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LAST CHANCE FOR PEACE? BOL STARTS ROLLING

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 340 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Like fine wine, Pac-Man gets better with age RAUCOUS cheers erupted from boxing fans in Metro Manila who jumped in joy to celebrate the victory of Manny Pacquiao against Adrien Broner on Sunday, comparing their 40-year-old idol to a “fine wine.’’ Filipinos had been confident their champion Pacquiao would easily defend his welterweight title in Las Vegas and the boxer did not disappoint, earning a unanimous decision victory against an opponent 11 years his junior. From children to the elderly, screaming and fist-pumping fans gathered together to watch the fight in the nation’s gymnasiums at traditional free public viewing events. Next page

VICTORIOUS IN VEGAS. Manny Pacquiao (R) throws a right on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Pacquiao batters Broner, keeps title

CHEERING SQUAD. People react as they watch boxing icon Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines fight against opponent Adrien Broner of the US during a live telecast of their WBA welterweight bout in Las Vegas, at a covered sports court in Manila on January 20, 2019. AFP

House resumes Victory sets stage for possible Last chance for Mindanao peace? probe of Budget rematch with Floyd Mayweather BOL plebiscite seeks to end conflict AS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao put on a master class ‘irregularities’ By Joyce Pangco Pañares in elite boxing Saturday with a 12-round demolition

By Rio N. Araja THE House of Representatives’ committee on rules is resuming its inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the budgeting process today. “As we conduct our next hearing on Monday, we will show that the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] earned billions from… anomalous transactions,” said House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who kept up his media attacks on Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who has denied any wrongdoing. Citing documents turned over to his panel by the executive director of DBM’s procurement service, Bingle Gutierrez, Andaya said the government would spend P37 billion to pay the consultants of big-ticket infrastructure projects. He accused Diokno of turning his department into a “super-bidding body” that bid out P198 billion worth of projects in 2018 for 20 different government agencies under the Build, Build, Build program, including P168.275 billion from the Department of Transportation. The committee on rules has invited Gutierrez to the hearing again, as well as Giovanni Lopez, assistant Next page

of Adrien Broner, defending his welterweight title in his first fight on US soil in two years—and his first as a 40-year-old. Pacquiao easily won with an impressive display of superior hand speed and destructive power that landed him a unanimous decision victory over the much younger American at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The Filipino star almost knocked Broner down twice in the seventh and ninth rounds and showed that he can still be a force in the highly-competitive division despite turning 40 last month.

“I really don’t believe my career is over. I proved it in my last ﬁght against [Lucas] Matthysee,” Pacquiao said. “And now I prove it again at the age of 40.” In his 70th ﬁght as a professional, Pacquiao retains the lesser version of the WBA’s two welterweight belts and possibly sets the stage for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who watched the Next page bout from ringside.

TODAY’S plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law—the first of two electoral processes—will be a moment of truth for all stakeholders who have pinned their hopes on the measure to end the decadesold conflict in Mindanao. The BOL, the product of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that began in 1996, will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the new Bangsamoro region that has greater political and fiscal autonomy. Efforts leading to today’s historic vote spanned four presidencies, starting from then President Fidel Ramos, who began negotiations in 1996, to President Ro-

drigo Duterte who signed the law in July 2018. “Your approval of this law will not only serve as an expression of your desire to end more than half a century of armed struggle in the region. It will also serve as a testament to your determination to bring genuine peace and development in Muslim Mindanao through an autonomous government that truly represents and understands the needs of the people,” the President said during a peace assembly in Cotabato City over the weekend. Today’s plebiscite will take place in the ARMM areas, Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City, while the Feb. 6 plebiscite will be held in six municipalities in Lanao del Norte (except Iligan City) and Next page

MILF forces fan out to enter Cotabato; AFP steps in By Francisco Tuyay

Let us forget the bitterness of the past and look forward to the future. Please vote ‘yes. — President Duterte

UK prince ‘driving without seatbelt’ LONDON—Britain’s Prince Philip has been spoken to by the police for driving without a seatbelt—just two days after the 97-year-old was involved in a car crash. Next page

Give the BOL a chance since this is a once in a lifetime chance. Maybe it will never come again if we don’t grab the chance now. — Murad Ebrahim

TWO people including a minor opposing the ratiﬁcation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law were killed after they were waylaid by pro-BOL promoters in Shariff Saydona, one of the election hot spots in Maguindanao, hours before today’s plebiscite. The incident occurred while some 5,000 unarmed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front tried to enter different parts of Cotabato City at 8 a.m. Sunday before being persuaded by the military to turn back. Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Join Task Force Central suggested the MILF movement was aimed at bolstering proBOL supporters—or intimidating those against it. To prevent any violence, troops were called up to confront the MILF members, who quickly

withdrew. “We appealed to them to [go] back to their points of origin. They were ﬁnally convinced [to do] a smooth withdrawal of their forces,” Sobejana said. Sobejana could not identify the two anti-BOL people killed in the town of Libutan at about 11 a.m. Sunday. Next page

• • • • •

ARMM COTOBATO CITY ( MAGUINDANAO) ISABELA CITY (BASILAN) 8 MUNICIPALITIES OR NORTH COTABATO 6 MUNICIPALITIES IN LANAO DEL NORTER

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Palace orders DOJ to look into Cebu fiscal’s slay By Nat Mariano THE Palace has ordered the Justice department to investigate the fatal ambush of a former assistant prosecutor in Cebu City, an official said Sunday. “We are outraged by the brutal and brazen ambush of former Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. He said the government had already ordered the Justice department, through the National Bureau of Investigation, to look into the case, identify the killers and arrest them. “The Philippine National Police has likewise been directed to check into possible lapses, if any, considering the incident happened during an election gun ban,” Panelo said. “We assure everyone that justice will be served.” The 50-year-old Castro was on her way home to Talisay City on Thursday night when a man on a motorcycle fired at her and hit her on the neck after tailing her. The Cebu City Police Office said Castro, who was assigned to Masbate City, was linked to Senior Police Officer 1 Adonis Dumpit, who was killed in an operation in June last year. In December 2017 the Justice department suspended Castro over the complaints filed by the family of her former husband, Leodegreco Sanchez. Even though Castro’s family members did not issue a statement over the incident, the Cebu City Police Office still formed a task force to investigate her death.

House... From A1

secretary for procurement at the DOTr. Other officials invited were Junn Magno, general manager of the Philippine National Railways; Herminio del Rosario Jr., officer in charge of the PNR’s administrative and finance department; Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority; Reynaldo Berroya, executive director of the Light Rail Transit Authority; Jose Jobel Belarmino, OIC of the Office of the Deputy Administrator of LRTA; Eduardo Abiva, division manager of the LRTA; Jim Sydiongco, director general of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Elson Hermogino, commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard; Undersecretary Arturo Evangelista of the Office of the Transport Security, and Edgar Galvante of the Land Transportation Office. Dave Almarinez, president and chief executive officer of Philippine International Trading Corp., and Ma. Victoria Magcase, vice president, were also summoned to attend the probe. The DOTr on Sunday said the assistance it sought from the DBM was aboveboard. In a statement, the department said Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act allows government agencies to engage with PSDBM for the procurement of their projects. “Considering the volume of DOTr projects to be procured, especially those that form part of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ Program of the Duterte administration, the DOTr deemed it wise and strategic to seek the assistance of PS-DBM as DOTr’s procuring agent. It is a cooperation between the two agencies to expedite the procurement for BBB priority projects, in order for them to be implemented swiftly for the benefit of the public,” the DOTr’s statement read. It said Congress has likewise mandated one-year validity for government funds, thus, line agencies only have a year to procure or obligate for projects indicated in the budget. The DOTr has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the PS-DBM to set guidelines on the procurement of projects. In 2017, the DOTr has agreed to procure for itself projects which have prices set at P50 million or below while the PS-DBM will be in charge of the procurement of projects amounting to more than P50 million on behalf of the department. “Through this setup, procurement for projects across the four transportation sectors has become swift and efficient, with biddings for various projects simultaneously held by the DOTr and the PS-DBM,” the department said. The terms of reference and bidding documents for the projects remain with the DOTr as the head of procuring entity. The Notice of Award, contract, and Notice to Proceed are still with the DOTr, as well as the subject project’s implementation. With PNA

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SC panel convenes for Bay rehab “The committee on the Manila Bay cleanup should convene soon in accordance with the earlier resolution to strengthen the resolve to clean Manila Bay,” high court spokesman and Court Administrator Midas Marquez said. Marquez made the disclosure after the Duterte administration laid down the plan to clean up the waterway to comply with the high court’s decision. Marquez, who has been tapped as vice chairman of the committee, said the Court was expected to name a new head of the committee after its former chairman, Associate Justice Presbitero

Velasco Jr., retired from the judiciary in August last year. Velasco wrote the unanimous decision in the landmark writ of kalikasan case on Manila Bay. Marquez also welcomed the Duterte administration’s reported plan to pursue the Manila Bay cleanup and abide by the high court’s continuing mandamus, which required 13 government agencies led by the Environment department to implement a rehabilitation plan. “The seven-year rehabilitation plan is good news to the Court because it appears complementary to the continuing mandamus it issued in 2008,” Marquez said.

“The Manila Bay cleanup must really be a concerted effort by all concerned agencies in the three branches of government.” Duterte had recently ordered the cleanup of Manila Bay and approved the Environment department’s seven-year plan. He warned the hotels along Roxas Boulevard they would be closed if the regulators found they were dumping waste into Manila Bay. The latest effort to revive Manila Bay will cost the government about P47 billion, which the administration will reportedly get from the road user’s tax upon the abolition of the Road Board. The Environment department led the inter-agency task force assigned to oversee the cleanup in coming up with a plan that will be launched on Jan. 27 at the Manila Yacht Club. The plan to revive Manila Bay came after the successful six-month rehabilitation of the world-famous Boracay Island last year. In its decision in Dec. 2008, the High

Pacquiao...

ring with Pacquiao. “Right now I am living the happy life,” he said. Mayweather also visited Pacquiao in his dressing room before the fight. “He just said hello. Wished me luck,” Pacquiao said. Pacquiao went to work from the opening bell on executing the fight plan he put together after reuniting with his long-time trainer Freddie Roach. He was the more active of the two boxers and it didn’t take long for Broner to get frustrated with Pacquiao’s speed as Broner delivered a right forearm shiver to his opponent’s jaw at the end of the second round. Damaging left hook Pacquiao did a good job of setting up solid head and body shots with welltimed head fakes and jabs. His most effective punch in the early rounds was a body shot and then a left hook to the face as Broner ducked down to protect his midsection. Pacquiao had a good sixth round but got caught at the end with an uppercut and left hook on the chin—though even that wasn’t enough for Broner to win the round. Pacquiao’s best rounds were seven through nine but the only blemish on his night was he couldn’t get his second knockout in a row. “I can still be a greasy fighter and give

my best at the age of 40,” he said. “I wanted to be more aggressive but [co-trainer Buboy Fernandez] told me to counter and wait for opportunities.” Broner seemed content to simply flail away for most of the fight with a slapping jab that hardly connected. Broner said after the fight he was pleased with his performance and disagreed with the scoring. “You all know I beat that boy,” Broner said. “They trying to get that money again with Pacquiao and Floyd but it’s cool. I ain’t worrying about that.” Mayweather won the 2015 bout with Pacquiao in a contest that generated $600 million in revenue and a record 4.6 million pay per view buys but failed to live up to its “Fight of the Century” hype. Pacquiao was hampered after suffering a torn right rotator cuff while training for Mayweather. Mayweather, who turns 42 next month, recently earned $9 million for knocking down a Japanese kick boxer three times in the first round of a New Years Eve spectacle in Japan. Pacquiao last fought in July, 2018, when he scored his first knockout in six years with a seventh-round stoppage of Argentina’s Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur. It is his first bout in the US since a unanimous decision win over Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November 2016. AFP

Pacquiao is a reserve army colonel and an elected senator allied with President Rodrigo Duterte. “We thank our pound-for-pound King for not only bringing honor and glory to our flag, but for once again uniting all Filipinos worldwide,” Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo said. Fans called on Pacquiao to run for president, even as the boxer said post-fight that he was not eyeing higher office. “Manny Pacquiao for president! He is really our idol. We won’t stop supporting him,” port worker Elpidio Bagayones, 48, said. But some analysts expressed doubt that Pacquiao would secure a rematch with Floyd Mayweather—who watched the bout from ringside—following the Filipino’s 2015 loss, saying he failed to knock Broner down. “He won clearly, but I’m not sure Floyd Mayweather lost any sleep after that, or is itching to jump in the gym for another fight,” Ring Magazine reporter Ryan Songalia said. In an interview after 12 rounds of boxing, Pacquiao called out Mayweather, saying he is willing to have a rematch

with the American boxer. “Tell him to come back to the ring, and we will ﬁght,” Pacquiao said. Mayweather, however, looked away from the camera, declining the public a nod on Pacquiao’s challenge. Pacquiao has fought 70 matches, with 61 wins, seven losses, and two draws. Lawmakers from both houses of Congress congratulated the senator. “He is a champion of the ages, winning championships throughout his two and a half decades of boxing and defying father time,” said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Pacquiao’s latest victory was proof of his resilience, strength, determination, and discipline. “He is a proof that nothing is imposible if you put your heart and mind to it. May Manny continue to serve as an inspiration to all Filipinos here and around the world,” he said. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualez lauded Pacquiao for “bringing continued honor, glory and recognition to the Philippines‎.” AFP with Nat Mariano, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court will convene its committee tasked to monitor the implementation of its 2008 order to rehabilitate and revive Manila Bay, an official said Sunday.

From A1

Pacquiao improved to 61-7-2 with 39 knockouts, winning on all three judges’ scorecards, including by one tally of 117111. The other two judges also had it onesided at 116-112. Pacquiao started the onslaught in the seventh round by hitting the 29-year-old Broner with a left hook then immediately doubling it up. Broner went into a shell mode, absorbing more blows but managed to hold on to the end of the round. Pacquiao landed his best punch in the ninth with a blistering left on the chin that sent Broner back peddling towards the ropes. But Broner showed he can take a punch as he stayed on his feet and survived another punishing round. Pacquiao is now hoping to avenge his 2015 loss to Mayweather which became the richest one-day sporting event in history. Immediately after the fight Pacquiao called out Mayweather. “Tell him to come back to the ring and we will fight,” Pacquiao said. “I am willing to fight again Floyd Mayweather. If he is willing to come back in boxing.” Mayweather, who helped promote Saturday’s boxing card, was non-committal when asked if he would get back in the

Like ﬁne... From A1

“Manny Pacquiao is like a fine wine. Gets better through the years. He can still throw flurry of punches for a 40-yearold,” said Twitter user @gemmedgem. “I was jumping in joy when I saw him because Manny Pacquiao is really my idol. Filipinos are happy and it gives us honor to have him as a boxer,” Jenny Gitgano, 56, said after watching the bout. Pacquiao, dubbed the “national fist,” is considered a hero whose rise from high school dropout to millionaire world boxing champion in an unprecedented eight weight divisions is an enormous source of pride. During his younger years, Pacquiao’s bouts brought the country to a standstill, with authorities saying traffic and crime virtually ceased. While crowds have thinned in the twilight of Pacquiao’s career, hordes of fans still gathered in covered courts and even military camps to watch the fight, which took place Sunday afternoon.

Last chance...

MILF...

From A1

eight towns in North Cotabato (Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Matalam, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit and Tulunan)—covering a total of 2,839,659 registered voters. MILF chairman and now Bangsamoro Transition Authority chief minister Murad Ebrahim described the BOL as “the last chance to attaining lasting peace.” “This law is not only for the Bangsamoro people but for all,” said Murad, who, as BTC chief minister, will oversee the transition period until the first local elections are held in 2022. Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez, for his part, urged all residents in the envisioned Bangsamoro area to cast their votes. “This political exercise is an opportunity for them to assert their identity and choose their own destiny. By casting their vote, they are re-defining the Moro narrative as well as charting the future of Mindanao,” he said. The salient points of the BOL are: • The Bangsamoro region will have a parliamentary-democratic form of government. Residents will elect an 80-member parliament representing different parties, districts and sectors. The parliament will elect a chief minister and two deputy chief ministers. The chief minister shall appoint members of his Cabinet. • The region will have an automatic allocation of an annual block grant, equivalent to 5 percent of the net national internal revenue of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs. The national government will also earmark P5 billion annually for 10 years for the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas within the Bangsamoro area. • From the current 70 percent, the region’s share in government revenue taxes, fees, and taxes imposed on natural resources shall increase to 75 percent.

The latest killings bring to four the victims of violence linked to the BOL plebiscite. Approval of the BOL would pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that President Rodrigo Duterte has said would correct the historical injustices suffered by the Moros. The first incident was recorded in Sultan Kudarat when armed suspects fired on civilians on their way home Friday. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana outlined the worstcase scenario, saying that Jolo, Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan might not approve the BOL. “The entire ARMM will vote yes while there is a small likelihood that Jolo would not. Outside the present ARMM, Cotabato City and Isabela in Basilan will also vote in the plebiscite and they might not join the BOL,” Lorenzana said. He said if this happens, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would have the same area as ARMM, with two cities in its midst “that don’t belong to it.” “However, should these two cities decide not to join the BOL, I don’t expect any adverse development because the MILF leadership has pledged that they would respect the result of the plebiscite,” the Defense chief said. Despite tension in some anti-BOL areas, Lorenzana predicted a peaceful plebiscite, even as additional troops were deployed in Cotabato City. “I believe that the plebiscite wil proceed smoothly without any untoward incident. We have deployed additional troops in highly contested areas such as Cotabato City and Isabela, Basilan,” he said.

Court issued a continuing mandamus and ordered several government agencies to implement the rehabilitation of Manila Bay in the case ﬁled by concerned citizens led by environmental lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa Jr. Apart from Environment department, the order was also directed at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The 36-page decision described the Manila Bay as “a place with a proud historic past, once brimming with marine life and a spot for different recreation activities, but is now a dirty and slowly dying expanse because of the indifference of people and institutions.”

‘Amang’ forces evacuation from landslide areas By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL depression “Amang” continued to move toward the provinces of Surigao on Sunday afternoon, the weather bureau said. As of 5 p.m. the center of “Amang” is estimated 175 kilometers southeast of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph, and was moving west- northwest at 30 kph. Warning signal no. 1 remained hoisted in Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Bohol, northern Cebu, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Camiguin Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office had ordered the mandatory evacuation of 80,234 residents in the floodand landslide-prone areas as “Amang” was expected to bring heavy rains on Sunday night. Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara suspended Monday’s classes in all levels in the public and private schools as a preemptive measure. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Office chief, told the Philippine News Agency that the mandatory evacuation order signed by Bichara took effect at 9 a.m. He said the advisory directed all 18 town and city disaster councils to be on alert and execute the mandatory evacuation of residents in the villages threatened by flooding and landslides. The areas always hit by flooding and landslide are the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and the towns of Tiwi, Malinao, Bacacay Polangui, Libon and Manito. Moreover, 242 villages are floodprone areas while 99 villages are landslide-prone areas. The mandatory evacuation affected 58,614 families in the flood-endangered villages and 21,620 in the landslidethreatened villages. Daep said heavy rains could hit the province until Monday. With PNA

UK prince... From A1

Images published in Sunday newspapers appeared to show him behind the wheel of a replacement Land Rover Freelander on his wife Queen Elizabeth II’s private Sandringham estate on Saturday. A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said the force was aware of the photographs and that “suitable words of advice have been given to the driver.” The advice was “in line with our standard response when being made aware of such images showing this type of offense.” Meanwhile, a woman who broke her wrist in Thursday’s crash near the royal country residence in Norfolk, eastern England, has reportedly complained about not receiving an apology from the Prince. “I’m lucky to be alive and he hasn’t even said sorry. It has been such a traumatic and painful time and I would have expected more of the Royal Family,” Emma Fairweather, a passenger in the Kia which collided with the Prince’s Land Rover, told the Sunday Mirror. A police family liaison ofﬁcer, however, did call to pass on a message to Emma, who was in the vehicle with a friend and her nine-month-old baby, she said. AFP

News Samar governor, deputy accused of falsifying ordinance By Rio Araja EASTERN Samar acting Gov. Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal is facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas for falsification of an appropriation ordinance in 2018. Also included in the charge sheet were acting Vice Governor Jonas Abuda, Sangguniang Panlalawigan secretary Franklin Robedizo and Department of Budget and ManagementRegion 8 Director Annabelle Echavez. Eight SP members signed the ninepage complaint, accusing the four of falsification of an official document, dishonesty, grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public official and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The complainants were provincial board members Celestino Cabato, Byron Suyot, Karen Alvarez, Annabelle Capito, Jaime Ty, Ma. Caridad SisonGoteesan, Maximo Zacate and Aldwin Aklao. They accused Picardal, Abuda and Robedizo of faking Appropriation Ordinance No.18-30 of 2018 or the provincial government’s proposed budget of P1.284 billion that did not have the approval of the board members. The annual investment plan and budget ordinance were only “approved in principle” on Jan. 5, 2018 subject to the submission by the provincial development council of copies of amendments and supporting documents within three days. The SP members said they only learned about the submission to the DBM two months later, prompting them to notify the agency in writing about procedural violations, and that they had been ignored. “Acting Governor Picardal, Acting Vic Governor Abuda and Franklin Robedizo, knowing fully well that the approval of the 2018 Annual Budget... is anchored upon the compliance of conditions... issued the falsified Appropriation Ordinance Number 18-30, Series of 2018 without any condition thereby making it appear to have been duly approved without any condition,” the complaint read. The complainants said Echavez was included for “taking advantage of her position” and acting “in collusion and conspiracy.”

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

Chief Justice seeks purge of misfits By Rey E. Requejo

UPREME Court Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has called on all court judges to support his fourpoint reform agenda for the judiciary, which includes updating the Rules of Court, purging the bench of misﬁts and scalawags, initiating Bar reforms, and adopting legal clinics to enhance access to justice. During the testimonial dinner held in his honor by the Philippine Judges Association at Diamond Hotel on Thursday, Bersamin also exhorted all trial court judges to “view criticism of our work and our actuation as the necessary scalpels that help us excise our actual faults and perceived

fallibilities.” According to him, while his tenure as chief magistrate is short, or “324 days to be exact,” he is conﬁdent that his fourpoint agenda will come to fruition with all the help and support especially from the judges.

