Manila Standard - 2020 March 7 - Saturday

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NTC NO POWER TO GRANT ABS-CBN PROVISIONAL PERMIT—PALACE

Story on A2

PH reports first 2 local virus cases

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 26 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

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HE number of cases of novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) infections in the Philippines rose to five Friday after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed the first two local cases.

WHO’S THAT FLYING UP THERE?

Its carnival time at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, with at least 10 hot air balloons participating Friday in the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020, a threeday spectacle of hot air balloons, helicopters and air sport events, combined with aviation career seminars, fly markets, food booths and family entertainment, with giant balloons scattered (inset) in the partly cloudy sky.

JR Josue, Norman Cruz

In a media briefing, Duque said the fourth confirmed case is a 48-year-old male Filipino with travel history to Japan.

The patient returned to the Philippines on Feb. 25 and experienced chills and fever beginning March 3. He sought medical attention at a hospital and samples were collected for testing.

Results tested positive for COVID-19 on March 5. He is currently stable and admitted at the Research

Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Health chief said.

The fifth confirmed case, Duque said, is a 62-year-old male Filipino with known hypertension and diabetes mellitus, who experienced cough with phlegm on Feb. 25.

The patient sought medical help at a hospital in Metro Manila on March 1 and was admitted with severe pneumonia.

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WHO chides countries for not taking COVID seriously enough BEIJING―World health officials have warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough, as outbreaks surged across Europe and in the United States where medical workers sounded warnings over a “disturbing” lack of hospital preparedness.

Global markets tumbled again over concerns about the impact on the economy and as countries took more drastic steps to pre-

AMLA, Bank Secrecy Law for overhaul

vent contagion of a disease that has killed more than 3,300 people and infected nearly 100,000 in about 85 nations.

The coronavirus could wipe more than $200 billion off Asia Pacific economies this year, S&P Global ratings warned Friday, sending growth to its lowest level in more than a decade, as governments struggle to combat the disease.

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HEADS SUDDENLY BOWED.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, headed by Director Aaron Aquino, presents to media on Friday the seized 15 kilos of high grade shabu worth P102 million during a buy-bust operation in Cavite that resulted in the arrest of three persons authorities identified as Ronnie Menodiado, Victorio Najera and Annie Rose Lingua during a news conference at the PDEA Office in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

By Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Admin rated ‘excellent’ in performance

THE Finance Department will work closely with Congress to speed up the approval of measures that would amend and plug the loopholes in the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Bank Secrecy Law, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Friday.

Dominguez said the DOF and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas have been jointly pushing for these amendments to strengthen the country’s financial system, which is plagued with loopholes that allow travelers to bring unrestricted amounts of foreign currencies into the country, possibly to launder them here, or worse, to fund international criminal syndicates or terrorist networks.

“It is also very likely that the bulk foreign currencies are coming through our financial system through other

By MJ Blancaflor THE Duterte administration, with only 27 months before it bows out after a six-year term, has been given an “excellent” rating by the Social Weather Stations in its poll last December released only this week.

The +73 rating of the administration, which matched the record-high set in June 2019, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Friday

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More Sino militia boats in Pag-Asa

DOH dance on TikTok aids disease fight AS PART of its campaign to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Department of Health opened an account on Chineseowned video-sharing platform Next page

MORE Chinese militia boats have been deployed near Pag-Asa Island in the West Philippine Sea in the first two months this year, this time escorted by Chinese government ships, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said in a report published late Thursday.

The US-based think tank said the Philippine military monitored 136 unique Chinese vessels near the island, also called Thitu, in January and February.

“A February 13 image from Maxar captured nearly 40 militia ships, this time accompanied by the Xiang Yang Hong 9-class China Coast Guard 5401,” AMTI said.

It said the same image also showed four stationary vessels, with three leashed together at the western edge of the lagoon.

“The ships, which do not appear to be trawlers like most others in the flotilla, arrived in this position by January 16 and did not leave until at least February 25,” AMTI said.

“This appears to be the first time that individual vessels have stayed in one place for so Next page An aerial image released by US-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative shows Chinese militia boats (encircled) massing near Pag-Asa Island.

Graft court affirms Marcos wealth rap dismissal; gov’t appeal junked

By Maricel V. Cruz

FORMER President Ferdinand Marcos, his wife Imelda Romualdez and several of their associates are off the hook in the P267-million ill-gotten wealth case

at the Sandiganbayan as the anti-graft court dismissed the government’s appeal on the original decision.

The anti-graft court affirmed its October 2019 decision dumping the illgotten-wealth case against the Marcos

couple, Fe Roa Gimenez and husband Ignacio and Vilma Bautista and husband Gregorio, among others, following its findings that the prosecution’s evidence “did not comply with the bestevidence rule.”

In an eight-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan said the evidence, collected by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, “did not rise to the level of a public record stature even if Next page

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

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Palace nixes NTC okay for ABS

By Rey E. Requejo

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ESPITE resolutions from Congress, the National Telecommunications Commission may not issue a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to operate after its franchise lapses in May, Malacañang said on Friday.

the high court on Thursday to stop the government from granting ABS-CBN a provisional authority without a measure passed by Congress renewing the television network’s franchise.

But Panelo said Congress may pass a measure giving ABS-CBN a temporary permit pending a decision on its franchise renewal application.

“I think they can do it and they say they can do it,” Panelo said.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the issuances made by both the House of Representatives and

the Senate asking the NTC to grant a provisional permit to ABS-CBN were not direct orders to the commission.

Guevarra made his statement even as an opposition lawmaker said the country’s leading news and entertainment company was being taken hostage by the House leadership to ensure it would be neutral in the 2022 elections.

Speaking to ANC’s “Early Edition,” Rep. Edcel Lagman said the foot-dragging on the franchise renewal of ABSCBN Corp., which is set to expire on May 4, was meant to tie the network’s hands.

“The provisional authority cannot be legal because NTC cannot give provisional authority if there is no franchise. If the franchise expires, then there is nothing to give provisional authority for an extension,” presidential spokesman and chief

legal counsel Salvador Panelo said.

“There is already a Supreme Court decision. You cannot grant provisional authority if there is no franchise,” he added.

The Palace opinion dovetails with that of lawyer Larry Gadon, who asked

WHO...

From A1

Panelo: Ressa in Time’s top women list a ‘mistake’

In a worst-case scenario, China could see growth of less than three percent, while Japan, Australia and Hong Kong could “flirt with recession,” it said in a report.

In San Francisco, US lawmakers passed an emergency $8.3-billion spending bill to combat the coronavirus on Thursday as the number of cases surged in the country’s northwest and deaths reached 12.

The Senate gave sweeping bipartisan support to the funding one day after the House passed the bill, so that it could be quickly sent to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.

In Bethlehem, the city of Bethlehem was on lockdown on Friday, after the first Palestinian cases of the deadly coronavirus were discovered there.

The Palestinian government announced a month-long state of emergency late Thursday after the seven cases were identified, while the Israeli defence ministry said it had imposed emergency measures on Bethlehem, with all people “forbidden from entering or leaving the city.”

It added that the lockdown had been imposed “in coordination with the Palestinian Authority.”

The Church of the Nativity, built on the site that Christians believe was the birthplace of Jesus, was closed on Thursday and is among places expected to be shuttered for a month.

In Seoul, South Korea threatened to retaliate Friday over what it called Tokyo’s “irrational” plan to quarantine arrivals from South Korea over the coronavirus outbreak, turning the scientific issue into a diplomatic row.

South Korea has taken particular issue with Japan’s restrictions, with the presidential office calling the decision “irrational” and contrasting its “scientific and transparent” outbreak control campaign with Tokyo’s “opaque and passive” efforts.

Cases soared in Italy, France, Greece and Iran, while a cruise ship was held off the Californian coast to test passengers showing symptoms of the disease―echoing a harrowing episode in Japan several weeks ago that saw hundreds infected on a luxury liner.

The epidemic has wreaked havoc on international business, tourism, sports events and schools, with almost 300 million students sent home worldwide.

Even religion is affected: The Vatican said Pope Francis may change his schedule, and Saudi Arabia emptied Islam’s holiest site in Mecca to sterilise it. AFP

Admin...

From A1 was a “clear indication” that Filipinos believed in the transparent and responsive government under the stewardship of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The notch, obtained by the survey from Dec. 13 to 16, suggested that 81 percent of those polled were satisfied, 7 percent were dissatisfied with how the administration operated, while 12 percent were undecided.

The Social Weather Stations or SWS, a social research institution in the Philippines founded in August 1985, is a private, non-stock, nonprofit institution.

The survey was conducted from Dec. 13 to 16, and it showed that 81 percent of those polled were satisfied, 7 percent were dissatisfied with how the administration operated, while 12 percent were undecided.

The six-point gain in the net score was due to score increases across all regions that gave “excellent” ratings, SWS said.

Those polled from the poorest communities rated the Duterte administration the highest, racking up an “excellent” +74 rating among the class D and E. Meanwhile, those from the middle- to high-income brackets were less satisfied, with the net score dipping 10 points to a “very good” +68 by the end of 2019.

By MJ Blancaflor

THE Palace said Friday the inclusion of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa among Time magazine’s list of “most influential women of the century” was a mistake.

“You can’t be correct all the time.

Mistakes happen. Maybe this is one of them,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters.

He described Ressa as “a good journalist” who nevertheless “cannot go over beyond her biases.”

Ressa founded the news organization Rappler, which has been critical in report-

PH...

From A1 Specimens collected on March 4 tested positive for COVID-19 on March 5.

He has no known history of travel outside of the country.

Meanwhile, Duque said they have received reports of three confirmed COVID-19 cases among foreign nationals who had a history of travel to the Philippines.

He said contact tracing is being done for the two new local cases and samples have already been collected from close contacts.

The Department of Health is coordinating with the concerned local government units to identify persons who interacted with the confirmed cases and to strengthen infection prevention and control protocols.

The fifth case is known to have regularly visited a Muslim prayer hall in Barangay Greenhills, San Juan City.

Previous visitors to the prayer hall who are presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms are encouraged to call the DOH hotline (02)8-651-7800 loc. 1149-1150 for proper referral to the appropriate health facility.

Duque said the two Filipino patients, both residents of Metro Manila, are staying at the RITM in Muntinlupa City.

No other information was given to protect the privacy of the two patients.

Duque said the patients are considered local cases, but said there has been no local transmission as yet.

“It is a local case. There is no transmission to speak of as of yet because we only have one,” he said.

Duque said the recent developments are significant.

“We can still contain the spread of the virus in the country, which is why we are encouraging the public to practice proper handwashing, social distancing, and cough etiquette. We call on the public to be vigilant and continue doing their part in containing the disease,” Duque said.

In reaction to the local cases, Cardinal Santos Medical Center said in a Facebook post that it took care of one of the patients before transferring him to the RITM. “CSMC has taken all the precautionary measures that all those who had contact

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From A1 long, though what they were doing for those six weeks is unclear,” the report added.

Construction and repairs have been ongoing in the Philippine-occupied island in the West Philippine Sea, but AMTI said delays in upgrades could be due to the presence of Chinese militia.

“The Philippines has slowly made

Graft...

From A1 these are certified as true copies by the PCGG.” “The court is not persuaded [by the government]. As held by the court in the presently assailed Resolution, the pieces of evidence that were collected by the PCGG in the course of its investigation of the Marcoses” ill-gotten wealth remain as private documents and do not become part of public records. What becomes public are not the private documents themselves but rather

ing about President Rodrigo Duterte.

She was named Time’s Woman of the Year in 2018, and since then she has continued to “navigate the murk between social media and despotism, calling out her findings to the rest of us at the risk of her life,” according to the magazine.

Time’s “100 Women of the Year,” a list of the most influential women of the past century, puts the spotlight on “influential women who were often overshadowed.”

Ressa joined the ranks of women around the world who were recognized as Time magazine’s Woman of

the Year, such as former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana of Wales, athlete Serena Williams and entertainment personalities Madonna and Oprah Winfrey.

The other “influential women” honored by the magazine in its latest issue included former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

with the patients have been processed following the protocols of DOH on quarantine, monitoring and observation,” hospital officials said in a statement.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, in a separate statement, said he had instructed the City Health Office “to immediately disinfect, sanitize, and close to the public temporarily” the prayer room the patient used in Barangay Greenhills.

Greenhills Mall, also in San Juan, “is enacting precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our shoppers, tenants and employees,” its management said in a statement.

The first three confirmed cases in the country involved Chinese nationals. The confirmed cases are that of a 44-yearold Chinese national from Wuhan City in China’s Hubei province who died on Feb. 1; his partner, a 38-year-old Chinese tourist; and a 60-year-old Chinese woman who has already returned to China.

The DOH said there are more than 600 patients under investigation for COVID-19 nationwide, most of them from Metro Manila.

As for the foreign COVID cases who traveled to the Philippines, the first case is a 38-year-old Taiwanese male who visited the country from Feb. 28 to March 3. He developed abdominal discomfort and diarrhea on March 2, and experienced sore throat, fever, and malaise on March 3.

The patient consulted at an outpatient clinic in Taiwan on March 4 and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on March 5. The onset of symptoms on March 2 points to possible infection before the patient traveled to the Philippines.

The second case is a 44-year-old Japanese male who visited the Philippines from Feb. 21 to 28. Prior to visiting the Philippines, he traveled to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.

He stayed at three different hotels during his visit to Metro Manila.

He flew back to Thailand on Feb. 28 and experienced cough, shortness of breath, and fever which began on Feb. 29.

The patient consulted at a clinic in Cambodia on March 3 and was referred to a hospital but no tests were done. He flew back to Japan on March 4 and was tested positive for COVID-19.

He has remained in isolation at Aichi Prefecture Hospital. The extensive travel history of the patient suggests possible con-

traction of the disease in another country.

The third case is a female living in Sydney, Australia who attended a wedding in Manila on Feb. 13 and visited Pangasinan.

The patient left the country for Sydney on March 2, and was confirmed with COVID-19 by the New South Wales Government on March 3.

DOH is still verifying information with the International Health Regulation National Focal Point Australia.

In the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked the DOH to step up its campaign to detect and contain transmission of COVID-19.

The senator made the call after DOH’s report of the first two Filipino cases of COVID-19, one of whom had no history of travel abroad. “This is the first case of local transmission of COVID-19. This means people are infecting others inside the country,” Hontiveros said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Detection and containment will improve if our community health surveillance and monitoring also improve,” Hontiveros said, noting that local government units must become involved in the fight against the virus.

“A weak health system poses a risk to public health. We need the DOH to be hawk-eyed and transparent with the public every step of the way,” she said.

Malacañang on Friday said the public should not be alarmed by the confirmation that two Filipinos tested positive for the COVID-19.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government is prepared to respond to the novel coronavirus threat with protocols already in place.

“There is no need for alarm and worry because from the very start we are ready,” Panelo said.

Panelo added the Health department has been transparent in updating the public about the disease even though the governments of Taiwan and Australia were the first to report that they have infected citizens who had a history of travel to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that there are at least 530 Filipino crew members of a cruise ship now anchored off Northern California on suspicion of carrying COVID-19. With MJ Blancaflor

progress on its upgrade work at Thitu after repeated delays. Officials in Manila have consistently blamed the delays on bad weather, but it seems likely that the constant Chinese militia presence has played a role,” the think tank said.

“How the Chinese militia would respond, and whether they will continue to menace Thitu once the repairs are complete, are open questions,” it added.

The construction on the island is progressing slowly, which aims to improve

the lives of Pag-Asa’s civilian community and make resupply easier, AMTI said.

Last April, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said weather and logistics issues temporarily halted construction to improve the facilities on Pag-asa, as it denied the halt was due to the Chinese ships in the area.

The construction on the island probably provoked the initial Chinese militia deployment in December 2018, the AMTI report added.

Between Dec. 2, 2018 and March 2,

only the recording thereof in the PCGG,” the Sandiganbayan ruled.

“Not having attained the status of certified public record either under Rules of Court, the photocopies that the Republic [government] submitted amounts to a violation of the bestevidence rule that requires that the original document must be produced whenever its contents are the subject of inquiry.”

The anti-graft court said the PCGG failed to show proof that the original copies of the photocopied documents presented as evidence had been lost, destroyed or could not be produced in court.

DOH...

From A1 TikTok and shared a video of its personnel dancing—to teach people how to avoid the dread disease.

The DOH’s official Facebook account shared on Thursday a video of three workers dancing to the song “The Weekend,” while tips on how to prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, flashed on the screen.

The six-minute TikTok video advised its viewers to wash their hands, maintain a one-meter distance from their neighbors, avoid touching their face,

PNP: 3 angles eyed in crash of helicopter INVESTIGATORS looking into Thursday’s helicopter crash that injured the top police official and seven others are looking at possible pilot error, a problem with the chopper’s condition and inadequate takeoff site preparation.

In an interview on radio dzMM, Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the takeoff site was drenched with water to prevent dust from being kicked up as the chopper lifted off, but the ground could have dried up before then.

Eyewitness accounts said the Bell 429 chopper took off from the Laperal Compound, in Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna, the temporary site for impounded motor vehicles that PNP chief Archie Gamboa inspected, but kicked up sand and debris as it was lifting off, creating poor visibility.

As the chopper rose, one of its landing skids got entangled with power lines, causing the pilot to lose control. The chopper crashed landed on its side.

Eleazar said Gamboa was “okay” and would return to work on Monday.

Major Generals Jovic Ramos and Mariel Magaway, the PNP’s comptrollership and intelligence heads, respectively were still in critical condition, he added.

The PNP’s six other helicopters have been grounded pending the results of the investigation, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Eleazar inspected the crash site with experts from the Philippine Air Force Safety Office and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Friday.

AMLA,...

From A1 channels, not only through the ports.

They do this because they can,” Dominguez said.

“Our laws have no teeth to investigate and prosecute these activities effectively. We don’t have enough tools to know where all this money is going, without being hamstrung by stringent bank secrecy laws,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon said “somebody must be making money” from Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations, and the “money must be very good.”

While the operation of these POGOs by Chinese nationals helps generate revenues for the government, they also bring problems such as money laundering, Gordon said.

Earlier, the chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Andrea Domingo, said POGOs contribute about P20 billion a year in lease payments to the real estate sector. The industry also generates an estimated P24 billion in income taxes annually and P1.25 billion in value-added tax monthly from foreign workers who purchase around P12.5 billion a month.

But Gordon also warned the huge money entering the country could also pose a security threat to the country.

Dominguez said the AMLA, enacted in 2001, remained a weak tool against money laundering and other unlawful activities, especially because tax evasion and other financial crimes were not among the predicate offenses listed under the law that would allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to examine bank accounts after securing a court order.

2020, AMTI said satellite imagery from PlanetLabs, which counted vessels inside the 32 square nautical mile area covering the reefs and sandbars to the west of the island where the militia fleet congregates, revealed an average of 18 Chinese ships around the island each day.

“These counts indicate the minimum number of Chinese ships present on a given day. Many vessels likely went uncounted because they were under cloud cover or outside the frame of the images,” it explained. and follow proper cough etiquette.

It was an instant hit among Facebook users, garnering 288,000 views, nearly 1,000 comments and 6,400 shares as of 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The DOH then asked the public to “join the #covidance challenge” and follow their official TikTok account.

“DOH is officially on Tiktok!

Learn protective measures against COVID-19 in this TikTok video!

Join the #covidance challenge!” the post read.

The Health department is not alone in tapping the video-sharing app widely popular among teens worldwide to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

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We should win elections even without money—Leni

By Rio N. Araja

WOMEN’S DAY. Around 100 teachers attended the Act NCR Unions International Women’s Day at the Quezon City Science Interactive Grounds in Barangay Bago Bantay, Quezon City, where organizers adopted the theme ‘#Each for Equal.’ The event was highlighted by dances and songs dedicated to the One Billion Rising campaign for better pay. Manny Palmero

Cebu town police chief held for sleeping with detainees THE Philippine National Police’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcemenbt Group said on Friday that it has arrested Major Ildefonso Miranda, police chief of Argao town in Cebu for allowing two female drug detainees to sleep in his office and his room at the police station.

In his report to PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP-IMEG chief Colonel Rohald Oliver Lee, said Miranda Jr was arrested late Thursday night, March 5.

Lee said that at around 11:20 p.m. on Thursday, his team raided the Argao Municipal Station where they found Miranda sleeping in one bed with a 23-year-old detainee identified as Jean Claudia de Guzman alias Tarya Jr, in the police chief’s quarters at the station.

