Manila Standard - 2019 July 20 - Saturday by Manila Standard

IBP, 7 FISHERMEN DROP SC PETITION FOR WRIT TO PROTECT WPS By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines and seven fishermen have withdrawn their Supreme Court petition to compel the Duterte administration to protect the environment in the West Philippine Sea. The IBP on Friday asked the Court to grant its motion to withdraw the writ of kalikasan petition for eight of the petitioners, including the organization itself. IBP lawyers and collaborating coun-

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 156 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

President Rodrigo Duterte

‘Tired’ Rody told to take work break

Jobs, wages, prices top picks to hear in SONA W S NA By MJ Blancaflor

AGES, inflation, and jobs are the top issues Filipinos want to hear from President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address on July 22, a Pulse Asia survey showed.

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte should not be spending “too much time” working “at the sacrifice of his health” for the remaining three years of his term, Malacañang said Friday Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said all members of the Cabinet had observed that the “tired” Duterte needed some time out from the presidency. “He’s working too hard, and we told him so. ‘Mr. President, you should go on a vacation for at least two weeks.’ And he said, ‘How can I go on a vacation when my work has piled up?’” Panelo said. He said a proper work-life balance was the only area that the President should improve on following his high trust and approval ratings. “He should not be spending too much time attending to all his activities at the sacrifice of his health,” Panelo said. He said the members of the Cabinet brought up the suggestion as they observed a seemingly fatigued Duterte after attending a series of engagements.

sel Chel Diokno also sought to withdraw as legal counsels for 20 of the fishermen-petitioners, the group’s national president Domingo Egon Cayosa said in a statement. “With due regard to the plight and position of the fishermen-petitioners, the views and recommendations of the handling lawyers and the IBP chapters involved, and the matters raised by the Honorable Supreme Court, a motion has been filed for the withdrawal or

The poll revealed that 17.1 percent of the 1,200 respondents want Duterte to discuss higher wages and another 17.1 percent to discuss the lowering of prices of basic goods. Meanwhile, 15.2 percent of the respondents want to hear Duterte’s accomplishments and plans on employment. The survey also showed that 9.2 percent of Filipino adults want to hear the country’s relations with China. In addition, 6.1 percent want Duterte to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea in his televised speech and 3.1 percent said he should explain the country’s policy toward China. Moreover, 7.8 percent of the respondents deem illegal drugs as an important topic, while 5.9 percent want the President to discuss improvements in the agricultural sector. Among Metro Manila residents, Philippine-Chinese relations are the most important topic to be discussed. Respond- ents from Luzon were focused on wages, while those in Visayas and Mindanao want Duterte to talk primarily about inflation, the study showed. The respondents were asked: “What would you most like for President Duterte to discuss or mention in his coming State of the Nation Address or SONA?” The survey was

PULSE ASIA SURVEY.

In the run up to President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address before the joint session of Congress on Monday, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed what Filipinos want him to address, midway from his election in 2016: Wages, inflation and jobs, among other issues indicated in the collage below. Lino Santos, Norman Cruz, Ey Acasio and Andrew Rabulan with AFP

DOJ panel to probe sedition raps vs ‘Bikoy’ accused Quit or face charges for ‘BOC 64’ By Rey E. Requejo, MJ Blancaflor, the inciting to sedition complaint filed the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” video that by the police against Vice President implicated President Rodrigo Duterte’s Macon Ramos-Araneta Leni Robredo, several incumbent and family to the illegal drug trade. and Maricel V. Cruz

former opposition senators, lawyers, The panel is composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia L. TorreTHE Department of Justice has formed and a number of bishops and priests. The vice president and others named in villas, and Assistant State Prosecutors a special panel of prosecutors to conduct a preliminary investigation into the complaint are accused of being behind Next page

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has told several officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs they will face administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman on corruption allega-

Chief justice debunks foreign meddling in PH rights situation

ippines, particularly the death toll in the govern- human rights situation],” Bersamin told reportment’s war on drugs. ers Friday on the side lines of the launching of “I am a member of the Judiciary and what I the Supreme Court app. CHIEF Justice Lucas Bersamin on Friday said The top magistrate also shared the view of he did not see any need for international inter- need to say for now is that we don’t see any need ference on the human rights situation in the Phil- for international interference [in the country’s Next page

By Rey E. Requejo

Pacquiao wants Thurman to go toe to toe By Ponciano ‘John’ Melo Jr.

1.3-m people to storm US base to see ‘aliens’

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman Jr. faced members of the media for their last press conference Thursday (Friday in Manila) before their fight

WA SHING TO N — For more than a century, scientists have scoured the known universe for signs of extraterrestrial life, an endeavor that has thus far proved fruitless—unless you believe the US gov-

tions should they refused to resign from office, Malacañang said Friday. In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Chief Executive met with the group at the Palace Thursday night to discuss their Next page

8 school tots killed in Cebu truck crash EIGHT schoolchildren were among nine people killed Friday aboard a runaway truck that crashed in southern Cebu while transporting them to a sports activity, the authorities said. The dump truck’s brakes failed while it descended a mountain road outside Boljoon town center with about 30 children and a few parents and teachers crammed on the truck bed, town mayor Merlou Derama told AFP. “The driver tried to slow the vehicle by brushing its side against the mountain,” Derama said, adding it fell on its side instead. Three girls and five boys aged between 11 and 12 and a mother died immediately, while five other children were taken to hospital, he added. Next page

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Lagman: Infighting to test Speaker By MJ Blancaflor

HE usual infighting and not a coup will test the leadership of presumptive House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, contrary to the statement of Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Friday. A coup is “staged by hostile forces opposed to the establishment,” Lagman said in a statement. “Considering that the members of the supermajority coalition are allied with President Rodrigo Duterte, the possibility of a coup from allies to subvert the President’s

anointment of presumptive Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is nil.” Rep. Paolo Duterte had earlier said President Duterte’s endorsement of Cayetano did not end the race for Speaker. The President will accept whoever sits as the House Speaker when the 18th Congress

’Goring’ follows ’Falcon’ out of PAR

Jobs,... From A1

TROPICAL Depression “Goring” maintained its strength as it continued to move northeastward, the state weather bureau said Friday. As of 4 p.m., the center of “Goring” was estimated at 380 kilometers northnortheast of Basco, Batanes. Packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph, it was moving northeast at 30 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. The storm followed on the heels of Tropical Storm “Falcon,” which lashed northern Luzon and left four people dead. Batanes was placed under tropical cyclone wind Signal no. 1, PAGASA said. “Goring” is forecast to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday night. Meanwhile, “Falcon” has already left the PAR and was estimated at 1,120 kms north northeast of extreme Northern Luzon. Rio N. Araja

IBP,... From A1 discharge of the counsels for the fishermen and for the withdrawal of the petition,” Cayosa said. This developed as the latest poll by the Social Weather Stations said 51 percent of Filipinos have little trust in China―which has claimed territories in most of the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea―while only 27 percent have much trust in Beijing and 21 percent are undecided. This resulted in a net trust rating of -24, worse than the -6 recorded in March, SWS said. Filipinos’ growing distrust of China showed in the SWS poll conducted after the ramming incident at Recto Bank in the disputed waters that stoked fresh tensions between Manila and Beijing. On the other hand, 81 percent of those surveyed by SWS had much trust in the US, 11 percent were undecided, while 8 percent had little trust, for a net trust rating of 73, up from 60 last March. The survey of 1,200 respondents from June 22 to 26 had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. On Thursday, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio called on the Senate to repudiate President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to allow Chinese fishermen to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone. Since the President’s declaration effectively bound the country to his commitment, Carpio asked the Senate to immediately approve a resolution either repudiating the agreement outright or indicating that it needed concurrence from the Senate, a treatyratifying body under the 1987 Constitution. With Nat Mariano

conducted from June 24 to 30, when the major news was the fallout from the Recto Bank incident in which a Chinese vessel hit and sank a Filipino fishing boat, leaving its crew of 22 fishermen in distress in open water. The administration drew heavy fire for what critics described as its failure to assert Philippine rights over the country’s exclusive economic zone. The Palace said these topics have been mentioned by the President in his previous SONAs. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that corruption, criminality, illegal drugs, terrorism, and the West Philippine Sea dispute are the topics that Duterte is likely to focus on in his address. While the President’s prepared speech is said to be short, he has been known to go off topic. “You know the President. He is very extemporaneous, spontaneous,” Panelo

‘Tired’ Rody... From A1 “He doesn’t have any ailment but he’s always tired... He’s always moving,” Panelo said. “He [also] lacks sleep because he’s a night person, and then you will make him speak at 8 o’clock in the morning. He’ll really have a hard time.” Panelo said they, as Duterte’s alter egos, “can hardly catch up with his work schedule.” “But health-wise, the President is strong,” Panelo said. “He’s not burnout, he’s just too hard-working.” Two months ago, the rumors sparked again after the 74-year-old President was

DOJ... From A1 Michael John M. Humarang and Gino Paolo S. Santiago. On Thursday, the Philippine National Police filed a formal complaint before the DOJ against Robredo and Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima; former senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, opposition senatorial candidates Gary C. Alejano, Florin T. Hilbay, Romulo B. Macalintal, Jose Manuel I. Diokno, Samira GutocTomawis, and Lorenzo R. Tanada III,

Quit... From A1 supposed corrupt activities. “Administrative charges over allegations of corrupt practices in office will be filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman, unless they opt to resign, and the prosecutors will ask for their immediate suspension,” Panelo said. “The President has been forthright in telling these Customs officials and employees that corruption has no place under his watch. He told them that consistent with due process, they will be given

opens on July 22, the Palace reiterated Friday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Chief Executive “will not mind” if Cayetano will not occupy the top post in the House of Representatives. “That’s what the President said. ‘Do you mind? I don’t mind,’” Panelo said. “Does he have a choice? The President will not interfere,” he added. Lagman said the ouster of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during last year’s State of the Nation Address was different as it was not a coup but “a mutiny of a disgruntled crew orchestrated by an external force.” That resulted in the installation of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Lagman said the current grumblings in the House were the usual infighting for the positions of deputy speakers, committee

chairmen, vice chairmen and ranking members among fellow partisans, “which would test the mettle and fortitude of a leader.” More urgent now, he said, after the positions of Speaker and Majority Leader had been settled even before a single vote was cast in the plenary, is the Minority Leader, which should come from the opposition. “What is of urgency is the recognition of the third most important position, that of an authentic, credible and responsible Minority Leader from the ranks of the true opposition,” Lagman said. Duterte publicly endorsed Cayetano to be the next House Speaker for the first 15 months, while Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will sit in the post for the remaining 21 months.

said during a chance interview on Friday. The spokesman previously said that the SONA will be short, but jested that it might last two hours. Duterte’s first SONA lasted for one hour and 32 minutes, while his second address lasted for two hours, after he deviated from his prepared speech. His third SONA last year lasted 48 minutes. The National Capital Region Police Office will put its forces on full alert starting Saturday as part of security preparations for the SONA. Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, said Friday that about 14,000 police officers would be deployed to ensure peace and order during the SONA. Eleazar said 9,162 cops and force multipliers would be sent to secure the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. The police, he said, would be deployed at about 5 a.m. on Monday to areas where protesters would be allowed—up to St. Peter Parish along Commonwealth Avenue for militant groups, and at the IBP road for pro-

administration groups —“for as long as these are held peacefully.” He said they have a contingency plan in case the President decides to face the protesters after delivering his address, as he had two years ago. Eleazar noted that part of the security protocol is to jam cellular signals. At least 15,000 protesters are expected to hold rallies but Eleazar said he had already met with their leaders to set guidelines to prevent violent confrontations. Part of the discussion was Eleazar’s appeal for the protest organizers to ask their members not to carry bags and wear jackets as a preventive security measure. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said he hoped the President would discuss plans, not only for the remainder of his term, but for the next decade, saying the 2020 national budget should lay down the framework for the 10-year development plan for the country. Senator Joel Villanueva said he hoped to hear the President push key reforms that would sustain the economy’s growth. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

away from the public eye for a week following the midterm elections on May 13. The rumors said Duterte was hospitalized at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. Panelo then quickly shot down the speculations, saying Duterte was just signing papers in his residence at the Bahay Pagbabago in the Malacañang Complex. Also, Duterte skipped an engagement with barangay officials in Leyte in February this year for he was “not feeling well.” Panelo said the public should praise the President “for knowing when to cancel a trip and resting his body if he is not feeling his usual strong self. “He is not Superman. Every person

does not feel well sometimes. I don’t think that the President canceling an event because he is not feeling well is a cause of concern.” For over three years, Duterte’s state of health has been a favorite topic of speculation from his critics and detractors. The Palace then dismissed every single one of them, even repeatedly shrugging off calls for Duterte’s medical bulletin. The President, however, has admitted suffering from back pain, migraines and Buerger’s disease. The Palace had also said before that Duterte would step down from his post once he was “dying or gravely ill.” Duterte will once again be in the public eye on Monday when he delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address.

accusing them of inciting to sedition, cyber libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice. Peter Joemel Advincula, the selfconfessed “Bikoy,” the hooded man in the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos, was also named a respondent, even though his claims were used as basis for the complaint against Robredo and her co-accused. Others named respondents were former Education secretary and now La Salle President Armin Luistro, Jonnel Sangalang, a member of Trillanes’ Senate staff; Eduardo Acierto, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Abdiel

Dan Fajardo, lawyers Minerva Ambrosio, Serafin Salvador, Philip Sawali and Egon Cayosa, former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te, and clergy members, Bishops Teodoro Bacani Jr. and Honesto Ongtico, Arcbishops Pablo Virgilio David and Socrates Villegas and Fathers Robert Reyes, Flaviano Villanueva and Albert Alejo. The PNP-CIDG submitted the sworn statement of Advincula detailing his supposed meetings with the respondents and how they planned “Project Sodoma” aimed at spreading lies against the President’s family and allies and toppling Duterte.

their day in court,” he added. According to the spokesman, the President even “assured” the BOC personnel he would not begrudge them if they would avail of legal remedies to question their removal from office. In fact, Duterte was “thankful” they accepted his invitation to meet him in Malacañang, something the President viewed as a sign of respect for him, Panelo said. Meanwhile, pending the filing of cases against them, the spokesman said: “They shall be in floating status without authority to act on official matters.” “Let this serve as a reminder to all

those officials or employees in the government that they cannot escape liability or accountability for their acts of corruption under the Duterte administration,” he added. The meeting was held a week after Duterte announced that he would terminate 64 BOC personnel due to corruption allegations. Aside from Panelo, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential AntiCorruption Commission chief Dante Jimenez, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, whose department oversees the BOC, attended the meeting.

Boljoon police said they planned to ask state prosecutors to file charges of multiple homicide against the driver, who was unhurt. The local government lent the veThe Department of Education extended its condolences to the families hicle to the remote school to transport its athletes to a competition in of the victims.

Boljoon because transport options were limited in the area, Mayor Derama said. Last month, another dump truck rolled over on a mountainous road in Camarines Sur, killing 13 people, according to local police. AFP

event called “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All Of Us” scheduled for the early hours of Sept. 20, and a million more had marked themselves as “interested.” Area 51 is a highly classified US Air Force base in the Nevada desert, the very existence of which was not publicly acknowledged by the CIA until 2013, when the agency declassified documents relating to the U-2 spy plane.

The intense secrecy surrounding the facility has made it fodder for alien conspiracy theories and it has long featured in pop culture, including the “The X Files” TV show and the movie “Independence Day.” The Facebook event’s creators explained: “We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Center tourist attraction and coordinate our entry. AFP

School... From A1

1.3-m... From A1 ernment is hiding aliens at a remote base in Nevada. The number of people persuaded of this theory could be growing. As of Tuesday, more than 1.3-million people had signed up for a Facebook

Pacquiao... From A1 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The blockbuster night of boxing, to be beamed live to 120 million viewers worldwide, will feature Pacquiao for the 15th time inside the MGM Grand Arena as he battles undefeated Thurman to unify their world welterweight belts. With the way his opponent has talked smack since the fight was announced, the eight-division world champion hopes the younger American can now walk the walk. “I’m expecting a good fight and a toe-to-toe on Saturday would be good,” said Pacquiao. “It’s been a while since

State lawyers hit NUPL over amparo suit at appeals court STATE lawyers at the Court of Appeals on Thursday objected to the deliberate flaunting of the preset court rules by the National Union of People’s Lawyers in connection with the latter’s petition for an amparo suit against the government. The appellate court terminated its hearings Thursday, and the magistrates announced that they considered the case submitted for resolution after the Office of the Solicitor General said the government did not intend to call any witness over its case. Assistant Solicitor General Angelita Villanueva-Miranda and Associate Solicitor Marlon Bosantog made known their continuing objection that the NUPL failed to observe the previously agreed upon arrangement that counsels would provide a copy of the witnesses’ judicial affidavits at least five days before the scheduled hearing. Copies of the judicial affidavits of NUPL Panay chief Rene Estocapio and former senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares were sent on July 16. Bosantog said that “while they are not averse to conducting a crossexamination on the witnesses,” ignoring the rule would violate the procedural right to due process of the government officials named in the suit. Aside from requiring the parties to send copies of judicial affidavits to the opposing counsels five days before the scheduled hearings, the appellate court in two resolutions on May 20 and July 16 had “sternly warned the parties” that in case of non-compliance, “witnesses [with late judicial affidavits] will not be allowed to testify.” PNA

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin

Chief justice... From A1 Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo the resolution submitted by Iceland last July 4 to the United Nations Human Rights Council was a minority resolution. The resolution on the Philippines, led by Iceland, was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday by a vote of 18 countries in favor and 14 against, with 15 abstentions. Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights complained the Philippine National Police had never granted accessibility to dossiers of all cases under probe in connection with the government’s war on drugs, especially those involving deaths. “We, in the CHR, continue to pursue our constitutional duty of promoting and protecting human rights of all even in the face of blatant challenges to our mandate and existence in the past years,” lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said. “For the record, as early as 2016, CHR has sent formal letters to the PNP leadership, aside from public calls, reiterating our numerous requests to be provided with copies of the complete records of all cases being investigated by police in relation to the campaign against illegal drugs, especially those that resulted to deaths,” she added. She said CHR got no answer from the PNP. “Up until this date, we have yet to receive the said case folders despite statements of openness to cooperate with CHR as the country’s independent national human rights institution,” she noted. With Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta the last time I’ve experienced something like that.” Thurman, who earlier said that he would be the one to “retire Manny” and would “crucify” the Filipino boxing legend, threw another verbal jab in the media presentation. “Manny’s a legend, but I’m not here to pat him on the back, I’m here to fight him,” the 30-year-old American said. “It puts me in the fight mode to know that he won’t do nothing with them little T-rex arms. He’s about to get beat up. I get to punch a senator and he’s gonna feel it,” said Thurman, who sits on an unblemished 29-0 record with 22 KOs. Pacquiao was just all smiles while Thurman was content to stoke their word war by his lonesome.

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El Shaddai leader’s son named as TESDA deputy

OLD ABATTOIR.

Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso conducts an inspection of the Vitas slaughterhouse in Tondo, Manila on Friday, July 19, 2019. Domagoso ordered the start of the clearing operation of the old abattoir to make way for a new one. Norman Cruz

Villar wants to stop use of single plastic TO AVERT The worst occurence that the country’s ocean will become a “virtual desert” by 2050 if plastic pollution continues, Senator Cynthia A. Villar wants to stop all types of single-plastic use. The senator, who will retain the chairmanship of the Senate environment and natural resources committee in the 18th Congress, raised alarm over the results of the study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) that sooner there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. “The fish will eat all the plastic and they will all die,” Villar said quoting the UNFAO. Acting to curb plastic pollution in the country, Villar filed Senate Bill No. 333 or the Single-Use Plastic Product Regulation Act of 2019. The proposed measure seeks to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and use of single-use plastic products. The enactment of the bill, Villar said, is urgent in the face of a study showing the Philippines as the world’s third largest producer of plastic wastes that end up in the oceans. Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Erap complied with DILG order’ FORMER Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a statement that he had issued an Executive Order creating a transition team in compliance with the DILG directive and directed all the department heads to extend full cooperation to the incoming administration. Estrada said that his good character as a man and as a former President is a “living testimony that he is and will always be a statesman.” Aside from issuing an EO creating the transition team, the former mayor also required all department heads to prepare the necessary documents for a smooth transition. He added that these documents were ready and available days before 1une 28, 2019. Also, according to Estrada, all documen1ts had already been submitted in the afternoon of June 28, but claimed that the ofﬁce of Councilor Bernardito Ang “who refused to accept the same for the ﬂimsy reason that it should have been subm1itted in the morning of June 28, 2019.’’

