BusinessMirror February 14, 2020 by BusinessMirror

MECO: TRAVEL BAN IMPERILS JOBS OF PINOYS IN TAIWAN By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

ANILA’S decision to impose a travel ban on Taiwan may have put at risk the jobs of some 160,000 Filipinos there due to the possibility of retaliation by Taipei, which considered the travel “unjustified.” Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) Chairman Angelito Banayo said Taiwan is considering retaliatory actions against the Philippines, which will ultimately affect the fate of overseas

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Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan. Recruitment consultant Manny Geslani said some Taiwanese officials have confided to a group of Taiwan recruitment agencies that Filipinos who have acquired work permits, and whose names are on government’s list, will not be allowed to enter Taiwan if this “impasse” between Taiwan and the Philippines is not resolved by February 14. “Taiwan companies have demanded the return of Filipinos who were on vacation and the arrival of those newly hired to keep up with the production of millions of electronic

Friday, February 14, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 127

products,” said Geslani. Among these electronic products are iPhones and other Apple products which are about to be launched. Currently, over 6,000 Filipino workers have travel documents to return to Taiwan. Of the figure, 3,000 are new hires while the rest are vacationing workers who have been processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said in a television interview that 271 Filipino workers leave for Taiwan daily. See “Travel ban,” A2

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CDA presses overhaul of rice import scheme T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) said there is a need to overhaul the country’s rice importation system to prevent unscrupulous traders from using cooperatives as dummies so they can take advantage of the co-ops’ tax exemption privileges. CDA Chairman Orlando R. Ravanera said the agency is capable of determining the capacity of farmers’ cooperatives to import rice.

Despite this, the CDA is not part of the importation process. His startling revelation comes just weeks before the first anniversary

of the effectivity of the rice trade liberalization law, which deregulated the Philippine rice industry. As expected, the months after the law’s effectivity

“[This dummy scheme] never happened before because it was a policy of the NFA that any cooperative that will participate in rice importation must be certified by the CDA [as being] in good standing.” —Ravanera

saw a surge in rice importation activities, making the Philippines’s the world’ top rice importer in 2019. Such surge, however, was marred by allegations that certain big rice importers and traders were profiting from the law by using the licenses of established farmer cooperatives and aggregators. See “CDA,” A2

Shield tourism from impact of COVID-19 –solons to NG

BIR’s online tax haul nearly doubled in 2019 By Bernadette D. Nicolas

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE leadership of the House of Representatives called on national government agencies to draw up a contingency plan that would prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from derailing the growth of the tourism sector. The lower chamber has also asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to update lawmakers if all local government units (LGUs) have already set up their respective task forces to protect their localities from COVID-19. “We urge tourism stakeholders from the private sector to continue working with us [the government] so as to prevent the displacement of workers affected and the disruption of growth in the tourism industry,” said Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement. See “COVID-19,” A12

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

PRICEY LOVE The prices of flowers at Manila’s “Dangwa” area has spiked with the arrival of Valentine’s Day. On the eve of the day of hearts, a bouquet of assorted flowers was being priced at P400 from P250, and some vendors were raising their blooms’ prices from P400 to P600. Still, that didn’t deter people from flocking to the flower market. NONIE REYES

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) electronic payment (e-payment) collections last year nearly doubled to P1.2 billion, from P626.35 million recorded in 2018. The BIR reported to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III that the number of electronic tax payments in 2019 also reached 446,753 transactions, 60 percent higher than the 278,602 transactions recorded a year ago. BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said in his report to the Department of Finance (DOF) that the e-payments were done through the Union Bank Online Tax Payment Facility using automated teller machines or debit cards, the PayMaya smartphone app and the PESONet fund transfer service.

For 2020, the BIR is targeting to further simplify its paper application form and reduce processing times, as well as the number of documentary requirements and signatories for taxpayers to enhance the bureau’s delivery of frontline services and help improve the ease of doing business, according to Guballa. The BIR said the increase in the online processing of tax payments was prompted by the launching of the bureau’s PESONet, an electronic funds transfer which enabled the taxpayers to conveniently pay their taxes anytime and anywhere. Launched on August 15, 2019, PESONet aims to shift over 15 million over-the-counter tax payment transactions collected annually to this online payments service, in sync with President Duterte’s directive to cut red tape and improve the ease of doing business.

US 50.5690 n JAPAN 0.4594 n UK 65.5475 n HK 6.5076 n CHINA 7.2534 n SINGAPORE 36.4830 n AUSTRALIA 34.0683 n EU 54.9938 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4833

See “BIR,” A2

Source: BSP (13 February 2020)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, February 14, 2020

COVID-19 to further delay China ODA-funded projects

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also become a constraint to the faster implementation of Chinese-funded Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia recently told reporters that the economic team could not even go to China for regular meetings. Pernia, however, said the Chinese government has expressed their willingness to continue their efforts in fast-tracking the implementation of projects they are funding in the country. “Actually, we admitted that we

BIR. . .

Continued from A1

Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, head of the Revenue Operations Group of DOF, said the shifting of over 15 million over-thecounter tax payment transactions to PESONet represents more than 80 percent of the total number of tax-payment transactions processed by the BIR each year. Tionko said BIR wants to further make tax payments convenient, efficient and less costly for taxpayers, while saving around P230 million yearly in transaction fees for the agency. The savings of P230 million will come from

Travel ban. . . Continued from A1

Vacationing Filipino workers will also not be allowed if their reentry visas expire. Their companies will have to reapply for new entry visas. Also, Geslani said factor y owners are contemplating to cancel current job orders for Filipinos, and to hire

need to meet, to have regular meetings,” Pernia said. “It is difficult right now because we cannot go to China.” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez earlier said he was supposed to attend a roadshow on the Philippines in Wuhan, China, but the event was postponed. Pernia said that while he was not expected to attend that particular meeting in China, there was the lowering of transaction fees charged by Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) from P40 to only P25 under the PESONet-enabled facility. PESONet, which can transact fund transfers electronically in large batches, has 40 participating banks under its wing. The PESONet interoperable digital bills payment service is the latest payment infrastructure introduced by the payments industry under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) policy framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). PESONet was launched by the BIR in partnership with the BSP, Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and the payments industry. Vietnamese and Indonesians instead in the event that the travel ban is not lifted immediately. The summer months are considered peak season in Taiwan for the production of cell phones and laptops. “More Filipino workers will lose their jobs as they will be required to reapply every three years at the end of their contracts, unlike before where renewal of contract was automatically processed,” he said.

$273.3M

The combined amount of two active China loan projects—the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project and the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project

supposed to have been a meeting to discuss projects in Beijing. Last year, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Vice President Bernardo M. Villegas said the Philippines should be “more realistic” about its expectations when it comes to Chinese funding given its track record in recent years. Villegas said “only a sliver” of the $24 billion funding promised by China has come through for the Philippines. “We have to be more realistic about our expectations,” Villegas said. “There is the harsh reality that the Chinese are very good at promising but very slow in delivering.”

CDA. . .

Continued from A1

Ravanera disclosed that the CDA is not part of the ongoing probes and crackdowns being conducted by the government on farmers’ cooperatives, organizations and associations being used by unscrupulous rice industry players as their dummies (See, “Pre- and post-rice trade liberalization law, big traders gaming farmer groups,” in the B usiness M irror, October 31, 2019, and “Farmer groups ‘top rice importers’—are they?,” in the BusinessMirror, November 21, 2019). Prior to 2015, he said the CDA was a vital part of the rice importation system as farmers’ cooperatives seeking to purchase rice from abroad must secure a certificate of good standing (CGS) from the agency. The CGS, he said, determines if a cooperative is indeed capable of importing rice in terms of its financial status and whether it has the requisite warehouses. Prior to issuing the certificate, the CDA conducts physical inspection of the coop’s office and warehouses to verify their capability to import rice. The CDA will not issue the CGS if

Neda data earlier showed active China loan projects are the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project and the New Centennial Water SourceKaliwa Dam Project, which together amount to $273.3 million. The ongoing China grants, Neda data showed, are the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges worth a total of $91.62 million. All these four projects are included in the 75 flagship projects of the government. At least 12 of these flagship projects are being financed by China worth P300.77 billion. The rest of the China-funded flagship projects are either undergoing procurement or budget financing. There are also four other flagship projects worth P141.02 billion where China is also involved. However, China’s involvement is in the conduct of feasibility studies. These are for the Mindanao Railway Phase 2 and 3 projects, as well as the Camarines-Catanduanes Friendship Bridge and Leyte-Surigao Link Bridge. it deems the coop incapable of importing the staple. However, Ravanera said the National Food Authority (NFA) removed this requirement for participation in the private-sector importation program in 2015. He said the NFA did not say why it removed the CGS. Ravanera explained the significance of the CGS: “We assure that when we certify a cooperative, they really have the capacity to import rice. [This dummy scheme] never happened before because it was a policy of the NFA that any cooperative that will participate in rice importation must be certified by the CDA [as being] in good standing.” He told the BusinessMirror: “And it could never have happened if that [CGS] was not [removed] by the NFA as a fundamental requirement of a cooperative’s participation. Because how can they be used [as] dummies if they are capable of importing rice?” he added. The CDA’s participation in the private-sector importation was limited to verifying to the NFA that the cooperatives submitted the same financial documents to the food agency. However, Ravanera said the agency puts in a disclaimer in every certification of a coop’s financial statements that the CDA is not vouching for the coop’s capacity to import.

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Marawi. . .

Continued from A12

The OPE-P was the US’s counterterrorism program in the Philippines, the focus of which had principally been the training between Filipino and American forces in their more than 300 annual engagements and military exercises under the VFA, whose termination had been formally served by the Philippine government, although its effectivity will come after 180 days.

‘Wrong direction’

US Department of State Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper earlier said the termination of the agreement will mostly affect the military-to-military exercises involving US and Philippine troops, and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper called it a move in the “wrong direction.” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military activities that have been planned and still fall within the 180-day period will push through, although the US holds the prerogative whether it would continue with the engagements. “With the formal serving of the notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, this year’s planned military exercises with the Americans shall proceed as scheduled within the 180 days that the VFA remains in force,” Lorenzana said in a statement released through defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong. “However, our American counterparts may opt to discontinue the scheduled exercises before the 180 days are up. Once the termination is final, we will cease to have exercises with them,” the defense chief added.

Rehab delay favors IS

THE OPE-P report said the continued delay in the

Out of the loop

RAVANERA said he has tried to reinstate the CGS requirement and that he even wrote to thenCabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. However, he said his appeals fell on deaf ears. “I’ve been telling them that sans the CGS, the tendency is for cooperatives to be used by unscrupulous traders to actually use the coop’s tax exemptions, the highest privilege given to cooperatives,” he said. Under the charter of the CDA, cooperatives with accumulated reserves and undivided net savings of not more than P10 million shall be exempt from all national, city, provincial, municipal or barangay taxes of whatever name and nature. Ravanera appealed to the Department of Agriculture to again allow the CDA to participate in the country’s rice importation scheme. “We are outside the loop from the beginning. We could have implemented preemptive [measures] if we were part of the importation process from the start,” he said. “There should be a radical overhauling of policies. [CDA] should really be part of the import scheme because we can determine if coops are capable of importing rice,” Ravanera added.

planned rehabilitation of Marawi City and in the construction of homes reduced in rubble during the five-month war in the city was fueling the recruitment of IS in Mindanao, especially among the internally displaced persons (IDPs). “Public anger at the Philippine government’s extended delays in providing for the reconstruction of Marawi has allowed extremist elements to regain a foothold in the city, according to a November DoS [Department of State] cable,” the report said. In response to “signs of resurgent terrorist recruitment in Marawi and elsewhere,” the US Embassy in Manila and the DoS’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations launched a $1.7-million program in Cotabato City to build local government and nongovernment organization capacity to design and implement programs to counter radicalization. The program was designed to complement USAID’s Marawi Response Project aimed at helping IDPs recover economically and integrate into their new communities. “According to the cable, reconstruction has been delayed by multiple corruption scandals.The cable assessed that there is a public perception that politically well-connected government contractors are enriching themselves at the expense of Marawi residents, and this has reinforced extremist anti-government narratives and contributed to terrorist recruitment,” the OPE-E lead inspector general report said. “The cable stated that after two years of relative quiet, marked by declining levels of violence, there were signs that violence was returning to Marawi. ISIS media claimed responsibility on behalf of ISIS-EA [East Asia] for the October 6, [2019] shooting death in Marawi of a member of the AFP’s 553rd Engineer Battalion, a unit responsible for clearing unexploded ordnance,” it added. Citing Article 12, Section 15 of the Constitution, Ravanera said the CDA should also be part of the DA’s investigation into farmers’ groups, including cooperatives, being used as dummies by unscrupulous industry players. The Constitution states that Congress shall create an agency to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments for social justice and economic development. “This will allow coodination among agencies, which is an approach that the President wants us to adopt: a whole-of-nation approach,” said Ravanera. With the recent amendment of the CDA’s charter, he said it now has the legal power to impose stiffer penalties on erring farmers’ cooperatives aside from canceling their registration and removing their officers. He said the “dummy” scheme affects the reputation of successful and compliant cooperatives who have managed to raise their assets to millions and even billions. Despite this, Ravanera said he still believes that farmers’ cooperatives should be empowered to become agripreneurs capable of venturing into legitimate and lucrative businesses such as rice importation.

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BusinessMirror Special Feature

Friday, February 14, 2020 A3

A4 Friday, February 14, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

The Nation BusinessMirror

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DOLE ‘unofficially’ welcomes ILO group to probe alleged deaths in labor sector

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is preparing to accept a highlevel mission from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which is expected to probe the alleged mass killing of local trade unionists. Last month, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued Administrative Order 49-2020 creating the technical working group (TWG) for the said initiative. The TWG will be led by Labor Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano; and vice chairman, Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo M. Benavidez. Its members include representatives from the National Labor Relations Commission, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, International Labor Af-

fairs Bureau, and the Bureau of Labor Relations. The TWG will be tasked to lead preparations for the arrival of the ILO mission that will cover the integration of the recommendations of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards to local policies, as well as reviewing the terms of reference of the mission.

Preparations

ILO earlier requested the Philippines to accept the mission after Filipino

Gordon eyes stiffer penalty for perjury By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights is poised to endorse for plenary consideration a bill imposing stiffer penalty for perjury. Justifying the need for Congress to pass the remedial legislation, Sen. Richard Gordon, committee chairman, said increasing the penalty is intended to “send a shot on the bow of liars.” Gordon confirmed Thursday the committee endorsement seeking early enactment of a law increasing penalty for perjury aims to “ensure that the justice system will be respected, and no one will make a mockery of it.” Presiding over Wednesday’s panel hearing, the senator noted that “offenders are not deterred from making false testimonies and committing perjury because the crime is currently meted a “low penalty;” providing for only a jail term of six months to two years and four months, and a penalty of P6,000. Gordon pointed out that victims are discouraged from prosecuting because of this, noting that the existing Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code which defines perjury as an act when any person knowingly makes untruthful statements, testifies under oath, falsely incriminates someone, or makes an affidavit, upon any material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases in which the law so requires. He observed that, “sometimes people do not want to prosecute because of the low penalties, which to them is a real waste of time. So there may be a reason for us indeed to punish it at a high penalty.” Stressing that the crime of false testimony in perjury have serious consequences, he noted that “these persons have made the government render an unjust judgment against the innocent,” the senator said, adding that “this is an obstruction of justice.” “We are, therefore, proposing to increase the penalty of perjury and false testimonies for the deterrence of these crimes in the Philippines, and to ensure that justice will be served. In other words, we are sending a shot on the bow of liars. You lie, you pay,” Gordon stressed. Once enacted into law, the senator said “perjury will now be punishable with prision mayor in its minimum period to its medium period,” noting that the duration of the penalties of prision mayor and temporary disqualification shall be from six years and one day to twelve years, except when the penalty of disqualification is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case its duration shall be that of the principal penalty.” The Gordon bill further provides imposition of stiffer fine “not exceeding P1 million if the person responsible for the commission of the felony is a public officer or employee, and perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in the government or in any agency, entity or instrumentality thereof.”

labor leaders alleged during the 2019 International Labor Conference (ILC) that there were at least 43 cases of labor-related killings in the Philippines. In an interview, Benavidez told the BusinessMirror that the creation of the TWG is already an unofficial acceptance of the ILO mission. “There will be an actual acceptance once we send an official letter [to ILO about this],” Benavidez said. Benavidez did not disclose when the official letter would be sent to ILO. DOLE earlier said it will accept the mission once it completes the validation of the 43 cases raised by labor groups at the ILC. The number of cases has since then increased to 46.

Ongoing validation

FEDER ATION of Free Workers (FFW) Vice President Julius Cainglet said they welcomed the creation of the ILO mission, but he expressed dismay over the supposed slow pace of the validation process of DOLE.

Currently, he said DOLE has only given updates to 12 of the 46 cases. “Once they [DOLE] accept the mission, it will fast-track the process [of validation] because the tripartite high-level mission will be setting meetings left and right. So whether they like or not, unions will be submitting what they really know about the cases,” Cainglet said. Benavidez said they already have updates to all of the concerned cases, but he noted they cannot immediately disclose information to some since they are in different stages of investigation and hearing before the courts.

JIPCO opposition

ASIDE from the labor related killings, Cainglet said, FFW and other members of the labor coalition Nagkaisa, as well as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also plan to raise before the ILO mission their opposition to the creation of the Joint Industrial Peace and Concern Office (JIPCO), which he said is an anti-labor unit of the

Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon. PNP justified the creation of JIPCO as part of its initiative to stop the so-called radical infiltration in industrial zones in Central Luzon. “Since the explicit purpose of JIPCO is to stop the organization of trade unions, this is clearly an institutional and government-led attack on workers’ right to organize,” Nagkaisa and KMU said in a joint statement. Bello already sent a letter to PNP chief Archie Francisco F. Gamboa on January 27,2020, expressing concern over the JIPCO due to its potential to hinder the “effective exercise of the Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining” of workers. He reminded the PNP to comply with existing guidelines on how police should conduct itself within the ecozones. Benavidez said PNP has already expressed its openness in holding dialogues with the labor groups and employers to the implementation of JIPCO.

Groups set priority in Charter revision By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UPCIDS) said Congress should not mix proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution with the passage of new laws and revision of existing laws to achieve real change. In their Constitutional Performance Assessment of the 1987 Constitution, the International IDEA and UPCIDS said many goals of the Constitution are not yet been substantially achieved, including having strong local government units (LGUs). “Although there are exemplary LGUs that are able to deliver services and perform functions expected of them by the Constitution and the 1991 LGC [Local Government Code], which significantly devolved powers, not all are able to do this; therefore, the goals of having strong local governments, and achieving decentralization and local autonomy have not yet been fully actualized,” the assessment said. The Duterte administration and some lawmakers are pushing for decentralization by federalism through Charter change. Moreover, the two organizations said some areas of the 1987 Constitution can be amended to help address some of the problems of LGUs. They said the constitutional amendments should include ban, or limit political dynasties, by defining what a political dynasty is to make elections more competitive. The groups also said lawmakers should consider the creation of a provision allowing the formation of other regional autonomous regions out of provinces and cities that consider themselves to be ready to assume additional responsibilities, in addition to the two autonomous regions named in Article X of the 1987 Constitution—the Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. The assessment said amendments to the Constitution should strengthen the provision on regional and other local development coun-

cils so that their role is not only administrative, but also more active in the economic development of their regions and localities. Outside the Constitution, the groups said amendments to the 1991 LGC and other laws are also recommended to improve the performance of local governments. Local government is one of nine areas assessed by the groups. To address fiscal problems or the inadequacy of fiscal transfers, the groups said the distribution formula in the LGC of 40-percent share in national revenues should be adjusted toensurethatprovincesandmunicipalities, which have absorbed most of the devolved responsibilities and services, as well as poorer LGUs, can receive more shares than cities and more economically developed LGUs. They added that to address too much dependence of some poorer LGUs on shares from national income and problems of nonperformance of mandated responsibilities, some conditionalities can be attached to the fiscal transfers, including good governance performance scores and incentives for raising local revenues set by the DILG. “There could also be amendments to the LGC, as well as taxation laws, to address vertical fiscal gaps because of, among others, inappropriate assignment of expenditure responsibilities to local units, a heavily centralized taxing scheme and a system that leaves little room for local governments to exercise revenue creation,” the assessment said. Also, the group said to address the nonimplementation of sectoral representatives in the local sanggunian, as mandated both by the Constitution and by the LGC, there is a need to amend the LGC to stipulate the process of selecting the three sectoral representatives, or for the two Houses of Congress to pass other legislation stipulating the manner of selecting local sectoral representatives. “To address the lack of substantive representatives from among women, indigenous peoples and other sectors in local governments, particularly for elected posts, introducing some degree of a closed proportional representation system at the local level incorporating a “zip-

per” or “zebra” style in the list of party nominees in local sanggunian elections may be an option,” the groups added. To support the recommendation of a possible constitutional amendment strengthening the mandate of regional and other local development councils to make them more effective conduits of regional and local development, they said the LGC can be amended to give the regional and local development councils more say in local planning, implementation and monitoring. Earlier, House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairman Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City said the committee is now consolidating the proposals of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), including the Mandanas ruling, which will increase internal revenue allotment (IRA) shares. He also assured that provinces, cities, towns and barangay communities will get the right IRA share under the proposed Charter change. According to the lawmaker, most of the administration task force’s proposed amendments jibe with those contained in its committee’s initial report. Currently, Rodriguez said the Department of Finance has opposed the immediate implementation of the SC ruling because of its negative impact on the country’s finances. At present, the lawmaker said IRA is computed based on “internal revenue taxes,” or those collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, saying they do not include collections by the Bureau of Customs. But he said the Supreme Court ruling expanded the base to include not only taxes collected by the BIR but Customs, as well, and other impositions, including half of value-added tax from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao 60 percent of levies from the exploitation of natural wealth, and half of VAT on the sale of goods and properties. Moreover, Rodriguez, citing a study undertaken by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said LGUs would have a total of P1.116 trillion in IRA in 2022 with the SC ruling.

Swedish terrorist, 3 cohorts, barred entry at Naia

SWEDISH national and his t hree ot her companions were barred from entering the country by Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) authorities for alleged links with international terrorist groups. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina, however, refused to identify the Swedish national for security reasons, but disclosed that the latter arrived at the Naia Terminal 1 last February 5 from Singapore. “The passenger was immediately excluded after the immigration officer saw that his name registered a positive hit as a suspected international terrorist,” Medina said. He added that three other foreign nationals, who were traveling with the alleged terrorist, were also turned back and booked on the first available flight to their port of origin. The BI official said the Swedish national is included in the Interpol’s database, which is linked to the agency’s database, containing information on certain individuals involved in terrorist activities. The Swedish national was barred from entering the country in accordance with the immigration act which allows the BI to refuse entry to any foreigner suspected of having links, or association, with any group that advocates the overthrow of duly constituted governments. “He is just one of thousands of international terrorists whose names were included in the shared database containing information supplied by the various law-enforcement and intelligence agencies here and abroad,” Medina said. Joel R. San Juan, Recto Mercene

Students, pupils hold joint synchronized nationwide polls today

S part of the agency’s goal toward information-technology integration, the Department of Education is set to conduct the nationwide synchronized supreme student government (SSG) and supreme pupil government (SPG) elections today, Friday, February 14, 2020. Education Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua said that DepEd will also conduct a pilot implementation of the Automated Election System to streamline the voting, and canvassing, process of SSG and SPG. In a memorandum issued by Pascua, the activity spans the month of February with the campaign period, including presidential election forum, campus-wide presidential and vice presidential debates set on February 12 and 13, with the election day and proclamation on February 14. “We are very excited for this year’s SSG and SPG elections as we are piloting our Automated Election System this year, and hopefully institutionalize it by next year,” Pascua said. He added that a lot of activities are being prepared for the student and pupil officials, and their respective advisers, in line with the efforts of the department to further empower its learners and teacher-advisers for the benefit of their respective schools. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Customs orders mandatory x-ray inspection of passenger luggage from ASF-hit countries By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

LL passenger luggage from countries infected with African swine fever (ASF) are now required to undergo x-ray inspection upon arrival. Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero ordered the x-ray inspection with the signing of Customs Memorandum Order 11-2020 dated January 13, 2020, addressed to all district collectors of airports and other personnel concerned. “Pursuant to the recommendation from the National Task Force on African swine fever [NTFASF] headed by the sec-

retary of the Department of Agriculture, all passenger [luggage] coming from ASFinfected countries must be subjected to x-ray inspection upon arrival,” read the memorandum uploaded in the web site of the Bureau of Customs. The government has already culled 200,000 hogs as it tries to control the spread of the deadly hog disease. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has blamed smuggled meat imports, particularly those that came from ASF-infected countries, like China, as one of the main culprits for the entry of the deadly hog disease in the country. In a bid to curb smuggling of agricultural

goods, DA last year said it would kick-start a P2-billion border improvement project which aims to establish integrated border facilities in key ports of the country. The integrated border facilities will cost about P400 million each, and will be established in the ports of Manila, Batangas, Bataan, Cebu and Davao. Citing recent seizures by government, the DA earlier said smuggled goods are hidden in the innermost part of the containers, making it hard for quarantine authorities to discover them due to lack of modern facilities. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the integrated, multi-commodity facility

would be utilized by the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Customs and other quarantine-involved agencies. On Wednesday, DA also said it is also considering changes in its protocol for controlling the spread of ASF to ease the pressure on local pork supply and reduce the losses incurred by hog raisers. Dar said his agency will review its existing “1-7-10” protocol, particularly the 1-kilometer depopulation, or culling radius. DA is looking at limiting the depopulation area to a 500-meter radius of the infected farm to ensure pork supply.

A5 Friday, February14, 2020

RT&Co. launches 3 new firms, enables companies to be future-ready By Jonathan Enriquez

EYES Tacandong & Co. recently launched three new companies to better serve companies with growing and diversifying needs, as well as empower businesses to be future-ready. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution changing the way businesses do, RT&Co. is prepared to offer customized solutions for its clients. “We started 10 years ago with 20 employees, and now we are more than 900 strong work forces. We formed new entities under the RT&Co. brand, and continue to grow in number so we can respond to the growing and diversifying need of the business community, carrying the same commitment level of quality service we have provided all these years,”said Manny Reyes, Chairman of RT&Co. Top challenges of today's businesses include technology, exploding data, financial management, monitoring performance, recognition and compliance, customer service, competence and recruiting the right talent, maintaining reputation, knowing when to embrace change and the uncertainty of the future. “If we want our business to survive, we can't escape nor further delay adapting to the way doing business have changed. Rather, we need to embrace it,”Reyes added.

RT&CO. SPI: DRIVERS OF STRATEGIC THINKING

RT&Co Strategic Processes Inc. (SPI) is a strategy consulting and human capital development company that provides non-traditional training process for top and senior management that will drive strategic thinking, systematic and creative thinking, strategic product and service innovation. RT&Co. partnered with Decision Processes International (DPI) to form this new company in helping company CEOs to codify and create strategic thinking process. RT&Co. SPI’s Managing Director Ho Sun Yee

is backed with 40 years of management and leadership in government and non-government organizations, and private companies, in various countries in Asia. RT&Co. SPI professionals promote the importance of strategic thinking process, and recognizing the value they can bring to client and companies in the Philippines. “What is the secret that companies existing in the marketing for 50 to 100 years and still outperforming the competitors?We studied over 300 companies in the world in different industries and we found their three established thinking framework: predicting thinking process, product service innovation process to place your company ahead of the competition and widen the gap; and systematic and creative thing process as the foundation of daily decision-making in the company,”said Ho. With the potential growth paths ahead and uncertainties of the future, RT&Co. SPI works with organizations to outthink, outpace, and outmaneuver the competition and to be ahead of the competition. As driver of strategic thinking, the company is eager to transform businesses and be future-ready with exciting times ahead.

RT&CO. OUTSOURCE INC.: SUPPORTING BUSINESSES TO THE CORE

Among the challenges companies face today include financial management and continuous regulation and related compliance, difficulty of recruiting and retaining people with the required competencies, complete, and timely, financial and

accounting reporting that is cost-effective, and regulatory-compliant, have been a concern for business decision-makers and executives. RT&Co. Outsource Inc. was formed to support businesses with customized processes, ensure the technology that will be implemented are fit to business requirements and outsource functions to address behavioral issues. The company is offering alternative solution to companies who are willing to improve accounting process, including services involved recording transactions, maintenance of accounts and customization of reports to solve specific information needs. Timeliness of the information is one of the principal objectives and the processes to be implement is supported by the latest available technology to ensure accuracy, speed, security and consistency. “With the usual conflicts in the business processes, from our system and processes, we ensure cost-efficiency. We will take care of the day-to-day challenges with great accuracy and consistency, support business to the core. RT&Co. Outsource Inc. ensures uninterrupted service and immediate attention to accounting-related issues. RT&Co. Outsource Inc. commits to provide full suite of accounting services to meet regulatory and management reporting requirements, and specific services in certain segments of the financial accounting and reporting function. The company support clients’ core business functions and objectives by providing quality information, compliant with regulatory requirements and useful for decision making.

RT&CO. DIGIT INC.: PROVIDING INTELLIGENT DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

Disruptive technology changes the way people live and work. This includes artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, IOT, blockchains and cryptocurrency. In the Philippines, though some companies have technologically advanced business operations, huge number of companies have yet to start or still at an early stage of their digitization. To help

RT&Co. Chairman Manny Reyes with Ramon del Rosario Jr.

businesses with their digital journey, RT&Co. DigIT Inc. was formed to be agent of change for digital transformation and IT consulting needs. RT&Co DigIT Inc. is designed to provide intelligent digital solutions on streamlined processes, share in-depth Information Technology expertise in improving, and securing your Information Technology environment and craft, and install strategic and technical blueprints for organizations consisting of highest IT governance framework known globally. Headed by RT&Co DigIT Inc.’s Managing Director Zenaida Ocampo, Diverse background in IT management positions, developed and implemented enterprise, IT and government strategy in compliance and security, business continuity and disaster recovery. “Digital transformation is more than just implementing modern technology. It is doing things in a more efficient manner, enabled by the right technology that produces accurate data and business intelligence,”according to Ocampo. “As a digital solutions company, we go down to the core of a business’ problem and create solutions aimed to target that specific technical challenge. Our mission is to provide purpose-built

FROM LEFT: FE TACANDONG, RT&Co COO Cocoy Tacandong, Manny Reyes, Dr. Jaime Laya, RT&Co. SPI's Managing Director Ho Sun Yee and Edwin Lao

RT&Co. managing partners and managing directors of the three new companies celebrate with a toast.

solutions for any enterprise who envisions their business to have efficient processes and accurate data,” Ocampo added.

COMMITTED TO DELIVER GROWTH

RT&Co. has become one of country’s most trusted and preferred provider of best value solutions. Anchored on the firm's principle, the company has been consistent with its tagline, 'Firm principles, Wise solutions,' banking on the RT&Co. brand.

