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PH CREDIT RATING UPGRADED; STABLE OUTLOOK CITED By Julito G. Rada S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday raised the Philippines’ sovereign credit rating a notch to BBB+ from BBB, citing the country’s stable outlook, above-average economic growth, healthy external position and sustainable public finances. The upgrade put the Philippines at par with Mexico, Peru, Thailand, and Trinidad and Tobago, and higher by a notch than Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Panama and Uruguay. In a statement, S&P said the stable outlook reflects its assumption that the Philippine economy would continue to achieve above-average real gross domestic product (GDP) growth over the medium term, supporting the sovereign credit profile. “We may raise the ratings over the next two years if the government makes significant further achievements in its fiscal reform program, or if the country’s external position improves such that its status as a net external creditor becomes more secure over the long term,” it said. Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 76 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ECOP dampens pay hike hopes Reelectionists Labor bloc, lawmakers urge gain edge in gov’t to keep an open mind senatorial race By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz By Macon Ramos-Araneta INDEPENDENT Senator Grace Poe, who has consistently topped almost all pre-election surveys, was dislodged by Senator Cynthia A. Villar of the Nacionalista Party from the No. 1 spot in the latest Pulse Asia survey. The survey on the senatorial preferences conducted from April 10 to 14, also showed that ﬁve of the seven reelectionists made it to the “Magic 12.” Aside from Villar and Poe, they are Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay and Aquilino Pimentel Next page III.

HE Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines are on a collision course over the latter’s petition for a P710 increase in wages of workers in Metro Manila as the country marks Labor Day, a holiday in honor of working people. ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis told GMA News Balitanghali, in an interview heard nationwide on the eve of Labor Day, he doubted if the Tripartite Wage Board would be entertained by the Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. But the research group IBON quickly

underlined employers could very well afford to raise the minimum wage to P750 which only entailed a small cut in their proﬁts, adding the Duterte administration should support this hike which would help millions of Filipino households dependent on wages and salaries cope with the rising cost of goods and services. Next page

TAUNTING THOUGHTS. A hard-hatted worker is in a shilly-shally Tuesday noon beneath the scorching 35°C in supporting steel stands in mid-level of a high-rise building along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City while quietly counting the hours to Labor Day today. Lino Santos

Rody creates inter-agency cluster to hasten MILF ‘decommissioning’

Discards as art pieces A TWISTING maze of tiny buildings crafted from discarded cardboard boxes is the heart of an eye-catching art piece in the Philippines highlighting the humble material’s value to millions of people. Next page

By Nat Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of an Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization to ensure the “timely, appropriate, and efﬁcient delivery” of the decommissioning program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, documents released by the Palace showed Tuesday. In his Executive Order No. 79, signed April 24, the President said the national government recognizes that “normalization is a process whereby communities can achieve their desired quality of life within a peaceful and deliberative society.” The EO also paves the way for the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces and arms. With this, the Duterte administration emphasized the need to adopt a multi-

SI first: Muslim model in burkini WASHINGTON—Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue, best known for its racy covers of scantily clad bikini models, will feature for the first time a Muslim model wearing a hijab and burkini, the magazine said Monday. Next page

Palace: Probe influx of alien doctors By Nat Mariano MALACAÑANG on Tuesday supported the proposal of Senator Richard Gordon to probe parent inﬂux of foreign doctors in the Philippines. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters Gordon was correct in his idea of investigating the “whys and wherefores” of the foreign medical professionals. “There are too many [Filipino] doctors who go to other countries and maybe we have fewer doctors here, and that’s why the foreign ones can enter,” Panelo said. “So that’s right. He should really investigate the whys and the wherefores of this inﬂux of foreign doctors in the coun-

try to know the reasons.” But Panelo did not discount the possibility that other countries could also experience the same problem with Filipino medical practitioners. Over the weekend, Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, suggested a Senate probe on an alleged syndicate that facilitates the entry and employment of foreign doctors into the country to practice medicine in some hospitals without having the necessary permits. Next page

Measles cases going down—DOH

Somali-American model Halima Aden

“IT IS probably safer to assume that the number of measles cases is going down in many areas but we need to validate our ﬁgures,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told reporters during the celebration of World Immunization Week in Manila. But Duque said his department could not lift the measles outbreak status in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon where the highest incidence was recorded.

“We have to be more prudent in saying that measles outbreaks are over in these regions because we still feel that parents must continue to bring their children to the health centers, so it’s about giving them more opportunity to bring their unvaccinated children for measles vaccines and other vaccines for diphtheria, pneumonia, hepatitis B, tetanus, etcetera which are meant to protect the people’s Next page health,” Duque said.

faceted normalization program, covering the aspects of security, socioeconomic development, sustainable livelihood, political participation, confidence-building, and transitional justice and reconciliation. The ICCMN shall be composed of representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary as cochairpersons. The members shall consist of representatives from the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education, and Skills Development Authority, National Commission on Next page

Japan emperor abdicates WORLD B3

Emperor Akihito

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

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Power bill deposit illegal—solons By Rey E. Requejo

ARTY-LIST lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to reject the order of the Energy Regulatory Board allowing Meralco to collect the bill deposits from consumers, which now amounts to P29 billion.

The petitioners said Meralco allegedly uses the funds from bill deposits “for other purposes, including investments in financial instruments and operations-related expenses.” “Commingling of bill deposits with the Meralco funds threatens the integrity of the bill deposit and endangers the right to refund of the consumers,” the petition says. The petitioners claim that Meralco is not giving back to its costumers the interest rates actually earned by the bill deposits. “From what was originally a 10 percent-interest rate per year, the ERC and Meralco have reduced the interest rate to just .25 percent per year, allowing Meralco to profit tremendously from the bill deposit, with a return of at least 14.97 percent,” the petition says.

The petitioners asked the high court to order the ERC to implement a refund of the bill deposit to Meralco’s 6.5-million consumers. Colmenares was joined by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Representatives Emerenciana de Jesus and Arlene D. Brosas, Act Teachers Party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio and Francisca Castro, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. in filing the petition. The petition named as respondents ERC chairman Agnes Devanadera, Commission on Audit chairman Michael Aguinaldo and Meralco president and CEO Oscar Reyes.

In a petition, the lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc led by Bayan Muna chairman and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares asked the high court to declare as null and void the ERC’s order allowing Meralco to collect the bill deposits and to mix with its general fund for capital and operations-related purposes. The group said the collection of the bill deposit, a refundable fund meant to guarantee payment of bills by consumers, was illegal and void because it was not allowed under the Electric Power

Industry Reform Act. “It does not fall under the distribution wheeling charges, connection fees or retail rates allowed by EPIRA to be collected from consumers,” the group’s petition says. “Such guarantee for the payment of bills on its captive market has no basis or justification and is actually illegal since the payment of bills is already certain under the ERC and Meralco’s policy and protocols on non-payment of monthly bills.”

PH...

40 TV, print newsmen gang up on Palace

From A1

“We may also raise the ratings if we find that the institutional settings in the Philippines have improved markedly,” it said. On the other hand, it said it may lower the ratings if the government’s fiscal program leads to much higher-than-expected net general government debt levels, or if real GDP growth declines significantly. S&P said the rating upgrade reflected the Philippines’ strong economic growth trajectory, which is expected to continue to drive constructive development outcomes and underpin broader credit metrics over the medium term. “The rating is also supported by solid government fiscal accounts, low public indebtedness, and the economy’s sound external settings,” it said. S&P said the Philippine economy is among the fastest growing in the world on a 10-year weighted average, per capita basis—a reflection of its supportive policy dynamics and improving investment climate. “The country has a relatively diversified economy with an increasingly strong track record of high and stable growth. We estimate GDP per capita will rise to almost US$3,400 in 2019 (we include nonresident nationals in our population data),” it said. S&P projects GDP per capita growth will average about 4.9 percent per year over 2019-2022, based on balanced contributions from private consumption and investment growth. Also, the country’s unemployment rate has been declining for a few years, signaling the economy’s strengthening labor market even as the working-age population continues to grow, it said. It said the economy’s constructive trajectory should be underpinned by strong household and company balance sheets, continued income growth, sizable inward remittance flows, and an adequately performing financial system. S&P further said the government has so far achieved partial success with its “Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.” The program aims to ensure that finances remain sustainable while addressing the nation’s pressing infrastructure needs and chronic underinvestment.

Measles... From A1

He said the Epidemiology Bureau had recorded 31,056 measles cases from Jan. 1 up to April 13 this year compared with only 6,641 for the same period in 2018. “And that is five times more than the figures in 2018. The number of deaths has reached 415 until week 15 compared to 59 in 2018. With the help of our vaccine heroes we immunized 3.8 million of six to 59 months old children against measles since February this year,” Duque said. To achieve the 95 percent immunization coverage nationwide, the Health department also launched its school-based immunization for adults. “The grade schoolers’ group from Kinder to grade 6, our target is 8 million, and as of April 24 we’re done with the eleven percent,” Duque said. “When we launched our outbreak response immunization, it was almost the end of the school year, and we’ll restart with our massive immunization two after the schools, classes have fully opened, and for the 12 years old and above our coverage is at 42 percent or 2.2 million.” Duque said the restored confidence of the people in vaccines brought down measles cases. The latest data from the DOH-EB showed that the highest measles cases at 3,743 were recorded on Feb. 23 this year. The slide in the measles cases became significant the following month as the DOH continued with its massive outbreak response immunization. PNA

By Rey E. Requejo

AT LEAST 40 TV and print journalists have backed the petition of Rappler before the Supreme Court assailing the constitutionality of Malacañang’s coverage ban on the online news website. In a petition for intervention, the group led by prominent journalists Tina Monzon-Palma, Luis Teodoro, Marites Vitug and John Nery asked the Court to grant the relief sought by Rappler and order the Office of the President to allow the news outfit and its reporters to cover President Rodrigo Duterte’s public events. The journalists sided with the argument of Rappler that the ban violates press freedom, free speech, due process and equal protection under the 1987

ECOP... From A1

Current minimum wages are far from IBON’s estimate of the family living wage (FLW) needed by a family of five. The current minimum wage in the National Capital Region of P537 is already the highest in the country, but it is P467 short of the P1,004 FLW as of March 2019. Ortiz-Luis noted that it was only in November 2018 when a P25-hike in the daily minimum wage of workers in the National Capital Region was approved, saying the petition for a wage increase must be done within a year. But Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor and employment committee, said the government should not immediately close its doors on the possibility of having a second wage increase in less than a year. He said the government must look into the supervening conditions to justify whether there was a need for another increase. “Examining this issue in our current social and economic context is also necessary,” Villanueva added. Villanueva was reacting to an earlier statement by Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III that workers should not expect much from the petitions for wage increases since it should first justify a supervening condition that would merit a second wage hike in less than a year. The proposed increase should be studied well and evaluated by the Regional Wages

Palace:... From A1

He caught wind of the supposed influx when he stumbled into the “racket employed by a syndicate” under a government-run hospital named after his late father in Olongapo City. According to Gordon, the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital houses several Pakistani and Nepalese doctors who practice medicine as medical consultants. “I am concerned because they are

Constitution and also constitutes content-based prior restraint. They said the ban that the President imposed on March 1, 2018 “extends not only to Rappler and to its reporters and staff but also to any journalist who would write or broadcast anything that the President deems to be ‘fake news.’” The group said only four types of expression may be subject to prior restraint—pornography, false or misleading advertising, advocacy of imminent lawless action and danger to national security. “That the ban is directed at content is clear and incapable of dispute… Absent the substantial government interest as well as the ‘clear and present danger,’ the ban constitutes impermissible content-based prior restraint of

protected expression,” read the petition filed through former Court spokesman Theodore Te of the Free Legal Assistance Group. Petitioners alleged that the ban stemmed only from “the President’s displeasure at Rappler’s and Ms. Pia Ranada’s reporting.” “The clearest sign that the ban is arbitrary and based only on personal discomfort or displeasure is the account of Ms. Ranada, in the main case, that she had actually met with the President at a public function, asked the President to lift the ban, and was told by the President that the lifting of the ban would be contingent on her [Ms. Ranada] voting for one of the President’s preferred senatorial candidates,” they added.

and Productivity Board, Villanueva said. The visible logjam was developing as labor groups were preparing to stage rallies in key cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, where their leaders said they would demand an end to contractualization and push for the P750 wage increase nationwide. “We have long and consistently called for a just end to pervasive contractualization of labor, yet the practice of labor-only contracting, job-only contracting and other forms of flexible labor remain prevalent among the working people,” said Elmer Labog, chairperson of the militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno. The Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, KMU, Partido ng Manggagawa, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines reiterated the call for an end to contractualization and push for the enactment of a Security of Tenure Law, while calling for increase in wages nationwide. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa. said “Congress has nine more session days after the elections. Newly-elected legislators won’t begin their terms until after June 30. The labor movement will defend workers’ rights to the last. With enough political will, President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies in the Senate can still have a Security of Tenure Law enacted during this Congress.” “This will definitely continue the pressure on the Senate, especially its reelectionist senators to openly declare either their support or opposition to the proposed End Endo Law,” Matula said. In related developments: • Over 200,000 jobs are up for grabs

in the nationwide simultaneous job and business opportunities fair of the Department of Labor and Employment today to mark the celebration of Labor Day. DOLE is inviting jobseekers to take the opportunity as 204,000 local and overseas jobs will be offered by over 1,000 agencies in 31 sites across the country, including the main TNK-Build Build Build-Jobs Jobs Jobs caravan at the Kingsborough International Convention Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga. Openings for government jobs include positions for officers and nonuniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among other agencies of government. Other local available jobs are mostly in services like customer service representative, machine operator, and in the field of construction under the Build, Build, Build program. Also top vacancies are collection specialist, cashier, retail/sales agent, accounts specialist, service crew, utility staff, bagger, and skilled sewer. For overseas placement, the vacancies include those for factory worker, nurse, machine operator, welder, house worker, waiter/waitress, baker, including English teachers for Thailand. • Reelectionist Senator Juan Edgardo Angara called on President Duterte to sign into law a measure that would exempt an estimated 1.3 million firsttime jobseekers from paying fees on government-issued documents during job application.

allowed to deal with patients on a oneon-one basis, they prescribe medicines. The patients hardly understand them. I have been able to confirm the complaints,” Gordon said. “Are they supervised by Filipino doctors? Are they even allowed to practice medicine here? As I understand it, we only have a reciprocity principal with Japan, Spain and the United States, including ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements. “First, there are Chinese workers competing with Filipino workers. Now

there are foreign doctors. This should be stopped because this concerns the health and well-being of the public and I fear that this is being practiced not just in Olongapo but in other areas, too.” The Professional Regulation Commission is empowered “to approve the registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration/license and professional identification card… to a foreigner who is registered under the laws of his state or country and whose certificate of registration issued therein has not been suspended or revoked.”

“The cardboard is very much important in the Philippines. In other places, it’s discarded, it’s garbage,” From A1 said Isabel Aquilizan, who conceived of the piece along with her husband Alfredo. In a nation where nearly a quarter of the population lives “Here, we use it for everything. We construct with on less than $2 per day, cardboard is a cheap and abundant it, it becomes your bed, it becomes your house, it bematerial used for shelter, bedding and furniture. comes everything,” she added. While the installation was originally made in and A hole at the center of the mixed-media installation patterned on the southwestern Chinese city of Cheng- allows visitors to stand at eye-level with details of du, the Filipino artists behind the work told AFP the the cardboard metropolis like roof-mounted satellite use of cardboard packs more meaning in Manila. dishes, street signs and trees. AFP

Discards...

SI...

From A1

Somali-American model Halima Aden’s rookie spread will be set in Kenya, where she was born in a refugee camp and lived until the age of seven. “Growing up in the States, I never really felt represented because I never could flip through a magazine

and see a girl who was wearing a hijab,” Aden said in a video tweeted by the magazine. Sports Illustrated also posted a picture of her posing lying down in shallow water, wearing a turquoise hijab, long yellow earrings and a deep blue burkini—the full length swimsuit favored by some Muslim women. Halima, 21, made headlines at age 19 when she was the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant, where she made the semi-finals in 2016. AFP

Angat dips; Maynilad sets supply cuts By Rio N. Araja THE water level in Angat Dam is going down further after breaching the critical level at 178.95 meters Tuesday, below the 180-meter minimum required level for normal operations, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. The lowest water level recorded in Angat Dam was in July 2010 when it dipped to 157.55 meters. PAGASA said the dam’s water level is expected to hit 175.5 meters by the end of May. This developed as west zone water concessionaire Maynilad announced that several barangays in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Cavite will be hit by water service interruptions. Maynilad said the water interruptions, which will last until May 14, was triggered by an unusual algae proliferation in Laguna Lake, which led to reduced water production in its Putatan water treatment facility. In March, customers of Manila Water also suffered from water interruptions that led to a P534-million fine slapped against the east zone concessionaire. The state weather bureau said water supply in Angat and other dams in Luzon could further decline due to the prolonged El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to last until June. Magat Dam in Isabela posted a 10 meter increase Monday, but it was still five meters short of the dam’s normal water level of 177.45 meters.

Reelectionists... From A1

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV was No. 13 while Senator JV Ejercito was No. 14, although the latter considered his ranking a “big jump” from his previous rankings. Ejercito said his work on the universal health care law was already paying off. “[The] electorate slowly appreciating those candidates with good performance and clean track record,” he said. Four returning senators—Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada also entered the “Winning Circle” while three other returning senators--Serge Osmena, Manuel Roxas II and Juan Ponce Enrile—did not. Two political newbies—former presidential aide Christopher Go and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, along with Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos completed the Top 12. Poe, who clinched the No. 1 spot in the last senatorial race, said she remains thankful for the trust afforded to her by the people. Pimentel said he is happy that those surveyed are aware of his qualifications for the position, remember the things he had accomplished, and had become aware of the plans he has for the country. Aquino said if he wins a second term, he vowed to work for the passage of his Trabaho Center Bill, which seeks to establish Trabaho Centers or job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges to help solve the prevalent problem of jobs mismatch and high unemployment. The Palace welcomed the survey as a sign of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “endorsement appeal,” as eight of his preferred senatorial candidates made it to the winner’s circle. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the results show the people trust Duterte’s endorsed candidates. With Nat Mariano

Rody... From A1

Indigenous Peoples, National Security Council, and Departments of the Interior and Local Government; National Defense; Justice; Social Welfare and Development; Agriculture; Education; Health; Labor and Employment; Finance; Budget and Management; Trade and Industry; Information and Communications Technology; and National Economic and Development Authority. The EO also mandates the Cabinet cluster to coordinate and mobilize relevant government agencies, provide policy advice, supervise and monitor all socioeconomic interventions, create a working group on vulnerable sectors, and submit periodic reports. Meanwhile, the programs under the different components of the normalization program will be implemented for the combatant and non-combatant elements of the MILF, the families of the commissioned combatants, and other vulnerable individuals and sectors residing in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lacson bill gives taxpayers participation in budget spending By Macon Ramos-Araneta TAXPAYERS will soon serve as the biggest safeguard against pork barrel being sneaked into the national budget under a bill filed by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson. In filing Senate Bill 2219, Lacson said that it’s time that Congress recognize the importance of the direct participation by people’s organizations and non-government organizations in the budget deliberation. His proposed measure institutionalizes the direct participation of people’s organizations and nongovernment organizations in the preparation of the spending bill. “We should institutionalize the practice of legislature-civil society collaboration in order to achieve a people-oriented budget as well as establish transparency and accountability in the budget process,” he said. Lacson noted the standoff that delayed the passage of the 2019 national budget was due mainly to abuse and indiscretion by some legislators from both houses of Congress. He lamented that the House of Representatives’ leadership even went beyond the mandate of the law and time-honored legislative practice by introducing realignments even after the budget had been ratified - a violation of the 1987 Constitution. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the 2019 spending bill last April 15, but not without vetoing P93.5 billion in questionable items, including the postrealignment manipulations questioned by Lacson and the Senate leadership. In his bill, Lacson cites that the budget encompasses all aspects of governance and reflects the government’s sincerity and political will to achieve social and economic change. “The vital role it plays in the operations of our government, and ultimately in the life of every Filipino, demands that there should be mechanisms in place that will enable citizens to participate in the budget process so as to correct spending priorities and to ensure transparency in the appropriation of valuable taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Court acquits Cebu town vice mayor of nepotism By Maricel V. Cruz A TOWN official in Cebu—who as mayor was accused of appointing his brother as the human resource management officer of the town— was acquitted of a nepotism case filed against him by the Ombudsman because it was his predecessor who originally appointed his brother to the position. The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division acquitted Barili Vice Mayor Teresito Mariñas, who as mayor was accused of appointing his brother Aniceto as HRMO of the town in 2007. The court said the Ombudsman failed to prove the guilt of Teresito and lifted hold departure order issued against him in connection with the case. Nepotism is defined by the Administrative Code of 1987 as the act of appointing relatives up to the third degree of consaguinity by the head of any national, provincial, city, and municipal governments or in any branch of the government, including governmentowned-or -controlled corporations. The court said Teresito was not guilty of nepotism because it was his predecessor who appointed Aniceto to the position. “To be sure, the accused did not exercise any ‘nepotic’ discretion when he issued a special assignment to his brother to perform the duties of an HRMO Personnel Officer. To reiterate, his brother Aniceto was appointed to the position of administrative assistant by the accused’s predecessor,” Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo CabotajeTang said in the decision. “The duties and responsibilities of an administrative assistant already include the duties and responsibilities of an HRMO Personnel Officer, hence, the issuance of the said special assignment did not amount to nepotism,” she added. In addition, the court noted that the special assignment given to Aniceto does not largely differ from his duties, when he was appointed by Teresito’s predecessor.

