Manila Standard - 2019 May 14 - Tuesday

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Many machines malfunction Comelec, Lente ‘surprised’ by VCM defects VOL. XXXIII • NO. 89 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE.

At a news briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez admitted that VCM glitches were much higher than they were in the 2016 national elections, but said the poll body is still collating all the information coming from the field.

“There are many places of malfunctioning of VCMs and we are finding exactly the extent of the [problem],” Jimenez said.

Both the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and Legal Network for Truthful Elections also reported a high incidence of VCM breakdown, which caused long lines and deNext page lays in the casting votes.

Rody: Nothing extraordinary

By Nat Mariano

Next page

MIDTERM EXERCISE. Residents of Barangay Pasong Tamo (above) cast their respective votes in a makeshift 10 feet by 10 feet space in barangay’s sports gym in Quezon City while voters rush inside the voting precinct Monday morning (below) soon as the gate opens to the thick crowd waiting outside as early as before sunrise. Persons with disability, like the one (farther below) fill up their official ballots at the Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School along Pedro Gil in Manila. Revoli Cortez, AFP, Ey Acasio

#2019PHVOTE SENATORIAL RACE

VOTES

1 VILLAR, CYNTHIA (NP)

93,660

2 POE, GRACE (IND)

83,258

3 GO, BONG GO (PDPLBN)

73,786

4 CAYETANO, PIA (NP)

72,105

5 DELA ROSA, BATO (PDPLBN)

67,102

6 ANGARA, EDGARDO SONNY (LDP)

65,916

7 MARCOS, IMEE (NP)

65,816

8 LAPID, LITO (NPC)

65,753

9 TOLENTINO, FRANCIS (PDPLBN)

56,274

10 BINAY, NANCY (UNA)

55,616

11 BONG REVILLA, RAMON JR (LAKAS)

53,528

12 EJERCITO, ESTRADA JV (NPC)

52,097

156,533

Isko Moreno

324,943

Francis Zamora 31,475 Joy Belmonte

445,701

Makati

Junjun Binay

Manila

300 arrested for vote buying

By Joel E. Zurbano and Nat Mariano MASSIVE vote buying was reported as the polls opened Monday—leading President Rodrigo Duterte to call the practice “an integral part” of Philippine elections.

The Philippine National Police said more than 300 people were arrested for vote buying in different parts of the country.

“As of 1 p.m. today (Monday), the PNP National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC), has recorded a total of 120 incidents with 302 violators,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde told reporters in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

The National Capital Region Police Office recorded seven cases of vote Next page

Blasts, shooting incidents mar election in Mindanao

By Francisco Tuyay SECURITY authorities said the midterm election Monday, which ended at 6 p.m., had no major security glitch as 61-million Filipinos who trooped to 366,831 voting center nationwide cast their votes—except for a report on nine people hurt in a shooting incident in Sulu.

The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the elections was generally peacefully particularly in critical areas where violence had been anticipated.

Next page

MAYORALTY RACE Abby Binay

D

EFECTIVE votecounting machines, missing names, and faulty marking pens caused delays in the 2019 mid-term election Monday, the fourth to use an automated election system.

President Rodrigo Duterte casts his vote Monday at the Daniel Aguinaldo National High School in Davao City. RTVM Screengrab

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday “nothing extraordinary” had disrupted the midterm elections.

He said the Commission on Elections should explain to the public the concerns about the faulty vote-counting machines before his administration took steps to probe the issue.

Recognizing that the Comelec is an independent body, Duterte said the poll body should be given a chance to explain the reported technical malfunctions.

“Comelec is an independent body and if there’s any malfunction there or if there’s any aberration at all in the procedure or process in the conduct of the

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano, Macon RamosAraneta and Romeo Dizon

85,248

Joseph E strada 189,486

San Juan

Janella Estrada 22,079

Quezon

Bingbong Crisologo 346,921

Senior citizens, PWDs among early-bird voters

Analysis: Polls boost Du30 reign

By Nat Mariano THE results of the 2019 midterm elections could be taken as a referendum on his presidency, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.

“If you agree with me, then you can vote for my candidates, for the people I am supporting,” the President told reporters after casting his vote in Davao City.

“Now, if I am repudiated by the loss of all candidates coming from the Hugpong slate, then that would indicate that majority of the people do not like me. That’s easy. Easy to solve,” he added. Next page

ETHNIC WEAR. Tribal leader Bong Cawed of the Mountain Province Tribal Assembly wears his Kankanaey customary wear as he and his family go to their polling booths in Baguio City to cast their votes. Dave Leprozo

FOR a wheelchair-bound senior citizen and a totally blind man, neither age nor disability can prevent them from exercising their right to vote Federico Jose, 70, and John Michael Malan, 23, were among the first to cast their votes at the Sta. Teresa Elementary School in Taguig on May 13.

Senior citizens who came early to exercise their right of suffrage said the express lane established in the polling precincts were very helpful for them.

Eden Enriquez, 85, of Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan town, Antique, said the express lanes spared them from waiting for hours.

“The express lane is of much help to us,” she said.

Jose got teary eyed as told the Philippine News Agency his being able to exercise his right “so my voice will be heard.”

“I don’t care if it won’t matter, but I am going out now to do Next page my citizen’s duty and be heard,” Jose said.

THE SPEAKER VOTES. Speaker Gloria Arroyo votes at the Lubao Central Elementary School in her congressional district in Pampanga on Monday morning.

News

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Koko not in HNP sample ballot?

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

R

EELECTIONIST Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Monday he remained thankful to the Hugpong ng Pagbabago and its founder and campaign manager, Davao City mayor Sara Dutert, amid the reports of his was exclusion from the sample ballot of the regional party.

“In spite of this development, I still want to thank the HNP and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara for allowing me to campaign with them for the past 90 days,” Pimentel said.

“God bless our country and our people,” added Pimentel who was among the 13 candidates endorsed by the HNP. A sample ballot showing all HNP senatorial bets except Pimentel surfaced online, although its origin hadn’t

been traced as of posting. There were reports that sample ballots from various districts in Davao City also excluded Pimentel’s name.

There were also instances in the past when the Davao mayor failed to mention the name of Pimentel, but she told the media that she merely forgot and it was not deliberate.

President Rodrigo Duterte also campaigned for the reelection bid of the former Senate president.

The Mindanaoan lawmaker is also the president of PDP-Laban, where the President sits as national chairman.

Pimentel and an ally of the Davao mayor, Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo, had been at odds with each other after the latter was expelled from the party for supposedly violating its rules.

Floirendo’s expulsion from the party was reportedly made upon the suggestion of his former ally but now fierce rival in the province, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of

PDP-Laban.

The Davao mayor also had a rift with Alvarez for calling her a part of the opposition when she formed a separate regional political party. There were reports that she was one of those behind Alvarez’s ouster as Speaker of the House.

Pimentel voted at 6:10 a.m. in his hometown in Cagayan de Oro. He said the computerized verification and the Voters Counting Machine in his precint worked. He said the receipt given was also accurate.

After waiting in-line for almost two hours, reelectionist Senator Sonny Angara, accompanied by his wife Tootsy, was able to cast his vote at the Suklayin Elementary School in Baler, Aurora.

Another reelectionist, Senator Grace Poe, also waited for some minutes as the VCM in her precinct in San Juan malfunctioned.

Reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino cast his vote at Precinct No. 0225A in Concepcion South Central Elementary School in Concepcion, Tarlac, at 7 a.m. on May 13.

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima temporarily left her detention quarters at the PNP Custodian Center in Camp Crame to cast her vote at the polling precinct in Parañaque City, where she is a registered voter.

De Lima was allowed by the courts handling her drug cases to vote under police escort at the Polling Precinct No. 0648A in Saint Rita College, formerly Saint Rita School, in Parañaque City between 12 noon and 2pm.

On April 30, Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court, Branch 205, granted De Lima’s urgent motion for furlough allowing her to vote under the Commission on Elections’ “Escorted Detainee Voting System” on May 13.

But she was ordered “to refrain from giving interviews before and after casting her vote.”

Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar said her wealth had nothing to do with leading the last surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and SWS.

Blasts, shooting...

From A1

“The conduct of the national and local elections is generally peaceful compared to the one that we are expecting that there will be widespread violence but it did not happen,” AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

Detoyato attributed the peaceful holding of elections to the extensive preparation of the PNP, AFP, and the Commission on Elections months before the political exercise.

“The AFP congratulates the Filipino people for the successful conduct of the National and Local Elections 2019 and their peaceful exercise of their right to choose our leaders who will continue to plot the future of our country,” said Detoyato.

“Very minimal breach of peace and order was monitored and reported from all over the country. There were last minute attempts to disrupt the conduct of elections but these were immediately addressed by our security forces,” he said.

In related incidents: • Nine people were wounded in a shooting incident that marred Election Day at a precinct in Sulu province, according to Tadz Azakali of dxMM-Jolo in a report on Super Radyo dzBB, heard nationwide.

As a result of the shooting incident, the start of the voting at the Titipon Elementary School in Panglima Estino, Sulu, was delayed.

Lt. Col. Gerald Monfort, Joint Task Force Sulu spokesperson, said the nine victims were only slightly wounded.

• In Manila, AFP Spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgardo Arevalo said despite three explosions that rocked three unpopulated areas in Cotabato City and Maguindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured voters that security forces were on top of the situation and that they should go out and cast their ballots.

In an interview with reporters, Arevalo said the motives of the perpetrators appeared to be only scaring voters from exercising their political rights as all of the explosions took place in uninhabited areas and there were no reported casualties nor damage to any structures or property.

The military official was referring to the grenade explosion in an open space in Cotabato City around 8:45 p.m. Sunday with the perpetrator still unidentified; an improvised explosive device detonation in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao which transpired at 10 p.m. and the third explosion, also in Datu Odin Sinsuat, at 7: 40 a.m. Monday.

“We are still getting information on the latest explosion in Datu Odin Sinsuat as this just took place but the message the perpetrators are sending to the voters is be scared and don’t go out and vote. But we are saying otherwise, your AFP and PNP are on top of the situation,” he said in Filipino.

Arevalo said his views were shared

by Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division, those troops were immediately on the scene shortly after the explosions.

A suspected bomber was wounded after a grenade he tried to throw at security forces guarding a polling place bounced back hitting him instead at 5 p.m. in Marantao, Lanao del Sur. Five civilians identified as Asiri Sadjaani, 65; Ibno Sahipa, 64; Barre Abih, 46; Omal Hasan, 7; and Nadzra Munib, 41 were wounded during a shooting incident outside a polling place in Panglima Estino, Sulu.

Supporters of two candidates figured in throwing of stones at the old Maganoy Elementary School in Das, Maguindanao, wounding the two sons of MILF commander Datu Item of 106 Base Command—Tato Ampatuan Lintang and Dong Ampatuan Lintang.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said that aside from confusion, administrative delay and queuing during the opening hours of the elections, there were no major untoward incidents that disrupted the holding of elections.

At least 234 persons involved in 100 incidents of alleged vote-buying were arrested by police operatives. With PNA

Philippine Constitution Association president and candidate for congressman in the 1st district of Leyte Martin Romualdez, Leyte 1st District Rep. and Tingog Party-list First Nominee Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and their eldest son Andrew Romualdez cast their vote during the 2019 midterm election at a poll precinct in V&G De la Cruz Memorial Elementary School in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

Romualdez, Tingog thank Sara, voters for support

By Maricel V. Cruz CONGRESSIONAL candidate Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog Partylist First Nominee Yedda Marie M. Kittilstvedt-Romualdez, on Monday thanked their endorsers and supporters led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, hoping for positive election results.

Duterte-Carpio, chairman of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, endorsed Tingog of Yedda Romualdez, the congresswoman of the First District of Leyte and chairman of the House committee on accounts, and Martin Romual-

Many...

From A1

Among the usual problems encountered by voters were VCMs failing to start or conking out, ballots jamming VCMs, voting receipts not reflecting the candidates chosen by voters, ballots being delivered to the wrong precincts, names missing from the voters’ list, and faulty pens, the two poll watchdogs claimed.

Jimenez said the VCMs had passed final testing and sealing, making the problems Monday surprising.

He added that the Comelec was taken by surprise by the large number of reports of malfunctioning VCMs. Among those who suffered delays because of defective VCMs were former Vice President Jejomar Binay and reelectionist Senator Grace Poe. Binay, who is running to represent Makati City’s first district in the House of Representatives, was not able to cast his vote at polling Precinct 0550C in NB 304 in San Antonio National High School after the machine repeatedly rejected his ballot around past 7 a.m. Binay tried eight times to insert his ballot into the machine but it kept rejecting it.

Binay, clearly irked, left the precinct and went directly to the Philippine International Convention Center to file a complaint with the Comelec, which gave him a new ballot.

Jimenez estimated that at least 600 vote-counting machines were replaced after bogging down during the polling hours, four times higher than those that did in the 2016 presidential race.

“We are seeing a lot of issues crop up but whether or not that will.. [destroy] the credibility of the elections, I’m not there yet,” he said.

“We are talking about 85,000 machines in play so you have to get a sense of scale here,” Jimenez said.

The Comelec received calls from more than 3,000 polling precincts about problems concerning the VCMs, but these were immediately addressed, Jimenez said.

dez, a three-term Leyte congressman who is president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Philippine Constitution Association.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we are thanking once again our endorsers led by Mayor Sara and all our supporters. Thank you for believing in us,”the Romualdez couple said in a statement as they ended the campaign period on a positive note.

“We gave our very best during the campaign to win the people’s support and we are now at this stage where people vote for the leaders they want to serve the country,” the Romualdez couple said.

The Romualdez couple cast their votes at the Polling Precinct #0480B of V&G De la Cruz Memorial Elementary School at Barangay No. 96 in Tacloban City.

Their son Andrew Julian Romualdez also voted at the Polling Precinct #0479A of the same school.

Mrs. Juliette Gomez Romualdez, mother of Martin Romualdez, cast her vote at the San Fernando Elementary School in Tacloban City.

The Romualdez couple also called on the electorate to continue their vigilance in safeguarding their votes to protect the integrity of the 2019 midterm polls.

Election watchdog Kontra Daya, however, said the widespread malfunctions could have a major effect on the elections.

As of noon Monday, the group reported at least 39 cases of errors or failures resulting from malfunctioning VCMs nationwide.

“This number continues to rise as of now and does not include reports of VCM malfunctions reported on social media.

Earlier this morning, no less than former vice president Jejomar Binay was temporarily unable to vote due to a malfunctioning VCM in his precinct,” Kontra Daya said in a statement.

The group stated that malfunctioning VCMs are a major cause of voter disenfranchisement due to delays and rejected ballots.

In Metro Manila alone, VCM errors or failures have been reported in precincts across the cities of Caloocan, Manila, San Juan, Malabon, Novaliches, Pasig, and Quezon City.

In Northern Luzon, VCM shutdowns were reported in the following areas Bambang East Elementary School in Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley and Tumaini, Isabela.

The Comelec in Central Luzon said about 17 VCM and SD cards were found defective.

Elmo Duque, assistant director of Comelec in Central Central Luzon said that of the total 17 defective machines, seven were already replaced so people could continue to cast their votes in their respective precincts.

VCM problems were reported in Brgy.

Libsong, West Lingayen, Pangasinan; San Miguel, Tarlac; Minuyan, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Talavera Elementary School, Nueva Ecija; and Ruperto Zubia Elementary School in Baler, Aurora.

Duque admitted that the replacement of defective machines caused delays in the voting process in some 8,654 clustered precincts and about 2,834 voting centers in the region. The replacement came from 452 standby VCMs allotted to the region, Duque said.

Defective VCM problems were also reported in the Ibalon Elementary School in Legazpi City.

In the Visayas, VCM errors were reported in the precincts of Lawaan, Eastern Samar; Mabolo Elementary School in Cebu City while in Mindanao, manual voting due to VCM malfunctions were reported in the precincts in Malabang, Lanao del Sur and Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao.

Kontra Daya said the May 13 midterm poll is the fourth round of nationally automated elections since 2010 but the problem of VCM malfunctions persists.

VCM machine malfunctions have been reported by both Kontra Daya and the Commission on Elections during the elections in 2010 (205 defective VCMs), 2013 (171 VCMs), and 2016 (150 VCMs).

Jimenez on Monday said the manual counting of votes was not an option if VCMs malfunction, saying the protocolis to wait for the defective machine to be replaced.

“We should wait for the replacement.

We will not go back to manual counting,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English in an interview with GMA News.

Senator Panfilo Lacson asked if the malfunctioning VCMs in different parts of the country were deliberate.

“Was that unintended inefficiency?” he asked in a Twitter post. “First time, maybe. Second time, well.. okay, let’s see.

Third time, let’s bring them to court, or strangle them.”

Senator Nancy Binay, who is seeking re-election, said the glitches were not acceptable.

“We automated our elections to be more efficient ...but various reports are already pointing that there were cases of delayed processes. Waiting in line for four hours is too much,” she said.

She called on the Comelec en banc to investigate the VCM glitches that caused delays.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the Comelec should be made to explain why the VCMs had passed the diagnostic tests.

With PNA

300 arrested...

From A1

buying and selling in Metro Manila, particularly in the cities of Makati, Muntinlupa, Malabon and Quezon City.

NCRPO chief information officer Myrna Diploma said the City of Makati had the highest number of arrests with 60, followed by Quezon City with 54; Muntinlupa with 17; and Malabon with three.

Diploma said as of noon Monday, 134 people were arrested, detained and slapped with election offenses.

She added that police confiscated P515,900 from those arrested for vote buying.

The night before the midterm elections, police arrested Quezon City mayoral candidate Vicente “Bingbong” Crisologo for obstruction of justice for his supposed involvement in a vote buying incident. He was released Monday for further investigation.

Police arrested at least 50 people, including barangay officials, accused of vote buying and selling in Makati City.

The authorities also recovered P410,000 divided into P500 bills from the suspects, along with lists of voters and precincts in Barrangay San Isidro, according to the National Capital Region Police Office.

NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar said among those arrested were the barangay treasurer, secretary and administrative officer who were caught inside the barangay hall.

He said 52 others had been arrested since Friday for allegedly selling votes.

But on Monday, the Makati City Prosecutors Office ordered the release of the eight barangay officials and 52 residents of San Isidro.

Lawyer Jose Solis said the order came after evidence was presented disproving the NCRPO allegations as false and inaccurate.

In Negros Occidental, vote buying suspects were arrested by police in the towns of Moises Padilla and E.B. Magalona hours before voting started on Monday.

Around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, a total of 28 persons, including three minors, were arrested in Barangay 7 in the town proper of Moises Padilla.

One group was found in possession of 600 sample ballots. Twelve more sample ballots, each folded along with two P500 bills, were also seized from their companions.

In Lanao del Norte, troops from the Army’s 1st Infantry Division arrested five political supporters suspected of vote buying and seized more than P1 million cash in two separate areas, military officials said.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said Monday the political supporters allegedly involved in vote-buying activity were arrested early Sunday by military and police operatives in Barangay Bualan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Ancan said the arrest was made in coordination with the Tubod election officer, following the reported presence of the suspects engaged in vote buying in Barangay Bualan in that town.

Ancan did not release the identities of the suspects, who were caught in possession of P123,868 cash, sample ballots, and other campaign paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, government troops recovered a paper bag containing P1 million on Saturday in Barangay Dapiwak, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur. Lt. Col. Rufino de Leon, the Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion commander, said the paper bag containing money was recovered after the troops received information from concerned citizens regarding the presence of “goons” who were buying votes and harassing residents in Barangay Dipawak.

Amid these arrests, President Duterte said vote buying could take many forms, and that it was all right for voters to take money—not to sell their votes but to use it to buy food and to cover their transportation costs.

In remarks after casting his vote in Davao City, the President said vote buying was necessary in the history of elections.

“The practice of buying votes has been an integral part of elections in the Philippines. There are no votes which you cannot buy here, believe me,” Duterte told reporters.

“When you start to give money, this is what I told Comelec. It’s not because I’m buying the vote of the fellow, it’s because I’m giving him money to go to the precinct, cast his vote, and go home,” he added.

The President said curbing vote buying was difficult because it takes many forms.

Despite official prohibitions, Duterte said he believed in feeding his supporters and poll watchers, saying he could not let his leaders go hungry.

“Not all people have money. Or you send food to your leaders who are here sacrificing and waiting for the food to eat so that they can last until the last vote is counted,” he said.

“For as long as the Philippines remains a poor country, for as long as the feudal system exists, especially in rural areas aggravated by the communists, that [vote buying happens],” he added.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, however, said Filipinos should not view vote buying as a normal occurrence, saying the poll body would prosecute those who buy or sell their votes.

