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PH ranks 5th worst in impunity index THE Philippines had the largest number of unsolved killings of journalists with 41, followed by Mexico with 30; Somalia with 25; and Syria and Iraq with 22 each, a New York-based media watchdog said Wednesday. The Committee to Protect Journalists said 13 countries accounted for 222 of the 318 deaths in the last 10 years, with many of the cases linked to war and civil unrest. “In the past decade, armed militant groups such as Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and the Islamic State group have most

often targeted journalists with complete impunity,” the CPJ report said. “However, criminal groups have become a major threat, killing large numbers of journalists and routinely escaping justice. Mexico, to date this year’s deadliest country for journalists, has seen its impunity rating worsen nearly every year since 2008, as criminal cartels waged a campaign of terror against the media.” Other countries making up the 13 worst were South Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria and India.

The Palace denied there is a culture of impunity against media workers in the country, despite a New York-based press freedom watchdog listing the Philippines among countries with the worst record of prosecuting killers of journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the Philippines has landed in the World Impunity Index list nearly every year since the index was first published over a decade ago, partly due to the deadly ambush of 58 individuals, including 32 journalists and media workers, in Ampatuan, Maguindanao in 2009. Next page

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 259 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Quake casualties mounting Nine dead; 394 injured; 94 schools closed

Meat producers shun ASF-prone Bohol, Cebu

By Francisco Tuyay and Rio N. Araja

THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. urged its members to refrain from making deliveries to customers who may want to bring processed meat products to Cebu and Bohol to avoid being blamed in case the African swine fever breaks out in the two island provinces. The two provinces are highly susceptible to ASF due to the large number of daily arrivals of local and foreign visitors from ASF-infected areas in Luzon, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and South Korea. There are daily flights to Cebu from Clark in Pampanga as well as international flights from China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Vietnam. Travelers have been identified by the World Organization for Animal Health and by the Bureau of Animal Industry as among the major carriers of the ASF virus. To ensure no-risk status, travelers need to undergo quarantine disinfection procedures when they enter the airport or seaport in the two provinces. Aside from travelers, also listed by animal disease experts as potential carriers of the ASF virus are infected animals, swill feeds, ticks and flies as well as contaminated vehicles, equipment and clothes. Processed meat products are not among the listed carriers. Both OIE and

HE number of fatalities from the magnitude 6.6 tremor that jolted Southern Mindanao has reached nine while those injured rose to 394 as disaster workers labored to rescue two missing persons pinned beneath the rubble in a landslide.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the powerful quake damaged 133 buildings, including 94 schools, 11 health centers, seven public structures, and church and 20 private commercial establishments. Davao City authorities said the quake damaged some 60 public and privately owned buildings. Among the new fatalities were two men, both aged 33, buried in a landslide in Barangay Tagaytay, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. Police Cpl. John Nahine, spokesman of the Magsaysay police station said efforts to retrieve the bodies were hampered by rain. “For now we have yet to start our search and recovery operations to retrieve the two bodies. What our local disaster responders are doing right now is conducting reconnaissance using a drone... to identify safe routes towards the landslide area,” Nahine said. Power has been restored in quake-hit areas in Cotabato province, Davao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, Maguindanao. South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Next page Kudarat.

Extra tax eyed on salty food By MJ Blancaﬂor THE Health department said Tuesday it is considering to propose an additional tax on salty products including processed food, a move similar to taxing sweetened beverages. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the proposal was aimed at encouraging consumers to buy healthier food. “The effect will be to increase the price of food with high amounts of salt, so people will buy healthier options because they’re cheaper,” Domingo told reporters. “And another possible effect of this is that food manufacturers will consciously reformulate their products. They will use less salt so the price will decrease also, and then the products in the market would become healthier.” The Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law Next page

QUAKE BACKWASH. Evacuation, rescue and relief operations are in high gear in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, after a 6.6 magnitude shock hit Tulunan and Makilala (top photo), with the rubble (above from left) of a mosque in Datu Paglas in Maguindanao, an evacuee baby lulled to sleep by the mother at the Matalam municipal gym, while two victims wait for help, unable to stand up on their own. The number of dead is now 9, with injured now at 394. AFP, Mark Navales

Manila, Beijing take on details of oil-gas deal By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippines and China held their first meeting to tackle all issues surrounding the proposal for both countries to conduct oil and gas exploration despite the unresolved dispute over maritime areas in the South China Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said Philippine and Chinese officials met Oct. 28 in Beijing on the

Rody’s Halloween mask sells for $33 By MJ Blancaﬂor MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said it was amused by the sale of Halloween masks inspired by President Rodrigo Duterte, adding it showed the Chief Executive had “arrived.” Turn to A3

proposed cooperation on oil and gas exploration by both nations. However, the DFA provided only general details on what transpired during the meeting. Nonetheless, a joint statement of the Philippines-China Inter-Governmental Joint Steering Committee on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development was released, saying that the two sides had a “candid, in-depth and friendly exchange”

By MJ Blancaﬂor

on cooperation arrangements under the memorandum of understanding they signed last year. Officials led by Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui “agreed to further push forward communication and coordination on oil and gas development, with a view to achieving progress in accordance with the MOU.”

Game of Thrones prequel teased A PREQUEL series to global TV phenomenon “Game of Thrones” has been ordered, WarnerMedia announced Tuesday, as it set out launch details for its new HBO Max streaming Turn to A3 service.

Vaping teems with risks—DOH

THE Health department on Wednesday called for prohibiting vaping products, citing the health risks of using electronic cigarettes and other heated tobacco products. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the department will support a proposed legislation to ban the use of e-cigarettes, which are being marketed as healthier alternatives for tobacco products. Next page

Lizards’ diet, warm weather JUST two degrees of warming causes lizards to change their eating habits resulting in less healthy adult reptiles, according to research published Wednesday. Lizards generally live on a diet Turn to A3

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

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Polio vaccination chalks up 95% By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Health department on Wednesday posted an average of 95.58-percent coverage of children zero to 59 months old who were vaccinated against polio for the Oct. 14 to 27 round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio in the National Capital Region and in some areas of Mindanao including Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Davao del Sur and Davao City. We are elated over this high turnout of parents and caregivers who had their young children immunized against polio,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. “This means the majority of them have overcome their distrust of our vaccines and this augurs well for our other immunization programs.” A total of 1,230,101 (96 percent coverage) children zero to 59 months old from

17 cities/municipalities in the NCR were vaccinated with the Oral Polio Vaccine or OPV. District II, which consists of Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig and Quezon City had the most number (505,739 or 103 percent) of children vaccinated. Among all the cities in the NCR, Makati had the highest number of children vaccinated at 52,978 (107 percent). In Davao del Sur, a total of 66,777 (92 percent) children zero to 59 months

old from 10 cities/municipalities were given OPV. The Municipality of Santa Cruz had the highest (10,667 or 102 percent) coverage reported. In Davao City, a total of 188,675 (101 percent) children zero to 59 months old were given OPV. Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur reported a total of 143,164 (85 percent coverage) children zero to 59 months old from 40 cities/municipalities were vaccinated with OPV. Saguiaran Municipality had the highest (4,079) coverage reported. Let us sustain this success throughout the succeeding rounds of vaccination to stop the spread of the disease and to make the country polio-free,” Duque said. We are encouraging parents and caregivers to support our “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio,” Duque said. His department’s Synchronized Polio Vaccination campaign started on Oct. 14 in specific areas in Mindanao

and in Metro Manila. On Nov. 24, the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio will start its final round for the NCR and its second round for the whole of Mindanao. The third round for the whole of Mindanao will begin on Jan. 6, 2020. On Monday, the department confirmed the third polio case in Datu Piang in Maguindanao involving a fouryear-old girl. The department said it was set to conduct a vaccination campaign in Datu Piang from Nov. 4 to 8 aiming to vaccinate 4,254 children aged zero to 59 months old. Nineteen years after the Philippines was declared by the World Health Organization polio-free in 2000, the department confirmed that the disease was re-emerging in the country. Polio is an infectious disease that spreads rapidly and can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be fatal.

Quake... From A1 Classes in all levels in the 79 cities and municipalities in Regions 10, 11 and 12 and BARRM remained suspended due to the damage done to schools. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross were providing relief and food packs and tents to quake victims. Government and private structural engineers, meanwhile, have been conducting rapid assessment on all damaged buildings to ensure the safety of their occupants and workers. Hundreds of fanilies fleeing Wednesday morning’s magnitude 6.4 earthquake with numerous aftershocks were in the municipal gym of Matalam town in North Cotabato. Wounded residents, mostly students from the three most affected towns, were taken to the gym for treatment because the Midway Hospital had limited space. The Kidapawan Doctors Hospital main building had large cracks on its main firewall, residents said. In Barangay Aringay, Kabacan North Cotabato, a thick volume of black sand surfaced through deep soil breaks, which scientists at the Universitty of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan town believed was a form of a “soil liquefaction.” The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Wednesday recorded more than 300 aftershocks following a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in some parts of Mindanao. Aftershocks were felt in several provinces in Region 11, and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani in Region 12. At 5:22 a.m. Wednesday, a magnitude 5 quake rocked Tulunan in Cotabato with a depth of 14 kilometers. Another aftershock followed at 6:21 a.m. with magnitude 4.4 at 30 kilometers east of Tulunan. On Oct. 16, a magnitude 6.3 quake also shook Mindanao. Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said both quakes could be generated by the same fault. He told the residents in the affected areas to stay vigilant, saying more aftershocks may persist even for weeks. Senate Majoirty Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday a more thorough geo-mapping of the area needs to be done to identify areas prone to landslides. In this way, Zubiricommunities can be warned if they are located in these danger zones, he said. “We must take a more proactive stance so that little or no lives are lost during these times of natural calamities,” Zubiri said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Extra tax... From A1 slapped an excise tax on drinks with caloric and non-caloric sweeteners. The United Nations Interagency Task Force says the high consumption of salt is one of the causes of noncommunicable diseases in the country, which include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and chronic respiratory diseases. The average salt intake of Filipinos is also twice the recommendation of the World Health Organization, UNIATF External Relations Officer Alexey Kulikov said. He said while the WHO recommends five grams of salt a day, an average Filipino consumes 11 grams.

TRAFFIC MONITOR. North Luzon Expressway personnel monitor the traffic situation inside the NLEX Control Room of Central Traffic Management system at Balintawak Toll Plaza in Quezon City as the volume of vehicles going to provinces started to increase in the run up to the Undas. Manny Palmero

PH ranks... From A1 The Philippines also ranked fifth in the 2017 and 2018 World Impunity indexes. CPJ said the Philippines’ rating even worsened from last year. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo refuted the results of the index, saying that legal processes in the country are still at work. “We do not know if a journalist was killed, in relation to his job as a journalist. There could be other personal motivations behind the killing,” Panelo said. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security also said Wednesday that the

Manila,... From A1 But the statement did not say if they have already identified the specific areas where they plan to conduct exploration, if it will be in the South China Sea, or if it would include the Reed Bank, a resource-rich area within the exclusive economic zone, particularly the West Philippine Sea, but being claimed by Beijing. The joint statement said the next round of meetings will be held in the Philippines in early 2020, but the exact date and place will still be determined and mutually agreed upon through diplomatic channels. The MOU on oil and gas exploration was signed during the state visit to the Philippines of President Xi Jinping in November 2018. Xi’s visit was the first for a Chinese leader in 13 years. The Philippines and Beijing have overlapping claims in the South China Sea and have figured in tense confrontations in the past. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered a ruling in favor of the Philippines that invalidated China’s massive claims over the South China Sea and clarified Manila’s exclusive

Vaping... From A1 “If the DOH had its way, we would go for an outright ban,” Domingo told reporters. Different groups of medical practitioners, including the Philippine Col-

Mactan-Cebu, Iloilo among 'best airports' By Joel E. Zurbano THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Iloilo International Airport have been recognized as among the best airports in Asia, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced on Wednesday. CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the airport sleepers’ guide and resource website sleepinginairports. net listed the two Philippine airports among its Best Airports in Asia for 2019. He said Mactan-Cebu ranked 16th while Iloilo placed 18th. Singapore’s Changi Airport topped the list. Completing the list of Best Airports in Asia for 2019 were Seoul Incheon Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport, Osaka Kansai Airport, Taipei Taoyuan Airport, Hong Kong Airport, Kuala Lumpur Airport, New Delhi Airport, Jakarta Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport, Mumbai Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangalore Airport, Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Da Nang Airport, Islamabad Airport and Kunming Airport. Changi Airport also topped the overall Best Airport list followed by Seoul Incheon Airport, Helsinki Airport, Tokyo Narita International Airport, Osaka Kansai International Airport, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Munich International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Meanwhile, making it to the SleepingInAirport’s worst airport’s list were Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia; New York City LaGuardia Airport, USA; London Stansted Airport, England; Juba International Airport, Sudan; Santorini International Airport, Greece; Cairo International Airport, Egypt; Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia; Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh; Murtala Muhammed (Lagos) International Airport, Nigeria, and London Luton Airport, England. The website, established in 1996, ranks its Best and Worst airports from an annual survey and airport reviews submitted by readers rating their airport experiences. Travelers are asked to rate their airport experiences based on factors such as comfort, services, facilities and things to do, food options, immigration/security, customer service, navigation and ease of transit, cleanliness and sleepability. In 2016, the Iloilo International Airport was also recognized as among the 20 best airports in Asia based on the results of the survey of the interactive travel site “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports.” Iloilo ranked number 12 while Davao International Airport placed number 26 in Asia for that year’s awards.

report naming the Philippines as among the most dangerous countries for media workers is “expected.” PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco said the results of the Global Impunity Index of the CPJ will likely be the same as long as the Maguindanao massacre, dubbed as the single deadliest attack on members of media, remains unresolved. “In fact, we have been anticipating that because for as long as the massacre case remains in the equation, following the methodology used by CPJ, we shall remain on that list,” he added. Egco also said the Maguindanao massacre has been keeping the country in the list of deadliest countries for media workers since 2009. The CPJ report covered a 10-year

period from August 2009 to August this year, Egco said, and includes the Maguindanao massacre. The Department of Justice recently said the verdict on the case may soon be promulgated, a decade since the killings. “Thus, we are looking at a much better and improved ranking for the Philippines,” Egco said. But Egco also reported that unidentified men on a motorcycle attacked the manager of Radyo ni Juan in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat near noon Wednesday. Egco said Benjie Caballero was in his house in Tacurong when he was shot by one of the armed men. Egco said based on reports he received, Caballero was taken to a hospital where he was still being revived.

economic zone, including the West Philippines Sea. However, China defied the arbitral ruling, insisting that it has “indisputable” and “historical” claim over nearly the entire waters even as it encroaches on the territories of its smaller neighbors like the Philippines in the South China Sea. When President Rodrigo Duterte ascended into power, the Philippines reinvigorated its ties with China in exchange for economic assistance, normalization of ties, trade and investments. Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio expressed optimism that world opinion will pressure China to comply with the 2016 Arbitral Award. Carpio, a strong advocate of the country’s sovereign rights over disputed maritime territories in the South China Sea, said in spite of China’s seeming intractability on the issue, it is also keen at looking to world opinion. “A wise man once said that there are only two ways for China to comply with the arbitral ruling. First, China voluntarily, on its own complies with the ruling, a scenario that does not seem possible. Second, world opinion pressures China to comply with the ruling something that is within the realm of possibilities,’ Carpio said, in his speech during the testi-

monial dinner hosted by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications Tuesday evening at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The retired magistrate said media have a great role to play in this not only by educating Filipinos about the issue but the rest of the world as well. “China needs the work. It has to export to and import from the world, continue its economic development. Shaping world opinion starting within the Philippines, spreading throughout Southeast Asia and then through the rest of the world is tailor-made for journalists like you. “All you have to do is to tell the historical truth about the South China Sea. The truth, by the arbitral ruling is that China never owned or controlled the South China Sea throughout its history,” he said. Carpio said he is optimistic that the “seemingly impossible dream” can still be achieved, adding that despite his age, he will continue to advocate and press the country’s case in every fora in the country and abroad. “In the Philippines, 93 percent of the Filipino people want the arbitral ruling asserted, 93 percent. I still have to work on President Duterte and the remaining 7 percent,” he said.

BAI have confirmed that processed meats when cooked at a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes cannot spread the ASF virus because if it is present, it is killed at such temperature. A leader of the House of Representatives, meanwhile, said Wednesday the swine industry has sustained at least P1 billion in losses since the ASF was found in the country. The spread of ASF has prompted several local governments to stop the shipment of pork products from other provinces to their localities to contain the spread of the disease. House Deputy Speaker Conrado Estrella called for the continuation of a moratorium on the transport of pork products. Estrella, representative of the agriculture-based ABONO Party-list, said the inter-provincial transport of pork products may be resumed as soon as the threat has been eliminated. “I think it is now time for government to impose a moratorium, on pork product importation until we have completely cleared our pig farms of the ASF threat. We have to stop the bleeding before its too late,” Estrella said.

lege of Chest Physicians and Philippine Academy of Physicians, are pushing for a ban on the sale and use of vaping products due to the health risks associated to their use. Last week, the Health department asked all public and private hospitals and health professionals to record the history of tobacco and e-cigarette use

among patients, especially those with respiratory illnesses, to monitor the prevalence of e-cigarette-related diseases in the country. All acutely ill patients who have used e-cigarettes in the last 90 days, with other plausible causes for illness, will be recorded as cases of vaping-related disease.

The data that will be gathered from the hospitals will be used for future policy directions for electronic gadgets. The department banned the use of ecigarettes in public places through an administrative order signed last June, and tasked local government units to implement it.

Meat... From A1

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‘DENR officials must lead in seedlings survival’ Customs to charge importer By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs said it would file smuggling charges against an importer for the failed attempt to smuggle stainless angle bars worth millions of pesos at the Port of Manila which came from China. Customs Deputy Commissioner Raniel Ramiro said the shipment was declared as flat bar and steel sheets by its consignee, Liuzhiga International Trading. “The IG-CIIS received a report from a reliable source that a certain shipment might have violated the Customs laws by gross misdeclaration in quality-description of goods,” Ramiro said. Acting on the report, POM District Collector Arsenia Ilagan conducted a spot-check and inspection on the shipment for verification and validation, he said. During spot check, customs examiners found stainless angle bars and steel sheets contrary to the declaration stated in the entry filed by the consignee. “A warrant of seizure and detention will be issued against the shipment for violation of Section of 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of the CMTA,” Ramiro said. The Bureau of Customs has yet to determine the value of the seized goods as of press time. He said the bureau would file appropriate charges against the personalities involved in the smuggling of goods.

Maynilad backs water source THE water supply shortage besetting Metro Manila residents stemmed from the lack of rainfall over Angat Dam, which is the primary raw water source for Metro Manila and nearby provinces, according to Maynilad Water Services Inc. While Maynilad supports the creation of additional water infrastructure, it said in a press statement it could only distribute the water volume that it received from existing raw water sources. The government has claimed responsibility for the development of raw water sources, but “we have been working with them to expedite the process because we understand the urgency of meeting the supply needs of our customers.” Maynilad said it supported the government’s move to push for the completion of infrastructure enhancements like Kaliwa Dam. “We believe it is a viable longterm solution to the supply shortage that has been affecting residents of Metro Manila.” Maynilad, in its statement, said it had been doing its part in implementing the necessary water infrastructure to meet the supply requirements of an ever-growing population. Maynilad is currently maximizing the limited supply so we can mitigate the impact of the current reduced allocation from Angat Dam. It said: “As an alternative source to Angat Dam, we have added 300 million liters per day to our water production capacity following the construction of our treatment facilities sourcing raw water from Laguna Lake. “We intend to further boost this by another 150 MLD supply. We continue to aggressively implement our Non-Revenue Water reduction program, reactivate deep wells as needed, and deploy mobile treatment plants to source additional raw water from dams in Cavite.”

Game... From A1 The new show in George RR Martin’s fictional world of Westeros will take place 300 years prior to fantasy epic “Thrones” and will be called “House of the Dragon.” The series will be based on the book “Fire and Blood,” which tells the story of the murderous, dragonbreeding Targaryen family. “It’s my pleasure to announce today that we are ordering ‘House of the Dragon’ straight to series for HBO,” Casey Bloys, president of programming, told a Los Angeles launch event for HBO Max. “It tells the story of House Targaryen and the early days of Westeros.” “Thrones,” known for its graphic violence and sex as well as its unprecedented budget and production

By Rio N. Araja

NVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday vowed to sanction field officers who would fail to meet the required 85 percent survival rate of planted tree seedlings.

