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WATCH FOR MANILA STANDARD’S SPECIAL REPORT ON THE ECONOMY September 16, 2019

‘Stimulating the PH Economy‘ VOL. XXXIII • NO. 207 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Faeldon likens BuCor stay to ‘life in hell’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

IS-linked group grabs credit for S. Kudarat blast By Francisco Tuyay THE Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group has owned Saturday’s bombing of a public market in Sultan Kudarat that wounded seven civilians, but security experts said this could just be propaganda. ISIS claimed responsibility for the blast, the fourth incident this year, hours after an improvised explosive device went off near a bakeshop at the Isulan town public market. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. dismissed the IS statement as “nothing but mere disinformation.” “It might be the left wing that concocted it,” Esperon said, noting that Cotabato City, the site of a decommissioning of former Muslim rebels, was unaffected. “We were in Cotabato City and the security situation was normal,” Esperon said. Investigations showed that the IED was placed by still unidentified bombers Next page

SACKED Bureau of Customs (Bucor) chief Nicanor Faeldon said he was slowly introducing reforms to ease conditions of prisoners at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), whom he described as “living a life in hell,” when he was booted out of his job. Heading the bureau, he said, was a tough and challenging job. Many of the prisoners, especially the hardened criminals, and prison personnel stubbornly resist reforms, he said. This was true, not only in the national penitentiary, but also in other prisons nationwide, which made it necessary to travel around the country, he said. Yet, when he was appointed to the Bucor, he brought only one person with him, a colleague from the Marines.

“I was a total stranger in the BuCor and Bilibid when I arrived there nine months ago. I had only one man with me. And there I was to manage the 27,000 prisoners in the NBP alone, aside from the other [prisoners] outside Bilibid. I also had to oversee my subordinates,” said Faeldon, who lamented the absence of intelligence funds for the bureau. “I wanted to help them particularly the [prisoners] because I believe that Bilibid should be a ‘correctional place’ that would aid transform persons who transgressed the law...those who committed infractions,” he said. He said this is was also the intent of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, which reduces prison terms for good behavior. Next page

TOUGH TASK. BuCor director general Nicanor Faeldon testifies on Sept. 3, 2019 during a Senate hearing on the GCTA scandal. Ey Acasio

76 ‘good conduct’ felons yield; PH taps Interpol By Rey E. Requejo

DECOMMISSIONED.

HE Justice and the Interior and Local Government departments gave conflicting statements Sunday on whether some of the heinous crime convicts released on good conduct have fled the country.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and MILF chairman Murad Ibrahim (L) inspect the firearms given up by former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the decommissioning rites at the Old Provincial Capitol Compound in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on September 7, 2019. Presidential Photo

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, who said a total of 76 released heinous crime convicts have already surrendered to authorities and are now in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections, said none of the inmates released have gone abroad. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, however, said he has received a report that some of the convicts freed under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) have already flown out of the country, prompting the Philippine National Police to coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). “Interpol gave a positive response. They said they will help us in whatever way they can,” Año said even as he admitted that the Duterte administration’s hands are tied if the fugitives flee to a country with which the Philippines has no extradition treaty. Perete said he based his pronouncement on the report received by the Department of Justice from the Bureau of Immigration, which has been directed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to be on full alert to thwart possible subject inmates from leaving the country. Next page

Peace-keeping team: New role for ex-MILF fighters 1,060 former MILF combatants. The JPST and the decommissioning process are part of the normalization mechanism agreed by both MILF and the government of the Philippines peace panel authored by former military officer and now BARMM Minister of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), Dickson P. Hermoso and MILF spokesperson

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao— After almost five decades of fighting, a new band of brothers has been formed through the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) who are now considered the security team as the decommissioning process began in this town on Sept. 7. The JPST is a combined force of the Philippine National Police, the Armned Forces of the Philippines and the Bang-

samoro Islamic Armed Forces of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF). Some 156 former MILF combatants who have undergone basic military training will be part of five teams of 75 members each. The JPST have their first security detail at the old capitol compound in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, for the first batch of decommissioning process of

Oil prices decline for 3rd week now

Budget hearing done in record time

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines led the latest oil price cuts of as much as P0.50 per liter to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market. Phoenix cut its gasoline price by P0.50 per liter and diesel by P0.10 per liter effective at 6am on Sept. 7, and ahead of the other oil companies. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Seaoil Philippines and Clean Fuel also announced their respective price cuts. Seaoil and Clean Fuel implemented their price cuts starting at 6am on Monday while Shell will roll back its prices starting Tuesday. “Please see fuel price change: rollback of Shell effective 6am September 10, 6am, gasoline by P0.50 per liter, kerosene by P0.25 per liter and diesel by P0.10 per liter,” Shell said in its advisory. Next page

By Rio n. Araja DAVAO City Rep. Isidro Ungab said Sunday said the House committee on appropriations that he heads had completed in record time the hearings on the 2020 budget proposals of all government departments, agencies and offices. Following the termination of the hear-

ings on the 2020 budget proposals of the different government departments, attached agencies and offices, Ungab said the committee on appropriations was set to approve today, Monday, the committee report on House Bill 4228, principally authored by him, that seeks to appropriate funds for the operation of the government from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020. Turn to A3

‘Joker’ eclipses Polanski in Venice “JOKER,” a daring take on the comic book villain starring Joaquin Phoenix, won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice film festival Saturday with Roman Polanski controversially taking second prize. Turn to A3

PH-SINGAPORE TIES. Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob (L) is welcomed by honor guards at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on September 8, 2019. Halimah is on a five-day state visit to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines. AFP

85-year-old grandpa stops HK riot police

“GRANDPA Wong” holds a cane held above his head as he pleads with riot police to stop firing tear gas—an 85-yearold shielding protesters on the front lines of Hong Kong’s fight for democracy.

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Jobless rate rise seasonal—Palace By MJ Blancaﬂor

ALACAÑANG on Sunday claimed that the increase in the rate of joblessness based on the recent Social Weather Stations survey was “seasonal” because “students just recently graduated.” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Malacañang was expecting more optimism over the availability of jobs after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law waiving government fees for the documents needed for employment. Panelo made his statement after a Social Weather Stations survey showed that

the net optimism on job availability rose to an “excellent” +43 in June 2019, six points higher than the “very high” +37 in March 2019. “We expect this level of optimism to grow further especially with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing into law Republic Act 11261, popularly known as the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance

Faeldon...

took the witness stand Thursday night. Camilon said she gave P50,000 to BuCor officials for the release of her husband. So far, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson, said, no evidence links Faeldon to the widespread corruption in the bureau. Faeldon also stood pat on his testimony that he gave a verbal order to stop Sanchez’s release a day before President Rodrigo Duterte gave his order not to free Sanchez. Asked why he did not put the order in writing, Faeldon replied: “Why would I give an order to myself? Why would I write a memo to myself?” He also justified his failure to come out with a written order by saying that “we in the military, we can give verbal order in case of urgency. It’s a normal practice, it’s a natural thing for us to do in the service.” Reminded that he is no longer in the military, Faeldon said Bucor nonetheless is composed of uniformed personnel. He also dismissed talk that he was bribed for the early release of the convicts in the Chiong sisters rape and murder case, saying he merely adhered to the law in computing their GCTA. He also said the law does not explicitly exclude those convicted of heinous crimes—like Sanchez and the Chiong convicts—from the GCTA benefit. If there’s a syndicate or a mafia dealing in GCTA, Faeldon asserted that he was never part of it. “Maybe, they have been operating on their own, but I did not belong to it nor I was a member,” he said. Faeldon insisted the “clean record” he gave Sanchez was based on the documents submitted to him. Reports that Sanchez had been involved in drug smuggling in 2010 went undocumented, he said. Still, he moved to stop his release, he said. He lamented the treatment he received at the Senate. “Every time, I started talking to fully explain my side, I was always ordered to stop talking,” he said. But still, he reads and listens to all the news about him. “Anyway, they’re not hurting me. After all, lies can’t hurt me. I even read all the newspapers and listen to the news on me, and I find them entertaining. I am entertained by what’s coming out,” he said. “When I want to be entertained, I read the news. And my question here is--what is the truth? Are we looking for the truth? Our responsibility is to find out the truth. We enjoy propagating negative issues, not knowing if there’s truth in it. So they became entertaining to me,” he added. Asked if he had regrets, Faeldon said: “You know I can still smile at you, I can still smile at people and sleep soundly at night.” He added, however, that his family is hurting from all the negative news. In social media circles, the joke these days is that Faeldon should be assigned to the Metro Manila Development Authority so all the monstrous traffic would disappear, just like the shabu did when he was at Customs, and the prisoners, when he was at Bucor. Faeldon laughed at the idea. “Ganda non ano... puede, ano, puede....ganda di ba? (That’s great! We can do that… Isn’t it great?” Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, said Faeldon was not off the hook, and advised President Rodrigo Duterte to be careful about saying he still trusts the sacked Bucor chief since charges may be filed against him. The President said Friday that despite firing him, he believed Faeldon was “an upright man” that he had to fire for disobeying his order to stop Sanchez’s release.

From A1

The law, he said, would give the prisoners an opportunity at a decent life outside after suffering the “hellish” conditions in detention. In Bilibid, he said, a prisoner can see the sky, and Heaven, even while lying down. “There are holes in the roof and they stay in cramped, hot little spaces,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. “Such a pitiful life. Everyday is like a life in hell.” “And there were some who were absolutely abandoned by their families after entering Bilibid and other detention facilities. You can just imagine the mental anguish they have been suffering,” Faeldon added. As Bucor chief, he said, he made prison employees experience prison life for 24 hours, following the same routine and even eating their food. “I let them experience the life of [a prisoner] so they would know how they feel and how they would deal with them,” said Faeldon. The Bureau, he said, had an allocation of a measly P49 for the three meals of each prisoner. “That is only more than P17 per meal,” he said. When he was came to Bilibid, he raised it to P69, which he claimed was still very, very small. “But that’s all the budget could afford,” he said. A prisoner is provided with only eight uniforms that he must wear everyday for 365 days. Because of this, he allowed them to wear their own shirts provided by their family. “Anyway, this is stated in fhe prison manual, but subject to some conditions, which we followed,” he said. Faeldon also told Manila Standard that when he assumed his post in November 2018, he met resistance over the reforms he wanted to introduce. “They even threatened to file charges against me when I changed the existing practice in the NBP on having only one prison superintendent,” he recalled. “I was then thinking, how can a superintendent manage to check on the conduct of all the [prisoners] if he is only one? How can he attend to the records of all these prisoners?” Faeldon said. Because of this, he designated three more superintendents in the national penitentiary, so there were four of them-one assigned to the north, south, weest and east wings of Bilibid. But some resisted this change. Faeldon said he is happier now that he’s been relieved of a tough job. “I know. I did nothing wrong. I was not involved in any irregularity as BuCor chief,” he said. “I’m happy that witnesses are coming out to testify on the corruption at Bilibid and the prison system. I’m sure my name will be cleared of all suspicions that I received bribes from these people,” he said. Faeldon who has repeatedly professed his innocence said he is unfazed by witnesses in the GCTA -for-sale scandal which was exposed with the aborted release of the convicted rapist and murder, former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez. “I really want them to appear in the Senate hearings and testify about this thing (sale of GCTA) to ferret out the truth and clear my name of any link to the corruption inside the bureau,” he said. The former soldier, involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, told Manila Standard that he always stands for his convictions, including fighting for the truth. “I have inculcated in the minds of my children to be always honest and truthful... to stand for the truth,” he said. The joint hearing of the Senate Blue Rbbon committee and the justice committee will resume today (Monday) and present two witnesses to substantiate the testimony of the Yolanda Camilon, who

panies implemented a price cut of P0.10 per liter of gasoline, P0.10-P0.20 per From A1 liter of diesel and P0.15 per liter of kerosene. The cuts will be the third consecutive The year-to-date adjustments now for gasoline and diesel and the second stand at a net increase of P4.66 per liter consecutive weekly cut for kerosene. of gasoline, P3.27 per liter of diesel and On Sept. 1 to 3,, most of the oil com- P1.26 per liter of kerosene.

Oil...

Act, last May 2019, Panelo said. The SWS survey showed that the adult joblessness rate in June reached 20.7 percent or about 9.8 million of the adult labor force―one percent higher than the 19.7 percent recorded in March. “We attribute this uptick as seasonal since the data gathering was conducted when students just recently graduated from their universities or colleges and started looking for employment, with SWS including in the figure those seeking jobs for the first time, Panelo said. The survey was conducted from June 22 to 26 using personal interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide with a margin error of ±3 percent.

Despite the minimal increase in the joblessness rate, the survey found that 55 percent of the respondents were optimistic about job availability in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 22 percent of the respondents said there would be no change in the number of jobs available while 12 percent believed there would be fewer jobs. The remaining 11 percent were ambivalent. The SWS considers this net optimism on job availability as excellent and at a record-high at +43. The SWS survey was not commissioned and was conducted on its own initiative, the polling firm said. With PNA

BATTLE SCARRED. Elderly Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels attend the decommissioning ceremony in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province in Mindanao on September 7, 2019, witnessed by the Philipines’ President Rodrigo Duterte. Muslim rebels in the mainly Catholic Philippines began handing over their guns to independent foreign monitors as part of a treaty aimed at ending a decades-long separatist insurgency that has left about 150,000 people dead. AFP

IS-linked... From A1

in a row of parked motorcycles in front of the public market. A top official from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reminded the public to be vigilant following the bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Saturday. Col. Alexander Tagum, DCPO director, said Dabawenyos should report any suspicious person or object so that they can immediately respond and initiate counter-measures against any threat from terrorist groups. Video of the bombing from a CCTV (closed circuit television) security camera circulated on social media, causing

Peace-keeping... From A1

Von Al Haq. Both of them are cochair of Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) GPH-MILF respectively. “The JSPC coordinates with the two parties’ command structures on security arrangements relevant to its functions. We also develop policies and operational guidelines for the effective conduct of the decommissioning process” said Hermoso. MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim who is the interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led his former combatants in the ceremonial turnover of the armaments with a special token to President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a symbol of President’s strong political will to implement the peace agreement signed in 2014. “I would like to emphasize that we have not given up what we used to fight for. It is simply to demonstrate our full commitment to fulfilling our obligations and responsibility in the peace agreement we signed with the government,” Ibrahim said. As part of the peace process which was ratified into Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), 1,060 former MILF combatants voluntarily turned over 920 high-powered firearms including 60mm and 81mm mortars; 7 crew-

76... From A1

“[A] preliminary report from the BI indicates none of the persons deprived of liberty prematurely released on account of the good conduct time allowance and included in the list submitted by the Bureau of Corrections has left the country,” Perete said in a text message to reporters. Perete said the DOJ chief has instructed the BI to closely guard all ports and airports that may be used by the inmates to leave the country. President Duterte earlier ordered 1,914 inmates convicted of heinous crimes who were erroneously released under the GCTA law to turn themselves in 15 days and register themselves before the BuCor or else they would be considered fugitives from law. The GCTA controversy led the President to sack BuCor Director General Nicanor Faeldon last week. Duterte issued the order amid allegations of corruption and other anomalies over the issuance of GCTA. Among those who surrendered, Perete said, were 28 former inmates from Region II. “The 76 are the ones already with the BuCor. I am not sure if the figure from the PNP represents surrenders already transferred to BuCor, or still with various PNP offices,” he said. Perete said the DOJ interim oversight committee headed by Undersecretary Deo Marco will meet Monday with BuCor officials headed by OIC Melvin Ramon Buenafe to discuss coordinating mechanisms and conduct inspections. The oversight committee is tasked to watch over the BuCor until a new director general is appointed. Also on Sunday, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the 1,914 convicts cannot simply be rearrested, saying this calls for a court order. In an interview with Dobol B sa News TV, Rodriguez said the right procedure must be followed in their rearrest. “We cannot just rearrest these people. They are not escapists. They went through the front door. They brought their things, they have release papers so they went out—erroneous either through corruption or negligence of the Bureau of Corrections,” he said. He said the court which convicted the prisoner of a heinous crime has the jurisdiction to order the rearrest of the freed convicts based on their GCTA. With Rio N. Araja, Ronald O. Reyes, PNA

public concern over safety. “We are currently implementing maximum security operations 24/7 and maintaining our level 3 Alert level,” Tagum said. Tagum assured the public that they have enough security forces on the ground. The Palace said the explosion in a public market Saturday shows the need tos peed up the normalization process to end decades of conflict in Mindanao. “The blast this morning is a reminder of why we must exhaust all efforts to ensure that future generations are spared from the conflict and violence that has plagued Mindanao in the past,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a statement. Nograles also expressed hope that

the eight persons wounded in the blast would have a speedy recovery. Nograles also hailed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to push through with his attendance on the second phase of decommissioning Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and weapons in Sultan Kudarat just hours after the blast took place. During the event, Duterte told the decommissioned fighters not to be sad or disheartened in handing over their weapons and returning to civilian life. “Do not be sad that you turned over your arms to the government. Because you are the government now. If you really need arms to defend your government here in BARMM, no problem. I’ll give you new ones,” Duterte said in Filipino. With PNA

mounted M2 Browning caliber 50 machine guns; and 500 RPG rocket launchers to the International Decommissioning Body (IDB). “Decommissioning is the first step in achieving our goal to return our combatants to civilian but productive life,” Murad added. Duterte underscored the significance of the decommissioning process in the national government’s overall peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao. “Do not be sad that your turned over your arms to the government because you are now the government. The government is yours, we have given it to you” Duterte said as he addressed the former MILF combatants in Filipino. Out of 1,060 decommissioned MILF combatants, 106 were members the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) of the BIAFMILF. As promised the government handed P100,000 cash to each decommissioned former MILF combatant intended for the scholarships and other socio-economic benefits for their family and community. Fourteen members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Saturday voluntarily surrendered to military and local officials here hoping to live normal lives. Lt. Col. Elmer M. Boongaling, the commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB), said the surrender

came after they initiated talks with one of the factions of the BIFF operating in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao. A sub-leader of the BIFF and 13 of his men responded positively to the Army’s peace and development advocacy program, he said. The group turned in three rocketpropelled grenade (RPG) launchers, two M16 Armalite rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, an M14 rifle, one 9mm Uzi submachine pistol, and one homemade .50-caliber Barrett sniper’s rifle to Boongaling and 601st Army Brigade commander, Col. Jose Narciso during the turnover ceremony. “I have been a rebel since 1972 and being so did not give me and my family any good, I am looking forward to the future of my children,” said the former BIFF commander who requested anonymity for security reasons. “The BARMM is in place, I and my men now believe we no longer have reasons to rebel against the government,” he said referring to the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “The 33IB is always open to any rebel who wishes to embrace peace,” Boongaling said. “We are ready to talk peace to all enemies of the state for the sake of their children and families.” Narciso lauded the rebels for choosing the path on returning to the mainstream society. PNA

News Group seeks comprehensive audit of POGOs AN INFRASTRUCTURE-oriented think-tank has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to order a comprehensive cybersecurity and money laundering audit of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations in the country. “With President Duterte standing firm on allowing POGOs to operate despite Beijing’s state-level request to ban Chinese-led gaming operations, Malacañang should now order state agencies involved in preventing cybercrime and money laundering to assess the risks posed by POGO activities,” Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said. Ridon, a former House ICT committee member, said the third-party service provider engaged by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to audit POGOs is grossly insufficient in view of the state-level cyber fraud and laundering concerns raised by Beijing. “State-level concerns warrant a state-level response led by government law enforcement agencies. Government cannot rely on a private third-party auditor to address cyber fraud and money laundering undertaken by transnational criminal syndicates,” he said. “It should be noted that what is subjected to public scrutiny are not only POGO licensees but the entire POGO industry led by Pagcor and other authorized agencies. Correspondingly, an entity engaged by Pagcor will be insufficient, if not unacceptable,” Ridon added. Ridon, who studied cybersecurity at the Harvard Kennedy School, said the government should investigate whether POGOs use cryptocurrencies to skirt money laundering controls for casino operations.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

BIR exec files libel case vs. Tulfo A By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

BUREAU of Internal Revenue executive assistant filed over the weekend libel and cyber libel complaints before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against Manila Times columnist Ramon Tulfo. BIR Executive Assistant III Adonis M. Samson said he was tagged by Tulfo in his newspaper columns and social media postings as the man talking to another BIR executive in Massachusetts in a bid to portray the agency and its head as “corrupt.” Saying he has never set foot in the United States, Samson said in his com-

plaint that Tulfo went on a “character assassination spree.” “[Tulfo] succeeded in maliciously maligning me, ruining my reputation, defaming me, attacking my private character, and causing me and my family mental anguish, sleepless nights, and unimaginable and continued emotional and psychological stress, with the

seven separate pieces he authored, five of which were published on the Manila Times and the Manila Times Online.” Tulfo’s Aug. 6 column was based on the hazy outline of a man and a woman in a dialog. The columnist claimed the woman in the video is a certain Angeles. He identified the man as Samson, adding that the two “sometime in August 2017 were taking up short courses at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US.” “Yes, it seems that the woman and the man had just had terrific sex when that conversation was recorded – apparently by the woman herself,” Tulfo said in a separate social media post. “Not only did respondent Tulfo

claimed that I am a corrupt government employee under Commissioner Caesar Dulay but also that I am in an illicit intimate relationship with an otherwise reputable woman…To go as low as insinuating illicit affairs and sexual activities is plain sensationalism, without any basis, utter disregard for truth, and replete with malice,” Samson said. “Contrary to his claim that I, along with Ms. Angeles, was at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US where said video was recorded sometime in 2017, the fact is, I have never, in my life, set foot in the US,” the BIR personnel added. Samson attached photocopies of his passports in his complaint.

