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Solons upbeat on ‘next Speaker’ By Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 39 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

LAWMAKERS have expressed conﬁdence that former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, whom presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio declared will be the next Speaker, will be able to steer “a more productive and responsive” House of Representatives. “Undoubtedly he [Romualdez] is very

much competent to lead the House given his track record as lawyer and public servant,” House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said. “He is going to be a good Speaker,” he added. On Wednesday, Duterte-Carpio introduced Romualdez as “the next Speaker of the House” during a campaign caravan Next page

Palace to water execs: Shape up or ship out By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte berated officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the two private concessionaires at a meeting in the Palace Tuesday night, threatening to fire regulators for failing to anticipate and do something about the water supply problem in Metro Manila. Duterte was supposed to discuss possible solutions to the water crisis with officials from the MWSS, Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services, but the meeting turned out to be a “presidential monologue,” as the President told them he was not going to listen to their explanations or excuses, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Wednesday. Water officials knew of the problem leading to the service interruptions, but did nothing to prevent it from happening, Panelo said. “They simply did not do their job. All they care about is [getting] profit from the water,” Panelo said. For the last two weeks, some 1.2 million households in the east zone of Metro Manila serviced by Manila Water have suffered service interruptions

Bello

Arellano

Sarmiento

Trinidad

Rody opts for localized talks; Reds unyielding

By Joyce Pañares, Francisco Tuyay and Vito Barcelo

El Niño deals blow to rice, corn crops THE Agriculture department reported Wednesday that P1.33 billion worth of crops has been lost due to the ongoing dry spell. The department’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said the loss ﬁgure as of March 18 was signiﬁcantly higher than the P464.27 million in losses reported a week earlier. Some 78,348 metric tons in rice and corn production were lost due to drought in the Cordillera region, the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro region. The losses affected 84,932 corn and rice farmers, the department said. The weather bureau announced a weak El Niño in February, and warned that it would intensify toward the end of March and last until June. Flaviana Hilario, the weather bureau’s deputy administrator for research and development, said the weak El Niño phenomenon is likely to become more severe, and could cause a delay in the rainy season that could threaten Metro Manila’s water supply. Benison Estareja, a weather forecaster, said over 95 percent of the country is getting only “way below normal” rainfall.

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has abolished the government’s peace panel for negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front to pave the way for localized peace talks.

HELP ALWAYS. Aiding hands were everywhere when an informal settler’s house in Quezon City’s Barangay Damayan Lagi was being gobbled up by flames, ironically during the Fire Prevention Month. But it was never clear how many might have been affected by the fire, how much was the damage, or what caused the fire. Manny Palmero

House retrieves budget version to break impasse By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE House of Representatives through its Ofﬁce of Secretary General on Wednesday “physically retrieved” the books containing the items that congressmen had sent to the senators in a bid to put an end to the budget impasse.

Despite the budget impasse, President Duterte has signed Executive Order No. 76 directing the Budget department to find and recommend a measure to fund the pending fourth tranche of salary increase for state workers. “The President does not want to prolong the overdue salary increase that our public servants, who have been working tirelessly and silently for the last two months, have been looking forward to,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“This is in line with the Speaker’s instruction to allow a lastditch effort to break the budget impasse,” Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr., appropriations committee chairman, said. This developed as Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, leader of the House independent bloc, defended Next page

‘P1-b shabu from Golden Triangle’ By Rio N. Araja THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday said the 166 kilos of shabu worth P1.1 billion seized in separate operations in Muntinlupa City could have come from the Golden Triangle. PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the conﬁscated drugs at the Ayala-Alabang Village and those previously seized in anti-drug operations in Mindanao had the same packaging method. “We have seizures somewhere in Mindanao that have the same packaging. That is why we come up with an assessment that these drugs passed through our

coastlines. This could be a case of shipside smuggling coming from the Golden Triangle Region,” he said. “Such is the signature of the Golden Triangle Region. There were seizures having the same [signature] of drugs coming from Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar. There is a big possibility that they also came from the Golden Triangle Region.” • Senator Panﬁlo Lacson was bafﬂed how the P1.1 billion worth of shabu that was later seized in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday passed the Bureau of Customs. “How the hell did that volume pass through Customs and the police check points?’’ Lacson wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. Next page

Fake wall fools NY vandal PRESIDENT Donald Trump has struggled to convince lawmakers the US needs a wall along its southern border. But in New York, police heeded his advice to catch a pro-Trump graffiti artist: Yes, they built a wall. Next page

“The termination of the appointments of the members of the government negotiating panel will pave the way for the creation of an inclusive panel that will supervise localized peace engagements,” presidential adviser on the peace process Carlito Galvez said. The composition of the new panel will follow the Colombian model to include representatives from different sectoral groups, local government units, and the military, whose presence, Galvez said, are “essential” to the peace talks. NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili, however, immediately rejected the prospect of localized peace negotiations. “The leadership of the revolutionary movement has ﬁrmly decided against engaging in localized peace talks. Every command of the New People’s Army has reiterated this decision in their statements and actions,” Agcaoili told Manila Standard in an interview. “They [government] should not be disappointed when no command of the Next page

Trillanes fails to block trial By Rey E. Requejo

HAPPINESS DAY. SM Mall of Asia officially kicks off the International Day of Happiness with the first ever SMDC MOA Happiness Run with Happiness Stations inside the village and Inflatable Obstacle, Foam Tunnel and Bubble Station along the route.

Shop online via Instagram FACEBOOK-OWNED Instagram on Tuesday made a move into potentially lucrative e-commerce by adding an option to buy products shown off in posts by selected brands. A new “checkout” button for instant Next page

OPPOSITION Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has failed to get an immediate relief from the Court of Appeals to stop his trial for rebellion, a case earlier revived by the Makati City Regional Trial Court. In a three-page resolution, the appellate court’s Ninth Division ruled that to grant Trillanes’ plea for the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction would be tantamount to deciding on the merit of the petition, which seeks the reversal of the trial court’s order issued on Sept. 25, 2018, which granted the Department of Justice’s motion to reopen the rebellion case and to order Trillanes’ immediate arrest. • Trillanes’ trial before a Makati Court will proceed as the Court of Appeals has turned down his plea to stop his indictment for rebellion. In a resolution dated March 18, the court’s Ninth Division denied the application for a temporary restraining order ﬁled by Trillanes’ counsel. Next page

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THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ASG man in Sipadan crisis killed By Francisco Tuyay

HREE Abu Sayyaf members, including the one who took part in the kidnapping of 21 European and Malaysian tourists in the Sipadan hostage crisis in in 2000, were killed by Army Special Forces after they overran an Abu Sayyaf camp in Basilan on Tuesday. The Army’s Office of Public Affairs said Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Angah Adjih, who snatched the tourists in the resort island of Sipadan, Malaysia, on April

23, 2000 was killed in the encounter with army soldiers in Talipao, Sulu. Also killed was another Abu Sayyaf member identified as Sarih Edris.

The troops recovered M14 and M16 rifles, a grenade launcher, several magazines and ammunition. The military claimed that Adjih was the last Abu Sayyaf sub-leader who snatched the 21 hostages from a motor boat from Sipadan and brought them to Jolo. “The long arm of the law has finally caught up with these terrorists and criminals. We assure the people that we will do everything to keep Sulu safe and secure,” said Col. Antonio Nafarrete, 1101st Infantry Brigade commander.

Narco-pol suspects can't leave PH, PDEA chief warns PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency chief Director General Aaron Aquino warned narco-politicians could face administrative charges if they attempted to leave the country for abroad. Aquino was speaking over Dobol B sa News TV, aired and heard nationwide, that these politicians should get a permit from the Department of the Interior and Local Government if they would like to travel abroad. “It will be suspicious if any named narco-politicians would leave the country at this time; he or she must have an authority from the Department of Interior and Local Government,” Aquino said. Aquino said authorities should check if there were violations committed once the politician left the Philippines such as extending his/her trip as well as going to a country that is different from what he/ she had declared. Aquino’s remarks followed reports that Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac left the country. There were no other details regarding his departure, neither immediate comment from the local government unit he is from nor from his family. Mahilac was among the 46 politicians included in the government’s list of personalities allegedly involved in illegal drugs. President Rodrigo Duterte bared the list last week, despite opposition from some sectors, including human rights advocates.

Rody... From A1

IN A HUDDLE. President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari swap pleasantries prior to a formal meeting at the Malacañan Palace on March 19. (Story on A3) Presidential Photo

that the company blamed on low water levels at the La Mesa Dam as a result of the El Niño phenomenon. Customers of Maynilad in the west zone, however, experienced no interruptions. Panelo said the President, who did not even look at the officials, was “obviously outraged” at having to rush to Manila from Davao before they moved to end the service interruptions. He told them to “shape up or ship out,” Panelo said, threatening to fire the MWSS officials and to terminate the concessionaires’ contracts. Duterte ended the meeting abruptly after 40 minutes and ordered the officials to submit a report on the water shortage before April 7, after which he will decide whether heads will roll or whether the contracts of the concessionaires will be terminated. Both chambers of the Congress have also held investigations to look into the water shortage issue. On the third straight day of hearings into the shortage, Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand dela Cruz asked for forgiveness from his company’s customers before a

House panel. Dela Cruz made a similar apology before the Senate committee on public services on Tuesday. But Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said being sorry was not enough and urged Dela Cruz to resign. “You have failed as a management man, as a marketing man, as a distributor of our prime commodity which is water. We cannot take your sorry,” Atienza said. “If my resignation today will not only erase our supply deficit, but also resolve to a united front to urgently build new water sources, then I would be extremely happy to resign at this very moment,” Dela Cruz replied. While he apologized in Congress, his company announced more nine-hour service interruptions, this time in parts of Marikina City and San Mateo, Rizal on March 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Manila Water also announced that its Cardona Water Treatment Plant began operations on March 14, and is now providing water in several towns in Rizal, to about 800,000 people. The plant, which draws water from Laguna Lake, was designed to augment Manila Water’s main source, Angat Dam. Also on Wednesday, the MWSS said

the construction of the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project would ease water crisis in Metro Manila and would be cheaper than an alternative Japanese proposal. At a press briefing in the Palace, MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said the construction of the Kaliwa Dam would cost $248 million or P12.2 billion, compared to the Osaka-based Global Utility Development Corp. Ltd.’s proposed $410-million Kaliwa Intake Weir project. The Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon, or the New Centennial Water Supply Project, will be funded by the official development assistance from China and is expected to provide 600 million liters per day to Metro Manila and nearby areas. He said the bidding was already completed and there is already a winner. He denied reports that the project would cost $800 million. The proposed Kaliwa Dam could provide water storage during the rainy season, unlike the weir, a low dam that cannot store water, he said, noting that the reserve could be used during the dry season. In the Senate, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara called for the full implementation of a 30-year-old law mandating the establishment of rainwater harvesting systems in all

’P1-b shabu... From A1

House... From A1

our earlier position. We maintain that the House did nothing unconstitutional, illegal or irregular when we approved and ratified the 2019 GAB in plenary session,” Andaya said. “We hope that the contingents from the Senate and the House can agree to a common venue for a formal discussion on the issues and not debate on the merits of their position through the media,” Andaya added. This developed as Lagman said the House version of the money measure “is entirely compliant with the ratified bicameral conference committee report.” “As a former chairman of the committee on appropriations, I know that traditionally and invariably what the bicameral conference committee approves are the respective expenditure ceilings of the departments and agencies, but the Senate and the House are authorized separately to complete the details within the ceilings,” Lagman said. “The House version did not breach the approved ceilings,” he added. House Majority Floor Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said he hoped Lagman’s support would convince the senators that the House was standing on firm constitutional and legal grounds.

Palace... From A1

• Senator Joel Villanueva commended the anti-narcotics agents from PDEA for their successful drug operation. • Customs and airport authorities on Tuesday intercepted at the Central Mail Exchange in Pasay City 13 bottles containing tablets of ephedrine inside a parcel from Ontario, Canada. The shipment owner had declared that the parcel contained a cure for asthma, but when Customs personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport examined the package, 13 bottles were discovered, with each containing 50 tablets of ephedrine. Aquino said the seized drugs tested positive for shabu. On Tuesday, PDEA operatives conducted a buy-bust operation at the parking lot of Festival Mall that led to the arrest of three Chinese suspects and the confiscation of shabu weighing 43.5 kilos worth at least P295 million. An hour-and-a-half later, PDEA agents led another anti-drug operation inside the upscale Ayala-Alabang Village, arrested a 19-year-old Chinese suspect and seized 123 kilos of shabu worth P839 million. The house belonging to one Josephine Ong was being used only as a storage facility for drugs, and that it was empty of any furniture but with a small variety store at the house’s rear. The shabu was stuffed inside tins of Chinese biscuits, Aquino said, adding the same packaging was used for drugs in other Southeast Asian countries. He said PDEA was looking into the links between the two operations. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the series of encounters were the result of the growing support to the military of the civilian population who were tired of the atrocities committed by the Abu Sayyaf. “The Joint Task Force Sulu, together with the local populace, remain steadfast with our mandate of bringing lasting peace in this part of the country,” Pabayo said. Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto thanked the people for their trust and confidence in them.

the 2019 general appropriations bill that was submitted to the Senate as “completely constitutional and legal.” “I will not support any House action or measure which violates the Constitution and relevant statutes, and the House version is free from any constitutional or legal infirmities,” Lagman, former chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said in a statement. Acting House Secretary General Dante Roberto went to the Senate Wednesday afternoon to get the budget documents upon instruction from the House leadership. Andaya said Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also instructed leaders to form a three-man House team that will meet with their Senate counterparts to address contentious issues on the 2019 general appropriations bill. “We are giving ourselves five days to complete this task,” Andaya said. But Andaya said “retrieving” does not mean that House has “withdrawn” the 2019 general appropriations bill. “We want to make it clear, though. We are not withdrawing or backtracking from

Fake wall...

From A1 Transit Chief Edward Delatorre told journalists Tuesday that officers put up the fake wall to catch the tagger spraying “#LoveTrump” in a subway station in the city’s Brooklyn borough. The recurring message emblazoned on beams in the mezzanine of the station had sparked a slew of complaints since

January from both passengers and transportation employees at the station, Delatorre said. Officers plotted with New York’s transit authority to put up a plywood wall with a door, which officers hid in for a plainclothes operation starting on March 12. Three days later, the vandal took the bait. Police identified him as Jamie Montemarano, 43, and charged him for graffiti and criminal mischief. AFP

NPA responds to their call as has been happening since they started talking about localized peace talks. All they have and will have to show are fake surrender ceremonies,” Agcaoili added. In the March 18 order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the President terminated the services of Labor chief Silvestre Bello III as government chief negotiator, and panel members Rene Sarmiento, Angela Trinidad and Antonio Arellano. Medialdea said the decision was reached “in view of the termination of the peace negotiations with the CPPNDF-NPA pursuant to Proclamation No. 360.” Galvez, for his part, expressed confidence that the new panel to be formed will have better chances of achieving breakthroughs in the peace talks. “We will reconstitute the panel with the whole-of-nation approach we are advocating to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace,” he said. The President likewise ordered a review of all past agreements signed by the government panel with the NDF. Since Duterte took office in 2016, there have been four rounds of talks between the two parties. Formal negotiations, along with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, were terminated by the President in November 2017. “For 32 years, we did not gain anything from the talks, and it is being used by the CPP-NPA as a leverage for them to strengthen their forces and take advantage of the sincerity of the government,” Galvez said. barangays nationwide. He said the move was important in the wake of the water shortage that could spread beyond Metro Manila and Rizal province. Angara was referring to Republic Act 6716, also known as the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Act of 1989, which requires the construction of rainwater collectors in every barangay to prevent flooding and ensure the continuous provision of clean water during dry seasons. “As early as 1989, we already had this law intended to help alleviate water scarcity and drought down to barangay level, and yet no one seems to be implementing it,” Angara said. Rainwater harvesting offers a practical and immediate solution to the country’s water supply problem, he said. “While we all wait for the construction of new dams, which may take years to complete, LGUs [local government units] should practice rainwater harvesting because it is a practical solution that will have direct impact on the grassroots,” he said. Rainwater harvesting is done in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, and it has proven quite effective, Angara said. “Why shouldn’t we implement the same, especially since we get an abundance of rain?” With Macon Ramos-Araneta and PNA

Trillanes... From A1

• Trillanes on Wednesday was thankful that the Court of Appeals had reportedly acted on his petition for certiorari by requiring Makati RTC Branch 150 to comment on it. Trillanes filed a motion for reconsideration of the trial court’s ruling, but the Makati City RTC Branch 150 denied it. Presiding Judge Elmo Alameda also set the resumption of Trillanes’ trial on March 20 with the presentation of prosecution witnesses. That prompted Trillanes to elevate the case before the appellate court, branding the trial court’s decision as a “whimsical and arbitrary act of ignoring established jurisprudence.” But the appellate court took note of the Supreme Court’s action on a similar petition filed by Trillanes, in which it denied his prayer for ancillary relief to prevent the enforcement of Proclamation 572 on the ground that the issue of whether or not the senator availed of Amnesty Proclamation 75 was for the trial courts to determine. “Given the foregoing facts, the ancillary remedies applied for may not be granted at this time without running afoul with the principle that provisional reliefs may not be granted in advance of the main action where the provisional relief is the very remedy prayed for the complaint or petition,” the appellate court said. The court gave the Justice department 10 days to comment on Trillanes’ petition. Trillanes’ rebellion case was dismissed by the Makati Court on Sept. 7, 2011, after then President Benigno Aquino III granted Trillanes amnesty. With PNA and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Estrada, Napoles seek dismissal of pork charges By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Senator Jinggoy Estrada and pork-barrel-scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles are set to seek the dismissal of their cases at the Sandiganbayan. This developed as the anti-graft court approved the separate petitions for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence. A plea of demurrer to evidence is a motion for the court to decide on a case based on the evidence submitted by the accuser―in these cases the Ombudsman―while a petition for leave of court is a request to the court to file the motion for demurrer to evidence. Without an approved leave of court, the accused will not be provided with a chance to prove his guilt should the court determine that he is guilty based on the evidence at hand. Estrada’s and Napoles’s motions were approved in separate resolutions dated March 13 by the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division. “After a meticulous examination of the totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court resolves to grant the present motion of the accused,” the Sandiganbayan said. In his motion, Estrada said the Ombudsman failed to prove that he misappropriated his P183-million Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, to the fake non-government organizations of Napoles. He said the prosecution had no evidence that he was the mastermind behind the scheme, nor was there proof he acted in conspiracy with Napoles and his former deputy chief of staff Pauline Labayen. Napoles, on the other hand, said the prosecution had no proof the crime of plunder even existed. She said “the lack of a main plunderer deprived her the chance to properly defend herself.” Ombudsman prosecutors, however, claimed that the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council alone showed Estrada’s receipt of P70.7 million worth of kickbacks. The prosecutors said the Sandiganbayan itself found Estrada received P55.8 million. Estrada, the prosecutors said, “cannot claim there was no main plunderer in the scheme,” saying “his endorsement of the Napoles-led foundations shows he was part of the misappropriation of public funds.” The demurrers of Estrada and Napoles will give the court the chance to “evaluate whether the prosecution evidence is sufficient enough to warrant the conviction of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the resolutions read. The camps of Estrada and Napoles were given 10 days to file their demurrers, while the prosecution was given the same period to submit its comment. The Fifth Division chairman, Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, and Associate Justices Maria Theresa MendozaArcega and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac signed the resolution.

Solons... From A1

of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Tacloban City. Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association, served as the leader of the House’s Independent Bloc during his nine-year term in Congress from 2007 to 2016. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III also heaped praises on Romualdez. “He is a good and brilliant lawyer who never lost a case. He is also fair and a charming gentleman,” he said. Former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. cited his former colleague’s “good leadership qualities.” “During my speakership, he headed the independent minority group yet proved to be supportive and helped me in pushing important measures,” Belmonte said. Romualdez, a lawyer and a banker, earlier thanked the presidential daughter for the trust and confidence in him. “I was humbled by the mere mention of my name,” he said.

Shop... From A1

purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with a limited number of businesses, according to the popular image-centric messaging service. “We’re introducing Checkout on Instagram,” the Silicon Valley based division of Facebook said in an online post. “When you find a product you love, you can now buy it without leaving the app.” Tapping the checkout button will allow shoppers to select options such as size or color and then pay for items without leaving the Instagram app. Previously, people inspired to buy products featured in Instagram posts had to follow links to outside online shopping sites. Information entered for an initial purchase will be stored for future use, according to Instagram. It remained to be seen how people would feel trusting information such as credit card details to a service owned by Facebook, which has been hit with waves of criticism for its handling of personal data. Brands taking part in the checkout feature included Adidas, Burberry, Dior, H&M, Nike, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, and glasses retailer Warby Parker. AFP

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GMA appeals to mining firms to help Du30 achieve PH goals By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has called on the mining industry to help President Rodrigo Duterte achieve his economic and environmental agenda by working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to make sure that laws on sustainable and responsible mining are carried out. “We should help the sector and help the DENR. Because when the industry players and the DENR work together, your sector can contribute greatly to government revenues, exports, economic growth, job creation and the progress and development to the local communities that host mining,” Arroyo told mining industry leaders at the Philippine Nickel Industry Association Nickel Initiatives Forum at ShangriLa Towers in Bonifacio Global Center Tuesday. Arroyo said the mining industry should endeavor to work closely with the DENR in order for it to grow even with the strict stance of President Duterte on mining. “I have said earlier that even under my successor who was very strict about mining, the sector even grew compared to my time, and thus what we want to do now. Even in today’s policy and regulatory environment, we want to have the sector grow and contribute to sustainable national development,” she said.

