Manila Standard - 2018 December 1 - Saturday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 289 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Battle of the birds begins

By Jimbo Gulle AHEAD of the so-called “Battle of the Birds,” scalpers made a killing on the hottest tickets in town―Game 1 of the UAAP Season 81 Finals between defending men’s basketball champion Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines.

Students, alumni, and fans alike endured long lines on Friday just to get one of around 20,000 seats available for the match at the MOA Arena today.

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HAMMERING HEARTBEATS ON. Basketball buffs—for the challenger UP Maroons or the defending champion Ateneo Eagles—in a frenzied queue and crowd Friday (above), eve of the face-off in the nail-biting, if ferocious, first of three championship games of the UAAP Season 81 to be watched at the MOA Arena in Pasay City by a little over 20,000 and hundreds of thousands more glued to their TV screens at 3:30 pm today.

Cha-cha topbills House gab

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE House of Representatives will spend the remaining session days this year discussing the proposed amendments to the Constitution, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said, with an eye toward creating a presidential-bicameral federal system through a constituent assembly.

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Under the 1987 Constitution, ConArroyo said almost all priority measgress, sitting as a constituent assembly, ures that President Rodrigo Duterte is empowered to make amendments to mentioned in his last State of the Nathe Charter, including the establish- tion Address have been approved by ment of federal states.

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LPG price cut by P70 over oil supply glut

By Alena Mae S. Flores, Julito Rada, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja OIL companies rolled back the price of liquefied petroleum gas or cooking gas by as much as P70 per 11-kilo tank to reflect the lower

contract price of LPG in the world market for December.

Petron Corp., which sell the Gasul brand, announced a rollback of P6.40 per kilo while Isla LPG, which markets the Solane brand, cut LPG prices

by P6.36 per kilo. Petron said it will also cut the price of autoLPG by P3.50 per liter.

“Petron will rollback Gasul and Fiesta Gas prices (VAT inclusive) by P6.40/kg effective later 12:01 a.m., Dec. 1. This is equivalent to a rollback of P70 per 11-kg household cylinder,” the company said.

EC Gas, the liquefied petroleum gas arm of Eastern Petroleum, previously Next page

CHRISTMAS ROLL. Children

Ban on Panglao, El Nido beaches set

from the Hospicio de San Jose and Pangarap Foundation explore the LRT after LRT management launches Friday the ‘Christmas Train’ to cheer up passengers during the Yuletide. The train features tourist spots in Metro Manila as well as shopping, dining and art hubs where families can moments together this Christmas.

Norman Cruz

THE government is banning everybody―tourists and locals included―from swimming along the beaches in Panglao, Bohol and in El Nido, Palawan due to “very high” levels of coliform, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat has said.

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Palace: Budget insertions still subject to veto Journos make easy targets for mobsters PARIS―Journalists are increasingly becoming easy targets for organized crime, with more than 30 killed worldwide over the last two years, a media watchdog warned Thursday.

“The Mob has spread its tentacles around the globe faster than all the multinationals combined,” Next page

Pending appeal, Imelda granted to post bail

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division on Thursday allowed Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos to post bail of P300,000 pending the appeal of her case.

The anti-graft court earlier convicted the 89-year-old former first lady on sev-

en counts of graft and sentenced her to a maximum 11 years imprisonment for each count.

Mrs. Marcos’ lawyers had asked the anti-graft court to transfer her case records to the Supreme Court where she planned to file an appeal, but the Sandiganbayan said she should first exhaust

all remedies before doing so.

If her motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan is denied, she may then appeal to the Supreme Court to question the legal basis of her conviction.

“The rules allow an accused to continue enjoying provisional liberty during Next page

Poll body declares Pimentel’s PDP-Laban as ‘legitimate, official’ THE Commission on Elections has ruled in favor of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III’s group, recognizing his leadership over that of a renegade faction in the ruling PDP-Laban party for the nominations in next year’s elections.

The Comelec declared as “legitimate and official” the list of authorized sig-

natories submitted by Pimentel’s PDPLaban wing for its candidates in next year’s midterm elections.

Aside from Pimentel, who is the party president, the PDP-Laban senatorial candidates include President Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time aide, Christopher Go, and former national police chief

Ronald dela Rosa.

The Comelec requires the lists of signatories to determine which candidates are running under specific parties.

Without it, a candidate will be considered an independent.

The other PDP-Laban faction, led by Rogelio Garcia, had submitted its own

list of “authorized signatories” for its 2019 nominees.

“The Commission still maintains its recognition of the officers of the Pimentel group as PDP-Laban’s legitimate officers authorized to act for and in behalf of PDP-Laban,” the Comelec said in its Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte can veto items in the 2019 national budget, particularly the lawmakers’ alleged insertions, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Friday.

Lawmakers could make insertions in the budget, but the President could veto such items “if their projects do not jive with our priorities,” Diokno told ANC television.

Meanwhile, he also said no Philippine property was used as a mortgage in any of China’s loans to the Philippines.

He said the golden rule was to borrow only if the returns were higher than the cost of borrowing, and if the projects had at least a 10-percent economic internal rate of return.

“We do not mortgage our property.

It’s a straightforward deal. The internal rate of return has to be higher than the cost of money,” Diokno said.

He said the practice of lawmakers making insertions on the budget was nothing new.

“That’s a normal action by the House. They can change the bill as submitted by the President. That’s their prerogative,” Diokno said.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte a no-show at Bonifacio rites sion chairman Dr. Rene Escalante.

In a related development, Vice President Leni Robredo, who flew to Nepal to attend this years’s AsiaRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte Pacific |Summit today, called on Filipinos to relive the canceled his attendance at the ideals of Bonifacio, saying “I am one with the entire Filipino people in celebrating the birth anniversary of celebration of the 155th birth Andres Bonifacio.” anniversary of the “Great Plebeian” “Bonifacio’s life demonstrates how an ordinary Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City Filipino can do extraordinary things for the country. because he had to fly to Mindanao to Born to working class parents in Tondo, Manila, he and his family had to work for everything they had. attend to the problem of insurgency At age 14, he had to stop schooling to provide for himself and his family because of the death of his parthere, Malacañang said Friday. ents,” she said in her message.

“Almost 15 years later, Bonifacio began his life of The 73-year-old Duterte, who also did not attend last year’s anniversary rites, was supposed to lead the political activism. He revived the La Liga Filipina wreath laying ceremony at the Bonifacio Monument after Jose Rizal’s arrest, founded the Katipunan, and expected to be attended by Armed Forces chief Gen. eventually led the group through the Philippine RevoCarlito Galvez Jr. and National Historical Commis- lution,” she added.

By Rio Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Speaker lauds appointment of CJ Bersamin

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday praised the appointment of Lucas Bersamin as the new chief justice.

“He is a very qualified person, very fine legal mind and extensive judicial experience. So, well-deserved. Congratulations to him,” Arroyo said in Pampanga.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bersamin to replace Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, who retired in October after serving as chief justice for only 41 days.

Bersamin, an Arroyo appointee, will serve as chief justice for less than a year, or until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Oct. 18, 2019.

Bersamin voted in favor of the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery. He also favored the petition to unseat Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice over her alleged untruthful declaration of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

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The announcement preceded the threemonth fishing ban effective as from today in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula, as declared by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The Alona Beach registered a coliform count of 16,000 most probable number (mpn), while the Buena Suerte Beach had 1,300 mpn, Puyat said in an interview on dzMM, beamed nationwide.

The normal water quality for beaches is 100 mpn, while swimming pools usually have 400 mpn.

Puyat said, speaking in Filipino: “The mayor should have implemented the no swimming policy because it’s not good for the health of the tourists.

“If one person will claim on social media that he fell ill because of that, our entire tourism industry will be affected.”

Puyat did not say when the ban would be lifted, but said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was conducting water quality checks every 15 days.

In April, the government closed Boracay Island to tourists for six months to clean its waters that have become “cesspools.”

Puyat stressed that El Nido and Panglao would not be entirely closed for rehabilitation since the islands had several beaches.

Journos...

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a new report on the dangers.

“From Beijing to Moscow, from Tijuana to Bogota, from Malta to Slovakia, investigative journalists who shed light on the deals that involve organized crime unleash the wrath of gangsters, whose common feature is an aversion to any publicity unless they control it,” said the report’s author, French investigative journalist Frederic Ploquin.

He said the only way to counter the threat was for reporters to work together to protect each other.

The biggest danger was in investigating corruption, Ploquin said, now that ruthless crime groups had “established a kind of pact with the state” in many countries, “to the point that you cannot tell where one stops and the other begins.”

“How is it possible that Mexico’s drug cartels sprout like mushrooms without the support of part of the state’s apparatus?” asked RSF after nine of the 14 journalists murdered worldwide in 2017 by organized crime groups were killed there.

Eight more have already died so far in 2018.

Three reporters were also killed this year in Brazil and three more elsewhere in Latin America. An Indian journalist who was investigating his country’s “sand mafia” was run over by a truck. AFP

Cha-cha...

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the House, giving them time to work on a draft federal charter.

She said the draft charter has been amended to return the vice president in the line of succession to the presidency, but remains pending in the plenary as Congress is scheduled to begin its Christmas break on Dec. 15.

“Well, it’s undergoing interpellation. It’s the last of President Duterte’s SONA agenda. Everything else has already passed. So, I guess, we’ll be concentrating on that next week,” Arroyo told reporters on Thursday.

Arroyo also maintained that the proposed shift to a federal form of government will materialize during her term as Speaker.

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announced a minimum price rollback of P5 per kilo effective 6 a.m. Nov. 30.

It said this worked out to P55 off per 11kg cylinder.

LPG will now sell from P543 to P795 in Metro Manila as prices vary depending on the brand, location and market forces.

The second LPG price rollback followed the 7th consecutive oil price rollback early this week where oil companies cut the price of gasoline by P1.10 per liter, kerosene by P2.10 per liter and diesel by P2.30 per liter.

The Department of Energy attributed the lower prices to the continuing oversupply of petroleum products in the world market.

Despite the recent declines, yearto-date adjustments show the price of gasoline going up P2.60 per liter, and diesel, P6 a liter.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte was now considering the recommendation from his economic managers to scrub a plan to suspend an increase in the excise tax for fuel in January 2019.

The officials had earlier recommended a suspension of the excise tax increase to curb inflation, then took back the idea even before it was implemented as world oil prices declined.

“The President is studying the recommendation,” Panelo said in a text message.

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ruling, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN News on Friday.

Reacting to the ruling, Pimentel said the candidates claiming to be PDP-Laban nominees, but were not recognized by his party, would now be considered “unauthorized and illegitimate.”

“They should not present themselves to the electorate as such. If they continue to do so, then they are deceiving the electorate,” Pimentel told ABS-CBN News in a text message.

In a statement, the Pimentel group’s lawyer, George Garcia, said the candidates of the other faction would now be considered “independent candidates per

Battle...

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Some of those who queued at the ticketing booths at SM malls on Friday morning complained that scalpers had already beaten them to the prized stubs, which went for at least twice their face value of P450 for a patron (floor-level) seat.

“Parang nanganak ng mga scalpers dito sa MOA Arena box office. Ang daming scalpers na nagpapasingit sa pila ng iba pang scalpers! Grabe, ang dupang sa tickets (Scalpers have multiplied here, and letting other scalpers jump in line just to hoard the tickets!)”

Twitter user @desynchronosis posted, along with a picture of diligent buyers

She urged the Filipino people to emulate Bonifacio’s heroism and bravery.

“He showed us what it means to persevere in the midst of hardships and to sacrifice because Filipinos deserve better. He believed that we should have a government that puts the interests of the Filipino first before foreigners and that no price is too high for the freedom of our country,” she said.

“Today, let us all remember everything he did for the nation and for our countrymen. May each of us embody the spirit of patriotism that Bonifacio exemplified in our everyday lives and contribute, in our own way, to the betterment of the Philippines.”

In the Senate, senators urged Filipinos to exemplify Bonifacio’s patriotism. ¯De Lima, a known human rights and justice activist under detention, made the call and said it was important for the Filipinos to learn from his values and follow his lead, especially during these challenging times.

“Of course, we know that there will still be many steps. But the thing is, we will bring it as far as we can bring it in the hope that the next Congress can continue the work,” Arroyo said.

The draft charter lifts the term limits for members of Congress and the first election under the proposed Constitution will be held on the second Monday of May 2022 and the incumbent president is prohibited from running in the 2022 elections.

Arroyo, meanwhile, said entering into joint projects and partnering with China is a major step in developing friendship and cooperation despite the ongoing territorial conflicts in the West Philippine Sea. Arroyo said she adopted the same formula when she was the President, recalling that Malaysia and Thailand also entered into joint projects with

China despite their conflicting territorial claims.

“In general, I’m in favor of joint projects because they foster friendship and cooperation,” Arroyo said Thursday.

She added that leaders of nations with conflicting claims in the disputed waters should consider themselves as one big family and China, as the economic superpower, as a “senior uncle.”

Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo assured Chinese President Xi Jinping that the House of Representatives fully supports his and President Duterte’s undertakings toward economic growth and modernization of the Philippines and China despite the territorial dispute in the WPS. During Xi’s state visit to the Philippines on Nov.19 and 20, he and President Duterte signed a memorandum of understanding on oil and gas development cooperation and 28 other deals.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law provides for a yearly increase in the excise tax on fuel products but allows these increases to be suspended if the average price of Dubai crude reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel for three months.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday that Dubai crude oil prices have gone down by 14 percent from an average of $79 per barrel in October down to $68 per barrel in November.

But Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the latest price rollbacks were hardly felt by Filipino families.

“We recognize that international prices of petroleum have been going down and will continue to decline in 2019. This led to seven consecutive weeks of price rollbacks, with pump prices of gasoline and diesel decreasing

by P9.85/liter and P8.40/liter, respectively,” Angara said.

“However, these oil price reductions have to be felt by Filipino families.

Rollbacks should not end here. These should be followed by a rollback in inflation or the price of prime commodities. Prices of basic goods should also go down simultaneously with the price of oil,” Angara said in Filipino.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, meanwhile, warned against the plan to impose the new round of excise taxes on fuel, describing inflation as a “dangerous phenomenon which should be slain on sight when it rears its ugly head.”

“Hence our eco[nomic] managers should make up their minds on whether

to fight inflation or pursue revenues. I suggest we fight inflation now,” Pimentel said.

Senator JV Ejercito urged Duterte and the country’s economic team “not to walk back on their decision to lighten the load [on] Filipino families.”

“Now that our countrymen have breathed a little, we will slap them with a new round of taxes that will undoubtedly push the prices of basic commodities up,” he said, saying the government should bite the bullet for the sake of the welfare of a majority of Filipinos.

The IBON Foundation research group warned that maintaining the scheduled excise tax on fuel would keep inflation high in 2019.

An increase in the excise tax on fuel would increase costs of production and create a domino effect that would sustain the high prices of goods and services, IBON said.

The poorest 60 million Filipinos have already endured real income losses between P2,500 and P6,800 due to worsening inflation since early 2018, it added.

The group said it is premature to think that oil prices would stay low or that the peso would not continue to depreciate since the prices of oil continue to remain volatile.

It said the government should stop imposing higher consumption taxes amid low wages and increasing unemployment, and should instead go after tax evaders and stop corruption in the ranks of the Bureau of Customs to increase collections.

existing law and rules.”

“This will finally settle all uncertainties as regards who the legitimate candidates of the party are,” Garcia told ABSCBN News.

“The truth, in the end, prevails.”

The Rogelio Garcia group’s lone candidate for senator is singer Freddie Aguilar.

Former election commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the independent candidates for national posts “have to prove they have the organization and logistics to conduct a national campaign.”

The conflict in the ruling party became public in July this year when Garcia’s group held a supposed party assembly and unseated Pimentel and secretary general Pantaleon Alvarez, the former House speaker.

Garcia was installed party president, but Pimentel described the gathering as “rogue.”

In its ruling, the Comelec said it had not ruled against the set of officers previously submitted by Pimentel’s group for the 2016 elections.

“The logic of the Comelec is this: it has been recognizing who the PDPLaban leaders are for years already. If these people are to be changed, then change them properly... in accordance with your party constitution,” Pimentel said.

“A power grab, even if covered by media, cannot officially change the leadership of a political party from the point of view of the Comelec because rules have to be followed. Otherwise we become a banana republic.”

slumped on the floor in the long line leading to the ticket booth.