SIMPLE JOY. Leonela Garciano, a 73 year-old grandmother, feeds her two grandchildren ice cream at a playground in Luneta, Manila on Sept. 8, marking Grandparent’s Day. Norman Cruz

85-year-old... From A1

Despite his age, Wong is a regular sight at Hong Kong’s street battles, hobbling towards police lines, placing himself in between riot officers and hardcore protesters, hoping to deescalate what have now become near daily clashes. “I’d rather they kill the elderly than hit the youngsters,” he told AFP during a recent series of skirmishes in the shopping district of Causeway Bay, a gas mask dangling from his chin. “We’re old now, but the children are the future of Hong Kong.” The three months of huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese city are overwhelmingly youth-led. Research by academics has shown that half of those on the streets are between 20 and 30 years old, while 77 percent have degrees. But the movement maintains widespread support across the public with lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers and civil servants all holding recent solidarity rallies, even as the violence escalates. Groups of elderly people—dubbed “silver hairs”—have also marched. But Wong and his friend “Grandpa Chan,” a comparatively spry 73-yearold, are among the most pro-active of this older generation. The two are part of a group called “Protect the Children,” made up of mostly senior citizens and volunteers. As another volley of tear gas bounded down a boulevard in Causeway Bay—a street lined with luxury malls and fashion retailers—Chan gripped Wong’s hand tightly, stopping his old comrade from rushing back into the crossfire. “If we die, we die together,” yelled Chan, who eschews helmets and instead always wears an eye-catching red hat daubed with slogans. AFP

160 Filipino veterans mark Korean War Memorial Day JBC to conduct public interview for CJ candidates

By Ben Cal

SOME 160 aging Filipino veterans of the epic Korean War will converge today (Monday) to celebrate the 20th Korean War Veterans of the Philippines Memorial Day in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City. The occasion will also coincide the observance of the 45th anniversary of the Philippine Veterans Affairs, Inc. Heading the celebration will be retired Army Maj. Maximo Young, a decorated war hero of the Korean War from 1950-53 and president of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK). At 97 years old, Young is also the oldest

Budget... From A1

Ungab made his statement even as Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Sunday urged his fellow lawmakers to speak on their allotted time only and to ask relevant questions during the floor debates on the budget for a swift passage of the proposed P4.1trillion National Expenditure Program for next year. Romualdez, head of the House committee on rules, made the appeal as Congress on Monday starts its twoweek marathon hearing to approve House Bill 4228, or the Fiscal Year 2020 General Appropriations Bill. He said he was “banking on the professionalism and discipline of my col-

And there were audible gasps when French-Polish director Polanski — a paFrom A1 riah in Hollywood after his rape conviction — was handed the Grand Prix secIt is the first superhero film ever to ond prize for his Dreyfus Affair drama, get this kind of arthouse kudos, and “An Officer and a Spy.” could now be on its way to Oscar glory. The last two Venice winners— ‘Irresponsible propaganda?’ “Roma” and “The Shape of Water”— Within hours of the “Joker” premiere, have gone on to lift the best picture some warned that Phoenix’s full-throtAcademy Award. tle portrait of a needy, embittered clown US director Todd Phillips—best who lives with his mother could empowknown up to now for the slapstick com- er incels (or involuntary celibates)—the edy “Very Bad Trip”—paid tribute to angry, misogynist young men who have Phoenix’s intense performance, saying been blamed for so much far-right and he was “the fiercest, bravest and most white supremacist violence. open-minded lion that I know.” Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson wor“Thank you for trusting me with your ried that it was “exhilarating in the most insane talents,” he said. prurient of ways, a snuff film about the The movie, which The Guardian had death of order, about the rot of a governdescribed as “one of the boldest Holly- ing ethos.” wood productions for some time,” has He feared that it “may be irresponalready sparked a heated debate. sible propaganda for the very men it

‘Joker’...

and longest surviving PEFTOK member. The Philippines was the first Asian country that sent 4,720 combat troops when the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950. Of that number, 92 Filipino soldiers were killed in action, 299 wounded, 57 missing in action, and 40 were captured. Through the years, many of the PEFTOK troops who came home died due to illness and old age, with only some 160 alive today. Retired Lt. Roberto Oliver, 89, the youngest living PEFTOK veteran, is expected to attend the celebration with retired Brig. Gen. Manuel Gonzales, assistant secretary and chief of the Inter-Agency

Council for Traffic of the Department of Transportation as guest speaker and honor. Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man and retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, are also invited to grace the affair. Young was a tank commander when he and his men confronted an overwhelming number of Chinese troops in the epic battle at Yultong. It was in this battle that Young was awarded the “Taegeuk Medal”—the highest Korean military medal for bravery in combat, together with another Filipino soldier, the late Capt. Conrado D. Yap.

leagues who will not do any showing off at the expense of the proposed national budget.” Ungab said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano was able to ensure the timely passage of a “pork-free and illegal insertion-free budget that will provide the Filipino people with a safe and comfortable life.” He credited Cayetano’s idea to adjust the plenary schedule to accommodate four budget briefings daily, and that it was the Speaker’s idea to ask the committee on appropriations vice chairmen and their teams to conduct the hearings after the formal opening. During the submission of the National Expenditure Program for 2020 to Cayetano, Romualdez, Ungab and other House leaders, Cayetano had already promised to make adjustments in their

plenary schedule to give more time to scrutinize and deliberate on the proposed budget. “Under the effective guidance and leadership of Speaker Cayetano, everyone moved in accordance with his given task,” Ungab said. He thanked other lawmakers for heeding their call to help in the study and review of the budget proposals of the different government departments and agencies to determine the necessity of their programs and projects. The cooperation and attendance of various heads of government agencies and departments also contributed to the early completion of the budget hearings because the public officials provided the answers to the issues raised by the House members, Ungab said.

pathologizes.” But most critics disagreed, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman saying Phoenix has remade Batman’s arch-enemy as a “Method psycho, a troublemaker so intense in his cuckoo hostility that even as you’re gawking at his violence, you still feel his pain.” Other reviews were equally ecstatic, and a sequel with Robert Pattinson playing the Joker’s nemesis Batman is said to be in the offing. Phoenix reportedly lost more than 23 kilos (52 pounds) to play the part. Phillips defended his film saying the jury “understood what we were trying to say, and I hope that translates.”

accused of drawing “obscene” parallels between himself and the persecuted French Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus, who was the victim of antisemitism and a miscarriage of justice around the turn of the 20th century. Polanski, 86, has been shunned by the big studios for decades after he was convicted of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl. His inclusion in the main Venice competition, which included only two female directors, sparked fury from feminists. The French-Polish auteur and Holocaust survivor did not show up at the festival, leaving his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner—who also appears in the film—to pick up his prize to muted applause and a few isolated boos. Polanski wins second prize She later told reporters that her husBut almost as many headlines are band was “very happy” with his win, likely to be made by Polanski’s win. Having spent most of his life as a fu- saying the “film was very important to gitive from American justice, he was him.” AFP

By Rey E. Requejo THE Judicial and Bar Council will conduct a public interview with the four candidates vying for the most coveted post in the judiciary that will be left vacant when Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on October 18. In an advisory, the JBC said the interview for Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Jose Reyes Jr., Andres Reyes Jr. and Estela Perlas Bernabe will be held on October 2 at the Division Hearing Room of the SC main building in Manila. The JBC, the body tasked by the Constitution to vet and screen applicants to the judiciary, said the public can send in their opposition to the applicants aspiring for chief justice post until September 17. Peralta was appointed to the SC in 2009, Bernabe in 2011 and Reyes in 2017. Peralta and Bernabe will compulsory retire on March 27, 2022 and on May 14, 2022, respectively, while Reyes’ compulsory retirement is on May 11, 2020. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Marvic Leonen has declined the JBC’s automatic nomination for Bersamin’s post. Carpio is set to retire from the judiciary a week after Bersamin. While Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza is the sixth most senior among the incumbent magistrates, he was not included in the automatic nomination because he is compulsory retiring on September 26. The candidate who will replace Bersamin will be President Duterte’s third chief justice appointee, the first being Teresita Leonardo De Castro. De Castro took the position after Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed through quo warranto proceedings filed by the Office of the Solicitor General. Bersamin then took over the post after De Castro retired last year, after serving only for more than two months. President Duterte has 90 days from October 18 within which to appoint the next chief magistrate.

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Duque, the man of the hour

FOR THE issues and challenges confronting him. Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, has to be the man of the hour. Stemming the dengue epidemic, implementing the Universal Health Care law and answering allegations of a mafia controlling the flow of funds in PhilHealth can be too much for a man of less inner strength. But Duque has stood through it all. This is his second time at the Department of Health having been appointed once before as the country’s chief doctor.

The Health Secretary has stood through it all. “This Department of Health isn’t the same DoH I left in 2009 as the one I took over again in 2017,” he said. Consider these facts and figures provided by sources at the DoH: The department went to three health secretaries—Ona, Garin and Ubial—who had diverse backgrounds: Dr. Enrique Ona, a top surgeon in the field of vascular surgery and organ transplantation, had a different priority. The DoH’s budget increased during his watch because of the passage of sin tax law and DoH went into a buying spree of hospital equipment. When Ona took a leave in 2014, Dr. Janette Garin, a politician from Iloilo, be-

came OIC and a month after, was designated as Acting Secretary of Health. Her time was defined as the period of rushed procurement and construction from Dengvaxia, barangay health centers, Fabella, dental vans, among others. Most activities were business driven. She was the second secretary of health coming from Congress with the first being the late Hilarion Ramiro of Misamis Occidental who later on resigned due to alleged corruption. Meanwhile, Dr. Paulyn Ubial was secretary for only 16 months but records showed she travelled every month. She initially opposed the Dengvaxia but was prodded to continue with the program when it was raised in her confirmation hearing. Ubial expanded Dengvaxia from school- to community-based roll out. It was likewise reported that she took in 50 consultants. Duque’s Formula One was all about reforms in the health sector from governance, health regulation, sustainable health care financing and service delivery. He was actually laying down the building blocks of UHC. There was 86-percent coverage by PhilHealth for the entire country when he left in 2010. DOH was corruption-free then with a little budget of P11 billion to P34 billion. Today, all indicators have been compromised due to the evolving role of the department. It’s all “fire fighting” against a well-oiled machine wanting to put a halt on UHC because of various issues. “We want to continue harnessing technology to build health metrics from national to local. We want to increase the pub-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Fool me once

N the wake of a scandal over the early release of almost 2,000 convicts that were doing time for heinous crimes, President Rodrigo Duterte insists he still trusts the man he just fired from the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor), Nicanor Faeldon. GCTA credits to inmates. After being fired, Faeldon expressed shock and outrage at the sale of GCTA credits, insisting he knew nothing about it while acknowledging that such a scam could exist. In his latest remarks, the President said he still trusts Faeldon because he was the one who alerted him about the fake tax stamps that a large tobacco company used to avoid paying taxes in March 2017. “If he was quiet and asked for hush money, he could have made millions,” Duterte said of Faeldon. Instead, the government raided the company’s warehouse and earned P30 billion in a settlement over the an estimated P37 billion in tax liabilities. This is all and good, but the Presi-

In a speech in Naga City, Cebu, after firing Faeldon, he said: “Faeldon, he’s a straight edge. I still believe in him.” Earlier, the President said he fired Faeldon for disobeying his orders when he insisted before a Senate panel that the notorious rapist and murderer, Antonio Sanchez, was eligible for early release under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law. News of Sanchez’s impending release had inflamed public outrage and revealed that the Bucor had, in fact, already freed almost 2,000 convicts who were doing time for drug trafficking and heinous crimes such as rape and murder. Worse, a Senate investigation has uncovered what appears to be a syndicate within Bucor that sells

dent seems to have a selective memory when it comes to Faeldon. He doesn’t relate, for example, how P6.4 billion worth of crystal meth or shabu slipped through port inspectors when he was chief of the Bureau of Customs. He doesn’t say, either, that Faeldon, as chief of the Bureau of Corrections, was also responsible for the early release of three of the men convicted of the infamous 1997 rape and murder of the Chiong sisters, Marijoy and Jacqueline. But Senator Panfilo Lacson is correct when he says that trust is something personal to the person giving it, and that the President’s opinion should be respected. On the other hand, that trust has been tested against the actual record— and most objective observers would say Faeldon falls short of deserving it. The old proverb says “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Do we really need a third go-around with damaged goods?

Turn to A5

Comforting

WITH all the news coming out these days regarding our food security, it is comforting to note that the new man at the helm of the Department of Agriculture knows what he is doing, and what he wants to achieve in the next two years before the 2022 electoral fever convulses the nation. While others would go into drama, Willy Dar is cool and composed when explaining the problems that now beset our rice farmers with the incipient implementation of RA 11203, otherwise known as the Rice Tariffication Law. In the aftermath of the yet unknown disease that struck hogs in some parts of Rizal, Sec. Dar warned against prematurely labelling the affliction as the dreaded African Swine Fever, informing the public that independent tests would need to be done by outside experts for utmost impartiality, while quickly imposing the decimation of the hog population in a one-kilometer radius from the disease-stricken area. One could only hope and pray that when those results on the disease which afflicted our hogs comes out today, they would not spell ASF, or the impact on our livestock production would be incalculable. Equally comforting is that the National Food Authority, though stripped of most of its regulatory and market intervention powers, is led by a career official and not an outsider. Imagine if the President had appointed another military man who needs months to understand the workings of the rice market at a time like this? Administrator Judy Dansal started with the staple grains agency at a time when it was helmed by Jesus Tanchanco in the mid-70s, and retired as deputy administrator last year. A lawyer, Dansal has handled several departments of the NFA, from administration to operations including supervising grains industry stakeholders.

Out of retirement, the President has tapped her, in a manner of speaking, to play the taps to NFA’s once-premier role in food security. How Dar and Dansal would manage the rice situation, where farmers are groaning over the low prices of palay and importers have been given unbridled access to cheap imports, should bear watching. At this stage, it is at least comforting to know that we have experts on top of the situation. We can only wish them the best. From a medium- and even longterm perspective though, policy makers should come out with a formula where the interest of our palay farmers are not made to clash with the interest of consumers who need affordable rice. Relying on an imperfect market to eventually level the playing field may not work in the Philippine context.

Secretary Dar knows exactly what he is doing.

Money for nothing

Neither will a P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund be enough, especially the way the allocation of such funds have been legislated. A clear example is reserving 50 percent of the Fund for the purchase of agricultural machineries, ostensibly to “modernize” our palay farms. Unless we find a way to make cooperatives work, or create economies of scale among our agrarian reform beneficiaries, program implementation of the 50 percent for mechanization may only create white elephants worsened by corruption. As it is, there is a long line of agricultural machineries at the parking lots of UP Los Banos awaiting inspection and certification by an agency which has been unable to methodically address its mandate. Our economic managers and Secretary Dar will also need to look at our moribund coconut industry, with the prices of copra at a historic low. CoTurn to A5

IT’S NICE to hear the government, particularly the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is finally taking the rehabilitation of Manila Bay seriously. For next year, the DENR has allotted P1.35 billion to rehabilitate the bay, so people like us could again enjoy the sight of the mighty sun slowly being swallowed by the expanse. Records from the proposed 2020 national budget reveals that DENR’s Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Management Strategy will get P1.35 billion out of the proposed P4.1-trillion proposed budget. The money will be spent to renew and preserve Manila Bay’s coastal and marine ecosystem. However, every single centavo of that huge amount of money, could,

Every centavo of the project will go down the drain unless Manila Water and Maynilad put up sewer lines as ordered by Supreme Court. in the words of Buhay Representa Representative Lito Atienza, go down the drain unless Manila Water and Maynilad put up sewer lines as ordered by Supreme Court. “Nothing has changed. Right now, the bulk of Metro Manila’s raw sewage, including those from households, still drain into the Pasig River and other waterways that all empty out into Manila Bay,” Atienza says. Last month, the Supreme Court upheld a 2009 DENR order penalizing Manila Water and Maynilad, along with the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System, with a com-

bined P1.84-billion fine for their failure to put up sewage lines, vio violating Section 8 of the Clean Water Act. Until they fully comply with the Clean Water Act, the Supreme Court said Manila Water, Maynilad and the MWSS will have to continue to pay a P322,102 daily fine that escalates by 10 percent in two years, plus legal interest of six percent per annum. The three erring parties were supposed to pay the initial fine within 15 days from receipt of the Supreme Court decision that was announced Aug. 6. Incidentally, it was Atienza himself who issued the 2009 order when he was DENR head. Atienza nonetheless assures DENR of his support especially in its effort to revitalize Manila Bay including additional funding. But Malacañang really has to crack the whip on the two water concessionaires that have been defying Turn to A5

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Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Battery minerals, our next boom?

The good news THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE THE word “Gospel” is derived from the Old English godspel, which means good news. In present day use, it is used to refer to the four written accounts off the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that Christ did not write any of the Gospels himself, and far from being an eyewitness report, all four canonical Gospels now found in the Bible were written years after his death and resurrection. There are four traditionally ascribed evangelists, or Gospel-writers in the New Testament: Matthew, the taxcollector-turned-disciple; Mark, the travel-companion of Peter; Luke the companion to Paul, and John, the beloved disciple and the only one of the Twelve who was spared from a martyr’s death. While several biblical scholars would argue that none of the four wrote the Gospels attributed to them in their entirety, and parts of which were instead composed by their disciples or other writers, the fact that these are narratives by the four contemporaries of Jesus remain indisputable. I make no pretenses about being a bible expert. But I have often questioned whether to what extent Matthew’s background as a tax collector, or Mark or Luke’s affinity to Peter and Paul or even John’s long life have influenced their personal narrative of Jesus’ life and ministry, which we now accept as the foundational truths of the Christian faith. This interests me because Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were ordinary persons—just like you and me. They must be as amazed as I would have been seeing Jesus turn water into wine, restoring sight to the blind or raising the dead back to life. They must have argued among themselves what Jesus really meant when he asked them to love their enemies or when said blessed are the poor, those in mourning and those persecuted. Or imagine the despair, grief and frustration that they had to go through, when their Master and Lord, whom they believed to be the glorious Messiah who would liberate Israel from the Romans was sentenced to death and crucified on the cross. This leads me to the question— what if I stood as one of the of the four evangelists? How differently would have written the Gospel according to me? Even if by the time the Gospels were written, the evangelists understood more fully his divine mission, it was their personal experience and memories from the time when they were but unassuming companions to Jesus that ultimately shaped and

Duque,... From A4

lic satisfaction rate of the Department which suffered because of the Dengvaxia mess. We want to reclaim the vaccination coverage to the high 90 percent just like before. The same with measles and polio. We are playing catch up on the supplemental immunization,” said Duque in several interviews. Duque was again under fire for the roll out of the UHC at the House of Representatives during the department’s budget hearing. The issue was why limit the roll out to 33 local government units when the law

Comforting From A4

conut farmers, probably even more than palay farmers, are among the poorest in our agricultural sector. The current state of the coconut industry, unless addressed well, would add fodder for the propaganda wiles and recruitment campaign of what ought to be a dying communist insurgency. Still and all, the two weeks that passed, where national attention was riveted towards a Bureau of Corrections that seems incorrigible to cor-

provided context to their narratives. That probably explains why, when referring in his writings to the Christian message, the apostle Paul used the Greek word euangélion, which is translated literally in English as “good news.” How can it not be good news when the saving purpose of Christ was now revealed fully to Matthew the once-tax-collector, or Mark who was discipled by the fisherman Peter, or Luke, who left his medical practice to follow the oncepersecutor Paul, or John who to the end took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus?