“Our three new companies will continue to demonstrate RT&Co's commitment to continuously provide services crucial go the growth of business in general and your business, in particular. RT&Co. responds to the effects of technological changes on business with full services we had impressive 10 years. We expect, with our top-notch professionals and specialists, will play a key role in the growth, sustainability and profitability of most Philippine businesses,” concluded Protacio T. Tacandong, COO.

ror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Friday, February 14, 2020

VALENTINE IS FOR EVERYONE AT THE SM STORE

HARE the love with Valentine gifts for everyone at The SM Store. There are classic forever pieces for her—jewelry, fragrances and beauty essentials to gifts of style —accessories, shoes and bags. He, on the other hand, will love the laid back luxe of elegant timepieces, weekend warrior backpacks and shoes. Check out The SM Store Real Beauty catalogue filled with great gift ideas in-store this Valentine. Don’t forget the voucher next time you’re in the store to get the

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Gifts of timeless style from The SM Store – Parisian Blair Bag, Kenneth Cole Watch, Clarins Joli Rogue Lipstick, F&C Jewelry Love Necklace, and MyBurberry Eau de Perfum.

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ror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Friday, February 14, 2020

VALENTINE IS FOR EVERYONE AT THE SM STORE

special discount. Visit The SM Store today and share the love this Valentine. Follow The SM Store on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

1 2 3

Gifts of timeless style from The SM Store – Parisian Blair Bag, Kenneth Cole Watch, Clarins Joli Rogue Lipstick, F&C Jewelry Love Necklace, and MyBurberry Eau de Perfum.

A4 Friday, February 14, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A8

Economy BusinessMirror

New work hours eyed amid virus fears, possible supply disruption

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

EDUCED workweek and other “flexible work arrangements” are now being eyed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide temporary relief to the thousands of local workers in the face of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. Labor Assistant Secretar y Officer in Charge Dominique R. Tutay told the BusinessMirror in an interview they are now preparing possible interventions for employees, who maybe be displaced from the travel restrictions, which are now in effect because of the dreaded virus. “We are not just looking at the tourism sector as being affected, but also for instance the manufacturing [sector]. Production will stop because there will be no raw materials that will be coming from elsewhere. And therefore, if you don’t have any raw materials, production will stop and the work-

ers will do nothing,” Tutay said. She said the affected firms could consider allowing their workers, who are assigned in specific task that is not needed to avail of their leave of absence credits or whatever suitable arrangement. Tutay, however, said the arrangement would only be good for a short period. “We are looking at ways how to help, which we will suggest to Secretary [Silvestre] Bello III on how we can help if ever this displacement reported by reason of COVID-19 happens,” Tutay said. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)

estimated the reduction in tourist arrivals issued by the government because of the COVID-19 will range from 30,000 to 95,000 jobs losses. Tutay, however, noted the said displacement projection will only be realized in case the travel ban will persist for over a year.

Taiwan case

CURRENTLY, the country has a travel ban for China, Hong Kong, Macau and, most recent, Taiwan due to the multiple COVID-19 cases in the said countries. Bello said he will be recommending to the Department of Health (DOH) for the lifting of the travel ban for Taiwan. This, after the Taiwan government announced it is now considering sanctions against the country if the travel ban would persist.

“For those who are affected by the travel ban in Taiwan, we ask for your patience and in a few days, there will be a review. While waiting for the lifting of the ban, we are providing financial assistance,” Bello said in a news statement. The labor chief earlier said the travel ban is expected to last for at least two weeks to reduce the exposure of Filipinos, here and abroad, from being infected with the COVID-19. He said the travel ban will only be lifted once the government gets assurance that the spread of the COVID-19 in the four areas are already contained. As of Tuesday, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said it was already able to provide 4,933 overseas Filipino workers, who were affected by the travel ban, with its P10,000 cash assistance program.

Consumer group to govt: Ease Customs entry for face masks

ONSUMER advocate Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) has proposed easing Customs procedures for imported face masks to lower its prices, amid rising demand for the product due to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) scare. In a text message on Thursday, LKI President Victorio Mario Dimagiba urged the government to waive tariff on raw materials for face masks production, on top of relaxing Customs entry procedures for the product and its raw materials. Dimagiba said surgical masks’ prices should decline once the government waives tariff for raw materials of face masks, while the lone local manufacturer has production capacity. There is only one local manufacturer of face masks in the country, Medtecs International Corp. Ltd., which committed to supplying 2 million pieces of surgical masks per month. “If demand is high and production has capacity to produce the quantity demanded, there is economy of scale, and price should go down instead of up,” he said. Suggested retail price (SRP) for surgical face masks is between P1 and P8. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said his department was studying the current SRP for surgical face masks because of the higher cost of the product abroad. Lopez said Medtecs is currently finalizing its deals with drugstores to supply them with face masks. “They prioritized the health workers and demands from DOH [Department of Health] and Red Cross,” he said. Many major drugstores, particularly in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, have limited to no available face masks since the DOH confirmed the first case of the COVID-19 in the country. Demand and prices have surged since then. Medtecs already produced 125,000 pieces of N88 masks, of which 70,000 pieces were delivered to the DOH and regional offices of DTI. Another 80,000 pieces will be produced and will be distributed to 100 Red Cross offices nationwide, the DTI said. PNA

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Only ‘minor kinks’ on initiatives funded by RCEF, Neda exec says By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE procurement of machines and accreditation of cooperatives are facing delays due to the lack of necessary manpower and the delay in the release of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) money, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said. However, Neda Assistant Secretary for Regional Development Mercedita A. Sombilla maintained that the delays will not put the brakes on the initiatives funded by RCEF which aim to help rice planters. This was part of the discussions in the last program steering committee (PSC) of the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law. “[The system] is working, I mean there is harmonization, complementation of work activities. I think we are doing well. We are on track, we are very much on track,” Sombilla said. Sombilla said with RCEF funds being made available only toward the end of 2019, it was difficult to undertake the procurement of machines. The Department of Agriculture (DA), Sombilla said, also encountered delays in the accreditation of cooperatives which is needed to ensure that they had the “economies of scale” needed in using the machines. “The delay of the budget and then the accreditation of the coops [were the reason for this]. Their accreditation, aside from DA accrediting them, PhilMech [Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization] also has to accredit them in terms of their capacity to be able to keep, run, and repair the

machinery,” Sombilla explained. However, she said, given PhilMech’s initial thrust was for research, the agency needed an additional team of 170 to 180 personnel to do the work. Sombilla said PhilMech was granted an additional manpower of around 60. She said that while this is not yet half of what PhilMech needs, this is enough to begin the implementation of activities. She said moving forward, the PSC will determine how to get all the RCEF funds to ensure that the P10 billion funds will be used in the first semester. Apart from these, Sombilla said Neda recommended that PhilMech survey the areas where the good seeds were distributed to estimate, based on the standing crop, how much could be harvested. “You can already estimate based on the standing crop if that would already surpass the average. This is about 4 tons per hectare. We are targeting 1 ton more with the seed distribution,” Sombilla said. If this turns out positive, Sombilla said, this will be another reason to convince farmers to embrace the program. She said with the RTL, the rice market has become segmented and has given customers more varieties to choose from. Sombilla said consumers can now buy rice at P27 to P32; or P34 and P35 to about P40; and P40 and above. “They have now an availability of all sorts of rice at different price ranges so whatever suits their needs, their tastes, we can go for the higher end depending on their budgets. So that’s one good sign that the RTL is working,” Sombilla said.

Tieza-funded sewerage plant to boost Puerto Galera rehabilitation and tourism, DENR says By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

FFICIALS of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday announced that a second and bigger sewerage treatment plant (STP) that will soon be constructed near the famous White Beach in Puerto Galera. The STP plan came following a donation of a prime property that will house the facility that will also ensure proper treatment of wastewater from business establishments and households near the famous beach resorts in Puerto Galera town, Province of Oriental Mindoro, before being released to the environment. The 1.14-hectare property located at Barangay San Isidro was donated to the DENR by the heirs of the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin. Around 2,000 square meters of the donated property will be used for the STP while a suboffice of the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) will be built in the remaining 9,444 sq m. With the donation, the government could start next month the construction of the P194-million project. It is expected to be operational by the last quarter of 2020. To legalize the donation, Locsin signed the deed of donation last week. Puerto Galera’s second STP has a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters, and will service residents and business establishments in Barangay San Isidro. DENR Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado said the construction of a second STP in Puerto Galera, a famous beach resort and tourist magnet, will boost the government’s effort to protect and conserve the coastal and marine environment in the island paradise. He told the BusinessMirror that the project is funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), and will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Upon construction, the facility will be ran

and managed by the local government of Puerto Galera. “All water wastes in the locality shall pass through the STP before discharging. It must pass the water quality standard. In that case, the pollution of water bodies there can be avoided,” Adornado said. He added that the facility will not only cater to business establishments but households in the area, as well. Meanwhile, in a news statement, the DENR chief said having a second STP and a DENR satellite office within Puerto Galera’s White Beach area would enhance efforts to preserve it and help avoid another Boracay, or the temporary closure of a tourist destination because of environmental problems. “Puerto Galera was ahead of Boracay in terms of gaining international attention as a major tourist destination, and I commend its local executives and stakeholders for taking a proactive stance to prevent a Boracay-like scenario in Puerto Galera,” Cimatu said. Cimatu commended in particular the Locsin family and Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan, who has exhibited serious commitment to protect and conserve Mindoro’s prime ecotourism destination. Since embarking on a program to preserve the country’s top tourist destinations two years ago, Cimatu said it was his first time to witness “such a partnership between a mayor and a landowner coming together for a common environmental cause.” Cimatu even told Ilagan that he would always set him as “an example for other mayors” due to his efforts to install STPs in his town. Calling it “a dream come true,” Ilagan said the donated land was “at a very strategic place for an STP” with around 70 percent of Puerto Galera’s annual tourist arrivals going to the White Beach area. Puerto Galera’s first STP, a P100million facility located in Barangay Sabang, became fully operational last December. It has since been treating 1,750 cubic meters of uncontrolled wastewater per day.

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

China ousts Hubei officials as new cases soar by 15,000

WO top Chinese officials at the center of the coronavirus outbreak were ousted, while new cases jumped by 15,000 as Hubei province revised its method for counting infections.

The Communist Party secretaries for Hubei and the city of Wuhan were removed in the biggest political fallout so far from the epidemic. Fatalities in Hubei climbed by 242, with total deaths in China rising to 1,367. The number of infections in Hubei jumped by 14,840, sending the total number of cases in China toward 60,000. Jiang Chaoliang was removed from his post as Communist Party secretary for the central province of Hubei, the official Xinhua News Agency said. He was replaced by

PASSENGERS stand on the deck of the Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored at Yokohama Port in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Japan’s health ministry said 44 new cases of a virus have been confirmed on the cruise ship quarantined at the Japanese port. YUTA OMORI/KYODO NEWS VIA AP

Ying Yong, the mayor of the financial hub Shanghai. At the same time, Ma Guoqiang was dismissed as party secretary of Wuhan, the city in Hubei where the outbreak originated. He was replaced by Wang Zhonglin, CCTV reported. The shake-up—following Beijing’s decision to dispatch top officials to the hardest hit province of Hubei—comes amid deepening concerns about early efforts to

suppress information about the severity of the health crisis. Japan confirmed 44 more cases on a quarantined cruise ship. Hong Kong extended the closure of schools until at least March 16, while the wireless industry scrapped its biggest annual showcase. China reported 15,152 additional coronavirus cases as of February 12, with Hubei’s new method for counting infections accounting

for the bulk of the additions. The death toll rose by 254, the National Health Commission (NHC) said at a briefing. That brings the total fatality rate in mainland China to 1,367. The NHC said there are 8,030 severe cases, while 5,911 have recovered or been discharged. Outside of mainland China, two deaths have been reported, one in Hong Kong and the other in the Philippines. Bloomberg News

Stormy US-Europe relations as top officials head to Munich

A S H I N G TO N —S o m e o f President Donald J. Trump’s top foreign policy priorities stand at pivotal moments as two high-level national security officials head to an annual security forum in Germany. Strains in the trans-Atlantic relationship have cast doubt on whether they can count on much help from European leaders in advancing Trump’s agenda. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s visit to Munich comes as the US appears close to signing a truce in Afghanistan, is pushing for renewing sanctions on Iran, has introduced a new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, and is trying to discourage allies from allowing the Chinese company Huawei to be part of next-generation wireless networks. Meanwhile, in the background are worries about the global spread of the deadly new coronavirus from China. The Munich conference, which opens on Friday, attracts a wide array of foreign diplomats and national security officials, and has been the venue for unexpected and sometimes surprising revelations. It has been marked by turbulent US-European relations before, notably during the debate over the Iraq war in early 2003. But the current level of tension exceeds that of previous years and spans a wider range of issues.

Europe is unlikely to play a major role in what could be the biggest highlight: Pompeo and Esper are to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the conference on Friday amid strong indications that a sevenday “reduction in violence” agreement that would lead to formal negotiations between Afghanistan’s factions and is close and likely imminent. A proposal is “on the table,” Esper told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels. Trump has agreed in principle to the deal, the final details of which are being hammered out by US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. People familiar with the plan’s outlines say it calls for the successful conclusion of the weeklong truce to be followed within 10 days by the start of all-Afghan negotiations to set the road map for the country’s political future. US officials have brushed aside claims that a Taliban ultimatum forced their hand. And, they noted that despite his campaign pledge to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and elsewhere, Trump has nixed previous deals that appeared close in response to attacks on US forces. While Afghanistan has the potential to be the most significant development in Munich, other issues are more likely to highlight tensions with Europe—notably the future of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

SECRETARY of State Mike Pompeo, (right), shakes hands with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during a media opportunity on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the State Department in Washington. AP PHOTO/LUIS M. ALVAREZ

Pompeo, who has as many as 10 separate meetings with foreign officials and a speech crammed into his two-day visit, will arrive in Munich shortly after the State Department gave the clearest signal yet that the administration will deliver an ultimatum to its European allies on ending the accord. The administration has been frustrated by the reluctance of Britain, France and Germany to move forward quickly with a process that could lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran for violating the terms of the agreement. Iran has breached several limits on program imposed by the deal but maintains it is only responding to US violations. Trump withdrew the United States from the deal. The Europeans, who want to salvage the deal, have invoked a dispute resolution mechanism designed to resolve the issues or refer them to the UN Security Council, but US officials aren’t pleased with what they see as a lack of urgency in a process that can take months to complete. Its patience nearing an end ahead of the October expiration of a UN arms embargo on Iran, the administration has laid out a path for it to keep the ban in place by forcing action in the Security Council. In a document provided to Congress this week, the State Department said for the first time that the conditions for the automatic reimposition, or “snapback,” of UN sanctions lifted under the terms of the deal can be determined by any of the states that negotiated it. The administration has already advanced the argument, advocated by Iran hawks, that despite Trump’s withdrawal, the US remains a “participant” in the deal as defined by the Security Council resolution that enshrined it. The Europeans, not to mention Russia and China, have scoffed at that position but may not have any choice but to accept it as the resolution does not permit a veto on snapback. And, if the US position is rejected by others it would create a major geopolitical confrontation over sanctions that would pose serious risks to international commerce.

But the administration has now taken that a step further, arguing that the US has the authority to determine if Iran is in “significant nonperformance” with the deal’s requirements. It says that because the criteria for significant nonperformance are not spelled out in the UN resolution they can be defined broadly by any participant. “We assess that the state initiating the snapback mechanism retains flexibility in interpreting what constitutes ‘significant nonperformance,’” the State Department said in a written response to a question on the matter from Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and a leading Iran hawk in Congress. The Europeans have resisted previous lobbying to join the US in leaving the deal, but the administration is expected to push them harder in advocating for an extension of the arms embargo if they want to save it. Beyond the differences over Iran, the US is facing serious pushback from Europe on Trump’s Middle East peace plan, which is widely seen as biased in favor of Israel at the expense of the Palestinians and inconsistent with previous guidelines for a settlement to the conflict. On Tuesday, the European Union members of the Security Council— Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany—gave the plan the cold shoulder. “The US initiative, as presented on January 28, departs from these internationally agreed parameters,” they said in a statement. Pompeo and Esper also face an uphill battle in trying to prevent European countries from allowing the Chinese tech giant Huawei to play a role in their advanced 5G wireless networks. Despite dire warnings that a Huawei presence would compromise information security and threats that the US could limit intelligence cooperation with countries in which the company operates, several nations have rejected an outright ban. Britain, notably, announced last month that it would allow Huawei to participate in certain nonsensitive areas of its networks, and European Union 5G guidelines fall far short of addressing US concerns. AP

Friday, February 14, 2020

Beijing appoints cross-razing Xi ally to oversee Hong Kong

HINA named an official known for tearing crosses from the roofs of churches to lead the agency that oversees Hong Kong, in the biggest shake-up yet after months of unrest. Xia Baolong, 67, the vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will replace Zhang Xiaoming as director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, the State Council said on Thursday. Zhang will become a vice director, it said. Xia is a former close aide to President Xi Jinping and served as Communist Party chief of Zhejiang province during the crackdown on Christian churches. Xia’s installation follows last month’s appointment of Luo Huining as head of China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong. The choice of Luo, a Communist Party cadre known for executing Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, was seen as a signal of Beijing’s intention to restore order over Hong Kong after months of violent unrest opposing China’s grip on the city. “The reshuffling at this interesting moment may point to a deep distrust from Xi Jinping toward the former faction dealing with Hong Kong affairs,” said Sonny Lo, a Hong Kong-based academic and political commentator. “It’s clear that Xi Jinping wants to have a clear grasp of the situation in Hong Kong— that’s the major point,” Lo added. “We’ll probably see some adjustment in Chinese policy toward Hong Kong.”

Under pressure

THE rare appointment of such a senior official potentially

signals a permanent overhaul in how Beijing manages the former British colony. The Communist Party issued a communique late last year signaling greater intervention in everything from education in Hong Kong to how the city picks its leader. Xia’s push in 2014 and 2015 to tear down crosses on the roofs of churches in the eastern province of Zhejiang was widely criticized by the international community. He was subsequently appointed to a leadership role on the CPPCC, the nation’s political advisory body and a post usually seen as a transition toward retirement for senior leaders. Hong Kong’s government, having weathered months of mass protests, now faces deepening public distrust over its handling of the spread of a coronavirus outbreak centered on the mainland that’s led to runs on surgical masks and toilet paper and shuttered local schools through March. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has been under pressure from some groups, including health care workers, to fully seal off the border with mainland China. Though she stopped short of doing so, key checkpoints are largely closed, including the ferry terminal that links Hong Kong and Macau. The gaming hub, meanwhile, has been forced to temporarily close its casinos. Xia’s appointment came as much of the world was focused on China’s replacement of top officials in virus-stricken Hubei. On Thursday, China also announced the replacement of Jiang Chaoliang, the party’s Hubei secretary, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Bloomberg News

Ford recalls 240,000 SUVs to fix suspension problem

EARBORN, Michigan— Ford is reca l l ing over 240,000 SUVs and cars worldwide because a suspension part can fracture and increase the risk of a crash. The recall covers the Ford Flex, Taurus police car, Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKT from the 2013 through 2018 model years. Most of the recalled vehicles are in North America. Ford says if the suspension

moves a lot on the vehicles, the rear toe links can fracture. Toe links help keep the rear suspension stable and the tires on the pavement. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem in this batch of recalled vehicles. Dealers will replace toe links on both sides with new ones that are stronger. Owners will be notified starting March 2. AP

Official: Puerto Rico govt loses $2.6 million in phishing scam

AN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Puerto Rico’s government has lost more than $2.6 million after falling for an e-mail phishing scam, according to a senior official. The finance director of the island’s Industrial Development Co., Rubén Rivera, said in a complaint filed to police on Wednesday that the agency sent the money to a fraudulent account. Rivera said the government agency transferred the money on January 17 after receiving an e-mail that alleged a change to a banking account tied to remittance payments, according to a police statement. Manuel Laboy, executive director of the agency, told The Associated Press that officials found out about the incident earlier this week and immediately reported it to the FBI. “This is a very serious situation, extremely serious,” he said. “We want it to be investigated until the last consequences.”

Laboy declined to say how officials found out about the scam, whether anyone has been dismissed or how the company’s operations have been affected by the missing funds. He said an internal investigation is under way to determine whether someone was negligent or did not follow standard procedure, adding that government officials are trying to recover the money. “I cannot speculate about how these things might happen,” he said, addressing heavy criticism from Puerto Ricans who were incredulous upon hearing the news. Laboy added that his agency takes the management of public funds very seriously. “It’s a big responsibility.” Police did not return calls for comment. The situation comes as the US territory remains mired in a 13-year recession that has in part forced the government to cut back on some services. AP

A10 Friday, February 14, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

‘Wuhan-400 coronavirus’

HE information and stories surrounding the outbreak of the COVID-19 range from the statistical to the bizarre. Vietnam has reported that its exports in the month of January fell—collapsed might be a better word —by 17.4 percent over the same period in 2019. That was not a surprise. Here is another: “USPS [United States Postal Service] will be temporarily suspending the guarantee on priority mail express international destined for China and Hong Kong.” The leading cruise ship operator in Asia, Carnival Corp., reported that it was forced to suspend all cruise operations from ports in China and across Asia until the end of April. Carnival’s Diamond Princess, moored in Japan, has 218 confirmed cases of the virus. The Holland America Line ship, MS Westerdam, has finally been allowed to dock in Cambodia after being denied berthing in Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. Sun Hung Kai Properties, the largest mall owner in Hong Kong, said it would reduce February rent by up to 50 percent for most of its tenants. In an effort to get the economy moving, Beijing authorities “allowed” one factory to reopen this past week. However, one worker tested positive of the COVID-19 the next day. The factory shut down and its more than 200 employees are quarantined, unable to return home. People in Hong Kong have been standing in long lines at supermarkets for supplies, from masks to toilet paper, with growing rumors that shipments could be cut off from the mainland. Published in 1898, American short story author Morgan Robertson wrote The Wreck of the Titan. The story features the fictional ocean liner Titan, which sinks in the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg. Does that sound familiar? The Titan sank in April in the North Atlantic Ocean, and there were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers. RMS Titanic sank in almost identical circumstances on April 15, 1912. Dean Koontz is an American author who writes “suspense thrillers.” He has published over 105 novels and has sold over 450 million copies of his books, also under various pen names. In 2008, he was the world’s sixth-most highly paid author at $25 million annually. In 1981 he wrote a novel with the following plot. A mother sends her son on a camping trip with a leader and a group of friends. Every camper, the leader, and the bus driver die with no explanation. During her grief she begins receiving mysterious messages that the boy is not dead. She begins a quest to find out what happened. The story continues that two years before, a Chinese scientist who defected to the US gives details of China’s most dangerous new biological weapon: It is perfect as it affects only humans, is 100 percent fatal, cannot survive outside a living human body, and dies with the infected person. The virus is named “Wuhan-400” as it was created in a military laboratory outside of the city of Wuhan. The US military had been studying the virus and one of its scientists contaminated himself while he was working alone in the lab and then left to go home. Mark Twain wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” Since 2005

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Sonny M. Angara

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COUNTRY’S economy can be likened to a big engine. And just like an actual engine, it has to be fine-tuned, tweaked, or even upgraded, to be as efficient a machine as it can be. Lately, there have been some actions to make sure that the Philippine economic engine will, potentially, become a more efficient and profitable one. One is that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, we made sure that the Department of Trade and Industry gets an increase in the 2020 budget. From P6.1 billion last year, they will have P7.98 billion this year so that various programs can be pursued. This budget includes those for DTI-attached agencies, such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), which was placed under the DTI only last year. An important project will be that for Shared Service Facilities, which will be given P574 million. The SSF project will improve the quality of emerging micro, small, and medium enterprises by providing them with access to processing machines or equipment for common use. SSFs have proven to be effective, particularly for food manufacturing MSMEs, considerably increasing their profitability.

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More Negosyo Centers, too, will be established, as these can help MSMEs get set up faster. This can be done through mentoring and advisory services, as well as assistance with credit, financing, market information, supplies and buyers. Another P200 million will also go to the One Town, One Product (Otop Next Gen program, which is meant to level up products and services through innovation in quality, standards, marketability, and other aspects of product and brand development. These are only some of the programs that will be implemented by the expanded DTI budget. One of our major tasks now is to monitor and ensure that they are implemented as envisioned. To continually improve and innovate, though, we have to keep on studying and analyzing what we’ve done. That is why we have signed

and filed on the 11th of February this year a resolution urging the Senate Committee on Finance to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation about budgetary appropriations and implementations concerning our government’s industrialization and employment-generating initiatives in the 2020 General Appropriations Act. This is an important inquiry, as we must take stock of what our government will spend this year— and intends to invest in the coming years—when it comes to supporting such areas as information-technology and business-process outsourcing (IT-BPO), tourism, creative industries and other services, trade, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries, logistics, shipping, research and development (R&D) and other productive sectors. We must ask ourselves: will these investments be in line with the Constitutional mandate for promoting industrialization, employment, expanded productivity, and an increase in the goods and services that Filipino workers, craftsmen, artisans, and entrepreneurs can produce? Time lines and long-term goals should also be considered, so that our country’s economic strategies will map out a path to a better future. This can be done in fiveyear plans, or as the need for strategic adjustments may dictate. It is hoped that this inquiry can bring all interested parties and stakeholders together, so that the General Appropriations Act for 2021 will

Workers’ protection amid COVID-19 Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

SERVANT LEADER

Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes

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ROTHERS and sisters, did you hurry to buy face masks after hearing the news of the first COVID-19 death in the Philippines? It’s not surprising, since the spread of this deadly disease caused most of us to panic and rush to purchase face masks, alcohol, and other products that can protect us against said virus. During times like these, we prioritize ourselves and our families, but it’s also important for us to be aware of the welfare of our fellowmen and women exposed to this deadly virus because of their work or livelihood. First among our fellowmen are those who collect trash to sell or trade. The increase in demand for face masks added to the rise of trash, especially because we are reminded to throw the masks away after using them for eight hours. Meanwhile, it

is noticeable that these trash collectors who are seemingly immune to diseases may now be endangering their health by collecting trash, including used face masks. They have no face masks and no protective gloves of their own, which is why

there is a chance that they may get sick. Aside from their lack of knowledge on how to protect themselves, they suffer discrimination because of their livelihood of collecting trash. Unfortunately, government officials who should be responsible for their safety haven’t paid them much attention. In the formal sector, there are nurses, as well as other health-care workers who take care of patients suspected to have COVID-19. It is said that our nurses are overworked and underpaid, and this is the primary reason why many Filipino nurses choose to work in other countries. According to some data, there are around 20,000 nurses who already left the Philippines. No compensation is equal to the sacrifices these nurses have to suffer, away from their families. The government’s lack of effort to improve the welfare of our nurses was the main source of their disappointment. Currently, many of our nurses earn even less than the

reflect the results of this inquiry in aid of legislation. With all this happening, I am convinced more than ever that projects that showcase Philippine innovation and ingenuity—be it in skills, materials, services, or products—should be given a special imprimatur, a program that can unify our country’s brand, as it may be. This is why I am actively pushing for a nationwide “Tatak Pinoy [Made in the Philippines]” initiative, which will be applied to all productive sectors, to encourage inclusive growth across the whole country. By creating the Tatak Pinoy brand, we make not only a name for ourselves in the global stage, but also a promise to ourselves to continue striving to make our products and services even better. Our standards, after all, should be on a par with international ones—and indeed, we should aspire to produce products and services whose quality are even better than most. In the end, the DTI budget expansion, the call for an inquiry by the Finance Committee, and our push for Tatak Pinoy are all about how we must shift from being a consuming society, to one that produces and, eventually, innovates.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years—nine years as representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He recently won another term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @sonnyangara.

minimum wage. Because we don’t pay them well, it’s no surprise that we lack nurses in the Philippines, especially in the regions. Now that everyone is focused on the COVID-19, let us not forget our workers who are vulnerable to illnesses—whether they are trash collectors or nurses who care for the sick. Without a doubt, our nurses sacrifice their well-being for the sake of the public. Let’s not forget that a person’s dignity can never be measured by the kind of work he does. Because the dignity of workers comes from their being one with God, their rights can never be replaced, including their right to just and humane compensation and safe working environment. As emphasized in the Rerum Novarum, if the interests or welfare of the public or even a sector in society face threats and dangers that are difficult to avoid or stop, the government must take action. According to See “Pascual,” A11

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Friday, February 14, 2020 A11

The secret of their staying Learning a new language of love: Roda Daingré’s poems power is consistency Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

HE recent victory of Novak Djokovic in the recently concluded Australian Open has further cemented the virtual supremacy of the famous Big Three in the world’s tennis. For over one-and-a-half decades, the indomitable trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic has reigned supreme over the tennis world. Staying at the highest level of the game for more than 10 years is not only remarkable but spectacular. They have alternately taken the

No. 1 ranking although Nadal and Djokovic have been lately contesting the spot. It cannot be said that there has been a lack of competition for the field is replete with bankable names, such as Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and a dozen young Turks of the game. The triumvirate has won a combined 85 percent of all the major tennis contests, with Federer taking 20, Nadal 19 and Djokovic 17 of the four major Open titles—US, Australian, French and Wimbledon. Winning the Grand Slam tournaments—Wimbledon, the oldest, Roland Garros, US Open and Australian Open is the ultimate yardstick in determining a player’s accomplishment. One’s legacy in tennis is measured by the number of grand slam titles he wins. The best player on the hard court is Federer, while Nadal has impeccable form on the clay surface where he is a dominating force. One must be equally good on both surfaces to achieve greatness, but this is almost a mirage in the game of tennis where a wildcard who is a court specialist on a particular surface can beat a champion. Ivan Lendl, the king of tennis in the 1980s, never won Wimbledon, the only title that eluded his fabled career. Their tennis trilogy has been unprecedented in any sport. Tennis is a punishing sport where big matches normally last five sets closing after four hours of play. To them, tennis is not just a game; it’s a passion. If you watch them play, there is fire in every serve, intensity in every return, and focus in each volley. Discipline, hard work and never-say-die attitude mark their approach to every game. Even when they are down by two sets, never leave the stadium or you’ll get the surprise of your life. The Big three are the best 5-set players on the court. Even the most composed player like Federer sometimes loses his cool by bad calls, or unnerved by the antics of his opponent. But these players don’t allow unnecessary distraction to get the better of them. The secret of their staying power is consistency—it’s the name of their game. They possess not only great physical skills but unmatched mental strength. Calmness after delivering an ace, ferociousness when rallying to gain a point, temperance when hitting out of bounds, but humility after a match point. They don’t break a racket

after committing a double fault. I concede that all three are phenomenal players and we are blessed that we live during their decades of supremacy, giving us a treat everytime we watch their game live or replayed on TV. But who is the GOAT among them? Sportswriters have compared and analyzed their games but like a hung jury, they could not reach a verdict. One thing certain is that each one is virtually unbeatable in his favorite site. Federer is the undisputed king in Wimbledon with eight wins, Nadal holds court in Roland Garros with 12 victories, and Djokovic reigns in the Australian Open with eight titles. We had seen great tennis players of the Open Era who were also invincible during their prime—Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Arthur Ashe, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. But they cannot defeat Father Time. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have a combined age of 103 years—all well over 30 years old when they should now be over the hill, if not retired from competitive games and coaching promising players or running their tennis academy. Sports heroes come and go, and no one stays on top of their game forever. Soon there will be a changing of the guards and we see looming on the horizon Grigor Dimitrov, 23, Nick Kyrgios, 19, Dominic Thiem, 21 and Milos Raonic, 24. Right now, they have scored monumental upsets, which have shocked the tennis world, but they need consistency to claim top rankings. They are among the rising talents in tennis and exhibiting enormous promise. They are the new blood who will add luster to the legends of the game. nnn I HAVE to close today’s column with a joke shared to me by my good friend, Justice Noel. “If many LGUs provide free mass weddings every Valentine’s Day to unmarried couples who have been living together for many years, in the interest of justice and fairness, they should also provide free annulment on June 12, Independence Day.” No, please don’t get me wrong. My friend is not a great legal annulment lawyer but an eminent jurist. Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Under Armour’s new CEO makes an ugly start By Andrea Felsted Bloomberg Opinion

NY new chief executive likes to make their own mark. For Patrik Frisk, who took the helm of Under Armour Inc. last month, there’s even more reason than most. While founder Kevin Plank has ceded the role of CEO, he’s staying around as chairman and brand chief at the maker of athletic apparel. At first glance, the surprise sales and profit warning that Frisk, who spent two-and-a-half years as chief operating officer, announced on Tuesday, looks like the last thing he would have wanted to unleash on investors during his first update. And that’s not all—Under Armour is also considering another restructuring. To be fair, some of the cut to revenue guidance is down to the coronavirus —a risk shared with rivals Nike Inc. and Adidas AG. But it is also due to a decline in sales in North America, where efforts

to rein in discounting and concentrate on the style, fit and performance of apparel have taken longer to bear fruit. Profit estimates were also lowered—The midpoint of the $105 million to $125 million range would imply a halving of operating earnings from 2019, according analysts at Bernstein. The big downgrade is clearly unwelcome to investors, who may be forgiven for thinking they have been here before. The group has been restructuring, including cutting jobs, for the past three years. However, such a dramatic lowering of guidance does provides more leeway to try to fix the US business, where more work is clearly needed, and potentially scope to outperform later on. There were some bright spots. Under Armour’s gross margin, which expanded by 1.8 percentage points in 2019, is forecast to widen by another 0.3 to 0.5 percentage point this year. Inventories are also falling, and the wholesale market is showing signs of stabilizing.