In a previous speech, Duterte told supporters it was fine to accept money even as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting reminded the public that it was a sin to sell their vote. With PNA

News

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Crisologo to sue cops for ‘illegal arrest’

By Rio N. Araja

Q

UEZON City mayoralty candidate Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo on Monday threatened to sue police for what he described as illegal arrest.

But the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of Crisologo and his son, lawyer Edrix, so they could vote in the mid-term elections.

The prosecution ruled the affidavit on

the arrest and the pieces of evidence presented “failed to justify the in flagrante delicto (in blazing offense)” filed against the respondents.

“The evidence is presently unclear that the crime of vote buying and vote selling took place. There is no showing of a clear offer to purchase a vote and the acceptance of the offer,” the resolution read.

Several Crisologo supporters gathering inside a house for a watchers’ training were charged with vote-buying by the police.

“We will file charges, too,” the District 1 lawyer said.

Meanwhile, incumbent Vice Mayor Joy

Belmonte, who is running for mayor, too, arrived late at the poll precinct on E. Rodriguez Avenue to cast her vote.

Earlier, a media advisory was sent to the media that Belmonte would vote as early as 9 a.m.

On May 12, the older Crisologo, 71, received a phone call that some police officers from the Quezon City Police DistrictStation 3 broke into a house in Barangay Bahay Toro to arrest Crisologo’s watchers for alleged vote-buying.

“I responded to the area just to check, but I and my son were arrested without reading to us the Miranda Rights,” he told reporters.

Even Edwin Rodriguez and those in-

side the house were nabbed and charged.

Crisologo, a well known Catholic Charismatic preacher who founded the Loved Flock Catholic Charismatic Community, is the incumbent congressman of the 1st congressional district of Quezon City, having been elected on May 9, 2016, by landslide.

He previously served in the 13th (20042007), 14th (2007-2010) and 15th (20102013) congress as representative of the 1st district.

Prior to being elected as congressman, he was a City Councilor of Quezon City for two terms (1998-2004).

He is the Deputy Majority Leader in the outgoing Congress.

Du30 maintains ouster plot matrix true despite rebuke

By Nat Mariano and Rey E. Requejo AS SEVERAL entities involved in the alleged ouster plot against him cast aspersion on the “Oust Duterte” matrix, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday maintained the model previously released by Malacañang was true.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Davao City, the President backed the veracity of the matrices amid criticisms. But he did not give additional details to verify the alleged ouster plot against him.

“The matrix is true. The ‘Bikoy’ is true, you can clearly see it even the spectral analysis of their voices. Those are really true,” Duterte said.

The Chief Executive also slammed critical journalist Ellen Tordesillas, one of the many media personalities and entities included in the matrix.

“That Tordesillas is really something. She’s an every inch a prostitute,” he added.

Tordesillas was quick to hit back at the President.

“Since Duterte does not have evidence to support his silly matrix he is now resorting to vulgarity—the only language he knows,” Tordesillas said.

“He is not in his right mind. He is a danger to the Filipino people,” he added.

The Palace has previously accused the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group, and other media groups of working “hand-in-hand” to oust Duterte and to boost the candidacy of opposition eight-man ticket to the upcoming elections.

Some political personalities included in the matrix are Otso Diretso senatorial bets Bam Aquino, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay, Mar Roxas, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and Edwin Lacierda, who once served as spokesman of former President Benigno Aquino III. Communist leader Jose Maria Sison, Olympian Hidilyn Diaz, and athlete Gretchen Ho were also mentioned in Panelo’s questioned presentation. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo then cleared Diaz and Ho from the matrix, blaming the media for its “wrong analysis” of the ouster plot.

Meanwhile, the incoming leadership of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines will conduct an inquiry into the role of their outgoing officials in the press conference at the IBP last week of Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narco List” videos that accused several members of the presidential family of links to illegal drug trade in the country.

New IBP national president Domingo Eyon Cayosa on Monday said they would hold a formal investigation on the press conference conducted by Advincula in their headquarters in Pasig City last May 6.

Cayosa stressed the probe would look into reports that some IBP officials sanctioned the press conference

Senior...

From A1

Jose, who has been a Taguig resident since 1970, still hopes for change in the country and that his vote will be a factor for this to happen.

As he stepped into the school grounds, Jose was immediately assisted by an election volunteer and ushered to the courtesy lane room at the school’s ground level, aimed at making Monday’s polls convenient for people with special needs like senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant women and those with children.

On the other hand, Malan is stepping

and would determine if there were rules violated.

According to him, the probe would also look into possible accountability of said officials. ”Be assured that we will responsibly do our job as elected leaders of the organization and safeguard the interests and integrity of the IBP,” Cayosa said, in a statement.

Outgoing IBP national president Abdiel Dan Fajardo claimed they too were caught off guard by Advincula’s appearance in their office.

Minutes before Advincula’s press conference, Fajardo faced the media and said a group of nuns only referred the supposed whistleblower to them for possible legal assistance.

Former IBP national president Vicente Joyas immediately welcomed the development.

“There must be an investigation by the IBP board on the Bikoy incident to determine the accountability group of those who had participation in the arranged press conference,” he said in an interview.

“The IBP Board must come up with the appropriate resolution which will serve as guidance in any case which may be brought against the erring officers of the IBP before the Supreme Court,” he added.

Joyas revealed that a “substantial majority of the members of IBP” are “ashamed” of the current leadership of their organization for allowing their national headquarters to be used for political agenda.

The IBP later on turned down the request of Advincula because of the group’s non-partisan policy.

“In the pursuit of its mandate to provide access to justice to the poor and the marginalized, the IBP cannot be seen to be siding with or going against any candidate or political party,” the IBP stressed in a statement.

Still, a disbarment complaint was filed last Friday against both Fajardo and Cayosa by the Kabalikat party-list before the SC. The complaint accused Fajardo and Cayosa of violating Rule 1.02 of the Code of Professional Responsibility for allowing Advincula to use the IBP office to publicly accuse members of the first family and allies of President Duterte of involvement in illegal drug trade.

Rule 1.02 states that “a lawyer shall not counsel or abet activities aimed at defiance of the law or at lessening confidence in the legal system.”

The complaint states that the IBP heads committed misconduct in “allowing, tolerating, and abetting” Advincula “in the commission of slander and/or uttering seditious words or speech and in circulating scurrilous libels against the duly constituted authority and a member of his family.”

Solicitor General Jose Calida also called for the resignation of Fajardo as IBP head. forward “to make sure that I help the deserving people get the post.”

Assisted by his sister, the Bagumbayan Village vice president for persons with disability chooses the names to shade as his sister mentions them.

Like Jose, Malan appreciated the PWD-friendly election process, where “all possible assistance were extended to us.”

Per Commission on Election data, more than 61 million are expected to go out to exercise their right to vote on May 13.

Some 18 million are from the youth sector, while 5.8 million are 60 and above. PNA

MALFUNCTIONING MACHINES. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay was among victims of malfunctioning vote counting machines reported nationwide Monday, who tried eight times to insert his ballot in the machine which kept rejecting it. An irked Binay fumed—Comelec eventually gave him a new ballot.

Diana Noche

Analysis: Polls...

From A1

The Palace has previously said the President’s net satisfaction rating has influenced senatorial survey results showing that his candidates would land inside the “Magic 12” of winning candidates.

The President endorses the senatorial bids of former government officials Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Go, and Francis Tolentino, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, and reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Other candidates he has campaigned for are folk singer Freddie Aguilar; Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, JV Ejercito, and Cynthia Villar; Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano; and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

Filipinos flocked to the polls Monday in a vote that is expected to strengthen President Duterte’s grip on power, opening the way for him to deliver on pledges to restore the death penalty and rewrite the Constitution.

More than 18,000 positions are at stake, including half of the seats in the Senate, which has served as a bulwark against some of Duterte’s most controversial policies.

Duterte is known internationally for his foul-mouthed tirades and deadly drug war, but remains hugely popular among Filipinos fed up with the country’s general dysfunction and leaders who have failed to fix it.

He wants to bring back capital punishment for drug-related crimes as part of his narcotics crackdown in which thousands of alleged pushers and users have already been killed by police.

His tough-on-crime platform— which also includes lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12—was key to his landslide election victory in 2016.

Voters crowded voting centers in the capital Manila even ahead of polls opening at 6 a.m. in an election where some 61 million are registered to cast ballots.

“I voted for many of the candidates endorsed by President Duterte because his government is doing its job,” said Myrna Cruz, 51.

“I support their programs, including the anti-drug campaign... but I wish the bloodshed would stop,” she adding, echoing many Filipinos’ nuanced backing of the crackdown.

The opening of the polls were accompanied by isolated outbursts of violence, which is not unusual in the Philippines’ frequently bloody competition for elected posts.

At least 20 people have been killed and 24 wounded in electionrelated violence in the runup to the vote, according to an official count.

Early on Monday, nine people were shot and wounded during a confrontation at a polling station on the island of Jolo, which is home to insurgents and powerful local clans, according to the military.

The violence is more frequent with the lower level races and will not likely be a major feature in the election’s main contest for the Senate.

Winning a Senate majority, something that independent national surveys indicate is well within reach, would give Duterte legislative backing for his anti-crime proposals and his plan to rewrite the Constitution.

Historically, the nation’s 24 senators—who serve six-year terms— have had a reputation for being more independent-minded than the lower house.

The opposition warns that could lead to the single-term limit for the presidency being lifted, allowing him to seek reelection despite his repeated statements that he would stand down at the end of his mandate.

It would also allow him to expand his contentious anti-drug crackdown by bringing back the death penalty, a pledge that the UN Human Rights Council said gave it “deep alarm.”

The Philippines outlawed capital punishment in 1987, reinstated it six years later and then abolished it again in 2006.

Duterte, 74, hit the campaign trail to get his supporters in the Senate, giving two-hour speeches at latenight rallies and routinely insulting their opponents—referring to one by an anti-gay slur and accusing another of working for communist guerrillas.

The results for municipal and city mayors and councils are expected within hours of polls closing at 6 p.m. Monday, with winners for the Senate and congressional seats likely to be declared from Friday.

Even if the presidential term limit is not lifted, the Duterte family looks well-placed to continue its reign.

The President’s daughter Sara— being eyed by some as the President’s potential successor in the 2022 vote—is running to keep her post as mayor in its southern bailiwick of Davao City.

Her younger brother Sebastian is seeking, unopposed, the city’s vicemayoral seat, while Duterte’s eldest son Paolo is standing for a seat in the lower House of Representatives.

Mayor Duterte said she campaigned hard for the Hugpong slate to ensure that her father’s legislative agenda in his last three years in office would gain support in the Senate.

She said she saw how difficult it was for her father to push for reforms in the Senate. With AFP

Remulla, Maliksi rapped on social media CAVITE gubernatorial candidates Juanito Victor Remulla and Erineo Maliksi were criticized on social media Monday for walking straight into their voting precincts in Imus town, past the queues of locals who had waited since dawn to cast their votes in the midterm polls.

ABS-CBN reporter Chiara Zambrano said on Twitter that Remulla “walked straight in, past voters who were in line since 6 a.m.”

“He tells the people it’s because the media needed to take footage of him voting. We said we could wait. He proceeded anyway,” Zambrano tweeted.

As for Maliksi, the reporter tweeted: “He didn’t line up either. Arrived, walked straight to his precinct and took his seat.”

Another Zambrano tweet said Maliksi’s camp said the reason he did not queue up “was because he is a senior citizen,” and at press time was still waiting for an expanded explanation.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections in Davao del Norte said Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. violated several prohibitions of the poll body while he was inside a voting precinct in Panabo City.

Floirendo, seeking reelection under Sara Duterte’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, showed off his ballot and voter’s receipt to prove that he chose candidates under the ticket.

Under Comelec Resolution 10460 Sec. 64, it would be unlawful to show the content of the ballot.

Initially, Remulla and other voters had to wait as the Vote Counting Machine in their precinct broke down.

Remulla, Zambrano reported, said he’d been waiting outside, arrived before 7, and left when he saw the VCM broken.

“Returned approx 7:45, waited til 8:15 for VCM to be replaced, then cast his ballot. Did he wait? Yes, 30 mins seated at the covered court. Did he queue? (sic) No,” the reporter tweeted.

Twitter user Gina A. Policarpio said: “He puts himself first before his constituents. Shows how he will govern.”

Remulla of the Nacionalista Party cast his vote at Barangay Toclong 2-B in Imus, while Maliksi of the Liberal Party voted at BarangayAnabu 2-D.

Rody: From A1

election, let the Comelec explain first to the people before we even initiate a sort of an investigation,” Duterte told reporters after casting his vote in Davao City.

“That is in recognizance of the separation of our subjections, of our independent organs.”

Asked if he would investigate the reported instances of technical glitches and errors, Duterte said: “That would be early.”

Earlier that day, the Comelec admitted that the problems with the VCMs tripled this year compared to the presidential elections three years ago.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez reported that 400 to 600 out of the 85,000 vote-counting machines in precincts across the country encountered glitches. It was higher than the total 188 VCM problems encountered in the 2016 elections.

“In the overall scheme of things, that is a small number but compared to 2016, the figure is jarring,” Jimenez told reporters.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said there was nothing to worry about the malfunctions of VCMs in parts of the country.

“You can use manual counting with respect to malfunctioning machines,” Panelo told POLITIKO. “We have to wait for the reports from all over the country. For as long as the voter’s ballot is counted, there’s nothing to worry about,” said Panelo who cast his vote at the Kapitan Moy Elementary School Marikina Heights.

Meanwhile, asked to assess the election day, Duterte was seemingly happy that “nothing extraordinary” had disrupted his desire for a peaceful and clean elections.

“Well, I have yet to receive something that is more than just the ordinary, the vote buying [reports], the violence there [and] violence here,” he said.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A referendum on Duterte MONDAY’S election was a referendum on President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance in the past three years, and whether he made good on the promises he made while he was still running for president.

There are the issues of how the economy is going, and how Mr. Duterte is safeguarding the national territory and defending the Constitution, and dealing with poverty and joblessness.

If the administration’s senatorial candidates win, then it would mean that the people are happy about the President’s performance.

Are the people happy with the President?The results of Monday’s election say a lot.

I have been a journalist for almost seven decades. I have seen results of presidential and midterm elections that went against what the mainstream surveys predicted. This is not to say that these polls should not be believed. They reflect the will of the people at any given time.

But the possibility of the President’s favorite candidates, Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, being part of the Magic 12 is an indication that the people are indeed satisfied with the President. *** The outcome of yesterday’s polls can depend on a lot of things. In an earlier column, I mentioned several imponderables or developments that cannot be quantified or expected.

There is, for instance, the youth vote,

which might determine whether the administration slate makes a sweep. We should not disregard the youth vote as shown in mock polls. There is also the social media factor.

Another imponderable is the practice of vote buying, which was prevalent.

While this does not hold much sway among Senate candidates, they can make the difference in local elections. In turn, this can affect the results of national candidates.

This is the reason why all elections are local.

Vote buying does not always depend on a local candidate. This can be done in bulk through barangay officials. Sources say that a barangay official can peddle votes for anywhere between P1,000 and P2,000.

Another imponderable is the presence of private armies and some corrupt policemen.

Lastly, do not discount the presence of Little Garcis through bawas-dagdag or dagdag-bawas. My gulay, there are so many ways of cheating! *** What I find difficult to understand, knowing that the majority of the people are still satisfied with President Duterte, is why he appears to be paranoid that some sectors are out to oust him.

That alleged matrix that came out in a friendly newspaper, tagging some journalists and lawyers critical of the President’s war on drugs, and yet another matrix made public by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo and Communications official Martin Andanar, show this paranoia.

I wanted to laugh—but they were not funny.

That latter matrix involving sports personalities Gretchen Ho and Hidilyn Diaz was so absurd. And then Panelo blamed the media for misinterpreting said involvement. With a spokesman like Panelo, who needs enemies?

Mr. Duterte should just ignore criticism. ***

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

N

Never all right

O LESS than President Rodrigo Duterte says that vote buying has been an integral part of Philippine elections, and that it takes on many forms.

After casting his vote Monday, Mr. Duterte dismissed concerns over rampant vote buying, saying there was nobody who did not resort to buying votes, anyway. In fact, he said, it would be difficult to say that one is buying votes when he or she simply gives money to voters so they can go to precincts and buy some food.

This trend will persist, he said, so long as the Philippines remains a poor country.

Days earlier, he also joked that people should not believe the Commission on Elections, the body tasked with cracking down on vote buying. The President said people should take the money not for the vote but to pay for their fare and meals.

But there are many reasons people sell their votes to candidates. Mr. Duterte is right— need is a great motivator. The poor could use the additional cash to get by.

They could also believe that this is the only way they can get something for themselves from their politicians. They could perceive that their leaders will dip their hands into public funds, anyway, so why not take what they can?

Others may believe their vote is too insignificant to matter.

Many, tragically, simply do not know any better.

The prevalence of a practice is not enough reason to accept it as a given. Selling votes for whatever reason erodes the in-

tegrity and sanctity of each individual’s vote. The argument that a single vote is insignificant is patently false.

Of course, the rule against vote buyers and peddlers can also be misused for political gain. But precisely because lines are easily blurred, voters must more than ever acknowledge that their choice should be determined solely by their good judgment on a candidate’s fitness for office—nothing else.

Assuming voters do not know better, it is up to their public leaders—ideally, that is—to educate them on protecting the sanctity of their ballot. Unfortunately, it is these candidates themselves who perpetuate the practice.

The President is being pragmatic when he states this sorry fact about our elections. We wonder how many more polls we must go through before integrity—and not vote buying—becomes integral to our elections.

Turn to A5

The limits of our messy democracy THIS is the third column I have written on an Election Day in the Philippines that I use the phrase “our messy democracy” in the title. The first time was in 2010 when we had our first fully automated elections which Noynoy Aquino won. That was entitled “Our messy democracy.” The second was in 2016 when Digong Duterte prevailed and I wrote a column entitled “Our still messy democracy.”

And now this.

In this column, I recall some of the things I wrote in the 2010 and 2016 columns. But this time I will be less celebratory. I have a feeling that we are reaching the limits of a very messy democracy.

I do not exaggerate. Political dynasties have consolidated power everywhere and even at the national level the Duterte family seemed ascendant. Vote buying is at its worst, so rampant and ubiquitous if reports from the police and others are to be believed.

And then there are the never-ending problems with the Vote-Counting Machines (VCM), the new name of the notorious Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines. The morning news was dominated by the experience of former Vice-President Jejomar Binay whose ballot was rejected by the VCM. He was very upset and went all the way to the Comelec election center to complain. That incident ended well in that he was eventually given a new ballot, with VP Binay attributing his persistence to his being a human rights lawyer.

I hope every one in the same situation as VP Binay was given the same courtesy of a new ballot. That would be the fair thing to do. It would not be right if he was given that courtesy only because of his rank in society.

In the same way, I condemn in the strongest terms the designation by the Comelec of the Nacionalista Party (NP) as the Minority Party in these elections.

We know that the NP is part of the administration coalition. It does not matte that it has more candidates compared to the other parties and after the ruling party the PDP-Laban. The intent of the law is clear: the minority party must be from the opposition and not aligned with the administration. As we have seen, the same travesty happened in the House of Representatives with the minority given to a group of representatives that are in reality part of the administration coalition.

With the dominance of family dynasties, the consolidation by the Duterte family of the political elite, and the scale of vote buying, now I am not so sure if I would still choose it.

As I wrote in the previous columns, every Election Day in this country has always been chaotic. I reiterate some of my observations below.

The historical record, as dug up in 2010 by my son Eman, who is doing a masters in history in Ateneo de Manila, confirms a pattern of problematic elections. At the advent of Spanish rule, the colonizers had to take back direct voting for local officials because those election exercises were tainted with fraud and violence. In the Legal History course I used to teach at the UP College of Law, I explained to my students how Spain got sovereignty over the Philippines by faking a referendum where the inhabitants of our islands supposedly consented to pay tribute to the King of Spain. Centuries later, we repeated this experience in the 1972 citizens’ assemblies that were used to justify continued martial rule and the ratification of the 1973 Constitution.

In 1907, the United States introduced its form of democracy to the Turn to A5

BSP: PH won’t fall into ‘debt trap’ The economy continues to grow.

AS HE has done much work on economic theory and practice since his student days at the University of the Philippines in the mid-1970s and later at the London School of Economics, Diwa Guinigundo, now the most senior of the three deputy governors of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) after rising from the ranks, can speak with authority on what direction the Philippine economy should go at this point.

In the latest edition of our Saturday Forum@Annabel’s with the theme, “Philippines-China Economic Cooperation: How Will It Benefit the Country?”, Guinigundo gave local and foreign media interesting insights on our current economic situation. We share with our readers highlights of his presentation.

