (c) Upon the filing of this Petition, issue an Order:

DECEMBER 24, 2019

(i)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation

TOLL REGULATORY BOARD 2nd Floor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Bldg., Doña Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation TOLL REGULATORY BOARD Office of the Executive Director 5th Floor, The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue Brgy. Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City IN RE: PETITION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE APPROVED INITIAL BASE TOLL RATES AND CORRESPONDING TOLLWITH APPLICATION FOR PROVISIONAL RELIEF,

an Order finding the Petition sufficient in form and substance; and

(ii) an Order requiring the immediate publication for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, or on such date as the Honorable Board may direct, of this Petition, of the toll fees, and of a notice to all interested tollway users that they may file, within a period of thirty (30) days after the date of first publication, a petition for review of the corresponding Toll. (d) After due notice and publication, issue a Notice to Start Toll Collection of the provisional initial toll, authorizing MPCALA to implement the initial Base Toll Rates and collect the approved Toll effective 01 January 2020. (e) Issue an Order approving as final the Initial Base Toll Rates of the CALAX, and the corresponding Toll for implementation in all entries and exitsin Subsections 6, 7 and 8.

Other reliefs as may be just and equitable are likewise prayed for.

Makati City for Mandaluyong City, 06 December 2019.

ELAINE ROSE Z. ESPIRITU Counsel for Petitioner MPCALA Holdings, Inc. 32nd Floor, Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street Legaspi Village, Makati City Roll of Attorneys No. 64615 PTR No. 7347683/1-10-2019/Makati City IBP No. 066749/1-10-2019/Pampanga MCLE Compliance No. VI-0017590/02-11-2019 E-mail address: ezespiritu@mptsouth.com

TRB Case No. 2019-____ MPCALA HOLDINGS, INC. Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------------x PETITION (For the Implementation of the Approved Initial BaseToll Rates and corresponding Tollwith Application for Provisional Relief for theCavite-Laguna Expressway Project) Petitioner MPCALA HOLDINGS, INC. (“MPCALA”), by and through undersigned counsel, to this Honorable Board, most respectfully state: 1. MPCALA is a private corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at 32nd Floor, Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, where it may be served with notices and legal processes of the Honorable Board.

2. MPCALA is the Concessionaire and Facility Operator of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (“CALAX”) Project by virtue of the Concession Agreement dated 10 July 20151 executed by and between the Department of Public Works and Highways (“DPWH”) and MPCALA. 3. The CALAX is an approximately 45-kilometer, four-lane expressway, which has two (2) Segments: (i) the Cavite Segment; and (ii) the Laguna Segment. It is composed of eight (8) Subsections, namely: Cavite Segment Subsection 1 Subsection 2 Subsection 3 Subsection 4 Laguna Segment Subsection 5 Subsection 6 Subsection 7 Subsection 8

Cavitex Connection to Open Canal Road Open Canal Road to Governor’s Drive Interchange Governor’s Drive Interchange to Silang Interchange Silang Interchange to Silang East Interchange Silang East Interchange to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange to Laguna Blvd. Interchange Laguna Blvd. Interchange to Technopark Interchange Technopark Interchange to Greenfield

4. Under the CALAX Concession Agreement, MPCALA was granted the exclusive right to undertake the Construction and Operation and Maintenance of the CALAX. This right includes the exclusive right to impose and collect Toll during the Operation Period as provided for in Section 13.1.1 of the CALAX Concession Agreement: “13.1.1 During the Operation Period, the Concessionaire is authorized to impose and collect Toll from the users of the CALA Expressway at the Toll determined in accordance with Annex A, except from vehicles that may be exempted from paying Toll under the TRB regulations, subject to any Toll Rate Adjustments authorized under Section 13.2.” [Emphasis supplied] 5. Annex “A”2 of the CALAX Concession Agreement, which sets out the Initial Base Toll for CALAX, provides the following: “A. Initial Base Tolls The initial tolls, inclusive of VAT and rounding, for the appropriate vehicle class for motorists travelling on the CALA Expressway (“Initial Base Tolls”) are set below: Vehicle Class Class I: Cars, Jeepneys, Pick-ups, Vans Class II: -Light trucks, Tourist/School and PUB Class I – above 7ft in height except Class I exceeding 7ft due to top load of recreational equipment such as bikes, surfboards, and the like, securely attached and not intended for commercial use

Initial Base Toll Php [4.50]/km Php [9.00]/km

Class III: Heavy and Multi-Axled Trucks, Trailers

Php [13.50]/km

6. Said Annex “A” further states that the Toll to be charged and collected from users of the CALAX shall be the corresponding Initial Base Toll for each vehicle class multiplied by the distance travelled on the CALAX, in accordance with the Road Section Lengths3 indicated therein.

7. In its Director’s Certificate dated 26 May 2014 , the Toll Regulatory Board (“TRB”) unanimously adopted the resolution to approve the following rates for the CALAX: 4

VERIFICATION/CERTIFICATION REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) PHILIPPINES ) CITY OF _______________

) S.S.

I, ROBERTO V. BONTIA, of legal age, with office address at 32nd Floor, Rufino Pacific Tower, Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, after being sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I am the duly authorized representative of MPCALA Holdings, Inc. (“MPCALA”), the Petitioner in the above entitled Petition For the Implementation of the Approved Initial Base Toll Rates and corresponding Toll with Application for Provisional Relief for the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project (“Petition”).

2. On behalf of MPCALA, I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing Petition.

3. I have read the foregoing Petition and hereby certify that all the allegations contained therein are true and correct of my own personal knowledge and based on authentic records in the possession of MPCALA. 4. The computation of the provisional initial toll in the Petition conform to this Honorable Board’s VAT-inclusive approved rates, as indicated in the TRB Director’s Certificate dated 26 May 2014. The matter is of extreme urgency, and MPCALA will suffer great damage and/or irreparable injury before a decision on the merits can be rendered by the Honorable Board, and/or failure to immediately implement and collect the provisional initial toll would unduly affect the Concessionaire and the progressive completion of the remaining Subsections of CALAX. 5. I certify the MPCALA has complied with all existing laws, rules and regulations being implemented by the Toll Regulatory Board and that MPCALA has no pending financial or monetary obligation in the form, among others, of supervision fees, concession fees, penalties and other charges with the Board.

6. In compliance with Rule 7, Section of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, and with Rule 2, Section 2 of the 2013 Revised Rules of Procedure of the Toll Regulatory Board, I hereby certify that I have not commences any action or proceeding involving the same issued in the Supreme Court, the Court of Tax Appeals, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency.

7. If I should hereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Tax Appeals, the Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency, I hereby undertake to report that fact within five (5) days from knowledge thereof to the Honorable Board.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this ________________ in ____________________________, Philippines.

ROBERTO V. BONTIA Affiant Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___________________ in __________________, Philippines, affiant exhibited to me competent evidence of identity in the form of ______________________________ issued on ____________________________.

Doc. No. _______ Page No. _______ Book No. _______ Series of 2019.

; ; ; (MS-DEC 24, 30 & JAN. 6, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Near-death experience gives Osaka perspective BRISBANE—A “near-death” experience off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands has given reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka a new perspective heading into the 2020 season.

An upbeat Osaka told reporters ahead of the season-opening Brisbane International that she had tried to have a bit of fun and experience new things during the off-season, which meant her “first vacation ever”.

“It was really fun—my sister was there. She made me paddleboard, and then the current took us and I almost died,” a smiling Osaka said.

Osaka said she and her sister had been in shallow waters but she noticed a current had taken them away from the shore.

“I’m like, how far out are you trying to take us, because it’s black, like, the water is black now, and the house is like a tiny dot, and I can’t really swim that well,” she said.

“I just feel like I’m experiencing so many things in my life and everything’s really fun and I’m trying to take it all into... perspective that these are things that I’ve never thought I was going to be able to do.”

Osaka, 22, burst onto the scene in 2018 when she beat Serena Williams to win the US Open, then followed that up by winning the 2019 Australian Open.

The Japanese star reached number one on the world rankings in 2019 and finished the year at number three, behind Australia’s Ash Barty and Czech Karolina Pliskova.

She said a sore shoulder meant she had not spent as much time on the court in the off-season as in previous years.

“I didn’t play for most of November, which was a first for me,” she said.

“I’ve never really taken that long of a break before. But I think it was really necessary because my shoulder was kind of worn down.

“But after that, I just did rehab and slowly started playing again and I think that that worked out really well because I don’t feel anything in my shoulder, and I like to think that I’m playing well right now.”

Osaka opens her Brisbane International campaign against world number 23 Maria Sakkari of Greece. AFP

Pliskova hires Murray’s ex-coach

Firefighters tackle a a bushfire south of Nowra. Australians counted the cost from a day of catastrophic bushfires that caused “extensive damage” across swathes of the country and took the death toll from the long-running crisis to 24. The Australian Open is due to start at Melbourne Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality. AFP

Djokovic: Aussie Open delay valid as smoke haze worsens

B

RISBANE—Novak Djokovic said Australian Open organizers should consider delaying the first Grand Slam of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players’ health.

The opening major of 2020 is due to start at Melbourne Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality.

Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said in the early hours of Sunday that any delay would be a last resort, but it needed to be discussed.

“I mean, it’s fair from you to say that (ask the question),” he said when pressed on the matter in Brisbane, where he is playing for Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup team event.

“Obviously, you have to always... because of some extreme weather and conditions, you just have to consider it.

“But I think that’s probably the very, very last option for anything. I think they’re going to try to do anything to not delay in terms of days and when it starts.

“I mean, and I understand why, but if it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it.”

Catastrophic bushfires have been raging in Australia for weeks, leaving 24 dead and hundreds of properties destroyed.

Tennis officials last week took the unprecedented decision to relocate the Canberra International—an ATP Challenger 125

event and on the women’s ITF World Tennis Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the full tour.

They said play would not have been possible in the Australian capital which has been choked by smoke, with the tournament now due to start Monday at Bendigo in Victoria state.

Djokovic said he had experienced air quality issues at tournaments in China, but the bushfires had created an unprecedented situation.

The Serbian superstar said he not spoken to Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley “but people from my team have”.

“They’re obviously tracking the situation every single day as it’s evolving and hopefully calming down with the smoke and fires,” he said.

“I think they will, if it continues the same way and if the quality of air is affected... I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to, I think, create some rules about it.

“I mean, it’s tough for them because scheduling has to be respected in terms of play and the Australian Open starts at a certain time, so there’s a lot of different things involved.

BRISBANE—World number two Karolina Pliskova is hoping Andy Murray’s former coach can help her take the next step up as she targets a Grand Slam breakthrough and reclaiming the top ranking.

The tall Czech ditched Spaniard Conchita Martinez in November despite winning a single-season career-high four titles in 2019.

She has since hired Venezuelan coach Daniel Vallverdu with former Ukraine Fed Cup player Olga Savchuk -- a longtime friend -- also joining her team.

“I didn’t want to stay where I was,” she said at the Brisbane International on Sunday ahead of opening the new season with the defence of her title.

“Of course, the year was great. I played some good tournaments, so many good matches, and I finished actually like so close to the top.

“But I felt that there’s no way she (Martinez) can maybe help me more, so that’s why I changed.”

Vallverdu previously worked with Murray from 2010 to 2014 and was part of the Ivan Lendl-led team that helped the Scot win Olympic gold and the US Open in 2012 as well as Wimbledon in 2013.

He also had stints with Thomas Berdych and Grigor Dimitrov, but has not worked before with a top women’s player.

“I think it’s also new for him, new for me. But hopefully I think or I feel he can add some good things to my tennis,” said the 27-year-old, who first became world number one in July 2017.

“We will see how everything goes in tournaments. I think it’s going to need some time for him, also for me to get used to it.

“But he’s a clever guy and it’s still tennis. It’s not a different sport. Of course, sometimes it looks like it, but it’s actually not. So I think he will adapt (to the women’s game).

“I think I’m quite easy, like, tough on one hand to work with, but on the other hand easy, so I think he’s not going to have problems with me,” she added.

While Pliskova has previously attained the sport’s top ranking—now held by Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who is also playing in Brisbane—she has yet to win a Grand Slam.

Her best effort was making the US Open final in 2016, although the upcoming Australian Open is one of her most successful, reaching the semi-finals last year and the quarters in the two years before that. AFP

San Juan, Manila face Brady-led NFL champion Patriots dethroned by upstart Titans separate MPBL foes NORTH division pacesetters San Juan and Manila tackle separate opponents as the MPBL Chooks-to-Go Lakan Season resumes on Monday at San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

The San Juan Knights, toting a 20win, 3-loss record, tangle with the Navotas Clutch (6-18) at 6:45 p.m., followed by the battle between the Manila Stars (20-4) and the Rizal Golden Coolers ((4-18) at 8:45 p.m.

The Batangas City Athletics (13-9) take on the Nueva Ecija Vanguards (616) in the 4:15 opener.

Boasting a deep, talented roster led by veterans John Wilson, Mac Cardona and Larry Rodriguez, Jhonard Clarito, Justine Baltazar and PBA draftee, the Go for Gold-backed Knights are picked to beat the Clutch, who are out of the running for a playoff spot in the 16-team North.

The Frontrow-supported Stars, with former pros Carlo Lastimosa and Gabby Espinas and PBA draftees Aris Dionisio and Chrstopher Bitoon are also solid favorites over the Golden Coolers, also out of contention.

The Tanduay-backed Athletics, powered by Jeff Viernes and Jhaymo Eguilos, are out to halt a two-game slide against the Vanguards, who need to sweep their last eight games in the elimination round to have a chance at a playoff spot.

Though the MPBL took a holiday break, it held an official game in Canada on Dec. 28 (Dec. 29 in Manila) with Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines beating Imus Bandera, 88-72, at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex in Calgary.

Novak Djokovic

Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans celebrates with fans after their 20-13 win over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. AFP

WASHINGTON—Reigning champion New England was dumped from the NFL playoffs by upstart Tennessee on Saturday, the Titans taking a 20-13 road victory that could spell the end of six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady’s career.

NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry ran 34 times for 182 yards and a touchdown on his 26th birthday and former Patriot Logan Ryan returned an interception of Brady nine yards for a touchdown with nine seconds remaining for the final points to seal New England’s fate.

“We were just locked in,” Henry said. “We wanted it. It’s a great win against a great team in a hostile environment. I’m just happy we could advance. A great team win.”

Brady, a 42-year-old quarterback who is now a free agent, could not guide the Patriots to a second-half score against a Titans defensive unit overseen by Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, a linebacker on three Super Bowl champions with New England.

After completing 20-of-37 passes for 209 yards, Brady said it was “pretty unlikely” he would retire even though he turns 43 before next season opens.

“Who knows what the future holds.

Let’s leave it at that,” Brady said. “I don’t know what the future looks like.

I’m not going to predict it.”

The Titans advanced to a secondround matchup next Saturday at American Conference top seed Baltimore while Houston will travel to second seed Kansas City next Sunday. Both hosts had first-round byes.

Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson ran for one touchdown, threw for another and made a stunning play to set up Ka’imi Fairbairn gamewinning 28-yard field goal 11:40 into over-time as the Texans beat visiting Buffalo 22-19.

The National Football Conference playoffs begin Sunday with Minnesota at New Orleans and Seattle at Philadelphia, with top seed San Francisco and second seed Green Bay

waiting to see who they will entertain next weekend.

Henry scored on a 1-yard run with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter as the Titans edged ahead 1413 at half-time, a margin they maintained until the final seconds as the game hung on a knife’s edge.

Tennessee erased eight minutes of the fourth quarter with a failed drive then stopped the Pats on only four plays before forcing a punt and pinning New England at the 1-yard line with 15 seconds remaining, setting the stage for the pivotal pickoff score.

New England’s Nick Folk opened the scoring with a 36-yard field goal but the Titans answered with a 75yard drive capped by Ryan Tannehill’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Firkser.

Brady responded by moving New England 75 yards in 10 plays, the Patriots retaking the lead 10-7 thanks to Julian Edelman’s 5-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. AFP

PSC assures continued support for athletes trying to make it to Olympics

By Peter Atencio SUSTAINING the support that athletes received in preparing for the 30th Southeast Asian Games will be the main concern of the Philippine Sports Commission.

This is especially important with members of the national team seeking to qualify to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said this as the government sports agency shifts its focus on the ongoing preparations of many athletes, who are joining Olympic qualifiers

in the coming months.

“By spending properly for the athletes in their exposures, they will surely deliver,” said Ramirez.

Funds amounting to P100 million will be made available for the training of athletes who will qualify, train and take part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The financial assistance was guaranteed by President Rodrigo Duterte following the successful campaign Filipino athletes in the recent biennial meet.

In supporting the campaign for the Olympics, the government sports agency will be providing for the needs of athletes

in terms of nutrition, strength and conditioning, and rehabilitation from injuries.

Ramirez hopes that the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation will continue to support the sports agency.

In the preparations for the SEA Games, PAGCOR released funds amounting to P1.5 billion.

The Philippines won 149 golds, 117 silvers, and 121 bronzes to claim the overall title in the biennial tournament held in the country for the fourth time.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Carrion who serves as both a POC executive board member and president of the Gymnastics

Association of the Philippines, is confident that the support similar to what Filipino athletes received in the recent SEA Games will continue.

“It’s a little different now. Our facilities now are nice. The government built wonderful facilities for our athletes.

They’re bringing them abroad, and they saw what our organizing committee went through to make sure everything goes well,” said Carrion.

The GAP is gearing up for the ongoing preparations of Carlos Yulo, who is the first of two qualifiers so far for the Tokyo Olympics.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph; sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

Gin Kings, Bolts clash in 3rd PBA showdown THE more things change the more they stay the same.

Barangay Ginebra and the Meralco Bolts battle in their third championship duel in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup tomorrow, January 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial says while the champion remains to be decided the clear winners are already the basketball fans.

“Dalawang grand slam coaches (Ginebra’s Time Cone and Meralco’s Norman Black) ang magkikita.

Ang kagandahan sa series na ito pag umabot ito ng Game 6 or Game 7, alam ko na sinong panalo dito: ang fans. Makikita nila yung pagka-gilas ng players, yung paggawa ng game plans ng mga coaches, pagpalit ng strategies ng coaches.

Ito yung isa sa dream matchup ng PBA finals, Ginebra at Meralco,” Marcial said.

While Ginebra and Meralco are battling it out for the third time in four years both teams have made significant additions to their rosters.

The Bolts acquired Raymond Almazan from the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Allein Maliksi from the Blackwater Elite while Ginebra added Stanley Pringle from NorthPort Batang Pier, Art Dela Cruz from Blackwater and Jared Dillinger.

Maliksi adds firepower, maturity and a closer who can be relied upon to score when needed at crunch time.

Almazan finally gives the Bolts what they’ve lacked all these years: a legitimate center.

Additionally, the Bolts have made significant strides with the improved play of their guards including Baser Amer, Chris Newsome and John Pinto. And then there’s nearly superhuman import Allen Durham.

The Bolts didn’t sit idly either. They added PBA scoring champion Pringle and hard-nosed defenders Dela Cruz and Dillinger. They team up beautifully with high-scoring import Justine Brownlee.

“It’s been written a lot that they’ve increased their size with Almazan and Allein adds to their depth in the shooting guard position. But we’ve picked up some guys. We got Stanley and Jared. And Art wasn’t with us in the first two series. We’re a little different as well,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“Norman’s system hasn’t changed that much, and my system hasn’t changed that much too. We’re comfortable with each other and I know what he likes to do and he knows what I like to do.”

The Bolts claim to be the underdogs, which is hard to dispute. They are 0-2 in championship playoffs against Ginebra and are playing in their 27th conference in the PBA without having won a single title.

“I think Meralco is really the underdog. We met Ginebra twice and we lost twice so we haven’t really been a rival to them because the only way you become rivals is if you win a championship against them. That’s still something that we have not done and we’ll try our best this time to do it,” said Meralco representative to the PBA Board Al Panlilio.

WINNING FORM.

Andrew Romualdez of Reds Team displays the form that helped him score two goals (in the 2nd and 4th chucker) to contribute to his team’s 11-2 victory over the Whites Team during Polo Season 2020 Past Presidents’ Cup at Enrique Zobel Field in Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

Ver Noveno

Arevalo boosts Stroke Play Championship cast

A

BBY Arevalo returns to very site of one of her biggest triumphs as she firms up the women’s cast in the National Stroke Play Championship beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7 at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Arevalo birdied the last hole to edge Pauline del Rosario by one and snatch the Riviera crown of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in 2017, joining the elite roster of amateurs who have won in the country’s premier ladies circuit.

She went on to post three more wins while with the San Jose State U and teamed up with individual gold medalist Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go in the Philippines’ gold medal romp in the recent SEA Games at Luisita.

That should make her one of the players to watch in the 72-hole tournament kicking off the PLDT Amateur Golf Tour season with Go seeking to make it two-in-

Memphies Grizzlies forward Jae Crowder (99) glides to the basket against the LA Clippers at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

ONE Championship’s Miado ends big year with a bang JEREMY “The Jaguar” Miado did not have an auspicious start in 2019, but he bounced back and was able to finish the year with a bang.

On February, 2019 the 27-year-old Filipino fell to former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. The battle was a rematch held at ONE: Call to Greatness in Singapore this past February.

However, Miado fought his way back to victory at ONE: Age of dragons in Beijing, China in November. Miado knocked out hometown fighter Miao Li Tao in the second round with a flying knee to close the year on a high.

Overall, Miado said he was satisfied with his performance.

“I’m happy with it because I got to

row in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

But out to crowd the talented duo are reigning WExpress RVF Cup and MVPSF Visayas regional champion Junia Gabasa, Philippine Junior Amateur, Phl Amateur Open Match Play, Northern Luzon Regional titlist Rianne Malixi and Cangolf Open winner Nicole Abelar.

Like Arevalo, Korean Kim Seo Yun also hopes to recall the form that netted her the Riviera MVPSF Amateur crown last November, guaranteeing a spirited battle for top honors in the event spon-

sored by the MVP Sports Foundation and backed by Cignal, Metro Pacific Investments and Summit Ridge as official hotel.

Also in the fold are Diana Araneta, Tomi Arejola, Laia Barro, Sophia Blanco, Sofia Chabon, Samantha Dizon, Laurea Duque, Bernice Ilas, Samantha Martirez and Eagle Ace Superal.

Others tipped to contend are Hong Kong’s Vivian Lee and Japanese Riko Nagai.

The battle for the men’s crown is also expected to go down-to-the-wire with Japanese Gen Nagai bracing for another tight finish against the country’s leading players, headed

by Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus and Sean Ramos, members of the SEAG bronze medal team, along with Elee Bisera, Dan Cruz, Weiwei Gao, David Guangko, Josh Jorge, Gabby Macalaguim, Gab Manotoc, Don Petil and Peter Tyler Po. Ryan Monsalve is also out to sustain his form after teaming up with Lanz Uy in last month’s National Doubles. Uy, however, won’t be around together with Jed Dy.

close it out with a big win. I was really disappointed with my loss to Dejdamrong because I felt like all my training went to waste just because I couldn’t get my weight right. It negatively contributed to my stamina in that match, but at least I was able to correct it the next time around to get that win,” said Miado.

Miao threatened to submit Miado with a guillotine choke. But the canny Filipino escaped and later surprised Miao with a flying knee.

“Yes, it was really part of our game plan. After I accepted the match, I studied his matches over and over to see his tendencies. We prepared a couple of striking combinations using punches, as well as the flying knee,” said Miado.

Bullpups subdue Jr Archers NEWCOMER Reuben Lansing scored during a counterattack at the start of the second half, propelling the National University Bullpups to a 1-0 win over the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers yesterday at the newly-renovated Rizal Memorial Football Stadium turf.

Lansing, one of 14 rookies in the team, struck in the 48th minute and handed the Bullpups their first win of the season in the opening games of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior football tournament.

The Bullpups, a team which underwent a revamp after losing the crown to the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, played according to new coach Derrick Kim’s plan.

They managed to hold the Junior Archers scoreless in the first half.

They finally scored in the first three minutes of the second half when Lansing got a pass from teammate Deo Tano.

The 15-year-old Lansing, a striker, went past defender Cholo Aguilar and chipped in an attempt past goalie Enrico Mangaoang.

“We had a good game today.

Our opponent was very prepared.

The first half was difficult because of their defense. But, in the second half, we played according to plan,” said Kim, who replaced Jose Ma. Aberasturi.

The defensive minded Junior Archers, coached by veteran mentor Hans Smit, got one decent attempt from striker Andres Aldeguer, son of former La Salle Green Archer men’s basketball MVP Dino Aldeguer. Peter Atencio

Grizzlies humiliate Clippers LOS ANGELES, United States—Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said it was attitude, not injury absences, that cost the Clippers in a comprehensive home loss to NBA stragglers Memphis on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).

Jae Crowder scored 27 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 24 and Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks notched 22 apiece for the Grizzlies, who produced their highest-scoring game of the season in a 140-114 victory over the Western Conference-contending Clippers.

“They were faster, quicker, they played harder,” Rivers said. “They were clearly the tougher team. Honestly, they deserved to win the game.”

Montrezl Harrell scored 28 points to pace the Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams delivering 24 points apiece.

Meanwhile, Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was fined $25,000 by the NBA for inappropriate contact with a referee in a 122-103 home loss to Portland.

Thomas received a technical foul and was ejected for the incident, which took place 88 seconds into the first quarter.

The 30-year-old American was being double covered by Portland’s Carmelo Anthony and Damian Lillard along the sideline. He battled for control of the ball with Anthony and moved forward, sticking his arm into the chest of referee Marat Kogut, who was standing out of bounds.

The play was reviewed by officials before the ejection was upheld.

With Paul George sitting out because tightness in his left hamstring and Patrick Beverley missing a third straight game with a sore wrist, Rivers said the rest of the Clippers failed to step up. AFP

Go hopes to buck odds in title-retention drive 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 tomorrow, Tuesday, January 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.

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 is headed for another challenging week at one of the country’s toughest courses in pursuit of a second straight championship.

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, Sa-

mantha Martirez and Eagle Ace Superal with Hong Kong’s Vivian Lee also 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 by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

IN BRIEF PAL readies flights to Jinjiang from Clark PHILIPPINE Airlines will start flying between Clark and Quanzhou (Jinjang), China by January 16 this year.

The Clark-Jinjiang route is the second international route of PAL from its Clark hub, complementing the current daily service between Manila and Jinjiang.

PAL’s 156-seater Airbus A320 will serve the brand new route.

Jinjiang is a convenient gateway to the southern part of China’s Fujian province.

Jinjiang, a county-level city of metropolitan Quanzhou, is home to the Shrine of Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero.

The shrine, an exact replica of the Rizal Monument in Manila, was built in recognition of Jose Rizal’s ethnic Chinese ancestry. Darwin G Amojelar

Qatar Fund eyeing infra projects in PH FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Qatar Fund for Development expressed interest in exploring opportunities for development cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of infrastructure and human capital development.

Dominguez said in a statement Friday QFFD’s commitment to provide assistance to sectors in the country that are most in need bodes well for the government’s efforts to assist the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in implementing long-term development projects.

In a meeting with a visiting delegation from QFFD recently, Dominguez said areas that would benefit immensely from Qatar’s support included the government’s capacity-building efforts for BARMM, peace building, the normalization of the peace process, Islamic banking, education, fisheries development, rural infrastructure development, health care, disaster risk reduction and management and the energy sector.

Julito G. Rada

Business Meralco expects lower power rates this month M ANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, expects lower power rates this month as a result of the annual reconciliation of outage allowances of generators, an official said over the weekend.

Meralco assistant vice president Joe Zaldarriaga said the company would release the final power rate figures this week, adding initial indication points to the possibility of lower electricity charges.