ABSENTEE VOTING. Members of the media who will be covering the May 13 elections cast their votes during the second day of absentee voting at the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday, April 30. Inset are officials and members of the Philippine National Police casting their votes at the Camp Crame Multi Purpose hall in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

PDEA adopts 3-pronged strategy in war on drugs By Rio N. Araja

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has adopted a three-pronged strategy in the war against illegal drugs.

Director general Aaron Aquino said the three prongs are supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction. “Cognizant of the rapidly changing landscape of the drug problem in the country, integrated and holistic approaches must be employed to achieve a maximum impact to be felt by the Filipino citizenry,” he said. According to Aquino, to complement the robust drug law enforcement efforts,

PDEA continues to lessen the drug dependence problem by providing antidrug education and information to the public to enable them to make informed decisions about drugs. “Alongside raising drug awareness, PDEA, through the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs, ensures the treatment of drug users either in residential and community-based rehabilitation centers. After treatment, reformers will undergo the social

Reallocate P5b in unobligated funds, DOH told SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has asked the Department of Health to reallocate P5 billion in obligation deﬁcit from 2018 appropriations to various health projects to boost healthcare initiatives. Arroyo and Committee on Health chairman Angelina Tan of Quezon presided a joint meeting on the expenditures of the DOH, particularly to assess the agency’s performance for ﬁscal years 2017 to 2019 and discuss the budget of the agency for 2020. Arroyo called on the DOH to lay out its plans for unobligated funds from its 2018 appropriations. She reminded the agency that a joint resolution of the Senate and the House to carry over the 2018 budget to 2019 has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, meaning unutilized 2018 funds should be used in 2019. “If you haven’t obligated them, do you plan to obligate them or reallocate them somewhere else?” Arroyo asked. Health Secretary Francisco Duque conceded to the request, noting that P97

billion was obligated in 2018 and that the unobligated P5 billion represents a small percentage of the DOH funding. Meanwhile, DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde reported that based on the 2019 National Expenditure Program the DOH budget decreased by 34 percent from P106 billion in 2018 to P70 billion in 2019 due to the transition to cashbased budgeting. The budget for Personal Services increased from P34 billion last year to P38 billion because of the fourth tranche of the salary standardization. The budget for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses was reduced from P41 billion in 2018 to P31 billion in 2019 largely due to the transfer of the DOH budget for its human resources employment program to the Miscellaneous Personnel Beneﬁt Fund. Finally, funding for Capital Outlaywhich comprised the budget for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program was cut from P31 billion in 2018 to P50 million. Maricel V. Cruz

IMMUNIZATION.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III presented an overview on the World Immunization Week, an annual event celebrated globally every last week of April with the theme: Protected Together: Vaccine Work held at the H2O hotel in Manila. Duque recognized health workers as vaccine heroes and thanked its partners in immunizing the country’s 3.8 million of six to 59 months old children against measles since February this year when the Deparment of Health declared a measles outbreak in several regions in the country. Lino Santos

rehabilitation phase. This will provide them employment opportunities and regain their dignity and place in our society,” he said. “Communities must take collective action in ﬁghting the drug menace. Continued development at the grassroots level will help alleviate poverty, promotes economic prospects resulting in people’s engagement in meaningful social structures. These proved useful in addressing the root cause of drug use,” he noted. “The three-pronged approach of the national anti-drug campaign are vital elements in building drug-resistant communities. Knowing fully well that the drug problem is a multi-faceted menace, PDEA has crafted anti-drug strategies in holistic approaches that will help us win the war against drugs,” he said.

Pag-IBIG honors top ‘Minda’ firms, developers PAG-IBIG Fund recognized the best performing developers and employers as it held the Mindanao leg of its Stakeholders Accomplishment Report in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday (April 26). The Pag-IBIG STAR stems from the Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman’s Report held in Pasay City in January. The Pag-IBIG StAR aims to distinguish organizations and individuals who contributed to the agency’s stellar performance last year. “Pag-IBIG achieved another banner year in 2018 as our net income, loan releases, and payment collections broke previous records. We could not have done it all without the unrelenting support from our partner employers and developers. We conduct the StAR to recognize their efforts to help the Fund. We want to maintain the good business relationship with all our stakeholders as we work to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to provide working Filipinos with social beneﬁts they deserve,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.

Brace for traffic in East Metro—MMDA AUTHORITIES on Tuesday advised motorists to brace for heavy trafﬁc in the eastern part of Metro Manila beginning next month as the Marcos bridge along Marcos Highway is set to be rehabilitated for eight months. “Starting Saturday, May 4 at 11 p.m., we are going to close the eastbound portion of the Marcos Bridge until the next four months,” said Metro Manila Development Authority general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. He said the bridge’s rehabilitation is long overdue, citing that private contractors have been requesting for the schedule of the repair since last year. Vehicles going to Antipolo could take the westbound direction while vehicles to Cubao in Quezon City could use the service road in front of SM Marikina Mall. Private contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways will work on the other direction after four months, Garcia said. Joel E. Zurbano

Enrile urges Du30: Ensure more work for Filipinos PUWERSA ng Masang Pilipino senatorial candidate and former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile urged the Duterte administration to ensure more work for Filipinos in its “Build Build Build” program expected to get a boost from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In his visit to Tarlac on Monday, the 95-year-old four-term senator noted the investment deals inked by Chinese businessmen with Filipino ﬁrms at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing was a welcome development for Filipino workers and businessmen. He said this was an opportunity for our workers in the construction, agriculture and telecommunications industry. “If we could harness the developments in the Belt and Road Initiative to improve infrastructure, connectivity, and economic exchange with other countries, then we can create more jobs for Filipinos here,” Enrile said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

24 PH firms bag over $42-m trade sales, investment TWENTY-four Philippine companies bagged more than $42 million of export sales and investment leads from over 300 foreign buyers in the country’s participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase held last April 3 to 6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and the Export Marketing Bureau, 24 food and non-food companies showcased the Philippines’ top halal-certiﬁed products, as well as some of the country’s top tourism destinations, under a uniﬁed national pavilion.

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Democracy, for better or for worse LESS than two weeks from now, Filipinos will troop to polling precincts to vote for candidates they feel are suited to lead them. After a campaign period that has seen alliances form, friendships break, acusations hurled, conspiracies denied, it will all come down to something intimate: An individual holding a ballot, using his or her conscience for guidance. This is the foundation of democracy. The reality is that countless voters do not bother to evaluate the merits of a candidate, much less involve their conscience in this allimportant decision.

No matter how we feel about the way other people decide whom to vote for, their vote is just as important as ours. The reasons that one has for voting for a particular candidate are that person’s alone, made in the sanctuary of the precinct. He or she does not need to defend or justify it. It’s a God-given right. Meanwhile, we do what we can to help fix what we deem appalling standards that Filipino voters have. Some months ago, a bunch of giddy female voters were interviewed why they were throwing their support behind a particular politician. They said it was because he was handsome. What about his billionpeso plunder case? They didn’t care, they said. He was handsome. That video became viral on social media. There is therefore a profound and deeply depressing truth in the saying that “the problem is not with the awful politicians running for office. The problem is the foolish people who

continue to vote for them.” Recent surveys have shown that voters choose candidates for their accessibility. “Madaling lapitan.” This means people like politicians who are always ready to help them in one way or another. I have a congressman friend who lives in a village in Quezon City. One day I visited him at 10 in the morning at his home. I saw hundreds of people lined up at his gate. I asked him what they were there for, and he said that happens every Saturday “when they know I am home.” The people come all the way from the province asking for so many things—money for the trip home, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, uniforms for basketball teams. They stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner too. I’m sure my friend spent an awful lot of money being accessible to his constituents. In my mind it’s all from pork barrel where a congressman gets a kickback from projects, ranging from 20 to 40 percent. His money comes from corruption, period. It’s actually a vicious cycle. People who vote for them want a return on their votes. In turn, for politicians to meet the people’s needs, they resort to corruption. That is the tragedy of our political system. In spite of how we feel about how the majority votes, however, one thing is certain: Those votes are as valuable as ours, and they must be properly counted. That is the sad and painful reality of democracy. It all boils down to one thing—poverty. With just a few days to go until election day, all efforts must be made to ensure a clean, honest and orderly polls. This year’s election is vital because it will be the first time since 2010 that the Comelec would be fully in charge of the automated system. Smartmatic will be hands-off. To be fair, the disdain for Smartmatic is unwarranted. Since the time it took over in 2010, all 103 electoral complaints have had the same verdict: The electronic and manual counts yielded identical results. Still, with Comelec at centerstage, it is up to the poll body to safeguard the very foundation of our democracy. *** The latest Pulse Asia survey raises a

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Using the poor as an excuse

ECENT attempts to derail a government plan to ban provincial buses from EDSA are a good example of how some groups use the poor as a political tool to block progress.

can take other transportation into the city. But the Ako Bicol Party-list group says such a plan is antipoor and has asked the Supreme Court to stop its implementation. In its petition, the party-list group argued that the MMDA and the Metro Manila Council have no authority to implement the ban because they are not authorized by the law to enact ordinances or approve resolutions, which are acts of police power. They also claimed the measure had no legal or scientific bases as it was crafted solely based on a “mere verbal directive” from the President during a Cabinet meeting in October 2018. It also pointed out that only a small portion of the vehicles that ply EDSA on a daily basis are provincial buses: In 2017, more than 360,000 vehicles were private motor vehicles mostly occupied by single drivers, 12,000 were city buses while only 3,300 were provincial buses. “It is not just that the few provincial buses used by the poor are being singled out,” one of the pe-

To ease traffic along EDSA, the Metro Manila Development Authority has moved to keep some 3,000 provincial buses off the main thoroughfare by closing their terminals—more than 40 of them—along the main highway. The advantages of such a ban seem self-evident. Provincial buses by their very classification should not be allowed to ply the same routes as some 12,000 city buses. These provincial buses take up valuable road space along the crowded highway and create choke points where they enter and exit their terminals. Under the MMDA plan, provincial buses will have to unload their passengers in designated terminals in Valenzuela and Santa Rosa, Laguna, from which they

titioners said, noting that travelers will be inconvenienced by the increased travel time and cost. Other politicians have jumped on the bandwagon, labeling the plan anti-poor and urging the authorities to begin by instead limiting the more affluent owners of private vehicles, which account for about 62 percent of traffic on EDSA. The numbers, however, tell only part of the story. Anybody who traverses EDSA on a regular basis will acknowledge that the private vehicles, regardless of how many passengers are on board, by and large do not cause traffic. Their tendency is to move forward toward their destination; they do not stop and jockey for position to take on or let off passengers. They do not block several lanes, as city and provincial buses do, when they wish to get ahead of their competitors. Labeling any plan anti-poor is a convenient way to scuttle it. Sadly, this is true even when the plan is logical and more efficient, and will benefit us all in the long run.

Turn to A5

No show LIKE the perennial absentee in the House, Rep. Amanda Christina Bagatsing was a no-show at the Saint Anthony Parish Church in San Andres for the debate with her fifth-district congressional opponent Ali Atienza. It was a scheduled event organized by the parish and both parties were informed of the time and place. Ali Arienza arrived but Crystal Bagatsing was a no-show without even informing the organizers she won’t be able to come. This is inexcusable if not a lack of elementary courtesy. Was she afraid she won’t be able to handle questions and issues in the debate such as the restoration of the death penalty, the use of marijuana for medical purpose, divorce and samesex marriage? These are core issues close to the Church and the parishioners who wanted to know where their candidates stand. For the record, Rep. Bagatsing voted for the restoration of capital punishment, marijuana for medical use, divorce and same-sex marriage. She in fact authored and sponsored the House measure on same sex marriage. Hmm. Why is Crystal Bagating bullish on same-sex marriage? Pope Francis has spoken out against all four controversial concerns. Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza was the lone voice in the House who opposed these measures but was swept aside by the super majority in the lower chamber. President Rodrigo Duterte, however, had the good sense to veto these House proposals.

Political debates are a basic and fundamental component of a free and democratic process leading up to election for voters to make intelligent assessment of the candidates. Ali Atienza came prepared to exchange views with Crystal Bagatsing, but apparently she was not. Ali comes from a political family of good stock and his mentor father former Manila mayor and Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito, taught his son all about integrity and honesty in public service. In his two terms as Buhay Party congressman, Lito has never been absent. He takes active part in all debates on important House measures.

You cannot fight city hall but you can change the people who run it.

Ali Atienza is an Asian Games gold medalist in taekwondo and has the discipline to win in sports and also in the arena of politics and as a public servant. Training hard for his battle, Ali defeated his South Korean opponent. This was quite a feat because the South Korean went on to win the Olympic gold meal in the same event the following year. Crystal Bagatsing, on the other hand, is notable as an absentee in the House and Fifth District residents want to get more for their money— P600,000 a month to be exact plus other perks. Incumbent first termer Bagatsing could lose her seat to Ali Atienza given her dismal performance in Congress. Why am I absorbed in fifth-district Turn to A5

Why China?

THIRTY-SEVEN world leaders and 5,000 delegates descended in Beijing on April 26 -27 for the Second Belt and Road Initiative forum for international cooperation. Nine of the ten leaders of ASEAN came, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte among them. Indonesia was represented by its vice president, Jusuf Kalla. Also in attendance were Russia, Italy, Portugal, Austria, and Turkey (12 of the 36 visiting heads of state were from Europe), the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and IMF Managing Director Christine Legarde.

It is committed to peace, stability and common development. Notably absent were the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, UK, Japan, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. After its launching in 2013, the BRI has become the most important alliance in the world, better perhaps than the United Nations itself, the World Bank and the IMF, NATO, and the EU. Clearly, China has stolen the thunder from the United States and the western world powers in terms of visionary and development-oriented

leadership, globalization and innovation, and strangely, peaceful cooperation and an emerging security umbrella despite Beijing’s island-grabbing spree in the South China Sea. China leads Asia. “Asia has been an engine house in ensuring global economic recovery and development in the past several decades. Asia now contributes more than 60 percent of the annual global economic growth. Twenty-one of the world’s 30 largest cities are in Asia. And Asia is widely expected to be home to half of the world’s middle class population very soon,” said Chinese Charge d' Affaires a. i. Tan Qingsheng, in a speech April 23 at the Boao Forum for Asia Manila Conference. He reported: “In four decades, China has maintained an average annual growth rate Turn to A5

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Opinion 45th UMPIL Congress, Dia del Libro, ‘Kaduma ni Karol’ launch POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

versity of Santo Tomas Senior High School literature teacher Sooey Valencia, and Visayas State University professor Michael Carlo C. Villas. Claudio explained that ‘ginhawa’ is a holistic concept that includes “katawan, isip, damdamin, at ispiritwal.” Health, she said, is not only a lack of illness, it is also a state of mind encompassing sigla (physical and mental), lakas, and gana (para sa buhay). The day was capped with awarding ceremonies. This year’s Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas awardees are Godehardo B. Calleja (Poetry in Bikolnon), Grace D. Chong (Children’s Literature in English), Dinah T. Roma (Poetry in English), Luna Sicat Cleto (Fiction in Filipino), Alice M. Sun-Cua (Essay in English), Gina Marissa Tagasa (Drama for Radio, Television, and Film), and Ester T. Tapia (Poetry in Cebuano). Lilia T. Tio received the Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez and the Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang, Inc. (Cebu) the Gawad Pedro Bukaneg. Tio has written award-winning stories in Cebuano, and Bathalad is the oldest writers’ group in the Visayas. *** Also on the same day was the annual Dia del Libro event at Ayala Triangle, organized by the Spanish Embassy’s cultural arm Instituto Cervantes. Publishers and bookstores such as Anvil, Adarna Books, Ateneo Press, Fully Booked, Visprint, and others sold books at half-off. Book buyers were each given a rose. Instituto offered many interesting activities, among them the rewriting by hand of Cervantes’ novel ‘Don Quijote.’ The Instituto offers Spanish language courses from beginner to advanced, for adults and children and teenagers, at two campuses—Makati City and Ortigas. Visit their website at https://manila.cervantes.es for

details.

Africa, BRI has been extended to the Americas and Oceania, opening up an unprecedented sphere of influence for China. BRI began as an infrastructure program on a scale grander than the Marshall Plan after World War II. Infra spending was supposed to be $1 trillion. The world needs $3.7 trillion of infra money; Asia alone needs immediately $800 billion. According to a Beijing think tank, China over the last five years has undertaken or funded 3,116 projects in BRI countries, with total project cost of $500 million and assets of $1 trillion. The spending spree has prompted critics to accuse China of putting borrower countries in “a debt trap.” In 2017, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over the 99-year lease on Hambantota Port being developed by the China Harbor Engineering, plus 15,000 acres around it, to erase $1 billion in unpaid debts. The Sri Lankan president who negotiated the port project, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was voted out of office in 2015, despite being funded by money from port construction. Curiously, the Hambantota port has strategic military value—for China. India is not amused. Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammad complained of overpricing and corruption in an ambitious Chinafunded East Coast cross-country railway. The Chinese contractor for the railway had been blacklisted by the World Bank from the Philippines. Beijing quickly cut the funding cost by a third to just $10.7 billion from $27.3 billion. Under President Duterte, the pivot to China is the Philippines’ most strategic and significant foreign policy shift, in more than a century, away from the apron strings of America. The move is just right. It’s all about money, influence, and survival. According to Chinese Charge d' Affaires a. i. Tan Qingsheng, Philippines-China 2018 trade reached US$55.7 billion, up 8.5 percent, mak-

ing China the Philippines’ top trading partner, the largest source of imports and the fourth largest export market. China has imported more than US$ 2-billion tropical fruits from the Philippines over the past two years. In 2018, China imported more than one million metric tons of bananas to become the No. 1 market for Philippine bananas, claiming the spot that Japan held for over 30 years. Among China-funded projects in the Philippines are: two drug-rehab centers in Mindanao which provided about 800 jobs for locals and will cater to at least 300 patients. China is building 13 schools in Davao city, two bridges across the Pasig. The Chico River Pump Irrigation Project will irrigate 8,700 hectares of rice lands and benefit 4250 farmers of 22 barangays. The proposed Kaliwa Dam could provide at least 600 million liters of water per day for the Metro Manila over the next 10 years. PNR’s South Long Haul will span more than 10 cities and towns from Manila to Legazpi. Last year, 1.2-million Chinese tourists visited the Philippines. At a 29.6 percent yearly increase, China is now the Philippines’ second largest source of tourists. More than 1.5-million Chinese tourists will come this year, creating P32 billion in revenues. Weekly, more than 300 flights shuttle between Philippines and China cities. “The so-called ‘China debt trap’ accusation is completely groundless,” says Charge Tan Qingsheng. China loans are 0.65 percent of the Philippines’ total debt, and only 4.5 percent by 2022. He says in dollar terms, the interest rate of Chinese loans is actually very similar or even lower than that of other countries. It’s more cost effective for Chinese companies to hire local workers than Chinese workers. About 50 large Chinese companies based in the Philippines employ more than 16,000 Filipinos.

until I was driven out to Makati by the rising crime rate and filth from uncolFrom A4 lected garbage. Hopefully, the May 13 midterm politics? I was formerly a resident of Malate, which is part of the district elections will see a change in leader-

ship in Manila. It’s a shame to see the deterioration of the nation’s capital because of mismanagement at city hall. It is said you cannot fight city hall but you can change the people who run it.

