Manila Standard - 2017 November 15 - Wednesday

Leaders speak out vs EJKs Trump, Du30 tackle drug woes

GOING HOME. US President Donald Trump skips the plenary session of a summit of East and Southeast Asian leaders in Manila on Tuesday because of scheduling delays, but says his marathon trip to the region has been a success. Trump left for home from the Philippines after a lunch with the other leaders, as meetings were running about two hours behind schedule. AFP

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

W

ORLD leaders on Tuesday expressed concern over allegations of extrajudicial killings in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, even as the administration denied that human rights were discussed in his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

But in a joint statement released Tuesday, a day after Duterte and Trump met, the two leaders declared that human rights and the dignity of human life are “essential.”

The two sides also said that illegal drug use “is a problem afflicting both countries” as Trump committed to help the Philippines address the global menace.

“The two sides underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential, and agreed to continue mainstreaming the human rights agenda in their national programs to promote the welfare of all sectors, including the most vulnerable groups,” the joint statement said.

Duterte and Trump, according to their statement, agreed “to share best practices in the areas of prevention, enforcement, including capacity-building and transpar-

ency in investigations and rehabilitation.”

Trump, criticized at home for not giving priority on the human rights issues in the Philippines, has been strongly urged to confront Duterte on his brutal drug war—a policy censured by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Angered by Obama’s criticisms, Duterte lashed out on the US and even threatened to cut ties with its long-time ally.

But Trump was amiable with Duterte, heaping praises on the maverick leader, saying they have a “great relationship.”

The US, along with the European Union and the United Nations, have expressed concern on the wave of killings of drug suspects since Duterte came into power on June 30 last year. At least 3,967 have reportedly been killed in the government’s bloody anti-drug war. Next page

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Trump skips ‘Comfortable house, not UN summit, jail, for Russian suspects’ hails tour UNITED States President Donald Trump, who skipped attending the commemmorative Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summit, left the Philippines Tuesday, amid delays over the schedule of the program of meetings, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said.

In a text message to reporters, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the EAS was running behind schedule and Trump “was scheduled to leave at 3 p.m. and [he] did so.”

Photos released by the host organizers showed Trump delivering prepared remarks during a lunch with the leaders instead.

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By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE shipment of 50 container vans of adult diapers and household wastes back to Ontario may not be sooner as both Canada and the Philippines are still trying to figure out who will shoulder the cost of the transfer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Truedau said Tuesday.

Although he expressed his administration’s commitment in addressing the “long-standing irritant,” Trudeau said both countries were now working on “who will pay for, where the financial responsibility is, where the consequences are” before they could ship the wastes back to his homeland.

“We had legal barriers and restrictions that prevented us from being able Next page

WASHINGTON―More governments are following the lead of Russia and China by manipulating social media and suppressing dissent online in a grave threat to democracy, a human rights watchdog said Tuesday.

A study of Internet freedom in 65 countries found 30 governments are deploying some form of ma-

nipulation to distort online information, up from 23 the previous year.

These efforts included paid commentators, trolls, “bots”―the name given to automated accounts―false news sites and propaganda outlets, according to the 2017 “Freedom on the Net” report by the human rights group Freedom House.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has pledged two accused Russian drug traffickers will be detained in a “comfortable house” rather than his nation’s badly over-crowded jails.

Duterte made the commitment at a meeting late Monday with Russian

UN presses Myanmar for action on Rohingya

TAKE MY HAND. President Rodrigo Duterte (right) leads an Asean shaking of hands with nine other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau during the start of the Asean-Canada 40th anniversary commemmorative summit at the reception hall of the bayside Philippine International Convention Center. Pool Photo

Canada, PH HR watchdog warns of online manipulation ironing out garbage issue

MEDVEDEV

Freedom House, a USbased human rights watchdog, also claims that the Philippine government has been employing what it called a “keyboard army” that is specifically paid to make it appear that the Duterte administration’s controversial and deadly war on drugs has been gaining widespread public support.

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MYANMAR leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced rising global pressure Tuesday to solve the crisis for her nation’s displaced Rohingya Muslim minority, meeting the UN chief and America’s top diplomat in the Philippines.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the Nobel laureate that hundreds of thousands of displaced Muslims who had fled to Bangladesh should be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar.

“The secretary general highlighted that strengthened efforts to ensure humanitarian access, safe, dignified, voluntary and sustained returns, as well as true reconciliation between communities, would be essential,” a UN statement said, summarizing comments to Suu Kyi. Guterres’ comments came hours before Suu Kyi sat down with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Manila.

NZ premier: ‘Barong’ a silly shirt NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday she was unimpressed by her “scratchy” and “starchy” Barong Tagalog that she wore during the gala dinner of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit on Sunday.

She told New Zealand’s reporters following her in Manila that the “silly” shirts were scratchy and “quite starched.”

“I’m not going to sniff the shirt on camera,” she said when asked what the shirts smelled like.

The Barong Tagalog, an embroidered formal shirt

CHINA’S agreement to begin discussions with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the fine print of a code of conduct framework for the disputed South China Sea will be a “stabilizer” for

the region, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said.

Following formal talks with the 10-member bloc earlier this week, China agreed to begin negotiations for a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. “China’s greatest hope is for peace and stability in the

made of piña or jusi fiber, is the national dress of the Philippines.

Ardern, who criticized the number of deaths under Duterte’s war on drugs, said regional security would be on top of the agenda during the East Asia Summit held Tuesday.

The same day, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan in front of Ardern to strengthen the geothermal energy cooperation between the two countries. John Paolo Bencito

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

South China Sea,” Li told Asean leaders in Manila, according to a transcript of his speech released by China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

While Li didn’t give a time frame, but said he hoped this move would be a “stabilizer” for the region.

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Washington has been cautious in its statements on the situation in the province of Rakhine, and has avoided outright criticism of Suu Kyi. Supporters say she must navigate a path between outrage abroad and popular feeling in a majority Buddhist country where most people believe the Rohingya are interlopers.

At a photo opportunity at the top of her meeting with Tillerson, Suu Kyi ignored Next page

Japan, PH seal deals on subway, Marawi

By John Paolo Bencito

China’s Li views maritime code regional ‘stabilizer’

By John Paolo Bencito

Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev on the sidelines of a regional summit in Manila.

“I would just like to say that we have a working functional justice system here and they will get a fair trial and that they will be detained in a comfortable house,” Duterte told Medvedev, according to an official transcript.

“Whether [the allegations are] true or not, we will find out but I will see to it that they are treated fairly and no additional stress on their person... will happen.”

Yuri Kirdyushkin and Anastasia Novopashina were under investigation for drug smuggling but had not been convicted, Duterte Next page said.

UNRESERVEDLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has quite an opinion abou t the barong, the embroidered formal shirt and considered the national dress of the Philippines. In a press conference during the ongoing Asean Summit this week, the 37-year-old Ardern showed off her ivory-colored barong, describing it as scratchy and ‘quite starched.’ manilastandard.net

MANILA and Tokyo signed another round of agreements Monday to be funded by the Japanese government, including the much anticipated subway project for Metro Manila and social development programs to aid the war-raved city of Marawi.

Among the notes exchanged between the two countries were those for the Metro Manila Subway and the Plaridel Bypass Road Phase 3 Project.

Japan also exchanged notes for an economic and social development program, which included provision of equipment for Marawi rehab for the Department of Public Works and Highways and coast watch radars for the Philippine Coast Guard to increase the Philippines’ anti-terrorism capabilities in West Mindanao.

Japan also agreed to finance the initial loan provisions aimed at mitigating flooding in areas in Cavite province.

An amended letter of arrangement was also signed between the Defense Department and Japan’s Commissioner for Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency for the transfer of Japan Maritime self-defense force TC-90 trainer aircrafts.

Duterte and Abe on Monday witnessed the exchange of notes for the Metro Manila subway project.

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China‘s...

From A1 Li said there was a consensus on moving forward and to trying to peacefully resolve the thorny issue.

“We hope the talks on the code of conduct will bolster mutual understanding and trust. We will strive under the agreement to reach a consensus on achieving early implementation of the code of conduct,” Li added.

Li, who will be staying here in Manila until today, is expected to sign agreements and signal the formal start of negotiations for a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, a move they hailed as progress but seen by critics as a tactic to buy China time to consolidate its maritime power.

The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which has mostly been ignored by claimant states, particularly China, which has built seven man-made islands in disputed waters, three of which are equipped with runways, surface-to-air missiles and radars.

China claims most of the oil-resource-rich South China Sea where a total of $5 trillion worth of trade passes through the disputed waters every year, citing its excessive nine-dash line from its so-called Chinese ancient map.

Moon to Du30: Protect Koreans

By John Paolo Bencito

S

OUTH Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday asked President Rodrigo Duterte to protect South Korean residents and tourists here following the number of incidents in which some Korean expatriates were killed or injured at the hands of Philippine authorities.

“Mr. President, I ask for your attention and support main strong but he wanted so that the Koreans who an assurance his country- visit and reside in the Philmen living here would be ippines can have a safe and protected. enjoyable stay,” Moon said.

Moon said the ties between the two countries would re-

“I will also pay close attention and make my best efforts to ensure that the Filipinos visiting and living in Korea can be safe and comfortable.”

Cheong Wa Dae, spokesman of the Korean Presidential Palace, said that as of the end of 2016 there were some 90,000 South Korean residents in the Philippines and around 57,000 Philippine residents in South Korea.

The number of visitors

between the two countries topped 2 million the same year, with some 1.47 million South Koreans traveling to the Philippines.

A South Korean businessman, Jee Ick Joo, was abducted from his home in Angeles City on Oct. 18, 2016. The kidnappers―who turned out to be members of the Philippine National police―accused him of being involved in the illegal drug trade and demanded billions of pesos

HR...

From A1 The report says online manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 18 countries over the past year, including the United States.

“The use of paid commentators and political bots to spread government propaganda was pioneered by China and Russia but has now gone global,” said Michael Abramowitz, president of Freedom House.

“The effects of these rapidly spreading techniques on democracy and civic activism are potentially devastating.”

Trump...

From A1 US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attended Tuesday’s summit in Trump’s place.

During the meeting, Duterte had cited the effects of migration, environmental degradation and armed conflict in the region have global repercussions, Roque said.

These include the impact of climate change and the spread of terrorism and violent ex-

but reiterated its call for a quick resolution of the case.

Moon also asked for the Philippines’ continued support for Seoul’s efforts to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

“It’s a great pleasure that our two peoples are deepening mutual understanding and friendship through close exchanges.

And I hope that we could make joint efforts to further strengthen this trend,” he said.

Militants slam cops‘ use of ‘sonic weapons‘

By Maricel V. Cruz and Bill Casas

UN...

From A1 a journalist who asked if the Rohingya were citizens of Myanmar.

At a later appearance after the meeting, Tillerson—who is headed to Myanmar on Wednesday—was asked by reporters if he had a message for Burmese leaders.

He apparently ignored the question, replying only: “Thank you”, according to a pool report of the encounter.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have flooded into Bangladesh since late August, and now live in the squalor of the world’s biggest refugee camp.

The crisis erupted after Rohingya rebels attacked police posts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, triggering a military crackdown that saw hundreds of villages reduced to ashes and sparked a massive exodus.

The UN says the Myanmar military is engaged in a “coordinated and systematic” attempt to purge the region of Rohingya in what amounts to a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

The stream of desperate refugees who escape across the riverine border bring with them stories of rape, murder and the torching of villages by soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

The Burmese government insists military action in Rakhine is a proportionate response to violence by militants.

Following its first official investigation into the crisis, the army published a report this week in which it cleared itself of any abuses.

However, it heavily restricts access to the region by independent journalists and aid groups, and verification of events on the ground is virtually impossible. AFP

in ransom.

He was later killed inside Camp Crame before being burned and his ashes thrown into a toilet bowl― something that shocked the Korean expatriate community.

Duterte apologized to South Korea said those responsible would be held accountable.

Seoul, through its ambassador to Manila JaeShin Kim, accepted the apology on Jan. 26, 2017

FIERY PROTEST. Protesters burn a US flag near the Malacañan Palace during a demonstration against US President Donald Trump attending the Association of Southeast Asan Nations Summit in Manila on Nov. 14, 2017. AFP

Leaders...

From A1 While they support the country’s campaign against illegal drugs, the EU, UN and the US maintained that due process and human rights must be observed by Philippine authorities in carrying out its operations.

On Tuesday, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added his voice to the growing number of leaders who have spoke up about the bloody war on drugs.

“I also mentioned human rights, the rule of law, and specifically extrajudicial killings as being an issue that Canada is concerned with,” Trudeau told reporters in Manila, recounting a conversation with Duterte.

“I impressed upon him the need for respect for the rule of law.”

Ahead of a regional summit in the Philippines, rights groups had urged world leaders to challenge Duterte over what they say are gross abuses.

The 72-year-old overwhelmingly won elections last year vowing to eradicate drugs through a campaign that would see up to 100,000 people killed.

Since he took office, police have reported killing 3,967 people in the crackdown.

Another 2,290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes, while thousands of

other deaths remain unsolved, according to government data.

Rights groups say Duterte may be presiding over a crime against humanity.

On Tuesday, Trudeau said Canada had earned a reputation for discussing human rights and the rule of law with other nations.

Asked how Duterte responded, Trudeau said: “The President was receptive to my comments and it was throughout a very cordial and positive exchange.”

“This is something that is important to Canadians, and it’s important to the world and I will always bring that up,” Trudeau said, referring to human rights.

The Canadian prime minister added he offered support to Duterte “as a friend to help move forward on what is a real challenge.”

Duterte is hosting world leaders as the Philippines holds the rotating chair of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc.

Trudeau’s comments were a rare sour note for Duterte during a summit that has been largely silent on the issue.

Trump garnered headlines on Monday for his show of camaraderie with Duterte, a man who last week boasted of having personally stabbed someone to death as a teenager.

Presidential spokesman Har-

ry Roque repeatedly insisted Monday that human rights had not come up during their summit talks, although the White House said they had done so “briefly.”

The European Union, which has been outspoken on the allegations of extra-judicial killings, said it would continue to enhance relations with Asean members as long as the memberstates remain committed to human rights and the rule of law.

“The European Union fully supports Asean’s efforts and its mission,” said European Council President Donald Tusk. “We are working towards a strategic partnership to encompass not only trade, investment and sectoral cooperation but also more security cooperation. The new Asean-EU plan of action contributes to this goal,” Tusk said, despite the tirades of Duterte against the EU over the issue of human rights.

“We remain committed to a strong and cohesive Asean developing in its own character, in the best interest of regional prosperity, stability and security. Further enhancing our relations based on common interests and shared values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law is a priority for the EU,” he added.

In previous speeches, Duterte said the European Union could “go to hell” if it would not accept his explanation as regards the thousands of extra-

judicial killings blamed on his war on drugs.

Duterte made the remarks after an EU report on human rights and democracy for 2016 found that a culture of impunity remained in the Philippines and that the human rights situation worsened in the second semester of the previous year.

Tusk is in Manila to attend the Asean-European Union commemorative summit, while Duterte meanwhile is the outgoing Asean chair.

Tusk is pushing for “greater engagement” between the Asean and the EU blocs, expected to further strengthen security cooperation to thwart terrorism and violent extremism.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, meanwhile, said she would insist that there were too many killings in the administration’s war on drugs when she gets an opportunity to meet with Duterte.

Addressing New Zealand media gathered in the Philippines for an Asean leaders’ conference, Ardern said the number of deaths “certainly requires investigations and oversight at the very least.”

She said there have been various attempts at establishing oversight of the executions.

When asked whether she would say to Duterte if there have been too many killings, the Prime Minister gave a definitive “yes.”

Sanja Kelly, director of the Freedom on the Net project, says such manipulation is often hard to detect, and “more difficult to combat than other types of censorship, such as website blocking.”

The organization says 2017 marked a seventh consecutive year of overall decline in internet freedom as a result of these and other efforts to filter and censor information online.

Freedom House says China was the world’s worst abuser of internet freedom for a third straight year, due to stepped-up online censorship, a new law cracking down on anonymity online and the imprisonment of dissidents using the web.

Other countries also increased their efforts to censor and manipulate information, the report said.

This included a “keyboard army” of people employed and paid $10 a day by the Philippine government to amplify the impression of widespread support of a brutal drugs crackdown, and Turkey’s use of an estimated 6,000 people to counter government opponents on social media.

Meanwhile, as Russia sought to spread disinformation to influence the elections in the US and Europe, the Kremlin also tightened its internal controls, the report said.

Bloggers who attract more

than 3,000 daily visitors must register their personal details with the Russian government and abide by the law regulating mass media―while search engines and news aggregators are banned from including stories from unregistered outlets.

The study also found governments in at least 14 countries restricted internet freedom in a bid to address content manipulation. In one such example, Ukraine blocked Russia-based services, including the country’s most widely used social network and search engine, in an effort to crack down on pro-Russian propaganda.

“When trying to combat online manipulation from abroad, it is important for countries not to overreach,” Kelly said.

“The solution to manipulation and disinformation lies not in censoring websites but in teaching citizens how to detect fake news and commentary.

Democracies should ensure that the source of political advertising online is at least as transparent online as it is offline.”

Freedom House expressed concern over the growing restrictions on VPNs―virtual private networks that allow circumvention of censors― which are now in place in 14 countries. AFP

tremism.

Meanwhile, security will be beefed up along the Asean routes leading to airports as some delegates will be leaving the Philippines today following the three-day summit.

Emmanuel Miro, chairperson of the Asean Technical Working Group on Traffic Management, said the Metro Manila Development Authority also deployed additional personnel at the northbound lanes of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to reinforce the

Asean lanes.

“We again appeal for the public’s kind understanding and support for whatever inconvenience this may cause you. Please bear with us for the next few days,” said Miro.

The MMDA is one of the member agencies of the Asean Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response, which is headed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Among those scheduled to

leave the country Wednesday are leaders and delegates from Japan, Russia, United States, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, South Korea and China while some delegates from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand already left on Tuesday.

As the 31st Asean Summit concluded, Task Group Manila Commander and National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde gave assurances that security forces remained “strong and inspired” and check points

had been set up to maximize security in the event’s venue.

Duterte also discussed the East Asia Summit with Asean as a mechanism by which strategic dialogues and cooperation could be established at the highest level, he added.

According to Manila airport officials, Trump left Manila at around 3:15 p.m. via the Balagbag ramp, where most world leaders are set to depart. John Paolo Bencito and Joel Zurbano, With AFP

THE Gabriela Women’s Party on Tuesday blasted the police for using a sonic weapon that generated an earsplitting sound against protesters who denounced US President Donald Trump’s visit at their rally Monday.

Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said the deployment and use of the Long Range Acoustic Device at the rally constituted a new level of state violence as there was an intent to harm the protesters during the skirmish along Taft Avenue.

“The latest anti-people weapon of the PNP must be probed and opposed,” Brosas said, noting that patients at the nearby government-run Philippine General Hospital might have also been affected.

Meanwhile, hundreds of activists belonging to militant groups Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggawang Pilipino, Partido Lakas ng Masa and Piglas Kababaihan on Tuesday braved the tight security blockade from Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga, where the East Asian Summit was taking place.

The groups organized a caravan from Quezon City to Clark to denounce the continued US intervention in the re-

‘Comfortable...

From A1 Duterte’s 16-month rule has been dominated by a crackdown on illegal drugs in which police have reported killed 3,967 suspects.

Another 2,290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes, while thousands of other deaths remain unsolved, according to government data.

Rights groups and domestic critics say the crackdown could be a crime against humanity, warning that police and hired assassins are carrying out mass murder.

Duterte has repeatedly railed against his critics and insisted human rights should take a backseat to eradicating drug traffickers.

He has also said he would be happy for all Filipino drug addicts to be “slaughtered.”

Rights groups say the crackdown has also added pressure on the country’s extremely over-crowded prisons, with inmates forced to endure abject living conditions.

Canada,...

From A1

to take it back,” Trudeau told reporters minutes after the Asean-Canadian dialogue.

“Those regulations and impediments have now been addressed so it is now theoretically possible to get them back.

“But there are still a number of questions around: Who will pay for, where the financial responsibility is, what the consequences are.”

Trudeau said he and President Rodrigo Duterte were able to discuss the issue during the informal talks on Tuesday morning, and that his government was serious in addressing the problem.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015 that the Philippines hosted, Trudeau said Canada was “committed” and developing a solution to the issue.

gion as manifested in its armsdealing among ally countries, including the Philippines, to further its War of Terror.

“Trump in the picture means trouble for countries in Southeast Asia,” said BMP National President Leody de Guzman.

“The US is painting North Korea as the bogeyman in the region and China being an emerging miltary threat to justify enhanced security arrangements that would necessitate continued US troop presence and movements in Asean. Far from securing peace, this would escalate existing tensions in the region as US rhetoric lean toward military solutions. Asean governments adhering to US interests is kowtowing to US hegemony,” said De Guzman.

Brosas said several reports had indicated the sonic weapon could have varied effects on the human body, including hearing trauma, permanent hearing loss and lingering headaches.

“How much taxpayers’ money did the PNP utilize for this weapon and how many LRAD are being kept at their arsenal? The public must know,” Brosas said, adding they would file a resolution next week to appeal to the House leadership to look into the incident.