“As the Chief Justice, I have assumed the greatest responsibility ever to be placed on the frail shoulders of any active judge. And in that task, I must ensure that our courts and judges function efficiently and competently. But I am confident, that with the PJA fully behind me, I will not fail,” he told the judges. The top magistrate reminded all judges about the qualities and characteristics that every judge, whether a member of the PJA or not, must have—integrity, probity, and competence. He emphasized that they “must stay human…must act human” in addition to these qualities that have qualified them to their judicial positions. “I think that the foremost one, that you, as trial judges should exhibit and not leave

in your homes each day as you go to work is humanity. No judge will be worth his or her title if he or she ignores or abandons his or her humanity at work,” he said. The chief magistrate pointed out that he does not mean that their being human should mean that “you act in your usual ways.” “You are now wearing the mantle of authority in your jurisdiction. And this often requires [you] to be stern and serious. You must convince the communities you serve that you are the visible representation of the law. For if the laws were to be obeyed, the judges that administer them must be credible and not ridiculous. As judges, we are unavoidably leaders whether we like it or not. As leaders, we must lead and not mislead,” Bersamin said.

VIVA SEÑOR. Hundreds of Sto. Niño images are raised for the blessing rites at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Church in Manila, where devotees have gathered to mark the feast day of the Child Jesus. Ey Acasio

Australian firm cleared to pursue paper deal with PCSO By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has denied the petition of Philippine Gaming Management Corp. seeking to overturn its decision that affirmed the right of the an Australian firm to pursue its 50-year joint venture contract with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the supply of thermal paper to all lotto outlets in the country . In a two-page resolution, the CA’s Special Fourteenth Division through Associate Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padillasaid that PGMC failed to offer new arguments that would warrant the setting aside of its decision issued on Sept. 17, 2018. The appellate court had denied the petition filed by PGMC seeking to nullify the writ of preliminary injunction that the Regional Trial Court of Makati City issued in favor of TMA Australia PTY Ltd. and its local subsidiary TMA Group Philippines, Inc. The injunction stopped PGMC from performing any

act which would violate or render ineffective TMA’s right under the Contractual Joint Venture Agreement it entered into with PCSO in Dec. 4, 2009. Court records showed that following the signing of the agreement, the TMA spent $400 million to relocate its thermal manufacturing plant in the Philippines from China. TMA is the only thermal paper plant set up in the country using high-tech machinery in the production of thermal paper and other paper products while other local suppliers have to import thermal papers being utilized by government agencies, airlines and other private ﬁrms. However, the PCSO revoked the agreement through a resolution issued on April 15, 2011 after the Ofﬁce of the Government Corporate Counsel found that the agreement was essentially a supply contract, which is void for being a ploy to circumvent Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, particularly on bidding for government procurement supplies, and to evade the

audit by the Commission on Audit. This prompted the TMA to seek relief from the trial court, which issued a writ or preliminary injunction against PCSO’s revocation order of the CJVA on May 6, 2011. Subsequently, TMA informed PGMC of the existence of its agreement with PCSO and the pending civil case for speciﬁc performance as well the writ of preliminary injunction issued by the trial court. Despite this, PGMC entered into an interim agreement with PCSO where the latter would source its thermal paper and ticket requirements from the former, thus, affecting TMA’s exclusive rights under the agreement. TMA ﬁled another complaint, this time for tortious interference and injunction against PGMC. In an order issued on Oct. 18, 2017, the trial court granted TMA’s application for preliminary injunction enjoining PGMC from entering into an interim agreement with PCSO with regard to the supply of thermal paper.

Senator chides transport agency over slow aid By Macon Araneta SENATOR Nancy Binay on Sunday chided the Transportation departmen for its slow distribution of the “Pantawid Pasada” aid program, which was intended to mitigate the impact of fuel price increases on jeepney drivers and operators. The senator said the slow distribution, coupled with the fuel price hike and the effect of the second round of excise tax increase this January, was already hurting the pockets of those in the public transport sector. Because of this, Binay said the DOTr and its attached agency LTFRB should be questioned on the distribution of help to the jeepney drivers and operators. During the hearings for the proposed 2019 budget of the Transportation department last December, it was found out that only 69,000 beneﬁciaries received their cards, not even half of the 171,000 intended recipients. “Jeepney drivers and operators take the brunt of the impact of these increases, since the minimum fare, was restored to P9” Binay said.

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TINGOG MISSION. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Tingog party-list’s first nominee, sponsored a medical mission in partnership with doctors and nurses from Project Outreach Philippines and ophthalmologist from Veterans Memorial Medical Center at Barangay 649 Baseco Compound Tondo Manila. At least 600 indigent patients availed themselves of free dental services, medical checkup, free reading glasses and medicines. Ver Noveno

Bill on simulated birth gets ratified

CONGRESS has ratified the reconciled version of a proposed law allowing parents or guardians to correct simulated birth records through administrative proceedings. La Union’s District 2 Rep. Sandra Eriguel, co-chairperson of the bicameral conference committee that consolidated the measure, said the “Simulated Birth Rectification Act” aims to grant amnesty and allow the rectification of the simulated birth of a child if it is found to be in the best interest of the child. “The proposed law would allow the child whose birth record was simulated to enjoy all the benefits available to legally adopted children,” she said. Eriguel, committee on social services chairperson, led the House panel in the bicameral conference committee with Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, COOP-NATCCO Rep. Anthony Bravo, Negros Occidental Rep. Melecio Yap Jr. and Butil Rep. Cecilia Leonila Chavez. The approved measure reconciled House Bill No. 5675 and Senate Bill 2081. The House of Representatives approved HB 5675 in August 2017 to amend Republic Act No. 8552 or the “Domestic Adoption Act of 1998.” “The measure aims to make the relationship between parent and child whose birth records were simulated legal through administrative adoption proceedings,” Eriguel said. Last Dec. 12, Congress ratified the reconciled “Simulated Birth Rectification.” According to Eriguel, the proposed measure would fix the status and filiation of a child whose birth was simulated by giving the child all the benefits of adoption and ensuring that the child will be entitled to all the rights provided by law to legally adopted children without any discrimination of any kind, as well as to love, guidance and support from the child’s adoptive family. “This would also exempt from criminal, civil and administrative liability those who simulated the birth record of a child prior to the effectivity of this law provided that a petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record is filed within 10 years from the effectivity of the law,” she said. Rio Araja

Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

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EDITORIAL

TSA problems THE US Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory for anyone planning to travel to the Philippines due to flight security issues at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. The advisory was issued last month after Homeland Security reached the conclusion that the airport “does not maintain and carry out effective security consistent with the security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization.” That means all airlines issuing tickets for travel between the US and

It’s time for the US federal government to shut the agency down for good.

Manila must now notify passengers in writing of the warning and it must be displayed prominently at all US airports that provide regularly scheduled service to Manila. Transportation Security Administration representatives have been working with the Philippine government to help airport and transportation authorities bring the airport up to international security standards, and will continue to help them fix the problems and assess security measures. Are they really? The US government continues to be shut down. As news outlets and

Adelle Chua, Editor

Democratic politicians used reports regarding TSA employees calling in sick to work to scare the country into thinking they were no longer safe, another story popped up claiming that a passenger carried a firearm through a TSA security checkpoint in Atlanta. When she arrived in Japan, the traveler alerted the Delta Air Lines flight crew. Without naming the passenger, the TSA said she “was fully cooperative with authorities.” Adding that the security breach happened because officials did not follow “standard procedures.” In a statement, officials also claimed that this lapse had nothing to do with the government shutdown. “The Atlanta checkpoint lane was fully staffed,” TSA officials said, adding that national callout rate for January 2 was the same as last year’s when no shutdown was in place. Despite the agency’s statement, outlets did not shy away from reinforcing the idea that the shutdown has, indeed, affected the agency. Painting a grim picture, these reports recounted how TSA staff are “working without pay or on furlough” during the government shutdown without mentioning that government employees who are furloughed are still getting their paychecks and that even if the pay is behind, government officials are still being paid more than the US taxpayers footing the bill. Worse yet, most outlets completely ignored the TSA’s own history of incompetence, as the agency always struggled to detect weapons and even explosives since its inception following the Sept. 11 attacks. Perhaps, what all these reports were trying to do was to make Americans feel like the TSA truly is essential, despite the countless ways it’s been proven that the agency has actually made traveling less safe than before when private security firms were hired by the airlines.

Governing by tweet HE kerfuffle over the alleged loss of passport data began—as many controversies do these days—as a post on the social media platform Twitter. breach or hacking involved. If we were to take Secretary Locsin at his word, the previous contractor who already had acccess to all that data simply “made off” with it. Opposition senators were quick to pounce on the issue, too, saying the Department of Foreign Affairs “had a lot of explaining to do” and taking the Duterte administration to task for “gross incompetence” as evidenced by its inability to safeguard private, personal data. But several days later, Secretary Locsin corrected himself, saying the French contractor had not taken any data after all, but had simply made it “inaccessible” and that from henceforth, no birth certificate was needed because an old passport was enough ID for a renewal. “Data is not run-away-able but made inaccessible,” Locsin tweeted on Jan. 15. “Access denied. But APO assured me they were able to access but not much use and parts corrupted. APO agrees with me that old passports are best evidence of identity and join me in despising those who don't agree with me.” The Senate may yet investigate the passport mess, but we suggest it do so, not to uncover any alleged

In response to a query, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted on Jan. 9 that some passport holders needed to present their birth certificates when renewing their travel documents because the previous contractor, a French company, had “made off with [the] data” when their contract was prematurely terminated and a new deal was cut with APO Production Unit, a state-owned company. “Because previous contractor got pissed when terminated it made off with data,” Locsin wrote in his post. “We did nothing about it or couldn't because we were in the wrong. It won't happen again. Passports pose national security issues and cannot be kept back by private entities. Data belongs to the state.” Locsin also suggested that corruption and kickbacks were behind the awarding of a new contract, which as far as we can tell, was done in 2015. Locsin’s early tweets triggered reactions that were hardly unexpected. First, the National Privacy Commission immediately announced that it would investigate the loss of passport data—which many in the media misreported as a data breach. To be clear, there was no data

data breach—because it is now apparent there wasn’t one. Rather, we suggest the senators examine why the original passport contract was terminated and if there was, as Secretary Locsin suggests, any corruption involved. Opposition senators, in particular, should find it instructive that the new contract was awarded in 2015 by the previous Liberal Party administration with which most of them were allied. What lessons might we derive from all this? One lesson certainly is not to jump to any conclusions before all the facts are in hand. Opposition Senator Riza Hontiveros’ knee-jerk reaction was to blame the Duterte administration, even though the facts indicate that the problem began with its predecessor, the Aquino administration, with which she is closely allied. A second, and no less important lesson, is that public officials need to exercise some caution and get their facts straight before they post potentially damaging half-truths on social media. We are all for transparency in government, but public officials need to rein in their Twitter thumbs and get all the facts, and not impulsively blast out tweets off the top of their heads.

Turn to A5

A passion for service

I WAS appointed by President Duterte as chairman and resident representative in Taiwan. His marching orders were very clear to me as I embarked on the mission at hand: Look after and ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers on the island. Luckily for us at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, the living and working conditions of our overseas workers in Taiwan are way better than in other parts of the world. This may also be attributed to the host government’s pro-active approach in handling cases involving foreign workers. Yet unfortunate events still strike our kababayans here from time to time, sometimes of their own doing, perhaps brought about by an inability to balance wants versus needs, and their longing for family back home. Everyday, our Assistance to Nationals section processes OFW problems ranging from complaints against usurers and queridas to overstaying workers who wishes to surrender to Taiwan authorities and finally go home. Also common are cases of workers getting ill or getting involved in work-related accidents. The more serious stuff come once in a while when disasters, such as earthquakes and factory fires, strike. Also in the frontlines to address this range of cases involving our workers are the people from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, who are on call, day and night, to respond to our kababayans’ woes. Led by labor officer and lawyer Cesar Chavez of Davao and chief welfare officer Dayang Dayang Sittie Kaushar Jaafar, a native of southernmost Tawi-Tawi, both “veterans” in working with OFWs in the Middle East, these agencies work hand in hand with MECO’s ATN officers in providing the required labor, legal and even financial assistance to distressed OFWs in northern Taiwan. If not for rules against divulging details of the cases involving OFWs, I could have further illustrated how these frontliners dedicate their time and hard

work, even outside of their prescribed working hours, to the service. They travel far and wide across the more populous cities and counties of Taiwan seeking to reach out to as many OFWs as possible, educating them on the many ways by which our government can help them, and bringing these services closer to our kababayans. Jaafar particularly strikes me with her motherly, or sisterly to some, approach in extending help to Filipinos in Taiwan, specially those who need medical care assistance and emotional guidance. Though born to a powerful political family and Sama royalty, her dedication to the plight of distressed OFWs is admirable. ***

It is comforting to know that there are men and women who have taken their job and mission to heart.

Meanwhile, outside the MECO offices, another woman is passionately engaged in helping Filipinos in Taiwan. Dr. Juliet Montano Tsai, a Batanguena who married an overseas Chinese from Hong Kong and later based themselves in Taiwan, was recently recognized by no less than President Duterte for her contributions to the well-being of our OFWs. Dr. Tsai has dedicated her family medicine practice almost exclusively for Filipino OFWs who seek medical treatment in a clinic in Banqiao district during the past three decades. Consultations with her are particularly helpful given the language barrier between OFWs and most doctors in Taiwan. Dr. Tsai was also able to convince the owner of the polyclinic where she practices to bring down the consultation fee from NT$150 to just NT$80. Big hospitals in Taipei charge as much as NT$380 per consultation. Of course, here in Taiwan, the medicines the doctor prescribes come free with that 80 Taiwan dollars (about P135 only) consultation fee. Turn to A5

A war zone in disguise? ‘We have seen the enemy, and it is us.’ A NON-GOVERNMENT organization in the US described the Philippines as “a war zone in disguise.” Whether a valid description or not, the NGO claim somehow has a ring of truth in it, some local observers say. The short news runner below the main CNN Philippines coverage did not give enough details on the claim of the NGO—nor its identity.

Watching the daily news on TV and the major Manila dailies is enough to make us cringe and wish we can be evacuated to a safer place. The bloody war on drugs, the series of political killings and terrorist

bombings tking the lives of innocent civilians are just some of the grisly headlines that seem to have become the new normal. These are occurrences not only in the present administration of President Rodrigo Duterte but go all the way back to the previous administrations. It would be a tribute to any president if he or she can stem this tide of lawlessness so the international community can see us as a stable country and not one where anarchy rules. We can expect political violence to rise in the run-up to the May 13 national and local elections. The Commission on Elections has listed several provinces as Turn to A5

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Opinion Milestones YESTERDAY, the contrasting fate of two of the most admired Filipinos served as benchmarks, milestones if you will, of the country’s journey as a proud member of the family of nations. We are talking here of the successful defense of Senator Manny Pacquaio of his WBA welterweightcrown against American Adrian Broner. The 40-yearold, eight-division champion from Sarangani province proved, as he himself intimated early on, that age is just a number as he pummeled Broner to a unanimous decision over the 12-round match. Some watchers, of course, decried the inability of the good senator to score a knockout or even a knockdown for that matter. They had overly romanticized Pacquaio’s boxing career to the point of expecting miracles at his age. It is clear that while boxing remains the senator’s true love, he has half-moved on to other pursuits which somehow divides his attention. Nevertheless, his gritty showing in the ring and his demeanor outside, before and after the ﬁght, has endeared him to viewers all around the world. That there was no knockout cannot and should not deprive him of the victory he deserved. After all, he was able to show that while he may be years older than Broner, his physical conditioning and, more importantly, his mental and spiritual standing were beyond reproach. He showed how champions are made and how they should behave in and out of the ring. He remains a ﬁghter at heart and a true blue resilient and persevering a Filipino as well. Indeed, Senator Pacquaio’s life journey mirrors that of the millions of our countrymen out there who have had to carry themselves up from the deprivation of poverty to the heights of fame and success. Through hard work and perseverance and, perhaps

A passion... From A4

You walk into her clinic any given day and you would feel like walking into a local clinic in the Philippines. Her Taiwanese medical staff has likewise grown accustomed to Filipino patients more than locals. She has two days off each week and yet despite a punishing daily schedule, she spends one of her free days visiting or following up on her patients with serious illnesses. Hers is a rare passion for service. As a recipient of the Banaag Award, a presidential recognition for Filipino

A war... From A4

election hot spots even as Mindanao is under martial law which was extended for the third time. We cannot really blame the US-based NGO for getting the impression we are in a state of war, although internally. Who was it who said: “We have seen the enemy, and it is us.” But then I would suggest to that US-based NGO to look at America itself. While there are no political killings in the US, President Donald Trump has sown a deep political divide between Democrats and Republicans. Because he wanted to build a border wall between the US and Mexico, he has created an impasse in the passage of national appropriations. The Democrats do not want to allocate $5 billion for a wall that could be better spent for health and social services. Besides, Mexico is a friendly southern neighbor which has no intent to take over the United States. Trump, according to his critics, is fanning the ﬂame of fear that illegal Mexicans are entering the US and taking over jobs

TSA.... From A4

Unfortunately, with lines getting longer and workers apparently lowering security standards to get passengers through security more quickly, it’s almost as if the government shutdown made it easier for any supporter of the agency to justify keeping them around.

serving as a guide to a better future for us all. Having brought honor and prestige to our people with his boxing exploits he can now translate this to yet more beneﬁts for our country and people by being an exemplary public servant as he is proving to be. He is truly one Filipino we can all be proud of. On the other hand, the death of taipan Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr., the country’s wealthiest person and dubbed as “The King of Retail” serves as another example, a milestone, in the continuing saga of the millions of our countrymen out there aspiring for a better life. In death as in life, “Tatang” has given each and every Filipino hope that this country can be a nurturing one for those

who are ready to work hard, sacrifice and not easily give up on their dreams for a better future. Mr. Sy’s life story like that of Senator Pacquaio and others before them who had to buckle down and carry their load with faith, honesty and hard work is one for the books. Theirs are truly inspirational indeed. From being a young, penniless immigrant from Fujian, “Tatang” literally transformed himself and the businesses he focused on—retail, real state development and banking, among others—to world-class excellence. After opening a shoe store in one of the commercial districts in what was the business district of Manila,he was able to parlay his marketing, organizational and financial acumen to establish one of the largest and profitable conglomerates not only inthe Philippines but in South East Asia. From that small shoe store in Carriedo, Mr. Sy was able to create a retail empire with 72 stores nationwide and a bevy of others across China serving more than three-million customers daily. Expanding his reach from malls and retail, the Sy brand—SM—has become synonymous with huge real estate developments and the largest banking network in the Philippines. At the time of his death, the SM brand which he created from scratch has become an all-too-familiar one, signalling to the world that here in this benighted land there is one brand we can all be proud of as Filipinos. Mr. Sy’s legacy like the empire he built based on hard work, faith in the Almighty and service to one’s fellowmen will forever be an inspiration to our people. The contrasting fates of Senator Pacquiao and Mr. Sy at this very moment can only inspire us all to move on and work even harder to make our country a better place for the generations to come.

individuals overseas in Malacañang last Dec. 5, the President hugged her and singularly kissed Dr. Tsai’s hand. Perhaps he, too, felt in the petite doctor’s aura a nobility of selﬂessness and humility. Due to pressing matters in Taipei owing to a joint economic conference and a meeting with potential big investors, I was unable to accompany her in the Malacanang awarding ceremonies last December 5. Over dinner we tendered in her honor weeks back, she described her ﬂeeting moment in front of the President an “indescribable feeling with such a humbling effect” as she admitted that she admired Duterte’s leadership.

Reﬂecting on all the hard work and contributions of these people to MECO’s mission, I am both delighted and honored to have met and worked with them here in Taiwan. And whenever I go to places where Filipinos converge here in Taiwan, I get a glimpse of how difﬁcult it is for someone to be far from family and friends and how our OFWs cope with all the disadvantages of being away from home. Along with the inherent resilience of our OFWs, it is more comforting to know that there are men and women who have taken to heart their job and mission to help our fellow countrymen.

meant for Americans. Because of the deadlock on the budget, the US itself has been on a shutdown for nearly a month now. Many federal employees are not being paid. To get over the hump and the partial government gridlock, Americans are paying for essential needs with their credit cards. But what will happen when their card credit runs out, and how will they pay for the interests on their charges? As anyone who uses his credit card knows, the interest charges can be overwhelming. They build up when not paid on time. Going back to the local scene, the stoppage of the South Korean shipbuilding ﬁrm Hanjin’s operation is a cause of concern. While the local banks do not seem worried about the loss of funds loaned to Hanjin, there are certain quarters which are worried that Hanjin might sell out to China its interests including its equipment and lease on Subic. Will the US allow its South Korean ally to give China a foothold on Subic? Recall that Subic, with its natural cove, was once the naval base of the American Seventh Fleet that made China think twice before it launched

its aggressive expansionist move in the South China Sea. Moving into Subic and replacing the US brings Beijing a step closer to annexing the Philippines as a province of China. The jingoists in our midst would probably go saberrattling and vow that they will fight to the end. But calmer heads say we can’t fight China with its more modern military weapons and a millionmember People Liberation Army. The alternative is to negotiate for peace and bilateral talks for a mutually beneficial joint exploration of the vast resources under the South China Sea. Both the Philippines and China, after all, need the potential oil, gas and mineral resources under the sea. The rich fishing ground of the South China Sea can be shared by Chinese and Filipino fishermen and there’s no need for any one party to claim it as its own. The West Philippine Sea was declared by The Hague international tribunal as legally within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Now, pray tell, who will enforce this international ruling? China knows that the US nor the United Nations cannot enforce The Hague ruling which Beijing considers as just a scrap of paper.