NCRPO arrests 22 forgers in Manila POLICE officers arrested 22 persons involved in the sale of counterfeit documents during operations in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Thursday. NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar led the conduct of simultaneous implementation of search warrants together with the NCRPO Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU), in coordination with the Manila Police District Police Station 3. The operation yielded large volume of spurious documents and various identification cards and computer machines, including accessories and dry seal stamps. Eleazar said the operation stemmed from a complaint of a lawyer from the Department of Social Welfare and Development about minor girls rescued from bars and airports, who obtained fake birth certificates and passports from Recto. The Metro Manila top cop said the operations is under NCRPO’s intensified cleanliness policy that will now focus on eradicating these forgers through follow up operations so it can clean up the city once and for all.

By MJ Blancaflor

DILG backs term extension of local officials thru Cha-Cha

AVAO CITY—Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he supports the term extension of local ofﬁcials, and that this could be achieved through Charter change that can be ratiﬁed in the 2022 presidential elections.

During a media briefing here Wednesday, Año said the term of local officials such as barangay officials, mayors, and governors can be extended from three to five years. However, Año said that under his five-year term proposal, local officials may only serve for two successive terms. “There should be a move on a Constitutional change for the terms of our local officials. Like for the barangay captains, one-year nila i-familiarize yung work nila, the next year yung implementation ng programs nila, then after that year election na naman,” the DILG secretary pointed out. Año also said he was amenable to the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year, saying he strongly supports Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Joel Almario’s bill for the elections to be held in 2023 instead of 2022.

Recto seeks debt limit; files ‘debt cap’ bill A DEBT cap bill has been filed in the Senate, setting national indebtedness at an amount not more than 50 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product. Its author, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, said the cap will not “handcuff the government” from securing loans to finance infrastructure projects “but merely sets the red line in the debt meter that this and future governments must not hit.” For 2018, debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 41.8 percent, on a debt stock of P7.3 trillion and GDP value of P17.4 trillion. The national debt, however, has climbed to P7.9 trillion by May this year, and is on track of breaching the P8 trillion mark by end of this year. Using 2018 debt and GDP figures, Recto explained that government was “P1.4-trillion away” from his proposed debt cap that is equivalent to half of the GDP. “But it is better to impose a ceiling by law to shield the government, present and future, from piling up debt,” Recto said. “We set it at 50 percent of GDP, with the prohibition that the national credit card shall not be maxed out.” “Having this limit will force government to observe credit discipline, constantly monitor the debt needle, and deliver them from the temptation of accepting donor-driven projects of dubious benefits to the people,” Recto said. In Recto’s bill, total indebtedness includes those backed by the sovereign guaranty of the Republic of the Philippines.

Nevertheless, the DILG chief made it clear that despite their longer terms in office, local officials should always be held accountable for corrupt practices and other acts that are inimical to the country. “Yung mga palpak sa trabaho (those who are incompetent) at yung mga corrupt na officials tatanggalin ng DILG sa pwesto yan (will be removed by DILG),” he said. But a Palace official said that the House of Representatives should conduct a survey on the people to know whether or not they agree on the proposal to extend the term of lawmakers. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said lawmakers should seek public opinion on the proposal to extend the lawmakers’ terms. “I think more relevant would be what the people want. I think they should conduct a survey on the sentiments of

the people―whether or not they agree on that proposal,” Panelo said. “And I’m sure since that has been floated, there will be opinions being expressed by many sectors.” Panelo made the statement after Cayetano, the first choice of President Rodrigo Duterte in the speakership race in the House, floated the possibility of extending the lawmakers’ terms to four years with no term limits or five years with term limits. “It is not a political thing. It is a practical thing,” Panelo said Wednesday. “While we will push for federalism, I think there is a way that the Senate will agree that we push either for four years, no term limit or five years, 3-term limit.” Saying he wanted to implement his proposal in the next Congress, Cayetano then appealed to lawmakers to give his idea a try. “Agree with me on this since I’ll only serve for 15 months. I don’t want to leave as a failure. I want to leave a productive [Congress],” Cayetano said. “I’m asking all of you: Let us be the most disruptive Congress―in the sense that we disrupted the status quo and we can deliver more.” Panelo, however, said the decision still depended on the members of Congress. “The decision would always lie in the members of Congress because they are the ones passing the bill,” Panelo said. PNA

NEW CONGRESS.

A worker cleans the gavel of the Senate President as well as the Session Hall in preparation for the upcoming opening of the 18th Congress on Monday, July 22, 2019. The senators, composed of 20 from the administration and 4 from the opposition, have already filed their priority bills ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress. Lino Santos

Case vs. ‘Morong 43’ cops, troops dropped By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan has acquitted the obstruction of justice case against seven police and military officers who were charged in connection with the arrest of the so-called “Morong 43” in 2010. The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division said there was insufficient evidence to convict the government men who arrested 43 suspected New People’s Army rebels who were masquerading as health workers in a raid at an alleged communist training camp in Morong, Rizal. The Sandiganbayan, in a 39-page ruling, granted the seven military and police officers’ demurrer to evidence owing to the prosecution’s failure to prove that the accused policemen obstructed, prevented or prohibited the private

complainants from conferring with their counsel of choice. A demurrer to evidence is a plea to the court to dismiss outright a case, based solely on the evidence presented by the prosecution. “Morong 43” are the 43 health workers believed to be members of the New People’s Army and were accused of undergoing explosive training in Morong, Rizal in February 2010. “It bears to reiterate that the issue in this case is whether or not accused obstructed, prevented, or prohibited private complainants from conferring with their counsel of choice. The veracity of the claimed obstruction by accused was put to doubt in the very testimonies of the private complainants themselves,” Sandiganbayan said.

A SON of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde and two board members of the beleaguered Philippine Health Insurance Corp., have been appointed to various positions in government. President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Buhay Party-list Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde Jr. as deputy director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority last July 10, a Malacañang list revealed on Friday. Velarde Jr., thus became as the second in command ofﬁcial of the agency. TESDA used to be headed by Senator Joel Villanueva, who is the son of another religious group leader, Jesus Is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva. Also appointed were Marlene Padua and Alejandro Cabading as board members of PhilHealth representing health care providers and expert panel, respectively. The PhilHealth is currently headed by Ricardo Morales, are tired military ofﬁcial who was tapped by Duterte last month following the controversys parked by fraudulent claims. Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Rico judge Janvier Echiverri was also promoted as undersecretary, while Florida Dijan and Francisco Cruz will serve as assistant interior and local government secretaries. Meanwhile, Pasig City Judge Maria Rowena Modesto-San Pedro was elevated to the Court of Tax Appeals. The President also made appointments in the Bureau of Plant Industry, Cebu Port Authority, Export Development Council, LBP Leasing and Finance Corp., Local Government Academy, Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, and the Philippine National Police

SC penalizes Capiz judge found guilty of impropriety By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has exhorted judges that they should behave at all times as to promote public confidence in the integrity of the Judiciary, and avoid impropriety and appearance of impropriety in all their actions. This came after the SC resolved to penalize a lower court judge who has been found guilty of impropriety for stopping the implementation of a valid writ of execution. In an 11-page resolution dated June 3, 2019, the SC First Division through Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo found Judge Hannibal R. Patricio of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court, president Roxas-Pilar, Capiz, guilty of three counts of Conduct Unbecoming of a Judicial Officer and imposed on him a fine of P40,000 for interfering with the implementation of a writ of execution. The SC held that Patricio violated Canon 2, Sections 1 and 2, and Canon 4, Sections 1 and 2, of the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary which states that integrity and propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential in the discharge of the judicial office. The high court found that Judge Patricio resorted to threats and intimidation to stop the implementation of a valid writ of execution by saying that something untoward might happen if the writ was carried out. While Judge Patricio did not employ actual force in its literal sense, the SC ruled that the threats he uttered effectively prevented or stopped the carrying out of the writ. “A judge should possess the virtue of gravitas which means that a magistrate should not descend to the level of a sharp-tongued, ill-mannered petty tyrant by uttering harsh words, snide remarks and sarcastic comments/ he is required to always be temperate, patient and courteous, both in conduct and language,” the tribunal said. Likewise, the SC reminded that as a holder of a judicial office that commands respect, Judge Patricio should accord respect to another officer of the court, a sheriff who is implementing a writ of execution.

Opinion

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

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The black state of the Philippine environment LAST Thursday, I had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the forum on the State of the Philippine Environment. I am grateful to the Center for Environmental Concerns, Kalikasan People’s Network, Development Studies Program, Rosa Luxembourg Stiftung, and the Ateneo Environmental Science Society for asking me to make this presentation. It gave me an opportunity to reframe Philippine and global environmental concerns and propose a new taxonomy of environmental issues that the world and the Philippines face.

We are failing in addressing effectively the climate emergency and the biodiversity crises. The usual classification has been to categorize environmental issues as green (for terrestrial ecosystems), blue (for coastal, marine, and water related challenges), and brown (for pollution, waste and other industrial problems). In my presentation, I introduced a fourth class of environmental challenges - the black issues, which are the enormous and existential challenges we are facing today. These issues are climate change, extinction of species, large-scale mining and big dam projects, and destruction by China of the resources of the West Philippine Sea. These black issues are characterized by development aggression, global inequity, loss of national sovereignty, and social injustice. I will now be using this presentation

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

for my environmental law classes in Ateneo Law School, Ateneo de Zamboanga, San Beda Graduate School of Law, FEU Institute of Law, and University of Makati and in many forums I expect to be invited to in the months to come. Indeed, the state of our environment is black. This in spite of generally good and competent leadership in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Secretary Roy Cimatu has taken big steps to try to fix Boracay and Manila Bay. It is too early to say whether he will succeed or not. But for sure, Boracay and Manila Bay are not the Philippines. And in the rest of the country, the efforts of the government are simply not adequate to respond to the challenges. This is especially true of the black environmental issues. We are failing in addressing effectively the climate emergency and the biodiversity crises, in fact making bad decisions about them in concrete cases like allowing a new coal power plant to be built in Palawan. We are failing in mining with the DENR supporting the renewal of the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement of Oceana Gold in the face of strong opposition by all levels indigof local governments and the indig enous peoples and local communities. We are making a bad decision in pursuing big dam projects like Kaliwa River Dam that will only result in inundating flora, fauna, and people without solving the water shortage in Metro Manila and in financial terms with China that is grossly disadvantageous to the Philippines. And, yes in the West Philippine Sea, we are giving up our sovereign rights, allowing Chinese militia fishermen to exploit our fisheries at the expense of our own food security and the livelihood of many Filipinos. In the face of these black environmental issues, I welcome the pastoral letter on ecology issued earlier this week by the Catholic Bishop’s

In your face

HAT would you look like several decades from now?

for any other purpose, reported Agence France Presse. Still, experts say such assurances from the developer are not enough. There is Russia’s general reputation when it comes to cyber issues. Users cannot delete the photos on their own—they have to request FaceApp to do so, according to TechCrunch, a tech and start-up website. The terms of service are not specific enough, and The Verge, a technology news outfit, reports they may not be compliant with GDPR. Then again, other experts say many other apps on people’s devices already probably commit the same privacy violations anyway. Social media have become so common that people take them for granted and do not realize the consequences of sharing information about themselves. We say we worry about giving away too much

Many social media users around the world apparently became curious to know, so they used a Russian-made application called FaceApp that “ages” one’s selfies and gives a preview of one’s likely future appearance. But now there is talk that FaceApp poses individual and national security risks, and the United States and the European Union have launched a probe into the possible violation of users’ privacy. Wireless Lab, FaceApp’s developer, insists it is safe. The CEO says Russian authorities did not have any access to any user data and that most photos are deleted from its servers within 48 hours. The app, he added, did not use the pictures

personal data, yet we voluntarily—and eagerly—check into this or that establishment, post pictures of vacation spots we visit or food we eat, and establish a predictable story of how we live our lives. It’s quite natural to respond to an application’s interesting feature—not just this latest craze. But danger lurks everywhere, both in the physical world and in the virtual one. We should be reminded that familiarity with social media does not diminish the pitfalls that go with it, especially since these are too technologically sophisticated for the common person to grasp or even imagine. Two reminders, then, could be a handy, catch-all guide: Know that when you put something out there on the Internet, you lose complete control of it, however you believe. And when in doubt (whether to post/ comment/ download or not), just don’t.

Turn to A5

Human rights advocacy in the 18th Congress (Part 2) TWO weeks ago I started writing about the bills that human and women’s rights advocates will push for passage by the 18th Congress and I started with the Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy (MACWIE) and divorce. Both bills have since been filed in the Senate and House of Representatives (HOR). MACWIE was filed by Sen. Grace Poe. Sen. Sonny Angara said that he will also file it. Hopefully, the bill will also be filed by Sen. Joel Villanueva who was Chair of the Committee on Labor in the 17th Congress that processed and approved the bill at the Committee level. At the HOR, MACWIE was filed by returning Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez. Other representatives have indicated their intent to file. Advocates are looking forward to the long-delayed passage of this bill into law. The Divorce bill, on the other hand, has been filed as H.B. 100 by its past principal author, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. I personally know of other representatives who are inclined to file the divorce law. The HOR has actually passed the bill on Third and Final Reading in the 17th Congress but did not move in the Senate. This time, Risa Hontiveros has filed the bill early. Now that Sen. Pia Cayetano is back in the Senate, advocates hope that she will also file the divorce bill version approved by the HOR in the senate. After all, Cayetano was a bill’s co-author in the House. Among the other bills that advocates will work for passage are on teen-pregnancy prevention, and SOGIE (Sexual

Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) equality. Teen or adolescent pregnancy is a major problem in the country. We have one of the highest numbers of teenagers getting pregnant in the world and this should worry everyone, whether in, or outside government. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that around 24 babies are born to teenage girls every HOUR. This is equivalent to 576 babies born to adolescent mothers EVERY DAY.

Protection of human and women’s rights is of paramount importance. And these are just the girls who give birth. Excluded here are those who got pregnant but had a miscarriage or abortion. According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 9 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 have begun childbearing. While this is already quite high, it does not capture the whole extent of teenage pregnancy. NDHS only covers women of reproductive age (WRA) perceived to be between 15 and 49. However, in our work in poor communities, we encounter younger girls who have gotten pregnant the youngest of whom was ten years old. Further, more girls in rural areas get pregnant (10.1 percent) than those in urban areas (6.8 percent). In terms of economic classes, more girls in poorest households begin childbearing (15 percent) compared with girls in the richest households (3 percent). Moreover, 32 percent of girls who only had elementary education Turn to A5

‘Huli ka balbon!’ BEHOLD! The holier-than-thou, the self-proclaimed anti-graft crusader, may have finally been caught dipping his hands inside the cookie jar. Earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte finally stepped in the issue confronting the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, not only barring the private organization Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc. from interfering with the biennial sport events, but also insinuated on investigating the foundation headed by Alan Peter Cayetano.

While not known to be really a sports buff, Cayetano tried to snatch the organizing of the SEA Games from legitimate sports bodies, the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

And he is not even a sports buff. Cayetano organized the Phisgoc, minplacing four of his most trusted min ions in the board to ensure control over the foundation. In his column, former colleague Julius Manicad of the Daily Tribune identified the Cayetano subalterns as

(a) Donaldo Caringal, the Taguig lawmaker’s “boyhood pal at La Salle Zobel;” (b) Ramon Suzara, the Physical Education teacher of Cayetano and Caringal. He was also “the former Philippine Superliga president whose ties with his volleyball colleagues were reportedly severed by financial issues and other accusations hurled against him;” (c) Monica Ann Mitra, grand daughter of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra and niece of Games and Amusement Board Chair Baham Mitra. According to Manicad, “you have to go through her first if you want to reach the lawmaker from Taguig, if at all;” and, (d) Dexter Estacio, a graphic artist at the Taguig City Hall, but he was elected Turn to A5

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Opinion Fake tourists working illegally in Palawan PALAWAN province always welcomes visitors from all over the world, but residents of the worldrenowned tourist destination are now anxious about the influx of unwanted guests. The residents refer to the increased number of Chinese nationals who supposedly came as tourists but turned out to be employees of some online gaming casinos. They sought my assistance to bring their concern to the attention of proper authorities. They said the Chinese nationals could easily reach 1,000 supposedly tourists billeted in various hotels in Puerto Princesa. But when concerned locals watched closely the activities of the Chinese nationals, the latter were discovered to be working, mostly as call center agents for the online casinos. They found out, too, that the Chinese nationals do not possess proper

The black... From A4

Conference of the Philippines entitled “An urgent call for ecological conversion, hope in the face of climate emergency.” Signed by CBCP President Romulo Valles, Archbishop of Davao, it minces no words and speaks truth to power. Below are excerpts from the letter: “Our remaining forests and biodiversity are continually being threatened by extractive mining operations and the building of dams. Respect for God’s creation is disregarded when irresponsible mining practices are allowed to continue. Land and life is desecrated when almost two-thirds of the ancestral domains of indigenous peoples and more than half of protected and key biodiversity areas are directly threatened by mining applications and operations. Despite evidences against 26 mining operations ordered closed or suspended last February 2017, not one mine has stopped extracting because of technical administrative loopholes. Social justice is not served when only the few mining companies, many of which are also owned by political leaders, reap the benefits from mineral extraction. The rural poor remain poor as mining only contributes less than one percent to our GDP, employs less than 0.4% of our labor force and directly threatens agriculture, forestry, watersheds and fisheries resources that are essential for the survival of the rural poor. Another problem related with mining is the phenomenon of our country’s growing dependence on fossil fuel-based energy, such as coal. There are at least 23 existing coal-fired power plants operating across the country;

‘Huli ka... From A4

as treasurer of Phisgoc who has control over the billions of pesos that the Foundation would raise through.” sponsorships, donations, subsidies and, yes, government money. “He was also alleged to be one of the passengers of the helicopter that took aerial shots of the so-called Hacienda Binay in Rosario town in Batangas. The photos taken there played a crucial role in the demolition plot aimed at thwarting the presidential bid of former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in 2016.” According to reports, the Phisgoc Foundation took over the functions of the POC and made decisions on its own, including the creation of the

Human... From A4

get pregnant compared with only 4 percent of those who have had college education. Lastly, across age groups, the highest unmet need for family planning (or fertility management) is among the 15-to-19-year-olds pegged at 37.5 percent. It does not help that the Supreme Court decision on the Reproductive Health Law prohibits access of minors to contraceptives without written parental or guardian consent.

work permits from the Bureau of Immigration. According to BI authorities, temporary work permits for skilled workers are good only for six months. A local informant said the online casino chain is operated by a Chinese national by the name of “Tony Sy” and caters to Chinese-speaking clientele overseas, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Such gambling operation is prohibited in mainland China. The Chinese gambling lord has allegedly operated his multi-million dollar business in Puerto Princesa for over a year through a Filipino dummy named “Arbiyola.” The locals are now asking why the authorities have allowed the employment of illegal workers at the online casinos. One community leader said, “Para hindi magduda ang mga taga-Palawan, sa mga hotel nakatira ang mga illegal workers nang magmukhang mga turista at hindi pagdudahan. Minsan napapagkamalian pa na mga negosyanteng Koreano.” He said agents of the National Bu-

reau of Investigation once raided online casino joints at the second floor of a popular supermarket building in Puerto Princesa. But to everyone’s surprise, the horde of illegal alien workers were back to work the following day. “Ang tanong ng mga residente: Magkano ang dahilan?” said my informant. A quick check with the Bureau of Immigration revealed that no work permits have been issued to Chinese nationals for employment in Puerto Princesa online casinos. Immigration authorities also questioned the local government’s issuance of business permits to “Tony Sy” and “Arbiyola.” Local residents denounced what appears to be a corrupt practice of tolerating the alleged operation of illegal online gambling operations in one of best island tourist spots in the world. My informant said he also found out the said online casino firm indeed also has a PAGCOR Offshore Gaming Operation license. It looks more fun for illegal alien workers in Palawan.

28 more may be operational by the year 2020. To support and sustain this dependence, a huge number of coal power plants involved in extensive coal extraction has to be put in place. Thus, coal mining projects have been allowed to increase to 186, including small-scale ones. Worse is, most of these coal projects are located within the vicinity of communities of indigenous Filipinos and are supported by rich ecosystems and biodiversities. Centuries of emissions from coal have been scientifically proven to be among the lead causes of the current climate degradation. Coal projects also further exacerbate the vulnerability of impoverished host communities in the Philippines already struggling to cope with the effects of the worsening climate. Many coastal and agriculture-reliant communities face the loss of their livelihood because of land conversion and the pollution of resources caused by coal. Health problems also plague such communities due to the toxic substances and heavy metals released into the air and water resources by the mining, transporting, and burning of coal. The burning of coal and other fossil fuels and the destruction of nature are natural consequences of extractive mining. Needless to say, these industries are pursued primarily for profit accumulation and rarely, if at all, in response to peoples’ needs. This is the root cause of the continuous escalation of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere which, in turn, is causing the climate crisis. The climate crisis has thus far claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions of people, and brought about tragic devastation in many parts of the world. This climate crisis is bound to get much worse in the years ahead.