In many cases prisoners have to take turns sleeping while waiting for years for their cases to go through the courts.

Duterte did not provide details on the two Russians’ cases, and the Russian embassy and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesmen said they could not immediately comment on the case.

Previous news reports have said Kirdyushkin was arrested with about 10 kilos of cocaine at Manila airport on Oct. 5 last year.

Manila airport customs police detained Novopashina in November 2016 after finding nearly 13 kilos of cocaine in her luggage, the reports said.

Russia’s ties with the Philippines, a long-time US ally, have been improving dramatically under Duterte.

Duterte is a self-described socialist and fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Duterte on Monday also thanked Russia for supplying guns and other weapons that he said helped defeat Islamist militants in the southern Philippine city of Marawi.

However, two years after he announced his commitment, the toxic garbage-filled containers are still lying in the Manila and Subic ports despite the calls by environmental health and justice groups, labor organizations and even by concerned lawmakers to return the garbage to Canada.

Trudeau then explained that Canadian government has restrictions which prevented them to ship back the garbage.

On Jan. 21, 2013, 50 containers of adult diapers and household wastes arrived in Manila.

The Bureau of Custom said the shipment contained “scrap plastic materials for recycling,” including adult diapers and household waste.

Ontario-based Chronic Inc. shipped the containers to Manila through its Valenzuela-based consignee Chronic Plastics.

However, the containers remained unclaimed at the port in Manila.

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Colombian ‘drug mule’ nabbed at Naia

By Joel E. Zurbano

A

N INTELLIGENCE hot tip from the United States government resulted in the arrest of a suspected Colombian drug mule who tried to smuggle in P8.8 million worth of cocaine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, officials said Tuesday.

The suspect, Alberto Pedroza Quijano, 67, who swallowed 79 rubber pellets of cocaine, was arrested at Naia Terminal 3 by operatives of Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group, the of-

ficials said.

The arrest followed a hot tip from the US government to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency about Quijano’s arrival in Manila last Sunday. The

suspect arrived at the Naia on board Emirates Airline flight EK-332 from Dubai.

Lawmen accosted and immediately brought the suspect to the Pasay General Hospital where he underwent X-ray medical scanning procedure. Attending hospital staff later found rubber pellets in his stomach.

The medical staff took more than 24 hours before they excreted the rubber pellets from the suspect.

The substance was brought to the PDEA laboratory for examination, while

Quijano underwent drug test and detained at the agency’s detention center.

Authorities said a drug mule was a type of courier capable of swallowing balloons containing illicit drugs and then transport the illegal drugs across borders.

Once they have reached their destination, these balloons are retrieved from the courier’s body.

They added a drug mule could swallow up to 120 balloons and, during their journey, they take medication to inhibit bowel movement.

Once they have reached their destination, they are fed laxatives and the balloons pass through their bodies.

In December 2015, lawmen also arrested a Venezuelan drug mule who was caught with more than a kilogram of cocaine worth P6.6 million he ingested.

Andres Rodriguez, 39, arrived from Abu Dhabi on board Philippine Airlines PR 657, ingested 92 pellets of cocaine.

Last year, airport authorities made at least 15 arrests against suspected foreign

‘Too late for Sereno to get support’

Comelec gun ban resolution upheld

By Rey Requejo

By Rey Requejo EFFORTS of embattled Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to rally judges and court employees to gain sympathy and support for her bid to hurdle impeachment process in Congress are useless, the impachment complainant said.

Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, said it was already too late for the chief magistrate to try to get sympathy from the judiciary and the public.

“Sereno has been doing the rounds, talking to the judges and court personnel.

Unfortunately, she has lost her credibility with them,” Gadon said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from the Sereno camp.

drug couriers.

“We are sending strong message to drug syndicates that the law enforcement agencies are joining hands to fight their way to a drugfree country to provide a safe environment that is conducive for development,” said Airport general manager Eddie Monreal.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration was responsible for tipping off government agents in the Philippines about the arrival of these foreigners carrying illegal drugs in Manila.

CHECKING DRUGS. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has enewed its partnership with the Bureau of Corrections to curb the incidence of illegal drug activities within the border of the government prison facilities and penal institutions. Photo shows Valfrie Tabian (left) and PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino (right) during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Manny Palmero

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of a resolution issued by the Commission on Elections requiring private security personnel and bodyguards to secure authority from the Comelec to possess and carry firearms during the implementation of the election gun ban period in 2016.

In an en banc decision, the SC, through Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, denied for lack of merit the petition filed by Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO)Region 7 Chapter seeking to declare as unconstitutional Section 2(e), Rule III of Comelec Resolution No. 10015.

The questioned portion provided for the rules and regulations on the ban on bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons and the employment, availment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards during the election period, more commonly referred to as the “gun ban.”

In particular, Section 2 (e) provides for the documentary requirements for the application for authority to possess and carry firearms and deadly weapons during election period.

MMDA probes traffic lapses

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority is investigating if there were lapses on the part of enforcers that triggered veteran actress Maria Isabel Lopez to breach last weekend the lane on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue designated for delegates of Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

“We have to check if there are lapses at that time and identify the enforcers who committed negligence,” said Emmanuel Miro, head operations of the MMDA-Task Force Asean.

The MMDA is also reviewing video footages captured by ClosedCircuit Television cameras installed in the area where Lopez, as she earlier claimed, asked an enforcer to allow her to drive in the special lane but the latter declined.

The former beauty queen, who was already slapped with Disregarding Traffic Signs, Violation of the Anti Distracted Driving Act and Reckless Driving charges, said she pleaded even more and asked if she could just use her face as her pass.

Lopez said she saw buses and taxis behind her that were already using the Asean lane.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Lipstick on a pig

T

RUE to form, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week did what it does best—avoid controversy and paper over any problems.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed success because Myanmar, an Asean member, had called on other members of the bloc to provide humanitarian assistance following the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have been forced to flee their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

“What was very productive about this year’s meeting was Myanmar’s statement that they need help,” Cayetano said. He added that the Asean had long been pursuing its approach of “not judging” Myanmar but offering help to its member-state.

“That’s always our ultimate approach, not to judge but to offer help and to see how we can make the whole region a region of peace and stability, a region where human rights is respected,” Cayetano said.

This lofty goal, however, seems farfetched indeed when Myanmar’s own neighbors refuse to acknowledge that the humanitarian crisis stems from a brutal and systematic campaign by the Yangon government to drive out the minority Rohingyas from their homes in what the United Nations described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

More than one-million people from the mainly-Muslim minority group lived in Myanmar at the start of 2017, most of them in Rakhine State.

The government of Myanmar, a predominately Buddhist country, claims the Rohingya people are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and has denied them citizenship, leaving them stateless.

But the Rohingya—who have their own language and culture—say they are descendants of Muslim traders who have lived in the region for generations.

The systematic discrimination against the Rohingya people has left them living in deplorable conditions and segregated, with limited access to schools, health care and jobs, Amnesty International reports.

A wave of refugees began fleeing the country in late August after Myanmar’s response to an attack by Rohingya militants on more than 20 police posts that the government said left 12 members of the security forces dead.

Amnesty International said security forces then went on to carry out a “targeted campaign of widespread and systematic murder, rape and burning.”

There were reports of sexual violence against Rohingya women and entire villages being burned to the ground.

More than 600,000 people have fled the

violence, bringing the total number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to around 900,000.

The Myanmar government said at least 400 people have been killed, describing most of them as “terrorists.” But UN estimates in September put the death toll at least 1,000.

Many Rohingya have died making the journey from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Some have been attacked. Others have stepped on landmines. Hundreds have drowned.

Those that survive have given harrowing accounts of death and violence, including hundreds of cases of rape, which is sometimes used as a military strategy.

Now Secretary Cayetano expects us to applaud, simply because the same government that triggered this humanitarian crisis now says it is ready to accept help?

Lipstick on this pig only makes it all the more grotesque.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Bloggers prostitute social media I GOT my feet wet in mainstream media in 1950 when I co-edited The Mindanao Cross, a weekly newspaper published by the Oblate missionaries in Mindanao and Sulu. I can say I have covered all beats imaginable as a journalist for seven decades—except for the few years that I tried to practice law and get into advertising.

I can say that I have witnessed Philippine history in the making. I have seen the evolution of our media landscape.

Since the early 1950s when I was business editor and, after a few years, editorial director, and on to today, I have seen print media transform from purely objective reporting to the subjectivity that we know so well today.

Mainstream journalists should take a stand.

Measuring success LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Manila is turning out to be a huge success for President Rodrigo Duterte and the Philippines, the host country. I make this assessment based purely on the insignificance of the criticism hurled against Duterte and his government by the usual opposition suspects so far.

It’s perfectly possible that some terrible snafu could still take place between now and the formal closing of the summit – something the people who don’t like Duterte must be praying really hard for still. But how can the hosting job be less than an unqualified success when all the critics can cluck about is a spelling error in

some tarpaulins, some lighthearted singing by Duterte at a welcome dinner, the way the President wears his tie, rolls up his barong sleeves and his penchant for going sock-less?

I profess that I can’t understand why some of our own countrymen would wish for something embarrassing to happen during the Philippines’ fulfillment of its hosting duties, as if they themselves would not suffer humiliation as a result.

They may not declare that they want this to happen, but the gusto with which they’ve been griping about the nonessentials I’ve already mentioned betrays them; imagine the noise and intensity of their anger if something really disastrous happens while the summit is going on.

But that’s just the way we roll as a nation, I guess.

My hope is that, to paraphrase US President Donald

Trump, everything eventually turns out well for us as a country, despite our propensity to put partisan politics above everything else, including the nation itself.

I can’t understand why some would wish for something embarrassing to happen as we fulfill our hosting duties.

Of course, there are also those among Duterte’s most vocal critics who have decided to take a low profile and stay conveniently out of the way while the President

does his hosting duties. I admire these people because they have shown that their usual and constant expressions of hatred for Duterte can wait until after the foreign visitors have left.

But those who didn’t have that kind of self-restraint went to town with the nonissues. And these included stuff that did not even involve Duterte himself, like Presidential Assistant Bong Go’s selfies with visiting heads of state acting as photo-bombers and blogger Sass Rogando Sasot’s discussion with a reporter from the British Broadcasting Corp., both of which elicited gasps of fake outrage from nitpicky and scandal-starved critics that were more appropriate if something like a terrorist attack or a building collapse had taken place.

Even the usual protesters from the remains of the Left were unable to cause

the havoc they are known to cause. This may be because the police did a fine job of keeping protesters away from official summit venues, whether or not they used high-tech noise-makers together with their usual shields and firetruck hoses; the important thing is those who joined the rallies were not harmed despite their efforts to provoke the police, typified by that protester who executed a picture-perfect “flying kick” on a cop who was behind his shield.

But like I said, something really bad and embarrassing can still happen. And I can only ask all Filipinos, regardless of their political affiliation, to unite as a nation to prevent it, if they can.

I don’t believe that Duterte will host such an event at any other time during his term. I understand that some may take that as an incentive to cause trou-

ble; it’s up to the rest of us to stop them. *** When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blew into town like a public relations house on fire, I was among those who wasn’t impressed. What business does a Canadian politician have visiting a Jollibee restaurant, kissing and carrying random Filipino babies and gleefully accepting offers for selfies, after all, if he was not up to some skulduggery?

I remembered an article in The Guardian this year that called Trudeau a social media savant, “the political equivalent of a YouTube puppy video, [who] overwhelm[s] with shots of the adorable young statesman cuddling pandas and hugging refugees and getting accidentally photographed in the wild

Turn to A5

In those days, my editorin-chief always pounded the 5Ws (who, what, when, where and why) onto our heads. Sometimes we added the H—how.

Over the years, reportage became subjective in line with the biases and prejudices of the reporter and the publication he or she worked for. Thus, the reportage of today reads like an opinion piece.

And because of technology, social media— bloggers along with it— emerged.

With social media came fake news. Bloggers do not have the responsibility and accountability of those in mainstream media. They can write whatever they want and even use their platform to bully others.

Meanwhile, we in mainstream media are covered by libel laws. We have rules to follow. If we report fake news, our editors and publishers can fire us anytime.

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Opinion

DAVAO’S rock star of business and the Philippines’ fastest-growing tycoon, Dennis Uy, 44, is the founder, president and CEO of emerging companies like Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp.

Davao-based Phoenix Petroleum is a publicly listed petroleum trading company that has risen in sales, from zero in 2005, to No. 4 in petroleum products marketing with 6 percent market share, but far behind Petron, Shell, and Caltex which together have 58 percent of the market. Phoenix is the country’s leading independent oil company.

Phoenix Petroleum revenues peaked in 2013 at P43.85-billion (with P665 million profits) but profitability increased to P1 billion despite lower revenues of P30.57 billion in 2016.

In the first nine months of 2017, PNX reported a P1.437-billion net income, up 59 percent, on revenues of P32.6 billion, up 37 percent from the first nine months of 2016. The 59 percent profit gain was largely the impact of its newly acquired LPG business from Petronas. Without that, core income was up 9 percent to P1.08 billion.

As of September 2017, Phoenix had 523 gas stations, up from 505 in end2016. The biggest commercial account is Cebu Pacific which buys 5 percent of Phoenix products. Phoenix is rapidly expanding by opening more retail stations and cultivating accounts in power, shipping, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing, among others.

PNX has been a star performer in the stock market.

Per share price has climbed from P3.40 on Feb. 4, 2016 to a high of P13.26 on Sept. 21, 2017, valuing the company at P18.97 billion and yielding wealth of P12.97 billion ($254 million) to Uy, with his 68.36 percent of PNX. As of Nov. 13, 2017, share price had settled at P12.08 valuing PNX at P16.88 billion, a 247 percent or P12 billion increase from its low market cap of P4.86 billion in February 2016, raising Uy’s net worth by P8.2 billion ($161 million) in just 19 months.

Uy has assembled a team of oil industry veterans, from rivals Petron, Shell and Chevron and other multinationals, with combined experience of more than 100 years, to manage and expand his oil business.

The Chelsea Logistics Corp. has the shipping businesses Chelsea Shipping Corp. and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines. Chelsea Logistics is now the Philippines’ biggest tankering company with 57 vessels and tankers, of which 24 are valued at P6.52 billion. Half of the 24 tankers are brand new, acquired in the past 18 months.

Chelsea Logistics Corp. is planning an IPO (546.59 million new common shares at P10.68 per share) to raise at least P5.8 billion for ex-

pansion, or “for the acquisition of new vessels and vessel equipment, port facilities, containers and terminal equipment, the acquisition of other shipping and logistics companies.”

CLC has allotted P4.2 billion for expansion in the next two years. CLC reported a P132- million profit in 2016.

It has total assets of P10.75 billion. About P1.37 billion of CLC’s P1.56-billion equity are revaluation reserves (assets repriced to reflect current prices).

Both Phoenix and Chelsea are owned by Uy’s holding company, Udenna Corp. which is engaged in shipping, logistics, distribution, real estate, and service industries. He is president and CEO of Udenna.

A business management graduate of La Salle and a good friend of President Duterte, Uy has been on an aggressive acquisition spree lately.

In November 2017, he bought lock, stock and barrel Chelsea Shipping Corp. which has the country’s largest tanker fleet by tonnage with 39,271 GRT, and renamed it Chelsea Logistics Corp.. He quickly revalued Chelsea’s tankers and prepared to sell 30 percent of the company to the public. Chelsea’s management has 470 man years of experience and includes the most experienced maritime professionals in the Philippine tanker, RoRo passenger and cargo industries In June 2017, his company raised its stake in 2Go Group, Inc. and made Uy its president and CEO. Uy’s KGLI-NM Holdings, Inc. owns 60 percent of 2Go’s parent Nenaco which in turn is owned 34.5 percent by SM Investments Corp.

In July 2017, Uy also took ownership of Enderun Colleges Inc., which has 1,200 students and a 1.8-ha campus with six buildings in Taguig. He already has a maritime training school to support his shipping and logistics businesses. “We believe that quality education and skills training are what make our human capital more productive and competitive,” he said.

In August 2017, Uy acquired Petronas Energy Philippines, which became Phoenix Petroleum’s LPG subsidiary.

In October 2017, he announced the planned acquisition of the FamilyMart convenience stores franchise with 67 stores from SSI Group of Tantocos and Ayala land. He will put the stores in his gas stations and maybe, hotels.

The biggest acquisition, from Kuwaiti fund KGL Investment Co., is Global Gateway Logistics City in Clark which is developing a 177-ha. Logistics hub at a cost of $1 billion.

In 2016, Duterte appointed Uy his presidential adviser on sports. To build the Phoenix Petroleum brand, Uy has formed a basketball team.

Measuring...

The last time Trudeau was in Manila, during the Apec summit in 2015, he said that he would look into the matter of bringing back the Canadian trash sent to the Philippines.

And now, in 2017, he could only say that the garbage can only be “theoretically” returned, but still wouldn’t because of legal issues.

Trudeau may look like a movie star, smile a lot, pick up babies, join you in selfies and go for chicken at Jollibee. But he is also a lying, good-fornothing politician who knew he had to perform a song-anddance routine here, in order to distract starry-eyed Filipinos who may remember that he promised to bring back his country’s garbage with him when he returned.

From A4

with his top off, twice.” And then I read reports about his press conference yesterday and understood why he was doing what he was doing in Manila, where there were not enough Canadian votes to get him elected to a barangay councilman’s post.

Trudeau declared that he “impressed” on Duterte the need to look into alleged human rights violations and extrajudicial killings, the only visiting head of state to say so.

Then he admitted that he still had no way of repatriating the 50 containers of Canadian garbage that his country sent here back in 2013.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Breaking away

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Dennis A. Uy, biz rock star

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THERE are lessons to be learned from the failure of Catalan and Kurdistan to declare themselves as independent states.

Catalan or Catalunia, the northern part of Spain populated by Basque people, held a referendum recently to declare itself as an independent and sovereign state.

From Madrid the Spanish government declared the referendum illegal and the result null and void. The Basque people’s core group were arrested for treason.

Its leader, Carles Puigdemont, escaped arrest by the Spanish authorities because he was in Brussels to seek support and recognition of Catalan’s breakaway state with the European Commission. He is facing arrest and imprisonment if he returns to Spain.

Now a man without a country, Puigdemont is looking at Belgium or some other liberal European country which could give him political asylum. Spain has issued a warrant of ar-

rest against him for the European Union to implement.

A European Union member country might be hesitant to give Puigdemont sanctuary as it would offend Spain, an EU member.

Mamoud Barzani, the leader of Iraq’s Kurdistan province, suffered the same fate. His decades-long ambition to give the Kurdish people their own homeland was crushed by the Baghdad government. Barzani, it can be said, was caught between Iraq and a hard place (Turkey).

The Catalan issue is more than a cultural thing or difference of the Catalan language with Spanish.

Yielding major cities like Valencia including the tourism revenue-rich Barcelona would be a dismemberment of Spain. Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalan. It is the site of the world famous Sagrada Familia cathedral designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The iconic masterpiece with its pointed towers is a sight to behold. I have seen it together with my wife, Adela, during a tour of Barcelona. Valencia. Madrid, Sevilla and Cordova.

Visited by millions of tour-

ists every year, the cathedral was left unfinished by Gaudi who was killed when he was struck by a tram.

The stakes in Kurdistan are just as high because the area the Kurds include in their planned statehood is the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. There is no way cash-strapped Iraq will give up those vast oil fields.

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, a frustrated Barzani said the rejection of the Kurds’ referendum was planned ahead by Iraq.

While the Kurds helped provide military assistance in the US-led coalition force to bring down Saddam Hussein, the new Iraqi leadership knew the Kurds could later be a potential threat to its own security and the rich oil fields.

How do the failed statehood dreams of Catalan and Kurdistan relate to our own Muslims seeking to establish an independent homeland in Mindanao?

Although the Moro lslamic Liberation Front has toned down its secessionist movement to a push for an autonomous region under the framework of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the prospect

to break away from the Republic will always be there.

It does not help that there is a foreign power in the region which is encouraging the Muslims in Mindanao to secede.

Fortunately, a referendum to be initiated by the Muslim population has very little chance of winning given that majority of Mindanao’ population is Christian migrants from the Visayas and Ilocos regions.

While actually not calling it a secessionist movement, an autonomous region in Mindanao would be ceding a large part of Mindanao to the MILF. With the Moro National Liberation Front, the criminal Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf joining forces with the MILF, there is no telling when and where these Islamic group will push the boundaries of their territory.

It may sound absurd but it’s not farfetched that Filipinos might eventually need visas to enter these Muslim areas.

Which brings us to the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Thanks to the scrutiny of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that the original

BBL as drafted by Noynoy Aquino’s clueless negotiators was shelved for review.

Whether Bongbong Marcos wins his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo or not, he must be given the task of chief negotiator for the BBL under the Duterte administration. The modified BBL version must define the scope and limit to power of the Muslims leaders lest they assume more than what is allowed them by the central government in Manila.

The nightmare of a separate Islamic territory in Mindanao isn’t too hard to imagine as we saw in the siege and devastation of Marawi City by the Maute/ ISIS terrorists. That it took five months for government troops to clear Marawi of the last remnants of the Maute/ISIS terrorists showed that the country is facing a full-blown war right in its backyard.