SM, which operates the MOA Arena, did not sell tickets to the flagship University Athletic Association of the Philippines event through its online channels.

The schools had told their constituents tickets would only be sold over the counter, first come first served, with each customer only allowed to buy two tickets at most―ostensibly to negate scalpers. Some tickets were made available at the respective campuses, with buyers required to show their Ateneo or UP identification cards.

Other pictures of the sprawling lines and crowded ticketing areas—which opened at 10 am at SM malls across the country—went viral, but many were

turned away, told that slots for the “Battle of Katipunan” supposedly ran out.

While lining up for UAAP Finals tickets is somewhat an expected chore for Ateneans―the Blue Eagles have reached the championship round in the last three years, after all―the UP faithful jumped at the chance to support the Fighting Maroons live in the stadium, while joking that the long queues for enrollment at the premier state university had prepared them for this moment.

After all, the Maroons made it back to the men’s basketball finals for the first time in 32 years, and many an “Isko” and “Iska” (shorthand for the so-called “Iskolar ng Bayan”) were not going to let the chance to cheer their squad on in the game at 3:30 pm today pass them by ―scalpers be damned.

Candidates told to tackle labor, pro-poor issues

By Rio Araja and Vito Barcelo VARIOUS groups have coalesced for the 2019 midterm elections and called for candidates to make pro-labor and pro-poor demands as electoral issues.

Members of the Teachers Dignity Coalition, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and Sanlakas partnered under the banner of the PLM party-list to join the election in 2019, and said everyday issues of the people should be tackled by the candidates.

Leody de Guzman, a PLM senatorial candidate and BMP chairperson, said “elections are believed to be one of the hallmarks of democracy.”

“But where is majority rule when we would choose between stalwarts of political dynasties that advance the interests of the affluent minority?” he asked.

He said the struggle of the labor movement must be a part of the electoral arena of every candidate.

Benjo Basas, PLM first nominee and TDC leader, said the day-to-day issues of the people must be taken up by those joining the 2019 polls, such as the high prices of commodities, regressive taxes, lack of budget for social services and monopoly rule of political dynasties.

“We propose these urgent demands that would address the immediate concerns of the workers and the poor, without harboring any illusion that the elite-run government will easily comply with the demands of the people,” De Guzman said.

Meanwhile, labor groups reiterated the call to President Rodrigo Duterte to abolish contractualization and the regional wage boards and reminded the Chief Executive of his campaign promise to stop all forms of contractualization.

The Partido ng Manggagawa, with allied groups Kilos Maralita, Umalab Ka, National Federation of Labor, Aguila (Association of General Unions, Institutions and Labor Associations and PUP student group made the call in rallies in Metro Manila to commemorate Bonifacio Day. “If Gat Andres Bonifacio were alive today, he would no doubt be leading another revolution to defend workers against the onslaught of endo by greedy capitalists, the cheapening of wages by the regional wage boards and the loss of our sovereignty to both the US and China. To symbolize the fight, instead of ripping Spanish cedulas, Bonifacio would be tearing up the endo contracts and the wage orders,” Rene Magtubo, PM national chairman said.

The labor groups also called on Congress to pass the pending Security of Tenure bill that provides for strict regulation against contractualization and aims to make regular jobs the norm in employment relations.

They also demanded reform in the wage setting mechanism and a return to a national minimum wage instead of the present regional wages.

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In September, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya discovered item insertions amounting to P55 billion in a report prepared by the House appropriations committee.

The Duterte administration was set to operate on a reenacted budget in 2019, and the issue of the supposed insertions was blamed for the stalled deliberations on next year’s budget.

Both the House and the Senate, however, have said that they will try to pass the proposed budget before the year ends.

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the pendency of an appeal or a motion for reconsideration,” the court said after granting Mrs. Marcos’ motion to leave to avail of post conviction remedies. “[Mrs. Marcos] was also required to post a cash bond double the amount of her original bond,” the statement said.

Earlier, the anti-graft court permitted Mrs. Marcos to post a P150,000 bail bond pending ruling on her postconviction bond that was only granted Thursday.

She posted bail after being absent due to poor health during the promulgation of her charges where she was convicted of seven counts of graft.

Under the Rules of Court, the ruling also gave Mrs. Marcos 15 days to file her motion for post conviction remedies.

Mrs. Marcos has apologized at the Sandiganbayan for her non-appearance on Nov. 9, citing health reasons.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Romualdez extolls Bonifacio’s heroism

By Ronald O. Reyes LEYTE First District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Friday, Nov. 30, wished that Filipinos have a “happy and meaningful Bonifacio Day” as the entire nation commemorates the 155th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.

“May we remember the example of the great patriot and revolutionary who displayed selfless love for our country and fought for our freedom,” said Romualdez Jude Acidre, the second nominee of Tingog Sinirangan Party-list, said that despite the circumstances surrounding the death of Bonifacio and other national heroes who fell into the hands of fellow Filipino compatriots, Filipinos “celebrate them all as heroes, whether they treated each other as friends and foes.”

“It is never about black and white, never about winners-take-all. Because heroes are defined by their qualifications, not by their disqualifications,” Acidre said.

“We are a nation that celebrates Bonifacio and honors Emilio Aguinaldo; a country born of a revolution thought to be ill-timed by Jose Rizal who paradoxically inspired it; where the fathers of the revolution, Bonifacio and Juan Luna died not by the hand of the enemies, but by that of their own soldiers,” he added.

According to Acidre, Filipino leaders like Benigno Aquino Jr, Manuel Roxas, and Jose Laurel “were, at one period of history, marked as traitorous collaborators and at a later time, rising political heroes.”

“We dismiss Gen. Artemio Ricarte for his longstanding opposition to American rule, and yet salute the martyrs of Bataan who died under the American flag. We complain about the traditional politics of today, but we forget the political maneuverings of Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas,” said Acidre.

Fariñas, Marcos scion fight it out as Ilocos Norte gov THE fight for the post of Ilocos Norte governor will go down between a seasoned politician in Rodolfo Fariñas and a young aspirant in Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Imelda Marcos’ grandson.

Farinas, who is Ilocos Norte 1st District representative, said on Friday that he would run for governor in his home province as a substitute for Jesus Arimboyutan.

The veteran politician added that he would run under the banner of PDPLaban political party, President Rodrigo Duterte’s party.

The 67-year-old Fariñas will go up against Manotoc, Marcos’ grandson and son of incumbent Ilocos Norte Gov. senatorial candidate Imee Marcos.

Manotoc was actually slated to run as vice governor but will substitute for her grandmother after the elder Marcos withdrew her gubernatorial bid following her graft conviction by the Sandiganbayan.

Last year, Fariñas initiated a legislative investigation into the Ilocos Norte capitol’s acquisition of vehicles which he claimed was without public bidding under the incumbent Imee Marcos.

BOLO PROTEST MARCH. Bolo-carrying members of various militant groups led by Bayan Muna hold a protest march in Mendiola, Manila to commemorate the 155th birth anniversary of Gat. Andres Bonifacio on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Inset photo shows members of Liga Independencia Filipinas hold their won peace rally at the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta in Manila in support of President Duterte and to join the occasion. Lino Santos

Zubiri recommends Galvez to take over Dureza’s post

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri wants retiring Armed Forces chief General Carlito Galvez to take over the post of Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza who resigned after President Rodrigo Duterte named some of his men as being involved in corruption.

The President fired Ronald Flores, undersecretary for Support Services and national program manager of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan, and Yeshter Donn Baccay, assistant secretary for Support Services and PAMANA Concerns for corruption.

“My recommendation is Gen. Galvez as a good replacement. He was with us during discussions in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and his closeness to the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and other armed groups, including

the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) was proven there,” Zubiri told reporters during Thursday’s “Kapihan sa Senado.”

He said it Galvez even said that he does not want war and instead, he goes for peace.

“He is a general ready for war, trained for war but open to pursue peace,” said Zubiri.

When questioned if Galvez would be acceptable to communist groups, Zubiri said that “I don’t think Gen. Galvez wants

his men being killed by [the] NPA (New People’s Army).

“I think he wants to put a stop [to] the killings. I will give him the benefit of the doubt,” added the senator.

Galvez earlier asked Dureza if he could be a consultant for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process which the latter accepted.

Galvez is retiring on Dec. 12.

Zubiri said he was saddened by Dureza’s resignation while noting that he played a key role and helped Congress finalize the Bangsamoro Organic Law. “He was close to the armed components of the peace process in Mindanao so I am sad. He is a very difficult person to replace. How can you find a person who will replace him? It’s very difficult because there’s trust issue, di ka puwedeng maglagay ng tao na di nila kilala,” he said.

Zubiri said he wants Dureza to return but if not, he believes Galvez, whom he described as a man who knows a lot about the sacrifices of war, is fit for the job.

Incumbents lead mayoralty race in Metro South, survey says

By Joel E. Zurbano THE incumbents are more likely to win in the mayoralty race in southern part of Metro Manila this coming midterm elections, a latest survey showed.

Reelectionists Imelda Aguilar of Las Pinas City, Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City, Edwin Olivarez of Paranaque City, Abigail Binay of Makati City, and Miguel Ponce III of Pateros town—will most likely earn another term based on the survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. Meanwhile, movie director Lino Edgardo Cayetano, brother-in-law of incumbent Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano; and Pasay City Rep. Imelda Calixto Rubiano, sister of the current mayor in Pasay City Antonino Calixto, are also the leading candidates for mayor in their respective areas, according to the

survey results.

Of these candidates for mayor in south Metro Manila, Cayetano got the highest percentage to topped the list of aspirants with 76 percent approval rating followed

by Aguilar with 68 percent.

Cayetano is running against incumbent Taguig-Pateros Rep. Arnel Cerafica who got only 15 percent in the survey. His running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz, also got high rating in the vice mayoralty race with 65 percent as against his rival Henry Duenas Jr. with only 18 percent.

In Muntinlupa City, Fresnedi led the mayoralty race with 61 percent followed by resigned Bureau of Immigration deputy commissioner Red Marc Marinas with 12 percent.

Congresswoman Rubiano leads with 47 percent in Pasay followed by Chet

Cuneta, brother of movie actress Sharon Cuneta, who only got 5 percent in the survey, while in Parañaque, Mayor Edwin Olivarez got 46 percent followed by former mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. with 10 percent.

Pateros Mayor Ponce is leading the aspirants with 52 percent as against the 17 percent of rival Willie Buenaventura while Mayor Binay got 67 percent over the 20 percent of her brother Junjun, also a candidate for mayor in Makati.

The other leading May 2019 candidates for mayor in Metro Manila, based on the survey, also include Isko Moreno (Manila), Joy Belmonte (Quezon City), Oscar Malapitan (Caloocan), Toby Tiangco (Navotas), Robert Eusebio (Pasig), Janella Estrada (San Juan), Rex Gatchalian (Valenzuela) and Carmelita Abalos (Mandaluyong).

DOJ files tax cases vs Rappler, Maria Ressa

By Rey E. Requejo

HIV VICTIM. An unidentified 19-year-old girl carrying a placard bearing the words ‘I am HIV positive victim’ shakes hands with a man at the back on Manila City Hall.

Lino Santos

ONLINE news provider Rappler and its two executives were charged with tax evasion before the Court of Tax Appeals for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines.

The Department of Justice filed on Monday one count for violating Section 254 of Republic Act 8424, or the NIRC for attempting to evade or defeat tax, and on Wednesday three counts of willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in violation of Section 255 also of RA 8424.

The DOJ recommended a bail of P60,000 for violating Section 254 and P24,000 for violating Section 255.

The filing came after the Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar MachaconCaparros found probable cause to indict Rappler Holdings Corporation, its president Maria Ressa, and certified public accountant Noel Baladiang.

The case arose from the complaint

filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which alleged that RHC’s 2015 tax returns did not reflect the total gains of almost P162.5 million which it realized from the issuance of its Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to NBM Rappler L.P. and Omidyar Network Find LLC. In her resolution, Caparros ruled RI (Rappler Inc.) shares for the purposes of underwriting PDRs for resale to interested buyers, RHC acted as a middleman whose profits were taxable under the Tax Code.

“By not declaring such profits in its returns, the RHC has violated the Tax Code,” the resolution stressed.

The DOJ explained that a PDR is a security, which grants the holder the right to the delivery or sale of the underlying shares of stocks.

In its complaint, the BIR alleged that on various dates from 2014 to 2015 RHC purchased a total of 119,434,438 common shares from RI at P1 per share.

Satur’s wife says detention ‘illegal’ FOLLOWING the arrest of former Bayan Muna Party-list Satur Ocampo, his wife Carolina Malay immediately came to defend her husband who he said was illegally detained.

Malay described her husband’s detention in Talaingod, Davao del Norte as “illegal from start to finish.”

“Of course, they cannot keep him indefinitely. Everything has been illegal from start to finish,” Malay told GMA News Online.

She said she is not aware when authorities would release her husband, who was originally expected to return home by Sunday.

Malay also shrugged off the charges filed against her husband and 18 others who joined the mission, saying lawyers were “coming to the rescue.”

But she said that she remains optimistic that it would not be difficult for her husband to spend time in detention after repeatedly being detained and even tortured in the past as a political prisoner during the Marcos regime.

‘Chinese workers must follow PH rules’ A LABOR group said that there is no need to deport Chinese workers as long as they abide by the country’s immigration rules and regulations.

Partido Lakas ng Masa president Leody de Guzman said that the presence of Chinese workers in the country only give credence to the belief that not all is well in China which is reputed to be an emerging superpower as there are impoverished workers who are forced to work in other countries.

“There is no problem if Chinese workers want to work here as long as they have the required working documents.

We should avoid discrimination in the workplaces,” he said.

De Guzman said that Filipinos should unite with other workers against abusive capitalists.

In the spirit of international workers’ solidarity, the PLM said it welcomes the entry of the Chinese workers as long as they have legal work permits and do not get in anti-social activities such as illegal gambling operations, drug trafficking and child prostitution, among other heinous crimes. Vito Barcelo

Sandiganbayan OKs Arroyo’s trip to Japan THE Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has allowed former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to travel to Japan and Hong Kong by end of the month and towards new year.

“Over the objection of the prosecution, the instant motion is granted subject to the usual terms and conditions imposed by the Court,” the anti-graft court said.

In his travel motion filed earlier at the anti-graft court’s division, Arroyo said he planned to leave the country from Dec. 26, 2018 to Jan. 6, 2019.

“The Honorable Court has, for many times before, permitted him to travel and he has always returned here as it is here where his family and business interests are, hence, he has no reason not to return. He is, thus, not a flight risk,” Arroyo said in his motion.

From the Philippines, Arroyo will fly to Japan from Dec. 6, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019 where he will be billeted at the Oakwood Premier Hotel Tokyo.

Maricel V. Cruz

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Be alert and watchful

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

the Lord because death comes like a robber in the night; it comes when we least expect it. Nothing is more certain in this world than one’s passing. Death has been poetically referred to as the great equalizer. One day we may be AS THE Catholic Church starts its new strong and healthy but tomorrow we Liturgical Cycle and celebrates tomor- may be gone. In a time when we are row the first Sunday of Advent, the taught to look and consider only the Evangelist Mark introduces as to the present, it is of utmost importance to Gospel where Jesus exhorts his disci- anticipate the future and what is to ples to be watchful and alert for they come. This is what it means by being know not when the time the master of alert and watchful for the unexpected the house will come. Jesus uses the im- arrival of the master of the house is a agery of the master of the house who certainty. goes abroad and places his servants in But there is no need to be fearful charge and order the gatekeeper to be of the master’s coming. If we remain on the watch. As already said, Jesus awake and ready, the coming of the tells them to be vigilant and be always Son of Man is an event to be greeted prepared for the return of the master of with joy. Thus, our whole life should be the house. a preparation for the return of the masThe Gospel of Mark is part of Jesus’ ter. This constant watch is not based discourse on the end times. In previ- not on fear but on hope in God’s promous Sundays, the ise of eternal life.