The PNP-IMEG said they found a photo of Miranda and a female detainee on the same bed, apparently a selfie taken by the woman.

Another drug detainee, Brenda Cutillar, 40, was found sleeping inside the office of the police chief.

“Major Miranda and De Guzman were found sleeping in one bed while the other female inmate was deep in her slumber at the police chief’s office. This won’t be tolerated,” Lee said.

The PNP-IMEG said the two women were arrested on separate occasions and detained at the Argao police station for violation of Republic Act No. 19165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Lee said allowing the women to sleep elsewhere was “in gross violation of the law and strict police procedures when it comes to keeping persons under custody.”

“The two female inmates are supposed to be locked up at the police jail, not sleeping at the room of the police station commander,” he said.

Lee added that Miranda allegedly had a "sexual relationship with the female inmate in exchange for her privilege to sleep in his air-conditioned office" and that "one female detainee was also utilized as his helper."

Lee recommended the filing of summary dismissal proceedings against Miranda to Police Regional Office 7 chief Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro.

Lee said Miranda had been placed under surveillance following reports that he allowed female detainees to stay and sleep in his office.

Lee said that after the arrest, the 46-year-old Miranda was stripped of his government-issued gun following his arrest. The arresting cops also confiscated his pistol.

Miranda faces charges for violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Direct Bribery, and violation of Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code which refers to the “Delivery of Prisoners from Jail,” PNP-IMEG said.

Lee said that under the law, "the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any person who shall remove from any jail or penal establishment any person confined therein or shall help the escape of such person, by means of violence, intimidation, or bribery."

"If other means are used, the penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed. If the escape of the prisoner shall take place outside of said establishments by taking the guards by surprise, the same penalties shall be imposed in their minimum period," it added.

3 nabbed in Cavite drug bust; P102-m shabu seized

By Rio N. Araja and Rey E. Requejo

A

UTHORITIES seized P102 million worth of shabu from three suspects in a buy-bust in Bacoor, Cavite, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Friday.

Nabbed were Ronnie Mardoquio Menodiado Alias "Boy," Victorio Vida Najera, and Annie Rose Torres Lingua.

The three were arrested by agents of the PDEA Special Enforcement Service on Molino Boulevard corner Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay Talaba 4 on Thursday.

Seized from the operation were 15 kilos of shabu inside "Guanyinwang" tea bags.

Citing investigation reports, PDEA chief Aaron Aquino said Menodiado was the main source of shabu in Cavite and the whole of Region 4A (Calabarzon) and his group distributes shabu in Metro Manila and Zamboanga City.

Meanwhile, PDEA also discovered a new scheme where drug peddlers park their vehicles at a certain place.

The supplier, who has a duplicate car key will put shabu inside the pusher’s vehicle and the latter will then come back and get the car with shabu in it.

"We are still investigating if they are

selling shabu to college students in the region," Aquino said.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspects.

Meanwhile, the 11 policemen tagged as “Ninja Cops” has entered a plea of not guilty before a regional trial court in Pampanga, in connection with their alleged involvement in the recycling of some 200 kilos of shabu in year 2013.

Accused Police Senior Inspector Joven De Guzman, Jr., SPO1 Jules Maniago, SPO1 Donald Roque, SPO1 Ronald Santos, SPO1 Rommel Vital, SPO1 Alcindor Tinio, PO3 Dante Dizon, PO3 Dindo Dizon, PO3 Gilbert De Vera, PO3 Romeo Guerrero and SPO1 Eligio Valeroso all entered a plea of not guilty during their arraignment before the sala of Judge Esperanza Paglinawan-Rario of Pampanga RTC Branch 44.

The DOJ earlier filed against the

accused criminal charges of violating provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 namely Section 27 (misappropriation of dangerous drugs); Section 29 (planting of evidence); and Section 92 (delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases; and Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on qualified bribery; and Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

For violating Section 32 of RA 9165 (violation of the Dangerous Drugs Board regulation), the two accused SPO1 Santos and PO3 Guerrero also pleaded not guilty.

The arraignment for Police Supt.

Rodney Raymundo Louie Juico Baloyo IV, who is facing the same criminal offenses, has been set on March 13.

Last Feb. 27, De Guzman was arraigned for false testimony under Article 180 of the RPC before San Fernando, Pampanga Metropolitan Trial Circuit Court Branch 2 and pleaded not guilty.

Guerrero also pleaded not guilty to the charge of false testimony and perjury charges. While Santos also entered a plea of not guilty for false testimony.

The court set the pre-trial hearing on July 16.

PAL reduces number of flights to Taiwan House ratifies bill reintroducing

By Joel E. Zurbano GMRC subjects THE Philippine Airlines announced on Friday that it will reduce the number of flights to and from Taipei because of the continuing slowdown in travel demand caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak.

"Due to a continuing slowdown in travel demand between Manila and Taipei amid COVID-19 concerns, PAL is compelled to operate a reduced number of flights to and from Taipei from March 7 to March 28, 2020," the PAL management said in a statement.

From March 7 to March 28, PAL's flights PR 890 / 891 Manila-TaipeiManila (Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday) were already canceled.

The same flights but with the scheduled slated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays will be operational on the same period.

"We sincerely apologize for any

inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding and kind cooperation," the airline management stated.

On Feb. 10, the government lifted the travel ban in Taiwan.

This after the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines asked the government to reconsider its decision and remove Taiwan from the travel ban, which was enforced by the Bureau of Immigration for five days.

Major commercial carriers like PAL and Cebu Pacific Air resumed their flight operations to and from Taiwan but PAL later decided to reduce its flight service operations.

The Philippines at the moment is implementing a travel ban to foreign nationals coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions which are Hong Kong and Macau, and some areas in South Korea. Only Filipinos and permanent resident visa holders are allowed to enter the country from said areas.

ASSISTANCE. Former Malabon City Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval provided assistance to 150 people affected by a fire in Barangay Tonsuya in Malabon City.

Andrew Rabulan

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on a bill that reintroduces the subjects Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) in the schools' elementary and secondary curricula.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, one of the authors of the measure, cited the need to strengthen the common core values and inculcate universally acceptable moral standards among the youth.

Cayetano said that amid the rise of the digital age and increased exposure to the Internet and social media, it is important to introduce and teach etiquette and moral uprightness to students during their formative years to preserve the values and identity of Filipinos.

“The institutionalization of GMRC and values education in the education curriculum will greatly contribute to the development of a national moral uprightness program of the country, which is a key factor in nation-building," Cayetano said He said "this measure is vital to prevent perennial problems of the society like corruption, crime and illegal drugs. We express our gratitude to our colleagues in the House of Representatives, as well as my fellow lawmakers in the Senate who supported the bill and shared our advocacy of preserving the Filipino values, upholding of moral character and uprightness."

Under the approved bill, the GMRC and Values Education shall replace the existing Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao curriculum of the Department of Education. The GMRC shall be integrated in the daily learning activities of kindergarten students, while it shall be taught as a separate subject for students, with the same time allotment as the other core subjects, from Grades 1 to 6.

VICE President Leni Robredo on Friday said one must win an election not because of money but because of good governance.

Speaking during the graduation rites of the third installment of the Leaders for Excellence and Public Service (LEAP) Mayors’ Fellowship Program, Robredo vividly recalled how her late husband, Jesse Robredo, was able to win as mayor of Naga City.

Jesse, a Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary at the time of his death, won through his good performance, and not through money, she said, adding that it was her late husband who established the Naga City People's Council when he was the city mayor for 18 years.

"In Naga, one can win even without (the use of) money. One can win an election without spending too much. One only spend for the watchers, the operational cost of the headquarters, and the food for the volunteers. But there is no money involved. That is not applicable in Naga because the people are empowered," she said.

“That (people empowerment) is the biggest legacy that my husband left behind. We hope we can maintain this. The challenge for us is how to make sure that the attitude of the people would be that way until the end," she said.

IN BRIEF Safety in schools vs. virus pushed AS GRADUATION season kicks off this month, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Department of Education’s task force on the novel coronavirus to ensure schools’ strict adherence to health authorities’ safety recommendations on public gatherings.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture made this call amid growing global concern on the COVID-19, which has already infected 87,137 people in 59 countries.

The World Health Organization already upgraded its global risk assessment of COVID-19 to “very high,” its top level of risk assessment in terms of spread and impact.

According to Gatchalian, this should prompt DepEd to ensure that protocols are in place before and during graduation and moving-up ceremonies.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

New bill bans use of gadgets in schools THE House of Representatives' Committee on the Welfare of Children has began its deliberation on a bill banning the use of smartphones and other electronic gadgets in all schools by students from Grade 10 and below.

At a hearing conducted by the panel headed by Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, stakeholders in House Bill 5542 filed by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Rida Robes,agreed to create a Technical Working Group that will meet on March 9, 2020 to discuss the provisions of the bill that seeks to impose a ban in all public and private schools nationwide on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices among students aged 15 years and below.

In filing the bill, Robes said it aims to address the growing problem on mental health especially among children.

She said many studies have shown the connection between unregulated smartphone and electronic gadget use, especially among the youth, and developing mental health problems.

Maricel V. Cruz

Reblocking OKd on NCR roads THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday gave its go signal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to undertake concrete reblocking on seven road sections in the National Capital Region.

DPWH—NCR Director Ador Canlas said the repair works along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue will cover the southbound direction from Guzent Inc.—Construction Equipment Sales & Rental to Bansalangin Street, 3rd lane from sidewalk and from Approach B of P. Tuazon Flyover to Approach A of Boni Serrano Flyover, 4th lane from MRT line; and northbound direction after Aurora Boulevard to New York Street, 3rd lane from sidewalk.

Joel E. Zurbano

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Transfigured lives of Jesuit Volunteers THE gospel for the second Sunday of Lent recalls once again the story of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ.

We hear again how Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, ascends Mt. Tabor.

There, the Lord is transfigured, his face shining like the sun, and clothes tuning as white as light. While this is being manifested, there appear before the disciples Moses and Elijah, talking with the Lord. Upon seeing this glorious spectacle Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He is still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice from the cloud saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Do you want to experience the same change in your life?

When the disciples hear this, they fall on their faces overcome with terror. But Jesus comes and touches them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ When they lift up their eyes, they see no one but Jesus all alone. It is a special grace for Peter, James and John to see Jesus transfigured. It is experiencing a preview of the glory of the risen Christ and a foretaste of the glory in Paradise.

That is the story of many young women and men who, for the last forty years, have joined Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP). We used to say that JVP ruined our lives, but that was not really accurate, even if partially correct in that JVP messed up many of our well-laid plans. What becoming a

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Jesuit Volunteer has instead done is to transfigure our lives, change them forever in ways we could never imagine or hope for.

Last year, for the first time in its four decades of existence, a Jesuit Volunteer Genifer Buckley, a graduate of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, was killed during the mission year. That was the ultimate transfiguration: from an ordinary, if happy and ebullient, human being, Gen became a saint for us in the JVP community.

Many of us were also transfigured by the death of Gen. But most of all, it was her partner Kath, assigned with her in Pangantucan Community High School in Bukidnon, who was most transformed by what happened to the young woman who called her “Mommy,” whom she called “Genny Gen.” In the October 2019 issue of Windhover, the Philippine Jesuit Magazine, Kath tells her story.

“Before JVP, I was slowly losing passion for everything including my life. It was getting harder and harder to wake up each morning even though I had a good and stable job and had a good relationship with my officemates, friends and family. I felt something was missing, so I decided to pursue my dreams of becoming a JVP volunteer.

Ever since I graduated from college, I wanted to join JVP. I heard about it from my Theology Professor right before graduation. She told us how JVP will push us, new graduates, to go out of our comfort zone and serve a community where we can actually live the experience of being men and women for others. During college, I was inspired by the lives of Mahatma Gandhi—for his service to others—and Henry David Thoreau—for his courage to live his life fully. However, for certain reasons, I decided to pursue law school first and tried to get legal work experience.

And after two years working for the government, however, I still find myself thinking about JVP and what it would be like to serve a new community, get to know people, and live simply

Be careful

W

RITING on the wall, the heads-up from the Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates against fake job offers and illegal recruiters offering “jobs” in one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf.

lured into a most likely high paying job overseas which they cannot find in their homeland, the risks notwithstanding.

Many of these repatriates were found to have “overworked, suffered maltreatment, and experienced contract violations by their employer.”

The government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has previously warned Filipinos against using tourist visas to secure work overseas, underlining an axiom that leaving for work without proper employment documents can leave OFWs susceptible to abuse and exploitation.

There have been reports of illegal recruitment schemes where recruiters use a country in the Middle East where visas are not required for Filipinos as “jump-off points” to send OFWs to banned destinations.

Sometime back, Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, stressed:

We take note that only five months earlier, some 158 Filipino migrant workers were repatriated from the Arabic-speaking Emirates, many of whom were victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

The number brought to more than 4,800 those who have been brought back home since January 2019, many of the OFWs found to have left the Philippines through shortterm visas and were promised work by illegal recruiters.

This is a saga in the dumps, as it were, with our countrymen easily

“The Philippine government strongly condemns the abuses being experienced by our OFWs in the hands of their recruiters or employers. (We) will continue to partner with other member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to prevent and suppress trafficking.”

But for those who need a high paying job not available to them at home, that is easier heard than followed.

And we have a double take on their eagerness to leave: obviously to better their lifestyle on the home front.

But the Philippine Embassy's Facebook post reiterates the red flag following claims in social media platforms by unidentified people it is easy to get a job as a household worker in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Cul-de-sac: heed the Embassy's admonition, or you might end up in submerging tears while illegal recruiters strike it rich.

Turn to A5

Another shot at life and love LAST March 4, the Technical Working Group on the divorce bills of the House of Representatives Committee on Population and Family Relations met for the second time to consolidate the three divorce bills that have been approved by the Committee in a previous meetings.

TWG chairman Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman prepared a consolidated draft bill as the template for discussion to fast-track the process. After going through it on a per provision basis, the TWG approved the consolidated bill as amended during the meeting.

It should be noted that there was only one group among those present, the Alliance for Family Foundation that manifested opposition to the passage of any divorce bill into law citing constitutionality as the reason.

This was very ably responded to by Lagman by explaining that based on records, the intent of the framers of the 1987 Constitution was not to bar Congress from enacting a divorce law despite the provisions on protecting the family as a social institution.

This is important because when the Constitutionality of a law is being questioned, the spirit and intent of the framers is always referred to.

I mention this because ALFI is the same group that repeatedly questioned the Constitutionality of the Reproductive Health Law before the Supreme Court. I will not be surprised if they do the same when (yes, I am optimistic) the divorce bill is passed by Congress.

I have already written about divorce many times in the past. This time, my focus will be on some of the salient provisions of the bill that was just passed by the Committee since I had the opportunity to be a member

of the TWG. The title of the bill has been changed to “An Act REINSTITUTING Divorce as an Alternative Mode for the Dissolution of Marriage.” This was done in recognition of the fact that the Philippines had divorce practices before we were colonized by Spain, during the American period, and during the Japanese occupation. The new title more accurately captures the Philippine reality about divorce.

Everyone deserves another chance in pursuing a life of their own.

In terms of the grounds for absolute divorce, the bill has included all grounds for legal separation under Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines; as well as the grounds for annulment under Article 45 of the same law as also grounds for divorce.

For the latter, it will no longer be a requirement for the grounds to have existed before or during the wedding rites.

Moreover, the bill has incorporated the following new grounds for absolute divorce: • When the spouses have been separated in fact for at least five (5) years; • Psychological incapacity of either spouse under Article 36 of the Family Code, whether or not such incapacity existed at the time of the marriage or supervenes after the marriage; • Undergoing gender reassignment surgery; • Irreconcilable differences which is defined as substantial incompatibility of the spouses due to their intransigence or fault by holding on to divergent behavior resulting to the Turn to A5

Matibag responds to alleged IEMOP-PEMC sweetheart deal WE RECEIVED a statement from National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) president Melvin Matibag seeking to clarify issues concerning the alleged sweetheart deal between the Independent Electric Market Operator of the Philippines and the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, coursed through lawyer Larry Gadon.

In the spirit of fair play, we are publishing his statement in its entirety. Below is the full text of his statement: TRANSCO ceased Administrative Supervision of WESM Sixteen Years Ago 1. The EPIRA (R.A. 9136 Sec. 30) mandated the DOE to establish a wholesale electricity spot market which shall be operated by an autonomous group of market operator constituted by DOE, with equitable representation from electric power industry participants, initially under the administrative supervision of the

TRANSCO. The EPIRA also mandates that an independent entity shall be formed and the functions, assets and liabilities of the market operator

Here’s a clarification from TransCo president Melvin Matibag. shall be transferred to such entity with the joint endorsement of the DOE and the electric power industry participants. Thereafter, the administrative

supervision of the TRANSCO over such entity shall cease.

2. In compliance with the EPIRA Law and direction of the DOE, TRANSCO created the ‘TRANSCO Market Operation” (TMO) unit and hired personnel ‘co-terminus with project’ (i.e., until turn-over of WESM administration to the independent entity that will be formed to operate the electricity market), in accordance with the Civil Service rules, to prepare and operate a WESM. The TMO started in March 2003.

3. With the joint endorsement of DOE and the electric power industry participants, TRANSCO transferred in October 2004 to Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), the independent entity formed to be the market operator of WESM, all personnel, assets and liabilities associated with the market operation. Effective Turn to A5

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

A ludicrous interpretation of sovereignty

Mail Matters

We are a customer-centric organization WE WRITE in reference to the opinion article of Mr. Erwin Tulfo’s Point of Impact which was published on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Manila Standard Today. Mr. Tulfo wrote about his mobile experience while using the Globe network.

Firstly, we wish to acknowledge Mr. Tulfo’s feedback that his current experience is far from ideal and to some extent has caused him frustration. As a service provider, our customers are important to us. For the past 12 years, we as a company have worked so hard to transition from the traditional telco utility mindset into a customer-centric organization whose number one core value is to Put Customers First. Even with the scale of our operations with over 90 million customers to date, we value the service experience of our customers such that

Matibag...

From A4

November 1, 2004, all TMO personnel were terminated and TRANSCO ceased its administrative supervision of WESM. 4. The Philippine WESM started commercial operation on June 26, 2006 with PEMC as Market Operator. TRANSCO functioned as System Operator independent from the Market Operator as required by EPIRA Law. 5. TRANSCO advanced the operation and capital expenditures for the development and operation of the WESM under a ring-fenced account audited by COA which amounted to PhP461,213,408 by October 31, 2004. This principal amount plus PhP260,527,432 representing interest at 12% per annum for a total amount of PhP721,740,840 had been fully paid by PEMC on November 15, 2015.

How and why did the Independent Electric Market Operator of the Philippines (lEMOP) get the deal to manage and operate the WESM? Section 30 of Republic Act no 9136, otherwise as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) directs than an independent entity shall be formed, which shall assume the functions, assets and liabilities of an independent market operator (lMO) of the Philippine Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Pursuant thereto, the DOE promulgated Department Circular No.20'1801-0002 dated 17 January 2018 and subsequently, the electric power industry participants through PEMC approved the lMO Transition Plan. Note that this should have been implemented not later than one (1) year after the commercial operations of WESM or before June 26, 2007. ls a competitive selection process required?

NO. There is no categorical requirement in the EPIRA and its IRR to conduct a competitive selection process for the lMO. EPIRA and its IRR required that an independent entity be formed and the market operator functions, assets, and liabilities shall be transferred

Another...

From A4

total breakdown of their marriage which could not be repaired despite earnest efforts to reconcile; • When a valid foreign divorce has been secured by either the alien or Filipino spouse; • When a marriage is nullified by the Roman Catholic Church or any other recognized religious sect or denomination; and • Other forms of domestic or marital abuse including psychological, emotional or sexual violence, and economic abuse.

Note that for grounds 5 and 6, there will no longer be any need for Court proceedings. For ground no. 5, the authentication of and registration of the divorce decree with the civil registrar in the Philippines or the office of the Philippine consul abroad where the Filipino spouse resides will suffice.

For church annulment, it will only need to be registered with the civil registrar.

This divorce bill contains provisions on summary judicial proceedings that refers to “an expeditious manner of resolving a petition for

roughly 35 percent of our revenues are ploughed back every year into capital expenditures to enhance, improve and upgrade our network to keep up with our customers’ demand for mobile and fixed line services, and most especially, data services.