It need not just be about religion or doctrine, but must also speak about politics, or economics, or even the most mundane human experience. What better news could be than the what the familiar Biblical phrase perfectly encapsulates, “For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only Son.” (John 3:16) So here and now, what is the Good News to me? Sadly, we live in a time that is naïve to the idea of good news. It is often said, “Bad news sells.” News about a huge scandal, or a heinous crime almost always makes it to the front page, and it is usual for readers to skim over the good news and would rather choose to read in detail the bad news. When you read through the Gospels, it is interesting to note that Christ did not only preach about things of God, more than often than not, he would teach about things of this world—about love for others, submission to legitimate authority, and the ordering of society. His teaching revealed much about secular realities as it did with religious truth. So the Good News according to us need not just be about religion or doctrine—so must it also speak about politics, or economics, or even the most mundane human experience. And just like Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I write from the perspective of faith. A silent dichotomy exists today, where it is no longer appropriate to mix matters of faith and the world. The constitutional dictum of separation of faith and state has been wrongly used as a gag order on church leaders to speak about the doctrinal and moral dimension of everyday realities. Church leaders who are brave enough to speak are quickly silenced, or worst shunned by even their closest collaborators. Probably that is why some of them

chose to be silent. I am not just referring to the church hierarchy, but even the ordinary Christians—the same who flock the churches on Sundays, yet choose to turn a blind eye to injustice, hate and poverty for the rest of the week. On Sunday mass, they recite the creed with conviction, but on other days, they easily concede to half-truths and readily put-off their Christian witness. I think it is high time for religion to find its public voice once more— not just in matters of faith—but in politics, economics, arts and culture. In an increasingly secularized society, it is important to reinforce that our creed becomes a critical criteria in arriving at our societal judgements. Then, it would have been as we would have written the Gospel according to me. That Gospel would speak with conviction on matters of objective morality, even when many consider that standards of morality are relative. That Gospel would point out the importance of charity and compassion, when others believe that we live in world of ruthless competition. That Gospel would command us that while faith is personal, it is never private—and that our religious beliefs must ultimately shape our own convictions about public matters. Come to think of it, the four Gospels had a lot to say about the politics and economics of Jesus’ time. Didn’t he say, “Give to Cesar what is due to Cesar.” (Matt 22:21)? And then he continues with the less quoted phrase, “And to God, the things that are God’s.” (Matt 22:21). This is the Fifth Gospel. *** Mr. Acidre’s background is in youth development, organizational management and political party operations Born in Tacloban City and raised in the town of Barugo, Leyte he represented the Philippines during the Inaugural Conference for Young Political Leaders of Asia and Europe held in Beijing and Tianjin, China in 2005. He became part of 6th National Parliament in 2006 held in Tagbilaran, Bohol. In 2011, he was selected to be part of the 38th Philippine Contingent to the Ship for Southeast Asian Program (SSEAYP), an international diplomatic and cultural exchange that bring the top young leaders from Japan and the ASEAN member states. In the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan, he served as Country Director ad interim of the International Emergency and Development Aid (IEDA RELIEF), a US-based international humanitarian agency. In 2014, he also started Praxis Associates Philippines, an organization development consulting team. His column, The Fifth Gospel, will appear on Mondays.

says “universal”? Unfortunately, the legislators did not read the law they crafted. Republic Act 11223 provides for a six-year transition period for the integration of local provider networks into provincial and city health systems. The roll out remains national in scope (covering the 17 regions) but progressive in approach. “Every geographical area of the country is well represented under the 2020 program: 13 integration sites are located in Luzon, 10 in Mindanao, eight in Visayas, and two in the National Capital Region. One key reform under the UHC Program which Duque expects to be completed by next year is the mandatory enrollment of all Filipinos in the

National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Duque is eyeing a 100-percent enrollment on the first year of UHC implementation. Once 100 percent enrollment is achieved, the individual-based medical services which PhilHealth reimburses or pays for will become available to all Filipinos at all PhilHealth-accredited facilities nationwide. The Universal Health Care is one of the legacy agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte. Three of the six years of roll out will occur under Duque’s watch. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for the chief doctor of the country.

rect, ended with comforting action from President Duterte himself. After listening to the proceedings in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee over the release of heinous criminals via the GCTA Law, the President let down the axe on Bucor director Nicanor Faeldon, for although the guy may not have been into a prisoner release racket for profit, the appalling lack of judgment and incompetence was clear for all to see. Comforting as well was the order for all those prematurely released to surrender to the law within fifteen days, or

face arrest, even with extreme prejudice. The demonstration of political will, as quite often exercised by the President, has had a calming effect on the collective wrath of the nation. Indeed, incompetence in the exercise of government functions, which is often glossed over as less than actual corruption, may have led to the suffering of the public as much as the wages corruption sucks from them. To quote Sen. Ping Lacson: “If corruption is counter-productive, inefficiency and incompetence could even be worse.”

We are 4th in the world in terms of cobalt reserves and our copper reserves are estimated at 4 billion metric tons and this makes the Philippines the fourth largest in the world in terms of copper reserves. While nickel is our biggest mineral production, in 2016 we were able to produce 500,000 MT, with Indonesia opting out of nickel exports we are positioned to be biggest producer of nickel in the world.

WE ARE a country with a trilliondollar potential in mining waiting to be unleashed. But because of the unstable regulatory environment that the government created, the industry has been deprived of vast opportunities to help and uplift our country, by and large. Thus, the potential remains to be that— a potential. For instance, in 2016, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines came out with a list of potential FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) and from that short list alone, there was a total of $23 billion in investment potential. The top of the list is Tampakan (SagSo, what’s the problem? ittarius Mines), South Cotabato at $5.9 The government must cut the policy billion, followed by: Intex Resources in Mindoro at $2.5 billion, Silangan chains tying down the potential of our (Philex Mining Corp.) in Surigao del mineral resources. We have been picking Norte at $2 billion, Kingking (Nade- our minerals in trickles and wasting the cor) in Davao del Norte at $2 billion, current capacity of the mining industry. Asiaticus in Davao del Norte at $2 bil- We missed an opportunity in the last conlion, FSE (Lepanto Mining Corp.) in gress when House Bill 8400 establishing Benguet at $2 billion, Philsaga Mining a new fiscal regime for the mining indusin Masbate at $2 billion, Philnico (San try passed in the House of Representatives Miguel Corp) in Surigao del Sur at $2 (HOR) but did not make it through the Senate for lack of billion, Balabag time. This was after (TVIRD) in Zammonths of delibboanga del Sur at eration between the $2 billion, Balatoc Just imagine the government and in(BC) in Benguet at dustry stakeholders $350 million, and millions of families that finally resulted Global Ferronickel that will benefit in a compromise in Palawan at $250 from the quality jobs that increased the million. government’s share These 11 proj- and infrastructure while maintaining ects, all in remote, developments in remote viability and comunderserved, unpetitiveness in the derdeveloped ar- areas. global market. The eas, have been proposed revenue stranded in regulatory limbo for years, some even decades sharing scheme was based on existing tax and are low lying fruits the government regimes of countries with well-developed can harness to boost economic growth mining industries where mining is a main these areas. shows that theshows a jor economic engine of growth. The HOR Committee on Ways and readily available growth potential of the mining industry in our country is real. Means will be conducting new hearThe century and a half experience that ings of the refiled version which should we have had is a definite advantage to hopefully see fast approval. The bill propel the country to economic victory! aims to rationalize and institute a single fiscal regime applicable to all mineral agreements and enhance the equitable More technology needs share of the government in the utilizamore minerals Today, technological innovation is tion of natural resources without comforemost in any industry creating an promising the mining sector’s need for emerging surge in demand for mineral reasonable return on its investment and resources creating new opportunities support the industries’ development. When signed into law, this should for that the Philippine mining industry satisfy the controversial provisions of should be ready to exploit. The demand for electronic devices Executive Order 79 issued by President (mobile phones. etc.) and the global Benigno Aquino III banning the issuance trend shifting to electric vehicles and of new mining permits and proving to be more environment friendly hybrid pow- the industry killing policy that President er generation and micro-grids are push- Duterte would do well to scrap. The next time you charge your ing the development of power storage solutions, in other words, rechargeable phone, bear in mind that there are $23 batteries. It so happens that essential billion in pending investments just battery minerals such as nickel, cobalt waiting for a stable and competitive and manganese are just some of our regulatory environment that will spark endowed resources that we have barely an industry boom driven by the rising demand for metallic minerals from started to harvest. Tesla, one of the world’s leading in- tech manufacturers. Just imagine the novators in battery technology, has millions of families that will benefit warned of a potential shortage in bat- from the quality jobs and infrastructery metals and has invested in secur- ture developments in these remote aring its own metal resources with several eas. If only the government will let the metallic mines. Other manufacturers legitimate (not the illegal) responsible are doing the same and positioning to mining industry do their thing, the revcapture the looming switch to renew- enues and prosperity they will create able energy solutions where depend- will negate the need for more taxes, and that will be great for all of us. able batteries will be indispensable.

Money... From A4

the Clean Water Act. Otherwise, all our efforts to fully restore Manila Bay, which still functions like a vast septic tank, will be without real success,” Atienza says. Rightfully said. P1.35 billion is such a huge amount of people’s money to just let go to waste. *** Critics of the government should not only focus on China’s incursion into our waters. Not only have we failed to yet submit a proposal to the International Maritime Organization on the designation of our archipelagic sea lane passage, which is a requirement under the UNCLOS. We also have to enact a law requiring clearance or prior notification of foreign vessels passing through the waters within our baseline. In a media forum held at the Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant in Quezon City last Friday, Professor Roland Simbulan said that while he strongly believes China is violating

our sovereignty by deliberately intruding our waters, China is doing so to protect its trade lanes, which is also being used by the United Sates as a playground for its vaunted Seventh Fleet. In fact, Simbulan said the US did not sign the UNCLOS as it claims both Pacific and Atlantic oceans as its own. And the Philippines happens to host at least eight most important straits which serve an important transit route for international trade between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean with an amount of around 15,000 annual ship passage. Thus, China needs to assure its trade lanes will never be hampered, especially now that tensions between it and the US appears to be escalating. It’s a good thing, PBA Rep. Jericho “Koko” Nograles bared that the enactment of a law governing our archipelagic sea lanes is one of the priority bills now pending in Congress. In the meantime, we should also train our “guns” on other countries, especially the United States, that are violating our sea lanes.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

MONDDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 Standard A6 TODAY Manila

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Hike LGUs' tax revenues—Sotto

N A bid to increase the local government units’ (LGU) revenue collection, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III has proposed to amend the “Situs of the Tax” provision in RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. Situs, in tax parlance, refers to the place of taxation. Prior to the passage of RA 7160, the practice of allowing businesses to pay their taxes in Metro Manila where they keep their principal offices, even if most of their earnings come from their operations in provinces, has been the subject of numerous complaints of local government units (LGUs), according to Sotto. “The Local Government Code

of 1991 provided solution for such grievances. However, from the time of its effectivity on Jan. 1, 1992, most LGUs outside Metro Manila were left behind by those within the metropolis in terms of providing basic services, development, and economic growth,” he said. Senate Bill 494, Sotto said, seeks to address these complaints by proposing an amendment to RA 7160, specifically the provision on the “Situs of the Tax”

under Section 150. The measure provides for the allocation of the value-added tax (VAT) paid by manufacturers, assemblers, contractors, producers, and exporters with factories, project offices, plants and plantations to the municipality or city where they are operating. It further provides that the allocation of VAT on payments of sale to the principal office be reduced and that of the municipality or city where the factory, project office, plant or plantation is located be increased. In proposing the amendment, Sotto sought to increase to 90 percent the current 70 percent of all sales recorded in the principal office which shall be taxable by the city or municipality where the factory, project office, plant

or plantation is located. From the present 30 percent, only 10 percent of all sales or transactions made in the principal office shall be taxable by the city or municipality where such principal office is located, the senator said. In cases where the producer, manufacturer, assembler, exporter or contractor has two or more factories, project offices, plants or plantations located in different localities, Sotto said the 70 percent sales allocation prorated among the localities where the factories, project offices, plants, and plantations are located in proportion to their respective volumes of production during the period for which the tax is due will be increased to 90 percent. PNA

Romualdez wants stiffer penalty for child smuggling TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday commended Immigration personnel who aborted an attempt of an American woman to smuggle a six-day old boy concealed inside her sling bag at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week. Romualdez, House committee on the welfare of children chairperson, urged colleagues to back effort that would impose stiffer penalties on human trafficking, particularly child smuggling. “Let me commend our airport authorities, especially the alert Immigration officers, for a job well-done. Their dedication to duty paid off and led to the arrest of a foreigner engaged in child smuggling,” she said. “I cannot understand how a woman, a mother of five, could stuff a week-old child in a hand-carried luggage. Such cruelty is beyond comprehension,” she added. She said she would discuss with her committee members the possibility of amending existing laws on human trafficking in a bid to increase the penalty for child trafficking. “I am in favor of imposing stiffer penalties against child smuggling. I am optimistic that my colleagues in Congress will extend their full support to such initiative,” she stressed. “A child is a blessing that needs to be protected and nurtured. Anyone who endangers the safety of the child deserves to be locked up behind bars,” the party-list lawmakers said. Rio N. Araja

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE Invitation to Submit Comparative Proposals Public notice is hereby given that the Public-Private Partnership Selection Committee (PPP-SC) of the Provincial Government of Bataan and EurekareCorporation, the Original Proponent (OP), for thefinancing, design, development, operation and maintenance of the Bataan Healthcare Smartcard System (BHS) in the Provinceunder a Joint Venture Agreement, have completed successful negotiations on July 11, 2019 under Stage 2 of the Competitive Challenge process pursuant to the Provincial PPP Ordinance 02, S. of 2013. Under the negotiated terms of the Joint Venture Agreement, the Project shall involve the incorporation of a separate Joint Venture (JV) corporation which will own, manage and operate the Project. This proposed project encompasses the development of secured Provincial Healthcare Smartcard for constituents of the Province of Bataan; and the development and use of the Healthcare Smartcard System to enable Provincial Government of Bataan (PGB) to have a more accurate management and tamper-proof monitoring of the medical services it provided to its constituents; and medical bills and other medical data for detailed analysis and assessment of the wellness of the constituents of the Province of Bataan. Final notice is hereby given to eligible Private Sector Proponents (PSPs) to submit their comparative proposals. Interested PSPs must submit their notarized Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to submit comparative proposals to Provincial PPP and Investment Center, Provincial Governor’s Office, Bulwagan, Capitol Compound, Balanga City on or before 5:00 in the afternoon of September 23, 2019. EOIs must and can only be submitted by the PSP that will apply for eligibility and submit comparative proposals. The EOI must contain a statement that the PSP has undertaken and completed a similar development project under a similar arrangement.

ANTI-DENGUE. A man sprays chemical solutions against mosquitoes at the Rafael Palma Elementary school in Manila on Sunday as part of their anti-dengue drive. Norman Cruz

PH to help Pinoy crew of seized ship in Iran By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday vowed to provide assistance to the Filipino crewmen of an oil tanker seized by Iran authorities in the Persian Gulf for alleged fuel smuggling. Philippine Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo Santos reported to the DFA that the Filipino-manned crew of a vessel carrying nearly 284,000 liters of diesel were arrested on Saturday. Reports indicated that the tugboat was seized because of alleged oil smuggling. Santos said that Coast Guard authorities relayed that an investigation is ongoing on the alleged fuel oil smuggling of the crew, and once this has been established, the matter will be referred to the local court. “The embassy is seeking further updates on

the seafarers’ condition, and stands ready to provide assistance when needed,” the DFA said in a statement. Earlier reports said that Iran has been fighting rampant oil smuggling overland to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states. It has frequently seized boats it says are being used for smuggling fuel in the Gulf. While Iranian media reports showed that an estimated 10 million liters of fuel are smuggled per day, Tehran has been promoting legal gasoline exports through its energy bourse. In July, Iran seized a British oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz for alleged marine violations, two weeks after British forces detained an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar accused of taking oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

PSPs that will participate must acknowledge the right of the original proponent to match the best qualified proposal submitted in this Competitive Challenge, upon which the PPP Project shall still be awarded to the original proponent under the terms and conditions of the said best qualified proposal. Furthermore, should the Original Proponent does not or fails to match the qualified proposal submitted in the Competitive Challenge, it shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable costs in the preparation of its unsolicited proposal from the winning PSP upon award of the PPP project.

PSPs which have filed their EOIs may obtain the forms for pre-qualifications and eligibility, and submit eligibility requirements on or before 5:00 PM, October 7, 2019. Tender documents shall be issued only to eligible private proponents upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Philippine Pesos: Fifty Thousand Pesos (₱50,000.00), and must submit their comparative proposals on or before 5:00 PM,November 5, 2019. If no PSP qualifies as eligible and/or procures the tender documents and/or submits compliant comparative proposals, the Project will be awarded to the OP and Stage 3 of the Competitive Challenge process is deemed terminated. The PPP-SC reserves the right to reject any and all application for qualification and eligibility found not in conformity with the aforesaid Ordinance, relevant issuances, and this Notice. Prepared by:

Approved by:

(SGD.) Atty. AURELIO C. ANGELES, JR. PPP-SC Secretary

(SGD) Engr. ENRICO T. YUZON PPP-SC Chairman

(MS-SEPT. 9, 2019)

By Rio N. Araja ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Sunday said the Department of Health would eventually spend some P1 billion every year for the antiretroviral therapy of the increasing number of Filipinos living with the human immunodeficiency virus. “Right now, the DoH is already spending around P478 million every year for the 38,279 Filipinos living with HIV and actually undergoing lifesaving ART,” he said. “The amount is likely to balloon to P1 billion annually by 2022 as more Filipinos living with HIV emerge and seek treatment,” he added. The cost of a single course of treatment for one HIV patient per year would range P12,500 to P15,000. “We assume that some 10,000 new HIV cases will be discovered annually over the next three years, and that the DoH will succeed in getting 90 percent of them to undergo ART,” Defensor said.

Cimatu vows to protect DENR workers

The EOI must also contain an undertaking by the PSP that it will adhere to the Ordinance, policies, pronouncements of and qualification criteria set by the PPP-SC, and that it will not seek and obtain a writ of injunction or prohibition or restraining order against the PPP-SC, the Province and its officials to prevent or restrain the Competitive Challenge process, the award of the Project and carrying out the Project, and that it will not institute any criminal, civil and/or administrative cases against the officials of the PPP-SC and the Province.

If no notarized EOI from a proper entity is received within the aboveprescribed period, the Project will be awarded to the OP and Stage 3 of the Competitive Challenge process is deemed terminated.

Lawmaker warns of increasing cost of treatment for HIV patients

ILLEGAL VENDORS. Ambulant vendors occupy the street at Divisoria, Manila despite a strict city ordinance banning vendors along Manila streets. Ey Acasio

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Sunday vowed to “do everything” to protect workers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources against “environmental” criminals. He took a swipe at “fearless, cunning and greedy” individuals who destroy the environment for their own selfish interests. He made the promise while condemning “in the strongest sense of the word” the recent brutal killing of forest ranger Bienvenido Veguilla Jr. by suspected illegal loggers in El Nido, Palawan. “I will never allow another crime, such as the killing of Mr. Veguilla to happen to any of my people,” he said. “This incident shows how greed and disregard for our laws can have appalling consequences on people and our society,” he added. Veguilla, along with fellow forest ranger Jenuel Casel, forest extension officer Herson Caliao, and park rangers Marvin Flamiano, Godensio Caber and Norlito Jongay, was conducting a forest patrol last Sept. 4 in an area covered by the national greening program when they heard the sound of a chainsaw whiling passing through Barangay Pasadena. Rio N. Araja

2k jobs yearly available for Filipinos in Canada

MORE overseas opportunities are up for grabs for Filipino skilled workers as Yukon, a Canadian province, will open 2,000 jobs per year in various industries, the labor department reported. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he has signed a joint communique with his counterpart in Yukon for the deployment of skilled workers with an opportunity to bring their families there. Bello visited Canada last month. “The joint communique with Yukon Canada contains a request for 2,000 skilled workers every year,” he said. Bello also said “Filipinos there look very prosperous, very happy. I talked to every single one of them and they were all happy and well taken care of.” Following the agreement, he directed Administrator Bernard Olalia of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to fast-track the deployment of workers to Yukon, as well as the processing of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) of those who will be working in Vancouver and Toronto.

21 schools to teach farm mechanization—Villar By Macon Ramos-Araneta AMID the low-buying price of palay, 21 schools have been tasked to teach farmers on farm mechanization and inbred seeds production to increase rice production and earnings of Filipino farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector. Senate Agriculture and Food commitee chairperson Sen. Cynthia Villar said farmers can avail of free training courses on rice crop

production, modern rice farming techniques and inbred seed production. They will also be taught farm mechanization, farm machinery servicing and maintenance from these schools located in different parts of the country. “We cannot expect the farmer to mechanize or to learn how to produce inbred seeds without education and extension program,” said Villar. “Because of this, they have identified the

schools where we can teach, train the trainors and the farmer field school where the trainors will teach so that we can reach the farmers,” added Villar. Villar said that under Republic Act 11203 or the rice tariffication law, the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) will have a P1 billion allocation for skills training of farmers and knowledge and technology transfer through farm schools nationwide. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PH netters stamp class in Asian 14-U series THE Philippine junior netters sustained their form and completed their romp in the ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) 14-and-Under Series, winning all but of the four titles disputed in Kuching, Sarawak over the weekend. Marc Jarata actually made it fourfor-four for the Filipinos but he teamed up with Malaysian Thoybah Rahim to upend the top-seeded tandem of Exequiel Jucutan and Joewyn Pascua, 5-3, Exequiel Jucutan 4-2, in the boys’ doubles ﬁnals of the annual event which drew some of the leading and rising junior players in the region. E a r l i e r, Pascua, spearhead of the four- Joewyn Pascua player Team Uniﬁed Tennis Philippines handled by coach Leander Lazaro, scored a 3-5, 4-0, 3-3 (ret.) win over teammate Jucutan to claim the singles diadem while Alexa Milliam lived up to her top billing by bagging the girls’ singles plum with an imposing 6-0, 6-3 triumph over Taiwanese Tzeng Mu-Jie. Milliam survived Liya Chu, also from Taiwan, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1, in the semis of the four-day Category 2 event at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Center. Milliam and Marielle Alexi Jarata, whose campaign with Team UTP is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings, Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, Dunlop, Enervon, STI, Buffalo Wild Wings, BO’S Coffee and Madison Galeries Lifestyle Mall, set up the country’s romp with a comefrom-behind 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 victory over Singapore’s Tamryn Brown and Sue Yan Tan last Friday. Meanwhile, another group of young UTP players, toughened by the yearlong nationwide circuits put up by Palawan Pawnshop and Cebuana Lhuillier, is also set to compete in the ITF Grade 5 tournament in Selangor on Oct. 1-6 with Sydney Enriquez and Eric Jay Tangub leading the roster, according to UTP general manager Jackie Tomacruz and UTP board director Gerard Maronilla.

