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VOL. XXXII • NO. 259 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

MUDDY TRAP. At least 20 people are killed and 11 more trapped under chunky mud in ghostly landslides in the Cordillera mountain area of Natonin when a wall of mud slammed into a public works building hours after Typhoon ‘Rosita’ bushwhacked northern Luzon on Tuesday. Rescuers have been having a hard time reaching the area because landslides have cut off roads.

Halloween tragedy: 20 dead Trump mulls over ‘Rosita’ landslides bury 11 others EO to nullify US Tuyay citizens’birthright By Francisco T LEAST 20 PRESIDENT Donald Trump said he will scrap a constitutional guarantee to citizenship for anyone born on US soil in a headline-grabbing move bolstering his anti-immigration platform a week before midterm elections. The surprise announcement, in an interview with Axios released in part on Tuesday, followed the dispatch of more than 5,000 regular troops to the Mexican border, itself a highly unusual move prompted by Trump’s warnings of a migrant “invasion.” The birthright citizenship proposal was likely to prove even more controversial, given questions over whether a president can meddle with the constitution at all. Next page

people were killed and 11 others remained trapped under thick mud in deadly landslides in the Cordillera region where Typhoon “Rosita” left a trail of destruction on its way out of the country. Most of the landslide victims were pinned to death in the Cordillera mountain area of Natonin when a wall of mud slammed into a public works building, regional disaster management chief Ruben Carandang said. Next page

P25-wage hike a pittance—Labor By Vito Barcelo

CONTINUING TRICK. Photos of 2-year-old Maya Hwang wearing a ‘headless’ girl costume went viral online. Some children get the treat, others get the trick, as Travis, 6, and Lucas, 3 (top right) react after they are given some treat from their neighbor during a party on the eve of All Saints’ Day in Barangay Mabolo Tres in Bacoor City, Cavite while residents of Mandaluyong enjoy a Halloween twist (below right) to the Zumba dance craze complete with make-up, costume and props as they join the annual ‘Zombie Zumba’ Fitness Caravan 2018. Ey Acasio, Andrew Rabulan

Lion Air exec, staff fired THE smashed fuselage of a crashed Indonesian Lion Air jetliner may have been found, a top military commander said Wednesday, as Jakarta ordered the removal of the budget carrier’s technical director and staff who cleared the doomed flight for takeoff. Next page

LABOR groups slammed the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for approving a P25 daily wage hike for Metro Manila workers, calling it a “pittance” that pleased only employers. In a statement, the Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Bukluran ng Manggaga-

wang Pilipino said the additional P25 was not enough to recover the value lost due to inﬂation after prices of all commodities steadily increased in the past months. “It is not a wage increase in real terms and falls far short of addressing the lost value of NCR wages in the face of the spiralingprices of basic goods,” said ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay Next page said.

Guerrero: Customs men still run show

Petron lowers LPG price by P7.50/kilo

By Vito Barcelo

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NEWLY appointed Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said Wednesday there will be no militarization at the bureau, contrary to President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would temporarily take over Customs to stop the corruption there. In other developments: • Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana said Wednesday the military takeover of the Bureau of Customs was not something that had been discussed beforehand between him and the President. “It was just a decision of the President,” Lorenzana told reporters when asked if he CHANGE OF COMMAND. Outgoing Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña had been privy to the order before it was (inset, who has been assigned to head the Technical Education and Skills Development announced by Duterte on Sunday night. Authority) hands over the agency’s flag to newly installed Commissioner Rey Leonardo • Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Guerrero during a turnover ceremony at the Customs head office at the Port Area in

PETRON Corp. will cut the price of cooking gas or liqueﬁed petroleum gas by a hefty P7.50 per kilo or P82.50 per 11-kilo LNG tank effective 12:01 am Nov. 1 to reﬂect the lower contract price of LPG in the world market for November. Next page

Manila on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

Rody boosts war on drugs via PADS By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has institutionalized the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy or PADS to boost the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs. He made the decision after realizing that Next page

News

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‘Undas’ holidays: No work, no pay T

HE “no work, no pay” policy will apply during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which have been declared special nonworking days, the Labor department said Wednesday.

aimed to ensure public safety particularly for those traveling to the provinces for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the results came from the drug tests conducted on 848 bus drivers and seven conductors. The Labor department said the no work, no pay policy will apply on Nov. 1 and 2, except if there is a company policy ordering payment for those days. “It applies unless there is a favorable company poliThe agency made the statement even as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said 10 bus drivers cy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement grantand two conductors tested positive for illegal drug use ing payment on a special day,” the department said in based on the results of its “Oplan Undaspot,” which its advisory.

Rody...

Halloween tragedy...

the proliferation of prohibited drugs is a serious national concern. In other developments: • The government is still chasing the mastermind in the smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu into the country, Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday. Gordon, whose Blue Ribbon committee is probing the incident, said the “big fish” was yet to be determined pending the testimony of exPolice Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto whom former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban identified as the one who tipped the entry of the smuggled shabu. • The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission has endorsed the inclusion of Customs Deputy Collector Lourdes Mangaoang―the whistleblower in the P11-billion shabu smuggling case―to the Witness Protection Program. “We confirm that Atty. Maria Lourdes Mangaoang has sought PACC’s assistance in securing legal protection under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program,” PACC spokesman Manuelito Luna said in a statement Wednesday. Under the Executive Order 66, which was signed on Monday, Duterte ordered all government agencies, offices, departments and bureaus―including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges―to implement the PADS in accordance with their respective mandates. Non-government organizations, civil society organizations and private institutions have also been urged to support the projects under PADS. Formulated by the Dangerous Drugs Board, the PADS “outlines the balanced efforts of the government to strengthen its campaign against prohibited drugs and their precursors and contribute to the international efforts to counter the worldwide illegal drug problem.” The EO says such proliferation of prohibited drugs and their precursors is a “serious national concern encompassing social, economic, psychological and economic interests, which necessitates the active and unified involvement of various government and non-government agencies.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said 10 were confirmed dead in the DPWH building while six were extricated alive. At least 11 people were still inside the buried structure. “It was not an evacuation center,” Carandang added. “But some sought shelter there unfortunately.” Police from the 3rd Maneuver Platoon at nearby Barangay Bantay, Paracelis, were dispatched to the area to hasten emergency efforts, which were hampered by impassable roads and strong currents from a creek that overflowed. Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, director of the Cordillera Provincial Police Office, reported a separate landslide in Barangay Alunogan, which killed one person, Jeffrey Salang-ey Nangaowa, 40, in Sitio Iwisan. Nana said Rosita also claimed the lives of four members of the Pinnay family—Baltazar, 48, and his three daughters, Rexibelle, 12; Rhezel, 10; and Rydbell, 8—who were buried inside their house in Sitio Higib, Brgy Batad, Banaue, Ifugao. A five-year-old girl was swept away by flash floods in Sitio Mabilong, Lubagan, Kalinga province. Another child was killed after her house got burned down due to a candle that was

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Petron lowers... From A1

Petron will also cut auto LPG prices by P4.20 per liter. Petron’s 11-kg tank sells for around P765 to P785 kg. “These reflect movements in the international contract price of LPG for the month of November,” the country’s biggest oil company said. Other oil companies have not announced a price cut for LPG but are expected to follow suit. The rollback for LPG followed the decreases in the price for gasoline, by as much as P1.50 to P1.65 per liter, for diesel, by P0.60 a liter, and kerosine, by P0.65 a liter. Year-to-date adjustments are now at a net increase of P8.70 per liter for gasoline, P10.60 per liter for diesel and P9.60 per liter for kerosene. The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements and it is exposed to price volatilities in the world market. Before the three-week rollback, world oil prices had been going up for several weeks. World oil prices have declined recently as the market remains positive on the supply security due to the several developments, the Department of Energy said in its monitoring report. It said oil prices continued the downward trend after reports of strong buildup in US crude stockpiles and increased confidence about availability of supplies towards the end of the year and into early 2019. Traders also noted that Iran’s exports have not declined as much as predicted a couple of months ago and it is now clear they will not fall to zero, even after US sanctions are imposed against Iran.

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The agency said the employees who will report for work on Nov. 1 and 2 will receive an extra 30 percent on their basic pay for the first eight hours. If the employee worked overtime or more than eight hours, he/she will be paid an extra 30 percent on his/ her hourly rate. For work done during the special non-working days that also fall on the employee’s rest day, he/she will be paid an extra 50 percent of his/her basic wage on the first eight hours. For work done lasting more than eight hours, an employee will be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate. PNA

left unattended. There wee also reports of deaths in Abra, Tarlac and Batangas caused by landslides, electrocution and drowning. Search crews were just beginning to assess the damage wrought by the passage of Rosita, which made landfall early Tuesday with sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 210 kph. “We see some branches on the roads and so on, but it is the flooding that is destroying houses here,” International Federation of the Red Cross spokeswoman Caroline Haga said from Nueva Vizcaya province. “People are needing to be rescued.” Nearly 10,000 people fled their homes ahead of Rosita’s arrival because they live in low-lying areas susceptible to flooding. The high winds flattened flimsy homes, tore the roofs off others and downed power poles as well as trees. Landslides spawned by the storm blocked a major road in the mountainous north, isolating some residents, a civil defense official said. Disaster officials said the storm was less powerful than Ompong, which struck six weeks ago and left more than 100 dead. Most of the fatalities were due to a landslide in the mining area of Itogon. Authorities near last month’s deadly landslide evacuated at least 1,000 people from the Itogon area as Rosita ap-

proached. About 11,878 families or 38,398 persons were affected by Rosita, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its 6 am update on Wednesday. Of the total, 7, 263 families or 24, 447 persons were in 424 evacuation centers. A total of 25 road sections and five bridges were reported damaged. The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 8,864 families or 32,519 persons were preemptively evacuated in Regions 1,2, 3 and the CAR. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte was closely monitoring the situation. “The President has directed all government agencies to immediately respond and undertake measures to help the victims and families and to rehabilitate the typhoon-ravaged areas, including the clearing and repairing of roads that have become inaccessible or impassable,” he said in a statement Wednesday. An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty. The Philippines’ deadliest storm on record is Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (“Haiyan”), which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013. With Nat Mariano, AFP, PNA

children born to illegal immigrants. Trump said he had spoken to legal counsel about the plan and that the change is already in the works. “It’s in the process, it’ll happen— with an executive order.” Republican critics But Trump’s own fellow Republicans stressed that it was impossible to change a cornerstone of the US immigration system with a simple stroke of the presidential pen. “You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan. “As a conservative, I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution, and I think in this case the 14th Amendment is pretty clear, and that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process.” Republicans have, however, repeatedly tried to question that principle. Senator Lindsey Graham hailed Trump’s announcement. “Finally, a president willing to take on this absurd policy of birthright citizenship,” he wrote on Twitter, calling birthright citizenship a “magnet for illegal immigration” to the US. Aimed at voters The constitutional amendment in question reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and

subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Trump’s surprise policy announcement will trigger intense legal debate over the meaning of those words and how to apply the venerable constitution in a changing world. Excerpts from the Trump interview gave no indication of the timing of the proposal. However, while the birthright row will likely drag on, the political impact was sure to be immediate and intense— right ahead of the midterms, where Trump has made slashing immigration his signature idea. In the final countdown to the Nov. 6 polls, which could see opposition Democrats seizing control of at least part of the Republican-held Congress, Trump has doubled down on depicting the country as under attack by immigrants. His order for large numbers of active duty soldiers to deploy in coming days to the border, reinforcing thousands of already deployed National Guard troops, brought the highest level of militarization to the border with major trading partner Mexico in recent years. Trump says the armed forces are needed in the face of a “caravan” of several thousand impoverished Central Americans who are slowly trekking north in an attempt to enter the United States. AFP

missed the calls for the resignation of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III over the alleged corruption in its attached agencies. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace could not find any basis to support the calls for Dominguez’ resignation. In a turn over ceremony, Guerrero said there would be no reshuffle of Customs personnel yet, and that all would remain in their posts as Customs would continue to hit its collection target for 10 consecutive weeks. Duterte earlier said all Customs personnel would be temporarily replaced by military men while sorting out how

to effectively meet the challenges of corruption in the country. “As I’ve explained, what the President wants is the military personnel from the AFP to assist Customs and not to militarize it. The officers of the Bureau of Customs will still be in control of the operations and activities of the bureau,” Guerrero said. He also said Customs personnel would still be responsible for the operations of the bureau. Guerrero called on the cooperation of all Customs personnel to restore the public trust and confidence in the agency. With Othel V. Campos and Nat Mariano

to a bare minimum to ensure cheap labor to attract investors and keep employer profit margins up in complete and utter disregard of the suffering and sacrifice of workers in building up the country’s gross domestic product, he said. “With low wages, the only thing that will trickle down will continue to be inflation. The wage order comes after two weeks of lowered petroleum prices and an announced decrease in LPG prices. We believe that this windowdressing of our dire economic straits is largely stage-managed by the economic managers with the oil cartel to

mollify consumers and workers,” Tanjusay said. ALU-TUCP vice president Louie Corral added: “We are warning our social partners, government and employers, that hunger and poverty will only escalate and this will cause more instability from the labor front. We are now telling you that labor groups will file for another wage increase as inflation will continue to rise.” The Palace issued a statement saying that both management and labor as well as the overall impact on the economy were considered in the approval of the wage hike.

P10-fare hike may be put on hold—DoTr THE Transport department said Wednesday it plans to defer the implementation of the P10 minimum fare increase in public utility jeepneys that was supposed to take effect this week. The agency made the statement even as the Manila International Airport Authority said Wednesday it had proposed to raise the terminal fees to cover the cost of service improvements at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “Our terminal fee is lower than [those in the] Cebu and Clark [airports], and the last time we made an increase was in 1999,” MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal said in a forum. “But as you notice, we [have] made a lot of improvements and for each improvement we need financing.” Monreal said the terminal fee adjustment would be implemented in the second quarter next year. An official said the Transport department wanted to review the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board increasing the minimum jeepney fare to P10 from P9. Undersecretary Mark de Leon said they had the power to review the decisions made by the Transport department’s attached agencies. He said they would be meeting with LTFRB officials to discuss the proposed postponement of the implementation of the fare increase. He said when the jeepney operators filed a petition for a fare increase, the price of oil was at $80 per barrel in the world market, but after some time petroleum prices dropped to $70 per barrel in October, so a price increase was deemed unnecessary. Joel E. Zurbano

Lion Air exec,... From A1

Trump... From A1

The right to US citizenship for all born in the country is enshrined in the 14th amendment. To change the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in Congress -- something almost unthinkable in today’s deeply partisan, near evenly split legislature. But Trump told Axios that he now believes a stroke of his pen will be enough. “It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” Trump said. “Now they’re saying I can do it just with an executive order.” Trump railed against the current rule, erroneously declaring that the United States is unique in granting citizenship this way. “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby and the person is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous and it has to end,” he said. In fact, while most countries around the world do not grant citizenship automatically to newborns, more than two dozen do, including Canada, which like its US neighbor grants citizenship to

Guerrero... From A1

Wednesday the military takeover of the Bureau of Customs will solve age-old problems that were not resolved despite a series of reforms imposed to improve the agency’s performance. “I believe the military will be there to help in the enforcement and adding better controls, lessening or eliminating corruption without affecting the smooth work flow and processing of documents,” Lopez said. • Malacañang on Wednesday dis-

P25-wage hike... From A1

“The board in concert with the backdoor guidance of the economic managers continues to depress worker wages in the face of rising hunger caused by extraordinary inflation largely attributable to both the gross incompetence and governance failures of the economic managers,” he said. Government representatives and employers’ representatives again outvoted the workers representatives in the board by keeping any increase

Authorities said they were confident sonar technology had pinpointed the location of the Boeing 737-MAX plane that plunged into the sea on Monday. “We strongly believe we’ve determined the coordinates of the JT 610 fuselage,” military chief Hadi Tjahjanto told reporters. The search results will be announced at 7:00 pm (1200 GMT). Authorities are racing to find the downed jet’s location in water some 30-40 meters (100-130 feet) deep in the hope of also finding flight data recorders crucial to crash investigations. Dozens of divers were taking part in the 1,000-strong personnel recovery effort along with helicopters and ships, but authorities have all but ruled out finding any survivors. Boeing officials are expected to meet with Lion Air on Wednesday, after Indonesia ordered an inspection of the US plane maker’s 737MAX jets. The downed plane, which went into service just a few months ago, was en route to Pangkal Pinang city when it crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia’s northern coast moments after it had asked to return to Jakarta on Monday. On Wednesday, Indonesia’s transport minister took the unusual step of ordering the removal of Lion Air’s technical director and several other staff, citing government authority over the aviation sector. “Today we will remove Lion’s technical director from his duties to be replaced by someone else, as well as technical staff” who cleared the flight to depart, Budi Karya Sumadi told reporters. Aviation experts say it is too early to determine what caused the accident. But Lion’s admission that the plane had an unspecified technical issue on a previous flight—as well as the plane’s abrupt nosedive just 12 minutes after takeoff—have raised questions about whether it had any faults specific to the newly released model, including a speed-and-altitude system malfunction. “The bigger picture here is that you’ve got a lot of American carriers flying the same aircraft,” Stephen Wright, aviation expert at the University of Leeds, told AFP. “Is there (a problem) that could affect other aircraft?” The crash has also resurrected concerns about Indonesia’s patchy air safety record which led to a now-lifted ban on its planes entering US and European airspace. AFP

News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Du30 suspends issuance of new licenses for ‘cracker’ makers By Nat Mariano

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the suspension of issuing new licenses and permits for the manufacture, sale, and distribution of ﬁrecrackers and pyrotechnic devices months before the start of Yuletide revelries.

In Memorandum Order No. 31, which was signed on Monday but released to media on Wednesday, Duterte tasked the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies to conduct inspections to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and users of ﬁrecrackers and pyrotechnic devices com-

ply with “the safety guidelines, reportorial requirements, and other requisites laid down under existing laws.” He also ordered the police to “confiscate and destroy prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices as provided by law, rules, and regulations, as well as firecrackers used outside community fireworks dis-

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plays in violation of EO No. 28.” In July 2017, the President signed EO No. 28 to regulate the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic products. He ordered to cancel, revoke, and confiscate the inventory or stock of those found in violation of existing laws, rules, and regulations. The President also ordered strict implementation to prohibit the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to minors. He said that any buyer of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices who is suspected to be below 18 years of age but claims otherwise, should be required to show proof of his age. Lastly, he ordered to “suspend the pro-

cessing of new licenses and permits for the manufacture, sale, and distribution of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices pending review of existing licensees’ and permittees’ compliance with laws, rules and regulations; provided that other permits necessary for the operations of such existing licenses and permits (e.g. permit to purchase/import ingredients, permit to transport) may continue to be issued unless such entities are found to have violated the relevant laws and issuances.” “The suspension herein ordered shall remain in effect until declared lifted by the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the PNP chief and his submission of a report on the review undertaken on existing licenses and permits,” the memorandum said. The President also noted that local chief executives are authorized to promulgate rules and regulations on firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices within their territorial jurisdiction.

FALLING BRIDGE. The Siffu bridge, a major bridge located between Roxas and Mallig towns in Isabela which is vital to the only alternative route to the Maharlika Highway (AH26), has succumbed to the flash flood along Siffu river. Heavy downpour in the vicinity of Mountain Province brought by Typhoon ‘Rosita’ caused the flooding, not only in the Mallig Region but also in Tanudan, Kalinga province. DPWH Photo

Three justices in HRET assure impartiality ---High Court THE presence of three justices in the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal is intended “to tone down the political nature of the cases” and to assure impartiality in the judgment of the tribunal. The Supreme Court made the declaration as it dismissed the petition ﬁled by former Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes who challenged the alleged constitutionality of some provisions in the 2015 Revised Rules of the HRET. Under the Constitution, the HRET is mandated to resolve all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualiﬁcation of the members of the House of Representatives. It is a collegial body composed of three SC justices and six members of the House. In her petition, Reyes assailed the constitutionality of Rule 6(a) of HRET’s Revised Rules, which provides that “the presence of at least one justice and four members of the Tribunal shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.” Reyes argued that the rule on the presence of one SC justice to constitute a quorum violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution and gives undue power to the justices over the legislators.

Muslim solons hit fellow Moro on BOL petition By Maricel V. Cruz

NEDA says signing BI orders Australian nun to leave the country of EO 65 allows more investments By Vito Barcelo

By Alena Mae Flores THE National Economic and Development Authority on Wednesday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Executive Order No. 65 that would allow full foreign investment participation in five areas. The EO 65 promulgates the Eleventh Regular Foreign Investment Negative List which reflects amendments in existing laws (e.g., reciprocity provisions in certain laws on professions, such as pharmacy and forestry), limitations on foreign participation in investment areas/activities provided in new laws (e.g., RA 10635 for marine deck/engine officers), and exclusions from limitations on foreign participation in some investment areas/activities identified that do not need legislative action.

