Manila Standard - 2020 March 9 - Monday

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TEN KILLED IN CHINA AS COVID QUARANTINE HOTEL COLLAPSES

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 28 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID'S CURSE. At least 10 were killed and 70 people were trapped after the Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou, Fujian province, used as a quarantine facility, collapsed on March 7 evening, officials said. The search and rescue yielded results, with a boy (top inset) and a man plucked out of the rubble. Rescue operations for survivors continue. AFP

AT LEAST 10 people were killed in the collapse of a hotel used as a coronavirus quarantine facility in eastern China, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Sunday.

Rescuers retrieved 43 people from the rubble, of whom 37 are still alive, the ministry said on its firefighting department’s social media account.

The coastal city of Quanzhou has recorded 47 cases of the COVID-19 infection and the hotel had been repurposed to house people who had been in recent contact with confirmed patients, the People’s Daily state newspaper reported.

Video posted by the firefighting department showed rescuers putting a surgical mask on children as they were pulled from the rubble of the six-story Xinjia hotel, including a 12-year-old boy and another much younger child.

Rescuers were also shown spraying disinfectant on each other as part of “strict decontamination” between shifts.

Footage published by local media, purportedly from security cameras across the street, showed the hotel collapsing in seconds.

Other videos circulating on the Twitterlike Weibo platform showed rescue workers combing through the rubble of the hotel in the dark as they reassured a woman trapped under heavy debris and carried injured people to ambulances. Next page

Duterte readies anti-virus EO New order boosts govt arsenal vs COVID spread, eyes price controls

Suspend classes?

Let school heads decide—Palace

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and MJ Blancaflor

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will issue an executive order today (Monday) that will strengthen the government’s arsenal against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to include price controls, faster release of disaster reduction funds, and even mandatory quarantine, if it becomes necessary, among others.

By MJ Blancaflor and Macon Ramos-Araneta MALACAÑANG on Sunday said schools have a free hand to suspend classes following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of public health emergency in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

Some local governments have already called off classes this week after the Department of Health confirmed the sixth COVID-19 case and the local transmission of the virus.

“It is upon the discretion of school authorities. Of course, they are the ones deciding on that. They are the administrators. They can suspend, they can reschedule to make up for absences,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.

Students in Navotas City and Taytay, Rizal have no classes on Monday and those in Cainta will have no classes until Tuesday.

Panelo previously said the President might consider the shutdown of schools for a while just like what the Japanese government did to contain the virus.

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Sablay instead of toga pushed

By MJ Blancaflor THE Palace on Sunday backed the proposal to use the sablay, an indigenous loose garment, instead of the toga for the graduation rites in elementary and secondary schools.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo welcomed the suggestion of Education Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua to use the sablay to “instill patriotism and nationalism among young learners.”

“It might be cheaper. It's okay as long as it won't harm and it's for the good of the schoolchildren, it's okay. If it's going to cut down expenses of parents, it's okay, Panelo said in a radio interview.

Pascua said the use of the toga “with its deep Western roots had been taken for granted all these years, and despite its Next page

NEWBORN. A hospital staff (right) shows a newborn whose mother was infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus, after a caesarean section at a gynaecology and obstetrics isolation ward for expectant mothers infected by the virus in Xiehe hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei. China on March 8 reported its lowest number of new coronavirus infections since January, with nearly all the 44 new cases in the outbreak epicentre Wuhan. AFP

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government is also counting on Congress to hasten the approval of a P2-billion supplemental budget to help stem the local transmission of the deadly disease.

“It is being readied,” Panelo said on Sunday as to the request for additional funding.

The Department of Health has about P530 million in its budget for the entire year or a fourth of the proposed supple-

ment funding.

On Saturday, President Duterte declared a state of public health emergency following the Department of Health’s confirmation that the country has now reached the localized transmission stage.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the public health emergency declaration “would be crucial to facilitate the sufficient and immediate access to funding, particularly for local government units, Next page

Gov't sticks to POGO, cites benefits

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will not order the closure of Chinese-owned gaming hubs in the country despite the controversies hounding them, such as money laundering and other crimes, Malacañang said Sunday, adding the government is earning from their operations.

President Duterte backed the continued operation of offshore gaming hubs after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. gave him a “good” report about the economic benefits of the industry, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“His position remains the same. He will not suspend it nor will [he] stop it. He told me yesterday that he received a good report from PAGCOR. He said the report

was good. So he's okay with POGO operations, Panelo said in a radio interview.

In related developments: • SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday urged PAGCOR to cancel the licenses and close down the operations of established and planned offshore online gaming hubs in Clark, Pampanga and Kawit in Cavite.

He said Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hubs could likely become havens for undesirable aliens and drug trafficking as well as other crime syndicates for money laundering and illicit operations.

• The Department of Foreign Affairs is still waiting for the Bureau of Immigration to submit its report on Chinese nationals reportedly holding Philippine passports.

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ISOLATION AREA. Doctor Maria Cecila Leyson along with security personnel' inspects the new Manila Infectious Disease Control Center inside Sta. Ana Hospital on Sunday. Mayor Francisco 'Isko' Domagoso visited the newly opened Isolation area situated at the 10th floor of Sta. Ana Hospital for COVID-19 patientsl. Norman Cruz

Pope Francis prays for virus victims

Lego defies anti-plastics revolt

POPE Francis expressed solidarity Sunday with the victims of the novel coronavirus in his first livestreamed prayer and message from the Vatican.

“I am close through prayer with the people who suffer from the current coro-

THERE may be a global revolt against plastic, but Danish toymaker Lego, famous for its multi-colored plastic building bricks, remains a raging success, even if it, too, aims to go green.

Once revolutionary, then a ubiquitous

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’Period stigma’ biggest barrier to women NO MORE euphemisms, no more opaque marketing, no more superstitions, and no glossing over cramps, bleeding, or pain: Reframing current attitudes is vital for female empowerment and health, as well as the environment, says the 29-year-old founder of LUÜNA Naturals, which hails itself as Asia’s first period care company with an all-female leadership team.

She is not alone in wanting to change the conversation: Last year the UN warned that taboos around menstrual health were “disempowering” women worldwide, calling for action to end it.

“Period stigma is the biggest barrier to the global advancement of women,” agrees Cotes-James, adding: “Periods can still cause us to feel dirty, ashamed and frustrated. If menstrual taboos persist and society continues to devalue our fundamental female biology, what hopes do we have of ever being seen as equal?”

On average women will spend up to eight years of their lives on their period, according to UNICEF. They are vital to the continuity of the human race, but myths and misconceptions still dominate worldwide. AFP

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He also said President Duterte will issue an executive order on Monday directing the Health department to declare a public health emergency in response to the COVID-19.

But Health Secretary Franciso Duque III said it was “not yet right” to suspend classes.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Duque was asked to comment on the proposal of Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco to cancel classes from March 9.

Duque noted there was no evidence that they have a transmission of the disease there.

“The class suspension is their strategy, their decision. They will be the ones accountable for their decisions,” said Duque.

The Health chief pointed out that the cancellation of classes and work will be recommended under Code Red, Sublevel 2, which will be prompted by the presence of “community transmission” where the source of COVID-19 cases can no longer be traced.

“The signal is sustained community transmission beyond capacity. This means, there are already many places with COVID-19 which can no longer be connected,” he said.

Tiangco also suggested giving students automatic passing grades, as precautionary move in light of the spread of the respiratory disease.

He suspended Monday’s classes in his city. Cainta and Taytay town in Rizal made similar announcements Saturday.

On Saturday, Duque announced that the country’s first case of COVID-19 local transmission is a 62-year-old man who has no known travel history abroad.

He was said to be a regular visitor of a prayer hall in San Juan.

The patient, who is the country’s fifth COVID-19 case, is in “critical condition” at RITM in Muntinlupa City where his wife, the sixth confirmed case was also admitted.

Duque said the 62-year-old has other pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, enlarged prostate, and kidney problem. The couple’s children, Duque said, tested negative.

The Department of Health on Saturday raised the country’s alert system for the new coronavirus to Code Red, Sub-level 1.

Duque said this is a “preemptive call” for authorities and health workers to “prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases.

He also called on various institutions to coordinate with the DOH when sharing information with regards to the COVID-19.

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’Gadgets safe place to avoid COVID’ F OR THE people hunkering down due to the coronavirus epidemic, the tech sector has become their new best friend with an array of lifestyle solutions making “social distancing” easier.

someone in China using a remote-controlled toy truck mounted with a GoPro camera to fetch supplies.

“When it comes to technology, there are different things that make isolation easier; from streaming video to digital books to gaming,” Milanesi said.

“We have also seen how social media has helped getting coverage from areas where press might have not been allowed.”

In a note to investors, analyst firm Needham said it expected people to grow increasingly uncomfortable going to gyms to work out, in a trend that should benefit the connected cycling maker Peloton.

Peloton has had a hit selling stationary exercise bicycles along with memberships to streaming online workout sessions that people can take part in from home.

Rivals in the increasingly competitive streaming television market also stand to benefit as people opt for home entertainment instead of risking contagion in public spaces, according

Those wanting to avoid crowds can have meals delivered from restaurants, stream blockbuster films, socialize online with friends, and work remotely.

The latest tech-inspired lifestyle solutions are gaining traction as more people are advised to work from home, and many conferences and gatherings are canceled.

Anyone with an Internet connection can use Amazon or e-commerce rivals to deliver provisions from groceries to toilet paper and over-the-counter medicine.

“We can have anything and everything delivered to our homes including hard and soft goods, doctor visits, laundry services, and even pet services,” said Moor Insights and Strategy principal analyst Patrick Moorhead.

“The irony is that many of the items criticized about technology have become a ‘safe’ place to escape to in the wake of coronavirus.”

Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi has been checking in daily with her mother, who lives close to Milan in a part of Italy hit by coronavirus cases and has kept to her home.

Video-calling services like FaceTime have also helped with virtual doctor visits―or telemedicine-so patients can consult with physicians online and avoid visits to hospitals, she noted.

Milanesi told of a friend using online shopping tools to find coveted supplies such as sanitizing gel and wipes.

She also shared a news video clip of

Duterte...

benefit from doing that, but it was (CSMC) that made the request [to keep their name out of the reports],” said Duque.

The fifth confirmed COVID-19 case was initially admitted at CSMC before he was transferred to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

He also chided CSMC for asking they not be named, then eventually admitting their involvement.

“That’s not right. This is really very unprofessional…,” Duque said.

In a statement, CSMC said that they initially “took care” of the country’s fifth confirmed case – the 62-year-old Filipino who has no history of travel abroad. His wife, who was also sent to RITM, became the sixth confirmed case.

On Saturday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the DOH should not withhold information from the public except those pertaining to private and confidential information.

Drilon said “there should be transparency in the handling of COVID-19 pursuant to the law in order to avoid panic and misinformation.”

“To me, the public should be informed.

That is an obligation of the government to the people, to be open and transparent.

What we need to protect is the private information because of the stigma that comes with being diagnosed of having COVID-19,” Drilon said.

But Duque asked the public for understanding, since the DOH is swamped with tasks, including the quarantine of hundreds of Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan, China, as well as Japan.

“Let’s not forget the difficulties faced by our DOH personnel who are making sacrifices... It’s easy to criticize, engage in a blame game. But let’s unite in this difficult situation,” he said.

Duque said there is a global shortage of re-agents, materials and chemicals needed to test for COVID-19.

“Who doesn’t want to test everyone? If

it’s only possible, it would be good test all 100 million Filipinos. But the reality on the ground is, it’s not feasible,” he said.

He said the country’s current supply of testing kits is sufficient, with the help of the World Health Organization. At present, he said the DOH has the capacity for 4,500 tests.

“And then, South Korea will give 500 additional testing kits to help us,” he said.

Drilon expressed dismay that the DOH has not yet issued the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. The law provides for mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern, adding that the law could help establish the protocol and right procedures in handling COVID-19.

Meanwhile, some Filipino crew members of a cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco, California tested positive for COVID-19, the vessel’s operator said Sunday (Manila time).

“Filipinos are a valuable part of our crew on board the ships. Some of those individuals who tested positive are from the Philippines,” said Dr. Grant Tarling, chief medical officer of cruise operator Carnival Corp.

The Grand Princess ship carrying some 3,500 crew and passengers, was scheduled to dock in San Francisco, California on Saturday after a 14-day cruise. It was held off the coast since Wednesday after two passengers who were on a previous voyage contracted the virus. One of them later died.

Tarling said they are “well at the moment and being isolated in their cabins” and being cared for.

However, he did not say how many Filipinos tested positive for the pathogen that has already infected some 100,000 people and killed more than 3,500 people worldwide, mostly in China. The ship has over 500 Filipino crew members.

Evening News reported Sunday.

More than 800 commanders and 750 medical staff have been deployed in rescue efforts, along with 20 ambulances, the ministry said.

China’s National Health Commission also said it was sending 18 medical experts from the nearby cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen to Quanzhou.

Meanwhile, a US cruise ship hit by COVID-19 was given permission late Saturday to dock, while New York announced a state of emergency as confirmed cases across the United States surged past 400.

The fast-spreading virus has already spread to 30 US states, killing at least 19 people, while the American capital announced its first case Saturday and citizens were coming to terms with public events being canceled across the country.

The Grand Princess cruise ship has recorded 21 COVID-19 infections on board—19 crew and two American passengers—out of 45 people tested.

Authorities ordered the vessel to remain at sea off the coast of San Francisco, where it was due to dock Saturday following a 14-day trip to Hawaii, after it

emerged that a passenger on a previous voyage had contracted the virus and later died.

The vessel will instead go to nearby Oakland on Monday and begin disembarking passengers in need of “acute medical treatment,” vessel owner Princess Cruises said in a statement.

The ship’s crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, the company added.

Around half of the vessel’s 1,100 crew hail from the Philippines and several are among those diagnosed with the virus, according to Princes Cruises.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is managing the US government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, said earlier that all 3,533 passengers and crew would be tested for coronavirus and quarantined if necessary.

Further south in Los Angeles, passengers aboard another cruise ship were told they must remain on the vessel overnight.

The order came after a woman was taken off the Carnival Panorama cruise ship to be tested for the virus, the Long Beach Post reported. AFP

political stability.

• If the Philippine government removes the Philippime Overseas Gaming Operators industry, Senator Richard Gordon said, there should be a replacement to provide for Filipino workers who would lose their jobs.

“Like I said, if we get rid of POGO, there should be a replacement for the drivers, the people benefiting... not just remove them,” Gordon said.

• Rep. Ronnie Ong on Sunday expressed support for the initiative of PAGCOR to conduct Good Manners and Right Conduct and culture-sensitivity training for Chinese workers of the POGOs. Such should not just cover POGO workers but to all arriving Chinese mainlanders who had become very notorious for their unruly and disrespectful behavior even to law enforcement authorities. With Rio N. Araja, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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and ease processes on procurement, mandatory reporting, mandatory quarantine, and travel restrictions, among others.”

“It would also put to rest questions on whether an automatic price freeze on medicines and medical supplies may be made by the DoH and the Department of Trade and Industry,” he added.

The country has been placed under Code Red, Sub-Level 1 over the weekend.

Once there is sustained community transmission or an increasing number of local cases whose links cannot be established, Code Red, Sub-Level 2 will be raised and the strategy will shift from intensive contract tracing to communitylevel quarantine or lockdown, and possible suspension of work or school.

Duque, for his part, fended off accusations that the government was underreporting cases of COVID-19 or concealing significant information about the disease.

Duque was responding to a comment from Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who said Saturday that the health department could be underreporting the number of cases.

“Do we have enough testers to cover a decent number of our population, especially in the more vulnerable areas of the country? If no, the DOH may be underreporting, albeit unintentionally,” Lacson said in a statement.

But in an interview over radio dzMM, Duque rejected Lacson’s suggestion.

“They are saying there’s underreporting. Remember that the DOH also has its limitations,” Duque said without elaborating.

Duque said the DOH also should not be blamed for hiding the name of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) in Greenhills, San Juan, which treated the fifth confirmed COVID-19 case.

“That was not our intention. We won’t

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The building’s facade appeared to have crumbled to the ground, exposing the structure’s steel frame.

Nine people escaped from the hotel on their own at the time of the collapse, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.

The building’s first floor has been undergoing renovation since before the Lunar New Year, and construction workers called the hotel’s owner minutes before the collapse to report a deformed pillar, the ministry said.

The building’s owner has been summoned by police, and local authorities are still determining whether it was the renovation or an original structural issue that caused the collapse, according to the ministry.

At the time of the collapse, 58 people who had recently been in regions hard-hit

by COVID-19 were being quarantined in the hotel, and all had tested negative for the virus, local newspaper Quanzhou

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material, plastic is increasingly being shunned due to the lasting harm its chemical components do to the planet.

As a result, Lego has vowed that its iconic bricks will be 100 percent sustainable by 2030.

With pieces that are virtually unbreakable and reusable for generations, Lego— whose name is a contraction in Danish for “Leg Godt” or “Play Well”—has always had sustainability as a leitmotiv, Tim Brooks, head of corporate responsibility, told AFP. Now, the company just has to adapt to environmental and consumer demands.

A study by the NPD market research group showed that 47 percent of Christmas shoppers worldwide chose not to buy a toy due to sustainability concerns. AFP

Nonetheless, the department said it was already closely working with Immigration to ensure the foreigners coming in and out of the country were not using Philippine passports.

• The entry in the Philippines of billions of pesos worth of foreign currency in recent months has revived concerns about laundered money being used to set up illegal businesses for gambling, human trafficking, prostitution and illegal drug dealing, and to fund anti-government and terrorist activities, Senator Imee Marcos said Sunday.

As a result, she said, there was a need to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Act or face the risk of international sanctions that would dampen confidence in the country’s business environment and

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navirus epidemic,” the 83-year-old pope said in a message recorded at the Vatican library and aired live on a screen on Saint Peter’s Square before a small crowd “I join my brother bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervour of charity.”

The Vatican said on Saturday that the pontiff was breaking with centuries of tradition and reverting to the use of streaming technology for his traditional Angelus Prayer at the request of the Italian authorities.

The livestream was apparently designed to keep down the number of people who came out on Saint Peter’s Square to

to analysts.

More people could also start getting restaurant meals delivered from services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash instead of going out to restaurants.

“None of this undermines the horror of the virus, but for those who want to stay home and not venture outside it works,” Moorhead said.

Software, services and the infrastructure needed to support them are in the best position ever to allow people to feel less deprived while distancing themselves socially, according to Consumer Technology Association research senior vice president Brian Markwalter.

Internet speeds have climbed in the past decades, and smartphones are ubiquitous, Markwalter noted.

Telemedicine has made gains in recent years, and health monitoring is getting an added boost from smartwatches and fitness bands that can detect irregular heartbeats or whether some has taken a hard fall, he added. AFP

The Grand Princess also has Filipino guests, but they are not among the two guests who had caught the new coronavirus, said Jan Swartz, group president of Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia.

The Grand Princess belongs to Princess Cruises, a unit of Carnival Corp. It is the same company that operated the Diamond Princess – the coronavirus-stricken ship held off Japan last month from which more than 700 people tested positive and six died.

Eighty Filipino crew members of Diamond Princess caught the disease. Many of them have recovered and some have been allowed to return to the Philippines, the Health Department earlier said.

Panelo said the country’s economic managers were ready as well to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

“That problem is not local, it’s international, global, so we have to face it,” he said.

Losses are expected but he said Duterte’s economic team is “trying to do something about it.”

“Saying we can stop the losses, I don’t think we can,” he said.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Duterte will be visiting Boracay on March 12 to join efforts in lifting the public’s mood to travel around the Philippines.

Aside from promotions, the Chief Executive will also inspect what has been done on the island since it was rehabilitated.

On Friday, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the Philippine economy could lose between $669 million and $1.94 billion and lose 87,000 to 252,000 jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a report titled “The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Developing Asia,” the ADB said that among its member-countries, expected to be “significantly affected” by the disease’s economic impact are those “with strong trade and production linkages with China.”

With Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas

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many disadvantages,” adding that it was “not Filipino.”

“It does not inspire loyalty to the nation but serves as a reminder of a colonial past and the toga, which covers the whole body, is impractical and uncomfortable to use in a tropical country like the Philippines, Pascua said.

He said “renting or buying a toga, with gown and cap, is an additional expense and an added burden on parents.”

The use of the sablay by millions of students, he said, would also “provide jobs and empower women and men weavers and revive and sustain local and traditional weaving enterprises.”

Sablay has been known as the official academic costume of the University of the Philippines, worn across the chest during formal occasions. This is supposed to be worn over formal dress in ecru (cream or beige) for females with formal shows or an ecru Barong Tagalog and black pants for males.

Pascua said his proposal had yet to be discussed at the execom-Mancom levels and “remains a proposition.”

watch the pope deliver his Sunday prayer and message from his traditional window at the Vatican.

Italy has borne the brunt in Europe of the COVID-19 disease now sweeping the world.

It has recorded 233 deaths and nearly 6,000 cases. The authorities took the unprecedented step Sunday of quarantining more than 15 million people—a quarter of Italy’s population—living in northern regions around the cities of Venice and Milan.

The pope himself has been suffering from a cold for more than a week and has cut down on public appearances.

But he still appeared at his window facing Saint Peter’s Square after recording his message and waved for a few moments to the crowd.