The Philippine economy has been growing for the past three decades, since

the first quarter of 1990. Much of this we owe to sustained policy and structural reforms that translated to higher potential output for the economy. Five to 10 years ago, the potential output of the economy stood at four-and-a-half percent. In the last five years, our potential output has grown to between six-and-a-half to 7 percent. If in the past we were subjected to a cycle of boom and bust, or a situation where we grow today and tomorrow we contract, that’s no longer the case now.

What the government wants to do is to sustain the growth. For middleincome countries, the challenge is to avoid the so-called “middle-income gap.”

When an economy reaches a $10,000 or $11,000 per capita income, it begins to experience flat economic growth. There are two reasons for this. One is aging

infrastructure or the lack of sufficient infrastructure. Second is an aging population, which is not a problem at all.

We have 107 million people today, and most of them are young, with the median age at 24 years old.

It is our aging infrastructure that we want to address. We must fill the infrastructure gap.

This is where China’s Belt and Road Initiative or BRI comes in. Our trade and investment regime has been multilateral, we deal with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, or the World Trade Organization anchored on the underlying principle of cooperation or collaboration and based on mutual interest and international conventions.

But we must now look for other sources of funding.

What can we get from BRI? It is an initiative that not only seeks to establish inter-connectivity and inter-linkages across national borders. So even if the Philippines is not connected to the Asian Turn to A5

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Opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

Did the voters choose 12 first-rate senators?

Trade wars THE recently passed new law to open up rice imports and replace quantitative restrictions with tariffs is a breakthrough that Finance Secretary Dominguez has rightly claimed bragging rights to.

Rice tariffication is a reform that Sec Sonny recalls pushing for, but failing at, during an earlier stint as Agriculture Secretary. Today, under the muscular administration of President Duterte, the rice market has finally become a true market—to the dismay only of rich farmers, import-license hawkers, and rentseekers at certain government agencies.

As more rice enters the country at lower prices made possible by lower production costs in exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam, starvation and poverty are being beaten back. If annual inflation turns out to be the lower 3 percent now being projected, a large part of the credit for that will have to go to lower rice prices.

As for the poor—never mind the rich—rice farmers who may end up selling less rice, they will benefit from billions of pesos in rice import tariff revenues that government should be directing toward social safety nets, improving their productivity, even helping them to transition to other crops or other livelihoods.

What’s important is that those tariffs aren’t set so high as to (i) wipe out the price advantage of imported rice or (ii) discourage rice exporters from selling to us. The second issue will require sophisticated management that monitors what’s going on in other rice importing countries who might compete with us, locks in long-term price and supply agreements whenever the market looks favorable, and effectively regulates smuggling. *** Rice tariffication here is an example of “good” tariffs: when the main—though not the only—objective is for domestic consumers to benefit from lower prices abroad.

For “bad” tariffs, however, an excellent

example comes from the trade war initiated against China by US President Trump, who has finally decided to double the tariffs on over $200 billion of Chinese goods imported every year by the US. In fairness, Trump says he’s just responding to a last-minute decision by China to abandon many of their initial commitments towards a new trade pact between both countries. As I predicted in an earlier column, some of the openingup promises recently made by President Xi will prove difficult to keep—although I was still surprised by the extent to which the Chinese have dropped the ball.

Over the long term, as and if the contagion of protectionism spreads, we will not be able to escape its baleful effects.

Tariffs driven by retaliation against perceived protectionism of trading partners may be the only practical solution in some cases. But they will still incur a net cost to the importer and, more importantly, to the long-run health of a globalized economy generally being run on free trade principles.

Trump has been talking up his counterprotectionism by tweeting that the US will be “taking in tens of billions of dollars in tariffs from China”. There are at least three caveats to this proposition: One: Who in fact pays for these tariffs? Trump assumes that the Chinese will docilely continue to sell a $100 pair of shoes tariffed at say 20 percent for the same price, instead of adding $25 so they net the same revenue. If a comparable US-made pair sells at $150, the US importer can pass on the tariff cost to the US buyer, who now has to pay a higher $125 for his Chinese shoes.

Two: What if the Chinese sell elsewhere? If the Chinese retaliate and stop selling those shoes to the US, American buyers are left with a more limited range of higher-priced shoes to choose from. American shoemakers of course can always try to match the

Chinese at $125 per pair. But the higher cost structures of the American economy today for many traded goods make that proposition dubious.

Three: What if the Chinese buy elsewhere? They’re already talking about buying their soybeans from Latin America. If there are enough other soybean suppliers where the pricequality combination is still attractive to the Chinese, a large swathe of American farmland is hung out to dry. With the US historically running a horrendous trade deficit against China, the comparatively smaller US export sector will be hit harder.

Countries like ours may possibly benefit in the short run: as an alternative importer of Chinese goods and as an alternative exporter to the US. But this is limited by the constraints and requirements of our own productive capacity. Over the long term, as and if the contagion of protectionism spreads, we will not be able to escape its baleful effects, especially on our direct (through OFWs) and indirect (through BPO) export of labor. *** Today being the Feast of St. Matthias, the first reading (Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26) describes the selection of Matthias by the remaining eleven apostles to take the place of Judas their fallen colleague.

Matthias was selected because he had witnessed Jesus’ ministry from the time of His baptism by John the Baptist all the way to His resurrection.

This reading tells us that Jesus’ followers during His lifetime numbered more, perhaps many more, than the Twelve. It was a fellowship bound together by love—for each other and between them and the Master—as enjoined by Him in the luminous words of today’s Gospel (John 15: 9-17), including this beloved verse 13: “No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.

Jesus set a very high standard for such love: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” This from a man who walked His talk and willingly went to His crucifixion for our sakes. In today’s rancorous times, these are words that reverberate.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Filipino nation triumphs AS THE nation celebrates the successful conduct of a generally peaceful, orderly, and honest elections yesterday, I would like to express on behalf of the AntiCrime & Terrorism Thru Community Involvement & Support (ACT-CIS) Party-List our utmost gratitude for the overwhelming support from the millions of Filipinos who trooped to the polls yesterday.

Kudos to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a job well done!

Likewise, thank you on behalf of our nominees: Eric Go Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo and Niña Taduran.

As we await for the official results

and proclamation of winners, we would like to give special mention to the indefatigable organizers and coordinators who facilitated and joined our sorties all over the archipelago and overseas.

We are overjoyed by the heartwarming welcome accorded us everywhere we went, a most rewarding sense of fulfillment after our decades of selfless public service, the true mark of Tulfo brothers.

Nakakataba po ng puso.

Just as we promised, we will carry on the advocacy of the ACT-CIS Partylist, which is to uphold the rights of the marginalized sector of society that is most vulnerable and oftentimes fall prey to criminality but denied justice.

We also stand by the defenseless targets of terrorism, whose only dream is to lead a normal and peaceful life. They, too, cry to attain the elusive justice.

Kami ang magiging boses ng naaapi!

Through community involvement we will support the relentless anti-

crime and anti-terrorism campaign of the Duterte administration, particularly its uncompromising anti-illegal drugs efforts.

Indeed, as me and my brother Raffy, who serve as board of directors of ACTCIS, assure you that there is no hidden self-serving political agenda except for pure public service that we will provide through our Action Centers nationwide.

Our legislative agenda will be anchored on our anti-crime and terrorism advocacy and community involvement and support, as well as support the administration’s programs and projects geared towards uplifting the quality of life and building better communities.

Rest assured that on the very first session day of the lower house come July, our nominees will hit the ground running to do what we promised during the campaign season.

Again, thank you for the trust and support. Mabuhay!

short-term, basically related to trade, or revolving trade credits, accounts for $520 million. The medium to long-term loans or those that cover more than five years account for $420 million. While we have seen the increased participation of China in our infrastructure program, if we factor in all the investment and loan commitments and indications of interest, that would amount to only 4 or 5 percent of FDIs by the end of 2022.

We have an existing law, the Foreign Borrowings Act, which prescribes an elaborate system of processing foreign loans. Every proposed project must meet economic and social viability criteria and pass through the inter-agency Investment Coordinating Council (ICC) of NEDA. Then it goes to the BSP for approval in principle, which involves looking at the terms and conditions and its effect on our balance of payments. The DOJ will also examine the legality and constitutionality of the loan proposal.

We have standard provisions in the terms and conditions. First, there are no collaterals on any of the loans signed by the Philippine government contrary to the statements of those who are saying that we would have to give away our patrimonial assets if we default in repayments. And second, we have a waiver of immunity,

which allows the creditor to take us to court if there is a problem. This is standard in loan contracts between sovereigns. If there are issues raised, it would be voluntary on the part of either side to go to arbitration.

And arbitral rulings will have to conform to our Constitution and our judicial system.

In the case of loans from China for the Kaliwa Dam and Chico River Irrigation Pump Projects, the interest rates are 2 percent. In Japan’s loan for the NorthSouth Commuter Rail, the interest rate is 2.7 percent. The French loan for Cebu’s Bus Rapid Transit or BRT carries an interest rate of 3.69 percent.

In other words, the Central Bank wants to ensure that our external debt to GDP ratio is manageable. In 2005, our debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 60 percent. If you translate that into simple terms, 60 percent of our GDP comes from loans.

Today, as of end-2018, that has gone down to 23.9 percent. Why? We have been able to get more capital inflows and to pay back most of our debt obligations to both public and private creditors. In 2017 alone, we paid more than $4 billion of our debt obligations. Last year, until the third quarter, we paid $2.7 billion.

That’s because the economy continues to grow. ernhil@yahoo.com

BSP:...

From A4

mainland, we are considered part of the nautical or maritime dimension of BRI. China is of increasing importance to us because of merchandise trade. In 2018, of our total merchandise exports, 13 percent went to China; to ASEAN, about 15 percent. So ASEAN accounts for a bigger share of our merchandise exports right now. What about imports? Our intra-ASEAN trade is about 25 percent.

With China, it is nearly 20 percent. But 10 to 15 years ago, both exports and imports from China stood at minimal levels.

What about investments? China’s share in foreign portfolio investments is small, accounting for only 1 percent of the total. China’s share in total foreign direct investments (FDIs) in our country is likewise small. In 2018, it was only about $2.7 billion, or 7 percent of total FDIs. But with China’s aggressive push globally, we can expect this amount to increase in the years ahead.

One issue being raised now involves our external debt. Some are saying that we are falling into China’s debt trap. But what are the numbers?

Last year, our external debt stood at $79 billion. We owe China less than $1 billion as of the end of 2018, $980 million, to be exact. It’s distributed among shortterm, medium-term, and long-term. The

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE first election returns that the nation will receive will be those from the cities and municipalities that comprise NCR (the National Capital Region); these will have been trickling in during the hours immediately following the end of the voting period. These returns will be followed by those from the regions closest to NCR—Central Luzon and Calabarzon—and from Cebu City, Davao City and other major population centers; these will have been coming in since early this morning.

Of course, the results of the local elections—those for representatives, governors, mayors, and provincial, city and municipal councilors—will become known fairly quickly. It is the results of the contest for the only national positions at stake—12 senators— that will take considerably longer to determine. If experience is anything to go by, perhaps the identities of the 12 new members of the incoming Senate will not definitely be established until the end of this week at the earliest.

We will know soon enough.

What will be the profile of the Senate of the 18th Congress, which comes into being on July 1? That will largely depend not so much on the nominal party affiliations of the remaining 16 senators as on the professional and personal tendencies of those men and women. Close to one-half of the 16 are members of what has been known, since the start of the Duterte administration, as the Duterte-supportive Senate supermajority.

The 16 remaining senators are

divided into supermajority members (Lacson, Sotto, Gatchalian, Pacquiao, Honasan, Escudero, Legarda, Zubiri, Villanueva and Recto) and five opposition members (Pangilinan, Drilon, Trillanes, De Lima and Hontiveros). With Legarda, Honasan and Trillanes bowing out of the Senate after having served two consecutive terms, the super-majority will have a two-senator edge over the opposition.

To be able to block objectionable bills filed in the Eighteenth Congress, the opposition will have to win enough seats to achieve 12-12 parity with the supermajority. That means that the voters will have elected all eight Otso Diretso candidates. That is a tall, but not unachievable order, given the vast resources that the Hugpong-PDP-Laban machine poured into the election.

If the election returns indicate victory for the administration candidates, and if therefore the supermajority continues to exist, the nation can expect more of the same from the incoming Senate— tepid opposition to and lack of criticism of the administration and eagerness to embrace Malacañang positions and proposals. By contrast, a robust opposition brought into being by a strong Otso Diretso showing will return the Senate to the role that it has always been expected to play in this country’s political system—a dispenser of independent, not lackey-type, judgment on all national issues that go up to the Senate for consideration.

If yesterday the voters cast their ballots with their minds and countryloving hearts rather than with their irrational biases and open palms, the pro-administration supermajority will disappear and its place will be taken by a group of winning candidates who will make the Senate, once again, an institution that the Filipino people can be proud of.

Will the Otso Diretso have confounded the polling organizations and sprung a surprise on the administration? Did the voters elect 12 first-rate senators? The nation will know soon enough.

The limits...

From A4

Philippines when it allowed elections for the Philippine Assembly. But there were so many restrictions, including property and gender qualifications, on the right to vote that most inhabitants were effectively disenfranchised.

It was also during the American era, in the form of the Quezon-Osmeña rivalry, that politics of personality, rather than of platforms, became prevalent in our political culture.

The post-colonial period was also problematic. In 1946, to ensure the passage of the parity rights amendment, the will of the people expressed in the elections was effectively thwarted by the expulsion of the members of the Democratic Alliance from Congress. The 1949, 1961, 1965, and 1971 elections saw many reports of fraud and violence.

The 1949 Presidential Elections, pitting Jose Laurel against the winner Elpidio Quirino, was particularly infamous and became known as the “”dirtiest election” in Philippine history. The 1971 senatorial election is notorious for the Plaza Miranda bombing which killed several people and injured many politicians.

The elections during the Martial Law years were actually more peaceful but they were not exactly clean and credible. The 1978 parliamentary elections saw the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan sweep almost all seats except in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. This KBL dominance was again repeated in 1984 although more opposition candidates won.

The 1986 presidential elections saw President Marcos proclaimed winner over Cory Aquino amid accusations of systematic fraud. More recently, in the 1992 and 2004 presidential elections,

the losers have been quick to file election cases against the winners charging fraud.

In 2010, there was fear in the adoption of a new technology—the Automated Election System. While we welcomed the swiftness of getting the results for all levels of election, the system has been tainted with a lack of transparency, leaving losers in election contests to question the results but without effective ways of questioning the results. I think it is time to reconsider the system and adopt a hybrid system that allows for manual counting at the precinct level with automation beginning after through transmission of results. After all, the big problem and delay in the pre-automation era was in canvassing at the city, provincial, and national levels.

As I wrote in 2010, the Greeks invented democracy in the Phynx, the hill by the Acropolis where the Athenians debated and decided issues. Aristotle described politics as noble and essential for a good and happy society. It was contentious of course, with everyone trying to have a say. It would be tempting, as some Filipinos might now want, to give up on the idea.

As I wrote in 2016, our democracy is not perfect, not deliberative enough, and is certainly inefficient. I said though that I would choose democracy no matter how messy. And we should be thankful for it. But with the dominance of family dynasties, the consolidation by the Duterte family of the political elite, and the scale of vote buying, now I am not so sure.

Facebook Page: Professor Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

A referendum...

From A4

I wonder: What can the President’s favorite senatorial candidates, Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, contribute to the Senate?

The Senate will just continue to be under the thumb of the President. And this will be a tragedy. This is what I fear most. We need a Senate that is independent and that will check and balance the Executive. *** If there is anything significant with the results of yesterday’s election, it’s the

prevalence of political dynasties. Families have dominated politics for years.

Worse, many candidates ran unopposed since their rivals has been bought out or were unable to compete. *** Here’s a travesty: The Comelec’s decision to grant the Nacionalista Party the status of the main minority party.

How could the NP be a majority when it is part of the majority party, PDP-Laban?

Only in the Philippines, indeed.

News

A6

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bill declaring six Quezon municipalities as ecozones OK’d

By Maricel V. Cruz

LABOR CONCERNS. The International Labor Organization-Manila and its tripartite social partners are shown here during the turnover of outputs from the ILO-EU projects on promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining; and trade and employment in the context of inclusive growth and decent work. They include (from left): Atty. Maria Theresa Sindico Guillaume of the Department of Justice; Verna Viajar of ILO CO Manila; Khalid Hassan, Director of ILO CO Manila; Director Senen Perlada of Department of Trade and Industry; Atty Sonny Matula of the NAGKAISA workers coalition; Director-General Jose Roland Moya of Employers Confederation of the Philippines/ECOP; Assistant Secretary Benjo Santos Benavidez of Department of Labor and Employment; Diane Respall of ILO CO Manila; Florencia Cabatingan of NACUSIP workers union; and Susanita Tesiorna, president of the Alliance of Workers in the Informal Economy/Sector.

Arrest judge killer, Gordon urges police

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon on Monday urged the Philippine National Police to take prompt action and arrest the lone gunman in the broad daylight murder of a Zamboanga del Norte judge, the 30th judge to be killed since 1999.

The chairman of the Senate justice committee said the culture of violence and impunity must be stopped immediately.

“That’s why perhaps we ought to find our way clear on looking for solutions to, once and for all, try and get the killers who are faceless and who could put their dastardly activities painfully in the hearts of our citizens,” said Gordon.

“Dead men tell no tales. That’s why I have always stood up for people who are killed, such as judges,” he added.

If the public officials are not safe in this country and cannot find justice in this country, Gordon asked, “what more with the common man, with the common tao? How will the people get justice if the very people who dispense justice in our country are killed and could not get justice, themselves? “ Gordon assailed the killing of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte Regional Trial Court Judge Reymar Lacaya, who was shot dead in the parking lot of the justice hall by a still unidentified gunman who later fled on foot before boarding a motorcycle.

Gordon said that the Constitution mandates that our government ensure rule of law.

He said that if the rule of law is undertaken judiciously in a fair and fast manner, then citizens would not feel the need to take matters into their own hands through extra legal means and so the culture of violence and impunity would subside if not stop.

He also called on the Land Transportation Office to hasten drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations and implement Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019.

SC orders rearrest of US Marine’s killers

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has ordered the rearrest of the convicted killers of US Marine George Anikow who had managed to evade serving their four-year jail sentence after a trial court granted them a three-year probation.

In a two-page resolution, the SC’s First Division upheld the decision issued by the Court of Appeals in March 2018 which annulled the Sept. 1, 2014 and Nov. 24, 2014 orders of former Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 59, Presiding Judge Winlove Dumayas which granted Galicano Datu III and Crispin dela Paz’s application for probation.

The CA also directed the trial court to cause the arrest of Datu and Dela Paz for them to begin their sentence as imposed in the July 2, 2014 decision of the trial court.

Dumayas placed Datu and Dela Paz

on probation for a period of three years, thus, suspending the execution of their respective sentences.

Dumayas’ decision prompted the Supreme Court to order his dismissal from the service for downgrading the penalty against the two after finding them liable only for homicide instead of murder in his July 2, 2014 decision.

The SC also ordered the forfeiture of his retirement benefit after finding him guilty of gross ignorance of the law and gross misconduct for rendering the decision without citing the required factual and legal bases and ignoring applicable jurisprudence.

“As correctly ruled by the CA, the Regional Trial Court of Makati City Branch 59 committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it granted petitioner’s application for probation,” the SC ruled.

The high court said that the trial court merely relied on the post investigation report of the Makati City Parole and Probation Office and failed to make its own determination whether the granting of probation.

“The circumstances surrounding the killing of George Anikow showed the gravity of the crime and to grant probation to the perpetrators would clearly diminish its seriousness,” the SC said.

In its March 2018 decision, the CA noted that the trial court, before granting probation, should consider the possibility of the offender to reform together with the demands of justice and public interest, along with other relevant circumstances.

BI officers nab human trafficker in NAIA, rescue three victims

By Vito Barcelo

THE SEARCH IS ON.

People search for their names at a voting precinct in Barangay Batasan National High School in Quezon City.

Revoli Cortez

Enforce maternity leave law, SSS urged A FEMALE legislator on Monday urged the Social Security System and companies to stop delaying the implementation of the 105 days Expanded Maternity Leave Law. Rep. Arlene Brosas made the call in the wake of reports that some companies are still sticking to the old 60 days maternity leave period while the SSS said on Twitter that they are “awaiting proper guidelines to be released by our management” even if the implementing rules have already been signed.

“The 105 days paid maternity leave is our fitting recognition of the valuable role and contribution of Filipino mothers to the economy. Let mothers receive what is already due to them," said Brosas.

She said the law has been passed for more than a decade, and the IRR is already out. SSS and companies should stop being a Mother’s Day grinch,” added Brosas.