CA junks DBM bid to grant P139m to PAO retirees

THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition of the Department of Budget and Management seeking to enjoin the payment of retirement benefits worth P139 million to a group of retired public attorneys. In a 15-page decision, the CA’s 12th Division junked the petition filed by DBM last year seeking for a reversal of the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, Branch 230, which ordered the release of the retirement benefits for retired lawyers of the Public Attorney's Office The appellate court instead upheld the ruling of the lower court that voided DBM Legal Services Opinion No. 14 issued in November 2015 by former DBM Secretary Florencio Abad, which based the benefits of retired PAO lawyers on average of their salaries during service with the agency. Rey Requejo

THE Bureau of Immigration ordered Australian nun Patricia Fox to leave the country after the bureau denied her application for an extension of her temporary visa which will expire on Nov. 3. The 72-year-old nun, who personally went to the bureau to apply for the extension of her temporary visa in a bid to extend her stay in the country, is contesting her deportation order before the Department of Justice which

is still pending. Fox’s request for an extension of her missionary visa was petitioned by the Superior of the Religieuse De Notre Dame De Sion, Inc. The controversial nun will be considered an overstaying alien starting Nov. 4, the BI said. However, Fox can still stay in the country without prejudice to the resolution of her appeal to the DOJ on her deportation case, the BI said. BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that Sister Fox violated the

conditions of her stay and is considered undesirable, hence a deportation order was issued against her. She admitted that the BI cannot forcibly deport the nun because of the pending petition before the DOJ. “Until a ﬁnal resolution of the visa cancellation and/or deportation proceedings is reached, or until the expiration of her missionary visa, whichever comes ﬁrst, Sister Fox may continue to perform her duties as a missionary in the Philippines,” the DOJ said in a statement.

SC clears Echiverri in one of 40-plus graft raps By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal by the Sandiganbayan of one of the graft charges ﬁled against former Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri for lack of evidence. In a decision, the SC’s Second Division dismissed a petition by the Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman assailing the decision of the anti-graft court’s to grant

Echiverri’s demurrer to evidence that resulted his acquittal for one of more than 40 cases. The tribunal sustained the April 16 and June 13, 2018 resolutions of the Sandiganbayan clearing Echiverri and two former city ofﬁcers of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act due to the “failure of the prosecution to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

The SC said that the Ombudsman, through the Office of the Special Prosecutor, failed to “sufficiently show” that the Sandiganbayan gravely abused its discretion when it granted the former mayor and his co-accused’s demurrer to evidence. The high court also affirmed the acquittals of former city accountant Edna Centeno and former city budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

TWO Muslim lawmakers on Wednesday expressed dismay over the move of their fellow Moro who led the petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Anak Mindanao party-list Reps. Amihilda Sangcopan and Makmod Mending expressed their sentiments after Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition asking the high court to review the legality and constitutionality of the BOL. “While we recognize the right of every citizen to contest the state’s laws and policies through the courts, we are surprised that a fellow Moro, who never lifted a finger to work for peace and unity, would seek to nullify BOL before the high court,” Sangcopan and Mending said in a joint statement. Last Tuesday, Deputy Speaker and Sulu Rep. Munir M. Arbison said the challenge mounted by Tan II against the BOL is bound to fail. “Anak Mindanao has been at the forefront of efforts at the House of Representatives to pass a Bangsamoro law acceptable to the majority of national legislators,” they said. They said “the struggle to have this law approved has been long, difficult, and painful for us and other Moro leaders.” Like Arbison, Sangcopan and Mending expressed strong belief that the BOL will hurdle constitutionality test.

HOSTAGE SCENARIO.

Members of the QCPD- Special Weapon and Tactics conduct a hostage scenario drill during the closing ceremony of the SWAT training and send–off ceremony for the Quezon City Police District SWAT team held at the Camp Karingal grandstand. Manny Palmero

Opinion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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The drug war won’t end demand by rehabilitating drug abusers and addicts at community-based rehabilitation centers. I can say this because I worked for years as vice president for DARE Foundation under BY TRADITION, Filipinos visit their Bob Garon. In other countries like Indonesia, dead in public cemeteries and memorial parks. As early as Tuesday, fami- Malaysia, Vietnam, the government lies of the dead have trooped to these does not go around killing drug users. places, putting up tents, spending time Instead they impose the death penalty together, remembering their loved on those responsible for the entry of illegal drugs. ones and also having some fun. In Colombia and Peru, the governThis practice was handed down to us by the Mexicans with whom we ment goes after the cartels and syndicates. traded. Here in the Philippines, together My family never missed going to the La Loma cemetery where my parents with putting up rehab centers nationwere buried. When the Loyola Memo- wide, the government should go after rial Park became available, we buried narcopoliticians who make the distritheir bones there. It is also there where bution of drugs possible. Through this, I think the President my wife’s family is interred. Years ago, however, we stopped can minimize the menace. The question is whether he going to cemis listening. eteries on Nov. *** 1 because of the Malacañang is terrible traffic. So long as there is now obviously Now we visit aware that the the dead on their demand, there will be President’s order birthdays and an- supply. for the military to niversaries. Anytake over the Buhow, we rememreau of Customs ber them every is unconstituday, wherever we tional—the military cannot take over are. I notice that Filipinos have the nasty civilian functions and the President habit of leaving trash behind when cannot just replace Customs personnel they visit their loved ones. I find it dis- without due process. Now Presidential Spokesman Salgusting. vador Panelo says the President was *** It should be clear by now to Presi- just talking about intimidation, not a dent Duterte that so long as there is takeover. President Duterte, being a lawyer, demand for illegal drugs, syndicates will always be there to provide supply should have been advised on the un—especially given out porous borders. constitutionality of what he wanted With three to four million drug us- to happen because it would affect his ers nationwide, that’s a lot of demand credibility. For the President to backtrack now would tell us he really says in any language! The problem is that the President is words he does not mean. We understand his exasperation at looking at it as a law and order problem. The police kill addicts and push- the rampant smuggling at the bureau. ers. But this approach won’t work be- Indeed, even good men appear to be cause drugs are a health issue more swallowed by the corrupt system. Now we hear the new Customs than anything else. So long as there are drug abusers Commissioner Leonardo Rey Guerand addicts, demand will be there. rero vowing to institute reforms at Customs. It’s the same old line. Customs knows this so well. The solution then is to cut off that Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

An ugly practice

OME traditions are best kept alive. Others are best left to die.

and preoccupations. Indeed All Saints’/ Souls’ Day or Undas allows people to take a break from their usual routine. It’s a practice that has continued for generations and is likely to prevail despite younger people’s aversion to tradition and propensity to perform tasks virtually, rather than give their physical presence. Unfortunately, the practice also comes with an unsightly, unhealthy aspect—the trash people leave behind. One of the more unsavory aftermaths of the occasion is the ugly sight of garbage left on every corner of parks and cemeter-

Millions of Filipinos will troop to cemeteries today to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed on. It’s a familiar sight—in both humble and upscale memorial parks alike, relatives gather around the tombs of their loved ones and celebrate their memory. There is food, music, stories and even laughter; the occasion also gives family members the chance to catch up on each other’s lives outside of their daily pressures

ies. Whether they were too busy recalling happy days with their loved ones or too much in a hurry, there is no excuse for visitors to leave behind piles of garbage and expect others to pick up their litter. Local governments and administrators of memorial parks have the duty to provide adequate disposal areas. Still, even in their absence, visitors must see it as their personal duty to clean up after themselves. It is so fundamental yet also so often neglected. Such irresponsible behavior negates the fond recollections and sober reflections occasioned by All Saints’ Day.

Happy Halloppines trash talk. Nor is another convenient excuse that’s made for him by his previous spokesperson, the corpulent one, that it’s a “Bisaya” thing. I come from Visayan roots—my mom is from BaOVER the past 10 years or so we’ve colod City and my father was from Coseen the increasing fervor with which tabato City, and obscenity is not part of the country has embraced the Western the region’s values, as far as I know. I was raised by a Visayan and a Mindholiday of Halloween, foisted on our culture by the large shops and malls anaoeño to be respectful and courtewith heavy marketing to further com- ous. I am sure Duterte was, too, by his formidable and principled mother, only mercial interests. This season used to be dedicated to toxic masculinity and the Philippine the solemn observance of Undas or brand of patriarchy got in the way when Araw ng Patay, when families visit the he was grown. The second scary thing is Duterte’s gravesites of loved ones to commemorate them. It’s something that is still desire for military men to take over Customs. While it seems that Customs quite significant, as it is now is irrehence the holidays deemably corrupt declared by workand decayed, and places to give emst rong-ar ming ployees time off Let us just recall our looks indicated to travel to their to perform an hometowns (or departed loved ones Augean stablestake vacations). and leave politics for type cleanse of Now Halloween the agency, floutwith its horrific another day. ing the laws that costumes and inprohibit military tent to frighten is personnel from gaining promitaking over civilnence each year. However, has anyone stopped to ian positions is not the way to do it. Third, the race for local political think that what’s happening in our politics is scarier than anything Stephen dynasties to entrench themselves. No King or Shirley Jackson can dream up? matter how these people spin their First, the “laway” pronouncement by candidacies as public service being a President Rodrigo Duterte. We knew sort of family legacy, the reality is that he was a misogynist to begin with, and they are using the privilege and power he has made other disgusting state- attendant with high public positions ments about women but this crushes for their personal advantage. Politics the boundaries of decent public speech. may be your family business, but it Come to think of it, there is hardly shouldn’t be. The 1987 Constitution bans politiany decent public speech anymore, and none of it seems to come from Duterte cal dynasties but the political dynasts in Congress have yet to pass an enasupporters. The “laway” declaration is nothing bling law that defines what dynasties less than obscene, particularly coming are. Moreover, “fat” dynasties—those from the mouth of a head of state. His with two or family members in public excuses of “meaning no offense” won’t positions—have been shown to “have fly anymore because he is consistent in a detrimental effect on governance” his attitude and penchant for spewing Turn to A5

Justice for Corona FINALLY, Noynoy Aquino had been brought to court for his alleged manipulation of the Senate in his obsession to oust the late Chief Justice Renato Corona just to satisfy his whims, with the use of public funds. Sometime last week, the Truth and Justice Coalition headed by its president, Greco Belgica, charged Aquino, along with former Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad, former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Senator and Interior Secretary Manuel

Roxas, Senators Franklin Drilon and Antonio Trillanes, former budget undersecretary Mario Relampagos, director Yolanda Doblon, and other John Does, before the Office of the Ombudsman, with malversation, in connection with

Little by little, we are now discovering how Aquino abused his power to persecute his perceived enemies.

the alleged use of public funds to influence the impeachment of Corona. Belgica said they filed “274 counts of malversation, no bail per count for spending public funds to impeach former Chief Justice Renato Corona.” This case should have long been filed. Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada had long exposed this as he was about to be sent to jail over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam (Maybe he was then entertaining the notion he could threaten Aquino and force him to drop the pork scam charges against him by exposing the then unknown disbursement acceleration program, which was used to “bribe” the senators into convicting Corona).

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

What is the perfect solution? OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ OF ALL the agencies in government, the Bureau of Customs is perceived to be one of the most corrupt in our country. The BOC is regarded as ground zero for smuggling, bribery and entry points for drugs and other illegal goods. Since the start of the current administration, many smuggled goods have been intercepted and seized by the Bureau. In 2016, P2 million worth of ecstasy tablets and shabu were seized and another P1.2 million worth of ecstasy tablets were found in a plastic bag both at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. In 2017, the bureau recovered P6.4-billion worth of shabu in a warehouse in Valenzuela which were concealed in a metal cylinder and were believed to have come from China. In the same year, another P234 million worth of illegal drugs were intercepted and confiscated by the bureau. In June this year, 17.96 kilos of shabu and 1.03 kilos of marijuana with an estimated value of P133.6 million were seized at NAIA and Port of Clark. Last August, P4.3 billion worth of shabu was intercepted at the Manila port. Meanwhile, in September, 800 grams of shabu amounting to P5.44 million was also seized at NAIA. Last October, the most recent and yet the biggest controversy faced by the Bureau is the missing P11 billion worth of shabu that was allegedly contained in the four magnetic lifters confiscated in Cavite.

These are the conditions precedent that may have triggered the President to issue an order for the military to control activities within the BOC. He recently appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Leonardo Guerrero as its new commissioner and then directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take over the agency to eradicate corruption and large-scale smuggling especially of illegal drugs.

I support the transfer of administration of the Bureau of Customs to the military.

Customs officials have admitted before the presence of corruption in the Bureau. Given this mess, it takes great political will to clean this agency. The President has showed us this, with his strong mindset and bold move to appoint military men in his Cabinet. The AFP abides by its morals of honor, service and patriotism. They are honed to uphold discipline, order, and integrity. These principles are of paramount importance to ensure efficiency and purity of a government entity, especially with the likes of Bureau of Customs. As the agency most tainted with corruption, the Bureau of Customs needs leaders who practice

and manifest these values. The most important thing is to restore order, discipline, and integrity in the agency. A military leadership exactly fits this need. While there have been some reservations that this is not the “perfect” solution, what is? The President has been intolerant of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy makes it conducive for corruption to occur. While this may take a while to eliminate, the takeover of the military is hoped to make a difference and a huge improvement in the processes in the bureau. I support the transfer of administration of the Bureau of Customs to the military. As the President himself said, the military can do things expeditiously. At this point, the country needs immediate solutions to our never-ending problems such as corruption, smuggling, and illegal drugs. The seizure of illegal drugs at the point of entry is crucial and beneficial to the war against illegal drugs. At the same time, cleansing the agency of its evils will result in efficient management and strict implementation of the law. Military participation is intended to be temporary. While the administration is deciding on realistic, appropriate and lasting solutions to the BOC, perhaps my House Resolution No. 1918, where I proposed the possible engagement of the SGS or the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) of Switzerland, which was contracted by the government in the 1990s to take charge of the inspection and valuation of imported goods, could be tabled for discussion.

A military takeover ALTHOUGH one big problem in the Bureau of Customs is certainly the issue of corruption, it is by no means the only one. There are other issues in the BOC that are also crying for reform. Perhaps tired of the never-ending corruption allegations within the agency, the President has ordered the military to take control of the graft ridden agency. It has however, come under criticism from some quarters which is hardly surprising. This sort of experiment has happened before and ended in failure. Why the government this trying it again, we do not know. Maybe it has found a new formula that will work this time. In the first attempt, new graduates from the Philippine Military Academy were assigned to the Customs bureau. Eventually, the system swallowed those bright young graduates which is exactly the words being used by President Duterte in describing what happened to Faeldon and Lapeña in the BOC—Honest people being swallowed by a corrupt system. The President is well known for his partiality to military men. Maybe the President still believes that assigning men with proven integrity to inject some values can still reform a rotten and corrupt agency. It is unfortunately not enough. The BOC is a snake pit. It is an agency where unscrupulous and corrupt people can become very rich quickly. There was this story about a BOC janitor who was charged several years ago for corruption. He was apparently found to have owned a sizable house and a couple of vehicles while receiving a janitor’s pay. How much more for the gods who run the bureau? We can only guess. The average life span of a customs commissioner has not been long in the past several years. Faeldon did not last long and so did Lapeña. Eventually, these people will find themselves being charged for corruption which have

The drug... From A4

But can the bureau ever be free from smuggling and corruption? I have covered 10 administrations in almost 70 years of journalism. Everyone promised to eradicate corruption—everyone failed. I have spoken with businessmen on what could be done to address the problem. The answer they give me is privatization. Leave everything to the private sector, they say. This could be done with enough political will.

happened to last three. We will have to wait and see what will happen to the new one who is another military man. It would also be interesting how the military will try to solve the corruption problem of the agency. The Customs bureau is a complex agency populated by people with vastly different culture than the military. My best guesstimate is that the military will try to blend in and learn the trade. The mafia within the Bureau, however, will simply run circles around them which means that it will be business as usual. And why is corruption so pervasive in the Bureau that it can easily swallow the most principled of men? In one study on the issue of corruption, organizations lacking in regulations and standard operating procedures are usually the ones susceptible to corruption. This is because it allows officials of that agency to play god.

My best guesstimate is that the military will try to blend in and learn the trade at Customs.

For instance, although all shipment are supposed to be X-rayed, before release, we know that there are exceptions especially when there is port congestion. In the case of Mangaoang versus Lapeña, if the X-ray division did find something in the magnetic canisters, why were they not inspected? Why were they allowed to pass? Why the detection was was only revealed in the Senate hearing when there was already an intelligence report that there was the possibility of illegal drug smuggling? The X-ray division actually forms part of the intelligence gathering process because X-ray machines can detect suspicious shipments which is the reason why all shipments must be X-rayed with no exceptions. Another thing that needs to be corrected is the single documentation *** I have long been urging the government to turn its attention to the deplorable state of our jails, particularly at the New Bilibid Prison. I saw photos released by Reuters— and my heart sank. Inmates have to take turns sleeping because there is not enough space. They are not animals! If there is an ultimate violation of human rights, this is it. And then, the inmates have to make do with a P50 daily food allowance. The relocation of the NBP has been planned under previous administrations, but up to now, nothing has been done. It was built for 2,400 inmates but

process. In the Bureau, the document that is going out the BOC is different from the one going in. There is no better example of this than our imports from China. As far as Philippine officials records are concerned, the figure is about $15 billion. But the figure coming from China tells a different story. It is almost twice the amount at something like $29 billion. It is therefore, quite easy to calculate how much taxes the government is losing as a result of this malpractice. Clearly, the beneficiaries of this practice are corrupt bureau officials and the importers who will make a killing at the expense of the government and Juan dela Cruz. The bureau therefore, must have to implement this single-document policy if it wants to collect all taxes due it. When the government can plug these loopholes that allow corrupt officials to play god, corruption in the bureau can be reduced and that is probably the best that government can hope for— simply to reduce corruption. How about the tussle between Mangaoang and her boss Sid Lapeña? I think Senator Ping Lacson described it best when he said that Lapeña may have been promoted but to many, he lost some grounds on the confidence issue and credibility even if the President defended him vigorously. The other thing that Lapeña lost is bragging rights. Being abruptly removed from a job even for promotion cannot entirely be viewed as positive. Maybe the President should have waited for some time before transferring Lapeña to a higher position so as not to give fuel to Lapeña’s critics and Mangaoang claiming credit for his ouster. She is now in fact being praised by government critics as a dragon slayer and is now being offered protection in the witness protection program. There are now calls that Lapeña be charged for the P11 billion in methamphetamine that slipped through the customs by virtue of command responsibility. But it is not as simple as that. Malacañang has a definition of what constitutes command responsibility. Lapeña must first be proven to have done nothing after finding out about the missing illegal drug shipment. now the number is ten times that. As far as I know, there was already a plan to relocate the NBP to Laur, Nueva Ecija. There were already three bidders who had prequalified. But former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, for some reason, decided to junk the project. Was there a favored bidder who did not prequalify? This must be investigated. I have yet to see President Duterte visit NBP or any Metro Manila jail to see how pitiful the conditions of the inmate really are. One of these days, there might be an epidemic there. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

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Abby Binay: True brand of leadership pear that Junjun Binay’s idea of a brand of leadership is “(not being able to) say no” and “(not being able to) turn them down.” That’s not the Binay brand of leadership: that’s the Junjun Binay brand of leadership. Young Mr. Binay THE word “brand” is not a political should not associate the rest of his famconcept. It belongs to the worlds of ily in his “brand of leadership.” marketing and intellectual property Junjun Binay does not—and apparlaw. But one of the candidates in next ently cannot—comprehend the essence year’s contest for the mayorship of of good leadership. Like this country’s Makati City has now made “brand” a other elected officials, its mayors are political concept. not placed in positions of power so as The candidate is a former mayor of to be all things to all men. Not all of the nation’s financial capital, Jejomar the things that constituents ask for are Binay Jr. Young Mr. Binay is running desirable or socially sound; the mark of against one of his sisters, incumbent a leader, a good leader, is to be able to mayor Abigail Binay-Campos. After say no to, and turn down the requests two terms as a councilor, he succeeded of, those who ask public officials for his father and mother—Jejomar undesirable and anti-social things. Sr. and Elenita Binay—as Makati’s Without intending to boost her candichief executive until 2013, when the dacy, I think it bears saying that Mayor Office of the Ombudsman charged Abby Binay has been a top-notch chief him criminal and executive. After ad m i n ist rat ive the bad things that offenses related have happened to the bidding for to her father and and continuation brother, her ocShe has been a of Makati city cupancy of the topnotch executive. hall’s Parking mayor’s office has Building II. been like a breath At the time of of fresh air for arguably the nathe promulgation of the Office of the Ombudsman’s reso- tion’s most progressive city. The mayor lution, Mayor Abigail—Abby to her has been very careful in her actions and numerous admirers—was completing has kept her nose clean. Hers has been a a term as Representative of Makati’s no-scandal administration. First District. In keeping with PhilipIndeed, the very fact that most of pine politics’ dynastic culture, Abigail the members of the city council and Binay was enlisted to run for mayor in the majority of the barangay captains the 2016 election. Her husband, Luis are said to have declared their support Campos, is the current Representative for Junjun Binay—the “clamor comof the city’s Second District. ing from Makati residents”?—speaks Enter the idea of branding. Queried volumes. Have they abandoned Mayor by the media as to why there is a broth- Abby because they have not been geter-against-sister political situation in ting from her the goodies that they so his city, Junjun Binay had this to say: easily used to get from her brother? “I could not ignore the clamor coming Sure looks like it. from Makati residents, who said that Former Vice President Binay, they miss the Binay brand of leader- wishing to appear impartial but pretty ship.” There are two noteworthy words obviously favoring Mayor Abby, in the phrase “Binay brand of leader- has declared that it is up to Makati’s ship”: brand and leadership. Let us ex- citizens to decide who should be the amine them in turn. city’s chief executive during the three First, leadership. Pressed to expound years that begin on July 1, 2019. He is on his idea of leadership, former Vice- absolutely right. President Jejomar Binay’s only son had The residents of Makati’s 33 bathis to say: “When our constituents ask rangays should decide for themselves us to serve, we cannot say no. When the whether Mayor Abby should stay or public needs our help and care, we can- go. They should ignore the defection not turn them down.” of all those opportunistic and selfNext, the matter of brand. From the serving city councilors and barangay above-quoted statements it would ap- captains.

