Manila Standard - 2020 January 27 - Monday

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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 347 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Taal danger level lowered---Phivolcs Residents told to be evac-ready; 2 towns on lockdown By Rio N. Araja

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N explosive eruption of the Taal Volcano no longer appears imminent, authorities said Sunday as they lifted most of a mass evacuation order but warned residents to remain ready to flee.

HOME AGAIN. With signs that a major explosion of Taal Volcano appeared no longer imminent, a resident cleans ash from his house while another resident (right panel) unloads his family belongings from a motorcycle in front of his home in Lemery, Batangas. AFP

Facing ‘grave’ threat, China expands travel restrictions CHINA on Sunday expanded drastic travel restrictions to contain a viral contagion that has killed 56 people and infected nearly 2,000, as the United States and France prepared to evacuate their citizens from a quarantined city at the outbreak’s epicenter. A FILIPINO domestic worker in Hong Kong was quarantined after being exposed to two guests of her employer who tested positive for the new coronavirus. The Filipina, according to the consulate, is healthy and shows no sign of infection. China has locked down the hardhit province of Hubei in the country’s centre in an unprecedented operation affecting tens of millions of people to slow the spread of a respiratory illness that President Xi Jinping said posed a “grave” threat. Outside the epicenter, three cities, including Beijing, and an eastern province announced bans on long-distance buses from entering or leaving their borders. Originating in Hubei’s capital of Wuhan, the virus has spread throughout China and around the world, with cases

Palace, ex-envoy clash over VFA By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Outbreak shuts two parks in HK HONG Kong’s Disneyland announced it was shutting its doors on Sunday until further notice over the deadly virus outbreak in central China, a day after city authorities classified the crisis as an emergency. The park said it was taking the step to protect the health and safety of its guests and cast members and said refunds would be given. DEADLY OUTBREAK. A medical worker checks on a patient in the ICU of Zhonghan Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of a Ocean Park, a rival amusement park fast spreading virus, while two medical staff members wearing protective gear walk next to patients waiting for medical attention at the on Hong Kong’s main island, said it was Wuhan Red Cross Hospital on January 25, 2020. Left panel shows a sign announcing on January 26 the temporary closure of Hongkong also closing its doors. Next page Disneyland until further notice because of the outbreak. AFP

Palace belittles warning on Rody scandals MALACAÑANG on Sunday brushed aside a feng shui expert’s warning to President Rodrigo Duterte to be extra careful to avoid possible scandals this year. For Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the Chief Executive facing controversies was nothing new. “First and foremost, if I were to ask, then I wouldn’t believe in feng shui. But we have different beliefs,” Panelo said in an

Warning signs like earthquakes have been steadily waning since Taal burst to life two weeks ago with plumes of ash and lava, forcing over 135,000 people into shelters over fears a massive blast was coming. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said steadily shrinking ash and gas emissions were signs of “decreased tendency towards hazardous explosive eruption,” leading them to drop the alert by a notch, to Alert Level 3. The immediate impact of the reduced warning was the lifting of the evacuation order for nearly all the towns that ring the volcano, a tourist attraction that sits in the middle of a lake. “Residents of all towns under lockdown except Agoncillo and Laurel now have the option to return,” Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas told a press conference. “There’s a possibility that the volcano may still erupt and we should still be ready to evacuate in one hour.” No one is known to have died in the eruption, but the ash it unleashed forced the brief closure of the capital’s main international airport, stranding tens of thousands of travelers. The volcano shot ash 15 kilometers high and spewed lava in the Jan. 12 eruption, which crushed scores of homes and killed livestock as well as crops. Next page

interview with dzIQ. “Second, what would the new scandals be? He has been facing scandals. Despite this, his rating continues to go up.” Joey Yap, feng shui and Chinese astrology consultant, said the President would likely use his “problem-solving skills to his advantage,” particularly in boosting the Philippine economy during the Year of the Metal Rat. Next page

THE Palace on Sunday played down the importance of the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, saying the military pact was not beneficial to the country, and that its termination would not affect existing treaties with Washington. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the VFA merely grants privileges to American troops and provide them “legal cover” to enter the Philippines for joint training exercises with Filipino troops. “The VFA is more on the privileges granted to the American military...More on them than to us,” Panelo said in a radio interview. Panelo noted that the military pact, ratified in 1999, allows the US government to retain jurisdiction over their military personnel accused of committing crimes in the country, unless the crimes are “of particular importance to the Philippines. Next page

‘New projects to combat poverty’ By MJ Blancaflor

President Rodrigo Duterte

MALACAÑANG on Sunday brushed off the recent survey that recorded the highest self-related poverty rate in five years and said that over 13.1 million families or 54 percent of the respondents considered themselves poor as of December 2019.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it was normal for figures to “fluctuate” as he assured the public that the country’s economic managers would ensure more people would be lifted out of poverty. “There were times that it would fluctuate depending on the sentiments of Next page

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News

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pump prices drop for two straight weeks OIL companies announced a possible price rollback of P0.30 to P0.40 per liter for diesel and P0.25 to P0.30 per liter for gasoline this week. As this developed, the Department of Energy, through its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), is keeping a close eye on the implementation of the third and final tranche of excise taxes on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which took effect on January 1. Under this tranche, additional excise taxes of P1 per liter for gasoline, P1.50 per liter for diesel and P1 per kilogram for household liquefied petroleum gas will be imposed. There will also be an additional 12 percent Value Added Tax, bringing the total to P1.12 for gasoline and LPG, and P1.68 per for diesel. “The DOE has been undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that all tranches of excise taxes on petroleum products are properly implemented. On top of our regular monitoring of companies’ compliance to national quantity and quality standards, the DOE-OIMB has been conducting verification inspections to make sure that that depots and terminals are complying with the provisions of the TRAIN Law,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

‘New... From A1

the people and on circumstances,” Panelo said in a radio interview. “Our economic managers are competent and they would know what to do to remedy the need.” The Social Weather Stations poll released Thursday showed that the selfrated poverty in December last year was higher than September 2019 figures. Panelo expressed confidence that the Duterte administration could reduce the number of Filipinos who consider themselves poor this year. “We have so many incoming projects. That would create more jobs and our countrymen would be given the chance to improve their lives,” he said. The SWS survey showed that selfpoverty rates were highest in the Visayas and Mindanao with 67 percent and 64 percent, respectively. This was followed by Luzon with 47 percent and Metro Manila with 41 percent. The quarterly 12-point rise in nationwide self-rated poverty was due to sharp increases in all areas. Metro Manila and Luzon saw the highest increase with 16 and 13 points, respectively. This was followed by Mindanao (11 points) and the Visayas (8 points). The poll also revealed that the selfrated poverty threshold―or the minimum monthly budget poor families need for home expenses in order not to be poor―was P12,000 in December 2019. The same survey also showed that self-rated food poverty rose to 35 percent in December 2019, 6 points higher than the 29 percent in its September 2019 survey. This figure of food-poor families translates to 8.6 million families in December and 7.1 million families in September.

Palace belittles... From A1

Yap also warned that Duterte “would also likely create some scandals, if not carefully managed.” Despite this, Panelo said, the President would remain firm with his resolve to improve the lives of Filipinos under his watch. “The President is just doing his job. Just like what he said, he could not care less. He doesn’t care if people will be happy or not or if they will give them high or low approval rating,” Panelo said. “He said it’s his job to serve and protect them, even if might put his life, freedom and health at a disadvantage.” Duterte has repeatedly pledged to fight illegal drugs, criminality and corruption in government. Early this year, he also vowed to rectify the government contracts with private firms that would be found detrimental to the country. He said there was no reason for the oligarchs to get worried as long as they were complying with the law. “He will kill the desire of the rich to steal money from the taxpayers, from the consumers,” Panelo said. “If you are not doing anything wrong to others, there’s no need to fear for your safety. No one will harm you.” PNA

’Kill the rich’ remark clarified T By MJ Blancaflor

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said local and foreign investors should not worry about the latest remark of the President, adding it was a warning to the rich not to take advantage of the people “By this time, we know what the President meant. When he said ‘Kill the crazy rich,’ what he meant was ‘Kill the desires of the rich to steal money from the taxpayers, from the consumers,’” Panelo said in a radio interview. “He means do not violate the law. We

should follow the law. Unlike before that you can violate the law if you are linked with somebody powerful and influential.” In his speech Thursday night in Leyte, Duterte told his audience of former rebels to just wait for his “signal” to kill “rich” and “crazy” people in the country. “There are rich people in the Philippines who are crazy. They’re the ones whom we should kill. Just wait for my go signal,” Duterte said as he slammed the businessmen involved in water con-

cession agreements with the government whom he called “thieves.” Panelo defended Duterte, saying “It should not be taken literally. You know the President. He’s graphic. It was part of his style.” “[I]t was not just a figure of speech. It was to stress the importance of what he’s saying.” Panelo also said the rich should not worry if they had not done anything unfair to the poor. “If you have not done anything bad to others, you should not worry about your safety. Nobody will harm you,” Panelo said. In his speeches, Duterte has been criticizing the Ayala group and business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, whom he called “oligarchs” over the 1997 water concession agreement with the government, which he said contained “onerous”

Taal...

to go back,” said Ronald Humarang, a 32-year-old factory worker. “I am not really afraid (of an explosion) because during the initial eruption, we didn’t evacuate our house immediately,” he said. In its 8 a.m. bulletin Sunday, Phivolcs cited a decline in volcanic earthquakes, slower ground deformation in volcano island and the volcano’s caldera, and weak steam and gas emissions at its main crater. Despite the lower alert level, Phivolcs warned that “this should not be interpreted that the unrest has ceased or that the threat of hazardous eruption has disappeared.” Phivolcs noted “diminished to infrequent weak ash eruptions and longer episodes of degassing or steaming in the Taal main crater that generated steamladen plumes less than one kilometer tall.” Sulfur dioxide flux also decreased from 5,300 tons a day on Jan. 13 to 140

tons a day on Jan. 22. Phivolcs still advised concerned local governments to “assess areas outside the seven-kilometer radius for damage and road accessibilities” as well as to “strengthen preparedness... in case of renewed unrest.” The Palace on Sunday said it was pleased that state seismologists have lowered down the alert level of Taal Volcano into 3, adding that the national government would still prepare for dangers that might arise. In related developments: • Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday urged officials of the national agencies and local government units to ensure that special care and attention are given to children affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas. “I wish to remind my coworkers in government on the existence of this law mandating special protection to children before, during and after disasters. They need to comply with the

the hospital in time,” the message said. “Wuhan is a city that dares to face difficulties and keeps overcoming them,” the female voice added, mentioning the deadly 2002-03 SARS epidemic and 1998 Yangtze River flooding. Israt Zahan, a Bangladeshi doctoral candidate living in Wuhan said she and other students were staying in their homes as it was “too risky” to go outside. “The bustling city looks like a ghost town from my window. The shops are all shut down. I am rationing the food at my home. It will last for two days. Then I don’t know what I would do,” she said by phone. Despite anxious scenes at crowded hospitals in recent days, there were no signs of panic in the city. But defenses were bolstered elsewhere in the country. Beijing suspended long-distance bus services into and out of the capital beginning Sunday. Similar suspensions are planned for the entire eastern province of Shandong -- home to 100 million people – plus the northern cities of Tianjin and Xi’an. The southern city of Shantou had announced a ban on vehicles entering its jurisdiction after detecting two cases, but authorities later reversed the decision. Overseas Chinese tour groups will be suspended from Monday while domestic trips have already been halted since Friday. The nationwide death toll rose to 56 after 15 new deaths, most of them in Hubei. Shanghai on Sunday reported its first death -- an 88-year-old man who had pre-existing health problems. It was the first death reported in an internationally connected major Chinese city outside of

Wuhan, where the outbreak is believed to have originated in a market where animals like rats, snakes and hedgehogs were sold as food. The government says most deaths involved the elderly or people already weakened by pre-existing health conditions. Fearing a repeat of SARS, China has dramatically scaled back celebrations and travel associated with the New Year holiday, which began Friday, while tourist sites like Beijing’s Forbidden City and a section of the Great Wall have closed as a precaution. Xi said at a Communist Party leadership meeting on the crisis that China was “faced with the grave situation of an accelerating spread” of the virus, calling for stepped-up prevention. Measures have been ordered nationwide to detect and isolate people carrying the virus on planes, trains and buses. In Wuhan, China’s military has dispatched 450 medics, many with experience combating infectious diseases, to help treat patients in the city, many of whom reported hours-long waits at overwhelmed hospitals. Wuhan is racing to build two makeshift virus-focused field hospitals within a fortnight to ease the pressure. The first could be ready in just over a week. Also on Sunday, China ordered a temporary ban on the trade in wild animals as the country struggles to contain a deadly virus believed to have been spawned in a market that sold wild animals as food. Raising, transporting or selling all wild animal species is forbidden “from the date of the announcement until the national epidemic situation is over,” said a joint directive from three top agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture. AFP

“Should our President wish to improve the MDT and the VFA, he may wish to accept the invitation to meet President Trump. This would present an excellent opportunity for our President to place on the table his full expectations pertaining to our bilateral relations,” Del Rosario added. Apart from VFA, the Philippines has other existing pacts with the US, which include the 1947 Military Assistance Agreement, the 1951 MDT, and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The Military Assistance Agreement created the joint US Military Assistance Group to advise and train the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The 1951 MDT seeks to boost the defense and security cooperation between Manila and Washington, while the 2014 EDCA aims to boost military ties in maritime security and domain. On Friday, Panelo announced that the government has begun the process of terminating the VFA as ordered by the President. Duterte’s decision to scrap the VFA came after the Senator Ronald dela Rosa confirmed the cancellation of his US visa, saying Washington officials informed him he could apply for another visa if he wished. The neophyte senator was Duterte’s

first Philippine National Police chief and is known as the architect behind the administration’s crackdown on narcotics, which has been widely criticized over alleged human rights violations. Washington has long been an ally of the Philippines, but its criticism of the government’s war on drugs earned the ire of President Duterte. In an interview with RT, a Russian international television network, President Duterte said he cannot expect the US to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty, but he can earn this from Russia and China. “If I cannot get a credible posture from the Americans, I can get it from the Russians and the Chinese government. It’s because they respect the sovereignty of the country which America is totally, totally lacking,” Duterte said in the interview aired Friday. Panelo could not tell yet if the President would reverse his order of scrapping the VFA if the US government would restore Dela Rosa’s visa. Apart from the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa, Panelo attributed the termination of VFA to other factors, such as the passage of the US government’s 2020 budget, which included a provision that bars entry of Philippine officials linked to the imprisonment of Senator Leila De Lima. With Rio N. Araja

HE Palace on Sunday downplayed the threat of President Rodrigo Duterte to kill all “crazy” and “rich” people, saying “graphic” language was merely part of his leadership style.

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However, seismologists warned the volcano could unleash a much bigger eruption “within hours to days”, posing a deadly risk to anyone in a 14-kilometer radius danger zone. The volcano island is still under evacuation orders, and the thousands who lived there will not be allowed to return, the government has said. Taal, located just 60 kilometers from Manila, is one of the most active volcanoes in a country. Its last eruption was in 1977, but it has a long history of activity. In 1965, a Taal eruption killed some 200 people. Despite the risks that the volcano erupt could again erupt, many residents were eager to return home. “That’s where we were born, including my ancestors... so we are determined

Facing... From A1

confirmed in around a dozen countries as distant as France, Australia and the United States. The US State Department said on Sunday it was arranging a flight to repatriate staff at its Wuhan consulate and other American citizens trapped in the city. The flight departs Wuhan on Tuesday for San Francisco, it said in an email to Americans in China, while warning of “extremely limited” capacity for private citizens. Citing unidentified people familiar with the effort, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the plane would seat around 230 people. Around 1,000 American citizens are believed to be in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, the newspaper said. France’s government and the French carmaker PSA -- which has a sizable presence in Wuhan -- also said they were formulating plans to evacuate staff and relatives, who would be taken to a city in a neighboring province for a quarantine period. Sri Lanka said its Beijing embassy was considering action regarding its nationals in Wuhan. China would normally be celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday this week, but Wuhan’s eerie quarantine calm deepened on Sunday as new restrictions banned most road traffic in the metropolis of 11 million. Loudspeakers offered tips slathered with bravado. “Do not believe in rumors. Do not spread rumors. If you feel unwell, go to

Palace,... From A1

The termination of VFA, he added, does not affect “all other treaties which are and relative to the security of the Philippines’ alliance with the United States.” Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, for his part, said the administration must “fully revisit the decision to terminate the VFA.” “The VFA is an essential agreement to both the Philippines and the USA in effectively implementing the Mutual Defense Treaty. Without the VFA, making the MDT work would be more challenging, especially since we now have specific external threats as well as more devastating natural calamities,” he said. “While the VFA is admittedly an imperfect agreement, it would interrupt the benefits of the MDT with regards to the joint training and exercises, the pursuit of modernization, achieving interoperability and providing assistance during natural calamities. If we may recall, the quick US relief response during the Yolanda disaster was made possible by the VFA. Other countries wanted to immediately respond but were constrained by the lack of legal arrangements for their troops to enter the Philippines.”

provisions. Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Manuel V. Pangilinan head the major the concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad, respectively. Duterte had earlier ordered the Department of Justice to draft new contracts with the water firms without the “onerous” provisions. If the two companies refused to accept the new contracts, Duterte said, he would takeover their operations and nationalize the distribution of water. The contracts were set to expire in 2022 after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System canceled the extension of the agreement that was supposed to be until 2037. Aside from the water deal, the LRT1 concession agreement and the UP Ayala Technohub lease contract were also under scrutiny of the administration upon the orders of Duterte.

provisions of Republic Act No. 10821 in attending to needs of the children affected by the Taal eruption,” she said. • Senator Christopher Lawrence Go urged affected residents of Agoncillo and Laurel to continue heeding the lockdown in other Batangas towns to ensure their safety and protection. He also appealed to residents to respect the advisories of Phivolcs, which has come under attack by some politicians. • Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto on Sunday batted for the creation of a Taal Commission to oversee the relief, rehabilitation and assistance to affected communities, saying the P30 billion supplemental budget requested by President Rodrigo Duterte and the calamity funds for victims of the eruptions of Taal Volcano are not enough to meet their needs. Santos said it would take at least four years before the lives of those affected could go back to normal. With MJ Blancaflor, Macon Ramos-Araneta, AFP, PNA

Outbreak... From A1

On Saturday, Hong Kong classified the outbreak as an “emergency”–the city’s highest warning tier--and announced ramped-up measures to reduce the risk of further infections. The move came as city leader Carrie Lam faced criticism in some quarters over her administration’s response to the crisis. Calls have been made by opposition politicians and some medical experts to halt, or limit, arrivals from the Chinese mainland where the epidemic began. Of the five people who have tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong so far, four arrived via a newly built highspeed train terminal which connects with the mainland. On Sunday, a newly formed union which represents health care workers threatened industrial action from Feb. 3 if the government does not ban all arrivals from the Chinese mainland. The Hospital Authority Employees Association, which is still in the process of registering as a union, said it had received 3,700 applications from members to join. The Hospital Authority employs around 76,000 people. Lam has resisted closing the border, saying the crisis is not yet at a point where such a drastic measure is needed. But she has announced all mainland arrivals must now sign health declaration forms. A series of public events, including a Lunar New Year gala and next month’s marathon have also been cancelled. On Sunday, the nearby gambling hub of Macau announced three more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its total to five. All three new cases were women who came from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic. One of the women had arrived in Macau via Hong Kong, authorities said. The closure of Disneyland and Ocean Park will pile fresh misery on Hong Kong’s tourism, leisure and retail industries which have already been battered by more than seven months of often-violent pro-democracy protests. Ocean Park is on track to receive a HK$10.6 billion (US$1.3 billion) government bailout over grim ticket sales in recent years. Combined with the US-China trade war fallout, the protests have helped tip Hong Kong into recession and the virus outbreak has only compounded the city’s economic woes. Shanghai’s Disneyland also closed from Saturday in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Hong Kong has firsthand experience of deadly viral outbreaks. Nearly 300 people were killed in the city by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, a tragedy that left a profound psychological impact on one of the most densely populated places on earth. AFP

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY.

Policemen from the Philippine National Police’s Maritime group land at the beach front of the Baseco Beach in Port area Manila, a year after the launch of the Battle for Manila cleanup program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other key government agencies. Inset photo showed DENR Sec.Roy Cimatu turning on the switch for the Manila Bay Treatment plant during the ‘Battle for Manila Bay’ in celebration of the 1st anniversary on Sunday. With him are Supreme Court Justice Diosdado Peralta, Sen.Cynthia Villar, US Ambassador. Sung Kim and MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim and Robert Joseph, President Manila Yacht Club. Norman Cruz

Win urges DepED to track down out-school youths By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Win Gatchalian on Sunday urged the Department of Education to increase its conscious efforts in tracking down out-of-school youth and children, prior to the early registration set on February 1 for incoming school year 2020-2021. DepEd Order (DO) No. 3, series of 2018 or the “Basic Education Enrollment Policy” seeks to locate, identify and register learners who are out of school, with disabilities and those who live in conflict-torn, far-flung, geographically isolated, drug-affected and natural disaster-stricken areas. He said early registration also aims to locate learners such as those who are living with chronic illness and nutritional problems, and survivors of child abuse or economic explanation. At the same time, Gatchalian is pushing for an institutionalized Inclusive Education Learning Resource Centers in all regional public schools nationwide. This will highlight the need of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and children with special needs to adapt to regular schools, whether private or public, so that they’ll be provided the same care, attention, and guidance when they spend most or all of their time with non-special needs students. The lawmaker added that the DepEd should fully enforce initiatives such as the ‘Child Find’ component of Department Order 72, series of 2009 or Inclusive Education as Strategy for Increasing Participation Rate of Children.