Misuari, Du30 agree to form panel to study federalism PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari have agreed to form a panel that will study how federalism can be adopted in Mindanao during a meeting at the Palace Tuesday evening. “He told me, ‘I want federalism.’And I told him, ‘Don’t forget federalism must be passed by Congress,’” Duterte said on Wednesday. “Misuari told me, ‘If you do not give it to me, let me be very honest, I will go to war.’ I told him I understand. What we can do is let’s form a panel, because we have to inform the people and we do not negotiate secretly here. Day-to-day, the public will be briefed on the outcome on how you want to apply the federal system and whether it will be similar to the Bangsamoro Organic Law or a different type,” the President added. Also present during the meeting at the Palace were Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Misuari has just arrived to the country after attending several conferences abroad. Earlier this month, Duterte said he talked to the police, military and the court to allow Misuari to travel abroad, raising questions on whether the President’s action can be considered interference with the affairs of the judiciary, a co-equal branch of government. But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo denied that it was Duterte himself who made arrangements with the Sandiganbayan justices, saying that someone may have communicated the President’s position to the court.

REGIONAL ALLIES. Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago Regional Party Chairperson Sara Duterte-Carpio turns over a Symbolic Key to Leyte (1st District) and Tingog

Party-List 1st Nominee Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (2nd from right) while Lakas-CMD Party president and Tingog Regional Party Chairman Emeritus Atty. Martin Romualdez (left) turns over to Duterte a symbolic key of Tingog. Yedda believes that the alliance between Tingog and HNP will pave the way to achieve and nurture the advocacies of both parties through the provision of mutual support. Also in photo are Eastern Samar Gov. Marcelo Picardal (right) and Tingog Second Nominee Jude Acidre (3rd from right). Ver Noveno

Mayor Sara upbeat on chances of seven HNP senatorial bets By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ATO, Southern Leyte—Despite coming from Mindanao, Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign manager and Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio admitted they do not expect a landslide vote for their senatorial candidates in the May midterm elections. “We don’t have that expectations because even in our surveys now in Davao, we cannot come up with full support for 12 HNP senators, because we are looking where we will campaign. We are getting in the Davao region survey backing only 8 of our senators,” she said. The presidential daughter also admitted that she cannot consider the Visayas region as HNP’s bailwick, saying it has a different kind of politics. She noted that usually in Mindanao, voters in the island will go for another Mindanaoan. “In Mindanao, we bond together because they grew up in MIndanao. We know the place, culture,” she said. But in VIsayas, she said this is not the case since ‘it’s island to island.’ “Some of them speak Visayas, some Warays. In Panay, it’s also different. Their politics is also different. Maybe, in Cebu, it seems Cebuanos are hard core,” said Duterte-Carpio, who founded

HNP, a regional party that gathered senatorial candidates that would help the administration of the President. She hopes that their choices of local partners can help them win votes for the HNP- endorsed senatoriables even if they leave the group. “So yan yun expectations naming na yung local partners and alliances can produce for the senators and convince people to vote for HNP,” she added. In an earlier interview in Tacloban City, the Davao City mayor expressed optimism of getting majority of the seats for senators in the “Winning Circle.” Asked if they are aiming to get the No. 1 and No. 2 spots among the senatoriables, Duterte-Carpio said they are not after any ranking. “What we want is for majority of our senatorial bets to win.” Pressed if eight senators would be okay, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign manager said “majority is 7.” “We are praying for just 7. Eight would

be lucky. Nine or 10, God really loves us so much,” she said following the HNP campaign caravan in this city. Duterte-Carpio also expressed happiness with the apparent people’s trust and conﬁdence on their senatorial candidates. “And as I said, we hope that they will remain supportive of our senators until election day,” he said. Asked about HNP’s str.ategy on being able to draw massive public support for their candidates, Duterte-Carpio said she does not know about any strategy that would work. “What I know is to sell [our senatoriables]. We keep on pushing and pushing them to the people so that the people will consider them as candidates,” he said. “We are happy with the performance of a lot of our senators in the surveys and masyado ng suntok sa buwan if we ask for more. So we just hope that we get the majority of 12,” she said. According to the latest Pulse Asia survey, eight of the senatorial candidates being endorsed by HNP continue to perform well. For instance, if not at No. 1, reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar has consistently landed on the No. 2 spot in almost all preelection surveys. She has been described by Duterte-Carpio as the perfect example of “Sipag at Tiyaga,” citing the huge crowd she draws nationwide.

General Santos City now a legislative district PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill creating the lone legislative district of General Santos City in the province of South Cotabato. Duterte signed Republic Act 11243 on March 11 and a copy of which was released to media on Wednesday (March 20). Under the law, “The First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato is hereby reapportioned in order to create the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City to commence in the next national and local elections after the effectivity of this Act.” General Santos City is currently part of the province’s ﬁrst district. The new law, however, established General Santos as the third district. The legislative districts of South Cotaba-

to will now be composed of: (a) First Legislative District (1) Polomolok, (2) Tampakan and (3) Tupi. (b) Second Legislative District (1) Koronadal City, (2) Banga, (3) Lake Sebu, (4) Norala, (5) Santo Niño, (6) Surallah, (7) Tantangan and (8) T’Boli General Santos City, meanwhile, has become the Third Legislative District. The new law states that “the incumbent Representatives of the present First and Second Legislative Districts of the Province of South Cotabato shall continue to represent the districts until the new Representatives shall have been elected and qualiﬁed.” Moreover, “the Commission on Elections shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act within 30 days after its Effectivity.” General Santos is the Philippines’

southernmost city, classified as a highly urbanized first-class city and the 15th most populous city in the country with 594,446 inhabitants as per 2015 census, according to the Philippine Information Agency. This act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. This Act, which originated in the House of Representatives, was passed by the House of Representatives on May 2, 2017, amended by the Senate on Sept. 3, 2018 and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on Jan. 29, 2019. Meanwhile, the President has signed a law upgrading the Bacoor District Hospital into a general hospital to be known as Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital. PNA

WPP offered to witnesses in Silawan slay By Rey E. Requejo

WATER CRISIS. A group from Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and activists from different government agencies call on the administration to quickly solve the water problem in Metro Manila during a press conference in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

THE Department of Justice on Wednesday said it is ready to provide protection for possible witnesses in the gruesome killing of 16-year-old Christine Silawan in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra assured that the witnesses can be placed under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program. “Any potential witness who will surface to shed light in the murder of Christine can be covered by our WPP, if necessary,” he said, in a text message. A P2-million reward was earlier offered by government ofﬁces as well as private individuals and groups for the arrest of perpetrators of the brutal killing of Silawan.

The National Bureau of Investigation, which was tapped by Guevarra to conduct fact-ﬁnding probe on the incident, arrested a 17-year-old suspect who was the last companion of the victim before her body was found in a vacant lot in Barangay Bankal last March 11. The minor was tagged in the crime after closed-circuit television camera footage showed him together with the victim. Probers also found out that he was communicating with the victim through chat and text messages and said that the killing could be a case of “crime of passion” driven by jealousy. However, Guevarra said that while a suspect was already nabbed, the case is “not yet closed” as authorities continue to hunt down two other suspects.

PAL suspends Mla-Delhi flights FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines on Wednesday announced that it was temporarily suspending the relaunch of its Manila-New Delhi-Manila flight service, citing the reported tension at the Indian-Pakistan border. “We are constrained to take this step as news of India-Pakistan border tensions has prompted many travelers to cancel bookings and defer their travel plans,” the PAL management said in a statement. The airline is supposed to relaunch the four times weekly nonstop flights between Manila and New Delhi on March 31, 2019. “We seek the understanding of our passengers who have already booked flights or purchased tickets on the Delhi service,” the airline stated. Ticket holders may avail of any of the following options: Reroute their tickets to any regional destination within 30 days from their original ticket, or refund the cost of their tickets. Joel E. Zurbano

Navy, US ship hold maritime activity THE visit of 7th Fleet ﬂagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) to the country concluded with a maritime cooperative activity or “PASSEX” with BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) off Mariveles, Bataan Tuesday afternoon. “This maritime cooperative activity concluded the visit of the USS Blue Ridge in the country, which was highlighted by its port visit in Manila and the conduct of the annual PN-US 7th Fleet Staff to Staff Talks. The latter activity provided a venue to discuss matters of mutual concern focusing on interoperability between the two navies and regional security issues,” Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain Jonathan Zata said. In a statement Wednesday, Zata said the maneuvers were conducted around 1 p.m. PASSEX is short for “passing exercise” which is a series of drills done to ensure synchonization of communication and cooperation between two participating navies. PNA

No record of ASF in PH—experts THERE is still no recorded case of African Swine Fever in the Philippines amid the country’s importation ban on 15 countries affected by ASF including Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, China, Mongolia and Vietnam. This was revealed during yesterday’s Senate committee on agriculture and food hearing to inquire into the state in the country of ASF and the measures being done by the government to ensure the protection of local hog raisers. Dr. Ronnie Domingo of the DABureau of Animal Industry told the Senate panel presided by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri that they had installed foot bath and dinefecriin in the country’s airport. He said they will also add 40 sniffing dogs and additional 100 personnel to check on pork importation. He also said pork coming from 15 countries, including China and Russia, which are affected by swine ﬂu, were being conﬁscafed. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Opinion

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

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ICC withdrawal is a problem AT 91, I cannot help reminiscing the chapters of my life. I recall that after obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in 1950 from the old Ateneo de Manila at the Padre Faura ruins, our teacher Jesuit priest Fr. James O’Shaughnessy asked me and my classmates to a meeting. It must be something important, I said to myself, thinking I was lucky to be included. Fr. James told us he knew of a woman who had visions of the Virgin Mary, and he would like us to see her.

What will the President do if prosecutors come?

The woman, whose husband was serving a life sentence, said the Virgin told her to form cells composed of young graduates of exclusive schools to fight the growing threat of communism. At that time, the Hukbalahap was being infiltrated by the Mao Tse Tung type of communism under Luis Taruc. There were students from La Salle, St. Theresa’s, Assumption, Santa Escolastica and even the University of the Philippines. I had my doubts but I joined anyway because I truly believed fighting communism was a great cause. We formed what was called the Paco Club. It was at that time I entertained the idea of being a Jesuit missionary. Every product of the old Ateneo wanted to be one. As members of the Paco Club, we

took a vow of celibacy and obedience. We had our early morning prayers, went to Mass every day, and said our night prayers too. It felt like we were getting ready for the priesthood despite the presence of beautiful kolehiyalas around us. This in fact was the reason I volunteered to help with the Oblates’ publication The Mindanao Cross in Cotabato City. I recall that one of my missions was to promote awareness of the communist threat in the country. I took the occasion to meet with parish priests to organize youth movements against the Red Terror. In fact, during my first year in Cotabato City, I tried to organize a group similar to The Paco Club. But then, I met my future wife. She was an 18-year-old student of Philippine Women’s University. I must have forgotten about my vow of celi celibacy because from then on, I wanted to get to know her better! After seeing her often during Mass, I mustered enough courage to approach her. “May I walk with you?” I asked. “Suit yourself. It’s a free country,” was her reply. She was truly mature for her age. My visits were a good occasion to know her better. Unfortunately, Miss Trinidad Kapunan Capistrano had to leave for Manila to pursue her studies. She said she would transfer to UP. That ended my dream of being a priest. I could not stop thinking about Miss Capistrano. It was also my last year at Mindanao Cross because I was told I would teach at Ateneo High School. That at least gave me hope that I would see her again because Loyola Heights was near UP. After five years, she accepted my proposal of marriage. And what of Paco Club, you say? It died a natural death after Fr. James O’ Shaughnessy was transferred. *** If we were to believe the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia, only

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Moving leadership

ACINDA Ardern, New Zealand’s 38-yearold prime minister, first captured the global imagination when she announced last year that she was pregnant.

She was only the second leader to have a baby while in office, and Ardern showed the world that women can derive fulfillment out of motherhood and a career at the same time. Her partner elected to be a stayat-home dad, as the couple shattered gender stereotypes and showed it was possible to wear various hats and still be happy, successful individuals. This week, Ardern again shot to worldwide fame after a somber incident: On Friday, a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch. Fifty people were killed and dozens were injured. It was described as the worst terror attack in New Zealand’s modern history. “You may have chosen us,” said Ardern, The Guardian reported. “But we utterly reject

and condemn you.” The New Zealand leader, however, did not allow hatred to blame certain sectors or vow revenge. Instead, she stepped up to the role of comforter, condoling with those who were affected by the tragedy. Observers have characterized New Zealand’s stance as one of healing and getting through the tragedy together. Ardern has been praised for her quiet, strong leadership and her empathy. Others have described Ardern’s stance as warmth balanced by steeliness, clarity and decisiveness. Her message reverberates with inclusiveness and diversity. The Crisis magazine said: “Grace. Dignity. Courage ... Real leaders do exist.” Ms. Ardern’s demeanor during

her country’s trying times must serve as an example to many other politicians purporting to be public servants—especially here in the Philippines, as elections draw near. Compassion and empathy radiate from sincere leaders. The public will easily perceive that they mean what they say and have no further agenda in mind. In contrast, there are those who milk any misfortune or tragedy for their own political ends. As a result, we have our present crop of leaders who feel entitled to the perks of their post and feel as though their public positions confer about them an air of untouchability. Indeed there are some things that even politics should not tarnish. As we ourselves commiserate with the people of New Zealand, we also yearn for the ability to perceive, among those vying for our votes, genuine desire to lead and serve.

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Murder most foul the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which “commits members to the abolition of the death penalty within their borders.” When President Rodrigo Duterte was campaigning in 2016, he proposed THE gruesome murder of church the revival of the death penalty. In Deworker Christine Silawan is cruel, un- cember 2016 the House of Representatives approved a draft capital punishnatural, and grisly in the extreme. This is perhaps the most terrible ment bill. killing of an individual that has occurred in the Philippines, a country that has seen its share of reprehensible crimes, among them the RCA axe murder of five security guards in 1963 and It’s cruel, unnatural the still unsolved Lucila Lalu murder and grisly. and dismemberment case of 1967. Silawan’s murder is probably the first that exhibits relentless maniacal fury. Her body bore 30 stab wounds, likely inflicted in a frenzy. Most horThis prompted a rebuke from Unitrifying was the adept removal of some body parts, recalling the Jack the Rip- ed Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Ra’ad Al Hussien, who wrote per serial murders of 1888. A one million peso reward has been an open letter to both the House and put up for the capture of Silawan’s the Senate saying "International law murderer. The police say they have does not permit a State that has ratified suspects in mind. The public is eager or acceded to the Second Optional Profor a speedy solution to the case, but tocol to denounce it or withdraw from is also sharing the crime scene photos it.” He added that because there is no and making memes, a macabre activity. Focus must be on obtaining justice denunciation clause in the protocol, for Silawan and peace of mind for her this “[guarantees] the permanent nonreintroduction of the death penalty by family. Some people are calling for the States that ratified the Protocol.” In short, given these laws, how can resurrection of the death penalty, abolished during the administration of Glo- the death penalty be brought back, unria Macapagal-Arroyo, when in June less the government withdraws from 2006 she signed Republic Act No. the Second Optional Protocol and lawmakers repeal RA 9346? The latter 9346. The law’s Section 1 is clear and could be unlikely because Arroyo, who unequivocal: “The imposition of the as president was against the death penpenalty of death is hereby prohibited.” alty, is now the Speaker of the House. I conducted an informal poll and 90 “In lieu of the death penalty,” RA 9346 imposes the penalties of reclusion per- percent of my respondents were all for death for Silawan’s killers and those petua and life imprisonment. The law repealed all death-penalty who commit similar heinous crimes. related laws including RA 8177, the They were enraged. “An eye for an ‘Act Designating Death by Lethal In- eye!” “I-torture sila bago ibitay!” However, all my respondents exjection’ that was passed in 1996 during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, and pressed skepticism about how the punimplemented during the administra- ishment would be imposed. Foremost among their concerns was tion of Joseph Estrada in 1999, starting with the execution of rapist Leo selective justice. “Baka di ma-apply sa lahat,” one said. “Kung mahirap, Echegaray. In September 2006, Arroyo signed Turn to A5

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

Musicians brace for Brexit disharmony By James Pheby AS THE Brexit saga reaches a crescendo, classical musicians based in Britain fear that a disorderly divorce could threaten their European livelihood and stunt the development of potential maestros. Viola player Aliye Cornish told AFP she was particularly concerned because she is due to start a European tour in Spain on March 30—the day after Britain is scheduled to leave the EU. "At the moment we have no formal guidance on how to prepare," she said. Like many classical musicians in Britain, Cornish spends months every year working in the EU. Their concern is that bureaucratic un-

certainty will mean missing out on jobs. "I've heard stories of colleagues having offers of work retracted from ensembles in the EU 27, who are concerned there may be too many restrictions in place," she said, taking a break from a rehearsal in the historic surroundings of London's St Anne and St Agnes church. Paul Smith, co-founder of the worldrenowned Voces8 vocal ensemble, said Brexit was a central topic in discussions with promoters. "There's so much planning that goes into taking a group of musicians into Europe," he said. With a form from the tax authorities,

British musicians can currently "hop on a Eurostar or a plane" and work in the EU, said Cornish. "After March 30, we don't know if the HMRC form will be valid, we don't know if we will need passports for instruments, we don't know if we will need work permits." Risk of red tape Musicians may have to prove that their instruments do not contain endangered materials, throwing up the prospect of lengthy custom checks post-Brexit, she said. "The worry is once you leave a comTurn to A5

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Opinion Just do a rain dance THE water crisis in the Metro area, like many of our problems like traffic and poor public transport, is the result of poor planning and lack of foresight by the government. In hindsight, the problem should have been predicted and acted upon years ago but the government failed to do so. We have been talking for years about climate change, global warming, El Niño. Our burgeoning population should have taken these as signals for urgent action. But no—we always wait for the problem to be upon us before acting. Now, Congress is now conducting another hearing ostensibly to find out what caused the problem as if we do not know it already. In the Senate hearing the other day, there were attempts by water officials both public and private to shift the blame away from themselves. Yes, there were apologies but with a lot of caveats. Yesterday, President Duterte called for these officials to Malacañang to give them their marching orders to solve the problem immediately. If they fail, government officials should expect to be fired, while private companies may lose concession contracts. TV footages of people with buckets waiting for fire trucks to fill them up with water is a very depressing sight. For one, it is not good politics. But what could all the water officials really do? The water level in La Mesa Dam is critical and continues to go down. Rain is not yet upon us because of the effects of El Niño and there is probably no more water that can be drawn from the ground because there are too many wells already dug in the Metro area. Kaliwa Dam which has been delayed for so long will not come to stream for at least another two years. The prospects for an immediate solution does not seem to be promising.

How did we get into this mess? With all the causes that have been reported by the media and discussed in the two Congressional hearings, like lack of strategic planning, bureaucratic entanglements, contract delays, and the fast turnover of officials, nothing was mentioned about corruption as a possible cause which is probably lurking at back of the minds of many people. This must be looked into if the government wants to start with a clean slate so that projects can proceed expeditiously. Metro Manila’s population is increasing way beyond the national average. It will be one of the most populated urban centers in the world. Even now, it is already congested. Water therefore like traffic will always be a problem that will have to be tackled.

How did we get into this mess?

Are there some doable options in the horizon aside from Kaliwa Dam and getting more water from Angat Dam? How about Taal Lake in Batangas and Caliraya in Laguna as water sources? Years ago I remember Taal Lake being mentioned as a possible water source for the Metro area. Has this been looked into? A few days ago, Senator Vicente Sotto suggested in a TV interview that the government should start building desalination plants for the metro area which makes sense because whether we like it or not, this is where we will be heading in the future. We might as well start now. The biggest stumbling block, however, is cost. This is because the public has been brought up thinking that water is free or cheap but in this day and age, this thinking must change so that people will learn not to waste water which is not inexhaust-

ible. Many do not seem to realize that although the country is surrounded by water, the land area is actually very small. It is only about 115,000 square miles supporting a population of about 105 million and still growing very fast. Our freshwater rivers and lakes are not that large. Our longest river, the Cagayan River, is not really that long compared to other countries. Many of them are also polluted and need cleaning up. Even if our officials can come up with a minor miracle and be able to do something about the current problem, this will not be the end of it. It will be unfortunately a recurring problem. For a quick solution, maybe we should also enlist the help of shamans if there are still some among us to do a rain dance so that rain will come or perhaps just pray hard for early rains. *** Without a lot of fanfare, former President Fidel V. Ramos celebrated his 91st birthday last March 18 reaching another milestone in his long and illustrious career. We all want to live long, happy and productive lives but not all of us make it. He is therefore blessed. One thing about successful leaders is that they work until they drop. The great Winston Churchill was a well-known workaholic. He worked while in bed and when soaked in his bathtub. FVR is also a workaholic. He still goes to his office to work. Soldiering in our country is not easy. It is a hard life for most people. For one, the pay before was not something to crow about unlike now. There were times when soldiers will think of leaving the service to look for greener pastures. FVR was no exception but he persevered and soldiered on to become our President. I do not know how future historians will rank him among all our Presidents. Unfortunately in our country, we do not have scholars and historians specializing in the study of our Presidents I suspect however, that when that time will come in the future, they will rank him high up there. A very Happy Birthday.