He said he felt unnaturally “caged” delivering his message from a library instead of his open window. AFP

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Palace shields Locsin from S’gapore jab on WIPO bet

By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG on Sunday defended Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for choosing a Chinese candidate over a Singaporean bet during the election of the highest post of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the foreign affairs secretary based his decision on the competence of the candidates vying for the director-general post, after Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishan took a jab at Locsin for choosing a Chinese bet instead of a fellow Southeast Asian.

“Sec. Teddy Boy Locsin was voting for a person or representative who is competent and should be given the job. It has nothing to do with whatever nationality,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

Singapore’s Intellectual Property chief executive Daren Tang won the WIPO election held in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday. His sixyear term will begin on Oct. 1.

Tang earned 55 votes against Chinese candidate Wang Binying who merely garnered 28 votes to steal the nomination for the WIPO‘s top post.

He will replace Australian Francis Gurry though the former’s victory will still have to be confirmed during the WIPO General Assembly in May. In a tweet on Thursday, Balakrishnan said Locsin should have expressed support to Tang.

Locsin, responding to Balakrishnan’s statement, said in his Twitter account that Singapore’s victory was “under strong Western pressure.”

He added that he voted in favor of Wang because “friend in need is friend indeed.”

Panelo said Locsin voted for Wang because he believed that the latter is deserving.

Asked if President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of Locsin’s preference, Panelo said: “The President does not have to know about anything that Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin does.”

DOJ action center creates CDO outlet

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice will put up more Action Centers in other parts of the country and set up a social media account to provide free legal consultations to the public.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete revealed that DOJAC will be established in Cagayan de Oro, which would become the first DOJAC outside of its main office in Padre Faura, Manila.

“The DOJAC aims to provide legal assistance/ legal counseling to walk in clients. Our target is to establish a DOJAC in Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao. For Luzon, so far the DOJAC is at the main building but we might put up one in Ilocos, but we are still looking for funds to set up an office,” said Perete, who also serves as DOJ spokesperson Perete said they are also looking for an available spaces in the Visayas and are considering Cebu or Iloilo as the location.

According to the Justice official, the DOJAC has been in existence for 16 years but they have been unable to expand their service because of lack of available spaces to set up the center and there is no budget yet allocated to assign lawyers to man the centers and answer queries regarding legal matters.

Besides the setting up of DOJAC outside Manila, Perete said they are also planning of offering free legal advice online to cater to those who are in need of legal guidance, but could not afford the services of a lawyer.

“We do not have this kind of capacity right now, but we are looking into making free legal services accessible online either by incorporating it in the DOJ website or creating its own account,” she said.

The DOJAC has been intended to entertain those seeking legal advice, offer mediations that could lead to drafting of contracts or agreements, and refer domestic violence and other incidents to the proper agencies such as the barangay, National Prosecution Service, court or appropriate police station.

WOMEN’S DAY. Female-members of progressive groups came in droves on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day in Chino Roces St. (Mendiola) to tackle several issues ranging from land reform to terrorism to low wages, with one of them (inset) bound to a chain to dramatize the plight of women. Norman Cruz

House probes hospitals, other medical facilities

By Rio N. Araja

C

ONGRESS is set to begin today its inquiry into the state funding and performance of public hospitals and other health facilities in the country.

The committee on public accounts, chaired by Rep. Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan Party-list, and the committee on health led by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan will conduct the investigation in aid of legislation.

Defensor, vice chairman of the health committee, filed House Resolution No. 686 seeking the congressional inquiry into the matter.

Officials of the Department of Health, government and private hospitals, and representatives of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines have been invited to the public hearing.

In a resolution, Defensor cited a World Health Organization study on the

“inefficiencies and inequities” of the country’s health-care delivery system.

He quoted the study that “the fragmented nature of health financing, devolved structure of service delivery, and mixed public-private health system pose immense challengers to correcting the inefficiencies and monitoring the performance of the Philippine health sector.”

According to the study, as of 2016, there were 90,308 nurses, 40,775 doctors, 43,044 midwives, and 265 medical technologists in the health care sector, with hospitals more than 90 percent of doctors and nurses.

Two-thirds of hospital beds were in Luzon, including Metro Manila.

The party-list lawmaker said there is a need to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the state, capacity and performance of health facilities to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of health services.

The two committees would also look into the government’s health facilities improvement program, for which Congress has been allocating billions in taxpayers’ money annually since the Aquino administration.

Defensor said he wants to know what the DOH has accomplished with the huge amount allocated for the program, what hospitals have been improved and what new facilities have been built.

Under the previous administration, funds had been spread thin through the construction of barangay health centers costing P1.5 million to P2 million throughout the country.

But Defensor said many of these centers are now idle because they have no personnel, equipment and even basic medicines and supplies.

Cimatu steps up campaign vs. wildlife crime THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources vows to continue the fight against wildlife crime while recognizing close to 100 frontline wildlife enforcement officers in a recent celebration of the World Wildlife Day. Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. said the DENR has never wavered in its commitment to stop illegal wildlife trade, which is “one of the most important and urgent part of our work” to protect the iconic Philippine Eagle and other endemic wildlife species that are facing threat of extinction.

“The DENR, especially the

Biodiversity Management Bureau, has been consistent in its mandate to protect the rich biodiversity of this country, and it is our commitment to not let this intensive consistency waive,” he said.

A total of 98 wildlife law enforcement officers from various agencies and organization—National Bureau Investigation-Environmental Crime Division (19), Bureau of Customs (21), Philippine National Police (46), 28th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (nine), nongovernment organization (one), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Protection Group (two)—

were recognized during the Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards 2020.

“Let it not be forgotten lest disregarded the valiant efforts of wildlife enforcers, and we see their lives to protect our wildlife resources on poaching, trafficking and overexploitation so that the future generations to come will be able to see the rich biodiversity we still enjoy today,” Adobo said.

Assistant Secretary and concurrent BMB Director Ricardo Calderon said wildlife crime, including wildlife trafficking and poaching, is “a crime against nature.” Rio Araja

‘No sacred cows on PSALM collectibles’ THE government, hard-pressed for funds to finance the 2020 national budget, has deemed it a priority to collect the billions of pesos worth of overdue payments which power companies and electric cooperatives owe the government.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that several big companies owed the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. the amount of P95.42-billion.

Panelo reiterated that there will be “no scared cows” in government.

The government will run after them whether they are powerful people or not, whether they are close to the President or not,” Panelo said on dzIQ. PSALM is the agency tasked by Congress under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 to sell the assets of the defunct agency.

PSALM vowed to continue its collection efforts to go after power companies with delinquent accounts totaling P33.62 billion.

If these debts remain unpaid, PSALM will incur an annual borrowing cost of abou P1.7 billion a year.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose Calida is given free hand to attend congressional hearings on the issue.

Earlier, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and Committee on Public Accounts ordered Calida to testify at the joint hearing on March 11 after failing to show up at the past hearings in February.

Calida was asked to provide the House panels with “pertinent documents,” including his office’s “Motion for Leave to Intervene,” in connection with the uncollected P14.97 billion and P315.42 million from the Manila Electric Co. and First Gen Hydro Power Corp.

AGAINST QUARRYING.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu (right) orders the immediate removal of the barbed wires that were put up by a quarry firm to delineate quarrying operations at the Masungi Geopark Project in Baras, Rizal during his inspection of the project on March 4.

The wires were hammered to Tibig trees, a species native to the Philippines that can help conserve water when planted near freshwater, and is considered a good tree species for reforestation near springs and creeks. The freshly-cut stem of a Tibig can also be a source of drinkable water. Cimatu ordered the closure, and cancellation of the quarry permit of the company and a review of its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement.

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Opinion

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Code Red

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

“technically, there’s no formal definition for a “Code.” Doctors however often use the term as slang for a cardiopulmonary arrest, happening to a patient in a hospital or clinic, requiring a team of providers (sometimes called a “code team”) to rush to the specific location and begin immediPart 1 ate resuscitative efforts. A Code Red PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s dec- in medical terms as in most emergenlaration of a nationwide public health cies is the highest level of alert issued emergency has brought in its wake a to confront a deadly threat.

Still, as one pundit asked, do the number of issues which need to be figures released so far justify such a seriously looked into.

This, given that quite apart from declaration? Or, as Senator Ping Lacthose under quarantine number- son noted, is the DoH under reporting just more than 400 people (290 ing the actual situation?

Recalling that the first tissues takfrom the Diamond Princess cruise ship and 160 from Macau) and the en from suspected COVID-19 cases six confirmed infected cases, one of were sent to Australia, Lacson asked whom has died, we have not really whether we have enough test kits to been as affected as other countries cover a decent portion of our popuwho have not gone as far as declaring lation. Which, if taken to its logical conclusion, begs the question of a national emergency.

Instead of calming the waters as preparedness on the part not just of the DoH but of local has been the effort governments, medisince the outbreak cal practitioners, was reported to Do the figures public and private, have migrated to and other respondPhilippine soil, released so far justify ers and health workthe declaration at such a declaration? ers who need to be this time may have deployed as first reonly unduly elsponders in the event evated the level of “community transmission” takes concern among the citizenry.

After all, putting the country un- place.

Of course, we cannot and should der a Code Red situation means that things are not as calm and quiet not simply shrug things off even or under control as our health of- with the calming figures issued ficials would like us to believe. As by the DoH compared with, say, explained, Code Red is the highest Singapore or Thailand or even South level of medical alert imposed on a Korea. Obviously, ensuring the least community or a country signalling to possible damage to life and limb of one and all that, first, there is a strong COVID-19 is very important to all of possibility that the COVID-19 will us. None of us want to get sick with break out considerably so everybody any illness, let alone with a virus be informed, educated and prepared which origin, deadliness and cure to combat the disease. Second, the we have yet to understand. We do nation’s resources must be readied to not want unwarranted disruptions in combat the spread and negative im- our lives and, of course, the entire pact of the disease. Third, the nation country if not the world. We do not must come around together and en- want this to be an added burden to an already overburdened sociosure that no one is left behind.

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“E

Emergency

MERGENCY” and “Code Red” are words that can provoke worry and anxiety. But amid the COVID-19 scare gripping not only the Philippines but the world, it is comforting that President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a public health emergency after the Department of Health issued a Code Red alert level this weekend.

These developments ensued after the sixth case of novel coronavirus—and the local transmission of the disease—was confirmed. The first three cases, one of whom died, were all Chinese who had come here from the mainland.

Over the past few days, we learned about the fourth case—a 48-yearold Filipino who worked at a building at the Bonifacio Global City; he had travelled from Japan. The fifth case is a 62-year-old Cainta, Rizal resident who had frequented a prayer hall in San Juan City. He had no recent travel history. The sixth case is his 59-year-old wife. It was this couple’s case that prompted the Health department to confirm that the country is now at a stage of local transmission.

The Palace told Manila Standard that a state of public emergency has

been declared after considering all critical factors with the aim of safeguarding the health of the Filipino people.

Code Red means that all hospital personnel are required to report for duty in their respective facilities to provide medical services. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, upon recommending the declaration of a public health emergency, says Code Red ensures that all human and material resources must be made available for duty and deployment.

Further, Code Red, Sub-Level 1 is a “preemptive call to ensure national and local government and public and private healthcare providers can prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases.”

These declarations at least show

us that the government is acknowledging that the situation is worrisome and that it is stepping up efforts to contain further spread of the virus.

There is so much that we still do not know. We are blind in so many areas—for instance, how can we tell who is sick and not sick if the disease could be asymptomatic?

How capable are we of testing, in a timely manner, all those who must be tested? How can we assuage our fears that somebody in the crowd or within our premises is potentially a patient?

Given these, our only recourse is to rely on what we can do. We can constantly keep clean and boost our immune system by eating healthy and exercising. We can refuse to go out when we do not have to. We can stay tuned to the news, making sure that we believe—and pass along— information only from reliable sources. We can refrain from ascribing ill motives to political figures, or from believing faux science. We can reject any form of hysteria.

These are precarious times. More than ever, we need only the basics: A clear mind, and a good head on our shoulders.

The 2021 budget begins each year with the Development Budget Coordination Committee issuing guidelines to the different agencies of government as early as the last quarter of the preceding year.

For the first three to four months of the year, agencies submit their proIT WAS the late Senator Dominador posed expenditure programs, which Aytona, who before being elected are then synthesized into what is to the Senate, was the chief budget called the National Expenditure officer of the Republic, and briefly Program. The proposed program of Central Bank governor, who defined expenditures along with sources of the General Appropriations Act or financing, then goes to the President the national budget as “the economic for final approval before presentation program of the country in pesos and to the legislature. centavos.” As such, it can be argued Submitted right after the Presithat passing the budget is the most dent’s State of the Nation Address, important piece of legislation for Congress then reviews and goes Congress to enact each year. through the process of enacting the It was during the martial law peGeneral Appropriations Act based riod that the Budget Commission on what is referred to as “The Presiwas re-engineered into the Ministry dent’s Budget.” It has the power to of Budget and Management through reduce and re-align the items in the the Budget Reform Decree issued by President’s Budget. From the House, President Ferdinand Marcos, which the appropriations bill goes to the strengthened Senate, even the planning, if simultaneprog r a m m i ng ous hearings and budgeton the expenTo fight for, to die for ing linkages of diture program the office, with are held by both monitoring ofchambers to be fices in every able to enact the administrative region of the country. law within the year. Conflicting verAt the time, the legislature, Basions are reconciled in a bicameral tasang Pambansa, was a mere rubconference committee where both ber stamp of the Executive, further houses meet to hammer out a final neutered by Amendment No. 6 of a version, which is then passed by their Constitution “ratified” by the people respective chambers to become the under authoritarian rule.

General Appropriations Act for the But with the re-birth of a system of succeeding year. checks and balances as provided for The bicameral conference commitin the 1987 Constitution, congressiotee is thus labelled the “third house” nal power of the budgetary system reof Congress. turned, and the House Committee on It is becoming increasingly clear, Appropriations, with its counterpart or in the parlance of the lawyers, Finance Committee in the Senate, abundantly clear, that the brouhaha became the most highly-prized comin the lower House last week, which mittees in Congress. resulted in the surgical removal of the Essentially, the budget process Turn to A5

Something fishy in the planned CBT Expressway coordinator Lean Ramilo and CTBexEIA team leader Ronnie Manipol.

What is irregular is that project, according to sources, has yet to be approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

IT SEEMS that this early, someAccording to the sources, Metro Pathing’s not right going on with the planned Cavite-Batangas-Tagaytay Expressway.

According to sources within the How true are these community to be affected by the allegations? proposed 50.4-kilometer road project, personnel of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. have already started tagging residential houses in some of the barangays in Alfonso, Cavite cific Tollways, through Ecosys, is try trywhich would have to be demolished ing to make it appear the project has to give way to the P22-billion ex- already been approved and is up for pressway. implementation.

The tagging is said to have been In that way, the sources said resiconducted by third party contrac- dents of the barangays to be affected tor Ecosys Corp Inc. led by project might be forced to sell their properties

at ridiculously bargain prices—way, way below their market values.

Once the sale among the residents have been consummated, the project contractor then could convince Malacañang to push through with the project as almost all of the properties the road project will pass through, have already been acquired, the sources.

Worse, the sources add that no less than the chairman of one of the barangays is facilitating the tagging of the houses to ensure that his house and those of his relatives would be spared by the road project, in the process, amending the original plan.

I would welcome any clarification if what my sources are telling me is inaccurate. But if this is true, then the NEDA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Opinion Choosing to thrive Part 1 IT IS often said that life is about the choices we make.

But more often than not, it is untrue.

Take poverty, for example. In most cases, people are trapped in the sorry state of poverty because of circumstances that are way beyond their control. A homeless man living in the street. A struggling solo parent with four children. An out-of-school teenager who ran away from home.

It is easy to say that the misery they are in is a product of the wrong choices that they have made.

But we know that is not even half the truth.

The inconvenient truth is that society itself is unforgiving to the less fortunate, and if you really take the time to understand their situation, one could say that society has condemned them to such situations.

Poverty persists, not simply because of the bad choices people make, but also of the burdens that society imposes on the impoverished.

That is how I would explain the persistence of poverty in Eastern Visayas, one of the poorest regions in the country today.

Six years ago, Super Typhoon ‘‘Haiyan’’ struck the islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran, with thousands dead, tens of thousands homeless, millions of pesos worth of livelihood, properties and infrastructure destroyed. But even before Typhoon Haiyan struck, the incidence of poverty has already been worsening. While the nation’s overall economic situation has been improving on the average, poverty in the region worsened from 2006 to 2012. In 2014, poverty incidence was at 54.9 percent; more than half of the region’s population of 4.10 million is now extremely poor and unable to earn the minimum amount necessary to address their basic needs.

It seems deplorable, but the fact remains that in Eastern Visayas,

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concerned agencies should step in to correct the matter. This is no way to push through with the administration’s Build, Build, Build Program.

The President himself would not approve of it. *** For the first time, edamame, or young soybean, would be harvested in the country.

A 20-hectare farm located in Barrio Talipapa, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija is the site of a joint proj-

The 2021...

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appropriations committee chairman, Isidro Ungab, replaced by a neophyte party list congressman, was all about control of the budget for the next fiscal year—2021.

From the very beginning of his ascent to the speakership, Alan Peter Cayetano named 24 deputy speakers, many of them ceremonial, but for some who exercise “oversight” powers super-imposed over regular committee chairs. One such deputy speaker is the gentleman from Camarines Sur, who was also its former governor, and whose son is the current provincial chief executive—LRay Villafuerte, who I refer to as El Rey. El Rey is one of the more innovative local government officials under whose nine-year reign Camarines Sur displayed tremendous progress. He represents a new breed of dynamic local executives whose governance practices are anchored on vision rather than mere re-election. Because they produce results, the Villafuertes have been re-elected continuously from grandpa Luis to El Rey to Migz, the current governor who is El Rey’s son.

But he can also be quite acerbic in language, “palaban” in the native patois, which he has been amply

the poor are becoming desperately poorer. In the Family Income and Expenditure Survey conducted in 2015, four of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas are among the country’s 20 poorest provinces: Leyte (ranked 17 at 46.7-percent poverty incidence), Western Samar (ranked 14th at 49.5 percent), Eastern Samar (ranked 11th at 50 percent) and Northern Samar (ranked fourth at 61.6 percent).

If you ask me, poverty is hardly the choice that we would have made for our region.

vi In simple terms, poverty is a vicious cycle, that is often beyond one’s control or choices. Some people may have made poor choices along the way that have led them into this situation. However, poverty can become systemic that despite anyone’s choices—the impoverished and their families remain in poverty.

That is why a radical change in the system, and out-of-the-box shift in outlook is required.

In the last two weeks, two important proposed measures have successfully hurdled important milestones in the legislative process. House Bill 1419, the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone Act which was passed on Second Reading last March 4 and House Bill 1155, the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Authority Act which was recently approved by the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization last Feb. 19.

House Bill 1419 seeks the conversion of the Leyte Industrial Development Estate into the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone. The long-term objective is develop LEIZ into a

self-sustaining and ecologically sustainable industrial, commercial and investment zone that will put in place and wide-reaching employment and investment generation mechanism as well as incentives to ensure the free flow and movement of goods and commodities within the free port area.

Unlike existing economic zones, LEIZ is remarkable for two reasons.

First, unlike other economic zones that are limited to a single contiguous area, LEIZ will be composed of three locations: at the core will be the present Leyte Industrial Development Estate in Isabel, Leyte; Leyte North at the Tacloban City-Babatngon area; and Leyte South in Baybay City. The three locations are geographically structured so as to form one growth triangle that encompasses the entire island of Leyte.

The second reason is that conservation and protection of the environment would therefore be a major focus of the project—hence the concept of setting up an ecological industrial zone instead of a regular industrial zone. The proposed industrial zone is expected to provide services for waste management and recycling and be climate change-proof by ensuring that the buildings and roads can withstand natural disasters.

According the main proponents of the proposed measure, Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, and Leyte First District Representative and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, “The establishment of an ecological industrial zone aims to attract more investors and businesses to locate in Leyte and the city of Tacloban, jumpstarting the revival of economic activities in the area and provide more employment opportunities through rural industrialization, but one that is both responsive to our current needs and attentive to our ecological realities.”

The LEIZ project is being implemented by a technical working group led by the Board of Investments with the assistance of topnotch urban and development planner, Palafox Associates Inc. (Continued on Wednesday)

ect of Top Shelf Corp. and multiple North Luzon farmers’ cooperatives.

The harvest is bound for export to Japan.

Top Shelf Corp. is a company formed by young farmers Raphael Pelayo, Elaine Timbol and Jeff Fernandez. Their goal is to expand edamame production to 500-700 hectares in next two years and export to South Korea, Australia and the United States as well. Said farms would be located in Central Luzon, Ilocos Region and Region 2.

Edamame is Japanese for “beans on a branch” and often found in East Asian cuisine sold both in the pod and

hulled. The crop is ready for harvest after only 62 days.

The edamame initiative was in response to Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s call for land and farm consolidation and prioritizing agriculture as an industry.