Benilde, SBU claim Final 4 chess berths DEFENDING men’s champion College of St. Benilde and San Beda University claimed Final Four spots and twice-tobeat bonuses after finishing 1-2 in the NCAA Season 95 chess tournament Saturday at San Beda campus. CSB finished nine rounds with league-best 26.5 points following a 3-1 romp of Mapua, while San Beda was not far behind with 26 points after a 4-0 dismantling of Jose Rizal University. University of Perpetual Help System DALTA bested Emilio Aguinaldo College, 3.5-.5 to finish third with 20 points, while Arellano University edged Letran, 2.5-1.5, to end up in No. 4 with 17 points. In the semifinals, St. Benilde and San Beda need to only win once to make it to the Finals. Next for the Blazers are the Chiefs, while the Red Woodpushers will face the Altas in the crossover semifinals Sunday, while the championship round will be played Wednesday. In junior action, titleholder Perpetual Help defeated EAC, 3-1, to finish No. 1 with 28.5 points, while San Beda ended up with 27.5 points following a 4-0 romp of JRU. The Junior Altas will face No. 4 Arellano in the semifinals, while the Junior Red Woodpushers will take on No. 3 Lyceum of the Philippines University in the other pairing. Perpetual Help and San Beda hold twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four.

Tan tows 33 keglers into Bowling World Cup 2nd round

Jay Bayron (right) reads the green before attempting a putt. He leads the local charge at the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City. At left is Jhonnel Ababa.

Wide-open battle looms at Pueblo de Oro golfest F ROM a test of patience and resolve at the tight Wack Wack East, the men of the Philippine Golf Tour shift their battle to a wider, rolling layout down south when the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship is held Wednesday, September 11 at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.

The P2.5 million event actually marks the resumption of the local circuit after a month-long break that saw Juvic Pagunsan cap a record four-leg sweep via an eight-shot romp at Riviera and after American Tarik Can scrambled to win with a four-over card at Wack Wack in Aboitiz Invitational of PGT Asia last weekend. Kim Joo Hyung nipped Jobim Carlos by one to rule the Pueblo de Oro event last year, becoming the youngest winner in the circuit at 16. The victory likewise spurred the Korean to go international, scoring two victories in Malaysia and Indonesia just recently. But even without Pagunsan and Kim, the cast this week remains formidable with the likes of Jhonnel Ababa, Ferdie Aunzo, Jerson Balasabas, Michael Bibat,

Marvin Dumandan, Anthony Fernando, Keanu Jahns, Reymon Jaraula, Tony Lascuña, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Gerald Rosales and Rupert Zaragosa all geared up for a four-day battle of shotmaking and putting in pursuit of the top P450,000 purse. Jay Bayron is also suiting up, eager to make up for his missed cut stint at Wack Wack where he reigned as Aboitiz champion in 2016. Guido Van der Valk, the Manila-based shotmaker from the Netherlands who topped the kickoff leg of the milestone decade-long staging of the PGT put up by ICTSI at Club de Filipino de Cebu last June, banners the crack roster of foreign bidders in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers,

Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. Thai Kammalas Namuangruk, in the hunt at Aboitiz after two rounds but faded in the last 36 holes, seeks redemption along with compatriot Pachara Sakulyong, American Lexus Keoninh, Aussie Fidel Concepcion, Korean Park Jun Sung, Venezuela’s Rafael Para and Japanese Keisuke Takahashi. Other foreign aces vying in the event serving as the kickoff leg of a four-stage Mindanao swing are Koreans Jeong Jooan and Choi Sangrog, Spain’s Rafa Culla, Greg Gonzalez and Riley Keagle of the US, Japanese Kanata Nakagawa, Ryui Hashimoto and Makoto Iwasaki, Scots Julian Hood and Ryan Hood, Aussie Jack Lane-Weston, Argentina’s Emilio Parodi, Brunei’s Aslimon Qawin and Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia. After Pueblo de Oro, the circuit moves to Bukidnon for the ICTSI Del Monte Championship on Sept. 18-21 with Davao to host the next stop on Oct. 2-5 for the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational before winding up at the new South Paciﬁc Golf and Leisure Estates, also in Davao, on Oct. 9-12.

MERWIN Tan opened his bid for a second consecutive Bowling World Cup national title Saturday by shooting a respectable 12-game series of 2640 pinfalls to lead legendary Paeng Nepomuceno and 32 others into the second day of men’s competition at Coronado Lanes. Tan, whose triumph last year gave him a slot in the BWC international finals at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, Nevada, started with 214 and added seven more big games—248, 246, 265, 258, 244, 209 and 249—to pull away from Nepomuceno, who carded 2424 also in 12 games. Little known Eric Aranez made a big surprise by checking in third with 2393, ahead of other favorites like Paulo Valdez, RJ Bautista, Benshir Layoso and Kenneth Chua who occupied fourth to seventh spots, respectively, and remained among the 34 stll in contention out of the 80-man field. Valdez tallied 2391, Bautista 2354, Layoso 2318 and Chua 2273. Forty-three lady finalists, led by 2017 BWC international champion Krizziah Tabora and Liza del Rosario, began their 10-game rounds to determine the top 34 finishers who will advance to the second day scheduled at Superbowl on September 10 (for men) and 11 (for women). The men’ and women’s titlists will also carry the Philippine colors in the BWC international finals slated on November 16 to 24 in Palembang, Indonesia. Here’s how the rest of the remaining men’s bowlers fared: Larry Tinio (2254), Wilson Sua (2252), Jaysan Tubid (2223), Carl Lim (2216), JP Macatula (2207), Boyet Delfino (2204), Don Evangelista (2197), Rod Agustin (2194), Nicco Olaivar (2182), Ronnie Javier (2172), Jerry Bugtong (2139),Dan Enriquez (2134),Tosi Alcasid (2129), RJ Magana (2117), Simple Villajin (2106), Ramel Francisco (2106), King Limpo (2102), Alex Santos (2098), Rosante Unay (2095), Jun Bacolod (2084), Boy Roman (2062), Paul Sia (2058), Roy Nineza (2051), Nino Pabalan (2050), Gener Autor (2024), Joebert Buenafe (2028) and Don Tungala (2016).

UNTV Cup opens today with 2 new teams TWO more teams—Social Security System and Department of Environment and Natural Resources—have joined the UNTV Cup which stages its 8th edition today (Monday) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The additions of the SSS Kabalikat and DENR Warriors bring up the number of participants to the annual basketball tournament to 12. UNTV President and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon, the architect behind the successful event dubbed “Ang Liga ng Public Servants,” said only one game will be held on opening day which will be determined after the drawing of lots.

Since the birth of the league seven years ago, Razon said more than P50 million have been donated to charity institutions, with Bro. Eli Soriano as the major sponsors. “Aside from fostering camaraderie among the public servants, we want these government agencies to be given opportunities to help their chosen charities,” said Razon, who will have PBA legend Atoy Co as commissioner. Razon said defending champion Armed Forces of the Philippines is going to donate its P4 million prize won earlier this year to the AFP Educational Beneﬁts System Ofﬁce as an added fund for the education of children of fallen soldiers.

AFP team captain Sgt. Alvin Zuñiga is grateful to the UNTV management. “It is our own way of helping the children of our fallen comrades,” said Zuñiga. “Kaya we will do our best again to retain our title dahil marami pa kaming matutulungan.” Other government agencies taking part in the event are two-time champion Judiciary, Philippine National Police, Department of Agriculture, Ombudsman, GSIS, Malacañang, Philippine International Trading Corporation, National Housing Authority and PhilHealth. Out to spoil AFP’s back-to-back bid are Malacañang, PNP and NHA. UNTV President/ CEO Dr. Daniel Razon

MPBL streaks of Warriors, Volcanoes snap

Chris Lalata of Bicoland Med Salim of the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines jostle for position to get the rebound in an MPBL game won by the Volcanoes, 88-86.

ALBAY—The General Santos City Warriors and home team Bicol Volcanoes found their streaks snapped late Saturday night when they ran smack against their respective rivals here at the Albay Astrodome. Riding on the crest of an eight-game winning run and a perfect streak with head coach Rich Alvarez, the Warriors found a more determined, more aggressive counterparts in the Caloocan Supremos, who pulled off an inspiring 79-70 triumph. Leading the Supremos’ charge was Almond Vosotros, a long-time member of the Gilas Pilipinas, who torched the opposition with five three-point shots on his way to finishing with 24 points. But Vosotros didn’t do it alone for Caloocan, which moved up back to eighth spot with a 7-6 win-loss slate. AJ Mandani stepped up and contributed 14, while Tomas Torres added 12. Rene Pacquiao had a double-double output of 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Danny Marilao came off the bench and produced 10 in a display of balanced firepower by Caloocan, which visited

the foul line 25 times and made 19 of them for a 76-percent clip. GenSan absorbed its third loss in 13 games, but remained in second spot of the southern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner. The Warriors lost for the ﬁrst time under Alvarez, who was responsible in giving the team its eight straight wins since taking over the coaching reins from Ramon Pido. Like GenSan, Bicol’s winning run also came to a halt as Manila played the role as conqueror following a 76-73 win in the main game. The Stars held their rivals scoreless in the ﬁnal two minutes on their way to preserving their latest win—their 10th in 12 games, which put them back in second place of the standings of the tough northern division of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league. Bicol lost for the sixth time in 14 games, but the team dropped its second straight home match and has yet to win a home game.

Chinese fans heckle Bogut at World Cup

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Sports Taduran stops Salva to win IBF crown

By Peter Atencio

PEDRO Taduran fell in the first round, and made his move in the third and fourth rounds to win by corner stoppage over a badly hurt Samuel Salva Saturday evening at the Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Ring doctor Rolando Rivera found Salva too dazed to continue after examining the stricken fighter. Salva did not respond to questions. Rivera then instructed referee Danrex Tapdasan to stop the fight before the fifth round of their 12-round encounter. Salva was loaded into a stretcher, fitted with an oxygen mask to help him breath and brought to the nearby St. Luke’s Medical Center. Taduran claimed the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown. “Inasam ko na makatapos sa kanya. Nasaktan din ako. Tinamaan din ako sa body. Pero sa round 3, nakuha ko na,” said the 23-year-old Taduran, also known as Kid Pedro Heneral. Salva, also known as the Silent Assassin, suffered his first setback after 17 wins since turning pro three years ago. Salva managed to hold his ground in the first two rounds before Taduran trapped him against the ropes in third with a flurry of blows to the body which started Salva’s agony. The 5’4” Taduran kept Salva on the run. The southpaw from Libon, Albay kept punishing his foe with numerous headshots. “Nakuha ko na nung third round, kaya dinamihan ko na ang suntok,” said Taduran, who is with the Hardstone Monis Boxing Gym in Bangar, La Union. The end of the fight came for Salva before the start of the fifth when he spat out his mouthpiece. Rivera examined him and got no response after asking if the battered fighter could still continue fighting. This fight made history, according to MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons, since this is the first-ever allFilipino world title fight since May 2, 1925, when Pancho Villa, who is considered the greatest Filipino boxer in the first half of the 20th century, defended his crown against Leytenative Clever Sencio in Manila. IBF president Daryl Peoples came all the way from Chicago to join Gibbons, and Games and Amusement Board chairman Abraham Mitra in awarding Taduran his trophy.

Andreescu lives dream with win over Serena N

EW YORK, United States—Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu’s ﬁery passion and impressive shot-making skills had tennis experts ﬁguring she would someday realize her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.

It happened Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) at the US Open in her first Slam final as the 19-year-old defeated 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win the $3.85 million top prize. “I think it’s just inside of me somehow. I think it’s just my passion for the game,” Andreescu said of her secret to success. “I don’t like to lose, so I just try my best every match. I expect a lot from myself, so I think that pressure also helps me do my best in matches.” Andreescu, who improved to 8-0 against top-10 opponents by defeating the 37-year-old American star, began playing several sports as a youth but found her calling once she turned to tennis. “I think it helped me a lot because playing different sports gets you to think differently and it puts you in situations where you have to figure out things right on the spot,” she said. “I think it helped me a lot with my coordination, as well. I think I have pretty good hand-eye coordination. But once I picked up the racquet, I forgot about eve-

rything else.” Andreescu, whose parents were from Romania, played the youth circuit and three years ago began thinking about how it would feel to win the US Open. “I did pretty well in the junior tour, so I think the transition from juniors to pros, just having all those results from the juniors helped me do well in the pro events,” she said. “I remember actually when I was 16, after I won the Orange Bowl title, I remember I wrote myself a check of this tournament, winning the tournament obviously.” She’ll be able to cash a real one now, thanks in part to her fighting ability when under pressure. “When I’m down, I play my best tennis,” Andreescu said. “Whenever my back is against the wall, I think I’m just extra focused in those moments.” Not since Venus Williams in 1997 had the US Open seen a run to the final by a debutante. The victory lifted Andreescu to a career-best fifth in the world rankings,

matching the best-ever mark by a Canadian woman set by Eugenie Bouchard in 2014. But even bigger things are expected from her now. “I think she’s going to be number one soon,” said Serena Williams’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “Not too soon but in the future, because she has everything that’s needed to be number one. “A lot of respect for her. A lot of tools in her game. Like a really complete game. She has the whole package. Like the game’s amazing, I think: the physical, the athleticism, and the mental. She looks incredibly confident. She feels like she’s where she belongs. That’s the impression she gives.” Andreescu, Canada’s first Grand Slam winner, matched Monica Seles, who lifted the 1990 Roland Garros trophy in her fourth major, as the fastest player to win her first Slam title in the Open era. “She’s a warrior and she’s a street fighter,” said her coach, Sylvain Bruneau. “She strives to compete.” Andreescu has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning at Indian Wells as an unseeded wildcard and capturing the Toronto title when a back injury caused Williams to retire in the final. Andreescu initially caught the attention of former Fed Cup captain Bruneau in 2017 with a string of fearless performances for Canada. AFP

UE Red Warriors big man Alex Diakhite (right) tries to dribble past FEU Tamaraws counterpart Pat Tchuente during their UAAP game yesterday.

IM Bersamina, GM Antonio draw 2019 Balinas Memorial Cup match INTERNATIONAL Master Paulo Bersamina settled for a draw with 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. after 57 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening using the black pieces to remain on top after eleven rounds of the 2019 GM Rosendo Balinas Memorial Cup chess championship at the Alphaland Makati Place, Makati City last weekend. Bersamina has 8.5 points while Antonio, our country’s bet in this year’s 2019 Bucharest, Romania World Seniors Chess Championship, notched 8.0 points. The tourney is a Single Round-Robin Standard time control tournament jointly organized by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) director Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe and Philippine

Bianca Andreescu of Canada hugs Serena Williams of the US after defeating her during the Women’s Singles Finals match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AFP

Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Dr. Jenny Mayor and backed by engineer Antonio “Tony” Carreon Balinas, US based Joe Balinas and Singapore based Nur Rose Balinas in close cooperation with Alphaland Corporation. Also with 8.0 points is Grandmaster Darwin Laylo who held into a fighting draw against Rolly Parondo Jr. after 54 moves of London System Opening. Sherwin Tiu defeated National Master Carlo Magno Rosaupan after 38 moves of Kings Indian defense to climb at solo fourth with 7.0 points. International Master Daniel Quizon trounced Kevin Mirano after 28 moves of French defense to score 6.5 points for fifth place, half-point-ahead with Grandmaster John Paul Gomez who tote 6.0 points.

SHENZHEN, China—Andrew Bogut was branded “the ultimate professional” by Australia’s coach after he was booed throughout an 82-76 win over the Dominican Republic. The 34-year-old, a key member of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA championship-winning roster in 2015, has been heckled and jeered throughout Australia’s successful campaign by Chinese fans angry with a barbed comment about national swimming hero Sun Yang. There was more of the same in Nanjing, but center Bogut is relishing it and has not been afraid to fan the flames with sarcastic tweets referring to his “Chinese fans.” Bogut has been targeted after he tweeted in July: “Swimmers who medal vs Sun Yang should break the podiums with hammers.” The tweet, which garnered thousands of interactions, was a cheeky reference to China’s triple Olympic champion missing a doping test after a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer. Meanwhile, NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was unable to save Greece as holders the United States reached the Basketball World Cup quarterfinals with a 69-53 win Saturday evening. In front of a capacity 12,000 crowd in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, Gregg Popovich’s world and Olympic champions had two or sometimes three players on Greece’s danger man. Stop the 24-year-old from the Milwaukee Bucks and you stop Greece was clearly the mantra—and they were comfortable in making it a fourth win in four games. AFP

Ateneo Blue Eagles trounce Green Archers DEFENDING champion Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eales leaned on the Nieto brothers, Mike and Matt to swamp archrival De La Salle University Green Archers, 81-69, yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Mike and Matt made 18 and 15 points respectively, to power the Blue Eagles to their second straight win in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament. Gian Mamuyac added 14 points for the Blue Eagles, who joined the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the early lead. Meanwhile, Wendell Comboy and LJ Gonzales, considered as Far Eastern University Tamaraws’ 1-2 punch, delivered the goods as they demolished the University of the East Warriors, 81-65. Comboy and Gonzales, the new two-guard combination of the Tams, scored double digit output in leading the FEU to their first win in two games The 6’0” Comboy drilled a careerhigh 21 points while Gonzales added 14 for the Tams, who bounced back from a 55-61 loss to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their opening game. “It’s always good to get your first win of the season, especially coming from an opening day loss to UP. At least, nakaisa na kami,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela. Knocking in six of nine triples, Comboy’s three-point artistry helped the Tams in a big way in the third period. The Warriors, led by Senegalese cager Alex Diakhite with 21 points, came within range of the Tams off Rey Suerte’s triple from the right side, 44-49, with 2:41 left. Peter Atencio

SBU Red Sea Lions rule NCAA swimming competition THE San Beda University Red Sea Lions earned their 17th straight title in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) swimming competition. San Beda finished with 1,022.5 points. College of St. Benilde is far second with 587 points followed by Emilio Aguinaldo College with 281 points. Led by Chloe Medina with three gold medals in the women’s division, SBU snared four of the five gold medals at stake on day two in the women’s division. John Henry Gurango showed the way as San Beda got three of the five gold medals in the men’s division.

Medina claimed her third individual gold after taking first place in the 200m backstroke event in record breaking fashion. She broke the old mark of 2:31.92 with her new best time of 2:30.35. Gwen Brynne Prejul, who took a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle on Day 1, earned her first individual gold for San Beda in the 100m butterfly event, along with Sophia Bulanhagui in the 400m individual medley event. The foursome of Helena Teope, Cherryline Hortelano, Gwyneth Cawaling and Prejula then teamed up to bag another gold for SBU in the 4x100m freestyle relay event.

Mary Joy Bayaga of the College of St. Benilde kept SBU from claiming a sweep in the women’s division by bagging the gold in the 50m breaststroke event in 35.53 seconds. In the men’s side, Gurango added another gold to his personal collection when he topped the 100m butterfly event in 59.23 seconds. Jason Villaruz dominated the 400m IM in 4:58.87 and Fritz Rodriguez finished first in the 50m breaststroke (30.98 seconds) for San Beda. Aziz Jan Pukunum got a gold for CSB in the 200m backstroke event with a gold medal time of 2:16.93. Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

BSP sees inflation going down further

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation rate to continue its downward trajectory in the months ahead and settle well within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent until 2021. The BSP, in the highlights of the Monetary Board meeting held on Aug. 8 and released Friday, said the risks to the inflation outlook appeared to be broadly balanced for 2019 and 2020, but were tilted to the downside in 2021. “Petitions for electricity rates and transport fare adjustments, the proposed increase in the excise taxes of alcoholic beverages, and the potential impact of a prolonged El Nino episode are the main upside risks to future inflation,” the BSP said. “Meanwhile, slower global economic growth due to the escalation of protectionist policies in advanced economies, as well as geopolitical tensions continue to be the main downside risks to the projected inflation path,” it said. Results of the latest BSP survey conducted in July 2019 for private sector economists showed lower mean inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020 at 2.8 percent (from 2.9 percent in the survey a month ago) and 3.1 percent (from 3.2 percent), respectively. Julito G. Rada

SSS housing loan collections up 28%

STATE-RUN pension fund Social Security System said collection from housing loans in the ﬁrst six months of 2019 rose 28 percent to P849.04 million from P665.60 million year-on-year. SSS president and chief executive Aurora Ignacio said the increase in collection was the result of aggressive and foreclosure efforts of the pension fund, along with the development of a new billing system for more convenient collection. “We are pleased with the increase in collection from housing loans. With this additional fund, we can help more members who may be having difﬁculties in acquiring properties or improving their houses,” she said. “Members may use the housing loan for low-cost housing or house repair and improvement. They may also use this loan to purchase a lot and construct a new house. Likewise, they can use the loan to purchase an existing residential unit or construct a new house on their owned lot,” she said. Julito G. Rada

Salceda asks Cabinet to settle policy issues

ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda urged and appealed to Cabinet members to settle their varying issues with President Duterte and avoid using Congress as playground for policy battles that generate confusions, send wrong signals, delay the legislation process and create uncertainties among investors. Salceda, who chairs the House Ways and Means committee, issued his appeal amid hitches in the passage of urgent measures, especially the Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act or CITIRA, “now on the cusp of being approved in the lower house, but for a single, individually proposed amendment.” The measure is the second package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which seeks to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 20 percent for almost 1 million businesses in the country, while rationalizing incentives for some 4,100 ﬁrms which pay only 5 percent after paying none over a period. In last week’s Cabinet meeting, the President has designated CITIRA as the principal national response to the USChina trade war. He approved CITIRA way back in Jan 2018 and sought repeatedly its congressional approval in consecutive SONAs, as a national imperative to make the country more competitive.

