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VOL. XXXIII • NO. 30 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CITY FIRE. In Quezon City, members of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the former capital train their hoses during a fire which gutted down a residential block in Barangay Baesa, with some houses made of light materials destroyed. Manny Palmero

Gov’t vows swift action to ease El Niño-induced water shortage By Nat Mariano, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

FOREST FLAMES. Fires are raging this week in Gumatdang, Itogon, Benguet as well as Dontogan, Tuba, Benguet, and what makes the scenes more frightful are the areas’ inaccessibility due to the mountainous terrain which cannot be easily reached by firefighters. It is not yet clear how many areas have been gutted down, but firefighters and police are monitoring the inferno, which coincided with the celebration of Fire Prevention Month. PNP Itogon/Ceasar Cheong

THE Palace said it would take “swift action” to address the water crisis in Metro Manila even as the weather bureau called on consumers to cut their consumption in view of the critical supply level at La Mesa Dam. The water elevation at the dam, which supplies Metro Manila, was at its lowest level at 68.93 meters on Monday, below its critical level of 69 meters above sea level, a hydrologist at the weather bureau, Jayson Bayusa, said. To avoid severe dwindling of water at the dam due to a lack of rainfall brought about by the El Niño phenomenon, con-

sumers must learn to conserve water at their end, he said. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would likely conduct cloud seeding above areas affected by the dry spell, but provided no further details. On Friday, the water level at the La Mesa Dam reached its lowest point in 12 years. With the decrease in water level, several parts of Metro Manila have experienced unannounced water service interruptions over the weekend. Manila Water, the eastern Metro Manila water provider, said the situation prompted them to make “operational adjustments.” Next page

‘Lacson delaying budget’ ‘Narco-list out soon: Voters need to know’ By Nat Mariano THE Palace said Monday it will release a list of politicians suspected of being involved in illegal drugs ahead of the May elections, over the objections of lawmakers who said this would deprive those on the list the presumption of innocence. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año would make the announcement this week without giving a deﬁnite day. Panelo again defended the decision to make the list public. “The individual right cannot prevail over national security and interest, we have already said that,” he said. “It will not be stopped. He [the President] already gave an instruction to release it.” Last week, Panelo said the Constitution gives the people the right to know

LONG ARM OF THE LAW.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde presents Monday at a news conference Edgardo Luib, suspect in the murder of Subic businessman Dominic Sytin, six days after his arrest in Batangas. Manny Palmero

Panelo flip-flops on Balutan case

ALEXANDER Balutan, the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager, resigned and was not fired by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Palace spokesman said Monday—taking back his previous statement for the second time in less than a week. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Balutan filed his resignation letter with the Office of the President, which received it after Malacañang had already announced “his cessation from office.” “Mr. Balutan resigned out of delicadeza because of, as we have said, serious allegations of corruption in the Next page PCSO,” Panelo said.

Sytin slay suspect arrested; victim’s brod denies role By Francisco Tuyay POLICE have arrested a suspect in the killing of Dominic Lim Sytin, president of United Auctioneers Inc., who was shot dead outside the Lighthouse Hotel in Subic Bay on Nov. 28, 2018. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said they have in custody Edgardo Luib, alias “Injeck.” Albayalde said Luib was arrested on March 5 at the house of his live-in partner in Palmridge Subdivision, Filinvest, Sta. Maria, Sto. Tomas in Batangas, after a walk-in witness identified him. Luib yielded a cal.30 Carbine, cal.45 pistol, a cal.40 pistol, and a large sachet of marijuana. In the presence of his family and counsel, Luib executed a confession detailing his alleged participation and that of his co-conspirators in the murder of Sytin. Forensic examination of the cal.45 Norinco pistol seized from Luib established a match with two cal.45 bullets and nine fired cartridge cases recovered from the crime scene. Luib’s fingerprint standard also matched the latent prints lifted from the side mirror of the getaway Yamaha Mio motorcycle used in the shooting. Next page

Duterte vows not to meddle in Rappler’s legal troubles By Nat Mariano THE Duterte administration will not interfere in the legal problem of the news website Rappler, the Palace said on Monday following the Court of Appeals’ ruling that the media outﬁt was not fully Filipino-owned. “As we said, any case that has been ﬁled before the courts, we will not interfere. We will let the law take its course,”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters. He said he was convinced from the start that Rappler’s case was not a press freedom issue. “Well, deﬁnitely [not]. It’s not related,” Panelo said. In a ruling dated March 5, the court denied Rappler’s appeal to reverse a previous order from the Securities and Exchange Commission revoking the online

Woman in NoKor murder case freed

Two minutes save Greek from crash

AN INDONESIAN woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader’s half-brother was freed Monday after Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge against her, in a shock decision a year and a half after she went on trial.

ATHENS—A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two Next page minutes late for the flight.

media outﬁt’s business articles of incorporation for allegedly violating the restrictions on foreign ownership. The court stood by its earlier position that Rappler was not 100-percent Filipino-owned, adding the news website had failed to raise any new arguments about its ownership. “The grant of control to a foreign entity over a mass media entity, regardless of Next page

Personal vendetta vs. Speaker bared By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

LAWMAKER on Monday accused Senator Panfilo Lacson of holding the 2019 national budget hostage to put down Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “Senator Panﬁlo Lacson is holding the budget hostage because of [a] personal vendetta.. [against] our speaker,” said Deputy Minority Leader and CoopNatco party-list Rep. Anthony Bravo at a news conference. “He has not said anything good about the speaker from the very start of her leadership...and in fact even before the change of leadership in the House.” Bravo said Lacson “was seeing ghosts” when he claimed that Arroyo funneled P95 billion in infrastructure Next page

DFA chief fires consular officer By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs sacked a consular officer on Friday after the officer humiliated a polio-stricken journalist who was applying for a passport. In his Twitter post, Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. apologized for the incident and expressed his disappointment over the consular officer’s behavior. “@elmer_cato I am at a total loss for words except that I will seriously consider a proposal for chemical castration to prevent this behavior from being passed on. I am deeply sorry,” Locsin said. Next page

News

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH heeds Mahathir advice on loans By Nat Mariano

HE Philippine government will take the advice of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on acquiring loans from China, Malacañang said Monday, adding its economic managers have given an assurance that the country will “not be at a disadvantage” as a result of it. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the remark after the Malaysian leader said the Philippines should be wary about securing loans from China. Mahathir said the Philippines should learn from the mistakes of other countries that suffered from unsustainable debt by

ICC probe of PH will backfire, Panelo claims

THE International Criminal Court would only violate its own provisions if it pushed through with its investigation against President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign on illegal drugs, the Palace said on Monday, shrugging off the possibility of the country’s withdrawal from the tribunal. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo maintained that the Philippines, from the “very beginning,” was not under the ICC’s jurisdiction. “We didn’t even withdraw. We said from the very beginning, we were not under its jurisdiction. That letter was only to inform them as a matter of courtesy that excuses us, we have not been under your jurisdiction from the very start,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. Asked what the Palace would do if the ICC announced the country’s withdrawal on March 17, Panelo said: “It does not matter to us because they have no jurisdiction over us.” Panelo, who also serves as the President’s chief legal counsel, said the Philippine government has been pointing out that the ICC itself has been violating their own provisions with their actions. “Assuming that there is a withdrawal, because they are saying that we can proceed with the investigation even if there is withdrawal, but under the law, it says that they can proceed only when there is a preliminary investigation prior to the withdrawal; but there was no preliminary investigation, there was only preliminary examination,” he said. “So, if they do that, then it’s with more reason not to be part of it [ICC] because they are violating its own laws,” Panelo added. According to the Palace official, the ICC, in the first place, “cannot be doing any investigation because it never acquired jurisdiction over the Philippines.” “As argued by the President, there is a requirement of publication and that was never published. Hence, there is no jurisdiction over his person and for that matter over any person in this country,” Panelo stressed. “Our courts are functioning. So, how will they interfere? We are willing and we are capable [of investigating the illegal drug campaign]. In fact, it shows we have a robust judicial system. We have been prosecuting people and we have convictions, as well as acquittals,” he continued. Nat Mariano

Duterte... From A1

the actual exercise of such foreign control, is already considered a violation,” the court said in its ruling. “A motion for reconsideration grounded on arguments already submitted to the court and found to be without merit may be denied summarily, as it would be a useless ritual for this Court to reiterate itself.” In January last year, the SEC decided to revoke Rappler’s certificate of incorporation for its supposed violations of foreign ownership restrictions. The SEC said the online media outfit accepted more than $1 million worth of donations from Omidyar Network. Rappler then challenged the SEC decision before the CA. The CA, however, said in its Feb. 21 ruling that Rappler was not 100-percent Filipino-owned and rejected the media outfit’s motion for reconsideration. The court said Omidyar Network earned “some foreign control” when it acquired Philippine Depositary Receipts from the company. Meanwhile, in a statement, Rappler maintained that it remained “completely Filipino-owned,” expressing confidence that the rule of law would be observed. “We expect the SEC to now review its order and we continue to trust that the rule of law will be followed under a democratic government,” Rappler said.

Woman... From A1

Siti Aisyah smiled as she was ushered through a group of journalists and into a car outside the court, where she had been on trial alongside a Vietnamese woman for the murder of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. “I feel happy. I did not know this will happen. I did not expect it,” said the 27-year-old, who was wearing a red headscarf. When the news was announced in the court outside Kuala Lumpur, Aisyah had a

accepting Beijing’s infrastructure investments. “If you borrow huge sums of money from China and you cannot pay―you know when a person is a borrower he is under the control of the lender. So, we have to be very careful with that,” Mahathir told ANC in an

interview on Thursday. Mahathir, recognized as the most senior statesman in Asia, recalled Malaysia’s own experience with the China-funded infrastructure projects, scrapping them in the process as he viewed them as “unfair.” Meanwhile, Panelo said the Palace welcomed Mahathir’s advice. “Of course, we will take his advice and the economic managers are evaluating all kinds of loans that we are having with the Chinese government,” Panelo told reporters. He said the economic managers had assured them that the Philippines remained “very careful” in accepting loan offers from China.

“I think the economic managers have already explained that we are not at a disadvantage,” Panelo said. Just last week, the Palace defended the country’s 20-year loan deal with China to finance the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project. Critics said the deal with Beijing was “onerous” in its entirety and had a “dangerous component” that highly favored Beijing. But Panelo said the economic team had studied the matter at length and ignored the concerns over the deal. The Department of Finance says the Philippines has already executed nine loan agreements with other countries, two of which are from China.

Sara opts out of campaign trail over 'family issue' By Macon Ramos-Araneta LUCENA CITY―After packing up the Inday Sara show, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said she would be absent in the Hukpong ng Pagbabago campaign caravan in the Bicol Region Wednesday and Thursday, but squelched speculations it was due to her “word war” with Vice President Leni Robredo. Asked if her absence had something to do with the “Sara-Leni” war, Duterte replied, “No no no! Definitely Not! “Yesterday [Sunday] the Inday Sara show packed up. My mother told me to stop it, stop bullying, told me to be kind, before I speak I need to first think about it... if it’s not kind, I should not speak,” Duterte told reporters during the HNP campaign caravan in this city, where she also endorsed the candidacy of outgoing Rep. Danny Suarez and his son, Gov. Jayjay Suarez. In other developments: • Duterte on Sunday said she would stop her tirades against the opposition senatorial candidates after she was reprimanded by her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman for “bullying” the latter. Duterte, who heads the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, has dubbed Otso Diretso bets as “black holes” for repeatedly

’Narco-list... From A1

matters of public concern, especially those that concern their lives and welfare. He said it is the right of the public to know the politicians allegedly involved in the trade of illegal drugs, and painted illegal narcotics as an issue of national security. “We are on the precipice of destruction if we cannot stop this drug industry. We cannot allow the local governments and the barangays to be run by the destroyers of society. The people have the right to know,” he said. “We’ll release it for the people and the voters to know who… are destroying our country. It’s their right to know, and it is the duty of the state to preserve itself,” Panelo added. The Commission on Elections, on the other hand, has already stated that no candidates can be disqualified simply because his or her name is on the list.

Two minutes... From A1

“I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time,” Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled “My lucky day” in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a nonprofit organization, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency. He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed. He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff. “They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn’t board the ET 302 flight that was lost,” Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock. The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn’t on board. “They said they couldn’t let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn’t boarded the plane etc.” The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed just minutes after an early-morning takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa. People holding passports from more than 30 countries were on board including a number of UN workers. State-owned Ethiopian Airline had taken delivery of the Boeing 737-800 MAX plane on Nov. 15. It was of the same type as a plane that crashed in October after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. AFP brief hug in the dock with the Vietnamese accused, Doan Thi Huong, who began sobbing. The development was a surprise as the court had only been due to hear Huong testify Monday. Huong was “traumatized” she had not been freed too, her lawyer said, and the court agreed to adjourn her testimony so she could also apply for her charge to be dropped. The women had always denied murder, saying they were tricked by North Korean spies into carrying out the Cold War-style hit using VX nerve agent, and believed it was a prank for a reality TV show.

challenging the administration-backed candidates to debate. • Senator Aquilino Pimentel III does not see the need for a debate he however, but he welcomes it between the senatorial candidates of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and those of the opposition. Pimentel said a debate would pose a “scheduling problem” due to the busy campaign schedule of the administration slate. “It [debate] is unnecessary but we are willing,” Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, told the ABS CBN News Channel. • Duterte has enjoined the public to just wait for the official releases of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys and suggested that “maybe people should just take them with a grain of salt.” Duterte, who has been leading the campaign of the 13 senatorial candidates endorsed by her regional party HNP, issued the statement after being sought for her comment in the supposed fake SWS survey covering the period Feb. 25 to 28. “Nobody could determine if that was authentic SWS or not. Maybe people should [take surveys] with a] grain of salt. Maybe true, maybe not,” Duterte said.

’Lacson... From A1

funds to the districts of her House allies even after the P3.8-trillion budget was passed by the bicameral conference committee. “He does not want the speaker to be successful,” Bravo said of Lacson. Echoing a statement released by House appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya over the weekend, Bravo said President Rodrigo Duterte could veto any portion of the national budget he finds objectionable. Bravo also warned that the stand-off over the budget could stall the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. Andaya on Monday said senators failed to identify themselves in the itemized list of projects they endorsed for implementation in their amendments to the bicameral conference committee-ratified report on the 2019 general appropriations bill. Andaya said the Senate only submitted its list of projects on Feb. 11, 2019 or three days after both Houses of Congress ratified this year’s P3.757-trillion national budget on Feb. 8. Andaya said as agreed during the bicameral conference committee meeting, both the Senate and the House submitted details itemizing projects that would be funded by the lump sum funds after the budget was ratified. He said this did not violate the Supreme Court ruling on pork barrel, because that referred to changes made to the budget after the President had signed it into law. At the same time, Andaya said the Senate failed to identify from its submitted list of an estimated P21 billion worth of infrastructure funds the names of senators who requested the projects. On the contrary, Andaya said House

Panelo... From A1

A former Marine general, Balutan has requested the President “for a fair and impartial investigation to ferret out the truth on the matter,” the Palace spokesman added. “We hope this sets the record straight on the timeline of what transpired,” Panelo said. Balutan’s camp had said he opted to resign, citing “personal reasons.” Panelo had previously stirred controversy when, on March 7, he said that he made “educated guess” on foreign governments providing the Duterte administration with “wiretapped information” on politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Also the presidential legal counsel, Panelo then told reporters that he did not have any information on wiretapping activities by foreign governments on Filipinos, whether suspected of criminal activities or not. Vito Barcelo Their lawyers presented them as scapegoats, saying that authorities were unable to catch the real killers. Four North Koreans— formally accused of the murder alongside the women—fled Malaysia shortly after the assassination. The trial, which began in October 2017, had been due to resume Monday with the defence stage of proceedings after a break of several months. But at the start of the hearing, prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad requested that the murder charge against Aisyah be withdrawn and that she be given a discharge, without providing a reason. AFP

The elder Suarez is running against Vice Gov. Vicente Alcala while his son is running for congressman. Duterte said she needed to go home to Davao City following a call from one of her children. “I have to go home, there is a family issue that I have to address,” said Duterte who has been campaigning for the senatorial candidates of HNP. She said her brother, Sebastian “Baste,” who is running for vice mayor in Davao City, would temporarily replace her in the campaign from Daet, Camarines Norte, to Legazpi City in Albay. Duterte said she was not sure how many days the family issue would be resolved. Responding if she got a call from the President regarding her announcement of ending her squabble with Robredo, Duterte gave a negative response. “He seldom talks. Very seldom. We only see each other if there is a family celebration like birthdays,” Duterte said. She merely shrugged when asked to comment on Robredo’s statement that the mayor had nothing to do with the Otso Diretso’s challenge to a debate as she was not a senatorial candidate. members identified themselves in the detailed-list of infrastructure projects also worth P21 billion. Andaya said the House submitted four books of the 2019 national budget to the Palace on Monday through the Department of Budget and Management. He said he hoped the Senate would sign the budget as well. But Senate President Vicente Sotto III warned again of a reenacted budget, saying that the senators insisted on the version of the bill ratified by the bicameral conference committee with no changes. “The possibility is really looming now that it would be reenacted if they will not return to the original budget that we passed,” Sotto said. He said the reenacted budget would not have to be for the entire year, because it could be changed in July with the passage of a supplemental budget for the rest of the year. Sotto also denied Andaya’s claims that the senators amended the budget after it was passed by the bicameral conference committee. He also denied that the senators had parked P25 billion in realigned funds with the Department of Public Works and Highways. Sotto also said that itemizing the lump sum funds should have been done before the budget was ratified by the bicameral conference committee. Despite the continuing squabbles over the budget, the Palace said it remained hopeful that the country would not be operating under a reenacted budget until August, which would delay key infrastructure projects. He also said the President would not interfere in the squabble between the House and the Senate. With Nat Mariano

Sytin slay... From A1

“With these “smoking gun” evidence, we now have an airtight case that we will file in court against gunman Luib, and all those who conspired for the hit job on Dominic Lim Sytin, among them, the victim’s brother Dennis Lim Sytin, erstwhile COO of UAI, and two others, including the possible tipster or middleman,” Albayalde said. He said police would file murder and frustrated murder charges against Luib at the Department of Justice. Dennis Sytin issued a statement denying his involvement in the murder and calling the allegation “a brazen lie.” “I received with much sadness news reports linking me to the killing of my brother, Dominic Sytin, in Subic late last year,” he said. “I am innocent. I did not… have anything to do with the killing of my brother. Therefore, the charge against me that I masterminded his death is a great injustice to me, my wife and children and to my slain brother Dominic and our mother. I am being used as a scapegoat while those who are truly responsible for the crime are free and seemingly no longer the subject of investigation—this despite the statement of PNP Chief Albayalde that he still does not consider the case closed.”

DFA chief... From A1

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato confirmed the dismissal. Manila Standard reporter Macon Ramos-Araneta reported in her Facebook post on Friday that she was questioned by the consular officer about her polio after she submitted a photocopy of her person-with-

Tulfo remark draws Palace reaction SPECIAL Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo’s remark calling Filipino workers as “lazy and incompetent” was just his “freedom of expression,” the Palace said Monday, adding that Tulfo was only “relaying” the information he supposedly heard from developers who have employed Chinese workers instead of locals. “Well, that is freedom of expression. Everyone is entitled to make his opinion on any matter concerning the country or the people or anybody,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing. “I don’t think that’s the opinion of Mr. Tulfo. He was just relaying what was said to him by the developers,” he added. The spokesman said Tulfo was just restating the stories he heard from a third person. He, however, noted that in a general sense, Filipino workers are industrious and hardworking. Panelo also said Tulfo’s comment does not endanger the reputation of Filipino workers overseas. Tulfo recently drew criticism for saying that employers preferred the “hardworking” and efficient Chinese over Filipino workers. “When Filipino workers go to a job site, that’s only when they will start preparing their tools, whereas Chinese workers are already prepared. Filipino workers always smoke and keep talking,” Tulfo told CNN Philippines. Tulfo also said he won’t apologize to Filipino workers “for telling the truth” that they are basically lazy and a slowpoke. “Oh my, I kicked up a storm on my statement that Filipino workers in this country are lazy! TUCP wants me to apologize. Labor Secretary Bebot Bello, as can [be] expected, takes exception to my comment. Read my column at The Manila Times tomorrow why I will not apologize,” Tulfo said. Nat Mariano

Gov’t... From A1

Manila Water apologized for the sudden interruption in service, but urged the public to use water “more responsibly and wisely” in light of the El Niño. The company then released a list of affected areas which would have little to no water supply in the coming days, covering Makati, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, City of San Juan, and Angono and Antipolo, Rizal. Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water head for corporate communications, said normal flow of water supply may be felt by residents beginning Tuesday as the agency’s technical teams continue to work on the improvement of its supply system. Panelo said the government would improve on giving people water interruption advisories ahead of time. The La Mesa Dam is part of the important Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system. The weather bureau’s Bayusa said other major dams are not yet at the critical level. Water supply at La Mesa easily drops due to high demand during the dry months, he said. “We can ease the impact of a poor supply at the dam by May or June, during which there will be rains,” he said. Senator Cynthia Villar, meanwhile, said the government has already adopted measures to address the impact that the El Niño would have on agriculture. The Department of Agriculture has also been coordinating with the Air Force for cloud seeding. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the ill effects of the El Niño phenomenon are still manageable. NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas said several local government units have already presented their respective resolutions to address the problems brought by the El Niño in their area. He reminded the LGUs that they can ask for funding assistance from the NDRRMC. The Department of Health warned the public against the dangers of heatstroke, a common health condition associated with rising temperatures during the dry season. “It would be better to drink a lot of water to avoid heatstroke. It is important for children or elderly relatives to give them water, that they’ll be encouraged to drink water,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a radio interview on Monday. The DOH defined heatstroke as a medical emergency in which the body temperature reaches very high levels, 40 degrees Celsius and up, due to constant heat exposure. It is usually in combination with dehydration which can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. It may also lead to severe complications and even death if untreated. Duque said senior citizens and babies are the usual victims of heatstroke, as he advised the public not to stay outdoors between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.―hours when the sun is at its hottest. With PNA disability card. The officer even asked a security guard to check her feet. “I was wrong for presenting only a Xerox copy of my PWD ID, but I wasn’t lying when I said I had polio,” Ramos-Araneta said in her post. “In the first place, why would I fake it, why would you want to be a polio victim?”