“Right now, we expect the movement of January power rates to be downward, resulting in lower power rates for the month,” Zaldarriaga said.

Citing historical data every January, Zaldarriaga said lower power supply agreement charges were typically

brought about by a reduction in capacity fees as a result of the annual reconciliation of outage allowances done at the end of each year under the PSAs approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

He said in January last year, the early completion of the annual capacity payment for the Sual Unit 1, Ilijan, Pagbilao Unit 1 and Panay Energy Development Corp. power plants resulted in savings that were immediately passed on to consumers by way of lower elec-

tricity rates.

“We are hopeful a similar situation will occur once again this January 2020, as with previous years,” Zaldarriaga said.

Meralco’s power rates in December rose P0.3044 per kilowatt-hour, translating into a P61 adjustment in the typical household’s monthly bill.

The overall rate for a typical household consuming 200 kilowatt-hours increased to P9.8623 per kWh in December from P9.5579 per kWh in November because of higher generation charges.

Generation charges increased to P5.1967 per kWh in December, up by P0.1650 per kWh from P5.0317 per kWh in November, due to higher rates from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which rose P1.0799 per kWh on tighter supply conditions in the Luzon grid.

AirAsia PH increases local, foreign flights AIRASIA Philippines Inc. on Friday said it increased the frequencies of its domestic and international flights due to high demand.

“We are pleased to welcome the new year with additional flights, offering guests more options when flying with us as they accomplish their travel goals this 2020,” said AirAsia Philippines chief executive Ricky Isla.

“Our adjustments are well guided by data, and I am very optimistic about the tourism boost this will bring to our country in the summer months.”

Isla added the move to increase flights stressed AirAsia’s vision—“Now everyone can fly!”—allowing AirAsia guests to tick-off more destinations from their travel bucket-list.

AirAsia Philippines operates over 500 weekly domestic and international flights from its hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu and Kalibo. Darwin G Amojelar

WINNING TUNA BID. Kiyoshi Kimura (center), president of Kiyomura Corp., the Tokyo-based operator of sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai, poses with a sword before slicing up a bluefin tuna the company bought for 193.2 million yen (US$1.8 million) at auction at his main restaurant in Tokyo on January 5, 2020. Kiyomura Corp. made the winning bid of US $1.8 million for a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna caught off Oma, Aomori prefecture at the first auction of the year earlier in the day at Tososu fish market. (Related story on B3) AFP

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

B1

Food makers seeking sugar imports due to higher prices

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department reiterated its call on suppliers to reduce sugar prices to the level of imports.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said local food processors again sought permission to import sugar anytime they need, especially when local prices were much higher than imports.

“SRA (Sugar Regulatory Authority) made sure they will make available affordable sugar for exporters but I think they should also include the assurance of competitivelypriced sugar to food processors even for the domestic market,” he said at the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. meeting over the weekend.

He added the department received assurance from the SRA it would approve the petition of food processors for import permits.

Imported sugar currently costs about P1,900 per bag while locallymilled sugar is priced over P2,000 per bag.

While only a small portion of local sugar goes to food processing, Lopez cited the efforts of the SRA to link processors to local sugar suppliers.

“I gather that this was because the agency wants to eliminate third-party connections like traders to avoid additional costs to endusers. So it will be straight transaction between supplier and user,” he said.

He noted that processors preferred buying local sugar instead of importing the product to help improve the industry and increase collaboration between suppliers and users.

Lopez said processors would immediately buy local sugar if suppliers sold their product at the same price levels as those of imports.

Processors also vowed to pay the right tariff, Lopez added.

The sugar tariff within Southeast Asia is 5 percent and 50 percent if bought outside the members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations. The local retail price is set at P50 a kilo.

DPWH says EDSA traffic congestion to ease 30% this year

Treasury generates nearly P5b from first-time sale of Premyo Bonds

By Darwin G Amojelar

By Julito G. Rada

THE Department of Public Works and Highways expects the traffic situation in EDSA to improve by at least 30 percent this year with the completion of more expressway projects in Metro Manila.

“In order to bring EDSA back to its original capacity, we need to take out about 200,000 vehicles,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

About 380,000 vehicles use Edsa, the biggest thoroughfare in Metro Manila, daily.

Villa said Skyway Stage 3, NLEXConnector Road, NLEX Harbor Link, the C5 Southlink Project and the Estrella Pantaleon Bridge Project would further decongest EDSA once these projects were completed.

The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project is an 18.68-km elevated expressway from Buendia, Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City.

The NLEx-SLEx Connector Road is an 8-km elevated expressway, extending the NLEx southward from the end of Segment 10 in C-3 Road, Caloocan to PUP Sta. Mesa, and connecting it to the Skyway Stage 3.

Villar said the Skyway Stage 3 project would relieve EDSA of over 100,000 cars and Harbor Link at least 30,000, most of which are trucks.

The NLEX-Connector Road, meanwhile, is expected to reduce another 50,000 cars from EDSA. “More or less, if you estimate based on the number of vehicle traffic we are expecting from these projects, it should bring back EDSA to its original capacity,” Villar said.

“I would think that by 2020 if I had to estimate, 20 to 30 percent improvement. By 2021 it will reach maybe 40 percent improvement,” he added.

THE national government through the Bureau of the Treasury successfully raised P4.961 billion from the first-time sale of Premyo Bonds on strong demand from investors.

The Treasury said over the weekend the amount was over 65 percent higher than the initial issue size of P3 billion.

Investors include individuals and eligible institutions, who make investments on behalf of their individual members.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said this type of bond float now formed part of the government’s proac-

tive financing strategy and supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal of financial inclusion for all Filipinos. ] Dubbed “Invest Pa More, Panalo Pa More Premyo Bonds Para Sa Bayan,” the prized bond float received wide participation among small savers and overseas Filipino workers with its offer of cash and other rewards on top of income from a safe investment.

The Treasury said the use of both onsite and online purchasing platforms enhanced the ease of access. Of all online transactions, more than 44 percent were investments of P5,000 and below, indicating the Premyo Bonds successfully

reached retail investors.

Those who purchased the Premyo Bonds will earn 3 percent a year to be paid quarterly for one year.

For a minimum investment of P500, investors have a chance to win up to P1 million every quarter. Non-cash rewards in the form of condo units and a house and lot will also be given away to the winners of the top cash prize of P1 million.

Winners will receive the rewards net of all applicable taxes, fees and charges.

Investors who were previously unbanked, without access to financial services and vulnerable to predatory

lending practices, opened bank deposit accounts to participate in the Premyo Bonds.

The BTr said as of Dec. 13, 2019, over 1,700 new bank accounts were opened.

It said the partial figure indicated how the Premyo Bonds and similar products could contribute to financial inclusion in the country by encouraging unbanked Filipinos to start saving and investing.

Because of the good reception of Premyo Bonds, the issue size was increased from the initial P3 billion to close to P5 billion, and the total prize pool was likewise raised from the initial P3 million to P4.5 million to be raffled out quarterly.

Maynilad: Higher efficiency saves water MAYNILAD Water Services Inc., which distributes water in the western zone of Matro Manila, has recovered 979 million liters per day (MLD) of water since 2008 when it first launched its non-revenue water management program.

“Our almost P25-billion capital investment in NRW Management over the past 12 years enabled us to recover a water volume that is equivalent to constructing a new dam,” said Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado.

“This additional supply has gone a long way in supporting our drive to expand services to previously unserved areas,” he added.

The recovered volume is enough to fill up roughly 390 Olympic-size pools every day, and supply about 1.7 million households with potable water.

Besides NRW management, another initiative that provided additional supply for distribution was the tapping of Laguna Lake as an alternative raw water source to Angat Dam. Maynilad began drawing water from the lake as early as 2010 after constructing the Putatan Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa.

The company currently has two treatment facilities in the area that have a combined output of 300 MLD. As the population continues to grow, Maynilad has been further tightening its water network through pipe replacement and leak repair activities to enhance efficiencies and make more water available for its growing customer base.

Maynila serves around 9.6 million people—up from only 6.1 million in 2006 before Maynilad’s reprivatization. Rio N. Araja

NO RESPITE. Protestors hold banners during a demonstration called by French national trade union General Confederation of Labour (CGT) against the pension reform on January 4, 2020, on the Place de la Republique in Paris. After 30 days of strike, unions opposed to the pension reform promise not to give respite next week to the government, before the resumption of consultations on January 7,2020. AFP

B2

Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market cautious on Mideast row

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to remain sideways this week as investors could turn cautious on negative developments abroad following the US air strike that killed an Iranian general.

Analysts said concerns about possible retaliation from Iran against the US and the negative effects of the incident could prompt investors to reduce risk or stay on the sidelines.

Following the US air strike, international oil prices surged to their highest level since April to $70 per barrel on fears the conflict between the two countries would disrupt energy production in the region.

In the domestic front, Philstocks Inc. research head Justino Calaycay said investors would attempt to make sense of the regulatory issues surrounding water concessionaires and media giant ABS-CBN Corp.

“The direct impact of this on the involved companies is quite obvious— both in terms of share price and their fundamental prospects. However, the fallout, should the worst happen, could create a spiral, both in sentiments and in the real economy, that may be difficult to overcome,” Calaycay said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 0.3 percent to close at 7,839.79 during during the first two trading days of the year, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 0.1 percent to 4,655.54.

Four of the six sectoral indices ended in the green, led by services (+1.1 percent), holding firms (+0.5 percent) and

industrial (+0.5 percent and property (+0.46 percent).

The financial index declined 1 percent while the mining and oil sector dipped 0.9 percent.

Foreign investors continue to exit the local stock market, as they were net sellers by P1 billion.

The average daily value traded remain thin at P5 billion from the previous week’s average of P6.1 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Fruitas Holdings Inc., which rose 13.2 percent to P1.37; AC Energy Philippines Inc., which advanced 9.4 percent to P2.44; and Petron Corp., which climbed 8.3 percent to P4.18.

Weekly top price losers were Manila Water Co Inc., which declined 11 percent to P9.22; PAL Holdings Inc., which dropped 8.1 percent to P7.21; and First Gen Corp., which fell 4.7 percent to P23.

World oil prices, meanwhile, jumped on Friday after the US killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of conflict in

the crude-rich Middle East, with Tehran warning of “severe” retaliation.

While global stock markets were mixed following the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, oil prices jumped more than three percent.

In Washington, a Pentagon official said the US would deploy at least 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East as Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised “severe revenge” for the death of the military mastermind.

The killing of Soleimani represents “a significant spike in geopolitical risks and could lead to a direct confrontation between the US and Iran,” Oxford Economics said in a commentary.

“The importance stems less from the potential loss of Iranian oil supplies... and more from the risk that this could spark a broader conflict that draws in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and others,” Cailin Birch, global economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit told AFP. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 3, 2020 Close Volume Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank

54 155.00 89.00 1.86 1.00 25 8.49 18.38 12.18 3.93 0.68 1.15 850.50 0.365 65 0.83 20.40 36.00 57.5 130 175 23.5 189 1825.00 57.80

200 4,112,560 2,631,280 92,000 1,171,000 906,200 800 9,400 588,800 103,000 4,000 1,000 490 30,000 6,180,200 315,000 18,600 345,700 4,760 70 1,300 166,100 956,740 470 4,090

FINANCIAL 10,800.00 636,268,164.00 231,738,398.00 170,290.00 1,170,690.00 22,678,070.00 6,792.00 171,468.00 7,048,988.00 394,640.00 2,760.00 1,150.00 416,325.00 10,950.00 401,802,632.00 252,800.00 378,620.00 12,452,925.00 273,649.00 9,100.00 229,028.00 3,904,050.00 180,448,077.00 860,300.00 236,917.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

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

Axelum Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

34.95 2.44 13.46 0.52 1.28 2.9 0.232 103.6 2.09 15.5 163.3 4.96 64 72.45 30 2.19 5 4.9 9.600 14.74 9.41 7.22 1.6 23 68.4 1.37 38.40 2.0100 13.70 8.14 1.230 214.80 4.8 6.25 9.22 11.86 16.22 0.153 312.40 5.00 1.91 4.10 4.18 10.06 12.00 34.2 4.86 5.30 2.22 0.84 9.9 84 8.43 0.117 1.01 149 2.6 1.18 0.88

2,691,600 12,695,000 454,800 894,000 448,000 6,169,000 670,000 10 7,036,000 619,900 870 11,375,000 1,210 210 240,500 497,000 300 3,000 1,369,900 755,500 188,900 167,800 21,000 1,169,200 91,230 97,402,000 22,500 19,239,000 363,700 350,900 59,000 1,774,910 52,000 24,100 67,213,900 1,293,700 620,100 4,000,000 260,210 17,200 31,309,000 30,000 2,281,000 41,400 100,400 689,100 61,800 9,900 2,625,000 549,000 210,100 286,120 229,100 2,300,000 389,000 1,917,620 4,000 4,479,000 2,086,000

INDUSTRIAL 93,798,670.00 30,102,340.00 6,121,630.00 452,520.00 542,340.00 16,858,750.00 156,530.00 1,036.00 14,609,480.00 9,549,752.00 149,989.00 48,889,640.00 77,669.00 14,034.50 7,213,965.00 1,074,410.00 1,500.00 14,700.00 13,065,114.00 11,153,346.00 1,798,318.00 1,210,351.00 33,600.00 27,150,020.00 6,227,146.50 126,343,010.00 856,550.00 37,124,100.00 4,921,510.00 2,817,937.00 74,020.00 381,915,160.00 236,400.00 149,790.00 611,759,650.00 15,357,076.00 10,021,464.00 612,000.00 81,312,164.00 90,300.00 59,803,590.00 121,680.00 9,358,000.00 413,532.00 1,196,720.00 23,275,635.00 301,125.00 51,915.00 5,768,990.00 447,810.00 2,081,411.00 24,036,579.00 1,922,639.00 265,130.00 384,520.00 274,388,199.00 10,350.00 5,351,860.00 1,784,750.00