Should these ISIS-inspired terrorists escalate their hostilities to the level of urban guerrilla warfare, then we will really know the meaning of terror like the mayhem wrought on the streets of Paris and London and the Brussels airport.

Justin and other trivia SO I SEE LITO BANAYO BECAUSE of important commitments in Taipei, this writer had to decline an invitation to attend the gala dinner in honor of the leaders attending Asean’s 31st Summit in commemoration of the 50 years of its existence.

Watching the events that unfolded in Clark and Manila from internet snippets was good enough compared to the hustle of activities back home. No selfies, no handshakes, no “thrill” of historic unfolding.

As we write this, we still have to await real news about what the Asean summit achieved. So we will confi ne ourselves with trivia in this article.

There were quite a number of Filipino officials who took the special holidays as occasion to visit Taiwan, particularly its capital, Taipei. Unfortunately for them, the weather had not been too cooperative. It’s been raining here for the last three days, although the mercury has dipped to mid-twenties in daytime and a few degrees lower by nightfall. I am sure many others hied off to Hong Kong, or Macau.

Back home though, the big news, especially to the female population, was how Justin Trudeau,

Bloggers...

From A4

I write all these because of the emergence of bloggers who claim they have thousands of followers, as if that entitles them to some credit. They are called DDS—Diehard Duterte Supporters.

Clothed with the legitimacy given them by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office they now think they must be accorded some respect.

My gulay, they even want to exclude legitimate press organizations from covering the President!

And then on Monday, during the Asean summit, a DDS blogger confronted a BBC reporter on why he interviewed another blogger who was critical of

prime minister of Canada, outshone Donald Trump of America. While the Donald was heavily ensconced by his Secret Service bodyguards, the Justin moved around with the “masa,” enjoying himself immensely in the warm sunlight that Manila provided in contrast to the biting cold back home.

The Bieber “tukayo,” as every Filipina including Rina Jimenez David of the Inquirer gushed, was the “superstar” of the Asean sideshow. From milling with the welcoming crowd in Pampanga, to taking an electric confabulation co-designed by the Canadians with Secretary Art Tugade, to taking a bite of Jollibee’s starch-covered Chickenjoy and wooing the Tondo folk as well as the kitchen crew, and gushing about feminism at the Likhaan Women’s Clinic, the boyish-looking, certainly youngest chief executive who came over just stole the show from Donald Trump.

The Justin sideshow solidified his hold on close to a million Fil-Canadians back home who may have been turned off by the disgusting antics of their other Canadian “idol,” rock star Justin Bieber.

That’s a big chunk of votes, considering that Canada has a population of only 35 million, and thus about 17-million voters, where just about twothirds bother to cast their

vote in parliamentary elections. Ah, the advantages of sparse population!

Canada is 33 times larger than Philippine territory with just a third of our teeming population.

Which makes governance a lot easier for the young son of the equally popular Pierre Elliot Trudeau who ran Canada’s government at the time we had Ferdinand Marcos.

Trudeau’s easy-going and natural charm was in stark contrast to Trump’s rather pompous conduct, using a “special” side entrance to the Cultural Center while everyone else went up the ramp in their host-provided BMW sedan. He effectively denied TV viewers like myself a glimpse of “The Beast,” his armored vehicle. Exchanging pleasantries with our Rodrigo and Mme. Cielito Avancena, the towering Donald even managed to bar the TV cameras from capturing the moment. You’ll never know if he did it on purpose to spite the media that he despises.

But in fairness, the Donald was a nice visitor who did not try to hector his host with issues on human rights and the conduct of our war on drugs. And our Rodrigo was gracious in return.

All’s well that ends well. *** In Da Nang days before, some of the Apec economies brought forth a TPP minus One. The eleven

economies earlier believed that US President Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership was cast in stone was disappointed by the Donald.

So after months of being in limbo over their trade multilateralism, they decided to go ahead, minus the US of A. On the sidelines of the Apec Summit where Trump once again trumpeted his “America First,” the Eleven agreed on the core elements of what they then re-named a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, minus the US, vowed to strengthen their proposals to engage in greater free trade arrangements, with Taiwan intending to join.

Dr. James Soong, Taiwan’s envoy to the Apec said that his delegation did its utmost to ensure that the voice of Taiwan would be heard at Da Nang in Vietnam. *** Some of our female staff were nitpicking on the sartorial elegance, or lack of it, of some of the leaders in the Asean Summit, while going ga-ga over the Justin.

Bakit daw ang “oldstyle” pa ng mga trousers, or Trump’s signature red tie was “lampas sa sinturon,” or our President’s

barong had sleeves rolled.

Wryly I said, “pero sila Presidente, tayo hindi.” *** Just to add to the trivial, my executive assistant here in Taiwan, a former media person, gave me a list of “funny” signs: A coffee shop whose Chinese name, when translated in the English sub-title, reads: “To earn money, you must spend money.”

Yep, that’s the name of the coffee shop.

There’s a restaurant within a hotel, whose name is Frenchified: “L’idiot.”

And believe it or not, a bar cum coffee shop near our office is named “Three Idiots.”

Passing by the cheap shopping area called Ximending, one sees a footand-back massage parlor with the inviting English name: “I Love You, You Love Me Massage.” It has an all-glass façade, which gets you to see the masseuses. They are all past 50,60 even. Oh well.

And nearing the highspeed rail station in the southern city of Kaoshiung, one sees an official sign going up the loading and unloading ramp: “Kiss and Ride.”.

Oo nga naman, don’t forget to kiss your wife or girlfriend, or husband or boyfriend, before you ride the train.

“Tawa ka ng tawa”, I chided my HEA, “pero sila mayaman, maski baluktot ang Ingles.”

President Duterte, but not her. How self-important!

This is why I believe publishers and editors of mainstream media organizations must take a stand against the prostitution of media by these bloggers.

The credibility of our profession is at stake, Santa Banana! Sooner or later, people who have relied in traditional media for so long will not see us the same way!

Why do you think President Duterte won in 2016?

Because of mainstream media’s critical stance against President Aquino, that’s what! Even newly appointed Spokesman Harry Roque has admitted this.

As chairman emeritus of the Manila Overseas Press Club, the longest-running media organization in this country, I think those from mainstream media should

assert themselves against these bloggers. *** I got some calls about my column yesterday on why I thought President Aquino should be charged with treason for the Mamasapano Massacre, not just reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. But they said I did not really say why.

As I stated, BS Aquino gave aid and comfort to enemies of the state – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed Moro groups.

As such, as defined in the Revised Penal Code, the crime of treason happens when one or a group of persons gives aid and comfort to the enemy. Since Aquino, as commander-inchief of the Armed Forces

of the Philippines, did not order the armed battalion to assist the beleaguered SAF, Aquino actually committed treason.

The widows and children of the SAF 44 are still demanding justice. *** The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take a handsoff stance in the anti-drug measures adopted by its members despite human rights concerns is some kind of victory for President Duterte.

While Asean welcomes the assistance of dialogue partners and other external parties in addressing the drug problem through capacity building, intelligence information sharing and other forms of cooperation consistent with relevant international laws, why the hands-off position?

Asean is hiding like an ostrich by not taking a hard-line stance. This is the weakness of the regional organization.

Asean claims drug problems are internal. Is it not abdicating from resolving a common problem? *** Another issue that Asean has shied away from is the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. What then is Asean for if not to stop its members who violate human rights and international laws? *** Two of my favorite singers—Pilita Corrales and Carmen Soriano—have been billed to sing at different venues—at Solaire and Music Museum, respectively.

I have always wanted to hear them again, but the ticket prices are too steep for me.

News

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PDEA signs partnership with Bucor

By Rio N. Araja

enhancement of organized and systematic implementation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly inside correctional institutions.

The arrangement would ensure intelligence-sharing and joint investigation efforts in the conduct of antidrug operations within the jail premises under the ju-

T

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday partnered anew with the Bureau of Corrections to curb illegal activities inside prison facilities and penal farms.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino and BuCor's officer in charge Valfrie Tabian signed a memo-

randum of agreement at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City to continue cooperation and further

risdiction of BuCor. “Under the said agreement, PDEA is also authorized to conduct greyhound operations inside BuCor correctional facilities pursuant to the standard operating procedures,” Aquino said.

Despite rigorous security measures in place, there is still a prevalence of illegal drug trade happening in the

NBP, the PDEA noted.

“That is why, PDEA deemed it necessary to establish its own liaison and coordinating office based inside NBP premises to address rapidly the immediate concern of possible entry of drug contraband,” Aquino said.

He also led the inauguration and blessing of the agency's liaison and coordinating

IN BRIEF

office inside the NBP. “The MoA is an extension of the previous agreement between the two agencies on March 25, 2015, except for the inclusion of additional provisions prescribing PDEA to have its own office inside the BuCor’s jurisdiction to effectively address the trafficking and other illegal activities relative to dangerous drugs,” he said.

Aussie PM Turnbull gives out relief stores to DSWD

By Macon Ramos-Araneta AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP, announced the gifting of P60 million (AUD1.5 million) worth of prepositioned relief supplies and associated funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development during his visit to the National Resource Operations Centre in Pasay City on Nov. 13, 2017.

“We have helped the people of the Philippines with the war in Marawi, now we’re determined to help you win the peace, and that’s our commitment,” Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said.

The prepositioned relief stores support the Philippines government’s response to humanitarian crises including the Marawi conflict. The supplies include tents, sleeping mats and blankets, mosquito nets, multipurpose malong and children’s toys.

These can support the immediate requirements of 160,000 people.

DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said, “We welcome the Australian Government’s continued support. With Australia’s assistance DSWD has strengthened its disaster response by implementing more efficient systems—and reaching people in need more quickly. We look forward to our continued partnership, in-

cluding as we support the rehabilitation of conflict-torn Marawi City.”

The relief stores are part of the P120 million (AUD3 million) grant the Australian Government provided for a three-year Support Program for Disaster Response, which included technical assistance from an Australian Civilian Corps adviser. The contribution was also used to construct a new warehouse in NROC, and assisted DSWD to set up systems for more effective responses to disasters and conflict.

Prepositioning relief items incountry means they can be quickly deployed to assist people affected by disasters and conflict. The Australian Government prepositions goods with DSWD, the Philippine Red Cross, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Food Programme.

Australia stands ready to support the Philippines in times of need. The Australian Government has contributed PHP3.37 billion (AUD84.32 million) since 2006 to support the Philippine Government’s response to disasters and conflict.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III vows to improve the capabilities of government health facilities in the cities of Iligan and Marawi to make them exceed their levels prior to the crisis wrought by the recently concluded armed conflict.

Gordon to address huge backlog of cases at DoJ TO ADDRESS the backlog of 384,625 pending cases as of 2016 that is handled by the Department of Justice, Senator Richard Gordon has vowed to immediately look into a bill proposing amendments to the National Prosecution Service law.

He said the backlog of cases, both criminal and civil, should be addressed to stop criticisms that the country’s justice system is very slow.

As of 2016, he said the caseload was 384,625. “These are prosecution statistics. This is too much for any department. This is a caseload for several departments of justice,” said Gordon.

“But I will look into this right away, because I think one of the big criticisms about our country is that our justice system is very, very slow,” he added when informed

that a bill had been filed by Senator Loren Legarda that was referred to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which he chairs.

The DoJ admitted that the department needs to hire additional prosecutors, stating that there is already an allocation. However there is a need to amend the NPS law to expedite the hiring process to ensure the speedy processing in the appointment of prosecutors.

Under Republic Act No. 10071 or the Prosecution Service Act of 2010, Prosecutors I to Prosecutors V shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice.

On the other hand, prosecution attorneys and special counsels shall be appointed by the Secretary of Justice. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bohol MUNICIPALITY OF SEVILLA INVITATION TO BID

1.

The Municipality of Sevilla, Bohol through its Bids and Awards Committee, (BAC), invites Bidders/Contractors to apply for Eligibility and to Bid for: Name of Project: IMPROVEMENT OF CORE LOCAL ACCCESS ROAD

NATIONAL Biotechnology Week kicks off on Nov. 20, 2017 at the Expo Hall 1 4th floor, Fisher Mall, Quezon City.

With the theme “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran:Lamang ang Masa at Magsasaka sa Limang ‘K’ ng Bioteknolohiya!,” activities will run through until Nov. 24. This year’s weeklong celebration highlights the beneficial application of biotechnology in food and agriculture, health, environment and industry. It will showcase the applications of biotechnology in food production, health and wellness, and environmental conservation through technology exhibits, trade fair, seminars and forums for teachers, students, farmers and consumers. Also part of the celebration are the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotechnology Journalism and the recognition of this year's Filipino Faces of Biotechnology.

The Department of Agriculture is this year’s chair.

Asean migrant rights pact OKd THE Catholic Church and labor groups lauded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ move to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers across the region, saying it is a positive step towards an improved labor and occupational safety standards among Asean 10-member states.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the PhilippinesEpiscopal Commission on Migrants on Itinerant People chairman Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos described the agreement as “caring and helpful” initiative of the Asean leaders.

“This manifests their concern and compassion of the plight of our migrant workers,” the bishop said.

Vito Barcelo

FOURTH ALARM. A fire

that broke out at the Caloocan City Police Headquarters along Samson Road, in Caloocan City, which also houses the Camanava Press Corps office, reached the fourth alarm before it was eventually put out. Below, Scene of the Crime Operatives count some burned evidence, including weapons and police service firearms after the fire.

Andrew Rabula and Manny Palmero

Du30 support to MSMEs lauded

Ejercito laments lack of housing projects

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The national government will have at least fivemillion housing units backlog by 2022 once housing agencies will not be aggressive in the implementation of housing projects for the benefit of Filipinos who are longing for decent houses around the country, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said here recently.

The lawmaker said that to date, the government has a backlog of more than 1.2-million housing units because of the alleged failure of housing agencies to significantly increase completion of housing projects around the country in the prescribed time frame.

Ejercito, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development, noted that the current

performance of housing agencies in the completion of housing units is around 170,000 units annually, way below the supposed 300,000 completed housing units needed to address the backlog created because of the alleged failure of concerned government agencies to provide alternative choices to interested beneficiaries of housing projects.

“We are satisfied with the performance of housing agencies in the implementation of housing projects because they have embraced the reforms that we have proposed, particularly the proper choices of the areas to be developed for housing purposes, the availability of basic utilities and the availability of various housing units from which beneficiaries will select the most feasible for their needs,” Senator Ejercito said.

A HOUSE leader on Tuesday urged local government executives to pursue programs that would empower micro, small and The senator said that one of the medium enterprises folmajor reasons why government lowing President Rodrigo housing projects failed in the past is Duterte's recent declaration because of the wrong choices made to make adjustments in the by those in charge of housing on the 2019 national budget to areas to be developed, which were provide more support for very far from urban areas and agsuch endeavors. gravated by the fact that there were Camariñes Sur Rep. no basic services available for the LRay Villafuerte, vice beneficiaries, and that the single chairperson of the House model of housing units deprived committee on appropriapeople of their right to select units tions, said small busithat will suit their budget. nesses, complemented by According to him, the resilience the unprecedented massive of housing agencies in the impleinfrastructure program of mentation of housing projects in the the Duterte administration, MAGENTA BLACK different parts of CYAN the country will YELLOW would provide the momentum needed to boost the govdefinitely help in addressing the ernment’s goal of sustaining existing backlog in housing units the economy's high growth that was created by the failure of rate and spreading its previous officials to come out with benefits across the rea definitive approach beneficial to gions. Maricel V. Cruz the recipients of the housing units.

Woman slips from platform, loses hand in MRT-3 accident

Location: Lagtangan to Lobgob, Sevilla, Bohol Contract Duration: 60 Calendar Days Approved Budget for the Contract: Php 4,785,892.03 Fund Source: 2017 LGSF-ADM

By Joel E. Zurbano

Bid Documents Fee: Php 5,000.00 2.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using non-discretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9184 known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Only bids from Bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened.

3.

Prospective bidders should possess a current and valid PCAB License applicable to the Contract, have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 50% of the ABC within the last five (5) years, have key personnel and equipment (listed in the eligibility forms) available for the prosecution of the contract and meet the other minimum eligibility requirements stated in the eligibility documents.

4.

All particulars relative to the Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation.

5.

The schedule of BAC Activities is as follow BAC ACTIVITIES Newspaper Publication

‘Natl Biotech week’ kicks off

SCHEDULES November 15, 2017

Posting of Invitation to Bid at PHILGEPS

November 15-21, 2017

Pre-Bid Conference

Date: November 20, 2017 Time: 2:00 P.M. Venue: Municipal Conference Hall, Main Municipal Building Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol

Availability of Bidding Documents

November 20, 2017 to December 6, 2017

Deadline of Submission of Bids

December 7, 2017 @ 12:00 noon c/o BAC Secretariat LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Opening of Bids

Date: December 7, 2017 Time: 1:00 P.M. Venue: Municipal Conference Hall, Main Municipal Building Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol

Bid Evaluation

December 8, 2017

Post-Qualification

December 18-20, 2017

A 24-YEAR-OLD woman passenger lost her right hand during an accident which occurred at the Ayala Avenue station of Metro Railway Transit (MRT-3) in Makati City Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities said the woman, identified as Angeline Fernando, was rushed to the Makati Medical Center after the incident.

Citing reports from an MRT station supervisor, Transportation Undersec-

retary Cesar Chavez said the incident happened around 2:30 pm at the northbound side of the train station.

Chavez said the woman fell out of balance into the platform and her hand was caught in a train coupler.

The incident prompted the MRT management to operate half-line or provisional service, carrying passengers only to and from North Avenue station in Quezon City and Shaw Boulevard station in Mandaluyong City.

A number of passengers who witnessed the incident was terri-

fied about the incident. Some even posted their reactions on social media and made comments on what they saw.

“Live na accident sa MRT station si ate nahulog at naputulan ng buong braso niya tapos pinipilit niyang umakyat kahit isa na lang iyung braso nya,” said a facebook user identified only as Ricca.

A Ms. Laride also posted “Kawawa naman si ate naputulan ng braso sa MRT kanina lang.

Kitang kita ko pangyayari sana

madala agad siya sa ospital.”

The Makati City police is investigating the incident.

The public continues to experience problems riding the MRT-3 aside from enduring long lines at the station for more than one hour before reaching the platform.

Lawmakers are trying to find solution on numerous problems confronting the MRT-3, which officials said, serves more than half a million passengers, more than its capacity of 350,000 per day.

Immigration’s FSU agents arrest Chinese, Indian fugitives

6.

Prospective bidders can secure the Bidding Documents during office hours on the period indicated above at the BAC Secretariat, Office of the Municipal Accountant, Ground Floor, Municipal Hall, Sevilla, Bohol upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Five Thousand Pesos ( Php 5,000.00) Only.

7.

Prospective bidders are required to secure a “Certificate of Site Inspection” to be signed by the Municipal Engineer. The said document shall form part of the Technical Requirements.

8.

Implementation of the Project shall commence upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed issued by the Head of the Procuring Entity.

9.

The Municipal Government of Sevilla, Bohol reserves the right to accept or reject any bid or to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award. Likewise, the LGU assumes no responsibility or liability for any and all costs associated with the Bidder’s Participation in the bidding process regardless of its result.

Bids and Awards Committee.

(SGD.) ARTEMIO D. PERIN BAC Chairman Municipal Hall Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol 09988846108 (MS-NOV. 15, 2017)

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration ordered the deportation of two fugitive foreigners arrested in separate operations by the agency’s intelligence operatives.

The two foreigners, identified as Pan Guisheng, a

Chinese and Reddy Koyanna Venugopal Krishna, an Indian, were arrested by members of the bureau’s fugitive search unit in Caloocan City.

The 73-year-old Pan was arrested inside the Jade Tower Condominium along 2nd Avenue, Caloocan City.

Pan is allegedly a fugitive wanted for economic crimes in China.

On the other hand, Krishna is the subject of various criminal complaints including acts of lasciviousness, estafa and issuing bouncing checks.

Morente said Pan will be

deported for posing risk to public safety and security due to his being a fugitive.

He added that the Chinese national is an undocumented alien as his passport was already canceled by the Chinese government.

As for Krishna, Morente said a summary deporta-

tion order has already been issued by the BI board of commissioners against the Indian for being an undesirable alien.

However, he explained Krishna won’t be deported yet due to pending criminal cases against him before the courts.

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Tabuena seeks PGT redemption

M

IGUEL Tabuena tries to make up for his last-hole meltdown at Southwoods last Sunday as he shoots for a second PGT Asia crown against a crack international field in the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship reeling off today (Wednesday, Nov. 15) at WW East course in Mandaluyong.

Tabuena edged Angelo Que by one to rule the kickoff leg of the inaugural staging of the region’s newest circuit, also at Southwoods last August, before the Rio Olympian shifted his campaign abroad in search of world ranking points.

He could’ve headed for

this week’s $100,000 event a winner but fumbled at the finish, triple-bogeying the par-5 18th of Southwoods’ Masters course and missing even the playoff which young Korean-American Micah Shin won over Thai Arnond Vongvanij.

But the 23-year-old for-

mer Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner shrugged off the setback, saying it was a “learning experience” and instead set his sights on the next PGTA crown to be disputed over a tight, demanding course that requires accuracy more than length.