News

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Airstrikes vs BIFF rebels mistakenly kill soldier A GOVERNMENT trooper was killed by ‘‘friendly fire’’ following a ‘‘bomb’’ run directed at the location of a Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters camp in Maguindanao. Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Cirilito Sobejana rued the incident, but said they would still continue with the airstrike against suspected BIFF rebels. “Namatayan na kami ng isa, pero tuloy tuloy pa rin ‘yung exchange of fire,” Sobejana told reporters on Monday. “Nag-start ng airstrike kanina early morning. Tapos ground maneuver, airstrike, artillery, mortar, then ground maneuver. During the ground maneuver nandoon, medyo tinamaan ‘yung tropa natin. Okay lang, that’s part of our job,” he added. Despite the ongoing airstrikes, the BIFF, however, did not suffer any casualty according to Captain Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division. “As of this time, wala pang reported na mga casualties. Kasalukuyan ginagawa nila ang clearing operations to determine kung meron nga talagang casualty as far as ‘yung ginawang air and artillery fire mission,” he said. Encinas said the soldiers are conducting pursuit operatioins against the armed group. BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama said the military offensive started over the weekend with howitzer fires in the towns of Mamasapano and Datu Piang, but said that the military was targeting “Moro communities.” Francisco Tuyay

DSWD to continue facilitating release of financial aid to SAF 44 kin By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Social Welfare and Development on Monday vowed to facilitate the release of the second tranche of financial assistance allotted for the immediate relatives of the 44 policemen who were killed in the botched operation to neutralize two terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015. The DSWD issued the statement after relatives of the 44 commandos complained that they have yet to receive the financial assistance promised by the Aquino administration. In a statement, the agency said the first tranche of the Special Financial Assistance amounting to P11,378,338.59 was relessed to 71 dependents in 2015. The President’s Social Fund of the previous administration under the “Social Services Program for the Families of the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] and Philippine National Police [PNP] Personnel killed in Military and Police Operations,” was used, the DSWD said. Two SAF companies were sent to Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano in January 2015 “to neutralize” Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli BinHir, alyas Marwan, and Filipino terrorist Bassit Usman. Marwan was killed during the initial fighting. However, the policemen were ambushed by Moro Islamic Liberation force and other gunmen in the area leading to a daylong fighting. Army troops led by several generals who were deployed near the area at that time refused to reinforce the beleaguered policemen, raising suspicions that the army troops in the area were protecting the Malaysian terrorist. In the fallout after the operation, several charges have been filed against former President Benigno Aquino III, former National Police chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas. Early this year, the families of the commandos complained that they have yet to receive the entire aid package promised by the Aquino administration. The DSWD said it would assist the dependents—the recipients of the first tranche—in liquidating the funds released to them in the first tranche.

Cut down on use of plastics—DENR ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Monday told Filipinos to be stewards of marine life and cut down the use of plastics that end up in the ocean and pose threat to marine life. He said plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide with estimated eight million tons of plastic waste ﬁnding their way into the oceans. “The task of reversing this issue is as big and wide as the ocean, but small actions can make a huge difference,” he said. The environment chief appealed to the public to join the rest of the world in celebrating the World Wildlife Day 2019 with the theme “Life below water: for people and planet.” According to Ocean Conservancy, eight million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year on top of the 150 million tons of plastic that already circulate in the ocean, contributing to loss of species and contamination of food chain. Rio N. Araja

LOOSE FIREARMS. Personnel from the Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Philippine National Police inspect some 80

firearms seized by the Cavite Police Provincial Office in Camp Crame on Monday, March 11. The intensified campaign against loose firearms is in line with the implementation of the election gun ban. PNA

Three kidnap tries in NCR foiled; suspects arrested By Joel E. Zurbano

HREE incidents of kidnapping were foiled in the cities of Parañaque and Navotas, the National Capital Region Police Ofﬁce reported on Monday. Authorities arrested Lilibeth Bustamante, 47, a resident of Manuyo Uno, Las Piñas City, who tried to kidnap a 10-year-old girl along Libas Street, Sampalok Site, BF Homes, Parañaque City. Investigation showed that Bustamante asked the minor victim, who was playing near her house around 11:30 a.m., to accompany her to the nearest store in the area. The girl refused, prompting the suspect to grab her. A neighbor who saw the incident intervened and reported the matter to the village watchmen on duty, resulting in Bustamante’s arrest. The suspect was later turned over to the police station. During interrogation, Bustamante revealed that she was a member of a kidnapping group operating in Cavite,

Laguna, Bulacan and Metro Manila. Members of the Women and Children Protection Desk of Parañaque City Police Station conducted follow-ups and inquiries in Laguna Police based on the suspect’s claim that her group had allegedly kidnapped two minors in the province. However, response from Laguna PNP yielded negative results. Meanwhile, Princess Diana Estabillo, 19, a resident of Marilao, Bulacan, was also arrested for trying to abduct a ﬁveyear-old boy along Pinaglabanan Street, Santa Rita Extension, Barangay Baclaran, also in Parańaque. Police said the boy was playing outside their house around 6:30 p.m. last Thursday when Estabillo approached and asked him to accompany her in the comfort room.

The suspect then grabbed the boy’s hands and walked away but a bystander witnessed the incident and blocked their path. The boy’s mother reported the incident to the authorities who arrested Estabillo. At the police station, a woman claiming to be a sister of the suspect appeared and said the suspect is mentally disturbed. But the woman failed to provide any medical records to prove her claim. In Navotas, another woman was caught trying to abduct a four-year-old nursery pupil in Tulay 1, Tabing Dagat in Barangay Daanghari around 9 a.m. on Monday. The suspect was identiﬁed as Marites Gatchalian, 46, a native of Bacolod City. She is now detained and will be charged in court after the victim’s mother Rosemarie Reyes ﬁled a complaint against her. Reyes told investigators that Gatchalian held and pulled the hand of her son and tried to take him away. She immediately sought the help of neighbors resulting in the suspect’s apprehesion. NCRPO director Guillermo Eleazar commended the people in the community for helping police authorities in catching the criminal elements. He asked the public to be more vigilant and observant of their surroundings.

Stop playing BI reshuffles key officials at NAIA terminals with the people’s By Vito Barcelo money, PCSO told A HOUSE leader on Monday urged the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to be prudent in spending the money it raises through the bets placed by the people in its various games. Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusements, made the statement in light of allegations of irregularities in the agency. “The PCSO must safeguard its revenues and must be more prudent with its finances because it is an important source of funds for the government’s programs for the poor,” said Tambunting. Earlier, PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan announced his resignation but Malacañang said he was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte over suspicions of corruption. Last week, Tambunting’s committee conducted a joint hearing with the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez of Quezon, on alleged irregularities at the PCSO. Among the allegations raised during the hearing were the resale of Small Town Lottery contracts that the agency allegedly left unchecked. Tambunting also cited a report submitted by the Commission on Audit for 2017 which showed that the PCSO failed to collect P4.049 billion from 71 of PCSO’s Authorized Agent Corporations which are the entities operating the Small Town Lottery. Tambunting added “After the hearings we conducted, it is clear the PCSO is not managing its funds well.” Maricel V. Cruz

THE Bureau of Immigration reshuffled its key officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as part of a continuing effort by the management to further the professional advancement of its employees and improve its service to the traveling public. BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said that more than 20 immigration supervisors and intelligence officers currently assigned at NAIA’s three terminals were affected by the recent reshuffle that saw all of them being transferred from one terminal to another. Medina said the personnel assignment orders of the reshuffled employees were issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente after the Commission on Elections approved the BI’s request for exemption to the ban on the transfer of government workers during the election period. Medina said that he asked Morente to

TOFIL AWARDS.

The Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines, led by its president Domingo ‘Jun‘ Roque Jr. (extreme right) and ANSA Foundation Chairman Anthony Philip Nocum (left) formally honored Insular Life and former Insular Life Chairman and CEO JCI Senator Vicente R. Ayllon (center) for their more than 25 years of institutional support for and partnership with The Outstanding Filipino Awards. Veteran author and 2019 TOFIL Chairman Melandrew T. Velasco, also a JCI senator, gifts Ayllon with his latest book ’Silver Linings: The Continuing Saga of the 1986 People Power Revolution’ at Club Filipino during the TOFIL national launch held recently. This year’s TOFIL search is a joint project of JCI Senate Philippines and ANSA Foundation. The deadline for submission of TOFIL nomination is on July 15, 2019.

implement the reshuffle in order to “give the affected officials the chance to assume new job functions and responsibilities that will foster their career advancement and develop their capabilities as border control officers of the country.” Among those affected by the revamp were the chief of the Airport Operations Section, Port Operations Division deputy heads, BI NAIA Terminal supervisor, head of the BI’s Border Control and Intelligence Unit, and members of the BI’s Special Operations and Communications Unit. The routine reshuffle, according to Morente, is part of his policy to “shake up the system” to prevent fraternization and corruption. “The top officers managing the BI personnel at the airports are not exempt from this policy,” said Morente. “Apart from reshuffling our frontline officers, we also have a rotation system for heads to encourage fresh ideas on how to improve terminal management,” he added. A total of 514 Immigration officers have been reshuffled in NAIA earlier this year.

CJ Bersamin’s kin forgive fish ball vendor THE son of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, Dr. Lucas B. Bersamin Jr., and daughter-in-law, Bianca, have decided to withdraw the case ﬁled against a ﬁsh ball vendor who was arrested last Saturday in Makati City on complaints of unjust vexation and threat. Bersamin revealed on Monday that the decision to withdraw the case against Conrado Bingco, the 38-yearold vendor, was arrived at after the couple consulted with him after the incident. “Although the couple said that this is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly, moving on from the issue and desisting from prosecuting the case was deemed best for both parties,” the top magistrate said, in an interview. “The couple, however, are pushing for proper legislature to protect women’s rights against catcalling and other forms of sexual harassment,” he added. Rey E. Requejo

Taguig workers get health coverage THE Taguig City government is now covering urban farmers, vendors and fisherfolk under health insurance as part of its program to register more workers with health benefits. The local government will take care of the beneficiaries’ Philippine Health Insurance membership for a year, covering the full amount of their premium. During the event dubbed ‘‘Bida sa Kalusugan: A Special Medical Mission for Vendors, Farmers and Fisherfolk,’’ more than 1,600 individuals filled out their Membership Registration Forms at the PhilHealth booth and were given a PhilHealth number. PhilHealth IDs of the beneficiaries will be delivered to them after processing. As PhilHealth members, the workers would be entitled to free inpatient services, subsidies (for room and board, drugs and medicines, laboratories, operating room and professional fees for confinements not less than 24 hours) and Outpatient Benefit Packages in PhilHealthaccredited facilities. Aside from the PhiHealth registration, the mission also brought in a medical team composed of barangay health workers, nurses, doctors and dentists. The attendees got free medical and dental services, plus laboratory tests and chest X-ray. Joel E. Zurbano

Opinion

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Integrity and honesty PRESIDENT Duterte has continued his attacks on the clergy. First he said they should be robbed and killed for stealingx from the Church. Now he says they are stupid because they take the vow of celibacy. He says 80 percent of the clergy are gay. What was his basis for that, I wonder. The President says priests are stupid because they see beautiful women but cannot marry them.

Why do we elect people without them?

I don’t know why Duterte is fixat fixated on bishops and priests. He claims they use the pulpit in attacking him for his war against illegal drugs and then invoke the separation of Church and state. But if you look at the Constitution, the doctrine of separation of Church and state is focused on the state not favoring a particular religion. Duterte forgets that the Church is duty-bound to get involved in matters of morality – killings, for example, in the name of the war against drugs. As for priests being stupid for being celibate, that is part of their sacrifice. If priests commit sexual abuse, then that is another matter. *** Presidentia daughter Davao City mayor Sara Duterte Carpio says she was reprimanded by her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, for her arguments with the opposition on the issue of honesty. Certainly, as far as right-thinking

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

people are concerned, any candidate for public office must have honesty and integrity. Article XI of the 1987 Constitution says public office is a public trust. Public officers must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives. In addition, candidates must also have a high standard of morality. For example, officials should not be cheating on their wives or living with their mistresses. I have been a journalist for a long time and I have never seen as many immoral leaders as I do now. This is the greatest tragedy of our nation. We elect people we cannot trust. *** We blame people in government for the cycle of corruption. It has defied solution even by well-meaning presidents. But how does, for instance, a coningressional candidate recoup an in vestment of P300 million? I have friends in Congress who tell me that people line up at their doorsteps to ask for money for anything—lunches and dinners, birthdays and anniversaries, basketball uniforms, livelihoods. If they don’t give the people what they want, they are branded as ingrates. Some congressmen put up tents outside their homes for their constituents. They come and expect to be fed breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus be given money for the fare home. This is why there is corruption in government. This is why the cycle is vicious. *** Malacañang, through Spokesman Salvador Panelo, says Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan was fired on allegations of corruption. He hinted that Balutan engaged in monkey business in the granting of licenses to

Interrupted

ESPITE the growing reach of social media, people can feel distant and removed from many issues dominating the headlines these days.

to anger or inflame the people they affect—sentiments that can translate into strong opinion in the poll surveys, or in the polls. One such issue is the water shortage now being experienced in Metro Manila. That there could be a shortage is not far-fetched. After all, summer has crept in, and we are told the El Niño phenomenon promises considerable damage not only to lifestyles but livelihoods. What most Metro Manilans were surprised about, however, was the sudden—unannounced—drop in the water level at the La Mesa Dam. As of Monday morning, that level has dropped to 68.93 meters Monday morning, lower than the 69.02 meters the previous day, and the lowest it has gone in 12 years. Normal water level is 79.30 to 79.60 meters. This led to unannounced water service interruptions across the metro, leaving residents desperate—and angry.

For example, while many issues—Chinese incursion into the West Philippine Sea, or the political bickering among the senatorial candidates, their champions and their supporters, deplorable traffic or public transportation, or even the on-again, off-again attacks by the President on members of the Catholic clergy—are deemed important, they stand at various points along the urgency continuum. Solutions to these problems could take months or even years, requiring careful planning, constant dialogue, or even implementation. Meanwhile, there are some issues that are both important and urgent. One day longer is one too much. They have the potential

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo says the government will swiftly act to address the problem, possibly through cloud seeding over the affected areas, and marvels at how nobody but him seems to have thought of this. But more than the inducing rain, the government must take charge of the situation by providing information to residents on projected water levels, service interruption schedules, and regularly fielding water trucks to help restore a semblance of normalcy and predictability to affected communities. It should hold the water service providers accountable for their failure to act in a timely manner to help residents deal with the shortage. Water is not just any product or commodity. It is as intimately linked with daily life, perhaps more than any other utility. If water stops flowing from people's taps, it won't be long before patience drains, as well.

Turn to A5

A better party-list system SINCE its creation under the 1987 Constitution, the party-list system has undergone dramatic changes. As originally envisioned, the party-list system was created in the 1987 Constitution purportedly to give marginalized sectors or groups, including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural, women, youth, and other such sectors as may be defined by law (except the religious sector), representation in Congress. In 1995, Republic Act 7541 or the Party-List Act was enacted in order to define and prescribe the broad mechanics of this system representation. Unfortunately, the law, instead of clarifying the mechanics of the system, created ambiguities and controversies which spawned a number of judicial adjudication. Thus, in 2000 the Supreme Court promulgated Veterans Federation Party et al. vs. COMELEC which changed the way how the seats are allocated for the winning parties. Again in 2007, BANAT vs. COMELEC where the Court clarified that the 20-percent allocation of party-list representatives is merely a ceiling; party-list representatives cannot be more than 20 percent of the members of the House of Representatives. The Court also upheld the constitutionality of the three-seat cap as a limitation to the number of seats that a qualified party list organization may occupy. Then in 2013, in Atong Paglaum vs. Comelec, the Supreme Court ruled that political parties do not have to represent the marginalized sectors to be able to participate in the party-list elections. This decision radically digressed from the earlier decision penned by CJ Panganiban in Ang Bagong Bayani to the effect that the party-list system is solely intended for the marginalized, and the “national” and “regional” parties must be national and regional parties for the marginalized. He wrote: “The law crafted to address the peculiar disadvantages of Payatas hovel dwellers cannot be appropriated by the mansion owners of Forbes Park. The Atong Paglaum ruling effectively reversed the more restrictive interpretation that caused the retroactive disqualification of some of the groups that got the highest number of votes. It gave flesh to the supposed constitutional intention

to make the party list law a system of proportional representation open to various kinds of groups and parties, and not merely exclusive to the so-called marginalized sectors. This latest ruling seems to go against the original intent of the partylist system as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution to include sectors and those organizations that do not have welldefined political constituencies and facilitate access to representation of minority or small parties. Sad to say, the fateful decision dislodged the so-called marginalized groups from their exclusive perch and gave way to the invasion of the rich and powerful. Since then, party list is no longer the exclusive domain of the marginalized and the underrepresented.

It’s currently broken. In the upcoming 2019 elections, the Comelec announced that there are around 134 groups – from the 185 organization which applied—will vie for 59 seats allotted for the party list at the House of Representatives. For the party list to be truly credible, there is a need for the Comelec to clean up the system by delisting those which give disrepute and which abuse the whole system. But the more effective way is for the electorate to be more discerning by repudiating the pretenders, falsely representing themselves as authentic party-list organizations, and choosing only those which with genuine and credible platforms that would advance the interests of the marginalized and underrepresented—not the power brokers with selfish interests. The party-list system is currently broken. During the 1986 deliberations on the party-list provisions of the charter, some of the commissioners, particularly Commissioner Wilfrido Villacorta, expressed their apprehension in allowing the participation of traditional political parties in the party-list system. Sad to say, this apprehension proved prophetic considering the present composition of many of our party list groups, many of which are controlled by large parties and/or traditional politicians in order to perpetuate their dominance. The party-list system has been misused and abused with many so-called Turn to A5

Scaredy cat BANISH the thought that a lively debate between the administration’s senatorial bets from Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) and the opposition candidates from Otso Diretso (OD) is likely to happen at all. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in February that they were ready for it, challenging the opposition to just name the time and place, and they would be there to answer any issue hurled against them.