“I would like to let somebody take the command responsibility for these areas,” he told provincial environment and natural resources officers, and community environment and natural resources officers. “I am designating the PENROs and

CENROs as plantation managers,” he said. Under the expanded national greening program, a frontline field officer must be able to meet the 85 percent survival rate of planted rate seedlings being contracted

to a people’s organization. “It’s very simple. I will relieve you if you cannot fulfill that. Yes, it’s a tall order. Even if you have to go there at least every two weeks,” he warned. He expressed his disappointment over the low survival rates for seedlings planted in some people’s organizationcontracted areas ranging only from 35 to 50 percent. Because of the low survival rates, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources suspended the scheme of contracting people’s organizations for

the program this year. “I would like to let somebody take the command responsibility for these areas,” Cimatu said. From 2011 to July 2019, almost 2 million hectares have been planted with 1.7-billion tree seedlings. It generated 4.73-million jobs benefiting more than 670,000 upland dwellers. Most of the planted sites have been contracted to POs. From 2016 to 2018 alone, people’s accounted for 573,735 hectares, consisting of 24,672 plantation sites.

Makati, QC to enforce Undas traffic rerouting By Joel E. Zurbano

CALAX INTERCHANGE. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar opens Wednesday, two days before All Saints’ Day, the first segments of CALAX covering Mamplasan Barrier onto Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange. About 10,000 cars are expected to enter and exit through the two access points, Mamplasan entry for the westbound vehicles and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Entry for the eastbound vehicles. This section will be about 10 minutes to drive. A big cut on travel time compared to the 45 minutes it currently takes to travel Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road. (Story on B1)

Malacañang calls Robredo ‘friend of failure’ By MJ Blancaflor MALACAÑANG said Wednesday Vice President Leni Robredo’s refusal to accept President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer for her to be drug czar meant “she is afraid of failure.” “It means that she may not be able to tackle the job. It means that she might be afraid that if she fails, then she will realize that her criticisms are wrong,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Pan-

do?” Robredo added. But accepting the offer to be President Duterte’s drug czar would prove she is not just good at criticizing, Panelo said. “VP Leni, this is a rare and very good opportunity for you to show everyone that you are not just good at criticizing,” Panelo said. Panelo also showed Palace reporters a text message he sent to Robredo to prove that he had informed the Vice President of the offer by Duterte.

their diet towards eating more predatory “That’s just how it works. If you are invertebrates,” Bestion said. the topic, and people make fun of you, From A1 This increased competition among praise you, it means you have arrived. Otherwise, you will be ignored,” Panlizards for the preferred food. Caili’s Company, which offers a va- elo added. Another notable finding is that as the riety of over 4,000 different masks and The “quality latex mask,” however, is lizards’ diets changed, the microbiota in other Halloween decoration props, sells not being shipped to the Philippines. their guts became less diverse, possibly the Duterte-inspired mask for $32.99 or “Please check other sellers who may resulting in lower survival of the lizards. about P1,680. shipped internationally,” Amazon said. “The gut microbiota is linked to a lot “That means he [Duterte] has arThe masks have package dimensions of important functions in organisms, rived... Amusing…He really is scaring of 11.1 x 10.9 x 3.4 inches. including digestion or immunity,” said criminals,” Presidential Spokesman Carousell, which previously acquired Bestion. Salvador Panelo told Palace reporters OLX, also sells Duterte masks made of when sought to comment. Crucially, the study, published in the plastic for P900. Proceedings of the Royal SocieManila ty B, also suggests that a shift in Standard BENGUET CORPORATION reptile diets to predators might TODAY 7th Flr. Universal–Re Building disrupt eating habits further up 106 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City the food chain. “We show that the mechaANNOUNCEMENT nisms of climate impacts are Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Benguet more complex than just an efCorporation will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 3 o’clock in the fect of temperature on one aniafternoon at the 4th Floor, JV Del Rosario Rooms 2-5, JV Del Rosario Building, mal,” said Bestion. AIM Conference Center Manila, Benavidez cor. Trasierra Streets, Legaspi Village, Two degrees Celsius is the 1229 Makati City, Philippines. warming cap aimed for in the 2015 Paris climate accord. AFP The agenda of the meeting provides, among others:

Rody’s...

Lizards’ diet From A1 of insects, including plant-eaters, like crickets, as well as predators, such as spiders and beetles. But when scientists observed lizards in a controlled environment 2 degrees Celsius hotter than usual, they found that the reptiles were eating more of the predatory insects. Lead study author Elvire Bestion told AFP she was surprised by the results. “The diet shift was linked to lower survival of adult lizards, however it is difficult to say why exactly that is,” she wrote in an e-mail. The team found that while there were fewer predatory insects creeping around at a hotter temperature, the lizards still shifted their habits to prefer them over plant-eating insects. “One of our hypotheses is that in warmer climates, lizards needed more nutritious prey to fulfil their demands and shifted

values, ended its eight-season run earlier this year with 59 Emmys—a record for a drama or comedy at television’s equivalent of the Oscars. The new prequel has been cocreated by Martin and Ryan Condal (“Colony”), who will write the 10-episode series and serve as showrunner alongside Miguel Sapochnik. Sapochnik directed multiple “Game of Thrones” episodes including the Emmy-winning “Battle of the Bastards.” HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new Netflix rival, will launch in the United States in May, and will cost $14.99 per month, it was also revealed. The platform will feature original shows including a Ridley Scott scifi and exclusive streaming rights to satirical cartoon “South Park.” It will offer around 10,000 hours of content at launch, including all 23 “South Park” seasons and three new

elo told Palace reporters. Robredo said earlier that President Duterte would not have to delegate the campaign to somebody if it was successful. “If there’s no failure, why delegate it to me? Because you will only delegate the tasks you cannot do,” she said. “If successful, you don’t need to give it because you have already done it. But you are delegating it to others, isn’t it an admission that there are a lot of things to

THE Makati City government will enforce a road closure and traffic rerouting scheme on major streets in the city beginning today in connection with the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. “In observance of All Saints Day 2019, please be advised that the Makati Public Safety Department will be implementing road closures and traffic rerouting on Oct. 31, Thursday, starting at 12:01 a.m. up to midnight of Nov. 2, Saturday,” the city’s Information and Community Relations Department stated in its advisory. Roads that will be closed to vehicular traffic are South Avenue (From Metropolitan Avenue to J.P. Rizal Street), Kalayaan Avenue (From Zapote Street to N. Garcia Street), and Vito Cruz Avenue Extension (From Zapote Street to South Avenue). A two-way traffic will be implemented along J.P. Rizal Avenue (From Makati Avenue to Pasong Tirad Street and vice-versa) and Zapote Avenue (From J.P. Rizal Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue and viceversa), while one-way traffic will be along Metropolitan Avenue (From South Avenue to Jupiter Street). In Quezon City, the local government unit’s Task Force for Transport and Traffic also has laid out a traffic rerouting scheme for motorists planning to visit cemeteries in the observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day break.

seasons to follow. ‘Part of the zeitgeist’ Original shows will be largely released on a weekly basis, rather than dropped in one go for binge-watching, because “we like creating cultural impact,” said HBO Max COO Kevin Reilly. “Our creators also see the difference in rolling out shows gradually and letting them breathe,” Reilly said. “HBO hits like ‘Succession’ and ‘Chernobyl’ became part of the zeitgeist with a weekly release schedule, rather than fading quickly after a binge and burn.” Original content will see Scott produce and direct new sci-fi series “Raised by Wolves,” about “two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet.” AFP

1. For election of the Board of Directors; 2. Approval of Minutes of the annual stockholders’ meeting held on November 8, 2018; 3. Approval of Management Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2018; 4. Approval of re-appointment of Sycip Gorres Velayo and Company (SGV) as the Company’s independent external auditor; 5. Approval of changing the date of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting from last Tuesday of May of each year, or on such other day in May as may be determined by the Board of Directors to first Wednesday of November of each year, or on such other day in November as may be determined by the Board of Directors and the corresponding amendment to Section 1, Article II of the Company’s amended By-Laws; 6. Ratification of all acts, contracts, resolutions and proceedings made and entered into by Management and/or the Board of Directors since the November 8, 2018 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting; 7. Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and which are not known to management beforehand at a reasonable time, including to adjourn the meeting for up to ninety (90) days from November 7, 2019 if the election of directors is enjoined as of the meeting date. By authority of the Board of Directors (Sgd.) HERMOGENE H. REAL Corporate Secretary (MS-OCT. 31, 2019)

Opinion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Supply and demand I HAVE been asking myself why I became a journalist and why I stayed in this profession for nearly seven decades instead of practicing law. When I was young, I was always fascinated with those Hollywood movies where lawyers would harangue a 12-man jury with arguments on behalf of poor clients. My Ilocano parents encouraged me to be a lawyer like my two older brothers. I succeeded through hard work and perseverance. My sister became a doctor of medicine. I succeeded in a small way when I studied law at the old Philippine Law School. This institution produced legal luminaries. I also became junior partner at a law firm before I got married. So why did I shift to journalism? It all started when an Oblate father came to Ateneo asking for volunteers to help at a weekly publication in Cotabato. This was The Mindanao Cross—now a daily. It had a circulation of 80,000, believe it or not, because it was being distributed to all the Notre Dame schools in Mindanao and Sulu. Cotabato was then a province as large as Belgium. In college, I was associate editor of the Ateneo’s school paper, The Guidon. My friend and editor-in-chief, Rudy Tupas, and I volunteered. We learned the rudiments of journalism in Cotabato. I covered all beats from the police to the governor’s office, I also got sued for libel. After my stint in Cotabato, I returned to Manila to pursue my

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

dreams of becoming a lawyer. But then I was enticed to help in The Sentinel, the publication of the Archbishop of Manila. After my wedding, I looked for a job and had the opportunity of being business editor of the Madrigal-owned The Philippines Herald. It was one of the Big Three at that time—the others were The Manila Times and The Chronicle.

The drug menace will remain so long as there is demand. I stayed on as business editor and then was promoted, and I was soon writing editorials. That was when I realized that the printer’s ink was already in my blood. I knew journalism would not make me rich. Had I pursued the law, I would have been a wealthy man. But journalism was not just a job—it was a calling, Santa Banana! My wife calls me a dreamer because I have always believed that as a journalist I can change things, no matter how small. The Serenity Prayer has always been my guide: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” *** President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly offered Vice President Leni Robredo the opportunity to become the drug czarina in reply to her criticism of how the administration is implementing its war against drugs.

So many things wrong

HE killing of Clarin town Mayor David Navarro in Cebu City—executed in broad daylight while he was in police custody—is emblematic of so much that is wrong with our politics and system of justice.

Navarro was gunned down as he was being transported by the police to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office at past 2 p.m. on Oct. 25. At least four masked men, carrying high-powered firearms, reportedly dragged Navarro from the police car and fired at him along M. Velez Street in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. Although President Rodrigo Duterte had put Navarro on his list of narco-politicians who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade before the May elections this year, the President’s spokesman denounced the killing. “We condemn that. We

don’t want people to be killed as if they are dogs, chickens, or pigs,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview. “Our citizens should not be ambushed or killed. Whether they are allegedly involved in illegal drugs or wanted criminals, it should go under the process of law,” Panelo said. “Whether they are connected with drugs, we will not allow killings on roads. That is not the law that we follow,” he added. The words belie the stark reality that at least 12 mayors and seven vice mayors—linked by the President to illegal drugs—have been killed since Duterte took office in 2016. Amid speculation of vigilante justice, Panelo offered his own novel theory. “It means that if those mayors were involved in illegal drugs, then they are now killing each other,” he said. That Navarro was executed while in police custody suggests either utter incompetence or complicity on the part of the police who were escorting the mayor. Tellingly, President Duterte on Monday told the police to stop

their probe and to let the National Bureau of Investigation take over, hardly a vote of confidence. Finally, it should be pointed out that Navarro’s killing happened a day after the mayor was arrested by police for allegedly mauling a masseur in Cebu City. The mayor, witnesses said, was drunk and upset that the massage parlor he visited did not have a female therapist available and berated the cashier. Then, as CCTV footage showed, the mayor grabbed the masseur who had come to the aid of the cashier, and began punching him while he was being held down by his security aides. When asked by reporters why he punched the masseur, Navarro said in Cebuano, “He started it. He insulted me.” The reply betrayed both arrogance and stupidity, a deadly combination of traits all too common among our local chief executives, who often act as petty tyrants when they are accompanied by their security goons. None of this means they deserve to be shot down on the streets, of course. Even the President knows this.

Turn to A5

Philippine Social Science Council to host national conference POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE THE Philippine Social Science Council is preparing for the 9th National Social Science Congress (NSSC 9) to be held on Feb. 20-22, 2020 in General Santos City. PSSC is a private, non-stock, non-profit organization of professional social science associations and social science research and instructional institutions in the Philippines.

We need all kinds of scientists to come together and pool their resources and knowledge to help find answers and solutions to some of the challenges facing our country. NSSC is a signature program of the PSSC that serves as the platform for social scientists to share their latest research, test concepts, theories and ideas, and critically examine issues of social significance. NSSC 9’s theme is “Resilience in Our Times.” The conference seeks to engage social scientists and other sectors of the society in “discussions about the dimensions of resilience in the face of climate change, imperialist plunder, war and peace, disaster risk reduction, international relations, socio-ecological systems, human development, planning, and communication” among other topics. The conference will also inquire into “how the social sciences and other sec-

tors of the society respond to and address the issues of resiliency. It will look into the various manners, approaches, and experiences in promoting and pushing for resiliency towards development, equality, and social justice.” According to PSSC Chairperson Dr. Lourdes Portus, the event’s keynote speaker will be newly retired Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, and the plenary speaker will be Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute. “There are already more than 200 abstracts submitted and six panel sessions from PSSC member organizations,” said Portus. Member organizations include research bodies, schools, and colleges of Univeruniversities, among them UP, Univer sity of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, and other universities across the country. Portus added that there will be a pre-conference activity about journal publication and ethics on Feb. 19, 2020, to be hosted by the Mindanao State University. Among the paper and panel session topics are: adapting to and minimizing impacts of climate change; response to unthe energy shortage in Mindanao; un derstanding security threats; minimizminimiz ing risks to and supporting recovery of communities; managing complex systems in times of change; and coping and thriving in times of adversity (individual/sectoral/organizational responses to crisis). Other topics include: escaping the poverty trap; enhancing human well-being; urban and regional planning; communicating resilience (campaigns and advocacies); digital technologies enabling resilience and resilience against disruptive technologies; historicizing, politicizing resilience; resilience of culture/language; resilience as a concept; food security and insecurity; building capacity for strong economy. Turn to A5

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Dry regulation WHEN IT rains, it pours. But when it’s dry, Filipinos face water shortage. In March this year, we were troubled by the low water levels in our dams, particularly those supplying the water requirements of households in Metro Manila. Last week, we were confronted again with the same scenario, threatening our water supply for the months to come. The ber months were expected to bring in intense rains that would fill our dams enough water to last until the summer season. However, unlike in the past years, the typhoons which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year did not bring sufficient rain. While we have no control over the effects of climate change, the government still has the responsibility to deal with and resolve the problem of water shortage. Last March, I led the call for the commitment of our water regulatory bodies and water concessionaires to resolve the water crisis. Congress conducted investigations where water concessionaires were asked to explain

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

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the nature of the water crisis during that time. While the commitment of these agencies were obtained, it seems that the resolutions were inadequate as we are now experiencing the same problem anew.

There is something wrong with the way we manage this natural resource. Once again, I rise to the occasion of calling for effective and immediate solutions in order to address the water shortage and stop the rotational water interruptions. What we need is a sustainable solution that will allow

us to conserve this precious natural resource. We are surrounded by water, yet we cannot make use of these waters for our basic needs. Wastewater recycling is a new technology arising from developed countries. While the process may be expensive at the moment, investing in such technology proves to be beneficial not only to the environment, but also to the people since the technology is sustainable and cost-effective in the long term. We suffer from water rate hikes and substandard services of our existing water concessionaires, some of which have been fined hundreds of millions due to the failure to comply with environmental laws, with the threat of shifting this monetary burden to consumers. Clearly, this kind of service cannot be permitted to continue. It is unacceptable for consumers to bear the burden of inadequacies of these private concessionaires. Perhaps, it is high time to shift our perspective and look for sustainable approaches to secure water supply. Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Handling of the ASF THE way the government is handling the African swine fever problem is not working. The problem continues to spread. From the province of Bulacan, the disease has spread to the metro area like Quezon City. It has also reached Pampanga, maybe even Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. Just a few days ago, infected meat was intercepted in Southern Luzon. The government should have been more clinical when the problem was first detected. The pig population in Bulacan and Quezon City should have all been destroyed. This may seem heartless but it is better to lose a part of the industry than the whole. Now, the swine industry is beginning to lose money and the Department of Agriculture has its hands full on how to control the spread of the virus. The problem is exacerbated by unscrupulous people wanting to sell infected pork and transporting them to areas that have not been infected, thereby contributing to the spread of the ASF. And since it takes time to completely get the country completely free of the problem which some experts are saying to be about two years, the problem is not going away any time soon. If the government wants to solve the problem quickly, it needs to be aggressive and have a good action plan. The people from the Department of Health should also stop saying that contaminated pork with ASF is safe to eat so long as the meat is cooked well. Maybe these people should go on TV and show everybody that they are willing to do what they are preaching. If not, they should simply keep their mouth shut. The swine industry is worth a couple of hundred billion pesos, according to some estimates. It cannot therefore simply be ignored. It is very Filipino to think of what will happen to hog raisers if all the pigs in a prov-

ince will be destroyed due to the infection in just a few municipalities— but look at what has happened, it is now spreading to more areas. Meat processors will also now stop buying local pork which will surely hurt the local hog industry. Fortunately, because of the geography of the country, the problem could be prevented from spreading all over the country—but only if the concerned agencies of the government are aggressive enough.

It’s not likely the problem will go away soon. What the provinces in the Visayas are doing is the proper and right thing to do and that is to ban all pork products from Luzon. This problem needs an integrated approach by different government agencies. Perhaps the Philippine National Police can help in establishing more stationary and mobile check points to prevent people from transporting contaminated meat to sell. More important, the government must show some kind of ruthlessness in order solve the problem at the earliest possible time. *** PBrig General Debold Sinas, the newly appointed Director of the National Capital Region Police Office, is forming teams composed of police personnel to go after police scalawags within his command. Since his assumption to his new post, he has taken steps to show his seriousness when it comes to police discipline. Although this is because of the ninja fiasco, he should nonetheless be congratulated for his efforts. We have to wonder however, whether this is the best course of action since there is already the Internal Affairs Service mandated by law to go after erring police personnel. IAS is part of the Philippine National Police but is now trying to urge Congress to separate it

from the PNP so that it can function independently, free from the constraints of being under the Chief of the PNP. There is a lot of merit in this move but any serious effort towards this end must be studied carefully so as not to create another problem. If such a move will indeed happen, perhaps IAS can investigate any personnel up to the rank of Lt. Colonel only. Colonels and above being presidential appointees can also be investigated but only upon the approval of the Office of the President. Traditionally, the Internal Affairs is part of the police organization. It is not separate. But because of the ever-increasing number of police personnel facing charges, separation can certainly be considered as an option. Because the anti-drug campaign is a signature program of the President, the ninja cop fiasco was prominently covered by the media. The PNP, however, has experienced serious upheavals in the past and have always emerged from it stronger. This is because by and large, the vast majority of the PNP is composed of good men and women who simply want to serve their country as honorably as possible and they have proven this time and time again throughout its existence from the Philippine Constabulary days to this day. Yes, there will always be rotten elements both in the officer corps and in its enlisted ranks but the organization have always steadied itself and recovered. Since 1992 when the PNP was established, controversies involving the Chief of the organization have happened about three times already. This is a lot considering that it has just been 27 years since its inception. It shows a mark deterioration of discipline, leadership, values and more. This should be what the PNP leadership should be looking at. The PNP today is six or seven times bigger than the old Constabulary and the demands of police work has multiplied and will get more complicated in the coming years. Let us hope that the incoming generation of PNP leader will be equal to the challenges. If not, then the public will suffer.

Japan festival under fire for dropping ‘comfort women’ film A LOCAL film festival in suburban Tokyo has come under fire for dropping a movie examining views on the highly controversial issue of sex slavery and Japan's wartime military brothels. Organizers of the film festival in Kawasaki City said they had opted to drop the film after local officials raised concerns. The controversy comes after an exhibit in central Japan was shut down for months earlier this year over the display of a statue of a sex slave, and with relations between Japan and South Korea badly frayed over wartime issues. "Shusenjo: The Main Battleground of The Comfort Women Issue" is a documentary examining the debate over so-called "comfort women," who were forced to work in wartime Japanese military brothels during World War II. Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women—mostly from Korea, but also other parts of Asia including China—were forced to work in the brothels.