Chasing celluloid dreams at China’s Tinseltown By Kelly Wang FED UP with the drudgery of his sales job in southern China, Lu Qi quit and traveled a thousand kilometers north to one of the country's biggest film studios with hopes of making it in movies. That dream remains a work in progress for Lu and thousands like him who eke out a precarious living as extras at Hengdian World Studios. Just as movie-goers use film to escape reality, so too do many of Hengdian's army of more than 6,000 extras. "I failed so many times [in sales] and haven't made much progress," said Lu, his head shaved bald save for a knit cap keeping it warm. "Most people here have no degrees, skills or relations. [We] can't do any business either, so we are just here to escape the reality and the competition out there," the 24-year-old added. Hengdian, in eastern China's Zhejiang province, was once a poverty-stricken town amid rugged hills. But in the mid1990s the investment firm Hengdian Group expanded into movies. It bulldozed the landscape and erected the mammoth studio complex, which now claims to be the world's largest film and TV shooting base. Sometimes dubbed the "Hollywood of the East" or simply "Chinawood," local media reported more than 70 percent of China's films and TV shows have been at least partly shot on a 330-hectare (1.3 sq mile) site. Sets range from ancient palace complexes that can accommodate casts of thousands to contemporary mansions and modern green screens. "You can complete a Beijing-Hong Kong trip in one day," Hengdian tour guide Wu Rongrong declared as she

stood before a life-sized reproduction of Beijing's Forbidden City while gesturing toward a replica of an old Hong Kong street complete with opium bars. Cast of thousands The studio has been the backdrop for Chinese blockbusters like "Hero" (2002) and has been graced by A-listers like Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing. Its growth has outrun the local supply of manpower. "At first, we recruited mostly locals as extras. Now the majority of them come from out of town," said Zhou Fenglai, a Hengdian official who deals with performer management. An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people are on hand daily to serve as extras at Hengdian. Lian Chunyu grew up on horseback on the plains of China's Inner Mongolia region, before parlaying that experience into work as a Hengdian stunt rider for eight years. Even though his face is never seen in movies, it's still a thrill to be part of it. "It would be difficult for me to get used to doing something else after this," he said. Lu, who spends a few months a year in Hengdian and the rest at home in Guangdong province, checks his WeChat group messages each morning for studio work, usually finding something daily. Lu and Lian make about 100-200 yuan per day ($15-$30), enough to cover rent and meals, while those with more acting experience can make more. Male extras get an additional 40 yuan each time they shave their heads—partly to make sure there is ample manpower for often used scenes requiring the Manchustyle shaved head and braided queue.

As well as the extra cash, Lu also likes that such a specific look rules him out of military roles. "It's very uncomfortable running around in the mountains wearing armour and being blown up," Lu said, comparing it to work as a "coolie." Herded like cattle Between scenes, Lu shoots videos of himself with props and costumes, which he uploads to social media. Many extras do live online broadcasts and performances, making additional money via digital payments from their followers, he said. One downside: being barked at and herded like cattle. "Most film crews are really terrible, cursing people and such. That's despicable. The bigger the production team, the worse they are," said Wang Xiaopin, a 47-year-old extra from central Henan province. "It doesn't matter how well you perform. In their eyes, you will always be unqualified." China's entertainment sector has blossomed in recent years as the government looks to build up the domestic industry and replace imported foreign content with homegrown fare. But many projects have been put on hold after the government last year began cracking down on alleged widespread tax evasion and exorbitant pay for big-name stars. That has made work more scarce for now, and while sources at Hengdian say some extras have left, Lu remains optimistic. "I still want to be an actor," Lu explained, adding: "I believe the future will be better than the past." AFP

Musicians...

Brexit. He believes that young British musicians will miss out through not being able to play in EU projects. "It gave me the chance to see countries I'd not been to before, to play music I didn't know, meet people I wouldn't have met otherwise and I came out of it knowing that was I wanted to do for the rest of my life." 'Bitterly divided' Smith worries that without EU-funded projects, Britain "might end up in a cultural wasteland... with no support from the top down." He estimates that around 25 percent of the members of major British orchestras come from the EU, and that audiences could suffer if the talent pool was restricted. London-based Dutch viola player Michiel Wittink, a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, which has

also moved from Britain to Italy, told AFP that the introduction of visas "would make it a different story" for continental musicians. But he also thinks that if they "really want to come," they will find a way. "London is so big, and has so many orchestras in one city, there's so much to do, there are amazing things to explore," he said. London's showpiece classical music event, the Proms, has also found itself center stage in the Brexit debate. European flags were handed out at the final night, traditionally a colorful display of British patriotism. Cornish, who took part in the initiative, said that "a lot of people really went for them." "It makes me sad to see how bitterly divided we are as a country," she added. "It's permeated into every facet of our lives." AFP

From A4

mon rule book. "If you're trying to get an orchestra from a rehearsal in London today to a concert hall in southern Spain tomorrow... you really don't want to be stuck at a border for four hours while people pore over every key of your harpsichord." Smith, a baritone singer, composer and conductor, said he too was concerned about the potential consequences. "The longer we have to spend doing this [red tape] the less opportunity we have to do the core things we want to be doing—performance and inspiring the next generation of young people to fall in love in music," he said. Cornish used to play with the European Union Baroque Orchestra, which has relocated from Britain to Belgium due to

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

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Fidel, Jessica, Vico: The future of Philippine politics cost recovery mechanisms, determination of the nationality of a corporation sole, Executive legislation and defining capital under the Constitution. At Ateneo he headed a project for the Teehankee Center THE May 13, 2019 elections are for the Rule of Law, and at Harvard being widely seen as typical of the University he was the editor of the substandard electoral exercises to International Law Journal. Jessica ‘Ikay’ Villanueva, is not which this country has become accustomed. Candidates cavorting on without politics in her DNA: she is stage, debateless campaigns, re- the great-granddaughter of pre-Comcycled and over-the-hill figures and monwealth Senator Hermenegildo assorted other second-rate person- Villanueva. Ikay Villanueva was a alities are, during this campaign sea- member of the Provincial Board of son, filling the electoral landscape, Negros Oriental, representing the as they have done over the years. First District at the time she decided To the frustrated Filipino voter there to throw her hat into the gubernatorial ring. Prior to that, Ikay Villanueseems to be no saving grace. But there is one. That saving va was a member of the staff of First District Repregrace is the sentative Josy presence in the Limkaichong list of candiand a threedates for the top There seems to be term municipal national and locouncilor. cal position— hope, after all. Young Ms. Senators, RepVi l l a n u e v a resentatives and has thrown the governors—of gauntlet at the young men and women of very high quality. Imbued re-electionist governor, who got to with a desire to make Philippine de- his present post upon the deaths, in mocracy work better and to raise the quick succession, of the then-govlevel of governance in this country, ernor and the then-vice governor. they have dared to enter the election Apart from her intelligence, industry ring and challenge the political sta- and forceful personality, Jessica Villanueva has in her favor the fact that tus quo. In the 2019 elections these intrep- her opponent is facing a graft charge id young men and women are nu- in the Office of the Ombudsman. A merous, but I have chosen to throw decision from that office before May the spotlight on three. They are Juan 13, 2019 would enormously help Fidel Nograles, who is running for Jessica Villanueva’s candidacy. The third young candidate I have Representative of the Second District of Rizal; Jessica Jane Villan- chosen to feature in this column is ueva, who is running for governor Vico Sotto of Pasig City. The son of Negros Oriental; and Vico Sotto, of show business parents—comewho is running for mayor of Pasig dian Vic Sotto and actress Coney City. These three magnificent young Reyes—this young man has a tough fight on his hands. He is running Filipinos are all in their thirties. Fidel Nograles has come to the against re-electionist mayor Bobby voters of the Second District of Rizal Eusebio, a member of a family that with excellent professional creden- has held the Pasig City mayorship tials. He was Rizal’s assistant profor the last 27 years. Vico Sotto was vincial administrator until the time a city councilor until he filed his certhat he filed for his certificate of can- tificate of candidacy. Is Vico Sotto daunted by the fact didacy. Prior to that, Fidel Nograles was an assistant secretary in the Of- that he is taking on someone surfice of the President of the Philip- named Eusebio? If he is, he does pines and a court attorney in the of- not show it. Indeed, he is quite sanfice of Supreme Court Justice Martin guine about his chances. He thinks Villarama Jr. In addition, he has been that this time around the people of a professor at a number of leading Rizal’s former capital will finally law schools and has been a legal say “Enough is enough” and elect practitioner. Fidel Nograles has a someone who is not a Eusebio. Who Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo knows—Vic Sotto’s son might just Law School and a Master of Laws be the man who will put a non-Eusebio in the Pasig City mayor’s office. degree from Harvard University. Fidel Nograles, Jessica VillanFidel Nograles has written articles on a broad range of legal sub- ueva and Vico Sotto—three young jects. These have included illegal Filipinos who, together with other searches and seizures, ASEAN’s worthy young candidates in this responsibility for the protection of coming elections, hopefully are the sovereignty over natural resources, future of Philippine politics.

ICC... From A4

I was hoping some of the opposition candidates I know would win. The Senate should be independent. We don’t need lackeys of the Executive there. *** The Philippines has withdrawn from the International Criminal Court. President Duterte could not stomach being scrutinized by the international community for his war on drugs. ICC prosecutpr Fatou Bensouda said the ICC could still proceed with preliminary investigations into the killings. The Court, he said, retains its jurisdiction over these crimes. So the problem of Duterte is that he cannot stop the ICC from assuming jurisdiction. Will Duterte really barr ICC prosecutors from coming here to investigate? Whatever the President does might be a big problem for the country.

one opposition member will win the Senate race—former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. Not even reelectionist Bam Aquino will make it. The reasons are multi-faceted. I should know. I have been a journalist for almost 70 years. The Otso Diretso team is seen as a company of neophytes because their names are alien to the voting population. Indeed, elections have become popularity contests. That is why movie stars win. Another reason is that voters associate the opposition with the lackluster performance of the Aquino administration. This was partly why a lowly mayor from Davao rose to the presidency three years ago. www.emiljurado.weebly.com

Murder... From A4

bitay agad. Kung mayaman, magbayad lang sila, okay na.” Said another, “Walang pambayad ang mahihirap sa magaling na abugado—lamang sa kanila ang may kaya.” A lawyer remarked, “The problem is the enforcement of the law because our justice system is flawed. Kaya mas mabuti nang palayain ang may sala kaysa mapatay ang inosente,” because an execution is something that cannot be reversed. The police are already carrying out their own kind of ‘death sentence’— tokhang—without the benefit of due

process. With the restoration of a death penalty law under the current social and political climate, miscarriages of justice are guaranteed to occur, with blame for a crime laid haphazardly in order to deliver results, with the poor being the obvious scapegoats. Moreover, capital punishment has not successfully deterred heinous crimes. There will always be someone wicked and evil enough to perpetrate ghastly and disturbing outrages against their fellow humans. “Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been for ages past, so it is now.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Branch CXI (111), Pasay City PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-PSY-16-22793-CV

SPS. JAMAL M. REPORS AND NORLAINE D. REPORS AND JOHN DOE, Defendants. x----------------------------------------------------x

ALIAS SUMMONS TO: SPS. JAMAL M. REPORS AND NORLAINE D. REPORS No. 169, Cordero St., 10th Ave., Kalookan City. GREETINGS: You are hereby required, within sixty (60) days after service of this Summons to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff your Answer to the Complaint, copy of which is attached, together with the annexes and a Civil Case Information Statement. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and may be granted the relief applied for in the Complaint. Moreover, pursuant to the IBP-OCA memorandum on Policy guidelines, dated Marc 12, 2002, you are expected not to file a Motion to Dismiss but instead, you are requested to allege the grounds of such Motion as defenses in your answer. Likewise, your are expected to utilize the deposition-discovery measures under Rules 23, 25, 26 & 28 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to resort to deposition by written interrogatories under Rule 25 and request for admission of facts under Rule 27 may be prejudicial to your interest. WITNESS my hand under the seal of the Court, this 29th day of November 2017.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard Standard Standard Standard REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TODAY

Manila 10. The Promissory NoteManila and Chattel Mortgage further stipulate that any legal action arising therefrom, 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 P 1,086,400.00 of the mortgaged motor vehicle to warrant its return to the defendants if its return be adjudged and for the payment to the defendants of such sums as it may recover from the plaintiff;

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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 P 1,040,627.12 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 provision 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 P1,040,627.12 plus all accruing charges under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid; Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for.

(Sgd.) Atty. EMMYLOU M. DIONISIO-SALAZAR Clerk of Court V

Makati City for Pasay City, 17 February 2016 SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & Associates In House Litigation Counsels

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Branch CXI, Pasay City

Counsel for Plaintiff PSBank 4th Floor PSBank Centre Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City Tel. No. 885-8208 local 8627

PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff,

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; 01/4/16, Quezon City IBP Lifetime No. 00747, Pasig City Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. V-0001544; 1/22/14 Q.C. FAINA E. PILAR-CHUANICO PTR No. 5321484; 1/04/16; Makati City IBP Lifetime No. 07082; Ilocos Norte Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003250/8-12-2014 NESTLE LYN M. PARDUCHO PTR No. 2147927; 01/04/16; Quezon City IBP Lifetime No. 963084; Q.C. Roll No. 58331 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0001103; 01/03/2011

-versusR-PSY 16-22793-CV For: Recovery Possession with Application for Prelminary Writ of Replevin with Alternative Prayer for Sum of Money SPS. JAMAL M. REPORS AND NORLAINED D. REPORS AND JOHN DOE, Defendants. x------------------------------x ORDER In today’s hearing on plaintiff’s 02 November 2017 Omnibus Motion to Revive and Serve Summons by Publication, Atty. Raymund Jonas C. Flores appeared. As prayed for, the case is REVIVED. Acting on the motion to serve summons by publication, and it appearing from the records that summons was not served to defendants, and the plaintiff’s manifestation that defendants’ whereabouts are unknown, the motion is GRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, plaintiff is allowed to serve summons by publication and submit proof of such service. In view thereof, let this case be included in the raffle of newspaper. Serve copy hereof to the Office of the Clerk of Court. SO ORDERED. Pasay City, 28 November 2017. (Sgd.) WILHELMINA B. JORGE-WAGAN Presiding Judge

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Branch CXI, Pasay City PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versus-

R-PSY 16-22793-CV For: Recovery Possession with Application for Preliminary Writ of Replevin with Alternative Prayer for Sum of Money

SPS. JAMAL M. REPORS AND NORLAINED D. REPORS AND JOHN DOE, Defendants. x------------------------------x COMPLAINT

NOLI A. CABRERA PTR No. 5334791, 01/18/2016; Makati Roll No. 51989; Life IBP No. 07324 MCLE No. V-0009712; 8/13/2015 RAYMUND JONAS C. FLORES PTR No. 5328826, 1/6/16, Makati City Roll No. 62391; IBP Life Member No. 011786, Makati City MCLE Compliance No. V-0006680, 3/04/15 GILBERT G. GORDOVE PTR No. 5326678; 01-5-16; Makati City IBP Lifetime No. 04783. SAMAR Roll No. 44495 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003231; 08/12/14 (Sgd.)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. IV-0016734 NICE FORO L. AVILA, JR. IBP No. 1022495, 1/26/16, Makati PTR No. 5361053, 1/28/16, Makati Roll No. 48305 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0006368, June 25, 2012 AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT OF 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 St., corner Sedeño St., Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state that: 1. I cause the preparation of the complaint read the contents thereof; and all allegations therein are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; 2. Philippine Savings Bank is the mortgagee/ assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated on APRIL 16, 2015 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE : 2015 ISUZU MU-X MOTOR NO. : 4JK1MX7719 SERIAL NO. : MPAUCR86GFT001961

Plaintiff, by counsel, respectfully alleges 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 PSBank Bldg.,2663 Taft Ave cor. Villareal St., Pasay City; 2. Defendant/s SPS. JAMAL M. REPORS AND NORLAINE D. REPORS, Filipino, of legal age, with given address at NO. 169, CORDERO ST 10TH AVE, KALOOKAN CITY where he/she 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 may be 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 ISUZU PASIG (Dealer, for brevity) a Promissory Note (ANNEX A) dated on APRIL 16, 2015 with a face amount of P 1,086,400.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P 26,853.00 beginning APRIL 27, 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 APRIL 16, 2015 over the motor vehicle described below:

3. 4.

MAKE/TYPE : 2015 ISUZU MU-X MOTOR : 4JK1MX7719 SERIAL NO. :MPAUCR86GFT001961 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 APRIL 16, 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 APRIL 16, 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 Mortgage when they failed to pay at least two monthly installments falling due on OCTOBER 1, 2015 and subsequent installments plus other stipulated charges/penalty 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 DECEMBER 2, 2015 is hereto attached as ANNEX C. The total obligation as of FEBRUARY 17, 2016 is at P 1,040,627.12 excluding penalties, legal fees and other charges, as per Statement of Account dated FEBRUARY 17, 2016 attached hereto as ANNEX D.

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with all its equipment, attachments and accessories which defendants mortgaged to secure the payment of a Promissory Note (ANNEX A, Complaint) dated APRIL 16, 2015 with a face amount of P 1,086,400.00 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P26,853.00 beginning APRIL 27, 2015 and on the 1ST of every succeeding month thereafter until fully paid; The estimated market value of the mortgaged motor vehicle is approximately P 1,086,400.00. 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 of branch office; 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; In view of defendants’ default/violation plaintiff has become entitled to the possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle which the defendant appears 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; 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; 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; 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 therof.

(Sgd.) JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 18 FEB 2016 at Makati City; affiant exhibiting to me her Passport with No. EC5913643 issued by Department of Foreign Affairs valid until November 6, 2020. (Sgd.) ATTY. ROMEO S. MASANGYA, JR. NOTARY PUBLIC FOR MAKATI CITY APPOINTMENT NO.: M-13 UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2016 UNIT 236 CITYLAND CONDO. 8, NO. 98 G. PUYAT, MAKATI CITY MCLE COMPLIANCE NO. V-0003774, SEP. 25 ‘14 IBP NO. 1016978. 12/29/15 MAKATI CITY Doc. No. 265; PTR NO. 5323618. 01/04/16 MAKATI CITY ROLL NO. 45164 Page No. 55; Book No. 08; (MStandard - Mar. 21, 2019) Series of 2016

Manila

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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 total amount due and collectible amounting to P773,008.96 inclusive of penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses under the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage from due date until fully paid;

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versusR-MND-17-00709-CV Other appropriate relief are likewise prayed for. ROGELIO G. VERGARA, JR. Makati City for Mandaluyong city, 27 January and JOHN DOE, 2017. Defendants. SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO x----------------------------------------------x

ORDER

& ASSOCIATES In House Litigation Counsels

Acting on the Ex-Parte Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication filed by the plaintiff through counsel and pursuant to Section 14 of Rule 14 of the Rules of Court, considering that defendant’s whereabouts is unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, the instant motion is GRANTED.

Counsel of Plaintiff PSBank 4th Floor PSBank Center Bldg., No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeño St., Makati City Tel. No. 885-8208 local 8627

ACCORDINGLY, let summons to the defendant be made by publication in a newspaper to be chosen by raffle to be conducted by the OCC, RTC of Mandaluyong City.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 4, 2019 (Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO-UMALI Judge Copy Furnished: SALGADO AVILA GORDOVE CHUANICO & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the plaintiff 4th Floor PSBank Center Building No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno Street, Makati City ROGELIO G. VERGARA JR. 514 Domus One Cainta Condominium Karangalan, San Andres, Cainta, Rizal RTC-OCC Mandaluyong City

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 212 PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff, -versusR-MND-17-00709-CV ROGELIO G. VERGARA, JR. and JOHN DOE, Defendants. x---------------------------------------x

SUMMONS

Pursuant to the court’s Order dated February 1, 2019 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

By: DANILO S. SALGADO PTR No. 5909242; 1-3-17; 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. 3761686; 1/3/17; Quezon City IBP Lifetime Member No. 00747; Pasig City Roll No. 40682 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0002609; 06/20/17 QC FAINA E. PILAR-CHUANICO PTR No. 5909058/1; 1/03/17; Makati City IBP Lifetime No. 07082; Ilocos Norte Roll No. 42989 MCLE Compliance No. V-0003250/8-12-2014 NESTLE LYN M. PARDUCHO PTR No. 3803618; 1/04/17; Quezon City IBP Lifetime No. 013309; Q.C. Roll No. 58331 MCLE Compliance No. V-0014217; 2/11/16 NOLI A. CABRERA PTR No. 5928944; 01/18/17; Makati Roll No. 51998; Life IBP No. 07324 MCLE No. V-0009712; 8/13/2015 RAYMUND JONAS C. FLORES PTR No. 5916190; 1/9/17; 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. 5912040; 01/5/17; Makati City IBP Lifetime Member No. 04783; SAMAR Roll No. 44495 EMILIO C. PANGILINAN PTR No. 3018445; (1/4/17); Mandaluyong City IBP Receipt No. 1056263 (1/4/17); Ortigas City Roll No. 51782 MCLE Compliance No. V-No. 0021824; 5/31/2016 NICEFORO L. AVILA IBP No. 1060239, 1/16/17, Makati PTR No. 5929062; 1/12/17, Makati Roll No. 48305 MCLE Compliance No. V-0020305, 4/11/16 Tel. No. 8858208 email: nlavila@psbank.com.ph

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., Sedeno St., Makati City with branch located at CIFRA Bldg., 641 Boni Avenue, AFFIDAVIT OF MERIT TO SUPPORT THE Mandaluyong City; APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF REPLEVIN AND 2. Defendant/s ROGELIO G. VERGARA, JR. CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING Filipino, of legal age, with given address at 514 DOMUS I, JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ, of legal age, Filipino and ONE CAINTA CONDOMINIUM, KARANGALAN, SAN ANDRES, CAINTA, RIZAL, where he/she may be with postal address at 4th Floor PSBank Centre, 777 Paseo de Roxas Street, corner Sedeño St., served with summons and other judicial processes;

Makati City, after having been sworn in accordance

3. Defendant John Doe, whose real name and with law, hereby depose and state that: address is unknown to the plaintiff, is whoever maybe in I caused the preparation of the complaint read actual possession of the motor vehicle described below the contents thereof; and allegations therein are if it is not in the custody of the defendants; 4. For value received, the defendants jointly and severally executed and delivered to NISSAN COMMONWEALTH, INC., (Dealer, for brevity) a Promissory Note (ANNEX A) dated MAY 17, 2016, with a face amount of P580,800 payable in 60 months at a monthly installment of P14,522.00 beginning JUNE 5, 2016 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;

true and correct based on my personal knowledge and authenticated record/documents under the possession of PSBank; That Plaintiff Bank is the mortgagee/assignee under a Chattel Mortgage dated MAY 17, 2016 of the motor vehicle described below: MAKE/TYPE MOTOR NO. SERIAL NO.