LAST Saturday, April 27, was a busy one for the writers and readers’ community as well as music aficionados with the staging of three different literature- and music-related events. The 45th Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas National Writers’ Congress held their whole-day event at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, including the 32nd Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas The congress’ theme was ‘Panitikan, Galing, at Ginhawa’ (Literature, Healing, and Wellness.) After opening remarks by UMPIL secretarygeneral Dr. John Iremil Teodoro and the chairman’s message by UMPIL Chairman Dr. Michael M. Coroza, keynote speaker Dr. Felipe M. de Leon Jr. spoke about wika (Philippine languages) and their aspects. One insight he gave was how geography influenced the development of languages in the country. Filipinos being excellent seafarers from earliest times, he said, islands separated by a body of water tend to have the same language, whereas communities divided by mountain ranges or other land features are likely to have developed different languages. For the first writers forum, ‘Panitikan at Galing,’ physician Dr. Noel Pingoy and Ateneo de Manila university professor Dr. John Labella and Philippine High School for the Arts director Dr. Vim Nadera discussed how words—literature, poetry—can help heal or alleviate physical illness and distress. The second writers forum, ‘Panitikan at Ginhawa,’ featured feminist psychologist Dr. Sylvia Claudio, Uni-

Why China? From A4

of 9.5 percent. China’s GDP is $12 trillion, up 33.5 times in real terms and accounting for 15 percent of the world’s total. It is the world’s second largest economy and has the biggest foreign exchange reserves. In 40 years, China lifted over 700-million people out of poverty, more than 70 percent of the world's total poverty reduction.” The Chinese Embassy official made two very important points: One, China is committed to peace and stability. A peaceful and stable environment is the precondition for economic and social development; in the past four decades, China has never waged any war against any other country, we have never toppled any government or bombarded any other country. The other big power has engaged in at least 19 military campaigns and spent hundreds of billions of dollars on warfare. Two, China is committed to common development. Development can never be achieved through unilateralism and isolation. China has benefited greatly from opening its economy to foreign technology, investment and trade. The Belt and Road Initiative has become one of the most important regional platforms for cooperation. In the past six years, the total trade volume between China and countries participating in the BRI exceeded $6 trillion. China’s investment has grown to over $80 billion and around 300,000 jobs have been created in the countries involved. The BRI cooperation will cut the costs of global trade by 1.1 to 2.2 percent and contribute at least 0.1 percent of global growth in 2019. According to China President Xi Jinping, more than 150 countries and international organizations have signed agreement on BRI cooperation with China. That’s two-thirds of the world. From Asia, Europe and

No show

*** Kaduma hi (ni) Karol held their album launch in the evening at the Yuchengco Museum courtyard. The band’s music is inspired by Philippine tribal culture and features several indigenous instruments to create tunes that strike straight to the Filipino heart. About the album, the band’s Carol Dawonlay and Dandy Dawonlay said, “All our songs are prayers that celebrate the good and hope for the bad situations to change. We feel that this music project is timely especially when the world continues to lean more toward selfies, commonalities, and intolerance rather than community, difference, and acceptance.” An excerpt from the liner notes: “‘Babagabagin’ bothers those in absolute power and criticizes any greedy warmonger; ‘Wata’ (Maranao for ‘child’) expresses a child’s longing for the ancestral land; ‘Iisang Dugo,’ we have the same blood but some people value worldly wealth more than fellow human beings.” There are twelve songs in the album. The others are ‘Bugta’ (Higaonon, ‘land’), ‘Hiraya’, ‘Baliti,’ ‘Banog’ (Higaonon, ‘eagle’), ‘Katribung Lawin,’ ‘Hipanaw’ (Higaonon, ‘wander leisurely’), ‘Saniblahi,’ ‘Bakunawa’, and ‘Kulipan.’ The album is recorded not on plastic CDs but within a USB drive made of bamboo, nestled in a small bamboo box. The executive producer is Boy S. Yuchengco of Water Dragon, also the publisher of the anthology ‘Rizal +’ edited by Krip Yuson. For copies of the album, call the Yuchengco Museum or email: kadumanikarol@gmail.com. Dr. Ortuoste is a qualitative researcher with a PhD in Communication. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The rise and fall of dynasties technician.” Yet as sure as the sun rises and sets, dynasties will rise and fall. If not in this lifetime, in another generation. The bloodline, unlike during the defunct era of the “divine right of kings” where ruling dynasties lasted centuries, is ONE of the perennial issues about now subject to the vagaries of an our political system and practice emerging political maturity. Dynastic scions will spawn the is the proliferation of political seeds of destruction. And beyond dynasties. I remember having enumerated in that, the electorate will tire of them, a column written for another news- even if the process sometimes takes paper sometime in 2008, entitled what seems to be an eternity. What makes the process of such “A Gaggle of Dynasties,” about the political families who have monopo- desired maturity evolve much too lized political power in their respec- slow in this benighted land is the tive provinces, from the Abads of multiplicity of “political parties” Batanes to the Matbas and Jaafars of which are no more than mere flags of personal or Tawi-Tawi. family conveI tried the nience. same enumeraIn effect, tion while doing Scions will spawn the Constitunothing much last tion of 1987, Holy Week, and the seeds of destruction. which alsaw that the familowed mully names have not And beyond that, the tiple parties changed much electorate will tire of in a presidenfrom province to them, even if the process tial form has province, North sometimes takes what abetted, nay, to South. created this The issue came seems to be an eternity. politics of back to mind personalities when last Sunday, rather than a friend sent me a cellphone-taken video of the very politics of true party platforms. Add to this the existence of the public spat between a sitting mayor and her brother, a former mayor, in party-list system as provided for in the presence of their father, a former the Constitution, but which Congress and the Supreme Court have defined mayor and vice-president at that. It must have profoundly pained in such a manner that they have the patriarch who sired the dynas- become just another flag of convenience, another vehicle for dynastic ty—and it showed in his face. For a decade or so running, a privilege, instead of a means to desimilar family feud happened in Ca- mocratize the “leader class.” The other day, Paul Hutchcroft, marines Sur, between father and son, thence grandfather and grandson. It a political science professor at the seems that in this round of elections, Australian National University peace within the family was brought said much about the same in an about by the grandson now facing the interview where he observed that son of a former ally during the politi- the “1987 Constitution effectivecal struggle against the dictatorship ly guarantees the perpetuation of when present governor’s grandfather weak political parties.” “Within this system, everybody, and present congressman’s father were very close allies, running under regardless if they are part of the same the Unido banner of Tito Doy Laurel, team or different team are competand making a sweep of the Batasan ing against each other… [instead elections in the province against the of] being part of a larger party that administration. Which dynasty will puts together a coherent program for all the candidates running under that prevail? Again these days, we see two ticket,” Hutchcroft observed in an brothers, scions both of a former ANC Morning Edition interview by president turned mayor of the pre- Christian Espiritu. “A stronger national party system mier city of the country, battling it out for a seat in the Senate. The orients candidate towards larger nasurveys of the second week of April tional issues,” he added. President Duterte in the remainder show that one or the other will be slugging it out to be in the bottom of his term may well consider revistwo of the 12-man slate up for grabs. ing the political system, not necessarI have seen another privately ily to replace the current unitary with commissioned survey done a few a federal set-up that may be too difdays before that shows the same, but ficult to operationalize just yet given with the incumbent having a very, our plethora of dynasties, which his very thin edge over the older brother daughter Mayor Inday Sara rued as who wants to return to the Senate he “warlords” in Mindanao. Reverting to a two-party system served for two terms. In another dynasty, this time in instead of the current flags of politithe North, a most senior former sena- cal convenience that revolve around tor seeks to regain his seat, hoping the ambition of personalities and to keep alive the family name among families may be the first big step to the hierarchy of what he calls the return sanity into our “democrazy.” Real parties select candidates in a “leader class” after a son tried and lost in previous elections and seems democratic manner, through conventions or primaries, instead of a leader to have lost his taste for politics. The “leader class” will always merely anointing his successor, much want to keep themselves in the po- like in the feudal manor. It allows those outside the “leader litical limelight, and with it, access to and control of the levers of power class” defined as family to aspire and eventually to convince peers within and privilege. It is difficult to make judgments the party to choose him or her. This is a gift, a legacy that the and write about this in public since I happen to know the families, hav- president could bequeath to his ing been associated with them in people even without his dream of my long experience as a “political federalism.

Democracy... From A4

The said incident between Binay siblings Abby and Junjun would not have happened if Junjun just practiced the adage that a man should not quarrel with a woman. Mayor Abby thus got the sympathy of Makati voters. As for the political rivalry between them, all I can say is that the performance of Mayor Abby speaks for itself. *** What was disturbing about that matrix on the alleged destabilization plot was that the source of the Palace was allegedly a foreign government. As we know, the story was released to a government-friendly newspaper. Why is Malacañang relying on outside sources?

lot of questions. The entry of Lito Lapid as number 3, surpassing Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel and JV Ejercito just validates that masa voters just rely on awareness. Lapid is a known TV and movie actor. The same goes for Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla. Then there are Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, whose main qualification is their loyalty to President Duterte. Another development is that Mar Roxas is no longer part of the Magic 12. Still, who knows what will happen? Surveys are just surveys. www.emiljurado.weebly.com ***

We can start with our own respective districts and then take it all the way up. We deserve better than the entertainers and celebrities who get elected by singing and dancing their

way to public office. The CNN public debate among the senatorial candidates was an indicator for voters to tell the buffoons from those fit to hold public office.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Standard WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 A6 TODAY Manila

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auditor in the financial statements; c) a disclosure of all self-dealings and related party transactions entered into between the OPC and the single stockholder; and d) other reports as the SEC may require. Section 14. Who are Not Allowed to Form OPCs SEC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 7 Series of 2019 TO

Banks, non-bank financial institutions, quasi-banks, pre-need, trust, insurance, public and publicly listed companies, non-chartered government-owned and-controlled corporations (GOCCs) cannot incorporate as OPC.

: ALL CONCERNED

SUBJECT : GUIDELINES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A ONE PERSON CORPORATION (OPC) x__________________________________________________________x In accordance with the power and function of the Securities and Exchange Commission to formulate and enforce standards and policies to carry out the provisions of Republic Act 11232, the Act providing for the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC), the following guidelines, rules and regulations in the establishment of a One Person Corporation (OPC) are hereby adopted: Section 1.Definition and Incorporator A one person corporation (OPC) is a corporation with a single stockholder, who can only be a natural person, trust or estate. The incorporator of an OPC being a natural person must be of legal age.

A natural person who is licensed to exercise a profession may not organize as an OPC for the purpose of exercising such profession except as otherwise provided under special laws. Section 15. Foreign National A foreign natural person may put up an OPC, subject to the applicable capital requirement and constitutional and statutory restrictions on foreign participation in certain investment areas or activities. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately upon its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

25 April 2019.

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The OPC under the name of the Trustee may be dissolved upon proof of termination of the trust.

First: That the name of said corporation shall be __________________ ______________, OPC;

The single stockholder shall be the sole director and president of the OPC. Section 5. Designation of Nominee and Alternate Nominee The single stockholder is required to designate a nominee and an alternate nominee named in the Articles of Incorporation who shall replace the single stockholder in the event of the latter’s death and/ or incapacity. The written consent of both the nominee and alternate nominee shall be attached to the application for incorporation. Section 6. Only Articles of Incorporation Needed The OPC shall file its Articles of Incorporation (AI) in accordance with the requirements of Section 14 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. The AI must set forth its primary purpose, principal office address, term of existence, names and details of the single stockholder, the nominee and alternate nominee and the authorized, subscribed and paid-up capital and such other matters consistent with law and which may be deemed necessary and convenient. For facility of registration, applicants may follow the attached sample of the Articles of Incorporation of an OPC. Section 7. Bylaws The OPC is not required to submit and file its Bylaws. Section 8. Minimum Capital Stock Not Required

The single stockholder who assumes the position of the Treasurer shall post a surety bond to be computed based on the authorized capital stock (ACS) of the OPC as shown in the Table below: ACS

Surety Bond Coverage*

1.00 to 1,000,000.00

1,000,000.00

1,000,001.00 to 2,000,000.00

2,000,000.00

2,000,001.00 to 3,000,000.00 3,000,000.00 3,000,001.00 to 4,000,000.00 4,000,000.00 4,000,001.00 to 5,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 P 5,000,001.00 and above = Amount of surety bond coverage shall be equal to the OPC’s ACS *Subject to renewal every two (2) years or as may be required, upon review of the annual submission of the Audited Financial Statements/ Financial Statements certified under oath by the company’s President and Treasurer. ** The bond is a continuing requirement for so long as the single stockholder is the self-appointed Treasurer of the OPC. *** The bond may be cancelled upon proof of appointment of another person as theTreasurer and Filing of Amended Form for Appointment of Officers. Section 11. Change of Nominee or Alternate Nominee The single stockholder may, at any time, change its nominee and alternate nominee by submitting to the Commission the names of the new nominees and their corresponding written consent. The Articles of Incorporation need not be amended. Attached is the sample form for the Notice of the Change of nominee and alternate nominee. Section 12. Incapacity or Death of the Single Stockholder

Fourth: That the OPC shall have perpetual existence; (If the OPC has a specific term of existence): That the OPC shall have a term of existence of _________ years from the date of issuance of the certificate of incorporation;

First: That the name of said corporation shall be ___________________ _____________, OPC; Second: That the purpose or purposes for which such corporation is incorporated are: (If there are more than one purpose, indicate primary and secondary purposes); Third: That the principal office of the OPCis located in _______________ ____________________________________________________; Fourth: That the OPC shall have perpetual existence;

Fifth: That the name, nationality, and residence address of the (trustee, administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, custodian, or any other person exercising fiduciary duties) are as follows: Name

Nationality

Name

Nationality

________________

_____________

Residence (Specific) ________________

Sixth: That the names, nationalities, and residence addresses of the nominee and alternate nominee are as follows: Name

Nationality

Residence

Nominee:

________________ ________________ ______________

Alternate:

________________ ________________ ______________

Seventh: That the authorized capital stock of the OPCis ______________ Pesos (P____________), divided into ____________ shares with par value of _____________________ Pesos (P_______) per share.

Eighth: That the number of shares of the authorized capital stock abovestated has been subscribed as follows: Name of Subscriber

Nationality

__________

___________

No. of Shares Subscribed ___________

Amount Subscribed _________

Amount Paid ___________

_______________________________________ (Name and signature of the incorporator) TIN: __________________________

________________________________________ (Name and signature of the treasurer) TIN: __________________________ Nominee and alternate nominee need not sign the Articles of Incorporation but written consent of the nominee and alternate nominee shall be attached to the application for incorporation. Such consent may be withdrawn in writing any time before the death or incapacity of the single shareholder.

____________

Residence (Specific) ________________

(Attach proof of authority to act on behalf of the trust or estate.)

In case of death or permanent incapacity of the single stockholder, the nominee will take over the management of the OPC until the legal heirs of the single stockholder have been lawfully determined and the heirs have agreed among themselves who will take the place of the deceased.

b) a report on all explanations or comments by the president on the qualification, reservation or adverse remarks made by the

___________________________________, OPC (Name of One Person Corporation)

Fifth: That the name, nationality, and residence address of the single stockholder/ director/ president of the OPC are as follows:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed these Articles of Incorporation, this __________ day of ____________, 20________ in the City/Municipality of ___________________, Province of ______________________, Republic of the Philippines.

a) annual audited financial statements within 120 days from the end of its fiscal year as indicated in its Articles of Incorporation; Provided, that if the total assets or total liabilities of the corporation are less than six hundred thousand pesos (P600,000.00), the financial statements shall be certified under oath by the corporation’s treasurer;

Articles of Incorporation of

________________

Twelfth: That the fiscal year of the OPC shall begin on the __________ day of ____________ and shall end on the __________ day of ____________of each year. (If not stated in the Articles of Incorporation, it is understood that the fiscal year of said corporation follows the calendar year.)

The OPC must submit the following documents within the period required by the SEC:

Doc. No. ______; Page No. ______; Book No. ______; Series of ______.

State the specific term of existence in words followed by the figure enclosed in parentheses, e.g. fifty (50) years.

In case the single stockholder becomes incapacitated, the nominee can take over the management of the OPC as director and president. At the end of the incapacity, the single stockholder can resume the management of the OPC.

Section 13. Reportorial Requirements

NOTARY PUBLIC

State the specific term of existence in words followed by the figure enclosed in parentheses, e.g. fifty (50) years.

(In case some shares have par value and some are without par value): That the capital stock of said corporation consists of __________ shares, of which __________ shares have a par value of ________________ Pesos (P________) each, and of which ____________ shares are without par value.

Section 10. Bond Requirement for the Self-Appointed Treasurer

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL on the day first above-written.

Third: That the principal office of the OPC is located in ______________ _____________________________________________________;

Further, unless otherwise required by applicable laws or regulations, no portion of the authorized capital is required to be paid-up at the time of incorporation.

The single stockholder shall not be appointed as Corporate Secretary but may assume the role of a Treasurer.

known to me and to me known to be the same persons who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation constituting of ________ pages, including this page where the acknowledgement is written, and they acknowledged to me that the same is their free act and voluntary deed.

(If the OPC has a specific term of existence): That the OPC shall have a term of existence of _________ years from the date of issuance of the certificate of incorporation;

(In case all the shares are without par value): That the capital stock of the OPC is _____________ shares without par value.

Within fifteen (15) days from the issuance of its Certificate of Incorporation, the OPC shall appoint a Treasurer, Corporate Secretary, and other officers, and notify the SEC thereof within five (5) days from appointment, using the Appointment Form as may be prescribed by the SEC.

Date and Place Issued

Second: That the purpose or purposes for which such corporation is incorporated are: (If there are more than one purpose, indicate primary and secondary purposes);

The OPC is not required to have a minimum authorized capital stock except as otherwise provided by special law.

Section 9. Officers

TIN/Passport No.

The undersigned, of legal age, voluntarily forms a One Person Corporation (OPC) under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and certifies the following:

The OPC under the name of the estate may be dissolved upon proof of Partition,such as Order of Partition issued by the Court in case of Judicial Settlement and Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement in case of summary settlement of the estate.

Section 4. Single Stockholder as Director and Officer

Name

SAMPLE ONLY FOR A ONE PERSON CORPORATION WITH A SINGLE STOCKHOLDER WHO IS A NATURAL PERSON

The term of existence of the OPC shall be perpetual. However, in case of the trust or estate, its term of existence shall be coterminous with the existence of the trust or estate.

The suffix “OPC” should be indicated by the one person corporation either below or at the end of its corporate name.

BEFORE ME, a Notary Public, for and in __________________, Philippines, this ___________ day of _______________, 2019, personally appeared the following persons:

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

Section 2. Term of Existence

Section 3. Corporate Name

S.S)

SAMPLE ONLY FOR A ONE PERSON CORPORATION UNDER THE NAME OF AN ESTATE OR TRUSTEE

Secretariat Building, PICC, Pasay City.

As an incorporator, the “trust” as used by the law does not refer to a trust entity, but the subject being managed by a trustee. If the single stockholder is a trustee, administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, custodian, or other person exercising fiduciary duties, proof of authority to act on behalf of the trust or estate must be submitted at the time of incorporation.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)

Sixth: That the names, nationalities, and residence addresses of the nominee and alternate nominee are as follows: Name

Nationality

Residence

Nominee:

______________

_____________

Alternate:

______________

_____________

Seventh: That the authorized capital stock of the OPCis ______________ Pesos (P____________), divided into ____________ shares with par value of _____________________ Pesos (P_______) per share. (In case all the shares are without par value): That the capital stock of the OPC is _____________ shares without par value. (In case some shares have par value and some are without par value): That the capital stock of said corporation consists of __________ shares, of which __________ shares have a par value of ________________ Pesos (P________) each, and of which ____________ shares are without par value. Eighth: That the number of shares of the authorized capital stock abovestated has been subscribed as follows: Name of Subscriber

Nationality

__________

_________

No. of Shares Subscribed __________

Amount Subscribed __________

Amount Paid _________

Ninth: a) That as self-appointed treasurer of the OPC, I acknowledge to have received in the name and for the benefit of the corporation, all subscriptions paid or given by the subscriber, who certifies the information set forth in the seventh and eighth clauses above, and that the paid-up portion of the subscription in cash and/or property has been duly received for the benefit and credit of the corporation, and that I shall faithfully administer the corporation’s funds to be received as Treasurer, and to disburse and invest the same in accordance with law and these Articles of Incorporation; Or: b) That as Treasurer of the OPC, I acknowledge to have received in the name and for the benefit of the corporation, all subscriptions paid or given by the subscriber, who certifies the information set forth in the seventh and eighth clauses above, and that the paid-up portion of the subscription in cash and/or property has been duly received for the benefit and credit of the corporation, and that I shall faithfully administer the corporation’s funds to be received as Treasurer, and to disburse and invest the same in accordance with law and these Articles of Incorporation; Or: c) That within fifteen (15) days from the issuance of its certificate of incorporation, the OPC shall appoint a treasurer and notify the Commission thereof within five (5) days from appointment. Choose only the applicable paragraph, i.e. a) if the single stockholder acts as the treasurer; b) if another person has been appointed as treasurer; and c) if the single stockholder has yet but commits to appoint a treasurer after receipt of the certificate of incorporation. Tenth: That I undertake to change the name of the OPC immediately upon receipt of notice from the Commission that another corporation, partnership or person has acquired a prior right to the use of such name, that the name has been declared not distinguishable from a name already registered or reserved for the use of another corporation, or that it is contrary to law, public morals, good customs or public policy. Eleventh: That no transfer of stock or interest which shall reduce the ownership of Filipino citizens to less than the required percentage of capital stock as provided by existing laws shall be allowed or permitted to be recorded in the proper books of the OPC, and this restriction shall be indicated in all stock certificates issued by the corporation. Twelfth: That the fiscal year of the OPC shall begin on the __________ day of ____________ and shall end on the __________ day of ____________of each year. (If not stated in the Articles of Incorporation, it is understood that the fiscal year of said corporation follows the calendar year.) IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed these Articles of Incorporation, this __________ day of ____________, 20________ in the City/Municipality of ___________________, Province of ______________________, Republic of the Philippines. _______________________________________ (Name and signature of the incorporator) TIN: __________________________ ________________________________________ (Name and signature of the treasurer) TIN: __________________________ Nominee and alternate nominee need not sign the Articles of Incorporation, but written consent of the nominee and alternate nominee shall be attached to the application for incorporation. Such consent may be withdrawn in writing any time before the death or incapacity of the single shareholder. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) S.S) BEFORE ME, a Notary Public, for and in __________________, Philippines, this ___________ day of _______________, 2019, personally

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

appeared the following persons: Name

TIN/ Passport No.