Justice... From A4

Anyway, the nagging question now is: if Aquino and his co-accused are found to be guilty on the charges filed against them, will the decision convicting Corona could be reversed? As I have been told, the decision of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, cannot be appealed. In fact, this line of reasoning is being used by some quarters to claim that an impeachment court is different from a regular court as the impeachment itself is a political process itself. But if it is, then why don’t we just oust any impeachable official because the administration wants it done? Just gather the required number in Congress and the Senate and oust the official. Why bother hiring a lawyer to draft an impeachment complaint, ask Congress to approve on the sufficiency in form and substance of the complaint, determine the probable cause, have it endorsed the one-third of its members, and have the impeachable official tried before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, when at the end of the day, it would just boil down to numbers? And what a way to get the required numbers other than providing them with additional hundreds of million pesos more as Belgica and his group alleged Noynoy and his cohorts had done? In fact, if the allegations against Noynoy and his co-accused are true, then the Senate could have abused its power when it convicted Corona over erroneous filing of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. While there may have been wrong or

Happy... From A4

and be linked to worsening poverty, ac-

cording to Ateneo School of Government dean Dr. Ronald Mendoza, speaking at a Senate hearing in February. There are many other instances in which this administration and its people has failed us—the declining economy, the negative effects of the TRAIN tax law, incompetence of officials, recycling of canned officials, and others too nu-

missing entries in Corona’s SALN, it is recognized to be a correctible offense as no less than the Civil Service Commission had acknowledged that erroneous SALNs can be corrected. So, if the grounds for Corona’s conviction are non-existent as erroneous filing of SALN, the CSC had averred can be corrected, and that the Senate decision convicting Corona was just forcibly rammed down our throat as Aquino had supposedly used public funds to influence the Senate on its decision, then what happens to the decision itself which was a product of an illegal act? While the case against Aquino and his group has yet to be heard, even at this early, we should look at its probable implications. If the case could be proven, it would confirm there was bribery to have Corona convicted and it had resulted a great injustice against the late Chief Justice and his family. But as the decision of the impeachment court is non-appealable, how then could we correct the injustice meted upon the former Chief Justice? As I have said before, Corona may have already been gone, but that doesn’t mean we should just accept the things as they were and as they are now. Little by little, we are now discovering how Aquino abused his power to persecute his perceived enemies. An injustice has been done and it must be corrected. Justice cannot be rightfully served just by sending Aquino et al to jail. Justice should also be accorded to the late Chief Justice Renato Corona by reversing the decision of the impeachment court which convicted him, and posthumously reinstating him to his post, extending to him all the benefits due him. merous to mention. This is why Halloween, with all its gore and horror, is less terrifying than reality. “Halloppines”, or Halloween + Philippines, is a reminder of how much has gone wrong in the two years since the 2016 election. There is much to fix. But today, All Saints’ Day, let us just recall our departed loved ones and leave politics for another day. Dr. Ortuoste, a writer and researcher, has a PhD in Communication. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DFA cautions Filipinos in Nigeria amid violent clashes

ZUMBA TWIST. Residents of Mandaluyong City add a Halloween twist to the Zumba dance craze complete with make-up, costume and props as they join the other day the annual ‘Zombie Zumba’ Fitness Caravan 2018. Andrew Rabulan

3rd telco could boost law on work-from-home By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva said the entry of a third telecommunications service provider could boost the implementation of the proposed Telecommuting Act or Work-From-Home Act. Telecommuting is the partial or total substitution of computers or telecommunication technologies, or both, for the commute to work by employees. “The entry of a third telco player will create competition and provide better services amid consumer problems on the country’s slow and expensive Internet. It will accommodate the potential influx of reliance on technology that may be brought about by the subsequent implementation of our Telecommuting Bill,” said Villanueva, author and sponsor of the measure. Based on content delivery provider Akamai’s Global State of the Internet report in May 2017, the Philippines is reported to have the slowest average internet speed in Asia Pacific with an average of 5.5 megabits per second. This is much lower than the global average internet connection speed which is pegged at 7.2 mbps. At present, internet services in the country are being offered by only two major telecom providers—the PLDT and Globe Telecom. “We want to push for our Filipino workers to have a meaningful work-life balance by encouraging employers to explore telecommuting as a way of allowing work flexibility,” the senator said. “We therefore urge the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission and the private sector to work together to upgrade our existing Internet infrastructure for our employees to afford an option to work under a flexible work arrangement,” Villanueva said.

‘PH military up on challenges’ By Francisco Tuyay DEFENSE Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana said the military had surpassed maritime challenges besetting the country’s territorial disputes. These have all been marred by intrusion in the West Philippine Sea even as the government steps up the completion of a beaching ramp to hasten security in Pagasa Island, the largest island inside the Kalayaan Group of Islands. At the sidelines of the 79th anniversary of the Department of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo Lorenzana revealed the military increased air and maritime patrols, especially in hotlycontested areas in WPS which amounted to 46, 694 cases of intrusion, wherein 40,135 were challenged at sea. “The AFP intercepted intrusions to (sic) Philippine claimed features. Littoral monitoring detachments and littoral observatory stations provided common air and maritime operating picture in West Philippine Sea, Philippine Rise and other parts of Philippine territory,” he said. “For the period in review, AFP detected 46, 694 incidents and challenged 40, 35 vessels passing through the Philippine territory,” he added.

8,701 law graduates will take 2018 bar exams—SC By Rey E. Requejo

TOTAL 8,701 law graduates will take the 2018 bar examinations at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila during four Sundays of next month, starting on Nov. 4, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, chairman of this year’s Bar Examinations Committee, said the list of law graduates whose applications to take the 2018 bar were approved might be viewed at the SC website—sc.judiciary.gov.ph. Del Castillo said this is the highest number of Bar takers in recent years. Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Conﬁdant Ma. Cristina B. Layusa reminded the bar candidates and duty personnel of the following contingency plan for the exams in case of heavy rains and ﬂooding: Ten SC buses will be available to trans-

port examinees and duty personnel to the UST from several pick-up points in case of heavy rains in the morning of a Bar examination day. The buses will be stationed as early as 4:30 am and will leave exactly at 5 am in the following areas: Quezon City Memorial Circle near Philippine Coconut Authority; Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila; SC New Building Compound, Taft Avenue; Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses); and Marikina Sports Complex. Only bar examinees and duty personnel are allowed to ride the shuttle buses,

and boarding shall be on a first-come, first-served basis. To avail themselves of this service, they must present their Notice of Admission, Gate Pass and/or identification cards, as the case may be, to the bus driver before being allowed to board. In case of flooding inside the UST compound before the start of the exams, commuter vans of the SC will be made available to transport examinees and duty personnel from the UST gates to their respective examination buildings. Senior citizens, the pregnant, and persons with disability shall be prioritized in the use of the commuter vans. If after the end of the exams there is flooding, the SC commuter vans will also be available at each examination building to transport bar examinees and duty personnel back to Osmeña and Arellano Drives near Gate 5 along España where the SC shuttle buses are parked.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday advised members of the Filipino community in Nigeria to remain vigilant as violent clashes between police and protesting members of a Muslim organization in the African country started Tuesday. More than a hundred Filipinos in the Nigerian capital were urged to remain indoors in view of the violence. Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley HoVicario said the Embassy was in touch with Filipino community leaders and that no Filipino had been harmed. Reports placed the number of protestors from the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who were killed from three to 18. This, after security forces reportedly opened fire when they were attacked by Shi’a protestors demanding the release from detention of their leader. The envoy said the Embassy also told the 3,000 members of the Filipino community in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, to exercise caution. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that the seven Filipino seafarers kidnapped in Nigeria last month were released on Sunday. The Philippine Embassy in Abuja confirmed the release in its report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday. Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Ho-Vicario said the Filipino seafarers are now in Zurich, Switzerland, from where they will be flown to Manila. The seven were among the 12 crew members of the Swiss-owned MV Glarus taken by armed men, who boarded their vessel on Sept. 22. They were reported to have been taken by the gunmen as the vessel was making its way from Lagos to Port Harcourt. According to the envoy, all 12 crew members were released on Oct. 28. PNA

‘Health care to improve quality of life’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

REMEMBERING THEM. Relatives

start visiting and cleaning the tomb of their departed kin Wednesday as flowers and candle vendors line up inside and outside the main entrance of Manila’s North Cemetery as early as two weeks before the observance of All Saints‘/Souls‘ Day on Nov. 1 and 2. Ey Acasio

GSIS opens housing account condonation program STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System launched on Oct. 15 its newest housing account condonation program, which will run until Dec. 31 this year. Under this program, GSIS is offering full waiver of penalties and surcharges to interested applicants who will pay their housing account obligations in full, it said in a statement. “We are calling on our borrowers to seize this chance to completely secure your homes. This condonation program will also lighten your burden as it will allow you to settle your accounts without having to pay penalty charges from your unpaid amortizations,” GSIS president and general manager

Jesus Clint Aranas said. The pension fund chief also urged all interested applicants to avail of the program before the set deadline to prevent the troubles caused by last-minute ﬁling and avoid further penalties and surcharges of at least one percent per month. Qualiﬁed to apply for penalty condonation are active or inactive members, as well as non-members, with deeds of conditional sale or real estate loan accounts that are in arrears or in default. Accounts that have been cancelled but not yet uploaded as investment property, as well as those which have been foreclosed

but the titles have not yet been consolidated in the name of GSIS, may still avail of the condonation program. Buyers of rights and legal heirs of deceased borrowers may also apply for condonation upon submission of required documents. Prospective applicants who will settle their accounts in full are advised to request an appointment and condonation statement of account from the nearest GSIS ofﬁce. Interested applicants who have inquiries may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov. ph; e-mail HARD@gsis.gov.ph; or call 4793568 to 69, 479-3581 to 82, or 976-4900 local 3361 to 3364.

3-day confab on environmental impact assessment THE House of Representatives Committee on Ecology and the Philippine Center for Environment, Climate Studies and Sustainable Development will hold EIA@40 National Convention, a three-day convention and exhibit on EIA in the Philippines starting next Monday. This is in line with the recognition of the 40th year of establishment of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System in 1978 and will be held at the Manila Hotel, organizers said in a press statement. With the theme “Delivering Sustainable Solutions,” the event will bring together EIA experts and practitioners, project propo-

nents, local government environmental and planning ofﬁcers, the regulated community, educators, and other stakeholders for a forum for exchange of expertise, learning and knowledge. It aims to advance a multidisciplinary discussion on existing and emerging challenges as well as opportunities in the ﬁeld of impact assessment at regional and local levels. It shall explore the contribution of the Philippine EIS System to a sustainable development, discover global trends and key developments of EIA and explore legislative options for addressing concerns.

PALLIATIVE and end of life care services to patients with life-threatening diseases will soon be covered by Philhealth once the Universal Health Care bill is passed into law. Under the proposed measure, “every Filipino shall be granted immediate eligibility and access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services.” “Our healthcare system should not only work on curing and preventing sickness, it should also promote people’s well-being, especially when they are enduring intense pain and suffering from chronic diseases. This measure guarantees the right of Filipinos to quality health care throughout their entire life cycle,” said Senator Sonny Angara, one of the authors and sponsors of the Universal Health Care bill. Palliative and end of life care aim to improve the quality of life of patients with life-limiting, complex and chronic illnesses or those experiencing progressively debilitating diseases beyond any beneﬁt from curative treatment. The senator cited a 2015 Quality of Death study index that listed the Philippines as one of the worst places to die, next only to Iraq and Bangladesh. The poor scores of the Philippines, which ranked 78th out of 80 countries, in terms of the quality of end-of-life care available was attributed to: the severe shortage of specialized palliative care professionals; lack of government-led strategy for the development and promotion of national palliative care; limited number of government subsidies or programs for individuals accessing palliative care services; and, limited public understanding and awareness of palliative care services. According to the World Health Organization, the following diseases require palliative care at the end-stage of life: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis, kidney failure, HIV-AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, among others. Data from WHO showed that in 2012, about 300,000 of the estimated 515,000 reported deaths in the Philippines were due to noncommunicable diseases such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes.

Sports

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Sunrise Sprint spices up Black Arrow 5150 tilt SUNRISE Sprint, a short swim-bikerun event for beginners seeking to immerse themselves into the sport of triathlon, will spice up the action in the inaugural Black Arrow Express 5150 on Sunday in Subic Bay. A big-hit in its inaugural season, the Sunrise Sprint, dubbed as S2, is back with a promise of a more exciting, thrilling edition among 273 participants in the 750m open-water swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run race. The organizing Sunrise Events Inc. has put up the event for triathlon wannabes who want to race without having to worry about long periods of training. It is also aimed at providing a venue for tri-warriors out to make a comeback in the evergrowing sport and at the same time deliver quality triathlon festival experience. IronKids stalwart Wacky Baniqued banners the cast in the side event of the Black Arrow Express 5150, which has recently inked a three-year contract with SEI to stage the 5150 races. Eight elite pros, meanwhile, head the 627 participants in the main event, which also features competitions in the Asian Elite and various age categories. Also on tap are the relay events for male, female and mixed, also designed to prepare triathletes to go full-time in the multi-sport. For details, visit regent.5150philippines. com. SEI founder/president Wilfred Uytengsu and Black Arrow’s Allan Brizuela are also competing in the 5150 race while August Benedicto, Rambo Chicano, Raymond Torii, Jorry Ycong, Paul Jumamil and Leonard Rondina lead the chase for top honors in Asian Elite.

Arcilla, Anasta banner netfest in San Carlos MULTI-TITLED Johnny Arcilla and Vicente Anasta kick off their respective campaigns today, along with the other veteran campaigners and rising stars in the Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championships at San Carlos Sports Center in San Carlos, Negros Occidental. Arcilla, a Davis Cup veteran who ruled this event in 2016 to cap his sweep of the four Open titles on the annual Palawan Pawnshop calendar, hopes to bank on his experience as he guns for another plum against the likes of John Altiche, Rodolfo Barquin, Dheo Talatayod, Fritz Verdad, Joseph Enriquez, Ricardo Lagac Jr. and Mark Alcoseba in the upper half of the 32-player draw in men’s singles. The second ranked Anasta, on the other hand, will have his hands full in the lower bracket that includes defending champion and third seed Bryan Otico, who upended PJ Tierro in come-from-behind fashion in last year’s finals of the annual event held as part of the host city’s Pintaflores Festival celebrations and organized by Criston Carmona. “This is going to be another exciting week with odds just even among the seeded bets although we expect the young guns to step up and pull some surprises,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. Aside from Anasta and Otico, others tipped to contend for the top P40,000 purse in the week-long event presented by Dunlop and TJ’s Clear Art are Noel Damian Jr., Rolando Ruel Jr., Jimmy Tangalin Jr., Leander Lazaro and Marc Enriquez.

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PVL stars give back in Heroes Camp

Proponents, winners, hosts and recipients of the Philracom charity races are shown during simple awards rites at the San Lazaro Park in Carmona, Cavite. They are (from left) MJC Racing Manager Ding Magboo; PPP’s Roy Domingo and Jonathan Jalbuna; Rotary Club of Manila Bay’s Adrian Abrogena and Christine Pasia; trainer Peter Aguila, representing Electric Dreams’ owner Karen Ivy Sangco; Dalampasigang Manila Rotary Foundation’s Ramon Ilustre Jr.; Ciara Sotto, representing the Senate Spouses Foundation; MJC assistant racing manager J-Fel Cuevas; Raymundo Mongaya, representing Silver Glow owner Henedino F. Gianan Jr.; Hidden Light owner Carlos Aquino; Philracom Commissioner Victor Tantoco and MJC Deputy COO Atty. Peter Zagala.

Philracom’s 11 charity races net P1.7 million T

HE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) is donating P1,722,173.86 to the Senate Spouses Foundation, Dalampasigang Manila Bay Foundation, Press Photographers of the Philippines, Buhay Isang Awit Foundation and the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation as a result of its 11 charity races held Sunday at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Park in Carmona, Cavite. For having four charity races each, the Senate Spouses Foundation, represented by Senate President Sen. Tito Sotto’s daughter, actress Ciara Sotto, and the Dalampasigang Manila Bay Rotary Foundation, will be getting the bulk of the funds as each will be receiving P626,245.04. The Senate Spouses Foundation got an additional P1 million from the race host Manila Jockey Club, with MJC Deputy Chief Operating Officer Atty. Peter Zagala making the symbolic turnover of the check donation. The PPP, headed by its President Jonathan Jalbuna, the Buhay Isang Awit Foundation and the Mowelfund, will each receive P156,561.26. “This is the Philracom’s humble contribution to the noble projects of these five foundations. We at the commission are delighted, knowing that our

combined efforts to raise funds for their worthwhile programs will go a long way,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. Ms. Sotto, Jalbuna, Dalampasigang Manila Rotary Foundation’s Ramon Ilustre Jr., Rotary Club of Manila Bay’s Adrian Abrogena and Christine Pasia led the simple awards rites, also attended by Chairman Sanchez, commissioners Bienvenido Niles Jr. and Victor Tantoco, Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino, MJC Racing Manager Jose Ramon Magboo and his deputy J-Fel Cuevas. The 11 charity races were all conducted in accordance with the Philracom’s Rating-Based Handicapping System, which is a result of the commission’s affiliation with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Winners were Electric Dreams

(4th PPP Trophy Race), Hidden Light (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Trophy Race), Lucky Saver (Buhay Isang Awit Foundation Charity Race), Silver Glow (Senate Spouses Foundation Trophy Race) and Watermania (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race). The rest of the victors were Ifyourhonorplease (Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race), Garantisado ( Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race), Chinita ( Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race), Tango Eco Kieth (Dalampasigang Manila Bay Charity Race), Extravagant Woman ( Senate Spouses Foundation Charity Race) and OASIS (Mowelfund Charity Race). Meanwhile, several prominent stakes races are still coming in the final two months of the racing season, namely the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, MARHO Racing Event and 1st Leg of 3YO Open Challenge Series on Nov. 4, the 3rd Legs of the Juvenile Fillies Stakes Race and Juvenile Colts Stakes Race on Nov. 18, the Grand Sprint Championship on Dec. 2, the Chairman’s Cup, Philtobo Racing Event and the 2nd Leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 16 and the Juvenile Championship, KDJM Racing Event, and the 3rd leg of the 3YO Open Challenge Series on Dec. 31.

KEEPING BALL ALIVE.