But some nationalists insist the women were prostitutes, claiming there is no documented evidence that the Japanese military was ordered to recruit women against their will. The head of the festival organizers said he was "deeply ashamed of a decision that may result in pressure on freedom of expression" but cited concerns from local officials as well as worries about the "security" of volunteers staffing the festival. Some of the people interviewed in the film, by Japanese-American director Miki Dezaki, have filed suit against him, claiming they were not aware the interviews would be used in a movie for public release. Kawasaki City, which provided nearly half of the festival's budget, reportedly expressed concerns about the lawsuit in its conversations with organizers. Local officials, however, denied pressuring organizers to drop the film, with one telling AFP they merely questioned "whether showing such a film is appropriate." The film's distributor said the deci-

sion was shocking and called the organizer's explanations "insincere and irrational." "If this decision stands, it would create a bad precedent for a film festival created by citizens to succumb to pressure from authorities," distributor Tofoo's president Shigeki Kinoshita told AFP. A second film firm said it would withdraw two of its films from the festival in protest, criticizing organizers for "murdering freedom of expression." An exhibition in central Japan was in August shut down for two months after it received threats for displaying a South Korean statue of a wartime sex slave. The central government pulled funding for the exhibition, which eventually reopened for the final few days of its run. Bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea have frayed in recent month over a long-running dispute on the use of forced labour during World War II, with the two sides trading retaliatory measures. AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

HK rejecting ‘one country, two systems’ concept affairs. As the clock has started to wind down toward the end of the 50year transition period—the halfway mark will be in three years—the sensitivity has been growing in intensity. The massive protests that have FRUSTRATED by his country’s fail- been staged on the streets of Hong ure to achieve solid economic prog- Kong non-stop during the last four ress after almost two decades of com- months provide a solid indication of munist rule, China’s newly installed how difficult relations between Hong head of state, chairman Deng Xiaop- Kong and Beijing are going to being, ordered a shift to a government come as 2047 approaches. The origin based on “one country, two systems” of the current protest movement was concept. Politically, there would be the introduction in the Hong Kong no change: China would remain a Legislative Council of a bill that communist State, with the military— would allow the extradition to China the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) of Hong Kong citizens suspected of enforcing political orthodoxy, but having committed crimes. Despite the nation’s economic system would weeks of protests, the Hong Kong be allowed to operate along capital- government refused to withdraw the istic, non-political lives. As soon as bill—it offered to merely shelve it. capitalistic nations —especially the Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie making of profits, consumerism, Lam has since capitulated, but still freedom to contract and efficiency the protests are continuing. And in production—began to take hold there appears to be no indication of across the nation with 1.4 billion peo- their ceasing anytime soon. ple, high economic growth began to The protests may appear to be take place. Proabout a single duction, employlegislative pro proment and incomes posal that will soon surged, with allow China Its people deserve the non-commuto interfere in nistic result of the world’s admiration Hong Kong’s p r i v a t e -we a l t h and support. internal affairs. explosion and But in reality growing income they are more disparities among than that. the people of the Middle Kingdom. The protests are, in fact, a mani maniThe 1994 accord between China festation of the Hong Kong people’s and the United Kingdom providing for rejection of the “One country, two the conversion of the British Crown’s systems” concept promoted by Beicolony into a SAR (Special Admin- jing since Deng Xiaoping’s day. Alistrative Region) of China for its full low the economy to bloom with the re-integration into China on June 30, use of capitalistic concepts while the 2047 sought to extend the “One coun- State keeps political activity under its try, two systems” concept to Hong control: that has been the governance Kong. The “one country” was Chi- model followed by the Beijing govna, but the “two systems” could not ernment within China itself and in be implemented just yet. The 1994 the territories that have been returned accord called for the maintenance of to the Motherland. Hong Kong’s political and economic By their protest actions, the Hong status quo for 50 years starting July 1, Kong people are showing that they 1997. As a SAR, Hong Kong was now reject the “One country, two sysa part of China, but the political half tems” concept. They are declaring, of the “two systems” could not be put with their feet and with their voices in place because of the accord’s pro- that their idea of “two systems” is visions. A territory that has practiced democratic politics combined with British-style democracy for over a a capitalistic economy, not commuhundred years has retained its form nism existing alongside a capitalisof government—the Hong Kong leg- tic economy. islature has been a staunch protector Will Xi Jinping and his fellow of the rule of law—while continuing leaders allow Hong Kong to get away to function as an important player on with departing from the “One counthe world economic stage. try, two systems” governmental modThe PLA maintains a presence in el? It’s difficult to say, given Hong Hong Kong, and from time to time Kong’s place in the world, the state of there have been misunderstandings international politics and, last but not and irritations between the SAR and least, China’s current problems. China arising from Hong Kong’s senOne thing is beyond doubt, though. sitivity regarding what it considers Hong Kong’s people deserve the intrusion by Beijing into its internal world’s admiration and support.

Dry... From A4

As an archipelago, it is quite ironic that water resource is scarce in the country. Water should not be expensive. That said, there is something wrong with the way we regulate this natural resource. As a public utility, provision of water is greatly imbued with public interest that must be set as a priority over any capitalist intentions. We cannot let natural monopolies be left unregulated at the expense of our consuming public. The President has recently said that drastic measures may be adopted to resolve the is-

Philippine... From A4

Supply... From A4

Can she expect to do any better? While I say Duterte has been committing a mistake by treating the drug problem as a peace and order issue rather than one of poverty and health, Robredo misses the point when she criticizes the President. First of all, will the police obey her? Everybody knows it is the poor who make up the easiest market for illegal drugs. This is because they go into drugs and soon become pushers to finance their addiction. Of course there are many wealthy drug users and addicts as well.

Both Robredo and Duterte get it all wrong. The supply of drugs will continue because the demand is there. There are estimates that there are 7 million to 8 million drug users in this country. What, then, is the solution? Cut the demand, I say! During martial law, President Marcos created special courts to deal with the drug problem. It worked then, why not now? Unless Duterte rethinks the drug menace as a health issue, the problem will persist. My gulay, he can kill all the addicts and pushers, but the problem will still be there. *** Every now and then, we hear about

prison inmates dying because of congestion inside the jails. It is easy for them to contract communicable diseases. Also, because of congestion, all sorts of contraband items get smuggled inside. I have inside information that drug trafficking remains unabated not only at the New Bilibid Prison but also in city and municipal jails. This is why I have been suggesting to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to address the sub-human conditions at the NBP. This can blow up in the face of the administration sooner or later. Mr. President, please look into the transfer of the NBP to a different location. This can be done—you only need political will.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

*** The reason I listed all these topics is to show how the social sciences encompass so many fields of human endeavor. These topics are important to tackle particularly in these uncertain times, what will political turmoil, climate change, and diverse issues affecting so many human lives. Now, more than ever, despite the asseverations of one senator against research, we need all kinds of scientists to come together and pool their resources and knowledge to help find answers and solutions to some of the challenges facing our country. PSSC is poised to do just that by fulfilling its mission to “consolidate the resources of local social scientists by providing the leadership… [and] take the necessary actions to cultivate,

sue of water shortage. Let me reiterate the mandate given to our water regulatory bodies, that is to ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of water for domestic and other purposes. Regulation, therefore, must be strengthened to prevent the taking advantage of private water companies to the inelastic demand. Our consumers are overcharged for services they don’t receive, yet the net income of these agencies grow year by year. In the end, consumers are the ultimate recipients of the deficiencies in our system. For this reason, I strongly demand transparency from our water concessionaires and existing regulatory bodies. among the difference social science associations and disciplines, areas of common interest that concern social problems and go beyond the specific interest of any particular association, discipline or profession.” NSSC 9 is going to be a most interesting event, because it will bring together experts from the various social science fields, including anthropology, history, sociology, communication, urban planning, economics, and others. Faculty and students from across the nation are encouraged to attend and participate in this event that it will be held in Mindanao for inclusivity and diversity reasons. For details about the 9th National Social Science Congress, please email nssc9@pssc.org.ph. Mas baliw na baliw ang hindi kumikilala sa kahalagahan at kabuluhan ng pananaliksik. /FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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Legalize motorcycles-for-hire—solon By Maricel V. Cruz

HE increasing difﬁculty of commuters in getting their rides has prompted a congressman from the Bicol region to institutionalize the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles to cope with the increasing number of passengers. Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said transport authorities should legalize the operations of motorcycles as PUVs; but said strict regulatory requirements should be imposed to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers. In filing House Bill 4652, Villafuerte said the first order of business for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is to require motorcycle service providers to obtain insurance coverage for their drivers and their passengers as well as insurance to cover third-party liabilities.

The Department of Transportation, in turn, is mandated to prescribe the routes and require the establishment of terminals for these motorcycles, Villafuerte said. “Number one priority in transporting people is the safety and welfare of the passengers and the driver. In welcoming a new age of public transportation, this bill seeks to set the groundwork to make motorcycles safe and secure for the riding public and the operators,” said Villafuerte, who represents CamSur’s second district in the House of Representatives.

He said his proposal “would start the framework for quality assurance among motorcycles for hire, give commuters an alternative for a mode of transportation and ensure a safe road for everyone.” HB 4652 aims to amend Section 3 and 7 of Republic Act No. 4136 to include motorcycle-for-hire in the deﬁnition of terms and in the classiﬁcation of vehicles that would be required for registration with the LTFRB. It also aims to recognize motorcycles for hire, or Habal-habal or motorcycle taxis, as a legitimate mode of public transportation in the country, Villafuerte said. Motorcycles-for-hire currently operate in Metro Manila, Cebu and the cities of General Santos and Cagayan de Oro. Under HB 4652, motorcycles-for-hire are declared as common carriers “for purposes of determining the liability and degree of diligence that must be observed in

the course of transporting passengers or goods, and the presumption of negligence in breach of contract shall likewise apply to them.” The LTFRB and the Land Transportation Authority are tasked to ensure the roadworthiness of motorcycles-forhire before registration or renewal of registration. “To further ensure safety, no modiﬁcations shall be made on motorcyclesfor-hire, except the installation, based on safe engineering design speciﬁcations, of motorcycle luggage carrier, saddlebag, stepboard or foot peg and appropriate speed limiter and monitoring device,” the bill states. HB 4652 also tasks the LTFRB to “prescribe, approve and periodically review and adjust” reasonable fares, rates, and other related charges for the operation of motorcycles for hire.

FIRST INVITATION TO BID for the Electrification of 1,200 Households in Busuanga Island, Palawan Through the PV Mainstreaming Project Through Solar Home Systems BUSUANGA ISLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (BISELCO) Public Bidding No. 19-05 Source of Funding:2019 SEP GAA BISELCO invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder list of items: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Item/Description

Supply Delivery and Installation of 1,200 Solar Home Systems Package,, 50 Wp, Including ₱35,714,400.00 Prepayment Systems, Training and Support and Technical Documentation

Delivery/ Completion Period 120 days from delivery of Solar Home System to Coop Premises

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of Submission and Opening Bids

SCHEDULE November 7, 20199:00 p.m. BISELCO Conference Room November 30, 20199:00 p.m. BISELCO Conference Room

JW CONVENTION. Jehovah’s Witness’ officials (from left) Dean Jacek, Director of Communications, Ralph Balmaceda Contract Representative, Allan de Guman, member of the Hospitality Committee and Normito Zapata Jr., local spokesman attended Press Conference where they announced the upcoming 2019 International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be held on Nov. 1 to 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena and the SMX Covention Center in Pasay City. Lino Santos

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

BISELCO reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. BISELCO further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

CITING a study that 92 percent of the population is suffering from dental cavities, while 78 percent have gum diseases, Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for the creation of a dental unit in each of the rural health units of the Department of Health. A 2015 study showed that the Philippines has the highest number of people wearing dentures in Asia. In 2016, the Philippine Prosthodontic Society estimated that around seven-million Filipinos have never been to a dentist due to the misconception that accessing dental care is expensive. Reports said that around 80 percent of the population is suffering from some form of dental problem in 2018. “Clearly, this is a problem, which if not ad-

Approved by: (SGD) RUTH L. GALANG General Manager (MS-OCT. 31 , 2019)

FIRST INVITATION TO BID for the Electrification of 1,129 Households in Busuanga Island, Palawan Through the PV Mainstreaming Project Through Solar Home Systems BUSUANGA ISLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (BISELCO) Public Bidding No. 19-04 Source of Funding:DOE’s LFP – ASEP GOP Counterpart FY 2019 BISELCO invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder list of items: Item/Description

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Supply Delivery and Installation of 1,129 Solar Home Systems Package,, 50 Wp, Including Prepayment Systems, Training and Support and Technical Documentation

₱26,249,250

Delivery/ Completion Period 120 days from delivery of Solar Home System to Coop Premises

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of Submission and Opening Bids

SCHEDULE November 7, 2019 2:00 p.m. BISELCO Conference Room November 30, 2019 2:00 p.m. BISELCO Conference Room

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184 otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased at the BISELCO Office upon payment of non-refundable fee of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php 25,000.00). The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to all interested parties; however, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents may participate in the discussion at said conference. The Pre-Bid Conference, Submission and Opening of Bids shall be held at BISELCO Office, Conference Room, Mabentangen Rd., Brgy. Poblacion 6, Coron, Palawan. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two separate sealed envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. Interested bidders may obtain further information from BISELCO BAC Secretariat with CP # 09274483532 during office hours. BISELCO reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. BISELCO further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. (SGD) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman Approved by: (SGD) RUTH L. GALANG General Manager (MS-OCT. 31 , 2019)

HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and his wife, Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie of Tingog on Wednesday joined the choir of politicians who greeted Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo. The Romualdez couple wished long life for Manalo who will be celebrating his birthday today (Thursday), crediting him for the good character formation of the Filipinos, especially the youth. Romualdez said Manalo will continue to succeed as INC leader in the fulﬁllment of his aspirations for the Filipinos as one of the country’s moral compasses. Romualdez recalled that Manalo has been helping less fortunate people through INC’s spiritual programs, and “malasakit” (compassionate) livelihood and assistance projects. The INC is credited with the employment of millions of workers in various industries where industrial peace is maintained. However, while maintaining industrial peace, the INC ensures that the workers it helped get employed are paid properly and on time. “We are very blessed because Bro. Manalo has a very kind heart. Happy birthday po, salamat sa inyong malasakit,” he said. “You [Bro. Manalo] are always a major part in our quest to achieve social reforms and promoting public welfare through your passion of serving God and country,” Romualdez explained. “My family is wishing that you will be graced with many more years ﬁlled with sound health and happiness for you to continue propagating the spiritual guidance, unity, good news and positive traits in the country being the leader of one of the most powerful and well-respected religious groups in the world. Salamat po sa ‘malasakit’ sa mga mahihirap at nangangailangan. Mabuhay po kayo,” said Romualdez. For her part, Yedda said Filipinos were “so fortunate to have Iglesia ni Cristo which is consistently behind productive endeavors for the poor.” Maricel V. Cruz

Angara bats for dental units in all rural health centers

Interested bidders may obtain further information from BISELCO BAC Secretariat with CP # 09274483532 during office hours.

(SGD) ENGR. SELWIN Y. ALILI BAC Chairman

Romualdez couple greets, lauds Manalo on his birthday

dressed, would lead to minor inconveniences such as losing sleep and more serious consequences including loss of productivity. We want to avoid situations where someone with dental problems miss time from work or school and end up failing their grades or are ﬁred from their jobs,” Angara said. In this way, Angara said all Filipinos, particularly the poor, will have access to dentists. “Many of our countrymen do not want to be checked by a dentist due to fear of paying high cost,” said Angara. Because of this, Angara said a big chunk of our population have tooth problems. Under Senate Bill 962, Angara called for the creation of a dental unit in every rural health unit under the supervision of the DOH, “as part of the primary health care approach.”

Experts push for cleaner fuel

THE Philippines is falling behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of energy independence as the country continues to rely heavily on oil and gas imports while energy demand continues to increase. This was the dominant sentiment of energy leaders from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries who gathered for an in-depth panel session called “Energy Independence: Indigenous is Energy Security” during this year’s Powertrends at the SMX Convention Center, Manila. The energy experts who participated in the panel discussion were Dr. Arthur Saldivar-Sali, author of “Black Gold: The Search for Oil to Power a Nation” and former PNOC Chief Geologist; Anton Safronov, Chief Commercial Ofﬁcer of Parami Energy (Myanmar); Atty. Kiril Caral, Managing Counsel of Shell Philippines B.V.; Ramon Clarete, Project Director of Gas Policy Development Project; Jeoffrey Caranto, President of National Geothermal Association of the Philippines; and Rob Fisher, Development Manager of Tamarind Resources (Malaysia). According to Dr. Sali, the Philippines was on its way to energy independence during the Marcos era, when the government-owned Philippine National Oil Company was established. Dr. Sali, who served as PNOC Chief Geologist, Technical Director of the Petroleum Board, and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Energy Department at the time, shared that the PNOC was “drilling 10 exploration wells a year and had one discovery every year from 1974 to 1986.” Their initiatives also pushed the Philippines to rank second in geothermal power just after the United States. For 12 years, the efforts of the Ministry of Energy and the PNOC reduced the dependence of the country to global imports. At the time, the country’s energy supply went from zero percent indigenous to 50 percent indigenous. In other words, half of our energy requirements then were already supplied by indigenous energy sources.

A dental unit consists of a public health dentist and a trained barangay health worker, who will serve as the dental aide. The Philippines is a signatory to the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978, which called on all governments to “formulate national policies, strategies and plans of actions to launch and sustain primary health care as part of a comprehensive national health system in coordination with other sectors.” “Nearly four decades have passed since the country signed the declaration and through the years the Philippines’ primary health care system has grown and has made some modest gains,” said Angara. “Several gaps however remain, including the lack of an institutional means of promoting and ensuring the dental health of every Filipino,” he added.

FATAL FALL. A van bearing plate number TSY 476 fell 300 meters into a ravine in Barangay Bugaw, along the Bokod, Kabayan National road. Members of the Bokod Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection immediately performed rescue operations to attend to the victims. The Bokod Kabayan Road topography consists of mountainous streches with deep ravines along the route. Dead after being extracted from the deep ravine crash site were Dennis Bigya Salman Bigya Leonardo Pay-oen. The lone survivor was identified as Franklin Pay-Oen. Bokod PNP Photo

Oil firm complies with fuel marking order By Joel E. Zurbano THE Insular Oil Co. became the third oil firm to comply with the government policy aimed to stop oil smuggling. The Subic-based oil company followed suit in the nationwide implementation of the Fuel Marking Program when it conducted its first marking activity Wednesday, a few days following the marking procedure on petroleum products of Seaoil Philippines Inc. and Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. in Batangas and Bataan, respectively. Customs and Finance department officials and representatives from Switzerland-based SICPA and SGS Philippines tested an estimated 8,213,636 liters of Mogas Ron 92 Gasoline onboard MT Grand Ace 11 from Guangdong, China at the fuel terminal facility of Pure Petroleum Corporation Subic. The dosing of the petroleum products was done by adding the official marker inside storage tanks where the petroleum products stored. As the third stakeholder in the petroleum indus-

try complies with the new policy, all other players are expected to follow soon before the end of the washout period in January 2020. The Customs bureau is hoping to accelerate the marking of petroleum products stored, transported and peddled as the ﬁeld testing phase of the program is fast approaching. By Feb. 3, 2020, testing of fuel in the retail side as well as enforcement actions will commence. Gasoline, diesel and kerosene found to be unmarked will be seized, and penalties will be imposed against those storing, transporting, importing or peddling unmarked fuel. Customs deputy commissioner for enforcement Teddy Raval advised retailers to only buy and sell marked fuel “to avoid violation and possible penalties including criminal prosecution.” Enforcement action in February against noncompliant petroleum products and companies will entail corresponding penalties such as seizure of petroleum products, conveyances such as vessels or tank trucks and closure of premises.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Bukidnon wins 1st Mindanao Cup S

QUEEZING out the best from its key players, the Bukidnon Football Association captured the ﬁrst-ever Mindanao Cup by defeating Davao South Regional FA White, 4-0, in the ﬁnals held recently at the Tionko Field in Davao City.

Chicano

FCVBA coach Elmer Reyes gives instructions to Terry Que (center) and Roberto Poblete during their game with the Asaba of Indonesia in the ASEAN Veterans tournament in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Fil-Chinese veterans rip Indonesians in Asean tilt FILIPINO-CHINESE Veterans Basketball Association launched its title drive on winning note, blasting Asaba of Indonesia, 30-21, on opening day of the ASEAN Veterans Basketball Tournament Monday at Indoor Stadium 3 of Chiang Mai Sports Complex in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Former Philippine standout Roberto Poblete made his FCVBA debut more memorable by leading the team with 14 points—most of them in the third frame where the Fil-Chinese seniors pulled away for good. Rain or Shine co-team owner Terry Que also contributed significant numbers by adding eight points and three assists as the Elmer Reyes-mentored FCVBA made known its desire to regain the title it lost last year in Hatyai. “We hope we can build enough momentum from this win,” said Ironcon Builders owner Jimi Lim, who along with Que bankrolled the participation of the association’s 65-and-above team in the annual tournament. Former Crispa player Joel Gomez did score only two points in five tries but his lone basket pushed FCVBA beyond Asaba’s reach as the Fil-Chinese seniors took a 30-15 advantage with just three minutes remaining. The rousing opening game win was a fitting gift to former another Crispa player in Bong dela Cruz who turned 67. Also contributing to FCVBA’s cause were Andrew Ongteco, Achit Kaw, William Lao, Ching Ka Lee, Antonio Go and MICAA veteran Zotico Tan of Cebu. FCVBA will go for a two-game sweep of Group B elims when it takes on Sarawak of Malaysia on Thursday. Comprising Group A are defending champion Hatyai, Pontianak and Zaap—all from from host Thailand.