Date and Place Issued

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL on the day first above-written.

NOTARY PUBLIC Doc. No. ______; Page No. ______; Book No. ______; Series of ______.

SAMPLE OF ACCEPTANCE LETTER OF THE NOMINEE AND ALTERNATE NOMINEE OF THE ONE PERSON CORPORATION Date:

____________

To:

(Name of single stockholder) (Name of the One Person Corporation) (Address of the One Person Corporation)

Dear Mr./Ms. ____________: I am writing to confirm myacceptance of the offer to be your designated nominee (or alternate nominee), in compliance with the requirement of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines for the purpose of registration of your One Person Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. I have understood the extent and limitations of my authority as nominee (or alternate nominee) in the event that I am called to manage the affairs of the One Person Corporation, as we discussed. Thank you. Very truly yours, ____________________________________________ (Signature and name of nominee or alternate nominee) TIN: __________________________ Note: The nominee and alternate nominee can sign their names in the same letter as acceptance of their nomination.

Manila

Standard

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019TODAY sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sixers down Raptors, level series; Nuggets rip Blazers

OS ANGELES—Jimmy Butler scored 30 points as the Philadelphia 76ers turned the tables on the Raptors in Toronto on Monday with a 94-89 victory that knotted their NBA playoff series at one game each.

The 76ers, beaten 108-95 in the Eastern Conference second-round series opener, thwarted the Raptors’ second-half comeback bid, notching their first win in Toronto since November 2012 to head home for game three on Thursday all square. Butler added 11 rebounds and handed out five assists for the Sixers, who led 51-38 at halftime despite 13 first-half turnovers. The Raptors, who trailed by as many as 19 in the first half, closed the deficit to 61-60 late in the third quarter. But they missed six of their first seven shots in the final period and the 76ers held on for the win. Butler scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. That included a three-pointer off an assist from center Joel Embiid that put the Sixers up 88-81 with 2:14 to play. “My team had a lot of faith in me tonight,” said Butler, who scored just 10 points in game

one. “I told them I had to come out and redeem myself. “More than anything we got back, we guarded,” Butler added, saying defense would be key going forward in the series. “When we let our defense dictate our offense we’re such a great team,” he said. “We can’t let it be the other way around.” Sixers coach Brett Brown praised Butler as the team’s “rock.” “That was James Butler,” Brown said. “That was the adult in the gym.” Embiid, battling a stomach ailment as well as the nagging knee pain that troubled him in the ﬁrst round, scored just two baskets. The second couldn’t have been better timed as he drove to bank in a shot that put the 76ers up 92-89 with 24.3 seconds remaining. Toronto’s Danny Green then missed a potential game-tying three-pointer and Philadel-

phia’s Tobias Harris grabbed the rebound. Harris was fouled and sealed the win with two free throws. Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 35 points. Pascal Siakam added 21 and Kyle Lowry scored 20. But the five total points for Toronto’s reserves were dwarfed by the production of Philadelphia’s bench: 13 points from James Ennis, 10 from Greg Monroe and three from Jonah Bolden. Jokic leads Nuggets The Denver Nuggets, two days removed from their first-round, game-seven victory over the San Antonio Spurs, opened their Western Conference second-round series with a 121-113 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 37 points, pulled down nine rebounds, handed out six assists and blocked two shots. Both teams came out firing, the Trail Blazers connecting on 63.6 percent of their first-quarter shots and Denver making 61.9 percent of their shots as the first period ended tied 32-32. Denver, up 58-55 at halftime, pulled away after the break, taking a 93-84 lead into the final period. AFP

HK takes men’s title; China tops women’s side

BRONZE GAME.

Rachel Ann Daquis of Cignal in action during the bronzemedal match between Cignal and PLDT Home Fibr in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

By Lito Cinco

SAMPLE FORM OF NOTICE TO CHANGE NOMINEE/ ALTERNATE NOMINEE OF THE ONE PERSON CORPORATION Date: ___________ Company Registration and Monitoring Department Securities and Exchange Commission Secretariat Building, PICC Complex Roxas Blvd., Pasay City Gentlemen: In compliance with the requirement of Section 126 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, the undersigned hereby notifies the Securities and Exchange Commission of a change in the nominee and alternate nominee of __________________________________________ __, OPC, as indicated in the Articles of Incorporation, under SEC Reg. No. _________________. I, therefore, submit the names of the new nominees and their written consent as follows: Name Nationality Residence Nominee: ____________ ____________ _____________ Alternate Nominee: ____________ ____________ _____________ I consent to my appointment as Nominee: _______________________ (Signature of the nominee) TIN: ________________ I consent to my appointment as Alternate Nominee:

_______________________ (Signature of the alternate) TIN: ________________

EVEN before the start of the men’s and women’s elite race in the 26th edition of the ITU-ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon, triathlon President Tom Carrasco said Hong Kong had the best chance against the mighty Japanese contingent and the HK entries served notice of its intention by dominating the sprint events last Saturday. And Oscar Coggins, a product of HK’s junior triathlon developmental program, proved Carrasco right by upending the Japanese entries in the men’s side with a solo finish, clocking 1:49.20 for the 1.5K swim40K bike-10K run distance race even as the Japanese took the next five slots. “I was a bit worried because I was sick a couple of days ago and I cannot be happier with this win. I took the lead in the 6K mark of the run leg and I pushed it to the end,” said Coggins whose familiarity with hot weather conditions paid off after training in Australia the past two months. Asian Games champion and top seed Jumpei Furuya finished 10 seconds behind at 1:49.30 followed by compatriots Takumi Hojo, in third , 1:49.45, Shiruba Taniguchi, 1:50.11, and rounding out the top 5 finishers in the men’s side, Yuichi Hosoda who clocked 1:50.36. On the local side, with the event serving as a qualifying race for the slots in the SEA Games later this year, teenage runner Andrew Remolino, 19, stunned his older opponents and was never threatened at all after he took the lead in the swim leg en route to a 17th place finish in 1:54.49, the very first time he has completed a race under two hours. “Target ko sana makapasok sa Top 10 pero ang lalakas ng mga kalaban. Sana mapasama ako sa SEA Games pero ‘di ako mag kampante, marami kalaban na malalakas dito sa atin, “ said Remolino whose father Andoy serves as his coach. Japan ended up zero in the gold medal in the women’s side, too, as defending champion Mengying Zhong kept up with the lead pack in the swim and bike legs then made her move in the run leg en route to a solo finish in 2:04.17. As in the men’s side, two Japanese entries finished 2nd and 3rd to Zhong. Aoi Kuramor-to, who conceded that Zhong was too fast in the run leg, placed second in 2:04.41 while Yurie Kato took third place in 2:05.32.

The Nationals’ 2nd conference of DOTA set FOLLOWING the successful staging of the first conference, The Nationals returns with an even exciting second conference of DOTA 2 as action begins today (May) 1 at the Gariath Concepts in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City. “The league’s first conference has been very successful, but The Nationals have bigger things in store,” said commissioner Ren Vitug in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila. “Hopefully, we can better show our vision this upcoming conference.” The Cignal Ultra Warriors aim for back-to-back titles after beating the Suha-XCTN Punishers in the grand finals of the season-opening conference last month, which earned the team the P400,000 cash prize.

Cignal will see action on opening day when it clashes with n PLDT-Smart Omega, which, despite finishing third in the previous conference, is considered one of the most formidable teams in the league. The day’s other match-up is first conference runnerup Suha-XCTN Punishers against Bren Epro, with the latter going in with a reformed roster. Taking a bye on opening day is Happy Feet Emperors, a team that also adjusted its roster in between conferences. The league will again give away P400,000 to the champion, P200,000 to second placer, and P100,000 to third placer. The league will follow the same format as the first conference, a double round-robin two-game series across all the

Certified Correct:

Tigresses on track for twice-to-beat edge

________________________ (Signature and name of the single stockholder/president) TIN: __________________________ SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me in _______________ on ______________ by the above-named individual as the Single Stockholder/President of the OPC who personally appeared before me and exhibited to me his/her competent evidence of identity consisting of ________________ issued on _______________.

NOTARY PUBLIC

Doc. No. ______; Page No. ______; Book No. ______; Series of ______.

COCOLIFE TIGERS VOW TO BE BETTER. An intact and meaner Davao Cocolife Tigers’ team can

(MS-MAY 1, 2019)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

teams. The three best teams after the group stage will advance into the playoffs, with the top performer being seeded into the grand ﬁnals. The Nationals is the country’s premier esports league, and the contested Dota 2 right now is just one of the three games that will be featured in the competition’s ﬁrst year. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Tekken 7, two of the country’s biggest games on mobile and console respectively, are to see action later this year. For more information about The Nationals, follow the league through its social media platforms Facebook (with live stream of games), Twitter, and Instagram at PHNationals. It also aired on 5Plus via ESPN5 and One Sports and eGG Network via CignalTV.

be expected in the coming new season of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Team management, led by owner Claudine Bautista (center) of Davao Occidental LGU, along with backers Cocolife president Atty. Jose Martin Loon (3rd from right), FVP Joseph Ronquillo (right), Marketing Planning AVP Rowena Asnan (2nd from left), Group Marketing VP Maricor Mangulabnan (2nd from right), Healthcare SVP Franz Jose Araque and HR and Administrative Service Smgr. Mark Anthony Arbis assured this during a recent press conference at Cocolife function hall in Ayala, Makati City. The MPBL Datu Cup South Division king Davao Cocolife Tigers finished runner-up behind north titlist and national champion San Juan Knights, 3-2, in the league organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas kept its hopes alive for a shot at the twice-tobeat advantage in the Final Four with a 27-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16 victory over National University in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball eliminations Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Sisi Rondina came through with MVP-like numbers of 21 kills, 13 receptions and 10 kills as the Tigresses, banking on team effort, ended the eliminations with a four-match winning streak and 10-4 record overall. The win also kept UST within reach of 10-3 De La Salle, which will play Far Eastern University at 4 p.m. today, for the No. 2 slot.A loss by the Lady Spikers to the Lady Tamaraws will give the Tigresses a chance to duke it out with the defending three champions in a playoff for the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four on Wednesday. AFP

Sports

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

6th Best Player of Conference award looms for SMB’s Fajardo JUNE Mar Fajardo kept his lofty position in the stats race through the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup semi-finals, making him a strong bet to nail a record sixth straight Best Player of the Conference honors in the allFilipino tourney. Contending with the San Miguel Beer behemoth in the balloting are NorthPort’s Big Three of Sean Anthony, Stanley Pringle and Moala Tautuaa and TNT KaTropa gunner RR Pogoy. These players emerged the top five in the stats’ race, with Fajardo leading the field with an average of 41.4 stats points per game, followed by Anthony (37.1), Pringle (34.8), Pogoy (33.6) and Tautuaa (33.1). Phoenix Pulse energy guy Calvin Abueva was in the magic five through the elims, but dropped down to No. 6 after the semis with the huge 40 statistical points deducted from his total because of technical and flagrant infractions. He ended up with an average of 31.6 SPs. Another Beerman Alex Cabagnot came in seventh (31.6) while Ian Sangalang emerged as Magnolia Pambansang Manok’s top player in the stats race at No. 8 overall with an average of 30.5 SPs. Matthew Wright of Phoenix Pulse (30.4) and Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra (30.1) rounded out the Top 10. Fajardo is the outstanding favorite to win the coveted award as he’s the lone player in the top five that will play in the best-of-seven finale. Going to the finals, the 6-foot-10 gentle giant averaged 20.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 rebounds. With those numbers, Fajardo amassed a runaway total of 656 SPs jacked up by his 130 won game bonus SPs for a grand total of 786. In the Rookie of the Year derby, Jaymar Perez (28.7), Robert Bolick (22.8) and Javee Mocon (22.2) remained the top three after the allFilipino semis.

San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo is a strong bet to win a 6th straight BPC honor.

SMBeermen start bid for ‘5-peat’ By Jeric Lopez

HE big stage is set for “five-peat” seeking San Miguel Beer and Magnolia as they start hostilities in the best-ofseven finals of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. With their eyes on the prize, the Beermen and the Hotshots both seek a banging start in Game 1 at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today. These teams are no strangers as this finals’ showcase will be a rematch of last year’s finale in which San Miguel took, 4-1, to claim Austria its fourth straight All-Filipino conference jewel. San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria understands the threat that Magnolia presents, especially after it bagged the

Victolero

Governors’ Cup championship, cementing it as a legitimate championship team. “’Yung mga pinagdaanan nila gave them experience and maturity,” said the

multi-titled Austria. “I believe that they would be very competitive against us.” According to Magnolia tactician Chito Victolero, his team is easily the underdog as he cited the tremendous firepower that the defending champion possesses. “They (Beermen) are already strong, but they added Christian Standhardinger and Terrence Romeo. That’s a lot of talent there,” said Victolero, who is shooting for his second straight championship. “ San Miguel Beer dispatched Phoenix in a grueling and highly-physical semifinals series, 4-1, to advance as its championship poise and firepower proved too much. On the other hand, Magnolia had the tougher road to the finals, needing seven games to get rid of Rain or Shine, 4-3. The Beermen, led by five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, is gunning for an unprecedented fifth straight Philippine Cup crown, an extension to its already tremendous record of four in a row. As for the Hotshots, they are seeking revenge as well with their second straight championship.

Silay City bet begins campaign for 6-gold Palaro harvest By Peter Atencio DAVAO City—Twelve-year-old Alexie Cabayaran, who battled asthma by taking up swimming, emerged as one of four standouts who shone at the start of the swimming meet of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the partially completed University the Philippines-Davao Aquatics Center in Mintal here. Cabayaran smashed a ﬁve-year-old mark and started off an ambitious campaign on a bright note as she joined bids by Marc Dula, Camille Buico and Xiandi Chua to become the most bemedalled athletes of the weeklong meet. The 6th grader from Mambulac Elementary School in Silay City, clocked two minutes and 15.76 seconds to claim the gold medal in the elementary girls’ 200-meter freestyle, outpacing teammate Aliah Lopez and Region IV-A’s Gabriel Marie Sapinit. Cabayaran erased the existing 2:16.72 mark after she went past the clocking of Imee Joyce Saavedra.

Taking up swimming to deal with her asthma, Cabayaran later ended up handing Region 6 two gold medals after snaring the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke as well. “Sabi ni coach, go all out. I went all out,“ said Cabayaran, who made a big push for a quick and short burst of speed in the last meters. Cabayaran is one of three swimmers expected to go for at least six medals here, after Buico and Dula made their presence felt during the day. At least four more events await Cabayaran, who won seven golds in the in the regionals. If she hits her target, she could equal last year’s effort of Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, who claimed six golds and a silver medal in dominating the elementary girls’ division. This time in the secondary division, Buico, a 10th grader at the University of Santo Tomas, used her experience to outsprint Mojdeh in the fight for the gold in the girls’ 50-meter butterfly action, which is being held for the first time.

PH bid to host Asian BMW tilt gets boost THE Asian Cycling Confederation has elevated the Philippines’ bid to host the 2020 Asian BMX Championships to the continental body’s management committee meeting set later this year. This was confirmed by ACC Secretary General Onkar Singh to the PhilCycling during the confederation’s congress last Friday at the International Hotel Tashkent in Uzbekistan that coincided with the Asian Championships for Road. So far, only the Philippines signified an interest to host the championships, whose 2019 edition was held last month in Kuala Lumpur where Filipinos Patrick Coo won gold in the men junior category and former Asian Games champion Daniel Caluag finished fourth place after skidding in the first turn in the elite class. PhilCycling President Rep. Abra-

ham “Bambol” Tolentino welcomed the ACC’s acceptance of the national sports association’s intention to host next year’s championships at the International Cycling Union (UCI)-regulation BMX track that is being built in Tagaytay City for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. “We are hopeful of the ACC approval of our bid to host the Asian championships at the world-class track in Tagaytay City,” Tolentino said. “With the new UCI track, we can host even the world championships given the existing facilities that Tagaytay City offers.” The Philippines has hosted the Asian road championships in 1965, 1977, 1983 and 1995. The PhilCycling included BMX as a demonstration event in the 2005 SEA Games the country hosted ahead of the disciplines inclusion as a medal event in the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Checking in at 29.06 seconds allowed Buico to secure the gold over Mojdeh, who timed in at 29.54 seconds. “It was more about experience. I just hyped myself,” said the 15-year-old Buico, who is seeking a slot to the national team that’s being assembled for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Dula handed the National Capital Region is first gold with a 29.67-second clocking in elementary boys’ 50-meter butterfly after beating Region V’s John Pesimo. It was Dula’s first gold and definitely not his last as he is going for the mints in the 100-meter backstroke, the 100-meter butterfly, the 50-meter backstroke, the 50-meter freestyle and two relay events. Chua, a 12th grader at the Immaculate Conception Academy, is starting off her campaign in the secondary girls’ action today in the 200-meter backstroke and the 200-m individual medley, and she is also in the 200-meter backstroke, the 200-meter freestyle and 400-meter IM. In athletics, two meet marks fell af-

ter Algin Gomez of Region 2, claimed his second gold medal in the secondary boys’ triple jump after outperforming Region 10’s John Mike Lera for the second time as well. Trexie de la Torre (Western Visayas) smashed the secondary girls’ triple jump mark of Maricel Sibug (Northern Mindanao) of 5.56 after clearing 5.84 meters. Jamela de Asis of Region VI heaved 12.3 meters in secondary girls’ shotput to get past the year-old 11.88-meter heave of Kassandra Alcantara (NCR) last year. Alfrence Braza added another gold for Western Visayas in the secondary boys’ 5,000meters, with Jasper Delﬁn (Bicol) and Ritchie Estampador (Western Visayas), settling for the silver and bronze, respectively. In secondary boys’ taekwondo, Region 1’s Jaime Oranza claime the individual A honors, with Rovie Nitre(ARMM) and King Alcasio (IV-A) taking the silver and bronze in poomsae. Ceanne Rosquillo (Region VI) claimed the individual B gold.

PH eclipses ‘11 Arafura Games haul DARWIN, Australia—The Philippines scooped 10 gold medals Monday in the 2019 Arafura Games, surpassing its haul eight years ago when the multisports competition was previously held. The Filipino athletes finished the third day of competitions with 28 gold medals, exceeding the 27 the country tallied in 2011, the last time the Arafura Games was staged. The Philippines also has 41 silvers and 24 medals in its campaign here supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Standard Insurance. Zoe Marie Hilario won two gold medals Monday including the women’s 15 to 16 year old 200m backstroke when she recorded a new Arafura Games’ record of two minutes, 30.63 seconds, breaking the 2:47.69 she set during the heats. Hilario also ruled the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:28.76. Ivo Nikolai Enot tallied his second gold medal when he bagged the men’s 13 to 14 year old 200m backstroke in record time after clocking two minutes, 21.42 seconds, surpassing the Games record of 2:24.70 he set in the heats. Ray Martin Yarra and John Martin Yarra also smashed Arafura Games’ records after winning the men’s 13 to 14 year old 200m butterfly (2:25.59), men’s 17 and over 200m butterfly (2:15.05) respectively. John Paul Elises and Samuel Alcos also broke Arafura Games records in ruling the men’s 15 to 16 year old men’s butterfly (2:14.47), and the men’s 17 and over 50m backstroke (29.77) respectively. Romel Bautista won the men’s 400m hurdles, while the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay captured the gold in athletics. In muay, Phillip Delarmino and Ryan Jakiri lost in their preliminary bouts. Boxing starts Wednesday at the Darwin Convention Centre, while the basketball team goes up against New Caledonia at the Marrara Indoor Stadium. Ariel Lampacan will also compete in muay at the Darwin Convention Centre.