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.890 52.35 11.30 0.67 6.58 10.06 0.900 0.960 776 2.920 6.8 6.45 13.02 0.205 874 5.20 82.00 6.08 0.5 3.72 12 0.590 3.44 4.4500 1.280 2.99 164.00 1051.00 1.29 0.81 214.000 204.80 0.2000 0.200

25,632,000 1,956,810 7,516,300 312,000 1,600 55,200 2,508,000 202,000 787,040 2,526,000 2,194,100 17,893,600 80,700 1,100,000 129,810 74,500 3,170,200 44,600 30,000 822,000 5,845,900 264,000 39,795,000 92,000 1,337,000 20,000 224,880 564,255 52,000 25,000 510 1,410 18,060,000 690,000

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

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

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

14.780 0.72 1.340 0.820 44.750 1.99 4.8 6.7 0.540 0.83 0.820 0.400 9.800 18.86 0.425 0.100 1.51 1.20 4.07 0.197 1.2200 0.4150

594,400 478,000 285,000 1,126,000 17,904,500 250,000 793,000 208,700 1,746,000 40,000 34,000 3,880,000 172,800 345,700 170,000 100,000 12,987,000 14,000 63,387,000 16,740,000 3,456,000 20,000

DECEMBER 23-27, 2019 Close Volume Value 53.1 158.00 87.90 1.87 1.11 25.05 8.49 18.42 12.06 3.83 0.72 1.16

2,540 4,479,720 4,184,510 216,000 58,000 471,200 5,500 122,000 405,600 271,000 500,000 9,000

135,500.50 703,950,833.00 365,782,314.00 404,660.00 54,230.00 11,799,225.00 43,306.00 2,197,406.00 4,899,426.00 1,040,470.00 336,630.00 10,500.00

0.375 66.3 0.83 20.50 34.50 57.5 130 175 23 195 1825.00 57.70

450,000 4,429,270 125,000 4,200 613,700 1,100 1,290 3,360 21,600 2,402,680 210 12,020

160,800.00 294,415,741.50 99,670.00 85,950.00 21,243,390.00 63,225.00 164,010.00 583,028.00 496,800.00 448,031,674.00 383,250.00 697,870.00

34.2 2.23 13.5 0.51 1.21 2.61 0.245 88.1 2.01 15.18 170 4.07 65 71.9 30 2.15

3,509,400 7,735,000 1,120,200 4,777,000 554,000 18,287,000 9,940,000 650 6,612,000 1,094,410 1,030 3,199,000 3,190 6,650 56,500 989,000

118,239,335.00 17,554,580.00 10,459,358.00 2,419,710.00 680,310.00 48,230,930.00 2,374,340.00 57,268.00 13,429,590.00 16,698,152.00 172,849.00 13,757,740.00 206,890.00 481,299.00 1,570,350.00 2,143,600.00

4.85 9.500 14.86 9.80 7.21 1.6 24.15 68.95 1.21 38.00 1.8700 13.60 7.89 1.300 216.00 4.86 6.19 10.36 12.4 16.38 0.153 317.00 5.43 1.92 4.10 3.86 10.00 11.95 32.8 5.06 5.30 2.17 0.85 9.9 85 8.19 0.117 1.02 145 2.6 1.2 0.86

18,900 7,630,100 429,300 1,003,700 1,346,600 12,000 4,714,300 144,920 81,573,000 332,600 20,538,000 1,390,900 1,164,900 118,000 936,660 11,000 271,800 165,885,200 548,500 4,486,700 80,000 660,930 10,400 16,582,000 17,000 3,716,000 5,138,000 512,500 1,321,500 909,500 64,300 3,369,000 325,000 2,212,400 554,720 324,500 750,000 407,000 1,486,300 2,000 57,309,000 2,095,000

93,296.00 72,421,102.00 6,222,614.00 9,772,055.00 9,706,792.00 19,200.00 112,486,605.00 9,799,617.50 97,095,700.00 12,824,085.00 38,187,920.00 18,928,100.00 9,169,071.00 153,730.00 203,235,392.00 50,860.00 1,644,023.00 1,611,142,065.00 6,641,520.00 73,662,724.00 12,240.00 198,963,002.00 47,530.00 31,806,550.00 68,530.00 14,361,110.00 51,258,862.00 6,035,676.00 43,409,450.00 4,547,277.00 337,489.00 7,286,250.00 262,410.00 21,962,291.00 47,194,152.00 2,675,899.00 86,150.00 401,190.00 219,361,420.00 5,170.00 65,806,550.00 1,816,790.00

HOLDING FIRMS 22,880,490.00 102,433,823.50 85,376,648.00 210,710.00 10,541.00 553,660.00 2,291,010.00 191,920.00 611,555,930.00 7,398,570.00 14,835,685.00 116,615,116.00 1,054,040.00 226,220.00 112,523,330.00 387,266.00 254,541,253.00 279,446.00 14,845.00 3,044,120.00 70,139,162.00 145,710.00 134,319,890.00 400,970.00 1,598,760.00 59,440.00 36,741,613.00 585,180,450.00 65,700.00 19,590.00 109,068.00 277,004.00 3,646,300.00 132,140.00

0.860 51.50 11.66 0.69 6.42 10.46 0.930 0.960 785.5 2.990 6.84 6.61 13.00 0.203 847 5.20 80.80 6.65 0.5 3.71 11.98 0.570 3.48 4.7500 1.200 2.95 164.00 1043.00 1.22 0.79 214.000 195.00 0.2020 0.200

48,356,000 3,393,730 23,942,400 767,000 46,900 33,200 3,504,000 567,000 1,085,640 2,321,000 2,948,100 54,332,000 749,000 110,000 369,970 167,700 3,490,350 402,600 35,000 805,000 4,302,300 131,000 141,682,000 80,000 281,000 255,000 356,620 1,177,750 153,000 41,000 168,480 4,080 1,180,000 7,030,000

41,588,510.00 175,167,302.50 278,700,500.00 515,630.00 309,689.00 343,252.00 3,229,760.00 538,350.00 854,090,590.00 6,953,010.00 19,766,037.00 359,734,310.00 9,921,444.00 22,520.00 317,856,930.00 880,015.00 282,434,300.00 2,547,200.00 16,905.00 2,995,740.00 50,514,574.00 71,290.00 495,687,740.00 361,570.00 325,180.00 752,000.00 57,150,774.00 1,247,182,010.00 186,700.00 30,750.00 35,993,006.00 802,401.00 258,610.00 1,403,890.00

PROPERTY 8,763,024.00 343,020.00 366,680.00 900,830.00 797,186,310.00 497,310.00 3,811,400.00 1,404,371.00 927,350.00 32,680.00 27,670.00 1,583,000.00 1,694,543.00 6,536,906.00 72,300.00 10,010.00 19,622,810.00 16,270.00 254,477,800.00 3,176,120.00 4,221,240.00 8,350.00

14.740 0.71 1.470 0.810 45.500 1.99 4.83 6.8 0.550 0.85 0.850 0.380 9.900 18.9 0.430 0.100 1.50 1.20 4.01 0.191 1.2500 0.4300

6,634,300 1,189,000 109,000 1,355,000 24,119,400 758,000 2,717,000 406,700 33,663,000 9,000 65,000 720,000 669,100 2,007,700 200,000 1,440,000 10,133,000 1,381,000 66,224,000 24,440,000 2,145,000 130,000

97,919,952.00 836,450.00 149,860.00 1,077,180.00 1,113,236,205.00 1,499,640.00 13,028,660.00 2,757,190.00 18,131,010.00 7,390.00 52,380.00 272,800.00 6,662,175.00 38,156,836.00 83,300.00 144,270.00 15,324,460.00 1,600,610.00 270,775,070.00 4,672,420.00 2,668,150.00 55,300.00

STOCKS

DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 3, 2020 Close Volume Value

DECEMBER 23-27, 2019 Close Volume Value

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

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

0.310 44.90 2.17 29.50 2.06 3.21 42.80 2.41 1.260 7.570 5.890

190,000 500 727,000 4,945,100 285,000 17,000 19,987,200 178,000 10,557,000 6,515,100 814,200

59,350.00 22,450.00 1,536,690.00 143,106,225.00 606,470.00 54,390.00 843,873,350.00 437,730.00 12,748,720.00 49,390,418.00 4,589,699.00

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

10.1 15.9 1.39 11.62 0.415 0.042 18.5 3.6 10.56 87.95 7.08 5.83 4.80 9.00 891 2020 5.40 438.40 1.08 135.5 1.66 8.09 7.00 0.103 3.7800 11 2.37 0.87 16.50 0.385 3.33 2.16 0.95 1.00 2.540 2.5 7.21 5.14 140.00 2.50 1008.00 0.360 0.600 39.80 80.10 8.80 2.64 0.600 0.27 0.600 17.900

306,200 421,100 36,000 1,561,000 2,110,000 8,800,000 191,500 3,879,900 6,717,300 524,040 300 2,779,000 505,000 489,300 2,590 48,575 918,200 1,250 1,897,000 4,098,450 14,000 3,500 8,300 8,460,000 17,931,000 5,200 991,000 200,000 144,900 190,000 30,000 503,000 317,000 43,000 2,706,000 14,000 7,100 532,300 5,030 1,368,000 225,050 22,030,000 4,822,000 2,267,900 357,140 110,000 4,654,000 2,318,000 8,270,000 425,000 5,650,300

SERVICES 3,002,410.00 6,604,372.00 50,390.00 18,109,894.00 847,550.00 369,600.00 3,447,750.00 15,927,424.00 72,227,566.00 46,786,218.00 2,124.00 15,822,968.00 2,523,070.00 4,334,701.00 2,305,110.00 98,188,355.00 4,952,730.00 547,016.00 1,994,760.00 543,240,202.00 23,250.00 28,315.00 58,185.00 838,080.00 68,851,800.00 58,940.00 2,352,100.00 173,000.00 2,443,488.00 73,400.00 99,900.00 1,065,260.00 300,880.00 43,000.00 6,812,280.00 35,000.00 54,390.00 2,648,961.00 704,200.00 3,328,020.00 226,157,775.00 7,745,150.00 2,800,600.00 90,749,070.00 28,522,245.50 975,276.00 12,306,390.00 1,391,740.00 2,223,100.00 256,260.00 101,600,088.00

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

United Paragon

0.0014 1.07 2.50 10.96 1.1300 2.9 0.270 6.97 1.730 0.202 0.095 0.0074 0.99 3.15 1.02 0.7000 0.0110 0.0110 2.92 8.98 0.0110 9.5000 22.20 0.0053

548,000,000 3,561,000 1,877,000 75,900 14,000 1,008,000 210,000 29,700 5,378,000 190,000 240,000 23,000,000 308,000 10,313,000 7,000 163,000 22,000,000 4,600,000 1,092,000 1,651,500 152,600,000 4,983,200 487,200 68,000,000

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

16.9 98.8 501 505 101 111.9 500 5.45 995 97.6 100.4 1074 1050 1050 101.5 108 1030 997 77.9 75 76.1 75.15 75.05 75.2

54,600 10 11,350 2,010 16,220 110 10 84,000 2,720 450 530 15 20,360 350 320 1,000 1,620 1,310 34,070 5,000 2,620 500 52,600 13,110

LR Warrant

1.250

17,000

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.47 3.68 10.08 0.78

25,000 485,000 406,700 5,145,000

First Metro ETF

117.6 10

USD DMPL A1

0.300 49.95 2.09 27.55 2.04 3.2 42.10 2.48 1.230 7.730 5.660

1,100,000 2,200 3,164,000 5,722,600 148,000 401,000 23,808,300 621,000 33,167,000 12,513,100 2,031,800

335,900.00 99,990.00 6,527,940.00 159,303,820.00 309,740.00 1,232,030.00 995,375,780.00 1,499,610.00 39,516,900.00 93,741,719.00 11,151,678.00

10.5 15.8 1.4 11.64 0.390 0.043 18.5 5.2 11.30 89.5 7.09 5.5 4.88 7.79 890 2020 5.33 436.00 1.07 128.6

161,400 285,600 101,000 7,380,700 5,560,000 2,900,000 250,700 9,315,000 4,472,600 644,070 300 3,286,000 879,100 193,300 1,640 78,985 872,500 1,000 1,857,000 4,761,160

1,615,024.00 4,512,252.00 142,970.00 85,330,848.00 2,122,750.00 122,900.00 4,520,100.00 45,053,740.00 49,879,036.00 57,652,849.50 2,127.00 17,368,912.00 4,286,164.00 1,508,803.00 1,460,180.00 158,809,445.00 4,635,719.00 433,456.00 1,947,160.00 611,750,515.00

9.49 7.00 0.104 3.4400

1,400 87,400 1,420,000 19,080,000

13,286.00 574,200.00 139,430.00 63,294,790.00

2.40 0.85 16.50 0.385 3.35 2.11

1,458,000 480,000 736,400 280,000 135,000 1,057,000

3,506,740.00 417,850.00 12,232,326.00 100,650.00 453,150.00 2,225,030.00

2.490 2.5 7.85 5.20 142.00 2.61 988.00 0.340 0.570 39.75 80.00 9.26 2.78 0.600 0.27 0.600 18.000

5,556,000 105,000 10,400 58,100 21,760 2,825,000 307,125 51,900,000 16,332,000 2,938,500 1,219,450 1,799,200 5,778,000 24,526,000 4,000,000 364,000 5,284,700

13,471,590.00 259,890.00 75,945.00 294,310.00 3,123,655.00 7,193,220.00 308,051,765.00 17,415,400.00 9,197,180.00 117,514,145.00 94,757,176.00 15,783,058.00 15,877,790.00 14,929,460.00 1,087,800.00 212,080.00 93,261,066.00

MINING & OIL 783,400.00 3,693,320.00 4,536,190.00 805,068.00 15,820.00 2,910,280.00 56,700.00 205,862.00 9,432,310.00 38,060.00 22,400.00 169,100.00 301,740.00 33,528,330.00 7,050.00 117,470.00 242,000.00 50,600.00 3,129,610.00 14,593,399.00 1,564,900.00 46,875,460.00 10,743,240.00 353,700.00

