Manila Standard - 2020 February 12 - Wednesday

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TAIWAN TRAVEL BAN LEAVES HUNDREDS STRANDED AT NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano, Darwin Amojelar and Macon Ramos-Araneta

BEATING THE BAN.

Filipino workers from Kaoshiung, Taiwan line up for a thorough medical checkup upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Che Santos

HUNDREDS of Filipino travelers to Taiwan were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International after major airlines started cancelling flights to and from Taipei in compliance with the Philippine government’s order expanding the travel ban.

A number of passengers from the United States who made a stopover in Taiwan were also barred from entering the country and were told by Bureau of Immigration agents to go back to the airport where they came from.

“We are constrained to cancel all our flights between Manila and Taipei effective immediately, until further notice. These cancelled flights are PR890/891 Manila-Taipei-Manila and PR-894/895 Manila-Taipei-Manila,” said Philippine Airlines spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

PAL advises passengers with flights to and from Taiwan from Feb. 11 onwards to await the lifting of the ban.

Cebu Pacific Air also canceled flights Next page

Outbreak enters new phase; death toll breaks 1k

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE death toll from a new coronavirus outbreak surged past 1,000 on Tuesday as the World Health Organization warned infected people who have not travelled to China could be the spark for a “bigger fire.”

The rise came after President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to a hospital in Beijing, wearing protective gear as he chatted with medical workers and patients.

An advance team for a WHO-led international expert mission arrived in China as the country struggles to contain a viral epidemic that has now infected more than 42,000 and reached some 25 countries.

Another 108 deaths were reported on Tuesday―the first triple-digit rise since the virus emerged.

The first death was reported on Jan. 11. The number of deaths has increased a thousandfold in just one month, reaching 1,016, though the mortality Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 363 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

VFA terminated, Du30 sends US formal notice

DFA chief transmits letter; Donald trumped in bid to save forces pact

By MJ Blancaflor, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Philippines sent the United States notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement Tuesday, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte said that US President Donald Trump was trying to “save” the deal.

400 scientists unite to fight off coronavirus SOME 400 scientists from across the world are reviewing how the novel coronavirus is transmitted and possible vaccines during a two-day forum of the World Health Organization that kicked off Tuesday.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the deadly virus was a “very grave threat” for the world as he opened the conference to combat the epidemic.

“With 99 percent of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world,” he said in Geneva.

“What matters most is stopping the outbreak and saving lives. With your support, that’s what we can do together,” Tedros said.

The virus, first identified in China on Dec. 31, has killed more than 1,000 Next page

Pets can now ride in PUVs

PETS are now allowed inside public utility vehicles, provided they are wearing animal diapers and are in cages or carriers.

In a memorandum circular, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said pets such as cats and dogs are allowed to be transported on PUVs “without having to compromise safety, Next page

The notice to terminate the VFA― which sets the terms for joint exercises and engagement of American soldiers in the Philippines―has been transmitted to the US, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“The President directed the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to tell Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin of the Foreign Affairs to send a notice of termination to the US government last night and the Executive Secretary sent the message to Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin and the latter signed the notice of termination... and sent to the US government today,” Panelo told a press briefing.

The agreement will be deemed terminated 180 days after the US government receives the notice, Panelo said.

Panelo said the President would not consider any initative from Washington to salvage the VFA, nor would he agree to visit the United States.

“All these actions are anchored on the

policy [of the President]... to chart an independent foreign policy… based on national interests and general welfare,” Panelo said.

In a post on his Twitter page, Locsin said the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy has received the notice of termination.

“As a diplomatic courtesy there will be no further factual announcements following this self-explanatory development,” Locsin said.

On Monday night, Duterte said: “Trump and the others are trying to save the Visiting Forces Agreement. I said, ‘I don’t want it.’”

Duterte has not yet spoken to Trump about the military agreement, which he said has not benefited the country.

“We’ve been fighting the communists for 53 years. If America really helped us, son of a bitch, how come we are still dealing with it?” the President said.

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17 senators close ranks for ABS

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

DEAL GONE SOUR. This file photo taken on April 20, 2015 shows Philippine soldiers and a US Army soldier from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat unit of the 5th Infantry Division based in Hawaii taking their positions after disembarking from a C-47 Chinook helicopter during an air assault exercise inside the military training camp at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. The Philippines told the US on Feb. 11 it was quitting a pact key to their historical military alliance, which triggers a six-month countdown to the deal’s termination. AFP

African swine flu spreads to Benguet LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—A total of 224 pigs were culled over the weekend in Barangay Beckel here and Camp 1 in Tuba town after samples were taken from piggeries tested positive for African swine fever.

Meriam Tiongan, the provincial veterinarian, said the “1-7-10” protocol was implemented to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

Tiongan said 189 pigs were culled within the one-kilometer radius of the ASF “ground zero” at Sitio Obulan in Barangay Beckel after blood samples of pigs in a backyard piggery tested positive of the virus last week.

The 35 others were culled at a com-

mercial piggery in Camp 1 days prior to the discovery of the case in Barangay Beckel.

At least eight hamlets in Barangay Beckel—Sapsing, Bakung, Marlboro Country, Gungel, Pagal, Central, Ulnai, and Busi—were affected from the depopulation of the 189 pigs, which was the livelihood of 31 families in the area.

She said hog raisers initially refused to depopulate the pigs but eventually gave in after explaining that culling was necessary to ensure the ASF would not spread to nearby piggeries.

“It was difficult considering that ordinary residents owned them, saving them

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‘500,000 INSECT SPECIES FACING EXTINCTION’ B3

SEVENTEEN senators or a majority of the 24 members of the Senate are supporting the renewal of ABSCBN’s franchise, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday.

“I don’t think it will have a difficult time here in the Senate,” Zubiri said noting that many senators were “sympathizers” of ABS-CBN. However, he said the senators would not be able to vote on ABSCBN’s franchise until a bill seeking to extend it for another 25 years had been approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate.

The franchise bill remains pending in the House.

Speaker Alan Cayetano vowed impartial hearings on the long-pending bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“Consistent with the Duterte administration’s stand on the protection of the freedom of expression, Congress is committed to conduct an impartial hearing where those who are against or in favor of the renewal may make their case. We also commit that the 18th Congress shall study this issue from all aspects in order to protect the interest of the public,” Cayetano said.

In related developments: • ABS-CBN may continue to operate until 2022 as long as there is a

BROADCASTER BACKED. People attend a protest in support of broadcaster ABS-CBN in Manila on Feb. 10. Government lawyers moved to strip the nation’s biggest media group of its operating franchise in what campaigners branded a fresh attack on press freedom under President Rodrigo Duterte. AFP

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

‘Narco-cops’ told: Retire or get fired

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OME 357 policemen suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade are being given the option to retire from the service, Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa said Tuesday.

to you.”

As of Monday, 14 policemen had opted to avail themselves of the retirement offer, Gamboa said.

“It doesn’t mean you’re off the hook already. Don’t return to the illegal drug trade or we will put you in another list.”

Gamboa last week ordered a fresh reshuffle of key positions in the police force and a surprise drug test of senior officers.

“I said if you don’t want to embarrass yourself, if you are guilty and you think you will not pass those who will evaluate you, and if you want peace of mind, then we offer you optional retirement,”

Gamboa said.

“You will have no case. After the evaluation...if you’re not cleared we will pursue a case against you. We will apply the full force of the law

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move forward to advance our shared interests,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

“Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history. We remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples,” it added.

An official of the US State Department said terminating the VFA would put about 300 bilateral engagements and military exercises in jeopardy.

In a telephonic press briefing, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper emphasized the significance of the annual military-to-military engagements and exercises to “take place unimpeded.”

“There is a significant amount of resources that had been invested in that bilateral relationship, and putting at risk--I don’t think anyone in the government of the Philippines would want to put at risk the numerous engagements,” Cooper said.

“The Visiting Forces Agreement provides framework that engenders us to do those activities. Absent that agreement, we do put at risk those activities that different services in the Philippines very much value,” he added.

The VFA is divisive in the Philippines, with left and nationalist critics long arguing it guarantees special treatment of American service members accused of crimes.

But defenders of the decades-old agree-

ment say ending it could both degrade the Philippines’ ability to defend itself and undermine American moves against Beijing’s rise, particularly in the disputed South China Sea. Locsin, an advocate of the pact, told lawmakers last week it was fundamental to the US alliance, which had provided tens of millions of dollars in support, equipment and training for the Philippine armed forces.

“Terminating the VFA will negatively impact its (the Philippines’) defense and security,” Locsin said.

“Our contribution to regional defense is anchored on our military alliance with the world’s last superpower,” he added.

Duterte first warned he would scrap the deal in 2016 and then repeated that threat in January in a speech.

Duterte’s speech last month came after Dela Rosa said the US had canceled his visa but did not tell him why.

Philippine officials view the cancellation as a sanction for Dela Rosa’s leadership of the campaign in which police have killed thousands of alleged pushers and users.

Since the visa issue surfaced, Duterte has barred his Cabinet from going to the US and has turned down Trump’s invitation to a Southeast Asian summit set for March in Las Vegas.

Duterte bristles at any Western criticism

of his signature policy, which public opinion surveys say is widely supported by Filipinos despite the killing.

On Jan. 23, the President gave the US government 30 days to rectify the visa cancellation of his political ally, Dela Rosa, or he would abrogate the two-decade-old military accord.

In related developments: * Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the termination of the VFA would render the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement ineffective. This, in turn, would make the Mutual Defense Treaty useless.

Drilon acknowledged, however, that it was the President’s prerogative to terminate the agreement. But he questioned the country’s readiness to stand on its own militarily. * Senator Francis Pangilinan said the termination of the VFA would favor China in its territorial dispute with the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea. * Rep. Manuel Cabochan III of the Magdalo party-list group filed a resolution “expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to oppose the unilateral decision of President Duterte to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.” He said while there are contentious portions of the agreement, “it has served to ensure the security of the nation.” With AFP

rived in China on Monday, is headed by Bruce Aylward, who oversaw the organization’s 2014-2016 response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Ryan said the team, which will lay the groundwork for a larger international mission, will seek to better understand “issues around the origin and source of the virus, issues around the severity of the disease.”

Chinese authorities, meanwhile, dismissed two senior officials from Hubei, the central province where some 56 million people, including in its capital Wuhan, have been under lockdown since late last month.

The province sacked the Communist Party head and director of the provincial health commission.

Local authorities in Wuhan and Hubei have faced a torrent of criticism for hiding the extent of the outbreak in early January.

Most deaths and cases are in Hubei.

The death of a whistleblowing doctor from Wuhan has sparked calls for political reform in China.

Xi who has described the battle against the virus a “people’s war,” has largely kept out of the public eye since the outbreak spiralled across the country from Hubei.

But he emerged on Monday, being pictured wearing a mask and having his temperature taken at a hospital in Beijing.

He called the situation in Hubei “still very grave” and urged “more decisive measures” to contain the spread of the virus.

A top Chinese medical adviser said the coronavirus epidemic may peak in February and then plateau before easing.

CNN reported that Zhong Nanshan, a leading epidemiologist who worked to contain the SARS epidemic in 2003, said the situation in some provinces was already improving, with the number of new cases declining.

In Manila, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III rejected suggestions that the coronavius is now aireborne, saying there is no evidence to support this view.

“Like SARS, the mode of transmission is respiratory droplets,” Duque said in a mix of English and Filipino. The virus is transmitted through these droplets when an infected person breathes out, coughs or sneezes, he said.

The DOH and the WHO recommend that people observe proper hygiene by washing their hands frequently, covering their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and avoiding close contact with those who are sick.

The DOH recorded 68 new cases of persons under investigation for the new virus.

This brought the cumulative record to 382, of whom 266 are currently admitted at

hospitals and 113 of which have been discharged.

Out of the three cases who tested positive to the virus, two recovered while one died while at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

Based on DOH’s real-time case tracker, Metro Manila has the highest number of patients under investigation, with 86 still confined in hospitals.

This was followed by Central Visayas with 49 suspected cases admitted at medical facilities, and Central Luzon with 31. Twelve other regions are also attending to patients under investigation.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said most of these are Filipinos.

“These are Filipinos who have come in contact with the known cases. Either on the plane, at the hotel, or at the hospital where they were admitted and have shown signs and symptoms of fever, cough, and respiratory illness,” Domingo said.

Contact tracing efforts are ongoing to locate the persons who may have been exposed to the three infected Chinese nationals who visited the Philippines last month.

Duque said the government is still studying whether it would evacuate more Filipinos based in Hubei province. He said the Cabinet agreed to wait two weeks to study the situation in China. With AFP

The bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US remains “warm” despite the VFA termination, Panelo said.

While other countries might be interested in a similar agreement, Panelo quoted the President as saying: “It’s about time to strengthen our own capability as a country relative to the defense of our land. It is difficult to rely on others.”

Duterte announced the termination after voicing anger over American authorities canceling the visa of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who led the President’s bloody war on drugs when he was still national police chief.

The VFA is the legal framework for the presence of US troops on Philippine soil and is central to the two nations’ hundreds of annual, joint military exercises, which are a major component of their deep military ties.

The pact requires a 180-day notice to quit, which will likely set off a period of negotiation between the two countries.

The US Embassy in Manila on Tuesday confirmed that it has received the notice of termination of the VFA. “This is a serious step with significant implications for the US-Philippines alliance. We will carefully consider how best to

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rate remains relatively low at 2.4 percent.

Chinese authorities have locked down millions of people in a number of cities while several governments have banned arrivals from China, and major airlines have suspended flights to keep the disease away from their shores.

But the case of a British man who passed on the virus to at least 11 other people―without having been in China―has raised fears of a new phase of contagion abroad.

Most cases abroad have involved people who had been in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city where the virus emerged late last year, or people infected by others who had been at the epicenter.

The adult British citizen, who has not been named publicly, caught the virus while attending a conference in Singapore and then passed it on to several compatriots while on holiday in the French Alps, before finally being diagnosed back in Britain.

Of those infected by the man, five have been hospitalized in France, five in Britain and one other man on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

“The detection of this small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.

“But for now it’s only a spark. Our objective remains containment. We call on all countries to use the window of opportunity we have to prevent a bigger fire,” Tedros said.

But Michael Ryan, head of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, said it was “way too early” to call the Singapore conference a “super-spreading event.”

“It is always a concern when people come together and then move apart and we have to have risk management procedures associated with that but you can’t shut down the world either,” Ryan said.

The British government called the novel coronavirus a “serious and imminent threat,” and said anyone with the disease can now be forcibly quarantined if they are deemed a threat to public health as the number of cases in Britain doubled to eight.

A cluster of cases has grown on a cruise ship moored off Japan, with 135 people now diagnosed with the virus aboard the Diamond Princess.

The ship has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who disembarked last month in Hong Kong.

The WHO’s advance team, which ar-

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health issues, and convenience of other passengers.”

The LTFRB said the animal carriers must be free from foul odor.

Pets placed inside carriers or cages must be beside the passenger-owner, who must pay the corresponding fare the same as that of other passengers.

Dog sizes must be the range of small to medium, the board said, as large and giant dogs will not be allowed.

Passenger-owners must also ensure cleanliness and sanitation at all times during the journey.

PUVs include public utility buses, jeepneys, UV Express services, and premium point-to-point bus services, among others.

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to and from Taipei due to the travel ban.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the expansion of the travel ban includes tourists from Taiwan.

“We have confirmed with the Department of Justice, which is our mother department, that Taiwan is indeed included in the expanded travel ban,” said Morente.

On Feb. 2, the Immigration bureau implemented an order from President Rodrigo Duterte banning all foreign nationals coming from China, as well as its special administrative regions.

The order stated that any passenger of any nationality who has been to China, Hong Kong, and Macau within 14 days before coming to the Philippines will automatically be denied entry.

Only Filipino citizens and aliens with permanent resident visas from said countries may be allowed entry.

“While not explicitly stated, we have confirmed with the Secretary of Justice that Taiwan is indeed part of the ban, and this expansion shall be implemented immediately,” said Morente.

The same was earlier announced by the Department of Health.

Morente announced that the travel ban will be implemented immediately, and will

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people, infected over 42,000 and reached some 25 countries.

Participants will also discuss the source of the virus, which is thought to have originated in bats and reached humans via another animal such as snakes or pangolins.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine against the virus, which can cause respiratory failure.

Tedros, who has repeatedly urged countries affected to share their data, called for global “solidarity.”

“That is especially true in relation to sharing of samples and sequences. To defeat this outbreak, we need open and equitable sharing, according to the principles of fairness and equity,” he said.

“We hope that one of the outcomes of this meeting will be an agreed roadmap for research around which researchers and donors will align,” Tedros said.

Several companies and institutes in Australia, China, France, Germany and the United States are racing to develop a vac-

Gamboa

follow the same procedure.

Under the guidelines, if a foreign passenger not exempted from the ban is encountered at the ports, he or she shall automatically denied entry and returned to his port of origin.

Filipinos and aliens who are exempted from the ban will be turned over to the Bureau of Quarantine for their assessment, together with a copy of their arrival cards.

Filipinos are ltemporarily not allowed to leave for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan unless they are part of a government delegation conducting official duties, a member of the World Health Organization, and other agencies involved in fighting or containing the novel coronavirus.

Taiwan on Tuesday hit out at countries that “confuse” it with China after the Philippines became the latest to impose a travel ban on the island over the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Despite its cultural links and close proximity to China, Taiwan moved swiftly against the outbreak and currently has just 18 confirmed cases of the new virus.

But the self-ruled democracy has found itself increasingly caught up in travel restrictions aimed at China, where the outbreak has killed more than 1,000 people and infected over 42,000.

On Monday the Philippines confirmed its current travel ban for China was being

cine—a process that normally takes years.

Asked whether scientists from Taiwan would be allowed to take part in this week’s Geneva conference, WHO officials said that they would do so but only online—along with colleagues from other parts of China.

Meanwhile, a team of British scientists believe they have become the first to start animal testing of a vaccine for the new coronavirus.

Researchers at Imperial College London said their ultimate goal was to have an effective and safe way of halting the SARSlike strain’s spread by the end of the year.

“At the moment we have just put the vaccine that we’ve generated from these bacteria into mice,” Imperial College London researcher Paul McKay said.

“We’re hoping that over the next few weeks we’ll be able to determine the response that we can see in those mice, in their blood, their antibody response to the coronavirus.”

Britain has recorded eight cases and has been forced to shut down two branches of a medical center in the southeast city of Brighton where at least two staff members

expanded to Taiwan under the so-called “one China” policy.

Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory―part of a “one China”―and has vowed to eventually take the island, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday described that decision as “wrong and unilateral.”

“To confuse Taiwan with China has caused troubles for our side and in the international community,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou told reporters.

As the virus has spread, some countries have included Taiwan in their own China travel bans.

Italy has banned flights by Taiwanese carriers, Bangladesh has stopped Taiwanese travelers from entering while Mongolia initially enacted a ban and then said it would review visa applications on a case by case basis.

Taiwanese officials abroad have been communicating with various governments to clarify that Taiwan “is not part of the People’s Republic of China”, Ou said.

Taiwan has also contained the outbreak and has reported no community infection cases, she added.

When asked if Taipei suspected Beijing was pressuring Manila to expand the travel ban, Ou said: “China’s shadow is lurking... I think the Chinese factor is obvious.” With AFP

tested positive.

But coming up with a vaccine is a laborious process that usually involves years of animal testing and clinal trials on humans.

Regulators must then make sure that the vaccine is both sufficiently safe and effective to be mass produced.

Imperial College London hopes that research on the SARS coronavirus nearly two decades ago can speed things up.

“We’re hoping to be the first to get this particular vaccine into human clinical trials, and that perhaps is our personal goal,” McKay said.

“Once the phase one trial is complete— which can take a few months to complete— it can be immediately started into an efficacy trial in people, which will also take a few months to complete,” McKay added.

Much of the world’s current research into the new strain is being funded through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

The group was formed at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos to help drug companies and universities join forces and stamp out dangerous and preventable diseases. AFP

PCSO puts ‘Peryahan’ on hold, gives no explanation THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Monday announced the suspension of Peryahan Games.

“This is to inform the public that effective Feb. 6, 2020, the operation of Peryahan Games is suspended until further instructions from the Office of the President,” PCSO general manager Royina Marzan-Garma told reporters.

He gave no reason for the suspension.

Last year, the sales from the Peryahan Games reached P68 million when it went back in operation in October after being suspended in August.

The Peryahan Games, formerly Peryahan ng Bayan, was suspended after its operating company, Globaltech, failed to remit P100 million from its profit.

The company filed a suit before the Court of Appeals, which later sided with it and said the games’ operation was legal.

In 2015, sales from the Peryahan ng Bayan reached P137 million, but sales dropped to P23 million in 2017.

The PCSO earlier said all its games, particularly the Peryahan Games and Small Town Lottery, were contributors to its yearly profit.

PCSO assistant general manager for Gaming Arnel Casas said the Peryahan Games and STL remained significant in sustaining the agency’s profit.

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pending bill extending or renewing its franchise, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday.

“They can still operate. If it’s not approved March of 2022, that’s the only time that it’s terminated,” Sotto said.

• The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered ABS-CBN to comment on the quo warranto suit filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeking to cancel its franchise.

• Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday demanded from the House of Representatives to be fair by acting and not sleeping on a bill seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.

“Act, pass or fail so that at least, there will be concerned people who will know what to do―move for reconsideration or gather more votes, override something, just like that,” Pimentel said.