*** The Philippines, being an archipelago, is prone to climate-induced disasters brought about by sea level rise, storm surges, prolonged droughts, and flash floods, among others. We are known to be the second among the countries with the greatest exposure to disaster risks worldwide. We are at the doorstep of all the major threats of climate change which cause irreversible damage to agriculture, marine resources and the entire bionetworks. Moreover, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently in our country. The catastrophic super typhoons like Yolanda, Ondoy, Sendong, and Pablo, that have devastated several of our regions, attest to this level of climate vulnerability. On record, Yolanda (Haiyan) is the strongest tropical cyclone ever to make a landfall on our country. The damage from Yolanda was catastrophic, resulting to an estimated 8,000 casualties, affecting 16 million people in 10 provinces, while over 1.1 million homes were damaged, about half of them completely destroyed. The sources of livelihood of an estimated 5.6 million poor people were severely affected. Climate-related disasters threaten us all. The reality of the climate crisis, proven by the catastrophic impact of typhoons and other human induced-disasters, has made us aware that the time to act is now, not tomorrow. We must activate climate action on behalf of the voiceless people and the planet.” In the next column, I will write about solutions to the black state of our environment, including the recommeandations proposed by the CBCP.

SEA Games’ official logo, theme, mascot and other marketing collaterals without the approval of the POC board. Taking over the organizing of the SEA Games, the Cayetano-led Phisgoc reportedly asked PSC to release P59.2 million just for the apparel to be used by the Filipino athletes for the December games. According to politiko.com.ph, Phisgoc has commissioned foreign sportswear manufacturer Asics to dress the Filipino athletes to the tune of P41,160 per set of uniform. The breakdown is as follows: Polo shirt—P5,150; round-neck shirt—P2,480; track jacket—P6,310; track pants— P7,400; shorts—P5,100; socks—P2,700; backpack—P3,190; running shoes— P3,950; and cap—P2,400. Even with the exorbitant prices of

the sports apparel, Cayetano even had the guts to deny they were overpriced as he accused critics of muddling the issue by comparing the unit prices of the items requested to the unit prices of the supplies sold at stores. He also refused to clarify what materials were the sports uniform made of especially the P2,700 pair of socks except to say the quality of sportswear that Asics agreed to provide to the athletes were far superior from what was found in stores. With the way he tried to run the SEA Games, we won’t be surprised if the P2-million turon which landed in the headlines years ago during the De Venecia Speakership would make a comeback, probably at a much higher price tag should Cayetano end up Speaker on Monday.

Clearly therefore, there is an urgent need for a law that will put in place a comprehensive program that will help prevent teenage pregnancy. Last Congress, bills on this issue have been filed in both Houses of Congress but did not make it. The bills may have a better chance in the 18th Congress since even President Duterte has issued a statement on this and called for a summit on teen pregnancy. Hopefully, the bills will be certified as urgent by the President to ensure passage. SOGIE equality is another bill that advocates will work on. Again, although some consider LGBTQI+ issues

as contentious, the bills are no longer new. This bill has been languishing in Congress for many years and in fact, the HOR passed the bill on Third and Final Reading last congressional term. The problem was the senate where the bill was opposed by conservative senators led by Tito Sotto and Manny Pacquiao. The SOGIE equality bill has been refiled in the senate and will surely also make it to the HOR. Members of the LGBTQI+ community have been waiting for this bill to become a law because of the many and different kinds of discrimination, sometimes even abuse and violence

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SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

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Poor slogan to uphold freedom of navigation to chart a dangerous course of testing just how far the Chinese Navy would challenge its ships patrolling close to the 12-mile restricted territorial sea circumferential to those islands it presently occupies and on which it has effectively installed sensitive WHILE our President continues to rant military and communications equipin asserting an independent foreign pol- ment. This could put our alliance to icy, the government hangs on to the US- a litmus test just how far our ships sponsored “commitment” to uphold the would follow that dangerous course freedom of navigation, overflight and of taunting the Chinese Navy. other lawful uses of the South China Admittedly, the US Navy is treatSea. To quote the press release issued ed differently by the Chinese Navy. by the Department of Foreign Affairs It is the US navy that is bent on inmade after the Manila and Washing- truding over those waters to put to a ton concluded the two-day 8th Bilat- test China‘s determination. But then eral Strategic Dialogue, “[b]oth sides the situation was far different when recognize the importance of a strong the so-called gunboat diplomacy Philippine-US alliance in enhancing worked against China’s rickety junk security cooperation and promoting re- ships. Today, the Chinese Navy is gional security and prosperity….Both equally packed with the same or sides also emphaeven stronger sized the imporweapons to deter tance of concludthis challenge. ing an effective Our joining in This could put to and substantive the military exCode of Conduct end the hospitality and ercise to assert that would not courtesy which we have our misplaced prejudice the rights claim of freedom under international been receiving from of navigation law of both claim- China. could elevate the ant states and nonPhilippine Navy claimant states in to the category the SACS.” of the US Navy Our participation in the US milimili considered as an enemy attempting tary exercise to assure us of our to intrude into its territory. rights as a claimant state to the South The China is fully aware that the China Sea is rather abrasive consid- US Navy is not engaged in the exerering that there has been no instance cise of freedom of navigation but in by China or any other country in the conducting a routine naval patrol, an region blocking the free passage of objective far different from its avowed navigation in the SCS. Our close call claim. On the other hand, the Philipof a direct conflict with China in the pines, has every right from the standScarborough Shoal cannot be consid- point of international law and from ered an attempt to stall the freedom of our right to freedom of navigation as navigation but an issue where China an adjacent state. The Philippines has wanted to rescue their fishermen who the right to patrol, to engage in rescue were arrested by our Navy, caused by and protect its fishermen, to engage the misinformation sent by the former in disaster operations, to preemptive Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert attempts to land prohibited goods and del Rosario. entry of illegal immigrants. There are To begin with, our partnership with many activities our navy can do with the US to help us “assert” our free- the active cooperation of navies from dom of navigation is ludicrous con- adjacent states to promote trust and sidering that it is being used as cover friendship and even encourage peoto compel us to stick to an alliance ple-to-people trading among states in solely for the protection of its own in- the region. terest. Note that none of the feared inOur participation in the military cidents happened, specifically of the exercise is to purposely test our freeUS Navy gesturing to come to our as- dom of navigation will put asunder all sistance in the event of an attempt to our efforts to achieve friendship and interdict our freedom of navigation. cooperation with China. China and In fact, this security arrangement has other countries in the region which generated tension, even as the alli- have bad historical experience with ance refuses to identify the anticipat- the US like Vietnam have every right ed enemy that allegedly threatens to to question the regular patrol of the block the waterway. US in the SCS. It is to them an offThe presence of a foreign naval shore exercise of hegemony. It conpower is only justified by that thin veys an implied message that this veil of having an alliance with the body of water and territories adjacent Philippines raising the banner of to it remains subject to its exclusive ensuring freedom of navigation to influence and to a certain extent conitself. This serves as a dilemma. trolled by the US. This has a shade of Should the Philippines openly iden- the US Monroe Doctrine—to declare tify China as an enemy even for the as off-limits to European colonizapurpose of justifying the bilateral tion of South America. exercise, it runs the risk of throwIt is in light of this interpretation ing overboard all those economic that some states see the presence and developmental agreements we of the US Navy as annoying. As it entered into with China. That spoils steps up to assert their so-called altogether our efforts to deepen our right to freedom of navigation, the understanding with China, hoping attitude of the local population is it will serve as our contribution to slowly transformed to one of seeing stop the increasing militarization in the US presence as a threat to their the SCS. own security. That could put to an end the hosFinally, the presence of the US navy pitality and courtesy which we have patrolling the SCS is seen as a liabilbeen receiving from China, and col- ity than an advantage to them. Before laterally treating it as an enemy by that, the concept of freedom of navivirtue of our defense treaty with the gation was virtually non-existent to US. That could possibly put to an end the local population. The claims over such humanitarian assistance, disas- these islands only intensified when a ter and rescue mission from China or naval foreign power began to assert even make it difficult for our fisher- the right of navigation to its naval but men to catch fish in areas which we addressed to countries in the region. have no effective control like what Of course, this was due to the discovhappened in the Scarborough Shoal. ery of natural gas and other minerals All these could happen if we decide in the area, but this does not detract to identify China as our enemy in the fact that the presence of the US conjunction to the desire of the US, navy is asserting its power over and which we know is more interested in above the interest of the claimant economically and politically isolating states with China eyed as its principal China. target. It would even be more dangerous to endorse the hostile attempt of the US rpkapunan@gmail.com

they are subjected to. This has nothing to do with special treatment or additional rights. The bill is only about making real the LGBTQI+’s human rights already enjoyed by everyone else. The bill is about addressing their needs, making illegal discriminatory, abusive, or violent practices on the basis of SOGIE so their human rights are protected and actualized. There is no reason why persons’ rights are differentiated based on any distinction be it sex, gender, religion, ethnicity, political belief, and SOGIE. This is about equality, nothing more. Beyond these four bills (MACWIE,

divorce, teen pregnancy prevention, and SOGIE equality), there are others that will also be pushed. Moreover, human and women’s rights advocates will also work to oppose bills that will violate people’s rights including death penalty and lowering the age of criminal liability. Advocacy work in 18th Congress will be intense and hard. Advocates are up to it because the protection of human and women’s rights is of paramount importance. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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Gov’t strengthens disaster drive By Joel E. Zurbano THE government continues to strengthen its disaster readiness campaign to prepare the people in the event the “Big One” hit the National Capital Region. The business community and other sectors are now being encouraged to practice their earthquake preparedness plan during the metrowide shake drill set on July 27. Metro Manila Development Authority-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management chief Michael Salalima on Friday said they also met diplomats, media men and representatives from transport groups and utility companies and discussed readiness measures should the ‘Big One’ occur, which experts believe would happen anytime. The “Big One” is a euphemism for a major earthquake which could be higher than magnitude 8. The 5th metrowide earthquake drill aim to prepare and inform the people about survival methods and the “do’s and dont’s” before, during and after the disaster. “The approach in the preparation and response to disaster and emer-

gency is all-inclusive. We are not only counting on the government to be providing all the response and preparedness measures for “The Big One” but also on the private sector and nongovernment organizations help us craft a preparedness and response measure for Metro Manila,” said Salalima. With businesses open during the night drill, Salalima encouraged the business process outsourcing industry, hotels, casino and other business establishments to test their preparedness. “This is not just a matter of going through the exercises but rather we are serious in testing, seeing and assessing the preparedness and response of units concerned in Metro Manila,” he said. Ahead of the drill, the agency received a donation of 200 safety helmets that would help strengthen the agency’s emergency preparedness and operations from private ﬁrm C’est La Vie Event Management. Salalima said the safety helmets will be distributed to quadrant commanders and key persons involved in the staging of earthquake scenarios during the shake drill.

Hatchbacks, sub-compact cars allowed as TNVS units H ATCHBACKS and sub-compact cars are now permanently allowed as transport network vehicle service units.

In a message sent to the media, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddes Hope Libiran said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday signed an amended department order allowing hatchbacks as transport mode following a meeting with other transport ofﬁcials. She clariﬁed the DO allowed all hatchbacks as public transport units and not just those included in the 55,000 TNVS units in the master list made by Transport Network Companies such as Grab, in cooperation with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board. She said the department order would be marked with a seal by Saturday (July 20) and would take effect immediately following its publication at the University of the Philippines Law Center. Tugade on Thursday instructed the LTFRB to implement LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2018-005 which allows accredited hatchback units to operate as TNVS along

with certain conditions. Under the MC, all accredited hatchback units shall be allowed to operate as TNVS within a three-year transition period, only within Metro Manila, and charge a lower fare. DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Richmund de Leon said allowing hatchbacks as TNVS would mean better service to the riding public through cheaper and wider variety of options. “We are giving the commuters their transport options. Kung gusto niya na mas mura ang biyahe niya, mag-hatchback siya (If they wanted a cheaper way to travel, they can take hatchbacks),” De Leon said. In a dialogue between the LTFRB, the Anti-Red Tape Authority and TNVS operators last July 9, LTFRB Technical Division chief Joel Bolano said hatchbacks were not disallowed as TNVS but only 2,235 hatchbacks applied for accreditation within the original 55,000 TNVS units in the master list. He added the accredited hatchbacks were in violation of the Department of Transportation and Communications order 2015-011 and DOTr order 2017-011 that limits TNVS units to sedans, Asian Utility Vehicles, Sports Utility Vehicles, vans, or other similar vehicles. PNA

IN BRIEF

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 11-B Sunrise Drive. Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Cubao, Quezon City

‘18-m workers may lose jobs in 6 years’

Notice of Stocksholders’ Meeting To All ERC Stockholders:

THE labor group Associated Labor UnPlease be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Educational Resources Corporation shall be held on July 27, 2019; 12:00 noon at Marco Polo Hotel, Meralco Ave. San Antonio, Pasig City to take up the following matters. 1. Election of new directors for the incoming fiscal year; 2. Report of the President and 3. Other relevant matters Please be guided accordingly (sgd) Atty. LACANDOLA S. LEANO Corporate Secretary (MS-JULY 18, 20 & 24, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Quezon City, Metro Manila BRANCH LXXVIII (78) IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION TO ADOPT JHON ERIC I. ECHAGUE AND TIMOTHY ERICSON B. ECHAGUE

THE ECONOMY, STUPID. (from left) Wilson Lee Flores, moderator and owner of Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong-president of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., George Baarcelon, chairman, Philippine Commerce and Industry, and Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., president, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, discuss the state of the Philippine economy and Socioeconomic Reforms during the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City Friday. Manny Palmero

SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-19-06513-SP For: Adoption

Republic of the Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES BARMM Compound, Cotabato City

ERIC O. ECHAGUE AND MICHELLE LORIE D. BAYLON Petitioners. x--------------------------------------------------x

INVITATION TO BID For 2019 SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM

ORDER A verified petition for adoption was filed by the petitioners, Eric O. Echague and Michelle Lorie D Baylon, through counsel, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing: (a) decree of adoption be entered declaring that the minors namely: JHON I. ECHAGUE and TIMOTHY ERICSON B. ECHAGUE as the legitimate children of the petitioners with the full and complete exercise of the concomitant rights of such legitimate children of the aforesaid petitioners; and (2) the corresponding report of birth and birth certificate of the minor children be accordingly processed to indicate that they are now both the legitimate children of the petitioners. Petitioners are both of legal age, Filipino citizens, living together as common-law husband and wife, with common residence at No. 100-R Century Compound, 10th Avenue, Barangay Tagumpay, Murphy, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Petitioners have looked forward to formally adopt the minor children namely: Jhon Eric I. Echague and Timothy Ericson B. Echague. Petitioners have treated both minor children as their own children as in fact Jhon, since his infancy at age five (5) months, and Timothy since birth have been within the petitioners’ care and custody. That both of the minors are affiliated by consanguinity unto petitioners, Jhon being the son of Eric from a former relationship while Timothy is the natural child of the petitioners. Moreover, petitioners desire to upgrade Timothy’s status as a legitimate child. Petitioners are in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, and they are both possessed of a good moral character, have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude and do not have any court derogatory record; emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children as will be shown by the certifications issued by a clinical psychologist as well as by a medical doctor as will be further proved and testified to during the trial of the instant case. Petitioners further allege that they are financially capable to adopt Jhon and Timothy as petitioners are lucratively employed with Eric as President and Director of Skyaire Airconditioning Center Corp. and Airmax Enterprises, Inc. while Michelle is Vice-President and Director of both Skyaire and Airmax where petitioners earn joint annual income of about Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) The minors to be adopted, Jhon and Timothy, are as earlier declared, the child and son of Eric with another relationship particularly with Mona Liapar Ibañez with respect to Jhon and the petitioners’ own natural child and son with respect to Timothy, having been born out of wedlock. Thus, with respect in the petitioners’ desire to adopt Jhon. Mona has fully consented to the said adoption of Jhon. That since the minor Jhon’s infancy at five (5) months old from March 2009 up to and until today, the petitioners have been caring for the minor Jhon while with respect to minor Timothy, petitioner have been caring for the minor Timothy since birth up and until today. Anent the adoption of Jhon , Ms. Mona, Jhon’s biological mother is a native of Bacolod, Negros Occidental but has been working as a domestic helper in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is on vacation here in the Philippines. That in support of and as her full conformity to this adoption, Ms. Mona has given her written consent to the adoption thru her Sworn Affidavit. The adoption of the minors, namely Jhon and Timothy would be to their best interests and benefit and that the adoption is based on genuine and sincere intention of the petitioners to consider Jhon and Timothy as their own legitimate children. As of date, minor Jhon is currently enrolled as an incoming 6th Grade pupil at the PAIL and SHOVEL Integrated School located at No. 107 14th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City. On the other hand, the minor Timothy is an incoming Grade 3 pupil at the La Salle Greenhills located along Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City. Both Jhon and Timothy are registering good scholastic records at their aforestated respective schools. The adoption is also the manifestation of petitioners’ love, affection and support to the minors as the fact they have been supporting the minors since infancy with respect to Jhon and since birth with respect to Timothy. IN VIEW THEREOF, and finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is given due course. Accordingly, let the instant petition be set for hearing on November 6, 2019 (Wednesday), at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning at Rooms B13-B14, Basement Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City. Notice is hereby given that anyone who has any objection to the petition should file his/her opposition hereto within fifteen (15) days from the last date of the publication of this Order or appear in Court on the above scheduled date of hearing and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted. Let this Order be published, at the expense of the petitioners, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national circulation, to be chosen by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court, this city, pursuant to P.D. 1079. The Court Social Worker, Ms. Mariebec Cariaga is hereby directed to conduct a case study on the petitioners and the minors subject of the adoption and to submit her report on or before the scheduled hearing. Petitioners are hereby directed to coordinate with the Court Social Worker, Ms. Mariebec Cariaga, to facilitate the preparation of the case study. Petitioners are further required to furnish a copy of the petition, together with its annexes, the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Local Civil Registrar of Marikina City, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), and to submit compliance therewith to this Court immediately. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, May 23, 2019. (Sgd.) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, Jr. Presiding Judge (MStandard-July 6, 13 & 20, 2019)

The Ministry of Social Services, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through SARO No. BMB-D-19-0004262, dated June 3, 2019, intends to apply the sum of ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED FORTYFIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO PESOS (PhP142,245,432.00) being the Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the 2019 Supplementary Program in the following lots: Lot No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Province/City Maguindanao Lanao Sur A Lanao Sur B Marawi City Basilan Sulu Tawi-Tawi

ABC 58,834,692.00 20,416,536.00 18,237,996.00 3,201,660.00 8,220,240.00 16,636,284.00 16,698,024.00

The Ministry of Social Services-BARMM now invites bids for the supply and delivery of rice and various viands intended for one hundred twenty (120) feeding days of 80,638 Day Care Children in the 2,313 Child Development Centers in the 116 municipalities and one city in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Delivery of goods shall be made weekly based on the approved schedule and prepared menu for the whole duration of the 120 feeding days. Goods shall be directly delivered to the Child Development Centers in every municipality. Bidders should have completed within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder in contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section 11- Instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “passes/failed” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Also, bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Ministry of Social Services and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on July 22, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for Bidding Documents, pursuant to Section 17.4 of IRR of RA 9184: Lot No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Province/City Maguindanao Lanao Sur A Lanao Sur B Marawi City Basilan Sulu Tawi-Tawi

Price 50,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00

Pre-Bid Conference will be held on July 31, 2019; 10:00 AM at the Conference Room, Office of the Minister, Ministry of Social Services-BARMM Compound, Cotabato City. It is open to all prospective bidders. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 13, 2019 at 9:30 AM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on August 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM at the Conference Room, Office of the Minister, Ministry of Social Services, BARMM Compound, Cotabato City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who opted to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. The Ministry of Social Services reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process and to reject Bids any time prior to contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders, as provided for under Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without incurring liability to affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: ABDULRACKMAN E. MAMA Head, BAC Secretariat Ministry of Social Services-BARMM BARMM Compound, Cotabato City CP No. 0999-982-5269 (SGD) HADJA POMBAEN KARON-KADER Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (MS-JULY 20, 2019)