UP MAROONS GET AN OUTFITTER. STATS Performance Apparel, an athleisure brand under Januarius Holdings Inc., expanded its support for the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team for the the University Athletics Association of the Philippines Season 82. Besides the official on-court and off-court wear of the basketball team, STATS will also produce the official merchandise of the UP Fighting Maroons. JHI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer JJ Atencio (left-most), JHI Chief Operating Officer Marcy Venezuela (right-most), STATS Performance Apparel CEO and Creative Director Edrin Panganiban (second from right) officially sealed their partnership on April 24 with Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation, a volunteer group of UP alumni supporting UP’s varsity programs led by its President, Atty. Agaton Uvero (center) at the Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. Also present at the signing ceremony were UP Head Coach Bo Perasol, UAAP Season 81 MVP Bright Akhuetie, Janjan Jaboneta, Noah Webb, and the Gomez de Liaño brothers, Juan and Javi.

IN BRIEF

Proactive Properties moving to Clark City

PROACTIVE Properties Development Corp., a new player in the real estate industry, plans to develop a commercial and ofﬁce development in Clark Global City. Global Gateway Development Corp., which holds the lease rights on Clark Global City until 2085, said in a statement it signed an agreement with Proactive Properties for the sub-lease of a 2,208 square meter lot in Clark Global City building a mixed-use development project. “Having Proactive Properties onboard in our endeavor of building CGC as a new central business district aligns with our mission of building this generation’s new center of commerce, life and innovation,” said GGDC chairman Dennis Uy. “It is notable that Proactive Properties is not just an up and coming industry player, it is an offshoot of a six-year long industry insights and experience gained by PRIME Philippines. It has a fresh perspective and, being led by millennials, it understands the needs of this generation in terms of work-life balance and how a business district can inspire that,” Uy added. Jenniffer B. Austria

CEB plays down flight cancellations

CEBU Pacific on Tuesday said flight cancellations will not have a significant impact on operations and profitability. The airline owned by industrialist John Gokongwei said it would reduce about 10 flights a day out of a daily operations of 400 flights for the month of May. The airline is also currently reviewing adjustments required for June and beyond. “Over the past few days, Cebu Pacific has seen an unprecedented level of disruption to its operations, and its passengers are experiencing extended delays and some on-the-spot cancellations,” said Cebu Pacific. “To create space in its schedule for operational recovery, minimize rolling delays and give passengers the chance to make alternate travel plans, CEB has to temporarily reduce the number of its flights given the current operating conditions, particularly in its Manila hub,” it added. Cebu Pacific said the priority of the airline was to assist disrupted passengers and fly them to their destinations at the soonest possible time. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Megawide: Solar electric jeepneys ply from terminal MWM Terminals Inc., a consortium led by Megawide Construction Corp., said new solar electric jeepneys units are now operating at the country’s ﬁrst landport, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange. “These new units embody the kind of ﬁrst-world ingenuity that we at PITX aim to capture. Not only are we ensuring the comfort and convenience of passengers with these additional units, we are also doing our part in abiding by the Philippine Clean Air Act and improving air quality in the Philippines,” said MWM Terminals general manager Mariano Arroyo Jr. Great Power Movers Transportation Corp., operator of the e-jeep units, will deploy 33 units in the PITX-Sucat route. Each unit seats 20 passengers and is equipped with Wi-Fi connection, electric fans, USB charging stations and an LED screen. Jeepney charging stations are set to be built within the PITX premises. The Sucat route will cover PITX, Macapagal Boulevard, MIA Road, Naia Road, Dr. A. Santos Avenue and Meralco Road. Minimum fare for the solar jeepneys is P10. PITX has a terminal capacity of 200,000 passengers daily with an expected foot-fall of close to 100,000 passengers daily. The terminal systems are designed to be passenger-friendly, with assured seating system for buses, public information displays in multiple locations and ample seating throughout. Automated boarding pass scanners will ensure passengers can board buses only during their chosen trip schedules. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

BSP sees lower April inflation of 2.7% By Julito G. Rada

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday inﬂation in April likely slowed to as low as 2.7 percent from 3.3 percent in March on lower rice prices and strengthening of the peso.

The BSP Department of Economic Research expects the April inﬂation rate to settle within the 2.7-percent to 3.5-percent range. “Higher domestic oil prices and the slight upward adjustment in electricity rates are seen to provide upside price pressures for the month. However, these pressures may be partly offset by the continued decline in rice prices and by the peso appreciation,” it said. The local currency strengthened and returned to the 51-per-dollar level on April 10 when it closed at 51.9, tracking the movements of most Asian currencies. The peso closed Tuesday at 52.105

against the dollar. The central bank said it would continue to closely monitor evolving price trends and undertake necessary measures toward its commitment to price stability. Inflation slowed to 3.8 percent in the first quarter 2019 from 5.9 percent in the last quarter of 2018 due to the improvement in food supply conditions, the bank said during the first quarter inflation briefing last week. The headline inflation in the first quarter was within the national government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year. The BSP said the lower inflation during the quarter mainly reflected the significant deceleration in food inflation amid improved supply conditions. Similarly, core inflation declined to 3.9 percent in the first quarter from 4.9 percent in the previous quarter. BSP Assistant Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said inflation continued to be on the downward trend in the past few months after peaking to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October 2018.

“It will be one of the main factors to be considered in the possible forecast revision of inflation,” Dakila said during the first-quarter inflation briefing held at the Bangko Sentral Friday. He also said the possible prolonged El Niño phenomenon or dry spell could be another factor to be considered for the revision. “There is a 50-50 percent chance that El Niño will continue until the second half of the year,” Dakila said. “These are all going to be considered in the next revision of inflation forecast [in the coming Monetary Board meeting],” he said. The Monetary Board on March 21, 2019 kept the benchmark interest rates steady at 4.75 percent amid the deceleration in inflation rate. The interest rates on the overnight lending and deposit facilities were held steady. The board reduced the inflation target this year to 3 percent from the previous estimate of 3.1 percent made in the Feb. 7 meeting. The forecast for 2020 was kept at 3 percent.

Salceda proposes 35-hour work week

IN TIME with the observance of Labor Day today, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda filed a twin-bill in the Lower House proposing to institute an alternative workhour arrangement for private and public sectors from the standard 40 hours down to 35, designed to promote “higher levels of productivity and the welfare of workers.” Salceda said his proposals, House Bills 9183 and 9184, filed on April 22, for private and public workers respectively, aim to pave the way for keeping up with the global trend of shorter working hours brought about by technological advances where workers would be able to enjoy more abundant leisure time by 2030. He noted that economists, the academe and researchers around the world were one in their assertion “that a shorter, more flexible working week actually increases productivity and strengthens the economy” and “part-time workers are physically and mentally healthier, and are thus more productive.” The 35-hour working week was first adopted as part of a labor reform in France in 2000, under its Plural Left government, and was credited for expanding the economy and lowering unemployment.

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

Asian Terminals Inc. inaugurates a new berth expansion (right) at the Batangas Container Terminal that will increase the annual capacity of the port by more than 40 percent. Leading the inaugural rites are (from left) ATI executive vice president William Khoury, Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Santiago, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero, Philippine Economic Zone Authority director general Charito Plaza, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, DP world Group chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, ATI president Eusebio Tanco and DP World Global Security head Nasser Abdulla.

ATI completes berth expansion, boosts capacity by 40% By Darwin G Amojelar ASIAN Terminals Inc. inaugurated a new berth expansion at the Batangas Container Terminal, increasing the annual capacity of the port by more than 40 percent. The port operator owned by businessman Eusebio Tanco said the expansion of the BCT would increase the annual capacity to 500,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) from 350,000 TEUs. The expansion includes more berths for international container ships spanning 600 meters at 13 meters deep. The terminal is now equipped with four quay cranes, eight rubber-tired gantry cranes and additional mobile

container handling equipment. ATI has spent P2.5 billon for the expansion of the BCT. BCT in 2018 posted a record throughput at nearly 250,000 TEUs, up 26 percent from the 2017 level. BCT now has 11 weekly ship calls deployed by major shipping lines. The company earlier announced a capital investment of about P14.7 billion from 2019 to 2020 to develop more berths and storage spaces in Manila and Batangas ports and additional container yards outside the port zones, acquire more cargo handling equipment, and invest in innovations, which would redound to greater efﬁciencies and safer port environment for stakeholders.

ATI earlier reported a net income of P2.9 billion in 2018, up 15.8 percent from P2.5 billion in 2017. The company’s revenues last year rose 15.8 percent to P12.3 billion from P10.6 billion in 2017, driven by higher volumes of international containerized cargoes. International gateway ports Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal handled a combined container throughput of over 1.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), the highest thus far for the listed port operator. International boxed cargoes handled at Manila South Harbor in 2018 reached over 1.3 million TEUs, an increase of over 6 percent from 2017.

LAMBINO

Chinese firms commit $3.9-b investments in Cagayan zone

By Othel V. Campos The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority said Tuesday it secured investment commitments of $3.9 billion at the sidelines of the recently-concluded 2nd Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing, China. Ceza administrator and chief executive ofﬁcer Raul Lambino said Chinese investors pledged the investments through seven memorandums of understanding and two letters of intent signed during the forum. The deals, he said, were mostly for infrastructure projects in Santa Ana, Cagayan that would propel the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and the free port’s development. The agreements signed were with Shanghai Jucheng Group, Pai Hao Investment, Shenzhen Dawah Real Estates, China Zhejiang Guannan Group, Golden Millennial Quickpay and Yatai International Holdings. Shanghai Jucheng plans to develop a $150-million township and manufacturing plant for lithium batteries to promote sustainable energy production, while Pai Hao is looking to invest $500 million for the upgrade and expansion of the Lal-lo International Airport to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts. Shenzhen Dawah plans to team up with Apsaras Group Ltd. to establish a $100-million marina, water sports training center and private villas, while China Zhejiang Guannan Group committed to put up a $500-million “green” textile production hub for global distribution. Golden Millennial Quickpay Inc. plans to build a $100-million ﬁntech hub in its 10-hectare property near the proposed Ceza Global City in Barangay Rapuli, while Yatai International will acquire a property for its $500-million satellite city. Ceza also signed an MOU with Xiamen-based Fong Zhi Enterprise Corp. for the construction of a $2-billion Smart City in Fuga Island, Aparri town to be patterned after its ongoing mega-infrastructure project in Fujian province, China. The company will also set up an agricultural breeding center and soil improvement project, build medical schools, promote culture and tourism and establish a high-tech industrial park.

3 firms in talks to acquire Roxas sugar assets By Jenniffer B. Austria ROXAS Holdings Inc. is in talks with three local companies interested in acquiring its sugar milling and refining facilities in Nasugbu, Batangas. RHI chief finance officer Celso Dimarucut said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting Tuesday the company received interests from other entities after the Philippine Competition Commission blocked the planned sale of the Nasugbu assets under Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. Universal Robina Corp. “After PCC disapproved the deal, we have received interests from other entities and right now there are on going discussions and due diligence,” said Dimarucut. “Right now there are three interested companies,” he added. The Batangas assets have a total book value of P6.5 billion.

Dimarucut said RHI would use proceeds from the sale of the Nasugbu sugar milling and reﬁning facilities to reduce the company’s debts currently at P11 billion. Lucio Tan-owned Tanduay Distillers Inc. earlier said it was interested in acquiring RHI’s Batangas assets. Tan through holding ﬁrm LT Group Inc. also owns a 30.9-percent interest in Victorias Milling Co. Meanwhile, Dimarucut said RHI was expected to register net loss this year due to lower sugar production. RHI president Hubert Tubio said the group would mill less than 3 million metric tons of cane from 3.1 million MT in 2018. He said for the Batangas milling plant alone, CADPI was expected to mill 813,000 MT, the lowest in 31 years. The company blamed the lower production largely to current dry weather conditions.

DRUGSTORE PARTNERS. Generika Drugstore, the pioneer in the retail of affordable, quality generic medicines, and FamilyDOC, the largest retail clinic chain, both member companies of Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc., team up with Hapinoy to provide discounts and benefits to members who are mostly mothers. Hapinoy is a social enterprise that assists micro-entrepreneurs and sari-sari store owners. Sealing the partnership are (from left) FamilyDOC general manager Raymund Paul Darroca, AC Health president and chief executive officer Paolo Borromeo, Hapinoy founder and CEO Mark Ruiz, and Generika Drugstore president and CEO Dino Francisco.

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Holcim, Cemex gain

HE stock market advanced Tuesday on prospects of a much lower inﬂation rate in April after rice prices continued to drop and the peso strengthened against the US dollar.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 55.70 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,952.72 on a value turnover of nearly P7 billion. Gainers beat losers, 99 to 89, with 49 issues unchanged. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday inflation in April likely slowed to as low as 2.7 percent from 3.3 percent in March. The central bank’s economic research department expects the inflation in April to settle within the 2.7-percent to 3.5-percent range. The government will release the inflation data on May 7. “Higher domestic oil prices and the

slight upward adjustment in electricity rates are seen to provide upside price pressures for the month. However, these pressures may be partly offset by the continued decline in rice prices and by the peso appreciation,” the Bangko Sentral said. Cement companies lead gainers. Holcim Philippines Inc. jumped 8.2 percent to P12.68, while Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. climbed 4.8 percent to P2.17. Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, gained 4.7 percent to P152.30, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group rose 2.4 percent to P41.45. Regional stock markets, meanwhile, were mixed Tuesday with Hong Kong losing 0.6 percent, Seoul down 0.6 percent, Sydney off 0.5 percent, Singapore slipping 0.3 percent and Mumbai 0.5 percent off.

However, Shanghai ended up 0.5 percent after three days of heavy losses, while Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta also gained. Technology ﬁrms took a hit in Asia as two of the biggest names in the sector posted disappointing earnings, dampening sentiment on markets in the region. A below-forecast reading on Chinese factory activity added to the downbeat mood, though a weak US inﬂation print reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will keep well away from lifting interest rates any time soon. While corporate results have broadly beaten expectations so far, nagging concerns about the outlook for the global economy are keeping investors on edge, preventing them from extending what has been a stellar start to the year for equities. There were losses across asset classes,

with energy firms stung by a recent selloff in oil prices, which are well down from the six-month highs touched last week. But tech companies suffered a sell-off after Google parent Alphabet reported a 29 percent drop in quarterly earnings on slower-than-expected revenue growth. The reading sent its shares plunging more than seven percent in New York after-hours trade. That was followed Tuesday morning by smartphone and chip titan Samsung Electronics saying that operating profit dived a worse-than-expected 60.2 percent in January-March as sales also tumbled. The firm’s shares sank 0.7 percent, while in Hong Kong heavyweight Tencent shed a little more than that and ZTE collapsed more than three percent. Taipei-listed Foxconn and LG Display in Seoul also sank. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.65 12,500 84.85 2,368,700 2.16 10,000 134 1,337,290 1.28 62,000 26.55 286,500 18.94 18,500 11.64 66,300 4.63 55,000 1.38 14,000 800 100 0.49 730,000 74.25 4,247,930 0.91 317,000 21.95 3,600 52.5 397,270 180.5 450 112 110 58 940 26 16,900 180 190,680 60.95 1,610 1.13 5,000

733,111.50 199,248,600.50 21,610 179,021,219 79,480 7,612,080 350,370 771,924 262,230 19,320 80,000 352,400 317,789,005.50 285,900 76,875 20,909,342 80,840 12,320 54,512.50 438,720 34,233,735 98,171.50 5,610

733,111.50 22,918,158.50 9,609,259 -15,480 -2,573,855 227,220 -457,430 -134,321,274.00 0 -2,083,048.50 5,240 4,965,063 -55,482.50 -

36.85 15.52 0.85 1.43 0.245 2.09 15.34 108.2 27.3 1.95 5.84 10.76 15.86 9.08 7.41 21.5 78.6 28.6 2.52 11.96 10.4 1.7 302.8 50 3.54 10 22.55 15 22.3 383 5.96 1.24 4.42 6.2 9.03 1.53 11.84 45 4.8 4.85 1.7 1.25 12.98 113.4 6.87 0.132 0.94 144 2.5 1.4 1.14

INDUSTRIAL 37.7 1,435,600 15.94 245,800 0.86 1,248,000 1.43 156,000 0.246 520,000 2.17 55,572,000 15.34 4,688,900 110.1 80 28.4 66,000 1.95 99,000 5.84 5,100 10.92 1,705,100 15.86 17,578,900 9.25 87,100 7.43 237,900 22.1 1,187,100 78.8 48,930 29.4 251,600 2.68 9,160,000 12.68 11,502,300 10.4 2,640,100 1.75 327,000 304.6 677,750 50 113,770 3.54 3,000 10 18,700 22.6 7,011,000 15 2,194,100 22.3 2,352,900 385 199,420 6.1 22,200 1.29 3,566,000 4.49 20,000 6.2 2,385,200 9.03 8,100 1.6 26,869,000 12.06 19,200 45.2 90,900 4.85 295,300 4.85 5,000 1.7 2,000 1.29 160,000 13 1,213,800 116 400,200 6.87 73,600 0.134 550,000 0.97 1,096,000 152.3 2,186,820 2.5 633,000 1.41 3,435,000 1.19 2,609,000

53,422,375 3,896,134 1,067,060 223,080 127,410 120,536,630 71,928,248 8,785 1,838,950 193,050 30,484 18,476,290 282,747,174 799,526 1,766,461 26,070,460 3,857,671.50 7,196,265 24,078,510 145,354,938 27,816,926 561,530 206,557,650 5,691,250 10,620 187,146 158,460,465 33,243,934 53,554,655 76,649,824 133,712 4,589,270 89,100 14,907,347 73,163 42,508,690 230,702 4,111,070 1,457,145 24,250 3,400 202,010 15,800,422 46,275,053 508,503 73,250 1,055,650 329,731,801 1,582,640 4,869,970 3,092,110

21,090,040 1,194,170 75,950 955,350 -1,667,980 -3,714,172 -1,498,464 66,284 -81,695 16,079,025 -2,022,110 453,970 965,244 6,713,702 -45,504,412 2,000 -16,016,605 -15,483,148 142,080 10,532,882 1,571,340 -5,515,366 4,329,410 -1,428,140 -1,332,110 -3,318,962 21,411,419 80,840 71,110,090 1,547,500 -79,520 49,980

0.61 55.1 14.8 0.74 6.5 16.9 1.37 1.38 896 7.4 11.16 14.8 0.239 857 6.22 64.95 5.28 0.5 4.82 15.84 0.55 4.5 0.038 2.86 173 939.5 0.89 1.32 430 0.24 0.325

HOLDING FIRMS 0.64 11,954,000 55.6 754,520 14.96 3,124,500 0.76 660,000 6.6 17,000 17.08 29,300 1.39 8,128,000 1.45 129,000 904 314,900 7.47 492,900 11.16 4,066,500 14.98 56,200 0.265 1,140,000 865 112,570 6.23 15,800 66 1,373,460 5.28 63,000 0.51 37,000 4.82 3,173,500 16.04 3,191,900 0.56 230,000 4.57 15,898,000 0.039 8,300,000 2.87 218,000 180.5 394,770 950 216,680 0.94 2,688,000 1.35 31,000 430 100 0.249 5,830,000 0.33 35,370,000

7,491,880 41,966,354 46,697,798 494,470 110,726 501,192 11,241,500 178,320 283,772,725 3,676,236 46,040,380 842,582 299,610 97,376,260 98,413 90,175,152.50 332,640 18,880 15,629,945 51,032,020 126,730 72,229,150 325,300 625,830 70,451,231 205,086,850 2,499,600 41,150 43,004 1,447,020 11,716,300

-16,550 -8,650,581.50 -10,904,628 15,210.00 -110,400.00 -15,192,680 1,144,940 -12,331,838 432,560 -9,733,415 15,449,512.50 -4,021,193 -14,991,368 110,000 -14,967,540 0 35,181,038 54,030,545 -414,500