Congratulations to Raphael, Elaine and Jeff. *** Kudos also to House of Representatives employee, Jess Villahermosa for successfully organizing a weekly aqua Zumba session for the women of Avida Altaraza Ayala Town Center in San Jose City del Monte Bulacan.

displaying in interviews now that he is a congressman. That made for interesting “sabong” coverage of the events of the last week in the HoR. Because of the importance of the appropriations committee, its chairmen are normally given presidential nihil obstat before the Speaker gets his House to approve of their designation. That the first committee chair in the present Congress is a veteran legislator from Davao City was thus presumably with palace blessings, or at the least, without objection.

Little is known about the new appropriations committee chairman, who, while a businessman from the same southern city, is a newbie in legislation if not in government service altogether. But the fact that he was chosen clearly means that he should be able to work well with the Speaker and his alter ego on budgetary matters, El Rey. The other perspective one needs to scrutinize when the Magellan formula takes shape is the date of reckoning. The Lord Allan camp simply says it is October this year, a scant seven months from now. The Alan Peter camp strictly defines the timeline as beginning from July 22, 2019, the day Congress elected him. Fifteen months should therefore mean October 21, 2020, which is under normal timetable just a week before Congress adjourns for the Dia de Los Muer-

tos holidays, and by which time, the House shall have passed its version of the GAA. Which means the Alan Peter camp shall have control of the most important piece of legislation prior to the presidential and national elections of 2022.

If it had been an even split of the 36 months of the 18th Congress, then clearly Speaker Alan would helm the House until the end of 2021. But one could surmise that the Lord Allan faction wanted to have a major say in the 2021 GAA, and thus haggled for a Magellan formula, the now famous 15-21 split.

The 2021 budget is the election budget. It will be the last time the members of both houses can partake of the bag of goodies so important for them to tout district achievements by way of “projects.” It also is the big scooper of election campaign funding for those so inclined, the kind Ping Lacson has been excoriating against for years and years on end.

The 2022 budget is virtually useless for the re-election purpose of legislators, or for their passing the baton to their family herederos. By the time the appropriations are up for taking courtesy of the DBM’s notice of cash allotment, the ban on “project” spending begins.

Hence, the 2021 budget is to fight for, and to die for.

Poverty persists, not simply because of the bad choices people make, but also of the burdens that society imposes on the impoverished.

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sustainability is a CEO agenda eco-friendly products such as upcycled items, alternatives to single use-plastics, vegan food products, and fresh local produce. The project promotes sustainable lifestyle choices and is planned to become an advocacy platINTEGRATING sustainable values form for sustainability workshops and into the culture of businesses has be- forums.

Meralco has been able to remove 75 come a CEO agenda that is now becoming a requisite in the operations of percent of its use of single-use plastics, big enterprises. Stewardship of the en- enforcing the policy with its whole vironment is not just about managing supply chain. It has banned all forms brand reputation but a responsibility of smoking in all its premises. A smokthat industry leaders are now commit- ing cessation program is also offered ting substantial resources to save en- to employees who want to quit the unergy, reduce waste and develop envi- healthy and polluting habit.

In the Stratbase ronment friendly Con Pilipinas Conproducts. ference, global The sustaininitiatives that ability trend is Participation of all have now landed clear and accelvarious local inerating. Indonesia sectors is key. terventions were has announced featured by ina five-year plan dustry leaders to reduce macommitting more rine plastic waste by 70 percent. China, with one of the synergies with government and civil world’s biggest plastic consumption, is society groups.

Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” making ambitious plans to reduce single-use plastic usage with a nationwide global initiative was presented by Coban on plastic bags. Similar actions are ca-Cola Philippines President Winn ongoing in more developed economies Everhart which highlighted their comwith governments acting on the grow- mitment to build a P1-billion, state of ing anti-plastic sentiment, with new the art, rPET bottle recycling plant. policies that must balance effectivity This will not just create a more effiand viability with careful consider- cient collection network and recycle ation against burdening low-income PET bottles for reuse but will spawn the development of recycling industry consumers.

In the Philippines, legislators are that can support job creating linkages pushing several bills to address waste and spark new economic opportunities.

Unilever Philippines Chairman management and pollution which environmental scientists have directly Benjie Yap showed how their Zero linked to climate change. The De- Waste to Nature program will achieve partment of Environment and Natural their commitment to collect and proResources is leading the charge with cess more than it sells and will probold initiatives such as the successful duce 100-percent reusable, recyclable rehabilitation of Boracay island and the and compostable packaging by 2025. ongoing “Battle for Manila Bay.” In its The company will openly share techfirst year, this “battle” has achieved nical solutions to recycle sachets with respectable results and continues to the industry. Their three prong stratexpand multi-sectoral partnerships egy will implement: 1) Less plastic moving to contribute various solutions, using lighter, stronger and better central of which is the pollution of the materials which have lower environmental impact, 2) Better Plastic to waterways flowing into the bay.

Environmental propaganda often eliminate problematic/unnecessary blames the big manufacturing multi- plastics with recyclable materials and national giants as the source of plastic more recyclable content, and 3) No pollution, but some practical thinking Plastic by using materials and new on how trash leaks into our esteros and packaging formats.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. rivers will logically conclude that people and SteelAsia Foundation Inc. have are simply littering. I believe that if we just change the throw-away behavior to a agreed to partner with the Department dispose-of-properly discipline, the coun- of Environment and Natural Resources try’s waterways and streets will be free in the Enhanced National Greening of garbage. Having the most advanced Program, the flagship reforestation waste management systems will be use- program of the government aimed at less if people continue to be irresponsible saving the country’s forests.

In a recent press statement, DENR with their waste.

Secretary Roy A. Cimatu again The private sector realizes its crucial role in plugging the garbage leaks in called for more private sector particiour eco-system. Integrating and ex- pation to address the fast depletion of panding the impact of sustainability our forest resources and said that it programs has become a priority agen- is now easier for the private sector to da of the Chief Executive Officers of join the ENGP with his issuance last industry leading companies commit- year of DENR Administrative Order ting serious investments and engaging 2019-03. The order provides guidein partnerships with government and lines for private sector participation in the reforestation program so comrelevant sectors.

Meralco president and CEO lawyer panies can engage into public-private Ray C. Espinosa, during the recent partnership schemes for new ENGP launch of “The Good Store”, said that plantations, maintenance and protecfor sustainability to work, “it has to be tion of existing plantations and forenforced” and “in an environment like ests outside ENGP areas.

The key in solving our environmenthis you have to put up rules that will tal problems is all-sector participation. basically be followed by people.”

“So my advice to companies and en- All CEOs must lead the transformation terprises who want to espouse sustain- of their business operations, values and ability, it has to be at the CEO level,” culture to align with the responsible stewardship of the environment. said Espinosa.

If you really think about it, we should “The Good Store” is a bi-weekly marketplace that offers consumers really have no choice.

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economic environment which is already about to break out from the seams.

We want to get to the bottom of this issue, secure the necessary preventive measures and long term cure and move on to address the other basic concerns of our day-to-day existence.

Which is why we get anxiety attacks if we listen to the statements of various officials and agencies urging one and all not to panic but could not provide answers to the basic issues and educate us on what needs to be done by one and all from the poorest to the richest and from the littlest communities to the big cities. Of course, we fear the unknown and the uncertainty it brings. But what we are concerned even more are the mish-mash of information signifying nothing being blurted by a caravan of officials who seem to be more interested in hearing their voices than saying the truth about our situation.

As one columnist noted, at the very least we should realize that “this is not the End of Days virus that some have imagined.” Reports continue to unfold around the world that this new virus was spreading possibly longer than initially believed and that many more individuals have been infected without even knowing it. Doctors in various countries have noted that some of the known cases are severe, but many mild cases exist and even symptomless cases are likely to be found. Most experts have in part come out saying that although spreading faster than most viruses and possibly deadlier than the ones we earlier encountered like SARS and MERS, COVID-19 still belongs to the family of corona viruses like the seasonal flu and we should take it up from there to make our own determination and, yes, appreciation of its medical implications. (Continued on Wednesday)

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News

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Concerned parents, teachers buck ROTC bill

By Willie Casas STUDENTS, teachers and parents have started an online petition on the Change.org website to block a bill “repackaging” the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Course and expanding its coverage to include senior high school students.

“We slam the deceptive move of renaming ROTC into the Citizen Service Act. The ‘new’ program requires military training of students under the supervision of state forces and, thus, is still ROTC in essence,” read the online petition.

“The subject, which only proved to be an added burden and became a breeding ground for abuse and corruption, should no longer be resurrected. As such, we resolutely call for the scrapping of all proposed legislation and other measures that seek to rehabilitate mandatory ROTC in the education curriculum.”

Earlier, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said the substitute bill on the ROTC will also result in additional financial burden for Filipino families.

“This so-called ‘Citizen Service’ is nothing but the old ROTC in a new packaging,” she said.

She said the CSA via Basic Citizen Service Training Course (Basic CSTC) and Preparatory Citizen Service Training Course (Preparatory CSTC) in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private tertiary schools and senior high schools, respectively will surely require more expenses attendant to military training.

“The CSTC will cost additional expenses to parents and students. For example, families will have to spend at least P2,000 or P3,000 for the full Type A fatigue uniform per each cadet which includes the coat, pants, garrison belt, cap, and outside belt (P1,000 to P1,300), combat boots (P500 to P600), lanyard (P100), patches (P200), custom-made nameplate, shoulder blades, and even the appropriate haircut (P50 as cheapest) for men or hairpins and hairnet for women, to name a few.

This doesn’t yet include the other type of uniforms and more expensive items like the sword or saber,” Castro added.

Under the proposed substitute bill, according to Castro, the CSTC will be administered for at least four semesters over two school years.

The bill also requires the completion of Summer Citizen Service Training Camp (Summer CSTC) which shall consist of 30 days in two tranches of 15 days a year.

“The length of mandatory training, uniform and activities will lead to additional expenses and burdens to the students and parents,” Castro said.

START THEM YOUNG. Kids learn how to perform proper rappelling during the Junior Firefighters Camp 2020 led by Bureau of Fire Protection personnel at the atrium of SM City Marikina. They were also taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bandaging and splinting. Norman Cruz

PNP eyeing all possible angles in chopper crash T HE Philippine National Police said on Sunday it will look at different angles in the ongoing probe on the helicopter carrying PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa and seven other passengers that crashed in San Pedro, Laguna last week.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy chief for operations and head of the Special Investigation Task Group, said they are looking into all angles— including zero visibility due to thick dust and debris, air worthiness of the chopper, and human error.

Eleazar, however, said the conspiracy theory about sabotage that is being floated in social media is unlikely.

“We are not ruling that out absolutely but it’s very unlikely because of the initial findings or information that we obtained in the field,” he said in a radio interview on Sunday.

Eleazar inspected the crash site

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

“From Day 1, CAAP has been there because they are really experts on this aspect. At the same time, we also invited experts from the Air Force Safety Office,” he said.

Eleazar also urged local residents of San Pedro City, particularly those near the Laperal Compound in Barangay San Antonio, to either point to the police the location or hand over any part of the Bell 429 twin engine helicopter to investigators.

He also urged netizens to provide

any video they took before, during and after the crash in order to give the SITG a clear picture of what really happened.

Eleazar said the helicopter has no black box, an electronic recording device that preserves the recent history of an aircraft.

“We need a thorough investigation.

This is not a case where we are looking for a murderer or a pursuit operation where time is of the essence. Still, the faster, the better,” he said.

In the coming days, he said, they will invite resource persons, including survivors of the crash, first responders, and witnesses to determine what really transpired during the incident.

He said this is the first time the PNP is conducting an investigation of an aircraft accident.

The helicopter hit a high-tension wire upon take-off reportedly due to poor visibility caused by thick dust, causing it to crash in Barangay San Antonio on March 5.

Senator urges men to fight for women’s rights FOR this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on men to take part in the fight for women’s rights.

Hontiveros challenged Filipino men to be more proactive in ensuring gender equality.

“Male privilege should be used one last time to provide a platform for issues surrounding women, then dismantled,” said Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

At the same time, she said men should unlearn “toxic macho traits they have

grown accustomed to for generations,” especially those that result in violence against women.

“Men need to unlearn this entitlement to women’s bodies, clothing and attention.

This entitlement results in pervasive genderbased abuses directed at women,” she said.

“Sexual harassment, domestic violence, and rape start with the thought of ownership over women,” Hontiveros said, adding that in the Philippines, a woman is raped every hour while one in four women have experienced spousal violence.

At the House of Representatives,

Deputy Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera urged her colleagues to hasten the passage of a measure prohibiting child marriage.

“Child, early, and forced marriages pose risks and have serious impacts on the health and development of women and girls. Child marriage is a grave form of violence against women and girls, and we must put an end to this vile practice,” she said.

“Married girls will most likely drop out of school and lose their chance of getting educated, gaining a decent job, and earning for herself and her family.

Child brides are also the most common victims of domestic abuse and violence,” she added.

Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund showed that as of 2017, at least 15 percent of Filipino women between 20 to 24 were first married or entered a union before they turned 18 years old.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, many of adolescent brides experienced early and repeated pregnancies and childbirth before they could become physically mature and psychologically ready for responsible motherhood. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Inter-agency effort pushed vs. drug-driving

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Francis Tolentino has urged concerned government agencies to use creative and innovative ways to address the increasing number of vehicular accidents involving drivers under the influence of drugs.

During a hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs last week, Tolentino underscored the need for a concerted effort among government agencies, and not just the Land Transportation Office, to lessen drug-driving accidents.

“This should not be handled by only one agency. It should not only be the LTO. Everybody should be helping,” he said, adding that even a barangay tanod can help in reducing such cases.

Tolentino recalled how in the past, the MMDA and not the LTO became the first agency to have a breath analyzer device to detect whether the driver is under the influence of alcohol or not.

This happened, he said, even if LTO is supposed to be the frontline agency that should address such vehicular cases.

The lawmaker, a former chairman of the MMDA, suggested that the LTO may indicate on the driver’s license the traffic violations a driver has committed, particularly drugdriving, so it would be easier for law enforcers to determine the next course of action.

“This way, we will see if he has been rehabilitated the next time he is apprehended,” he said.

MMSU faculty bags US research grant

By Rey Requejo

A TIME TO REAP. Agriculture Secretary William Dar (in white shirt) leads the ceremonial harvesting using a combination reaper in a one-hectare farm lot planted with certified seeds under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Seed Program in Barangay Lelemaan in Manaoag, Pangasinan. The event marked the first anniversary of the Rice Tariffication Law.

A UNITED States federal agency has awarded a research scholarship to a graduate student and faculty member of the Mariano Marcos State University Biological Sciences Department to conduct a short-term research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said Jessica Asuncion will carry out research in the Biomolecular Measurement Division at NIST alongside Dr. Concepcion Remoroza, a Filipina research chemist.

NIST is a federal agency within the US Department of Commerce

that promotes innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science and standards to enhance citizens’ quality of life and the bioeconomy.

“After my short-term research training at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, my goal is to go back home to the Philippines and share the knowledge and skills I have learned with my colleagues, students, and local agencies through seminars and workshops,” Asuncion said.

“Aside from offering the highest standards of education, US universities and agencies promote quality cultural experiences as well which are vital in the holistic development of the students,” said MMSU President Shirley Agrupis.

Sports

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MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Empty arena hosts sumo tourney amid virus fears Veteran Ed Rivera (left) hopes to lead DENR when they play the Eugene Tan-led (right) AFP Cavaliers in today’s Game 2 of their 8th UNTV Cup finals.

DENR seeks piece of history in UNTV Cup cage finals Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. – 3x3 semis to final 8 p.m. – AFP vs DENR NEWCOMER Department of Environment and Natural Resources hopes to write a piece of history when it goes for a sweep of the UNTV Cup Finals against defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines before an expected huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

No team since its inaugural staging eight years ago has a team winning the championship by a sweep and that will be the mission of the DENR Warriors when they clash with the AFP Cavaliers in Game 2 of their best-of-three title series starting at 8 p.m.

The Warriors took the opener, 90-73, on March 1 with Ralph Lansang once again leading the team’s onslaught against an injury-stricken Cavaliers.

Four other DENR players – MVP candidate Ed Rivera, Ryan Abanes, Desederio Ayson and Melvin Bangal – tallied in doubles figures for the Warriors who shot impressively from the field, making 31 of 62 tries for 50 percent shooting clip.

While veteran Eugene Tan is expected to play despite a knee injury, the Cavaliers will again miss the services of two hardworking bigs in Wilfredo Casulla and Jeffrey Quiambao due to various injuries.

IF DENR goes on to complete a twogame sweep, its chosen charity stands to receive a tax-free P4 million prize from UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel S. Razon in the event sponsored by Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan and Members Church of God International.

A total of P10 million cash prizes will be donated to all charities.

Telecast and social media broadcasts of the event for public servants begin at 9 p.m. at UNTV channels.

Prior to the AFP-DENR tussle, the semis of the 3x3 side event will be played starting at 7 p.m. Disputing the P100,000 top prize are PhilHealth, SSS Kabalikat, Ombudsman and PITC. At 4 p.m. PhilHealth will also be setting up information desk for all PhilHealth insurance and membership concerns. The PAG-IBIG Fund will also be there with info desk and online verification of membership.

GOLF CHAMP. Guido Van der Valk (left) holds his huge trophy as he receives the facsimile of the check worth P1.5 million from organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa after capturing The Country Club Invitational crown via a one-stroke victory over Clyde Mondilla at the TCC course Saturday.

Hatton grabs lead, but McIlroy lurks at Bay Hill M IAMI—Britain’s Tyrrell Hatton fired a oneover par 73 in a brutal third round at windy Bay Hill to seize a two-stroke lead Saturday at the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 28-year-old Englishman, playing only his second tournament since right wrist surgery in November, closed with a dramatic 31-foot birdie putt -- only the day’s third birdie at 18 -- to stand on sixunder 210.

“It was extremely tough out there,” Hatton said. “You could be made to look pretty silly at times without hitting too bad a golf shot. It was just amazing how much firmer the greens got throughout the day.”

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy was hot on his heels after a difficult day in Orlando where the scoring average soared to 76.

“It felt like a US Open out there, so yeah, it was a good test,” McIlroy said.

“I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can.”

Four-time major winner McIlroy, seek-

ing a sixth consecutive top-five finish, shot 73 to share second on 212 with Australian Marc Leishman.

Another stroke back were South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Korean Im Sung-jae, New Zealand’s Danny Lee and American Harris English. None cracked par.

“I don’t think anyone enjoyed that today,” Hatton said. “It was just so hard.”

Hatton opened with a bogey but answered with a birdie at the third on a 22foot hole-out from the fringe.

Hatton stumbled with a three-putt double bogey six at the ninth after finding a greenside bunker, sank a 28-foot birdie putt at the par-4 13th then fell back again with bogeys at 14 and 15.

“Most of the holes were crosswinds, so it was just so hard to get close,” Hatton

Making dreams come true for eSports bets

Jones wants world rugby to act on penis grab TWICKENHAM, United Kingdom (AFP)--Alun Wyn Jones said he hopes World Rugby will act after England prop Joe Marler grabbed the Welsh skipper’s penis during Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

The 34-year-old Welsh lock showed admirable restraint during the incident but said he hoped there would be some comeback from the sport’s governing body, World Rugby.

“It’s tough. Hopefully World Rugby will have a look at it,” said Jones after his side lost 33-30.

“Joe is a good bloke and lots happens on a rugby field. After 138 Tests, I know if I react it’s a red card.”

Jones, whose side’s slim hopes of retaining their Six Nations title disappeared with a third successive defeat, said the incident and its aftermath had left him frustrated.

“It’s difficult as captain because you feel you can’t speak to the referee about anything,” he said.

“I looked at the touch judge but he didn’t see what happened, which is fine.

A lot of footage was shown, a lot of supporters have seen what happened, it’s just very frustrating. AFP

said. “When the greens are as firm as they are, you’ve got no chance getting anywhere near some of the pins.”

A tap-in birdie after a 33-foot eagle putt miss at the par-5 16th and the dramatic closing putt lifted Hatton into the lead, which matched the highest score to lead entering the final round in 42 years at Bay Hill.

“I was very happy that dropped,” said Hatton of 18. “Even though I tapped that putt it was probably going about eight feet past. It was scary how quick that thing was.”

Hatton chases his first US PGA title but owns four European Tour victories, the most recent at last November’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“There’s doubles and triples just around the corner, so that two-shot lead can go extremely quickly,” Hatton said. “So for me there’s nothing to get excited about.”

- Leishman climbs McIlroy, who defends his Players Championship title next week, found a bunker at the par-3 second and missed a five-foot par putt. AFP

TOKYO—Sumo’s spring tournament began behind closed doors on Sunday, the latest big event in Japan to be hit by the coronavirus less than five months before the Tokyo Olympics.

The Japan Sumo Association said last week spectators would be barred the tournament in Osaka from Sunday until March 22, as the virus has infected at least 454 people across Japan and been linked to seven deaths.

On Sunday, public broadcaster NHK carried two hours of live programing from the tournament.

“This tournament without spectators would be an extremely hard one for sumo wrestlers as they struggle to focus their minds,” Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku said in his welcoming address.

“Even so, all wrestlers I’m sure will perform their best,” he added.

Viewers could hear sounds usually drowned out by spectators, including that of the wresters slapping their bellies and wiping their feet in the ring.

Some sumo rituals were also amended, including the traditional ladle of water that a winning wrestler offers to the next in the ring.