“This should be acted upon, don’t just sleep on it as if there’s no pending bill.”

• The House of Representatives adjourned barely a few minutes after it opened its session Tuesday.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said the House leadership decided to adjourn its session for a lack of quorum.

But lawmakers backing the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN could not help but say the chamber was evading the franchise issue to be raised on the floor.

“On record, our lady legislators are on official travel today attending an event outside of the House of Representatives,” Romualdez said in a statement.

• Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday hit the Office of the Solicitor General’s filing of a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN seeking to revoke its legislative franchise.

She tagged the move of Solicitor General Jose Calida as an act of “harassment” and “abuse of power.”

“This is harassment based on the personal agenda of some people in position, thus it is an abuse of power,” she said in a statement.

• The Kilusang Mayo Uno labor center said the solicitor general’s filing last Monday of a quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court against ABS-CBN for alleged franchise violations would cause thousands of job losses and cause “grave public injury.”

“That would massacre more than 10,000 jobs in the country’s largest broadcast network. It deprives millions of critical media freedom and thus cause grave public injury,” KMU General Secretary Jerome Adonis said. With Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas

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for the tuition of their children, or were raised to be butchered for the observance of a traditional practice of offering to the gods,” Tiongan said.

Following the ASF outbreak in Luzon last year, President Rodrigo Duterte approved a P1-billion fund to compensate hog raisers whose pigs were culled.

Under the “1-7-10” protocol, those found within the seven kilometers were subject to regular blood testing. Those pigs may not be sold or brought out of the area.

Animals within the 10-kilometer radius but beyond the seven kilometers are subject to monitoring and owners must report the condition of the animals and inform authorities if any of the pigs get sick.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sandiganbayan justice slams Napoles ‘ sick act when summoned

Talitay, Maguindanao Mayor shot dead THE mayor of Talitay town in Maguindanao was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Malate, Manila on Monday night, police said.

The Manila Police District identified the victim as Mayor Abdulwahab Sabal.

Sabal sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body causing his immediate death.

Sabal was shot in front of the Mannra Hotel in Quirino Avenue, Malate, when the incident happened.

Police said that as soon as Sabal alighted his vehicle in front of the hotel, where he was about to check in, the gunmen “shot the victim repeatedly” then fled the scene.

Initial investigation said that Sabal and his companions came from another hotel in Manila before the incident happened. Willie Casas

By Maricel V. Cruz THE repeated failure of convicted pork-barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to appear at the hearings called on the case where former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is her coaccused has drawn the ire of the Sandiganbayan Third Division’s justices.

The court summoned Bureau of Corrections and Correctional Institution for Women Tuesday to explain the absence of Napoles on Jan. 29, when she was supposed to sign the pre-trial order.

Enrile and Napoles were required to personally sign the pre-trial order in court.

Jail Senior Insp. Jane Bautista and Senior Supt. Cecilia Villanueva reported to the court that Napoles was not able to go to court because of her high blood sugar, prompting Associate Justice Ronald Moreno to quip, “She feels bad only when there is an order for her to be here?”

The BuCor officials claimed Napoles has a history of increased blood sugar levels, prompting the court to require a notarized copy of her past medical records.

“The court orders the CIW to do that,” Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Division Chairman Amparo Cabotaje-Tang said.

On Wednesday, Napoles is again scheduled to appear at the court to sign the pre-trial order, a prerequisite before the trial to the case for 16 counts of graft against her and Enrile can start.

Pneumonia still PH’s top killer —health expert AS HEALTH authorities are focusing on averting the spread of the 2019 coronavirus, a health expert however reminded the public not to forget pneumonia, the number 1 killer of Filipino children under five years.

Speaking in yesterday’s “Kapihan sa Manila Hotel,” Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo said that as many as 39 Filipino children—or the equivalent of an entire classroom—die every day due to pneumonia.

She said the Philippines is included in the top 15 countries in terms of pneumonia deaths, and those 15 countries are responsible for 75 percent of all deaths from pneumonia.

Because of this, she said the Department of Health should look into the cost-effectiveness between the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 10 and the PCV13 with the ongoing review of the vaccines.

The DOH has postponed the bidding for P4.9 billion worth of PCV stocks for 2020 pending a review of data raised by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

The deferment was also meant to give the government time to further review the technical specifications of the vaccines. It was likewise an apparent move to heed the clamor of medical experts and the public to review further the call for bidding.

The PCV procurement process was questioned because it specified a single vaccine—PCV13.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

TRANSPARENCY.

Former Bulacan Gov. Obet Pagdanganan, who now heads the Medicines Transparency Alliance Council (MeTA) and Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination appeared as guests at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel of Samahang Plaridel. The two discussed ‘Truth and Transparency in Public Health’ amid fake news surrounding the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Lino Santos

Trafficking continues despite virus—BI TRIBUTES. The 40 candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas signed messages at a memorial wall at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City as a tribute to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Manny Palmero

Recto wants to tax all POGO companies in PH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto has filed a bill seeking to impose a 30-percent income tax and 5-percent franchise tax on offshore online gaming operations in the country.

Recto said Senate Bill No. 1295 seeks to establish a tax regime for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators which are duly licensed and authorized by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to provide online gambling services to players outside the Philippines.

The bill covers POGO companies in the Philippines, local gaming agents and POGO service providers.

Despite the fact that POGO is a growing industry in the Philippines, Recto said the nature of its business activity creates confusion in the enforcement of the country’s existing laws.

Under PAGCOR rules and regulations on POGO operations, licenses are issued to Filipino-based or foreign-based operators. Service providers that form part of the components of the POGO gaming operations such as gaming software provider, business outsourcing provider and content streaming provider are likewise

required to secure a license.

“Both Philippine-based and foreignbased POGO operators are taxable on their income from gaming operations and other related services,” Recto said.

“Establishing the tax regime of POGOs and incorporating the same in the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended, is necessary to remove any doubt and avoid the confusion as to whether or not POGOs are taxable in our jurisdiction,” he explained.

Under the bill, licensed Philippinebased POGOs, local gaming agents and service providers shall be subjected to a 30-percent income tax, the taxable amount will be derived in the preceding taxable year from all sources within and outside of the Philippines.

Foreign-based POGOs shall also be subjected to a 30-percent income tax based on their gross income derived from game offerings or facilities located within the Philippines.

On top of the 30-percent income tax, Recto’s bill also proposed the imposition of a 5-percent franchise tax on all gross receipts derived from gaming operations of both Philippine and foreign-based POGO operators.

Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday warned the public anew against fake text messages using the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) of the Villar Foundation to deceive and profit from unsuspecting people.

Villar cited a text message saying that the Villar Foundation has an ongoing contest and has been offering cash prizes to winners.

“We urge everyone to be more discriminating and to be more vigilant against text scams. It is not true that our foundation has an ongoing contest or raffle draw,” Villar said.

She noted that the Villar SIPAG’s projects are communicated through its official website and validated social media accounts.

The lady senator also urged all those who received the scam text message to immediately report to their office, contact details of which can be found on www.villarsipag.org.

Gov’t does not need dishonest people—Du30

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said that dishonest people has no place in his government, as he urged businessmen to be assertive in reporting corrupt officials.

In a speech Monday night, the President vowed that he would not grant government positions to those involved in corruption.

“If you are not ready to be at least hon-

est fundamentally, then do not work in the government,” President Duterte said.

“I will be frank, everyone in this government, including those in my Cabinet, who asked for a job, even though you want it, that’s already denied,” he added.

Known for his anti-corruption campaign, the President assured traders that they would not be harmed if they report corrupt officials.

He also recognized the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs

as the most corrupt government agencies.

The President, however, clarified that “not all BIR and Customs personnel are corrupt.”

“All that I ask of you is be assertive and do not surrender to the threats and the intimidations that you will encounter while they are examining your books,” Duterte said.

He has repeatedly vowed to fire government officials involved in corruption even if he was criticized for re-appointing sacked officials to other posts.

CRIMINAL syndicates engaged in human trafficking still dared to do their illegal trade amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Four women believed to be victims of human trafficking were rescued by the Bureau of Immigration in Cebu.

BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina said the women, who were in their late 20s and 40s, were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand last Feb. 1 when they were intercepted by immigration agents at the departure area of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Investigation showed that in Bangkok, they were supposed to take a connecting flight to Dubai where they were hired to work as domestic helpers, Medina said.

“It appears that the novel coronavirus outbreak has not deterred these syndicates from continuing with their nefarious activities. We are warning their would-be victims that they will not be able to leave, contrary to the promise of their recruiters,” said Medina. Joel E. Zurbano

Work from home scheme urged amid nCoV AFTER reports that the 2019 novel coronavirus has surpassed the global death toll of the 2003 SARS outbreak, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday encouraged the private sector to ensure the protection of workers and to provide a ‘work from home’ option for its employees.

“Everybody should be safe. This is our priority,” Hontiveros said.

She expressed concern over reports that the coronavirus has infected approximately 40,000 people and killed at least 910 people in the span of one month, while the 2003 SARS outbreak killed 774 people in the span of eight months.

“Form the employees who can do ‘work from home,’ there should be option,” Hontiveros said.

She said if there is no need for an employee to take public transportation everyday, their health can be well taken care of if working at home.

The senator also urged employers to provide necessary protective measures for their employees inside the workplace. Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Dismissal of Leni’s case not political’ MALACAÑANG on Tuesday denied that the dismissal of the sedition case filed against Vice President Leni Robredo was an affirmation that it was merely a form of political harassment.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace never engages in “politicking” as alleged by Robredo’s camp.

“The prosecutors, those investigating prosecutors know their task—to find probable cause. If the evidence presented to them does not show there is, then they have no other alternative but to dismiss the case,” Panelo said in a press briefing.

Asked by reporters if there was politics involved in the dismissal of charges, Panelo said: “We never engage with politics.”

Robredo’s lawyer Barry Gutierrez said the decision of the Department of Justice Special Panel to dismiss se-

dition raps against the vice president proved that her alleged link to an ouster plot of President Rodrigo Duterte was just “fabricated.”

“It stands as vindication of what she has maintained from the start: That these ‘charges’ were never anything more than lies and political harassment,” Gutierrez said.

Robredo and members of the opposition senatorial slate Otso Diretso, which she openly supported, have been accused of sedition for linking President Duterte to the drug trade.

The case was filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to the DOJ, but it was later on revealed that the Office of the Solicitor General had a hand in the complaint.

Panelo also reiterated that the Palace was not behind the sedition charges filed against Robredo. MJ Blancaflor

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Wuhan pneumonia THE joke used to be this: China makes everything. The rest is made by God. Now, I think China has to make even God Himself. Though a non-believer, China needs divine intervention to cope with the ongoing new 2019 coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 nCoV ARD) which is showing signs of worsening rather than abating.

As of this writing, nCoV has killed 1,016 (the death toll exceeded 100 for the first time on Feb. 10, at 108). The 1,016 is 2.4 percent of those afflicted—42,638. Reports say more than 7,000 of them are in serious condition; more than 100,000 have acquired the disease but that is not confirmed yet.

Using the 2.4-percent fatality ratio, nCoV will kill more than 2,400 before it is put under control.

Scientists say it takes 12 to 18 months to develop an effective vaccine. In the meantime, nCoV will take its deadly toll as it leaps from country to country, continent to continent.

So far, China’s approach has been a lockdown—immobilizing entire cities with a combined population of 60 million.

The Japanese approach is quarantine.

In Yokohama, the number of people with coronavirus on the cruise ship Diamond Princes doubled in five days on Monday (Feb. 10) to 135, putting at risk the lives of 3,700 people. The 135 (which include three Filipinos) is the largest number of infected people, outside China. The virus spreads from person to person thru coughing and sneezing.

At least 27 countries or territories have banned Chinese visitors or foreigners who had been to China in the immediately preceding 14 days.

The disease is now considered a severe form of pneumonia. It is not a flu although it has flu-like symptoms.

NCoV originated from Wuhan, capital city of Hubei province and which has a population of 11 million. Just

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

before the Chinese New Year, five million of those 11 million fanned out across China and overseas to celebrate and to spend a much anticipated holiday. Usually, during the Chinese New Year, the Chinese make three billion (yes three billion) trips to celebrate the happiest of their holidays.

Properly then, we should call nCov the Wuhan pneumonia or the new China syndrome, as in SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

The World Health Organization, which is partly funded by China, disdains naming diseases from places where they originate or are best reported. Examples: Spanish flu, the deadliest disease of the 20th century, although the flu did not originate from Spain; Ebola, after a river in Congo 60 kms from the outbreak; or MERS-CoV, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus which originated in Saudi Arabia. Since nCoV originated from Wuhan, it should be called the Wuhan pneumonia.

Just how important is China to the world?

The old practice was naming diseases after people who discovered them.

Examples: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Tourette syndrome.

Since a 34-year-old ophthalmologist, Dr. Li Wengliang first discovered nCoV on Dec. 30, 2019, the epidemic should be called the Li disease or the Wengliang disease. WHO says no.

So may I suggest SARS-3—after the original SARS-1 of 2003, and SARS-2 (MERS-Cov) of 2012. Otherwise, we have to settle for Wuhan pneumonia or the Yangtze River pneumonia (remember Ebola?). It seems every seven to nine years, a new, deadlier form of the coronavirus erupts in China.

Google says Wuhan is actually a portmanteau of the two major but old cities on the north and south banks of the Yangtze—Wu refers to Wuchang on the south bank and Han to the city of Hankou on the north bank.

Power play

U

LTIMATELY, it's not about any single media organization, or how big or small such an organization is.

The actions this week of the chief lawyer of the Duterte administration sends an unequivocal message that the press should do the bidding of whoever is in power—or it must face dire consequences.

Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday went to the Supreme Court to file a quo warranto petition against broadcast giant ABS-CBN, alleging that it had violated the terms of its franchise.

Calida lodged the petition as a very urgent omnibus motion against the network and its subsidiary, just 49 days before the expiration of its 25year franchise.

He said that ABS-CBN's subsid-

iary tried to transfer its franchise without the necessary congressional approval, and failed to publicly offer its outstanding franchise stock to any securities exchange in the country within five years from the start of its franchise.

The solicitor general denied that his acts were politically motivated, despite the fact that his boss—President Rodrigo Duterte—has repeatedly attacked the network for not airing his political advertisements in 2016. ABS-CBN is also perceived to be critical of the administration.

Calida's filing has invited plenty of criticism; a group of 37 individuals and six institutions, which includes the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication—Department of Journalism, has denounced the move, which it says is “a parasite that feeds on the country's weak justice system.”

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has also issued a statement, saying, among others: “We must not allow the vindictiveness of one man, no matter how powerful, to run roughshod over the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of the press and of expression, and the people’s right to know.”

It is unfortunate that amid the many crises that our country is facing—diseases, disasters, corruption, inequality, just to name a few—the government has chosen to engage in this display of raw power.

Leaders that do not recognize the right of others to criticize them, and who employ various means under the guise of valid acts to silence these critics, only show themselves weak rather than strong.

This administration has often insisted that press freedom is alive and well in the Philippines. This latest stunt gives lie to that claim.

Turn to A5

And now it’s hacking CROSSROADS J.A DE LA CRUZ I AM not inclined to believe this, but there is an emerging theory circulating that some powerful forces (The Deep State, often mentioned by US President Trump, is the prime suspect) are out to get China down on its knees for reasons which have yet to be surmised. By these theorists' reckoning, these forces' whispered-play-

How will this latest breach affect China-US relations? book so far has these elements: a) the year-long Hong Kong “democracy” protests, which initially focused on the extradition bill pushed by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam which was eventually completely set aside but has become the foundation of a call for that region's "independence" and/or abrogation of the "One Country, Two Systems"; b) the 2019 nCoV global health concern which has sent the Chinese public in a tizzy, its economy on a spin and marked China as a target for all kinds of discrimination and opprobrium and c) the US Justice Department's indictment of four Chinese military officers for reportedly hacking the files of credit rating giant Equifax.

Of these three elements, the most damaging to China and the Chinese leadership at this point are the nCoV and now the hacking issues. The Hong Kong protests have apparently slowed down, especially since the so-called pro-democracy activists who engineered the protests with a little help—if we believe the tirades from Beijing sympathizers—from the US Consulate in the island have since taken over a number of local

councils, making them vulnerable to calls for them to show their wares as true blue pro-people and pro-development citizens.

On the other hand, the nCoV global health concern is apparently well on its way to a modicum of resolution with a combination of draconian lock downs and travel bans on a large swath of the globe and, of course, the push for new medical means to combat the virus. While a large number of people continues to be burdened by the draconian measures put in place in a number of countries, apparently the spread of the virus has somehow slowed down and affected countries have put the needed protocols in place including calls for people not to panic and stay calm and collected.

As one pundit noted, the cost to the public and to the global economy has been wrought more by the fear and panic which accompanied the announcement about this new virus than the actual attack of the virus itself. The latest figures show that in terms of deadliness, if we may call it such, so far n-CoV is less deadly than the SARs, MERs and H1Ni viruses which prowled the earth not so long ago.

It is the news about US Attorney General William Barr announcing that the agency has indicted four Chinese military officers for the hacking of Equifax which is destined to be the bigger news from hereon. Barr called the hack "one of the data breaches in history." Equifax holds data on more than 820 million consumers as well as information on 91 million businesses.

More than 147 million Americans were affected in 2017 when hackers stole sensitive personal data including names and addresses a good number of whom are UK and Canadian customers. Allegedly, the four officers are members of the People's Liberation Army's 54th Research Institute, a specialized unit of the PLA. Turn to A5

French lenders bankroll firms linked to deforestation: Analysis

By Patrick Galey FRENCH banks have provided almost two billion euros of financial backing to agribusiness groups implicated in deforestation despite a law preventing firms from funding environmental damage, according to new analysis seen by AFP. Three years after France adopted landmark legislation compelling companies to identify and prevent human rights abuses and nature degradation throughout their supply chain, the analysis showed how large lenders nonetheless financed projects linked to deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, the Congo Basin and Papua New Guinea.

The investigation conducted by watchdog Global Witness concluded that BNP Paribas, Natixis and Credit Agricole "all have policies or commitments in place on agricultural commodities which are at risk of causing deforestation."

AFP contacted the three banks for comment.

"The rapid breakdown of our climate is a concern to many—including bank customers," said Laurence Duprat, a Global Witness campaign adviser who authored the analysis.

"So it's unsurprising that banks and investors proudly trumpet policies on ethical investment and lending. But there is a blatant contradiction," she said.

"The same French financial institutions are skirting their own policies at will. Many of their virtuous promises are barely worth the paper they are printed on."

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon soared by 85 percent in 2019, according to official data published by a Brazilian government institute last month.

Tropical forests absorb huge amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide and are vital sanctuaries of biodiversity, yet every year an area the

size of England and Wales is felled.

According to Global Witness, last year Natixis contributed $50 million (45 million euros) to a credit facility for Olam International, one of the world's largest agribusiness groups.

A 2016 report from environmental campaign group Mighty Earth concluded that Olam had deforested 20,000 hectares of forest in Gabon to make way for palm oil plantations there.

A spokesman from Olam said: "We strongly refute allegations of irresponsible deforestation or land conversion."

He told AFP that Olam works closely with the government of Gabon "to carefully balance Gabon's development needs with the imperative to conserve the country's unique forests."

‘Principal banker’ According to Global Witness, Turn to A5

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Opinion

THE unprecedented Oscar haul for South Korean director Bong Joon-ho black comedy "Parasite" has shattered a 92-year-old glass ceiling and opened a new era for Korean and other foreign films on the global stage.

A genre-defying thriller about a poor family infiltrating a wealthy household, "Parasite" won four Oscars Sunday night, becoming the first non-English language film to win the top prize since the Academy Awards debuted in 1929.

The film, shot in Korean and without any international cast members, achieved a feat that could potentially be game-changing.

"Not only did director Bong change South Korea's cultural history, he also changed the history of Hollywood," the South's major daily Chosun Ilbo wrote in its editorial Tuesday.

The Academy had been "obsessed with English-language films made by white people" it said, so that it was harder "for a Korean person to win an Oscar with a Korean-language film than be awarded a Nobel prize for literature."

But the movie's awards—it also took best director and best original screenplay, as well as best international feature—signalled the "arrival of a new era" and created "tremendous potential" for foreign pictures in the US, said Gina Kim, a professor at UCLA and filmmaker originally from the South.

Hollywood "still prevails and dominates the film industry worldwide," she told AFP, and "has been notorious for not allowing foreign language film to enter its own 'turf'.

With the success of 'Parasite', it is changing."

After his victory, the director told reporters that people around the world were increasingly connected.

“So I think naturally we will come to the day when a foreign-language film or not doesn't really matter, and a foreign-language film winning this won't be much of an issue later on hopefully,” he said.

Soft power Bong's historic win comes a year after the 100th anniversary of South Korean cinema in 2019.

The country boasts the fifth-biggest film industry in the world, and has become increasingly prominent on the festival circuit in recent years and decades.

In 2004, Park Chan-wook's action thriller "Oldboy" took the Grand Prix at Cannes, and director Kim Ki-duk's 2012 drama "Pieta"—a violent tale of a loanshark—won the Golden Lion at Venice.

South Korean directors have also made inroads into Hollywood, with Park's 2013 psychological thriller Stoker starring Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska, and Bong himself

making his English-language film debut the same year with sci-fi action "Snowpiercer," featuring Tilda Swinton and Ed Harris.