Emphasis will indeed be on precision with the 106-player field, including 43 foreign aces from 16 countries, bracing for four days of battle of wits and nerves at one of the country’s toughest courses and home to the Philippine Open.

Tabuena, in fact, will be tested right in the first round as he drew former manytime PGT OOM winner Tony Lascuña and PGTA Splendido leg champion Rene Menor in the featured 7:20 a.m. flight on No. 1.

They will be followed by another explosive group composed of newly-crown OOM winner Clyde Mondilla, Michael Bibat and Thai Pasavee Lertvilai, whom Menor nipped in the playoff in Tagaytay last September.

Mondilla, winner of four legs in the PGT, is actu-

ally gunning for a second straight PGTA title after nipping Bibat and Korean amateur Tom Kim at Riviera, also last September, before the circuit, put up

by ICTSI and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. took a twomonth break.

Justin Quiban, who also turned in an impressive joint fifth place effort at Southwoods last Sunday, is also fancied to contend this week along with fellow young guns Jobim Carlos, Ira Alido and Keanu Jahns.

Wisut Artjanawat, an-

PXF President Wilson Tan, EVP Charles Chan Chua, WXF VP Chen Ze Lan, PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram, WXF President Timothy Fock; WXF VP Peter Chan, Filipino Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation President William Gosiaco and PSC Chief of Staff Dino Badilla are shown during the opener of the 7th World Xiangqi (Chinese chess) Championship Monday night at the Fortune Restaurant in Manila.

ABS-CBN S+A airs Alab PH opening game

IT’S TIME to light the fires once again for Alab Pilipinas, the Philippines’ representative in the ASEAN Basketball League’s eighth season, which opens with a home game of the squad at the Mall of Asia Arena this Sunday, live on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD at 8 p.m.

Alab, which almost made it to last year’s Finals, is raring to make a splash in the international scene again behind a new coach in former national

player and professional great, Jimmy Alapag.

Alapag will be relying on his main guns like 2016-2017 ABL MVP Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., former Green Archer and UAAP champion Rico Maierhoffer, Fil-Am swingman Lawrence Domingo, and hulking American import, former Atlanta Hawk Ivan Johnson. Spicing up the squad will be the veteran presence of the Cebuano Hotshot, Dondon

Hontiveros, who brings his legendary sniping to the ABL. The Philippine team hopes to make a deeper run in the new season after falling short of their objective last year: to win a championship. However, they’ll be facing stiffer competition with the entry of four new squads.

Joining the fray in one of the best professional basketball leagues in Southeast Asia are the Formosa Dreamers from

Taiwan, CLS Knights from Indonesia, Nanhai Long Lions from China, and the returning Mono Vampire squad from Thailand. They’ll be going up against our very own Alab Pilipinas, the Singapore Slingers, the Saigon Heat, the Westsports Malaysia Dragons, and the defending champions Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, who will feature Philippine national team standout Christian Standhardinger as import.

WITH the staging of the 15th World Xiangqi Championship in the Philippines, both international and local officials are hoping that the sport of Chinese chess will reach a higher level of growth in the country.

Olympic Committee of Asia vice president Timothy Fok Tsun-tin, who is also the President of the Asian Xiangqi Federation, said this following a meeting with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez at the Manila Hotel.

“We see the recent development (of the sport) and a lot of the exposure in the sport. It is fast growing,” said the Hong Kong-based Fok Tsun-tin, who is also the president of Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, before the start of the Games.

Xiangqi is a strategy board game for two players. It is one of the most popular board games in China, representing a battle between two armies, with the object of capturing the enemy’s general (king).

Fok Tsun-tin said xiangqi will be played again as a dem-

Bacoor, Zapote schools big winners at PSC tilt MEMBERS of the Bacoor National High School and Zapote Elementary School dominated the badminton event, while BNHS-Tabing-Dagat and Mabolo Elementary School topped the table tennis competitions during the 1st Kabataan Iwas-Droga: Start on Sports tournament at the Theresian School of Cavite.

Gawaran Campus of BNHS also came up big in the chess competition for the Secondary level, while Aniban ES and Niog ES fought tooth and nail in the Elementary division in the tournament participated in by 158 students from 14 public schools as part of the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots sports development program.

Angelo Bajamudin was probably the biggest winner of the tournament. Right after

winning the badminton Singles Secondary title, a talent scout from the University of Perpetual Help—Dalta System immediately offered him a scholarship to be part of the school’s team for the NCAA. “Ito po talaga ang pangarap ko, gamitin ang badminton para makapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” said the 16-year-old Molino high talent.

Participating teams were Habay ES, Sineguelasan ES, Bacoor ES, Mabolo ES, Aniban ES, Zapote ES, Dulong Bayan ES, Niog ES, Gawaran ES, Maliksi ES, Bacoor National H.S. (Salinas Annex), Tabing Dagat H.S. and Molino Main H.S. Prior to the tournament, a four-week sports clinic was conducted at the Strike Gymnasium —Bacoor City Hall from July 21 to Aug. 13.

participants—some with their families or groups of friends in tow—as they kicked off the weekend on a high note.

The organizers couldn’t have felt more gratified as Golden Fiesta successfully held the first leg of its Heart Healthy Camp. The freeadmission fitness camp, after all, was warmly received by scores of fitness enthusiasts who quickly filled up the Solenad 1-Flex Lot and got the new fitness regimen going.

Camp participants readily tried out an assortment of workout routines and activities that were categorized into beginner, intermediate, and advance levels that matched their varying fitness requirements.

Each station was manned by professional coaches

PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin joins young student-athletes from Bacoor City, Cavite during the closing ceremony of the 1st PSC Kabataan Iwas-Droga: Start on Sports tournament over the weekend at the Theresian School of Cavite.

Over 600 kids from 38 public schools joined the weekend trainings, which were made possible through the collaboration of the PSC, the City Government of Bacoor through Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla and the Department of Education.

PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin said the program is part of the government’s campaign to veer the youth away from drug abuse.

The Elastic Heart fitness band at the Golden Fiesta Heart Healthy Camp aims to improve total body functional strength, build lean muscle mass, and push the heart to pump needed blood to function well.

and trainers to ensure that everyone was carrying out the exercises properly and safely. The workout activities included Pumps!

Plyometric Box Jumps; Heart Skips! Low Hurdles; Heart Beats! Agility Lad-

onstration sport in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. It will be back in the Asiad following a 12-year absence.

Ramirez said the PSC has committed to help the game grow and help spread it beyond the homes and offices of the members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

“It will be an honor to welcome him, to engage the Filipino-Chinese community on this and promote the games in the Philippines,” said Ramirez.

The PSC chief added that as part of their support, they can provide game boards and develop the sport with the help of the Philippine Sports Institute.

PSI national training training director Marc Edward Velasco used to work with Fok Tsun-tin, during his time as a top official of the Hong Kong Sports Institute. And the PSI is expected to be involved in its propagation in the country.

The world championship drew around 120 participants from 26 countries, with cash prizes totaling P2.5 million. Peter Atencio

Garcia shocks Chinese no. 7, Tria, Suarez win

“We want the kids to use their free time in worthwhile activities—be fit and healthy, have them focus on sports rather than take part in negative behaviors and activities,” said Agustin.

“This is also one of PSC’s mission in holding sports activities —to identify and tap raw talents that can be polished into gems to join the nation’s sports workforce in the future.”

Fitness enthusiasts join Golden Fiesta’s Heart Healthy Camp A TROPICAL cyclone had come and gone, the sun was up bright and early, and for the Philippines’ leading cooking oil brand, Golden Fiesta, it was perfect weather for the special gathering of health enthusiasts, both incorrigible veterans and newbies in the fitness game.

Clad in their exercise gear, they all trooped to Solenad 1 in Nuvali, Laguna, last Saturday, some as early as 6 a.m., for Golden Fiesta’s Heart Healthy Camp— a fun-filled holistic fitness program designed to improve one’s overall body strength and conditioning.

Their singular goal: to jump-start a heart-healthy lifestyle and be physically fit at any age.

The sunny weather matched the high spirits of

only to waver in the clutch, hopes to put it all together this time as he opens his bid against Elmer Salvador and Jhonnel Ababa at 7:30 a.m., also on the first hole.

Others tipped to contend for the top $17,500 purse in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. are veteran campaigners Charles Hong, Zanieboy Gialon, Orlan Sumcad, Mhark Fernando and Marvin Dumandan.

15th World Xiangqi gets PSC backing

Jarata, Jucutan score net doubles MARIELLE Jarata racked up two titles in emphatic fashions while Exequiel Jucutan upended his fancied rivals in the boys’ side of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Baguio leg tennis tournament at the Baguio Tennis Club in Burnham Park last Monday.

Jarata, from Agoo, La Union, overpowered Prince Lim, 4-0, 4-1, to dominate the 10-unisex division then moved one rung higher and crushed Dynna Visaya, 6-0, 6-0, for the 12-U crown of the Group 2 tournament that drew close to 200 players from Pangasinan, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Tarlac and Laguna.

Jucutan, on the other hand, stunned top seed Andre Jarata, 6-3, 6-3, to snare the boys’ 14-U title then the rising Pangasinan star turned back second seed Dale Cuevas, 6-1, 5-7, 10-8, in the 16-U finals of the fourday championship sponsored

by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

“These two players’ feats impress us the most and we hope to produce more of their kind through our year-long, nationwide talent-search, which has now reached north,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Denise Bernardo came all the way from Los Baños, Laguna to blast Angela Tangalin, 6-3, 6-1, and claim the girls’ 18-U plum while local bet and No. 3 Joshua De Guzman thwarted Charles Torres, 6-3, 6-4, in finals of the boys’ premier side of the event sponsored by local backer Erge Consultants and supported by the Unified Tennis Philippines, including PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. The local girls also stamped their class with Sharry Caluza foiling top seed Bernardo’s bid for a second diadem with a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the 16-U finals and the top-seeded Angeline Atos crushing Adriana Cabahug, 6-1, 6-1, for the 14-U title.

other Thai entry who placed seventh in the kickoff leg at Southwoods, and Dutchman Guido Van der Valk, who wound up sixth at Riviera, are also in the roster, along with James Bowen, Paul Harris and Lexus Keoninh of the US, Dengshan Koh and Choo Tze Huang of Singapore, and Aussies David Gleeson, Andrew Campbell and Rick Coleman.

Artjanawat will play alongside Rufino Bayron and Ferdie Aunzo at 7:45 a.m. on No. 10 while Van der Valk, who has had a number of cracks at the PGT crown

ders; Elastic Heart! Fitness Band; Heart Swing! Kettle Bells; and Heart Waves!

Battle Ropes.

The morning was likewise made livelier by a Zumba session led by top Zumba and yoga instructor

Karen Buenvenida.

The camp participants might have worked up quite an appetite after all the activities that they eagerly watched a live cooking demo—of recipes using heart-healthy Golden Fiesta Canola Oil—conducted by Pinoy celebrity chef Jose Sarasola.

Sarasola showed the audience how to prepare simple, heart-healthy meals like Golden Fiesta Lettuce Salad with Guyabano Vinaigrette, Golden Fiesta Bangus Back Fillet and Adobo Kangkong Duo, and Golden Fiesta Japanese Chicken Katsu in Curry Sauce.

The cooking demo was followed by a food sampling, of course.

Golden Fiesta Canola Oil is a rich source of cholesterol-reducing phytosterols,

an all-natural plant extract that can reduce your body’s cholesterol level by as much as 15 percent. Scientific studies and trials show that consumption of two grams of phytosterols per day has the potential of diminishing one’s risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Participants were encouraged to learn more health tips by engaging in “Heart Talks,” which was conducted by licensed nutritionist-nietician and fitness specialist Fia Batua.

“We Filipinos can’t say no to fried food, but the good news is Golden Fiesta is promoting simple changes that we can do on a daily basis to improve our overall health. We urge everyone to start these simple lifestyle changes in your kitchen,” Batua said.

MATTHEW Garcia pulled off a shock 7-5, 6-2 victory over seventh seed Sida Zeng of China while Jose Antonio Tria rolled past Hong Kong’s Kyle Lok Yin Tang, 6-3, 6-2, at the start of the 2017 Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships Week I at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park yesterday.

Garcia, son of former tennis star Dyan Castillejo, survived a tight first set duel with Zeng then sustained his form to dominate the second frame as the 14-year-old Montessori Alabang student moved into the second round against Ryota Ishii of Japan, who clobbered Indonesian Jerall Yasin, 6-1, 6-0.

Tria, on the other hand, overpowered Tang and fashioned out a lopsided win, which primed up the rising local star against Taiwanese Chun Jui Kung, who upset No. 8 Darrshan Suresh of Malaysia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Justin Suarez likewise advanced with an emphatic 6-1, 6-0 rout of Man San Chan of Hong Kong with the 17-year-old Filipino bracing for an uphill battle against the victory in the No. 4 O Arazza of Indonesia-Xie Yu Lun of China match in the upper half of the 32-player draw of the Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) boys’ 18-and-under event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Top seed Shunsuke Mitsui of Japan eased out wild card Marco Ayala, 6-0, 6-0; Japan’s Mikihisa Matsuaki held off qualifier Julian Fernandez, 6-4, 6-2; No. 3 Taiyo Yamanaka routed qualifier Stephan Lhuillier, 6-0, 6-1, in the event supported by Technifiber ball as official ball, official hotel Jinjiang Inn, Makati and the Philippine Sports Commission.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

LeBron rallies Cavs past NY; Dubs win

Sports

SMASHED. Rialen Sante of Sta Lucia Realty smashes one against the defense of Victoria Sports-University of Sto. Tomas’ Shanen Palec and Mary Dominique Pacres in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Roman Prospero

WASHINGTON—LeBron James scored 23 points and reserve guard Kyle Korver added 21 as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 24-point deficit Monday to edge the New York Knicks 104-101.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James added 12 assists and nine rebounds for the visiting Cavs, who were down by two dozen points in the third quarter before storming back for the victory.

Trailing 97-92, the Cavaliers went on a 10-0 run to grab the lead, James sinking a step-back 3-pointer to give Cleveland a 100-97 edge with 83 seconds remaining, their first lead since 25-24 in the second quarter.

“I thought his defense is what turned it,” Korver said of James. “He’s always going to get in the paint and make plays. That is where he is really special. He is able to do everything. And he showed that in the fourth quarter.”

Korver, who sank two 3-pointers in the last 4:35, made four late free throws to offset baskets by Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jnr. James missed two late free throws but Jeff Green grabbed the rebound for Cleveland to deny the Knicks a potential tying shot at the buzzer.

Dwyane Wade added 15 off the bench for Cleveland while Hardaway led New York with 28 points and Porzingis added 20.

Gilas working on chemistry G

By Jeric Lopez

ILAS Pilipinas started its threeday training camp in Tagaytay yesterday in hopes of improving its chemistry and strengthening its bond ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

currently composed of core players June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Raymund Almazan, Matthew Wright, Gabe Norwood, Roger Pogoy, Allein Maliksi, Carl Bryan Cruz, Mac Belo and Kevin Alas.

While naturalized import Andray Blatche was expected to arrive Sunday, he’s still not around and the team still awaits his presence for more boost.

However, Blatche, through nhis Instagram account, guaranteed last Monday that he is Philippine-bound the soonest to take care of business.

“Be back with my brothers real soon to take care of business,” said Blatche in his post.

He is expected to join the team in Tagaytay the soonest once he arrives.

The Philippines is set to take on Japan on Nov. 24 at the Komazawa Olympic

Park General Sports Gymnasium before facing Chinese Taipei on Nov. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Australia will be the PH team’s final Group B foe.

In its first tune-up game last Saturday, Gilas Pilipinas was shocked by Alab Pilipinas of the Asean Basketball League, causing cause of concerns for national coach Chot Reyes, who saw no “positives” in the team’s performance.

The nationals bowed to Alab, 76-81, in a tune-up game on Saturday morning at the Meralco gym, prompting Reyes to say that the team “sucked big-time.”

Gilas played catch-up ball to Alab all throughout the game, before giving up the fight.

Only Jayson Castro and June Mar Fajardo scored in double figures for Gilas with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The national team traveled to Tagaytay Monday night after a practice session in the morning before

starting its training Tuesday morning down south in Splendido.

Gilas’ training pool is

Chiang Kai Shek, Miriam crowned cage champs

Firefighters send Cavaliers crashing back to earth

CHIANG Kai Shek College snared a third straight juniors’ basketball title while midgets’ basketball has a new champion in Miriam College in the 48th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Assumption College likewise shared the limelight by ruling both juniors and seniors divisions of the futsal event.

CKSC capped its sweep of the best-of-three finals with an 88-57 whipping of De La Salle Zobel at Rizal Memorial Coliseum over the weekend.

La Salle College Antipolo beat San Beda College Alabang for third place, 65-53.

Miriam also swept the midgets’ championship against St. Paul College Pasig, winning Game 2, 68-50.

DLSZ has lorded it over the division for the past seven seasons.

Two weeks ago, Centro Escolar University bagged a seventh straight seniors’ plum.

Assumption, led by Most Valuable Player Martina Therese Roxas, downed LSCA in the juniors finals, while the seniors’ squad stopped CEU. Other junior individual awardees were DLSZ’s Alisha Claire del Campo (Best Scorer), Miriam’s Kasandra Marie Zalamea (Best Striker), LSCA’s Mhartina Andrea Cruz (Best Midfielder), LSCA’s Princes Ada Wenceslao (Best Goalkeeper) and DLSZ’s Marie Isulat (Best Defender).

THE BFP Fire Fighters stained the AFP Cavaliers’ spotless record with a 10497 win to give the soldiers their first defeat of the season in the UNTV Cup Season 6 on Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center.

BFP playing coach Gilbert Malabanan believes that the team’s extra effort during its practice sessions and in the game bore fruit.

“Pinaghandaan namin iyan. Sinabi ko iyan sa mga players ko, hindi namin kakayanin iyan kapag magpapractice lang kami. Kailangan namin mag-extra effort talaga. Nakita naman namin ang conditioning na ginawa namin sa kalaban, so nagbunga talaga ang hirap na-

min,” said Malabanan.

AFP Assistant Coach Ronald Cahanding admitted that the team’s lack of defense was a culprit of their loss.

“Kung makikita natin ‘yung game, natapos na high score. So ang nangyari talaga sa amin, ang sama ng defense namin. Nakita niyo naman ang taas ng score nila, ang dami naming ibinigay na fast break,” said Cahanding.

AFP now has a 3-1 record, while BFP claimed its first win in four games.

Meanwhile, the PDEA Drug Busters stunned the Justice Boosters, 105-86, for its first win in the league of public servants.

PDEA was able to limit DOJ’s outside shooting and

intensified its defense in the paint area. “‘Yung mga shooter lang habulin nila, ‘di bale na maliit sila basta may challenge. Tapos ang mga big man, pinigilan nila sa ilalim,” Drug Busters’ coach Felix Armando said.

PDEA’s Robert Sanz and Brillos Rizon made a combined 56 points and were hailed as the Best Players of the Game.

In another game, the GSIS Furies notched its second win after toppling the DOH Health Achievers, 83-73.

Forward James Patrick Abugan led the Furies with 22 points and six rebounds and was named the game’s The PDEA Drug Busters’ Robert Sanz elevates for a jumper as Best Player.

GSIS now has a 2-2 record, DOJ Justice Boosters’ Eric Cole tries to block his shot in the UNTV Cup Season 6 at the Pasig City Sports Center. while DOH slipped to 1-3.

NU girls foil Junior Tigresses’ s sweep bid in volleyball DEFENDING girls’ champion National University foiled University of Santo Tomas’ bid to march straight to the Finals with a 25-20, 25-15, 26-24, Sunday in the UAAP Season 80 high school volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Bullpups played with a lot of intensity as they overcame the Junior Tigresses’ valiant effort in the third set to post their 10th win in 11 games.

UST finished the elims with an 11-1

record and will slide to No. 2 in the Final Four if NU beats also-ran University of the East in the final day of eliminations at 8 a.m. today at the San Juan arena.

The Bullpups and the Junior Tigresses hold a twice-to-beat bonus against either De La Salle-Zobel or Far Eastern University-Diliman (6-6) in the Final Four on Sunday.

In the boys’ division, titleholder NU and FEU-Diliman primed up for their

much-anticipated showdown today by posting straight set wins.

The Bullpups downed UP Integrated School, 25-13, 25-7, 25-11, while the Baby Tamaraws swept De La SalleZobel, 25-16, 25-12, 25-20.

Still tied in first place at 11-2, NU and FEU-Diliman dispute the first twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four today.

UST and UE, meanwhile, also posted convincing wins to keep their

hopes alive for the other semifinals’ incentive.

The Tiger Cubs tripped Adamson University, 25-15, 25-13, 25-20, while the Junior Warriors bested Ateneo, 2515, 25-17, 25-20.

Both sporting 10-3 cards, UST and UE clash to break the tie today. The winner of the Tiger Cubs-Junior Warriors match will face the loser of the Bullpups-Baby Tamaraws tussle in a playoff for the No. 2 spot on Friday.

“King” James bumped French teen guard Frank Ntilikina early in the game and New York teammate Enes Kanter, a Turkish center, stood toe-to-toe with James, continuing a spat that began on social media that extended to post-game comments.