12k plus PH nurses seek U.S. jobs A By Willie Casas

TOTAL of 12,786 Filipino nurses hoping to practice their profession in America took the U.S. licensure examination for the first time in 2019, the ACTS-OFW Coalition of Organizations said Sunday. “The number is up 24 percent versus the 10,302 Philippine-educated nurses who took America’s eligibility test, or the NCLEX, for the first time in 2018, and the highest since 2010,” said ACTSOFW chairman Aniceto Bertiz III. Citing data from the U.S. National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc., Bertiz said a total of 1,541 Indians, 1,171 Puerto Ricans, 834 South Koreans and 901 Nigerians also took the NCLEX for

the first time in 2019. The $200-NCLEX is usually the final step in the U.S. nurse licensure process. Thus, the number of foreign-educated nurses taking the test for the first time (excluding repeaters) is considered a sound indicator as to how many of them are trying to enter the profession in America. An aggregate of 206,045 Filipino nurses have taken the NCLEX for the

first time since 1995, Bertiz said. “We see America’s demand for Filipinos nurses steadily increasing in the years ahead,” Bertiz, a former member of Congress, said. The U.S. Department of Labor projects the creation of up to 371,500 new jobs for registered nurses in America between now until 2028 on account of the growing demand for health care, Bertiz pointed out. ”Most of these new jobs will be filled by U.S.-educated nurses, but some of them will have to be filled by Filipino and other foreign-educated practitioners,” Bertiz said. Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bertiz said registered nurses in America receive a median pay of $71,730 (P3.5 million) per year,

Guevarra torn between DOJ and SC post By Rey E. Requejo

Military, cops to get free legal assistance—Go By Macon Ramos-Araneta MILITARY and uniformed personnel facing any charge arising from an incident related to the performance of their work shall be provided with free legal assistance, said Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Go said he filed Senate Bill No. 393 because the cost of litigation often proves to be too burdensome for any enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). “With the meager livelihood earned by our soldiers and police officers, the State must do its part to ensure that those tasked with the duty to serve and protect are adequately served and protected,” Go said. “Our peacekeepers, the members of our Armed Forces and PNP, are seen as dispensers of justice who place their lives on the line on a daily basis so that we may enjoy the peace and freedom envisioned under the Constitution,” he added. Like any other sector of the society, Go said, the military and police should not be denied access to legal assistance which they may need as a consequence of the faithful performance of their official duties.

or $34.48 (P1,714) per hour. Meanwhile, the German Federal Employment Agency has started recruiting 550 Filipino nurses. The nurses for deployment to German hospitals and in-patient nursing homes will receive a gross starting monthly salary of 2,000 euros (P111,000), which will be increased to 2,400 euros (P133,000) after recognition as a qualified nurse. Prior to deployment, the nurses will undergo German language training in the Philippines to be paid by the employer. The employer will assist the nurses in finding suitable accommodation in Germany, and the nurses will pay for the board and lodging expenses in full or in part.

SAF 44 REMEMBERED. Philippine flags are displayed at the Peoples Power Monument along Edsa in Quezon City in

commemoration of the 5th Anniversary of SAF 44 Massacre in Maguindanao with personnel from the Highway Patrol personnel serving as security detail. Manny Palmero

Innovation Act appropriated P300-M seed money

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

TO FUEL the efforts to make Philippine products and services more competitive, particularly enterprises geared towards helping the poor, over P300 million was provided under the 2020 General Appropriations Act as seed money for the establishment of an innovation fund, Senator Sonny Angara said. As mandated by Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act, an innovation fund will be established “to strengthen entrepreneurship and enterprises engaged in developing innovative solutions benefitting the poorest of

the poor.” The National Innovation Council (NIC), chaired by the President, is tasked to administer the fund and for the 2020 national budget, while the P323 million fund is lodged under the Office of the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, who serves as its vice chairperson. Under the law, the Innovation Fund will be used for grants to qualified proposals upon the determination of the NIC. “We encourage micro, small and medium enterprises to explore ways to innovate their products and services. If you want to expand your market reach

and make a niche in your respective industries, then innovation is the way to go,” Angara said. “For many entrepreneurs, knowing where to begin when it comes to improving their products and services is definitely a challenge. This is among the objectives of the Philippine Innovation Act—to help find ways for MSMEs to improve competitiveness,” Angara added. On top of the innovation fund, the law also requires all banking institutions to set aside at least four percent of their total loanable funds for innovation development credit.

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said that while he is dreaming of becoming associate justice of the Supreme Court someday, at present he is deeply committed in reforming and strengthening the Department of Justice and its attached agencies. Guevarra issued the statement after the Judicial and Bar Council announced that it is now accepting nomination and application for the post of associate justice of the Supreme Court. Guevarra said he has not applied for the position, out of respect to President Duterte who appointed him as his alter ego to the department. The DOJ chief said that his present concern is also to strengthen the DOJ and its agencies. Besides, he said it would be improper to apply for a position without first informing the President about it. “I wish that someday I can join the Supreme Court, should the JBC find me qualified and the President deem it best for the administration of justice,” Guevarra said in a text message. Guevarra admitted earlier that it would not look good if he applies for position in the judiciary or if accepted nomination because once he accepts the nomination, the process would promptly begin and he would have to submit documents. “As a member of the Cabinet whose tenure is supposed to be coterminus with the President, I think it is but proper, out of courtesy and respect, to inform the President of any such intention to seek a position in the Judiciary before accepting any nomination to the Supreme Court,” Guevarra said. “Right now, I am deeply involved in strengthening the DOJ and the agencies under it, and a fair accomplishment of this objective will determine if the time is ripe for me to move on,” he added.

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Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

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So what, Bato? SO THE US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard sent notice to Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa that his visa to their country had been herewith cancelled. And Bato has related this to one and all. So what, Bato? It’s not the end of the world if your US visa is cancelled. Seventeen (perhaps more) of us fellow Filipinos had the same notices given to us by the US Embassy in the year 2006, but we did not cry to the highest heavens about it. You can’t visit the US of A? Go elsewhere. Why not visit each and every one of our 7,100 islands, at least those where human habitation is

It’s not the end of the world. possible? Two senators, one of them still an incumbent; four congressmen; a former president; and a few others associated in one way or the other with these political notables were included in a list of Filipinos whose existing visas to the United States were revoked by way of a terse letter from their embassy along Roxas Boulevard. The government of the Philippines then under the leadership of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took no cudgels for any of us. Of course, none of us, to my knowledge, informed media or Malacanang about the “big deal.” As far as I know, none of us have ever stepped foot on US soil since, except for one—the former president who became mayor of the city upon which the Embassy of the US of A sits beside the bay where the sun sets. The mayor wanted to watch a Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas, the same fabled city where PRRD is now

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

being invited by impeached Donald the Trump for a US-Asean Summit (kuno!) this March. And the present ambassador of the “forbidden” country must have made representations with Homeland Security to allow the mayor entry into their forbidden land. He was probably told that once upon a time, another mayor of the city, piqued at the statements of a predecessor in the embassy, ordered the city engineer to dig up the portion of Roxas Boulevard (maybe it was still Dewey Boulevard then, which is how PRRD calls the street to this day) fronting the embassy, preventing ingress and egress. Ha! I loved that guy. He had guts. Sadly though, when martial law was proclaimed, he was visiting the US of A, and being a perceived political enemy of Ferdinand Marcos, decided to stay seek asylum, and in Nevada at that, the commercial capital of which is Las Vegas, where Trump hopes ten Asean leaders would come visiting, and perhaps plunk some dollars into its casinos. Duterte does not gamble, but who knows if Hun Sen or Prayut does? Dagdag-kita rin sa Las Vegas, which our Entertainment City cum POGO, and even Singapore, let alone Macau, have edged out of the distinction of being the “gaming capital” of the world. If the impeached Donald the Trump (and I hope the Republicans in the Senate get a message from above like Paul of Tarsus and act accordingly) was ever serious about Asean or the Asia-Pacific ever, why should he want to invite our region’s leaders to parley with him in Vegas? Is Washington DC, the nation’s capital, not the appropriate place for a summit? After all, his toadies on Capitol Hill would have made short shrift of the Nancy Pelosi articles of impeachment by then, di bala? Or even Mar a Lago, his private resort in sunny Florida where he feted Xi Jinping? Inviting them to Vegas shows just how he rates Asean as third class. And President Duterte was right in declining the invitation, but surely, it should not have been because of Bato’s inability to visit his relatives in the land of milk and

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REPORTER for NPR, Mary Louise Kelly, interviewed United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the firing of former Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovich. Among others, Kelly asked Pompeo whether he believed he owed Yovanovich an apology for not defending her. The secretary said: “I’ve defended every single person on this team...I’ve done what’s right for every single person on this team.” Based on Kelly’s account, after she asked him to elaborate on specific acts that showed he defended the the former ambassador, Pompeo ended the interview and left the room glaring at her. After a while, an aide asked Kelly to go into Pompeo’s room, with specific instructions not to bring her recorder. He then shouted at her for about the same amount of time as the interview itself had lasted.

He asked her whether she thought Americans cared about Ukraine. “He used the f-word in that sentence, and many others.” The secretary also gave her a blank map and asked her to point where Ukraine was. In a later statement, Pompeo gave the impression that Kelly had mistakenly pointed to Bangladesh, instead. He never denied cursing at her, but accused her or lying to him twice: “First, last month, in setting up our interview and, then again yesterday, in agreeing to have our post-interview conversation off the record.” “It is shameful that this reporter chose to violate the basic rules of journalism and decency,” he said. “This is another example of how

unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and this Administration.” Media here in the Philippines are no strangers to pushback and retaliation from the powerful when their mighty feathers are ruffled. Government officials who act boorishly when a journalist’s—or a media organization’s—questioning or reporting are not favorable to them only reveal their insecurities and their own unhinged state. It is precisely the duty of the press to ask uncomfortable questions, to criticize when needed, and to point out lapses in governance. All these seek not to bring down anybody, but to constructively help officials to lead better. Those who cannot stand dissenting views merely expose their despotic tendencies. This should not be taken lightly by the people that put them in power in the first place.

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Ignore Cuisia’s warning

AS EXPECTED, former Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose “Joey” Cuisia has come out of the woodwork warning President Duterte that terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Unites States would only benefit China. Malacanang should just ignore Cuisia’s warning and proceed with the VFA review and, if, warranted terminate it. The longtime former executive of Philamlife and other US-owned or -affiliated companies and a staunch supporter of that long problematic US (deep state?) projection as the “world’s policeman,” Cuisia should be one of the last persons who can speak objectively about the continuing need for an untouched RP-US VFA. To him and his ilk, this arrangement is so favorable to the Philippines that to even tweak is would be tantamount to selling the country down the drain. Why he has even gone to the extent of insinuating that the newly acquired Navy cutters which he has so romantically described as the “workhorses patrolling the West Philippine Sea” have been given free by the US under the VFA, saying that “the United states won’t likely ask to get these back when they pull out”? Again, he should be the last person to even suggest so. I remember he was still the envoy to Washington when our armed forces was forced to pay an arm and a leg for under armor or even unarmed armored personnel carriers (APCs) from US army surplus. The same amount of money could have bought us more armed and newly refurbished APCs from another source which was blocked by US authorities. Cuisia did not even raise a howl over this obvious cavalier, unfriendly gesture. Well, it is time to tell Cuisia and his cohorts that we cannot have that kind of arrangement any longer. He has to be reminded that this agreement

entered into by the parties in 1999 is so opaque and shrouded in controversy that it should have been reviewed and reformed, if not altogether terminated years ago considering the tortuous manner by which it has been and continues to be implemented on our side of the bargain. The two sex cases involving US servicemen participating in exercises under the VFA are instructive. In 2005, five US servicemen gang raped a woman named “Nicole” and were arrested and detained by Philippine authorities.

The President is well within his powers to seek the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. Initially, US commanders insisted that the group be turned over to them to be tried under their military justice system. It took time and a lot of bickering not to mention veiled threats mostly coming from the US side before they were finally tried before our courts. By then, the issues have been clouded by a host of unrelated issues after US government representatives and their local allies tried their best to play down the incident, even going to the extent of demanding leniency and special treatment to the accused. So even as one serviceman was eventually convicted, he was deported back to the US where he served his sentence. The case of Jennifer Laude who was murdered by another US serviceman years after was even more problematic. After all, it was a murder, and a sensational one at that. Again, the investigation and trial went through the same routine with US officials trying their best to shield the serviceman from even getting detained for a minute. All kinds of ruses were made to have the guilty party accountable only under US laws, rules and processes, our judicial system be damned. In the Turn to A5

Who’s trivializing what? These people are consistently inconsistent. LOOK who’s criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement now? No other than the most righteous of the righteous, the most patriotic of the patriotic, the militant Renato Reyes. The other day, Reyes hit Duterte for trivializing the issue of the VFA for using it as a “bargaining chip” for Senator Bato dela Rosa to get back his US visa which was confirmed to have been cancelled by the US government. “The termination of the VFA is a serious matter. We have fought for it since 1999. It is NOT a mere bargaining chip to get Bato back his US Visa. The termination of the VFA is needed because it is an affront to our national sovereignty,” Reyes was quoted in his social media account. “Junking the VFA should not be based on whether or not Bato is granted a US visa. Termination of the VFA is

long overdue since it’s not a mutuallybeneficial agreement. If it’s just used as leverage for Bato’s visa, what kind of policy is this?” he added in Filipino. This was in response to Duterte’s pronouncement giving Washington a one-month deadline to reconsider the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s US visa. “I’m warning you, this is the first time. Kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan. One, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement,” was Duterte’s strongly-worded warning. “I am giving notice and they begin to count. I am giving the American government one month from now,” the President said. Take note, Duterte used the word “correct” or correction to be precise. It is because the cancellation of Bato’s US visa did not stem from the simple right of every country to allow or bar anyone from entering their country.

Bato’s visa was cancelled because he was being suspected of being one of those behind Senator Leila de Lima’s incarceration due to her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade which some US officials claim, is politically motivated. And that is aside from being pinpointed as the architect of the Oplan Tokhang which is said to have already claimed thousands of lives of suspected drug pushers. And that is what is being overlooked, wittingly or maybe unwittingly, by Reyes and company. The reason for Bato’s US visa cancellation was because some US officials want to impose themselves on the Philippine government with regard to the De Lima and the alleged EJK cases. They want De Lima freed and all those supposedly behind her incarceration and those suspected to be involved in the alleged EJKs arising from Duterte’s war against illegal drugs penalized and jailed. The same US officials are invoking the Magnitsky Act which authorizes the US government to sanction those who it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets, and ban them from entering Turn to A5

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

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

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Corruption, taxes and populist tirades

A promise for the Filipino child

LAST Thursday, a study group composed of representatives of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, Tingog Party-List through the office of Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and several child welfare stakeholders convened for the first time to discuss the crafting of the proposed Magna Carta of Children. In a privilege speech at the House of Representatives last November 18, 2019, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC), Romualdez, currently the chair of the Committee on the Welfare of Children, identified the crafting and passage of the Magna Carta of Children as the committee’s “utmost priority” in the 18th Congress. As mentioned in her privilege speech, the proposed Magna Carta of Children is intended to be “a more comprehensive legislative measure that will not only encourage the protection of children from threats and harm, but more importantly ensure positive support for ‘the development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.’” It is hoped that the bill will “create the environment needed to steer the growth and welfare of Filipino children in all aspects of life.” Finally rolling their sleeves to begin the work of crafting this important proposed legislative measure, the study group identified five key objectives for the task ahead. In putting together a comprehensive Magna Carta for Children, the stakeholders aim to guarantee the direct implementation, full compliance and optimal impact of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child; ensure consistency between international obligations and national legislation in matters involving children’s rights and welfare; enable a systematic review of existing domestic child welfare legislation; meaningfully affirm the role and participation of children in nation-building; and finally, strengthen the child-serving institutions of government, particularly the Council for the Welfare of Children. This effort of “incorporating” international conventions into domestic legislation is not entirely new in the Philippines. In 2009, Congress passed the “Magna Carta of Women,” a comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging in the marginalized sectors of the society. This landmark legislation serves as “local translation” of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In like manner, the proposed Magna Carta of Children hopes to put together a framework of rights for children based directly on the UN Convention

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honey no longer. I know one senator who during session breaks visits Europe or other Asian capitals, even if one of his previous relaxation habits before 2006 was to drive an SUV from LA to San Fo, and even beyond, to Oregon and Seattle, past beautiful wine country and forests primeval, not to mention stopping for In and Out burgers. Now no more. And one political kingpin of a Northeastern province whose favorite meal is a fat slab of Peter Luger’s steak in Brooklyn, New York. Until now he pines for being allowed to visit the US of A only to satisfy his gustatory cravings. To him I say: mag-Mamou or Elbert’s ka na lang! Pero bilib ka talaga kay Duterte, and this is not a sip-sip statement.

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the United States. Now tell me, Mr. Reyes, is this a trivial matter? Does this not constitute an act that tramples on our sovereignty? But what is the VFA anyway? The said agreement, signed in 1998, allows American and Filipino troops to conduct joint training operations in Philippine territory and it came into force on May 27, 1999, upon ratification by the Philippine Senate while the United States government regards these documents to be mere executive agreements not

on the Rights of the Child. Doing so will affirm the correlation and ensure consistency between our international obligations as defined by the UN-CRC and existing as well as future child-related national legislation. This way, a Magna Carta of Children will put in place an affirmative and proactive culture of protecting, preserving and promoting children’s rights and welfare across local and national government. This will assure that the government at all levels is able to act effectively in the best interests of all Filipino children.

Last Thursday’s discussion was well-participated, not only by the gov government’s children welfare agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Council on the Welfare of Children, and the Commission on Human Rights but also by several civil society organizations, mostly belonging to the Child Rights Network, the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the country. Also present was a representative from the Senate Committee on Women, Family Relations and Gender Equality, currently chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Steering the discussion was Mari Fe Janet Domingo-Sumalpong, Committee Secretary of the Committee on the Welfare of Children with a presentation by Atty. Anjanette Saguisag of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the salient details of the UN-CRC. The first meeting of the study group concluded with a shared commitment to fully support the crafting and, hopefully, the passage of the said bill. Mentioned in particular was the need to involve the children themselves in the preparing the bill. To this end, the study group hopes to bring the discussions on the bill to the grassroots, through roadshows and community consultations. All stakeholders expressed their excitement about the work ahead of them, knowing the significant positive impact that it will have on child welfare in the country. The general consensus among stakeholders was to use the UN-CRC as the guiding framework in the preparation of the Magna Carta of Children, taking into consideration all existing child-related legislation as well as addressing the present challenges in providing a healthy environment for children to live and grow into responsible adults. It was also suggested that the Magna Carta include not only the rights of children, but also indicate their obligations and responsibilities as well. Lastly, the group agreed that in putting together a draft Magna Carta, care must be taken not to simply “repeat” what is already provided for in the UN-CRC, but instead contextualize its provisions taking cognizance of the unique challeng-

es confronting Filipino children today. Of equal importance also is the need for a continuing evaluation toolkit, or a report card system that will track and measure the implementation of the proposed bill, once passed into law. Passing a Magna Carta of Children, however, has still a long way to go. The study group’s task is simply to develop a working draft, which afterwards will be turned over to a formal technical working group. However, the study group hopes that the bill will be filed by July this year, in time with the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 18th Congress. Championing the bill, of course, is Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, a staunch child welfare advocate herself. Together with House Majority Leader and Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Yedda Romualdez also authored the Safe Haven for Abandoned Newborn Infants Bill (HB 4158), the Bill Increasing the Age for Determining SexStatutory Rape and Other Acts of Sex ual Abuse and Exploitation (HB 4160), the Alternative Child Care Bill (HB 5581) and the Bill Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination (HB 0137). Under her leadership, the House Committee on the Welfare of Children has also passed at the committee level, the Magna Carta of Child Development Workers Bill, the Parents-Teachers-Community Association Bill and the Bill Creating a Special Trust Fund for Abandoned, Neglected and Voluntary Committed Children authored by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. True to its campaign promise, Tingog Party-List is doing its best to deliver on its legislative agenda. As principal author, Rep. Romualdez has also successfully pushed for the approval at the committee level the Disaster Resilience Bill (HB 1151), the Alternative Learning System Bill (HB 1586), the Yolanda Commemoration Day Bill (HB 3300) and the EVSU Dulag Satellite Campus Bill (HB 4959). Representatives Yedda and Martin Romualdez were also among the principal co-authors of the Malasakit Center Act (RA 11463) and the Salary Standardization Law (RA 11466). Unlike other sectors of society, children are inherently vulnerable. They cannot, on their own, participate in nation-building. They need their families, the government and the wider community, to provide the requisite care, guidance, health and education services, especially in their early formative years. Sadly, the important role that today’s children will play as tomorrow’s stakeholders do not often receive the full attention that it requires. But what better path to guarantee a strong and secure future for our country than to prepare our children more intently for the role they are set to play as citizens, to prevent risks and threats to their positive growth, to promote their welfare and well-being, to encourage their full participation, and to institute stronger social protection programs that will benefit them and their families? This is the promise that the Magna Carta of Children commits to fulfill.

He knows very well Homeland Security would not run afoul of the Magnitsky law finagled as well into the US federal budget and allow Bato entry to the US of A simply because the Philippine President so demanded. And the impeached Donald the Trump would not lift his finger on such a matter in an election year either. But for purposes of drama, PRRD uses the Bato visa as demand, and throws in the Visiting Forces Agreement into the pot as well! Now that is earth-shaking. Or should we say, region-shaking for the entire Asia-Pacific geopolitical basin. All of a sudden, our president discombobulates the balance of power in the region where the South China Sea straddles. Maybe Trump with his current political problems is yet out of mind on the implications of our president’s dare, but both Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon must be having dyslexia.