Unlike its neighbor China, where movies and other creative content are regularly censored, the South has enjoyed diplomatic soft power by virtue of its cultural exports in multiple fields, with K-pop and boyband BTS high-profile examples.

Korean cinema underwent a renaissance in the 1990s with the advent of democracy after decades of military rule.

In 2007 the country's left-leaning former president Kim Dae-jung told government officials: "Provide financial support for artists, but never interfere with what they do. Once government intervenes, the creative industry will go broke."

Nonetheless thousands of artists, including directors Bong and Park, were later secretly blacklisted by the conservative administration of Park Geun-hye, who was brought down by street protests over corruption and abuse of power.

Bong's Oscar win is a "a significant opportunity for the Korean film industry to showcase its wealth of talent that has been flourishing for decades," said Jason Bechervaise, a professor at Korea Soongsil Cyber University.

"It has problems like any industry but I suspect its neighbours in the region will be rather envious."

Using a medium banned in its own country, the global arm of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV tweeted plaintively on Tuesday: "The #Oscars are over— Time to explore the best in Chinese film."

Asian representation Bong's best picture win triggered an overwhelming and emotional response from diaspora Asians in North America, including Korean American writer Min Jin Lee and Hollywood actor Sandra Oh. Representation of Asians "still remains largely sparse" despite the success of 2018 all-Asian-cast romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians", said Michael Hurt, a sociologist at the University of Seoul.

Bong's win was a "surprising step forward" for diaspora Asians, he said, adding that many still feel invisible in North America.

Kieran Meyn, a Korean-American who grew up in suburban Connecticut with "much pressure" to assimilate, said watching Bong's speech at the Oscars was unforgettable.

"There are only so many days where you can go to school and have kids call you all kinds of names and pull their eyes into slits," he told AFP. "'Parasite' winning these awards, while telling a Korean story, featuring a heavily Korean cast and crew, in Korean—proves that 'it can happen here; in America'." AFP

French lenders...

From A4

Credit Agricole is listed as a "principal banker" on the 2018 annual report of Halcyon Agri, a Singapore-based company also implicated in deforestation.

A 2018 report from Greenpeace said the group in 2016 took control of rubber plantations in Cameroon that had a history of deforestation, and proceeded to cut down an additional 2,300 hectares in the following two years.

In 2017, Credit Agricole acted as a lead manager on a $300-million bond for Halcyon's majority shareholder Sinochem, according to the Thomson Eikon database.

In July of that year the bank provided $10 million of underwriting services to Sinochem, Global Witness said.

Halcyon and Sinochem did not respond to requests for comment.

Certification process Despite signing a commitment in 2015 to align its investments to create "net zero deforestation", BNP Paribas in 2019 was still one of a number of banks operating a $500 million bond for Brazilian beef trader Marfrig, the analysis showed.

The bond supports Marfrig's cattle purchasing chain of indirect suppliers, which sees the agribusiness giant buy cattle that has not been raised on a single property, making it hard to trace.

Daniel Brindis, forests director at Greenpeace US, said that Marfrig "do not have consistent assurances that the farms that sell to their direct suppliers are free of deforestation."

A consultancy tasked with reviewing the bond said it could give only "moderate" assurance that it was not contributing to forest loss, according to the analysis.

Marfrig did not respond to AFP's comment request.

BNP Paribas was a lead underwriter of a $1-billion bond issued in May 2019 to Marfrig's subsidiary NBM US Holdings, according to the Thomson Eikon financial database.

It also managed bonds worth $1 million in Sinochem International, the Global Witness analysis said.

A letter sent by the bank in December, seen by AFP, said that its investments "in commodities are screened and assessed under the scope of dedicated financing and investment policies in the sectors of wood pulp, palm oil, and agriculture."

It said it proceeds from the Marfrig bond were "strictly focusing on reducing deforestation and land rights issues within Marfrig's cattle supply chain." AFP

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Confusion

Parasite’s Oscar success opens new era

By Claire Lee

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

THE initial announcement on the travel embargo, which included strict quarantine rules for visitors to the country who had been to China, released on Feb. 2 covered mainland China and its special administrative regions meaning Hong Kong and Macau.

This announcement was welcomed by the Filipino community in Taiwan, close to 160,000 strong, of which a little less than 150,000 are OFWs, as well as

by Taiwanese businessmen who need to come periodically to the country to manage their investments in the Philippines.

Even if Taiwan was not included in the advisory, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office tightened its rules on the issuance of visas in order to prevent the possibility of some Taiwanese who may have visited China since mid-January from entering the Philippines. We required a certification from the National Immigration Agency of Taiwan, attesting per their records that the visa applicant did not visit the mainland during the proscribed period. After they present the certification, we stamp it with the MECO seal, and issue a single-entry visa.

This was properly coordinated with our Bureau of Immigration in Manila and cleared with the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our precautionary measure was in fact adopted by other representative offices of different countries and Taiwan itself required such a travel history before allowing entry of foreigners who came from China and its SAR’s.

In our Monday column, we listed some of the salient measures undertaken by the Taiwan government, particularly its Ministry of Health, in order to contain the spread of the virus that emanated from Hubei and spread all over China, with the death toll now surpassing the previous SARS pandemic. One has to admire the efficiency of the health management system in Taiwan which is among the best in the world.

But last Monday, first on their Facebook page, the Department of Health announced that the travel ban earlier announced as covering China and its SARs would include Taiwan, such that we were swamped by inquiries from both OFWs and travel agencies. Some-

time towards noon, DOH Usec. Gerardo Bayugo said the inclusion of Taiwan in the travel ban is “not yet agreed or final.” And DOH withdrew the advisory on its website.

But later in the afternoon, the DOH held a press conference where another undersecretary, Dr. Eric Domingo said: “Since we have a temporary travel restriction on China, then Taiwan is included.”

Let us not make a health issue a political issue.

This naturally raised the hackles of the government in Taiwan, because its government and its people speaking loudly in the last elections, maintain that they should not be considered as part of the People’s Republic of China.

This issue is however political, and in truth, the Philippines adheres to the One China Policy. But matters of health should be beyond the realm of politics, especially when we are dealing with a pandemic that even the United Nations agency, the World Health Organization, took a while to recognize even as it had already raged all over China, with manifestations of contagion in other countries as well.

We were informed by three government offices that there would be an emergency meeting of the Task Force nCoV today, Feb. 12, and the matter would be taken up in said meeting as well. Therefore, nothing is final as of today, and pronouncements made, especially if based on a political and not a medical or scientific basis, were premature.

As chairman and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office which represents the interests of the Philippines in Taiwan, I had to assure our Taiwanese and OFW constituents that nothing final has been decided insofar as said travel restrictions are concerned.

These confusing statements from within the Department of Health do not bode well for our image as a country, and creates undue reactions not only from foreign governments, but our people as well, specifically the OFWs whom we always salute as our modern-day heroes, and for whom we even want to create a separate cabinet-level agency.

Imagine an OFW who comes home

Wuhan...

From A4

According to the New York Times, “the new coronavirus is a close cousin of viruses that infect bats. It jumped from an unconfirmed wild source (most likely bats) to an intermediate host, possibly pangolins or other small mammals, being sold as food at a market in Wuhan, a transportation and commercial hub in central China. The infected people unknowingly spread it to others, setting off the outbreak’s deadly journey. …It takes about five to six days—possibly upward of 14 days—for someone to show symptoms after becoming infected.”

How important is China to the world?

China is the world’s factory. It accounts for 27 percent of total global manufacturing and 23 percent of global agricultural production. China’s share of global manufacturing value added increased from 7 percent in 2000 to nearly 27 percent in 2015, the largest increase among all countries.

“China is a dominant global manufacturer, with a strong and broad manufacturing base offering ample scope for product and process innovations to drive future productivity gains,” says the World Bank in a special report. “China’s abundant labor supply, deep economic reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, and accession to the WTO in 2001 all helped to catalyze its development into the “world’s factory,” with multinational corporations, drawn to its low-cost labor and

And now...

From A4

The indictment noted that the group "spent weeks in the company's system, breaking into security networks and stealing personal data." It also accused the four of "stealing trade secrets including data compilation and database designs.”

Apparently, the hacking, per Equifax's records, occurred between midMay and the end of July 2017 when the company discovered its system has been accessed and the breach undertaken on a massive scale.

Equifax reported that "the accused routed data traffic through 34 servers in nearly 20 countries to try and hide their true location." Although there is no evidence that the data has been used to hijack a person's bank account or credit card, it remains a very serious breach which resulted in the resignation of then Equifax CEO Richard Smith. Smith and

for a vacation after taking a leave from work in Taiwan, is quarantined for two weeks, found clear of the nCoV strain, yet is thus unable to return to resume his work contract.

Imagine a Taiwanese executive who invested in the Philippines, and is barred from looking after his business concerns which employ thousands of Filipinos, because of a disease that emanated not from Taiwan and whose limited contagion is already being effectively managed in Taiwan.

How would they react? What future consequences could such travel bans have on our work deployment overseas, our foreign investments?

We keep saying these travel bans are temporary, and when the pandemic is controlled, it will be business as usual.

But when, pray tell, will that be?

The point being argued here is simple: Let us not make health issue a political issue.

Recall that we dilly-dallied in banning the entry of mainland Chinese visitors here even as the virus had spread to so many provinces in China, and even beyond, to Canada, the US, European countries, and other Asian neighbors.

The reason given by the DOH? “Political and diplomatic.”

Now the same agency wants to include Taiwan, where the contagion is well-controlled and effectively managed by world-class medical professionals, and the reason we invoke is geopolitical, and not health-related.

Confused and confusing. *** The above article was written Monday night, after an unnerving series of counter-checking with Manila. We retired for the night looking forward to the Wednesday, Feb. 12 meeting.

Then, just before midnight, we received a copy of the memorandum from the Bureau of Immigration addressed to its immigration supervisors and inspectors stating that “effective 2150 hours Feb. 10 (9:50 p.m.), a travel ban from and to Taiwan is hereby implemented.”

Filipinos are now temporarily banned from traveling to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. The entry of any person regardless of nationality except Filipino citizens or holders of permanent residence visas are also temporarily banned from entering the country.

The unhappy denouement. Taiwan is disturbed and dismayed and the sentiment reached me just before midnight on Monday. I am filing this article early morning Tuesday for Wednesday.

extensive transportation infrastructure, seeking to set up subsidiaries as export platforms.”

Adds the bank: “China is increasingly important to global value chains. Its export products have be- come more sophisticated, with the share of high-technology manufactures in China’s exports growing from next to nothing in 1980 to around 30 percent in 2017.”

China’s spending on R&D accounts for 20 percent of the world total, second only to the United States. Its number of patents granted annually for inventions increased from 68,000 in 2007 to 420,000 in 2017, the highest in the world.

Notes the bank: “China is also a hotbed for venture capital in search of the next technology, raising approximately $110 billion in the decade, surpassed only by the US.” The Middle Kingdom still has room for growth. Says the World Bank: “China’s next transformation is well under way, and a new economy is emerging rapidly. Chinese firms have developed outstanding manufacturing capabilities, and the value added in high- tech manufacturing is now second only to that of the US.” “China is leading or closing the technology gap in e-commerce, fintech, high-speed trains, renewable energy, and electric cars. McKinsey ranks China among the top three investors in fintech, virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and big data. Alibaba, Didi Chuxing, Huawei, and Tencent are already operating at the global technology frontier.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

other senior officials were severely criticized for failing to take proper steps to guard information and for waiting too long to inform the public about the hack. As a result, Equifax was forced to pay a $700m (£541m) settlement to the Federal Trade Commission with at least $300m being paid for identity theft services and other related expenses run up by the victims.

As reported, Mr. Barr did not mince any words in charging the "PLA Four" and the Chinese government for "a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people."

Said Barr: "Today we hold PLA hackers accountable for their criminal actions, and we remind the Chinese government that we have the capability to remove the internet's cloak of anonymity and find the hackers that nation repeatedly deploys against us."

This is not the first time and will probably not the last time that the US government has brought charges

against members of the Chinese military with hacking US companies.

The first indictment came back in 2014 and helped lead to a deal the following year to try and restrain such activity.

And so, there are serious concerns within the US government specially those belonging to the so-called Deep State—not just about the impact on the nation's security but on the economy and all the things the American people hold dear. This has led, in fact, to debates about foreign influence in the coming US presidential elections in November.

How this latest breach in the already fragile US-China relations will eventually play out remains to be seen. But as things stand, conspiracy theories and other such almost unbelievable hypotheses about relations not only between the world's greatest powers but of nation states will abound as long as fears, biases and prejudices dictate the course of things.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

A6

News

TODAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘P313b more IRA with Cha-Cha’

By Maricel V. Cruz

P

ROVINCES, cities, towns, and barangay communities stand to gain P313 billion more in internal revenue allotments with Charter change, a proponent of “Cha-Cha” in the House of Representatives said Tuesday.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said the IRA gain is a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling expanding the base for computing such allocations.

Citing a study done by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Rodriguez said local governments would have a total of P1.116 trillion in IRA in 2022 following the SC ruling.

“Local governments would be allocated only P855 billion if IRA were computed based on the present formula,” he added.

For this year, P649 billion is appropriated in the national budget as the LGUs’ IRA, which represents the share of local governments from national taxes.

The DILG heads the Inter-Agency Task Force on Constitutional Reform, which President Rodrigo Duterte has created to push the administration’s Cha-Cha proposals.

Nine agencies make up the task force, which has submitted its recommendations to the Rodriguez committee, which is holding another public hearing on the group’s proposals on Wednesday.

Among its suggestions is the inclusion of the essence of the Supreme Court ruling on the expanded IRA in the Constitution.

At present, IRA is computed based on “internal revenue taxes,” or those collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. They do not include collections by the Bureau of Customs.

The SC ruling expanded the tax base to include not only taxes collected by the BIR but Customs and other impositions, including half of valueadded tax collections from the autonomous Muslim region, 60 percent of levies from the exploitation of natural wealth, and half of VAT on the sale of goods and properties.

Citing the DILG study, Rodriguez said the expanded IRA ruling would give provinces an additional P268 billion, while cities, towns and barangays would gain P268 billion, P397 billion and P233 billion, respectively.

Brother of KJC leader behind plot to smear Quiboloy

He said in the case of Camarines Sur, its IRA would increase by P1.140 billion to P4.85 billion, while Makati’s share would jump by P556 million to P2.364 billion.

The town of Taytay in Rizal would have P263 million more, from P856 million to P1.119 billion, Rodriguez said.

The Department of Finance has opposed the immediate implementation of the SC ruling because of its negative impact on the country’s finances.

Among the other Cha-Cha proposals of the DILG-led task force are provisions against political dynasties and turncoats, election of senators by region, five-year term for members of the House of Representatives and local officials, lifting of limitations on foreign investments, and state subsidy for political parties.

Rodriguez said most of the administration group’s proposed amendments jibe with those contained in its committee’s initial report.

A RANKING official of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group has unmasked the alleged mastermind behind the move to destroy the reputation of its leader, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Ingrid Canada, KJC chief administrator, accused her own brother Gregorio “Greg” Canada and his family as those behind the smear campaign against Pastor Quiboloy.

“We have reasonable grounds to believe that he and/or his immediate family are in connivance with some people who are out to demolish the reputation of our Beloved Pastor,” said Ingrid Canada.

According to her, the filing of rape, child abuse and human trafficking cases against Pastor Quiboloy happened following the sudden departure of Greg and his family from the KJC. Also, the cases against KJC leaders in California were filed a few months after Greg Canada left KJC, and the witnesses described as victims were close to or identified with Greg and his immediate family.

Greg Canada could not be contacted for comment as of presstime.

“One of the alleged victims who provided misleading information to the FBI may be her own daughter, who is now a lawyer but was practically supported

by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy from childhood until she became a lawyer,” Ingrid disclosed.

She said her brother and his family surreptitiously left the KJC compound in Davao City in the wee hours of the morning in September 2019, following the call to audit the financial affairs of Jose Maria College, headed by Greg’s wife, and Apollo Air, headed by his son-in-law.

The sudden flight of her brother and his family was very timely and raised doubts with regard to the missing funds of Jose Maria College, Ingrid said.

Greg Canada, 56, was a full-time worker in KJC for 18 years and a personal aide and right-hand man of Pastor Quiboloy, accompanying the religious leader in his daily itineraries and worldwide travels.

To help advance Greg’s knowledge, Pastor Quiboloy enrolled him in an engineering course in Jose Maria College, KJC’s educational institution, until he earned his degree.

Romualdez airport done

by Dec. 2021 —Tugade TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade assured lawmakers of the completion of the proposed new, safe and comfortable Passenger Terminal Building at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport by December 2021.

This was in Tugade’s letter dated Feb. 5, 2020 to House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules.

“Please be informed that the Construction of New Terminal Building shall be implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and funding thereof was downloaded to it through a memorandum of agreement,” said Tugade, who earlier promised to finish the project.

“Together, we will make the Tacloban Airport a project of pride,” he said.

Tugade was responding to Romualdez’s letter dated Feb. 4, inquiring on the implementation and construction of the new terminal to address the passenger traffic at DZAR. Air passenger traffic at the Tacloban Airport rose 21.38 percent in the first semester of 2018, primarily due to additional flights to the regional capital, airport and tourism officials confirmed last Thursday during a House hearing.

In his letter, Tugade said the actual implementation and construction of the new PTB is expected to begin this August.

“The target completion is in December 2021, since after the completion of the DED (Detailed Engineering Design) in March 2020, the procurement period normally takes three to four months,” said Tugade.

He said the DED of the building is ongoing and would be completed this March. Maricel V. Cruz

NCOV HEARING. Senator Nancy Binay, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism (right), questions Philippine Airlines executives lawyer Ma. Clara de Castro, vice president of Legal Affairs, and Jose Enrique Perez-De Tagle, vice president for Corporate Communications, during a hearing on the effects of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak on the Philippine tourism sector on Tuesday in Pasay City. Lino Santos

Teachers picket DepEd to protest ‘no cash on Valentine’s’

THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines picketed outside the Department of Education’s Central Office in Pasig City on Monday as they said they faced another form of “nCoV”—“No Cash on Valentine’s Day”—due to the continued delay in the release of teachers’ benefits.

These are the 2018 Performancebased Bonus, special hardship allowance, and the remaining P3,000 of the P10,000 Service Recognition Incentive.

NOTICE ACT hit DepEd for its “negNotice is hereby given to the public that ligence and inefficiency in an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate was administering teachers’ entitleexecuted by the legal heirs of the spouses Raul A. Bautista, Sr. and Divina Viola Bautista in an instrument sworn before Notary Public Atty. Noelle Riza D. Castillo, as per Doc. No. 413; Page No. 84; Book No. II; Series of 2019.

and well-being given that she has always used Javier as her surname in all her records and it is the name known to her friends and relatives; and, in order to synchronized her records; to avoid confusion and for her IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION future private and public transactions.

FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN Wherefore, the petition is hereby set THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH for hearing anew on March 6, 2020 at OF JUDY ANNE JAVIER SERRANO (A) ENTRY NO.1 - FROM JUDY ANNE 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Room 238, Second Floor, JAVIER SERRANO TO JUDY ANNE Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City JAVIER at which place and on which date (B) ENTRY NO.3 - DATE OF BIRTH and time, all interested persons must FROM 1977 TO 1997 appear and file their opposition/s to (C) ENTRY NO. 18 - DELETING SAID the petition.

ENTRY AS HER BlOLOGICAL PARENTS WERE NOT MARRIED Let a copy of this Amended Order to be published once a week for three JUDY ANNE JAVIER SERRANO, (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper a.k.a. JUDY ANNE JAVIER, of general circulation throughout the Petitioner, Philippines.

- versusFurther, let a copy of the petition, SP CASE NO. R-QZN-19-15072-SP and of this Amended Order be served upon the Office of the Solicitor THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF General, Local Civil Registrar of QUEZON CITY, THE ADMINISTRATOR Quezon City and the Philippine AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL Statistics Authority who may file their OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS opposition thereto within fifteen (15) AUTHORITY (PSA) formerly days from notice of this petition.

NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE SO ORDERED. (NSO), ORLY A. SERRANO, ELIZA T. Quezon City, Philippines, December JAVIER AND ALL OTHER 6, 2019.

INTERESTED PARTIES, Respondents.

(Sgd.) SANTIAGO M. ARENAS x -------------------------------------------------x Judge

AMENDED ORDER

Cc: PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 6F Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma Hall, DOJ Building, Quezon City Hall Compound, Diliman, Quezon City

This is a verified petition for correction of entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Judy Anne Javier Serrano a.k.a. Judy Anne Javier filed by the Office of the Solicitor General petitioner herself.

Makati City

The petition alleges that petitioner Judy Anne Javier Serrano a.k.a. Judy Anne Javier was born outside wedlock to her biological parents Orly A. Serrano and Eliza T. Javier on April 19, 1997 in Quezon City; that there were material errors in some of the entries in the petitioner’s birth certificate in the following bracketed portions: 1) entry no. 1 – petitioner’s name; 2) entry no.