“You can’t just come in and mess with a rookie like that. Mess with a grown man,” Kanter said. “You can call yourself King, Queen, Princess, whatever, but you can’t punk us.”

Told of the remarks, James said, “We got the win. I’m not going to say that guy’s name again.”

Even with star guard Stephen Curry out with a bruised thigh, the defending champion Golden State Warriors dumped visiting Orlando 110100. Kevin Durant had 21 points and Draymond Green added 20 to lead the Warriors.

Sixers outlast Clippers Joel Embiid scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while Robert Covington added 31 points and Australia’s Ben Simmons added 22 points to power the Philadelphia 76ers over the host Los Angeles Clippers 109-105.

A 10-1 Sixers’ run capped by two Simmons free throws put the 76ers ahead 105-101.

Austin Rivers sank a 3-pointer for the Clippers but Covington, whose 3-pointer put the 76ers ahead for good, made four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the victory. AFP

UST grabs poomsae title back UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas rode on seniors Jocel Ninobla and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. to reclaim the championship in the UAAP Season 80 poomsae competitions yesterday at the Blue Eagle Gym. Ninobla and Reyes won their respective individual events and later combined forces in winning the mixed pair event to help the Growling Tigers bag their third championship overall.

Ninobla tallied 8.250 points to rule the female individual category, beating De La Salle’s Rinna Babanto (8.165) and University of the Philppines’ Patricia Jubelar (8.115).

With 8.435 points, Reyes topped the male individual event, prevailing over Ateneo’s Marvin Gabriel Vidal (8.270) and De La Salle’s McAvyngyr Alob (8.130).

The bemadalled UST duo then finished their collegiate stint on a high note by winning the gold in the mixed pair with 8.395, besting De La Salle’s Angelica Gaw and Raphael Enrico Mella (8.250) and UP’s Janna Oliva and Jayboy Buenavista (8.235).

The Tigers also bagged a bronze in the female team category.

The Green Archers, last season’s champions, settled for second this time with a 1-2-1 gold-silver-bronze haul.

De La Salle’s Alob, Mella and Benjamin Sembrano emerged victorious in the male team event with 8.320 points.

Far Eastern University, with its one gold and one bronze showing, made it to the the podium for the first time.

Juvenile Faye Crisostomo also ended her collegiate stint as a winner, helping the Tamaraws win the gold in the female team event, alongside Winlou dela Cerna and Leonarda Nicole Landrito with 8.330 points.

FEU also took home a bronze in the male team category.

Manigque, 3 others go 5-for-5 golds in Batang Pinoy DUMAGUETE—Tagbilaran’s Gabriel Manigque led a quartet of swimmers to a sweep all of their five events, while Cebu City’s Rick Angelo Sotto was poised to do the same in athletics in the Batang Pinoy Games Visayas regional championships on Tuesday here.

In a feat that surprised even himself, Manigque capped his fruitful campaign in style by ruling the boys’ 13-15-year-old

200-meter freestyle race in two minutes and .07.05 second for his fifth straight individual gold at the close of the swimming competitions at the Lorenzo G. Teves Aqua Center.

Joining Manigque in the ranks of multiple achievers was Bohol provincemate Ange Lyn Decabo, who bagged the mints in the girls’ 13-15 100-meter breastroke (1:23.59) and 50-meter freestyle (30.69) in the meet organized and supported by the

Philippine Sports Commission.

Jennuel Booh de Leon of powerhouse Aklan also picked up a pair of golds in the boys 12-under division in the 200-meter freestyle (2:25.46) and 200-meter butterfly race while Bohol’s Chloe Sophia Laurente added the girls’ 12-under 200-meter butterfly gold (2:53.37) to her tally in duplicating the feat of their senior swimmers.

“This is unbelievable. It’s like

acing a test,” said Manigque, 15, a Grade 8 varsity swimmer at UE, of his accomplishments in the sportsfest also supported by the Dumaguete City government led by Mayor Felipe Mariano “Ipe” Remollo.

The lanky yet well-built sixfooter could not hide his delight at the surprising outcome and vowed to train hard for next year’s Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur after laying a big fat egg in the 2017 edition

held in San Jose, Antique edition last April.

“He (Gabriel) wants to be able to swim for the country one day. I hope he gets noticed by this performance,” Boboy Manigque, the young swimmer’s father-coach and a former high school swimming standout, bared of his son’s ambitions.

Aklan handily took swimming overall honors with a tally of 15 gold, 10 silver and 4 bronze

medals, Bacolod placed second (8-6-7) and Ormoc City, Leyte, was a close third (8-4-6) Under the radar in the first few days of the trackfest at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Stadium, Sotto’s exploits could no longer be ignored after boosting his haul to four gold in capturing the boys triple jump title and being a member of the triumphant Cebu City 4x100-meter relay squad (47.3 seconds).

Stock market rallies; Meralco tops gainers B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

B1

PH may develop nuclear energy

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE government on Tuesday solidified its plan to tap nuclear energy after signing an agreement with Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corp. to build land-based or floating nuclear power plants.

PAL TO NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden (center) witnesses the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista (left) and Tourism New Zealand chief executive Stephen England-Hall. The partnership expects to strengthen the bilateral relations of the two countries by enabling commercial links. The Philippine flag carrier is introducing non-stop flights between Manila and Auckland in December 2017. Sonny Espiritu

Filinvest, JG submit P839-b bid to build Clark airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar C O N G L O M E R AT E S Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. jointly submitted a new unsolicited proposal to the government for the long-term development of Clark International Airport at a cost of P839 billion.

Under the new proposal,

the Filinvest-JGS joint venture will build future capacity augmentation, expand airport facilities including terminals and runways, among others, and operate and maintain the existing and new passenger terminals.

The two also proposed to develop, operate and maintain the commercial assets of Clark International Airport, which in-

clude facilities for general aviation and fixed- base operations and real estate.

The development of Clark International Airport is a joint project of the Department of Transportation and the Bases Conversion Development Authority. The airport, under Executive Order 14 s. 2017, was declared an alternate global gateway in the country that could help decongest

Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The new proposal was different from the one earlier submitted by the joint venture. Instead of including the construction of a second terminal building, it proposed the long- term development of the airport into the country’s second international gateway.

The previous proposal

Russian firm, FNI to construct nickel plant

By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL Ferronickel Holdings Inc., the second largest nickel producer in the Philippines, said Tuesday it signed a cooperation agreement with Russia’s Vi Holding Llc. to undertake the joint processing of lateritic nickel ores.

FNI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that company chairman Joseph Sy and Vi Holding chairman Valery Krasnov signed the agreement at the sidelines of the PhilippinesRussia bilateral meeting during the 31st Asean Summit.

The signing was wit-

nessed by President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian Federation Prime Minister Dmitry Medveded.

FNI said the agreement aimed to enhance mutually beneficial business cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of mining, metallurgy and energy.

FNI said it was hoping to take advantage of Vi Holding’s patented technology of processing nickelbearing ore that requires significantly lower capital investment coupled with lower production costs.

This technology makes it possible to quickly and efficiently build mining and

IN BRIEF China commits $7.34-b loans

CHINA committed to the Philippines $7.34 billion worth of loans and grants for infrastructure projects, construction of drug rehabilitation facilities and reconstruction of war-torn Marawi City, the Finance Department said Tuesday.

Data from the DoF showed that of the total amount committed by Beijing, loans accounted for $7.19 billion while grants amounted to $148.22 million.

The DoF’s International Finance Group reported to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III that the assumed loan amount pledged by China accounted for 85 percent of the total cost of 10 projects.

These cover soft loans under the first “basket” of projects that include $234.92-million for the Kaliwa-New Centennial Water Source in Quezon province; $72.49 million for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in North Luzon; and $2.91 billion for the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Railway.

These loans totaled $3.21 billion.

For the second basket of projects, the Philippines and China agreed to line up an estimated $3.98 billion in loans that may include $947.64 million for Subic-Clark Railway and $424.81 million for the Davao City Expressway.

“Please note that most projects are still in the feasibility study stages and would require ICC processing to determine final project cost; list may also be changed or updated,” the DoF said. Julito G. Rada

Megawide expects P2.1-b profit

MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said Tuesday it is on track to meet its P2.1-billion net income target for 2017 after posting strong third-quarter earnings.

Megawide in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange said consolidated net income reached P1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2017, up 7 percent from the same period last year, boosted by the positive performance of its airport and construction business.

The company generated consolidated revenues of P14.3 billion in January to September, an increase of 4 percent from a year ago.

The P14.3-billion revenues already accounted for 77 percent of the company’s full-year revenue guidance of P18.6 billion.

“Megawide is poised to hit its 2017 guidance, as our construction business bounced back with a strong 3rd quarter and the airport business continued its double digit growth trajectory,” Megawide chairman and chief executive

metallurgical complexes comprising independent coal-fired power supply facilities, it said.

Both companies are now in the process of forming a joint working group to undertake the initial testing of ore samples and to conduct feasibility studies.

“We are one with the government in pushing for industrialization of the mining industry,” said FNI chairman Joseph Sy. “Going into value added processing has long been part of our business objectives and we are very excited at the prospects this new technology brings,” Sy said.

Edgar Saavedra said.

Construction business, which contributed 87 percent of total revenues, delivered P12.4 billion in sales for the period.

Jenniffer B. Austria

NLEX’s income rises 16% to P3.4b

NLEX Corp. said Tuesday net income rose 16 percent in the first nine months, on higher toll revenues at North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway.

The operator of NLEx and SCTEx said net income hit P3.4 billion in January to September, up from P2.9 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Total revenues ending September reached P8.6 billion, or 9 percent higher than P7.89 billion last year due to the steady increase in traffic at NLEx and SCTEx and steady revenue contributions from non-toll business operations.

Toll revenues grew 9 percent to P8.5 billion from last year’s P7.8 billion.

The average daily traffic at NLEx dreached 233,332 daily entries, or 7 percent higher than same period last year, while traffic at SCTEx increased 22 percent to 53,407 daily entries.

Non-toll revenues rose 14 percent to P122 million from P107 million a year earlier, on higher royalty fees, utility facility fees and other non-toll initiatives. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH, New Zealand expand deal

The Philippines and New Zealand signed an amendment to extend geothermal energy cooperation.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan signed the amendment Tuesday in the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The signing of the amendment extended the arrangement signed on Oct. 2012 until October 2020.

“The amendment aims to further strengthen and enhance the cooperation between the two countries on geothermal energy cooperation through government- level collaboration and the facilitation of private sector activities,” the Energy Department said in a statement.

The amendment also provides for the continuous exchange of experiences and technical assistance in the field of geothermal energy exploration, development and utilization through capacity building and share of information, knowledge and current trends on geothermal energy.

It creates a platform for New Zealand’s geothermal industry to engage with the Philippines in accelerating and promoting geothermal development through the exchange of experiences, information, and technical assistance.

Alena Mae S. Flores

also included the operation and maintenance of the existing and new terminals under a joint venture with BCDA. The Filinvest-JGS joint venture submitted a P187billion unsolicited proposal to develop Clark Airport in July after the government announced that it was open to accepting unsolicited proposals for infrastructure projects.

“That’s [floating nuclear power plants] a part of the study that is covered by the memo of the cooperation,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Cusi said he signed a cooperation agreement with Rosatom executives for nuclear power development.

“The parties intend to cooperate in the development of the national nuclear infrastructure in the Republic of the Philippines to support further implementation of the peaceful nuclear program in the country,” Rosatom said.

“Partners will also explore the possibilities for the construction of land based or floating nuclear power plants equipped with small modular reactors in the Republic of the Philippines. In addition, the technical conditions of the Bataan NPP will be assessed to determine the possibility of its reopening and eventual commissioning,” Rosatom said.

Cusi said the MOU “firms up everything we have been doing.”

Cusi earlier said international experts from Russia and Slovenia were studying options for the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan nuclear power plant.

“But there is still no recommendations although their observations is the same as our that the struc-

ture is good,” he said.

Cusi said the government was mulling over several options for the use of the Bataan facility as a bomb shelter, hotel, library or data center, if repowering was no longer feasible.

The energy chief said the government needed to find a “closure” on the Bataan nuclear power plant, which had not operated for over 30 years.

“If we will no longer use it, what are the possible options? We can use it as a bomb shelter, may be a library, hotel, data center,” Cusi said.

The nuclear facility, though completed already, was mothballed in 1986 on safety concerns as the power plant reportedly sits on a fault line.

“I am not saying that Bataan is out definitely, but we have to put a closure to Bataan. As the authority, we have to put a closure to it,” Cusi said.

“Are we going to proceed and make it a nuclear power plant? If we are not going to operate it as a nuclear power plant, then what are we going to do with the structure? What are we going to do with the property?” he said.

Cusi said the Philippines would have achieved greater economic strides if the power plant was able to run in the mid-1980s.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

7-Eleven speeds up expansion WORLD-LEADING C convenience store chain giant 7-Eleven scored another successful expansion milestone, this time with the landmark opening of its corporaterun outlet in Robinsons Novaliches Mall.

Operating as the first C-store under Robinsons Land Corp., the new outlet is seen to significantly boost 7-Eleven’s market base and share, according to its exclusive local licensor, Philippine Seven Corp.

Located at the Level 1 Expansion Building of Robinson’s Novaliches, the newly-opened store is expected to cater to the mall’s 24/7 locators, like the BPO market and other commercial tenants as well as shoppers.

Stock market rallies; Meralco tops gainers

T

HE stock market rebounded Tuesday on select buying, led by banks and Manila Electric Co., to end a two-day slump.

The 7-Eleven store at the Level 1 Expansion Building of Robinson’s Novaliches.

Its strategic location also captures the passengers of major transport terminals beside the mall like the MMDA bus station, the P2P(Pointto-Point) Lingkod Pinoy Bus and UV Express.

PSC business development unit head Francis

Medina said the mallbased expansion campaign further strengthened PSC’s relationship among prominent project developers in the country, while also establishing 7-Eleven’s unique business flexibility edge over competitors.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 49.62 points, or 0.6 percent, to 8,379.64 on a value turnover of P8.9 billion.

Losers, however, beat gainers, 111 to 76, with 51 issues unchanged.

Meralco, the biggest retailer of electricity, surged 5.3 percent to P322 after the company was added to the standard index of MSCI.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. added 2.3 percent to P975.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender by assets, rose 1.8 percent to P100.80, while East West Banking Corp., the thirteenth largest bank, gained 3.3 percentto P34.25.

The rest of Asian markets fell on Tuesday following a tepid lead from Wall Street, while investors await movement on stalled US tax cuts with fears growing that the reform push could come off the rails.

After weeks of gains fueled by strong earnings and opti-

mism about the global economy, world markets have been tempered in recent days as dealers cash out and valuations sit unnervingly high.

In Washington, Republican lawmakers are struggling to agree a tax overhaul deal with senators and representatives providing differing plans, leading to worries the reforms could collapse in a similar way to the Obamacare repeal.

“Tax looks to be getting bogged down in a manner we saw with the attempt to repeal Obamacare and a manner I didn’t expect,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.75 757,000 59.1 16,740 100.8 7,328,460 3.84 21,000 142.6 1,522,720 1.92 393,000 33.45 110,800 15.7 5,200 34.25 9,012,900 1.69 47,000 950 870 0.61 1,653,000 94.9 1,952,370 0.81 99,000 12 10,500 58.5 66,130 244.2 430 100 20 52.3 1,225,270 249.2 740,100 1,915 165 87 8,220

2,949,940 991,615.50 726,596,081.50 80,640 217,126,758 756,590 3,706,185 82,506 312,068,425 79,400 826,510 1,002,130 184,099,209 79,210 126,000 3,874,924.50 104,714 2,040 63,592,723.50 185,675,778 315,975 715,011

-400,000 64,838.50 8,984,423.50 -36,882,520 2,007,000 -45,111,405 30,000 62,579,660.50 -3,647,856 31,696 -1,034 40,599,644 214,130

41.1 12.1 0.73 1.34 17 0.217 102 4.11 15.54 42.9 18.6 65 67.4 83 1.9 5.45 11.3 10.68 14.78 12 7.21 5.71 1.63 17.3 61.7 23.5 12 21 1.95 255.8 58.5 4 3 22.7 29.85 18.22 18.14 314.2 0.198 7.3 2.5 5.88 9.9 7.1 9.7 1.62 12.12 60.1 6.4 482 5.1 4.98 2.05 12.78 5.02 0.138 1.17 135.5 3.35 1.88 25.15 0.88

INDUSTRIAL 42.4 880,900 12.38 582,300 0.75 334,000 1.35 602,000 18.28 79,000 0.218 2,360,000 102 80 4.14 12,236,000 15.98 2,319,000 44 522,600 18.6 300 66 750 67.4 130 83 10 1.9 284,000 5.45 1,500 11.3 7,900 10.78 21,135,000 14.9 2,735,700 12.1 482,300 7.3 226,700 5.75 8,042,200 1.63 4,000 17.4 663,000 61.9 39,240 25 1,560,900 12 6,300 21.55 4,807,800 1.98 2,693,000 259.6 655,920 58.5 50 4.01 50,000 3.12 7,000 22.7 1,000 29.85 711,700 18.26 307,600 18.8 7,379,200 322 3,866,300 0.198 240,000 9.01 107,500 2.5 1,714,000 5.89 273,800 9.9 3,464,400 7.1 81,600 9.7 500 1.63 1,664,000 12.36 380,800 60.95 355,080 6.5 10,700 493 25,210 5.15 682,500 4.98 63,000 2.05 423,000 12.9 1,269,400 5.09 613,300 0.138 2,740,000 1.18 27,000 136.4 1,409,830 3.35 3,000 1.95 11,024,000 25.15 800 0.9 457,000

36,966,220 7,164,246 250,360 809,590 1,394,036 513,280 8,160 50,795,070 36,718,980 22,603,155 5,580 49,289.50 8,764 830 539,800 8,175 89,382 227,945,362 40,702,536 5,807,696 1,644,194 46,120,879 6,520 11,576,114 2,428,032.50 38,932,825 75,610 101,637,565 5,372,950 168,815,040 2,925 200,640 21,470 22,700 21,329,870 5,627,040 2 138,773,522 1,235,236,502 47,630 997,841 4,431,870 1,621,858 34,484,632 601,130 4,850 2,720,240 4,663,594 21,552,454 69,048 12,365,426 3,514,323 313,760 870,850 16,316,176 3,243,304 378,400 31,710 192,125,094 10,050 21,317,590 20,525 411,680

2,970,185 253,442 -1,474,500 21,017,514 -841,020 5,202,102 1,072,074 -5,060,260 1,232,416 -9,277,323 -2,336,812 -1,407,816.50 -12,382,565 23,993,010 399,900.00 118,635,278 -2,687,950 ,299,098.0001 77,638,382 350,818,652 -1,244,490 34,188 2,419,424 11,250 1,630,000 198,692 3,760,718.50 19,260 -2,919,780 -2,679,279 -937,902 -33,920 -6,850 -3,446,964 -174,490 -

0.34 72.4 15.8 0.98 7.03 0.445 0.43 1,050 8.05 15.28 7.86 0.186 1,172 7.65 76.5 0.72 5.75 18.16 6.78 0.049 1.23 2.1 2.61 116.4 2.6 975 1.46 297 0.245 0.185 0.202

0.34 70.95 15.18 0.98 6.96 0.425 0.425 1,030 7.99 15.04 7.8 0.186 1,152 7.65 72.85 0.7 5.66 17.9 6.72 0.048 1.15 2.07 2.61 113.1 2.6 940.5 1.44 288.6 0.245 0.185 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.34 20,000 72 1,272,050 15.8 4,137,100 0.98 329,000 6.96 46,800 0.425 3,110,000 0.43 730,000 1,040 202,780 8.01 919,300 15.1 5,702,000 7.81 858,800 0.186 60,000 1,172 91,460 7.65 71,100 76.5 1,222,270 0.71 579,000 5.67 1,096,300 18.06 2,653,400 6.74 21,425,700 0.048 21,600,000 1.21 469,000 2.07 63,000 2.61 1,000 113.1 295,430 2.6 5,000 975 315,470 1.46 500,000 297 1,270 0.245 10,000 0.185 30,000 0.2 2,500,000

6,800 91,545,525 64,471,974 322,420 327,024 1,343,950 312,700 210,642,625 7,365,037 86,353,192 6,707,783 11,160 106,383,135 543,915 91,777,428.5 ( 407,410 6,224,188 47,949,676 144,440,774 1,037,900 556,470 130,680 2,610 33,692,497 13,000 305,256,395 725,720 376,044 2,450 5,550 500,870

-29,662,697 15,746,490 111,360 -81,987,270 4,071,883 -41,347,922 -3,451,489 -21,849,370 11,929,781.5) 3,665,478 39,749,268 -30,511,304 2,295,825 -6,821,965 5,868 208,390

5.41 1.02 2.6 0.96 43 3.86 5.05 5.46 0.51 1.19 1.2 0.205 0.485 38.8 0.67 0.14 1.95 1.54

5.24 0.99 2.52 0.93 41.9 3.74 4.86 5.42 0.5 1.18 1.17 0.2 0.47 38.2 0.67 0.138 1.91 1.5

1,036,274 1,448,370 750,790 1,768,710 601,544,345 2,947,110 2,970,439 7,054 4,331,120 129,700 200,180 803,060 644,650 4,843,775 482,400 85,790 3,449,290 3,709,590