My friend Babes Romualdez, our ambassador to Washington, must be in edgy, antsy mood, with his secretary Teddy Boy Locsin immediately seconding the President’s unilateral declaration, and even Defense Secretary Del Lorenzana saying it’s all up to the president because abrogation is executive privilege on our part, with the Senate’s role confined only to the ratification of what the Americans themselves treat only as an executive agreement. Further than this, I cannot comment upon for reasons of diplomacy. But Bato our senator should console himself with the indisputable fact that several cuisines are much better than American fare. There’s Charolais beef in France or highland Angus from Scotland, even Bistecca alla Fiorentina in Tuscany, or rightly marbled Number 5 grade Matsuzaka. Better yet, Peking Duck in Hong Kong or even Xiao long bao in Taipei! Anytime, Senator Bato!

requiring approval by their Senate. And while we recognize the Left’s consistency in opposing the VFA since it came into force more than two decades ago, we are rather perplexed by Reyes’ stance. Doesn’t the situation create an opportunity they can exploit? Of course they can be branded as Machiavellians for resorting to such move, but haven’t they been doing that? Aligning themselves with the enemies of their enemy? They have aligned themselves with the traditional opposition because they oppose Duterte. They have aligned themselves with alleged foreign-funded

media entities and oligarchs who have earned the ire of the President because they oppose him. In fact they have formed unholy alliances with these groups because they have common enemy—Duterte. And now, here comes an opportunity for them to exploit a situation to the hilt, but which they refuse simply because they won’t look at the larger picture. Instead they are more interested in trivializing the matter. Anyway, that’s no surprise anymore. As I have said before, the only thing consistent with them now is their being inconsistent.

Children are inherently vulnerable. They cannot, on their own, participate in nation-building.

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IN THE President’s 4th State of the Nation Address six months ago, I described as least polarizing his lamentation on what he said in his own words as the “pervasive” corruption in government, an undelivered campaign promise to the people. “No amount of euphemism can trivialize and normalize betrayal of public trust or any other criminal offense. It is an injury laced with insult. It is both a national embarrassment and a national shame,” the President said then. The Philippines fell by a big 14 notches in the 2019 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a rating system on anti-corruption by Transparency International, that dropped our rank 99 places to 113th, the worst since 2012. By any standard, this is a significant and revealing reflection of governance.

The “us-versus-them” populist narrative seems to have helped the President’s ratings. The prevalence of corruption is di directly linked to the erosion of govern government revenues that are directly sourced from the taxes and fees collected from individual and business enterprises operating in the country. Citing the 2017 United Nations Development Programme’s estimates, Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos said in his speech at the National Summit on Crime Prevention of the National Police Commission just five months ago, that the government loses 20 percent of its annual national budget. Computed based on the 2017 and 2018 budget, Ramos said that, “This translates to about ₱670 billion and ₱752 billion computed lost to corruption in those two years.” So, in these two years of this administration, this adds up to about ₱1.4 trillion lost to corruption!! Now compare this to revenues raised from TRAIN, the slew of new taxes implemented in 2018 partly blamed to spark high inflation rates that hit consumers. Quoted in news reports last month, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs preliminary data reported the total collections until the third quarter of 2019 was at P91.3 billion, a surge by 107 percent compared to the same period in 2018. Even if hypothetically, the UNDP estimates were off by 50 percent and assume a round, very forgiving figure of ₱300 billion annual loss from corruption, the additional revenues from TRAIN would be offset by hundreds of billions of badly need funds that could have boosted development critical public services such as education, healthcare, housing and infrastructure. Reversing the analogy, if corruption were controlled by only 50 percent, there would be no need to impose these new taxes that actually burden the struggling D and E consumers and the middle class. As an emerging economy, corruption

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end, the serviceman went off the hook with nary a sentence and immediately flown back to the US. These are just two of a host of other cases involving the implementation of such agreements which highlight the opaqueness and uneven implementation of our VFA. Instead of clarifying the terms under which the US military is supposed to operate in the Philippines the existing VFA has been so worded as to ensure not just opaqueness but out-and-out transgression of our own laws, rules and processes. While the VFA is usually concerned with issues associated with the conduct of servicemen while participating in the annual VFA exercises, other concerns have been raised including the very propriety of having such an agreement at all considering the constitutional ban on the presence of foreign troops in the country. Finally, we have to tell Cuisia and his group that the President is well within his powers to seek the termination of this agreement which to be very clear about it should be treated as just an executive agreement not a treaty in the strict sense of the word. It was just our Senate which voted to have this, and only after very heavy pressure from US authorities and their local allies to have this go through the processes of approving a treaty. But this was never ratified by the American Senate and

is even more devastating as it thrives in an environment of inefficient use of resources, shadow ecosystems ideal for illicit trade (smuggling). There are other effects such as low morale, distrust in government, and the deeply damaging impact from the degradation of social values that would feed a culture of even more corruption. This is a scary environment for any investor. The call to stop new tax measures and instead plug the revenue leaks through good government has been shouted by consumer groups, economists, governance experts and political analysts. But although we have enough thinkers to come up with anti-corruption reforms and there are ready technologies that will solve the inefficiencies and vulnerability of human interaction in government transactions, government finds it easier to impose more taxes than to operational and organizational re-engineering, or in the President’s words, the “self-purgation” of government institutions. Just banner the populist benefits, then unleash resources to mobilize a massive propaganda machinery to paint a great sounding rationale, some politi political pressure on legislators, and create a perceived enemy and voila! New tax laws. This seems to be one dimension of the populist playbook now in play. The sustained verbal tirades of the President against some of the country’s industry leaders fits well in this game of public perception that this administration has mastered well. But it is dan dangerous game that hits on the founda foundations of the country’s most productive sector. It has damaged confidence and trust in our regulatory environment and will further hit our competitiveness in attracting big investments that government economic managers have been working so hard to improve. Based on latest government data, there are less than 2 million government employees while private companies account for more than 40.6 million jobs. Just look around your neighborhood and place of work (and play). These are the legitimate private enterprises that have been instrumental and should be rightly credited for not just daily, but minute-by-minute and direct impact on the lives of all the inhabitants of this country. It’s the drive and innovative culture of private business that finds the most efficient and viable way to give its consumers quality and affordable services and products. A culture alien in the expense-oriented bureaucratic milieu of government. The populist tirades continue almost on a daily basis. Expect them to continue because the “us-versus-them” populist narrative seems to have helped the President’s ratings. Of course, this may just be one observer’s opinion. But it sounds like they have started the messaging for the next presidential elections. Some telling signs are there: keep the ratings high (with more troll operations), hype up a litany of legacies even if he still has two and a half years to go, and reverse the failure to curb corruption and catching (or kill) “big fish” drug lords by declaring war on big business whose core competence is efficiency, productivity and as highly regulated publicly listed companies, must always comply with laws and be transparent. The real drivers of prosperity should not succumb but stand their ground. therefore not recognized as a treaty by the United States. Like the President’s order to terminate our relations with the International Criminal Court and our accession to the Treaty of Rome which established that body, he can simply issue a letter saying so. Or, as Foreign Affairs Secretary TeddyBoy Locsin said, he can have his staff compose a letter and even he (Locsin) can simply be the one to send the missive to his counter part in the US. It is as simple as that. After which, the termination takes effect 180 days upon issuance of such advise unless otherwise officially set aside. In any event, if the President for some reason decides to take his time, there is still the need to have the VFA reviewed after two decades of existence. As Senator Koko Pimentel, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opined, we do need to review this agreement given our colorful and tortured experience with its implementation over the years. It is always proper and healthy in any relationship to take a look at how the same has been over time. Given the new realities of an everchanging world, the President is duty bound to direct that review which, as Justice Secretary Meynard Guevara noted, has been ordered anyway long before the US government’s decision to cancel the visa of Senator Bato dela Rosa and President Trump’s signing of the US 2020 budget which included that unfair and highly objectionable insertion of the three US senators on Senator Leila de Lima’s detention.

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TODAY JANUARY 27, 2020 MONDAY, mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Education support for kids in armed conflict sought

Group seeks end to police surveillance on teachers A MILITANT teachers’ organization on Sunday demanded that the Philippine National Police stop its surveillance on teachers involved in union-organizing. “In an ongoing teachers’ seminar on unionism currently held in Baguio City, we received a report that police agents are monitoring the teachers’ activities,” the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said in a statement. ACT said a crew from the catering service in charge for the event was approached on Friday by a state agent, allegedly from Police Station 3 of Baguio City, who asked if the police can take charge of the catering. On Saturday, another crew was approached again and was asked if ACT has plans of conducting protest actions. “This is a clear harassment to teacher rights and their freedom to conduct peaceful union activities which the PNP regularly violates,” ACT said. “The PNP should be reminded they have no right to intrude, harass and monitor teachers’ activities. ACT reiterates its call for the government to stop harassing ACT members and leaders and respect and uphold their right to organization, free speech and assembly,” the group added. Willie Casas

By Willie Casas

NORMAL DIFFERENCES. Health advocates unite to celebrate neurodiversity during the “Angels Walk for Autism” in Pasay City on Sunday. The event also served as the closing ceremony for the Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week. Norman Cruz

CA upgrades sentence vs. Cavite ex-vice mayor By Rey E. Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has modified the sentence imposed by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court against a former vice mayor of a town in Cavite and four others for the kidnapping and murder of a businessman and his driver in 2008.

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In 46-page decision, the CA’s Special Fourteenth Division, through Associate Justice Elihu Ybanez, ruled that instead of reclusion perpetua—which has a fixed duration of 20 years Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT and one day to 40 years—the National Capital Judicial Region convicts should suffer the penalty Quezon City, Metro Manila BRANCH LXXVIII (78) of reclusion perpetua without PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF eligibility for parole. MINOR JOSHUA SAMUEL The CA stressed that former SARENAS IBAÑEZ, Dasmariñas Vice Mayor Victor SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-19-15989-SP SPOUSES GINO ANTONIO Caruncong, former commanding CADIENA CRUZ AND MARIA CLARISSE SARENAS IBAÑEZ-CRUZ, officer of the Philippine National Petitioners. x---------------------------------------------------x Police-Special Action Force in ORDER A verified Petition was filed by the petitioners, spouses Gino Fort Sto. Domingo Chief Insp. Antonio Cadiena Cruz, and Maria Clarisse Sarenas Ibañez-Cruz, Exequiel Cautiver, Mariano through counsel, praying that after due notice and hearing the petition be granted, that the minor JOSHUA SAMUEL SARENAS de Leon alias “Spider” and IBAÑEZ be declared for all intents and purposes as the legitimate child of the petitioners, and the Civil Registrar of Mandaluyong Alejandro Entrolizo should have City be ORDERED TO AMEND his Record of Birth to change his surname to that of petitioners. Petitioners are husband and wife, both of legal age, and residents of 78 General Avenue, GSIS Village, Barangay Tandang Sora, Project 8, Quezon City. They were married on July 13, 2019. The minor Joshua is the illegitimate child of petitioner Maria Clarisse Paula Ibañez-Cruz who was born before her marriage to petitioner Gino Antonio Cruz. As evidence by the lack of signature in the Certificate of Birth, Joshua’s birth was not acknowledge by this biological father, who had abandoned him and his mother Maria Clarisse while he was still a toddler. At present, neither petitioners nor Joshua have any communications with the biological father. They have no knowledge of his whereabouts. That petitioners desire to jointly adopt Joshua and extend to him all the rights and privileges of their legitimate child. At present, they live together with Joshua who is a YS 9 (Grade 8) Home Study Program student at Angelicum College in Quezon City. Petitioners provide for all his needs as well as ensure that his upbringing is in accordance with sound Biblical Christian values. And since the birth of Joshua, petitioner Maria Clarisse has been a selfless and responsible mother. She sacrificed her personal needs and aspirations to look after Joshua’s needs as a child, and continues to do so until now in her child’s teenage years. Petitioner Gino Antonio has likewise cultivated a loving, open, and supportive relationship with Joshua as a gesture of his love for the mother and son. Moreover, petitioners are qualified and do not possess any disqualification under the adoption laws to adopt the minor Joshua, and are financially capable of supporting him. They have a wholesome and happy home life, and have a stable income coming from professional commissions, interest on savings, investment earnings, and consultancies. Petitioner Gino Antonio is a Certified Public Accountant. He previously worked from 2010 to 2014 at SGV & Co. as an accountant and then later at KGLI Asia ROHQ from 2014 to 2018 as a financial analyst. Currently, he is a Business Broker affiliated with Link Business Broking Philippines, Inc. As a business broker, he is engaged in the sale of business to ensure that owners are able to get the most beneficial transaction for them in transferring the ownership of their businesses. Petitioner Maria Clarisse is likewise a Business Broker affiliated with Link Business Broking Philippines, Inc. She is also an insurance agent for Sun Life of Canada, Philippines, Inc. since 2016. That as required by law, petitioners are willing to be the subject of a child study report to be conducted by the Court Social Worker. IN VIEW THEREOF, and finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course. Accordingly, let the instant petition be set for hearing on May 6, 2020 (Wednesday), at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning at Rooms B13-B14, Basement, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City. Notice is hereby given that anyone who has any objection to the Petition should file his/her opposition hereto within fifteen (15) days from the last date of the publication of this Order or appear in Court on the above-scheduled date of hearing and show cause, if any, why the Petition should not be granted. Let this Order be published, at the expense of the petitioners, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national circulation in the Philippines, to be chosen by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court, this city pursuant to PD.D. 1079. The Court Social Worker Ms. Mariebec Cariaga is hereby directed to conduct a case study on the petitioners and on the minor subject of the adoption and to submit her report on or before the scheduled hearing. Petitioners are hereby directed to coordinate with the Court Social Worker to facilitate the preparation of the case study report. Petitioners are further required to furnish a copy of the Petition, together with its annexes, the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the City Prosecutor, Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Local Civil Registrar of Mandaluyong City, the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), and to submit compliance therewith before the scheduled hearing. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, October 17, 2019. (Sgd.) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, JR. Copy Furnished: Presiding Judge Spouses Gino Antonio Cadiena Cruz & Maria Clarisse Sarenas Ibañez-Cruz Atty. Noche Riza D. Castillo Pros. Conrado C. Rosario Office of the Solicitor General Office of the Civil Registrar – Mandaluyong City Office of the Civil Registrar – Mandaluyong City Office of the Civil Registrar – Q.C. Philippine Statistics Authority (NSO) D.S.W.D. - NCR (MStandard - Jan. 27, & Feb. 3 & 10, 2020)

been sentenced to death had not it not been for the passage of law prohibiting capital punishment. In the same ruling, the CA exonerated Cautiver’s wife, Chief Insp. Penelope Cautiver, and directed the Superintendent of the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City to release her from custody unless she is being held for some other lawful cause. “On the other hand, we find appellant Penelope’s participation in the crime not adequately proved with moral certainty. There was no evidence that she had conspired with the malefactors, nor that she actually participated in the commission of the crime,” the CA held.

The five accused were earlier found guilty by Pasay RTC Judge Eugenio Dela Cruz of Branch 117 of kidnapping Demosthenes Cañete, a businessman and retired pilot of the Philippine Airlines, and his driver Allan Garay. They sought P20 million in ransom and threatened to kill the victims if their demand is not met. Despite payment of ransom, the accused killed the victims during captivity. Cañete’s body was found in Porac, Pampanga while Garay’s body was recovered in Valenzuela. The appellate court also ordered the appellants to jointly pay the heirs of Cañete P100,000 as civil indemnity, P100,000 as moral damages, and P100,000 as exemplary damages, in addition to the P425,670.57 actual damages imposed by the trial court for the burial expenses of the victim. “All the monetary awards shall earn an interest at the legal rate of six percent per annum from the date of finality of the court’s decision until fully paid,” the CA said.

GLOBAL nongovernmental organization Save the Children Philippines on Sunday called for stronger support for education for children trapped in armed conflict and frequently displaced by natural calamities. “Save the Children Philippines places education at the forefront of its programs from development to emergency settings, particularly for children who suffer from intersectionality of vulnerabilities including learners with disabilities and indigenous people,” said Alberto Muyot, Save the Children Philippines chief executive officer. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in particular, some 400,000 adolescents in the conflictaffected areas do not attend school due to poverty, government data showed. These adolescents also face different forms of violence as well as recruitment by various armed groups. The group implements the Reach to TEACH program in conflict affected areas of BARMM to provide education to children affected by armed conflict and those living in disaster-stricken communities. The three-year project (20192021) is being implemented in Sulu, Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Marawi City, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. These provinces have been experiencing protracted conflict for over 10 years due to insurgency, terrorism, rido (clan feud) and pangayaw (tribal wars). “When children and youth from deprived and marginalized situations get equal access to learning opportunities, education becomes a tool peace-building and development,” Muyot said. Muyot also raised concerns about the situation of half a million learners affected by the continuing eruption of Taal Volcano. These children have been displaced from their homes while their schools are either heavily damaged by ash fall or being used as evacuation centers, said Muyot.

Rotary Club honors 12 Golden Wheel awardees By Rio N. Araja THE Rotary Club, through its Golden Wheel Awards, has given special recognition to men and women who have exemplified “service above self” and the guiding principles of the Four-Way Test. “The 2019-2020 Golden Wheel

awardees are all recognized in their respective fields for their work in the fields of peace and conflict; government service; sports; agriculture; trade and industry; corporate social responsibility; media practice; arts and culture; tourism development; good governance and health. They are among the best in what they do and have contributed to the overall

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 9 BALAYAN, BATANGAS IN RE: APPLICATION FOR LAND REGISTRATION

8-9-10 NW 10 to 24 NW 24-25-1 NW Tie Point:

L.R.C. CASE NO. N-577 RONALD R. ELEPAÑO, JR., Applicant. x-----------------x ORDER A verified Application for Land Registration has been filed by applicant Ronaldo R. Elepaño, Jr. praying that after due notice and hearing, an Order be issued that the subject land be brought under the operation of the Property Registration Decree: directing the Administrator, Land Registration Authority, to issue the corresponding Decree of Registration over the subject land under hte name of the Applicant and directing the Register of Deeds of Batangas to issue an Original Certificate of Title covering the subject land in the name of the applicant, which is more particularly described as follows, to wit: “TECHNICAL DECRIPTION Survey Plan No. : Casd-04-045733-D Lot No. : 810-B Portion of Lot : 810, Cad-842-D, Calaca Cadastre LRC Record No. : Land Owner/Claimant: Gregorio Caisip Location : Brgy. Dacanlao, Municipality of Calaca, Province of Batangas, Island of Luzon Boundaries: Line Direction Adjoining Lot/Feature 1-2 NE Barangay Road 2-3 SE Lot 811, Cad-842-D, Calaca Cadastre 3 to 6 SE Lot 1401, Cad-842-D, Calaca Cadastre 6-7-8 SW Dacanlao River (30-40 m. wide

Lot Description: Line Tie Point -1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 1415 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 25-1

with a Legal easement (20.00 m. wide) Lot 1252, Cad-842-D, Calaca Cadastre Lot 810-C (River), Csd-04-045733-D Lot 810-A, Csd-04-045733-D BLLM #1, Csd-842-D, Calaca Cadastre Bearing N.81º 15’W S. 07º 33’E N. 82º 51’W S. 12º 28’W S. 10º 01’W S. 10º 01’W N. 62º 35’W N. 44º 27’W N. 07º 41’E N. 07º 41’E N. 41º 35’E N. 33º 57’E N. 49º 49’E N. 39º 42’E N. 19º 42’E N. 19º 42’E N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’W N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’W N. 44º 27’W N. 44º 27’E N. 44º 27’E

and president of The Araneta Group; Greco Belgica, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chief; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, peace negotiator in the peace process with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front; Luz Annalee Escudero-Catibog, GMA Kapuso Foundation executive vice president; Jing Castañeda-Velasco, Date Approved : Feb. 2, 2017 ABS-CBN and Geodetic Engineer : Paulino Z. Regalado.” dzMM broadcast journalist; Romulo under the provision of the Property Registration Galicano, painter; Decree. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and Senator Christopher substance, the same is set for hearing on March 4, “Bong” Go; Jamie 2020 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court, sitLim, Southeast ting at the Hall of Justice, Regional Trial Court, Asian Games Balayan, Batangas, at which date, time and place gold medalist in any interested person is hereby ordered to show cause if any why the petition should not be granted. karatedo; Henry The applicant is hereby directed to have this Lim Bon Liong, Order published at its expense once in the Official SL Agritech Corp. Gazette, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks chairman and CEO; in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, and once a week for three (3) consecutive Dr. Ma. Lourdes weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Marquez, wellness province of Batangas. specialist and dzMM Let this Order be posted at the main door of the teleradyo host; Provincial Building of Batangas, at the Bulletin Board of the Hall of Justice, Regional Trial Court, Tourism Secretary Balayan, Batangas, and at the Bulletin Board of B e r n a d e t t e the Municipal Building of Calaca, Batangas, at the Romulo Puyat, and expense of the applicant. Marinduque Rep. Notify the Office of the Solicitor General, the Land Registration Authority, and the Bureau of Lord Allan Velasco. Lands, which may file, within fifteen days from reHealth Secretary ceipt hereof or from the last date of publication, Francisco Duque III their opposition. received a special The applicant is hereby ordered and to furnish Golden Wheel the Office of the Solicitor General, the Land Registration Authority, the Bureau of Land, and the adaward for being joining owners of the subject land, within fifteen a Rotarian from (15) days from receipt hereof, with a copy of the another district, but application and its annexes and manifest to this whose contributions Court compliance herewith. over his long career SO ORDERED. in the public health Balayan, Batangas, October 11, 2019. sector merited (Sgd.) CAROLINA F. DE JESUS recognition. Presiding Judge A special award Copy furnished: Office of the Clerk of Court BL/OSG/LRA/RD was given to Mildred Official Gazette Applicant Vitangcol, St. Peter Counsel for Applicant Life Plan board Manila Standard / Jan. 27 & Feb. 3, 2020 chairperson.

development of the nation,” said Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera. Herrera serves as governor of Rotary International District 3780 (Quezon City) and the ex-officio chairperson of the award’s search committee. The 12 awardees were Jorge LeonAraneta, chief executive officer, chairman

Distance 3778.29m 137.80m 14.29m 71.32m 23.31m 20.95m 22.94m 52.62m 25.34m 56.00m 6.29m 11.41m 11.53m 10.95m 5.57m 6.79m 9.37m 8.64m 14.12m 7.22m 13.04m 9.05m 11.93m 6.19m 16.83m 11.67m

Area: TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY NINE SQUARE METERS AND FIFTY SQUARE DECIMETERS (12.659.50) SQUARE METERS. Description of Corners: Corners 2,3,4,6,7 & 8 are Old PS cyl. conc. mons. 15x50 cmc. and the rest are PS cyl. conc. mons. 15x40 cms. Bearings : Grid Date of Original Survey: March 7 to April 29, 1989 Date of Subd. Survey : March 12, 2016

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Go for Gold Cebu leads triathlon champions CLOSE to 600 triathletes kicked off the 2020 Triathlon season by competing in the National Age Group Triathlon Series Leg 1 held on Sunday at San Bernardino, Subic Bay Freeport. This annual event is organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department. Other NAGT Subic 2020 supporters include Pocari Sweat, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines Inc., FINIS, Acea, Standard Insurance, StratMed and PLDT Home. The NAGT series is TRAP’s premier grassroots recruitment and development platform. Young triathletes were also scouted and pooled for training to compete in the 2022 Youth Olympic Games. Go for Gold Cebu ruled the Boys’ Super Sprint Distance event with Matthew Justin Hermosa and Jacob Kennedy Lipunan taking first and third place, respectively. Dash Aron Ramirez of Sta. Cruz, Laguna finished with a silver medal. On the Girls’ side, last year’s winner Lady Samantha Jhunace Corpuz successfully retained her gold medal. The Palarong Pambansa 400m freestyle swimming record holder clocked in at 37 minutes and 45 seconds. Silver medalist Kira Ellis of Team Fitness First displayed vast improvement from her seventh place performance in 2019. Jeanna Mariel Canete of Cebu finished in third place, less than two minutes after Ellis. The winning athletes from the 1315 age group are highly-anticipated to be the future stars of triathlon and shall likely comprise the nucleus of our country’s 2022 YOG team, should they qualify. This year’s Subic race also served as a preparatory event for the ASTC, Asian Championships, Asian Beach Games, and ASEAN Para Games. For more information, contact the TRAP by email at trapsecretariat@ gmail.com. Complete race results will be released online.