3 – petitioner’s year of birth; 3) entry no. 18 – date and place of marriage of parents; that the instant petition was filed for the petitioner’s best interest

Office of the City Prosecutor Quezon City Office of the Local Civil Registrar Quezon City Philippine Statistics Authority PSA Complex, ‘East A venue, Diliman, Quezon City Eliza T. Javier Blk. 13 Lot 37 Phase 2 Eastwood Greenwood Subd., San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal Orly R. Serrano 7 Zambales Street, Brgy. San Martin De Pores, Quezon City (MStandard - Feb. . 5, 12 & 19, 2020)

costs of living,” she added.

ACT hit DepEd for failing to “timely” process these entitlements, and said the agency’s lack of urgency in handling such matters “reek of the government’s disregard and gross negligence of its workers.”

The teachers’ group said this adds to the agency’s offenses against teachers, which include its continued lack of support to their standing fight for livable wages.

“DepEd owes teachers big time, as we bear the brunt of their inefficiency and negligence. Every delay in their processing, every slack on their part means

further struggle for us and our families.

Teachers will not stand for this, DepEd and the rest of this administration must be held accountable,” declared Martinez.

The group demanded for the immediate release of the benefits and incentives that will give teachers muchneeded economic relief.

ACT likewise called on DepEd to support the call of its employees for decent pay, specifically their call for the upgrading of teachers’ salary grade level from 11 to salary grade 15 and the raising of non-teaching personnel’s minimum pay to P16,000.

Willie Casas

BIG BUST. Ten kilos of suspected shabu worth P68 million are laid out on the street along Roces Avenue on Tuesday after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region operatives arrested two foreigners, Lawrence Ikegwuruka of Nigeria and Michella Augustin, for possession of the illegal drug at Roxas District in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

N OTICE

(MStandard-Jan. 29, Feb. 5 & 12, 2020) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 217 - QUEZON CITY

ments,” especially as the Salary Standardization 5 pay adjustment, albeit measly, faces a delay of four months.

“Amid the failure of the SSL 5 to provide due and sufficient pay hike, teachers’ economic rights continue to be assailed by this government,” lamented ACT chairperson Joselyn Martinez.

“The delay in the release of our bonuses, which supposedly recognize our hard work, and the SHA, which is essential in the duty performance of classroom teachers’ assigned to hardship posts, causes huge distress to us and our families who struggles to get by with our meager pay and rising

Notice is hereby given that RAEMULAN LANDS, INC., with office address at 37th Floor, Joy Nostalg Center, 17 ADB Avenue, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-cost Housing project (Pasinaya Village) with a capacity of 138 house and lot units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site located at Brgys. Catmon & Bulac, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

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

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-FEB. 12, 2020)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that RAEMULAN LANDS, INC., with office address at 37th Floor, Joy Nostalg Center, 17 ADB Avenue, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-cost Housing project (Pagsibol Village) with a capacity of 550 house and lot units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site located at Brgys. Catmon & Bulac, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

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

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-FEB 12, 2020)

Health workers’ hazard pay, insurance pushed A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Tuesday pushed for hazard pay, insurance, and other benefits for health workers in the country, as they are the frontliners in the campaign against the novel coronavirus.

Aside from doctors, nurses and other hospital staff “are the most vulnerable to the deadly virus because they attend to the infected,” said Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito, vice chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development.

“They should be given extra pay and protection in recognition of the risk they face in performing their duties and responsibilities as health workers,” Castelo said.

In the Philippines, nurses are not being paid enough despite the dangers associated with their job, she noted.

“How are they going to keep themselves strong and healthy if they don’t have the means to buy good food and vitamins for resistance?” the solon said.

With weak bodies, Castelo said

health workers can easily catch lifethreatening diseases such as nCoV-induced pneumonia.

“If we lose them to the virus, who’s going to take care of us when we get sick?” she said.

The number of deaths caused by the global outbreak continues to rise, with health workers on the frontline.

“We should start protecting them before it’s too late,” Castelo said.

Maricel V. Cruz

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Altas netters make finals

T

HE Perpetual Help senior’s team finally made it to finals for the first time in seven years in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 lawn tennis championship at the Philippine Columbian Tennis Court in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.

The Altas netters of Coach Samuel Nuguit clobbered the Letran Knights in winner-takeall match on Tuesday to earn the right to face the CSB Blazers’ team on Thursday.

Jeremiah Macias III thumped CJ Mestiola of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the singles, 6-0, 6-4, while the tandem of Kenneth Dumapit and Jayson Saavedra of Team Perpetual

Altas demolished Francis Sebumpan and Cholo Quintia in the doubles, 6-3, 6-2.

College of St. Benilde ousted defending champion San Beda University last Friday in other semis match.

The Altas last won the crown during NCAA Season 88, bannered by Russell Arcilla Jr., Kim Sazara, Kim Polero and Ric Solon. Dennis Abrina

Manila Mayor Moreno inducts wushu officials BENSON L. Ong was elected as Philippine Wushu Colleges and Clubs Association President recently.

Members of the PWCCA Board of Directors were inducted into the office recently by the Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso.

Ong, a businessman-patron, who engaged in martial arts during his years as a student, was elected to a two-year term as the president of the PWCCA for 2020-2021.

The second personality to be elected president of the association, Ong is expected to uplift the standard of the martial arts of wushu at the high school and university levels with various competitions in the drawing boards.

Aside from Ong, elected as members of the PWCCA Board of Directors are Gladys Carrascoso Sia as vice president; Sean Elijah Wico Siy as Secretary General; Abigail Faniega as Treasurer; Directors’ Sherwin John Bromajon, Czarina Joy Hagos, Jomar Balangui, and Edmundo ‘Eddie’ Ang. Abe Lim, the first PWCCA president, was represented in the courtesy call to Mayor Moreno

by FESSAP Corporate Secretary Cecil Sarmiento.

The PWCCA was established in 2017 during FESSAP’s participation that year in the Taipei Summer Universiade, where Balangui of the University of Baguio brought home a silver medal for the Philippines in the wushu competitions.

Balangui has since been

elected a member of the PWCCA Board of Directors, supervising activities in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The PWCCA is recognized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, which runs the national university sports competition in the Philippines and is a voting member of the International University Sports Federation, the world governing body for university sports which sanctions such Olympic-style spectacles like the Summer Univrsiade and Winter Universiade. The next Summer Universiade will be held in Chengdu, China from Aug. 8 to 19, 2021.

FESSAP president Angel Ngu and FESSAP Chairman of the Board Alvin Tai Lian will formally recognize the newly elected members of the PWCCA Board on Feb. 12 during the annual FESSAP Board of Trustees meeting. Yatai International Corporation Chief Executive Officer Yang Hua Hong of Omni Electrical & Lighting, the main sponsor of the Philippine delegation to the 18th Gymnasiade in Jinjiang, sent a congratulatory message to Ong and his Board members. Graham Lim The PWCCA is tasked to organize high school competitions under the directive of the Philippine Inter-School Sport Association, which is a regular member of the International School Sport Federation, the sanctioning body for the 18th Gymnasiade 2020, also known as the 18th World School Summer Games 2020.

Members of the Perpetual Altas Seniors’ Lawn Tennis team are shown after winning their winner-take-all semis match with Letran. They will face St. Benilde in the finals on Thursday. Dennis Abrina

JUSTINE Baltazar had 18 points, 20 rebounds, and six blocks to lead the Converge Pampanga Delta to a 99-72 win over the Laguna Pistons last Sunday in the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 3 Black Arrow Express-President’s Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando.

The effort of the La Salle standout allowed the Delta to grab an 18-6 first quarter lead and never looked back, on their way to a 5-1 win-loss slate for second place in Group B. Neil Tolentino added 18 points, and Encho Serrano had 15 points for the home team Pampanga, which sent Laguna to its second loss in four outings.

Meanwhile, Taguig kept its unbeaten slate with a 94-68 win over the Pasig El Pirata.

Richmond Gilbero had 18 points, and Mike Sampurna tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Generals, who secured their fifth win in as many tries to occupy Group A. Over at the San Leonardo Gym in Nueva Ecija last Saturday, the Quezon City Defenders stunned the Cavite Ballers, 79-76.

Enzo Battad contributed 23 points and Brian Lazo had 22 points. Nikko Lao had 20 points including a triple that gave Quezon City the lead as the Defenders picked up their second win in five games in Group A. The Ballers fell to an even 3-3 win-loss card.

The Nueva Ecija Besprens won at home, defeating the Marikina Best Shoemakers, 87-62, for a 2-3 card, while sending the winless Shoemakers to their fifth straight defeat.

company without a validly subsisting authority to operate from the SEC.

Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission COMMISSION EN BANC

2.

The president, treasurer and other officers of the corporation, including the managing officer thereof, who shall knowingly and willingly: a. Engage in the business of a lending company without a validly subsisting authority to operate from the SEC;

In the Matter of:

xxx.”

PESO TREE; PESOALO; and PINOY CASH LOAN. SEC CDO Case No. 11-19-060 ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTOR PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, Movant. x----------------------------------------------x

CEASE AND DESIST ORDER This resolves the Motion for the Issuance of Cease and Desist Order1 (Motion), filed by the Commission, ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTOR PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (“EIPD” for brevity), praying that the Commission issues an order directing PESO TREE, PESOALO, and PINOY CASH LOAN (collectively referred to as “Online Lending Operators”), its owners, operators, promoters, agents, representatives, as well as the owners/operators of the hosting sites of the Online Lending Operators, from operating, engaging in, carrying out and/or promoting illegal lending/financing activities to the public.

Records reveal that EIPD was able to substantiate its allegation that the Online Lending Operators were engaged in the business of granting loans through the online applications without the requisite certificate of registration issued by the Commission. Moreover, records also show that the Online Lending Operators have no Certificate of Authority to Operate as Lending Company issued by this Commission which is required under the same law. The foregoing was duly substantiated by the Certifications issued by the CRMD which was submitted in evidence by EIPD. The Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 was enacted to prevent and mitigate, as far as practicable, practices prejudicial to public interest. The abusive collection practices, misrepresentations, and unreasonable terms and conditions imposed by the Online Lending Operators and their agents and representatives exemplify the practices that as a matter of policy, the State seeks to prevent.

Section 2 of RA No. 9474 provides that: “Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to regulate the establishment of lending companies and to place their operation on a sound, efficient and stable condition to derive the optimum advantages from them as an individual source of credit; to prevent and mitigate, as far as practicable, practices prejudicial to public interest and to lay down the minimum requirements and standards under which they may be established and do business.”

THE PARTIES Movant, EIPD is the Department tasked to investigate, motu proprio or upon complaint or referral, violations of the law and the rules and regulations of the Commission, and to initiate the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) by the Commission.2 Under Section 4-1, Rule IV, Party II of The 2016 Rules of Procedure of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an action for the issuance of a CDO or injunction may be commenced upon filing of an application with the Commission En Banc, through the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), by any Operating Department, either motu proprio or upon a verified complaint by the public, after conducting a proper investigation or verification and upon finding that the grounds for the issuance of the CDO or injunction are present. The Commission is authorized under Section 179(f) of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCCP) to issue cease and desist orders ex parte to prevent imminent fraud or injury to the public and/or to enjoin an act or practice which is fraudulent or can reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent, and irreparable danger or injury to public safety or welfare.

Respondents, the operators and owners of PESO TREE, PESOALO, and PINOY CASH LOAN, all of which are online lending applications, their agents, representatives and promoters, as well as the owners of the hosting sites of the Online Lending Operators are operating, engaging in, carrying out and/or promoting lending/financing business.

RELEVANT FACTS

Upon receipt of the Memorandum, the EIPD commenced and carried out the investigation process involving the Online Lending Operators. The EIPD found out that the modus operandi of the Online Lending Operators is to offer loan to the public through their respective webpages, mobile application, Facebook pages and other similar online platforms. The foregoing was substantiated by an Affidavit3 from CGFD personnel and from the numerous complaints that were received from the public by CGFD against PESO TREE4, PESOALO5 and PINOY CASH LOAN6, which were all submitted by EIPD in evidence. The EIPD was able to verify existence and operation of the Online Lending Operators through their respective websites (where the online applications can be publicly accessible), the screenshots of which were printed and presented by the EIPD to the Commission in support of its allegations in the Motion.

Pampanga routs Laguna in NBL

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—The deadly coronavirus outbreak has forced China and Hong Kong’s men and women and India’s women to withdraw from badminton’s Asia Team Championships which started yesterday in Manila.

The event, which runs until Sunday in the Philippines capital, is the Asian qualifying event for the sport’s Thomas and Uber Cup team championships later this year.

It also serves as part of the qualification process for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

“The decision to impose the 14 days quarantine period for all travelers coming from China, Hong Kong and Macau has to be respected in view of the health and safety of the Philippines government for its people,” said a Badminton Asia statement Tuesday.

“It is in this respect that the above event will not see the teams from China and Hong Kong competing.”

The Indian women’s team withdrew after concerns were raised by players and their parents, said the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

“After receiving complete assurances from Badminton Asia, the men’s team agreed to travel and confirmed their participation however, the women’s team was withdrawn,” said a BAI statement.

There have been more than 42,000 people infected in China where more than 1,000 people have died, mainly around the outbreak’s epicenter in the central city of Wuhan.

Elsewhere there have been more than 460 infections in 28 countries with two deaths, one in the Philippines and the other in Hong Kong. AFP

Manila

Standard Republic of the Philippines TODAY

The instant case stemmed from the Memorandum dated 11 November 2019 (the “Memorandum”) issued by the Corporate Governance and Finance Department (CGFD) endorsing to EIPD for appropriate action the mobile lending services that are available and being offered through websites and/or mobile applications without the requisite Certificate of Registration and/or Certificate of Authority to Operate as a Lending/Financing Company. The Online Lending Operators were identified by the CGFD as potentially violating Republic Act No. 9474 (the “Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007”) for operating without the requisite license. Based on the findings of the CGFD, the Online Lending Operators and the persons/entities operating them have not been issued Certificates of Authority to Operate as Lending Companies or Financing Companies.

Mayor Isko Moreno is with newly elected PWCCA president Benson L. Ong and his board members.

Virus forces teams out of badminton championships

Moreover, the EIPD also found in the course of its investigation that based on the numerous complaints received from the public, the Online Lending Operators are employing abusive collection practices by imposing high interest rates, onerous and misleading terms and conditions, making misrepresentations as to non-collection of charges and fees and subjecting their debtors to public humiliation and ridicule to the extent of violating their right to privacy to ensure prompt and full collection of indebtedness.

The EIPD then requested for a certification from the Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) involving the Online Lending Operators. The Certifications7 issued by the CRMD reveal that the Online Lending Operators are not registered with the Commission as a corporation or partnership, and they have not been issued secondary license to operate as a lending company.

ISSUE Is the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order justified in the instant case?

The afore-quoted policy has been relentlessly emphasized by no less than President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself who has ordered a crackdown of informal lenders in the country who have been perennially the scourge of the poor and the underprivileged.

Without the Certificate of Incorporation and the Certificate of Authority to Operate as Lending Companies or Financing Companies which are required by R.A. No. 9474, the Online Lending Operators cannot offer and provide loans to the public. The issuance of a CDO is thus in order.

This Commission is the administrative agency authorized and empowered to impose administrative sanctions for violations of RA No. 9474. Moreover, the Commission is authorized to issue CDO to ensure, among others, that acts and/ or activities which are in violation of the provisions of RA No. 9474 are immediately stopped. Considering that the Online Lending Operators are not incorporated entities and have no Certificate of Authority to Operate as Lending Companies or Financing Companies, the lending activities and transactions are illegal and have to be stopped immediately by this Commission.

Finally, the Commission cannot turn a blind eye on the fact that the Online Lending Operator’s violation in the instant case was aggravated by the fact that they conducted their business in an unscrupulous manner with evident bad faith, by charging their borrowers unconscionable interest rates, subjecting them to inhumane treatment using abusive and degrading language, and similar other harassment strategies in order to collect debts. This has to stop immediately.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, PESO TREE, PESOALO, and PINOY CASH LOAN, its owners, operators, promoters, representatives, agents AND ANY AND ALL PERSONS CLAIMING AND ACTING FOR AND IN THEIR BEHALF, are hereby ORDERED to immediately CEASE AND DESIST, UNDER PAIN OF CONTEMPT, from engaging in, promoting and facilitating such unauthorized lending activities/transactions until they have incorporated and have secured from this Commission the requisite Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate of Authority to Operate as Lending Companies or Financing Companies.

Finally, PESO TREE, PESOALO, and PINOY CASH LOAN, its owners, operators, promoters, representatives, agents and any and all persons acting for and in their behalf, are directed to CEASE from offering and advertising their lending business through the internet and to delete or remove the promotional presentations and offerings of such lending business from the internet including the lending applications that they operate.

The EIPD is hereby DIRECTED to: 1.

coordinate to the appropriate cyber-criminal investigation and enforcement agency of the government in order to determine, unmask, apprehend and thereafter prosecute all the responsible persons including its author, creator, owner and its officers or any person, agent, representative conniving therewith in the online operation of PESO TREE, PESOALO, and PINOY CASH LOAN; and

2.

to submit a formal compliance report, by way of pleading, to the Commission En Banc WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS from receipt of this CDO.

Let a copy of this Order be also posted in the Commission’s website, be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and a copy be furnished to the CRMD, CGFD and the Information and Communications Technology Department of this Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Privacy Commission and the Department of Information and Communications Technology for their information and appropriate action.

In accordance with the provisions, of Sec. 64.39 of the SRC and Sec. 4-3, Rule IV, Part II of the 2016 Rules10, the parties subject of the Cease and Desist Order may file a Verified Motion to lift thereof within five (5) days from the date of its posting or publication.

SO ORDERED.

DISCUSSION

Pasay City, Philippines; 21 January 2020.

Based on the facts and the evidence presented by movant EIPD, the Commission finds that the Motion is impressed with merit and hereby decides to grant the same.

Section 4 of Republic Act No. 94748 mandates that an entity engaged in the business of operating as a lending company is required to be organized and established as corporation, thus:

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

“SEC. 4. Form of Organization. - A lending company shall be established only as a corporation: Provided That existing lending investors organized as single proprietorships or partnerships shall be disallowed from engaging in the business of granting loans to the public one year after the date of effectivity of this Act.

EPHYRO LUIS B. AMATONG Commissioner

No lending company shall conduct business unless granted an authority to operate by the SEC.”

KELVIN LESTER K. LEE Commissioner

Section 12 of the said law states: “Sec. 12. Penalty. - A fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than ten (10) years or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1.

Any person who shall engage in the business of a lending

10

JAVEY PAUL D. FRANCISCO Commissioner

KARLO S. BELLO Commissioner

Dated 24 October 2019.

SEC Office Order No. 512, series of 2013.

Affidavit executed dated 5 November 2019 attached as Annex “A” of the Motion.

Attached as Annex “A”, “A-1” and Annex “B-1” to “B-7” of the Motion.

Attached as Annex “C” of the Motion.

Attached as Annex “C-1” and Annex “C-2” of the Motion.

Attached as Annex “D-1” to “D-3” of the Motion.

An Act Governing the Establishment, Operation and Regulation of Lending Companies. May 22, 2007.

Section 64.3. Any person against whom a cease and desist order was issued may, within five (5) days request for a lifting thereof. Xxx. The 2016 Rules of Procedure of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

from the receipt of the Order, file a formal (MS-FEB. 12, 2020)

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

sports@manilastandard.net;

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

Sports

Saleh edges Walscheid in sprint to finish

By Charles Dantes

A huge group of cyclists join the peloton at the start of another stage of the 25th Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi. Charles Dantes

Robles places 9th in 2020 World Archery NATIONAL bet Andrea Robles placed ninth in the recent 2020 Indoor World Archery finals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 21-year-old Robles, who is the first Filipino to reach the tournament, was among the top 16 archers who made in the women’s compound division’s preliminaries.

Robles, who is a bronze medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, still got a decent finish.

Her performance came despite losing her first match in the Olympic round to world record holder Ella Gibson of Great Britain, 145-147.

According to results released on the tournament’s official website, Gibson tied the Robles in the fourth end, 117-all.

Then, she scored three perfect 10s in the fifth to outpoint Robles.

In the finals, 24-year-old Paige Pearce won the first major target title of her senior career.

Pearce beat Lisell Jaatma in the compound women’s finals.

She finished with a perfect 30 and 146 points for the 15-arrow match to Jaatma’s 141.

Before joining the World Cup, Robles was ranked eighth before the final leg.

She earned more points from her stint at the Vegas Shoot, in last month’s Sydney Leg and her historic Indoor World Macau Leg victory last November.

Dave Barnes, Madeline Boyle, Tate Morgan and Paige Pearce took the titles at the 2020 Sydney Indoor Archery Festival.

The wins pushed Barnes and Pearce to the top spots in the Indoor Archery World Series elite rankings.

Peter Atencio

GOLDEN TEE. Manila

Golf and Country Club President and Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez delivers his anniversary message during the Golden Tee Invitation Tournament and 50th Anniversary Celebration of Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City.

Ver Noveno

Thais blast PH in 2020 Badminton Asia Manila T

HAILAND asserted its mastery of the Philippines with a fivematch sweep in the women’s tournament while India completed a rout of Kazakhstan in the men’s side, 4-1, to open the 2020 Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships group phase action, Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Chasinee Korepap secured the tie against the Filipinas amidst resistance from Sarah Joy Barredo late in the second game of the third singles match to take the top of Group Y. Nonetheless, the Thai pocketed the match and the contest, 21-14, 21-15.

“For me naman, naging maganda yung game ko kahit first time ko siyang nakalaban,” Barredo said. “At first kasi yung game niya balik-balik lang, pero hindi lang pala siya ganun, consistent din.”