When President George W. Bush proudly announced airport security had become a federal responsibility, he failed to list the many problems that would cause travelers in the long run. With the shutdown in place, we’re once again reminded that the TSA costs US taxpayers a pretty penny while doing little to keep us safe. With a $7.5-billion budget, the TSA has proven time and again that it fails

to detect potential threats while also claiming that its successes should remain secret. The terrorists that the agency does catch, it claims, must remain nameless and the stories of bravery coming from the agency must remain under wraps. But there’s zero evidence the agency has actually stopped an actual attack, and its existence is based largely on the idea that they are needed to prevent another 9/11. With airports that switched to private

CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ more important, faith in a Supreme Being who guides the destinies of men and nations, he was able to hudle the extreme challenges which came his way. He persevered when almost all hopes for a better life were almost gone. He went through very hard times indeed and overcame all the brickbats and depravity which came his way. He now has the choice of ﬁghting in the ring for another day or giving up his gloves in a ﬂame of glory and move on to serve as an inspiration to others and continue

On Manny Pacquiao and Henry Sy Sr.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

Think positive may be short-lived. The latest round of fuel price hikes by at least P2 had been directly attributed to the implementation of the second tranche of TRAIN, which imposed higher fuel excise taxes. The BY MANY accounts 2018 was Department of Energy announced not the most pleasant year for the that the total price increase for Filipino consumer. After being gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and promised a “Christmas gift” in LPG are P10.08, P3.38, P5.04, the form of the Tax Reform for and P2.24, respectively. And by its Acceleration and Inclusion Law nature, any movement in oil prices late in 2017, the reverse came true. can trigger a domino effect on the Inflation since became a runaway prices of other commodities and monster, nearly impossible to therefore impact other aspects of tame. The government’s economic the economy. managers were quick to belittle the Does this bode ill for the role of TRAIN in the fiasco, but Filipino consumer in 2019? Yes even considering the other factors and no, it seems. On the one hand, the administration’s banner tax inflation has been part of the reform program no doubt made Filipino consumer’s economic life, things worse, especially for the something that the resilient Filipino poorest, who didn’t benefit from has in many ways learned to deal the income tax cuts. with. On the other hand, inflation as The new year seems to come part of a broader economic reality with some reprieve in the horizon. is also political as it is in this The last two months of the year case a clear byproduct of a policy saw inflation easing all the way to intervention. 5.1 percent, the lowest since May In the context of a developing and well below the 6.7 percent in economy such as the Philippines, September, inflation, as the highest linked with in nearly increased a decade. taxation, That brings can become Most of us welcome the 2018 bearable if 2019 with cautious average to it occurs 5.2 percent, alongside hope. which is at two things: the lower Employment end of the and public B a n g k o services. Sentral ng Adequate Pilipinas’ full-year forecast but still employment provides households considerably higher than the 2.9 with necessary purchasing power, percent posted a year earlier. while accessible social services can As is often the case, what helped help the most vulnerable in society inflation toward the end of 2018 cope with difficult circumstances. was the slowdown in the price From a macro-economic increases in food and alcoholic perspective, these can guarantee beverages as well as transport costs. against a downturn in economic Problems in supply and production, activity that runaway inflation can of rice, fish, meat, and vegetables, cause. had been blamed for the surge for For instance, independent think much of 2018. Part of the culprit tank Ibon noted that the first two full appears to be the perennial issues years of the Duterte administration beleaguering the agriculture sector, actually saw the lowest level of job such as the onslaught of typhoons creation among all administrations and poor state support. after EDSA, a symptom of a far Department of Agriculture less optimistic economic outlook. Secretary Manny Piñol himself The average annual job creation admitted that it was hard year for 2017 and 2018 of 81,000 is for the sector, which grew by a well below the annual average measly 1 percent. For what it’s recorded under Corazon Aquino worth, the record inflation became (810,000), Fidel Ramos (489,000), instrumental in pushing lawmakers Joseph Estrada (842,000), Gloria to finally approve the government’s Macapagal Arroyo (764,000), and long-wished-for Rice Tariffication Benigno Aquino III (827,000). Bill, which it said will lower the Inflation without enough job price of the Filipino staple by as creation will spell doom for any much as P7 per kilo. Some analysts, economic system. however, feel that the 35-percent This is important because while tariff rate is still too high to make a inflation has indeed subsided, it substantial dent in rice prices. remains stubbornly high compared Oil prices, on the other hand, to pre-TRAIN levels. For the were susceptible as always to the ordinary Filipino consumer, this volatility of the global market. goes beyond figures on a news The year 2018 was particularly report. They see it in their trips to volatile—crude prices opened the market or the grocery, when the year at $66 a barrel to a peak they gas up or take a jeepney to of $79 per barrel in October work or school. After a challenging before closing at $56.5 by year- year (and approaching the halfway end on oversupply, lukewarm point of the Duterte presidency), global growth sentiments, and most welcome 2019 with cautious the ongoing trade war between hope. the US and China. In response, Some forecasts predict a return the government has called for a to a high-growth, low-inflation provisional jeepney fare rollback in regime this year, while others see some regions and cancelled plans remnants of the record inflation to to suspend the implementation of continue to dampen consumption the next tranche of the tax reform and investment momentum. The law. World Bank has slightly lowered These two developments its growth forecast to 6.5 percent may mean a kinder 2019 for the from 6.7 percent for 2019, citing Filipino consumer but not for the tempered investment growth and poorest of the poor households that weak global trade. routinely suffer from out-of-control It’s the first quarter of the commodity prices. For instance, year that will test the mettle of during the tumultuous third quarter Duterte’s economic managers. For of 2018, inflation for the bottom its part, Malacañang concedes that 30-percent income-wise peaked much work needs to be done as at 8.3 percent. With no relief far as social justice and poverty courtesy of higher take-home pays, reduction are concerned. And with these households bore the brunt of the midterm polls coming up—a TRAIN’s impact. referendum, as always, for the A couple of weeks into 2019, sitting president—the stakes are however, it seems that the relief even higher. security claiming they couldn’t be happier with the service, especially under the government shutdown, unions representing TSA workers parrot the same old claims, saying airports that choose to go private are just being greedy and that traveler safety should be the government’s job. Still, the TSA has made traveling less safe, both because it fails to meet its own standards and because its very existence made

travelers switch from ﬂying to driving. And as we all know, you’re at a greater risk of dying from car crashes than ﬂying accidents. In order to bring travelers back to the skies and stop with the incredible waste of US taxpayers’ dollars, it’s time for the US federal government to shut the TSA down for good. eric.jurado@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard MONDAY, TODAY JANUARY 21, 2019 A6

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. MC16-10142

SPS. ASRAF S. ESMAIL AND LAILA P. ESMAIL AND JOHN DOE, Defendant. x---------------------------------------x

ORDER

2. Judgment be rendered confirming and ratifying as legal and valid the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle and its delivery to plaintiff for purposes of extra judicial foreclosure, in accordance with the provisions of the Chattel Mortgage; On the alternative cause of action, in the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be recovered and delivered to plaintiff, to render judgment in favor of plaintiff, ordering defendants, jointly and severally, to pay plaintiff the principal amount of P477,202.93 plus all accruing charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid. Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for. Makati City for Mandaluyong City, 08 June 2016.

SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO This resolves Plaintiff’s Motion for & ASSOCIATES Reconsideration and Ex-Parte Motion for Leave Counsel of Plaintiff PSBank to Serve Summons by Publication seeking to set 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., aside the court’s Order dated January 11, 2018 No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue dismissing the complaint without prejudice alleging Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City that its failure to take necessary steps to prosecute the instant case is unintentional nor it was the By: intention of the Plaintiff to ignore or defy any order issued by this court. DANILO S. SALGADO PTR No. 5323747; 1-4-16; Makati City WHEREFORE, finding the Motion dated January 30, 2018 to be in order, the same is IBP Lifetime Member No. 03789; 7/7/04; Pasig City Roll No. 38262 GRANTED and as prayed for, the instant case is MCLE Compliance No. V-0006940; 3-26-15 hereby REINSTATED. MEANTIME, let Summons issue to be served CONSTANTINO L. REYES by publication in a newspaper of general circulation PTR No. 2147923; 1-4-16; Quezon City in the Philippines to be raffled at the OCC-RTC IBP Lifetime Member No. 00747; Pasig City Mandaluyong City. Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. V-0001544; 1-22-14; Q.C. SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines. February 28, 2018. (Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge Copy Furnished: ATTY. NESTLE LYN M. PARDUCHO SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno St., Makati City SPS. ASRAF S. ESMAIL AND LAILA P. ESMAIL BLK. 46 LOT 31 MAHARLIKA ROAD, UPPER BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. MC16-10142

SPS. ASRAF S. ESMAIL AND LAILA P. ESMAIL AND JOHN DOE, Defendant. x---------------------------------------x

SUMMONS

Pursuant to the court’s Order dated February 28, 2018 and in compliance with Sections 15 and 16 Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, herein is the Plaintiff’s Complaint, to wit:

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, by counsel, respectfully states that: 1. Plaintiff Philippine Savings Bank (PSBANK for brevity), is a thrift banking corporation organized and existing under Philippine Laws, with principal office and place of business at 4th Floor PSBank Center, #777 Paseo de Roxas cor. Sedeño St., Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City; 2. Defendant/s SPS. Asraf S. Esmail and Laila P. Esmail, Filipino, of legal age, with given address at BLK 46 LOT 31, MAHARLIKA RD, UPPER BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY, where they may be served with summons and other judicial processes; 3. Defendant John Doe, whose real name and address is unknown to the plaintiff, is whoever maybe in actual possession of the motor vehicle described below if it is not in the custody of the defendants; 4. For value received, the defendants jointly and severally executed and delivered to TOYOTA PASONG TAMO (Dealer, for brevity) a Promissory Note (ANNEX A) dated on January 23, 2013 with a face amount of P880,000.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P21,626.00 beginning FEBRUARY 25, 2013 and on the 25th day of every succeeding month thereafter, with late payment penalty of 5% per month from due date until the entire obligation is fully paid; 5. To secure the payment of the Promissory Note, the defendant also executed in favor of the Dealer, a Chattel Mortgaged dated December 10, 2015 over the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE : 2013 TOYOTA INNOVA MOTOR NO. : 2KDU213622 SERIAL NO. : KUN405091143 Together with the body built or that may be built thereon and all the equipment, attachments and accessories which may now or from time to time be used with, added to or attached to the motor vehicle; 6. On January 23, 2013, the Dealer assigned to the Plaintiff all its rights, title and interest over the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage through a Deed of Assignment (Annex B) dated January 23, 2013; 7. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage, it is stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance and the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendants who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or situated or where the plaintiff may have its principal or branch office; 8. Defendants violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two monthly installments falling due on NOVEMBER 25, 2015 and subsequent installments plus other stipulated charges if any; 9. Notwithstanding, the waiver of the defendant/s in the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage to receive a demand before the filing of the complaint; plaintiff still sent oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s to surrender the subject mortgaged motor vehicle for purposes of foreclosure to satisfy defendant’s obligation or to pay his/her/their loan obligation. However, despite the said oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s, he/she/they still failed and continued to refuse to pay his/her/their loan obligation. A copy of the Demand Letter dated FEBRUARY 26, 2016 is hereto attached as Annex C, the total obligation as of APRIL 4, 2016 is at P477,202.93 excluding penalties, legal fees and other charges, as per Statement of Account dated APRIL 4, 2016 attached hereto as Annex D. 10. The Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgaged further stipulated that any legal action arising there from, may be instituted at plaintiff’s option, in the court of competent jurisdiction in Metro Manila or in any province, city or municipality where plaintiff has a branch office; 11. Pursuant to Sec. 2 Rule 60 of the Revised Rules of Court and in support of plaintiff’s application for a preliminary writ of replevin attached is plaintiff’s Affidavit of Merit; 12. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual market value of P550,000.00 of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return to be adjudged and for the payment to the defendants of such sums as it may recover from the plaintiff; ALTERNATIVE CAUSE OF ACTION 1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference, the preceding paragraphs; 2. In the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be found, seized and foreclosed, that the defendants, their successors, assigns and such other persons as may be required by law, be held liable, jointly and severally to pay the amount of P477,202.93 plus all accruing charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid PRAYER ACCORDINGLY, it is respectfully prayed for: 1. A writ of replevin be issued ordering the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle, complete with all its equipment, attachments and accessories from the defendants and its delivery to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, to satisfy defendant’s obligation;

FAINA E. PILAR-CHUANICO PTR No. 5321484; 1-4-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 07082; Ilocos Norte Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003250; 8-12-14 NESTLE LYN M. PARDUCHO PTR No. 2147927; 1-4-16; Quezon City IBP Lifetime Member No. 963084; Q.C. Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0014217; 2-11-16 NOLI A. CABRERA PTR No. 5334791; 1-18-16; Makati City Roll No. 51998; IBP Lifetime Member No. 07324 MCLE Compliance No. V-0009712; 8-13-2015 RAYMUND JONAS C. FLORES PTR No. 5328826; 1-6-16; Makati City Roll No. 62391; IBP Lifetime Member No. 11786; Makati City MCLE Compliance No. V-0006680; 3-04-15 GILBERT G. GORDOVE PTR No. 5326678; 1-5-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 04783; SAMAR Roll No. 44495 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003231; 8-12-14 EMILIO C. PANGILINAN PTR No. 2606584; 1-5-16; Mandaluyong City IBP Receipt No. 1017520 (1-4-16); Ortigas City Roll No. 51782 MCLE Compliance No. V-0021824; May 31, 2016 NICEFORO L. AVILA IBP No. 1022495; 1/26/16; Makati City PTR No. 5361053; 1-28-16; Makati City Roll No. 48305 MCLE Compliance No. V-0020305; April 11, 2016 AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF REPLEVIN AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ of legal age, Filipino and with postal address at 4th Floor PSBank Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas Street, corner Sedeno St., Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I caused the preparation of the complaint read the contents thereof; and allegations therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; 2. That Plaintiff Bank is the mortgagee/ assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated JANUARY 23, 2013 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE MOTOR NO. SERIAL NO.

: 2013 TOYOTA INNOVA : 2KDU213622 : KUN405091143

With all its equipment attachments and accessories which Defendants mortgaged to secure payment of a Promissory Note (Annex “A”, Complaint) JANUARY 23, 2013 with a face amount of P880,000.00 payable in 60 months a monthly installment of P21,626.00 beginning FEBRUARY 25, 2013 and on the 25th day of every succeeding month thereafter until fully paid; 3. The estimated market value of the mortgaged motor vehicle is approximately P550,000.00; 4. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance, at the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendant who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or stipulated or where the plaintiff as mortgagee/assignee may have its principal or branch office; 5. Defendants defaulted/violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two (2) monthly installments due thereon and subsequently installments; 6. In view of defendant’s default/violation plaintiff has become entitled to the possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle which the defendant appear to have wrongfully detained to defeat plaintiff’s mortgage lien thereon, when they failed and/or refused to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, despite oral and/or written demands, contrary to the provisions of the Chattel Mortgage; 7. The mortgaged motor vehicle has not been taken for any tax assessment or fine pursuant to law, or seized under an attachment or execution against the property of the plaintiff or if so seized, the same is exempt from such seizure; 8. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual value of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return is adjudged and for the payment of the defendants of such amounts as they may recover from the plaintiff on the action. 9. I further certify Plaintiff has not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issue in another tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court, or any other tribunal or agency and that if I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court or any other tribunal or agency. I undertake to promptly inform the Honorable Court of that fact within five (5) days from my knowledge thereof. (Sgd.) JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ Affiant NOW THEREFORE, defendant Spouses Asraf S. Esmail and Laila P. Esmail are hereby summoned and required to Answer within SIXTY (60) DAYS from the date of publication of this summons. WITNESS THE HONORABLE RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI, Presiding Judge of this Court. Given this 2 day of March 2018, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. nd

(Sgd.) ATTY. JOFRE Z. ANDRION Branch Clerk of Court Copy Furnished: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno St., Makati City SPS. ASRAF S. ESMAIL AND LAILA P. ESMAIL BLK 46 LOT 31 MAHARLIKA ROAD, UPPER BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY (MS-Jan. 21, 2019)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versusCIVIL CASE NO. MC16-11315 JULIE ANN C. BALANSAG & JOHN DOE, Defendants. x---------------------------------------x

ORDER

This resolves the Omnibus Motion (Motion for reconsideration seeking to include the case in the active docket) and Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication filed by the plaintiff through counsel. The instant motion is anchored on the claim of the plaintiff that summons to defendant Julie Ann C. Balansag has not been served with a copy of summons notwithstanding earnest efforts exerted by plaintiff and the sheriff in locating her whereabouts. Thus, not duly served. Invoking Section 14 of Rule 14 of the Rules of Court, plaintiff moved with leave of court that summons to the defendant be made by publication. The motion is impressed with merit. Considering that defendant’s whereabouts is unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry and the present rules allows service of summons by publication “in any action”, a phrase not contained in the former Rule and the fact that defendant Julie Ann C. Balansag is a resident defendant and at present her whereabouts are unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service of summons may be effected upon them, with Leave of Court by publication in a newspaper of general circulation as the court may order following the pertinent provision of Section 14 of Rule 14 of the Rules of Court. WHEREFORE, the motion is GRANTED and the instant case is hereby REVIVED. Accordingly, let summons to the defendant be made by publication in a newspaper to be chosen in a raffle to be conducted by the OCC, RTC of Mandaluyong City. SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines November 7, 2017. (Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge Copy Furnished: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City JULIE ANN C. BALANSAG No. 81 Michael Raymond Street, Marietta Romeo Village, Pasig City

SUMMONS

Pursuant to the court’s Order dated November 7, 2017 and in compliance with Section 15 & 16, Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, herein is the Plaintiff’s Complaint, to wit:

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, by counsel, respectfully states that: 1. Plaintiff Philippines Savings Bank (PSBANK for brevity), is a thrift banking corporation organized and existing under Philippines Laws, with principal office and place of business at 4th Floor PSBank Center, #777 Paseo de Roxas cor. Sedeno St., Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City; 2. Defendant/s JULIE ANN C. BALANSAG,, Filipino, of legal age, with given address at NO. 81 MICHAEL RAYMOND ST., MARIETTA ROMEO VILLAGE, PASIG CITY, where they may be served with summons and other judicial processes; 3. Defendant John Doe, whose real name and address is unknown to the plaintiff, is whoever maybe in actual possession of the motor vehicle described below if it is not in the custody of the defendants; 4. For value received, the defendants jointly and severally executed and delivered to TOYOTA TAYTAY RIZAL, INC. (Dealer, for brevity) a Promissory Note (ANNEX A) dated on MARCH 18, 2015 with a face amount of P622,400.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P15,297.00 beginning JUNE 1, 2015 and on the 1st day of every succeeding month thereafter, with late payment penalty of 5% per month from due date until the entire obligation is fully paid; 5. To secure the payment of the Promissory Note, the defendant also executed in favor of the Dealer, a Chattel Mortgage dated MARCH 18, 2015 over the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE MOTOR SERIAL NO.

: 2015 TOYOTA VIOS : 2NZ7471580 : NCP1512042921

Together with the body build or that may be built thereon and all the equipment, attachments and accessories which may now or from time to time be used with, added to or attached to the motor vehicle; 6. On MARCH 18, 2015, the dealer assigned to the Plaintiff all its rights, title and interest over the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage through a Deed of Assignment (Annex B) dated MARCH 18, 2015; 7. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage, it is stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance and the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendants who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or situated or where the plaintiff may have its principal or branch office; 8. Defendants violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgaged when they failed to pay at least two monthly installments falling due on MAY 1, 2016 and subsequent installments plus other stipulated charges if any; 9. Notwithstanding, the waiver of the defendant/s in the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage to received a demand before the filing of the complaint, plaintiff still sent oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s to surrender the subject mortgaged motor vehicle for purposes of foreclosure to satisfy defendant’s obligation or to pay his/her/their loan obligation. However, despite the said oral and/or written demands upon the defendant/s, he/she/they still failed and continued to refuse to pay his/her/their loan obligation. A copy of the Demand Letter dated JULY 4, 2016, is hereto attached as Annex C. The total obligation as of SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 is at P542,900.68 excluding penalties, legal fees and other charges, as per Statement of Account dated SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 attached hereto as Annex D. 10. The Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage further stipulate that any legal action arising there from, may be instituted at plaintiff’s option, in the court of competent jurisdiction in Metro Manila or in any province, or municipality where plaintiff has a branch office; 11. Pursuant to Sec. 2 Rule 60 of the Revised Rules of Court and in support of plaintiff’s application for a Preliminary writ of replevin attached is plaintiff’s Affidavit of Merit; 12. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual market value of P622,400.00 of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return to be adjudged and for the payment to the defendants of such sums as it may recover from the plaintiff: ALTERNATIVE CAUSE OF ACTION 1. Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference, the preceding paragraphs; 2. In the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be found, seized and foreclosed,

that the defendants, their successors, assigns and such other persons as may be required by law, be held liable, jointly and severally to pay the amount of P542,900.68 plus all accruing charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid.

PRAYER

ACCORDINGLY, it is respectfully prayed that: 1. A writ of replevin be issued ordering the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle, complete with all its equipment, attachments and accessories from the defendants and its delivery to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, to satisfy defendant’s obligation; 2. Judgment be rendered confirming and ratifying as legal and valid the seizure of the mortgaged motor vehicle and its delivery to plaintiff for purposes of extra judicial foreclosure, in accordance with the provisions of the Chattel mortgaged; on the alternative cause of action, in the event that the mortgaged motor vehicle cannot be recovered and delivered to plaintiff, to render judgment in favor of plaintiff, ordering defendants, jointly and severally , to pay plaintiff the principal amount of P542,900.68 plus accruing the charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid. Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for. Makati City for Mandaluyong City, 28 September 2016. SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel of Plaintiff PSBank 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue, Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City By: DANILO S. SALGADO PTR No. 5323747; 1-4-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 03789; 7/7/04; Pasig City Roll No. 38262 MCLE Compliance No. V-0006940; 3-26-15 CONSTANTINO L. REYES PTR No. 2147923; 1-4-16; Quezon City IBP Lifetime Member No. 00747; Pasig City Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. V-0001544; 1-22-14; Q.C. FAINA E. PILAR-CHIANICO PTR No. 5321484; 1-4-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 07082; Ilocos Norte Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003250; 8-12-14 NESTLE M. PARDUCHO PTR No. 2147927; 1-4-16; Quezon City IBP Lifetime Member No. 963084; Q.C. Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0014217; 2-11-16 NOLI A. CABRERA PTR No. 5334791; 1-18-16; Makati City Roll No. 51998; IBP Lifetime Member No. 07324 MCLE Compliance No. V-0009712; 8-13-2015 RAYMUND JONA C. FLORES PTR No. 5328826; 1-16-16; Makati City Roll No. 62391; IBP Lifetime Member No. 11786; Makati City MCLE Compliance No. V-0006680; 3-04-15 GILBERT G. GORDOVE PTR No. 5326678; 1-5-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 04783; SAMAR Roll No. 44495 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003231; 8-12-14 EMILIO C. PANGILINAN PTR No. 2606584; 1-5-16; Mandaluyong City IBP Receipt No. 1017520 (1-4-16); Ortigas City Roll No. 51782 MCLE Compliance No. V-0021824; May 31, 2016 NICEFORO L. AVILA IBP No. 1022495; 1/26/16; Makati City PTR No. 5361053; 1-28-16; Makati City Roll No. 48305 MCLE Compliance No. V-0020305; April 11, 2016 AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF REPLEVIN AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ, of legal age, Filipino and with postal address at 4th Floor PSBank Centre, 777 Paseo de Roxas Street, corner Sedeno St., Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I caused the preparation of the complaint read the contents thereof; and allegations therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; 2. That Plaintiff Bank is the mortgagee/ assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated MARCH 18, 2015 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE: 2015 TOYOTA VIOS MOTOR NO.: 2NZ7471580 SERIAL NO.: NCP1512042921 With all its equipment, attachments and accessories which Defendants mortgaged to secure payment of a Promissory Note (Annex “A”, Complaint) MARCH 18, 2015 with a face amount of P622,400.00 payable in 60 months a monthly installment of P15,297.00 beginning JUNE 1, 2015 and on the 1st day of every succeeding month thereafter until fully paid; 3. The estimated market value of the mortgaged motor vehicle is approximately P622,400.00 4. In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage stipulated among others that the default in the payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and conditions shall make the unpaid balance, at the time of such default, immediately due and payable and shall entitle the plaintiff, to obtain possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle from the defendant who are bound, on demand, to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure and who may foreclose such mortgaged motor vehicle at any place where it may be found or stipulated or where the plaintiff as mortgagee/assignee may have its principal or branch office; 5. Defendants defaulted/violated the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two (2) monthly installments due thereon and subsequently installments; 6. In view of defendants’ default/violation plaintiff has become entitled to the possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle which the defendant appear to have wrongfully detained to defeat plaintiff’s mortgage lien thereon, when they failed and/or refused to deliver the same to the plaintiff for purposes of foreclosure, despite oral and/or written demands, contrary to the provisions of the Chattel Mortgage; 7. The mortgaged motor vehicle has not been taken for any tax assessment or fine pursuant to law, or seized under an attachment or execution against the property of the plaintiff or if so seized, the same is exempt from such seizure; 8. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount double the actual value of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return is adjudged and for the payment of the defendants of such amounts as they may recover from the plaintiff on the action. 9. I further certify Plaintiff has not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issue in another tribunal or agency; that to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court, or any other tribunal or agency and that if I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court or any other tribunal or agency. I undertake to promptly inform the Honorable Court of the fact within five (5) days from my knowledge thereof. (Sgd.) JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ Affiant NOW THEREFORE, defendant JULIE ANN C. BALANSAG is hereby summoned and required to Answer within SIXTY (60) DAYS from the date of publication of this summons. WITNESS THE HONORABLE RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI, Presiding Judge of this court. Given this 13th day of November 2017, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. (Sgd.) ATTY. JOFRE Z. ANDRION Branch Clerk of Court Copy Furnished: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno St., Makati City JULIE ANN C. BALANSAG NO. 81 MICHAEL RAYMOND ST., MARIETTA ROMEO VILLAGE, PASIG CITY

(MS-Jan. 21, 2019)

Pope invited for 500th anniv PH Christianity

HE Archdiocese of Cebu will host various events in 2021 to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, during which the Roman Catholic faithful expect the presence of Pope Francis, Archbishop Jose Palma said Sunday.