0.0015 0.99 2.50 10.96 1.1300 2.88 0.270 6.93 1.790 0.202 0.091 0.0079 0.98 3.39 1.02 0.7500 0.0110 0.0110 2.83 8.64 0.0110 7.3200 22.00 0.0052

40,000,000 4,992,000 55,000 1,200 1,000 8,232,000 400,000 1,005,200 9,984,000 710,000 2,100,000 5,000,000 1,403,000 28,472,000 46,000 579,000 4,000,000 509,700,000 885,000 1,271,200 49,400,000 1,075,400 3,968,600 5,000,000

60,000.00 4,913,150.00 137,460.00 13,060.00 1,130.00 22,631,300.00 108,000.00 6,946,089.00 17,808,220.00 140,800.00 192,360.00 37,900.00 1,267,810.00 92,596,040.00 45,640.00 424,940.00 44,000.00 6,106,800.00 2,474,540.00 10,783,292.00 533,600.00 7,928,816.00 87,126,115.00 26,300.00

PREFERRED 840,390.00 988.00 5,676,440.00 1,015,070.00 1,632,908.00 12,219.00 5,000.00 452,330.00 2,706,400.00 44,276.00 53,508.00 16,110.00 21,346,715.00 367,625.00 32,417.00 108,000.00 1,666,060.00 1,306,070.00 2,640,778.00 375,000.00 199,210.00 37,575.00 3,946,868.50 985,872.00

15.4 101.3 499 505 100.5 111.9 500 5.3 1000 99.7 100.3 1049 1031 1055 102.3 106.7 1022 997 77.5 77 75.8 76 75.2 77

254,400 3,600 60 5,820 6,560 2,270 230 245,200 10 3,290 5,500 55 8,125 41,355 710 370 19,010 80 29,470 900,020 1,520,930 600,020 1,209,450 832,010

3,826,012.00 370,669.50 30,050.00 2,945,380.00 659,683.00 245,307.00 115,240.00 1,292,419.00 10,000.00 328,160.50 552,067.00 56,395.00 8,471,705.00 43,677,375.00 72,633.00 39,718.00 19,611,295.00 79,775.00 2,277,493.00 69,301,540.00 115,292,388.50 45,571,519.50 90,770,875.00 62,567,938.00

1.290

64,000

78,640.00

3.79 9.7 0.77

1,452,000 780,800 4,868,000

5,460,570.00 7,725,313.00 3,731,210.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 54,290 6,378,051.00

117.4

62,230

7,267,850.00

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 5,500 55,780.00

10

3,330

33,550.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 21,770.00 SME 61,750.00 1,768,780.00 4,053,748.00 4,024,850.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ Fruitas Holdings United Paragon Manila Water Co. Inc. Megaworld Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Abacus Cons. `A’ Manila Mining `A’

VOLUME 548,000,000 152,600,000 97,402,000 68,000,000 67,213,900 63,387,000 39,795,000 31,309,000 25,632,000 23,000,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Manila Water Co. Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Metrobank Jollibee Foods Corp.

Universal Robina

VALUE 843,873,350.00 797,186,310.00 636,268,164.00 611,759,650.00 611,555,930.00 585,180,450.00 543,240,202.00 401,802,632.00 381,915,160.00 274,388,199.00

SM Prime set to open 17 new shopping malls within 3 years SM PRIME Holdings Inc. has lined up 17 new shopping malls for opening from 2020 to 2022, mostly outside of Metro Manila.

SM Prime said in a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday for a planned P20-billion bond offering that it aimed to complete four new malls in 2020, namely SM City Butuan, SM City Daet, SM City Grand Central (Caloocan) and SM City Roxas.

The four new malls will have a combined gross floor area of 221,000 square meters.

It is also set to complete the expansion of SM Baguio and SM Mall of AsiaIkea, which will add 32,000 sq. m. and 157,000 sq. m., respectively.

It is scheduled to complete six new malls in 2021—SM City Bataan, SM City Sorsogon, SM City Tuguegarao, SM City San Pedro, SM City North Davao and SM City Tanza. The new malls will have a combined GFA of 197,000 sq.m.

It also plans to complete three mall expansions that will add 74,000 sq. m. of GFA. SM Prime in 2022 plans to complete seven new malls in the provinces of Bataan, Sorsogon, Cagayan, Laguna, Davao and Cavite with a combined GFA of 372,000 sq. m.

The opening of the 17 new malls will the boost total mall portfolio of SM prime to 91 by the end of 2022.

SM Prime said it would finance the construction of the new malls from a planned P20-billion bond offering scheduled this year.

SM Prime will offer up to P15 billion in fixed rate bonds with an oversubscription of up to P5 billion and tenors of five and seven years.

The property firm has tapped BDO Capital & Investments Corp. and China Bank Capital as issue managers, book runners and lead underwriters of the offering, and BPI Capital Corp., EastWest Bank, First Metro Investments Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital as joint book runners and joint lead underwriters.

The P20-billion bond offering will be the first tranche from SM Prime’s P100-billion, three-year shelf registration debt securities program also filed with the SEC. Jenniffer B. Austria

Meralco to begin work on Bulacan solar plant shortly

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWERSOURCE First Bulacan Solar Inc., a unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp., plans to start construction of a 50-megawatt solar power project in San Miguel, Bulacan this month.

“We had to wait for government approvals including LGU construction permit which we got only last working day of 2019. We should see actual mobilization by 2020,” Meralco PowerGen president Rogelio Singson said.

Meralco PowerGen, through renewable energy unit MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (Mgreen), has taken a 40-percent stake in PFBSI, which is developing the P4.25-billion solar plant in Bulacan.

Meralco PowerGen is the power generation unit of Manila Electric Co., the country’s biggest retailer of electricity.

PFBSI was initially looking at starting construction works in the first quarter of 2019, with completion and commissioning by the fourth quarter this year.

PFBSI has an Energy Regulatory Commission-approved power supply agreement with Meralco for the entire output of the project over a period of 20 years at a fixed price, subject to an annual escalation cost.

“We are committed to undertake 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects in the next five to seven years. This start is one of the lego pieces that will make a thousand,” Singson said earlier.

PFBSI signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with SUMEC Complete Equipment & Engineering Co. Ltd. for the solar power project.

Aside from MGreen, other shareholders of PFBSI are PowerSource Global Holdings Corp. (36 percent) and Singapore’s Sunseap International Pte. Ltd. (24 percent).

MGreen plans to develop large-scale solar, wind and hydropower projects that will provide reliable, environment-friendly power at competitive prices without the need for subsidy.

World

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

Iran crowds mourn top general killed

by US strike

IN BRIEF ‘Tuna King’ buys catch for $1.8 million TOKYO―A celebrated Japanese sushi businessman, nicknamed “Tuna King”, paid $1.8 million for a giant tuna at a New Year’s auction at Tokyo’s main fish market on Sunday.

Kiyoshi Kimura, who runs a successful sushi restaurant chain, paid 193 million yen ($1.8 million) to purchase a 276-kilogram (608-pound) bluefin tuna, caught off the Aomori region in northern Japan.

“This is the best,” Kimura told reporters after the pre-dawn auction.

“Yes, this is expensive, isn’t it? I want our customers to eat very tasty ones this year too,” he said.

Media-savvy Kimura regularly pays top price at the first auction of the year at the Japanese capital’s main fish market, making himself and his business a fixture in national news during this season.

In last year’s new year auction, Kimura paid a record $3.1 million to win a 278-kilogram (612-pound) tuna.

The traditional auction is now being held in a new market in an area called Toyosu.

The world-famous Tsukiji market, which had long served as a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops, closed in 2018. AFP

Koala population halved by bush fires SYDNEY―At least half of Australia’s only disease-free koala population, a key “insurance” for the species’ future, is feared dead with more badly hurt after bush fires swept through an island sanctuary, rescuers said Sunday.

Kangaroo Island, a popular naturebased tourist attraction off the coast of South Australia state, is home to many wild populations of native animals including the much-loved koala, where the populated was estimated at 50,000.

Massive bush fires have flared up in the vast country’s southeast in a months-long crisis, killing nearly half a billion native animals in New South Wales state alone, scientists estimate.

Conditions have been particularly severe in recent days, with an ongoing blaze on Kangaroo Island spreading rapidly and razing 170,000 hectares—one-third of the island—on Friday.

“Over 50 percent [of the population] has been lost,” Sam Mitchell of Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, which is raising funds to care for the injured koalas, told AFP. “Injuries are extreme. Others have been left with no habitat to go back to, so starvation will be an issue in coming weeks.”

A University of Adelaide study published in July found that the Kangaroo Island koala species is particularly important to the survival of the wider population as it is the only large group free from chlamydia.

The bacterial infection—which causes blindness, infertility and death in the species—is widespread in koalas in the eastern Queensland and New South Wales states and also occurs in Victoria state.

“They are an insurance population for the whole population,” the University of Adelaide’s Jessica Fabijan, who carried out the study, told AFP. “These fires have ravaged the population.”

Fabijan said massive bush fires in New South Wales and Victoria’s Gippsland region, home to major koala populations, is also expected to have killed many animals. AFP

March against pension reform PARIS―Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday against French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reforms which have sparked a month-long transport strike.

Some protesters donned the yellow vests which over the past year have become symbolic of opposition to Macron’s attempts at reforms he says will rationalize France’s 42 separate pension regimes into a single points-based system.

Unions reject the scheme saying it would require millions of people to work beyond the official retirement age of 62.

The marchers set off after midday from the Gare de Lyon railway station in eastern Paris behind a giant banner reading “”Macron, withdraw your plan; save and improve our retirements,” heading for Gare de l’Est, four kilometers to the north, an AFP reporter said.

Reaching the opera house at Bastille square, some demonstrators shouted “we don’t want the grandfather clause” referring to proposals for new opera dancers to lose the current generous pension benefits enjoyed by older colleagues who can currently retire at 42.

So far, more than 60 performances at the Paris opera’s historic Garnier and modern Bastille stages have been canceled, leading to losses of more than 12 million euros ($13.4 million) in ticket sales.

Several other professions, including train drivers, also enjoy special pension provisions. Macron wants to simplify the system and is banking on support falling for the strikers the longer the disruption goes on amid what is now the longest continuous train strike in French history. AFP

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MASS ICE AND SNOW WEDDING. Couples arrive for a ‘mass ice and snow wedding’ ahead of the opening of the Harbin International Snow and Sculpture Festival in Harbin, in China’s northeast Heilongjiang province, on January 5, 2020. AFP

Australia reels after one more day of fire N

OWRA, Australia―Stunned Australians on Sunday counted the cost from a day of catastrophic bush fires that caused “extensive damage” across swathes of the country and took the death toll from the long-running crisis to 24.

Hundreds of properties were destroyed and one man died trying to save a friend’s home in the severe conditionsamong the worst in Australia’s deadly bush fire crisis.

But even as Australians tried to regroup, seaside towns were plunged into darkness, ash rained down on rural communities and major cities were again cloaked in smoke on Sunday.

In the state of New South Wales alone, almost 150 fires continued to burn, many out of control, with light rains offering little relief and blazes again touching the suburbs of Sydney.

Everywhere, people struggled to come to grips with a catastrophe that has taken place on a near-continental scale, unfurled over months and altered daily life for millions.

“We’re in uncharted territory,” New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. “We can’t pretend that this is something that we have experienced

before. It’s not.”

Authorities have struggled to keep pace with the severity of the crisis— which has scorched an area almost the size of Ireland.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the largest military call-up in living memory, mobilizing up to 3,000 reservists to assist exhausted volunteer firefighters.

Warships and combat helicopters have already been repurposed to help out with the largest maritime evacuation in Australia since World War II—moving some of the 4,000 people trapped for days on the foreshore of Mallacoota to safety.

Up the coast, thousands of people remained displaced and many more are weighing an uncertain future.

Noreen Ralston-Birchaw, 75, lost her home in Mogo on New Year’s Eve and said she was unsure what to do.

“At this very moment, I don’t want to go back and see my house laying burnt

on the ground,” she told AFP. “I don’t want to rebuild there.”

Prime Minister Morrison also announced the establishment of a Bush fire Recovery Agency, that will run for two years and help survivors get back on their feet, a signal that the path ahead will be long and difficult.

For tens of thousands of volunteer firefighters, the immediate battle continued, earning them praise from across Australia and around the world.

Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday said she was “deeply saddened” by the fires, and thanked the emergency services “who put their own lives in danger” to help communities.

Celebrities have pledged or raised millions of dollars to support firefighters and fire-affected communities, including American pop star Pink, who tweeted on Saturday that she was donating US$500,000.

Australian actress Nicole Kidman matched that pledge.

“Our family’s support, thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia,” she posted on Instagram. “We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now.” AFP

Data in analytics DR. REGINA C. DY

Green LiGht HAVE you ever gone to see your doctor but ended up not being treated correctly for your ailment? The fault might lie on the fact that you have been describing your symptoms incorrectly and, thus, the doctor prescribed you the wrong cure.

Similarly, in business, data provide value to the business. The accuracy of data input is of great importance as an analysis cannot be correctly made with incomplete data.

Data in analytics is the science of examining data to be able to draw conclusions from the information. This helps organizations make better business decisions and improve business operations.

There are three major types of analytics: descriptive, predictive and prescriptive. They coexist and are studied in a consecutive manner to obtain a complete overview of a situation to make better decisions.

Recently, I have been assigned to a new division and one of my main goals is to increase sales, be it by geographic expansion or through new product development. Since our department is fairly new, I gave my staff the task of compiling the year to year sales data, date of order, quantity sold and product variants. Each staff handled different accounts, thus, I asked them to segregate the sales by account.

After they submitted their reports, I was in a quandary since the data showed inconsistencies. Upon further inspection, I realized that in the reports, some of them gave me quantity sold as per purchase order date, while others gave me quantity sold as per delivery date, and another gave me quantity sold upon payment date.

They all gave me correct information but the reports were not consistent since the quantity sold varied indicating date of order, or date of delivery, or date of payment. They gave data values that are both correct and unambiguous, and yet it became problematic. Why? Because inconsistencies in reporting create inaccurate data.