Brosas said any covered female whose date of delivery falls on March 11 onwards should be able to avail the 105 days EML benefits, even if the leave has been filed prior.

“They can apply for extension of the maternity leave equivalent to the remainder days from the total 105 days,” she said.

For her part, Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Filipino women are holding the economy together amid the government's failure to introduce strategic solutions to agricultural and industrial decline, and lack of creation of decent jobs. Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives has backed a measure declaring six municipalities in the Quezon province as ecological-tourism zones.

The six municipalities are Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Jomalig, and Mauban.

House Bill 8980, authored by Rep. Anna Katrina Enverga of Quezon, proposes to provide the necessary support for the local government units of these municipalities to improve their tourism industry.

“Promoting efforts for environmental protection, making the tourism industry a major source of livelihood and a means of generation of employment for the municipalities,” said Enverga, vice chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchise and member for the majority bloc of the Southern Tagalog Development Committee.

She noted that the Polillo Group of Islands comprises 27 islands, and its five main islands are Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Jomalig.

Of these, Polillo is the largest, and home to the famous and luxurious Balesin Island Resort.

“Grazed by long white sandy beaches, Polillo has the potential as the perfect getaway for those seeking adventure. Its underwater wilderness is home to diverse marine species and its protected forests are home to endemic animals,” said Enverga.

The bill mandates the Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and concerned government agencies, to craft a tourism development plan containing the construction, installation and maintenance of appropriate facilities and infrastructure to enhance tourism in these islands.

Bill renaming NLEX to Marcelo H. del Pilar approved THE House of Representatives is expected to endorse for Senate approval House Bill 8958 renaming the North Luzon Expressway to Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway or MHDPEX in honor of the country's national hero.

The bill, principally authored by Rep. Joe Antonio Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, provides for the renaming of the NLEX as the Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway (MHDPEX). The House approved the bill on third and final reading.

As provided for in the bill, the NLEX

is the stretch of road that traverses Barangay Balintawak in Quezon City, through the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, through the City of Meycauayan, the Municipalities of Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, the City of Malolos, the Municipalities of Plaridel and Pulilan, all in the province of Bulacan, through the Municipality of San Simon, the City of San Fernando, the Municipality of Mexico, the City of Angeles, up to Barangay Sta. Ines in the City of Mabalacat, all in the Province of Pampanga, and which

merges with MacArthur Highway and continues Northward into the rest of Central and Northern Luzon.

The Department of Public Works and Highways shall issue the necessary rules, orders and circulars to implement the provisions of the Act. In the explanatory note of his proposal, Sy-Alvarado said renaming the NLEX to Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway will bestow the distinct honor on and perpetuate the memory of Del Pilar who is one of the country’s national heroes. Maricel V. Cruz

IMMIGRATION officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested a suspected human trafficker caught trying to escort out of the country three victims illegally recruited to work as housekeepers in Malta.

The victims claimed each of them paid P310,000 to the illegal recruiter for their placement fees and travel costs.

BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said the suspect and his victims attempted to board an Eva Air flight to Malta at the NAIA Terminal 1 when they were intercepted by members of the bureau’s travel control and enforcement unit.

Their names were not divulged as the law prohibits the public disclosure of names of victims in human trafficking cases.

BI NAIA 1 TCEU head Glenn Ford Comia said the victims initially claimed they were on a business trip and that they are employees of a recruitment agency.

“The immigration officer who processed them doubted the purpose of their travel, thus they were referred to the TCEU for secondary inspection,” Comia said.

The three victims admitted that they were not employees of the recruitment agency, and pointed to their other companion as the one who recruited them to work as housekeepers in Malta.

All four were turned over to the custody of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation and filing of appropriate charges against the recruiter.

ILO marks 100 years; collaborates with EU for social justice projects THE International Labor Organization recently celebrated 100 years of advancing social justice and decent work. The event also gathered partners to address challenges pertaining to basic rights of workers such as freedom of association and collective bargaining.

One of ILO’s staunch partners is the European Union and proof of this are the collaborative projects undertaken by the two organizations. Ambassador Franz Jessen of

the EU Delegation to the Philippines lauded the projects which “promotes and advances the ILO International Labour Standards and Decent Work in the context of expanding trade and investments.”

The project outputs—tools, manuals, and reports—were presented at a Stakeholders’ Forum held during ILO’s Centenary celebration at The Manila Peninsula.

Top representatives from the ILO, EU and tripartite partners from government and

civil society were present and witnessed the unveiling of concrete outputs and results under the “EU GSP+ Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (FoACB)” and “Strengthening the Impact of Trade on Employment in the Philippines (EU-STRENGTHEN).”

“ILO’s collaboration with the EU under the Trade, Employment and Freedom of Association projects, promotes and advances International Labour Standards and decent

work in the context of expanding trade and investments. This stakeholders’ forum is a step towards that direction,” said Khalid Hassan, Director, ILO Country Office for the Philippines. “As ILO marks 100 years, we continue to pursue a human-centered agenda for the future of work—one where increased investments in the institution of work are guaranteed through ensured collective representation of workers and employers through social dialogue.”

Sports

A7

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Guardiola: Man City will get better

B

RIGHTON—Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his side’s rivals that the English champions will only get stronger after holding off Liverpool to become the first side in a decade to retain the Premier League.

City came from behind to beat Brighton 4-1 on Sunday and take the title by just one point from Liverpool, despite the Reds amassing a club record 97 points.

Indeed, Liverpool’s points tally is the third highest in Premier League history, behind only City this season and when they racked up 100 points in storming to the title for the first time under Guardiola last year.

City could become the first side to ever win a domestic treble in England should

they beat Watford in the FA Cup final next weekend.

But Guardiola is already looking ahead to next season and strengthening his squad to repeat the feats he achieved in winning three titles in a row at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“Winning is so addictive and of course in a few days we have the FA Cup,” said Guardiola, who has now won eight league titles in 10 seasons as a coach.

“After (we’ll) prepare well, take the

right decisions for next season to come back stronger because Liverpool will maintain it I think and the other ones will be better.

“I think (Manchester) United must come back, Chelsea one more year with (Maurizio) Sarri will be better, Tottenham we have seen (get to the) final of the Champions League and Arsenal, when they make what they have to do, will be there as well.

“We know it, but we accept the challenge and I promise you we will come back and I have the feeling we will be stronger next season.”

Liverpool’s wait for a league title will now stretch to at least 30 years and the Champions League finalists will aim to

end a seven-year wait for silverware of any kind against Tottenham on June 1.

Meanwhile, an embarrassing 2-0 home defeat by already-relegated Cardiff saw Manchester United end the campaign as close to the relegation zone as the top of the table.

And Guardiola used England’s traditionally two most successful clubs as an example to City’s players, fans and owners not to take their current success for granted.

“Now when you win the title you realize how difficult it is just to win one title,” he added.

“Liverpool in the last four years didn’t win one. Man Utd and Liverpool are the biggest clubs in England. AFP

Kang wins 1st US PGA Tour crown LOS ANGELES—South Korea’s Kang Sung fired seven birdies in a four-under par 67 on Sunday to claim his first US PGA Tour victory, a two-shot win over Matt Every in the Byron Nelson in Dallas, Texas.

Kang drained a 23-foot birdie putt at 15 to take the lead for good on a marathon day that saw the leaders play 27 holes thanks to the six-hour weather delay on Saturday.

Kang, who equalled the Trinity Forest course record with a bogey-free 10-under 61 on Friday, finished with a 23-under par total of 261.

Every had edged ahead by one through nine holes when darkness halted play on Saturday.

But Kang fired three birdies and bogey over the final nine holes of the third round to regain a three-shot lead.

Every responded with seven birdies— including five on the front nine —in a fiveunder par 66 in the fourth round.

But he was unable to maintain the lead and his 21-under total of 263 was only good enough for a share of second place alongside compatriot Scott Piercy.

Piercy capped a bogey-free tournament —the first on the US PGA Tour since 2010 —with a seven-under 64.

Kang strung together three straight birdies at eight, nine and 10. He was unable to get up and down from a green side bunker at the 12th, but he reeled off another trio of birdies at 14, 15 and 16 to move to 24-under for the tournament.

He was three strokes up when he arrived at 18, where his closing bogey proved immaterial.

“I’m so happy right now,” Kang said after notching his first tour win in his 159th start.

“Yesterday we finished too late,” Kang said. “I didn’t have time to sleep much, only slept about three hours.” AFP

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola is thrown into the air by his players as they celebrate after their 4-1 victory in the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England. Manchester City held off a titanic challenge from Liverpool to become the first side in a decade to retain the Premier League on Sunday by coming from behind to beat Brighton, 4-1. AFP

Barcelona bounces back after nightmare MADRID—Barcelona’s Champions League recovery has begun and Getafe’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament could be over after they were beaten 2-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Arturo Vidal’s finish and a Djene Dakonam own-goal saw Barca bounce back from their capitulation against Liverpool, even if their fans had not forgotten judging by the swathes of empty seats and scattering of whistles before kick-off.

“It has been a difficult game for all of us,” said Sergio Busquets. “We are trying to heal a wound that isn’t small.”

Getafe might have hoped for their opponents to suffer a longer European hangover but instead they drop out of the top four, with one match left to play, after Valencia eased to a 3-1 victory over Alaves.

“We lost but I’m proud,” said Getafe coach Jose Bordalas. “We have to win our last game and then we’ll see.”

Valencia now sit fourth, level on points with Getafe, but in front due to their superior head-to-head. They finish the season away at struggling Real Valladolid while Getafe are at home to Villarreal.

Barcelona’s victory means they stretch

their lead at the top of the table to 11 points over Atletico Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Sevilla, and 18 ahead of Real, who lost 3-1 to Real Sociedad after Jesus Vallejo was sent off.

If they beat Valencia in the final of the Copa del Rey on May 25, Barca will claim a second domestic double in as many years but even that will not make amends for the collapse at Anfield.

Ernesto Valverde insisted on Saturday he wants to continue as coach and a smooth end to the season, including winning the cup, might reduce the appetite for change.

“It is the first step,” Valverde said. AFP

Indonesian stuns world surf champ

REBOUND BATTLE. San Miguel Beer’s JuneMar Fajardo and Magnolia’s Mark Barroca fight for the rebound in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals. The Beermen won, 98-86, to send the series into a deciding seventh game.

JAKARTA—An Indonesian teenager pulled off a stunning upset Monday by defeating two-time surfing world champion Gabriel Medina in Bali.

Granted a wildcard spot to compete in the World Surf League (WSL) event at Keramas beach on Bali’s east coast, 19-year-old Rio Waida quickly proved why he is considered Indonesia’s next big hope on the international stage.

Waida scored a low combined twowave score of 9.60 out of 20, but that was still enough to edge out 2018 world champ Medina and Deivid Silva—both from Brazil—in clean headhigh waves.

“I’m very happy I won in the first round, especially because I was competing against Gabby Medina, the world champion,” Waida said in a postheat interview.

“The waves were small, but I know the break here so I could implement my strategy.

“I don’t care about other competitors —I just thought about myself.”

On his best scoring ride, Waida—

who finished third in the WSL World Junior Championships last year—completed a series of powerful manoeuvres in the pocket of the wave that earned him a 5.67 out of 10 and cheers from fans on the beach.

The Balinese surfer followed that up with a 3.93, which was enough to see him advance to round three where he will compete against the winner of a round-two elimination heat.

Some five decades after surfing was first introduced to Bali by foreign visitors, Waida is from a new generation of Indonesian surfers that are stamping their mark on the international scene.

The Corona Bali Pro is the third stop on the 11-event men’s world tour and follows competitions on the Gold Coast and at Bells Beach in Australia.

John John Florence, a two-time world champ from Hawaii, currently has the tour ratings lead and advanced on the first day of the competition along with event favourites Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo and Jordy Smith. AFP

Djokovic sees Madrid win as perfect Roland Garros platform MADRID—Novak Djokovic said his impressive burst of form which won him a third Madrid Open title and 33rd Masters could prove decisive in his assault on the French Open.

The world number one joined Rafael Nadal on top of the all-time Masters list when he swept to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final in the Spanish capital.

“At this very important time for me in the season, the win gives me a lot of confidence prior to Rome and, of course, Roland Garros where I definitely want to play my best,” said the 15-time major winner.

Djokovic dominated a clearly exhausted Tsitsipas less than 24 hours af-

ter the 20-year-old Greek had stunned five-time champion Nadal in a semifinal which ended around midnight on Saturday.

Djokovic and Nadal will now attempt to claim a 34th Masters title in Rome this week in a key indicator ahead of Roland Garros which gets under way on May 26.

Djokovic credits a keys wins in Madrid with helping him to his first final since winning the Australian Open three months ago.

He will be bidding to collect his fourth consecutive title at a Grand Slam when he plays in Paris where he was also champion in 2016.

“This win was very important for my

level of confidence because after the Australian Open I wasn’t playing my best,” he said.

“I wasn’t finding the right game and the consistency on the court in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo.

“I felt like I was close and needed a little bit of a push, which came yesterday against Dominic Thiem in the semifinal in a very close match.”

Djokovic never let Tsitsipas get into gear in a final which lasted just over 90 minutes The Greek, who beat Djokovic in their previous meeting last summer in Canada, was broken once in each set, enough of a margin for the top seed to take the trophy, his second

of the season after the Australian Open.

The Serb still needed four match points to get the job done with Tsitsipas finally beaten when Djokovic sent a winning volley into the corner.

“He has the best backhand that I have ever seen in a human being,” said Tsitsipas of his opponent.

“He controls it so well. He can play cross, he can play down the line the same way. And that’s very difficult to deal with.

“He deserved the victory, he played unbelievable. I couldn’t do much.”

Tsitsipas was playing his second Masters 1000 final after losing to Nadal in Toronto last August. AFP

Patrombon, Capadocia eye Brookside tennis repeat JESON Patrombon and Marian Capadocia exude confidence but wary of their respective title-retention drives in the PPS-PEPP Brookside Hills Open Tennis Championships unfolding tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal.

Patrombon overpowered Vicente Anasta, 6-0, 6-3, to claim the men’s singles crown last year but the 26-yearold veteran Davis Cupper expects a tougher outing this time against the country’s best and the brightest, led

by Johnny Arcilla, Fritz Verdad, Mark Alcoseba, Noel Damian Jr., Deo Talatayod, Rolando Ruel Jr. and Anasta.

One thing going for the Iligan City ace is the momentum he had gained and confidence he had built from his straight-set romp over fellow national player and doubles partner Arcilla in the Gov. Umali Cup in Oriental Mindoro last month.

Like Patrombon, Capadocia hopes to re-stamp her class in their side of the duel with the Antique City bet going up against the likes of Khim Iglupas, Patricia Velez, Patricia Lim, Christine Patrimonio, Justine Maneja, Denise Bernardo and Clarice Patrimonio, who she repulsed, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the crown in last year’s staging of the annual tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, 32 bidders kicked off their drive for four remaining spots in the men’s Open singles draw yesterday (Monday) with the likes of Miguel Castillo, Miguel Vicencio, Philippe Coteron, Jude Ceniza, Rafael Liangco, Jet Esteller, Harvey Gilbuena and Pete Coteron tipped to dispute the coveted berths in the two-day elims of the event sponsored by Rep. Jack Duavit, One Cainta, Bgy. San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, BRAI, Feeds Edition Batangas, RMJ Agricultural, board member Ross Gongora, Allan del Castillo and Dunlop as official ball.

Held simultaneously with the Open qualifiers is the junior play with Loucas Fernandez, Daniel Estanislao III, Pablo Gonzaga and Exequiel Jucutan along with Patricia Lim, Justine Maneja, Amelie Mata and Kryshana Brazal leading the chase in the premier 18-and-under division in the boys and girls’ classes.

Jucutan also banners the cast in the boys’ 16-U side that also drew Joseft Pascua, Lance Fernandez and Jeremiah Macias IV with Jada Custodio joining Maneja, Mata and Brazal in the girls’ category of the Group I tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

New Era puts away SSC in Got Skills tilt NEW Era University put away the San Sebastian Staglets, 76-69, in the ongoing 2019 Milcu Sports Got Skills Basketball Summer tournament at the Padre Pio gymnasium in Lourdes School-Mandaluyong.

Zandro Sardenia banged in 17 points for NEU, which picked up its first win in the 17-year-old-and-under category.

Ateneo de Cebu, led by Michael Asoro, demolished San Sebastian, 6955, in the 15-under action.

The Magis Eagles improved to 1-1 and now share the lead with the Staglets.

San Sebastian College, behind Michael Gonzales, took the early lead in the 13-under action Sunday after their 87-70 pummeling of International School-Manila.

The La Salle Lipa Chevrons, however, blasted in the Staglets, 57-39, on Saturday, to catch up with the Recoletos cagers in the lead at 1-1 in the 13-under category.

The Chevrons also marched to their second straight win in the 12-under side after prevailing over SSC, 60-56.

Over in the 25-under section, the National University-B Bulldogs drew 18 points from Joshua Sinclair in their 68-54 win over Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas.

In the 19-under games, the Letran Knights downed the SSC Stags, 86-70, with Joshua Ramirez hitting 20 points.

Peter Atencio

Le Tour PH offers 2 technical rides

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

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TUESDAY, MAY14, 2019

Sports Kawhi Leonard (2) of the Toronto Raptors shoots the game winning basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

Leonard bounces in winning buzzer-beater to lift Raptors L

OS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard bounced in the gamewinning shot at the buzzer as the Toronto Raptors advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 92-90 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in a heart-stopping game seven on Sunday.

The winner-take-all contest was a microcosm of the wildly unpredictable series with each team taking turns making runs or being inept until the biggest twist of all as Leonard finished it off in showstopping style.

“I got a fortuitous bounce,” said Leonard of the first game-seven buzzer beater in NBA history. “I just shot it as hard as I could. I got some loft on it and it made the ball bounce soft and it ended up going in.”

The Raptors advance to the NBA final four where they will play the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in game one of their series on Wednesday.

With the score tied 90-90 and the game appearing to be headed to overtime, Leonard took matters into his own

hands by getting open for a fall-away jumper from the right corner.

His arching moon ball at the buzzer bounced twice on each side of the rim before dropping into the bucket to clinch the series.

Leonard’s winning shot came after Sixers Jimmy Butler tied the contest with four seconds left.

Leonard finished with a game high 41 points while Pascal Siakam tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who are hoping to reach their first NBA finals in franchise history.

Toronto has leaned heavily on Leonard all season, and on Sunday he delivered. Serge Ibaka had 17 points, Kyle Lowry chipped in 10 and Marc Gasol

grabbed 11 rebounds.

Joel Embiid led the Sixers attack with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Tobias Harris had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Raptors were up 89-85 with 74 seconds to play on a steal by Lowry, who set up Siakam for the layup.

Butler made one of two free throws, cutting the lead to three. With 12 seconds to play, Joel Embiid made two free throws to trim the lead to one, 89-88.

Leonard had a chance to give Toronto a three-point lead but made just one of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining, and Butler tied the score 90-90 on a desperation driving layup.

“I was disappointed I missed that free throw,” Leonard said. “So I really wanted to make that shot. I wanted to leave it all out on the floor just in case we lost so I would have been proud of myself.”

Portland through CJ McCollum carried the load in the other winner-take-all NBA playoff game on Sunday night, as the Portland

Trail Blazers also won a tight game seven over the Denver Nuggets 100-96.

Portland rallied on the back of McCollum’s 37 points to stun the Nuggets in Denver and book a Western Conference finals date with NBA champions Golden State.

With Portland star Damian Lillard struggling to get shots to fall, Denver exploded out of the gates, seizing a 2917 first-quarter lead that they stretched to as much as 17 in the second period.

McCollum kept the Blazers in it, his driving basket giving them their first lead of the game, 71-70 with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Nuggets had reduced a sevenpoint deficit to one when McCollum drained a step-back jumper with 12.4 seconds left to stretch Portland’s lead to 98-95.

Evan Turner, who scored just four points in the first six games of the series, scored 10 of his 14 in the fourth quarter for Portland. AFP

Hamilton inspired to victory by brave cancer boy

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton takes a selfie after the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo in the outskirts of Barcelona. AFP

BARCELONA—Lewis Hamilton said he was inspired to victory in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix by receiving a humbling message from a five-year-old boy who is fighting cancer.

The defending five-time world champion said the message from Harry Shaw, who is battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, helped him defeat Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas who beat him to pole in a “nightmare” qualifying session on Saturday.

Hamilton said that, after being outpaced by Bottas, the message was a welcome boost to his spirits.

“Yesterday was a difficult day, but I arrived today and I got this great message from this young kid called Harry and he just became my spirit and that was my inspiration,” Hamilton told Sky Sports after winning ahead of Bottas to return to the top of the world championship.