Malixi boosts PH Ladies cast

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic signs autographs after his men’s singles match against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Djokovic rips Schwartzman, faces Raonic in quaterfinals M ELBOURNE—Defending champion Novak Djokovic swept past Diego Schwartzman and into an Australian Open quarter-final with big-serving Milos Raonic Sunday as he zeroes in on an eighth Melbourne Park title.

The rampant Serbian second seed was on another level to Schwartzman, the 14th seed, crushing the Argentine 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena to book an 11th appearance in the tournament’s last eight. Raonic is his next hurdle and the Canadian has also been in fine touch. He is yet to drop a set, blasting past fellow former world number three Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 7-5. “Milos is one of the tallest, strongest players on tour and has one of the biggest serves,” said Djokovic, who is into his 46th Grand Slam quarter-final, second only to Roger Federer’s 57. “I’ve got to be ready for missiles coming from his side of the net. One key element will be how well I’m returning.” The Serb has met 32nd seed Raonic nine times and won them all. But the Canadian is back to full fitness after years of injury struggles and his powerful serve could cause problems. So far he has served 59 games and won them

all. Asked what he needs to do to beat Djokovic, he replied: “I think I’m going to have to hit more than 35 aces,” referring to the number he pumped past 2018 finalist Cilic. “I think we play quite opposite from each other, and he’s done a good job in the past neutralising my serve,” he added of the Serb. “So I have really got to focus on my things well and be the one dictating.” The Australian Open is Raonic’s favourite Slam. He reached the semi-finals in 2016, when he lost to Andy Murray, and the quarters on three other occasions, including last year. His career, though, has been plagued by injuries, with operations over the years for hip, foot and wrist problems. He has also struggled with back, ankle, calf and knee issues. He said it felt “pretty damn good” to

finally be injury free. Quality player While Djokovic had won all three of his past meetings against Schwartzman, the Argentine had caused him problems previously and he needed to come from two sets down at Roland Garros in 2017 to win. Despite this the writing was on the wall—the Argentine had never beaten a top-five player in 21 clashes, and it wasn’t about to change Sunday. They went game for game in the opening set until Djokovic pounced, working a break point to get the crucial edge and go 5-3 in front. Sensing a quick victory, he stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set, breaking twice. But Schwartzman is a fighter who runs and scraps for every ball and he pulled back a break, only for the world number two to calmly serve out the set. The scurrying Schwartzman is renowned as one of the fastest men around court and did all he could to claw back into the match, but Djokovic’s searing groundstrokes and pinpoint serving gave him few chances and the end quickly came. AFP

RIANNE Malixi, coming off an explosive start to a new season, sets out for another major championship run, joining a crack mix of local and foreign bidders in the Philippine Ladies Open slated Feb. 18-20 at the Manila Golf Club in Forbes Park in Makati City. Malixi bested SEA Games team gold medalist Abby Arevalo on the third sudden hole to snare the crown in the National Stroke Play, which used to be the Philippine Amateur Open, at Riviera three weeks ago in a victory that further underscored the growing repute of the rising 12-yearold who racked up three victories in the National Amateur Tour last year. That included a triumph in the Phl Junior Amateur Open at Sherwood Hills where she won the overall championship despite playing in a lower age-group category. The bespectacled shotmaker, who dreams of playing in the LPGA Tour someday, also reigned in the Phl Amateur Open Match Play and Northern Luzon Regional Championship. But she braces for a stronger, tougher challenge in the upcoming event, organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines and accredited by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with fellow young campaigner Eagle Ace Superal, Arnie Taguines, Mafy Singson, Junia Gabasa, Mariel Tee, Nicole Abelar, Laurea Duque, Sam Dizon and Arevalo bolstering the local roster. But the locals will have their hands full against a slew of top and rising foreign players from Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Saipan, among others, all primed up for three days of battle of shotmaking and mental toughness for the crown held by now pro Yuka Saso the past two years.

Coach Tiu wants better performance from Mighty Sports AFTER two tough wins and a two-day break, Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu is looking for a better performance from his boys when they play against Tunisia’s Es Rades in the Dubai International Basketball Championship today (Monday) at

the Shabab Al Ahli Club in the United Arab Emirates. Two weeks after the team was formed, Mighty Sports played two straight games barely a day after arriving in the ultramodern city on Wednesday and the flaws

Andray Blatche during a rebound play.

were evident as it struggled to beat host UAE and Syria’s Al Ittihad. Game time is at 9 p.m. (1 a.m. Tuesday Manila time) with Mighty Sports, backed by Creative Pacific of Bong Cuevas, Go for Gold, Oriental Game, Gatorade and Discovery Primea, out to firm up its hold of Group A lead in the 11-team tournament. “We welcomed the two-day off for it gave us ample time to correct the mistakes we did in our past two games,” said Tiu. “After running some plays during the break, hopefully we can play much better against the Tunisian club.” Team owner Alex Wongchuking was already pleased with what he saw in the team’s 77-72 win over the Syrian club so he expects a different Mighty Sports squad to show up against the Tunisian club. Though it was naturalized Andray Blatche who carried most of the scoring

load, Wongchuking was delighted with the contributions made by Isaac Go, Dave Ildefonso and Jamie Malonzo. The three combined for 16 points as they held their grounds against beefier rivals to the delight of the predominantly Filipino crowd. “They’re indeed the future of Philippine basketball as they showed great resolve against taller defenders,” said Wongchuking. Filipino migrant workers, however, are looking for a breakthrough performance from former Ateneo King Eagle Thirdy Ravena. Easily the most popular in the team, the 6-foot-2 Ravena is still trying to find his offensive rhythm after being held to just four points in two games. “He will have his time to shine, there’s no doubt about that,” added Wongchuking.

PBA Board of Governors to hold annual planning session in Italy MEMBERS of the PBA Board of Governors look forward to exciting talks as they hold their annual planning session in Milan, Italy next week, laying down programs for a season-long celebration of PBA Season 45 starting March 1. Board chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa and league commissioner Willie Marcial head the PBA delegation leaving for Italy’s northern Lombardy region metropolis Monday as they also discuss long-term plans to help sustain the league’s status as the country’s leading sports entertainment. Vice chair Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip, treasurer Silliman Sy of Blackwater and other board members Alfrancis Chua (Barangay Ginebra), Robert Non (San Miguel Beer), Rene Pardo (Magnolia), Al Panlilio (Meralco), Rod Franco (NLEX), Raymond Zorrilla (Phoenix), Mert Mondragon (Rain or Shine), Erick Arejola (NorthPort) and Dickie Bachmann (Alaska Milk) all confirmed their attendance.

“It will be an exciting summit, and we’re all hopeful for fruitful talks leading to a joyful celebration of the league’s 45th season,” said Marcial. The league is eyeing a grand season where it features the launch of the inaugural PBA 3x3 tournament to help Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas boost the sport that makes its debut as an Olympic event in Tokyo in July. The PBA board is also likely to discuss the Gilas program geared at making good in the FIBA World Cup that the country is hosting in 2023. For the coming initial window of the FIBA Asia qualifier in February, Gilas is likely to field a hybrid roster featuring young Gilas cadets reinforced by PBA veterans. “The league is still in break in February, so the PBA players are free to join Gilas if they’re invited to reinforce the national team. We’ll hear from SBP president Al Panlilio,” said Marcial. Another key topic could well be a drive

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and the Board of Governors

to sustain the tremendous growth of PBA viewing on digital platform. “We’ve gone heavy on digital in the past season, and we intend to continue to do so,” said Marcial. The just-concluded PBA Season 44 was marked by greats hits PBA games

enjoyed on live viewing through TV5’s digital arm. There’s the NLEX-NorthPort tripleovertime game in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals that drew 1.5 million views. And it was easily topped by views during the Ginebra-Meralco finals.

Rianne Malixi

Pasig-Sta. Lucia reaches playoffs BINAN—Pasig-Sta. Lucia barged into the playoffs of the North division while Bicol-LCC Malls and Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol continued their spirited battle for the eighth and last playoff slot in the South Saturday night in the Chooksto-Go MPBL Lakan Season at Alonte Sports Arena here. The Realtors subdued also-ran Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines, 107-100, to raise their record to 17-11 and tightened their hold of seventh spot. The Bicol Volcanoes edged the Quezon City Capitals, 89-87, to boost their chances but the Cebu Sharks also kept their bid going by routing also-ran Imus Bandera, 101-76, who ended their campaign with a 6-24 record in the roundrobin eliminations among 31 teams. Getting double digits from Ronjay Buenafe, Jerome Garcia, Alwyn Alday, Chris Lalata and Jonathan Aldave, the Volcanoes rose to 15-3 to stay at No. 8, towing the Sharks, who were lodged at No.9 with an even 13-13 slate. Jeric Teng was the hottest Realtor with 30 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks; followed by Josan Nimes with 22 points, Robbie Manalang with 15 points and 8 assists; Argel Mendoza with 15 points; and Leo Najorda with 12 points. Navotas, which got 18 points from homegrown Osama Abdurasad, 17 points from Jhong Bondoc, 13 from homegrown Algin Andaya and 11 each from Mark Anthony Guillen and Elmer Cabahug, skidded to 7-22

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

James passes Bryant, 76ers rout Lakers LOS ANGELES, United States—LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time scoring list with a 29-point performance on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time), but his Los Angeles Lakers suffered a one-sided loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-91. James, who was named to his 16th straight all-star game this week, etched his name in the record books by becoming the third leading scorer in NBA history. With the Lakers trailing the host Philadelphia 76ers 74-52 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the third period, James received a pass from Anthony Davis at the threepoint line and drove across the lane, splitting two defenders for a layup and the historic points. At the next timeout he received a standing ovation from the crowd of 21,109 at the Wells Fargo Center arena. The basket put James at 33,644 career points, one more than former Lakers great Bryant’s 33,643. Longtime Utah Jazz star forward Karl Malone is next for James to pass with 36,928 points. Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the league’s all-time scoring leader with 38,387 points. After the game, James talked about meeting Bryant as a teenager and getting a pair of shoes from his hero. They cramped his feet but he wasn’t going to take them off. “I wore them that night. I was a 15 and he was a size 14. I wore them anyways,” James said. “He was immortal offensively because of his skillset,” James said. “The story is too much. Now I am here in a Lakers uniform in Philadelphia where he is from. “The universe just puts things in your life. When you live the right way, things happen organically. It is not supposed to make sense but it just happens.” Bryant congratulated James, who is in his second season with the Lakers, on Twitter. “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother,” Bryant wrote. AFP

Tiger pursues 83rd PGA title LOS ANGELES, United States— Third-ranked Jon Rahm seized the lead of the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) while Rory McIlroy chased the world number one spot and Tiger Woods charged into contention for a record-setting 83rd career US PGA title. Rahm made five birdies and an eagle to shoot a bogey-free seven-under par 65 and stand on 12-under 204 after 54 holes at Torrey Pines with American Ryan Palmer one shot back after a 71. “I was really focused. To stay bogey free at Torrey Pines is a really good round,” said Rahm, who made all 15 of his putts from 10 feet or less. “I hit a lot of really good putts.” Woods, who has eight career triumphs at Torrey Pines, fired a 69 to stand five behind Rahm entering Sunday’s final round at the seaside San Diego layout. “I’m going to have to shoot a pretty good round tomorrow,” Woods said. “I’ll have my work cut out for me. I’ll have go out there and post a number and hopefully it will be good enough.” Second-ranked McIlroy, needing a victory to return to world number one for the first time since 2015, fired a 67 to join a third-place pack on 207 with South Korean Kang Sung and Americans Harry Higgs and Cameron Champ. “I hit the ball well off the tee. I gave myself plenty of chances,” said McIlroy. “If you can pack your patience around this place, just hang around, you should be OK. “No one is going to go out here and shoot the lights out. If you keep putting it on the green and give yourself chances, you’re going to do well out here.” AFP

Sports

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives hard to the hoop against Philadelphia 76ers defenders Shake Milton (18) and Tobias Harris. AFP

PSC taps experts for summit

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) gathers known sports specialists and educators for a set of lectureworkshops in the 2020 National Sports Summit on February 27 to 28 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

In line with the theme, “Creating a clear vision of Philippine Sports,” the PSC aims to put into perspective the present status of sports in our country and chart the path to be pursued to achieve excellence through this event. Around 500 participants from different government agencies, private sector, national sports associations (NSAs), collegiate coaches and athletes from the UAAP, NCAA, and NCRAA and other stakeholders are set to attend the largest nationwide sports summit this year.

“This will be the second National Sports Summit of this scale since 1992 so we want it to be as inclusive as we can,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez. Dr. T.J. Rosandich, President and CEO of the United States Sports Academy (USSA) will give a lecture on Sports Success from a first world perspective. Leading the institution founded by the late Thomas Rosandich in 1972, USSA has brought their sports programs to over 60 countries to date. Dr. T.J. Rosandich’s sharing of his expertise is seen as a means to help local

coaches, instructors, and sports managers in following the success of sports from a First World perspective. “In order to realize this, it is imperative for us to work with experienced people in the field to educate us about inclusive, grounded, and scientific measures vital in our production of an effective sports plan,” said Ramirez. The Department of Education (DepEd) is also set to give discussions about the status of sports in schools led by Undersecretary Atty. Revsee Escobedo. Davao del Norte Youth and Sports Development Head Giovanni Gulanes will also share the secret to the success of their sports program in their LGU. Other topics to be discussed for the twoday workshop are Sports Governance and Philippine Legislation to be facilitated by PSC’s Deputy Executive Director Atty.

Guillermo Iroy, the Value of Sports Marketing to be conducted by Prof. Tessa Jasminez of the University of the Philippines Diliman, high-performance sports, and learnings from sports in the ASEAN region. Prior to the mentioned lecture-workshops, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Interior and Local Government are also delivering their status reports of Philippine sports. The National Sports Summit 2020 will also be graced by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano as the keynote speaker on its opening on February 27. The Philippine Sports Commission, headed by Chairman William Ramirez and its Commissioners will lead the twoday sports convention.

sweeps Teng powers Pasig-Sta. Lucia to MPBL playoffs Adamson st BIÑAN, Laguna—After finishing dead last in the Datu Cup, Pasig—Sta. Lucia turned things around and clinched a playoffs spot in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season, Saturday at the Alonte Sports Arena here. Leading the way for the Realtors is expro Jeric Teng, who averaged 27.4 points on 50 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds and four assists in five games this January, the most crucial month heading into the playoffs. “We are just thankful na nakapasok kami sa playoffs given na two weeks before the season lang nabuo ang team. I am very happy kasi alam namin na pinaghirapan talaga namin ito,” the University of Santo Tomas product said. In their playoff-clincher, he provided the spark anew with an all-around game of 30 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Most importantly, Pasig punched its playoff ticket after turning back the gritty Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines, 107-100. Last season, Pasig was at the cellar of the 26-team field behind a 4-21 win-loss card. Meanwhile, this Lakan Cup, the Realtors are at the seventh spot at 17-11. But making the post-season is just the beginning of the journey for the Realtors as they vow to fight their way in the playoffs. “Umpisa pa lang ito. Gagamitin ko yung experience ko sa UAAP at PBA. Up or down dapat forty minutes kaming lumalaban. Walang shortcuts sa practice, ensayo kung ensayo,” said the 28-yearold combo guard.

1 round of UAAP HS Girls hoops

Pasig-Sta. Lucia guard Jeric Teng (17) tries to dribble past a Navotas Uni-Pak sardines defender. Pasig advanced to the playoffs ticket scraping past Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines

Pasig head coach Bong Dela Cruz, likewise, believes that making the playoffs is just the start for the stronger Pasig side. “Last season, alam naman natin na nasa baba ang Pasig. Malaking achievement na nakapasok kami sa top eight ng North pero hindi kami magsstop doon. We will

take it one game at a time,” he said. In other games, Bicol-LCC Stores remained at the eighth-spot after escaping Quezon City-WEMSAP, 89-87, while Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol remained on track for the final spot in the South with a 101-76 demolishing of Imus-Luxxe Slim.

ADAMSON University completed a three-game sweep of the UAAP Season 82 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament’s first round after repulsing De La Salle-Zobel, 56-36, Saturday at Paco Arena. Despite heading into the game with a 2-0 record after dominant wins over Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas, Adamson head coach Ewon Arayi made sure to keep her team grounded heading into their final game of the round. “Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Face each opponent as if they are they are the strongest in the league para hindi nakukumpiyansa.’ Praise God kasi nung medyo pahuli na, mas naging okay laro namin,” the former national team stalwart said. Holding a slim 35-30 lead early in the third canto, Adamson unleashed a 14-2 spurt capped by a Crisnalyn Padilla basket with 9:42 left to gain a 47-32 lead. The Lady Falcons captain Padilla was all over the stats sheet after a huge 11-point outing with five rebounds and six each of steals and assists. Joan Camagong was once again at the forefront of the Lady Baby Falcons’ attack tallying a double-double clip of 13 points to go with 12 rebounds and three steals.

Tenorio wants to win PBA All-Filipino with Barangay Ginebra BARANGAY Ginebra guard LA Tenorio badly wants to add the Philippine Cup crown to PBA titles he has won. The fivetime PBA champion has yet to win an AllFilipino title. “Lahat ng championship ko with imports,” said Tenorio, who won four with the Justin Brownlee-reinforced Ginebra (2016, 2017 and 2019 Governors’ Cup and 2018 Commissioners Cup) and one with the Alaska Aces (2010 Fiesta Conference)

with import Diamon Simpson. He even joked that if only Brownlee could be reinforced then they would have certainly won an All-Filipino crown by now. “I’m really determined to win the AllFilipino. Kung mana-naturalize lang namin si Justin (Brownlee and get him to play as a local), nakuha na namin ang AllFilipino. Ganoon ko kagusto makuha ang all-Filipino,” said Tenorio. “Iba kasi iyung all-Filipino. Alam na-

man natin yun. But it’s not easy; kung mahirap itong pinagdaanan namin sa Governors’ Cup, siguro mas triple pagdadaanan namin to get that championship.” The 35-year-old Tenorio is confident of his team’s chances in the Philippine Cup especially after their dominant run in the past Governors’ Cup. “I think with the way we played as a team, especially on defense, (we’ll have a chance). I hope madala namin ito sa all-

Filipino,” he said. Tenorio actually won three basketball crowns in succession. Tenorio, working as assistant coach, helped lead the underdog Letran Knights past the San Beda Red Lions to rule the NCAA basketball tournament last November. Three weeks later, Tenorio and the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team won the Southeast Asian Games gold medal.

DLSZ’s Achrissa Maw (8) attempts a jumpshot against a pair of Adamson defenders. Maw had a monster outing with 23 rebounds and 10 points.

IN BRIEF

Six oil firms collecting additional excise taxes

SIX oil companies with a combined 900 retail fuel outlets, or over 10 percent of the 9,003 stores nationwide, have implemented higher additional excise taxes, the Energy Department said over the weekend. To date, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines, Chevron Philippines, Petrogazz, Seaoil Philippines and Total Philippines informed the agency of their implementation of additional excise taxes. As of January 24, 48 of 67 LPG depots and 40 of 116 liquid fuel depots have already imposed additional excise taxes, indicating their December 31, 2019 inventories have already been depleted. For liquefied petroleum gas refilling plants, four of 297 have implemented additional excise taxes starting in January 10. The oil companies must first exhaust their 2019 inventories prior to imposing the higher excise tax. Only new inventories in 2020, directly imported or locally produced by refineries, are covered by the third tranche of excise tax. Alena Mae S. Flores

Private economists see stable inflation

ECONOMISTS from the private sector expect inflation rate to continue to be manageable in the months ahead on the back of the stronger peso and affordable price of rice with the implementation of the rice tariffication law, results of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey conducted in December 2019 show. The mean inflation forecast for 2020 declined to 2.9 percent from 3.1 percent during the September 2019 survey period. The mean inflation forecast for 2021, meanwhile, was steady at 3.1 percent. “... The key downside risks to inflation are seen to emanate from the continued implementation of the rice tariffication law and a stronger peso against the US dollar,” the BSP said. The local currency ended 2019 at 50.635 per greenback, P1.945 stronger from 52.58 on the last trading day of 2018. On the other hand, the upside risks to inflation include strong rebound in global oil prices, higher prices of meat alternatives (such as beef and chicken and fish) amid the African Swine Fever and adverse effects of weather conditions on domestic food supply. Julito G. Rada

Business Big property companies prepare their REIT plans T By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Philippine Stock Exchange said several property companies are gearing up their Real Estate Investment Trust plans after the government relaxed the rules.