Evangelist talked In this Advent about Jesus’ Season, Christ teachings on the will pass in our destruction of the lives. It is a time There are reasons to Temple, the perwhen we will exbe afraid, but there are secution of faithperience a personful, the rise of the reasons to be hopeful as al encounter with Anti-Christ and well. our Redeemer. the Second ComAnd specially at ing. Hence the this time of the year, we must preconcluding mespare to welcome sage as reflected in the present Gospel of Mark intro- him with clean hearts more than we duces us to the message of being alert undertake the preparations for the fesand watchful for the coming of Lord. tivities which are temporal concerns.

Although the Gospel narrates an During this season of love and giving, event that happened more than two mil- we should not allow Christ to pass by lennia ago, its message still resonates without welcoming him or we will to the present time. The President, who miss a great opportunity. insists that the scriptures are irrelevant We welcome Christ with great hope in the present times, is wrong. Cultural and joyful expectation and not with conditions in different eras may differ foreboding and fear. And we can only but humans, whatever time they find do this if we are prepared. In our anthemselves in, are essentially the same. ticipation of the Lord’s coming, we More importantly, God is the Alpha can only pray that our faith will help and Omega, the first and the last, such reveal the Kingdom and prepare others that His words do not go out of fashion for eternity. We cannot do this through nor lose its relevance but remains cur- our efforts alone. But, God, acting rent now and forever. through us, will reveal and realize the Essentially, the Scripture teaches us Kingdom. Then, we act according to to be always prepared in our earthly his will. existence in relation to the coming of Turn to A5

T

Customs’ baggage

HE Philippines has again become a dumping ground of industrialized countries, thanks to the hospitality of the Bureau of Customs.

Shipments of garbage misdeclared as “plastic synthetic flakes” from South Korea arrived on July 21, 2018 at the port of Philippine Sinter Corp. in Villanueva, and on Oct. 20, 2018 at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental province.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources discovered that the shipments, consigned to Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp., arrived with no prior importation clearance from the agency, and were found to contain bales of plastic waste with hazardous materials, such as used

dextrose tubes, diapers, batteries, bulbs and electronic equipment.

The garbage shipments violated several Philippine laws, including the rules against toxic substances and hazardous wastes, and ecological solid management.

The Korean Embassy in the Philippines confirmed the illegal shipments. A joint inspection by the Korean Customs Service and the Ministry of Environment and Customs Service of the exporter’s warehouse in Pyeongtaek City found plastic garbage waiting to be shipped, mixed with large amount of waste wood, metal and residuals that have not gone through appropriate recycling process. The embassy promised to take measures to have the wastes in question brought back to Korea as soon as possible.

How these shipments ar-

rived on Philippine shores and passed through Customs is puzzling. But the finger of blame is pointing squarely to the bureau for allowing the entry of the illegal wastes.

The incident is not new to Customs. In July 2015, 26 of the 103 garbage-filled container vans from Canada were secretly buried in a private landfill in Tarlac City at the request of Customs, drawing condemnation from local and national politicians, civil society groups and citizens.

Customs officials liable for the uploading of the Korean garbage in Tagoloan even without importation clearance, meanwhile, should be held accountable for the latest incident. They should be dismissed from office outright, for ignorance of the law and endangering the health of their countrymen and the environment.

Reviving ROTC: Yea or nay? (“Ayaw ko talaga magmilitar, ayaw ko nga ‘yan sigaw-sigawan ako,” he told diplomats in July 2017), he does not have the moral high ground to compel others to take it.

But let’s set that aside and look at PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s latest the pros and cons. What is being disbright idea is the revival of the Reserve cussed here is military training for Officers Training Corps (ROTC), a civilians. There are 28 countries that military training program for civilians require not just training but actual that has been implemented on and off military service for a certain period through the years. of time, among them Israel, SingaThe ROTC was once mandatory pore, South Korea, Switzerland, and for male students in college; none of Thailand. Other countries allow volthem would be allowed to graduate untary service, selective conscription without having completed the course. and so on.

In 2002, Republic Act No. 9163 or the In this light, training doesn’t seem compulsory National Service Training so bad. A couple of decades ago there Program (NSTP) Act allowed college was, in addition to ROTC, Citizens students, both men and women, to Army Training in high school, which choose among ROTC, Literacy Train- has since been discontinued. There ing Service, and Civil Welfare Train- are also the Boy and Girl Scouts in ing Service. elementary. Some In order, he who went through says, to “instill those say they patriotism, love learned imporof country among tant skills; others Ensure the integrity our youth,” the say they were just President sup- of course commandants, baked in the sun ports the pas- the relevance of the and it was all a sage of a law subjects to be taught, waste of time. that would make The training, if ROTC manda- and the quality of done properly and tory for Grade teaching. well, could be val11 and 12 stuuable and helpful. dents (senior high My eldest daughschool). ter chose ROTC There are two for her NSTP such bills pending in Congress: Sen- and learned navigation, map reading, ate Bill No. 189 filed in 2016 by Sena- weapons handling, and first aid, skills tor Manny Pacquiao, and House Bill she did not know before and likely No. 5113 authored by House Deputy would not have learned if not for her Speaker Raneo Abu. ROTC stint. She learned discipline, Duterte’s appeal to resurrect man- from waking up early to obeying comdatory ROTC falls flat, however, the mands of superior officers without face of his own declaration that he question. Overall, she says she bengot out of ROTC back in his day by efited from the program as run by the faking illness. He bribed a tuberculo- university she attended. sis patient to sell him his X-rays and In contrast, ROTC back in the day showed those to school personnel at was marred by corruption. Students the Lyceum of the Philippines, where could pay off their commandants he was an undergraduate taking politi- to pass the course and skip all the cal science. marching in hot uniforms. NothIf he tried out to get out of ROTC ing much was taught either other because he did not want to be yelled at Turn to A5

The issue is corruption EARLIER this week, the Senate conducted a hearing regarding the growing number of Chinese who have gained employment here in the country.

In the hearing, it was bared that the Department of Labor and Employment has issued close to 52,000 alien employment permits for Chinese workers—a figure which Senator Joel Villanueva says might be an understatement. He claims Chinese now almost dwarf Filipinos in terms of number in business

districts like Makati City or the Bay Area in Pasay City.

Intriguingly, aside from the 52,000 AEPs the DOLE issued to Chinese workers, the Bureau of Immigration also admitted to having issued special

Is someone making money from the issuance of special visas to foreigners?

employment visas to 119,000 foreigners in 2018. Most of them were granted to Chinese seeking employment in the Philippines. And it is apart from the 9G visa and Temporary Visa—Visa Upon Arrival the BI has issued to foreigners. While no figures were made available for this year, independent sources reval that BI issued 28,000 9G visas and 10,000 TV-VUA to Chinese visitors in 2017.

This was immediately contested by Villanueva saying BI is not the appropriate agency to assess whether foreigners can be employed in the Philippines.

Thus, it should not have any authority to issue such kind of visas.

Turn to A5

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Opinion Silver MY HIGH school batch is having our 25th anniversary reunion this weekend.

Where were we in 1993? Where are we now and where are we headed?

What has happened in between?

Sure, I’ve gone for higher education, gotten a career, raised a family. Most times, however, I still feel like a high school student—girly and silly and blundering and unsure. All my responsibilities notwithstanding, I find myself chuckling over corny puns or gross impersonations, or tearing up at a sappy cartoon or rom-com. Or enjoying a trip to the bookstore, stocking up on office supplies and stationery.

Was there any real change?

Outwardly, oh yes—a lot. You look in the mirror and see that how you look on the outside does not quite match how young and invincible you feel inside.

Inwardly, it’s more complicated. Here are some lessons I have harvested over the last quarter of a century.

Success is defined in many ways.

Some of us lived textbook “success” stories, and everything was done according to plan. Many others did not quite follow a linear progression. Some made foolish choices, were too trusting of their own instincts which later on failed them, some were in too much of a hurry to grow up, and some did not actively choose—just allowed themselves to be carried by the circumstances.

Where we are now are direct results of those choices and non-choices. But only we can say whether we turned out to be either successes or works in progress.

It is easy to judge ourselves by the standards of others—especially with Facebook around. We get ideas that if one attained a certain level of income, or spent family vacations in certain places, or had a loving partner and good-looking children, and was able to afford regular dinners at restaurants of a certain caliber, than that would spell success.

We should know better than hold ourselves against these external measures. We are always free to define our own success and live it: For instance, in finding passion in what we do, or being

Be alert...

From A4

During Pope Francis’ Wednesday general audience in Vatican, a young Argentinian boy once broke free of his mother’s clutches to play with Pope Francis during a Vatican audience, much to the pontiff’s delight. According to the report, the boy’s mother apologized and explained to the pope that her son was autistic. “This boy cannot speak, he is mute,” Francis told the gathering. “But he knows how to communicate, how to express himself,” the Argentine Pope said.”And more than that: he is free. Free in an unruly way, but free.” The boy tugged on the gloved hand of a Swiss Guard and played behind Francis’s chair.”Give me a kiss,” the pontiff said, as the boy’s mother rushed on stage to try and catch him, before Francis told her to let him be.

“We should all ask ourselves, am I as free in the face of God? We should all be as free before God as a child before his father.”

Indeed, one can say that he is prepared for the Lord’s coming if he, like the Argentinian boy, is free—free from sin, free from spiritual baggages but

Reviving...

From A4

than field-stripping antique Garands and Springfields and drilling. If the Armed Forces of the Philippines back then needed people to do fancy

The issue...

From A4

It was also bared in the same hearing that most of the special visas granted to Chinese workers were issued in relation to their employement with “Pagcorlicensed” Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

With this revelation, some sectors were quick to howl their protest claiming the Chinese were stealing jobs away from the Filipinos. However, this could not be entirely true as according to sources within the POGO industry, the jobs are hardly meant for the Filipinos as the Number One requirement is the ability to speak Mandarin.

While that matter could still be up for debate as POGO and its service providers may actually utilize non-Mandarin speaking workers, the Senate could be

kind and compassionate toward others.

“Nothing lasts” is not to be feared.

We’ve lost four teachers and two classmates in our batch.Within our respective families, we’ve lost siblings, spouses, parents and grandparents.

Some of us are facing medical battles or helping loved ones face theirs. All these remind us that we are frail and that we will not be here forever.

Our memories of those who have gone ahead of us are not when they were suffering, but when they were with us and at their happiest. It’s not being morbid to occasionally wonder—how will we be remembered when it is time to go?

What will be the scariest thing about passing on?

It may be not being able to do that thing you’ve always wanted to do. Or telling people how much you love them.

What have you been doing since 1993?

Or worrying whether the people you will leave behind can get by in your absence. Whatever it is, it’s never too early to start staring at that fear in the eye. If you do it often and consciously enough, it’s fear that will blink first.

Know what is truly important.

We are all jugglers, multi-taskers. We juggle our relationships, jobs, health, and other aspects of our lives. Some have an easier time of it than others. For many, there will inevitably be conflicts, and we will be forced to choose. How you resolve the conflict will depend on your appreciation of what is truly important. There will be sacrifices, but if you choose well, the sacrifices will be worth it, and hindsight will tell you that you made the right choice. Some things, when you drop them, can bounce or can be fixed. Some will be irreparable—so know what they are.

Children are not mini-mes.

We always like to complain how times have changed—how children have changed. When we were young, we pretty much went by with what we

were told. We were good students because we did our homework and answered the questions we were asked.

We almost never ruffled feathers. For many girls in my batch, we were raised to be “obedient Catholic school girls.”

It could be a challenge to accept that when those of the younger generation assert themselves, they are not being rude or disrespectful. In fact, that attitude of not accepting anything they hear or read, even from their elders, could be harnessed into good.

So long as they do not feel entitled to anything, and can tell right from wrong, we should encourage children to have minds and preferences of their own. It’s our challenge to find ingenious ways to maintain ascendancy as parents and keep good communication with them. It makes for an exciting household. Ultimately, it is training them how to live on their own and stand up for themselves and others—long after we are gone.

Finally, friends are gems.

I count myself blessed for remaining close to the friends that I have had in elementary and high school. With these people, I can put on no affectations: They’ve known me since before I learned to comb my hair and be mindful of my grooming. We’ve seen each other perform crazy dance or song numbers in school. We’ve had a relationship with each other since before we all found partners. We’ve been to each other’s homes countless times and knew family members, some of which are now no longer around. You can’t give off the “I am now too important and too busy to have time for you” vibe. You’ll just find your head whacked—and the whacking can come all the way from another continent when some of your closest friends have settled.

Careers flounder and relationships could sour, but friends will be there, not every day perhaps, but when you most need them.

I find it difficult to believe that it’s been 25 years since my high school graduation, when I was exuberant and optimistic and heady and silly all at the same time. I’ve grown and been jaded, as everyone has, but life’s scars will not stop me—nor my batch mates—from making the next 25 years even more meaningful. adellechua@gmail.com

full of love and joyful hope in his heart, always seeking like a child the love of his Father.

How would we then welcome the Lord’s return during this four weeks of Advent? Would he find us in fear or in deep slumber? Or would he find us alert and waiting in joyful anticipation of his passing and eventual return?

There are reasons to be afraid. Human rights lawyers and medical doctors serving the people are being killed.

Businessmen are being shot in broad daylight. Schools of the Lumad are being closed, their teachers and students attacked; even those who come to their aid are being harassed with false charges. Violence and misogyny of fraternities. And then there is the mother of all physical threats—Climate change— hovers above our planet, our islands a prime target. I worry when I think of all these things.

But there are reasons for hope as well. Brave judges that stand up for truth and justice. Schools like Siliman University that formed persons for others like Atty. Ben Ramos and Dr. Avelex Amor, both killed for loving and serving the poor. Sports unifying a university with campuses from North to South and a street in Quezon

City from one end to another. A country of young people like Sarah Elago in Congress and Myles Albasin who is currently detained in Dumaguete.

A country with shepherds like Bishop Ambo David and Benedictine Monk Dom Martin Hizon-Gomez; both glorify God in very different places, one among the poor in Caloocan, the other in the mountains of Bukidnon. I rejoice in acknowledging these gifts.

This Advent, let us all be alert and watchful. Let us sing together the familiar Advent song: “Come, Thou long expected Jesus/Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee/Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art/ Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart/ Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King/ Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring/By Thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone/ By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne/ By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.”

marching, they had those in the thousands. Actual trained combatants, not much.

If mandatory ROTC is revived, ensure the integrity of course commandants, the relevance of the subjects to be taught, and the quality of teaching.

Otherwise it will be a waste of time

and resources and students will once again come up with ingenious ways of getting out of it, as Duterte did.

following up a wrong lead if it insists on the supposed jobs the Filipinos lost to Chinese workers. The real issue here is corruption.

In its website, Pagcor lists a total of 57 accredited POGO, all of which are allowed to have 10 service providers each. These service providers include (a) Customer Relations Service Provider; (b) Strategic Support Provider; (c) IT Support Provider; (d) Gaming Software Platform Provider; (e) Live Studio and Streaming Provider; and, (f) Special Class of BPO. So, if there are 57 accredited POGO, we would have a maximum of 570 service providers or a total of 627online gaming-related companies. And assuming each employs a maximum of 50 Chinese workers each (which I cannot comprehend as I cannot imagine an IT-support company employing 50 personnel), we would only come up with

31,350 workers at most.

Now, what is DOLE doing with 52,000 AEPs, and the BI with almost 150,000 special visas, most of which issued to Chinese working in online gaming companies?

It seems someone is making money here and that the online gaming appears to be only serving as front for some illegal activities.

According to sources, certain BI personnel could be behind this illegal money-making scheme.

The same sources point to the BI sateliite office in SM Aura in BGC as center of illegal transaction. Sources estimate that in 2017, those behind the illegal act could have netted more than P150 million and the amount could have easily quadripled this year.

Accordingly, corrupt BI officials might be operating in cahoots with some corrupt partners in Pagcor to fa-

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Dr. Ortuoste wonders if anyone reads the bionotes at the bottom of columns. Let her know at FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

A5

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The WTO and the US trade war with China

tion to China would increase profitability has been proven to be a fallacy. The unmitigated increase in the value of the US dollar to cover its increasing trade deficit correspondingly drove upward the cost of wage and services in the US, including the cost of living.

Part I Financial expenditures require that WHEN President Donald Trump im- goods entering the US markets, even if posed a prohibitive tariff of 25 percent on outsourced, should pay excise or import Chinese exports, the US committed the tax, and that definitely will be measfirst act of destroying the World Trade ured on the current value of the dollar.