Business PEZA locators threaten to exit over new tax bill F By Othel V. Campos

OREIGN companies operating in economic zones are preparing to exit the country once the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act is passed into law, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said over the weekend.

PEZA director-general Charito Plaza said these ﬁrms including manufacturers of electronics, garments, leather goods and semiconductors were very vocal of their opposition to the CITIRA bill. “These industries feel we have unstable investment policies and laws. They are scared to expand if we keep on changing the rules in the middle of the game. We fear that this will destroy our credibility, losing their trust and conﬁdence on our incentives and governance,” Plaza said. She said a likely scenario might create “world market delays in the produc-

tion and delivery that will make them lose their buyers [amid] the uncertainties created by CITIRA.” Plaza said this would force companies to transfer to “countries that won’t disrupt their operations with the fear of inefﬁciency that is caused by a major change of incentives policies affecting their production costs.” PEZA appealed to Malacañang to exempt PEZA from the rationalization of tax incentives under the CITIRA bill. “Instead of trying to change [tax] incentives and causing instability, the Philippines should seize the opportunity to take advantage on US-China trade war, the Hong Kong turmoil and GSP plus zero tariff privilege, which are opportunities for us to attract new and transferring investments towards our country,” Plaza said. She said even Indonesian President Joko Widodo had called on his cabinet to not miss the silver linings in the global economy where export-producers from the world’s two largest economies aim to avoid paying increased tariffs amid the trade-war. Plaza said a part of Indonesia’s efforts to attract investors is to improve or enhance ﬁscal incentives, and not to rationalize incentives, to ensure they get a

share in the transfer of companies moving out of China or the US. Plaza said the Philippines is not in a position to haggle with investors, much less lose investments. She said that apart from dilution of incentives, the country should grapple with the reality of a lack of good supply chain, infrastructure and transportation facilities that foreign companies tend to overlook due to the lure of incentive packages. She said that under the status quo, big industry associations and foreign chambers in the Philippines were satisﬁed with current PEZA incentives. Business groups called for the retention of PEZA incentives, which were “tried, tested and proven effective” and even globally competitive. Plaza said the one-stop-shop of PEZA was recognised by the IFC and the World Bank for having the best practice among the ecozones worldwide. “Major revamp of incentives under CITIRA is dangerous legally and economically. Export-oriented companies are in contract with PEZA when they registered in our economic zones and aimed to enjoy Philippine ﬁscal incentives. Tax revamp hindered exporters that supposedly were aiming to expand nationwide,” Plaza said.

MALAYAN’S GOAL. Malayan Insurance Company and various stakeholders sign an accord called Zero Extreme Poverty 2030 Goal, a program to uplift at least one million Filipino families from extreme poverty by the year 2030. Attending the signing ceremony at De La Salle University in Manila are (seated, from left) Philippine Business for Social Progress president Br. Armin Luistro; Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. president Richard Lim, Malayan Insurance vice chairperson Yvonne Yuchengco, 1911 Insurance Agency Corp. chair Br. Bernard Oca and Sun Life vice president Peter Miranda. With them are (standing, from left) Radden Nibungco of Sun Life Grepa, Martin Yuchioco and Dante Francisco Mayo of Malayan Insurance and Cynthia Pendatun of1911 Insurance.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

DITO Telecom ready to spend P20.5b in Clark data campus By Darwin G. Amojelar THIRD telecommunications player DITO Telecommunity Corp. of Udenna Corp. and China Telecom said it will invest P20.5 billion over a fiveyear period to build a data center in Clark Global City, Pampanga. DITO said in a statement it subleased an eight-hectare property in Clark Global City to house its main data center. The DITO Telecommunity Data Center, a critical component to begin DITO’s commercial operations, will be designed after Google’s campusstyle headquarters, to hold operational departments, network operations center, servecall center and regional center. It will also serve as the hub for DITO’s research and development in the telecommunications space. “We are excited to build an iconic DITO Campus here in Clark,’’ DITO chairman Dennis Uy said. “This is a clear indication of our commitment to provide world-class telecommunications services that the Filipinos deserve and to continue to prime Clark Global City with quality locators,’’ he said. The company said it would hire 800 Filipinos in the first year and a total of 4,500 by the fifth year. DITO said the initial investment would reach P13.6 billion in the first year to be supported by P6.9 billion in the next four years. “This project will bring innovative and cutting-edge technologies, from high-end 5G capabilities to top-tier data center infrastructure systems,’’ DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said. “We look forward to starting the construction in three months, as we are more than excited to spur business development in Clark,” Udenna Land president Wilfredo Placino said. With the state-of-the-art DITO Data Center located at the heart of Clark Business District, local and foreign businesses will surely be encouraged to establish operations in CGC,” he said. DITO Telecommunity received its certificate of public convenience and necessity from the National Telecommunications Commission in July to operate as the third major telco.

Anti-trust body starts further review Power rates expected to drop further in September of San Miguel’s acquisition of Holcim By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Philippine Competition Commission said it started a deeper review of the acquisition by San Miguel Corp. of cement maker Holcim Philippines Inc. to determine if the transaction will substantially lessen the market competition. It said after the initial 30-day Phase 1 review ended on Aug. 22, it moved to the 60-day Phase 2 review of the transaction which would involve a more detailed analysis of the transaction using additional information from the parties and stakeholders. The second-level inquiry is set to determine if the merger of two of the biggest cement manufacturers in the country―SMC’s cementmanufacturing subsidiaries and Holcim―would likely lead to a substantial lessening of the competition in the relevant markets. Initial ﬁndings of the merger review showed that the takeover could affect

FRANCORP’S AWARD.

Francorp, the world’s largest franchise consulting company, bags for the second time the International Master Franchise Award (Service Category) at the recent Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA) 2019, enshrining it to FEA’s list of Hall of Famers. Receiving the award are Francorp PH managing director Noel Siggaoat (fourth from left) and chief marketing officer Chris Lim (fourth from right). With them are (from left) PFA chairman Dr. Alan Escalona, University of Asia and the Pacific president Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Philippine Food Exporters Inc. president Roberto Amores, Isla Lipana & Co. chairman Atty. Alex Cabrera and PFA president Richard Sanz.

market concentration for the identified relevant product markets in Region II and the Cordillera Administrative Region in Northeast Luzon; Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Northwest Luzon; Regions IV-A, IV-B and V and National Capital Region in Southern Luzon; Region III in Central Luzon. The initial phase also covered Regions IX, X, XIII and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in Northern Mindanao; Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao City, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City in Southern Mindanao. The second phase will assess whether there will be an increased likelihood of cartel-like coordination among cement firms operating in the identified geographic areas. Othel V. Campos

POWER rates are expected to decline further this month amid improved supply and the impact of the net settlement surplus reduction, an executive of Manila Electric Co. said over the weekend. “We see rates as being stable or may in fact even see a reduction for this month as a result of improvements in the overall power supply situation. There were no incidents of red and yellow alerts that may have impacted on rates,” said Meralco assistant vice president and spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga. Power rates declined for the fourth consecutive month in August. The average rate for a typical household consuming 200 kilowatt-hours fell to P9.5674 per kWh last month from P9.9850 per kWh in July. “We also expect to implement the net settlement surplus or NSS which WESM [Wholesale Electricity Spot

Market] will include as a reduction in their billing. This was due to the recent order of the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] and a re-computation by PEMC [Philippine Electricity Spot Market] which subsequently resulted in a refund and reduced power costs,” Zaldarriaga said. Meralco sources a portion of its power supply from the WESM, the country’s trading ﬂoor of electricity. The ERC previously ordered PEMC to make the necessary adjustments to the NSS allocations and corresponding settlement calculations for the June 2018 to May 2019 billing months. NSS exists if the total payment to customers exceeds the total payment to generation companies at the WESM where PEMC is the governing body. “It is likely we will see a reduction in the generation charge this September. Despite the depreciation of the peso, which will put upward pressure on charges from IPPs [independent power producers],

there are two factors that can offset the effect of the peso’s weakening. One is the improved supply situation. The other is the Net Settlement Surplus refund being implemented by PEMC, as directed by the ERC,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said. Fernandez said the power supply was stable in the preceding month. “There were no yellow or red alerts during the August supply month so that we expect WESM charges to go down,” Fernandez said. Meralco earlier said the fourth straight month of electricity rate decline in August represented a total downward adjustment of almost P1 per kWh since May. Meralco attributed the lower rates to the lower charges at the WESM. Meralco sourced 11 percent of its July power supply from the WESM. The generation charge for August went down to P4.9620 per kWh from P5.4227 per kWh in July.

Isuzu opens transmission assembly line in PH ISUZU Philippines Corp. said it added a transmission assembly line to its factory in Biñan, Laguna to complement the assembly efforts and increase the company’s local parts utilization under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. IPC manager for sales and marketing Joseph Bautista said Isuzu became the ﬁrst automotive company to create an assembly line dedicated for the transmission component for PUVs. “The prospect of the volume looks promising. Because of the program, the potential here in the Philippines is huge. With as many as 200,000 jeepneys that the government aims to be replaced by modern PUVs, we see the urgent need to have a transmission line here,” he said. Isuzu Auto Parts Manufacturing,

a sister company of IPC in the Philippines, is responsible for putting together the transmission line. Isuzu used to import the transmission gear from Japan. Adding the transmission and the body, the local content of Isuzu PUVs have reached 60 percent, one of the conditions a PUV program participant should be able to satisfy. The localized transmission segment will qualify for the fixed investment support, which is 50 percent of the total incentives a PUV participant gets to benefit from the incentives program. Production incentive requires participating companies to fill in a certain volume for a given period in time. Current discussions call for at least 5,000 units sold every six months. Othel V. Campos

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market likely to trade flat By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to drift sideways this week with a positive bias on optimism the US and China will meet on October to discuss trade.

“Bias continues for the index to reach the critical 8k level resistance next week—continue to watch out for US market movement if they return to their recent highs,” said Gabriel Jose Perez, a trader from P2P Trade Online. Investors are also waiting for the results of the US Fed meeting scheduled on Sept. 19 when an interest rate cut is expected. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said on Friday the central bank remained committed to sustaining US economic expansion that could signal a possible cut in interest rates. “The week’s close at 7,933.47 contin-

ues to signal the market to consolidate within the 7,700/8,000 levels in the near-term,” said BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week slipped 0.6 percent, snapping a two-week winning streak, to close at 7,933.47, while the broader All Shares Index declined 0.5 percent to 4,785. The mining and oil index surged 12.4 percent, while the property sector added 1.3 percent after President Duterte announced that offshore gaming operation would continue. The industrial index declined 1.9 percent followed by services, which fell 1.8 percent. Holding ﬁrms dipped lost 0.2 percent. Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P2 billion while the average daily value traded stood at P6.7 billion from the previous week’s P10 billion. Weekly top price gainers were Nickel Asia Corp., which jumped 57.6 per-

cent to P4.32; Phinma Petroleum and Geothermal Inc., which advanced 29.3 percent to P9.78; and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., which rose 5.1 percent to P33. Weekly top price losers were BDO Unibank Inc., which fell 4.3 percent to P142.50; Aboitiz Power Corp., which dropped 4.2 percent to P36.20; and Globe Telecom Inc., which dipped 4.1 percent to P1,947. Global stock markets, meanwhile, posted modest gains on Friday while US jobs data pointed to a possible soft patch for the world’s top economy, dealers said. Eagerly awaited job creation numbers missed analysts’ forecasts but “ﬁt into the current market narrative” that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this month, Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson said. Interest rate cuts often boost share prices.

Asian indices had risen earlier in the day on news that the United States and China are to resume high-level trade talks in October. On Wall Street, the benchmark Dow added 0.3 percent, leaving it up 1.5 percent for the week. In Washington, the Labor Department said employers added 130,000 net new positions in August, far fewer than analyst forecasts for 171,000, while the jobless rate held steady at 3.7 percent and wages rose. The headline ﬁgure included 25,000 temporary jobs related to the upcoming 2020 population census, which meant hiring by private employers was even weaker. Data for the two previous months were revised lower as well. The numbers suggest US economic activity is slowing down, reinforcing expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve this year. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume

Value

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

57.95 142.50 89.00 2.17 1.21 25.9 18.6 12.16 4.82 0.53 1.25 750.00 0.460 70.1 0.94 13.04 22.45 46.45 58 118 185 28 203.4 1790.00 59.60 1.11

360 7,350,240 6,153,540 3,172,000 454,000 2,075,000 96,600 1,696,800 618,000 4,000 260,000 1,040 140,000 12,382,260 958,000 39,000 600 343,000 35,390 3,090 88,410 1,090,300 1,959,170 715 147,420 1,524,000

FINANCIAL 20,522.50 1,063,904,570.00 541,163,196.50 6,347,250.00 544,410.00 53,883,560.00 1,766,990.00 20,530,080.00 2,952,150.00 2,120.00 320,020.00 780,060.00 63,100.00 872,372,450.00 904,160.00 510,760.00 13,290.00 15,842,710.00 2,047,298.00 342,803.00 16,392,151.00 30,010,385.00 394,095,709.00 1,232,280.00 8,765,178.00 1,679,920.00

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

36.4 15.8 0.71 1.34 0.247 15.88 2.82 13.9 116.1 12.32 75 78.5 31.9 2.04 6.1 5.89 8.830 15.1 10.00 7.25 26.5 83.2 50.95 2.1900 14.24 8.67 1.630 229.00 5.06 3.4 8.36 22.25 13.9 19.16 0.208 358.00 5.25 2.11 4.50 5.10 9.10 2.94 10.98 33 5.24 5.10 1.64 2.19 1.21 12.02 90 7.23 0.128 1.09 168.5 2.45 1.18 16.10 1.23

4,153,100 4,844,700 3,363,000 2,277,000 3,640,000 28,000 94,012,000 6,443,600 14,410 10,076,900 6,210 12,530 621,000 508,000 189,800 389,000 6,277,900 982,700 1,830,700 13,036,900 12,243,600 639,390 885,740 38,100,000 9,450,200 2,767,300 1,000,000 2,629,530 364,000 28,000 10,600 2,753,300 489,600 8,191,400 1,030,000 705,380 5,500 146,723,000 67,000 7,271,500 862,800 231,091,000 581,100 6,815,000 776,900 132,310 1,950,000 133,000 5,911,000 1,311,000 1,505,660 181,500 530,000 3,745,000 3,048,830 93,000 8,358,000 7,500 13,045,000

INDUSTRIAL 154,723,325.00 75,019,108.00 2,334,350.00 2,964,640.00 886,950.00 432,076.00 266,738,850.00 88,370,820.00 1,844,937.00 124,557,722.00 455,497.00 979,271.50 18,980,725.00 1,033,130.00 1,135,154.00 2,246,305.00 56,348,694.00 14,820,274.00 18,527,412.00 94,680,326.00 327,915,115.00 53,301,313.50 44,853,062.50 82,041,080.00 138,847,492.00 23,588,077.00 1,606,070.00 605,837,562.00 1,794,760.00 92,850.00 88,926.00 61,143,075.00 6,670,088.00 156,150,370.00 209,540.00 254,793,462.00 29,052.00 302,986,130.00 294,740.00 36,897,826.00 7,766,405.00 680,373,620.00 6,350,636.00 219,509,550.00 4,053,769.00 538,441.00 3,084,580.00 284,090.00 7,060,200.00 15,596,660.00 135,490,237.50 1,299,738.00 66,840.00 4,002,000.00 514,223,299.00 226,610.00 9,755,350.00 121,930.00 16,068,020.00

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

0.870 52.40 12.20 0.80 7.03 14.82 1.210 1.240 900.5 3.430 6.76 8.82 4.6 13.60 0.246 900 5.90 71.00 5.33 5.5 5.3 0.49 4.59 15 0.660 5.2 0.0390 1.400 2.74 175.00 2.41 1048.00 1.36 0.86 236.000 453.80 0.2310 0.247

124,214,000 6,166,900 35,239,900 25,329,000 1,397,600 217,600 16,939,000 2,281,000 1,784,580 14,984,000 6,676,200 32,626,800 23,000 237,600 3,310,000 459,850 94,300 5,954,910 8,100 228,500 126,100 611,000 26,439,000 12,053,500 2,114,000 177,163,300 29,800,000 1,913,000 118,000 510,440 10,000 2,137,205 471,000 4,046,000 5,010 10 2,330,000 7,350,000

HOLDING FIRMS 107,594,810.00 326,430,205.00 436,806,114.00 20,360,320.00 9,780,680.00 3,237,844.00 20,991,040.00 2,881,400.00 1,610,771,125.00 52,433,000.00 44,997,079.00 291,519,853.00 104,130.00 3,244,628.00 794,390.00 418,850,270.00 560,929.00 423,512,488.00 47,599.00 1,325,057.00 810,209.00 299,215.00 121,377,940.00 180,230,274.00 1,360,570.00 912,431,516.00 1,154,500.00 2,565,570.00 338,420.00 90,189,789.00 24,100.00 2,204,635,670.00 615,750.00 3,507,530.00 1,188,922.00 4,538.00 542,840.00 1,851,270.00

2,023,400 5,678,000 6,600 1,284,000 18,299,000 45,421,800 1,236,000 2,569,000 400 38,747,000 97,000 595,000 6,500,000 5,850,000 1,473,100 2,649,500 5,140,000 152,404,000 1,881,000 23,000 166,731,100 38,760,000 8,523,000 3,670,000 510,000 40 23,975,000 9,141,200 900,000 983,000

PROPERTY 31,047,694.00 4,670,840.00 65,235.00 2,384,100.00 16,546,170.00 2,181,915,110.00 2,690,860.00 11,992,940.00 2,430.00 21,790,980.00 71,360.00 517,630.00 1,499,130.00 2,495,050.00 13,668,017.00 56,630,680.00 2,349,000.00 252,520,230.00 2,380,750.00 91,900.00 856,439,877.00 12,442,850.00 11,921,510.00 1,739,400.00 202,200.00 2,150.00 53,540,090.00 228,241,245.00 2,128,680.00 3,260,720.00

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

15.360 0.84 9.80 1.850 0.900 49.500 2.18 4.66 6 0.560 0.74 0.880 0.231 0.420 9.690 21.6 0.455 1.65 1.28 4.00 5.19 0.325 1.4100 0.4650 0.390 53.75 2.12 25.00 2.37 3.35

AUGUST 27-30, 2019 Close Volume Value 57 149.00 87.95 1.93 1.15 26.15 18.4 11.9 4.89 0.53 1.34 750.00 0.460 70.9 0.94 13.1 22.00 46.90 57.9 116 186.5 27.6 204

3,890 11,231,060 11,769,840 3,156,000 172,000 191,400 4,800 2,905,600 1,611,000 4,000 61,000 90 1,050,000 13,576,890 1,155,000 29,000 200 550,600 331,080 460 7,330 50,500 3,903,290

215,514.50 1,639,272,243.00 1,027,471,344.50 6,313,700.00 197,800.00 4,994,350.00 87,840.00 33,829,586.00 7,886,560.00 2,120.00 81,290.00 64,710.00 470,100.00 965,042,411.00 1,066,030.00 379,900.00 4,480.00 24,966,970.00 19,155,311.00 55,060.00 1,366,858.00 1,378,025.00 755,259,048.00

60.05 1.11

119,120 411,000

7,076,091.50 456,210.00

38 15.5 0.72 1.31 0.249 15.00 3.05 13.9 110 10.7 76.95 81 32.05 2.02 5.83 5.7 9.170 15.1 10.10 7.25 26.4 82.15 50.00 2.0600 14.78 8.19 1.580 237.80 4.9 3.32 8.69 22.5 13.88 19 0.203 365.00 5.29 1.9 4.25 5.09 9.22 2.83 11.20 31.4 5.15 5.10 1.62 2.2 1.08 12.38 90 7.2 0.126 1.04 173 2.45 1.18 16.10 1.25

15,487,900 3,745,500 6,502,000 215,000 18,580,000 18,100 30,030,000 1,816,400 90 2,273,300 19,130 96,700 61,600 115,000 90,800 120,000 4,533,700 10,329,300 2,826,700 14,083,900 7,581,600 353,740 541,890 32,638,000 4,736,800 864,200 906,000 4,169,050 1,001,500 53,000 24,000 1,995,100 522,800 12,764,900 1,990,000 1,215,790 22,700 40,645,100 578,000 3,422,300 3,024,200 93,086,000 234,100 4,879,800 2,034,300 20,500 2,808,000 11,000 562,000 408,600 1,519,730 205,500 1,040,000 11,325,000 8,277,130 181,000 26,321,000 3,700 141,304,000