8,897,308 722,670 2,232 957,290 1,358,610 518,584,880 297,140 13,182,720 178,100 9,883,685 180,720 16,260 578,690 7,689,632 10,334,150 398,150 45,067,860 3,398,280 123,290,864 6,324,100 2,228,850 3,364,910 176,600 633,920 83,521,395 71,630 162,010 333,470,335

-78,828 -199,000 23,100 184,889,130 -136,240 885,740 -77,200 40,000 890 684,490 257,920 -15,526,860 29,700 23,665,426 0 -293,050 102,920 -86,800 -4,741,225 94,332,110

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

58.6 83.7 2.17 133.8 1.29 26.5 18.94 11.6 4.86 1.38 800 0.48 76 0.9 21.3 52.4 178.7 112 58 25.6 179.4 61 1.12

58.65 84.85 2.17 134 1.29 26.65 19 11.66 4.89 1.38 800 0.49 76.5 0.91 21.95 53.05 183 112 58 26.1 181 61 1.13

58.6 83.7 2.16 133.2 1.28 26.5 18.9 11.6 4.62 1.38 800 0.475 74.25 0.9 21.3 52.05 178.5 112 57.9 25.6 178.1 60.95 1.12

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

37.5 15.52 0.85 1.43 0.245 2.09 15.36 108.2 27.5 1.95 5.98 10.9 15.98 9.3 7.41 21.5 78.8 28.6 2.6 11.96 11 1.71 305 52.5 3.54 10.02 22.6 15 22.5 383 5.96 1.25 4.49 6.38 9.03 1.57 11.84 45.3 5.05 4.85 1.7 1.25 12.98 113.4 7.04 0.132 0.96 145.7 2.5 1.44 1.19

37.7 16.16 0.87 1.43 0.246 2.21 15.36 110.1 28.5 1.95 5.98 10.94 16.38 9.3 7.46 22.1 79.9 29.4 2.69 13.14 11.16 1.79 306.8 52.5 3.54 10.02 22.7 15.4 22.95 385 6.1 1.31 4.49 6.38 9.08 1.62 12.12 45.4 5.05 4.85 1.7 1.29 13.1 116.9 7.04 0.135 0.99 152.3 2.51 1.44 1.22

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

0.62 55.1 15.18 0.78 6.5 16.9 1.38 1.38 901.5 7.5 11.74 15.1 0.27 866.5 6.23 65.05 5.28 0.52 5.16 16 0.55 4.57 0.04 2.86 173 940 0.91 1.32 430.2 0.244 0.325

0.64 56.65 15.18 0.78 6.6 17.74 1.39 1.45 904 7.5 11.74 15.1 0.27 879 6.23 66 5.28 0.52 5.16 16.22 0.56 4.57 0.04 2.91 180.5 951 0.95 1.35 430.2 0.255 0.34

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

14.3 0.77 11.16 1.99 0.78 48.5 2.45 4.42 6.32 0.51 0.81 0.91 0.235 11.3 25.75 0.485 1.53 1.35 5.65 0.335 0.485 1.73 0.445 2.42 24.4 1.98 3.01 40.5

14.7 0.77 11.16 2.04 0.78 48.95 2.45 4.6 6.32 0.51 0.81 0.91 0.24 11.5 25.85 0.49 1.57 1.36 5.65 0.34 0.52 1.74 0.445 2.5 24.7 2 3.01 41.7

14.02 0.76 11.16 1.88 0.76 48.4 2.43 4.41 6.3 0.49 0.8 0.89 0.235 11.14 25.2 0.485 1.52 1.34 5.58 0.33 0.48 1.69 0.425 2.41 24.2 1.98 3 40.5

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

1.8 7 0.73 7.44

1.77 6.78 0.72 7.31

1.79 6.84 0.73 7.31

1,453,000 415,400 74,000 2,472,900

2,598,790 2,841,743 54,000 18,128,787

6,570 3,246,983

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

12.64 19 1.3 0.415 0.039 15.5 2.49 12.96 0.069 81.85 7.01 5.95 11.72 890 1,802 5.27 405.4 2.81 1.85 124 11.5 6.99 0.129 5.85 3.75 0.85 21.8 0.55 3.4 1.7 1.65 2.29 4.02 10.1 4.29 115 3.1 1,206 0.74 0.93 43.9 77.05 9 3.01 0.67 0.36 5.61 0.72 16.68

12.78 19 1.3 0.415 0.04 15.5 2.65 13.02 0.069 83 7.01 5.95 12.3 890 1,829 5.27 415 2.81 1.85 126.5 11.94 6.99 0.129 5.85 3.8 0.85 22.1 0.57 3.43 1.83 1.65 2.34 4.02 10.1 4.38 117 3.24 1,230 0.75 0.94 43.9 78 9.04 3.13 0.68 0.38 5.63 0.79 16.7

12.64 18.92 1.3 0.395 0.039 15.5 2.49 12.62 0.068 81 7.01 5.66 11.7 890 1,780 5.21 391 2.77 1.81 124 11.5 6.98 0.126 5.34 3.68 0.81 21.7 0.55 3.38 1.69 1.65 2.29 3.79 9.8 4.16 115 3.07 1,200 0.73 0.89 41.9 76.4 9 3.01 0.67 0.355 5.61 0.7 16.6

SERVICES 12.64 18.94 1.3 0.4 0.04 15.5 2.61 12.74 0.069 82 7.01 5.71 12 890 1,780 5.23 391 2.77 1.81 126.5 11.5 6.99 0.126 5.34 3.77 0.84 22.05 0.56 3.43 1.83 1.65 2.3 3.83 9.8 4.38 115 3.23 1,230 0.73 0.89 41.9 78 9.04 3.05 0.67 0.375 5.63 0.77 16.68

4,900 49,700 19,000 3,640,000 13,200,000 7,800 771,000 10,870,500 8,230,000 175,890 100 1,469,700 82,500 2,560 35,080 102,200 8,100 1,298,000 50,000 2,712,430 5,000 15,700 780,000 8,040,800 719,000 64,000 1,467,400 1,034,000 2,787,000 55,000 1,000 1,683,000 385,000 10,300 28,000 1,950 1,688,000 114,255 4,663,000 40,804,000 5,889,900 339,570 3,400 26,853,000 963,000 2,570,000 151,000 42,700,000 331,700

62,054 942,518 24,700 1,461,000 527,600 120,900 1,995,370 140,252,800 564,080 14,437,097.50 701 8,440,280 991,084 2,278,400 62,750,640 535,435 3,216,102 3,613,640 90,900 341,765,920 57,720 109,693 98,790 44,463,270 2,699,410 53,150 32,238,570 574,600 9,502,570 96,400 1,650 3,890,190 1,486,220 102,059 118,650 224,885 5,388,950 139,669,680 3,420,910 37,029,580 247,924,580 26,148,370.50 30,720 82,284,210 646,440 939,850 848,735 31,905,060 5,533,448

-28,050 19,385,046 2,861,912.50 887,599 -4,097,730 -47,760 251,100 66,668,021 1,093,309 -98,800 6,917,645 -1,394,840 -127,100 7,600 5,892 -20,850 -85,285 102,367,365 -495,900 -1,388,370 -96,360,420 8,878,779.00 8,408,930 138,710 -360,620 3,170,750

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A 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 A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0019 1.33 2.82 12.4 1.28 2.68 0.29 7.99 1.51 0.255 0.112 0.113 0.0082 1.08 2.44 1.01 0.61 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.17 3.14 8.48 23.85 0.0072

0.0019 1.33 2.89 12.4 1.28 2.72 0.29 8.1 1.52 0.265 0.113 0.113 0.0082 1.08 2.44 1.01 0.61 0.91 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.17 3.16 8.48 23.9 0.0072

0.0018 1.27 2.8 12.4 1.28 2.68 0.29 7.98 1.5 0.248 0.106 0.11 0.0079 1.08 2.4 0.99 0.58 0.88 0.012 0.012 0.011 3.11 3.09 8.1 23.5 0.0072

MINING & OIL 0.0018 128,000,000 1.3 1,035,000 2.89 434,000 12.4 200 1.28 2,000 2.69 556,000 0.29 330,000 8.05 1,600 1.52 8,617,000 0.249 2,530,000 0.113 6,620,000 0.11 820,000 0.0079 32,000,000 1.08 157,000 2.4 1,121,000 1.01 97,000 0.58 34,000 0.88 501,000 0.012 1,000,000 0.012 10,000,000 0.011 600,000 3.11 3,000 3.1 145,000 8.1 3,578,600 23.85 2,480,700 0.0072 1,000,000

242,600 1,336,140 1,218,730 2,480 2,560 1,497,380 95,700 12,827 13,054,310 642,810 721,160 91,060 258,000 169,560 2,704,410 96,950 20,710 443,090 12,000 120,000 6,600 9,390 451,200 29,404,196 59,140,495 7,200

-277,200 -283,630 -32,400 249,780 120,000 -90,310 3,602,749 233,035 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2I

18.5 467 498 97 97 480 5.1 950 95.85 0.98 100.1 100.5 106 1.45 975 75.1 76.9 72.7 73 72.1

18.5 467 498 97 97.95 494 5.1 950 96 0.98 100.1 100.5 106 1.45 975 75.1 76.9 72.7 73 73

18.1 467 498 97 96 480 4.97 950 95.85 0.97 100.1 100.5 106 1.45 974 75.1 75.5 71.5 72.55 72.1

PREFERRED 18.1 35,600 467 500 498 10 97 5,000 97 12,080 494 150 4.97 200 950 890 96 3,120 0.98 1,009,000 100.1 10,000 100.5 150 106 280 1.45 19,000 974 2,410 75.1 260 75.5 80,360 71.5 90,000 72.55 146,250 73 890

648,620 233,500 4,980 485,000 1,171,618 73,920 1,007 845,500 299,256 983,920 1,001,000 15,075 29,680 27,550 2,349,700 19,526 6,069,028 6,439,800 10,645,655.50 64,340

-285,670 100 -6,041,344 -

LR WARRANT

1.94

1.99

1.88

WARRANTS 1.96 123,000

239,010

4,319,128 5,386,890

-56,290 251,180

804,672

82,740

104,232

NAME

PROPERTY 14.4 0.77 11.16 1.99 0.77 48.95 2.43 4.5 6.31 0.5 0.8 0.91 0.235 11.34 25.2 0.49 1.54 1.36 5.6 0.335 0.51 1.71 0.44 2.5 24.5 2 3 41.45

624,400 947,000 200 483,000 1,781,000 10,638,500 122,000 2,928,000 28,200 19,846,000 225,000 18,000 2,460,000 678,400 404,600 820,000 29,184,000 2,508,000 22,014,400 18,920,000 4,440,000 1,971,000 410,000 258,000 3,402,000 36,000 54,000 8,093,000

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.3 1.17

5.35 1.17

5.15 1.12

FIRST METRO ETF

117.5

119

117.5

USD DMPL A1

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

10,144,624

INDUSTRIAL

167,027,683

HOLDING FIRMS

230,307,539

PROPERTY

138,776,375

SERVICES

188,409,648

MINING & OIL

203,338,765

GRAND TOTAL

943,567,842

5.28 1.12

SME

821,300 4,735,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119 6,810 10.1

DDS

10,320

VALUE 1,743.66 (DOWN) 0.29 762,559,047.14 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,608.92 (UP) 135.33 1,806,597,207.05 HOLDING FIRMS 7,638.20 (UP) 35.75 1,737,104,773.92 PROPERTY 4,329.00 (UP) 45.57 SERVICES 1,586.18 (UP) 2.92 1,249,147,244.94 MINING & OIL 7,720.61 (DOWN) 40.57 1,301,202,928.49 PSEI 7,952.72 (UP) 55.70 111,783,522.6118 All Shares Index 4,889.56 (UP) 25.17 6,978,906,821.65 Gainers: 99; Losers: 89; Unchanged: 49; Total: 237

PNB allots P4b for digitization amid growth opportunities By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the fifthlargest bank in terms of assets and controlled by tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan, is allotting around P4 billion for digitization this year to seize growth opportunities in the growing economy. PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso said in a briefing Tuesday the bank would earmark 50 percent or P2 billion for information-technology related projects. The bank spent in 2018 spent just 40 percent of its capital expenditures for information technology. “We want to capture the growth opportunities in the provinces. The opportunities in the provinces are very significant, not only in Metro Manila,” Veloso said. To fund the P4-billion capex, Veloso said the bank plans to embark on capitalraising initiatives, such as stock rights offering and FCDU offshore funding. The bank in April last year successfully raised $300 million of five-year fixed rate senior notes in Singapore and Hong Kong out of its $1-billion medium term note program This marked the first time that PNB tapped the international bond market for medium term dollar funding. PNB executive vice president Nelson Reyes, who is also the bank’s chief financial officer, said the next stock rights offering might be conducted sometime in July or August this year. The bank currently has 711 domestic branches and more than 1,240 ATMs strategically located nationwide. Veloso said the bank was planning to open more branch lites in far-flung, or unserved and underserved, areas in the provinces. He said the bank would announce the first-quarter performance in the early part of May. PNB in 2018 posted a 17-percent increase in net profit to P9.6 billion from P8.2 billion in 2017 on the back of sustained strength in core businesses. Total consolidated resources hit P983.6 billion, up P147.3 billion or 18 percent from a year ago. Total operating income rose 20 percent to P38.9 billion from P32.3 billion a year ago, driven by increases in core revenues as well as gains from asset disposals.

Meralco commits to develop solar projects by 2020 By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. through power unit Meralco PowerGen Corp. has committed to develop 224 megawatts of solar power facilities by 2020. “Recognizing the role of renewable energy in the overall dispatch, its inevitability due to its improving economics and the prevailing solar tariff at well below FiT (feed-in tariff) rates and also below coal and gas generation charges, MGen is currently working on several opportunities in wind, solar and hydro power development,” said Meralco PowerGen president Rogelio Singson. “In addition, the large renewable energy requirement of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives under the Renewable Portfolio Standards is more than compelling reason for MGen to allocate resources into this area. In MGen’s development and investment list of targeted projects is a total of 224 MW land-based solar facilities,” said Singson said. He said some of the solar projects would be completed this year while the remaining projects were up for completion next year. Singson reiterated in March that Meralco PowerGen remained keen on solar and wind power development as part of its foray in renewable energy. “In terms of status of RE, we continue to discuss with a lot of developers. Most of these are covered by NDAs (nondisclosure agreements). We’re really focusing on securing sites for wind and solar. And we’re conﬁdent solar will be a major source of power within the next 3 to 5 years,” Singson said. Meralco PowerGen said it was focused on the development of a portfolio of utility scale solar generation projects to supply the Luzon grid and the customers of Meralco with competitive tariff. “MGen believes solar generation will form an important part of the energy mix going forward, and will be a growing source of generation without any subsidy. Discussions are ongoing with a number of existing project developers for potential partnerships,” the company said.

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

France, Italy mark 500th year of death of Leonardo

OUTSIDE THE IMPERIAL PALACE. People gather outside the Imperial Palace, where the abdication ceremony for Japan’s Emperor Akihito is taking place, in Tokyo on April 30, 2019. Akihito is handing over the Chrysanthemum Throne to his eldest son, 59-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, in a series of solemn rituals that also usher in the new imperial era named ‘Reiwa’—meaning beautiful harmony—that will last throughout the new monarch’s reign. AFP

IN BRIEF School investigates its links to slavery LONDON―The University of Cambridge on Tuesday announced an investigation into its historic links to slavery, looking at bequests from traders and how its academics might have inﬂuenced “race-based thinking”. The two-year project will seek “appropriate ways to publicly acknowledge past links to slavery and to address its impact”, the British institution said. It is the brainchild of Canadian vicechancellor Professor Stephen J Toope, and will be conducted by two full-time doctoral researchers, overseen by an advisory panel. “There is growing public and academic interest in the links between the older British universities and the slave trade,” Toope said in a statement. “It is only right that Cambridge should look into its own exposure to the proﬁts of forced labor during the colonial period. “We cannot change the past, but nor should we seek to hide from it.” The chairman of the advisory panel, Professor Martin Millett, said the probe would look at bequests to departments, libraries and museums. “But the panel is just as interested in the way scholars at the university helped shape public and political opinion, supporting, reinforcing and sometimes contesting racial attitudes which are repugnant in the 21st century,” he said. AFP

Sri Lanka to resume mass on Sunday COLOMBO―Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church said public Mass will resume on Sunday amid tight security, two weeks after the Easter Sunday bombings killed 253 people at three churches and three luxury hotels. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said the Church was closely monitoring government investigations into the April 21 suicide attacks and wanted to be sure of the security situation before returning to daily services. “On the 5th of May we are going to begin Masses,” he told AFP on Tuesday. “But we will start with a smaller number of Masses and see if we can slowly increase it depending on how the situation develops.” The Cardinal, who is also the Archbishop of Colombo, conducted a private memorial Mass that was broadcast live on television last Sunday after canceling all public services amid fears of a repeat of the Easter attacks. Armed guards and an armored personnel carrier have been placed outside the Cardinal’s Colombo residence as part of his security arrangements. But he said he returned a bullet-proof limousine that was given by the government and instead traveled in an ordinary car. AFP

Akihito, 85, abdicates; Naruhito to take over T OKYO―Emperor Akihito of Japan formally stepped down Tuesday, the ﬁrst abdication for 200 years in the world’s oldest monarchy, as his son Naruhito prepared to take the Chrysanthemum Throne and usher in a new imperial era.

In the “Room of Pine” in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the popular 85-year-old performed the abdication ritual in the presence of the imperial regalia―an ancient sword and sacred jewel that are considered to legitimize an emperor. In his ﬁnal speech, Akihito offered his “deepest heartfelt gratitude to the people of Japan” and said he would “pray for the peace and happiness of all the people in Japan and around the world.” Despite near-constant rain in Tokyo, several hundred well wishers congregated outside the Palace during the historic ceremony attended by around 300 people, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and around a dozen members of the royal family. “I feel overwhelmed emotionally,” said a tearful Yayoi Iwasaki, a 50-year-old bank employee, standing outside the palace. “In the past, enthronements followed the death of emperors and people weren’t sure whether they should be happy and celebrating, but with this transition, I am sure that we

can celebrate while welcoming the new era,” she said. Akihito will technically remain emperor until the stroke of midnight when Naruhito takes over and the new era of “Reiwa”― meaning “beautiful harmony”―begins, lasting for as long as he reigns. Earlier Tuesday, draped in ornate golden-brown robes and wearing a towering black hat, Akihito reported his abdication to his ancestors and Shinto gods at several sanctuaries in the palace. On Wednesday, the 59-year-old Naruhito will inherit the imperial regalia in a 10-minute ceremony that is off-limits to female royals, even his wife Masako. He will shortly afterwards make his ﬁrst address to the nation as its 126th emperor. Crowds were expected to gather to count down to the new era outside the palace and at the scramble crossing in Tokyo’s lively Shibuya district, although the drizzle threatened to dampen some of the enthusiasm. Security has been beefed up with extra police patrols on the streets, sniffer dogs scouring the palace grounds and even divers inspecting the moat. A more public enthronement ceremony will take place on October 22, during which Naruhito will parade through the streets of the capital and be congratulated by other world leaders and royalty. President Donald Trump sent congratulations, offering “heartfelt appreciation” to the outgoing imperial couple and stressing the “close relationship” between the US and Japan. AFP