80,250 -65,000 -7,520 -171,076,135 -157,610 1,000 1,092 -157,500 -5,960 897,675.00 -379,220 1,391,450 4,580

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

4 59.5 99 3.84 144.9 1.95 33.45 15.6 34.5 1.69 951 0.61 93.9 0.8 12 59 243.4 104 52.95 254.4 1,915 87

4.1 59.5 100.8 3.84 145 1.96 33.5 15.98 35.15 1.69 951 0.62 94.9 0.81 12 59 244.2 104 52.95 258.6 1,915 87

3.72 59.1 99 3.84 141.8 1.91 33.4 15.6 34.15 1.68 950 0.6 93.5 0.8 12 58.05 243 100 51 248.2 1,915 86.8

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

41.9 12.4 0.75 1.35 18.88 0.217 102 4.19 15.58 42.9 18.6 65 67.5 83 1.9 5.45 11.32 10.9 14.94 12 7.25 5.75 1.63 17.68 62 25 12.1 21.35 2.1 257 58.5 4 3.15 22.7 30.5 18.58 19 315.6 0.2 9.9 2.64 6.2 9.96 7.5 9.7 1.67 12.12 61.15 6.4 490 5.1 4.99 2.08 12.88 5.03 0.138 1.17 137 3.35 2 25.15 0.91

42.4 12.4 0.76 1.36 18.96 0.218 102 4.22 15.98 44 18.6 66 67.5 83 1.91 5.45 11.32 10.94 14.94 12.18 7.3 5.76 1.63 17.74 62.95 26.15 12.1 22 2.1 259.6 58.5 4.09 3.15 22.7 30.5 18.58 19 325 0.203 9.96 2.7 6.2 10.06 7.5 9.7 1.67 12.4 61.2 6.5 495 5.18 4.99 2.09 12.9 5.5 0.143 1.18 137 3.35 2 26 0.91

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.34 72.1 15.32 0.98 7.03 0.445 0.43 1,050 8.05 15.24 7.8 0.186 1,172 7.65 73.9 0.72 5.75 17.98 6.72 0.049 1.16 2.07 2.61 115.5 2.6 954 1.44 288.6 0.245 0.185 0.202

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE

5.41 1.02 2.58 0.94 42.6 3.86 5.01 5.42 0.5 1.19 1.2 0.202 0.48 38.65 0.67 0.139 1.93 1.51

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.84 5.5 0.35 0.38 0.52 7.2 24.75 1.81 3.19 36.1 1.05 6.68 0.84 6.22

0.84 5.55 0.355 0.38 0.53 7.23 24.75 1.82 3.2 36.15 1.05 6.68 0.85 6.22

0.81 5.47 0.335 0.375 0.51 7.05 24.2 1.81 3.16 35.75 1.03 6.68 0.84 6.11

0.81 5.49 0.335 0.38 0.52 7.09 24.5 1.82 3.16 36 1.04 6.68 0.85 6.22

448,000 20,224,000 41,180,000 590,000 3,976,000 1,898,500 1,088,800 23,000 103,000 7,807,000 693,000 500 34,000 1,790,600

365,880 111,189,485 14,136,550 222,450 2,068,480 13,484,349 26,641,870 41,740 329,540 280,774,605 718,220 3,340 28,890 11,049,242

-32,687,467 1,204,500 11,400 31,500 -1,019,884 -11,344,895 21,720 -10,237,430 19,550 608,862

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

17.6 37.75 1.49 0.48 0.047 11.5 5 10.5 0.075 98.6 9.18 7.6 1,020 2,006 5.9 18.2 3.39 2.36 102.4 8.35 0.15 1.36 3.2 15.4 3.73 1.3 23 0.52 2.9 6.97 4.07 16.8 2.64 5.12 216 8.06 1,653 1.35 0.34 51 94 5.95 3.45 1.66 1.91 3.78 0.93 8.2

17.8 37.85 1.5 0.49 0.048 11.5 5 10.5 0.075 100 9.31 7.6 1,020 2,010 5.91 18.2 3.42 2.38 103.4 8.35 0.15 1.39 3.2 15.4 3.84 1.3 23.3 0.53 2.94 6.97 4.07 16.9 2.94 5.12 216 8.2 1,660 1.37 0.355 51 94.1 6.17 3.46 1.68 1.91 3.8 0.93 8.45

17.5 37.5 1.49 0.48 0.046 11.5 5 10.26 0.071 97.5 9.17 7.06 1,020 1,970 5.87 18.2 3.2 2.35 102 8.3 0.143 1.36 3.2 15.4 3.67 1.26 22.05 0.52 2.73 6.69 3.95 15.72 2.64 5.1 211 8.02 1,638 1.35 0.34 48.95 91.8 5.94 3.36 1.62 1.9 3.75 0.9 8.2

SERVICES 17.62 37.5 1.5 0.48 0.046 11.5 5 10.46 0.072 98.9 9.25 7.2 1,020 2,004 5.9 18.2 3.26 2.38 102.4 8.35 0.146 1.39 3.2 15.4 3.72 1.29 23 0.53 2.73 6.77 4 16.8 2.82 5.1 213 8.19 1,649 1.37 0.35 49.1 93 6.15 3.4 1.67 1.9 3.77 0.91 8.25

97,000 41,800 139,000 4,680,000 18,300,000 100,200 11,500 12,197,500 39,220,000 948,770 650,500 22,700 30 42,700 162,700 19,800 7,325,000 13,000 1,453,870 256,600 4,820,000 269,000 1,000 100 2,138,000 307,000 1,560,700 102,000 547,000 1,978,400 556,000 1,600 41,021,000 2,800 12,500 158,900 181,760 161,000 620,000 4,067,050 1,088,640 34,100 1,370,000 8,120,000 5,000 1,218,000 4,817,000 1,655,500

1,712,450 1,572,215 207,730 2,255,250 852,300 1,152,300 57,500 127,041,766 2,868,050 93,682,099.50 6,000,115 165,866 30,600 84,975,235 959,813 360,360 24,024,790 30,760 148,782,772 2,142,261 701,150 365,930 3,200 1,540 7,927,180 391,010 35,485,010 53,060 1,524,980 13,417,329 2,215,010 26,656 115,657,910 14,318 2,662,618 1,282,752 299,366,170 219,960 214,450 200,569,698.50 100,849,698 ( 205,134 4,659,990 13,391,490 9,540 4,584,410 4,388,830 13,689,658(3,

44,130 77,880 144,000 800 1,150 15,098,218 39,426,084.50 83,160 43,950 -36,514,280 633,150 -26,283,686 17,160 -634,660 60,480 746,575 -1,302,598 -19,930 282,840.00 -1,536 -871,028 64,160 -37,820,775 4,290 -26,873,351 15,706,453.5) -450,760 1,852,460 1,057,000 190,100 227,647.9997)

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

0.0025 1.69 5.01 1.77 1.82 1.69 0.36 7.88 3.05 0.255 0.155 0.159 0.011 2.03 7.02 1.67 0.485 1.01 0.014 0.011 2.25 7.5 9.08 37.5

0.0025 1.7 5.02 1.78 1.82 1.7 0.37 7.9 3.09 0.26 0.156 0.16 0.011 2.04 7.2 1.78 0.485 1.01 0.014 0.012 2.26 7.51 9.08 38.8

0.0024 1.67 5.01 1.76 1.8 1.65 0.36 7.8 2.99 0.25 0.154 0.159 0.01 1.99 6.99 1.56 0.47 0.98 0.013 0.011 2.25 7.45 8.47 37.2

MINING & OIL 0.0024 217,000,000 1.67 3,323,000 5.01 127,900 1.76 72,000 1.8 37,000 1.68 871,000 0.37 540,000 7.9 4,900 3.04 23,816,000 0.255 70,000 0.155 7,910,000 0.16 150,000 0.01 8,400,000 2 185,000 7 3,052,400 1.62 599,000 0.47 1,820,000 1 576,000 0.014 300,000 0.011 116,000,000 2.25 5,000 7.5 412,300 8.6 5,364,700 38.7 2,505,300

538,400 5,577,950 641,079 127,420 66,920 1,462,340 195,100 38,512 72,471,180 17,700 1,222,040 23,950 88,200 371,280 21,518,150 964,360 857,500 574,920 4,100 1,286,000 11,270 3,088,978 46,725,530 95,557,495

8,450 -7,515 -25,200 -169,200 -4,014,210 3,447,957 -1,082,180 -157,085 9,919,260

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F

37.3 530 105 107.9 118.5 5.65 1.07 106 107 1.96 76 76.3 82.35

37.4 530 105 107.9 118.5 5.65 1.07 106 107 1.96 76.5 76.3 82.35

37.15 515.5 104.5 107.9 118.5 5.46 1.07 106 107 1.91 76 76.3 82.35

PREFERRED 37.25 242,900 515.5 2,050 104.5 45,790 107.9 20 118.5 210 5.52 72,600 1.07 100,000 106 100 107 1,000 1.91 10,000 76.4 19,460 76.3 108,610 82.35 3,000

9,046,410 ( 1,057,500 4,785,125 2,158 24,885 397,877 107,000 10,600 107,000 19,410 1,486,592 8,286,943 247,050

857,024.9999) -320,509 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.35

2.3

WARRANTS 2.3 527,000

1,221,850

-

78,662,536 900,080 21,569,430

-1,045,158 -8,835,520

981,136

-

29,080

-29,080.00

MS

PROPERTY 5.4 1 2.52 0.96 42.5 3.83 4.9 5.42 0.5 1.18 1.17 0.203 0.48 38.5 0.67 0.139 1.92 1.53

195,800 1,442,000 289,000 1,882,000 14,194,900 774,000 603,600 1,300 8,606,000 109,000 170,000 3,980,000 1,360,000 125,700 720,000 620,000 1,785,000 2,445,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

15.04 3.4 4.4

15.2 3.7 4.4

12.6 3.3 4.05

FIRST METRO ETF

127.1

127.1

125.1

USD DMPL A1

10.2

10.2

10

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

24,971,915

INDUSTRIAL

103,283,947

HOLDING FIRMS

70,827,808

PROPERTY

119,715,624

SERVICES

165,973,155

MINING & OIL

393,326,923

GRAND TOTAL

889,387,437

13.1 3.3 4.08

SME

5,826,500 267,000 5,172,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.8 7,790 10

DDS

2,880

VALUE 2,068.32 (down) 3.90 1,704,888,973.59 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,094.13 (up) 101.02 2,658,524,496.27 HOLDING FIRMS 8,595.96 (up) 99.42 1,531,184,388.988 PROPERTY 3,880.42 (down) 0.07 1,659.02 (down0 9.39 1,117,479,438.92 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,513.83 (up) 243.18 1,511,502,111.157 PSEI 8,379.64 (up) 49.62 253,468,948.415 All Shares Index 4,913.91 (up) 19.29 8,879,220,011.97 Gainers: 76; Losers: 111; Unchanged: 51; Total: 238

AxiTrader.

“Passage of a bill will be a big boon for markets. But there remains much wood to chop it seems.”

World markets had surged on hopes for lower taxes when Donald Trump was elected US president a year ago.

Hong Kong was 0.1 percent off and Shanghai retreated 0.5 percent following the release of soft data on Chinese retail sales, factory output and investment.

Sydney shed 0.9 percent, Singapore was off 0.5 percent and Seoul shed 0.2 percent.

Tokyo’s Nikkei ended slightly lower, giving up morning gains and extending a sell-off to fifth straight days. The index had hit a quarter-of-a-century high on Wednesday.

On currency markets, the pound remained under pressure but was stable after Monday’s sell-off that was sparked by concerns over British Prime Minister Theresa May’s political future as reports said dozens of her ruling Conservative Party MPs were backing a move to oust her.

May’s troubles come as London faces pressure to meet a two-week deadline set Friday by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier for a deal on exit terms ahead of a December EU summit.

“Suffice to say that in the absence of progress within UK political circles this week and next toward offering up a higher Brexit divorce bill, sterling could be down another five percent or more by month end,” said Ray Attrill, head of forex strategy at National Australia Bank.

With AFP

LT Group registers net income of P6.83b

By Jenniffer B. Austria LT GROUP Inc. of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan increased its ninemonth net income by five percent to P6.83 billion from P6.25 billion year-onyear, boosted by the significant growth in the tobacco business.

LT Group said its tobacco business, which accounted for 42 percent of total attributable income, posted a net income of P2.88 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 60 percent from P1.8 billion on year the company attributed the higher earnings to improved pricing and better sales mix.

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. in November last year raised the price of the Marlboro brand, the first time since January 2013, with a recommended retail price per stick of P3.50 from P3.

The group’s banking unit Philippine National Bank, which contributed 38 percent to the total attributable income, booked a net profit of P4.64 billion in the first nine months of 2017, down 22 percent from P5.91 billion a year ago, The lower income is mainly attributed to lower gains from the sale of real and other properties acquired, which amounted to P518 million, lower than P2.30 billion booked in 2016.

Liquor units Asia Brewery Inc. contributed P455 million or seven percent, while Tanduay Distillers Inc. added P438 million or six percent.

World

B3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Moore accused by fifth woman

N

EW YORK―A fifth woman on Monday accused Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct, alleging he assaulted her when she was a teenager, as senior party members called on the conservative to withdraw from next month’s election in Alabama.

REFUGEE CAMP. A Rohingya boy flies a kite at Hakimpara refugee camp in the Bangladeshi district of Ukhia on November 13, 2017. More than 600,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh since a military crackdown in Myanmar in August triggered an exodus, straining resources in the impoverished country. AFP

Denied bail over anti-Rohingya protest YANGON-One of Myanmar’s most prominent ultra-nationalist monks was denied bail on Tuesday after he was arrested on charges of inciting unrest in an anti-Rohingya protest held outside the US Embassy last year.

The Buddhist abbot, Parmaukkha, was detained over the weekend in a rare move against hard-line clergymen who have fanned hatred against the persecuted Muslim Rohingya―a group recently targeted by a deadly military crackdown in Rakhine state.

The monk, who appeared in court on Tuesday in layman’s clothes, has been charged over his role in an April 2016 protest outside the US Embassy that denounced the American government’s use of the term ‘Rohingya’.

The proper name for the Muslim minority is rejected by many Buddhists and government officials in Myanmar, who deny the existence of a Rohingya ethnicity and insist the group are illegal “Bengali” immigrants―a description the Rohingya view as pejorative.

Seamless AS THE Philippines geared up for the hosting of the 2017 ASEAN Summit, the numbers came in for 11/11—Alibaba’s Singles Day sale, its largest one-day sale and the largest sale in the online world.

Alibaba reported a record one-day revenue of USD 25.3 B (168.2 B yuan), 40% over last year’s record USD 17.8 billion. Alibaba’s 2016 sales easily dwarfed the US 2016 combined Black Friday through Cyber Monday sales of USD 12.8 billion. In SouthEast Asia, Lazada recorded USD 123 million on Singles day, an increase of 191% over last year.

Online Revolution Bloomberg reports that about 90% of transactions in the one-day sale were conducted over mobile. In total, Alibaba processed 1.48 billion transactions over the 48-hour period, with company processors handling about 256,000 transactions per second at peak.

This is, of course, a mere drop in the bucket of China’s USD 4 trillion retail sector and creating the online store is a very small part of this ongoing revolution in the retail sector. On the customer-facing side, the increase in individuals with access to the internet and the increased usage of mobile phones with data capability has increased the potential reach of online commerce. In China, especially, where the messaging application Wechat has expanded to payment applications and is so ubiquitous that it is accepted at McDonald’s stores and stores peddling souvenirs and designer product lookalikes, it is unsurprising that online sales are growing at double digits.

The real challenge of electronic commerce, as most of us already know by now, still relies on management of the brick and mortar fulfilment— warehousing, trucking, and delivery— essentially, basic logistics.

It is this harnessing of offline resources including traditional retailers that continues to be essential to the growth of Lazada and its mother company, Alibaba. In China, small retailers, many in prime city locations, function as storage and delivery nodes for Alibaba’s fulfilment network.

About a 10th of China’s 6 million convenience stores are connected to the internet using an app Alibaba calls Ling Shou Tong (“connect retail”).

The system allows these small stores to receive goods directly from Alibaba warehouses, eliminating middle men and theoretically improving their margins. Additionally, Alibaba provides stores with suggestions on what to purchase and how to display merchandise.

Retail Revolution In the USA, while over 90% of retail sales continue to be offline, footfall is declining by 15% annually according to an online report by retailtouchpoints.com.

The same report explains that 50% of customers visit physical stores (showrooming) before purchasing at online stores while 2/3 of customers visit online stores (webrooming) before purchasing at physical stores.

While this sounds like a good thing for physical stores, it is important to note that 77% of customers research purchases before actually going to a physical store and 2/3 check out prices on a mobile phone at some

point prior to actually making a physical purchase.

The ecommerce infographic by Whisbi includes a few interesting tidbits on US retail. Digital interactions influence 36 cents of every dollar spent at a physical store.

22% of customers spend more at a physical store if digital channels are involved in the process. The web will account for or influence 59% of all retail sales by 2018. You read that right: 2018!

Here’s the real story: Omnichannel customers shop more often and spend more than other customer types and 84% of customers want better integration of online and offline channels. The new name of the game in retail is not about choosing channels, it is about creating a seamless experience across multiple channels.

Business Revolution Alibaba’s grand retail experiment extends far beyond e-commerce.

Alibaba has invested billions buying into department stores, grocers and shopping malls. While Amazon, the American e-retail behemoth, acquired Whole Foods Market, Alibaba operates its Intime department stores and Hema supermarkets.

The Hema model, which Alibaba is trying to retail, is particularly fascinating, a retail experiment that combines supermarket, restaurant and fulfillment center in a single location. In the location we visited in Shanghai, we watched as Hema staff put together what we assumed were mobile orders into shopping bags which were whisked up through an overhead conveyor system towards what we presumed were pickup points. All of this activity was happening in an environment where you could sit down to enjoy a snack or lunch, or even shop for fresh produce and turn it over for cooking into a fresh meal.

The retail centers are only one part of the Alibaba offline system. It also owns a delivery business (Cainiao Smart Logistics) and oversees shipping partners across over 600 cities.

Alibaba’s quest to convert retail through technology includes converting 100,000 retail outlets with a system that allows customers to track availability of stocks across multiple locations and providing the option for home delivery. Levi’s and L’Oreal are already participating.

The real revolution, though, is quieter but potentially more important.

What these platforms, Amazon, Alibaba, and Lazada have created is a potent tool for anyone who seeks to bring their products to market. These platforms allow anyone to address geographically scattered market niches without having to worry about warehousing or delivery.

As the leaders of the ASEAN look towards a future of engagement and partnership, the business of bringing products to consumers has become more and more about a retail ecosystem that spans multiple channels and creates the potential for seamless platforms for both customers and merchants. The future is seamless.

For more information on AIM’s new programs, please go to www. aim.edu. Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo. com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

The monk was greeted by dozens of tearful supporters outside the Yangon court, where judges set the next hearing for November 21. “(I) am just protecting the sovereignty of the state,” he told AFP before entering the courtroom.

Alongside the better known ultra-nationalist monk Wirathu, Parmaukkha has been at the forefront of anti-Rohingya sentiment that has bubbled in mainly Buddhist Myanmar for years, often spilling into bouts of violence. AFP

Moore―a former state supreme court judge and Christian evangelical running neck and neck with a Democrat in the race―denies any wrongdoing.

But Beverly Young Nelson claimed the now 70-year-old Moore sexually assaulted her when she was a 16-year-old waitress and he was a county district attorney “twice my age” in around January 1978.

Nelson, who is now a 55-yearold businesswoman in Alabama, told reporters in New York that Moore was a regular customer in the restaurant where she worked and was flirtatious, signing her high school yearbook during one shift in late 1977.

A week or two later, Nelson

said she was waiting for her boyfriend to drive her home after work, when Moore instead offered to give her a ride.

But instead of turning onto the highway, he drove behind the restaurant to a “dark and deserted” spot.

“Mr Moore reached over and began groping me, putting his hands on my breasts,” she said, reading from a prepared statement alongside celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented women who accused Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.

“I tried fighting him off, while yelling at him to stop, but instead of stopping, he began squeezing my neck, attempting to force my

Manila

Republic of the Philippines StandardENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

TODAY

SSC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 18 August 2017, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASP A) and of their Incidental Energy Supply Agreement Template (IESAT), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority.

In their Application, NGCP and TMI alleged the following: NATURE OF THE CASE This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) between the NGCP and TMI, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC, entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority” and approval of the accompanying “Incidental Energy Supply Agreement” template.

PARTIES Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Applicant TMI is a generation company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Philippine with office address in Barangay Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. It owns and operates a 100MW Power Barge (Mobile 1) in Barangay San Roque, Maco, Compostela Valley, which has been certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Contingency Reserve (“CR”) and Dispatchable Reserve (“DR”). The copies of the Securities and Exchange Commission Certificate of Filing of the Amended Articles of Incorporation, Amended Articles of Incorporation, General Information Sheet, and the Honorable Commission’s issued Certificate of Compliance for Mobile 1, are attached hereto as Annexes “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”, respectively.

ANTECEDENT FACTS 4.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system2.

5.