“When I woke up, I was a bit lost and kind of ‘how’s today going to go?’ and then I saw that message and I was like ‘I see you Harry—I’ve got you’.

“So I want to dedicate this one to Harry, if you are watching, and sending you the love.”

Hamilton told reporters that after being outpaced to pole by Bottas at three consecutive events, he intended to analyse his one-lap performances.

“Yesterday, it was a bit of a nightmare,” he said.

“But luckily race pace has generally been quite

Defending champion Bulldogs confident of keeping volley title

By Peter Atencio THE defending champion National University Bulldogs are confident that they will be able to retain their crown in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s volleyball tournament.

Their experience in being in the championship round over the last seven years is expected to bring them through.

Coach Dante Alinsunurin said this after the Bulldogs bounced back from a slow start to repulse the Far Eastern University Tamaraws , 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18.

This put the Bulldogs a win closer to the crown at the end of Game 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Malaking tulong ang championship experience ng team,” said Alinsunurin.

Season MVP Bryan Bagunas agrees, saying that they now have the tempo take the crown again.

“Para sa akin, nasa amin na ang tempo.

Nandu’n na kami,” said Bagunas.

Bagunas eked 18 points and 13 excellent receptions for the Bulldogs, who will meet the Tams in Game 2 at 12 noon on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Teammates Kim Malabunga and Madz Gampong added 10 points each during the game.

So far, the Bulldogs have not been beaten after 15 games since the eliminations.

good for me. I’ve been really happy and comfortable generally in the races.”

After a fifth successive Mercedes one-two, Hamilton said he hoped that Ferrari would recover their form and mount a serious challenge to Mercedes.

Hamilton was linked with a future move to Ferrari on Sunday when Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said that scenario had been discussed during contract talks last year.

Hamilton to Ferrari?

“I prefer it when they are in the mix with us,” he said. “I prefer the races where, for example Bahrain, they’re on the front row. I love that. Especially when we’re kind of intertwined.

“The last couple of years that’s what we’ve had and from a driver’s point of view and a team’s point of view it’s much better.”

Earlier Sunday, Wolff told reporters that he and Hamilton had discussed a future switch from Mercedes to Ferrari during contract talks and he stressed that it was important and “no drama” to be respectful and open-minded on the subject.

“We had the discussion when we negotiated the last contract and I think that you just have to be open-minded and understand that drivers will explore opportunities that exist and benchmark themselves,” said Wolff. AFP

THE Tagaytay City climb and the winding roads leading to and from Donsol in Sorsogon are bound to test how well the 75 cyclists could adopt quickly and strongly to technical rides in the Le Tour de Filipinas that celebrates its 10th year from June 14 to 18.

Stage One of the Le Tour de Filipinas on June 14 starts and ends in Tagaytay City but its not picturesque Taal Volcano that provides glitter to the race, but the descent from the Praying Hands monument on Aguinaldo Highway and the climb in Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay town that provides the challenge.

The stage could be short at 129.50 kms but for Paquito Rivas, the tour’s race manager and owner of the moniker Eagle of the Mountain, said the kick off would sap the most out of the cyclists.

“It may be short but the riders have to ride a tactical race,” said Rivas, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association.

There are five stages this time in the International Cycling Union Category 2.2 event founded by PhilCycling chairman Bert Lina to celebrate a decade of racing. And Stage Five on June 18 is as crucial as the first in Tagaytay.

Covering 145.80 kms, the riders will be flagged off from Legaspi City and will pass through Donsol that is made famous by the butanding.

The whale sharks are famous for being amiable to humans, but the route at Luzon’s southern tip could be brutal to the cyclists.

“The climbs may not be that tough in gradient but in local parlance, they are called ‘makunat,’ meaning the rider will have to suffer,” Rivas said.

Sandwiched by the two technical stages are long rides over the flat and well-paved Maharlika Highway that dissects the Bicol Region where sprinters could frolic on.

Stage Two on June 15 will be the 194.90 kms from Pagbilao in Quezon Province to Daet in Camarines, Norte, Stage Three on June 16 will be 183.70 kms from Daet to Legaspi City and Stage Four will cover 176.00 kms from Legaspi City via Sorsogon and Gubat and back to the Albay capital.

Fifteen teams—five local and 10 international—composed of 75 riders are vying in the race.

PSA Forum tackles 3x3 caging, cycling MEMBERS of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s 3x3 team and Olympic hopeful Ariana Dormitorio grace today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Ameli Hotel-Manila.

Coach Pat Aquino will accompany Afril Bernardino, Jack Animam, Clare Castro, and Janine Pontejos in the 10:30 a.m. public sports program to talk about their coming campaign in the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup slated May 23 to 26 in Changsha, China.

The women’s team will be joined in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation by the 22-year-old Dormitorio, the Filipina mountain bike bet who’s hoping to qualify for a berth in next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

PSA members are enjoined to attend the forum.

GOLF CHAMPS. Rey Pagunsan (third from left) and amateur partner Aidric Chan hold their trophies as they pose with Delimondo’s Ina Ponce Enrile (left) and Jay Ponce Enrile after scoring a runaway triumph in the second Delimondo National Pro-Am Golf Championship at Taal Splendido Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas over the weekend.

IN BRIEF 7-Eleven operator bares P3.7-b capex CONVENIENCE store chain operator Philippine Seven Corp. said it plans to spend P3.7 billion in 2019 primarily to roll out new stores and re-model existing outlets.

PSC, the local franchise holder for 7-Eleven convenience store in the Philippines, said in an investors’ presentation that it would open 350 new stores this year to bring the total to 2,900 outlets. The average cost to build one store ranges from P5 million to P6 million.

PSC said it would also refurbish 100 existing stores aged six to seven years. The group also has 12 distribution centers capable of serving 3,100 stores.

PSC said net income declined 41 percent in the first quarter to P112.4 million from P190.5 million a year ago, with the implementation of the new accounting rule that changes the recognition of leased properties.

PSC said it adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards on Leases (IFRS 16) which took effect early this year.

“The impact of IFRS 16 to PSC is significant since most of its stores and distribution centers are under a long-term lease arrangement,” PSC said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

German investors worried over taxes THE highly volatile exchange rate and the current tax framework are the two biggest concerns that deter German companies from doing more business in the Philippines, according to a report.

A study conducted by AHK World Business Outlook among the members of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce Inc. showed that the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law coupled by other factors contributed to the high inflation of 6.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018.

“Inflation is one aspect that influences the exchange rate,” said German-Philippine Chamber executive director Martin Henkelman.

He said while countermeasures like raising interest rates and the implementation of rice tarrification helped ease the pressure on the economy, the proposed Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities bill “is likely to be one of the factors contributing to economic-slowdown.”

The group welcomed the reduction of the corporate income tax but was cool to the overhauling of tax incentives granted to companies operating in economic zones.

Othel V. Campos

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

B1

By Jenniffer B. Austria

STEEL BAR INSPECTION. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (second from left) checks various steel bar products from 20 hardwares in Cavite province. The diameter, length and weight of rebars were checked individually to ensure quality and standards. Lopez assures the public that consumer protection remains one of the top priorities of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. With Lopez are (from left) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau director Ronnel Abrenica and lawyer Genaro Jacob.

Govt losing P50b in taxes as oil smuggling persists

By Alena Mae S. Flores

O

IL smuggling persists in the Philippines, resulting in P30 billion to P50 billion worth of lost revenues for the government each year, a top executive of an oil refiner said based on information gathered by the company’s consultants.

“We only rely on external sources, consultants. The number we read is anywhere between 20 to 30 percent of volume. We have some studies that support this. That’s P30 [billion] to P50 billion, annually.

That’s an estimate. That’s revenue lost for the government,” Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. president Cesar Romero said.

Pilipinas Shell is the country’s second-biggest oil company that owns a

110,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Batangas province.

Romero said smuggling remained a major concern for oil industry players, “because at the end of the day, it’s not only loss for us but also lost income for the government.”

Pilipinas Shell expressed support for the fuel marking program of the government to curb smuggling but raised concern over the integrity of the fuel market, operations and actual deployment.

Romero said quality assurance should be in place in terms of the integrity of the fuel marker, the operations or the process.

The winning contractor will be in charge of installing the fuel marker in the facilities of the oil companies.

“So discussions there [include] how do you time it, the engineering standards to be used to ensure that this is safe in operations and that the supply will not be disrupted,” Romero said.

He said the minimum requirement for testing should also be clarified such as the code of conduct expectations of various testers.

“Those [are the] kinds of things that need to be established to make sure there’s proper implementation,” he said.

Under the program, the fuel marking providers―Sicpa SA of Switzerland and SGS Philippines―are expected to provide a unique chemical marker capable of being embedded at a molecular level to petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

The contract covers services and equipment necessary to administer and inject the marker into the fuel and the administration of confirmatory tests, both in the field and in laboratories.

Romero also urged the government, specifically the Energy Department, to carefully study the planned unbundling of oil prices, adding that oil companies data were readily available, especially those that are publicly-listed.

“That has to be very carefully studied because of the legal implications associated with the deregulation. If and when that circular comes up, it has to be ensured that it is legally compliant because of the deregulated nature of our industry,” he said.

SM PRIME Holdings Inc., the country’s largest integrated property developer, lined up 10 new malls for opening over the next two years.

SM Prime said in an offer supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would open five malls in 2020, including SM City Daet, SM City Tanza, SM City Bataan, SM City Roxas and SM City Sorsogon.

These five new malls will have a gross floor area of 222,000 square meters.

SM Prime is also set to complete in 2020 the expansion of SM Mall of Asia Phase 4 with an additional GFA of 16,000 sqm.

The property firm said that in 2021, it would launch five shopping malls including SM Grand Central, SM City Tuguegarao, SM City Naga, SM City San Pedro and SM Moonwalk Parañaque. These five malls have a total GFA of 223,000 sqm.

SM Prime said it was also expecting to complete by 2021 the expansion of three existing malls―SM City Clark, SM City Sta. Rosa and SM City Calamba with an additional GFA of 146,000 sqm.

It said funds for the new malls would come from the planned P10billion peso bond offering slated this year.

SM Prime earlier said it would issue P10 billion in fixed-rate bonds representing the fourth and final tranche of the P60-billion bond shelf registration it filed in 2016.

SM Prime chalked up a net income of P8.8 billion in the first quarter, up 16 percent from P7.6 billion in the same period last year on the back of steady growth in rental revenues and residential sales.

Consolidated revenues posted a 14-percent increase to P26.5 billion from P23.3 billion a year ago, while operating income increased 17 percent to P13 billion from P11 billion.

The property firm attributed the company’s strong first-quarter performance to the consistent growth in rental income and higher residential sales.

Metro Pacific unit eyes P20-b NLEx extension to Bataan

ATI’s net earnings jumped by 91% to P1.1b in 1st quarter ASIAN Terminals Inc. said Monday net income surged 91 percent in the first quarter from a year ago amid the strong influx of international containerized cargoes handled by Manila South Harbor and the newly expanded Batangas Container Terminal.

The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco said net income in January to March reached P1.1 billion, up from P581.9 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Revenues climbed 37 percent in the three-month period to P3.6 billion from P2.6 billion a year earlier.

Consistent with the growth of the economy, Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal handled consolidated international container volume of more than 390,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the quarter, as both kept economic goods flowing through Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, respectively.

This represented an increase of nearly 25 percent from the same period last year.

ATI also attributed the higher volumes to port efficiency measures it implemented in partnership with stakeholders, the aggressive expansion of Batangas Port and the opening of more container storage spaces within and outside the port zones.

ATI and major international shipping lines agreed in February this year to share vessels and optimize terminal resources to immediately evacuate empty containers from Manila and surrounding areas through Manila South Harbor. This fasttracked the recirculation of over 10,000 TEUs of empty containers to other Asian destinations on a weekly basis.

Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

SM Prime set to launch 10 malls in 2 years

ERC cautious on Open Access THE Energy Regulatory Commission expressed hope that the Supreme Court will act on the retail competition and open access, which has been the subject of a temporary restraining order since early 2017.

ERC chairman Agnes Devanadera said the agency conducted studies on how to move forward with RCOA, which allows large power users to choose their own supplier.

“The action of the ERC may be construed as something that would breach the line of the TRO. We’re very careful. Really, we have to be very careful… But of course we have studied it and is now ready for commission deliberations,” Devanadera said.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining dated Feb. 21, 2017 enjoining the Department of Energy, ERC and its agents from implementing the RCOA rules and regulations that mandate the mandatory migration of contestable customers.

The DOE and ERC mandated that large power users choose their suppliers by Feb. 26, 2017, which is the subject of the TRO. The Supreme Court issued a TRO on the DOE Circular No. DC2015-06-0010, Series of 2015 and ERC Resolution Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 28, Series of 2016.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NEW PTT PRESIDENT. PTT Philippines announces the appointment of Thitiroj Rergsumran (right) as the new president and chief executive of the company. Thitiroj was the marketing director for four years before he was appointed to the top post, replacing Sukanya Seriyothin who has been assigned to PTTOR International Marketing in Thailand. With Thitiroj during the signing of a fuel supply contract with Cebu Air Inc. are (from left) PTT Philippines director for support Paul Senador and PTT Philippines Trading Corp. president and chief executive Danny Alabado. Manny Palmero

Delayed passage of govt budget reduced GDP growth by 1.6%—DoF

By Julito G. Rada THE economy could have grown 7.2 percent in the first quarter if lawmakers immediately ironed out their differences and passed on time the P3.7-trillion national government budget for 2019, a top official of the Finance Department said Monday.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said in an economic bulletin the government underspending of P69.5 billion in the first quarter reduced GDP growth by 1.6 percentage point.

This was offset by election spending of candidates and lower inflation which had a combined impact of about 0.7 percent of GDP and boosted household consumption by 6.3 percent in real terms, he said.

“If the budget was approved as sched-

uled and disbursements were made promptly, GDP growth in the first quarter would have risen to 7.2 percent,” Beltran said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said last week the gross domestic product grew at a four-year low of 5.6 percent, slower than 6.5 percent registered in the same quarter last year and 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter as government expenditures grew by only 0.08 percent compared to 25.4 percent in the same period last year.

Beltran said on the expenditure side, the lower growth could be traced to a moderated growth in both government consumption and capital formation/investment, which grew by 7.4 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, compared with 13.6 percent and 10.3 percent in the same quarter in 2018.

“The slowdown in capital formation is explained by the significant contraction in public construction by 8.6 percent compared to 22.6-percent growth in the same quarter of 2018. This is slightly tempered by 8.6-percent growth in private construction compared to 8.1 percent in the same quarter of 2018.”

Beltran said.

He said that on the supply side, agriculture decelerated to 0.8 percent in the first quarter. This confirmed that the El Niño dry spell had affected the sector.

The industry sector also slowed, weighed down by mining and quarrying, manufacturing activities and construction.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the re-enacted budget sharply slowed the pace of economic growth in the quarter.

METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said it plans to submit a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to build a P20billion extension of North Luzon Expressway from San Fernando, Pampanga to Dinalupihan, Bataan.

“We still have to submit a proposal to TRB [to build NLEx Phase 3], but we’re hoping [that by the] second half we’ll submit to TRB,” MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

NLEx Phase 3 with an estimated cost of P20 billion is a 40-kilometer, two by two-lane expressway from San Fernando to Dinalupihan.

“That’s part of the concession of NLEx that has not been built. It was delayed a little bit because SCTEX [Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway] was built also. But we’re studying it if it is timely to push with the construction of that project,” Franco said.

Phase 1 of NLEx consists of four segments with a total length of 92 km, including the rehabilitated and expanded 84-km stretch from Balintawak, Quezon City to Mabalacat, Pampanga and the 8.5-km Segment 7 from Hermosa, Bataan to Subic Freeport.

Phase 2 of NLEx consists of four segments with a length of 21 kilometers involving the construction of the greenfield northern C5 to connect the existing C5 from C.P. Garcia Ave. in the University of the Philippines complex in Diliman, Quezon City to NLEx and extend westward to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, turning south down to C3 in Caloocan City.

NLEx posted a net income of P5.7 billion in 2018, up 24 percent from P4.6 billion in 2017 on higher vehicle traffic.

Toll revenues reached P13 billion last year, up from P11.5 billion in 2017 also on higher traffic volume.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Trump defends tariffs against China

W

ASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his tariff policy, insisting again that China will pay billions in duties to the US, after Trump’s economic advisor raised eyebrows by saying both sides will suffer.

“We are right where we want to be with China,” Trump said on Twitter.

“Remember, they broke the deal with us & tried to renegotiate. We will be taking in Tens of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs from China.”

In fact, research shows it is Americans that bear the brunt of the tariff impact, as the levies are paid by importers and ultimately passed on at least partially to consumers.

Trump’s comments came after economic advisor Larry Kudlow earlier Sunday conceded that China is not the one paying the tariffs.

“Fair enough. In fact, both sides will pay. Both sides will pay in these things,” Kudlow told “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.”

Trump had accused Beijing of reneging on its commitments in trade talks and ordered new punitive duties, which

took effect Friday, on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, raising them to 25 percent from 10 percent.

He then ordered a tariff hike on almost all remaining imports from China, which are worth about $300 billion, according to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

“The Chinese will suffer GDP losses and so forth with respect to a diminishing export market and goods that they may need,” Kudlow said, before agreeing with Wallace that even though China may suffer consequences, US businesses and consumers are the ones who will pay the tariffs.

“Yes, to some extent. Yes, I don’t disagree with that. Again, both sides will suffer on this,” Kudlow said.

But he also assured that because the

US economy “is in a boom,” it would not be damaged “in any appreciable way” by the tariffs.

Trump ordered the increased duties on Friday after two days of talks to resolve the trade battle ended with no deal, although without a breakdown.

Trump began the standoff last year because of complaints about unfair Chinese trade practices. The United States is pressing China to change its policies on protections for intellectual property, as well as massive subsidies for stateowned firms, and to reduce the yawning trade deficit.

Since last year the US and China had exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion worth of two-way trade, gutting US agricultural exports to China and weighing on both countries’

manufacturing sectors.

Kudlow told Wallace that Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping could meet next month on the sidelines of the G20 summit to discuss their differences on trade, but no new talks are scheduled.

While making it clear that the US was unwilling to settle, Kudlow sought to tamp down concerns, insisting the process was ongoing.

“We need to see something much clearer and until we do, we have to keep our tariffs on,” Kudlow said, adding: “We can’t accept any backtracking.”

As for future negotiations, while there are “no concrete, definite plans yet,” Kudlow said China had invited Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Lighthizer to Beijing―and higher-level discussions could be possible. AFP

Meat-based alternatives receiving new popularity

By Juliette Michel NEW YORK―From Burger King’s introduction of a vegetarian version of its uber-popular Whopper burger to the much-celebrated Wall Street entry of vegan startup Beyond Meat, companies selling meat alternatives have the wind in their sails.

Here’s an overview of the sector: Plant-based products Soy steaks have been around for a long time and are a point of reference for organic stores. But several companies have spent recent years developing products further by using advanced technologies to imitate the taste, texture and even blood of conventionally raised animal meat.

They use beets, chickpeas and coconut oil, among others, to NEW BEIJING AIRPORT. A China Southern Airlines Airbus A380 taxis at the new Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing on May 13, 2019. The new airport, which is expected to go into operation in September, conducted its first flight tests with make “burgers,” “sausages” and “steak.” aircraft on May 13. Aircraft from Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines took part in Among the most successful startups are Beyond Meat, which passenger the test. AFP earlier this month made a celebrated Wall Street entry worthy of a major tech firm, or Impossible Burger, which has partnered with Burger King.

Norway approves Asian stock markets close lower Euronext takeover on lack of US-China trade accord of Oslo exchange

In this file photo illustration taken on April 1, 2019, an ‘Impossible Whopper’ sits on a table at a Burger King restaurant in Richmond Heights, Missouri. Proponents call it “slaughter-free,” or “clean” meat. For many in the traditional meat industry, it is simply “fake.” One thing is certain: the battle over what to call the emerging alternatives to meat, whether made from plant or animal cells, is far from settled. AFP

The companies are banking on changing dietary habits of part of the population limiting meat consumption for environmental, health or animal rights reasons.

Cell-based meat The first burger created in a Petri dish using cells from cows was presented in 2013 following the work of Dutch scientist Mark Post of Maastricht University. It was dubbed the “Frankenburger.”

Several startups have since entered the fray in countries like Israel, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States to try to create pieces of chicken, duck, pork and fish using only animal cells.

They have not yet reached mass production in order to sufficiently lower prices. But American startup Memphis Meat and Mosa Meat of the Netherlands both announced they wanted to market products by 2021.

Appealing enough for public?

While sales of plant-based products aiming to replace conventional meat saw a 23 percent boom in 2018, according to the Good Food Institute that promotes these alternatives, they still represent less than one percent of the total meat market in the country.