ODA DAINGRÉ writes poetry in a language that is sometimes called “Minasbate.” For those who know the island of her birth, Roda writes in Tigaonon, the language of Ticao Island. Roda could be called a transwoman. And yet, nowhere in her conversation does she embrace this label. She was born Rodel Añosa but adopted a name Roda and a family name that is composed of jumbled letters culled from the word “Reading.” Roda reads and writes. She is forever reading to the world the letters of her life. In Savage Mind, a bookstore and cultural hub owned by poet Kristian Sendon Cordero, where she was invited as one of the speakers for the celebration of the National Arts Month, Roda read her poems. But before her poetry, she shared her story. “I never felt the love of a mother,” Roda seemed to read on the wall a narrative of her own life. Her mother died of childbirth. Roda was the child in that birth. After she was born, she was taken to Masbate mainland, where the only good hospital in the area could be found. It took some three precarious hours for the newborn baby to reach the doctors and for its umbilical cord to be cut from the placenta. With no mother to take care of her, Roda was taken by another family when she was a “boy.” When she, transformed into a “woman,” came to visit her father, the latter took a longing look at her and told her: “You remind me of your mother.” The father confessed that Roda made him feel young again. “Now, you understand, why I need to preserve my beauty…” Roda’s voice trailed with all the languid grace of

the waves near Guiwanon, the place of her birth. But that sense of beauty was not always there. The feeling of one’s goodness, which is beauty as well, was absent when, as Roda recalled, Desiderio walked into her life. She knew she was in love. She knew that pronouns play crucial roles in love and in relationship. Roda knew Desiderio saw a “he,” unusual perhaps in its mortal incarnation but still a “he.” But, Desiderio troubled the many eternities Roda was swirling about when she was with him—when he walked past him, when he looked, perhaps without meaning to the direction of this wo/man, and when she in the form of a “he” looked with all the similes she could gather into a bouquet of passion and desire. In those days and until Desiderio left, Roda was a garden of passion, bridled and therefore hurting, designed for propriety and thus full of questions. The unrequited love would remain unrequited. But the poetry of those moments Roda would pour into stanzas of hope and humor. The poem would carry the name “Desiderio.” The poem opens with these lines: Usad ako na babayi,/naka-istar sa may/ baybay halapit sa halapad na hubasan./ Baga an kadlagan! (I am one woman/ Who lives by/the beach near a wide seabed./Like a place that is forested. The poem tells of a day this woman sees Desiderio out to fish in the same area where the woman is. Desiderio approaches the woman and

introduces himself. The next day, Desiderio is there again in the same place as the woman. When she sees Desiderio she looks down (nagduko). As she looks to the ground, she steps on a tayum (a sea urchin). It hurts. For those who are familiar with the beach and the sea, there is only one way for the pain to go away. Desiderio knows this. The next lines are innocent and yet sensual, magical but also tough: Kadi, ihian ko./An iya hangyo. (Come here, let me piss on it/This was his offer.) Roda was in love. For the woman in the poem, there is no turning back from that offer that is a command and a seduction that heals all hurt. For us in the audience that night, there was no turning back either. We were caught in the allure of Roda’s wonderful universe. It is a free, fluid universe where loves that are, maybe, condemned in the rigidity of two defined genders, achieve redemption in the world of words and lines that rhyme and beat to unseen hearts. It is a space where men can be women and women can be men and where labels can be whispered away. It is a horizon of love that is born “at pers sayt.” And that is the poem Roda writes next. In the flush of admiration and desire, Roda becomes a kite: bagan buradol kun/nalupad—waran kahadlok/maski higtan, turusan/sa may kadlagan (like a kite when/it flies—there

is no fear/even when tightly tied, or let loose/in the woodlands. Roda is blisteringly romantic in her verse. In real life, she confesses to the difficulty of “being a woman” and, ultimately, in the complexity of her status as a “maestra,” a teacher in a small town. For all this, Roda, it seems, is not saddled with the difficult ideologies of genders and sexualities. Her poetry helps her address pains brought about by a society that refuses to understand. Her art endows her with a daring and strength that make her rise above the available censure. She is timid. She reads the signs of the sea and the stars. She works on her destiny. At the end of her writings, she smiles. She smiles at the thought that she kept pestering her father for the identity of the doctor who cut her umbilical cord. Her father told her he cannot remember. “Why would you want to know?” her father asked. “Because I want to ask her whether I was born a boy or a girl?” Roda explained. That night, in Savage Mind, Roda was all woman, with a voice that moved to nothingness as she read and read herself in her poems. “When my father dies, I may not need this beauty,” Roda said. “Who knows, what I may become…”

behavior will most likely decrease the current expenditure shares of the following: eating out (12 percent), shopping and recreation (9 percent) and transport (8 percent). Food as a share will most likely remain, but people will be eating outside less. Shopping and retail will most likely be slower as we are already seeing less people congregating in malls. This means that strolling or unnecessary exposure outside will be avoided. This will make people conscious of their use of shopping time to buying essential items and lessen leisure related expenditures. Hence, while “malling” is a way of life in many urban centers, this temporarily will be slowing down. As people lessen their recreational activity, transport will

similarly experience less movement of people. The other side of this, of course, is the shifting of the expenditure shares of other items particularly health care. Health care is about 4 percent of the average consumer expenditure. With this increased consciousness to protect ourselves, this could increase visits to medical facilities and expenditures on personal care, vitamins and staminabuilding products. The continuous reminders of regular washing of hands could significantly increase water consumption—especially challenging in Metro Manila as water pressure remains below standard. As more people stay at home, demand for on-demand movies and entertainment are expected to increase, pulling with it communication expenses. Currently, communication expense comprises about 3 percent of total expenditures. It could also create an increase in demand for food and many app-based products to be delivered, helping to pull up with it the demand for logistics and online shopping (assuming that the products can be delivered out of China, where the base of many products are). It should be noted also that online shopping demand might shift to products that are more for home entertainment and home needs, rather than general consumer items. A big help to consumers, meanwhile, is the decreasing demand for oil products in China. China’s demand for oil has dropped about 20 percent from last month, pulling with it world oil prices. This is benefiting

oil importers like the Philippines. It should help lower costs of logistics and transport. With less economic activity, however, the direct effect to household’s budget will not be high. In summary, the immediate short-term effect of the COVID-19 will most likely be less shopping, less travel, less outside recreation, less movement to retail centers, less eating out, less gigs affecting about 25 percent of total household expenditures. The less expenditures in these items are expected to shift to more health, more water consumption, more home entertainment, more communication and possibly more online shopping and food delivery. This is a short-term positive for changing behavioral patterns of consumption. Savings can be a shortterm benefit. With only less than 15 percent of the population having bank accounts, this can be an opportunity for people to consider the extra cash that can be generated out of this situation to be part of savings. Also, it can be an opportunity to raise insurance consciousness. Even with universal health care, people should be aware of the different risks that we are facing from health, life and other assets. Both savings and insurance should become part of our expenditure basket so that we also take into consideration the risks we are all taking. It cannot always be government who is taking the risks for everybody. Finally, I hope that this health challenge that is upon us will lead to more family time at home and increase conversation to find ways to benefit out of this situation.

hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” Brothers and sisters, the government has a responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of every Filipino, especially during a global

health emergency. We hope those responsible for our well-being will give needed attention to our workers in the front lines, as they help fight against an epidemic that we hope will not worsen.

Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 Ang Radyo ng Simbahan in the AM band, or through live streaming at www.veritas846.ph, and follow its Twitter and Instagram accounts @veritasph, and YouTube at veritas846.ph. For your comments, e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.

The virus and our budget Alvin Ang

EAGLE WATCH

E are celebrating an unusual Valentine’s Day, commonly a day where people—lovers and those without—are in a frenzy of activities from shopping, movies, concerts, staycations, travels and vacations. In fact, it is one of the consumer-driven activity of the year, possibly second to Christmas. All these are bound to change significantly this year because of the COVID-19. Romantic dinners and concerts that are usually fully booked, are now at risk or are already being canceled. We are virtually postponing Valentine’s Day. This is not all, the UAAP and various festivals around the country have already been canceled as a preventive measure. Indeed, the Department of Tourism is correct to say that the biggest sector to be affected by the virus are tourism activities. While international tourism will take a hit, domestic tourism is at risk as well. Tourism is one of the highest local value-added activity for businesses with the following percentages of the activity: accommodations (26 percent), food (24 percent), transport (23 percent), entertainment (14 percent) and shopping (11 percent). Certainly, many of these are part of daily and weekly life in the country, especially food, transport and shopping. How do these relate to our daily and weekly budget then? Considering the latest mix of the consumer basket, our precautionary

Pascual. . .

continued from A10

the book of Leviticus 19:13, “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

A12 Friday, February 14, 2020

‘Marawi rehab delays may fan IS Mindanao resurgence’

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE United States has warned of the resurgence of the Islamic State in Mindanao even as the Department of National Defense (DND) hopes that the planned military exercises with American troops will push through despite the government’s serving of the formal notice terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). A quarterly report by the Lead Inspector General for the Operation Pacific Eagle-Philippines (OPE-P) covering the period of

October up to December 2019 noted the increased and sustained recruitment of the IS among the internally displaced residents

The cable assessed that if this trend continues, Islamic extremists could eventually stage another high-profile operation like the 2017 attack on Marawi.”

—Lead Inspector General’s Report of Marawi City, which was devastated by the war waged by ISinspired homegrown terrorists in

2017. “Independent analysts, government officials, researchers, and local residents told US Embassy officials that extremist recruitment has outpaced the public benefits of rehabilitation in Marawi since the ISIS insurgency was defeated there in October 2017,” the report said. “The cable assessed that if this trend continues, Islamic extremists could eventually stage another highprofile operation like the 2017 attack on Marawi,” the lead inspector general’s report added, citing a report provided by the US Department of State. See “Marawi,” A2

PALACE UNFAZED BY TRUMP NONCHALANCE ON VFA By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

CTIONS speak louder than words. This was the statement of Malacañang on Thursday as it awaits developments on the country’s diplomatic relations with the United States (US) with the looming cancellation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). In a press briefing, Presidential

spokesman Salvador S. Panelo admitted there is now uncertainty as to how the US government will treat the country following President Donald Trump’s statement that he doesn’t mind the cancellation of the over two-decade agreement, adding it will actually help the US government save money. Despite Trump’s nonchalant response, Panelo insisted the VFA cancellation will significantly affect the US military movement worldwide, and thus may affect the country’s rapport with the US.

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING LUZON AND VISAYAS as of 4:00 pm - February 13, 2020

“You must remember that the VFA and other treaties are there precisely because of the global strategic defensive positioning of the US. You must remember that the perceived enemies of the US are very near this country, hence they need us,” Panelo said. “Let’s see. Let’s see how his [Trump] words will match the actions of the US government,” he added. US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper earlier said the cancellation of the VFA will have consequences.

For his part, President Duterte has said he will no longer entertain any call from Trump, according to Panelo. Panelo said the government will continue with its push for a more independent means of securing borders—which may include the scrapping of the country’s other military agreements with the US—Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (Edca) and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). “I understand the Senate is going to review these two treaties you mentioned, so we’ll wait for the recommendation,” Panelo said. Duterte earlier said he opted to cancel the VFA for several reasons, including attempts by US lawmakers to call for the release of detained Sen. Leila de Lima; the imposition of travel and visa restrictions on government officials involved in the arrest of de Lima and the country’s war against illegal drugs; and the cancellation of the visa of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the former National Police chief tasked with leading the war on drugs. The letter signed by Duterte on the abolition of the VFA will take effect 180 days after it was received by the US government on February 11.

‘VFA with other allies’ ALSO on Thursday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson lamented losing the VFA with the United States even as he held out hopes that “we will survive.” “The Filipino people are resilient and our soldiers are no different,” Lacson said in a statement Thursday, quickly adding that “we will survive, no doubt. We know how to improvise, and we can adapt to crises the way we did many times before.” This, even as he acknowledged that“in the meantime, we remain exposed to terrorist threats, both domestic and foreign, not to mention the continuing security threat in the West Philippine Sea posed by China, and even the need for timely humanitarian response and assistance that the US is capable of deploying during disasters, natural or man-made.” Also affected by the VFA’s abrogation is the maintenance and repairs of military hardware, mostly air assets provided by the US under the AFP modernization program, Lacson noted. While he acknowledged that exploring other options “like inking similar defense treaties with other nations as posited by the AFP chief of staff is fine,” Lacson asserted that “the reality is, it doesn’t happen overnight.” It will take, he said, “a series of backand-forth negotiations in pursuit of the concerned parties’self and national interests before going through lengthy deliberations for ratification by the Senate.” Lacson added: “While admittedly, the VFA is not perfect for the Philippines as far as equitability is concerned, the timing and reasons for its abrogation are way off the mark.” Referring to reports that Duterte scrapped the VFA to avenge his former aide, dela Rosa, whose US visa was recently cancelled, Lacson pointed out that, “the thing is, it is not the smartest move of the President to expose ourselves naked first before looking for other options for cover.”

MANILA THE QUICK SET BROWN TO SLAP IMPORT FOX JU BAN ONTHE OVER GERMAN LAZY POULTRY DOG. THE PRODUCTS LAZY DOGDUE TO BIRD FLU By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to slap a temporary import ban on poultry and poultry products from Germany after Berlin confirmed the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a farm. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Ronnie D. Domingo confirmed to the BusinessMirror that the government will ban poultry products from Germany after it confirmed the outbreak last week. “[Government] has already prepared the temporary suspension documents for Germany,” Domingo told the BusinessMirror via SMS. The Philippines imposes temporary import bans on countries affected by diseases as a precaution to protect its local livestock and poultry industries. The import ban on Germany covers the domestic and wild birds, and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on February 10 that it has confirmed an HPAI H5N8 outbreak in Bretzfeld, Hohenlohekreis, Baden-Wurrtemberg. Germany said the outbreak was confirmed on February 10 in a farm where 49 laying hens, two geese, six ducks, three pheasants, nine captive birds (canaries) were affected by the virus. The decision to slap the ban on German poultry will come weeks after the DA renewed its system accreditation for exporting poultry meat and products to the Philippines.

COVID-19. . . Continued from A1

Cayetano issued the statement following the joint committee hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Economic Affairs to assess the effect of the COVID-19 on tourism and the whole economy. During the hearing, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the new coronavirus (COVID-19) could cause the tourism sector to lose as much as P22.7 billion a month and shed 95,000 jobs. For the month of February alone, or during the start of the travel ban, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said foregone revenue from COVID-19 could reach P16.8 billion. Romulo Puyat made an assurance that her agency is moving to cushion the impact of the virus on the tourism sector. Meetings and consultations with tourism stakeholders from the private sector are being conducted and plans are already being put in place. Air Carriers Association of the Philippines Executive Director Alberto Lim said for the next two months, the forgone revenue of the airline industry is expected to reach P3 billion affecting more than 5,000 flights. Cayetano said the House will support initiatives to revitalize the tourism industry, which contributed 12.7 percent to the country’s GDP in 2018, and to promote domestic tourism in the Philippines. House Tourism Committee Chairman Sol Aragones said the “right information and correct messaging” are important in any crisis situation.

Task force

HOUSE Deputy Speaker for Finance

Earlier, Manila ordered the slapping of the ban on poultry products from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and China. The BAI earlier urged poultry raisers to cooperate with the government and report unusual mortality in their farms amid the resurgence of AI in Asian countries, including China. The appeal to poultry raisers was made by the BAI in a statement, where it asked farmers to participate in the government’s surveillance activities for bird flu. BAI, an attached agency of the DA, issued the statement in light of the reported outbreaks of AI subtype H5 in neighboring countries. The bureau reminded poultry growers to raise ducks in a close confinement, and observe good animal husbandry practices, as well as practice biosecurity measures. BAI also said poultry raisers should prevent the comingling of ducks with other avian and swine species, as ducks may carry the AI virus. In an earlier briefing, Domingo said the agency is closely monitoring wetlands and possible landing areas of migratory birds which may carry the dreaded virus. Experts said migratory birds in the Candaba swamp may have been one of the sources of the H5N6 bird flu outbreak in 2017. The government was forced to cull thousands of fowls to contain the bird flu outbreak which started in Pampanga. Under the government’s AI Protection Program manual, the BAI shall conduct surveillance in identified critical areas in terms of the introduction of AI virus on a biannual basis.

Luis Raymund Villafuerte asked the DILG to update the public on the status of its two-week-old directive for all LGUs to create their own anti-COVID-19 task force. The task force will advise and guide the constituents of LGUs on what precautions to take and to coordinate with the Department of Health on medical protocols to be initiated at the barangay level to prevent the disease spreading in their communities. “ The public needs to know whether all LGUs have set up their respective task forces, in compliance with the DILG’s directive last month for them to do so, more so now that the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities are growing by the day,” said Villafuerte. Creating the task force must be the priority of governors and city and municipal mayors following last month’s declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of a global health emergency over the virus. The WHO has named this new coronavirus strain as COVID-19 after declaring it the world’s “Public Enemy No. 1” when the death toll surpassed the 1,000-mark. As of Thursday, it has sickened 60,376 people, killing 1,362 most of them in China. This initial number of fatalities already exceeded the number of people—779—who died from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) contagion that first broke out in 2003. The DOH has confirmed three infections in the country, all of them Chinese nationals who had travelled to the Philippines from China, and is now investigating 382 people suspected of COVID-19 contamination. The second of the three infected foreigners subsequently died while being treated at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila—marking the first COVID-19 death outside China.

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In the ad material of Notice of filing of application for Alien Employment Permits published on January 17, 2020, the company of Mesdames. Ma, Shengzi, Ran, Xin, Yang, Mengnan, Liu, Yuehong and Mr. Shu, Peijin under Max Infotech Accent Inc., should have been read as DF Call Communications Inc., and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE NCR Regional Office located at 967 Maligaya St., Malate, Manila, within 30 days after its publication. Please inform DOLE NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

February 14, 2020

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP) Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s. Name and Address of Company/Employer

BLOSSOM PRINTING INDUSTRIAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Laguna Technopark, BiÃ±an City, Laguna

Mr. TIANXIANG SUN / Chinese

AB HEINEKEN PHILIPPINES INC. National Highway Sala, Cabuyao, Laguna

Mr. CHRISTIAAN JOHANNES FOLKERTS / Nederlandse

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Position and Brief Description of Functions Vice President - Finance

Head of Finance

Mr. YUKUN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. DONGXU WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. RENWEI BAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. GUANJIN LIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. LAN JIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. TUN MYINT / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. LE HONG PHUONG / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. SY QUY TRINH / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. LOUNG THI TRANG / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. NGUYEN THI KIEU OANH / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. CAIYUN ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. HOANG KIM HUE / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. YONE KYON / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. QINGHUA SHAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YAN YONE PAN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. LIHUA HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. NGUYEN THI PHUONG THAO / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. HO ANH NGOC / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. PHUNG LAM VINH DAT / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YONGHUA YU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. TRUONG NGOC BINH / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. AH PHEIN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Ms. THET HTAR KHIN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. WENTING CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CHUANG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CHENRUI QIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. PHON TAR WAN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. SHENGREN MO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHIKUN ZHENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CANBO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XINGKAI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CHUNLIANG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Friday, February 14, 2020 A31 Ms. PHAM THI NGOC KHUYEN / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. BINBIN MO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. WENHUI LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. SHENGTING LU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ZHENSHENG CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. ZHAOHAN LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. FUJIAN CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. TRAN THI THUY / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. GANGBO ZHAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. SHANFENG XIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. JINGJING WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. PYAE PYAE WIN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. JIANHUA TANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CHAOLI ZUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. MA PHYU / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Ms. THAN THAN AYE / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. DI WANG / Chinese Ms. LE THI HUYEN TRANG / Vietnamese Ms. YAN YANG / Chinese Ms. KIEU THI KIM QUY / Vietnamese

Chinese Customer Service Representative Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Ms. YANNA LING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ZHI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. LI KYAN / Burmese Mr. LANG WANG / Chinese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. YAN YOON KYIN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Ms. VO NHAT LE / Vietnamese

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Mr. PEIGUI CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. THI KWAT YAR / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Ms. HOANG THI TUOI / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Mr. HTET AUNG / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. SAI WIN KYAW / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. TUN MYINT OO / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Mr. DEPENG YOU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. PEIXIN YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. PENG SUN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. LIMAN ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. QIANG YI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CAIXIN CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

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Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

Name and Address of Company/Employer

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YANGQIAO WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 113 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHONGXIANG YUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 114 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. JUAN ZHAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HUAYANG TANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YAXIN XIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. LONGFEI DONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENZHENG LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIAPING GUO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 119 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BANGKUN SHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 120 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUAN HE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. HUI LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XUANSHAO HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. LE THI TRUC LINH / Vietnamese

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 115 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 116 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 117 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 118 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 121 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 122 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 123 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 124 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIAOQIANG WANG / Chinese

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. AYE AYE SAN / Burmese

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 125 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YUEZHOU HAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 126 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YAZHOU MAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. WENSHENG AI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. KEKE CHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. TONGSHUN LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. NAN GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ZHAOWEI CEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. SHIAIMING NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. DAOSHU NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. GENGZHU JIA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. LIXIA QIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 100 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 101 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 102 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 103 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 104 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 105 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 106 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 107 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 108 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 109 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 110 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 111 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 112 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. CARLINO HO TECK HUA / Malaysian Mr. LIGANG LU / Chinese

Malaysian Customer Service Representative Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 127 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 128 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 129 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 130 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 131 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 132 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite MOA CLOUDZONE CORP 133 Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

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Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

Mr. WEIWEI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YONGHAO XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. DAOJUN NONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. FUDONG ZHI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. GUOLU CUI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. MEIRONG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. JIANHUAN SHAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. JIAXI WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. SHIPENG LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. CHANGLONG WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. QIUXIANG LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. WEI GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. JITAO WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YUNLONG BAI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. PENG XU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. XIUCHUN MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YANYANG RUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. JINJIN WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. CHUNMEI WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. TAO DAI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. XINGZHOU HU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

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MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JIE HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

135

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DONG DING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

136

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. BO LI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

137

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. YANGYANG WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

138

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. YAN HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

139

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. XIN YI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

140

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. HONGFEI MA / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. KARMILA / Indonesian

Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Mr. RUIHU XIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. XIAOTING LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

141

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. ZHIPENG GAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. WENYI HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

142

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. JINGYI FANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. LYUFENG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

143

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. DAIHONG XIE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. QINGLAN LEI / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

144

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Mr. HONGJIAN RONG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

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Mr. YUHANG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP Brgy. Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite

Ms. WENYING CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ANGUO LIANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ERPENG WANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Ms. QIUXIANG MO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. YUQI LIU / Chinese Mr. DONGZE YANG / Chinese

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 146 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CHUNJING XIE / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 147 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HUAGUANG LIU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 148 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. TEH SOON KIAT / Malaysian

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 149 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. LIDONG ZHANG / Chinese

Position(s): Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 150 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YU WEI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 151 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. YUDE SU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 152 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZONGZHENG XIE / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 153 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHOU CHEN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 154 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. WENJIE YANG / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 155 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. FUZHEN WU / Chinese

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 156 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Friday, February 14, 2020 A33

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Brief Description of Functions

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 179 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ANDI ISKANDAR LUBIS / Chinese

Electrician - Specialist

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 180 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. SIMSON BUTAR BUTAR / Indonesian

Electrician - Specialist

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

KPPC PRECISION PARTS CORP. 181 LIIP-SEZ, Mamplasan, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. KENJI FUJIWARA / Japanese

Mr. LEI JU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Mr. YOJIRO WATANABE / Japanese

Operations Manager

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 157 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

KONOIKE PHILIPPINES 182 CORPORATION Southpoint, Cabuyao, Laguna

Mr. PAK NENG NGAN / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Mr. RUIPENG LI / Chinese

Assembly Consultant

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 158 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

HYS METAL PLASTIC AND 183 ELECTRONICS (PHILIPPINES), INC. LTC, Lipa City, Batangas

Ms. DANDAN LYU / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Mr. KAISHENG ZHOU / Chinese

Production Engineering Consultant

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 159 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

HYS METAL PLASTIC AND 184 ELECTRONICS (PHILIPPINES), INC. LTC, Lipa City, Batangas

Mr. HENGCHANG SHI / Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 160 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. XIAOHUA XIONG / Chinese

Deputy Section Chief of Machine Technician

Mr. LIWEN LIAO / Chinese

BOJIE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 185 FCIE, SEZ, Langkaan, Dasmariñas City, Cavite

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 161 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. WEI LIN / Chinese

LIXIN PLASTIC AND ELECTRONIC COMPANY LTD., INC. 186 LIMA Technology Center, Lipa City, Batangas

Mr. MINGHUA HU / Chinese

Plant Manager

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 162 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. SUPRATMAN / Indonesian

SHING HUNG PLASTICS COMPANY INC. 187 FPIP, Sta. Anastacia, Santo Tomas, Batangas

Mr. YANG-CHIH MA / Taiwanese

Admin Director

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 163 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. KIHWAN KIM / Korean

Mr. IGOR DUGONJIC / Canadian

NIDEC PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 188 SEZ, Laguna Technopark, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YUEH-LING LIN / Taiwanese

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 164 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

FONG SHANN PRINTING 189 PHILIPPINES INC. LTC, Lipa City, Batangas

Mr. HAIRUDIN / Indonesian

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 190 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. LIYI LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 165 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. GULBAHRI EFENDI SIREGAR / Indonesian

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 191 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. SUYING ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 192 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JIAN ZE / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 166 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. HERMAN / Indonesian

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 193 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. HONGXIN XING / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 167 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. XIAOMAO TIAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Mr. ALFIAN / Indonesian

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 194 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 195 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHIWEN DENG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 196 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JIHUA LIU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 197 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JIE TAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 198 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. XINYONG HUANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 199 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YUXIANG YANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 200 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. JUN XIAO / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 201 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. DONGJIE CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 202 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. ZHENXIN WU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 203 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. FUHAO ZHU / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 204 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YINA YUAN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 205 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. TE LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 206 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. DAN LIN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 207 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. CHONG ZHANG / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 208 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Ms. YULI WEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 209 4-12F Southwoods Tower 2, Biñan City, Laguna

Mr. SHANGKUN CHEN / Chinese

Chinese Customer Service Representative

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 168 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. BERNANDO SIAHAAN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 169 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. MOHAMAD ARIFUL HUDA / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 170 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. SUTOYO / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 171 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. RIKO RONALDI / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 172 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. HAERUN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 173 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. PURWITO / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 174 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. BILTER LUMBAN GAOL / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 175 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. YASMIN / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 176 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ANADI / Indonesian

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 177 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. RAYMOND JOSEPH REGAN / Irish

ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, 178 INCORPORATED AG&P-SEZ, Brgy. San Roque, Bauan, Batangas

Mr. ZAKARIA / Indonesian

Chinese Customer Service Representative Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Rigger - Foreman

Senior Project Director

Rigger - Specialist

Electrical - Foreman

Rigger - Specialist

Electrician - Specialist

Vice President

Treasurer of Accounting Division

Accounting Manager

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication. Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals. Project Director Rigger - Foreman

HENRY JOHN S. JALBUENA Regional Director

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph AEP20201007339

Companies BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSALM asset privatization proceeds soar to ₧71.97B

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

ROCEEDS from last year’s privatization programs of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) ballooned to P71.97 billion from P33.34 billion in 2018. “PSALM’s total privatization proceeds in 2019 [are] way higher than the actual privatization proceeds in 2018 which was at P33.34 billion,” said PSALM President Irene Joy Garcia. The 115-percent increase was attributed to the sale of real property assets, efficient collection of IPPA (Independent Power Producer Agreement) lease payments and aggressive collection of past delinquent power accounts, added the PSALM chief. “We met all the targets of PSALM for 2019 except for the privatization of the Malaya Power Plant,” she added. PSALM has started soliciting bid invites for the privatization of

the 650-megawatt (MW) Malaya Thermal Power Plant and its underlying land located at Brgy. Malaya, Pililla, Rizal. The bid opening is set on April 15, 2020. PSALM is determined to privatize the asset, which is sold on an ‘as-is-where-is’ basis, by taking the necessary steps to adjust the minimum bid price. It has also conducted valuation studies on MTPP and its underlying land in determining the reserve bid price. “For 2020, we will continue this momentum and aggressively work on privatizing the remaining NPC assets,” added Garcia. Among the power assets up for

sale are the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plant (CBKHPP) and Casecnan multipurpose hydropower plant. Garcia said the state firm is currently conducting a study on options for the sale of the 728-megawatt CBKHPP in Laguna and the 140-MW Casecnan multipurpose hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija. “We are hoping we can get help from ADB [Asian Development Bank], which was the direction set by the DOF [Department of Finance]. We’ve already started working with DOF for us to be able to get assistance from ADB for the studies for the feasibility also for determining the structure that will be best suitable on how we can privatize it,” said Garcia. The CBK hydro facility consists of the 22.6-MW Caliraya in Lumban, 20.8-MW Botocan in Majayjay and the 684.6-MW Kalayaan I and II in Kalayaan, Laguna. J-Power and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan operate the CBK power plants. The 140-MW Casecnan project, meanwhile, was built following the signing of a build-operate-transfer contract between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and

California Energy Casecnan Water and Energy Company Inc. in 1994. CE Casecnan’s contract with the government will lapse on April 5, 2022 while that of J-POWER will end on February 7, 2026. PSALM, she added, will also pursue the auction for the contracted capacity of the 210MW Mindanao coal plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Located in Misamis Oriental, the Mindanao coal plant was constructed in 2006 for a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement under a buildoperate-transfer scheme that ends in 2031 with Steag State Power Inc. of Germany. The power plant is 51-percent owned by Steag; 34 percent, Aboitiz Power; and 15 percent, La Filipina. So far, PSALM has privatized 31generation assets including the Magat HPP,Tiwi-Makban geothermal power plants, PantabanganMasiway HPPs, Masinloc coal-fired thermal power plant and Batangas (Calaca) coal-fired thermal. PSALM is the entity created by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, the law that restructured the power industry by privatizing the assets of National Power Corp.