Aiko Urdas of Smart dives to the floor but fails to keep the ball alive. The Giga Hitters however scraped past Sta. Lucia, 25-20, 2519, 25-23, to kick off its campaign in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

PREMIER Volleyball League stars Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola teamed up to help around 40 kids take that first step towards their volleyball dream in the first leg of ABS-CBN S+A’s “Heroes Camp Year 3” last Saturday. The duo from BanKo Perlas Spikers guided participants in drills and gave motivational talks in the volleyball clinic, which was held at the San Andres Gymnasium in Cainta, Rizal. The event was extra special for Tiamzon, who grew up in the area before she was discovered as a high schooler and suited up for the UP Lady Maroons in the UAAP. She told her young kababayans to put in the hard work to reach their goal, like she continues to do as an athlete. “An important thing to remember, as a player and as a person: never stop learning, never stop practicing, and never give up. Just like you kids, I started from scratch here. We had to do extra training right after every practice back in high school to really sharpen our skills and competitive edge,” she said. ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena, who was also present during the clinic, believes that the success stories of athletes like Tiamzon and Bersola can inspire the kids in the clinic not only to aim higher in their chosen sport but also to be responsible and disciplined people. “The Heroes Camp, for us, is a great opportunity to not only discover talent at the grassroots level, but to keep the kids off the streets and other influences, and watch them blossom down the line. Who knows, maybe a handful of them will be playing collegiate volleyball in the future and will be household names like the current crop of volleyball stars,” he said A partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc., the “Heroes Camp” started in 2016 with a series of basketball clinics done by Coach Koy Banal aimed at teaching the fundamentals of the sport at the grassroots level and imparting to children positive values they can apply both in basketball and in life. Last year, ABS-CBN S+A partnered with Heroes Volleyball Program (HVP) for a series of volleyball clinics, wherein more than 200 children were given an opportunity to learn from the experts. In Cainta, representing HVP were UP Men’s volleyball team setter Carlo Cabatingan, longtime national team mainstay Ers Iratay, UP volleyball assistant coach Kate De Lara, and DLSU’s Timothy Papa.

Otico to defend PCA Open crown BRYAN Otico, who became the first unseeded player to win the men’s singles crown last year, will be back when the 37th Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis tournament kicks off on Nov. 16 in Paco, Manila. The 19-year-old Otico, who won the men’s singles crown from veteran Davis Cupper PJ Tierro, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 in a marathon finals match, will seek another crown in a field that includes Alberto (AJ) Lim Jr. (2016 champion), Patrick John (PJ) Tierro and eight-time PCA Open champion Johnny Arcilla. Marian Jade Capadocia will go for her sixth PCA Open title. Out to spoil that goal will be Clarice Patrimonio, Bambi Zoleta and Akiko De Guzman. Titles will also be at stake in the 10 events of the age group competitions. Roland Kraut, one of the organizers of the event, said registration for the 2018 PCA Open is ongoing with the guidelines and updates available via the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ PCA-OPEN-2018-787348301431697/, Twitter (@PCAOpen) and Instagram (@ PCAOpen). Peter Atencio

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League: Not your ordinary cage tournament LESS than a year ago, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opened shop with 10 community-based teams with the corporate partnership. Now, membership has grown to a mind-boggling 26 community-based teams, offering employment to hundreds of Filipino cagers that otherwise would have been out of jobs today with the death of topnotch post-graduate basketball leagues with enough credibility and stability. National boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, who also dabbles in basketball, is one kind soul who saw through this vacuum. With the support of league commissioner and former national team Kenneth Duremdes, the renowned eight-weight world boxing champion came up with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League with the same passion of nationalism that he carries every time he enters the boxing ring. Maharlika Pilipinas actually came from Manny Pacquiao, the world boxing champs who like playing basketball, instead of using his name for a league, “M” became Maharlika and “P” became Pilipinas. The league started just a fun tournament held in GenSan City or Cotabato City where Pacquiao is really involved playing basketball. Pacquiao saw the need to set up a new league to help hundreds of displaced athletes earn a living through

playing basketball. Pacquiao painstakingly established the MPBL from scratch following years of planning and soul-searching. The “Maharlika Pilipinas” league was by conceptualized by the Senator himself. It may have the same acronym as the first initials his legendary name, but in reality, it carries with it a more nationalistic undertone. The 39-year-old Pacquiao knows that basketball is the Filipinos’ national pastime. Yet, his own love for basketball far transcends the dreams of other passionate Filipino athletes from all over the country who look to excel in the sport but have been unable to ply their trade because of Pacquiao the absence of top-flight leagues. Because of this void, some of them have been forced to leave their families home and seek basketball jobs overseas, notably showing their wares in professional leagues in Southeast Asia such as in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand despite the lack of security of employment as most contracts last only for three months or even less. You have to be extremely fortunate to land a

one-year deal. Pacquiao came up with a new nationwide basketball league that offers player salaries equivalent – if not more than those offered by leagues in the various SEA countries. Community-based with a nationwide flavor, the MPBL features some of the best post-graduate and amateur players from the Metro Manila and National Capital Region, and from the country’ three major islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Since these athletes are not “professionals” in the real sense of the word, they need not pay certain fees related to their work. Operating in partnership with the local government units, the image and credibility of the MPBL have been immensely boosted, greatly enhanced by the nationwide “live” television coverage of its games by its broadcast partner Sports + Action of the ABS-CBN group. Like many outstanding champion athletes in the international scene, Pacquiao wants to give some back to

the Filipino sports fans that have been supportive of him throughout a checkered boxing career that has given the former ‘pan de sal’ vendor all the fame and fortune that he could possibly amassed in a lifetime. Pacquiao is now also into youth sports as he is involved in the 1st Philippine University Basketball League, an international qualifying league that will qualify the winner to the “Pacquiao Youth Champ Trophy”–10th Asian University Basketball Championship, to be hosted by the Santa Rosa City local government under Mayor Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez. The international tournament will be held from Nov. 18 to 23 this year with AUBC Organizing Committee chaired by Leonardo Andres Sr., who is also the FESSAP Regional Director of Region IV. The PUBL got underway last Oct. 15. With a crossover format, the Final Four playoffs in the four different divisions will be held from Nov. 7 to 9 at the Rizal Technological University gym in Mandaluyong City. The PUBL is being held under the supervision of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, the sole university sports association recognized by the International University Sports Federation, the world governing body for university sports.

Sports

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

THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Kawhi Leonard f the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers at Soctiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

Torre puts Asian Seniors Chess title on the line ALL eyes will be on Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre when the 2018 Asian Seniors Chess Championship gets underway on Saturday at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay City. Torre, the “Poster Boy” of Philippine chess in the mid-70s, will be the defending champion in the prestigious, nine-round tournament, hosted by the Tagaytay City government through Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Mayor Agnes Tolentino. “It will be a another big challenge for me, but I am ready (to defend the title). I’ll do my best as always,” said Torre, who will turn 67 on Nov. 4. Torre, who served as coach of the Philippine team which finished 37th in the 53rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia recently, topped last year’s edition in New Zealand. The Filipino champion is also the top seed with an ELO of 2449. Expected to challenge Torre are FM Oleg Rinas of Kazakhstan, FM Muhammad Novuan Siregar of Indonesia, Kuanishbek Jumadullayev of Kazakhstan, Than Khin of Myanmar, Syarif Mahmuf of Indonesia, Aitkazy Vaimurzin of Kazakhsran, Tony Davis of New Zealand, Kian Hwa Lim of Malaysia and Mahmood Dodeen of Palestine. Also entered are IM Chito Garma,,Cesar Caturla, Rosendo Bandal, Casto Anundo? Efren Bagamasbad, Adrian Pacis and Stewart Manaog. At stake in the prestigious 10-round tournament organized by the Tagaytay Chess Club on behalf of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Asian Chess Federation is over P150,000 in cash prizes. The champion will receive the International Master title and a Grandmaster norm. Runners-up receive the FIDE Master title. There will be a special award for the best woman chesser. Already registered are Helen Milligan of New Zealand and Mila Emperado of the Philippines. The tournament, which is now on its ninth year, will have the over-50 and over-65 categories. A rapid chess championship is scheduled on the first day on Friday (Nov. 3) followed by the nine-round Swiss System tournament and a blitz championship on the last day. Players should have reached their 50th or 65th birthdays in 2018.

PH’s tallest frontline ever thrills Yeng Guiao P

HILIPPINE basketball team coach Yeng Guiao relishes the thought of having a giant frontcourt at his disposal when the nationals resume their campaign in the next window of the FIBA World Cup qualiﬁers.

Consider the possibilities. June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter with the returning Andray Blatche at the low block as the nationals host Kazakhstan and Iran one after the other at the Mall of Asia Arena. Team Pilipinas battles Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 before facing tormentor Iran on Dec. 3. The 6’11” Blatche, however, will only be eligible to play against Iran, by which time the three-game suspension meted on him by FIBA along with Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, and Troy Rosario would be over. Still, Guiao is thrilled at the prospect of handling perhaps the tallest national team frontcourt ever in history. “For the first time in a long while, you will have June Mar, Greg, and Japeth (Aguilar) playing together in a team with (Andray) Blatche,” said Guiao. “Definitely, lalaki talaga ‘yung lineup natin.”

Injuries prevented both Fajardo and Slaughter from joining Team Pilipinas under Guiao the last time, when it lost to Iran at Tehran, 81-73, last Sept. 13, but beat Kazakhstan, 92-81, in a closed-door match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Guiao, however, denies Team Pilipinas will have to sacrifice speed for height with the presence of Fajardo and Slaughter. “Hindi naman tayo babagal. Nakakatakbo rin naman sila June Mar,” he said. Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, who served as Team Pilipinas’ naturalized player in Blatche’s absence during the last window against Iran and Kazakhstan, are again being considered in the Nov.30 clash with the Kazkahs. Pringle and Standardinger are included in the 20-man pool Guiao and his coaching staff will present to the PBA Board in a special meeting on Tuesday. “We will just present the pool to them

(league board) and present our training schedule as well,” said Guiao. “Basically ‘yun lang naman for their approval more or less.” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, who is also Meralco governor to the PBA Board, is expected to accompany Guiao during the meeting. Others included in the pool are Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Alex Cabagnot, Poy Erram, Scottie Thompson, Marcio Lassiter, Raymond Almazan, Ian Sangalang, Allei Maliksi, Beau Belga, Matthew Wright, Kai Sotto and Asi Taulava. The playoffs of the season-ending Governors’ Cup will take a break in the middle of November to give way to the practice schedule of Team Pilipinas. The elimination phase is now down to its last four games in the race for the remaining playoff berths and seeding in the quarterfinals. Guiao’s NLEX team battles Rain or Shine in the curtain raiser of a Petron Saturday Special, with San Miguel Beer taking on Meralco in the main game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Unheralded locals force 3-way tie with Thai

Dino Villanueva turns in another impressive start at Summit Point

LIPA City, BatangasDino Villanueva bucked harsh conditions in late afternoon play and carded a 67, forcing a three-way tie for the lead with Thai Sutijet Kooratanapisan and Erwin Arcillas in windy opener of the Summit Point World 18 Challenge here yesterday. Villanueva, re-displaying the form that also netted him the lead in the first round of the The Players Championship here last year before finishing tied for seventh, charged back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 then preserved a 33-34 card with two scrambling pars in the last four to catch Kooratanapisan and Arcillas at the helm, one stroke ahead of Elmer Salvador. Out to atone for his final round meltdown in the CAT Open at Luisita won by James Ryan Lam, Salvador sizzled with a frontside birdie-birdie finish for a 68. The veteran Davaoeño campaigner anchored his 33-35 card on solid iron play, hitting all but one green on No. 6 which he bogeyed. This year’s Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Jobim Carlos also rebounded from an opening hole bogey with four birdies, including three at the back, to shoot a 69 for a share of fifth with American Brett Munson and Richard Sinfuego, while Micah Shin failed to join the

group with a bogey on No. 17, dropping to joint eighth instead with American Lexus Keoninh, Japanese Yuta Sudo and former PGT Asia leg winner Justin Quiban. Jhonnel Ababa, chasing a fourth win in two seasons of the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., rallied with two birdies at the front to save a 71, the same output put in by Ira Alido, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Keanu Jahns, Nilo Salahog, Finland’s Janne Kaske, Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia, Englishman George Twyman, Taiwanese Wang Tsung Chieh, American Jeremy Wendelken and Arnold Villacencio, who upended Miguel Tabuena in sudden death to snare the PGT ICTSI Summit Point Classic crown in 2014. But some of the big guns lurked just behind, ready to pounce on the unfancied leaders, who found themselves on top with superb display of power and control at the wind-raked Summit Point Golf Club. Villanueva, 34, who had two missed cuts in this year’s PGTA with best finish of tied for 31st at Aboitiz Invitational, said he could’ve surged ahead if not for his flubbed birdie putts.

Far Eastern U , De La Salle chessers capture UAAP chess crowns

FAR Eastern University ended National University’s three-year reign in the men’s division, while De La Salle ruled the women’s trophy for the second straight year in the UAAP Season 81 chess tournament over the weekend at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. The Tamaraws collected a 14-round total of 40 points to claim their 14th men’s crown overall, while the Lady Woodpushers from Taft snared their ninth tiara in the distaff side after finishing with 43 points. FEU secured the men’s championship

in the 13th round following a 2-2 stalemate with De La Salle Saturday. The Morayta-based chessers then put the icing on the cake with 2.5-1.5 win over eventual third placers Adamson University in the final round Sunday. Rookie of the Year winner Jeth Morado led the Tamaraws by winning the Board 2 gold, while Romy Fagon was the team’s other gold medalist in Board 4. The Bulldogs saw their dynasty end after a 2-2 draw with University of the East Saturday. As a consolation for NU, International

Master Paulo Bersamina, who topped Board 1, was named the season MVP for the fourth year in a row. Arnel Ilagan was the other gold medalist for NU in Board 6. The Lady Woodpushers drew the best from WCM Mira Mirano was named the tournament MVP and Board 1 gold medalist, while her teammate Samantha Revita bagged the Rookie of the Year honors, as well as the Board 4 gold. De La Salle blanked FEU, 4-0, to seal the title in the 13th round Saturday before ending the season with a 3.5-0.5 win over University of the

Philippines Sunday. Ella Moulic was the Lady Woodpushers’ other gold medalist in Board 3. The Lady Maroons and the Lady Falcons finished second and third, respectively. In the juniors’ division, FEU-Diliman won the boys’ title for the fourth straight year with Dale Bernardo, a veteran of the 19th Asean Chess Age Group Championship, winning the season MVP honors, while NU annexed its first-ever girls crown behind tournament MVP Fide Master Allanney Jia Doroy.

Leonard back as Raptors rip Sixers LOS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points as the Toronto Raptors bounced back from their first loss of the season to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in a hard-fought Eastern Conference duel on Tuesday. Leonard, who had been rested in Toronto’s defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, also had seven rebounds and four assists after the Raptors saw off a late charge from the Sixers to seal a 129-112 win. The victory saw Toronto improve to 7-1 while the Sixers are 4-4 after another uneven performance from Brett Brown’s side. Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points while Kyle Lowry added 20 for the Raptors, who built up a comfortable 35-26 lead in the first quarter to take control of the contest thereafter. “Good bounce back, good win,” Lowry said afterward. “It was a good win. We were very active tonight, we were all over the place. It was a very scrappy night defensively and our guys played really great on defense.” Toronto led 67-53 at half-time and looked to be cruising to victory until a fightback from the Sixers late in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer from Joel Embiid got the Sixers back to within striking distance at 117-111 with 3min 30sec left in the fourth quarter before Toronto went on a 12-0 run to clinch the game. Cameroon star Embiid led the scoring for the Sixers with 31 points while Robert Covington had 15 points. J.J. Redick had 13 off the bench. Cavs off the mark In Boston, Kyrie Irving scored 31 points to lead the Celtics to a 108-105 win over the Detroit Pistons. Blake Griffin had another solid outing for the Pistons with 24 points, but the Celtics subdued a fourth quarter Pistons rally to improve to 5-2 and move up to third in the Eastern Conference table. In Houston, the Rockets’ sluggish start to the season suffered another setback with a defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic each scored 22 points as the Blazers completed a 104-85 win over the Rockets, who have won just one game in six outings. Chris Paul led the scoring for the Rockets with 17 points. AFP

LeBron’s patience is running out LOS ANGELES—Superstar LeBron James warned his young Los Angeles Lakers teammates that his patience was wearing thin after a third narrow loss less than two weeks into the new regular season. “You probably don’t want to be around when my patience runs out. I’m serious,” James said after the Lakers lost 124-120 at Minnesota on Monday night, leaving them with five defeats from their opening seven games. “We talk about patience but you can’t have reoccurrences of the same thing. If you are doing the same things over and over and over and expecting the same result then that’s insanity. So we have to get better. We can’t keep having the same mistakes over and over,” he said. James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has played in the past eight consecutive NBA Finals, winning titles with Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. But he left the Cavaliers and on July 1 signed with the Lakers, who have lost all three of their games decided by four points or fewer this season. Lakers coach Luke Walton was unhappy with 18 turnovers and what he saw as selfish offensive play. “Some of it was just lazy passing,” Walton said. “We had a lot of opportunities to run early, and we didn’t take advantage of it because we were just kind of flinging the ball around.” James produced 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocked shots. “I’m still able to get rebounds, still defend,” James said. “I can still make an impact if I’m making shots or not. I’m not a one-dimensional player.” James has six double-doubles and a triple double in seven games with the Lakers and averages 27.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals—all team highs—as well as 8.1 assists. AFP

IN BRIEF

Cathay Dragon flies HK-Davao route THE Department of Transportation said Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport is now serving flights from Hong Kong. Hong Kong-based Cathay Dragon would fly the Hong Kong-Davao-Hong Kong route five times weekly every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday utilizing an Airbus A320 aircraft. “I am very happy that the people of Hong Kong and the people of Davao and Mindanao are finally connected through this new route,” Transporation Undersecretary for aviation and airports Manuel Antonio Tamayo said. “Operating at five times every week, this connection will surely open tons of opportunities for the city of Davao and Hong Kong in terms of trade and tourism,” Tamayo said. Cathay Dragon whose home airport is the award-winning Hong Kong International Airport is the premium, fullserviced regional airline of the Cathay Pacific Group. Darwin G. Amojelar

Coca-Cola PH taps renewable energy COCA-COLA Femsa Philippines Inc., the current licensed bottler of Coca-Cola products in the country, is utilizing more renewable energy in its operations as it shifts four more of its bottling facilities to run on clean sources. KOFPH signed an agreement with Lopez-led First Gen Corp.’s retail electricity arms―First Gen Energy Solutions Inc. and Bac-Man Geothermal Inc.―for the supply of electricity from renewable energy sources, to power Coca-Cola’s bottling facilities in Ilocos, Pangasinan, Pampanga and Cebu. Coca-Cola Femsa said in a statement it strived to make clean energy a more prominent part of its global manufacturing processes, in keeping with its longstanding commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and to achieve sustainable operations through the use of renewable energy sources and the adoption of new technologies to further enhance operational efﬁciency. The partnership between KOFPH and FGES will help the local bottling company work towards its global 2020 sustainability goals on energy. Alena Mae S. Flores

IFC invests $65m in Altus Capital INTERNATIONAL Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, said it is investing up to $65 million in Altus Special Situations Asia 1 LP. The investment is being made by IFC along with the IFC Financial Institutions Growth Fund and the IFC Emerging Asia Fund, two funds managed by IFC Asset Management Company. It said the investment would support distressed companies in East Asia’s emerging markets with financing to ensure they could meet their financial obligations, regain creditworthiness and preserve jobs, thereby contributing to sustainable growth. Altus Capital is a boutique investor and asset manager that focuses on special situations and structured finance investments in Southeast Asia. The investment will enable Altus to set up a regional facility to invest in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, the latter two being nascent markets for distressed asset recovery. “I am excited to embark on this next phase of Altus Capital’s expansion with our partners at IFC, AMC and other institutional investors,” said Pavan Gidwani, chief executive of Altus Capital.

Energy expects to award LNG hub in November By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy expects to award to the winning consortium the development of the country’s first liquefied natural gas hub by November, a top official said Wednesday. “Hopefully, yes [in November],” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said, when asked when the government planned to award the LNG hub project to the winning bidder. Cusi said three serious proponents were eyeing the project, including state-run Philippine National Oil Co., China National Offshore Oil Corp. and Tokyo Gas together with their joint venture partners. CNOOC teamed up with Phoenix Petroleum Philippines under joint venture company Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc., which previously submitted a technical and financial proposal to develop the country’s first LNG hub. Tanglawan was asked to resubmit its proposal to the DoE as they had a problem with their Securities and Exchange Commission documents. Phoenix, a company led by businessman Dennis Uy, signed a memorandum of understanding with CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of CNOOC, China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator in June to study, plan and develop a LNG receiving terminal project in the Philippines. Data from DoE showed that Tanglawan was the 18th company to apply for pre-application conference with the agency.

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

October inflation may reach 7% T By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday inﬂation rate in October may hit as high as 7 percent on the back of higher costs of fuel and water.