He said the invitation had been sent to the Vatican for the leader of the 1.2-billion members of the Roman Catholic Church worldwide to visit the Philippines. “Two years from now we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first baptism, the first mass,” Palma said in his homily during the pontifical mass in honor of the Santo Niño de Cebu whose fiesta is celebrated on Jan. 20. “If the Lord permits, let’s pray for the possible visit of the Pope who has been invited to come. Let’s pray for God’s mercy because this is an important anniversary of Santo Niño’s arrival in Cebu.” Palma said the Philippines is known to be the “cradle of Christianity in Asia.” He reminded the devotees about the significance of the finding of the miraculous image of Santo Niño on April 28, 1565, some 44 years after the arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521.

“We know it as a fact that in 1521, when the Spaniards arrived, they baptized Queen Juana and the image of the Santo Niño was given,” Palma said. Juana was the wife of King Humabon, the ruler of Cebu, when Magellan arrived. After 44 years, when the Agustinian missionaries arrived with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Cebu, the image was found unscathed in a scorched hut. “The point is, we say that the Spaniards found the Santo Niño image, but the truth is, it was the Santo Niño who found us, the people in Islas de la Pilipinas,” Palma said in his homily. The Cebu Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has set this year’s theme for the year of the youth as “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, Empowered” in preparation for the 2021 celebration, Palma said. He urged the faithful to pray for the celebration. PNA

RELIGIOUS FERVOR. The Sinulog festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus, who used to be the patron saint of the whole province of Cebu. Image Credit to HELLO TRAVEL

Solons: Implement fully the Mental Health Act By Rio N. Araja THREE House leaders have called on the government to “aggressively” implement the Mental Health Act to address the rising incidence of suicides in the country. Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte called for the law’s implementation amid the passing of Brian Velasco, drummer of the famous Razorback band. “We have to act for the prevention of thousands of suicides that have been plaguing our country,” said Quimbo, principal author of Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental

Health Act. Castelo, a co-author of the measure, said the law’s provisions should be incorporated in the country’ general healthcare system. “There must be aggressive information dissemination and determined implementation of the Philippine Mental Health Law so that we could prevent senseless deaths, especially those by suicide,” he said. Villafuerte said the Department of Education should include “life education” and peer counseling program in schools to promote positive mental health among students and arrest the surge in youth suicides stemming primarily from depression.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sharks extend win streak with victory over Cagers ONCE in the cellar, the Cebu City Sharks are now on the attack mode and they’ve showed that in their last four games capped by their latest win over tournament favorite Muntinlupa Cagers Saturday night at the Marist School Gymnasium in Marikina City. Led by Patrick Cabahug, who knocked in 14 of his 17 points in the second half, the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-backed Sharks shocked the Muntinlupa Cagers, 80-73, in the MPBL Datu Cup. It was the fourth straight victory for the Sharks, who improved their win-loss record to 10-11 and ﬁrmed up its hold of seventh place in the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner. Several players were able to step up for the Sharks as well – Jaybie Mantilla, Edrian Lao and Harold

Cortes, who all tallied double-digit outputs. Mantilla contributed 15, Lao chipped in 14 and Cortes had 10 in a display of balance ﬁrepower by Cebu. The loss was the sixth in 18 games for the Angelis Resort-supported Cagers, who remained in second spot of the southern division, but is now only two and a half games behind their closest pursuer, the Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay, the inaugural staging champion of the MPBL. Davao Occidental thwarted Marikina, 80-68, to fortify its hold of the solo lead down south. Leo Najorda had a double-double effort of 22 points and 12 boards to power the Cocolife-sponsored squad to their 16th win in 20 games. Marikina fell to 7-12 as the team still remains in 11th spot. With still six games left, the Shoemasters will need to win as many games as possible to catch the last bus to the playoffs.

Ardina targets ICTSI Ladies Classic crown DOTTIE Ardina hopes to build some momentum for her LPGA Tour campaign as she shoots for the crown in the ICTSI Beverly Place Ladies Classic set to unwrap Wednesday, Jan. 23 at the Beverly Place Golf Club in Mexico, Pampanga. Ardina has had not much success in the last Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event she had played at Pradera Verde last December, finishing a distant third despite coming into the event brimming with confidence following her clinching of a full LPGA card with a strong second place finish in the Symetra Tour. But she expects to ﬁgure prominently in the title race this week with a victory to bolster her conﬁdence as she slugs it out with the world’s best starting in the Women’s Australian Open next month. But she will be up against one of the strongest casts ever assembled in an LPGT event, led by a strong Thai contingent out to reassert its domination of the circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Though Yupaporn Kawinpakorn won’t be around to defend the crown she won over Chihiro Ikeda last year, the country’s perennial regional ri-

vals are well represented by the likes of Wannasiri Sirisampant, Saraporn Chamchoi, Mookharin Ladgratok, Saruttaya Ngam-usawan and Tiranan Yoopan. Two-time LPGT Champion Tour winner Lee Jeong Hwa of Korea is also in the fold together with compatriot Lee Ji Hyeon, who surprised the elite field in the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship last Oct., which also served as the kickoff leg of the new LPGT season. But Ardina won’t only be facing a talent-laden foreign crew but also the best of local golf could offer as Princess Superal, Pauline del Rosario, Cyna Rodriguez and Ikeda boost the stellar cast in the P750,000 event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. Action is expected to be fierce with only the top 15 plus ties from among the 40 starters advancing to the final round of the 54-hole tournament that also drew amateurs Mafy Singson, Samantha Dizon, Eagle Ace Superal and Arnie Taguines of The Country Club along with Laurea Duque and Marianne Bustos.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after leading his team past the Los Angeles Lakers on January 19, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

Rockets shoot down Lakers in overtime L OS ANGELES, United States—James Harden scored 48 points as the Houston Rockets rallied from a 21-point deficit to down the Los Angeles Lakers 138-134 in overtime on a drama-filled NBA Saturday. Paul George was the hero for Oklahoma City, his 31 points including a decisive four-point play in the dying seconds that sparked the Thunder to a 117-115 victory over Philadelphia. And Sacramento guard Buddy Hield’s running three-pointer beat the buzzer to give the Kings a 103-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons. In Atlanta, the Boston Celtics trailed much of the night but rallied in the fourth quarter for a 113-105 victory over the Hawks. Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and Jaylen Brown added nine of his 14 points in the ﬁnal period as the Celtics posted a third straight win. Harden’s latest gem followed his 58and 57-point performances in his last two games. But the Rockets never led until Eric Gordon’s three-pointer seconds into overtime put them up 123-120. Gordon, who ﬁnished with 30 points, had forced overtime with a three-pointer that knotted the score at 120-120 with two seconds left in regulation. “That’s what he does,” Harden said of Gordon, who also drained four free

throws in the waning seconds of overtime. “He makes big-time shots. He gave us plenty tonight and we needed every bit of it.” The depleted Lakers, still missing injured superstar LeBron James and Rajon Rondo, dominated the first half and took a 64-46 lead into the break. But the Lakers lost Lonzo Ball to a sprained left ankle in the third quarter and their lead was down to four points heading into the final period. Lakers coach Luke Walton – who was ejected after yelling at officials shortly after teammates carried Ball off the court – said the team would know more about Ball’s injury after an MRI exam. “I love the way our guys competed,” said Walton after Kyle Kuzma paced the Lakers with 32 points and Brandon Ingram added 21. “They gave us everything they had.” It wasn’t enough against the Rockets and Harden, who notched his 19th straight game with 30 or more points. He has scored 40 in 10 of his last 13. “I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to rack up as many wins as we can,” Hard-

en said. Oklahoma City’s win was their 19th straight against the 76ers – the longest active NBA streak of one team defeating another. Excitement built as Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler intercepted a pass aimed at Thunder big man Steven Adams of New Zealand and drove in for a layup with 6.9 seconds remaining to give the 76ers a 115-113 advantage. But after a timeout George took an inbounds pass and fired a three-pointer while being fouled by Butler. George sank a free throw to create the final margin. “I got the shot I wanted coming off the screen and I got a good look at the basket,” George said. Boston’s Marcus Smart was ejected late in the third quarter after an altercation with Atlanta’s DeAndre Bembry, teammates restraining Smart as he tried to charge the Hawks player. Things remained tight at the top of the Eastern Conference as the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors both won. Eric Bledsoe scored a season-high 30 points to lead the Bucks to a 118-108 victory over the Magic in Orlando. The Bucks led by as many as 19 points but the Magic chipped away to reduce the deficit to just two points early in the fourth quarter. AFP

World No. 2 Kerber stunned in Melbourne

Torre to play exhibitions in Mapua

MELBOURNE, Australia—World number two Angelique Kerber was sensationally bundled out of the Australian Open Sunday by a women playing the event for the first time, as Ashleigh Barty muscled past Maria Sharapova to make the quarter-finals. On a hot day on Margaret Court Arena, the German Wimbledon champion was left stunned by American Danielle Collins who humiliated her 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour. Ranked 35 in the world, she is little known on the WTA Tour after playing much of her tennis in the US college system and was making her debut in the main draw at Melbourne Park. She had never won a Grand Slam match before this year. “I may not have won a Grand Slam match before this but I tell you, it’s going to keep happening,” said 25-year-old Collins. “I better have many more of these.” Collins said she held no fears about facing three-time Slam champion Kerber. “I just go out fearless, just give it my all.” Her reward is a last-eight clash with either fifth seed Sloane Stephens or Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who play later. Hometown hero Barty is also a surprise quarter-finalist after bringing Sharapova’s drive to win a first Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open to a grinding halt 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. She will now meet Petra Kvitova, who matched her best Slam performance since a terrifying knife attack derailed her career by beating unseeded American 17-yearold Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-1. AFP

ASIA’S ﬁrst chess grandmaster Eugene Torre will hold simultaneous exhibition games as part of Mapua Foundation Day on January 26, 2019, Saturday, 11 a.m. at the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) Gym in Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila. Torre will play against select students and alumni during the event organized and hosted by the Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association led by its President, Edmond Aguilar and former President Victor Lau in cooperation with Mapua head coach Boyet Tardecilla and Nelson Laroza Salazar, Board 1 of Mapua Chess Team and member of the 1st NCAA Chess Team Champion of 1976. Invited to participate are 16 chess players representing alumni and students. They include: Nelson Laroza Salazar, Alumni (Sword & Castle); Resito David, Alumni (CE-EnSe); Alumni (FIL-CHI); Alumni (EE); Alumni (ECE-COE). Also invited to participate are Paolo Angelo Garcia (ME); Jaime Cacho, Alumni (CHE-CHM) based in California, USA and will participate thru chess. com; Melchor Pilones (FACULTYCE); Kasparob Andres (EE) Varsity Sr.; Aldus Austria (IE) Varsity Sr.; Paul Relativo (GE) Varsity Sr.; Paolo Medina (K12) Varsity Jr.; Stephen Von Estavillo (K12) Varsity Jr.; Kenzo Suarez (K11) Varsity Jr.; Christian Thompson (K11) Varsity Jr.; and John Reggie Salinas (K11) Varsity Jr. In the 2010 edition held in Mapua Library, Torre tallied 14 Wins and two Draws (Nelson Laroza Salazar and board 3 player of MIT team).

Robin Catalan (left) unloads with a high at the face of Indonesian grappler Stefer Rahardian. Catalan put on an all-around dominant performance to win. ONE Championship

Catalan overcomes Indonesian grappler in Jakarta

STRIKER Robin “D’ Ilonggo” Catalan put on an all-around dominant performance, shutting down Indonesian grappler Stefer “The Lion” Rahardian en route to a unanimous decision victory at ONE: Eternal Glory held in Jakarta Indonesia. Catalan was a step ahead on all fronts, as he easily prevented Rahardian’s takedowns, while also picking the hometown favorite apart in the striking department and landing some takedowns of his own. After three rounds of action, it was Cata-

lan who walked away with the win on all three of the judges’ scorecards. Other Filipino fighters were not so fortunate. Joshua “The Passion” Pacio yielded his ONE Strawweight World Championship after losing a split decision to Japanese martial arts veteran Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta. Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly lost to Singapore’s Christian “The Warrior Lee. He finished the Filipino Team Lakay veteran in the first round with punches. After a brief exchange on the feet, Lee

took matters to the ground and worked himself into full mount. From top, Lee pounded Kelly with downward strikes until the referee called a halt to the contest. Saruta put together a tremendous performance, scoring a monumental upset. He was relentless with his chain wrestling, taking Pacio down on numerous occasions while trading powerful combinations on the feet. Throughout ﬁve actionpacked rounds, both Saruta and Pacio put forth their best effort.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

Sports

NorthPort Batang Pier big man Moala Tautuaa (7) muscles his way inside against NLEX Road Warriors defender Larry Fonacier (12). PBA Media

Tautuaa lifts Batang Pier past NLEX Jeric Lopez

IG man Moala Tautuaa finally showed why he was the first overall pick of the 2015 PBA Draft. Tautuaa muscled his way to a doubledouble of 18 points and 11 rebounds to power the NorthPort Batang Pier past the NLEX Road Warriors, 95-90, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night. The core of NorthPort once again came through in the clutch to lead the Batang

Pier to a tough victory and stay unbeaten in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Sean Anthony was brilliant from start to ﬁnish, notching a game-high 22 points with nine rebounds. The backcourt tandem of Robert Bolick and Stanley Pringle helped the Batang Pier’s cause further, adding 14 and 11 points, respectively. As a result, NorthPort now ﬁnds itself at the top of the heap with a clean 2-0 slate. On the other hand, NLEX dropped to 0-2 after tasting another defeat. The Batang Pier gained a much needed leverage early in the fourth after starting

the quarter on a 10-5 run to take a key 8175 lead with 8:33 remaining. NorthPort carried its lead the rest of the way but not without some danger. Larry Fonacier’s lay-up with 1:47 left pulled the Road Warriors within just three, 89-92. But the Batang Pier kept its composure as Tautuua countered by sinking a hook shot inside to make it 94-89 with 1:32 remaining. NorthPort held on from there. Evenly matched, the foes fought toe-totoe for most of the game, exchanging runs throughout. At the end of three, NorthPort was only

ahead by a single point, 71-70. JP Erram led NLEX with 18 points and seven boards in the losing cause. As of this writing, Barangay Ginebra (10) and San Miguel Beer (0-1) are battling each other in a highly-anticipated contest. The scores: NorthPort 95 - Anthony 22, Tautuaa 18, Bolick 14, Pringle 11, Taha 9, Elorde 8, Arana 4, Guinto 3, Flores 2, Lanete 2, Grey 2, Gabayni 0, Sollano 0. NLEX 90 - Erram 19, Quinahan 18, Galanza 11, Paniamogan 10, Magat 8, Tallo 7, Fonacier 5, Baguio 4, Ighalo 2, Alas 2, Soyud 2, Porter 2, Taulava 0, Rios 0. Quarter scores: 25-22, 48-46, 71-70, 95-90.

PSC addresses athletes’ needs By Peter Atencio REQUESTS for equipment of many national sports associations who are preparing for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games have been addressed. And a lot more are still waiting. Ofﬁcials of the Philippine Sports Commission said this as the government sports agency addresses the need to take care of the ongoing preparations for the Games. “Last week, we received than P100-million worth of requests. And this requires purchasing. I don’t know how fast,” said Ramirez. Around 25 NSAs have submitted their requests, and they are waiting for more. So far, the PSC has submitted the documents which details all the expenses of the Games to the Senate. And they are now waiting for the approval of the P7.5 billion budget for hosting the SEA Games. The Senate has asked the agency to provide details of the proposed budget, With seven months to go, the budget for the Games has not yet released. The Philippines will host the Games from November 29 to December 10 next year, and most of the events will be held at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Subic, Bulacan and in Metro Manila. The opening ceremony goes out of tradition by holding a glitzy opening ceremony on November 30 at the 60,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The SEA Games are a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games are under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia. A host nation must stage a minimum of 22 sports: the two compulsory sports from Category 1 (athletics and aquatics), in addition to a minimum of 14 sports from Category 2, and a maximum of eight sports from Category 3. Each sport shall not offer more than 5 percent of the total medal tally, except for athletics, aquatics, and shooting. For each sport and event to be included, a minimum of four countries must participate in it. Sports competed in the Olympic Games and Asian Games must be given priority.

Nadal humbles Berdych to reach Open quarters MELBOURNE, Australia – Rampant Rafael Nadal continued to scatter Australian Open rivals Sunday, barrelling past former world number four Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to tear into the quarter-finals. The Spanish second seed blasted out of the blocks to win nine games in a row against the Czech. He then brutally kept his foot on his throat to win in 2hr 5min on Rod Laver Arena. “I always say the same when I am back from injury. I don’t expect negative or positive things,” said Nadal, who hadn’t played since the US Open before roaring through his first four matches in Melbourne without dropping a set. “When you come back, you need a bit of luck at the beginning because it’s important the first couple of matches.” Nadal had foot surgery during the off season and next in the firing line is giant-killing American Frances Tiafoe – who celebrated his 21st birthday in style Sunday by beating 20th seed Grigor Dimitrov. “It’s going to be the first time

that we play each other. Yeah, he’s playing great,” he said of Tiafoe, who is fast-becoming a fan favorite with his exuberant celebrations. “He won a couple of great matches during the tournament. He’s super quick. And he’s able to change directions fast. “He goes to the net fast. He has a huge forehand, good serve. So let’s see.” A shell-shocked Berdych finally exerted some pressure on the 17time Grand Slam champion in the third set, holding set points in the ninth and 11th games. But the Czech, who missed five months last year with a back injury, let his frustrating day get the better of him when the serve clock mysteriously packed up during the tiebreak. As Nadal served at 5-4, Berdych complained to the umpire about the finicky Spaniard being too slow between points. “I don’t see (the clock) when we change over and I don’t see now,” Berdych moaned, failing to realize that all the electronic boards on the center court had failed. AFP

AND STILL THE CHAMPION. Manny Pacquiao (right) connects with a right on the face of Adrien Broner during the WBA

welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao retained his title by posting a unanimous decision victory. AFP

UST Tiger Cubs turn back UPIS challenge, 80-65

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory against Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych during their men’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2019. AFP

THE University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs took charge under the boards in the fourth period and turned back the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 80-65, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Centre in San Juan. Mark Nonoy struck with 30 points and 15 rebounds for the Tiger Cubs, who got back in the hunt for the Final Four semiﬁnals seat in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament. The Tiger Cubs, who outrebounded the Junior Maroons, 54-36, went on to

bounce back from their 66-94 loss to the solo leading Nazareth School-National University Bullpups last Wednesday. John Bismarck Lina added 21 points and 16 boards for the Tiger Cubs, who improved their win-loss record in fourth spot at 5-5. Johnvic Casingcasing only had seven points, but he delivered crucial baskets in the start of the third period. The Tiger Cubs started moving away from a 52-49 spread at the end of the third following Casingcasing’s jumper off Jomar Amador’s assist with 8:29 left in the fourth.

Casingcasing’s basket touched off a 7-0 spurt, and put the Tiger Cubs by 10, 5949, in the ensuing play. Allen Torres banged in 20 points for the Junior Maroons, who remained at the bottom of the standings at 1-9. Earlier, Raven Cortez fired 16 points for the La Salle Zobel Junior Archers as they beat the University of the East Junior Warriors, 70-66. The Junior Archers are in fifth at 4-6. Gerry Abadiano banged in 22 points for the Bullpups as they won over the Adamson Junior Falcons, 82-54, and remained firm in the lead with their 9-1 record. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF AirAsia adding more Boracay-China flights AIRASIA Philippines has expanded its international network with the addition of several flights to Macau, Kunming and Chengdu from Kalibo International Airport, the gateway to Boracay island in the Philippines. “We are ringing in the new year with additional international flights to Boracay via Kalibo International Airport from three new destinations to once again boost tourism in our paradise island,” said AirAsia Philippines chief executive Dexter Comendador. AirAsia’s Kalibo–Macau route will begin on March 2, 2019 with three flights weekly, while Kalibo–Chengdu will start on January 24 operating four times weekly. The Kalibo– Kunming route will begin on January 25 at three times weekly. “China is an important market for leisure and tourism and we are excited to bring them back to Boracay. Direct flights will provide ease and comfort for Chinese tourists while giving local tourism industry a necessary boost after the rehabilitation works that closed the island to all tourists for six months last year,” Comendador said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Clark water park holds relaunching CLARK FREEPORT—Anticipating the dry season, Aqua Planet Water Park held its “grand” relaunch Saturday with additional attractions and amenities for outdoor and water activities. Among Aqua Planet first visitors were members of the diplomatic corps from Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar, who were amazed at the beauty of the new “paradise” situated at the northern tip of Clark Freeport. “We don’t expect Clark has this amazing kind of water park,” said Brunei Ambassador Joharian Wahab, accompanying her young daughter. Others who joined the trip were Cambodia first secretary Khim Kanal, Laos charge d’affaires KhamKhoun Pradith, Myanmar Ambassador Win Naing, Thailand charge d’affaires Urawadee Sriphiromya and first secretary Thassarany Noivong, Vietnam Ambassador Ly Qouc Tua and first secretary Vu Anh Son, and Indonesia minister counsellor Teguh Wiweko and second secretary Agus Buana. Jess Malabanan

Business

DoJ dismisses estafa case vs Kazuo Okada By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Justice Department afﬁrmed the dismissal of an estafa case against Japanese casino magnate Kazuo Okada and several others in connection with the supply of light-emitting diode strips for the façade of Okada Manila.