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC3.

6.

Ancillary services (AS) as defined in Section 4b of the EPIRA, “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids.

7.

s X [(VHFOX Actual HF cost per liter) + (Vlube, x Actual LO cost per liter)] Total Energy

G

=

Summation of Energy generated or dispatched in a particular interval hour due to Non-Firm Contracted Capacity, in kWh.

n

=

the number of days in the billing month.

Fuel

=

fuel oil, lube oil and related fuel rates, in PhP /kWh.

=

The monthly actual cost per liter of fuel oil, lube oil and related fuel shall be calculated based on the “first in, first out” procedure using the data of actual monthly invoices of deliveries, inventories and consumption.

HFR

=

Heavy fuel oil rate in Php/kWh

LOR

=

Lube oil rate in Php/kWh

HFCR

=

Heavy fuel oil consumption rate of 0.23580 liters/kWh or actual, whichever is lower.

LOCR

=

Lube oil consumption rate of 0.00240 liters/kWh or actual, whichever is lower.

PCPIm

=

Philippine CPI of the current billing month

PCPIb

=

Philippine CPI of 126.4 as of June 2011

UCPIm

=

US CPI of the current billing month

UCPIb

=

US CPI of 225.722 as of June 2011

ECPIm

=

EURO CPI of the current billing month

ECPIb

=

EURO CPI of 96.050 as of June 2011 [2015=100]

JCPIm

=

Japan CPI of the current billing month

JCPIb

=

Japan CPI of 96.4 as of June 2011 [2015=100]

PUXm

=

Peso to US Dollar exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PUXb

=

Peso to US Dollar exchange rate of 44.8210 PHP /USD as of 17 May 2010

PEXm

=

Peso to EURO exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PEXb

=

Peso to EURO exchange rate of 55.4032 PHP /EURO as of 17 May 2010

PYXm

=

Peso to Yen exchange rate at the end of the current billing month

PYXb

=

Peso to Yen exchange rate of 0.4851PHP/JPY as of 17 May 2010

S

=

total number of start-ups for the current billing month based on customers’ dispatch instructions.

VHFO

=

200 liters per engine per start-up/shutdown cycle.

VLube

=

10 liters per engine per start-up/shutdown cycle.

ERC CASE NO. 2017-075 RC

x---------------- --- --- -- -- -- -- --------x

3.

start-up fees applicable to DR, in PhP / kWh, for the current billing period

= Where:

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THERMA MARINE, INC., Applicants.

2.

=

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THERMA MARINE, INC. (FOR MOBILE 1), AND APPROVAL OF THE INCIDENTAL ENERGY SUPPLY AGREEMENT TEMPLATE, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

1.

Total Energy = total energy delivered to all customers of Supplier for the current Billing Period.

Notes:

8.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP invited and negotiated with all prospective generation companies capable of providing ancillary services, one of which is TMI.

9.

On 16 November 2016, NGCP issued Accreditation Certificate No. 2016-M011 for TMI-Mobile 1, certifying that the power plant has met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate No. 2016-M011 for TMI-Mobile 1, dated 16 November 2016 is attached as Annex “E”.

b.

Dispatchable Reserve i.

Up to 48 MW for Mobile 1 Unit 1; and ii. Up to 48 MW for Mobile 1 Unit 2.

If the CPI of current billing month is not published and available within two days from the end of the billing period, the most recent available published index shall be used.

b.

If the source of any of the foregoing indices is no longer available or is not been published or available for a prolonged period, the replacement index shall be selected by Service Provider.

c.

If any of the foregoing indices are re-based during the duration of this Agreement, Service Provider has the option to apply a corresponding adjustment to the inflation formula to conform with the rebasing of the subject indices.

16. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Mindanao Grid.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 17. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2b, EPlRA). With this end in view, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same could be implemented. As the demand for power in the Mindanao increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

10. Consequently, on 31 July 2017, NGCP and TMI entered into an Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) for TMI to provide the Mindanao Grid, on a non-firm basis for: Contingency Reserve i.

48 MW, less Pmin for Mobile 1 Unit 1; and ii. 48 MW, less Pmin for Mobile 1 Unit 2.

a.

A copy of the IESA template is attached herein as Annex “H”.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of AS, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

a.

18. Based on the current levels of available contracted AS in the Mindanao Grid, the CR and DR have not yet met the required levels. The copies of the Mindanao CR Availability and Mindanao DR Availability showing the required and available levels of CR and DR are attached as Annexes “I” and “I-1”, respectively.

19. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA and IESA template by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to ensure the reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani-Kater which is attached as Annex “J” and TMI submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Mr. Benedick Salvador as Annex “K”.

PRAYER

A copy of the ASPA is attached as Annex “F.”

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission to:

CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATES AND IMPACT SIMULATION 11. Schedule 4 of the ASPA provides for the agreed upon formula for the computation of the ancillary fees as well as the applicable maximum hourly rate for the ancillary services covered by the ASPA: Non-Firm:

Ancillary Service

head onto his crotch,” she said.

“I was terrified. He was also trying to pull my shirt off. I thought that he was going to rape me. I was twisting and struggling and begging him to stop. I had tears running down my face,” Nelson said.

He alleged that Moore gave up and drove off, leaving her behind “on the cold concrete in the dark.”

Nelson said she was motivated to speak out after four other women told The Washington Post that Moore also pursued them in their teens, while he was in his early 30s working as an assistant district attorney.

Moore dismissed those allegations as a “dangerous lie.”

Asked whether he remembered dating women in their teens when he was in his 30s, he replied: “Not generally, no.”

But on Monday, he faced mounting calls to quit.

Even before Nelson spoke, the Senate’s top Republican Mitch McConnell said he believed Moore’s accusers and urged the anti-establishment conservative to “step aside” from the December 12 election. AFP

Applicable Rates (Maximum Hourly Rate)

a)

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA and immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject IESA template; and

b)

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA and the IESA template.

Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve)

Php2.25/kW /Hr

On 25 September 2017, the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. (NASECORE) filed an Omnibus Petition for Intervention to the instant Application.

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve)

Php1.25/kW /Hr

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 07 December 2017 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at Big 8 Hotel, National Highway, Visayan Village, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

12. It is respectfully submitted that the rates represent reasonable recovery of opportunity cost in making available generation capacity to provide the procured AS.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title ofthe case and stating the following:

13. The rate under the ASPA were subjected to a simulation with the following results:

Ancillary Service

Indicative Rate Impact P/kW-mo

P/kWh

Contingency Reserve (Primary Reserve)

16.2556

0.0345

Dispatchable Reserve (Tertiary Reserve)

24.0824

0.0511

1.

3.

14. Until such time when the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), or any similar market, is in commercial operation in Mindanao, TMI’s load customers shall pay for the Incidental Energy Fee. 15. Under the accompanying IESA template, TMI shall supply Incidental Energy to TMI’s customers when it has been dispatched for ancillary services. TMI’s customers shall pay the corresponding Incidental Energy Fee relative to Contingency or Dispatchable Reserves computed as follows:

=

HFR + LOR + related actual fuel cost, in Php/kWh

=

HFCR x Actual HF cost per liter, in Php/kWh

LOR

=

LOCR x Actual LO cost per liter, in Php kWh

VOM

=

IFv

=

0.15245 Php x IFv + SSC kWh Inflation factor for VOM

2.

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3.

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

Incidental Energy Fee

HFR

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1. The name and address of such person;

A copy of the rate impact simulation is attached as Annex “G.”

Fuel

The petitioner’s name and address;

2 . The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

WITNESS, the Honorable OIC Chairman and CEO ALFREDO J. NON, and the Honorable Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of October 2017 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

1 2 3

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes.

Section 9 (c) and (d).

Section 6 .3.1.2 of 2007 Philippine Grid Code.

(MS-NOV. 15 & 22, 2017)

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

wednesday, november 15, 2017

Fire guts Caloocan police HQ

LocaL government units

By Jun David

FIELDS OF GOLD. Visitors snap a selfie at the fastest growing center in Southern Luzon—Ayala Land’s largest eco-community estate Nuvali—where field of over 5,000 LED bulbs light up the sky. The nightly show from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. will run until Jan. 8, 2018. Sonny Espiritu

A fIRE of still undetermined origin damaged portions of the Caloocan police headqarters at dawn yesterday, with damages pegged at P1 million.

Bureau of fire Protection-Caloocan fire marshal Supt. Gary Alto said the fire broke out at 4:30 a.m. and started at the rear side of the building.

Alto said the fire reached the fourth alarm before it was declared out at 6:03 a.m.

He said the city’s fire personnel have yet to go through the debris to identify the cause of the blaze.

Among the damaged offices were that of the Scene of the Crime Office, administration, finance, station investigation division, operations, and the two press offices.

Police commander Sr. Supt. Jemar Modequillo said more than 100 inmates were also immediately transferred to the station’s firing range.

The facade of the headquarters and Modequillo’s office were saved.

However, various documents and office equipment were damaged by water used by firemen to put out the blaze.

nPAs abduct 2 policemen

By Francisco Tuyay

S

USPECTED New People’s Army rebels clad in military uniform abducted two policemen from a police station in Placer town, Surigao del Norte Monday afternoon.

The victims—PO2 John fred Degamon Jr.—are Paul Doverte and PO2 Al- both members of the Placer

In BrIef P13.6m to relocate electric poles along national roads BAGUIO CITY—More than P13.6 million has been earmarked by the Department of Public works and Highways—Baguio City District Engineering Office to fund the relocation of electric poles that have encroached in the road-right-of-way of national roads in the different parts of the city to prevent unnecessary obstructions that impede the smooth flow of traffic.

District Engineer Rene Zarate said the funds were already downloaded by the DPWH central office to the district office.

The DPWH earlier issued a joint memorandum circular with the Department of Energy to facilitate the speedy relocation of electric poles that are located within the road-right-of-way of national roads to allow the speedy implementation of widening projects.

Under the provisions of the joint circular, the concerned electric cooperative is mandated to make the necessary computations on the cost of the relocation of their electric poles. Dexter A. See

Municipal Police Station.

The two were manning their outpost at Bad-as Public Market, Brgy. Bad-as, Placer town when the abduction took place.

Major Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the victims were taken by at least

20 armed men who were on board two white vans.

Balagtey said joint police and military troops are now tracking down the rebels.

The two getaway vehicles were recovered in Brgy. Mabini hours after the incident.

“This incident runs contrary to the spirit of the

peace talks that everyone is pushing for,” Balagtey said.

Duterte has terminated the peace negotiations with the communist rebels in february following a series of attacks by the NPA. Meanwhile, NPA rebels abducted and killed an unarmed off-duty militiaman

in Negros Oriental Monday morning.

Capt. Eduardo Precioso Jr., public affairs chief of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the Gelino Valloces, 52, was taken by the rebels at Brgy. Talalak in Sta. Catalina town.

The victim, assigned at

Manila teams up with PDEA for anti-drug drive in barangays

By Bill Casas MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada has agreed to team up with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to beef up anti-drug operations in barangays within the capital city.

With the Philippine National Police eased out of the

government’s anti-drug war, Estrada said PDEA’s help is invaluable in attaining his administration’s vision of a “drug-free” Manila.

“We welcome PDEA here in Manila. I’m looking forward to our partnership with them,” Estrada said following the courtesy call

of newly installed PDEANational Capital Region director Ismael fajardo.

Estrada said the assistance and cooperation of PDEA-NCR to the city government’s anti-drug drive is crucial after President Rodrigo Duterte designated PDEA as the “sole agen-

cy” to carry out operations against the narcotics trade.

“It’s always a welcome development whenever we get more support. Drugs is a scourge that we should unite against to save our country and our youth,” he said.

As a welcome gesture, Estrada readily agreed to

fajardo’s request for an office within the city that will be used by PDEA-Manila District personnel. Estrada even pledged to renovate the available office space at the Manila Youth Reception Center Complex near the Manila North Cemetery for the use of PDEA-Manila.

QC sets up 100-bed capacity hospital

By Rio N. Araja

cagayan river masterplan in the works CABARROGUIS, Quirino—A responsive master plan for the Cagayan river basin is being pushed by officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region to protect, conserve and sustain its water quality supply.

DENR Regional Director Gil Aromin said the implementation of the more than P100-million Climate Responsive Integrated River Basin Management and Development Masterplan by the Cagayan River Basin Management Council is crucial to address flooding and provide a sustainable supply of water for the country.

The masterplan’s water resources management involves the development of water impounding infrastructure in identified potential dams; the promotion for the construction/installation of rain water harvester and groundwater protection and conservation; and the improvement of water quality monitoring system, among others.

“The survival of the region’s residents depends on how they protect the environment and the support fund allocated to pursue environmental protection initiatives,” Gov. Junie Cua said. Ben Ebreo

the Cuadra Detachment of the Alpha Company in Siaton town, was abducted by at least 30 armed men.

Precioso said Valloces was found dead some 1.5 kilometers away from his house with bullet wounds in both knees and in his mouth.

IN CHARACTER. SM City Masinag gathers together beloved Disney Princesses for a royal holiday experience with its ‘Dream of Christmas Magic’ presentation. Manny Palmero

Concerns aired over planned Benguet hydro project

By Dexter A. See KIBUNGAN, Benguet— Villages along portions of the Amburayan River that strands from Benguet up to La Union may suffer from massive floodings that could lead to the displacement of indigenous peoples from their ancestral domain once the Coheco Badeo Corp. is al-

lowed to push through with its 500-megawatt pump storage hydro project.

This concern was raised by technical personnel who analyzed the conceptual plans presented by the project proponents during the previous conduct of the mandatory free prior and informed consent process in the different barangays here.

They claimed the proposed construction of a 36-hectare lower dam of the facility along the Amburayan River will result in massive diggings and excavations that could lead to massive floodings in various barangays of Kapangan and Sap-daan in Santol, La Union.

“There are numerous rice farms from barangay Gadang in Kapangan downstream to

Sapdaan in Santol, La Union which will surely be affected by the diversion of the flow of the river to the lower dam of the pump storage facility that could result in the eventual drying up of the rice paddies and the subsequent deprivation of the IPs from their traditional sources of livelihood,” well-placed sources who asked not to be named said.

THE Quezon City government is putting up a five-story 100-bed capacity hospital in Barangay Batasan Hills near the House of Representative complex.

City administrator Aldrin Cuña said the facility will “not only to service the poor in the area but also those from the other five legislative districts.”

The hospital shall be called the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, named after the late mother of Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Bautista’s mother succumbed to heart failure and complications due to diabetes at the Delos Santos Medical Center in Quezon City on March 3, 2008.

The public hospital with a category of level 2 will open and become operational in 2018, Cuña said.

“Even those from Districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can come and be accommodated,” Cuña said.

Life

Pieces in shiny, metallic finish

fashion & beauty

T

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

wednesday, noVemBeR 15, 2017

c1

Diesel’s Forest Grunge he raw energy of ‘90s alternative rock is perfect for this season with a difference.

“Fall/Winter is about the energy of grunge in the forest at night time,” explains Diesel Artistic Director Nicola Formichetti. “The spirit of rock ’n’ roll is nocturnal and being surrounded by nature after dark can be a strange experience. A lot of crazy things can happen.”

Styled in a mismatched way, plastic raincoats are worn with silky dresses, whilst stripes and checks are clashed with polka dots and flower prints. The shiny and new is paired with the wellloved and perfectly ‘destroyed’ denim.

Blue is the key color for jeans. There are six new washes for men and 11 for women, from the premium Slow Indigo, crafted using artisan techniques to super soft JoggJeans.

Iconic striped grunge knits are transformed by incorporating lace, an element of the precious, whilst characteristic rock leathers, signature zips, and knit beanies appear throughout the collection.

The feel of American vintage is present through trucker style, from shearling-trimmed jackets to classic redand-black plaid, alongside elements of uniform and utility.

Patches on classic military bombers, parkas, and capes are taken from the Diesel archive, reworking codes of the past and paying tribute to Diesel heritage.

Slip-on style S-KBY footwear is lightweight, flexible, and breathable, with a camo-knit upper in both men’s and women’s variations.

Patches on classic military bomber jacket

Red and black plaid is a classic ‘90s design

Plastic raincoat worn with silky blouse

Privado Sale offers up to 30 percent off on luxury brands of jewelry, eyewear and watches

SM Accessories’ Privado Sale

GIve yourself and your loved ones a gift of sparkle, a gift of time, and a gift of cool with the great finds at the annual SM Accessories Privado Sale on Nov. 23-26 at all SM Stores nationwide.

The best part is that you can enjoy up to 30 percent off on luxury brands of jewelry, eyewear and watches. SM Advantage cardholders get an addi-

tional 20 percent off.

Privado finds: classic and opulent necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings; eyewear with a lot of attitude; and classic timepieces and casual watches are also available for both ladies and men.

The SM Accessories Privado Sale will run nationwide at the Branded Accessories Department of SM Stores.

Fashionable pieces for sale at Zalora pop-up store in B3 Bonifacio High Street

Christmas shopping

at Zalora Philippines’pop-up store ChrISTMAS is just around the corner and Zalora Philippines takes the holiday season shopping very seriously.

Asia’s leading online fashion destination launched its third pop-up store in partnership with Ayala Malls.

The newly opened pop-up store at B3 Bonifacio high Street, takes on a contemporary caravan concept as it moves to different key Ayala Malls around the country.

“The gap between online and offline retail is rapidly decreasing. That is why we, at Zalora, are relentless in our drive to keep pace with the way consumers

and their shopping habits are evolving. The Zalora Pop-Up Store allows us to expand the touch points with our customers and helps ease their doubts on online shopping by creating a more convenient, personalized and one-of-akind shopping experience, especially on this very busy holiday Season” said Paulo Campos, founder and CeO of Zalora Philippines.

The ZALOrA Pop-Up Store in partnership with Ayala Malls, huawei, revolution Pre-crafted and MasterCard will run until Dec. 3.

The newness of any season LeT the newness of any season inspire you all year round as Springfield, the leader in chic cosmopolitan style, brings you an array of versatile pieces that allow you to move, play, and live in the moment.

While you work in the city, don’t let the hustle and bustle confine you. Springfield comes to the rescue and breathes lightness into each refreshing ensemble; works around a versatile palette of earthy neutrals like navy, gray, beige, and white, which makes it easy for men (both the stylish and fashionably clueless) to mix and match pieces, creating limitless combinations perfect for everyday.

Whether you prefer to keep it simple with a crisp polo shirt and chinos, or dress up your look with a blue blazer or comfy cardigan, you’ll love the comfort and confident style Springfield lends. Designing for the young style savant, Springfield elevates casuals— while keeping them tailored— with relaxed and slim-fit silhouettes. Men can enjoy the comfort of casuals while looking more put-together in an ensemble that highlights their masculinity and toned physique.

While offering a wide selection of style staples, Springfield opens up other opportunities for men to be more adventurous with striped polos, graphic tees, and Bermuda shirts that bare tropical-inspired prints. Pastel tones such as blush and indigo find their way into the collection, adding that perfect touch of fun and freshness into every confident man’s wardrobe.

But more than aesthetics, Springfield caters to the needs of young men and professionals for pieces that complement their lifestyles. each piece, from trousers to golf shirts and casual tees, are made from soft, breathable fabrics that keep him cool throughout the day.

For the ladies, Springfield presents billowy jumpsuits, flowy day dresses, and skirts that brim with youthful charm, channeling the carefree spirit of bohochic fashion. ethnic prints, floral embroidery, and tribal accents also lend to the worldly appeal of the collection.Floral designs worked into rompers, day dresses, and shorts are sweet yet fitting for the elegant, modern lady. each piece perfectly highlights curves while offering every woman freedom and ease of movement.

Be it the balmy gust of warm weather or the breeze of the cold season, embrace the carefree spirit while keeping it cool and sophisticated with clean, crisp silhouettes. Springfield offers modern interpretations to summer casuals. Loose offshoulder blousons and striped jumpsuits have women feeling confident, while linen shirts and chinos have men looking dapper. The minimal details and neutral palette of the collection underline a sense of timelessness, making it easy for each individual to look polished and put-together for any occasion.

With Springfield, discover effortless style that carries you through any season.

Tail-print buttondown polo and striped navy blue chino shorts

Life

C2

wednesday, november 15, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

H

ERS is perhaps one the most beautiful faces in show business and there’s surely more to it than what meets the eye.

Marian Rivera—TV star, proud wife of Dingdong Dantes, and doting mother to their daughter, Zia— has been in the public eye for more than a decade now with the winds of change continuously blowing towards her direction.

Marian makes looking good effortless, knowing her priorities pretty well—her family first, and showbiz second.

To maintain her beauty and physical well-being that is much needed in the industry that she chose, Marian definitely knows who to partner with.

Dr. Vicki Belo of the belo Medical Group (bMG), friend and her beauty doctor, has always been beside Marian to make sure that she doesn’t worry about a thing about the changes that occur in her face and body.

Together, Marian and belo make a team that celebrates life and beauty.

Marian encourages women out there, especially mothers who are in their early 30s to start anti-aging programs to help them slow down aging. Marian is an advocate of belo Thermage.

Thermage is a revolutionary treatment that uses RF technology. The result is a smoother, tighter skin on the face that reduces the fine lines and wrinkles, tighten the loose, sagging skin for a younger look. It also induces collagen production, so day after day your skin will look firmer and more beautiful with results that may last for up to two years.