We addressed this issue by agreeing upon a consistent format of reporting. I was now able to draw some analysis from the reported information. How much sales did we have for a particular account? What are the most salable product variants? Are there any particular sales trend? By answering these questions, I was able to tech-

nically know “what happened” in those years. This is what is known as descriptive analytics. It turns data into an actionable insight.

With this data, I try to understand why certain variants sells more than another. Is it the price? Is this variant more appealing to the consumer? Is this packaging size more convenient to carry? After analyzing the historical data patterns and trends, I now try to make predictions about what and where the product variant will sell more. Predictive analytics is the ability to use descriptive data to predict “what might happen next?” Predictive analytics become more accurate with more data. With accurate and consistent descriptive data, I can do a better sales forecast.

By using the data from descriptive analytics and insights from predictive analytics, I proceeded to formulate strategies that will increase sales. “What should be done?” is the hallmark of prescriptive analytics. Prescriptive analytics suggests the best actions to take for improvements as well as the proper actions needed to avoid negative circumstances. Since our target market are the millennials, I recommend the implementation of digital campaigns. Our data show the relationship of increased digital exposure to higher consumer activation and purchase. Yes, our sales have increased!

Prescriptive analytics needs a firm understanding of the past and the present to be able to realize the variations and combinations of circumstances that can lead to the desired outcome. This analytics approach recognizes that different scenarios can lead to different predictions.

Just as doctors need to eliminate the cause of a fever, they also need to be aware of the patients’ allergies and other medications taken before giving a prescription. Thus, different patients might have the same sickness but the doctor may prescribe a different cure because of these variables.

So, when you go see your doctor for any form of ailment, describe your symptoms accurately and correctly. A doctor will only be able to diagnose the sickness from your description and analyze those symptoms to diagnose your illness. Then and only then can the doctor prescribe the best cure for you.

Regina C. Dy, PhD. is a consultant at Euro-Med Laboratories Phils., Inc. She is a part-time faculty of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. She can be contacted at regina.dy@dlsu.edu. ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

TEHRAN―A tide of mourners packed the streets of the Iranian city of Ahvaz Sunday to pay respects to top general Qasem Soleimani, days after he was killed in a US strike.

“Death to America,” they chanted at a mass gathering in the streets of the southwestern city, where Soleimani’s remains arrived from Iraq before dawn, according to semi-official news agency ISNA. They beat their chests to the sound of Shiite chants and held up portraits of the general, seen as a hero of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and for spearheading Iran’s Middle East operations as chief of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force.

Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike Friday near Baghdad international airport that shocked the Islamic republic. He was 62.

The assassination, which was ordered

by US President Donald Trump, ratcheted up tensions between the arch-enemies and sparked fears of a new war in the Middle East.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe revenge” and declared three days of mourning following the news of his death.

Trump warned on Saturday that America was targeting 52 sites in Iran and would hit them “very fast and very hard” if the Islamic republic attacks American personnel or assets.

In a sabre-rattling tweet, Trump said: “If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!”

Tensions between longtime foes Iran and the US escalated last year when Trump unilaterally withdrew from a landmark accord that gave the Islamic republic relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

On Sunday, thousands of mourners dressed in black were seen gathered in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz in a live broadcast on state television.

The footage showed crowds gathered in Mollavi Square with flags in green, white and red—depicting the blood of “martyrs.” AFP

Jihadists attack US-Kenya military base NAIROBI―Jihadists from Somalia’s AlShabaab group on Sunday attacked a military base used by US and Kenyan forces in Kenya’s coastal Lamu region, the army spokesman said.

The strike on the base known as Camp Simba in Manda Bay is the latest by the group in Kenya since Nairobi sent troops across the border in 2011.

Kenya’s army spokesman Colonel Paul Njuguna said in a statement that at 5:30am “an attempt was made to breach security at Manda Air Strip.”

“The attempted breach was successfully repulsed. Four terrorists bodies have so far been found. The airstrip is safe. Arising from the unsuccessful breach a fire broke out affecting some of the fuel tanks located at the airstrip.”

He said the fire had been brought under control “and standard security procedures are now on-going.”

Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia also confirmed there had been an attack and said the militants “have been repulsed.”

“We are not sure if there are still remnants within,” he said.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had “successfully stormed the heavily fortified military base and have now taken effective control of part of the base.”

The group said there had been both Kenyan and American casualties, however this could not be immediately verified.

Al-Shabaab said the attack was part of its “Al-Quds [Jerusalem] shall never be Judaized” campaign—a term it first used during an attack on the upscale Dusit hotel complex in Nairobi in January last year that left 21 people dead.

The Somali jihadists have staged several large-scale attacks inside Kenya, in retaliation for Nairobi sending Manila TO THE troops into Somalia NOTICE PUBLIC as well as to target Standard TODAY Please be adviced foreign interests. that Mr. Jayne Canhe Despite years Cabagon, male, 65 years died on December 28, of costly efforts to old 2010 and was interred at fight Al-Shabaab, Heritage Park Cemetary in Taguig City. the group on Deinformation and cember 28 man- For concerns about this aged to detonate person, please call his at 0955-5820028, a vehicle packed wife with address at 349 with explosives in Apitong St., Comembo, Bonifacio, Makati Mogadishu, killing For City .

81 people. AFP (MS-JAN. 6,13 & 20, 2020

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

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MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

LGUs

GRAND MASCOT PARADE. The SM Mall of

Asia welcomed 2020 with a Grand Mascot Parade featuring over 400 mascots and gigantic inflatables to help spread cheer around the mall. Photo shows Cara the Cat, Bduck, Catie the Caterpillar, and Codie the Clown Fish floating amid twinkling stars created from 100 world-class drones at San Miguel by the Bay.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Pay taxes early, Navotas mayor asks residents

By Jun David MAYOR Toby Tiangco has urged business establishments in Navotas to settle their tax obligations early.

The Business One-Stop Shop at the Navotas City Hall ground floor will be open to process new or renewal application of business permits and licenses from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Jan. 2 to 20.

“Our frontline offices will render overtime to accommodate those who could not pay their dues during regular work hours. We hope taxpayers will take advantage of this to avoid long lines or penalties for late payment,” Tiangco said.

The mayor also warned that based on the Navotas Revenue Code of 2017, there will be a 25-percent penalty and an additional 2-percent surcharge for every month the owners fail to register their businesses on time.

“As much as possible, we want to avoid imposing penalties on business establishments that is why we highly encourage them to settle their obligations immediately,” he added.

Tiangco underscored the importance of tax collection to the continued provision of services of the city government.

“Taxes are considered the lifeblood of government. Much of our projects and programs on health, education, livelihood, peace and order, and housing are funded by the taxes we collect,” he said.

Last year, Navotas received recognition from the Bureau of Local Government Finance for its excellent tax collection in 2018.

QC approves tax credits

By Rio N. Araja

Q

UEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has given tax credits to private lot owners for helping the city’s socialized housing programs.

For helping realize 35 housing programs for the underprivileged and homeless citizens, real-property owners who have dutifully paid their socialized housing and real property taxes for the past five years will get the tax credits.

“The tax credit is our way of thanking our real property taxpayers who have become our partners in building homes for our less fortunate citizens,” Belmonte said.

“Through this, we hope to encourage more real property owners to regularly pay their taxes so they can also contribute to our housing programs for the poor,” she added.

Under City Ordinance SP-2095 of 2011 or the Socialized Housing Tax of Quezon City, the city government has imposed additional one-half percent (0.5 percent) tax on land properties with an assessed value amounting to more than P100,000.

The fees collected were then used to purchase and develop land and to build and improve socialized housing facilities.

City assessor Sherry Gonzalvo, a lawyer, clarified that the tax credit would be extended to registered property owners who dutifully paid their taxes for five years upon the effectivity of the socialized housing tax.

The tax credit shall be enjoyed by the taxpayer over the period in five equal yearly installments in an amount equivalent to 20 percent of the total socialized housing tax paid.

Gonzalvo also clarified that all delinquent socialized housing tax collectibles must or should be complete and paid for a real estate owner to qualify

for the tax credit.

In addition, in line with the city’s compliance to the Ease of Doing Business Act, qualified taxpayers shall enjoy the tax credit without unnecessary documentary requirements and processes.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government is giving financial assistance of P10,000 to the victims of the fire that hit Barangay Vasra on December 31.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government was conducting comprehensive interviews, and assessment to ensure that only legitimate fire victims will receive the cash aid on January 6.

She noted that sharers and renter fire victims were set to get P5,000 cash aid.

Tarlac to build facilities in New Clark

NEW BARANGAY HALL. The new, modern Don Galo Barangay Hall in Parañaque City has been formally inaugurated and opened to the public, complete with a barangay health station, multipurpose hall, alternative learning system community center, and a daycare center. Mayor Edwin Olivarez and his wife Janet, along with Barangay Don Galo Chairwoman Marilyn Burgos (inset) lead the opening of the barangay hall, its offices and an airconditioned session hall.

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

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed between the Tarlac provincial government and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority for a 52-hectare lot 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,” Governor Susan Yap said during the signing of the MOA.

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 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.”

Located in Capas, Tarlac, New Clark City has garnered strong interest from local and foreign investors, especially following the successful hosting of the 30th South East Asian Games (SEA Games). Phase 1A of the New Clark City development is the site of the world-class sports facilities used in the SEA Games.

BPSU pioneers smart farming research in PH

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Bataan Peninsula State University is the pioneering university in smart farming research in the country, its leaders said over the weekend.

“We are starting it here in BPSU the smart farming research,” BPSU president Dr. Greg Rodis said.

Rodis, BPSU vice president for Re-

search, Extension, and Training Services Dr. Hermogenes Paguia and Director for Research and Development Prof. Rod Munoz inspected the invented machines of the university for smart farming placed in a building at the BPSU Main Campus.

Early this year, the three BPSU officials, accompanied by Department of Science and Technology Regional Director Dr. Julius Ceasar Sicat, went to Univer-

sity of New England in New South Wales, Australia for the signing of the agreement for smart farming collaboration.

The agreement was signed by UNE, ICT International Australia, and BPSU. Munoz said Dr. Peter Cull of ICT International visited BPSU last March to see the faculty and students’ agriculture-based, aquaculture-based, and biomedical-based research outputs.

CDC GIFTS. Clark Development Corp. gives back to the community through a gift-giving project for the Bahay Pag-Ibig House of Prayer’s elderly beneficiaries, while inset shows CDC employees and volunteers give gifts to students in Sta. Cruz Elementary School, an annual activity spearheaded by CDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm.

Foundation comes to typhoon ‘Ursula’ victims’ aid

TACLOBAN—Victims of Typhoon “Ursula” in Leyte recently received relief packages through SM Foundation’s Operation: Tulong Express that saw volunteers from SM Tacloban, Savemore, SMOR and SVTA.

The relief effort was facilitated by SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Pe Sy, Bien C. Mateo, Kristine Ceno, Kristine Yap, Troy Camarista and Athens Cajucom.

SM Mall Manager Marlon Tan led the Over 1,300 families from five barangays in Tacloban City who were affected

by Typhoon ‘Ursula’ receive relief packs from SM Foundation’s Operation Tulong Express, as volunteers help distribute the needed goods (inset).

relief efforts that benefitted 1,324 families in Tacloban City and in the municipality of Palo.

Among the recipients of OPTE were Barangay 108 (586 families), Brgy. 107 (310 families), Brgy. 94 (324 families), and Brgy. 62B (104 families).

Belle Kaagapay donated relief packs for Barangay 108.

Leyte was placed under a state of calamity on December 26 after “Ursula” devastated the province. The typhoon destroyed crops and livestock, damaged houses and infrastructure, and caused flooding in Leyte on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, over 1,000 families were evacuated from the municipalities of Abuyog, Babatngon, Barugo, Bato, Dulag, Isabel, Jaro, La Paz, Ormoc, Palo, and San Isidro to ensure their safety.

Life FOOD

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

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Inspired by the Nordic concepts fika and hygga, Nespresso launches its limited edition range composed of flavored and black coffee blends featuring Nordic flavors, as well as accompanying accessories designed by Danish furniture and lighting designer Louise Campbell.

By Bernadette Lunas

P

ICTURE this: you grab a cup of coffee, maybe a piece of pastry.

The hot liquid in a to-go tumbler in one hand, the lone bread in another. You rush to the door, eager to return to your desk littered with paperwork. Plop down in your chair, look at the clock, get back to the grind as you absentmindedly take a sip and a bite.

Consider yourself lucky if you could spare a few minutes to actually have a decent “coffee break.”

For many, in the media industry, for instance, there’s only as much time for coffee break as there is pouring the beverage into your cup.

Unlike those who can relate to my previous point, Swedes take coffee break seriously.

Sweden is the home of fika, the Swedish coffee break. The concept is not entirely revolutionary, but is more a “way of life.”

Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall, in their book Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, put it quite simply: “Functioning as both a verb and a noun, the concept of fika is simple. It is the moment that you take a break, often with a cup of coffee, but alternatively with tea, and find a baked good to pair with it.”

“You can do it alone, you can do it with friends.

You can do it at home, in a park, or at work. But the essential thing is that you do it, that you make time to take a break: that’s what fika is all about.”

The rule, if there’s any, is simple. You just need to slow down and savor the moment.

Speaking of savoring the moment, the Danes have hygge (pronounced hue-guh). Hygge is the Danish concept of enjoying the simple things in life, of feeling a “cozy contentment” even from something as simple as reading a book and enjoying a warm drink.

These Nordic concepts are brought to Nespresso’s limited edition coffee and accessories inspired by Scandinavia, a call to take a break and savor the moment.

The company has tapped Danish furniture and lighting designer Louise Campbell to design the range’s capsules, sleeves, and accompanying accessories. The Nespresso Nordic-inspired range reflects the Nordic trend of stylish minimalism with traditional influences of nature.