Assistant state prosecutor Alejandro Daguiso said in a 10-page decision respondent Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. failed to prove conspiracy between Okada and other respondents Kengo Takeda, Tetsuya Yokota and Aruze Philippines Manufacturing Inc. “From the records, there appears to be no concrete evidence at all of respondents’ alleged conspiracy and representations that brought about the contract in question,” Daguiso said in his decision as he afﬁrmed the resolution of the Parañaque Prosecutors Ofﬁce dismissing the case on May 15, 2018 for lack of prob-

able cause. The DOJ said this case appeared to be a business decision gone wrong due to lack of any due diligence on the part of the complainant. It said the case could be subject to another complaint, likely breach of contract, but not for criminal fraud due to lack of evidence on record. The case stemmed from a complained ﬁled by TRLEI chief executive adviser Dindo Espeleta which alleged that the responders conspired to enable Aruze Philippines Manufacturing Inc., a company allegedly owned by Okada, to get the LED supply contract.

The department said TRLEI’s complaint merely relied on the assertions of its Espeleta of perceived close personal association between respondents without any reference to speciﬁc meetings or conversations on particular dates during the period of negotiations for the awarding of the supply agreement. The Justice Department said the TRLEI’s complaint rendered itself defective after it failed to present receipts in evidence—either of the LED strips upon delivery or of the payment for the same. The DOJ also maintained that the supply agreement itself was executed several months after the delivery of the LED strips, rendering the contract consummated and extinguished several months before its actual terms were put into writing and notarized. It also said that Espeleta had every opportunity to conduct due diligence in the preparation for the signing of the supply agreement – even against the wishes of Okada and Takeda – but he failed to do so.

Franchisers bullish, see sales of P72.9b THE country biggest group of all-Filipino franchisers expects to expand combined sales by as much as 35 percent to P72.9 billion in 2019 from P54 billion in 2018. The Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. said more and more micro, small and medium enterprises were becoming aware of the beneﬁts of franchising to expand business, said chairman Enrique Caeg. “Our forecast of 35 percent growth is very likely to happen now that we have many small businesses who want to be part of our group and with members who are bullish for expansion, we have so much to hope for,” he said. The group currently has 220 active members that contributed to the sales of P54 billion in 2018. Combined sales of members stood at P40 billion in 2017. Caeg said the group aimed to promote entrepreneurship and sustaining growth to encourage more Filipinos to go into the business. The food and food processing sector holds the biggest share of the group’s membership proﬁles at 60 percent, with services coming at second. Othel V. Campos

AIRASIA FLIES TO INCHEON. AirAsia Philippines launches an inaugural flight from Clark International Airport to Incheon, South Korea. The Clark-Incheon flight serves as another milestone for Clark International Airport Corp.. Joining the ceremonial slicing of the cake are CIAC director Raul del Rosario (second from right) and AirAsia Philippines director for flights operations Capt. Gomer Monreal (fourth from left). Jess Malabanan

PLDT now willing to buy or lease facilities built by tower companies By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said it is supporting the government’s common tower policy to hasten the development of new cellular towers nationwide. “A number of these tower companies have approached us, and we said we’re willing to cooperate in respect to new towers,” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said. “The formula is ﬂexible. If they are willing to sell to us after they build towers, we’re willing to buy them or just lease the towers, and tell us if they are going to lease them to other telcos. We need to know. We’re willing to support,” he said. The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier signed separate memoranda of understanding with ISOC Infrastructures Inc., Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd.,

Nigeria’s IHS Towers, Malaysia’s Edotco Group and China Energy Engineering Corp. for the construction of cellular towers nationwide. The DICT said it would support the ﬁve companies in facilitating permits and right of way and provide other government support for infrastructure if they secure a contract with any of the telco operators. The DICT said it was opting for a market-driven approach in accelerating the build-up of more cell sites. Acting DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio said the Philippines, with less than 20,000 towers, had the smallest number of towers given its land area and population compared to its neighboring countries. The agency said the maximum rollout of one tower company would be 25,000 for a seven-year period. Each tower company is projected to invest $2 billion.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

Inflation seen decreasing to 4.1% in 2019 By Julito G. Rada PRIVATE sector economists who participated in a survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expect inflation rate to average 4.1 percent in 2019 and 3.8 percent in 2020, down from 5.2 percent last year. “While analysts expect inflation to remain elevated in the near term, their assessment of the balance of risks to the inflation outlook has shifted toward the downside,” the Bangko Sentral said. “Possible downside risks to inflation include declining global oil prices; easing prices of food and non-food items which seemed to have stabilized; implementation of mitigating measures to address domestic food supply issues such as rice importation; the recent and expectations of further policy rate hikes by the BSP; and the recovery of the Philippine peso against the US dollar,” the BSP said. It said key upside risks to inflation would emanate from potential volatile global oil prices; possible depreciation of the peso against the US dollar; increased demand due to upcoming school enrollment and during the holiday season; geopolitical risks such as trade tensions; and the expected rise in transport fares and utility rates. Meanwhile, inflation is anticipated to moderate over the medium term and revert to within the inflation target band of 2 percent to 4 percent as global oil prices decelerate and as monetary and non-monetary policy measures to temper inflation take effect. The respondents assigned a 44.8-percent probability that inflation would fall within the 2 percent to 4 percent target range in 2019 and 53.6-percent chance that inflation would breach the upper end of the target. Results of the Fourth Quarter 2018 BSP Business Expectations Survey showed that a smaller number of respondents were expecting inflation to rise in the current quarter (from a diffusion index of 68.6 percent to 62.1 percent). Inflation eased to an average of 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter 2018 from 6.2 percent a quarter ago, due mainly to the moderation in food inflation as supply conditions improved for key food items. This brought the full-year average inflation rate to 5.2 percent, which is above the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

Redondo studies other options for Subic coal plant By Alena Mae S. Flores MERALCO PowerGen Corp. is now considering other development options for the 660-megawatt coal-fired power project of Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. in Redondo Peninsula, Subic, Zambales, including converting it into a liquefied natural gas facility, officials said over the weekend. RP Energy, a joint venture among Meralco PowerGen, the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., Therma Power Inc. of the Aboitiz Group and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corp., earlier put the development of the coal project on hold because of construction and power supply agreement issues. “Without PSA, we have no recourse but to call them off and say we will now open our options not just with the Korean contractor, but in fact, we’re now looking at other options. It might be new technology, it might no longer CFB [circulating fluidized bed],” Meralco PowerGen pres-

ident Rogelio Singson said. “If I were asked, I would only settle with ultra-supercritical. Second, we’re also considering LNG. We’re in that stage,” Singson said. Aboitiz Power chief operating officer Manny Rubio earlier said the project encountered unforeseen technical issues, specifically “instability in one of the slopes.” “Shareholders [decided to put it]…on hold position until we complete our technical assessment of what technology and when. In the meantime, we are holding off our site because there is value in the site – there is transmission connection nearby and SBMA approval,” Singson said. Singson said RP Energy should come out with a decision within the first half of the year to proceed with the project. “But in the meantime, we’re saying let this rainy season pass and see stability of the site Because the stability of the site is another challenge. Geology problem, there

are landslides that’s why we got delayed,” he said. Singson said the site stability issue was being addressed to contain the landslide. “We’re addressing that. We don’t want to be a violator of environmental disaster in that site… In the meantime, we’re consulting experts in terms of what’s the best solution to stabilize that. It will also depend on technology…Depending on the new technology, we will determine which sites are ideal,” he said. Singson said the shareholders were looking at the economic viability of converting the project into LNG, which would also require new permitting process. “[It] depends on economics and when to start. There’s also a limited window for new plants to be built. We’re also looking at demand side, supply side and so on,” he said. “In general, we’re saying we’re open to changing the technology from the original 2x300 CFB,” the ofﬁcial said.

Meralco considers electric vehicle manufacturing By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. is looking at investment opportunities in the electric vehicle manufacturing or assembly as a part of a long-term growth plans in the EV space, ofﬁcials said. Meralco subsidiary eSakay Inc. launched on Friday its EV ﬂeet that would soon ply one of Metro Manila’s busiest commuting routes between the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong. Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said investing in the assembly of e-Sakay jeepneys could be an option for Meralco “We might invest…We don’t know yet which arm of Meralco,” Pangilinan said, adding he was hoping the designer and distributor of the e-jeepneys could manufacture it in the Philippines. E-Sakay’s modern e-jeeps are 100-percent electric and emission free and compliant with PUV innovations for the convenience and safety of the riding public. They are equipped with side entrances, onboard

Wi-Fi, an automated fare collection system, GPS tracking system, CCTV cameras, USB ports so passengers can charge their phones while traveling and others. Meralco tapped Star 8 Green Technology Corp. to supply the e-jeep units. E-Sakay chairman and Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services, corporate marketing and communications Al Panlilio said the company was studying how to promote EVs in the country. “We should be able to build the charging station. The question is for you to propagate this you need supply of e-vehicles from tricycles, e-jeeps, e-bus and eventually private cars. Is there a way we can manufacture here?” Panlilio said. “So we have not started since we have a supplier at Star 8 and they are not the only ones… How can we develop that space? How can we bring their manufacturing capability here in the Philippines. That’s what we are still discussing,” he said.

LARGEST DORMITORY. Leading developer of innovative staff housing solutions, Philippines Urban Living Solutions Inc., where SM Investments Corp. has an equity, breaks ground for its largest building to date, envisioned to house over 1,000 beds, green spaces and never-before-seen amenities. The sevenstory dorm, MyTown Los Angeles, is set to rise along Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City, going to C5, located just a few minutes walk from Uptown. Shown is the architect’s perspective of MyTown Los Angeles.

Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market likely to sustain run By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to sustain their upward momentum on expectations the local equities market could still do well amid cooling inﬂation and Wall Street’s volatility.

“Investors are buying blue chips that will benefit from a possible reversal of foreign inflows and positioning in stocks that will gain as inflation eases,” BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said. Ravelas said the market’s close at 8,047.12 signalled it still had the momentum to try the 8,150-point level over the near term period. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last week said inflation could hit at an average of 3.2 percent for the entire 2019 and

3 percent by 2020. Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis Limlingan said Philippine shares might also benefit from easing trade tensions between the United States and China. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week registered its third consecutive week of gains, gaining 1.8 percent to 8.046.12. All major counters ended in the green, led by financials (+2.44 percent), property (+1.86 percent), holding firms (+1.52

percent), industrial (+1.43 percent), services (+1.17 percent) and mining and oil (+0.91 percent). Foreign investors were net buyers for the week by P5.2 billion, while the average daily value traded reached P11.2 billion from last week’s average of P8.6 billion. Weekly top price gainers were Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., which junmped 22.6 percent to P2.49; Lopez Holdings Inc., which advanced 22 percent to P5.69; and PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc., which climbed 18.9 percent to P6.67. Weekly top price losers, meanwhile, were DMCI Holdings Inc., which declined 5.3 percent to P12.12; Puregold Price Club Inc., which fell 5.2 percent to P46; and Manila Electric Co., which dropped 4.6 percent to P369.20. Stock markets across the globe, meanwhile, powered higher Friday, buoyed by

hopes of a breakthrough in efforts to defuse a US-China trade war. European and Asian indices bounced back strongly on Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported Washington was considering lifting tariffs on China as ofﬁcials look to hammer out a trade deal. Wall Street joined the party later Friday, with major indices rising one percent or more to close out the fourth day in a row of gains. The Dow has risen more than 13 percent since December 24. Bloomberg also reported Friday that Beijing had offered to eliminate its soaring trade surplus with the United States in ﬁve years. “Global markets are enjoying an overwhelmingly bullish end to the week, with hopes of a potential breakthrough in US-China trade talks helping drive optimism,” said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at traders IG. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JANUARY 14-18, 2019 Close Volume

Value

JANUARY 7-11, 2019 Close Volume Value

Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Ferronoux Holding Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

59.9 132.00 93.10 2.37 1.47 27.75 7.58 16.2 12.66 4.61 7.46 0.66 1.45 825.00 0.450 82.5 1.01 12.4 22.00 44.30 58.85 180 27 179.7 1800.00 64.60 1.15

57,330 15,107,000 10,264,240 268,000 298,000 788,100 300 8,900 6,584,300 1,740,000 1,500 84,000 54,000 2,240 2,840,000 18,857,510 6,806,000 55,300 5,400 1,438,400 101,720 3,620 700,000 2,630,800 1,470 55,920 17,000

FINANCIAL 3,405,947.00 1,990,312,725.00 954,978,848.50 620,220.00 431,500.00 21,846,475.00 2,274.00 144,040.00 82,067,622.00 8,433,630.00 11,190.00 55,590.00 77,950.00 1,792,500.00 1,295,050.00 1,513,069,313.00 6,938,670.00 682,666.00 112,611.00 64,632,640.00 6,029,910.00 653,803.00 18,980,750.00 470,734,850.00 2,645,545.00 3,617,664.50 19,560.00

59.5 131.30 90.00 2.21 1.45 27.85 7.58 16 12.56 4.65 7.40 0.61 1.47 790.00 0.470 77.95 0.97 12 18.98 44.60 58.75 180 26.4 175.3 1810.00 64.60 1.14

74,640 14,591,930 17,296,470 290,000 642,000 842,800 100 8,600 5,313,800 1,484,000 600 164,000 11,000 210 950,000 24,768,110 22,441,000 62,600 6,200 2,585,800 38,370 7,470 2,158,100 7,932,550 195 125,980 186,000

4,431,927.50 1,908,344,675.00 1,596,194,749.00 628,240.00 932,980.00 23,537,805.00 758.00 137,510.00 67,570,472.00 6,824,630.00 4,440.00 109,170.00 15,930.00 164,800.00 455,800.00 1,975,293,342.00 22,002,670.00 772,346.00 114,894.00 114,517,680.00 2,251,888.50 1,355,230.00 59,689,790.00 1,353,875,501.00 353,660.00 8,137,097.00 213,220.00

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petroenergy Res. Corp. Petron Corporation PH Resorts Group Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SMC Food and Beverage SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

37.95 16.22 1.09 1.4 0.248 90 16.52 2.49 15.14 140 31.3 60 78 39.45 1.75 6.66 6.64 11.760 15.88 8.20 7.29 20 73.4 26.35 2.1700 6.35 12.8 1.860 324.80 4.36 3.14 10.10 27.5 12.42 17.18 0.183 369.20 5.70 1.38 3.76 7.73 6.67 9.10 1.30 11.00 47.6 5.8 4.80 1.84 2.9 1.51 11.8 90.15 6.4 0.132 0.92 142.9 2.32 2.12 1.55

9,005,400 4,293,200 58,717,000 4,092,000 8,520,000 790 29,700 191,686,000 4,279,900 1,620 422,400 100 990 4,200 328,000 192,800 167,700 17,513,200 4,752,300 1,320,400 14,903,200 10,669,100 1,321,750 109,800 36,319,000 3,536,100 12,097,800 1,801,000 3,515,030 65,000 72,000 39,500 5,056,800 5,787,300 12,303,200 1,730,000 1,980,760 312,700 37,363,000 1,219,000 11,301,700 7,810,700 28,900 81,288,000 534,000 4,110,600 196,300 113,000 5,422,000 150,000 420,000 4,976,200 4,048,530 1,789,600 7,300,000 218,000 8,356,810 149,000 51,078,000 15,888,000

INDUSTRIAL 331,877,685.00 70,539,188.00 66,388,670.00 5,720,830.00 2,100,400.00 71,100.00 492,964.00 438,103,880.00 66,856,770.00 223,153.00 13,130,435.00 6,000.00 77,220.00 170,810.00 582,630.00 1,236,124.00 1,100,431.00 206,167,208.00 75,132,780.00 10,683,715.00 108,758,486.00 216,568,435.00 96,685,031.50 2,878,190.00 78,538,320.00 22,229,542.00 154,507,838.00 3,351,290.00 1,115,650,374.00 280,680.00 226,270.00 421,534.00 136,783,625.00 68,747,422.00 215,293,826.00 307,620.00 758,411,302.00 1,795,659.00 52,561,660.00 4,589,740.00 87,604,245.00 51,241,805.00 263,114.00 107,259,460.00 5,861,030.00 196,647,165.00 1,144,138.00 542,100.00 9,985,010.00 433,300.00 620,140.00 62,183,138.00 350,236,349.00 11,435,341.00 955,650.00 199,950.00 1,174,695,133.00 346,870.00 96,023,210.00 25,221,170.00

35.8 16.44 1.16 1.41 0.250 90 17.00 2.03 15.9 140 31.35 60 78 41 1.75 6.41 6.65 11.500 15.06 8.16 7.30 20.5 71 26.20 2.0700 5.99 12.22 1.880 316.60 4.38 3.2 10.40 27.3 11.26 18 0.185 387.00 5.70 1.47 3.76 7.89 5.61 9.10 1.35 11.00 48.45 6 4.70 1.9 2.87 1.54 13.2 84.3 6.28 0.128 0.89 136.3 2.42 2.08 1.59

7,839,100 2,919,300 57,204,000 9,271,000 12,710,000 6,740 4,500 127,789,000 1,824,100 16,750 906,700 420 10 7,000 380,000 365,900 179,900 19,759,300 943,400 2,384,800 1,704,000 11,076,300 548,940 188,600 14,460,000 6,819,300 8,805,000 3,090,000 4,780,230 124,000 28,000 57,400 2,599,600 2,972,200 30,387,600 2,050,000 1,275,690 28,100 93,276,000 3,357,000 17,625,900 779,700 47,400 326,476,000 633,600 2,434,400 2,668,300 13,492,000 3,956,000 46,000 1,466,000 1,297,700 2,547,050 2,943,400 4,170,000 299,000 13,141,240 4,000 74,969,000 20,676,000

279,844,785.00 48,773,906.00 65,373,180.00 12,685,410.00 3,160,320.00 617,501.50 76,562.00 265,265,980.00 28,843,722.00 2,688,003.00 28,161,080.00 25,138.50 780.00 279,185.00 674,590.00 2,393,499.00 1,167,580.00 224,517,060.00 14,236,954.00 19,720,335.00 12,678,467.00 228,145,010.00 38,349,782.50 4,782,150.00 29,738,820.00 40,115,441.00 104,146,432.00 5,923,930.00 1,520,884,216.00 532,850.00 89,260.00 591,912.00 71,112,285.00 33,275,926.00 552,896,992.00 367,720.00 495,359,238.00 161,631.00 139,603,970.00 12,610,320.00 137,173,163.00 4,461,205.00 439,706.00 449,450,710.00 6,944,596.00 116,896,840.00 16,004,896.00 63,924,430.00 7,605,050.00 129,730.00 2,236,540.00 16,439,886.00 213,087,658.50 18,370,803.00 533,030.00 263,140.00 1,738,531,537.00 9,680.00 148,306,500.00 33,386,470.00

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ Asiabest Group ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Lopez Holdings Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Transgrid Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.690 67.90 14.28 0.80 6.50 25.75 1.430 1.420 939 7.2 12.12 4.3 5 12.26 0.239 1050 5.91 66.25 5.45 0.61 5.69 15.1 0.620 5.01 3 0.0370 1.160 2.620 2.55 155.50 2.27 976.00 1.43 0.74 250.000 474.00 0.2550 0.224

116,383,000 7,675,450 63,894,700 122,000 94,900 537,200 36,227,000 7,994,000 3,487,500 5,617,000 23,661,700 3,100 20,100 2,371,000 1,390,000 630,990 53,500 12,397,930 47,000 311,000 30,843,700 26,774,600 3,335,000 148,701,300 24,000 29,000,000 744,000 2,557,000 2,000 2,238,610 5,000 1,515,010 328,000 4,000 618,200 1,460 8,560,000 1,530,000

HOLDING FIRMS 81,459,120.00 500,702,277.50 870,524,072.00 95,510.00 617,645.00 14,579,450.00 52,052,540.00 11,453,390.00 3,240,412,260.00 40,308,320.00 295,133,710.00 16,270.00 101,090.00 30,207,600.00 300,740.00 636,961,717.50 316,898.00 813,394,557.00 257,974.00 186,570.00 166,597,439.00 409,699,318.00 2,074,830.00 747,149,175.00 72,000.00 1,076,400.00 874,320.00 6,654,420.00 5,100.00 339,902,846.00 11,350.00 1,472,521,225.00 456,680.00 2,960.00 153,793,714.00 714,544.00 2,165,560.00 330,410.00

0.710 60.00 12.78 0.80 6.50 29.4 1.460 1.460 972 7.16 12.80 4.5 4.5 12.80 0.241 998.5 6.14 64.50 5.76 0.58 4.66 15.26 0.610 4.96

176,645,000 8,471,160 82,060,900 2,448,000 235,500 729,900 58,630,000 16,291,000 2,422,905 17,418,200 20,918,400 200 100 5,049,300 640,000 503,690 43,700 15,526,970 28,600 887,000 37,895,000 21,145,700 1,217,000 134,273,000

129,239,690.00 510,078,174.00 1,011,786,992.00 1,986,100.00 1,525,630.00 20,745,425.00 83,848,010.00 23,112,970.00 2,395,046,010.00 124,594,184.00 265,497,790.00 852.00 450.00 66,177,322.00 153,410.00 504,716,937.50 258,608.00 966,270,857.00 162,866.00 522,570.00 172,053,460.00 333,005,020.00 727,420.00 646,399,380.00

0.0390 1.220 2.560 2.58 149.50

15,500,000 653,000 7,850,000 175,000 3,886,140

589,300.00 778,940.00 20,247,860.00 448,200.00 572,469,535.00

985.00 1.46 0.74 241.200 500.00 0.2500 0.229

2,063,860 2,239,000 117,000 14,380 430 34,440,000 550,000

2,013,419,385.00 3,116,450.00 87,940.00 3,516,572.00 213,500.00 8,814,730.00 123,350.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. DM Wenceslao Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil Infradev Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