Given the strict and rigid requirements of the National Telecommunications Commision, Globe has a call success rate of over 97 percent for 3G and 96 percent for 2G at the National Capital Region, within the standard prescribed by NTC’s Grade of Service (GOS) of 4 percent or four unsuccess-

ful calls for every 100 call attempts.

Our Drop Call Rate is lower than 1 percent (3G) and 2 percent (2G), again within the prescribed NTC standard of 2 percent or two dropped calls for every 100 calls.

Be that as it may, we are cognizant of the fact that compliance may not necessarily translate to customer satisfaction. Hence it is our utmost desire to rectify Mr. Tulfo’s experience by extending our service team whom we hope will be given the opportunity to get specific details and have a conversation at his most convenient time so we can improve our services.

Yoly C. Crisanto Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Globe Telecom, Inc.

to such independent entity upon joint endorsement of DOE and the electric power industry participants. What is required expressly is the joint endorsement which was done through the aforementioned DOE Circular and IMO Transition Plan.

Moreover, PEMC is not a government agency nor a GOCC and is thus not covered by government procurement law. ls 50 centavos the amount being collected by IEMOP? NO. The collection is less than one (1) centavo. IEMOP collects in particular P0.086 per kwh for its operations and governance of WESM. This is in accordance with revenue requirements set and approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Is it a sweetheart deal?

NO. It is not. As mentioned, the transition was implemented pursuant to the DOE Circular and IMO Transition Plan, both of which are in accordance with law. The Transition plan was duly approved by the Board of Directors of PEMC, composed of representatives from the electric power industry participants, as confirmed by PEMC's stakeholders in a special general membership meeting duly called for that purpose.

Why was IEMOP incorporated?

The IEMOP incorporation was approved by PEMC based on the aforementioned DOE Circular and IMO Transition Plan, both of which called for the formation of a separate, independent entity.

Does IEMOP have experience in operating the Market?

YES. The DOE Circular ensured this by requiring that the personnel of PEMC performing market operations be transferred to IEMOP, together with the market systems that are being operated by these personnel running the day-to-day operations of WESM. PEMC used to perform the market operations, with the DOE Secretary as Chair and most of the Board Members coming from the power industry.

Sec. Cusi, pursuant to the EPIRA Law, gave up the chairmanship on the condition that the market operations be performed by an independent corpora-

tion with the necessary experience and expertise.

Thus, with the endorsement of the industry players as required by EPIRA, Sec. Cusi issued D.C. No. DC2018-010002. The House of Representatives, the Senate and the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (formerly JCPC) was given a report on all these steps that were made. ls IEMOP or the PEMC being supervised by the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo)?

No. Both are governed by each individual set of directors and are independent of each other and in no way connected to Transco. TRANSCO under Atty. Melvin A. Matibag is not even a member of the IEMOP or PEMC Board because grid operation is transferred to NGCP thru a Concession Agreement.

It is in fact NGCP which is part of the PEMC Board. other members of the PEMC Board aside from NGCP are Meralco, SMC Global, First Gen, MECO, Team Energy, Aboitiz Power, lndependent Directors Oscar Ala, Rauf Tan, Jess Arranza and Peter Wallace and several Distribution Utilities.

What is the role of Ann Lourdes Matibag, wife of Transco President Melvin Matibag with IEMOP or PEMC? Mrs. Ann Matibag is an employee of PEMC. She has no current role in IEMOP. She was one of the incorporating directors of IEMOP, but she was immediately replaced after the incorporation of IEMOP when independent directors were selected in June 2018. She does not receive any remuneration from IEMOP and receives only her salary as regular employee from PEMC. What is the intent of the article?

It can be inferred that these so called "issues" are simply to discredit both Secretary Cusi and TransCo President Matibag before they appear in the Senate Committee on Energy on Monday Feb 03, 2020 on the hearing re: NGCP's Compliance with the Concession Agreement and issue of National Security. In addition, review of the Agreement is currently ongoing to determine if there are onerous provisions thereto.

divorce without regard to technical rules and the petitioner is given the option to be assisted or not by a lawyer.” The following grounds for divorce may be subject to summary judicial proceedings: • De facto separation for at least five (5) years; • When a spouse contracted a bigamous marriage; • Legal separation of the spouses for at least two (2) years; • When a spouse is sentenced to imprisonment for six (6) years or more, even if subsequently pardoned; and • Sex reassignment surgery of one spouse.

A six-month mandatory cooling-off period is required after a petition for divorce has been filed to allow the Court to exert efforts at reconciling the parties. This will not be needed for cases of violence and abuse under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, or attempt against the life of the other spouse or a common child or a child of the petitioner.

Under the bill, requiring expert testimony will no longer be required unless such is indispensable based on the court’s appreciation.

Custody of minor children shall be decided by the court in accordance with the best interests of the children subject to the provisions of the Family Code that no child under seven (7) years old shall be separated from the mother unless the court finds compelling reasons otherwise.

The Courts shall have the discretion to grant alimony, child support and child custody, and impose contempt of court against defaulting parties.

Stiff penalties shall be imposed on any parent who will default in providing the required child support.

Finally, the bill provides for Courtassisted petitioners for those who have personal or real properties that do not exceed two million and five hundred pesos.

Taken everything together, this divorce bill, if passed by Congress into law ensures expeditious, affordable and inexpensive proceedings. By passing this bill, Congress will free those bound in broken marriages.

Everyone deserves another chance in pursuing a life of their own. And perhaps, another shot at love. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The Neanderthal stand of Senator Sotto is absolutely anachronistic because his petition takes the narrative premise that the country needs the US instead of the US having taken us for a ride. This line has been justified by continuous propaganda that China is our enemy; that it IT NEVER seeped into the brain of those is out to occupy all the islands in the senators who filed a petition to question South China Sea; and China is out to the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte economically dominate us. to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement that doing so would amount to demanding that the country move back its epochal march of history. This I say because Do our senators the issue about the validity of a treaty or executive agreement revolves on the sov- want to go back to ereignty of this Republic as an independ- the days of imperial ent state. The decision, if one might say, hegemony? is higher and beyond the scope of constitutionality as it resides on the judgment of the Filipino people about the course the Except for the rhetoric, nothing of country would take.

The decision elevated to its highest these allegations has happened. Instead, level our independence since the giving the US has exploited our heightened of that make-believe freedom in 1946; Sinophobia to build up its own forces that it can never be stultified or derogat- in the country with an eye of converted on mere questions of law. Every state ing the archipelago as launch pad in the has the right on what course to take event an open conflict erupts between limited only on what would constitute the US and China. Our political leaders a threat to international peace and se- were pressured to violate our Constitucurity. This is a universal postulate why tion, which specifically prohibits the nation-states exist and why the United country from hosting foreign military Nations acts to ensure universal peace bases or in allowing the entry and storage of nuclear weapons. and harmony.

As the war drums identifying China as Paradoxically, the petition filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III seeking our enemy intensifies, our leaders were to determine whether the decision of the conditioned to accepting the American President is Constitutional is most ludi- proposition that they are here to stay as crous. Obviously, that could result in the ally until they succeeded in restoring their court deciding to allow the return of our bases beginning as mere VFA. The short-sightedness in comprecolonizers disguising themselves as allies but in reality, they are just out to secure hending that historic decision of the their own interest in this part of the globe. President, many of our own lawmakYes, Section 5 (2) (a) of the Consti- ers could not correlate that the issue tution provides that the Supreme Court about the VFA is essentially a political shall review, revise, reverse, modify or question, it being a sovereign right of affirm on appeal or certiorari, “all cases the state on how it intends to deal with in which the constitutionality or validity other states. It may sound parochial and of any treaty, international or executive maybe stereotype to students of foreign agreement, law, presidential decree, policy, but mind you the Supreme Court proclamation, order, instruction, ordi- is likely to ask what specific instances nance or regulation is in question.” But made the petitioners to conclude that our senator failed to understand that re- China is a threat to our security. Most viewing, revising, reversing, modifying damning is the question whether the or affirming a treaty or international or Philippines is in fact assisting the US executive agreement is different from in securing a military advantage over reviewing, revising, reversing, modify- China in the South China Sea using the archipelago as springboard to lunch a ing or affirming an ordinary law.

The right of the state to abrogate a sneak attack on China.

All these may appear as ordinary, treaty or executive agreement stems from its primordial duty to exercise such but the undeniable truth is they form power as a sovereign state. That origi- part of what lawyers say political quesnates from its inherent right to determine tions that could boost the position of what constitute its national interest. That the President to scrap the VFA and all aspect is catalyzed in the treaty or execu- those corollary appendages that made tive agreement, and cannot be made sim- the country a consummate puppet of the ilar to any law, presidential decree, and US. Despite the presence of US forces proclamation, order, instruction, or regu- in the country, the VFA failed to idenlations which obviously are intended for tify China as a threat to our security.

Second, the proponents failed to cite internal application.

This explains why President Trump the contribution of the VFA like asking, upon learning that President Duterte are we now stronger militarily and ecoscrapped the VFA merely said “fine.” nomically against our perceived adverHe knows he cannot do anything about sary in this part of the globe?

To reiterate, the VFA is a dysfuncit. In law, the issue instantly became tional agreement. The failure by the moot and academic.

While our senators insist we are obli- US Congress to ratify said agreement gated to keep our agreement, citing an despite our full compliance to meet our old principle in international law which constitutional requirement, the US versays “pacta sunt servanda,” that agree- sion has reduced the VFA and EDCA to ment is binding to the parties and must one of administration policy giving the be executed by them in good faith, there President the ultimate decision whether are exceptions as when circumstances or not to enforce said agreement.

Our inability to compel the US Sendictate that the continuance of the treaty could jeopardize the existence or vital ate to take the same process of ratifying development of one, that party has a the two agreements sine qua non gives valid right to be released from the obli- the same legal implication that it is not obligatory to the Philippines to observe gation imposed by the treaty.

This is known as clausula rebus sic the principle of pacta sunt servanda. If stantibus, and is provided in Article 62 the US Congress refuses to ratify the agreement, then there is no compelling of the Vienna Convention.

Our senators want the Supreme reason why we should now accuse our Court to decide in favor of pushing our own President of violating a dysfunccountry back to the era of imperialist tional executive agreement. hegemony serving as buffer in protecting US interest in this part of the globe. rpkapunan@gmail.com

Transfigured...

From A4

Kath learned a lot from Gen but the one thing she says is the most precious is to not give up on life: “Despite all the challenges she faced, she continues to have enthusiasm for life that is fueled by her strong faith to God. What happened to us was very tragic and painful, but by continuing on and strengthening my Faith I feel that I will honor Gen’s life and memory.”

Kath, whom I proudly claim as my student in Ateneo Law School, remained a Jesuit Volunteer, working this time as a lawyer for the Simbahang Lingkod Bayan. She will finish her volunteer year in the coming months.

I, too, was a Jesuit Volunteer 39 years ago (Batch 2) and have seen my life mercifully ruined and happily transfigured.

For those who want the same experience of transfiguration and join the 41st Batch of Jesuit Volunteers, the Application Pack for Program Year 2020-2021 is available through this link: http://bit. ly/JVPBatch41VSPApplicationPack.

The deadline for applications is on March 15, 2020.

while deepening my relationship with God.” With the reluctant but full support of her parents, Kath joined JVP in May 2019. Unfortunately, she and Gen were attacked in their house. Gen was killed while Kath was seriously wounded.

Kath recalls how she found out about the fate of her partner: “It was hard to accept Gen’s passing.

They only told me about it, two days after the incident. I was probably one of the last persons who found out about it.

They did not want to tell me before my operation or right after as they were unsure of how the news would affect my physical recovery. And when they did, it was something I could not fully explain. It was the worst kind of feeling.”

Kath wrote in October how hard it was to accept Gen’s passing: “Each day still proves to be a struggle to continue on with life and not dwell on the incident. Sometimes, I would still find myself thinking, ‘ooh I would share this news to Gen,’ only realizing that I can Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina no longer tell her of it.”

Twitter: tonylavs

A6

News

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Deeper probe sought on cyber attacks

B

AYAN Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares has urged the Duterte administration to probe the report that there were a hundred attempts to hack the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Colmenares cited the need for the NGCP to have a strong cybersecurity infrastructure as just one attack could result in a massive power blackout in the country.

NGCP Chief Executive Officer Anthony Almeda had admitted during the recent Senate Energy Committee hearing that the power grid had been attacked a hundred times.

Almeda said there were attempts to hack the NGCP for several weeks.

“On the cyber attack, for the past few weeks that we’re here, we’ve been attacked a hundred times. As we speak, it’s from the outside,” said Almeda.

Earlier, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate challenged the Duterte administration to have the NCGP audited following the revelation at the Senate inquiry that China controls its operations and that there are issues surrounding its transmission rates.

Zarate said that although NGCP was

a private company, its operation was of public interest and therefore could be scrutinized by the government, primarily led by the Commission on Audit and Congress.

“NGCP has not been reviewed for more than 10 years now and it is high time that NGCP undergoes an independent audit so that a rate reset may be implemented if its transmission rates are found to be unjustly high,” said Zarate.

The NGCP is now the center of talks after it was revealed that 40 percent of the company is owned by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), which should only be the technical partner of the Filipino consortium Monte Oro Grid Resources Owned by Henry Sy Jr. and the Calaca High Power Corp of Robert

Coyuito, Jr. It was also learned that the Chinese engineers of SGCC operate and troubleshoot the transmission facilities which can be shut down from the monitoring system in Nanjing, China.

Zarate stressed that NGCP’s operations should be transparent and that Congress should not ignore the irregularities exposed which, he added, are clear threats to the country’s security.

Some senators have also threatened to push for the revocation of the 50-year franchise of NGCP after it was revealed that Chinese executives are controlling the NGCP which is a clear violation of the law mandating that the country’s publc utilities should be controlled by Filipinos.

Manila plans to install thousands of CCTVs

By Willie Casas THE Manila City Government plans to install thousands of surveillance cameras with facial and plate number recognition.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso said that the new cameras will not violate the citizens’ privacy.

Domagoso said the cameras would only be installed in public areas to allay fears over invasion of privacy.

“Gusto lang namin maiparamdam na karapatan ng mga taga-Lungsod ng Maynila na mamuhay nang payapa at panatag (We want to assure Manila residents of their right to privacy),” Domagoso said.

Aside from recognizing faces, the cameras’ software is also capable of quickly identifying citizens’ criminal records with the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Sa mga kriminal na may records… hindi kayo puwede sa Maynila (But for those with criminal records… you are not welcome here in Manila),” Domagoso warned.

The new CCTV cameras are also capable of recognizing conduction stickers and plate numbers of vehicles even in low-light situations.

The Supreme Court has previously warned that surveillance cameras must not be used to “pry into the privacy of another’s residence or business office as it would be no different from eavesdropping, which is a crime under the Anti-Wiretapping Law.

Murder suspect protectors warned THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security has issued a stern warning against certain local government and police officials who reportedly protect the alleged mastermind in the brutal killing of Kidapawan-based radioman Eduardo Dizon.

In a letter to Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, Police Regional Office 12 Director, PTFoMS Executive Director USec Jose Joel Sy Egco said his office was awash with reports that Dante Encarnacion Tabusares (Tabusares) a.k.a.

Bong Encarnacion had been sighted freely roaming around with armed escorts.

Tabusares is accused of the crime of murder against Dizon who was shot dead while driving home along the National Highway, Kidapawan City on July 10, 2019.

Corpus was also requested to immediately implement the Warrant of Arrest issued by Presiding Judge Henelinda J.Molina-Diaz of Regional Trial Court Branch 61, Kidapawan City, under Criminal case 5281-2019 last Jan. 15.

“We sent an urgent and no-nonsense letter to PRO 12 because the Task Force has been receiving reports of recent sightings of Tabusares allegedly with armed escorts and that he is allegedly enjoying the protection of some local officials,” according to Egco.

“This is against the law. We believe that such reports need to be verified and if proven, should warrant legitimate action.”

The Palace official also believes that “the issuance of the WOA issued against Tabusares means he is no longer entitled to protection, if at all, by any state agency or its agents. He should be better off in the custody of the court,” he continued.

CULTURE OF VIOLENCE. Women march against the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF for ‘falsely recruiting our children to be part of their

legal fronts’ and condemn the prevailing sexual oppurtunism and exploitation of women members by higher officials in the organization, propagating what they call a culture of violence and hatred, terrorism among the Filipino women.

Salceda claims win for Du30s reform agenda in PCL polls THE widely trumpeted Philippine Councilors League national officers’ elections at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City was declared a failure and reset within 60 days from its Feb.27 date.

Polangui, Albay Councilor and PCL Bicol Regional chairman Jesciel Richard Salceda, however, claims it was a victory for President Rodrigo Duterte’s reform agenda.

Salceda aspires for the PCL national chairmanship.

The election process, however, was marred by alleged cheating attempts and computer software glitches.

Videos posted on Facebook showed councilors testing the voting app just before the election started, which revealed that a vote for Jesciel Salceda went to his rival in the confirmation. In another test, ten votes yielded 13 results.

The problem was investigated and validated by the PCL national board and the Department of Interior and Local Government Salceda’s team and political advisers claim they have 9,100 commitments out of the 11,900 registered PCL delegates in the elections.

Majority of them then took it upon themselves to convene their league’s General Assembly which resolved the issue by opting for a manual election.

No polls, however, materialize after nine hours of waiting.

Thus, the decision to reset the elections under DILG guidance and supervision.

The youthful Albay councilor-leader has urged his supporters and colleagues in the PCL to stay calm and adhere to principles.

A graduate of Yale University in the US, Salceda considers the incident a “baptism of fire” for his young political career.

He stressed that “the real candidate in the PCL election is reform, especially constitutional reforms which PCL will push snd lead under our collegial and inclusive leadership.”

Infrawatch: Review unsolicited Manila Bay reclamation proposals AN INFRASTRUCTURE-oriented think tank is urging President Rodrigo Duterte to order a review of all unsolicited reclamation proposals along Manila Bay, consistent with his previous pronouncement banning reclamation activities unrelated to government projects.

“Malacañang should draw first blood and review unsolicited commercial proposals that are still at its initiatory stage, in which no binding agreements have yet been reached with either the local or national government,” said a statement of Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor and former House natural resources committee member.

Ridon said at least eight proposed Manila Bay reclamation projects should be reviewed by Malacañang in order to deliver on the President’s commitment to stop the

decay of Manila Bay. In a speech last month, President Duterte lamented the environmental impact of reclamation.

He said, “It will choke Manila. The entire Manila City would be environmentally at peril. So pag-aralan n’yo mabuti ‘yan (you study it very well) in the next administration whoever gets to be the President of this country.”

Ridon said that the following reclamation proposals should be reviewed by Malacañang: a. Bacoor City Reclamation Project b. Baseco Reclamation Project c. BRADI Smart Harbor Manila d. City of Pearl Reclamation Project e. Harbor Center Reclamation Project

f. Horizon Manila Reclamation Project g. Manila Waterfront City Reclamation Project h. Parañaque City Reclamation Project “There should be no serious consequences in reviewing, if not suspending these proposals, as no binding documents have yet been issued either by the local or national government. Suspending these projects would also show the resolve of the President to preserve Manila Bay. More important, these are mostly commercial reclamation proposals unrelated to any government project,” said Ridon.

Ridon said a comprehensive scientific study should also be undertaken to review the medium-and long-term social and environmental impact of already existing reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Willie Casas

Police face blank wall in Kim try

CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE. PCSO General Manager Royina M. Garma and PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Simeon P. Pinili (both seated) during the signing of the certificate of acceptance.

By Rio N. Araja

PCSO turns over STL Monitoring System Portal in Mandaluyong THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had its official turnover ceremony for the STL Monitoring System Portal at the PCSO main office in PCSO Conservatory building in Mandaluyong City.

Present were PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Simeon Pinili, General Manager Royina M. Garma, AGM for Charity Julieta F. Aseo, AGM for Administrative Sector, AGM Larry Cedro, Executive Assistants Ms. Sharon Marasigan and Angelo de Leon, and SMS Portal Software Development team Jodel Dacer, Marvin Virgen, Louie Tenorio. Jonathan Noguera and Brian Villaflores.

