Manila Standard - 2020 March 11 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 30 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pandemic risk now ’very real’ THE World Health Organization warned Monday there was now a “very real” threat that the new coronavirus outbreak will become a pandemic, but said the virus could still be controlled.

After global COVID-19 infections passed the 100,000-mark, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters that “the threat of a pandemic has become very real.”

But he said “even if we call it a pandemic, still we can contain it and control it.”

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MINUS THE FAITHFUL. Pope Francis celebrates Mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the COVID-19. (Inset) People watch a live-broadcasting Pope Francis in Sunday Angelus prayer on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 8, 2020, after millions of people were placed under forced quarantine in northern Italy the country, according to the text of the decree published on the government website.

With more than 230 fatalities, Italy has recorded the most deaths from the COVID-19 disease of any country outside China, where the outbreak began in December. AFP

Localized lockdown eyed

But only in heavily virus-infected areas as Duterte rejects Metrowide isolation

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ‘Ban students and Rio N. Araja HE government is from malls, eyeing a localized lockdown in areas movie houses’ where there will be a

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significant spike in number of COVID-19 cases.

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told lawmakers of the selective lockdown during a House hearing Tuesday as number of confirmed cases reached 33 after nine more patients tested positive.

“Based on our objective criteria, we will see a possible lockdown. If that happens, it will be localized. It will not be the entire Metro Manila,” he said.

“A lockdown scenario is possible if there is proof of community-based

THE Palace on Tuesday urged Metro Manila malls and movie houses to bar the entry of students while classes are suspended in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“What the malls and movie houses should do is not to allow those students.

They should also cooperate,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The police, meanwhile, said students found in public areas such as malls while classes are suspended would not be arrested but merely encouraged to go home and stay there.

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BIG HEADACHE? President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Malacañan Palace on March 9, 2020 amid the spike in virus

House lifts cap on foreign ownership of utilities

By Rio N. Araja CONGRESS has passed House Bill 78 allowing 100-percent foreign ownership of public utilities such as transportation, communication and power firms.

At least 136 House members voted yes to HB 78, providing a distinction between how a public service and a public utility are defined under Commonwealth Act 146 or the Public Service Act. Opposition lawmakers earlier thumbed down the bill.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said House Bill 78, or

Provisional permit for ABS-CBN OKd THE National Telecommunications Commission has agreed to issue a provisional authority to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate pending the renewal of its franchise.

NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba made the announcement Tuesday during the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises led by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.

As this developed, the Supreme Next page

the proposed New Public Service Act, was “fatally violative” of the 1987 Constitution as it provides that ownership, operation, control and management of public utilities is reserved for Filipino citizens or to corporations at least 60 percent of whose capital is owned by Filipinos.

House Bill 78 limits the definition of public utilities to electricity distribution and transmission, water and sewerage pipelines, air transportation, ports and airports.

Lagman says he sees no distinction between “public utility” and “public service” as the Supreme Next page

POGOs put to good use in war on virus

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he will not stop or suspend the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the country because the money from it can be used to fight the coronavirus and finance other government programs.

He has also shrugged off allegations of money-laundering to finance illegal activities in the country, including the Next page

ISSUES OF THE DAY. House Speaker

Alan Peter Cayetano (center) assisted by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (left) Committee on Legislative Franchises Chairman Rep. Franz Alvarez (right) and Deputy Majority Leader Rep. David Suarez (behind standing) answer questions from the media during a press conference in the Office of the Speaker on the issues of Covid-19 and ABS CBN franchise. Ver Noveno

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News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gordon exposes P20-m bribe try believe there is any money laundering.

“Mr. President, you are being misled by your people. You better check. You are a lawyer as well, most respectfully.

And definitely, if you are To look at it, there were hundreds of millions,” Gordon said.

He warns the entry of millions into the country is dangerous, and he vowed to continue with the Senate probe into the money laundering scheme, stressing “this is a democracy.”

“We don’t stop our investigation just because somebody is saying no.... that’s not true. What then would happen to our investigations here?”

Gordon says when the Bureau of Customs does its job, it should be commended.

When AMLC does not do its job and insists there is no money laundering, “we are really are in trouble.”

He says the sentinels of the country are not doing their job. The sentinels of are the AMLC and the central bank.

Gordon says when his committee resumes its hearing on POGO operations today, (Tuesday), he will prove the big amount.

He says there are enough statements made,

enough documentation made, to say money laundering must be addressed.

He says $500,000 in suspected laundered money entered the Philippines Tuesday morning, and that it arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

“There’s another 500,000 dollars, this time from Singapore. There are only two places where these come from: Singapore and Hong Kong.”

According to Gordon, the amount of money that was brought into the country has reached $633 million, or more than P32 billion, from September 2019 to March 2020.

He says the AMLC’s officials should shape up or ship out. He says the AMLC could have seized the money, froze it, filed charges and waited for the court to decide if it was indeed laundered money.

“The AMLC did not act. They should have seized the money, and if they [the owners] failed to get it, that’s a clear income for the government. In Russia, the euro generals were found carrying millions of dollars, the money was confiscated. The same happened in the United States,” he said.

Localized...

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create uniform policies on social distancing measures to reduce and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This after members of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) and officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Department of the Interior and Local Government convened an emergency meeting and discussed measures to prevent the local transmission of the infectious disease.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, who presided over the MMC meeting, said the uniform policies – in the form of a resolution – would be used as basis for the local government units as one region in ensuring the health and safety of the public amid the spread of the COVID-19.

“The policies would set standard parameters, like for example, in suspending mass gatherings in the entire Region,” said Lim, during the MMC meeting held at MMDA main headquarters in Makati City.

For her part, Health Assistant Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the total number of positive cases was 33 rather than 35 as earlier reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), because tests were repeated for two patients.

Vergeire said the spike in the confirmed cases was due to the “heightened surveillance” by the DOH. An 86-year-old American and a 62-yearold Filipino were both in critical condition.

The 13 new cases were admitted to Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium; Cardinal Santos Medical Center; San Lazaro Hospital; St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City; New Clark City (NCC) quarantine facility; and the Medical City.

The oldest was 82 years old, while the youngest was 28. Two of them were repatriated from the COVID-struck

Diamond Princess cruise ship but most seemed to have no history of travel abroad.

Vegeire said of the 13 new cases, patients 21 to 24 were in stable condition, patients 25 -26 were asymptomatic, and the status of patients 27-33 were for verification.

The department’s Epidemiology Bureau was conducting comprehensive contract tracing for all cases, she said.

The DOH, she added, is also in close coordination with concer ned local gover nment units and centers for health development on infection prevention and control measures at the local level, and the Philippine National Police and other gover nment agencies for identif ication and management of close contacts.

Vegeire said there was no need for a lockdown at this point, since the country was still on red alert sub-level 1, and not sub-level 2 or sustained community transmission, which would call for more drastic measures.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said it had allowed the use of a novel coronavirus testing kit developed by University of the Philippines-Manila due to increasing number of reported COVID 19 cases.

“The increasing number of reported COVID 19 cases will require immediate diagnosis and monitoring.

This will provide our laboratories with technological reinforcement to accommodate the growing number of patients to be tested and aid in early screening of positive cases.

Furthermore, this will provide greater access to a less costly diagnostic procedure,” Domingo said in the statement.

“This supports the code red status raised by the Department of Health and the recent declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte of a state of public health emergency,” he said.

’Ban...

From A1 “We will not be arresting them, but just like their big brothers, we are only looking after their health and welfare,” sand PNP spokesman Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana.

Following the suspension of classes until March 14, the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed all Metro Manila mayors and the Philippine National Police to keep all students away from malls, movie houses, public markets and other crowded places to stop and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the communities.

“The President has directed all local officials in NCR from mayor down to punong barangays as well as all units of the Philippine National Police to ensure that no children are seen loitering around and, if they are seen, they are to be immediately sent home to do their homework,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.

He sought the cooperation of all parents to discipline and closely supervise their children and ensure that they stay home and do their homework.

“In the Task Force Meeting last night in Malacañang, the DepEd said that they will give home assignments or performance tasks to all students so that they will have something productive to do during this period,” he said.

He said if the students were allowed by their parents and by the government to go to public places, it would defeat the very

purpose of the class suspension, which is preemptive social distancing to slow down the spread of the virus.

“Our police officers and the barangay officials will serve as truant officers to ensure that kids stay at home. I have also directed all our Metro Manila Mayors to personally direct their respective chiefs of police to implement the presidential directive so that local governments and the police will jointly implement this policy of the government,” he said.

The DILG chief also directed all Metro Manila LGUs to suspend or postpone all mass gatherings in the meantime as another preemptive social distancing measure.

“I cannot overemphasize the role of the punong barangays in NCR. They have to be pro-active in their respective barangays,” he said.

“We have no choice but to undertake these measures because public health demands it. Together with sustained hygiene [like regular handwashing, coughing etiquette, thermoscans and face masks], suspensions of classes and mass gathering will enable us to defeat this virus faster,” he said.

He also said that the DILG and the LGUs will strictly enforce the home quarantine measures for those suspected of having contracted the virus.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said no rights would be violated if police prevent students from loitering in crowded places such as shopping malls.

“In this state of public health emergency, certain personal or individual freedoms,

like the freedom to travel or just even move around, may have to give way to societal interest or the common good,” he said, in a text message.

“The DILG has directed the PNP to act as truancy officers; nothing wrong with that,”he added.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, meanwhile, said a four-day workweek for government workers and flexi-work arrangements are among the options being considered by the government to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to stave off the loss of jobs as a result of the outbreak.

Nograles, a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, said the suspension of classes in NCR could be extended or lifted based on developments this week.

The Palace official added that as far as employees in the private sector are concerned, “the Department of Labor and Employment just recently issued a labor advisory that regulates flexi-work arrangements.”

The point of the advisory, explained Nograles, is “to discourage businesses from laying off and retrenching workers and adopting a flexi-work arrangement instead.”

The particularly applies to the tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the outbreak.

Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, said telcommuting work arrangements would keep workers safe from COVID-19.

March 10, the NTC, having already earlier received a letter from the House legislative franchises committee enjoining it to issue ABS-CBN a provisional authority, will manifest its commitment to issue such permit pending renewal of the franchise,” he said in a statement.

Cordoba said this decision was based on the latest advice of the Department of Justice to let the media network operate based on “equity.”

“A more stable legal environment could be created...to authorize NTC to issue a provisional authority to this broadcasting company, under such terms and conditions as it may deem necessary until Congress’ final disposition of the franchise renewal bill,” Cordoba said.

“The NTC will follow the advice of the DOJ and let ABS-CBN continue its

operations based on equity.”

Tuesday was the first time the House formally held a hearing on ABS-CBN’s bid to get another 25-year franchise ahead of its supposed expiry on May 4.

During the hearing, the House committee adopted the letter sent by Alvarez and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to the NTC urging the commission to grant the network a provisional permit.

Cayetano said NTC’s response was its “polite” way of following the House order.

Cayetano said the hearing was a “success,” even if the first 40 minutes of the one-hour deliberation was spent on the drafting of ground rules.

Congressmen first argued whether sponsorship speeches, as proposed

by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, should be heard before

officially starting.

Afterwards, they debated whether they should agree to House Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel’s motion that those who were against the franchise renewal should talk first.

“Some of our colleagues here are a little emotional, so the committee found it prudent to lay down additional rules so that we have an organized system in the hearing,” Pimentel said.

A total of 11 bills were supposed to be up for deliberation on Tuesday, three days before the House goes on a Holy Week break.

Cayetano noted that they would not immediately reject those measures even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the quo warranto petition filed by Calida a month ago.

Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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ENATOR Richard Gordon said Tuesday an emissary of the so-called “Rodriguez group,” tagged in an alleged multi-billion money-laundering case, offered him as much as P20 million so the latter would not be required to face the Senate inquiry into the millions of dollars suspiciously entering the Philippines.

“Do you know that even bribe offers have been sent to me? Some say P5 million. Some also say P20 million so that I would not ask them to appear,” Gordon said.

He says the alleged emissary of the group offered to donate P5 million to the Philippine Red Cross, which he heads, and then the bribe offer went up to P20 million.

“I am chagrined, they really have some nerve, they think they can buy everything. I said I am not into those kind of things,” Gordon said.

Gordon’s committee, which is conducting an investigation into the suspected money-laundering scheme in

POGOs...

From A1

claim that the money will be used to support terrorism, saying he is not

in favor of shutting down the POGOs because the government needs the money they are generating.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council says there is an increasing level of threat of moneylaundering and other fraudulent activities with the proliferation of Internet-based casinos in the country.

This conclusion was contained in the AMLC’s study, “Understanding the Internet-Based Casino Sector in the Philippines: A Risk Assessment,” released Tuesday.

The study was conducted as the growing POGO sector may pose a potential threat and may increase the risk of money-laundering. “… There is an increasing level of threat to money-laundering and other fraudulent activities. The number of investigations involving domestic Internet-based casino operators and service providers is growing. From 2017 to 2019, the recorded casinokidnapping-related incidents totaled 63 cases,” AMLC said.

President Duerte has repeatedly rejected a proposal to suspend the POGOs despite the alleged irregularities linked to their operations, such as money laundering, corruption, illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

“I assure you, I assure you that every centavo earned from the gaming supervised by PAGCOR is accounted for. There is no corruption there and I will not allow it,” Duterte said.

He says there is no evidence of bank deposits and no proof of moneylaundering activities in connection with the POGOs. “We are not justifying it. We are just saying it is allowed because we need the funds, but the speculation of the senators that there is laundering, we don’t have,” Duterte said.

The President even suggested that he wanted the POGOs legalized if there were no legal impediments.

“If there is no legal impediment, I want it legalized. If they can pass a law about POGO, fine, go ahead. Supervise it by law. But not us.”

Duterte even boasted that nobody approached him to legalize POGOs, and not even a congressman came to him to talk about legalizing the POGOs. “You can ask the congressman or any senator or congressman in connection with the budget or whatever or to ask for a favor. If you can produce one mouth to say that I violated the statement, I will tender my resignation tomorrow,” he told reporters.

Duterte also said he could not prohibit the Chinese from entering the country.

A vast majority of POGO workers are Chinese nationals.

“We cannot bar Chinese nationals from entering the country because they allow us to enter China also and even work in Hong Kong,” he said.

With Julito G. Rada

Provisional...

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Court has again deferred taking action on the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking to forfeit the franchises of ABS-CBN Corporation.

Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the deliberations on the quo warranto petition were still ongoing.

He said the Court will resume deliberations on the quo warranto petition case during its summer en banc session in Baguio City on April 14.

AGUSAN del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun on Tuesday maintained his support for the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN. “We expect that in the hearing on

which millions of dollars are being brought into the country by Chinese citizens and Filipinos, have subpoenaed seven people who are said to be part of the Rodriguez group.

The group is one of two suspected syndicates that allegedly brought into the Philippines about P18.7 billion in alleged laundered cash.

Sought for his comment on the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte absolving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in money laundering, Gordon replied, “Oh well that’s his... He can always say anything that he wants but we can disagree.”

Gordon lamented Duterte does not

transmission. So far, we do not see that yet,” Duque added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the government is prepared to implement a lockdown.

“We have the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to help the affected local government units,” he added.

On Monday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed a lockdown of Metro Manila, saying the country has not “reached that kind of contamination” yet.

A lockdown would make it difficult for supplies like rice to enter Metro Manila, he said.

“We haven’t reached that kind of contamination. There are only a few cases, with this transmission you want to close down the economy?” he said.

“There will be a time I suppose, I hope not. I hope God will have mercy on the Filipino people. It’s too early at this time,” the President added.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, however, supported an early lockdown, saying he doubted the capability of DOH to deal with a sudden surge of COVID-19 patients.

He suggested a one-week lockdown in Metro Manila to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which would cost the economy about P51 billion. This economic loss, however, could be recovered once the COVID-19 threat has been contained.

Metro Manila mayors were split on a possible lockdown, with San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Makati Mayor Abby Binay opposing it, and Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodero saying he was open to it.

The mayors on Tuesday agreed to form a technical working group (TWG) tasked to

Pandemic...

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“It would be the first pandemic in history that can be controlled,” he said.

“We are not at the mercy of the virus.”

He pointed out that the situation varied widely in the 100-odd countries that have so far registered cases, with 93 percent of all cases being located in just four states.

“Whether it is pandemic or not, the rule of the game is the same: never give up,” he said.

He said 79 countries had registered fewer than 100 cases, and more than half of those had seen fewer than 10 infections.

At the same time, in China, where more than 80,000 cases have been recorded since the outbreak began there in December, the country appears to be “bringing the epidemic under control,” Tedros said.

“More than 70 percent have recovered and have been discharged,” he said.

Since the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 first emerged, 110,564 cases have been recorded across 100 countries, killing 3,862 people, according to an Agence France-Presse toll based on official sources.

Michael Ryan, who heads the WHO’s emergencies program, pointed out that unlike the flu, which spreads far easier, it is possible to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

He voiced hope that drastic measures taken by Italy could help rein in the virus, and would give less-affected countries more time to prepare for a wider spread.

But he acknowledged that the disease has not run its course.

“Right now I think we are still very much in the beginning or middle... of this fight,” he said, warning against complacency towards the virus.

The WHO last week estimated it kills 3.4 percent of all those infected.

For infected people aged over 80, the fatality rate appears to be higher than 20 percent, according to a report from an international expert mission to China last month.

Tedros slammed those who might suggest simply letting the virus run its course, pointing out that for the elderly and weak especially “it is very fatal.”

“If anything is going to hurt the world it is a moral decay, and not taking the deaths of the elderly or senior citizens” seriously, he said.

“Pandemic doesn’t mean that we say it is fine to live with it... we can contain it,” he said. “No white flag. We don’t give up.”

The WHO defines a pandemic as a situation in which “the whole world’s population would likely be exposed to this infection and potentially a proportion of them fall sick,” Ryan has said.

“Pandemic” is not an official WHO term, and it does not trigger any specific actions. WHO has already put out its highest level of alert—saying the world is at “high risk.”

Japan’s government Tuesday approved draft “state of emergency” measures that would allow authorities to keep people inside and commandeer buildings for hospitals, as Tokyo steps up its fight against coronavirus five months before the Olympics.

If approved by parliament, the draft bill would give Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the power to declare a state of emergency and impose drastic measures but Tokyo stressed that the situation had not yet reached that point.

House...

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Court itself said in a 2003 ruling that “public utility is engaged in public service” that provides “basic commodities and services indispensable to the interest of the general public.”

The bill in effect would allow foreigners to fully own public utilities in the Philippines.

While 43 lawmakers, including some allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, voted against the bill, one legislator abstained from the vote.

The measure says that public services are those that are “non-rivalrous or imbued with public interest,” such as marine repair shop, wharf or dock, canal, public market, irrigation system, gas, electric light, heat and power, water supply and power, petroleum, sewerage system, telecommunications system, and wire or wireless communication system.

It limits the definition of public utility to any person or entity that operates, manages or controls for public use the distribution of electricity, transmission of electricity, water pipeline distribution and sewerage pipeline.

It also abandons the 60-40 constitutional rule on foreign ownership.

Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas tagged HB 78 as “economic charter change without tinkering with the 1987 Constitution.”

She hit the bill allowing foreigners to own “critical” public services such as telecommunications and transportation, and that its approval “more or less fulfills the goal of economic charter change without tinkering with the 1987 Constitution.”

News Ways to cope with COVID: Rody to spur Bora tourism Sunbathing in Boracay PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will visit Boracay to go swimming to spur domestic tourism after the country’s tourism industry suffered a setback due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has claimed more than 4,000 people around the globe.