Investments in the sector remain minimal.

In 2018, $673 million were invested in companies using plants to develop alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs, compared to $96.9 billion invested in the agriculture technology sector and around $25 billion in cannabis.

Danielle Beck of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the enthusiasm for these new products alone doesn’t threaten cattle ranchers.

“Demand for proteins remains very strong. By 2050 (when the world population will reach nearly 10 billion people), it’s going to take all the proteins we have,” she said. AFP

OSLO, Norway―Norway’s government on Monday cleared the way for European operator Euronext to take over the Oslo Stock Exchange by giving the green light to both it and its US rival Nasdaq.

Euronext, which has been in a protracted battle with Nasdaq for the stock exchange since the start of the year, quickly welcomed the move, announcing it will acquire 100 percent of the bourse by the end of June.

The European operator, which runs the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin and Lisbon markets, has an advantage in the bidding war, having already secured the support of 53.4 percent of the Oslo exchange’s shareholders.

“Euronext welcomes the ministry’s clearance to acquire up to 100 percent of Oslo Bors VPS’s capital and looks forward to completing the next steps to close the transaction by the end of June 2019,” Euronext CEO Stephane Boujnah said in a statement.

“As part of the Euronext family, Oslo Bors VPS will continue to be a strong and leading Nordic exchange and CSD, and a hub for Euronext’s ambitions in the region.”

Meanwhile the bid by Nasdaq, which controls all of the other stock exchanges in the Nordic and Baltic region, has the support of the bourse’s board and management, as well as 35 percent of shareholders, including the two biggest, Norwegian bank DNB and pension fund KLP. Norway’s finance ministry, which had to approve any acquisition of more than 10 percent of the exchange, said in a statement on Monday that it has cleared both Euronext and Nasdaq’s application as it considers both operators to be “suitable owners.”

The Oslo exchange is one of the few independent bourses left in Europe. Euronext and Nasdaq are each offering around 700 million euros ($785 million) for it, after several attempts to outbid each other. AFP

HONGKONG―Markets in Asia were down on Monday as the lack of a USChina trade deal cast a cloud over nervous traders.

Investors watched the latest developments warily in the trade war between the world’s top two economies, after negotiations in Washington ended Friday without agreement and a tariff hike on Chinese imports went into effect.

Almost all Asian markets were lower as the week’s trading began, with Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closing down 0.7 percent.

Shanghai was down 1.2 percent, Singapore shed one percent, while Taiwan and Seoul both dropped 1.4 percent.

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping could meet next month on the sidelines of the G20 summit to hash out their differences on trade―but no new talks are yet scheduled.

With another round ending without a deal, markets are underpricing how long the US-China trade talks may drag on, Eleanor Creagh, a Sydney-based Australia market strategist at Saxo Capital Markets, told Bloomberg Television.

The “underlying relationship is go-

ing to be fraught with much deeper tensions,” she said.

Trump had accused Beijing of reneging on its commitments and ordered new punitive duties―which took effect Friday―on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, raising them to 25 percent from 10 percent.

He then ordered a tariff hike on almost all remaining imports from China, which are worth about $300 billion, according to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Beijing’s top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, had warned earlier that Beijing “must respond” to any US tariffs―while China’s state media blamed Washington for the lack of progress.

“US-China trade relations will continue center stage this week with most other data and events relegated to a distant second place,” said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley.

“China will no doubt announce retaliatory measures while the US may provide more concrete start dates for the newly-imposed tariffs. Markets can expect short-term whipsaw price action as the street hangs on every little comment emanating from Washington DC and Beijing.” AFP

Pakistan gets $6b from IMF over 3 years ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund have reached a new agreement securing a $6-billion bailout for the cash-strapped country, officials said Sunday, following months of painstaking negotiations between the two sides.

The agreement marks Pakistan’s 22nd bailout with the Fund, as the country struggles to stave off a looming balanceof-payments crisis while its economy teeters due to low growth, soaring inflation, and mounting debt.

“The program aims to support the authorities’ strategy for stronger and more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency, and protecting social spending,” said Ramirez Rigo, head of the IMF delegation, in a statement released late Sunday.

According to Pakistan’s finance advisor Abdul Hafeez Sheikh the country is set to receive $6 billion from the IMF in addition to $2 to $3 billion from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank over the next three years.

“We have a $12 billion gap in our an-

nual payments and we don’t have the capacity to pay them,” Sheik said in a televised address as he announced the new agreement with the fund.

Analysts have warned that any fresh IMF deal would likely come with myriad restrictions that could hobble Prime Minister Imran Khan’s grand promises to build an Islamic welfare state, as the country is forced to tighten its purse strings.

The deal with the IMF comes weeks after Sheikh—a former World Bank official who was Pakistan’s finance minister from 2010-2013—was appointed as “adviser on finance” after Finance Minister Asad Umar resigned amid a wideranging cabin reshuffle.

The abrupt resignation of Umar—one of Khan’s most powerful ministers— was particularly shocking due to his perceived role in overseeing the vital negotiations with the IMF over the longdelayed bailout.

The announcement comes as discontent is already growing over measures Khan’s government has taken to fend off the crisis, including devaluing the rupee by some 30 percent since January 2018, sending inflation to five-year highs. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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World

Standard

TODAY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Sabotage attacks’ hit Saudi oil tankers R IYADH—Saudi Arabia said Monday two of its oil tankers were damaged in “sabotage attacks” in the Gulf as tensions soared in a region already shaken by a standoff between the United States and Iran.

It came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned visit to Moscow to head to Brussels instead for talks with European officials on Iran.

Tehran called for an investigation into the “alarming” attacks and warned of “adventurism” by foreign players to disrupt maritime security.

The United States has already strengthened its military presence in the region, including deploying a number of strategic B-52 bombers in response to alleged Iranian threats.

Saudi Arabia, the Islamic republic’s

regional arch-rival, condemned “the acts of sabotage which targeted commercial and civilian vessels near the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates,” a foreign ministry source said.

“This criminal act constitutes a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and adversely impacts regional and international peace and security,” the source added.

The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels of various nationalities had been targeted by acts of sabotage off the emirate of Fujairah.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the two tankers suffered “significant damage” but there were no casualties or any oil spill.

“Two Saudi oil tankers were subjected to a sabotage attack in the exclusive economic zone of the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the Emirate of Fujairah, while on their way to cross into the Arabian Gulf,” the SPA state news agency quoted Falih as saying.

Fujairah port is the only terminal in the UAE located on the Arabian Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, through which most Gulf oil exports pass.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in case of a military confrontation with the United States.

One of the two tankers that was attacked was on its way to be loaded with

wishers to disrupt regional security” and “called for the vigilance of regional states in the face of any adventurism by foreign elements”, the statement added.

Almost all the oil exports of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran itself, at least 15 million barrels per day, are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Saudi minister denounced the attack on the vessels, saying it “aims to undermine the freedom of maritime navigation and the security of oil supplies to consumers all over the world.”

He also urged the international community to “protect the safety of maritime navigation and the security of oil tankers, to mitigate against the adverse consequences of such incidents on energy markets, and the danger they pose to the global economy.” AFP

crude oil from a Saudi oil terminal for customers in the United States, Falih said.

The UAE did not accuse anyone of responsibility but warned that “carrying out acts of sabotage on commercial and civilian vessels and threatening the safety and lives of those on board is a serious development”.

No one was hurt and Abu Dhabi called on world powers to help keep maritime traffic safe.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi expressed concern over the incident and its possible consequences.

“The incidents in the Sea of Oman are alarming and regrettable,” Mousavi said in an English-language statement on the ministry’s website.

He also “warned against plots by ill-

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Cityland Development Corporation and management discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the period ended March 31, 2019 shallbe made available to the stockholders at least five (5) days before the holding of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on June 6, 2019.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK (MS- May 14, 2019)

Manila

Standard

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 217 – QUEZON CITY

TODAY

LYDIA P. BULAN SATO REPRESENTED BY HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, MILAGROS F. ANGELES Petitioner,

legal capacity to contract marriage is hereto attached and marked as Annex “D”.

5. After eight years of marriage, petitioner and respondent had an agreement and agreed to end their relationship. They filed a divorce for the reason that they were always arguing about the drinking habits of the respondent. Petitioner and respondent have one (1) child.

-versus-

6. On March 13, 2014, petitioner and respondent filed for divorce before the Mayor of Kawaguchi City Saitama Prefecture. A copy of the Report of Divorce, in English SADAHIRO SATO, CIVIL REGISTRAR translation is hereto attached and GENERAL AND LOCAL CIVIL marked as Annex “E”.

REGISTRAR, 7.On April 3, 2018, petitioner Respondents. secured a copy of the Certificate x----------------------------------------------x of Acceptance of the Divorce Registration dated March 13, 2014, AMENDED ORDER which was found legitimate and This is a verified amended sealed by Nobuo Okunoki, Mayor of petition filed by Lydia P. Bulan Sato Kawaguchi City Saitama Prefecture represented by her Attorney-inwith the English translation a copy of Fact, Milagros F. Angeles praying which is hereto attached and marked for the judicial recognition and/or as Annex “F”. enforcement of foreign judgment of divorce obtained in Japan, direct the 8. Aliens may obtain divorces proper Local Civil Registrar to record abroad which may be recognized in the foreign decree of divorce in the the Philippines, provided they are marriage certificate. valid according to their national law.

CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-18-09148-CV

For: Judicial Recognition and/or Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 222, QUEZON CITY TAME CABINAN A.K.A. TAME DEL CASTILLO CABINAN, SPEC. PRO CASE NO. R-QZN-18-15351-SP For: Legitimation and Change of Name

Petitioner alleges that she got married to Sadahiro Sato on November 10, 2006 in 2-71-14 Nakaaoki Kawaguchi City Saitama Prefecture; that petitioner and respondent Sato met on September 20, 2006 while working at the same company; that petitioner and respondent Sato were always arguing about the drinking habits of the latter and agreed to end their relationship after eight (8) eight years of marriage; that petitioner and respondent Sato filed for divorce before the Mayor of Kawaguchi City Saitam Prefecture on Mach 13, 2014; that petitioner is now seeking that the foreign divorce decree obtained by Sadahiro Sato in Japan be judicially recognized.

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR, Q.C. ET.AL., Petitioner. x----------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

Upon motion by the counsel for the petitioner, considering that the latter has not yet complied with the publication requirements, let the initial hearing be reset on July 26, 2019 at 8:30 in the morning.

Send a copy of this Order to the petitioner and the concerned government agencies.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, April 11, 2019.

(Sgd.) EDGAR DALMACIO SANTOS EDS/irish Judge Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 222, QUEZON CITY

IN BRIEF Poland cancels Israeli visit

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION TO USE THE SURNAME OF THE FATHER OF TAME DEL CASTILLO TILLADA

IN CONCERT. FKA Twigs performs in concert at Park Avenue Armory on May 12, 2019, in New York City.

Cannes makes a killing on the film festival

WARSAW―Poland on Monday said it had canceled a visit by Israeli officials CANNES―The Cannes film festival over their intention to raise the issue of the restitution of JewishSPEC. properties seized is not just about killings made on big-versusPRO NO. R-QZN-18-15351-SP during the Holocaust, a matter Warsaw money movie deals sealed over chamLOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, insists is closed.

ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR pagne in hotel suites and on luxury GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE “Poland decidedSTATISTICS to cancel the visit of AUTHORITY (PSA) formerly National Statistics Office, yachts.

IsraeliSTATISTICS officialsOFFICE, after ROMEO the Israeli side made NATIONAL CORNEJO NARCISO, MINDA ELOJA OPIDER, and It is a goldmine too for many locals last minute changes in the composition ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, in the French Riviera resort.

Respondents that the talks of the delegation suggesting x--------------------------------------------------x would primarily focus on the issues re“For my boss the festival is the ORDER This hastoreference to therestitution,” verified Petition to allow TAME CABINAN lated property the foreign goose that lays golden eggs,” a hotel TILLADA a.k.a TAME DEL CASTILLO CABINAN to use the surname of said a statement postedthrough to its hisministry father Antonio Mesain Tillada, filed by the petitioner, counsel, on receptionist called Herve told AFP. November 29, 2018. website.

In the above-mentioned petition, herein petitioner prays to allow him to use The proof, he declared, is that a It said a delegation headed by Avi the surname of his father TILLADA. room in his two-star hotel goes “from Cohen-Scali, director ofthethe Finding the petition to the be sufficient in form general and substance, initial hearing of Israeli this case isMinistry set on APRIL 25, 2019 at 8:30 inEquality, the morning before this Court 40 euros ($45) a night to 260” as soon for Social had and all parties-in-interest are directed to appear before this Court and show as the red carpet is rolled out. been in Warsaw 13 May. cause why due the petition should not beon granted.

Let Several a copy of thisthousand Order togethernationalists with a copy of therallied petition be in served upon It is not the only establishment to the Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly thethePolish SaturdayOffice against a of therake it in when the population of the NSO), Office of capital the Quezon on City Prosecutor’s and the Office Solicitor General. a copy of this Order be published once a week for US law onLastly, the let restitution of Jewish propthree (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen town almost triples for the festival. seized during an byerties raffle by the Office of the Executivethe Judge,Holocaust, at petitioner’s expense.

A few minutes walk away, the price issue which has surfaced ahead of parliaSO ORDERED. of a room in a rival three-star hotel Given in Chambers this 15th day of January 2019 in Quezon City. mentary elections later this year.

(Sgd.) EDGARLaw DALMACIO Poland’s governing right-wing andSANTOSrockets five times from 71 euros a Judge Justice well as theOFcentrist and- libnight to 350―without breakfast.

Cc: party -PAO as -CIVIL REGISTRY QUEZON CITY OSG -PHILIPPINE STATISTICS have AUTHORITY -ACP JOSLITO C. BACOLOR eral opposition downplayed the law “The six rooms that we put aside for signed by US President Donald Trump in the very last minute will be filled very May 2018, insisting that it will have no imrapidly” at the very top price, said the pact on Poland. AFP TAME CABINAN TILLADA a.k.a TAME DEL CASTILLO CABINAN Petitioner

Sri Lanka blocks social media

COLOMBO-Sri Lanka blocked Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms on Monday after anti-Muslim riots hit several towns in the latest fallout from the Easter Sunday suicide attacks.

Christian groups attacked Muslimowned shops in a sign of the continued religious tension in Sri Lanka since the April 21 attacks by jihadist suicide bombers on three hotels and three churches which left 258 dead.

A state of emergency has been in place since the bombings -- which the Islamic State group claims to have helped -- and security forces have been given sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects for long periods.

Police said a mob targeted shops in the north-west town of Chilaw on Sunday in anger at a Facebook post by a shopkeeper. Security forces fired into the air to disperse the crowd, but the violence spread to nearby towns where Muslim businesses were also attacked.

A motorcycle gang attacked shops in nearby Kuliyapitiya and four members were arrested, officials said. However, dozens of people laid siege to the police station and forced their release.

Despite a night curfew, a mosque was vandalized, local residents said.

Police said the curfew in Chilaw and nearby areas was relaxed Monday, but the social media ban was brought in to head off new violence. AFP

AFP

congress, is held in Cannes are more profitable day-for-day for the conference town, the film festival fortnight with its 40,000 accredited movers and shakers is on an entirely different scale.

For hotels close to the giant Palais des Festivals, where the red carpet premieres are held, the festival accounts for nearly a sixth of their annual turnover, said the Cannes hoteliers union, UMIH. The festival was worth an astonishing 197 million euros to the town in 2017, according to official municipal figures.

Even so, hoteliers insist there is still room for improvement.

“Everything fills up for the first week of the festival but the second is more difficult,” said Christine Welter of UMIH. “For several years now people are not staying as long as they did,” she receptionist at the hotel, which is of- added.

She also warned that “the cards are ficially fully booked.

Even if the four days in March when also being reshuffled” by the possible MIPIM, the world’s leading property defection of people working with Net-

flix, whose films are barred from competing in the festival because it refuses to release them in French cinemas.

“When suddenly demand falls the market has to adjust,” Welter cautioned, pointing the finger of blame partly at what she regards as the unfair competition of people letting out their homes and apartments.

Just as many homes in Cannes are being rented now out as hotel rooms -- “6,000 of each,” she revealed.

It has become something of a racket, Welter complained, with some people renting out several flats.

Airbnb alone claims between 2,500 and 4,000 arrivals a night, peaking with 4,600 on Friday May 17 -- nearly 10 times the number of Cannes homes it is handling on the Friday before the festival.

With that amount of fast money to be made, “some locals don’t think twice about going and sleeping in a campsite along the coast so they can rent their places out for a fortune,” quipped Herve, the hotel receptionist. AFP

Presidential run-off pits ex-minister against novice VILNIUS―Lithuanians began voting on Sunday for a new a candidate who can bridge existing social polarization,” president in a tight race dominated by concerns over in- Donatas Puslys from the Vilnius Policy Analysis Institute come inequality and poverty in the Baltic state boasting told AFP. All candidates support EU and NATO membership as some of the eurozone’s strongest growth.

Nine candidates are vying to replace two-term indepen- bulwarks against neighboring Russia, especially since its dent incumbent Dalia Grybauskaite, but surveys suggest 2014 military intervention in Ukraine.

Unlike other eastern European Union members, Vilnius only three stand a chance of making it to an expected May 26 run-off that would coincide with European Parliament has avoided confrontation with the EU. AFP elections.

Center-left Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION conservative ex-finance minister Ingrida SimoFEI FAN FOOD PHILIPPINES (FFFPC) CORP. nyte and independent economist Gitanas Nauseda lead the pack.

Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of Fei Fan The main center-right contender, Simonyte Food Philippines (FFFPC) CORP. with the TIN of 008-132-974-000, is popular with wealthy, educated urban voters shortening the term of its existence and thereby dissolving the said while Skvernelis’ populist approach resonates corporation as of July 16,2018 a Balance Sheet showing that no creditors with the rural poor. thereof will be affected by such dissolution, have been filed with the Nauseda seeks to appeal across the rich-poor Securities and Exchange Commission. All persons having claims against divide in the former Soviet republic of 2.8 milthe corporation are required to present the same at its principal office at lion people. #2 South AA st. Brgy. Paligsahan Quezon City for immediate settlement.

It is struggling with a sharp decline in populaThis announcement will serve as a notice to all parties tion owing to mass emigration to Western Euconcerned of the legal dissolution of the said corporation. rope by people seeking a better life.

Quezon City. Philippines. April 22,2019 Around a quarter of Lithuanians live below the poverty line, which is about 300 euros ($340) per FAYE MARIE ARELLANO - MARTINEZ month.

Corporate Secretary “Citizens are thirsty for social justice and seek

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that said petition is hereby set for hearing anew on May 24, 2019 at 8:30 in the morning before this Court located at Room 238, Second Floor, Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City at which place and on which date and time, any person who has objections to the petition may appear and file his opposition thereto.

Let copy of the Amended Order and the entire amended petition be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in The Standard, a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines.

Likewise, let a copy of the amended petition with its annexes and this Amended Order be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General, and be posted in the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, March 29, 2019.

(Sgd.) SANTIAGO M. ARENAS Judge CC:

Under, paragraph 2 of Art. 26 of the Family Code, it is provided that; “Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law. (Emphasis supplied) 9. In the case of Republic vs.

Cipriano Orbecido III 1, it was ruled that “before a foreign divorce decree can be recognized by our own courts, the party pleading it must prove the divorce as a fact and demonstrate its conformity to the foreign law allowing it.”

The judgment of Divorce secured by the petitioner conforms to Japanese Marriage and Divorce Laws, a copy of said law is hereto attached as Annex “G”.

10.

Given the foregoing circumstances, as fully warranted under the relevant laws and prevailing jurisprudence, there exists valid basis to recognize the decree of absolute divorce obtained by petitioner which was issued and granted by the Mayor of Kawaguchi City Saitama Prefecture, Nobuo Okunoki of Japan.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court to render judgment recognizing the decree of divorce obtained by respondent which was issued and granted by the Central and Juvenile Family Court of Japan.

Petitioner further prays that the proper local civil registrar be directed to record the foreign decree of absolute divorce on the appropriate marriage register as well as to cause the annotation of the decree of absolute divorce on the marriage certificate between the petitioner and respondent.

IGUIDEZ ONIDA LAW Atty. Larry T. Iguidez Counsel for the Petitioner Rm. 107 Cabrera Bldg., 1 130 Timog Avenue, Quezon City

Petitioner also prays for other reliefs that are just and equitable under the circumstances.

Office of the Solicitor General Makati City

Quezon City, Philippines, October 9, 2018.