PH volleybelles test mettle at PSL Super Cup THE national women’s volleyball team gets a taste of competitive action when it bids in the Philippine Superliga Super Cup starting Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The Nationals, who will be returning from a 12-day training in Tokyo on Friday, will be clashing with three other teams in a mini-tournament that aims to test their cohesiveness and readiness for the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country will host in December. Aside from the league’s two selection squads in Team Sparkle and Team Shine, the women’s volleyball team of Tsukuba University will also challenge the Nationals in this short tourney that is backed by Foton and Summit Hotel Greenhills. Tsukuba is the reigning champion of the All-Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship and is tipped to come up with a solid performance in this battle that was conceptualized by all eight PSL teams in a bid to help the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. in preparing the national squad for the biennial meet. “We organized this tournament to help the national team in its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games,” said PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico, who is also the president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association. “This tournament will be a perfect venue to gauge where they are right now and use the lessons they gained in their 12-day training in Japan in actual situation. We’re looking forward to a successful staging of the tournament and a competitive performance from our national team.”

Apart from booking a trip to the Luzon Cup in Tarlac late next month, they will bring home P30,000 worth of football equipment from grassroots football godfather Ricky Yanson, the Negros Occidental Football Association president who organized the tournament that followed a nine-a-side format. Striker Kurbe Dairo of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School issued a pair of superb assists and capped his game-long brilliance with a long-range rocket that guaranteed victory in the 40th minute. Also representing the Bukidnon squad were players from Manolo Fortich Central School, Plantation Elementary School in Camp Philips and Del Monte School aside from OLLES. Organized by the Davao South Regional Football Association and NOFA, the Mindanao Cup is a spinoff of the highly successful NOFA Invitational Cup in Bacolod City, an annual age-group tourney since 2016. According to NOFA president Ricky Yanson, the objective of the Mindanao Cup is to find hidden gems, who can someday play for the national football team. ``Our goal is to develop young Filipino talents who

can hopefully play for our national team in the future,’’ said Yanson, who partnered with DSRFA president Engr. Henry Sabate to stage the tournament. Dairo navigated through the mayhem and found striker Cade Sanchez of Del Monte School as they broke a scoreless encounter in the 37th minute. A minute later, Dairo sailed a pass from the corner to midfielder Prince Aseniero of Plantation Elementary School as he scored a one-touch goal at the center without nobody there to stop him. Sanchez sealed the fate of their rivals with another rocket in the 47th minute as the Bukidnon boys effectively fended off attacks from Davao White’s Anthony Elorde, Carlos Donado and Mohammad Abutazil. Frustrating the host team was the stonewall defense built by Jim Fabela, Adriel Algador and goalkeeper Jun Melig. Bukidnon almost swept the individual awards with Dairo capturing the MVP award, Melig named as Best Goalkeeper, Algador Best Defender and Aseniero Best Midfielder. Jedd Gabriel Ceballos of Mt. Apo RFA was adjudged Best Striker after scoring a total of 14 goal in the entire tournament. Davao South RFA Red and Mt. Apo RFA Members of the Bukidnon team, with PSC’s Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jonard Tan wound up third and fourth, respectively, in the competition for boys 11 years old and below. The participating teams were Agusan del Sur FA, of Iligan-Lanao del Norte-Lanao del Sur RFA, MRFA Sultan Bukidnon FA, Central Butuan District 1 Football Team of Jolongs FC of Maguindanao RFA, SOCSARGEN RFA of South Butuan-Agusan del Norte FA, CdeO—Little Me Academy Cotabato—Sarangani—General Santos RFA, Team MARFA FC of Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental FA, Camp Ka- of Mount Apo RFA, SWAT FC of Sultan Kudarat FA, Surigao law Football Club of Golden Davao RFA, DavNor RFA, United of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands RFA, ZANDIDavao Lola Mommy’s (White) and Davao Lola Mommy’s FA—Dipolog of Zamboanga del Norte—Dipolog FA, and Sta. (Red) of Davao South RFA, Iligan City Football Academy Lucia Jumbos of Zamboanga del Sur – Pagadian FA.

The Philippines’ participation in the Colorful Yunnan Belt And Road Initiative Kunming International Tennis Tournament maybe considered significant due to the thriving economic relationship between the Philippines and China—which the hosts likewise extends to neighboring regions.

Kunming Tennis: Unity through sports TO unite countries through sports and its cultural heritage are the main objectives of the Colorful Yunnan Belt And Road Initiative Kunming International Tennis Tournament which recently concluded at the Gloria Hotspring Resort Tennis Center in Kunming, China. With 13 countries including the Philippines participating for the second year, the Kunming Tennis Event implemented the unique Mixed Team Concept for the Seniors and Juniors Divisions. The celebration for its Cultural Heri-

tage was evident with presentations such as the Folk Dance Love Songs of the Lisu People and the Wushu performance during the opening ceremonies, while the Cultural Night showcased their Folk Orchestra for Colorful Yunan and the much-applauded youngsters’ Flying Dragon with Golden Light hip hop routine. The country’s participation maybe considered significant due to the thriving economic relationship between the Philippines and China—which the

hosts likewise extends to neighboring regions. Exequiel Jucutan, Jufe-ann Cocoy, Jude Hidalgo and Minette Bentillo finished fourth in the juniors class, while university standouts Marcen Gonzales, Gab Tiamzon, Aidyll Ignacio with SEA Games-bound Marian Capadocia, Clarice Patrimonio and Shaira Rivera competed in the mixed team category. Philippine Tennis Association president Atty. Antonio Cablitas was head of delegation.

PH paddlers compete in ICF World Cup THE national paddlers will seek a glorious finish when they compete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. National team head coach Len Escollante said they are gunning for three out of the six gold medals at stake when the compete in the canoeing and kayak events of the prestigious biennial meet set from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 at the Maalawan Park in Olongapo City. Escollante, a member of the national women’s volleyball team that clinched the gold medal in the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore, said they are hoping for a golden performance in the 1,000-meter and 200-meter mixed standard boat events as well as 500-meter men’s fourseater event following their impressive preparation in the past couple of months. In fact, the national paddlers are set to leave for Ningbo, China today to compete in the 2019 ICF Dragonboat World Cup, where the best athletes from around the world will be seeing action. “We are eyeing to win at least three of the six gold medals at stake,” said Escollante, adding that the World Cup will serve as their gauge in their preparation. “I’m glad that this World Cup came at least a month before the SEA Games. At least we can see where we are right now in terms of preparation and what are the areas we need to improve on as we head to the Southeast Asian Games.” “As we know, the SEA Games will be held in the country. We have an advantage over the climate, the wind condition and the boats. We want to come up with a good finish and make the country proud.”

PH soft netters join world championships in Taizhou THE Philippine Soft Tennis National Team entered the final phase of its preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games with a stint in the 16th World Soft Tennis Championships in Taizhou, Zheijang Province, China. Led by Joseph Arcilla, Noel Damian Jr., Bien Zoleta-Mañalac and Princess Catindig, the 11-member soft tennis team has high hopes of playing in the world tournament at a high level due to its athletes’ notable performances in the past. The Philippines was able to finish in the podium in back-to-back world championships, namely in 2011 with the Bronze Medal in the Men’s Singles by Arcilla, and in 2015 with the third-place feat in the Women’s Singles by Zoleta-Mañalac. Josephine Paguyo delivered the country’s first bronze in the world tourney’s 1995 edition. The soft tennis team (six men & five women) in the world championships which conclude on November 1, has entries in the men’s & women’s singles, men’s & women’s doubles, mixed doubles, men’s & women’s team event. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the agency has given the national sports associations (NSAs) everything within its means, enough to make the NSAs hope for a strong showing in the SEA Games. “A strong showing is all we’re hoping for. We have identified the medal potentials among them. But we also expect surprises from some others,” Ramirez said.

Soft tennis is making a comeback to the SEA Games after an eight-year absence and its national sports association is hoping of a better result this time around. With Arcilla and Zoleta-Manalac leading the charge, the Philippines is hoping to surpass its one silver and five bronze medals in Palembang, Indonesia during the 2011 SEA Games, the last time soft tennis was included in the biennial tournament. Other members of the team are Catindig, Bambi Zoleta, Erdilyn Peralta, Damian Jr., Mark Anthony Alcoseba, Mikoff Manduriao and Dheo Talatayod. “The Philippine Sports Commission has given our soft tennis players international exposure such as the Korea Cup in Anseong, Taiwan Open, World Cup in China, our test event in Bulacan last month, were the Philippines won five bronze medals despite the presence of powerhouses Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei with Thailand and Indonesia. So we expect everybody to perform at a high level,” chorused national coaches Divine Escala and Mike Enriquez. “The target of three medals in three events in the SEAG is very much doable,” the coaches added. Enriquez and Escala were referring to the bronze medals secured by Catindig and Mark Alcoseba during the recent 1st Asian University Soft Tennis Championships and 1st Asian University Juniors Soft Tennis Championships at the Colegio San Agustin indoor tennis court in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan last September.

Catindig delivered three when she reached the semifinal of the women’s 21-under category in the Asian Juniors. She was a semifinalist in the women’s singles and led her team to the Final Four in the Asian University.

Alcoseba added two bronzes coming from the men’s singles and team event of the tournament organized by the Asian Soft Tennis Federation and Philippine Soft Tennis Association, headed by its president Col. Jeff Tamayo.

DRUG BUSTERS. Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization Head Prof.

Alejandro Pineda Jr. MD (left) and PSC-MSAS Chief Elenita Constantino share a light moment with South East Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization Chief Gobinathan Nair during the opening of the 7th Conference of Parties International Convention Against Doping in Sport on Wednesday at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

Sports

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

Road Warriors catch KaTropa at top of PBA leaderboard By Jeric Lopez BUCKING a sluggish start, sizzling NLEX picked up the pace to demolish ailing Rain or Shine, 111-91, for its fourth straight win in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday. Manny Harris continued to showcase his all-around skills for the Road Warriors, notching a triple-double with a game-high 29 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to power his squad once more to another triumph. With the victory NLEX (7 wins, 1 loss) caught up to the TNT KaTropa (71) at the top of the standings. The other teams include the Meralco Bolts (5-2), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (4-2), the San Miguel Beermen (5-3), Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (4-4), Columbian Dyip (4-5) and the NorthPort Batang Pier (3-4). Bringing up the rear at ninth to 12th places are the Alaska Aces (2-6), the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters (2-6), the Blackwater Elite (2-6) and Rain or Shine (2-7). Five more Road Warriors scored in twin-digits with Jericho Cruz scoring 13 points, Kiefer Ravena and Poy Erram 12 each, Raul Soyud and JR Quiñahan with 10 apiece. The Road Warriors unleashed a vicious game-turning run in the middle of the game to take control and set-up their victory. They turned a five-point second quarter deficit into a significant advantage early in the third. A pivotal 16-2 spurt bridging the middle quarters enabled the Road Warriors to open a 60-51 spread after two free throws from Ravena at the 9:06 mark of the third. That was the beginning of NLEX’s assault. By the end of the third, the Road Warriors were comfortably ahead, erecting an 18-point lead, 83-65, that eventually became insurmountable for the helpless Elasto Painters. Rain or Shine lost its second straight game and dropped to the bottom once again with a 2-7 card. Off to a fiery start, it was Rain or Shine swiftly which opened up a 12-point cushion, 25-13, after two free throws from Javee Mocon at the 4:43 mark of the opening period.

Malolos hosts Fide sanctioned chess meet ASPIRING chess players get their chance to earn Fide ranking when Malolos City, Bulacan hosts the G-League (Grassroots League) Standard Time Control November Fide Rating Tournament (for 1700 below Fide rated and unrated players). The event will be held November 9 and 10 at the Vista Mall Malolos with hopes of giving young Filipino wood pushers a chance to gain Fide rating points. The tournament is open to all chessers, regardless their sexes and ages, with a FIDE rating limit of 1700 and below. The two-day tournament will use the six-round Swiss System format and will stake cash prizes, trophies, medals and certificates to the winners. “This kind of tournament will help you to achieve your goal or dream of becoming a titled player. Joining FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournaments will give players the chances of reaching or achieving at least the minimum required Fide Standard Rating,” according to the organizing committee. There will be no onsite registration. Registration fee for Fide rated players is P300 and for unrated players—P500. Please register on or before November 5, 2019 to secure participation. Send your payment on or before Nov. 5, 2019 to Reden Cruz 0921-5651406 thru Palawan Express Pera Padala. Please register early to secure your playing slot. Organizers have the right to declare registration cut-off once the ideal number of players are reached. Register early to secure slot. After sending your payment, players will be asked to provide data for registration and verification. For players who still have no Fide ID Number (for creation), please send personal message to FA Reden Cruz.

University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons player Ricci Rivera (with ball) attempts a shot off Ateneo Blue Eagles defenders Angelo Kouame (34) and Adrian Wong.

Ateneo sweeps UAAP elims

By Peter Atencio

NGELO Kouame and two other teammates took charge early and powered the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles to an historic 14-game sweep of the elimination round.

The 6’11” Kouame unloaded a seasonhigh 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Blue Eagles in their 86-64 smothering of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday. Kouame’s defensive efforts in the latter part of the first half with Adrian Wong and SJ Belangel earned the Blue Eagles an automatic finals slot in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament. The Blue Eagles became the third varsity squad to claim a 14-game sweep since the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers claimed the title outright back in 1993 in the pre-Final Four era. A new format will now be used since

the Final Four setup has changed after the University of the East Warriors advanced to the finals in 2007 and lost to the La Salle Green Archers despite having a twice-to-beat edge. The Blue Eagles, with SJ Belangel firing a career-high 14 points, will now be the first squad to enjoy a thrice-to-beat incentive since the ruling was first adopted by in 2008. The Fighting Maroons, who drew 13 points and seven rebounds from Kobe Paras, will bank on a twice-to-beat incentive as the no. 2 seeded squad in the stepladder semifinals. “We understand that this is a significant accomplishment for a basketball team. But you all know that the job isn’t done. This is really the season before the season,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin. The Fighting Maroons, who advanced to the finals for the second straight season, lost a 24-25 edge in the last 7:08 of the second period off Belangel’s penetration. From there the Blue Eagles held the Fighting Maroons to just five points, with Kouame knocking in eight points to lead Ateneo to a 45-32 halftime spread. With UP in foul trouble in the start

of the third, Kouame drove inside past Akhuetie Bright. His field goal enabled Ateneo to grab a 21-point edge, 62-41, with 3:02 to go. A triple from Matt Nieto put their lead up by 24, 73-49. Fourth seed FEU meets no. 3 UST on Wednesday at the start of the stepladder semis. In an earlier game Jamie Malonzo buried seven triples to lead La Salle to an 89-63 drubbing of Adamson to end its UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament campaign. The Fil-Am forward scored a careerbest 34 points on 7-of-12 sniping from downtown in his final game for the Green Archers, on top of 12 rebounds to cap his short run in Taft with a victory. Andrei Caracut also ended his collegiate run with 14 points, six assists, and three rebounds as the Green Archers finished the year at an even 7-7. Meanwhile, Rey Suerte uncorked 25 points to cap his short University of the East career and tow his side to a 79-77 win over National University. It was the fitting send-off for the 6-foot3 super scorer, leading the Red Warriors to finish UAAP Season 82 with a 4-10 slate.

Creamline, PetroGazz brace for PVL showdown WHILE Creamline is expected to get better, fiercer in the upcoming PVL Open Conference Finals with a complete roster, PetroGazz is also tipped to reach peak form and ready to deliver another blow to its highly fancied rival. Game One is set on Nov. 6 with the Cool Smashers not only itching to keep the crown they won in straight-set fashion over the Ateneo Lady Eagles last year but also get back at the very team that foiled their title-retention drive in the first conference of the third season of the country’s premier league organized by Sports Vision. Conversely, the Angels are out to re-prove themselves as a worthy challenger, if not the better team like they did when they rallied from a game down and swept the Cool Smashers in the next two to snatch the Reinforced Conference diadem last July. The Angels achieved that feat largely because of their prolific imports in Janisa Johnson and Wilma Salas but coach Arnold Laniog believes his locals have the talent, spunk and motivation, plus commitment to stop their star-studded rivals in their coming duel. “We have to stay committed and that would only make our goal a lot easier,” said Laniog while pointing to Jonah Sa-

Alyssa Valdez, considered as the country’s best female volleyball player, is ready to lead the Cool Smashers in their quest for a PVL title.

bete and Jovie Prado as his two prized possessions along with Cherry Nunag, Paneng Mercado, Jeanette Panaga, Cai Baloaloa, Alyssa Layug, Djanel Cheng,

Relea Saet, Rica Enclona and Cienne Cruz. “I’m happy, I have Sabete and Prado. In terms of production, we really talked to them after the Reinforced and told them that they need to step up in the Open Conference,” added Laniog. They did and the Angels are back for another crack at a PVL championship. But again—against the most feared team in the fold, which is only expected to get better, stronger, fiercer when the first serve is made next Wednesday. Not only Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado would get more time to reacquaint with their teammates after a brief camp with the National team in Japan but the Cool Smashers would be also be driven by that desire to complete a grand sweep of the conference after posting 18 wins in row to reach the finals. “Were just happy being all together and hopefully mas magkaroon pa kami ng connection in the finals,” said Valdez, who also boasts of a solid backup crew made up of Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Pau Soriano, Kyle Negrito, Risa Sato, Fille CaingletCayetano, Celine Domingo, Rosemarie Vargas, Melissa Gohing, Kyla Atienza and Morado.

BAE 5i50 boon to local triathletes By Reuel Vidal THE recent Black Arrow Express 5i50 last weekend reaffirmed Subic Bay as the Triathlon Capital of the Philippines according to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Director Tomas Lahom III. The Olympic distance IRONMAN race organized by Sunrise Events which was won by Aussies Sam Betten and Dimity Lee Duke benefitted local triathletes and the local community of Subic. Local triathletes like John Leerams “Rambo” Chicano (who will represent the Philippines in triathlon in the coming Southeast Asia Games), Fernando Jose Casares, August Benedicto and Alexandra Ganzon gained valuable lessons running side-by-side professional triathletes from abroad. “You see our triathletes are relatively young. Being able to compete with this elite group. With these pros. It really pushes them to the limit. That’s why we have guys like Rambo and August who are really doing quite well in the world triathlon community. They really wouldn’t have been this good if they were not competing against world class triathletes,” said the SBMA Director. The local community in Subic and the neighboring area benefit as well from the business from in by the international race. “It places us in the sports world map. It makes Subic the sports and tourism destination. We maximize the use of what we have in Subic. Of course we have the forest and the seas. It’s really ideal for a triathlon race. We hope to continue our partnership with the triathlon community and maintain Subic as the triathlon capital, not just of the country but of Asia,” said Lahom III. “It benefits the local community because not just one athlete participates. They usually bring their family. They have their support group. So it keeps our hotels and resorts alive. The revenues of course it brings us revenues not just for SBMA but for the entire community as well.” Sunrise Events organizes world class events like the Black Arrow Express 5i50 which benefits entire communities where they are held.

Standhardinger powers NorthPort past Beermen PROVE himself, Christian Standhardinger did. The sophomore big man didn’t lose time in showing his real worth, making an immediate impact right in his first outing for his new team NorthPort Batang Pier in the 2019 PBA Governors Cup. That his breakout game for the Batang Pier came at the expense of former ballclub San Miguel Beer made the experience sweeter. Standhardinger came through with 18 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals as NorthPort outgunned Dezmine Wells and the mighty Beermen, 127-119, at the Astrodome. It was somewhat an emotional

game for the 6-foot-7 Standhardinger as he was playing his first game since being dealt by the Beermen to the Batang Pier in a straight-up trade consummated two weeks ago. The 6-foot-7 Standhardinger didn’t mince words that his all-around effort was borne out of his desire to prove his worth against the team that went out of its way to make him the top overall pick in the 2017 PBA draft only to eventually trade him. “I have to prove to them that I think they made a mistake,” he said afterwards. “I got to be the player I can be and play my heart out to prove to the (San Miguel) coaching staff, to coach Leo, that he could have played

me more. I could have done more. And now that’s how it is.” The hard work did pay off as Standhardinger was the runaway choice as the PBA Press Corps-Cignal Player of the Week for the period Oct. 21-27. Standhardinger’s NortPort teammate Jervy Cruz was the only other player who received a vote for the weekly citation. Cruz led all local Batang Pier scorers with 21 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting from.the floor. But it was Standhardinger’s jumper from 18 feet inside the final minute that proved to be the dagger for NorthPort Batang Pier big man Christian Standhardinger NorthPort as it quashed a last ditch (right) tries to dribble past San Miguel Beer counterpart Moala Tautuaa. PBA Media effort by the rallying Beermen.