The STL Monitoring System is an inhouse/self-reliant web based application portal which was developed through the Office of the Chairman and is a tool to enhance the efficiency of the Branch Operations Sector in monitoring the sales and

remittances of the STL AACs. PCSO GM Royina M. Garma expressed in a press statement; “Technology is pacing fast and in public service, we need to step and keep up.”

“This initiative will surely contribute to increased productivity, more efficient use of materials, better monitoring of our revenues and less human intervention, which is one of the many challenges in operations,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, during the program, Sharon Marasigan, Executive Assistant quoted Neil Armstrong, American astronaut, aeronautical engineer and the first person to walk on the Moon; “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“It is those little victories can spur us on difficulties, challenges every day. Celebrating those victories is a small step to more steps moving forward,” discussing about the innovation in the monitoring

system of STL remittances of the Agency, addressing the need to efficiently collect the shortfalls of STL remittance.

The Branch Operations Sector of the Agency will be the end user of web based application shall fully assume the responsibility for its proper implementation.

It can be recalled that during the AACs SMS Portal orientation held last year in June, PCSO Chairperson Pinili expressed: “When I look at PCSO, what comes to mind is the automation of its operations and services. Automation with the aid of technology.”

“SMS implementation is just one of the many projects that we have in the pipeline to deliver services that are more efficient and less susceptible to fraud,” he concluded.

The automation of PCSO operations has been one of the thrusts of Chaiperson Pinili since his appointment into office in 2018.

POLICE are facing a blank wall as regards the shooting incident involving actress-television host Kim Chiu’s vehicle in Quezon City.

In an interview, Major Elmer Monsalve, Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head, said “they have yet to establish the identity of the suspects and the motive behind the incident.”

“The investigation is still ongoing,” he told the Manila Standard.

When asked how soon the police could solve the case, Monsalve, however, declined to comment.

While the QCPD special investigation task group was able to obtain a footage of the closed-circuit television at Chiu’s village, he said “the crime scene has very limited CCTV accessibility.”

He reiterated his call to motorists to help them solve the case, asking for their cooperation to provide the police with dash cam footages that could have captured the incident.

Two motorcycle-riding suspects stalked Kim and waited for her van to exit the village where she lived based on CCTV footage.

They tailed and shot Kim’s vehicle eight times on Wednesday at around 6:15 a.m.

Kim, her personal assistant and driver were reported unharmed and safe.

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Strikers tie MPBL series vs.

Basilan

Virus fear hits global sports hard PARIS, France—The Six Nations rugby union match between Italy and England was postponed on Thursday (Friday Philippine time), the latest high-profile sports event to be scratched from the international calendar due to the global spread of the deadly coronavirus.

AFP Sport looks at the effects on sport of the virus, which has killed more than 3,200 people while infecting 95,000 in more than 80 countries worldwide.

TOKYO OLYMPICS • International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Wednesday that the nightmare scenario of either cancelling or postponing this year’s Tokyo Olympics was not discussed at a key meeting.

“Neither the word cancellation nor postponement was mentioned today during the Executive Board meeting,” Bach told reporters in Lausanne on Wednesday.

“I will not add fuel to the flames of speculation. We are fully committed to the success of the Tokyo Games.”

The Olympics take place from July 24-August 9.

FOOTBALL • In Italy, the hardest-hit European country with 148 deaths from COVID-19, it was announced that all matches—as well as all major sports events—will be played behind closed doors until April 3.

This week’s Italian Cup semifinals were postponed to a date to be arranged while a number of Serie A league games were cancelled. Five of those called off last week will now be played this weekend, including Juventus v Inter Milan.

• Elsewhere, the start of Japan’s JLeague was postponed till mid-March while China suspended all domestic football and shelved indefinitely the top-flight Super League season which was due to kick off on February 22.

• The Swiss league has already suspended all Super League and seconddivision Challenge League matches until March 23.

• The Valencia v Atalanta Champions League clash on March 10 will be played behind closed doors as will the Europa League tie featuring Inter Milan against Getafe on March 12.

• English Premier League players and officials will not take part in the traditional pre-match handshake from this weekend. Teams have been told that they will still line up as usual before kick-off, but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands. AFP

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

Leonard lifts Clippers past stumbling Rockets L

OS ANGELES, United States—Reigning playoff MVP Kawhi Leonard scored a team high 25 points as the Los Angeles Clippers won their sixth straight game with a 120-105 rout of the Houston Rockets on Thursday (Friday Philippine time).

Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell finished with double doubles for the Clippers in a battle between the two Western Conference powerhouses.

They have played each other four times this season with both teams winning twice. But the Clippers would have the edge if they tie in the standings because they have a better record against team in their conference.

The Rockets trailed by as many as 30 points and led only once at 4-2.

Leonard also had six rebounds and five assists and Zubac finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Harrell tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds for the visiting Clippers at the Toyota Centre arena.

Meanwhile, Norm Powell scored a career-high 37 points as the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors

spoiled the return of Stephen Curry with a 121-113 win over Golden State that clinched them a playoff spot for the seventh straight season.

After missing four months with a broken hand, Curry was back in the Warriors’ lineup as they faced Toronto for the first time since the NBA finals.

“We knew Steph would be back so it would be a great night and a great atmosphere,” said Raptors star Kyle Lowry. “He is one of the best players in the league so we had to be a little more focused and concentrate on him.”

After a slow start, Curry finished with 23 points for the injury-hit Warriors, who have won just 14 games this season and have the worst record in the league.

“I felt great. It was a cool moment with the excitement in the building. Toronto is

a championship team so they got a lot of chemistry,” said Curry, who missed 58 games.

This season they are also without Klay Thompson, who blew out his knee during a 30-point performance in the playoff-ending game six against Toronto.

The Warriors now have won two of their past four games after an eight-game losing skid. They have lost 10 consecutive home games and it remains to be seen if Curry can rescue them from their dismal season.

Pascal Siakam nailed a clutch basket while being fouled with 45 seconds left to give Toronto a four-point lead.

Golden State’s Damion Lee scored 23 points he also missed two free throws and a wide open three pointer which ended any hope of the Warriors coming back in the final minute.

Lowry’s double-double consisted of 26 points and a game-high 10 assists, while Serge Ibaka chipped in with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Siakam finished with 17 points. AFP

Joshua’s manager says Fury fight in the works LONDON, United Kingdom—Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he is “ready to conclude a deal” for an allBritish showdown between his fighter and Tyson Fury in December to determine the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

Fury beat American Deontay Wilder last month to win the WBC title, meaning he and Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, hold all four of the major belts in boxing’s heavyweight division.

Clamor for a bout between the pair has been building but Joshua will first take on IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria on June 20 while Fury is likely to settle a contractual obligation to face Wilder again the following month.

However, Hearn has divulged that talks with Fury’s handlers are progressing smoothly for a blockbuster fight later this year, provided both combatants come through their next bouts.

Hearn told the Press Association: “Myself and Bob Arum (Fury’s promoter) have been talking to a point where we’re ready to conclude a deal and

try to move forward to get that deal done for December.

“There’s no reason why we can’t put that deal in place now for the winner of those two fights.”

He added: “We’ve just got to iron out some basic things like broadcasters and where the fight is going to take place. But I believe there’s a real desire from both sides to get that fight done now. December would be perfect.

“To have two British heavyweight champions is unbelievable but to have them fighting for the undisputed championship is something that will never, ever happen in our lifetime again.”

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff as well as Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia remain the front-runners to stage the fight.

But Hearn is optimistic of more than one meeting between the pair and is confident that they will cross paths in Britain at some point.

“This fight is probably going to happen two, maybe three times,” he said. “We’re going to get it in the UK, it’s just whether one, two or three.

“December limits us in the UK, it just really leaves us with the (Principality Stadium), so we’re going to look at all options but first thing’s first, let’s get the deal papered and know exactly where we stand.” AFP

Tyson Fury celebrates after beating Deontay Wilder to win the WBC heavyweight world championship at the MGM Grand Arena.

AFP

Curry wants to play in Tokyo Olympics

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts to the crowd during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. AFP

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry, returning to the NBA after four months with a broken left hand, said Thursday (Friday Philippine time) he still wants to play at the Tokyo Olympics.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Curry, cleared to play Wednesday by doctors, has missed 58 games since falling on his hand and breaking it on October 30 against Phoenix.

Curry, who helped the US squad to unbeaten world championship runs in 2010 and 2014, was among 44 finalists for the United States Olympic squad announced last month by USA Basketball.

Three-time NBA champion Curry, who withdrew his name from 2016 Rio Olympic consideration due to lingering ankle and knee injuries, would be done in mid-April for the NBA-worst Warriors, giving him ample time before the US squad gathers after the NBA Finals in mid-June ahead of the Japan Games, which begin July 24.

“There’s a lot of time before now and then, but I’ve always had that on my radar,” Curry said of the Olympics.

“It wasn’t really a thought until recently when I’m getting back to where I’m ready to play.”

Two-time Olympic champions LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are among the other

finalists for a spot on the 12-man squad that San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will guide in Tokyo.

“Right now the focus, obviously, is just trying to stay healthy these last 20 games, get my rhythm back, get to the level of basketball I know I’m capable of playing,” Curry said.

“You kind of understand what the schedule looks like leading up to July when training camp in Vegas starts, but that’s still the goal.”

Curry has watched the Warriors struggle after losing former teammate Kevin Durant, who left for Brooklyn, and backcourt partner Klay Thompson, sidelined all season by a left knee injury suffered in last year’s NBA Finals.

“I feel like the first day of school all over again, which is exciting,” Curry said. “I feel pretty comfortable, pretty confident, with where I am physically.”

Curry said he had set a goal of returning around March 1 and even though he missed it by a few days, he’s confident his hand is ready for him to show the 3-point sharpshooting form that made him a superstar.

“With all the different circumstances of trying to get my conditioning, my rhythm and make sure my hand’s been through enough competitive, tough situations where I know how it’ll respond, it took this long to heal,” Curry said. “We didn’t rush, and we weren’t overly conservative.” AFP

BACOOR CITY—Bacoor struck back while Davao Occidental cruised to the finals in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Davao Season on Thursday at Strike Gymnasium here.

Propped up by hometown fans, the Bacoor Strikers started hot and never wavered to batter the Basilan Steel, 80-69, level their own semifinal series at 1-1 and force a decider today March 7 at the same venue.

Asserting their mastery over Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, the Tigers prevailed anew, 62-58, to sweep their South division semifinals, 2-0.

Though they missed MPBL Datu Cup MVP Gab Banal due to a sprained medial collateral ligament, the Strikers surged ahead at 37-10 before fending off the Basilenos’ final assault that brought them to within, 69-76, in the homestretch.

Sans Banal, who sustained the injury following a collision with Basilan star Allyn Bulanadi in Game 1 won by the Steel (7763), former pro Michael Mabulac, homegrown talents Ian Melencio and Mark Montuano and Mark Pangilinan delivered for coach Chris Gavina’s charges.

Mabulac scored 14 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Strikers ruled the boards, 58-39. Melencio, an icon in Cavite leagues before joining the MPBL, tallied 17 points and four assists; Montuano contributed 15 points plus seven boards, and Pangilinan chipped in 10 points.

Basilan, mentored by Jerson Cabiltes, got 16 points from Bulanadi, a Gilas pool member, 15 points from five triples by former pro Jonathan Uyloan and 11 from Chris Dumapig.

Proving their 47-28 dumping of the Zamboanguenos in Game 1 was no fluke, the Cocolife-backed Tigers, with Kenneth Mocon at the helm, pulled away at 59-45 midway of the fourth quarter.

Zamboanga, through Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Anton Asistio, and Robin Roño persevered to threaten at 58-61 with 48 seconds left.

Davao’s Mark Yee, playing despite a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear, muffed a 3-pointer to give Zamboanga one last chance to extend the game.

Asistio, however, missed the probable game-tying three-pointer, after which Davao’s Bonbon Custodio split his charities for the final count.

Mocon led Davao with14 points built on four three-pointers while hounding Asistio in the last quarter.

Chester Saldua supported Mocon with eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while James Forrester posted eight points, for rebounds, three assists and two steals for coach Don Dulay.

NCFP holds eliminations for national championships THE country’s aspiring chess masters are set to compete in the eliminations of the 75th Philippine National Chess Championships (2nd leg) on March 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2020 at the SM Olongapo City Central in Olongapo City, Zambales.

The tournament is open to all Filipino chess players who are members of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

The Fide Standard rating tournament is organized by the NCFP in cooperation with Olongapo City mayor Rolen C. Paulino Jr., Olongapo City Sports and Youth Development led by OIC David B. Bayarong, SM Central Olongapo City and Olongapo City Elementary School.

“This is one big step for your dream of becoming a National Master and have a great chance of having a FIDE Standard Rating (increase your FIDE Standard). This will surely help you to attain your dream of becoming a FIDE Titled Player.” said NCFP Assistant Executive Director/International Arbiter Reden “Red” Cruz.

“Another chance to qualify for the semifinal and keep the National Master dream alive. The second leg is in SM Olongapo City Central guys sali na!” said Fide National Arbiter Joel “Jev” Villanueva.

For inquiries please call or text NCFP Assistant Executive Director International Arbiter Reden “Red” Cruz (0921-565-1406), Fide National Arbiter Joel “Jev” Villanueva (0950906-0341) and NCFP Executive Director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe (0918-897-4410).

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

Eala misses quarterfinals in Tunisia ITF tourney

Tsitsipas dazzles in Davis Cup match

By Peter Atencio ALEX Eala fell to a 6-4, 6-7(6), 5-7 loss to third seed Swiss netter Nina Stadler yesterday in the $15,000 $15,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) women’s tournament in Monastir, Tunisia.

This put Stadler in the quarterfinals and will next face Bosnia’s Nefisa Berberovic.

The sixth seeded Berberovic made it after she put away Joanna Zawadzka, 6-1, 6-1 of Poland.

Top seed Nastja Kolar also advanced after her 6-1, 6-0 win over Lucie Petruzelova of the Czech Republic.

The 14-year-old Eala, now ranked no.

4 in the world junior rankings, is on her first professional outing.

She became a Rafa Nadal Academy scholar after clinching a wildcard to the 2018 Roland Garros juniors tournament qualifiers.

Scouts from the RNA invited her to join the academy, which is run by Rafa, who is an 11-time Grand Slam winner.

She is there with her brother Miko and Ealam and they have since been studying at the American International School of Mallorca.

Eala is setting her sights on playing in the 2020 French Open Eala moved up in the ITF girls’ rankings, from ninth to eighth place to no. 4 in the world by Sunday last weekend of February after the 2020 Australian Open.

She emerged as the world no. 4 player in the ITF junior rankings after playing 22 events from 2019 until the Australian Open juniors.

According to the latest ITF junior rankings, Diane Parry of France stayed the no. 1 spot after 17 events in 2019.

Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra, who is the Australian Open 2020 girls singles winner, emerged as the no. 2 ranked player after seeing action in 34 events. She moved up 17 notches from no. 19.

Veteran Barnachea to retire VETERAN rider Santy Barnachea is retiring soon to coach a younger generation of professional cyclists.

Barnachea made this clear at the end of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 10th anniversary race.

He said he wasn’t even supposed to compete with Team Scratch It. But their team manager Jeremy Go asked him to stay on and lead the younger generation of riders.

“Dapat hindi na ako kasali sa Ronda, pero pinakiusapan ako na dalhin ang team. Ang ensayo ko kasi ay hindi ganoon kataas ang level,” said Barnachea.

Barnachea really felt it was time to go when 26-year-old Kenneth Solis of Team Tarlac-Central Luzon earned his best finish in a professional race in five years.

Barnachea’s decision not to go for the stage win in the final kilometer became a cue for a five-man breakaway group to leave him behind.

Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance came up with their best finish, behind George Oconer when he won the overall individual honors.

Teammates led by 2018 titlist Ronald Oranza, Ronald Lomotos, John Mark Camingao, Junrey Navarra and El Joshua Carino were in second to sixth places.

Barnachea made a comeback in 2018 when he joined newcomer Team Franzia in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018.

He won the inaugural race in 2011 and repeated as champion in 2015. Peter Atencio

World ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns a shot against AJ Lim of the Philippines in their Davis Cup match at the Philippine Columbian Association Plaza Dilao courts in Paco, Manila. Ey Acasio

S

TEFANOS Tsitsipas of Greece gave Filipino fans a dazzling show of world-class tennis as he overwhelmed the Philippines AJ Lim, 6-2, 6-1, yesterday to gain the early upper hand in their Davis Cup World Group II playoff tie at the Philippine Columbian Association’s Plaza Dilao courts in Paco, Manila.

Tsitsipas’ younger brother Petros was equally impressive as he mauled the host country’s top bet Jeson Patrombon, 6-2, 6-1, to give the Greeks a 2-0 and pushed them on the cusp of sealing the victory.

But the Filipinos will try to extend the tie a bit longer as Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales shoot for a win against Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis in today’s doubles.

The reverse singles pitting Stefanos and Patrombon and Petros and Lim are also set today.

The 6-4 Tsitsipas, ranked No. 6 in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings, towered above the 5-7 Lim, whom he pummeled with an array of shots—from crisp backhands to powerful volleys—to carve out the win that lasted 53 minutes.

Tsitsipas showed the same form that had gotten him a runner-up finish to

Novak Djokovic in the Dubai Championship less than a week ago and made life difficult for Lim, the country’s No. 2 netter.

It gave the heavily favored Greeks a 1-0 lead while avenging an almost long-forgotten defeat by the 21-year-old Tsitsipas to the 20-year-old Lim in a doubles showdown in their junior days years back.

And what’s more impressive was Tsitsipas’ admission after the game that he struggled adjusting to surface of the court as well as the heat.

“I had a difficult time adjusting to the court it felt like a sauna here, but I still found ways to adjust,” said Tsitsipas.

Lim, for his part, was just star-struck by how Tsitsipas played.

“Unreal,” said Lim on Tsitsipas.

Van der Valk clings to two-stroke lead STA. ROSA, Laguna—Guido Van der Valk survived another day of floundering finishes here yesterday, fending off Clyde Mondilla’s early threat with a pitch-in eagle on No. 8 then holding sway despite a wobbly windup to cling to a two-stroke lead after three rounds of The Country Club Invitational.

The duo matched 75s, which proved to the best in wicked conditions, marred by almost identical three-bogey mishaps in the last eight holes as they kept the 1-2 posts at 220 and 222, respectively, with the Dutchman moving 18 holes away from becoming the third straight nonFilipino to win the Philippine Golf Tour’s flagship championship after back-toback victories by Koreans Micah Shin and Kim Joo Hyung.

“I think today (yesterday) was the hardest with the wind practically blowing in all 18 holes,” said Van der Valk, adding that TCC actually needs no wind to be extremely difficult, given its length, the roughs, hazards and the putting surface.

“Just look at the scores, it was that hard and I am happy with this 75. I actually feel that I played my best round,” he added.

He was just so delighted with his eagle on No. 8 when his 7-iron second shot from 210 yards fell 10 yards short of the green but his pitch landed exactly where he had wanted.

But his own version of a 75 also gave Mondilla a clear shot at a second straight crown at the dreaded TCC layout after the Del Monte star bested

Guido Van der Valk tees off at hole number 2. He survived another day of floundering finishes to fend off Clyde Mondilla’s early threat to cling to a two-stroke lead after three rounds of The Country Club Invitational.

a tough international field to win the Solaire Philippine Open last year.

Unlike in his impressive second round 70 where he hit all greens, however, Mondilla, 26, struggled with his short game, saying: “I missed a lot of greens. You’ve got to be consistent with your short game here at TCC, especially in putting.”

He actually pulled to within one with a birdie on the first hole but the early warning hardly shook Van der Valk’s confidence as the latter watched the former lose his rhythm and bogey three

of the next five holes.

Mondilla broke the spell with a birdie on the par-5 No. 8 but Van der Valk, who also bogeyed No. 3, eagled it to go 4-up, only to yield strokes in the next two holes on a bogey on the ninth coupled with the Filipino ace’s birdie on the 10th.

But he never got any closer and Van der Valk failed to pull away either as Mondilla bogeyed Nos. 11, 12 and 18 and the latter dropped strokes on Nos. 11, 14 and 18, the treacherous par-4 many believe would decide the outcome today.

UE subdues Adamson in football JOSHUA Macaraig scored the winning goal in the 75th minute to lead University of the East to a 3-2 triumph over Adamson at the start of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Football Tournament, Thursday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Recto-based school took the lead with two goals early in the match.