Metro road works resumes Saturday THE Metro Manila Development Authority has announced the resumption of road works in the metropolis this weekend until dawn Monday. In its advisory, the MMDA public information ofﬁce stated that the Ofﬁce of the Chairman gave the go signal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to resume and conduct road repair activities on major thoroughfares beginning Friday night. DPWH–National Capital Region chief Ador Canlas said the road works will be carried out at the southbound directions of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to Bansalangin Street, 1st lane from sidewalk; from Magallanes to Baclaran Bus Stop going to Magallanes-Alabang Bus Stop, outer lane; and from Eugenio Lopez Drive to Scout Borromeo (desilting and construction of manhole); and at the northbound direction from before New York Street, 1st lane from sidewalk. Road repair works will also be undertaken along Circumferential Road 5 (C5), southbound direction fronting SM Aura, 4th lane from median; and at its northbound direction from fronting SM Aura, 4th lane from median. Other roads to undergo pavement rehabilitation includes Regalado Avenue, from Mindanao Avenue Extension to Quirino Highway, 2nd lane from sidewalk, northbound; Katipunan Avenue, after Quirino Memorial Medical Center, 2nd lane from sidewalk, southbound; Quirino Highway, from Junji Street to Salvia Street, inner lane, eastbound; and General Luis Street, from Oriental Tin to Pascual Road, eastbound. Joel E. Zurbano

ions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines feared more than 18-million Filipino workers would lose their jobs in the next five to six years due to factories and establishments resorting to robotics, automation and artificial intelligence in selling products. ALU-TUCP National Executive Vice President Gerard Seno expressed the apprehension after Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba claimed around 18.2-million workers could lose their jobs over the period of the next five to six years as enterprises shifts to automation, robotics and AI to create efficient service and more products to be competitive. “We can confirm that workers particularly in the agriculture, retail and manufacturing are now being impacted with only one employee left operating a machine in a production line that used to be manned by five to 10 workers,” Seno said. Seno said they were concerned that affected or displaced workers might have difficulty to cope and acquire new skills needed to cope with the innovation if government will not be able to provide adequate and inexpensive upskilling sessions for them. Seno is also appealing to government to provide unemployment insurance schemes or programs specially to help displaced workers mitigate the impact caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The DTI said around six-million workers from the agriculture sector, 3.4 million in retail and 2.4 million in manufacturing sectors could lose jobs by 2024 with more and more transition to automation and AI. Vito Barcelo

Leyte under calamity

TACLOBAN CITY—The Leyte Provincial Board on Friday passed a resolution declaring the entire province under the state of calamity due to the alarming cases of dengue. As of its latest data, Leyte posted 1,747 dengue cases with six deaths. Tacloban, a highly-urbanized city, also reached 407 dengue cases with five deaths as of July 18. With its increasing number of mosquito-borne viral infection, the Tacloban city government stepped up its cleanup drive and fumigation operations in the eight densely populated barangays in the city this week. On July 18 and 19, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the City Health Office conducted mosquito fogging and cleaning operations in Barangays 65, 66, 66-A, 67 , 68, 69 and 70 in Paseo and Anibong Districts and 74-Lower Nula-Tula. Henry James Roca, of the City Information Office, disclosed that the City Health personnel will have fumigation activities in Barangay 71 Naga-Naga 54-A, and 91 Abucay (July 19), Caibaan (July 22), and Barangays 85, 87 and 88 in San Jose. City health officials also advised residents to seek immediate medical help if they experience sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, vomiting, and skin rashes, saying these are symptoms of dengue.Ronald Reyes

RECKLESS IN THE RAIN. An incautious young boy enjoys playing Friday on a polluted rain water in a shallow pool at the Luneta Park in Manila, not knowing he may be infected with leptospirosis a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases. Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all. Lino Santos

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Dream High, Bren Limitless conquer ‘Juicy Legends’ meet

6 chargers dispute P3M total Triple Crown prize

TOP gamers Bren Limitless and Dream High Gaming emerged as overall champions in the first ever “Juicy Legends Tournament” that culminated at Isetann Recto Mall in Manila. The two-month “Juicy Legends Tournament,” staged by ULVL Gaming and sponsored by ARC Refreshments Corp.’s Juicy Lemon brand, served as an e-sport battleground for avid gamers of the popular Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Bren Limitless took over the Pro Division category and bagged consecutive wins in a best-of-five game against competitor Aether. The team won the coveted trophy and P100,000 cash prize. Dream High Gaming team won the “Juicy Legends” Amateur Division. Photo shows Roadfill from ULVL and JM Ledesma and Kat Patso “Masaya ako kasi at least ‘yung from ARC Refreshments Corp. together with Dream High Gaming team members [from left to right] John Paul Ansaldo, John Michael effort namin, yung mga practice Dizon, John Paul Salonga, Allen Baloy, and Thom Ruiz Bernardo. namin gabi-gabi, ay nagkaroon ng bunga (I’m happy because all our efforts, the practices that we did every night, resulted in something great),” said Christian Provido, Bren Limitless’ team captain and also known as Raff lesia. Provido was also grateful for the people behind the tournament for making the event possible. “Thankful kami sa ULVL and Juicy Lemon kasi kung ‘di dahil sa partnership nila, hindi mabubuo itong tournaLarry Muyang banged in nine points By Peter Atencio ment na ito at wala rin kami rito for the Knights, while Ambohot made (We’re thankful for ULVL and nine with Jerrick Balanza, who sent the Juicy Lemon because without their HE Letran Knights pounced on two scoring opportunities game into an extra five minutes after partnership, this tournament will in the dying seconds to fend off the University of Perpetual bungling a triple off Benedict Adamos not be formed and we won’t be Help Altas, 82-80, in overtime yesterday at the FilOilat the buzzer, 70-all. where we are now).” Balanza made up for his miss at the Flying V Center in San San Juan. Known as the underdog in tournastart of extra time when his trey conments, Dream High Gaming, on the Edson Batiller knocked in 23 Knights, who are now ahead of the Col- nected, putting Letran ahead, 73-72. other hand, proved detractors wrong points, including a split charity in lege of St. Benilde Blazers and the San Edgar Charcos made 15 points for the when the team topped the Amateur the last 4.6 seconds, helping push the Sebastian Stags (2-0 slates). Altas, who took their second consecuDivision and took home P50,000. Meanwhile, the Lyceum Pirates, tive loss in three matches. Knights to their third consecutive triLiquid and Finesse Titans ranked umph in the 95th National Collegiate with Jaycee Marcelino and Ryan It was Charcos’ trey with 4.1 seconds Athletic Association men’s basketball Tansingco making 14 points apiece, remaining which tied the match, 70-all. second and third place, respectively, clipped the Mapua University Carditournament. with P20,000 and P10,000 each. In junior action, the Lyceum Junior That proved to be the final basket for nals, 79-71, to bounce back from their Pirates coasted to a 101-66 beating and “Sobrang sarap ma-experience na the Knights, who went on to take the up- loss to the Emilio Aguinaldo College upset of the defending champion Mamaglaro sa mall tapos maraming tao. perhand in the team standings with their Generals last Friday. layan Red Robins. Kada laki ng mga tournaments, palaThe Pirates, who will miss injured 3-1 win-loss record. John Barba, back from a knee injury, ki rin nang palaki ang community. Big man Jeo Ambohot had nine points big man Mike Nzeusseu for another tallied 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Mas ma-aappreciate ng mga tao ang and 13 rebounds. His putback with 12.4 two weeks, are now in third spot with Junior Pirates handed the Red Robins Mobile Legends not as an addiction, ticks left which gave the Knights the lead their 2-1 slate. their worst loss of 35 points. but as a serious and fun sport (It felt “We stuck to the game plan. And we for the final time as they held on to it after Teammate Jae Omandac struck with really great to experience playing in were going big in our last plays. We ex- 24 points and five boards for the Junior they moved ahead, 81-80. a mall with an audience. As tournaAto Ular shot 19 points and dominat- pected to get those second shots,” said Pirates, who joined the San Beda Red ments grow bigger, the community ed the boards with 13 rebounds for the Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan. Cubs in the lead with win no. 3. also grows. More people appreciate that Mobile Legends is not just an addiction, but learn that it is a serious and fun sport),” said Allen Baloy, also known as G r e e d of Dream High Gaming. Hosts Roadfill, from the popular PORTRUSH—Former champion Jordan comic duo Moymoy Palaboy and Spieth charged into a share of the British founder of ULVL Gaming, and KimOpen lead with his fellow American J.B. US golfer bee hyped up the event as fans and Holmes early in Friday’s second round at Jordan avid gamers witnessed the battles beRoyal Portrush. Spieth putts Three-time major winner Spieth, tween teams. Being a gamer since his on the 6th who has struggled in the last 18 months childhood, Roadfill mentioned that hole during and slipped to 38th in the world rankhe has always wanted to establish a the first ings, followed back-to-back birdies group that supports e-sports gamers round of the with an eagle at the par-five seventh in the country. British Open hole to reach five-under par for the golf ChamAdvocacy for sports development tournament. pionships and the values associated with it He poured in another long putt for birdat Royal pushed ARC Refreshments Corp., ie on the eighth to put his name at the top Portrush the company behind “RC Cola Liga golf club in of the leaderboard. ng Bayan” 3x3 Basketball TournaNorthern Overnight leader Holmes made an earment, to support ULVL’s “Juicy LegIreland. AFP ly birdie of his own to edge to six-under ends Tournament”. after his opening round of 66. “We really wanted to do e-sports and World number one Brooks Koepka was we were looking for a good partner to even-par for the day through nine holes, tie up with Juicy Lemon. We figured three-under for the tournament. this tournament would be a good fit. Further back on the course, Tiger Northern Ireland, but spectators were you are starting on the back foot,” said E-sport now is gaining attraction. We Woods holed a 30-foot birdie putt as he left stunned by McIlroy’s immediate McIlroy. wanted to encourage that and to proThe four-time major champion, who made the perfect start in his bid to make collapse. mote sports of different types. E-sports He briefly battled back after a bogey at fired a course-record 61 at Portrush at the the cut after a miserable first-round 78. promote teamwork, sportsmanship, Home favorite Rory McIlroy also the par-three third hole, but missed a tiny age of just 16 in 2005, was given a huge putt to double-bogey the 16th, tripled- reception on the first tee as the crowds hudand resilience. I think the younger endured a dreadful start. Organizers the R&A are anticipating bogeyed the last and eventually carded a dled around the opening hole for a sight of generation has different ways of underthe local hero. the second-biggest ever Open attend- disastrous eight-over 79. standing, doing and showing these val“I guess when you play your first and But he quadrupled-bogeyed the first ance, with 237,750 people expected to ues. Playing sports and e-sports would last holes in a combined seven over par after hitting his tee shot out of bounds. come through the gates this week in be some of the effective ways to hone them more,” said James Loverio, ARC Refreshments Corporation’s Head of Marketing.

Letran Knights edge Altas in overtime; Pirates prevail T

SIX of the country’s finest three-yearold thoroughbreds will slug it out for the whopping top prize of P1.8 million from the guaranteed total pot of P3 million when the 3rd leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Triple Crown Series erupts at the MetroTurf Racing Complex on Sunday. The series’ first two winners Real Gold (C & H Enterprise, Jockey JP A Guce) and Boss Emong (Edong Diokno, Dan Camanero) are the favorites, but a surprise from the rest of the four chargers Moises Villasenor’s My Jopay (jockey Pat R. Dilema); Melanie Habla’s Shanghai Grey (jockey JB Hernandez); Juanito Tionloc’s Sir Joaquin (JT Zarate) and Renato Virata’s My Dad Bogart (MP Laloma). The distance of the clash is set a 2,000-meters. Second-placer of the race pockets P675,000, with the third and fourth placers getting P375,000 and P150,000, respectively. A P100,000 prize is allotted for the breeder of winning horse. All prizes are put up by the Philracom. In the accompanying third leg of the 2019 Philracom Hopeful Stakes Race, which will also be ran in 2,000 meters, a seven-horse field, bannered by second leg runner-up Two Timer (owner Melanie Habla, jockey JA Guce) and third placer The Accountant (Luis Aguila, Pat R Dilema), will be eyeing the P600,000 top prize, from the total P1-million purse offered. Joining the Hopeful Stakes field are Best Regards (owner Peter Aguila, jockey CP Henson), My Shelltex (Antonio Tan, JB Guce), Phenomenal (Enrique Javier, JP A Guce), Tulos Express (Mario Alvarez, RM Garcia) and Westeros (Juan Miguel Yulo, AR Villegas). Runner-up gets P225,000, while third- and fourth-placers receive P125,000 and P50,000, respectively, with winning breeder taking P30,000. The three-leg series is patterned after the United States’ Triple Crown, with its three legs comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, also with progressively longer distances.

Foton tries to Spieth grabs share of lead; Rory, Tiger struggle keep hot PSL streak going

BEST Center still accepts enrollees THE award-winning BEST Center will still accept enrollees for its volleyball classes at Starmall Alabang on Sunday. The clinics, sponsored by MILO and supported by Rain or Shine, Chris Sports and Sklz, are set every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon for students in Levels 1 and 2 For inquiries, call 411-6260 3723065; email bestcenter.inquiry@ gmail.com or bestcentersporrts@ gmail.com

Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:00 p.m. – Cignal vs Sta. Lucia 6:00 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Foton

RED-HOT Foton seeks to keep the flame burning when it clashes with Generika-Ayala in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Action fires off at 6 p.m. following the battle between Cignal and lowly Sta. Lucia in the 4 p.m. appetizer of this explosive double-header bankrolled by Team Rebel Sports, SOGO, Eurotel, PCSO, Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Mueller, Senoh, Asics, Bizooku and One Sport. The Lady Realtors are tipped to march with fire in their eyes after suffering a flattening setback to mighty F2 Logistics last Thursday, 22-25, 3-25, 12-25. The second set outcome was actually the lowest points ever tallied in the history of this prestigious women’s club league that also as ESPN5 and Kapatid TV5 as broadcast partners.

Breeders support Manila Cockers Club

THE Union of Gamefowl Breeders, comprising prominent cockfighting breeders and affcionados around the country, issued a resolution expressing their strong support to Manila Cockers Club, Inc. The Union is Led by former Congressman Amado Bagatsing as Chairman and Jimmy Zapanta as Vice Chairman, together with Union officers Chito Polintan, Tony Boy Espinosa, Professor Arturo De Castro and Pete Buendia, among others. MCCI operates a duly-licensed cockpit at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite and broadcasts its cockfights through Cignal TV. The live broadcast of MCCI’s cockfights are featured in Off-Cockpit Betting Stations, where bets can be made through a totalizator (“tote”) system. Using this technology, a bet in an OCBS is deemed transacted, accepted, and confirmed in Carmona, Cavite, where MCCI’s cockfights are held in accordance with the E-Commerce Act of 2000. This process is similar to the popular internet-based

commerce stores such as Amazon and E-bay which are examples of how the E-Commerce Act is applied. MCCI’s operations are licensed and regulated by the LGUs inaccordance with the Cockfighting Law of 1974, as amended by the Local Government Code of 1991. According to the Union, “[t]he operations of Manila Cockers Club, Inc. (“MCCI”) has been greatly beneficial to breeders like us, as it provides livelihood to both urban and rural communities nationwide. Since the company purchases from the breeders an average of 60 game fowls a day for 21 days in a month, or a total of 1,260 game fowls monthly, MCCI operations has generated jobs for many Filipinos. It has become a consistent source of incomefor the thousands of breeders all over the country that supplygamecocks to MCCI.” The operations of MCCI likewise opened opportunities for small to mid-level breeders to participate in derbies and to showcase their fighting cocks to a wider audience, the Union added. The company’s operation is likewise a significant

source ofgovernment revenue as MCCI remits the proper amount of taxes to the national and local government. In 2018, MCCI has remitted P106,898,138.00 as percentage tax and a local tax of P15,797,169.00. On account of increased operations, MCCI’s contribution to the local and national government revenue likewise surged. In the first quarter of 2019 alone, MCCI has remitted P58,454,019.00 as percentage tax and is slated to remit P57,788,722 in the second quarter. Local taxes of P17,178,093.00 likewise were accrued as of June 2019 as a result of MCCI’s operations. Aside from the percentage and local taxes, MCCI likewise remits its corporate income tax in the amount of P13,252,582 in 2018 and an estimated P20 Million in the second quarter of 2019. “MCCI has elevated the game of cockfighting and at the same time unlocked a viable source of government revenue to fund ournation’s intensive drive on infrastructure development,” theUnion said.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

Blackwater fights Rain; Ginebra faces Magnolia 5 By Jeric Lopez THE quarterfinals officially kick off as four protagonists look to start fresh and gain the upperhand in the playoffs of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. A hot pair of best-of-three affairs start with everyone eyeing first blood. No. 3 seed Blackwater dukes it out against No. 6 Rain or Shine at 4:30 p.m., while No. 4 Barangay Ginebra and No. 5 Magnolia resume their sizzling rivalry at 6:45 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today. The Elite were coming off a highly successful elimination round as they ended up with their best finish in franchise history, piling up a 7-4 record. “We had a good elimination round but we haven’t achieved anything yet,” said Blackwater coach Aries Dimaunahan. “What we’re looking at is to go deep in the playoffs.” Blackwater will go up against an inconsistent Rain or Shine side, which managed a 5-6 mark. The Elite came out on top in their elimination round duel, 98-92, last June 2. Over at the other pairing, the storied rivalry continues between the Gin Kings and the Hotshots. While Ginebra emphatically took their elimination-round meeting, 10281, last July 7, it was Magnolia which got the best out of the two in the previous conferences. The Hotshots have eliminated the Gin Kings in the last two conferences in the playoffs and are looking to continue their success. On the other hand, Ginebra is looking to reverse the table as it looks to defend its crown.

PSC’s Ramirez spearheads unity meeting A UNITY meeting to form a cohesive team for the country’s final push in the preparations of the 30th Southeast Asian Games has been set. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William I. Ramirez, the chef de mission of Team Philippines, said all national sports associations that will participate in the coming Games and their athletes are invited during the gathering scheduled July 24 at the Malacanang Palace. The top brass of the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) and the PSC are also enjoined to attend the meeting to pledge their cooperation and all-out support to the entire organization of hosting the 11-nation sportsfest. ``If we want to win as one, we should embrace a united front,’’ said Ramirez after attending the meeting with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Senator Bong Go, Taguig City Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday in Malacañang. ``One team, one goal. The country should come together and be united in supporting this government effort,’’ added Ramirez, who led Team Philippines to its first overall title in SEA Games during the 2005 Manila hosting. Each national sports association has been tasked to bring along five athletes during the 10 a.m. Malacanang assembly. A total of 57 sports will be played during the Nov. 30-Dec. 11 Games to be held in three main clusters―Metro Manila, New Clark City and Subic. Ramirez has expressed high hopes that the meeting will encourage officials of the Phisgoc, POC and the PSC to move in one direction with four months to go before the biggest multi-sports event in the Asean region unfolds. Ramirez assured that all the dealings that the Phisgoc and the POC will enter with the government through the PSC will be transparent and above board. Medialdea, Go and Cayetano, who also sits as chairman of Phisgoc, are expected to attend the gathering where at least 300 sports officials and athletes will be present.

WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao smiles as he listens to a question from the media during a news conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao will meet WBA welterweight super champion Keith Thurman in a WBA welterweight title fight on Sunday at MGM Grand Garden Arena. AFP

Pacquiao battling age, hungry foe in Thurman

AS VEGAS—Twenty-four years after first climbing into a professional boxing ring, Manny Pacquiao will attempt to defy the march of time here Saturday when he battles undefeated American Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight crown. The 40-year-old Filipino icon clashes with Thurman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in what is arguably his most challenging assignment since losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2015’s money-spinning “Fight of the Century”. Pacquiao, who has managed to successfully juggle a political career in the Philippines while continuing to box at a high level, looked sharp in his last outing in January, a unanimous decision against Adrien Broner. But the eight-division world champion is facing an altogether higher-calibre opponent in the shape of Thurman, renowned as one of the hardest punchers in the welterweight division with 22 knock-

outs in 30 fights. Thurman, who at 30 years old is a full decade younger than Pacquiao, sees Saturday as an attempt to build his legacy, and has bluntly vowed to send the Filipino into retirement. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to destroy a legend,” Thurman declared, placing Pacquiao in the boxing pantheon alongside some of the sport’s greatest practitioners. “It’s as if I’m fighting Sugar Ray Robinson or Roberto Duran,” Thurman said. “This is Manny Pacquiao. It’s a tremendous feeling, and it’s going to feel even greater when my hand is raised at the end of the night.”