MBOISE, France―Five hundred years after the death of Italian master painter Leonardo da Vinci, the Loire Valley town where he spent his last three years will host top-level festivities celebrating his life. The Renaissance genius died in the French town of Amboise in 1519, at the age of 67. And France’s Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella are traveling here on Thursday to mark the anniversary. Leonardo was 64 when he was invited to France by the young Francis I, at a time when rivals Michelangelo and Raphael were rising stars on the Italian peninsula. And with his own commissions drying up, it came as a great relief and no small vindication for the Tuscan artist, who received a handsome stipend as the “ﬁrst painter, engineer and architect of the king”. He brought with him three of his favorite paintings: the Mona Lisa, the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, and Saint John the Baptist―all of which today hang in the Louvre museum in Paris. The joint celebrations come after months of mounting diplomatic tensions between Paris and Rome over the hardline policies of Italy’s populist government and its support for France’s antigovernment “yellow vest” protesters. The anniversary also has raised tensions over the works of Leonardo that are owned by France after Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the Mona Lisa should be brought home to Rome. He has since brushed the comment off as a joke. Known as the “Sun King of the 16th century”, Francis I was widely seen as bringing the Italian Renaissance to France, extending his patronage to both artisans and architects. Arriving in 1516, Leonardo was installed at the Clos Luce, a sumptuous manor house just a stone’s throw from the royal chateau in Amboise where the king had spent part of his childhood. At the time, Francis I was barely 23, and his ambitious mother Louise of Savoy “knew that Leonardo would be the man who would allow her son to ﬂourish,” Catherine Simon Marion, managing director of the Clos Luce, told AFP. “As for the young king, he was fascinated by [Leonardo’s] knowledge of anatomy, botany, spirituality. He came to see him almost every day, calling him ‘my father’,” she said. “Leonardo gave him a kind of apprenticeship in knowledge.” An underground tunnel was dug through the soft limestone between the Clos Luce and Amboise’s chateau to facilitate these frequent visits. AFP the illegitimate child may use the surname of the father; that Article 176 gives lIlegitimate children the right to decide. if they want to use the surname of their father or not; that petitioner during’ his minority had continuously IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR been under joint custody of his parents, herein CHANGE OF NAME/TO ADOPT FATHER’S respondents Romeo Bea and Benedicta Varon NAME OF JHON PAUL VARON, who exercised parental authority over him and Assisted by: provided him support, financial and otherwise; BENEDICTA O. VARON, that petitioner through his mother exercised Mother Petitioner, the right to use his surname and opt to use - versus R-QZN-19-02238-SP the surname of his father, respondent Romeo; 1) THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF and that petitioner should be allowed to use/ QUEZON CITY bear the surname of his father to permit him to 2) THE ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE synchronize their records, to avoid confusion of their true relationships and to give petitioner STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) formerly NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO), peace of mind in his future private and public 3) ROMEO M. BEA, and transactions. 4) ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, WHEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the Respondents. x---------------------------------------------x petition will be heard before this Court sitting ORDER at Room 221, Hall of Justice, Diliman Quezon City, on June 17, 2019 at 3:30 o’clock in the (Notice of Hearing) A verified petition was filed praying for the afternoon at which date and time, all persons change of name of Jhon Paul Varon, alleging as interested and concerned may appear and follows : that petitioner, assisted by his mother, show cause, if any, why the petition should not Benedicta O.Varon, was born on January 15, be granted. 2001 to Benedicta O. Varon and Respondent Let this Order be published for three (3) Romeo who remain to be unmarried; that though consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general considered illegitimate, petitioner, from the time circulation to be chosen by raffle. Likewise, of his birth, has always used the surname of his petitioners are ordered to serve a copy of the father, “BEA”’ as his last name and the surname petition on the Office of the Solicitor General, of his mother “VARON” as his middle name in the Civil Registrar General, the Office of the all his records, both private and public; that City Prosecutor of Quezon City and to the other the full name, Jhon Paul V. Bea was the name respondents, and to submit proof of service which both his parents had taught petitioner to thereof. write as child; that from the provisions of Article Moreover, the Civil Registrar General and any 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines person having or claiming any interest in the as amended by Republic Act No. 9255, the petition may file opposition/objection thereto general rule is that an illegitimate child shall within fifteen (15) days from notice, or from the use the surname of his or her mother; that the last date of publication of this Order. exception provided by RA 9255 is in case his or her filiation is expressly recognized by the father SO ORDERED. through the record of birth appearing in the Quezon City March 18, 2019. civil register or when an admission in a public (Sgd.) CATHERINE P. MANODON Judge document or private handwritten instrument (MStandard - May 1, 8 & 15, 2019) is made by the father; that in such situation,

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Quezon City, Branch 104

Manila

WORLD DOG SHOW. A man with his French Poodle dog participarte in the 2019 Shanghai World Standard

TODAY

Dog Show in Shanghai on April 30, 2019. AFP

Egypt’s rebounding tourism threatens Red Sea corals HURGHADA, Egypt―In serene turquoise waters off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, scuba divers ease among delicate pink jellyﬁsh and admire coral―yet a rebounding tourism sector threatens the fragile marine ecosystem. The Red Sea is a top scuba diving destination, but Egypt’s tourism sector was buffeted by a wave of security shocks through much of this decade, before a partial recovery since 2017. A diving instructor in the town of Hurghada, a top resort, warned that the rebound brought dangers for the corals. Before the decline in visitors “there was way too much activity because it was so cheap” he said, asking to remain anonymous. “In some areas, they’ve disappeared― although in others we see they’re coming back”.

The United Nations Environment Program says coral reefs are among “the most beautiful, biologically diverse and delicate ecosystems in the world”. It describes these resources as vital to maintaining food supply and protecting the shorelines of low-lying island nations. Along the seafront in the town of Hurghada, bazaars and resorts offer unbeatable prices to attract budget-conscious European visitors to a country whose vital tourism sector was battered by a 2011 uprising and multiple jihadist attacks. Following the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak, tourist arrivals in Egypt plunged. The sector took a further beating in 2015, when jihadists blew up a Russian plane that took off from another major Red Sea resort,

Sharm al-Sheikh, killing 224 people. But the contribution of Egypt’s tourism sector to GDP rose 16.5 percent last year to $29.6 billion (26.5 billion euros), the highest level since 2010, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Egypt has not published its own official statistics for the year. German tourist Daniel, 29, said he was partly attracted to Egypt by the low prices. “It’s a lot cheaper than the Caribbean,” he said as he tanned his pale skin on a private beach in Hurghada. Flippers on their feet and air tanks on their backs, the mostly European tourists swim in tranquil waters just off Hurghada. Ten metres below the surface, clown and butterfly fish swim among green and purple corals. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TEEN QUEENS. The medical staff of FamilyDOC pose with the finalists of Miss Teen Philippines 2019. FamilyDOC is the official health provider of this year’s MTP pageant, as 32 beautiful and smart teen candidates from different parts of the country compete for the crown on May 8, at a Frontier Theatre, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.

Phivolcs clears Clark of possible land liquefaction By Romeo Dizon CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has cleared Clark, the next of growth and development area in the country, of possible liquefaction following the series of earthquakes in the country. Arturo S. Daag, chief research scientist of Phivolcs, said the almost 400 squares mile area formerly called Fort Stotsenburg is not losing its strength and stiffness despite the tremor that devastated Central Luzon, especially Pampanga, last week. Based on their scientific findings and data, Daag said Clark remains strong as it can withstand the stress during an earthquake and other changes in its stressed condition. His assurance was made during a media forum here attended by Dr. Irineo Alvaro, chairman of the 1,500 strong Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA). During the forum, Daag said based on their data at the Freport, the New Clark City located at Mabalacat City in Pampanga and the towns of Capas and Bamban in Tarlac are also safe standing on solid grounds. Clark was initially named after Col. John Stotsenburg of the Sixth US Calvary who died in action in Bulacan on April 23, 1894. It was later named Clark Air Base after Major Harold Clark, who died in a seaplane accident in Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal Zone on May 2, 1919. In 1991, the Americans abandoned the air base owing to heavy ash falls after eruption of Pinatubo volcano in 1991. Alvaro sought the assistance of Phivolcs and other government agencies following the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that damaged several roads, bridges, school and commercial buildings, including the check in counter of the Clark International Airport that resulted in the suspension of flights both domestic and international for 48 hours last week.

‘Unli’ dialysis treatment in Makati, Abby vows By Joel E. Zurbano

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Tuesday promised to sustain the enhanced medical beneﬁts for city residents with kidney ailments by providing them with unlimited dialysis treatments. The city government had signed partnership agreements that allow residents with Yellow Cards to receive dialysis treatments in private freestanding dialysis centers in Makati and other nearby locations. The cost for these sessions are shouldered by the local government. “We have allotted a P4,500 subsidy for each dialysis session of qualified patients to cover costs in excess of the current PhilHealth coverage. Through

the Yellow Card, Makatizens with impaired kidney functions now have unhampered access to timely and adequate treatment,” Binay said. The Yellow Card extends to cardholders the full range of medical benefits, from subsidized hospitalization to dialysis treatments. Previously, the Yellow Card covered up to 10 dialysis sessions only, in addition to the current maximum PhilHealth coverage per patient of 90 sessions per

year at P2,500 per session. “Our patients now have access to alternative service providers outside the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), and they need not worry about out-of-pocket expenses anymore,” Binay said. Hospital records show that last year, there were 223 qualified patients who were able to avail themselves of the outsourced services as of end-December, for which the city paid around P38.8 million. Under the current program guidelines, should the total bill for a session exceed P5,000, dialysis patients will only pay a flat rate of P500. For example, if the total bill reaches P7,000, the patient will need to pay P500 only, while the city will shoulder P6,500.

‘OPTE HELP’. SM Foundation extends a helping hand through its

Operation: Tulong Express to victims of the recent earthquake that rocked Metro Manila and the provinces of Pampanga, Zambales and Bataan. Volunteer SM employees joined other volunteers in distributing relief packs in 22 barangays in Porac, San Marcelino, Hermosa, Subic, Zambales and Bataan to benefit 2,950 families or 14,750 individuals. SM Foundation AVP for Outreach and Livelihood Cristie Angeles led the event with support by Savemore and SM Supermarket, which provided the relief goods, SM Supermalls (Pampanga, San Fernando, Telabastagan, Clark, Tarlac and Olongapo) for coordination, transportation and distribution of goods, Our Home, St. Isadore Learning Center, Savemore and Dahnberger Construction for providing trucks for relief, and RDSWD3 and LGU social development offices for facilitating the orderly distribution in all areas.

Nueva Vizcaya moves to siphon funds from 3 big power firms BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government here will be opening two bank accounts to siphon fund benefits from power generating companies operating in the province. Vice Gov. Lambert Galima,Jr. said bank accounts will be opened through the Development Bank of the Philippines, which is required

by the Department of Energy for the transfer of funds from the First Hydro Power Corporation, SN Aboitiz Power Magat, Inc., and the Casecnan Multi-purpose Irrigation and Power Project. “We have already authorized our Provincial Treasurer Rhoda Moreno to execute this act so that we can properly

and legally receive these fund benefits,” Galima said during a recent session of the provincial board. The bank accounts to be opened, he added, will separately keep the Development and Livelihood Fund and the Reforestation, Watershed Management, Health and/or Environment Enhancement Fund.

Department Circular 2018-08-0021 requires the DOE to devise ways and means of giving direct benefits to the province, city or municipality, especially the community and people affected, and equitable and preferential benefit to the region that hosts the energy resource and/or the energygenerating facility.

DA gives Ifugao P829m in infra, livelihood funds BAGUIO CITY—The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project has approved 18 sub-projects, worth P829 million, for Ifugao province to improve the living condition, especially of people in farflung villages. “There are approved infrastructure sub-projects worth more than PHP802 million and enterprise sub-projects worth more than PHP27 million,” said Ma. Imelda Isabel Zabala, Information, Advocacy, Communication and Education unit of the PRDP in the Cordillera Administrative Region, on Tuesday. Based on the list posted on the PRDP website, among the infrastructure projects that have been completed is a PHP1.9 million potable water system project in Banaue benefitting 673 households. Projects that are ongoing implementation include nine communal irrigation systems that will irrigate 211.59 hectares of riceland worth P44.4 million; one farm-to-market road with bridge project measuring 11 kilometers worth P176 million; and four potable water system project worth P9.8 million, all in Banaue. There are also three projects in Banaue and Mayoyao towns categorized as having an NOL 1 (no objection letter), where the proponent local government is given a notice to proceed with the awarding of the contract to the winning bidder. There are also three projects in the pipeline worth P454 million—a 600-square meter slope protection project in Asipulo town and two FMR in Lamut and Lagawe with a total length of 37 kilometers. For the livelihood enterprise project, the restoration and rehabilitation of livelihood projects on swine raising in Hungduan town involving an organization have been completed. Ongoing projects include the restoration and rehabilitation of cattle fattening and marketing in Lagawe, and the upgrading and expansion of processing and marketing of export quality Ifugao heirloom rice in Banaue. Zabala said Ifugao, especially the municipality of Banaue, is the top grosser in terms of subproject costs. Cordillera region has the highest approved total project cost and number two in terms of total number of sub-projects for the whole Luzon A Cluster, composed of the Cordillera, Regions 1, 2, and 3. PNA

2k Negros ARBs get cellphones from President BACOLOD CITY—All the 2,495 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Occidental, who received land titles from President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Sagay City last month, have received the mobile phones he had promised them. This was confirmed by the Department of Agrarian Reform North and South offices in Negros Occidental after the distribution was completed by the end of last week. DAR-Western Visayas Regional Director Stephen Leonidas led the series of distribution activities with OfficerIn-Charge Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers II Carlos Padilla and Teresita Mabunay. Leonidas said in a statement that he reminded farmer-beneficiaries of their obligations to pay their amortizations and land taxes, and assured them that the DAR municipal offices are always ready to facilitate their registration to the government insurance programs. Late last month, the first batch of 1,000 farmer-beneficiaries received their mobile phones in separate distribution rites. These were the ARBs from the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Cadiz and Sagay, and the towns of E.B. Magalona and Manapla. On April 24, a total of 702 ARBs from the cities of Escalante and San Carlos, and the towns of Toboso, Calatrava and Murcia received their own units.

Standard, volunteers join Obando river cleanup By Charles Dantes OBANDO, Bulacan—In the pursuit of restoring and cleaning the Obando River, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources helped Barangay Binuangan in Obando, Bulacan to regain the waterway’s beauty. As part of the continuous drive of the Environment department’s “Battle for Manila Bay” and in celebration of International Earth Day, DENR persuaded different groups including the Manila Standard to join the drive for the beautification of the river last Sunday. For Barangay Binuangan, a village in the middle of the river, it was a much-needed action to start saving their area and have a much greener outlook in life. Led by their barangay chairperson, Jerry Santos, and Sangguniang Kabataan head, Krizel Bartolome, residents of Binuangan began unloading their wastes properly and collecting piles of rubbish in their man-

made landfill and watercourse. Then they put it into sacks that will be disposed of in the right dumping ground with the aid of the local government of Obando. “Within two months, we have collected more than 5,200 sacka of trash and have reduced our household wastes ever since the start of this proper disposal campaign,” said Santos in an interview. As cleaning their area will be no easy feat, Santos remains optimistic that in less than six months, Brgy. Binuangan will reestablish its cleanliness. “We are happy that many have volunteered to help our village, and we hope this river cleanup continues,” he added. Highlighting the drive, the clean-up party accumulated around 100 sacks of trash within three hours of cleansing the area. DENR held a program to celebrate Earth Day by having performances from different groups and spreading the word on how to take care of our planet. Volunteers join Manila Standard workers in the river cleanup in Obando, Bulacan.

Life

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

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

Soak up the sun C

APTURE the energy and heady excitement of summertime in totally tropical prints, ﬂowing silhouettes, and standout swimwear.

Summer style stories at The SM Store are bursting with colors, with a splash of freshness. There are tropical printed and white separates for women and basic top and swim shorts for men. This is the season of sundresses in fun prints, kaleidoscope swimsuits, and, of course, denim shorts. Stylish sandals, espadrilles, bags, and accessories complete a variety of sizzling hot styles.

SUMMER STYLE STORIES. White separates and other trendy pieces for women are included in The SM Store’s summer offerings.

Standout swimwear and casual outfits and accessories made for the beach.

Fun under the summer sun in tropical printed dresses and shirts.

Kathryn’s ‘going to the gym’ beauty routine ALWAYS looking her best—or at least presentable—has become second nature to Kathryn Bernardo; it doesn’t matter if she’s on the red carpet or on an indoor cycling bike. “For me, even if you’re going to the gym, you still have to be presentable. ‘It’s just the gym’ is not an excuse to not care about how you look because you think you’ll get all sweaty,” she explained. The secret to a fresh, presentable gym look, the 23-year-old actor revealed, is to opt for makeup products that are light and safe on skin, and, most importantly, don’t budge even during the sweatiest spin class. “First, you have to choose products that don’t clog the pores. Second, you have to be sure that it doesn’t melt on the skin. When it melts, you end up with smudged eye shadow or eyeliner that make your eye bags look dark,” opined Kathryn. She continued, “My final gym makeup essential is that the product has to be light and safe on the skin. You will sweat when you work out, and the last thing you want is thick makeup that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe.” Her beauty routine and approach to makeup influenced her latest collaboration with homegrown makeup brand Happy Skin. The Generation Happy Skin Active, a sequel to the Generation Happy Skin diffusion cosmetics line launched last year, is composed of six skin-caring and sweat-proof products which Kathryn helped create. “I really love this new collection I

worked on because it’s something I can really use myself,” she enthused. During the product launch, Kathryn described the active line as simple; she said she loved it as the products are easy to use, look normal on skin, long-wearing, and don’t clog the pores. She shared she was more meticulous and careful with Generation Happy Skin Active. She was hands-

on, much like in her previous collaboration, and used all the products on herself while traveling last year to ensure the formula works and doesn’t make her break out. “I tried wearing it while sweating, while working out, while traveling, and even in different kinds of weather. I’m happy and confident to share it with my friends and fans because everything really worked for me!” she beamed. Comprising the line are Love Your Lips Intense Color Butter Balm SPF 15 (Free, Bliss, Powerful), an intensely pigmented lip butter that protects and moisturizes lips; My Lips But Better Ultra Matte Lippie (Limitless, Energy), which provides an ultra-matte finish while optimizing hydration; Kiss & Bloom Water Lip and Cheek Tint (Focus, Breathe), which gives a naturally sheer color on the lips and cheeks that dries into a watercolor wash. Also included in the active range are Easy Eyes Crease-Proof Eye Shadow Stick (Fit, Flex), an easy-to-blend eye shadow stick; On-The-Go Blush Lightweight Cheek Stick (Flushed, Glowing), a fussfree blush that leaves a naturalTurn to C2 Kathryn Bernardo launches her latest collaboration with local makeup brand Happy Skin–the Generation Happy Skin Active.

The six-piece active line is composed of lip products, blushes, eye shadow, and eyeliner.

Life

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Celebrity-favorite Tod’s D Styling Bag, previously called D-Bag, has been updated for today’s sophisticated women with a taste for superior craftsmanship. Eun Chae Jung (left) and Irina Shayk (right) carry the D Styling Bag.

Keep calm and carry all T

WO Italian luxury leather brands launch new bags made for elegant women.

Tod’s relaunches its celebrity-favorite D-Bag, first introduced in 1997, with a few updates and a new name. Now called the D Styling, the bag features the same refined, understated luxury, timeless design, and superior craftsmanship for which it has been known. The new D Styling Bag is a tribute and celebration of Tod’s iconic bag, which was a classic reflection of the quality and design of the brand’s shoes. Softer, with no lining, a hand cut finish, and with a contemporary silhouette, this bag is ideal for its practicality and beauty. The excellent hides with which every Tod’s piece is made, is a guarantee that it will endure in time not just for its beauty, but for the exceptional quality that is in the label’s DNA. A special edition, the Luxury

D Bag, is enriched with platinumplated hardware. The D Styling Bag, as with other bags of the label, is made using the production techniques similar to those used by anFurla Diva It bag features goatskin and metallic elements.

cient saddle makers. Extreme skill and attention to detail is required for the cutting of the leather and the sewing of each style. Each bag has a distinctive small steel nib at its bottom for protection; these nibs are a characteristic detail of many Tod’s products. For its pre-fall 2019 collection, Furla introduces Diva, which comes in different versions: It bag (shoulder bag), Hobo (medium and small), and Tote (in two rectangular versions). Furla Diva is made of goatskin, a rich and grainy natural leather. The Light is the bag’s other key aspect: not only is it reflected by the material from which it is made, but also by the metallic elements that distinguish it, like the leather shoulder strap with chain and the new pyramidal closure—an iconic element, simple, and visually striking. The range is light and roomy, perfect for any occasion. The shoulder bag features a sophisticated, elegant, and modern color palette: a combination of colorblock lino beige, pervinca, and onyx.

Furla Diva crossbody

How to keep skin hydrated PROPER hydration is vital to overall health—it promotes healthy muscles, aids in digestion, and keeps skin smooth, clear, and plump. Drinking water is the simplest and easiest skin care routine. Aside from the moisturizing properties, it helps release toxins from the body and stops the buildup of dead skin cells.

Tod’s is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati Iconic, and ShangriLa Plaza. Furla is at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza.

Celebrating beauty around the world AS PART of the celebration of Women’s Month, SM Megamall hosted a party featuring local and global beauty and skin care brands. The Beauty Around the World party at Mega Fashion Hall featured homegrown makeup brand Happy Skin; Korean cosmetics and skin care brands The Saem, The Face Shop, and Nature Republic; and iconic Japanese personal care brand Shiseido. Well-known American cosmetics brands MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinique, and Benefit; as well as European brands Inglot and Make Up For Ever also showcased their beauty products and offered great deals and discounts. Beauty experts Cristalle Belo-Pitt, managing director of Belo Medical Group; Gay Lao Chen, MAC Cosmetics Philippines brand manager; and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, Happy Skin co-founder gave a short talk about their beauty routine

Drink as much as 3 liters of water

The body loses water when it perspires. The hot summer weather, exercise, and other strenuous activities can trigger eccrine glands to release sweat, thus a person needs to have enough liquid for normal body functions. Men are required to drink at least 3.7 liters of fluids a day, while women must consume about 2.7 liters of water a day. Guests are treated to a beauty makeover at the MAC booth.

and their respective brands. The girl bosses also shared tips and tricks on how to take care of the skin and how to look good with or without makeup.