IN BRIEF

Cashless system to boost economy

BUILDING a cashless ecosystem that enables the development of the digital economy across different industries will play a key role in improving the Philippines’ ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, according to GCash president Anthony Thomas. “By adopting financial technology solutions, government agencies and companies are creating more value for consumers, while providing them with better and more seamless processes that ultimately lead to better productivity and, as a byproduct, economic growth,” he said. The Philippines fell eight places to 64th from 56th out of 141 economies surveyed by the WEF, after garnering an overall score of 61.9 points in 2019, down from 62.1 points in 2018. The points are measured by factors ranging from infrastructure to innovation capability. Introducing fintech into different services will help create a more seamless process for the delivery of goods and services, including government transactions, Thomas said. Othel V. Campos

Business

Meralco asks ERC to approve 6 deals POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. is seeking authority from the Energy Regulatory Commission to implement six power supply agreements involving a combined capacity of 1,700 megawatts. Meralco sought approval for its PSA with San Miguel Energy Corp., First Gen Hydro Power Corp., South Premiere Power Corp.and Phinma Energy Corp. Meralco has two separate PSAs with SPPC and Phinma Energy. Meralco previously bid out its 500-megawatt mid-merit capacity requirement effective Dec. 26, 2019 for a term of five years. First Gen Hydro, Phinma Energy and SPPC were declared to be the best bidders by the third-party bids and awards committee. The bidding on Sept. 11 is in compliance with the competitive selection process of the Department of Energy. Meralco also bid out the 10-year contract for the supply of 1,200 MW baseload power supply effective Dec. 26 with Phinma Energy, SMEC and SPPC declared as the winning bidders. Alena Mae S. Flores

DTI expresses concern over four-fold surge in plywood imports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

By Darwin G. Amojelar

RADIUS-NETFOUNDRY TIE-UP. Radius Telecoms Inc., a telecommunications carrier in the Philippines that delivers end-to-end fiber optic services to enterprises and corporations, signs a partnership agreement with NetFoundry USA to introduce a new and cost-effective way of reaching the cloud through Radius Cloud Express. Attending the signing ceremony are (seated from left) Radius Telecoms COO Jenevi Dela Paz, president and CEO Exequiel Delgado, NetFoundry vice president and managing director for APAC and India Dipesh Ranjan and country director for the Philippines Francis Neil Mendoza. With them are (standing from left) Radius Telecoms vice president for sales Voltaire Van Gerard Manahan, product management officer Verlen Villanueva and vice president for product and business development Alfredo Solis.

RRR cut encourages banks to divert funds to securities By Julito G. Rada

ANKS diverted funds to government securities, instead of lending to the public, after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reduced their reserve requirement ratio, according to an economist.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in a report Wednesday that bank loans would likely register a lackluster growth because most banks decided to unleash the liquidity freed by RRR cut to government securities. Reserve requirement refers to the percentage of bank deposits that banks cannot lend out or reinvest. The Monetary Board on Oct. 24 cut again the reserve requirement ratio of universal and commercial banks by 100 basis points or one percentage point to 14 percent effective the first week of December. “So far, BSP has implemented 200 bps worth of RRR reductions with 200 bps worth more in the pipeline. Governor [Benjamin] Diokno shared that this initial 200 bps reduction, resulting in a fresh P200 billion in additional liquidity, has gone almost exclusively to the local GS [government securities] market with data corroborating this claim with trading volumes spiking right after each RRR infusion,” Mapa said. He said while commercial bank lending continued to grow, it was not at the pace most would have expected after the deluge of additional funds through the RRR reductions. Latest data from the BSP showed that outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, grew at a slower rate of 10.5 per-

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Philam Life Assurance Corp., the leading bancassurance company in the country, gives a cash donation of P3.4 million and hands over 200 iPads to Philam Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philam Group. Turning over the check is BPLAC executive director and CEO Surendra Menon (second from right) to Philam Foundation [resident and CEO Max Ventura.

Mining, oil firms asked to disclose real owners By Julito G. Rada THE government is requiring mining, oil and gas companies to declare their beneficial or “real owners” as part of a new transparency rule in line with an international campaign to prevent the use of anonymous companies to hide or launder money and conceal potential conflicts of interest within the extractive sector. More than 40 companies from the mining, oil and gas sectors participated in a workshop on beneficial ownership organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines and conducted by the Department of Finance–Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative on Oct. 18 in Makati City. The Chamber of Mines, an active member of PH-EITI, recognizes the merits of transparency in beneficial ownership specially for the extractive sector.

CAVITEX Infrastructure Inc. on Wednesday partially opened to motorists the Laguna section of the CaviteLaguna Expressway project. “We will open to all vehicles a single lane on Oct. 30 until 10 p.m. [As] Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 are holidays, we shall be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.” Cavitex president and general manager Roberto Bontia said. “For the daily access time starting Nov. 3, we agreed with Department of Public Works and Highways that it will be Sunday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and giving extended time on weekends, Friday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. This will only be temporary, until the remaining works for these first subsections are completed,” he said. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the Laguna section of CALAX was 90-percent completed while the construction of the remaining 10 percent was being fast tracked. “We hope to fully open before December steps in,” Villar said. Villar said about 10,000 cars were expected to enter and exit the two access points of Mamplasan Barrier for the westbound vehicles and Sta. RosaTagaytay Entry for the eastbound vehicles. “This section will take 10 minutes to drive. A big cut on travel time compared to the 45 minutes it currently takes to travel Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road,” Villar said. 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.

cent in August from 11.1 percent in July. On a month-onmonth seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank loans net of RRPs grew by 0.7 percent. “In short, RRR infusions have done little so far to bolster actual real economic activity with funds diverted back to the Bureau of the Treasury [and eventually the BSP’s Treasury Manila single account] or with the BSP’s Standard TODAY overnight windows,” Mapa said. “Analysts have pointed to the HEAD OFFICE: PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City dovish governor and his dovCustomer Care: (02) 8777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266 (Domestic Toll Free) ish pronouncements throughout *Email: customercare@pbcom.com.ph*Website: www.pbcom.com.ph BALANCE SHEET as the reason for sluggish lend(Head Office and Branches) ing growth rates as CFOs simAs of September 30, 2019 As of June 30, 2019 ply sign up for working capital ASSETS but direct ambitious investment plans to the back-burner as the Cash and Cash Items P 1,928,102,127.79 P 1,240,516,188.88 Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 11,351,147,320.53 11,019,653,377.64 ‘wait for rates to hit rock botDue from Other Banks 681,079,560.66 1,717,888,741.22 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 147,776.58 828,755,881.15 tom,’” he said. Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net 3,675,961,268.08 4,042,690,880.83 “Thus, we may continue to Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net 15,025,591,630.53 15,138,511,718.06 Loans and Receivables - Net 56,337,413,549.65 51,549,710,703.91 see bank lending remain in lackInterbank Loans Receivable 2,600,000,000.00 Loans and Receivables - Others 54,294,053,986.08 52,099,456,703.66 luster growth despite succesGeneral Loan Loss Provision 556,640,436.43 549,745,999.75 sive reductions to RRR as cash Other Financial Assets 439,999,708.31 537,119,919.32 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net 19,931,726.26 983,753,827.81 infusions simply revert to the Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net 1,482,065,580.57 1,512,689,424.78 national government coffers,” Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net 707,373,715.96 711,665,554.20 Other Assets - Net 5,386,778,769.20 5,239,715,121.91 Mapa said. TOTAL ASSETS P 97,035,592,734.12 P 94,522,671,339.71 Mapa said the Bangko Sentral was busy reducing reserve LIABILITIES requirements as inflation Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss P 330,000.00 P dynamics afforded the central Deposit Liabilities 71,272,130,751.50 70,407,183,578.23 Bills Payable: 9,390,478,494.20 8,211,091,633.19 bank the leeway to carry out its Interbank Loans Payable 179,296,500.00 589,062,000.00 broader financial reform agenda Other Deposit Substitutes 9,211,181,994.20 7,622,029,633.19 Other Financial Liabilities 796,667,341.20 621,174,751.09 laid out by former Governors Other Liabilities 2,466,006,217.93 2,310,919,477.82 Amando Tetangco Jr. and Nestor TOTAL LIABILITIES P 83,925,612,804.83 P 81,550,369,440.33 Espenilla.

BPI-PHILAM’S DONATION. BPI-

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department expressed concern over the four-fold surge in plywood imports since 2015, saying it could threaten the local manufacturing industry and compromise the safety of consumers. The agency now plans to place plywood imports under mandatory certification to prevent the sale of substandard plywood products in the local market, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. Lopez urged stakeholders to voluntarily submit inputs and data that will help the government determine the reason for increased imports. He said the objective was to ensure the safety of the consumers, as the selling of substandard plywood products was “unfair to all of us” and was a threat to public safety and the local manufacturing industry. “We saw the numbers in plywood. In a three-year period since plywood was removed from the list in 2015, imports have rapidly increased and these are not tested for standard compliance. It’s good if these products comply with the standards,” Lopez said. Data from the Bureau of Philippine Standards showed that plywood imports from January to June 2015 reached only 8,624 metric tons with an estimated value of $4.5 million. In the same period in 2019, plywood imports quadrupled to 32,768 MT worth about $12.75 million. The country imported 194,826 MT of plywood worth $75.58 million from July 2015 to June 2019.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Laguna stage of CALAX opens partially today

Axelum finishes P250-m facility INTEGRATED coconut manufacturer Axelum Resources Corp. said it completed the P250-million expansion of the spray-drying line in its plant in Medina, Misamis Oriental to support overseas expansion for coconut-based products. Axelum president Henry Raperoga said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the expansion project would increase the plant capacity from 10 metric tons of coconut milk powder per day to 20 MT per day. The doubled capacity translates into an annual capacity of 4,800 MT. “The new spray-drying line will allow us to develop new products from agglomerated, or instant coconut milk powder,” Raperoga said. Organic coconut milk powder is a high-technology, higher-priced coconut milk variant that the company is introducing to address the pressing market demand for healthier products. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

The activity centered on the new requirement for corporations to declare their beneficial owners as part of the general information sheet that all domestic corporations are mandated to file annually with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC issued Memorandum Circular No. 15, s. 2019 on July 26, 2019 that revised the GIS to include a beneficial ownership declaration form, requiring all registered stock and non-stock domestic corporations to disclose their beneficial owners. Beneficial owners are defined as “the natural persons who ultimately own or control or exercise ultimate effective control over a corporation”. It was approved as a policy measure to assist in the anti-money laundering efforts of government. The PH-EITI, the government’s transparency initiative for the extractive sector, also required the reporting of beneficial owners of mining and oil and gas companies.

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

14,278,374,781.56 2,579,698,850.58 -3,748,093,702.85

P 14,278,374,781.56 2,436,950,049.22 -3,743,022,931.40

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

13,109,979,929.29

P 12,972,301,899.38

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

97,035,592,734.12

P 94,522,671,339.71

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others

1,443,212,010.24 767,623,542.23 30,223,588.41 423,946.55 3,387,425,324.53 6,743,982,806.43 1,216,167,087.73 5,527,815,718.70 207,673,001.17

1,324,662,880.32 326,454,899.98 467,153,900.47 904,246.55 2,966,169,340.11 6,125,675,205.87 1,131,855,361.26 4,993,819,844.61 71,514,947.49

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

12,580,564,219.56

P 11,282,535,420.79

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) 58,567,820,104.47 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,673,766,118.39 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 2,680,449,242.85 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 4.58% c. Net NPLs 1,152,292,420.53 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 1.97% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 83.21% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 62.44% 8,746,664,726.77 Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 4,224,601.68 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.01% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 2.60% 7.32% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 9.17% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 17.11% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 14.23% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 14.23%

53,738,419,831.40 1,638,963,127.74

2,732,579,273.18 5.08% 1,231,744,699.50 2.29% 80.10% 59.98% 8,837,270,539.14 4,451,542.86

Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

0.01% 0.00%

1.04% 10.78% 11.56% 16.61% 13.65% 13.65%

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati )S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief. (SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Controller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 23rd of October 2019 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 126 Page No. 39 Book No. XXXV Series of 2019.

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2019 IBP no. 05729 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. VI - 0024312 Appointment no. M-183 -(2019-2020) PTR no. 7333104 Jan. 3, 2019 Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg. Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City Member: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Maximum Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00

Business

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs above 8,000 points T HE stock market climbed Wednesday to send the benchmark index back above 8,000 points ahead of month-end window dressing activities.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 28.87 points, or 0.4 percent, to 8,020.06 on a value turnover of nearly P6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 90 to 80, with 54 issues unchanged. BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, gained 2.4 percent to P155.70, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest bank, added 2.2 percent to P67.45. Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. advanced 8 percent to P1.88, but Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan fell 3 percent to P11.60.

The rest of Asian markets slipped Wednesday as traders play a wait-andsee game ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision, with expectations of another interest rate cut but focus also on its plans for the future. Expectations for another drop in borrowing costs, along with optimism over the China-US trade talks and healthy corporate reports have provided muchneeded support to equities of late after a volatile year. However, while the general consensus is for a third reduction this year, there is a concern that the upbeat earnings, progress on trade and signs of resilience in the US economy could keep the central bank from further measures. This makes Fed boss Jerome Powell’s post-meeting statement crucial, with dealers poring over his every word. “I don’t think we should fear a hawkish cut,” said Carol Schleif, at Abbot

Downing Investment Advisors, told Bloomberg TV. “I do think one of the things to keep in mind, relative to the prior cut periods, is the Fed starting from a much lower rate so there is a lot less room for the Fed to continue to cut.” Most markets were down, with investors having already factored in a cut. Hong Kong fell 0.4 percent in the afternoon while Shanghai ended down 0.5 percent and Tokyo gave up 0.6 percent. Sydney dropped 0.8 percent and Seoul shed 0.6 percent. There were gains, however, in Singapore, Mumbai, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta. Sterling was flat but supported by relief that Britain is unlikely to leave the European Union without a deal after the bloc’s leaders granted a three-month extension to the deadline and MPs voted for a general election in December.

Boris Johnson finally got his snap poll after the opposition Labour Party said it was satisfied a no-deal divorce was now off the table. The prime minister is optimistic his Conservatives will get a clear majority in the vote—tipped to be December 12—that will allow him to push his Brexit agreement through parliament and drag the country out of the EU after years of deadlock. A Conservative “majority is arguably the most sterling-positive outcome, initially at least, in so far as it means the government withdrawal bill can then be passed and the UK ‘Brexits’ no later than January 31, with a transition deal lasting through end-2020,” said National Australia Bank analyst Ray Attrill. But he added “there will remain a high degree of uncertainty over what a post-Brexit UK-EU trading relationship will look like come 2021.” With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review wedneSday, octoBer 30, 2019

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

55.75 99 153.8 25.4 18.5 12.26 4.52 67.4 0.94 12.98 21 43.95 174 117.4 58 26 204 1,850 60.1

55.75 99.9 156 25.45 18.5 12.46 4.57 67.55 0.94 13.1 21 44 176.1 117.4 58 26.4 205.6 1,850 60.1

55 98.5 151.1 25.1 18.4 12.26 4.48 66.75 0.88 12.98 20.6 43.9 173 117.4 57.6 25.65 201 1,840 59.9

FINANCIALS 55 3,000 99.9 2,473,850 155.7 2,074,280 25.35 71,800 18.4 89,500 12.28 896,000 4.57 341,000 67.45 5,858,240 0.89 179,000 13.1 41,600 20.6 300 43.9 72,000 173 650 117.4 70 57.75 3,130 25.65 4,800 205 440,450 1,840 150 60.05 17,450

165,750 246,171,936.50 318,992,207 1,815,265 1,650,000 11,059,658 1,535,540 394,473,348 161,350 542,110 6,220 3,162,225 113,131 8,218 180,828.50 123,685 90,070,154 276,750 1,047,565

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

39 2.79 13.2 0.67 1.29 3.69 0.249 96 2.52 15.18 113 7.9 32 65.35 2.1 5.5 8.6 15.14 10.3 7 1.59 25.4 79.5 47.4 2.34 14.28 7.92 1.46 231.8 48.05 8.72 19.92 13.2 17.78 350 1.74 4.28 5.04 9.39 10.82 33.9 5.4 5.42 1.86 1 11.2 91.2 7.35 1.12 153 1.28 1.12

39 2.82 13.56 0.68 1.29 3.91 0.25 98.95 2.55 15.2 113.1 8.09 32 68.65 2.1 5.5 8.61 15.4 10.36 7 1.59 25.9 79.5 48.5 2.34 14.6 7.92 1.53 232 48.05 10.48 20 13.36 17.78 350 1.74 4.39 5.06 9.39 10.98 34 5.41 5.42 1.98 1.03 11.48 92.45 7.35 1.12 153 1.32 1.14

38.05 2.79 12.9 0.67 1.28 3.68 0.245 96 2.52 14.86 113 7.86 31.9 65.35 2.1 5.32 8.53 15.04 10.2 6.99 1.59 24.9 78.9 47.2 2.25 14.28 7.9 1.45 227.8 47.2 8.72 19.84 13.18 17.52 346 1.7 4.11 5 9.36 10.82 33.75 5.4 5.36 1.83 0.99 11.2 89.6 7.34 1.07 150.9 1.26 1.12

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,166,400 2.8 3,121,000 13 461,100 0.68 87,000 1.29 154,000 3.81 8,169,000 0.25 360,000 98.95 40 2.54 2,088,000 14.86 314,700 113.1 60 8 211,500 31.95 519,600 65.35 210 2.1 73,000 5.35 6,300 8.53 2,511,600 15.3 184,700 10.3 490,100 7 728,300 1.59 1,000 24.9 2,823,200 79 167,050 48.45 27,500 2.29 13,166,000 14.6 290,300 7.92 317,800 1.48 704,000 232 329,130 48 1,380 10 68,400 19.84 129,900 13.2 23,500 17.78 295,800 346 136,490 1.72 751,000 4.38 101,000 5.03 527,400 9.39 7,500 10.98 21,900 33.9 835,800 5.4 112,700 5.38 14,000 1.91 1,668,000 0.99 223,000 11.2 24,300 92.45 266,290 7.35 72,300 1.07 225,000 151 2,012,150 1.32 10,628,000 1.14 943,000

45,118,910 8,750,030 6,070,058 58,340 197,970 31,290,670 88,910 3,869.50 5,297,260 4,713,774 6,782 1,690,297 16,625,300 14,053.50 153,300 33,925 21,514,340 2,826,314 5,045,576 5,093,387 1,590 71,748,415 13,198,114 1,326,505 30,215,020 4,227,694 2,515,759 1,043,060 75,828,766 65,646.50 672,259 2,584,460 311,146 5,238,090 47,394,914 1,283,540 428,030 2,647,008 70,302 239,054 28,298,430 608,597 75,440 3,163,930 225,640 272,464 24,474,760 531,055 242,040 304,323,214 13,818,190 1,058,260

-11,447,710 -281,000 282,038 3,554,480 -112,860 -1,759,150 -84,859.00 -412,170 10,193,293 1,595,232 -3,047,808 -3,645,062 -7,868,215 -5,960,773.50 752,095 1,798,520 1,179,083 33,028,974 -1,003,172 131,980 -4,143,002 -6,384,388 302,870 217,100 -536,519.00 336,100 -11,858 -592,448 -20,355,364 -1,490,250 -

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

0.84 55 11.88 0.72 6.89 13.5 1.12 874 3.66 6.88 8.18 13.1 888 5.62 76 5.11 5.9 0.51 4.33 13.34 0.57 4.79 0.037 1.42 172.7 1,030 0.84 400 218 0.217 0.22

0.85 55 11.88 0.77 6.89 13.58 1.13 874 3.66 6.88 8.27 13.4 896.5 5.62 76.25 5.11 5.9 0.51 4.35 13.44 0.6 4.8 0.038 1.46 174 1,030 0.84 400 218 0.217 0.22

0.81 54.5 11.6 0.72 6.52 12.78 1.11 858 3.58 6.78 8.17 13.1 873.5 5.62 75.55 5.09 5.1 0.5 4.3 13.18 0.57 4.77 0.037 1.42 170 1,010 0.84 400 216 0.217 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.81 21,033,000 54.95 593,500 11.6 10,920,500 0.76 1,199,000 6.52 3,700 13.16 13,700 1.13 259,000 865 290,370 3.63 769,000 6.85 2,540,800 8.27 10,678,100 13.4 6,800 893.5 67,440 5.62 2,000 76.25 987,530 5.09 3,800 5.1 199,000 0.51 4,000 4.31 816,000 13.3 1,493,600 0.6 4,000 4.8 20,834,000 0.038 6,800,000 1.46 122,000 173 132,990 1,027 696,095 0.84 12,000 400 10 216 400,370 0.217 210,000 0.22 320,000