‘Nothing personal’ Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 knockouts) has shrugged off Thurman’s blood-curdling pledges of destruction, insisting he harbours no animosity towards the brash American. “For me nothing is personal,” Pacquiao said. “Our job is to fight. He has to prove something, and I have to prove something. It’s easy to say things. But it’s not so easy to do it in the ring.” Pacquiao’s preparations for the fight have followed a familiar routine. After spending the first part of his training camp in the Philippines, he relocated to Los Angeles to work under the guidance of long-time trainer Freddie Roach at his Wild Card gym in Hollywood. Roach maintains that Pacquiao has shown no sign of decline during gruelling sparring, and is confident that his speed and mobility will cause problems for the naturally bigger Thurman. AFP

Taiwanese amateur triumphs in playoff AMATEUR Yu Chiang Hou of Taiwan came out a clear winner in the ICTSI Pradera Ladies Classic that needed two extra holes to finish, beating Thai Wanchana Poruangrong with a tap-in birdie in a fitting ending to an event that faced uncertainties due to erratic weather at the Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga yesterday. Hou outhit Poruangrong on their second shot on their third trip on the par-5 ninth in another day of changing fortunes then hacking out a solid wedge shot from 60 yards to within inches off the cup, the ball nearly hitting the target after Poruangrong approached to within eight feet. With the pressure and all, Poruangrong flubbed her birdie try and failed to extend the match as the 18-year-old Hou tapped it in for the victory that capped her three days of gutsy play against some of the leading players on the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) and the country’s top shotmakers. “I feel excited but there was no pressure,” said Hou before she was hauled to the awards rites to receive the champion’s trophy in the $80,000 event put up by ICTSI and which served as the ninth stop of the 2019 TLPGA Tour. She actually took home two trophies, including the amateur. But it was Poruangrong who banked the top purse of $14,000 although she fell short of joining the growing list of Thai winners on the LPGT, including Thanu-

Taiwanese amateur Yu Chiang Hou lifts her two trophies, including the pro diadem after edging Thai Wanchana Poruangrong on the second playoff hole

tra Boonraksasat and Arpichaya Yubol, who won the Manila Southwoods and Manila Golf Classic legs last March and April, respectively. She also failed to keep the crown for Thailand after veteran Yupaporn Kawinpakorn won here last December. Still unsure actually was the winner after the 54-hole regulation in windy, wet and hot conditions as Hou hit a clutch bird-

ie on No. 15 in regulation to spike a closing 69, catching Poruangrong at five-under 211 after the Thai ended up with a 70. Both parred the first playoff hole with Poruangrong muffing a pin-length birdie putt on the undulating surface of the all-weather layout that withstood the nature’s wrath in the first two days and brought out the best from the surviving field in the final round.

Sta. Elena dominates WGAP, grabs golf lead STA. ELENA pulled off a pair of victories in varying fashions and finished third in the other in a dominating show at Manila Southwoods that shoved the team past erstwhile joint leaders Tagaytay Highlands and Villamor halfway through the 2019 Champion WGAP Circuit in Carmona, Cavite recently. Behind Carmela Lee and Rio Co’s identical 43 Stableford points, Therese Dabao and Carina Ricamonte’s 42 and 39 points, respectively, the Sta. Rosa, Laguna-based squad assembled a 167 to beat Alabang (165) and Fernando Air Base (162) for Class A honors. Sta. Elena’s Class C team followed up its triumph in the third leg at Tagaytay last month with an eightpoint romp over Alabang as Surlianti Walker sizzled with 46 points, Calene Ong and Maria Ymir Oliquino carded identical 43 points and Nancy Co added 41 points for a 173. Alabang made a 165 while Forest Hills placed third with a 164. With its Class B side finishing third behind winner Fernando Air Base (176) and Manila Southwoods (169), Sta. Elena racked up a tournament-best seven-point output, matching its haul in the first three stops to jump from third to first in the overall tally with 14 points after four legs of the eight-stage circuit organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines. Sharing the individual honors at Southwoods were Alabang’s UI Mendoza (47 points–Class A), Canlubang’s Theresa Enriquez (46 points–Class B) and Maria Catherine Yulo of Villamor (47 points–Class C). After being shut out in Tagaytay, Alabang produced four points with two runner-up finishes, grabbing solo second overall with 10 points while Fernando Air Base also scored four points on a win and third place effort to tie Tagaytay and Villamor, which both struggled at the bunker-laden Legends layout and failed to land a podium finish, at third overall with eight points. Forest Hills toted seven points, while Canlubang and Wack Wack had six and five points, respectively, heading to the last four legs of the circuit sponsored Champion at Valley Golf (July 29), Alabang (Aug. 19), Forest Hills (Sept. 9) and Sta. Elena (Oct. 7).

Mighty Sports crushes Indonesians, zeroes in on 2nd Jones Cup crown MIGHTY Sports-Go for Gold Philippines played just hard enough but still beat Indonesia with ease, 94-66, to move onto the threshold of winning the William Jones Cup for the second time yesterday at the Xinzhuang Gym in New Taipei City, Taiwan. After playing comfy in the second quarter, Mighty-GFG went for the kill in the third and succeeded as they built a commanding 71-43 advantage going into the payoff period. The Indonesians tried every trick they knew, but they were simply no match to a team with five very good imports and a

former PBA star enjoying some moments. In his best game so far, veteran Josepf Yeo finished with 14 points after making his first three field goals, including back-to-back triples, for the team backed by HealthCube. Even Aaron Black, son of multi-titled Meralco coach Norman Black, enhanced his resume when he joins the PBA Rookie Draft this year by burying back-to-back triples on the way to eight points. Despite limited minutes, Eugene Phelps and Renaldo Balkman paced the Charles Tiu-mentored Mighty-GFG with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Game Today

(Xinzhuang Gym in New Taipei City 7 p.m. – Mighty Sports-PH vs Indonesia

With its 6th straight win in as many matches, Mighty-GFG needs only to beat host Taiwan-A tonight to regain the title it won in its initial foray in the annual tournament three years ago. The best team after the single-round robin elims will be declared champion. “That’s the moment we are waiting for, we need to win that for the country,” said Mighty Sports owner Alex Wongchuking.

Sporting a 4-1 mark, the Taiwanese were playing against the 2-4 Jordanians while the South Koreans (4-1) were battling with the Japanese (4-1) at presstime. The Scores: MIGHTY SPORTS 94 — Phelps 19, Balkman 17, Yeo 14, Moore 8, Black 8, Gray 7, Williams 6, Ndiaye 6, Wongchuking 5, Banal 4, Adams 0, Brickman 0. INDONESIA 66 — Kokodiputra 21, Muhammad 11, Gemilang 7, Sanjaya 7, Joni 6, Hartanto 4, Wijaya 2, Wicaksono 2, Putra Teja 2, Priasmoro 2, Hadran Noor 2, Hidayat 0. Quarters: 27-13; 45-30; 71-48; 94-66.

IN BRIEF Pag-IBIG Fund keeps lowest interest rates

PAG-IBIG Fund has retained the lowestever interest rates it has been offering under its home loan program in the last few years. The agency maintained its subsidized rate of 3 percent a year under its Affordable Housing Program offered to members earning not more than P15,000 a month for those within the National Capital Region, or those earning not more than P12,000 a month for those outside NCR. The rate for this loan program is the lowest in the market and has been in place since May 2017. The Fund also maintained its interest rates for loans up to P6 million under its Regular Housing Loan Program, where members may secure loans at a rate of as low as 5.375 percent a year. “We are keenly aware of the need to provide affordable housing, especially to low-wage earners. Because of the Fund’s strong ﬁnancial standing, we assure our members that we can maintain our low interest rates for the rest of 2019 as we continue to heed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call to address the housing needs of Filipino workers,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

Business

Palawan co-op bucks takeover bid of More

PALAWAN Electric Co. is strongly opposing plans of MORE Reedbank Corp. to take over its distribution franchise, saying the move will not immediately solve the power supply situation in the island of Palawan, one of the country’s prime tourist destinations. “We believe that it (takeover) is not justified. Paleco has been doing its best to improve its services particularly its reliability indices,” said Paleco chairman Jeffrey Tan-Endriga. Paleco said it made several concrete actions that resulted in positive developments in service to consumers. “As a matter of fact, if we compare the (SAIDI) System Average Interruption Duration Index and SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index) between the time when President Duterte precautioned the privatization of power distribution services in Palawan and what we have now, interruption frequency and duration experienced by our customers have significantly reduced by at least 50 percent,” the official said. Alena Mae S. Flores

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

By Julito G. Rada

TOP BANK REMITTER. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas extends BDO Unibank the “Commercial Bank that Generated the Largest Overseas Filipino Remittances” Award during the recent 2019 BSP Stakeholders Awards. At the awarding ceremony are (from left) BSP Monetary Board member and chairman of the BSP Awards Board of Judges Victor Bruce Tolentino, BDO senior vice president and remittance head Geneva Gloria; BDO president and chief executive officer Nestor Tan, BDO executive vice president and transaction banking head Edwin Romualdo Reyes and BSP Governor and Monetary Board chair Benjamin Diokno.

Cusi: DoE monitoring power supply auctions E By Alena Mae S. Flores

NERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Friday the agency is carefully monitoring the competitive selection process of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to ensure compliance with the policy.

“The DoE monitors the CSP being conducted and it also participates as an observer in the CSP activities of the DUs from the pre-bid conference up to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed,” Cusi said. The energy chief added Manila Electric Co.’s recent invitation to bid for a total of 2,900 megawatt passed through and was reviewed by the department. “Meralco submitted its PSPP (Power Supply Procurement Plan) to DoE and the DoE ensures its consistency with the

DDP (Distribution Development Plan),” he said. The PSPP refers to the distribution ﬁrm’s plan to acquire acquisition a variety of demand-side and supply-side resources to cost effectively meet the electricity needs of its customers. The PSPP is an integral part of the distribution utilities’ DDP. “The strict implementation of the CSP Policy, which was mentioned in the Supreme Court decision in GR No. 227670, is anchored on the principles of transparency and consumer welfare promotion; hence, the DoE will continue to monitor how all the DUs comply with the policy,” Cusi said. Meanwhile, Cusi said distribution utilities had the option to fully contract or secure power from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading ﬂoor of electricity. “Based on data, Meralco will be procuring power from WESM despite the PSA to be procured though CSP,” he said. Cusi said the DoE, based on the DDP and the PSPP, advised Meralco to in-

British bank sees economy growing over 6% in 2019 THE economy is still expected to grow above 6 percent this year, getting support from further monetary policy easing and higher government spending on infrastructure projects in the second half, British financial giant Standard Chartered Bank said Friday. In its Global Focus—Economic Outlook Q3 2019 report, bank economist for Asia Chidu Narayanan said a steady growth of 6.1 percent in 2019 could be expected “as a better second half offsets a weak first half.” “Support for the second half growth is likely to come from further monetary policy easing and a pick-up in government infrastructure investment following the first-quarter budget impasse,” said Narayanan. “We expect inflation to fall below 2 percent in the second half, giving Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas room to cut policy rates further. We see another 75bps of rate cuts this year, following an initial cut in May,” Narayanan said. The economy grew by a lackluster 5.6 percent in the first quarter, lower than what most economists expected for the period, due mainly to the delay in the approval of the national budget for 2019. The first-quarter print was slower than the 6.5 percent a year ago and 6.3 percent a quarter ago. As a result, the government operated on a reenacted budget in the full first quarter. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 only in April after a couple of months of impasse between the two houses of Congress. Julito G. Rada

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BSP report says inflation rate benign in 2nd quarter

House of Investments appoints Tan as CEO

HOUSE of Investments Inc., the listed holding company of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, appointed Lorenzo Tan as its new president and chief executive. Tan will replace Medel Nera. HI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the company officially announced the appointment of Tan after the annual stockholders’ meeting held Friday. “Mr. Lorenzo V. Tan officially assumed the position on July 19, 2019. He now carries on the task of continuing to steer House of Investment Inc. forward, honoring the legacy of the company’s outgoing President Mr. Medel T. Nera,” HI said. “With Mr. Lorenzo V. Tan at its helm, House of Investments Inc. is taking confident strides as the decade turns, reaffirming its position as an industry leader,” the company said. HI operates as an investment holding and management company with a diversified portfolio and is one of the four major flagship corporations of the Yuchengco Group. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

crease the megawatts it would procure. Meralco is looking at a fourth CSP to add to the combined 2,900 MW of capacity that it sought bids. Meralco issued a bidding notice for the supply of 500 megawatts of power capacity for its mid-merit requirements over five-year period. Meralco also issued invitation to bid for the supply of 1,200 MW of power over a 20-year period from March 2024. Meralco sought bids for a base load supply whose power plant is expected to start commercial operations not earlier than the scheduled date of March 2024 for the first unit and full contract capacity by September 2024. Meralco also published the first invitation to bid for the 10-year supply of 1,200 MW capacity for its base load requirement. Bidders were asked to supply Meralco with the capacity starting Dec. 26, 2019 up to Dec. 25, 2029. “The recommendation is also anchored on the need to encourage the build-up of more plants to supply the projected increase in the demand for the country’s growing economy,” said Cusi.

SSS OFFICE IN NEW YORK. The state-

run Social Security System officially opens its foreign representative office in New York City on June 21, 2019 in line with its commitment to ensure the social security rights of Filipinos working abroad. The office is located in The Philippine Center at 556 Fifth Avenue, which also houses the Philippine Consulate General in New York and other government agencies. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony are The Philippine Center Consul and manager Arman Talbo, Consul General Claro Cristobal, Social Security Commissioner Gonzalo Duque, SSS foreign representatives Celenia Dimaano and Marites Marin and Vice Consul Tanya Faye Ramiro.

Lufthansa Technik bares P2-b expansion to triple space By Othel V. Campos LUFTHANSA Technik Philippines will embark on a P2-billion expansion program to create more space for its maintenance and repair operations in the Philippines. Lufthansa Technik president and chief executive Elmar Lutter said the company would triple the current space occupied by the company to 9,000 square meters and open as much as 300 jobs to Filipinos. The expansion, he added, would be completed 13 months after the contract is awarded. Lutter noted that the global maintenance, repair and overhaul market was expected to grow by 4 percent to 5 percent a year, with one third of of the expansion coming from the Asia Paciﬁc region. Increasing job opportunities in other industries and the growing global de-

mand for skilled MRO workers, meanwhile, may lead to a labor shortage in the local industry. Lutter said Filipinos were known as skilled aircraft mechanics in the world. Lufthansa is registered as an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company operating at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay, Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, Palawan and Aklan. Lufthansa Technik Philippines is a joint venture between MacroAsia Corp., holding 49 percent, and Lufthansa Technik Group of Germany. The company is responsible for the maintenance and overhaul of Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330-200/-300, A340-200/-300/-600 and the A389 as well as Boeing 777. It has been operating in the Philippines for 20 years and manages a 229,000 square-meter lot in Villamor Airbase with about 3,200 skilled employees. The company continues to enjoy

fiscal and non-fiscal incentives from the government that help Lufthansa deal with challenges, making the company resilient to stiff competition in the Asia Pacific region. The incentives also help the company cope with the logistical costs of operating in an island country. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez vowed to give the support needed by aerospace companies to carry on expansion plans. He said the expansions would help the Philippines to become an aerospace and MRO hub in the Asia Pacific. “The Philippines is positioning itself as the hub for aerospace manufacturing and aftermarket services in the Asia Pacific Region. We have the young, educated, and highly-trainable workforce that is a boon to investors. If we achieve this goal, we can increase our high-value exports and provide decent jobs to more Filipinos,” said Lopez.

INFLATION remained benign and settled at the midpoint of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent in the second quarter this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. The central bank said in a report for the second quarter the inflation rate fell to 3 percent in the second quarter from 3.8 percent a quarter ago. The figure brought the average inflation in the first half to 3.4 percent, which is within the official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the full year. “Inflation continued to ease during the quarter due to the significant deceleration in food inflation amid sufficient domestic food supply,” it said. Similarly, core inflation slowed to 3.4 percent in the second quarter from 3.9 percent in the previous quarter. Alternative core inflation measures computed by the BSP were also lower in the second quarter. The easing inflation rate prompted the policy-making Monetary Board of the BSP to keep the benchmark interest rates steady at 4.5 percent on June 20. The interest rates on the overnight lending and deposit facilities were also maintained. With the manageable inflation environment, the board cut the 2019 inflation forecast to 2.7 percent from the previous assumption of 2.9 percent during the May 9 meeting. It also trimmed the forecast for 2020 to 3 percent from 3.1 percent. The board on May 9 lowered the policy rates by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent, the first time in more than six years, as inflation continued a downward trajectory. The following week, the board cut the reserve requirement of universal and commercial banks by 2 percent to 16 percent. It was complemented by a 200-basis point reduction in RRR on May 23 for thrift bank and non-financial institutions with quasi-banking functions, as well as a 100 bps cut for demand deposits of rural and cooperative banks effective May 31.

PH registered BoP deficit of $404m in June THE country’s overall balance of payments posted a deficit of $404 million in June, significantly lower than the $1.18-billion gap recorded in the same month last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. “The substantial outflow in June 2019 stemmed from the principal and interest payments of the government on its foreign exchange obligations,” the BSP said in a statement. “This outflow was partially tempered, however, by the government’s net foreign currency deposits, and the BSP’s foreign exchange operations as well as income from its investments abroad during the month in review,” it said. On a cumulative basis, however, the BoP position in the first six months of 2019 registered a surplus of $4.79 billion, a turnaround from the $3.26-billion deficit year-on-year. “The surplus may be attributed partly to remittance inflows from overseas Filipinos during the first five months of the year and net inflows of foreign direct investments during the first four months of the year,” it said. The BoP position reflected the final gross international reserves level of $85.77 billion at the end of June. The GIR at this level represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.5 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.7 times based on residual maturity. The Bangko Sentral last month revised upward the BoP projections this year to a surplus of $3.7 billion from a deficit of $3.5 billion as of November 2018, taking into account the expected sustained strength of the domestic economy amid the downward revision in the global economic growth outlook. Julito G. Rada

Business

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain; Nickel Asia advances T HE stock market extended its gains Friday along with the rest of Asia, ahead of the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 22.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 12.02 points, or 0.2 percent, to 8,270.07 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Losers, however, edged gainers, 102 to 94, with 53 issues unchanged. Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, rose 1.1 percent to P93, while Nickel Asia Corp., the largest nickel producer, jumped 11.1 percent to P2.70. Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of ofﬁce spaces, advanced 3 percent to P6.44, while parent Alliance Glob-

al Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan climbed 2 percent to P15.90. Asian markets, meanwhile, rallied Friday as comments from a top Federal Reserve official were pounced on by investors as indicating the central bank will unveil a deep interest rate cut at the end of the month. John Williams, the influential vice chairman of the Fed’s policy-setting board, said in a speech that central banks should move quickly to support the economy when borrowing costs were already low. He pointed to studies suggesting that when there are few stimulus options available, officials should “move more quickly than you otherwise might” rather than waiting “for disaster to unfold.” While a spokesman later clarified that Williams was not outlining Fed policy and was not flagging a half-point cut, analysts said the remarks provided an insight into how officials were thinking.