In a press briefing, the President even jested that he will visit Boracay if Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will accompany him to swim.

President Duterte quickly made it clear that his latest statement was not meant to offend Puyat. I’m not being rude to you. This is not a feminist thing,” he said.

Duterte assured the public that “everything is safe in our country” in terms of health, law and order and accessibility.

The popular tourist island was shut down for six months in 2018 to pave the way for massive rehabilitation amid pollution woes.

Avoid panic buying The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association on Wednesday urged consumers not to panic and if needed, buy only “twice” what they need in the wave of increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.

Steven Cua, association president said in an interview with CNN that there have been a spike in consumption of face masks, alcohol and other cleaning supplies recently and the industry has not imposed restrictions or regulated the sale of these items.

Prison visits suspended The Bureau of Corrections has suspended visitation privileges in its prison facilities for a week as a precautionary measure amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In its advisory, the BuCor’s Public Information Office said suspension will start on Wednesday, March 11, and will cover the New Bilibid Prison and all the BuCor’s operating prison and penal farms.

M/V Grand Princess The Philippine government is working closely with the United States and Princess Cruises on the repatriation of Filipinos aboard the M/V Grand Princess which carried more than a dozen who tested positive for the COVID-19.

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry Bensurto Jr. said there are 529 Filipino crew and nine Filipino passengers on the ship that has reportedly started disembarking guests in the Port of Oakland on Tuesday morning.

CSC exams put off The Civil Service Commission suspends the conduct of the March 15 Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) nationwide until further notice.

The tests will be conducted in 66 testing locations nationwide with an estimated 293,845 individuals nationwide registered to take the test.

Mobile alerts Senator Grace Poe has urged health and civil defense authorities to send the public free mobile alerts on the COVID-19 outbreak to ease widespread fears and help citizens make informed choices.

TV info drive Senator Nancy Binay rallied television networks to share their artists to work together on initiatives in creating awareness surrounding COVID-19.

Vito Barcelo, Rey E. Requejo, Joel Zurbano, Macon Ramos-Araneta

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

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Anti-virus plan gets P1.6-b budget T

By Rio Araja

HE House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations on Tuesday approved a P1.6-billion supplemental budget to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease.

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, committee on health chairperson, filed House Bill No. 6166 that would augment the budget requirements of the Department of Health for the procurement of surgical masks for patients under investigation and personal protective equipment for health workers.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said he

has advised ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Go to go to Malacañang to get a certificate of urgency so Congress could pass the supplemental budget and “finish it tomorrow [Wednesday].”

“If the President calls for a special session, we will do so because there is really a concern,” he said.

Deputy Treasurer Sharon Almanza

lamented the Bureau of Treasury did not have the sufficient amount needed, saying they only have P1.65 billion in excess income.

“Congress will be having a break in a few days and therefore it is important that this bill be finalized today [Tuesday] because the remaining day left for us is tomorrow [Wednesday],” Quirino Rep. Junie Cua said.

“Under that circumstance, it seems that the most expedient to do is make do with [this amount] and find out from the Department of Budget and Management or maybe from Department of Health whether there are other sources of funds

to augment the requirement of this bill,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Congress’ secretarygeneral, lawyer Jose Luis Montales, refuted reports that a room in one of the older buildings of the Batasan Complex had been locked down due to COVID-19 threat.

“It’s not true that a room in Mitra is on a lockdown,” he said in a text message.

The DOH needs a total of PHP3.1 billion to procure personal protective equipment, 40,000 test kits, as well as funding for the maintenance and other operating expenses and salaries for the Bureau of Quarantine.

LAKAS-CMD PARTY headed by its President Emeritus former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President and House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez, CoChairman Emeritus and former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., former Rep. Gina de Venecia, Senator Bong Revilla Jr., Secretary General and Deputy Speaker Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. and other ranking members flash the thumbs-up signs during the get together at Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City. Ver Noveno

Lakas-CMD beefs up muscle to regain lead role AHEAD of the 2020 elections, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat party is befing up its ranks and accepting back its former party-mates, according to Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

“Our team is in the process of rebuilding Lakas-CMD and we will just have to win them back again,” he said.

The dominant party during the Arroyo administration met in Quezon City last Monday, with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Speaker

Jose de Venecia in attendance.

Arroyo is the Lakas-CMD president emeritus, while Romualdez is the Lakas-CMD president.

Those present were Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, Quezon Rep. Aleta Suarez, Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza, Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Balindong, Misamis Oriental Rep. Christian Unabia, Catanduanes Rep. Hector Sanchez, Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado and Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia.

The former House Speaker called on the other Lakas-CMD lawmakers to take the lead in strengthening the party and make sure that it would take a leadership role in the 2022 elections.

“We are proud and happy to say that Lakas-NUCD-UMDP, now LakasCMD, is already 28 years old and had led our country for 15 years: Six years under President [Fidel] Ramos and nine years under President Arroyo. We can be proud of our achievements,” he said.

Rio N. Araja

PROTECTIVE GEAR. An

officer of the National Capital Region Police Office shows scene of the crime operatives the proper way to wear protective suits for COVID-19 as preparation for a worsecase scenario amid the virus onslaught in Metro Manila.

Manny Palmero

Harry, Megan in last royal act PRINCE Harry and his wife Meghan made their last official appearance as senior royals on Monday, joining Queen Elizabeth II for an event in London before they set off on their own.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined other members of the royal family at a Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

It was their final public engagement before they step back from their roles at the end of March, no longer representing the queen and pursuing a new, financially independent life based in Canada.

Harry and Meghan rocked the monarchy with their bombshell announcement in January that they wanted to break free from the constraints of royalty. AFP

Pope to priests: Comfort the sick POPE Francis urged Catholic priests on Tuesday to “have the courage” to go out and help those sickened by the novel coronavirus, hours after Italy was placed on a nationwide lockdown.

The Pope, who complained of feeling “caged” while addressing the faithful by livestream on Monday— made the call during a mass in Vatican City.

“Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, that they may have the courage to go out and visit the sick... and to accompany the medical staff and volunteers in the work they do,” the pontiff said.

St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican— in the center of the Italian capital Rome—was almost empty on Tuesday with only a few dozen people walking around, most of them with-

out masks.

The Italian government has asked for people not to travel if they can avoid it and to avoid contact with the sick.

Officials passed a decree late Monday extending nationwide restrictive measures that had been put in place at the weekend in the hardest-hit northern regions.

The restrictions—including checkpoints on roads and in railway stations—are set to remain until April 3.

Italy is the epicenter of the European virus outbreak with more than 9,000 cases and 463 deaths so far.

Globally, more than 110,000 cases have been recorded in over 100 countries, although health experts are hopeful that the virus has peaked in China, where it originated late last year. AFP

Rody eyes exemption from Kuwait travel ban PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte stands a good chance he will be exempted from travel restrictions imposed by the Kuwaiti government on Filipinos who want to travel to the Gulf state, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters the Palace may opt to request to allow Duterte to visit Kuwait.

Panelo took note of the fact that Duterte would push through with his plan to visit Kuwait.

“Knowing this President, I think he will pursue what he said,” he said.

There can be a government-to-government negotiation. They can always exempt the President,” he added.

Panelo, however, said Duterte has yet to schedule his visit to Kuwait.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go earlier said Duterte intends to visit Kuwait in either March or April this year.

Kuwait has imposed a travel ban on the Philippines due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

The entry prohibition covers Filipinos who have a “valid residency” in Kuwait or “previous entry visa.”

In a press conference at Malacañang, Duterte expressed his desire to visit Kuwait to personally appeal to the Kuwaiti government to impose the “maximum” penalty on the suspects involved in the killing of Filipino domestic worker Jeanalyn Villavende.

Villavende’s employers are facing Autopsy results released by the National Bureau of Investigation said that Villavende suffered abuse until shortly before her death on Dec. 28, 2019. There were also clear indications that she was sexually abused.

Villavende’s death prompted the Philippine government to impose a total deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait in January.

The Philippines lifted the deployment ban in February after the Kuwaiti and Philippine governments approved a “harmonized” employment contract for Filipino workers.

The contract seeks to prevent abuse by including provisions that allow workers to keep their passports and mobile phones; specify their work and sleep hours and be granted a paid fullday off every week.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Code Red CROSSROADS J.A DE LA CRUZ

Part 2 (Continued from Monday) WE ARE just talking of the medical implications thus far which, of course, should be our immediate concern. But our health officials should not overemphasize and keep on pounding on the theme of “ease of procurement of critical logistics to handle the COVID-19 disease” as if this were just a matter of having the “critical logistics” to handle the situation.

It is not just about the health and medical situation but the country’s station as a whole.

While it is true that having those readily on hand will ease our fears and somewhat calm the waters, what we should be hearing from them are the more basic things about this virus and its transmission.

They should make their submissions to the public comprehensive, simple and easily understandable leading to a real, honest to goodness mobilization of the entire citizenry.

Not just limit it to their kind. Simple, basic information not just about washing one’s hands or using sani-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

tizers or alcohol will go a long way in insulating us from the disease and limiting its transmission. Can we give out vitamins or supplements or even affordable food for the less fortunate? Can we advise people to eat vegetables or other staples to make them healthier? Can we in fact rush in to flood the markets with healthier and more affordable products to get the public through these times? These and other such preventive measures may, in fact, be more effective in dealing with this emergency than simply the ease of procurement of “critical medical supplies and logistics.”

Which brings us to our other point.

In making this declaration, it is hoped that the administration will also put in place the concomitant measures to ease the impact of COVID-19 on the economy specially those sectors which to date have been identified as the most vulnerable ones like travel and tourism, manufacturing with its logistical and supply chain problems, infrastructure and agriculture (which includes the importation of critical ingredients such as rice, meat and milk products, vegetables, fish and the like).

The same goes through for measures on the social and educational side of things such as classes, sports and cultural events, international conferences and the like. These and other concerns need to be looked into as well as we proceed with the proper and responsible implementation of this Code Red injunction. As they always say, it takes an entire village not just a family or two to make things happen. Code Red is not just about the health and medical situation but the country’s station as a whole.

It’s the kits

W

HAT we know today is that there have been 33 cases of coronavirus in the Philippines. The numbers will certainly grow tomorrow, and the days after that.

It is interesting to note that many of the confirmed cases are confined in private hospitals known for their premium prices. It does not seem logical to conclude that COVID-19 prefers to attach itself only to individuals with the means to consult medical professionals—and get themselves tested—in these facilities?

What, then of the many others who may experience coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever but who eschew the idea of going to the hospital, because they could not afford to miss work which likely pays them by the day, or they simply do not have the means for a consulta-

tion, lab procedures, and medicine?

During his press conference late Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte rambled on about test kits before mentioning the bubonic plague, the Spanish flu, the Roman empire, the inquisition and witches in his characteristic fashion. Amid our perplexity, we understood as much: There are not enough testing kits to go around.

And this is the scariest revelation of all.

How can we test others who may have only mild symptoms, but could be positive nonetheless? What if they had travelled or had close contact with numerous others? And if we can’t diagnose them, how can we treat them and stop the virus from spreading?

A lack of testing kits will give us numbers lower than what they are supposed to be. But they also lull us into debilitating blindness.

We are not able to grasp how big the universe of patients to treat actually is. We also dread the spread

of the virus in communities where the people have no means to do the much prescribed social distancing—in cramped squatters’ areas, for instance, or in congested jails.

It is with this sense of urgency that we welcome the availability of a detection kit developed by a team of local scientists from the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health, led by Dr. Raul Destura. Each testing kit costs P1,320—a far cry from the P8,500 cost from a foreign counterpart. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is ready for use to diagnose suspected cases of COVID-19.

In dealing with the virus and the panic it causes, common sense and basic norms are our allies.

Among them: Keeping clean, staying healthy, limiting activities to essential ones, rejecting unsubstantiated claims—and improving our capacity to know exactly who need treatment so we can provide it to them.

How much longer?

HOW much longer will this take?

This is the question in the minds and hearts of most everyone you meet these days.

The disruption the coronavirus, whatever appellation we use, has been universal, not only in terms of territorial outreach with almost a hundred countries affected, but almost all forms of livelihood.

There was a lot of crying last week inside our Philippine Airlines office building as the flag carrier implemented a retrenchment and business restructuring program. Some 200 people found themselves without jobs, while a hundred opted to avail themselves of an early retirement package.

Of course it was not entirely due to the coronavirus. The flag carrier has been in the red for the last two years.

The virus proved to be the last straw.

Many flights have been canceled, and this is only the beginning, unless the sun and the winds start blowing more kindly upon this plagued earth.

But PAL is not alone. Hindi siya nag-iisa. Cathay Pacific shed blood, and plenty of it—27,000 jobs on forced leave earlier. First the unrest in the former crown colony, now a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, took its toll. Then the virus that began in the center of the country came as coup de grace.

Lufthansa, Germany’s airline, has suspended almost half of its flights to every corner of the globe. I wonder if Alitalia still flies, In Taiwan, EVAirlines which used to maintain four flights daily from Taoyuan to the Philippines has shed off one, the evening flight that leaves Taiwan and comes back from Manila in the early morning of the following day. The aircraft used by both EVAir and China Airlines have become smaller owing to less passengers.

PAL is down to a solitary flight. The budget carriers have yet to resume their flights since the short-lived travel ban. And we were hoping to in-

augurate another Clark flight, as well as a new Taipei-Davao route later this year. That too is now in limbo.

For the month of April, Taiwan’s flag carrier, China Airlines, has already announced the cancellation of 6,500 international flights.

Last Sunday, Taoyuan airport was desolate. So many airline counters were down to skeletal staff. There was only one customs X-ray machine being manned, because there were too few passengers. The duty-free shop attendants looked glum.

It took me only a few minutes to get to my car from immigration to baggage carousel, past Customs, with only our flight disgorging passengers in an otherwise busy late afternoon.

When will the sun and the winds start blowing more kindly upon this plagued earth?

Taiwan’s legislature quickly passed an emergency assistance package aimed at alleviating the plight of small and medium-scale businesses affected by the economic downturn, mostly of tourism-based companies.

Travel agents across Taiwan have a pained cri de coeur: How much longer? Some have said their operations will last only until June, unless some kind of miracle kills the coronavirus which they still refer to as the Wuhan virus.

Their health minister has been meeting the press each and every day, being absolutely transparent about the number of infected patients, and what government is doing. All kinds of precaution are being done, and the information comes freely and regularly, staving panic among a well-disciplined population. But the economy is taking a hit as well.

As are Italy and France, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. And here is Asia too, with the fabled Angkor Wat in Cambodia practically deserted for the last two months, and running, at what is supposed to be peak season.

So is our Boracay, and Palawan, and Bohol.

Turn to A5

Now, a global economic crisis THE coronavirus rages. Over the weekend, the number of victims exceeded 100,000 for the first time and the number of countries hit reached 110. The virus causes the disease called COVID-19—coronavirus infectious disease 2019. At this writing, COVID has infected 113,000 and killed 4,012.

Italy became the first country in the world to impose a nationwide lockdown, a measure China had previously tried only by province, in Hubei, the origin of the coronavirus.

The lockdown effectively restricted the movement of 60 million in Italy where COVID-19 had infected 9,172 people and killed 463—the worst in Europe.

In the Philippines, COVID-19 has infected 35, with 28 pending test results. President Duterte stopped classes in the national capital for four days till March 15, to slow/stop the spread of coronavirus.

On Monday, March 9, for the first time, the World Health Organization

used “pandemic” to describe the situation. “Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real,” declared Edros Adhanom, the WHO director general. “But it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled,” he assured.

On balance, it is better to have lower, than higher, oil prices.

The global health crisis has turned into a global economic crisis, raising the specter of recession in Asia, Europe, and the United States, the Phil-

ippines’ major export markets and sources of investments. For the first time in 11 years, talk of US recession is no longer speculation.

On Monday, March 9, New York’s Dow Jones stocks lost 7.8 percent of their value. The S&P 500 crashed nearly 8 percent—its worst drop in ten years, decimating more than $5 trillion of listed wealth. With the S&P already losing 19 percent from its high point last week, stocks near bear territory for the first time in 11 years. The share price crashes amounted to a global carnage, the worst since 2008.

“The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank by 7.8 percent or more than 2,000 points—the biggest points-drop in history and the largest decline in percentage terms since the financial crisis. The S&P 500 fell 7.6 percent, while the Nasdaq dropped about 7.3 percent. The declines in London wiped some £125bn off the value of major UK firms,” according to BBC. On Monday, Philippine stocks lost Turn to A5

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Opinion

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Choosing to thrive THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE

plan, EVDA will craft and implement programs and projects that will increase trade, tourism and investments in the region, encourage private enterprise and advance efforts towards progress and development.

Part II (Continued from Monday) ANOTHER important legislative measure that will surely benefit Eastern Visayas is House Bill 1155, which seeks to enact the creation of the Eastern Visayas Development Authority, a proposed development agency mandated to promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of Eastern Visayas.

By providing an integrated and coordinated direction to the agricultural, industrial, economic and social development, EVDA will serve as the lead agency tasked to steer the sound and balanced industrial, economic and social growth of Eastern Visayas. Consistent with the region’s development

This is the choice we are committed to fight for.

The creation of EVDA is a response to the need to establish an effective institutional mechanism to be exercised through a unified responsive agency. This will address the need for a coordinated and integrated approach not only in the formulation, but more importantly, in the implementation of the plans, programs and projects geared towards economic growth and development in the region, including the establishment, among others, of special economic zones and agricultural growth centers and support of

the required social innovations.

Both EVDA and LEIZ will surely accelerate the realization of the region’s development goals, by carefully matching its regional investment priorities and promotion strategies are in sync with its development needs and its regional strengths such as its advantageous geographical location, its skilled human resources, and its immense tourism potentials.

Much has been achieved, yet so much more needs to be done. While it can be said that being trapped in poverty is not just about the poor choices we made, but for region for free itself from the shackles of poverty, it must make the choice not to simply survive, but to thrive.

The EVDA and the LEIZ project is a vision that adamantly says, we refuse to be poor.

This is the choice that we are committed to fight for.

“We go our way in haste, without worrying that gaps are increasing, that the greed of a few is adding to the poverty of many others.” Pope Francis.

Marie Curie was not ‘cute, gentle and terribly nice’

By Sophie Laubie MARIE Curie "wasn't always very nice," said Marjane Satrapi of the hero of her new film, "Radioactive."

The most famous woman scientist ever had to fight her corner in what was—and still is—a man's world, said Satrapi, best known as the maker of the Oscar-nominated animated classic, "Persepolis."

"How are you supposed to become Marie Curie if you are cute, gentle and terribly nice?" the acclaimed Iranian-born graphic novelist said.

"When you were as focused as Curie was, you don't have the time to be touchy feely... and people accept that [single-mindedness] much less from a woman," she insisted.

Satrapi, 50, was forever destined to make a film about the Polish-born physicist and chemist, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the only person ever to have won it in different fields.

"She was a huge figure for me from my childhood because she was the woman my mother wanted me to be," Satrapi told AFP in her Paris studio.

She was brought up to hero worship Curie and the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir, she added.

However researching the film, Satrapi discovered that while Curie—played by the British "Gone Girl" star Rosamund Pike—"was a woman of great integrity... but she he wasn't always very nice."

She couldn't afford to be given the enormous obstacles the woman who discovered both radium and polonium had to overcome, said Satrapi.

Feminism of 'actions not words' "Since science depends on logic, they made out that women were too emotional to study science, that they are all hormones and feelings.

But through her heroic and action-packed life, "Curie became the living example that it was completely possi-

Now,...