Organization (WTO). This logically ex- Thus, whatever gain is made through plains why US has to abandon its spon- outsourcing is easily wiped out.

The imposition of excise or import tax sorship of the various regional economic blocs like TransPacific Partnership is necessary to sustain expenditures for agreement (TPP) for Asia-Pacific and basic services, including expenses for the TransAtlantic Partnership agreement welfare and medical care. Without it, the US treasury will dry up fast. In fact, taxa(TAPP) for Europe and North America.

Free trade and prohibitive tariff are tion is its remaining measure to indirectincompatible approaches to international ly stop the receding number employment trade. After being able to get away with and closure of many factories. In the end, it, Trump is now targeting China. Chi- outsourcing gained nothing. Only the big na, on the other hand, is promoting the corporations and their executives manstrengthening of trade multilateralism ning those companies abroad profited.

All this revolve on the problem of an which is an implied rejection to Trump’s protectionist policy. The strong support overvalued US dollar. At present, the to China’s approach was tested when the value of one dollar is equivalent P52.40 attending delegates to the Asia-Pacific as the official exchange rate, while the Economic Council (APEC) refused to af- value of the Chinese renminbi is at P7.55. fix their signature seeking to reform the If translated to fractional equivalent, one dollar would only value slightly less WTO at the behest of the US. This explains why no final commu- than two percent to the value of the peso, niqué was reached. US Vice President while the value of one Chinese renminbi Mike Pence wanted to steal the show is valued at 13 percent to a peso.

Seeing this, naturally local traders by imprudently wanting to insert a line calling for reforms that impliedly con- would prefer to trade with China in addemned China. It was a backdoor diplo- dition to the stability of the renminbi matic maneuvering to make it appear that against the peso than in the relation a number of countries are supporting the to the dollar. Bluntly stated, there is practically nothUS position.

The US has being one could buy come desperate that for P52.40 if conafter abandoning verted to dollar because that would the TPP, Japan and The unrelenting only be equivalent South Korea have to less than 2 cents. shown signs of tilt- manipulation by the Beyond their fracing in favor of Chi- US of its currency has tional equivalence, na’s Belt and Road our peso could buy Initiative. Even In- backfired. less if the goods dia is drifting in faare priced in dolvor of the RussianChinese economic lars, while it could partnership. purchase more if denominated/priced Because of this gyrating shift, the US in renminbi.

On the possibility of incurring trade is now feeling uneasy and isolated. It refuses to acknowledge that an economic deficit, the US is likely to incur that bemiracle is taking place in Asia. Japan cause importers have been conditioned and India want to cash in on the ongoing to believe they are importing goods at economic transformation with South cheaper prices while the country suffers Korea giving up the Cold War recipe the same because of the decline in the in favor of expanding the horizons for value of our exports despite the increase trade, including the possible opening of in volume. On the other hand, the relatively high value of the peso against the direct trade with North Korea.

Despite the orchestrated campaign Chinese renminbi means we could imby the “Amboys” to put a waged be- port more goods. If ever we incur trade tween this country and China, the US deficit that would be gradual because of has failed to reverse the breeze of eco- the relatively high value of our currency nomic progress sweeping across Asia. against the Chinese renminbi The unrelenting manipulation by the The combined forces of the traitorous Liberal Party, the vociferous oligarchy, US of its currency has backfired. China their controlled mainstream media, and can produce almost anything which the the rabble-rousing militant Left failed to industrialized manufacturing states dent the popularity of President Duterte. can produce and sell them in the interThe people have already reached the national market at an average price of turning point in their judgment of US just 1/3 of the value of goods produced policies. They are taking the opportu- in the US and in the Western World.

Instead of resolving why many counnity of renewed friendship with China as more tangible than of the hollow US tries import more goods from China, it promise of democracy. Filipinos no accuses that country of undervaluing longer have any illusion because they its exports, or worse, of resorting to are seeing the rapid decline of US eco- dumping. The US refuses to accept that there is something wrong in the valuanomic and political influence.

China now stands as the country’s tion of its currency and why it has for number one trading partner. This means last three decades consistently failed the Philippines imports more goods at to apply the classic Western economic cheaper prices. The income of our farm- formula of “comparative advantage” ers has considerably improved, seen in enunciated by Adam Smith.

Classic is the continued subsidy altheir acquisition of goods made in China, and sold at prices which US products lowed by the WTO to US, European could never compete. Many have man- Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and aged to improve their economic condition New Zealand on their agricultural exto enjoy the simple amenities in life that ports. On the other hand, the same agricultural products coming from the unbefore only middle class could afford.

Some argue that trade is different derdeveloped countries are prohibited from development to debunk our brisk entry into their market. The agricultureconomic ties with China. They ignore al products are even out rightly rejected the truth that most of the products we or are subjected to stringent quarantine import from China somehow contrib- requirement and often slapped with ute to increase our productivity, not- quota restrictions. This explains why withstanding that our trade deficit is there is great disparity in the per capita attributed to the low value of our cur- income of farmers between the develrency which is being manipulated by oped and less-developed countries. the US to gain advantage. rpkapunan@gmail.com The belief that outsourcing produc-

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

cilitate the release of the needed documentary requirements.

While the sources would not name names, they suggest revamping the entire SM Aura satellite office of the BI starting with two detailed Philippine National Police officers, one Lt. Col. Jesselito L. Castro, and one Lt. Col. Alex G. Recinto, who both assumed office July 1, 2016 and were designated Executive Assistant II. “They have been with the BI for two years now, what are they still doing there?” the sources asked.

“And those are plantilla positions they are holding at the BI. Does that mean they are also receiving compensation from the BI. Doesn’t that constitute double compensation?”

The sources added that both Castro and Recinto, aside from being highranking PNP officers, are lawyers, making them over-qualified for the

position of Executive Assistant. This makes their continued saty at the BI more puzzling.

“There are allegations of corruption over the issuance of special visas to Chinese and transactions for these things reportedly takes place at the BI office in SM Aura and if it is, then it is happening right under the noses of these two-ranking PNP officers. Just what are they doing there?” the sources said.

“Maybe they should just go back to their mother unit and help their collesagues in their anti-illegal drug campaign.

Maybe they would be more effective there,” they added.

And maybe they are right. But for the meantime, maybe the Senate could shift the focus of its investigation from the supposed jobs the Chinese are stealing away from us to the real issue—which is the corruption behind the issuance of special visas.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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IN BRIEF Aboitiz Power in talks to beef up coal plants ABOITIZ Power Corp. is in talks with G.E. Digital and other energy technology service providers to increase the reliability and availability of coal-fired plants.

“Discussions are ongoing with G.E. for our coal facilities. But we are not limiting our options to just GE. We are evaluating others service providers,” Aboitiz Power chief operating officer Emmanuel Rubio said.

Rubio said the move was part of the company’s “future proofing” aimed at ensuring that the company’s coal plant portfolio’s operations were at par with international standards.

“We are looking at ways of enhancing our capabilities for predictive analytics. We already have things in place but we want to expand the capability. The objective is to improve further our availability and reliability, which is already quite good and better than industry standards,” Rubio said.

He said the company was initially starting with the coal plants of unit Therma South Inc. in Mindanao. Therma South owns the 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur province. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

AF Payments bares success of beep card AF PAYMENTS Inc.’s tap-and-go payment system beep™ card ends 2018 on a high note having completed a series of partnerships and improved services to make payments more convenient to the commuting public. beep™ is widely used today to pay for transport services. It can be used in pointto-point (P2P) buses plying key cities in the metro, and recently, in public utility vehicles such as modern jeepneys and, etrikes deployed in the walled city of Intramuros.

The beep system has recently been introduced in Mindanao via Husky Tours, which operates a fleet of buses between General Santos and Cotabato.

It was also this year, in August 8, 2018, when beep card hit its 1 billionth transaction in the light rail network (LRT 1, LRT 2, MRT 3) since inception in 2015, which demonstrated the reliability and robustness of the system.

“The government’s focus on developing the industry for the benefit of commuters nationwide encourages us to to work harder to support Filipino commuters and transport operators,” said Peter Maher, president and CEO of AF Payments Inc.

SECURITY BANK PARTNERS. Security Bank Corp. announces its partnership with the Association of the Filipino Franchisers Inc., an organization which promotes responsible micro, small and medium enterprise businesses in the Philippines, to provide exclusive loan offerings to AFFI members and their franchisees. SBC president and chief executive officer Alfonso Salcedo Jr. (seated, left) and AFFI president Marie-Joyce Co Yu lead the signing ceremony in the presence of other bank and AFFI members.

Govt urged to focus on agri, infra sectors

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HE building of more infrastructure projects and farming modernization are among the top recommendations gathered by the government in the conduct of Sulong Pilipinas 2018 across the country that was capped in Davao City on Nov. 28.

Sulong Pilipinas is a modern town hall consultative activity where private sector participants give policy recommendations and feedback on various areas of governance, such as economic development, infrastructure, local governance, peace and order, agriculture, social services, and micro, small, and medium enterprise development.

The program was also held in Cebu on Nov. 9, San Fernando, La Union on Nov. 14, and Clark, Pampanga on Nov. 26.

The Department of Finance said par-

ticipants wanted the government to build more seaports, airports and massbased transport systems to improve access and mobility across the country, minimize congestion and further spur economic activities.

The recommendation on farming modernization, meanwhile, was aimed to prioritize farming education and use new agricultural technology to improve agricultural output and farmers’ income.

Economists have blamed the sluggish 6.1-percent growth of the economy in the third quarter to the dismal contribution of the agricultural sector to the gross domestic product growth.

Other recommendations include the simplification of loan requirements and offer reasonable interest rates for micro small and medium scale enterprises and farmers; improve access to education, particularly for the poor; and livelihood trainings.

Also included are the proper planning in implementation of infrastructure projects to lessen disruptions to business operations; simplification of Bureau of

Internal Revenue processes; greater police and military visibility in rural areas; intensive monitoring of illegal business in coastal areas; and extended martial law in Mindanao.

The first Sulong Pilipinas for representatives of the business community was held in May 2016 by then incoming Cabinet members of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Since then, annual Sulong Pilipinas events have been spearheaded by the DoF, co-organized by other government agencies.

All four legs of Sulong Pilipinas 2018 opened with the conduct of the Philippine Economic Briefing. The PEB is a flagship activity of the Investor Relations Office of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

During the economic briefing, top economic and infrastructure officials presented updates on the economic performance, outlook, and policies, as well as the government’s massive and much-needed infrastructure thrust. Julito G. Rada

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

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BUNOS AIRES, Argentina―G20 powers open two days of summit talks in crisis-hit Argentina on Friday after a stormy buildup dominated by US President Donald Trump’s consensusbucking crusade to realign world trade.

Shortly before the summit kicks off, Trump’s “America First” charge will bear fruit with the signing in Buenos Aires of a successor to the North American free trade pact Nafta.

The revamped accord, called the USMexico-Canada Agreement, looks a lot like the one it replaces. But enough has been tweaked for Trump to declare victory on behalf of the US workers he claims were cheated by Nafta.

Yet, underlining that the new deal may not be quite the game-changer he professes, the signing will be executed by senior trade negotiators from the three countries rather than their leaders attending the G20.

After imposing punishing tariffs on Chinese goods and threatening more to come in January, Trump also has China in his sights as he prepares to meet President Xi Jinping on the G20 margins.

Following the USMCA signing, and once Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri has opened the first of the summit’s two days, a mass protest is planned for central Buenos Aires Friday afternoon.

Argentines are grappling with soaring inflation and unemployment caused by an economic crisis, which has led to a deeply unpopular bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t have houses and don’t have work.

They are not focusing on the people who have needs,” barber Ariel Villegas, 47, said at one protest Thursday outside the Argentine Congress building.

The government is vowing zero tolerance of violence as it hosts its biggest ever international gathering, and says it has won promises from the protest organizers to keep the streets calm.

The G20 summit will be accompanied by an array of diplomatic initiatives with several bilateral meetings by the leaders attending, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AFP

Leisure Resorts OKs sale of P4.3b worth of shares

First Gen short-lists 2 contractors for gas terminal in Batangas FIRST Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group has short-listed two engineering, procurement and construction contractors for its planned liquefied natural gas terminal in Batangas.

“The company continues to work on various development activities to be able to advance the project and make a final investment decision. The LNG terminal’s Front End Engineering Design has been completed, and it is now going through a tender for the EPC Contract in which it has shortlisted two tenderers,” the company said in a report to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

First Gen said it would pursue and develop its planned import and re-gasification LNG terminal for completion in 2024.

“Its planned construction and operation is in preparation for the eventual exhaustion of the Malampaya gas field and also to support the development of the Philippine gas industry,” the company said.

“In parallel, the company has also completed the initial phase of planned site development for the LNG terminal site. The project is on track to make a final investment decision by 2019,” it said.

First Gen president Francis Giles Puno earlier said the company’s LNG project was “the most feasible” to date.

“The uniqueness of our project is we have our own power plants so the general approach is to create our own option for our LNG and if there are other options out there that is seem to be more competitive than our project, well and good.

At this stage, we believe that our project is the more feasible available today. Unless proven otherwise, our project is the most feasible at this stage,” Puno said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

G20 opens summit amid Trump’s spat with China

Sun Life launches Sun Peso Maximizer SUN Life Financial Philippines announced the launch of Sun Peso Maximizer, a new investment-linked life insurance product that will enable clients to access top-quality assets worldwide using the local currency.

Providing insurance protection for seven years, Sun Peso Maximizer helps one secure the future of his loved ones with a guaranteed life insurance benefit equivalent to at least 125 percent of his one-time premium payment.

By employing a systematic investment approach, Sun Peso Maximizer can also enhance the value of one’s money and offer the potential to earn more from global investment opportunities. This is done by tapping into the performance of the Goldman Sachs Prime Momentum Optimization Strategy, a transparent and systematic strategy that provides access to a wide range of global asset classes.

Annual income payments may also be enjoyed for six years. Then at the end of the seven-year holding period, at least the full single premium will be received, thus providing one the opportunity to earn while also protecting his capital.

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

By Jenniffer B. Austria

BLOOMBERRY DONATION. Bloomberry Resorts Corp., owner of Solaire Resort and Casino, donates two Toyota units (one Toyota Hi-lux for PNP-PCP 2 and 1 Toyota Grandia for the Philippine National Police NCRPO) as part of its support to the peace and order efforts in Entertainment City. At the turnover ceremony are Arcan Lat, Solaire Resort and Casino senior vice president and chief finance officer for property; Donato Almeda, Bloomberry director; Police director Guillermo Eleazar; and Michael Ray Aquino, Solaire Resort and Casino executive director for security.

PetroSolar to complete Tarlac expansion project in April

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETROSOLAR Corp. plans to complete a 20-megawatt solar power project in Central Technopark, Tarlac City by April next year to expand the capacity of the facility to 70 MW. “PetroSolar will advance the Tarlac Solar Power Project-2 towards declaration of commerciality to reach the target commercial operations in April 2019,” publicly-listed PetroEnergy Resources Corp. said in a recent filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

PetroSolar, a joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corp. and EEI Power Corp., owns and operates the 50-MW Tarlac-1 solar plant, which started commercial operations in February 2016. the project was as one of the early qualifiers in the government’s solar feed-in-tariff program.

PGEC is the renewable energy holding unit of publicly-listed PetroEnergy.

The Board of Investment awarded a certificate of registration to PetroSolar’s 20-MW expansion in September.

“With BoI’s award of the incentives registration for our Tarlac -2 project, PetroSolar is closer to securing the confirmation of commerciality from the Department of Energy needed for project construction to begin. We are excited by this new investment which will see our solar asset increase in capacity from 50 MW to 70 MW,” PetroSolar president Milagros Reyes said earlier.

PGEC also owns and operates with other partners and operating units the 32-MW Maibarara geothermal project in Batangas and the 36-MW Nabas wind farm in Aklan.

“Despite the current regulatory and market uncertainties, PGEC is pushing

through with its calibrated expansion of renewable energy assets in key locations to reach our goal of about 200 MW to 400 MW installed capacity in two to four years’ time,” PGEC vice president and chief operating officer Francisco Delfin Jr. said earlier.

He said PERC through PEGC was also pursuing the expansion of the 36MW Nabas wind project in Aklan by another 14 MW. PetroEnergy started to diversify into renewable energy development and operation starting 2009.