That’s when Nikko Palacio struck past Adamson goalkeeper Zacchaeus Suarez after just three minutes of action.

Then, Macaraig rebounded the ball from John Lester Carandang’s missed penalty to double the Red Warriors’ cushion at the 35th minute.

But the Falcons tried to come back when Bryce Rabino struck for Adamson in the 44th minute.

“Well, honestly, hindi ko inexpect na mananalo kami today.

Actually yung target lang namin talaga is huwag magpa-goal sa kalaban,” shared Arboleda.

Adamson’s last goal came from Arnulfo Villanueva when he penetrated the defense in the fourth minute of added time.

Earlier, defending champion Ateneo played without Jarvey Gayoso, Julian Roxas, and Jeremiah Rocha, and settled for a 1-all draw in the opener.

Midfielder Nino Herrera stepped up when he converted a spot-kick for Ateneo in the 83rd minute.

“Nakikita ko ‘yung boys na they pushed themselves to give their best sa game na ‘yun,” said Ateneo coach Jaypee Merida.

Rookie winger Francis Tacardon got off with a good debut his heroics in the 56th minute for UP. Tacardon evaded the tight marking he got from the Ateneo defenders, handing State U the lead following a scoreless first half. Peter Atencio

Southwoods holds off charging Luisita to lead by six Ronel Tagaan of Luisita studies the green intently before attempting a putt.

BACOLOD—Manila Southwoods got the goods from Jung Hyun-jae and Masaichi Otake in the closing holes on Friday to cling precariously to the Championship division lead heading into the final 18 holes of the 73rd Philippine Airlines Interclub.

The duo returned four-over-par 74s worth 32 points each, boosting the Carmona-based squad to a 125 total for 362 to hold off Luisita, which made a bold charge with 135 points anchored on the tournament-best 39 points of Elee Bisera to come within six points.

That would make the final 18 holes interesting—if they will at all be played Saturday—as the threat of them being canceled cropped up with heavy rains pounding the Marapara course all afternoon long and early evening.

Del Monte bowed out of the fight after a measly 106 points, with Raul Minoza leading the squad with 30 for 336 overall.

Those rains called off third round play of the Founders and Friendship divisions, and if Binitin, where SW, Luisita and Del Monte played, holds up, then the final round of those tournaments will be held to be able to complete 54 holes as Forest Hills tries to cling to a four-point lead.

Sean Ramos accounted for 31 and Southwoods downplayed its efficiency by throwing away either 30 of Krsitoffer Arevalo or Vince Lauron as the team held sway despite several stoppages in play because of heavy rains.

Southwoods remains to be the solid favorite to prevail because Japanese aces Yuto Katsuragawa and Aguri Iwasaki will be coming out for

the final day together with Jun Jun Plana, Josh Jorge and Santino Laurel.

SW scored 122 points in the opening round, the best in the field on Wednesday.

Jung, the young South Korean birdied his last three holes and Otake two of his last four as Southwoods weathered a one-man charge by Bisera, who drained five birdies at the tight, tree-lined layout.

Forest Hills has a four-point lead over Tagaytay Highlands in the Founders, and both teams can field their best fives for the final 18 holes, slated at Binitin.

Cebu Country Club now doesn’t have a chance at a repeat for the overall title, but can settle for the second best thing with a mighty rally on Saturday’s final round. Cebu CC is just nine points behind of Forest Hills.

IN BRIEF

ICC okays Customs modernization project

THE Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee said Friday it approved the P5.45-billion customs modernization project of the Bureau of Customs.

ICC considered the project a “revenue collection infrastructure project” that aims to improve the bureau’s efficiency and transparency by streamlining and upgrading its systems and procedures through the use of information and communications technology.

Of the total project cost of P5.45 billion, P4.6 billion or 84.5 percent is proposed for official development assistance financing through one of the multilateral agencies.

Members of the committee held a meeting Friday to discuss the progress of ICC- and NEDA Board-approved projects and the status of pipeline projects.

The committee said of the 100 projects under the Infrastructure Flagship Program, 46 of them are ongoing implementation, up from last year’s figure of 32 projects.

“Of the 100 projects, we expect a total of 50 projects to be completed by the end of 2022, but all the 100 projects will be started within the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” the committee said.

Julito G. Rada

Business ANVIL AWARD FOR SECURITY BANK. The flagship

corporate social responsibility program “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project” of Security Bank Foundation Inc. wins a Gold Anvil Award for a Public Relations Program on a Sustained Basis. SBFI since its inception has advocated for education as a long-term solution to poverty. SBFI chairman Rafael Simpao Jr. (center), SBFI trustee Melissa Aquino (second from right) and SBFI program manager Louie De Real (second from left) posed with members of the 55th Anvil Awards board of jurors Marco Polo and Deivid Rioferio during the awarding ceremony.

January forex reserves increased to $87.61b

THE country’s gross international reserves rose $0.74 billion to $87.61 billion at the end of February from $86.87 billion in January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

BSP said in a statement the increase in reserves “reflected inflows arising from the national government’s net foreign currency deposits and BSP’s net foreign exchange operations.”

“These inflows were partly offset, however, by payments made by the government for servicing its foreign currency debt obligations,” it added.

The GIR at this level can cover 7.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and services and payments of primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.4 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.8 times based on residual maturity.

Net international reserves, which refer to the difference between the BSP’s GIR and total short-term liabilities, also increased $0.74 billion to $87.6 billion at the end of February $86.86 billion in January. Julito G. Rada

PNB sees bigger rate cuts from BSP in 2020

PHILIPPINE National Bank, the fifthlargest lender led by airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to have bigger policy rate cuts this year on slower inflation rate due in part to the impact of coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

In a report Friday, PNB Macro Research cited the slowdown in consumer prices in February 2020 to 2.6 percent from 2.9 percent a month ago.

The February inflation was significantly slower than 3.8 percent a year ago. The figure brought the average in the first two months to 2.75 percent, well below the midpoint of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

“COVID-19’s impact on February inflation (with emphasis on the lower oil/ fuel price effects) resulted in a trajectory that turned benign compared to the preCOVID outlook,” the report said.

PNB said in March the headline inflation could dip to 2.5 percent year-onyear. It said post-COVID, inflation could re-test 2.7 percent in June-July before probing 3 percent in the fourth quarter.

Julito G. Rada

S&P says PH less affected by virus but ADB cautious

By Julito G. Rada

M

AJOR debt watcher S&P Global Ratings on Friday said the Philippines is among the economies in the Asia-Pacific region that could be less affected by the coronavirus disease because of its minimal exposure to China and global supply chains.

But the Asian Development Bank gave a contrasting assessment. It said in a statement the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak would have a significant impact on developing Asian economies through numerous channels, including sharp declines in domestic demand, lower tourism and business travel, trade and production linkages, supply disruptions and health effects.

S&P Asia-Pacific chief economist Shaun Roache, in a report titled “COVID-19 Now Threatens More Damage to Asia-Pacific,” cited Indonesia, Malaysia and India along with the Philip-

pines as having the potential to weather the economic impact of the dreaded disease that has already claimed the lives of more than 3,000 individuals globally.

“Asia’s emerging markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India appear somewhat insulated, with less exposure to China and global supply chains,” Roache said.

But he warned the outlook could get worse very quickly for two reasons.

“If low reported cases are due, in part, to minimal testing, then viral spread is still possible, and could overwhelm weak healthcare infrastructure. Financial conditions could also tighten quickly,” Roache said.

“If investors ask for a much higher risk premium for emerging market assets, policymakers will have much less space to cut interest rates and boost public spending,” Roache said. This could add to downward pressures on growth, he said.

He said growth across Asia-Pacific will slow to 4.0 percent in 2020, the lowest since the global financial crisis, due to the coronavirus outbreak. He said a U-shaped recovery should start later in 2020 but by then overall economic damage is likely to reach $211 billion.

“Household spending in Japan and Korea are set to weaken further and

slower growth in the U.S. and Europe will add to external headwinds,” he said.

Roache expects China to grow at just 4.8 percent in 2020 before rebounding strongly by 6.6 percent in 2021.

Roache said the hardest-hit economies remained Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand where people flows and supply chain channels were large. He said Australia was also quite vulnerable, with growth in 2020 expected to touch 1.2 percent, well below trend.

S&P currently rates the Philippines BBB+ or investment grade with a positive outlook.

The ADB,meanwhile, said the magnitude of the economic losses would depend on how the outbreak evolved. Its range of scenarios in the analysis suggested a global impact in the range of $77 billion to $347 billion, or 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent of global gross domestic product.

In a moderate scenario, where precautionary behaviors and restrictions such as travel bans start easing three months after the outbreak intensified and restrictions were imposed in late January, global losses could reach $156 billion, or 0.2 percent of global GDP. China would account for $103 billion of those losses—or 0.8 percent of its GDP. The rest of developing Asia would lose $22 billion, or 0.2 percent of its GDP.

ERC terminates PECO’s license to distribute power THE Energy Regulatory Commission revoked the certificate of public convenience and necessity of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) after More Electric Power Corp., which holds the franchise to distribute power in Iloilo City, took over possession of the distribution system in Iloilo City.

ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera informed both parties that the commission revoked PECO’s CPCN to “prevent chaos and confusion among said customers as to who is authorized to operate the distribution system in the area” as part of the agency’s mandate to protect consumer interest and ensure uninterrupted electric service.

Devanadera said the commission also resolved to issue a provisional authority authorizing MORE to operate the distribution network in Iloilo.

Republic Act 11212 granting a legislative franchise to MORE allowed the company to operate and maintain a distribution system to the end-users of Iloilo City for 25 years.

“While MORE is unable to secure the certificate of exemption from the Department of Energy necessary to enter into emergency power supply agreements, it shall source its power requirements from the current power generation suppliers of PECO,” she said.

Devanadera informed PECO and MORE that the commission, through its technical personnel, conducted an ocular inspection on March 3 and 4 to verify the actual status of the distribution network and determine who among MORE and PECO was actually operating the system.

Devanadera said the ERC inspection ream submitted a report confirming that MORE had gained full possession and control over five substations and prepared for all other aspects related to electricity distribution. Alena Mae S. Flores

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

B1

Meralco says rates in March up slightly by P0.0278/kWh

By Alena Mae S. Flores CUSTOMERS of power retailer Manila Electric Co. will experience an increase of P0.0278 per kilowatt-hour in their billing this month as the overall rate for a household with average monthly consumption of 200 kWh rose to P8.8901 per kWh from last month’s P8.8623 per kWh. Meralco said in a statement Friday the higher rates translated into a P6 increase in the total bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh. The slight upward adjustment of power rates came after two consecutive months of reductions.

“The slight increase this month is mainly due to a higher generation charge, which was mitigated by a refund of over-recoveries in passthrough charges and a one-time adjustment in universal charge-National Power Corp. stranded contract costs (UC-SCC),” it said.

The March rate reflects the approved adjustments of the Energy Regulatory Commission on Meralco’s over/under-recoveries in pass-through charges for the period January 2012 to October 2013.

The adjustments, to be implemented for a period of three months, are incorporated in the generation, transmission, system loss charges and subsidies. For residential customers, the adjustments translate into a net reduction of P0.05 per kWh, excluding taxes.

The ERC directed Meralco to implement a P0.1453 per kWh rate reversal in UC-SCC representing collections in excess of the amount due to Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

The regulator directed distribution utilities like Meralco (both private and electric cooperatives) to refund to their respective consumers the over-recoveries in the generation rate, transmission rate, system loss rate, lifeline subsidy rate and senior citizens subsidy rate, also known as pass- through charges.

ERC’s initial evaluation show the DUs’ total over-recoveries ranged from as high as P657.58 million to as low as P107,000 covering several time periods.

Villar: NLEX road link to ease traffic further

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DDB GROUP MEDALS. Integrated marketing communication conglomerate DDB Group Philippines garners 15 medals during the 55th Anvil Awards for campaigns and projects it has undertaken with client partners. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (eighth from left) joins members of the DDB Group Philippines during the Anvil Awards. With her (from left) are Ripple8 managing director Robert Vito; Tribal Worldwide Philippines’ creative lead Dan Pambid, digital producer Donna Sta. Anna, creative director Sam Ramos and managing partner Reginne Cabanban; Tourism Assistance Secretary Howie Uyking; Tribal managing director Diane Chua; DDB Group Philippines culture chief Anna Chua-Norbert; DDB Manila managing director Vina Henson; Ripple8 media relations director Mich Ople; and Tourism branding and social media officers Elisa Jane Camunggol and Floyd Esguerra.

EastWest Bank registered record net income of P6.2b in 2019 EASTWEST Banking Corp., the financial unit of Filinvest Development Corp. and one of the largest universal banks in the country, said net income in 2019 jumped 38 percent from a year ago to a record P6.2 billion, mainly driven by the growth of its consumer loans and low-cost deposits.

The bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday it maintained its top-tier position in profitability with return on equity at 14 percent.

“We are pleased to report our highest recorded income ever even as the bank faced a margin squeeze in 2019. We expect a reversal in 2020 and recover a good part of the lost margins,” EastWest chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr.

said in a statement.

He said better global and domestic market liquidity should drive deposit costs lower.

“We also expect our balance sheet to post decent growth as the country is expected to be among the more resilient economies even with COVID-19 and the resulting slowdown in the advanced economies and China,” Moncupa said.

Net revenues rose 13 percent to ₱28.7 billion from ₱25.5 billion in 2018. Net interest income accounted for ₱2.2 billion of the ₱3.2-billion increase while the balance comprised of fees, commissions and fixed income trading gains that grew a combined 16 percent or by ₱1.0 billion.

Operating expenses, excluding provisions for losses, meanwhile, increased 8 percent to ₱16.4 billion in line with the growth of its earning assets.

Cost-to-income ratio improved to 57 percent from last years’ 60 percent.

Provisions for losses rose 3 percent to ₱4.0 billion, slower than the 9-percent increase in its total loan portfolio.

Consumer loans climbed 14 percent.

The bank remains the most consumercentric universal bank, with consumer loans accounting for 73 percent of total loans.

Net interest margin stood at 6.9 percent for the full year, lower than the 7.4 percent it registered in 2018.

Julito G. Rada

THE Department of Public Works and Highways expects to further decongest Metro Manila with the opening of NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 Section this month.

“We are very excited that the vision of our President to bolster development and ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila is now becoming a reality with the NLEX Harbor Link nearing its completion,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday conducted a progress inspection of the NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 Section, the new 2.6-km elevated expressway from Caloocan Interchange, C3 Road, Caloocan City to Radial Road 10, Navotas City.

Now 90 percent complete, the NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 Section is among the flagship infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program aimed at moving the country forward and improving the lives of Filipinos by implementing major projects involving roads, expressways, bridges, railways, airports and green cities.

The new elevated expressway will reduce travel time between NLEX and R10 in Navotas City from 60 minutes to 10 minutes, ensuring timely delivery of goods to and from the ports of Manila. It hopes to divert 30,000 vehicles daily away from the traffic choke points of Metro Manila.

“With this project alone, we hope to relieve Metro Manila 30,000 trucks and vehicles. In a few moths, we will open another project that will relieve EDSA 1,000 vehicles,” Villar said.

“The landscape of Metro Manila will be changed completely. I can say with absolute certainly that the decongestion of EDSA is not only possibility, it is inevitability within this year,” he added.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market slumps; Metro Pacific up S TOCKS tumbled Thursday along with the rest of Asia as analysts warned the volatility that has characterized markets during the coronavirus crisis is likely to continue for some time.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 114.39 points, or 1.7 percent, to 6,770.38 on a value turnover of P5.9 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 138 to 45, with 38 issues unchanged.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 5.4 percent to P53, while First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group slumped 10 percent to P14.80.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. skidded 4.6 percent to P645.50, but Metro Pa-

cific Investment Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution hospitals and infrastructure, rose 5.2 percent to P3.62.

While governments and central banks have unleashed or prepared to roll out stimulus measures, the rapid spread of the disease and rising death toll are putting a strain on economies and stoking concerns of a worldwide recession.

And with no end seemingly in sight— almost 100,000 people in 85 countries have now been infected—investors are fleeing out of risk assets such as stocks and into safe havens including the yen and gold.

“All we know now is that we don’t really understand what’s going to happen next,” Michael Shaoul, head of Marketfield Asset Management, told Bloomberg TV. “It’s probably four, six, eight weeks before we’re going to have any useful

information as to what the trajectory of the virus is and what the actual economic fallout looks like.”

The epidemic has wreaked havoc on international business, tourism, schools and sports events, and the World Health Organization raised concerns about how the outbreak was being handled.

On Friday S&P Global warned that the crisis could wipe $211 billion off Asia-Pacific GDP this year and send growth to just 4.0 percent, its weakest since the financial crisis.

Tokyo ended the day down 2.7 percent, while Shanghai fell 1.2 percent and Hong Kong shed 2.4 percent in late trade.

Sydney, Seoul, Bangkok and Jakarta all lost more than two percent, while Singapore, Wellington and Taipei were more than one percent down.

Mumbai plunged three percent, with Yes Bank crashing more than 70 percent at one point after the central bank seized

control and imposed withdrawal limits as it struggles with a mountain of bad debt.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said the fact that so many governments around the world were now putting resources into the fight had in itself spooked traders. “At a certain point... intervention increases nervousness,” he wrote in a note.

Observers also suggested the selling was also fired by investors protecting their portfolios ahead of the weekend in case of any more negative headlines, with warnings that monetary policy only had a limited effect as the virus continues to spread.