Busanan Ombangrungphan opened the day with a dominant 21-8, 21-10 conquest of Nicole Albo before Pornpawee Chochuwong carved a similar victory over Bianca Carlos at 21-15, 21-12.

The Philippines’ doubles pairs were not fortunate as well as Thailand wrapped up the sweep in the next two matches.

Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai waylaid Alyssa Leonardo and Thea Pomar, 21-12, 21-13. Korepap returned to the court and teamed up with Phataimas Muenwong in taking down Geva De Vera and Chanelle Lunod, 21-10, 21-8.

Barredo hopes that the squad will put up a better game against Indonesia on Wednesday in this tournament backed

by SMART Communications Inc., MVP

Sports Foundation, Leisure and Resorts World Corporation, Cignal, and TV5.

“Mas mahihirapan kami with Indonesians pero iisipin na lang namin na no pressure kami at all. Basta, laban lang,” she added.

On the men’s side, India defeated Kazakhstan handily with young gun Lakshya Sen taking the lead.

The 2018 Asian Junior singles champion needed just 21 minutes to put his side up at 2-0. Sen was dominant in his sweep of Artur Niyazov 21-13, 21-8, in the pivotal second singles match.

Subhankar Dey followed it up with another two-setter, clinching the tie, 21-11, 21-5, over Khaitmurat Kulmatov. Srikanth Kidambi put India on the board first with a 21-10, 21-7 rout of Dimitry Panarin.

M. R. Arjun and Dhruv Kapila closed the day for the South Asians with another sweep at 21-14, 21-8 over Nikita Bragin and Kulmatov.

Panarin and Niyazov, nonetheless, averted a sweep by taking the first doubles match for Kazakhstan with a come-frombehind win, 18-21, 21-16, 21-19, over H. S. Prannoy and Chirag Shetty.

Nouri rules PSC-NCFP chess tourney

Sarah Joy Barredo screams after scoring a point at the 2020 Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships group phase action.

NU, Ateneo defend UAAP volley titles

By Peter Atencio NATIONAL University Bulldogs will defend their crown in the men’s division of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament under a new format.

The Bulldogs, coached by national mentor Dante Alinsunurin, will share the spotlight with the Ateneo Lady Eagles when action starts this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

That’s because organizers will be adopting a new program format for each game day, and it will not be like in previous seasons.

In previous years, the men’s games were

played in the morning while the women’s contests were held in the afternoon.

This time, game days will have an alternating men’s and women’s program.

“This is the start. That’s why players will have to show their best,” said Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin, who mentored the national men’s team to the 30th Southeast Asian Games crown, alongside the national women’s squad.

Alinsunurin talked about the Bulldogs during yesterday’s launch of senior division second semester competitions at the Mall of Asia Arena, starting with the volleyball games.

The silver medal won by the Philippine men’s team in volleyball has inspired or-

ganizers to change the format of the competitions this year.

As for the Bulldogs, a 12-day training stint in Japan has kept them prepared for the coming season.

National players Bryan Bagunas, Madz Gampong, Francis Sauro, Kim Malabunga and Jann Ancheta have graduated, leaving remaining veterans Joshua Retamar and Ricky Marcos behind.

Retamar and Marcos, who are still members of the national team, are expected to provide leadership for the team when action begins this weekend.

The Bulldogs are set to clash with the Adamson Falcons at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Davis, James power Lakers past Suns LOS ANGELES, United States—Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds while LeBron James added 17 points as the Lakers breezed past the Phoenix Suns 125-100 to maintain their lead at the top of the Western Conference on Monday (Tuesday Philippine time).

Rajon Rondo added 23 points from the bench on a night when six Lakers players finished with doubledigit points tallies.

The Lakers improved to 40-12 for the season, three games ahead of the Denver Nuggets, who held on to second spot with a rollercoaster 127-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio looked to be cruising towards victory after opening up a 23-point lead in the third quarter.

But a spirited Denver fightback which included a double-double from Nikola Jokic turned the game back in the Nuggets favor, with the home side pulling away to complete the win.

IPOH, Malaysia — Local favorite Mohd Harrif Saleh shrugged off sprint leader Max Walscheid of NTT Pro Cycling in the last meter for a photo finish of the fifth stage of the ongoing 25th Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi.

The Terengganu TSG Cycling Team’s standout lead the bunched sprint of the 165.8-kilometer race with an official time of three hours, 39 minutes and 42 seconds to secure the leg. Right next to him is stage three winner Walscheid (+00) and Matteo Pelucchi of Bardiani CSF Faizane (+00).

Saleh duplicated his achievement in last year’s tour with this stage win.

The humble Malaysian sprinter expressed gratitude towards his team.

“I am very happy and I did not expect to win today but nevertheless I want to thank my teammates for the support,” said Saleh in an interview.

Saleh, though, revealed that he enjoys the challenge posed by his big German rival.

“He is big (Walscheid) and he is good but I am also good sprinter that why I can win against him,” he added.

The team general classification leaders remained on their seats with Team Sapura Cycling comfortably sitting atop the standing with 53:27:25 followed by Terangganu TSG Cycling team (+4:52) and Thailand Continental Cycling team (9:20).

Just like the team standing, the jerseyholders retained their respective colors after fifth stage.

Danilo Celano of Team Sapura kept the yellow jersey by staying in the peloton with Walscheid still the bearer of the green cloth.

Yevgeniy Fedorov of Vino-Astana Motors managed to hold the white jersey for a while longer.

The Resorts World Genting red jersey landed on Nur Aiman Zariff because of the lack of climb in yesterday’s leg.

The race moves on today for the sixth stage that starts in the afternoon at Taiping with the finish line located at Pulau Pinang for a total of 150.9km route.

Jokic finished the night with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds while forcing five turnovers.

Point guard Jamal Murray added 26 points while Paul Millsap had 22 off the bench.

Elsewhere, Pascal Siakam scored 34 points as the Toronto Raptors shrugged off their injury problems to extend their winning streak to 15 games with a 137126 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Siakam’s dominant display included six threepointers as the reigning NBA champions overpowered a resilient Timberwolves side to cement their grip on second place in the Eastern Conference.

Kyle Lowry added 27 points with 11 assists for Toronto while OG Anunoby had a career-high 25 points while hauling in 12 rebounds.

Siakam’s points tally included 14 in the fourth quarter, a decisive contribution that helped lock down the victory for Toronto who have 40 wins against 14 defeats. AFP

FIDE Master Alekhine “Bbking” Fabiosa Nouri ruled via tiebreak the Philippine Sports CommissionNational Chess Federation of the Philippines selection process (Standard event) at the PACE headquarters in Quezon City last weekend.

Nouri, tied for first-second places with International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia 7.0 points apiece in the 90 minutes + 30 seconds time control event organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by chairman/ president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. With the highest tiebreak points, Nouri took the title while Garcia finished second.

Nouri, youngest participant at 14 years old, is a grade 7 pupil of FEU-Fern Diliman, Quezon City.

He will only need to finish solidly in the second and final round set February 24 to March 1 also at the PACE for his spot in the national squad according to newly-installed NCFP executive director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.

“Fourteen-year-old FM Alekhine Nouri, the youngest in a very strong field of current and aspiring National Pool players, some of them veterans of several Chess Olympiads, ruled the 1st half of the 2020 PSC-NCFP Selection Grand Finals held at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence in Quezon City. That a 14-year-old topped this strong tournament augurs well for Philippine Chess. We have another strong prospect for a world-class player in the future. Congrats Alekhine and good luck in the second half,” said newlyinstalled NCFP executive director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.

Rounding up the top 12 were IM Ricardo de Guzman (3rd), IM John Marvin Miciano (4th), CM John Merill Jacutina (5th), IM Barlo Nadera (6th), John Jasper Laxamana (7ht), FM Stephen Rome Pangilinan (8th), NM Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano (9th), IM Jerad Docena (10th), NM Jeth Romy Morado (11th) and Istraelito Rilloraza (12th).

IN BRIEF Mile Long property posts profit, says DOF THE government is aiming to register a profit of P205.76 million from rental and parking fees from the 2.2-hectare Mile Long property in Makati City since taking over its management from mid-2017.

A report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III by the Privatization Management Office showed that the government had so far collected P262.68 million from August 2017 to January 2020 from tenants occupying the property. The state is expected to collect another P2.56 million in receivables.

The igure brings the actual and estimated total collections from the prime lot to P265.25 million as of January 2020, said chief privatization officer Gerard Chan of the Department of Finance-attached PMO. Deducting actual and estimated expenses amounting to P59.48 million nets an income of P205.76 million over the last 28 months that the PMO has been managing the property, Chan said.

Dominguez commended the PMO at a recent DOF executive committee meeting for efficiently managing the property, which is almost 73 percent occupied as of January 2020.

The Mile Long property has 312 rental units, of which 227 are occupied by 131 establishments, and leaving 85 units available for occupancy. Julito G. Rada

Business

Competitive offers eyed on Mindoro-Cuyo area THE Energy Department is seeking competitive offers to develop the MindoroCuyo oil and gas basin under the government’s Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

The department asked for counter proposals from prospective bidders to develop nominated area no. 5 (Mindoro-Cuyo basin) covering 1.332 million hectares.

“Deadline for the submission of documents by applicants (counter-proponents)—60 calendar days from date of publication by the nominating party,” the department said.

Under the PCECP, awarding of service contracts are conducted either through the competitive selection process or via nomination.

Interested companies under the nomination process may submit their letter of intent for the proposed area for nomination.

The agency will then notify the proponents to publish their nomination, which will be subject to challenge within 60 days from publication. Alena Mae S. Flores

Julito G. Rada

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

B1

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CITI-IMONEY PARTNERSHIP. Citi and iMoney commemorate their application program interface or API partnership, which enables seamless online application for Citi credit cards from the iMoney Philippines website to the Citibank website. Since the launching of the program in the first quarter of 2019, more than 10,000 consumers have completed the online journey to apply for a Citi credit card product from iMoney’s website. Sealing their long-time partnership with a handshare are (from left) Citi Philippines digital banking and client obsession head Rene Aguirre, Citi Philippines credit cards and loans head Mukul Sukhani, iMoney Group CEO Mitul Lakhani and iMoney country manager Pearl Joy Gonzales.

Fitch lifts PH credit rating outlook to ‘BBB’ positive

By Julito G. Rada

G

LOBAL debt watcher Fitch Ratings on Tuesday upgraded the credit rating outlook for the Philippines to “BBB” positive from “BBB” stable, saying the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals could weather external headwinds including the outbreak of 2019-novel coronavirus.

This put the country closer to the coveted “A” credit rating which is expected to draw more foreign investments and bring down the cost of borrowing.

Fitch said in a statement the outlook revision reflected expectations of the coun-

try’s continued adherence to a sound macroeconomic policy framework that would support high growth rates with moderate inflation, progress on fiscal reforms that should keep government debt within manageable levels and continued resilience in its external finances.

“Fitch expects growth to accelerate to 6.4 percent and 6.5 percent in 2020 and 2021, respectively, after slowing to 5.9 percent in 2019, supported by strong private consumption and rising public infrastructure investment,” it said.

“Overseas remittance inflows and favorable job prospects, evident from a falling unemployment rate, alongside accommodative monetary policy should support continued private consumption demand,” it said.

Fitch said the Philippines would remain among the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region in 2020-2021, above the current ‘BBB’ median.

It said, however, that downside risks included the evolving coronavirus outbreak and natural disasters that could disrupt economic activity from time to time.

“It is still early to evaluate the effects of the outbreak, but the economy appears somewhat less vulnerable than regional peers as tourism accounts for less than 3 percent of GDP. In addition, the Philippines retains room in our view for monetary and fiscal easing to offset the potential short-term impact on growth,” it said.

It said recent reforms to strengthen institutional effectiveness, human capital and the business environment should lead to a further improvement in the Philippines’ structural metrics over time.

These reforms include the passage of the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018, which aims to improve the delivery of public services, the New Central Bank Act to strengthen the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ capacity to promote financial stability, increased coverage under the National Health Insurance Program and establishment of the Presidential Anticorruption Commission.

FRANCHISE EXPO. The

2019 nCoV seen to have negative impact on PH—IMF THE International Monetary Fund said Tuesday the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 individuals in mainland China will have a negative impact on the Philippine economy this year.

IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said in a news briefing at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas the spread of the dreaded disease had caused a lot of anxieties and forced travel restrictions that could heavily impact the tourism industry, which is one of the strengths of the domestic economy.

“It looks that way... We do expect a negative impact to the Philippines due to the outbreak,” Yang said.

“China is one of the largest sources of tourists [for the Philippines],” Yang said.

The IMF, however, retained its 6.3-percent growth projection for the Philippine economy in 2020, saying the growth would be driven by higher government spending and supported by the recent monetary policy easing.

The forecast was contained in the conclusion of the 2019 Article IV Consultation on Jan. 27, 2020 with the Philippines by the IMF executive board.

Yang said that taking into account the outbreak of coronavirus and the Taal Volcano eruption in January, the gross domestic product growth could still be “around that range [6.3 percent] in the first quarter of 2020.”

Yang said one of the measures that would counter the impact of the disease on the economy was the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decision to cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent.

The economy grew by 5.9 percent in 2019, an eight-year low and missed the target range of 6 percent to 6.5 percent.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

House to ask ERC officials over IEMOP’s fee collections

Uniol companies hike holdings in Chemphil A GROUP associated with Unioil Group of Companies increased its stake in listed Chemical Industries of the Philippines (Chemphil) to 78.06 percent following the completion of the tender offer.

Chemphil said in a disclosure to the stock exchange said 2.171 million common shares representing 21.09 percent of the company’s outstanding shares were tendered to the bidders, namely Lavish Sources Limited, Quantumlink Realty Corp., Citiworld Properties & Development Corp. and Exquadra Inc. The bidders conducted a tender offer to the minority shareholders of the company after majority shareholders of Chemphil led by businessman Antonio Garcia in November agreed to sell their combined 56.97-percent stake in the company at a price of P177.63 apiece.

The tender offer started on December 16, 2019 and ended January 27, 2020.

LSL after the tender offer will own 39.73 of Chemphil while CPDC, QRC and Exquadra will each hold 12.77 percent.

Jenniffer B. Austria

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

Association of Filipino Franchise Inc. announces the holding of the Filipino Franchise & Business Expo 2020 on Feb. 28 to March 1, 2020 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Leading the announcement are (from left) Association of filipino Franchise Inc. chairman Enrique Caeg, AFFI president Jorge Wieneke III and Filipino Franchise Business Expo 2020 chairman Jose Carlos Martinez. Roy Domingo

Sangley Point project highlights Chinese threat to national security THE increasing number of Philippine offshore gaming operators and the questionable selection of state-run China Communications Construction Co. as joint venture partner in the Sangley Point International Airport project continue to raise concerns about the administration’s China pivot and its corresponding national security risks.

The Senate has already conducted inquiries into Chinese control of key industries and infrastructure. Senators Francis Pangilinan and Grace Poe and former senator Chiz Escudero earlier raised questions on Dito Telecommunity and ChinaTel’s memorandum of agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the co-location of communications facilities in securitysensitive military camps.

Educator and policy adviser Richard Heydarian wrote of the “transactional

acquiescence to China” as reflected in President Duterte’s statement to shut up on the West Philippine Sea disputes if China builds railways around Mindanao, Bicol and Batangas.

A critical part of the country’s infrastructure, the $10-billion Sangley Point International Airport, has raised alarm from various sectors as the joint venture selection process for the project is seen to favor a consortium that includes state-run China Communications Construction Co., China Civil Engineering Construction Corp., China State Construction Engineering Corp. and China Railway International Group.

A total of $100 billion worth of infrastructure projects are already in Chinese hands.

Industry sources who reviewed the joint venture documents and feasibility study concluded that the Chinese partner

was favored from the beginning due to subjective criteria and a rushed process.

CCCC in December teamed up with MacroAsia Corp. to become the sole consortium vying for the project as six other bidders, including Manuel Villar Jr.’s Prime Asset Ventures, all backed out.

The CCCC consortium aims to partner with the Cavite government to transform the former US naval base into a worldclass air hub serving more than 100 million passengers a year, three times the design capacity of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Defense experts, however, worry about China establishing an air infrastructure foothold just 35 kilometers away from Manila. Such fears have been heightened by CCCC’s role in building islands for Chinese military facilities in contested waters in the South China Sea.

THE House of Representatives will summon officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission to shed light on the ability of Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines to collect market fees from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Vergara, a member of the House energy committee, said in a radio interview the ERC officials would be asked to attend the next hearing to explain how IEMOP was able to collect market fees.

“How are they able to collect?

IEMOP applied in January 2019 [with the ERC]. I don’t know if this has been acted upon or approved,” Vergara said.

Vergara said if Philippine Electricity Market Corp., the former WESM operator, was allowed to collect the fees during its term, it could not just transfer the authority to IEMOP which is a different entity.

She said the P0.01 per kilowatthour collected from consumers could reach millions of pesos a month.

“At the end of the day we want to unburden the consumers,” Vergara said.

Vergara also questioned the independence of IEMOP from the government, raising the relationship between IEMOP president and chief executive Richard Nethercott who is married to an assistant secretary of the Energy Department. She said another IEMOP official, who has resigned, is also married to National Transmission Corp. president Melvin Matibag.

“For me, you call yourself an independent market operator. Why do you have a wife who regulates the industry,” she said, adding that the said officials might be engaged in “conflict of interest” and thus could be liable for graft.

Vergara said PEMC, which currently oversees the WESM, should cease to exist after it turned over the operations to IEMOP over the redundancy and additional costs to consumers.

PEMC officials earlier said the cost of operating the market was recovered through market fees collected from the WESM market participants that were approved by the ERC as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

PH exports rose 1.5% to hit record $70.3b last year EXPORTS increased 1.5 percent in 2019 to hit an all-time high of $70.32 billion, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the country achieved the feat despite the external headwinds from the global trade policy uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and country-specific challenges.

“The relatively strong export performance of the Philippines transpired amid DTI’s strong efforts in attracting investments, spurring MSME development and promoting the ease of doing business,” said Lopez.

He said the country’s export growth was also the second-best performer among East Asian economies, next to Vietnam. The Philippines, China and Vietnam were the only three countries that reported positive export performance among 11 trade-oriented Asian economies last year.

“Our goal was to expand the productive capacity and export base as well as in actively enhancing trade relations with existing partner economies, by marketing products abroad and exploring new export markets,” Lopez said.

For the first time, electronics exports hit $40 billion on the back of a 4.4-percent growth. The sector comprised of 56.9 percent of total merchandise exports, with non-electronic products making up the remaining 43.1 percent at $30.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the country’s trade-ingoods deficit narrowed by 15 percent in 2019 to $37.049 billion from $43.533 billion in 2018 as exports’ growth outpaced that of imports.

Data showed that while exports slightly improved by 1.5 percent to $70.32 billion from $69.3 billion in 2018, imports declined 4.8 percent to $107.37 billion from $112.84 billion.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; ISM tops gainers

S

TOCKS rose slightly Tuesday, spurred by fresh Wall Street records but investors remained jittery about the global economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, picked up 8 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 7,439.40. Despite the gain, it was still 4.8 percent down since the start of the year.

The broader all-share index also rose 6 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,390.05, on a value turnover of P4.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 91 to 89, while 55 issues were unchanged.

Eight of the most active stocks ended

in the green, led by ISM Communications Corp. which climbed 5.7 percent to P2.23 and Cosco Capital Inc. which advanced 4.6 percent to P6.57.

Most Asian stocks also traded higher Tuesday. Eyes are on China as the world’s second-largest economy sputters back up after a forced extension to the Lunar New Year holiday because of the outbreak, which has killed more than 1,000 people and disrupted major global supply chains.

After a nervous start to the week that saw Asian bourses plunge, most bounced back.

Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index was up 1.4 percent in afternoon trade, Sydney climbed 0.6 percent and Singapore rose 0.5 percent.

Mainland China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.4 percent higher. Elsewhere, Seoul jumped 1.0 percent and Taipei rose 0.8 percent, while Wellington was up 1.1 percent.

Markets in Tokyo were closed for a public holiday.

The positive mood in Asia followed Monday rallies on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq hit fresh records.

The 2019-nCoV virus, which emerged in central China, has spooked equity and oil markets for weeks, having spread to more than two dozen countries.

More than 42,000 infections have been confirmed so far in mainland China, and President Xi Jinping has described the situation in Hubei, the outbreak epicentre, as “still very grave”.

Chinese authorities are expected to make policy interventions to help ease the economic hit from the virus, analysts said, which could boost market confidence.

“While... uncertainties remain around nCoV, one sure thing you can probably count on is that the mother of all stimulus measures will get laid down by the

(Chinese central bank),” wrote Stephen Innes, chief market strategist for AsiaPacific at AxiCorp.

Investors will also be looking to see any assessments about the economic impact of the outbreak in US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony to Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A number of earnings reports are also expected this week, including from companies that could see a coronavirus hit.

Chinese tech giant Alibaba, Japanese automaker Nissan and MGM Resorts are among the firms scheduled to announce results on Thursday.