Sumo stars have already been taking precautions at fan events, refraining from shaking hands and wearing surgical masks, while a ceremonial visit to a local shrine was cancelled.

The viral outbreak across Japan and dozens of other countries has fuelled concerns about the Summer Olympics, which open on July 24.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, however, insisted that the nightmare scenario of either cancelling or postponing the Tokyo Olympics was not discussed at a key meeting last week. AFP

Kent Ervan “Doc Ranveigh” Unigo played for K10 Gaming at Juicy Legends TOURnament

]ALL eyes were on the Philippines when its Mobile Legends team won the country’s first gold medal in eSports in the Southeast Asian Games 2019. Sibol, the moniker of the Philippine Mobile Legends team, beat Indonesia in the bestof-five battle. Two more golds were then bagged by the Philippine teams in the battle for DoTA 2 and StarCraft II. These victories garnered the Filipino eSports community a lot of attention, making more people aware of the potential of eSports success even after the SEA Games.

Although some people still make derisive remarks to downplay eSports as a mere past-time, even associating it with mindless delinquency that distracts from studies and ‘real’ sports, the passionate players of the Filipino eSports community continue to garner wins that prove these skeptics otherwise.

A stepping stone to the pro scene Thanks to the ceaseless effort of sports advocates, multiplayer electronic sports are now getting more recognition in the country.

Dedicated players, eSports organizations, brands, and institutions are spearheading the advocacy to bring eSports into the mainstream.

In continuous support of Filipino talent in various sports, ARC is now extending its advocacy to the Mobile Legends community, headlined by its brand Juicy Lemon.

In partnership with ULVL Gaming founded by Roadfill a.k.a.

Moymoy Palaboy, Juicy Legends TOURnament is a nationwide tour for a year-round competition of p opular e-game Mobile Legends.

Tournaments like this give young eSports athletes the opportunity to be part of the growing community that is inclusive for both amateurs and professional athletes, linked together with the same passion. Sibol, the Philippine representative for eSports in SEA Games 2019, also grew their athletic skills over time, playing in small tournaments to competing regionally, then making it to the international stage carrying the country’s name.

Many professional teams and players, in fact, were first exposed

to local tournaments before competing worldwide. ARC’s Juicy Legends take pride in some of them.

Sunsparks was the champion in the first and second waves of Juicy Legends TOURnament Pro Division, and the team became one of the Mobile Legends M1 World Championship qualifiers.

One of the Sunsparks players is Allen “Greed” Baloy, who played for Dreamhigh Gaming, the champion team of the Juicy Legends TOURnament Amateur Division’s first wave.

Kent Ervan “Doc Ranveigh” Unigo is also one of the amateur players who made Juicy Legends their stepping stone into the pro scene. From being one of the players of K10 Gaming, 2nd Placer of the Juicy Legends TOURnament Amateur Division’s second wave, Unigo didn’t stop at being an FEU Mobile Legends Athlete and Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) MVP for Mobile Legends -- he even flew overseas for the PVP Championship in Singapore.

Army riders’ collective effort lauded INDIVIDUAL honor is good, but to win, even lose, as a team is better for the Bicycology Shop-Philippine Army in the just-concluded LBC Ronda Pilipinas.

“We don’t race for ourselves, we race as a team.

While we toast individual feats and are proud of lap honors won, it is the collective effort that truly define the maturity and worth of the Bicycology Shop-Philippine Army,” said team manager Eric Buhain, a bemedalled swimmer during his national team days turned multisports patron and enthusiasts.

The Bicycology Shop-Philippine Army placed third overall this year, two years after shocking the field with a second-place finish during its debut in 2018.

“Third place, that’s not bad at all. This year’s field is tougher than before, I’ve seen some really well-prepared

teams and truly talented riders. For Bicycology ShopPhilippine Army to still hold its ground against such tall order is already proof that we’re still on it, and soon get that big victory.”

Pfc. Marvin Tapic made it to the Top 10 in the individual classification, while teammate Jester Mendoza is next at No.11. Mark Bordeos placed 14th, while Pfc. Cris Joven is in No.15 and Dominic Perez placed No.16.

During the 10-stage, 11-day cycling marathon, Bicycology Shop-Philippine Army pulled off a shocker when 27-year-old Bordeos claimed Stage 1 in Sorsogon and was even wore the ‘red jersey’ of the leader twice.

“Even then, when we took the lap 1 honors, our riders remained focused to ride as a team. We kept our eyes on the road of the team championship, brotherhood at its

The Bicycology Shop-Philippine Army

finest,” said Buhain.

He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to the members and officers of the Philippine Army led by LTC Dexter A. Macasaet, QMS ( GSC) PA - Director SSC, IMCOM (P), MGen. Tyne T. Bañas, AFP - Cmdr, IMCOM (P), PA at Lt. Gen Gilbert I. Gapay AFP - CG, PA.

Sports

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

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MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

Robert Covington (33) of the Houston Rockets goes up for a dunk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

Bulanadi tows Basilan to South final BACOOR CITY—When Basilan’s fate is on the line, count on Allyn Bulanadi to shine.

Bulanadi drilled in three straight triples in the homestretch to power Basilan Steel over the Bacoor Strikers, 84-76, on Saturday and into the finals of the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season South division at the peoplepacked Strike Gymnasium here.

The game was tied at 71 following back-to-back triples by homegrown find Ian Melencio, but Bulanadi came through with the dagger threes to sway the balance, 80-71, only 1 minute and 26 seconds to go.

After taking the semifinal series, 2-1, the Steel will battle the Davao Occidental Tigers in another bestof-three affair for the South division crown.

Basilan also bested Bacoor in the series opener, 77-63, but yielded Game Two, 69-80, as the Strikers played tough despite the absence of MPBL Datu Cup MVP Gab Banal, who sustained a left knee injury following a collision with Bulanadi in Game One. Banal did not play again last night, leaving a gaping hole on Bacoor’s offensive rotation.

In contrast, Bulanadi struck hard for Basilan with 35 points, including six triples, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal.

“Allyn hit the biggest shots of the gamer that pulled us to victory,” said Basilan coach Jerson Cabiltes. “That’s why he is in the Gilas program.”

The 6-foot-2 Bulanadi, former star of San Sebastian College, got support from Jay Collado with 18 points plus 15 rebounds and Jerald Bautista with 13 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Though Cris Dumapig only scored four, he grabbed 15 rebounds for the Steel, who ruled the boards, 54-44.

Melencio wound up with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists, followed by Mark Pangilinan with 11 points, and Michael Mabulac with 10 points plus 13 rebounds.

In the third quarter, Bulanadi bunched 10 points, highlighted by a two-handed slam, against only two by the Strikers to give the Steel a 55-47 lead.

NCAA may postpone games due to virus

By Peter Atencio

G

AMES of the National Collegiate Athletic Association could be postponed again.

Officials of the NCAA are set to meet following the latest development in the spread of the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) “Mag-emergency meeting ang NCAA MANCOM tomorrow (Monday) regarding the latest development sa COVID-19,” said NCAA season 95 Mancom chairman Peter Cayco of host Arellano University.

So far, the Department of Health (DOH) reported two additional confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines, bringing the total of COVID-19 cases in

the country to five.

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

And NCAA holds most of its games in the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

NCAA officials have been notified that classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the City of San Juan have been suspended.

And this to give time to all school officials to sanitize and disinfect their campuses and to put precautionary measures in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

The NCAA is set to resume all of its sporting events on March 16 after implementing a suspension of activities recently amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Cayco said indoor volleyball, football, lawn tennis, and soft tennis are all ex-

pected to pick up where they left off on the said date.

There are still two remaining play dates in the elimination round of the men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments.

The matches between San Beda University and Lyceum of the Philippines, and College of St. Benilde and Mapua would have taken place February 14.

The clashes between St. Benilde and Arellano, which will decide the Final Four in the women’s division – as well as a pair of showdown between Letran and San Sebastian – would have been played last February 17.

Track and field is set to commence on March 16, while the Under-15 basketball and beach volleyball are set to start on April 25 and 29, respectively.

The season-ending cheerleading competition is scheduled to be held on March 30.

OUCH! Yoel Romero (left) grimaces in pain after getting his eye poked by UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya during their title fight. Adesanya won by unanimous decision in a lackluster bout to retain his title. AFP

Hornets shoot down Rockets LOS ANGELES, United States— Terry Rozier scored a team high 24 points as the Charlotte Hornets used a red-hot start to defeat the Houston Rockets 108-99 on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).

The Hornets scored the game’s first 20 points and maintained a double digit lead for most of the second half in front of a crowd of 19,100 at Spectrum Center.

“This was a good one for us tonight,” said Hornets rookie P.J. Washington. “We felt like we should have won the last two so just coming out the same intensity that we did those last two games tonight and it got us a win so we are trying to look to do that the rest of the season.”

The Rockets, who were without Russell Westbrook, got little offence outside of James Harden and Robert Covington.

Harden finished with a triple double with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists but he also had the dubious honor of committing half of the Rockets’ 20 turnovers.

Devonte’ Graham added 23 points, Washington contributed 22 points, Cody Zeller had 13 points and Miles Bridges was good for 10 points for Charlotte.

Robert Covington scored 25 points for Houston, who lost their third straight game for the third time this season.

Aside from Harden and Covington, the Rockets’ starters combined for just eight points.

“I’ve never experienced that before – 20-0, that’s a big deficit to overcome, and for whatever reason when we did attack we turned it over,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said of the slow start. “It was kind of weird.”

Houston played without guard Westbrook, which severely hampered their offence. They missed five three point attempts on their first 12 possessions.

Elsewhere, Eric Paschall capped a 23-point performance with a pair of go-ahead free throws in the final minute as the Golden State Warriors beat Philadelphia 76ers 118-114.

Damion Lee had a game-high-tying 24 points, including a key three-point play for host Golden State. AFP

Baby Tams retain UAAP championship ACOB Graciano took charge as the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws pulled off a 2-1 triumph over Nazareth School of National University in the finals the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippine Junior Football Tournament, Saturday night at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Garciano struck early, and in the the 2nd and 30th minutes, and this allowedthe Baby Tams to keep the crown for a 10th straight season.

“I didn’t expect that we’d score early but it’s lucky we scored early. That’s why we had a good game there,” explained FEU coach Park Bo Bae. The Bullpups kept up their attack in the remaining time, with NU forward Eldrin Madrid putting pressure of the Baby Tams backline.

Madrid finally scored the 82nd minute after his free kick went past Baby Tamaraws goalkeeper Lance Bencio.

Later, John Rey Daohog had a golden chance to level the contest, but his attempt went straight into the hands of Bencio.

“NU in the second half, they really, really pushed from behind earlier but our substitute players had mistakes there. I think if we allowed one more goal, we may have had a hard time but Lance really focused and blocked the ball and that’s why he saved our team,” added Park. Peter Atencio

UAAP will hold Junior Basketball Finals Paalam, Magno near slots to Tokyo Olympics Game 2 in San Juan behind closed doors FOR health reasons, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has decided that Game 2 of the junior basketball finals will be played behind closed doors when it is played today at Fil-Oil Flying V Sports Centre in San Juan City.

Season 82 President Em Fernandez said this is a precautionary measure.

“The health and safety of our players, coaches and fans is paramount,” said Fernandez, who added that they are coordinating with the Department of Health, the City of San Juan and their venue partners on the current situation concerning the coronavirus outbreak.

So far, the Department of Health (DOH) reported two additional confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019

(COVID-19) in the Philippines, bringing the total of COVID-19 cases in the country to five.

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

Coming off a one-month break, the National University-Nazareth School Bullpups crushed Far Eastern UniversityDiliman, 79-61, to move closer to the title last Friday.

The Bullpups outscored their foes in the third quarter, 24-12, to blow the game wide open entering the payoff period, 67-48.

Gerry Abadiano’s trey at the 7:18 mark of the fourth frame gave NU its biggest lead of the game at 25, 76-51.

Peter Atencio

CHANCES are becoming better for the Philippines to send more qualifiers to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This is after the Philippine boxing team came away with victories in two of three preliminary matches that it joined on Saturday in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament Saturday at the Prince Hamzeh Hall in this ancient capital city.

Filipino fighters Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno made it to the quarterfinals after hurdling their assignments.

“They are focusing on their qualification. And there’s good news that we can have more,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez following Friday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night where he was hailed as Executive of the Year.

Paalam and Magno joined early quarterfinalists featherweight Nesthy Petecio,

middleweight Eumir Marcial and lightweight Riza Pasuit in disposing of their rivals.

The 21-year-old Paalam picked off his rivals during a series of counterattacks, and won against Afghanistan’s Ramish Rahmani via unanimous decision, 5-0, the flyweight division.

The 27-year-old Magno was impressive when she easily disposed of Winnie Au of Hongkong in an abbreviated RSC2 (Referee Stopped Contest, 2nd round).

Magno’s right had Au stumbling forward and a left uppercut to the gut put the Filipina fighter on the right track in round one.

Then Magno unleashed another leftright combination to finish off Au on the second round.

Veteran campaigner Ian Clark Bautista got knocked down twice to Chatchai Decha Butdee of Thailand, 0-5.

ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, said there are now five of seven boxers in the quarterfinals And this is more than satisfactory.

“We didn’t get the draw we were hoping for. Ian faced Butdee early and James Palicte had the 2017 Asian champion Uzbek Abduraimov in his first fight, but that’s the way it is. Now we have five, so we will aim for 5 qualifiers for Tokyo. But none of the five fights will be easy”.

Meanwhile, Nesthy Petecio is set to meet Japanese Sena Irie, with whom she’s 1-1 head to head, while Magno takes on five-time world champion Meri Kom of India, and Pasuit clashes with no. 3 seed Wu Yi Shih.

Paalam will go up against no. 1 seed Amit of India, and Marcial tackles Mongolia’s Byamba Erdene-Otgonbaatar.

Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

Business

PCCI backs passage of tax, incentive bill

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest business organization in the country representing an estimated 35,000 strong small, medium and large enterprises nationwide, called on Congress to immediately pass the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA) bill.

The proposed law seeks to create a competitive business environment and make the country’s tax system at par with neighboring economies in Southeast Asia.

PCCI joins other organizations— Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., UP School of Economics Alumni Association, Organization of Housing Developers of the Philippines and Subdivision and Housing Development of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, and FINEX in urgently calling for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1357 when Congress resumes session in May to end any uncertainty in doing business.

Compensation formula for ILP firms reviewed THE Energy Regulatory Commission has proposed the inclusion of a standby cost for interruptible load participants, who may be asked to de-load from the grid if needed, especially in anticipation of the tight supply during the dry months.

The ERC said in a draft resolution that based on the initial power outlook prepared by grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, there was a possibility of tight supply conditions resulting in yellow and red alerts in Luzon and Visayas during the dry months.

The regulator said the Energy Department proposed in December last year actions to mitigate the effects of the foreseen tight supply conditions. These include the review of the current ILP compensation to entice more participation and correspondingly stabilize power supply. Alena Mae S. Flores

BDO ranked highest in terms of revenues BDO Unibank Inc. moved up two notches to #7 in Business World’s Top 1000 Corporations by Gross Revenue in the Philippines, emerging as the highest ranked bank on the annual list for 2018.

The local business newspaper ranks companies based on their gross revenue for the most recent year. It reviews audited financial statements, which cover the fiscal year ending between May and December of the previous year, and between January and April of the current year, submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for private firms and the Commission on Audit for government-owned and – controlled corporations.

The bank in 2018 delivered a record net income of P32.7 billion, up 17 percent from its previous year’s earnings, surpassing its P31-billion guidance for the year and making BDO the first Philippine bank to breach the P3-trillion mark in total assets.

Monetary Board orders closure of Antique rural bank

By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered the closure of a financially-ailing rural bank in Antique province., the second lender shut down this year.

State-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. said in a statement over the weekend the Monetary Board ordered the closure of Rural Bank of Tibiao (Antique) Inc. in a resolution dated March 5, 2020. The bank has an office at Gov. A.T. Lim Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Tibiao, Antique.

The board directed the PDIC as receiver to proceed with the takeover and liquidation of the bank in accordance with Section 12 of Republic Act No. 3591, as amended.

Under Section 13 of R.A. No. 3591 (PDIC Charter), as amended by RA 10846, a bank that has been placed under liquidation should not be re-opened and permitted to resume banking business.

Section 12 also provides that banks closed by the Monetary Board should no longer be rehabilitated.

PDIC took over the bank and its assets, records and affairs on March 6, 2020.

Rural Bank of Tibiao became the second bank to be closed this year. The BSP earlier closed Providence Rural Bank Inc., a single-unit bank in Bulala, Camalaniugan, Cagayan.

PDIC took over 11 banks ordered closed by the Monetary Board in 2019.

These were Bagong Bangko Rural ng Malabang (Lanao del Sur), Inc.; Rural Bank of Mabitac (Laguna), Inc.; The Palawan Bank (Palawan Development Bank), Inc.; Valiant Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank); Rural Bank of Basey (Samar), Inc.; Rural Bank of Guihulngan (Negros Oriental), Inc.; East Coast Rural Bank of Hagonoy, Inc.; Rural Bank of Larena (Siquijor), Inc.; Rural Bank of Lemery, Inc.; AMA Rural Bank of Mandaluyong, Inc.; and Maximum Savings Bank, Inc.

MPIC may abandon plan to join NAIA Consortium

By Darwin G. Amojelar

I

NFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is reconsidering its plan to join a consortium that will rehabilitate and operate the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport over unresolved issues with the government, its chairman said over the weekend.

“It’s gonna be a tough one. Tough one for us to join. We are thinking about it [to pull out from the consortium],” MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

The P102-billion NAIA rehabilitation project was proposed by NAIA Consortium that includes MPIC, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. Pangilinan said MPIC would make a decision “soon” whether it would still join or withdraw from the consortium.

“It’s unfair for us to get the consortium to wait for us. They have the right to ask are you in or out? So, why don’t you ... or get off the pot.

So, maybe get off the pot, maybe,” he said.

Pangilinan made the statement came after the Transportation Department set a deadline this month to resolve pending issues about the project.

Transportation Undersecretary for Planning Ruben Reinoso earlier said some pending issues needed to be resolved with NAIA Consortium, including the retrenchment of the employees of Manila International Airport Authority and the real property tax.

NAIA Consortium received the gosignal from the National Economic and Development Authority board to proceed with the NAIA rehabilitation project, subject to a Swiss challenge.

Swiss Challenge, a form of procurement, is usually required for an unsolicited project, where other parties are given an opportunity to challenge the bid of the proponent.

Prior to the Swiss challenge, MIAA, as the primary grantor, and

NAIA Consortium should negotiate the terms and conditions of the concession agreement based on the parameters prescribed by the NEDA board.

MIAA will then submit the results of the negotiation to the NEDA board and the negotiated draft concession agreement to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Finance for comments within 10 days.

The project aims to alleviate the worsening air traffic congestion at NAIA and resolve capacity constraints by reconfiguring and renovating facilities and enhancing operation and maintenance. This will allow for the accommodation of more traffic.

The rehabilitation project also aims to broaden NAIA’s role as a key economic and tourism driver for Metro Manila and the whole Philippines, deliver capital infrastructure investment to improve the airport’s efficiency and increase its capacity to meet the growing passenger demand from the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region.

It will also deliver the best-in-class passenger experience as a capital city airport, which is demanded by increasingly sophisticated travelers and create a positive first and last impression for Filipinos and visitors.

The NAIA rehabilitation project is supposed to be implemented in three phases from 2021 to 2024.

FEDERAL LAND MILESTONE. Real estate developer Federal Land Inc. commemorates another milestone with the toppingoff ceremony for Palm Beach West Misibis Tower. The event marks the structural completion of the third tower of the development at the dynamic Bay Area in Pasay City. Leading the ceremony are (from left) Federal Land construction management group project-incharge engineer Billy De Vicente, sales division head Ryan Garcia, NS Mangio Construction and Development architect Nestor Mangio, external head for construction management group Richard Naval, head of sales group Guita Saenz-Resurreccion, sales channel head for horizon land sales group Dinah Hernandez and head of product planning department Mike Salazar.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

B1

Voyager expects to sign deal with investor by June VOYAGER Innovations Inc., the digital innovations arm of PLDT Inc., expects to finalize negotiations with a new investor within the next two to three months.

“I think they are still in process. I think we are finding it harder to get investors into... Generally speaking, I think the environment has changed. The tough questions are now being asked like when will you break even in terms of your EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization] in terms of your profitability. We want to see that, how sustainable is it, so these are tough issues,” PLDT and Voyager chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“I think the universe has become tougher in terms of their own requirements for the turnaround, so I think we are at the final stages of negotiating or agreeing with the final investors.” he said.

Pangilinan said he was expecting Voyager to break even by 2023 and post P3.6 billion to P3.7 billion in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization by 2024.

“The demands for cash are still there as per schedule, so we are delayed in terms of getting the final list of investors to agree on the valuations and the amounts that they would invest, so we decided, before they run out of cash which is probably by the middle of the year, by June, before they hit the wall...they should provide...financing among themselves,” Pangilinan said.

PLDT earlier said it planned to sell at least a 13-percent stake in Voyager to a new investor from its existing share of 47 percent to 48 percent.