TWG starts giving to Angkas unfilled slots in pilot study; Poe sees law ‘soon’ By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE technical working group for the motorcycle taxi pilot program started on Thursday the redistribution of the unfilled operator slots to Angkas, as a player failed to maximize their allocations, while the pioneering twowheel transport network company is “ready” to provide capacity. Antonio Gardiola Jr., the chairman of of the technical working group, said on Thursday that his group is now open to process the inclusion of the remainder of the Angkas riders, as JoyRide and Move it were not able to fill their slots for Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. “The unused cap will be redistributed for those ready providers,” he said. “If JoyRide fails to meet the cap, the difference there can be taken advantage of by a company with available riders.” The government has capped the total number of two-wheel riders to 45,000 in Metro Manila, 9,000 in Cebu, and another 9,000 in Cagayan de Oro. Each of the three providers — Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It — are entitled to equal shares of each volume cap. Under the rule of the study, any transport network company that fails to fill their allotments must allow another company that has

AN Angkas driver navigates Metro Manila’s congested roads. Regulators have agreed to give to the motorbike-hailing app pioneer some of the unfilled slots left by new rivals under the pilot study that ends in March. NONIE REYES

available riders to receive their allocation balance. As of Wednesday night, Angkas has listed 20,000 riders for Metro Manila, after getting the 5,000 overallotment from Move It, JoyRide with 15,000, and Move It with 6,409. This means that for Metro Manila, there are still 3,591 slots that have yet to be filled. In Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, Angkas listed 4,500 riders and 935 riders, respectively. Both

JoyRide and Move It have yet to operate in the two territories.

Law for motorbike taxis

This development came after the Senate approved the first report on motorcycle taxis, with Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares saying that the Philippines may “soon” pass a law for the legalization of motorcycle taxis for hire. To recall, the government

launched a pilot study in June last year to test whether or not motorcycles are a safe means of public transport. It was due to end in December, but was since extended for three months until March 23 with the addition of two new players to test out market viability. The operations of motorcycle taxis for hire may still be extended beyond the conclusion of the study, according to Gardiola.

Cemex turns around operations in 2019, but sales still depressed

EXICAN cement firm Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. said on Thursday it had turnaround operations in 2019, but sales are still flat. In its disclosure, the company said it had a net income of P1.27 billion for the entire 2019, a turnaround from the previous year’s loss of P970.68 million.

Sales, meanwhile, was flat at P23.6 billion. For the fourth quarter, net sales fell 3 percent to P5.37 billion from P5.51 billion in the previous year due to lower volumes, as adverse weather conditions in the month of December affected Luzon and Visayas, it said. Its income for the fourth quarter

reached P404.89 million from the previous P307.24 million. Cost of sales, as a percentage of sales, decreased by 2 percentage points in 2019, compared with those in 2018, while operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were lower by 2 percentage points year-overyear in 2019. The decrease was due to lower

distribution expenses resulting from supply-chain optimization initiatives, it said. “I am pleased with what we accomplished in 2019, as these were a result of our efforts to maintain efficiencies, optimize costs, and improve our customers’ experience,” said Ignacio Mijares, the company’s president and CEO. VG Cabuag

Friday, February 14, 2020

Senators can review ABS-CBN franchise compliance–Drilon By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE Senate, exercising its oversight function, can scrutinize compliance of ABS-CBN with the terms of its Legislative franchise and “not the Supreme Court,” Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asserted on Thursday amid moves by the Solicitor General to sue the network before the Supreme Court for alleged franchise violation. Drilon maintained that “Congress, not the Supreme Court, has jurisdiction to review compliance by ABS-CBN of the terms of the franchise granted by Congress, especially that there are pending bills seeking renewal of the franchise.” The Minority Leader stressed that “given the gravity of the allegations against ABS-CBN and its implications, it would be a total disservice to the Filipino people if we fail to perform our oversight function.” Drilon affirmed support for Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services tasked to scrutinize and endorse issuance of congressional franchises. Poe earlier filed Senate Resolution 322, to look into ABS-CBN’s compliance with its franchise following the allegations made by the Office of the Solicitor General against the network. Sen. Poe, in a separate statement, confirmed Thursday her committee’s readiness do its task but has yet to fix a hearing date to review the ABSCBN franchise. “The resolution on ABS-CBN Corporation initiates the discussion of the Senate Committee of Public Services on the compliance of the grantee with the terms and conditions of its franchise and to allow parties to air their side,” said Poe. She explained, “this is part ot the Senate’s oversight function over any franchise and not just ABS-CBN, as mandated by the Constitution and the Senate Rules. “Due to the gravity of the allegations and its possible effects, the committee has deemed it appropriate to lay the groundwork for a possible inquiry in the spirit of public interest, Poe said. The senator, however, clarified that the discussion in the Senate does not preclude any action in the House of Representatives or the Supreme Court, adding that “the issue

on subjudice regarding legislative inquiries has long been resolved by the Supreme Court in Sabio vs Gordon and in cases that reiterated that “ongoing judicial proceedings do not preclude congressional hearings in aid of legislation.” In a statement, Drilon declared that the Senate panel, while reviewing the network’s compliance with its franchise, “could look into the allegations raised by the Solicitor General that ABS-CBN violated the terms of its legislative franchise as part of the oversight functions of Congress.” The Minority Leader added that the upcoming Senate hearings on the Resolution can also be justified “not only based on its oversight function but also by virtue of its power to investigate in aid of legislation,” adding that the inquiry will enable the Senate to “make a judgment on the renewal of its franchise when it is transmitted by the House of Representatives.” At the same time, Drilon said that taking up Senate Resolution 322 would not be a violation of the subjudice rule, clarifying that under the resolution, the Senate is “simply being called to exercise its oversight functions.” A former Justice Secretary before his election to the Senate, Drilon recalled “it has long been settled that the power of oversight has been held to be intrinsic in the grant of legislative power itself.” “Broadly defined, the power of oversight embraces all activities undertaken by Congress to enhance its understanding of and influence over the implementation of legislation it has enacted,” said Drilon, adding that “the Congress is a coequal branch that is simply performing its mandated and independent oversight functions.” He asserted that “Congress, as the one that granted the franchise to ABS-CBN, can carry out its oversight functions at any point in time,” stressing that “our role does not end with enacting laws. We have a constitutional duty to monitor compliance with the law that Congress enacted.” At its en banc hearing on Tuesday (February 11), the SC directed ABSCBN to reply to Solicitor General Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days.

Google’s $2.6-billion Looker deal cleared by UK regulator

HE UK’s antitrust authority cleared Google’s $2.6 billion takeover of Looker Data Sciences Inc., joining US regulators in declining to open an in-depth review. The purchase was not likely to weaken competition as Google would not be inclined to stymie its rivals, the Competition and Markets Authority said on Thursday. Google announced in June that it planned to buy California-based Looker to boost its cloud offering, which lags behind Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. The company, which had initially intended to complete the purchase last year, is pushing to expand its tools to better help customers manage data. The regulator said it pored through thousands of internal documents detailing the companies’ plans and consulted with data scientists before reaching its conclusion. “Although Google had the ability to make it difficult for rivals to access the Google-generated data they

need from online advertising and web analytics services, there was no strong evidence they would have the incentive to do this,” the CMA said in its statement. It’s a relief for the Alphabet Inc. unit, whose dealmaking has faced increased attention from regulators across the globe. The CMA has ramped up its scrutiny of mergers in digital industries, with a particular focus on the tech giants and leaving uncertainty over their transactions. US regulators at the Justice Department cleared the deal in November. The CMA is separately running a review of Amazon’s purchase of a minority stake in U.K. food startup Deliveroo, saying the deal might substantially weaken competition. The investigation stunned the parties because the agency doesn’t typically review minority acquisitions. Lawyers said scrutiny of the deal may be down to growing fears about monopolies in Big Tech that have been allowed to go unchecked in the past. Bloomberg News

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, February 14, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 13, 2020

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALS

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE SUN LIFE VANTAGE

53 151.2 86.9 24.9 11.16 59.05 31.85 51.5 20.5 170.5 58.2 17.98 3.5 0.415 841 1852 1.14

53.5 151.5 87 24.95 11.2 59.35 32.05 53.6 20.65 172 58.5 18.38 3.74 0.425 860 1860 1.15

53 151 86.5 25 11.16 59 31.8 51.6 20.6 173.2 58 18 3.6 0.42 850 1850 1.1

53 154 87.95 25.05 11.2 59.7 32.4 51.6 20.7 175 58.5 18 3.74 0.425 860 1852 1.14

52.5 150.5 86.3 24.95 11.14 58.45 31.6 51.6 20.5 169.1 58 18 3.5 0.41 841 1850 1.1

53 151.5 87 24.95 11.16 59.35 31.85 51.6 20.5 170.5 58.25 18 3.74 0.425 841 1852 1.14

1320 999770 3930070 157100 279700 1950020 122800 320 22600 439930 2660 44800 87000 280000 210 295 171000

69810 151359685 342602040 3926795 3122514 114952215.5 3906770 16512 464530 75471237 155565 806400 306980 117650 178270 545800 191620

-1060 -1489357 112128952 -2027856 -5540880 -3180030 10320 -33556911 -799200 159700

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.09 2.02 2.07 3832000 7846300 ABOITIZ POWER 32.4 32.5 32.2 32.55 31.8 32.4 665300 21472555 BASIC ENERGY 0.22 0.225 0.225 0.225 0.22 0.225 70000 15500 FIRST GEN 19.96 20 20.1 20.95 19.9 20 2763100 55247963 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.8 66.9 66.8 67 66.8 66.85 2438100 163,091,564.5( MERALCO 263.2 263.6 264.2 268 262 263.2 316510 83427972 MANILA WATER 12.1 12.14 12.5 12.5 11.96 12.1 18307400 223090238 PETRON 3.48 3.49 3.49 3.58 3.47 3.48 206000 717820 PETROENERGY 3.5 3.74 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78 10000 37800 PHX PETROLEUM 11.5 11.86 11.32 11.86 11.32 11.86 37300 440034 PILIPINAS SHELL 29.45 29.5 30.45 30.5 29.4 29.5 903200 26673855 SPC POWER 9.1 9.15 9.47 9.47 9.1 9.15 100200 923194 AGRINURTURE 6.88 6.89 7.24 7.48 6.83 6.89 2512500 17376860 AXELUM 2.76 2.78 2.84 2.86 2.71 2.76 2098000 5825940 CNTRL AZUCARERA 15.6 16.58 16.58 16.58 15.7 15.7 600 9508 CENTURY FOOD 15.02 15.1 15.04 15.04 15 15.02 278000 4176196 DEL MONTE 4.47 4.59 4.5 4.59 4.48 4.48 20000 90020 DNL INDUS 8.6 8.66 9.05 9.05 8.27 8.6 1685500 14345838 EMPERADOR 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.3 7.24 7.26 4521600 32781507 SMC FOODANDBEV 75.6 76 75.2 76.35 75 76 266630 20200710.5 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.63 0.61 0.62 1061000 650210 FRUITAS HLDG 1.81 1.82 1.84 1.89 1.73 1.82 42950000 77635330 GINEBRA 34.25 35.5 35.7 36.45 35 36 18300 643855 JOLLIBEE 192.4 195 192 195 191 195 275400 53091504 MACAY HLDG 6.52 7 6.87 6.87 6.87 6.87 1000 6870 MAXS GROUP 9.95 9.98 10.2 10.38 9.98 9.98 349400 3548654 MG HLDG 0.163 0.182 0.165 0.165 0.163 0.163 1100000 180300 PEPSI COLA 1.84 1.85 1.84 1.85 1.84 1.84 360000 663480 SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.39 9.48 9.5 9.5 9.01 9.39 111700 1048724 ROXAS AND CO 1.47 1.5 1.56 1.56 1.46 1.5 132000 194850 RFM CORP 5.2 5.23 5.29 5.29 5.23 5.23 14100 74343 UNIV ROBINA 148.7 149 151 151 146.8 149 2424700 360559232 VITARICH 1.1 1.11 1.13 1.13 1.05 1.1 4929000 5400040 VICTORIAS 2.4 2.54 2.4 2.54 2.4 2.54 5000 12140 CONCRETE A 59 61.7 59 59 59 59 410 24190 CONCRETE B 62 67.8 69.95 69.95 64 64 170 11179.5 CEMEX HLDG 1.41 1.44 1.43 1.49 1.4 1.41 5864000 8423600 EAGLE CEMENT 12 12.46 12.1 12.2 12 12 41400 498728 EEI CORP 8.7 8.74 8.83 8.89 8.71 8.74 1117000 9784508 HOLCIM 10.38 10.4 10.38 10.38 10.08 10.38 456500 4716510 MEGAWIDE 14.64 14.98 14.5 14.98 14.48 14.98 539700 8039546 PHINMA 9.61 9.7 9.66 9.87 9.61 9.7 18500 178560 TKC METALS 0.9 0.93 0.95 1 0.9 0.93 649000 600300 VULCAN INDL 0.98 1 0.99 1.02 0.98 1 2508000 2501010 CHEMPHIL 171 189.9 207.6 207.6 185 189.9 340 65099 CROWN ASIA 2.13 2.14 2.13 2.14 2.13 2.13 25000 53350 EUROMED 2.4 2.45 2.9 2.9 2.4 2.4 2909000 7640790 MABUHAY VINYL 3.06 3.32 3.1 3.24 3.1 3.1 10000 31190 PRYCE CORP 4.71 4.81 4.72 4.72 4.71 4.71 62000 292170 CONCEPCION 30.5 31.75 30.15 30.15 30.05 30.05 174600 5264140 GREENERGY 1.55 1.59 1.7 1.7 1.55 1.55 2922000 4670820 INTEGRATED MICR 6.13 6.21 6.55 6.55 6.13 6.21 359600 2257335 IONICS 1.16 1.17 1.25 1.27 1.17 1.17 247000 294790 PANASONIC 4.72 5.29 4.71 5.29 4.71 5.29 1100 5239 SFA SEMICON 1.14 1.15 1.24 1.27 1.1 1.14 3987000 4584690 CIRTEK HLDG 8.86 8.9 9.92 10.14 8.65 8.86 4902600 45412141

-455090 -8835385 -13779371 3,052,236.5001) -56194566 1159398 -306670 -15959325 36759.9998 -6706032 106260 -2543146 -8919635 27085384 -18892706 -6200 -439980 10710 -869766 -820726 9780 -58890 -286203 20397 -49854376 -0 -2088840 -382978 -128516 227370 1081460 700 33000 -27950 61360 -0 -33400 395822 48400 -47680 780936

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.87 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.83 0.87 31473000 26780250 ASIABEST GROUP 9.9 10.14 9.9 10.18 9.9 9.9 4500 44819 AYALA CORP 752 755 750 755 748 755 419640 315684880 ABOITIZ EQUITY 49.8 49.9 50.85 50.85 49.35 49.8 1010390 50481444.5 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.36 10.38 10.54 10.54 10.32 10.36 10554900 109701130 AYALA LAND LOG 2.5 2.55 2.54 2.56 2.5 2.5 1118000 2816970 ANSCOR 6.01 6.24 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 3000 18600 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.68 0.7 0.68 0.68 0.67 0.68 100000 67900 ATN HLDG A 0.89 0.9 0.89 0.9 0.88 0.9 2023000 1811090 ATN HLDG B 0.9 0.93 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 102000 91800 COSCO CAPITAL 6.26 6.37 6.34 6.4 6.26 6.37 284900 1801003 DMCI HLDG 5.79 5.8 6.01 6.02 5.76 5.8 8487900 49470640 FORUM PACIFIC 0.214 0.225 0.213 0.221 0.213 0.214 1170000 256870 GT CAPITAL 723.5 740 724 740 722.5 740 154790 113046730 JG SUMMIT 72.45 74 71.45 74 71 74 807310 59481307.5 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 6.4 6.73 6.15 6.82 6.1 6.73 164000 1092362 LODESTAR 0.48 0.495 0.495 0.495 0.485 0.49 40000 19550 LOPEZ HLDG 3.77 3.78 3.8 3.8 3.77 3.77 1792000 6801930 LT GROUP 10.54 10.56 10.58 10.62 10.52 10.56 3217400 33985980 MABUHAY HLDG 0.54 0.58 0.54 0.58 0.54 0.58 32000 17320 METRO PAC INV 3 3.01 3.05 3.05 2.97 3 22486000 67459120 PRIME MEDIA 1.1 1.13 1.11 1.14 1.11 1.14 74000 83760 SOLID GROUP 1.12 1.17 1.11 1.12 1.1 1.12 11000 12130 SYNERGY GRID 165 183 179 183 165 183 350 61750 SM INVESTMENTS 1000 1010 1004 1010 995.5 1010 91985 92421172.5 SAN MIGUEL CORP 131.5 136 134 136 131 136 102090 13581822 SOC RESOURCES 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 10000 7800 TOP FRONTIER 167.5 169.9 170 170 167.6 170 1770 298962 WELLEX INDUS 0.205 0.219 0.206 0.215 0.205 0.205 140000 29860 ZEUS HLDG 0.182 0.19 0.195 0.195 0.181 0.19 1010000 189390

8300 -200218225 -15885288 -16425076 20149.9999 778005 -6748167 -220100 17258675 19142330.5 7580 -5991202 5812370 -11010 -2832467.5 -4328338 -268415 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.78 0.79 0.8 0.8 0.78 0.79 484000 377990 AYALA LAND 42.9 42.95 43.6 44 42.3 42.9 4686700 201535225 -45461085 ARANETA PROP 1.6 1.71 1.61 1.61 1.6 1.6 10000 16050 BELLE CORP 1.6 1.61 1.58 1.7 1.58 1.61 2613000 4289090 200640 A BROWN 0.64 0.66 0.63 0.66 0.63 0.64 290000 184900 CITYLAND DEVT 0.79 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.82 4000 3280 CROWN EQUITIES 0.175 0.18 0.175 0.176 0.175 0.175 1900000 332550 CEBU HLDG 6.24 6.58 6.58 6.58 6.23 6.58 5100 31843 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.48 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.48 4.5 120000 539780 99000 CENTURY PROP 0.465 0.47 0.475 0.49 0.465 0.47 6150000 2892450 -19400 CYBER BAY 0.34 0.35 0.365 0.365 0.35 0.35 1430000 507900 283000 DOUBLEDRAGON 18.44 18.46 19.18 19.26 18.32 18.46 496500 9384852 -368510 DM WENCESLAO 8.91 8.94 9.05 9.1 8.91 8.94 72400 649631 -558735 EMPIRE EAST 0.385 0.39 0.385 0.385 0.385 0.385 150000 57750 EVER GOTESCO 0.092 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.092 0.092 120000 11840 FILINVEST LAND 1.42 1.43 1.46 1.46 1.42 1.43 22875000 32857320 -25995440 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.07 1.1 1.04 1.15 1.04 1.07 1661000 1767100 8990 HLDG 14.7 14.72 14.7 14.74 14.7 14.7 826600 12161178 110400 PHIL INFRADEV 0.96 0.97 1 1.03 0.96 0.97 2330000 2285220 1950 KEPPEL PROP 3.8 4.69 4 4 3.8 3.8 29000 112760 CITY AND LAND 0.73 0.76 0.73 0.76 0.73 0.76 2000 1490 MEGAWORLD 3.75 3.79 3.92 3.94 3.72 3.75 40796000 155317070 -57735140 MRC ALLIED 0.201 0.202 0.213 0.213 0.202 0.202 5820000 1187630 139970 PHIL ESTATES 0.44 0.45 0.44 0.465 0.44 0.44 5820000 2642100 PRIMEX CORP 2.04 2.05 2.08 2.08 2.04 2.05 574000 1172840 -113109.9999 ROBINSONS LAND 24.55 24.7 24.65 24.7 24.4 24.7 659300 16219940 -182580 PHIL REALTY 0.305 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.305 0.305 380000 116400 ROCKWELL 2.02 2.07 2.1 2.1 2 2.02 908000 1828550 -1385410 SHANG PROP 3.07 3.14 3.08 3.08 3.07 3.07 20000 61430 STA LUCIA LAND 2.5 2.51 2.52 2.52 2.5 2.51 233000 586220 10040 SM PRIME HLDG 42.2 42.25 42.05 42.25 41.3 42.25 7860300 328,726,125( 60,305,394.9996) VISTAMALLS 5.06 5.2 5.18 5.29 5.03 5.06 126900 654747 SUNTRUST HOME 1.72 1.73 1.74 1.77 1.71 1.72 2938000 5087430 VISTA LAND 6.29 6.35 6.4 6.4 6.24 6.35 2605900 16539636 -13577117 SERVICES ABS CBN 16.9 16.94 16.92 17.42 16.9 16.9 210700 3581466 GMA NETWORK 5.39 5.4 5.41 5.41 5.39 5.4 809600 4371724 MANILA BULLETIN 0.45 0.455 0.47 0.475 0.455 0.455 2960000 1371000 GLOBE TELECOM 1994 1996 2008 2008 1990 1996 15630 31213655 PLDT 1021 1034 1015 1045 1015 1034 60485 62266580 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.047 0.048 0.048 0.048 0.047 0.048 1800000 86100 DFNN INC 3.51 4.18 4 4.18 4 4.18 50000 204480 IMPERIAL 1.53 1.78 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.56 12000 18720 ISLAND INFO 0.102 0.103 0.106 0.106 0.102 0.102 650000 67540 ISM COMM 1.83 1.84 2 2.07 1.79 1.84 92620000 172554180 JACKSTONES 1.75 2.07 1.87 1.87 1.87 1.87 3000 5610 NOW CORP 2.04 2.05 2.13 2.15 2.02 2.04 2499000 5224240 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.237 0.241 0.249 0.249 0.237 0.237 2710000 652070 PHILWEB 3.18 3.19 3.34 3.48 3.07 3.18 3530000 11297130 2GO GROUP 8.8 8.9 9 9 8.9 8.9 35300 314200 CHELSEA 4.45 4.47 4.53 4.56 4.45 4.45 607000 2735520 CEBU AIR 78 78.45 80.2 80.2 77.05 78 177240 13861407.5 INTL CONTAINER 122.5 123.4 121.6 124.7 121.4 123.4 667510 81628883 LBC EXPRESS 12.14 12.54 12.14 12.14 12.14 12.14 100 1214 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.87 0.95 0.9 0.96 0.89 0.96 78000 70040 MACROASIA 9.95 9.96 10 10.26 9.85 9.95 1705400 16957776 PAL HLDG 7.3 7.35 7.35 7.4 7.3 7.3 8000 58780 HARBOR STAR 1.1 1.12 1.15 1.16 1.1 1.12 926000 1035050 ACESITE HOTEL 1.31 1.39 1.31 1.41 1.31 1.31 55000 74330 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.046 0.047 0.046 0.048 0.046 0.046 14500000 674800 GRAND PLAZA 9.62 13.38 13.38 13.38 13.38 13.38 8400 112392 WATERFRONT 0.53 0.55 0.59 0.59 0.53 0.55 1544000 846460 IPEOPLE 8.01 9 8 9 8 9 59500 476140 STI HLDG 0.57 0.58 0.57 0.59 0.57 0.58 1033000 592740 BERJAYA 2.8 2.84 3.29 3.3 2.75 2.8 3287000 9729990 BLOOMBERRY 8.57 8.7 8.95 8.95 8.56 8.57 2195400 18,958,728( PACIFIC ONLINE 2 2.05 2 2.01 1.94 2 72000 142370 LEISURE AND RES 2.08 2.15 2.16 2.16 2.07 2.08 265000 557230 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.51 0.52 0.52 0.53 0.51 0.51 17135000 8837150 PHIL RACING 8.01 8.96 8 8 8 8 100 800 ALLHOME 9.5 9.7 9.69 9.9 9.2 9.7 1754100 16885747 METRO RETAIL 1.81 1.84 1.86 1.87 1.8 1.84 907000 1660860 PUREGOLD 38.25 38.45 38.4 38.5 38.25 38.25 936800 35957745 ROBINSONS RTL 72.7 72.8 73.65 73.8 72 72.7 99320 7222576.5 PHIL SEVEN CORP 131.1 148 138 145.6 131.1 131.1 5310 715232 SSI GROUP 2.24 2.25 2.28 2.28 2.18 2.24 1147000 2572620 WILCON DEPOT 18.86 18.88 18.86 18.9 18.8 18.86 772500 14570106 APC GROUP 0.38 0.39 0.4 0.4 0.375 0.38 2190000 851200 EASYCALL 6.97 7.49 7.22 7.7 6.96 6.97 58100 411879 GOLDEN BRIA 415.8 428 415.8 428 415.8 428 60 25070 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.315 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.31 0.315 2980000 938050 SBS PHIL CORP 8.69 8.99 8.7 8.99 8.7 8.99 3500 30885

9537310 4828295 693370 -53770 23700 68900 -248310 90609.9997 -5775827.5 -19712573 7042067 66600 -51700 580 20640 7,089,667.9999) -39600 2090 -443670 1015268.0004 -560290 -961905 -4099651.5 -47249 -885400 4928298 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 10.3 10.86 10.8 10.86 10.54 10.86 4400 46784 APEX MINING 0.96 0.97 0.99 1 0.96 0.96 762000 736790 -41000 ABRA MINING 0.0014 0.0015 0.0014 0.0015 0.0013 0.0015 422000000 590500 -16800 BENGUET A 1.05 1.2 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05 3000 3150 CENTURY PEAK 2.95 2.96 2.98 3 2.92 2.96 1311000 3867400 38390 DIZON MINES 6.4 6.5 6.52 6.65 6.4 6.5 14800 95395 FERRONICKEL 1.27 1.28 1.3 1.32 1.27 1.27 2668000 3438600 -142370 GEOGRACE 0.198 0.21 0.209 0.212 0.198 0.198 960000 199320 LEPANTO A 0.093 0.095 0.091 0.095 0.091 0.095 290000 27020 LEPANTO B 0.088 0.091 0.091 0.091 0.091 0.091 10000 910 MANILA MINING A 0.0077 0.0079 0.0078 0.0078 0.0078 0.0078 2000000 15600 MARCVENTURES 0.71 0.78 0.75 0.78 0.72 0.78 57000 42720 NIHAO 0.99 1.02 1 1.02 0.98 1.02 73000 71640 NICKEL ASIA 2.57 2.58 2.66 2.66 2.56 2.58 1227000 3174030 -721310 OMICO CORP 0.465 0.52 0.52 0.52 0.52 0.52 1000 520 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.64 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.68 2000 1360 PX MINING 2.85 2.87 2.85 2.88 2.82 2.87 144000 410460 SEMIRARA MINING 20.05 20.2 20.05 20.2 19.98 20.2 238600 4784420 -1209995 UNITED PARAGON 0.0049 0.0055 0.0055 0.0055 0.0055 0.0055 1000000 5500 ACE ENEXOR 7.05 7.18 7.21 7.39 7.03 7.18 141600 1014643 -84162 ORNTL PETROL A 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.0099 0.01 9000000 89900 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.011 5700000 62200 PXP ENERGY 8.4 8.41 8.45 8.7 8.4 8.4 226600 1925006 -199359 PREFFERED ALCO PREF C 101.2 106.9 103 103.1 103 103 6000 618110 CPG PREF A 101 102 101 101 101 101 500 50500 FGEN PREF G 103.7 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 100 10780 MWIDE PREF 99.95 100.2 100 100 100 100 10450 1045000 PNX PREF 3A 102 102.3 102.3 102.3 102.3 102.3 2100 214830 PNX PREF 3B 108 109 109 109 109 109 50 5450 PNX PREF 4 1050 1053 1055 1055 1050 1050 10575 11103825 PCOR PREF 2B 1020 1030 1036 1036 1030 1030 670 690975 PCOR PREF 3A 1050 1051 1051 1051 1050 1050 7500 7879500 1995000 PCOR PREF 3B 1062 1070 1070 1070 1062 1062 2010 2136690 SMC PREF 2C 77 77.5 77.1 77.1 77 77 51000 3928295 SMC PREF 2D 74.8 75.7 75 75 74.8 74.8 79500 5950982 SMC PREF 2E 75 75.05 75.05 75.1 75 75.05 76800 5763874 SMC PREF 2F 76.7 76.8 76.95 76.95 76.8 76.8 95020 7297539 SMC PREF 2G 75.1 75.5 75.1 75.1 75.1 75.1 7800 585780 -585780 SMC PREF 2H 75.15 76.3 76 76 76 76 3930 298680 SMC PREF 2I 75.3 76 75.95 76 75.3 75.3 177340 13477712 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 14.86 15.5 14.84 15.02 14.84 14.86 163600 2448130 -2431666 WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.04 1.13 1.07 1.07 1.04 1.04 30000 31680 SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 3.18 3.19 3.2 3.29 3.19 3.19 67000 214600 KEPWEALTH 9.7 9.75 9.75 9.98 9.62 9.7 200400 1941844 9650 XURPAS 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.8 0.78 0.79 532000 417860 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 110.9 112.5 111.6 111.6 110.2 110.9 6440 712425 21214

www.businessmirror.com.ph

AboitizPower gearing up for expanded RE portfolio

BOITIZ Power Corp. is gearing up to expand its renewableenergy (RE) portfolio in the next 10 years. AboitizPower President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Rubio said 65 percent of all new capacity will come from RE as opportunities in the RE sector thrive with the government’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and Green Energy Option Program (GEOP). “We estimate that 65 percent of all new capacity investments we will be making will be in renewables in the next 10 years because

of opportunities in RPS and GEOP and investment overseas,” he said. RPS is a market-based policy that requires electricity suppliers to source an agreed portion of their energy supply from eligible RE resources. The Green Energy Option Program, meanwhile, is a mechanism providing end-users the option to choose RE Resources as their source of energy.

The Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE) is working tirelessly to put all RE ahead of its conventional counterparts. The DOE is now implementing policies such as RPS and GEOP to improve the market viability of RE resources. Meanwhile, the Competitive Renewable Energy Zoning (CREZ) will resolve issues on the zoning of RE projects. Also, RA 11234 or the EVOSS Act and ED 30 (Energy Projects of National Significance) help streamline the processing of all relevant regulatory permits. “We expect DOE will be strict in compliance, resulting in a requirement for additional capacity by 2029 of just a little less than

10,000 megawatts, assuming the capacity factor of that RE technology that will be installed is around 18 percent,” Rubio said. Rubio said AboitizPower will participate and comply with the DOE’s programs and policies that will foster RE. “We are preparing to participate and capture a piece of this market. We are also looking at RE opportunities in South East Asia, particularly in Vietnam. All of these will contribute to a shift in our portfolio by 2029, to a more balanced RE to Thermal ratio,” he added. Aside from Vietnam, Aboitiz Power is also looking at Indonesia and Myanmar with focus on hydro and solar. Lenie Lectura

Nestlé pushes back sales goal as China growth engine stalls

ESTLÉ SA pushed back its target for sales growth as revenue from China slowed even before the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the Nescafe maker’s second-largest market. Nestlé will need one or two more years to return to increases of 4 percent to 6 percent, Chief Executive Officer Mark Schneider said on Thursday. The stock fell as much as 2.1 percent. Revenue climbed 3.5 percent on an organic basis in 2019, just short of analysts’ estimates as the bottledwater business had its worst performance in a decade. “With what we know now, in February 2020, it wouldn’t have been correct to say, ‘we’ll make the 4.0 percent,’” Schneider told journalists at Nestlé’s headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. “We’re giving ourselves more time.” The only market that’s bigger than greater China for Nestlé is the US. The food company gets 8 percent of total sales from that region in Asia. Most of Nestle’s 30 factories in China have reopened this week, though

they’re operating at reduced capacity. Nestlé said it’s too early to quantify the impact from the coronavirus. Restructuring costs and other trading expenses tripled to 2.6 billion francs ($2.7 billion) as Nestle wrote down the value of the struggling Chinese brand Yinlu. Schneider said Yinlu is trying to shift to products such as ready-to-drink coffee as its main category, peanut milk, declines in popularity. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Schneider signaled Nestlé has an appetite for purchases after last year was “light on the acquisition front.” The company made more than 50 deals over the past three years, selling and buying assets that have revenue of about 12 percent of its total sales. Schneider said he expects a similar amount over the next three years. Nestlé could raise funds for an acquisition by selling its stake in French cosmetics company L’Oreal SA, Schneider said, declining to say when it could happen. “We are not day-trading,” he said. The company reached its target

Rising Dragon seeks to double sales volume of drink supplement

EVERAGE supplement-maker Rising Dragon Beauty & Wellness Trading Corp. expects a 100-percent increase in sales volume this year given the bullish market coupled by its aggressive marketing. “The beauty and wellness industry continues to grow because more and more people are becoming health-conscious due to the emergence of different kinds of disease,” Rising Dragon Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leo P. Ortiz told the BusinessMirror in an interview during their ceremonial endorsement contract signing on Wednesday at the B Hotel in Quezon City. According to him, the slimming and whitening drink, the category that they are engaged in, has around 40 percent to 50 percent share of this sector. “So we’re happy that we are in line with beauty and wellness industry through our Glutalipo,” he noted. This product approved by the Food and Drugs Authority is formulated with 12 active ingredients, namely, gluthathione, L-Carnitine, green tea, collagen, garcinia, grape seed extract, mangosteen, goji berry, barley grass, malunggay, ampalaya, and lemon or coffee. They are proven to promote weight loss and result to smoother and fairer skin. Other beneficial ef-

fects include anti-aging, anti-colon cancer, anti-constipation, cleansing and detoxification. While Glutalipo is proven safe and effective for 18 years old and above, it’s not fit for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Results are attainable in as short as four to six months. Such supplementary beverage comes in juice (ice tea), coffee and milk tea variants. It’s available via the company’s distributors, resellers, and franchisees nationwide. Initially selling with only 20,000 to 30,000 boxes of 10 sachets a month in 2017, Rising Dragon has so far grown its sales volume at around 100,000 to 120,000. Apart from quality, the top executive attributed this to word-ofmouth from customers, as well as their marketing efforts in partnership with social media influencers and celebrity endorsers. The latest of which is with actress Beauty Gonzalez-Crisologo, who was just launched as Glutalipo’s new brand ambassador. Actor Tony Labrusca was signed up by the company a month ago. “We are aiming, hopefully, with the help of influencers, as well as Beauty and Tony that the volume of our sales will double [at about 200,000 to 240,000] in 2020,” Ortiz said. Roderick L. Abad

for margin improvement one year early, thanks to cost-cutting. Previously, Nestlé forecast reaching mid-single-digit sales growth in 2020.

MUTUAL FUNDS

Schneider said he sees strong double-digit growth in plant-based meat substitutes after sales of those products reached about 200 million francs last year. Bloomberg News

February 13, 2020

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 239.49 -10.67% -1.69% -2.76% -4.92% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.2461 -20.88% -3.57% -5.01% -9.83% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.3633 -19.2% -5.82% -5.55% -8.56% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.8332 -12.24% N.A. N.A. -7.12% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8107 -7.3% N.A. N.A. -4.54% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.0555 -9.41% -0.42% -2.79% -5.12% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.8036 -9.49% -4.3% N.A. -5.86% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 95.51 -21.58% N.A. N.A. -7.57% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 48.3611 -8.09% 0.33% N.A. -5.69% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 505.16 -7.87% -0.46% -2.42% -5.18% PHILEQUITY ALPHA ONE FUND, INC. -A,D,8 0.9849 N.A. N.A. N.A. -4.39% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.2233 -7.56% 0.14% -1.42% -4.94% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 35.9226 -7.79% 1.08% -1.24% -5.21% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,1 0.9678 -7.41% N.A. N.A. -4.94% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 4.9279 -7.28% 0.99% -0.69% -5.66% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 822.92 -7.31% 0.94% -0.83% -5.64% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.7822 -14.12% -2.61% -4.54% -8.13% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 3.9373 -8.92% 0.23% -1.58% -6.46% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9443 -7.6% 0.78% N.A. -5.65% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.4785 -6.36% 2.25% 0.14% -4.78% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C 110.4383 - 6.99% 1.63% 0.1% -5.57% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.0125 2.61% 3.93% 0.29% -1.55% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.4256 17.84% 9.91% N.A. 3.4% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.5316 -11.47% -3.8% -4.77% -2% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.0945 -9.31% -2.76% -2.58% -3.97% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.5556 -3.95% 0.75% -2.65% -2.88% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,5 0.2168 N.A. N.A. N.A. -5.12% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9261 0.56% 1.71% -0.07% -1.88% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6831 1.06% 0.65% -1.08% -2.8% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.4836 -0.04% 0.52% -1.16% -2.81% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.0722 -4% 0.23% -0.29% -2.52% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.7106 -3.16% 0.86% -0.88% -3.97% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,2 0.9874 -0.82% N.A. N.A. -2.79% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,2 0.9519 -4.25% N.A. N.A. -4.47% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,2 0.9465 -4.74% N.A. N.A. -4.7% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9275 -4.14% 0.01% -2.22% -4.85% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03889 9.03% 3.35% 2.15% 1.73% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $1.031 6.04% 3.92% 0.81% -0.66% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $4.0144 13.53% 7.74% 4.42% 2.65% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A,7 $1.1495 9.42% 4.61% N.A. 1.83% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 358.69 3.89% 2.7% 2.24% 0.25% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A 1.9077 2.54% 0.45% -0.61% 0.3% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.1351 4.95% 5.16% 5.17% 0.6% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2351 4.19% 2.03% 1.84% 0.45% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.362 6.08% 2.15% 1.25% 0.12% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.3854 12.12% 2.24% 1.5% 0.29% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.7846 5.66% 2.78% 1.21% -0.1% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9704 6.59% 1.17% 0.09% 0.63% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0875 9.09% 4.09% 2.34% 0.38% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6985 8.01% 3.4% 1.64% -0.15% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $471.11 4.52% 2.7% 2.75% 0.62% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є220.67 3.04% 1.79% 1.29% 0.43% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.2144 6.09% 3.14% 2.42% 0.6% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.026 4% 1.45% 1.36% 0.78% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.107 5.67% 1.43% -0.02% 1.08% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.4436 10.19% 3.63% 2.95% 1.66% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.060756 5.95% 2.35% 1.92% 0.73% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.247 11.04% 3.4% 2.9% 2.26% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 126.33 3.89% 2.93% 2.22% 0.44% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0301 2.86% N.A. N.A. 0.37% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.2554 5.86% 3.04% 1.66% -0.1% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2693 3.66% 2.94% 2.43% 0.37% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0395 2.03% N.A. N.A. 0.22% FEEDER FUND PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM GLOBAL MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND INC. -B,D,4 $1 N.A. N.A. N.A. 1.01% A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU). 1 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 2 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 3 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 15, 2019. 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2019. 6 - RENAMING WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST OCTOBER 12, 2018 (FORMERLY, ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.). 7 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST OCTOBER 9, 2019. 8 - LAUNCH DATE IS DECEMBER 09, 2019. "While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

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Association trends to consider in 2020

HIS is the time of year when we in the association community look at what’s new out there in terms of trends so we can further improve what we have been doing in boosting membership services and staying relevant to our members. I have compiled the following trends (with my own commentary) from two international e-newsletters that I receive on a regular basis: From the “Associations Now Daily” of the American Society of Association Executives (Asae): On boosting your non-dues revenues, i.e., revenues that are other than your annual membership fee subscription. Widen your net. Consider promoting and selling your products and services outside your membership which is a psychological shift on focusing from members to customers. Your customers may opt to avail of your services but do not wish to join as members. This is a reality based on our own experience in the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (Pcaae). Use your data. Study your members’ demographic profile. This will help you determine which in your member segments need what services and will enable you to retire programs that are declining in relevance or to develop fresh offerings being demanded. Present your value. Know that customers will spend money for the value that your association offers. This could be, among others, for your educational and career development programs or for your peer networking events. Use your unique content to increase your value proposition. From the “Association News Briefings” of the Texas Society of Association Executives: Make your programs accessible in various communication channels (particularly on mobile phones) and to different audiences, including persons with visual, audio or physical impairments.

A MAN rides his bike past decorative lanterns in Hangzhou, China, on February 11, 2020. BLOOMBERG NEWS

Association World Octavio Peralta Apply human-centered designs. Technologies notwithstanding, there is still need to involve the people your association serves in your strategy and daily operations—the Board, staff, general member stakeholders and others. Human-centered design means placing people at the core of a strategy, a program, an event, or any other function that your association undertakes. Focus on the present. Try different ways of connecting with your members, e.g., in live videos, live Facebook and LinkedIn updates, podcasts and more stories broadcasted on Instagram and Snapchat. People want to engage in real time, and live social is a convenient way to do so. Research from the Asae Foundation points to ways association leaders can learn from current trends to strengthen the value their association provides to its members. Its research report, “Exploring the Future of Membership,” suggests that associations should tailor their offerings to accommodate shifts in the roles of individuals and communities and in the value of information. Associations can also distinguish themselves not just as creators of content, but as curators of knowledge. The contributor, Octavio Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, Founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, and President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The purpose of Pcaae—the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable. The Pcaae enjoys the support of Adfiap, the Tourism Promotions Board and the Philippine International Convention Center. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org

RCBC: 10% of loan portfolio allocated to ‘green projects’

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

UCHENGCO-LED lender Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) said more than 10 percent of its loan portfolio has been allocated to the so-called green projects. The company said it has allocated some P39 billion to environmentrelated programs and social development projects. The said amount came from the net proceeds of the bank’s issuance of Green and Sustainability Bonds last year. In its first-ever Green and Sustainability Bonds Impact Report, RCBC said it had channeled P29.8 billion to fund 17 eligible green

projects on renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation and sustainable water management. Green bonds are called such since proceeds should only be channeled to specific environment-friendly projects. RCBC floated in separate deals some P15 billion in green bonds and then another P8 billion of the same kind last year. It then sold $300

million in green debt to tap those investors overseas that only invest their funds in such kind of debt. The bank also participated in a dozen renewable and energy efficiency financing deals, provided direct financial support to Southeast Asia’s largest solar power plant, and largely funded a 132.5 megawatt solar farm in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. The bank is also the sole lender to AC Energy Philippines Inc., BIM Group, with a $232-million project financing for a 330-megawatt solar power plant in Vietnam. Jamal Ahmad, RCBC Chief Risk Officer and Head of Risk Management Group, emphasized that the “Green and Sustainability Bonds Impact Report” is an important milestone for his employers. “It is a first such initiative by a domestic bank in the country to publicly disclose the positive impact

of its investments in sustainable activities,” Ahmad said. RCBC also allocated P9.2 billion to fund 9,347 eligible social loans that address access to essential services, socioeconomic advancement and empowerment, employment generation, and affordable housing. RCBC said it had P51.7 billion in eligible sustainable portfolio as of end 2019. These include, on a total basis, 2,879 megawatts of capacity to generate 11.63 million megawatts of renewable energy per year, 380.9 million cubic meters of water supplied/collected/treated per year to serve 998,225 billed service connection households, 8,650 affordable houses financed, and P15.67 billion in loans given to underserved individuals, among other benefits in the transport, health care, and academic sectors.

Novel coronavirus spurs best China bond rally since 2015

OME of the world’s major bond funds are rekindling their love for Chinese government debt, as an unexpected rally in recent weeks took the 10-year yield to the lowest level since late 2016. The asset management arms of The Pictet Group, UBS Group AG and BNP Paribas SA added China’s government and policy bank bonds on bets that the fatal outbreak of the coronavirus will take a toll on the country’s already-slowing economy. Its sovereign notes rallied the most in five years last week, as the impact of the disease raised hopes for more aggressive central bank easing. China’s economy is under renewed pressure from shutdowns and disruption brought by the outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,300 lives. Last week, the People’s Bank of China injected liquidity into the financial system and reduced interest rates on short-term funds, a move that effectively made it cheaper for traders to build leverage and buy bonds. The central bank’s deputy governor also signaled further cuts to the cost of its medium-term loans to lenders. “It’s clear that the bond market expects further easing,” said Arjun Vij, a portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management. He is long government and policy bank bonds, and expects yields to drop 10 to 15 basis points from current levels.

Malaysia plans stimulus as virus may worsen growth at decade low ALAYSIA will announce a stimulus package early next month as analysts slash their growth forecasts to account for the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The package will involve all ministries, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Thursday. Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunos earlier said the measure will seek to support those affected by the coronavirus, including tourism and manufacturing. Fitch Solutions cut its 2020 growth expectation to 3.7 percent, from 4.5 percent, while RHB Research and OverseaChinese Banking Corp. eased their forecasts to 4 percent. That’s far short of the government’s target for 4.8 percent. Economic expansion missed estimates in the fourth quarter in posting 3.6 percent, the slowest pace since 2009, and may ease further as measures to contain the virus’s spread stifle economic activity. “We do acknowledge it will impact us, particularly in the first quarter,” Shamsiah said of the virus on Wednesday. She didn’t give an estimate, citing the unpredictable nature of the outbreak. The impact already is reverberating across Malaysia’s industries.

Friday, February 14, 2020 B3

Banks including CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. and Malayan Banking Bhd. are offering leniency on loan payments for customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Hotel cancellations soared when China announced the travel ban for its citizens, according to Yap Lip Seng, head of the Malaysian Association of Hotels. “Our best hopes are to minimize losses,” he said. If the government doesn’t step in, “the industry may just collapse.” Palm oil, which makes up 39 percent of Malaysia’s farm output, saw its blistering rally cut short amid concern the virus will curb demand in the world’s biggest market. The price has lost 16 percent from its three-year high on January 10 despite falling supply. ViTrox Corp Bhd., a supplier to Foxconn Technology Group, expects minor disruption in supplies from China and slight delay in delivering its products, said Chief Executive Officer Chu Jenn Weng. “We believe the impact is just temporary,” he said. The stimulus package will offset some risks to the economy, with recovery likely to be seen in the second half of the year, RHB’s Ahmad Nazmi Idrus wrote in a research note. Bloomberg News

“Virus-related developments have precipitated a negative growth shock during what would otherwise be a consumption-heavy period.” A revival in foreigners’ demand for Chinese debt is good news for Beijing, which witnessed sub-0.5 percent growth in overseas funds’ holdings of onshore bonds the past two months despite its efforts to open up domestic markets. Global index compilers’ inclusions of Chinese notes into their gauges, and a steadier yuan—thanks to the China-U.S. trade war truce—are also boosting investor confidence in the securities. The yield on China’s 10-year sovereign notes plunged to 2.79 percent earlier this week, the lowest since November 2016, before paring some of the declines. The cost fell 1 basis point to 2.83 percent as of 5 p.m. in Shanghai Thursday. The rally comes after the virus shut down the majority of China’s economy even after a prolonged Lunar New Year holiday. That has prompted investment banks to cut their forecasts on the nation’s growth. The virus’ “hit to growth in the short-term will be harder and faster,” given China’s significant dependence on the service sector nowadays, said Wilfred Wee, a portfolio manager at Investec Asset Management in Singapore. “We see

structural uptrend in the foreign buying of Chinese bonds.” In addition to the PBOC’s interest-rate cuts, China is also seeking to buoy growth by boosting fiscal spending in the near term. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance allowed regional authorities to issue an extra $122 billion of debt, before the government budget is scheduled to be approved in March. “We envisage China will come back and throw the kitchen sink at this,” said Hayden Briscoe, head of fixed income for Asia Pacific at UBS Asset Management, of Beijing’s virus response. He is buying government and policy bank notes and contends the 10-year sovereign yield “could go a lot lower from here, and 2.5 percent isn’t inconceivable.” But not everyone expects to see a drastic rally. BNP Paribas Management fund manager Jean-Charles Sambor, who accurately predicted a rebound in Chinese bonds late last

year, said the 10-year yield could climb to 3.2 percent next month as uncertainty of the virus outbreak subsides. JPMorgan’s Vij says he’s shedding some of his positions in 10year notes for three- and five-year ones following the recent rally. A global bond fund he co-manages at the firm jumped 9 percent over the past year, beating 91 percent of its peers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. While future gains could be limited by stronger sales of muni bonds in China and a low chance of overly intense easing, “onshore China government and policy bank bonds still strike a chord with foreign investors,” said Cary Yeung, head of Greater China debt at Pictet Asset Management (HK) Ltd. He’s been adding such notes since January. “Amid the coronavirus-prompted market turmoil, we expect onshore yuan bonds to remain resilient.” Bloomberg News

B4 Friday, February 14, 2020

Find Love at the Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo

It’s All About Love: Century Park Hotel’s celebration of romance

Enjoy a romantic four-course dinner for two at the pools side and find love under the stars

Y C

ENTURY Park Hotel (CPH), one of the finest hotels in Metro Manila, is delighted to offer its lineup of romantic treats this February. Get ready for a spectacular month as we welcome a load of offers for you and your special someone. As early as February 10, avail of our best-selling Valentine’s Day special themed cakes and luscious chocolates from Deli Snack, the hotel’s delicatessen. On February 13 to 15, Café in the Park will feature an exclusive buffet

perfect for your Valentine date. For only P1,895 net, delight in our delectable feast carefully prepared by Raymond Chua, the hotel’s Executive Chef. It comes with a round of house iced tea, red or white wine. “Aishite Imasu” or “I love you” in Japanese, is the way to go at Century Tsukiji, the Japanese restaurant of the hotel. The outlet will give you an ultimate gustatory treat for two. You may also indulge yourselves in mouthwatering entrées to your heart’s content.

Aside from a complimentary snack at the Atrium Lounge for every drink, avail of the hotel’s famed Chocolate Pralines for a minimum consumption of P1,500 for two diners and P3,500 for a group of four. “The hotel gives importance to every occasion as we aim to give more than an outstanding and exemplary hospitality service to each and every one of our guests,” said CPH General Manager Anthony Tan. “May our vast choices of gastronomic pleasures be the way to win our patrons’ hearts,” he added.

Time to #LoveVenice at McKinley Hill this Valentine’s Day

HIS season of love, Megaworld's man-made canal will be turned into a heart-filled spot for singles, lovers, and families alike. The Philippines’ Most Romantic Mall is filled with colorful flowers, sweet chocolates, love letters, and people in the mall showing romantic gestures everywhere, every day as a celebration of love at Venice Grand Canal at McKinley Hill. This is the place where you can enjoy love locks, capture fun and romantic moments with Venetian mimes and cupid stilt walkers, and there’s also an Alley in Verona with flowers and gifts fair, pigeon feeding, caricature painting, and so much more. The award-winning and wellknown ethereal lights and water show performance is having a come back this Valentine’s Day on February 14 performing at 6PM and at 8PM at the Venice Piazza, inspired by the opening ceremony of Venice, Italy’s Carnevale di Venezia Festival. Valentine’s Day will never be complete without music to set the mood and vibes. So from February 14 to 16 every 6PM, feel the love with these live concerts and performances by KZ Tandingan and TJ

Monterde and the Miss Saigon Concerto on the 15th and during all the weekends of February. And as the music plays throughout Venice Grand Canal, watch out for a one of a kind #LoveVenice 3D Mapping show and its modern interpretation of Italy’s Romeo and Juliet at the Venice Piazza. For singles who are ready to mingle, break physical barriers and share your interests and love at this free admission

party with speed dating activities on Feb 15, 5pm, at the Venice Piazza. Being Leonardo Da Vinci As part of the Valentine’s Day festivities, and in celebration of Leonardo Da Vinci’s 500th death anniversary, you can also see different interpretations of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpieces in partnership with the Philippine-Italian Association on Feb 13 to 29 at the Ponte de Amore Lobby. For more information and details, visit www.megaworld-lifestylemalls.com.

your heartfelt sentiments as you feast on an international buffet highlighting our Slow Roasted US Prime Rib, Baked whole Salmon in Salt Dough and Slow Roasted Lamb leg along with other mains, side dishes and sweet incantations for a memorable Valentine’s dinner between 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM or 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM for only 1,588 net per person. Executive Chef Chachpol Suaisom prepares a four-course dinner by the pool deck starting off with an appetizer, followed by soup, your main course and finish of with dessert. This also comes with a complementary glass of wine. Be there between 6:00 PM to 10:30 midnight for a rate good for two for only PHP 3,388 net. For inquiries and reservations now through (033) 330-7600.

‘Mr. Taxman’ marks 16th year on ‘dwIZ’

R. Taxman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) public-service radio program on dwIZ 882AM, marks today its 16th anniversary of broadcasting every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. Hosted by veteran broadcasters Gerry Flores, a.k.a. Mr. Taxman, and Cely Ortega Bueno, the program takes up issues on taxes, disseminates pertinent BIR information and encourages the listening public to participate

in discussion on the air. As Mr. Taxman, Flores answers taxpayers’ queries, assisted by co-host Ortega Bueno. The program seeks to promote the BIR’s objective of further strengthening tax collection through tax-information campaigns. Mr. Taxman has aired continuously on the same time slot of 10 to 11 a.m. every Saturday since it was launched on Feb. 14, 2004. BIR officials also attend program broadcasts to brief listeners on the bureau’s current programs and projects. The radio program was initiated during the term of former revenue commissioner Guillermo Parayno with the assistance of then-Makati regional director Anselmo Adriano and Maria Nieva Guerrero.

Commute your way back into Love with Sakay.ph

The Philippines' leading exponent of Filipiniana dressing makes a comeback

ONI Galang is best known for integrating the richness and unique attributes of traditional Filipino wear, fabrics, and weaves with contemporary silhouettes and styling. He has keen understanding and adherence to quality, comfort, and wearability, coupled with the ability to infuse a spirit of individuality in each of his designs which resulted in unparalleled creations. His works speak of an artistic fusion of colors,

OU don’t wanna miss a thing this Valentine’s Day! Better book ahead to get amazing room packages and F&B discounts. Here are the top three things to make your sweetest dreams come true at the Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo to stay in love! Spend the love day in a sweet surrender by booking yourselves an eventful evening with a package complete with a room and a romantic dining experience of your choice on Valentine’s Day. Stay in a standard room with access to the pool and fitness center plus a choice of breakfast in bed or a buffet at the Runway Kitchen. Book this offer now for only PHP 7,588 available only online through www.courtyardiloilo.com. Experience love at every bite with friends and family at the Runway Kitchen. Express

fabrics and texture which caught the refined taste of fashion aficionados here and abroad. He made his American debut in 1992 at the Adams Mark Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri for the benefit of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) of Missouri Women's Auxiliary, and was hailed as the Philippines' Arnold Scaasi (of New York). In a 1993 show at the Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., then Cong. Neil Abercrombie bestowed on him the Congressional Award "in recognition of his efforts in promoting Philippine culture and heritage through fashion." He was also named ASEAN Program Consultant of the Piagram Penhargaan and was the recipient of the ASEAN Fashion Entrepreneur Award for Fashion from the Gedung Hailai International Executive Club on October 30, 1993. His Alma Mater, San Beda College, honored Toni by naming him "Bedan of the Century" for his artistic talent in fashion during its centennial anniversary in 2001.

While on retirement, Toni did 2018 Holiday Fashion Show in Seattle showcasing International and Local Artist using themes from the Filipino Culture with equally renowned Raymond Villanueva as the director of the event who also hosted a workshop for the models. This paved the way for a comeback project in the Philippines in November 2019. Featuring his well-loved bridal gown including pastels and reversible, color-changing gowns, the show was held at the famed Manila Hotel. His fave model, fashion doyenne Marina Benipayo's careful turn around and perfect execution of the color-changing bridal gown which has become the talk of the town last year. “Today I want to do more shows. I’m excited as before. And my bucket list is to do a show before the sultan of Brunei. I don’t know why but I want to do a show for the royalty,” he added. Meantime, Toni is gathering concepts and more materials for upcoming shows he doesn’t want to give details yet.

ICTURE this: you finally meet your potential ‘the one’ but there’s one catch— you’re literally miles apart. Dating someone or even simply meeting your friends based from the North while you’re from the South (and vice-versa) can be a challenge with the unforgiving EDSA traffic and unfamiliar public transportation routes. Don’t worry—this Filipino app is set to make your (love) life easier with its easy to use commuter guidelines and features. Sakay.ph was created in 2013 to help guide Filipino commuters on the best route to go around and about Metro Manila through different public transportation methods. Since then, it has been the go-to app for commuters

who’d like to ‘commute smartly’ every day. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Sakay.ph recently introduced Sakay Halfway. This special new in-app feature tells couples where they can meet halfway in Metro Manila, just in time for Valentine's weekend. Once a user enters their locations, the app automatically recommends their midway point and its nearby restaurants, malls, hotels and other establishments that can serve as their date spot. With Sakay.ph’s Sakay Halfway, you don’t have to be afraid to go the distance for love. Commute your way back into love with Sakay Halfway on the Sakay.ph app. Download for free.

Romantic rendezvous at Las Casas this love month

LANNING a Valentine escapade shouldn’t stress you. Celebrate love in all ways possible at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar for the whole month of February with its exclusive offers. May it be a romantic candlelit dinner, a simple staycation, or a stroll in the park, Las Casas got you covered. If you are feeling extra special and want to have some alone time, make the most out of this romantic vibe by treating him or her to a 5-course Valentine dinner. For as low as PHP 11, 600, you and your special someone may enjoy 5-Course Romantic Dinner for two with a special set-up of your choice – aboard a balsa, by the beach, or beside Umagol River. It also includes a deluxe room, bottle of wine, Heritage Walking Tour, Hotel de Oriente Access, Calesa Ride, and buffet breakfast. For more information, visit www. lascasasfilipinas.com or Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on Facebook and Instagram.

Three female highschool runners argue that allowing athletes with male anatomy to compete has deprived them of track titles and scholarship opportunities. By Pat Eaton-Robb

The Associated Press

ARTFORD, Connecticut—The families of three female high-school runners filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from participating in girls sports. Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury High School, Chelsea Mitchell, a senior at Canton High School and Alanna Smith, a sophomore at Danbury High School are represented by the conservative nonprofit organization Alliance Defending Freedom. They argue that allowing athletes with male anatomy to compete has deprived them of track titles and scholarship opportunities. “Mentally and physically, we know the outcome before the race even starts,” said Smith, who is the daughter of former Major League pitcher Lee Smith. “That biological unfairness doesn’t go away because of what someone believes about gender identity. All girls deserve the chance to compete on a level-playing field.” The lawsuit was filed against the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and the boards of education in Bloomfield, Cromwell, Glastonbury, Canton and Danbury. “Forcing girls to be spectators in their own sports is completely at odds with Title IX, a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics,” attorney Christiana Holcomb said. “Connecticut’s policy violates that law and reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women.” The Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference says its policy follows a state anti-discrimination law that says students must be treated in school by the gender with which they identify and the group believes the policy is “appropriate under both state and federal law.” The lawsuit follows a Title IX complaint filed last June by the girls’ families and the Alliance Defending Freedom with the US Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which is investigating the policy. The lawsuit centers on two transgender sprinters, Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, who have frequently outperformed their cisgender competitors. The two seniors have combined to win 15 girls state indoor or outdoor championship races since 2017, according to the lawsuit. The three plaintiffs have competed directly against them, almost always losing to Miller and usually behind Yearwood. Mitchell finished third in the 2019 state championship in the girls 55-meter indoor track competition behind Miller and Yearwood. “Our dream is not to come in second or third place, but to win fair and square,” Mitchell said. “All we’re asking for is a fair chance.” Yearwood, a senior at Cromwell High School, and Miller, a senior at Bloomfield High School, issued statements vehemently defending their right to run in girls events. “I have faced discrimination in every aspect of my life and I no longer want to remain silent,” Miller said. “I am a girl and I am a runner. I participate in athletics just like my peers to excel, find community, and meaning in my life. It is both unfair and painful that my victories have to be attacked and my hard work ignored.” Yearwood said she also is a girl and has been hurt by the efforts to “tear down my successes.” “I will never stop being me!” she said in her statement. “I will never stop running! I hope that the next generation of trans youth doesn’t have to fight the fights that I have. I hope they can be celebrated when they succeed not demonized. For the next generation, I run for you!” The American Civil Liberties Union said it will represent the transgender teens and defend the Connecticut policy in court. Attorney Chase Strangio, deputy director for Trans

BIOLOGICAL UNFAIRNESS? Sports BusinessMirror

DANBURY High School sophomore Alanna Smith speaks during a news conference at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut. AP

| Friday, February 14, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Justice with the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, said transgender girls also are protected by Title IX. “The idea that the law only protects the individuals with XX chromosomes as compared to individuals with XY chromosomes is found nowhere in the legislative history of Title IX, in any implementing regulation or in any other aspect of the interpretation of Title IX over the last 50 years by the courts,” he said. The attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom is asking the court to prevent the transgender girls from competing while the lawsuit moves forward. No hearing date on that request had been scheduled Wednesday, the day before the state’s indoor track championships begin. Connecticut is one of 17 states that allowed transgender high-school athletes to compete without restrictions in 2019, according to Transathlete.com, which tracks state policies in high-school sports across the country. Eight states had restrictions that make it difficult for transgender athletes to compete while in school, such requiring athletes to compete under the gender on their birth certificate, or allowing them to participate only after going through sex reassignment procedures or hormone therapies, according to Transathlete. Yearwood and Miller have said they are still in the process of transitioning but have declined to provide details. THE lawsuit centers on two transgender sprinters, Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, who have frequently outperformed their cisgender competitors. AP

U.C.I. UPDATES, CLARIFIES REGULATIONS ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETE PARTICIPATION T

DAVID LAPPARTIENT: This is an important step in the inclusion of transgender athletes in elite sport.