The electorate deserves something more than sound bytes. But neither hide nor hair of the admin administration bets showed up at fabled Plaza Miranda, the preferred venue to test of the credibility and competence of poll bets. Duterte-Carpio claimed the opposition seemed to be fixated on debate and

that she would not stoop down so low and be the secretary of the opposition team to schedule the debates herself. Recently, she changed her tune and said she would face all the opposition bets all by her lonesome, challenging them once again to just name the time and place. But why would the opposition senatorial bets even consider calling her dare and be accused of ganging up on some someone whose grasp of issues is parochial and limited to her experience in running Davao City? The opposition team really wanted the debate to take place and to articulate their stand on key issues before the electorate Turn to A5

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Opinion The working Speaker ALTHOUGH THE House is already in recess, many congressmen are still putting in long hours as members of various oversight committees deployed by House Speaker Arroyo to make sure various Executive agencies are also doing their jobs. Arroyo herself is making the rounds of the country to follow up on the status of important initiatives launched during her presidency. Although her trips are being billed as a “sentimental journey,” as she nears the end of yet another chapter in her political life, they are also working visits by a former chief executive who likes to make sure that whatever she started will get done. *** A key initiative of Arroyo’s presidency was her program to assist informal settlers in Metro Manila and other urban areas to acquire titles to the land on which they may have lived for decades. Through over a dozen different proclamations and executive orders, she sought to “convert home owners into landowners.” This allows informal settlers to finally acquire real assets, secure their stability of domicile, and improve their access to utilities and other basic social services. One of her biggest projects in Metro Manila involves around 8,000 informal settlers in the National Government Center (NGC) property near the Batasan, Quezon City. Despite coverage by R.A. 9207, the land titling process was delayed by issues of land grabbing and land reblocking failure. Speaker Arroyo tabled the project with the House oversight committees for both R.A. 9207 and R.A. 10023 (Free Patent Law) and requested a Ps 350-M budget to fund the distribution. Another project goes all the way back to former President Ramos’ Proclamation 458, issued for the benefit of some 6,000 settlers along the Manggahan Floodway in Pasig. The Speaker went ahead to file HB 8255 to address the delays experienced in distributing titles to these settlers. In 2002, then-President Arroyo issued Proclamation 234 for the benefit of some 8,000 settlers in Southville Subdivision, Poblacion, Muntinlupa. The National Bureau of Prisons enjoys usufruct rights over this property owned by the Madrigal family. This usufruct will now have to be extended for another 50 years, unless the Madrigals can be persuaded to sell their property for redistribution. In 2004, Arroyo also issued Proclamation 581 to distribute land owned by government corporations GSIS and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to some 5,000 beneficiaries in Parola, Tondo. As Speaker, she has convened an oversight committee to

Integrity... From A4

operate small-town lottery to replace jueteng. But Balutan said he stepped down because he could not stomach what was going on at his office. This was the official accused of having a P10-

A better... From A4

nominees who are multi-millionaires claiming to represent the underprivileged. It is a backdoor channel used by many to gain power and allow them to dip their hands into the proverbial cookie jar, i.e. the perks and privileges that go with being a member of Congress. Millionaires and political dummies infest the system designed to empower the marginalized. Indeed the party-list system has become a laughing stock, an utter absurdity and a travesty of democracy. But as in every rule, there are exceptions. There are party-list groups which remain true to their advocacies; those that

Scaredy... From A4

that they even called on the Comelec to schedule the public debate. Opposition bets Samira Gutoc, Florin “Pilo” Hilbay, Gary Alejano and Romulo Macalintal personally trooped to the Comelec to file the request. Samira Gutoc, a Maranao from Marawi City who holds a Masteral degree in International Studies from the University of the Philippines and was named one of the 500 Most Influential

resolve delays in this project. Outside Metro Manila, Arroyo had issued Proclamation 409 in 2003 for the benefit of 3,200 settlers in Brgy Apas Lahug, Cebu City. A land dispute that delayed the distribution process for up to 15 years is now nearing a compromise agreement. In Isla Puting Bato, some 2,000 settlers may be displaced by the Manila Bay clean-up project. At the Speaker’s request, the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) is donating 5 hectares plus P1 million cash for their benefit.

This is an executive who likes to make sure that whatever she started will get done.

a Nobel Peace Prize, he forgot to look after the SAF troopers massacred in Mamasapano. When he was courting U.S. support for his OJT presidency, he pushed the country to the brink of armed confrontation over maritime disputes with China, regardless of how ill-prepared we might be for such a fight. And even in a prosaic area like infrastructure spending, he threw his countrymen under the bus in order to keep his investment-grade ratings and the bankers happy. *** President Duterte fixed the first problem by pushing the new Bangsamoro Organic Law through Congress. And he’s still working on the second one with his foreign policy “tilt towards China.” Even an irascible nationalist like Malaysia’s Mahathir opined during his visit here that he would prefer China over the U.S. as his long-term economic partner. As for the third item, the “working Speaker” is doing her share by using Congressional oversight powers to make sure that her RoRo program is back on track, now within the general parameters of Duterte’s Build Build Build infrastructure initiative. The Maritime Industry Authority recently inaugurated eight new RoRo routes: Daanbantayan, Cebu to Calbayog City, Samar 2. Tabuelan, Cebu to Ajuy, Iloilo 3. Laoay, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro 4. San Juan, Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro 5. Iloilo City to Cuyo, Palawan 6. San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur 7. San Andres, Quezon to Pasacao, Camarines Sur 8. Lucena, Quezon to San Fernando, Cebu. These eight are missionary routes, under which shipping operators will enjoy a five-year route exclusivity or protection of investment, as well as a 50-percent discount on government processing fees. The new routes join another twelve that were opened earlier, in January, to service the following destinations: Basco, Batanes—Currimao, Ilocos Norte 2. San Juan, Batangas—Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro 3. Real, Quezon—Polillo Island, Quezon 4. Lucena, Quezon—Buyabod, Marinduque 5. Pantao, Albay—San Pascual, Masbate 6. Calbayog City, Samar—Cataingan, Masbate 7. Cuyo, Palawan—San Jose de Buenavista, Antique 8. Oslob, Cebu—Dumaguete, Negros Oriental 9. Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu—Jetafe, Bohol 10. Poro, Camotes, Cebu—Isabel, Leyte 11. Lipata, Surigao del Norte – Dapa, Surigao del Norte 12. Siaton, Negros Oriental—Dipolog City MARINA has already called on shipping operators to propose even more new RO-RO routes to expand the existing list. As PNot failed to learn from his former economics professor: Public money should be spent on the public, not hoarded for brownie points with the bankers.

Other outstanding land distribu distribution projects initiated by the former president may be found in Sitio Pajo Baesa, QC (1,300 beneficiaries under her EO 58); Tambo, Paranaque (400 beneficiaries under her EO 116); Brgy Escopa, Cubao, QC (Proclamation 6); Brgy Valencia Homeowners Association, Area 1 (83 beneficiaries under Proclamation 543); Brgy NBBS Proper, Navotas (Proclamation 225); Brgy Katuparan, Taguig (Proclamations 133 and 523); and Maricaban III and Barrio Putol, Pasay City (Proclamation 391). *** A better-known legacy of the erstwhile president was her famous RoRo program. With “roll-on, roll-off” vessels, Arroyo was able to roll out three “nautical highways”: two from north to south on both sides of the archipelago, the third from east to west through the Visayan islands. These highways have become indispensable for logistics and distribution throughout the country, as well as fixtures for travellers who now routinely hop from one island to another. After Arroyo left the Palace in 2010, and in the infinite wisdom of her successor, the RoRo port construction program was suspended in 2011 on allegations of “corruption”. This was the same rationale behind PNot’s cancellation of many other infrastructure programs, from flood control to roads to the Laguna Bay dredging project, thereby reducing government spending and leaving behind nearly a trillion pesos in “savings.” I can’t imagine why those “savings” are still being bragged about even today by PNot’s hand-picked “Otso Diretso” senatorial slate. Creditors and credit rating agencies would have been ecstatic—as they would be over any borrower who’s suddenly flush with cash—but at the expense of millions of Filipinos who were denied the benefits of all those foregone projects. The recurrent problem with PNot was that he often forgot whom he was Readers can write me at gboliworking for. When he was gunning for var1952@yahoo.com.

million Christmas party at Shangri-La Hotel. The matter should be investigated not just by Congress but by the National Bureau of Investigation. *** What ever happened to the investigation of alleged conflict of interest

of Solicitor General Jose Calida for having business interests in a security agency that has contracts with some government agencies? Isn’t there a whiff of corruption there, too?

truly give voice to the under-privileged and under-represented sectors which they represent. Some of these represent women, youth, farmers, laborers other and marginalized sectors. In my view, and this is from limited knowledge and so not complete, the party list groups that belong to this category are: those in the Makabayan coalition (Bayan Muna, AnakPawis, ACT-TEACHERS, Kabataan), Akbayan, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Murang Kuryente, Magdalo, and COOP-NATCCO. Manggagawa should also have been accredited. When I was an OFW, I always voted for Migrante. In other times, I have alternately voted for Bayan Muna or Akbayan. For 2019, however, for reasons I will explain next week, I am endorsing as a commitment to the future of this country

the Kabataan Party List currently represented by Sarah Elago. Yes, the party list system is currently broken. But it should not be abolished. Instead it should be strengthened by ensuring only those that genuinely represent sector and serious governance platforms are allowed to participate in the process. More seats—I say up to 50 percent of the House of Representatives and the Senate should be allotted for such parties, as in the case of the Bangsamoro Parliament. But personality and family-based parties should not be accredited. If we do this, we will reform our politics and have a better country.

Muslims by Georgetown University’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, explained their move thus: “Hugpong bets should be the most excited and willing candidates to engage in debates because they are backed by the administration, and if they truly believe that this administration has ushered us to progress, then they should have nothing to fear. I appeal that you debate with us and stop from committing this great disservice to the Filipino electorate.” She explained that they lack the money for TV ads and big billboards

like administration bets like Christopher “Bong” Go and the other billionaires in HNP. A debate, Gutoc pointed out, would “level the playing field for them,” and having money and name recall should not be the sole basis for attracting votes. Yes, we concur that that elections should be based on qualifications, competence and platforms, not how much you can spend for song-and dance routines and noted singers to sing your jingle, or how many T-shirts you can distribute to your descamisado constitu-

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

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Not the best choice for BSP governorship banking system is one thing; familiarity with how banks operate—especially how they manage to get BSP rules and regulations—is another. The new governor’s previous job experience in this regard is not at all A NEW governor of the BSP (Bang- reassuring. A further criterion that the Presiko Sentral ng Pilipinas) has been appointed by the President of the Phil- dent of the Philippines should have ippines following the death of the fully taken into account in selecting the latest BSP governor was its imincumbent. The BSP governorship is one of pact on the morale of the men and the most important positions in the women who make the BSP run. The government—so important that a onset of demoralization comes from charismatic and intellectually well- knowledge that the ranks of the naendowed governor can be, in my tion’s monetary authority include view, the sixth most powerful figure men and women who are well qualiin this country. For this reason, the fied to sit in the governor’s chair. nation’s Chief Executive should— Three deputy governors are standnay, must—appoint to the position of outs—Diwa Guinigundo, Cyd Tuaño chief monetary policymaker an indi- and Chuchie Fonacier. All three have at one time or anvidual who fulsec other been secfills four criteonded with the ria. These are (Interna IMF (Internaa widely held There was tional Monetary reputation for absolutely no need to Fund). Although professional initially resisted competence, a bring in an outsider by the BSP rank public percep- this time around. and file, comtion of integrity, mercial banker a good working Bue Rafael Bueknowledge of the Philippine banking system and, naventura was eventually embraced last but not least, a capacity to obtain by them. Three of the new governor’s the full respect and cooperation of the four predecessors—Gabriel Singson, BSP community. An appointee who Amando Tetangco Jr. and Nestor Esdoes not fulfill these criteria is bound penilla Jr.—were all insiders. There to have difficulty performing one of was absolutely no need to bring in an outsider this time around. the nation’s most challenging jobs. The final criterion for rightness in The President of the Philippines recently appointed the fourth gov- the selection of the BSP governorernor of the BSP, which in 1993 re- ship concerns integrity. The integrity placed the Central Bank of the Philip- of the BSP chief is so crucial to this pines as this country’s central bank. country’s monetary life that the old The new governor enjoys the rec- phrase being “like Caesar’s wife” ognition of his academic peers as a is highly appropriate. Like Caesar’s well-trained economist. He has come wife, the governor of the BSP must to the BSP from the Executive branch be above all suspicion. There must be no cloud above his integrity. He of the government. Did President Rodrigo Duterte do must come to the nation’s monetary the right thing in selecting the new authority with no integrity-related appointee as the fourth government baggage. The incoming governor has of the BSP? Let us bring the above- such baggage. Applying the above-discussed cristated criteria into play. Though the new governor’s pro- teria to the selection and appointment fessional experience has been largely of the new BSP governor, can it be on the fiscal side of the economic said that the President of the Philipequation, his training as an economist pines did the right thing? I don’t think has rendered him ready to take on the so. task of chief monetary policymaker. Erratum: In a recent column on Professional competence is not an isthe Otso Diretso, I should have said sue here. But broad knowledge of the Senator Koko Pimentel and Otso canworkings of the Philippine banking didate Pilo Hilbay both placed first in system—the core of the BSP’s con- the Bar exams. And Hilbay was prostituency—is. The knowledge that fessor at, not dean of, the U.P. Coleconomics students imbibe about the lege of Law. My apologies.

Sleeping on the job? IT’S A shame that while the authorities succeed in their relentless, chilling and harsh anti-illegal drugs war, the antiillegal gambling drive has gone amiss in some regions at least. I sure wish that it isn’t true but my informants have it that the illegal numbers game jueteng has flourished again despite the crackdown ordered by President Duterte. Such would not have been possible without the “protection” of some unscrupulous police authorities and local government officials. One of the regions where jueteng operations have stepped up is in Region IV-A otherwise known as CALABARZON where the STL is reportedly “practically dead.” The government and, ultimately the general public, stand to lose in this scenario as jueteng, being an illegal operation, does not generate tax revenues that supposedly help finance public facilities like public hospitals. So, while jueteng has become widespread in Region IV-A, PCSO has lost billions of pesos supposedly coming from up to 30 percent of proceeds from

ents. A spirited and frank debate on issues would have allowed the administration bets to really explain their stand on the main issues confronting the nation today, such as poverty. It would educate the voters and allow them to make an informed judgment come election day. Only the opposition bets and a handful of administration candidates have joined national TV debates such as those sponsored by the major news outfits. Now we know the stand of some candidates on important issues.

STL operations in the area. But instead of paying taxes, the gambling lords rake in more money because it costs them less to pay “protection or grease money” to some regional police and LGU officials. A well-connected gambling lord known as “Jojo Sendninyo,” dominates the jueteng operations in CALABARZON, allegedly coughing up millions of pesos to pay the bribe. “Sendninyo’s” army of bet collectors (kubrador) combs the neighborhoods, streets, public markets and shopping malls all over the region. My research staff tried to get in touch with CALABARZON Region Police Office Director Edward Caranza to double-check our information but the police general never returned our call. This developed amid the imbroglio at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) that has led to the firing of its General Manager Alexander Balutan over alleged corruption in connection with its administration of STL nationwide. No, we wouldn’t want to see General Caranza booted out of service by Manong Digong. The CALABARZON police chief needs to be replaced by someone who is competent. Gen. Caranza would be perfect as planning director in Camp Crame while waiting for his retirement this year.

But missing were most administration bets, who are either so comfortable in their survey standings that they don’t want to jeopardize this or the others languishing in the lower ranks who would be exposed as total buffoons on national TV as soon as they open their mouths. The electorate deserves something more than sound bytes and clowning around by senatorial bets, so we can really find out who’s real and who’s fake in this crucial political exercise. Email: ernhil@yahoo.com

News

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Binay lauds case dismissal By Joel E. Zurbano

ORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday lauded a court decision dismissing the attempted murder case ﬁled by a police ofﬁcer against a University of Makati student and her family. Binay, head of the UMak School of Law Center for Legal Aid, represented the accused Romalyn Gumapos, her sister Marleen Gumapos, stepfather Anselmo Degamo, and brother-in-law George Fernandez—with the assistance of lawyers Bernardine Madamba and Precious Pingol of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Manila-II Chapter and Angel CGI Valero-Nuñez and Jewel Bulos from the UMak School of Law. In a two-page decision dated March 5, 2019, Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina, of

the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32, ordered the release of the accused after the prosecution manifested that it could not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. “The private complainant PO3 Jegson Galang testiﬁed, among others, that he is now retracting his testimony given before this Court and that the incident subject matter of this case arose out of misapprehension of facts and misunderstanding between him and all the accused,” the decision said. “In view of the tenor of the testimony of

the private complainant, the public prosecutor manifested that the prosecution will not be able to establish the guilt of all accused beyond reasonable doubt and moved for the dismissal of the case. Finding the said motion to be well taken, the same is hereby granted,” the court order said. Binay, who had his services for free, said when he accepted the case, the family had been in jail for seven months because they could not afford to hire a lawyer to represent them in court. He added the family were also afraid because the principal complainant is a policeman. One of the defendants, Romalyn Gumapos, is a student of the UMak College of Business and Financial Sciences. Binay said the college secretary of CBFS sought the help of the UMak School of Law Center for Legal Aid after

being informed by one of Romalyn’s professors of her detention. The case is the first case handled by the UMak Legal Aid Center in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Manila-II Chapter. “I am glad that our first case was a success but more than that, I am happy that we are finally realizing our vision of having a Legal Aid center,” Binay said. “Through the UMak School of Law Center for Legal Aid, we hope to provide free legal help to people in need. Napakarami po ng gaya ni Roma na nakukulong kahit walang sala dahil lamang wala silang abogado na magtatanggol sa kanila,” he added. Binay said aside from the Center of Legal Aid, the UMak School of Law also had other academic research centers each with its own focus and areas of expertise.

NAIA overlay, repair works complete by weekend THE overlay and repair works of Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway 06/24 is now in its final phase and is expected to be completed this weekend. “I am glad that we are completing the project way ahead of its original schedule which is July 2019, just in time for the expected peak this summer,” said Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority. Runway 06/24 is the main runway of the country’s main gateway. The P704-million project was undertaken with two components, the civil works and electrical phases. The civil works package involves repair of runway pavement, total asphalt overlay with a length of 3,697 meters and 60 meters wide, repair and asphalt overlay mixed with anti-rutting additive on the approach portions of taxiway exits and restoration of runway pavement markings. The electrical phase, on the other hand, consists of removal, resurfacing, and re-installation of affected airfield lights including runway center lights, curvature lights, threshold lights, sequence flashing lights at runway 06/24 and connecting taxiways. On a daily basis, NAIA’s main runway observes maintenance closure from 1:30 a.m to 3:30 a.m. for derubberizing, degreasing and small repairs when needed. Runway surface maintenance such as these are done to maximize friction for wheel braking and more importantly, as a safety standard. Any activity that would require longer closure hours is covered by a Notice to Airmen which is issued in advance to pilots and airline operators through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. “This is done so that the airlines can adjust their schedules accordingly for flights that will be affected by the closure and have ample time to inform their passengers about these adjustments,” said Monreal. Joel E. Zurbano

BEATING THE HEAT. Despite the poor water supply to some areas in Metro Manila, youngsters from a Tondo, Manila street frolic on an inflatable pool to beat the blazing heat which reached 32 degrees Celsius, or almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit, on Monday. Ey Acasio

Globaltech Peryahan ng Bayan defies Padilla GLOBALTECH Peryahan ng Bayan Operations has deﬁed Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla’s order as the Peryahan games continued to operate with lottery result of 19-24 posted in the glass wall in the building leased by Globaltech. The hidden draw center of Globaltech Peryahan ng Bayan Jueteng Operation is to be located at a certain piggery along the road near a cemetery owned by a local politician in Bagabag town where the bets, paper paraphernalia and selected “cabos” are brought by a white vehicle. Globaltech’s lottery simulated games runs from 1 to 38 only, two numbers lower with PCSO legal franchisee Small Town Lottery (STL) 1 to 40 operated by King’s 801 Gaming Corporation who signed a partnership contract last January

2019 with PCSO. Collectors (kubradors) and bankers (cabos) from STL are said to be convinced by people from Boy Aleta’s group with the offer of higher percentage and salary. In the Provincial Peace and Order Council the other day, Padilla and PNP Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Director Sr. Supt Richard Saavedra said “we are just waiting for the arrival of the original copy of the Deed of Authority from PCSO Central Office and a PCSO representative then we will start doing raids provincewide.” Saavedra said “If the receipts that we would confiscate will be from Globaltech kubradors then PCSO Nueva Vizcaya will have to file charges in court but if it’s the guerrilla type opera-

Green group welcomes endorsement

SOLO PARENTS.

As part of Women’s Month celebration, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (left) leads Monday in the distribution of Solo Parents ID in partnership with Social Service Development for solo parents only with 20percent discount for medicine, transportation fare and others at the Quezon City Hall. Manny Palmero

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Luntiang Pilipinas Party-list has welcomed Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s support behind the group that seeks to be the first green party in the House of Representatives. The group’s first nominee Michael Ubac confirmed that Sotto, chairperson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, had endorsed his group, a movement founded by Senator Loren Legarda to advocate the protection and preservation of our environment. “We are grateful for the support of the Senate President, and we hope that the endorsement of a national leader with his stature can help us convince other leaders of the need for champions of the environment in the Legislature,” said Ubac. Luntiang Pilipinas is vying for seats in the House of Representatives under the party-list system. Over 120 partylist groups have been accredited by the Commission on Elections. Ubac said that Luntiang Pilipinas “is a legitimate green party that has a deep understanding of the environmental issues facing the country, a clear program of action to address these issues, and a track record that shows that we can deliver.” Established in 1998 as a movement, Luntiang Pilipinas is responsible for planting and growing two million trees in 33 provinces, 28 cities, and 84 municipalities across the country.

tions the PNP will file charges.” The fiasco stemmed from the complaints from PCSO Nueva Vizcaya who said the daily total sales were going down while some officers from PRO2 leadership stopped some collectors and bankers of the legal permittee STL in collecting bets in Dupax town, while Globaltech’s lawyer made a no-show in a committee hearing in the Sangguniang Bayan. Meanwhile, Provincial Legal Officer Voltaire Garcia in an ambush interview with the Manila Standard “any barangay official has no authority to issue permit to operate in any barangay in the province to Peryahan ng Bayan. They could be held criminally and civilly liable for these actions. It’s only the PCSO who had the authority.” Brenda Joson

Batangas mayor facing admin complaint before Ombudsman By Rio N. Araja A MUNICIPAL mayor from Batangas is facing an administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over four Facebook posts of her Christmas vacation in the United States in December last year to January this year. In a complaint-affidavit, San Pascual Vice Mayor Antonio Dimayuga appealed to the Ombudsman to look into the supposed grave misconduct, gross ignorance of the law and violation of the Local Government Code. As far as the accused—Mayor Roanna Conti—is concerned, she said “I deny the allegations and find all the charges made by Mr. Antonio Dimayuga both amusing and baffling.” Also included in the complaint was municipal human resources management officer Ronaldo Gonzalez Jr. for allegedly making it appear that Conti’s overseas travel had the proper authorization.