“I was thrilled to bits when I heard that my proposal for making the capsules even more precious than they already are by varying the designs was accepted, making each of them as fascinating as pebbles on a beach and as irresistible to collect,” enthused Campbell.

The designs illustrate the many layers of Nordic culture and landscape.

Find time for ‘fika’

SLOW DOWN, SAVOR THE MOMENT. Fika is the Swedish concept of taking a break, often with a cup of coffee and a baked good, slowing down and savoring the moment.

“I hope it will remind the viewer of the beauty of nature and the thrill of paying attention to detail.

Each part of my work can be seen as a postcard from the North. Be it a capsule, a shopping bag, or a sleeve,” added Campbell.

Also part of the collection are two limited edition types of Pixie Cups and a View Cube.

As part of Nespresso Original, the Nordic-inspired limited edition includes two flavored coffees: Nordic Almond Cake Fla-

voured and Nordic Cloudberry Flavoured.

The Nordic Almond Cake Flavoured coffee features a combination of biscuit and vanilla aromas, with a Livanto base, inspired by the traditional Norwegian cake, Kvæfjordkake.

The Nordic Cloudberry Flavoured coffee, on the other hand, features the delicate, tart taste of cloudberries which grow in the extreme climates of the Nordic countries. The coffee has all the roundness of the Livanto base with a sweet, jam-

my fruitiness and a hint of acidity.

In addition to flavored coffee blends, there’s also a choice for those who enjoy original long black. Nordic Black coffee features an aromatic African and South American Arabica blend. Elegant, sweet fruity notes combine with a smooth and lingering cereal aftertaste to create a light bodied, long, black coffee with a medium intensity.

More than the flavors, the collection aims to encourage coffee drinkers to take a pause, find time for fika.

From Italiannis

with love

The Bread Box comes with either or both Tuscan or Focaccia, while the Dulce de Leche box comes with one whole cake and extra caramel sauce.

TAKEAWAY trays and party platters have saved many a gathering, the previous and past holiday seasons included.

But there’s no need for a party to enjoy to-go treats.

Italiannis packs some of its bestselling dishes in trays and boxes for a delectable takeout dinner at home.

Dine Out Delights offers salads, appetizers, chicken, pork, fish, pastas, and other signature dishes in nifty to-go trays each good for six to eight persons.

Takeaway trays include Spinach Artichoke, Fried Calamari, Prosciutto E Formaggio, Italianni’s Fritti, Italian Truffle Fries, Sicilian Salad, Caesar Salad, and Insalata Rucola.

Pasta selection includes Lasagna, Spaghetti Meatballs, Spaghetti Pomodoro, Spaghetti Bolognese, Spaghetti Carbonara, Seafood Cioppino, and Penne Arrabiata.

Mains, meanwhile, are Chicken Italianni’s, Pork chop Au Poivre, Chicken Milanese, Chicken Parmigiana, Herb Roasted Chicken, and Parmesan Crusted Fish Fillet.

Dinner is on Italiannis with its Holiday Platters that consist of two appetizers, two pasta Turn to C2

Italiannis’ takeaway trays include (clockwise) Pork chop Au Poivre, Caesar Salad, Chicken Italiannis, and Seafood Cioppino, among others.

Life

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MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Rebisco’s wide range of candies and bubble gums.

Filipino-favorite snacks Alexa Ilacad choosing which among Popeyes Spaghetti, biscuits, or chicken sandwich to eat first.

Andrea Brillantes with Popeyes Cajun chicken.

L

Louisiana chicken in Metro Manila

OUISIANA’S famous Cajun-style food chain Popeyes ended 2019 with seven branches, and welcomed the first week of 2020 with the opening of its eighth and ninth branches.

After opening its first outlet at ArcoVia City in Pasig in May, the beloved fast food then popped at Alabang Town Center, SM San Lazaro, and SM Manila.

A few months later, Popeyes chicken on Nov. 25 last year spread its wings at

the National University Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

During the launch, Kuya J Group marketing director Ton Gatmaitan said, “This is our fifth store here in Metro Manila and the first in Pasay City. Now,

From left: Popeyes Philippines chief operating officer Rami Chahwan, NU Mall of Asia assistant vice president of operations Royston Cabuñag, Kuya J Group marketing director Ton Gatmaitan, and Popeyes Philippines operations manager Chuck Rivera Reduta at the opening of Popeyes NU MOA.

students, employees, and shoppers don’t have to travel so far to enjoy our delicious offerings.”

Must-try items at Popeyes include the Cajun-style fried chicken, honey biscuits, shrimp and fish burgers, and Cajun fries. Other diners’ favorites are hazelnut and white chocolate biscuits, as well as the Popeyes spaghetti, which is exclusive to the chain’s branches in the Philippines.

A big crowd flocked to the NU Mall of Asia during the opening to feast on its signature juicy—but not greasy— Popeyes fried chicken packed with distinct Cajun-inspired flavors from Louisiana, USA. To take it up a notch, diners can replace the usual gravy and instead pair their chicken with a dash of honey, for a sweet and salty combination.

Before closing 2019, it then had a back-to-back opening at Eastwood City Walk on Dec. 18 and at Robinsons Galleria on Dec. 19.

January is a big month, with Popeyes doing a double launch on the third day of 2020. The fast food chain opened its branches at Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City and at SM Southmall in Las Piñas.

On Jan. 6, Popeyes is opening its tenth store at Kroma Tower in Legazpi Village, Makati.

HOMEGROWN snack food company Rebisco continues to accompany Filipinos during merienda. Its range of products is a staple in many sari-sari stores and supermarkets nationwide, reaching generations of the past and present since its founding in 1963.

“We’re proud of having been an important part of the nation’s celebrations for generations now,” said Rebisco marketing communications head Lulu dela Peña.

Kids and kids-at-heart fill their pockets with candies and sweets such as Lipps, Vita Cubes, Judge candies and gums, Chubby chewy candy, Krimstix cream paste, Superstix wafer sticks, Mister Yema, Mister Keso, Mister Melon, and Mister Buco candies.

Anyone looking for crunchy and savory finger food munch on Happy Peanuts and Ding Dong. For something that’s sweet, sour, and spicy all at the same time, Rebisco offers Dolce Tamarind Balls. For the more healthconscious, there’s Jeanne and Jamie’s guilt-free snacks.

All-time favorite snacks include Rebisco Sandwich and Hansel Sandwich.

There are also Rebisco Crackers and Hansel Crackers that pair well with warm coffee or tea.

Chocolate lovers are treated to small treats like Choco Mucho Cookies and Wafertime Rich Cream. Those who want to indulge a little more, sweeter snacks

From Italiannis...

From C1

Happy Peanuts and Ding Dong

are available for them to enjoy, like Choco Mucho chocolate bars, Doowee Donuts, Mrs. Goodman Choco Oatmeal, Topps Sarap, Whoopie marshmallow, and, of course, Fudgee Barr.

Chips come in the form of Funky, a potato snack that comes in various flavors; the crunchy, cheesy, and spicy corn snack Kruffs in Cheesy Jalapeno or Sour Cream and Chives; and the nacho-crispy goodness of Tostas, which has both smoky BBQ and savory cheese flavors in one pack.

Creamline ice cream offers different flavors and variants such as lollies and cups for kids and bigger tubs for the whole family.

Pate); Chicken and Ribs Platter; and Salmon Linguini Abondanza.

The restaurant also offers Bread Box and Wine-To-Go. The bread boxes contain either the Tuscan or Focaccia (or a combination of both) with olive oil and vinaigrette dip, and a bottle of wine. Some branches offer Dulce de Leche boxes that come with one whole creamy cake and extra caramel sauce.

dishes, and one entrée. They can be mixed and matched according to the customers’ preference.

Those who prefer to stick to the classics may opt for Frito Misto, Spaghetti Meatballs Abondanza, and Chicken and Ribs Platter. Or go for Crostini Platter, composed of Tomato Bruschet- Go to www.italiannis.com.ph for ta, Mushroom Bruschetta, and Liver more information.

RECIPE FILES

Dishes made in a smart oven Whoever says cooking delectable dishes requires a dozen equip- Oven, an all-in-one kitchen partner that works as a convection oven ment and a quarter of the cook’s day has not tried these recipes. Sam Sam- and a microwave for baking, grilling, slim frying, defrosting, steamsteam sung shares the following dishes which can be cooked in its Smart ing, and even making yogurt.

Baked Baby Back Ribs with Coleslaw

Cooking time: 60 mins. | Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 kg baby back ribs, cut into three-rib portions 1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 pc. small onion, minced 1 pc. small red chili, sliced 1 cup water 2 tbsp. soy sauce 2 tbsp. tomato catsup 2 tbsp. brown sugar 1 tbsp. peanut butter 1 tbsp. chopped parsley For the slaw: 1 cup shredded cabbage 1 cup shredded red cabbage ½ cup shredded carrot ½ tsp. fine salt ⅛ tsp. freshly ground pepper ¼ cup Nestlé All-Purpose Cream 2 tbsp. mayonnaise 1 tbsp. lemon juice Procedure: 1. Season ribs with Maggi Magic Sarap and pepper. Place meat side down on a deep baking pan.

Parmesan Crusted Baked Salmon

2. Mix garlic, onion, chili, water, soy sauce, tomato catsup, sugar, and peanut butter. Pour into the pan and mix well with pork.

3. Bake on high rack using Microwave + Grill Mode. Set aside. For both MC32K and MC35J: Select Microwave + Grill. Set at 600W for 60 minutes. After 45 minutes, flip and continue to cook for the remaining 15 minutes.

4. Prepare slaw by mixing cabbage, carrot, salt, pepper, Nestlé All-Purpose Cream, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Mix well and refrigerate.

5. Brush pork with the reduced sauce, transfer on a serving plate and garnish with parsley. Serve with cabbage slaw.

Chicken Parmigiana with Roasted Tomato Sauce

Cooking time: 30 mins. | Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 pcs. boneless and skinless chicken breast 1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 pcs. eggs, beaten 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. chopped basil 1 cup grated mozzarella For roasted tomato sauce: ¼ kg tomatoes, halved lengthwise 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 pc. onion, cut into wedges

½ small can 2 tbsp.

1 sachet ¼ tsp.

anchovies butter, diced Maggi Magic Sarap freshly ground pepper

Cooking time: 15 mins. | Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 pc. lemon ¼ cup breadcrumbs 1 tbsp. minced parsley 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese 1 tbsp. olive oil ½ bar cream cheese 1 pack Nestlé All-Purpose Cream ¼ cup water 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp. sliced spring onion ⅛ tsp. ground nutmeg 1 ½ sachet Maggi Magic Sarap ½ kg skinless salmon fillet ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper 1 can corn kernels, drained and rinsed 2 pcs. red and green pepper, diced Procedure: 1. Cut lemon in half lengthwise. Cut half of the lemon into wedges and set aside. Zest and juice the other half of the lemon. Mix lemon zest, breadcrumbs, parsley, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

2. Combine cream cheese, Nestlé All-Purpose Cream, water, garlic, spring onion, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Season with ½ sachet of Maggi Magic Sarap. Mix until smooth.

3. Season salmon with ½ sachet of Maggi Magic Sarap and pepper. Place salmon on a Crusty Plate.

Spread ½ cup of the sauce on top. Gently press the breadcrumb mixture.

4. Mix corn and bell peppers, and season with ½ sachet of Maggi Magic Sarap. Place around the fish.

5. Cook salmon on low rack using the Healthy Cooking Mode. For MC32K: Select Healthy Cooking. Set program code to 3-4 (Grilled Salmon Steaks). Select Serving Size. After beep sounds, press start to continue. For MC35J: Cook using Auto Cook Mode. Select Auto. Set program code to A9 (Grilled Salmon Fillets) and select Serving Size. After beep sounds, press start to continue.

6. Transfer on a serving plate and serve with the cream sauce and lemon wedges.

1 tsp. brown sugar 1 tsp.

Italian herb seasoning Procedure: 1. Season chicken with Maggi Magic Sarap.

Coat with flour, dip in egg, and coat well with breadcrumbs. Set aside.

2. Prepare the roasted sauce by spreading tomato, garlic, onion, anchovies, and butter on Crusty Plate. Season with Maggi Magic Sarap, pepper, sugar, and Italian herb seasoning. Cook vegetables on Crusty Plate on high rack using the respective modes: For MC32K: Select Microwave + Grill function. Set at 600W for 10 minutes. For MC35J: Cook using Auto Cook mode. Select Auto. Set program code to A-13 (Roast Vegetables). Select serving size.

3. Puree vegetables using a blender. Adjust con-

sistency with water. Set aside.

4. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and cook on Crusty Plate on low rack using the respective modes: For MC32K: Select Healthy Cooking button. Set program code to 3-1 (Chicken Breasts). Select serving size and set cooking time to nine minutes. For MC35J: Cook using Auto Cook Mode.

Select Auto. Set program code to A8 (Grilled Chicken Breasts). Select serving size. Turn over as the beep sounds. Press start to continue.

5. Remove from the oven. Top with tomato sauce, basil, and cheese. Continue to cook chicken using Hot Blast mode. For both MC32K and MC35J: Select Hot Blast. Set to 200-degree Celsius for three minutes.

6. Transfer into a serving plate and serve with more tomato sauce.

Entertainment

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

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Poland’s Chopin contest ever popular in Asia A RECORD 500-plus young pianists, nearly half from Asia, applied to take part in the 2020 edition of Poland’s prestigious Chopin competition, its organizers said Thursday.

Winning the event, which began in 1927 and is held every five years in the Polish capital, is seen as a ticket to playing the greatest venues in the world. It is reserved for pianists between the ages of 16 and 30.

The 19th-century French-Polish romantic composer’s music has long drawn pianists from Asian countries like China and Japan and this year’s competition is no exception.

More than 100 of the applicants for the 18th edition come from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Warsaw-based Fryderyk Chopin Institute told AFP.

There were also strong representations from Japan, with more than 90 applicants, and Poland, with more than 60. Thirty-five of the individuals are South Korean, just like the winner of the last edition, Cho Seong-Jin. Other countries notably represented include the United States, Canada, Russia, Italy and France.