“We have to consider that the rebound in growth we were expecting over 2020 may be either delayed or somewhat less vigorous than we were anticipating due to the impact of the virus,” Mark Robertson of Aviva Investors told Bloomberg News. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review tueSday, FeBruary 11, 2020

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

53 86 150.2 0.81 25 18 11.16 3.8 1.15 0.48 59.75 0.8 32.05 172 51.85 20.7 173.2 1,880 59.6 1.08

53 86 152 0.81 25.1 18.5 11.2 3.91 1.15 0.48 60.5 0.81 33 173.8 54.3 20.7 174.9 1,880 59.7 1.1

53 85 150.2 0.8 25 17.98 11.14 3.6 1.15 0.42 58.3 0.8 31.8 171.6 51.5 20.7 172.9 1,875 59 1.08

FINANCIALS 53 1,000 85.8 1,318,290 152 403,860 0.8 382,000 25.1 148,500 18 181,000 11.16 52,800 3.65 436,000 1.15 17,000 0.42 10,600,000 58.3 1,002,830 0.81 12,000 32 177,100 172 940 51.5 1,210 20.7 64,600 173.1 154,780 1,875 65 59 9,760 1.1 139,000

53,000 113,120,935.50 61,340,730 306,500 3,720,785 3,266,496 589,110 1,606,830 19,550 4,641,800 59,211,947.50 9,710 5,685,590 161,538 62,716.50 1,337,220 26,794,380 122,125 580,928.50 152,630

37,613,218 5,638,043 175,700 -1,990,300 -121,640 42,500 -18332759.5 -2730469.9997 44,720 -9,836.50 55,890 -10,387,921 -383,128.50 130,630

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

31.75 2.02 8.46 0.62 1.25 2.87 0.223 99.95 1.43 15.02 10.2 30.15 62 2.14 4.6 9 12.02 8.6 7.32 3.07 21.2 66.8 2.06 35.55 1.66 10.38 6.55 1.3 191 4.5 3.11 6.51 13.04 10 14.6 279 1.83 3.49 10 11.7 30.9 4.71 1.62 1.51 1.34 9.4 78 9.29 0.93 155.3 2.4 1.13 15.1 1

32.7 2.12 8.6 0.63 1.25 2.93 0.223 99.95 1.44 15.04 10.42 30.15 62 2.15 4.6 9.1 12.1 9.08 7.32 3.79 21.2 67 2.07 36.9 1.66 10.48 6.6 1.3 193.9 4.5 3.27 6.52 13.2 10.26 14.6 282 1.85 3.59 10 11.9 30.9 4.71 1.62 1.51 1.37 9.5 78 9.29 1.06 155.3 2.54 1.15 15.1 1.05

31.65 2 7.51 0.6 1.25 2.78 0.223 99.95 1.39 14.98 9.84 30.15 59 2.14 4.5 8.8 12.02 8.6 7.25 3 20.65 66.8 1.95 35.55 1.55 10.3 6.5 1.24 191 4.09 3.1 6.51 12.72 10 14.44 277 1.83 3.46 9.8 11.68 30.1 4.71 1.56 1.51 1.24 9.39 76.8 9.15 0.91 151.5 2.4 1.12 15.1 1

INDUSTRIAL 32.7 476,200 2.09 2,893,000 7.94 3,858,300 0.6 1,672,000 1.25 1,000 2.9 2,806,000 0.223 20,000 99.95 10 1.42 2,574,000 15.02 460,100 10.4 2,170,000 30.15 2,900 61 1,610 2.15 30,000 4.6 44,000 9.1 537,500 12.1 2,800 9.08 561,700 7.26 6,123,900 3.09 24,344,000 20.85 2,749,800 67 27,550 2 38,689,000 36.9 200 1.58 4,749,000 10.46 916,500 6.6 41,700 1.27 600,000 192 811,210 4.09 6,000 3.1 20,000 6.52 10,500 12.88 11,830,600 10.2 742,500 14.5 237,600 277 79,200 1.84 174,000 3.59 446,000 9.99 33,700 11.9 26,300 30.2 135,300 4.71 30,000 1.61 600,000 1.51 5,000 1.28 4,140,000 9.39 17,300 77 64,330 9.16 32,000 1 864,000 153.4 690,320 2.54 6,000 1.12 3,633,000 15.1 5,000 1.02 2,598,000

15,494,540 5,991,290 31,135,769 1,025,020 1,250 8,008,430 4,460 999.5 3,616,060 6,905,778 22,108,024 87,435 96,393 64,450 199,920 4,862,907 33,808 5,053,350 44,398,285 81,538,600 57,369,060 1,841,948 77,804,340 7,245 7,515,850 9,526,642 273,927 750,310 155,720,996 26,590 62,340 68,379 152,519,406 7,510,074 3,445,676 22,036,166 320,190 1,581,020 331,469 309,808 4,108,185 141,300 946,770 7,550 5,383,370 163,375 4,962,834.50 293,647 867,840 106,211,396 14,540 4,093,330 75,500 2,667,520

-1,155,950 3208509.9997 489,023 454,220 -1,311,770 3,393,012 -193,118 -3,015 11,950 1,360,232 -1,210 4,293,494 38,787,500 179,390 29,626,315 414,813.50 -641910.0002 3,482,890 379,304 62,420 -11,543,139 -43,540 -52,088,482 -4,079,078 -2,104,146 -4,720,574 -18,370 942,120 -3,120,555 -8,000 -11,444 -422,391 -56,292,905 12,000 11,300.00 -75,500 -

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

0.87 52 10.54 0.69 6.04 10.28 0.91 0.9 761 2.7 6.15 6.08 0.221 717 6.24 71.8 0.5 3.88 10.5 0.56 3.23 4.28 1.12 2.75 135 2.02 1,000 0.81 175 170 0.205 0.193

0.88 52.25 10.7 0.73 6.35 10.28 0.91 0.94 761 2.7 6.57 6.13 0.221 730 6.24 72 0.5 3.88 10.64 0.58 3.23 4.28 1.17 2.75 136 2.02 1,001 0.81 184.5 170 0.215 0.2

0.87 51.5 10.38 0.68 6.03 9.84 0.86 0.9 747.5 2.61 6.15 6.06 0.212 717 4.9 70.5 0.49 3.7 10.48 0.56 3.15 4.28 1.1 2.75 135 2 990 0.81 175 169 0.205 0.192

HOLDING FIRMS 0.88 2,212,000 52.05 247,570 10.5 13,419,100 0.68 535,000 6.05 130,500 10,400 10.18 0.89 2,309,000 0.94 302,000 755.5 254,890 2.61 624,000 6.57 14,840,500 6.11 3,424,700 0.212 160,000 727 168,370 4.9 4,400 71.9 586,120 0.5 113,000 3.77 295,000 10.54 10,625,200 0.58 6,000 3.15 24,075,000 4.28 5,000 1.17 94,000 2.75 10,000 135.1 170,220 2 4,000 1,000 165,480 0.81 13,000 184.5 40 170 420 0.215 190,000 0.195 1,940,000

1,926,160 12,880,049 140,953,026 377,280 787,898 103,334 2,039,050 271,840 192,811,425 1,633,410 93,547,076 20,896,973 35,270 122,003,710 23,834 42,096,335.50 55,900 1,108,860 112,012,690 3,380 76,492,870 21,400 103,750 27,500 23,007,935 8,030 165,325,587.50 10,530 7,195 71,264 40,550 374,640

1,740 5,299,734 19,162,204 -20,160 166,417 270,000 -118,265 2,620 2,548,874 -6,449,445 -12,324,325 -9,208,740 -917,640 21650745.9998 21,351,900 118,634 -6,104,705 -23,798 0

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

14.8 0.65 9.05 1.66 0.8 44 1.52 4.5 0.49 0.79 0.177 0.365 9 18.48 0.39 1.45 1.05 4.05 0.202 1.02 0.31 2.05 24.55 2.13 3.22

14.8 0.65 9.69 1.66 0.8 44 1.59 4.5 0.495 0.79 0.178 0.365 9.08 18.74 0.39 1.46 1.06 4.05 0.215 1.04 0.31 2.05 24.85 2.14 3.22

14.7 0.64 9.05 1.66 0.78 43.5 1.51 4.48 0.485 0.79 0.177 0.365 8.99 18.04 0.39 1.44 1.05 3.98 0.202 0.99 0.31 2.04 24.45 2.07 3.2

PROPERTY 14.7 854,800 0.64 72,000 9.69 3,600 1.66 25,000 0.8 885,000 43.65 11,287,900 1.52 314,000 4.49 323,000 0.49 2,320,000 0.79 12,000 0.178 2,490,000 0.365 10,000 8.99 493,900 18.74 365,400 0.39 160,000 1.46 4,713,000 1.05 214,000 4 15,595,000 0.215 11,120,000 1 2,866,000 0.31 90,000 2.05 445,000 24.75 465,500 2.07 143,000 3.2 4,000

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

42.3 2.55 1.79 6.5 5.24

43 2.55 1.86 6.5 5.24

41.5 2.49 1.77 6.46 5.1

42.7 2.55 1.83 6.49 5.24

11,615,400 2,060,000 2,552,000 668,600 51,200

492,379,735 5,151,470 4,673,570 4,339,257 263,416

-126,394,890 9,053 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

9 16.6 1.35 9.98 0.4 0.048 2.63 9 0.054 80.6 6.52 4.5 2 7.45 890 1,993 5.42 420 1.17 127.3 6.7 0.106 2.07 1.77 12.9 2.1 10.98 0.68 1.88 0.99 0.96 11.02 2.17 2.09 7.15 4 146 3.4 1,022 0.495 0.325 38.5 75.5 9.1 2.16 0.59 0.245 0.58 18.9

9 16.7 1.35 9.98 0.41 0.048 2.75 9.11 0.056 82.95 6.52 4.7 2 7.65 890 2,006 5.45 437 1.19 127.3 7 0.111 2.3 1.77 12.9 2.16 11.1 0.7 1.9 1.05 0.96 11.02 2.21 2.09 7.35 4.5 146 3.7 1,027 0.51 0.33 38.6 75.65 9.24 2.22 0.6 0.249 0.58 18.9

8.9 16.02 1.3 9.8 0.395 0.046 2.63 8.8 0.048 79 6.52 4.5 1.82 7.36 890 1,986 5.39 415 1.13 126 6.7 0.106 2.07 1.75 12.9 2.1 10.5 0.52 1.87 0.95 0.96 11.02 2.13 2.03 7.15 4 140 3.4 1,002 0.495 0.32 38.3 74.55 8.7 2.15 0.57 0.244 0.56 18.72

SERVICES 8.9 16.56 1.31 9.8 0.4 0.048 2.69 9 0.049 82.95 6.52 4.62 1.82 7.65 890 2,006 5.4 422 1.18 126 6.8 0.107 2.23 1.76 12.9 2.1 10.5 0.53 1.88 1.04 0.96 11.02 2.18 2.09 7.35 4.5 140 3.42 1,010 0.5 0.33 38.6 75.2 8.7 2.22 0.58 0.244 0.56 18.88

15,500 510,800 200,000 60,200 420,000 5,300,000 312,000 2,679,100 57,130,000 122,870 1,100 590,000 13,000 7,700 10 21,230 892,000 72,430 471,000 607,060 2,200 5,520,000 111,633,000 10,000 100 65,000 2,329,700 49,306,000 882,000 40,000 3,000 100 1,393,000 17,000 2,900 28,000 2,410 3,011,000 117,935 294,550,000 1,960,000 556,300 535,830 196,500 575,000 5,038,000 1,320,000 2,522,000 349,100

138,516 8,410,186 265,640 592,361 168,750 249,000 836,420 23,949,609 2,871,400 9,842,359 7,172 2,705,650 25,100 56,986 8,900 42,390,495 4,836,509 30,892,492 544,260 76,501,328 14,950 601,630 247,451,340 17,610 1,290 137,440 25,003,888 29,475,700 1,655,030 40,220 2,880 1,102 3,020,510 35,050 21,013 112,790 342,506 10,770,770 119,198,245 147,283,500 635,200 21,458,610 40,251,056 1,715,676 1,247,880 2,917,990 323,070 1,421,910 6,578,982

-36,900 1,240 -5,370 -2,304,973 1,019,595.50 7,172 404,680 5,606,330 -4,624,565 2219789.9997 -759,010 -638,690 62,000 2,090 20,000 332,640 17,250 -68,528,195 -14,242,900 -11,618,090 -20846674.5 121,300 580,000.00 24,400 5479183.9997

ABRA MINING ACE ENEXOR APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.0014 7.4 1.02 2.38 10.9 3 0.275 6.69 1.3 0.209 0.093 0.093 0.0077 0.78 2.51 1.02 0.465 0.65 0.01 0.011 0.011 2.85 8.6 20.3

0.0015 7.47 1.02 2.38 10.9 3.03 0.275 6.73 1.33 0.209 0.095 0.094 0.0077 0.78 2.68 1.02 0.56 0.7 0.01 0.011 0.011 2.89 8.6 20.3

0.0014 7.21 0.99 2.23 10.9 2.98 0.275 6.48 1.29 0.198 0.092 0.089 0.0077 0.78 2.51 0.99 0.465 0.64 0.0099 0.011 0.011 2.8 8.39 19.98

MINING & OIL 0.0015 118,000,000 7.39 104,100 0.99 1,277,000 2.23 110,000 10.9 100 2.98 919,000 0.275 80,000 6.49 3,400 1.3 3,490,000 0.205 160,000 0.095 2,580,000 0.094 6,440,000 0.0077 5,000,000 0.78 1,000 2.68 7,066,000 1.02 5,000 0.48 1,520,000 0.68 135,000 0.0099 284,600,000 0.011 2,500,000 0.011 15,600,000 2.89 473,000 8.5 227,500 20.3 548,000

175,500 758,001 1,270,440 251,570 1,090 2,764,150 22,000 22,370 4,540,850 32,810 238,520 580,540 38,500 780 18,279,490 5,010 787,550 87,820 2,845,890 27,500 171,600 1,345,610 1,918,401 11,012,821

-139,461 -4,278,270 135,500 -4,237,600 22,000 -17,100 -582,655 -122,656

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

15.1 500 99.5 101.1 107.8 5.23 987 99 100.2 1,050 1,062 101.5 109.1 1,031 1,005 77.5 75.1 76.7 75.3 75.1 75.8

15.1 505 99.5 101.1 107.8 5.23 990 99 100.2 1,050 1,070 102.3 109.2 1,054 1,005 77.5 75.1 77 75.3 75.1 75.8

14.54 500 99.5 101.1 107.8 5.2 987 99 100 1,050 1,062 101.5 109.1 1,031 1,005 77.5 75 76.7 75.3 75.05 75.2

PREFERRED 14.74 353,800 505 2,060 99.5 100 101.1 930 107.8 2,100 5.2 504,100 990 1,500 99 30 100 37,390 1,050 15,000 1,070 3,505 102.3 5,860 109.2 650 1,054 5,450 1,005 50 77.5 23,670 75.05 53,000 77 19,000 75.3 1,400 75.05 6,700 75.25 27,560

5,237,404 1,030,300 9,950 94,023 226,380 2,621,740 1,482,970 2,970 3,739,600 15,750,000 3,726,310 599,430 70,920 5,716,350 50,250 1,834,425 3,976,516.50 1,459,075 105,420 503,095 2,088,401

-3,332,676 -2,613,420 -

LR WARRANT

1.05

1.13

1.05

WARRANTS 1.13 19,000

20,270

MS 12,575,640 46,180 32,694 41,500 692,850 492,622,505 484,610 1,449,410 1,138,550 9,480 441,220 3,650 4,445,291 6,783,074 62,400 6,847,000 224,900 62,420,240 2,330,340 2,885,760 27,900 908,350 11,468,000 301,980 12,820

22,675 -41,500 129,096,995 448,000 -9,900 -4,425,500 1,793,778 -3,583,040 -20,064,220 -104,500 44,150 -2,793,120 -2,080 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

3.63 9.75 0.8

3.64 10.42 0.81

3.35 9.7 0.79

FIRST METRO ETF

112

112

109.8

Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,402,977

INDUSTRIAL

123,672,769

HOLDING FIRMS

78,508,656

PROPERTY

74,391,900

SERVICES

552,411,181

MINING & OIL

450,841,539

GRAND TOTAL

1,297,175,069

3.39 10.4 0.79

SME

-

509,000 849,300 536,000

1,814,460 8,705,433 425,580

1,240,230 -14,354 -

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 111.2 50,110

5,557,751

79,980

VALUE 1,758.94 (up) 5.07 327,493,698.65 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 9,217,69 (up) 21.89 889,500,100.82 HOLDING FIRMS 7,112.99 (up) 3.48 1,118,584,179.84 PROPERTY 4,054.76 (up) 12.44 1,477.51 (down) 7.76 1,207,456,274.13 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,215.93 (up) 84.41 875,006,575.9064 PSEI 7,439.40 (up) 8.54 47,184,475.65 All Shares Index 4,390.05 (up) 6.84 4,481,732,692.65 Gainers: 91; Losers: 89; Unchanged: 55; Total: 235

First Gen’s board okays increase in capital stock

By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. said Tuesday it approved the increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to P13.2 billion from P11.6 billion to raise financing for its projects and settle its debt.

First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the increase in capital stock would be made through the creation of 160 million Series I preferred shares with a par value of P1 apiece.

The shares will entitle the buyers to cumulative dividends which are nonvoting, non-participating and redeemable at the option of the corporation The dividend rate will be determined by the board of directors.

“The amendment to increase the authorized capital stock will give the corporation increased financial flexibility to raise cash for its various projects and/ or to pay debt,” First Gen said.

It said the move will be submitted for stockholders’ approval during the May 13, 2020 annual general meeting.

The board also approved the sale by First Gen of its entire stake in FGEN San Isidro Hydro Power Corp. to wholly-owned subsidiary FG Mindanao Renewables Corp.

This will result in San Isidro Hydro Power being a 100-percent direct subsidiary of FG Mindanao First Gen said the transaction would make San Isidro a 100-percent direct subsidiary of FGMR, which has a hydropower service contract with the Energy Department for a proposed hydroelectric project in Mindanao.

“The restructuring will allow First Gen Mindanao Hydro Power Corp. to request the DOE for the assignment of the HSC to San Isidro, which will be its 100 percent indirect subsidiary,” it said.

San Isidro Hydro Power is a direct subsidiary of the First Gen and is not operational at the moment.

First Gen is pursuing hydroelectric projects in Nueva Ecija, Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte provinces.

First Gen is the largest company in the country that provides clean and renewable power. Its portfolio of clean energy power plants run on natural gas, geothermal, wind and solar with a combined capacity of 3,492 MW as of end2019.

NLEX upgrades lights and signs at expressways

By Darwin G. Amojelar NLEX Corp. said Tuesday it is upgrading the roadway lights and signs at North Luzon Expressway and SubicClark Tarlac Expressway to ensure better service for motorists.

“With over 1,000 brighter lights and more than 600 new signs for installation, we are aiming to clearly, directly, and safely guide motorists to their destinations,” said NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista.

“These continuing enhancement efforts also stemmed from the suggestions of our customers through various touchpoints such as stakeholder consultations, dialogues, fora, surveys, and social media,” he said.

Covering both the northbound and southbound directions of NLEX-SCTEX, the signage project involves the replacement of old and installation of additional road signs for improved visual navigation.

The signs were also upgraded to go beyond the standards by increasing the font and sign sizes and increasing reflectivity to remain highly visible during nighttime. Target completion of the project is May 2020.

NLEX Corp. is set to complete this month the replacement of 1,078 interchange and median LED lighting from NLEX Balintawak to Tabang.

Old lights in the expressway section would be replaced as their brightness had reduced over time. The tollway company also heightened the illumination or brightness level of the new lights to 20 lux from the previous 12 lux to help drivers become more aware of their surroundings.

“NLEX Corp. recognizes the importance of providing adequate lighting and appropriate road signs for safe and efficient expressway travel of our motorists,” Bautista said.

NLEX spans 95 kilometers, or 527lane kilometers, and serves an average of more than 250,000 vehicles a day. It is the main infrastructure backbone that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon.

World

B3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘500,000 insect species facing extinction’ P ARIS―Half of the one million animal and plant species on Earth facing extinction are insects, and their disappearance could be catastrophic for humankind, scientists have said in a “warning to humanity”.

“The current insect extinction crisis is deeply worrying,” said Pedro Cardoso, a biologist at the Finnish Museum of Natural History and lead author of a review study published Monday.

“Yet, what we know is only the tip of the iceberg,” he told AFP. The disappearance of bugs that fly,

crawl, burrow, jump and walk on water is part of a gathering mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years.

The last one was 66 million years ago, when an errant space rock wiped out land-based dinosaurs and most other life forms.

This time we are to blame.

“Human activity is responsible for almost all insect population declines and extinctions,” Cardoso told AFP. The main drivers are dwindling and degraded habitat, followed by pollutants―especially insecticides―and invasive species.

Over-exploitation―more than 2,000 species of insects are part of the human diet―and climate change are also taking a toll.

The decline of butterflies, beetles,

ants, bees, wasps, flies, crickets and dragonflies has consequences far beyond their own demise.

“With insect extinction, we lose much more than species,” Cardoso said.

“Many insect species are vital providers of services that are irreplaceable,” including pollination, nutrient cycling and pest control.

These “ecosystem services” are worth $57 billion (52 billion euros) a year in the United States alone, earlier research has found.

Globally, crops that require insect pollination have an economic value of at least $235-577 billion annually, according to the UN biodiversity science panel, known as IPBES. Many animals rely on abundant insects to survive.

A sharp drop in bird numbers across

Europe and the United States, for example, has been linked to the collapse of insect populations decimated by pesticide use.