The company reported a consolidated net income of $9.77 million in the first nine months of 2018, up 27 percent from $7.71 million year-on-year.

Revenues amounted to $32.259 million in the nine-month period, up 12 percent from $28.152 million a year ago.

LEISURE Resorts World Corp. plans to sell up to 1.3 billion common shares through a private placement mainly to refinance debts.

The sale of 1.3 billion common shares will raise as much as P4.3 billion in proceeds based on LRWC’s current market price of P3.30 per share.

LRWC said in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange its board proposed the issuance of up to 1.3 billion common shares to investors from the unissued capital stock of the company.

“The proceeds of the proposed private placement will be used to refinance some of the company’s existing obligations and for general corporate purposes,” LRWC said.

LWRC said the proposed sale of shares by the company will be done through a private placement to investors totaling less than 19.

The issuance of the shares might have a dilutive effect to current shareholders, the company said.

LRWC will conduct a special shareholders’ meeting in Janaury next year to seek stockholders’ approval on the proposed share sale.

LRWC posted a consolidated net income of P266 million in the first nine months of the year, down 26.6 percent from P362.7 million year-on-year.

The decline was mainly due to divestment from the City of Dreams project, recognition of the franchise tax on retail’s gross gaming revenues amounting to P163.6 million, which is more expensive than income tax, and the non-recognition of deferred tax assets of P112.5 million for LRWC.

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World

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Orca stranding linked to warming

W

ELLINGTON― More than 50 beached pilot whales perished in New Zealand Friday, the latest in a spate of mass stranding this week that experts have linked to rising ocean temperatures.

The dead whales were part of a pod of 80 to 90 whales spotted late Thursday on the shore of remote Chatham Island, about 800 kilometers east of the South Island, the Department of

Conservation said.

It is the fifth stranding in New Zealand in less than a week, including 145 pilot whales that all died after they beached last weekend at Stewart Island, off the southern coast of the South Island.

By the time rangers reached the latest group of animals early Friday, 50 had died, one remained stranded but alive and the rest had refloated themselves and returned to sea.

Department of Conservation manager Dave Carlton said the surviving whale was in poor condition and was euthanized.

“It was the most humane thing to do.

This is always an awful decision to have to make,” he said.

Chatham Island was the scene of New Zealand’s largest recorded stranding in 1918, involving 1,000 whales.

In addition to the stranding at Chatham and Stewart Islands this week, a group of 12 pygmy killer whales also beached in New Zealand’s far north, and a sperm whale and a pygmy sperm whale grounded themselves in separate incidents on the North Island.

The reason whales and dolphins strand is not fully understood, but the theories include sickness, navigational error, geographical features, the presence of predators, and extreme weather.

Karen Stockin, a marine mammal scientist at Massey University, said while whale stranding was relatively common

in New Zealand, the cluster of incidents in such a short time frame was unusual.

She also pointed out that species such as pygmy killer whales and sperm whales did not normally beach, unlike pilot whales, which regularly wash up on New Zealand beaches in the summer months.

Stockin, who is an expert consultant on stranding for the International Whaling Commission, said it added to a string of strange whale behavior over the past year.

In addition to a rise in stranding, she said a number of species had appeared that were not normally seen in New Zealand waters, including gargantuan blue whales in the Hauraki Gulf near

Five dead, 30 injured in coach crash in HK HONG KONG―Five people were killed and 32 injured when a coach carrying Cathay Pacific staff to Hong Kong’s airport collided with a taxi on Friday, police said, with passengers thrown from the coach’s windows on impact.

The back half of the taxi was completely crushed and both sides of the bus were damaged with traces of blood on the outside following the crash on the island of Tsing Yi. Police said the collision had happened in the left lane of the main road -- the taxi had stopped with its hazard lights on and the coach plowed into it.

“We believe the taxi was broken down and stopped in the left lane of the road. Around 40 seconds later, a coach hit it from behind,” police superintendent Yip Siu-ming said.

The coach then lost control, Yip added, hitting the right hand side crash barrier and then the left one and throwing three passengers out of the coach.

The 62-year-old driver was also hurled from the vehicle and injured.

The taxi driver, two men and two women coach passengers were killed, according to police.

Hong Kong’s hospital authority said one person remained in critical condition and another in serious condition.

The rest of the injured were either stable or had been released from hospital.

Debris including glass and personal belongings was strewn across the main road, which remained closed early Friday.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific confirmed “a shuttle bus carrying our employees was involved in a traffic accident this morning”.

“It is a tragic and very sad incident.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who have sadly passed away,” the airline said.

Superintendent Yip said police would look into whether the coach driver -- who had been working for 10 hours at the time of the accident -- had been tired or affected by alcohol.

“From what we can see, it’s obvious that the driver did not see the brokendown taxi on the road and hit it from behind,” Yip said, adding that his working hours were from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

The Kwoon Chung bus company told local media that the driver had been working for them for 12 years and had not declared any health problems.

Matthew Wong, chairman of the company, said the driver had had enough rest and had taken eight days off in November. He added: “Of course we’ll look into the cause of the accident,” in a telephone interview with TVB. Tsing Yi is connected by a freeway to Hong Kong International Airport which is located on neighboring Lantau island.

Television footage showed the injured being treated by the side of the road before they were taken to four hospitals. AFP Manila

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Auckland.

Stockin said New Zealand was currently experiencing some of the warmest ocean temperatures on record and she believed it was affecting whale behavior.

“We’ve had an unusual week, which we haven’t got to the bottom of, and it’s fair to say it’s been an entirely unusual year,” she told AFP. “I suspect a lot of that has been driven by the warmer sea surface temperatures that we’re seeing at the moment.

“We definitely have a spike in temperatures, that’s likely affecting where the prey is moving and as a consequence we’re seeing prey moving and [whale] species following.” AFP

IN BRIEF Kremlin regrets talk cancellation MOSCOW―US President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit was regrettable, the Kremlin said.

“We regret the US administration’s decision to cancel the meeting,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

“This means that discussion of important issues on the international and bilateral agenda will be postponed indefinitely.”

Putin, he said, “is ready to have contacts with his American counterpart.”

Trump on Thursday scrapped the meeting over Moscow’s seizure at the weekend of three Ukrainian ships and continued detention of a group of Ukrainian sailors.

The two had been set for bilateral talks on Saturday at the G20 in Buenos Aires.

AFP

Island cleanup nets 40 tons of trash daily TOURIST HOT SPOT. This file photo taken on April 09, 2018, shows a crowd of tourists on the Maya Bay beach on the southern Thai island of Koh Phi Phi. Thai conservationists have welcomed footage of reef sharks gliding through the azure waters of Maya Bay as a ‘positive sign’ of recovery six months after the closure of a tourist hot-spot made famous by the movie ‘The Beach’. AFP

Aussie kids skip school for mass climate protest SYDNEY―Thousands of Australian students skipped school Friday to join nationwide protests demanding government action on climate change.

The demonstrations were held as more than a hundred bush fires blazed in scorching temperatures in the northeast, and a day after Indian mining firm Adani vowed to go ahead with a massive and controversial coal mine.

Primary and secondary students rallied in state capitals and rural areas across the country, in defiance of Prime Minister Scott Morrison who earlier said kids should stay in the classroom.

“Our prime minister thinks we should be in school right now and maybe you should be,” 13-year-old student Siniva Esera told a crowd of more than a thousand in Sydney.

“But how can we sit by and not do anything to protect the future of this planet?” she added, to a rapturous ap-

plause.

Morrison told parliament earlier in the week that the government was committed to tackling climate change, “but I’ll tell you what we are also committed to: kids should go to school.”

Students creatively rebuked the prime minister, who goes by the nickname ScoMo, with humorous banners saying, “I hate ScoMo more than I hate school”.

They also carried placards calling for the government to block the Adani mine project, a day after the Indian mining firm had announced it would go ahead with a scaled-back version of the coal mine in northern Queensland.

“If we don’t stop temperatures going over two degrees we won’t have the Great barrier reef, Antarctica will melt and there will be no such thing as polar bears,” 11-year-old Lucie Atkin-Bolton told the crowd.

“My life will be so much more com-

plicated than my parents’ life, because of one simple thing: climate change.”

The protests capped off a week of brutal weather in Australia.

More than a hundred fires continued to blaze Friday across Queensland state amid an unprecedented scorching heatwave.

The crisis forced hundreds to flee their homes Wednesday at its peak.

On the same day, in the neighboring state of New South Wales, Sydney was hit by severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall forcing the cancellation of flights, closure of rail lines and leaving motorists stranded on flooded roads.

Scientists this week also launched the largest-ever attempt to regenerate the endangered Great Barrier Reef, where large swathes of coral on the 2,300-kilometer reef have been killed by rising sea temperatures linked to climate change. AFP

JAKARTA―Residents on a string of coral-fringed islands off Jakarta’s coast are battling a tidal wave of trash, with more than 40 tons of rubbish collected daily over the past week, an official said.

Indonesian authorities have deployed an army of staff and a fleet of boats to help clear rubbish-infested shorelines and surrounding waters, underscoring the Southeast Asian archipelago’s mammoth marine waste problem.

It is the world’s second biggest contributor to marine debris after China, producing about 1.29 million metric tons annually.

This week’s clean-up operation is centered on an area known as the Thousand Islands, a popular day trip from the traffic-clogged capital.

Residents of one island have reported dead turtles in the area, although Yusen Hardiman, head of the region’s environment department, said it was not yet clear if it was a result of ingesting rubbish.

A sperm whale was found dead last week in a marine park off Sulawesi island with 115 plastic cups and 25 plastic bags in its stomach.

Indonesia’s marine waste problem has become so bad that officials last year declared a “garbage emergency” after a stretch of coast in Bali was swamped with rubbish.

Some 264 sanitation officers are involved in the ongoing clean-up of the Thousand Islands, while 13 boats regularly patrol trash-choked areas of the archipelago with another 10 set to be added to the fleet next year.

Most of the rubbish clogging the chain of islands is from elsewhere, flushed into the ocean by bulging rivers or swirling currents during the monsoon season, Hardiman said in a statement late Thursday. AFP

Jailbreak leaves 90 inmates on the run PREMIERE. Dick Van

Dyke and Emily Blunt attend the premiere Of Disney’s ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ at El Capitan Theater on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Rich Fury/ Getty Images/AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate Nos. 1549, 1648, 1713 and 1830 of UNIVERSAL MOTORS CORPORATION issued in the name of Mr. Christopher Augusto T. Lee for One Hundred TwentyThree (123) common shares of stock has been reported lost and the holder of the said shares have applied to the Company to issue duplicate share certificates.

Any person who has a claim in respect of said shares should lodge the claims or inform the Company at its registered address within one (1) year from the last publication of this notice. If no claims/ objections are received during this period, the Company shall be free to issue duplicate share certificate (MS-NOV. 17, 24 & DEC. 1, 2018)

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia―A jailbreak in western Indonesia has left 90 inmates on the run after they escaped by breaking down fences when they were supposed to be at a prayer gathering, an official said on Friday.

The prisoners fled from the prison in Banda Aceh on Thursday night, although some were quickly recaptured.

“There were 726 inmates at the time, 113 of them ran away. We have recaptured 23 of them but are still searching for the other escapees,” justice ministry spokesman Ade Kusmanto said.

The inmates were out of their cells for mass prayers in the Muslim-majority nation, but some took advantage of the situation by breaking the prison’s fence with barbells, Kusmanto said.

Police have launched a massive hunt CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACKsecurity for the escapees and heightened at the prison.

Ten officers were on duty to safeguard the prison when the inmates escaped.

Jailbreaks are not uncommon in Indonesia, where prisoners are often held in poor conditions at overcrowded penitentiaries.

In May last year, more than 400 inmates broke out after mass prayers at an overcrowded prison in Riau province.

One month later, dozens of inmates swam from a flooded Indonesian jail in Sumatra after one of its walls collapsed.

AFP

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Raptors hold off Dubs in duel of NBA titans

Petron guns for sweep of PH Superliga eliminations Games Today

(Caloocan Sports Complex) 12:00 noon – FEU vs CSA 2:00 p.m. – UP vs UST 4:00 p.m. – Petron vs Sta. Lucia 6:00 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Cocolife

PETRON guns for a sweep of the eliminations when it tackles a listless Sta. Lucia side in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Battle kicks off at 4 p.m., with the Blaze Spikers looking to clinch their 10th victory in this women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, Sogo, Senoh, Asics, Mikasa, Mueller, UCPB Gen and Bizooku with Genius Sports as technical partner.

Also seeing action in this tourney that also has ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as broadcast partners are F2 Logistics, who will tighten its hold in the second spot when it clashes with Cocolife at 6 p.m.

In the Collegiate Grand Slam, University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas lock horns for the solo lead when they collide at 2 p.m., while Far Eastern University tackles Colegio San Agustin-Binan in the 12 noon appetizer.

Still, all eyes will be on Petron.

Parading the core of the squad that clinched the Grand Prix title early this year, the Blaze Spikers had a flawless start after racing to nine consecutive victories without any serious trouble.

Although they suffered some minor hiccups in their previous match against rival Foton, they still managed to complete a convincing win in four sets, sparking talks that they are out to duplicate a sweep of this conference three years ago.

But head coach Shaq Delos Santos said that’s the last thing on their minds right now.

“All we want is to finish strong,” said Delos Santos, who was part of the coaching staff when Petron emerged with a 13-0 mark en route to the All-Filipino crown.

“We have to be very careful because as the wins pile up, the pressure intensifies. This is a very competitive league.

Other teams will beat us if we will not be at our best in our next game.”

Interestingly, the mentor responsible for Petron’s historic sweep will be calling the shots for the Lady Realtors.

Lady Realtors’ head coach George Pascua said they are coming in with no pressure so they will play their hearts out despite missing the services of Filipino-American MJ Philips and Chin Basas.

“We will fight until the very end,” said Pascua, whose wards nearly pulled off the impossible when they threatened Petron in their previous match last week. “It’s not yet over for us. We will do everything to pull off an upset.”

Arnis official questions group’s expulsion from POC membership ARNIS Philippines Inc. president Raymond Velayo vowed to challenge the Philippine Olympic Committee leadership and continue his fight for due process.

In a recent ARPI press conference held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City, Velayo, with his board of directors, cited Section 6 of the POC by-laws and questioned their expulsion from the Olympic family.

During the POC General Assembly last Nov. 22 in Pasig City, ARPI was expelled from the group.

Velayo said membership of the NSA in the POC shall cease upon disbandment of the NSA and expulsion for non-payment of annual subscription for three consecutive years, expulsion of the NSA by its international federation or infringement of the POC by-laws and Olympic charter.

“Based on Section 6, there is no valid reason to remove us and there is no basis for the revocation,” Velayo said.

He added that no reason was even given to ARPI in their removal from the group.

“They said the General Assembly voted 39 of 43 against us. How can it be when there were only 25 voting members present in the GA,” Velayo asked.

ARPI, Velayo said, will also appeal to International Olympic Committee and the sport’s International Federation.

Toronto Raptors guard Kawhi Leonard (2) drives past Golden State Warriors defender Klay Thompson during their game won by the Raptors. AFP

Boxing on ropes as IOC weighs its Olympic future

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OKYO, Japan—Boxing was fighting for its Olympic future Friday as top officials decide whether to punish the sport’s governing body, which is on the ropes over finances, judging and its controversial leader.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made clear that boxing’s future at the Tokyo 2020 Games could be facing a knockout blow amid serious concerns over governance at the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Boxing already incurred the IOC’s wrath at the last Games in Rio, when 36 officials and referees were suspended amid allegations of bout fixing.

And relations have not been improved by the election earlier this month of Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov, who has been linked to organized crime by the US Treasury Department. Rakhimov strenuously denies the allegations.

President Thomas Bach confirmed Thursday the IOC’s Executive Board would examine a report by AIBA on how

they had cleaned up their act.

But Bach said earlier this year that a previous report in April “lacks execution and substance in some areas.”

Bach has also stressed that he will not allow competitors to suffer from the “bad behavior of some officials,” suggesting the IOC is not ready to completely throw in the towel on the boxing competition at Tokyo 2020.

“Irrespective of the decision taken... we will make the necessary efforts to ensure that athletes have the possibility to pursue their Olympic journey,” said Bach.

IOC officials are expected to reveal any decisions made at a news conference later Friday.