A committee will now select around a third of the candidates to participate in the April preliminaries, whose outcome will decide which 80 pianists perform in the Oct. 2 to 21 competition.

The juried performances are open to the public and always sell out.

Several members of this year’s jury hail from Asia, including Vietnamese Montreal-resident Dang Thai Son,

China’s Sa Chen, and Japanese-French pianist Akiko Ebi. Over the years the competition has helped to launch the careers of pianists such as the Italian Maurizio Pollini and Argentine’s Martha Argerich.

Born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola, near the Polish capital, Frederic Chopin fled his homeland just before the 1830 uprising against the occupying forces of Tsarist Russia. The composer later lived in the Austrian capital Vienna before moving to Paris, where he died aged 39 after years of poor health.

Described by 19th century German composer Robert Schumann as “cannons hidden among blossoms,” Chopin’s music remains a symbol of Poland’s long struggle for freedom. AFP

Unraveling the mystique and the mundane at CCP

This retrospective show is composed of prints and paintings made by Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi from the 1970s to the present

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MAJOR retrospective exhibition by Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi entitled Allegories and Realities Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi: In Retrospect will open on Feb. 22 at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines at 4:00 p.m.. The exhibition, which runs until May 24, is presented as part of the CCP’s ongoing 50th-anniversary program.

Gelvezon-Tequi earned two degrees in Fine Arts and English from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Influenced by literature, art history and visual arts, her works emanate her deep understanding of these various disciplines.

Her series of prints from the 1980s are juxtapositions of sacred images vis a vis the mundane. Her works are also grounded on the real and personal—family life and losses, greed and corruption, the turbulent political climate, or simply a row of trees, a lush garden or a still life. She has been highly acclaimed for her use of allegory to express her take on social issues.

The retrospective show is composed of prints and paintings made by Gelvezon-Tequi from the 1970s to the present. It explores the thematic contexts as well as modes of art practice

Benjamin d'Anfray of France performing during the 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments

‘UKG’ rewards teen breadwinner with brand new house and lot THE New Year promises to be sweeter for 14-year-old Manuel Oliveros after he was chosen as the recipient of a brand new house and lot from Lumina Homes in the 2019 edition of the “12 Days of Christmas” gift-giving tradition of Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

Since his stepfather abandoned them shortly after his mother died early this year, Manuel has stepped up to raise his smaller siblings, caring for them and providing for them by taking on odd jobs. According to him, this gift of a home for him and his family came at a very crucial time in their lives.

“The house we are renting now is about to be demolished. When it’s gone we have nowhere to go,” the young man from Cavite said in vernacular after receiving the good news live on TV on Christmas Day. His older sister Evita, who stays with them but is tending to her own family, says she is excited to start a new life in their new home.

“I can’t put in to words the joy I am feeling. Our Christmas was happy because we were able to eat delicious food for noche buena that was given

by ABS-CBN. Now we are looking forward to a new life in our new home,” she shared.

The public first came to know about Manuel’s story in the ABSCBN current affairs program “Mission Possible.” The fourth of seven children, Manuel wakes up at 6:00 a.m. to pick mangoes, which he would then sell and use to buy their food. Sometimes, he also sifts through garbage to collect materials he could sell to junk shops.

Aside from providing for his family, he is also the one preparing younger siblings Ramix, Jeffrey, and Mike for school. On top of their

worries is the rent on their home, which the owner also plans to take down soon.

They can now rest assured they have a place to move into, after being blessed with a brand new 22 square meter “Aimee” row house unit, which features a living area, dining and kitchen, toilet and bath, and provisions for bedroom and a service area. They can pick among the different locations of Lumina Homes, which are all accessible to major thoroughfares, transport hubs, schools, hospitals, and business and leisure centers, and have complete amenities like a community hall, basketball court, mini gardens and playgrounds, and commercial areas.

Lumina Homes, “Every Juan’s Home,” is the fastest growing mass housing developer with over 50 projects in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. What further sets apart Lumina from other developers is its affordability—as low as 1,898 pesos monthly—and financial accessibility as it offers homes under Pag-IBIG financing and Easy PayLite bank financing which both guarantee fast loan release and low monthly amortization.

Aside from Manuel, other deserving individuals and organizations also received surprises and gifts from “UKG,” the country’s award-winning morning show, which celebrated its 11th anniversary this year.

Watch Umagang Kay Ganda with anchors Amy Perez, Anthony Taberna, Ariel Ureta, Gretchen Ho, Jeff Canoy, Jorge Cari, and Winnie Cordero from Monday to Friday, 4:55 a.m. to 8:00 a.m .on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. Watch it online via iwant.ph or skyondemand.com.ph.

Gelvezon-Tequi has pursued for more than five decades.

Apart from the artist’s collection, other featured artworks will be borrowed from private and institutional collections. Ma. Victoria Herrera, Director and Chief Curator of the Ateneo Art Gallery, has been invited to curate the exhibition.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines is located at the CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Malate, Pasay City. Exhibit viewing hours at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) are Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m..

For more information, please contact the Visual Arts and Museum Division, Production and Exhibition Department at (632) 8832-1125 loc. 1504/1505 and (632) 8832-3702, mobile (0917) 6033809, or send an email to ccp.exhibits@gmail.com or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Teen breadwinner Manuel Oliveros, with his family, receives the key to the brand new house and lot in UKG's 12 Days of Christmas.

Catriona...

From C4

Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi working in her studio

In chasing her own dreams, whether for a modelling career or for furthering her advocacies, Catriona looked for people, teams and organizations that could help her do just that.

“I choose my partners very carefully. For instance in the case of money matters, I chose to go with my most trusted bank, BDO. Their recent ‘Find Your Way’ campaign is deeply personal for me, and I am so honored that BDO saw my journey as a way of inspiring other people,” she shared.

“I’ve had several financial conversations with BDO officers and I am so impressed by their depth of knowledge and am using that to help me achieve my unique goals,” Catriona said.

“My dreams will continue to evolve! I would love to see myself pursuing music as a performer and recording artist with the goal of having my own songs and doing benefit tours. Also, I plan on pursuing business that has a community contribution,” the beauty queen added.

“I want to be known as a purposeful queen – to represent a person that not only strives for success, but realizes the responsibility of helping others achieve it also.”

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

Celebs made their mark on GMA’s ‘Walk of Fame’

Rising stars to watch in 2020

Kelvin Miranda

Jeremiah Tiangco

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Kira Balinger

business. Its purpose is to honor the Kapuso artists for their valuable contributions to the entertainment industry. At the moment, there are already 196 Kapuso artists or stars from the fields of entertainment and news and public affairs who have their names already etched on the Walk of Fame. To be a Walk of Famer, the personalities should not only excel on his or her craft but should also have a good public image. In short, wholesome. For this year, we are honoring 20 Kapuso artists who have excelled in their respective fields.”

“The artists that we choose to put in the Walk of Fame are not just artists, they also touch the lives and inspire people. They report the news, they work hard, they are parents and they have parents so they are children. They interact now with their fans.

They are also professionals and all of them are the best talents in the Philippines,” the television head honcho added.

Present during the launch and the media conference were joining Atty. Gozon were Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, Assistant Vice President for Talent Imaging and Marketing Simoun Ferrer, Senior Program Manager Mae Zambrano, GMA Artist Center Senior Talent Manager Tracy Garcia, and Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman co-host and Kuya Germs’ nephew John Nite.

Mary Joy Apostol

S WE ARIAS all say so long ALWIN IGNACIO and farewell to 2019, we are more than eager to embrace the arrival of 2020, the first year of the second decade of the new millennium.

In today’s Arias, an introduction of some showbiz hopefuls that we expect to see in concerts, films, television shows, theaters and of course, in wholesome and entertaining music videos and commercials. We give you these young men and women who will matter in this new decade and beyond.

Louie Abuel, Gold Azeron, Elijah Canlas, Jansen Magpusao, and Kelvin Miranda—Young Jedi acting masters, definitely the crème de la crème of the Gen Z who are all leading men potentials.

Abuel starred in the Cinemalaya coming of age flick Edward. Azeron was a hermaphrodite in Metamorphosis and was proclaimed best actor. Canlas was an HIV stricken teen sex worker and only begotten son of an aging priest in Kalel 15. Magpusao, trended and broke hearts as the motion picture John Denver Trending showed the downside of social media. And Miranda, was perfection as a wallflower and wet blanket; the brainiest yet the poorest classmate in a school of conos in Dead Kids.

Indeed, these fine lads are Philippine cinema’s new hope.

Kira Balinger, Krystal Bimner, and Jillian Ward—three pretty young misses with foreign-sounding last names are the best representatives of Eastern and Western genes that gave birth to a triple kind of wonderful.

Kira is currently one of the eight children in the top rating Pamilya Ko. Bimner is the daughter of Carmina Villaroel in the crowd horror MMFF favorite Sunod. And Ward, is the lead star of the GMA 7’s top rating afternoon primetime drama Primadonnas. A trio of young misses who are not only pleasing to the eyes, they hook us with their emotional commitment and honesty in giving life to their respective role assignments.

Andres and Atasha Muhlach, Maverick and Cassandra Legaspi—the wonder twins of the Muhlachs, Andres and Atasha attended the MMFF Awards Night, with the Miracle in Cell Number 7 lead star and MMFF box office champion Ariel Muhlach whom we all know as Aga with the perfect trophy wife and mother of course Charlene GonzalesMuhlach. Spell stellar wattage and that was what the Muhlach twins added to the ho-hum awards ceremony.

Cassy and Mavvy, meanwhile are having their slices of Kapuso fun in a cooking show with their mommy dearest and will be part of a new Sunday noontime musical variety show.

Andres, Atasha, Maverick and Cassandra are the perfect personifications of the words “improvement of the progeny.”

Mary Joy Apostol and Mai Fanglayan —Apostol made such an impactful acting debut in Mikhail Red’s Bird Shot.

She gave all of us a “yabang Pinoy” in great way kind of moment when she bagged the best actress award at the first ASEAN Film Awards in Da Nang, Vietnam three years ago.

Fanglayan was an Urian Best Actress nominee for

VARIOUS Kapuso personalities were honored with their stars on the “Walk of Fame” located at the walkway of GMA Network Studios.

The Kapuso Walk of Fame project, founded by the late Master Showman German Moreno, is meant to celebrate Kapuso personalities who have have greatly contributed in the fields of entertainment and news and public affairs.

The launch of the new batch of the Walk of Fame, held on Dec. 12, was an all-star spectacle graced by the presence of Carmina Villarroel, Aicelle Santos, Kris Bernal, Yasmien Kurdi, Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, and Roi Vinzon.

Also present were GMA News and Public Affairs personalities Emil Sumangil, Lala Roque, and JP Soriano.

Ai-Ai delas Alas, Gabby Concepcion, Megan Young, Iya Villania, Dion Ignacio, John Feir, Atom Araullo, Oscar Oida, Marisol Abdurahman, and Rovilson Fernandez were also inducted with their respective stars.

GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon acknowledged the passion of the notable Kapuso personalities which prove how deserving they are of being recognized with their own stars.

“Our Walk of Fame was introduced in March 2014. It was the idea of Kuya Germs with the help of John Nite for our artists who have made their mark in show

Bianca Umali poses beside her star during the unveiling of new batch of Walk of Fame honorees.

Catriona finds ways to reach greater heights

Atasha and Andres Muhlach

Tanabata’s Wife. Most recently, she made a lot of people tear up with her portrayal of a young woman afflicted with Hansen’s disease in Culion. Mary Joy and Mai are the muses of drama we must all embrace, love and support.

Jeremiah Tiangco and Sephy Francisco. Jeremiah is the grand champion of GMA-7’s The Clash Season 2.

Sephy, on the other hand, is the transgender singer who dazzled everyone in I Can See Your Voice and even had international singing exposure in South Korea and in United Kingdom.

Jeremiah is a balladeer and a matinee idol. Sephy, is both an alto and mezzo soprano who is always gorgeous in her fashion forward dresses. With their singing talents, aural pleasures are what these singers give all of us.

Mike Liwag—and finally, this year’s biggest breakthrough star. For the theater going public, Mike made quite a splash and raised body heats a plenty as the lover in Artist Playground’s Laro. He was a bad boy, the user kind of a lover that most gay men cannot resist.

Before the year ended, he became Jaime in Culion, the suitor of Jasmine Curtis-Smith’s Doris. As Jaime, a man-boy content with his life in the Hansen’s disease colony, a tragedy opened his eyes and heart. When he confessed his heartbreak, you just cannot help the welling of your tears. Emotional commitment and a truthful performance, that is what Mike Liwag invests in the characters he portrays.

IT’S been a year since Catriona Gray gloriously walked away with the Miss Universe title, but her road to success was very different from the other winners from the Philippines.

According to Catriona, she was aiming for the pageant’s crown for reasons beyond mere personal ambition. Rather, she wanted the Miss Universe title so she could use it as a platform to boost her advocacies and causes, to give back to the community.

Throughout her journey, she showed how different she was, starting with signing up as an independent candidate for Binibining Pilipinas.

She also formed her own pageant team, handpicking her own designers, mentors and stylists.

Along the way, Catriona had her share of naysayers and haters. She faced the grueling physical challenges of perfecting her walk and dealing with psychological pressure of carrying the hopes of over 100 million Filipinos during the pageant. This is the reason why it was such sweet triumph when she finally won the Miss Universe 2018 title.

Many Filipinos, especially millennials, draw inspiration from Catriona’s story of never giving up and finding new ways to reach her ultimate goal of being a beauty queen. Like her, they strive hard and seek innovation to achieve their goals and aspirations.

“Many felt so ‘personally invested’ in my journey because they saw themselves in me, as I put myself out there,” Catriona shared.

“I wanted to share my journey, including the trials, the risk of joining the pageant, the motivation (which is my charity work), the people who helped me along the way, along with the failures, too,” she continued.

Continued on C3 Many young Filipinos draw inspiration from Catriona Gray's story of never giving up and finding new ways to reach her ultimate goal.