:2016 NISSAN ALMERA : HR15*921305D* : BDUALBGN17B58508

5. To secure the payment of the Promissory Note, the defendant also executed in favor of the Dealer, a With all its equipment, attachments and Chattel Mortgage dated MAY 17, 2016 over the motor accessories which Defendants mortgaged to vehicle described below: secure payment of a Promissory Note (Annex

“A”, Complaint) MAY 17, 2016 with a face amount of P580,800.00 payable in 60 months a monthly installment of P14,522 beginning JUNE 5, 2016 and on the 5th day of every succeeding month thereafter Together with the body built or that may be built until fully paid; MAKE/TYPE MOTOR NO. SERIAL NO.

: 2016 NISSAN ALMERA : HR15*921305D* : BDUALBGN17B58508

thereon and all the equipment, attachments and The estimated market value of the mortgaged accessories which may now or from time to time be motor vehicle is approximately P580,800.00. used with, added to or attached to the motor vehicle;

In the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgaged 6. On MAY 17, 2016, the Dealer assigned to the Plaintiff all its rights, title and interest over the stipulated among others that the default in the Promissory Note with Chattel Mortgage through a Deed payment of any installment/other stipulated charges due and/or the violation of their other terms and of Assignment (Annex A-1) dated MAY 17, 2016; 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;

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 aas mortgagee/assignee may have its principal or branch office;

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 8. Defendants violated the terms and conditions of installments;

the Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage when they In view of defendants’ default/violation plaintiff failed to pay at least two monthly installments falling due on AUGUST 15, 2016 and subsequent installments plus has become entitled to the possession of the mortgaged motor vehicle which the defendant 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 NOVEMBER 7, 2016 is hereto attached as Annex B. Total amount due and collectible as of JANUARY 27, 2017 is at P773,008.96 inclusive of penalties, interest attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses, as per Statement of Account dated JANUARY 27, 2017 attached hereto as Annex C.

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; 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;

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 10. The Promissory Note and Chattel Mortgage from the plaintiff on the action. further stipulate that any legal action arising there I further certify Plaintiff has not commenced from, may be instituted at plaintiff’s option, in the any other action or proceeding involving the same court of competent jurisdiction in Metro Manila or in issue in another tribunal or agency; that to the best any province, city or municipality where plaintiff has a of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding branch office; is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of 11. Pursuant to Sec. 2 Rule 60 of the Revised Rules Appeals, the Regional Trial Court, or any other of Court and in support of plaintiff’s application for a tribunal or agency and that if I should thereafter preliminary writ of replevin attached is plaintiff’s Affidavit learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the of Merit; Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Court of any 12. Plaintiff is willing to file a good, sufficient and other tribunal or agency. I undertake to promptly solvent bond executed to the defendants in an amount inform the Honorable Court of that fact within five double the actual market value of P580,800.00 of the (5) days from my knowledge thereof. 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:

ALTERNATE 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 total amount due and collectible amounting to P773,008.96 inclusive of penalties, interest, attorney’s fees and exclusive of accruing other charges and legal expenses 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

(Sgd.) JOAN F. TAGNIPEZ Affiant NOW THEREFORE, defendant ROGELIO G. VERGARA, JR. 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 6th day of February 2019, 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 Building, No. 777 Paseo de Roxas Avenue Cor. Sedeno Street, Makati City ROGELIO G. VERGARA, JR. 514 Domus One Cainta Condominium Karangalan, San Andres, Cainta, Rizal (MStandard - Mar. 21, 2019)

PH, Japan ink labor cooperation agreement TOKYO—Officials of the Philippine and Japanese governments have signed a landmark memorandum of cooperation laying the groundwork for a more secure recruitment and employment of skilled workers between the two countries. The MOC was signed by representatives of Japan’s Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and

the National Police Agency of Japan, and the Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Japanese Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita and Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed the documents in a ceremony which was also attended by Philippine and Japanese officials led by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V. PNA

Gov’t expert says cement imports quality inferior

HE bulk of the cement imports the Philippines is getting from Vietnam is of inferior quality compared to those produced in other areas of the world, a government expert said. In an article published on November 21, 2018 by Vietnam Economic News, Associate Professor Dinh Trong Thinh of the Vietnam’s Academy of Finance, which is part of the Ministry of Finance, conceded that exported cement from the country had a low price due to the poorer quality of some of its product. “In general, the Vietnamese cement industry’s technology remains poor compared with that in other countries in the region and the rest of the world,” he admitted. He noted that some smaller and medium-sized cement producers were using old technology, such as shaft kilns. Data from the Department of Trade and Industry indicate that from January to April 2018, cement imports from Vietnam accounted for 75 percent of total Philippine imports. Earlier, DTI slapped safeguard measures against cement importation after confirming it had adverse effects on the local cement industry.

It has forwarded the case to the Tariff Commission for a formal investigation on the possibility of instituting permanent safeguard measures. In July 2016, a consumer group had raised concerns that haphazard handling of imported cement may compromise its quality. According to reports, National Consumer Affairs Council chairman Jose Paredes Pepito warned that seawater-contaminated cement entered the local market after a ship carrying cement from Vietnam encountered a leak that caused 6,000 metric tons of cement to get wet. He said the contaminated cement is no longer in accordance with Philippine safety standards. “Having been contaminated by seawater, the physical and the chemical properties of this cement will not comply with the required standards of cement that is safe to use in construction projects,” Pepito said. He had warned the repackaged cement might be difficult to distinguish from regular cement sold in stores.

Immigration warns public vs. love scams By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday warned the public against rampant cases of online love scams. BI spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval reissued the warning following reports that an online syndicate was targeting Filipino women. Sandoval said the usual scheme would involve foreign nationals befriending—and often eventually courting—Filipinas they meet online. The foreign national would even send small gifts to the Filipina and her family to earn the victim’s trust. The supposed foreign national, in reality, is a part of a syndicate. “These scammers pretending to be foreign nationals would usually arrange a meet-up, and make it seem like they are flying in to the Philippines. Upon their supposed arrival, the victim will receive a call from someone pretending to be an Immigration officer, explaining that the foreign national is in trouble and demanding that money be sent right away,” said Sandoval. “After sending the amount, the victim loses contact with said foreigner,” she added.

Ampatuan compound raid yields explosives, ammo COTABATO CITY—Police raided on Tuesday the compound of the late Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and seized explosives and ammunition. Maguindanao police director, Col. Ronald Briones, said the Maguindanao police force and Shariff Aguak police office, armed with eight search warrants issued by a local court, swooped down on the Ampatuan compound in Barangay Satan at 7 a.m. to implement the order. Seized by the raiding team were two rifle grenade projectiles and 240 rounds of 5.56 live ammunition mainly used for M16 rifles. “Unfortunately, we missed the six principal suspects of the operation,” Briones said. A police report identified the targets as Kamsa Salik, Kuryano Usop, Babai Mama Usop, Nasri Salik, Benjar Salik, and Pangandaman Salik, whose affiliation to the Ampatuans have yet to be fully determined. Briones said the suspects were facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) and RA 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives). CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Rockets’ Harden makes history L

Curry did most of the damage in a devastating OS ANGELES—Houston Rockets star James Harden carved a piece of NBA history on Tuesday after a 31-point haul against the Atlanta Hawks made him the first player third quarter display which saw him run up 22 points, which prompted the Warriors star to perform one of to score at least 30 points against every team in the league in the same season. his trademark shimmies in celebration.

The 29-year-old reigning NBA MVP’s points milestone came in a dominant 121-105 road win over the Hawks. The win allowed the Rockets to keep up the pressure on Golden State and second-placed Denver as the Hawks slumped to their 48th defeat of the season. Harden had 10 assists and eight rebounds to go with his points tally as the Rockets starters assumed total control. Clint Capela added 26 points while Chris Paul had 13 points and 11 assists. Danuel House Jr. added a further 19 points from the bench for Houston. Atlanta’s scoring was led by Trae Young with 21 points, 12 assists and four rebounds. Houston’s win keeps them in third spot in the West, with 45 wins and 26 defeats.

The Warriors meanwhile bounced back from their loss to San Antonio on Monday with an emphatic 117107 blowout of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The reigning NBA champions were always on the attack against the Timberwolves, who fell to 32-39 after the defeat in Minneapolis. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson carried the offensive burden for the Warriors, with Curry draining 36 points and Thompson 28. Kevin Durant had 17 points while Swedish veteran Jonas Jerebko put up 18 points from 18 minutes on the court. Draymond Green anchored the Warriors defence, making four blocks while contributing 19 rebounds and nine assists.

“When you’re having fun, you can get it going, especially at the end of a quarter,” Curry said later. Curry’s performance drew effusive praise from coach Steve Kerr. “He loves to put on a show with his skill and his personality a little bit,” Kerr said. “It’s a pleasure to watch that every single night because it’s a long season.” The Warriors continue to lead the Western Conference from Denver with 48 wins and 22 losses. The performance of the night came in Sacramento, where the Kings blew a 28-point lead as the Brooklyn Nets came back to win 123-121. The architect of the comeback was Nets guard D’Angelo Russell, who delivered a 44-point display to fire the Nets. AFP

NBTC CAGEFEST. Jalen Green plays for the FilAm Sports USA during the NBTC Nationals Seeding Round at the Mall of Asia Arena recently. Presented by SM, the NBTC National Finals will have various international and local teams playing against each other from March 18 to 24. Well-known junior basketball players like Green and Jeron Artest, the son of former NBA star Metta World Peace, will play for their respective teams during the tournament. For more details and game updates, follow @mallofasiaarena on FB, Twitter, or Instagram.

New F1 GP can tap into Vietnam’s racing passion HANOI, Vietnam—Formula One chief Jean Todt on Wednesday hailed next year’s inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix in Hanoi as a great opportunity to open doors for people with “a passion” for motorsport in Southeast Asia. The communist Vietnamese capital will get its first taste of the high-octane glitz and glamor of Formula One when it hosts its first grand prix from April next year as the sport bids to tap into new markets in the region. Todt said he hoped Vietnamese fans seeing the likes of five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel battling wheel-to-wheel on the streets of Hanoi would lead to an explosion of in interest in racing of all kinds in football-mad Vietnam. “It’s... fantastic for the development of the motorsport in Vietnam and in the region,” Todt, who president of motorsport’s world governing body the FIA, told reporters Wednesday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new street circuit in Hanoi. “I really hope that soon here will also be facilities to host cart racing, drifting racing,” he added. Todt hopes the event will breed a new generation of Vietnamese drivers. “You have young people, talented with a passion for motorsports, that’s why I think it’s very important to involve very quickly a new category of motorsport,” he said. The 5.6 kilometre (3.5 mile) street track will incorporate existing and yetto-be-built roads in the My Dinh area of Hanoi near the national sports stadium, about 13 kilometers from the city center. Organizers said they decided against holding the race in Hanoi’s historical Old Quarter because of logistical challenges and steep costs. AFP

UAAP’s Streetdance tilt on S+A

GOLD AGAIN. The Philippines Noel Celwyn Cartera raises the no. 1 sign after winning the gold in the 50m backstroke of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai. Inset shows Cartera showing off his gold medal. Other gold medalists for the Philippines were Janice Trinidad in the 100 meters, Sheila Galvez in bocce and Alvie Dungca in gymnastics. Dennis B. Mallari

Sta. Lucia tries to end series of misfortunes in Superliga

STA. Lucia hopes to end its string of misfortune when it battles PLDT in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Action is set at 7 p.m. with the Lady Realtors looking to get out of the basement as the elimination round of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Asics, Mueller, Mikasa, Senoh, Team Rebel Sports, Bizooku, UCPB Gen, Cocolife, Hotel Sogo and Data Project enters its crucial stretch. Meanwhile, struggling Foton collides with Cignal at 4:15 p.m. while United VC hopes to extend its winning run when it tangles with hungry GenerikaAyala in the 2 p.m. appetizer of this tourney that also has ESPN5 and 5Plus as broadcast partners. Petron, which clobbered PLDT late

Tuesday, remains on top of the team hard in our next five matches,” said Sta. Lustandings with 10 straight wins while cia coach Babes Castillo, adding that import its bitter rival in F2 Logistics is sitting Casey Schoenlein remains as their primary at the second spot with an 8-2 win-loss option on offense while local players Jhocard to secure a anna Maraguinot, twice-to-beat adPam Lastimosa vantage in the and middle blocker Games Today (FilOil Flying V Centre) quarterfinal round. Molly Lohman are 2:00 p.m. -- United VC vs Generika-Ayala That makes this all tipped to step up. 4:15 p.m. -- Foton vs Cignal 7:00 p.m. -- Sta. Lucia vs PLDT playdate very inAll eyes, howevteresting as the rest er, will be on United of the pack are in VC. dire need of a victory to improve their The squad is coming from a moralechances for the two remaining quarter- boosting win over Cignal and a victory final bonuses. over the surging Lifesavers will solidify Sta. Lucia is coming off a loss to F2 Lo- its hold of the third spot. gistics and a victory would put them in a “We’ll definitely prepare for Generiperfect position to avoid either powerhouse ka-Ayala,” said head coach Joshua YlaPetron or F2 Logistics in the next round. ya, adding that the Lifesavers remain “We have to step up and work doubly a dangerous side after winning two of

De Guzman leads LAA golf winners MAR de Guzman emerged with overall lowest gross score of 72 to lead the other winners in the recent Letran Alumni Association golf tournament held at Forest Hills in Antipolo that attracted close to 70 participants and guest, “We are happy with the turnout of entries as this shows the strong support of our alumni for our programs aimed at raising funds to support our future athletes or to help those graduates who have fallen into hard times,” said Alex Wang, Chairman of the LAA Sports Committee, which in the past has been holding basketball tournaments and clinics as part of the group’s developmental programs. Other winners in the golf tournament that had LAA President Ali Cruz as Tournament

Director were George Cabarrus in Class A, with Bobot Marquez and Allan Rubrica as runners-up; Class B champion Wayne Tee Ten, with Buds Nero and Leslie Agoncillo taking 2nd and 3rd places, respectively; and Group C ruled by former basketball player Alvin Magpantay, followed by Molet Abogado and Marian Herrera. “The LAA will continue doing its role as a partner of the school. We have lined up more activities for our alumni this year,” added Cruz. George Cabarrus topped the Class A Division at the recent Letran Alumni Association Arriba Cup Golf tournament held at the Forest Hills recently. Photo shows Cabarrus getting his prize from LAA Board Director Winston Chan, assisted by a Tanduay promo representative.

their last three matches. “This is a very hungry team. They had some good games and they just got out of the slump. We have to give our best because winning over them takes a lot.” Ylaya said he would bank on star spiker Kalei Mau as well as FilipinoAmerican setter Alohi Hardy-Robins, Amy Ahomiro, Tai Manu Olevao and Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani, who was impressive in their four-set victory over the HD Spikers. “We have to limit our errors,” said Ylaya, who raised serious concern over the improved performance of Thai Kanjana Kuthaisong and Azerbaijani Kseniya Kocyigit. “Their imports are now blending well with their locals. We have to stop them if we want to win this match.”

THE UAAP Season 81 Streetdance Competition is bringing the beats and the moves of eight of the country’s top universities on ABS-CBN S+A and iWant Sports, LIVE at 2 pm from the Araneta Coliseum, with defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) leading the field. The Tamaraws’ Dance Company Street Alliance will be in for a tough fight in the Seniors Division against DLSU’s La Salle Dance Company – Street and the UP Streetdance, which placed first and second runner-up, respectively last year. Other schools throwing their gauntlet in the completion are Adamson Cast (Adamson); NU Underdawgz (NU); Company of Ateneo Dancers (ADMU); UST Prime (UST); and the UE Street Warriors (UE). The competition, to be hosted by “Upfront” hosts Janeena Chan and Martin Javier, will also feature the debut of the first UAAP-JBL Freestyle Showdown, where each school’s chosen representative engages in a dance showdown with the rest of the field. Meanwhile, in the Juniors division, which began in 2018, UST Galvanize will be defending their throne against fellow high school dance squads FEU Baby Tamaraws Dance Company and UE Street Varsity team, which landed in the first and second runner-up places in the high school ranks. The other contending teams are Adamson Cauldron Dance Company (AdU); NUNazareth School Underdawgz (NU); Zobel Dance Company (DLSZ); and UPIS BLK (UPIS). Don’t miss the beats, the music, and the groove of the students of the UAAP as the UAAP Season 81 Streetdance Competition beams LIVE on S+A, S+A HD, LIGA, LIGA HD, and via livestream on iWant Sports and ABS-CBN Sports’ website starting at 2 pm from the Araneta Coliseum.

Balayan Tigers, Warriors win Milcu crowns

THE Balayan Tigers and Warriors posted contrasting victories to emerge as champions of the Milcu Sports Basketball presented by Got Skills Hard to Guard at the Trinity University of Asia Gym in Quezon City. Bhoris Marasigan delivered 25 points and 21 rebounds to lead Balayan past Hotshots, 76-55, to claim the Got Game 15-under crown of the tournament sponsored by Milcu and Basketball TV. JM Javier scored 24 points and Prince Velasco added 15 for the Tigers. Russel Bayani posted 21 points and 15 rebounds and Warriors pulled away in the fourth to beat MBC, 68-58, for the Got Game 13-under title. Thirdy Malaga was also key in the Warriors’ triumph with 17 points and 19 rebounds, while Ryan Trapane also posted a double-double by producing 13 points and 10 boards.

Sports

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

Alaska Aces guard Chris Banchero tries to dribble past Meralco Bolts defenders Baser Amer and Chris Newsome while Alaska teammate Sonny Thoss looks on. PBA Media

Barefoot de Lima dominates 1500 run

By Peter Atencio

ILAGAN, Isabela—Lheslie de Lima took off her shoes, ran barefoot again and got into a comfortable pace to conquer the 1500-meter girls run in the start of the athletics meet of the Luzon Leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy competitions here. Unable to finds shoes that’s cozy enough for her feet, the 14-year-old de Lima gave Camarines Sur its first gold after she outpaced her rivals in four minute, 51.5 seconds at the new Ilagan Sports Complex oval. “Sinabi ko sa kanya na kung kaya niyang mauna sa kalaban, mauna na siya. Barefoot kasi siya. Baka maapakan siya. Gusto niyang magpaa. Duon siya kumportable,” said de Lima’s coach Mennen Sta. Cruz. De Lima, an eighth grader at Baao National High School, made a splash last year in a memorable fashion when she won gold medals in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa while running on her bare feet in the elementary girls 1500-meter and 3000-meter events. And now, she intends to make an impression in the secondary level this time around. “Malapit po sa best time ko iyung oras,” stated de Lima, who is nine seconds off her previous best. As de Lima made her presence felt, newcomer Mark Bryan Dula of Paranaque City joined Cainta bet Aubrey Tom in collecting four medals in swimming over at the old Ilagan Sports Complex. Dula, who studies at Masville Elementary School, already snared the gold medal in the 12-under boys 50-meter backstroke the other day, and added three more after he easily topped the 100-meter butterfly, the 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter backstroke. “He adjusts on his speed whenever his rivals come close,” said Dula’s dad and coach Marvin.

Alaska Aces post 92-77 rout of Bolts By Jeric Lopez

IGHTING with desperation, Alaska was ﬁnally able to shake off the cobwebs and rout Meralco, 92-77, to snap its three-game slump and pump life in its campaign in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night. Alaska’s potent backcourt and wings came to work and took care of business as the Aces faced a must-win situation. Jeron Teng led the way for Alaska, tallying a team-high 16 points with seven rebounds while Simon Enciso tallied 14 and Chris Banchero had a doubledouble, registering 13 points and 11 rebounds across his name. Sonny Thoss almost had the same

feat, scoring 13 markers as well on top of eight rebounds even as Jvee Casio added 12 more points. It was a huge victory for the Aces as they improved to 4-5 to earn a sixth place tie with NLEX. With two games left, they now have a fair chance to stay in the top eight and earn a berth in the quarterfinals. As for the Bolts, this second straight setback was costly. They fell to 3-7, still in

10th place, and their fate is no longer in their hands anymore, having a very slim chance of making it in the top eight. The Aces started gaining some ground after a 17-8 run to end the first half, taking a 45-38 advantage in the process at the turn. With momentum on their side, they resumed their surge in the third, manufacturing a 15-2 blitz to stretch their lead to double-digits, 58-43, after a Noy Baclao lay-up at the 5:42 mark of the quarter. From there, the Aces showed no letdown as they closed out with a bang in the fourth, posting a huge lead in the final tally. Nico Salva led the heartbroken Bolts with a game-high 23 points. In another equally important tiff, Magnolia (3-5) and NorthPort (3-5) are fighting for their lives as well against each other, as of this report.