PSE president Ramon Monzon said in a statement over the weekend a number of listed property companies were enthusiastic on the landmark signing of the regulations that formed part of the framework of the Real Estate Investment Trust Act of 2009. “The property firms have long been waiting for industry concerns on REITs to be ironed out. Now that the contentious points have been addressed and

the provisions are acceptable to all concerned parties, potential listing applicants have been excited to have their own REITs listed,” Monzon said “In fact, just days after the momentous signing event, the president of the biggest property firm in the country met with us to discuss their REIT listing plans and timetable. When a one-trillion peso company wants to be the first to have a REIT listing and a sizeable first one at that, you know that the confidence in this new asset class and the support it will get from property companies will be remarkable,” he added. Among the property firms that earlier expressed interest in REIT were Ayala Land Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc., DoubleDragon Properties, Robinsons Land Corp. and Megaworld Corp. The implementing rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the revenue regulation of the Bureau

of Internal Revenue and listing rules of the PSE were signed last week. Under the amended revenue regulations of the BIR, companies registering as REITs may be exempted from the value-added tax, which will no longer be placed in escrow. The SEC lowered the minimum public ownership requirement for REIT companies to 33 percent from the previous requirement of 40 percent in the first year of listing and 67 percent within three years. In exchange for a lower public ownership requirement, a REIT company should reinvest all the proceeds raised from the offering in real estate or infrastructure projects within the country within a period of one year. REIT companies will be required to provide regular reports on the status of the implementation of their reinvestment plan.

Biometric firm wants to secure PH borders

THE recent wave of undocumented aliens arriving in the Philippines, especially from China and India, has caused great concern among the citizenry. Undocumented aliens pose problems not only to the local population, but also to the domestic economy and security. Many of these aliens arrive with false or forged documents and then disappear in the Philippines, taking on another identity if not stealing one from an existing person. Recently, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. himself said all nationals wanting to enter our country should be required to apply for a visa, or at least undergo proper biometric scanning and recording. Dermalog, a Germany based biometric and Automated Fingerprint Identification System expert company wants to help the Philippines by providing the country with the proper tools to identify individuals in a fast and efficient manner. Gunther Mull, inventor of the Dermalog system, says the equipment compares one set of biometric data to hundreds of others to ensure accuracy of identity. This is technically called a 1:n format, unlike many of its competitors that use 1:1 or check data from one person against himself.

DPWH is open to a review of past contracts—Villar By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Public Works and Highways is open to a review of contracts signed by previous governments with private companies in compliance with President Duterte’s directive to remove provisions that could harm Filipinos. “Of course we are always looking... but so far (we don’t see any) onerous provisions,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said. “But definitely if we find something onerous, we will investigate. (But at this point, we haven’t discovered) onerous provisions,” he added. Malacañang on December 5 announced that all government public service contracts with private entities were subject to review to remove onerous provisions. President Duterte’s order to review all contracts of the government to private entities came after an alleged “onerous” deals with Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. Maynilad earlier won an arbitration case against the government. An international arbitration court ordered the government to pay the water concessionaire an amount of P3.42 billion for failure to implement tariff hike from March 2015 to August 2016. The court also ordered the government to pay P7.39 billion to Manila Water. Besides Maynilad, the government is also investigating Ayala Land Inc.’s long-term contract to develop the UPAyala TechnoHub project in Quezon City. The Department of Finance last week uncovered an “onerous” land lease contract between Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex Philippines) and a subsidiary of the National Development Co. that allowed the former to pay a monthly rent of P0.74 per square meter on a 120-hectare property in Batangas province.

LT GROUP ASSISTANCE. The Lucio Tan Group of Companies, whose Absolut Distillers Inc. facility is situated in Lian, Batangas, starts its relief operations for the families affected by the eruption of Taal volcano. Absolut Distillers chief operating officer and overall general manager for distillery operation of the LT Group Gerry Tee (middle) leads the two-day relief operation for the evacuees of the Taal volcano eruption, who are now in Lian, Batangas. Tee is joined by Philippine Airlines corporate affairs manager Pinky Mag-iba Balagtas (left).

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

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Govt collects P6.42b in tax payments from POGO operators By Julito G. Rada

THE government collected P6.42 billion in taxes from Philippine offshore gaming operators and their service providers in 2019, P4.04 billion or 169 percent more than P2.38 billion in the previous year, the Department of Finance said over the weekend. The DOF said in a statement the higher tax take was the result of a sustained campaign spearheaded by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to crack down on errant POGOs and their service providers that eschewed tax payments, including the income taxes that the government should be collecting from foreign nationals working for these companies. Dominguez starting in March called for a series of meetings with officials of several government agencies responsible for collating data on foreign nationals working here to firm up a plan on how the government could effectively collect an estimated P22 billion in taxes from these workers employed in POGOs and other related industries. The meetings included members of an interagency task force led by the Department of Labor and Employment that monitors the entry of foreign workers here, along with officials from the Bureaus of Internal Revenue and of Immigration, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Securities and Exchange Commission and the special economic zones that host these online gaming corporations. Dominguez during the interagency meetings held at least twice a month spurred members of the group to collate a database of foreign workers primarily employed in POGOs, to “enable the BIR to do its job of collecting taxes.” He said it was grossly unfair to Filipino taxpayers dutifully paying their taxes for these POGO employees to continue avoiding paying their taxes. Dominguez continued to preside over the regular meetings of the group until the BIR started to actually collect taxes from errant POGO service providers and shut down the operations of delinquent ones. BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa initially estimated around 103,000 foreign workers in the POGO industry, and finally came up with a list of about 108,914 employed by 218 POGO service providers after cleaning up data provided by Pagcor, DOLE, BI and the ecozones.

First Gen mulls over 120-MW pumped storage plant in Pantabangan By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group said over the weekend it is developing a 120-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in Aya, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija province. First Gen said in a statement it received a hydro service contract from the Department of Energy to develop the Aya pumped-storage hydro project. First Gen, through First Gen Hydro Power Corp., owns and operates the 132-MW Pantabangan-Masiway hydro power plant project in Pantabangan. Once completed, the new Aya project will allow First Gen to store water pumped

into a reservoir for use at a later time. “While renewable energy is clean and sustainable, it isn’t always available when it’s needed. But with a pump storage facility like the one we want to build in Pantabangan, we will be able to store some of the energy generated by the dam and deploy it when it’s needed,” said First Gen vice president Ricky Carandang. A pumped-storage facility stores and generates electricity by moving a volume of water between two reservoirs situated at different elevations. Pumped-storage facilities can also be flexibly operated to provide ancillary or reserve services to the electricity grid

for security and stability. The service contract gives First Gen Hydro five years to conduct pre-development stage activities—from a preliminary assessment and feasibility study up to financial closing and declaration of commerciality. First Gen Hydro signed in October a memorandum of understanding with the National Irrigation Administration related to the development of the Aya hydro project. The NIA said the agreement would complement the Pantabangan-Masiway hydro power plant project through an acceptable scheme under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

First Gen requested and received NIA’s permission to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on the project, including legal, economic, social, financial and technical viabilities. First Gen is also pursuing other hydroelectric projects in Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte. First Gen is the largest company in the country that provides only clean and renewable power. In 2016, it declared that it would not develop, finance or operate any coal-fired power plants. Its portfolio of clean energy power plants run on natural gas, geothermal, wind and solar with a combined capacity of 3,492 MW at the end of 2019.

BSP: Foreign investments may top $10b BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said net inflow of foreign direct investments this year could exceed $10 billion once the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act or CITIRA bill is passed into law. The BSP, based on updated projections in November, expects the FDI to post a net inflow of $8.8 billion in 2020. But Diokno is optimistic that number could be surpassed once CITIRA is passed into law. “Our estimate is around $8 billion... but that is early in the game because if CITIRA is approved into law, it could exceed $10 billion,” Diokno said at the sidelines of the Bankers’ Night held at the BSP on Friday. The CITIRA bill aims to rationalize fiscal incentives. “... There are only a few countries that you want to invest [in] right now.

The Philippines is one,” Diokno said. Latest BSP data showed net inflow of foreign direct investments in October rose 33.7 percent to a six-month high of $672 million from $502 million a year ago. The increase was mainly due to the expansion in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments issued by local affiliates by 60 percent to $534 million from $334 million in 2018. Net inflows of equity capital, meanwhile, slowed down to $58 million from $98 million in October 2018, following the decline in equity capital placements coupled with the increase in withdrawals. Equity capital infusions during the month came from the United States, South Korea and Japan. These were invested in real estate, financial and insurance, and manufacturing. Julito G. Rada

TOURISM OFFICE IN CLARK. Clark Development Corp. signs a lease agreement with Department of Tourism Region III recently for the department’s new regional office in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone. CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil (first row, second from left), CDC vice president for business development and business enhancement group Evangeline Tejada (left), DOT regional director Carolina Uy (second from right) and DOT chief tourism operations officer Avon Timbol (right) sign the lease agreement.

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Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Chinese virus weighs on market S By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week due to discouraging developments both here and abroad.

Overseas concerns about the spread of China’s coronavirus is expected to affect market sentiments as the death toll in China increased to 56, while cases turned up in other countries as well, including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. In the local market, heightened regulatory risk is weighing as the Duterte administration vowed to review all deals signed with the private sector that may have placed the taxpayers at a disadvantage. The government is currently reviewing the alleged onerous water concession contracts of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and

Manila Water Services Inc. It also uncovered a lease contract with onerous terms between Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex Philippines) and a subsidiary of National Development Co. “Investors’ collective risk-off stance in light of a plethora of discouraging developments both at home and overseas poses a stiff challenge to the optimism with which a new year is usually met,” said Justino Calaycay, research head of Philstocks Financial Inc. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 1.3 percent last week to 7,623.41, while the broader All Shares Index de-

clined 0.6 percent to 4,523.57. Except for the industrial index which registered a week-on-week gain of 2.5 percent, all other sub-indices ended in the red led by mining and oil, which declined by 2.15 percent, financials which dropped 2 percent and property which dipped 1.8 percent. Services and holding firms also posted week-on-week declines of 1.7 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P1.65 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P6.7 billion from the previous week’s average of P7.4 billion. Weekly top price gainers were Axelum Resources Corp. which rose 27.3 percent to P3.60; Fruitas Holdings Inc., which advanced 13.6 percent to P1.83; and JG Summit Weekly top price losers were Ayala Corp., which declined 7.8 percent to P740; Ayala Land Inc., which

fell 4.9 percent to P41.40; and AC Energy Philippines Inc., which dropped 4.8 percent to P2.15. European stocks, meanwhile, rallied Friday while Wall Street equities tumbled along with oil prices as markets weighed the potential impact of a spreading viral illness in China. Chinese authorities expanded a massive quarantine effort in response to coronavirus, while the United States confirmed its second case of the SARSlike ailment. French officials said there had also been two cases found in France, the first in Europe, while Nepal reported South Asia’s first case. European bourses, which had dropped on Thursday, finished solidly higher Friday in the first session since the World Health Organization stopped short of declaring a public health emergency. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

JANUARY 20-24, 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. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

53.5 156.00 82.25 3.16 0.88 25.1 8.49 18.46 12.1 4.15 0.65 1.18 850.00 42.000 64.55 0.85 12 20.50 31.20 59.2 110 172 22 190 1855.00 59.80 1.03

6,280 7,500,560 11,900,630 6,028,000 45,000 566,000 700 112,700 1,292,500 344,000 7,000 151,000 1,260 30,000,000 13,698,990 552,000 134,700 22,000 2,799,300 51,900 5,790 19,280 133,300 1,124,520 545 46,420 712,000

FINANCIAL 334,786.00 1,155,110,515.00 982,303,696.50 18,758,370.00 40,040.00 14,169,530.00 5,213.00 2,077,432.00 15,551,594.00 1,395,990.00 4,040.00 173,240.00 1,104,000.00 13,381,500.00 882,726,499.50 467,830.00 1,621,984.00 451,000.00 87,218,930.00 3,046,150.50 638,740.00 3,377,607.00 2,959,045.00 209,443,157.00 1,028,405.00 2,723,975.00 739,850.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. AC Energy Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Axelum Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Fruitas Holdings Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

33.3 2.15 12.02 0.59 1.23 3.6 0.232 101.2 17.98 1.64 15.36 169 11.48 62.5 67 30.6 2.17 5.46 5 8.880 13.6 9.09 7.23 1.69 21.2 66.4 1.83 37.25 1.9900 12.90 7.74 1.300 217.00 42.00 4.9 3.18 6.89 10.4 11 15 0.182 302.40 5.37 1.85 4.15 4.00 9.95 10.00 11.96 31.5 4.7 5.24 1.76 1.76 1.25 9.5 78 9.1 0.120 1.02 162 2.56 1.3 15.10 0.99

5,671,600 40,409,000 5,108,200 16,043,000 125,000 57,466,000 6,660,000 210 600 142,828,000 2,619,000 200 73,958,500 1,940 1,850 193,300 442,000 24,900 21,600 3,361,100 2,587,300 371,200 5,610,100 16,000 6,864,700 186,960 231,455,000 830,800 34,672,000 3,534,400 1,708,500 3,861,000 1,778,960 8,100 70,000 233,000 52,800 77,323,600 386,400 7,829,100 440,000 1,160,650 96,100 1,747,000 9,000 7,314,000 21,300 217,700 191,000 1,529,700 404,000 147,000 2,700,000 458,000 49,188,000 2,514,300 1,726,240 720,900 2,410,000 2,550,000 5,529,770 6,000 89,761,000 2,400 11,136,000

INDUSTRIAL 185,554,055.00 87,489,540.00 62,227,576.00 8,831,330.00 153,190.00 192,749,410.00 1,524,680.00 20,485.50 10,108.00 234,256,170.00 39,234,060.00 33,800.00 859,768,385.00 124,392.00 125,584.00 6,175,930.00 954,350.00 135,824.00 107,195.00 29,881,098.00 35,175,616.00 3,332,190.00 40,552,757.00 26,220.00 139,663,943.00 12,353,574.50 401,134,720.00 30,756,225.00 70,952,180.00 45,719,806.00 13,433,554.00 5,217,960.00 376,243,672.00 338,790.00 338,880.00 691,640.00 371,294.00 760,343,563.00 4,243,116.00 116,249,806.00 77,700.00 334,678,354.00 465,567.00 3,082,860.00 36,300.00 28,867,100.00 207,336.00 2,169,253.00 2,275,988.00 48,556,755.00 1,899,560.00 766,024.00 4,889,270.00 768,230.00 66,716,790.00 24,285,376.00 123,520,583.50 6,372,061.00 280,340.00 2,612,590.00 869,275,877.00 15,370.00 112,091,440.00 36,184.00 10,927,330.00

74,227,000 3,313,440 19,783,900 23,253,000 4,200 201,500 8,069,000 517,000 1,819,830 14,145,000 3,036,100 37,504,700 3,000 99,600 280,000 439,610 72,800 3,515,550 26,800 8,700 669,000 1,208,000 24,849,700 416,000 127,881,000 6,000 90,000 609,000 2,000 997,790 38,000 2,150,000 221,000 4,560,000 12,040 2,280 1,340,000 16,930,000

HOLDING FIRMS 64,997,720.00 173,300,367.00 216,519,932.00 18,217,670.00 26,479.00 2,304,360.00 8,056,010.00 517,440.00 1,094,032,730.00 37,871,400.00 19,772,850.00 236,118,701.00 11,290.00 1,299,964.00 57,800.00 343,094,580.00 374,116.00 262,075,422.00 175,228.00 44,840.00 330,415.00 4,487,670.00 254,861,770.00 243,210.00 423,979,490.00 15,360.00 397,840.00 728,570.00 5,440.00 147,645,411.00 77,090.00 2,213,434,705.00 258,390.00 3,937,740.00 2,221,351.00 417,580.00 284,040.00 4,080,860.00

2,459,100 3,053,000 4,500 553,000 7,902,000 131,098,100 8,011,000 866,000 15,700 42,502,000 81,000 78,000 2,660,000 4,740,000 609,400 4,508,300 7,090,000 1,430,000 46,969,000 2,058,000 134,894,000 128,140,000

PROPERTY 36,196,846.00 2,143,730.00 39,375.00 786,920.00 6,456,730.00 6,124,883,505.00 13,527,320.00 4,030,480.00 101,547.00 22,236,460.00 60,370.00 66,500.00 491,700.00 1,928,200.00 5,725,385.00 81,152,296.00 2,905,350.00 155,750.00 71,068,510.00 2,212,710.00 582,569,080.00 32,107,920.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land Log Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings 8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind.

0.860 52.95 11.10 0.76 6.39 11.36 0.950 0.990 740 2.720 6.42 6.20 3.76 13.10 0.209 791 5.41 77.00 6.72 5.2 0.5 3.71 10.2 0.600 3.35 2.56 4.6300 1.230 2.72 150.00 2.1 1032.00 1.22 0.88 199.900 190.00 0.2160 0.220 14.720 0.70 8.75 1.540 0.830 41.400 1.7 4.6 6.69 0.530 0.75 0.870 0.186 0.390 9.270 18 0.410 0.109 1.52 1.11 4.28 0.249

JANUARY 13-17, 2020 Close Volume Value 53 157.50 87.50 2.80 0.89 25.05

1,980 11,700,720 10,307,740 5,353,000 16,000 455,000

105,939.00 1,811,407,866.00 878,550,077.00 15,816,240.00 14,230.00 11,383,465.00

18.48 12.48 3.78 0.6 1.14 855.00 0.350 65.05 0.9 12.2 20.50 31.70 57.8 112.8 173.5 22.55 191 1889.00 57.70 1.04

3,300 2,051,700 357,000 29,000 50,000 290 270,000 12,703,340 1,080,000 170,600 7,200 2,196,500 24,160 40 3,160 54,600 1,853,530 615 41,950 502,000

60,026.00 25,250,606.00 1,352,830.00 17,370.00 57,540.00 246,510.00 96,250.00 828,834,853.00 941,770.00 2,072,212.00 148,020.00 71,258,865.00 1,399,517.00 4,512.00 547,707.00 1,242,795.00 347,780,694.00 1,129,800.00 2,444,690.00 526,180.00

32.55 2.26 12.46 0.53 1.27 2.82 0.235

6,269,600 12,569,000 5,146,400 2,694,000 632,000 14,729,000 3,460,000

208,145,120.00 28,963,140.00 65,300,136.00 1,442,500.00 801,020.00 42,220,790.00 809,870.00

18.78 1.59 14.86 169 9.64 67 70.75 32.4 2.14 5.46 5.15 9.000 13.6 9.00 7.23 1.58 21.05 67 1.61 37.85 2.1500 13.36 7.85 1.370 213.60

74,000 95,687,000 2,918,000 580 64,770,700 790 3,780 625,700 236,000 300 25,800 7,107,000 1,596,800 1,316,300 136,154,100 9,000 6,625,900 301,900 138,100,000 70,200 27,359,000 767,600 2,283,500 2,581,000 1,940,580

123,458.00 150,706,720.00 44,058,992.00 100,403.00 576,588,355.00 51,012.50 258,143.00 20,155,070.00 503,960.00 1,593.00 129,275.00 66,175,579.00 21,923,950.00 11,717,495.00 983,111,109.00 14,220.00 145,406,725.00 20,083,887.50 213,384,410.00 2,682,025.00 57,142,550.00 10,372,778.00 17,912,189.00 3,548,920.00 401,513,688.00

4.8 3.3 6.80 10.06 11.18 14.96 0.170 291.00 5.34 1.61 4.25 3.93 9.96 9.98 12.00 32.95 4.79 5.30 1.91 1.71 1.04 9.75 73.4 8.81 0.118 0.99 153.5 2.56 1.22

30,000 22,000 71,600 30,601,800 4,351,800 6,274,200 140,000 838,300 8,800 2,767,000 4,000 4,301,000 17,300 4,000 92,700 638,600 709,000 1,437,000 3,297,000 86,000 2,010,000 5,428,700 1,149,130 752,100 3,700,000 20,000 4,100,200 162,000 10,950,000

142,420.00 74,100.00 497,486.00 306,459,467.00 48,820,886.00 92,531,390.00 24,040.00 249,059,234.00 46,268.00 4,939,440.00 17,000.00 17,165,950.00 171,059.00 38,790.00 1,107,852.00 21,045,460.00 3,375,470.00 7,495,218.00 6,312,270.00 147,360.00 2,045,690.00 52,461,306.00 86,777,641.50 24,603,823.00 431,840.00 19,710.00 612,033,833.00 401,050.00 13,171,740.00

0.96

8,785,000

8,501,460.00

0.910 54.00 11.02 0.69 6.40 11.6 0.970 0.990 803 2.830 6.53 6.36

41,787,000 4,509,690 11,042,800 604,000 90,800 103,600 14,884,000 2,951,000 2,298,350 5,562,000 2,593,600 41,865,600

37,608,670.00 236,821,662.00 122,426,962.00 404,260.00 578,927.00 1,196,868.00 14,509,370.00 2,858,470.00 1,817,548,835.00 15,862,380.00 17,302,589.00 275,979,328.00

13.16 0.208 789 5.41 72.00 6.67

227,300 170,000 577,900 4,011,000 13,179,230 111,000

2,972,268.00 36,170.00 461,979,385.00 21,659,420.00 977,279,730.50 729,942.00

0.495 3.71 11 0.600 3.5

666,000 1,594,000 4,065,800 115,000 149,237,000

327,405.00 5,957,960.00 45,931,022.00 68,310.00 545,560,420.00

4.4000 1.230

384,800 544,000

1,872,909.00 648,650.00

152.50

905,990

138,963,087.00

1055.00 1.23 0.84 203.800 194.00 0.2060 0.235

1,202,380 20,000 2,989,000 3,150 2,960 440,000 12,410,000

1,270,850,945.00 23,880.00 2,408,050.00 650,856.00 576,925.00 92,360.00 2,791,070.00

14.720 0.73 9.00 1.350 0.860 43.550 1.86 4.68 6.7 0.550 0.77 0.860 0.188 0.405 9.640 18.22 0.420 0.107 1.54 1.09 4.3 0.255