The Bangko Sentral’s Department of Economic Research said in a statement the October 2018 inﬂation would likely settle within a range of 6.2 percent to 7 percent. The higher end represents an acceleration from the 6.7-percent increase in consumer prices in September,

the fastest in nine years. It said month-on-month inﬂation rate would likely fall within a range of -0.2 percent to 0.6 percent, in line with the central bank’s assessment that inﬂation would have peaked in third quarter of 2018 in the absence of further price shocks. October marks the start of the fourth quarter. “Upward price pressures from domestic petroleum prices and water rates in Manila Water and Maynilad-serviced areas could be offset by the lower prices of rice and other food items as well as the downward adjustment in Meralco power rates,” the BSP said. The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral, already raised the overnight borrowing rate by a

total of 150 basis points since May 2018 in a bid to temper the rising prices. ING Bank Manila said Tuesday it expected the central bank to increase the benchmark interest rate again before the end of the year. “Moving forward, the BSP will continue to closely monitor evolving trends in prices and inflation expectations, and will undertake necessary measures towards its commitment to price stability,” the Bangko Sentral said. The Philippines Statistics Authority earlier reported that inflation rate climbed to 6.7 percent in September from 6.4 percent in August. It was the steepest climb since February 2009. This brought inflation in the first nine months to 5 percent, above the govern-

Bank loans, money supply grew slower in September

MEGAWORLD’S AWARDS. Property

developer Megaworld Corp. continues its winning streak by bagging three Stevie Awards at the 2018 International Business Awards in London, England. The company brought home a gold award for Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year in Asia, Australia and New Zealand for its Megaworld Foundation Scholarship Program: Building Homes, Building Lives entry and two silver awards. Receiving the awards at the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel in London are Ethel Lim (left), first vice president for sales-Europe of Megaworld International, and Henry Galagar, vice president for salesEurope.

Ramos Group divesting from Vulcan Industrial ZAP Cove Development Corp., a Laguna-based company, is buying more than P3 billion worth of shares in Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp. of the Ramos family. Vulcan said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the assignment of subscription rights over 486.055 million partially paid shares in the company by National Bookstore Inc. in favor of Zap Cove Development. Vulcan said it also approved the additional subscription by Zap Cove of up to 2.55 billion shares out of the authorized but unsubscribed capital stock of the company at P1 per share. National Bookstore of the Ramos family is the majority shareholder of Vulcan with 58.6-percent stake. Vulcan also approved the company’s move to cease to exit the business of mining, oil, petroleum, industry development and mineral processing. It also approved to amend its primary and secondary purpose from mining to a holding company and such other purposes that the management deems ﬁt in the best interest of the company. These moves as well as other measures approved by the board of directors of Vulcan Wednesday boosted market speculation that the company could be a subject of backdoor listing. Vulcan also approved to write off all deferred exploration costs and other assets for accounting and legal purposes and to sell any or al of its remaining assets subject to the terms and conditions to be set by the management. The company asked for trading suspension of its shares as its board of directors will take up proposals that may materially affect the future business direction of the company. “The proposals that are expected to be taken up during the board meeting may affect market activity with respect to listed Vulcan securities and lead to speculation prior to board action on the proposals. The trading suspension will enable the company to provide its shareholders and the investing public with equal opportunity to examine the details of the results of the board meeting, and fully appraise their investment position in Vulcan shares in light of such results,” the company said. Jenniffer B. Austria

ment’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018. Results of the latest survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for September 2018 showed that the mean inflation forecast by private sector economists in 2018 rose to 5.3 percent from 4.5 percent in the June 2018 survey. Mean inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020 also increased to 4.3 percent and 3.9 percent, both from 3.8 percent in the previous survey, respectively. Private sector economists linked the higher inflation rate this year until 2020 to the peso depreciation against the US dollar, higher fuel prices and the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law on domestic goods and services.

PCC clears Mexican group’s exit from Coca-Cola Femsa PH By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Competition Commission approved the 51-percent acquisition in Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines Inc. by two units led by Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Company. The anti-trust body said in a decision the proposed acquisition by Coca-Cola South Asia Holdings Inc. and Coca-Cola Holdings (Overseas) Ltd. of a 51-percent stake in Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines would not result in substantial lessening of competition in the market. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines is a Philippines-based company engaged in bottling and distribution of CocaCola soft drink brands. Prior to the deal, it was led by Mexican company Coca-Cola Femsa S.A.B. de C.V., the world’s largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola trademark drinks. “In view of the recommendation from the Merger and Acquisitions Ofﬁce on the basis obtained from the parties and other sources to date, the proposed acquisition by Coca-Cola South Asia Holdings Inc. and Coca-Cola Holdings (Overseas) Ltd. of shares in Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines will not substantial lessening of competition in

the relevant market,” the PCC said. It said that post transaction, CocaCola Femsa Philippines would be wholly-owned by Coca-Cola South Asia Holdings Inc. and Coca-Cola Holdings (Overseas) Limited. Coca-Cola South Asia Holdings and Coca-Cola Holdings (Overseas) are indirectly owned subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola Femsa acquired 51 percent of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. from The Coca-Cola Company for $688.5 million in an all-cash transaction in 2013. It was Coca-Cola Femsa’s first operation outside Latin America and was seen as a potential jumpoff point for expansion in the rest of Asia Pacific. The Coca-Cola Company expressed confidence about the growth prospects of the Philippine bottling operations, adding the market was now in a better position for future success. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines has been dealing with labor problems since late 2016. It warned in August 2017 it might revisit its investment plan in the Philippines, if Congress approved the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in its original form.

BANK loans and money supply grew at slower rates in September after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised the benchmark borrowing rate by a total of 150 basis points this year. Preliminary data showed bank lending grew 17.4 percent in September from a year ago, slower than the 18.9-percent rise in August. The growth in bank lending inclusive of reverse repurchases eased to 16.3 percent in September from 18.4 percent in the previous month. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank loans net of RRPs and loans inclusive of RRPs increased by 0.9 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. The BSP said loans for production activities―which comprised 88.7 percent of banks’ aggregate loan portfolio, net of RRP ― increased a17.2 percent in September, slower than 19.1 percent in August. Meanwhile, loans for household consumption picked up 17.9 percent in September, faster than 15.8 percent in the previous month. The faster expansion in motor vehicle loans as well as the growth in credit card loans and salary-based general purpose consumption loans offset the decline in other types of household loans during the month. “The BSP will continue to ensure that the expansion in domestic credit and liquidity proceeds in line with overall economic growth while remaining consistent with the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives,” the BSP said. Meanwhile, domestic liquidity, or the money supply circulating in the financial system, rose 9.7 percent yearon-year to P11.2 trillion in September this year. This was slower than the 10.4-percent expansion in August. Data showed that on a month-onmonth seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased 0.1 percent. Domestic claims grew 14.5 percent in September, slower than the 15-percent increase in the previous month as growth in credit to the private sector eased. “Loans for production activities continued to be driven by lending to key sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; real estate activities; manufacturing; financial and insurance activities; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; and construction,” the BSP said. Darwin G. Amojelar

MORTGAGE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR. BDO

Unibank Inc. bags this year’s Mortgage Product of the Year at The Asian Banker Philippines Country Awards 2018. The country’s largest bank was able to keep its 30-percent share of the outstanding loans in the market through its strong branch network which now has more than 1,000 branches nationwide. Shown are (from left) Foo Boon Ping, managing editor of TAB; Grace Lastimosa, first vice president of BDO consumer loans group; Angelita Manulat, senior vice president and head of BDO home loans business; Prima Madrelejos, vice president of BDO; David Gyori, international resource director of TAB; and Richard Hartung, international resource director of TAB.

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises on window dressing S TOCKS rose Wednesday on window dressing at the end of the month, with select blue chips leading the market rally.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 124.23 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,140.29 on a value turnover of P7.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 100 to 84, with 45 issues unchanged. Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, climbed 4.6 percent to P276, while Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, gained 3.9 percent to P367.80. DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group jumped 7.9 percent to P12.84, while Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation and

distribution, banking, ﬂour milling and infrastructure, rallied 4.8 percent to P47. Unit Aboitiz Power Corp. rose 4.7 percent to P33.70. The rest of Asian markets staged a rare rally Wednesday following a bounce on Wall Street, with attention turning to the release of key US jobs data later in the week. But while investors brieﬂy have a spring in their step, a mountain of problems—from China-US trade tensions and Brexit, to Chinese weakness and rising US interest rates— is keeping optimism at a premium. October has been a painful month for Asian equities, which have seen billions wiped from their values, and observers warn of further pain, with Washington and Beijing seemingly unlikely to back off from their tariffs standoff anytime soon. Still, Wall Street put in a healthy

performance Tuesday—the Dow added 1.8 percent while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq jumped 1.6 percent—after data showed US consumer confidence at a new 18-year high in October. The positive reading sent the dollar up against the yen and the unit continued to rise in Asia after the Bank of Japan once again lowered its inflation forecasts, providing a push for Japanese exporters. The Nikkei in Tokyo jumped 2.2 percent by the close. In other markets Hong Kong added 1.1 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai closed 1.4 percent higher. In mainland China, data indicating a slowdown in manufacturing activity in October was offset by authorities’ support moves including tax cuts, measures to make it easier for firms to buy back shares and providing liquidity to markets. Sydney rose 0.4 percent, Singapore

climbed 1.3 percent and Taipei soared almost three percent. Wellington jumped more than one percent while Seoul added 0.7 percent and Jakarta gained 0.2 percent. On currency markets the dollar, boosted by a healthy US economy and expectations of more Federal Reserve rate hikes, was also holding gains against the euro, which has been hit by weak eurozone growth, German political uncertainty and Italy’s budget row with Brussels. The pound is at a near three-month low and facing fresh downward pressure as ofﬁcials struggle to reach a deal for Britain to leave the European Union, with just weeks to go before a deadline. A strong jobs report out of Washington Friday could provide more evidence for the Fed to hike rates and put further upward pressure on the greenback. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

59 79.8 2.45 122 1.34 28.3 7.89 15.7 11.52 3.97 1.5 810 0.475 64.55 40.5 190 108.9 78.25 29.4 143.6 1,830 65.9

59.5 82.15 2.45 123 1.4 28.3 7.89 15.7 11.52 4 1.53 810 0.48 65.55 40.5 190 122.9 78.25 29.4 145.2 1,830 66.9

58.75 79.8 2.45 120.3 1.34 28 7 15.7 11.28 3.9 1.5 810 0.475 64.15 39.6 185 108.9 73.05 28.5 138.8 1,830 65.9

FINANCIALS 59.5 51,360 82.15 1,723,280 2.45 15,000 122.4 3,091,460 1.34 71,000 28 54,700 7 1,800 15.7 500 11.32 883,900 4 254,000 1.53 124,000 810 150 0.48 270,000 65.55 4,669,860 39.6 204,700 185 550 122.9 2,860 77.95 100 29 8,200 144.4 688,820 1,830 5 66.85 530

3,042,857.50 140,026,294 36,750 378,275,249 95,600 1,538,035 13,579 7,850 10,028,326 1,008,740 189,600 121,500 128,350 301,667,010 8,159,200 102,990 338,132 7,605 236,785 97,038,111 9,150 34,951

2,165,370 5,145,672.50 20,315,965 -400,885 -5,078,324 -61,044,851 -3,712,485 430 -2,920 11,768,695 -1,982.50

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH

32.6 17.9 0.93 1.26 0.21 2.09 13.48 37.35 16.1 38 62.05 1.56 5.34 7 11 14.98 9 6.95 6.88 15.8 63.65 24.5 6.44 11 1.66 267.8 4.81 25 11.14 17.9 356 6.15 1.7 4.06 8.2 4.42 9.02 0.96 11 48.5 4.79 2.19 1.49 10.4 85.45 5.2 0.126 0.94 131 1.54

33.7 17.9 0.96 1.3 0.22 2.12 13.54 39 16.1 38 62.05 1.56 5.34 7 11.4 15.2 9 6.96 6.88 15.8 64.1 25.5 6.44 11.3 1.66 277 4.81 25.45 11.42 18.38 367.8 6.15 1.7 4.15 8.27 4.55 9.06 0.96 11 49 4.79 2.27 1.6 10.5 85.45 5.2 0.126 1 131 1.62

32.3 17.7 0.92 1.25 0.21 2.07 13.36 37 16.1 38 61.1 1.56 5.34 6.8 10.94 14.98 8.8 6.91 6.87 15.58 63.65 24.5 6.44 10.7 1.61 265.4 4.81 24.85 10.76 17.8 355 6.15 1.65 4.05 8.1 4.32 9.02 0.96 11 48.5 4.79 2.17 1.49 10.38 84.95 5.19 0.126 0.94 129 1.54

INDUSTRIAL 33.7 3,371,800 17.8 173,800 0.95 2,475,000 1.29 429,000 0.219 90,000 2.12 2,900,000 13.36 69,200 39 661,500 16.1 1,800 38 100 61.1 30 1.56 15,000 5.34 500 6.8 3,100 11.4 4,446,100 15.2 440,800 8.88 2,031,300 6.96 364,500 6.87 36,600 15.62 628,000 63.7 99,220 25 3,400 6.44 5,100 10.76 2,852,700 1.63 224,000 276 1,466,050 4.81 68,000 25 1,041,700 10.76 267,400 17.94 5,675,000 367.8 363,350 6.15 5,000 1.65 345,000 4.05 53,000 8.1 554,900 4.55 57,000 9.06 20,000 0.96 375,000 11 16,900 48.55 154,700 4.79 13,000 2.19 143,000 1.58 55,000 10.38 105,700 85 413,050 5.2 75,800 0.126 10,000 0.99 352,000 130 1,228,610 1.61 7,322,000

111,865,770 3,102,244 2,349,890 536,400 19,180 6,070,560 930,842 25,394,810 28,980 3,800 1,852 23,400 2,670 21,100 49,838,696 6,662,694 17,877,102 2,527,112 251,692 9,813,760 6,349,765 84,350 32,844 30,800,250 362,630 400,244,638 327,080 26,080,365 2,893,832 102,708,852(5, 132,501,312 30,750 569,800 215,280 4,516,714(2, 250,680 180,800 360,000 185,900 7,543,440 62,270 312,020 84,950 1,099,494 35,119,155 393,908 1,260 337,550 159,660,059 11,638,440

-6,775,895 -185,638 -5,640 2,271,690 917,382 8,918,275 -3,800 19,294,350 6,502,276 -1,635,800 -180,931 -5,112,184 717,863.50 16,419,700 158,042,836 23,046,090 -391,832 163,409.9997) 48,350,256 -531,250 12,150 561,885.9999) -5,523,555 -1,047,004 1,089,672 31,200 -9,291,119 -1,298,360

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

0.037 0.217 0.224 0.228 0.47 0.54 0.55 0.77 1.2 1.25 1.27 2.28 2.7 4.28 4.31 4.8 5.83 6.2 6.97 7.08 11.54 12 14.6 25.45 45.95 47.5 169.9 280 765 883.5 900.5

0.037 0.217 0.224 0.235 0.475 0.54 0.56 0.77 1.2 1.31 1.34 2.32 2.7 4.28 4.31 4.84 5.83 6.21 6.98 7.23 11.56 12.9 14.6 26 47 48.7 171 280 770 908 945

0.037 0.217 0.224 0.227 0.455 0.5 0.52 0.77 1.2 1.24 1.27 2.28 2.69 4.23 4.29 4.74 5.83 6.2 6.77 7.08 11.34 12 14.2 25 44.1 47.3 168.9 267.4 759.5 883.5 899

HOLDING FIRMS 0.037 2,100,000 0.217 300,000 0.224 10,000 0.235 2,600,000 0.455 25,630,000 0.53 41,000 0.54 1,206,000 0.77 15,000 1.2 1,000 1.25 17,856,000 1.28 3,185,000 2.28 112,000 2.7 407,000 4.23 2,757,000 4.29 20,000 4.8 48,220,000 5.83 3,500 6.21 103,900 6.77 1,029,100 7.23 15,800 11.36 6,127,200 12.84 9,680,900 14.5 844,800 25.35 24,500 47 2,428,900 47.3 1,707,300 171 621,260 280 2,330 760 167,960 900 380,410 920 461,150

77,700 65,100 2,240 605,030 11,878,250 20,610 641,570 11,550 1,200 22,814,070 4,113,800 258,220 1,098,830 11,672,960(1, 85,940 231,132,870 20,405 644,290 7,041,290 113,384 69,961,516 123,059,132 12,240,868 629,105 111,432,560 81,427,325 105,694,623 651,964 127,674,960 342,495,695 423,446,635

-28,700 1,519,180 976,869.9997) -131,892,390 575,980 -188,913 6,527,628 74,387,266 -9,678,152 -104,930 31,412,395 35,652,685 92,575,675 -12,730,785 125,708,520 -70,550,010

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP

7.09 0.77 11.28 1.95 0.61 38.25 2.42 4.34 5.35 0.41 0.91 0.21 0.375 7.9 19.3 0.54 0.105 1.41 1.05 2.64 4.35 0.59 0.395 0.42 3.36 29.1

7.09 0.77 11.28 1.95 0.61 39.65 2.45 4.34 5.35 0.42 0.91 0.219 0.385 7.9 19.3 0.54 0.105 1.44 1.05 2.66 4.45 0.6 0.395 0.435 3.46 29.1

7 0.75 11.26 1.95 0.57 38.25 2.36 4.3 5.35 0.405 0.91 0.21 0.375 7.88 18.52 0.51 0.103 1.4 1.05 2.51 4.35 0.57 0.395 0.42 3.35 29.1

2,135,979 807,420 158,780 39,000 2,050,230 580,613,845 878,200 194,360 2,675 631,500 1,820 239,860 56,450 812,068 8,046,626 ( 354,540 41,560 4,722,040 7,350 71,833,400 51,194,980 8,129,680 114,550 64,350 3,638,760 14,550

-179,290 -38,284 -39,000 -62,130 50,025,875 -307,210 17,400 -2,675 -120,550 406,560.0003) -2,833,030 -4,831,340 32,825,330 570,000.00 -90,850 -653,620 -

NAME

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

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

19.7 1.95 3.15 33.85 1.13 6.35 0.7 5.28

20.95 1.95 3.17 34.15 1.14 6.6 0.7 5.28

19.7 1.92 3.15 33.7 1.12 6.21 0.7 5.2

20.95 1.92 3.17 33.8 1.14 6.35 0.7 5.28

3,356,000 13,000 147,000 27,095,100 221,000 456,400 11,000 5,826,000

68,481,835 25,260 463,070 918,050,650 248,740 2,863,592 7,700 30,640,541

-11,053,922 15,600 453,600 -187,121,195 122,930 -17,761,943

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAXYS 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

10.78 21.5 0.455 0.039 1.68 8.12 67.5 6.2 7.39 9.9 890 2,058 5.15 310 2.79 2.02 89.9 11.2 7.8 0.105 3.3 3.1 14.4 3.4 0.8 17.4 0.4 5.3 7.09 2.21 1.23 4.48 10.94 3.1 104 3.51 1,355 0.75 0.34 41 77.5 7 2.65 0.7 0.51 5.16 0.59 11.3

10.94 21.5 0.455 0.041 1.72 8.5 67.5 6.3 7.42 10.3 900 2,090 5.15 319.8 2.9 2.02 91 11.24 7.8 0.105 3.3 3.24 14.4 3.4 0.81 17.4 0.41 5.4 7.15 2.22 1.27 4.54 10.94 3.25 105 3.56 1,398 0.76 0.35 41.5 78 7 2.76 0.71 0.52 5.2 0.59 11.4

10.7 21.4 0.435 0.039 1.66 8.12 64 6.2 7.39 9.43 890 2,002 5.1 307.2 2.79 2.02 89.45 11.1 7.8 0.105 3.16 3.07 14.4 3.35 0.77 17.04 0.4 5.3 7.09 2.21 1.23 4.3 10.62 3.1 104 3.47 1,340 0.73 0.34 40.3 75.15 7 2.65 0.67 0.5 5.15 0.56 11.3

SERVICES 10.94 21.5 0.435 0.041 1.69 8.4 64 6.26 7.42 9.43 890 2,090 5.1 319.4 2.84 2.02 90.5 11.24 7.8 0.105 3.2 3.24 14.4 3.4 0.8 17.2 0.4 5.4 7.15 2.22 1.23 4.35 10.9 3.25 105 3.5 1,390 0.74 0.345 40.55 75.8 7 2.7 0.68 0.51 5.2 0.58 11.3

10,000 10,300 450,000 6,500,000 1,399,000 11,218,900 166,900 1,349,700 1,100 185,000 250 63,350 24,000 4,360 1,644,000 2,000 7,582,670 8,600 12,500 420,000 7,268,000 31,000 200 322,000 187,000 169,200 120,000 50,300 2,919,900 491,000 60,000 2,014,000 13,300 18,000 80 658,000 131,710 4,411,000 200,000 789,700 828,550 7,300 35,631,000 11,589,000 14,264,000 5,124,700 3,405,000 2,019,100