In a statement, Conti said Dimayuga seemed to be the only one who was “out of the loop,” adding the vice mayor was not aware of her authority to travel and leave the country as approved by Gov. Hermilando Mandanas. She said the vice mayor was the one facing graft charges before the Ombudsman since he was “growing senile and wants to make a return as mayor.” She said the administrative complaint was “totally baseless, and a waste of time and energy of our good prosecutors in the Ombudsman’s ofﬁce.” She threatened to ﬁle a perjury case against the vice mayor. Dimayuga claimed members of the municipal council did not know Conti was in the US for a vacation with her husband, Nick, and their children from Dec. 20, 2018 to Jan. 5, 2019. Attached to the complaint were FB posts with pictures of Conti spending Christmas and New Year in Las Vegas, Nevada and La Canada Flintridge, California.

Gordon asks Duque: Stop unjust pratices of hospitals By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon has asked Health Secretary Francisco Duque to look into the unjust practices of both government and private hospitals and medical facilities in the country and end such practices. Gordon renewed his call To the department following complaints posted on social media against some hospitals. Among the unjust practices committed are imposing excessive fees, collecting deposits before admission, requiring blood retesting for blood coming from the Philippine Red Cross and banning the purchase of medicines outside the hospital, among others. “As I have stressed multiple times in the past, medical facilities’ practice of charging retesting fees for PRC blood units and other unjust practices such as imposing exorbitant fees and demanding deposits before a patient is admitted, among others, are unnecessary and only add to the burden poor Filipinos who are already ﬁnancially stressed,” said Gordon, also the Philippine Red Cross chairman. “These hospitals are clearly violating laws, rules, and regulations,” said Gordon, addng they should not aggravate the sufferings of patients and their families. The hospitals cited in the complaints are the following: Philippine General Hospital, National Kidney Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Lourdes Hospital, Labor Hospital, James L. Gordon Hospital in Olongapo City, Community Hospital in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Medical Center in Dagupan City, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, MCU Hospital, Aklan Provincial Hospital, Manila East Medical Center in Taytay, Rizal, and Parañaque Doctors’ Hospital, among others. In one complaint, a patient lamented that “it’s so expensive to get sick in the Philippines.” Another complainant posted that “ Sad and true. My father was dead in (sic) arrival but we still paid P24k and another P1,500 to calm down [my] mother who then turned hysterical.” “Plus sa conﬁnement days ni papa habang naggagamot na dinischarge dahil kaya na daw ng oral medication. Pero after 3 days namatay sa bahay. Tapos everyday may billing na kelangan mong bayaran, di bibigyan ng gamot pag di pa bayad at sobrang mamahal pa ng gamut,” a Facebook user complained in a mix of Tagalog and English.

PAGCOR clarifies collectibles OF LATE, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government had about P3 billion worth of monthly income tax collectibles from foreign nationals working in Philippine offshore gaming operations. In a statement aimed at giving light to the role of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in this issue, being the government agency that regulates gaming in the country including the POGO licensees and their accredited service providers, it released a statement: “POGO operations is a big and multi-faceted industry. For it to develop, it entails employment and necessitates other industries such as real estate, service as in food and transportation, construction, telecommunication, to name a few. “While gaming operations fall within the ambit of the gaming industry thereby subjecting the same to pertinent regulatory bodies such as PAGCOR, other components of operations fall under the jurisdiction of afore-cited sectors making each component subjected to the regulation of each concerned government agencies. “Taxation of licensed operators is undertaken by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In support to their thrust, we require applicants for offshore gaming licenses submission of their company registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in view of the latter’s requirement for a Tax Identiﬁcation Number. “Foreign workers, meanwhile, are regulated by both the Department of Labor and Employment and the Bureau of Immigration. For our part, PAGCOR upholds lawful employment. Employing undocumented foreign workers by licensed operations and their accredited service providers is a violation warranting imposition of demerits, ﬁnes and other administrative penalties, without prejudice to suspension of operations and/or cancellation of license or accreditation.

Sports

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

All set for The Nationals

Cocolife Tigers top MPBL South Division THE Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers finished the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup elimination round on a bright note, ripping Muntinlupa Cagers right at their own turf, 88-82, Wednesday night at the Muntinlupa City Sports Complex. The game’s best player in Mark Yee put up another sterling double-double performance as he scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, even as PBA veteran Leo Najorda and Bonbon Custodio provided the spark offensively as the Tigers took control of the game in the early goings and never looked back en route to convincing victory. They topped the south division with a 20-5 record going into the playoff round. Homegrown talents Emman Calo and Louie Medalla ably filled up the shoes of ejected Custodio early in the final quarter, while big man Bogs Raymundo manned the paint and denied any uprising by the Munti cagers, led by Dave Moralde and Allan Mangahas. With the loss, the Cagers fell into a tie with Batangas and General Santos on 14-10 cards, but skidded to third place behind last year’s titlist. The Mindanao team of Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU, backed by Cocolife President Elmo Nobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan, will face the no. 8 team that is still to be contested, to get closer in fulfilling the Tigers’ mission of a Cinderella finish in the league organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

NU completes 1st-round sweep in lawn tennis NATIONAL University completed a men’s first-round sweep recently with a 4-1 conquest of defending champion University of the East in the UAAP Season 81 lawn tennis tournament at the Colegio de San Agustin courts in City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The Bulldogs, on a comeback trail after missing last year’s competition, went undefeated in six ties. In the women’s division, De La Salle turned back titleholder University of Santo Tomas, 4-1, to rule the first round with three wins and a loss. Ateneo, which finished second to NU in the first round, swept its weekend ties with similar 5-0 victories over University of the Philippines and Adamson University. The Blue Eagles now have a 5-2 slate alongside the Growling Tigers, who beat the Green Archers on consecutive days, 4-1, bridging the end of first round and the start of the second round. The Red Warriors rebounded from last Saturday’s loss to the Bulldogs with a 3-2 conquest of the Fighting Maroons Sunday to move to 4-3 in solo fourth. UP fell out of the top four with a 3-4 card. The Lady Eagles bested the Lady Bulldogs, 3-2, to seize solo second with a 3-2 card, while the Tigresses bounced back from last Saturday’s defeat to the Lady Archers with a 4-1 romp of the Lady Maroons. UST forced a three-way tie in third place with NU and UP at 2-3.

By Paul David L. Gelario

League President, Kevin Chung (fifth from the left, last row) and The Nationals Commissioner, Ren Vitug (sixth from the left, last row) celebrate the inaugural season opening of The Nationals along with esports athletes and team owners

Lowly Suns stun Dubs; Lowry powers Raptors L

OS ANGELES—Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored 37 points as the Suns snapped an 18-game losing streak to the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors with a 115111 victory on Sunday.

Golden State had no answer for Booker’s late charge as the American scored 13 consecutive points during a key fourth quarter stretch for the Suns. The win ended the league’s longest active losing streak to one team, which dated back to November 2014. It was also the ﬁrst road victory for the Suns in 20 games against a Western Conference opponent. “We are getting challenged, we are getting teams’ best shots,” said Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Kevin Durant had 25 points for the mistake-prone Warriors before leaving with a bruised right ankle midway through the fourth quarter. Golden State coach Steve Kerr said after the game that the injury did not seem serious and that an MRI would

likely not be needed. Booker made all nine of his free throws and had 11 assists while Kelly Oubre scored 22 points for the Suns, who won their fourth game in the last five. Booker hit a jump shot with five minutes to go in the fourth and then drained a three-pointer to make it 102-98 with 4:45 remaining. Klay Thompson’s two free throws with 64 seconds to go brought the Warriors within three. Andre Iguodala grabbed a rebound after two missed Suns shots but Curry missed on a three with 23 seconds left. Booker then converted two free throws. Curry finished with 18 points on sixof-20 shooting and Thompson went 10 of 22 to finish with 28 points. Overall, the Warriors went a lowly 10 of 43 from

beyond the arc. Thompson called the game the “worst loss of the season” and criticized the Warriors’ fans, saying they are not cheering hard enough. Raptors rout Heat Elsewhere, Kyle Lowry finished with 24 points and 10 assists as the Toronto Raptors snapped the Miami Heat’s win streak at four games with a 125-104 blowout victory. Lowry drained six three pointers and Pascal Siakam added 20 points for the Raptors, who have swept all three meetings with the Heat this season. Raptors star Kawhi Leonard did not play—the team did not give a specific reason but he is not believed to be hurt. Danny Green and Norman Powell added 15 points each for Toronto, while OG Anunoby and Jeremy Lin each contributed 11 points. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Veteran guard Dwyane Wade and Dion Waiters each had 15 points, while Rodney McGruder added 13. AFP

THE league president of The Nationals, the first franchise-based esports league in South East Asia, told reporters at a media launch that all is set to commence its inaugural season at the Gariath Concepts Studio, Eastwood City, in Quezon City last Mar 8. “The stage is set, the competitions are ready, game faces on,” League President, Kevin Chung announced. There are currently six teams in the league namely Bren Epro, Cignal Ultra Warriors, Happy Feet Emperors, PLDTSmart Omega, Suha-XCTN Punishers, and STI. The league will begin on March 24 and focus on three of the Philippines’ most popular games namely Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Tekken 7. Each of the games will have two conferences in the first season, which will have a double, round-robin group stage and a single-elimination playoffs. The top teams in their respective conferences will advance in the season finale that is expected in late 2019. “All different industries participating for one true undertaking—to build the right infrastructure to showcase the Filipino esport athlete,” Chung added The league aims to address the needs of esports athletes, such as decent gaming infrastructure, healthy schedule, and right coaching. “The problem is that there is usually no infrastructure to support the gamer. Training schedules are unhealthy, coaching is nonexistent,” The Nationals’ Commissioner Ren Vitug said. “I have witnessed many athletes gleaming with skill and potential (but) drop out of the scene because infrastructure was not there to support them,” Vitug added. The league will also provide other benefits such as personal managers, coaches, fitness trainers, nutritionists and counselors to keep the esports athletes in optimal shape. “A lot of people think that being an esports athlete is easy, but athletes train long and hard as athletes would in traditional sports,” Vitug emphasized. The league’s first official partner, Paymaya is the Official Digital Payments Partner. The league will be available for streaming solely on its official TV broadcast partners: ESPN5 through 5Plus on Free TV, Cignal TV through eGG Network, and One Sports on Pay TV.

Taiwan Excellence extends innovation to Davao marathon THE recently held 2019 Davao International Marathon featured Taiwanese innovation through the Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone for Dabawenyos to see how Taiwan Excellence products can enrich their lives. With efforts previously focused in Manila, Taiwan Excellence is extending its ceaseless innovation to a broader Filipino audience. “For the past six years, we have built a strong and loyal following in Manila. During this time, we received an outpouring of support for our brands,” said Tony Lin, TAITRA Deputy Director of the Strategic Marketing Department. “This is why we have decided to broaden our reach this year and introduce a muchneeded innovation to more people.” More than 30 topnotch products from cutting-edge brands joined the Taiwan Excellence Experience Zone, including the gaming beast of Asus ROG Strix

GL504 Scar II; Comeup’s Intelligence Dashboard Automotive Winch; bicycle company TERN’s fold-up bike Link A7. Fitness company Johnson also showcased the Horizon Citta Upright Bike as the integral element of their display. Aside from tech products, several lifestyle brands will also be at the booth. This includes ALYA’s line of smart and portable ﬁltration systems, and DEYA’s quality backpacks made from recycled ocean waste. Lucky attendees and participants in the 3k at 5k marathon brought home the muchcoveted Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2. Other events lined up for Taiwan Excellence include the Taiwan Excellence 3-on-3 Hoop Challenge, the E-sports Cup in Manila, the Internet-of-Things Business Platform, and the Taiwan Expo in Davao. For more information about Taiwan Excellence, kindly visit their website at www.taiwanexcellence.org/ph.

Participants line up at the starting line in the Davao International Marathon in Davao City.

Tight... From A8

PBA PARTNER. Frontrow International, a Filipino-owned company established in 2008, has successfully carved a niche in the highly competitive industry of health, beauty, and wellness. The company, now one of the best multi-level marketing companies in Asia, makes history once again as it becomes the official health, beauty, and wellness partner of the country’s premier basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association. In photo are (from left) Raymond Francisco, president of Frontrow Enterprise Philippines, Inc., PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, Samuel Verzosa Jr. chief executive officer, Frontrow Enterprise Philippines Inc. and Angelo Serrano, Chairman of Excite (marketing arm of the PBA)

“I saw how she handled her game when under pressure. She kept her composure and rhythm, which I will try to emulate. But I know I still have lots to learn, especially with regards to discipline although I like my chances this week,” said the reigning LPGT Order of Merit champion, who will mix it up with Japanese Ayaka Morimitsu and Thai Chonlada Chayanun ahead of Kawinpakorn’s group. Del Rosario, who racked up four victories in her rookie LPGT year to emerge the top player in 2017, also expects a strong showing, hinting at putting as the key tovictory in this week’s event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.“If my putting works, I think I have great chances although I would be happy to ﬁnish in the Top 5 since I’m still trying to adjust with

my new swing,” said Del Rosario, who put up a strong start at TCC but lost her rhythm and wound up tied for 11th. “Compared to TCC where there was little room for mistakes, one has only to hit itin regulation here at Legends but putting, where the Thais are good at, will be thekey,” said Del Rosario. Like Kawinpakorn, Superal and Del Rosario, Hwang, who reigned at Splendido last January, is also tipped to contend for the crown along with Lee Jeong Hwa, who won the Philippine Ladies Amateur here at Southwoods and hacked out a pair of victories in the inaugural season of the ICTSI Champion Tour in 2016, andThais Tiranan Yoopan, Narisara Kerdrit, Saraporn Chamchoi and Piyathida Chaiyapan in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology Inc.

Sports

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

South Luzon to showcase 8 ballers at Jr. NBA PH NEARLY 1,000 young basketball players participated in the first Regional Selection Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska at the Manuel Enverga University Foundation in Lucena City on March 9 and 10. Staged for the second time in Lucena, the league’s global youth basketball participation program will send four boys and four girls to the National Training Camp at Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati on May 17 to 19. They will be members of the 40-boy and 40-girl-participant pool that will fill the roster through the four remaining Regional Selection Camps and a select group from the Alaska Power Camp. The athletes demonstrated a proficiency in fundamental skills and embodied the core values of the game through the two-day camp and are set to compete among talented athletes nationwide for the Jr. NBA All-Star selection. Jr. NBA Philippines AllStars—comprised of as many as five boys and five girls—will advance to the first Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Qualifiers, a week-long selection camp in June that includes top youth players from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, the Asia Pacific regional competition will provide the 2019 batch of Jr. NBA All-Stars with the opportunity to represent the region in the Jr. NBA World Championships that will be held Aug. 6 to 11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida. The international event will feature talented youth from the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico, Africa, India and the Asia-Pacific. Boys and girls ages 10-14 years old can join the upcoming Regional Selection Camps in Baguio (March 2324), Dumaguete (March 30-31), Butuan (April 13-14) and Metro Manila (April 27-28) by registering at www. jrnba.asia/philippines. Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 is presented by Alaska, with AXA, Gatorade, Globe, Panasonic, Rexona and Vivo as official partners. ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the official broadcasters of Jr. NBA Philippines. For all things NBA, fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook and the NBA at www.nba.com and on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can visit www.alaskamilk.com to learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, and follow Alaska Milk on Facebook for more information about Alaska Sports The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. It has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2018-19 season featured 108 international players from 42 countries and territories.

Parañaque opens defense of NBL title with victory PARAÑAQUE beat Laguna, 95-84, last Saturday to start off its title defense in the National Basketball League at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna. Last year’s ﬁnals’ Most Valuable Player Noy Bermudes scored 14 points, while JR Galit had 11 points for the Parañaque Aces to win their ﬁrst game of the second season of the league being shown live on Basketball TV. In other results, Nico Paolo Alcantara had 16 points as the Taguig Generals overcame last year’s runner-up Dasmariñas Ballers, 88-82. Over at the PNP Gymnasium in Quezon City last Sunday, Jerome Garcia had 22 points and eight rebounds to power newcomer Pasig Rios past the Zamboanga Valientes, 82-75. John Cruz had 18 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks as the Bulacan Starks overcame the Quezon City Rising Stars, 87-82.

Campers of the Jr. NBA Philippines learn the fundamentals of the game at the Manuel Enverga University Foundation in Lucena City.

Gymnastics still in search of SEAG venue By Peter Atencio

ITH nine months to go, the search is still on for suitable venues that can handle gymnastics’ events of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which the Philippines is hosting from Nov. 31 to Dec. 10.

Gymnastics’ Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said they have not resolved their needs for a venue, with the 30th biennial meet set to be held this November. “We made a complaint that gymnastics has been winning medals. But we still don’t have a venue for the SEA Games,” said Carrion following talks with Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee top ofﬁcial Ramon Suzara. The Phisgoc is currently looking for available venues in Metro Manila where many events can be held. Talks are ongoing on having the Araneta Coliseum host additional events.

This is after negotiations to have events to be held at the SMX inside the Mall of Asia grounds and at the Marriot Hotel bogged down. Carrion said she also informed the Philippine Sports Commission of their needs during the PSC’s Alignment Meeting with the national sports associations at the Philippine International Convention Center Summit Hall D. The PSC is planning to sit down with ofﬁcials from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the PHISGOC next week about the preparations for the biennial tournament.

The PSC has received word that there are other sports disciplines which do not have venues yet. The 30th SEA Games is considered the biggest sporting event in the region, with 56 sports (45 regular and 11 new) to be held in venues across Clark (Pampanga), Subic (Olongapo), Tagaytay (Cavite) and Metro Manila, participated in by all 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Majority of the events will be held at the New Clark City. Areas within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Freeport are being readied to host a total of 17 events. The centerpiece of Subic’s infrastructure development project for the Games will be the Remy Field. The six-lane track will be turned into a nine-lane oval, complemented by three practice lanes, as well as shower rooms, dressing rooms and a new, bigger grandstand.

Tight finish looms in ICTSI golf

Kawinpakorn

COMING off a punishing stint at The Country Club, the ladies of the Philippine GolfTour take on a less-demanding but equally challenging Legends layout as they slug it out in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship beginning today (Tuesday, March 12) in Carmona, Cavite. While the heat and the wind will remain a factor, the water hazards and other risks present in the TCC Ladies Invitational are not too much of a concern for the 54-player field this week although they will have to deal with the bunkers that littered on the 6437-yard Jack Nicklaus designed course. But all have expressed confidence and strong chances for the coveted crown in the P1.5 million tournament serving as the sixth leg of the 2018-19 LPGT following their campaign in the TCC Ladies ruled by world No. 1 Sung Hyun Parkof Korea.“ I have a great experience last week and now I’m confident with my game,” said Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, spearhead of a crack Thailand side out to reassert its might in the circuit put up by ICTSI.

The Thais won five of the 11 titles disputed last year with Kawinpakorn winning atBeverly Place and Summit Point. The veteran campaigner also topped the Pradera Verde stop of the new season last December though she struggled with new irons and limped at joint 32nd in the TCC Ladies. “I’m still trying to make some adjustments with my irons and I got my new coach. But I think I have strong chances (of winning) with the course in great shape and I can play relaxed compared to last week where there were lots of consideration like wind and water,” added Kawinpakorn, who drew local ace Pauline del Rosario and Korean rising star Hwang Min Jeong in the featured flight at 7:20 a.m. on No. 1. Superal, who had the rare chance of playing alongside Park in the championship flight before ending up fourth, hopes to put in harness the lessons she learned from the world’s best, particularly in handling oneself in pressurepacked situations. Turn to A7

Foton parades 2 additions vs Petron in PH Superliga Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 2:00 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs PLDT 4:15 p.m. – Petron vs Foton 7:00 p.m. – Cignal vs Sta. Lucia

FOTON parades a pair of key additions when it battles reigning champion Petron in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The Tornadoes will be bringing in a new import in Milagros Collar of Spain and the returning Dindin Manabat in their 4:15 p.m. battle with the Blaze Spikers in this prestigious women’s club league broadcasted by ESPN5 and 5Plus. Meanwhile, Generika-Ayala seeks to resume its winning ways when it clashes with PLDT at 2 p.m., while Cignal and Sta. Lucia collide in the 7 p.m. nightcap of this tourney that also has Asics, Mueller, Mikasa, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project as technical sponsors. Still, all eyes will be on Foton. After opening the season with a rousing four-set win over United VC, the Tornadoes struggled, losing their next six matches to finish the first round at the bottom of the heap. With that, the Tornadoes decided to tap Collar to replace the ineffective Selime Ilyasoglu of Turkey while bringing back Dindin Santiago, who spend several months competing as import for Toray Arrows in the prestigious V.Premier League in Japan. Collar is coming in with sterling credentials. A 15-year veteran for the Spanish national team, Collar saw action in various club leagues in Spain, Italy, France and Romania. Her previous stint was for Hyundai E&C Hilstate in the Korean League, where she erupted for 36 points. “Milagros an opposite who can really help us in the offensive end,” said Foton team manager Diane Santiago, the sister of Dindin Manabat and Jaja Santiago. “We already processed her ITC (international transfer certificate) as early as last week and she will be ready to play against Petron on Tuesday.”