From A4

more than 6 percent of their value.

Listed shares have already lost 19 percent of their value since 2019’s last trading day.

The same day, oil prices fell more than 20 percent—the sharpest fall since the January 1991 Gulf War as Saudi Arabia launched a price war against Russia. The price war threatens to push oil to $20 per barrel. That would be a drop of 67 percent from the December 2019 average of $61.30 a barrel.

As of March 9, 2020, the benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude is $33.18 per barrel, down 45 percent from December’s $61.30. In June 2008, crude hovered at $145 a barrel.

A sharp oil price drop should cheer up our more than 500,000 jeepney drivers, our two million fishermen, and our three million farmers who use diesel for their work, and of course, our ten million motorists. It also means much lower cost of electricity for most Filipino households and industries, thereby bringing down the cost of goods and services. Fuel easily accounts for 20 percent of a household’s expenses. The same ratio applies to industries.

However, sharply lower crude prices would be bad news for our 2.2 million OFWs who are working in oil exporting countries Saudi Arabia

ble—which is very important," the director insisted.

"I'm for feminism by actions rather than words," Satrapi added. "It's no good to have slogans if there is not action behind them. I prefer women who do things—it is only by our actions that we'll become men's equals."

Curie was "not only the equal, but most of the time was better" than the men in her field, Satrapi insisted.

"Radioactive"—which is released across much of Europe later his month—tells her remarkable story through the research Curie and her husband Pierre (played by English actor Sam Riley) carried out on radioactivity, discoveries that would lead to breakthroughs in medicine but also to the atomic bomb.

Satrapi, who is now working on a series of paintings about women, said Curie was a powerful symbol at a time when women have found their voice again with the #MeToo movement.

"Things are going to change but we cannot sweep away 5,000 years of patriarchy in two days," said the illustrator-turned-director. #MeToo has become 'too much' "It's great that women are speaking up [but] we kept our mouths shut for so long that it has become a bit too much...

We have to find a balance," Satrapi said.

Yet there is so much still to do, particularly about how women are represented on the screen.

"Half of the Earth's population are women, so it's normal that half of stories should be about us—yet that is not the case," she argued.

"And when we see women it is always in relation to a man: As someone's wife or their mother," she added.

That said, Satrapi noted she has no intention of spending the rest of her career making films "about the long list of all the extraordinary women" who have been under-appreciated.

"I've made films about men too... It's Curie who interested me," she said. AFP

(No. 1), UAE (No. 5), Kuwait (No. 6), and Qatar (No. 9). The four account for $5.2 billion in remittances or 17 percent of the $30 billion total remittances to the Philippines.

On balance, it is better to have lower, than higher, oil prices.

Meanwhile, “with decisive, early action, we can slow down the virus and prevent infections. Among those who are infected, most will recover,” WHO chief Tadros said on March 9.

‘Of the 80,000 reported cases in China, more than 70 percent have recovered and been discharged.”

WHO classifies infection into four categories—no cases, sporadic cases, clusters, and community transmission. For the first three categories, countries must focus on finding, testing, treating and isolating individual cases, and following their contacts.

According to Tadros, In areas with community spread, testing every suspected case and tracing their contacts becomes more challenging. Action must be taken to prevent transmission at the community level to reduce the epidemic to manageable clusters.

Depending on their context, countries with community transmission could consider closing schools, cancelling mass gatherings and other measures to reduce exposure.

The fundamental elements of the response are the same for all countries: • Emergency response mechanisms; • Risk communications and public engagement;

• Case finding and contact tracing; • Public health measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing; • Laboratory testing; • Treating patients and hospital readiness; • Infection prevention and control; • And an all-of-society, all-of-government approach.

According to Johns Hopkins CSSE, the first reported COVID-19 infected individuals, some of whom showed symptoms as early as Dec. 8, were discovered to be among stallholders from the Wuhan South China Seafood Market. Subsequently, the wet market was closed on Jan 1. The virus causing the outbreak was quickly determined to be a novel coronavirus.

On Dec. 31, 2019, WHO was informed of an outbreak of “pneumonia of unknown cause” detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China—the seventh-largest city in China with 11 million residents.

By Jan. 23, there were over 800 cases of 2019-nCoV confirmed globally, including cases in at least 20 regions in China and nine countries/territories.

On Jan. 10, gene sequencing further determined it to be the new Wuhan coronavirus, namely 2019-nCoV, a betacoronavirus, related to the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome virus and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pseudo-democrats

THERE are two ways in which democracy can be destroyed.

One way is action directed at the democratically elected government by putschists, who then grab the levers of power. The other way in which democracy is destroyed is, surprisingly, action by the democratically elected government itself.

This country is no stranger to attempts to destroy democracy through violent, extra-constitutional means. On the left side of the political spectrum, the Filipino people have witnessed the seemingly-never-ending effort of the CPPNDF-NPA to seize control of the government after a half-century of trying. Jose Ma. Sison and his comrades are still maintaining the oldest communist insurgency in this part of the world. And on the right side of the political spectrum, the Filipino people witnessed, in the late 1980s, the repeated attempts of former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan and their fellow-putschists to overthrow the democratically installed government of President Corazon C. Aquino.

But it is not only through an insurgency or attempted putsches that democratic government can be destroyed. It can also be destroyed by the use of democratic means to weaken the pillars of democracy— the electoral process, the media, the judicial system and the electoral mechanism—and constrict the democratic space.

The pseudo-democrats who wish to destroy democracy do not seek to accomplish their objective with one fell swoop; they go about their business deliberately but slowly, one slice of democracy at a time. Today it is a blow—the French say ‘coup’— against freedom of the press, tomorrow it is an assault on the citizenry’s constitutional right to protest unjust and oppressive governmental actions; and the day after that it is a campaign of intimidation against those who run this country’s judicial system.

Always, the pseudo-democrats who seek democracy’s destruction employ the language of the law to give their activity the color of legality and libertarianism. “Presumption of regularity in the performance of official duty,” “the right of the government to defend itself,” “conduct violative of the nation’s sovereignty,” and “maintaining contractual arrangements with provisions onerous to government.” These are the more salient of the legal precepts that the pseudo-democrats have invoked in their campaign to gradually destroy democracy from the inside. As everyone knows, the latest addition to that list of abused legal precepts is the quo warranto provision of the Rules of Court.

How much...

From A4

The hotel industry in the country is down to 50-percent room occupancy, probably worse for the momand-pop resorts that depend on the budget travelers, both foreign and domestic. Taxicabs are empty as well. The restaurant business which has always been a flourishing enterprise, is reeling with empty seats.

Hardly anyone goes to the cinema. The retail outlets in our usually packed malls are down on their knees, even as the rent keeps going on like a taxi meter.

The tourism industry is pitching for domestic travel, decrying the cancellation of festivals and events that draw the local crowd, but then again, how do they allay fears of infection from a populace that feeds on one or two additional bad news each day from new Covid patients?

Manufacturing is in tenterhooks, with global supply chains discombobulated. How can they continue operations if the parts they import from China do not come in? Soon they will have to lay off their workers, heaven forbid.

Yet heaven alone has the answer as to when the hemorrhage affecting everyone will stop. How much longer, only heaven knows at this point.

Late Monday night, as we

The existence of a functioning system of checks and balances— the Executive Department, the legislature and the judiciary checking on and balancing one another—is essential to the preservation and strengthening of a democracy. The attempt of pseudo-democrats to destroy a democracy will not succeed if the legislature and the judiciary swiftly stop Executive Department actions that have the effect of weakening any of the pillars of the rule of law. Democracy will be preserved and invigorated if the members of Congress and the highest magistrates thwart every pseudo-legal Executive Department move against the media, the courts, the

It is not only through an insurgency or attempted putsches that democratic government can be destroyed. legal community, civil society and the professionals’ groups. The legislature and the judiciary must not work hand-in-glove with, and be complicit in, the Executive Department’s pseudo-legal actions against the rule of law.

That’s just the problem. The 1987 Constitution, like its immediate predecessors, speaks of three co-equal branches of government. Modern Philippine political history has been such as to make it possible for the legislature to be a willing partner in the Executive Department’s anti-democracy actions and decisions.

In the absence of a tradition of political-party discipline, even a President of the Philippines elected by a plurality vote can, with deft use of national-budget resources, cobble together a Congressional majority, whose members would then feel beholden to him while his term lasts. And in a cultural environment where the concept of utang na loob—debt of gratitude—is deeply ingrained, the Chief Executive’s ability to appoint most or all of the members of the Supreme Court can prove extremely useful in his campaign to eliminate the trappings of democracy.

Of the two groups of destroyers of democracy—those who seek to do so beyond the Constitution’s pale, like the communists and the putschists, and those who do so using Constitutionally sanctioned means—the latter is more damnable for two reasons. The first is that the pseudo-democrats operate in a highly insidious manner, using democracy’s tools—language, concepts and processes—against itself. The second reason is that the pseudo-democrats pursue their repugnant objective with resources that belong to the people—a case of one’s being cooked in one’s own cooking oil.

watched CNN report on the aftermath of an oil price war occasioned by disagreement between Saudi Arabia and Moscow on how best to deal with the price situation, the indices were showing a sharp 7-percent drop, with the oil and travel industry stock prices down by as much as 20 percent or more.

Oil prices are now in the 33 dollar-per-barrel level, when just a week ago, we were writing about 50 dollars per barrel. How much longer?

The monetary policy makers all over the world, hardened international bankers and economists are wondering if lowering interest rates would still work, whether the usual monetary tools they employ can turn the tide against supply chain disruptions that will trigger in the end a downturn in consumption.

They appeal for fiscal stimulus from central governments, but how will the heavily-indebted nations finance these stimuli? Would the inability of monetary policies to stanch the bleeding lead next to a debt crisis if governments, heavily pressed to answer popular needs, instead borrow more to stimulate economic activity?

How much nicer it would be for writers to give some good news at times as parlous as these. But we cannot.

We ourselves cry: How much longer?

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News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

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Du30 stands firm on VFA termination

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is standing firm on his decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement and would not change even as some senators asked the Supreme Court to compel him to seek Senate concurrence in terminating the key military pact with the United States.

“They cannot compel me. I refused to be compelled. I have terminated it. I don’t have any problem with that. As far as I’m concern we’re beginning to count the 180 days for them to pack up and go.

I am not reneging on the VFA and I’m not going to America to discuss it with anybody,” Duterte told reporters in a press briefing in Malacañang.

Duterte, who earlier ordered Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to send word to the US that he was terminating the VFA, said he had rid himself of his problem with the military deal by withdrawing from it.

“I am not reneging on the VFA and I am not going to America to discuss this with anybody though I respect highly of Trump. And if that was a political move by the senators to win the Filipino votes there, I’m telling the Filipino now, you are getting the best of deal with Trump.

Kayo diyan sa—leftist ang ano eh— Obama was a leftist,” the President said.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President will not entertain any initiative coming from the US government to salvage the VFA, neither will he accept any official invitation to visit the US. “All these actions are anchored on the policy of the President to chart an independent foreign policy with our foreign relations with other states being based on national interests and general welfare,” he said.

“Aside from the inequities brought about by the provisions found in the VFA, the decision of the President to cause the termination of the agreement is a consequence of a series of legislative and executive actions by the US government that bordered on assaulting our sovereignty and disrespecting our judicial system,” Panelo said.

In the press briefing, Duterte said that one of the reasons why he wanted to terminate the VFA is because the US continues to meddle into the internal affairs of the Philippines.

The President expressed his frustration after an International Human Rights group accused his administration of committing human rights violations by summarily executing suspected drug pushers and users which the Philippine police strongly denied.

The Chief Executive even urged Filipinos in living in the United States to vote for “Trump.”

Integrate kidney health program, gov’t urged

By Rio N. Araja DOCTORS on Tuesday urged the national government and local government units to integrate kidney health program in their health-care services and yearly advocacy.

“We encourage training of primary care physicians in recognizing and managing the early signs and risks factors for kidney disease. In 2020, we push for rigorous monitoring of the prevalence and incidence of these diseases in order to aid local and world leaders identify the need for easily accessible but competent renal health services as well as provide data for research for innovative kidney health management strategies,” the Philippine College of Physicians and Philippine Society of Nephrology's joint statement read.

Citing the latest data from the World Health Organization, the groups said five million to 10 million people die annually from kidney disease with 2.62 million people received dialysis in 2010.

They raised alarm that the number could double in 2030.

Dr. Maaliddin Biruar, a Philippine Society of Nephrology specialist, said kidney patients are getting younger and younger between 50 and 60 to between 20 and 30.

Dr. Agnes Torrijos-Cruz of the Philippine College of Physicians said 60 percent of kidney patients going through dialysis are diabetic.

According to Dr. Mina Laguesma, drinking six to eight glasses of water a day could help cleanse the kidney and reduce susceptibility to renal disease.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health reports that one Filipino dies every hour from kidney disease with renal failure is the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos.

SWS study sees 370k street kids

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

A

T LEAST one in every 100 children in the country aged zero to 17 years old is a potential street child, a recent study conducted by the Social Weather Stations showed.

“There are at least 369,242 potential children in street situation (CiSS) in the country in 2015, but the actual figure could be higher,” said Geert Van der Linden, chairman of the Iloilo-based non-profit organization LifeBank Microfinance Foundation that supported the study.

CiSS is a term used by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in lieu of “street children” or other earlier labels used for these children.

According to SWS vice president Linda Guerrero, the study—the first after almost two decades—was based on two government databases, namely the Labor Force Survey (LFS) and the Family In-

come and Expenditure Survey (FIES).

Based on four assumptions—that CiSS are more likely from poor households, that they are mostly in urban areas, that they are mostly in cities, and that they are more likely to be out of school—SWS found the “minimum estimate” for the total potential CiSS to be at 369,242.

The number represents 0.9 percent of children aged 0 to 17 in the entire country in 2015.

Prior to the SWS study, the latest available data was in 2002, which reported 246,011 CiSS across the country.

“The CiSS is a vulnerable group that needs to be statistically visible,”

Guerrero said.

“If you don't know the scale of the problem, then you would not know if you are making progress in your interventions,” Van der Linden said.

Child advocate Catherine Scerri of Bahay Tuluyan underscored how the two government databases can lead to a big percentage of CiSS missing in the statistics.

“There will be a missing population because the FIES, for example, looks at households, but most poor families do not have households. If we look at CiSS presence only in cities, we miss out on those who are from the provinces who go to cities to earn a living. A lot of street children are also in schools but are also in the streets,” she said.

The observations were validated in two separate surveys conducted by SWS in Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City, with 1,000 interviewees each.

In Iloilo, it was found that 93 percent of street children are in school, and 78 percent have homes. At least 46 percent of the respondents said they earn money for themselves, and 63 percent said they started working before they were 10 years old.

The findings were similar in Cagayan de Oro City, with 83 percent in schools, 78 percent with homes, and 66 percent started working before they were 10 years old.

In Iloilo City, 65 percent of the respondents said they have experienced some form of physical violence. The figure is lower in Cagayan de Oro City at 46 percent. However, majority of street kids in both cities said they experience physical violence at home in the hands of a family member, and they did no ask for help from anyone.

Two percent of the respondents from both cities said they experience sexual violence, and a third of them said they experienced it at home from a family member.

NAIA gets satisfactory rating from Aussie firm

By Joel E. Zurbano

VIRUS WATCH.

A jail officer from the Bureau of Jail and Management checks the temperature of all visitors entering the Manila City Jail on March 10, 2020.

Norman Cruz

QC court to arraign Trillanes on March 17

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his co-accused will be arraigned next week on charges of conspiracy to commit sedition over their alleged involvement in the attempt to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte through the propagation of the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” viral videos purportedly implicating the first family to the illegal drug trades in the country.

Assistant State Prosecutor Michael Humarang, a member of the panel of prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation of the case, said the arraignment will be held on March 17.

“They will be arraigned this March 17,” Humarang said.

The case has been raffled off to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 38.

But the Department of Justice’s prosecutor said that the panel has yet to receive an order from Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento if the same panel will also be handling the prosecution of the accused in court.

Aside from Trillanes, also charged for conspiracy to commit sedition include Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy; Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto; Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez; Yolanda V. Ong; Vicente Romano III; Fr. Albert E. Alejo; Fr. Flaviano Villanueva; Jonnel P. Sangalang; and a certain Monique.

The case arose from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series which was

released online back in April 2019 and became viral over the Internet.

The videos, which featured the hooded Bikoy, accused a number of personalities including members of President Duterte’s family as being involved in illegal drugs activities.

In its resolution, the DOJ prosecutor panel found sufficient basis to indict Trillanes and others of committing conspiracy to commit sedition “by circulating malicious and scurrilous libels and fabricating evidence against him (Duterte) and his immediate family members, making it appear that the President and his family are engaged in a drug trade syndicate, with no other purpose but to inflict an act of hate or revenge against the President of the Philippines and his immediate family members.”

THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines' premier gateway, got a satisfactory rating from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

This after Aus-HA officials observed no significant security concern during their nine-day airport and air carrier assessment at the NAIA from Feb. 24 to March 5, 2020.

The latest accomplishment was the second time for NAIA to get a satisfactory rating, after the United StatesTransportation Security Administration gave its thumbs-up last Feb. 7, 2020.

The Aus-Ha made the assessment in close coordination with the Office for Transportation Security National Aviation Security Auditors.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal welcomed this development.

“We are glad that the improvements made in the NAIA are being recognized. We, at the MIAA, remain committed to the continuous development of the airport, not only in terms of facilities, but also in ensuring security,” said Monreal.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said this report showed that the tireless efforts undertaken by the department, MIAA and OTS are now yielding positive results.

“This is a welcome development. I am happy that the Aus-HA recognizes the efforts of our agencies to improve safety and security in our airports. Just recently, US-TSA noted the improvements. Now, it’s Australia. Clearly, our efforts are really paying off, and it shows that we are on the right track,” he said.

OTS Administrator Undersecretary Raul del Rosario said that the high rating can be attributed to the harmonized efforts of OTS and MIAA, which have significantly helped resolve the previous deficiencies through the Corrective Action Plans submitted to the OTS. “We thank Aus-HA for their objectivity and transparency in providing their observations and explaining to us the root causes. Just last month, it was the US-TSA who had their assessment, and they told us that there were no findings and there were improvements, and we are happy," Del Rosario said.

Aus-HA Security Inspector Michelle Annette Pearce noted that some gaps in the previous assessment were addressed, as she emphasized the importance of maintaining data to analyze trends and employ necessary actions.

Aus-HA Counselor Cristina Mojica, who has been part of the series of assessment in the past years, also said, “I hope it has been a combination of observations, and learning and development for us. We have learned something from our partners, and from the people who had accompanied us over the nine days.”

6 Indonesians nabbed for spreading misinformation on COVID-19 SIX Indonesians have been arrested for allegedly spreading misinformation online about the deadly coronavirus, police said Tuesday, as the Southeast Asian nations’ confirmed infection cases jumped.

A woman in Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya was arrested Monday for spreading inaccurate claims on Facebook a patient was being treated for the virus in the city, police said.

Five others were also detained for spreading false information on social media, including claims a Muslim woman flying to Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage had died suddenly from the virus at Jakarta's

international airport.

All six suspects are accused of violating laws banning the spread of misinformation, which carries as much as six years in prison.

“It should serve as a lesson for other people not to spread hoaxes about coronavirus in Indonesia,” senior communications ministry official Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan said.

Last month, two Indonesian women were arrested for allegedly posting virus-linked misinformation in a country with some 130 million people online—among the globe's biggest Internet audiences.