Scientists estimate the number of insect species at about 5.5 million. Only a fifth of them have been identified and named.

“The number of threatened and extinct insect species is woefully underestimated because so many are rare or undescribed,” Cardoso said.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has evaluated only some 8,400 species of insects out of one million known to exist.

Five to 10 percent of all insect species have died out since the industrial era kicked into high gear some 200 years

Manila

Standard

Nm = the Newcastle index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the Newcastle index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

TODAY Republic of the Philippines

OSCAR PARTY. Renee

Zellweger attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California.

AFP

ago.

Half of indigenous species of plants and vertebrates are found exclusively in some three dozen biodiversity “hot spots” that cover on 2.5 percent of Earth surface.

“These hot spots likely harbor a similar percentage of endemic insect species,” said the study titled “Scientists’ warning to humanity on insect extinctions,” published in Conservation Biology.

A quarter century ago conservation scientists issued a “Warning to Humanity” about the collapse of Nature.

In 2017, they issued a second warning, signed by 15,000 scientists.

The new study, titled “Scientists’ warning to humanity on insect extinctions”, was published in the journal Conservation Biology. AFP

ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

JPUm= the JPU reference coal index (USD/MT) published on the 25th of the calendar month; provided that if such day falls on a non-Business Day, the JPU ref erence coal index on the immediately preceding Business Day shall be used

IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION THE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND AP RENEW ABLES, INC. (For MAKBAN B), WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

FXm = the average of the daily PHP/USD exchange rate for the last three calendar months prior to the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared, as published in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website Operation and Maintenance Rate (OM) = PhP 0.8121/ kWh REVWESM = WESM Revenue attributable to the kWh dispatchfor RPS

ERC CASE NO. 2019-101 RC NATIONAL CORPORATION OF PHILIPPINES AND AP RENEWABLES, INC., Applicants. x ---------------------------------------------------------- x

13.

Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery to provide the procured AS.

14.

The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Ancillary Service

Indicative Rate Impact Php/kWmonth

PhP/kWh equivalent

Reactive Power Support-Lagging (Makban B)

0.8170

0.0015

Reactive Power Support-Leading (Makban B)

0.0511

0.0001

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 27 December 2019, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) filed an Application, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) for Makban B, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation is attached as Annex “C” .

The pertinent provisions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: NATURE OF THE CASE 1.

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) between the NGCP and APRI dated 18 November 2019 pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (ASCRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority.”

15.

Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

16.

The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence immediately upon the effectivity of the provisional approval (“PA”), or in the absence thereof, the final approval (“FA”) of the instant Application. In the event that the PA or FA, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties.

17.

Attached are copies of relevant documents proving APRI’s due registration as a generation company, the Certificate of Compliance of the Generation Facility issued by the Honorable Commission, APRI’s audited financial statements, and other documents, as follows:

THE PARTIES 2.

3.

General: Don’t blame army for Thai soldier’s rampage BANGKOK―An emotional Thai army chief on Tuesday urged a nation in mourning over a mass shooting “not to blame the army” after a soldier gunned down at least 29 people in a rampage linked to a debt dispute with a senior officer.

General Apirat Kongsompong, an arch-royalist more commonly prone to rants against pro-democracy figures, broke down in tears as he apologized during a televised press conference on behalf of the army to the victims of the shooting.

The gunman―Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma-was shot dead by a commando unit Sunday morning, ending a 17-hour rampage that left 29 dead and scores

more wounded.

The Thai army has been at pains to portray him as a rogue soldier rather than a product of the army system.

Apirat said he would not stand down from his post in charge of an army which has seeped into all aspects of Thai life, from politics and business to conscription, with a mega-billion budget that has surged since the last coup in 2014.

“The army is a huge organization comprising of hundreds of thousands staff... I cannot focus on every subordinate,” he said.

“There are people who criticize the army, I urge them not to blame the army... because the army is a sacred organization,” adding “blame me―General Apirat.” AFP

IN BRIEF Suspended for cutting hair of students DHAKA―Bangladeshi authorities have suspended a high school headmaster who cut the hair of scores of students in an effort to discipline them, sparking protests in a western rural town, officials said Monday.

Sekandar Ali, headmaster of Joari High School in Baraigram town, started cutting the boys’ hair with barber’s scissors on Sunday afternoon, creating panic among the students, local police chief Dilip Kumar Das said.

“He randomly ran his scissors on their scalps. He cut hair of around 50 students. Several students said they were injured during the heated moment,” he told AFP. The 60-year-old teacher had an “old-school mentality” and wanted to punish the students for keeping undisciplined “long hair”, the police chief added.

The incident triggered protests in the town. Hundreds of students, parents and locals gathered on the school field to angrily demand action against the headmaster.

He was suspended after the students lodged a formal complaint with the town’s government administrator.

Administrator Anwar Parvez said a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

Physical punishment including caning, squatting, and frog-marching is nothing new to primary and high school students in the conservative nation of 168 million people. AFP

Rally on anniversary of shah’s ouster TEHRAN―Thousands of Iranians massed on Tuesday for commemorations marking 41 years since the Islamic Revolution, in a show of unity at a time of heightened tensions with the United States.

Waving flags of Iran and holding portraits of the founder of the Islamic republic, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, they converged on Tehran’s Azadi Square despite chilly temperatures.

“Death to America” and “We will resist until the end,” read some of the banners carried by those in the crowd.

“Iran is looking forward to creating another epic,” read the news ticker on state television, which called for a massive turnout.

The celebrations mark the day that Shiite cleric Khomeini returned from exile and ousted the shah’s last government.

The state has appealed for a strong turnout as a show of solidarity after a year in which Iran has been shaken by protests and military tensions with the United States.

“Securing our country and our region depends on our unity, and participation in this rally is a symbol of this unity,” Hadi Khamenei, brother of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on state television. AFP

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through highvoltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Document

Applicant APRI is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal office at NAC Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel. It is the owner and operator of a Geothermal Power Plant (“Generation Facility”) located in Calauan, Laguna Province, which was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (“AS”) in the form of Reactive Power Support (“RPS”).

ANTECEDENT FACTS

4.

Annex

Summary of Existing Power Supply Agreements of Aboitiz Power Renewable Inc. (APRI)

“D”

Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles on Incorporation (Company Reg. NO. CS200715979)

“E”

2019 General Information Sheet

“F”

2018 Audited Financial Statements

“G”

Certificate of Compliance (COC No. 15-05-M-00008L)

“H”

WESM Registration Approval Form of APRI

“I”

APRI Acquisition Cost and Additional Investments in the Plant

“J”

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance2 , as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system.3

18.

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP, as System Operator, is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs to the ERC.4

It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPlRA). To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS.

19.

6.

AS as defined in Section 4(b) of the EPIRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

The current levels of available contracted AS in the Luzon Grid have not yet reached the desired levels necessary for the system security and reliability. Thus, Applicants executed the ASPA. A copy of the relevant actual data showing the RPS Simulation for APRI MAKBAN is attached as Annex “K”, respectively.

20.

As the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability, and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public.

The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth. The importance of AS, from APRI to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Luzon Grid cannot be overemphasized.

21.

Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Luzon Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is attached as Annex “L”.

7.

8.

9.

10.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC. Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on 25 June, 2 July and 9 July 2018, published in the Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer5 a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services. Upon receipt of the intention from APRI to provide RPS, NGCP commenced negotiation for the execution of an ASPA. NGCP agreed to procure and APRI agreed to supply RPS under a non-firm arrangement. A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement for AP Renewables Inc. dated 18 November 2019 is attached as Annex “A”.

During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the Generation Facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing RPS. A copy of NGCP Accreditation Certificate No. 2019-L022 dated 1 August 2019 is attached as Annex “B”.

NON-FIRM CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION 11.

Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, APRI shall provide NGCP with the following AS as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA: Non-Firm Contracted Capacity: Reactive Power Support (RPS) Available capacity of Reactive Power outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factor, as provided in Schedule 6.

Note that the nomination and schedule shall be based on the latest AS Accreditation Certificate.

12.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

The Applicable Rates under the ASPA as provided in Schedule 3 are as follows, to wit:

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: a) b)

On 17 January 2020, APRI filed a Motion to Set Venue for Hearing (Motion), praying that the hearing be set at the ERC Main Office considering that the location of Makban B, along with other potential venues for hearing in Batangas, where the hearing is to be held, is still at risk due to the unpredictability of the possible explosion of the Taal Volcano.

The Commission granted the said Motion pursuant to the Order dated 21 January 2020.

Likewise, the Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 12 March 2020 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

Payment of Cost of Incidental Energy (IE) for RPS Total Payment = kVAR Payment + Energy Payment

Real Time Incidental kVARh Utilization while providing energy. This shall be paid based on the total recorded kVARh delivered/absorbed beyond 0.85 power factor lagging or 0.9 power factor leading from the time when the dispatch of RPS was instructed. The compensable kVARh shall be paid at:

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

Incidental kVARh Rate: Php 4.00/ kVARh Compensable kVARh = Actual kVARh - Base kVARh Where: Actual kVARh = actual reactive power provided within each interval Base kVARh = corresponding kVARh at 0.85 power factor lagging or 0.9 power factor leading, for the unit’s MW loading. For clarity, the MW loading is the unit’s Pmin, or RTD schedule, whichever is greater.

B. Energy Payment IERPS = [G x (Fuel + O&M) ] - REVWESM

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA. Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

Payments to the AS provider shall have the following components, depending on the way the RPS was scheduled and utilized by the System Operator:

A. kVAR Payment = Incidental kVARh Rate x Compensable kVARh

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 18 November 2019; and

1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES,, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of January 2020 in Pasig City.

Where:

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Commissioner

G = summation of energy dispatched to produce the scheduled kVAR less the energy for the BCQ 1 2 3 4 5

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes; Section 9 (c) and in relation to RA No. 9511; Section 9 (d); Section 6.3.1.2; Recently, NGCP published Notices of Invitation on 07, 14, 21 and 28 October 2019 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer; and on 21 & 28 October, 4 & 11 November 2019 in the Manila Times.

(MS-FEB. 12 & 19, 2020)

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

B4

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Makati closes 2 sex traffic dens

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government has ordered the closure of two more establishments engaged in sex trafficking foreign women.

The city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office closed down 88 Hotel and Master Han Reflexology Spa in Barangay Poblacion last Friday.

According to BPLO, both establishments were being used as prostitution dens.

Police raided the establishments last week after receiving a tip from an informant that the places were allegedly being used for illegal activities.

Rescued during the police operations were 18 Chinese women, one Korean, one Vietnamese, and 11 Filipina massage therapists.

The latest operation brings to more than 10 the number of establishments that were raided and ordered closed on charges of sex trafficking and operating without business permits.

The authorities recently padlocked Moon of Paris KTV, Andy T. Cafe, and Azito Lounge, three establishments occupying different floors of a building at 7373 Bakawan Street in Barangay San Antonio, and arrested a total of 112 individuals, including 75 Filipino KTV workers.

Police received a tip alleging human trafficking operations in these establishments.

The city government also padlocked a hotel in Barangay Pio del Pilar after authorities discovered that the establishment engaged in sex trafficking foreign women.

On orders of Mayor Abigail Binay, BPLO men closed down Golden Dragon Star Premium Hotel for violating Republic Act No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 and Section 4A of the Revised Makati Revenue Code or operating without a business permit.

Police raided the establishment and arrested three Chinese national— Kevin Sy, 25; Xiao Lo, 23; and Tong Po, 25.

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —The Land Transportation Franchising and Regualtory Board and a travelers cooperative recently launched the first E-Jeeps in Cagayan Valley.

The 15 Solar E-Jeeps are owned and operated by the First Novo Vizcayano Travelers Transport Cooperative, which will cater to commuters from Solano to Bayombong towns and vice versa.

LTFRB Regional Director Edward Cabase said the E-Jeeps, which were launched in Solano, are the first of its kind in the region.

Cabase said the E-Jeeps are part of the national government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Designed by Star 8 Green Technology, the 23-passenger-seating E-Jeeps also offer free Wi-Fi connection, charging for cellphones and small gadgets, TV monitor, closed-circuit television camera, and small electric fans for the passengers.

“Passengers will have ease in paying their fare through a card, which can provide discounts for students and senior citizens,” Cabase explained.

As part of its launching, the EJeeps offered free rides from February 7 to 9 among commuters from Bayombong and Solano towns.

Drivers of the E-Jeeps are only allowed to speed up to 60 kilometers per hour to avoid untoward accidents.

The launching of the E-Jeeps was attended by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, Vice Governor Jose Tam-an Jr. and local officials of Solano headed by Mayor Eufemia Dacayo.

P1.2-b Amulung Cagayan bridge breaks ground

By Jessica M. Bacud

The new E-Jeeps to be used by the First Novo Vizcayano Travelers Transport Cooperative (top) are approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, as witnessed by Nueva Vizcaya officials (above) led by Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, who cut the ceremonial ribbon during the launching in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Ben Moses Ebreo

Daet receives first SM school building donation in 2020

SM Foundation executive director Linda Atayde joins some Mantagbac Elementary School students in front of the newly turned over SM school building. Pupils also gather around a teacher as they sample their new Literacy Corner (inset).

STUDENTS and teachers of Mantagbac Elementary School in Daet, Camarines Norte were all smiles as they received the two-story, fourclassroom school building from SM Prime, through SM Foundation last Jan. 31.

As a strategy, the spaces in this building were maximized by integrating a clinic and guidance office as well as an area for literacy and numeracy corner.

These are on top of the regular features and equipment of an SM school building―student armchairs (in which, some are designed for lefthanded students), teacher’s tables and chairs, wall fans, wall clocks, washrooms, and panoramic concave blackboards in each classroom.

SMFI put up a handwashing facility to promote proper handwashing among the students as well as the school personnel. This strategy in-

tends to educate learners regarding the importance of proper hygiene in combating viruses and other sickness.

The foundaiton also installed an overhead water tank to ensure the school will have an adequate source of water.

Since 2002, SM Foundation is an active partner of the Department of Education (for its Adopt-a-School Program.

Present at the event were SM Prime Regional Operations Manager Marlo Niko Alvarez and SAVP-South Regions John Jason Terrenal; Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Maria Flora Pandes; MES Principal Eden Bugagao; Daet Vice Mayor Rosa Mia King and Municipal City Administrator Kristine de Luna; SMFI executive director Linda Atayde; and other representatives from SM, DepEd, and the local government unit.

ARC helps Taal evacuees to ‘drink positive’ THE province of Batangas has been under a state of calamity after the eruption of the famous Taal Volcano.

Thousands of people and animals have been displaced and evacuated following hazardously thick ashfall. Billions of pesos worth of damages have also been noted.

Despite this, the Filipino trait of providing assistance, of bayanihan, and being good neighbors has shone through, with groups small and large lending a helping hand.

ARC Refreshments Corp., makers of RC Cola, is one of those companies. Its immediate donation of a total of 1,900 cases or 22,800 bottles of beverages benefited the urgent needs of many evacuees in the Department of Science and Technology area in Tagaytay City, Batangas City Stadium, Bauan Technical High School, Alitagtag Police Station, and the St. Padre Pio Shrine in Sto. Tomas.

As the threat of Taal’s hazardous

LTFRB, co-op launch E-jeeps in N. Vizcaya

eruption looms and as many families try to recover, relief efforts made by generous ‘good neighbor’ companies like the ARC Refreshments Corporation continue to give sparks of hope that can best be summarized through their very own Alon’s tagline: drink positive!

The company’s latest donation drive was conducted on January 19, in collaboration with the Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon Batangas branch. Alongside ARC’s donation of 200 cases of Alon water and 200 cases of RC Cola were relief goods consisting of blankets, rice, canned goods, and hygiene kits.

A total of three trucks and four pickup vehicles were also lent by the company to deliver the relief goods to San Jose and San Luis, Batangas.

ARC general sales manager Jojo Esguerra expressed the company’s desire to bring tangible help, renewed hope, and much-needed inspiration through their donations.

Clareze Onda, a teacher in San Luis, Batangas who led the distribution of relief goods in San Luis, was happy to finally receive donations for the people temporarily residing in the evacuation center. Inset shows volunteers with all smiles as they load up trucks and pick-up vehicles, lent by ARC Refreshments Corp., showing the spirit of Filipino ‘bayanihan’ shines through.

TUGUEGARAO—Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba, 3rd District Rep. Joseph L. Lara, DPWH Regional Director II Director Loreta M. Malaluan, Amulung Mayor Elpidio R. Rendon and local officials recently led the groundbreaking of the P1.2-billion Amulung bridge at barangay Anguiray, Amulung town in this province.

Lara said the groundbreaking will immediately start the three-year contract of the bridge that will connect the eastern and western barangays in the locality.

“This is now the project I had vowed to be undertaken for you my dear Amulungeños, which I have perceived is deemed necessary for the villagers to be convenient in transporting their goods and be connected,” the lawmaker said.

About P135 million has been allocated for phase 1, the construction of a 1-kilometer bridge from Barangay Anquiray in the east toward barangay Tana in the west, Lara said.

“This will not end here. I am finding ways in Congress for more projects in the province like the Tuguegarao-Solana Bridge,” he added.

Governor Mamba said it has been “decades since Cagayan has received support such as this from the national government because of the local leaders of the province before who did not mind at all the needs of the Cagayanos.”

Clark Freeport posts 210 events in 2019 CLARK Freeport continues to be one of the most preferred destinations in the country for hosting various events, as it chalked up a huge number of visitors, tourists and other guests last year.

A report by Tourism and Promotions Division of Clark Development Corp. showed that a total of 210 various events took place here last year, generating 339,592 tourists and guests who trooped to the Freeport.

The events were mostly sports-related activities―marathons, duathlons, triathlons, ball games such as football, softball, and baseball, among others.

As reflected in the same report, the number of events in 2019 surpassed the 2018 record of 200 events in the Freeport. The opening of the Mangan Tamu Food Street here brought in 48,700 tourists and guests out of the overall generated volume of tourists last year.

Meanwhile, the recorded figure does not yet include those who visited the Freeport during the staging of the 30th Southeast Asian Games here.

Some of the areas in the Freeport became the official venues of the various games such as Rugby 7s and Archery at the Clark Parade Grounds.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

C1

Queen of hearts (day) It’s a match!

By Bernadette Lunas

W

For the woman who wants to keep it casual but still classy—and tad bit flirty— the Bardot top and pants coordinates in dusty pink hit the mark. Pair them with a pair of wedge sandals and Lifelong Heart necklace and ring made of mixed metal finish.

Co-ords from Bardot; necklace and ring from Swarovski

HEN love fills your heart, you only need a few things to truly sparkle. Look chic in the right outfit and pieces of jewelry you can wear on Valentine’s Day and days after.

Like a fine wine

Off to somewhere fancy where gourmet food and fine wines are served?

Turn heads in this cowl drape satin slip gown from Halston Heritage in deep purple color aptly named Syrah. The side slit adds allure without being too frisky.

Finish off the elegance with a pair of rose gold tone-plated drop earrings from Swarovski’s Lifelong Heart collection and Charriol’s Celtica Heart Lady watch that features 37 mm yellow gold-plated steel case and white ceramic inserts, and six of the brand’s signature steel cables.

Dress from Halston Heritage; earrings from Swarovski; watch from Charriol

Romance in ruffles

The softness of ruffles and the romantic appeal of one-shoulder neckline, topped off with watercolorlike details, make this Marchesa Notte tea-length gown the perfect Valentine’s Day dress—regardless of whether you have a date or otherwise. A pair of ankle-strap heels, and a pair of heart shaped Bella earrings and Infinity bangle in rose gold complete the look.

Dress from Marchesa Notte; earrings and bangles from Swarovski

Flared feelings

You value comfort without compromising on style. Here’s a lightweight dress made of structured fabric from Keepsake the Label.

The Guardian midi dress in sky blue stripes features fit and flare silhouette with detachable tie at the waist and trim detail. Add a bit of fun sparkle courtesy of a pair of 18K gold with diamond pave small hoop earrings and bracelets filled with charms that symbolize love.

Dress from Keepsake the Label; earrings from John Hardy; bracelets from Tod’s

Seeing

red

Apollo crepe jumpsuit

Miss Independent

She can stand on her own and wear blouse and jeans with confidence and style. This Pinterest-worthy ensemble composed of confetti flowers silk off-the-shoulder top from Nicole Miller, the no-nonsense Montblanc Bohème Full Calendar timepiece, and Roberto Coin princess flower open diamond drop earrings in 18K white gold, is one of her favorites—Valentine’s Day or not.

Top from Nicole Miller; watch from Montblanc; earrings from Roberto Coin

Everdin full needle knit dress

ROSES are red, and so are these outfits.

Singaporean label In Good Company brings together its striking red dresses, tops, and jumpsuits in its Capsule 18.

Scarlet and rouge and magenta are the stars in this lineup of contemporary womenswear composed of knit dresses with relaxed yet f lattering fit, cotton jersey dresses with structured geometric silhouette, bell hem dress made from premium triacetate, and cotton dresses with f luid drapes.

Also available in red are sleek jumpsuits, versatile tops and trousers, and more.

In Good Company’s Philippine outlets are located at SM Makati, SM Aura Premier, and Power Plant Mall.

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Life

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Kathryn Bernardo and Gabbi Garcia’s

G

casual Valentine’s Day looks

OT something romantic planned on Valentine’s Day? But not a huge fan of uncomfortable outfit of tight clothes and high heels and anything with too much frills?