Chicano bags bronze at Powerman Duathlon GO For Gold triathlete John Leerams Chicano also has the knack for duathlon following an impressive output in the Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships held recently in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Chicano reached the podium of the world’s largest duathlon race after returning on the same punishing course where he won silver medal in men’s triathlon during the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. “Overall, it was a good race for me. This is a great buildup for the SEA Games late this year,’’ said Chicano, who ﬁnished third overall in the men’s elite category with a clocking of two hours, 43 minutes and 25 seconds. Frenchman Antony Costes ruled the 10-kilometer run, 60km cycling and 10km run event in 2:41.23 and Thomas Bruins of the Netherlands checked in second overall at 2:42.04. “To stand on the medal podium in an international race with some of the toughest and seasoned duathletes is something that our country should really be proud of,’’ said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

Apart from triathlon, Go For Gold is also a staunch supporter of national athletes from cycling, sepak takraw, skateboarding, wrestling and skateboarding aside from its basketball teams in the PBA D-League and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Go for Gold has likewise partnered with the National Basketball Training Center on the latter’s Coaches Convention, where the best coaches in the country are expected to show up during the two-day clinic on March 22-24 at the SM Mall of Asia. Chicano’s preparation for the SEA Games in Subic has been impressive so far after kicking it off with a victory in the prestigious Tri-Factor International Triathlon in Quzhou, China three months ago. With the win in Powerman Asia, Chicano has secured the top ranking in the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) class and again positioned himself as the toughest challenger to reigning SEAG gold medalist Nikko Huelgas. Huelgas, whose local and overseas campaigns are also backed by Go For Gold, is seeking a third straight title in the SEA Games.

Chicano

IN BRIEF

Now set to expand coverage in Luzon

NOW Corp., a listed company controlled by the Velarde family, said Monday it is expanding its network coverage in Luzon. Now said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange it has discussed with business partners to widen the presence in several regions, including Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon. With its coverage blanketing Metro Manila, Now has become one of the fastest growing broadband service providers and the first in the market to roll out next generation networks in the country. It said it was the only broadband provider that delivered guaranteed broadband connectivity to its clients 24x7, done through fixed wireless access deployment of next-generation high-capacity wireless to the market. FWA is used by leading telecom giants Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and even Google Fiber that turned to fixed wireless to deliver broadband connectivity. It completes the last mile deployment to end customers—a solution that proves to be more cost effective and faster to deploy than traditional hard wire. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

NGCP lines up key transmission projects

NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines has lined up critical transmission projects to ensure reliable power to the economy until 2040. Among the NGCP’s signiﬁcant projects included in the Transmission Development Plan are the Bataan Grid Reinforcement Project and the Western Luzon 500kV Backbone Project for Luzon, the Visayas Substation Reliability project and Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection Project in Visayas, and the Mindanao 230kV Backbone Project for Mindanao. NGCP is committed to complete the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, which will see the realization of one Philippine grid in 2020. NGCP crafted the annual TDP (20192040) to map the company’s short term and long-term objectives in securing the Philippine transmission landscape. The TDP is NGCP’s roadmap, updated annually, for the expansion of the Philippine Grid, detailing all ongoing and future undertakings of the company, including all projects approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission and expected completion dates. Alena Mae S. Flores

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

By Julito G. Rada

LANDBANK’S LEED GOLD. The LandBank Plaza in Malate, Manila (right photo) is conferred with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design v4 gold certification, the first bank in the country to receive the latest version of the certification under the ‘Building Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings’ classification. Receiving the award is LandBank executive vice president Julio Climaco Jr. (third from right) from Ecosolutions president and chief executive Felipe Agustin (second from right).

Megaworld set to invest P20b in Cainta township P By Jenniffer B. Austria

ROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. and subsidiary Empire East Land Holdings Inc. are investing P20 billion over the next 10 years to transform a 24-hectare property in Cainta, Rizal into a township.

Megaworld executive vice president and chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said in a news briefing the Highland City township in Cainta would have various components including residential condominiums, mixed-use towers and a shopping mall. Cainta is a first-class Rizal town with more than 300,000 residents. It is Rizal’s gateway to Metro Manila, lying next to the cities of Pasig and Marikina.

Tan 38 residential towers offering 300 to 500 units each would be built in the area while the shopping mall would have 58,000 square meters of leasable space. Tan said the company would develop the property in response to the continued strong demand for residential projects in Rizal province. “We are very excited about this new township that will evoke a character of a city cutting on highlands. Empire East will develop around 38 residential towers on the elevated portion of the township,” Tan said. “Our proposed Highland mall under the Megaworld Lifestyle Mall brand will also be a centerpiece of the development. We will integrate it with an expansive park that opens towards the township’s main entrance,” he said. Tan said 49 percent of the entire development would be dedicated to green and open space. It will be highlighted by the Highland Park, an 8,000-square-me-

ter green and open park that will house some retail areas and a 500-seat church. Highland City is Megaworld’s 24th township development. The construction of Highland City is set to start by the second quarter of 2019. The mall will be completed by 2020. Tan said that over the next two years, Megaworld would have 30 township developments. Megaworld owns 82 percent of Empire East which has been known for the development of mid-cost housing developments including several transitoriented residential projects in Metro Manila and in other parts of Luzon. Highland City will be Empire East’s ﬁrst township project and is also its biggest development. The Megaworld Group has built over 660 residential developments, 57 ofﬁce towers and 17 lifestyle malls in 23 master-planned townships and integrated lifestyle communities across the Philippines over the past three decades.

NET inflows of foreign direct investments reached $9.8 billion in 2018, the third straight year that the country drew more than $8 billion worth of foreign capital. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the 2018 net inflows were 4.4 percent lower than the record $10.3 billion the country received in 2017. Foreign investments hit $8.2 billion in 2016. This means the total net inflows over the past three years reached $28.3 billion. The Bangko Sentral said the 2018 figure missed the official target of $10.4 billion, as net investments of equity capital dropped 32 percent to $2.3 billion from $3.4 billion in 2017. The bulk of equity capital placements came from Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan and China. “These were channeled primarily to manufacturing, financial and insurance, real estate, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply, and arts, entertainment and recreation industries,” the BSP said in a statement. Reinvestment of earnings declined 0.4 percent to $859 million in 2018 from $863 million in 2017. By contrast, net availment of debt instruments rose 11.3 percent to $6.7 billion in 2018 from $6 billion in 2017. Data showed that in December, net FDIs fell 4.8 percent to $677 million from $712 million a year ago. “The decline in FDI was due largely to the 57.6-percent drop in net investments of equity capital to $132 million from $312 million a year ago,” the BSP said. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the contraction in the so-called “fresh FDI” or the “equity other than reinvestment of earnings” account in 2018 was likely due to base effects after seeing fresh FDI poured in strongly for three straight years. “Perhaps uncertainty over the tax reform program may have some investors on wait-and-see attitude,” Mapa said.

AC Energy to spend $1b in 3 projects

San Miguel starts building roads made of recycled plastics

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Darwin G. Amojelar SAN Miguel Corp. said Monday it is building roads out of recycled plastics to help reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment. “This initiative is part of our push towards greater sustainability. Two years ago, we announced our major water sustainability project: to cut SMC water use by 50 percent by 2025,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said. “Recently, we reported that we beat our 2020 intermediate deadline of 20 percent reduction, by two years. Last year, we announced another initiative, and that is to address solid waste pollution. This project is part of that goal,” he said. San Miguel said it would work with materials science company Dow Chemical for the project that would use hard-to-recycle plastics as an alternative raw material input to asphalt for road building. “Developing roads using plastics that would have otherwise ended up in landfills or our bodies of water is an environment-friendly method of disposing of scrap plastics,” Ang said. “We can help our environment and at the same time improve the quality of our infrastructure projects. We are eager to begin this initiative,” he said. The company said among the benefits of using recycled plastics for road surfacing were improved stability and durability of roads; increased skid resistance, which improves road safety; longer lifespan of roads; lower asphalt costs; and less waste destined for landfills. Dow has worked on projects that use plastics for modifying the properties of bitumen, used in the making of asphalt, which has been tested in India, Indonesia and Thailand.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Net inflows of FDIs hit $9.8b in 2018

DoF backs Pacquiao’s bill to raise alcohol tax

FINANCE Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua backed the proposal of Sen. Emmanuel Pacquaio to increase the excise tax on alcohol products, saying it will raise additional revenues of almost P237 billion over a ﬁve-year period. Chua, in a recent hearing conducted by the Senate ways and means committee on the proposal to increase alcohol excise taxes, said the move would also help reduce excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks linked to vehicular crash accidents, domestic abuse and other crimes. Chua said like the proposed hike in cigarette taxes, increasing the excise tax on alcohol products would help close the P40-billion funding gap in the universal health care program. Pacquiao’s Senate Bill 2197 would raise around P32.3 billion in the ﬁrst year of its implementation in 2019, P40 billion in 2020, P47.4 billion in 2021, P54.6 billion in 2022 and P62.4 billion in 2023, for a total of P236.6 billion, Chua said. Julito G. Rada

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

PHILJETS’ NEW HELICOPTERS. PhilJets, one of the leading business aviation companies in the Philippines, places an order for three brand new Bell 505 helicopters to sustain its expansion. Celebrating its 6th anniversary, PhilJets, the business aviation arm of Negocia Group, will be operating four Bell helicopters in its growing fleet. Shown are (from left) Bell vice president for international sales Patrick Moulay, Bell executive vice president for commercial programs Susan Griffin, PhilJets Group chairman Thierry Tea and Bell managing director for Asia Pacific David Sale.

Asean, Japan sign protocol revising regional free trade treaty By Othel V. Campos THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan signed the ﬁrst protocol to amend the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement on March 2 at the sidelines of the 7th RCEP Intercessional Ministerial Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez signed the protocol on behalf of Asean member states, while Minister Hiroshige Seko signed it on behalf of Japan. Both sides saw the protocol as a catalyst to strengthen their trade and investment ties. “This new development will ensure that Japan continues to be a strong anchor in regional trade. With other initiatives that Asean and Japan are engaged in―such as the renewed Asean-Japan 10-year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap―Japan remains an important partner of Asean in its economic integration agenda,” Lopez said. The AJCEP is a free trade agreement

between the 10-member states of Asean and Japan that became effective on Dec. 1, 2008. Such agreement that contained commitments that eliminated and gradually reduced tariffs on products between Asean countries and Japan to encourage the growth of two-way exports and production-sharing arrangements. The agreement also includes an economic cooperation program to help parties maximize the Asean-Japan partnership through technical assistance and capacity-building. “Under the protocol, several key features were agreed on that will facilitate the movement of service suppliers in the region,” Lopez said. The protocol incorporates provisions on trade in services, movement of natural persons and investment into the AJCEP agreement. Under the agreement, Filipinos can now be granted short-term to long-term business and investor visas to Japan. Fil-

ipino professionals in the fields of natural or human sciences, such as physical sciences, engineering, economics, law, business management and accounting, taxation, or specialists in the field of humanities are also granted up to five-year stay in Japan. Entry and temporary stay will also be granted to accompanying spouses and children as “dependents” of any Filipino business persons or professionals are given permission to temporarily stay in Japan. The agreement is also expected to increase the attractiveness of the region and individual Asean countries as an investment destination for Japanese businesses, thereby creating more jobs in the region. Japan is Asean’s fourth largest trading partner with total merchandise trade recorded at $218 billion in 2017. It is also Asean’s second largest source of external FDIs which amounted to $13.2 billion during the same period.

AC ENERGY Inc., Ayala Corp.’s energy platform, plans to spend $1 billion for three projects with a combined capacity of 800 megawatts in three countries. AC Energy president and chief executive Eric Francia said these renewable energy projects include a 350-MW solar project in Australia, a 400-MW to 500-MW win facility in Vietnam and a 100-MW solar plant in the Philippines. “All in all, that’s about 800 MW that we’re hoping to reach financial close in the next 12 to 18 months across these three markets,” Francia said. “Estimated project cost is around $1 billion for the projects in the three countries. Not all of that is equity, there is also debt. Approximately, debt is over $600 million to $700 million,” he said. Francia said the company was expecting to get a financial closing for the first half of its 700-MW solar project in Australia in the first semester. “For Vietnam, I think we are hoping to do another probably around 400 to 500 MW of wind. We are also hoping to do in the Philippines over 100 MW of solar,” he said. Francia said “a lot of the equity” raised from AC Energy’s green bonds amounting to $410 million could be used for the three projects. “Once we were successful in deploying that, I can argue that it would be the primary use of the green bonds. The 800 MW will basically account for the majority, if not all the green bond usage. The green bond can also finance some of the past green projects,” Francia said. Two of the world’s largest multilateral institutions―the International Finance Corp. and the Asian Development Bank―invested in the AC Energy green bonds totaling $95 million.

Business

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market falls; GT Capital down

HE stock market extended its losses Monday on another bout of proﬁt taking and ongoing concerns about the global economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slumped 88.39 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,708.72 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 128 to 63, with 47 issues unchanged. GT Capital Holdings of the Ty Group fell 2.8 percent to P965, while banking unit Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 2 percent to P76.60. Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest bank, lost 2.7 percent to P84, while Aboitiz equity Ventures

Inc., which is into power generation and distribution, banking, food and infrastructure, dropped 3.2 percent to P56.90. The rest of Asian markets were mixed Monday as bargain-buying from last week’s sharp losses was offset by a weak US jobs report and concerns about the global economy. Investors ran for the hills Friday after the European Central Bank slashed its growth and inﬂation forecasts, the OECD cut its global estimates, and China announced a plunge in exports and imports. Later that day the Labor Department said the US economy created just 20,000 jobs last month, a fraction of what was expected. The readings from across the world knocked equity markets, which have enjoyed a stellar start to the year on hopes that China and the United States will resolve their trade war.

Shanghai ended almost two percent higher, while Hong Kong rose 0.7 percent and Tokyo closed up 0.5 percent. Seoul and Taipei were slightly stronger but Sydney, Singapore and Wellington suffered fresh losses. “The almost forgotten US-China trade talks have been subsumed in a cacophony of data noise but remain the only game in town and will set the macroeconomic tone for the rest of (the first half of) 2019,” said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley. “Until then, traders and investors will have itchy trigger fingers across most asset classes.” Traders are keeping a close eye on developments in the trade talks, with conflicting comments from both sides on the progress. China’s vice minister for commerce Wang Shouwen said Saturday that Beijing was upbeat, a day after Donald Trump on Friday said he remained

optimistic but would not sign anything but a “very good deal.” The two sides were thought to be readying for a Trump-Xi meeting at the end of March, but the US ambassador to China said Friday that they were not yet ready for a summit and deal signing. The pound was unable to recover from last week’s losses with Prime Minister Theresa May struggling to get the necessary revisions to her Brexit agreement that would be passed by MPs. “With no further concessions... likely from the EU—and talks were described as being close to breaking down—Theresa May is now unlikely to present the changes required to win and the most probable scenario is that parliament then moves to vote on whether or not to exit the union without a deal, on Wednesday,” said James Hughes, chief market analyst at AxiTrader. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.15 510 84 1,733,340 2.36 21,000 131.7 1,880,650 1.35 77,000 27.55 30,200 18.08 106,800 12.16 494,000 4.46 20,000 7.87 400 0.62 24,000 0.46 140,000 76.6 1,516,100 0.98 226,000 13.84 5,300 21.55 2,200 59.85 505,600 185 60 111.1 10 58.9 170 26.55 48,800 167 171,120 61 3,480

29,670.50 146,961,334.50 49,580 247,312,903 104,050 836,170 1,902,170 6,018,656 87,140 3,148 14,380 64,400 116,361,351.50 221,620 73,420 47,470 29,973,623 11,100 1,111 10,013 1,295,280 28,459,017 213,440

-581.5 -46,982,884.50 9,712,400 -647,455 -2,818,892 -61,864,953 -21,550 -5,160,170.50 -1,149,175 -4,079,796 -185,549

33.6 15.22 1.01 1.42 0.236 2.51 15.6 120 29 15.8 1.85 6 6 11.26 15.6 8.9 7.52 1.65 21.15 73.7 26.3 2.98 9.53 12.74 1.69 308.8 4.26 3.41 11.5 26.5 12.1 19.8 367 0.2 6.16 1.36 3.72 6.66 9 1.32 11.8 48.75 5.85 1.82 2.68 1.33 12.32 106.4 6.49 1.01 138 2.62 1.62 1.39

INDUSTRIAL 33.7 1,674,100 15.28 627,800 1.02 759,000 1.42 686,000 0.243 190,000 2.55 5,676,000 15.62 461,000 120 2,050 29.5 55,500 15.8 6,800 1.91 42,000 6 4,600 6 73,200 11.26 1,700,900 15.78 40,000 8.97 646,300 7.56 22,200 1.65 13,000 21.5 3,930,400 73.7 83,280 26.5 31,100 3.05 3,771,000 9.61 752,800 13 1,877,000 1.69 24,000 311 453,970 4.26 153,000 3.6 56,000 11.52 16,700 26.6 417,800 12.1 72,800 19.8 8,440,400 370 189,280 0.201 910,000 6.16 1,700 1.38 1,549,000 3.72 174,000 6.74 2,267,200 9.3 1,500 1.32 5,401,000 11.96 23,400 48.85 370,700 5.85 40,000 1.86 111,000 2.68 22,000 1.33 24,000 12.32 98,200 109.1 1,994,160 6.49 4,700 1.06 309,000 140.2 1,282,660 2.7 39,000 1.65 764,000 1.41 5,671,000

56,980,875 9,687,220 771,000 976,160 45,780 14,453,340 7,209,346 246,446 1,635,500 107,440 78,780 27,600 441,791 19,329,078 627,740 5,823,647 168,047 21,570 85,100,870 6,145,090 822,550 11,429,430 7,234,343 24,716,520 41,030 141,081,468 654,570 193,310 193,498 11,117,540 888,106 167,126,852 69,849,446 182,070 10,472 2,119,240 649,420 15,270,959 13,805 7,149,550 278,376 18,138,560 234,000 202,120 59,030 32,020 1,236,234 218,430,254 30,533 318,000 179,630,876 103,950 1,251,280 8,006,650

-27,985,360.00 -730,104 -10,080 -5,518,810 -1,213,984 -129,800 34,380 -276,484 -17,889,492 -433,930 1,722,623 -66,446 -24,764,285 -5,473,382 89,890 3,046,680.00 -3,084,316 -6,609,474 -49,986,356 43,000 51,150 2,544,365 -13,226 161,322,194.00 -15,769,972 229,880 -1,304,759 -407,080 70,488 -7,098,185 -234,000 -13,400 1,147,860 79,504,197 4,229,304 -307,540 -684,940

0.77 59.05 15.06 0.76 6.61 21.35 1.43 1.45 940 7.75 11.68 14.38 0.24 993 67.9 0.59 5.09 16.3 0.58 4.97 0.041 3.04 177.8 950 0.75 450 277 0.241 0.38

0.75 56.9 14.58 0.76 6.5 20.5 1.41 1.41 926 7.33 11.16 13.84 0.24 960 66 0.55 5.03 15.8 0.58 4.85 0.04 3 172 920 0.75 448 277 0.238 0.365

HOLDING FIRMS 0.77 8,540,000 56.9 1,844,930 14.98 17,669,700 0.76 105,000 6.61 16,900 20.55 49,700 1.41 2,889,000 1.42 863,000 926 130,470 7.46 1,360,100 11.16 2,781,600 14 493,300 0.24 100,000 965 156,390 66 3,917,590 0.57 461,000 5.03 305,900 16.3 2,051,700 0.58 20,000 4.85 11,838,000 0.04 10,300,000 3.03 1,626,000 174.1 1,294,480 925 334,190 0.75 61,000 450 180 277 1,000 0.24 3,270,000 0.37 11,300,000

6,509,640 107,000,356 263,601,716 79,800 110,256 1,037,180 4,088,980 1,234,520 121,347,060 10,145,475 31,294,928 6,891,950 24,000 151,162,335 262,399,956.50 260,160 1,542,053 33,021,436 11,600 57,636,810 415,100 4,918,820 227,380,532 309,568,795 45,750 80,980 277,000 780,570 4,211,700