On Monday, the country reported its confirmed cases had jumped to 19 from six.

Scientists have questioned the relatively low number of cases in the world's fourth most populous country, and suggested there could be many more people with the illness.

COVID-19 has killed more than 4,000 people and infected over 110,000 globally since it emerged last year.

Meanwhile, Police seized some 1.9 million face masks from a warehouse outside Surabaya on Monday, after coronavirus sparked panic buying and sent prices for prevention products skyrocketing. AFP

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Nuggets hand Bucks’ 3rd straight loss

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OS ANGELES—Jamal Murray scored 21 points as the Denver Nuggets sent the Milwaukee Bucks tumbling to a third straight defeat with a 109-95 victory on Monday.

Murray took advantage of the injury absence of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead the scoring for Denver, who improved to 43-21 with the win.

Murray was one of six Denver players to reach double figures, with Paul Millsap adding 20 points and 10 rebounds while Jerami Grant added 19 off the bench.

The injury-hit Bucks, however, struggled to match Denver’s offensive depth, with point guard Sterling Brown (16 points) and center Robin Lopez the only

starters to make double figures.

Kyle Korver led the scoring for the Bucks with 23 points from the bench including five three-pointers.

Milwaukee are without reigning MVP Antetokounmpo, who injured his left knee during Friday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

The Greek star also missed Milwaukee’s defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday before Monday’s game in Denver.

The defeat leaves Milwaukee with a mountain to climb if they are to become

only the third team in history to post a 70-win regular season.

The Bucks, who have already qualified for the playoffs, must now win their remaining 17 games to reach the magic 70-win mark.

Denver, meanwhile, have boosted their chances of claiming the second seed spot in the Western Conference to join the Los Angeles Clippers on 43 wins.

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the West by 6.5 games with a 49-13 record.

Elsewhere on Monday, the NBA champion Toronto Raptors held on to secure a nail-biting 101-92 win over Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Cameroon international Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka led the Raptors’ offensive effort with 27 points

each, while Kyle Lowry had 21 points with five rebounds and seven assists.

Siakam also had a big game defensively, hauling down 11 rebounds and grabbing five turnovers. Joe Ingles led Utah with 20 points.

Toronto remain on course for second spot in the East behind Milwaukee, with 46 wins and 18 defeats. Utah are fourth in the West behind the Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets.

In Monday’s other game, the Atlanta Hawks delivered a rare victory to their long-suffering fans with a 143-138 overtime win over Charlotte.

Atlanta, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference with 19 wins and 46 defeats, claimed victory after 31 points from Trae Young and 28 points from John Collins. AFP

Carbonilla grabs PPS Molave spotlight ASLAN Carbonilla wore down top seed Nash Agustines in a grueling duel, hacking out a 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 10-2 decision to snare the boys’ singles 16-andunder crown and match Judy Ann Padilla’s two-title feat in the PPS-PEPP JNY Cup national age-grouper in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur last weekend.

The 14-year-old Carbonilla’s escape win came on the heels of his emphatic 6-0, 6-1 victory over Penshoppe Erquita that saw the rising star from Maranding, Lanao del Norte drop just two games in four matches in ruling his age bracket in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Padilla, meanwhile, extended her run of impressive finishes by topping the girls’ 14- and 16-U divisions although she failed to match her three-title romp in Liloy, Zambo del Norte last week after bowing to Christine Gulagula in the semifinals of the premier 18-U play ruled by Sydney Enriquez.

Padilla, who also dominated the Sindangan stop of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro, trampled AJ Acabo, 6-0, 6-3, in the 14-U finals then held off Karyll Baco, 6-1, 6-4, for the 16-U trophy.

Gulagula, however, stopped her in the 18-U semis, 0-4, 5-3, 10-3, but the former fell to top seed Enriquez from Zambo del Norte, who fashioned out a 6-2, 6-0 triumph to likewise snap a string of failed bids in the premier division of the tournament sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Other singles winners were Dipolog’s Pete Bandala (10-unisex), Garlandson Ardiente (boys’ 14-U), Pagadian City’s Nilo Ledama (boys’ 18-U), Oroquieta’s Cielo Gonzales (girls’ 12-U), while Enriquez and Baco clinched the 18-U girls’ doubles crown with Ledama and Alexis Acabo snatching the boys’ title.

Gonzales and Gulagula took the girls’ 14-U doubles title while Kale Villamar and Vinz Bering claimed the boys’ crown and Bandala and Dem Lanticse bagged the 10-unisex trophy.

Meanwhile, a busy PPS-PEPP week gets under way tomorrow (Thursday) with the simultaneous staging of the Araw ng Dabaw and the Maranding, Lanao del Norte legs. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Gary Harris of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. AFP

Fajardo, CJ lead PBA Press Corps awardees SIX-time PBA MVP winner June Mar Fajardo and Rookie of the Year CJ Perez lead the initial honor roll list to be recognized in the 2019 PBA Press Corps Awards Night next week at the Novotel Manila in Araneta City.

The San Miguel premier big man is the recipient of the Order of Merit for having garnered the most number of Player of the Week honor last season, while the prolific Columbian guard emerged as the new Scoring Champion, becoming the first rookie to lead the league in scoring since Eric Menk in 1999.

The awards are just two of the total 11 accolades to be handed out in the March 16 affair presented by Cignal TV. A new batch of the All-Interview team is going to be honored, too, as well as the two Finals MVPs of last year’s PBA D-League.

Comprising the All-Interview Team, which is given to personalities, who churned out quotable quotes and at the same time, always make themselves available for interviews to the working men and women of the PBA beat, are Kiefer Ravena, Beau Belga, Vic Manuel, Arwind Santos, Christian Standhardinger, and coach Yeng Guiao.

The D-League Finals MVPs meanwhile, is composed of Cignal-Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena (Aspirant’s Cup) and Hessed Gabo of BRT-Sumisip BasilanSt. Clare (Foundation Cup).

Other awards to be given is the Game of the Season, All-Rookie Team, Mr. Quality Minutes, Defensive Player of the Year, President’s award, and the Danny Floro Executive of the Year.

Highlight of the night is the naming of the Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Coach of the Year, named after the great late ‘Maestro’ of local basketball.

San Miguel Beer’s Leo Austria and Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra are disputing the coveted trophy.

Warriors execs learn about Tanduay history Villacencio GOLDEN State Warriors Senior Vice President for Corporate Partnerships Mike Kitts and Senior Manager for Partnership Development Todd Bynum recently visited the Cabuyao plant of Tanduay Distillers, Inc., one of their brand partners in the NBA. The visit was part of GSW’s goal of “making greater connection with all their brand partners and their vision of creating a great basketball culture through diversity.”

Tanduay and GSW forged a partnership in 2017, which made the 165-yearold rum maker the first Filipino brand to sponsor an NBA team.

“It was an honor to have them fly all the way from San Francisco to get to know more about our history and operations, and meet the hardworking people behind Tanduay’s success,” said Tanduay Chief Marketing Officer Paul Lim. The GSW officials first visited Tanduay’s bottling line where they saw how the company’s local products are bottled and packed into cartons. They were then given an introduction to handcrafting techniques involved in Tanduay’s premium rum products.

Tanduay Plant Manager Richard Teng then gave the GSW officials a tour of Tanduay’s Barrel Aging facility, which houses 50,000 9L Bourbon barrels of fine rums being aged to perfection until they are good to harvest. This was followed by a visit to Tanduay’s Research

sets pace in PGT Q School

Tanduay Cabuyao welcomes Golden State Warriors top executives. (2nd and 3rd, from left) Tanduay Distillers Inc.’s Jane Ong, AVP for Exports and Roy Sumang, Assistant Manager for Business Development; (4th and 5th, from left) Todd Bynum, Senior Manager for Partnership Development of GSW and Mike Kitts, Senior Vice President for Corporate Partnerships of GSW; and (6th, from left) Richard Teng, Plant Manager, Tanduay Distillers Inc.

and Development department, where they tasted Tanduay’s local varieties such as the Tanduay 5 years, Tanduay Superior, and Tanduay 1854 as well as Tanduay’s premium brands such as the Tanduay Asian Rum and Tanduay Double Rum. The tour ended with a visit to the plant’s view deck, where they learned more about Tanduay’s history, achievements, accolades, and entire product range.

“Truly, it was a nice experience going here in the Philippines to get to know more about Tanduay and the whole Philippine culture, because back in the Chase

Center arena in San Francisco, we really see a lot of Filipino communities watching our game and how they take pride in their roots and heritage. And it is amazing experiencing it first hand in this country. The hospitality, the people, the culture. We’ll sure to be back and have a longer stay here,” Kitts said.

After their Cabuyao visit, Kitts and Bynum had dinner at TKB (The Kushi Bar) by Tanduay in Makati and saw how Tanduay can be infused with Japanese food as well as paired with Japanese dishes.

Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer Rikishi, Samoan Dynasty to visit PH

Pro wrestling Hall of Famer Rikishi and Reno “Black Pearl” Anoa’i will arrive March 15 to hold clinics throughout the Philippines.

LOS ANGELES—KnokX Pro, in partnership with RED Boxing International, is proud to announce the formation of a new, groundbreaking promotion in the world of professional wrestling—World Wrestling Asia.

The newly formed WWA will go on an initial publicity tour throughout the Philippines in March of 2020.

Pro wrestling Hall of Famer Rikishi and Reno “Black Pearl” Anoa’i will arrive March 15 to hold clinics throughout the Philippines for local, aspiring, professional wrestlers.

Following the publicity tour, World Wrestling Asia will host a “Road To The Philippines” show in Los Angeles, CA which will be broadcast live in order to build awareness and anticipation for the ensuing WWA tour of the Philippines in August 2020. The multi-city tour of the Philippines (tour name TBA) will include 14 different WWA shows across Asia, showcasing both local

and international talent.

Together, KnokX Pro and RED Boxing International, as the WWA are committed to fostering local talent, putting on one of a kind spectacles for underserved markets, and reinventing the professional wrestling landscape in Asia.

KnokX Pro, founded by professional wrestler Reno “Black Pearl” Anoa’i (CEO,) and WWE Hall of Famer Junior “Rikishi” Fatu (President) both of the famed SAMOAN DYNASTY, has become the premier destination for aspiring professional wrestlers across the globe.

Located in the heart of Southern California, KnokX Pro has produced some of the most prominent competitors in the wrestling world today with alumni going on to work for organizations such as the WWE, NXT and MLW to name a few. In addition to developing some of the most premier talent

in the wrestling world, KnokX Pro has also produced some of the most successful independent wrestling tours of the last decade, including: The 2009 Hulkamania Australia Tour, Nu Wrestling Evolution and various high profile shows in Hollywood, CA. RED Boxing International, founded by famed boxing promoter Rey “Cacoi” Almirante Rodis, is a promotional and management organization for professional boxers. As a third-generation promoter, Rodis has spent his entire life around boxing and has always used the sport as a vehicle to propel social good within his home country of the Philippines. With vast success in their previous boxing tours and ventures across Asia, RED Boxing Promotions decided to expand its reach in the world of combat sports by executing this unprecedented partnership with KnokX Pro.

ARNOLD Villacencio hit a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 No. 15, spiking a solid five-under 67 for a two-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando at the start of the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (local) at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Batangas yesterday.

Villacencio, a former PGT leg winner at Summit Point who ended up No. 41 in the last PGT Order of Merit, birdied all but one of the four par-5s then knocked down an eagle on the 15th to complete a 34-33 card in the 72-hole elims held alongside with the foreign qualifiers for the 11th season of the country’s premier circuit.

Meanwhile, the PGT Asia will hold its own Q-School on April 22-25 at Luisita Golf and Country Club with the fourth season of the region’s emerging circuit set to unfold on April 28-May 1 with the ICTSI Luisita Championship, also in Tarlac.

Fernando, a former national titlist, birdied two of the first two holes at the back then fought back from a two-bogey, one-birdie card at the front with a pitch-in eagle on No. 7 to save a 69 while Raymund Gonzales and Francis Morilla shot a pair of 70s for joint third.

Arnel Enema missed grabbing a share of second with two bogeys in the last four holes, finishing with a 71 while Nico Evangelista, Erwin Madrileño, Bonifacio Salahog, Sean Talmadge and Dino Villanueva all matched par 72s.

Three, meanwhile, shared the lead in the Q-School for foreign players with Japanese Gen Nagai stumbling at the finish to settle for 70 and drop into a tie with American CJ Lee and Romano Saincic of South Africa.

Nagai, winner of the national amateur championship last year, struggled after an impressive five-birdie splurge after 12 holes, bogeying three of the last six for a 32-38 that enabled Lee and Saincic to gain a piece of the lead.

Unlike Nagai, Lee banked on a strong windup, birdying three of the last eight while Saincic blew hot and cold, opening with an eagle on the par-5 No. 10 and birdying two of the next three.

But he dropped four straight strokes from No. 15 before gunning down two birdies at the front for a 34-36.

The troika seized a two-shot lead over Aussie William Bruyeres, who mixed two birdies against the same number of bogeys for a 72 while Korean Hwang Myung Chal and Venezuelan Rafael Parra matched par 72s.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Warriors sweep Cavs in UNTV Cup

DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources completed its own Cinderella story, sweeping Armed Forces of the Philippines in their best-of-three title series to win the 8th UNTV Cup before a huge crowd Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The high-scoring duo of Ed Rivera and Ralph Lansang produced huge numbers once again as the DENR Warriors withstood the AFP Cavaliers’ repeated rallies to prevail in Game 2, 99-91, and become the first newcomer to win the tournament for public servants since the Judiciary won the inaugural event eight years ago.

In a follow-up to his 15-point performance in the team’s 90-73 win in the opener on March 1, Rivera fired 24 points, including 12 in the payoff period, to emerge as the Finals MVP. He got ample support from Lansang Players and officials of the DENR Warriors pose with their beneficiaries after winning the 8th UNTV Cup via a two-game sweep of last year’s champion AFP. and Ryan Abanes, who drilled in 22 and 20 points, respectively. Former Letran star Boyet Bautista led AFP with 29 points.

For winning the title against a team looking to become the first-to-back champion of the league, the Warriors’ chosen charity—the Environmental Heroes Foundation Incorporated— won a tax-free P4 million top prize

By Peter Atencio from UNTV headed by Dr. Daniel S. Razon.

TOTAL of 64 athletes from 19 sports AFP Educational Benefits System disciplines are still seeking qualifying Office, the charity of AFP, got P2 berths to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. million, while NHA’s Provident Fund Association Inc., got P1 million for finishing third in the annual event Chef de mission and Philippine Football Federation sponsored by Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this after boxer Dating Daan and Members Church of Eumir Marcial became the third Filipino athlete to qualify God International. for the Tokyo Olympics, joining earlier qualifiers gymnast Meantime, the PITC Global TradCarlos Yulo and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena. ers won the 3x3 side event after “We have 19 sports disciplines which have the potenbeating the PhilHealth Plus, thus tial of sending athletes to the Olympics,” said Araneta rewarding their chosen charity the CARL Tamayo fired 26 points for following a meeting with officials of the Philippine P100,000 top prize Nazareth School of National UniversiSports Commission.

A total of P10 million was distributed ty Bulldogs in Game 2 as they retained The potential qualifiers, according to Araneta, will come Shown here are (from left ) PSC Chief of Staff and National Training to various institutions with the 5th to their crown in the 82nd University Director Marc Velasco, Chef de Mission to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics from archery, athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, cycling, 12th placers giving P100,000 each to Athletic Association of the Philippines canoe-kayak, golf, gymnastics, judo, karate, rowing, skate- Nonong Araneta and Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary their charities.

Junior Basketball Tournament.

General Atty.

Ed Gastanes in a press conference, Tuesday, held at boarding, table tennis taekwondo, triathlon, weightlifting Gerry Abadiano chipped in 20 points the Philippine Sports Commission in Manila. and wrestling. for the powerhouse Bullpups in beatAfter Marcial became the lone Filipino boxer to earn a ing the Far Eastern University-Diliman slot, hope is not lost of the Philippines in boxing. for such an undertaking.

Baby Tamaraws, 87-80, in a game The Philippines can still send a national boxing team to Araneta noted that there six archers reparing for played behind closed doors at the Filoil a final qualifier in Paris in tMay. the Olympiad, along with f ive in athletics and two in Flying V Centre last Tuesday.

Araneta explained that a total budget P150 million swimming.

Terrence Fortea added 12 points for is now available for Filipino athletes seeking to join Cagers in 3x3 basketball were supposed to join a qualifier the Bullpups, who pulled off a 16-0 the qualifiers. this March in Bengaluru, India on March 18 to 22 have been sweep after taking an outright finals That’s because President Duterte has allocated P100 mil- called off because of the threats posed by the corona virus berth with their 14-game winning lion for this, while the PSC has allotted another P50 million disease-19 outbreak. streak during the eliminations.

Lanky Kevin Quiambao added eight points as the Bullpups completed a 2-0 sweep of the best-of-three series.

This allowed the Bullpups to stretch Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) their winning run to 27 games, and 4:30 p.m. – Talk ‘N Text vs. Phoenix 7 p.m. – NLEX vs. NorthPort collect their fifth championship overall in the past nine years.

MIDDLEWEIGHT fighter Eumir MarBut, Wu continued to get left jabs Earlier, women’s featherweight NesMeanwhile, the Board of Managing

By Arman Carandang cial will be the only Filipino boxer who through in the second round, allowing thy Petecio and men’s flyweight Carlo Directors of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has dewill go to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. her to move away on points. She be- Paalam suffered setbacks in their quarTHE Philippine Basketball Associded unanimously to extend the susFor now. came the fourth Taiwanese to make it to terfinal encounters. ciation is likely to either hold today’s pension of all its events until Tuesday This is after women’s lightweight the Olympics.

Amit of India held off Paalam via double-header behind closed door or (March 17). bet Riza Pasuit and flyweight aspirant Six-time flyweight world champi- split decision. postpone it in the face of rising numThis to give every member of the Irish Magno fell out of contention in on Mary Kom of India made it to the Marcial, the reigning World Champiber of confirmed cases of corona virus community ample time to adjust to the their quarterfinal matches late Monday Olympics for the second time. onships middleweight silver medallist, (COVID-19) in the country. current situation regarding the coronaevening in the 2020 Asia/Oceania boxThe London Olympics 2012 bronze is so far the only Filipino boxing qualiThe PBA board, headed by chairvirus or COVID-19. ing qualifying tournament in Amman, medallist also won by unanimous divi- fier to the Tokyo Olympics. man Ricky Vargas of Talk ‘N Text, The league is taking things day-byJordan. sion over Magno.

He got the slot after he beat Byambawas to hold an emergency meeting day and will have another announceShih-Yi Wu of Chinese Taipei, who Kom moved ahead, 3-2, in the first Erdene Otbonbaatar of Mongolia. yesterday precisely to tackle measures ment regarding the future of UAAP is third seeded in her division, ousted round and second round, and she was Marcial advanced to the semifinals, the league may implement as the Season 82 on Monday.

Pasuit via unanimous decision. ahead on points over Magno in the third and at the same time, he has joined spread of the dreaded virus continues Monday evening, President RoWu took the initiative in the first round. gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole-vaulter to get to an alarming pace. drigo Roa Duterte declared a State of round, landing with jabs, which Pasuit Because of this, the Philippines has EJ Obiena as the three Filipinos who It was gathered that all the 12 board Public Health Emergency because of managed to parry with a couple of rug- now missed four chances to send to more have booked a ticket to the Tokyo of governors were required to attend the increasing cases of COVID-19 in ged right hands. boxers to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Games. Peter Atencio the meeting in an unspecified venue the country. Peter Atencio owing to the gravity of the situation facing the league.