With belo Thermage, you, too, can laugh more with less lines, like Marian.

For inquiries, call 819-BELO or visit www.belomed.com.

Marian Rivera

has more in life to laugh about

Marian Rivera encourages women in their early 30s to start with anti-aging treatments, such as Belo Thermage, that will help them slow down aging

SM Woman Think Pink Party Walk further, walk taller with Bata Insolia

aNyTIME is a perfect time to pay close attention to the health of our breasts.

SM Woman recently honored members of ICanServe Foundation and bosom buddies at #SMWomanThinkPink—a fun-filled shopping afternoon at SM Makati.

The get-together started with snacks, a short program, and photo sessions, capped off with an exciting shopping experience complete with stylists from SM Woman to assist guests with their personal picks.

Bunny Rano of bosom buddies and Irene Tumaob of ICanServe Foundation happily thanked SM Woman for the wonderful treat.

From left: SM Woman Senior Digital Marketing Manager Erin Torrejon, Bosom Buddies’ Linda Panutat and Bunny Rano, SM Woman SVP Jo Dy Juanco, and ICanServe Foundation’s Irene Tumaob

UNIQLO’s two new stores

Bata integrates Insolia Heels into its footwear collection

Global brand bata is walking tall with the recent the integration of Insolia Heels into bata footwear.

It is no secret that high heels can boost a woman’s confidence, which comes not only from how she looks, but also how she feels about herself. but then again, comfort is key to women who have to navigate through work, weekends, and special occasions.

“How many women would love to pick out their favorite high heels come Monday morning instead of the usual ballerinas or sneakers,” says Diana Li, bata brand manager and Insolia project manager.

With this in mind, Thomas A. Bata identified the need to improve bata’s high-heel value proposition. and with the support of the bata innovation lab, the team then identified the best available technology to boost the comfort of high-heeled shoes: Insolia. This weight –shift patented technology manages to distribute weight equally between the toe and shoe areas.

Founded by podiatrist and biomechanics expert Dr. Howard Dananberg, HbN Shoe llC develops and manufactures the Insolia family of products, including Insolia Heels. but how does this work?

When integrated into women’s shoes with heels of 45mm and more, shifts weight off the forefoot to reduce pres-

sure by 30 percent. Insolia Heels also reduces oxygen demand while walking by 25 percent and increases wear time by a factor of three.

Perfect for the woman on the go, the collection features an array of classy pumps, versatile peep-toe booties, and casual chic heels. The Insolia Heels are built into heeled footwear to improve biomechanics, comfort, gait, weight distribution, balance, posture, and stability. With its tagline, “Walk Further, Walk Taller”, bata Insolia lets women wear heels comfortably all day long.

For more than 120 years, global footwear brand bata continuously serves as a pioneer of innovative footwear. bata operates the bata Innovation lab which focuses on new technologies, materials, and designs that support shoe comfort features and guarantee fashion-forward design.

Established in 1894 by siblings Tomas, anna, and antonin bata, global brand bata continuously provides quality and trendy footwear around the world. Today, bata has a presence in over 70 countries, and operates over 5,000 international retail stores. The brand sells more than one million pairs of shoes a day.

In the Philippines, Bata has stores in SM Megamall, SM City Bacoor and SM Makati. Bata is also available at SM Stores.

JaPaNESE global apparel retail brand, Uniqlo recently opened new stores in october and will add over 1,000 sqm of new shopping space in two locations, bringing the Uniqlo lifeWear shopping experience to more Filipinos.

Following its successful expansion in Mindanao and the recent opening of its first store in Ilocos Norte, the opening of the new stores marks the growing commitment and strengthening position for Uniqlo across the country.

“Since we first came here in the Philippines five years ago, our commitment to provide high quality lifeWear piec-

es has always inspired us to push the boundaries of innovation and design,” said Masayoshi Nakamura, co-Coo, Uniqlo Philippines. “We are happy to announce the opening of two new stores to share our commitment to more Filipinos in time for the holiday season.”

The first new store opened in SM bacoor on oct. 13. The store is situated on the upper ground floor of the mall and will offer customers 849 sqm of new shopping space.

This was followed by the opening of the second store on oct. 20, in Vista Mall bataan. The store is strategically located

Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo opens more stores in the Philippines

on the first floor near the entrance of the mall where shoppers from the metro can find their favorite Uniqlo pieces.

The two new stores will showcase a full colorful line-up of Uniqlo lifeWear: innovative, high-quality clothing that is universal in design and comfort and made for everyone, everywhere. The stores will carry ranges for men, women, kids, and babies, with product offerings that include Uniqlo shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses and Uniqlo Sport items. also available will be the full range of world-renowned Uniqlo proprietary technology clothing lines, such as aIRism and HEaTTECH.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

MATTEO

Matteo Guidicelli is exploring other facets of his career by staging a solo concert at the Kia Theater

Guidicelli… the singer A

Ace actor Piolo Pascual looking sharp and dashing at 40

PIOLO

PASCUAL‘s

sharper, clearer vision in life ALTHOUGH it is said that life begins at 40, many people still dread reaching the so-called prime of their lives.

This is the time when undesirable physical changes start to appear. One of the most telling signs of being 40 is the beginning of eye problems like presbyopia or near-vision blurriness.

But, do people really have to suffer poor vision as they age?

Actor Piolo Pascual does not think so.

Piolo, who recently turned 40, continues to charm audiences on the silver screen and television with his expressive eyes, which light up in romances, pierce through rivals in action-thrillers and brim with tears in dramas.

Piolo emphasizes the importance of taking care of one’s health and ensuring and protecting clear eyesight.

For people who enter their 40s and start to experience near-vision blurriness, he recommends having the eyes checked regularly. He says the key to keeping the eyes healthy midlife are prevention, protection and correction. He recommends Varilux® lenses for his fellow fortysomethings with presbyopia.

Varilux® progressive lenses are recognized worldwide as an optimal solution to achieving natural, sharper vision in any distance, with smooth transition in between. Using patented W.A.V.E 2.0 and Binocular Booster™ lens technologies, Varilux® lenses help those in the prime of their lives see effortlessly in any distance, and also help boost their active lifestyles.

Pascual says, “Turning 40 is one of the greatest milestones in life that we should embrace and appreciate. We need healthy vision to see and enjoy every moment in our life, which is why it’s important that we take care of our eyes. With healthy vision, we can live our lives to the fullest.”

Feel good and look good while enjoying the prime of your life with healthy eyesight. Use Varilux® to achieve sharper and clearer vision.

For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

T THE grand media launch of Matteo Guidicelli’s upcoming concert, Hey Matteo, event host MJ Felipe had one request: “I had a conversation with Matteo yesterday. He’s nervous but very excited to meet with the press. But there’s one request that he wanted me (to) relay (sic) with you, he’s requesting if we could forget about him as an actor, as a karting driver or even as a triathlete,” the showbiz correspondent appealed. “He wanted us to see him today as a singer.”

It’s true that Matteo has worn so many hats since he started his career in showbiz as a part of a teenage comedy sitcom 10 years ago. Most recently, he dipped his feet into other waters trying out the action genre by starring in a film on human trafficking and the harmony between Muslims and Christians. Indeed, Matteo is a person who reinvents himself and doesn’t settle for just one specific facet of his career. In fact, he will focus on producing songs with his band next year, and hopefully hold tours in different schools across the country.

“I feel like someone who’s just starting out in the business,” Matteo gushed after singing “Hey Yo!” and “Wag Ka Nang Umuwi,” samples of the songs that will be part of his Nov. 30 concert repertoire.

The show at Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City is a follow up to his last year’s concert, Matteo Made in Cebu. The show was a huge success as fans and supporters packed the 4,000-seater Waterfront Hotel Ballroom. And because of this success, the team behind the show thought of bringing the concert

HOOQ ready for final pilots THE largest video-on-demand service in South-East Asia, HOOQ, announced the six titles for pilot development from its inaugural HOOQ Filmmakers Guild 2017.

The confirmed 2017 selections are Bhak (India), Suay (Thailand), Haunt Me (Singapore), How To Be A Good Girl (Singapore), Aliansi (Indonesia) and Heaven and Hell (Indonesia). The six were selected from some 500 submissions received by HOOQ over a two-month period from all over South East Asia.

The six entries that have been earmarked for pilots span a range of genres.

India’s winning entry, Bhak, is a colourful dramedy that follows the adventures of two ambitious young filmmakers in the Bollywood film industry.

Written by Arjun Chatterjee and Shreyom Ghosh from Big3 Media, it explores themes of passion, betrayal and love.

Suay, a Thai crime thriller by Marcelo von Schwartz Schwartz, follows the story of ladyboy go-go dancer Lola, who receives a cut-off ear belonging to her best friend and mentor, Carly. She is then forced to draw upon her past identity as a tough male private detective and descend into the underbelly of Bangkok.

Supernatural drama Haunt Me,

by Oman Dhas and Goh Ming Siu from Third Floor Pictures, follows the story of Kwong, a widower, who after his father’s death, moves into his family ancestral home and discovers his family’s secret sacred destiny; guiding lost souls to the other side.

The other Singaporean entry, How To Be A Good Girl, comes from Abundant Productions and follows former socialite turned ex-convict, Frances Lee, who is looking to reclaim her life after time behind bars.

The Indonesian winning entries reflect two ends of the genre sprectrum. Aliansi is an offbeat comedy by Muttaqiena Imaamaa. It follows the story of a down-and-out Jakartabased creative executive, who gets a chance to start over when a mysterious millionaire approaches him to create advertising campaigns – to convince the public that aliens are real.

By contrast, Bobby Prabowo & Eric Tiwa’s Heaven and Hell, takes us into the world of the Eastern Indonesia mafia. When a gang war about to break out in Darmaga Batu, his adoptive hometown, Chris contemplates leaving the violent world of

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, November 15, 2017

ACROSS 1 Alert 5 Leathery 10 Sleeve part 14 Pointed arch 15 Kashmir cash 16 Peace Prize city 17 Sp. or Ger. 18 “I don’t mind — —” 19 Spinks of the ring 20 Romp about 22 Sidestepped 24 Raised to a lofty position 28 Partner of alas 31 — Wiedersehen 32 Oven shelves 36 Attic 37 “Instant” house 39 Disdainful snort 40 Crowed over 42 Nylons 44 — Nimitz 45 Critter 47 Sit-down occasion 48 Taxi ticker 50 Years on end 51 Fuel-gauge reading 52 Paris landmark (2 wds.)

55 Shortage 58 Leap over

to Manila, which this time, has a different concept.

“The team wanted to stage it at a bigger venue but we thought of just holding it at the Kia Theater because I think we’re not yet ready for the Big Dome.

Although I really trust my team, it is still scary to think how to fill up a big venue. But I heard the VIP tickets are nearly sold out and the tickets in the other sections are moving so sana we can have a full house,” he said.

Matteo promised that his Manila concert is going to be “more of a rock and roll fun show.”

62 Movie lioness 63 Suffuse 67 Go yachting 68 Show approval 69 Persona non — 70 Ms. James of jazz 71 Where Canterbury is 72 Rented, as a limo 73 Caught redhanded DOWN 1 Dog’s ancestor 2 Seaweed extract 3 Town near Lake Tahoe 4 Lets slide 5 Stretch of land 6 Umpire’s yell 7 Work — — sweat 8 Hair goo 9 Most beautiful woman 10 Pina — 11 Pre-owned 12 Freighter hazard 13 Cherished 21 Printer fluid 23 Is and was 25 More robust 26 Strong-scented plant 27 Casual

28 Book for photos 29 Unfastened 30 Make — — buck 33 Bird sound 34 K, to a jeweler 35 Bashfully 37 Not a pencil 38 Email provider 41 Mystical card 43 Dunks 46 Stooge with bangs 49 Starry-eyed 51 Low-fat meat 53 Chicken piece

54 In the lead 55 Patio cousin 56 She, to Marie 57 Cold — — icicle 59 See regularly 60 Diet 61 High spirits 64 CAT scan relative 65 Tavern 66 Sporty truck

crime, until he realizes, the only way he can protect his jailed father, is by becoming the head of the crime world.

HOOQ has also selected five more submissions for script development. The selections are Crazy in Love (Indonesia), Golden Star (Philippines), Merit Score (Thailand), ReLie (Thailand), and Trips (Singapore).

While these submissions are not ready to be developed into pilots, they hold enough merit and potential to become compelling stories that will appeal to audiences around South-East Asia. HOOQ is investing in the potential of these ideas by developing them into scripts.

“The HOOQ Filmmakers Guild has really highlighted the immense talent out in Asia and the selection process for the top six pilots announced earlier was not an easy task. The fact that we could pick out five more brilliant ideas on top of the six we already chose for pilot development means this region is a hot bed for creative talent.

We are excited and committed to developing these talents and helping them turn their vision into your next favorite series!” said Peter Bithos, HOOQ CEO.

“We are prioritizing original music, more than the covers,” he said adding he will be singing the songs from his newly released album, which introduces the other side of him – as a singer.

“The whole album was inspired by the whole truth. It’s about what I feel. I hope the millennials will also relate to it, if they’re going through the same thing,” he said.

The album, after his selftitled CD released last year, has 10 songs. Asked to describe it further, the Cebuano native explained it’s a mix of everything with emotions that range from

being calm to getting intense. He also revealed that majority of the songs in the album are inspired by his girlfriend, Sarah Geronimo.

Hey Matteo will also be a coming together of artists whose passion and commitment for excellence know no bounds.

While it features Matteo’s talent and enthusiasm on stage it will also showcase the creativity of concert director Rowell Santiago and musical director Louie Ocampo.

Joining him are Cebuano singer Morissette Amon, rapper Loonie, and Kiana Valenciano.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

Alden Richards sings "MaGMAhalan Ngayong Pasko"

The energetic "Eat Bulaga" Dabarkads bond with their solid fans

A hardworking waiter (center) was elated to see the cast of "My Korean Jagiya" (from left: Iya Villania, Heart Evangelista, Alexander Lee, and Divine Aucina) in Bacolod

"My Love from the Star" couple Jennylyn Mercado and Gil Cuerva joined by their avid fans

Mikee Quintos

Maricris Garcia

Julie Anne San Jose

Aicelle Santos

KAPUSO’s

CHRISTMAS STATION ID

inspires viewers to love

G

MA Network invites viewers to spread love wholeheartedly via its 2017 Christmas Station ID dubbed, “Buong Pusong MaGMAhalan Ngayong Pasko,” now airing on its TV channel.

This Yuletide season, the Kapuso Network helps bring to mind that any act of kindness, no matter how simple, can make a huge difference when it comes from the heart.

Shot on various locations in Metro Manila, provinces, and abroad, GMA’s Christmas Station ID, which premiered on Nov. 6 after Super Ma’am, features a series of heart-warming

scenes of unsuspecting Filipinos receiving heartfelt surprises from Kapuso personalities.

Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, who went to separate locations, shared their thoughts on their gratifying experiences. “It’s always heartwarming to be with our televiewers. Kapag nasa 24 Oras, kapag nasa Magpakailanman ako, hindi ko sila nakakadaupang-palad.

Pero ngayong kasama natin sila, I feel their warmth,” said Mel. “Masarap talagang magbigay ng kasiyahan, lalo na kapag Pasko. Masarap talagang magbigay, period,” shared Mike who went to a public market.

Meanwhile, the hosts of the longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga surprised their solid dabarkads. “Kakaiba ito dahil kahit na lagi naming ginagawa ito sa pagsugod sa barangay, kakaiba ito kasi si lola, 105 years old na! Ang daming kuwento!,” said Joey De Leon. “Kami po’y nagpapasalamat sa ating

mga kasama sa GMA dahil binigyan kami ng pagkakataong makasama sila,” Sen. Tito Sotto added.

Jessica Soho, along with other Kapuso personalities, went to share the love with the true heroes in the classroom. She said, “Kailangang pasalamatan natin sila every chance we get dahil napakadakila ng ating mga teacher.”

Adding amusement to the festive atmosphere of the station ID is the theme song “Magmahalan Nang Buong-Puso,” performed

by Alden Richards, Mikee Quintos, Nar Cabico, Maricris Garcia, Aicelle Santos, and Julie Anne San Jose. The jingle was released online on Oct. 30.

To watch the full version of the Kapuso 2017 Christmas Station ID, visit www.gmanetwork. com/entertainment and follow GMA’s official accounts on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via the handle @gmanetwork.

Meet ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ season 2’s first 8 semi-finalists

Indonesia's Angela July

Singapore's The Sisters

TWO acts from the Philippines, Deniel Sarmiento and Neil Rey Garcia Llanes, made it to the semi-finals of Asia’s Got Talent Season 2.

After a difficult decisionmaking process at the end of the Judges’ Auditions, David Foster, Anggun, and Jay Park made their pick of the top 20 acts to join the four Golden Buzzer recipients in the semi-finals.

Here are the first 8 semi-finalists: The Sisters, comprising siblings 10-year-old Anne-Sophie and 12-year-old Ariane, is a singing duo from Singapore who managed to clinch three yeses from the judges. Foster was especially impressed with the talented performers, commenting they were so good that they sounded like one person.

Andrew Lee, the charismatic illusionist from Malaysia who threw a knife at show host Alan Wong made it through with his death-defying act. He has been

Mongolia's Canion Shijirbat

performing for in the last 13 years and hopes to perform in Las Vegas one day.

Power S t o r m Crew claims it is the very first B-Boy group in Thailand.

After years of being back-up dancers, the members decided to form their own dance crew and be the main attraction.

Angela July touched the judges’ hearts with her singing and harp performance. She hopes to be a world-class performer, serenading audiences internationally.

Angela is a full-time mother but works part-time performing in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Philippines’ beat boxer Neil Rey Garcia Llanes has the best

Malaysia's Andrew Lee. The Philippines' Neil Rey Garcia Llanes

redemption story after coming back to the Asia’s Got Talent stage for his second chance.

He’s ready to go all out for this season.

The judges loved Filipino contemporary dancer Deniel Sarmiento when he performed during the Judges’ Auditions.

Coming from a family of dancers, Deniel has a lot to prove when he takes the stage in the semi-finals.

Ekklesia, the “popera” singing trio from Korea was a surprise hit with the judges and audience. The three of them are hoping to stand out from the clutter of Korean-pop and craft their own destiny on Asia’s Got Talent.

The hosts’ Golden Buzzer pick,

The Philippines' Deniel Sarmiento

Canion Shijirbat illuminated the stage with his unique blend of choreography and graphic design. Will he be able to take his performance to the next level in the semi-finals?

In each semi-final episode, the eight acts will perform a dazzling new piece. At the end of each episode, the act that impresses the judges most will win the Judges’ Pick and head to the Grand Finals directly. The seven remaining acts will be up for public voting, and the two acts with the most votes will head to the Grand Finals.

Voting starts next Thursday via Facebook Hashtag and Facebook Messenger and Google Search.

For more information on voting, visit www.AXN-Asia. com/AGTVote.

The first semi-final episode of Asia’s Got Talent airs this 8:30 p.m. on AXN tomorrow. To follow the journey of this season’s acts, check out #AXNAsia and #AsiasGotTalent.

Star-studded giant Christmas tree lighting THE iconic Araneta Center giant Christmas tree will once again twinkle against the night sky starting this Friday with annual tree lighting that marks the beginning of the merriest time of the year in the city.

The Araneta Center was the first to build the tallest Christmas tree that has become a popular symbol of Paskong Pinoy.

Now on its 36th year, the first tree lighting ceremony was held in 1981 and has since become a tradition among families and friends visiting the Center.

This year, the tree lighting will be held in a different spot as the 100-foot Christmas tree moves to a bigger and better location: the Times Square Food Park on Times Square Avenue corner Roxas Avenue near the Araneta Center Bus Station and behind Shopwise.

Almost like a little strip of all things Christmas, the new home of the giant tree is also a few steps away from the new location of the Parolan, the favorite bargain destination for Christmas decor. The new location also features a tunnel of lights, an events area, and a new food park where people can hang out and do more than just take selfies.

The tree lighting event is open to the public, with registration beginning at 4 p.m., and pre-show at 5 p.m. Your

favorite stars, like Vice Ganda, Erik Santos, Kisses Delavin, BoybandPH, and many others, will add sparkle to the night’s festivities before the tree lighting and fireworks display.

After that, the country’s premier band UDD (UP Dharma Down) will be playing.

The tree lighting kicks off the Yuletide season in the city and Christmas rush will soon be upon us, so this is also the perfect time for Araneta Center to unveil its partnership with a brand new app called Piip. Another first for the Araneta Center, this perfect lifestyle companion boasts of a location-based feature that alerts shoppers within a few kilometers of the Center of flash sales, promos, freebies, and more.

Users then can “shop around” for the best deals within the Center with just a piip of a button, chat with merchants for more info, and even tell their friends about it via its inapp chat. This will certainly level up the shopping, dining and entertainment experience for Araneta Center customers.

For more information on Piip, attendees may visit their booth at the tree lighting event.

For more info on the giant Christmas Tree Lighting event, follow @aranetacenter on Facebook or Twitter; or @ thearanetacenter on Instagram.

UDD will perform at the Araneta Center Giant Christmas Tree Lighting event on Nov. 17