Movie and dinner date

Kathryn Bernardo and Gabbi Garcia know the answer: comfortable footwear.

Whether it’s for movie and dinner date, Valentine’s Day at a theme park, or just a day of walking in parks and museums, a comfortable—but take note, stylish—footwear can take you anywhere. After all, no one wants a date who gets cranky a few hours after walking in those sky-high heels.

Nothing says Valentine’s Day more than a popping red sneakers. Wear an oversized jacket or parka in moss green like Kathryn to keep you warm when the cinema gets cold or a red jacket over white shirt and shorts like Gabbi.

In Kath and Gabbi: Keds Champion in red

Kath and Gabbi are movie date-ready.

Pleated skirt and platform sneakers for a day of looking at art.

Fresh and fun outfit for a sunny brunch date.

A day in the museum

Whether it’s an art, history, or a quirky museum, a shirt and pleated skirt ensemble will always be appropriate. It also allows you to move freely from one gallery to another. Heels go well with skirts, right? Put a little spin to the usual date night look by opting for a pair of sneakers that offers height. These platform kicks feature an additional 1.5 inches elevation.

In Gabbi: Keds Triple Up in black

Two for one

Salvatore Ferragamo’s Valentine’s Day mini-capsule features the label’s Fiocco Vara and Gancini.

TWO icons, Fiocco Vara and Gancini, come together in Salvatore Ferragamo range of accessories, jewelry, and leather goods dedicated to Valentine’s Day. Seductive shades of passionate red, playful pink, and eternally elegant black color a mini-capsule with contemporary appeal and a romantic feel that makes anyone “fall in love with Ferragamo.”

For women, the Vara Rainbow mini bag with front flap is available in red and pink. Shades of coral red, black, or bone for the sandal, in a chunky heel version, features the new Vara bow whose color and leather match the upper.

The colorful silk ribbons are embellished with a small gold-plated jewel, to be worn as a bracelet or choker. The new earrings and necklaces with pendants are exquisite and minimal, with the Gancini symbol embellished with elegant charms in the shape of a heart, a star, a diamanté version, and a pearl.

Leather is used instead for the slim bangle, whose enameled metal buckle replicates the Vara bow.

For men, accessories continue the red and black theme: the calfskin leather wallet has a sophisticated three-dimensional texture and bears the iconic Gancini logo. The same theme is used again for the casual belts with double

Take her to brunch

Here’s a brunch date style suggestion: short dress with light prints (like the one Kathryn’s wearing) or cute blouse and boyfriend jeans paired with retro-looking kicks. This pair features a look that’s borrowed from the boys but tailor-made for the women, hence, an ideal footwear in contrast with cute dress, while complementary to the boyish boyfriend jeans.

In Kath: Crew Kick 75

THE couple that gets pampered together, stays forever—or at least become much closer. For a different kind of Valentine’s Day gift or date idea, a wellness center offers packages that include relaxing and beautifying treatments.

Located in Baclaran and Antipolo, Hayfa Skin and Body Center offers three carefully curated bundles: Couple Package A (P1,400) consists of Hayfa’s signature facial with free Photo Dynamic Therapy that’s both an anti-aging regimen as well as acne treatment. This painless, relaxing, noninvasive skin care treatment has multiple benefits; particularly in stimulating collagen production and treating mild to moderate acne problems.

Couple Package B (P1,400), on the other hand, is a body scrub with back massage combination. Body scrubs remove dead skin cells from the body’s surface, as it clears blemishes and reduce the traces of stress on the skin. The free back massage that follows will help in the body’s blood circulation as it relieves the soreness in the back area.

Couple Package C (P1,000) comes with manicure and pedicure with Jelly Foot Spa and free foot massage. The foot spa detoxifies as it softens and

After-work date

February 14 is a Friday, and many couples will likely celebrate after office hours. Hit two birds with one ensemble by pairing a pastel colored blazer with a dress. Keep it casual but still office-casual-Friday appropriate by opting for a pair of chunky white sneakers. If not, just simply slip them on before you clock out.

In Kath: K-89

Couple’s pamper packages Skin and body wellness center Hayfa offers three packages for couples this February.

cleanses the skin prior to the manicure and pedicure. The highlight of this fun foot treatment is the gelatin-like foot bath that uses the Jelly Pedi which helps shed off dead skin as well as hydrate dry skin. The free foot massage ensures proper circulation in the lower extremi-

Vara Rainbow mini bag with front flap

Gancini buckle.

Eyewear, made with sophisticated material combination of leather and metal, completes the range.

Salvatore Ferragamo is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Makati, and Solaire Resort and Casino.

Casual Friday-appropriate in dress, blazer, and sneakers combination.

The Couple Package B consists of body scrub and back massage.

ties, while soothing away aches in the joints and limbs.

For appointments and inquiries, call (02) 8656-3577 or 0998-8553116 for the Antipolo branch, or (02) 8668-9614 or 0927-1780112 for the Parañaque clinic.

Entertainment

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

You are in for a nostalgic experience ‘Tabing Ilog’ returns as a live stage musical

ABING Ilog, the iconic Kapamiya TV series that gave Filipinos the ultimate ‘90s teen barkada is returning, but this time as a live stage musical, starting March 2020.

The show that introduced us to John Lloyd Cruz, Jodi Sta. Maria, Paula Paralejo, Paolo Contis, Desiree Del Valle, Patrick Garcia, Baron Geisler, and Kaye Abad was not just another a teen TV show. Every Sunday afternoon, viewers saw the trials and triumphs of eight close friends as they navigated their way through their relationships, families, and the challenges of growing up.

“What set Tabing Ilog apart was that it tackled the realities of teenagers growing up at the time,” said Raymund Dizon, business unit head of Star Hunt and executive producer of the original series. The show did not shy away from topics like teenage pregnancies, premarital sex, bitter arguments with parents, alcoholism—themes that are still very relevant today.

“The challenge now is that the teenagers have evolved,” Dizon says. “How do we know better the teens of today?

What are their challenges, their aspirations? When we revive the show, we wanted to make sure that it’s relevant to both the youth and the people who grew up with the original show.”

’Tabing Ilog,’ a teen drama series that was aired on ABS-CBN between 1999 and 2003, returns a stage musical featuring new breed of talented cast members.

The musical will star a talented mix hashi, Abi Kassem and theater ac- Quizon, Hanie Jarar, and theater acof Star Hunt artists and theater actors, tress Gab Pangilinan, who will be tor Ian Pangilinan, who will take including rising stars Kiara Taka- alternating as Eds delos Santos; Sky turns playing Rovic Mercado; Batit

Kiara Takashi and Abi Kassem are set to play Eds

Very Wang...

From C4

more than 200 costumes since she started cosplaying more than ten years ago.

“I want to inspire people with the costume I wear. I want them to know that they can portray any character they want. With cosplay, you can be creative and there’s no limit to what you can do when you want to express yourself in that manner,” she said.

During the Smart Skill Saya, which featured interactive booths and fun activities for fans, such as Virtual Reality games, a Cosplay competition, exciting challenges, and quizzes for a chance to win premium items, Myrtle shared her passion for cosplaying and gaming with event participants.

“It’s the most epic Mobile Legends event in the Philippines, Smart Siklab Saya is the biggest nationwide gathering and tournament for gamers and fans of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. And I’m happy to be here knowing that there are so many people who share the same passion,” she continued.

The event reinforced Smart’s longstanding efforts to support Filipino gamers by providing the best gaming events

Mike Enriquez...

From C4 A certified Kapuso through and through, Enriquez, who also serves as RGMA President, has been with the leading broadcast company since 1995. He only has kind words to say about the network that has been his home for more than two decades.

“I›m extremely grateful to GMA, for their trust in me for the past 25 years. Kaya sa mga susunod pang taon, asahan ninyong patuloy pa rin tayong maghahatid ng Serbisyong Totoo at mas paghuhusayan pa natin para sa ating mga Kapuso,” said Enriquez.

At present, Enriquez co-anchors GMA’s flagship primetime news program 24 Oras and hosts the investigative public affairs program Imbestigador. He is also seen daily on GMA News TV’s Dobol B Sa News TV. On radio, he banners Super Radyo DZBB’s Saksi sa Dobol B and Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide.

GMA Network, through its top management, expressed its gratitude and appreciation to Enriquez’ continued loyalty to his home network and his work, citing his unparalleled competence throughout the years.

“His loyalty to the network at ang loyalty ng GMA sa kanya are unquestionable. Not only that, Mike is already an institution at siya ay isa sa mga

The lead cast of ‘Tabing Ilog The Musical’

and fan experiences, powered by the country’s fastest LTE network, as certified by internet testing leader Ookla.

Prior to the first NCR leg held at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall, Smart Siklab Saya has gathered gamers in key cities including Bacolod, Olongapo, and Tuguegarao.

Hundreds of gamers and fans trooped to the first Smart Siklab Saya to celebrate the game and root for the best players in the metro. Using good draft picks and a dominant early game showing, Team “Work” finally edged out Team ‘Mahal Kita,’ 2-0, and emerged as the victor of the much-anticipated leg.

As second placer, Team ‘Mahal Kita’ took home P500,000, while third placer Team ‘Letmaku’ bagged P200,000.

Apart from the matches, Smart Siklab Saya gave fans opportunity to mingle with other famous streamers like Akosi Dogie, Chixmiss, Fhrea Jaimil, Inzaiplays, and Choox TV. The Mobile Legends Sibol team, the first Filipino gold medalists in SEA Games esports, also competed in an exhibition game.

For updates on Smart Siklab Saya and Smart’s Gigafied offers, follow Smart on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, visit www.smart.com.ph/siklabsaya. pinakadisenteng journalist at anchor na nakilala ko dito sa broadcasting [industry],” Atty. Gozon shared.

Likewise, Duavit emphasized Enriquez’ contribution to the Network. “We do not see life without Mike and we are grateful and happy that he sees it the same way. Kaya’t pagkakataon din ito na pasalamatan siya sa patuloy na pagtitiwala, patuloy na pakikiisa, at patuloy pang pagpapatibay ng ating samahan,” he mentioned.

Aside from his unrivaled expertise in news reporting and “Serbisyong Totoo”, Enriquez is known for his honest and straightforward commentaries on various socio-political issues. He is the first Filipino to win the Best Newscaster Award in the Asian Television Awards. He has also been recognized as a “Media Icon” at the first-ever Media Icon Awards organized by the Media Specialists Association of the Philippines (MSAP) held last Nov. 5.

The award recognized Enriquez’ invaluable contribution to Philippine media that paved the way for more Filipinos to appreciate news.

At the same time, he is also a recipient of the Media Icon Award during the Gawad Filipino Awards 2019 by EUROTV Philippines. Last Jan. 27, he was also named as the Most Outstanding Male News Anchor at the 3rd Gawad Lasallianeta organized by the De La Salle Araneta University.

Extra International...

From C4 Later, as he accepted the prize for best international feature, he said in English, eliciting laughs from the audience: “Yeah, I’m ready to drink tonight.”

Bong—who is known for his dark and genre-hopping thrillers—already had a series of critical and commercial hits behind him before Parasite and is one of South Korea’s best-known faces.

This latest triumph on Hollywood›s biggest night, a rarity for an Asian auteur filmmaker, should take him to new heights.

«He›s been an established director for close to 20 years and has made exceptional films,» Jason Bechervaise, a professor at Korea Soongsil Cyber University, told AFP. “He’s also very charming and sociable.

This has been a factor, I think, in how far the film has gone—having done hundreds of interviews, possibly more, and mingling with voters and the Hollywood elite.”

Artistic elite

Bong grew up in an elite artistic family in Seoul—his maternal grandfather

KathNiel...

From C4

Espiritu and Emjay Savilla who will alternate as Badong Magtibay.

Meanwhile, Jem Macatuno, Gian Wang, and Gabby Sarmiento will take on the role of James Collantes while Argel Saycon, Star Hunt alumni Ellyson de Dios, and theater actor Vino Malabot will play the role of Fonzy Ledesma.

From the all-girl Filipino idol group MNL48, Abby Trinidad, Belle Delos Reyes, and theater actress Mia Canton will alternate as George Fuentebella. Lou Yanong, Missy Quino, and theater actress Teetin Villanueva will play Corinne Ledesma. Shawntel Cruz, and theater actresses Krystal Kane and Justine Narciso will play Jerry Ricafort. Art Guma, Ian Hermogenes, and theater actor Franco Ramos will alternate as Ely. And playing Sammy Collantes are Brei Binuya from MNL48, Star Hunt and Theater actor Noel Comia, and Lie Reposposa.

Joining them to play multiple roles are theater and veteran film actors Jojit Lorenzo, Paolo O’hara, Agot Isidro, and Joann Co. Tabing Ilog: The Musical will run from March 7 to April 26 at the ABSCBN Dolphy Theater at the ABSCBN compound in Quezon City.

Tickets are priced P1000, P1200, P1500, and P2500, and are available online in KTX. The production is also open to showbuyers. Contact 0977 836 0315 for tickets and inquiries.

The artistic team of ‘Tabing Ilog The Musical’ led by Topper Fabregas (rightmost)

was a renowned novelist while his late father and all of his siblings are university professors in fields including fashion and fine art.

He studied sociology at the South’s prestigious Yonsei University and reportedly took part in street protests while enrolled there during the country’s prodemocracy movement in the 1980s.

Bong once told an interviewer he had been arrested for using petrol bombs.

He was among the first wave of South Korean filmmakers to blossom after the country’s full democratisation, which opened the door for a cultural renaissance.

His Memories of Murder—a 2003 feature film based on real-life serial killings that rattled the nation in the 1980s—was seen as a metaphor for a repressive society under military rule.

Bong›s 2006 monster blockbuster The Host portrayed an incompetent government left helpless in the wake of a disaster. In 2014, parallels were drawn between the film and the Sewol ferry sinking that killed 300, mostly schoolchildren.

His 2013 Snowpiercer depicted a dystopian future in which the last humans on Earth—who survived a failed attempt to stop global warming—travel endlessly MAYAKATHNIEL upon signing up to get an instant reward, apart from the many other cashback and discount perks they can get by being a PayMaya user.

In February alone, PayMaya users can get as much as P6,000 in cashback when they participate in the mobile wallet’s various promos for bills payment, buying load, paying for goods and services via QR, online shopping, and sending money, among many others.

on a train separated according to class, and the lower class revolts.

Tilda Swinton, who was in Snowpiercer, also starred in Bong’s Netflix-produced 2017 sci-fi action-adventure Okja about a country girl trying to save a geneticallyengineered beast from a greedy multinational firm.

Quentin Tarantino—whose Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood was nominated for multiple Oscars this year—once likened the South Korean to “Steven Spielberg in his prime”.

Political subtext

Throughout his career, Bong has often tackled dark and difficult subjects including violent crime, systematic oppression and the climate crisis.

He also has candidly spoken about dealing with severe anxiety, in a country where mental health has long been a taboo topic.

“All his films are sociology-in-motion, and all his films have a political subtext,” said Michael Hurt, a sociologist at the University of Seoul.

“They’re all deeply inoculated with socially critical, political thought, without being preachy or obvious about it. Few other directors can do this.” Claire Lee, AFP KFC, Robinson’s Department Store, Total Alabang and Valenzuela, and Toys ‘R Us, among many others.

Bringing back time and Set as a typical ‘90’s action movie complete with guns, goons, and even the convenience penultimate “Pinoy Kontrabida” in the But aside from getting monetary reform of Rez Cortez, the campaign video wards in the form of cashback every time features the two young celebrities using they pay, users are also able to make more the powers of PayMaya to tackle everyday time and experience greater convenience transactions that are typically paid with when they use PayMaya. cash, such as grocery shopWith PayMaya’s virtual ping, paying bills, buying card, for example, users can load, and online shopping, instantly gain access to a payamong many others. ment card which they can eas“We’re very excited to ily use for online shopping have KathNiel representand other digital payments for ing the ‘BalikBayad’ cama faster, more efficient paypaign, because just as these ment experience. two big celebrity icons have PayMaya also recently inmade a comeback for Paytroduced the ability to transMaya this year, our users fer money from users’ Paycan also expect something Maya account to other bank to come back–in the form accounts, eliminating the of cashback–every time need to wait in line at bank they use PayMaya instead branches in order to make a of cash,” said Mark Jason bank deposit.

Dee, Head of Growth and “PayMaya users can defiKathryn and Daniel pose with their fans during the PayMaya event Marketing of PayMaya. nitely look forward to even “PayMaya is a young and more features and services fun brand and we’re defithat will give them more conPayMaya has also expanded the list venient ways to pay as well as awesome renitely lucky to have collaborated with Kathryn and Daniel in this campaign, because of merchants and establishments under wards in the months to come,” Dee added. they represent the exciting and energetic its PayMaya Preferred program, which To know more about the BalikBayad lifestyles of most of our users,” Dee added. gives additional cashback to users who campaign and how you can get all of these Filipinos can get in on the most reward- scan to pay with PayMaya QR on top of exciting perks from PayMaya, visit www. ing mobile wallet experience by down- the regular cashback that they usually paymaya.com/balikbayad or follow @ loading the PayMaya app on their iOS or receive. Some of these new partners in- PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Instagram Android devices and using the code PAY- clude Landers Superstore, Mercury Drug, and Twitter.

Entertainment

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

C4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

Myrtle Sarrosa’s scented path

I

T’S just the start of the year but Myrtle Sarrosa’s plate is already full. And you bet, she’s only just warming up.

We met with the 25-year-old actress last month when she was introduced as the newest brand ambassador of Nouve Eau De Toilette fragrance collection.

Talking to the crowd present at the venue, she said, “Oh, what a great way to start the year.”

“You know, scents and perfumes make me feel dynamic. They set my mood, they make me feel confident, at the same time, they make me remember people. Yes, based on their scent,” Myrtle told Manila Standard during the open forum.

Her being particular to someone’s scent probably was the reason why Nouve PH by Phina Livewell Solutions, one of the fastest-growing personal care companies in the Philippines, tapped her to be the face for the brand. But we later knew, its really her personality that sealed the deal.

“I’ve been in the industry since 2012 and I›ve been so blessed to be trusted by different brands but this partnership with Nouve is very special to me. I am a fan of their scents and I am so ecstatic to share their line with everyone,” shared Myrtle on her newest endorsement.

Enjoying the various scents from Nouve, the former PBB Teen Big Winner also shared how the perfume jives with her everyday lifestyle.

“To me everyday is different. I enjoy creating different looks and styles all the time. Sometimes I wanna go out full glamourous. Sometimes I wanna just look really simple. Sometimes we want to explore a new and different look and that›s why I love the various scents of Nouve.

Y o u

Myrtle Sarrosa opens the year with a new endorsement.

Photo by Kate Adajar of Random Republika.

can have a different scent every day depending on your style, mood and catch people’s eye

with the perfect scent.”

With Nouve, Myrtle looks forward to an exciting 2020. After top-billing three movies last year, she will soon be busy with projects on the big and small screen.

“Last year, I was able to top bill three films in the box office. This year, I have a new set of movies and projects that are lined up that I still can’t disclose,” she revealed.

Gamer and cosplay queen

Myrtle is also busy with her other hobbies including cosplaying and gaming.

“When I am not on the film set or on stage performing, I cosplay and enjoy playing (video) games. I’m lucky to get the chance to play with friends and interact with people through my streams and through games,” she shared.

In an interview with Manila Standard during a separate event for Smart Communications (Smart Siklab Saya), she mentioned that she has collected

IN CHARACTER.

According to Myrtle, who has been into cosplay for a decade now, her costume as Alice is just one of 200 plus costumes she has in her closet.

Continued on C3

Mike Enriquez (center) with (from left) Senior Vice President for GMA News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores, GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, and Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong.

Mike Enriquez celebrates 25 years as loyal Kapuso GMA News pillar and multi-awarded news anchor and radio host Mike Enriquez marks his 25th year as a loyal Kapuso by renewing his contract with GMA Network on Feb. 6.

Present during the contract signing

Siklab Saya Manila is an open tournament that engaged hundreds of Mobile Legends: Bangbang players

were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, and Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

South Korea’s

boundary-pushing

satirist

SOUTH Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho has been on quite a wild ride this awards season. That trip reached its climax Sunday when he secured his country’s first-ever Oscars for Parasite.

The film, a vicious satire about the widening gap between rich and poor, took home Academy Awards

for best original screenplay and best international feature after winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, a Golden Globe and two Baftas.

“We never write to represent our countries,” said the 50-year-old Bong. “But this is (the) very first Oscar to South Korea. Thank you.”

L. Flores. Also in attendance were Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Jojo Aquio.

Continued on C3

KathNiel shares advantage of cashless payments

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were officially unveiled as the latest brand ambassadors for PayMaya’s ‘BalikBayad’ campaign, which encourages Filipinos to experience the most rewarding mobile wallet app.

AFTER more than a year of not being seen together on-screen, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla reunite for an action-packed project that sees them sharing the many perks and rewards of going cashless through PayMaya’s “BalikBayad” campaign.

Serving as a follow-up to PayMaya’s widely successful “Don’t Pay Cash. PayMaya!” campaign last year which gave birth to a catchy video and jingle set to the tune of the hit ‘90’s Eraserheads song “Ligaya,” the “BalikBayad” campaign sees Kathryn and Daniel in action-packed scenes teaming up to beat a common foe–cash.

Continued on C3

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has conquered Hollywood with “Parasite”

Continued on C3