Wilder defends WBC heavyweight crown NEW YORK, United States – Deontay Wilder will defend his WBC heavyweight crown against Dominic Breazeale in May following the collapse of his proposed rematch with Tyson Fury, it was confirmed on Tuesday. Unbeaten heavyweight champion Wilder will face Breazeale on May 18 at New York’s Barclays Center after being ordered to make the defense by the WBC earlier this month. “I’m very happy that I get a chance to get a mandatory out of the way, because I consider mandatories like flies buzzing around my head,” Wilder told a press conference in New York on Tuesday. “They bother me. I’m busy. I have things that I want to do. I want to get him out of the way. I’m about to smash this fly. This is a personal fight for me. As the universe works this is the perfect time.” Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) will be

Deontay Wilder watches the IBF World Welterweight Championship bout between Errol Spence Jr and Mikey Garcia at AT&T Stadium last weekend in Arlington, Texas. AFP

making his ninth title defense against Breazeale, who has 20 victories and one defeat, including 18 knockouts. The hard-hitting 33-year-old Wilder will start as a heavy favourite to defend his title against Breazeale, who vowed to deliver an explosive challenge to the champion. “I want that WBC title. What I bring to the fight is excitement and consistent action,” Breazeale said. “I’m going to bring the action all night. I’m not scared to stick my nose out there and look for the big shot. I know the big shot is coming as long as I set it up the right way.” Wilder had been in negotiations for a rematch with Britain’s Fury after the two men fought an epic draw in Los Angeles last December which reignited interest in the heavyweight division. Hopes of a swift rematch however were left in tatters when Fury signed a multi-fight deal with the ESPN network last month. AFP

Lee chases second world championship UNBEATEN ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee moves up in weight in a quest to become the first ever female two-division mixed martial arts World Champion when she battles Chinese powerhouse Xiong Jing Nan, ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion at ONE: A New Era. ONE Championship in Tokyo Japan on March 31. Lee seeks to rewrite ONE Championship history as the co-main event of the stacked card. At the top of the card, ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang will defend his belt in a rematch with Japanese martial arts icon Shinya Aoki. Two-division ONE World Champion Aung La N Sang will defend his middleONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee (left) grapples with Jenny Huang weight strap against Japanese contender at the center of the cage during their MMA bout won by Lee. ONE Championship Ken Hasegawa in an epic rematch of their

2018 Bout of the Year, this time on the challenger’s home turf. Lastly, ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon faces Bibiano Fernandes for the third time to decide once and for all who the best bantamweight on the planet really is. The card will also see the highly-anticipated debuts of mixed martial arts megastars Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson, who are competing in ONE’s Lightweight and Flyweight Grand Prix tournaments, respectively. Capping off the stacked main card is a showdown between two kickboxing legends in Andy Souwer and Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex. March 31 promises to be the best showcase of world-class martial arts action Tokyo has ever seen in the modern era.

New-look IronKids displayed in Davao IRONKIDS, long regarded as the local junior version of the IRONMAN, will now be a swim-run event instead of triathlon, ensuring a wide-open battle for supremacy among the future of the sport when it is held Saturday, March 23 at Azuela Cove in Davao City. Dubbed as the Alaska Fortified IronKids Swim-Run race, the event will still feature the sport’s regular campaigners in the 6-to-14 years old bracket plus a slew of new faces eager to steal the spotlight from the fancied bets in the event firing off at 5 a.m. While the IronGirl on Friday, March 22 is a virtual fun run, keen competition is seen in IronKids, staged to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids and at the same time serves as venue for family bonding. It is also held to help kids develop the values of discipline, hard work, integrity and determination through a series of races. The twin events serve as fitting appetizers to the second IRONMAN 70.3 Davao, headlined by back-toback title seeking Mauricio Mendez and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt along with Aussies Tim Reed, Sam Betten, Tim Van Berkel, David Mainwaring, Matt Lewis and Fraser Walsh. Meanwhile, out to foil Kahlefeldt’s repeat bid in the premier 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run event are regular Philippine campaigners Caroline Steffen of Switzerland, Guam’s Manami Iijima and Kirra Seidel and Lisa Tyack of Australia. Over 2,200 triathletes have confirmed participation in the event organized and conducted by Sunrise Events, Inc., which features individual and relay competitions with bets coming from the United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Ukraine, India, Malaysia, Qatar, the US, Belgium, Spain, Italy, New Caledonia, Singapore, South Africa, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, Korean, Norway, Thailand, Switzerland, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Guam, Mexico, Panama and Taiwan.

Tokyo unveils ‘cherry blossom’ Olympic torch TOKYO, Japan—Organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Wednesday unveiled a cherry-blossom shaped torch for the Games as the city prepares for the famed flower season to begin in coming days. The top part of the torch is shaped in the traditional emblem of the sakura, or cherry blossom using the same cutting-edge technology as in production of Japan’s bullet trains, the organizers said. The shiny rose-gold torch, which is 71 centimetres (28 inches) long and weighs 1.2 kilograms (2 pounds 10 ounces), uses aluminium construction waste from temporary housing built for victims of the 2011 quake and tsunami. “Cherry blossoms drawn by kids in the disaster-hit area (in Fukushima)... inspired me,” designer Tokujin Yoshioka, whose works are known internationally, told reporters. Fukushima was chosen as the starting point for the Olympic torch relay. The passing of the flame is scheduled to start on March 26, 2020, and the torch will head south to the sub-tropical island of Okinawa—the starting point for the 1964 Tokyo Games relay—before returning north and arriving in the Japanese capital on July 10. AFP

Ateneo, DLSU forge title duel ATENEO forged a UAAP Season 81 baseball Finals duel with De La Salle following a 11-10 victory over University of Santo Tomas Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Rodrigo Bitong and Kiko Andaya delivered the goods in the final two innings to erase the Growling Tigers’ 10-8 lead and complete the Blue Eagles’ come-from-behind win. After missing the bus last year, Ateneo is back in the championship The last time the two fiercest rivals met for the crown was in 2016, where the Green Batters ended a 13-year title drought via a 2-0 Finals sweep of the Eagles. De La Salle became the elimination round topnotcher at 8-2 and completed a sweep of the second round with a 21-9 dismantling of University of the Philippines. Ateneo finished second with a 7-3 card.

IN BRIEF

Business

Clark is top electronics exporter in C. Luzon

THE Trade Department recognized Clark Freeport Zone as the top exporter in Central Luzon. A report by the Trade Department showed that the presence of the electronics manufacturing corporations inside the freeport contributed to making the electronics industry the top performing export industry in the region. Trade regional director Judith Angeles said electronic ﬁrms in Clark boosted Pampanga’s total exports. Pampanga generated export receipts of $4.9 billion or 60 percent of the total export volume of Central Luzon. “Pampanga remained the top source of exports for Central Luzon due to the presence of electronics manufacturing companies in the Clark Freeport Zone,” Angeles said. Among the top exporters in Clark are SFA Semiconductor Philippines, L&T International Group Philippines, Texas Instruments, Nanox Philippines, Yokohama Tire and Philippines Inc., SMK Industries Inc. and HLD Clark Steel Pipe Co. Inc. Othel V. Campos

Thrift banks set to expand markets

THE Chamber of Thrift Banks will highlight its strong support for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ thrust to build a more inclusive financial system on March 29 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. Themed “Expanding to New Markets,” the gathering aims to define the plan of action and initiate the next steps needed to reach out to more unbanked Filipinos. Financial technology company FintQnologies Corp. is this year’s CTB convention partner. “Thrift banks’ closer role to the communities they serve puts them at a crucial position that can contribute significantly to broadening access to financial services,” said Cecilio San Pedro, president of CTB and Sterling Bank. “We hope to align our direction with the government’s agenda to decentralize economic activity and increase infrastructure development which is targeted to boost economic growth through financial inclusion and digitalization,” he said. Establishing more “branch-lite” units or basic bank branches deployed outside business districts and strengthening of the digital finance ecosystem are some of the reforms of the BSP that aim to provide more Filipinos with the tools that they need to make sound financial decisions. “Expanding to new markets will open more avenues for the public to use formal channels for money transfers, payments, and savings, particularly for the underserved communities and the micro, small and medium enterprises,” said San Pedro.

BSP auction of term deposits oversubscribed By Julito G. Rada THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it sold P50 billion worth of term deposits under its interest rate corridor system Wednesday amid strong demand from investors. It said the auction was oversubscribed by more than P15 billion amid the good appetite for seven-day, 14day and 28-day instruments. Data showed that total tenders reached P65.54 billion, higher than the weekly volume of P50 billion. The seven-day P20-billion deposits lured bids of P27.25 billion while there were P22.19 billion tenders for the P20-billion 14-day term deposits. The 28-day instruments worth P10 billion fetched total bids of P16.1 billion. The bids and awards committee made a full award for each instrument. Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said earlier the oversubscription across all tenors since the end of the holiday season showed that domestic liquidity remained ample. “Liquidity obviously derived from sustained reﬂow to the banks after the long holiday season and the sustained disbursement by the national government including its infra executing departments,” Guinigundo said. Guinigundo, however, downplayed the idea of adding another tenor in the weekly auction. “Not in the near future,” he said. “There should be clear bucketing between NG and TDF issuances.” “We don’t want the TDF to compete with the national government’s shortest tenor of 91 days,” Guinigundo said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

Megaworld hikes Cavite township capex to P15b By Jenniffer B. Austria

Small retailers on the cloud rise

THE number of small retailers adopting cloud technology has greatly increased over the past few years, according to ePLDT Inc. “For a small retailer, moving to the cloud is already a given. Not only does it improve back end operations, but it also greatly helps in expanding their presence and engaging their target audience. And all of this is possible in a quicker and much more efficient manner,” ePLDT senior vice president and chief operating officer Nerisse Ramos said. A worldwide study by MarketsandMarkets Research showed the global retail cloud market was expected to reach $28.53 billion by 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 20.9 percent. Small and medium enterprises compose the bulk of cloud adopters. In terms of location, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the highest growth. Ramos said the cloud’s ability to accelerate the pace of innovation is one of the most important benefits to small retailers. “Online retailers can also gain from the cloud’s on-demand availability feature which provides instant agility and faster deployment. Through cloud, a business can easily scale up and add infrastructure in just a few minutes,” said Dave Simon, ePLDT’s chief technology officer and head of cloud and data center business operations. Darwin G. Amojelar

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

7-ELEVEN EXPANDS IN CAGAYAN. Convenience store chain 7-Eleven opens four outlets in Cagayan Valley as a part of its three-year expansion program in Region 2. The new outlets are located along College Ave. corner Caritan Highway, Cagay National Highway and at the Valley Hotel on Balzain Road in Centro 11 in Tuguegarao and another outlet in Poblacion Solana. Attending the store opening are (from left) Tuguegarao councilor Jude Bayon, franchisees Leah Pasco, Vito Loyon Jr., Sarah Loyon Madarang, Milagros Loyon, Randy Pasco with son Amet Pasco, 7-Eleven North Luzon business unit manager Reyna Saycon, operations director Liwayway Fernandez and business development division head Ulysses Borral.

Energy clears 1,000-MW wind, solar plants in Rizal T By Alena Mae S. Flores

HE Energy Department approved the conduct of a grid impact study for two large wind projects with a combined capacity of 703 megawatts and a 300-MW solar facility in Rizal.

The three projects, once completed, will augment the power supply in the Luzon grid. The study will determine the impact of the power plants on the Luzon grid. Rizal Wind Energy Corp. received the agency’s approval for a grid impact study involving its 603-MW wind project in the towns of Antipolo and Tanay. The agency also approved the application of Alternergy Abra de Ilog Wind Corp. for the 100-MW Tanay Wind

Project in Antipolo and Tanay, Rizal. Both projects are expected to be bigger than the existing 54-MW Pililla Wind Farm in Pililla, Rizal. Meanwhile, the department also allowed Pangasinan UPC Asia Corp. to proceed with the grid impact study of its-300 MW Lagina de Bay 2 solar power project in Laguna de Bay and Pililia, Rizal. A 151.2-MW wind farm is also being constructed in Talim Island in Binangonan and Cardona, Rizal. Outside Rizal province, the department approved the grid impact study for GT Energy Corp.’s 18-MW bunker-ﬁred power plant in Calbayog, Samar and the 5-MW energy storage project of Monte Solar Energy Inc. in Bais, Negros Oriental. The agency also allowed the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s 69-kilovolt sub-transmission lines in Concepcion, Tarlac to conduct a grid impact study. It approved the grid impact study for the said projects in February. The agency continues to woo the pri-

vate sector to invest in the power industry to secure the country’s future power requirements. It recently assured a stable power supply during the dry months until June even as output from the hydro plants were expected to be lower amid the El Niño dry spell. Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said preparations were ongoing to ensure that the supply would be adequate during the dry months. “We want to make sure there is no impact of El Niño on the power supply,” Fuentebella said. Fuentebella said the department would also make sure that the maintenance schedule of power plants would be synchronized with the grid and there would be no forced outage of power plants. Fuentebella, however, asked consumers to implement demand side management and energy efﬁciency campaign measures. “We are also making preparations for any unforeseen incidents like an un-

Govt taps WB instead of China to fund hydropower plant THE government is now tapping multilateral funding institutions led by the World Bank, instead of China, to support the construction of the 982-megawatt Agus-Pulangi hydro powerplant in Mindanao, according to the National Power Corp. Napocor president Pio Benavidez said the government was looking at funding from the World Bank and development partners France, Australia and Japan. “So it will be a multilateral loan. It’s no longer China,” Benavidez said. “The World Bank would be joining other funding institutions covering multilateral funding. The role of the World Bank is to do a feasibility study on what are the options for Agus,” he said. He said the government was look-

ing at the options for the Agus-Pulangi hydro plant rehabilitation such as attaining the rated generation capacity, increasing the generation capacity by 10 percent and improving the water efﬁciency. He said Napocor, the National Economic Development Authority and the Finance Department would study the best rehabilitation option for Agus-Pulangi power plants which were running at 40 percent of their rated capacity. The Finance Department proposed the rehabilitation of the hydro plants before their privatization to increase the value of the facility. “Once the rehab is completed, then it will be privatized. The value of the plant will go up. As of now, if you don’t rehabilitate, the value of the plant is low,” Benavidez said.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government made significant progress in the implementation of infrastructure projects financed by official development assistance from China. Dominguez in a courtesy visit to China Vice President Wang Qishan updated him on the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure projects, some of which are being implemented with funding support from China. in a courtesy visit to Wang this week. China-funded projects include two bridges that will help ease traffic in Metro Manila―the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges which are being funded by a 397 million renminbi ($63.13 million) grant from China. Alena Mae S. Flores

PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said Wednesday it is increasing to P15 billion the 10-year capital spending for the 140-hectare Maple Grove township in General Trias, Cavite. Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said in a press briefing the company was set to start the land development and construction of its first Megaworld Lifestyle Mall in Cavite this year. “We are fast-tracking the developments in Maple Grove as we see a growing demand from both residential and office market in this area,” Tan said. Under the plan, Megaworld will build a two-level mall with 24,000 square meters of gross floor area. “We will complete the construction of the mall within two years alongside the land development, as we expect the Maple Grove community to grow fast in the next five years,” Tan said. Tan said the company nearly sold out the 363 commercial lots with a total sales value of P9 billion. Megaworld vice president for sales and marketing Rachelle Peñaflorida said the commercial lot buyers of the Maple Grove Commercial District were interested in putting up hotels, office buildings, schools and hospitals. He said that because of the strong demand for commercial lots, Megaworld was planning to sell more commercial lots in the next phase of the project. The completion of the Maple Grove Commercial District is expected in 2022. Lot owners are expected to construct their buildings within five years from the turnover date. Dubbed as the ‘Green City of the South’, Maple Grove boasts of several sustainability features that include a two-hectare tree park designed to accommodate the township’s rainwater runoff, a landscape drip irrigation system, bike lanes, central material recovery facility, pocket gardens and tree parks and vertical gardens in various buildings around the township. “The whole idea of Maple Grove is to make it walkable and environmentally sustainable. This will so far be our greenest township,” said Tan. The company launched its first residential development, the 10-storey The Verdin, and its first office tower, the 17-story One Corporate Place, in Maple Grove last year. “General Trias is a key growth city in Cavite. We look forward to building its own ‘green’ CBD and this is happening in the next five to seven years,” Tan said. The Maple Grove township is only 30 to 45 minutes away from Makati via Coastal Road and Cavitex.

PAL suspends launch of New Delhi flight By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines said it is temporarily suspending the launch of the Manila-New Delhi service amid the tension in the region. “We are constrained to take this step as news of India-Pakistan border tensions has prompted many travelers to cancel bookings and defer their travel plans,” PAL said. The airline announced earlier it would start four times weekly nonstop flights between Manila and New Delhi next month, using brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft. “We seek the understanding of our passengers who have already booked flights or purchased tickets on the Delhi service,” the airline said. PAL said ticket holders of flights between Manila and New Delhi could reroute their tickets to any regional destination within 30 days from their original ticket or refund the cost of their tickets.

“Philippine Airlines apologizes to all affected passengers. We assure the traveling public that we will make the appropriate announcement once a new start date is finalized,” the airline said. PAL earlier said its return to the Indian market would boost the tourism industries of both the Philippines and India. The airline previously operated the Manila-Delhi route from 2011 to 2013, with most flights making costly stopovers in Bangkok because of the limited range of the Airbus A320 aircraft which was then in use. PAL announced in January that it was expanding operations in Asia by launching new routes to Hanoi (Vietnam) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) from its Manila hub. The latest expansion by PAL creates the first direct air link between the Philippines and the capital of Cambodia, expands PAL’s existing Vietnam network and re-establishes a historic link to India with immense potential for tourism development.

BANK SECURITY. Executives of US technology company Unisys hold a roundtable discussion at Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City to discuss the importance of security in banking and financial services. Leading the discussion are (from left) Ian Selbie, industry director for financial services at Unisys Asia-Pacific; Rick Mayhew, vice-president and general manager; and Shirley Harrod, director of client management. Norman Cruz

Business

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; Security Bank rises

HE stock market rose slightly Wednesday in listless trading with nervous investors keeping tabs on developments in China-US trade talks and the Brexit saga.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 14.79 points, 0.2 percent, to 7,858.20 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Gainers beat losers, 102 to 78, with 68 issues unchanged. Security Bank Corp., the sixth-biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 4.1 percent to P172.70, while speculative issue Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp. advanced 7.4 percent to P1.16. Filinvest Development Corp. of the Gotianun Group gained 4.6 percent to P16.10, while LT Group Inc. of tobacco and airline tycoon Lucio Tan rose 3.2 percent to 16.52. The rest of Asian markets mostly

fell Wednesday while awaiting the conclusion of a key Federal Reserve meeting. General optimism about the outlook for the tariffs negotiations has helped propel equities higher across the world this year—offsetting concerns about the outlook for the global economy—with both Washington and Beijing sounding broadly positive. But dealers have been spooked by a report that some US ofﬁcials are feeling some pushback from China on a number of demands, including on the crucial issue of intellectual property. The unnamed negotiators said the Chinese side was growing concerned at the lack of assurances that US duties would be removed, according to the Bloomberg story. While the report also said the resistance was regarded by some as a normal part of talks, it highlighted their fragile nature, with fears already raised earlier

this month by the delay of a flagged signing summit between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will return to Beijing next week to resume talks. Hong Kong dropped 0.2 percent in the afternoon after a four-day rally, while Shanghai closed marginally down. Sydney fell 0.3 percent, Singapore was off 0.4 percent and Seoul flat. However, Tokyo recovered from an early sell-off to end 0.2 percent higher, while Taipei and Jakarta also rose. Adding to unease on trading floors is continued uncertainty surrounding Britain’s drawn-out departure from the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to ask the bloc for an extension of the March 29 deadline for leaving,

having seen her exit proposals killed off by MPs. However, EU top negotiator Michel Barnier said any delay would have “political and economic costs” for the bloc’s remaining 27 states. “A long extension... should be linked to something new, a new element or new political process,” he told reporters, while reports said May could be considering another general election or even a second referendum. Observers expect the exit date to be put back but there is a concern that it could be rejected, leaving Britain to crash out of the EU without a deal, which many warn could be devastating for the economy. The Fed’s March policy meeting concludes later in the day, with analysts predicting it will announce a slower pace of interest rate hikes--to one from the two previously tipped--as the economy shows signs of softening. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

58.1 86.9 2.3 131 1.34 27.7 19.02 12.48 4.26 1.42 815 0.455 82 0.98 13.86 21.5 59.95 184.2 58.45 26.45 165 1,820 61.2 1.15

58.1 88.45 2.31 132.5 1.34 27.7 19.16 12.52 4.47 1.48 815 0.455 82.05 0.98 13.86 22.9 60.1 184.2 58.95 26.75 173 1,820 62.3 1.16

58.1 86.9 2.3 131 1.34 27 19.02 12.4 4.16 1.42 800 0.45 79.55 0.96 13.86 21.5 59.2 184 58.45 26.45 165 1,820 60.6 1.15

FINANCIALS 58.1 50 87.9 1,447,040 2.31 8,000 132 2,693,370 1.34 20,000 27.4 127,500 19.16 110,500 12.44 263,000 4.28 94,000 1.48 7,000 800 240 0.45 70,000 79.55 3,376,250 0.96 13,000 13.86 27,400 22.9 2,200 59.45 366,110 184 290 58.95 1,300 26.45 262,300 172.7 1,081,400 1,820 510 62.2 14,480 1.16 109,000

2,905 127,501,855 18,420 355,610,812 26,800 3,477,510 2,107,818 3,276,870 396,120 10,060 193,500 31,550 270,819,291 12,700 379,764 47,580 21,803,314 53,378 76,511 6,959,860 184,786,096 928,200 892,588 126,390

-38,232,248.50 -112,803,798 -383,025 -707,298 32,000 -75,663,031 -44,352 -43,000 8,573,615.50 -1,268,545 -48,131,153 -412,504 -