2,011,100 709,000 5,500 161,000 8,970,000 55,173,400 3,531,000 1,192,000 267,500 22,474,000 143,000 197,000 340,000 280,000 319,400 1,020,100 690,000 30,000 75,387,000 2,223,000 119,076,000 205,360,000

29,604,794.00 509,240.00 49,300.00 215,460.00 7,701,420.00 2,396,575,055.00 6,684,680.00 5,608,930.00 1,807,397.00 12,315,190.00 108,590.00 168,530.00 61,760.00 112,650.00 3,041,918.00 18,716,634.00 290,300.00 3,150.00 115,640,580.00 2,415,400.00 513,840,220.00 50,235,260.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 20-24, 2020 Close Volume

JANUARY 13-17, 2020 Close Volume Value

Value

Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes Vistamalls

1.2000 0.4050 0.365 49.45 2.24 28.30 2.08 3.17 40.80 2.55 2.040 7.290 5.870

10,067,000 3,460,000 89,760,000 300 3,305,000 9,046,900 1,255,000 63,000 57,282,500 3,650,000 236,457,000 41,053,000 168,800

12,314,870.00 1,391,700.00 30,698,050.00 14,835.00 7,311,420.00 246,471,215.00 2,600,840.00 201,340.00 2,309,536,520.00 9,039,210.00 507,411,060.00 299,435,404.00 980,847.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel AllHome APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

9.59 17.04 1.42 11.3 0.440 0.047 18.6 3.2 10.32 83.8 7.05 5.4 5.20 2 8.80 890 2004 5.31 437.00 13.34 1.35 132.5 1.54 9.42 7.50 0.107 3.8800 1.94 13.86 2.75 0.95 12.16 13.84 0.435 3.15 2.06 0.94 0.99 2.550 2.72 7.50 4.90 139.90 3.79 1061.00 0.400 0.560 39.80 79.00 9.19 2.56 0.620 0.285 0.610 18.820

64,800 1,876,000 522,000 7,921,900 17,110,000 80,900,000 166,700 7,777,000 23,873,500 954,800 100 2,221,500 327,100 10,000 190,300 880 236,670 1,685,000 85,030 7,300 28,877,000 5,115,910 18,000 6,700 2,300 34,430,000 9,629,000 347,000 3,400 5,999,000 566,000 21,944,500 100 8,400,000 124,000 2,364,000 206,000 43,000 7,864,000 4,842,000 32,300 114,000 635,680 37,134,000 1,065,215 136,900,000 33,303,000 3,800,500 958,960 459,400 7,083,000 27,592,000 27,050,000 2,932,000 10,506,100

SERVICES 613,969.00 33,023,002.00 704,490.00 89,483,440.00 7,423,950.00 3,789,100.00 3,050,940.00 23,005,870.00 242,728,505.00 81,973,715.00 705.00 11,838,875.00 1,739,952.00 18,720.00 1,659,645.00 783,375.00 477,941,490.00 8,984,695.00 37,413,398.00 90,032.00 42,166,260.00 676,115,282.00 29,380.00 56,710.00 17,235.00 3,712,410.00 36,926,680.00 639,880.00 44,404.00 16,888,900.00 516,500.00 275,237,080.00 1,384.00 3,736,700.00 376,620.00 4,865,610.00 195,350.00 40,890.00 19,552,440.00 13,424,770.00 239,783.00 502,060.00 85,814,142.00 126,024,750.00 1,120,150,760.00 55,986,200.00 18,772,790.00 150,099,090.00 74,902,789.00 4,177,811.00 18,462,020.00 17,014,220.00 7,668,400.00 1,754,070.00 196,035,144.00

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

0.0015 8.1000 1.09 2.50 10.00 1.1500 3.11 0.270 7.18 1.550 0.212 0.095 0.100 0.0078 0.81 3.17 1.04 0.4500 0.7300 0.0100 0.0110 2.95 8.93 0.0110 22.00 0.0058

89,000,000 2,460,300 6,319,000 1,153,000 44,200 1,000 25,124,000 760,000 3,500 12,166,000 6,650,000 6,500,000 2,610,000 191,000,000 4,090,000 23,101,000 248,000 450,000 125,000 55,000,000 3,500,000 1,727,000 2,998,700 280,200,000 2,090,600 29,000,000

MINING & OIL 124,500.00 19,932,957.00 6,882,640.00 2,901,100.00 453,408.00 1,150.00 79,487,550.00 204,850.00 25,125.00 18,527,470.00 1,393,330.00 616,970.00 246,760.00 1,471,600.00 3,339,300.00 75,572,080.00 253,720.00 202,750.00 89,580.00 580,100.00 38,600.00 5,038,700.00 26,927,069.00 3,067,000.00 44,352,950.00 186,600.00

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

15.5 505 504.5 101.9 100.9 105.2 5.14 980 999 99 100.1 1040 1050 101.5 108 1030 990 77 75.2 75.5 76 75.3 75.65 76 1.36

955,700 80 1,600 26,960 244,650 25,130 1,952,600 2,500 2,570 91,220 211,330 3,480 3,335 231,190 1,440 6,350 70 224,520 59,330 42,140 363,900 28,041,500 34,700 844,630 4,000

PREFERRED 15,293,584.00 40,180.00 807,200.00 2,742,818.00 24,598,655.00 2,657,232.00 10,035,293.00 2,453,840.00 2,561,020.00 9,064,039.00 21,136,180.00 3,595,240.00 3,501,670.00 23,465,835.00 155,960.00 6,540,370.00 69,300.00 17,282,057.00 4,461,616.00 3,155,114.00 27,651,606.00 3,123,925.00 2,622,195.00 64,002,777.00 5,440.00

LR Warrant

1.330

WARRANTS & BONDS 2,630,000 3,566,800.00 SME 6,349,680.00 31,513,042.00 19,122,680.00

1.2600 0.4100 0.345

8,923,000 280,000 2,670,000

10,800,150.00 115,300.00 896,250.00

2.26 27.70 2.13 3.24 40.70 2.46 1.860 7.350 5.870

3,193,000 6,643,900 409,000 152,000 57,001,500 2,136,000 67,333,000 27,455,800 181,100

7,061,360.00 182,695,395.00 880,270.00 492,450.00 2,314,179,885.00 5,045,860.00 115,618,780.00 202,631,143.00 1,051,616.00

9.83 17.2 1.3 11.42 0.420 0.046 18.3 3.32 10.90 87 7.05 5.33 5.10 2 8.70 892 2098 5.43 439.00 11.90 1.40 132.7 1.66 8.17 7.50 0.103 3.9200 1.9 12.32 2.49 0.90 13.40

27,800 937,300 481,000 4,423,400 4,440,000 49,200,000 351,900 7,592,000 14,691,900 360,070 1,000 2,305,400 386,200 44,000 210,200 280 262,625 785,700 127,620 2,300 12,641,000 6,446,030 30,000 300 35,000 9,400,000 38,086,000 1,000 1,000 280,000 227,000 12,297,600

269,538.00 16,765,396.00 636,170.00 50,749,916.00 1,839,900.00 2,240,500.00 6,439,770.00 26,802,760.00 159,593,164.00 31,774,889.50 7,050.00 12,607,912.00 1,935,208.00 81,130.00 1,858,991.00 249,330.00 536,662,290.00 4,276,007.00 56,079,932.00 26,278.00 17,240,070.00 852,864,885.00 50,140.00 2,451.00 273,048.00 984,110.00 152,039,110.00 1,900.00 13,778.00 684,420.00 203,620.00 170,676,730.00

0.405 3.07 2.14 0.96 1.00 2.580 2.27 7.40 4.51 134.50 2.65 1086.00 0.385 0.580 40.00 78.30 9.39 2.82 0.610 0.27 0.630 18.600

530,000 1,038,000 2,760,000 87,000 8,000 6,139,000 187,000 36,000 42,600 1,376,640 2,913,000 667,335 80,300,000 22,926,000 1,861,000 1,157,960 518,300 10,231,000 44,146,000 17,800,000 1,981,000 15,965,200

214,400.00 3,305,230.00 5,792,010.00 80,380.00 8,000.00 15,868,230.00 422,960.00 269,966.00 195,406.00 185,765,090.00 7,675,270.00 729,522,035.00 25,949,950.00 13,448,750.00 73,564,640.00 90,841,706.50 4,834,540.00 28,183,270.00 26,733,410.00 4,865,250.00 1,210,570.00 296,460,146.00

0.0014 8.7000 1.05 2.53 10.88

1,043,000,000 3,734,700 5,259,000 1,689,000 4,400

1,460,800.00 33,201,337.00 5,473,970.00 4,253,670.00 47,220.00

2.96 0.270 7.18 1.610 0.212 0.098 0.101 0.0079 0.88 3.45 1.06 0.4650 0.7500 0.0110 0.0120 2.96 9.35 0.0110 21.80 0.0060

8,556,000 4,910,000 17,000 13,754,000 30,220,000 3,140,000 3,410,000 29,000,000 1,006,000 39,348,000 1,721,000 1,060,000 72,000 82,500,000 17,200,000 2,307,000 2,587,500 172,300,000 2,521,800 2,000,000

24,782,070.00 157,350.00 121,205.00 22,149,440.00 6,743,560.00 306,000.00 330,830.00 228,000.00 899,800.00 127,078,020.00 1,833,560.00 450,700.00 54,390.00 907,500.00 195,900.00 6,942,430.00 24,543,743.00 1,807,100.00 54,923,425.00 12,000.00

16.5 502 500 100.6 100.9 107.5 5.4

839,000 11,710 770 15,620 174,780 26,610 207,700

14,400,304.00 5,870,190.00 385,000.00 1,580,883.00 17,609,722.00 2,841,031.00 1,122,851.00

970 99.75 100 1050 1060 100.2 107 1026 1000 76.6 74 75 76 75.1 75.5 76.2

760 27,390 71,540 6,560 13,785 2,120 1,330 6,940 1,370 212,570 2,900 37,030 69,620 41,200 113,400 182,340

737,440.00 2,732,143.00 7,177,022.00 6,855,900.00 14,534,850.00 212,630.00 144,789.00 7,139,250.00 1,369,250.00 16,391,911.50 215,340.00 2,777,280.00 5,283,611.00 3,097,930.00 8,550,010.00 13,877,557.00

1.320

80,000

100,890.00

3.89 9.62 0.91

979,000 953,400 22,678,000

3,847,310.00 9,480,289.00 20,393,240.00

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

3.88 10.2 0.89

1,648,000 3,132,000 22,042,000

First Metro ETF

114.4

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 85,280 9,666,733.00

115.6

42,790

4,938,326.00

10.2 9.92 0.95

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 14,460 146,632.00 2,900 28,846.00 58,500 55,806.00

10 0.95

7,940 1,300

79,400.00 1,235.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Philodrill Corp. `A’ Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Fruitas Holdings Manila Mining `A’ Cemex Holdings PremiereHorizon Megaworld Ayala Land `B’ MRC Allied Ind. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VOLUME 280,200,000 236,457,000 231,455,000 191,000,000 142,828,000 136,900,000 134,894,000 131,098,100 128,140,000 127,881,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. PLDT Common Ayala Corp `A’ Bank of PI Metrobank Universal Robina Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

VALUE 6,124,883,505.00 2,309,536,520.00 2,213,434,705.00 1,155,110,515.00 1,120,150,760.00 1,094,032,730.00 982,303,696.50 882,726,499.50 869,275,877.00 859,768,385.00

SEC raises standards on corporate governance THE Securities and Exchange Commission issued the Code of Corporate Governance for public companies and registered issuers as part of its efforts to promote good corporate governance in the country. The SEC said in a statement over the weekend the code would apply to public companies, or those with assets of at least P50 million and 200 or more shareholders holding at least 100 shares each of equity securities. The code is part of a series of Corporate Governance Codes that the SEC will issue to different types of corporations. It is rooted in the same corporate governance principles provided in the Code of Corporate Governance for publicly-listed companies with the same intention of raising the standards of Philippine corporations consistent other internationally recognized principles. “The Code of Corporate Governance aims to steer public companies and registered issuers in the Philippines toward higher standards of corporate governance,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said. “Compliance with the higher standards of corporate governance should translate to better value propositions for shareholders and customers, minimized risks, growth and sustainability,” he added. The code promotes 16 principles across different corporate governance subjects, namely board’s governance responsibilities, disclosure and transparency, internal control and risk management frameworks, cultivating a synergic relationship with shareholders/members and duties to stakeholders. Among others, the code said companies’ board of directors should always ensure an appropriate mix of competence and expertise and that members must remain qualified for their positions individually and collectively in order for the firm to fulfill its roles and responsibilities and respond to the needs of the organization. To reinforce independence, the board should be composed of a majority of non-executive directors and must have at least two independent directors, or such number to constitute at least one-third of the members of the board, whichever is higher. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO bares move to sell holdings in leasing subsidiary BDO Unibank Inc. said over the weekend it signed an agreement to sell a controlling stake in publicly-listed unit BDO Leasing and Finance to a third party as part of restructuring the bank’s leasing business. The restructuring of BDO’s leasing business is being undertaken to optimize the financial needs of clients in light of new accounting regulations covering lease transactions. IFRS 16, which took effect in January 2019, requires leases to be recognized on balance sheet, similar to a loan facility. This makes lease transactions a less attractive option to corporate borrowers compared to the past. Under the restructuring process, BDO has incorporated a new, privately-held finance company, BDO Finance Corp., to provide customers access to lease products and services. BDO Finance will assume current lease transactions booked in BDOLF to provide continuity to current clients. Meanwhile, clients who now find regular bank loans more attractive against leases can gain access BDO’s wide range of products and services. “We wish to reassure BDOLF clients that their financing requirements will continue to be serviced, and there will be no effective change in their existing lease arrangements that will be assumed by BDO Finance,” said BDOLF president Roberto Lapid. BDOLF will be re-named and its articles of incorporation and by-laws will be amended to reflect the new business direction. As required by regulation, a tender offer will be undertaken by the buyer to provide minority shareholders an opportunity to sell their BDOLF shares. The timetable and details of the tender offer will be announced by the buyer in due course. The sale transaction is subject to closing conditions, including approval by regulatory authorities. BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services and stock brokerage services.

World

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Impossible choice for Uighurs in Saudi Arabia

IN BRIEF ‘Invasion Day’ protest in Australia MELBOURNE―Thousands of people joined Invasion Day protests in cities across Australia Sunday to mark the beginning of British colonization of the vast continent. January 26 is officially recognized as Australia Day, a public holiday to celebrate the origins of the modern nation and is commemorated with fireworks, concerts and citizenship ceremonies. However, the date is a time of mourning for indigenous Australians, who have inhabited the land for 65,000 years and view the arrival of British settlers in 1788 as heralding two centuries years of pain and suffering. Annual rallies have steadily grown in size as protesters bring attention to injustices faced by indigenous people and call on the government to change the date of Australia Day. It was only formally established as a nation-wide celebration in 1994. This year, non-indigenous Australians were asked to give reparations in the form of a donation to the #PayTheRent campaign. Melbourne rally organizer Lidia Thorpe, a former Victoria state government politician, drew attention to the plight of Aboriginal families who had to pay for the funerals of relatives who died in custody. “It’s 2020 and we’re still trying to raise money to bury our people. So we’re asking people to pay the rent, you’re on stolen land,” she said. “It’s time to reparate for the mass injustice that we’ve had as first people of this country.” Chants of “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land” rang out as large crowds marched through the city. Some waved the Aboriginal flag while others held aloft signs with slogans such as “No Pride in Genocide” and “Sovereignty Was Never Ceded.”AFP

Record storms in Brazil kill 30

BRASILIA―At least 30 people have been killed in two days of intense storms in southeastern Brazil, the Minas Gerais state Civil Defense office said Saturday. Seventeen people are also missing, seven injured, and some 3,500 have been forced out of their homes following a series of landslides and building collapses, Civil Defense officials said. Television footage showed images of overflowing rivers, flood neighborhoods and trees and utility poles knocked over by the rushing water. Several highways have also been cut by the flooding, and scores of bridges have been knocked out. Most of the victims were killed in landslides or buried in destroyed homes. At least two children were listed among the dead. The heavy rain and flooding is also hitting the nearby states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo. Rainfall in the region has been the heaviest since records were first kept 110 years ago, the National Institute of Meteorology said. In one 24-hour period, the Minas Gerais state capital Belo Horizonte recorded 172 millimeters (almost seven inches) of rain. Forecasters said the rain is expected to taper off on Sunday, but authorities warn that the danger of landslides remains high, especially in the Belo Horizonte area. The deluge coincided with the first anniversary of the dam collapse in the Minas Gerais town of Brumadinho that killed 270 people. Eleven people are still listed as missing. An accumulation of water and a lack of drainage caused the tailings dam rupture on January 25, 2019, according to a report commissioned by the mining firm Vale. AFP

Turkey quake death toll rises to 31

ELAZIG―The death toll from a powerful earthquake which struck eastern Turkey rose to 31, officials said Sunday, as rescue efforts continued. The magnitude 6.8 quake hit on Friday evening, with its epicenter in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in Elazig province but also affected neighboring cities and countries. The Turkish government’s disaster and emergency management agency (AFAD) said 31 people died, the majority in Elazig but at least four in nearby Malatya, and 1,607 were injured. Rescuers scrambled all of Saturday and searched Sunday to rescue people alive from under the rubble. The latest number of individuals rescued was 45, according to AFAD. Nearly 80 buildings collapsed while 645 were heavily damaged in Elazig and Malatya, the agency said in a statement. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised Saturday that Turkey’s housing agency TOKI would “do whatever is necessary and make sure no one is left without a home”. He attended the funeral of a woman and her son in Elazig Saturday, later visiting Malatya after cancelling a speech in Istanbul. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRE-GRAMMY GALA. Lil’ Kim performs onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on January 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

‘Trump’s fate should be decided by voters’

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ASHINGTON― White House lawyers began their defense of Donald Trump at his historic Senate impeachment trial on Saturday, saying the president did nothing wrong in his dealings with Ukraine and American voters-not Congress― should decide his fate. White House counsel Pat Cipollone said it would be a “completely irresponsible abuse of power” if the Senate follows the lead of the House of Representatives and votes to remove the 45th US president from office. “They’re asking you to do something that no Senate has ever done,” Cipollone told the 100 senators gathered on a rainy Saturday morning for a rare weekend session at just the third impeachment trial in US history. Democratic prosecutors from the

House, which impeached Trump last month for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, had not convincingly made their case that the president had committed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as demanded by the Constitution, Cipollone said. “We don’t believe that they have come anywhere close to meeting their burden for what they’re asking you to do,” he told a hushed Senate chamber. “We believe when you hear the facts... you will find that the president did absolutely nothing wrong.” House prosecutors spent the previous three days laying out a detailed case that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine and a White House meeting to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart to open an investigation into political rival Joe Biden and the former vice president’s son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. Adam Schiff, the chief House prosecutor, said the real estate tycoon turned politician poses an “imminent threat” to American democracy and his guiding principle is “Trump first, not America first.”

Cipollone argued that Democrats were asking the Senate to “tear up all of the ballots” from the 2016 presidential election and attempting to prevent Trump from running for re-election in November. “They are here to perpetrate the most massive interference in an election in American history and we can’t allow that to happen,” the White House counsel said. “Let the people decide for themselves.” The Democratic-controlled House impeached Trump on December 18 in a party-line vote, setting up a trial in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53 to 47 seat edge and the president enjoys the support of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. A two-thirds majority, or 67 senators, is required to remove a president from office and Democrats do not appear to have made any significant inroads so far in Trump’s wall of Republican support. Following the session, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said the president’s attorneys “made a really compelling case” for calling witnesses during the trial, a move Trump has opposed. AFP

NBA basketball cards as a hobby and as a business IN THE Philippines, basketball is the nation’s favorite pastime. As such, NBA saw the Philippines as a lucrative market for its merchandise. The NBA opened its flagship retail outlet in Glorietta last 2014, and rapidly expanded to Trinoma, Megamall and Ayala Cebu. The first NBA Café in Southeast Asia was opened at SM Aura. However, all operations ceased by 2018. While the Philippines is a market for the NBA, its stores failed because it did not understand the global dynamics of cultural differences. The Philippines is different from China in terms of the viability of merchandising. The NBA stores focused on apparel. However, the market in the Philippines is unique. Most of the NBA products (t-shirts, shoes, jerseys, caps and bags) targeted the adult segment, those aged 20 to 50. However, I feel that children and teens aged 13 to 19 should have been their focus because they did not consider the vital role that hobbyists, those collecting basketball cards, played in this market. During the 90s, children or teens aged 13 to 19 would go to a hobby store to buy basketball cards. On average, they spent P200 (conversion to USD in the 90s were P25 to $1) per week on basketball cards. This occurred during Michael Jordan’s golden years, but it was also a time when a slew of other NBA superstars, like Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Jason Kidd (1994), Kevin Garnett (1995), Kobe Bryant (1996), Tim Duncan (1997), Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki (1998) entered the league. The trading and sales of these cards made this hobby viable. This generation of consumers grew up and some are still

collectors until today. These collectors can be clustered into four main segments: base collectors, rookie card collectors, autograph collectors and personal collectors (usually termed PC or personal collection of specific players). Since these collectors are the lifeblood of this hobby, understanding their needs would provide the continuity of this business. Over the years, collecting basketball cards evolved from being a mere hobby to a business-type investment. There is now a stock exchange-like environment for collectors. Research indicated that prices have surged tremendously over the past twenty years, with two notable spikes in 2003 and 2018. The first spike, 2003, is the year Lebron James came into the league for the Cleveland Cavaliers while the second spike was in 2018, the year Luka Dončic entered his rookie year for the Dallas Mavericks. Most collectors have invested heavily on Luka. His autograph rookie card went for $200 to $300. These investments have paid off, since one year later, the prices increased from 125 percent to 200 percent. Many NBA fans wondered if Luka drew parallel to the success of Lebron, but like any investments, most collectors are banking heavily that he does. A spillover effect has occurred that drew interest to other players from 2018 notably, Trae Young and Jaren Jackson Jr., whose cards saw slight increases in value as well. Here in the Philippines, a collector is selling his Luka rookie autograph card from National Treasures for P400k, and another collector offered his own car in exchange for that single basketball

JUNIUS W. YU

Green LiGht

card. Can anyone start collecting now and make it as a potential investment? Yes, but most local collectors sell online by using eBay as a platform for high value cards. They prefer to sell internationally due to higher returns, even if risks may be higher. The dichotomy of high riskhigh return and low risk-low return still applies on these investments. If you want to start this hobby, there are several ways to get the cards. The best way to buy is still online, if you are looking for specific cards. But the fun part of this hobby rests on opening boxes and hoping you would land a golden egg. You can obtain boxes from the US if you have relatives (it is available in Target or Walmart) or locally from hobby shops in Greenhills or Galleria. Keep in mind that collecting cards is hobby that you should enjoy and have fun with, and that experience (especially if you now share it with your son) is worth more than any potential money you can make in the future. The author is a full-time faculty member of the Decision Sciences and Innovation Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at junius.yu@ 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.