-164,160 -37,301,702.50 112,488,098 85,800 72,125 848,620 -66,381,980 141,944 -8,080,612 650,010 -9,931,885 -11,031,976.50 -42,480 97,366 15,597,878 -44,297,270 558,780 32,874,928 -228,543,470 -45,750 -33,240 -750,250

11.92 0.79 10.56 1.93 0.93 43.8 2.45 4.36 6.86 0.51 0.92 0.92 0.244 0.41 9.98 21.65 0.56 1.51 1.26 5.56 0.4 0.455 1.97 0.45 2.9 23.5 2.06

11.84 0.79 10 1.9 0.88 42.9 2.31 4.2 6.85 0.485 0.92 0.92 0.24 0.405 9.89 20.8 0.49 1.47 1.22 5.36 0.395 0.455 1.9 0.44 2.8 22.7 2.02

6,690,042 266,230 202,028 22,830 3,684,130 250,126,205 9,060,640 947,630 10,965 9,122,300 223,560 114,080 698,450 12,200 1,375,529 11,201,755 7,024,455 22,817,720 675,690 287,569,155 1,789,500 159,250 7,811,760 200,900 466,050 21,138,665 84,000

-2,331,210 15,800 -55,253,940 -175,460 -360,790 -215,100 38,640 -1,978 -2,274,140 -4,354,085 -4,319,280 100,661,183 23,700 -1,830 -14,050 -568,745 10,150.00

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND FIRST ABACUS MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK

58.2 86.3 2.38 133 1.35 28 17.84 12.3 4.39 7.87 0.6 0.46 78.15 0.98 13.9 21.6 59.6 185 111.1 58.9 26.5 170.7 61

58.2 86.55 2.38 133 1.36 28 18.08 12.34 4.49 7.87 0.62 0.46 78.15 0.99 13.9 21.6 59.9 185 111.1 58.9 26.6 170.7 62.5

58.1 84 2.36 130 1.35 27.55 17.8 12.14 4.33 7.87 0.58 0.46 76.6 0.98 13.84 21.55 58.05 185 111.1 58.9 26.5 163.8 60.5

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

34.2 15.52 1.01 1.47 0.243 2.59 15.6 121 29.45 15.8 1.85 6 6.05 11.54 15.78 9.07 7.55 1.65 22.2 74.25 26.3 3.04 9.57 13.06 1.72 317.6 4.35 3.5 11.9 27 12.46 19.9 370 0.2 6.16 1.36 3.76 6.76 9 1.34 12 48.9 5.85 1.83 2.69 1.34 12.6 106.4 6.5 1.02 142 2.62 1.62 1.39

34.7 15.52 1.03 1.47 0.244 2.59 16.06 121 29.5 15.8 1.91 6 6.1 11.56 15.9 9.14 7.65 1.77 22.45 74.25 26.5 3.06 9.75 13.4 1.72 317.6 4.35 3.72 11.9 27 12.46 19.92 372.6 0.201 6.16 1.38 3.76 6.83 9.34 1.34 12 49.1 5.85 1.86 2.69 1.34 12.6 111.6 6.5 1.06 143 2.73 1.65 1.43

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

0.76 58.85 14.6 0.76 6.5 21.25 1.42 1.44 940 7.75 11.66 14.38 0.24 993 66.25 0.56 5.09 15.84 0.58 4.92 0.041 3.04 172 950 0.75 448 277 0.241 0.365

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 PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL

11.9 0.79 10.56 1.93 0.88 43.6 2.31 4.3 6.85 0.485 0.92 0.92 0.242 0.405 9.95 21.4 0.495 1.49 1.22 5.44 0.4 0.455 1.9 0.45 2.82 23.5 2.05

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.15 38.3 1.56 7.28 0.8 7.22

3.15 38.35 1.58 7.29 0.81 7.33

3.15 37.8 1.51 6.95 0.8 7.13

3.15 38 1.56 7.01 0.81 7.22

30,000 5,358,200 4,000,000 711,000 70,000 11,132,500

94,500 203,719,390 6,113,020 5,034,222 56,580 80,305,449

-108,276,100 -9,600 -16,495,634

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PAL HLDG PAXYS PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

12 21 0.42 0.046 15.78 2.95 12.04 0.071 84.8 5.63 7 15.08 890.5 1,923 5.74 383 2.99 1.93 113.6 10.7 7.1 0.128 5.6 3.15 15.86 3.3 0.9 19.7 0.61 3 1.96 3.02 10.3 3.41 5.1 130 2.85 1,077 0.91 1.31 48.85 86 8.5 2.37 0.71 0.435 5.61 0.66 15.4

12.1 21.4 0.42 0.048 15.78 2.96 12.04 0.073 85 5.63 7 15.26 890.5 1,925 5.74 384 3.03 1.93 114.1 10.7 7.12 0.132 5.6 3.15 15.86 3.3 0.9 19.76 0.64 3.03 1.96 3.04 10.44 3.41 5.1 138.6 2.85 1,097 0.92 1.33 48.9 86 8.5 2.37 0.71 0.445 5.62 0.67 15.56

11.88 20.4 0.42 0.045 15.78 2.86 11.72 0.071 80.55 5.59 7 14.72 890.5 1,900 5.7 375.2 2.91 1.93 113 10.7 7.08 0.128 5.38 3.14 15.5 3.26 0.9 19.38 0.6 2.98 1.95 2.86 10.2 3.41 4.96 129.3 2.79 1,075 0.9 1.27 47.3 84.5 8.34 2.34 0.69 0.43 5.58 0.65 15.24

SERVICES 11.88 21.4 0.42 0.047 15.78 2.89 11.82 0.073 82.35 5.6 7 14.74 890.5 1,900 5.73 381.8 2.94 1.93 114 10.7 7.08 0.13 5.44 3.14 15.5 3.3 0.9 19.5 0.61 2.98 1.95 2.89 10.2 3.41 4.97 135 2.8 1,075 0.91 1.28 48.25 85.5 8.34 2.36 0.7 0.435 5.62 0.67 15.28

18,000 62,100 130,000 12,300,000 25,000 216,000 8,190,600 45,070,000 349,520 813,800 26,100 396,000 60 27,290 66,700 1,690 1,186,000 1,000 2,402,590 16,200 14,500 30,000 6,928,500 16,000 4,700 157,000 15,000 296,500 1,573,000 2,002,000 56,000 2,022,000 23,600 1,000 222,900 2,620 858,000 160,875 1,770,000 14,627,000 837,500 123,490 13,100 2,336,000 388,000 5,980,000 1,143,200 1,262,000 6,972,000

216,328 1,309,860 54,600 576,700 394,500 629,940 96,766,588 3,253,610 29,420,399 4,560,854 182,700 5,879,150 53,430 52,176,865 382,005 642,864 3,509,460 1,930 273,827,666 173,340 102,840 3,900 37,960,633 50,290 73,666 516,050 13,500 5,775,254 965,100 6,011,290 109,350 5,914,310 244,564 3,410 1,109,113 347,995 2,405,330 174,872,140 1,601,940 18,821,060 40,396,410 10,541,687 109,350 5,490,960 272,380 2,612,500 6,424,042 832,760 107,078,404

1,188 -32,130 -2,326,722 -3,947,060 -5,630 -17,712 958,980 265,700 -17,210,946 -1,300 -2,397,305 -1,419,892 128,880.00 -78,150 -5,920 -6,180 3,410 170,791 -831,000 26,357,150 -41,710 -432,610 7,242,655 -1,607,353.50 2,378,270 -49,520 -8,700 -5,699,009 -446,740 28,646,594

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

0.0021 1.49 2.91 13.7 1.29 1.17 2.22 0.3 8.11 1.48 0.265 0.125 0.131 0.0083 0.0085 1.1 2.73 1.04 0.6 0.93 0.012 3.19 4.05 14.8 20.35

0.0021 1.5 2.96 13.7 1.29 1.17 2.23 0.3 8.11 1.49 0.275 0.125 0.131 0.0083 0.0085 1.13 2.73 1.09 0.62 0.93 0.013 3.29 4.1 14.8 20.4

0.002 1.47 2.91 13.68 1.24 1.1 2.22 0.295 7.76 1.48 0.25 0.125 0.131 0.0083 0.0085 1.09 2.65 1.03 0.6 0.92 0.012 3.16 4.01 14.38 20

MINING & OIL 0.0021 232,000,000 1.47 1,968,000 2.91 107,000 13.68 900 1.24 10,000 1.1 866,000 2.23 503,000 0.3 100,000 8.1 400 1.49 2,236,000 0.255 5,470,000 0.125 110,000 0.131 10,000 0.0083 9,000,000 0.0085 1,000,000 1.13 516,000 2.68 3,317,000 1.07 304,000 0.62 124,000 0.93 427,000 0.013 2,600,000 3.29 61,000 4.01 909,000 14.38 1,096,100 20 620,900

486,800 2,924,470 311,970 12,316 12,450 958,140 1,118,660 29,750 3,207 3,327,380 1,376,600 13,750 1,310 74,700 8,500 577,240 8,896,590 313,560 74,660 393,890 31,300 193,580 3,684,950 15,945,758 12,449,185

-116,510 -151,360 -941,760 103,600 -13,000 561,880 -135,810.00 343,072 220,865

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

20.5 483 100 98.25 450.2 480.4 5.82 899 95 0.99 100 975 980 75.05 76.85 73.35 75 73 72.5

20.5 490 100 98.4 450.2 482 5.82 900 95 0.99 100 975 980 75.05 76.85 73.4 75 73 72.5

20.2 481.6 100 98.25 450.2 480 5.82 899 95 0.99 100 972.5 980 75.05 76.65 73.1 75 71.8 72.5

PREFERRED 20.2 42,800 490 1,500 100 720 98.25 20,010 450.2 700 480 4,000 5.82 200 900 3,060 95 10,210 0.99 1,000 100 130 972.5 520 980 20 75.05 1,000 76.65 1,100 73.35 20,560 75 1,980 72 20,810 72.5 3,850

871,470 728,348 72,000 1,966,374 315,140 1,921,600 1,164 2,753,290 969,950 990 13,000 506,225 19,600 75,050 84,335 1,508,351 148,500 1,505,790.50 279,125

-302,900 -

LR WARRANT

1.85

1.88

1.81

WARRANTS 1.88 90,000

164,210

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.03 1.44

4.84 1.37

4.95 1.39

2,423,850 8,299,410

118,320

FIRST METRO ETF

116.2

115

679,117

25,750 772.2

NAME

PROPERTY 11.88 0.79 10.5 1.9 0.9 43.15 2.43 4.3 6.86 0.5 0.92 0.92 0.24 0.41 9.98 20.85 0.52 1.48 1.24 5.54 0.395 0.455 1.94 0.45 2.88 23.15 2.03

562,500 337,000 19,500 12,000 4,074,000 5,778,100 3,826,000 221,000 1,600 18,300,000 243,000 124,000 2,900,000 30,000 138,100 534,000 13,436,000 15,327,000 545,000 52,207,700 4,520,000 350,000 4,018,000 450,000 165,000 915,100 41,000

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.3 0.99

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

7,021,098

INDUSTRIAL

58,456,668

HOLDING FIRMS

84,925,827

PROPERTY

150,478,284

SERVICES

121,742,423

MINING & OIL

263,366,843

GRAND TOTAL

692,465,577

10.3 0.99

SME

494,900 5,972,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 115.5 5,890 10.3 0.99

DDS

2,500 780

VALUE 1,735.47 (down) 25.39 580,073,105.00 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,404.98 (down) 175.41 1,258,926,326.83 HOLDING FIRMS 7,680.72 (down) 118.04 1,677,791,266.63 PROPERTY 3,942.57 (down) 3.11 1,545.70 (down) 4.94 941,887,909.53 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,002.93 (down) 136.22 958,600,812.11 PSEI 7,708.72 (down) 88.39 53,232,352.409 All Shares Index 4,780.18 (down) 37.04 5,481,917,415.61 Gainers: 63; Losers: 128; Unchanged: 47; Total: 238

Filinvest Land upbeat, plans P30b worth of projects in ‘19 By Jenniffer B. Austria FILINVEST Land Inc., the listed property unit of Gotianun family, will launch P30 billion worth of residential projects this year as it remains bullish on the property market. The project launches are almost double the P16 billion worth of residential projects it unveiled in 2018. FLI in a disclosure to the stock exchange also reported a net income of P6 billion in 2018, up four percent from P5.83 billion in 2017 on double-digit growth in revenues. Revenues rose 10 percent in 2018 to P22.2 billion, boosted by rental income that increased 27 percent to P5.61 billion. FLI’s recurring income contributed to 46 percent of the net income in 2018. “Our outlook on the property sector remains positive, with our 37 percent year-on-year growth in reservation sales in 2018. We continue to focus on the more stable end-user market in the residential sector,” said FLI president and chief executive Josephine Gotianun Yap. “We allocate significant resources toward growing our recurring rental income business, which is on track to meet our target of contributing 50 percent of FLI’s net income. Our strategic CBD land bank in MM, Cebu and Clark provide the platform for FLI’s strategic goal of doubling its leasable area by 2023,” she added. FLI as of end 2018 operated 31 office and retail developments totaling 712,000 square meters of gross leasable area. The company has a pipeline of 21 recurring income developments with 500,000 square meters of additional GLA currently under construction. The new offices and shopping malls are located across its integrated mixeduse developments in Alabang, Quezon City, Makati, Bay Area, Ortigas, Cebu and Clark, Pampanga. FLI said it was on track to attain its 1.6 million square meter-GLA target by 2023. FLI is one of the country’s largest integrated real estate developers and BPO office providers. It has large-scale townships developments across the Philippines, including the 667-hectare Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, 350-hectare Ciudad de Calamba, the 50-hectare City di Mare in Cebu.

Cebu Pacific to expand Clark and Cebu hubs By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific is expanding its network from its hubs in Clark and Cebu this year on increasing demand from tourists for more direct and seamless connections. Cebu Pacific chief operations officer Michael Ivan Shau said the airline would launch three new domestic routes from the Clark International Airport. The airline, owned by the Gokongwei family, will mount daily flights between its hubs in Clark and Iloilo, as well as between Clark and Bacolod, starting August 9, 2019. Beginning October 9, 2019, Cebu Pacific will mount daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan. “There’s still a lot of opportunity for expansion within the Philippines—interisland connections from key cities like Clark and Cebu. We believe that there is a significant untapped market in northern provinces in the Philippines,” Shau said. “Creating direct links between domestic destinations and our other hubs will spur tourism and movement of goods and investments, whilst doing away with having to pass through the main hub in Manila,” he added. The Clark International Airport has served as the hub for North and Central Luzon of Cebu Pacific for the past 10 years. It has emerged as one of Asia’s fastest-growing airports, with passenger volume breaching 2.5 million in 2018. Over the past six months, the airline has boosted frequency in Clark by over 75 percent, with direct connections to Cebu, Caticlan, Tagbilaran, Davao, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong. “We are also in the final stages of launching a new route between Cebu and mainland China. We’ll have more details on that soon,” Shau said. Cebu Pacific earlier said it would expand capacity in its Cebu hub by as much as 20 percent in 2019. Routes in development for its Cebu hub are focused on North Asia markets such as China, Korea, and Japan.

World

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SPIRITUAL RETREAT.

This photo taken by the Vatican Media on March 10, 2019, shows Pope Francis arriving in Ariccia on the first day of a five-day spiritual retreat with Vatican clerics on the outskirts of Rome. AFP

Jobless millions to haunt India polls NEW DELHI―Vishal Chowdhary is young, bright and armed with an MBA. But he has spent two years struggling to find work in India’s sluggish jobs market―a major headache for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the looming elections. The government’s failure to create enough jobs in Asia’s third-biggest economy is a key issue for voters in the polls that are set to take place between April 11 and May 19 with results on May 23. “I went for 50 job interviews in the last year but with no success. One company I did join laid off most of its staff, bringing me back to square one,” Chowdhary, 27, told AFP. Increasingly desperate, late last year he became one of 23,000 applicants for five government jobs as a “peon” or “office boy” with duties like making tea and photocopying, well below his qualifications. The shocking figures are not unusual in 1.25-billion-strong India, particularly for secure government jobs with perks that attract hordes of overqualified candidates like Chowdhury. Last year 19 million applied for 63,000 positions at Indian Railways. Modi swept to power in 2014 pledging to modernize India and create jobs for the one million young people estimated to enter the labour market every month. Some 65 percent of Indians are under 35, and economic growth has in recent times fallen below the eightpercent level seen as essential to create enough employment. A newspaper recently published what it said was an official report buried by Modi’s government showing unemployment at its highest since the 1970s. Rahul Gandhi, head of the opposition Congress party, attacked Modi for creating a “national disaster”. The report -- which the government said was not finalised -added to evidence that the economy was hit hard by two of Modi’s signature policies: demonetisation and a new Goods and Services Tax. AFP

Japan recalls deadly quake, nuke disaster T OKYO―With ﬂowers, silent prayers and tearful tributes, Japan Monday marked the eighth anniversary of a crippling earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated its northeastern coast and left some 18,500 people dead or missing.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, lawmakers and family members who lost their loved ones in the disaster bowed their heads in prayer at a ceremony in Tokyo at 2:46 pm (0546 GMT) -- the exact moment the magnitude-9.0 quake struck. “We can’t help but feel sorrow when we think about the suffering of those who lost beloved family members,

relatives and friends,” Abe said. Eight years on, he said reconstruction was making “steady” progress but vowed to continue government support to tens of thousands still struggling in uncomfortable living conditions. In a constant drizzle, residents in tsunami-hit coastal towns also laid bouquets and bowed their heads as they remembered the moment the waves hit, devastating entire communities in an instant. Japan’s aging Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko did not attend the ceremony this year, but were represented by their second son Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko. In addition to causing widespread death and destruction, the killer tsunami also swamped the emergency power supply at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. This sent its reactors into meltdown as cooling systems failed, sparking the worst global nuclear disaster since

Chernobyl in 1986. According to the National Police Agency, some 18,430 people died or were missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. In addition, more than 3,700 people -- most of them from Fukushima -died from illness or suicide linked to the aftermath of the tragedy, according to government data, while more than 51,000 still remain displaced. Although no-one is ofﬁcially recorded as having died as a result of radiation from the accident, dozens of reactors across Japan were switched off in the aftermath. The government has lifted evacuation orders for much of the region affected by the meltdown, except for some no-go zones with high radiation levels. Authorities are encouraging evacuees to return, but the population in the Fukushima prefecture has more than halved from some two million in the pre-disaster period. AFP

IN BRIEF China orders Boeings grounded BEIJING—China on Monday ordered domestic airlines to suspend commercial operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, citing the Ethiopian Airlines crash and another deadly accident of that same model in Indonesia. Noting the “similarities” between the two accidents, China’s Civil Aviation Administration said domestic airlines had until 6:00 pm local time (1000 GMT) to ground all 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Operation of the model will only resume after “confirming the relevant measures to effectively ensure flight safety”, the administration said in a statement. The aviation authority will contact the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing, it said. The statement cited the Kenya-bound Ethiopian Airlines flight that crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, killing all 157 people on board, including eight from China. It also mentioned the Indonesia Lion Air flight, which crashed after takeoff from Jakarta in October, killing all 189 people on board. China is an important market for the US aircraft company, accounting for about one-fifth of worldwide deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX models. The company has delivered 76 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to Chinese airlines, which have ordered another 104, according to data from the aircraft maker’s website updated through January. AFP

Britain braces for Brexit vote LONDON―British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to reveal Monday what changes, if any, she has secured to her EU divorce deal, on the eve of a crucial vote in parliament less than three weeks before Brexit day. Two months ago, parliament overwhelmingly rejected the withdrawal agreement May has struck with the European Union, and sent her back to Brussels to renegotiate. But as MPs prepare to vote again on the deal on Tuesday, the prime minister has little to show for her efforts, prompting warnings of another humiliating defeat. Failure means Britain could end 46 years of ties with its closest trading partner on March 29 with no new arrangements in place, causing huge disruption on both sides of the Channel. But it would also raise the possibility of a delay to Brexit. While europhiles in May’s Conservative Party would welcome a delay as a possible precursor to a second referendum on EU membership, eurosceptics strongly oppose it. British and European ofﬁcials worked through the weekend to try to break the deadlock, and May is ready to make a lastminute visit to Brussels if necessary to seal the deal. AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, -versusFRE No. 12577 SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED)

Upon exta-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Real Estate Mortgage executed on July 1, 2015, by SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA, Mortgagor/s, with residential address at 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City, in favor of BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation), Mortgagee/s, with address at 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Metro Manila, to satisfy the mortgage debt now in the total amount of FORTY SIX MILLION ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE AND 33/100 (Php 46,115,921.33) PESOS as of October 31,2018, inclusive of interest, penalties, charges and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Office of the Clerk of Court and the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on April 2, 2019, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Office of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will SELL thru public auction to the highest bidder and for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit:

Transfer Certificate of Title No. 21454 Registry of Deeds – Quezon City

QUEUE FOR A BREAST EXAMINATION. Yemeni women wait in a queue with their husbands for their breast examination at a cancer hospital in Taez, southwest of the capital Sanaa, on March 11, 2019. AFP

Military: Seoul closely monitoring N. Korea for missile launching SEOUL―South Korea’s military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch. Analysis indicates increased activity at two key sites―the Samundong missile research facility and the Sohae rocket-testing facility. Any launch could send stuttering talks on denuclearisation into disarray. South Korea is “closely tracking and looking into all activity for possible scenarios including a missile launch” across the border, in close coordination with the US, said Kim Joon-rak, spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Satellite images of Samundong taken on February 22 showed cars and trucks at the site, as well as rail cars and cranes at a yard, US news outlet NPR reported.