‘Turn the page’ The AIBA has insisted in statements released in the run-up to the Tokyo meet-

ing that it has made the necessary improvements.

It said a new judging system brought in after the Rio scandal had been “positively received by athletes and technical officials alike.”

The association also said that it had restored its finances to a healthy level and implemented “stringent” new controls to turn the page on previous mismanagement.

“The fear of going bankrupt due to past financial mismanagement is now far behind us,” said Rakhimov in a statement released on Thursday.

“It is time to turn the page and look further to the development of boxing worldwide,” added the 67-year-old.

AIBA has implemented a “significant number of changes” to improve accountability and financial controls, the association stressed.

Earlier this month, Rakhimov insisted that boxing had “exceeded” the governance requirements that threaten its future at the Games. AFP

Woods, Discovery’s GOLFTV announce pact IN A major development as part of the strategic partnership between Discovery, Inc. and the PGA TOUR, GOLFTV today announced an exclusive multi-year global content partnership with 80-time PGA TOUR winner and 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods.

Starting in January 2019, GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, the new global live and on-demand video streaming service jointly developed by Discovery and the TOUR, will collaborate with Woods on a wide range of programming, content creation and storytelling opportunities that will offer fans an authentic and regular look into the life, mind and performance of the game’s ultimate icon.

The GOLFTV partnership will reveal Woods as fans have never seen him before, providing an unparalleled opportunity to get close to Woods’ practice routines, preparation and life on the road through a variety of programming showcased exclusively on GOLFTV. “I’ve been watching Discovery and David Zaslav build up a global sports platform with Eurosport, the Olympics and the launch of GOLFTV with us at the PGA TOUR, so I think they’re the perfect partner to help grow the game. They’re global, they get sports and know how to build new, younger and big audiences. It’s a perfect fit and I’m so excited to be a real partner with the Discovery Sports team,” said Woods.

“I love the vision of GOLFTV and the am-

bition for it to become the premier destination for golf entertainment worldwide. To have my own platform to communicate is the culmination of a lot of hard work from my team and the team at Discovery. We’re going to build content for everyone, whether you’ve been playing golf for a long time or just starting out. I’ll be sharing stories and giving insight into my approach that

Woods

has never been seen before. This is such an exciting time for golf and for me, so to be part of the vision to grow the game all around the world is fantastic. I can’t wait to share my knowledge on GOLFTV,” he said.

“I want to talk to golf fans and golfers everywhere, directly, and straight from me.

That’s important to me. Talking about what we care about: what’s happening on the course, how to play better, how can I shoot lower scores tomorrow, how can I beat my friends? David explained how GOLFTV is for the fans and the players, a single place they’ll all want to go, and he’s building something everyone will want,” Woods remarked.

Among the plans, Woods and GOLFTV are collaborating to develop: Weekly practice and instructional videos to improve your game; Exclusive access into Tiger’s preparation routines; Behind-the-scenes access before and after PGA TOUR rounds; Unique and exclusive post-round commentary.

“Getting the chance to do instruction is exciting. I’ve always been focused on my own game and this experience can help players everywhere. Whether you’re a long-time player or a beginner, there are some things that help us all play better. It’s one way I want to give back to people who love the game like I do. If I can help the next generation enjoy the game more and play better, that’s pretty special,” Woods concluded.

LOS ANGELES, United States—The Toronto Raptors withstood a 51-point performance from Kevin Durant to beat two-time defending champions Golden State 131-128 in overtime Thursday in a game billed as a possible NBA Finals preview.

Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points and Pascal Siakam added a career high 26 for the Raptors, who notched a seventh straight victory to improve their league-leading record to 19-4 in front of a jubilant home crowd.

The Warriors, playing without injured stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, fell to 15-8 as they endured their fifth straight road defeat.

Durant, who also grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out six assists, notched his third straight game of at least 40 points—a first in his career.

Klay Thompson added 23 points and Jonas Jerebko produced 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Warriors erased a doubledigit deficit only to come up short.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook celebrated another triple-double milestone and an NBA victory Wednesday, while Houston star James Harden’s first triple-double of the season spelled only frustration in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Westbrook’s 23 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists propelled the Thunder to a 100-83 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With the 107th triple-double of his career Westbrook tied for third on the all-time list with Jason Kidd, the former Dallas Mavericks star who needed 1,247 games to reach 107 while Westbrook reached the mark in just 760 games.

Westbrook, who seized the singleseason record for triple-doubles from Oscar Robertson with 42 in the 201617 campaign, remains a long way from Robertson’s record career total of 181.

Former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson is second on the list with 138.

Westbrook said he continues to relish every opportunity to chase the greats who came before him, saying the tripledoubles—the achievement of doubledigit totals in three key statistical categories—are something to celebrate “as long as we win.”

For Harden, a superb all-around effort of 25 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds – along with six steals – wasn’t enough in a 128-108 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas took full advantage of the injury absence of Houston point guard Chris Paul, leading by as many as 21 in the third quarter before the Rockets cut the deficit to five late in the period.

Dallas, who had 20 points each from rookie Luka Doncic and reserve Devin Harris, opened the fourth quarter on a 10-2 scoring run to regain full control. AFP

Sportswriter’s father dies JOSE Mendiola Cordero of Tarlac City, father of The STAR senior sportswriter Abac Cordero, passed away yesterday morning due to illness.

He was 83.

He is survived by his family, including his children Vicente, Marida, Marijen and Enrico, in-laws Jean and Anne, grandchildren Diego, Domino, Tasha and Belle, siblings and other relatives.

Born on Feb. 23, 1935, Cordero spent his life in Tarlac City and in Quezon City. He lived and worked in New York City for 10 years until 1999.

His wife, Teresita Sta. Maria, passed away in 2006.

Internment is set Sunday.

Super seniors’ division premiere in 69th Fil-Am invitational golf tourney BAGUIO CITY—After the ceremonial tee at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club golf courses, the stage is now set for the premiere of the Super Seniors’—the newest division in the Fil-Am Invitational golf tournament today.

Four teams will see action in the newest division for 70 years and older of the world’s biggest and oldest golf tournament for amateurs presented by San Miguel.

Co-host CJH will stage a team against Golf F—Veterans, Residences of Brent and Team Hollywood II in the mad scramble for the distinction of being the first super senior champion.

Also seeing action on day one are Seniors A, C and D and Regulars G, while

the Seniors’ Championship, Seniors B and Regulars F will debut on Sunday, December 2.

Fil division teams will tee off at the par 61 BCC link, while the Am division parbusters see action at the longer par 68 CJH course.

Co-host BCC will be up against seven other teams, along with main sponsor San Miguel Corporation, Baylor Pitt, Dugong Bughaw, Fil Golfers of Honolulu, Forest Hills, Hotel Bahia and Nueva Ecija Seniors in Fil A action.

A-1 Driving, B & Y Utopia, Magiting 83, Mamala Bay,. Moto, Team Las Vegas Team NA Koa and Teerifics are bunched in Am A. Caliphil Hawaii leads 10 other teams

in Senior Fil C with Eaglemasters, Guam Kool Swingers, LMG Construction of Nueva Ecija, Mighty Sandigans, Northwoods Hard Rock, Pines Golf of California, Residences at Brent, Ropali-Isabela, Social Fil-Am Seniors and VFW Post 124.

Senior AM C will have BCC, Aloha, Davao Eaglemasters, Fil-Am Survivors, Guam Seniors, Hillsiders Baguio, Korea Morning Calm, Macquarie Links Sudney, Rviera Golf, Sandigan 82 and Seattle Fil- Am. Senior Fil D will have Aina, Eastridge, Fil-Can, Glutamex Men Silverback, Horizon Golf Association, IGC Seniors, Rural Bankers , Silicon Valley Golfers Link Club, Team City Vallejo, Team Hollywood II, TNT Seniors and Wapinoy.

Seeing action in Senior Am D are Cali-

phil Hawaii, Club Intramuros Senior Golfers Association, EK Amigos, Fil-Am Golf of Florida, Filgolfers of Honolulu, Golf F-Veterans, Green Canyon, ICSI/TMI, Isabela Thunders, Seoul Survivors, Silicon Valley Golfers Link Club and Team Mcder.

Regular Fil G teams are Baguio Blue Blood, BIBAK New York, Eaglemasters, EK Amigos, IGC -Travellers, NBI Golf Team 157 - CAR, Sarap Buhay Gang and Team Jasper.

Am G will have Club Intramuros GC A, IGC-Tugegarao, NBI Team 157-CAR, Razcals II, Sandigan Golfers, Sarap Buhay Gang, Team Foretee, The Miners, Washington State Fil-Am. Yokosuka Rising Sun, Team Kumpadres I and FilAm Chicago.

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

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

Abaring tops PGT Q-School; 4 amateurs earn cards RICHARD Abaring toughened up at the backside and held off a rallying Marvin Dumandan, carding an even par 72 to clinch the low medal honors in wire-to-wire fashion in the 2019 PGT Qualifying School at Spendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas yesterday.

Abaring hit a clutch birdie on No. 15 to salvage a closing 37-35 card for a 285 total, fending off Dumandan, who battled back from seven strokes down to within two after No. 13 but ran out of holes and ended up second at 287 after a tournament-best 67 in the four-day elims for Filipino players.

Orlan Sumcad placed third with a 289 after a 70 while Rupert Zaragosa will finally leave the amateur ranks to compete with the big guns after finishing fourth at 293 after a 74.

Three other amateurs also made it to the big league, including Noel Langamin, who tied for 12th at 300 with Joseph Suarez (76) and Charles Hong (80); Mel Cubillo, who wound up 20th at 305 after a 79; and Kuresh Samanodi, who shared 36th place at 315 with Lucio Osabel (78) and Nelson Huerva (80).

The top 51 players earned their Category 5 cards for next year’s Philippine Golf Tour with Belem Arancon, Miko Alejandro and Arnel Enema barely making it at 322 after an 82, 83 and 88, respectively.

The rest of the 68-player field settled for Category 7 status in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Completing the Top 10 finishers are Rey Pagunsan (71), Jet Mathay (74), Francis Morilla (77) and Efren Robles Jr. (78), who pooled identical 297s, and Benjie Magada (72), Chris delos Santos (75) and Erwin Arcillas (75), who assembled similar 299s.

Others who regained or earned their cards were Cookie La’O, Alfedo Repato Jr., Jun Bernis, Omar Dungca, Jeffrey Pito-on, Elmer Saban, Santiago Gabo, Allan, Remata, Darren Saqui, Jama Reyes, Kris Etter, Joeleo Torrecampo, Ricky delos Santos, Jan Tambogon, Godofredo Sinfuego, Enrico Gallardo, Magno Arancon, Carlos Packing, JR Salahog, Jelbert Gamolo;

Asian eSports to pick games at 2019 SEAG THE Asian esports Federation will call the shots in organizing and deciding which video games will played in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

SEA Games Federation council executive committee chairman Celso Dayrit said this after esports was approved as a regular medal event in the biennial meet.

“The SEA Games Federation Council will recognize the AESF as the federation for the sport for the SEA Games, the Asian Games, and in other regional meets,” Dayrit said.

Dayrit said this just as Philippine SEA Games One Year Countdown Celebration began last night at the Bayanihan Park, Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga.

A time honored tradition of the SEA Games, the Philippines as host country led the Countdown Celebration to announce the start of a series of activities, functions and gatherings leading up to the Opening of the 30th SEA Games in 2019.

The Hong Kong-based AESF is headed by Kenneth Fok, and was behind the successful staging of esports as demonstration event in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 18th Asian Games.

Six medals will be at stake for esports, or video gaming, next year.

The AESF will determine which games will be played and will submit their recommendations by Dec. 15, according to Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano.

In the absence of a national sports Association in e-sports in the country, Cayetano and Phisgoc executive Ramon Suzara led the formation of an ad-hoc committee to oversee the preparation and organization of an e-games event in the country. Peter Atencio

Sports Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin (left) will lead the Blue Eagles against coach Bo Perasol and the UP Fighting Maroons today at the Mall of Asia Arena. Lino Santos/Joaqui Flores

‘Battle of Katipunan’ starts

By Peter Atencio

A

T FIRST glance, the “Battle of Katipunan” that’s about to take place does not seem to be much of a rivalry at all.

The defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles have the odds stacked in their favor when they clash with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 3:30 p.m. today in Game 1 of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball best-of-three finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fighting Maroons have won over the Blue Eagles just three times in a span of 15 years and UP may not be able to post even one win in their best-of-three championship showdown.

Coach Sandy Arespacochaga, speaking on behalf of Tab Baldwin, said they are ready to elevate their game against UP to another level, given the huge support that UP fans give the Fighting Maroons.

“That’s the right kind of approach that we want our players to take, try to elevate their game and not be distracted by any physical contact or pain they experience during the game,” said Arespacochaga.

But the Fighting Maroons will be a driven team going into Game 1, especially after their 89-87 overtime triumph in their Final Four rubber match with the Adamson Falcons last Wednesday.

“It gives us a semblance of confidence despite what we have, despite the mismatches and those we experienced,” said Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol.

Teammates Bright Akhuetie, Paul Desiderio and Juan Gomez de Liano are expected to once again step up and come out fighting to move closer to UP’s first UAAP crown in 32 years.

And that’s even if UP is considered as

Games Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena) 11 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Women Finals) 3:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU or UP (Men Finals)

the underdogs in the Battle of Katipunan, which is a clash for the crown among neighboring schools in Quezon City.

This season, UP has not won against the Ateneo.

In the first round, the Blue Eagles avenged their opening day loss to Adamson by beating the Maroons, 87-79 on September 12. Blue Eales Thirdy Ravena, Anton Asistio, and Angelo Kouame made their presence felt.

In the second round, the Blue Eagles were without the Nieto twins: Matt and Mike, but Ateneo still demolished UP, 83-66, last October 14, with Tyler Tio and Raffy Verano joining Ravena in coming up with the numbers.

And the last time UP came up with victory over Ateneo was two years ago when Gelo Vito knocked down a triple with 16.4 seconds for a 56-52 triumph on October 8, 2016.

Boxer Wilder ready to face Tyson’s fury LOS ANGELES, United States—Deontay Wilder will aim to rekindle America’s love affair with heavyweight boxing on Saturday when he faces Britain’s Tyson Fury in a high-stakes showdown of undefeated fighters.

As the reigning World Boxing Council champion, Wilder is the latest custodian of a belt which has been worn by some of the heavyweight division’s most iconic names stretching back over more than 50 years.

Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson head the who’s who of Wilder’s predecessors, evoking an era when heavyweight boxing was an integral part of the US sporting landscape.

Yet as Wilder prepares for the eighth defense of a title he has held since 2015, he remains a virtual unknown.

At the age of 33, Wilder has compiled an impressive record which includes 40 victories, no defeats, with 39 knockouts.

But his unblemished record and undeniable punching power have yet to capture the imagination of American sports fans.

Even now, three years into his reign as champion, he is sometimes mistaken for NBA superstar LeBron James.

That could change on Saturday when the 6ft 7in Wilder faces off against Fury, the trash-talking “Gypsy King” who is also unbeaten, with 27 wins from 27

fights, 19 inside the distance.

For Wilder, Saturday’s fight at the Staples Center is an opportunity to announce himself to a significant audience.

It is the first time he is the feature attraction on a pay-per-view television card. An explosive display against Fury

will burnish his box-office appeal.

‘The baddest man’ “America has a mighty man in me,” Wilder boasted at an ill-tempered press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “America has the baddest man on the planet. AFP

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (center) meets with firefighters at the Los Angeles County Fire Department Headquarters on November 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Creamline, Perlas meet separate foes Games today (Final Four) 2 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs Ateneo-Motolite 4 p.m. – Creamline vs PetroGazz

POWERHOUSE Creamline and a fired-up BanKo-Perlas side brace for PetroGazz and Ateneo fightback but remain confident of finishing off their respective rivals in the Final Four in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Open Conference crown at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today, Saturday.

The Cool Smashers shrugged off an opening set defeat and crushed the PetroGazz Angels in the next three frames to fashion out a 26-28, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 victory in the opener of their best-of-three series last Wednesday with the former raring to re-assert their mastery over the latter and move closer to a second straight championship after ruling the Reinforced Conference last July.