International Finance Corp., the private sector arm of the World Bank and IFC Emerging Asia Fund, completed a $40-million investment in Voyager in December 2018.

The investments completed the $215-million fund raised for Voyager that included $175 million from KKR and Tencent Holdings Inc. Voyager earlier said it would leverage the new capital and the significant expertise of KKR, Tencent, IFC and IFC Emerging Asia Fund to accelerate the digital and financial inclusion in the Philippines and enable the broader Filipino population to participate in the digital economy.

The company’s award-winning technology platforms support digital services such as PayMaya―the most recognized prepaid payment wallet service in the Philippines.

PayMya Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Voyager, earlier said it was expecting to process P1 trillion worth of cashless payment transactions by 2023 as ewallet account penetration was growing faster in the Philippines.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Cusi asks new PNOC-EC president to review oil, gas exploration plans

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked newly-appointed PNOC Exploration Corp. president Rozzano Briguez to review all oil and gas projects of the company “objectively.”

“So as not to put bias into his mind, we asked him to look into it and be objective. Look at all the programs, and then come back to us and make his position,” Cusi said.

PNOC EC announced Briguez, the former commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), assumed office on Friday.

Cusi said Briguez should also review

PNOC EC’s plan to increase its stake in the $4.5-billion Malampaya gas project and the planned oil importation and implementation of a strategic oil stockpile.

Briguez formally took his oath of office before Cusi on Feb. 17. Cusi said “he [Briguez] was given briefing by management and one of those is acquisition of Chevron share.”

PNOC EC, a subsidiary of state-run Philippine National Oil Co., was planning to acquire an additional stake in the Malampaya gas project after it exercised its right of first refusal on the sale of Chevron Malampaya LLC’s 45 percent stake to Udenna Corp. last year.

Udenna, controlled by businessman

Dennis Uy, signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire the entire shareholdings of Chevron Malampaya LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Philippines Ltd. in October.

Chevron Malampaya owned a 45-percent stake in service contract 38 or the Malampaya gas project while Shell Exploration Philippines B.V. holds the other 45 percent stake and is operator of the project.

PNOC EC owns the remaining 10 percent stake and as member of the SC 38 consortium, it has the right to match the offer of Udenna for Chevron’s stake.

Briguez replaced former PNOC EC president and chief executive Pedro

Aquino Jr. who was asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to resign effective Oct.14, 2019 for allegedly approving a memorandum of agreement with a Russian firm for the development of a multilateral cooperation in oil products and trading, and joint participation in oil refining without the permission of the board led by Cusi.

Cusi earlier tasked PNOC EC to study oil importation and stockpiling to ensure security of supply.

Meanwhile, PNOC EC approved an operating budget of P10.593 billion for 2020 to finance its exploration and production projects and other capital expenditures.

Finance sees further decline in inflation THE Finance Department expects inflation rate to decelerate further in the months ahead because of declining global oil prices.

It said in an economic bulletin over the weekend low oil prices would pull down inflation in March.

“Lower energy prices dampened the effects of any price uptick in this group [non-food]. Power and fuel prices declined by as much as 1.1 percent month-on-month and transportation prices, by 1 percent month-onmonth,” the agency said.

Data showed Dubai crude oil price dropped to $54.24 per barrel in February from $63.76/bbl in January and $64.32/bbl a year ago. This reflected a 14.9-percent month-on-month and 15.7 percent

year-on-year decreases.

“Benign global oil prices will pull down inflation going forward,” it said, adding that “for inflation to fall within the target range, month-onmonth price change should be at most 0.3 percent per month.”

The department said, however, that the disruption of global supply chains would tend to push prices up. “Domestic producers will need to look for alternative supply sources to avoid production cuts,” it said.

Initial data from the Bureau of Customs showed that imports from China, the country’s biggest trading partner and where the coronavirus disease 2019 originated, declined 34.7 percent volume-wise in February.

Julito G. Rada

8990-CONVERGE TIE-UP. 8990 Holdings Inc., the leading affordable

housing developer in the Philippines, signs a non-exclusive contract with Converge Fiber X. Under the agreement, the internet service provider will offer services to homeowners of 8990 development projects such as the EDSA tower, Urban Deca Homes Manila and condominium developments like Urban Deca Homes Ortigas and Campville Muntinlupa. Attending the contract signing are (from left) 8990 Holdings chief executive Alexander Ace Sotto, Converge president and CEO Dennis Uy, 8990 Holdings chairman emeritus Luis Yu Jr. and Converge site acquisition manager Nina Dugay.

B2

Business

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Virus woes weigh on stock market S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

hare prices are expected to continue sideways with a downward bias this week, with the coronavirus (COVID-19) fears still weighing on investor sentiments.

The equities markets have shown some signs of recovery last week but analysts said they will continue to struggle in sustaining a rally amid the risks brought about by virus.

The Department of Health on Saturday reported six cases of COVID-19 infection in the country. It also raised the COVID alert system to Code Red, Sub-level 1.

The government assured the public that it was prepared to respond to an outbreak of the virus.

Philstocks Financial Inc. said concerns over the COVID-19 would continue to weigh on investor sentiments with the ad-

ditional cases reported in the country and the confirmation of local transmission.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week dropped 0.3 percent to 6,770.28 points, while the boarder All Shares Index declined 0.6 percent to 4,039.55 on volatile trading.

Except for the property index which climbed 1.4 percent, all other counters ended in the red, led by industrial which declined 2.8 percent, mining and oil which dropped 2.6 percent, and services which fell 1.5 percent. The financial index also dipped 0.6 percent while holding firms slipped 0.2 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P2.5 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P6 billon, down from the previous week’s average of P8.6 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which jumped 18 percent to P4.70; Robinsons Land Corp., which advanced 9.4 percent to P23.30; and PLDT Inc., which rose 6.9 percent to P1,059.

Weekly top price losers were First Gen Corp., which fell 19.3 percent to P14.80; LT Group Inc., which dropped 10.6 percent to P8; and Puregold Price Club Inc., which declined 7.9 percent to P34.05.

Global stocks, meanwhile, tumbled and oil prices collapsed Friday as investors panicked over the expected damage of the coronavirus to global economic growth.

Haven investments gold and the yen surged as the World Health Organization warned that the epidemic must be taken seriously.

At the close of trade, the Paris stock market was down by 4.1 percent, Frankfurt dived 3.4 percent, London shed 3.5 percent and Milan tumbled 3.7 percent in a fierce global markets selloff that began about two weeks ago.

Wall Street stocks also suffered another bruising session, with petroleum producers and banks especially hard-hit, as the S&P 500 ended down 1.7 percent.

Oil, already slumping on virus-linked demand fears, extended losses to around 10 percent as Russia said it had failed to reach an agreement on possible cuts in output at a meeting with OPEC. “Stocks are on the back foot once again, with markets tumbling amid continued growth in the coronavirus crisis,” said analyst Joshua Mahony at IG trading group.

“The stimulus-led rebound in global stocks has been short-lived, with fears over an escalation of the coronavirus crisis providing yet another bout of selling across European markets.” with AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

MARCH 2-6, 2020 Close Volume

Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

50.95 141.50 74.50 0.78 24.8 8.46 17.8 10.7 3.7 0.63 1.03 752.00 0.365 53 0.7 11.5 28.00 50.05 110.3 167 19.8 148.1 1721.00 57.50 1.14

35,300 12,070,630 11,572,330 162,000 880,200 100 81,200 2,663,600 21,000 3,000 18,000 300 2,580,000 14,260,740 296,000 163,000 1,753,500 3,350 590 26,330 872,900 2,356,860 105 149,710 3,654,000

FINANCIAL 1,766,080.00 1,655,473,005.00 884,222,139.00 130,100.00 21,898,965.00 846.00 1,451,030.00 29,174,080.00 65,540.00 1,890.00 18,500.00 225,645.00 1,016,000.00 782,999,286.50 213,400.00 1,906,438.00 49,401,165.00 167,463.50 65,019.00 4,242,057.00 17,202,900.00 363,570,631.00 183,605.00 8,596,488.00 4,197,350.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

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

Axelum Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

27.5 2.03 7.01 0.62 1.02 2.34 0.209 15.90 1.19 14.4 188 6.5 58.85 62 31.2 1.96 5.44 4 6.410 10.2 7.70 8.09 3.63 14.8 61.15 1.66 35.45 1.1500 13.36 4.65 1.140 176.50 4.71 3.39 6.49 11.8 8.1 11.8 0.159 269.00 1.81 3.74 3.37 9.50 9.65 10.40 26.8 4.75 5.00 1.47 1.5 0.96 7.95 70.05 8.83 0.117 0.85 133 2.4 1.17 15.10 0.93

10,084,000 16,158,000 8,995,000 4,647,000 2,024,000 18,434,000 6,250,000 4,200 50,943,000 4,109,700 410 5,897,100 1,350 280 800 664,000 5,100 90,000 10,084,200 1,358,100 860,200 5,037,400 80,765,000 20,806,600 369,250 96,663,000 31,600 10,816,000 7,830,900 3,977,000 1,226,000 4,800,740 410,300 112,000 6,500 9,103,700 1,751,400 8,556,500 1,450,000 1,682,570 4,034,000 64,000 7,792,000 63,000 31,100 689,300 1,598,900 1,261,000 47,200 3,212,000 9,000 4,375,000 3,013,700 1,027,740 582,500 560,000 444,000 7,008,250 146,000 22,799,000 600 2,999,000

INDUSTRIAL 275,069,575.00 33,191,060.00 63,366,194.00 2,873,360.00 2,124,290.00 44,518,140.00 1,263,250.00 64,694.00 63,959,820.00 58,483,816.00 87,674.00 41,120,539.00 80,941.50 17,310.00 24,690.00 1,328,940.00 25,474.00 365,690.00 70,184,280.00 13,942,828.00 6,748,345.00 40,773,048.00 310,956,930.00 345,740,228.00 22,695,303.00 162,597,960.00 1,114,975.00 13,378,580.00 103,270,492.00 18,484,860.00 1,443,110.00 831,007,074.00 2,017,111.00 380,350.00 41,120.00 108,821,896.00 14,380,794.00 103,195,894.00 207,600.00 442,331,586.00 7,409,920.00 223,860.00 26,304,920.00 600,200.00 302,758.00 7,147,734.00 42,244,110.00 5,935,650.00 235,884.00 4,821,880.00 13,520.00 4,436,400.00 24,273,576.00 73,137,960.00 5,159,677.00 66,740.00 367,190.00 942,549,724.00 355,800.00 26,275,670.00 9,060.00 2,814,240.00

HOLDING FIRMS 18,340,000 12,632,740.00 4,555,600 201,479,755.00 51,351,300 509,425,013.00 1,456,000 1,035,190.00 95,100 580,252.00

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

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

Lopez Holdings Corp.

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

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

0.680 44.95 9.93 0.70 6.10 0 9.69 0.890 0.930 645.5 2.140 6.21 5.33 3.26 11.64 0.216 710 4.59 70.65 6.38 5.52 0.465 3.7 8 0.590 3.62 4.2900 0.990 2.62 125.50 2 943.00 0.98 0.84 142.200 175.00 0.2200 0.159

49,300 3,323,000 501,000 2,541,300 5,786,000 5,476,100 56,183,800 3,000 60,300 1,040,000 491,430 9,000 8,692,980 756,100 200 2,490,000 3,213,000 8,375,000 1,779,000 364,399,000 60,000 1,165,000 30,000 839,450 4,000 2,133,370 313,000 12,172,000 26,340 510 880,000 33,810,000

473,085.00 2,947,040.00 456,390.00 1,674,668,665.00 11,922,610.00 33,760,085.00 298,366,034.00 9,780.00 721,822.00 236,640.00 354,017,465.00 41,310.00 594,453,233.00 4,903,999.00 1,104.00 1,140,700.00 11,924,310.00 75,053,653.00 1,059,240.00 1,255,911,430.00 244,670.00 1,232,010.00 78,600.00 106,328,317.00 8,000.00 1,695,623,470.00 327,830.00 10,727,670.00 3,842,627.00 84,870.00 196,730.00 5,709,890.00

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

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

14.160 0.82 8.90 1.330 0.720 39.600 1.6 4.52 6.4 0.495 0.75 0.790 0.161 0.315 8.400 17.16 0.370 0.086 1.20 0.99 3.60 3.4 0.184 0.9100 0.4000 0.310 2.05

5,205,000 182,336,000 2,100 942,000 2,682,000 51,394,600 5,312,000 884,000 210,100 15,486,000 4,000 208,000 3,480,000 3,730,000 740,300 1,137,000 1,620,000 10,000 53,698,000 838,000 35,000 111,615,000 27,880,000 4,382,000 1,050,000 16,160,000 5,658,000

PROPERTY 73,812,722.00 150,316,860.00 18,566.00 1,264,360.00 1,938,570.00 2,054,981,685.00 8,360,760.00 4,016,160.00 1,279,717.00 7,597,495.00 3,050.00 161,480.00 567,790.00 1,193,300.00 6,370,379.00 19,256,208.00 600,650.00 860.00 66,380,840.00 824,940.00 126,650.00 390,502,280.00 5,046,830.00 4,075,440.00 429,550.00 5,260,900.00 11,598,090.00

FEBRUARY 24-28, 2020 Close Volume Value 50 139.00 74.10 0.85 24.75

31,550 16,325,960 13,187,540 19,000 717,400

1,593,588.00 2,284,537,741.00 1,047,571,785.50 15,670.00 17,834,710.00

17.82 11 3.8 0.63 1.06 834.00 0.420 56.05 0.72 12 29.25 50 110.3 171.9 19.68 154.4 1770.00 57.35 1.17

123,500 1,298,500 49,000 9,000 25,000 290 4,560,000 13,509,680 627,000 41,900 1,311,100 23,000 110 1,210 1,425,900 2,359,830 240 289,770 932,000

2,211,598.00 14,374,052.00 176,080.00 4,870.00 27,060.00 236,300.00 1,814,850.00 782,654,179.50 455,680.00 503,796.00 38,918,630.00 1,178,338.50 12,133.00 209,151.00 28,473,399.00 376,203,417.00 433,470.00 16,637,280.00 1,090,380.00

27.5 2.06 7.23 0.62 1.08 2.65 0.214 16.00 1.38 14.72 226.8 6.5 66.4 69 30 2 4.8 4 7.220 10.3 7.95 8.02 3.78 18.34 61.3 1.67 34.95 1.3000 13.18 4.9 1.180 170.00 5 3.4 6.52 11.76 8.77 12.66 0.155 269.80 1.85 3.52 3.36 9.90

10,528,900 19,235,000 9,790,300 6,621,000 1,436,000 11,836,000 1,710,000 7,500 26,467,000 2,276,400 330 5,081,100 2,170 2,020 1,200 265,000 10,300 75,000 11,071,000 915,900 1,891,100 8,687,200 72,544,000 7,441,000 327,370 95,409,000 264,300 17,818,000 3,492,600 16,731,700 974,000 5,963,320 2,259,000 271,000 6,900 17,244,300 604,400 10,316,400 3,240,000 1,778,010 5,130,000 77,000 4,848,000 181,100

304,509,580.00 40,130,910.00 70,156,829.00 4,158,390.00 1,609,770.00 33,017,480.00 371,140.00 115,340.00 36,580,270.00 33,802,582.00 75,254.00 35,646,478.00 130,188.00 123,277.50 35,100.00 542,840.00 49,560.00 328,600.00 85,005,679.00 10,068,888.00 15,422,809.00 68,026,332.00 261,577,700.00 140,243,998.00 20,644,696.00 163,653,130.00 8,686,330.00 25,444,850.00 45,996,760.00 80,276,754.00 1,158,460.00 1,052,763,671.00 11,338,170.00 901,620.00 45,024.00 205,929,358.00 5,567,835.00 134,814,188.00 504,410.00 463,100,340.00 9,422,480.00 270,190.00 16,452,740.00 1,691,213.00

10.62 26.05 4.73 5.00 1.55 1.5 1.08 8.34 73 8.7 0.121 0.83 141.3 2.5 1.11

925,300 1,210,200 1,068,000 28,600 3,861,000 3,000 5,467,000 828,800 1,023,170 1,113,600 610,000 1,206,000 7,089,320 147,000 28,960,000

9,999,262.00 32,790,995.00 5,126,350.00 143,803.00 6,151,970.00 4,520.00 5,826,270.00 7,218,445.00 73,356,563.50 9,977,257.00 71,210.00 1,019,360.00 1,005,166,811.00 357,920.00 33,060,790.00

0.93

4,244,000

4,029,960.00

0.710 42.65 10.04 0.64 6.10

67,873,000 6,284,170 67,574,700 777,000 102,100

51,221,890.00 283,832,935.00 678,746,891.00 508,360.00 623,927.00

9.7 0.900 0.950 662.5 2.000 6.24 5.30

81,100 1,919,000 401,000 1,698,500 30,159,000 6,922,900 42,758,100

799,111.00 1,714,900.00 380,950.00 1,168,987,070.00 64,135,380.00 43,102,083.00 226,081,999.00

12.00 0.220 711 4.60 67.50 6.51 5.6 0.47 3.7 8.95 0.590 3.07 4.0200 1.070 2.65 126.20

251,800 660,000 580,880 115,000 10,136,890 360,600 113,900 800,000 1,801,000 12,367,800 1,355,000 181,373,000 82,000 128,000 29,000 1,138,510

3,123,306.00 149,880.00 416,663,480.00 534,230.00 701,342,251.50 2,342,282.00 627,724.00 382,850.00 6,960,500.00 109,859,902.00 737,870.00 552,686,780.00 336,850.00 137,860.00 76,850.00 145,833,705.00

974.50 1.03 0.83 159.900 175.00 0.2180 0.185

1,620,185 1,375,000 1,019,000 28,670 3,150 3,410,000 81,240,000

1,594,620,740.00 1,490,090.00 827,090.00 4,567,138.00 494,064.00 778,250.00 15,344,760.00

14.200 0.56 8.98 1.550 0.750 39.000 1.54 4.42 6.59 0.485 0.77 0.800 0.165 0.330 8.700 17 0.370 0.110 1.23 1.03

4,484,600 3,107,000 5,100 277,000 1,934,000 127,561,200 11,760,000 3,658,000 111,000 29,749,000 134,000 858,800 6,390,000 5,500,000 5,048,800 2,168,200 1,010,000 20,000 103,760,000 4,769,000

65,612,476.00 1,833,590.00 45,777.00 461,230.00 1,479,750.00 5,031,133,985.00 17,900,720.00 16,231,860.00 730,368.00 14,661,635.00 96,740.00 629,050.00 1,082,890.00 1,264,600.00 44,904,290.00 36,558,544.00 374,550.00 1,900.00 132,739,940.00 4,784,660.00

3.4 0.184 0.9700 0.4200 0.290 2.1

179,283,000 36,870,000 8,531,000 27,560,000 1,150,000 1,738,000

622,921,800.00 7,114,950.00 8,282,890.00 12,486,900.00 340,900.00 3,553,230.00

STOCKS

MARCH 2-6, 2020 Close Volume

FEBRUARY 24-28, 2020 Close Volume Value

Value

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

23.30 1.95 3.09 38.55 2.34 1.620 6.640 4.900

11,165,000 151,000 3,434,000 74,772,400 881,000 12,076,000 8,057,200 226,700

256,723,870.00 292,960.00 10,371,840.00 2,921,158,295.00 2,031,730.00 19,616,500.00 52,285,718.00 1,132,038.00

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

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

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

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. PH Resorts Group Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

7.95 21 1.35 9.98 0.410 0.045 17.5 2.46 7.54 0.0340 71.3 6.52 3.52 3.99 1.72 7.00 800 1831 5.23 414.00 11.88 1.01 102 1.30 7.99 5.41 0.099 1.5800 11.54 1.80 0.93 8.03 11.48 0.440 2.74 1.58 2.67 2.76 1.920 1.98 6.80 2.94 4.70 7.98 148.00 2.30 1059.00 0.275 0.445 34.05 61.50 8.31 1.68 0.520 0.201 0.570 18.100

122,800 6,268,100 16,000 4,859,000 38,230,000 16,900,000 257,800 562,000 33,580,400 65,800,000 612,290 100 1,865,000 744,000 5,000 60,800 1,260 243,590 2,055,300 158,910 500 3,312,000 11,923,860 52,000 43,100 10,000 2,270,000 157,712,000 24,600 834,000 460,000 18,061,600 1,800 18,790,000 61,000 10,108,000 194,519,000 6,946,000 4,651,000 85,000 86,400 8,000 92,000 7,338,800 1,572,610 4,553,000 868,200 36,040,000 97,434,000 7,903,600 2,429,470 37,500 13,556,000 5,702,000 7,100,000 3,054,000 9,542,500

SERVICES 947,985.00 141,284,730.00 22,260.00 47,886,802.00 15,639,900.00 749,100.00 4,511,500.00 1,391,230.00 255,568,712.00 2,416,400.00 45,277,804.50 652.00 6,384,480.00 2,965,630.00 9,110.00 401,220.00 1,008,070.00 444,657,260.00 10,796,850.00 66,196,406.00 5,554.00 3,285,750.00 1,248,175,000.50 60,920.00 323,769.00 54,980.00 211,510.00 257,371,630.00 299,884.00 1,554,420.00 413,030.00 150,013,926.00 19,192.00 8,734,300.00 169,150.00 16,140,150.00 512,839,860.00 18,116,690.00 9,110,660.00 165,100.00 570,732.00 22,020.00 403,210.00 58,710,208.00 233,397,155.00 10,609,170.00 893,298,695.00 9,777,900.00 48,284,210.00 280,960,530.00 151,258,560.00 324,285.00 24,195,680.00 3,004,140.00 1,476,820.00 1,651,540.00 172,675,660.00