MEDINA-His eyes brimming with tears, a Uighur student in Saudi Arabia holds out his Chinese passport—long past its expiry date and condemning him to an uncertain fate as the kingdom grows closer to Beijing. The Chinese mission in Saudi Arabia stopped renewing passports for the ethnic Muslim minority more than two years ago, in what campaigners call a pressure tactic exercised in many countries to force the Uighur diaspora to return home. Half a dozen Uighur families in Saudi Arabia who showed AFP their passports—a few already expired and some approaching the date—said they dread going back to China, where over a million Uighurs are believed to be held in internment camps. “Even animals in other countries are allowed to have passports,” said the 30-yearold religious student in the Muslim holy city of Medina, whose passport expired in 2018. “Either they should renew my passport or let me drop my nationality. They make us feel like worthless humans.” The community, now offered a one-way travel document suitable only for a trip to China, faces an impossible choice: return home at the risk of detention or remain illegally in the kingdom under constant fear of deportation. “Refusing passport renewals is part of China’s strategy to smoke out the Uighur diaspora, forcing them to return to China,” Norway-based Uighur linguist Abduweli Ayup told AFP. “What awaits them on the other side is detention.” Amplifying the community’s fears is the conspicuous silence of Muslim-majority states—from Pakistan to Egypt— over China’s treatment of Uighurs as they avoid crossing Beijing, an economic powerhouse. Particularly concerning is Beijing’s deepening ties with Saudi Arabia—the epicenter of the Muslim world and home to Islam’s two holiest sites—which has reportedly condoned the Uighur policy of China, the top importer of Saudi oil. AFP

Clashes erupt to mark 100 days of demos BEIRUT―Clashes erupted Saturday between protesters and security forces in the Lebanese capital, as hundreds of people hit the streets to mark 100 days of anti-government demonstrations and denounce a new cabinet line-up. Protests demanding the removal of politicians deemed incompetent and corrupt have gripped Lebanon since October 17 and forced the resignation of the government. A new cabinet was announced on Tuesday after a three-month vacuum, but protesters, who have been demanding a government of independents, say its members were chosen along sectarian lines. On Saturday, several marches were held in Beirut under the slogan “No trust”, with protesters converging on the city center chanting “Revolution, Revolution” under the watchful gaze of security forces, who were deployed in high numbers. At Riad al-Solh Square in central Beirut, the crowd gathered near the Serail -- the seat of the government and residence of the new Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Protesters tore down metal fences and barbed wire as well as tried to move concrete blocks that had been erected by the authorities as barricades, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. The demonstrators also threw rocks and firecrackers at the anti-riot police on the other side, who responded with water cannon and tear gas. The Lebanese Red Cross said 20 people were wounded, including two who were rushed to hospital while the others were treated on site. The injured were from both sides, the organization said. Newly appointed Justice Minister, Marie-Claude Najm, denounced the “violence” and “destruction” caused by the protesters. Bearing shields and in tight ranks, the security forces dispersed the crowd, but only after protesters had dismantled almost all the obstacles erected to block the way to the government building, said an AFP correspondent. The protest movement has largely been peaceful since it began more than three months ago, but has turned violent in the past two weeks, leaving hundreds wounded and dozens arrested. Diab, a 61-year-old academic, unveiled his new cabinet on Tuesday, nearly three months since former premier Saad Hariri resigned under pressure from the street. AFP

LGUs

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

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FLAME ON. A firebreather spits fire while dancing along the streets of Iloilo City during the Sadsad festival street dance competition on Saturday, January 25. Danny Pata

Navotas sends relief to Taal blast evacuees By Jun David THE City Government of Navotas has brought relief assistance to Batangas and Cavite for families affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. The city donated 1,600 hygiene kits, P300,000 worth of medicines, and 300 sacks of rice for evacuees in Batangas City and Trece Martires. The hygiene kit, contained in a 16-liter pail, included toothbrush and toothpaste, sanitary napkins, shampoo with conditioner, bath soaps, detergent bars, dipper, bath and hand towels, blanket, and undergarments for men and women. “We thank our employees for volunteering to prepare and pack the relief goods. We also thank Navoteños and all those who brought their donations for Taal evacuees,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said. “It is during times of calamities that you see the spirit of bayanihan among Filipinos. Our bayanihan and the Filipino’s resilience enable us to rise above hardship and move forward in life,” he added. Tiangco previously appealed to the public to donate drinking water in big containers, rice and food items, medicines, undergarments, diapers, toiletries, and pails—items most needed by the affected families. Earlier, city councilors, together with volunteers from JCI Navotas and Phantom Fire and Rescue Team, also brought rice, bottled water, canned goods, instant noodles, toiletries and clothes to two evacuation centers in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas. Rep. John Rey Tiangco also donated cash, which the contingent used to buy some of the relief items.

Moreno orders manhunt for Chinese ‘defecator’ IA Administrator,” the message added. Leonen said there is no confirmed report yet. “Allegedly defecating, since no confirmed report yet from IA,” he said. “Pero a manhunt has already been ordered,” said Leonen, referring to Domagoso’s order. Chinese tourists have been criticized for their behavior at tourist sites across the world. A few months ago in Boracay, a Chinese woman was accosted for leaving her child’s dirty diapers on the world-renowned island’s powderfine white sand beach. But the Philippines has seen a huge inf lux of Chinese immigrant workers under the Duterte administration, with their presence heavily felt in the offshore gaming, business process outsourcing, and even construction industries.

By Willie Casas

M

ANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso ordered authorities on Sunday to find a Chinese national who allegedly defecated in a large flower pot within the historic Intramuros district. In a photo captioned in a post made by a certain Ron Alvarado on the Facebook page “I love Tacloban”, it said: “A Chinese national was seen defecating in one of our country’s most historical sites, Intramuros.” Upon checking by the media, Manila Public Information Office (PIO) chief Julius Leonen said Domagoso has already given the order for the manhunt of the unidentified Chinese, although the photo posted on Facebook was still unverified as of Sunday afternoon.

“Regarding the photo—No verified report,” said a message from the Intramuros Administration (IA) forwarded by Leonen to reporters. “We are trying to get in touch with the one who posted this but he is not responding,” said the IA. “We are concerned that instead of calling attention of the (security) guard who is posted there if true, the one who posted it is using this for anti-Chinese sentiment. We checked the site, it’s clean and no waste seen on site—From

NEW BIR BUILDING. Officials attend the unveiling of the marker and blessing of the new Bureau of Internal Revenue Region 4A Document Processing Division Building. Inset (from left) shows RD Edgar Tolentino of BIR Pampanga; RD Jeseph Catapia, the incoming BIR Davao director; Arnel Guballa, BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations; BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay; San Pablo City Mayor Loreto Amben Amante; Manuel Mapoy, ACIR LTs.; and Ricardo O. Espiritu, incoming BIR R4A Director. Roy Tomandao

7 Metro Manila villages get ecobricks via Globe plastics program SEVEN communities in Metro Manila, after participating in the Globe Plastic Xchange Program last year, were recently rewarded with ecobricks they can now use for various construction projects. These communities are Barangay Magallanes in Makati, Andres Bonifacio Integrated School in Mandaluyong, Barangay 455 in Manila, Barangays Palatiw and San Antonio in Pasig,

and Barangays Signal Village and Upper Bicutan in Taguig. “We are glad to be part of Globe’s Plastic Xchange Program. Not only did it help us reduce our single plastic waste but now we have ecobricks which we can use to construct improvements for our urban gardening project,” said Brgy. Signal Village Captain Michelle Odevillas. Alexander Penolio, Brgy. Captain of

Upper Bicutan, said: “In our own little way, we can all help keep our surroundings clean. We believe small steps and actions matter, and together we can start the change and save mother earth from plastic and pollution.” The ecobricks will be used to build community gardens and benches, a waste segregation facility, and a creek fence as well as to rehabilitate day care centers.

“Globe continues to look at new ways, such as ecobricks, to help address our country’s plastic waste problem. We started this campaign against single-use plastic with our employees and partners, and now, we are proud to see that our customers and other stakeholders are actively participating in this advocacy,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

More ‘pinakbet’ veggies growing in Bayombong By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Production of vegetables used for the “pinakbet” dish - a popular viand with its roots in northern Luzon - in this town is growing in volume for the past three years because of various assistance to farmers. Paz Florez, Municipal Agriculture Officer, said pinakbet vegetables produced in its lowland areas have increased steadily from 655 metric tons in 2017, 1,900 MT in 2018 and 2,273 MT in 2019. “This increase was achieved due to the sustained help and assistance to our vegeta-

ble farmers. Our farmers are always on top of the LGU’s priority sectors for various assistance,” Florez said. Ginger, cucumber and green pepper also showed production of 17.22 percent as computed average growth for the last 3 years, she added. Florez said the MAO hopes to target 22 percent production growth this year for these agricultural products. Other vegetable ingredients of a typical pinakbet dishh include okra, tomatoes, eggplant, ampalaya (bitter gourd), sitaw (string beans), siling duwag (chilis), and kamote (sweet potato).

Florez said the LGU’s help for vegetable farmers were in the form of free seeds, sourced from the Department of Agriculture and from the LGU’s green house facilities. “We expect to sustain our vibrant agriculture sector in the form of our assistance and from our partner agencies,” Florez said. Members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Bayombong, NUeva Vizcaya display their vegetables for sale during RIC Day last year. The LGU of Bayombong gives free vegetable seeds to its farmers to increase their production and their income. Ben Moses Ebreo

Bulacan cops net 24 persons in sting operations By Orlan Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—At least 23 persons were arrested in different localities in Bulacan during sting operations conducted by policemen over the weekend. Col. Emma M. Libunao, acting Bulacan provincial police director, said anti-illegal drug operations in Bustos, Obando, Bulakan, San Jose Del Monte, and Meycauayan led to the arrests of 13 suspects on the Philippine National Police / Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency unified drug watch list. They were identified as Jomar P. Hilario alias “Pute”; Adrian Verdadero; Gerardo P. Tolentino; Adrian Abuel; Gilbert Sunga alias “Ibet”; Jonas Restua alias “Baboy”; Narciso Valencia Jr; Benigno Mendoza; Joshue Danao; Darwin Ayso; Renato Torreon; Elizieldo Arrojado alias “Thata”; and Mark Anthony Dela Cruz. Some 34 plastic sachets of suspected shabu, assorted shabu paraphernalia, and buy-bust money were confiscated. A suspect identified as Rhohel Santiago was arrested during an “Oplan Sita” checkpoint of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force at Sitio Looban, Brgy. Tabang, Plaridel. Initially, Santiago, riding a black motorcycle, was flagged down for not wearing a helmet. Instead of stopping, the suspect tried to escape but was caught by other operatives in the area. When Santos pulled out his driver’s license from his wallet, a transparent plastic sachet containing marijuana was seen by police officers, prompting his arrest. Meanwhile, police tracker teams of San Rafael, Balagtas, Hagonoy, Santa Maria, Malolos, San Jose Del Monte City, Calumpit and Bocaue conducted manhunts against wanted persons and netted eight fugitives. Arrested were Philip Dela Cruz in Brgy. Capihan, San Rafael; Efren Cayanan in Brgy Panginay, Balagtas for concubinage; Marilou Crisostomo in Brgy. Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy for violation of Bouncing Check Law; Alfeo Leynes, detained at BJMP Santa Maria town as a warrant was served on him for three counts of rape.

SEARCA, PhilRice renew ties for PH rice industry By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture and the Philippine Rice Research Institute have renewed their partnership to further collaborate and address challenges, particularly leadership development, in the country’s rice sector. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, said the Center is keen to contribute in addressing regional and global challenges, elevating agricultural families’ quality of life. “The Center will do so by enabling the families to access new and innovative financial services; to adopt new, sustainable, resilient production technologies and systems; to integrate with modern postharvest and logistics system; and to gain access to and operate in modern networks and markets,” he said. Dr. Gregorio also said PhilRice, through PhilRice Research and Development work in its central and branch stations, will work to improve the competitiveness of the Filipino rice farmer and the Philippine rice industry. PhilRice is mandated to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos. “PhilRice also aims to transform the rice industry to be more profitable, resilient, and sustainable through responsive, balanced, environmentally sound and partnership-based research, development, and extension,” Dr. Gregorio said.

Life

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

FOOD

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Of similarities and varieties: Southeast Asian recipes By Steph Llarena

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ERE’S a curious observation of Southeast Asian cuisine: many recipes use identical ingredients, but each possess a distinct flavor. It appears one of our region’s talents is to come up with different dishes using the same items, thereby resulting in a wide variety of gastronomic offerings.

What is halo-halo to us Filipinos is ais kacang to Malaysians. If Vietnamese has pho, we have chicken mami. The dishes may be different but they are characterized by their base and/or basic ingredients. If it’s eating something so similar and different at the same time, here are three of the most popular dishes with different versions served in Southeast Asian countries.

Curry Distinctly Asian, curry is so varied and so popular that it can be found almost all over Southeast Asia, as well as East Asia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and, of course, its origin, the Indian subcontinent. It uses a complex combination of spices and herbs, most commonly cumin, turmeric, chilies, ginger, and coriander. In the book Curry: A tale of cooks and conquerors, Lizzie Collingham said the precise selection of spices for each curry dish is a matter of national or regional cultural tradition, religious practices, and, to some extent, family preference. According to the Handbook of Spices, Seasonings and Flavourings, while coriander, cumin, and turmeric are commonly found in curry powders of the Indian subcontinent, a wide range of additional spices may be included depending on the geographic region and food items included in the dish. Here in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia cook curry on the spicy side of the spectrum, while milder and fragrant versions are served in Myanmar, Vietnam,

Flavorful dishes in Southeast Asia include, among many others (from left) the popular red Phanaeng curry of Thailand, Myanmar’s Burmese chicken curry, and Cambodia’s Amok curry.

Laos, and Cambodia. Thailand is famous for its green, red, and yellow curry or kaeng—the colors determine the chilies and herbs used. Phanaeng Curry, which takes the top spot among the varieties, is usually cooked with red curry paste, thick coconut milk,

Thai basil leaves, and kaffir lime leaves. Singapore, on the other hand, offers chicken curry, a traditional dish cooked with potatoes and chicken with a paste made with herbs and spices cooked with coconut milk. This is a popular version also cooked here in the Philippines,

Warm bowls of comfort in the form of (clockwise) tom yum from Thailand, pho from Vietnam, and chicken mami from the Philippines.

Noodle soup A quintessential East and Southeast Asian dish that also comes in different versions. A quick Google search on noodle soup reveals a truly diverse varieties; each country, in fact, has several of the same dish. For instance, Indonesia has mie ayam, mie bakso, soto mie, and a whole lot more; while Philippines has batchoy, lomi, mami, miswa, pancit molo, sotanghon, and the list goes on. Noodle soup is usually served in a light broth, with noodles made of either rice, flour, or egg. Chicken mami is a favorite Filipino comfort food. Key ingredients are egg noodles and bone-

less chicken breasts topped with chopped onions and toasted garlic. Considered the national soup of Vietnam, pho is typically served with rice noodles and chicken or beef in a bone soup stock. It is usually topped with raw ingredients and garnishes such as lime slices, onions, and sliced chilies that give that fragrant, fresh flavor. Meanwhile, tom yum, arguably one of Thailand’s most famous soup is a hot and sour blend commonly served with rice noodles, shrimp, lemongrass, and onion, with a mix of herbs and seasonings to balance the fishy flavor from shrimp.

ours is known basically as ginataang manok with curry powder. Both versions are best paired with a warm bowl of rice or roti prata. On the milder side is Myanmar’s Burmese chicken curry cooked with ginger and lemongrass which are responsible

for its particularly fragrant flavor. Amok curry in Cambodia features gentle yet fragrant flavors from cod or monkfish—also known as amok trey— steamed in coconut milk which compliment the different herbs and spices that comprise the curry paste called kroeung.

The region’s popular cold treats (clockwise) ais kacang from Malaysia, halo-halo from the Philippines, and nam kang sai from Thailand.

Shaved ice dessert Icy desserts are one of the oldest sweet treats enjoyed by the world over—yes, not only in Southeast Asia. They either come in sno-balls or shaved or curly form, with the addition of flavored syrups, fruits, milk, and ice cream, among others. In the Philippines, halo-halo is usually served in a tall, clear glass that shows off the colorful layers of shaved ice, jackfruit, nata de coco, mung beans, rice krispies, and evaporated milk, topped off with ice cream and purple yam. Similarly, Indonesia’s es campur is served in a shallow bowl or glass, with large chunks of ice floating in a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and pandan syrup, topped with grass jelly, sprin-

kles, jackfruit, coconut, or avocado. Ais kacang (ice kacang) is a popular shaved ice dessert served at hawker stands in Malaysia as well as in Singapore. It is made of shaved ice topped with flavored syrups such as rose or pandan and evaporated milk, and served with red beans, sweet corn, peanuts, and durian. Thailand also has its version of shaved ice dessert in the form of nam kang sai, which is similar to Taiwan’s bao bing and South Korea’s patbingsu. It features topping combinations that include taro, jackfruit, water chestnuts, sweet corn, and even cubes of bread, which is then drizzeled with flavored sweet red syrup known as sala syrup and/or coconut milk.

MasterChef Australia 2017 winner Diana Chan goes around Asia to explore its fresh and aromatic flavors on Asia Unplated with Diana Chan, which airs every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. on Asian Food Network.

From Louisiana to Legazpi Village Text and photos by Angelica Villanueva

Volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez

Philippine-exclusive items, including Popeyes’ juicy Cajun-style fried chicken, honey biscuits, Cajun fries, shrimp and fish burgers, and Popeye’s Spaghetti. To celebrate its opening, today’s hottest personalities had their lunch during the event. Guests included Ruru Madrid, Jane Oineza, Alyssa Valdez, Majoy Baron, and Kim Fajardo. “The chicken, is so good. It’s very crispy, and at the same time, very juicy. It’s a kind of chicken that I can eat everyday. The biscuit gives the perfect and right amount of sweetness that I’ve been looking for. And, of course, the spaghetti [is also a must-try]!” Ruru enthused when asked of his favorites from Popeyes’ offerings.

THE Cajun-style fried chicken from Louisiana has finally arrived in the busy city of Makati. After its opening in Pasig City, followed by launches in Manila, Alabang, Cubao, Mall of Asia, Eastwood, and Ortigas, Popeyes finally opened its first outlet in Makati, its tenth in the country. “We are extremely grateful for the support we have been continuously receiving ever since we opened our first store at Arcovia City in Pasig. Now, we have 10 branches spread across Metro Manila and we are pleased to finally bring Popeyes to Makati,” said Kuya J Group marketing director Ton Gatmaitan during the store opening, Check out Popeyes’ newest branch on The newest branch of Popeyes offers the ground floor of Kroma Tower at Dela its full Southern-style menu, as well as Rosa St., Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Actor Ruru Madrid

Popeyes opens its tenth branch in the Philippines at Kroma Tower in Legazpi Village, Makati, bringing its Southern-style menu that includes Cajun-style fried chicken, honey biscuits, Cajun fries, shrimp burgers, and more to Makatizens.

Life

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

5 dining spots in NoMa

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EWLY opened Assembly Grounds at The Rise houses restaurants and cafés specially curated for North Makati or NoMa’s hustling yuppies. Here are five establishments that cater to the cravings of the residents of metro’s newest hip destination.

Korean feast at lunch break

Premiere the Samgyupsal offers unlimited meal of tender pork and chicken, served fresh. The restaurant serves nine delicious meat variants and delectable side dishes at economical rates, ideal for a quick lunch out or dinner with friends.

Yuki Café serves beloved Japanese and fusion dishes.

Dive into Japanese fusion Yuki Café offers beloved Japanese dishes, and then some. There’s the usual katsudon and tempura rice toppings, but there is also spaghetti topped with spicy cod roe, butter, olive

Meat selections at Premiere the Samgyupsal.

oil, and nori f lakes. What really sets it apart, however, is the taiyaki: soft, fish-shaped waff les bursting with filling, whether red bean, cheese, or Nutella.

Japanese favorites turned into burgers at Chatto Bites.

Chomp on Japanese burgers

Expect a different kind of burger experience at Chatto Bites. The establishment’s unique creations transform beloved Japanese favorites into burgers, such as a Karaage burger topped with wasabi tomato sauce, a Buta Kimchi Rice Burger, and a Japanese steak drizzled with red wine sauce.

Crispy tilapia and more Filipino favorites at Recipes.

Enjoy a plate of heritage

Starbucks Reserve offers coffee made from specially imported beans.

Recipes lets diners savor the crispy, the succulent, the creamy, and the sour flavors of beloved Filipino dishes with traditional offerings like general’s chicken, crispy tilapia, lechon kawali, kare-kare, and more.

Grab a cup of energy

Starbucks Reserve offers coffee made from specially imported beans, blended to perfection. Considered a VIP branch of the famous coffeehouse chain, it also allows guests to choose from an exclusive array of the rarest pastries Starbucks has to offer.