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

34.5 14.38 1.04 1.42 0.243 2.71 15.5 114.8 29.75 15.88 43 71.9 1.88 5.74 6.18 11.36 15.82 9.05 7.35 21.7 76 27.15 2.36 9.7 13.3 1.7 313 4.06 10.8 25.75 11.98 20.85 374.2 0.194 1.4 3.74 6.69 8.81 1.33 12.28 49.35 5.8 4.67 1.8 1.26 12 104 6.41 0.128 0.98 146.1 2.6 1.64 1.26

35.4 14.38 1.05 1.42 0.243 2.82 16 114.8 29.8 15.88 43 71.9 1.88 5.8 6.27 11.5 16.02 9.32 7.51 21.7 78.6 27.15 2.37 9.79 13.46 1.7 315 4.06 10.8 25.75 12.5 21 377.8 0.194 1.41 3.85 6.69 8.94 1.34 12.28 50.1 5.84 4.68 1.81 1.34 12 104 6.47 0.128 1 148 2.6 1.65 1.29

34.5 14.02 1.02 1.42 0.24 2.66 15.5 109.8 29.1 15.88 43 71.9 1.87 5.74 6.18 11.3 15.82 9.05 7.3 21.3 76 27.15 2.27 9.62 13.1 1.63 312.8 4.05 10.5 25.15 11.98 20.75 373.8 0.192 1.38 3.74 6.57 8.81 1.32 12.2 49.35 5.8 4.67 1.8 1.26 11.88 102.1 6.4 0.128 0.96 145.8 2.58 1.62 1.24

INDUSTRIAL 35.4 1,363,800 14.24 572,200 1.04 1,590,000 1.42 20,000 0.242 310,000 2.82 17,011,000 15.6 118,100 109.8 1,560 29.8 205,600 15.88 100 43 1,100 71.9 10 1.88 40,000 5.8 81,700 6.26 4,700 11.46 892,200 16 2,697,500 9.1 1,889,300 7.4 170,400 21.65 704,700 76.5 332,200 27.15 17,400 2.31 6,084,000 9.65 2,357,200 13.2 619,700 1.63 237,000 313.6 285,920 4.05 133,000 10.5 30,100 25.3 395,000 12.36 613,100 21 1,359,800 374 365,860 0.193 380,000 1.41 6,040,000 3.85 331,000 6.65 7,178,900 8.94 6,100 1.33 13,444,000 12.26 10,600 49.95 383,000 5.81 21,400 4.68 3,000 1.8 105,000 1.34 101,000 11.92 90,800 104 87,530 6.46 19,300 0.128 140,000 1 103,000 148 737,400 2.58 11,000 1.63 1,198,000 1.29 1,555,000

48,015,595 8,147,194 1,641,640 28,400 74,480 46,880,410 1,865,874 171,510 6,112,805 1,588 47,300 719 75,160 469,618 29,093 10,201,420 43,135,878 17,397,372 1,250,296 15,167,660 25,667,514 472,410 14,113,160 22,765,236 8,230,714 387,310 89,737,984 538,980 317,784 10,010,715 7,575,012 28,491,170 136,999,712 73,410 8,462,640 1,273,800 47,539,591 54,404 17,952,320 129,794 19,135,995 124,264 14,020 189,580 133,720 1,081,094 9,038,547 124,599 17,920 100,700 108,614,825 28,580 1,960,270 1,972,110

13,584,515 -206,904 30,140 -1,924,250 1,733,616 1,148 -1,445,915 -47,300 18,800 2,091,372 36,097,892 -1,403,220 -903,883 3,226,395 -1,104,893.50 226,330 -12,578,478.00 -1,206,592 -34,764,542 7,010,815 -2,571,904 13,436,690 68,141,842 -2,380,370 1,643,258 -7,410,330 -2,798,405 -116,130 -4,670 522,524 -3,643,418 18,287,723 -751,420.00 -

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

0.66 58.4 15.48 0.74 6.5 20.4 1.36 1.37 929 7.48 11.92 15.48 4.8 0.239 1,000 6.47 61.7 0.56 5.27 16 0.56 4.9 0.039 3.13 2.55 176 956 0.75 1.35 448 282 0.24 0.385

0.68 58.4 15.74 0.76 6.5 20.8 1.38 1.39 930 7.56 12.26 16.1 4.88 0.239 1,018 6.51 62.85 0.56 5.39 16.64 0.57 4.91 0.039 3.14 2.55 176 956 0.75 1.36 448 282 0.24 0.39

0.62 56.2 15.42 0.74 6.5 20.1 1.36 1.37 924 7.45 11.92 15.4 4.8 0.224 999 6.47 60.45 0.52 5.24 16 0.56 4.85 0.038 3.08 2.55 172 931.5 0.75 1.34 448 275 0.24 0.37

HOLDING FIRMS 0.68 36,012,000 56.2 843,420 15.72 6,927,800 0.76 35,000 6.5 5,870,600 20.5 54,300 1.37 2,318,000 1.39 168,000 927 207,430 7.5 2,278,800 12.12 1,731,600 16.1 6,127,900 4.88 3,000 0.225 1,400,000 1,018 134,720 6.48 7,400 60.6 4,798,060 0.53 1,080,000 5.37 3,543,900 16.52 5,071,200 0.57 35,000 4.86 12,348,000 0.038 14,800,000 3.13 551,000 2.55 3,000 175 361,970 950 118,770 0.75 4,000 1.34 59,000 448 20 281 2,730 0.24 300,000 0.37 26,940,000

23,875,810 47,880,582 108,439,434 25,920 38,158,900 1,101,230 3,176,240 232,310 192,350,190 17,116,315 21,000,580 97,762,068 14,480 322,880 136,150,012.50 47,943 291,771,429.50 568,030 18,897,140 83,227,750 19,660 60,115,260 564,700 1,720,100 7,650 63,066,516 112,601,045 3,000 79,160 8,960 764,874 72,000 10,188,900

243,090 -16,958,139 45,653,460 203,450 103,830.00 176,130.00 -41,718,730 -2,279,843 3,645,200 1,629,638 12,879,755 -127,570,214 -1,748,817 8,844,938 -18,071,960 62,600 -28,149,356 -44,099,205 -8,960 -175,642 -307,050

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

12.1 0.77 10.92 1.95 0.82 43.25 2.4 4.4 6.22 0.52 0.86 0.91 0.242 0.385 10.96 21.15 0.5 0.128 1.54 1.22 5.57 0.37 0.45 1.88 0.45 2.8 46.9

12.78 0.79 10.92 1.95 0.84 43.7 2.41 4.4 6.63 0.53 0.86 0.93 0.242 0.385 11.3 22.5 0.5 0.128 1.55 1.23 5.62 0.38 0.45 1.9 0.46 2.8 47.9

12.1 0.77 10.92 1.95 0.82 43.25 2.36 4.36 6 0.51 0.85 0.91 0.24 0.385 10.96 21.1 0.495 0.126 1.52 1.22 5.56 0.37 0.445 1.86 0.45 2.79 46.9

68,453,328 384,400 72,072 3,900 2,661,820 541,972,185 1,897,400 4,239,860 407,511 6,060,450 2,570 11,850 2,110,100 462,000 7,703,342 32,966,615 719,800 65,240 6,842,540 601,020 40,618,716 2,890,850 80,600 2,792,390 9,100 64,370 18,880

4,702,038 8,690 -67,200 -133,688,030 89,020 -884,390 -107,604 270,400 7,856 13,008,240 -690,000 241,060 15,007,771 20 -

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

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

23.2 2.04 3.15 39.15 1.6 6.74 0.8 7.32

23.9 2.05 3.15 39.4 1.64 7 0.8 7.4

23.2 2.01 3.09 38.8 1.6 6.73 0.79 7.3

23.5 2.05 3.12 39.4 1.6 6.85 0.79 7.3

7,348,300 78,000 13,000 5,588,000 2,544,000 333,400 16,000 2,929,000

173,029,145 159,620 40,710 219,350,570 4,111,550 2,271,565 12,650 21,506,381

-65,279,390 4,080 41,167,135 3,260 2,070 -501,353

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

12.82 20.5 1.33 0.41 0.044 16.84 2.78 11.8 0.076 81 5.8 6.95 12 890.5 1,972 5.72 378 2.87 1.91 122 10.7 0.126 5.35 3.09 15.36 3.31 0.89 20.2 0.56 4.73 3.21 1.78 2.59 10.16 10.4 4.76 124.5 2.65 1,160 0.9 1.1 48 80 8.4 2.41 0.71 0.415 5.6 0.66 15.4

12.88 20.5 1.33 0.425 0.045 16.84 2.88 12.2 0.076 81.8 5.9 6.95 12.6 890.5 1,979 5.74 383 2.92 2.05 122.5 10.7 0.127 5.55 3.09 15.36 3.37 0.9 20.8 0.59 4.73 3.25 1.84 2.59 10.2 10.4 4.78 125 2.66 1,165 0.91 1.16 48.5 80 8.78 2.41 0.71 0.415 5.64 0.67 15.7

12.76 20.35 1.23 0.405 0.042 16.8 2.78 11.7 0.073 80.95 5.77 6.84 12 890.5 1,937 5.72 378 2.83 1.91 121.2 10.7 0.123 5.31 3.06 15.36 3.3 0.89 20.2 0.55 4.71 3.15 1.7 2.44 9.98 10.18 4.72 124.5 2.62 1,152 0.89 1.09 48 78 8.4 2.37 0.69 0.41 5.6 0.65 15.32

SERVICES 12.8 20.4 1.23 0.425 0.044 16.8 2.81 12.06 0.074 81 5.8 6.9 12.38 890.5 1,937 5.73 380 2.9 1.93 122 10.7 0.123 5.41 3.07 15.36 3.36 0.9 20.4 0.59 4.73 3.2 1.8 2.5 10.06 10.3 4.75 125 2.65 1,160 0.9 1.16 48.5 78.5 8.5 2.38 0.69 0.41 5.63 0.66 15.6

32,800 28,900 161,000 260,000 23,000,000 5,900 446,000 5,796,900 51,350,000 41,740 767,200 56,200 180,500 50 14,330 265,200 780 476,000 27,000 2,703,910 1,300 2,700,000 1,680,400 82,000 2,300 162,000 21,000 301,700 1,992,000 21,000 1,317,000 233,000 4,600,000 160,200 9,300 79,000 610 156,000 132,395 1,379,000 107,743,000 799,900 666,050 17,000 1,870,000 366,000 4,630,000 1,953,200 483,000 790,000

420,726 590,375 205,520 106,250 996,500 99,248 1,254,870 69,937,700 3,805,190 3,388,812 4,452,343 386,471 2,220,732 44,525 27,982,200 1,518,621 296,566 1,371,670 53,670 330,337,605 13,910 334,780 9,126,968 251,820 35,328 537,290 18,700 6,199,690 1,142,790 99,160 4,197,280 405,660 11,423,740 1,613,364 95,914 374,990 76,214 413,940 153,503,860 1,241,340 121,819,270 38,628,270 52,201,628.50 147,410 4,460,460 256,060 1,903,500 10,990,316 317,910 12,220,594

14,160 760 -356,400 42,100 -1,474,082 29,600 -419,912.50 17,400 3,475 286 -6,637,370 -150,800 110,609,391 42,550 6,680 504,655.00 635,650 232,360.00 9,074 19,020 62,487 -60,890 26,400,445 -229,970 3,616,750.00 -13,269,435 -28,519,122.50 1,473,900 18,880 -41,000 -8,451,204 -5,940 -955,704

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

0.0021 1.43 2.38 0.3 7.85 1.49 0.239 0.118 0.0081 0.0081 1.09 2.6 1.06 0.57 0.95 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.14 3.67 14.08 22

0.0021 1.45 2.41 0.3 7.91 1.5 0.255 0.119 0.0081 0.0081 1.1 2.6 1.1 0.58 0.96 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.14 3.71 14.1 23.2

0.0021 1.43 2.35 0.295 7.82 1.48 0.239 0.118 0.008 0.0081 1.09 2.52 1.02 0.57 0.95 0.012 0.012 0.012 3.14 3.65 13.96 22

MINING & OIL 0.0021 1,000,000 1.44 895,000 2.41 1,408,000 0.295 90,000 7.82 300 1.5 3,322,000 0.242 1,880,000 0.118 2,910,000 0.008 12,000,000 0.0081 1,000,000 1.1 116,000 2.55 2,501,000 1.06 317,000 0.58 271,000 0.95 269,000 0.012 16,500,000 0.012 1,300,000 0.012 1,600,000 3.14 1,000 3.71 500,000 13.96 561,500 23.2 3,118,500

2,100 1,292,710 3,362,810 26,750 2,358 4,932,780 461,390 343,390 96,200 8,100 126,560 6,428,700 339,630 157,160 255,570 198,000 15,600 19,200 3,140 1,832,160 7,868,862 71,269,935

-217,940 -235,000 -178,100 12,400 -675,930 -832,730 -938,640 35,552,870

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

20.05 474.6 100 98.4 100.7 451 480 5.65 880.5 891 96 0.98 998 998 100 1.7 975 75.55 76.5 71.8 74.8 72.55 74.45

20.05 474.6 100 98.4 100.7 451 480 5.65 929 900 96 0.98 998 998 100.1 1.71 980 75.55 76.5 71.8 74.8 73 74.45

20.05 474.6 100 98.3 100.6 450.8 480 5.6 880 882 96 0.98 998 998 100 1.7 975 75.5 76.5 71.8 74.8 72.55 71.6

PREFERRED 20.05 10,000 474.6 20 100 6,330 98.3 260 100.6 3,050 450.8 440 480 100 5.6 128,200 929 120 900 80 96 70 0.98 150,000 998 10 998 10,000 100 16,930 1.71 7,000 980 3,050 75.5 1,500 76.5 200 71.8 1,800 74.8 200 73 350 72 1,520

200,500 9,492 633,000 25,559 306,839 198,360 48,000 717,930 107,690 71,010 6,720 147,000 9,980 9,980,000 1,693,080 11,910 2,988,500 113,275 15,300 129,240 14,960 25,491.50 109,274

12,240 -

LR WARRANT

1.89

1.84

WARRANTS 1.89 3,000

5,620

PROPERTY 12.78 0.79 10.92 1.95 0.84 43.7 2.39 4.4 6.6 0.52 0.85 0.93 0.24 0.385 11.26 22.2 0.5 0.126 1.54 1.22 5.57 0.38 0.445 1.89 0.46 2.79 47.9

5,494,800 494,000 6,600 2,000 3,215,000 12,432,300 795,000 967,000 63,800 11,676,000 3,000 13,000 8,790,000 1,200,000 689,800 1,494,100 1,440,000 510,000 4,465,000 491,000 7,278,200 7,740,000 180,000 1,489,000 20,000 23,000 400

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.06 1.38

5.2 1.39

5.06 1.34

FIRST METRO ETF

117

117.1

116.4

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.3 10.1 0.99

TRADING SUMMARY

10.3 10.1 0.99

FINANCIAL

10,933,374

INDUSTRIAL

72,531,179

HOLDING FIRMS

141,189,971

PROPERTY

90,698,418

SERVICES

221,115,038

MINING & OIL

51,636,092

GRAND TOTAL

594,600,273

10.3 9.92 0.99

5.1 1.36

SME

204,300 6,288,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.1 3,900 DDS

10.3 10.02 0.99

150 11,920 20,000

1,042,305 8,544,570

-3,752,140

455,525

21,078

1,545 119,143.20 19,800

VALUE 1,775.30 (up) 3.11 1,048,077,006.33 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,645.28 (up) 70.11 786,693,595.376 HOLDING FIRMS 7,723.62 (down) 36.89 1,396,412,854.34 PROPERTY 4,037.02 (up) 40.71 SERVICES 1,581.64 (up) 8.38 1,181,961,684.84 MINING & OIL 8,323.86 (up) 175.58 937,918,536.157 PSEI 7,858.20 (up) 14.79 99,063,036.216 All Shares Index 4,847.49 (up) 14.20 5,460,169,225.26 Gainers: 102; Losers: 78; Unchanged: 68; Total: 248

ATI’s net profit rose 16% in 2018 to P2.9b By Darwin G Amojelar

ASIAN Terminals Inc. on Wednesday said net income rose 15.8 percent to P2.9 billion in 2018 from P2.5 billion in 2017, on the back of record cargo volumes handled by its gateway ports in Manila and Batangas following the resilient Philippine economy. The company’s revenues last year climbed 16 percent to P12.3 billion from P10.6 billion in 2017, driven by higher volumes of international containerized cargoes. International gateway ports Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal handled a combined container throughput of over 1.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), the highest thus far for the listed port operator. International boxed cargoes handled at Manila South Harbor in 2018 reached over 1.3 million TEUs, an increase of over 6 percent from 2017. The rapidly growing Batangas Container Terminal handled nearly 250,000 TEUs, up 25 percent from the previous year. Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal have effectively supported government’s drive for inclusive growth within and outside Metro Manila by opening direct market connectivity and delivering competitive port services to shippers based in the country’s national capital and southern Luzon regions. Batangas Port has contributed to decongesting Metro Manila roads. Last year’s cargo volume meant taking out over 125,000 truck trips along metro roads, with more Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) shippers preferring to route consignments through BCT. ATI earlier announced that major expansion projects were underway in both Manila and Batangas ports in support of future cargo growth. The company has allotted about P14.7 billion in capital expenditures from 2019 to 2020 to develop more berths and storage spaces in Manila and Batangas ports and additional container yards outside the port zones, acquire more cargo handling equipment and invest in innovations, which will redound to greater efﬁciencies and safer port environment for stakeholders.

Max’s Group says income flat at P631m By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain Max’s Group Inc. posted a nearly flat net income of P631 million in 2018 from P626 million in 2017. MGI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday systemwide sales, a measure of all sales to consumers, both from company-owned and franchised stores, rose eight percent to P18.8 billion from P17.34 billion as same-store sales growth was steady at four percent. Revenues grew eight percent to P13.68 billion from P12.66 billion a year ago, boosted by restaurant sales, which increased eight percent to P11.3 billion, after the opening of new stores. The company rolled out 66 new stores in 2018, including 11 international branches, to bring its total network count to 705 outlets by the end of 2018. Twenty four of the 66 new stores are company-owned outlets. Meanwhile, commissary sales increased 10 percent to P1.57 billion from P1.42 billion with a rapidly growing franchising base, while franchising income climbed six percent to P820.4 million from 776.2 million in 2017. “Our results continue to show progress as we focus on our consumers and operate in the most cost-efficient way. Despite a rising inflationary environment, we managed to improve our profitability level,” said MGI group chief operating officer Ariel Fermin. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, a measure of a company’s operating performance, improved 28 percent to P1.58 billion from P1.24 billion. “This is a result of designing a more profitable of mix of products and operational efficiencies in both stores and commissaries. Combined, these efforts resulted in higher flow-through profit,” said MGI. MGI earlier announced a strategic pivot toward a franchising-led approach to roll out expansion in the long-term. The move aims to capitalize on a higher recurring income stream and lighter asset deployment.