HE International Cycling Union (UCI) approved new regulations on the eligibility of transgender athletes to compete in events on the international calendar during the UCI Management Committee in Dübendorf in Switzerland. The new regulations, due to come into effect on March 1, are designed to encourage transgender athletes to compete in the category corresponding to their new gender, while guaranteeing a level-playing field for all athletes in the competitions in question. Up until then, the eligibility criteria for competing in the corresponding gender-identity category were those agreed on at a consensus meeting organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2015. The IOC regulations state athletes who transition from male to female can compete in the women’s category without requiring surgery, provided their total testosterone level in serum is kept below 10 nanomoles per liter. The provision of new scientific knowledge led to the eligibility criteria being reviewed—in particular for male-to-female athletes—at a working meeting held in Lausanne in October 2019, and which was attended

by the UCI, other international federations, experts and representatives of transgender and cisgender athletes. As part of the new consensus, it is agreed that if an international federation decides to use testosterone as an indicator, the transgender athlete will only be eligible to compete in the women’s category if their serum testosterone level is below 5 nmol/L. “The adoption of new directives in the UCI Regulations will provide the cycling community as a whole with a clearly defined regulatory framework that applies to everyone,” UCI President David Lappartient said. “Thanks to this consensus, achieved by a working group representing our sport’s various stakeholders, our Federation has given itself the wherewithal to take into consideration—and in reflection of developments in our society—the desire of transgender athletes to compete, while guaranteeing a level-playing field for all competitors,” Lappartient said. “This is an important step in the inclusion of transgender athletes in elite sport,” he added. All transgender athletes wishing to compete in the category corresponding to their new gender must make

their request to the medical manager appointed by the UCI at least six weeks before the date of the first competition. The athlete’s file will be passed on to a commission of three international experts independent of the UCI. The commission’s members will assess the athlete’s eligibility to compete in the new gender category and will inform the UCI’s medical officer of their conclusions. The athlete must prove that their serum testosterone level has been below 5 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to the eligibility date. Once deemed eligible, the athlete must agree to keep their serum testosterone level below 5 nmol/L for the entire time they compete in the women’s category. The athlete must undergo serum testosterone tests conducted using a benchmark method, mass spectrometry. Once their eligibility to compete has been confirmed, the UCI’s medical manager will be responsible for ensuring the athlete complies with the eligibility regulations throughout their sporting career. Should they fail to do so, the medical manager may choose to suspend their eligibility to compete until such time as the athlete proves that they are able to comply

with the criteria again. In the event of any breach of the regulations, a penalty system shall come into effect. Penalties shall range from a mere reprimand and warning to disqualification and a fine. The UCI has asked its national federations to include these new directives in their regulations. Late last year, a group of international federation representatives claimed sports bodies should mirror the testosterone threshold of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, for transgender female athletes hoping to compete at major events. In a statement, the IAAF said international federation officials were in agreement with eligibility rules passed by the world governing body in October. Under World Athletics regulations, the concentration of testosterone in an athlete must be less than 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 12 months prior to being declared eligible. Its previous limit was 10 nmol/L. The IOC eligibility guidelines are used by several IFs to determine their own rules, but the organization is looking into establishing stricter criteria. Insidethegames

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TOKYO 2020, I.O.C.: GAMES ARE ON! T

OKYO—Tokyo Olympic organizers reiterated their message on Thursday at the start of two days of meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC): the Summer Games will not be waylaid by the coronavirus that is spreading from neighboring China. “I would like to make it clear again that we are not considering a cancellation or postponement of the Games. Let me make that clear,” Yoshiro Mori, the president of the organizing committee, said, speaking through an interpreter to dozens of top IOC officials who are gathered in Tokyo. The Olympics open in just over five months, and the torch relay begins next month in Japan—a clear signal the Games are almost here. Although there have been no deaths in Japan attributed to the virus, Tokyo and IOC officials are clearly jittery. Sitting among the officials this time was Dr. Richard Budgett, the IOC’s medical and scientific director. Last week, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo organizing committee, said he was “seriously worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the momentum toward the Games.” He backed down a day later and said he was confident the Games would go forward, which is the message this time. The virus on Wednesday forced the

cancellation of a popular Formula One race set for April in Shanghai, which draws more than 100,000 over a race weekend. It has wiped the indoor world track and field championships in Nanjing, golf tournaments, soccer matches, and almost all sports in China, including Olympic qualifying events. It is also keeping Chinese athletes from traveling to qualify, which could put their presence in Tokyo in jeopardy. Saburo Kawabuchi, a former Olympian and the so-called mayor of the Olympic Village that will house 11,000 athletes and thousands more staff members, suggested Tokyo’s hot and humid summer would stop the virus. “The biggest concern is the coronavirus and the infection,” he said, speaking in Japanese. “Currently we don’t have any clue when this issue will be resolved. Based on various pieces of information we receive, it seems that this virus is not as strong as the influenza virus. The virus is susceptible to humidity and heat. In Japan, we have the rainy season which could defeat the virus.” John Coates, an IOC member who heads the regular inspection visits to Tokyo, said he expected to receive reports on the virus from the Japanese government, the Tokyo city government, and local organizers in order to see the “necessary precautions that are being taken.” AP

A WOMAN photographs a snow sculpture promoting the Tokyo 2020 during the 71st Sapporo Snow Festival at Odori Park in Sapporo. AP

F1 Chinese Grand Prix L postponed due to virus

ONDON—Formula One organizers on Wednesday postponed the Chinese Grand Prix that was due to be staged in Shanghai in April, the latest sporting event impacted by the fast-spreading viral infection in the country. More than 1,100 people have died in China from the virus, which has been named COVID-19

by the World Health Organization. One of 22 races on the F1 calendar for 2020 that opens in Melbourne next month, the Chinese Grand Prix was due to be staged on April 19. The decision to postpone the race was taken after a request from the Shanghai promoter to “ensure the health and safety of the traveling staff, championship participants and fans,” F1 said in a statement. It is the first time a race has been called off since political unrest led to the cancellation of the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix. “It’s tough,” Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo said shortly after the F1 announcement on China. “Obviously mixed feelings because

personally I really enjoy the circuit, I had success there. I had a win in 2018 and I got my first points with Renault there last year. So it’s been positive for me. “I feel for the fans and everyone that’s going to miss out but, more important, I feel for China, what they are going through at the moment with the virus. But on the flip side, I’m glad that some initiative has been taken and that we’re not putting anyone else at risk.” Speaking at the launch of the Renault team’s F1 car for 2020, Ricciardo said that a decision was needed now because teams have to send in equipment and personnel well in advance of races.

“[The virus] still hasn’t been controlled to full effect,” the Australian said at Renault’s showcase store on the Champs-Élysées. “The problem is freight and all that would have to go this week, and they had to make an early call on it. Hopefully by April, things are controlled but this is a decision that needed to come soon.” Motor sport officials from F1’s governing body, the FIA, Chinese organizers and teams will remain in discussions about whether the race can be rearranged this year. “All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for the grand prix later in the year should the situation improve,” F1 said. AP

Nets snap Raptors’ 15-game win streak

THE Nets’ Caris LeVert drives around the Raptors’ Fred VanVleet. AP

Woods, Thomas spend time off course

OS ANGELES—Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas are separated by about 17 years on the calendar and 70 victories on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, neither of which has kept them from becoming friends away from golf. Thomas first met Woods in 2015 on the range at The Players Championship, his rookie year. They grew closer a year later during some of the darker moments for Woods when his back was killing him, he wasn’t playing and had days where it was tough to walk. His future was never more uncertain. Both are represented by Excel Sports, and Thomas asked agent Mark Steinberg if it was OK to reach out to Woods. Thomas and Rickie Fowler became regular visitors. “I was thinking about him and wanted to hang out,” Thomas said. “That’s when we became close. He couldn’t do much. We wanted to make

EW YORK—The Toronto Raptors were hoping to keep rolling right into the All-Star break. Instead, they had their franchise-record winning streak stopped at 15 games with a 101-91 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Still, the reigning National Basketball Association (NBA) champions are 40-15 despite losing Kawhi Leonard last summer and battling injuries all season, so they could easily shrug off a poor performance Wednesday. “In the big scheme of things, you look at the overall of where you’re sitting and have to be pleased with that,” Coach Nick Nurse said. The Raptors couldn’t find the form that helped them average 121.2 points and shoot 50 percent over the previous 15 games. This time, they hit only 37.8 percent, with Kyle Lowry’s triple-double coming on a night when the All-Star point guard was just four for 13. “We didn’t play well. Simple as that,” Lowry said. “They played well and give them credit, they played their butts off. They beat us. It’s only one game.” Caris LeVert scored 20 points for the Nets, who ended a sixgame losing streak against the Raptors. That included Saturday in Toronto, where LeVert scored a career-best 37 points but the Nets fell 119-118. “I think we felt like we were right there in Toronto. We were really a last second tip-in from winning the game and we were confident going into it,” forward Joe Harris said. “Obviously any time you play home in front of your own fans, you definitely get a distinct advantage that way.” Harris added 19 points and Spencer Dinwiddie had 17 points and nine assists for the Nets, who head into the break 25-28 after having Kyrie Irving for just 20 games. He sat out again with a sprained right knee. Serge Ibaka had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors after returning from a one-game absence with flu-like symptoms. Fred VanVleet scored 22 points and Lowry had 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. AP

sure he was still positive, not getting down on himself, that we were still believing in him.” Now they seem to spend as much time on the golf course. Woods and Thomas will be playing together the opening two rounds of the Genesis Invitational, joined this year by Steve Stricker, as Woods goes for his record 83rd victory on the PGA Tour. It’s the third-straight year that Thomas and Woods have been in the weekday groups at Riviera, which probably isn’t a coincidence, especially now that Woods is the tournament host. Thomas was asked late last year why Woods likes him. “I don’t know,” he said. “To be honest, because I don’t view him as Tiger Woods. I view him as one of my buddies. I needle him. To be perfectly honest, I don’t kiss his [behind] like some people do. I absolutely respect him so much, and how

much time he’s given me. But it’s just two buddies hanging out.” They seem to hang out a lot inside the ropes. Even though Thomas and Woods have played in the same event only 35 times since Thomas joined the PGA Tour in 2015, they already have played together in 14 rounds. More alarming is the record. In the early years for Woods, it was rare for anyone to have a higher percentage posting the lower score. In the 14 times Woods and Thomas have been in the same group, Thomas has a 10-1-3 advantage. The only time Woods got him was the final round in the Bahamas last year, and Thomas is still fuming about that. Looking back, he was more caught up in beating Woods than winning the tournament, and he fears it cost him. They started out two shots behind Gary Woodland, playing a few groups ahead of the leaders. AP

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Friday, February 14, 2020

U.E. FENCERS LET FOES EAT DUST

SISI RONDINA and Bryan Bagunas are the country’s brightest in volleyball in 2019.

VOLLEYBALL PRIDE: SISI AND BRYAN A

N imposing 2019 was all Cherry “Sisi” Rondina and Bryan Bagunas needed to cement their niche as the new toasts of Philippine volleyball. Rondina and Bagunas won Most Valuable Player honors for University of Santo Tomas and National University, respectively, in leading their schools to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 volleyball finals, while finding time suiting up for the national teams in the 30th Southeast Asian Games where they ended up clinching a medal each. The impact they made in their discipline earned them the Ms. and Mr. Volleyball trophies in the San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night on March 6 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel. A native of Compostela, Cebu, the 23-yearold Rondina is the latest to receive the trophy

which Alyssa Valdez three times, Mika Reyes and Dawn Macandili hoisted in the last three years respectively. Bagunas, 22, on the other hand, is the first to get the nod for the award outside of two-time winner Marck Espejo of Ateneo. The special awards accorded to Rondina and Bagunas are just among several to be handed out by the country’s oldest media organization during the gala night presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Cignal TV, Philippine Basketball Association, AirAsia and Rain or Shine. For winning the overall championship of the SEA Games, Team Philippines will be the recipient of the coveted Athlete of the Year award. Rondina actually scored a double in UAAP Season 81 as she also ran away with the MVP award—her fourth—in beach volleyball where she paired with Baby Love Barbon to give UST its

sixth championship overall. In doing so, she became the second player to win both the indoor and beach volleyball MVP awards in a single season after Wendy Semana of Far Eastern University in Season 70. Rondina also guided the Tigresses to the Finals when they dethroned the De La Salle Lady Spikers and make the championship round for the first time in seven years. The school though lost to Ateneo in the deciding game of the best-of-three title series. By the end of the season, Rondina was named UAAP Athlete of the Year in collegiate team sports, the only female to be accorded the award. Soon after, Rondina was back on the sand to lead the country’s beach volleyball campaign in the SEA Games, where the team—composed of Bernadeth Pons, Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez— salvaged a bronze to end the Philippines’ 14-year

medal drought in the sport Bagunas’s season was just as dominant. The NU star proved it was his time to shine after capturing the Season 81 men’s MVP plum, the first Bulldog to win the award in the Final Four era and the first player to clinch the prized trophy following the five-year reign of Espejo. He later teamed up with Espejo and together, they steered the men’s team to the SEA Games Final following a dramatic five-set win over dethroned champion Thailand in what many regarded as one of the best moments for the country in the Games. The team lost to Indonesia in three sets in the Filipinos’ first gold medal-round stint in 42 years, bagging the silver medal that glittered like gold. Bagunas currently plays as an Asian import for Japanese club team Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the V-League.

NIVERSITY of the East (UE) stamped its might anew in fencing by sweeping two gold medals in women’s action and another one in the girls’ division in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 competitions on Wednesday at the Paco Arena. The Lady Warriors went 1-2 in women’s individual saber with Queendenise Dalmacio beating Elvielyn Joy Javinar, 15-5, in the final. Maxine Esteban, on the other hand, lost her chance to retain the women’s individual saber crown—and Ateneo’s back-to-back championship—after absorbing a 6-15 defeat to Javinar in the semifinals. The 20-year-old reigning women’s Most Valuable Player, who won the individual foil on Tuesday, failed to reach the podium in individual epee. The Blue Eagles bagged their first men’s gold as Jaime Viceo topped the individual foil event by nipping two-time MVP Sammuel Tranquilan of the Red Warriors by slimmest of margins, 15-14. UE remained on top of the men’s medals race with a 2-2-0 gold-silver-medal tally heading into Thursday’s team events. With a 2-1-2 haul after two days, the Lady Warriors are back to where they belong—on top. UE earned its first women’s gold courtesy of Rein Bustos, who beat University of Santo Tomas’s Marielle Peralta, 15-10, in individual epee. UST’s Mira Dorimon and De La Salle’s Divine Romero settled for the bronze medals. UST’s Fhaym Sarrondo, meanwhile, joined Esteban on the individual saber podium. UST’s Samuel Mangarin and De La Salle’s Jose Lorenzo Mercado took home the individual foil bronze. Graduating star Samantha Catantan, meanwhile, beat Angel Beltran, 15-6, in an all-UE girls individual saber final to claim her second gold of the season.

to dominate the premier 18-under side, which features Eric Tangub, Al Dree Pan and Nilo Ledama, who are all going all-out to fuel their respective title bids in the five-day tournament kicking off the Mindanao swing of the country’s longrunning talent search put up by PPS-PEPP headed by its president and CEO Bobby Castro. Enriquez, the 17-year-old ace from Salug, Zambo del Norte, also brims with confidence as she sets out against Judy Ann Padilla, Zeiah Toribio, Carmel Padilla, Karylle Baco and Elsmare Denopol, among others, in the girls’ 18-under section of the tournament sponsored by Mayor Sancho Fernando Oaminal.

PSC-PSI Visayas program kicks off in July

EFENDING Champion Arellano University beat cellar-dweller Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in a virtual workout, 25-15, 25-14, 25-20, in women’s volleyball on Thursday—a day before the Management Committee suspended all competitions starting on Friday in Season 95 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). NCAA chairman Peter Cayco announced the suspension of all competitions, a decision prompted by the corona virus 2019 (COVID-2019) outbreak. “While we are mindful of the importance of holding the games, the health of our students is our top priority,” Cayco said in a statement. Resumption of action will be based on advisories and guidelines from the Department of Health, Department of Education, Commision on Higher Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has postponed some 80 grassroots sports programs in the Visayas because of the corona virus 2019 (COVID-2019) outbreak. The programs are under the auspices of the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI). PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said they are FERNANDEZ targeting the resumption of the programs by July. ”We are playing it by ear with the recent situation in the country. But definitely, the PSC is ready to proceed,” Fernandez said. Thirty editions of the UNESCO-recognized Children’s Games are scheduled in Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, with seven editions

of the Consultative Planning and Coaching Certification Programs set in Negros Occidental, Cebu and Southern Leyte. Young athletes from Aklan, Bohol and Samar will also undergo Talent Identification programs, with Sports Journalism Seminars to be provided for campus sportswriters. “We want to capitalize in bringing sports to the youth sector of the region and raise awareness among children and parents of sports,” Fernandez added. One of the scheduled events is the Coastal Children’s Games in Limasawa which will coincide with the island’s 499th anniversary celebration of the first Catholic Mass in the country.

Close to 200 entries are vying for top honors in nine age-group divisions with Neo Maratas, Penshoppe Erquita, Kale Villamar and Sean Esick expected to dispute the boys’ 14-under diadem and Denopolo and Padilla likely to duel for the girls’ crown. Pete Bandala, David Sepulveda, Bryzen Sanchez and Mark Solis, on the other hand, gear up for a showdown in the boys’ 12-under category with May Gonzales and Marlyn Mesiona leading the chase in the girls’ side of the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPSPEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-MEG.

Japanese, Taiwanese shuttlecockers display top form in Badminton Asia

EIGNING women’s titlist Japan teetered on its way to another victory as Thailand and Chinese Taipei kept their poise on Thursday in the Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Former world No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi fell to 2017 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Soniia Cheah, 21-16, 13-21, 21-18, in a major reversal in the tournament, but her Japanese teammates salvaged close to convincing victories to remain on top of Group W. The Yamaguchi-Cheah match was delayed for

almost an hour after power went off. Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida beat Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah, 21-15, 18-21, 21-16, to secure the tie for the Japanese over the Malaysians, 3-2. Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota made short work of Chow Mei Kuan earlier leveled the tie at 1-all, 21-11, 21-15, in the first doubles match and Sayaka Takahashi put Japan ahead with a 21-18, 21-12 conquest of Goh Jin Wei. Selvaduray Kesona beat Ohori, 21-14, 21-13, in singles that no longer had a bearing in the tie. Thailand pocketed a Group Y win after

UNIVERSITY of the East’s Rein Bustos is Season 82’s individual epee queen.

NCAA suspends all games; Lady Chiefs book easy win

Velez, Enriquez seek to dominate Ozamiz netfest OHN DAVID VELEZ gears up for a sweep of two age groups while Sydney Enriquez tries to stamp her class in her side of the battle in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Mayor Oaminal national age group tournament which gets going at the Asenso courts in Ozamiz City on Friday. The 16-year-old Velez, the leading player in the ranks today, is raring to flaunt his form and deliver before a home crowd against the likes of Nash Agustines, Ashton Villanueva and Chris Sonsona in his age bracket in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop. The multi-titled rising star is also tipped

Andrea Matias led the Recto-based squad in another 1-2 finish in girls epee, scoring a 15-13 win over Jaymi delos Santos. Gunning for a ninth consecutive girls title, UE has collected three golds and three silvers. The Junior Warriors also continued their dominance as Shawn Felipe beat his brother, reigning MVP Prince John, 15-9, to capture the individual foil gold in another all-UE finale. The 10-peat seeking Junior Warriors now have a two-day haul of of 3-1-2 haul. UST completed the podium in girls individual saber courtesy of Kristel Chacon and Kim Tuy, as well as in the girls individual epee courtesy of Rose Mira and Bhea Raguin. Ateneo’s Aidan Feliciano Reyes and Seth Cucio clinched the boys individual foil bronze medals.

SINGAPORE’S Yue Yann Jaslyn Hooi in action against Chinese Taipei’s Ying Li Chiang. ROY DOMINGO

Phittayaporn Chaiwan waylaid Choirunnisa Choirunnisa in the deciding singles, 21-18, 21-10. Indonesia took the first match behind Gregoria Tunjung’s 21-16, 21-12 victory over Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, however, took the first doubles match for Thailand—21-13, 15-21, 21-17 over Ni Ketut Mahawedi Istrani and Ariyani Rahayu—then Pornpawee survived Ruselli Hartawan in a threeset thriller, 21-19, 18-21, 21-16. Indonesia’s second doubles pair of Siti Ramadhanti and Ribka Sugiarto forced a

Juniors games were already suspended last February 6 while the University Athletic Association of the Philippines suspended all its games on Thursday. The Lady Chiefs were as vicious as ever even after a 10-day break, making mincemeat of the Lady Generals in their match at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Middle blocker Alyana Donato led the Regine Arocha-less Lady Chiefs with 12 points, while reigning Most Valuable Player Necole Ebuen tallied 11 points. Princess Sasuman, who filled in Arocha’s absence, scored seven points. Princess Bello had six points along with 12 excellent digs and Mikaela Juanich added four points. Princess Donato finished with 12 excellent digs while Sarah Verutiao made five points and 18 excellent sets. “I’m not sticking to the usual line up. I’m experimenting,” Lady Chiefs’ Coach Roberto Javier said. “I wanted to see if my starting players would play bad—then I’ll know who to use in the next games. In every practice, I’m already mixing my players.” Arocha sat out the match to fully recover from the flu. The four-peat seeking Lady Chiefs improved to a 7-1 won-lost record to keep the No. 2 spot. They will face No. 1 College Saint. Benilde Lady Blazers (8-0) at noon on Monday. Catherina Almazan paced the Lady Generals with 14 points, 10 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions, while Dhariane Gallardez added six points and Kristine Cancio 11 excellent digs. EAC fell to a 1-8 record. Letran College, meanwhile, upset University of Perpetual Help, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-1615-17, to notch its second straight win. Chamberlaine Cunada topscored with 19 points, Daisy Melendrez added 16 and Julienna Castro had 12 points, 10 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions for Lady Knights, who improved to a 4-4 card at No. 5. Ryniel Berlanga

decider with a dominant win over Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phataimas Muenwong, 21-17, 21-12. Chinese Taipei bagged a Group Z victory, also 3-2, against Singapore with Kuo Yu Wen and Lin Wan Ching defeating Yue Jaslyn Hooi and Yeo Jia Min, 21-10, 17-21, 21-11, in the deciding doubles match. Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po downed Yeo in the opening singles match at 21-19, 17-21, 21-16, bnut Singapore’s Hooi leveled with a similar marathon triumph, 21-14, 13-21, 21-12, over Chiang Ying Li.

Sports BusinessMirror

| Friday, February 14, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WEST Virginia Gov. Jim Justice denies he is racist. AP

WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR CALLS H.S. GIRLS HOOPS TEAM ‘THUGS’

VALENTINE’S DAY ON PITCH

U.S. MEN’S SOCCER UNION SUPPORTS WOMEN’S CAUSE By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

EW YORK—The US men’s national team urged the US Soccer Federation (USSF) to sharply increase pay of the American women and accused the governing body of making low-ball offers in negotiations with the men. The union for the women’s team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF that is scheduled for trial starting May 5, in US District Court, in Los Angeles. The women agreed to a collective bargaining agreement in April 2017, that extends through 2021. The men’s labor contract expired at the end of 2018. “The women’s 2017 to 2021 deal is worse than the men’s 2011-2018 deal,” the men’s union said in a statement Wednesday. “The federation continues to discriminate against the women in their wages, and working conditions.... What we believe should happen is simple. Pay the women significantly more than our recently expired men’s deal. In our estimation, the women were due at least triple what our expired deal was worth in player compensation.” The men claimed the federation wants their pay to stay at the same level as in their expired contract. “It’s a desperate attempt to cover up the fact that what they did to the women in 2017 is indefensible,” the statement said. Carlos Cordeiro, who succeeded Sunil Gulati as USSF president in February 2018, did not respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment. The men said they issued their statement because “the federation has been working very hard to sell a false narrative to the public and even to

members of Congress. They have been using this false narrative as a weapon against current and former members of the United States women’s national team.” Molly Levinson, a spokesman for the players involved in the lawsuit, issued a statement on behalf of women’s star Megan Rapinoe: “Our great hope is that 2020 will be the year of equal pay. We are grateful for the support of our male colleagues, and also for the overwhelming solidarity from millions of fans and sponsors around the world who have stood with us to fight USSF’s discrimination.” “Achieving equal pay is so much bigger than our team and our playing fields—women in work forces everywhere deserve equality now.” The men claimed “the federation insisted the women sign a 2017-2021 deal that was worse financially than the men’s soon-to-expire 2011-2018 CBA that had been negotiated six years

earlier.” They said “the correct comparison should be between what the women got with their 2017-2021 deal, and triple what the federation agreed to pay the men in 2011, or whatever the men negotiate in their new CBA that will be retroactive to January 1, 2019.” They urged fans to write to Congress and to “tell the federation’s sponsors you will not support them until the federation starts doing the

Juve-Allianz €100-million deal

URIN, Italy—Juventus extended its sponsorship agreement with Allianz on Wednesday in a deal worth more than €100 million ($109 million) to the Serie A giant.

The new deal means the Allianz logo will be on the team’s training and warm-up shirts for the next 10 years, starting with Thursday’s Italian Cup semifinal at AC Milan. The agreement also includes

MEGAN RAPINOE: Our great hope is that 2020 will be the year of equal pay.

right thing and gives the women a new CBA that pays a fair share of the gate receipts and television and that sponsorship revenue to the players.” A Cypriot court , meanwhile, on Wednesday ordered the detention of a soccer club president and a referee for eight days as police investigate allegations that the two men were involved in fixing the outcome of a second-division match. A police investigator in Nicosia, Cyprus, told the court during a custody hearing that authorities are looking into the result of a February 8 match, between Ayia Napa and Othellos Athienou. According to the state-run Cyprus News Agency, police obtained an affidavit from an individual who claimed that the 39 year-old club president offered him €10,000 ($10,911) to help Ayia Napa win the match. The club president, who is also a player agent, is further accused of trying to persuade an Othellos player he manages to help Ayia Napa win. The investigator also said the 33-year-old referee who officiated the match is accused of “provocatively” calling fouls against Othellos. the extension of the Allianz Stadium’s naming rights for seven seasons—from July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2030—as well as some sponsorship rights related to the women’s team. “The total agreement consideration is €103.1 million [$112 million] to be added on

After the match, Othellos players used a whistle-blowers’ telephone hot line that the Cyprus Soccer Players’ Association recently set up to complain. Both men face possible charges of criminal conspiracy, bribery and match fixing. The lawyer representing the referee said police have no real evidence to justify her client’s detention and that investigators are trying to make him a scapegoat. top of the existing agreements,” Juventus said in a statement. Juventus signed a six-year agreement with the insurance giant in 2017 for its stadium naming rights. Juventus is bidding for a record-extending ninth successive Serie A title and is currently top of the table with Inter Milan. AP

HARLESTON, West Virginia—West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday said it’s absurd to accuse him of racism for calling a high-school girls basketball team “thugs” after a scuffle broke out at a game. Justice’s defense comes a day after a game involving Greenbrier East High School, where he coaches, was forced to end early when the opposing team’s coach got into a tiff with someone in the stands. “I hate to say it any other way, but honest to God’s truth is the same thing happened over at Woodrow two different times out of the Woodrow players,” a heated Justice told a reporter from The Register-Herald after the game, referencing the opposing team’s name. “They’re a bunch of thugs. The whole team left the bench, the coach is in a fight, they walked off the floor, they called the game!” “They don’t know how to behave and at the end of the day, you got what you got,” he said. The team’s coaches are black, as are some of the players. By morning, Justice’s comments were

making the rounds on social media, with one Democratic state lawmaker, Del. Mike Pushkin, tweeting that the governor was making “thinly veiled racial slurs.” Justice, a Republican, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon defending his use of the word thugs. “My definition of a thug is clear–it means violence, bullying and disorderly conduct. And we, as West Virginians, should have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. Anyone that would accuse me of making a racial slur is totally absurd,” he said. He went on to add that one of the opposing team’s coaches has been cited by the West Virginia State Police for obstructing an officer. A police spokesman confirmed the citation in an e-mail. “I’m extremely proud that my coaches, my team, and myself were not involved in this incident in any way, shape, form, or fashion, and I’m truly saddened that the Woodrow kids had to be subjected to this behavior,” Justice said. AP

Super Bowl run-up helps boost NJ gambling revenue

TLANTIC CITY, New Jersey—Betting on the National Football League (NFL) playoffs in the run-up to the Super Bowl, along with soaring Internet gambling revenue and a solid month at Atlantic City’s brick and mortar casinos led to an increase in New Jersey’s gambling revenue of more than 30 percent in January. Figures released Wednesday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the industry won over $300 million last month, up 30.9 percent from January 2019 when sports betting was not as developed as it is now in the state. Gamblers wagered over $540 million on sports in January, mainly on football and basketball, leading to the third-highest monthly total since the state began offering legal sports betting in June 2018. Those bets generated $53.5 million in revenue for the casinos, and two racetracks that offer sports betting, an increase of over 185 percent from a year ago. Internet gambling continued its steady climb in New Jersey, with casinos winning more than $55 million online in January, an increase of 64 percent from a year ago. And business at the brick and mortar casinos in Atlantic City, was solid if not spectacular, with revenue up 8.3 percent to over $192 million. “Atlantic City continued its momentum with strong results in January,” said James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. “Internet and sports wagering did particularly well, bolstering the industry’s performance in the middle of the traditional

off-season.” The numbers were encouraging for a resort that slows down significantly during the winter months, and had long sought the added revenue from sports, and Internet betting, which don’t rely on people making the trip to Atlantic City. When Internet and sports betting revenue is included, six of the nine casinos reported increases over January 2019 levels, led by Hard Rock, which was up 41 percent to $24.2 million. The Ocean Casino Resort was up 39.2 percent to $19.7 million; Golden Nugget was up 37.2 percent to $36.7 million; Borgata was up 22.3 percent to $68.2 million; Harrah’s was up 9.9 percent to $23.6 million, and Tropicana was up 1.5 percent to $24.9 million. Bally’s was down 9.9 percent to $11.3 million; Resorts was down 3.1 percent to $12.4 million, and Caesars was down less than 1 percent to just over $17 million. Terry Glebocki, Ocean’s CEO, said January marked the seventh straight month that her casino posted double-digit revenue growth. “We were exceptionally pleased with our slot revenues, which increased 87 percent over last January,” she said. Nearly half the sports betting revenue came from one place—the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, just outside New York City, where the FanDuel sports book operates. It made $26.4 million in sports betting revenue. Resorts casino, which has the DraftKings sports book, posted nearly $16 million in sports betting. Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport saw $3.6 million in sports betting revenue. AP

GAMBLERS play slot machines at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City. AP

God is ever faithful

EAR God, we love You as much as we can! “[For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;] He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.” Deuteronomy 4:31. Loving Father, day and night we come together and praise You as one family, we believe in You all the days of our lives. Please bless each one of us with Your mercy and grace. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life BusinessMirror

SOMETHING LIKE LIFE: LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS D3

Friday, February 14, 2020

JAMES DEAN IS ALIVE AND WELL, AND LIVING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD BY ANDREW DALTON & MATT KEMP The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—The men bringing James Dean back to life for a forthcoming film are aiming not just to give his digital likeness a role, but a whole new career. Dean’s planned appearance in the Vietnam War movie Finding Jack, and the possibility of future parts, comes as digital de-aging and duplication of real actors has tipped from cinematic trick into common practice. And it’s giving new life to old arguments about the immortality and dignity of the dead. “Our intentions are to create the virtual being of James Dean. That’s not only for one movie, but going to be used for many movies, and also gaming and virtual reality,” said Travis Cloyd, CEO of Worldwide XR, who is leading the design on the Dean project. “Our focus is on building the ultimate James Dean so he can live across any medium.” Legally, they have every right to do it, via the full agreement of the Dean estate and his surviving relatives. “Our clients want to protect these valuable intellectual property rights and the memories that they have of their loved ones,” said Mark Roesler, CEO of CMG Worldwide, the legal and licensing company that has long owned the title to Dean’s likeness. “We have to trust them.... They want to see that their loved one’s image and memory continues to live on.” Dean is an obvious candidate for revival with his embodiment-of-Hollywood image and the brevity of his life and career—he died at 24 and made just three films: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. Roesler and Cloyd have not obtained the rights from Warner Bros. to use footage from those films, but they have a large trove of photos and Dean’s dozens of TV roles. “There are thousands of images that we do have to work with,” Cloyd said. “What we typically do is we take all those images and videos and we run them through machine learning to create that asset.”