“When you put all that together, that’s really what it looks like when the North Koreans are in the process of building a rocket,” Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted as saying. Located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the Samundong facility was built in 2012 to support development of long-range missiles and space-launch vehicles. As well as developing the Hawsong-15 ICBM, which analysts agree is capable of reaching the whole US mainland, Samundong constructed the longrange rockets that were then transported and successfully launched from the Sohae satellite launch station in 2012 and 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed last year to shutter the Sohae site at a summit with the South’s President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang. Satellite pictures in August suggested workers

were dismantling an engine test stand at the facility. But the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested last week rebuilding was progressing quickly at the facility. A moving structure that had been used to carry vehicles to a launch pad on rails has been restored, said respected research website 38 North project. It added the work had started before last month’s failed meeting on denuclearisation between Kim and US President Donald Trump. John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, said Sunday the US sees “exactly what they are doing” in regard to possible missile or rocket launch moves by the nuclear-armed state. “We see it unblinkingly, and we don’t have any illusions about what those are,” he warned, adding his boss would be “pretty disappointed” if a nucleararmed state conducted a new missile test. AFP

“A parcel of land (Lot 6 Blk. 23 of the amd. Plan Pcs4048 Amd. Being a portion of the cons of Lots 1-A & 1-B Esd-20031 & Lot 2 & 3 Esd-10937 LRC Rec. No. 7681), situated in the Dist. Of Diliman Q. City bounded on the SE., along line 1-2-3 by north Lawin Ave., (Rd. Lot 19) on the SW., along line 3-4 by Lot 5 Blk. 23; on the NW., along line 4-5 by Lot 8 Blk. 23 & on the NE., along line 5-1 by Lot 7 Blk. 23 all of the amd. Plan. Beginning at a pt. marked /1” on plan, being N. 26 deg. 55’W., 1707.12m from BLIM 7, Q. City; thence S. 48 deg. 43’W., 5.11 m. to pt. 2; thence S. 48 deg. 56’N., 9.59m. xxxxx containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR (464) SQ.M., more or less xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid Office on the above stated date and time. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title/s to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if there be any. In the event that pubic auction should not take place on the said date due to fortuitous event or if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on April 10, 2019, at the same time and place without further notice. Quezon City, Metro Manila, February 8, 2019. (Sgd.) ARNULFO O. LIM Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff Copy Furnished: BANK ONE SAVINGS CORPORATION (formerly known as Bank One Savings and Trust Corporation) 4201 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, WARNING: Metro Manila SPOUSES PAULINO AND ELENA CHUA 25 North Lawin St., Philamlife Homes, Quezon City

It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of the auction sale under penalty of the law

(MStandard-Feb. 26, Mar. 5 & 12, 2019)

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Guiani fills brother’s shoes for Cotabato

(Conclusion, continued from Thursday)

By Ayunan Gunting-Al Hadj COTABATO City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani was thrust into the political arena when her brother, Japal, died of a lingering illness in September 2016 a few months after winning the mayoralty. Guiani continued Japal’s vision and made her own strides, and Cotabato has since been touted as the Most Competitive City in Region 12. She cites that her greatest achievement is creating a stable atmosphere. Cotabato City reported the highest downtrend in crime rate in the whole country, with only 17 percent incidences in 2018. Every night, the police make their nightly rounds called RONDA (Revitalized Operations and Neutralization of Drug Addiction). Guiani says these regular patrols are one of the city’s best practices. She takes pride that the city has the best Peace and Order Council in the region. “It started as a composite group that roved around the city at night to ensure the strict implementation of the curfew for minors. Two years later, it was very instrumental in the incredible drop in crime rate in Cotabato City. What was once named as the kidnap capital of Central Mindanao now holds the record of having the lowest crime incidence in the whole country,” she said. The improved peace and order situation reflects in the increased revenues, new investments and more jobs for the Cotabateño, the mayor adds. Guiani envisions her city to be one of the best places to live in the Philippines. Aside from being child-friendly, Cotabato City has the highest literacy rate in Region 12, and there are no out-ofschool youths. The mayor fondly recalls childhood memories of strolling along the city plaza with her parents. “There was nothing to be scared about and there was no traffic. Everything was accessible. Everybody knew each other. Even if there were less places to visit and less activities, people were content with the simple life,” she said. Her father taught her to stand up for her principles and never compromise her values. “Although my father was not a politician all his life, he was loved by people because he fought for their rights and was very passionate about helping others. I was inspired to continue his legacy. In my job, I have to be brave yet selfless to put the interest of my fellow Cotabateños first,” she said. Guiani cites an incident in 2017 when she had to placate a shootout in one barangay. Two families from Maguindanao, who had homes in Cotabato City, were settling a long-standing feud. Despite being discouraged by her family, the mayor bravely mediated the hostility. “I made them sign an agreement that both families must leave the city, or I will personally arrest them,” she said. “The negotiations ended peacefully. Both parties went on their separate ways.” As a reelectionist, Guiani hopes to see the city achieve its full potential as an urban center. “In the past decade, the city has soared, and the economy has grown exponentially. What’s left for us is to continue working together in unity so we can achieve our aspirations,” the mayor said. Asked how she balances work and family life, Guiani says her husband, Umbra Sayadi, who works for a national government agency, understands the demands of her job. “My job is not confined to one room. I go to places where I am needed. My family has been accustomed that. Still, I always check on my children and ask how they are going along in school and in their lives,” she ended.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

RELICS IN NAVOTAS. Together with other Navoteño faithful, Mayor John Rey Tiangco welcomes the relics of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and stones from the Nativity cave in Bethlehem and the Calvary hill. The relics will be enshrined at the Sto. Niño de Pasion, a quasi-parish at Barangay Daanghari, Navotas. Jun David

SBMA touts P29.6-b investments in 2018

By Butch Gunio

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—With a seven-year high investment figure of P29.6 billion, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has announced its record-breaking corporate performance last year in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma declared in her State of the Freeport Address on Wednesday that the agency hit the highest level of annual committed investment in the last seven years with P29.6 billion in 2018, or an increase of 1,066 percent over the P2.5 billion generated in 2017. She said the SBMA also posted recordbreaking outputs in the 26-year history of the agency: the highest revenue ever at P3.45 billion; the highest net income at P1.45 billion; and the biggest EBITDA, or

earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, at P1.84 billion. The revenue level in 2018 represented a 12 percent increase over the P3.08 billion in 2017; the net income a 60 percent surge from P907.9 million in 2017, and also the first time to breach the P1-billion mark; and for EBITDA, an 18.98 percent growth over the P1.55 billion in 2017. Eisma also pointed out that the growth in expansion projects in Subic, which exponentially jumped from P926.6 million in 2017 to P25.05 bil-

lion in 2018 for an overwhelming year-on-year increase of 2,603 percent, was the more telling sign of investor confidence on Subic. “This means that [investors] who are already here in Subic remain to be committed, and trust that good things will happen again this year,” she told members of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the annual SOFA presentation. The biggest fresh infusions last year were for a five-star hotel, industrial parks, warehouses, and a golf course and retirement community, she said. As a portent of continuing favorable business climate in the Subic Bay Freeport, the SBMA also drew a strong import and export performance in 2018, signifying Subic’s progressive role as an engine of growth. The financial literacy program for the Philippine Army is one of the three financial inclusion programs of BDO Foundation. The foundation also has similar corporate citizenship initiatives for public schools and overseas Filipino workers.

Civilian workers of Army to get financial training MORE than 90,000 soldiers and over a thousand civilian employees of the military stand to benefit from a financial literacy program launched recently by BDO Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Army and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The tripartite initiative was officially unveiled in an event led by the Foundation’s board of trustees, Philippine Army vice commander Maj. Gen. Rob-

ert Arevalo, and BSP deputy governor Chuchi Fonacier. The financial literacy program for the Philippine Army is in line with the financial inclusion advocacy of BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank. It contributes to the implementation of BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, particularly the pillar on Financial Education and Consumer

Protection. It aims to share lessons on financial responsibility with officers, soldiers, their families and civilian personnel of the army. The project is supportive of the Army Transformation Roadmap, a long-term program designed to strengthen and professionalize the Philippine Army and enable it to accomplish its mission of serving Filipinos and securing the country.

Hotel supports homeless, elderly

In photo (from left) are Christian Sanchez, Diamond Hotel Ugnayan Chairman; Melanie Pallorina, Diamond Hotel Public Relations Manager; Archie Prado, Kanlungan ni Maria Secretary; Vanessa Ledesma-Suatengco, Diamond Hotel General Manager; Rev. Fr. Antonio Gerardo “Bong” Sanchez, Kanlungan ni Maria Head; Sr. Marivic Caliso, SHC, Kanlungan ni Maria OIC-Admin; Sunshine Robles, Diamond Hotel Director of Sales and Marketing; and Jeffrey dela Paz, Diamond Hotel Human Resources Manager.

TRUE to its mission to give back to the community, Diamond Hotel Philippines recently turned over a donation to Kanlungan ni Maria, an organization with an advocacy to support homeless and abandoned elderly. During the holiday season, the hotel conducted a charity drive and encouraged its guests to give joy to the elderly by giving a donation and in exchange Christmas ornaments with their names were placed at the lobby Charity Tree. The hotel wishes to extend its gratitude to all the guests who shared their blessings and showed kindness to its charity beneficiary. Meanwhile, exciting offers and discounts await guests of Diamond Hotel Philippines this March in celebration of Women’s Month, International Day of

Happiness and Earth Hour. For the ladies in your life and the women who’ve changed the world, pamper and rejuvenate with health and leisure discounts and an online exclusive dining offer available all month long. Celebrate Women’s month with a 30 percent discount on Health Club membership, and a 20 percent off on body treatments. Moreover, spoil her with a lavish buffet spread at 50 percent off on lunch and dinner buffet at Corniche when you book online at diamondhotel.com. It’s time to party with the girl friends at the hottest bar in Manila bay. The hotel’s Bar27 is honoring all women with a 50 percent discount on cocktail drinks every Monday for the whole month of March.

Women’s body lauds QC, dads for gender tack By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Commission on Women has recognized the Quezon City government for being the most gender-responsive local government unit over its comprehensive gender and development programs. Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte received the award acknowledging Quezon City as a gender and development local learning hub in view of its GAD programs, including the city’s protection center for victim-survivors of gender-based violence and abuse and city social hygiene clinics. The city council was recognized for its enactment of ordinances upholding human rights, gender equality and women empowerment. “In behalf of the Quezon City local government, I would like to thank the Philippine Commission on Women for recognizing our programs on gender development, and our efforts in providing a gender-responsive governance,” the vice mayor said. “Quezon City has a comprehensive gender-fair ordinance and we are the only one to establish a Quezon City Pride Council for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” she added.

Whale sharks in Sarangani Bay up to 14 KORONADAL CITY—A total of 14 whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) were discovered and documented in Sarangani Bay on Saturday. The Task Force Butanding Gensan disclosed that the recent documentation of whale sharks in Sarangani Bay made the Philippines as the second largest known population of whale sharks in the world, according to the Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a global online library that provides a visual database of whale shark encounters around the world. These whale sharks or “butanding” were spotted surface feeding in the waters adjacent to Silway, General Santos City which were officially tagged as P1597, P1598, P1599, P1601, P1603, P1604, P1606, P1607, P1608, P1609, P1614, P1615, P1616 and one in Kiamba, Sarangani (P1605). This is an addition to two whale sharks P-640 and P-641 that were documented in General Santos City by the Department of Environment of Environment and Natural Resources in Region XII and the City ENRO in the year 2014 making up a total number of 16 whale sharks documented in Sarangani Bay. The documentation was forwarded to Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute for individual identification. In a recent article from the LAMAVE Research Institute, Australia was once recognized as the second largest known population on the database, while Mexico remains the number one global hotspot.

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

@MStandardLIFE

Thug

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

in the throat

HARD HABIT TO BREAK. Many smokers who are addicted to nicotine find it hard to quit smoking. By Diana B. Noche

E NOTICE this sign everywhere but choose to ignore it: Expiratory distribution of partially ignited hydrocarbons into immediate atmosphere prohibited. Still clueless?

The sign says, NO SMOKING. Duh. Once you’re addicted to smoking, you lose control over your cigarettes. It takes bulldoggish guts to turn thoughts of giving up, come to reality, and switch course. So you try patches, gums, and mint candies to no avail. You are hooked. Nicotine influences changes in the brain structure that engineer addiction. In a study, addiction can kick in as early as the second day of initial inhalation. Even infrequent smokers would exhibit withdrawal symptoms when out of nicotine. Smoking has its dark side; even a blind man can see that. A smoker is flirting with death. It’s just a matter of waiting, while savoring each puff, for the Big C to come knocking in, to be deep-sixed in one’s prime. Young people, especially boys, have always been recognized by cigarette manufacturers as the primary potential consumer niche. It’s the vision thing. The allure of smoking stirred up by media ads breeds into the youth a man of the world image of holding a lit cigarette between their two fingers as part of a requisite “peer rule of passage.” Smoking is an image thing, a fashion to look tough, cool, loose, and in control. It’s an unwise form of machismo and that is what addiction is—an ice breaker towards manhood, always starting as a fun thing to do. Smoking is legal, cigarettes come cheap and are available at neighborhood stores. Then the fun becomes something else. It transforms into a downward spiral. You’re caught in a mousetrap, blitzed out on nicotine. The noose tightens. Accept a few realities: gangrene, mouth cancer, neck cancer, throat cancer, asthma, or chances of having babies dying prematurely, fits of coughing akin to taking machine gun rounds in the chest—each probability a stomachturning graphics detailed on a cigarette pack intended as a stop sign. It seems

A reminder of the dangers of smoking on a cigarette pack.

Some stores put up signs prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors.

that these warnings don’t gross a smoker out of the habit. And granted that the Big C looked the other way, when you smoke a lot, you smell bad. It’s the “yuck” factor a smoker never learned. It’s as simple as that. The lethality of smoking is non-selective; it goes beyond a smoker’s susceptibility to toxic diseases. Secondhand smoke (inhalation not far from a smoker) and third-hand smoke (smoke molecules that attach to clothes, fabric upholstery, carpet, curtains, and walls at home, office, and car containing toxic substances that may settle on such areas for some months) endanger children and non-smokers alike. Be as it may, attempts at minimizing health concerns that cigarettes create, the nation’s regulatory programs barely scrape along in a political environment of interest groups, lobbyists, and stakeholders. By any measure, it’s a near-impossible challenge for lawmakers. Many years ago, some optimists foresaw the arrival of “the days when communities will be smoke-free, when cigarette smoking becomes socially disgraceful, when cigarettes cease to be consumer goods and found only in a museum glass case, cold and unlit.” They did not figure out other people’s ingenuity. The switch from smoking to vaping procreated a new tool that may upset the tobacco industry. E-cigarettes (or electronic nicotine delivery system), also

and the stakes are high. There have been attempts at regulating smoking by allowing the use of less harmful alternatives such as ecigarettes, heat-not-burn products, and Swedish snus that equally provide the same sensation of nicotine. New medications are in clinical tests—Varenicline blocks nicotine receptors to decrease the urge to smoke, while NicVax is a vaccine that pushes the immune system to make antibodies that prevent

known as vapes are now available. The cigarette you smoke contains butane from the lighter fluid, methane, carbon monoxide, methanol, arsenic, ammonia, hexamine, cadmium, formaldehyde, stearic acid, and nicotine enough to kill a horse. Vapers have lower biomakers of polycyclic aromatic carbons in their blood stream which go hand in hand with the evolvement of lung cancer as compared with those of cigarette smokers—once more targeting the youth with idealized images of long drags of copious white smoke smelling of candy flavors and bracing mint establishing in their minds that smoking via vapes poses lesser health risks. Vapers, however, are susceptible to an incurable disease called “popcorn lung,” the disease contracted by workers in a popcorn factory thru inhalation of artificial butter. Diacetyl is a flavoring chemical used in e-cigarettes linked to severe respiratory diseases that lead to the scarring in the tiny sacs in the lungs. This results in shortness of breath and excessive coughing. The nicotine in cigarettes and vapes have relaxation-inducing powers. Smoking and vaping create a pause, a stop, and a break from the dragging work load, likewise, from ennui. But addiction in any other form is still addiction. While smoking and vaping are not illegal, the habit is clearly wrong

nicotine from entering the brain. It looks simple in theory. Reality is different. The hardest part about starting to quit is just that: starting. Scrubbing the slate clean may take several zigzag attempts. Some come up trumps, others prefer to wallow in their rut, chilling out. There’s a good reason why cigarettes are called coffin tacks. Photos by Diana B. Noche

Thousands of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, as well as advocates and supporters join the 17th Happy Walk for Down Syndrome at SM Mall of Asia complex.

Happy Walk promotes Down syndrome awareness

A smoker ignoring the ‘No Smoking’ sign and the adverse effects of the habit to his body.

ABOUT 6,000 attendees celebrated the triumphant life stories of people with Down syndrome and their families at the 17th Happy Walk for Down Syndrome, held recently at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. Happy Walk is held in celebration of the National Syndrome Consciousness Month and is an annual activity that promotes awareness, acceptance, and inclusivity of persons with Down syndrome into society. The event was organized by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc., in partnership with SM Cares. It featured performances by children affected with the condition, celebrity performances, and fun interactive booths. A parade around the SM Mall of Asia complex followed after the program, allowing children with Down syndrome, together with their families, to interact with the shoppers and tenants of the mall. Gracing the event were SM Prime Holdings chairman of the executive committee Hans Sy, together with US

Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Sung Kim and Ambassador-designate for the Royal Thai Embassy, H.E. Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, who have both long supported the advocacies of SM and DSAPI. “Having a child with Down syndrome has been one of the most remarkable experiences for me, as well as for countless parents and families. Some experiences can be so powerful that they have long-lasting and lifechanging impacts on our lives,” shared DSAPI chairman Elmer F. Lapeña. Simultaneously, SM City Bacolod staged its Happy Walk as well. “At SM, we recognize the everchanging needs of the members of the community where we are present, and the more we celebrate our relationship with groups like DSAPI, the more that we understand what needs to be developed in making a welcoming mall, including persons with disability,” said Bien Mateo, senior vice president of SM Supermalls and director for SM Cares Program on PWDs.

Life

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Pico De Loro

to reopen trails

Mountaineers enjoying the picturesque view from Pico De Loro summit and the monolith.

FTER almost two years of rehabilitation, the famous Pico de Loro peak in Mount Palay Palay/ Mataas na Gulod in Maragondon, Cavite will be opening its trails to the public March 30, with strict rules and regulations and an efficient Visitor Management and Orientation Program. The imposed indefinite moratorium on Mounts Palay Palay/Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape is now lifted according to the Protected Area Management

Gulod to public, medyo may paghihigpit sa mga aakyat at magtataas ang entrance fee (Yes, we can confirm that Mt. Palay Palay and Mataas na Gulod will be reopening to the public, although there will be stricter rules to be imposed and an increase in entrance fee),” RonBoard (PAMB) of Mount Palay Palay/ nie Unas of Maragondon Tourism OfMataas na Gulod Protected Landscape. fice said in an interview with PNA. “Opo, confirmed po na magbubukas Mountaineers can only hike na ang Mt. Palay Palay and Mataas na Mt. Pico de Loro inside the park via on-

line booking; no walk-in visits will be allowed. The website will be available this month, according to PAMB. The secured Mount Palay Palay Mataas na Gulod website has an online payment merchant that can accept/process bank transfers, credit card, and even over the counter payments. Schedule of fees will be posted prior to booking. Overnight camping will likewise no longer be allowed. In addition, the

The Protected Area Management Board of Mount Palay Palay/Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape will no longer allow hikers to climb the summit and the monolith.