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

United Paragon

0.0013 7.4000 0.99 2.30 10.98 1.1500 2.7 0.275 6.38 0.840 0.196 0.093 0.096 0.0076 0.0074 0.61 2.07 0.97 0.4500 0.6300 0.0092 0.0095 2.81 6.01 0.0096 19.48 0.0045

337,000,000 7,548,300 9,532,000 227,000 25,000 129,000 3,102,000 1,410,000 26,700 53,305,000 1,100,000 1,570,000 720,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 649,000 56,283,000 568,000 140,000 407,000 12,000,000 2,600,000 2,621,000 2,338,100 767,900,000 9,187,700 8,000,000

MINING & OIL 414,400.00 57,076,456.00 9,511,230.00 521,860.00 276,610.00 148,350.00 8,537,500.00 393,850.00 171,998.00 49,396,980.00 216,160.00 141,360.00 66,590.00 53,100.00 52,400.00 396,190.00 118,799,130.00 517,800.00 61,050.00 246,400.00 111,900.00 24,910.00 7,410,550.00 14,198,289.00 7,702,990.00 177,593,220.00 36,800.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

17.82 104.7 107.9 505 500 102.5 101.2 107 502 502 5.03 1000 990.5 100 100.1 1010 1041 1060 101.5 107.5 1044 77.65 75.1 75.3 77.3 75.7 76.3 76.2

3,094,800 10 20 6,330 3,410 10,000 57,990 12,320 1,000 7,510 443,500 1,230 1,120 139,130 509,570 650 4,525 1,265 910 2,800 8,450 30,260 61,760 7,120 84,280 80,990 71,170 1,391,270

LR Warrant

1.020

63,000

PREFERRED 57,281,612.00 1,047.00 2,158.00 3,166,805.00 1,711,470.00 1,013,900.00 5,877,558.00 1,318,288.00 502,000.00 3,770,020.00 2,242,643.00 1,757,850.00 1,113,755.00 13,864,028.00 51,001,116.00 655,740.00 4,737,820.00 948,551.00 92,351.00 291,041.00 8,731,510.00 2,349,218.00 4,636,219.50 536,196.00 6,490,054.00 6,103,882.00 5,424,630.00 105,892,409.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 64,600.00 SME 3,377,880.00 3,354,699.00 4,000,720.00

21.30 1.92 3.04 38.30 2.35 1.580 6.280 4.920

8,253,100 379,000 189,000 66,302,900 814,000 16,738,000 12,799,000 334,800

192,766,495.00 727,090.00 573,140.00 2,586,444,730.00 1,922,790.00 26,749,410.00 84,236,791.00 1,686,191.00

7.4 22.65 1.43 9.5 0.400 0.046 17.5 2.5 8.15 0.0390 73.55 6.52 3.58 3.66 1.8 6.60 800.5 1779 5.27 410.00

114,300 11,971,600 149,000 5,704,800 31,980,000 9,400,000 70,500 1,587,000 8,651,800 54,700,000 730,650 14,400 3,163,000 421,000 1,000 109,800 11,650 292,520 2,019,800 73,090

884,874.00 273,477,216.00 206,800.00 56,578,195.00 12,968,100.00 418,100.00 1,236,206.00 4,078,880.00 72,212,395.00 2,236,700.00 55,516,602.00 93,888.00 12,077,340.00 1,705,320.00 1,800.00 753,708.00 10,282,760.00 537,229,610.00 10,782,317.00 30,493,938.00

1.03 106

6,509,000 8,398,400

6,733,530.00 896,562,995.50

8 5.41 0.096 1.6300 12.58 1.95 0.93 8.40

171,500 100 3,770,000 287,277,000 5,300 696,000 153,000 15,520,800

1,303,484.00 541.00 373,440.00 483,699,160.00 64,412.00 1,320,700.00 130,870.00 144,408,390.00

0.470 2.96 1.59 1.73 1.84 1.930 1.98 6.90 2.97 3.97 8.94 152.00 2.40 990.00 0.275 0.520 37.00 66.60 8.75 1.99 0.520 0.211 0.530 18.100

35,840,000 278,000 4,089,000 80,916,000 2,726,000 11,066,000 639,000 56,100 5,000 10,000 1,300 102,330 11,601,000 681,500 33,910,000 79,568,000 1,639,400 813,240 120,900 6,881,000 11,082,000 8,780,000 3,566,000 6,966,300

18,083,500.00 819,100.00 6,747,940.00 148,323,960.00 5,054,440.00 22,129,530.00 1,194,430.00 390,218.00 14,710.00 40,120.00 11,282.00 15,465,870.00 30,989,250.00 680,258,622.50 9,655,550.00 42,175,560.00 61,443,650.00 56,338,820.50 1,069,903.00 13,812,860.00 6,187,020.00 2,001,070.00 1,924,910.00 127,464,528.00

0.0012 6.4900 1.00 2.39 11.48 1.1200 2.76 0.270 6.45 0.980 0.196 0.090 0.095 0.0072 0.0073 0.67 2.18 0.93 0.4400 0.6200 0.0096 0.0100 2.90 6.36 0.0110 19.40 0.0048

688,000,000 892,000 15,252,000 213,000 15,900 1,000 5,987,000 730,000 42,900 16,205,000 1,690,000 7,550,000 900,000 20,000,000 2,000,000 523,000 17,116,000 187,000 80,000 337,000 15,000,000 820,100,000 2,744,000 1,938,700 198,500,000 4,422,300 23,000,000

881,600.00 5,904,036.00 15,992,990.00 473,790.00 176,306.00 1,120.00 17,179,990.00 144,300.00 277,720.00 17,618,370.00 335,650.00 707,220.00 81,620.00 149,600.00 14,600.00 347,160.00 40,212,470.00 178,640.00 35,250.00 204,030.00 143,900.00 9,703,900.00 8,332,760.00 13,372,476.00 2,028,500.00 85,418,540.00 110,800.00

19 100.2

6,291,400 2,200

115,118,460.00 220,448.00

501 503 101.2 101 108.2 490 502 5.19 999 990 99 100 1006 1050 1060 100.1 109.7 1030 77.7 75.65 76.4 76.85 75.2 76.1 76.2

3,970 9,350 8,300 99,250 7,310 10 2,670 4,293,800 9,690 420 20,940 134,790 515 19,810 11,580 2,500 470 39,200 53,690 26,630 2,000 173,570 8,010 70,700 100,430

1,988,575.00 4,703,285.00 851,170.00 10,071,900.00 782,420.00 4,900.00 1,340,340.00 21,935,949.00 9,679,310.00 418,930.00 2,084,746.50 13,492,690.00 518,320.00 20,869,500.00 12,462,520.00 250,250.00 50,290.00 40,637,570.00 4,169,878.00 2,007,419.50 152,800.00 13,342,079.00 603,787.50 5,385,663.50 7,632,769.00

1.040

550,000

556,640.00

2.59 8.09 0.76

1,212,000 857,600 5,649,000

3,374,780.00 7,376,036.00 4,366,520.00

Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

2.52 8.5 0.71

1,315,000 402,700 5,396,000

First Metro ETF

102.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 206,920 21,428,254.00

103.1

474,120

49,761,556.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.28 10.28

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 56,510 580,832.00 13,500 138,780.00

10.26 10.28

32,100 6,500

329,644.40 66,820.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Philodrill Corp. `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Abra Mining MetroAlliance A A. Brown Co., Inc. ISM Communications Megaworld Premium Leisure Fruitas Holdings Euro-Med Lab

VOLUME 767,900,000 364,399,000 337,000,000 194,519,000 182,336,000 157,712,000 111,615,000 97,434,000 96,663,000 80,765,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

I.C.T.S.I. Universal Robina PLDT Common Bank of PI

VALUE 2,921,158,295.00 2,054,981,685.00 1,695,623,470.00 1,674,668,665.00 1,655,473,005.00 1,255,911,430.00 1,248,175,000.50 942,549,724.00 893,298,695.00 884,222,139.00

Robinsons Land increases capital expenditures to fund ‘20 projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Land Corp., the property unit of the Gokongwei Group, earmarked P27 billion in capital expenditures this year mainly to fund expansion of leasing and residential projects as well as land banking activities.

This year’s programmed capital spending is slightly higher than the P25.4 billion it spent in 2019.

Robinsons Land said in a recent analysts’ briefing it was lining up the opening of a new mall in La Union this year and the expansion of the Dumaguete and RP Antipolo malls. These mall opening and expansion will increase leasable space by three percent to 1.618 million square meters from 1.573 sq. m. as of end 2019.

For office development, the property company is scheduled to complete four new buildings that will boost office leasing place by 14 percent to 677,000 sq. m. by the end of 2020.

Robinsons Land is set to open four new hotels, namely Summit Naga, Go Hotel Naga, Go Hotel Tuguegarao and Westin.

The opening of the four new hotels would boost the company’s hotel portfolio to 3,626 room keys by the end of 2020 from 3,129 rooms in 2019.

For the industrial and integrated division, Robinsons Land is complete the expansion of warehouse facilities in Sucat and Calamba.

Robinsons Land had a land bank of 786 hectares with an estimated value of P45.1 billion as of end 2019.

The company said it would continue to scout for strategic land banks across the country for future development.

Robinsons Land in 2019 spent P23.4 billion, with P10.76 billion going to investment, P9.05 billion on development and P5.57 billion for land acquisitions.

Robinsons Land reported earlier reported net income climbed six percent in 2019 to P8.69 billion from P8.22 billion in 2018.

Consolidated revenues inched up 3.4 percent to P30.58 billion from P29.56 billion a year ago, mainly driven by increasing recurring rental businesses.

The investment portfolio contributed 69 percent or P21.14 billion to the company’s total consolidated revenues while development portfolio took up 31 percent or P9.45 billion.

The property firm deferred the revenue recognition of its China project amounting to P8.84 billion in order to adopt the accounting standard practiced in China.

AirAsia offers big promotional sale of 6 million seats CLARK FREEPORT—Philippines AirAsia Inc. is offering a big promotional sale for as low as P1 for domestic and international flights with six million seats up for grabs starting March 9 to 15 this year.

“AirAsia BIG members can enjoy discounted flights from Manila to Bangkok, from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, and Puerto Princesa, from Clark to Kaohsiung, and many more all for P1,” AirAsia said in a statement.

The airline unveiled AirAsia X with allin promotional AirAsia BIG member fares from as low as P990 one way from Kuala Lumpur to many exciting destinations, including Fukuoka, Seoul, Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Taipei.

Checked baggage, according to AirAsia, can also be pre-booked at 10 percent less for 25 kilograms and above. Baggage discounts are only applicable at the time of booking a flight during the promotional period.

The airline advised passengers to book at airasia.com or via the AirAsia mobile app from March 9 to March 15, 2020 for travel between September 7, 2020 and July 1, 2021.

“We are thrilled to announce our first BIG Sale for 2020, providing ample opportunity to book an affordable getaway from early September up until July of next year. The best way to secure the lowest fares and great value travel deals is to plan ahead and book early-as with this latest Big Sale,” said AirAsia chief executive officer Karen Chan in a statement.

“We are on track in transforming into a household travel and lifestyle brand across ASEAN with all you need to complete your holiday planning including flights, accommodation, activities and more, all available now on airasia. com,” she added.

AirAsia BIG members will be able to take advantage of a 24-hour priority access period starting March 8, 2020. they can simply log in as an AirAsia BIG Member on airasia.com or the AirAsia mobile app to gain access to seats at the lowest fares. Jess Malabanan

World

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

Therapy dogs bring respite to Ukraine vets

IN BRIEF Syria road crash kills 32 DAMASCUS―At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported.

A break failure caused the tanker to crash into 15 vehicles and two large busses carrying several Iraqi passengers, said Interior Minister Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun, while inspecting the site of the accident outside Damascus.

Another 77 people were injured in the accident, he added, in comments carried by SANA. Footage aired on state media showed rescue teams deployed around the mangled remains of two cars.

SANA released photos of a passenger bus with one end blown off.

Victims of the crash are believed to include Shiite Iraqi pilgrims visiting holy shrines near the capital.

Holy sites in Syria continue to be popular among Shiite pilgrims from across the region, despite an eightyear war that has displaced millions.

AFP

Trump refuses to halt rallies PALM BEACH―US President Donald Trump signaled Saturday that he has no intention of halting campaign rallies despite surging coronavirus infections, as a case was confirmed for the first time within miles of the White House.

The president struck a defiant tone as he spoke to reporters about the outbreak at his Mar a Lago resort in southern Florida, where he was hosting his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro.

“We will have tremendous rallies and we’re doing very well, and we’ve done a fantastic job with respect to that subject,” Trump responded when asked if his “Keep America Great” campaign events would continue.

Trump’s remarks came as the number of cases confirmed across the United States leapt past 400, with 19 deaths confirmed so far, mainly in the west coast state of Washington.

Meanwhile health authorities announced the first confirmed case in the nation’s capital—a Washington DC resident in his 50s with no history of international travel and no close contacts with anyone known to be infected.

Asked if he was concerned that the virus had spread to within a few miles of the White House, Trump replied: “No, I’m not concerned at all.”

The president had already insisted as he visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday that the risk of having so many people in close proximity “doesn’t bother me at all.”

The CDC warns on its coronavirus web page against people congregating in crowds and encourages the elderly, in particular, to stay home as much as possible. AFP

Biden, Sanders enter key phase FLINT―Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on Saturday began what amounts to a fresh campaign for the Democratic nomination for president, as the septuagenarians prepare to go head-to-head at the polls for the first time since the field narrowed to two credible candidates.

Biden, the 77-year-old former vice president, spoke to a large crowd of supporters in Missouri, one of six states that will hold Democratic primaries on Tuesday, one week after the “Super Tuesday” elections brought about a dramatic reversal of fortunes in his favor.

Standing on an outdoor stage on a sunny day in St Louis, at times wearing his signature aviator sunglasses, the politically moderate Biden savored his spectacular revival in the race for the White House.

“What a difference a day makes,” he exulted. “This time last week I was in South Carolina and the press and the pundits had declared Biden’s campaign dead.”

“But South Carolina had something to say about that, and then came Super Tuesday. And today there are 11 victories behind us and we’re leading both in delegates and national votes.”

With the monumental Gateway Arch—a symbolic entryway to the American West—in the background, the former vice president mentioned Sanders only indirectly.

AFP

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ISOLATION WARD. This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows a medical staff member showing a newborn to her father after a caesarean section at a gynecology and obstetrics isolation ward for expectant mothers infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus in Xiehe hospital in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province. China on March 8 reported its lowest number of new coronavirus infections since January, with nearly all the 44 new cases in the outbreak epicenter Wuhan. AFP

US-Taliban deal leaves Afghans’ fate unclear

I

SLAMABAD―A US-Taliban deal that was supposed to kickstart peace talks between the insurgents and the Kabul government is looking flimsier by the day, with fighting raging across Afghanistan and no one sure about what comes next.

The loosely worded, four-page agreement signed February 29 in Doha was meant to set the conditions for a complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within just 14 months— and end the longest war in US history.

But within days of the ink drying on the deal, blood again was flowing across Afghanistan, with the Taliban striking scores of Afghan military targets and jihadist gunmen killing dozens in a Kabul attack.

US President Donald Trump on Friday even acknowledged that the Taliban could seize power after foreign forces leave— a far cry from the reassuring messaging American officials pushed in the months leading up to the accord.

The biggest sticking point so far seems to be the deal itself, which is vaguely worded and open to different interpretations.

For instance, the agreement states the Afghan government “will” release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners before Tuesday, when peace talks between Kabul and the insurgents are supposed to start in Oslo.

Trouble is, the Afghan government is not a signatory to the deal, and a joint declaration between President Ashraf Ghani’s administration and the US calls only on Kabul to determine the “feasibility” of a mass prisoner release.

Ghani said Saturday his government

was willing to free the Taliban prisoners -but only if they do not return to violence.

He did not say if a release was possible before March 10, essentially throwing the talks into limbo.

International Crisis Group analyst Andrew Watkins said the “ambiguous language and at some points outright contradictory language” between the USTaliban deal and the US-Afghan joint statements has led to confusion.

“The reason we see ambiguity is because it would have been very difficult if not impossible to reach agreement up front,” Watkins said.

It is clear Washington’s patience with Ghani’s government is waning. The US did not congratulate him on securing a second term last month, amid widespread allegations of voter fraud.

Ghani is due to be sworn in on Monday, but so too is his bitter rival Abdullah Abdullah who wants to form a rival government.

And in a scenario that would have been unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks that triggered the US invasion of Afghanistan, Washington seems determined to downplay acts of Taliban violence and lend credence to its longtime foe’s motives.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last

DR. JOSE MARTIN MAKALINTAL

Green LiGht (Part 2) I ENJOYED myself so much that I enrolled in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program immediately after graduation. Apart from wanting to continue learning under the same teachers, I had another reason—vindication.

Despite my graduating with an MBA degree, the shadow of my mistakes continued to haunt me. Logically, a mismatch between student and school was to blame but emotionally, I still felt like a failure.

Incidentally, there is one fundamental difference between these two programs: As MBA students we were taught to master cutting-edge knowledge but in the DBA we were taught to create all that cutting-edge knowledge. And it was only through this process that I finally started to find absolution.

But just when things were beginning to go smoothly, I go on to commit mistake number three by taking a leave of absence! While taking a short break is great for recharging batteries, taking too long makes it tough to regain momentum. Quite a number of my classmates in both the MBA and DBA programs never returned after taking a leave of absence.

And in my batch alone, I am the only one who got this far.

What was supposed to be a few months turned into 12 long years! Fortunately, I was able to drag myself back. However, since the MBA and DBA programs need

week said the senior Taliban leadership was “working diligently to reduce violence”, while also appearing to take a veiled swipe at the Ghani government for representing only “narrow interests”.

Trump even boasted about a “very good” phone call with top Taliban leader Mullah Baradar, while his daughter Ivanka took to social media to post a few lines by the Sufi poet Rumi about the serenity of reconciliation.

The US president also signalled that America’s commitment to Afghanistan’s security came with an expiry date.

“Countries have to take care of themselves,” Trump said Friday. “You can only hold someone’s hand for so long.”

Scott Smith, expert on Afghanistan at the US Institute of Peace, said the US is fully aware that Ghani believes it is legitimising the Taliban.

“The message is that (the US) priority is the deal, and we are willing to pay the cost of this difference in legitimacy in order to try to convince you that we’re serious about it,” Smith told AFP. Since the deal signing, the Taliban have launched dozens of operations across Afghanistan.

The Pentagon was quick to play down the widespread fighting, with General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, classifying the violence as “small, low level attacks, out on checkpoints”.

Although Afghanistan enjoyed a partial truce in the week leading up to the deal, hopes it would continue as Kabul and the Taliban prepared for peace talks have been dashed. AFP

My educational journey to be completed in a set amount of time, I faced a new challenge. If I didn’t finish before the academic deadline, I would have to repeat 2/3 of my subjects, which would push me to drop out entirely.

Well, the fact that I stand here before you means that I finished, albeit after a 2-term extension and a lot of stress in between. I tell you, it was touch and go for those last two years.

So, as we stand before the cusp of graduation, the cross that I bore for 35 arduous years has finally been lifted off my shoulders.

Parting Thoughts Before I end my speech, I would like to apologize to all of you here.

While I promised not to turn today into a learning activity, there are still a few lessons to be learned. And passing on those learnings is, after all, the Lasallian way.

I made three mistakes in my life and out of those came three lessons. The first is that God has plans for each and every one of us, but the trick is finding out what it is. A few of my high school classmates knew this early on, while others, myself included, only learned of it later in life. I was never meant to be an engineer, but it was only after getting over my first mistake that I realized this.

The second lesson I learned is never to treat your cross as a blockade; treat it like a detour. People stop at blockades but continue moving with detours. Don’t let failure, fear or depres-

sion paralyze you. Keep moving, even if it is at a slow pace. It is only through constant movement that you will get to fulfill your destiny.

The third lesson is that La Salle is the best school. Ever. I am not saying this because my education is 80 percent La Salle—grade school, high school, master’s and doctorate.

I’m saying this because I have also worked with graduates from all over the world.

So, it took three huge mistakes, 35 years of regret, three lessons learned, two graduate degrees and one La Salle to get to where I was meant to be.

Looking at all of you graduates, I am glad you didn’t take as long to get to where you were supposed to be. And if there is ever a sliver of doubt in your minds as to whether coming to De La Salle University was the right choice to make, I am here to tell you that it was!

Congratulations all of us!

Animo La Salle!

The author graduated with a Doctor of Business Administration degree on February 29, 2020. He delivered this speech as the Response of Graduates at the 4th De La Salle University Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business Graduate Studies Recognition Rites on February 22, 2020.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

KIEV―Ricky, a larger than life golden retriever, wags his tail as he nestles his head on Vasyl’s lap. But still the war veteran looks tense.