8.750 0.84 10.60 1.710 0.910 45.000 2.45 4.19 6.28 0.435 0.82 0.900 0.265 0.385 8.700 21.35 0.510 0.119 1.57 1.19 5.38 0.425 2.1800 0.4650 0.420 43.80 3.54

5,777,200 10,178,000 87,100 1,100,000 28,109,000 76,280,500 7,364,000 1,895,000 116,700 11,660,000 831,000 416,000 205,930,000 2,180,000 11,659,700 5,281,600 5,035,000 3,770,000 85,501,000 6,937,000 193,079,700 155,240,000 37,390,000 1,620,000 5,130,000 10,800 9,020,000

PROPERTY 50,472,837.00 8,545,940.00 947,250.00 1,844,530.00 25,148,690.00 3,384,656,695.00 17,869,850.00 8,009,340.00 733,991.00 5,049,550.00 688,160.00 361,920.00 54,327,840.00 835,200.00 100,076,936.00 114,033,850.00 2,587,900.00 422,070.00 128,027,880.00 8,132,920.00 1,006,981,450.00 68,915,900.00 80,409,900.00 743,550.00 2,150,350.00 472,970.00 32,347,540.00

8.630 0.85 10.90 1.700 0.960 44.350 2.38 4.33 6.48 0.440 0.84 0.900 0.248 0.410 8.140 20.8 0.540 0.113 1.45 1.19 5 0.460 2.2500 0.4700 0.445 43.80 3.6

4,113,900 13,966,000 31,100 1,616,000 32,062,000 87,638,700 9,821,000 1,554,000 129,300 27,680,000 226,000 636,000 28,370,000 5,570,000 2,234,200 9,602,800 20,115,000 820,000 88,453,000 8,434,000 175,969,700 148,370,000 21,649,000 12,230,000 8,940,000 700 4,532,000

35,233,803.00 11,891,820.00 335,748.00 2,758,730.00 31,430,430.00 3,917,648,955.00 23,724,440.00 6,678,920.00 812,294.00 12,264,550.00 190,730.00 579,090.00 7,013,980.00 2,105,300.00 18,032,724.00 203,137,762.00 11,092,220.00 94,190.00 128,022,000.00 10,023,400.00 879,933,516.00 69,675,950.00 48,398,100.00 5,847,250.00 3,871,100.00 28,990.00 16,216,760.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 14-18, 2019 Close Volume

JANUARY 7-11, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

23.20 2.02 3.12 39.40 1.36 6.15 0.700 5.870

13,578,400 633,000 1,094,000 103,030,300 12,730,000 1,513,000 346,000 16,400,400

309,808,310.00 1,289,010.00 3,414,080.00 3,917,134,315.00 16,899,460.00 9,268,489.00 249,750.00 96,330,799.00

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. À’ IPeople Inc. À’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Metro Retail MetroAlliance A MetroAlliance B NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

14 22.5 1.43 0.430 0.041 3.07 10.80 0.0570 81.3 7.99 6.76 7.44 2.1 16.40 900 2092 5.90 330.00 3.00 108 1.97 11.38 7.40 0.135 6.2600 3.12 14.88 3.30 0.81 17.60 17.96 0.345 5.16 2.75 2.07 2.06 3.780 9.56 8.90 3.59 9.45 116.00 3.17 1247.00 0.400 0.920 46.00 86.00 7.70 2.47 0.760 0.43 5.5 0.760 13.260

624,100 722,500 941,000 76,240,000 256,100,000 9,451,000 48,780,900 246,570,000 1,161,480 18,000 5,941,900 205,400 16,000 1,460,600 1,010 229,710 1,498,000 3,440 8,644,000 6,279,710 29,000 13,200 1,100 30,090,000 24,647,800 283,000 32,100 9,395,000 579,000 4,287,600 700 200,000 260,200 11,091,000 4,377,000 214,000 60,478,000 124,600 46,300 631,000 1,000 242,470 13,782,000 583,580 22,460,000 62,052,000 15,520,900 2,369,140 299,000 57,700,000 57,571,000 38,680,000 872,300 11,356,000 17,440,600

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Benguet Corp À’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp. United Paragon

0.0021 1.63 2.80 15.38 1.4900 1.3600 1.99 0.295 7.70 1.670 0.223 0.121 0.126 0.008 0.0072 1.24 2.64 1.07 0.6800 1.0200 0.0130 0.0130 4.17 15.46 0.0130 3.8700 24.00 0.0068

MINING & OIL 1,026,000,000 2,147,500.00 8,296,000 13,507,380.00 2,189,000 6,051,720.00 8,600 131,868.00 342,000 466,240.00 6,000 7,710.00 5,989,000 12,101,460.00 590,000 172,150.00 21,300 164,079.00 48,609,000 81,954,870.00 1,540,000 332,890.00 28,700,000 1,331,600.00 860,000 104,870.00 32,000,000 235,900.00 16,000,000 112,200.00 411,000 503,110.00 27,125,000 69,229,660.00 239,000 254,750.00 552,000 364,810.00 5,774,000 5,836,500.00 166,000,000 2,141,700.00 3,117,800,000 39,904,200.00 26,023,000 107,942,440.00 4,524,500 70,907,224.00 239,700,000 2,964,300.00 259,000 976,790.00 7,219,200 174,431,400.00 59,000,000 413,400.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

18.76 100.9 472 497.8 98.45 104 455 490 5.7 918 905 95.95 1.02 100.5 998 1002 100.5 106 974 75.25 76.4 73 74.45 74.9 74 74 73.5 1.8

2,287,600 1,360 11,510 1,160 50,700 4,170 40 7,600 991,500 10,840 4,940 3,050 112,000 8,950 1,270 620 4,970 6,020 4,620 19,890 136,530 11,360 6,800 49,870 720 258,160 51,290 23,000

LR Warrant

1.980

WARRANTS & BONDS 2,216,000 4,644,930.00

SERVICES 8,857,996.00 15,633,950.00 1,269,370.00 35,209,600.00 10,903,100.00 30,668,600.00 526,037,266.00 14,703,740.00 93,509,611.50 139,788.00 40,564,461.00 1,507,309.00 33,640.00 24,934,782.00 909,600.00 476,194,500.00 8,730,572.00 1,131,060.00 26,743,090.00 660,290,719.00 56,500.00 144,808.00 8,140.00 4,112,610.00 157,215,013.00 900,430.00 475,170.00 32,369,980.00 478,320.00 77,888,770.00 12,540.00 71,300.00 1,305,000.00 30,070,390.00 9,545,650.00 452,920.00 240,197,630.00 1,193,872.00 407,466.00 2,233,550.00 9,180.00 28,154,751.00 45,648,490.00 710,006,245.00 8,447,300.00 57,609,050.00 724,912,035.00 205,082,127.00 2,329,435.00 137,025,570.00 44,649,920.00 16,796,650.00 4,797,491.00 8,596,860.00 233,835,472.00

PREFERRED 43,432,944.00 136,224.00 5,441,754.00 574,306.00 4,949,081.50 432,165.00 18,200.00 3,721,620.00 5,588,560.00 9,438,595.00 4,447,480.00 292,795.00 113,340.00 896,835.00 1,248,500.00 621,200.00 497,507.00 637,570.00 4,479,635.00 1,495,431.50 10,383,080.50 832,517.50 502,909.50 3,721,361.00 53,270.00 19,105,931.00 3,766,756.00 41,400.00

SME 61,830.00 25,300,897.00 65,657,420.00

22.30 2 3.12 39.00 1.33 6.02 0.720 5.900

14,553,800 2,019,000 464,000 61,311,900 33,220,000 5,913,000 2,133,000 35,578,600

317,499,330.00 4,075,820.00 1,448,150.00 2,384,194,405.00 45,063,230.00 36,133,735.00 1,613,030.00 206,214,221.00

14.5 21.5 1.45 0.415 0.040 3.39 10.68

1,338,900 707,100 473,000 3,420,000 34,500,000 15,551,000 54,452,100

19,791,902.00 15,062,760.00 640,090.00 1,433,050.00 1,362,500.00 52,058,920.00 556,888,470.00

80 7.75 6.78 7.39 2.15 17.00 890 2016 5.72 329.00 3.21 104.5 1.91 11.6 7.20 0.137 6.3100 3.21 14.78 3.60 0.88 18.00 17.48 0.345 5.28 2.64 2.26 2.45 3.880 9.85 8.90 3.55 9.46 120.00 3.59 1205.00 0.340 0.910 48.50 87.05 7.56 2.38 0.780 0.43 5.53 0.760 13.800

957,430 83,500 9,009,800 200,300 7,000 5,182,400 2,530 198,420 1,509,400 9,780 5,769,000 9,826,400 388,000 5,700 41,800 164,060,000 47,566,800 273,000 24,200 6,152,000 1,687,000 3,515,500 1,300 460,000 114,500 21,281,000 11,742,000 495,000 38,477,000 110,200 60,100 78,000 700 872,450 12,318,000 564,255 410,000 102,653,000 34,745,300 3,929,510 1,877,700 17,876,000 70,861,000 128,170,000 3,359,500 34,378,000 37,135,700

76,383,807.50 637,058.00 62,338,795.00 1,485,889.00 15,080.00 97,469,383.00 2,276,600.00 383,577,580.00 8,552,632.00 3,177,156.00 18,593,300.00 1,011,751,434.00 769,360.00 61,268.00 306,882.00 22,919,880.00 303,159,981.00 881,630.00 357,306.00 21,864,410.00 1,458,160.00 64,169,104.00 22,162.00 161,250.00 584,440.00 57,548,330.00 28,608,760.00 1,099,780.00 154,265,970.00 1,076,354.00 531,697.00 274,340.00 5,502.00 105,158,269.00 44,020,380.00 677,196,990.00 135,900.00 90,838,510.00 1,701,347,990.00 341,848,226.00 14,353,159.00 43,906,520.00 55,283,210.00 56,793,950.00 18,214,802.00 27,093,000.00 513,946,108.00

0.0022 1.64 2.62 15.60 1.2800 1.4900 2.09 0.300 7.61 1.680 0.211 0.119 0.127 0.007

6,163,000,000 17,902,000 2,312,000 38,200 88,000 3,000 5,188,000 980,000 11,400 13,896,000 2,150,000 27,660,000 3,040,000 14,000,000

12,900,200.00 29,836,320.00 6,131,950.00 608,712.00 110,540.00 4,470.00 10,737,800.00 291,050.00 88,881.00 23,461,140.00 452,480.00 3,308,270.00 382,440.00 96,800.00

1.2 2.38 1.06 0.6800 0.9600 0.0130 0.0130 3.99 15.54 0.0130 3.7000 24.30 0.0075

1,335,000 24,584,000 773,000 4,276,000 1,784,000 809,700,000 2,097,200,000 32,464,000 5,825,200 415,000,000 953,000 7,495,600 291,000,000

1,674,600.00 59,168,420.00 817,880.00 2,786,760.00 1,756,400.00 10,840,200.00 28,034,000.00 131,008,920.00 91,731,236.00 5,289,200.00 3,465,930.00 185,727,335.00 2,250,800.00

19.44 100.9 456 497.8 97 104.8 455 480 5.6 918 900 95 1.02 99 999.5 1000 100 105 970 75.4 76.9 74.3

537,600 1,510 7,590 7,080 8,150 4,680 2,330 3,300 702,600 850 170 8,730 934,000 8,230 1,670 6,620 6,030 160 16,640 7,610 12,960 7,800

10,470,394.00 149,013.50 3,494,662.00 3,450,526.00 787,350.00 489,586.00 1,068,700.00 1,583,990.00 3,889,583.00 731,980.00 148,380.00 830,090.50 935,800.00 815,064.00 1,640,150.00 6,632,940.00 602,970.00 16,830.00 16,153,380.00 573,313.50 991,853.00 566,311.50

74.8 72.3 74.3 73.45 1.6

36,100 50 6,710 1,300 1,000

2,671,742.00 3,663.00 483,373.00 95,523.00 1,600.00

2.120

974,000

2,025,610.00

2.7 5.15 1.6

19,000 5,778,300 48,413,000

51,300.00 30,651,742.00 82,010,230.00

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

2.87 5.01 1.57

22,000 5,026,400 40,794,000

First Metro ETF

119

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 64,420 7,613,199.00

117.5

67,710

7,919,993.00

10.12 10.18 1.01

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC 4,000 40,788.00 2,350 23,923.00 3,000 3,030.00

10.1

8,310

83,931.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `B’ Abra Mining Apollo Global Boulevard Holdings Philodrill Corp. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Megaworld Cemex Holdings Oriental Pet. `A’ MRC Allied Ind.

VOLUME 3,117,800,000 1,026,000,000 256,100,000 246,570,000 239,700,000 205,930,000 193,079,700 191,686,000 166,000,000 155,240,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metrobank SM Investments Inc. Universal Robina Jollibee Foods Corp. Megaworld Bank of PI

VALUE 3,917,134,315.00 3,384,656,695.00 3,240,412,260.00 1,990,312,725.00 1,513,069,313.00 1,472,521,225.00 1,174,695,133.00 1,115,650,374.00 1,006,981,450.00 954,978,848.50

Century joins Uy’s company in constructing Clark buildings By Jenniffer B. Austria GLOBAL Gateway Development Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy has teamed with Century Properties Group Inc. to develop a portion of its 177-hectare property in Clark into a mixed-use development. GGDC said in a statement both parties signed an agreement to create a joint venture that would build a mix of residential and office buildings with support retail establishments within a 2.6-hectare lot. “We are delighted to welcome Century Properties as another key partner in developing the country’s new center of business, life and innovation,” GGDC chairman Dennis Uy said. “This is in line with our strategy to fast-track the development of Clark Global City. By joining forces with the country’s leading local developers, we can sooner unlock the potential of Clark Global City, expand our economy’s capacity, nurture businesses and generate more employment opportunities,” he added. It is CPG’s first development in Clark, a former military base currently being transformed into the country’s next big metropolis and being primed as the answer to Metro Manila’s congestion. “We are proud of this joint-venture partnership with GGDC and we look forward to sharing our expertise from 33 years in the real estate business and bringing our experience from past successes to this project,” CPG chairman and chief executive Jose Antonio said. “Century Properties is one with GGDC’s vision of building a green and efficient model city in the North. Our new project together will certainly make a great addition to Clark Global City’s iconic master plan. We are very optimistic about the growth of Clark as the country’s premiere aerotropolis and we hope this is only the first of a series of projects.” The real estate company is banking on the phenomenal growth of Central Luzon, which has the highest number of occupied housing units, and Clark, which has emerged as the second largest market for office after Metro Manila.

SM Group bares latest dormitory project in Makati By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINES Urban Living Solutions Inc., a leading dormitory developer majority owned by SM Investments Corp., recently broke ground on its latest rental housing project in Makati. PULS said in a statement MyTown Los Angeles, which will be the company’s largest building to date, is a seven-story dormitory that will house over 1,000 beds. Set to rise along Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City, MyTown Los Angeles is positioned alongside the BGC-Ortigas Link Bridge set to be completed by the end of 2019. “Location is key as we’ll bring much-needed MyTown co-living spaces to Uptown with this project. Moreover, the building is less than 15 minutes away from Makati CBD, 10 minutes from Ortigas, and other MyTown buildings are just a 2 to 5-minute walk from MyTown Los Angeles,” said PULS chief executive Mark Kooijman. MyTown Los Angeles, which is expected to become a landmark development in the part of Bonifacio Global Ciy, is slated for completion by 2020. With the launching of MyTown Los Angeles, the brand aims to expand its network and tap the Ortigas central business district. “We’ve continued to innovate on our product, and that’ll really show at MyTown Los Angeles. This project brings location, an ecosystem for people to live, work and play, and modern facilities and amenities together while giving our tenants the familiar overall MyTown experience. This is one of our most exciting projects yet,” said PULS group director Jelmer Ikink. PULSto date is the country’s leading owner, developer and manager of purpose-built young professional housing in the Philippines, with 16 dormitories.

World

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump offers concessions in exchange for wall funds W

ASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump on Saturday offered to temporarily shield a million immigrants from deportation if Congress authorizes funding for his Mexican border wall―an idea Democrats rejected, making the US government shutdown likely to grind on.

AT THE BORDER. A man walks past a mural on January 19 in El Paso, Texas. The US government is partially shutdown as President Donald Trump is asking for $5.7 billion to build additional walls along the US-Mexico border that the Democrats oppose AFP

Saudi music festival toasts pre-Islamic heritage AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia―Bathed in light, musicians belt out melodies among preIslamic desert ruins in northwestern Saudi Arabia, a heritage trove at the centerpiece of efforts to put the reclusive kingdom on the tourism map. Hosted by the Al-Ula governorate — where Nabatean tombs and art are chiseled into caramel-hued rock—“Winter at Tantora” is the latest music carnival in the Islamic kingdom, where such events were unheard of just two years ago. Spread over eight weekends until February 9, the main events are hosted in an auditorium made of mirrored glass that has drawn international artists, from Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi to French classical violinist Renaud Capucon. And it shines a spotlight on a longisolated area seen widely as an open-air museum. “Saudi Arabia is turning a new page,” said Zainab al-Kadadi, a Riyadh-based banker.

The 29-year-old attended a musical weekend that also included sand dune bashing -- an adventure sport that involves driving across challenging desert landscapes—and a tour of an Ottoman-era train station. The festival is seen as a soft opening of Al-Ula, an area roughly the size of Belgium that is being touted as the centerpiece of Saudi attractions, as the conservative petro-state prepares to open up to international tourists. Building a tourism industry from scratch is at the heart of a government plan to prepare the Arab world’s biggest economy for a post-oil era, an ambition fraught with challenges. The austere kingdom, which forbids alcohol and has a strict social code, is already seen by many as a hard sell for tourists. Recent events that drew international censure—notably the gruesome murder last year of critic Jamal Khashoggi and a sweeping crackdown on dissent—appear

to have made the challenge more acute. “Saudi has great tourism potential, but after what happened it’s hard to come here and say ‘Everything is wow, everything is amazing’,” said a Westerner who was among a group of global social media inﬂuencers invited by the kingdom for an all-expenses-paid trip to Al-Ula. “When I went to collect my [Saudi] visa, my friends joked: ‘Hope you return alive!’.” The October 2 murder of Khashoggi, whose body was dismembered by a team of Saudi agents inside the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate, triggered global outrage. If Al-Ula were in another country, it would be an easier sell, others in the group suggested. “The biggest obstacle is stereotypes,” said Kyle Mijlof, a 30-year-old travel photographer from Cape Town. A liberalisation drive by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, has brought new cinemas, concerts and sporting extravaganzas. AFP

IN BRIEF

Thousands join US women’s marches despite differences

52 Somali Islamists killed in air strike NAIROBI―United States military forces carried out an air strike Saturday against Islamist group Al-Shabaab, killing 52 militants, according to a statement from US Africa Command. “US Africa Command conducted the airstrike in response to an attack by a large group of al-Shabaab militants against Somali National Army Forces. We currently assess this air strike killed fifty-two militants,” read the statement. Military officials and local elders in Somalia said heavily-armed Shabaab militants had launched a dawn raid on a military camp, followed by a heavy exchange of gunfire which lasted hours. “The terrorists attacked Bulogagdud military base using heavy weaponry and explosives. The Somali military and Jubaland forces resisted the enemy before later retreating back from the base,” Mohamed Abdikarin, a Somali military official told AFP by phone. “Six soldiers were killed during the attack and two others died after a boobytrapped vehicle was detonated when the forces retook control of the base,” he added. Sources at nearby villages said the militants looted the camp and took a military vehicle. AFP

Two dead as strong earthquake jolts Chile SANTIAGO―A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit north-central Chile on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, with police reporting the deaths of two people from heart attacks. The quake struck at a depth of 53 kilometers (33 miles) with an epicenter some 15 km southwest of Coquimbo, USGS said. An elderly man and an elderly woman from Coquimbo suffered cardiac arrests as a result of the quake, police said, while there were several landslides reported on national highways. The earthquake, which hit at 0132 GMT (Sunday), was felt in Valparaiso, O’Higgins and the region of the capital Santiago, as well as in Atacama and Coquimbo up north. Thousands of homes lost power, which showed how intense the quake was, according to Ricardo Toro of the National Emergency Ofﬁce. Residents in Coquimbo and neighboring Serena, a coastal region about 500 kilometers from Santiago, evacuated to high ground even though authorities quickly ruled out a tsunami, according to local media. AFP

Trump attempted to seize the initiative in ending the 29-day partial shutdown, a funding freeze that has left many important government departments relying on unpaid or highly reduced staff. His bargain, announced in a televised White House address, held out the carrot of protection from deportation for two categories of immigrants. These include 700,000 so-called “Dreamers,” children of people who settled illegally in the United States, and who have become a favorite cause of the Democrats, as well as 300,000 other immigrants whose protected status is expiring, Trump said. The president said these concessions would “build the trust and goodwill necessary to begin real immigration reform.” In return, Trump demanded the $5.7 billion he says is needed to extend fences on the border with Mexico, something the opposition Democrats have repeatedly refused to authorize. That has prompted the president to retaliate with the government shutdown, which he triggered by not signing off on funding to swaths of departments. The president also called for $800 million in “urgent humanitarian assistance” and $805 million for drug detection technology to help secure US ports of entry. “I’m here today to break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward to end the government shutdown and solve the crisis on the southern border,” Trump said in his address. Trump describes the US-Mexico border—for decades a magnet for migrants and asylum seekers, as well as a major drug smuggling route—as overwhelmed, posing a threat to US national security. Democrats, who accuse Trump of using his illegal immigration crackdown to score political points with his right-wing base, spurned the latest negotiating offer as soon as it was leaked in the media prior to the speech. “His proposal is a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives, each of which is unacceptable and in total, do not represent a good faith effort to restore certainty to people’s lives,” said Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives and the face of Democratic opposition to Trump. “They are a non-starter.” And Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the US Senate, noted that Trump himself had scrapped previously existing protection for the immigrants whom he is now offering to shield. AFP

ONSTAGE. Singer Ingrid Michaelson performs during the 2019 Women’s March in Los Angeles on January 19, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