Markets have been wavering this week over how big the bank’s expected reduction would be, with 25 basis points priced in but traders hoping for 50. “Williams’ remarks put probabilities of multiple rate cuts higher after strong economic indicators had put doubts on the number of rate reductions this year and how deep the cut will be,” said OANDA senior market analyst Alfonso Esparza. Wall Street ended in positive territory and Asia was on course to end the week on a strong note, despite concerns about the global outlook and a lack of progress in China-US trade talks. Tokyo ended two percent higher, while Hong Kong added one percent and Shanghai ﬁnished up 0.8 percent. Seoul jumped 1.4 percent, Singapore gained 0.4 percent and Sydney put on 0.8 percent with Taipei adding 0.7 percent. Wellington and Jakarta were also

well up, but Mumbai fell more than one percent in disappointment with government plans for a super-rich tax. Jeffrey Kleintop, chief global investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co, warned that weakness in the world economy would eventually drag on markets. “I don’t think a few rates cuts is going to make the difference, whether it’s 25 or 50 basis points at the end of this month,” he told Bloomberg TV. “While the bond market is pricing in a realistic probability of the slowdown, stocks have gone the other direction this year and may be in for a surprise.” Bets on lower rates were also providing support to higher-yielding, riskier currencies with the Australian dollar and South Korean won climbing 0.6 percent and the Indonesian rupiah 0.5 percent higher. South Africa’s rand, the Turkish lira and Mexican peso were also well up. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.95 29,420 93 4,812,250 148 1,257,370 1.2 246,000 27.6 238,600 18.7 700 12.44 956,100 4.79 16,000 0.475 130,000 78 3,192,490 1.09 3,689,000 13.2 4,900 52.05 1,594,710 190 1,040 58.65 4,430 27.4 59,300 187 474,620 60 7,630

1,731,878 444,500,151.50 186,339,732 297,670 6,585,495 13,080 11,863,040 75,720 60,550 248,776,355 3,973,420 64,680 82,331,981 198,165 259,304.50 1,630,605 88,748,662 457,887

1,636,510 371,484,356 34,505,647 -894,240 -11,220 -6,540,418 71,452,984 -39,560 15,061,642 -177,065 -360,195 71,247,890 -190,200

36.65 14.16 0.81 1.31 0.265 2.74 14.84 108.3 17.54 16.7 41 78 90 2.02 5.2 6.2 10.3 15 10.98 7.51 26.25 89.2 59.05 2.33 14.12 9.54 1.7 278.2 9 24.45 13.96 18.44 380 0.189 5.76 1.73 4.79 5.66 9 2.52 11.78 39.4 4.9 4.92 1.46 2.07 1.11 14.44 102.7 6.51 0.128 1.16 165.5 2.53 1.27 1.36

INDUSTRIAL 37 2,073,400 14.24 1,227,200 0.83 757,000 1.31 394,000 0.27 3,860,000 2.74 5,358,000 15.04 99,800 115.6 40 17.56 203,700 16.9 2,500 41 200 78.1 11,750 93.5 3,130 2.05 99,000 5.22 89,300 6.2 51,900 10.36 1,011,400 15 2,261,100 11.2 1,166,900 7.55 849,200 26.35 2,754,900 89.35 493,230 60.5 61,050 2.38 6,811,000 14.22 94,300 9.59 217,600 1.7 436,000 279.8 622,360 9 15,000 24.6 712,300 14.04 258,500 18.5 532,400 383 127,800 0.189 220,000 5.76 45,100 1.78 3,270,000 4.85 62,000 5.68 4,762,900 9.1 3,005,500 2.57 7,100,000 11.78 22,900 39.6 109,300 5.04 54,000 5 1,307,700 1.48 173,000 2.17 172,000 1.13 279,000 14.68 18,100 104.9 266,040 6.6 143,700 0.128 120,000 1.16 153,000 166 1,204,100 2.55 41,000 1.27 3,458,000 1.38 3,315,000

76,861,050 17,487,856 621,070 520,700 1,041,300 14,901,380 1,495,932 4,551 3,597,054 41,950 8,200 933,221.50 284,091 202,450 469,722 323,060 10,474,156 34,053,302 12,878,590 6,410,177 72,509,465 44,318,065 3,689,272.50 16,121,220 1,343,912 2,082,960 748,950 174,127,108 137,642 17,547,780 3,623,170 9,845,106(7, 48,834,240 41,700 259,866 5,819,260 299,090 27,208,622 27,349,500 18,110,350 271,344 4,334,830 265,730 6,538,428 253,720 360,960 315,040 263,632 27,792,833 937,902 15,360 177,810 202,158,915 104,330 4,463,420 4,547,120

9,205,840 -5,148,994 676,440 586,594 35,160 -66,761 8,921,638 -3,761,042 1,834,368 680,342 -39,018,980 -15,022,783 434,674 -2,799,920 -604,886 -529,505 -48,950,926 -1,668,325 213,250 252,579.9997) 5,112,086 5,670 -2,921,070 -12,000,252 -27,300,000 10,670 -1,093,325 -191,100 -6,506,000 31,560 36,556 -2,516,332 -82,569,026 25,500 -66,560 242,410

1 57.9 16.04 0.75 7.02 17.56 1.31 1.31 950 4.01 7.19 10.64 14.18 935 6.51 69.9 0.54 4.63 15.88 0.65 4.79 2.61 0.039 1.68 2.93 176.9 998.5 0.85 1.39 260 0.245 0.295

0.98 57.3 15.48 0.74 7 16.04 1.28 1.31 942 3.91 7.06 10.52 14 917.5 6.45 68.45 0.52 4.6 15.2 0.63 4.71 2.61 0.039 1.58 2.93 175 982 0.83 1.37 256.2 0.238 0.29

HOLDING FIRMS 0.99 10,819,000 57.65 1,170,040 15.9 8,617,000 0.74 211,000 7 91,700 16.28 630,400 1.29 658,000 1.31 284,000 950 722,040 4.01 5,139,000 7.16 770,600 10.56 5,744,500 14.08 46,800 920 74,370 6.5 202,900 68.45 928,380 0.52 135,000 4.61 750,000 15.26 2,820,700 0.65 486,000 4.79 24,044,000 2.61 15,000 0.039 8,800,000 1.64 6,121,000 2.93 8,000 175 518,960 990 132,940 0.85 162,000 1.39 39,000 260 2,070 0.244 2,270,000 0.295 3,110,000

10,662,030 67,522,920 137,092,910 156,820 641,979 10,587,858 848,460 372,040 685,533,330 20,485,150 5,494,055 60,752,680 659,110 68,914,950 1,318,762 63,997,179 70,400 3,452,890 43,372,190 310,760 114,880,620 39,150 343,200 9,859,510 23,440 91,153,136 131,236,310 135,300 53,550 537,116 545,440 911,050

-111,870 -4,895,769 4,359,166 22,200 -387,127 -208,880 266,856,565 3,730,690 2,482,536 -18,806,728 -2,740 25,562,505 -1,244,794 11,145,874.50 -1,214,450 -25,482,230 44,586,420 779,980 -13,403,479 -18,076,335 13,700 -500,716 11,900 -

15.84 0.89 11 2.15 1.07 52.85 2.34 5.3 6.2 0.65 0.84 0.243 0.49 9.96 25.3 0.48 0.123 2.02 1.42 4.75 6.44 0.38 0.52 1.74 0.415 2.14 27.75 2.31 3.19 38.85 2.09 6.63 0.82

15.72 0.86 10.3 2.1 1.01 52 2.31 5.12 6.2 0.63 0.81 0.239 0.465 9.68 25 0.475 0.123 1.96 1.4 3.95 6.25 0.36 0.49 1.72 0.415 2.11 26.95 2.27 3.19 38.5 2.02 6.25 0.81

PROPERTY 15.8 105,600 0.88 1,591,000 10.88 20,300 2.15 166,000 1.05 14,906,000 52 8,880,370 2.33 385,000 5.17 1,303,200 6.2 400 0.63 18,567,000 0.82 38,000 0.24 1,600,000 0.475 2,900,000 9.96 540,000 25.05 139,700 0.475 7,550,000 0.123 50,230,000 1.96 33,893,000 1.4 555,000 4.75 668,000 6.44 22,220,100 0.37 45,320,000 0.51 1,511,000 1.72 1,268,000 0.415 240,000 2.11 309,000 27.2 2,066,900 2.31 203,000 3.19 52,000 38.7 6,279,000 2.02 204,000 6.28 739,000 0.82 222,000

1,663,880 1,380,310 213,052 355,210 15,381,040 465,635,220.50 897,040 6,776,889 2,480 11,728,060 31,430 384,260 1,366,700 5,278,288 3,516,305 3,597,200 6,178,290 67,382,590(11 780,590 2,686,060 141,925,118 16,833,900 758,360 2,192,460 99,600 653,140 56,436,150 465,550 165,880 243,006,805 415,080 4,767,102 181,370

-137,086 21,500 -17,400 9,732,705.50 -195,900 76,800 -2,480 155,090 1,620 314,500 94,000 -550,843 632,130 -3,144,650 ,606,729.9997) 53,781,815 141,800 17,850 8,339,445 25,188,235 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

59 91.8 147.9 1.22 27.6 18.7 12.58 4.85 0.465 77.55 1.03 13.2 53.15 194 58.3 27.55 187.4 61.5

59 93 149.5 1.24 27.65 18.7 12.6 4.85 0.475 78.2 1.11 13.2 53.15 194 58.65 27.55 187.4 61.8

58 90.5 147.1 1.2 27.55 18.6 12.3 4.7 0.465 77.5 1.03 13.2 50.85 189.5 58.3 27.4 186.3 59.5

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 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 MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

37.5 14.32 0.82 1.33 0.275 2.82 14.98 108.3 17.8 16.7 41 83 94 2.02 5.3 6.24 10.36 15.22 11.1 7.51 26.5 90.2 60.3 2.37 14.34 9.61 1.7 279.4 9.28 24.6 14.2 18.58 381 0.189 5.76 1.73 4.81 5.83 9 2.55 11.8 39.7 4.9 5 1.49 2.25 1.14 14.46 104.8 6.6 0.128 1.19 169.1 2.53 1.32 1.39

37.5 14.4 0.83 1.33 0.275 2.85 15.04 115.6 17.9 16.9 41 83 94.05 2.05 5.3 6.26 10.4 15.3 11.2 7.56 26.5 90.3 61 2.39 14.34 9.65 1.77 282.4 9.49 24.7 14.2 18.58 383 0.192 5.81 1.8 4.86 5.84 9.1 2.59 12.04 39.75 5.04 5 1.49 2.25 1.15 14.68 104.9 6.6 0.128 1.19 171.9 2.55 1.32 1.4

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

0.99 57.9 15.6 0.75 7 17.5 1.29 1.31 942 3.97 7.19 10.6 14.18 930 6.5 69.85 0.54 4.62 15.88 0.63 4.77 2.61 0.039 1.68 2.93 175.8 982 0.84 1.39 260 0.245 0.295

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME

15.84 0.88 10.32 2.1 1.05 52.5 2.34 5.3 6.2 0.63 0.84 0.241 0.485 9.77 25.3 0.475 0.123 2.01 1.4 3.95 6.25 0.375 0.5 1.73 0.415 2.13 27 2.28 3.19 38.75 2.09 6.32 0.81

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

VISTA LAND

7.8

7.81

7.68

7.75

9,240,000

71,604,132

4,962,469

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING 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

11.08 17.4 1.49 0.56 0.049 21 2.6 11.9 0.066 95.5 7.03 7.85 6.4 2.12 10.06 2,238 5.41 428.4 2.2 1.84 143.9 9.7 5.75 0.12 5.75 2.96 14.12 3.81 0.88 19.5 0.54 3.86 2.76 1.5 1.54 14.4 2.6 2.99 9.49 5.34 143 4.19 1,198 0.74 0.82 45.35 77 9.4 3.42 0.79 0.36 5.49 0.87 15.66

11.2 17.86 1.52 0.57 0.052 21.6 2.68 11.9 0.069 96.5 7.03 7.98 6.4 2.12 10.22 2,260 5.41 483 2.2 1.85 144 9.7 5.75 0.12 5.79 2.96 14.86 3.89 0.95 19.56 0.55 3.86 2.83 1.5 1.54 14.4 2.72 2.99 9.49 5.35 144 4.25 1,203 0.75 0.87 46.2 78 9.45 3.45 0.8 0.37 5.53 0.88 15.66

11.08 17.36 1.48 0.55 0.049 19.94 2.55 11.52 0.065 95.25 7 7.75 6.4 2.12 9.85 2,220 5.39 418.2 2.15 1.76 141.6 9.56 5.55 0.114 5.7 2.96 14.12 3.8 0.88 19.3 0.53 3.6 2.76 1.5 1.54 14.4 2.58 2.97 9.21 5.25 141 4.16 1,187 0.74 0.82 45.3 77 9.4 3.39 0.79 0.36 5.42 0.85 15.02

SERVICES 11.2 17.84 1.5 0.56 0.051 21 2.67 11.52 0.066 96.45 7 7.93 6.4 2.12 10.14 2,244 5.41 421.2 2.17 1.85 141.6 9.56 5.64 0.117 5.76 2.96 14.86 3.84 0.94 19.5 0.55 3.7 2.81 1.5 1.54 14.4 2.71 2.97 9.23 5.25 144 4.24 1,187 0.74 0.86 45.9 78 9.45 3.41 0.8 0.365 5.53 0.86 15.14

5,200 461,700 261,000 3,804,000 59,400,000 14,000 1,430,000 5,926,500 124,800,000 290,250 14,200 1,151,000 1,000 5,000 21,000 94,360 113,500 38,550 1,386,000 574,000 1,293,940 15,000 19,600 8,130,000 1,997,200 72,000 1,300 1,231,000 1,107,000 325,000 624,000 225,000 1,331,000 104,000 22,000 600 11,485,000 8,000 28,900 50,200 6,640 1,561,000 165,360 2,293,000 287,576,000 1,435,600 764,130 12,500 2,072,000 2,426,000 5,430,000 413,400 4,825,000 16,704,100

57,762 8,148,502 391,680 2,131,170 3,008,500 294,720 3,731,560 68,773,556 8,312,600 27,920,683.50 99,612 9,048,865 6,400 10,600 209,500 211,801,100 613,243 16,931,228 3,007,340 1,033,850 184,469,351 143,428 110,896 938,620 11,470,713 213,120 19,050 4,692,700 1,023,300 6,329,344 331,830 832,490 3,738,450 156,000 33,880 8,640 30,691,260 23,880 270,210 263,569 952,040 6,582,970 197,032,450 1,699,590 238,855,200 65,825,870 59,338,373 117,965 7,065,410 1,918,580 1,977,450 2,270,126 4,145,690 253,266,990

-217,300 -33,724,380 -201,000 20,447,746 30,128 -130,976 125,475,950 4,398 216,700 18,100 -4,542,870 -1,415,768 -1,635,400 -38,800 -1,210,010 -1,188,390 46,590 939,170 607,000 5,076,945 -148,000 7,957,840 20,696,100 48,263,516.50 1,298,010 557,950 426,466 67,760 -57,542,758

575,700 8,962,570 118,980 544,550 626,880 255,800 353,942 47,961,690 163,730 360,330 6,000 220,400 1,766,290 101,125,420 681,160 5,183,370 13,200 214,300 7,951,736 2,759,900 32,958,662 86,328,840 45,800

-482,610 84,000 -89,280 573,490 -108,720 6,193,220 26,600 6,000 8,850 -1,346,270 1,637,780 -30,166,390 -

NAME

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

0.0016 1.22 2.8 14 2.8 0.28 7.8 1.48 0.223 0.108 0.12 0.0076 1.18 2.48 1.06 0.88 0.012 0.011 5.71 3.85 9.26 23.75 0.0066

0.0018 1.24 2.8 14.18 2.8 0.285 7.82 1.58 0.225 0.112 0.12 0.0076 1.26 2.75 1.12 0.94 0.012 0.012 6.28 3.86 9.26 24.15 0.0067

0.0016 1.19 2.69 13.3 2.79 0.28 7.65 1.48 0.22 0.108 0.12 0.0076 1.18 2.48 1.06 0.88 0.012 0.01 5.56 3.75 8.6 23.75 0.0065

MINING & OIL 0.0017 339,000,000 1.2 7,377,000 2.69 43,000 13.4 40,300 2.8 224,000 0.28 910,000 7.78 45,700 1.55 31,888,000 0.223 740,000 0.11 3,300,000 0.12 50,000 0.0076 29,000,000 1.22 1,438,000 2.7 37,801,000 1.1 618,000 0.91 5,682,000 0.012 1,100,000 0.011 20,100,000 6.09 1,346,700 3.75 728,000 8.66 3,764,700 24 3,599,400 0.0065 7,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

16.8 487.4 494 99.5 103 480 490 5.37 944 97.5 0.99 102 994 1,010 1,010 1,012 107.5 990 75.1 76.85 74 75 74.85 74.95 74.6

17.1 488 495 100 105.5 480 490 5.48 944 97.5 0.99 102 994 1,010 1,010 1,014 107.5 990 75.85 76.85 74.95 75 74.85 74.95 74.6

16.8 487.4 494 99.5 103 450 490 5.37 944 97.5 0.99 102 994 1,010 1,010 1,012 107.5 990 75.1 76.15 73.1 75 74.85 72.05 74.6

PREFERRED 17.1 361,600 488 7,900 495 5,690 99.5 20,590 105.5 11,700 450 40 490 5,000 5.48 120,000 944 40 97.5 500 0.99 150,000 102 60 994 20 1,010 1,040 1,010 8,380 1,014 3,150 107.5 50 990 10 75.85 3,020 76.85 700 73.1 26,620 75 25,750 74.85 3,790 72.05 39,920 74.6 49,000

6,145,326(2, 3,852,680 2,812,890 2,050,980 1,209,350 18,600 2,450,000 646,139 37,760 48,750 148,500 6,120 19,880 1,050,400 8,463,800 3,193,700 5,375 9,900 226,817 53,516.50 1,957,934.50 1,931,250 283,681.50 2,957,885.50 3,655,400(3,

694,446.0003) -1,949,600 -403,287 -49,500 431,599.9999)

LR WARRANT

1.81

1.86

1.81

WARRANTS 1.81 224,000

406,740

5,546,130 2,973,670

1,146 -277,870

806,741

12,027.60 5,459 195,356

9,971.60 -

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.37 1.11

5.56 1.11

5.34 1.08

FIRST METRO ETF

124

124.5

123.7

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.28 10.3 1

TRADING SUMMARY

10.28 10.3 1

FINANCIAL

17,268,223

INDUSTRIAL

66,364,154

HOLDING FIRMS

85,835,660

PROPERTY

234,965,867

SERVICES

554,736,101

MINING & OIL

497,352,262

GRAND TOTAL

1,460,266,013

10.28 10.3 0.99

5.53 1.1

SME

1,016,300 2,720,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.7 6,500 DDS 10.28 10.3 0.99

1,170 530 195,360

VALUE 1,877.28 (UP) 6.26 1,137,429,981.99 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,704.70 (DOWN) 52.28 993,184,171.634 HOLDING FIRMS 7,942.92 (UP) 8.67 1,620,846,676.58 PROPERTY 4,379.75 (UP) 39.41 1,699.04 (DOWN) 3.80 1,175,275,748.85 SERVICES MINING & OIL 7,439.29 (DOWN) 54.02 1,504,988,069.89 PSEI 8,117.94 (UP) 53.02 299,224,001.4266 All Shares Index 4,945.68 (UP) 13.69 6,740,278,448.89 Gainers: 94; Losers: 102; Unchanged: 53; Total: 249

SEC warns public vs 2 ‘investment’ companies By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission warned the public from investing their hard-earned money in Togachat Academy Philippines Inc. and Tabale Cacao Farm, which are not licensed to solicit investments. The SEC said in an advisory posted posted on its web site it received information that a group of persons representing entities named Togachat Tare were enticing the public to invest their money in the said entity with the promise of monetary rewards or profits. The scheme involves inviting people to pay the minimum amount of P5,000 in exchange for a promise of high monetary rewards that can only be achieved through recruitment of more people to participate in the scheme. While Togachat is a registered company with the SEC, it is not authorized to solicit investments from the public. It has noted secured prior license to sell securities or solicit investments as prescribed under the Securities Regulation Code. “In view thereof, the public is hereby advised to stop investing in the investment scheme being offered by the said entity,” the SEC said. The corporate watchdog SEC said it also received information that a certain Japhet Tabale was publicly inviting people to invest in his cacao business, under the business Tabale Cacao Farms. Part of the scheme being offered by Tabale is a promise of a guaranteed 100 percent return of capital and share to prospective investors. But like Togachat, the SEC said Tabale did not have a license or permit to publicly offer or sell securities. The SEC said those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents in selling or convincing people to invest in Tabale’s business, including soliciting investments or recruiting investors through the internet, might be held criminally. The SEC noted that Tabale had indicated in his Facebook account that he was the former branch manager of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. for General Santos City. The SEC on June 18 filed criminal charges with the Department of Justice against Kapa and its officers and agents for violation of the securities code.

PayMaya ties up with BPI, widens money channels PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. has expanded its add money channels after teaming up with Bank of the Philippine Islands. Depositors of BPI may now instantly add money to their PayMaya accounts using the online and mobile banking facility of the bank as PayMaya makes it even more convenient for Filipinos to do digital transactions online and in stores. This further extends the reach of PayMaya to more online and on-premise Add Money channels nationwide, which now counts over 40,000 touchpoints across the country–including through more than 30 local banks via Instapay, payment kiosks, business centers in malls, convenience centers and Smart Padala centers. To encourage more Filipinos to utilize this channel for adding money to their accounts, PayMaya is making transfers via BPI free of charge until further notice. This is in support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ goal of transforming 20 percent of transactions in the country to digital by 2020. “This makes adding money to your PayMaya account not just more convenient but also accessible to most BPI account holders, because it’s free,” said Kenneth Palacios, director and head of Wallets Business at PayMaya. “With BPI having one of the country’s largest user base, more Filipinos will be able to gain access to the digital economy through this partnership,” he added. Account holders, to add money to their PayMaya account through BPI, simply have to go to the payments/ load section in BPI’s online banking portal or its newly updated app, choose “Load E-Wallet” and pick PayMaya as an option. They just have to enter the mobile number linked to their PayMaya account and the amount they wish to transfer and the money will be credited to their PayMaya wallet in just a few seconds. Darwin G. Amojelar

World

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gulf tensions increase as US destroys Iranian drone

IN BRIEF Singapore returning millions to Malaysia SINGAPORE―Singapore is returning almost $40 million to Malaysia seized in connection with a massive financial scandal that played a major role in the toppling of the corruption-plagued government of Najib Razak, police said. The city-state is one of several countries that launched probes into allegations that billions of dollars were misappropriated from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in an elaborate ruse that stretched from Asia to the United States. The scandal-allegedly involving Malaysia’s ex-leader Najib, his family members and inner circle-played a key role in the defeat of his long-ruling coalition at the polls last year. Singapore police said their commercial affairs department had filed applications to return around Sg$50.3 million ($37 million) of seized money linked to 1MDB to Malaysia, and the courts have given their approval. “Part of the monies have already been transferred to Malaysia, while the rest are still being processed by the banks,” they said late Thursday. Police did not say where the money was seized from. The US Department of Justice, which has been seizing assets in the United States allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB money, believes that some $4.5 billion was plundered from the fund. Singapore’s investigations into 1MDB centered on allegations that its financial system was used to launder some of the stolen funds. The financial hub has jailed a Swiss banker and three Singaporean private bankers for their roles in the affair. It has closed the local branches of two Swiss banks, which were allegedly used to transfer illicit funds, for what regulators called massive lapses in financial controls. Since his election defeat, Najib has been arrested over the scandal and went on trial in April. AFP

Taiwan offers help to HK protesters TAIPEI―Taiwan’s government said Friday it would provide assistance to Hong Kongers seeking sanctuary after local media reported dozens of activists involved in an unprecedented storming of the city’s parliament had fled to the island. The pledge risks infuriating Beijing but comes as Taiwan gears up for a presidential election where a dominating issue will be relations with the mainland―which sees the self-ruled island as its territory and has vowed to seize it. Over 30 Hong Kong protesters who fear prosecution for their involvement in the ransacking of the finance hub’s legislature on July 1 have arrived in Taiwan to seek shelter, Taiwan’s Apple Daily said, citing unnamed sources. The report said the activists are staying in various locations and that some are receiving assistance from local NGOs. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s top policy-making body on China, did not confirm whether any requests for sanctuary had been made. But it issued a statement Friday saying it would handle such cases “under the principle of respecting human rights protections and humanitarian concerns”. “[We] can provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong residents whose safety and freedom are in urgent danger due to political reasons,” it said. Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen added her support for such a move. “These friends from Hong Kong will be treated in an appropriate way on humanitarian grounds,” Taiwan’s Central News Agency quoted her as saying during a visit to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies. Hong Kong has been rocked by more than a month of huge and largely peaceful protests―as well as a series of separate violent confrontations with police―sparked by a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China and other countries. AFP

CLASH. Protesters clash with police in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 17, 2019. Thousands marched in Puerto Rico for a fifth day on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello, and following corruption accusations and the leak of text chats in which he made sexist and homophobic remarks. AFP

Japan ‘hell’ fire killed dozens trying to flee

YOTO―Details emerged Friday of the horrifying blaze that ripped through a Japanese anime ﬁrm, killing dozens including people who tried in vain to reach the roof, but the motive for the suspected arson remained unclear.