World

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

Hunger stabs at Venezuelans

Indonesia flood death toll tops 100

SENTANI, Indonesia―The death toll from the flash floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s Papua region has topped 100 with dozens more still missing, the disaster agency said Wednesday. Nearly 10,000 people have moved to shelters while at least 104 victims are confirmed to have died and 79 are unaccounted for in the aftermath of the disaster, triggered by heavy rain on Saturday. Scores have suffered injuries, including cuts and broken bones, while some 40 unidentified bodies would be buried in a mass grave on Thursday, officials said. Many survivors fear more floods will rip through hard-hit Papua, which shares a border with independent Papua New Guinea on an island just north of Australia. “The increasing number of evacuees has made the shelters very crowded and uncomfortable,” said national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. As teams loaded mud-caked corpses into body bags, the search for survivors was hampered by mountains of debris including rocks and fallen trees. Hundreds of homes, bridges, schools and other public facilities were destroyed. More than 2,300 personnel have been deployed to search for the missing victims and to clean up debris. Flooding is common in Indonesia, especially during the rainy season which runs from October to April. AFP

TRIBUTES. Floral tributes to those who were gunned down at the two mosques are seen against a wall bordering the Botanical Garden in Christchurch on March 19, 2019. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed never to utter the name of the gunman as she opened a sombre session of parliament with an evocative “as salaam alaikum” message of peace to Muslims. AFP

Govt should weigh 2 Kaliwa Dam options PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte should step into the brewing Kaliwa Dam controversy before the government finds itself in deep water, so to speak. Both Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator Reynaldo Velasco and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III have declared that the P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam is a “done deal” and that no other proposal should be entertained in solving Metro Manila’s water deficit problem. Beijing-run China Energy Engineering Corp. is set to build Kaliwa Dam in the municipalities of General Nakar and Infanta in the province of Quezon, backed by an official development assistance loan from China. China has committed to finance 85 percent of the dam’s project cost, with the balance to be funded by the Philippine government. The project aims to supply some 600 million liters of water per day to Metro Manila. Velasco said the MWSS was about to construct the Kaliwa Dam after the project obtained the approval from the Nationnal Economic and Development Authority. But Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo disagreed with the view of his Cabinet colleagues. “I think every proposal should be considered. The most beneficial, the most advantageous for the Filipinos should the the prime consideration,” he told media during a recent briefing at Malacañang. Pressed about the issue of the Kaliwa Dam’s more expensive price tag and environmental issues hounding it, Panelo said he was willing to bring the issues to the attention of the President. “Personally, I feel if the advantages are so clear and the China proposal is onerous to the government and Filipino taxpayers, then we should revisit this deal,” he adds. Panelo says the cost disparity with a Japanese proposal has prompted him to seek a review of the China deal. “Let’s do this, I will ask this particular Japanese entity to give us a copy of their proposal, and my office will look into it… and I will make a recommendation to the government.” The Kaliwa Dam version of the Chinese government, which still lacks the environmental compliance certificate to begin construction, was initially planned as a public-private partnership endeavor in 2014, under the Aquino administration. But the Duterte administration changed the funding parameters of the dam to a hybrid PPP (Public-PrivatePartnership), instead of an integrated PPP. An integrated PPP involves one entity undertaking the construction, operation and maintenance of a project, while a hybrid PPP means the construction and O&M of a project is done by separate entities. Japanese offer A Japanese company this week revived an offer it first presented to the Philippine government 10 years ago for a more feasible and costefficient alternative to Metro Manila’s looming potable water supply problem. Osaka-based Global Utility Development Corp. Ltd. said it wa still keen to build the Kaliwa Intake Weir project I Rizal province under a Build, Operate, Transfer scheme. The project calls for a seven-feet high dam with a 16-kilometer-long tunnel that has a diameter of 3.3 meters. The project also calls for the construction of a water treatment facility. A weir, or low head dam, is a barrier across the horizontal width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and results in a change in the height of the river level. Water flows over the top of the weir crest before cascading down to a lower level. A dam, such as the Kaliwa Dam, meanwhile, is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground streams. GUDC chief executive officer and director Toshikazu Nomura said in a press briefing his company was still interested to push through with the Kaliwa Intake Weir project, which was first submitted as an unsolicited proposal back in 2009. The proposal was in limbo until in 2017, when GUDC was asked to submit an updated proposal. But Nomura said the Philippine government gave them the cold shoulder, despite letters sent to the MWSS and the Office of the President. GUDC’s proposal is 30 percent cheaper than those of other bidders, presents less environmental fallout and community resistance, and offers a shorter completion time. The MWSS, instead, opted for the P18.7billion New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWSP), of which the smaller Kaliwa Dam is part and parcel. The NCWSP and Kaliwa Dam have already met opposition from several non-government organizations (NGOs), church and communitybased groups, as well as environmental advocates. The envisioned dams, according to critics, will displace around 6,214 households and flood barangays in Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon. Majority of the affected are the Dumagat and Remontado indigenous people. Agricultural and forest lands and wildlife habitats inside the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve, an environmentally critical area, will also be flooded. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard or extrastory2000@gmail.com

MARACAIBO, Venezuela―The fish Juan Maurice is catching are so small they’re best thrown into a frying pan. Even so, they won’t fatten this out-of-work builder who has lost 35 pounds over the past two years. Impoverished by Venezuela’s crisis, Maurice, who now weighs 165 pounds, is trying his luck by casting a net with his uncle in the brackish, polluted waters of northwestern Venezuela’s Maracaibo Lake just to have anything to eat. “One day I might be here, and the next I might be in the mountain looking for rabbits and iguanas,” the 35-year-old explains to AFP. His drawn face looks much older than his years. His net has 20 fish in it. They are of a type that can grow up to 12 inches in length but his are less than a third of that. He also snared a small blue crab and three slender, boney catfish that usually aren’t eaten. Maurice used to live well enough as a builder and welder in this region, Venezuela’s industrial oil hub. “Before, my salary was enough to eat, save a little, decorate my home,” he says, plucking the fish out. But with Venezuela’s economy collapsing to half of what it was in 2014, and with inflation forecast by the International Monetary Fund to reach 10 million percent this year, work dried up. Even oil production, which accounts for 95 percent of the national budget, has all but stopped. Through odd jobs, Maurice tries to earn enough to feed his seven children, but “they are all scrawny,” he says. AFP

Burials start as Ardern calls for a united front

HRISTCHURCH―A Syrian refugee and his son were buried in New Zealand on Wednesday in the ﬁrst funerals of those killed in the twin mosque massacre as Kiwis braced for days of emotional farewells following the mass killings. An Australian white supremacist is accused of gunning down 50 Muslim worshipers and wounding many more at two mosques in the southern city of Christchurch last Friday in a killing spree that he live-streamed. Alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant’s use of social media has put the spotlight on extremists’ use of such platforms, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on Wednesday for a global “united front” on the issue. Hundreds of mostly Muslim mourners gathered in the morning at a cemetery near Linwood Mosque, one of two places of worship targeted, to lay Khalid Mustafa and his son Hamza to rest. The family arrived last year as refugees from the Syrian maelstrom only to ﬁnd tragedy in a land where they had sought sanctuary. Khalid, 44, and Hamza, 15, were shot

dead at the Al Noor Mosque, the ﬁrst attack site. Khalid leaves behind a wife, daughter and son Zaid, 13, who was wounded in the shootings. In a powerful scene, Zaid sat in a wheelchair, his hands held aloft as he prayed alongside rows of mourners. Jamil El-Biza, who came from the Sydney area to attend the funerals, told AFP that Zaid said at the graves of his brother and father: “I shouldn’t be standing in front of you. I should be lying beside you.” Also attending was Abdul Aziz, an Afghan refugee who confronted the gunman at Linwood Mosque. He was embraced by many mourners. In a sign of lingering tensions, the PA system at the funeral announced evacuation procedures from the venue in the event of an emergency, mourners said. A total of six burials were expected on Wednesday. Speaking of the Mustafa family, Ardern said: “I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and for refuge, and they should have been safe here.” Ardern, who has vowed to toughen New Zealand’s lax gun-ownership laws following the killings, also said Wednesday the world needs to confront the dangers posed by social media. “There is an argument there to be made for us to take a united front on

what is a global issue,” she said at a press conference in Christchurch. “This is not just an issue for New Zealand, the fact that social media platforms have been used to spread violence [and] material that incites violence.” She had called on New Zealanders on Tuesday to deprive Tarrant of the publicity he craved by never uttering his name. “He is a terrorist. He is a criminal. He is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless,” she said. The 28-year-old was arrested after the shootings and is expected to spend his life in prison as New Zealand has no death penalty. Dozens of relatives of the deceased have begun arriving from around the world, some hoping to take bodies back with them. The start of funerals should help ease pressure from Muslim families who have complained that investigations have delayed the handover of victim bodies, preventing the speedy burials prescribed under Islam. New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush said authorities needed to identify victims conclusively to avoid hindering the prosecution, but added that the majority of remains were to be given to families on Wednesday. In a rambling “manifesto”, Tarrant had said he was motivated partly by a desire to stoke religious conﬂict between Islam and the West. AFP

Mosque gunman faces isolation due to dangers in prison CHRISTCHURCH―The whitesupremacist accused of the Christchurch killings will spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted, likely in isolation for his own safety, a New Zealand criminologist and former convict said Wednesday. The attacks at two mosques in the southern city last Friday left 50 Muslim worshipers dead and sparked

global revulsion. “He is going to be very highly unpopular in a prison where 80 percent [of the inmates] are Maori or Pasiﬁka (Paciﬁc islanders) and he is a white supremacist,” said Greg Newbold, a professor of criminology at Canterbury University. “He will have no friends, not even the white guys,” added Newbold,

who spent five years in jail on drugs charges―half of that in maximum security―before turning his life around. New Zealand has no death penalty and alleged shooter Brenton Tarrant, 28, is expected to face a record prison sentence if found guilty of the massacre. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, criminal lawyer Simon Cullen told AFP, adding that such a sentence would be “unprecedented” for New Zealand. Newbold said it was possible that Tarrant could spend the rest of his life in “segregation” and at least the first five to ten years in “effective” solitary confinement. “There’s a lot [of people] in segs who would get at him as well... he would have to be in highly-segregated conditions,” Newbold said. “If he’s convicted, he will be effectively in solitary for a long, long time... he will be locked up most of the time in his own cell.” Newbold said that during his jail stint another inmate imprisoned for raping and killing a young girl “had his throat cut” in prison in 1979. New Zealand media already have quoted members of a notorious criminal biker gang as saying “we’ve got friends inside”, suggesting they would get to Tarrant if they had the chance.AFP Manila

Standard

TODAY

SNOWFALL. Kashmiri Muslims walk as they hold umbrellas during a snowfall in Srinagar on March 20, 2019. AFP (MS-MAR. 21, 2019)

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

IN BRIEF Ebuen hospital, SM come to villages’ aid LAPU-LAPU CITY—Two days after the inauguration of the BGen Benito N. Ebuen Air Base Hospital, the hospital’s medical team partnered with SM Foundation to conduct a mission in nearby Barangay Pajo and the neighboring villages of Marigondon, Gunob, Basak, Engaño, Ibo, Canjulao, Poblacion and Babag. Maj. Mares Cecile T. Lapada, MC OIC of the hospital and head of the medical mission, said: “It is time for the men and women of the BGen Ebuen Hospital to work as a team to prove to everyone that the hospital can answer calls for medical assistance. “With the kindness of SM Foundation, we commit our unwavering dedication to duty to help the distressed,” she added. Hundreds availed of medical consultations, dental services, blood chemistry and ECG tests. Medical volunteers from the local government unit of Lapu-Lapu also assisted in the endeavor. SM provided free medicines for the patients including vitamins for children and seniors. Ebuen hospital staff also served nutritious arroz caldo to all those awaiting consultation

Safety of cultural landmarks pushed BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Officials of the Provincial Council for Culture and the Arts are pushing for the general safety and protection measures for the province’s cultural and historical structures. Governor Carlos Padilla, PCCA chair, said they have approved resolutions during a recent meeting recommending to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the crafting of an ordinance declaring the Saint Vincent Ferrer Church and its compound, including the Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur town. The two structures were earlier declared as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum last year. The National Museum also declared the old provincial capitol now used as a People’s Musuem and Library as Important Cultural Property in February 26 this year. Ben Moses Ebreo

ETHNIC FIESTA. Policemen and policewomen from different units in the National Capital Region Police Office participate in an ethnic dance competition on Tuesday during the Fiesta sa Kampo 2019 at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig City. Norman Cruz

DOH helps Rizal fend off measles By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ealth Secretary Francisco T. Duque, through the Department of Health in Calabarzon, recently convened the local governments of Rizal province for an “Emergency Command Conference on Measles.”

The goal was to create a sustainable plan and collected effort in eliminating measles cases and to resolve the measles crisis in the province. “Now that we have regained public trust on our health centers, let us seize this opportunity and communicate to our people, to our parents, to the mothers in particular, on the extreme urgency of having their children brought for immunization in their respective health centers,” said Duque. “We need to have a successful immunization plan because this is the only way to stop the rise of vaccine preventable diseases. It is only through this strategy,” he added. Duque said he strongly believes the DOH “can muster everyone’s capacity to respond with a sense of urgency to reverse this dire situation that is confronting the entire Philippine health system.”

“It’s going to be worse if we don’t do this. They need to unite and let us understand the meaning of continuous measles outbreaks and cases,” he said. “We have the capability, we have the manpower, the funds and logistics…there should be no excuse,” Duque added. “We need to collectively ensure and commit to bring back herd immunity to 95 percent. Let’s be 10 steps ahead so vaccine preventable diseases won’t spread,” the DOH chief said. Duque called for deliberate, well focused, and strategic solutions to reverse the measles outbreak, noting that other vaccine preventable diseases cases “will rise and it will be going to be a tremendous concern in the future.” DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo acknowledged the timely response and continuing efforts

of LGUs in Rizal. “We have augmented manpower in areas where there are high number of measles cases by deploying additional vaccinators to assist in the house-to-house immunization and manage additional fixed vaccination posts in the communities,” he said. Local governments also reported accomplishments in the measles campaign and continues to lobby with the private schools, the Muslim community in Cainta, and the religious sector to submit their children for vaccination. Janairo also assured LGUs that DOHCalabarzon is ready to answer requests for assistance on the ongoing measles mass immunization campaign. “We have the measles task force and vaccination teams to address and respond to any queries and support,” he said. “Even with the downtrend of measles cases, we still need to maximize our efforts to safeguard all fully immunized children to prevent the onset of another outbreak. That is why I again call on parents to bring their un-immunized child to the nearest health center to avail of the free anti-measles vaccine. It is the only way to protect your children and prevent the spread of the virus,” Janairo said.

Coca-Cola helps mark 18 years of Solid Waste Act COCA-COLA Philippines, the Parañaque City government, and the National Solid Waste Management Commission recently celebrated the 18th year of the enactment of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000―a law that enforces the proper management of waste at the barangay level. The celebration, aptly themed “National Zero Waste Month: We and Alternative Technologies, Partnering for Proper Waste Management,” gathered stakeholders, including civic and private sectors, who are at the frontlines of tackling the country’s waste problems. Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivares, and environmental and solid waste management officers from Malabon, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pasay, Valenzuela, Las Piñas, and San Juan led the celebration. “This is an important milestone for all of us who are working towards the realization of a World Without Waste. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 introduced waste management long before anyone thought it was needed,” said Winn Everhart, president and general manager of Coca-Cola Philippines. “Today, as there is more consciousness about the impact of waste, CocaCola is at the forefront of finding solutions, both at the community and company levels, to effectively reduce waste and complete the sequence of recycling the resources and turning them into entirely new materials that we can use,” he added. The essence of the zero-waste lifestyle is much more than just reducing the use of packaging products – it is being able to breathe new life to the materials and resources that have already served their original purpose. In 2018, Coca-Cola launched its most ambitious goal to date – to collect each and every bottle and can that they produce by 2030, a feat that is only possible with the cooperation and participation of various stakeholders and every household. Starting with partnerships with LGUs, the beverage brand has rolled out activations in various regional festivities, including Sinulog, Dinagyang, the Davao Regional Athletic Meet, and the Araw ng Dabaw, that help in the collection and recycling of recyclable materials. Together with other members of the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability, Coca-Cola is investing in a multi-pronged program that includes ainformation and education campaigns, and the establishment of a materials recovery facility that will service the needs of Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces.

Carmen Copper turns over water reservoir to co-op Pimentel, Tolentino see Tawi-Tawi CARMEN Copper Corp. has formally turned over a 75,000-liter capacity water reservoir to Santol Village Multipurpose Cooperative that can accommodate 300 more households that can now access clean water.

In the upland barangays where water is scarce, access to water is crucial to good health and economic development, officials of the mining firm noted. In Toledo City, the households in Purok Santol Village, Barangay Don

Carmen Copper officials formally turn over the 75,000-liter capacity water reservoir that can accommodate 300 more households to members of the Santol Village Multipurpose Cooperative.

Andres Soriano will gain access to clean water after the addition of the reservoir. Carmen Copper, thru its Social Development and Management Program, formally turned over the water system expansion project to the cooperative in a simple turnover ceremony, allowing ol Village MPC to extend its services to around 1,800 individuals. The cooperative water system currently serves 192 households or more than 1,000 residents in seven sitios of Barangay Don Andres Soriano. The project is in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 6, which is ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. “We’ve waited 20 years for this expansion. In the past, we cannot accommodate more requests because our previous capacity of 40 cubic meters [40,000 liters] just cannot cope with the demand,” said SVMPC Chairman Ernesto Largo. Due to limited water supply, the cooperative’s water system operates thrice daily only. The additional capacity would also mean additional income for the cooperative, which currently collects P40,000 to P50,000 monthly before maintenance and operating costs.

as next Singapore via ecozone, port REELECTIONIST Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino recently graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tawi-Tawi Ecomomic Zone in Barangay Kulape, Panglima Sugala and the Tawi-Tawi Transshipment Port in Bongao town. “This is truly a historic occasion because this marks the beginning of Tawi-Tawi’s journey toward peace and progress. This development will be an economic game-changer not only in Mindanao, but in the whole country,” Pimentel said. The senator believes Tawi-Tawi could be the next Singapore as an investment destination, since over 52,000 foreign vessels in the Southeast Asia pass through Sibutu Island. Meamwhile, Mindanao State University professor Sajid Omar Adil welcomed the creation of the economic zone and transshipment port in the new Bang-

samoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Adil said that said that after 15 years of planning, research and studies, it could be a dream come true for the people of this peaceful province. The Mindanao Development Authority has endorsed the planned P15-billion ecozone that would turn the island province into a major trading post in Southeast Asia. The island province is expected to raise P50 billion to P80 billion in annual revenues and generate more job opportunities from the ecozone and seaport. Prior to the ceremonial groundbreaking, a contract signing was made at the Panglima Sugala covered court, where Chinese investors pledged an initial $2 billion or roughly P100 billion for the project. Pimentel expressed hope that the rise of this economic zone “will erase all the impressions of violence in the province triggered by Islamic extremism.”

Bangsamoro ministry braces region for ‘Chedeng’ By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY―The Moro region’s Ministry of Local Government has called on local government officials to stay in their posts to deal with the onslaught of Typhoon “Chedeng” and lead critical preparedness for necessary actions. Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said all local chief executives (municipal and city mayors and provincial governors) were directed to stay in their posts “to personally oversee and spearhead the critical preparedness for actions within their local government units.”

The newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao covers Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao Sur, and the cities of Marawi, and Lamitan in Basilan as its core territory. The same LGUs formed the territory of the erstwhile ARMM. In a region-wide memorandum, Sinarimbo said an advisory by the National Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council indicated that a forecast position of Typhoon Chedeng would hit the southwest portion of Zamboanga and some areas of Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi within 48 hours.

“Anent this, all local chief executives [LCEs] in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are hereby directed to activate their Emergency Operations Centers 24/7, convene their LDRRMC and undertake necessary mitigating actions and assessment in preparation for the incoming calamity,” Sinarimbo said in a memorandum. The MLG chief also directed all its provincial operations directors in the island provinces, as well as their local government operations officials “to provide technical assistance and facilitate convening of LDRRMCs within their assigned areas.”

BAYSIDE MEETING. In an initial meeting for Save Manila Bay efforts between the US Embassy and Philippine officials, the embassy’s Professional Associate for Environment, Science, Technology, Health and Energy, Ms Alma Green (second from right) and Commercial Specialist Ms. Bebe A. Montesines (left) stand with Manila Yacht Club Commodore Robert Lim Joseph (right) and Rotary Club Of Manila president Jesus Pineda. US Ambassador Sung Kim requested to meet at the Yacht Club to discuss fast-tracking efforts to clean-up Manila Bay, as USAID and American companies will lend their expertise and continue communicating with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor.

Life HOUSEHOLD

YOUNG FAMILY

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

RESORT LIVING.

FINDS IDEAL HOME IN A CONDO

HEN it comes to finding home for the family, nothing beats the feeling of getting more than what a person desired.

Young couple Francis and Maricel Pangan only wanted to own a condominium unit near their business in Balintawak, Quezon City after they got married in 2015. “We really wanted a condo near our business because the location itself is perfect. It’s near the market, malls, schools, church. It’s really very convenient,” said Francis, who owns a car battery buy and sell business. That was when they decided to get a unit at DMCI Homes’ Zinnia Towers since it was the condo development nearest to their area at that time. “To be honest, we were not that familiar with DMCI Homes, but it was the nearest to our office. We also checked with other developers but we were not impressed with the furnishings and the unit cuts were too cramped,” disclosed the 31-yearold businessman and father of one. The couple chiefly wanted a home accessible to their business and urban

“It’s very homey and refreshing unlike other condos wherein you face a wall when you go out of your unit. Here in Zinnia Towers, it’s like you have an extra balcony,” she continued in reference to the developments’ signature single-loaded corridors and atriums. The landscaped atriums, Maricel pointed out, perfectly complement the condo’s resort-inspired amenities, giving residents an invigorating living experience in the middle of the bustling Quezon City district. “We love the amenities here. We love almost everything—gym, basketball court, play area for our baby, roof deck, and swimming pool for the family. Almost everything. We use them a lot. We go around the property every afternoon,” enthused Matilda’s mom. But more than the unique DMCI Homes features, it is the condo community itself which brings joy to the Pangan family. “We have social activities prepared Francis and Maricel Pangan with their baby Matilda by the Property Management Office, like during Halloween and Christmas conveniences, but was surprised when atrium. We love the idea of having wherein we have an opportunity to they got more than what they asked for. an atrium every five floors because it bond with other residents. We have a “The units are spacious and well- ventilates the whole building,” shared very good community here—close and responsible,” related Maricel. crafted. It’s also the only one with Maricel.

Pangan family’s home, Zinnia Towers in Balintawak, boasts resort-inspired amenities that provide residents an invigorating living experience in the middle of Quezon City district.

She also noted how the staff members are approachable and friendly. “From the security staff down to housekeeping, they are very helpful in making our living comfortable. They address our concerns effectively and immediately.” Amid all these pleasant surprises of living in DMCI Homes’ Zinnia Tower, Francis revealed he regrets that they only bought a two-bedroom unit instead of a three-bedroom. “If we knew beforehand that the community will turn out this good, I would have bought a three-bedroom unit. That’s is one thing I regret not doing. Until now we’re looking for a threebedroom unit here because we plan to stay here for good,” he said. Maricel chimed in, “We love it here. The longer we stay here, the more we want to live here for the rest of our lives.” Zinnia Towers is one of the developments of DMCI Homes, the country’s first Quadruple A developer known for building quality resort-inspired communities in Mega Manila, Baguio, Boracay and Davao City. Call (02) 3248888 or log on to www.dmcihomes.com for more information.

DMCI Homes’ Zinnia Towers offers its residents various amenities, such as children’s play area, fitness center, and pool, that allow them to enjoy spending time with people who matter.

Ethan Allen holds KonMari workshop IN ADDITION to offering high quality home furniture and accessories, Ethan Allen sparks joy in every home as it recently hosted a KonMari workshop with the country’s first and only certified KonMari consultant. Lifestyle influencer and KonMari consultant Christine Dychiao led the workshop, attended by Ethan Allen VIP clients and other lifestyle influencers, and discussed the principle and the lifetransforming effect of the KonMari method. Dychiao trained under the team of Marie Kondo in Chicago. She has worked with numerous clients in their organizing journey and is a religious practitioner herself. She shared tips and tricks on decluttering and specific KonMari techniques homeowners can apply in their household such as the KonMari folding method. During the workshop, Dychiao also highlighted “KonMari-approved” Ethan Allen pieces that are perfect for organizing the home while keeping it stylish at the same time. Such pieces that hold generous storage and room is the Jocelyn Etagere, a tall and statement piece that can beautifully display books and accent pieces. The Powell Double Dresser that leaves a lot of room to store clothing and bedding, among others. And the Brandt Buffet, which is the perfect piece to store delicate dinnerware.