17,302,680 32,585,717 127,756,594 886,030 24,547 179,696 289,500 250,809,360 2,778,240 17,400,205 87,728,290 89,346 60,184,645 11,240 75,232,811.50 19,356 1,016,542 2,020 3,528,350 19,772,920 2,310 99,810,900 251,700 176,080 22,965,989 709,664,245 10,080 4,000 87,280,206 45,570 70,400

-1,925,270 -4,173,883 -27,355,802 -53,265,570 62,180 1,284,833 -54,979,946 -1,316 16,409,730 14,746,495 -2,769,530 13,491,874 -41,749,110 -6,837,642 506,641,640 4,320 -

14.62 0.8 1.78 0.85 48.8 1.99 4.5 0.58 0.87 0.201 0.465 10.2 20.2 0.48 1.59 1.26 4.8 0.285 0.41 1.52 0.38 2.01 25.15 2.3

PROPERTY 14.62 83,300 0.8 673,000 1.78 1,000 0.88 1,272,000 49.55 5,324,000 2 349,000 4.5 503,000 0.6 13,763,000 0.87 1,000 0.201 2,630,000 0.47 300,000 10.24 118,700 20.25 307,200 0.49 5,962,000 1.61 7,280,000 1.26 310,000 4.82 10,775,000 0.295 7,390,000 0.41 10,000 1.53 3,472,000 0.38 20,000 2.03 98,000 25.5 1,088,400 2.3 2,000

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL

14.62 0.83 1.78 0.88 49 2.01 4.5 0.58 0.87 0.201 0.465 10.2 20.45 0.5 1.61 1.27 4.84 0.29 0.41 1.53 0.38 2.02 25.8 2.3

14.7 0.83 1.78 0.88 49.55 2.01 4.53 0.6 0.87 0.21 0.47 10.24 20.5 0.51 1.61 1.27 4.84 0.295 0.41 1.59 0.38 2.03 25.8 2.3

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

94,062.50 87,454,957.50 147,749,142 582,265 2,068,304 -130,500 104,376,979.50 -558,085 -110,797.50 -41,265 28,842,140 -827,784

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

3.21 38.95 2.65 7.68 5.32

3.28 39.05 2.65 7.73 5.53

3.21 38.7 2.6 7.64 5.32

3.28 39.05 2.62 7.73 5.5

7,000 10,102,800 870,000 4,521,500 22,300

22,590 393,399,930 2,271,080 34,791,680 121,271

9,940,930 -21,360 -12,202,279 -

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

10.7 18.98 1.64 11.5 0.49 17.24 2.34 10.14 92.85 6.69 5.3 9.06 1,843 5.26 430 1.58 1.74 123.5 0.107 4.77 2.32 13.52 3 0.94 18.8 0.42 3.4 2.45 1.07 12.5 3.39 2.73 7.9 5.15 144 3.03 1,106 0.69 0.485 40.95 77.1 8.92 2.63 0.69 0.32 0.66 16.98

11 18.98 1.69 11.5 0.53 19.82 2.49 10.18 93.05 6.7 5.3 9.1 1,850 5.26 430 1.6 1.75 123.5 0.11 4.8 2.32 13.6 3.12 0.94 19.04 0.42 3.4 2.45 1.07 13.5 3.57 2.73 8.27 5.19 144 3.04 1,106 0.69 0.5 40.95 77.1 9.05 2.64 0.69 0.32 0.68 16.98

10.4 18.66 1.62 11.48 0.49 17.24 2.34 10.04 92 6.61 5.3 9.05 1,835 5.2 425.2 1.56 1.73 121.8 0.106 4.73 2.28 13.52 3 0.91 18.7 0.41 3.4 2.4 1.06 12.5 3.35 2.71 7.9 5.15 144 2.99 1,089 0.68 0.48 39.6 75.9 8.92 2.56 0.67 0.315 0.66 16.52

SERVICES 11 18.8 1.69 11.5 0.52 19.48 2.45 10.14 92.35 6.65 5.3 9.1 1,835 5.26 430 1.58 1.73 122.1 0.11 4.78 2.31 13.6 3.08 0.91 19.04 0.41 3.4 2.44 1.06 13.5 3.53 2.71 8.27 5.19 144 3 1,090 0.68 0.5 40 76 9.05 2.6 0.68 0.32 0.67 16.52

23,400 78,100 129,000 12,845,700 19,980,000 152,900 167,000 8,696,100 214,680 562,500 23,000 12,300 38,745 18,400 210 568,000 73,000 934,550 120,000 1,720,000 31,000 800 393,000 186,000 472,700 70,000 8,000 243,000 41,000 300 12,150,000 59,000 9,900 2,000 490 554,000 103,425 321,000 6,220,000 1,340,900 1,262,810 42,200 1,691,000 3,436,000 2,340,000 133,000 351,300

252,112 1,464,966 214,460 147,651,446 10,229,600 2,883,232 407,190 88,064,282 19,895,915 3,734,519 121,900 111,385 71,324,225 96,590 89,904 896,200 126,640 114,161,970 12,840 8,180,670 71,430 10,858 1,197,670 169,370 8,953,002 28,800 27,200 584,170 43,490 3,950 42,567,540 160,290 80,103 10,324 70,560 1,661,450 112,990,455 218,300 3,057,650 53,627,280 96,444,042 378,559 4,362,670 2,313,830 747,250 88,930 5,864,022

3,463,860 -111,400 1,920,916.00 -80,149,690.00 -10,226,061 -86,723 -106,000 -13,797,665 -36,614,692 75,660 -6,800 -3,060 -1,878 2,400 -16,270 5,420 -6,470 63,360 -131,850 -14,975,170 -8,160 -65,550 333,380.00 -14,951,555 -715,360 -1,681,710 -2,680 1,099,956

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

0.0017 1.15 2.6 12.02 1.12 7.82 1.83 0.214 0.105 0.108 0.0091 1.21 4.1 1.07 0.475 0.89 0.012 0.011 0.011 10.62 3.57 13.6 23.2 0.0058

0.0018 1.15 2.7 12.5 1.12 7.85 1.92 0.214 0.105 0.108 0.0091 1.21 4.15 1.08 0.475 0.89 0.012 0.011 0.012 10.86 3.57 13.7 23.35 0.0063

0.0017 1.14 2.6 12 1.12 7.68 1.78 0.206 0.104 0.108 0.0091 1.13 4 1.04 0.475 0.84 0.012 0.011 0.011 10.5 3.53 12.6 23.05 0.0058

MINING & OIL 0.0018 21,000,000 1.14 891,000 2.7 41,000 12.36 14,400 1.12 22,000 7.85 900 1.88 67,237,000 0.206 30,000 0.104 1,090,000 0.108 270,000 0.0091 21,000,000 1.17 319,000 4.07 12,593,000 1.07 60,000 0.475 150,000 0.87 141,000 0.012 5,000,000 0.011 600,000,000 0.012 32,700,000 10.68 390,900 3.55 121,000 12.6 3,638,700 23.35 583,000 0.0063 12,000,000

36,000 1,019,890 108,750 173,586 24,640 6,988 124,798,540 6,260 113,380 29,160 191,100 377,180 51,320,230 64,040 71,250 122,640 60,000 6,600,000 360,400 4,179,278 429,070 47,166,016 13,559,735 73,100

-208,150.00 45,835,120 -29,160 -10,425,880.00 4,750 -92,894 -1,284,394 6,636,635 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B ALCO PREF C DD PREF FGEN PREF G GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PNX PREF 3A SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F

17.8 498 103.3 101.5 100.5 109 951 99.7 1 101 1,050 102 992 78.35 74.9 76.05

17.8 498 103.3 101.6 101 109.5 951 99.7 1.01 101 1,050 102 992 78.35 75 76.1

17.76 498 103.3 101.5 100.5 109 950 99.7 1 100.9 1,050 102 992 78 74.9 76.05

PREFERRED 17.8 24,700 498 3,000 103.3 2,000 101.6 5,050 100.5 91,200 109.5 25,000 950 100 99.7 10 1.01 462,000 101 6,890 1,050 10,000 102 10 992 7,000 78 55,570 75 21,350 76.1 85,200

439,552 1,494,000 206,600 512,580 9,165,700 2,731,750 95,010 997 463,620 695,220 10,500,000 1,020 6,944,000 4,353,020.50 1,601,115 6,483,710

-439,552 -1,478,250 -

LR WARRANT

1.57

1.58

1.57

WARRANTS 1.58 9,000

14,140

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.59 11.24 0.94

6.7 11.64 0.96

6.5 11.24 0.93

SME 6.67 11.46 0.96

447,769 4,370,816 4,958,910

FIRST METRO ETF

119.8

120

119

USD TECH B2

0.96

MS 1,218,314 543,460 1,780 1,090,960 262,516,200 697,850 2,266,640 8,111,730 870 533,690 139,950 1,211,900 6,244,405 2,914,560 11,663,320 392,990 51,917,470 2,145,500 4,100 5,363,180 7,600 197,900 27,752,735 4,600

-550,054 21,500 50,155,250 -588,000 -85,310.00 -244,310 1,061,640.00 1,577,450 -63,060 3,572,230 -8,824,200.00 17,400 319,810 -9,591,545 -

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

Trading Summary

FINANCIAL

12,569,658

INDUSTRIAL

57,636,100

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES

112,171,549 80,957,288 78,430,457

MINING & OIL

780,089,569

GRAND TOTAL

1,127,527,046

68,000 379,800 5,220,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120 4,570 0.96

DDS

16,400

11,400 -96,000

547,803

15,744

VALUE 1,940.95 (up) 28.64 1,071,608,188.15 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,473.73 (down) 14.00 814,456,305.91 HOLDING FIRMS 7,828.98 (up) 5.09 2,064,296,436.67 PROPERTY 4,207.22 (up) 18.43 1,515.97 (down) 10.72 971,499,649.19 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,243.34 (down) 42.57 806,718,243.795 PSEI 8,020.06 (up) 28.87 250,932,745.0295 All Shares Index 4,801.11 (up) 13.94 5,989,837,913.62 Gainers: 90; Losers: 80; Unchanged: 54; Total: 224

D.M. Wenceslao says net income in 9 months up by 11% to P1.6b By Jenniffer B. Austria D.M. WENCESLAO & Associates Inc., the developer of Aseana City, said net income in the first nine months of 2019 hit P1.654 billion, up 11 percent yearon-year. DMWAI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange sales rose 21 percent to P1.945 billion on year, boosted by higher residential and leasing revenues. About P1.47 billion or 76 percent of the revenues were recurring income, including rentals from land, buildings and other revenues such as common use service area fees. By business segment, leasing of land increased 2 percent to P736.8 million. Rentals of buildings and other revenues related to leasing rose 7 percent and 10 percent to P594.3 million and P142.2 million, respectively. Sales from residential condominium projects surged nearly six-fold to P422.7 million. “On the operations front, we are on pace to hand over our first residential project, Pixel Residences, to customers as scheduled. We also continue to market MidPark Towers which is benefiting from the increased activity as nearby businesses open,” said DMWAI chief executive Delfin Angelo Wenceslao. Total pre-sales of condominium project MidPark Towers as of October 30 amounted to P5.8 billion, while the group’s the office segment showed sustained growth with a consolidated occupancy rate of 98 percent. Meanwhile, several developments have flourished within DMWAI’s Aseana City. Ayala Malls Bay Area recently launched its flagship mall and multimodal transportation hub. Once fully completed, it will have an aggregate of 400,000 square meters of gross floor area, including a 10-level office space and the 350-room Seda Hotel. Sequoia Hotel, a 12-story businessfriendly hotel with 175 guest rooms, also opened its doors, and a Nissan car dealership started site preparation. “These new developments underpin our vision to create a vibrant next generation central business district that incorporates tourism and gaming concepts, recreational options and retail offerings,” said Wenceslao.

PSE approves Ayala’s P15-b share offering THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P15-billion preferred shares re-issue of conglomerate Ayala Corp. Ayala will re-issue 20 million Class B preferred shares with an oversubscription option of up to 10 million Class B preferred shares at a price of P500 apiece. The initial dividend rate of the preferred shares will be set on Nov. 6 while the offering period is scheduled from Nov. 11 to 22. The preferred shares will be listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange on Nov 29. The conglomerate tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corporation as join lead underwriters of the offering. The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to refinance outstanding credit facilities drawn on November 4, 2019 for the November 5, 2019 redemption of 27,000,000 Class “B” Series 2 Preferred Shares issued on November 5, 2014 and for general corporate purposes. The conglomerate on Oct. 23 raised $400 million from the issuance of dollar-denominated perpetual bonds with a fixed coupon of 4.850 percent a year. Net proceeds from the bonds will be used to refinance maturing US dollardenominated obligations and fund investments. Ayala’s net income attributable to the parent surged 105 percent to P37.84 billion in the first half of 2019, mainly from the sale of equity investments in the energy and education businesses. Gross revenues rose two percent to P137.51 billion. Ayala is one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines with businesses in real estate, financial services, telecommunications, water, power, industrial technologies, infrastructure, healthcare, education and technology ventures. Major units include Ayala Land Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronic, Inc. and AC Energy, Inc. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business/World

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF China supports Wong disqualification

FUTURE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE. Delegates chat near a robot during the Future Investment Initiative forum at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on October 30, 2019. AFP

Legitimate online PH lenders foster growth ONLINE lending in the Philippines offers a more viable option to financially-challenged individuals and small and medium industries. It has given borrowers a shot at easy financing at less prohibitive cost. It fits in with the financial inclusion objective of the Bangko Sentral ng Pililipinas in giving the public access to a wide range of banking products and services. But like any novelty, online lending is sometimes misunderstood and arouses suspicions. The latest controversy has cast the overall industry in a bad light. Nearly a month ago, illegal practices of at least 67 online lenders came out in the open, triggering concerns from several quarters. The National Privacy Commission has received complaints from a number of borrowers on how these online lenders resorted to shaming them if they could not pay their debt, thus violating their data privacy rights. The Securities and Exchange Commission also raised legitimacy issues against some of the online lenders, specifically those with no known business addresses. Some were armed with mere online applications that served as bases of their lending operations. Because of difficulties to locate them, the SEC had to come out with published notifications, asking the board of directors and corporate officers to appear before it. The negative reports overshadowed the objectives and the nature of borrowing and lending in fostering economic activity in the Philippines. It is inconceivable how the economy will move and prosper without borrowing and lending activities. The government as a matter of policy allows and encourages lending and borrowing to promote business activity, and imposes laws and regulations as well to prevent abuses by both sides. Borrowing in the Philippines, however, is never easy given the rigid standards of banks. Creative business initiators have resorted to the use of the internet, or the information superhighway, for financial intermediation. Borrowers and lending companies meet through the internet. When subject to laws on lending, online lending is definitely a legitimate business activity. No distinction The reported malpractices in the industry did not distinguish the legitimate online lenders from the illegitimate ones. They have been lumped together, triggering concerns about their operations and business reputations. Legitimate online lenders like FCash Global Lending Inc. said the good guys must be distinguished from the bad ones. “The company’s business operations are completely legal and regulationscompliant. It is duly registered with SEC as a corporation, and has been issued the requisite license to operate as lending company,” says Dean J.V. Bautista, lawyer of FCash Global Lending Inc., The FCash mobile app can be accessed on any smart devices that run on android and can be downloaded on the Google Playstore under the name FastCash. Legitimate online lending services, meanwhile, are coming out with a position paper to explain their operations. They plan to participate and contribute their share in any probe or public hearing so that appropriate policies could be drawn on online lending. Legitimate online lending services, like FastCash, provide fast and easily accessible credits without asking for collaterals unlike traditional lenders, which require collateral for loans that have a market value equivalent to at least 125 percent of the borrowed funds. Moreover, online lenders provide funds at the earliest time—two or three days after application. This is something traditional lenders could not do. The restrictive lending policies of banks and other traditional lenders have been a big burden to borrowers, forcing many of them to resort to the informal sector, like those who grant “5-6” credits that are payable in 45 days at 20 percent interest rate. It is a financial arrangement that works but such lenders nationals are few and could not cover the financial requirements of the growing population. Aboveground Many online lenders, meanwhile, operate aboveground and form part of the formal lending sector. They pay taxes and issue receipts, and are officially registered with government. They have their business permits along with official business addresses. Because they operate officially, they could sue and be sued. In brief, they are the legitimate online lenders. The challenge is for these legitimate online lenders to inform the public of their operations and declare their intention to serve the borrowing public subject to existing laws and regulations on lending. They must free themselves of any association with the rogue guys, who until now have not answered the SEC’s call to come out in the open. For policy-makers, they must come out with ample rules to encourage and not restrict online lending to make the sector part and parcel of the formal economy. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@manilastandard.net or extrastory2000@gmail.com

BEIJING—Beijing expressed “approval and support” Wednesday for the disqualification of Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong from the coming local elections, and after months of protests in the semi-autonomous city. Wong, one of the most prominent figures in the otherwise leaderless movement, accused the Hong Kong government of “political screening” after an election officer ruled his nomination for the November poll invalid on Tuesday. But a spokesman for China’s top policy body on Hong Kong affairs said Wednesday that Wong had over many years “proclaimed the viewpoints of so-called ‘self-determination’ and ‘Hong Kong independence’ and publicly denied that Hong Kong is a part of China”. During recent protests Wong “repeatedly groveled to foreign powers for sympathy and begged for interference”, Yang Guang, of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said on the body’s website Wednesday. He “is one of the chief culprits challenging the red-line principle of ‘one country, two systems’”, Yang said. “We express approval and support of this decision.” AFP

Shark attack sparks concerns SYDNEY—Tourism operators want aerial shark patrols to be introduced in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands as they try to stem falling visitor numbers following a spate of attacks along the Great Barrier Reef. An English tourist is recovering in hospital after his foot was ripped off by a shark on Tuesday while another had his leg mauled in the same attack at a popular snorkeling spot in the region. In the past year there have been several shark attacks in waters around the Whitsundays, a chain of islands that attracts both Australian and foreign tourists. In two separate incidents late last year, a 12-year-old girl lost a leg and a man died of his injuries. Tourism Whitsundays CEO Tash Wheeler said tourist numbers had fallen in the past year, partly as a result of the shark attacks. “Looking back over the last 12 months I can certainly say that there has been some impact to our industry in terms of visitation,” she told reporters. International visitors to the region dropped more than six percent to 226,000 in the year ending March 2019, the latest available figures. Wheeler said tourism operators were seeking government funding for aerial patrols of the Whitsundays as an “interim measure” while research is undertaken into sharks in the area, which had been considered safe for swimming. AFP

California winds likely to spread raging fires L OS ANGELES―California braced on Tuesday for the most powerful winds this season that threaten to spread the destructive fires raging in the state and could spark new blazes.

The basketball great sent a taco truck to feed firefighters in Los Angeles, Garcetti said in a tweet. John Cena, the wrestler-turned-actor, also tweeted a video pledging to donate $500,000 to firefighters. Further north in Sonoma County, the winds picked up Tuesday afternoon as more than 4,000 firefighters battled to contain the Kincade Fire that has raged since last Wednesday, prompting massive evacuations and power outages. Authorities warned people in the region to be prepared for further evacuations over fears the strong winds -- set to last through Wednesday -- could fan the flames that have already scorched more than 75,000 acres, an area more than twice the size of the city of San Francisco. More than 120 structures, including wineries, have been destroyed by the blaze, which was at 15 percent containment by Tuesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire, the state firefighting agency. The critical weather warnings came just days after Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency because of the fires. AFP

Thousands of firefighters were racing against the clock to gain control of two major fires―the Kincade Fire in northern California and the Getty Fire, west of Los Angeles. The National Weather Service issued an extreme red flag warning indicating a high risk of wildfires for southern California, with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour) expected in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles County mountains. “This Santa Ana wind event will likely be the strongest we have seen so far this season,” the weather service said, referring to winds that kick up in southern California every year. The windstorms are expected to peak at 3:00 am (10:00 GMT) Wednesday and continue through Thursday. “It does take one ember, just one ember downwind, Manila to start another brush fire,” Los Angeles Fire DepartStandard ment Chief Ralph Terrazas warned during a press TODAY conference. “Embers have been known to travel several miles, 16th to 19th Floors, Fort Legend Towers so we are very concerned about tonight’s wind 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 event,” he added. Statement of Condition (Head Office and Branches) The Getty Fire, which began near the famous Getty As of September 30, 2019 Center museum, erupted early Monday and by TuesAMOUNTS day afternoon had burned 656 acres (265 hectares) ASSETS CURRENT QUARTER PREVIOUS QUARTER and was 15 percent contained. Cash and Cash Items PhP 471,475,388.55 415,500,751.06 Authorities said it was caused by a tree branch that Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) 4,369,206,342.28 4,215,803,406.06 Due from Other Banks 1,611,255,580.49 1,334,034,614.42 fell on power lines. Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 2,102,021,480.78 1,199,010,272.20 “This was, simply put... an act of God,” Los AngeAvailable-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net 5,430,323,469.01 2,167,897,276.70 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net 3,356,577,427.03 2,787,810,601.19 les Mayor Eric Garcetti told reporters. Loans and Receivables - Net 39,160,586,480.60 37,316,377,310.03 Interbank Loans Receivable 5,826,803,710.96 3,818,401,623.12 Celebrities, including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBLoans and Receivables - Others 31,821,664,490.02 32,726,267,027.11 Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB 2,000,000,000.00 1,259,646,472.00 ron James, who was forced to evacuate because of the General Loan Loss Provision 487,881,720.38 487,937,812.20 Other Financial Assets 200,057,758.06 220,137,247.46 flames, have pitched in to help crews battling the fires.