Eyewitnesses described a fire that was like “looking at hell,” after a man apparently doused the production company office in the city of Kyoto with flammable liquid and set it alight. Experts and ﬁreﬁghters said the blaze would have raged uncontrollably throughout the structure almost instantly, leaving the dozens of people inside with almost no chance of escape. That was borne out by the grim toll: 33 dead, with dozens more injured, including several in critical condition. The attack appeared to be among the worst violent crimes in decades in famously safe Japan. It sparked an outpouring of grief in

Japan and beyond, as fans of the country’s famed anime industry expressed horror at the enormous loss. On Friday people were laid flowers and said prayers at the charred Kyoto Animation building. “These young people were the age of my grandchildren,” 78-year-old Sachiko Konishi told AFP of those killed in the attack, most of whom are presumed to be young employees of the company. “If my grandchildren died under circumstances like this, I wouldn’t want to go on living.” Yasuko Tomita, 59, was offering prayers near the building, which was still cordoned off. “I’m praying to help the souls of those killed find release,” she said. Eyewitnesses described a raging inferno that left those outside unable to even approach to help people trying to escape. “There was a person who jumped from the second floor... but we couldn’t rush to help because the fire was so strong,” one local woman told an online affiliate of the Asahi Shimbun daily. “People with severe burns were crying uncontrollably, just completely dazed,” she added. “It was like I was looking at hell.”

Police investigators were on the scene Friday taking pictures and examining the devastated building, but a motive in the attack remained unclear. A 41-year-old suspect is in custody, but the investigation has been hampered by the fact that the man suffered serious burns. He has been hospitalized and was reportedly unconscious on Friday. Only sketchy details have emerged about the man, who reportedly shouted “drop dead” before starting the fire. Local media said he did not appear to have any ties to Kyoto Animation. He had reportedly also brought knives and a hammer to the building. Some reports suggested the man believed the company had stolen his work, with the local Kyoto Shimbun newspaper reporting that he told police: “I set the fire because they stole novels.” On Thursday, Kyoto Animation president Hideaki Hatta said the firm had received emailed death threats in the past but gave no further details. The company founded by a husband and wife couple is known for its skillful animations of manga works, and has a reputation as a generous employer in an industry rife with exploitation of artists. There was still little information on the victims of the blaze. AFP

Boeing sees billions more in MAX costs as the plane’s global grounding drags on NEW YORK―Boeing announced Thursday some $6.6 billion in additional costs because of the 737 MAX crisis, further pressuring profitability as the global grounding of the plane following two deadly crashes drags on. Boeing said that second-quarter earnings would be hit by $4.9 billion in onetime after-tax costs to compensate airlines for disruptions and plane delivery delays due to the MAX grounding. Profits will also be weighed down by another $1.7 billion in costs due to the 737 MAX’s lower production rate, the company said in a statement after the stock market closed. The MAX has been grounded since mid-March following two crashes that killed 346 people, dual disasters that have tarnished Boeing’s reputation and sparked numerous lawsuits from the families of victims. There is still no firm timetable to bring the planes back into service. “We remain focused on safely returning the 737 MAX to service,” said Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg. “This is a defining moment for Boeing. “The MAX grounding presents significant headwinds and the financial impact recognized this quarter reflects the current challenges and helps to address future financial risks.” Boeing also said Thursday it hopes to receive regulatory approval to return

the aircraft to service early in the fourth quarter. But this time line was only the company’s “best estimate” and actual timing could differ, Boeing said. The company is due to report secondquarter earnings on July 24. Earlier Thursday, Southwest Airlines pushed back its target date for returning the MAX to service by about a month to November 2, saying the time frame was “still uncertain.” The US Federal Aviation Administration late last month identified a fresh problem with the 737 MAX during simulator testing, further clouding the outlook for the plane’s return to service. The FAA “is following a thorough process, not a prescribed time line, for returning the Boeing 737 MAX to passenger service,” an agency spokesman said. “The FAA will lift the aircraft’s prohibition order when we deem it is safe to do so.” Michel Merluzeau, an analyst at AIR Insight Research, told AFP that it would be “good news” for Boeing if the planes do return to service in the first quarter of 2020. The latest costs add to the overall financial hit from the crisis. In April, Boeing disclosed $1 billion in additional costs due to lowering the production level of the 737 MAX. AFP

CONDOLENCES. Residents place flowers for the victims of a fire that hit the Kyoto Animation studio building the day before, killing 33 people, in Kyoto on July 19, 2019. Japanese police are investigating a suspected arson in one of the country’s deadliest apparent crimes in decades, with the motive for the blaze still unclear. AFP

WASHINGTON―Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Friday as Washington said an Iranian drone was destroyed after threatening an American naval vessel at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. It was believed to be the ﬁrst US military engagement with Iran following a series of increasingly serious incidents. The USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, “took defensive action” against the Iranian drone on Thursday to “ensure the safety of the ship and its crew,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said. The drone was “immediately destroyed” after it approached within 1,000 yards of the Boxer, US President Donald Trump told reporters. “This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran, against vessels operating in international waters,” he added. “The United States reserves the right to defend our personnel, our facilities and interests and calls upon all nations to condemn Iran’s attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation and global commerce.” But Iran denied losing any drones. Armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi described Trump’s statement as “baseless and delusional claims,” according to the Tasnim news agency. “There have been no reports of a confrontation with the American USS Boxer,” he was quoted as saying by Tasnim. Deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted: “I am worried that USS Boxer has shot down their own [drone] by mistake!” The apparent confrontation came as Iran defended its detention Sunday of a “foreign tanker” believed to be the Panamanian-ﬂagged vessel Riah and its 12 crew for allegedly smuggling fuel. “The vessel was en route to deliver contraband fuel received from Iranian boats to foreign ships in farther regions when it was intercepted,” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on its Sepah News website. The incident comes after a series of low-level attacks in the region blamed on Teheran’s forces, including placing limpet mines on several tankers and actions by what Washington calls Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. AFP

South Koreans boycott Japan brews in row

SEOUL―Beer-loving South Koreans angered by a trade row with Tokyo are boycotting Japanese brews in a surge of patriotism that has even seen popular beauty bloggers targeted. Japan this month unveiled tough restrictions on exports crucial to tech titans like Samsung, fueling fears about the impact on the global tech sector, while South Korea’s central bank warned it could have “no small impact” on the economy. Officials from both countries have held hours of terse talks to settle the worsening crisis but there has so far been no sign of a detente. But beer drinkers in the South are making their fury known, shunning four big Japanese brands in favor of other brews, according to EMart, the country’s largest hypermarket chain. Sales of Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory beer fell nearly 25 percent in the first two weeks of July compared with the second half of June, it said. “This is a sudden drop we haven’t seen for a long time,” an E-Mart official told AFP, adding that sales of Korean beer brands were up around seven percent in the same period. The trade spat is the latest escalation in a bitter decades-long feud over Japan’s use of forced labor during World War II. It has sparked ire in South Korea, where almost seven in 10 people still report negative feelings towards the country’s former colonial ruler. Meanwhile, around 3,700 members of a South Korean grocery store owner association have stopped orders of some or all Japanese products. “Japan―a country that does not regret its past. We do not sell Japanese products here,” reads a sign in front of one supermarket in Seoul. The shop’s owner, Kim Jeung-pil, told AFP he had removed beer and cigarettes produced in Japan from sale this week―the first time he has taken direct action in this way. AFP

Mitsukoshi mall, Seasons Residences to bring Japanese design, expertise to BGC

OKYO, Japan— ”The past is never dead,” William Faulkner wrote. “It’s not even past.” Faulkner wasn’t writing about Tokyo when he came up with those lines, but he easily could have been. Although it is city associated worldwide with the shock of the new, there are few places anywhere where the past is as much alive—as fully present—as in Japan’s major city, Tokyo.

Or Edo. That was what Tokyo was called until 1868, when the emperor moved his court from the imperial capital, Kyoto, and renamed his new home Tokyo (“eastern capital”). Edo grew prosperous from an influx of merchants and artisan drawn by the city’s gravitational pull, and became Japan’s financial, commercial and military hub. By 1720, one million people lived here; Edo is believed to be the first city in the world to hit the million mark.

Kimono dealer Life back then centered on central-city Nihonbashi, a short distance from handsome, stone-faced Edo Castle, now part of the Imperial Palace. Nihonbashi is the historic core of the world’s largest city. A short stroll from Nihonbashi Bridge, long a symbol of Japan, is one of the country’s oldest heritage business: Mitsukoshi. Mitsukoshi, started out selling kimonos in Nihonbashi in 1673, Kiyoko Kondo, the ‘omotenashi guru’, or hospitality head of Mitsukoshi mall, told the Manila Standard. Today, it has morphed into one of the most renowned department stores, not just in modern-day Tokyo, but in various parts of the world, as well. The Mitsukoshi branch most familiar to travelers may be the nearby Ginza store. But Mitsukoshi’s main store is in a dignified 1935 renaissance revival building, and annex just north of the bridge on Nihonbashi Chuo-dori.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

HIGH end Japanese store sets sights on PH market

The pair of century-old brass lions standing guard outside the grand entrance to Mitsukoshi’s main store are polished to a smooth sheen by visitors who rub them for luck, Kondo pointed out. Inside, the store features a vintage theater pipe organ on a second-floor balcony, an expansive food hall withdiverse takeout foods in a basement as bustling as a Tokyo train station, and a massive, intricately designed art installation, located at the heart of mall, carved out of a 500-year-old cedar tree.

and Isetan Mitsukoshi. “We look forward to our fruitful partnership with Federal Land and Nomura Real Estate, and we’re very excited to bring a piece of Japanese life to the Philippines,” said Kobayashi Daisuke, Isetan Mitsukoshi’s general manager of real estate business and overseas promotion. “We’re sure Filipinos would love to get a Japanese experience within the comforts of their own home, while living, shop[ing, and dining the Japanese way.”

Mitsukoshi experience at BGC In a few years, Filipinos will no longer need to get a visa—or even a plane ticket— to experience Mitsukoshi’s unique Japanese shopping experience. This as Mitsukoshi, Japan’s oldest surviving department store chain, will open a branch in Taguig by 2021. The country’s first Mitsukoshi mall will be located at 8th Avenue corner 36th Street, beside the Grand Hyatt Hotel. It will serve as the base for The Seasons Residences, which features four high-end condominium towers ranging from 41 to 51 levels. The mixed-use, integrated lifestyle center is a $400-million joint venture among the Philippines’ Federal Land and Japanese firms Nomura Real Estate

A mix of offerings In a round table discussion with newspersons from Manila, Kobayashi revealed that Mitsukoshi at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) will carry a mix of classic favorites as well as products that feature technological advances in holistic care in its two main stores—Isetan Shinjuku and Mitsukoshi Ginza. “These two stores are always packed with locals as well as visitors from all over the world who explore offerings of premium international and homegrown brands. We think we can replicate this experience in the Philippines,” he averred. For example, Kobayashi said his company will bring the same election of skincare and cosmetic products featured in its stores

worldwide to the beauty store of Mitsukoshi Mall in Manila. The mall will be a four-storey collection of brands from beauty, to food, to everyday items that aim to elevate one’s lifestyle. Beyond the products, Kobayashi said

MEGAWORLD recently launched a third tower for Park McKinley West, one of the residential condominium clusters in its 34.5-hectare McKinley West development in Fort Bonifacio. Standing 25-storeys high, the third tower of Park McKinley West offers unit layouts ranging from one-bedroom (70.5 square meters); two-bedroom (110 square meters); three-bedroom ( 212 square meters); four-bedroom (229 square meters); and

Mitsukoshi Mall will feature the Japanese store standard of service, which primarily aims to provide everything possible to make customers happy. The Mitsukoshi Mall, set to open in 2021, will anchor the Japanese-inspired Seasons Residences, which will offer generous one to three bedroom units with prices starting at P16M. The Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC will be the first in the Philippines and the retail brand’s 56th outlet in the world. Isetan Mitsukoshi also has stores in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Italy, and the United States. “We know how much Filipinos love to go to the mall to shop and eat, or to simply to relax, so we hope Filipinos will enjoy their Mitsukoshi mall experience, “ said Kobayashi. “We are excited to open the first mall of its kind in the Philippines.”

five-bedroom ( 336 square meters). Designed by UK-based multi-awarded architectural firm Broadway Malyan, the tower will have amenities that include a swimming pool, children’s pool, game and entertainment room, yoga room, outdoor yoga deck, function halls, and a fitness center. The company expects to generate around P8-billion in sales from this new tower, which will be completed in 2024.

NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP

BACK TO BACK ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AWARDS FOR CEBU AIRPORT MACTAN-CEBU International Airport was recently recognized by two international awards-giving bodies in architecture for the design of Terminal 2, its international terminal. Terminal 2 was designed by renowned architectural firm Integrated Design Associates Hong Kong. Terminal 2 opened in July last year. Terminal 2’s most iconic feature is its undulating roof struc-

ture made entirely of glued-laminated timber, or glulam, from Austria. Last year, MCIA bagged three awards, one of which was Asia Pacific Medium Airport of the Year during the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence ceremony. MCIA Terminal 2 was one of the winners in the 2019 International Architecture Awards in the Airports and Transportation Centers category.

Two international airports made this year’s cut, with MCIA Terminal 2 sharing the stage with the Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 expansion. Terminal 2 was also shortlisted for the upcoming World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam. MCIA Terminal 2 will compete with Jewel Changi Airport and the Istanbul Airport during the festival this December.

Life

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

YOUNG LIFE

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

Garbo: For old fashionistas by young fashion designers W

HO says there’s an age limit for wearing stylish outfit?

Left: twill cutout jacket, silk waterfall slip Right: linen combination balloon sleeve top, linen drawstring pants

Not Jao San Pedro and Celine Mallari, graduating students from the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. With the aim to address the issue on ageism, the term for prejudice against people based on their age, the two young fashion innovators sought to highlight the beauty and power of women who age gracefully through Garbo, their brand of handmade, sophisticated yet comfort-

Left: linen cutout top, silk waterfall slip, linen drawstring pants Right: linen combination rectangular top, linen paperbag pants

able ready-to-wear pieces for women aged 55 to 70. “We’ve always looked up to older women as our style icons and we grew frustrated with the industry constantly undermining them,” shared the creative duo. “They’ve made aging into an insecurity, when it is in fact a beautiful thing. It’s a market we’ve found and it just

made sense for us to want to dress the women we love so much.” The brand debuted with an 11-piece Resort 2019 capsule compilation that exudes the polished and flawless blend of meticulous pattern-making and innovative structure. The initial line, according to San Pedro and Mallari, taps into the 2020

fashion trend, which consciously shifts to organic and biodegradable materials, and exhibits undyed color and simplified manufacturing processes. Pieces include silk slip dress, penguin dress, caftan, balloon top, curved skirt, doleman jacket, paperbag trousers, and cut-out shirts and jackets in elegant earth and neutral tones—ideal for mix-

ing and matching—made using various sustainable materials such as silk, cotton, and linen that promote comfort and ease of wear. While the current selection was made of local deadstock (old fabric that hasn’t been sold) US linen, the brand’s future garments aim to highlight the craftsmanship of Filipino

weavers and source Global Organic Textile Standard-approved bio-flax Italian and Japanese yarns from ecofriendly farms that do not use harmful fertilizers or chemical herbicides. Consistent to its advocacy towards an environment-friendly industry, San Pedro and Mallari chose to introduce Garbo as a slow fashion brand, as opposed to fast fashion. “Our customers can easily pre-order the garments released in stores or through our website,” they explained. “This ensures we do not produce more than necessary and end up with tons of fabric waste that pollutes landfills. This set-up also guarantees our brand value stays up as low supply equates exclusivity.” Pieces will be available for purchase starting August. The debut line was part of the sprawling display of ensembles in “Sinulid: Prologue,” a large-scale exhibition featuring the works of Benilde’s emerging artists. The exhibition is ongoing at the SM Aura Premier Atrium until July 22.

How to evolve from a newbie K-pop ‘stan’ to a K-pop expert WITH its danceable tunes, engaging choreographies, and eccentric fashion, K-pop have easily dominated the music charts and social media platforms. For many K-pop stans today, YouTube is their go-

to site to catch up with all the music releases, variety shows, and comeback stages of their favorite artists. If you want to be an expert in this industry, check out this beginner’s guide and let the stanning begin.

Follow the channels of entertainment agencies

Stream live shows to celebrate your group’s comeback

Seasoned fans know how overwhelming stanning K-pop can be, with almost new songs and content being released each week. If you’re just starting to follow groups, you should subscribe to the channels of the entertainment agencies so you will not miss the latest singles and video uploads. On YouTube, you can find the home of the biggest artists in K-pop including SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, BIGHIT, and STARSHIP.

Get behind the scenes of the K-pop life

You’re probably wondering what it’s like to live like a Kpop star. Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore as most groups are opening their own channels to take their fans to the behind the scenes of their everyday activities. Whether it’s a glimpse on the making of their music videos, preparing for a photoshoot, or training for a comeback, groups like BLACKPINK, IKON, and NCT connect with their fans through their uploads.

When a group makes a comeback with a new album, they spend a month promoting in music shows. If you who want to show support for your biases, you can live stream online in the channels of the music shows. YouTube is home to SBS The Show (every Tuesday), MNET M! Countdown (every Thursday), KBS World TV Music Bank (every Friday), and MBC Music Core (every Saturday).

Watch a day in the life of your favorite artists

Some K-pop members are also venturing into vlogging and starting their solo YouTube accounts. Two members of EXO, Baekhyun and CHEN have already made their vlogging debut with the former taking fans along in his daily and the latter posting song covers. BLACKPINK’s Lisa also has a channel where she shares her interest in filmmaking and photography with her fans. Even 2NE1’s DARA, also known as Sandara Park, has a daily vlog channel to keep her fans updated with her life. Turn to C2

Life

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Courier company delivers paper microscopes to public high school

ORTY portable and innovative paper microscopes were delivered to Lingunan National High School in Valenzuela City to help in the students’ hands-on science classes.

FedEx Express facilitated the safe and efficient delivery of the lightweight microscopes, called foldscopes, which were donated by the inventor himself Dr. Manu Prakash of Stanford University. LNHS adviser Jeffrey de Leon said they

Lingunan National High School’s Supreme Student Council adviser Jeffrey de Leon (left) receives Dr. Manu Prakash’s foldscopes delivered through FedEx Express.

were grateful that FedEx stepped in to help as the cost of shipping the foldscopes from the US was a challenge for them. This contribution is part of FedEx efforts to create a positive impact in the communities where it operates. The company is ahead

The LNHS students eagerly assemble the donated paper microscopes, which are best suitable for science experiments outside the classroom.

Children’s books on gender equality launched

Mulat Sulat launches five children’s storybooks on gender equality made by young writers and illustrators.

ON National Children’s Book Day, young writers and artists launched five storybooks teaching Filipino children about the equality and diversity of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions (SOGIE). “This is our group’s small contribution to the library of stories that must be told,” said Jason del Rosario, spokesperson for Mulat Sulat, the group that produced the children’s books under a project in 2018. The books can be used by teachers, parents, and equality advocates to help children embrace diversity at their most impressionable age.