NEW EATS Celebration with crispy pancit canton FILIPINOS always like to have pancit on special occasions, or even when there is none, as it symbolizes longevity and good health. With its understanding of the preference of Pinoy diners, Max’s Restaurant offers this popular noodle dish with a little bit of a crispy twist. The Crispy Pancit Canton is a mountain of crispy, golden fried noodles, generously mixed with flavorful chicken balls, squid rings, and a variety of fresh vegetables. To keep the crispiness of the dish, sauce will be drizzled only after the plate is served to the diner. The new noodle dish is available in solo order for P199 and in the House Classics Birthday Bundle and House Classics Birthday Bundle Plus. The first bundle includes one Crispy Pancit Canton, one large plain rice, and four glasses of iced tea for P999. Meanwhile, the second bundle, priced at P1,399, comes with one regular fried chicken, one Crispy Pancit Canton, one large plain rice, four glasses of iced tea, and a choice of either four Vanilla Ice Cream or Buko Pandan. Its available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery at Max’s branches nationwide. Crispy Pancit Canton

Teriyaki, tempura, and more Two beloved quick service restaurants offer new dishes three pieces of succulent, fresh prawns that are significantly to kickstart 2020. bigger and crunchier than ever. Each is fully coated with Japanese restaurant Teriyaki Boy serves Teriyaki Boy authentic JapaJapa nese tempura batter, fried until lightly Chicken at P349. The new menu offering is meticulously mar mar- cr isp and then served with special inated from the inside out, sautéed with tempura sauce. Diners can its classic Teriyaki Boy sauce, avail of this crunchy dish and served with a drizzle at P199 only (P70 less of sesame dressing than its regular price) over a fresh bed of today until Jan. 31, cabbage salad. in celebration of Meanwhile, Beef Tempura month. Teriyaki, priced at Sizzlin’ Steak, P399, boasts a more on the other hand, tender texture and flastarts the year with vorful taste, courtesy of Sizzlin’ Beef Belly the signature Teriyaki Boy Rice at P269. The dish consists of thin, tender sauce smothered all over—at a more affordable price. slices of beef served with hanker For those with a hankereither Teriyaki Sauce, Sizzlin’ Beef Belly Rice (left) and Ebi Tempura ing for deep-fried dishes, steak sauce, gravy, terithere’s Teriyaki Boy’s mayo, garlic basil sauce, Tonkatsu at P289, made or cheese sauce, and best with imported US pork battered with a Japanese-style paired with plain rice. breadcrumbs, deep-fried until golden brown and served Diners can also Create Your Own Sizzlin’ Meal and with cabbage salad and a drizzle of sesame dressing. choose from a delightful range of high-quality meats to pair An order of Ebi Tempura, priced at P269, comes with with rice, side dish, and sauce.

Students in Classic Cocktails 101 learn the terms, tools, and techniques of bartending.

Cocktails 101:

From drinkers to mixers SET at the cozy speakeasy Three Little Pigs in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, the Piggy Couch Sessions workshop turns casual drinkers into crafty mixers. Limited to only 10 seats per class, students in Classic Cocktails 101 dive into the world of bar and get up close and personal with the terms, tools, and techniques of bartending. According to the workshop organizer, with the right tools and a handful of tips (and secrets), participants can craft their own signature cocktails in no time. “I’ve always had an interest in cocktails ever since my mother introduced it to me. I always felt a strong desire to drink or learn it. After the class, I realized that bartending is something I didn’t know I needed in my life,” shares student Sheila Sih. Another student, Shria Florencio, relates, “I just went away for New Years and whipped up a few cocktails for my friends who were very impressed. I was thrilled to find Three Little Pigs when we moved here [from Singapore], which serves such amazing cocktails and has a great, intimate ambiance.” In addition to learning the techniques, students can put their skills to the test with the Guest Shift Bartender Program, a one-night event where ab-

Anyone can show off their bartending skills during Three Little Pigs’ two-hour Guest Shift Bartender Program.

solutely anyone—beginners, enthusiasts, professionals—can go behind the bar to serve their own cocktails and show off their bartending skills (or lack thereof) to their friends for two hours. The Classic Cocktails 101 takes place every Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for P2,200 per person. Contact 0927-870-2365 or go to Three Little Pigs’ social media accounts to know more.

Entertainment

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 nickie.standard@gmail.com

C3

REAL NO MORE.

On Jan. 20, James Reid and Nadine Lustre confirmed that "after quiet and mature conversations," they've decided to split up and "focus on ourselves."

What becomes of the brokenhearted? W

HEN news broke out that James Reid and Nadine Lustre called it quits, we felt the earth moved under our collective feet.

JaDine’s real breakup after starting as a reel coupling in movies and television shows, felt like a strong jab, or a slap even. Something inside all of us wanted to scream. No, not them! Is this for real? Why is this so? Queries popped in our minds simply because we are all too familiar with the reality that ending a relationship is no walk in the park. And Reid and Lustre, who are larger than life millennial idols, putting an exclamation point to a well-chronicled and documented showbiz romance, made us all baffled and bewildered. Romantic love no longer has a fighting chance in this day and age. Why do we love this former couple? Well, they are “real” to most of us who adore and idolize them. You know, they are not too saccharine like the duo of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Definitely not too orchestrated like the curious case of the phenomenal love team that was, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. Not too cotton candy-ish, satisfying yet unhealthy like the pairing of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil. With JaDine, we loved the fact that Reid is “prettier” than Lustre which is so reminiscent and can be compared to that ofLeonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes bombastic collaboration in Baz Lhurman’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Reid’s Australian accented manner of reciting his lines, whether in Filipino and in English, added more beauty to his obvious allure and machismo. Yes, that he is good, no great looking is the biggest bonus of them all. He is irresistible and we understand why Lustre, and majority of us, fell for him. Lustre is no plain Jane, of course. She is not traditionally pretty but her charm grows on you. She also possesses a lot of spunk, and there is a palpable earthiness about her that makes more appealing. When the breakup was made official, something inside me was crushed and a pain engulfed and suffocated my being. It was as if two of my dearest friends, whom I thought will walk down the aisle, share their happily ever after, raise kids and grow old together, broke their

Alex Calleja

Orca

TFC launches first original comedy WELCOME the new decade with lots of fun and laughter with TFC’s latest offering, Stand Up for Laughs, which can be seen for free by all registered users outside the Philippines via TFC Online and soon in the Philippines via iWant. The comedy show is an eight-episode stand-up comedy series which is TFC’s first venture into producing content under the comedy genre. “We are excited to launch not only our first comedy series but also a fresh batch of comedians who turn to humor to raise awareness about the lives of the Filipinos abroad and some parts of our culture that is uniquely Filipino,” said Global Content head Ned Legaspi. Bringing non-stop laughter while featuring some scenarios in the lives of the Filipinos abroad are stand-

up comedians lead and directed by Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World 2016 finalist Alex Calleja, with GB Labrador, Orca, Winer Aguilar, Nicki Morena, Clark Llaga,Ramon Cabochan, and Yuki. “We wrote our own materials,” Calleja relates. “Kasi ang standup comedy is based on your experience. Pero ito lumabas kami sa comfort zonenamin, nilagayan ng konting storytelling na hindi lumalayo sa reality.” Get ready to laugh your hearts out in the relatable eight-episode standup comedy series Stand Up for Laughs, which can be seen outside the Philippines via TFC Online (www. TFC.tv) and soon in the Philippines via iWant. This is free for all registered users.

In 2013, JaDine was born and became one of the biggest loveteams of the previous decade. Also in 2013, the couple starred in two movies, one of which ('Diary ng Panget') emerged as a big box office hit.

At the height of the JaDine craze in 2016, James and Nadine came out as a real life couple.

Nicki Morena

vow that is supposedly stronger than love and friendship. To further torture myself, I watched repeatedly a former episode of JaDine’s mammoth television drama hit, On The Wings of Love, the breakup scene of Clark and Lea. As the two characters revealed the many reasons why and why not they should stay together, Lea poured her heart out and Clark adamant with his convictions, I couldn’t help but wonder, are their fights behind the camera more devastating? As Clark and Lea, Reid and Lustre played their characters with a lot of sincerity and an emotional commitment that seemed way above their ages at that time they portrayed the roles and the experiences they have encountered in the romance and love department. And despite their seemingly juvenile stature, they pulled the scene off. This baring of the soul and exposing their gut was of course, more shattering when they did Gio Smith and Joanne Candelaria in the millennial incarnation of Sana’y Maulit Muli, the classic movie that starred Aga Muhlach and Lea Salonga, becameNever Not Love You. Reid and Lustre were dynamic, exhausting, and truthful to the very core of their characters’ reasons for living and

SNAPSHOT

Penélope dazzles at Goya Awards SPANISH actress Penélope Cruz attends the Goya 2020 awards in Malaga, Spain over the weekend. The 45-year-old beauty, who was nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in Pain And Glory, exuded elegance in a purple gown adorned with delicate flowers. To complete her look, Penélope donned a pair of sparkling red drop earrings and a matching large stone ring. Pain And Glory is about a director who reflects on choices he’s made as past and present come crashing down around him. Penélope plays a character called Jacinta. AFP

surviving. What happens now that their romance has come to an end? Will there be no more film and television projects with them headlining it? Reid is bound to do Soulmates with Momoland’s Nancy McDonie. Lustre parades her fierce and fun side, with a lot of provocative pictorials donning a bikini. If she becomes the lead star ofAntoinette Jadaone’s Boldstar, it will not come as a surprise. She is ripe and ready for that kind of role. Celebrities like Robi Domingo, Bianca Gonzales, Iza Calzado, and Jed Madela were all vocal in their expression of disbelief and unhappiness about JaDine’s parting of ways. Will this certain sadness linger on not only for them but for most of us? With this farewell to love and romance, what becomes of the brokenhearted? To the one who does not love anymore? To the one who feels lucky to be free? Answers, anyone? James Reid and Nadine Lustre, what say you?

Extra International... From C4

Generational shift Lizzo, Eilish, and Lil Nas X are the top three contenders of the night with a combined age of 69—a figure once closer to the average age of just one veteran star that would dominate the night. The generational shift could mark a new era for the Recording Academy, which has long favored older pop and rock mainstays. Eilish, who first gained fame online, was just 17 when the nominations were announced, making her the youngest artist ever to be up for all four top Grammy awards. Her songwriting partner and brother Finneas, 22, meanwhile has five chances at Grammys glory. Fans are expecting a rager of a performance from Lizzo, who routinely slings back tequila from the bottle onstage. Fashion watchers will also be on red alert for the boisterous star’s latest ensemble—she donned a fluffy, hot pink Marc Jacobsjacket to this year’s Met Gala, which she proudly wore as she strutted through a New York airport the morning after. ‘Old Town Road’ all-stars Lil Nas X, the brain behind the year’s ubiquitous earworm “Old Town Road,” will take the stage to perform a pumpedup rendition of his country-trap smash. His Grammy co-nominee for Record of the Year, Billy Ray Cyrus—who lent the song country-world street cred when Nashville snubbed it—will join him on stage, as will the eclectic DJ Diplo and K-pop mega stars BTS. The video-sharing app TikTok propelled the young rapper to fame—his song went viral and ultimately broke the record for the longest stretch atop the Billboard hot songs chart at 19 weeks. The genre-bending mega-hit was removed from Billboard’s country music charts early last year—which critics alleged was industry white-washing as

Yuki

the artist is black. Lil Nas X is bound to impress on the red carpet; the rapper is known for his campy Western outfits complete with fringe, vests or hats in garish colors. Barring none Two artists who faced major legal troubles in 2019—Meek Mill and 21 Savage—are up for Best Rap Album. Mill ended his controversial legal saga in August after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge dating back more than a decade—a move that lifted the probation he dealt with for most of his adult life. The plea deal, which saw additional charges against Mill dropped, resolved a case that had become a flashpoint in the national debate over the US criminal justice system’s treatment of black people. 21 Savage was meanwhile arrested just before last year’s Grammys gala in his hometown Atlanta, with US immigration agents saying he had been living stateside illegally since overstaying a visa that expired in 2006, when he was a minor. The shock arrest surprised fans, who discovered the rapper—strongly associated with the southern capital of hip-hop—was in fact born in Britain. Nipsey Hussle tribute Mill—along with artists including DJ Khaled, John Legend, and Roddy Ricch—will perform a tribute to the late rapperNipsey Hussle, who is posthumously up for three awards after losing out on Best Rap Album to Cardi B in 2019. The Eritrean-American born Ermias Asghedom was shot dead last March at age 33 in broad daylight, triggering an outpouring of grief in Los Angeles and among Hussle’s superstar peers, who hailed both his musical talents and tireless community organizing. Both Legend and Khaled are up for a Grammy with Hussle for “Higher,” a collaboration released after the rapper’s death. Long part of the underground rap circuit, Hussle struggled to find fame but began selling his own mixtapes. Hip-hop royalty Jay-Z once bought 100 of them—for $100 each. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Barbie Forteza and Kate Valdez are GMA's newest primetime bets as they star in the television adaptation of the classic film, 'Anak ni Waray VS Anak ni Biday.'

Y Kuya Kim Atienza for ABS-CBN's Tulong-Tulong sa Taal

KAPAMILYA NETWORK goes full force in reaching all Taal evacuees

'G Diaries' host Ernie Lopez helps distribute relief goods to evacuees. Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN Foundation

NO EVACUEE will be left behind. This is the promise of ABS-CBN as it launches the “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal” public service campaign, which aims to unite the nation in helping all Filipinos affected by the recent eruption and continuous activity of Taal Volcano. “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal” brings together the efforts of the entire Kapamilya network for Taal evacuees, from relief operations led by Sagip Kapamilya to delivery of “Serbisyo at Saya” in evacuation centers through the help of ABS-CBN employees, artists, programs, and subsidiaries. It also has an information campaign led by Kim Atienza, who gives out tips on disaster preparedness airing on TV, radio, and digital, on top of the regular news reports and updates from ABS-CBN News. True to its mission to be in the service of the Filipino, ABS-CBN was one of the first to arrive in evacuations centers to provide assistance to the thousands of families that were forced to flee their homes as heavy ash fall began to cover the entire Taal island and nearby towns in Batangas and Cavite last Jan. 12. As of Friday (Jan. 24), 17,016 families or 85,080 individuals received relief packs, 5,403 people enjoyed hot meals from the soup kitchen, while 663 individuals were given psychological services in over a hundred evacuation centers through ABS-CBN Foundation’s humanitarian assistance arm. Under the banner campaign of “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal,” Sagip Kapamilya’s relief operations will continue and intensify as it aims to reach as many evacuees as possible. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also kicked off its “Serbisyo at Saya” caravans that will also visit different evacuation centers to offer medical missions, fun activities, and other useful services to help ensure the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of our displaced Kapamilyas. Here, evacuees who are suffering from skin conditions, wounds, hypertension, pulmonary and eyesight issues, psychological trauma, and other ailments caused by the Taal eruption and the living conditions in evacuation

Tulong-Tulong sa Taal Ligtas Bag

OUNG screen actresses Barbie Forteza and Kate Valdez play friends-turnedmortal enemies from two different regions on GMA Network’s TV adaptation of the hit 1984 movie by Regal Films, Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday.

Unlike the movie, the lead stars said that the serialized version that premieres today, is not much of a comedy but a touching drama. The director even admitted that it was a conscious effort on his part not to watch the film so he could create a version based on the material created by the series’ creative team. “It’s not strictly drama. It has all the elements of an interesting story, it has comedy, drama, the story is filial, so the story has a lot of layers that we could explore. And it was my intention not to watch the original version para hindi maging biased,” director Mark Sicat dela Cruz said. The reimagining of the classic film revolves around the friendship Barbie as Ginalyn and actress Kate as Caitlyn. . Barbie shares that she took classes to learn the Waray dialect but what she mostly enjoyed was immersing herself into their culture, “Tinuro sa amin how they live, kung papaano sila magtrabaho para sa family nila.” “It’s interesting to know that people from Ilocos and Leyte have strong personalities. And that makes me feel inspired to play the role because she’s one empowered young woman. Kilala ang mga Waray na palaban at hindi papatalo. That’s how my character likes to be known for,” she adds. Kate says she’s happy to be working with Barbie for the first time in this soap, “Actually during our workshop, I already felt how warm as a person Barbie is. She’s like a big sister to me.” The drama, which also highlights famous tourist destinations from the provinces of Leyte and Ilocos namely the iconic San Juanico Bridge and the thrilling Paoay Sand Dunes, introduces the exciting reunion of seasoned actresses Snooky Serna and Dina Bonnevie. Snooky, who portrayed the role of Biday’s daughter in the original film, shares what makes this TV adaptation unique from the movie, “In our version, they put a little bit more of drama in it. It’s not a complete copy of the original story. They give it a different twist altogether so we have a different story. Ang pareha lang ay sina Waray at Biday, perennially mortal enemiestalaga sila.” Dina, who has no trouble speaking Ilocano after marrying a native, reveals why she opted to accept the role of Biday, “After a long time, Snooky and I will be working together again. I really welcomed it because I haven’t done comedy in a long time. Excited ako kasi kakaiba and I won’t have to cry buckets of tears.” Adding spice to the already fuming feud between the Warays and Bidays are: Migo Adecer as Cocoy, a charming city boy who crosses paths with Ginalyn and Caitlyn; Jay Manalo as Joaquin, a dashing man from Manila who becomes Amy and Sussie’s apple of eye leading to their broken friendship; Teresa Loyzaga as Dorcas, Joaquin’s sophisticated cousin who would do anything to keep their family’s riches to herself; Faith da Silva as Agatha, Dorcas’ spoiled brat daughter; Jean Saburit as Vanessa, doting mother of Cocoy; Tanya Montenegro as Glenda, Amy’s cousin and close confidant from Leyte; Benedict Cua as Benny, a famous charismatic vlogger of Filipino-Chinese descent and Caitlyn’s best friend; and Ms. Celia

centers will receive free medical advice, treatment, and medicine. ABS-CBN will also be giving away free reading glasses, hygiene and laundry kits to ease the burden of the people in evacuation centers. There will also be a Tulong Center helpdesk to receive and facilitate assistance for Kapamilyas in need. Moreover, our countrymen will feel true Kapamilya love as volunteer employees, including artists, will be there to cheer them up through fun games and a mobile soup kitchen for everyone, as well as storytelling and arts and crafts sessions for children. Adult evacuees will also remain updated of the happenings in the country, while the kids get to catch up on their lessons as SKYcable and Knowledge Channel will setup free viewing stations on select evacuation centers. Recently, Kapamilya programs Salamat Dok and My Puhunan also conducted public service events in evacuation centers, while Kapamilya stars have organized their own fund-raisers and distribution of relief goods to help our fellow countrymen. In “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal,” ABSCBN enjoins the public to come together as a family in helping our countrymen, as even small acts of generosity and kindness by ordinary Filipinos can make a big impact. For this, the network launches several other efforts under the “TulongTulong sa Taal” umbrella campaign where the public can participate in projects for Taal evacuees such as the Ligtas Bag drive, where people can donate cash or items for “go bags” that will be given to evacuees. The Ligtas Bag contains food and useful things in times of emergency. People are also encouraged to prepare their own Ligtas Bag for themselves and their families. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Foundation is still accepting in-kind and cash donations for its Taal relief operations. For more details, follow ABS-CBN Foundation (@abscbnfoundationinc) on Facebook. Stay updated by followingABS-CBN News’ special Taal coverage on ABSCBN, ANC, DZMM, news.abs-cbn. The new series introduces the com, patrol.ph and the ABS- exciting reunion of seasoned CBN News App. actresses Snooky Serna and Dina

A touching tale between

friendsturned-foes

In the series, Benedict Cua portrays the role of Benny, a vlogger and friend of aspiring social media star Caitlyn played by Kate Valdez.

Migo Adecer plays the role of Cocoy, the charming city guy who comes between friends Ginalyn and Caitlyn.

Rodriguez as Zenaida, Sussie’s elitist and controlling mother who makes Amy’s life a living hell. Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday also features the special participation of Lovi Poe as young Sussie and Max Collins as young Amy who will be portraying the roles of Dina and Snooky, respectively, during their younger years for the pilot week; together with Jason Abalos as young Joaquin; Pinky Amador as young Zenaida; Mike ‘Pekto’ Nacua as Randy, young Joaquin’s comrade; Yanna Asistio as young Glenda; and Franco Gray Nerona as Joni, young Amy’s friend and fellow helper in Sussie’s villa. The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan;

Bonnevie.

creative head Richard “Dode” Cruz; creative consultant Jojo Tawasil Nones; headwriter Renato Custodio; writers Tina Samson-Velasco and Erwin Bravo; and brainstormers Wiro Michael Ladera, Liberty Constantino, and Kayla Factolerin. Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday airs weeknights, after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad. ***

The Sparkling Way to Hydrate If you are to believe most health gurus, beauty bloggers, and wellness authorities, w e ’ r e supposed to be consuming anywhere between seven and 12 glasses of water a day. That’s a lot of water.And let’s face it, water boredom can begin to set in. Sometimes your hydration needs a little bit of flavor and even a little bit of sparkle. Agua Prima Lemon in Still and Sparkling is a sugar-free flavored water drink without any artificial sweetener. It’s a delicious and refreshing way to quench your thirst without resorting to sugary drinks. And though you might be tempted to keep that beautiful glass bottle, it’s completely returnable. Staying hydrated has never been more eco-friendly or stylish.

Five things to watch for at the Grammys Lizzo—seen here performing live on "The Today Show in New York in August 2019 -- earned the most Grammy nominations with eight.

MUSIC’S glitterati will sparkle on the red carpet at today’s Grammy awards, which honors the top hits and artists of the year. Scandal at the Recording Academy, which puts on the show, has overwhelmed the lead-up to the glam event, but there are still plenty of musical moments to watch for. Here is our quick guide to the event, which will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles: Women poised to lead Women dominated at last year’s gala and

are leading the pack this year as well, with the twerking flautist Lizzo and the teenage gothpop phenomenon Billie Eilish expected to battle for the top awards. The Academy has long come under fire for failing to recognize women and people of color. So in recent years, it expanded the nominee field from five to eight in the major four categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Both Lizzo and Eilish are nominated for all

of the “big four” prizes. Other female frontrunners vying for Grammys gold include Lana Del Rey—whose 2019 album was considered by many critics as the best of the year—and R&B prodigy H.E.R., who is up for five awards and last year won two. Pop sensation Ariana Grande is also among the top nominees, while flamenco revivalist Rosalia, up for Best New Artist, could become a rare Spanish-language winner in the general categories. Continued on C3