Office of the Prosecutor Quezon City Office of the Local Civil Registrar Quezon City Office of the Civil Registrar General Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 217 – QUEZON CITY LYDIA P. BULAN SATO, REPRESENTED BY HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, MILAGROS F. ANGELES Petitioner, -versusSP No. R-QZN-05595-SP For: Judicial Recognition and/or Enforcement of Foreign Judgment SADAHIRO SATO, Respondent.

CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL Respondent.

LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Respondent. x-------------------------------------x

AMENDED PETITION COMES NOW petitioner, by the undersigned counsel and unto this Honorable Court most respectfully avers that:

THE PARTIES 1.The Petitioner is LYDIA P. BULAN SATO, is of legal age, Filipino citizen, and with residence and with postal address at No. 1335001 Saitama, Warabi, Shi Kita Machi 1020-18 K & A. represented herein by her Attorney-in-Fact, Milagros F. Angeles with Special Power of Attorney executed in Tokyo, Japan on June 15, 2018, a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A” to the Petition.

2.The Respondent is Sadahiro Sato, likewise of legal age, Japanese National, with residence and postal address at Warabi-Shi 1-17-23 Kita Machi, Saitama, where he may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court; while respondent office of the Civil Registrar General and the Local Civil Registrar are government offices involved and official recording of important documents with offices addresses respectively at 3/F Vibal Bldg., Times Street cor. Edsa, West Triangle, Quezon City and Quezon City Hall. They are included as respondents as mandated by Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court.

THE FACTS 3. Petitioner and Respondent are husband and wife whose marriage was solemnized on November 10, 2006 in 2-71-14 Nakaaoki Kawaguchi City Saitama Prefecture, where their marriage was recorded.

Copies of the Report of Marriage, Family Registry are hereto attached and respectively marked as Annexes “B” and “C” 4. Petitioner and respondent met on September 20, 2006, while working at the same company, the respondent working as painter while the petitioner working as the installer of speakers. Prior to their marriage, petitioner obtained a Certification of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Japan. A copy of the certification of

IGUIDEZ ONIDA LAW By: (Sgd.) LARRY T. IGUIDEZ Counsel for the Petitioner Rm. 107 Cabrera Bldg., 1 130 Timog Ave., Quezon City PTR No. 5520378, 1-3-2018, Q.C. IBP No. AR002162, 2/6/2018, Q.C. Roll No. 20434 MCLE Compliance No. V,0024702, 10-29-16 Email address: larryiguidez@ yahoo.com Tel. No. 922-0674

CC:

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL Makati City DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Pasay City OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR Quezon City SADAHIRO SATO Warabi-shi 1-17-23 Kita Machi, Saitama Tokyo, Japan CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL 3/F Vibal Bldg., Times Street cor. Edsa, West Triangle, Quezon City LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) QUEZON CITY ) S.S. VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, MILAGROS F. ANGELES, of legal age, Filipino and with postal address at B10 L37 Guyabano St., SM Homes, Deparo 2, Caloocan City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state: 1. That I am the Petitioner’s Attorney-in-Fact in the abovecaptioned case; 2. That I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing PETITION; 3. That I have read the allegations in the foregoing Petition, which allegations are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and based on authentic records; 4. That I certify that I have not commenced for Lydia Bulan Sato any other action or proceeding involving the same issues raised in this Petition either in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any of its divisions, or any other tribunal or agency, and that to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein; and 5. In the event that I learn of a similar action involving the same parties and cause of action, I undertake to immediately inform this Honorable Office of its nature and status within five (5) days therefrom.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 28th days of July 2018 at Quezon City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) MILAGROS F. ANGELES Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this 28th day of July 2018 at Quezon City, affiant exhibiting to me her Brgy. ID No. LT1692 issued on January 2018.

Doc. No. 481; Page No. 98; Book No. XVIIII; Series of 2018.

(MStandard-Apr. 30, May 7 & 14, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

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La Union folk mark year after Eriguel’s death

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

SHUT DOWN. Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel led by Bataan Penro Raul Mamac (third from left) and Dinalupihan Cenro Marife Castillo (right) post a closure notice on the gate of the Limay dumpsite in Sitio Mamala, Barangay Saint Francis I on Friday, May 10. Butch Gunio

P288-m El Niño loans from GSIS for Davao Sur THE Government Service Insurance System is allocating P288 million for its active members and old-age pensioners in the province of Davao del Sur which has been affected by El Niño.

The deadline of application for the loan is May 23.

Under the program, members with no existing emergency loan may borrow P20,000 while those who still have outstanding balance in their previous emergency loan account may be granted a P40,000 loan. Old-age pensioners in the area may apply for a P20,000 loan.

At present, a total of 10,497 active members and 1,933 old-age pensioners in the area are qualified to apply for the loan.

To qualify, active members must be working or residing in the calamity-declared area, not be on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying monthly mandatory life insurance or social insurance premium contributions, and have no unpaid loans for more than six months.

They should also have a minimum net take-home pay of P5,000 after the monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations have been deducted.

Pensioners who are also active members may apply for the loan only once.

Active members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosk located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; and Robinsons Malls.

Loans may also be filed at selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, SM Aura in Taguig, SM Southmall in Las Piñas, and Mall of Asia in Pasay City, subject to approval of their agency authorized officer.

Old-age pensioners must personally apply for the loan.

The GSIS emergency loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at six percent interest rate per annum. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise, provided that loan repayment is up to date.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS electronic card (eCard) or unified multipurpose identification card.

Arroyo kin among Negros sure winners

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ACOLOD CITY—Former Fourth District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer leads the list of candidates in various positions in the province, who are just awaiting proclamation after running unopposed.

Initially, Ferrer, the running mate of gubernatorial bet, incumbent Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, was challenged by Raul Baterna of Sagay City, but the latter withdrew his certificate of candidacy on Nov. 12.

Also, three out of seven candidates for congressional seats in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, are running unopposed.

Neophyte Jose Francisco Benitez, president of Philippine Women’s University, is succeeding his elder

STRONG FOR SOMEONE. As the market leader in oncology in the Philipppnes, Roche has launched its ‘Strong for Someone’ advocacy that aims to inspire and encourage cancer patients and their families via a nationwide community that will serve as their pillars of support. Present at the launch rites in Taguig City are (from left) Dr. Clarito Cairo (Cancer Program Manager for Department of Health); Dr. Hiyasmin Alejandro (Chairman of Multimedia Committee of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology); Dr. Marilucel Aganon of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office); celebrity vlogger Wil Dasovich, who has suffered from colon cancer; Aileen Antolin, vice president and trustee for program development of the Philippine Foundation for Breast Cancer Inc.; and Dr. Diana Edralin, Country Medical Director of Roche (Phils.) Inc. Teddy Pelaez

Liquor ban, vote buying violations in Central Luzon CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Authorities hauled at least 62 persons to police stations for alleged violation of the Commission on Elections liquor ban and vote-buying offenses in Pampanga and Tarlac areas, the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center announced Monday.

Central Luzon Philippine National Police director Police BGen. Joel Napoleon Coronel said 54 persons were rounded up in different entertainment and fun houses in separate areas in the region since the start of 24-hour liquor ban.

Eight more, who were reportedly engaged in vote-buying, were arrested before election day.

“We make sure that the eletoral process will be orderly, so we don’t want voters who are drunk to go to polling places,” said Coronel in a statement.

Appropriate charges awaits violators, including owners of establishments, he added.

In Pampanga, 32 vote counting machines malfunctioned even before the electoral priocess started in at least seven polling places in Arayat, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Macabebe, San Luis, Minalin and Sta. Rita, said Provincial Comelec head lawyer Fernando Cot-om.

Cot-om said 30 polling precincts have been affected after the VCM’s encountered minor glitches. He said some VCM’s has no SD cards. Jess Malabanan

Nueva Vizcaya’s Ammungan Festival to showcase local products

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The forthcoming celebration of the Ammungan Festival here will put into the forefront the province’s local products for promotion and sale.

“This will serve as a venue to help our

Caloocan squatters gain new homes ELEVEN partner-homeowners of Unified Compound Homeowners Association, Inc. in Caloocan City can now call themselves landowners as they received their respective transfer certificate of title from the Social Housing Finance Corp.

Held in Maligaya Park Subdivision in Barangay Camarin on May 3, the awarding ceremony was led by Emma Lintao, NCR North Operations-Loan Administration Division’s OIC-Chief, and Joan Enriquez, Supervising Account Specialist. They were joined by team members from the Legal Department and the Strategic Communications Division.

Headed by Dominador Derrada, Unified Compound is composed of 33 part-

brother, Alfredo Benitez, in the third district.

The third district covers the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, and the municipalities of Murcia and E.B. Magalona.

Another sure winner is Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” Arroyo-Lesaca, sister-in-law of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who will replace Rep. Alejandro Mirasol in the fifth district.

Arroyo-Lesaca previously served as Kasangga Party-list representative from 2007 to 2010.

In the second district, incumbent Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva is also assured of a third and final term, representing the cities of Sagay and Cadiz and Manapla town.

For the post of board member, Rommel Debulgado and Araceli Somosa are also running unopposed in the first district; Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano, third district; and Jose Benito Alonso and Victor Javellana, fourth district.

Also among the sure winners are six mayors, including Melecio Yap Jr. of Escalante City; Alfredo Marañon III, Sagay City; Nicholas Yulo, Bago City; Maria Gina Lizares, Sipalay City; Miguel Antonio Peña, Pulupandan; and John Paul Alvarez, Ilog.

A YEAR after he was brutally murdered by armed assassins, former 2nd District Rep. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel is still remembered by the people of La Union.

His widow, Rep. Sandra Y. Eriguel, continues to mourn the loss of Franny, a doctor who served as a mayor and a legislator who helped transform the second district into a vibrant area of La Union.

Franny was speaking before a barangay caucus when he was shot and killed by unknown assailants on May 12, 2018. Three of his supporters also died in the coordinated attack.

Despite the lingering pain, Sandra said she finds consolation with the outpouring of love and support shown by her friends, allies and supporters, especially during the campaign period.

“One year has passed since the brutal murder of my husband, former Congressman Eufranio C. Eriguel.

This dastardly act was perpetrated by individuals whose only intention is to sow fear in our constituents,” she said.

“Though up until today, we have yet to find justice for the deaths of Congressman Franny, Patrick Manabat, Mac Roel Tubera and Bobby Ordinario, I am consoled by the outpour of support from our constituents here in the Second District of La Union,” Sandra added.

“Congressman Franny treated everyone as his family. With his vision of hope and unity, he transformed the 2nd District of La Union to what it is today. Eleven towns were united to attain a single goal, to ensure that no one is left behind,” said Eriguel.

To honor Franny’s contribution to the Second District of La Union, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Provincial Ordinance No. 189-2019 declaring May 12 of every year as “Eufranio ‘Franny’ C. Eriguel, M.D. Day.”

ner-homeowners and boasts a collection efficiency rating of 286.88 percent as of February 2019.

The title awardees, who have fulfilled their respective loan obligations to SHFC, are now part of the more than 310,000 families who have received security of tenure since the launch of the agency’s flagship initiative, the Community Mortgage Program, in 1988.

Herminio Lacasandile Jr., one of the awardees, was elated to finally receive his own land title after more than 20 years of religiously paying his monthly amortization.

“We’re so happy because we won’t be called squatters anymore,” he said. “We are now legitimate landowners.”

local entrepreneurs in marketing their products. We hope that it will bring them more income, possible future investments and market expansions,” said Ma. Carla Lucia Torralba, director-general of the 2019 Festival.

The local products of the province will be exposed during the duration of the fes-

tivities from May 22 to 26 at the provincial capitol compound in this town.

Torralba said Nueva Vizcaya’s products will be featured in the Agri-Trade Fair dubbed Gawang Vizcayano Exhibit, which will be formally opened on May 22.

Precy Maglaya, chief trade and in-

dustry specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the products to be showcased during the festival are high quality-made furnitures, handicrafts and processed foods, among others.

“Some of these products represent the One Town One Product of the 15 municipalities of the province,” she said.

CSR PACT. San Beda UniversityCollege of Arts and Sciences Dean Christian Bryan Bustamante (right) confers on PTV4’s ‘Damayan’ program host and marketing head Emilie Katigbak the university’s aim to broaden its corporate social responsibility programs through the Institutional Community Engagement Center for its recipients. Currently getting free services on its medical missions, legal assistance, education and livelihood trainings are Sitio Paktil in the Mountain Province, Pulilan, Bulacan; Taytay and Antipolo in Rizal. A native of Oas, Albay, Bustamante believes San Beda students will benefit from the school’s CSR as they experience volunteerism and exposure to community needs.

Life

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

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

@MStandardLIFE TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

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Step in solidarity with refugees WALKING TO SAFETY. Rohingya refugees cross the border from Myanmar near Anzuman Para village, Bangladesh in October 2017. (Photo from UNHCR)

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CO-TOURISM group Trail Adventours, together with Atom Araullo, recently conquered Mt. Nagpatong in Tanay, Rizal in support of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ global campaign “2 Billion Kilometers to Safety.”

According to the UNHCR, refugees around the world walk an estimated 2 billion kilometers every year to reach the first point of safety.

The “2 Billion Kilometers to Safety” hence was established to call on people all over the world to cover this distance traveled by refugees through individual acts of solidarity.

Araullo, a UNHCR Philippines’ Goodwill Ambassador, joined Trail Adventours’ seventh hike in support of the campaign, with previous ones including an ascent to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp and in Mt. Pulag in Benguet. In all, the group has logged on 1,614 kilometers to the global target.

Mt. Nagpatong, also known as Nagpatong Rock, is a hiking hot spot that has quickly caught growing attention and curiosity all around the country.

Nagpatong Rock consists of two towering limestone cliffs facing each other and is impressively layered with huge blocks of rock placed on top of each other, hence earning its name derived from the Tagalog word “patong.”

Filipino hikers and enthusiasts

hikers endured and the difficulty faced by refugees to make it to a safe place just by walking.

It was a hike and a cause not made for the faint of heart or fear of height, or plight. It was a hike done with empathy, courage, and solidarity.

Citing the everyday struggle of refugees all around the world and displaced persons in our own country, Angie Sarreal of Trail Adventours shared, “Oftentimes we are intimidated by how big the refugee and displacement crisis that we can’t imagine how we can actually help make a real difference as individuals or on a local level.

“When the reality is that, anyone, anywhere, can make a difference even if it’s just to walk, run, or hike with thoughtful purpose to empathize and support someone in need. This shows that we care as a community and are doing something about it.”

Trail Adventours conducts a hike every third Sunday of the month.

Proceeds from these themed hikes will go in support of the 2 Billion Kilometer to Safety campaign. To join future hikes, go to www.trailadventours.com. To learn more about UNHCR and Trail Adventours partnership visit stepwithrefugees.org/ en-ph/trail-adventours.

Participants may choose to sync their fitness apps like Fitbit or Strava to automatically add their kilometers, but they Filipino hikers and UNHCR Philippines Goodwill Ambassador Atom Araulo join Trail Adventours’ recent hike at Mt. Nagpatong in Tanay, Rizal. can also add them manually by setting led by Trail Adventours co-founders step count of 150 kilometers while triWith a challenging path, bamboo a target up to a maximum of 50 kilomCoby Sarreal and Guido Sarreal and umphantly completing the Nagpatong ladders, and vertical climbs, the hike eters per entry.

Araullo, logged in their cumulative Rock hike in 2.5 hours. drew parallels between the challenge

Take care of your liver THE liver is the body’s biggest internal organ and the most overworked. It’s considered the “silent hero” for many reasons; it’s responsible for more than 500 bodily functions.

“The liver is a noble organ,” asserted Dr. Allan Jay Domingo, Sanofi Aventis Consumer Health Care Country Medical Lead. Here are some things the liver does for the body and how to take care of it.

Your liver is a facility that stores important vitamins, energy, and minerals and releases them in the blood.

Your liver is a soldier that helps in resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the blood.

Think of your liver as your nutrient processing plant. Every time you eat, your liver feeds you. It processes multiple nutrients once your food is digested. So what you eat and drink can tell how healthy your liver is.

Among liver-friendly food and drinks are grapes, dark chocolate, oatmeal, berries, garlic, coffee, and green tea.

Foods rich in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables are good for the liver.

Your liver is a detoxifier that metabolizes and expels drugs, alcohol, and en-

Essentiale Forte P is clinically proven to strengthen liver health by promoting the repairing function and regeneration of liver cells.

vironmental toxins from your system.

The liver also produces proteins that are crucial in blood clotting.

Alcohol abuse is a common cause of liver disease but obesity, parasites, viruses, and bacteria can also affect your liver health and result in fatty liver.

Healthy liver vs.

Damaged liver

Symptoms of liver disease can include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

If you have any of these symptoms persistently, consult a doctor. There are blood tests used to help diagnose and monitor liver disease or damage. These tests measure the levels of liver enzymes and proteins in your blood.

Eat and drink mindfully.

Remember that the liver gives your body the energy for its day-today needs.

Considering the things this internal organ does for a person’s body, it’s only vital to make taking care of it a priority.

Taking medicine for the liver also helps improve liver function. (Phospholipids) Essentiale Forte P contains purified EPL (Essential Phospholipid), which is extracted from natural food. It can be easily absorbed by liver cells. Essentiale, an over-the-counter medicine, is clinically proven to strengthen liver health by promoting the repairing function and regeneration of liver cells.

Grace Mendoza, Sanofi Aventis head of marketing and zone category lead

Dr. Allan Jay Domingo, Sanofi Aventis consumer healthcare country medical lead

Life

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

PH hosts first Functional Medicine conference in Southeast Asia

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HE Philippines ushers in a new era in healthcare as it recently hosted the first-ever Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice Conference in Southeast Asia.

Over 240 delegates were equipped with the latest in-depth Functional Medicine research, training, and education.

“We made the AFMCP more accessible to more practitioners at a lower cost compared to attending it abroad,” added Genato. “The average fee for a similar five-day training normally costs around US$3,000 abroad, while it was only offered at US$1,050 here in the Philippines.”

The AFMCP’s participants and speakers have become a large support group to anyone who wishes to practice Functional Medicine and integrate this 21st-century approach into their practice. Through this conference, the practice of Functional Medicine continues to grow, giving access to more Filipinos who are in need of primary care.

“Our mission is simple. We seek to have a significant impact on how Filipinos can live better, longer lives,” shared Genato. “This is very much in line with the government’s vision of a healthy Philippines, and we are happy to do our share in revolutionizing primary healthcare in our country.”

The AFMCP Conference was a fiveday extensive training program that took practitioners through a deep-dive into the leading-edge advancements in Functional Medicine, a scientific approach applied to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, allergies, autoimmune disease, infertility, and neurologic conditions.

The AFMCP was hosted by the LifeScience Institute, a subsidiary of the ROMLAS Health Group, in partnership with the Institute for Functional Medicine from the US. RHG was founded with a vision of bringing global best practices in healthcare and wellness to the Philippines and making them more accessible to Filipinos. Through Functional Medicine, the company continues its advocacy to elevate the standard of Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice Conference’s delegates learn the leading-edge advancements in Functional Medicine. healthcare in the Philippines and by doing so, addresses health issues that beset the country such as non-communicable diseases.

This comes at a critical time as one out of three Filipinos before the age of 70 dies from NCDs according to the Department of Health and the United Nations. With Functional Medicine, NCDs such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases are addressed and healthcare costs of Filipinos due to hospitalization and reliance on prescription drugs are lowered.

“Functional Medicine can help offer a bright, healthy future for Filipino families by giving access to education, treatments, and programs for clinicians and consumer communities,” said Michael Delegates participating and collaborating with other practitioners.

Over 240 delegates attended the first AFMCP Conference in SEA hosted in Manila.

Genato, Group CEO of RHG.

Mindful living workshop in Tagaytay

The Grow your Food With Love will teach participants how to create simple and delicious meals that are good for the body and the environment.

TAGAYTAY-BASED Anya Resort is hosting a one-day workshop advocating self-care and mindful living on May 18.

The “Live Mindfully, an Inner Journey at Anya Resort” will begin with Grow Your Food With Love wherein participants will be taught by Mario and Olive Medina from Lorenzo Sanctuary how to prepare organic potting soil, natural fertilizer, and compost as well as create simple but delicious meals that are good for the body and for Mother Earth.

The workshop will take place in Anya Resort’s herb garden where fresh ingredients and delicious produce will be used for the light and healthy lunch to be served after the class such as fresh garden salad, healthy smoothies, and refreshing herbal iced teas.

Guests will then greet the afternoon with Yu Hezu Bamboo Wand, during which teacher Mawi Fojas de Ocampo will guide the class through a series of gentle and low impact movements.

When done regularly, the practice is said to delay the aging process and prolong life while alleviating stress and anxiety caused by daily hustle. Combined with meditation, it reacquaints one with the joy of slow and purposeful movement and the beauty of being fully present in the moment.