Talk ‘N Text and Phoenix are set to clash in the first tussle and 4:30 p.m. while NorthPort and NLEX are to collide in the main offering at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

THE University of the Philippines squad has benefited greatly from new technologies, new advanceThe number of confirmed coronaviFighting Maroons look to leverage training camps they’ve attended in ments, new ideas, new ways to train,” rus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients on the remaining six months before Las Vegas and Serbia. UP’s consis- Bo Perasol said. “Besides looking for in the Philippines climbed to 33 on the tip-off to Season 83 of the Uni- tent attendance in the skills honing, training opportunities, we also look Tuesday as the Department of Health versity Athletic Association of the character building sessions the past to compete in pocket tournaments recorded 11 new cases.

Philippines with scorching off-sea- two years has helped whip them here and abroad to give us different President Duterte has already ordered son action. into competitive shape the past two points of view, a different experience the suspension of classes in Metro MaFifth year head coach Bo Perasol seasons. and different kinds of play”. nila from Tuesday, March 10, to Saturacknowledged that the off season is “Training plays a vital part in This time, the Maroons have their day, March 14, in an effort to contain the key to having a good run in the regupreparing the players for the seasights set on training in other counspread of the virus. lar season as players hone their skills son. I personally targeted to come tries. There’s training scheduled in Some events in the collegiate ranks and build the all-important chemis- in and sponsor training abroad to Auckland, New Zealand for a start. had either been cancelled or held behind try and camaraderie. help mould the mentality of the But Coach Bo is open to other posclosed door. Just last Monday, Game 2 “Off-season training is going to group. This is not only for their sibilities. of the UAAP junior basketball finals be the baseline of how you will do physical development but also for “The plans are already in place, which was won by eventual champion in the regular season. So, whatever their mental fortitude; and for them but they all depend on how fast this National University Bullpups, was also it is that you do in the off-season is to realize that there is much more to (Covid19) virus thing is going to go held behind closed door.

The Philippine Super Liga womgoing to dictate what your season achieve if they set their mind prop- away. We are going to train and play en’s volleyball league had also anis going to be,” said Perasol, who erly,” said JJ Atencio who is also in Melbourne, Australia as well and nounced that it will be holding its led the Maroons to back-to-back CEO and Chairman of Januarius we’re also supposed to go to Taiwan. games behind closed doors starting Final Four appearances in Seasons Holdings Inc. But we’re still on the lookout for more on Tuesday, while Marikina begged 81 and 82.

“The countries we go to are usual- training opportunities that will make off from its commitment to host the Thanks to staunch UPMBT sup- ly places where basketball is big. The us experience a highly competitive Palarong Pambansa. porter JJ Atencio of STATS Perfor- development there is way ahead of tournament before the UAAP starts,” Members of the UP Fighting Maroons mance Apparel, the Diliman-based us, so that is where we benefit from Coach Bo said.

64 PH athletes seek Olympic slots

A

Bullpups keep title; UAAP calls off events until Tuesday

PBA to decide on how to hold games

2 more PH pugs fall; Marcial lone Tokyo bet

Fighting Maroons begin UAAP preparations

IN BRIEF

Foreign investments fell to $7.7b in 2019 NET inflow of foreign direct investments in 2019 declined 23 percent to $7.7 billion from $9.9 billion in 2018, as investors reacted negatively to global uncertainties during the period, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

The net FDI for the year, however, surpassed the revised $6.8-billion target earlier set by the government.

“Notwithstanding the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals, global uncertainties dampened investor sentiment during the year,” th BSP said in a statement.

BSP earlier said the lingering trade tensions between the US and China had been negatively impacting on investors’ sentiment globally.

Data show net investments in debt instruments in 2019 dropped 23.2 percent to $5.2 billion. Similarly, net equity capital investments declined 38.2 percent to $1.4 billion.

Gross equity capital investments for the year, which originated mainly from Singapore, Japan, and the United States, were channeled mostly to financial and insurance, real estate, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply, and manufacturing industries. Julito G. Rada

Business

Torre Lorenzo bares 3 university condos BOUTIQUE property developer Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. plans to launch three new premium university residential projects this year with total sales value of P11.1 billion.

Torre Lorenzo chief finance officer Noel Rapadas said in an interview Thuesdy the company was set to roll out a new high-end residential project along Katipunan, Quezon City.

Located on a 2,200 square meter lot, the project would be a twin-tower residential project offering 780 units. The project is expected to generated P6.9 billion in sales.

The company is also launching a new mixed-use project with a residential component in Davao. The project will offer 699 units and generate P2.6 billion in sales.

Another project in P. Noval street in Manila will be launched this year. The condo tower which will target students from the University of Sto. Tomas and offer 381 units with total sales value of P1.6 billion.

Rapadas said the company had earmarked P6.2 billion for the three new projects.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Carpio, COA memo question bidding process for Kaliwa Dam FORMER Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio called on the government to include the “anomalous bidding” of the construction of the Kaliwa Dam in Quezon in its review of so-called “onerous” contracts between the government and private companies.

Carpio described the Kaliwa Dam project as the ‘mother of onerous contracts,’ citing a Commission on Audit memorandum on the bidding.

“In summary, it can be deduced that the two bidders/contractors were included merely to comply with the ‘at least three bidders’ requirement as stated under the Procurement Law. Likewise, the procurement of the project is with the semblance of a competitive bidding when in reality, it is a negotiated contract from the inception of the bidding process,” the COA memo said.

China during the Kaliwa Dam bidding submitted three Chinese contractors, namely the Consortium of Guangdong Foreign Construction Company and Yuantian Engineering Company (Consortium), Power Construction Corporation of China (PCCC) and China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC). The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, which conducted the bidding, limited the auction to the three Chinese contractors.

The first bidder, the Consortium, was disqualified because it did not submit the required documents, despite the clear instruction to bidders that failure to present the required papers would result in disqualification. One of the two members of the Consortium is a state-owned company of China, while the other, whose ownership is not clear, has undertaken many projects for the Chinese government.

“In short, the COA saw the “reality”―that the bidding was a sham. The Communist Party of China, which controls the three bidders, already chose from the very start CEEC as the winning bidder and instructed the other two bidders to simply disqualify themselves. The bidding was ‘lutong macau,’” added Carpio.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

B1

January trade deficit dropped 10.7% to $3.5b —PSA figures

By Julito G. Rada

Petron’s net income dipped to P2.3b in 2019 PETRON Corp. on Tuesday reported a lower consolidated net income of P2.3 billion in 2019, down 67 percent from P7.1 billion in 2018, on weak refining margins and lower revenues resulting from the refinery shutdown.

Petron said in a statement consolidated revenues declined to P514.4 billion for full year 2019, down 8 percent from a year ago.

“Despite the challenging business environment, we still pursued our strategic goals to sustain our leadership and deliver longterm growth for our company. Moving forward, we intend to keep our focus on further expanding our reach, strengthening our services and product offerings, and increasing our operational efficiency to better secure our position for the future,” said Petron president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang. The company’s sales volume was slightly lower at 107 million barrels from the previous year’s 108.5 million barrels due to the five-percent decline in Philippine volumes.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

SMART PADALA CENTERS. Smart Padala by PayMaya, the country’s largest mobile domestic remittance network, is intensifying its push to provide more digital financial services to the countryside as it launches its flagship stores that act as ‘digital hubs’ across the country. Leading the launch are (from left) Joshua Deomano, regional business lead in Luzon for Smart Padala; Mark Dee, head of growth and marketing for PayMaya Philippines; Rolando Conejos, head of Smart Padala; Jeosen Sy Cua, Smart Padala by PayMaya agent; and Ethel Ines, senior manager for brand and marketing services of Smart Padala.

San Miguel offers to pay P22.68-b fees to PSALM C

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. offered to pay capacity charges of P22.68 billion on the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant in full, or over two years ahead of schedule, to help cash-strapped Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. manage its liabilities.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, in a letter sent to PSALM, said his offer was separate from the alleged “overdue receivables”

of unit South Premiere Power Corp. amounting to P23.9 billion.

The disputed amount stemming from the differences in computing generation charges is the subject of a court case pending since 2015.

Capacity charges, meanwhile, represent capital payment by San Miguel to PSALM as administrator of the Ilijan plant, which is spread over the term of the contract.

PSALM calculated the generation charges based on the Wholesome Electricity Spot Market prices to maximize its earnings from the independent power producer administrator, while SPPC uses a fixed rate approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

SPPC said selling Ilijan’s reliable base load capacity to the WESM would have exposed consumers to the erratic surges of prices in the market and put them in violation of the power supply contract.

Ang said the amount that San Miguel

was offering would also help PSALM raise funds for the government that could be used for various state projects, including funding efforts aimed at addressing the Covid-19 virus.

“While we have an ongoing court case with PSALM regarding the computation of generation fees for the Ilijan plant, as a stakeholder in the power industry, and more importantly, a proactive partner of government in nation-building, we sincerely want to help PSALM raise funds for government,” said Ang. “Right now, the best and quickest way we can do this ahead of a decision on our case, is to fully pay the P22.6 billion remaining balance in capacity charges of SPPC for the Ilijan power plant, in full,” Ang said.

As payment for its right to market the capacity from the power plant, SPPC is supposed to pay PSALM fixed monthly payments up to June 2022 under the original IPPA contract.

THE country’s trade deficit in January dropped 10.7 percent to $3.50 billion from $3.92 billion a year ago, as exports growth outpaced that of imports, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Data showed the country’s total external trade in goods in January amounted to $15.08 billion, 4.1 percent higher than $14.48 billion in the same month of the previous year.

The trade consisted of $5.79 billion (38.4 percent) in exported goods and $9.29 billion (61.6 percent) in imported goods.

The country’s total export sales in January stood at $5.79 billion, up 9.7 percent from $5.28 billion on year.

The PSA attributed the higher exports to the increases in sales to seven of the top 10 major export commodities, namely other mineral products (68.3 percent); gold (46.0 percent); electronic products (15.8 percent); cathodes and sections of cathodes, of refined copper (10.1 percent); other manufactured goods (7.4 percent); ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (1.3 percent); and chemicals (1.2 percent).

Total imports in January rose 1 percent to $9.29 billion from $9.20 billion a year ago. The improvement was due to the increases of seven of the top 10 major import commodities, namely mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (20.2 percent); miscellaneous manufactured articles (11.6 percent); other food and live animals (11.0 percent); iron and steel (7.2 percent); transport equipment (5.0 percent); industrial machinery and equipment (2.9 percent); and telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (1.7 percent).

ING Bank Manila senior economists Nicholas Mapa said the surprise exports growth was not likely to last much longer and that the January trade numbers did not capture the impact of the coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. “... Philippine exports continued to grow in January, showing a 9.7 percent [increase] after the 21.7-percent jump posted in December 2019 likely driven by orders related to the muchanticipated phase one US-China trade deal,” Mapa said.

MPIC tollway unit set to spend P60b on new toll roads

By Darwin G. Amojelar

AWARDS FOR EASTERN. Eastern Communications, one of the country’s leading telecommunications companies, takes home two Silver Anvil Awards for its 140th Anniversary celebration and Link VIP Club program at the recently concluded 55th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal at the Manila Hotel. Displaying the trophies are Eastern Communications campaign management specialist Jenny Brecio, brand communications specialist Georgette Macaalay, co-coordinator Aileen Regio, marketing director Jedrek Estanislao, co-coordinator Hermilina Hizon, campaign management specialist Jurelyn San Antonio, and brand communications specialist Lea De Leon.

NGCP welcomes ERC’s proposed system audit on transmissions GRID operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Tuesday welcomed a proposed system audit by the Energy Regulatory Commission in accordance with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

“NGCP has always been amenable to a government audit, so long as it is done by the independent quasi-judicial body authorized by law. Pursuant to the EPIRA, it is the ERC and only the ERC that is tasked to promulgate and enforce the Philippine Grid Code—a Code that governs the safe and reliable operation, maintenance and development of the National Grid,” NGCP president Anthony Almeda said in a prepared speech to the Senate.

Almeda, however, was unable to deliver the speech due to medical reasons.

The Senate inquiry on the national security implications and operations of

NGCP franchise was suspended due to his absence.

Almeda said the ERC was part of the government and that its audit was the only state audit prescribed by law.

The Energy Department and National Transmission Corp. are pushing their own audit of NGCP’s operations.

“We cannot understand why TransCo and the DOE cannot respect the process prescribed by law,” Almeda said.

He said NGCP could not agree to the proposed comprehensive system operations audit demanded by the DOE and TransCo, adding the latter regularly conducts inspection of the substations and transmission assets nationwide.

“This regular periodic inspection is defined under Section 7.03 of the concession agreement which grants PSALM and TransCo the right “to inspect the transmission assets and wit-

ness any aspect of the performance of this agreement,” he said.

Almenda said TransCo would conduct another inspection this month.

The physical inspection is apart from its access to NGCP’s books and financial records.

Meanwhile, on the participation of NGCP official Wen Bo and other Chinese nationals in NGCP, Almeda said their employment was allowed by the Constitution and applicable laws.

“None of the foreign nationals previously employed by NGCP was an “executive” or “managing” officer of NGCP. While Mr. Wen carried the title Chief Technical Officer, the nature of his functions and the actual work he performed, indicates that he was not an executive or managing officer,” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is spending P60 billion this year to finance the construction of new expressway projects.

Christopher Daniel Lizo, chief finance officer of MetroPacific Tollways Corp., said the company’s capital expenditures for 2020 were higher than P26.2 billion last year.

Lizo said the capex would fund its four expressway projects, namely the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Project, the Cavite Laguna Expressway Project, the C5 Southlink Project and the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road.

Lizo said the financing of these projects was completed and that “it’s a matter of availing the loan.”

The P30-billion CCLEX is an 8.5-kilometer toll road that will connect mainland Cebu from the Cebu South Coastal Road to Mactan Circumferential Road in Barangay Pilipog, Cordova.

The first segment of the P35-billion Calax Project, which starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange, opened to the public last month.

The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022.

The Cavite segment represents 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer CaviteLaguna Expressway.

MPTC is also constructing the P23.3-billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, an eight-kilometer elevated four-lane expressway extending NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 on C3 Road Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila and connecting to Skyway Stage 3 by mostly traversing the PNR rail track.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise slightly; banks climb S HARE prices rose slightly Tuesday, a day after global markets suffered their biggest losses in more than a decade.

The Philippine Stock Exchange added 5.77 points, or 0.09 percent, to 6,318.38 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 136 to 74, with 36 issues unchanged.

Banks led advancers, with BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, climbing 6.1 percent to P139 and Bank of the Philippine Islands, the thirdbiggest, rallying 6.7 percent to P71.50.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth-biggest bank, rose 4.7 percent to P139, but D&L Industries, a maker of food ingredients and plastics, slumped 9.7 percent to P5.60.

A bounce in the price of oil, mean-

while, helped fuel a rally in equities in Asia on Tuesday, though observers remain on edge over the coronavirus outbreak.

Global stock markets capitulated on what has become known as “Black Monday,” with the Dow on Wall Street plunging more than 2,000 points, triggering an emergency break in early trade.

Asia had suffered a meltdown as the deadly disease continues to infect thousands and shows no sign of abating.

But there was relief on Tuesday as oil prices jumped up to eight percent after plunging by a third the previous day, in their worst session since the 1991 Gulf War. The rush for safe investments also sent yields on US Treasuries to record lows, while the VIX “fear” index is within touching distance of its record high seen during the global financial crisis.

After a shaky start that had sparked

fears of another rout, regional markets pushed into positive territory, with energy firms clawing back some of their massive losses.

Tokyo ended up 0.9 percent and Shanghai finished 1.8 percent higher with Hong Kong adding two percent in the afternoon.

Sydney surged more than three percent, while Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok gained more than two percent.

Taipei and Seoul also clocked up gains, though Wellington fell 1.8 percent.

Gulf stocks also saw a bounce, with Dubai up 5.5 percent, Abu Dhabi gaining 4.2 percent, and Kuwait and Qatar also making big advances.

Sentiment was boosted by news that Chinese President Xi Jinping had visited Wuhan, the center of the virus outbreak, lifting hopes that the country is well on track to recovery as new infections fall.

The news comes after weeks of quaran-

tines that have rocked the global and local economy.

Speculation is also mounting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again, having slashed them last week, while the European Central Bank is due to meet this week to discuss monetary policy.

And Donald Trump said his administration would be meeting lawmakers to discuss economic relief measures to mitigate the impact of the disease as it spreads through the United States.

Still, while governments and central banks have unleashed, or are preparing to unleash, stimulus, the spread of COVID-19 is putting a huge strain on economies and stoking concerns of a worldwide recession.