Leave No Traces policy will be strictly imposed. A carrying capacity will be integrated so only a certain number of visitors will be allowed each day to prevent the abuse of the protected area. A systematic schedule will only allow small groups at a time to prevent overcrowding and destruction of vegetation. All hikers are required to be accompanied by Ecoguides to keep them safe and to monitor their activities while inside the park. The PAMB has trained guides and wildlife enforcers and first aiders in the area. Visitors will undergo Visitor Management and Orientation Program, a system developed to manage the visitors entering the park and to mitigate the possible effect of hikers to the Protected Area. The park strictly prohibits bringing of deadly weapons, alcohol, and any prohibited drugs. In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order No. 26 or the National Smoking Ban of 2017, smoking (including vaping) is not allowed while inside the park’s premises other than the designated smoking area. However, the park summit and the monolith are now off limits. Based on a study made by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region IV-A, the monolith is no longer safe, according to PAMB. Traversing to other mountain is still prohibited. The only entry/exit point is through the DENR station in Ternate. Dennis Abrina

Caring for eyes in the digital age HEALTH experts posit our eyes suffer more abuse due to multiple electronic gadgets we now use. “In the early 2000s, we had PCs so we’re talking about computers then. But now that almost everyone has a smartphone or a tablet, our eyes are constantly exposed to harmful blue light and at such a close range that they are easily absorbed by our eyes,” said Dr. Joy Go, assistant vice president for marketing and merchandising of Ideal Vision Center. Staring at gadgets’ screen for eight straight hours can be very harmful because they emit harmful blue light which passes through the iris, explained Dr. Go. “These harmful lights, when absorbed excessively by our retina, can cause eye damage and blindness.” So how does one prevent vision problems? First, Dr. Go said one should set a time limit on electronic device usage. “Don’t stare at your gadgets continuously for long hours, especially not at night before going to bed because that’s the time when our body needs to heal and recuperate.” Those who are working in the office must practice the 20/20 rule. “After every 20 minutes of working in front of the computer, take a break and look outside for about 20 minutes, or if not possible, five to 10 minutes. Then you go back to working again.” Dr. Joy Go advises against staring at computer screens for long hours.

The Ideal Vision Center promotes wearing of protective glasses to reduce damage caused by harmful blue light.

She added that proper distance from the computer should also be observed. “It helps a lot. Kasi hindi lang mata ang masisira, pati ulo at likod (Because it doesn’t only damage eyes, but the head and back as well)” It is a must to blink and rest our eyes from time to time, she added.

Lastly, Dr. Go stressed the importance of wearing protective glasses with right lenses. “We want to raise awareness of the importance of wearing protective glasses which mean fewer headaches and less eye fatigue and damage caused by harmful lights from computer screens,” said Dr. Go. As a testament to its advocacy campaigns, IVC has been working with Essilor, the leading ophthalmic company in the country, for more than three decades now. Both companies share the same vision of raising awareness of proper eye care. The partnership also helps IVC provide advanced products to its clients. Among the Essilor brands available at Ideal Vision are Crizal, Essilor’s flagship brand that provides complete protection against harmful UV rays; Transitions, the leading photochromic lenses that adapt to the changing light indoors and outdoors; and Varilux, the world’s most advanced progressive lens for those 40 years old and above.

Entertainment

Acclaimed action-thriller ‘NEOMANILA’ comes home to Philippine Cinema

FTER being screened and widely praised in numerous international film festivals all over the world, Filipino audiences will finally get the chance to catch Neomanila—the urban action-thriller directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mikhail Red—on the big screen.

Timothy Castillo and Eula Valdez in a scene from the film, 'Neomalina,' which unspools in commercial cinema starting tomorrow.

Set in modern Manila, Neomanila tells the story of Toto (played by Timothy Castillo), a street orphan who gets involved in illegal drug trade while trying to raise money to bail out his imprisoned brother. In the process, Toto meets and gets rescued by Irma (Eula Valdez), a professional hitwoman, who takes him under wing and teaches him the tricks of her trade. An official selection in the 2017 QCinema Film Festival, Neomanila is a stylish action-thriller, which local and international critics have described as “sublime” and “a terrific work of international cinema.” Clarence Tsui of Hollywood Reporter calls Neomanila “forceful....a poised, noir-infused thriller, which goes well beyond the gritty realism and melodrama so common in socially-conscious Filipino cinema.” The film received nine nominations, including Best Picture, from the FAP (Film Academy of the Philippines), seven nominations, again including Best Picture, from the QCinema International Film Festival and won a Gawad Urian for best cinematography last year, as well as a Best Actor award for Timothy Castillo at the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The film has been invited to screen in film festivals internationally, from Los Angeles and New York in the United States and in other countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Taiwan, and China. The director got the idea to do Neomanila from a TV interview of a modern day hitwoman working in Manila. That, along with the story he heard from a high school classmate about an “innocent teenage boy who was jailed so his criminal brother will be forced to surrender,” became the seed for the story of Neomanila. For research, he also immersed himself in the milieu of nocturnal urban crime, tailing media and police officers who covered crime scenes around the city. “ I knew that as a filmmaker, Neomanila was now an important story to tell, a story of the killings and the masked assailants behind them,” Red says. From the get-go, Red knew he wanted to get Eula Valdez as the film’s professional

Nadine reveals secret to strong relationship with James SINGER and actress Nadine Lustre’s relationship with James Reid is already on its third year and is still going strong, prompting people to ask what their secret is. In a recent interview, the Viva artist admitted that what keep them together is their mutual respect for each other and their ability to give and take. “We’ve had adjustments especially that we have different cultures. Everyone knows that James grew up in Australia. In the span of time that we’re together, we both adjusted. We became very understanding of each other.” “We’re not really strict in our relationship. Like for example, if I don’t want him to go to a certain place, I just tell it to him without apprehensions. What’s nice is that in the process, we’re both growing. I think that’s the best part,” she added. How did she grow in their relationship? “Actually its biggest impact on me is that I learned to accept myself. Before, I had many insecurities, I had lots of problems and I was always feeling stressed. Fortunately, when James arrived into my life, I learned how to relax. I learned how to let go of stress and just enjoy life. I’m glad to say that so far, our relationship is doing very well. We don’t have any serious issue and are just happy with each other.” People also notice the big change in Nadine especially when it comes to reinventing herself. In fact, in her social media accounts, she proudly posts her bikini photos which leaves everyone in awe. “I learned to accept myself, both

my strengths and flaws. I can say I’m happy with this change.” Interestingly, what positive changes does she think she brought out in James because of their relationship? “Well, the most important thing that both of us learned is to just relax, take things one step at a time and love life in general. There’s no bad vibes between the two of us. We are a good influence

Reel and real-life partners James Reid and Nadine Lustre

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, March 12, 2019

ACROSS 1 Exploit 5 Bath decor 9 Hocus- — 14 Radius neighbor 15 Thor’s father 16 Hums 17 Made fun of 19 Foreigner 20 Work by Keats 21 Without a covering 22 Pita sandwiches 23 Used cars deals 25 Muslim mystic 26 Sorrow 27 Flooded 30 British mom 33 Really great 34 Gasp of delight 36 Bullring yells 37 Glittering 38 Vanish — thin air 39 Poetic adverb 40 Londoner’s truck 41 Start 42 Succeeded (2 wds.) 44 Slicker 45 Diligent insects 46 Dagwood’s boss 50 Villain 52 Go to earth

53 Road-map org. 54 Children’s classic 55 Car safety features 57 Bygone 58 — May Wong 59 Tiger’s pegs 60 Jangle 61 Brit’s exclamation (2 wds.) 62 Whirlpool

to each other. We don’t engage in fights. We are so relaxed.” The popular Viva talent also reveals that she’s very transparent with her boyfriend. “Yes, I’m open to James. Everything I feel, I share with him unlike before when I was secretive. I hide what I truly feel. It gets bottled up and you feel as if it’s going to explode anytime.

31 Novelist — Waugh 32 Prefix for “trillion” 33 Medieval laborers 35 Extremely spicy 37 Corsair’s quest 38 Go slowly 40 Letting use 41 Horse opera 43 Drive crazy 44 Lunch time DOWN 46 Rigg or Ross 1 Uproar 47 Maneuvered 2 Omit, in speech slowly 3 Cuzco locale 4 “— -Pan” (Clavell novel) 5 Rug, slangily 6 Sits at a light 7 Legal claim 8 Cease 9 Fun-loving 10 Gulf structure (2 wds.) 11 Muse of history 12 All-purpose trucks 13 Nine-digit ID 18 Tint 22 Trench 24 Overwhelms 25 Shabbily 27 Miniature 28 Vast ages 29 Be overfond 30 A Stooge

48 Had lots of status 49 Not polite 50 Nautical time unit 51 Opera by Verdi 52 Pullets 54 In — signo vinces 55 Yes, in Yokohama 56 Summer in Cannes

“But now, if ever I have a problem, I tell James about it and the good thing is he always helps me. Jealousy does not exist in our vocabulary. We don’t let it affect our relationship. As I’ve pointed out earlier, we’re just relaxed,” ended Nadine. *** After doing projects for ABS-CBN in the last 10 years, Dawn Zulueta returns to GMA for a movie project after the Kapuso decided to be active once again in producing potboilers. “I just attended the recent story conference for Family History. This is GMA’s maiden silver screen offering under their newly-named film arm GMA Pictures in collaboration with Mic Test Entertainment. This early, I’m excited because it’s something fresh and I’m looking forward to doing the project which is to be directed by Michael V,” she stated. Joining her in this silver screen offering are Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Paolo Contis, Ina Feleo, Kakai Bautista, Nikki Co, Mikoy Morales, and Nonie Buencamino. “It’s a new combination which the viewers will surely like,” she exclaimed. It’s a heart-warming homecoming piece for the critically-acclaimed actress who did hit projects for the Kapuso network before. “ After so many years, it’s nice to be back in GMA. Everyone knows I did classic shows with them like GMA Supershow, Forever in my Heart, Now and Forever Presents Duyan and of course, Encantadia. Now I’m doing a movie with them and it feels great,” said Dawn.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

hitwoman. “Eula was perfect for the role of Irma. She was dedicated and passionate. She learned to ride a motorcycle, shoot firearms, she even sang for the film.” He adds: “I wanted to cast a familiar face yet show the audience a whole new character. She had the facets of both a mother and a menace; she had to portray the angel of death.” Red noted that Timothy’s balance of innocence and angst in his role went well with Eula’s ferocity as Irma. “The chemistry between Eula and Timothy was electric,” he said. The filmmaker considers Neomanila as his return to his independent film roots, after his highly acclaimed “Birdshot” which was selected as the Philippines’ official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2018 Academy Awards. Neomanila also sees Red returning to his guerrilla filmmaking techniques after the bigger scale of Birdshot. Yet Neomanila still retains Red’s very assured and distinct visuals that has turned him into one of the country’s most exciting and acclaimed young directors. “We had fewer shooting days than my second film ‘Birdshot,’ but ultimately the technical treatment was fit for the narrative. I believe we were able to create a world that felt real, a reminder to the audience that these incidents are indeed happening around us and perhaps our fear and apathy sometimes forces us to look the other way,” Red says. He adds Neomanila is a film that uses its genre and its bombastic, neo-noir visuals to convey a bold message. “It is a film that should entertain and engage the audience at the same time. It is almost like ‘Blade Runner’, where the powerful hunt the marginalized, but it is set in a world that is very real and very close to home, where the situation is dire and we realize that truth is scarier than fiction,” Red explains. Neomanila also stars Rocky Salumbides, Jess Mendoza, Ross Pesigan, and Angeli Bayani. Produced by TBA Studios and Waning Crescent Arts, “Neomanila” opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow, March 13.

Grantees for Asian Next Wave Competition at Cinema 2019 named

Filmmakers Arnel Barbarona, Rae Red, and Glenn Barit, who directed 'Babae at Baril,' 'Kaaway sa Sulod,' and 'Cleaners,' respectively.

QCINEMA International Film Festival (QCinema) brings success for filmmakers another notch higher as it announces that its list of grantees will now be entered in the competition in its segment, the Asian Next Wave (ANW). For the past six years, QCinema provided grants to new and seasoned filmmakers entering its Circle Competition, a category for local independent features. The grantees this year will have to be in the contest in ANW, which brings in select films from all over Asia. Among the films by the grantees under ANW are Arnel Barbarona’s Kaaway sa Sulod, Rae Red’s Babae at Baril, and Glenn Barit’s Cleaners. The filmmakers will each be given a production grant of one and a half million pesos while retaining the rights to their films. The filmmakers will compete for the Pylon Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Artistic Achievement, as well as NETPAC Jury Prize and Gender Sensitivity. Kaaway sa Sulod tells the story of two women, an army officer and a guerrilla fighter, who cross paths in a mission and find out they are mirror images of each other. They uncover a dark past that unites them more in the midst of conflict. In Babae at Baril, a department store saleslady has had enough of being an underdog. One night, she discovers a peculiar-looking gun right on her doorstep. Her life drastically changes as she discovers how much power owning a gun can give her. Cleaners by Glenn Barit is a story of different students from a high school cleaners group each dealing with different pressures of being clean and pure while also slowly discovering how the world is dirty and superficial, to begin with. QCinema will showcase ANW from Oct. 13 to 22. Visit https://www.facebook.com/QCinemaPH/ for more details.

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

Entertainment

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

‘Simpsons’ creators drop classic episode featuring Michael Jackson

Malacañang appointed Kat de Castro first as a board of director then later on as president and CEO of IBC 13.

In light of the controversial "Leaving Neverland" documentary, "The Simpsons" is yanking one of its classic episodes featuring Michael Jackson.

THE creators of The Simpsons have shelved one of the animated series’ classic episodes because it features Michael Jackson’s voice, the show’s executive producer told The Wall Street Journal Friday. Simpsons producers made the unanimous decision after viewing the bombshell documentary Leaving Neverland, which revives pedophilia accusations against the late megastar in excruciating detail. “It feels clearly the only choice to make,” Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks told the WSJ. The move appears to be the ﬁrst such artistic ban in the United States since the documentary aired on US network HBO earlier this week. Several radio stations in Canada, New Zealand and Australia have stripped Jackson songs from their playlists in light of the ﬁlm. The 1991 episode in question sees Homer Simpson meet a mental hospital patient who believes he is the popstar Michael Jackson, and speaks in the star’s signature high pitch. Entitled “Stark Raving Dad,” the segment that aired on Fox in the show’s third season triggered intense fan speculation because Jackson’s name was not in the credits.

But just last year, Simpsons creator Matt Groening conﬁrmed Jackson had indeed done the voice work—but not the song bit. “When it came time to sing the songs, he had a soundalike singer,” Groening told Australian television. “And he stood there and watched the guy who was so nervous, who had to sound like Michael Jackson.” Brooks told the paper the episode had been one of his favorites—but that pulling it was necessary in light of the documentary. “This was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories we have wrapped up in that one, and this certainly doesn’t allow them to remain,” Brooks said, citing “evidence of monstrous behavior.” Prior to his 2009 death, Jackson emphatically denied molesting children and was acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005 after a dramatic trial. The late superstar’s estate has smeared the documentary as a “posthumous character assassination,” and is suing HBO for $100 million. Brooks told the paper the Simpsons episode would be removed from streaming services, TV stations and box sets, a process that “has started.” AFP

ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes, and ABS-CBN Integrated Creative Communications Management head Robert Labayen

ABS-CBN execs represent PH in NY Festivals Grand Jury FROM being previous winners at the New York Festivals (NYF), ABS-CBN executives Ging Reyes and Robert Labayen are taking on new roles in the prestigious contest as members of the 2019 Grand Jury for the NYF Television & Film Competition. Reyes, head of ABS-CBN Integrated News & Current Affairs, and Labayen, the head of ABS-CBN Integrated Creative Communications Management (CCM), join other award-winning industry experts from all over the world in judging the entries to the NYF. Reyes also sits in the 2019 NYF Advisory Board with 18 other esteemed leaders in media. A seasoned news executive, Reyes has more than 30 years experience as a broadcast journalist. She joined ABSCBN in 1986 as a production assistant, rose from the ranks to become executive producer and head writer of the awardwinning The World Tonight and other special events, and eventually, director for news production. Prior to her appointment as the news chief of ABS-CBN, she also headed ABSCBN’S North America News Bureau from 2002 to 2010. A premier news personality in the Filipino community in the US, she expanded the news operations of ABS-CBN in the US and Canada, contributing to the global content needs of ABS-CBN. Labayen, meanwhile, is a Lifetime Achievement awardee in Philippine advertising with over two decades of experience in the industry before joining ABS-CBN in 2004. He started as a copywriter and rose to the rank of managing partner and executive creative director. He also served as president of the

Creative Guild of the Philippines. The TV executive, who’s also a writer, painter, and songwriter, is also famous for being the creative genius behind ABSCBN’s iconic station IDs like Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko and 2018’sFamily Is Love. Under his watch, CCM has won top awards in the NYF and Promax-BDA, among many others. After taking home three medals - one gold, one silver, and one bronze – in 2018, ABS-CBN is up for three more awards this year at the NY Festivals. Its current affairs program Mission Possible, with its episode “Kapit Lang Anak,” made it as finalist in the Best Public Affairs Program Category. The episode tells the story of Elsa Badilla, a single mother blind from glaucoma, and her daughter Sarah, who has Down Syndrome. Anchor Julius Babao takes viewers for a day in their shoes, showing the mother and daughter’s dedication to each other, and their resilience despite their present conditions. The television plug for the same episode titled “Elsa and Sarah,” produced by ABS-CBN CCM, also earned a nomination in the Station/ Image Promotion category, while, ABSCBN DocuCentral’s Local Legends also made it to the final round of judging in the Biography/Profiles category. The award-winning documentary series won a nomination for its episode “Karne Norte,” which puts the spotlight on traditional corned beef-makers in Masbate. The New York Festival’s World’s Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries with categories that mirror today’s global trends and encourage the next generation of storytellers and talent.

KAT DE CASTRO

vows to revitalize IBC 13 K

Kat de Castro with broadcast journalist Vincent Santos, anchor of ‘Tutok 13,’ a 30-minute daily news magazine carrying a mix of national news and lifestyle and entertainment stories.

NICKIE WANG

ATHERINE Chloe de Castro is the new CEO and president of Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, better known as IBC Channel 13.

In a press conference to announce her appointment, De Castro unveiled her plans to revive the station that used to broadcast shows like Chicks to Chicks, Goin’ Bananas, The Sharon Cuneta Show, and Iskul Bukol, to name a few. “ Apart from revitalize the station, we also wanted to strengthen IBC’s online presence on Facebook and YouTube and other digital platforms. I know it’s hard to compete with the leading networks but we’re doing our best to revitalize IBC 13,” De Castro told Manila Standard during the event. The daughter of former Vice President and seasoned broadcaster Noli de Castro and TV producer Arlene de Castro, the new IBC head is no stranger to the broadcasting industry. A communications arts graduate at Miriam College, De Castro started her career as a field reporter in ABS-CBN Channel 2 and later on hosted her own travel show Trip Na Trip and business magazine show Swak Na Swak. Malacañang appointed De Castro first as a board of director then later on as president and CEO came amid IBC’s transition from its old office in Broadcast City to the new IBC

compound in the same area in Capitol Hills, Diliman Quezon City. “I am glad to be part of the group that will oversee the privatization of IBC 13,” she said. “When I took over (the position), I immediately addressed the things that urgently needed my attention. We want IBC 13 to go back to the limelight.” The Presidential Communications Operations Ofﬁce (PCOO) headed by Secretary Martin Andanar, the overseer of IBC 13, is poised to privatize the network within the year. Due diligence is being undertaken to provide a smooth transition and secure all the stakeholders of the company, especially its employees and blocktimers Meanwhile, IBC 13, with De Castro at the helm, is putting its foot forward as it regains the public interest with the reairing of its well-loved shows from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Dubbed as the “Ultimate Throwback,” the series of classics include TODAS (Monday to Friday at 7:30 p.m.), Sic O’Clock News ( Monday to Friday 6:00 p.m.), Hapi House (Monday to Friday at 4:00 p.m.), Retro TV (Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.),

SNAPSHOT

Aspiring actress Marie Preizer turns 18 HALF-AUSTRALIAN Marie Preizer, one of the newest talents of star maker Leo Dominguez, celebrated her 18th birthday with her relatives, close friends, co-artists in LVD Management and Consultancy, and some members of the entertainment press on Friday. The statuesque teenager looked sultry in beige gown embroidered with silver crystals when she entered the venue and welcomed everyone who graced the special occasion. “Maraming salamat po at nagbigay kayo ng panahon para samahan ako sa pagdiriwang na ito ,” Marie, who is also fluent in English and German, said in flawless Tagalog. The aspiring actress, who can easily pass as a model or a beauty queen, then performed a song for the attendees after a short tribute given to her by her mother Maria Luisa Vera, who’s also celebrating her birthday. Marie has started attending acting workshops and hopes to be in film or on TV doing a television series. She was raised and educated in Vienna, Austria and has already traveled to many parts of the world. Marie idolizes Liza Soberano and senior actresses like Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.

and Cooltura (Monday to Friday at 10:30 p.m.). In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the network, a documentary special entitled The Original No. 1: IBC 13’Legacy to Philippine Televisions aired on Friday, March 8. New programs are scheduled to air on IBC starting this month. OOTD: Opisyal of the Day, a public affairs program featuring the senatorial candidates, airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30min the evening. And coming soon is a travel show entitled #Cooltura, a millennial’s approach to traveling around the Philippines. An improved and vibrant IBC 13 courtesy of Kat de Castro is expected to happen in the coming days. Their station ID says it iconic, bold and chill. IBC 13 will be your best companion when it comes to entertainment. Like a friend, it will make you laugh, cry, give information and advice. “Kung may Kapuso at Kapamilya, kami naman ang magiging Kaibigan nyo. Like your friend, we’ll make you laugh, cry, give you news and information and also advice about life,” De Castro concluded.