Game time is at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. clash between BanKo-Perlas and Ateneo-Motolite with the Perlas Spikers all set to sweep the Lady Eagles, whom they have beaten in three meetings in the season-ending conference of the league organized

by Sports Vision.

The Perlas Spikers actually failed to duplicate their pair of straight-set victories over the Lady Eagles in the elims as the latter sprang back from 0-2 set down to but cracked when the going got tough in the decider, enabling BanKo-Perlas to escape with a 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 1925, 15-6 win and move to a dream finals stint.

And unless PetroGazz and Ateneo come up with antidotes to their respective rivals’ edges in manpower and experience, Creamline and BanKo-Perlas could be on their way to arranging a title playoff starting Dec. 5.

Given their vaunted firepower, the Cool Smashers said they still have to toughen up on net defense and try to minimize their errors, particularly from the service box, to put away the Angels for another crack at the championship.

Carlsen retains world chess crown

World chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway holds up the FIDE world chess championship trophy after beating challenger, US player Fabiano Caruana. AFP

LONDON, United Kingdom—Norwegian chess superstar Magnus Carlsen on Wednesday cemented his reputation as the game’s greatest player after demolishing US hopeful Fabiano Caruana in a winnertake-all world championship decider.

The 27-year-old won three successive rapid-chess tiebreakers in a display of intuition and guile that overwhelmed the 26-year-old American in London.

Carlsen was gracious after his thumping win put an exclamation point on a defensively-minded series that saw the original series of 12 matches played since November 9 end in a dozen draws.

“Fabiano was the strongest opponent I’ve played so far in the world championships,” Carlsen said after his triumph. “It was hard.”

Caruana’s loss will crush American fans who had hoped to see the coveted crown come home for the first time since Bobby Fischer defeated the Soviet Union’s Boris Spassky in a 1972 Cold War-era thriller.

“I had a bad day,” a dejected Caruana said. “I didn’t even put up a fight.”

Vindication The fearless performance will go a long way to cementing Carlsen’s claim to be the best the “King’s Game” has ever seen—a title some still bestowed on Soviet-Russian legend Garry Kasparov.

Kasparov himself appeared in awe of Carlsen’s performance in a rapid-chess format that has seen many grandmasters before him wilt under the mental strain.

“Carlsen’s consistent level of play in rapid chess is phenomenal,” Kasparov tweeted.

“We all play worse as we play faster and faster, but his ratio may be the smallest ever, perhaps only a 15 percent drop off. Huge advantage in this format.”

The games marked a complete departure from the string of regular-series draws that saw both players too fearful of the others’ prowess to mount any risky attacks.

Those tense tugs of war were a testament to the prodigious talent of the up-and-coming American Italian. AFP

Life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @mstandardLIFe

young life

saturday, december 1, 2018

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All the fun Christmas trees in the metro M

ETro Manila is colorful and bright as several giant Christmas were mounted and lighted to kick off the merriest season of the year. Christmas tree lighting has been the tradition of many establishments—malls and hotels—as a way to usher in the holidays. Here are some of the lovely, fun, and unique tree lighting and tree lighting ceremonies we saw, and we think you should, too.

Diamond Hotel’s dreamy Christmas tree

Megaworld chief operating officer Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso and executive vice president and chief strategy officer Kevin L. Tan led the lighting of Uptown Mall’s 40-foot Christmas tree.

Forty-foot Christmas tree and different kinds of Santa Premier shopping mall Uptown Bonifacio ushered in the “Most Festive Christmas Celebration” in the entire Fort Bonifacio when it switched on the lights of its 40-foot Christmas tree beside the musical fountain that performs a choreographed lights and fire show—highlighting the mall’s diverse and dazzling display.

Leading the ceremonial switch-on were Megaworld chief operating officer Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso and executive vice president and chief strategy officer Kevin L. Tan. Hundreds of AFP soldiers led the festivities as they serenaded the crowd with their own renditions of timeless Christmas carols. It was followed

by LED dancers who performed choreographed and themed light shows.

Santas from different cultures—chubby and slender Santas, Santas of different colors and nationalities, and even Santa dogs—also delighted everyone who witnessed the festive showcase.

During the entire Christmas season, visitors of Uptown will experience the light and fire musical fountain in front of the mall as it comes alive nightly every 30 minutes.

From Dec. 15 to 24, there will be traditional Simbang Gabi Masses at the St. Gabriel the Archangel Chapel at the mall’s open deck area. While on weekends, there will be a Christmas Night Market that runs from 5:00 p.m. to midnight at Uptown Parade, as well as a regular Santa and friends meet-and-greet and an indoor Christmas Fair inside the mall.

Woody, Lightning McQueen, and Sully at BGC

Barrel tree The world’s top-selling American whiskey brand, Jack Daniel’s proves that “It’s not what’s under the tree that matters, it’s who’s around it,” when it lighted its iconic Holiday Barrel Tree at C1 Park, 5th Avenue, in High Street Central Square, Bonifacio Global City.

The Holiday Barrel Tree is made from Jack Daniel’s very own oak barrels, mounted in major cosmopolitan areas across the globe. one hundred twenty-two barrels were repurposed into this special structure.

The highly anticipated global tradition marked its debut in the Philippines in 2014 when two Holiday Barrel Trees were raised in two venues in Metro Manila, Fuerte Circle in Eastwood City and at The Fort Plaza in Bonifacio Global City. The structures were touted as the first Holiday Barrel Tree in Southeast Asia, a feat that recognizes the top whiskey company’s growing presence in the country.

VIPs, media personalities, and social media influencers attended the festivity which coincided with the launch of Bar No.7, Jack Daniel’s first pop-up bar in Metro Manila that serves gourmet holiday drinks especially created by Curator’s senior bartender and mixologist, Giann Divino.

Dreamy Christmas tree

Diamond Hotel Philippines officially marked the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year by lighting up its magical and dreamy Christmas tree decked out in festive decorations accentuated by blush, red, and golden hues.

Among the highlights of the event were the remarkable performances of Bayanihan Folk Dance Company, the harmonious musical regale of the Pansol Choir, and the gift of joy of Santa Claus.

As part of the annual tradition of giving back to the community, the hotel has chosen Kanlungan ni Maria to be its official charity beneficiary. Kanlungan ni Maria is a non-stock, non-profit organization with a mission to provide adequate and sufficient home care, basic and medical needs for the abandoned, sick, and homeless elderly.

Jack Daniel’s Holiday Barrel Tree

Disney-Pixar characters have come to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for the “Pixar Playtown” Christmas.

The key centerpiece of the Pixar Playtown yuletide extravaganza is the spectacular 50-foot Christmas tree along 7th Avenue. Here, Sheriff Woody and his frenemy, space ranger Buzz Lightyear, unbox the true magic of Christmas—that realizing family and friends are just the absolute best. over at 26th Avenue corner 5th is furry, blue Sulley with little Mike and his single big eyeball.

At 5th Avenue corner McKinley Parkway, as well as other locations, chance upon the eternally optimistic Nemo and his pal Dory. In the middle of Bonifacio High Street, you’ll find a life-size Lightning McQueen, the swaggering but lovable red racing automobile from Cars.

Aside from fun displays, a Sight and Sound Spectacle featuring enchanting Christmas lights dancing to well-loved Disney soundtracks are happening at Bonifacio High Street Park today until Jan. 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Travel to a world of fun and festivities at BGC Passionfest today until Dec. 2. Shop for goods at the Holiday Fair in High Street Central on Dec. 15-16, or join the Disney Quiz Night on Dec. 15, or meet Santa and tell him your wish every Sunday of December at 4:00 p.m. at one Bonifacio High Street.

Woody stands beside the 50-foot Christmas tree.

Nightly Thanksgiving Mass at 6:30 p.m. are happening on Dec. 16-25 at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

Children of Riversprings School join the ceremonial switch-on of Marco Polo Ortigas’ Christmas tree.

Whimsical winter wonderland Marco Polo ortigas unlocked the doors to Winterland with its ceremonial tree lighting.

This year’s theme comes from the classic Lewis Caroll tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

During the event, guests were welcomed by the voices of a choir group with a set of Christmas carols. Afterwards, hotel general manager Frank reichenbach welcomed corporate clients, in-house guests, and media partners.

“We are pleased to present how the world can and is indeed more vibrant, enchanting, and delightful when viewed through the eyes of innocence. It is by revelling in childlike wonder, like Alice did in the

beloved children’s story, that we may begin fully embracing what this season means for all of us,” said reichenbach.

The children of riversprings School were gathered to light up the 25-foot Christmas tree together with the owning company, Xin Tian Ti. The Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award Winner also announced the third year of the Wings of Hope program. This year, guests are encouraged to adopt an eagle stuffed toy for a minimal fee of P650. Proceeds will go to Philippine Eagle Foundation’s efforts in preserving and looking after the national bird.

Downy’s giant hug-activated, scented tree.

Hug under the Christmas tree A unique, hug-activated Downy scented Christmas tree stands majestically at Eastwood Mall’s open park in Quezon City in a bid to let people discover the power of hugs.

Decked with red LED lights, the sea of red roses inside the 50-foot Scented Christmas Tree lights up when people inside hug each other inside the perfume-scented chamber.

The main inspiration of this Christmas tree takes from the luxurious fragrance of Downy. It takes essence from the smell of an endless field of flowers, to which is exactly what this tree is made of, and the opulent feel of velvet, a fabric which embodies softness, both wonderful elements to inspire a loving, hugging emotion.

Leading the ceremony was Miss Universe 2015 and hug ambassador Pia Wurtzbach.

Life

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saturday, december 1, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Video captures tender parent-child bonding

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here’S nothing quite like the joy-filled smiles of children showered by their parents with love and affection.

In a new video, well-loved fast food joint Jollibee presents the small, tender moments shared between parents and their children every day.

Filled with slices of daily life that many modern Filipino parents can relate to, this new video’s sweet-sarap moments are complemented by a classic favorite that has captured the hearts of Pinoy kids of different generations: Jolly Spaghetti.

It shows parents making the most of the time they spend with their children by making everyday activities such as playtime, snack time, bath time, and bedtime more fun and memorable.

“The latest Jolly Spaghetti video is our tribute to Filipino parents who tirelessly find ways to connect and bond with their children, even in the smallest ways like sharing their favorite sweet-sarap treat,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee assistant vice president for marketing - Flagship Category.

She added, “Childhood always goes by so fast and for parents, it’s important to enjoy and cherish every moment with our children.”

A pioneering fast food offering that perfectly captures the Filipino palate, Jolly Spaghetti boasts a unique sweet-tasting sauce, meaty hotdog slices, and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese on top of freshly prepared noodles “We at Jollibee hope that this video inspires parents to make even the simplest dayto-day activities, such as enjoying a common favorite like Jolly Spaghetti, a means to connect with their kids for that bonding na walang kasing-sarap,” concluded Capati.

Aside from the video, Jollibee recently hosted a “Sweet-Sarap Bonding Time” for parents and kids to re-launch its ongoing advocacy of giving unwavering love and spending quality time with kids during their formative years. right before the parent and kid guests gath-ered to play, program host Gelli Victor chatted icks, Tina Lata, with parent panelists Melissa ricks, Japoy Lizardo, and Delamar Arias about their own parenting tips and experiences.

Go to Jollibee Philippines’ Facebook or YouTube pages to watch the video.

Jollibee’s latest video presents the small, tender moments shared between parents and their young children.

The video features parents and their children enjoying Jolly Spaghetti.

Samsung launches coding program for kids

Don’t be afraid to wear your gym clothes outside

Pair a solid colored pants with a solid colored top to achieve color blocking style.

3 holiday athleisure OOTD ideas There are so much going on during the holiday season, what with holiday shopping, reunions, and Christmas parties. Despite the busy days ahead, you‘ll wanna make sure that your OOTD is still on point.

If you want to look on-trend and be comfortable at the same time as you attend parties and finish your shopping, your best bet is to go with the athleisure look.

Skechers rounded up some fresh tips on how to style up your athleisure game this holiday season based on the hottest trends out there.

a pair of Skechers Sport GOrun or BOBS Squad Double Dare—chic from the gym to the streets, both are made from lightweight, flexible materials to keep you looking and feeling awesome.

Melissa Ricks with daughter Kiera (left) and Marco Alcaraz with son Noah (right) at the SweetSarap Bonding Time event.

‘90s. Take advantage of the resurgence of ‘90s trends, get that vintage stuff out of the closet and wear it loud and proud.

These athletic-inspired items are best paired with equally sporty shoes. For the gents, go for the Skechers elite Flex hartnell. The ladies, on the other hand, can choose the BOBS Sport Squad that are minimalist enough to pair easily with a variety pieces.

Take those gym clothes outside

The easiest way to style up and add interest to your athletic wear is to mix and match it with your favorite casual pieces. For example, you can pair Do some color your track pants or leggings with blocking One thing that dressier items such you should rememas a midriff-baring ber about color top for the ladies, blocking is that and a denim jacket you should never for the gents. overdo it. Select Maintain the two to three hues Take advantage of the resurgence of ‘90s trends by wearing windbreakers, denim tops, and athleisure vibe by that you’ll work on sweatshirts. wearing either a and that’s it. pair of sleek GOBest to pick run Mojo or the solid colored track pants to make Throw on some knitted elite Flex hartnell. Both pairs you look sporty in a snap. Pair with feature a well-cushioned, lightweight feel throwback pieces the pants a solid colored top as well.

Nothing says retro sport style quite like that will take you from a quick cardio sesMake the look sportier by donning the windbreakers and sweatshirts from the sion to chill dinner to a night of dancing.

KIDS take on the future with Samsung electronics Philippines Corp.’s first junior coding boot camp, dubbed Coding for Kids.

Committed to increase access to education by offering ICT-enabled education to vulnerable groups, Samsung kicked off its first lecture for the pioneering class of Grade 5 students of eM’s Signal Village elementary School in Taguig City.

The six-month learning program aims to make computer science education more accessible to the Filipino youth. To make this possible, Samsung has partnered with Code.org, a nonprofit digital educational platform dedicated to expanding access to computer science schools and increasing participation from underrepresented sectors.

“We are honored to be back here after two years and meet the pioneering batch of Samsung Junior Coders as we officially launch our first Coding for Kids program in the Philippines,” said Kevin Lee, country managing director of Samsung Philippines.

Lee added, “As the world leader in consumer technology, we can help enable future innovators and engineers by providing them with resources they need to enhance their access to computer science education.”

Samsung executives, Department of education officials, and Taguig

Grade 5 student of EM’s Signal Village Elementary School in Taguig City learn about coding with the help of Samsung’s first junior coding boot camp.

city officials led by Mayor Laarni Cayetano were on hand for the ribbon-cutting and Memorandum of Agreement signing.

Part of a global initiative, Coding for Kids will be soon rolled out across the country with hopes to bolster the digital skills program and improve its content.

Visit samsung.com/ph for more details on the program.

The six-month learning program aims to make computer science education more accessible to Filipino youth.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Kathryn Bernardo Student beneficiaries of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya pays tribute to typhoon survivors Five years after Typhoon Yolanda, seven survivors from different walks of life share their stories of hope in a music video released by ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. (ALKFI). These survivors helped rebuild the communities devastated by the deadly super typhoon.

The individuals seen in the video – a baker, a tour guide, a teacher, a sanitation inspector, a midwife, a student, and a volunteer – rallied their communities to be stronger in the aftermath of the devastation. They were among those that took the lead in maximizing various new programs in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, bakeries, healthcare, health services, and more, which directly benefited more than 45,000 individuals across the region.

The video, which featured the song “Pagka’t Nariyan Ka” by Star Music artist Sam Mangubat, was posted on the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya YouTube page on Nov. 8, the anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda. Seen in the video are Imelda Padrigano, a baker from Salcedo, Eastern Samar; Fidelina Villagracia, a 70-year-old mother and tour guide in San Juan by the Bay, Sta. Rita, Samar; Rotchie Castil, a teacher and social media manager from Sabang, Daguitan, who helps his community by publicizing their various tourism efforts online, and Imelda Eusebio, a health and sanitation officer from Dagami, Leyte who worked to help provide clean and accessible water to her community.

Joining them are Fe Bantigue, a midwife from Jiabong Samar who walked three hours to and from work daily before new health centers were built in remote barangays; Susan Austero, a woman who achieved her dreams of working in the food industry thanks to new educational programs, and Susan Cadaro, a Typhoon Yolanda evacueeturned -volunteer who found her vocation in helping fellow evacuees.