That has now been compounded by an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia that sparked Monday’s crude price plunge. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review tueSday, March 10, 2020

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ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK VANTAGE

46.05 66 126.1 23.3 17.98 9.3 3.06 1 750.5 0.33 45.6 0.67 11 18 26.5 148 103.5 47 19 130 57.1 1.17

46.05 74 139 23.9 17.98 9.98 3.36 1 750.5 0.395 50.5 0.7 11 18 27.35 153 103.5 49.4 19.3 144.9 57.2 1.17

46.05 64 125 22.2 17.74 9.1 3.04 1 750 0.29 45.55 0.67 10.62 18 25 148 103.5 47 18.8 126 56 1.17

FINANCIALS 46.05 300 71.5 3,067,790 139 3,875,980 23 81,400 17.74 11,700 9.65 411,800 3.36 14,000 1 5,000 750 30 0.35 1,460,000 49.35 5,148,700 0.68 85,000 10.62 8,800 18 3,800 26.9 143,100 153 1,990 103.5 120 49.3 800 19 66,500 139 894,780 57.2 10,840 1.17 1,000

13,815 214,028,002.50 520,782,744 1,886,730 207,842 3,931,953 43,000 5,000 22,510 518,750 250,933,025 57,180 93,836 68,400 3,749,735 298,600 12,420 38,530 1,261,060 122,904,571 614,753.50 1,170

-3,472,052.50 -46,537,938 -511,885 -270,353 -28,865,725 11,000 568,465 47,880 -105,430 24,482,870 10,278 -

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

26.1 1.78 6.88 0.59 1.1 1.94 0.2 87 1.01 13.8 200 5.7 14.22 28 56 55 1.75 3.6 6.15 8.95 7.1 8.06 2.3 14.8 60.4 1.24 32.1 1 12.9 4.28 1.02 160 28.05 4.6 3.38 10.5 6.85 11.1 257 1.66 3.25 3.1 8.89 10 24.35 4.91 1.27 1.5 0.78 7.4 68 8.28 0.115 0.79 115 2.4 1.04 0.78

26.6 1.94 6.9 0.6 1.1 2.13 0.2 87 1.09 14.02 200 5.7 14.22 29 56 56 1.75 3.6 6.15 9.05 7.1 8.18 2.69 15.88 60.4 1.41 36.75 1.13 14.08 4.52 1.12 160.9 28.05 4.9 3.38 10.8 6.95 11.94 257 1.66 3.46 3.1 9 10.08 24.35 5 1.4 1.5 0.88 7.4 68 8.4 0.115 0.8 123 2.5 1.05 0.78

25.9 1.5 6.5 0.57 1.02 1.8 0.19 87 1.01 13.7 190 5.06 14 28 55 55 1.73 3.6 5.55 8.02 6.8 8.06 2.05 14.5 58 1.19 32.05 1 12.9 4.27 1 153 28.05 4.45 3 10.1 6.01 11.08 251 1.52 3.25 3 8.89 10 22.3 4.9 1.25 1.45 0.72 7.29 63.4 7.51 0.112 0.73 114.7 2.4 0.88 0.68

INDUSTRIAL 26.3 1,978,900 1.88 8,700,000 6.82 1,457,900 0.6 1,746,000 1.09 10,000 2.13 3,742,000 0.2 1,350,000 87 500 1.05 6,990,000 14 1,244,000 190 230 5.21 1,512,600 14 3,600 29 7,100 56 340 56 590 1.73 113,000 3.6 38,000 5.6 22,921,900 8.92 959,800 7 65,900 8.12 3,091,100 2.55 12,785,000 15.7 2,884,400 58.35 58,500 1.36 30,962,000 36.75 25,300 1.06 5,021,000 13.6 1,582,100 4.39 192,000 1.1 512,000 158 1,251,780 28.05 100 4.9 21,000 3 2,000 10.8 4,056,500 6.19 1,411,100 11.94 674,000 253 373,280 1.6 682,000 3.46 10,000 3.07 2,766,000 8.9 30,300 10.08 150,000 23.05 571,400 5 23,800 1.4 780,000 1.45 28,000 0.86 895,000 7.29 320,000 67 275,950 8.1 342,300 0.115 2,080,000 0.77 209,000 117.5 2,403,060 2.5 123,000 1.03 4,051,000 1,899,000 0.73

51,728,850 14,909,030 9,946,892 1,021,840 10,670 7,524,130 269,000 43,500 7,336,280 17,279,742 44,940 8,005,757 50,532 205,600 19,030 32,735 195,690 136,800 134,799,757 8,559,464 452,970 25,123,859 30,608,570 44,197,334 3,417,991.50 41,174,510 872,450 5,335,780 21,598,386 832,300 546,570 198,022,833 2,805 94,700 6,380 43,364,018 9,022,845 7,952,076 94,781,410 1,096,640 33,120 8,473,040 271,906 1,504,636 12,970,775 116,819 995,590 41,000 689,190 2,342,836 18,476,933.50 2,740,125 239,170 164,290 285,860,364 295,300 4,022,090 1,355,830

-12,746,350 -170,570 6,275,153 -5,800.00 -775,580 -633,600 15,885,640 -1,475,255 18,200 -197,200 -23,182,351 -5,929,885.00 1,473,781.00 -246,900 12,072,388 -1,817,018.50 1,339,440 680,030 -3,892,470 -478,400 115,870.00 -50,000 2,257,688 -19,155,458 -1,720,118 -3,547,968 -45,949,050 -683,580 -547,590 -1,521,365 6,920 -636,035 -571,290.50 79,800 -47,713,780 292,800 547,870 -

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

0.56 41.3 9.9 0.6 6.1 8.96 0.77 0.89 598.5 1.94 1,250 6 5.14 11.6 0.215 610 4.3 62.4 6.37 0.455 3.67 7.03 0.54 3.35 3.75 0.82 120 886 0.71 0.91 150 140.1 0.224 0.135

0.59 41.3 9.9 0.64 6.71 8.96 0.86 0.89 620 2 1,250 6.02 5.14 11.6 0.229 639.5 4.3 62.4 6.37 0.46 3.71 8.2 0.6 3.57 3.75 0.95 120.2 919 0.72 0.95 160 145 0.228 0.158

0.53 39.1 9.81 0.6 6.1 8 0.77 0.89 590 1.9 1,250 6 5 11.6 0.215 600 4.3 59.3 6.36 0.45 3.67 6.63 0.53 3.35 3.45 0.82 118.2 862 0.65 0.9 145 140 0.202 0.13

HOLDING FIRMS 0.58 10,139,000 40.45 1,291,600 9.81 14,721,000 0.61 202,000 6.4 40,100 8.93 208,000 0.86 232,000 0.89 1,000 610 539,020 1.96 488,000 1,250 20 6 533,100 5.06 17,714,800 11.6 5,000 0.216 1,410,000 618 104,730 4.3 13,000 61 2,729,780 6.36 355,300 0.455 430,000 3.71 650,000 8.2 5,351,000 0.57 966,000 3.5 85,728,000 3.47 33,000 0.95 9,000 119.5 293,760 900 413,920 0.72 914,000 0.95 176,000 145 530 142.5 760 0.225 1,250,000 0.156 4,780,000

5,629,100 52,423,320 144,630,148 122,100 245,549 1,839,091 182,580 890 328,794,420 959,150 25,000 3,200,614 89,680,648 58,000 311,400 64,763,355 55,900 166,942,422 2,259,961 194,450 2,397,590 37,988,871 564,930 299,918,710 121,160 7,510 35,142,551 373,568,350 633,810 160,480 79,250 108,928 276,560 725,780

88,290 -34,398,265 -5,768,761 55,200 227,772 -85,000 -95,642,920 2,095,762 -49,643,750 -8,796,570 4,300 -99,912,035 -2,098,800 -50,050 -33,250 -1,607,822 -89,464,810 96,000 -15,481,416 -223,908,755 -100,180 -22,702 2,240 -

13.94 0.62 8.5 1.2 0.6 36.4 1.38 4.14 5.9 0.445 0.75 0.76 0.152 0.28 7.22 15.66 0.33 1 0.81 3.05 0.138 0.35 0.68

PROPERTY 14 556,900 0.74 12,568,000 8.5 3,500 1.2 457,000 0.66 719,000 37.1 18,829,600 1.45 1,017,000 4.3 298,000 6.1 119,500 0.48 3,430,000 0.75 36,000 0.77 61,000 0.172 70,000 0.295 670,000 8 62,500 16.74 1,062,600 0.345 130,000 1.07 25,155,000 3,075,000 0.9 3.16 19,975,000 0.146 8,190,000 0.35 40,000 0.77 1,477,000

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV

13.94 0.65 8.5 1.25 0.6 36.8 1.51 4.3 6.38 0.45 0.75 0.77 0.152 0.28 7.22 16.2 0.35 1.08 0.92 3.11 0.15 0.36 0.76

14.16 0.74 8.5 1.26 0.66 38.2 1.51 4.34 6.4 0.485 0.75 0.77 0.176 0.3 8 16.9 0.35 1.11 0.92 3.26 0.15 0.36 0.81

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

0.27 2.05 20 1.83 2.98 34.75 2.33 1.28 6.2 4

0.295 2.05 21.9 1.83 2.98 36.95 2.33 1.38 6.58 4.6

0.27 2.03 19.54 1.63 2.97 34.75 2.19 1.13 6.01 3.71

0.27 2.03 20.95 1.8 2.97 35.5 2.29 1.33 6.58 4.5

420,000 461,000 2,757,100 208,000 220,000 28,317,700 246,000 3,397,000 13,363,000 209,000

114,500 939,030 57,788,444 367,630 653,500 1,008,234,935 546,690 4,453,260 87,667,644 878,200

688,636 335,847,555 -2,613,518 22,880.00

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

6.5 19.1 1.29 9.69 0.375 0.042 2.21 6.95 0.031 66.4 6.5 2.98 6 815 1,751 5.12 383.2 12.64 0.82 1.18 86.7 7.16 0.087 1.3 13 1.51 0.82 7 0.405 2.74 1.52 1.8 1.72 1.54 1.85 6.35 3.45 149 1.89 1,010 0.38 0.234 33.4 57 6.97 1.49 0.45 0.18 0.53 17.2

6.5 20.9 1.38 9.69 0.385 0.042 2.21 7.15 0.032 66.4 6.51 2.99 6 815 1,751 5.15 400 12.98 0.83 1.2 92.95 8.07 0.09 1.41 13 1.65 0.89 7.2 0.41 2.75 1.52 2.04 2.1 1.54 1.9 6.35 4.4 151 2.03 1,015 0.39 0.234 34 57.95 6.97 1.49 0.46 0.18 0.53 17.2

6 18.5 1.29 9.14 0.37 0.041 2 6.55 0.03 64 6.5 2.75 5.21 815 1,702 5.02 370.2 12.64 0.71 1.18 84.35 7 0.087 1.28 11.54 1.5 0.82 6.7 0.39 2.74 1.42 1.5 1.6 1.42 1.84 5.76 3.45 149 1.84 985 0.3 0.206 32.3 55.15 6.97 1.4 0.43 0.16 0.45 16.52

SERVICES 6.25 20.3 1.38 9.4 0.385 0.042 2.19 6.55 0.032 64.25 6.51 2.94 6 815 1,732 5.13 375 12.98 0.81 1.18 92 7.99 0.087 1.39 11.54 1.62 0.89 7.14 0.405 2.75 1.47 2.03 2.01 1.49 1.9 5.99 3.75 150 1.98 1,010 0.37 0.225 33 56 6.97 1.46 0.45 0.18 0.5 17.1

6,700 1,407,500 33,000 1,420,500 3,050,000 11,600,000 263,000 6,151,800 8,100,000 148,100 12,000 710,000 17,900 1,350 59,705 324,400 1,070 200 1,176,000 11,000 6,194,110 63,000 1,560,000 16,310,000 1,000 222,000 325,000 708,800 1,590,000 24,000 4,065,000 9,976,000 196,000 2,289,000 21,000 44,500 21,000 421,660 1,135,000 218,485 6,950,000 7,220,000 3,145,900 1,178,370 16,900 5,754,000 3,470,000 1,230,000 972,000 906,700

42,229 27,667,591 43,050 13,363,522 1,142,000 484,100 561,090 42,194,829 253,000 9,517,964.50 78,030 2,046,160 101,577 1,100,250 103,059,855 1,642,453 408,544 2,562 911,260 13,000 557,429,717.50 444,534 135,750 21,946,780 12,840 347,870 282,950 4,989,077 638,850 65,960 5,974,800 17,945,310 362,170 3,428,880 38,940 262,514 78,000 63,251,795 2,204,530 219,991,490 2,509,200 1,594,510 103,758,930 66,022,639.50 117,793 8,351,940 1,557,050 217,820 466,895 15,424,900

1,921 -2,638,618 -188,000 2,379,432 -3,151,659.50 26,660 11,630 -62,516,460 -15,761,330.50 43,500 90,360 1,470 1,304,425 4,558,760 161,080 1,910 -11,100 98,980 -370,640 -99,445,135 -14,081,375 -2,681,496 -3,742,950 -1,303,400 12,600 -196,210 2,324,344

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

0.0012 6.2 0.9 9.51 1.14 2.59 0.27 6.04 0.64 0.193 0.086 0.087 0.56 1.9 0.85 0.43 0.52 0.01 0.006 2.6 5.01 16.8 0.0043

0.0012 6.2 0.92 10.56 1.17 2.7 0.27 6.52 0.71 0.195 0.091 0.093 0.57 2.09 0.89 0.43 0.56 0.01 0.0065 2.69 5.03 17.6 0.0043

0.0011 5.48 0.82 9.51 1.14 2.5 0.265 5.95 0.56 0.192 0.08 0.087 0.53 1.89 0.84 0.43 0.52 0.0091 0.006 2.53 4.4 16.52 0.0043

MINING & OIL 0.0012 127,000,000 6.07 431,100 0.89 2,574,000 10.56 12,200 1.17 170,000 2.69 974,000 0.27 560,000 6.11 28,000 0.7 4,316,000 0.195 930,000 0.091 750,000 0.093 220,000 0.57 32,000 2.09 6,062,000 0.87 78,000 0.43 100,000 0.56 73,000 0.0091 56,000,000 0.0064 4,000,000 2.59 672,000 4.91 586,200 17.5 2,434,300 0.0043 1,000,000

148,500 2,521,241 2,224,060 118,012 195,900 2,588,100 150,800 170,765 2,875,000 180,240 60,890 19,230 17,470 12,312,960 68,640 43,000 38,690 534,000 25,300 1,754,820 2,811,543 42,457,974 4,300

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

15.7 495 102.5 102 107 502 4.94 100 99.95 1,010 1,041 1,060 1,030 77.85 75.1 77.3 75.35 76.3

17.8 495 102.5 102 108.5 512 5 100 100.1 1,035 1,041 1,060 1,030 78 75.6 77.4 75.5 76.3

15.56 495 102.5 101 107 502 4.9 100 99.95 1,010 1,041 1,060 1,028 77.75 75.1 76.6 75.35 75.75

17.7 495 102.5 101 108.5 512 4.95 100 100.1 1,035 1,041 1,060 1,028 77.8 75.15 76.6 75.5 76

2,222,492 420,750 102,500 6,426,230 819,309 100,500 217,870 250,000 25,018,498.50 76,375 577,755 402,800 4,338,220 1,840,275.50 165,284.50 1,604,146 5,997,980 4,692,847.50

LR WARRANT

0.9

0.9

0.9

WARRANTS 10,000 0.9

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.08 6.8 2 0.6

2.15 6.8 2 0.6

2 6.22 2 0.5

2.1 6.57 2 0.58

FIRST METRO ETF

94.85

97.5

92.85

MS 7,876,396 8,536,220 29,750 570,170 461,020 706,596,725 1,501,760 1,278,200 738,779 1,594,800 27,000 46,870 11,890 190,750 483,797 16,993,754 43,900 26,480,800 2,672,260 63,560,790 1,191,540 14,300 1,090,070

-99,120 -81,900 29,750 -114,182,985 714,400 -269,586 -14,250 27,000 137,200 -127,743 3,203,798 -10,427,930 -720,000 -26,760,070 14,300 141,450

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.3 0.95

Trading Summary

10.3 0.95

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,299,045

INDUSTRIAL

135,664,092

HOLDING FIRMS

151,924,608

PROPERTY

147,755,802

SERVICES

111,068,043

MINING & OIL

209,728,177

GRAND TOTAL

774,464,585

10.3 0.95

SME

131,100 850 1,000 63,600 7,560 200 44,000 2,500 250,030 75 555 380 4,220 23,640 2,200 20,760 79,600 61,900

502,000 216,800 1,000 2,236,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 96.35 64,190 10.3 0.95

DDS

500 300

9,000

1,200 -91,608 -350,020 -1,167,010 1,408,800 36,534 -14,449,938 176,220 -138,230 -

1,036,020 1,401,310 2,000 1,254,240

-126,800 639 53,100

6,139,916

38,000

5,150 285

-

VALUE 1,532.70 (up) 73.07 1,121,590,608.77 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 7,429.93 (down) 168.26 1,162,780,607.33 HOLDING FIRMS 6,158.87 (down) 43.51 1,628,836,661.10 PROPERTY 3,426.77 (down) 40.18 1,232.63 (down) 8.76 2,010,471,281.171 SERVICES MINING & OIL 5,775.41 (down) 125.34 1,354,267,909.32 PSEI 6,318.38 (up) 5.77 71,333,412.69 All Shares Index 3,788.52 (down) 26.70 7,359,123,283.62 Gainers: 74; Losers: 136; Unchanged: 36; Total: 246

Aboitiz Equity registered flat net income of P22b in 2019

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc. posted a net income of P22 billion in 2019, down one percent from P22.2 billion in the previous year.

The company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it recognized non-recurring gains of ₱516 million last year, compared with the previous year’s non-recurring losses amounting ₱891 million, representing net foreign exchange gains and gains on reversal of impairment provisions.

“Without these one-off gains, AEV’s core net income for 2019 was ₱21.5 billion, 7 percent lower year-on-year from ₱23.1 billion,” it said.

The company consolidated net income in the fourth quarter jumped 28 percent to ₱6.3 billion from ₱4.9 billion on year.

The company recognized non-recurring gains of ₱671 million in the fourth quarter from non-recurring losses of ₱484 million on year.

“Without these one-off gains, the company’s core net income was ₱5.6 billion, a 4 percent increase year-onyear (YoY),” it said.

Power accounted for 57 percent of the total income contributions from AEV’s strategic business units in 2019, while the share of the financial services, food, real estate, and infrastructure units stood at 30 percent, 7 percent, 4 percent, and two percent, respectively.

Aboitiz Power Corp., AEV’s power unit earned ₱17.3 billion in 2019, 20 percent down from ₱21.7 billion in 2018.

Aboitiz Power’s core net income in 2019 stood at ₱16.6 billion, down 30 percent from ₱23.8 billion in 2018, mostly due to the outages experienced last year, higher replacement power costs, lower spot market sales, increased interest expense and increased depreciation expense.

“While market conditions had an effect on our 2019 financial result, we acknowledge that it was primarily driven by operational issues. Having done all the necessary measures to address these technical realities, we are positive about a much stronger operational performance and attaining our targets this year,” said Aboitiz Power president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio.

Robinsons Land to issue fixed rate bonds worth P15b

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Land Corp. plans to issue a maximum of P15 billion worth of fixed-rate retail bonds.

Robinsons Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the issuance of P10 billion in peso bonds with an oversubscription option of up to P5 billion.

The bond issue will be subject to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the rating process of Philippine Rating Services Corp.

No other details were provided, including timetable of the offering and the use of proceeds.

Robinsons Land earmarked P27 billion in capital expenditures this year, mainly to fund the 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 spent by the company in 2019.

The property company is scheduled to open one new mall in La Union this year and complete the expansion of 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.

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

For the group’s hotel division, it will open four new hotels, namely Summit Naga, Go Hotel Naga, Go Hotel Tuguegarao and Westin.

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

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

CYAN Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

B3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US begins military pullout from two Afghanistan bases

DESERTED. This general view shows a car waiting for the red light to change at an empty intersection in Wuhan, China’s central Hubei province, on March 10, 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan on March 10 for his first visit to the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic since the crisis erupted in January—a major sign that officials believe the outbreak is under control. AFP

IN BRIEF US calls for vote on Taliban deal

UNITED NATIONS―The United States has called for a Tuesday vote at the UN Security Council to endorse Washington’s deal with the Taliban that was meant to pave the way to peace in Afghanistan, diplomats said.

The US military has begun withdrawing troops as part of the pullout agreed in the February 29 agreement with the Taliban.

The request for a UN vote came after hard negotiations that began one week ago, diplomats said Monday.

China requested in the last draft, already revised three times, that the resolution mention “regional cooperation,” the sources told AFP. The resolution comes amid a series of institutional crises in Afghanistan, following the double swearing-in Monday of President Ashraf Ghani and his rival and former chief executive Abdullah Abduallah, both of whom claimed victory in the recent presidential election.

According to the draft text seen by AFP, the Security Council “urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations through a diverse and inclusive negotiating team composed of Afghan political and civil society leaders, including women.”

The US’s request that the Security Council adjust its agreement with the Taliban is a rare move in the forum for an accord between a foreign country and an insurgent group, diplomats said.

Diplomats were also surprised that the agreement included two secret appendices on the fight against terrorism that Council members must approve without even knowing what they say. One diplomat described it as “unbelievable.”

Russia’s position on the resolution remains uncertain. Moscow had hinted on Friday that it might oppose the text after the US rejected a statement endorsing a ceasefire agreement in Syria between Russia and Turkey. AFP

KABUL—American forces have started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, a US official said Tuesday, the day peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban were due to start despite widespread violence and a political crisis.

The United States is keen to end its longest-ever conflict, and under the terms of a deal signed in Doha last month has said all foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months— provided the Taliban stick to their security commitments.

Under the accord, the US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by midJuly, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country.

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the east, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Even with the drawdown, US forces

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT Quezon City Branch 40 -forBranch 138

Seoul: North is seeking attention with its tests S EOUL―In a black fur hat and clutching binoculars, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw his latest firing drill, a move Seoul said Tuesday aimed at drawing the attention of the US and South Korea.