567,859,995.00 57,011,576.00 4,703,230.00 281,730.00 4,755,590.00 273,226.00 89,770,020.00 25,390,174.00 9,899.00 25,265,300.00 1,464,665.50 8,013,351.50 2,051,110.00 232,700.00 522,279.00 681,566.00 41,146,650.00 155,399,568.00 27,818,726.00 102,673,840.00 199,489,325.00 29,405,796.00 26,787,741.50 65,172,600.00 69,268,658.00 7,033,439.00 1,375,310.00 967,975,060.00 4,979,145.00 179,570.00 202,474.00 44,622,875.00 7,112,908.00 237,254,884.00 385,800.00 443,789,762.00 119,694.00 94,192,740.00 2,459,240.00 17,521,462.00 27,618,586.00 255,684,750.00 2,608,106.00 158,928,705.00 10,324,809.00 103,670.00 4,460,290.00 24,280.00 597,530.00 5,045,504.00 139,545,367.50 1,466,482.00 130,920.00 12,697,020.00 1,411,002,512.00 444,380.00 29,627,770.00 59,570.00 199,695,580.00

0.910 53.90 12.70 0.80 7.00 14.6 1.280 1.310 925 3.550 6.94 9.05

176,300,000 12,858,210 38,526,600 214,462,000 670,500 164,000 32,894,000 2,442,000 1,667,510 7,896,000 2,859,000 44,294,200

145,037,810.00 658,656,361.00 483,345,490.00 217,524,710.00 4,693,530.00 2,261,496.00 44,399,570.00 3,293,700.00 1,559,648,815.00 27,354,890.00 19,420,589.00 396,771,145.00

13.70 0.260 908 6.28 71.95 6.48 5

451,000 8,660,000 712,970 7,600 13,186,850 6,200 18,900

6,130,726.00 2,337,740.00 625,655,180.00 45,601.00 904,195,416.00 37,031.00 95,497.00

0.5 4.64 14.78 0.660 4.95 0.0390 1.390 2.60 180.00 2.41 1026.00 1.28 0.85 246.800 459.80 0.2360 0.250

1,880,000 8,444,000 11,529,600 7,758,000 150,803,000 147,300,000 4,192,000 12,000 1,190,740 13,000 2,194,535 540,000 60,629,000 258,700 150 7,030,000 26,760,000

916,950.00 38,883,010.00 162,520,950.00 4,909,920.00 735,174,740.00 5,918,600.00 5,890,340.00 32,000.00 209,870,233.00 32,210.00 2,199,896,762.50 705,090.00 62,510,850.00 64,605,600.00 62,698.00 1,677,870.00 6,803,120.00

15.320 0.80 9.71 1.900 0.880 47.300 2.18 4.72 6.16 0.570 0.74 0.850 0.238 0.400 9.460 21.65 0.455 1.62 1.26

2,231,600 2,418,000 4,800 1,073,000 13,810,000 78,790,800 1,977,000 1,535,000 231,000 59,809,000 106,000 156,000 6,610,000 3,210,000 2,600,700 5,542,600 2,290,000 137,919,000 3,030,000

34,394,174.00 1,913,180.00 46,816.00 2,019,590.00 12,039,940.00 3,749,847,565.00 4,266,860.00 7,216,640.00 1,344,760.00 33,842,790.00 77,790.00 131,650.00 1,561,470.00 1,266,700.00 23,191,801.00 123,449,390.00 1,049,250.00 220,201,190.00 3,750,920.00

5.13 0.325 1.4100 0.4700 0.400 53.80 2.1 25.00 2.35 3.3

262,332,400 92,480,000 15,091,000 1,490,000 2,850,000 210 3,208,000 16,118,300 933,000 469,000

1,308,197,747.00 29,307,750.00 20,933,700.00 679,550.00 1,090,950.00 11,260.00 6,672,660.00 400,530,290.00 2,184,370.00 1,525,290.00

STOCKS

SEPTEMBER 2-6, 2019 Close Volume

AUGUST 27-30, 2019 Close Volume Value

Value

SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

34.55 2.47 5.75 0.920 7.700

58,398,600 6,607,000 472,500 4,483,000 24,444,800

2,020,878,065.00 15,844,230.00 2,684,583.00 4,049,860.00 187,514,363.00

35.30 2.4 5.8 0.890 7.700

66,179,400 5,761,000 596,800 7,637,000 32,679,700

2,315,878,665.00 13,573,100.00 3,448,536.00 7,050,730.00 242,280,527.00

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

10.3 19.94 1.66 0.580 0.049 18.26 2.4 11.12 0.0590 95 6.6 7.24 6.15 2.26 9.82 890 1947 5.30 435.00 9.82 1.83 131 2.00 9.59 5.06 0.113 5.4300 2.86 14 3.19 0.92 19.10 15.14 0.460 3.25 2.45 1.13 1.28 3.100 2.72 8.45 2.8 5.12 138.00 3.43 1144.00 0.600 0.730 44.00 77.05 9.38 2.93 0.700 0.365 5.45 0.700 16.700

116,400 1,407,400 838,000 119,579,000 35,660,000 5,400 836,000 12,781,800 101,730,000 538,860 5,600 10,149,900 156,600 21,000 711,500 1,720 187,925 1,047,400 30,060 3,700 12,829,000 5,015,150 17,000 22,800 28,700 20,470,000 45,682,500 100,000 10,600 6,066,000 18,076,000 1,097,400 2,900 1,380,000 151,000 5,037,000 62,000 109,000 44,615,000 1,069,000 61,400 15,000 6,800 196,790 7,979,000 268,340 195,552,000 13,539,000 4,369,200 1,161,670 101,800 21,219,000 3,054,000 29,400,000 9,310,700 6,727,000 5,576,600

10.2 20.2 1.56 0.580 0.047 19.84 2.33 10.34 0.0590 98 6.99 7.06 5.80 2.25 10.20

154,900 1,135,900 102,000 28,930,000 21,800,000 12,900 571,000 26,523,200 78,160,000 1,501,500 1,000 7,392,500 5,000 11,000 14,723,400

1,614,572.00 22,773,218.00 156,100.00 16,783,860.00 982,400.00 238,884.00 1,328,670.00 265,383,482.00 4,467,040.00 144,796,833.50 6,990.00 51,805,482.00 29,015.00 22,630.00 193,849,359.00

2030 5.37 435.00

282,095 384,300 12,230

542,897,040.00 2,052,550.00 5,216,462.00

1.82 135.8 2.07 9.65 5.30 0.112 5.1500 3.07 14 3.15 0.94 19.00 15.16 0.475 3.2 2.45 1.16 1.28 3.230 2.68 8.08 3.02 5.00 144.00 3.13 1179.00 0.580 0.700 43.90 78.00 9.11 2.79 0.700 0.37 5.46 0.690 16.900

68,842,000 15,858,830 65,000 119,600 100 182,020,000 11,749,500 36,000 3,600 3,177,000 5,106,000 1,290,300 100 3,790,000 112,000 5,450,000 470,000 33,000 308,646,000 667,000 184,100 2,000 284,900 17,350 5,472,000 747,210 336,386,000 10,426,000 3,825,780 2,735,010 86,400 10,887,000 4,936,000 134,720,000 17,566,500 12,033,000 7,357,200

132,424,120.00 2,060,304,299.00 131,910.00 1,103,955.00 530.00 22,537,700.00 58,127,138.00 108,650.00 50,644.00 9,848,520.00 4,809,430.00 23,752,932.00 1,516.00 1,826,350.00 341,620.00 12,926,900.00 558,330.00 42,210.00 1,179,616,610.00 1,788,130.00 1,483,967.00 6,010.00 1,452,263.00 2,503,930.00 16,743,380.00 842,972,390.00 196,637,310.00 7,065,550.00 168,296,965.00 213,387,173.50 786,484.00 25,674,620.00 3,337,470.00 51,639,450.00 95,806,521.00 8,452,840.00 123,486,366.00

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

0.0018 1.23 2.56 11.90 1.2200 1.1400 2.72 0.280 7.79 1.630 0.218 0.112 0.114 0.0096 0.0120 1.21 4.32 1.08 0.4800 0.8700 0.0120 0.0120 3.96 10.46 0.0110 9.7800 23.35 0.0070

MINING & OIL 2,758,000,000 4,598,600.00 11,286,000 14,026,210.00 519,000 1,332,340.00 9,200 107,406.00 466,000 568,600.00 1,035,000 1,168,080.00 2,241,000 6,079,720.00 1,220,000 345,850.00 20,500 160,900.00 437,164,000 779,788,750.00 13,300,000 2,926,940.00 16,120,000 1,799,700.00 5,100,000 562,160.00 93,900,000 937,410.00 48,400,000 530,600.00 43,595,000 56,135,360.00 706,930,000 3,063,109,680.00 4,404,000 5,024,660.00 90,000 43,700.00 26,128,000 23,941,240.00 42,700,000 508,900.00 3,300,000 39,600.00 13,688,000 55,261,430.00 14,405,200 157,330,544.00 78,600,000 864,600.00 22,080,100 200,687,731.00 2,996,200 68,865,320.00 35,000,000 243,400.00

0.0018 1.24 2.53 12.22 1.1500

6,754,000,000 43,820,000 338,000 21,400 17,000

11,482,000.00 56,803,730.00 865,990.00 255,868.00 19,550.00

2.71 0.280 7.85 1.470 0.218 0.108 0.120 0.0095 0.0110 1.1 2.74 1.01 0.4800 0.8400 0.0110 0.0120 3.82 11.60 0.0110 7.5600 23.20 0.0065

2,447,000 170,000 13,000 5,468,000 181,420,000 22,290,000 1,230,000 28,000,000 68,800,000 3,476,000 22,697,000 708,000 1,630,000 4,905,000 90,600,000 48,600,000 5,607,000 22,758,600 79,800,000 21,761,400 3,438,600 508,000,000

6,600,080.00 47,600.00 101,464.00 7,933,950.00 46,754,050.00 2,461,560.00 137,980.00 264,500.00 722,800.00 3,659,540.00 59,773,670.00 738,550.00 825,200.00 4,248,620.00 1,061,600.00 583,200.00 21,184,090.00 291,305,150.00 933,900.00 173,400,617.00 78,880,150.00 3,644,700.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred 2A PCOR-Preferred 2B PCOR-Preferred 3A PCOR-Preferred 3B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred 1 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMPFC Preferred

18.7 102 500 504 101 105.8 495 505 5.2 994 980 99.7 0.98 101.3 996 1050 1050 1060 101.5 108 995 75.8 78.95 75.8 75.45 78 77 75.6 76.95 1.4

1,416,100 1,850 13,520 9,950 155,920 9,700 100 13,900 22,508,700 38,030 5,140 153,910 2,031,000 1,720 200 20 14,325 15,255 1,010 6,250 14,720 330 113,670 63,900 85,910 123,890 48,530 28,160 33,650 3,000

18.36 102 502 504 101 105 490 500 5.18 995 980

1,783,300 77,730 17,140 1,090 40,650 38,500 40 27,030 185,400 590 28,410

32,776,624.00 8,156,310.00 8,557,518.00 545,090.00 4,101,560.00 4,050,805.00 19,600.00 13,637,350.00 957,380.00 587,050.00 27,817,100.00

0.99 101.1 996

787,000 1,000 480

779,830.00 101,102.00 479,900.00

1035 1033 100 109 990 75.3 78.5 75.45 76.5 76.3 77 75.55 76 1.4

22,385 4,255 9,700 770 10 1,020 93,410 1,058,400 43,730 40,320 121,290 824,700 844,730 20,000

23,199,220.00 4,426,065.00 970,390.00 83,699.00 9,900.00 77,740.50 7,361,843.50 79,850,999.00 3,338,771.00 3,086,465.00 9,308,299.00 62,729,904.00 64,150,778.00 31,310.00

LR Warrant

1.650

355,000

SME Italpinas Kepwealth Xurpas

1.600

210,000

328,570.00

6.18 9.9 0.96

12,931,700 9,341,200 13,102,000

7.64 10.92 0.98

9,185,600 35,110,400 34,974,000

69,931,223.00 480,821,318.00 33,297,280.00

First Metro ETF

118.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 33,780 3,990,221.00

119.6

35,790

4,207,795.00

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.32 10.3 0.98

DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 17,830 183,870.20 3,240 33,222.00 5,000 4,900.00

10.3 10.1 1.02

53,770 50,000 10,000

552,397.60 505,000.00 10,200.00

SERVICES 1,220,004.00 29,160,349.00 1,361,940.00 73,786,280.00 1,739,770.00 101,664.00 1,981,070.00 135,775,024.00 5,974,570.00 51,379,982.50 36,934.00 74,847,728.00 960,540.00 47,270.00 7,180,374.00 1,530,800.00 364,516,105.00 5,609,643.00 13,039,390.00 36,244.00 23,345,930.00 644,598,626.00 33,390.00 210,737.00 145,840.00 2,266,080.00 257,120,742.00 292,290.00 148,938.00 18,643,900.00 17,575,010.00 20,967,862.00 28,274.00 624,450.00 489,980.00 12,268,160.00 71,630.00 139,510.00 145,596,140.00 2,890,390.00 515,766.00 42,000.00 33,597.00 27,304,204.00 27,080,050.00 309,041,435.00 118,752,460.00 9,733,060.00 191,725,010.00 89,232,021.50 945,871.00 60,780,660.00 2,114,020.00 10,798,350.00 50,755,915.00 4,648,690.00 93,319,234.00

PREFERRED 26,579,408.00 187,700.00 6,750,900.00 4,963,670.00 15,747,777.00 1,039,883.00 49,500.00 6,960,300.00 117,045,219.00 37,801,400.00 5,040,000.00 15,025,702.50 2,011,590.00 174,084.00 199,200.00 20,805.00 14,909,160.00 16,026,150.00 101,215.00 675,010.00 14,573,705.00 25,180.50 8,914,018.50 4,828,805.00 6,525,946.50 9,596,379.00 3,711,262.50 2,127,003.50 2,581,393.50 4,200.00

WARRANTS & BONDS 572,210.00 83,503,275.00 101,713,319.00 12,504,950.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Nickelasia Ferronickel Phinma Energy PremiereHorizon Metro Paciﬁc Inv. Corp. Megaworld Filinvest Land,Inc. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Abacus Cons. `A’

VOLUME 2,758,000,000 706,930,000 437,164,000 231,091,000 195,552,000 177,163,300 166,731,100 152,404,000 146,723,000 124,214,000

STOCKS Nickelasia SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metro Paciﬁc Inv. Corp. Metrobank Megaworld Ferronickel

VALUE 3,063,109,680.00 2,204,635,670.00 2,181,915,110.00 2,020,878,065.00 1,610,771,125.00 1,063,904,570.00 912,431,516.00 872,372,450.00 856,439,877.00 779,788,750.00

Del Monte booked loss of $38.3m in first quarter By Alena Mae S. Flores LISTED fruit grower and canner Del Monte Pacific Ltd. registered a net loss of $38.3 million in the first quarter covering May to July, a reversal from a profit of $3 million year-on-year. “Excluding one-off items, the Group would have posted a recurring net income of $4.1 million, a turnaround from the net loss of $3.7 million in the prior year quarter,” Del Monte disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange. Del Monte reported a gross profit of $91.1 million during the period, up 17 percent on year, and much improved gross margin of 24.3 percent, up 6.5 percentage points “mainly due to increased prices in the USA and Philippines, higher sales of fresh pineapple, divestiture of the low-margin Sager Creek vegetable business and reduced sales of low-margin private label, thus improving sales mix.” The group generated first quarter sales of $375.9 million, down 14 percent on year, mainly due to lower revenues in the US, partly offset by higher sales in the Philippines and the S&W business in Asia. US unit Del Monte Foods Inc. contributed $241.4 million or 64 percent of the group’s sales. Sales declined 22 percent mainly due to the divested Sager Creek business and reduced sales of lowmargin non-branded business. The group reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and appreciation of $36.6 million, significantly higher than the prior year quarter’s EBITDA of $18.8 million. It said the first quarter’s EBITDA included $2.1 million of one-off expenses mainly related to severance and loss on partial disposal of assets of a plant in Crystal City, Texas. Without the one-off expenses related mainly to plant closures in the USA, Del Monte said the group’s recurring EBITDA would have been $38.7 million, also better than the prior year quarter’s recurring EBITDA of $27.3 million. Recurring operating profit stood at $22.4 million, up 114 percent from $10.5 million on year. Del Monte said gross margin significantly improved by 7.4 percentage points to 20.3 percent against the prior year quarter’s 12.9 percent.

Metro Pacific offers to extend Cavitex to Tanza By Darwin G. Amojelar CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is set to submit this month a proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board to extend the Manila-Cavite Expressway from Kawit to Tanza in Cavite province for P30 billion. “We hope to get a resolution from Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and then after that we will jointly submit together with PRA to TRB within September,” said CIC president and general manager Robeto Bontia. He said PRA would hold a special board meeting on September 11. The company plans construct Segment 5 of Cavitex―a 22-kilometer road that will link Kawit to Noveleta to Sanglely and Sangley to Tanza in Cavite. It plans to start construction of the first phase of the project, an expressway going to Sangley, by early 2021. Cavitex is a 14-kilometer expressway linking Manila and Cavite province. MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of MPTC, earlier said the Laguna segment of the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway was set to open to motorists by next month. The first segment starts at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange. The construction of the Cavite side is expected to be completed by 2022. MPCALA tapped Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side and local contractor DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna segment. The Cavite segment comprises 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer CaviteLaguna Expressway. The Cavite segment starts from Kawit, Cavite and traverses the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmariñas, Aguinaldo Highway and Silang which will connect to the Laguna segment from Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan toward South Luzon Expressway.

Business/World

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HK protesters take message to US consulate H

ONG KONG―Pro-democracy activists rallied outside the United States consulate in Hong Kong on Sunday as they try to ramp up international pressure on Beijing following three months of huge and sometimes violent protests.

THE PROTEST CONTINUES. Protesters wave US national flags as they march from Chater Garden to the US consulate in Hong

Kong on September 8, 2019, to call on the US to pressure Beijing to meet their demands and for Congress to pass a recently proposed bill that expresses support for the protest movement. Pro-democracy activists rallied outside the United States consulate in Hong Kong as they try to ramp up international pressure on Beijing following three months of huge and sometimes violent protests. AFP

Russians go to polls after summer of protests MOSCOW―Russians voted Sunday in local elections after weeks of opposition protests that led to the biggest police crackdown on dissent in nearly a decade. The elections take place a day after after Moscow and Kiev carried out a long-awaited swap of 70 prisoners, a deal hailed as a first step towards ending five years of conflict after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. Municipal and regional polls are being held across the vast country, but most attention is focused on the Moscow parliament vote following the arrests and jailing of independent wouldbe candidates and their supporters. Analysts say the results of the vote will be keenly watched ahead of parliamentary elections in 2021 and will help shape Russia’s political future, as President Vladimir Putin enters his third decade in power. In recent weeks, tens of thousands

have taken part in Moscow protests demanding a fair vote after allies of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were barred from the election. Rap stars and prominent bloggers backed the demonstrations. Authorities responded with a police crackdown—the biggest since a wave of protests in 2011-12 against Putin’s return to the Kremlin after a stint as prime minister. Alyona Prokhorova, a 46-year-old mother of four, said she was shocked by the clampdown and that for the first time in her life she signed up to be an independent election observer to monitor for possible irregularities. “Moscow is against this hideousness,” she told AFP at a polling station in the city’s southwest. “I still cannot get over it.” Tatyana Stanovaya, head of the R.Politik analysis firm, said the campaign exposed a growing rift between

authorities bent on preserving the status quo and Russians wanting political change. “The Moscow parliament elections have become a litmus test of the authorities’ ability to accept this new reality,” Stanovaya told AFP. Authorities briefly jailed nearly all opposition politicians seeking to get on the ballot in Moscow. Several people were also imprisoned for alleged violence against police, even though opposition supporters said their rallies were peaceful. Some 7.2 million people are eligible to elect 45 lawmakers in the Moscow parliament, which is dominated by the ruling United Russia party. But not a single candidate is formally running on the United Russia ticket as the party’s popularity hits rock bottom. AFP

Hundreds of thousands flock to Pope’s mass in Madagascar ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar― Thousands of people were gathering before dawn Sunday in the Madagascar capital Antananarivo, braving a cold windy morning to hear Pope Francis say mass on the second leg of his threenation African tour. In Andravoahangy church, pastor Jean-Yves Ravoajanahary briefed 5,000 people on the two-hour trek to Soamandrakizay stadium, where the mass will take place. “We are going to divide worshippers into groups of 1,000 because the road is very dangerous. At this time pickpockets and bandits are out to mug people,” he told AFP. One by one the groups started the journey, huddled together and singing praise to the Virgin Mary. Traffic was gridlocked. Hery Saholimanana left his house in the early hours with three family members. “I’m afraid of arriving after the 6:00 o’clock entry limit,” said the 23-year old IT student, walking briskly.

Millions have taken to Hong Kong’s streets over the last 14 weeks in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s handover from Britain in 1997. The protests were ignited by a now scrapped plan to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, seen by opponents as the latest move by Beijing to chip away at the international finance hub’s unique freedoms. But after Beijing and city leaders took a hard line the movement snowballed into a broader campaign calling for greater democracy, police accountability and an amnesty for those arrested. A huge crowd, some waving the Stars and Stripes flag, rallied in a park in Hong Kong’s commercial district and marched to Washington’s nearby consulate. They called on the US to pressure Beijing to meet their demands and for Congress to pass a recently proposed bill that expresses support for the protest. “More than 1,000 protesters have been arrested. We can’t do anything but come out onto the streets, I feel hopeless,” 30-year-old protester FASHION WEEK.