WASHINGTON―Thousands of women marched Saturday in the US capital and across the country to convey a now-annual message opposing Donald Trump and supporting women’s rights, but internal divisions appeared to steal some energy from the rallies. In Washington, demonstrators arriving by car, bus or subway converged on the city’s Freedom Plaza and marched deﬁantly past the nearby Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Many wore pink “pussy” hats to protest Trump’s demeaning comments about women. “We need to stand up for women all over the world -- for races, gender, sexual orientation,” said Ann Caroline, 27, herself wearing a pink hat. Some marchers carried posters portraying Trump as a Russian “puppet.” Others decried his comments about

women or minority groups, while many demanded his impeachment. Just blocks away, the president spoke to reporters outside the White House before traveling brieﬂy to Dover, Delaware for a ceremony to receive the remains of four Americans killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group in Syria. He made no public comment about the marches. As in earlier years, thousands of women joined demonstrations in cities across the United States, and around the world, though most turnouts appeared far short of the earlier women’s events. In New York, several hundred people converged on Manhattan’s Foley Square, near the Brooklyn Bridge. Many more took part in a separate march in Central Park organized by women angered by what they saw as the anti-Semitism of one women’s march leader. AFP

Hope for the future ARNEL ONESIMO UY

GREEN LIGHT LIKE any catchy tune, the lyrics of the 1984 song “I need a hero” continue to play in my mind as I write this article. Bonnie Tyler’s haunting voice echoes the need for heroes and our willingness to wait for them until the end of the night. I believe that we need people who inspire us to be better in what we do and become inspirations to others too. In the midst of darkness, we need heroes who can show us the light. Oxford Dictionary deﬁnes a hero as one who is “admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievement or noble qualities.” For various reasons, some people name Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Richard Branson as their present heroes in the business world. They cite their achievements and their being able to rise up from their failures. They use their successes to propel them to pursue more. Their insatiable desire to push the boundaries of possibilities and innovate to help address what society needs seem to distinguish them from the rest of mankind. One of my own heroes in business is Konosuke Matsushita, who is the founder of Panasonic (formerly Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. Ltd.). In his

biography, John Kotter (1998) writes about how Matsushita’s entrepreneurial strategies and practices have differentiated him from others early in his business. He promoted strong customer orientation, willingness to take risk, innovative marketing and faith in his employees, which helped his enterprise grow rapidly and proﬁtably. In fact, more than half a century before the publication of In Search of Excellence (1982), Matsushita has been using many of the practices that Peters and Waterman would describe. Matsushita believes in treating people as part of the family that’s why serving customers better is the true purpose of enterprises. When he pursued ambitious plans to go global after World War II, he inculcated the kind of continuous improvement (kaizen) that is driven by humble hearts and open minds to keep his companies and employees from being arrogant. This culture appears to be one antidote to How the Mighty Fall (2009), a book written by Jim Collins. In the said book, Collins warns successful businesses against hubris. In the end, Matsushita’s success is directly related to his actively responding to habitual self-reﬂection, as well as thoughtful awareness of societal realities. He has shown that gut-feel or intuition has a key role to play in making ventures successful amid unpredictable circumstances. He embodied what the ancient Icelandic called innsaaei, a term for intuition that aptly means “to see within,” seeking to know one’s self better

and learning from the world around. “To see from the inside out,” allows one to have a strong inner compass to navigate in this everchanging world. Throughout his life, Matsushita has shown that despite not being highly educated, rich, charismatic, nor well connected, one can succeed and even become a role model. He even claims that “You may be a welleducated, clever and virtuous person, but those qualities will not necessarily make you a successful businessman. You must give your best to each and every task you take on, and reflect on your performance with an honest and unprejudiced eye.” With all his achievements, he has inspired a myriad of people from different walks of life to embrace his ideals and continue to be lifelong learners as they lead and grow in their respective fields of specialty. His philosophy compels us to consider that it is the job of business to serve society and that profit is just a reward for a job well done. This is why Matsushita believes that if business does not translate into profits, then it is “a sort of crime against society” since it is misusing the resources (i.e. capital, people, materials, etc.) made available to it. Such endowments could have been put to better use by other businesses or organizations. His life has inspired the next generation of businessmen to consider how serving society and doing a good job will be in the best interest of everyone. His legacy of steering Panasonic through turbulent times after WW2 and building not only the company but

also the nation is nothing short of legendary, a heroic act. I wonder how many have tried to follow a similar path of heroism in our country similar to Matsushita. If you happen to know of a Filipino youth, 25-35 years old who has demonstrated exceptional leadership through initiatives in organizing and managing sustainable business or social enterprises or programs that make the lives of their community better, please nominate him or her for the Siklab Award―a national search for young Filipinos who have the potential to steer our nation forward. This initiative is spearheaded by the PHINMA Group in collaboration with the De La Salle University’s Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business (RVRCOB) and JCI Manila. Simply visit this website tinyurl.com/ siklabawardsnomination for details. We need to recognize young heroes to inspire our youth to be themselves a living business hero. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, did remind us that the youth is the hope of our future. Arnel Onesmo O. Uy is a full professor in the Accountancy Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business at De La Salle University, where he currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Administration. For comments or reactions, he may be reached at arnel.uy@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reﬂect the ofﬁcial position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

LGUs

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

ACT a Red front, asserts former Manila teacher

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

‘No city budget, no funds for Makati SK, villages’ A

MAKATI City councilor has reminded members of the opposition bloc in the Sangguniang Panlungsod that the protracted approval of the 2019 executive budget of the city has consequently held up the approval of the respective budgets of the 33 barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan councils of the city. “Let me remind my colleagues in the City Council who have been stonewalling the passage of the Appropriation Ordinance for the 2019 city budget that they are, in effect, causing major setbacks in the implementation of new projects at the barangay level, to the detriment of our constituents,” Councilor Armand Padilla said. Padilla, who is the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, urged the opposition councilors to set aside their political differences “so as not to cause any more delay in the approval of budget that would put the welfare of the citizens at stake.” While the city budget approval remains pending, no other matters, including barangay and SK budgets, may be taken up by the Sanggunian, he noted. “Under Section 323 of the Local Government Code, we cannot take up any

Barangay or SK budget until we have approved the city budget. The immediate passage of the Appropriation Ordinance is needed so we can start deliberations on barangay and SK budgets,” Padilla said. “The protracted approval of the city budget has forced our barangays to operate on a reenacted budget, denying residents the added benefits offered by new, innovative projects planned for the year,” he stressed. The proposed 2019 budgets of the city’s 33 barangays are estimated to reach P1.7 billion. Councilor Rodolfo San Pedro, Jr., chairman of the SK Federation of Makati, also appealed to the opposition. “The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Makati urges the opposition bloc in the City Council to pass the 2019 city budget without further delay. Otherwise,

all our efforts to put together innovative and high-impact projects for the benefit of our fellow youth in Makati will be in vain,” San Pedro said. Aside from salaries, other personnelrelated expenditures and utilities, each barangay budget has allocations for programs, projects and activities. These include weight monitoring and feeding programs for children, dengue prevention, capability-building for barangay environmental police, clean-andgreen initiatives, barangay outposts, and the acquisition of bicycles, tri-bikes, CCTV cameras, fire extinguishers, and other emergency response equipment. As required by law, five percent of total budget is allotted to Gender and Development (GAD) promotion, and three percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is allotted to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and its initiatives. Under the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 (RA 10742), ten percent of the general fund of the barangay shall be set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The Sangguniang Barangay shall appropriate the SK funds in lump-sum, which shall be disbursed solely for youth

development and empowerment purposes. The law also mandates that priority be given to initiatives that promote and ensure equitable access to quality education, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resiliency, youth employment and livelihood, health and anti-drug abuse, gender sensitivity, sports development, and capability building which emphasizes leadership training. Opposition councilors who have consistently voted to defer the budget approval are Majority Floor Leader and Head of the Committee on Laws, Rules and Ethics, Councilor Nemesio Yabut, Jr.; Councilor Divina Jacome, Head of the Committee on Appropriations and Budget; Councilors Shirley Aspillaga, Grazielle Iony De Lara-Bes, Ferdinand Eusebio, Leonardo Magpantay, Romeo Medina, Arlene Ortega, Nelson Pasia, Mary Ruth Tolentino, Marie Alethea Casal-Uy, and Evelyn Delfina Villamor. Members of the minority who have pushed for the immediate passage of the Appropriation Ordinance are Minority Floor Leader Councilor Maria Concepcion Yabut, and Councilors Virgilio Hilario, Jr., Luis Javier, Jr., Padilla and San Pedro.

A FORMER militant teacher has stepped up to accuse her former comrades of forming a legal front for the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front through a teachers’ organization started in the 1980s. Calling herself “Ka Jamie,” the teacher said through the Koalisyun at Alyansa ng Dating Rebelde that the Alliance of Concerned Teachers was formed “to push the communist and terroristic agenda.” Requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal, Ka Jamie said she was an organizer for the Manila Public School Teachers Association, a coalition partner of the ACT, which was established on Jan. 26, 1982. Her task was to organize the MPSTA, urging them to become regular street demonstrators, along with other public school teachers’ groups, and call for their salary increases. “At first, we were only discussing teachers’ issues, our additional pay during elections and how we could defend MPSTA from electoral protests of politicians who were accusing us of partisanship,” Ka Jamie said. But then her involvement became deeper in the communist organization, and she said she witnessed the alleged illegal activities of the group. “They said we should advance a mass-oriented, nationalist at scientific educational system, along with boycotts, walkouts and work stoppages,” Ka Jamie said. “Sometimes that got me thinking, ‘Aren’t we violating our vows as teachers, because with every protest we were pushing, the school children were being deprived and denied their right to education?’” she added.

Batangas farm owners warned vs waste in rivers

DOLE settles 99% of disputes in Central Luzon

BATANGAS CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Calabarzon has warned livestock farm owners in the province against dumping wastes into rivers. Lawyer Maria Paz G. Luna, DENR Calabarzon Executive Director, said the agency stands by its mandate to file charges against erring farm owners and impose daily fines on violators upon receipt of the violation notice. She also underscored that business compliance is not merely securing their discharge permits but more importantly on establishing their farms with “real, existing and functioning waste water treatment facilities.” Luna said this is to ensure their farms would not pollute any stream, river or body of water. She said the DENR-Calabarzon is also conducting technical conferences in other provinces in the region in compliance with Secretary Roy Cimatu’s directive to revive, protect and conserve bodies of water like the waters off Boracay and now the Manila Bay. Ann Hazel D. Javier, DENR Calabarzon Regional Public Affairs Office chief, said the DENR has been pushing for environmental protection and conservation priorities amid violations by establishments and dumpsites that have breached solid waste management and clean water acts. “The DENR Calabarzon has called for a meeting for livestock farm owners in Batangas province who were served notices of violation,” Javier told reporters. She said the gathering of livestock farm owners and administrators at the Batangas Convention Center aims to address the wanton disposal of solid wastes and effluents into rivers and streams.

By Romeo Dizon

TOP TAXPAYERS. Mayor John Rey Tiangco recently led officials in awarding Navotas City’s top 20 business taxpayers with plaques of recognition. The companies are Phil. Superfeeds, Corporation, Therma Mobile Inc., Linton Incorporated (Gen Mdse/Manufacturing), RAVAGO Equiptment Rentals, Inc., Vifel Ice Plant & Cold Storage, Purechem Corporation, Via Marine Corporation, Marra Builders Inc., Staples Food Corporation (Processors-Repackers Food Product), Columbia International Food Products Inc., Special Container and Value Added Services, Inc., Ferna Corporation, Josefa Slipways Inc., Frabelle Shipyard Corporation, Phil. Ecology Systems Corporation, Frabelle Corporation, Sonic International, Inc., Puregold Price Club, Inc., IRMA Fishing & Trading, Inc., and Trans Pacific Journey Fishing Corp. Jun David

Subic marks strong start for cruise ship tourism By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—With six vessel arrivals scheduled for the month of January alone, this premier free port expects to cement its reputation further as the newest cruise ship destination and top anchor tourist attraction in the country today. On Wednesday, Subic welcomed for the third time this year the cruise ship World Dream, the flagship of the Chinese premium brand Dream Cruises owned by Genting Hong Kong. The ship is set to be back here on January 30 while another Subic regular, the Italian-flagged Costa Atlantica owned by Costa Crociere, has booked arrivals for January 15 and 29. “Right now, we’re experiencing a phenomenal influx of cruise ships, and this is really a strong start for Subic, which

recorded 17 arrivals last year,” said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who was among those who welcomed World Dream at the Alava Wharf here on Wednesday. “We are very happy that our cruise ship program is really picking up, and this is just the start. By next month we hope to see more cruise ships coming in and some of them would be staying here in Subic overnight,” she added. According to SBMA Tourism Department manager Jem Camba, an average of 3,000 tourists disembark in Subic from each visiting cruise ship and then go on tours of various attractions in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, Clark Freeport Zone, and the nearby provinces of Zambales and Bataan. Among the favorite destinations of cruise ship passengers are the nature

theme parks in Subic and historical places in Bataan and Pampanga, she said. Last year, the Central Luzon Regional Development Council cited the SBMA for developing Subic into a premier cruise ship destination in the country and noted that cruise ship arrivals in Subic had generated more than P85-million worth of economic activity in the first eight months alone. Eisma said she expects a better record this year because of Executive Order No. 72 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last December. Calling it a “game-changer for Subic and Region 3”, Eisma said EO 72 is expected to bring in more visitors because it eased the entry of foreign nationals via the Subic sea ports and extended them a visa-free stay of 14 days similar to those entering though the Subic airport. “This arrangement is less complicated,

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The government has settled 99 percent of labor disputes in Central Luzon involving P160 million in compensation, benefitting 5,785 workers under its Single Entry Approach program. Regional Director Zenaida AngaraCampita of the Department of Labor and Employment said they settled about 2,234 out of the total 2,250 labor cases in Central Luzon, mostly monetary claims lodged by workers under the program for year 2018. Campita said the resolutions were attributed to their requests to the companies for assistance to benefit the workers. The remaining 16 labor cases were forwarded to the National Labor Relation Commission for resolution. The regional office disposed of 100 percent of labor disputers who requested assistance under program, Campita said. Requests for assistance, specially those involving monetary claims, can be settled within three to eight working days under SENA, she added. Bulacan led the other provinces in the region with monetary benefits amounting to P79.5 million for 1,069 workers. Pampanga followed with P41.20 million for 2,800 workers; Tarlac P20.42 million for 659 workers; Zambales, P9.21 million for 545 workers; Nueva Ecija, P3.61 million for 244 workers; and Aurora, P1.46 million for 56 workers. Bataan had no disputes to settle under the program. The DOLE regional office was able also to settle a monetary claim amounting to P43 million involving 39 workers in the region, Campita added.

Green gateway: New Bohol airport boosts local tourism

PARAÑAQUE PRAISED. Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go (center) commended the programs and accomplishments of the administration of Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (on Go’s left) on health, education and peace and order for the past five years during Monday’s flag raising ceremony at the city hall. As guest of honor and speaker, Go disclosed that Parañaque and other local government units will have fair shares in government projects in the Duterte administration. He also endorsed the administration candidates in the May elections.

BOHOL is set to be a top tourist destination in Asia with the opening of its “green gateway to the world”—the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Inaugurated last November by President Rodrigo Duterte, the airport is already helping boost Bohol’s tourism industry. Bohol Tourism Office Head Josephine R. Cabarrus is optimistic a fresh approach to airport management and operation is a welcome strategy to make the airport at par with other international airports. With the prospect of tourist arrivals doubling this year, Cabarrus said airport services should be elevated to international standards. “Learning from how the Tagbilaran airport was managed, we know there are things to be improved. If you say that you have an international facility, then you should have an international-level service,” she stressed. According to airport consultant ICF, Tourism in Bohol has grown at an impressive annual rate of 25.2 percent from 2011 to 2017, and by 30 percent from 2016 to 2017 to reach an estimate of 1.3-m tourists. Panglao is the most popular tourist destination in Bohol and had 704,000 tourists in 2017.

MARIKINA-MUNTI TIEUP. The local government of

Marikina expressed its interest to implement the Muntinlupa Joint Resource Financing Program (Tulong Negosyo), a zero-interest loan assistance to budding entrepreneurs, in their city. Marikina Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officer Lourdes dela Paz (second from right) paid Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (second from left) and JRFP chief Malou Lobo (left) a courtesy call on Tuesday to benchmark Muntinlupa’s programs for entrepreneurs. Muntinlupa City has been hailed the Most Business-Friendly LGU by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 2017 and 2018.

Life

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

FOOD

@MStandardLIFE MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

Nutritious dishes made in a smart oven

SMART COOKING. The advent of smart, technologically advanced ovens has paved the way for more nutritious and sumptuous dishes that can be easily and quickly whipped up at home.

HERE is no secret what an oven can do in the kitchen. It can be used for heating, baking, and drying food and other substances. With the launch of smart, technologically advanced versions of this versatile cooking equipment, the possibilities in the kitchen are endless. Samsung has recipe suggestions that homemakers can easily whip up using the brand’s smart oven.

Homemade pizza

Moms and dads can add a fun twist to this popular Italian dish by topping sliced bread with baked vegetables (such as bell pepper and eggplants), mushrooms, tomato sauce, and cheese. They can also add pesto or nuts for added flavor and crunch. The Smart Oven comes with 10 Hot Blast Auto features that provide pre-programmed cooking times for a variety of dishes, including homemade pizza. Users can simply assemble their ingredients on the Oven’s crusty plate and select the setting for their dish. After just a few minutes, they’ll get pizza with a crispy crust, perfectly melted cheese, and thoroughly-cooked toppings.

Fruity desserts

Roast chicken

With the Smart Oven’s Fermentation function, it is now easy to bake bread or create homemade yogurt. Transform bananas into fluffy muffins, or chop them up together with apples and berries for a filling yogurt snack.

A healthy source of protein, roast chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways. Chop it up and mix it with fried rice, make a yummy chicken and vegetable sandwich, or make fun chicken strips with extra sauce. With the Smart Oven’s Hot Blast technology, roast chicken comes out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. This dynamic appliance also comes with a wide grill that lets users cook food more evenly by ensuring consistent heat distribution, allowing them to enjoy perfectly grilled and browned chicken every time.

Grilled fish

Home cooks can introduce heart-healthy omega 3 to their family’s diet with juicy grilled salmon or tuna. Rub the fish with herbs before cooking for a refreshing taste, or coat it with teriyaki sauce for a sweet and meaty flavor. It’s easy to cook this tasty dish with the Smart Oven’s grill feature. Simply place the marinated fish on the high rack that comes with the appliance, press the grill button, and set the grilling time. In just 60 minutes or less, they’ll get a flavorful serving of healthy and evenly cooked meal. Brain Boost Coffee and Adlai and Chicken

Crispy chips

Chop up sweet potatoes or carrots and turn them into healthy crisps. For best results, they can opt to use olive or sunflower oil. The Slim Fry technology reduces the amount of oil needed to create easy snacks.

Keto options at Café Maxims INDIVIDUALS following the ketogenic diet, the high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, have a few more options at Resorts World Manila’s signature restaurant Café Maxims. Café Maxims has added Adlai and Chicken Meal to its ketogenic lineup for the month of January. This delicious meal is made of sautéed adlai grains and topped with grilled chicken breast fillet coated with veal jus. Adlai, also known as Job’s tears or Chinese Pearl Barley, is a proteinfilled, high-fiber, and gluten-free alternative to rice. It is also loaded with minerals. Other Keto Thrill dishes Café Maxims offers throughout the year include Eggs Benedict made

with juicy slabs of thick-cut bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and hot almond buns instead of wheat-based bread. The café also serves the sweet but sinless Lava Cake made of almond flour and dark chocolate. Keto diet adherents can also enjoy Brain Boost Coffee, which is made of freshly roasted and brewed organic coffee beans, and comes with an extra dose of energy from organic grass-fed butter and a hot of medium-chain triglyceride oil. Café Maxims is located at G/F Maxims Hotel, Resorts World Manila. Call (02) 908-8833 for inquiries and reservations.

Life

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Farm-to-air dining experience

OW-cost carrier AirAsia is taking travelers on a new food adventure as it formally introduced farm-to-air dining experience as part of its newest Santan inflight menu.

In partnership with Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, the airline brings the farm-to-table experience to its flights. Farm-to-air aims to offer a variety of inflight meals using only fresh produce and ingredients directly sourced from farmers across the country.

AirAsia is now offering Chipotle Chicken Wrap and Caesar Salad at P100 and P120, respectively, on all AirAsia flights with Z2 code to and from the Philippines. “Santan came about in 2015 as a tribute to Asean flavors, and here we

AirAsia chief executive officer Capt. Dexter Comendador (center) introduces Santan’s newest inflight dishes.

Caesar Salad made of fresh produce directly sourced from farmers across the country.

are four years after, welcoming this soul,” enthused AirAsia Philippines He added, “We are promoting healthy year with a concept that is both good chief executive officer Captain Dexter eating and helping Filipino farmers at for the heart and nourishing for the Comendador. the same time.”

RECIPE FILES

Takeouts made at home FIGURING out what to eat everyday can be challenging and can be a serious source of stress. Hence many resort to ordering takeouts instead of going through the hassle of cooking decent meals. Convenience, however, often comes at a cost—in this case, food items that can easily be obtained and eaten do not have enough nutrients. Beko Philippines thus shares these recipes of popular takeout meals that are quick and easy to make at home.

Corniche serves Chinese culinary specialties such as Triple Cooked Crab with Beehon.