“It’s not just about fighting for equality. It’s about creating a world where being different is no strange thing,” said Del Rosario. Renowned children’s book author Bebang Siy praised the innovative method involved in producing the books. “Having both writers and illustrators in the same workshop gave the project a new kind of energy and synergy consistent with Mulat Sulat’s goals,” remarked Siy. Equality advocate and former National Youth Commission official Perci Cendaña acknowledged that the values

of diversity and equality remain challenged in this day and age. “However,” he said, “it is refreshing and reassuring that today’s generation is more than willing to continue the struggle in even more creative ways.” Mulat Sulat is a project by the sixth batch of graduates from the Academy of Political Management by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung - Philippines, with the full support of the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, Inc.

He continued, “Through culture, design, collaboration, and technology, we are committed to promoting growth and innovation that will enable local enterprises, freelancers, startups, and MSMEs to collaborate locally, regionally and globally.” In addition to its two locations in Manila, WeWork currently has workspaces in Singapore, Indonesia (Jakarta), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Thailand (Bang-

WeWork opens its second Philippine location in RCBC Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati.

Success starts small

A 29-YEAR-OLD midwife-entrepreneur from San Fernando, Cebu won the Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year award in the 2018 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards, a global financial inclusion initiative that recognizes the contributions of microentrepreneurs. Mary Grace Bayalas, who founded a birthing clinic, is a proof that age should not stop anyone from starting small and aspiring to be successful. The CMA is a collaboration of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Citi Philippines, and Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc., and funded by Citi Foundation. It gives small businesses a much-needed boost by recognizing small entrepreneurs from all over the Philippines and offering them a wide array of opportunities. Now on its 17th year, the awards program provides entrepreneurs with resources to strengthen their businesses, and enables individuals to achieve financial sustainability for themselves, their families, and their communities. It has so far recognized the efforts of

CMA 2018 Youth Microentrepreneur awardee Mary Grace Bayalas

and supported 133 outstanding small entrepreneurs in the country who have also significantly contributed to the quality of life in their respective communities. CMA honors a National Winner; regional awardees from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; three special awardees; and a Youth Microentrepreneur, who can inspire others to start a business at an early age.

The books are downloadable for free at tinyurl.com/mulatsulat.

Co-working space opens in RCBC Plaza FOLLOWING the success of its first Philippine branch in Bonifacio Global City, international co-working space company WeWork opens its second location in RCBC Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati City. “Our Makati CBD location is testament to our commitment to supporting local companies to be able to tap onto our global network,” said WeWork Southeast Asia managing director Turochas “T” Fuad.

of its FedEx Cares goal of investing US$200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020. The company has already invested in more than 200 communities and is on track to meet the total contribution goal early.

kok) across Southeast Asia. WeWork’s second home in the Philippines features its signature elements such as common areas, phone booths, community bars, and breakout areas. With the space inspired by the streets of Manila, a mural sprawling across the wall by the staircase curated by the company’s in-house arts and graphics team demonstrates an abstract illustration inspired by Panagbenga festival. To date, WeWork RCBC Plaza houses members ranging from global enterprises—a world leader in connecting job seekers with matching employment opportunities, Monster.com; tech-enabled express logistics company, Ninja Van; world’s fastest-growing social advertising solutions provider, Strike Social—to small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups and freelancers such as FinTech startup Bukas; and renowned supporters of startups like early-stage impact incubator and investor, Villgro Philippines. “As we are looking for a space that enables us to adapt and scale based on our growth, we were attracted to WeWork as it enables our cross-functional teams to collaborate more effectively with each other. By providing purposebuilt environments for our teams, we have seen an uptick in employee satisfaction and productivity,” enthused Ninja Van country head Martin Cu.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno

Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed

How to... From C1

Learn dance moves from popular dance cover artists

Your fangirl/boy experience would not be complete without checking out a few dance covers. Channels like East2West (watch: BLACKPINK - Kill This Love Dance Cover) and ARTBEAT (BTS - Boy With Luv Dance Cover) are known for their skills and synchronizations that can pass the standards of K-pop. Solo dance cover artists like Lisa Rhee (TWICE “FANCY” Lisa Rhee Dance Cover) and even Pinoy sweetheart AC Bonifacio (JENNIE - SOLO Dance Cover) are also capturing the hearts of fans around the world.

Entertainment

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

Liesl Batucan named as Repertory Philippines new Artistic Director REPERTORY Philippines (REP), one of the country’s leading theater companies, has appointed Liesl Batucan as its new Artistic Director, following in the footsteps of theater stalwarts Zeneida “Bibot” Amador, Baby Barredo, and Joy Virata. Batucan returned to REP as its Managing Director in 2018. Prior to this, she was the Associate Artistic Director of Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). As one of the REP’s celebrated alumna, Batucan has performed in over 100 plays, ranging from dramas, comedies, musicals, and Shakespearean classics, to children’s theater, while extensively training under Amador and Barredo for over 20 years. She also portrayed diverse roles, from Maria in Sound of Music to Portia in Merchant of Venice. Batucan is also an Aliw Award Hall of Famer, winning the Best Actress title three times for her

performances in Wait Until Dark, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, and Baler Sa Puso Ko; as well as a two-time Gawad Buhay Awardee for Best Featured Actress for her exceptional performances in Sweeney Todd, and August: Osage County. Batucan has performed Off-Broadway at the La Mama Theater in New York and in various international musical shows. Batucan had also directed a Triple Threat Concert for CCP and numerous CCP Main Theater concerts with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. She graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of the Philippines and served as a corporate finance consultant at SGV & Co. before pursuing a career in theater. According to the REP’s Board of Trustees, “Liesl brings a wealth of experience to her new role of providing artistic leadership in the planning and implementation of quality-based productions. The Board of Trustees wishes her every success

Olfactory magic WHEN the economy slumps and people feel worried sick of stocks falling and bonds not bringing in the promised financial games, majority of the cosmopolitans make anything and everything associated with beauty, be it fashion, accessories, the latest hair do and color, even fragrance as their arsenal to survive the daily grueling grind. And I’m a personal believer of this having witness the grand manner a new perfume line was made public. Smelling a whiff of it and placing it on my pulse points, I have this tingly feeling that this brand will definitely make an impact to people with discriminating olfactory sense. Just recently, it made an enchanting evening more pleasant with its search for their Mr. and Ms. Ambassadors, which happened at the Mindanao ballroom of the Sofitel in Pasay City. A major catwalk was set wherein fifteen young ladies with queenly attitudes and fifteen young fellows that highlighted their masculine qualities competed in traditional pageantry segments, such as parade of Filipino festival costumes, casual wear with emphasis on florals as a statement to capture the sweet smell of the perfume line, swim wear in gold, and long gowns and men’s formal wear and yes, even a final question and answer portion for the final five contenders. Adjudged as male ambassador is the oppa looking Ajay Balmores from Bulacan. A natural charmer and heart throb in the making, Balmores was confidently handsome on stage and can rival any Asian superstar in terms of looks and height. He was also one of the top three in the talent competition wherein he showcased his dancing talent employing Korean pop ditties. Proclaimed as female ambassador is the stunning Julia Sibayan. She can

pass on a distant cousin, if not sister of StarStruck avenger Diva Montelaba. She donned her long gown with the requisite gait and undeniable X factor of a beauty queen. Most importantly, she had the best reply to the all-important question and answer portion amongst the top females in competition. Another highlight of the ambassador competition was James Paul’s minifashion collection. His segment was a fine sampling of his world class haute couture collection which will be presented as part of CasaDeModa Manila’s Filipino Fashion Designers Gala-Taiwan which will happen on the 28th of July. His evening gown creations are elegant and divine to look at and the models who wore them, simply took every one’s b r e a t h away – clean lines, silhouette perfection, pronounced use of accessories and most of all, his clothes accentuated the Filipina form and figure. Vi s i b l y pleased with the final result was Mark Tan Acebuche, the man behind the new parfums. He said: “My parfums are oil based so those who will be using the fragrances are assured of the fact that the scent will last long. It is an olfactory treat and you will love wearing it, day and night. I am not making bola here, once you get a sniff of it, you will crave for scents. ” His message to his ambassadors Balmores and Sibayan, “I am pleased that they are the victors of the competition. For sure, they will be able to promote Acebuche parfums well and together, we will work diligently to carve and make our niche in the fragrance industry. With Arjay and Julia, God’s help and my team of course, we are together with our quest of making our product not only a familiar brand, but fragrances that people use all the time.”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, July 20, 2019

ACROSS 1 Magnificence 5 Cut too short 10 Bud holder 14 Moffo solo 15 Aluminum company 16 Catch sight of 17 Optical device 18 Atlas or Prometheus 19 Fact fudger 20 Make damp 22 State emphatically 24 Hunk of cheese 26 Singer — Rawls 27 Croc’s cousin 30 Of earthquakes 34 Siren 35 Hide away 36 Taxi 38 Kind of poker 39 Hoopsters’ venue 40 Urgent message 41 Kind of rally 42 Mountain lions 43 Trace 44 Spruce up the walls 46 Silver bar 47 Corduroy ridge 48 United 51 Obi go-withs 55 Soap operas 59 Not know from

— 60 Mad Hatter’s guest 62 Like Mr. Hyde 63 Casino city 64 Bucolic 65 Large truck 66 Bonny miss 67 Good-hearted people 68 Zoo transport DOWN 1 Oasis sight 2 Two-piece cookie 3 Skirt style of the 1960s 4 Sentry’s request 5 Too full 6 Hold on tight 7 Feign 8 Ready the camera 9 Game show participant 10 Expensive paper 11 Big continent 12 Train for the ring 13 Fictional governess 21 Semester 23 Blackjack 25 Sea inlet 27 Pant

28 Let out, maybe 29 Pantyhose color 31 Auricles 32 Frosting 33 Freight 35 A portion of 37 Red vegetable 39 Kitchen cabinet 40 Most gusty 42 Twinge 43 Ticket info 45 Ads 49 “Titanic” award 50 Tips over 51 Benz or Malone 52 I had no —!

53 — best friend 54 Swing around on an axis 56 Say decidedly 57 Kind of bean 58 Like a long shot’s chances 61 Tax-sheltered nest egg

Liesl Batucan

and will give her all the support she needs to lead Repertory Philippines through the 21st century.” With her new role, Batucan is expected to bring creative guidance and control to REP’s dramatic realm in keeping with the theater company’s mission of producing excellent, resilient, entertaining theater to Filipino audiences for the last 52 years. REPs new Artistic Director also aims to champion the integrity of the Filipino Artist as well as to enrich the cultural life of the community. Batucan has started her new role at the REP last June 1 as the theater company prepares to produce The Quest for the Adarna, an original REP’s Theater for Young Audiences play that will run from Sept. 14 to Jan. 12. For more updates, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, or like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Finalists for Get Reel Mobile Shorts Fest unveiled L

EATHER accessories brand McJim Classic Leather has announced its selection of seven contenders participating in its Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival, a cutting-edge event that aims to showcase aspiring filmmakers’ talent and their vision of the modern Filipino gentleman.

Culled from over 50 entries, these films stand out as the finest examples of inspiring, relatable, and distinctly Filipino stories, thus making the cut as finalists in McJim Classic Leather’s short film festival. “In the digital age, short films have become the definitive avenues for sharing relevant stories and messages,” Chris Cahilig, Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film festival director, said. “We have given aspiring filmmakers the ultimate chance to show their content to a massive audience. But we have also assumed the considerable responsibility of choosing only the best films to screen online.” The festival finalists are as follows: Kabilin by Roy Robert Rusiana; Cotard Syndrome by MC Viluan Capadiso; Champion by Juan Carlo Balasbas Tarobal; Lupi by Dave Tolentino; Pitaka by Mark Jason Sucgang; May Love Life na si Pepito Jr. by James Edward Golla; and Walang Hanggang Ligaya sa Una Mong Ngiti by Dylan Ray Talon. These chosen entries now have the chance to win The McJim Prize for Best Short Film, the highest honor for the competition, plus a total of P190,000 worth of cash prizes. Contenders are taking a shot at eight awards: The McJim Prize for Best Short Film (P50,000); Get Reel Viral Film Award (P25,000); Best Comedy Short Film (P25,000); Best Action, Thriller, or Horror Short Film (P25,000); Best Drama Short Film (P25,000); Best Inspirational Story (P10,000); Best in Cinematography (P10,000); Best Actor (P10,000); and Best Actress (P10,000).

'Kabilin' produced and directed by Roy Robert Rusiana

'May Lovelife Na Si Pepito Jr' directed by James Edward Golla

In recent years, McJim Classic Leather has been commended for its heartwrenching, unforgettable, and viral short films that were created and produced in collaboration with Cahilig, also an awardwinning filmmaker. McJim short films such as Pitaka, Bag, and Sinturon have competed in over 70 prestigious film festivals, and has bagged four awards in the United Kingdom and India, as well as the Best Digital Ad (Branded) in the 2018 Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA). McJim Classic Leather’s Get Reel Mobile Shorts Film Festival festival invited Filipino filmmakers to submit films record-

ed with the use of mobile devices, with film durations following the standard lengthof viral short films: two (2) to ten (10) minutes, including opening and closing credits. McJim Classic Leather did not impose specific film genres, as long as McJim Classic Leather products (bags, belts and wallets) were used as organic parts of the narratives. A panel of judges will choose winners from the finalists through a deliberation. Results will be announced on Aug. 30, and are final and irrevocable. Winning entries will be uploaded in the official McJim Classic Leather Facebook page.

Hollywood... From C4

Handmaid’s Tale Despite its latest season not being eligible in key categories this year, The Handmaid’s Tale still managed to get 11 nominations including for outstanding writing for a drama and directing. The series, which won best drama in 2017, was not eligible to compete in top categories because it missed the eligibility deadline. The Emmys only recognize shows that were on in the 12 months to May 31. But the show made 16 technical category submissions for episodes from the tail-end of the previous season. Multiple nominees A number of multi-talented stars were recognized across a range of categories or productions this year. Natasha Lyonne and Phoebe WallerBridge both secured acting and writing nominations for their work on Russian Doll and Fleabag, respectively. Bill Hader went a step further, appearing in the lead actor, writing and directing lists for HBO drama Barry. Killing Eve actresses Fiona Shaw and Sandra Oh also picked up additional nominations for their guest roles on other shows—Shaw for Fleabag, and Oh for her appearance on Saturday Night Live. AFP

Entertainment

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

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

Queens at the EDDYS 2019 By Eton Concepcion MISS Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Christiana Ganados, and Bb. Pilipinas-International 2019 Bea Patricia Magtanong graced the red carpet at The EDDYS 2019 Awards Night held at the New Frontier Theater on Sunday night. Looking ready for the 2019 Miss Universe and wearing a dark green, high slit, modern terno dress, Ganados said she was excited to be at the star-studded The EDDYS. “Win for the Philippines! How are you feeling about that pressure?” Ganados was asked as she walked on the red carpet. “I’m a little bit anxious, but I’m coping up because it’s not just about me but its already about the Philippines, so I’ll just be myself and represent the Philippines the best way possible,” Ganados responded.

“I feel humbled. I feel that I’m not supposed to be here,” said Magtanong who was called Atty. Patch by the host of the red carpet. The statuesque lawyer was stunning in an all-white terno dress. “We’re still completing our game plan for Miss International, maybe we’ll have it done in a week or two.” Ganados and Magtanong are both showbiz materials and may end up acting in movies or television just like their predecessors 2016 Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina and 2016 Miss International Kylie Versoza who have successfully made the transition from being beauty queens to movie stars and are presently in the cast of the ABS-CBN hit afternoon drama series Los Bastardos. The 3rd EDDYS Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards marked the 100 years of Philippine Cinema and Best Director winner Joel Lamangan wished for another hundred years.

REGAL ON THE RED CARPET. Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados (left) and Binibining Pilipinas International 2019 Patch Magtanong add gritter to the star-studded The EDDYS.

Another Kapamilya-Kapuso team up Big Emmys takeaways THE Emmy nominations on Tuesday saw Game of Thrones and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dominate nods for honors but there was plenty of recognition for other shows. Here is a selection of takeaways from the best of the rest: Beyonce Queen Bey racked up six nominations for her Netflix special Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce, which gave fans an intimate look at her performance at the Coachella music festival last year, when she became the first black woman to headline the event. The live concert film was nominated for outstanding variety special, as well as writing, production design, costumes, directing and music direction. Beyonce has previously been nominated for an Emmy— in 2013 for her Super Bowl halftime show, in 2015 for her On the Run Tour with husband Jay-Z and 2016 for her album-filmLemonade—but has yet to win the award. Sexual abuse documentaries Leaving Neverland, and Surviving R. Kelly, two documentaries on sexual abuse, were among the shows nominated for an Emmy. HBO’s four-hour Leaving Neverland, which features testimony by two men who say Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children, earned five nominations, including for directing and picture editing. Surviving R. Kelly, which features testimony by more than 50 people who say they were abused by the R&B superstar, received one nomination for outstanding informational series or special. The nomination comes just days after the singer was arrested on charges of recruiting underage girls for sex and attempting to cover up the crimes. Continued on C3

Beyonce has been nominated on three previous occasions, including for this performance at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show, but has never won.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

HOUGH we often hear that most artistas sign up with both ABS-CBN and GMA under exclusive talent management contracts, seeing talents of the country’s top media networks collaborating on a project is no longer strange.

Just recently, GMA’s prized “bae”Alden Richards was given the green light to work with ABS-CBN darling Kathryn Bernardo. While Daddy’s Gurl Maine Mendoza is being paired with Kapamilya Carlo Aquino, too. You see, it’s no longer impossible for big stars from two competing networks to appear in one project together. Who knows, in the future, we’ll see these TV networks sharing their talents with one another for TV and other projects just like Kapuso Eugene Domingo opposite hunky Kapamilya Tony Labrusca in a digital series version of And Babae Sa Septic Tank that now streams on iWant, an ABS-CBN digital streaming arm. Recently, another GMA-ABSCBN crossover was introduced. Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino are working on a film entitled If We Don’t Make It. It will be directed by Prime Cruzwith Jen Chuaunsu as writer. “It tells the story of two people who are more than friends but less than lovers. They have a lot of unresolved issues. The story has a music element as well and I think that’s what we can share with you at this point,” said Paulo during an intimate press conference held at Limbaga 77 in Quezon City. “What I like about the character that I’m going to play is that she’s very relatable. She’s dumb when it comes to love. The character was like me at one point in my life. But she’s very optimistic just like me, I’m a firm believer that when you visualize something hard enough, you’ll get it,” Janine shared. If We Don’t Make It is under T-Rex Entertainment, the same production outfit that introduced moviegoers to interesting films like Bakwit Boys, Deadma Walking, and Patay na is Hesus, to name a few. *** Kapuso stars at The EDDYS Several GMA Network personalities were hailed among the winners of the recently-concluded 3rd Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards for Movies (The EDDYS) held last Sunday, July 14, at the New Frontier Theater. Dingdong Dantes took home the Best Actor award for his outstanding performance in Sid and Aya where he portrayed the role of the wealthy stockbroker Sid. Max Collins received the Best Supporting Actress award for her pivotal and challenging role in Citizen Jake as an English schoolteacher. Zig Dulay, award-winning director of the epic drama series Sahaya, won the Best Screenplay award for his contributions in the materialization of Liway – a Martial Law film about a young mother attempting to raise her kid normally in a makeshift prison camp for nonconformists during the Marcos regime. Liway, headlined by Glaiza de Castro and Dominic Roco, bagged the Best Picture award.

KAPUSO-KAPAMILYA CROSSOVER. Janine Gutierrez and

Paulo Avelino are the latest stars from the country's two rival networks to collaborate on a film project. Entitled 'If We Don't Make It,' the romantic drama is produced by T-Rex Entertainment.

Best Actor winner Dingdong Dantes

Awards presenter Jeric Gonzales

Meanwhile, some of the brightest Kapuso stars brought glitz and showstopping performances in the prestigious event. Internationally-acclaimed Kapuso singer Aicelle Santos showcased her powerful vocals as she belted out “Bituing Walang Ningning” and “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” while Rita Daniela wooed the crowd with her sweet rendition of “Kiss Me, Kiss Me.” Heartthrob and Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Buhay Ko star Rayver Cruz grooved to the beat of “Growing Up” at the opening of the Eddys. Juancho Triviño and Arra San Agustin, lead stars of the upcoming Afternoon Prime series Madrasta, were the red-carpet hosts. On the other hand, Kapuso leading man Jeric Gonzales was one of the presenters for the Best Sound Design and Best Musical Score awards. Spearheaded by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), the Editors’ Choice Awards for Movies or The EDDYS is an annual award-giving body that encourages local filmmakers, producers, writers, and actors to pursue their passion of creating films reflecting the realities of our society. Produced by Echo Jham Entertainment, led by director Calvin Neria, The Eddys 2019 will be aired on Cignal TV’s Colours Channel on July 21 at 9:00 p.m..

Red carpet hosts Juancho Trivino and Arra San Agustin

Performers Rita Daniela and Rayver Cruz