Supermodels Unlimited Magazine hosted New York Fashion Week Event for Shatterproof at Skyroom on September 07, 2019 in New York City. AFP

Rado Niaina, 29, told AFP he left even earlier, at 2:00 am, for fear “of not finding space.” The mass was due to begin at 10:00 am (0700 GMT). Organisers expect around one million attendees. Many had already set up tents on the outskirts of the city on Friday, armed with posters of the Argentine pontiff. Prospere Ralitason, a 70-year-old farm worker, arrived with some 5,000 fellow pilgrims from the central eastern town of Ambatondrazaka, 200 kilometers away. “We are tired, but it’s worth making all these sacrifices to see the pope with our own eyes and receive his blessing,” he said. The last pope to visit Madagascar was John Paul II 30 years ago. Crowds gathered on Saturday to welcome the pope as he made his way to Soamandrakizay in his popemobile. Thousands of young people—mainly scouts—gathered for a vigil there, waiting hours in the heat for Francis to arrive. AFP

Dangers of success VIROME G. DIMASACAT

Green LiGht THIS is not that conventional Michael Jordan story about constant failures that led to success—we already heard lots of those before. This column is about how our organization’s constant success unknowingly put us in a very difficult situation. The organization I am currently connected with is a revenue-collecting government agency under the umbrella of the Department of Finance. It is divided into several districts across the country and the measure of its performance is through annual targets assigned to it. All throughout my almost four-year stay in my district, we had always been the top performer in the entire country in terms of hitting the quotas. Well, at least before 2019. Last year, our district received an award of recognition from President Duterte himself for maintaining an excellent performance over the years (so yes, that good.) However, while maintaining an excellent performance has gained our district many recognitions and advantages, it also brought about challenges we did not see coming. Since the trend of our collection performance has been consistently going up, our quota has escalated as well. For five straight

months now, we have failed to deliver our assigned quota. Not only does our performance seem to be going downhill, we are also struggling to put out the fire. Here, I point out some possible factors that might have been the reasons why our numbers have started to fall short. We have very tough competition—our own record of success. Our reputation as the collection machine district of the agency has led to high expectations that were translated into high collection targets. It is not until the first half of this year that we realized that the annual collection target we committed to is a little too much. The increase in the volume of transactions is not enough to cover the increase in quota. Meaning to say that even if our numbers are consistently going up (which it is), it is still not enough to meet the high standards being set for us (or in a sense, we set for ourselves). We got complacent. Districts who failed to hit their targets are being asked by the central office to explain. Being a consistent performer, it is only recently that we were asked to submit such. I was directed by the chief to help construct the said justification report. In my attempt to do so, I encountered difficulties in coming up with a comprehensive explanation because the concrete data to back it up are not that easily accessible. This is a result of not having a good data management system, which is the result of our complacency. If only we had an efficient

data management system and practice, we could have had easily accessed data which we can use in analyzing and explaining our performance, as well as in making better and more informed business decisions and strategies. That is the poison of constant success, we become too complacent that we ignore the importance for constant improvement. It gets us to thinking that “hey, we are doing well, why change?” We were not proactive. During the course of the investigation on the reasons why we were not able to hit our quota, I discovered that there are processes and practices that remained the same for more than a decade now. I was able to identify issues that have always been hanging out there but were left unresolved due to the organization’s lack of initiative. This is one of the traps of success. An organization can sometimes be blinded by its current achievements that going beyond the usual way of doing business to address potential risks is sometimes taken for granted. On a brighter side, I am certain that it is not yet late for our organization to save itself from itself. We just recently welcomed a new leadership. Changes have been introduced, and solutions are underway. And since there is a clearer picture of the roots of the issues, projection is now brighter. Several public consultations through stakeholders meetings are being actively held to

Jenny Chan, told AFP. “I think aside from foreign countries, no one can really help us,” she added. Hong Kong is a major international business hub thanks to freedoms unheard of on the mainland under a 50-year deal signed between China and Britain. But Beijing balks at any criticism from foreign governments over its handling of the city, which it insists is a purely internal issue. Authorities and state media have portrayed the protests as a separatist movement backed by foreign “black hands”, primarily aiming their ire at the US and Britain. While some politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for the democratic goals of the protesters, the Trump administration has maintained a more hands-off approach as it locks horns with China over trade. President Trump has called for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Hong Kong and urged China against escalating with a violent crackdown. But he has also said it is up to Beijing to handle the protests. AFP

IN BRIEF Tokyo braces for direct hit TOKYO―A strong typhoon that could bring record winds and rain was poised to make a direct hit on Tokyo later Sunday, as authorities warned of high waves, landslides and flooding. Typhoon Faxai, packing winds of up to 216 kilometers per hour, is forecast to reach coastal areas near Tokyo in the late hours of Sunday into Monday morning, Japan’s meteorological agency said. “Please be on full alert against gusts and high waves and be vigilant about landslides, floods and swollen rivers,” the agency said in a statement. Meteorological agency official Naoji Nakamura told reporters that the typhoon could bring “record” winds and rains. Eight surfers were rescued amid high waves off Shizuoka in cental Japan after they were swept out to sea, local officials said. “Two helicopters were dispatched while special rescuers rushed out to sea,” a fire department spokesman told AFP. “We sent two of them to hospital but no one was in danger of dying,” he added. The storm was already affecting transport in the region as operators canceled some Shinkansen bullet train services and ferries. AFP

US and Turkey launch joint patrols address all issues of the clients. Policies and regulations are being revisited and updated when necessary. Other avenues for collection are also being creatively explored. Through my research and the help of some of my supportive colleagues, we are on our way to proposing an action to improve our data management system. The organization is now pumping at double-pace, and it had never been this exciting. It goes to show that all we needed is this kind of push to put us back to our senses. We are now seeing improvements in our performance, and if this continues, we are certainly going to be back on our feet in no time. In conclusion, I would like to stress that this is not just a story about how success could lead to let-downs, but also how identifying its dangers can be a wake-up call and an instrument to get back up twice as strong. Virome G. Dimasacat is an operations officer and internal quality auditor at a revenue-collecting agency of the national government. He is currently taking his Master of Business Administration at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. He welcomes comments at viromedimasacat@gmail. com. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

AKCAKALE, Turkey―The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces. Six Turkish armored vehicles crossed the border to join US troops in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported. Two helicopters overflew the area as the Turkish vehicles drove through an opening in the concrete wall erected between the two countries. The agreement reached on August 7 aims to establish a “safe zone” between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas east of the Euphrates river controlled by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units militia. The YPG is an ally of the US but seen as a terrorist organization by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria unless progress is made on setting up the safe zone. Erdogan said his US counterpart Donald Trump had promised it would be 32 kilometers wide. A joint center of operations was recently established as part of the agreement. Turkey previously conducted cross-border operations in northern Syria supporting Syrian rebels in 2016 against IS and in early 2018 against the YPG. AFP

LGUs

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Eat-all-you-can lechon feeds 6k In Digos City

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

HANGING OUT. Children

climb the branches and find shade in a mangrove tree, part of a forest at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila on Sunday. Compound dwellers not so long ago planted 1,000 mangrove trees that have now grown into a forest. Norman Cruz

QC taps unused buildings Photo contest to depict SEA ‘agripreneurs’ By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—An intergovernment treaty organization hosted by the Philippine government has opened a photo contest on vibrant images that depict enterprising and innovative Southeast Asia young “agripreneurs” who are actively engaged in agriculture now and in the future. Launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the photo contest is open to all nationals of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Leah Lyn Domingo, SEARCA public relations specialist, said this year’s competition aims to capture scenes that illustrate the theme “Cultivating Southeast Asia’s Youth Agripreneurs.” She said the photo contest subthemes are innovative farming, agricultural entrepreneurship, maximizing information and communications technology (ICT), and the agricultureeducation link.

By Rio N. Araja

ITING the city government’s “unused or underutilized” and “unfinished” buildings, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday vowed to use them for different purposes for the welfare of the people, review the papers of the contractors involved, and compel them to finish their jobs. In her official Facebook page, Belmonte said she would look into the possibility if the unused or underutilized buildings can be “repurposed and maximized for the interests of our people by turning them into full service mini city halls, one-stop-shops, satellite campuses of the QC University or shelters for abused women and children.” “We also came across many unfinished

buildings whose contractors have abandoned them, like the city dog pound and a few school buildings,” she lamented. “We need to review the paperwork and have them finished so they can be used,” she said. She promised to prioritize the needs of the people rather than to build more buildings. “Perhaps, we do not need to spend

so much on infrastructure in the coming years but focus on social services instead,” she said. Among the mayor’s other projects in the pipeline are the literacy programs for the day-care children aged 0 to three years old as well as for the elementary pupils in partnership with the Adarna Books, and the construction of a five-star hotel, a high-end mall and office buildings to be called the Bridgetowne by Robinsons Land Corp. through a 200-meter bridge connecting Libis, Quezon City and Pasig City. Once fully operational and is open to the public, the interconnecting bridge is expected to help decongest traffic, especially those coming from the east.

POLITICAL OFFICERS ASSEMBLY.

Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama (center, seated in black suit) calls on the delegates of the League of Political Officers of the Philippines (PHOLPHIL) to join them for a photo opportunity during its First National Assembly (Visayas Cluster) held at the Montebello Garden Hotel in Cebu City on Sept. 6- 7. Rama cited the important role of a political officers in every national and local election. Beside him is PHOLPHIL President Cyril Aborde. Joseph Muego

UNC Bataan, MAAP ink agreement for HS maritime program

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan—The University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) Bataan has partnered with the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) to be able to give opportunities to first district residents begin career in the Maritime industry.

UNC Bataan, which offers senior high school TVL program with specialization in maritime education, recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MAAP. Based on the agreement, the university will handle the core courses while the mari-

Bataan’s 1st Eco Park in Balanga By Butch Gunio

BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The Balanga City government has developed an 8.1 hectare sanitary landfill located in Barangay Munting Batangas to become the first-ever Eco Park in Bataan. The area served as a landfill for collected mixed wastes from the city. Solid waste management is one of the priority programs of City Mayor Francis Garcia. “The program has paved the way to redefine the customary image of landfills by eliminating indiscriminate disposal of garbage and over-dumping by

time school will provide instruction in the maritime subjects and access in its state-ofthe-art facilities in Mariveles town. MAAP is a world-class maritime school supplying graduates to top seafaring companies in Europe and Asia. UNC Bataan is located in Dinalupi-

recycling usable materials”, said Balanga Cenro. To transform the landfill into Eco Park, Cenro started planting earth-balled trees in the area. The 25 barangays were required to have their own Materials Recovery Facility to segregate waste before they reach the landfill. The Eco Park showcases recycling initiatives of the city government such as eco brick-making and decorative blocks-making, charcoal briquettemaking, and coco mat-weaving. A house made of recycled plastic bottles called “plastikubo” was built.

han. Other Bataan towns in the first district are Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, and Morong. The MOA was jointly signed by UNC Bataan President Felicito C. Payumo and Admiral Eduardo Santos for MAAP. Butch Gunio

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur— About 6,000 residents of the city and nearby communities partook in the eat-all-you-can pork lechon (roasted pig) inside the Rizal Park in Digos City on Sunday. Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas said the first-ever free lechon to some residents of the city is in line with the celebration of the 19th Araw ng Digos celebration, which falls on the same day. “Actually, we planned to give 12,000 tickets to our residents but due to lack of time and available venue, we opted to cut the number into 6,000 so that every ticket holder can be accommodated,” Cagas said. Ticket holders were divided into four batches starting 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. wherein they will be given 25 minutes to eat the tasty lechon as much as they can. The first batch came in after the culmination program held at the Rizal Park was formally closed. The lechon eat-all-you-can became the highlight of the founding anniversary celebration, in addition to the much publicized ‘Litsonan sa Kadalanan’ wherein more than 800 heads of pigs were cooked and displayed for sale along Magsaysay Street in Digos City. Commercial traders of roasted pigs usually started cooking at dawn Sunday to serve early buyers who were already lining up to buy a kilo or a whole lechon for their family and guests in their respective residences. Meanwhile, Governor Douglas Cagas was the guest speaker of the culmination program with Rep. Mercedes Cagas and Vice-Governor Marc Cagas also in attendance. About 10,000 people from national and local government offices, private institutions, non-government organizations, and civic organizations, among others, joined the parade that converged at the Rizal Park. The weeklong festivities of the 19th founding anniversary was formally opened on September 2 wherein scores of sports and entertainment showcase commenced despite the rain brought by the low-pressure area in this part of the country. PNA

FCF’s mining forest project targets 100 ha. By Ben Moses Ebreo QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya,– FCF Minerals Corporation here will be planting 100 hectares of land with agroforestry trees as part of their Mining Forest Project(MFP) this year. Ian Moller, FCF Mineral’s General Manager for Sustainability said the MFP seeks to compensate tree cuttings in their project area where a tree cut will require them to plant 100 hectares with various tree species. “It’s a quite huge effort from our group with the local environment and natural resources office who approves the implementation of the project off site,” he said. Moller said the MFP will be implemented in identified private lands with farmers and land owners in barangay Didipio using agroforestry and fruit trees. He added that FCF Minerals Corp. provides the technology and planting materials including assistance to the workers for three years so that the plantation will be properly maintained and managed. “We have to make sure that the planted trees will have good growth before turning them over to our plant owners,” Moller said. Forester Tito Tanguilig, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer(PENRO) said the company has already established its tree nurseries in barangay Didipio.

CANCER ADVOCACY.

Winning versus lung cancer is a multi-stakeholder dialogue of the Hope from Within Advocacy Campaign, a conversation among relevant players in the patient care ecosystem as they share their perspectives on how to stay on top of a deadly disease, by knowing the entire lung cancer patient journey. In photo (from left) are cancer survivor Tetit Melendres-Aristan, Hope from Within Ambassador Diego Castro, Medical Oncologist Dr. Meredith Garcia, and Father Jerry Orbos. Manny Palmero

Life

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

FOOD

Wok-fried Hokkien noodles with Maine lobster, squid, and pork belly slices

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Foie gras xiao long bao

Of 200-lobster head stock and foie gras dim sum

INGAPORE’S top celebrity chef Justin Quek talks about food with both pragmatic sense and refined taste of someone who has known hard work in the kitchen intimately and has sought to achieve more over the years.

“You can do shortcuts when cooking, but that will show in your end product. It will not taste as good. You will lose the natural flavors of the food,” he told Manila Standard during the presentation of his degustation menu at Red Lantern in Solaire. Take his wok-fried Maine lobster Hokkien noodle. He used 200 lobster heads to make 10 liters of stock—an indulgent pursuit of exceptional and natural seafood flavor for his signature

dish. The noodles are topped with lobster meat, squid, and slices of pork belly that provide a crunchy texture, and on the side is sambal with calamansi to taste. And I must say, for someone who is not fond of spicy dishes, Chef Justin’s sambal is so good I poured the entire ramekin-ful on my noodles. “You need a good foundation—the balance of your flavors must be good that they do not attack the senses. What we want is to bring comfort food such Singapore’s top celebrity chef Justin Quek Crepinette of pig trotter with wild mushrooms and truffle jus (left) and scallop appetizer

as Hokkien noodles to a luxe level,” said the sneaker-wearing hands-on chef known for his Franco-Asian flair. Quek’s foie gras xiao long bao, a signature item in his JustIN restaurants in Singapore and China, marries his EastWest blend. “Inside, it is French with the creamy foie gras and truffle consommé. Outside, it is very Asian. It is an explosion of flavors,” he said. His chendol dessert in fresh young coconut creatively uses sea salt to elevate the sweetness of the Indonesian gula java ice cream made from palm sugar. If his signature dishes appear to embody a metamorphosis of sorts from what is usual to what can be consid-

ered luxury, it is, perhaps, because Quek himself underwent the same transformation. The son of a fruit stall owner who started cooking as a seaman at 19 years old before he even had formal culinary training, Quek knows there is no substitute to grit and perseverance. “I cannot be a mechanic or an engineer without formal training, but I can be a cook,” he said, recalling his first salary—a meager SG$8 for 15 hours of back-breaking labor. Quek studied the basics of cooking two years after, and decided to travel to France to improve his knowledge and technique, armed only with his life, quite literally, and his life savings.

“I worked for free in France for a year, just so I could learn. I was totally broke. I returned to Singapore without a penny to my name,” he recalled. His name and reputation, however, were enough to land him a job as the first Singaporean chef to serve the French ambassador in the island citystate. He would later become a partner and the opening chef de cuisine for the famed French fine dining restaurant Les Amis, and served as the principal chef for Marina Bay Sands’ 240-seater fine dining restaurant, Sky on 57. And last week, he was at Solaire in his first visit to the Philippines as part of the hotel’s “Culinary Masters Series.” Turn to C2

BITES The better pudding cup

Bacon Cheesy Yumburger and Crispy Spice Fries

Flavorful burger and fries

Three new tasty items are available at fast food giant Jollibee. Bacon lovers are in for a treat with the new Bacon Cheesy Yumburger and Bacon Cheesy Deluxe Yumburger. The former adds a crispy bacon strip and creamy melted cheddar cheese on top of a beefy patty, while the latter is a Yumburger with cheese, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and crispy bacon strip. Meanwhile, the Crispy Spice Fries is a new and exciting fries variant: it’s thinner, crispier, and coated with flavorful spice. The Bacon Cheesy Yumburger is priced at P59 (solo) while the Bacon Cheesy Deluxe Yumburger is at P85 (solo). The Crispy Spice Fries is available for P49 (regular size) and P69 (large). These new items are available at all Jollibee stores nationwide for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru.

Busy bees looking for a delicious, filling, and good-for-thebody on-the-go snack can get a little pick-me-up from the new pudding cups Jamba Juice offers. The Chia Pudding Cups are available in Chocolate, which uses a Chocolate Moo’d base and soy milk, and in Milky made with frozen yogurt and low-fat milk. For only P135, get the nourishing wonders of soy milk or low-fat milk and chia seeds, topped with granola, and choice of fruit toppings: mango, blueberry, strawberry, banana, or peach. The Chia Pudding Cups are a good source of fiber and vitamins A and C. Chia seeds are also widely known to be loaded with antioxidants and quality protein, while soy milk is rich in calcium, protein, and several vitamins. Finally, the healthy combination of granola and fruits brings a full pack of nutri nutritional dietary fiber, minerals, and vitavita mins to boost energy. This quick bite is availavail able at Jamba Juice outlets.

Howdy! salad bowl

Howdy, you’re back!

Chia Pudding Cups

SaladStop! brings back one of its famous and filling variants, Howdy! A quick fix for hungry tummies, Howdy! is packed with romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. On top of this fresh garden of produce is a generous sprinkling of cheddar cheese and grated eggs for extra protein. The oat-breaded chick chicken lends that perfect crunch to every bite. A smoky ranch dressing brings all these flavors—sweet, savory, tangy—together. It’s available in salad bowl and wrap at all SaladStop! branches today until Sept. 29.

Life

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Take a bite of prosperity

Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival 2019

HE sharing and eating of mooncake—the round, richly flavored, and dense delicacy—is one of the hallmark traditions of Mid-Autumn Festival, the celebration of successful harvest during which food are offered in honor of the moon.

The hand-crafted delicacy, when shared among family members during the week of the festival signifies the completeness and reunion; it is also known to attract good luck and prosperity. In celebration of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 13, we list down premier establishments offering mooncakes.

Jasmine mooncakes in orange boxes

Jasmine at New World Makati

Man Ho’s Red Premium Box of 8

Man Ho at Marriott Manila

Marriott Manila’s Man Ho offers mooncakes with white lotus paste or red lotus paste filling. Variants with salted duck egg in the center are also available. Perfect as presents to clients or relatives, the mooncakes are packaged in a luxurious red box with gold stamping of daisies, symbolizing a peaceful life balance. The mooncake gift sets are available in a jewelry premium box of six priced at P1,988++, a red premium box of eight at P1,888++, and a two-tier drawer type box of eight at P1,888 nett. Bulk order of 10 gets one free box. Club Marriott members are entitled to a 20 percent discount. The offer runs until Sept 15. Call (02) 988-9999.

New World Makati Hotel’s premier restaurant Jasmine offers mooncakes in four, premium flavors: Red Bean with Double Yolk, Red Lotus with Double Yolk, White Lotus with Double Yolk, and Five Kernel (watermelon seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and peanuts). The mooncakes are encased in elegant orange boxes with blue and gold trimming. They are offered in single boxes up to boxes of 10 with an option to include tea or wine. A single box is priced at P688 nett, while a box of two is P1,688 nett. A box set of four, with tea, or with wine are offered at P1,888, P2,688, and P2,888 nett, respectively. Boxes of six, eight, and 10 all come with wine and are priced at P3,888, P4,888, and P8,888 nett, respectively. Get 30 percent discount for orders of 80 boxes of four or more. Call (02) 811-6888 ext. 3679.