Then the dog throws his front paws onto the shoulders of the 47-year-old suffering from post-war trauma, and a smile forms across his face.

“This is probably the most soothing thing,” says Vasyl in the corridor of a large medical centre for veterans in Kiev.

Vasyl, who along with other interviewees declined to give his full name due to the stigma around mental health in the country, was wounded fighting Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Now, he is one of the participants in an initiative to help soldiers overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the help of therapy dogs.

In it’s sixth year, Kiev’s conflict with separatists in the breakaway areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions has claimed more than 13,000 lives, including 4,000 Ukranian troops.

With some 10,000 soldiers injured in the conflict, one group of volunteers hopes dog therapy can be a resource for veterans whose injuries are hidden.

When war broke out in Ukraine in 2014, its military inherited from the Soviet Union was not prepared for an onslaught of veterans suffering from stress.

Although some 500,000 Ukrainians have served in the military since, discussing mental health and the psychological impact of the war remains taboo.

“There are positive steps from the state,” says Rodion Grigoryan, a psychologist who volunteers with veterans.

“But there is a lack of systematic effort,” including little funding from the government to address the problem, he tells AFP. The Ukranian authorities do not keep records on the numbers of soldiers battling PTSD, says Oksana Kolyada, minister for veteran’s affairs who lost her post this week in a government reshuffle.

She told AFP that generally over 10 percent of veterans worldwide experience post-war trauma, with symptoms including flashbacks, depression, aggressive behaviours and self-harm.

AFP

Migrants now being greeted with hostility ATHENS-Five years ago, Greece offered hospitality to a huge wave of migrants at the height of the Syrian civil war―but today, hostility greets those seeking a new life.

Experts put the about-turn largely down to a declining trajectory of global growth as well as crisis fatigue, with the Greek people already having shouldered years of austerity after the financial crisis of a decade ago.

Nearly a million refugees made it to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, just kilometers off the Turkish coastline, in the 2015 exodus, and the majority trekked on to mainland Europe.

Poignant images of local mothers on the island of Lesbos feeding migrant babies went round the world.

The following year, a group of local people from the same island found themselves proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize for their humanitarian efforts.

But after Turkey last week gave migrants the green light to head for Europe, feelings have changed on an island that already hosts thousands of migrants from the last wave.

Last time round, “people hoped that the leftist government of Alexis Tsipras, with his humane view on refugees, was going to halt austerity,” Filippa Chatzistavrou, professor of political science at Athens University, told AFP. Instead, Greece’s economic woes continued.

Today, Chatzistavrou says, many Greeks are still trying to find their feet in an increasingly extreme political environment.

Kostas Filis, director of Greece’s Institute for International Relations, said the first migration wave was “spontaneous” as people fled Syria and the Islamic State.

“Today, Turkey is behind a very much smaller migrant flux looking to come to Greece,” he says.

Athens sees Ankara’s decision to open the exit gates as “a political weapon,” whose result was to see some 13,000 people congregate inside 48 hours on the border post at Kastanies. AFP

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

B4

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

LGUs

Landbank helps top poultry farm in Isabela grow

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela – Poultry farming is considered one of the most lucrative businesses in the country. What started out as a simple livelihood in backyards has evolved into an integrated and modern farming enterprise.

This concept is what attracted Jonathan “Jong” Diaz to the industry.

Jong and his wife Myla run Top Jong Farm in this city, employing around 400 locals.

The business started in 1994 when Jong first applied as a contract grower for San Miguel Corp. With little funding, he was able to build an initial housing for the poultry business, which only housed 5,000 chickens.

“At that time, the poultry business was booming, and I wanted to be a part of that,” said Jong, who was raring to expand his business but did not have enough capital.

He sought assistance from Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), which provided him the additional funding for the construction of a second building, and to purchase new equipment and machinery.

“I heard about the services of LANDBANK, on how they prioritize agricultural projects and businesses. I thought it was a shot at the moon, but I applied for a loan anyway. Thankfully, it was approved,” Jong said.

Through LANDBANK, Jong was able to build a second poultry house, which increased his production. From an initial 5,000 chickens, the farm was able to produce 11,500 chickens per cycle. After a few years, Jong was given a revolving credit line for the improvement of his poultry breeding facilities.

TOP GROWER.

Jonathan ‘Jong’ Diaz and his wife Myla stand in one of the poultry houses, financed

by LANDBANK, that helped their Top Jong Farm in Ilagan, Isabela be named ‘Top 1 Poultry Grower in Northeast Luzon for 2020’ by San Miguel Corp.

Joy warns QC suppliers over fake, inferior goods

By Rio N. Araja

POLICE CALL. Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar and Vice Mayor April AguilarNery (center) present a token of appreciation to National Capital Region Police Office Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Menorias Sinas during his visit on Wednesday at the City Hall.

With them are NCRPO officers Brig. Gen Nolasco Kalalo Bathan (Deputy Regional Director for Administration), Brig. Gen Florendo Campo Quibuyen (Deputy Regional Director for Operations), Brig. Gen. Gerry Galvan (Regional Director, Regional Internal Affairs) Col. Danilo Macerien (Acting Regional Chief, Directorial Staff), Col. Emmanuel Peralta (Acting District Director, Southern Police District), former councilor Henry Medina, and DILG City Director Mary Anne Planas. Norman Cruz

Guiguinto mayor wants NLEX exit names changed

By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan is not only griping about the high toll rates at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) from Balintawak to Tabang Exit in his town. He also wants justice for the name of his hometown that has been caused by erroneous labelling.

Cruz pointed out that almost all towns and city traversed by NLEx were given proper recognition of their town’s name except Guiguinto. He mentioned the Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas and Pulilan exits, all in Bulacan, and the exits at San Simon/Sto. Domingo, San Fernando, Angeles City, and Mexico, all in the province of Pampanga.

However, the two exits in Guiguinto, located between the Bocaue and Pulilan exits, were labelled as Tabang and Sta. Rita, the names of the barangays where the toll booths are located, Cruz pointed out.

“This injustice to the name of our town due to mislabeling must not be allowed

to continue. The correction must be done immediately. Guiguinto is losing much in the name-recall game, especially in promoting our town’s tourism and cultural activities such as the yearly Halamanan Festival of Guiguinto,” the mayor said.

Both exits should have Guiguinto before their names to help promote the town, he said, as travelers already assume Tabang and Sta. Rita were separate towns, with the latter being mistaken for its namesake town in Pampanga.

Cruz said he will write to the Toll Regulatory Board and to the NLEX Corp. to immediately address the mislabeling of the Tabang and Sta. Rita exits. “It is long overdue,” he said.

He is also asking the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to revive and re-open the Guiguinto (Tabe) Exit, which was arbitrarily closed by NLEX Corp. in 2007 when it took over the operations and franchise of the former Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) and Manila North Tollways Corp,, owned by Benpres Holdings of the Lopez family.

Q

UEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday warned suppliers and distributors of goods for the city government to stop their practice of delivering counterfeit products, fake merchandise, and goods of inferior quality.

She reacted to reports that fake commodities were delivered by the suppliers and distributors of goods, subsequently accepted by the end-users, and then paid for by the city government.

Recently, the mayor received 1,100 pairs of counterfeit branded rubber shoes distributed to local athletes who would represent the city in various national sporting events.

If proven true, Belmonte ordered the city legal office to initiate legal action

against those who were involved and conspired to commit the offenses violative of the Consumer Protection Act or Republic Act 7394, RA 9184 or the Procurement Act, and other related laws.

The mayor instructed the procurement department, particularly the bids and awards committee through its technical working group, to conduct the necessary due diligence in their evaluation and selection of winning bidders to avoid the award of contracts pertaining

to purchases of goods to unscrupulous suppliers and distributors.

Belmonte ordered the recall of the counterfeit shoes and committed to replace them before March 14, when local athletes are scheduled to attend the National Festival of Talents in Isabela.

The athletes are also set to participate in the Palarong Pambansa to be held from May 1 to 9 in Marikina City.

Belmonte instructed other concerned offices to investigate allegations that the delivery of fake commodities was a common practice in the past city administration.

Meanwhile, Belmonte also vowed to provide security of land tenure for around 10,000 informal settler families by 2022 under the city’s three-year local shelter plan.

Malapitan calls for caution vs. fires in Caloocan

By Jun David

AS THE country celebrates Fire Prevention Month this March, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan called on his constituents to take extra care, safety measures and discipline to avoid fire incidents in the city.

The government, through a presidential proclamation, has declared March of each year as a fire prevention month because of the temperature and humidity in the country that cause more incidence of fire in the country.

Because of this, Malapitan said that the city government is joining with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) by reminding every resident of Caloocan of their awareness and discipline this month to avoid fires.

Based on statistics released by the BFP, from January 1 to December 11 in in 2019, the number of fire incidents increased to 16,382 from 15,848 in 2018, along with the number of fatalities to 9 percent or 326 persons.

FROM SAN JUAN TO BGC. Francesco’s, the home of classic and authentic

Italian cuisine and San Juan City’s best kept secret in Manila, finally opened its second branch in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), ready to serve their pastideliziosi to the business district and Taguig City. Named after its spirited Italian chef Francesco Rizzo, Francesco’s offers a wide selection of palate-pleasing traditional and rich regional cuisine from the Italian peninsula. Manny Palmero

Learning, living in digital Mindanao YOUTUBER Marie Sousa of Cotabato City started taking videos in 2015 to record her activities and special events.

“I uploaded the videos on my channel, not for everyone to see, but for me to look back on those memories. I had no idea one could make a living out of vlogging!” she exclaimed.

Five years and over 10,000 subscribers later, her YouTube channel, “It’s Pretty Marie,” covers a wide variety of topics catering to her viewers’ many interests—from make-up tutorials to “mukbang,” an online broadcast wherein a host samples food and chats with the audience.

Better connectivity has also made teaching easier for Alnadzma Tulawie and learning more engaging for her students at Sulu State College.

“With access to the Internet, my students are able to expand their research and delve deeper into their assigned topics,” said Tulawie, who teaches Master in Filipino Language at the Graduate Studies Department.

“Reading my students’ papers, I now glean greater knowledge and wider perspective…Because they are now on the information superhighway, they are no

longer behind their city-based peers,” Tulawie added.

Sousa and Tulawie are among those whose lives have been changed for the better by access to better connectivity in Mindanao.

“Youtube is a huge community to be explored. You have to know your niche and get a pulse on what your viewers are looking for; they’re your audience,” said Marie.

To get a feel of what her viewers are interested in, Marie presented a wider variety of content. “I now also do travel vlogs, which I enjoy because not only do I get to go places, I also get to help my viewers plan their itineraries according to their budget,” she said.

But the one destination she enjoys vlogging about the most is her hometown, Cotabato City.

“I love showcasing my city and giving tips on what places to visit, what foods to try. It’s the least I could do to promote by hometown and correct negative notions about the city,” she exclaims. Ï believe that Cotabato City is one of the best places in Mindanao, where you could meet great people.”

She has also used her YouTube chan-

nel to reach out to victims of recent earthquakes in Makilala, North Cotabato. “They say that when you help, do so quietly. Well, I decided to vlog about community service because I wanted to encourage others to lend a hand,” said Marie.

True enough, in response to her video, offers of help poured in from everywhere.

“Through the Internet, my viewers from different parts of the world were able to send help,” she shared.

Indeed, having a good internet connection has helped Marie share her experiences and build an online community. “Behind every successful YouTube channel is a strong internet connection,” she said.

She considers her generation fortunate because everyone has access to the Internet; and she is making the most of this valuable resource to “spread positivity” through her YouTube channel.

“Thanks to the Internet, I constantly meet interesting people; I get to express my creativity, and even help change lives,” said Marie. “With connectivity and Smart LTE in Mindanao, the possibilities are limitless.

I look forward to producing more quality content,” she enthused.

Meanwhile, Tulawie’s fellow faculty members are also active online, and the Sulu State College itself now has an online presence. “Deans would make announcements online, and the information would reach faculty and students via Facebook, for example,” she said. “We hope this service would be available to more people in Mindanao,” she said.

With its continuous network upgrades across Mindanao, PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. will see to that.

As of end-2019, Smart has upgraded to LTE more than 100 towns across Mindanao, including towns in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Customers in Calanogas and Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur, for example, can now

reach out to their families and loved ones, access social media, watch videos or play games on their phones using Smart’s newly fired-up LTE network in their area.

“This is part of PLDT-Smart’s mission to provide world-class connectivity and access to all Filipinos, wherever in the country they may be,” said PLDT-Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering Mario G. Tamayo.

As of the third quarter 2019, Smart has increased the number of LTE base stations by 34% compared to end-2018 and deploying these in more areas of the country. Underpinning Smart’s network deployment is the continued expansion of PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which grew by 26% versus end-2018 to more than 307,000 kilometers nationwide. This unmatched fiber infrastructure is a critical advantage for Smart.

The sustained improvement of the PLDT-Smart network has been supported by a stepped-up capital expenditures program that includes investments in network and IT systems, including investments in increased LTE coverage and capacity, expanded fiber transport and new international cable networks.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

C1

OLD MENU GETS NEW DISHES. Gloria Maris, which is now under the management of Frank Lao, rolls out new dishes as well as improved items in the old menu, including Australian wagyu in black pepper sauce, lechon Macau, and a dim sum sampler of har gau, siu mai, and egg tart.

A waiter skillfully prepares the Peking duck which is served two ways: in Chinese wrapper with cucumber slices and leeks and slathered with Hoisin sauce; and sautéed with vegetables and served on a bed of crispy rice noodles with lettuce leaves on the side.

I

A full circle journey

F YOU search for the best Chinese restaurants in the metropolis, the results would—inevitably, definitely–include Gloria Maris and Choi Garden.

The two restaurants not only share the spotlight when it comes to serving authentic Chinese dishes, they also have a shared history.

In 1993, a group of Chinese friends set up Gloria Maris under the culinary genius of Hong Kong-based chef Mr. Choi Tak Pui at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds along Roxas Boulevard. They eventually expanded and set up a branch near Greenhills Shopping Complex in San Juan—becoming one of the biggest fine dining locations in the capital with two floors catering to banquets.

Years later, Mr. Choi formed his own Choi Garden, also in Greenhills, bringing together a Cantonese culinary team that spoiled customers for choice—roasted pigeons, chili crab, three-way lapu-lapu, and more.

Fast forward to January 2020: the soft-spoken, self-effacing restaurateur Frank Lao, now owner of Choi Garden, has bought out the owners of Gloria Maris—marking a full circle journey for Greenhills’ biggest Cantonese restaurant.

“We are tweaking the menu in the sense that we are im-

proving the taste of the dishes. We are looking at the items and deciding what to retain and what needs to be improved,” said Gloria Maris chief operating officer Janica Lao. There is no reinventing the wheel, she said, nor is there a need to erase Gloria Maris’ past even as they hired five new chefs from Hong Kong to replace the old culinary team.

“We are retaining the name. We are not bringing Choi Garden’s menu here. Both brands have separate characters,” Janica added.

There are new dishes, though, according to operations head for banquets Angie Tan, such as the Australian wagyu in black pepper sauce, pan-fried lamb chops, Alaskan king crab served three ways, as well as Chinese fried rice named after Frank himself.

During the media launch of the new and improved menu, the new management pulled out all the stops to induce near-food coma among the invited guests.

Aside from the new dishes, they also served two-tone

Turn to C2

68-peso pancakes make Mondays better PANCAKES make days better, even if it’s the most hated day of the week.

In celebration of National Pancake Month this March, Pancake House offers its freshly flipped, two-piece pancakes for P68 pesos on all Mondays of the month, and—good news—extended until April 13 for Pancake House Rewards Card holders.

Dining guests can order this Monday treat with no minimum purchase required.

“We understand that Mondays can be challenging, and we want to help mellow it down for our diners by bringing delightful vibes with our wellloved, signature Classic Pancakes,” shares Pancake House senior marketing manager Cherry Hernandez.

Summer sushi smorgasbord Japanese restaurant Kitsho offers an all-you-can-eat sushi promotion for P700 nett per person.

Hate Mondays?

Pancake House offers an order of its 2-piece original pancakes for only P68 on all Mondays of March.

IT’S a summer of sushi as a Manila-based Japanese restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat promotion for its wide range of sushi selections in the whole month of March.

Available for lunch every day, Kitsho’s eatall-you-can sushi madness is priced at P700 nett per person.

The first serving is composed of sashimi salmon, nigiri tuna, salmon hosomaki, nigiri tai, futomaki salmon skin, and California maki.

Diners who have more space for second serving can indulge in sashimi tuna, nigiri salmon, nigiri ika, rainbow roll, tekka maki, and original futomaki. For the third or fourth servings, and any succeeding servings thereafter, diners simply choose which between the first and second serving menu they want to enjoy once again.

Those dining with family and friends may take advantage of further discounts. For instance, if two diners partake of the sushi madness, they simply pay P1,350 instead of P1,400.

If there are three of them, their bill amounts to Turn to C2

Enjoy a variety of sushi choices including nigiri tai, California maki, sashimi tuna, futomaki, and more.

Life

C2

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Calamansi cupcake, banana pudding milkshake L

in dessert shop’s summer menu

OCAL flavors and twists to beloved classics shine this summer at the Manila outlet of New York’s famous M (Magnolia) Bakery.

“We know that the Philippines has so many flavors to offer. We’re constantly trying to blend this in M Bakery’s classic offerings to showcase the richness of our local ingredients and make more indulgent desserts available for our good food-loving patrons,” said Stewart Ong, managing partner and franchise owner of M Bakery in the Philippines.

M Bakery Milkshakes

Calamansi Cupcake and Muffin

Joining the indulgent Calamansi Icebox Pie in the citrusy desserts lineup are M Bakery’s Calamansi Cupcake and Calamansi Muffin.

The cupcake variant features the perfect balance of calamansi’s sour and zesty flavors with its calamansi filling and meringue icing. Meanwhile, the muffin is made with rich butter-based batter with fresh calamansi juice and a pinch of calamansi zest. Both treats are best enjoyed with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

The Calamansi Cupcake is priced at P165 per piece while the Calamansi Muffin is at P185 each.

Mango Jamboree

Philippine mangoes known for its incomparable natural sweetness are the star in the Manila-exclusive Mango Jamboree made with pecan shortbread crust, layers of cream cheese and whipped cream filling, and topped with a generous helping of fresh mango chunks that mango-lovers will surely not be able to resist. A hefty serving of this dessert is priced at P325 per slice.

M Bakery also offers milkshakes in flavors inspired by its bestselling products.

The Red Velvet Milkshake is made with red velvet cake blended with vanilla ice cream and milk, topped with whipped cream, red velvet crumbs, and dark chocolate curls. The Carrot Cake Milkshake, on the other hand, is carrot cake blended with vanilla ice cream and milk, topped with whipped cream, walnuts, raisins, and carrot cake crumbs.

The dessert shop’s famous Banana Pudding now comes in milkshake. The Banana Pudding Milkshake is made with the classic banana pudding blended with ice cream and milk, topped with pudding cream, vanilla wafer crumbs, and a slice of banana.

Finally, the Apple Pie Milkshake is made with cooked apple filling blended with vanilla ice cream and milk, topped with whipped cream, crumb toppings, and caramelized apple.

Each order of the aforementioned milkshake flavors is priced at P265.

M Bakery is on the lower ground floor of Unit #23 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, Bonifacio Global City. Call (02) 847-9829 or 0917-633-1718 for orders or inquiries.

BITES

Brownie and Pie A la Mode

Summer brings with it M Bakery brownies and hand pies ala mode. For an additional fee of P100, customers can turn up the experience of eating a Double Fudge Brownie, Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake, or Nolia Pie with a hefty serving of vanilla ice cream on top, drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Choc Nut Cupcake

After the hit Choc Nut Banana Pudding, this beloved choco-peanut flavor is featured—quite generously—in M Bakery’s new Choc Nut Cupcake filled with Choc Nut spread, topped with Choc Nut buttercream and chunks of Choc Nut bars. It’s like two childhood favorites combined in one happy treat at P165 apiece.

RECIPE FILES

Loco for coco milk-based dishes MAKING dishes and drinks using freshly pressed coconut According to its maker, Century Pacific Food, Inc., each pack milk used to be a hassle until packed coconut cream brand is made in the Philippines using the country’s finest coconuts.

Coco Mama Fresh Gata hit the market shelves.

Here are some recipes to try using the packed coco milk.

Adobong Baboy sa Gata Serves: 3-4 Ingredients: 500g 1 tsp.

1 tsp.

2 pcs.

2 tbsp.

1 pc.

1/8 cup 1/8 cup 1/4 cup 1 pc.

1 pack

pork belly, cut into two-inch cubes salt cracked black peppercorns dried laurel leaves cooking oil whole garlic, peeled and sliced vinegar soy sauce water siling haba Coco Mama Fresh Gata, 200ml

Procedure: 1. Marinate pork belly in salt, peppercorns, and laurel leaves. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Heat oil in a pot. Cook garlic until golden brown. Remove from oil and set aside.

3. In the same pot, brown marinated pork belly. Add fried garlic back to the pot. Pour in vinegar, soy sauce, and water, and add green chili pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Pour in Coco Mama Fresh Gata. Simmer again slowly over medium heat for 10 minutes or until pork is tender and fully cooked.