That will be added to the work of a stand-in actor using motion-capture technology as commonly done now with CGI characters, along with the overdubbed voice of another actor. The announcement of the role last year caused a quick backlash, with responses like that of Captain America star Chris Evans on Twitter: “Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso. Or write a couple new John Lennon tunes. The complete lack of understanding here is shameful.” “I think there’s definitely something cynical and what feels like a little bit distasteful about bringing especially long-dead actors back to life,” said Terri White, editor in chief of film magazine Empire. “The reaction to the likes of the James Dean news has actually shown that I think most people don’t really want that.” For the people behind the Dean project, the negative reaction is as inevitable as they believe the eventual acceptance will be. Cloyd foresees a Hollywood where even living actors have a “digital twin” that helps in their work. “This is disruptive technology,” Cloyd said. “Some people hear it for the first time and they get shaken by it. But this is where the market is going.” The revival of the dead, often done clumsily, has been happening for much of Hollywood’s existence. Footage of Bela Lugosi, combined with a double holding a cape over his face, was used in 1959’s Plan 9 From Outer Space, released after the horror star’s death. Bruce Lee’s film Game of Death, left unfinished before his 1973 death, was completed using doubles and voice overdubs and released five years later. The Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker died in 2013 before shooting was done on Furious 7. His two younger brothers and others acted as stand-ins so his scenes could be finished. Even Lennon, and many other dead historical figures, were digitally revived in 1994 in Forrest Gump. But the technology of recreation and resurrection has taken a major leap forward in quality and prestige, with the extensive de-aging and re-aging

The planned appearance in a Vietnam War movie of the Hollywood icon, who died in a car accident in 1955, and the possibility of future parts, comes as digital de-aging and duplication of real actors has tipped from cinematic trick into common practice. Will audiences be more accepting?

used in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman; a young Will Smith digitally returning to play opposite the current version in last summer’s Gemini Man; and Carrie Fisher, whose younger self briefly returned digitally in 2016’s Star Wars: Rogue One and appeared again after her death, in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. These instances have elicited scattered skepticism—both of the quality of the technology and the propriety of the revivals—but audiences have largely accepted them. Guy Williams, visual effects supervisor at filmmaker Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital, said the possibilities do offer a moral dilemma. “The question isn’t so much if you use somebody’s likeness to bring them back or to create a digital version of them, it’s what you do with it and the respect that you show to it,” Williams said. “So that, to me, is the more important question.” Pablo Helman, the visual effects supervisor behind the deaging of Robert de Niro and others in The Irishman, said he considers that moral dilemma in his work. “The main question that you need to ask yourself is why do it?” Helman said. “You know, just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should, you know? That would be one thing that I’m always questioning: Is it in service of the story?” Ethical considerations are likely to give way to market forces if viewers decide they find digital versions of dead actors plausible, and palatable. “I think the moral question is going to be decided by the audiences and society, whether they want to see that,” said Bill Westenhofer, visual effects supervisor on Gemini Man. Dean will be playing a supporting role in Finding Jack, which is now in preproduction. The limited screen time is, at this point, as far as those recreating him want to go. But they hope the digital avatar can eventually carry a movie, possibly even playing James Dean himself at different ages. “At some point there’s going to be the James Dean biopic,” Cloyd said. “I think the technology is not necessarily there today to take the risk.” n

Society BusinessMirror

Friday, February 14, 2020

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Drew Bledsoe, 48; Simon Pegg, 50; Meg Tilly, 60; Terry Gross, 69. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Build your own opportunities. Pick something you enjoy doing and turn it into a prosperous venture. Clear a space at home to make room to explore the possibilities. Give yourself credit where due, and turn your everyday world into the adventure you want it to be. Change is apparent, so reach out and do your part to make it happen. Your lucky numbers are 7, 18, 22, 25, 32, 40, 48. SSI Group President Anton Huang (from left), Angara.com founder and CEO Ankur Daga and Rustan’s President Donnie Tantoco

RUSTAN’S Marketing and Communications Head Dina Tantoco (from left), and Armie and John Bennett

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Opportunity is within reach, but it’s up to you to take a closer look and to make it happen. Open your eyes, your mind and your heart to what’s available and choose what’s best for you. HHHH

GINA MOHNANI and Toni Urrutia

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your best foot forward, and you’ll find not only a place you enjoy, but one that offers benefits, as well. Pick and choose instead of waiting for someone to do the honors. Your success depends on taking action. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t trust anyone who is promising something unrealistic. Opportunity is within reach, but it has to come through your own efforts, not a fast-cash scheme someone tries to lure you into. HHH

d AYA DALY and Jeanne Carpio

BABY CRUZ VAZQUEZ (from left), Dr. Danny Vazquez and Fiona Malca

CRISELDA LONTOK, Georgina Diaz and Josie Natori

Natori is all so fine and fabulous T HE Natori Co. Inc. has announced its first fine jewelry collection in conjunction with direct-to-consumer and supply chain pioneer Angara. An iconic fashion brand known for everything from bras and sleepwear to ready-to-wear, fashion jewelry, home textiles and accessories, Natori is available on Angara.com and Natori.com, with wholesale distribution soon to follow at top-tier department and specialty stores. To commemorate this milestone, Rustan’s and Josie Natori hosted an evening soiree for a first peek at

the full range of jewelry. Guests in attendance who joined Natori included Angara.com founder and CEO Ankur Daga, US Ambassador to Mongolia Michael Klecheski, Anne Marie Saguil, Dr. Danny and Baby Vazquez, Fiona Malca, Georgina Diaz, Gina Mohnani, Maja OlivaresCo, and Toni Urrutia, among others. “Fine jewelry is the next natural progression in our mission to create East-meets-West lifestyle concepts,” said Josie, CEO, founder and chief creative officer of Natori.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Celebrate something special with someone you love, and it will change your life moving forward. Kindness and consideration, along with charm and a promise that is too hard to resist, will result in new beginnings. A joint venture is favored. HHHH

“I am thrilled we found a best-in-class partner in terms of not only design and product development, but also e-commerce and supply chain.” The collections have been inspired by three distinct icons: Indochine, Dragon and Kamon, featuring East-meets-West infused earrings, pendants, necklaces, rings and bracelets. The materials used in the collection include Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Midnight Silver, Diamonds, Pearls, Precious and Semi-Precious Stones. n

Gynecology, OB Sonography, ENT (ear, nose and throat), Dermatology, and Ophthalmology. Services include consultation, laboratory tests, x-ray, ECG (electrocardiogram) and Ultrasound. The new PCC also aims to provide services that are not included in other standard HMOs, such psychiatric tests. It will feature a cozy waiting lounge, free Wi-Fi access, and charging stations to ensure home-like relaxation. Leading the inauguration of PCC Clark were Maxicare Healthcare Corp. Chairman of the Board Roberto Macasaet Jr., vice chairman Antonio Go, president and CEO Christian Argos, chief medical officer and medical director Erlinda Tiusess, MD, and board of directors members Rene Buenaventura and Enrico Cruz.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Talks will lead to positive change, and actions will lead to reaching your goal. How you react to those you encounter will determine how you change your life moving forward. Take better care of yourself physically and emotionally. HH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look for any chance to learn, travel or to spend time with people you find entertaining, interesting and motivating. Stay away from individuals who bring you down or take advantage of you. HHHHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look into something that interests you. Learning something new will set you on a path that will help you explore your creative attributes and encourage you to try things you never thought possible. Live life to the fullest. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more time and effort into physical fitness, activities that make you feel alive and interactions with people who share your zest for life. Emotional matters will crop up if the people you usually associate with no longer share your passions. HHH

Maxicare heavyweights gather in Clark TOP executives of Maxicare Healthcare Corp. gathered in SM City Clark to inaugurate the first Maxicare Primary Care Center (PCC) in Pampanga. The new state-of-the-art clinic elevates health-care experience by providing ease, comfort and convenience, utilizing technology to streamline the process of going for a medical consultation. With the average medical visit lasting only 30 minutes, the new Maxicare PCC offers a hassle-free and convenient access to health-care benefits that will surely help improve and redefine patient experience. The health-care facility houses certified health-care professionals and Primary Care physicians who specialize in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Cardiology, Obstetrics-

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Experience new people, places and pastimes. Attend an event that will offer knowledge and information that will encourage you to branch out and update your qualifications. A partnership looks promising and should be looked at and discussed with interest. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let go of whatever isn’t working for you anymore. If someone makes a change you don’t like, follow the path that you find more comfortable. It’s OK to go your own way or to do your own thing. HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Question anything that seems suspicious. Someone will withhold information or play emotional mind games with you if you appear gullible. Don’t overreact, but speak up if you feel you are being treated unfairly. Take charge and do your part. HHHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be careful when dealing with people who tend to be manipulative. Listen carefully, and don’t be afraid to say no to anyone who is asking for too much or trying to tempt you to take part in something that isn’t right. HH MAXICARE Healthcare Corp. President and CEO Christian Argos

MAXICARE Healthcare Corp. Chairman of the Board Roberto Macasaet Jr. and board of directors member Enrico Cruz

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are opportunistic, innovative and helpful. You are friendly and resourceful.

‘two peas in a pod’ BY ALAN MASSENGILL The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Like a down pillow 5 Cries and cries 9 Sound of an air-kiss 13 Monte ___ 14 Sauteing supply, to Rachael Ray 15 Smidge 16 Picture book? 17 Bagel or dressing choice (in each starred answer, note three outer letters and a pair of inner ones!) 19 Like a lethal arrow, perhaps 21 Fruit concern 22 There may be a fork in one 23 “Stop it!” 27 Add with a caret 29 Banners on some web sites 30 Fill-in 31 Make do? 34 ___ pad (place for notes) 35 Caught some quick Z’s at work 38 “Let’s go!” 40 Ford claimed they were the cars of the future 41 Prez on a penny 42 Buzz Lightyear or Sheriff Woody

4 Largest hot desert 4 48 Actress and inventor Hedy 50 Focal points 52 Newsman Rather 53 Prepared for movie night, maybe 56 When a young boxer might start training? 59 Actor and activist Davis 60 Not good at all? 61 Clearasil target 62 Nala and Simba 63 Wacky 64 Black, in French 65 “Shoot!” DOWN 1 Hangout with a swinging door 2 Space paths 3 Winter ailments 4 When a procrastinator takes action? 5 Philly transit system (PASTE anagram) 6 Egg-shaped 7 Hale-___ comet 8 Soaked (up) 9 Screw up 10 “___ is me!”

1 Chowed down 1 12 Bamboozled 13 Isle near Sorrento 18 Longings 20 Each sibling’s possible answer to “Who broke this?!” 24 Like most vintage goods 25 Bottom-of-desk woe 26 Watchmen network 28 Subj. with monopolies 29 Word spoken with a sigh 32 Fly, to a spider 33 “Tight” or “loose” follower 34 Holey fabric 35 Limerick or haiku 36 Actor Joe 37 Far from special 38 Nutrition unit: Abbr. 39 Exec’s degree, often 42 City that was “gifted” a wooden horse 43 Little ___ Annie 45 Builds a new room, e.g. 46 Writing a glowing review 47 Machu Picchu’s range 49 Submit a résumé, say

0 Madam Secretary star Tea 5 51 Like stranger things 54 A little, in music 55 China setting 56 Candy in dispensers 57 Kind of ray, briefly 58 ATM code

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Relationships BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, February 14, 2020

Love in the time of coronavirus CLASSIC FRENCH-MEDITERRANEAN MENU FOR TWO

AT Lemuria Restaurant and Wine Bar, the essence of Valentine’s Day lies in the fine details. A perfect romantic moment is concocted at the restaurant by a mastery of French-Mediterranean gastronomy, a flair for impeccable service, and a dining ambience that excites the heart. Located at Arya Plaza in Bonifacio Global City, Lemuria this Valentine’s Day introduces a classic set menu to befit the occasion (bit.ly/31LyBaJ). Dinner starts with hors d’úuvre of mini gougeres stuffed with herbed cream cheese, followed by pan seared foie gras that comes with homemade brioche toast, apricot chutney, and apples. Tomato soup with cheese croutons, fried basil and vanilla cream will remind guests of the rich flavors that make Mediterranean cuisine exquisite. For the main course, Lemuria unveils two. A mouthwatering 10-hour braised short ribs dish will be served with cauliflower puree, roasted mushrooms, chimichurri and parsley oil. A soft shell crab dish with arugula, macerated cherry tomatoes, rémoulade and parmesan shards, meanwhile, will delight anyone who loves seafood. Finally, dinner will end on a sweet note with a lemon vanilla cake with hazelnut chantilly cream, strawberries, berry coulis, and white chocolate pistachio bark—a culmination with no regrets. Lemuria’s special Valentine set menu is available until February 15. On February 14, Lemuria accepts dining reservations for 5:30 to 7:30 pm, and 8:30 to 10:30 pm.

HE most dreaded day of single men and women—and let’s face it, a growing number of couples, as well—is coming up. Never mind the birthdays, never mind Christmas—because whether or not we have a significant other on those days, we still get presents. We still have parties and celebrations. But Valentine’s Day proves to be a formidable day for all. For the single and unattached among us, we get to stay away from the crowded dining establishments, movie theaters, theme parks and accommodation establishments of, uhm...ill repute. And, yes, while we don’t get cute, adorable gifts from our significant other, for lack of having any, a giant tub of gelato while parked in front of the TV watching Netflix or Amazon Prime will just do us fine, thank you very much. For couples, Valentine’s Day becomes more challenging, as a few of my family members and friends have attested. Aside from the special treats like roses and chocolates, extraordinary gifts that

are supposed to “have more significance” than the birthday or Christmas presents (jewelry, people!), there are plans for a quick weekend vacation/ staycation, or impressive dinners. The novel coronavirus proves to be a challenge for some, as well. A few have had to change up their dating routines with their significant other since COVID-19 made its presence felt in our local shores. While the Department of Health maintains there are still no cases of local transmission hereabouts, it pays to be safe than sorry. Richie, who has been married for six years to Kres (not their real names), says, since the COVID-19 crisis, “we still eat out, but not in crowded places. So these are stand-alone restaurants or restaurants in small commercial areas like this new one that just opened in our neighborhood that just has five restos.” He adds that he and Kres have put off their travel plans, too, considering a number of countries also have their own COVID-19 issues. “So no plans yet for Holy Week and my birthday, which is in March.” This Friday, Richie will be gifting Kres with flowers as has been his usual custom every Valentine’s Day. “I asked her if she wants to have dinner somewhere, but she prefers what we usually do—I buy steak and cook it at home, so we get to spend time with Tiny [their pet dog].” For Roger and his boyfriend Justin, “we’ve avoided going to the movies since the virus broke out. And I order in more, rather than go out to restaurants.” Roger adds that “travel abroad will definitely be studied more carefully.” He emphasizes though,

“[COVID-19] hasn’t paralyzed us. It just made us more circumspect with our choices.” The couple, however, doesn’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day “because of the crowds and traffic— with or without COVID-19.” Living in Singapore, where more COVID-19 cases have been recorded, married couple Jessica and Rennie could be thought as living on the edge. The upside though of living in the city-state, is that the government and private sector have taken extra precautions to contain the spread of the virus, and are quick to act on the cases that have come up. In the building where Jessica works, for instance, 300 bank employees were evacuated on Wednesday after one of their colleagues was confirmed to have COVID-19 and contact tracing was immediately undertaken. Fortunately, she was working at home. “Almost all buildings have temperature checks, even in the condo where we live, especially for guests,” she says. Last weekend, she and Rennie hosted in-laws from the Philippines and the United States, so the couple had to bring them around Singapore, despite some anxiety over COVID-19. “We joined two walking tours, one of them had temperature checks for guests, while the other had none.” Since then, Jessica says she and her husband have yet to go out on a date. “I was hoping to book a staycation for my birthday, but I’m having second thoughts now.” This Valentine’s Day will just be like any other for the couple, she avers, a noncelebration. I suppose the best gift you can give your loved ones this Valentine’s Day is perfect health. n

SINGLE, TAKEN, OR COMPLICATED... THIS APP GOT YOU THIS VALENTINE’S DAY NO matter your relationship status, the most romantic time of the year should be cheery and fun. This is why Viber, one of the leading messaging apps in the world, is launching Viber Cupid, a chatbot that’s meant to make anyone feel kilig and get into the mood for love. Viber Cupid starts by asking you a simple (or is it complicated?) question: What’s your relationship status? “Single, taken, or taken...for granted?” Your chosen answer then unlocks a ton of fun app activities. If you’re single, you are taken to a short

love quiz to see your perfect Filipino celebrity match. The quiz includes describing your dream lover in an emoji and selecting a pickup line! It’s quick and fun and bound to give you laughs. If you’re taken, Viber is going to let you create and send a customized Valentine’s Day card. But that’s not all, sending a card gives you a chance to win an iflixVIP subscription. Finally, if you believe you’re taken...for granted, you’re going to receive a love card to hopefully make you feel less neglected and

more loved. Apart from Viber Cupid, the app also has new features so you can make your messages sweeter every single time. Now, the app has heart-shaped instant video messaging and floating hearts that appear whenever you express your love via chat. Whether you’re single or taken or somewhere in between, Viber with its exciting features create chat experiences that are always secure and a bit more exciting each day.

A 4-step maintenance plan to help keep your relationship going strong BY GA�Y W. LEWANDOWSKI JR. Monmouth University EARLY on, relationships are easy. Everything is new and exciting. You go on dates, take trips, spend time together and intentionally cultivate experiences that allow your relationship to grow. Then, somewhere along the way, life happens. One study on married couples in their 30s and 40s found that their marital quality declined over the course of a year, in terms of love, passion, satisfaction, intimacy and commitment. Too often, people shrug their shoulders and convince themselves this is just how it goes. Switching to relationship autopilot feels justifiable when you’re short on time, low on energy, and must focus on other priorities like careers and kids. This is when doubt can creep in and tempt you to hit the reset button. But maybe you’re being too hard on a perfectly good relationship. Every couple experiences ups and downs, and even the very best relationships take effort. Rather than getting out, it’s time to get to work. Whether your relationship is already stuck in a rut, or you’re trying to avoid ending up in one, most people need to focus more on what happens between “I do” and “I don’t want to be with you anymore.” As a relationship scientist, I suggest the following four psychology research-based strategies to kick off your relationship maintenance plan. 1. USE BOREDOM AS A PIVOT POINT. No one raises their hand and says, “Sign me up for a boring relationship.” But boredom serves a purpose. Like your phone indicating your battery is low, boredom is an early warning system that your relationship needs a recharge. At different times, all relationships experience boredom. Psychology researcher Cheryl Harasymchuk and colleagues have explored how people react. For example, to turn things around when you’re bored, do you fall back on things that are familiar and make you feel self-assured, like taking a walk around the neighborhood? Or do you choose growthenhancing activities—like going for a hike on a new trail in an unfamiliar park—to mix things up? It turns out that study participants preferred

growth-enhancing activities when they were bored, and when given a chance to plan a date, they incorporated more novelty into those outings. Rather than resigning yourself to boredom’s inevitability— “This is just how relationships are”—use boredom as a call to action. 2. KEEP DATING. Rather than wait for boredom to strike, couples would be wise to be more proactive. It’s a simple as continuing to date. Early in relationships, couples prioritize these one-on-one outings, but eventually begin to coast, just when the relationship could use an extra boost. To recapture that early relationship magic, research shows that couples should engage in new, challenging and interesting activities. Rather than sitting at staring at your phones, couples should break their routine and try something different. It could be as simple as trying a new restaurant, or even a new dish at a favorite place. Not only does branching out counteract boredom, but trying new things helps you grow as a person. All of this spills over into the relationship, increasing levels of passion, satisfaction and commitment. In one study, researchers asked married couples

either to play games like “Jenga,” “Monopoly,” “Scrabble” and “UNO,” or take an art class together. All couples increased their levels of oxytocin—the so-called cuddle hormone which helps partners bond. But the art class couples had larger oxytocin increases and touched each other more, perhaps because the activity was newer, and further outside their comfort zone. That novelty may encourage them to rely on each other for assurance. 3. MOVIE NIGHTS. Not looking to dig out your oil paints? Here’s a lower key option—Grab a spot on the couch and have a couples movie night. Over the course of a month, researchers asked some couples to watch and discuss a romantic comedy, such as When Harry Met Sally, while others did an intense relationship workshop. Fast forward three years, and the movie watchers were less likely to have broken up. It probably isn’t just taking in any film, but rather that watching a romantic story gives couples a less threatening way to discuss relationship issues. It may also help them see their relationship differently. That’s important, because research from psychologist Eli Finkel and others shows that viewing your own relationship through completely neutral eyes helps

couples hold off declines in marital quality. 4. FINDING THE BRIGHT SPOTS. Activities are great, but you also need to do daily maintenance. There’s an old adage in psychology research that “bad is stronger than good.” For relationships, that often means focusing on what’s wrong, while overlooking what’s right. Talk about self-defeating. Of course, you can just as easily find the ways your relationship is thriving. Be more intentional about noticing your relationship’s bright spots. Not only will you appreciate your partner more, but you can use what’s going well to help improve less bright areas. Too often, people wait for something to break before trying to fix it. Adopting a maintenance mentality can more proactively help your relationship. One new study tested a way to help couples in already healthy relationships. The researchers’ intervention had couples complete research-based positive psychology activities over four weeks such as: n Write the story of their relationship, focusing on the positives, then share with their partner; n Write a letter of gratitude to their partner; n Identify their partner’s strengths and their strengths as a couple; n Create a list of positive moments or activities partners want to share with each other. Pick one, and plan a time to do it; and n Create a desired happiness chart and discuss what small relationship tweaks can help make it a reality. At the end of the month, compared to couples on the study’s wait-list, participants reported more positive emotions, better relationship functioning and improved communication. Another month later, their average relationship functioning remained better than that of the comparison group. Few people enjoy cleaning, doing laundry or mowing the lawn. Yet, if you neglect those tasks, life quickly falls into disrepair. Your relationship is just the same. Rather than thinking about replacements when your relationship shows signs of wear, invest the time and energy into a little maintenance. Using any or all of these easy-to-implement strategies should not only help a relationship survive, but hopefully even thrive.

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Friday, February 14, 2020

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Closings next as Harvey Weinstein declines to testify at rape trial BY MICHAEL R. SISAK & TOM HAYS The Associated Press

SHANG’S GOT DATE-WORTHY IDEAS

IT’S no surprise that for most lovers, February is all about going the extra mile to make their significant others feel a bit more special and more loved. When heart-shaped chocolates and sappy cards don’t make the cut, let Shangri-La Plaza (www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial) count the many ways to mark the most romantic time of the year. Enjoy the best Valentine playlist live. On February 14, Valentine’s Day, make sure to head over to the Grand Atrium to be enchanted by a String Quartet playing popular love songs. Soulful acoustic duo Leanne and Naara take over the Grand Atrium stage on February 15. Singer and songwriter Unique will take the spotlight on February 22 at the Grand Atrium. Baroque-meets-rock band Silent Sanctuary then ends the Valentine’s Day weekend with its signature rockestral beats at the East Atrium on February 16. Wear your heart on your sleeve. Nothing says “I love you” better than a handwritten declaration. Shang brings in Sketch To Life for its mall guests on February 14 and 15 at the Grand Atrium, which flashes every love note submitted on LED screens for everyone to see. For unique gifts and edible treats, make sure to browse Shang’s Sweets Ville on at the Food Forum on or before February 16. Of course, what is Valentine’s Day without the quintessential bouquet? Speak the language of flowers by getting your loved ones this classic gift at Love Lane in the Grand Atrium.

LUKE MEJARES

‘#LOVETHROWBACK3’ AT THE P.I.C.C.

ELLA MAY SAISON, Luke Mejares, Nina, Juris and Ito Rapadas of Neocolours join forces for the very first time in the third and most exciting installment of the much-talked about and highly anticipated annual #LoveThrowback Valentine concert franchise that is set to happen on February 15, 8:30 pm, at the PICC Plenary Hall. Directed and conceptualized by Calvin Neria, this amazing musical spectacle documents a delicious sampling of the most romantic Filipino love songs that have defined the love stories of generations. #LoveThrowback3 shall take audiences on a roller-coaster musical journey that will revive the hurts, joys, defeats, triumphs, bitterness and sweetness of falling in love. With Marc Lopez as musical director, loyal fans and music aficionados alike can look forward to an unforgettable evening of the biggest hits of the participating artists. Part of the concert’s proceeds will be donated to GASFI (Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc.), a nonstock and nonprofit organization that promotes “Twenty Minutes at Bedtime, Read With Your Child” in strengthening family ties as a means to spark a child’s love for learning. Information on tickets is available from Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

EW YORK—The defense rested its case Tuesday in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial without the disgraced Hollywood mogul taking the witness stand, setting the stage for closing arguments in a landmark #MeToo trial punctuated by graphic testimony from six accusers. As expected, Weinstein chose not to testify, avoiding the risk of having prosecutors grill him on cross-examination about the vile allegations. He confirmed the decision after returning to the courtroom from meeting with his lawyers behind closed doors for about a half-hour as speculation swirled that he was pushing to testify. Asked as he left court if he was thinking of testifying, Weinstein said: “I wanted to.” Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala added that Weinstein “was ready, willing, able and actually quite anxious to testify and clear his name” but didn’t do so because his lawyers felt prosecutors “failed miserably” to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors are expected to hear the defense’s closing argument Thursday, followed by the prosecution’s closing Friday. Jury deliberations are slated to start Tuesday. Court is closed Wednesday and again on Monday for holidays. By not testifying, Weinstein followed the example of defendants in other high-profile sex crimes cases. They include Bill Cosby, who didn’t take the witness stand either time he was tried for drugging and molesting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home. After a mistrial in 2017, a second trial resulted in the comedian’s conviction. Weinstein, 67, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping a different woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. Other accusers were called as witnesses as part of a prosecution effort to show he has used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years. Weinstein has maintained any sexual encounters were consensual. The Associated Press has a policy of not publishing the names of people who allege sexual assault without their consent. It is withholding the name of the woman accusing Weinstein of raping her in 2013 because it isn’t clear if she wishes to be identified publicly. After the jury left for the day, Weinstein’s lawyers sparred with prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon over her plan to mention in her closing argument that his physical appearance has changed significantly since the time of the alleged assaults. Weinstein has hobbled into court each day with a walker, parking the device behind the defense table. His lawyers say it’s needed because of recent back surgery, but Illuzzi said it seemed more like a prop put there to sway jurors’ sympathies. “It is not a prop! Enough!” Weinstein lawyer Damon Cheronis said. “You can scream all you like,” Illuzzi said. “They did not have to have the walker back there.” After more bickering, Judge James Burke said it was fine for Illuzzi to mention Weinstein’s physical changes, but warned: “Leave the walker out of it.” The defense case mainly relied on the testimony of three witnesses that Weinstein’s lawyers used to try to cast doubt on the accounts on two of the accusers. Talita Maia, a former roommate of the woman

HARVEY WEINSTEIN leaves his trial on February 11 in New York. AP

Weinstein is charged with raping, told the jury the woman never gave any indication that he victimized her—in fact, she said, the woman spoke highly of him and once called him her “spiritual soulmate.” “She seemed to really like him as a person,” Maia said. “She would only compliment him.” Maia also gave a breezy description of how the then-aspiring actress and Weinstein first met at a Hollywood party a few months before the alleged rape. She said when the women figured out he was an industry big shot, she jokingly told him “that’s why everyone is being so nice to you.” Her roommate, she added, went even further. She testified that the woman put her arm around Weinstein, pinched his cheeks and said: “No, it’s because he is so cute.” Another friend of the woman testified Tuesday that she seemed like “her everyday self” when they met up for breakfast with Weinstein just a short time after she alleges he assaulted her. Thomas Richards, a Hollywood talent agent,

testified Wednesday the woman was friendly toward Weinstein during the breakfast and didn’t say or do anything to indicate she’d just been raped. The third witness, Mexican model and actress Claudia Salinas, repudiated the testimony of Lauren Marie Young, one of the women called by the prosecution to bolster the allegations of Weinstein’s main accusers. Asked about Young’s claims that she stood by and did nothing while Weinstein groped her at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2013, Salinas responded that it “never happened.” Young had testified that Salinas closed the door behind her and Weinstein as they went into the bathroom, where she alleges he stripped off his clothes, grabbed her breast and masturbated. Once it was over, Young said she found Salinas standing outside the bathroom and shot her an evil look before leaving as quickly as she could. “If I had done that, I would remember that,” Salinas testified. “I would never close the door on anybody.” n

ABS-CBN has issued a statement saying that all their broadcast offerings, including KBO, have received the necessary government and regulatory permits, and the PDRs were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange prior to their public offering, and that the ownership of ABS-CBN in ABSCBN Convergence is compliant with law. Meanwhile, those against the shutdown of ABSCBN have also cited the argument of loss of press freedom, and while I totally agree with that 150 percent, let us first stick to those issues cited in the quo warranto petition. A lot of experts have already weighed in on the issue, citing that those grounds were filed in the wrong venue and that the accusation of the PDR ownership of ABS-CBN didn’t exactly specify how this would be illegal (owning PDRs per se isn’t illegal; other telecommunication companies have them and this practice was even upheld by the Supreme Court). Yes, all 60-plus pages of the petition and not one citing how exactly this violated the Constitution with regards to foreign ownership of

media companies. As far as I know, those are the only issues in the petition. Nothing about unpaid taxes or loans, as what a lot of anti-ABS-CBN trolls post in social media. Nothing about abusive practices. Nothing about bad programming, or the programs the network produces. Nothing about the network’s supposed failure to air the President’s political ad during the last presidential campaign season. Nothing about how ABS-CBN’s News department is ostensibly biased. Definitely nothing about how Cardo of Ang Probinsyano seems to be invincible and cannot die. Many of these issues should be answered in a Congress hearing that has yet to be scheduled. So, allow me to use this space of mine to reiterate what President Duterte said last August 2016 when he defended plans for the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng Mga Bayani: “That’s the law! We cannot go out of the law....” And the law should always be fair. ABS-CBN’s franchise should go through the proper renewal process.