Solaire Resort and Casino The luxury resort and casino celebrates MidAutumn Festival with special homemade mooncakes, and a set that’s packed in a mini fridge. The traditional Baked Mooncakes come in a box of two and four. Each set of four Baked Mooncakes is packed in a unique music box packaging, it also comes in two variants: the regular box of four, and the premium box of four which includes three special sauces. All four variants feature double egg yolk centers complemented by an assortment of rich and flavorful pastes. For a little quirkier gift, Snow Skin Mooncakes—made with fruits, nuts, and spirits—come in a set of five placed in a miniature fridge. These homemade mooncakes are available at Red Lantern, House of Zhou, Oasis Garden Café, Fresh, The Patisserie, and The Food Court’s Bakery. Prices start at P2,300 for a box of two Baked

RWM’s Red Lotus and White Lotus mooncakes

Resorts World Manila

Resorts World Manila’s delectable mooncakes come in two flavorful fillings—the classic Red Lotus and the Cantonese-style White Lotus. These are available at all signature dining outlets of the integrated resort. A box of four is priced at P1,588 nett. RWM mooncakes are available until Sept. 13. Call (02) 908-8000 loc. 8875.

TWG Tea

Mooncakes, P3,900 for a box of four Baked Mooncakes, P5,300 for a premium box of four Baked Mooncakes with Red Lantern Special Sauces, and P3,600 for a set of five Snow Skin Mooncakes including a small chiller. Call (02) 888-8888.

Solaire’s Baked Mooncake with ube paste and double egg yolk

Contemporary while maintaining the core essence of baked mooncake, TWG Tea features a selection of traditional mooncakes with novel flavors. Constellation, TWG Tea’s signature mooncake features brown lotus filling infused with Singapore Breakfast Tea, roasted melon seeds, and salted egg yolk center. Jewel mooncake showcases an aromatic Chocolate Tea-infused brown lotus paste sprinkled with chocolate chips and crumble, wrapped in a sumptuous baked chocolate crust. Harvest is a decadent mooncake encased in a lavish, black crust with a luxurious Mistral Tea and lemongrass-infused white lotus filling, enveloping a refreshing strawberry almond paste heart. While Moonlight features a rich and smooth white lotus paste infused with Matcha, contrasted by an Amarena cherry heart. Also available are four tea-infused snow skin mooncakes: Pure (white lotus paste with Moon Route Tea), Blossom (Geisha Blossom Tea-infused

TWG Tea’s Pure snow skin mooncake

white lotus filling), Illumination (brown lotus paste with Earl Grey Fortune), and Serenity (Lemon Bush Tea-infused brown lotus filling) A set of four tea-infused traditional and snow skin mooncakes retails at P2,050 and P2,488, respectively. An individual gift box retails at P398 for tea-infused traditional mooncake, and P498 for tea-infused snow skin mooncake.

10 years and cooking: Chefs share the joy of working at RWM SOME of the men behind Resorts World Manila’s signature restaurants share what it’s like working in the kitchen of a world-class integrated resort which, over the years, has introduced several flavors in chic venues. “I’ve been with Resorts World Manila for 10 years and all I can say is that nothing compares,” enthuses Chef Mario Manaloto or “Tatay” to his cochefs at RWM. Tatay Mario says, “No one can stick to a job this long if he doesn’t like the work he’s doing and if he doesn’t care enough for the company,” Tatay Mario has been a chef for over 20 years now, with experience in both local and international kitchens. He currently heads Silogue, RWM’s Filipino specialty restaurant at the ground floor gaming area. Working in the kitchen, Franks head chef Robert Ching says one must “First, love what you do.” “You should always be passionate and happy when cooking. If you have problems, you leave it outside the kitchen,” he adds. “Personally I am an advocate of Philippine cuisine as how RWM is. We all want the world to recognize our Filipino dishes,” shares Chef Robert. As more dining outlets in the resort are showcasing Pinoy favorites and new creations, RWM executive chef Godfrey Laforteza says, “When I joined the RWM team, I wanted to share my pursuit in pushing Filipino cuisine at the global culinary forefront.” “When I was younger, I always wanted to be a soldier,” reveals Victo-

Of 200... From C1

“The Culinary Masters Series is another example of providing the best experience to our guests that is distinctly Solaire,” said Knut Becker, Solaire’s vice president for food and beverage. Becker continued, “By bringing in re-

Popeyes at SM Manila features the fast food chain’s new hip and vibrant store layout and design.

Cajun flavors come to Manila Behind Resort World Manila’s signature restaurants (from left) Franks chef de partie Jean Robert Ching, Victoria Harbour Café chef de cuisine Charlie Simangan, RWM executive sous chef Lito Sumayop, Silogue sous chef Mario Manaloto, and Cafe Maxim sous chef Mario Pacheco.

ria Harbour Café head chef and 10-year RWM employee Charlie Simangan. “As a Thrillmaker (the name given to every RWM employees), I’m also like a soldier, but in the kitchen fighting hard for our guests’ satisfaction,” he adds. Most of the integrated resort’s kitchen soldiers like Chef Charlie have stuck around with RWM through thick and thin over the years. Most of them are former OFWs who are very grateful to RWM for the opportunity to do what they do best without leaving their families for jobs abroad. “I’ve always said that if ever I retire, RWM will be the last kitchen I’ll ever work in,” asserts Chef Charlie. At present, RWM operates 12 sig-

nowned and internationally decorated chefs from all parts of the globe, Solaire gets to share the fascinating ingenuity and creativity that are behind some of the best gastronomic creations that have garnered praise and recognition, and at the same time, widen the culinary horizon of our patrons.” Despite his achievements, Quek seems to have retained not just passion but fascination with food.

nature restaurants within the Newport City property, including Garden Wing outlets Café Maxims, Passion, Ginzadon, and The Terrace at Maxims Hotel; Silogue, Franks, Victoria Harbour Café, Happy 9, and Bar 360 at the gaming area; and El Calle Food and Music Hall at the Newport Mall. With the opening of the Grand Wing, more RWM signature restaurants are slated to open soon. In celebration of its 10th year, RWM collaborated with its partner hotel and restaurant outlets for the Grand Food Trip campaign to give diners a one-of-a-kind gastronomical experience across several buffet stations for P10,000 per person.

THERE’S a big, bold Southern flavor domination in the country what with the opening of the fourth store of Louisiana-based fast food chain Popeyes at SM Manila. “We are grateful for the patronage and support that our first three stores in ArcoVia City, Alabang Town Center, and SM San Lazaro have received. With this, we will keep on providing a different dining experience to Filipinos with Popeyes,” says Francis Reyes, chief financial officer of Kuya J Group,

the parent company of Popeyes in the Philippines. Popeyes SM Manila serves its famous fried chicken known for its distinct Cajun-inspired flavors, Cajun fries, biscuits, and the Philippine-exclusive spaghetti. The store likewise features the brand’s new global restaurant image, marrying good food with its hip and vibrant ambiance. Go to Popeyes Philippines’ social media accounts or at www.popeyes.ph to know more.

Fried chicken with Cajun-inspired flavors

Popeyes Spaghetti

Biscuits

Cajun Fries

“Masarap?” he asked me when I tried his mushroom cappuccino served with a piece of toast on the side. “Don’t use the fork. Just use your hands to eat the toast. Dip it in the soup. Don’t be shy,” said Singapore’s most internationally acclaimed chef. How very Asian, and comforting, and normal. I’m at joyce.panares@gmail.com.

Entertainment

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

nickie.standard@gmail.com

LOREN LEGARDA urges Filipinos

to learn and honor indigenous cultures Representatives of the film 'Verdict' at the 2019 Venice Film Festival

‘Verdict’ world premiere gets

rave reviews from foreign press RAYMUND Ribay Gutierrez’s debut feature Verdict produced by 2009 Cannes best director winner Brillante Mendoza’s Center Stage Productions and co-produced by Films Boutique, Playtime, and Bord Cadre, is on a roll with positive film reviews featured from top international press including Screen Daily, the Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. The crime drama feature, which stars Max Eigenmann, the late Kristoffer King, Jorden Suan, and Rene Durian, follows a domestic violence case through a legal process. It is a product of the Brillante Mendoza Film Workshop and the Armando Lao Found Story School of Filmmaking. The Hollywood Reporter noted that writer-director Gutierrez’s first film was “clearly long-awaited, with the director’s two most recent shorts, Judgement and Imago, selected to compete for the Palme d’Or in Cannes.” According to Screen Daily, Gutierrez “proves to have a distinctive voice. His swiftly flowing and female-focused narrative, which balances its underlying social issues with strong storytelling, should see ‘Verdict’ gain a solid foothold on the festival circuit after its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons section and screenings at TIFF.” Meanwhile, a film review from Variety emphasized that “Gutierrez seizes a grippingly refined rhythm and a disheartening scenario that could be considered a prototype for every unfairly discredited female ever. […] it’s nearly impossible not to feel for all the unnamed women around the globe whose wings have similarly been clipped.” From being one of the competing films under the Horizons (Orizzonti)

section at the 76th Venice Film Festival to its Canadian premiere at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF),Verdict was presented at the 46th Telluride Film Festival (TFF) under the main program The Show last Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 in Telluride, Colorado in America. It is the only film from Southeast Asia under the Venice Film Festival’s official selection and the only Filipino feature film selected at TIFF and TFF this year. Through FDCP’s International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP), director Gutierrez and actress Max Eigenmann attended the Venice Film Festival. FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño exclaimed her pride and excitement for Verdict. She said, “We are very proud and happy with the overwhelming positive reviews for ‘Verdict’ as it travels in A-list international film festivals. As a Filipino film, not only does it evoke mastery of craft from a firsttime director.” “More importantly, its timely and relevant story—that while local, still resonates in these current times and highlights the need for action in discourse regarding the rampant abuse of women everywhere—is truly moving and something that we are proud to showcase. It’s also a great dedication to the late Kristoffer King, one of the most talented actors of his time. We are confident that Verdict will go on to make its stamp around the world. We wish Raymund and his film the best of luck,” she added. Last March, Verdict was acknowledged as a Work-in-Progress project at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the leading film project market in Asia.

Lea Salonga...

and one take. Mr. C revealed that was possible thanks to Salonga’s athlete-level discipline. “I have worked with Lea before and she always comes prepared,” Mr. C said of the Broadway star. “She always takes good care of her vocal instrument so it is always in tip-top shape.” The music video of “We Win As One” (produced by Equinox Manila and directed by Shem Hampac) features Lea singing amid the New Clark City as background. The video also shows footage of previous SEA Games highlights. The music video can be viewed at the 2019 SEA Games social media accounts and website. For updates about the 2019 SEA Games, follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, and visit www.2019seagames.com

From C4

The lyrics written by Quintos came first and they were the basis for Mr. C’s composition. The Maestro initially wrote a draft piece and demo for 11 singers for the opening ceremonies finale but revised it when he was told that Lea’s participation was confirmed. “I made major adjustments in the structure, arrangement, and melody to tailor fit Lea’s voice,” said Mr. C. The arrangement for the recording was made by noted music director and producer Jimmy Antiporda, to which Mr. C added a layer of orchestral strings and horns. The actual studio recording with Salonga was done after only one rehearsal

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, September 9, 2019

ACROSS 1 More agreeable 6 Festive nights 10 First-magnitude star 14 Love, in Venice 15 Frenzy 16 “— do for now” 17 Where Seville is 18 Give autographs 19 17th state 20 Slumbering 22 Not hassle (2 wds.) 24 Crumple up 26 Anthology cousin 27 Bwana’s goal (2 wds.) 31 Badminton need 32 Faithful 33 Uttered shrilly 36 Cable network 39 Cash givers 40 Fable ending 41 Sir’s companion 42 Undergrad degs. 43 Fussed over 44 Land, to Ovid 45 Thus, in citations 46 Band member 48 Set afloat 51 Urge 52 Keep up

54 From Bonn 59 Misjudges 60 Lithe 62 — board 63 Kind of molding 64 Kinds 65 Take the lid off 66 Frontier, once 67 Nikita’s no 68 Muscle injuries DOWN 1 Moonshot org. 2 Holy terrors 3 A fuel 4 A Great Lake 5 Extension 6 Um’s cousins 7 Colorado skiing mecca 8 — on (incited) 9 Lookout 10 Spectrum color 11 Social mores 12 Sparkle 13 Succulent plant 21 Dawber or Shriver 23 Mellowed 25 Railroad station 27 Divulge a secret 28 Teeny bit 29 Fitness centers 30 Neon or nitrogen 34 Pique 35 Rice field 36 Evil

37 Naked 38 Sharif of the movies 40 Shoe or snake 41 Dues payer, for short 43 By — of hard work 44 Ignore (2 wds.) 45 Day’s end 47 Avg. size 48 Mammoth 49 Buenos — 50 Not flat, as terrain 52 Pet plea

53 Winged goddess 55 Futhark character 56 Isinglass 57 Opened a crack 58 Nods off 61 Albuquerque hrs.

The Dumagat tribe will be featured on the first episode of the award-winning program.

ILIPINO heritage is alive and well through the efforts of our “bearers of culture,” individuals who have made it their mission to teach indigenous dance, song or chant, and skills for the future generations to inherit.

On the seventh season of Dayaw on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) starting on Sept. 19, Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda once again shares the stories of these unsung heroes, who silently yet passionately protect our national identity by preserving our and traditions. In the first episode, viewers will meet the Dumagat of Bulacan in Luzon, whose youth are still taught about the language of leaves and other deeper aspects of music

Former senator and now House Deputy Speaker and Antique congresswoman Loren Legarda returns for the seventh season of Dayaw on ANC

Master weaver Estelita Bantilan (center) from Malapatan, Sarangani will be featured on the show's 4th episode.

and dance. We then move on to Visayas in Negros Occidental, to find out how the Ati or Aeta are working to preserve their language and weaving as a means of livelihood. The award-winning documentary series, which was conceptualized by Deputy Speaker Legarda herself, when she was still a Senator, then heads to Mindanao in Balut Island, where aspects of and traditions like cooking and weaving continue to be passed on. In the remaining episodes, Deputy Speaker Legarda focuses on the new recipients of the “Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan” or National Living Treasures Award, the finest traditional artists of the land by the government through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). They are master weaver Estelita Bantilan from Malapatan, Sarangani; healer, medium, and Blaan people matriarch Yabing Masalon Dulo from South Cotabato; and Yakan traditional artists, musician Uwang Ahadas and weaver Ambalang Ausalin of Basilan. Legarda said it is important to get to know these bearers of culture, whose values and characteristics every Filipino should emulate as they show love and respect for the environment, their history, and their people. “They have a profound respect for nature and for the way the natural world shapes their lives. They are very connected to the belief systems of their cultures and into their communities. We may think of them as artists/ weavers/ chanters etc., but within their communities, they are also leaders, shamans, mediators, farmers. Their creations are not separate from their societies and the multiple roles they play within their communities,” she explained. She hopes that with the continued partnership of her Office and the NCCA for Dayaw, more Filipinos, especially the young ones, will be encouraged to appreciate and love our own cultural heritage. “We always say we love the Philippines and the Filipinos, but do we love them enough to learn about them? By learning about them, we honor their humanity and their stories. And that should be a start towards some kind of cultural preservation,” she said. Catch the seventh season of Dayaw every Thursday at 8:30 pm starting Sept. 19 on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, on abs-cbnnews.com/ live and the channel’s official Facebook page (@ANCalerts).

Entertainment

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

Lea Salonga lends iconic voice to SEA Games 2019 theme song TONY awardee Lea Salonga, National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, and Palanca awardwinning writer and director Floy Quintos have teamed up for the ofﬁcial theme song of the 2019 South East Asian (SEA) Games. Salonga sings the heart-moving tune entitled, “We Win As One,” the music of which was composed by Cayabyab and the lyrics were written by Quintos. The theme song was unveiled at a launch held at The Grand Bar and Lounge of Resorts World Manila. The 2019 SEA Games organizers proudly

declared, “All three extremely talented and internationally acclaimed artists come together to create the ofﬁcial theme song for this year’s SEA Games… (It’s) a song written, composed and performed by the greats!” This year marks the 30th edition of the prestigious biennial sporting event participated in by 11 countries, namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The 2019 SEA Games— which runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11—is set to be the biggest to

be held in the Philippines, with 11,000 athletes and ofﬁcials, 9,000 volunteers, 530 events, 56 sports, plus 44 venues in Clark, Subic, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and La Union. The last time the country hosted the SEA Games was back in 2005. From the start, the Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) had no other artists in mind to create the theme song except Salonga, Cayabyab, and Quintos. “ I was excited,” said Mr. C. “I was honored because they asked me.” Continued on C3

Broadway star Lea Salonga sings 'We Win As One,' written by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab to be the SEA Games official theme song.

Family and Justice ELEVISION drama fans are anticipating the premiere telecast of two series today: Beautiful Justice, airing after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad; and Pamilya Ko on ABS-CBN’s primetime block.

Beautiful Justice is an action drama that highlights women empowerment, while Pamilya Ko, as the title suggests, is a heartwarming primetime soap that tackles issues that a big Filipino family encounters.

Serving justice in a beautiful fashion

Gabbi Garcia and Derrick Monasterio

Bea Binene

Gil Cuerva

In GMA’s latest drama, Bea Binene, Gabbi Garcia, and Yasmien Kurdi narrate the story of Kitkat, Brie, and Alice—three women brought together by the tragic death of their loved ones. Derrick Monasterio and Gil Cuerva will heat up primetime viewing as they take on the roles of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents Lance and Vin, respectively. The series follows the story Alice’s (Yasmien) husband, together with Kitkat’s (Bea) brother, and Brie’s (Gabbi) boyfriend, Lance (Derrick), who are all PDEA agents who died on a failed mission. Eventually, Alice discovers that their passing was not an accident, and that a powerful drug syndicate actually murdered their loved ones. Armed with special skills and with the help of Vin (Gil), the three women unite to track down the syndicate and seek justice for everything they lost. Completing the stellar cast are Victor Neri, Valeen Montenegro, Bing Loyzaga. In preparation for this series, its cast members underwent Krav Maga and intense gun training sessions. Their co-star, Victor Neri, is also one of the stunt trainers and plays an active role in the series to make sure that every scene is accurate and mirrors real-life situations. “It was an intensive training. We were taught hand combat and how to handle and ﬁre guns. And we had to take the training seriously because we wanted to give the audience a genuine story,” Yasmien told Manila Standard in an interview. “It took a lot of research and professional guidance to execute the scenes and build the story of Beautiful Justice,” she continued. In addition, Beautiful Justice is also sanctioned by the PDEA and is working closely with its agents to bring viewers a realistic look into their lives. Esteemed director Mark Reyes V is at the helm of this exciting soap. This original series is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Redgynn S. Alba, and Senior Executive ProducerMona Mayuga. The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan; creative head RJ Nuevas; creative consultant Denoy Punio; Headwriter Des Garbes Severino; Concept Creator Loi Nova; Writers Obet Villela andGlaiza Ramirez; brainstormers Loi Nova, Jake Somera, and Erwin Bravo.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

A family drama Kapamilya drama Pamilya Ko promises to touch the hearts of viewers as it tackles the issues that modern Filipino families face— from infidelity, tragedy, to sibling rivalry— and the forces that bind them together— forgiveness, acceptance, and love. “There are scenes na tumatawa kami, pero paiiyakin namin kayo. Mayroon din kaming umiiyak kami, pero patatawanin kayo. We will serve different kinds of emotions,” Sylvia Sanchez said of the new drama. According to the seasoned actress, Pamilya Ko is a relatable story about a family whose everyday problems are compounded by a tragic past and a secret that threatens to tear them apart. “People can relate to every character in the drama. And the story itself is something that the viewers would find very real because our intention is to depict a big Filipino family and tell the struggles they encounter and also focus on the kind of love only your family members can give,” she added. The series follows the story of Chico (JM De Guzman), his parents Fernan (Joey Marquez) and Luzviminda (Sylvia), and the rest of the Mabunga siblings—Beri (Kiko Estrada), Apol (Kid Yambao), Persi (Jairus Aquino), Peachy (Maris Racal), Lemon (Kira Balinger), Cherry (Mutya Orquia), and Pongky (Raikko Mateo)—as they navigate the complex issues that arise even among the most loving families. Chico may be the responsible and dependable first born, but an old family tragedy actually forced his parents to send him to live with his grandparents for almost all his life. Despite feeling alienated from his own family, Chico still makes an effort to build a connection with his parents and his siblings. Just when everything starts to fall into place, a huge revelation will shake their whole family: their father Fernan has an ongoing affair. This will create chaos amongst them, and ultimately test Chico’s strength in keeping his family together. Despite all the pain, Chico will have his best friend Betty (Arci Muñoz) by his side supporting him along the way. “This is the typical scenario in ordinary Filipino family. Sometimes people think that

Maris Racal, Mutya Orquia, and Kira Ballinger

Joey Marquez and Sylvia Sanchez play husband and wife in ABS-CBN's newest primetime bet, 'Pamilya Ko.'

JM de Guzman gets the meaty role as the eldest son in the family.

they can no longer ﬁnd solutions to their everyday problems. In this series, we wanted people know that every problem has a solution,” Joey said of what viewers can expect from the program. Also part of the powerhouse cast of Pamilya Ko are Irma Adlawan and Alyssa Muhlach. It is under the direction of Raymund Ocampo.

Jairus Aquino, Raikko Matteo, Kid Yambao, and Kiko Estrada