107,964 221,235 197,850 265,000 2,367,400 93,313,301 10,998,179 8,449,058 8,159 1,793,531 222,700 131,554,620 122,992 1,370,064 4,704,690 4,040 679,673,415.5 ( 96,268 97,500 44,100 23,270,000 96,110 2,880 1,086,670 149,390 2,907,518 48,600 266,750 20,803,445 1,088,930 74,560 8,796,740 144,910 56,310 8,390 2,307,710 181,344,080 3,262,300 68,600 32,010,685 1 63,360,204.50 51,100 96,569,510 7,914,560 7,340,910 26,506,220 1,921,170 22,899,670

-3,234 111,790 14,213,346 6,491,401 -230,085 15,619,530 -404,150 57,063,621.5) -7,217,030 1,440 -27,010 -28,800 134,120 5,111,809 202,070 21,850 -1,729,600 21,678,035 -59,360 ,476,274.9997 -17,342,831 -50,400 11,284,900 -5,705,280 18,800 -17,049,163 22,800.00 17,011,140

APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

1.73 2.9 14 1.89 7.18 1.82 0.206 0.109 0.0069 1.2 2.57 1.05 0.62 0.97 0.013 0.012 4.14 3.54 17.66 28.1 0.0061

1.83 2.9 14 1.92 7.21 1.82 0.211 0.109 0.007 1.2 2.6 1.05 0.62 0.97 0.013 0.012 4.21 3.54 17.98 28.1 0.0061

1.73 2.9 12.52 1.89 7.13 1.8 0.203 0.107 0.0066 1.17 2.54 1.03 0.59 0.93 0.013 0.012 4.1 3.48 17.66 27.2 0.0061

MINING & OIL 1.82 7,111,000 2.9 2,000 14 24,900 1.92 309,000 7.19 1,600 1.82 463,000 0.211 160,000 0.109 340,000 0.007 31,000,000 1.2 121,000 2.54 802,000 1.03 2,000 0.6 23,000 0.96 702,000 0.013 45,200,000 0.012 50,700,000 4.1 141,000 3.48 1,364,000 17.84 1,498,000 27.95 653,100 0.0061 2,000,000

12,747,980 5,800 343,220 584,040 11,457 837,520 32,690 36,600 208,600 143,330 2,052,650 2,080 14,100 666,520 587,600 608,400 589,290 4,786,190 26,730,410 18,143,645 12,200

3,444,470 -16,260 -43,460 -2,080 136,730 3,500,322 -664,100 -

AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

465 492 96 470 98 1.01 101.9 100 104.9 1,000 75.05 76.05 74.35 74.9 75 74.5 74 73.55

465 492 96 470 98 1.02 101.9 100 105 1,000 75.05 76.05 74.4 74.9 75 75 74.9 74.9

465 492 95 460 98 1.01 101.9 100 104.9 1,000 75.05 76.05 74 74.9 75 74.5 73.95 73.5

PREFERRED 465 20 492 50 96 39,830 460 1,020 98 300 1.02 13,000 101.9 110 100 500 105 1,550 1,000 2,100 75.05 10 76.05 5,010 74.35 3,430 74.9 15,040 75 605,200 75 7,800 74.9 105,510 74.9 49,800

9,300 24,600 3,818,236 469,400 29,400 13,230 11,209 50,000 162,717 2,100,000 750.5 381,010.50 254,581.50 1,126,496 45,390,000 584,600 7,810,182 3,708,056

-4,650 -3,030 228,150 740 -

LR WARRANT

2.31

2.37

2.28

WARRANTS 2.28 114,000

263,410

6,900.00

PROPERTY 7.07 0.76 11.26 1.95 0.58 39.65 2.36 4.3 5.35 0.415 0.91 0.218 0.385 7.9 19.2 0.52 0.103 1.4 1.05 2.51 4.41 0.57 0.395 0.43 3.45 29.1

303,600 1,072,000 14,100 20,000 3,557,000 14,799,300 369,000 45,000 500 1,530,000 2,000 1,130,000 150,000 102,800 420,900 693,000 400,000 3,351,000 7,000 28,009,000 11,617,000 14,038,000 290,000 150,000 1,064,000 500

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

4.53 1.63

4.59 1.72

4.45 1.52

FIRST METRO ETF

106.2

107.5

106.2

USD TECH B2

1.01

TRADING SUMMARY

1.01

FINANCIAL

12,302,743

INDUSTRIAL

41,516,700

HOLDING FIRMS

128,907,196

PROPERTY

120,333,394

SERVICES

127,280,822

MINING & OIL

142,669,670

GRAND TOTAL

604,843,583

1.01

4.45 1.54

SME

228,000 31,597,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 107.5 4,100 1.01

DDS

4,920

1,024,600 51,005,700

178,000 -6,434,480

436,749

1,075

4,969.20

VALUE 1,607.90 (up) 15.10 964,779,571.20 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,648.79 (up) 225.23 1,164,885,267.77 HOLDING FIRMS 7,003.53 (up) 128.43 1,777,547,285.34 PROPERTY 3,495.49 (up) 61.45 1,462.55 (up) 11.60 1,761,482,830.59 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,572.05 (up) 38.43 1,468,459,745.20 PSEI 7,140.29 (up) 124.23 69,149,021.49 All Shares Index 4,370.46 (up) 60.66 7,258,781,769.58 Gainers: 100; Losers: 84; Unchanged: 45; Total: 229

Launching of Pacific trade agreement set December 30 SYDNEY, Australia—A massive trans-Pacific trade deal cleared a final hurdle Wednesday allowing it to enter into force this year, a pointed rebuke of President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies from some of America’s closest allies. Hours before an administrative deadline, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that his government had ratified the 11-country pact, meaning a quorum of more than half the members have formally signed on. “Australia is the sixth country to ratify the agreement, meaning it can now enter into force on 30 December this year,” said centre-right leader Morrison. Other signatories include G7 economies Japan and Canada. The so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) had a difficult birth and had appeared to be foundering when Trump withdrew the US shortly after coming to office. That turned out to be the opening salvo in Trump’s winner-takes-all, “America first” and threat-heavy approach to trade relations. Frantic behind-the-scenes, Japanese-led diplomacy kept a slimmeddown version of the pact alive among the remaining members—in the hope that Washington will have a change of heart, or government, and will eventually join. The entry into force “will send a strong message that the new rules of the 21st century, which are free and fair, will be established and will spread to the world,” said Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s minister in charge of economic revitalisation. The deal was spearheaded by thenpresident Barack Obama, who saw it as a geopolitical power play, with ramifications far beyond trade—a way of binding rising Asian powers into a rules-based, American-backed order and countering China’s might-is-right approach to commerce in the AsiaPacific region. Even without the participation of the world’s largest economy, the deal has been described as a game changer. AFP

Samsung posts hefty operating profit of $15.4b SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA—Samsung Electronics on Wednesday posted record quarterly operating and net profits as solid demand for its memory chips cushioned the fallout from slowing smartphone sales—but warned of tougher times ahead. The South Korean tech giant—the world’s top maker of smartphones and memory chips–has recovered from a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief, to post a series of recordbreaking numbers. The profits have been driven by its mighty semiconductor unit, which provides chips for its own devices as well as competitors including Apple. But that run was coming to an end, Samsung signaled in a statement, saying it expected “overall earnings across the company to decline” in the fourth quarter because of seasonal factors in the semiconductor market. Going into 2019, “earnings are forecast to be weak for the first quarter” for the same reason, it added, before business conditions improved. For July-September, Samsung reported an operating profit of 17.6 trillion won ($15.4 billion), up 21 percent from a year ago and a an all-time higher for any quarter. Net profit also jumped 17.5 percent to 13.1 trillion won, also a record, while sales rose 5.5 percent to 65.4 trillion won. “It was in line with expectation but this will be the peak,” Greg Roh of HMC Securities & Investment told AFP. “I’m expecting a decrease in the fourth quarter across the company including semiconductors and smartphones to around 16.6 trillion won,” he said. The figures—in line with estimates announced earlier this month—were “driven mainly by the continued strength of the memory (chip) business”, Samsung said. The unit dominates the global market and the firm has invested tens of billions of dollars each year to build and expand its factories. AFP

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business/World

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Christian’s blasphemy conviction overturned

GRIM SEARCH. Next of kin attempt to identify the personal items of loved ones who were on board the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 at a port in Jakarta on October 31, 2018. The smashed fuselage of the crashed jetliner may have been found, a top military commander said on October 31, as Jakarta ordered the removal of the carrier’s technical director and staff who cleared the doomed flight for takeoff. AFP

Manila and Mandaue reclamation projects TWO reclamation projects are drawing the attention of newspaper readers with contrasting views. The Manila Bay reclamation project is viewed with hope, while a section of the Mandaue reclaimed land is seen with contempt. Over five years after I wrote on the need to reclaim part of the Manila Bay to help the capital in regaining its former glory, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada finally acceded after signing separate partnerships with private groups to reclaim huge swathes of the Manila Bay. Three groups—Manila Goldcoast Development Corp. owned by the family of chairman and chief executive William Tieng, SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. and the Pasay Harbor City consortium led by Davao City-based Charlie Gonzales of Ulticon Builders—promised to generate valuable coastal real estate as well as provide employment and other economic opportunities in the two premier coastal cities in Metro Manila. MGDC’s 148-hectare reclamation project in joint venture with the Manila city government covers the southern parcel of the ManilaCavite Coastal Road and Reclamation Project-North Sector, also known as “Solar City’ Project.” SM Prime’s 300-hectare and 60-hectare projects are in joint venture with the Pasay local government unit. Pasay Harbor City consortium’s 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City project, meanwhile, is also in joint venture with Pasay City. The three reclamation projects will certainly generate employment and needed revenues to Manila and Pasay. MGDC’s Solar City Manila reclamation project, for one, will generate an estimated P50 billion in revenues and create 500,000 jobs once the Philippine Reclamation Authority issues a notice to proceed to the project. The Manila component, says Estrada, is expected to start early next year, becoming the biggest reclamation project between the ManilaPasay border in the south and Roxas Boulevard in the east. The project would cover around 3.5 kilometers of Manila Bay’s shoreline. “Not only will these reclamation projects substantially increase the revenues of our city, it will also generate approximately 500,000 new jobs for our residents,” Estrada said. MGDC hopes to duplicate the success of Singapore and Hong Kong in reclaiming lands and making them usable, on which more buildings and infrastructures could be built. The Marina Bay, Singapore Flyer and several financial centers now stand on Singapore’s reclaimed lands, luring more tourists and businessmen. Japan’s Kansai International Airport and Tokyo Bay area also sit on reclaimed lands. The surrounding areas of the project, such as Ermita and Malate, will also benefit from the Solar City project in terms of higher value of their properties and increased business resulting from the influx of tourists, residents and workers in the area, MGDC said in a paper. Dirt cheap Over in Mandaue City, Cebu province, a furor has erupted over what clearly appears to be a real estate property steal. Former Mandaue City mayor and current 6th District Rep. Jonas Cortes is at the center of a controversy for causing the sale of the city’s 3.5-hectare reclaimed property for a measly P50 per square meter in 2015. Cortes approved the sale of the city’s property for just a total of P1,791,050. The buyer, Ecodemcor, achieved the coup considering the current value of the land is now around P12,000 per square meter. Had the property been sold at the right value, Mandaue City would have gained around P429.8 million that could have been used for social services related to health, education and other programs. On August 24, 2015, Ecodemcor, through its president Olga Ouano, informed then-mayor Cortes that it would exercise its right of first preference under the “Promise To Sell” initiative at a price of P50 per square meter. The Promise To Sell is not binding to the city government, but Cortes forwarded Ouano’s offer to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on August 25, 2015 without first determining if the subject land has been classified as “alienable and disposable” and without consulting the city auditor or city assessor for appraisal of the land. On September 16, 2015, or less than one month after Cortes made the offer, the Sangguniang Panglungsod recommended the disposal of the reclaimed land to Ecodemcor for P50 per square meter. And on September 18, 2015, or less than a month after he forwarded the offer, Cortes signed a deed of absolute sale in the amount of P1,791,050. But the Mandaue City Legal Office last week recommended the nullification of the sale. “The Office finds that the sale and the facts leading to its sale to Ecodemcor of the 35,821 sqm. lot is void as the cause, object and purpose is against public policy for failure to follow protocol in accordance with established systems and procedures of concerned government agencies, and as mandated by law,” its resolution said. The legal office in a 16-page report said the sale of city-owned property for P50 per square meter or a total of P1,791,050 to Ecodemcor in 2015 caused “economic prejudice to the city.” “The city could validly move for the nullification of the contracts and demands for the restoration or return of the object of the contract,” the legal office said in its report, signed by city legal officer Omar Redula and other members of the office. Cortes is now facing plunder charges for the disadvantageous sale of the 3.5-hectare land. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

ISLAMABAD―Pakistan’s Supreme Court Wednesday overturned the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother facing execution for blasphemy, in a landmark case that has incited deadly violence and reached as far as the Vatican. “The appeal is allowed. She has been acquitted. The judgment of high court as well as trial court is reversed. Her conviction is set aside,” said Pakistan’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in the ruling. Bibi appeared to be in state of disbelief after hearing the decision from her lawyer. “I can’t believe what I am hearing, will i go out now? Will they let me out, really?” Bibi told AFP by phone from prison after the ruling. “I just don’t know what to say, I am very happy, I can’t believe it.” Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where even unproven allegations of insulting Islam and its Prophet Mohammed can provoke a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes. Bibi was set to be released immediately according to the court, although there was no word if any security arrangements were being made for her protection. Her legal team celebrated the court’s decision amid beefed-up security in Islamabad after religious hardliners had vowed to protest any acquittal of the case. “The verdict has shown that the poor, the minorities and the lowest segments of society can get justice in this country despite its shortcomings,” Bibi’s lawyer Saif-ul-Mulook told AFP. “This is the biggest and happiest day of my life.” Her case drew the attention of international rights groups and swiftly became the most high-proﬁle in the country. AFP

Protesters slam Trump visit P ITTSBURGH―Around 1,500 people took to the streets of Pittsburgh Tuesday to demonstrate peacefully in song against a visit by US President Donald Trump and to mourn 11 Jewish worshipers killed in a synagogue.

The crowd of all ages and faiths, including many young families, children and the elderly, marched for six blocks holding signs that read “President Hate, Leave Our State!” and “Trump’s Lies Kill.” They marched through leafy Squirrel Hill, the tolerant and diverse neighborhood that has been a beating heart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, home to the synagogue where Saturday’s carnage took place.

Trump ﬂew into the city with wife Melania to pay his respects at the Tree of Life synagogue, but many in the largely Democratic city say his rhetoric and vitriolic tweets have fanned white supremacy and are fueling a spike in anti-Semitism across the United States. The rally began with an organizer reading aloud from an open letter written by a group of Pittsburgh Jewish leaders to Trump, telling him he bears responsibility for the shooting and asking him not to come. “President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully renounce white nationalism,” she read. The crowd broke into soft a capella song, which they continued as they marched through the neighborhood, watched by residents and shop workers who poured out of their homes and businesses in solidarity. “I just think it’s important to show solidarity in this time of unimaginable tragedy,” said Patricia Calderone, 62, a retiree and a photographer, who made a “Trump’s Lies Kill” sign.

Pregnant migrants want children to be Americans TAPANATEPEC, Mexico― Two months ago, Marisol Hernandez’s husband was gunned down by gangsters for refusing to work for them. For the pregnant 23-year-old, that was the last straw. She left her two children with her grandmother and decided to set off among thousands of other Honduran migrants in a bid to reach the United States. In her case, because she wants her next child to “be American.” She is far from alone. Dozens of pregnant women are among the migrants, now in Mexico, ﬂeeing poverty and violence in their homeland in search of the American dream. But the hope that her unborn child will be American and “graduate in something, study, speak English, know about computers and things like that,” is being

threatened by President Donald Trump’s apparent determination to abolish birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and non-citizens. “It’s ridiculous. And it has to end,” said Trump of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment that grants US citizenship to those born on US soil. For now, Hernandez is hoping that in six months’ time, her newborn baby will become a citizen of the United States. Her story is a harrowing, but typical of those amongst the estimated 7,000-strong caravan heading through Mexico toward California. She used to work in a clothing shop but two months ago “mareros,” gang members, killed her husband with “a bullet between the eyes” on his doorstep as he returned from work. AFP

World’s biggest statue inaugurated with pomp SARDAR SAROVAR DAM, India―India on Wednesday inaugurated the world’s biggest statue with pomp, fireworks and tight security amid an outcry among local groups over the cost of the 182-meter (600-foot)high reproduction of an Indian independence hero. Activists said about a dozen of their leaders had been detained before Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with an air force jet flyover, helicopters showering flowers on the statue and fireworks in the green, orange and white national colors. “Today is a day that will be remembered in the history of India,” said Modi who hailed Sardar Patel’s “strategic thinking” in bringing together the disparate country after independence

in 1947 and the Statue of Unity as “a symbol of our engineering and technical prowess.” But around the statue in a remote corner of Gujarat state, more than 5,000 police guarded the huge site where construction work has taken nearly four years to complete the mega project. Hundreds of Chinese have been among the 3,500 workers. Anand Mazgaonkar, a community group leader in Narmada district, said plain clothes police took away 12 people late Tuesday to the local police headquarters. Police denied they had made any detentions. But authorities took no chances in case community groups staged protests to demand compensation for land taken to erect the statue of Unity, which cost 29.9 billion rupees ($400 million). AFP

The Steel City is “stronger than the hate,” she said. “It’s a very diverse city, it’s a small city but people are close, people are united and we’re not going to let this happen here and hurt us.” “I can’t know what the president is thinking and I cannot know his motivations, but I can know his words,” said Gabriel McMorland, 36, who used to live in Squirrel Hill. “They line up so closely with the words of white nationalist terrorists and racist rightwing conspiracy theories,” he added. “What he’s saying are the kinds of thing that a Nazi sympathizer would say and I don’t think I’m exaggerating at all to say that.” Toward the end, a short prayer was said in Hebrew, the protesters held their arms up to the sky and tore a piece of black paper in ritual, before observing a moment of silence punctuated only by birdsong. As they marched on, past a fire station and standing police officers, they applauded loudly and chanted “thank you” in tribute to the first responders who were called out to the massacre on Saturday. AFP

Manila

Standard

Form 2B (Revised June 2014)

TODAY 16th to 19th Floors, Fort Legend Towers 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 Statement of Condition (Head Office and Branches) As of September 30, 2018 AMOUNTS

ASSETS

CURRENT QUARTER

PREVIOUS QUARTER

Cash and Cash Items PhP Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net

374,726,567.98 3,989,081,810.76 512,296,884.15 265,757,598.88 3,274,194,179.87 2,477,624,742.55 0.00 0.00 37,567,835,562.02 788,153,852.76 35,000,054,336.82 2,200,000,000.00 420,372,627.56 191,233,329.07 152,136,174.71 82,908,596.84 890,236,506.31

407,338,664.45 3,536,377,926.85 867,851,355.01 169,475,695.05 2,728,196,051.87 1,680,742,620.61 3,577,451.97 12,440,816.63 35,426,109,266.98 4,813,593,463.98 30,642,195,991.53 400,000,000.00 429,680,188.53 180,464,091.54 169,337,253.93 125,647,713.86 937,420,736.11

TOTAL ASSETS

PhP

49,778,031,953.14

46,244,979,644.86

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

PhP

70,162,025.20 35,943,970,100.19 4,714,319,998.00 4,714,319,998.00 0.00 315,223,634.11 1,627,025,800.94

54,624,638.96 35,494,957,751.02 1,892,033,808.00 1,892,033,808.00 0.00 359,745,381.74 1,389,415,677.49

TOTAL LIABILITIES

PhP

42,670,701,558.44

39,190,777,257.21

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

PhP

2,533,200,985.17 30,019,224.49 4,544,110,185.04

2,533,200,985.17 -58,213,593.35 4,579,214,995.83

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

7,107,330,394.70

7,054,202,387.65

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

49,778,031,953.14

46,244,979,644.86

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts Derivatives Others

PhP

2,045,631,818.31 51,911,985.74 472,410,666.37 127,871,893.71 108,040,000.00 3,125,933,587.08 1,577,351,812.95 616,633,333.45 960,718,479.50 11,749,880,874.47 728,847,732.12

2,037,006,104.64 85,167,083.36 602,092,740.09 9,782,227.96 106,680,000.00 1,686,956,060.57 1,560,089,561.94 700,868,863.03 859,220,698.91 10,575,582,975.84 171,071,544.33

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

PhP

19,987,880,370.75

16,834,428,298.73

PhP PhP

38,328,216,948.88 340,008,759.30

36,188,074,019.85 332,284,564.34

PhP

486,534,090.10 1.27% 203,744,090.09 0.53% 156.29%

496,519,465.43 1.37% 204,688,165.36 0.57% 153.46%

69.88%

66.92%

PhP

640,754,548.92

619,741,823.06

PhP

19,799,265.72

20,164,987.52

PhP

0.05% 0.00

0.06% 0.00

0.00%

2.21% 1.34% 3.58%

0.61% 1.49% 3.90%

16.55% 15.66% 15.66%

17.68% 16.79% 16.79%

LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPL (%) f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPL (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) c. CET 1 (%)

PhP

I/ We hereby certify that all matters set forth in this Published Balance Sheet are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) ANDREW A. FALCON Chief Finance Officer

(Sgd.) WEI, ERH - CHANG (a.k.a. PETER WEI) President and CEO

LGUs

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

thursday, november 1, 2018

Makati: P30m paid for movie tix for PWDs, srs. in 9 months

LocaL government units

By Joel E. Zurbano

Angeles gains Heritage Award from President By Romeo Dizon ANGeLeS CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded the first Philippine heritage Award to Angeles City during a ceremony held in Malacañang. The award under the heritage Program Support category was given to Angeles for its “serious commitment in the preservation and conservation of its cultural heritage, with the solid support of non-government organizations, business groups, institutions of higher learning and other private sectors of the city.” Duterte gave the award based on the recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and Arts, which found the city’s extraordinary commitment to its rich heritage program. The city entry entitled “Cultural Renaissance in Angeles City” portrays the serious collaboration of the first-class highly urbanized city with the private sector in promoting cultural awareness and appreciation including inclusivity. The entry also named Councilor Amos Rivers as one of the individuals who piloted the project. Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councillor edgardo Pamintuan Jr. received the award from the President in behalf of Mayor edgardo Pamintuan and the people of Angeles. Nepomuceno said the award “is a reaffirmation of our people’s active participation in embracing our cultural legacy for long period of time.” “We also offer this award to our partners in the private sector manifesting our fruitful endeavours that has cultivated and installed among our people a sense of pride for our beloved city,” he said. This heritage includes the 1898 Pamintuan house built by the wealthy farmer along the Miranda street. The house conveys Philippine history as the headquarters of the revolutionary army against the Americans, as the sites of the 1899 independence celebration, being occupied by General Arthur MacArthur in 1901 and Japanese Kamikaze pilots in 1944. It was bought by the Central Bank in 1981. Today, the house remains standing on its hallowed spot “as mute witness to history of the Angelenos in particular and the Filipino in general.” Other cultural heritage sites are the La Naval guesthouse, Bale herencia, the 180-year-old Bale Matua (old house) on Sto. Rosario Street, the holy Rosary Cathedral, the city museum, and other heritage spots. Mayor Pamintuan created a working committee in 2011 to rediscover the heritage zone, to protect and manage the historical edifices, and preserve events with national significance. The outgoing mayor of nine years said the heritage program must go hand in hand with urban renewal so Angeles will not be left behind by other cities in the fast setting global development.