A word on that ABS-CBN petition GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

ALMOST four years ago at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang, in his inaugural address as President of the Philippines, Duterte said, “Love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished—these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we commence our journey toward a better Philippines.” This promise to subordinate personal interests to the common good, to serve the nation as a whole rather

than any faction within it is admirable. It should be a given actually for any public official. But based on recent events, many Filipinos think Duterte displays no evidence he understands the words he himself uttered. On the contrary, observers say he has regularly placed his self above the responsibilities of the presidency. He has failed to disclose his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth), terminated the Visiting Forces Agreement allegedly based on a grudge that one of his best friend’s US visa was revoked...evidence of him using the platform of the presidency to promote his self-interests, critics say. Add to this, Solicitor General Jose Calida has filed a quo warranto with the Supreme Court of the Philippines that seeks to revoke the franchise granted to ABS-CBN. The petition claims that the media network has illegally offered paid broadcast without government approval via its KBO (Kapamilya Box Office) pay-per-view, and allowed foreign ownership of the corporation through its PDR (Philippine Depositary Receipt) offerings.

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Impenetrable Impenetra

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, February 14, 2020

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

HENEVER we think of vehicle armoring, right off the bat, we are quick to associate the idea with expensive luxury cars and SUVs plus the complicated and costly modifications involved in the process. Not to mention, that only high-profile individuals are the ones who need it. Well, this is not entirely true, at least, until lately.

When Impenetra Armor Protective Systems (Impenetra), a company based in Bacoor, Cavite, finally introduced its revolutionary lightweight armor product package locally, it changed the way we looked at vehicle armoring

process entirely. Not only that the overall package is remarkably lightweight, but Impenetra’s array of bulletproof armoring and personal protective equipment are also battlefield tested. More so, it has been certified by the Comite

Completely stock look Montero Sport reinforced with Level BR4 armoring on display at the Mitsubishi dealership in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Thicker and more reinforced, this Level BR6-armored sample glass panel-withstood several rounds of .556-mm assault rifle rounds.

Lightweight yet tough composite material armor prevented slugs to penetrate the door panel from pistol rounds

European d e N o r m a l i s a t i o n 1063 (CEN 1063) and meets EU Standards BR6, BR4 and Road R age protection. “We use lightweight composite ballistic panels which is the strongest in the world now,” said Paulo Villarta of Impenetra Philippines. Because of armoring is made lightweight, suspension and engine modifications are no longer necessary. Now isn’t that precisely what we’ve been contemplating all this time? Truly remarkable. But, of course, Villarta also pointed out that should the vehicle requires a higher level of armoring, there may be a need to improve the vehicle’s overall performance. So, imagine that even the mainstream midsized SUVs and pickup trucks can now be equipped with Impenetra’s current armoring protection program. The best part is, the vehicle will remain exactly looking the same, no engine and suspension modification, but bulletproofed. This kind of setup is achievable through the company’s Level BR4 (lightweight protection package). Level BR6, on the other

Ricardo Romero of AGP, Rolf King of Impenetra Philippines; San Fernando, Pampanga, Mayor Edwin Santiago; Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin; Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda; and President Paulo Villarta of Impenetra Philippines during the demonstration

hand, offers protection from assault rifles and handguns of up to .44 magnum. To know more about Impenetra’s array of products and services, you may log on to www.im penetraph.com, check out their Facebook page (Impenetra Armor Protective Systems) or call 09176363824/0920-9101111.

Level BR4 and BR6 ballistic protection live ammunition test

This Level BR4-armored glass panel was able to withstand four rounds of 9mm slugs.

During the recently concluded Afad Cup 2019, Impenetra Armor Protective Systems conducted a “torture test” on its BRGs (bulletresistant glass) products. There, a total of 79 bullets (five of which were shotgun slugs) were fired to the BRG products. Remarkably, not a single slug made it through. But the live ammunition test didn’t stop there. We had to see it to believe it ourselves. So, Impenetra Armor Protective Systems recently took us to a classified and remote firing range in San Fer nando, Pampanga,

to showcase its product’s impenetrable level of resistance. This time the Level BR4 package against a close-range pistol fire while the Level BR6 glass against an assau lt r if le f ire. Taking time off from his busy schedule to observe and witness Impenetra’s demonstration was none other than Pampanga Gov. Denn is P i ned a. Joi n i ng h i m were San Fernando Town Mayor Edwin Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin. Initially tested was the Level BR4 package installed on an SUV glass and door panels. At close range, the shooter fired four rounds of 9mm pistol on each panel, respectively. As expected, both were able to withstand the fired ammunition. But the interesting part was how exactly the armored sections resisted the slugs. Impressively, while the exterior part showed shattered sections, the interior part remained the same, without any signs of bulges. According to Impenetra, this is crucial as this kind of resistance would avoid

visual impairments from occupants inside the vehicle. The door panel, meantime, its Kevlar-like lightweight composite armor was able to hold the slugs without any sign of penetration at all. Next in line was the Level BR6 glass panel. Using an assault rifle equipped with an armor-piercing .556 round, the shooter initially shot a four-round burst from about 50 meters. Again, while the exterior part showed shatters from the slugs, the interior part remained intact and smooth. Impenetra’s comprehensive, lightweight protection package (Level BR4) consists of bulletresistant glazing (AGP glass panels), lightweight composite ballistic armor (body panels), battery and ECU protection, door overlap protection with bullet catchers, firewall protection, engine sidewall protection, and run-flat tire system. Overall armor weight is just under 300 kilograms and tested not to affect the vehicle’s performance on factory version.

Moto

Business

E2 Friday, February 14, 2020

IN-CAR AIR CLEANING DEVICE

JAGUAR F-PACE R-SPORT 2.0 DIESEL

SLEEK, PO

AND ELEGA W

ITH the 2019-nCoV on the verge of becoming a global pandemic, the World Health Organization, and relative agencies, have issued warnings about its ill effects and how to counter it. An air purifying system that has been in the local market for the past few months have emerged as the perfect technology to combat 2019-nCoV and other airborne disease which can become a serious problem for people with respiratory problems. Blaupunkt, a renowned German brand, which is best known for in-car

entertainment and dashcam systems also sells an in-car air purifier. The AirPure AP 1.0 was engineered and designed, in collaboration with German health experts, to reduce amount of harmful stuff floating through your car’s cabin via a three-step filtration system. The cylindrical-shaped filter comes with a replacement filter, and a cable that connects the machine to your car’s USB port/lighter charger. Blaupunkt’s AirPure AP 1.0 is a plugand-play device, and it can be mounted to your car’s cupholders. Aside from its filters, the AirPure also has an

ultraviolet lamp that turns on when the machine is activated. It serves to stop the growth of airborne bacteria, while the filter whirs along to suck in everything else it can. There’s also the option of adding a few drops of an aromatic scent to freshen up your interior. The AirPure AP 1.0 is a worthy investment than buying a useless car accessory. Here is a product that works to improve the air you breathe. For details, contact Blaupunkt PH at https://www.facebook.com or BlaupunktCarEntertainmentPH, or call 0917-5078186.

GOODYEAR AUTOCARE WINS 2020 ‘READER’S DIGEST’ QUALITY SERVICE AWARDS

OODYEAR Philippines’s retail and service center, Goodyear Autocare chain of stores, is awarded the Silver winner in the Car Servicing category at the Reader’s Digest 2020 Quality Service Awards. The Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards are determined by a public vote, aiming to recognize companies that deliver exceptional customer service in the Car Servic-

ing category. This is the first year that Reader’s Digest recognizes companies based on their quality service. Jong Sumpaico, branded retail development manager, said, “Goodyear’s success at the Reader’s Digest 2020 Quality Service Awards is undoubtedly a result of our collective efforts in partnership with more than 100 Goodyear Autocare retail network.”

“At Goodyear Autocare, we always strive to deliver the best quality service for our customers by offering one-stop quick automotive services. We are honored and proud to be one of the first recipients of this award. We’d like to thank our Goodyear Autocare retail network nationwide for their hard work and dedication to the Goodyear brand, not just for the tires we sell but also for the quality services that we offer,” Sumpaico said. Completed by 1,000 Filipino consumers, a survey was conducted regarding the services they had experienced in Goodyear Autocare. In this survey, the respondents rate Goodyear Autocare highly and position Goodyear Autocare as one of the leaders in the Car Servicing category. Louise Waterson, editor in chief, Reader’s Digest Asia-Pacific said, “Congratulations to Goodyear! Winning this award really sets the Goodyear brand apart from its competitors. It reflects the opinions and feedbacks of Goodyear’s customers, and demonstrates that Goodyear understands their business success is not just about offering great products, but also having great staff who are focused on ensuring their customers are fully satisfied. Goodyear knows that quality customer service is a smart yet curial way of doing business and, ultimately, wins itself competitive advantage in the market.”

By Tet Andolong

T’S always a special treat when you drive a Jaguar. Recently, I had a double treat when I took the all-new Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport 2.0 Diesel for a weekend drive.

THE all-new Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport 2.0 Diesel PHOTO BY ELEGANCE and sportiness into a leading-edge design PHOTO BY LOU PEARSON

EIGHT-INCH screen with crisp clear graphics that supports smartphone and tablet gestures, such as “swipe” and “drag” to navigate around apps PHOTO BY LOU PEARSON

THE 2.0d Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport is an all-wheel drive, which is powered by an eight-speed transmission that delivers 180 hp with a top speed of 208 hp from 4,000 to 5,500 rpm PHOTO BY LOU PEARSON

The Jaguar F-Pace is the first performance SUV with the DNA of a sports car and the fastest-selling model of the British brand of Jaguar Land Rover. It is now in the Philippines through the efforts of Coventry Motors Corp. Buoyant looks and gentlemanly character give this SUV a unique road presence, which is unmistakably Jaguar. The F-Pace R-Sport 2.0 Diesel is trimmed with grained black grille with satin chrome surround and body-colored R-Sport with satin black finishers, as well as Xenon Headlamps with LED Signature and automatic leveling. The sleek LED headlights feature daytime running lights with Jaguar’s signature “J” Blade graphic. The slender LED fog lights were developed with TV screen optics, and light tubes to deliver superior packaging, and an exceptionally smooth, homogeneous light source. I had difficulty every time I stepped

inside the vehicle because of its low roofline and high hip point, however, the interior, which blends Jaguar’s well-known elegance and sportiness into a leading-edge design, more than makes up for this minor inconvenience. Inside the five-seater F-Pace are seats wrapped in two-tone Taurus Leather with Sports Perforation and multifunction R-Sport steering wheel in Soft Grain Leather. Jaguar’s cosseting sports seats are shaped to provide exceptional comfort and support, and are available with 10-way adjustment and four-way lumbar support. The FPace has seating memory functions— one of my favorite features because it allowed me to achieve a great driving position with good outward visibility. The vehicle is inspired by the F-Type, which offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car exterior design, fused beautifully with a thoroughly practi-

RELEASE handles in the trunk and atop each rear seatback can drop the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats to a nearly flat position, which will create a very spacious room PHOTO BY LOU PEARSON

cal and spacious class-leading luxury interior space, and a 650-liter luggage compartment. The F-Pace’s cabin features easy-toreach secondary controls, and paddle shifters. Large dual-zone climate control buttons are easy to use, as well as the 8-inch central touchscreen display for both the driver and the front passenger—featuring intuitive user interface and crisp clear graphics that supports smartphone, and tablet gestures, such as “swipe” and “drag” to navigate around apps. Where fitted, turn-by-turn instructions can also be shown in the head-up display, leaving the driver free to concentrate on what matters most—the road ahead. The F-Pace comes standard with

FORD ISSUES PUBLIC ADVISORY ON GRAND CARS INC. LAUNCHES GEE ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES

T has come to our attention that unscrupulous individuals have been engaging job applicants through text or e-mail purportedly on behalf of Ford Group Philippines. These individuals are not connected with Ford Group Philippines or Ford Motor Co., therefore, these transactions are fraudulent and illegal.

Ford Group Philippines will never require job applicants to pay any cash bond, application fees, staff housing fees, or uniform fees, among others, throughout the entire recruitment process. Ford does not require the payment of any form of fees whatsoever to apply for a job in the company. Our security team is currently investigating the matter,

including the people who may be involved in these unlawful activities. We ask the public to remain vigilant and transact only with authorized representatives of Ford Group Philippines. Job applicants can visit www.ford.com.ph/aboutford/careers/ or search Ford Group Philippines on Jobstreet.com.ph to see the latest career vacancies.

EELY is set to get the show on the road in Mindanao following Grand Cars Inc.’s launching of Geely Cagayan de Oro on February 10. Grand Cars Inc. is one of the partner dealers of Sojitz G Auto Philippines. Present in the brand launch were the SGAP and Grand Cars officials, and Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno. During the event, three Coolray variants, which were eventually released to its

new owners, were showcased—Sport, Premium and Comfort. “The formal launch of the Coolray is the preview of bigger things to come. And the step in the right direction in presenting our strong commitment in serving customers, as well as strengthening our bonds with Sojitz,” Grand Cars Inc. President Jan Andrew Po said. SGAP President Mikihisa Takayama warmly welcomed Grand Cars to

the Geely family and underscored the importance of their partnership. “Our alliance is a vital component as Geely drives its way to make it big in the Philippine automotive market. In this regard, I would like to thank you for trusting Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corp. to be your partner in this endeavor,” Takayama said. “Geely is poised to be one of the major automotive players in the Philippines following the future intro-

oring

sMirror

Friday, February 14, 2020

OWERFUL

ANT LEAPER

UBLIC Works Secretary Mark Villar inspected on Friday, February 7, 2020, the ongoing construction of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) to Ortigas Center Road Link Project aimed to decongest traffic from Edsa and C5, and improve accessibility within the central business districts of Metro Manila. Villar said that upon completion in 2021, the BGC-Ortigas Center Road Link will be a traffic game-changer as it will reduce to 11 minutes travel time between Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas Central Business District. This will serve as an alternate corridor from Edsa and C5 along the section of Guadalupe Bridge and Bagong Ilog Bridge, eventually allowing more economic opportunities for our kababayans, said Villar. The P1.6-billion project involves construction of the four-lane Santa Monica-Lawton Bridge across Pasig River connecting Lawton Avenue in Makati and Santa Monica Street, as well as rehabilitation and widening of Brixton to Fairlane Street in Pasig City. It also involves construction of the 565-meter Lawton Avenue to BGC viaduct that will traverse Lawton Avenue onward to the entrance of BGC implemented by the Depart-

ment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) under the leadership of Undersecretary for UPMO Operations Emil K. Sadain and Project Director Virgilio C. Castillo. With an accomplishment of 45 percent, we are fast-tracking the completion of this

high-impact project linking Pasig ang Taguig to ease traffic woes of motorists and commuters in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Taguig and Makati,” said Villar. DPWH is in close coordination with respective stakeholders to address issues on road right-of-way and relocation of utilities that hampered the progress of activities.

TRIMMED with chrome surround and satin black finishers PHOTO BY LOU PEARSON

delivers 180 hp with a top speed of 208 hp from 4,000 to 5,500 rpm. As a result, the vehicle delivers an impressive acceleration, which reaches 100 km/h in just nine seconds with a very decent fuel economy. The F-Pace integrates a host of safety features, including six air bags for both driver and passengers. The medium-range sensors can make overtaking safer by warning the driver of other vehicles approaching fast from behind. As they approach the blind spot, a flashing icon appears in the door mirror to alert the driver of the potential danger. As the vehicle enters the blind spot, the icon becomes solid. The same medium-radar sensors can help to improve safety at slower speeds, too. When reversing out of parking spaces, the radar detects and warns the driver of other vehicles approaching from either side.

To help the driver park in even the tightest spaces, the F-Pace offers semiautomated park assist functions for parallel and bay parking maneuvers. The Jaguar F-Pace, along with the F-Type, are the only two vehicles of Jaguar offered in the country with an R-Sport 3.0 Supercharged Petrol engine. The F-Pace is also offered with a Prestige 2.0 Diesel—one of the most powerful yet most fuel efficient engines in its class, as well as a Prestige 2.0 Petrol. The Jaguar F-Pace has won the prestigious World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year titles at the 2017 World Car Awards. With outstanding capability and performance, coupled with its luxurious and refined design that is unparalleled in its segment, the Jaguar F-Pace is truly the perfect vehicle for the driven urbanite.

ELY BRAND IN CAGAYAN DE ORO duction of its global models which benefits from synergies from auto brands it acquired, such as Volvo. We are confident that these future Geely global vehicles are far better in terms of specification, equipment, technology, value for money— and not shortchanging the buyer,” Takayama added. Northern Mindanao, where Cagayan de Oro is situated, is one of the leading regions in Mindanao.

VILLAR: BGC TO ORTIGAS CENTER IN 11 MINUTES BY 2021

CAROUSELL REVEALS 2019 TOP CAR SEARCHES

Y LOU PEARSON

Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, an 11-speaker (including a subwoofer) audio system, in-dash navigation, and USB and auxiliary inputs. Release handles in the trunk and atop each rear seatback can drop the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats to a nearly flat position, which will create a very spacious room. Door pockets can accommodate large bottles, while storage spaces scalloped into the sides of the center console were designed around smartphones and feature nonslip rubber inserts at the bottom. The cabin also offers 12V sockets, and USB ports, in both the cubby box and rear consoles, with cupholders integrated into the rear armrest on most models. This 2.0d Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport is an all-wheel drive, which is powered by an eight-speed transmission that

According to Moreno, “land travel is the name of the game in Mindanao, especially now that the government is on a “Build, Build, Build” strategy. Opening up new highways, new doors, opportunities in Mindanao…this is a good investment decision. Your [Geely’s] entry here in Cagayan de Oro is quite strategic…thank you for your confidence in Mindanao.” This 2020, Geely starts to expand

its nationwide dealership network. 15 outlets are already slated to be built this year, to include Geely Cagayan de Oro. With the rise of Geely in Cagayan de Oro, SGAP expressed its confidence that with Grand Cars’ decades-long proven credibility as one of the top-performing dealership networks in the country, their partnership can build a strong brand reputation and a business that is here to stay.

LL ready to conquer the road this 2020, Carousell, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds, announces the top car brands for 2019 based on its data compilation of all searches made by customers in the past year. Curious to see which cars were leading the search race last year? Buckle up, and we’ll take on the road full tank with these interesting insights rounded up by Carousell. Japanese automotive brands were the top 3 searches on Carousell last year. Ahead of the pack is Toyota as the most-searched auto brand, followed by Honda and Mitsubishi, respectively. It is not surprising that Toyota is the most dominant automotive brand in the Philippines, garnering the Triple Crown Award as the No. 1 carmaker in passenger car sales commercial vehicle sales, and total vehicle sales. Its popularity among secondhand buyers resonates very well as shown by its leading selection on Carousell in 2019. The two other most-sought auto brands from Japan, Honda and Mitsubishi, are also highly preferred in the Philippines given their decadeslong presence in the market, the prestige associated with their cars and the popularity of their SUV models, such as the Honda CRV and the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. For the adventurous ones who go off-road at times, their most-sought sportutility vehicles (SUV) for 2019 are Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero, Honda CRV, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Filipinos’ preference for Japanese vehicles are widely attributed to their reliability, affordability and durability. Since the introduction of frontwheel drive in the Philippine market in the 1990s, Japanese automakers have succeeded in exciting the Filipino car buyers with upgraded classic models that offer optimized interior space and operational performance. Rounding off the top 5 most-searched brands on Carousell are German cars BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which most Filipinos aspire to drive. These two brands are key players in the luxury car market and their popularity online shows signs of the booming Philippine economy and the growing luxury car segment.

“Carousell places a high premium on optimum user experience satisfaction whenever our customers use our platform to search for a vehicle that perfectly suits their specific needs,” shared Carousell Philippines Autos Head Karl Magsuci. “That is why we always ensure that our listings offer the widest selection of vehicle and price options to a full range of buyers.” Carousell’s auto data report further reveals the most looked up vehicles on its platform in 2019. Completing the top 5 car models searched on Carousell are Honda Civic, Honda City, Ford Mustang, Honda Jazz and Toyota Vios. Most-searched brands for MPV, AUV and van models are Toyota Innova, Hyundai Starex, Toyota Rush, Mitsubishi L300 and Toyota Avanza. Meanwhile, last year’s top motorcycle searches on Carousell include Yamaha, Vespa, Ducati, Honda and Harley-Davidson. The growing demand for motorcycles as the vehicle of choice is brought by the worsening

traffic in the Metro, and the need to go to various destinations without the hassle of daily commute. One of the leading motorcycle brands, Honda, recently released a scooter catering to the younger generation of commuters. With its affordable price, the bike sports a variety of advanced smart technology to make the ride safe and improve fuel consumption. “Carousell’s automotive platform is ready to cater to the motoring needs of the Pinoy auto lovers, whether they are looking for used or brand-new vehicles, parts and accessories, motorcycles, and even trucks and other special vehicles,” Magsuci enthused. The year 2020 promises to be another banner year for the Philippine economy, which is considered to have one of the highest growth rates among countries in the Southeast Asian region. Be sure to be on track by checking out the widest range of listings on Carousell’s automotive section, and search for your next vehicle at https://www.carousell.ph/.

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, February 14, 2020

Isuzu set to claim No. 1 in truck brand–Koso

HE recent 15th Dealer of the Year Awards ceremony of Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) was a smashing success at the Hilton Hotel Manila, eliciting lavish praise from IPC President Hajime Koso.

“Tonight, as we give due recognition to our best dealers and performers of 2019,” said Koso, “I would like to encourage all of you to step up to our commitment to serve our valued customers all the more.” He took cognizance of “the hard work and successful achievements of Isuzu’s front liners” since 2004 of IPC’s dealer principals and operators. Recipients of the distinctive, glistening metals included branch, sales, service and parts managers, sales supervisors, and sales execu-

tives during the black-tie dinner gala, with Koso flanked by IPC’s top executives and managers of IPC’s dealership network. I would not have missed the well-attended occasion had my coat not been lost in the neighborhood laundry shop. My black tie still hangs in the closet. Koso also said in his speech: “Let 2020 be the year wherein we see a turn-around in our aftersales service and excellence in vehicle sales as we gear toward a sustainable business, and claim the No. 1 position for the truck

brand this year.” The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the main awards. Hailed as the 2019 Dealer of the Year Champion was Isuzu Pasig, with Isuzu Bulacan and Isuzu Santa Rosa chosen second and third, respectively. Isuzu Makati won the Most Improved Dealership of the Year award. The Sales Executive of the Year in the LCV Categor y w a s M ig ue l a nd C a st ro f rom Isuzu Edsa, while the Sales Executive of the Year in the CV Categor y was Erlinda Erfe of Isuzu Cagayan de Oro. Also, receiving prestigious excellence plums were Isuzu dealerships in Cebu, Edsa, Cavite, Alabang, Butuan, Santo Tomas and Cabanatuan. After heartily congratulating the winners, IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda, in his closing remarks, said: “This 2020, may we become more ambitious, and being ambitious means that you go out and do what you have set out to do. A huge part of that is committing to learning what you don’t know because limitations can be overcome, and you shouldn’t let your limitations stand in the way of achieving your goals.” Well said, Sakoda-san.

Lexus moon concept

FROM Lexus Manila President

Raymond T. Rodriguez, this very informative piece: “For Document Journal’s issue No. 15, the art and fashion magazine invited a selection of the culture’s most compelling architects and designers to find their inner Major Toms and imagine human life on the moon for The Lunar Design Portfolio. “How shall we live?” “What will it look like?” “What will we wear?” “What will we drive?” “ED, the European Advanced Desig n Studio for Toyota and Lexus, dedicated to advanced concept proposals and groundbrea k ing desig n, was selected to contr ibute a lunar mobilit y concept. “ D r aw i n g o n t he j u s t - re leased LF-30 Future Concept vehicle, the studio created a series of seven concepts from five different designers, a full lineup of space vehicles ready to tackle the lunar landscape. “When Document Journal approached us about the Lunar Design Portfolio, our team was working on the LF-30 Concept, which represents the ‘Lexus Electrified’ futuristic vision for Lexus. The design team was already looking beyond near-term production and ahead to how advanced technology will change the way we interact with vehicles,” said Ian Cartabiano, president of ED2. “The lunar project came at the

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right time, half way through the LF-30 development. It gave the team a chance to dream further out, and then apply some of the design language from the LF-30 interior to their lunar proposals.” “Zero Gravity, the concept sketch selected to appear in the print issue of the magazine, is a single rider vehicle that evolves the LF-30’s Lexus Electrified vision to incorporate Magnetic Levitation technology. “The design reinterprets the signature Lexus spindle grille and uses the motorcycle-style of driving to employ the new concept of Tazuna [which mean ‘reins’ in Japanese]—the fundamental human-centered philosophy. “Inspired by how a single rein can be used to achieve mutual understanding between horse and rider, the steering control provides active driving enjoyment created by the direct communication be-

tween human and machine.” The City 1.5 VX+ Navi CVT, New BR-V 1.5 S CVT, and all-new Brio 1.2 S MT are all available through a 10-percent special all-in cash out with payment terms of 36 up to 60 months through BPI Family Savings Bank, RCBC, Security Bank Corp., China Bank Savings and Bank of Commerce, only. All these offers include threeyear LTO Registration and Chattel Mortgage and free one-year comprehensive Insurance with the “Acts of Nature” clause. PEE STOP Best wishes to Efren Mendoza Jr. and Joanna Caramat, who will tie the knot tomorrow, February 15, at Saint Joseph the Patriarch Parish, in Mapandan, Pangasinan. Go placidly into your new world, and may Dear God grant you peace, joy and love forever…Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Ablang rules Philippine Autocross Championship Series

YAN Ablang of Team Autoforce made history again, tagged the Fastest Driver of the Day and the Open Class Champion in the Philippine Autocross Championship Series (PACS) Round 2 held on February 8, at R33 Trucks, San Simon, Pampanga. Also bagging the Open Class Champion title, 37-year-old racer Ablang clocked 00:38.85 seconds, followed by Jevoy Moreno at 00:38.90 seconds, and Mike Potenciano at 00:39.47 seconds. Now on its 20th season, the PACS founded by Danny Santiago is the farthest-reaching motorships campaign in the country, advocating for disciplined-

driving and contributing challenging programs to Philippine Motorsports. Recently, Ablang also dominated the first round of Super Sprint 2020, held at Meycauayan Commercial Complex last February 2. Driving his Honda Civic EG Hatchback with its 2.0 B20 modified engine, Ablang won first place in the Prepped B3 Class, Prepped C3 Class, and Prepped D3 class of Super Sprint Round 1, clocking in 00:59.179 seconds, 00:59.008 seconds, and 00:57.478 seconds respectively, also winning fastest time of the day for his team, Autoforce.

In the previous year, Ablang has dominated Super Sprint, held as the champion for Prepped B 3, Prepped C3, and Prepped D3 class, granting him the title of 2019 Prepped Overall Champion. For Super Sprint, Prepped Class is the category for any driver who has moderate to more experience in motorsports competitions. Other driver classifications are street, amateur and intermediate. So far, Ablang’s most notable wins in the motorsports industry aside from those mentioned above include 2008 Race Motorsports Club Slalom Racing Novice Overall Champion, 2017 Philippine Autocross Championship Series Novice Overall Champion, 2001 and up Category Champion in Metro Manila (2019 AAP-MSDP National Gymkhana) 2019 Golden Wheel Awardee Sparco Cup Grid Group 6, and Open Class Fastest Time of the Day in the last round of the 2019 PACS, timed at 00:30.94 seconds. Ablang started the racing scene early in 2007, participating in Race Motorsports Club Slalom Racing, and returned to his passion in 2017, after attending to building a stable family life. He dedicates his continuous wins to his family who supports his passion, and to

Team Autoforce’s Ryan Ablang wins Fastest Driver of the Day and Open Class Champion in the Philippine Autocross Championship Series held on February 8

his sponsors who believe in his skill. Ablang is currently backed by Motolite, Keon Sondra LED PH, Denso Mandaluyong, MovNCool, Dynamics Performance Engineering, JG Remaps

and Tuning, Unico Hijo Resort, Carbon Nitomura, JDM USDM Surplus Auto Parts, Casa Cruz Barberia, Station Lifestyle Supply Co., OEM Auto Fab, and DohcThor Performance by BertSpeed.

Lexus announces 2019 global sales results

LOBAL sales for January to December 2019 marked a new annual record high of 765,330 units (a 10-percent increase from the previous year). In addition to the wellreceived UX and redesigned ES, which were introduced in 2018, and the popular RX, which underwent a partial redesign in August 2019, the growth of the luxury market in China helped drive overall sales.

January–December 2019 sales results by main regions are as follows: North America

Approx. 325,000 units (level with prior year)

China (including Hong Kong) Approx. 202,000 units (an increase of 25%) Europe

Approx. 87,000 units (an increase of 14%)

Japan

Approx. 62,000 units (an increase of 13%)

Middle East

Approx. 32,000 units (an increase of 8%)

East Asia

Approx. 34,000 units (an increase of 8%)

Lexus International President Koji Sato said:

”I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every Lexus customer

around the world. From the time of our founding, we at Lexus have been earnestly pursuing the spirit of innovation and untiring evolution, and we will continue to take up the challenge of building vehicles that exceed our customers’ expectations. “Looking forward, based on our ‘Lexus Electrified’” vision, we will expand our lineup of electrified vehicles, starting with the launch of our first BEV production model, the

UX300e. We will further evolve the Lexus DNA to achieve the ideal balance of ride comfort and quietness with driver confidence and engagement. By applying advanced Lexus technologies, such as the integrated control of drive power, learned over many years developing electric motor control technologies in our hybrid vehicles, we will provide an inspiring and enjoyable driving experience unique to Lexus.”