Falklands rely on penguins to boost tourism industry STANLEY―Waddling up the beach in single file, their heads held high with an almost self-important demeanor, king penguins are a major draw in the Falkland Islands’ tourism industry. Their fluffy brown chicks are nearly fearless of humans, meaning tourists at Volunteer Point, a peninsula on East Falkland Island, might get almost close enough to touch one. “We’re the furthest location north in the world that you can see king penguins,” said Tony Heathman, a former sheep farmer who has spent the last 16 years taking tour groups to Volunteer Point, where a thousand pairs of the islands’ signature species go to breed. “We get lots and lots of people who... love to come here and get as close to the king penguins as they possibly can,” the 70-year-old told AFP. Kings are just one of five penguin species in the Falklands, alongside the wacky-looking rockhoppers that have yellow tassels sprouting from the side of their heads, gentoos, macaronis and the burrowing magellanics. The Falklands have an incredibly rich biodiversity, including more than 25 species of whales and dolphins, but it is the guaranteed ability to get up close with penguins that makes it a particularly enticing destination. Tourism is a growing industry in the Falklands despite their remote location in the South Atlantic some 480 kilometers off Argentina and the occasional political and economic hostility from Buenos Aires. In 2018, there was a 6.3-percent increase in tourist arrivals and a 29.4-percent surge in tourist expenditure to almost £8.8 million ($11.3 million). “One of the key attractions for us was the king penguins at Volunteer Point, so we saw plenty of those,” said Flavia Tang, 29, from London, who came for a week with her partner. Volunteer Point is one of the islands’ most popular destinations, accessible from the capital Stanley by a three-hour ride in a four-wheel drive vehicle, including 11 miles of bumpy, boggy, off-road track.AFP

Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net

503,873,685.45 104,621,238.90 1,049,964,203.39

497,580,911.46 105,862,446.96 785,888,469.45

PhP

58,359,963,054.54

51,045,903,306.99

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

PhP

86,580,789.22 38,353,806,185.24 6,349,520,623.57 6,349,520,623.57 354,163,482.09 4,034,602,519.13

187,339,020.04 34,904,417,715.40 6,301,521,746.40 6,301,521,746.40 345,163,000.08 1,813,617,857.13

TOTAL LIABILITIES

PhP

49,178,673,599.25

43,552,059,339.05

Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

PhP

4,081,391,394.27 346,648,671.09 4,753,249,389.93

2,533,200,985.17 205,870,713.50 4,754,772,269.27

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

9,181,289,455.29

7,493,843,967.94

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

58,359,963,054.54

51,045,903,306.99

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

PhP

2,094,983,141.47 247,347,141.82 1,632,540,376.55 23,881,480.01 518,300,000.00 5,099,248,157.96 1,658,718,186.32 548,827,012.16 1,109,891,174.16 9,468,401,533.87 973,725,703.20

1,573,693,665.51 763,820,671.45 613,996,432.02 12,230,988.00 512,400,000.00 4,408,278,896.94 1,648,421,813.40 517,959,422.41 1,130,462,390.99 16,587,989,844.04 1,355,047,209.35

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

PhP

21,717,145,721.20

27,475,879,520.71

Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) PhP 40,131,817,626.83 Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP PhP 483,349,425.85 Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs PhP 767,709,442.88 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 1.91% c. Net NPLs PhP 342,581,886.22 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 0.85% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPL (%) 126.51% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPL (%) 62.96% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses PhP 1,110,101,239.82 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses PhP 19,403,971.43 Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) 0.05% Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables PhP 0.00 Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 2.75% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 2.18% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 4.45% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) 20.34% b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) 19.46% c. CET 1 (%) 19.46% Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received 0.00 Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) in Single Currency on Solo Basis (%) 241.78% Basel III Leverage Ratio (BLR) on Solo Basis (%) 14.23%

38,311,701,807.33 507,386,685.10

TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

716,644,755.17 1.87% 287,776,875.10 0.75% 138.89% 70.80% 1,081,839,893.00 19,342,055.00 0.05% 0.00 0.00% 2.03% 0.72% 5.22% 17.01% 16.14% 16.14% 0.00 0.00 147.52% 13.17%

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

(Sgd.) OLIVER D. JIMENO OIC President and CEO (Signature Over Printed Name)

LGUs

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

Villar helps unveil SPIS in Lumban

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Senator Cynthia A. Villar joins (from left) Israel Ambasador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, LR Group’s Avi Elkayam, and DA Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa as they switch on the Solar Powered Irrigation System (inset) in Barangay Wawa Ibayo, Lumban, Laguna on Monday. Roy Tomandao

Pasay hires Star City workers Santiago cops step up presence for Undas rites By Brenda Jocson SANTIAGO CITY—Criminals resort to robbery and stealing when people go out to honor their dead during “Undas” or the All Saints’ Day holiday, but about 400 police officers here are ready to stop them, the city police chief said Tuesday. In a press conference, Santiago City Police Office director Col. Juan R. Aggasid said he has mobilized the whole police force as it implements “Ligtas Undas 2019” from Nov. 1 to 3 to thwart and preempt any untoward incidents, such as thefts and house robberies. “Its more rampant when people go outside their homes because robbers took advantage of empty houses. That why I’m mobilizing all 400 strong and capable police men and women to participate in the crime prevention of Undas 2019,” Aggasid said. Police Lt. Col Efren T. Geraban, Deputy Director for Operations of the Police Community Affairs Development Branch, said: “The observance of the UNDAS is a tradition highly celebrated here in Santiago City.” “That’s why we are maximizing our outmost police visibility to ensure that crimes would not break out especially in the cemeteries, in the national highways and in the homes of the residents when they go out to the cemeteries to visit their deceased love ones,” he said. The Santiago police put up tarpaulins at the four cemeteries within the city to show the guidelines for what are allowed within the premises of the cemeteries and those that are prohibited inside. Liquor, videoke units, megaphones, deadly weapons and sharpened objects are banned. Around 5,000 people are expected to troop to the Santiago Public Cemetery in Barangay Calaocan, City Memorial Cemetery in Rosario, Santiago Memorial Cemetery in Calaocan, and the cemetery in Barangay Nabbuan near the Nabbuan River.

By Joel E. Zurbano

HE Pasay City government has provided temporary employment to some 300 employees affected by the fire that struck the Star City Complex earlier this month.

Pasay Mayor Imelda Rubiano assigned them to different city hall departments and barangays to work for 30 days, after the Department of Labor and Employment asked the local government to give them emergency employment while the amusement park is being rebuilt. Star City management earlier said the amusement park will be closed this coming Christmas until October next year. “The park burned down early October. This left close to 500 workers jobless, prompting DOLE to seek

temporary work for these employees,” said Filipinas Sampang, head of the Public Employment Service Office of Pasay City. The labor department allotted P5.5 million for this month-long emergency employment program. “We thank the Department of Labor and the Pasay City government for providing us temporary work,” said Alma dela Cruz, a Star City ride attendant now assigned at the city’s public information office to monitor news and other events.

Another park employee, Carmen Francisco, who is now working at city hall, also expressed her gratitude. “We are very thankful because this job, even though we are temporary employees, is still a big help for our family, especially this coming Christmas,” she said. Last Oct. 2, a fire of still unknown origin gutted the amusement park and the office of radio and television network Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). No one was reported hurt during the blaze, but more than 500 employees were badly affected. Investigators said up to 90 percent of the complex was destroyed by the fire, which became a trending topic on social media that day due to some speculation on how it started.

UN DAY PARADE.

Hundreds of elementary students don different cultural costumes in a parade inside SM City San Mateo to highlight unity and the beauty of diversity during the celebration of the United Nations Day on Sunday. Manny Palmero

Bataan small biz bag Likha ng Central Luzon awards BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Two businesses in Bataan were recently conferred the Likha ng Central Luzon Awards in the micro, small and medium enterprise category by the Department of Trade and Industry. Amanda’s Marine Products was recognized as the 3rd 2018 Likha Top Seller and Likha Gem Award for Bataan during

El Nido joins int’l coastal cleanup THE municipality of El Nido in Palawan, which has been periodically adjudged as among the world’s best islands, joined the recent annual International Coastal Cleanup, which aims to raise awareness on the critical state of world’s coastal and marine ecosystem. More than 450 volunteers from barangay Lio, staff of the Ten Knots resorts, guests of Lio Tourism Estate, and foreign tourists joined the day-long activities which included “plogging” where participants picked up trash as they jogged along Lio Beach. Some 17,417 pieces of trash were collected along the scenic Bacuit Bay, consisting of styropor, plastic bottles, residuals and other non-biodegradable wastes, while recyclable wastes were sold. Now on the fourth year of its hosting, Lio

the opening of Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair 2019, said DTI Bataan information officer Teresita Magtanong. The local smoked fish and bagoong manufacturing business had generated about P2.1 million out of more than P63.5 million sales from last year’s 167 participating MSMEs from the region. Meanwhile, Khalimah Handicrafts

Tourism Estate also led beach games, art installations, and an obstacle course made up of trash materials collected from last year’s coastal cleanup. A mountain hiking trail was also formally opened that will serve as a new adventure and ecotourism activity in the area. A continuing environmental program has been put in place by El Nido Resorts, the town’s major tourism stakeholder, to ensure ecological sustainability through wildlife conservation, marine protection and waste management. Situated north of Palawan, the town of El Nido has been constantly voted as among the 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World for its extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem.

Foreign volunteers from Madridbased telecoms firm Telefónica take part in the coastal cleanup in partnership with El Nido Resorts, in line with the Fundacion ProFuturo Digital Education corporate social responsibility program.

and Souvenirs was conferred the Green Product Award, Magtanong said. The enterprise produces home decors and novelty items made from bamboo, promoting the culture of Bataan. The two awardees were among the 22 MSMEs from the province that participated in the recent regional trade fair held in Mandaluyong City. Butch Gunio

LUMBAN, Laguna—Senator Cynthia A. Villar graced the launch of the cheapest solar powered irrigation system in Calabarzon coming from Israel’s LR Group, with support from the Department of Agriculture, on Monday. Villar flipped the ceremonial switch to start the system along with Israeli Ambasador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz, Rep. Wilfredo Mark M. Enverga, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, and Agriculture Secretary William Dar. DA Regional Director Arnel V. De Mesa introduced the guests of honor. Villar, as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, told farmers in Laguna the irrigation system will provide sustainable, dieselfree operation and fertilization or “fertigation” for about 32 hectares of rice and other high-value crops all year round. In February, the DA and LR Group, a major Israeli agro-industrial company, started formal negotiations to construct 6,200 units of solar-powered irrigation systems worth P44 billion. Former Agriculture Secretary Manuel Piñol said the proposed project had the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte, following recent talks with Harpaz, who relayed the intention of several Israel agricultural companies to support Philippine farming. “The proposal of the LR Group, one of Israel’s biggest agro-industrial companies, is to fund and build solarpowered Irrigation projects which would irrigate 500,000 hectares of rice and high-value crops farms over the next three years,” Piñol said. The Israel company visited Davao City, Tagum City, and Llanera, Nueva Ecija and offered to establish the SPIS projects of the Agriculture Department in partnership with local construction companies. The proposal includes a 10-year loan to cover the entire project cost of P44 billion. The fund would be guaranteed by both the Philippine and Israeli governments. Roy Tomandao

Farm tourism pioneers to be feted in Cebu THE movers and shakers of the country’s booming farm tourism industry will take center stage once more in the third Lakbay Bukid (Farm Tourism) Awards to be given by the International School of Sustainable Tourism on Nov. 7. A veteran journalist, a Sulu princess, a Negros-based and an Indian agricultural entrepreneur will lead this year’s recipients, which are recognized as the foremost farm tourism pioneers, practitioners and advocates. Awardees this year are Zac Sarian, Kumala Sug-Elardo, Ramon Peñalosa Jr. and Pandurang Taware, who will be honored at the Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City and receive a US$1,000 cash prize and a trophy, among other rewards. Sarian, a former agriculture editor of a national newspaper, is a consummate agriculture journalist whose career and life has been devoted to propagating information on about farming, successful agri-personalities, farm destinations, and agribusiness opportunities. He is a practicing farmer himself, propagating exotic fruit trees and ornamental plants. Sug-Elardo is a Sulu princess and social worker who founded the People’s Alliance for Progress MultiPurpose Cooperative to help farmers earn more by introducing processing and standards to coffee bean selection. Its Sulu coffee has developed its own brand in the local market, and in the process, have led to rebels to lay down their guns for farming, establishing peace in Mindanao.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

@MStandardLIFE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

TREAT. Rustan’s department store unveils its

holiday window display featuring treats that showcase ‘the sweetest Christmas’ in the country.

Christmas through the windows By Bernadette Lunas

T TOOK a dozen of kids, counting down from 10 to one, to officially unveil and light up Metro Manila’s cheeriest and sweetest holiday window display along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

In true Rustan’s fashion, the upscale department store on Oct. 24 finally showed to the public the dressed up windows of its Makati branch, welcoming “the most wonderful time of the year.” Because Christmas is for the kids, the young ones, led by the children and grandchildren of Tantocos and other celebrities and personalities’ young tots, were front and center for the window display launch. Leading the unveiling was Rustan’s chairperson and chief executive Zenaida Tantoco. Nedy was joined by her

Teddy bears ‘guarding’ the windows.

father and Rustan’s co-founder Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr., Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco, Rustan’s marketing and communications manager Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, SSI Group president Anton Huang, and other members of the

Children have a jolly good time unveiling the window display along Ayala Avenue.

Tantoco family. In keeping with “The Sweetest Christmas at Rustan’s” theme, the store windows are drenched in red accented with white—as if a candy cane—and feature dazzling lights,

teddy bears in brown, pink, neon; candies and cakes; marshmallows and gingerbreads; and Christmas trees with different accents and themes. Christmas is felt inside the department store, too. Aside from sweet and cheery décor, several treats await shoppers.

Doughnuts and champagne

Those spending a minimum of P15,000 on a single-receipt transaction today until Nov. 30 will get a special assorted dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, while those shopping their hearts out spending P100,000 will take home a bottle of Henriot Brut Souverain.

Make a list, check it twice

Rustan’s co-founder Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr. receives warm hugs from the young ones.

The Tantoco family (from left) Specialty Food Retailers, Inc. business development head MJ Tantoco, Chris Tantoco, Rustan’s administration manager Paolo Tantoco, Rustan’s member of the Board Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, Rustan’s chairperson and chief executive Nedy Tantoco, SSI Group, Inc. president Anton Huang, Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco, Rustan Marketing Specialists, Inc. general manager Catherine Huang, and Rustan’s head of marketing and communications Dina Tantoco.

By Diana B. Noche DEATH and birth are parts of the natural continuum. Light and darkness are one participation; we walk the earth in their occurrences. Flowers and dirt. Love and grief. Nectar and skulls. We embrace each parallelism. It is the law of our existence. There is no one without the other. True, human relationships end with death. We grieve but we go on living. Our lives do not end with a loved one’s goodbye. Only our lives will be changed. The universe continues in its spin. Halloween marks the times we think of those who are no longer with us in their physical presence. We visit their graves, offer them flowers and their favorite food, invite them to join us. In spirit they do. In many ways they do; a gentle breeze whips and your face is caressed. It’s a pure expression of one family’s love and faith. This is a common practice in Spain—observed in the Philippines since the Spanish colonization period—and in some parts of the United States, as well as in other countries solidly influenced by Roman Catholicism. Other Christian denominations such as the Anglican Church, Episcopal, Evangelical, Lutheran, and Protestants also observe Halloween rituals. Allhallowtide, as Halloween was called, was first observed in 1471. The word is derived from the Old English halig (holy) and tide (time or season). Halloween today is a three-day commemoration of the departed starting from the evening of October 31, All Saints’ Day on November 1, and All Souls’ Day on November 2. During the olden days, Christians were persecuted for their faith. Those who died, starting with

Rustan’s is offering a Christmas Registry service, where everyone can write down their wish lists that will be sent to Santa and to their chosen friends and family, or even shared on social media. Kids can also write a letter to Jolly Old St. Nick and send it to the North Pole. One lucky kid from

Revelry with the spirits

TRICK. Some of the ‘creatures’ who joined ‘Takutan sa Burgos’ in Poblacion, Makati. the beheading of John the Baptist, were called saints. A day for each one who died keeping his faith was a hallowed day. It came to a point where the saints outnumbered the days in their calendar so that only one day in a year was set aside to honor all those who died martyrs. During the 8th century, Pope Gregory designated November 1 as the day to honor all those saints. The wearing of costumes, believed to ward off ghosts and lingering hostile spirits, began in 1585

in Scotland. Costumes were patterned after frightful supernatural or folklore beings. By the 1930s, costumes were representations of characters in the movies, literature, and present-day people and objects based on their political and cultural considerations. Most preferred styles are Gothic, preferably in black, and occult—long hair dyed black, lips and nails also in black. Punk fashion made its way to the Halloween spirit with classic punk hairstyle and clothing, mo-

each Rustan’s store will have their Christmas wish come true.

Weekends with Santa

Kids and kids-at-heart can have their pictures taken with Santa Claus as he will visit all Rustan’s stores every weekend until Dec. 22.

Christmas crafts

When not sharing wish lists with Santa, children may join the arts and crafts session held every Saturday in all stores from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15. Participants can try creating their own popper toys out of simple materials at Santa’s Lab Snowball Surprise, or craft snowflakes out of popsicle sticks at Sparkly Snowflake.

Spread the holiday cheer

Rustan’s is helping shoppers spread good will, cheer, and love beyond family and friends by offering merchandise that customers can buy as gifts. The initiative, ongoing until Dec. 15, will benefit the Childhope Asia Philippines.

hawk and liberty spikes, shaved heads, metal studs on the face, tongue and ears, fish net stockings, elaborate make-up, and other horror images. Borrowing from European traditions, Americans acquired the Halloween customs and their accompanying superstitions, i.e., black cats prowling in the night, carving jack-o-lanterns, wearing costumes, and trick or treating. American kids go house to house and ask for food or money. Halloween is celebrated in the Philippines in much the same way. There are places with more superfancy rituals and ways to make the event something to look forward to each year. In the Poblacion district of Makati, “Takutan sa Burgos” has been, for years, a grand street party of fun and wicked entertainment. Each one is primed to get some share of the goosebumps. It’s a community affair, and the little bars and clubs along P. Burgos Street come alive and everyone has his fill of make-believe gores, beers, street food, music from live bands, and cash rewards for the most outlandish costume. “Takutan sa Burgos” is a Halloween tradition that easily provides a boisterous welcome and swift escape from all of the past months’ unpleasantness and make us look forward to the next big Christmas holidays. Past midnight, the “Takutan sa Burgos” ends and everyone settles down to sleep, or have a sobering cup of coffee, or have another good-time beer drinking. The props are disassembled, the costumes put away, the streets littered with the previous night’s siomai cups and barbecue sticks. And empty soft drink plastic bottles listlessly stream along where the new morning’s wind blows. Photos by Diana B. Noche

Life

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Marian Rivera-approved supermarket

OTTING celebrity mom Marian Rivera is hands-on when it comes to taking care of her growing family.

The dedicated wife and mother of two reveals she is in charge of budgeting the household finances and grocery shopping. In choosing a supermarket for their family’s needs, Rivera opts for an establishment that carries all the essentials (and more) and offers innovative services. During those busy weeks, Rivera says she takes advantage of WalterMart Supermarket’s online delivery service. “It will help you save a lot of time and money every day especially with moms like me,” she shares. Rivera also muses about the supermarket’s wide range of products that include fresh produce, bakery, beauty, baby, and imported goods. “Even the egg surprise toys of my daughter Zia are available with many versions,” she enthuses. Even the sought-after actress and model also loves deals and discounts, too, she says. Finally, Rivera says she loves that WalterMart makes shopping a breeze with aisle markers that help easily find items she needs. It also has in line counters to

Hands-on celebrity mom Marian Rivera

WalterMart Supermarket offers fresh fruits sourced from local farmers as well as local and international beauty and skin care products.

for faster and more convenient shopping. But what she loves the most, she reveals, are the staff members who are ready to answer queries and guide shoppers. In celebration of the 27th anniversary of WalterMart, Marian Rivera has been introduced as the supermarket’s first brand ambassador. “We have chosen Marian because we admire her in so many ways, as a dedicated wife, a hands-on mom, and a role model to so many. We also salute

Marian is in charge of grocery shopping for their household.

her for her many advocacies including championing locally made products,” says WalterMart Supermarket managing director Joanne Lim-Co.