Ethan Allen Powell Double Dresser has spacious drawers, perfect for storing clothes, beddings, and towels.

Guests were also toured around the showroom to view the latest Uptown Collection. Ethan Allen’s showrooms are at Twenty-four Seven McKinley, 24th Street cor. 7th Avenue, BGC, Taguig; and at Pioneer Street cor. Reliance Street, Mandaluyong City.

Christine Dychiao, the Philippines’ first and only KonMari consultant, led the ‘Magic of Organizing Workshop.’

Life

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

LIGHT UP YOUR HOME:

Lighting design trends for 2019 E

CO-FRIENDLINESS and sustainability. Multi-functionality. Mobility. Human-centeredness. These are the key lighting design trends to look forward to this year, according to Landlite Philippines Corporation, a leading distributor of lighting fixtures and solutions in the country.

Eco-lighting

As the world becomes more conscious about the environment, particularly in the reduction of waste and the promotion of recycling, consumers are looking for lighting products that are responding to this call. The Hook portable eco-lamp for one, designed by OiKo Design Office for Faro Barcelona, has been optimized for all stages of its life cycle, reducing the environmental impact between 30 percent and 70 percent. Free of harmful PVC, a harmful material present in most wires and plugs, the housings of The Hook portable eco-lamp are also made enHook portable eco-lamp by OiKo Design Office tirely of recycled plastic.

Multi-functional

Consumers of today now also seek out lighting solutions that can replace multiple pieces of equipment in their desire for value for money as well as space-saving needs especially those who reside in condominium units. Thus, the stylish NIKO by Nahtrang—a homage to scientist and inventor Nikola Te-

sla—was born. It is actually two objects in one: a lamp and mobile charger, with a surface on which users can charge their smartphone wirelessly. With its Nordic design with dual functionality, NIKO is perfect for illuminating bedrooms and living rooms, and is a good choice for hotels.

Human-centric

Another lighting trend that is fast gaining traction is human-centric design. Proponents of this movement say that CCT shifting, which refers to the correlated color temperature of LED bulbs, can help regulate circadian rhythms, moods, visual acuity, and one’s performance. To this end, Bohman & Folenius created the Inviting Light for home lighting, whose main characteristic is how the light moves to accompany an individual according to their different needs and moods. The head of the lamp adjusts both in its horizontal and vertical axis, while regulating light intensity, changes in color temperature. It also has a dimmable feature. Its various versions—table, wall, clip—allow for multiple locations, such as shelving units, headboards, study and work desks, as Inviting Light by Bohman and Folenius well as in the kitchen.

Mobility

Another interesting trend coming to the fore is mobility in lighting products, which is a response to those who are more outdoorsy in nature. The Take Away lamp designed by Nahtrang addresses this need, taking inspiration from lanterns with the versatility of Japanese ceramic bowls: small, light, cable-free, and nomadic—allowing it to be placed anywhere. Landlite also presented its other range of light-

ing solutions: the Le Vita by Nahtrang, delicate and simple light; the MOY by Nahtrang, a modern round light that provides a uniform illumination ideal for living rooms or busy areas; the Cometa which allows for uniform and high-quality illumination with anti-glare technology; and designer lamps inspired by different world cultures such as the Akane by Pepe Llaudet and the Aladino.

From left: Akane by Pepe Llaudet, Moy by Nahtrang, and Le Vita by Nahtrang From left: Just Fan by Conillas, Han by Goula Figuera, and NIKO by Nahtrang

Pop-up shops open in BGC A NEW retail shopping concept in BGC opens a space for startups to hone their brands and for established brands to hold short-term campaigns or introduce new products. Located along Bonifacio High Street near 7th Avenue is Pop-Up Street, which BGC likens to a food park, but for retail. “In a sense, Pop-Up Street also brings people together as a community of passionate entrepreneurs and excited shoppers who share the same appreciation for this kind of lifestyle. It has the added value of being outdoors, which gives off that enjoying-a-park vibe. This is certainly a good option to spend free time or weekends at,” said Francesca Padilla, BGC’s marketing and community relations officer. Among the first locators currently at Pop-Up Street is Ethan Cash Sneaker Lounge, a team of experts on shoe restoration that promises to remove

stains, straighten creases, and do everything to make kicks look new again. AKABA, a fair-trade business that makes quality handwoven bags from Filipino indigenous textiles, has also set up shop at Pop-Up Street. Apart from retail brands, food establishments have also opened at Pop-Up Street. XOXO Ice Cream, which originated in Bali, serves handcrafted ice cream in unique flavors, while Black Wagyu is cooking imported yet affordable mouthwatering Japanese beef cubes. “We are inviting everyone to come check out Pop-Up Street and have a truly novel shopping experience only here in Bonifacio Global City. It’s a place to find new products to love and, of course, to support entrepreneurship,” said Padilla. Shoppers can expect new offerings as brands lease for short periods of time only.

Townhouse living

in Vermosa

Amaia Series Vermosa offers two types of townhouse to suit the needs of growing families.

A TOWNHOUSE development is set to rise within Vermosa, Ayala Lanad’s 700-hectare mixed-used township in Imus, Cavite. Redefining modern suburban lifestyle along Patindig Araw Road is Amaia Series Vermosa, the real estate developer’s first venture in the Imus township development. Amaia Series Vermosa is set to sprawl on 6.9 hectares of land with a unique mix of townhouses. It stands next to

Ayala Land’s fully master-planned development that will feature retail hubs, prestigious schools, business districts, and recreational facilities. It will offer two spacious and welldesigned house types to suit the needs of growing families. Both inner and end units can accommodate three bedrooms, toilet and bath on the second floor, and available provisions of toilet and bath on the ground floor, a kitchen, and a dining and living

area. All units will have car ports. “Amaia Series Vermosa brings Amaia’s trademark of superior quality, affordable homes to Caviteños,” said Kristel Manalo of Amaia Land. The townhouse development is accessible from Makati, Manila, Muntinlupa, and Tagaytay through major roads like Daang Hari, SLEx via the MuntinlupaCavite Expressway, CAVITEX, and the upcoming CALAX Road.

Music, collectors’ items at ALI X

AKABA

XOXO Ice Cream

Black Wagyu

Ethan Cash Sneaker Lounge

RISING OPM acts will usher in a new dawn as Ali Mall officially launches its newly transformed wing ALI X on March 22. ALI X, which stands for Arts, Lifestyle, and Interests, is a shopping haven for those on the lookout for unique and quirky items and special hobbies. It is located on the upper ground floor of the Ali Mall. Pop group The Juans and electropop-rock band Gracenote will entertain shoppers on March 22. Singer-songwriter Sabu will provide the music on March 23, while rapper Krazy Kyle will drop beats on March 30 and 31. Arts and crafts, antique, vinyl, and collectibles stores dominate the lineup of establishments in ALI X, which also features ukulele and karate supplies stores. The launch of ALI X will also coincide with the first-ever RetroCon (retro convention) in Araneta Center. Organ- Gracenote will entertain the crowd at the official launch of ALI X in Ali Mall. ized by the same team behind the History Con, RetroCon, which will run from records, cassette tapes, furniture, paint- in September last year, ALI X has attracted mall visitors with its InstagramMarch 22 to 24 and March 30 to 31, will ings, and more. Since it opened its doors to the public worthy décor and quirky offerings. feature vintage toys, collectibles, vinyl

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

From left: GMA Network SVP for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores, President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMA News Pillar Jessica Soho, GMA Chairman, and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, and EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong.

Jessica Soho renews exclusive contract with GMA Network T

HE Philippines’ most-awarded broadcast journalist, Jessica Soho, continues to be a loyal Kapuso as she renews her commitment with GMA Network in a contract signing held on March 13.

Present during the signing were GMA Network bigwigs including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, and SVP for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores. “Thirty-fours years na po akong Kapuso,” shared Soho, who started her career as a news reporter covering the military and defense beats. The selfconfessed “promdi, or a small town girl, who made good” has only gratitude towards the people around her for success. “I would like to express my gratitude to all the people I have worked with and to the people behind GMANetwork. At of course, to the viewers that continuously

follow our stories on TV, maraming salamat po sa inyong pagtitiwala,” she added. The GMA News pillar looks forward to more years as a Kapuso. “We still have a lot of stories to talk about and share with the audience. Marami pa po tayong pagkukuwentuhan.” Meanwhile, Atty. Gozon is also elated that Soho remains a Kapuso. “We are glad because her program (KMJS) is the number one show in the station. It always wins in the ratings game and tramples its competition. Ganun kahalaga si Jessica sa GMA kaya talagang galak na galak kami na ipagpapatuloy natin ang kanyang more than 34 years dito sa GMA,” he said. Duavit, on the other hand, is thankful for Soho’s loyalty to the Kapuso Network. “Jessica personiﬁes,

exempliﬁes all the virtues and values na tinataguyod natin hindi lamang ng [GMA] News and Public Affairs group kung hindi ng buong Network,” he shared, adding that the Kapuso Network is fortunate that Soho remains a Kapuso even after all these years. “Mapalad tayo na patuloy siyang magiging kasamahan natin.” Mr. Yalong, cited how Soho was very easy to talk with in terms of renewing her contract with GMA. “She knows how the network values her contribution especially yung programa niyang KMJS na nangunguna nga,” he said. At present, Soho anchors GMA News TV’s ﬂagship newscast State of the Nation with Jessica Soho (SONA). She also hosts the country’s top-rating and trending program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) on GMA-7, and is the chief correspondent/ host of the investigative news magazine program Brigada on GMA News TV. A two-time recipient of the highly prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, Soho was recently named as one of the members of this year’s New York

Festivals Television & Film Awards’ Grand Jury. In 2018, she brought another honor to the country as the very first Filipino news anchor to become a finalist at the said international competition, taking home the Bronze Medal in the Best News Anchor category for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho (SONA). This year, the “Salay” feature in KMJS is nominated in the Community Portraits category at the 2019 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition. At the 2018 Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Awards, Soho was named the first ever Hall of Fame Awardee for winning the Most Trusted News Presenter award for eight consecutive years. She remains the Filipino journalist with the most number of Reader’s Digest awards to date. Soho is also the first UP College of Mass Communication alumna to receive the Gawad Plaridel Award for Journalism from the University of the Philippines. At the HISTORY CON 2018, she was given the History Maker Award for her significant contribution to the nation’s life and culture.

Overcome the distance in ‘Five Feet Apart’

‘Five Feet Apart’ is a 2019 American romantic dramafilm written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, March 21, 2019

ACROSS 1 Monarch 5 Beowulf’s drink 9 Like chiffon 14 Not mine 15 Wheel rod 16 Think alike 17 Old Norse poem 18 Simon or Diamond 19 In progress 20 Cowl wearer 22 Tawny predator 24 Oklahoma town 26 Airport code for O’Hare 27 Minerva, in Greece 30 Cinnamon — 32 Moistureless 36 Austronesian language 37 Dress style 38 Feasible 39 Bratty kid 40 Goblet 43 Copy a cassette 44 Wasted no time 46 Author — Haley 47 Electrical problem 49 Info request encl. 50 Ink’s partner 51 Sets right 52 Honcho 54 Three-legged

frame 56 Thesaurus entry 60 Piercing screams 64 — couture 65 Gung-ho about 67 Carvey of “Wayne’s World” 68 Glowing coal 69 Sierra Club founder 70 With, to monsieur 71 Debit’s opposite 72 Be, to Henri 73 Evergreens DOWN 1 Actress — Sedgwick 2 Chits 3 Now, to Caesar 4 Hand shaker 5 Heavy yellow paper 6 Suits, so to speak 7 Muhammad — 8 Vale 9 Eva or Zsa Zsa 10 Schedules 11 Natural impulse 12 Hera’s hubby 13 Cravings 21 Long blouse 23 Column order

25 Eisenhower Center town 27 Faulty 28 Busch Gardens city 29 Fervent wishes 31 DOS alternative 33 Dangerous gas 34 Toughen by exposure 35 Mortgages 37 Boy or man 41 Glad 42 Fragrant compound 45 Committed

admirer 48 Fete 51 On solid ground 53 Immobile 55 Moving around 56 Mets’ former ballpark 57 Candied items 58 Small lumps 59 Wordless actor 61 Overhang 62 Was in on 63 Pouches 66 Protein source

WITNESS a love that will break barriers as romantic drama Five Feet Apart premieres at SM Cinema. Cystic Fibrosis patients Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse) feel an instant connection when they meet at the hospital, but their lifethreatening disease demands that they always maintain a distance of at least six feet from each other. As their attraction intensiﬁes, will they be willing enough to break the rules for a chance at love despite all the risks. To celebrate the release of Five Feet Apart, which premiered on March 20, SM Cinema partnered with Spoken Word MNL and Collaboratory PH. Spoken word artists were given the chance to showcase their work to the audience during the premiere of the movie at SM Cinema. Catch Five Feet Apart at SM Cinema branches nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates.

Davao Oriental is set to stage its biggest music festival this April to promote the province as a travel-friendly destination with acts like (from top) Cassie D, DJ Tom Taus and Jack Ripper.

Davao Oriental to stage its biggest music festival in April IN its bid to promote Davao Oriental as a progressive, traveler friendly destination, the Davao Oriental provincial government and the City of Mati, along with Orca Promotions, is organizing the biggest concert in the province on April 6 to 7. Dubbed the Bonfire Music Festival, the two-day music festival at the Provincial Sports Complex in Barangay Dahican, Mati in Davao Oriental, will promote different genres of music for an estimated 7,000 attendees. The concert will also be an opportunity to showcase the beauty of the Province of Davao Oriental, its culture and tourist destinations to the participants. Performers lined up on April 6 are December Avenue, Nairud, Harmoniax, Broken Chords of May, OrientRocks, Muzza Band, and Mark & Sid. The next day, April 7, features top Rave deejays Tom Taus, Stefan Lan, Ron Poe, Jet Boado, Cathy Frey, Cassie D, and Jack Ripper. A two-day pass grants access to all these performances, discounts at fun activities such as paintball challenge, freebies from sponsors, raffles and many more. For tickets and inquiries, please call 087 306-0573 or email gcarmelotes. orca@gmail.com or visit the Bonfire Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/bonfiremusicfest/.

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

Entertainment

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

YUGEL LOSORATA

Speaking from the heart

Can ‘PLAYHOUSE’ be finally called a home? The ‘PlayHouse’ family

T TURNED to be an emotional moment for the cast of PlayHouse when a member of the press asked each them about the memorable things they’re going to miss about the show.

The cast of family drama ‘PlayHouse’ is led by Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo

The series also has its own spin off titled ’ZEKEling Maging SHIELA,’ an iWant original series that features the love team of Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin.

RISING OPM acts will help usher in a new dawn at the historic Ali Mall as it launches a newly transformed wing called the ALI X tomorrow, March 22. ALI X, which stands for Arts, Lifestyle, and Interests, is a shopping haven for those on the lookout for unique and quirky items and special hobbies. It is located on the upper ground ﬂoor of the Ali Mall. Pop group The Juans and electropop-rock band Gracenote will entertain shoppers this Friday. The Juans, which is dubbed as “not your typical boyband,” is composed of Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, Jiad Arroyo, Jason de Mesa, and Daniel Gorospe. They shot to popular media consciousness thanks to their hits “Istorya,” “Prom,” and “Lumalapit,” and their cover of the Rivermaya original “Balisong.” Gracenote, on the other hand, is composed of Eunice Jorge, Jazz Jorge, EJ Pichay, and Tatsi Jamnague. They scored hits with their cover of the Stevie B original “When I Dream About You,” and their collaborations with Chito Miranda in “Bakit Ganyan Ka,” and with Kean Cipriano in “Pwede Ako.” Singer-songwriter Sabu, meanwhile, will provide the music on Saturday,

“When you work with the right people, everything becomes easy. We thought Playhouse would just be a job but we all ended up being friends in real life,” tearyeyed Angelica Panganiban said while composing herself and still string to sound funny. PlayHouse is a story of a modern-day couple and a child who is seeking a new home. Obviously, the members of the cast have created a special bond and have found a home in each others’ company -- a special kind of friendship they didn’t expect even from the start of the television project. The series instantly attracted the viewers when it premiered in September recording a double-digit rating and winning over its rival. It has consistently won its timeslot and even hit an all-time high national TV rating of 20.5 percent. It is also a consistent trending topic on Twitter, with thousands of tweets daily. The action and suspense reached fever pitch last week as PlayHouse garnered a national TV rating of 17.9 percent or ten points higher than its rival program Hiram na Anak’s 7.8 percent, according to data from Kantar Media. Now that the show is down to its last episodes, the riveting turn of events grip the audience even more. After Robin’s (JJ Quilantang) successful rescue from the hands of his foster father, fate will continue to hinder

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Patty (Angelica Panganiban) and Marlon (Zanjoe Marudo) from having the perfect home they have always dreamed of after ﬁnding out about Robin’s fatal illness. While Peter (Ivan Padilla), who had abducted Robin, is still on the loose, Robin’s life remains in danger after news broke that he is in need of immediate kidney transplant. Because of Robin’s condition, Patty and Marlon will work hard to save their adopted son’s life and secure their legal guardianship of him. But the process will also remind them of the love they once had for each other, which will open old wounds in their hearts. After everything that they have been through, will the former couple be able to give Robin the home that they have also dreamt for themselves? Meanwhile, also part of PlayHouse are Isabelle Daza, Kean Cipriano, AC Bonifacio, Ariella Arida, Dexter Doria, Nadia Montenegro, Ingrid Dela Paz, Jomari Angeles, Malou De Guzman, Smokey Manaloto, and Maxene Magalona. The series also has its own spin off titled ZEKEling Maging SHIELA, an iWant original series that features the love team of Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin, which has been raking views since its launch. Don’t miss PlayHouse on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Music, collectors’ items at Ali Mall’s ALI X launch

Electro-pop-rock band Gracenote led by Eunice Jorge, Jazz Jorge, EJ Pichay and Tatsi Jamnague.

THE wish to become a celebrated musician is a common childhood dream in this nation of tune carriers. But few are chosen. To the many who detoured along the way, only a handful make a concerted effort to still fulﬁll that dream somehow, someway. Motivator Lloyd Luna, a marquee name in the arena of professional speaking, has enough tools to give his ability to write songs its much-needed release. It surely helped that he is a made man. But it’s his gift to naturally speak from the heart that eventually did the trick. “Music is an expression of yourself and it takes resources to deliver your stuff,” declared Luna during our conversation last Friday at Crowne Plaza Hotel Galleria where he was at the forefront of the 1st Philippine Duet Summit, a speaking expertise conference of good promise. It is a duet because it intends to institutionalize speaking engagements involving two speakers, in effect delivering messages in two different voices like duet hit songs seamlessly do. The author of several self-help books on business and life approach initially found learning formal music unaffordable that he ended up playing church organ in Sta. Mesa. “I’m doing it for the last 20 years and going strong,” he said of his musically engaging routine.

March 23, while rapper Krazy Kyle will drop beats on March 30 and 31. Arts and crafts, antique, vinyl and collectibles stores dominate the lineup of establishments in ALI X, which also features ukulele and karate supplies stores. The launch of ALI X will also coincide with the ﬁrst-ever RetroCon (retro convention) in Araneta Center. Organized by the same team behind the History Con, RetroCon which will run from March 22 to 24 and March 30 to 31, will feature vintage toys, collectibles, vinyls, cassette tapes, furniture, paintings and more. Since it opened its doors to the public last September, ALI X has attracted mall visitors with its Instagram-worthy new décor and quirky offerings. It has also hosted an antique auction, a vinyl sale and a ukulele festival. It is one of the newest offerings in Ali Mall, which is eked out in Philippine history books as the ﬁrst major shopping mall in the country. For more updates on Araneta Center’s latest offerings, visit www. aranetacenter.net and follow our social media pages: @AranetaCenter on Facebook and Twitter and @ TheAranetaCenter on Instagram.

Lloyd Luna is a first-rate professional speaker who fulfilled his teenage dream by releasing a collection of songs he wrote and professionally recorded and interpreted.

By 2016 he was already a force to reckon with in public speaking, with an annual average of 120 inspirational speeches filling up his schedule. Earning the tag “productivity humorist” has given him bread, while his business acumen meant multiplying money. It was time to reconnect with his old dream and the result is a seven-song package of his ballad compositions sung by carefully handpicked singers. The collection dubbed Songs Of My Heart can be heard online and features a piece he wrote for his wife Beth and another based on the historic collapse of Golden State Warriors in an NBA Finals series versus LeBron James. Two singers each interpreted two, with Ava Jugueta doing “Buwan at Bituin” and “Kung Ikaw Ay Darating,” and Erwin Lacsa providing voice to “Mali Ba” and “I Always Will.” Luna humbly noted, “It was my lastminute effort to satisfy my dream and it was an intense songwriting stretch.” Not that he has no time to do what he wants. But he has priorities away from music. The fact he was able to cross it out off his bucket list is evident of his strong spirit in finishing races. The founding member of Philippine Association of Professional Speakers, Inc., Luna is hailed as the first Filipino to represent the country in a Global Speakers Summit. He is set to do a talk in Paris this coming May 25. His 16th book is about “stepback leadership” which he simply defined as “putting the people at the center of it.” To further explain he immersed himself towards the ways of the Ifugaos who built The Banaue Rice Terraces through collectivism and collaboration. He pointed out, “My talks are not about me anymore. It’s about the audiences.” Sincere, from the heart.