“Investors are starting to price in worst-case scenarios... and are now accelerating their hedging game plans for the eventuality of the eurozone falling into recession and the US economy stagnating in the first half of the year,” said AxiCorp’s Stephen Innes. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review Friday, March 6, 2020

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

FINANCIALS 50.95 10 74.5 1,812,990 141.5 1,513,360 0.78 10,000 24.8 454,300 17.8 600 10.7 405,300 0.365 1,900,000 53 3,471,650 0.7 3,000 11.5 132,300 28 179,000 167 8,990 50.05 730 19.8 19,600 148.1 622,770 57.5 54,500 1.14 34,000

509.5 136,340,558.50 211,571,470 7,800 11,310,705 10,680 4,346,182 751,700 186,615,495.50 2,100 1,543,018 5,023,150 1,493,959 36,535 389,524 92,791,439 3,127,378 38,790

-95517649.9999 52167059.9998 -484,175 -2,923,826 -83,920,619 2,100 1,660,775 1,232,915 -80,000 -60,030,620 -238,803 -

27.1 2.01 6.89 0.61 2.32 0.201 1.18 14.1 171 6.5 31.2 58.85 1.96 4 6.05 10.14 7.5 8.07 3.56 14.8 61.15 1.66 30.55 1.14 13.28 4.51 1.11 173.4 4.71 3.1 6.49 11.62 8 11.7 264.2 0.142 1.8 3.35 9.4 10.22 26.5 4.75 5 1.43 0.96 7.75 69.7 8.78 0.82 131.9 2.4 1.12 0.9

INDUSTRIAL 27.5 480,300 2.03 4,645,000 7.01 1,074,800 0.62 2,074,000 2.34 1,393,000 0.209 600,000 1.19 16,581,000 14.4 278,600 188 60 6.5 764,400 31.2 200 58.85 600 1.96 219,000 4 8,000 6.41 5,220,500 10.2 474,500 7.7 59,300 8.09 541,900 3.63 7,317,000 14.8 7,235,900 61.15 59,020 1.66 8,988,000 35.45 5,500 1.15 3,407,000 13.36 392,100 4.65 1,046,000 1.14 19,000 176.5 637,540 4.71 20,000 3.39 6,000 6.49 100 11.8 1,986,900 8.1 617,300 11.8 3,174,000 269 192,030 0.159 70,000 1.81 203,000 3.37 866,000 9.5 22,400 10.4 183,500 26.8 271,600 4.75 150,000 5 1,200 1.47 1,607,000 0.96 608,000 7.95 333,300 70.05 84,890 8.83 197,000 0.85 370,000 133 680,950 2.4 146,000 1.17 12,717,000 0.93 770,000

13,205,195 9,571,070 7,550,054 1,277,790 3,288,830 123,210 19,960,930 3,976,108 10,770 5,158,296 6,240 36,789 436,430 32,000 34,593,971 4,832,168 457,754 4,379,265 26,831,870 112,201,422 3,609,338.50 15,081,500 188,755 4,015,280 5,224,208 4,875,750 21,420 112,852,248 94,620 19,290 649 23,426,258 4,995,020 37,479,196 51,323,922 10,110 368,190 2,910,360 213,380 1,912,594 7,284,310 712,500 6,000 2,357,030 593,280 2,640,695 5,956,447 1,742,917 305,420 90,532,595 355,800 14,890,580 716,490

-7,252,025 -972,380 30,233 -462,820 -6,439,320 2,483,136 -91,769 -15,760,130 174,130 23,950 1,957,006 53,700 -64,963,936 -3,565,795.50 165,400 48,670 143,870 1,658,616 247,380 -6,571,861 -8,977,444 -158,978 -7,881,138 -10,326,748 -29,020 974,640 -3,492,010 -712,500 -6,000 -1,123,565 -2,193,092 2,051,860 355,800 -268780.0002 -

0.7 45.75 9.94 0.74 6.12 9.75 0.9 678.5 2.18 6.22 5.58 11.64 720 71.25 6.38 0.465 3.75 8.96 0.63 3.66 1.03 127.8 963 0.96 1.1 156 0.22 0.18

0.68 44.55 9.86 0.68 6.1 9 0.88 645.5 2.11 6.11 5.3 11.64 710 69.25 6.38 0.455 3.7 8 0.58 3.44 0.99 125 936 0.8 0.98 140.2 0.211 0.158

HOLDING FIRMS 0.68 1,447,000 44.95 513,600 9.93 8,808,700 0.7 1,287,000 6.1 32,400 9.69 22,700 0.89 408,000 645.5 304,140 291,000 2.14 6.21 343,200 5.33 14,104,100 11.64 100 710 208,990 70.65 1,178,940 6.38 28,000 0.465 180,000 3.7 64,000 8 1,684,400 0.59 1,153,000 3.62 136,875,000 0.99 159,000 125.5 165,990 943 288,050 0.84 9,440,000 0.98 6,000 142.2 5,200 0.22 60,000 0.159 18,430,000

994,460 23,069,855 87,256,107 924,060 197,642 215,590 363,110 199,817,160 620,290 2,111,152 76,201,135 1,164 149,027,630 82,683,572 178,640 83,500 237,810 13,868,747 696,490 491,567,350 158,570 20,828,925 271,617,060 8,441,800 6,330 750,782 13,110 3,088,220

-1,569,340 32,030,112 183,610.00 -21,427,100 1,836,303 -36,057,440 5,544,580 -14,582,218 -178,640 37,100 -6,567,337 -172,760 83,380,280 20,000 5,021,151 2,981,750 73,170 1,100 -313,996 508,500

14.2 0.88 1.35 0.72 40.75 1.62 4.58 6.4 0.495 0.177 0.32 8.6 17.2 0.38 0.086 1.27 1 3.49 0.188 0.95 0.34 2.08 24.05

14.16 0.81 1.32 0.71 39.25 1.6 4.42 6.08 0.49 0.161 0.31 8.22 16.8 0.37 0.086 1.19 0.99 3.36 0.181 0.91 0.305 2.05 22.9

PROPERTY 14.16 927,500 0.82 19,926,000 1.33 183,000 0.72 189,000 39.6 12,334,700 1.6 303,000 4.52 41,000 6.4 150,100 0.495 4,638,000 0.161 280,000 0.315 1,070,000 8.4 39,300 17.16 104,800 0.37 1,390,000 0.086 10,000 1.2 22,919,000 0.99 91,000 3.4 11,155,000 0.184 4,630,000 0.91 853,000 0.31 1,240,000 2.05 1,765,000 23.3 461,000

13,160,082 16,717,250 246,570 135,820 491,372,315 485,320 185,740 914,672 2,276,815 45,750 337,950 332,564 1,793,890 515,700 860 28,060,290 90,100 37,993,260 853,600 780,790 390,200 3,620,610 10,779,425

745,082 20,250 49,950 -35,541,440 -251,200 9,090 -611,280 -24,750 -9,051 276,438 -14,948,360 3,856,670 -407,950 -4,966,660

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

50.95 77 140.9 0.78 24.8 17.8 10.94 0.385 56 0.7 11.8 28.95 153.1 50.05 20 154 57.95 1.14

50.95 77 141.5 0.78 24.95 17.8 10.94 0.425 56 0.7 11.8 28.95 167 50.05 20 154.9 58 1.16

50.95 74.1 138.2 0.78 24.8 17.8 10.66 0.365 53 0.7 11.5 28 153.1 50 19.74 145.3 57.2 1.13

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CONCEPCION CONCRETE A 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 MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

27.5 2.05 7.1 0.64 2.39 0.209 1.26 14.2 171 6.83 31.2 59 2.01 4 7.06 10.18 7.72 8.08 3.71 16.36 62 1.72 35.5 1.23 13.36 4.74 1.13 183 4.97 3.2 6.49 12 8.15 11.9 267 0.142 1.82 3.38 9.8 10.22 27 4.75 5 1.48 1 7.95 70.5 8.9 0.85 133 2.5 1.15 0.95

27.8 2.11 7.1 0.64 2.42 0.209 1.26 14.4 188 7 31.2 62 2.02 4 7.06 10.2 8 8.1 3.8 16.44 62 1.72 36 1.23 13.36 4.8 1.14 183 4.97 3.39 6.49 12 8.26 12 269 0.159 1.84 3.39 9.8 10.5 27 4.75 5 1.52 1.01 7.96 71.6 8.9 0.85 135 2.5 1.19 0.96

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

0.7 45.75 9.92 0.68 6.12 9.75 0.88 677 2.11 6.19 5.45 11.64 720 71.25 6.38 0.465 3.7 8.96 0.6 3.45 1 126 963 0.8 1.1 147.3 0.211 0.165

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

14.2 0.88 1.35 0.71 40 1.62 4.42 6.08 0.495 0.177 0.32 8.6 17.18 0.37 0.086 1.26 1 3.47 0.187 0.95 0.34 2.07 23.8

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING),

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

1.95 3.09 38.65 2.34 1.68 6.52 4.95

1.95 3.09 39.1 2.35 1.69 6.64 5.11

1.95 3.09 38.5 2.3 1.62 6.44 4.9

1.95 3.09 38.55 2.34 1.62 6.64 4.9

10,000 1,000 7,856,900 223,000 1,691,000 809,900 144,800

19,500 3,090 304,338,055 514,270 2,777,430 5,368,634 724,256

40,418,040 -2,766,286 -

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

7.21 21.85 1.33 9.98 0.42 0.046 2.47 7.34 0.038 74.95 3.51 1.72 6.71 1,825 5.3 9.7 1.03 104 8 0.099 1.69 12 1.86 0.91 8 0.455 2.8 1.58 2.9 2.6 1.96 1.98 6.8 8 150 2.32 1,043 0.465 0.28 34.9 61.4 8.9 1.79 0.52 0.207 0.54 18.08

8.51 21.85 1.43 9.98 0.425 0.046 2.47 7.66 0.038 74.95 3.58 1.72 7 1,841 5.3 11.88 1.04 104 8 0.099 1.69 12 1.9 0.96 8.05 0.455 2.8 1.65 2.95 2.85 1.96 1.98 6.8 8 150 2.32 1,062 0.465 0.28 35.2 62.25 8.9 1.79 0.53 0.209 0.57 18.1

7.21 21 1.33 9.82 0.4 0.045 2.45 7.23 0.034 71.25 3.45 1.72 6.59 1,819 5.23 9.7 1.01 98.6 7.17 0.093 1.55 11.54 1.8 0.9 7.7 0.44 2.6 1.57 2.58 2.6 1.92 1.95 6.5 7.98 145 2.25 1,025 0.445 0.265 34.05 61.2 8.31 1.67 0.52 0.201 0.52 17.98

SERVICES 7.95 21 1.35 9.98 0.41 0.045 2.46 7.54 0.034 71.3 3.52 1.72 7 1,831 5.23 11.88 1.01 102 7.99 0.099 1.58 11.54 1.8 0.93 8.03 0.44 2.74 1.58 2.67 2.76 1.92 1.98 6.8 7.98 148 2.3 1,059 0.445 0.275 34.05 61.5 8.31 1.68 0.52 0.201 0.57 18.1

79,400 947,100 4,000 787,200 1,440,000 5,800,000 39,000 7,635,500 16,500,000 179,370 418,000 2,000 1,800 26,235 515,900 400 356,000 3,112,430 12,500 30,000 41,468,000 6,000 331,000 329,000 928,100 270,000 42,000 4,045,000 8,995,000 76,000 754,000 26,000 20,400 6,420,200 809,370 472,000 278,005 6,920,000 15,670,000 1,181,000 450,100 1,800 4,596,000 610,000 2,850,000 1,045,000 694,700

631,038 20,185,245 5,540 7,846,395 582,400 261,600 95,760 57,579,712 584,600 12,870,436.50 1,468,000 3,440 11,921 48,051,640 2,707,324 4,208 364,310 314,408,027.50 92,218 2,910 66,412,140 69,410 606,010 301,570 7,355,207 119,950 114,840 6,431,270 24,962,760 206,180 1,451,620 51,120 134,120 51,361,126 117,371,680 1,068,570 291,555,805 3,119,200 4,200,700 40,655,075 27,660,665 15,520 7,826,270 320,930 577,200 566,060 12,546,898

28,565 226,804 30,395,058 18,500 -8,823,714 46,150 -1,326,275 -25375373.5 -1,671,210 1,170 -402,020 -337,730 -1,952,310 -2,760 1,980 -22,750 613,120 27,120.00 -25,597,040 416,350 1,350,000 -22,450,215 -7,649,235 454,760 43,990 -3,334,820

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

0.0013 7.78 1.03 10.68 2.7 0.27 6.35 0.91 0.199 0.089 0.0076 0.0074 0.61 2.14 0.95 0.45 0.59 0.0093 0.0095 0.0096 2.89 6.32 19.5 0.0039

0.0013 8.17 1.05 10.98 2.86 0.295 6.41 0.91 0.199 0.093 0.0076 0.0074 0.61 2.14 0.97 0.45 0.63 0.0093 0.0095 0.0096 2.89 6.44 19.7 0.0045

0.0012 7.25 0.99 10.68 2.69 0.265 6.34 0.82 0.196 0.089 0.0076 0.0074 0.61 2.06 0.95 0.45 0.59 0.0092 0.0095 0.0096 2.81 5.98 19.48 0.0039

MINING & OIL 0.0013 35,000,000 7.4 3,060,500 0.99 2,906,000 10.98 800 2.7 462,000 0.275 1,050,000 6.38 8,000 0.84 9,433,000 0.196 200,000 0.093 320,000 0.0076 1,000,000 0.0074 1,000,000 0.61 12,000 2.07 4,106,000 0.97 5,000 0.45 50,000 0.63 13,000 0.0092 6,000,000 0.0095 1,000,000 0.0096 6,000,000 2.81 675,000 6.01 462,300 19.48 1,733,000 0.0045 3,000,000

42,600 23,822,839 2,962,320 8,604 1,285,150 296,650 51,027 8,015,090 39,280 28,800 7,600 7,400 7,320 8,535,940 4,830 22,500 8,020 55,400 9,500 57,600 1,906,530 2,838,026 33,771,324 12,800

-21,853 -308,290 710,770 -4,639,010 -629,830 -153,893 -2,369,438 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2R CPG PREF A DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

17.9 502 102.5 101.5 107 502 5.1 1,003 100 100.1 1,050 1,060 1,035 77.7 75.05 77.25 76.3

18 502 102.5 101.5 107.2 502 5.1 1,003 100 100.1 1,052 1,060 1,044 77.8 75.1 77.3 76.3

17.72 500 102.5 101.1 107 502 5.03 990.5 100 100.1 1,041 1,060 1,035 77.6 75.05 77.25 76.3

PREFERRED 17.82 108,700 500 1,920 102.5 1,400 101.2 5,200 107 9,000 502 5,060 5.03 383,400 990.5 950 100 34,030 100.1 48,070 1,041 2,015 1,060 600 1,044 5,310 77.65 7,550 75.1 1,280 77.3 10,530 76.3 49,700

1,943,222 962,600 143,500 525,988 963,028 2,540,120 1,936,450 946,475 3,403,000 4,811,807 2,102,320 636,000 5,498,560 586,347 96,118 813,519 3,792,110

102,500 -271319.9999 490,490 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

2.52 8.7 0.76

2.64 8.7 0.77

2.49 8.4 0.71

2.52 8.5 0.71

300,440 552,079 2,234,350

52,710 -40,150

FIRST METRO ETF

104.8

104.8

102.2

3,213,879

108,860

MS Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

24,628,892

INDUSTRIAL

89,869,464

HOLDING FIRMS

197,630,464

PROPERTY

97,712,826

SERVICES

141,475,106

MINING & OIL

78,047,032

GRAND TOTAL

632,645,279

SME

119,000 65,300 3,065,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 102.2 31,250

VALUE 1,596.23 (down) 32.29 1,092,517,440.47 FINANCIAL 8,114.07 (down) 115.25 INDUSTRIAL 804,482,814.29 6,612.26 (down) 93.40 HOLDING FIRMS 1,502,058,994.55 PROPERTY 3,684.87 (down) 77.92 1,330.54 (down) 13.00 1,016,276,311.04 SERVICES 6,281.71 (down) 102.97 MINING & OIL 1,379,396,089.681 6,770.38 (down) 114.39 PSEI 83,808,267.5724 All Shares Index 4,039.55 (down) 55.32 5,884,842,854.55 Gainers: 45; Losers: 138; Unchanged: 38; Total: 221

Megawide ups buyback program by another P3b

By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. has allotted another P3 billion budget for a share buyback program in a bid to boost shareholder’s value.

Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday its board of directors approved the additional P3billion budget, raising the total share buyback program to P5 billion.

The company’s board also approved the removal of the period within which to execute the share repurchase program, making it open-ended.

The board of Megawide in October approved a P2-billion share buyback program to be implemented for period of two years.

Megawide said it was implementing the buyback as a shareholder value enhancement program. It signifies the company’s continued confidence on its long term growth prospects.

From a 52-week high of P23 per share recorded sometime in May last year, stock price of Megawide on Thursday hit a 52-week low of P11.72 apiece due to a massive sell-off caused by the outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Megawide last month signed a P5billion corporate note facility agreement, with the proceeds to be used to retire maturing debt obligation and fund growth projects general corporate purposes.

The notes, which were priced at the lowest range of the guidance, attracted some of the largest financial institutions in the country, resulting in a 1.5x oversubscription.

BPI Capital Corp. acted the as the lead arranger and book runner of the capital raising activity.

Megawide is one of the most innovative engineering and infrastructure companies in the Philippines. The company is a private partner of the government in several infrastructure projects, such as Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

The consortium of Megawide, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. and Dong-Ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd. submitted last year the best bid for Package 1 of the Malolos-Clark Railway Project.

Asian Terminals posted net profit of P3.7b in 2019

By Darwin G. Amojelar ASIAN Terminals Inc. said net income rose 29 percent P3.7 billion in 2019 from P2.9 billion in the previous year on the back of record cargo volume induced by a robust Philippine economy.

The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco said revenues last year increased 8.6 percent to P13.3 billion from P12.3 billion in 2018, driven by higher international containerized cargoes handled by its gateway ports in Manila and Batangas.

Double-digit cargo growth was recorded by Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal, which handled a consolidated container volume of 1.61 million teus (twenty-foot equivalent units)—the highest thus far for the listed port operator.

International boxed cargoes in Manila South Harbor reached 1.3 million TEUs, up by over 10 percent than the 2018 figure. Manila South Harbor handled over 100,000 TEUs for nine out of the 12-month period, setting a new operations milestone capped by nearly 124,000 teus in March.

Batangas Container Terminal, meanwhile, sustained its strong volume growth as it officially broke through the 300,000-TEU mark in 2019, finishing the year with over 311,000 TEUs for a volume increase of over 25 percent compared to 2018.

Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal have effectively supported government’s drive for inclusive growth within and outside Metro Manila by opening direct market connectivity and delivering competitive port services to shippers based in the country’s National Capital Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal & Quezon).

Batangas Port has contributed in decongesting Metro Manila roads. Last year’s cargo volume meant taking out over 150,000 truck trips along metro roads, with more Calabarzon shippers preferring to route consignments via Batangas.

World

B3

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Brazil recalls all diplomats and officials in Venezuela

B

RASILIA―Brazil recalled its entire corps of diplomats and foreign service officials from Venezuela while ordering the government of Nicolas Maduro to pull out its representatives in Brazil, a government source told AFP on Thursday, further hardening the ties between the two.

ARRIVALS. Migrants and refugess who arrived from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos on March 5 try to keep warm as they

gather in the yard of a small church where they have spent the rainy night near Skala Sykamnias on March 6, 2020. A group of 42 refugees and migrants weaved through coast guard patrols and arrived on the shores of Lebos during the evening of March 5. AFP

IN BRIEF Weinstein taken to jail NEW YORK―Disgraced former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was taken to New York’s notorious Rikers Island jail on Thursday, 10 days after he was convicted of rape and sexual assault.

The 67-year-old “Pulp Fiction” producer had been in a Manhattan hospital since his landmark conviction on February 24 after he complained of chest pains following the verdict.

Weinstein―whose films won multiple Oscars―was transferred to an infirmary ward at Rikers following an operation, his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, told AFP. “He had a blockage removed,” Engelmayer said. Multiple US media reported that Weinstein had had a stent installed.

Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree following a high-profile trial that lasted several weeks.

The #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct hailed the verdict as historic but Weinstein’s team say they plan to appeal. AFP

Facebook removes Trump ad SAN FRANCISCO―Facebook has taken down an ad from President Donald Trump’s campaign that critics said misled people into believing it was an official message about the US census.

The ads encouraged readers to “take the official 2020 Congressional District Census,” but clicking on the messages directed users to a Trump campaign website.

Facebook has been under pressure from activists who have said its hand-off policy on political messages enables the proliferation of misinformation.

But the leading social network has also said that as part of its fact-checking operation it would take down any ads or posts which mislead users about the census being conducted this year.

“There are policies in place to prevent confusion around the official US Census and this is an example of those being enforced,” Facebook said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The ads directed users to a survey asking people’s views of Trump as well as their age, name, and contact information, and then appealed for a donation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at Facebook on Thursday for allowing the ads, saying they were misleading users. AFP

Jailed for funding IS-linked group SINGAPORE―An Indonesian maid was jailed for two years in Singapore Thursday for giving money to an Islamic State-linked terror outfit blamed for a string of attacks in her home country.

The affluent city-state is home to over 250,000 maids from neighboring Indonesia, and has seen a string of cases where foreign domestic helpers have allegedly been radicalized.

Anindia Afiyantari donated Sg$130 (US$94) last year to charities used as fronts

by Indonesia-based Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), described by prosecutors as among “the most dangerous terrorist organizations” in Southeast Asia.

It has been blamed for attacks, including the stabbing of President Joko Widodo’s chief security minister Wiranto and deadly suicide bombings at several churches.

“The accused’s actions of plotting to finance terrorist acts... strike at the very heart of Singapore’s harmony,” prosecutors said, according to court documents.

The 33-year-old―who earned Sg$600 a month―was introduced to radical religious teachings by other Indonesian domestic helpers in Singapore. AFP

Ethiopia pilots band together one year after traumatic crash ADDIS ABABA―Just hours after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed southeast of Addis Ababa last March, mourners began flocking to a building down the road from where it took off: the headquarters of the country’s independent pilots’ association.

On a normal day, the compound has the feel of a country club, with members playing tennis and basketball or lunching with their families on the restaurant’s terrace.

But as details of the tragedy trickled in, leaders organized an impromptu vigil in the main hall, placing photos of the flight’s captain and crew on stands surrounded by candles and roses.

It soon became a draw both for Ethiopian Airlines employees—some of whom would drop in to cry for an hour on their lunch breaks—and people who had no direct connection to the crash.

“That week there was no parking in this compound. There were people coming from all over Addis,” said Yeshiwas Fentahun, the president of the pilots’ association at the time.

“The fact that we had this set-up here was very important, not just for us but for everyone who was affected

by the accident.”

Long after the crash of the Boeing 737 MAX ceased dominating headlines, the pilots’ association continues to play a central role in the grieving process of its roughly 800 members.

Over the past year, pilots have come to the compound for counseling, taken up collections for victims’ families and even renamed the compound’s football pitch for Yared Getachew, the captain of the doomed flight who was an avid player.