FOR COOPERATIVES. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo receives a plaque of appreciation from Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose

Antonio Sy-Alvarado (second from left) in commemoration of Cooperative Month. The former president was guest of honor of the Gawad Kalinga Kooperatiba Awards 2018 in Malolos, Bulacan on Wednesday. Also pictured (from left) are Bulacan Board Member Allan Ray Baluyut and Bulacan Vice Governor Daniel Fernando.

QC deploys safety men for ‘Undas’ weekend By Rio N. Araja

he Quezon City government on Wednesday ordered the deployment of more safety and emergency personnel to cooperate with the Quezon City Police District to ensure an orderly and safe observation of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

“We want to reassure the public that we are prepared and that there are emergency response teams available,” Acting Mayor Joy Belmonte said. “There is going to be a lot of police visibility. We also want to inform the public that barangay watchmen and traffic enforcers have been recruited deployed to address traffic issues,” she added. Belmonte tasked the Department of Public Order and Safety to ensure the smooth flow of traffic around the city, especially in areas surrounding major cemeteries. The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is also on guard for any

possible medical and other emergencies during the observance of Undas. Belmonte urged residents to call up 122 to directly inform authorities for emergency cases. A medical station has been positioned at the Araneta, Cubao bus terminal area, while the staging areas have been set up along Mindanao Avenue corner Quirino highway, inside himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park, and on A. Bonifacio Avenue near Barangay Paang Bundok. Meanwhile, health and human rights groups on Wednesday urged the Quezon City government to take the necessary

steps in giving better access to health services for the vulnerable sector. At a legislative forum organized by the Medical Action Group, its executive director edeliza hernandez said health rights encompass all segments of society, including the vulnerable groups, and that it is the responsibility of the local government unit to make health-care services easily available “and in good quality.” “After all, health right is a human right,” she stressed. hernandez said the city’s senior citizens, persons with disability, women and children’s groups have backed the passage of three measures at the city council—the profiling and registration of PWDs, establishment of an out-patient and diagnostic medical center for the elderly, and mandatory hiring of more doctors in barangay health-care centers.

NEXT SPEAKER?

President Rodrigo Duterte raises the arm of Alan Peter Cayetano during the former Foreign Affairs secretary’s birthday celebration at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao. The President said Cayetano will do a great a job as a House Speaker as he did as Foreign secretary, once he wins his bid for the congressional seat of Taguig-Pateros. Norman Cruz

Leyte farmers, officials briefed on national biosafety procedures By Brenda Jocson TACLOBAN CITY—More than 150 farmers and officials of selected municipalities in Leyte recently participated in the Biotech 101 and Joint Department Circular Public Briefing held in this city. “The greatest resource of a nation is its people. We consider our farmers as

our jewels in Leyte,” Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla of Leyte said as he welcomed them. The activity held on Oct. 26 was organized by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Department of AgricultureBiotechnology Program Office, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for

Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Biotechnology Information Center in coordination with the DA Regional Field Office 8. Petilla said the activity’s objectives were aligned with the local government’s thrust to improve the province’s economy through agriculture. “Science is good if we use it wisely

for the benefit of the people,” he said. experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Institute of Plant Breeding, Philippine Genome Center, and Visayas State University apprised the participants on the science of biotechnology, food and environmental safety of genetically modified crops, and biotech products in the pipeline.

SeArCA lauded for finished work LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Philippine-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture was lauded for its 2017-2018 accomplishments by its 11-country member Governing Board during its annual meeting held in hanoi, Vietnam earlier this month. Some of its accomplishments were 63 new master’s and PhD scholarships awarded in addition to 143 ongoing scholarships, 26 research projects conducted, 97 research projects supported, 26 conferences and workshops convened, 34 training and knowledge events conducted, 30 news publica-

The Makati City government announced Wednesday it paid five theater owners more than P30 million for the free movie tickets given to senior citizens and persons with disability in the city who availed the privilege in the last nine months. For 2018, the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay allocated P40 million for the movie tickets of some 82,286 senior citizens and P4 million for 9,336 PWDs. They are entitled to unlimited free entrance to cinemas located in the city, which is one of the most popular perks provided by the city government. Binay noted what she described as “priceless joys” derived by the beneficiaries of the program which continue to make it a worthwhile investment for the city and its partners in the private sector. “Being able to watch movies as often as they want helps to keep their minds active and their hearts young. It also allows them to spend precious bonding moments with family members and friends, which contribute to their overall sense of well-being,” she said. The elderly and PWD residents can watch free movies at any of the cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart. In his report to the Office of the Mayor, city chief accountant William Dayrit said the city paid P30.3 million to five cinema partners for movie tickets issued for free to both sectors from January to September this year. Of this, P27.9 million was for senior citizens and P2.4 million was for PWDs. The amounts constitute the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used under the program, which is being implemented in partnership with cinema owners in the city. The free movies benefit for the elderly started in 1997 with the passage of City Ordinance No. 97-085, appropriating P500,000 as the 25-percent share of the city in cinema admission costs for senior citizens. The program was institutionalized three years later through City Ordinance No. 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in the annual City executive Budget for its continuous implementation in succeeding years.

tions produced, and 28 new formal agreements for various development programs and projects signed with 16 international and 14 national partners. As the highest policymaking body of Searca, its Governing Board conducts an annual evaluation of the Center’s work in the region, including the Philippines, as well as its financial health and operational performance, this time in Vietnam on October 13-14. The Philippines is represented in Searca’s Governing Board by University of the Philippines Los Baños Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez Jr., who also chairs the board. Brenda Jocson

TOURISM PARTY-LIST. Tourism industry stakeholders have formed a new party-

list group, Tourism Educators and Movers of The Philippines, and the League of Tourism Students of The Philippines, as both were launched recently at the Wine Museum Hotel and Restaurant in Pasay City. Photo shows Senator Richard Gordon and Team Phils chairman and president Robert Lim Joseph (seated, center) flanked by LTSP executives director Xander Kim Sigua, and Angel Ramos Bognot, Team Phils Director.

De Alban

Manila council backs De Alban vs Comelec The Manila Council of Leaders is throwing its support behind senatorial candidate and lawyer Angelo de Alban, whom the Commission on elections law department has petitioned to disqualify as a supposed nuisance candidate. The Council of Leaders is a group of presidents of different urban poor organizations in the National Capital Region. It is under the Field Office Division of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor, which protects the rights of the urban poor on housing, especially informal settlers. In a statement of support issued by its president Tomas e. Jaldo Jr., the council said: “The leadership and the group are united in supporting the bid of Atty. Angelo de Alban for senator.” In a separate press conference in Quezon City, the lawyer and university professor said he was surprised by the Comelec petition to disqualify him, allegedly on the grounds of “lack of bona fide intention to run for office” and “financial incapacity.” “Because I’m just a teacher and a lawyer, I’m already a nuisance candidate?” De Alban said. “They shouldn’t look down on us, not with the clamor for new faces [in government] and the uproar over politicians with criminal cases filing their certificates of candidacy.”

Life

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

household

thursday, november 1, 2018

A commitment to memory IN MEMORY OF. The Makati Catholic Cemetery is currently being developed to make way for a new memorial park. By Diana B. Noche

EsTlED between two massive landmarks—the Ayala Center and Century City—and wrapped inside cracked and crumbling concrete walls, the old Makati Catholic Cemetery for some weeks has been under development assault.

The remaining statues ‘pray’ for the dead.

For years it had become an ignored and neglected spot, whose memories have been blurred by time, a serene sanctuary away from the roar of an overmotorized city. Kalachuchi trees in full bloom dispersed a delicate perfume. Families, sardined within a community among the dead, eked out their days, heedless of the unsympathetic rush of current culture nearby. Amid the tall trees they went about their daily chores inside makeshift houses under leaf-filtered light and the kerosene lamps at night. The landscape is going to be altered irreversibly—its essential spirit, that of an affirmation of life’s fleetingness—and soon wrested out of everything except for the memories and ghosts. Pssst, hello there! A yellow bulldozer, demolition equipment, and wrecking crew are busy changing the surface of the land. The overturned earth has caked and turned to a toughened crust. The kalachuchis and the old trees were sawed down to make way for a new, state-of-the-art columbarium to inter the more elite community of spirits.

The once-loved dead, now forgotten and left behind under talahib-choked graveyards, a lot of them unmarked, will be forever past and gone. squatters who initially refused to be bulldozed away were forced to abandon their homes and said goodbyes to their spooky connections. Pssst, hello? it is a panorama of destruction, with hints of otherworldliness and repose especially at nights with only a vaguely-lit moon shining upon the area, and some torn-up plastic bags stuck in what is left of the dry rot trees whipping in the occasional breeze. Peeking inside the ravaged cemetery, we sense the lingering here-ness of the dead ones’ absence yet on a less lamentable perception, the wreckage is but an essentially flowing circumstance of urban ecology. in contrast, the Manila south Cemetery in the abutting neighborhood is alive and happily embraces the f lood of people, dead or alive, within its fold. Turn to C2

A broken sculpture at Makati Catholic Cemetery.

Some of the old memories at Makati Catholic Cemetery are bound to be replaced with new ones as the memorial park currently undergoes construction; old trees were sawed down and informal settlers forced out of their homes.

Curated Home launches new collections Robinsons Department store’s exclusive home furnishings brand, Curated Home, has launched three new collections in time for the holiday season. Renowned furniture designer and visual stylist ito Kish, the home and lifestyle label’s primary curator, handpicked the pieces in the collections. The first of the three collections, Terrazzo, cleverly groups together home pieces that call to mind the chips of marble, granite, and quartz of the retro flooring material of the same name. A few pieces from the collection make for conversation pieces. Meanwhile, fans of modern design would appreciate the Retro-Geo collection, Curated Home’s

tribute to design stalwarts Charles and Ray Eames. Expect strong colors, bold lines, and geometric shapes in this collection. Aiming to offer something for everyone, the label has also prepared a collection for individuals with a more natural approach to design. The simple Harmony collection is all about muted colors and organic shapes. These well-designed furnishings and décor are now available at Robinsons Department stores. Follow @CuratedHomePH and @RobinsonsHomeLiving to know more.

Scented candle gold cover and baskets and vases from Simple Harmony collection.

Set of 3 hexagonal trays and hanging planter from Retro-Geo collection.

45x45 throw pillow case with faux leather trim and vases from Terrazzo collection.

Life

thursday, november 1, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Better immunity for better learning By Mae Gianina C. Pascual

uTRITIon, environment, and safety are key essentials in forming the cognitive health of a child. As parents, we want them to learn as fast as they can. But the way to win is not by learning fast but by learning early. In the first three years of a child, experts say, their brain goes through an amazing period wherein their development is at its fastest. Each touch, movement, and emotion in a young child’s life translates into an explosion of electrical and chemical activity in the brain. Brain, immunity, and gut are three factors that contribute to a child’s intellectual health. But challenges like poor nutrition, stress, and illnesses can slow down or interfere this development. Stress results in increased cortisol

levels which may hamper brain growth, thus it is vital that parents to show their love and affection via comforting touch, for instance. Illnesses are also inevitable, but proper nutrition and stimulation, as well as a strong immune system reduce the chance of acquiring serious diseases. In a bid to support the immunity development of children 3 years old and above, Abbott has launched the new Similac GainSchool with 2’-FL HMo (human milk oligosaccharides), a pro-

Abbott is the first company in the world to include 2’-FL HMO—an ingredient that strengthens the immune system—in its growing-up milk for children above three years old.

Similac GainSchool is the only growing-up milk in the Philippines with 2’-FL HMO (human milk oligosaccharides) and EyeQ Plus Nutrition System.

tective ingredient previously not found in any formula milk. With more than 15 years of pioneering research in HMo and more than 20 clinical and pre-clinical studies, Abbott has found that HMo can play an important role in helping build a strong immune system, reduce infections, and improve a child’s digestive health. Abbott is the first company in the world to include 2’-FL HMo in its growing-up milk. “HMo helps strengthen the immune system by nourishing the good bacteria in the gut where 70 percent of the immune system exists. Keeping your child’s digestive system healthy also means strengthening their immunity,” said Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr. In the Philippines, the most common cause of infections in young children is related to upper respiratory tract infections. HMo is associated with the reduction of up to 66 percent of these infections. In addition to supporting immunity development, Similac GainSchool is also the only growing-up milk in the Philippines with the clinically proven EyeQ Plus nutrition System, which contains 10 essential brain nutrients that help support the development of brain connections for faster learning. Similac GainSchool also contains nu-

From left: Similac Group product manager John Legisma, Abbott public affairs director Wen Dee Foo, Abbott Nutrition senior product manager Arlene Toribio, Abbott Group medical director Dr. Jun Dimaano, Jr., Danica Sotto-Pingris, Dr. Ria de Guzman, and Christine Jacob-Sandejas

trients that are essential in nourishing that it contains DHA, Lutein, and natural Vitamin E, all of which help support strong cognitive development. “one of the main pillars of pediatric a child’s nutritional needs.” health is cognition, which consists of Go to www.abbott.com for learning, acquiring knowledge, and permore information. forming executive functions,” said Dr. Ria de Guzman. “What I found interestPhotos by Mae Gianina C. Pascual ing in Similac GainSchool with HMo is

How to choose the right insurance FInAncIAL experts recommend getting an insurance to protect yourself and your loved ones. But with many insurance providers offering so many different kinds of products in the market today, choosing the right one can be a challenge. AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, offers these tips to help you find the right plan.

Know your goals

Kuya Kim Atienza explains to celebrity moms Mariel Rodriguez, Joy Sotto, and Say Alonzo the real reason behind musty odor in clothes.

Laundry detergent brand

debunks myths on clothes’ malodor IT IS a common belief that drying clothes indoor causes musty odor. But in an online video, a detergent brand has tapped Kuya Kim Atienza to lay down the facts on musty odor on clothes. “Marami na akong mga naririnig na kuro-kuro tungkol sa amoy kulob sa damit, lalo na kapag maulan ang panahon. Alam mo ba na ang amoy kulob ay sanhi ng mga mantsang hindi nakikita ng ating mga mata? Maaari ring ito ay nagmula sa hindi sapat na paglalaba ng damit na siyang dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng mga mikro-organismong nagbibigay ng mabahong amoy ng kulob,” explained Kuya Kim. Kuya Kim used a uV light to reveal

that kulob or musty odor is actually caused by invisible stains. These stains can be efficiently cleaned by Ariel’s innovative formula that puts an end to all malodor problems. “Kulob smell on clothes is a problem for many Filipinos. Most people think this is caused by indoor drying, when it is actually due to invisible stains that harbor malodorcausing microorganisms,” said Louie Morante, regional brand communications for P&G Asia Fabric and Home care. Morante continued, “We hope that with Ariel’s innovative and superior formula, Filipinos will be able to enjoy fresh-smelling and deeply clean clothes all year long – rain or shine.”

A commitment...

our loss, sort out our feelings. Gradually, the emotional kinship wanes with time and the wound metamorphoses itself into a well-loved closed book. We die, of course, but at least, we reckon, not right away because we’ve got better things to do and places to go. In life we are just transients; thinking about death, without necessarily dwelling on it, is useful because it lets us focus on life and all the rainbow colors of living it.

From C1

Life cannot be easily appreciated until death is understood. It is impossible to see one without seeing the other because both are inextricably bound together. We think of death only as something of a mathematical possibility, that it is what happens to somebody else we knew who won’t be coming back. A loved one dies, we hoard the pain of

Photos by Diana B. Noche

There are different types of insurance—life, health, educational plans, savings and investments, and those to protect your assets like car and home insurance. If you want security and protection for you and your family in case of untimely death, traditional life insurance is the answer; if you want your child’s education covered until college, then you might want to get an educational plan; if you worry about contracting a serious illness, invest in a health insurance. Know your priorities and have clear goals so it is easier to choose the best type of insurance policy for you.

Know your priorities when choosing the right type of insurance for you.

Research

Before making any purchase, do research on the insurance company of your choice to

know if it is reliable. You can read up on a company’s history, network, performance ratings, and testimonials from clients to know its track record on payment of benefits. Research will make you better informed on pricing and insurance policy types that are within your budget.

Budget properly

Purchasing an insurance policy is a fixed, non-negotiable expense and, often, a recurring one. You may pay the full premium amount, or arrange for premiums to be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually, like your phone and electric bills or car payments.

Talk to a financial expert

Research on the insurance company of your choice before making any purchase.

consult a financial advisor and get accurate answers to all your questions regarding insurance. They can also recommend the insurance policy suitable for your finances and lifestyle. AXA’s financial coach invites those interested to undergo the Financial needs Analysis to help them determine their requirements. A short version of this service can be accessed via www. axa.com.ph/efna.

Entertainment

‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ named TV’s most successful singing tilt

'Tawag ng Tanghalan' season 2 grand winner Janine Berdin

The Kapamilya singing competition was named the Most Successful Singing-Talent Competition in Philippine Television at the Best Choice Awards Council, which aims to recognize outstanding individuals, companies, products, brands, and service providers. The Best Choice Awards also hailed “Tawag ng Tanghalan” grand champion Noven Belleza as the Best New Male Singing Artist, and Marielle Montellano as the Best Female Singing Artist. Now in its third year, “TNT” continues to discover and nurture the best Filipino singers from all around the world, and has produced the international sensation TNT Boys and powerhouse belter Rachel Gabreza, who won a global singing contest Stars of the Albion Grand Prix 2018 in London. From television, “TNT” has expanded into digital via its YouTube channel TNT Versions or TNTV, where fans can watch TNT singers perform covers of classic hits and their original songs. The channel is a huge hit and recently received a Silver Creator Award from YouTube for surpassing 100,000 subscribers. As of now, the channel has attained almost 200,000 subscribers. This year, “Tawag ng Tanghalan” also made history as the ﬁrst singing competition that paved the way for the

establishment of a record label, TNT Records, which offers a new OPM sound and original songs from TNT singers. TNT Records’ ﬁrst offerings include Janine Berdin’s single “Biyaya,” which is making waves on the radio. Sam Mangubat’s singles, including his most recent one titled “Wala Kang Alam,” have consistently topped the MOR 101.9 hit songs chart. “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” moreover, continues to showcase Filipino artistry and creativity through its growing family of singers, composers, arrangers, and its very own TNT Band. Aside from “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” the Best Choice Awards also named BoybandPH, composed of Ford Valencia, Joao Constancia, Niel Murillo, Russell Reyes, and Tristan Ramirez, as the Most Promising AllMale Singing Performer. The Best Choice Awards aims to recognize top companies, products, brands, and service providers through an independent and statistically accurate market research analysis in order to motivate businesses to continue raising the bar of excellence for the beneﬁt of the customers. Its council is composed of Philippine Events Specialist and Marketing Services, Consumer Eye Marketing and Research, Shop Best, and Philippine Event Specialist Outreach Program.