Kim “guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery”, the North’s KCNA news agency reported, a day after Japan said Pyongyang had fired what appeared to be ballistic missiles.

The North has been continuing to refine its weapons capabilities, analysts say, more than a year after a Hanoi summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump broke down.

Images carried by official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed rockets blasting out of multiple launchers each with four firing tubes, striking what appeared to be an island target.

Other pictures showed smaller-caliber projectiles and artillery shooting salvos of rounds.

Kim, wearing a Russian-style hat and a khaki military jacket, watched from a trench next to an officer in a black face mask.

Pyongyang has closed its borders and imposed strict conditions as it seeks to avoid the worldwide coronavirus

retain “all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives”, Colonel Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, said Monday, referring to American counter-terrorism operations and support for Afghan forces.

Helmand, which along with neighboring Kandahar province is considered a Taliban stronghold, is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war.

Omar Zwak, spokesman for Helmand’s governor, told AFP that “20 to 30” foreigners had left Lashkar Gah since the weekend.

The initial drawdown comes as the Taliban, which see themselves as having achieved “victory” over America, test the Pentagon’s resolve to protect local partners by conducting dozens of low-level attacks against Afghan forces. The US has only responded to a few of these attacks. AFP

ROMEO N. MARCIAL Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 19-07666-CV - For Damages

SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC AND SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC Defendants. x----------------------------------------x

outbreak.

The three joint firing drills Kim has supervised in the last fortnight were his first military-related activity this year, Seoul’s unification ministry said Tuesday.

“It is for strengthening internal solidarity and externally, attracting the attention of the US and South Korea and pressuring their change in attitude,” it added in a statement.

North Korea is under multiple sets of United Nations, US and other sanctions over its weapons programs.

Washington and Pyongyang talks have been deadlocked since Hanoi over sanctions relief and what North Korea would be willing to give up in return, and a high-profile meeting between Trump and Kim failed to break the logjam.

Pyongyang set Washington a unilateral end-2019 deadline to offer fresh concessions, and in late December Kim declared the North no longer considered itself bound by its moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

He also threatened a demonstration of a “new strategic weapon” soon.

The North carried out a series of weapons tests late last year, the last of them in November, which it often described as multiple launch rocket systems although others called them ballistic missiles.

It also conducted static engine tests, most recently in December. AFP

ORDER In today’s hearing of the Motion with Leave of Court to Serve Alias Summons by Publication, both plaintiff Romeo N. Marcial and his counsel Atty. Gary S. Baluyot are present in Court.

Finding said motion to be well-taken for the reason stated therein, the said Motion is hereby GRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, let an Alias Summon be issued. Plaintiff is directed to cause the service of summons by publication, together with a copy of this Order, in a newspaper of general circulation for at least two (2) consecutive weeks, at his own expense.

SO ORDERED. Given in open Court, Quezon City, 11 October 2019.

(Sgd.) KRISTINE GRACE L. SUAREZ Assisting Judge Copy Furnished: Atty. Gary S. Baluyot Baluyot Law Office Lot 2 J.P. Ramoy St., Barangay Talipapa Novaliches, 1116 Quezon City Sps. Dante Romero Masamoc and Simeona Espera-Masamoc Block 9 Lot 4 Windsor Mansions Buhay na Tubig, Imus, Cavite 4103

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT BRANCH XL (40) – QUEZON CITY ROMEO N. MARCIAL Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 19-07666-CV SUMMONS (Ordinary Civil Case)

SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC and SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC Defendant/s. x-------------------------------------------------x TO : SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC and SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC --Block 9 Lot 4 Windsor Mansions Buhay Na Tubig, Imus, Cavite 4103 GREETINGS: You are hereby required to file with this Court, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH XL (40), Quezon City, located at Rm. 336, 3rd Floor, Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City, within FIFTEEN (15) days after service of this Summons upon you, and serve upon the plaintiff, your ANSWER to the Complaint, copy of which is attached, together with the annexes. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and maybe granted the relief applied for in the complaint.

PREMIERE. Jaimie

Alexander attends Disney’s ‘Mulan’ World Premiere-Red Carpet-Fan Pen at Dolby Theater on March 09, 2020, in Hollywood, California.

AFP

WITNESS the HON. KRISTINE GRACE L. SUAREZ/Assisting Judge of this Court.

Quezon City, Metro Manila September 1, 2019.

(Sgd.) PACIENCIA C. RODRIGUEZ OIC/Clerk of Court (MStandard - Mar. 11 & 18, 2020)

Turkey jails former mayor

ISTANBUL―A Turkish court on Monday sentenced the ex-mayor of a major Kurdish city to more than nine years in prison after convicting him of “membership in an armed terror group.”

Turkish authorities removed 31 mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) last year over alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), just months after they won local elections in March.

Critics say the suspensions were aimed at removing political opposition to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party in the country’s southeast after poor election results.

Adnan Selcuk Mizrakli was mayor of Diyarbakir until he was suspended in August along with the mayors of Mardin and Van. All were replaced by government-appointed trustees. Mizrakli has been in custody since his arrest in October last year.

On Monday, the court in Diyarbakir convicted Mizrakli, who refused to attend the hearing, “of membership in an armed terror group,” the Anadolu state news agency reported.

Prosecutors said he had attended the funerals of PKK militants and meetings that were used for the group’s propaganda.

Mizrakli was sentenced to nine years, four months and 15 days in prison, Anadolu said.

Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch said Mizrakli’s conviction came after just three hearings and “with no effort to probe evidence or to conceal the blatant political motivation behind this trial.”

She told AFP: “The government didn’t like the mayor chosen by 63 percent of the Diyarbakir electorate, so they arbitrarily removed him and jailed him.”

In a statement carried by his party HDP, Mizrakli said the verdict was politically motivated.

“This is a verdict ... which has become a political tool,” he said. “I do not respect it.”

The government has repeatedly claimed the HDP has links to the PKK, which has fought a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. AFP

INVITATION TO BID NO. 10-2020

EU warns Erdogan to respect migrants deal BRUSSELS―Stern-faced EU leaders warned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to respect the terms of a previous deal to keep migrants away from Europe’s borders, after the Turkish leader came to Brussels to demand more support.

There was no disguising the tension at the European Council after the talks, with Erdogan choosing to head straight for the airport rather than a news conference with EU presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.

“Clearly we do have our disagreements, but we have spoken plainly and we have spoken openly to each other,” Von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, told reporters.

Von der Leyen and Michel both stressed that the 2016 deal between the EU and Turkey -- under which Ankara agreed to block migrants and refugees from heading to Greece in exchange for billions of euros in EU aid -- remains valid.

And Michel said that the top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, would be working with his Turkish counterpart foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the next few days “to be certain that we are on the same page that we have the same interpretation about what we do, in Turkey and at the level of the European Union, in order to implement the deal.”

Erdogan did not speak to reporters after the meeting, despite Turkish officials saying ear-

lier that he planned to do so. A Turkish presidential source said only: “The meeting at the EU was productive.”

Beforehand, Erdogan had made clear that his priority was to seek more support for his country in the conflict in Syria and to cope with millions of refugees from the fighting.

Before heading to the European Council, he held talks with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, and told him bluntly: “NATO is in a critical process in which it needs to clearly show its alliance solidarity.”

“Our allies should display their solidarity with our country without discrimination and without laying down political conditions,” he said. “It is very important that the support we demand is met without any further delay.”

Erdogan also appeared annoyed that -- rather than listening to his concerns -- Von der Leyen and Michel have backed Greece as Europe’s “shield” against migrants encouraged to leave Turkey.

And he had harsh words for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ Greek government, which has already been allocated 700 million euros ($800 million) by Brussels to secure his borders and cope with the new arrivals.

“It is irrational and inconsiderate that an ally and a neighbouring country point to Turkey as responsible for the irregular migration,” Erdogan said. AFP

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2020, intends to apply the sum of Fifteen Million One Hundred Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Seven Pesos (P 15,113,587.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) , to payment under the contract for Tibak RIS, Palo, Leyte.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) now invites bids for: Contract No. : Project Description : Work completion : Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) :

BTRIS-LCB-12-2020 Construction of Canal System 360 Calendar Days P 15,113,587.00

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders must submit a Letter of Intent and may submit the Class “A” documents addressed to the Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee, NIA, Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

Interested bidders must submit bid proposals in three (3) copies, one (1) original and two (2) duplicate copies.

The schedules of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities 1. Issuance of Bid Documents

Schedule

Time

Starting March 11-27, 2020

8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m

2. Pre-Bid Conference

March 18, 2020

10:00 a.m.

3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

March 30, 2020

10:00 a.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P25,000.00 to the Cashier.

The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: CATHERINE G. MACANIP National Irrigation Administration Marasbaras, Tacloban City (053) 888-1514 Noted: Sgd. CONRADO M. SAMSON Division Manager A

Sgd. CATHERINE G. MACANIP BAC Chairperson

(MS-MAR. 11, 2020)

CYAN

LGUs

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

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Globesignspact withMagalang forWi-Fispots

STARTING ‘EM YOUNG. Kids learn how to perform proper Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Rappelling, Bandaging and Splinting from the Bureau of Fire Protection personnel at the Junior Firefighters Camp 2020 at the Atrium of SM City Marikina. The BFP and SM Marikina partnered to teach children life-saving techniques and experience firefighter skills like CPR, rappelling and bandaging for free. Norman Cruz

P11.5-m shabu seized in Bulacan drug sting C

By Jess Malabanan

AMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Government antinarcotics agents busted a well-entrenched illegal drug group operating in Manila and Bulacan following the arrest of four of its alleged members and the seizure of P11.5 million of shabu in Meycauayan City and in Manila on Monday.

Police Brig. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia, Central Luzon police director, identified the suspects as Jonard Halili, 25, alias Bill; Erwin Borrinaga, 18, alias Junior, both of Barangay Pantoc, Meycauayan City; and Mirko Francis Beringuel, 21, alias Micro, and Marlon Macarangal, 22, both of Pasay City.

Sermonia said two of the suspects were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Bulacan, while the others were collared during a follow-up

operation that ended along TM Kalaw Street in Manila.

Seized from Halili and Borrinaga were seven transparent plastic bags of shabu weighing about 1.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of P10.2 million, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Sermonia said.

Meycauayan City Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) operatives then motored straight to Luneta Park Grandstand at Bgy. 666, Zone 72, District 5 in Manila

where four plastic transparent bags carrying about 200 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1.36 million were seized from Macarangal and Beringuel.

Sermonia attributed the latest accomplishment to the sustained campaign against illegal drugs launched by the police as part of the government’s drug war. He commended the policemen who formed part of the operations.

The Central Luzon PNP chief also encouraged the public to support the government in combating illegal drugs to make their areas drug-free communities during a press conference held at the PANA Hall at the regional police headquarters.

The suspects were brought to Meycauayan City police headquarters for further investigation as violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act is being readied against them.

GLOBE takes its mission of accelerating the country’s digital transformation to the heartland of Luzon—Pampanga.

The telco giant recently cemented a formal partnership with the local government of Magalang, a first class municipality in the province.

The partnership launch was led by Magalang Mayor Romulo Pecson with Winsley Bangit, vice president at Globe at Home Prepaid, and Janis Racpan, Director, Business Development and MarketingDigital Solutions Group at Globe.

With a formal partnership in place, Globe will be powering key locations in the city with its GoWiFi and KapitWiFi services.

GoWiFi, the most pervasive public Wi-Fi service in the country, is now available in public and hightraffic areas in the municipality such as the Magalang Municipal Hall and Magalang Plaza.

KapitWiFi, Globe’s most affordable community WiFi service, allows customers to simply connect to a hotspot, purchase a promo, and enjoy surfing in a snap. It will be available in San Isidro Resettlement and Sta. Lucia Resettlement areas in April for the benefit of 5,800 households in these communities.

The new product promises affordability with no monthly fees and device cash outs, and availability to all mobile users regardless of network provider. For as low as P50, customers can enjoy up to 3GB of data allocation for three days.

GoWiFi continues its expansion plans nationwide, particularly in high-traffic areas like malls, hospitals, and schools to make high-quality internet connection accessible and affordable to more Filipinos.

The service is now available in over 2,700 locations nationwide with speeds of up to 100Mbps depending on coverage area.

Meanwhile, KapitWiFi is available in other provinces such as Cebu, Iloilo and Tacloban with plans of more rollouts nationwide later this year.

Cagayan Valley agencies to aid women’s sector

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—National government agencies, in partnership with concerned Local Government Units, will be empowering the women’s sector in Cagayan Valley to uplift their economic status.

Teresita Tabaog, Department of Science and Technology assistant regional director, said entrepreneurship skills will be taught to 111 women microentrepreneurs in the region.

They will be given capability training to prepare them for various entrepreneurship projects to support their families, she said.

Tabaog, also the vice chairperson of the Regional Gender and Development Committee, said this initiative will be endorsed to the Regional Development Council for approval and implementation.

“This will be implemented with partner agencies through a convergence of efforts, programs, projects and services that will ensure the sustained livelihood for our women sector,” she said.

Tabaog also encouraged women in Cagayan Valley to comply with government regulations and laws to be qualified for such livelihood programs.

The move is also part of RGAD’s objective toward empowering the women in Cagayan Valley, which will address issues on lack of financial management and accounting skills, saving and marketing of their products, among others,” Tabaog said.

Meanwhile, the intensified information and advocacy campaign by concerned agencies on the rights of women and children has resulted to the increased reporting of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) cases in Cagayan Valley region.

Police Captain Nieves Menia, Regional PNP focal Person on Gender and Developmen Program, said Cagayan Valley ranked second in the most number of VAWC cases in the country last year.

“This was reached due to the heightened reporting of VAWC cases in the region, which were caused by our multi-sectoral and barangay-based campaigns among concerned government and non-government agencies,” she said.

USAID, PBEd ink deal with McDo to train 5k youth YOUTHWorks PH, a youth employment project implemented by the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Golden Arches Development Corp. (McDonald’s Philippines) to train 5,000 unemployed and out-of-school youth.

YouthWorks PH is a workforce development project valued at more than P1.7 billion that expands training and employment opportunities for Filipino youth, connecting them to technical vocational training institutions and companies.

Since 2018, USAID and PBEd have forged partnerships with key industry players, learning institutions, and local government units to invest in Filipino youth across seven cities across the Philippines.

Under the agreement with McDonald’s Philippines, youth aged 18 to 24 who are not in education, employment, or

training will undergo skills training in YouthWorks PH partner institutions and at branches of McDonald’s Philippines, the project’s single largest private sector partner.

“A global American brand that started from humble beginnings in the1940s, made its way from California to the Philippines in the 1980s, and along the way revolutionized the fast food service industry is now working with us to provide education and employment opportunities to underprivileged Filipino youth,” said US Ambassador Sung Kim at the MOU signing ceremony.

“We are proud to partner with YouthWorks PH in providing quality skills training opportunities for underprivileged Filipino youth. Through this partnership, McDonald’s Philippines commits to welcome and train at least 5,000 youth in our restaurants nationwide,” McDonald’s Philippines president and chief executive officer Kenneth Yang said.

SM arm starts KSK agri training in Benguet town KAPANGAN, Benguet—Farmers and guests gathered at the Municipal Hall here to participate in the launch of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program on Sustainable Agriculture.

With the launch, farmers began their 12-week training on effective backyard planting and small-scale farming techniques for fruits and vegetables.

To date, this is the 219th batch of SM Foundation’s KSK program.

Aside from the 165 farmerparticipants, those who attended the launch were representatives of project partners TESDA, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, St Isidore the Farmer Learning Center, Philippine Information Agency, Local Government of Kapangan, Macondray Philippines, SM Markets and SM Supermalls-SM City Baguio.

With SM Foundation’s partnership with TESDA and St. Isidore the Farmer Learning Center, farmerparticipants are trained in organic agriculture production that could lead to a TESDA NC II certification.

Kapangan is mainly an agricultural municipality with 13.7 hectares of its almost 17-hectare land area devoted to agriculture. It is divided into 15 barangays namely Balakbak, BelengBelis, Boklaoan, Cayapes, Central Kapangan, Cuba, Datakan, Gadang,

Gaswiling, Labueg, Paykek, Pongayan, Pudong, Sagubo and Taba-ao.

Situated on the northern part of Benguet, Kapangan is 29 km from Benguet’s capital town of La Trinidad and can be reached by a 2.5-hours ride from the city of Baguio.

The 165 farmer-participants listen to the 219th lecture of SM Foundation’s KSK program.

Magalang Mayor Romulo Pecson (left) and Winsley Bangit, VP and head of Globe at Home Prepaid.

Balanga opens 3 temporary sanitation facilities BALANGA CITY—The city government has recently turned over three temporary sanitation facilities to Barangay Talisay.

City Administrator Rudy de Mesa said during the turnover ceremony that the installation of three barangay bathrooms is in line with the health initiative of the leadership of Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon.

The top city officials wanted the project to be replicated in other barangays, De Mesa said.

Garcia and Venzon-Gozon are responsible for many laudable programs of the city in the aspects

of, aside from health, education, barangay empowerment, child protection, and solid waste management, among others, the city administrator said.

City Environment Officer Nerissa Mateo joined the turnover, which was received by Capt. Remo Camacho and members of the barangay council, witnessed bys ome barangay residents.

De Mesa also asked barangay folks to keep the community clean.

The administrator also urged barangay folks to support the relocation program of the city, as many houses are situated precariously along Talisay River. Butch Gunio

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

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Spring fling

FUN, FRESH, FLIRTY. Polka dots and floral prints on dresses, gingham on puff-sleeved tops and pastel-colored blazers, and satin and denim apparel add a delightful and stylish vibe to the hot days ahead.

By Monica Sanchez

F Date in comfort without compromising style by opting for satin skirt and patterned tops or floral wrap dresses.

LORALS, gingham, and sorbet shades get a creative spin in time for the season of fresh spring breeze.

The spring 2020 collection of American fashion brand Forever 21 features polka dots, gingham, and, obviously, florals—well-loved prints of spring and summer—in chic styles and ensembles.

Playful polka dots are given a grownup twist in the form of structured silhouettes and modern details. Gingham gets glam in bold green versions and colorful coord sets. Floral prints bloom in a spring garden of cheerful and colorful tiny delicate blossoms and romantic rose prints.

Structured blazers come in fresh sorbet shades, while puff-sleeved tops and satin skirts add the right amount of flair to any spring look.

Completing the collection are seasonappropriate laced-up heels, quirky bags, padded headbands, and drop earrings.

The guys can get in to the spring fun with hoodies, denims, and casual tops from 21Men. The new collection is available at Forever 21 stores nationwide.

Carried with confidence

SALE ALERT Month-long sale at Duty Free A wide range of products are on discount by up to 30 percent today until March 31 at Duty Free outlets nationwide.

Discounted products include select home furnishing items, mom and baby essentials, sporting goods, chocolates, and the following fashion and beauty brands: Gucci, Chanel, SK II, Jo Malone, Tumi Coach, Michael Kors, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Estée Lauder, Lancome, Bulgari, Clinique, Kate Spade, Bally, Mac, Dior, and more.

The sale is ongoing at Fiestamall in Parañaque City, Duty Free Luxe in Pasay City, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Duty Free stores at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

The month-long sale is part of Duty Free Philippines Corporation’s celebration of National Items at participating Duty Free outlets are on sale today until March 31.

Women’s Month.

EXPERTISE and focus get the job done, and confidence is everything— they say it is what leaves a lasting impression in the workplace and allows one to be bold and brave enough to venture into uncertainty.

Getting a confidence boost may be challenging, but career counselors advise style, good grooming, and the right mindset comprise the first step.