These survivors are the direct beneficiaries of the projects of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya. Through its program Operation Sagip (formerly known as Sagip Kapamilya), ALKFI has reached 3.6 million survivors through immediate relief assistance.

Operation Sagip also collaborated with Energy Development Corporation to build multi – purpose classrooms that can serve as evacuation centers during calamities. In collaboration with and through the free design and services provided by Cosculluela Architects, Casas Architects and Sy^2 Engineers, a total of 135 classrooms that can withstand 300 kph winds and 7.2 earthquake magnitude were constructed in the provinces of Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Palawan and Panay Islands which consist of Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Capiz. These classrooms served 6,075 students.

A total of 52,246 students and 1,946 teachers also benefited through educational soft programs and provision of senior high equipment.

Meanwhile, a total of 45,203 individuals benefited from the different livelihood programs ofALKFI’s environment arm Bantay Kalikasan, such as distribution of fishing boats; funding the tikog weavers in Basey, Samar and; development of San Jose Skimboarding Camp, Sohoton Cave in Basey Samar, Tangke Lagoon and Bancal Fish Sanctuary in Carles Iloilo as ecotourism sites.

To officially conclude the intervention, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapami-

lya is set to launch four Yolanda Legacy Projects or the multipurpose, typhoon and calamity-resilient buildings with eight classrooms in Ormoc and Tacloban, Leyte, Guiuan in Samar and in Concepcion, Iloilo that will directly benefit 24,292 individuals.

The various projects are funded through more than P1 billion in donations from various companies, organizations, and individuals following Typhoon Yolanda. *** Entertainment editors mark 3rd anniversary with elderlies Members of the three-year old editors’ organization, the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) marked the founding of the organization with an outreach activity at the Anawim Home for the Abandoned and Rejected Elderlies in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal Sunday.

Anawim has been established through the efforts of Catholic lay preacher and minister Bro. Bo Sanchez.

Former Manila Chronicle entertainment editor who also edited the paper’s tabloid publication Bongga before moving on to another career, the latest of which before he decided to join other elderlies in the facility was as editor at the Presidential Press Office during the term of Pres. Noynoy Aquino.

The one-time entertainment journalist’s eyes lighted up to see his fellow writers in the facility on a Sunday morning.

The group, with the help of friends like Claire de Leon Papa of UNILAB, Manila Water (donated bottled water – Healthy Family), Kamuning Bakery and Café’s Wilson Lee Flores (sent enough bread for the residents), Perci Intalan of IdeaFirst Company, Aileen Go of Megasoft, Rei Tan of BeauteDerm and her publicist Chuck Gomez – donated medicines and other stuff the residents need.

Lunch for the elderlies was also served. Before that, the editors engaged the elderlies in a sing-along and dancing to make their Sunday morning extraordinary. * * * Things you learn in ‘I-Bilib’ Learning about science is fun in IBilib featuring Street Genius. This Sunday, learn and have fun together with award-winning host Chris Tiu, the wacky duo of James & Rodfil of Moymoy Palaboy, and Kapuso star Vaness Del Moral.

What will happen if a zinc-plated copper bracelet is exposed to the fire?

A Prince Rupert’s Drop is a tadpoleshaped piece of glass… what can shatter it to pieces?

Discover the amazing answers with the help of Street Genius in the Hot Bracelet Experiment and Prince Rupert’s Drop Experiment.

How much water can paper carry? Discover the answer in the Water Weight Experiment.

What can cause a t-shirt to show turn blue when exposed to ice? Find out in the Thermochromic T-Shirt Experiment.

Join James and Roadfill as they have fun with Kapuso stars to make a smoking big toy, The Bilibabol Megavortex.

For Huling Hirit, Vaness starts off the season if giving by showing us how to make a Pasta Christmas Card.

Remember, make your Sunday mornings more exciting and educational with I-Bilib.

A

embraces independence in new film project

FTER giving an exceptional performance in The Hows of Us, which is currently the highestgrossing Filipino film of all time, Kathryn Bernardo continues to step up by venturing into new and more mature phase of her career as a certified drama actress.

The young Box Office Queen is flying solo on her concluding project for her fruitful 2018. This time, she is teaming up with well-regarded actors Richard Gomez and Sharon Cuneta in the latest family drama opus Three Words to Forever, helmed by blockbuster director Cathy GarciaMolina.

After breathing life to George in the globally successful romance film The Hows of Us, Kathryn now plays the role of Tin, the youngest among the Andrada family who is very much eager to start the chapter of her life with the love of her life. What Tin didn’t know is that her “ideal couples” are already falling apart and her idea of forever is nothing but a dream.

“Ang hirap kasi sobra akong na-attach ako kay George kaya ang hirap kumawala sakanya. Kinailangan kong ibahin ang pagsasalita at iyak ko kaya si Direk Cathy, yun ang palagi naming binabantayan na kailangan yung mannerisms kailangan walang bahid ni George at yun ang pinakamahirap,” Kathryn shared.

While she initially had to adjust to working without her perennial leading man Daniel Padilla, Kathryn embraced the independence that this project has allowed her to enjoy.

“Mahirap kung wala si DJ pero kailangan kong gawin at kinaya ko naman. Kasi I realized hindi lahat ng gagawin mo dapat nasa comfort zone ka, sometimes you have to get out of it,” she said nothing that this film has gratefully allowed her to become very independent.

But more than the experience, Kathryn also appreciates the lessons that making the film has shown her offcam, especially from her seasoned co-stars.

“Of course it was different at first pero makikita mo kung bakit sila naging ganon kalalaking stars. So it’s really different when you witness it first hand. Kung paano si Tito Richard sa mga tao, kung paano si Tita Sharon sa mga co-actors niya na tini-treat niya as family talaga. Happy ako na nawitness ko lahat yun and totoo nga ang sabi nilang lahat kapag nakatrabaho mo sila,” she said.

All of Kathryn’s adjustments and willingness to explore a new facet in her career eventually paid off as she received praises for her exemplary

performance of her character.

Netizens noted how she was able to successfully build up Tin’s frustration and then allow it to explode during the necessary moment. Meanwhile, the others underscored how Kathryn was once again “at her best” all thanks to her sincere and affecting performance.

But the biggest commendation that she received highlighted the fact that she managed to stay at par with Sharon and Richard during their powerful and tear-jerking confrontation scene, which earned a rousing applause from all the moviegoers inside the cinema.

In the end, Kathryn is positive that people would love and learn from Tin as much as she did, especially on the aspect of family, forgiveness and understanding this holiday season.

Three Words to Forever is now showing in cinemas nationwide.

Kathryn Bernardo steps out of her comfort zone in the latest family drama, ‘Three Words to Forever.’

A tale of hope and love in ‘Waves of Life’

Thai actors Urassaya Sperbund and Prin Suparat in a scene from the romantic drama, ‘Waves of Life.’

GMA Heart of Asia brings to Filipino homes one of the most well-loved Lakorns with the launch of Waves of Life, which premiered on Monday, Nov. 26.

The original Thai series showcases that there is more to life than just pain and suffering.

It tells the stories of Gina (Urassaya Sperbund), a hardworking woman, who is a famous model and actress; Alvin (Prin Suparat), a lawyer who lost his fiancée due to a road accident; Nica (Toey Jarinporn Joonkiat), Alvin’s sister who suspects her husband is sleeping with his female actresses; and Lance (Louis Scott), Nica’s husband and Gina’s best friend.

Behind Gina’s bubbly personality is a painful past no one knows of.

Her stepfather tried to take advantage of her but she managed to escape by driving away. Unfortunately, she hit a young woman along the road, who later died at the hospital. The people close to Gina tried to cover it up. However, Alvin who happens to be a lawyer, suspects it was Gina’s fault. He decides to stalk and bother her to find the evidence that will reveal the truth.

In his pursuit for justice, will Alvin discover the truth on the death of his beloved fiancée or will he find something more valuable than revenge?

Don’t miss the newest Lakorn, Waves of Life, weekdays at 10:05 p.m. on GMA Telebabad.

HOOQ is better than ever with Globe At Home

The cast of coming-ofage movie ‘Walwal,’ which now streams on HOOQ.

Globe At Home has committed itself to elevating home entertainment by providing world-class content through their partnerships with top streaming services and their high-speed internet.

In November, new Globe At Home subscribers started getting free six months subscription to HOOQ, which now features a wider collection of local titles ranging from romantic-comedy blockbusters such as Sid & Aya, Walwal, The Breakup List, Never Not Love You, My Ex and Whys, and Forevermore.

The list goes on—from classics to contemporary, from heavy drama to heavy

DIGITAL MEDIA comedy, from TV shows to movies, from indie to mainstream—if it’s a Pinoy favorite, they’re bringing it to you on HOOQ. It’s now so easy to #PlayItRight and stream your fave Pinoy hits from safe and legitimate sources, anytime and anywhere you want.

This promo gift is worth P149 per month, available for two concurrent users, plus a bonus of free monthly rentals for freshly released movies

and access to the latest episodes from the Arrowverse series (on the same day as their US telecast). Globe At Home subscribers will receive an email that contains instructions and redemption link for HOOQ within 48 hours after broadband plan installation.

To sign up or upgrade existing broadband subscription to Globe At Home GoUnli Plan with speeds up to 100mbps at no data cap, plus enjoy a free sixmonth HOOQ subscription, as well as DisneyLife and FOX+, visit shop.globe. com.ph/broadband. Promo ends Jan. 31, 2019.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

DREAM HOUSE. Ed Calma’s Polygonal Succession home

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR HOME-BUILDING. Home improvement and construction supply retailer Wilcon Depot recently launched their 49th retail outlet in the country, in General Trias, Cavite. This is Wilcon Depot’s 5th outlet in the province following their branches in Silang, Bacoor, Kawit and Dasmariñas City. The store has a total area of over 13,000 square meters, carrying an array of home building materials ranging such as tiles, sanitary wares, plumbing, furniture, home interior, building materials, hardware, electrical, appliances and other Do It Yourself (DIY) items. “Wilcon is here to help Filipinos build their dreams into reality,” explained Wilcon president and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan. “As we bring Wilcon Depot closer to key cities and localities across the country and make it accessible to every Filipino home builder and homeowner, you can ascertain that we are the one-stop shop you can always rely on for your home building and improvement needs.” Wilcon plans to have a total of 67 operating stores by 2020. It has set its sights on opening stores in General Santos City, South Cotabato and Puerto Princesa, Palawan next year. At the opening of the Wilcon Depot branch in Cavite were (from left to right): provincial Eengineer Gilbert Gandia, Kent Floors President Jerry Tiu, Wilcon Depot SEVP-COO Rosemarie Ong, General Trias City Mayor Antonio Ferrer; 6th district representative Luis Ferrer; Lorraine Belo-Cincochan; and LIXIL Water Technology retail sales & trade marketing director Joralyn Ong. ONE-OF-A-KIND ABODES. Kenneth Cobonpue’s ‘Hedera’ and Elizabeth de Portzamparc ‘Butterfly’ homes rise in the commune village.

T

he Century Properties Group (CPG) recently held #RoadTripToBatulao to celebrate the local food, arts and music attractions of this 142-hectare property in Nasugbu, Batangas.

The event is CPG’s follow up to a bike trail event held last summer which highlighted the project’s active components, including a 7-kilometer bike trail that drew more than 200 bike enthusiasts.

This time, CPG gave visitors a preview of Batulao Artscapes’ creative components as the world’s first “livable art park”, and community.

Launching a revolution At the center of the festivities was Revolution Precrafted, a Manila-based start-up that has so far pre-sold pre-sold 477 vacation homes worth P2.94 billion within the first 36 hectares of the development.

Launched late last year, Batulao Artscapes offers approximately 2,000 homes within the first 36 hectares of the 142-hectare development.

The development has attracted local homebuyers who are seeking for a weekend retreat, as well as active retirees who are looking for secondary homes sur-

‘LIVABLE ART PARK’ TAKES FORM IN BATANGAS

NOT LIVING IN A COCOON. Living in a glass house in Batulao Artscapes.

Aseana launches MidPark Towers ASEANA Residential Holdings Corp. (ARHC), a subsidiary of D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc. (DMWAI), recently launched MidPark Towers. at the master planned community in the bay area.

MidPark Towers is a four-tower residential project located at DMWAI’s flagship project Aseana City, an emerging business and tourist destination in the metropolis.

The residential enclave will stand between Aseana City’s Greenway Project and the company’s fourth office development, 8912 Aseana Ave., which will have access to the Ayala Malls Bay Area through elevated walkways.

Residents of MidPark Towers will have several transit points within the vicinity, such as the NAIA expressway (NAIAx), LRT1 extension and the newly launched Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx).

Getting the right balance “We are focusing on larger format units in this project,” DMWAI CEO Buds C. Wenceslao, told the Manila Standard. “We’ve noticed that the existing residential spaces in Manila Bay area are limited to smaller studios and compact onebedroom options. We conceptualized MidPark Towers with balanced unit mix and sizes.”

ARHC has been issued a license-tosell (LTS) for MidPark Towers, and

LARGER UNITS IN THE OFFING.

DMWAI CEO Buds C. Wenceslao shows prospective clients the “balanced unit mix and sizes” of MidPark Towers.

is now ready to offer its first two towers, which will offer a mix of studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom units ranging from 36 sqm to 105 sqm.

The two towers will have 15 storeys comprising 309 well-appointed living spaces.

MidPark Towers is DMWAI’s second foray into residential condominium development in Aseana City, following through the success of Pixel Residences.

rounded by nature and a cooler climate, according to Tim Hallett, president of Century Properties Leisure and Hospitality Inc. “This community is the first of its kind in the market. We are excited to bring something that combines art, nature, and adventure into this property,” said Hallet.

Completing the livable art park concept are vacation amenities. The Active component includes bike and jogging trails, a man-made beach, a sports park and wellness hotel.

Construction of the first phase of the project has begun with the first batch of homes targeted for completion in early 2019.

CPG is also incorporating lifestyle investment properties into the Batulao project by means of a 500-room art-inspired condominium inside the 2.5-hectare Art Park, as well as 30 resort villas. . The condominium will feature the designs of select artists in the building’s façade and exterior walls.

Blazing a trail in construction Revolution Precrafted is looking to blaze a trail in the emerging sector of property technology, or proptech, by supplying limited-edition, luxury prefabricated homes—composed of modular parts that can be snapped together on-site like Lego bricks—to a global market primed for new modular dwelling options.

“We want to be the Ikea of homes,” said Jose Roberto Antonio, the founder and chief executive of Revolution Precrafted.

“We want to be able to create homes that can be built in 60 to 90 days, as opposed to two years.”

Revolution Precrafted’s expansion initiative comes at a time when residential property prices are surging across Asia’s major economies, and prefabricated homes are increasingly viewed by many experts as cheaper and faster-to-build alternatives to traditional housing units.

Such modular buildings have already become commonplace in larger markets, such as mainland China and the United States.

But while there are many companies around the world that specialise in modular homes, Antonio claimed that Revolution Precrafted was the first one to focus on luxury prefabricated homes.

The firm sells direct to property developers that establish the sites for prefabricated homes. Its first 100 units are being installed in Batulao Artscapes, a project under the Antonio family-owned CPG. Heavyweight line up Three Filipino names lead the roster for Batulao Artscapes’ first three villages: Architect Ed Calma’s Polygonal Successions will make up the Cluster Village. Designer Kenneth Cobonpue’s Hedera Homes will be the main feature of the Commune Village. Budji+Royal Architecture+Design of Budji Layug and Royal Pineda will fill the Collection Village with their Tranche and Facet Homes.

The fourth section, called the Curated Village 1, will feature twelve one-of-akind homes by international architects and designers, including David Salle + AA Studio for the “Billboard Home”, Marcel Wanders for “Eden”, Marmol Radziner & Kravitz Design for the “Instrumental Home”, Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects for the “Modular Glass House”, Elizabeth de Portzamparc for the “Butterfly Home”, AFGH for Wallpaper for the “We Home”, Studio Libeskind Design for “Adaptation II”, and Daphne Guinness for the “Daphne Skin Home”.

Home prices range from Php4 million for a 56-square-meter unit at the Cluster Village to the larger homes at the Curated Village, which start at Php 17.4 million and come with their own private pool and guest home.