The afternoon ends with sunset meditation at Anya’s Tala Lounge. An array of delicious healthy tapas and mocktails await guests after the workshop.

The one-day workshop starts at 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Those who prefer to stay overnight can take advantage of special suite rates being extended to workshop guests. Contact Mawi Fojas de Ocampo at 0917-701-7593 for inquiries and reservations.

Mawi Fojas de Ocampo will lead the Yu Hezu Bamboo Wand class.

iPhoto Retail firm employees join Pasig cleanup drive IN KEEPING with the thrust of Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. to reach out to communities where they are present, employees from Metro Feliz Department Store and Supermarket recently joined the Oplan Simultaneous River/Estero/Creek Clean-up led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Pasig City.

During the cleanup, the supermarket employees worked with leaders and representatives from the Pasig local government, Solid Waste Management Board, Community Development Committee of Barangay Maybunga, as well as residents and other community volunteers.

It is important for patients to be in good overall health before they undergo treatment for dental implants.

Getting dental implants?

These are important factors to consider DENTAL osseointegration, also known as dental implant, is rapidly becoming a popular solution in replacing a missing tooth. But while dental implants are an effective, most natural, and long-lasting oral care solution, not everyone can undergo the procedure.

There are several factors that can determine a person’s viability as a good candidate.

to anchor an implant, the aid of a bone graft can help create a stronger foundation for successful integration.

Adequate jaw bone support

For more information, contact Straumann Philippines at 0917-886-8266 or 0915-890-9107 or email gtindustries. comp@gmail.com. Straumann is exclusively distributed in the Philippines

by GT Industries.

Commitment to good oral health

Candidates should commit to maintaining their oral hygiene for a successful implant, and to keep the teeth in good shape. This involves daily brushing and flossing, along with periodic Good general health visits to the dentist—hygiene habits It is important for patients to be in are crucial to preserving the health and good overall health before undergoing strength of natural teeth as well. treatment for dental implants. Those who smoke, drink alcohol, or have diaChoose the best system betes usually have lower success rates The dental implant system a candiwith dental implants since these condi- date chooses is a major factor, if not tions can negatively affect oral health, one of the most important decisions to which then affects the healing process ensure the success of dental implants. of the implant.

Straumann, which is tagged the undisputed leader when it comes to implant, Healthy gums restorative, and regenerative dentistry Healthy gums are necessary to sup- products, uses the latest technological port the new dental implant as it fuses advancements in the ever-changing with the jawbone. If an individual suf- dental landscape. Straumann guarfers from advanced gum disease, they antees, not only the highest-quality may benefit from periodontal (gum) materials, but also the best pre- and treatment to rectify this deficiency pri- post-operative support for dentists, osor to receiving implants. seointegration specialists, and patients.

For implants to be successful, ample support and structure in the jaw are required. Without healthy, strong bones, an implant can possibly fail. If a person is lacking sufficient jaw bone density

Entertainment

Young thespians and playwrights

SHOWCASE METANOIA B

UDDING playwrights, artistic directors, and stage performers will once again gather for the 16th Crossroads Benildean Theater Festival, which highlights the essence of metanoia, or the change of heart following penitence, through narratives that depict how life The annual event, presented by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)’s resident theater company Dulaang Filipino under the Office of Culture and Arts (OCA), features original one-act plays written and directed by Benildean and Lasallian students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Four finalists were recently announced. Do Demons Deserve Grace, by Information System alumnus Andrei Santos, delves into a girl’s struggle against her inner demons, whileBarberya ni Santino by Digital Filmmaking student Brent Ignacio unravels the dire need to heal old wounds caused by past familial drama.

Lihim, by Digital Filmmaking student Clarice Cua, exhibits the conflict between truth and lies in an attempt to reveal a deep secret, while 17.9, written by De La Salle University (DLSU) Master of Fine

Arts in Creative Writing student Doreen Villanueva and directed by DLSU Literature alumnus Joey Alvarado, showcases a couple’s marital problem resurfacing along with the rising floodwaters.

The esteemed panel of judges included industry experts such as Rikki Benedicto, Remus Villanueva, and Ado Vencilao.

Benedicto, an established actor, awardwinning director, stage fight choreographer, and educator, has had several productions with Virgin Labfest, Tanghalang Pilipino, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Dulaang Filipino, where

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

'17.9' written by Doreen Villanueva and directed

by Joey Alvarado

he is currently the director and mentor.

Villanueva has 14 years of acting experience and has worked with organizations including Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Actors Theater Company Manila, and Actors Theater Company United Kingdom. A mentor and lecturer in various colleges and universities, he is presently the Academic Program Head of CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino.

Vencilao of Actors Company has led and performed in a number of productions, namely, Dennis Tiongson’s El Filibusterismo, James Villafuerte’s Ibong Adarna, and Tuxqs Rutaquio’sIbalong.

The 16th Crossroads Benildean Theater Festival is open to the public starting today until May 22. Individual shows will be at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the 6/F Black Box Theater. The Awards Night will be on May 24, 5:00 p.m. at the 5/F SDA Theater.

For tickets, screening schedules, and inquiries, call +63 230 5100 local 1528 or 1603 or contact culture.arts@benilde.edu. ph. Tickets are priced at P150.

The SDA Theater and Black Box Theater are located at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Design and Arts Campus, 950 P. Ocampo (Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila.

Julia Barretto anticipates collapse of love team with Joshua Garcia NOTHING lasts forever. This is Julia Barretto’s mantra when it comes on onscreen pairings popularly known as love teams.

According to the 22-year-old actress, she and perennial screen partner Joshua Garcia are prepared in case their love team collapses in the near future.

“I guess, it will be for the betterment of our respective career. For one, we will achieve growth in our craft as actors.

Of course, I’ll forever be grateful to the JoshLia team-up. It has done great things for our career. But we are aware that we can’t be a love team forever,” she avers.

“Being in a love team has its perks. It can take you to places in which you will also grow. You will learn a lot of things and you will be forever thankful for the experience. But you can’t depend on that for the rest of your career,” she carried on.

Both Julia and Joshua know that sooner or later, the time will come when they will do separate projects.

“We’ll be paired with other actors.

When it comes, we will respect such development because we both love our craft. We have respect for this profession.

We respect the fact that it’s what’s best for us, for our growth and we should support it,” she affirms.

Speaking of a new leading man, the pretty lass has Gerald Anderson for a screen partner in her latest potboiler titled Between Maybes. Many are curious how she told Joshua about this.

“Honestly, it took me sometime before I confirmed it to Josh. I wanted to make sure first who the actor would be. So I waited and once I found out, I broke the news to Josh. He was very okay with the fact that it’s Gerald. He was happy that I’ll get paired with someone who is a couple of years older than I am. He prefers it than someone who’s my same age.”

Curiously, does she really need to seek the approval of Joshua when it comes to her career moves, like doing intimate or love scenes?

“You know, one thing that I’ve

learned from my mom is that as long as you’re still in control of your life, whether it concerns your personal state, your friends, you don’t ask anybody for permission. If you feel like it’s going to do you good, go with your gut and instinct. It’s actually more of not asking permission, you inform the person out of respect,” says Julia. *** Anne Curtis is happy to announce that she and good friend Vice Ganda are collaborating for a movie project that is intended for the upcoming 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Both of us are glad that we’re doing a project together. And it’s for the MMFF! Isn’t it thrilling?”

This early, the lovely Kapamilya says that at the back of her excitement, she’s also nervous at the same time.

“The material is something that people are not used to seeing me appear into. It’s a different genre. It’s comedy. If you will check the movies I did last year, they were all serious stuff. So this time, it’s going to

Julia Barretto teams up with Gerald Anderson in a big screen project

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, May 14, 2019

ACROSS 1 Fierce whales 6 Speculate 11 Ziegfeld nickname 14 “La Traviata” composer 15 Parcel out 16 Experiment room 17 Humming 18 Make angry 20 Go on the — 21 Frat Z 23 Hollow 24 Ruminates 26 Goes by, as time 28 Polishes 30 Particles 31 Sonnet writers 32 Puffs along 33 — Merkel 36 To boot 37 Groom’s partner 38 Coat or sweater 39 Faced 40 Earth tremor 41 Bandleader Count — 42 Imprecation 43 Gondoliers’ “roads” 44 Wedding sites 47 Witch-hunt locale 48 Speed-trap

device 49 Swit co-star 50 NW state 53 Not frankly 56 WXY phone buttons 58 Amy’s sister 59 Palette adjunct 60 Speak hoarsely 61 Hydrocarbon suffix 62 Too theatrical 63 Marquis’s inferiors DOWN 1 Elliptical 2 “Fancy” singer 3 Most wretched 4 Wood-shaving tool (var.)

5 Hisses 6 Horses’ strides 7 Radius’s companion 8 Goblin 9 Old French coin 10 Creeks 11 Moves up and down 12 Coffee and steamed milk 13 Follows the rules 19 Mischief-makers 22 Ernie of the PGA

be a challenge,” she says.

“But it’s good that I’ll be with Vice.

Everyone knows it’s his turf. I will be safe in his hands, so to speak. Vice knows how I feel and he assured me to just be relaxed,” she adds.

Anne feels that the project is timely in celebrating her decade-long friendship with the Phenomenal Box-office Star.

“It’s also the tenth anniversary of It’s Showtime, right? It’s like everything is falling into its proper place. Actually, Vice told me that he first talked to Boss Vic (del Rosario) of Viva before informing me.”

Many are asking if she is concerned with their movie’s box-office result. Especially that all of Vice’s entry at the annual MMFF are certified top-grossers.

“I don’t want to get affected. I don’t want to be under pressure. Actually, I’m always asked that question whenever I have a film that’s going to be shown.

People would ask me if I’m nervous about the film’s box-office success. Personally, I think that more than anything, especially now that the film industry is fast moving, what really matters is that you’re doing potboilers and are able to bring happiness to the viewers. Having a box-office hit is just a huge bonus,” ends Anne.

25 Till 26 Liszt opus 27 Mezzanine 28 Electronic junk mail 29 Sock flaw 30 Take — —!

32 Gross 33 Where Polaris is (2 wds.)

34 Hardware item 35 Zoo denizens 37 Knot in wood 38 Diminish 40 Seeks information from

41 Scales 42 No. crunchers 43 Scoundrel 44 Sweet liqueur 45 Safe harbor 46 Familiar saying 47 Craftily 49 Not — — to stand on 51 Apportion 52 Invites 54 Brewery tank 55 That senora 57 Retiree’s kitty

‘Do Demons Deserve Grace' by Andrei Santos

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From C4

Jaime kills Cersei Fans strongly believe that Jaime will kill his twin sister/lover/mother of his children, Cersei Lannister. One of the major prophecies in the books is that Cersei will meet her end in the hands of the “Valonqar,” which means “little brother” in High Valyrian and the book proves that Jaime was born after her. And looking back on the past episodes, it looks like he is on the side of Jon and Daenerys.

Jon or Daenerys is Azor Ahai As far as the story goes, the Azor Ahai prophecy has yet to happen. What is Azor Ahai? It is a story of a great warrior, destined to deliver the world from darkness. Melisandre has long prophesied the legendary hero’s return, and it’s been an ongoing question in the series. All throughout, Melisandre is sure that Jon might be the legendary hero because of her dreams. But Jon is not the only person who can fulfill the prophecy because Daenerys also shows

signs of being the Azor Ahai.

Both of them come from the blood of the Dragon. Daenerys was born in Dragonstone (surrounded by salt water) and was “reborn” at the end of the first season when she hatched her dragons in a fire, while Jon was born bleeding and he also came back from the dead. The salt could have been from the tears shed around him by his fellow, loyal Crows.

And the smoke could have been, well, there’s always fire around on the Wall.

But one sign is left for the prophecy to be fulfilled—the Azor Ahai should make a sacrifice. If the prophecy is indeed true, find out if it is Jon or Daenerys who will make the sacrifice and who will they choose to give up?

Gendry is Cersei’s lone surviving child What is clear to everyone is that Gendry is the bastard son of Cersei’s deceased husband Robert Baratheon. Fans’ proof of their claim about Gendry’s true parentage was when Cersei spoke to Catelyn Stark back in season one and spilled that her first-born son was a “black-haired beauty” who died shortly after birth. But what if she only faked his death? Fans followed it up with another proof—when Gendry said that her mother was blonde.

If this is indeed true, he has also the right to claim the iron throne.

Daenerys dies after giving birth to Jon’s baby If this is right, Daenerys isn’t infertile as she had claimed to Jorah. But what bothers fans is if she carries Jon’s baby, will she also suffer the same fate as their mothers who died after they gave birth.

Their child will also be a possible heir to the iron throne.

Don’t miss the hit series that blew a lot of people’s minds and was repeatedly cited among the annual “best of” lists published by the Washington Post (2011), Time (2011 and 2012) and The Hollywood Reporter (2012).

Catch Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams for the last time in the series’ finale on HBO (ch 54 SD | 168 HD) in Metro Manila and (ch 402 SD | 710 HD) in regional areas, and on HBO GO, HBO’s online streaming service available exclusively to SKYcable subscribers. at the same time as the U.S. airing.

For those who want to repeat and relive the entire series from season 1 to 8, all episodes are available for streaming on HBO GO. For more details or to subscribe, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

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

C4

Entertainment

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

Global fitness club opens 100th branch in PH IN PURSUIT of bringing wellness goals closer to communities, international fitness club Anytime Fitness has launched its aggressive expansion plans this 2019 by opening its 100th branch in the country.

The newest branch is located at Estancia in Capitol Commons, Pasig City.

“We are planning to open more branches this year and bring the number from 100 to 120. We are opening at least one branch each month,” Jap Angeles, Anytime Fitness Asia Regional Marketing Manager, told Manila Standard in an interview.

In line with the opening of its 100th branch, the fitness chain also launched its new campaign “You’re Welcome,” which aims to answer the decade-long stigma of gym intimidation.

“Our new tagline is inspired by the brand values that we want to share with our community. It reflects the future we aspire to have; to be the safe place where everyone can be themselves without any judgments, intimidation, or discrimination,” Angeles explained.

Anytime Fitness’ biggest selling point is being open round the clock,

giving members the freedom to dictate their fitness journey and non-members to eliminate their fear of joining the gym. With the most competitive price range across the industry, its real appeal is its location with branches often located nearer to communities or within walking distance of most residential and commercial areas.

Despite the increasing number of “big box” gyms in central business districts that cater to a certain group of clientele, there are still a lot of underserved community areas, especially in the Philippines.

“I am confident that the Philippine market is more than ready for Anytime Fitness. The number of clubs we have in the country is a testament to the dedication of the Filipino people to health and fitness. They create the need and we are here to heed the call”, said Anytime Fitness Asia CEO Maurice Levine about the brand’s expansion in the local market.

To know more about the Anytime Fitness, visit www.anytimefitness.ph and follow Anytime Fitness Philippines on Facebook.

Company executives (from left) Buddy Morin, Ryan Cheal, Maurice Levine, and Johannes Raadsma at the opening of Anytime Fitness’ 100th branch in Estancia in Capitol Commons, Pasig.

INTERNATIONAL

Ariana dons Audrey Hepburn’s ‘little black dress’ FRENCH fashion house Givenchy on Friday named pop princess Ariana Grande as the face of its fall/winter campaign, calling her “a strong, independent woman of refreshing character and style.”

“A modern muse and the voice of a generation, Ariana has emerged as one of the most influential forces in pop culture today,” Givenchy, which is owned by the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, said in a statement.

“She naturally embodies the spirit of the Givenchy woman with impertinence, generosity and a lightning wit—all cloaked in a touch of mystery,” the statement added.

The announcement came one day after the fashion brand teased the reveal, posting to social media a video clip with the silhouette of a woman quickly identified as Grande thanks to her signature high, extra-long ponytail.

“I am so proud to be the new face of Givenchy. It is a house I have forever admired, and to now be part of that family is such an honor,” Grande said of her first campaign for a major luxury house.

“I love this clothing and the confidence and joy it brings to the people wearing it. Not only is the clothing timeless and beautiful, but I ’ m

proud to work with a brand that makes people feel celebrated for who they are, and unapologetic about whatever they want to be.”

The 26-year-old Grammy winner’s Givenchy campaign is set for release in July.

In a new teaser published Friday, Givenchy portrays Grande as a modernday Holly Golightly from the classic film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” dressing her in the character’s iconic little black dress—a Givenchy number—worn by actress Audrey Hepburn, who was considered the “original brand ambassador.”

Grande is the second pop idol to announce a collaboration with LVMH Friday after Rihanna said she was teaming up with the French giant to launch her own luxury fashion brand in the spring— making history by becoming the first black woman to head up a house for the firm. AFP

Pop princess Ariana Grande launched as the new face of Givenchy’s latest campaign.

Top fan theories on ‘Game of Thrones’ finale GAME of Thrones has always inspired fan theories, what with the kind of devotion its legions of fans have for it. But now that it is inching closer and closer to a climactic finale, the theories have gotten wilder. It’s a mix of blood and gore, with some intrigue thrown in, but all very interesting— and not far from happening.

Arya kills Cersei Moments before Arya killed the Night King at the Battle of Winterfell, Melisandre repeated the prophecy she said to Cat of the Canals back in season three, which is that Stark is destined to

shut “brown eyes, green eyes, and blue eyes.” She already killed Walder Frey, who had brown eyes back in season six, the blue eyes refer to the Night King.

What is left in her list is the person with green eyes—this is none other than Cersei Lannister. Continued on C3

Juancho takes Joyce’s hand for a dance during the ’Baka Sakali’ media launch.

Joyce admits that actor Juancho Trivino is her song’s major inspiration.

Who inspired

JOYCE PRING

to write a song?

T

V AND online personality host Joyce Pring was NICKIE quizzed by Manila StandWANG ard when she launched her new single entitled ”Baka Sakali,” a song which is about stumbling upon hope right on the brink of completely giving up.

“I had this hope in my heart that I’d actually find someone worth risking everything for and then it just so happened that the timing was right,” Joyce started.

“I remember writing this song after I moved to this apartment I rent now and I was like ‘Alam mo baka sakali naman it will work out this time around.’ Maybe I’ll give it one last shot and then if it doesn’t work, I’m gonna live with my dog Bowie alone in a mountainous area somewhere,” she said without giving out any specific details of the song’s inspiration.

Cutting to the chase, we asked: Is it safe to say that Juancho Trivino inspired you to write the song?

“It is safe to say that Juancho is the main beneficiary of the song,” Joyce quipped but was quick to explain how the actor inspired her to come up with a relatable lyrics and soothing melody, “He’s one of the major inspirations. I do so many things, there are great opportunities given to me by GMA, but then I had this thought maybe I could give it [love] another shot.Baka naman, baka naman mag-workout siya.”

“Now, you know, I’m so happy I live such a beautiful life because of the people I’m surrounded with. The work I do is so fulfilling. And if I had felt I didn’t want to take a chance on people anymore, at least not romantically, late last year may humabol,” she carried on while doing some side glances to where Juancho, who joined her during the launch and surprised her with flowers and cake, was seated.

In a recent interview, Joyce said that she’s giving the actor a hard time but she’s giving him a chance.

Last year in October, the two started working together as cohosts in Unang Hirit. Joyce admitted that they both have similarities like their upbringing and the way they view romantic relationships. She also said that it’s hard not to like Juancho, who started showing her special attention early this year, because of his pleasant personality.

And this must be the reason why writing the song went smoothly for Joyce.

“It’s one of those songs that kind of wrote itself. And I think any artist would agree with me there are songs that you sit down and you think of what to write or you actually need to give time and effort to compose one. But this is one of those songs that when I sat down, I already have an TV and online personality launches her new single entitled ‘Baka Sakali.’

idea what to write,” she answered in a definite manner.

Known as a sought-after events host, vlogger, writer, and a World Vision Ambassador, Joyce is also thrilled to embark into this new chapter in her career “For many years, I have enjoyed my work as a broadcaster and TV presenter, but not a lot of people know that my first love was always music and writing,” she said.

“When I was five, my parents would often go to church and I enjoyed serving in the music ministry—I would dance, and sing, and spend my days basking in whatever creative pursuit I could get my hands on. At the age of fourteen, I fronted my first ever band, and we would perform classic rock songs at school events, and in different competitions,” she recalled.

Currently, Joyce co-anchors the digital newscast Stand for Truth alongside award-winning broadcast journalist Atom Araullo and GMA Resident Analyst Richard Heydarian, together with a fresh group of reporters from all over the Philippines. She is in charge of the music segment of the online news program. Joyce produces podcast #AdultingWithJoycePring and uploads vlogs on her YouTube channel every week, as well.

“Baka Sakali” is now available for download and streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and other digital platforms under Balcony Records.