Look good to feel good may be a cliché, but always for good reason.

Local leather goods brand for men, McJim Classic Leather suggests that aside from classic slacks, well-pressed shirt, and perhaps a coat, well-dressed gents need the right accessories, as in belts and wallets and bags.

McJim offers wallets made of highquality materials such as imported vegetable-tanned leather. Available in black and brown, variants include Dress smart and carry your essentials in a brown leather cross-body bag.

Discounted men’s bags Up to half the price is slashed off on select bags for men today until March 15 at the accessories section of The SM Store branches nationwide.

Smart backpacks, cool gym bags, weekend bags, modern messenger bags, and cross-body bags, as well as selected branded leather wallets and belts are on sale.

Men’s bags, including backpacks and sling bags, are offered at up to half the original price until March 15.

Messenger bag made of sturdy leather takes care of important work documents.

mid-size wallet, billfold, trifold, and long wallet with card slots, bill compartments, and photo windows.

To carry those work-related documents and essentials needed for the day, leather bags are the more professional option. The homegrown label has sling bags, laptop bags, shoulder bags, and messenger bags in brown, black, and tan, and each made of highquality soft cow leather.

To complete a gentleman’s tasteful office ensemble, McJim Classic Leather presents a variety of belts with designs such as the timeless basic, reversible, and auto-lock, available in different colors like tan, brown, and black.

Cellphone cases, key holders, money clips, and business card holders— all in leather—are a great addition to a professional man’s work accessories.

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Life

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

S

It’s the season of sun and sale UN’S out, bags out— shopping bag, that is.

A luxury retail store kicks off the sizzling summer season with sale, special deals, and treats available all summer long.

From March 14 to May 31, Rustan’s, in partnership with HSBC, transforms its space into a wonderland of beauty, menswear, womenswear, fine jewelry, kids apparel, toys, gadgets and home essentials.

On the first day of the sale, shoppers who make a minimum purchase of P50,000 at Rustan’s Makati will receive a Gouache travel pouch, a S’well bottle, and a Lexon Mino portable speaker, while those who make a purchase of P100,000 and above will receive a Samsonite duffel bag, an Anker powerbank, as well as a Lexon Mino portable speaker.

Exclusive one-day only activities and deals include offers like up to 20 percent off on regular-priced items from women’s brands including Aquazzura, Christian Louboutin, Josie Natori, Bardot, Finders Keepers, Seafolly, Lady Rustan, Lotus, among others; special discounts on select fine jewelry pieces; and up to 20 percent off on select children’s apparel brands.

Over at the men’s section, patrons can enjoy up to 20 percent off on regular priced items from Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, Fitbit, Hackett, New Balance, Nike, Pedro del Hierro, Ricardo Preto, Under Armour, and many others.

Giving customers even more reason to celebrate, Rustan’s also has events and promotions lined up for the rest of the summer months. All throughout the season, customers can shake off the workday stress with a free sampling of food or drinks at Rustan’s Store Happy Hours.

From March 14 until April 12, customers who purchase a minimum of P15,000 worth of items in a single receipt transaction in-store or online via rustans.com will receive a Lexon Mino Portable Speaker. HSBC cardholders will enjoy this benefit for a lower minimum single receipt purchase of P12,000.

Beginning March until end of May, everyone can expect a variety of exclusive deals—slashed prices, freebies, and FSP multipliers.

VIBRANT VARIETY. Summer sizzles further as a wide range of accessories and apparel for men, women, and kids from popular and luxury brands are on sale at Rustan’s department store.

Girl power in Kathryn’s glam team BEHIND Kathryn Bernardo’s stylish looks and unforgettable campaigns is a reliable team composed of equally talented female.

In her first campaign for a footwear brand, Bernardo had, save for her trusted hairstylist John Valle, a female glam powerhouse.

Getting the actress and model all glammed up for her Keds photoshoot was makeup artist Justine del Rosario, while Jan Aranilla took charge of the fashion styling. Taking Bernardo’s photo was photographer Charisma Lico.

Bernardo’s Keds campaign, as well as the rest of the brand’s projects and efforts, resonate well with the 100-year-old dedication of the brand to supporting ladies through the decades. In the campaign that celebrates girl power, the 23-year-old star and her glam team are wearing the Keds Champion, the brand’s iconic shoe first introduced in 1916.

Iconic women including Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Yoko Ono, Kelly from Saved by the Bell, Baby in Dirty Dancing, and Taylor Swift have all worn the Champion.

Kathryn Bernardo (second from left) with her allfemale glam team (from left) makeup artist Justine del Rosario, stylist Jan Aranilla, and photographer Charisma Lico.

Beauty weekend

BEAUTY junkies and newbies alike are invited to sample a load of top beauty products and services as well as swap skin care secrets with others at ShangriLa Mall’s Beauty Match on March 13-15.

Participants can check out Shiseido, Beauty Buffet, MUD Studio Manila, Skin 101, Beautiqa, Adore, and Rustan’s Department Store booths, where they can learn a whole new beauty routine or improve their current one.

The Caption Cam Video Booth also returns this weekend to inspire every girl to love themselves even more.

Learn new beauty routine at Shangri-La Mall’s Beauty Match this weekend.

HAPPY FEET

Sneakers made with apple skin Tommy Hilfiger launches sneakers for men and women (in photo) made with recycled apple skin fiber.

ONE small step for man, one giant leap for apples as Tommy Hilfiger recently introduced two footwear styles made using recycled apple skin fiber.

The fruit’s skin fiber is a bio-based leather alternative derived from the apple farming industry’s waste.

The new releases, which are part of the brand’s spring 2020 collection, are available in white and navy colorways. The styles for men and women feature 24 percent recycled apple fiber on the upper.

The apple skin technology stems from the Tyrol region of northern Italy, an area known for its apple farming. Recognizing the opportunities offered

by Tyrol’s booming apple production, Frumat—an Italian start-up—developed a new raw material that addresses both the waste issue and the fashion industry’s increasing demand for ecological leather alternatives.

Each footwear utilizes sturdy and thick recycled apple skin fiber with a lower environmental impact than other vegan leather alternatives, which typically contain high amounts of fossil-based materials.

According to the brand, the integration of apple skin fiber as a leather alternative builds on Tommy Hilfiger’s ongoing journey to create fashion that welcomes all and wastes nothing.

The spring 2020 apple skin fiber footwear styles are now available on tommy.com and in select Tommy Hilfiger stores and select retailers worldwide.

About 24 percent of the footwear’s upper features sturdy and thick recycled apple fiber.

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Beauty and entertainment for Women’s Month

H

AVE you ever wondered why there is one month of the year named ‘Women’s Month?’

According to Google search, “March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the role of women in America, both past and present. It is celebrated every March to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. If Women’s Month commemorates the history of women’s impact in the world and to raise awareness of issues women are facing worldwide, International Women’s Day was established to commemorate the movement for women’s rights, which is March 18, 2017.”

Looking at this commemoration from the perspective of the many joys and sufferings that women undergo, whether it be a happily married life, joy in becoming mothers, women in a state of loneliness or depression, their importance lies in their impact on the lives of every family and every relationship. They are, come to think of it, always a blessing to others for their many sacrifices and selflessness.

But how do these women cope with their various situations in life? Where to they seek comfort and solace after losing a husband or boyfriend? Where do they run to, literally to change their consciousness and sad looks?

Believe it or not, after asking these of several women, they have one common answer, to the beauty salons for a change in hairstyle or looks, from the physical point of view. And of course, after the parlors, they go shopping to complete their makeovers.

Here comes the innovative Ricky “Mader” Reyes, with his new idea on how to make women continue be a blessing to others. His more than ten salons has seen how visiting his parlor has changed the outlook of women undergoing an overload of being unappreciated for their efforts of maintaining a household, raising children, and being wives or girlfriends. Usually pressed with time, Mader has thought of the first of its kind “Str8 Express,” a onehour strengthening for the hair instead of the three hours of rebond, a hair style that can last for permanently and cost

Model Ronalyn Vitug’s before and after photos.

for a little on your pocket unlike the rebonding that is expensive.

“Your hair is your crowning glory, and you must always be careful on how it looks, smooth and neat,” comments the pioneer of hair rebond in the Philippines since twenty years ago.

To introduce this new method of adapting to the time constrains of many

Binibini candidate breaks norms, perceptions

The tour started March 6 at SM Fairview then onward to other branches such as SM Bacoor on March 22, and to be followed by SM Southmall, SM San Lazaro And SM North Edsa.

The roadshow will be highlighted with Ricky Reyes personally doing a demonstration of Str8 Express go girls method.

Since it started five months ago, his sa-

share her life’s successes through her YouTube Channel – Making it happen, to empower women and the youth to expand their boundaries, cross their limits and push their passions. “It does not matter if you’re a CEO or an employee, you all have the skills that you can use not only to reach, but to build your own dreams as well,” said surfing and diving enthusiast.

But the big question is “will Gila’s extraordinary success story run all the way to the finals of Bb. Pilipinas 2020.

As Gila always says, “make it happen, nothing is impossible.”

It’s not about designing for people, but being happy about what you’re doing,” said the Zamboanganian native.

“I also want to create something that’s educational. I take inspiration in nature and I want them to learn how to appreciate nature,” she added.

After getting her introduction as marketing director in 2009, Suya continued to develop and redefine her own style of clothing, apparel and accessories for both personal and business consumers. Her collections consist of women and men’s fashion, customize dresses, women’s office wear, jewelries and make up for all occasion.

A caregiver, Suya, formed a voluntary project creating free education and provide learning materials for local people in Zamboanga Del Norte.

* * * * *

Native Subanen takes local franchise of Misters of Filipinas

Young entrepreneur and aspiring beauty queen Gila Salvador is one of the candidates in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

ALEXANGELA ‘Gila’ Salvador made a ‘leaf of faith’ at seventeen deferring her Business Management studies at the Ateneo de Manila University to start her own business. At age 18, the Nueva Ecijan lass earned her first seven-digit income.

Now 25, Gila is one of the 40 vying for one of the titles in Bb. PIlipinas 2020.

“Being immersed in the world of business taught me so many things that have helped me grow into the woman I am today,” quipped Gila.

“I want to be an inspiration to everyone, to let them know that everything they crave for, hope and pray for is at the very tip of their finger-

women, Mader will be doing a roadshow in all SM entertainment centers which will include beauty consultation --- what is good for the hair and what to do with it. He will bring stars and young balladeer LA Santos to entertain the audience. He will also invite the 12 winners of the Miss Philippines contest and those models with beautiful hair.

tips,” added the CEO and president of three corporations.

An advocate for independence and self-reliance, Gila, who is training under the Kagandahang Flores camp, became the owner of a construction and interior design company at age 19, a chain of restaurants at 24 and only last year, a realty development company with a hostel in Siargao Island for its first project.

Having all these, Gila has decided to

Subanen Princess Emerilyn Suya, President of Contact Center Network Group (CCNG), expanded her horizon as a successful designer and entrepreneur, taking the role as franchise holder at Misters of Filipinas Zamboanga Peninsula.

Suya held a Meet and Greet Charity Night recently for CCNG with proceeds to go to its social responsibility projects to help local communities sustain their way of life. Suya was joined by PEPPS president Carlo Morris Galang, founder of Misters of Filipinas, and David Salon consultant Mother J Samonte.

Suya, who was born in a farm but grew up in the big city, got her first taste in fashion trade when she moved and live with her teacher aunt and engineer uncle who loved music and fashion. She enrolled in a fashion school and learned her trendsetting designs and ideas. She further improved her craft by studying sewing, drawing, pattern making and drafting online.

From a very young age, she started working with different offline businesses, marketing local and international cosmetics and networking with fashion industry leaders. She traveled to Europe and Southeast Asia which further flourished her love for fashion.

Following her dreams and not giving up, she built on her confidence and soon found great time developing and designing new patterns that expounded into high-end stylish and chic clothing line.

Suya now owns the Lorieme Fashion Collections in Makati and the Ems Eco Resort in Salug, Zamboanga de Norte.

“Passion keeps me going. I just followed my heart’s wishes, focus on what I’m doing and never giving up.

lons have done close to 6000 heads.

Through his Str8 Express, this wellknown philanthropist of a beautician wants women to be a new person again starting this Women’s Month and continue to be a blessing to those around them, this time, with a positive attitude towards their contributions to everyone they come in contact with.

Misters of Filipinas franchise holder Emerilyn Suya and PEPPs Foundation’s Carlo Morris Galang

‘The Last Empress’ premieres on GMA GMA Heart of Asia opens the International Women’s Month with a tribute to strong and empowered women with its newest Korean Drama series The Last Empress.

Set in an alternate universe where Korea’s royal family remains intact, Sunny Oh (Jang Na-ra), who is an aspiring musical actress, marries the emperor, Lee Hyuk, while completely oblivious of what she signed up for.

Sunny Oh will then be involved in

a series of conflicts such as palace power struggle and a mysterious murder that will threaten their monarchy.

In her quest to find true happiness and love, she will develop feelings towards their bodyguard, William, who has his own agenda against the royal family.

Will love triumph over the works of the enemy?

Watch how The Last Empress makes it happen every from Monday to Friday, 10:00 p.m. on GMA.

Korean actress Jang Na-ra in ‘The Last Empress’

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

Entertainment

‘Onward’ tops box office amid unsure virus impact AS THE film industry warily watched for any impact from the coronavirus, new Pixar animation Onward topped the North American box office this weekend, but with one of the lowest starts of any Pixar/Disney film.

The family-oriented movie took in an estimated $40 million for the Fridayto-Sunday period, somewhat below projections, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

Its international take of $28 million was also well under expectations. But as Variety noted, the virus has had a sharp impact around the globe, with many theaters closed in such major markets as China and South Korea.

Media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said that while overall US

viewership was down for the weekend, the virus seemed to have had “zero impact” there.

Onward has received positive reviews, with an 86-point score on the Rotten Tomatoes website. It tells the story of two teenage elves (voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) who go on a quest to find the magic that might help bring back their late father.

In second place, down one spot from last week, was Universal›s thriller The Invisible Man, at $15.2 million. Elisabeth Moss plays the ex-girlfriend of a man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) who seems to return to haunt her after supposedly committing suicide.

Warner Bros.’ new sports drama The

Way Back opened in third place, taking in $8.5 million. Ben Affleck, who has spoken frankly about his own struggles with drinking, has drawn critical praise for his portrayal of an alcoholic construction worker who is called on to coach the basketball team at his former high school.

Fourth place went to Paramount’s adventure comedy Sonic the Hedgehog, at $8 million. Jim Carrey stars (though not as the title character) in the video game-based film.

And in fifth spot was 20th Century›s The Call of the Wild, with Harrison Ford, at $7 million.

The story is loosely based on the Jack London classic of survival in the far North. AFP

Tom Holland (left) and Chris Pratt attend the world premiere of Pixar/Disney animated film “Onward” in Hollywood, California on Feb. 18.

Roxanne Barcelo kissed a girl, but did she like it?

Binibining Pilipinas 2020

celebrates women empowerment through gender seminar

I

N THE new digital series, actress Roxanne Barcelo shares a steamy scene with former beauty queen Ann Colis. The two locked lips in one of the episodes that Roxanne could only describe as something she has not done before.

“Ann is so sexy and very attractive.

But you all know what my preference is,” was the singer-actress’s short response when asked how Ann’s lips felt like. Then, she started humming Katy Perry’s hit song “I Kissed A Girl” but didn’t continue the lyric that says “And I like it.”

“It was strange. Aware naman kayo sa preference ko. I really said to myself that I’m just portraying a character,” she further explained.

“It’s my first time to do something like this. So, I had to think before saying yes to this project. As in from the start to finish I was really on my toes the whole time. More than feeling nervous, it’s more of unsure ako like how to do it. I had so many questions before doing the project,” she related.

At the press conference for the digital series, Roxanne shares what her role is all about and how daring her character is.

“My character defies the societal boundaries of love and comes to terms with her sexuality as she is forced to choose between an ex-boyfriend and a confident lesbian woman,” Roxanne said.

Director Benedict Mique wanted to make fluid, a very “inclusive term in the LGBT community,” be understood by a wider audience.

“Sexual fluidity is a very inclusive term. Some people may experience change in their sexual orientation. It happens in real life,” Mique told Manila Standard during the press conference for Fluid, streaming on iWant March 13.

Former beauty queen Ann Colis in a scene from ‘Fluid.’

THE Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated (BPCI) teams up with the Samahan ng mga Pilipino para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (SPARK!) Philippines for an early celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day. Two days ahead of the worldwide celebration, the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2020 actively took part in an Empowering Women Seminar on March 6 at the Cyber Park Tower 1 in Araneta City.

The girls engaged in a fun and insightful lecture by SPARK! Philippines Senior Program Manager Hans Madanguit on topics such as gender and sex, gender sensitivity

and responsiveness, gender and developments concepts, and roles of socializing institutions.

At the end of the seminar, the Binibinis learned how they can be an active, effective, and productive part of the society as a woman and as future beauty queens.

SPARK! Philippines is a non-government organization that focuses on the protection of women’s rights, promotion of gender equality, and advancement of women’s economic and political roles. Founded in 2012, it partners with other organizations to address women’s needs and advocate for women’s issues.

Singer and actress Roxanne Barcelo explores sexual fluidity in a new digital series streaming on iWant beginning March 13.

Binibining Pilipinas candidates take part in an Empowering Women Seminar

‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ on extended run in Taiwan

From left: Director Benedict Mique, Roxanne Barcelo, and Joross Gamboa

ROMANTIC drama film with a record-breaking box office gross of P880.6 million, Hello, Love, Goodbye, was relaunched on VieShow Cinemas last Feb. 14 to celebrate the milestone partnership between TFC and one of Taiwan’s biggest names in film exhibition.

The Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards starrer film made waves globally making it the highestgrossing Filipino film in the Middle East, United Kingdom, Australia, and

“In Fluid, the series, we are exploring that. It’s a very exciting series, it’s funny. It will make you cry and fall in love. The premise of the film is new to mainstream media but we don’t just focus on that. There’s a family aspect.

I think parents and children should watch it because marami silang matutunan. Basically the film is about acceptance. That’s the message that the series wanted to share with the viewers,” Mique added.

Fluid follows Mitch (Roxanne) and her journey to self-discovery that begins after her breakup with her cheating exboyfriend Jacob (Joross Gamboa).

Despite never having been in a relationship with a woman before, Mitch agrees to date women upon the sugges-

‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ screens with Chinese subtitles to reach the local viewers.

tion and encouragement of her friends.

Though unsuccessful at first, she eventually meets George (Ann), an out-and-proud, confident lesbian who challenges Mitch to get away from her comfort zone. Mitch agrees to go on dates with George, and finds comfort and support in her.

When their relationship seems to be progressing nicely, Jacob comes back to ask for forgiveness and woo her back.

Fluid is produced by Lonewolf Films and written by Carlo Baltazar Ventura and Benedict Mique. Its cast also include Janice de Belen, Al Tantay, Zar Donato, J-Mee Kantayag, and Emmanuelle Vera. Episodes 2 to 4 drops on March 16.

New Zealand. The film is subtitled in Taiwanese to reach the local viewers.

Hello, Love, Goodbye’s extended screening started last Friday. In select cinemas (Qsquare, Banciao Mega City, Linkou Mitsui Outlet Park, Taoyuan Tonlin, Hsinchi FE21, Taichung Top City, Tainan FE21, and Kaoshiung FE21), the romantic movie screen until today.

Buy your tickets now online via https://www.vscinemas.com.tw/vsweb/ film/detail.aspx?id=4329.