It’s the kind of support that members will lean on ahead of the anniversary of the crash on Tuesday, when faded memories are likely to seem fresh again, Yeshiwas said.

“Yes, people do move on, but it’s not always easy to move on,” he said.

“It’s not something you should take for granted.”

The Airline Pilots’ Association of Ethiopia was founded in 1964, nearly two decades after Ethiopian Airlines began operating.

The headquarters has long provided an all-hours hangout for pilots returning from the company’s more than 120 destinations. AFP

Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro had already branded the government of radical leftist Maduro a “dictatorship” and he, in return, has called Bolsonaro a “fascist.”

“No-one will remain in all of Venezuela,” said the source after the Official Journal revealed earlier on Thursday that four diplomats and 10 officials were ordered home from the Brazilian embassy and consulates in Venezuela.

The Official Journal cited the foreign ministry in saying that staff would be withdrawn from the embassy and the consulate in Caracas, the consulate in Ciudad Guayana and the vice consulate in Santa Elena de Uairen, on the Brazilian border.

The withdrawn diplomats include Rodolfo Braga, the head of the embassy, and Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, the consul general in Caracas.

Brazil is one of the more than 50 countries to have recognized the claim of Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido to be his country’s acting president. Guaido made the proclamation early last year following the opposition-controlled parliament’s branding of Maduro as a usurper over his 2018 re-election in a poll widely derided as rigged.

Brasilia has also recognized the ambassador to Brazil appointed by Guaido, Maria Teresa Belandria.

The last Maduro-appointed ambassador to Brazil was withdrawn in 2016.

The government source who spoke to AFP didn’t say when the recall would be completed but Brazilian media said it will be done within two months.

However, the measure does not mean the embassy will be closed, the source said.

There are an estimated 10,000 Brazilians living in Venezuela who could be affected by the measure.

“The Brazilian government is considering how assistance will be provided,” the source said.

Recently, Maduro accused Bolsonaro of dragging Brazil’s military “into an armed conflict with Venezuela.”

That was a reference to an attack by deserters on a military detachment in Venezuela’s Bolivar state that borders Brazil, after which five Venezuelan military personnel claimed asylum in Brazil. Bolsonaro seemed to dismiss the accusations when asked by reporters, and the foreign ministry said the president “does not comment on statements from the dictatorial government of Maduro.”

But even after that exchange, Brazil did not ask Venezuelan diplomats to leave the country.

And in November, around a dozen Guaido supporters invaded Venezuela’s embassy in Brasilia but left 13 hours later under pressure from Brazilian authorities.

Venezuela’s economy has been devastated by a political and economic crisis that has forced millions to flee, many of them into neighboring Brazil.

Thursday’s announcement comes before Bolsonaro—who is known as an admirer of his American counterpart Donald Trump—is set to leave Saturday for the US cities of Miami and Dallas, where he will likely seek to lure foreign investment in Brazil. AFP

9 in 10 of all people biased against women

CLOSED. A closed toll gate of the Jiujiang Changjiang bridge leading to Hubei province is seen in Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province on March 6, 2020. China reported 30 more deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak on March 6, with fresh infections rising for a second straight day and 16 new cases imported from overseas. AFP

Boeing chief executive points at predecessor for MAX mess NEW YORK―Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun largely blamed his predecessor for the crisis over the 737 MAX, which remains grounded after two deadly crashes, in an interview published Thursday.

Calhoun, a longstanding board member who took over as chief executive on January 13, told the New York Times that the problems at Boeing were even bigger than he anticipated.

“It’s more than I imagined it would be, honestly,” Calhoun said. “And it speaks to the weaknesses of our leadership.”

He said predecessor Dennis Muilenburg had ramped up Boeing’s plane production too quickly.

“I’ll never be able to judge what mo-

tivated Dennis, whether it was a stock price that was going to continue to go up and up, or whether it was just beating the other guy to the next rate increase,” he said.

“If anybody ran over the rainbow for the pot of gold on stock, it would have been him.”

The MAX has been grounded since March 2019 following two crashes that killed 346 people. March 10 marks the one-year anniversary of the second crash on an Ethiopian Airlines plane.

A board member since 2009, Calhoun was named chairman in October when Boeing stripped Muilenburg of that role.

On December 23, Boeing named Calhoun as CEO, finally ousting Muilen-

burg entirely, and saying the company needed to “restore confidence” and “repair relationships with regulators, customers and all other stakeholders.”

Calhoun remains on the board, but Lawrence Kellner was named as nonexecutive chairman as part of the December shakeup.

Calhoun, who had publicly praised Muilenburg prior to the ouster, appeared in the interview to downplay board responsibility for the crisis.

Calhoun told the newspaper that he and the rest of the board did not question Muilenburg after the first MAX crash in October 2018 of a Lion Air plane in Indonesia and that the board trusted Muilenburg’s instincts as an engineer and longtime Boeing executive. AFP

UNITED NATIONS―Nearly 90 percent of the world’s population― of every gender―holds some prejudice against women, according to a UN study published Thursday, ahead of International Women’s Day. The United Nations Development Program studied 75 countries representing 80 percent of the world’s population and found that nine in 10 people-including women―hold such beliefs.

The prejudiced views include: that men are better politicians and business leaders than women; that going to university is more important for men than women; and that men should get preferential treatment in competitive job markets.

The percentage of those holding at least one sexist bias was largest in Pakistan―where 99.81 percent of people held similar prejudices―followed by Qatar and Nigeria, both at 99.73 percent.

Countries with the lowest population of those with sexist beliefs were Andorra, at 27.01 percent, Sweden with 30.01 percent and the Netherlands, 39.75 percent.

France, Britain and the United States each came in with similar scores, 56 percent, 54.6 percent and 57.31 percent of people respectively holding at least one sexist belief.

The numbers show “new clues to the invisible barriers women face in achieving equality” despite “decades of progress,” the UN Development Program said in a statement accompanying the report. AFP

AT SAMMY’S, THE (DINING) TABLES HAVE TURNED Home-turned-restaurant in Rizal beckons

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AINTA, Rizal—Dinner parties have replaced going out to restaurants as the latest foodie trend thanks to Metro Manila’s damnable traffic, and while dining in is definitely cheaper, someone has to draw the short straw and do the cooking.

The concept isn’t exactly new. It started in recession-hit cities like London and New York where people, who shared a passion for food, cooking and generally stuffing their faces, would meet up at a friend’s apartment, with the host cooking, and pay for the experience of being wowed by food they wouldn’t have at home.

Pop ups are in Since then, “pop-up restaurants” (one that appears for a short time and then disappears just as quickly), advertised on Facebook , Instagram, etc., became a phenomenon that has crossed continents.

In the Philippines, most Filipino

B4

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

families and friends bond over food. They usually go to malls to find something they like to eat. Some people, however, get tired of the same food over time, so they try looking for new food hangouts, or restaurants on social media. The concept of a home restaurant seems like a logical idea.

Of course, the reality is when you’re inviting strangers into your house and charging them for food, you really do have to deliver — this is the big

difference between cooking for friends, and cooking f o r paying customers. Strangers won’t feel obliged to be polite about your food.

Not just glorified “lutong-bahay” Enter, Sammy’s, a home-turnedrestaurant at the far end of rustic Rizal.

Jakarta residents for 17 years, the establishment’s owners Sammy and Dorothy Isidro returned to the Philippines in early 2019 to settle down.

As a child, the restaurant’s namesake, Sammy, was always interested in cooking. Inspired by food the couple tasted during their travels, opening up their own restaurant seemed like the natural next step upon returning.

Sammy developed his culinary talents

RAISING THE BAR IN LUXURY LIVING. The Seasons Residences of Federal Land, Inc. and INAX of Lixil Philippines recently signed a partnership at The Seasons Residences Sales Gallery in Grand Central Park, North Bonifacio Global City. The latest addition to Grand Central Park’s community is developed by Sunshine Fort North Bonifacio Realty Development Corp. (SFNBRDC), a joint venture between Federal Land, Inc. and Japan’s leading firms, Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Through the partnership, The Seasons Residences’ remaining residential towers namely Natsu, Aki, and Fuyu, will feature bathroom fixtures from INAX, the world-famous brand of innovative and luxurious Japanese bathroom fixtures. “We look forward to enhancing the residential units at The Seasons Residences with the installation of our automated and manual spalets, which ensure hands-free and hygienic bathroom visits,” said Lixil Philippines general manager Alpha Ang. At the signing ceremony were (from left to right): Nomura real estate development general manager Masaya Hirao; Federal Land, Inc. general manager Thomas Mirasol; SFNBRDC president Catherine Ko; Lixil Philippines general manager Alpha Ang; Lixil Philippines assistant country manager Joralyn Ong; and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. real estate division manager Daisuke Kobayashi.

CREBA, BENILDE ANNOUNCE REAL ESTATE COURSES. The Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc.

(CREBA) and the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde School of Professional and Continuing Education (DLS-CSB SPACE) will launch a new set of courses under the “Executive Diploma Program in Real Estate Management (EDPREM)” for 2020. Classes will be held at the CSB School of Design and Arts Campus at Pablo Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila from 1:00 to 8:30 PM, and will run for four consecutive Saturdays. The EDPREM is open to current and would-be practitioners in the real estate development, business and service practice. It is managed by a pool of facilitators and practitioners from the private sector, government and the academe and, covers six modules.

The new cycle will begin with module 1, entitled “Effective real estate marketing tools” which will run from April 18-May 9. Other course modules include: module 2, “Land laws and property titling” (May 23-June 13); module 3, “Real estate planning, development, environmental concerns (June 27-July 18); module 4, “Highest and best uses for real estate” (August 8-29); module 5, “Real estate financial planning and management” (September 12-October 3); and module 6, “Real estate project feasibility studies” (October 17 to November 14). Special discounts are available for CREBA members, government personnel, DLSU alumni, or early bird payments. For reservations, please e-mail: creba_national@yahoo.com or space@benilde.edu.ph.

in between gigs at the Hotel Mulia, a five-star hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he and Dorothy worked as professional singers for over 17 years.

Upon their return to the Philippines, they decided to convert the elongated patio of Sammy’s ancestral home into an intimate diner that can seat up to 25 people.

Thus the idea was was born, Sammy’s Restaurant, where they serve tasty Asian-inspired dishes, as well as serenade guests with a song or two during meals.

Cakes and pastries to go The couple also set up Sammy’s Cookin’—to provide catering services as well as deliver cakes, pastries and other sweets to foodies around Metro Manila.

This also extends the reach of his cuisine well beyond the vicinity and operating hours of his restaurant.

Eat very little before coming At their cozy home itself, Sammy’s offers a hearty breakfast menu,

featuring the chef’s own favorite picks—Sammy’s Breakfast includes tapa, tocino, longganiza, danggit, garlic fried rice and omelet. Dorothy, has her name on the menu under D’s Breakfast consisting of bacon, ham, sausage, hash brown, pancakes and fried eggs.

If you are planning to try out their dinner menu, eat very little beforehand as Sammy whips up an unbelievably tender 5-Hour Pork Belly, accompanied by one of three choices: Sammy’s Sinilog, Bao Bun in Aioli Sauce or Laing and White Rice. Another musttry is the Indonesian “Konro” (Braised Beef Ribs), with nasih puti (Bahasa for white rice). Starters include Chicken Buffalo Wings and Cheesy Nachos.

What makes Sammy’s unique is the dinner entertainment. Sammy’s has its very own singing chef—Sammy, himself, and the ambience turns palpably romantic when Dorothy joins in for a duet. The dining experience is further enhanced by the interiors: a towering wall of glass panes, industrial pipe walls lamps and uniquely designed clocks.

Sammy’s Restaurant is located at 14 Raspberry Bend St., Valley View Executive Subdivision, Phase 3 Cainta, Rizal.

DESIGN HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. Designed by visionary architect Royal Pineda, the Philippines Pavilion at the 2020 Expo in Dubai is a free-flowing showcase of the 4,000-year journey and history of the Filipino people.

“Bangkóta is a living coral reef, pulsating with people, movement, activities, flora and water features, all functioning as one global ecosystem.” Tapping into his own design philosophy of ‘nature is peace’, Royal took inspiration from the fact that coral reefs spread and thrive across the oceans, just as how Filipinos thrive across the world. At its core, the Philippines Pavilion is a monument to the creativity and compassion of the Filipino, as well as their unique bayanihan spirit. The Bangkota will open in Dubai on October 20, 2020.

SHARPENING THAT UNIQUE EYE. Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist, Inc., in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), and the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA), will be holding the fifth edition of Interior & Design Manila (IDM) at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City from March 12 to 14. “Filipino designers have this unique eye that can turn an empty space into an elegant room,” said Patrick Lawrence Tan, CEO of Global-Link. ““That’s why we are very fortunate to work with PIID and PIA, two of the biggest and design organizations in the country, in putting together this event, Interior & Design Manila, which is sure to open countless doors of opportunities for the growth of our country’s design industry. Show hours will be from 9:30 AM until 7:30 PM. Entrance to the exhibit is free for visitors who will register through the event’s website, www. interioranddesignmanila.com.

Life

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

ARTS AND CULTURE

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

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P50k and less: ‘Affordable art fair’ offers Quebral, other artwork

ART, DEMOCRATIZED. Art reaches a wider audience with Art in the Park, tagged as ‘Manila’s premier affordable art fair,’ that gives more individuals access to works by notable artists at reasonable prices.

By Steph Llarena

S

TARTING art collectors who wish to get their hands on coveted pieces made by notable contemporary artists and seasoned art collectors who are looking to score a steal are all invited to the 14th edition of Art in the Park on March 15.

Everyone can enter for free at the public art fair, tagged as “Manila’s premier affordable art fair,” at Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

And because it is an “affordable art fair,” organizer Liza Periquet said artworks for sale are priced no more than P50,000, inclusive of taxes. Some may go as low as P500.

Some of the notable pieces for sale are those by Richard Quebral. In addition, his colordul artwork, laced with humor and whimsy, graces Art in the Park’s postcards and prints.

Fifty six exhibitors representing galleries, art collectives, independent art

Dex Fernandez’ Garapata is ready to infest those who are willing on March 15 at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City.

spaces, and student groups join this year’s fair, showcasing a wide range of artworks for a variety of taste—offering something for everybody.

Organizers said a portion of the sales will be donated to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support of their projects and programs for the National Museum of the Philippines and its network.

In addition to the public sale, visitors can check out Dex Fernandez’ (known as Garapata) Garapata Hatchery installation where those who are willing to be “infested” can participate in the

Ballet Manila ends ‘rollercoaster’ season with a double bill AFTER a challenging performance season, Ballet Manila stages its finale with a double bill showcase.

“We wanted to close our 24th season with a bang,” said the dance company’s chief executive officer and artistic director, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

As a fitting end to the season, Ballet Manila on March 7-8 stages the world premiere of Carmina Burana and La Traviata. Hosting the dance company for its season finale performance—after it lost its home in October 2019 to a fire—is the Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City. Its previous show, Sleeping Beauty, was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. Meanwhile, Gisele was staged at the CCP Main Theater.

Carmina Burana and La Traviata are presented as a double bill but MacujaElizalde said the ballets were not interconnected with each other.

Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata based on a series of 13th-century songs,

while La Traviata is an Italian opera that tells the ill-fated story of a beautiful young courtesan wasting away from tuberculosis and her relationship with a young bourgeois from a provincial family.

“I think, at first, the public will be wary to attend, maybe even fearful knowing that opera and ballet are just about as ‘elitist’ as you can get among the performing arts,” she said, adding, “But I think that they should try. The storytelling is very clear. They are going to get it, and leave the theater thoroughly moved, maybe even in tears.”

Even though both shows are not normally staged as ballet productions, Rudy de Dios, a former Ballet Manila principal dancer, painstakingly conceptualized and choreographed the ballet version of Carmina Burana, while Macuja-Elizalde and her co-artistic director, Osias Barroso worked on La Traviata.

“Working on this show was not easy.

I think the most difficult part happens inside my head—creating the story,

Joshua Enciso, Abigail Oliveiro, and Mark Sumaylo

art-making process and buy a merchandise such as bags or shirts printed with Garapata art.

“You can bring with you this quirky, transforming, expressive, omnipresent personality if you’re willing to be infested,” said Fernandez. “Just bring a shirt, a tote bag, or any material that has a flat surface for Garapata to latch on.”

Aside from customized art, visitors can watch artist Robert Alejandro draw live at the Avellana Art Gallery Booth from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Jackie Lozano, or ikaj as she is called

Richard Quebral’s colorful artwork grace the art fair’s postcards and prints.

in the art scene, meanwhile, will show her portraiture process live to visitors, who are also welcome to engage her in conversation about art.

To complete the “artful” affair, a jazz trio will be playing soulful music during the day while the fair’s special per-

former Hoochie Coochie Mikkie straps on his steel guitar in the evening.

Visitors spending a few hours, or perhaps the whole day, at the art affair need not go hungry, as a lineup of food concessionaires will offer meals and drinks—and cocktails, too.

Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa MacujaElizalde

Geovanni Abing’s winning artwork ‘Timeless Landscape’ portrays Sugarlandia as a magical place.

casting, choosing the music, writing the libretto. But I find myself working with the most inspiring dancers who make the creative process pure joy, and that makes it easier,” said Macuja-Elizalde.

With La Traviata being one of her favorite operas of all time, the prima ballerina worked hard to give her audience a profound impression of the show; the same way it touched her when she first saw it in Russia.

“I listened to the complete opera many times and the hardest part was selecting the arias I incorporated to tell the story in a concise and clear version. My La Traviata is 42 minutes long, but I think the storytelling is complete,” she said.

De Dios, on the other hand, delved into the lyrical content of Carmina Burana to fully grasp the emotions and message of the cantata. Since it does not have a direct storyline to follow, De Dios interpreted the songs of the cantata to tell a story about spiritual warfare.

“Basically, my version of Carmina Burana is a battle between good and evil. This is a relevant piece because, we may not be aware of it, but there is an invisible battle between good and evil in our lives everyday,” he said.

‘Magical’ Sugarlandia on canisters GEOVANNI ABING, represented

by Talimbaw Art Gallery, bagged the grand prize in this year’s Don Papa Rum art competition.

Don Papa Rum said Abing’s “Timeless Landscape,” a stunning 3x5 collage and acrylic on canvas with an archival coating, perfectly captured this year’s theme “Flora and Fauna of Sugarlandia.”

“My artwork portrays Sugarlandia as a magical place pulsating with life and floating over a sea of clouds. A place that governs mankind,” explained Abing.

Aside from getting his artwork reprinted on the local rum brand’s special edition canisters which will be sold

in limited quantities worldwide, Abing will also enjoy a monthlong artistic sojourn in Barcelona, inclusive of airfare, accommodations, and allowance from the Bleeding Heart Rum Company.

Don Papa has also recognized two distinct artists: Joseph Ingking who won both People’s Choice and Artistic Merit Awards with his “Flora Fauna de Sugarlandia” theme, receiving P10,000 and P50,000, respectively for each category. Also recognized for his work “Eden” was Daryl Feryl, who bagged the first-ever Masskara Award with a take-home prize of P25,000, for capturing the essence of Don Papa Masskara.

Abing wins this year’s Don Papa Rum art competition (left). He is joined by special awards winners Joseph Ingking and Daryl Feryl.

Life

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Journey of Filipinos to be featured in Dubai expo

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ANGKÓTA, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2020 Expo in Dubai is more than just an architectural masterpiece showcasing the Philippines.

Woven within the piece’s undulating and free-flowing form is the 4,000-year journey and history of the Filipino people. It will debut at the expo’s opening on Oct. 20.

Designed by visionary architect Royal Pineda, the “Bangkóta is a living coral reef, pulsating with people, movement, activities, flora and water features, all functioning as one global ecosystem.”

Measuring a total outdoor area of 1,268 square meters and 385 square meters of winding path, with a total landscaped area of 676 meters that includes water features, the Bangkóta is surrounded by a see-through and free-form wire mesh exoskeleton that shelters visitors from morning and afternoon sun.

Royal took inspiration from the fact that coral reefs spread and thrive across the oceans, just as how Filipinos thrive across the world. This makes the Bangkóta a transcendent architectural master work as it is as much about Filipinos as it is about the Philippines.