‘Hello K-Idol’ airs on MYX Channel VIU, a leading pan-regional OTT video service by PCCW Media Group, together with Globe Telecom, has produced the first Viu Original reality show of its kind in the country, Hello K-Idol. Initially only available on the Viu platform, Viu is proud to announce that viewers will now also be able to watch Hello K-Idol through a collaboration with ABS CBN on MYX Channel every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. starting Nov. 3. After a series of online and on-ground auditions held by Viu and Globe, 10 male finalists aged between 18 and 27 have been selected to be featured in the show’s seven episodes. The final winner will be awarded the coveted prize of a four-month allexpense paid scholarship to learn K-Pop vocal and dance at a prestigious entertainment talent school in Korea. The webisodes will follow the K-Idol finalists as they undertake the seven-week challenge, where they will hone their talents in singing, dancing, performing, styling, and teamwork. A starstudded cast will critique their performances, while providing them with much-needed guidance on their quest for stardom. K-idols Yook Sung-Jae from the award-winning K-drama, Goblin, and Jung Joon-Young from the variety show, 2 Days & 1 Night, will serve as inspirations for the K-Idol finalists. Mentors on the panel include singers Jinho Bae and Morissette Amon, and Korean professional dance artiste Dasuri Choi. Kring Elenzano-Kim, prominent online host and personality, former reality TV star, and founder of two of the biggest K-Pop fans organizations in the Philippines, will be hosting the show. Helen Sou, Senior Vice President, Digital Media of PCCW Media Group, said, “With regional presence in 16 markets, we continue to enhance Viu’s core value proposition of delivering the best and most popular Asian content to “Viu-ers”, including original productions in local languages. In this process we also nurture and innovate with the local creative talent pool by giving them a platform to showcase their work. We believe Hello K-Idol is the ideal place to grow future talent and to create resonance with our audience in the Philippines.” Arianne Kader-Cu, Country Manager of Viu Philippines, said, “We hope that Hello K-Idol will just be the first initiative of

its kind as we continue to build a stronger contemporary Filipino content segment, bringing Viu closer to the local audience.” Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President for Content Business Group of Globe, said, “Globe has always tried to ﬁnd ways to help Filipinos share their love and talent for performance. With Hello K-Idol, co-produced with our partner, Viu, we are offering customers the power to enjoy the show anytime and anywhere with just a touch of their mobile phones and tablets.” Andre Alvarez, MYX Channel Head, said, “With the growing trend of K-Pop music around the world, thanks to the concerted efforts of Viu and Globe Studios for bringing Hello K-Idol to our channel, this opens up an exciting opportunity for us to tap into this new market, thus reinforcing our position as the Philippines’ number one music channel.” For updates about Hello K-Idol and the trainees, follow the Hello K-Idol page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ HelloKIdolOfﬁcial).

Stars and executives during the launch 'Hello K-Idol’

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, November 1, 2018

ACROSS 1 Vortex 5 Takeoff 10 Surfeit 14 Hula-dance feast 15 Abdul or Zahn 16 Gael republic 17 Leafy algae 18 Gets going 19 Well-groomed 20 Lingerie item 21 Crawling insect 22 Rumple 24 No future — — 26 Jai — 27 Internal organ 30 Students 34 Kid around with 35 Sunbathing risk 36 Throw off heat 37 Hwys. 38 Gainsay 39 Livy’s eggs 40 Sourdough strikes 42 Type of lock 43 Gauge 45 Is an omen of 47 Four-baggers 48 Approve 49 Silent 50 Have second thoughts about 53 Um cousins 54 Reproached oneself for 58 Holland export

59 Not yet ignited 61 Piece of land 62 Organ part 63 Buck the system 64 Laird’s household 65 Canary tidbit 66 Circumvent 67 A piece of cake DOWN 1 Moose kin 2 Sword fight 3 “Soft Watches” artist 4 Affluent ones 5 Ankle injury 6 Enamel 7 Depose 8 Pamplona cheer 9 Go-getters spot (2 wds.) 10 Real 11 Rests 12 Range in Russia 13 Chapeau’s place 23 Galley slave’s tool 25 Before marriage 26 Condor’s abode 27 Hone a razor 28 Pitcher — Martinez 29 Beam 30 Respites 31 Wax theatrical

32 Sell down the — 33 Bright objects 35 Glittering 38 Innately (2 wds.) 41 Blew fiercely 43 Family member 44 Hug 46 Barely make it 47 Work fast 49 Like prunes 50 Account execs 51 Falco or Sedgwick 52 Yawn

53 Corsica neighbor 55 USC rival 56 Important decades 57 Repudiate 60 Reno loc.

nickie.standard@gmail.com

The essential... From C4

“T

AWAG ng Tanghalan” has sealed its position as the country’s most successful singingtalent competition after it was given the seal of excellence by the Best Choice Awards 2018 for its revolutionary achievements and “excellence in brand reputation, experience, integrity, product quality, and customers’ trustworthiness.”

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

’Estrella' filmmaker April Jelen Tan flanked by FEU Depcomm chair Iris Brillon and the author

FEU short films win in Pangasinan By Seymous Barros Sanchez TWO student projects from Far Eastern University recently brought home Urduja Film Festival trophies during the 5th UFF awards night at Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Madison, directed by Jesus Singh, won the Best Sound and Musical Score award for Jeff Hernandez while Estrella, helmed by April Jelen Tan, bagged Best Supporting Actress for Bellatrix Tan, who plays the elder sister in the Tan short film. Both competed with 21 other finalists in the UFF short film competition. Madison is a musical short film about a transgender student ((Christian Viñas) who is fond of making fun of Viñas other people. One day, the lead character belittles an old woman ((Raven Relavo) who is asking for help. Then, mysterious things start to happen. Meanwhile, Estrella tells the story of Angel ((Larissa Alivio), an aspiring actress who finds it difficult to penetrate the entertainment industry due to a strange condition. Compounding her problem is that elder sister Jackie usually gets chosen for projects because of her mestiza looks. Singh and Tan have since graduated from FEU. Both films were completed as part of their final requirement for the Cinema Production (CNM2) class. Singh was assisted by fellow FEU Theater Guild members and alumni led by Viñas, Relavo, assistant director Anne Valencia, directors of photography RichValencia mond Cadsawan and Kenneth Mandrilla, FEU Cheerdancers, and Nota Prola ductions team members Bevelyn Lopez, John Jeff Clores, Franz Dollete, Mhyca Ramos, Nolan Marcojos, Renz Regis, Jason Carpo, Bernice Punay, Kristal Lascano and Ashley Relleve. Tan, on the other hand, got the support of fellow Peekaboo Productions team members—assistant director Maria Fatima Francisco, scriptwriter and production designer Sandra Villa, production manager Geneva Jade Villa Espejo, director of photogPaula Mae Espejo raphy and colorist Sherwin Frondozo, and production designer, editor and sound designer Natalie Dones. UFF is an annual event which focuses on student and independent films, both short and feature-length projects that promote and preserve the country’s cultural and heritage values. The Pangasinan-based competition is mainly sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Movie and Television Board. Review and Classification Board

New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, in a video message to ASAP Live in Sydney audience, said: “The Filipino community in Australia is passionate about maintaining its unique cultural identity, language and tradition, alongside a common commitment to Australia and the state of New South Wales.” Philippine Consul General Maria Teresa Taguiang in Sydney, in her message, said: “Bringing a Filipino musical production of such great magnitude to Australian shores integrates well with the narrative of overseas Filipinos and even FilipinoAustralians in this country. It is a story that afﬁrms that wherever the Filipino goes—that wherever the Filipino builds a community—the Filipino will always contribute to the dynamism and vibrancy of their adopted homelands.” World-class entertainment The creative minds of ASAP Live Business Unit Head Joyce Liquicia and her team produced back-to-back concerts in one show that integrated the Filipino in the blended cultural universes of the Philippines and Australia. Opening the ﬁrst concert with the Walangari Karintawarra and Diramu aboriginal dance and didgeridoo music of the host country then segueing to Bamboo and Daniel Padilla, with the G-Force dancers, singing, “Hoy, Pinoy Ako (Hey, I’m Filipino)” from Bamboo’s classic hit, “NoyPi” was a testament to staying uniquely Filipino even while living in and embracing a new land. It was a theme that would weave throughout the evening. Then as a trademark of ASAP Live shows, there was a stream of exuberant and intricate pop song and dance numbers that represented energy, positivity and fun with a touch of both modern and nostalgic. There are showstoppers that included ASAP mainstays with the following

The crowd at ICC Sydney Theatre during the ASAP Live show

special guests that elevated even further the overall artistry of the show: Yassi Pressman, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Paulo Avelino, Cristine Reyes, Ariel Rivera, Randy Santiago, 2014 The X-Factor Australia winner Marlisa Punzalan and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid who had announced her transfer to the ABS-CBN Kapamilya network prior to ﬂying to ASAP Live in Sydney. “It amazes me that ‘ASAP Live’ continues to grow, evolve and win new audiences thousands of miles across the globe. It remains relevant to today’s Filipino diasporans living in multicultural societies. We in ABSCBN Australia are very thankful for the opportunity via ‘ASAP Live in Sydney’ to collaborate with the entire ABS-CBN and TFC teams and partners to bring this huge, bright light of Filipino pride to thousands here in Australia who welcomed the show with open arms. It’s been a challenging but entirely fulﬁlling and heartwarming ride. We’ve been blessed,” said ABS-CBN Australia Country Manager Jay Santos. There is much more to see in ASAP Live in Sydney in its telecasts or online. Catch ASAP Live in Sydney this Sunday only on ABS-CBN TFC worldwide.

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

Entertainment

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

VER the weekend, Derek Ramsay together with John Estrada and wife Priscilla Meirelles, and some Miss Earth 2018 candidates, graced the anniversary event of Rising Era Dynasty at the Solaire Grand Ballroom.

Derek and his pals are product endorsers of KYZOX Corp., the maker of the new-generation, all-natural anti-mosquito and anti-insect additives, which conceived a foundation that created a livelihood program, in partnership with different Rotary Clubs nationwide, in donating anti-mosquito paints for schools, hospitals and orphanages. The Foundation also opens the opportunity for Senior Citizens and persons with disability (PWD) to sell devices and re-fills of their products in their respective barangays to make it accessible and available for everyone’s use. “After all the hard work, after all the movies and teleseryes, hindi ko alam kung ano ang next chapter ng buhay ko and I’ve been doing a lot of charity work...all of these things are falling into place, then syempre may isa pang pasabog that I’ve been working on that I did not expect because ang mindset ko na lang talaga was papeli-pelikula na lang ako,” Derek said during a press interview. Curious about the big revelation he was talking about, we asked if it’s something related to his ongoing talks with GMA Network. “I wanted to concentrate on stuff like this, charity work,” referring to the brand he’s endorsing, which he said he’s doing pro bono, “but Lord has been blessing me so much. I have some talks with GMA. They were kind to invite my parents for a meeting. I had two talks with them already.” So, is he a Kapuso now? “Hindi pa po,” he answered instantaneously and added, “We just had some talks, get to meet each other.” Derek only had good words about his meeting with GMA executives and revealed that they already had some sort of “meeting of the mind.” But what he really appreciated with this rendezvous with GMA bigwigs is that they respect his decision to take everything into consideration and give their offer some thought. “I told them na sana by next year na mag-umpisa if ever, to set my mind and pag committed ako sa inyo, gusto ko 200 percent and ang dami kong ginagawa ngayon,” he explained. The actor also revealed that his contract with TV5 expired in April and he had some talks as well with ABS-CBN. But it seems that the 41-year-old actor has his mind all set to being a Kapuso especially that his good pal, John Estrada, speaks highly of the network. “I think it’s one of the factors why I’m continuing with the offer. John has nothing but nice words to say with GMA. He is enjoying his work right now. Wala siyang angal. Then when I met them, the GMA Executives, in the flesh, I felt that. I felt the sincerity and respect so that’s why there is a second meeting and hopefully a third meeting,” he beamed with his fingers crossed. Quezon City’s Hero We chanced upon Hero Bautista one evening in a bar along Eugenio Lopez Drive during the monthly meeting of the members of the Society of the Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd).

QC councilor and occasional actor Hero Bautista

The occasional actor and younger brother of Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista animatedly sat on our table and immediately chatted with us when he saw some familiar faces. We learned that he filed his certificate of candidacy for councilor of the city’s fourth district and he was glad to share with us his plan for his district and the city if he gets re-elected. Hero, who is an incumbent councilor, was accompanied by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, councilor Gian Sotto, and his sister Harlene Bautista in filing his certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “I felt their support that’s why I wanted to continue all the programs we have initiated including scholarship programs, medical and dental missions. We are also launching a unified ID system for the city,” he revealed. The IDS he was referring to will link all government agencies in the city government that will allow residents do transactions without the hassle of providing different forms of identification. He’s also working on an a project for QC’s “junior citizens,” which he said would give residents between 29 and 59 years old discounts on medical and hospital expenses.

John Estrada and wife Priscilla Meirelles were also present during the event

Derek Ramsay during the grand launch of Rising Era Dynasty where welcomed some questions from the members of entertainment press.

DEREK

RAMSAY speaks about ongoing talks with GMA

Derek Ramsay finally opens up about rumors of his transfer to GMA. He said his camp already conducted meetings with GMA bigwigs and if things fall into their proper places he plans to be a Kapuso next year.

Taking A Bullet by Bullet with a FA S T- R I S I N G show delivered with singer-songwriter rhythms and rhymes Bullet Dumas out of the ordinary. positioned himself Meanwhile, for a bright future YUGEL finalists in the after successfully LOSORATA upcoming Grand staging a solo Finals night of gig at the Music A Song of Praise Museum. He is among the few indie acts ably (ASOP) Music Festival (Year 7) penetrating the mainstream route are obviously eyeing the level of with world music inclination which recognition someone like Bullet is you can’t expect masses to quickly getting from the artist community at least. Besides, ASOP, as resident embrace. But clearly it is the main strength judge Mon Del Rosario put it, is “a of Bullet’s act that is why even in songwriting school aired on TV.” A strong package of inspirational its initial surge, he already won acclaim from A-listers in the biz, hymns are offered by the songwriters including now-National Artist vying for the coveted grand winnerRyan Cayabyab, Joey Ayala, Noel bragging right that comes along with half a million peso cash prize, taxCabangon and Gary Valenciano. That one-night-only show titled free. Finalist Rommel Gojo, who Usisa was viewed as a showcase of Bullet’s craftsmanship that similarly penned his piece “Di Na ‘Ko attracted the attention of even the Aawit” after a family tragedy, perfectionists who attended that noted, “Bagamat may pagsubok star-filled Elements National Music akong pinagdaanan, pinatutunayan pa din ng Diyos na hindi nya ako Camp back in 2010. “From there, nagsimulang dumami nakakalimutan.” Five of the twelve finalists, includang gigs ko, although I have to approach production managers ing Rommel, are returnees in this for mere exposure. Kailangan ko year’s competition. The other four patunayan ang value ko sa audience,” are Oliver Narag (2015), LJ Manzano (2016), Emmanuel Lipio Jr. Bullet shared. With the backing of Stages Sessions (2017), and Joyner Dizon (2017). Notable interpreters include Daryl (the concert production arm of Stages talent management agency), the solo Ong, Gian Magdangal, Mark concert that Bullet directed himself Carpio, and Marcelito Pomoy. The seventh finale edition of was one that surely paid off, especially UNTV-airing songwriting with songs like Ninuno and Tugtog the gaining traction online. As of this competition happens on Nov. 11 writing he has nearly 31,000 monthly (Sunday), 7:00 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater, Araneta listeners on Spotify. Bullet poetically communicated, Center Cubao, Quezon City. Created by established media “Kapag nakikinig ako ng music, Daniel Razon, hinahanap ko yung sincerity at personality the ASOP Music Festival pagiging genuine nya.” committed itself Something in the way he plays or has tunes his guitar or sings his lyrics to encouraging amateur and songwriters, makes him an instant draw. For professional as he said, his concert he put into the mix his particularly, backing boys comprising of guitarist “in praising our Almighty God John Apura, keyboardist Jesper through music.” (For more information about Mercado, percussionist Jacques Duffort, drummer Mark Villaba, ASOP Music Festival, visit its official website at https://www. and bassist Yuna Reguerra. Simply said, spectators were treated asoptv.com.)

ASOP Year 7 finalists and interpreters

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

It’s about Filipinos without borders, UNDER THE new world order that believes that social media is the best place to look gathering to celebrate a common place of into to analyze engagement with content, origin or roots while celebrating where they the recently concluded ASAP Live in presently are. And in a world-class spectacle of song, dance, talk Sydney is a runaway and multimedia, winner. performers and All one needs to audience happily do is type those very tell themselves words on YouTube, about themselves: Instagram, Twitter it’s Filipinos telling and Facebook and Filipinos about user-generated Filipinos outside of posts collectively the Philippines. amounting to Chemistry millions of views at the press con and tens of For instance, the thousands of shares press conference held come popping out. on Oct. 18 also at To those who ICC Sydney Theatre don’t bother with was virtually a group social media, a of Filipino and Filsimple photo of what Australian strangers transpired at ICC bound together only Sydney Theatre by the fact that they on Oct. 20 speaks are either members volumes. or viewers of ASAP But ASAP Live Live. But it turned in Sydney-made out to be a respectful, possible by fans, loving, animated, sponsors and funny, learning and partners who believe intimate interaction in the longestof close to 200 people running Filipino Pia Wurtzbach and Liza Soberano in a room. Add to that weekend variety TV share the stage during 'ASAP Live in Sydney.' thousands more via show and global live Facebook livestream. concert tour of ABSRecognition CBN, and its current from leaders in Australia international ﬂagship channel, TFC—is so Then on concert day came recognition much more than just a numbers game. ASAP Live in Sydney—in the same way from government ofﬁcials from or based that ASAP Live was in Singapore, Dubai, in Australia. Australian Prime Minister Los Angeles, London, New York, Toronto Scott Morrison, in a message sent to ABSand Honolulu – is a creative and artistic CBN Australia, offered his best wishes to expression and manifestation of a strong everyone who attended the event and praised Filipino identity and transnational cultural the “more than 250,000 Filipinos than have made Australia home.” Continued on C3 unity.

The essential truths of ‘ASAP Live in Sydney’

‘Magic on Ice’ at the Big Dome SMART Araneta Coliseum brings to Manila a worldrenowned ice skating illusion spectacular that has never been seen here before. From Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, witness Magic on Ice, an extravagant show that combines circus, ﬁgure skating, magic, and grand illusion. Created by Steve Wheeler, Magic on Ice is a new genre of entertainment featuring the elegance and beauty of ice skating, the world of grand illusions, and the intrigue of magic. With its innovative designs and breath-taking performances, this is the family entertainment kids and kids at heart will surely love. Magic on Ice has already captivated millions of its viewers – young and old – across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and has entertained audiences in over 200 cities around the world including Las Vegas, New York, Germany, Mexico, Korea and

Abu Dhabi. Make your Christmas merry and white as frozen snow as the Big Dome welcomes the return of an ice extravaganza to its hallowed halls. The iconic venue has, after all, been the home of enthralling ice spectacles from the days of “Holiday On Ice” in the early ‘60s. Magic On Ice at the Big Dome will be a riveting holiday experience for everybody. Don’t settle for something old when you can share an amazing new experience with your family and friends. MasterCard users can avail of the 20 percent advanced selling discount if they buy tickets online via the Ticketnet website from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2 (per DTIFTEB Permit No. 17248, Series of 2018). Regular ticket selling from as low as P190 (Gen Ad) to as high as P2,335 begins on Nov. 3 via Ticketnet counters and online. You may call 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph for more information.

'Magic on Ice' at the Araneta Center is all about Illusions and ice acrobatics