Feast for prosperity

Quick Recovery Healthy Pizza Cooking time: 25 min. | Serves: 2

Ingredients: 330g 200ml 18g 17g 7g 150g 250g

Turkey Burger with Spinach and Feta

Baked Salmon, Potato, and Zucchini

Cooking time: 25 min. | Serves: 4

Cooking time: 30 min. | Serves: 1

Ingredients: 500g 50g 2 pcs. 250g 50g 20g 1g

Ingredients: 1 pc 1 pc. 1 pc. 15ml ½ pc.

ground turkey oats eggs spinach, chopped feta cheese, crumbled onion, ﬁnely chopped garlic powder salt and pepper

Procedure: Add all ingredients into a large bowl. Combine them with your hands then form into patties. Put a skillet over medium heat and grease it with a little bit of olive oil. Cook the burgers on both sides until golden brown. Arrange to make burgers.

potato zucchini salmon ﬁllet extra virgin olive oil lemon thyme salt and pepper

Procedure: Preheat oven to 180-degree Celsius. Fold a large piece of parchment paper. Lay zucchini and potatoes on the parchment paper, then top with thyme and lemon slices. Season with salt and pepper. Fold parchment paper over salmon and bake for 15 to 17 minutes.

flour warm water fresh yeast olive oil salt low-fat grated cheese canned tomatoes oregano

Procedure: To make the dough Pour the water into a bowl; sprinkle with yeast and let it stand until foamy (5 minutes). Whisk together the oil and salt. Add flour and stir in a kitchen machine until a sticky dough forms. Brush another large bowl with olive oil. Place the dough inside and drizzle a little oil over the top. Cover with a plastic wrap and set aside until the dough has doubled in size (approx. 1 hour). Turn it onto a lightly floured work surface and knead 1 or 2 times, forming into a round. Let it rest for 10 minutes. To make the pizza Stretch the dough in the desired shape. Preheat the oven at 210-degree Celsius. Combine tomatoes with the oregano to make the sauce. Spread the sauce over the pizza dough. Add grated cheese and chosen toppings. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

DIAMOND Hotel Philippines welcomes the Year of the Earth Pig with a lineup of activities that bring good luck and prosperity. Explore the excellent taste and aromatic flavors of Chinese cuisine at Corniche from Feb 2 to 5 for only P2,880 nett per person featuring the culinary specialties of the hotel’s Chinese chef Yang Yong. Guests of Corniche with a minimum spend of P5,000 are entitled to Pick-A-Prize for a chance to win gift certificates from the hotel and more. On Feb 5, the first day of Chinese New Year, guests with a minimum spend of P5,000 at the Corniche lunch buffet get a free 10-minute feng shui consultation by Angel Macalino. Catch the Dragon and Lion dance by the Philippine Ling Nam Athletic

Federation and the performance of Chinese instrumental music by Kim Hwa Ensemble as they clear the path for prosperity and good luck this year. Attract wealth and positive energy with lucky charms available for sale at the hotel lobby. Make the celebrations more exciting for the family with the Chinese New Year Staycation promo at P8,000 nett per night in a Premier Room on Feb. 1-6. The overnight stay package includes buffet breakfast for two, unlimited Wi-Fi access, 30 percent discount on food and beverages in any of the restaurants, 20 percent off on laundry, massage services, and complimentary shuttle service during weekend to Intramuros and Mall of Asia. Call (02) 528-3000 for inquiries and reservations.

BITES

Krispy Kreme’s Matcha Macadamia, Classic Matcha, and Matcha Pistachio

Pops of colorful flavors RED and green reign supreme this Classic Matcha is original ring 2019 as Krispy Kreme introduces doughnut dipped in glossy, green macadatwo new doughnut variants tea glaze. Bits of macada featuring the flavors mia nuts make Matcha of red velvet and Macadamia a treat matcha. in every bite. A delectable While Matcha take on a popular Pistachio is dessert, Krispy finished off pisKreme’s version of with ground pis Red Velvet Cheesetachios flacake features a red These new fla velvet glazed doughnut vors are available in all topped with New York style Krispy Kreme stores. A box Red Velvet cheesecake frosting and of three is priced at P149, a box of six for P249, a mixed cake crumbs. Matcha lovers are treated to three dozen for P395, a dozen assorted for Krispy Kreme matcha flavors. The P450, and a double dozen for P750.

Entertainment Simply... From C4

Micah, Jane, on the other hand, adds soulful touches to her singing. “I have always been musically inclined and exposed to different artists. I find that my voice is better-suited for soul, so I try to go that route,” she said. She also continues to hone her guitar playing and songwriting skills, which she believes will help her in the long run, as she pursues a career on the local music scene. While the idea of being in international competitions was daunting at first for the three singers, their worries were eventually replaced by pride after emerging triumphant. “It feels good, but nerve-wracking at the same time, because you’re not just representing yourself, but the country,” related Kent, “But I just worked on my minus one, produced the music. And I practiced, practiced and practiced even more.” Micah was once on the verge of quitting music to help run her family’s business. Luckily, this opportunity presented itself. “I couldn’t believe it. I kept asking myself, ‘Do I deserve this? Am I the right person to be here?’ There was pressure, but I enjoyed the competition. It’s surreal— this was a dream come true. And to think I was this close to giving up on it,” she said. Gabreza said she was, at first, intimidated by the European contestants. “I know that they have a rich music culture. And when I heard some of them singing classical music, I thought, ‘Kaya ko ba ’to?’” she recalled. “But it was a big privilege for the three of us,” Rachel added, “to be able to carry our flag in Europe.” *** MTRCB, NCCA agree to promote film industry The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) formalized its partnership on Jan.16 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) symbolic of both of the agencies’ commitment to promote the growth and development of the Philippine movie industry as a viable source of fueling the national economy. As a product of the MOU, films that are endorsed by NCCA’s National Committee on Cinema (NCCinema) will receive 70 percent discount on their MTRCB permit. Furthermore, through the MOU, NCCA is enabled to facilitate and issue Exhibition Permits in all NCCA-funded film festivals and other NCCA supported public screenings applicable for exemption. Led by MTRCB Chief, Hon. Maria Rachel J. Arenas and National Artist and Chairperson of NCCA, Virgilio Almario, the new alliance intends to encourage Filipino producers and filmmakers to produce films of national relevance. In return, MTRCB encouraged the members of the NCCA to hold Compliance Seminars (i.e. Matalinong Panonood Seminar) to its stakeholders to further propagate adherence of the industry with both of the agencies respective rules and regulations and goals. The MOU signing event was held at Nida Blanca Conference Room, MTRCB Building, No. 18 Timog Avenue, Diliman Quezon City. Present in the signing were Board Members, Atty. Jeremiah Jaro and OIC-Executive Director Atty. Ann Marie Nemenzo. From the NCCA, Commissioner for the Arts and NCCinema Head Teddy Co, Vice head of NCCinema, Jose Antonio Garcia, Independent Cinema Sector of NCCinema and film director, Baby Ruth Villarama, Assistant Secretary of NCCinema, Elvert Bañares, Mainstream Sector Archi Adamos, Film and Exhibition & Distribution Sector, Vicente Nebrida, Luzon representative of NCCinema, Rosanni Sarile, and Joel Arthur Tibaldo, IP representative, were also present. *** Visit www.isah.red for more stories. Follow me on Facebook (@isahvr), Twitter (@isahvred) and Instagram (@ isahvred). ΙR

‘StarStruck’ Season77 Starstruck’ Season begins nationwide auditions

First premiered in October 2003, StarStruck is one of the biggest reality talent competitions in the country.

HE talent search that started it all is back.

GMA Network’s original realitybased ”artista” search Starstruck is all set to make its big and much awaited television comeback this year. The well-loved and pioneering talent search is ready to discover the next “Ultimate Survivors” as it once again opens its

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO

Monday, January 21, 2019

resort 61 Three- — sloth 63 Hardened bricks 64 “Got it!” (2 wds.) 65 Sea eagle 66 Join up 67 Monster’s loch 68 Dowels 69 Full of cargo DOWN 1 Ready money 2 Not taken in by 3 Debatable 4 Adoring 5 Entertainer — Dion 6 Say hi 7 Baseball events 8 Shaq’s org. 9 Understands (2 wds.) 10 Mineral analysis 11 Tweet 12 Brainy club 13 Made a border 21 Mexican lad 23 Supplications 25 Veld prowlers 26 Farewells 27 Cameo, maybe 28 Seaweed derivative 29 Light pancakes

32 Comedy routines 34 “Swan Lake” performer 35 Jacques’ girl 36 Increase sharply 37 Bunny features 39 Distributed 44 Fast gait 47 More orderly 49 Worthwhile 50 Cager — McHale 51 Use the delete key

52 Endeavors 53 Bedtime stories 54 Hops a train 56 Grant a mortgage 57 Bone-dry 58 Antoinette lost hers 59 TV genie portrayer 62 Spanish gold

will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Interested applicants must bring an original and photocopy of their birth certiﬁcate and two recent photos (one closeup and one full body). For hopefuls below 18 years old, he/she should also bring a certiﬁcation, signed by a Parent or Legal Guardian, that he/she is allowed to audition and a photocopy of the ID of the parent or legal guardian who signed it. For more information, follow www. gmanetwork.com.

Coming soon: Movies for all and every one

WE ALL know who reigned supremely at the box office. We are all aware who won the most awards. What was our biggest take home from the recently concluded MMFF? I dare say, for as long as the main objective of the leaders of the Metro Manila Film Festival is to achieve their one billion financial target, let us no longer believe that the annual festival will showcase the best, brightest and world class samplings of Filipino cinema. If we were to send Fantastica, the Princess, the Prince and the Perya, the movie which grossed more than P500 million, to the Oscars or Golden Globe for Foreign Film consideration, do you think the Philippines has a fighting chance of finally realizing the illusive dream of being part of that roster of foreign films who received so much love and praise from international critics and audiences? Whatever was the plea and prayer of director Joel Lamangan of the multi-awarded Rainbow’s Sunset - equitable distribution of cinemas and a fighting chance for other movies, we all know is gone with the wind, gone in sixty seconds. The director’s plea can now be considered forgotten and this ghost of Christmas past will only resurface with a vengeance when in December of 2019, more cinema allocation are given to box-office champions which is a no brainer to predict, the Vice Ganda led movie and the Vic Sotto and Coco Martin starrers film. Thus, I cannot help but wonder, what happens now to the new Filipino movies that were shown after the December festival of films whose producers, without any doubt, laughed their way to the banks? Boy Tokwa Lodi ng Gapo, which Jose Manalo starred in was the first box office disaster of 2019. With Mary Poppins Returns and BumbleBee as its main big screen rivals, we don’t even have to predict its outcome. With this box-office result, is the public saying they only love Manalo when Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros are with him? How about Sakaling Maging Tayo, the make or break movie with the winsome McCoy de Leon and Elise Joson, did it make a box office cut and presence? Are their fans sufficient enough to make the McLise headlined movie a surefire hit? Can we add the two to the elite circle of love teams? Will the adoring public of KathNiel, JaDine, and LizQuen welcome them or bash and hate them to bits as

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Stand-up performer 6 Deep bell 10 Summit 14 Battery post 15 Hayseed 16 Lean-to 17 Ottoman 18 Oregon, to Yves 19 Vocalize 20 Links for crises 22 Thin 24 J in JFK 25 Pond floater (2 wds.) 26 Insolent 29 Quick meal 30 Jellystone bear 31 European capital 33 Humble 38 Spiral-horned antelope 40 Reunion crowd 41 Fiji neighbor 42 Suit material 43 Part of MIT 45 Polygraph flunker 46 Debate side 48 Sovereigns 50 Pots 54 Delicate flower 55 List of typos 56 Educated 60 Rockies ski

doors to all aspirants across the archipelago. The competition is open to all male and female hopefuls, 16 to 21 years old and of Filipino descent. The nationwide auditions will be held on the following dates and venues: from today to Feb. 15 (Mondays to Fridays) at the GMA Annex Building in Quezon City; Jan. 26 at Centrio Ayala Mall in Cagayan de Oro City; Jan. 27 at Robinsons Place Butuan in Butuan City; Feb. 9 at SM City Legazpi and Feb. 10 at SM City Naga in Naga City. Auditions

"Sakaling Maging Tayo" is one of the biggest box office bombs in local cinema this month

pretenders to the throne? The career defining movie of Martin del Rosario, Perci Intalan’s Born Beautiful, do you think it has what it takes to duplicate if not surpass the successful of its predecessor Die Beautiful? As the transwoman Barbs torn between two lovers, portrayed by Kiko Matos and Akihiro Blanco, this trio con brio of talented actors, do they have what it takes to lure and seduce their pink public? The believers, followers and supporter of director Brillante Mendoza, did they troop to the select cinemas and viewed the “as real as it gets” Alpha The Right To Kill? The two comedy films that will have a cinema face off, the feel good yet funny Ang Sikreto ng Piso with Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen, real life husband and wife as its protagonist s, and Tol, with the fresh comedic threesome of Joross Gamboa, Ketchup Eusebio and Arjo Atayde, will every one laugh out loud with these motion picture offerings? All these January motion pictures have something beautiful to give to their respective target audiences. Time, talent, money and love for their craft were poured out so that for these finished films with the hope that people will be more than curious to support and watch them. With the right promotional blitz, strong word of mouth, and of course luck from the the Universe, majority of them will reap the golden fruits of their cinematic labor.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Gary V and Kiana perform at Asian TV Awards GARY Valenciano and daughter Kiana flew to Malaysia to perform live at the 23rd Asian Television Awards (ATA) mounted at the Borneo Convention Center in Kuching, Malaysia on Jan. 12 and 13. ATA is Asian television industry’s biggest and most highly-anticipated event as it honors excellence in television programming as well as performance and production. With Filipino broadcast journalist Mark Zambrano as one of the main hosts of the two-day event, Gary and Kiana were the official representatives of the Philippines as they were part of the amazing line-up of Asian superstars who performed onstage. Some of the Asian superstars that ATA assembled this year were Malaysian pop star Winnie K, Indonesian pop star Via Valen, South Korean boy group SF9, Malaysian actor Alvin Chong, Singaporean singer Gina Tan, and Vietnamese singer Trong Hieu, among many others. While Mr. Pure Energy performed in the actual awards night of ATA, Kiana on the other hand, was one of the featured artists who performed in the event’s media launch on Jan. 11 and at the event’s big closing concert on Jan. 13. Incidentally, the Philippine franchise of the reality dance competition World Of Dance (WOD) also aired on ABS-CBN on Jan. 12 and Gary V is one of the celebrity judges on the show’s panel alongside Billy Crawford and Maja Salvador with hosts Luis Manzano and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Meanwhile, Kiana has written and produced original songs such as “Circles,” “Does She Know,” “Misfits,” and her latest single “See Me” – all of which are all viral hits with millions of streams on Spotify. On his Instagram post, Gary said “Here I go Lord. It’s been a while since I’ve last represented the Philippines in a musical event such as the 23rd Asian Television Awards. What an honor it’s going to be for me and Kiana.” It should be noted that his live appearance at ATA as well as WOD are the perfect opening salvos for Gary this 2019 right after the successful launch of his advocacy Awit At Laroand the 21-leg series of shows that he did in Ayala Malls, especially after his successful open heart surgery and his miraculous victory against kidney cancer. For more details and exciting updates on Gary follow him on Twitter (@ GaryValenciano1), Instagram (@garyvalenciano), like Gary Valenciano Official, follow Gary Valenciano on YouTube, and visit www.garyv.com; and on Kiana, visit www.kianavee.com, follow her on Twitter (@KianaVee) and Instagram (@kianavee), and like Kiana Official on Facebook.

Gary V with daughter Kiana and wife Angeli in Malaysia for 23rd edition of Asian TV Awards

Entertainment

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019

3 Pinoy warblers shine in singing contests in Europe ISAH V. RED

JAY Kent, Rachel Gabreza and Micah Baybay maybe little known among their compatriots, but these trio of singers have made the Philippines proud in various singing contests in Europe. Kent, a singer/songwriter from Angeles City, impressed the judges at the 2018 Euro Pop Contest Grand Prix Berliner Perle. Grabeza, an eight-time defending champion of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN also wowed the judges at the 2018 Stars of the Albion in London. She went home with the Grand Prix. Baybay who is known by her professional name as Micah Jane, also a singer/songwriter, assured Filipinos their talent in singing wouldn’t be left unrecognized in Malta when she bested other contestants from across the world at the 2018 Arpeggio International Singing Competition in Valetta. At a recent gathering where Maria Rosario L Vega, or simply Charie, owner/ manager of Vega Entertainment Productions, ofﬁcial partner in Asia of the three competitions (among others), introduced the singers to members of the entertainment media, it was evident that the singing champions were still looking for their rightful place on the local music scene. They said the ability to belt or “birit,” isn’t the sole measure of being a good singer. Proof of that, they asserted, was the prizes they brought home despite the fact that they are not “biriteras” and sang exactly how they felt their vocal ranges allowed. And they said it was a great privilege to carry the Philippine ﬂag in those competitions.

Jay Kent, a singer/songwriter from Angeles City

“I can’t belt, and I don’t even try,” underscored Kent, who performed “Inﬁnity,” a song he wrote that won for him the grand prix at the 2018 Euro Pop Singing Contest in Berlin, Germany. “I just write or perform songs in a way that makes people feel how I feel.” “That’s how I wish to distinguish myself [from other singers],” added the 17-yearold artist, whose sound leans more toward pop. “But I don’t want to box myself in a speciﬁc genre, especially since I’m still young. I want to switch it up and experiment.” Gabreza performs “diva or birit” songs herself. But facing a largely European audience, she learned that taste in musicc varies around the world. “When they see or hear someone good, they really show their appreciation—whether or not the person can belt,” she said. “I actually have some background in classical singing, but I do “birit” pieces in contests. But there are already a lot of divas out there. I want to be successful in my own way.” Continued on C3

Angel Locsin (first row, 3rd from right) with the cast and directors of ABS-CBN's latest primetime offering, "The General's Daughter"

‘THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER’

amps up primetime viewing starting today VERY WANG

NICKIE WANG

RIMETIME series The General’s Daughter opens the year in ABS-CBN with a bang featuring an ensemble cast —generations of grand slam actors—and an original story meant to capture the hearts of televiewers who crave for a series formulated with the right amount of action and drama.

The Kapamilya network’s ﬁrst offering for 2019 features Angel Locsin, who plays Rhian Bonifacio, daughter of a respected military general, who yearns for the love of her parents. She constantly proves herself to them to get the affection she deserves. Angel considers her role in the series one of the hardest she has done in a TV series. “I have done several roles, and I must say this is one of the most complex characters I’ve played. It is hard. But it is also fun because I get to act with great actors, so I draw from them the proper emotions,” she said. “I think this is the right time to return to doing teleseryes. I think everyone I dream of working with is here. I am sur-

rounded by my idols and the people I respect in the industry,” she added. Senior actor Tirso Cruz III also amps up the action as Gen. Santiago Guerrero, Rhian’s father who hones her to become their biggest weapon against their mortal enemy. Also part of the cast is Janice De Belen as Amelia, Santiago’s wife, who carries a deep grudge because of the death of their son. Albert Martinez is also back on primetime playing Gen. Marcial De Leon, Santiago’s rival, whom the latter blames for his eldest child’s death. Multi-awarded actress Eula Valdez is Corazon, the loving wife of Marcial. Growing up, Rhian is led to believe that her biggest enemy is the De Leons. To please her parents, she enters the military as a spy, and eventually infiltrates Marcial’s personal life. As she gets closer to Marcial and his family, Rhian also inches her way towards the truth that will redefine her life—her true father is Marcial, and Santiago only made her a pawn to kill his arch nemesis. Apart from the lies she has to put up with, love will also be one of Rhian’s enemies as Franco (Paulo Avelino) and Ethan (JC De Vera) both fight for her affection. Rhian will also meet her biggest rival Jessie (Ryza Cenon), the ex-girlfriend of Ethan, who will compete with Rhian to bring back her former lover to her arms. Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated series also marks the return to television of the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano in her role as Isabelle, the woman who will give refuge to Rhian after she gets shot in a mission. With Isabelle’s help, Rhian will discover the truth about identity and find the love she has been fighting for. Kapamilya star Arjo Atayde, on the other hand, will once again prove his acting prowess as he plays Elai, a special child who will show Rhian that a person’s true character is found in a person’s heart. Also bringing love to the series are Ronnie Alonte as Ivan and Loisa An-

"Tayo, Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon" lead Alex Medina, Nicco Manalo, Emmanuelle Vera, and Anna Luna.

dalio as Claire—two lovers who will let love reign despite the chaos around them. The General’s Daughter also stars Art Acuna, Anne Feo, Cholo Barretto, Kim Molina, Kate Alejandrino, Luz Valdez, and Nico Antonio. It is under the direction of Manny Palo and Mervyn Brondial. *** Renowned film studio’s opening salvo From the makers of the critically-acclaimed films Heneral Luna, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, Women of the Weeping River, and I’m Drunk, I Love You, comes another touching story that will make you feel inspired, fall in love, and perhaps teary eyed. The renowned film studio TBA Studios revealed that it has started working on the romance-drama Tayo, Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon to be directed by Nestor Abrogena. The film is Abrogena’s follow-up to the indie film favorite Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa, which tells the story of a relationship “that never was” first premiered at the 2015 World Premieres Film Festival in Pasay City. But it was at special school

screenings and micro-cinemas like Cinema ’76 where the film truly found its audience. And because of its devout fans, Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa became a surprise indie hit when it was screened commercially in theaters in 2016. Tayo, Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon, on the other hand, is an answered prayer for fans and followers who have been waiting for Nestor’s next romantic film opus. The upcoming film stars movie and theater actor Nicco Manalo and singer-actress Emmanuelle Vera, who also starred in Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa. Joining them are Alex Medina and Anna Luna. The film tells the story of Sam and Isa, played by Nicco and Emmanuelle, former lovers turned friends who attempt to find themselves as they navigate their respective romantic relationships. Nestor and the movie’s cast held its story conference on Sunday, Dec. 9 at TBA Studios in San Juan City. Production began on the same month and expected to hit the theaters early this year. Follow Tayo, Sa Huling Buwan Ng Taon on Facebook to get updates on TBA Studio’s upcoming romantic movie: https:// www.facebook.com/tayosahulingbuwan.

Big revelations and confrontations in ‘Onanay’ WITH a unique storyline and engaging scenes, GMA Network’s top-rating and well-loved drama series Onanay continues to melt viewers and netizens’ hearts and hook them on their TV screens every night. Much praise has been said about the show’s characters, and its lead stars are grateful for all the support they have been receiving. It also remains unbeatable on its timeslot and Kapuso viewers can only expect more revelations and plot twists on the heart-warming primetime soap. Jo Berry as Onay promises more exciting episodes that viewers should look forward to. “I’m happy with our show, sa character ko, with my co-stars and most especially the people who continuously support Onanay. Thankful po kami sa kanilang lahat. There are big revelations that will happen in the coming episodes that’s why viewers should watch out for those surprise twists in the series,” Berry said. On the other hand, Mikee Quintos, who portrays the character of Maila, also expressed her

happiness with the series’ success, “We are extremely happy for the warm support of the televiewers. It’s funny that whenever I’m in mall shows, people call me Maila. Nakakatuwa na tumatak sa mga manonood ‘yung characters namin.” Her on-screen sibling Kate Valdez is overwhelmed with all the love they’ve been receiving as well. “We feel the support of the audience. It means that they are carried away with the scenes we have in the program. We really feel their support especially on social media. Sobrang grateful po kami

na nagugustuhan nila ‘yung show at hindi nila kami binibitiwan.” Superstar Nora Aunor and seasoned actress Cherie Gil are likewise both thankful for the overwhelming support that viewers continue to give the show.

Meanwhile, the story promises to be more compelling as Natalie (Kate Valdez) ﬁnally agrees to live with Onay (Jo Berry), Maila (Mikee Quintos), and Nelia (Nora Aunor), in exchange for her grandmother, Helena’s (Cherie Gil), release from prison. But after she conceded to their plea, she feels angrier than ever and is unwilling to accept the fact that they are her real family. Under the helm of esteemed director Gina Alajar, catch Onanay weeknights after Cain at Abel on GMA Telebabad.

Mikee Quintos, Jo Berry and Kate Valdez of the primetime drama "Onanay"