Further, Pineda sees the Bangkóta as an exploration of the Filipinos’ history that spans well before 1521, when Spanish colonizers first arrived in the Philippines, with famed curator Marian Roces respon-

Bangkota, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2020 Dubai Expo, offers an indoor and outdoor experience that showcases the 4,000-year journey and history of the Filipino people.

sible for piecing together the Filipinos’ solid historical and cultural facts. and outdoor experience, with the undulat- within. It thus becomes a venue to apmillennia-long story to ensure that the With the multi-million-peso showcase, ing external structure acting as a protec- preciate nature and its light and shadows, exhibits within the pavilion are based on the Philippine Pavilion is both an indoor tive, fertile habitat to the hidden treasures depth and expanse, widths and heights, breeze and humidity, warm and comfort, and the feel of raw and refined.

Inside, visitors play an active role in creating the narrative sequence by being given freedom to roam the pavilion’s spaces and exhibits. The interior spaces are designed to elicit both thought and action, offering varying levels of immersive experiences through art and film installations. Each visitor thus becomes part of the story, where digital interactive art forms cinematically surround the viewer.

The Bangkóta is a celebration of the Filipino creativity, as an entire network of collaborators such as National Artist for Music Ramon Santos, visual maverick Avid Liongoren, and 11 of the Philippines’ prominent artists have been called upon to contribute their own interpretations of the Bangkóta’s overarching theme of permeability, connecThe Royal Pineda-designed showcase measures a total outdoor area of 1,268 square meters. Visitors entering will be offered immersive experience through art and film installations. tivity, and sustainability.

From farm to table (literally) A LOCAL manufacturer makes it possible and, more importantly, sustainable to produce home accessories and other items made of wood.

Sustainably Made by Marsse Tropical Timbers takes things into its own hands by putting up its own tree farm to provide sustainable wood for its projects and others. And staying true to its name, the offcuts of its production process find their way into the fine kitchen and home accessories.

Sustainably Made’s Mara Sebastian recalls how they established Marsse Tropical Timber Plantation Inc. in Umingan, Pangasinan. “The farm was founded in 1992, but we started planting in 1990 our nursery, so it was about 30 years ago. And we did our first harvest when the trees reached 20 years old, so that’s about 2012,” she relates.

“We mostly plant Honduras Mahogany and Indonesian teak as foreign wood species. And we also plant southeast Asian Gmelina, which is a white colored wood, and then there are the local species kamagong, narra, molave, but we can’t harvest those, because there’s a moratorium on harvesting local species,” continues Sebastian.

After its first harvest, Marsse started producing architectural wood for flooring, kiln-dried lumber, and processed wood, among other products. But then there was so much waste.

“We produced flooring and furniture—mostly big pieces. And then, we noticed we had a lot of offcut pieces, trees that aren’t straight, or knotty wood; those

Watercolor artist Prafull Bhimraj Sawant during a live demonstration of his painting process, with the UST main building as his subject.

Indian artist holds watercolor workshop in PH

Some of Sustainably Made’s products from offcut wood pieces include (clockwise) Log candleholder, Stomp candleholder, Gmelina serving boards and nesting plates, and assorted cellphone and table holders.

trees that the wood manufacturers don’t like to buy,” shares Sebastian.

They then created a “no wood wasted policy” for their production, and used wood scraps and rejects to create unique

Assorted pizza boards and shot and wine glass racks.

consumer products for home or personal use. These include gourmet kitchen accessories such as cheeseboards, pizza boards, grazing platters, service ware, and bowls.

Other popular items are candleholders as well as cellphone and tablet holders with different motifs and patterns.

Sebastian says they try different finishes and techniques to enhance the designs of the pieces. “We use the Lichtenberg technique, it’s a wood-burning technique where you run about 3,000 or 5,000 volts of electricity into the wood, and each wood will have its own unique fractal pattern and color, depending on where the electricity wants to flow.”

But more than just design, Sustainably Made’s mission is to let consumers know that the wood they use are mindfully harvested.

“For us, we really say our products are unique—it goes from our tree farm to your home, so you know exactly where the wood comes from—a tree farm registered at the DENR,” Sebastian stresses. “Not everyone can say that their wood came from their backyard.”

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed watercolor artist Prafull Bhimraj Sawant held a demonstration and workshop for freshman students of the College of Architecture and the College of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Santo Tomas.

Sawant has held solo and group shows in Mumbai and other parts of India. He also participated in international exhibitions such as those in Germany, United States of America, and Australia. His works were also featured in art publications in the USA, Russia, and France.

During his talk, Sawant shared his recent illustrations that include the scenery overlooking the National Museum, a portrait of a Filipino man, and

sights in Europe and Asia.

He continued with a demonstration of his painting process, with the iconic UST Main Building as his subject.

In the process and between layers of watercolor, he discussed thoughts and techniques on certain hand strokes, color values and bias to achieve a realistic effect. In less than three hours, he was able to accomplish the illustration in almost full detail.

Aside from his visit at UST, Sawant also held an atmospheric landscape watercolor workshop during the Art Fair 2020 at SM Megamall, and a five-day Plein Air Watercolor Demonstration and Workshop in Manila.

Sawant graces University of Santo Tomas’ demonstration and workshop for freshman architecture and fine arts students.

Entertainment

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Latest Bond delayed on virus fears THE makers of the new James Bond movie due for global release next month said on Wednesday it would be delayed until November amid fears over the new coronavirus outbreak.

The film, No Time to Die, had been set to have its premiere in London on March 31, before its rollout worldwide in April.

“MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced today that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of NO TIME TO DIE will be postponed until November 2020,” said a tweet from the official 007 Twitter account.

“The film will be released in the UK

on Nov. 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on Nov. 25, 2020.”

The postponement of the latest chapter in the legendary franchise came as concern over the COVID-19 epidemic continued to mount globally.

The virus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has since infected more than 93,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,200, mainly in China, with numerous countries now struggling to contain its spread.

No Time to Die, the 25th installment of the fictional British spy saga, sees Bond drawn out of retirement in Jamaica by his old friend and CIA agent Felix Leiter.

It is expected to be actor Daniel

Miss Caloocan crowns its new queen tonight

Craig’s last outing as 007, after starring in four previous films.

Reports emerged last month that the filmmakers had cancelled its Beijing premiere as well as a promotional tour originally set for April.

China, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, is a key market for Hollywood blockbusters, with its population of more than a billion people and where cinema-going has soared in popularity in recent years.

The last Bond film Spectre—released in 2015—set box office records for a 2D film in China, while grossing more than $880 million (971 million euros) worldwide, according to movie industry magazines. AFP

The makers of the new James Bond film say its release is being put back to November from April due to the coronavirus outbreak

ABS-CBN keeps spot as most watched network

M

ORE Filipinos tuned in to ABS-CBN in February as the network registered an average audience share of 39 percent, or a 6-point lead against GMA’s 33%, according to data from Kantar Media.

Binibining Caloocan 2020 candidates

THE Miss Caloocan 2020 pageant kicked off activities with the Prepageant Night and Talent Competition with 19 candidates vying for the title, held at the Bulwagang Bonifacio of the New Caloocan City Hall recently.

The Miss Caloocan 2020, on its 6th year, is presented jointly by the City Government of Caloocan, headed by Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan, and the Caloocan Cultural and Tourism Foundation, Inc. (CCTFI), led by its chairwoman Kathleen Mendoza.

The 19 candidates coming from the different barangays paraded in swimsuit and cocktail dresses designed

by Bea Bianca. Nineteen-year-old, Jane Nicole Miñano of Brgy. 132 was voted Darling of the Media at the conclusion of the event.

“We want to take the beauty pageant to a new level wherein the winners will not only serve as tourism ambassadors, but will also be the voices in women empowerment advocacies,” said CCTFI chair Mendoza.

A number of the candidates have similar advocacy for mental-health awareness.

Miss Caloocan 2019 Shanon Jumail Tampon is now one of the official candidates of Bb. Pilipinas 2020 and will relinquish her crown at the grand coronation tonight at the Caloocan Sports Complex at 6:00 o’clock. The rest of the 19 candidates are Jen Marie Solis, Elon Floren Armesin, Nica Virnes, Iris Kyle Cabanag, Joyce Cesar, Christine Ordeviza, Aleanie Buarao, Bianca Angelique Orena, Ma. Alondra Aldana, Ria Salazar, Patricia Kim Agapito, Anna Marih Alcantara, Tricia Mae Sunico, Sheen Nicole Deza, Julia Sibayan, Eichelleen Espiritu, Caryl Gwyneth Alarca, and Paula Galang.

* * * * *

Bb. Pilipinas candidates express advocacies through arts THE Binibining Pilipinas 2020 candidates spent time to tap on their creative side through an art session at the Gateway Gallery in Gateway Mall, Araneta City on Feb. 26.

The Gateway Gallery once again opened its doors to the girls for an afternoon of art expression and aesthetics just before the National Arts Month ends.

The Binibining Pilipinas candidates were mentored by Philippines’ finest watercolorists Jen Utleg Consumido, Joemari Sanclair Chua, Dan Macapugay, and Carlo Cortez in enhancing the ladies› creativity on visualizing and translating advocacies into works of art.

The girls have produced these amazing artworks: Samantha Panlilio – Sustainable Communities; Rowena Sasuluya – The Educator; Lois Anne Badando – Maltreatment; Patrizia Garcia – San Agustin Manila; Arianne Deseree Vairdo – Education for every Filipino children; Princess Kien Guanzon – Soar; Shanon Tampon – Animal Love Dream; Meiji Cruz – Colors of Gender; Patricia Babista – Books and Torch; Shaira Marie Rona – Tree of Life; Maureen Montagne – One Love; Vianca Marcelo – Stop Hunger; Samantha Bernardo – Malaria Free Philippines; Hazel Joy Ortiz – Fitness, Health and Wellness; Cinderella Faye Obeñita – Fight Cervical Cancer; Alexandra Rosales – Responsible Pet Ownership; Justine Felizarta – Working Overseas; Karen Laurrie Mendoza – Beautiful Chaotic Mind; Kimberly Tiquestiques – Bright; Ana Thea Cenarosa –Women in Sports; Hannah Arnold – With a book, a child can learn to read today, and with a pencil they will write their own future tomorrow; Ma. Ruth Erika Quin – Animal Sanctuary; Gabrielle Camille Basiano – You are

Binibining Pilipinas 2020 Candidate Patrizia Garcia representing Manila

not alone; Lovely Mercado – Success; Carina Cariño – Kanlungan ni Inay, Ilaw ng tahanan; Czarina Guiao – Aeta, parte ng lipunan; Jashmin Dimaculangan – A good day to go to school; Ma. Francesca Taruc – FRANspiration; Honey Grace Cartasano – Our Future; Noriza Valerio – The Tree of Life; Danica Joy Peralta Acuna – Child Art; Alexandra Faith Garcia – Quality of life with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease); Mercedes Romero Pair – Step up for our health and live a colorful life; Vickie Rushton – Inclusion; Alexangela Salvador – Make it happen; Lesley Anne Ticaro – Learning the basics of education; Bellatrix Tan – CyberBELLA: Cyberbullied but lives life amazingly; Honey Be Parreñas – Promoting eco-friendly farming and techniques.

These pieces of art will be available for viewing at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, and Farmers Plaza soon.

Earlier this month, the Binibini candidates visited the Gateway Gallery for a quick session of Philippine history courtesy of the 30 large-scale paintings lined up at the museum’s SiningSaysay: Philippine History in Art exhibit.

The most watched programs in February were produced by ABS-CBN, with primetime stalwart FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano remaining at the top spot with 34 percent. Julia Montes’ comeback, meanwhile, was an instant hit as the weekly action-drama 24/7 recorded 27 percent.

TV Patrol (26.5 percent) remained as the most preferred newscast in the country, while viewers tuned in to the intense battle of contestants and coaches in The Voice Teens (26.4 percent), which returned for a new season in February.

Julia Montes’ comeback project ‘24/7’ The love story easily became one of the most watched of Billy (Liza programs upon its debut. (Inset) A scene Soberano) and from the weekly series where Julia plays a dedicated single mother.

Gabo (Enrique Gil) in Make It With You (25.9 percent) consistently brought kilig all throughout the love month. MMK (24.9 percent), on the other hand, touched viewers’ hearts with its real-life stories, while the talented contestants of Your Moment (23.9 percent) impressed viewers nationwide.

The grand battle of the Mondragons pumped up viewers’ afternoon as Kadenang Ginto ended on a high note with 22 percent.

Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.

Ruffa...

From C4 “We wanted to create a space for all of our Avon ladies that allows them to sample new products, partner with us, and reap the benefits from being our top sellers,” says Christine Eugenio, director of Channel Operations.

“We also want to branch out to Filipinas who haven’t tried Avon products yet and have our trained Avon ladies to find the right piece for them in the store,” she added.

Avon’s new Taft branch spells the beginning of Avon’s new way of connecting with Filipino beauty fans. “We had our customers in mind when we were developing the concept for the new store, and we’re so happy to finally unveil this new store for our customers and resellers” Eugenio says.

Avon envisions all their existing 194 branches nationwide to be well-equipped as they strive to become a digital beauty company. “So our vision is for our brand to offer a multi-channel access for everyone, but the products and opportunities will remain the same,” Diratian says.

There is no sign of stopping for Avon, especially now that it is part of the fourth-largest pure-play beauty company in the world, Natura &Co where, together, they embark to become the best beauty group for the world.

SNAPSHOT

Marikina teacher wins PLDT-Smart Foundation raffle PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro turns over the grand prize to teacher Mary Jean Libot. Hailing from Marikina City, 26-year old Libot takes home an 8-seater Gratour Van from PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro and Foton. Standing 3rd from left is Libot. She is joined by her brother Christian Libot and her mother Violita Libot.

Celebs troop to MetroDental’s biggest clinic opening METRODENTAL, the country’s largest chain of dental clinics, opens its biggest specialty clinic at The Podium in Ortigas Center last month with Tom Rodriguez, Barbie Forteza, Jak Roberto, and Darren Espanto in attendance.

Known as MetroDental at The Podium, it is the latest milestone in dental clinic chain’s continuing progress which now includes clinics in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, lloilo, and Davao.

The more than 350-square-meter specialty clinic is fully equipped with cutting-edge facilities that conform to global standards. It also houses a reception area, a consultation room, and six treatment rooms that include two pediatric rooms, a sterilization area, and two operating rooms.

Known for its excellent patient care

services and unparalleled dental expertise, MetroDental’s Podium clinic further strengthens its presence in the country as an industry leader since it was established in July 2010, opening its first three clinics in Eastwood Mall, Greenbelt 5, and SM Megamall.

“It has always been the company’s vision to provide modern, high-quality, and accessible dental care in the Philippines.

MetroDental is set up in malls nationwide to provide easy access to dental care at the convenience of today’s generation.

Our clinics are open during mall hours, on weekends and holidays,” states Leen Chua, president of MetroDental.

With its network of internationally trained and board-certified dental specialists, MetroDental is also able to cater to customers at their own convenience.

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

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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020

Entertainment

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OU can count actor and TV host Dingdong Dantes as one the most celebrated personalities who are given the unique opportunity to have a big impact on society.

While some celebrities are content with how comfortable their lives revolve around the limelight, the 39-yearold actor chooses to wield that opportunity to creating a better community for his family and ordinary Filipinos.

Dingdong uses his platforms for the better. He stands up, promotes causes that make the world a safer place.

“It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a way of life, not just for yourself but for the benefit of the people around you,” Dingdong told Manila Standard in an exclusive interview.

Dingdong is now a lieutenant commander in the Philippine Navy. Early this year, he attended a ceremony during which he was bestowed the rank. He got enlisted and trained to be a marine reservist back in 2006. He reenlisted in 2017 with the rank of master sergeant.

In his speech, Dingdong underscored the legacy of his grandfather and namesake Col. Sixto R. Dantes, who

‘You don’t need a cape to be a superhero’ IN TRAINING. In 2006, Dingdong decided to enlist in the Marine Reserve Force and completed the Marine Officer Basic Training. served from Aug. 28, 1941 to Aug. 5, 1971 in the Philippine Army. He was a World War 2 veteran and a death march survivor, and my father.

“I grew up in a family of military men. My grandfather, who died even before I was born, served in the military. My uncle and his

children are coastguard volunteers.

So, growing up, I was kind of exposed to this kind of service to the community,” Dingdong related.

According to the actor, due to his exposure to military men’s selfless service, he told himself that one day he’d like to do something for the country.

Since his enlistment and upon crecre ating the YesPinoy Foundation Inc. (YPF) in 2009, his group has actively supported the missions of the Citizen Armed Force or the Reserve Force as stated in Republic Act No. 7077, which are to provide support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, assist in dis disaster relief and rescue, and contribute in nation-building, in general.

“You don’t have to be in politics just to make a difference. You don’t have to be in an elective position to reach out to people,” Dingdong pointed out under underscoring Republic Act 7077 that allows ordinary citizen “to volunteer and be become reservists.”

“Aside from their professional careers, they are given the opportunity to help their country. This is the kind of effort we promote.”

While others see his being a reservist in a different light, Dingdong likens his endeavor to parents want wanting the best for their children, which makes more sense.

“It’s like our parents, they raise us not for themselves, what they’re thinking of what we are going to be SOURCE OF INSPIRATION. in the future,”he said.

“My dream for my children is for Dingdong Dantes considers wife Marian Rivera and his two children as his pillar of strength and source of inspiration. them to live a comfortable life and be-

come fulfilled in their social endeavors.

And this thing would happen if they lived in a safe environment,” Dingdong carried on saying that his being part of the reservist program is part of his commitment to creating a better community.

“You cannot do that to other people kung sa sarili mong bakuran eh hindi mo magawa. That’s the first order of business. If there’s one mission that you need to accomplish, that’s securing your own family so you would know how do it when you’re surrounded by a bigger set of people in your community,”he added.

Talking about his family, the actor also shared how his family has been his pillar of strength and source of inspiration, and how his wife Marian Rivera and children Zia and Ziggy have played a significant role in both his personal and professional life.

“My life changed 360, my disposition in life. I literally became a different person. There are things I didn’t know I’m capable of doing, like running a marathon. In my ‘20s I didn’t think I could do it. I realized, you can do anything especially when you have the right mo-

tivation,” he shared.

Currently, Dingdong is playing Big Boss in the local adaption of the global hit Descendants of the Sun. As a man in uniform in the series, the actor points out that the character, and the story in general is very close to his heart.

“Descendants of the Sun tells the stories of our modern-day heroes, specifically our soldiers. The story relevant because we have reached this point that everything that is happening around us seems so uncertain,” he said.

“If we could only predict all the things that are happening, then we could have prepared or event prevented them. Prediction can go to a certain level but madalas magugulat ka na lang. There’s earthquake, there’s virus.

In Descendants of the Sun, it tell us that above it all, there’s a love story na nagsasabi na kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan natin, nangingibabaw pa rin ang ating pagkatao, our commitment to the people dear to us. It’s about being a hero, a superhero, if you will.

And you don’t need a cape to be one,” he ended.

Ruffa graces launch of Avon’s new model branch ACTRESS and former beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez was the “star of the day” at the launch of Avon’s new world-class branch that features three key areas.

The statuesque screen personality witnessed the unveiling of Avon’s Taft branch new Beauty Studio that showcases Avon’s Makeup, Fragrance, and Face Care products, which all can be tested by customers and potential representatives.

In the Beauty Studio is a specific area for Makeup and Face Care which are organized following Avon’s recommended regimen.

Avon has also includ-

ed select intimate apparel and jewelry that customers can try on.

On top of this, the Avon branch has an exclusive lane for orders of 10 items or less to facilitate easier purchasing.

The new branch also includes a supermarket section, where customers and representatives can take advantage of Avon’s top offers. The store includes Avon’s Body & Toiletries, Fragrance, Accessories, Home, Nutritionals, and Clearance offers. This is also where Avon will be launching their new products. Avon’s Beauty Advisors can also visit the supermarket for exclusive bundles.

Beauty Boutique Owners and Avon’s top sellers have access to the VIP Lounge, where they can conduct bulk purchases in comfort. Avon resellers can also take advantage of the dedicated counters for incentive issuances. Continued on C3

AVON LADY. Brand ambassador and former beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez.

(Inset) Ruffa with Avon executives and brand ambassadors.

Like his role in the local adaptation of ‘Descendants of the Sun,’ Dingdong Dantes encourages others to be part of the reservist program and be of service to his fellowmen.

Since his enlistment, the actor and TV host has actively supported the missions of the Citizen Armed Force.