WalterMart carries a wide range of food and non-food essentials, and offers services like online delivery service.

How to transform a dull bathroom into a relaxing sanctuary Rajo Laurel (second from left) designed a unisex onesie for babies 6 to 12 months old.

Rajo Laurel-designed onesie

Let natural light in to give the bathroom a roomy and airy ambiance.

THE bathroom, they say, is the most intimate room in the house. Here one can spend even just a few minutes of the day taking care of themselves, not worrying about anyone else. And when you only have 10 minutes or so for yourself, wouldn’t you want to spend them in a hygienic and relaxing sanctuary? A manufacturer known for its innovative bathroom and kitchen fixtures shares the following tips to give the bathroom a luxurious and stylish feel.

Utilize your wall

Take advantage of walls by installing vertical storage shelves where towels, extra toilet paper rolls, candles, and bathroom essentials can be stored. Both functional and decorative, these shelves add a dimension to those flat and unused surfaces.

Work with vertical design

Mirrors and vertical storage shelves help add depth to small bathrooms.

Speaking of vertical storage space, make the bathroom look larger. Add use vertical-striped decorations to em- value and depth to it by adding little acphasize height of and/or lengthen the cessories in dark hues. room. This type of pattern makes ceilings appear higher and create a visual Let natural light in impression of more space. The darker a small room is, the more confined and uninviting it looks. Small Use big mirrors bathrooms will have a roomier and airy Big mirrors create an optical illusion ambience when there are windows open of a bigger space, thus this trick is suit- to allow natural light to come in. able to small bathrooms. The trick is to strategically place the mirror across a Invest in innovative, window, doing so will make the room trendy fixtures visually seem like it has two windows. Bathrooms of five star hotels and spa look stylish and luxurious because they Choose light color palettes invest in premium fixtures that are not Sticking to light color palettes such only innovative and stylish but also enas white, cream, yellow, and beige can sures everyone’s safety.

American Standard’s HygieneClean System features powerful flushing technologies, which include Siphonmax, a dynamic vacuum mechanism with side water jets that create a powerful swirl, and a lower jet that removes both heavy and light waste completely; and Double Vortex with maximum flushing performance, yet with minimum water usage. It also features the cutting-edge innovation of Aqua Ceramic which prevents dirt and dark ring stains to stick to ceramic surfaces; and Comfort Clean, a revolutionary ceramic glaze with zinc oxide that effectively kills E. coli bacteria inside the toilet bowl for the long term. Go to American Standard for more information on HygieneClean.

ACCLAIMED designer Rajo Laurel weaves his magic on a unisex baby onesie he designed in collaboration with Philips Avent. The fashionable onesie for babies aged 6 to 12 months is the result of the second year of partnership between Laurel and the mother and childcare brand. “We Filipina moms have always been inspired by the works of Rajo, as he has always been passionate about elevating conventional clothes,” said Maite Uy, business development manager of Philips Personal Health. She added, “Being a leader in the childcare category with more than 25 years of experience, this second collaboration with Rajo is a source of pride and joy because we know that the result of this partnership will enable Filipina moms to dress their kids in a fun, colorful, and fashionable way.” Mothers can get the limited edition Rajo! x Philips Avent onesie for free with a single receipt minimum purchase of P3,500 of any Philips Avent product in

Rajo and Philips Personal Health business development manager Maite Uy

all leading baby stores nationwide. Coinciding with the launch of the onesie, the brand also introduced Anti-Colic Bottle, made with built-in valve to vent air away from the baby’s tummy; and AirFree Vent, designed to help babies swallow less air when they drink by keeping the teat full of milk during feeding.

SALE ALERT 3 Metro sale events Metro Department Store welcomes the holiday-shopping season with three simultaneous sale events. On payday weekend, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, the department store offers spooky and other essentials on discount during the Halloween Sale. From today until Nov. 24, beauty items are on sale up to 50 percent during the Beauty Fair at both Metro supermarket and department store. The Toys and Kids Fair is also ongoing today Metro holds a Halloween sale on until Nov. 24, ideal for holiday gift shopping. payday weekend.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019 nickie.standard@gmail.com

Backstreet’s...

SNAPSHOT

From C4

Glitzy night at Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom STARS attend the 11th Annual Governors Awards gala—an honorary Oscars ceremony focused on diversity-- hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Hollywood, California. Big celebrities at the glitzy ceremony in Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Quentin Tarantino, Eddie Murphy, Scarlett Johansson, Adam Sandler, Edward Norton, and Jennifer Lopez (in photo). AFP

OC&STOR 24/7 has released two compelling branded short films directed by award-winning director Chris Cahilig, featuring stories of family love, loss, heartache, and new beginnings. Moving on from the passing of someone we love is never easy—not when there is so much to miss and look back to. But The Secret shows a way to help ease the heartache . . . through the memories our loved ones left behind. In this moving short film, Loc&Stor 24/7 shares the story of a family still aching from the loss of the father and head of the household. The teenage children, mystified about their mother’s late hours coming home, start worrying about her whereabouts. Suspecting the worst, they fear that she has ‘moved on’ so soon after their father’s death. As they conspire to follow her one night, they discover their mother’s ‘secret’—her nightly ‘dates’ with their father at a Loc&Stor 24/7 storage unit that contains the family’s treasured possessions. Scenes from the past move them to tears, but this time, both mom and kids agree that they can always go somewhere to keep their love for their father alive. The Secret teaches us that while we need to move on from personal loss, there will always be our cherished memories to comfort us—and Loc&Stor 24/7 to keep those memories safe. Starring in the film is Fe Sagulimba as the mother, Sean See as the son, and Thalia Padilla as the daughter. On the other hand, One Night Only is a light and quirky story of millennial love that gets nearly nipped in the bud. A girl and boy have fun on a blind date, a potential coupling sparked by the strong attraction between them. However, the girl’s messy home turns off the young man, leaving the girl to wonder what she could have done wrong. Her best friend gently admonishes her about decluttering her place and helps bring her stuff to a Loc&Stor 24/7 storage unit. In the end, the girl “frees up” her home for “The One.” Crafted to appeal to the young generation, One Night Only suggests that while first impressions make or break a relationship, two people can find new beginnings when given a chance. The film, which went viral and received positive feedback on social media, stars Jourdanne Castillo, Wayne Avellano, and Hannah Lee. Written by Yuji Gonzales, the short films feature Jay Castillo as the assistant director, Patrick Ferrer as the director of photography, Lorraine Intes as the production manager, and Jed Medrano as line producer. In The Secret and One Night Only, Loc&Stor 24/7 is highlighted as a worldclass self-storage facility that offers secure and professionally managed storage units for rent. Short films can be accessed at https://www.locnstor247. com/blog/videos/. Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, most Loc&Stor

Sweetly sentimental short film, 'The Secret,' shows that as we heal from the pain of losing a loved one, there will always be our cherished memories to comfort us.

World-class self-storage facility unveils short films about love and family

In 'One Night Only,' a potential coupling sparked by the strong attraction between two millennials nearly goes pfft when the boy sees the girl’s messy home.

24/7 branches are equipped with seven sizes of storage units to accommodate different needs. The smallest unit can contain up to eight balikbayan boxes, while jumbo-size units are capable of storing contents of a 20ft container or up to 180 balikbayan boxes. For corporate or business-store owners, most Loc&Stor 24/7 facilities feature an elevated loading dock that can fit up to two 40 ft. shipping containers. Companies that store inventory can easily upsize or downsize a unit as their needs change.

With priority on safety and security, only owners and authorized representatives can access stored possessions using PIN codes that arm and disarm the unit alarms. All locks are electronically logged in, as well, so the system will notify owners via e-mail if units have been opened. Located in guarded, gated, and floodfree compounds, Loc&Stor 24/7 facilities are equipped with high-definition CCTV cameras with night vision, fire alarms, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems. Loc&Stor 24/7 locations include

Taguig C5/SLEX, JP Rizal Makati, Urban Makati, and Pasig. North Edsa and Sucat will soon be home to Loc&Stor 24/7 facilities. For inquiries on rental fees and other vital information, visit our website at www.locnstor247.com, or connect through social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You may also contact one of Loc&Stor’s facilities to know more—Pasig at 8570-2561; Urban Makati at 8810-9556; JP Rizal Makati at 7902-1898; or Taguig at 8693-9071.

Singapore film fest reveals dynamic lineup

The celebration of our 30th year has officially begun with the announcement of the full festival line-up at the Shangri-La Hotel.

THE Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) celebrates its 30th anniversary with a dynamic lineup of films and programs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1. The largest and longest-running film event in Singapore since 1987, SGIFF is an internationally-recognized discovery ground of independent cinema in Southeast Asia. Film lovers can look forward to experiencing the magic of cinema through the rich stories that reveal the texture of life signature to Southeast Asia, while taking the pulse of films around the world. At the same time, they can also connect with the cinematic talents and deepen their appreciation for films through post-screening dialogues, masterclasses, panel discussions and talks. SGIFF has also launched the Nature’s Playground, a mixed-media exhibition at Gardens by the Bay, which follows 10 local storytellers including media personalities such as Fiona Xie and filmmaker Kirsten Tan on their creative journeys inspired by the natural environment around Singapore. Collectively, the storytellers will explore what it means to be an artist who tells personal stories centered in the region through their self-portraits amidst nature around us. The SGIFF is organized by the Singapore International Film Festival Ltd, a non-profit organization with Institution of Public Character (IPC) status. For more information, please visit www.sgiff.com.

The concert follows the release of their latest album DNA —the group’s 10th studio album that features songs written by Lauv (Charli XCX), Andy Grammer, Stuart Crichton (DNCE) and Mike Sabbath (J Balvin). The record was released in January this year on RCA Records and debuted at No.1 on Billboard album chart. “When this group started 26 years ago—and through all the highs and lows of our career—we’ve had to learn it wasn’t about us as individuals but about what’s best for the group,” says Howie D. “That’s what I love about this album,” adds Kevin Richardson. “We were able to bring all of our influences and styles into one coherent piece of work. These songs are a great representation of who we are as individuals and who we are as a group. It’s our DNA. We’re really proud of that.” “The journey is ongoing with us and there is so much left to do,” says Brian Littrell. “We’re living the next chapter that hasn’t been told yet, and that’s exciting.” After 14 months of setting and breaking records in Las Vegas, BSB’s residency Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life will come to an end in April 2019. “Vegas has been amazing and these next set of dates are going to be a party,” says Howie D. “Then it’s time for us to visit our fans all over the world.” BSB popularized the songs “Quit Playing Games With My Heart,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “Incomplete,” “Shape Of My Heart”, “Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely,” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” to name a few. The last time they were in Manila was in May 2015. The DNA World Tour Manila pitstop was made possible by MMI Live. For more information, follow MMI Live (on Facebook), and @ mmilive (on Instagram, and Twitter), or visit mmilive.com for details.

ABS-CBN... From C4

ABS-CBN also received much love and appreciation in the entertainment categories, where it bagged most of the major awards. Hit shows that received citations aside from Maalaala Mo Kaya and ASAP were primetime hit FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (Best Primetime Drama Series), afternoon hitKadenang Ginto (Best Daytime Drama Series), Home Sweetie Home (Best Comedy Program), It’s Showtime (Best Noontime Variety Show), Magandang Buhay (Best Showbiz-Oriented Talk Show), Wansapanataym (Best Youth-Oriented Program), Ipaglaban Mo (Best Public Service Program), I Can See Your Voice (Best Game Show),Pilipinas Got Talent 2018 (Best Reality/Talent Search Program). Kapamilya stars such as Angel Locsin (Most Influential Female TV Personality), It’s Showtime’s Anne Curtis (Best Variety Show Host), Toni Gonzaga (Best Comedy Actress for TV), Billy Crawford (Best Reality Talent Show Host), Jericho Rosales (Best Drama Actor), and Luis Manzano (Best Game Show Host) received awards for their individual performances. Also honored were Seth Fedelin (Most Promising Male Star), Francine Diaz (Most Promising Female Star), and the TNT Boys (Best Child Performers for TV). Blockbuster hit The Hows of Us (Movie of The Year) came away with the top honors in the film category with Kathryn Bernardo (Best Actress for Film) and DanielPadilla (Best Actor for Film) taking home top individual recognitions as well as the Loveteam of the Year citation. On the music front, Gary Valenciano (Iconic Awardee for Music) and Moira Dela Torre (Best Female Recording Artist) celebrated victories of their own. AC Bonifacio (Most Influential Social Media Personality) and MOR 101.9’s, the FM Radio station of ABS-CBN, Dear MOR (Best FM Radio Program) capped off the victorious night for ABS-CBN. The Alta Media Icon Awards is on its fifth year of giving due recognition and appreciation to the practitioners in the media industry and is participated upon by the communication students and department members of the UPHSD.

Entertainment

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

Backstreet’s back, all right By Clay Moreno IT’S not just about Nick Carter raving about chicken and pork adobo, or the rest of the boys wanting to live and Manila because of the lovely people they see everywhere. The DNA World Tour concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday was more than just pleasing the crowd with the boys’ amazing skills to communicate with the audience, it’s their music that entertained the entire arena with people who grew up before 2000s all feeling nostalgic. Nick, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin

Richardson, and Brian Littrell are on the road again with DNA World Tour, their biggest arena tour in 18 years. The concert kicked off with “I Wanna Be With You” and “The Call” immediately bringing so much memories from the group’s ﬁrst and fourth albums on stage. “Manila, are you ready to party like it’s 1999?,” the boys asked the crowd then dished out their greatest hits in rapid succession including “I Want It That Way” and “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.” Continued on C3

Return to classic YUGEL LOSORATA PINOY old souls may at some point find hugot songs relatively immature for their babying of the romantically hurt as opposed to empowering the feeling of falling—being in love on a bright note. The old hits prioritized the triumph of romance over the licking of its wounds, as the generation that apparently declared it gave up on love pays more attention to songs about heartaches instead of tunes celebrating the euphoria before the heart, if at all, gets broken. In a twist of beautiful irony, that old touch is exactly what’s going on in the latest digital single of seasoned singer Reuben Laurente boldly titled “Ang Pinakamagandang Awit.” Its official music video, likewise rendered in classic imagery of a man blissfully in love, is now on YouTube. Described by its producers as “a love ditty that attempts to capture the classic OPM movie soundtrack during the late ‘70s to the ‘80s,” the track is a breath of fresh air in a heap of hugots. Its arrangement and lyrical lines will take you back to a time when songs are created by songwriters and arrangers delivering products as neatly as possible for their right singers. In this case, the perfect singer for “the prettiest song” is Reuben who last year released his cover of an Odette Quesada hit (“You’re My Home”) and eventually won ALIW’s Best Male Concert Artist of the Year. The vocal timbre of this comeback talent, who last summer performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines via Ballet Philippines’ Tales of the Manuvu, no doubt fits the mood of the piece, especially with his high level of confidence at maintaining his singing style intact. Award-winning director-play-

Multi-awarded singer Reuben Laurente is behind the new song ’Ang Pinakamagandang Awit’ released in digital format, with the official music video uploaded on YouTube.

wright Floy Quintos has this to say about the former male lead singer of vocal group The CompanY: “Reuben has a gift not many of our most talented singers can claim to. He has the ability to create nuances that imbue every song with personal meaning.” Part of the song’s lyrics goes, “Ngayong ika’y natagpuan/Sa buhay ko’y tanging yaman/Pangako ika’y iingatan.” Having used such lines, the people behind the song, composer Marizen Yaneza, arranger Noel Espenida, and publishing team RJA Productions LLC, were clearly in no mood to nurse any depressive thought of someone left behind or whose advances are not reciprocated. That’s fair enough for a change. Perhaps Reuben’s vocal strength is buoyed by his background of ﬁve solo studio albums backed by gospel and pop record labels, namely, Reason For This (1995),Langit (2005), Pop Virtuosity (2006), HeartBlends (2009), and More Than Just Renditions (2012). Back in 2008, Reuben jumped into the international cruise entertainment scene as production cast singer before quickly becoming a headliner himself. The gig took him to 82 countries. Small wonder he became a recipient of Global Pinoy award in 2010 as AWIT gave him, the following year, a special citation for his overseas excellence. The next decade should be exciting for Reuben Laurente

'Kadenang Ginto' Gold Squad member Seth Fedelin is this year's Most Promising Male Star.

ABS-CBN came home as the mostawarded television network at the 5th Alta Media Icon Awards, after raking in 38 recognitions in the awarding held recently at the University of Perpetual Help-System DALTA in Las Piñas City. Leading the Kapamilya winners are new Hall of Fame awardees ASAP (Best Musical Variety Show), Maalaala Mo Kaya (Best Drama Anthology), Umagang Kay Ganda(Best Morning Show), and Matanglawin host Kim Atienza, who won his ﬁfth Best Educational Program Host award. ABS-CBN Integrated News and

Current Affairs took home nine awards led by DZMM (Best AM Radio Station), Failon Ngayon (Best AM Radio Program), and Sports U(Best Sports Program) along with Umagang Kay Ganda. Veteran anchors and personalities like Kim, Anthony Taberna (Best Morning Show Host), Dyan Castillejo (Best Sports Program Host), and Julius Babao (Best AM Radio Male Personality) also won for ABS-CBN News. The Bottomline with Boy Abunda, meanwhile, was named Best News Talk Program while Boy Abunda won Best News Talk Program Host. Continued on C3

Backstreet Boys (from left) Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrel, and Nick Carter performed in a packed Mall of Asia Arena on Monday night. (Photo from BSB Instagram)

Touching the hearts of millennials

UDDING singer Avon Rosales has been singing since she could remember but it wasn’t her intention to take this passion for music to a different level. In fact, when she ﬂew back to Manila, she wanted to pursue a career in acting.

Avon performing at the Viva Records' first-ever New Music Night at The Music Hall at Metrowalk.

“I’ve been singing all my life but it’s nothing serious,” she told Manila Standard in an interview. “I haven’t considered music a career until I got invited to Filipino-American events that allowed me to sing and perform.” Avon was a graduate of Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California – Irvine and Keller Graduate School of Management. And when she left her corporate job in the States, she flew back to Manila “initially to pursue acting but I was given a chance to explore my music and be able to release a track.” Avon describes her music as inspirational. From the pop rock-tinged “Hawak” that she first launched, she now has a crooning ballad about finding reassurance in love in “Until Now.” “I have always wanted to record inspirational songs that touch the hearts of millennials,” Avon said referring to the songs she has released under Viva Records emphasizing that the core of her music lies on the messages that aim to motivate people in a positive way. “Jamie Rivera is my peg, but she has her own style. She’s more into ballads. My style is a bit different,” she said and included Lea Salonga as one of her inspirations. On Oct. 3, Avon was introduced as one of the artists that bannered Viva Records’ first-ever New Music Night at The Music Hall at Metrowalk. Performers included Mikee Misalucha, Joshua Feliciano, Sofia Romualdez, Caleb

Santos, and Marion Aunor. New Music Night aims to introduce Viva’s roster of recording artists and their music. The show kicked off with Sofia, daughter of ‘80s singer Cristina Gonzales, who had a fan-favorite song with the neo R&B-flavored song “Pikit Mata” from two years ago. Sofia returns with a similarly-flavored new song in “Wala Na.” This pop track written by Vanessa Mendoza also signals a new start for Sofia who nixed Romualdez from her artist name. The voice and the tunefulness remains though. The event also included performances from teen singer-songwriter Joshua Feliciano. Joshua started writing his own songs at the age of 13. Since then, he has released a few singles including his debut album “Ligaw” released in 2018. In his latest pop ballad “Paano Ba,” Joshua’s songwriting matures. The song is a tale of how one turns sheepish when in love. Mikee, a new face in the music scene is the grandchild of Lani Misalucha. Music truly runs in her family as this music production student makes her Viva Records debut with the pop track entitled “Unlove You.” The above mentioned new artists were book ended by two young pop music veterans. Audiences witnessed singersongwriter and actor Caleb Santos who has consistently been delivering stirring

Viva Artist Avon Rosales hopes for inspirational music to be more accessible and attractive to young music consumers.

originals and found his niche in the form of pop-rock ballads. His hit song “I Need You More Today” released in 2017 and was included in the blockbuster movie “100 Tula Para Kay Stella OST,” still resounds today and is a bonaﬁde fan-favorite. A much-awaited brand new single comes in the form of his original composition “A Chance To Love Again.” And lastly, Marion Aunor surely cannot be missed. An award-winning songwriter, Marion keeps getting better, deserving of her being heralded as one of her generation’s premier singer-songwriter. Recent hits include “Akala” and “Delikado” both from two hit movies. Her new song “Paasa” is a power pop number that includes Marion’s trademarks—catchy wordplays and memorable choruses. This upbeat song is a straightforward story about people who lead others on on a false hope. All aforementioned songs have debuted on Spotify’s New Music Friday. For more information about New Music Night, check out Viva Records Facebook page.

New Music Night headliners (from left) Mikee Misalucha, Joshua Feliciano, Sofia Romualdez, Caleb Santos, and Marion Aunor.