Eat water-rich fruits and vegetables

Aside from consuming liquids, an individual can also get water from fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, squash, berries, and peaches, among others. Whip up a fresh salad, cold soup, low calorie drink, or refreshing ice pops using these water-rich ingredients.

Use a skin hydrating system

Girl bosses Cristalle Bello-Pitt, Gay Lao Chen, and Rissa MananquilTrillo talk about their respective beauty brands.

Kathryn’s... From C1 looking finish; and Simply Defined Budge-Proof Gel Eyeliner, a foolproof eyeliner that has a pigmented gel formula that lasts all day. Interestingly, Happy Skin’s latest active line does not include foundation and consists only of products that define and give color to the face. This, however, was a deliberate decision as Kathryn embraces a kind of beauty that takes on a more natural and breathable approach. “It’s perfect that there’s no foundation or powder for this particular collection,” she shared.

Korean skin care brand The Saem at the Beauty Around the World party.

Kathryn’s gym beauty routine using the products, she said, only takes her five minutes. First she uses the On-The-Go Blush in Flushed, which she revealed was her favorite, then curls her lashes, applies the CreaseProof Eye shadow Stick, and finishes it off with the Butter Balm in Fierce or Free. “And you’re good to go!” Happy Skin stores are located at Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 3, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, SM Aura Premier, Mega Fashion Hall, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Malls The 30th, Eastwood Mall, UP Town Center, TriNoma, SM North Edsa, SM City Clark, and SM City Cebu. Karen Manuel

Kathryn make sure she looks presentable even when just going to the gym.

Address skin problems like blemishes and breakouts with a complex moisturizing and skin hydrating system like Proactiv+ 3 Step Skin System, which uses the Smart Target technology to deliver anti-acne formulation directly to the pores. The 3-step system starts with the Smoothing Exfoliator. After washing with a facial cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and other impurities, apply the exfoliator on damp skin. Give the face a two-minute massage before rinsing with warm water. The second step is the Pore Targeting Treatment which stops acne at the source. The blemish-fighting solution is directly applied on the pores by spreading it evenly all over cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. Leave on face until full absorption. The final process of the Proactiv+ 3 Step Skin System repairs the skin with the Complexion Perfect Hydrator. The moisturizer heals redness, helps diminish awkward acne marks, and brightens skin. Apply on face until full absorption. Reapply during the day as needed. Put sunscreen when going outdoors. The Proactiv+ 3 Step Skin System is available at select Watsons and SM Department stores. The 30-day kit is sold at P3,250 while the 60-day kit is sold at P4,680.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Viva Communications' headhoncho Vicente del Rosario, Jr. 'Yanggaw' is a multi-awarded indie film directed by Richard Somes.

Movie about a girlturned-bloodthirsty monster streams on Youtube

N LINE with the worldwide expansion of its operations, Viva Communications Inc., has joined Globalgate Entertainment. Viva chairman and CEO Vicente del Rosario, Jr., sees this move as a major step towards his goal of making Viva productions available to the international market. “Viva has a rich and diverse pool of creative talents and a massive catalogue of original content,” says Del Rosario, “It is now the right time to show the world what Filipinos are capable of and I believe that Globalgate Entertainment is the right partner to bring this to fruition.” Headed by principals Clifford Werber, William Pfeiffer, and Paul Presburger, Globalgate Entertainment is a local language film and TV production and financing venture aligned with Lionsgate. By signing with Globalgate, Viva joins a network that includes partners Televisa (Latin America), Gaumont (France), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Kadokawa (Japan), Lotte (South Korea), Tobis (Germany) and Rai (Italy). It also spans TME (Turkey), Belga Filmes (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Paris Filmes (Brazil) amd CineColumbia/ Dynamo (Columbia). Lionsgate covers the US, UK and Canada. “William Pfeiffer has been a great friend, both professionally and personally and we look forward to working with him alongside the rest of the Globalgate leadership team, Clifford Werber, Paul Presburger and Meg Thomson, to expand out global footprint,” adds Del Rosario. “We’re confident our strategic positioning alongside Globalgate and its top-tier partners around the world will enhance Viva Communications’ dominance in the Philippines.” Meanwhile, Gobalgate principals says, “Viva Communications, a closelyknit, world-class content production and distribution company, is a perfect fit for Globalate’s consortium. Together with Vic and the entire Viva family, we’ll focus on production of mainstream Filipino films while augmenting Globalgate’s formidable inventory of commercial intellectual property sourced from our consortium partners around the world.” Viva Communications, Inc., has been the prime provider of entertainment content for Filipino audiences since 1981. It is engaged in the production of motion pictures and television and internet content and has the largest library of Filipino films with over 2000 titles. It is also involved in film distribution, music production and distribution and talent management.

Sino... From C4

The pilot offering followed law students Juris ((Bela Padilla), Andrei (Tony Labrusca), Gaylord ((Sandino Martin), Greco (Kit Thompson), Lolita (Ivana Alawi), and Bogs Thompson (Ketchup Eusebio) Eusebio on their trip to Baguio, where they intended to celebrate after five of them passed the bar.

In the middle of their celebration, their road trip became a scene of a crime after they hit a woman who died from the impact. After arguing over whether to leave their victim or take responsibility for the crime, the majority of the group voted to bury the body along with the truth. Along with the truth, they take with them the baby who had been carried by their victim—the daughter of farmer Fina (Jodi Sta. Maria). Follow the intense story of Sino Ang May Sala?: Mea Culpa weeknights on ABS-CBN.

Vice Ganda unveils hilarious new book ‘Tutoy’ COMEDIAN and TV host Jose Marie Viceral, more popularly known as the Unkabogable Superstar Vice Ganda, has introduced his newest book entitled Ganda Tutoy: Ang Fantastic Kwento ng Vaklang Twoooo!!! Twoooo!!!. In the latest ABS-CBN Books offering, the Gandang Gabi Vice host shared snippets about his life as a young lad, nicknamed Tutoy, who grew up in Tambunting Street (Manila). “In this book I shared who Tutoy was when he was young, his experiences and what made him who he is now—the story before I became Vice Ganda,” said the Phenomenal Box Ofﬁce Star at the “Tutoy” book cover launch held on It’s Showtime stage on Monday. “This is a funny book, but there will be ‘hugot’

Cover of Vice Ganda's latest book

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, May 1, 2019

ACROSS 1 Follow furtively 5 Attentiongetter 9 Explorer — Heyerdahl 13 Munitions 14 Heaped 16 Promising 17 Utility closet items 18 Piqued 19 Chills and fever 20 In a defensive manner 23 Airline to Stockholm 24 Not now 25 Reddish mineral 29 Propped 31 Badminton stroke 32 Cato’s hello 33 Undergrad degs. 34 Online destinations 36 Gentle person 39 Parent 40 Penny 41 Pilots 44 Like some hours 46 Library abbr. 47 Govt. agency 48 Thoreau’s pond 51 Resulted 53 Processes cotton

54 Mary — Retton 56 Social introduction 59 Barter 62 Undersized pups 63 “Moneytalks” band 64 Solitary 65 Farm sound 66 Arizona river 67 Century unit 68 Boxing win 69 Ladder rung DOWN 1 Packs down 2 Ethically neutral 3 Ask too much 4 Bewildered 5 Cochise and Geronimo 6 Dropped a clue 7 Hoops great — Baylor 8 Griffin of game shows 9 Stackable items 10 Slangy motorcycle 11 Columbus campus 12 Grain crop 15 Salon offering (2 wds.) 21 Active volcano 22 Chem rooms

26 — de foie gras 27 Roulette bet 28 Take ten 30 Mr. Eban 31 Did not follow 34 Existed 35 Frosted 36 Rinse 37 Cosmetics brand 38 Inch fractions 39 AMA members 42 Stratum 43 Mandates 44 Is game for (2 wds.)

45 “Born Free” lioness 48 Cold 49 Bring out 50 Casserole tidbit 52 Kind of berth 53 Columbus’ port 55 Take the lid off 57 Gone to the bottom 58 Price tickets 59 Crafty 60 Deep distress 61 Collection of tales

and learning in each chapter from the different parts of my life,” he said. The book also serves as a surprise treat for Vice Ganda’s mother. “This is my surprise for her. There’s a nice chapter in the book about her, Aling Paquita’s story, ang ‘IT’ girl ng Tambunting,” the Kapamilya star excitedly shared. Readers can expect more heavy doses of laughter in this book from the author of the bestseller President Vice: Ang Bagong Panggulo ng Pilipinas, which sold more than 100,000 copies since it was launched. Pre-orders for Tutoy may be availed at National Book Store’s website and the book will soon be available in National Book Store branches for only P195.

ONE of Philippine cinema’s scariest films, the horrifying family drama Yanggaw (Affliction) about a young girl who gets infected and evolves into a monster, premiered on YouTube on April 28. The movie stars veteran actors Ronnie Lazaro, Tetchie Agbayani, and Joel Torre in the lead, together with Erik Matti, and Aleera Montalla. The Cinema One Originals offering is part of Spot.ph’s 10 Genuinely Terrifying Filipino Horror Films. “Yanggaw is not your typical horror film, but that’s exactly why it’s worth a watch. The scares are slowly yet surely drawn out, and seen through one character’s transformation into an aswang,” Jio de Leon wrote in 2016. Film critic Philbert Dy highly recommends the film in his review on ClicktheCity.com. “Yanggaw is easily one of my favorite local films of all time, blending the joys of the aswang genre with the structure of a family drama to create a thoroughly Filipino film,” he said. The film earned multiple awards including best actor for Ronnie in C1Originals 2008 and Gawad Urian 2009 for his role as the father of the stricken girl, played by Aleera who was hailed as Urian’s best supporting actress. Joel and Tetchie, meanwhile, got the best supporting actors award in C1 Originals. Its director, Richard Somes, was recognized as C1 Originals’ best director and the film catapulted his directorial career in Philippine cinema. Yanggaw won in digital movie direction, digital movie cinematography, digital production design, and digital movie of the year in the 2009 Star Awards for Movies. Experience the horror in Yanggaw as it streams for free on Cinema One’s YouTube channel. Like and subscribe towww.youtube.com/cinemaoneph for free movies.

GMA... From C4

“What we can offer you from your kind donation is nothing but goodness also. You can be sure that this vehicle will be used to serve our underprivileged. You can be sure that it will be bringing food, water, school supplies to children who don’t have any. It will be bringing materials for construction and homes for those who don’t have homes. It will be bringing blessings to our country in exchange for your kindness,” Tiangco expressed. Escudero-Catibog also shared GMAKF’s long association with MMPC. “Our very first 4x4 vehicle was a Mitsubishi Strada bought for us by GMA Network and it has served us for 12 years. On the occasion of Mitsubishi Motors’ 100th anniversary in the Philippines, they donated P1 million to build our very first Kapuso Tulay para sa Kaunlaran. This was our very first hanging bridge in Camarines Sur which also saved a lot of lives during typhoon Usman this January 2019.” “This year, Mitsubishi has once again supported GMAKF by donating a brand new 4x4 vehicle so we can use it for our relief operations and for our many other projects and programs all across the country. We’d like to thank Mitsubishi for always supporting GMA Kapuso Foundation and you can be very sure that it will be used for the good of others,” Escudero-Catibog added. Maruyama, on the other hand, praised GMAKF in their untiring efforts in uplifting the lives of underprivileged Filipinos. “Our company, thru its Corporate Social Responsibility, took heed with the sincere admiration of GMA Kapuso Foundation to continually use our Mitsubishi Strada. This pick-up truck is highly reliable and dependable for your off-road emergency relief operations across the country and to its remotest community. Thru this vehicle, we shall be with you in spirit as we continually reach out with our shared vision and aspiration.” To donate to GMA Kapuso Foundation, visit www.gmanetwork. com/kapusofoundation/donate.

Entertainment

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

Final ‘Avengers’ sets new standard in Hollywood blockbusters VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Robert Downey Jr. as Ironman in 'Avengers' movie series

AV E N G E R S : Endgame, the hugely anticipated seriesender from Disney and Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $350 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday. To put the North American figure in perspective, that means the final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company took in 43 times what the No. 2 film, Disney’s Captain Marvel, earned for the three-day weekend: a more pedestrian $8.1 million. Avengers looks likely to remain strong, having drawn a sky-high 96 percent rating from critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website. With a star-studded cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, and Josh Brolin, it took in a jaw-dropping $329 million in China alone, Variety reported. “Avengers could lead to “the biggest

revenue-generating summer (and year) in box ofﬁce history,” according to Comscore’s Paul

Dergarabedian. Back on Earth, last week’s top film, Warner Bros.’ horror flick The Curse of La Llorona, slipped to third spot at $7.5 million. It stars Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, and Patricia Velasquez in the story, loosely based on Mexican folklore, of a Los Angeles woman trying to protect her children from a ghost. In fourth was Breakthrough, at $6.3 million. The faith-based story of a mother (Chrissy Metz) who refuses to abandon hope after her son (Marcel Ruiz) falls into an icy lake, was produced by NBA star Stephen Curry. And in fifth was Warner Bros.’ lighthearted superhero tale Shazam!, at $5.5 million. It stars Asher Angel as Billy Baston, an unhappy foster kid who becomes a muscular superhero (Zachary Levi) when the secret word is pronounced.

Groove to the beat of the ‘80s

'80s local music stars (from left) Gino Padilla, Jett Pangan, Raymond Lauchengco, Lou Bonnevie, and Jam Morales,

THE ‘80s decade was characterized by everything big: big shoulder pads, big hair, bold colors, bold fashion trends, and larger than life performers with their music through synthesizers, drum machines, reverb and electric guitars creating music styles and a distinctive beat. Solaire Resort & Casino brings back the era of move and groove with Into the 80s, a retro concert featuring Philippine ‘80s music icons Gino Padilla, Jett Pangan, Raymond Lauchengco, Lou Bonnevie, and Jam Morales happening on May 18 at The Theatre at Solaire. Set the rhythm of the night and recreate the beat through the memorable music of ‘80s international stars and their very own OPM

hits. From Prince to The Police, Sheena Easton to Spandau Ballet, Blondie to Kim Carnes, Bangles to Irene Cara, Whitney Houston to Wham, Billy Joel to Rick Astley, Kool and the Gang to Queen, every single song is guaranteed to make you sigh, swoon, sing along, sway, swing, and, ﬁnally, to get on your feet and groove. Get ready for some dancing and step to the beat with Gino, Jett, Raymond, Lou, and Jam with Session Band, Filipinas, and a whole slew of dancers – because you can’t do the ‘80s without the boogying. Into the 80s is directed by Toto Gentica, with script by Henry Tejero, and choreography by Butch Esperanza. For tickets, call TicketWorld at 891-9999.

SNAPSHOT

GMA Kapuso Foundation receives a Mitsubishi Strada GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) received a Mitsubishi Strada, a 4x4 pick-up from one of the country’s leading automotive brands, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC), to help transport materials and donations in kind for GMAKF’s relief operations and various projects. Held on April 3 at the GMA Network Center, the signing and turnover ceremonies were led by (from right) GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco and GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog together with MMPC representatives Senior VP for Corporate Division Yasuki Maruyama, and VP for Corporate Public Relations Renato Lampano. Continued on C3

Movie that got millennials and their experiences The film picks up five years after the original and continues the story of ex-lovers, Sam (Nicco Manalo) and Isa (Emmanuelle Vera).

BA Studios, the same production outfit that brought Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral and I’m Drunk, I Love You to mainstream audience, is banking on the story of millennial characters in Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon, a romantic drama about falling in love and finding yourself—and how, sometimes, those two may not mix well together. It tells the story of aspiring filmmaker Sam (Nicco Manalo) and writer Isa (Emmanuelle Vera), former lovers who meet each other five years after their break-up. They are now both with different partners: Sam with his coteacher, nurturing Anna (Anna Luna), and Isa with Frank (Alex Medina), a childhood friend who is willing to give up everything for her. Sam and Isa try to be friends and attempt to find themselves in the realm of their respective romantic partners. But in the process, what they discover instead is pain and uncertainty as they come to terms with their feelings for each other and everyone around them. “The story is very relatable especially to those people who fall in the millennial and Gen Z are bracket. They might find the characters in the movie relatable because of the situation that they are in. Basically, just like the prequel, it has the struggles most millennials go through,” Nicco said in a brief chat with some members of the entertainment press. The indie actor was referring to Nestor Abrogena’s film, which eventually became a cult favorite, Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa. Originally meant to be a student short film, Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa became a full-length movie that premiered in the 2015 World Premieres Festival in Pasay City. Through subsequent screenings in schools and micro-cinemas in Metro Manila, the movie found a devout audience that led it to having a successful commercial run in 2016. The sequel, on the other hand, is an answered prayer for fans and followers who have been waiting for director Abrogena’s next romantic film opus. More than a your usual love story, Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon offers an emotional portrayal of love among people and couples who are still trying to figure out life—and themselves. The characters are earnest yet flawed, and the movie offers moments that are equal parts quiet, realistic and intense, filled with big emotions that mirror contemporary love.

'Tayo, Sa Huling Buwan ng Taon' is a followup to Nestor Abrogena’s 2015 film “Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa.”

A scene from the romantic drama featuring the lead cast

“For some reasons, a lot of young moviegoers like that style...a quiet film and yet there are so many things going on. And I think that’s how the prequel found its success and we hope Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon would have the same kind of reception.” Nicco implied. Nicco has proven his mettle as actor in stage musicals and plays such as Mula Sa Buwan and Ang Huling El Bimbo and movies such as Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus. But his role as Sam in the movie is perhaps his favorite among those he has portrayed. “Of all the characters that I played, dito talaga makikita si Nicco not just as an actor but also as a person. Kung ano yung learnings namin sa four years na lumipas, makikita yun sa pelikula. It really made the film and its theme of finding yourself after getting lost authentic and real,” he explained. Nicco and Vera, who also starred in Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa, reunite in Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon. “I have high hopes that the movie will touch many people, that it will resonate with Filipinos. Because what we are doing is just the regular life of ordinary people who are flawed. There’s no huge plot twists. It is just regular lives. I feel like Filipinos should watch because they can identify with the film,” the singer actress, who now goes by her music artist name Vera, said. Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon also boasts of a stellar, exciting soundtrack.

The film’s main theme song is December Avenue’s Huling Sandali, which was specifically written and made for the film. The song trended online within the first 24-hour of its release. Its lyric video posted on December Avenue’s Youtube channel has already garnered almost five million views. Other songs featured in the movie include Gabby Alipe’s acoustic version of the Urbandub classic The Fight is Over and Panahon by up-and-coming singer Elle Sebastian. Produced by TBA Studios, Tayo Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon opens in theaters nationwide on May 8. *** Cartoon Network classics channel on pay-per-view “MEMES do come true!” Calling all Dexter’s Lab meme fans, Cartoon Network heard you loud and clear. Now you can relive moments from your childhood with Cartoon Network Classics on Cignal pay-per-view. The Powerpuff Girls, Scooby-Doo, Dexter’s Laboratory, Tom and Jerry, Johnny Bravo and many more Cartoon Network classics will be back on air this May thanks to Cignal pay-per-view. Get your fix of nostalgia with your 90s cartoon heroes from May 3 to June 2 for only P50. Subscribe now and enjoy Cartoon network classics on Cignal payper-view. Visit https://cignal.tv/addons for more details.

‘Sino Ang May Sala’ pilot pulls high rating VIEWERS nationwide tuned in to the exhilarating premiere of ABS-CBN’s newest crime-drama series Sino Ang May Sala?: Mea Culpa after it recorded a national TV rating of 22.2 percent on Monday according to data from Kantar Media. The episode, which let viewers in on the lives of six friends and law students who became involved in a crime, scored higher than its rival program Love You Two’s 13.9 percent. Aside from drawing TV viewers, Sino Ang Maysala also lured netizens as they posted praises online while watching the show. The hashtags #SAMGabiNgKrimen and #SinoAngMaySala reached the top trending spots on Twitter, as some users called the pilot episode “super intense,” “bold,” “exciting, and “a masterpiece.” Continued on C3

Bela Padilla, Tony Labrusca, Sandino Martin, Kit Thompson, Ivana Alawi, and Ketchup Eusebio in 'Sino Ang May Sala'