5. Transfer to a serving plate and serve hot.

Creamy Monggo Guisado Serves: 2-3 Ingredients: 1/2 cup 3 cups 2 tbsp.

3 cloves 1 pc.

1 pc.

200g 1 pack 1 tsp.

2 tsp.

1 bunch

dry mongo beans, soaked overnight water or more as needed cooking oil garlic, chopped finely small onion, finely chopped small diced tomato pork belly, cut into small pieces Coco Mama Fresh Gata 200ml fish sauce seasoning granules malunggay leaves

Procedure: 1. Boil mongo beans in water for 20 minutes or until soft and cooked. Set aside.

2. Heat oil in a pot. Cook garlic, onion, and tomato until soft and aromatic. Add pork belly pieces and cook until

Philippine-made Coco Mama Fresh Gata features freshly squeezed coconut milk in each pack.

golden brown in color. Add cooked mung beans.

3. Pour Coco Mama Fresh Gata. Simmer slowly over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

4. Season with fish sauce and seasoning granules. Add malunggay leaves and quickly stir.

5. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve hot. Best served with hot steamed rice.

Iced Coconut Milk Latte Serves: 1 Ingredients: 1 cup 3 tsp.

4 tsp.

3 tbsp.

1 ½ cup

hot water instant coffee granules sugar Coco Mama Fresh Gata ice cubes

Procedure: 1. Add instant coffee granules and sugar to a glass of hot water. Stir well.

2. Add Coco Mama Fresh Gata. Add ice and serve.

Choc Nut at Gatas cookies made with Choc Nut candy and Mik-Mik sweetened milk powder.

Nostalgia-inducing Choc Nut, Mik-Mik cookies SOME of Filipinos’ beloved flavors, those that bring back memories, are featured in a café’s new cookie choices.

Part of the Innovative Pinoy Cookie Selections are Choc Nut at Gatas, a nostalgic blend of ‘90s all-time favorite candy Choc Nut and Mik-Mik sweetened milk powder.

Tsokolate at Kape, meanwhile, offers a decadent bite of salted espresso and dark chocolate mix, crafted from the chocolate and coffee from Batangas.

Finally, Pasas at Kasoy offers the iconic and complementing flavors of fruit and nut duo, featuring the famous cashew nuts from the city of Antipolo.

These delectable snacks come in two varieties: a large-size cookie for

A full...

From C1

almond and pumpkin seafood soup; salt and pepper prawns with garlic crisps; Peking duck served two ways—thin slices in Chinese wrapper along with slices of cucumber and green onion slathered with Hoisin sauce; and minced duck meat sautéed in vegetables and served on a bed of crispy rice noodles with a plate of lettuce leaves on the side (a la samgyupsal); taro

Summer...

only P50 and a box of eight bite-size treats for P100. They are available until April 4 at Andrew Café.

Conceptualized by Bernard Marthy del Rosario, a culinary student at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the Innovative Pinoy Cookie Selections are meticulously baked by the budding culinary apprentices of Andrew Café under the technical and production guidance of resident pastry chef Erna Canatoy.

The restaurant is located at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Taft Campus. It is open Mondays to Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. baskets with prawns, scallops, asparagus, and straw mushrooms; roast pork (lechon Macau); dim sum sampler of har gau, siu mai,and egg tart; and birthday mee sua.

The more than three-hour long lunch was a feast, a toast to the unrivaled experience of Gloria Maris of old and a peek at better, more delicious things to come, and perhaps a testament, too, as to how Frank Lao is the undeniable king of Chinese restaurants in this part of the metropolis.

I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

The more dining guests, the bigger the discount.

From C1 Kitsho Japanese Restaurant and Sake Bar is on the ground level of HoP2,000. A group of four enjoys the all- tel Jen Manila, right across the sprawlyou-can-eat promotion for only P2,650, ing CCP Complex, along Roxas Boulewhile a company of five enjoys the smor- vard. Call (02) 8994-3623 or 8877-6379 for inquiries and more details. gasbord for only P3,300.

Entertainment

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Intensity of youth lives highlighted in two plays

Cinematic heat

Dingdong Dantes in a scene from the local adaptation of 'A Hard Day.'

W

ITH the dry season slowly making its scorching presence felt, it is bound to be more sizzling, scintillating if not titillating, with the arrival of the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival which happens this April.

If we are to judge the trailers of the eight films in competition, one can surmise that we have an impressive roster of motion pictures that aims to arouse the curiosities of the viewing and discerning public.

Most of the entertainment media present during the press conference held at Novotel are in agreement that finished films should and must be the basis of choosing an entry in a film festival and not just a finished script.

The criteria used in choosing the lucky eight were: Artistic Merit (40 percent), Commercial Viability (40 percent), Promotion Of Filipino Values (10 percent) and International Appeal (10 percent).

For those who are already wondering, the lineup includes a testosterone-infused action flick, a horror movie that guarantees the jolt and all the screaming and shouting, family dramas with their requisite domestic and personal issue.

The most likely to slug it out in the box office supremacy race are Love Or Money, a romantic comedy which stars the King of ABSCBN, Coco Martin and comely actress Angelica Panganiban, A Hard Day with Dindong Dantes and John Arcilla sharing stellar billing, which is based on a 2014 South Korean movie with the same title and of course, The Missing, with Ritz Azul and Joseph Marco in what seems like a potent Philippine contribution to the Asian horror genre.

Martin and Panganiban spell fun and refreshing, a team-up that audience will experience for the first time.

Martin is no Cardo Dalisay in this one, and Panganiban, of course, is in her best element when it comes to being a damsel in distress with a lot of naughtiness and oomph.

Dantes, when he portrays a protagonist acting and living like an antagonist is always a delight to view

they reminisce WITNESS the beginnings different facets of life through of their the diverse friendship, perspectives of c o n f e s s today’s youth, their hearts, a generation and rebuild commonly connections boxed in at their secret misconceptions spot. and stereotypes, It was in Yugto, a duo w r i t t e n of theatrical by Jerome plays which Ignacio, tackle the lauded for diverse stages, theater arts challenges, and by the Loyola circumstances School Awards on the young. for the Arts and Through the director these two oneand consultant act-plays, of Ateneo Maiba 18 ENTABLADO Productions, a and AJHS community of T e a t r o Theater Arts Baguntanao, students from 'Yugto' is a duo of theatrical plays tackling the and directed the De La Salle- diverse stages, challenges, and circumstances on by Benilde College of the young.

Theater Arts Saint Benilde student Kyle (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts Confesor, who recently directed (SDA), aims to empower the unseen, Alberto Florentino’s Cadaver as a the unheard, and the misunderstood. political commentary.

Swipe Right, Siz, narrates the stories Yugto is open to the public from of fresh graduates and best friends Wednesday to Friday, March 11 to Cynthia, an account executive in an March 13, with shows at 1:00 p.m. advertising agency, and Jasmine, a and 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday, freelance photographer, as they reveal March 14, at 5:00 p.m.. their fear of the future over drinks, Shows will be held at the SDA junk food, movies, and online dating Theater, 5th Floor, School of Design apps and descend into the woes of and Arts Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo relationships and existential crisis.

(Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila.

The play was written Tickets are priced at P200 for

by Dominique La Victoria, a regular viewers, P160 for nonrecipient for playwriting of the Benildean students, persons with Loyola Schools Award for the Arts, disabilities (PWD), and senior and directed by experienced actor citizens, and P150 for Benildeans. and artist-educator Jomar Carpeno.

For inquiries and ticket reservations, Kublihan, shares the story of Julio, a contact +63977 457 4421 or e-mail maifreshman, and Mike, a senior student, as ba18productions@gmail.com.

Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino on the set of their latest film 'Ngayon Kaya.'

Fil-Am activists show support for ABS-CBN amid shutdown threats

'Love The Way U Lie ' with stars Xian Lim, Kylie Versoza, and Alex Gonzaga

and him, exchanging acting duels with the John Arcilla screams must-see.

We do not need the rules of economics and laws of science to make a conclusion that horror movies always make a literal killing at the box office that is why The Missinghas winwin written all over it.

The first in the lineup of the family dramas is Isa Pang Bahaghari with the trio con brio of acting royalties Nora Aunor, Phillip Salvador, and Michael de Mesa with competent support coming from Zanjoe Marudo, Joseph Marco, and Sanya Lopez.

What makes this family drama interesting is the pink element in it, Aunor, Salvador, and Michael are part of a different kind of love triangle.

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada’s comeback film, Coming Home is the other family drama serving. His co-stars are Sylvia Sanchez, Edgar Allan Guzman, Shaira Cruz, Martin del Rosario, Ara Arida, Vin Abrenica, and Samantha Lopez.

For the romance offerings, if you want a more mature and textured depiction of what makes relationships and falling in love reach its complicated levels, Tagpuan is the perfect choice.

Its major stars are Iza Calzado, Alfred Vargas, and Shaina Magdayao.

If you want it sugar and spice and all that is nice with a dash of ghost element in it but not in a scary way, Love The Way U Lie with Xian Lim, Kylie Versoza, and Alex Gonzaga promises to satisfy your cinematic saccharine craving.

Bittersweet, friend-zoned, unrequited, what you see is what you get, no labels, all this are explored and presented in Prime Cruz’s Ngayon Kaya, with two of the Philippine’s most beautiful, Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez, in this T-Rex Entertainment film offering which many opine will be the sleeper hit of the SMMFF. Is the marriage of artistic appeal and commercial viability possible? With these formidable film selections, is it safe to conclude that the submission of finished scripts as basis to be part of the MMFF in December is now a thing of the past, a done deal? And most importantly, come April 11 when the films in competition open in cinemas for a week, will the public go out of their cocoons and halt their vacation plans and give these motion pictures the love and support?

Ah… as they say in a song, the answers my friend, are all blowing in the wind. Let us keep our collective fingers crossed and yes, see you at the movies.

A relevant...

From C4

The cast and creative team of Tabing Ilog The Musical

In support for ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s Bantay Kalikasan, the musical will also tackle environmental issues that concerns the country today.

Tabing Ilog was a cultural hit when it first came out on TV screens in 1999.

The iconic Kapamilya TV series introduced viewers to future film and TV superstars like John Lloyd Cruz, Jodi Sta Maria, Paolo Contis, and Kaye Abad, among others.

At the core of the show was friendship, loyalty, and enduring camaraderie through the eyes of six teenagers who were coming of age. Anne, Rovic, Eds, George, Badong, and Fonzy all came from different backgrounds but found comfort in each other.

The musical features a mix of fresh and veteran talents, including Agot

IT’S BEEN 34 years since the EDSA People Power Revolution ousted the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines —and that spirit of activism still rings true today.

From San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, members of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, or NaFFAA, the Filipino American Human Rights Alliance and the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance marched to uphold press freedom and democracy under the Duterte administration.

Clad in white, red, blue and green, they condemned threats to shutdown ABS-CBN—the largest Philippine media network.

Philippine lawmakers have yet to vote to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise— which is set to expire on May 4.

They believe the hitch is politically motivated, citing President Rodrigo Duterte’s grudge against the network for not airing some of his political ads back in 2016. The network has since apologized, and President Duterte said he accepts it.

But he hasn’t categorically addressed the network’s franchise renewal.

ABS-CBN was also found to be compliant with tax payments, elections laws and regulations of the National Telecommunications Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Protesters say when press freedom is under attack, now is the time to fight for it and not wait a minute later, when you no longer can, and so they’re speaking up to make sure no media entity is silenced. Don Tagala, BA

TFC employees stand with community leaders and organizers outside the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco during the rally commemorating the 34th anniversary of People Power and to show support for ABS-CBN. Photo by Pia Carrion

Isidro, Jojit Lorenzo, Joanna Co, Paolo O’Hara with theater actors Gab Pangilinan, Ian Pangilinan, Vino Mabalot Justine Narciso, Krystal Kane, Teetin Villanueva, and Franco Ramos; TV personalities Noel Comia Jr. and Elyson de Dios; and PBB andMNL48 stars Kiara Takahashi, Abi Kassem, Sky Quizon, Hanie Jarrar, Batit Espiritu, Emjay Savilla, Jem Macatuno, Gian Wang, Gabby Sarmiento, Miah Canton, Abby Trinidad, Belle Delos Reyes, Lou Yanong, Missy Quino, Shawntel Cruz, Ian Hermogenes, Art Guma, and Lie Reposposa.

Tabing-Ilog: The Musical runs until April 26 at the ABS-CBN Dolphy Theater at the ABS- CBN compound in Quezon City. Tickets are priced P1000, P1200, P1500, and P2500, and are available online in KTX. The production is also open to showbuyers.

Contact 0977 836 0315 for tickets and inquiries.

Snaphot...

From C4

THE girls spent the morning touring the kids in larger-than-life 3D artworks. Awe and excitement filled the faces of the children as they were joined by the Binibinis in a free museum tour. Everyone gamely snapped photos and wandered at the interactive picture-worthy displays of the museum.

Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. has been supporting the endeavors of Operation Smile Philippines since 2011.

Art in Island Museum is located at 175 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City.

It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday to Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Entertainment

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

C4

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020

A relevant coming of age drama WHEN Tabing Ilog returns this March as a musical, audiences can expect it to still tackle real and serious issues familiar to themes, but in a new time and milieu.

The universal themes of friendship, family, coming of age, and finding where one fits in this vast world will still thread through the story. Audiences of all ages will surely appreciate the familiar sense of nostalgia while also learning more about the challenges and realities that today’s young people experience.

This is the Tabing Ilog of Gen Z, with all the complexities of what it means to be a teenager today. They have cellphones and social media, and the whole world at their fingertips. But they also face challenges that are different from previous

generations.

While its predecessor took on real and serious teen issues—failing in school, the consequences of unsafe sex, substance abuse, and how to handle disagreements with peers and parents —Tabing Ilog: The Musical tackles subjects like depression and anxiety, and how a supportive friend group is a huge factor in taking care of one’s mental health.

It will also portray the struggle of not being able to have the same carefree lifestyle as one’s friends because of financial and family problems. With the barkada’s romantic relationships, there is confusion and infidelity. The group will also face the reality of their fast-paced and changing world. Continued on C3

Darren Espanto is cool and candid

CREAM OF THE CROP. Darren Eespanto, 18, is considered one of the country’s hottest singers with chart-topping singles, soldout concerts, numerous awards, and multi-platinum studio albums to his credit.

S

Kiara Takahashi, Agot Isidro, Mian Canton, and Teetin Villanueva

A gold, 2 silvers for GMAKF at 55th Anvil Awards GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), GMA Network’s sociocivic arm, reaped honors anew at the 55th Anvil Awards held last Feb. 28 in Manila.

Present in the awarding ceremonies were GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel Tiangco together with GMAKF’s Marketing and Communications Supervisor Tracy Cruz and Senior Engineer Edgar Eniego.

GMAKF received a Gold Award under the Specialized Public Relations Programs—Advocacy Campaign category for the Rebuild Dreams in Marawi Campaign. The said project is in partnership with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) to raise funds for upcycled chairs and tables made from 100 percent single-use plastic by encouraging its customers to donate by adding P1 or more on top of their instore purchases.

The campaign was very successful that it reached five times the original target amount in two months, enabling GMAKF to serve thousands of public elementary schools in Marawi City.

Both earning Silver Awards were GMAKF’s Kapuso Tulay Para sa

Kaunlaran Project under the Specialized Public Relations Program—Disaster Communication; and the GMA Kapuso Foundation Annual Report 2018: Rebuild Dreams in Marawi under Public Relations Tools—Publications (External).

The Kapuso Tulay Para Sa Kaunlaran disaster response feature on 24 Oras’ “Kapusong Totoo” segment featured GMAKF’s first two concrete and steel hanging bridges and its Operation Bayanihan disaster relief distribution.

Meanwhile, the GMA Kapuso Foundation Annual Report 2018 is a compilation of GMAKF’s accomplishments for 2018 and highlights milestone projects such as the Rebuild Marawi Project—the building and rehabilitation of public elementary schools in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. They were the first institution to build a school in the said area, one year after its liberation from the armed conflict.

The 55th Anvil Awards is conferred by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, which honors the most outstanding public relations programs, tools, and practitioners in the country.

GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel Tiangco (center) receives the Gold Award at the 55th Anvil Awards.

INGER Darren Espanto is VERY turning 19 this year. And WANG like everyone who has made NICKIE the journey from child performer WANG to young adult, Darren’s path was littered with stumbling blocks and cautionary tales. The only difference is, he faced it with relative ease.

At a very young age, Darren has been catapulted to superstardom after rising to prominence in joining the very first season of ABS-CBN’s The Voice Kids Philippines at the age of 12. As one of the main artists featured weekly on ASAP Natin ‘To, Darren is one of the country’s hottest young superstars with chart-topping singles, sold-out concerts, numerous awards, and multi-platinum studio albums to his credit.

With a positive aura, Darren faced the members of the entertainment press at a gathering where he was introduced as the newest member of Beautéderm Corporation’s growing family of brand ambassadors. During the junket interview, the teen singer was all cool and candid answering all the questions thrown at him. He was asked about his love life, his feud with a former pal and co-finalist in The Voice Kids, JK Labajo, his trending Instagram photos, his career, of course, including his non-inclusion in the latest season of The Singer 2020 in China.

Darren was supposed to go to China for the singing competition, The Singer, where he performed last year, but he had to forego the chance to be part of the show because of the coronavirus scare and the travel ban.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s for our own safety. I’m happy that I was able to guest in their show last year. They have already started airing, so I don’t think I can catch up. If the ban gets lifted I still hope to be part of it. We’ll just see what happens,” he explained.

As for his strained friendship with JK Labajo, Darren minced his words but went direct to the point when a scribe tried to bring the issue further. “I can’t comment on that, really. We haven’t seen each other for years. For any collab, wag na lang.”

Things got juicy when Darren was asked about his romantic status. The teen singer was smiling and answered the Beautederm Corporation with its president and CEO Rhea Anicoche Tan formally welcomes the teen singer to its growing family of brand ambassadors.

SNAPSHOT

Binibinis bring smiles to kids at interactive art museum THE candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2020 took a day off from their usual pre-pageant activities on Wednesday, March 4, to bond with children in a fun-filled experience at the Art in Island Museum, Quezon City.

Binibining Pilipinas partnered with Operation Smile Philippines in providing this year’s candidates an opportunity to bring smiles to select children who underwent cleft lip and palate repair surgeries. Continued on C3

questions without holding back.

“It’s part of growing up. My parents are supportive naman as long as alam nilang matino ‘yung kinocourt kung babae. Throughout my stay here in the Philippines,opo nagkagirlfriend ako. Lahat sila in showbiz,” were Darren’s exact words.

While he didn’t drop any names, the young singer just flashed his big smile when the names Ylona Garcia, Andrea Brillantes, and Kyline Alcantara were mentioned by the press.

Meanwhile, now that he is officially a brand ambassador of Beautéderm, Darren will represent the entire Beautéderm Corporation as both signify an insatiable thirst for excellence and a constant drive to deliver the highest quality of work that the market deserves.

“I am so honored now that I am finally part of the Beautéderm family,” said an ecstatic Darren. “I am so grateful for the trust that Mommy Rhea has given me. I love the products of Beautéderm and this is a brand that I really use my personal hygiene and grooming. Now I can truly say that I am a proud Beautéderm brand ambassador.”

“I am equally honored to welcome Darren to the Beautéderm family. I believe that Darren will be very instrumental for the brand to

reach a younger market. Darren is one of the biggest young stars today and yet he remains very humble and he is one of the most pleasant and nicest artists that we ever worked with. We at Beautéderm are overjoyed to have him in on-board,” the Beautéderm CEO said in turn.

As a respected industry leader today, Beautederm prioritizes safety and effectiveness above all with its FDA Notified products, which only uses natural ingredients that are perfectly synergized to deliver the fastest and most effective longterm and sustainable results. A consistent Superbrands awardee, the brand boasts of a hundred fabulous products which include its flagship brands such as Beautederm Skin Set for both the face and the body; Beautederm Purifie Facial Wash; the Beautéderm Home line which includes soy candles, room and linen sprays, and air diffusers; and the newly created Spruce & Dash men’s line among many others – all of which are top-selling products.

Currently, Beautederm has physical stores throughout the country and one in Singapore and it has surpassed its 100 physical-store mark which was set in 2019 and the company is currently aiming for 200 physical stores this 2020.

For more information on Beautéderm and exciting updates on both the brand and Darren Espanto, follow @ beautédermcorporation on Instagram, like Beautéderm on Facebook, and subscribe to Beautéderm on YouTube. ***

Finalists of GMA drama scriptwriting workshop named The most promising budding screenwriters have been selected by GMA Network to participate in its free Basic TV Drama Scriptwriting Workshop this 2020.

From thousands of applicants, the review panel has selected the final 70 participants who haveexemplifiedgreatpotential in screenwriting and storytelling methods.

Spearheaded by GMA Entertainment Group, the workshop will delve into television drama writing in the Philippine TV landscape and focus heavily on the structure of local television series.

The comprehensive workshop will run every Saturday for 10 weeks. The successful participants will eventually be given the privilege to be part of GMA’s Entertainment Group.

See the full list of the final participants on www.gmanetwork. com. The official schedule and details of the workshop will be sent to each participant via dramawritingworkshop@ gmanetwork.com.