BusinessMirror November 14, 2019

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Thursday, November 14, 2019 Vol. 15 No. 35

PPP gets reboot in new list of flagship projects

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE slowdown in advanced economies may be one of the reasons the national government has decided to increase the number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in its list of flagship projects.

Economists such as Rene Ofreneo told the BusinessMirror that at least one of the government’s major sources of official development assistance (ODA), China, is expected to post slower growth.

Based on a list submitted to the

House of Representatives (HOR) on Wednesday, 26 of the 100 flagship projects will be funded wholly or in part by the private sector.

“Siguro may mga nakausap nga siya [President Duterte] na magbibigay ng ODA, even China nga

eh, kitang-kita mo naman ang China may economic slowdown [Maybe the President was able to talk to development partners, even China, but as you can see, China is experiencing an economic slowdown],” Ofreneo said.

26

Projects on new flagship list to be funded wholly or in part by the private sector. Eleven of the 26 will be financed through various forms of public-private partnership schemes. Anther 13 will be funded via PPP, but are all unsolicited projects. The last two will be wholly funded by private groups In its Asian Development Outlook Update, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast the Chinese economy to post a growth of 6.3 percent this year and 6.1 percent next year.

See “Flagship projects,” A2

3-yr special powers eyed for Duterte in infra blitz

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PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

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S there a labor constituency for the trade policy that Filipino economic technocrats have been pushing for literally four decades already?

There have been changes in the country’s political leadership in the last 40 years. But surprisingly, the trade and economic policy pursued by the government, as spelled out in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plans (MTPDPs) prepared by Neda under each administration, has remained fairly uniform and consistent. It hews closely to the original structural adjustment program crafted by the IMF-World Bank in the early 1980s. The Philippines was the first recipient in Asia of the SAP program, which calls for the liberalization of the trade and investment regimes, the deregulation of the various economic sectors and the privatization of a number of government corporations, assets and services.

Continued on A11

Govt rice tariff take from traders hits ₧20.72B in October

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@joveemarie

See “Special powers,” A2

No labor constituency for trade policy?

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday filed a bill granting President Duterte three-year “special powers” to speed up the implementation of 75 flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build.”

In filing House Bill 5456, or Flagship Emergency Act of 2019, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said his proposal seeks to complete these projects on or before 2022.

Salceda said of the 75 of the original projects, 46 are being implemented as of 2019 mainly through the following: 1) General Appropriations Act-funded; 2) Official development assist a nce -f u nded w it h f i n a nc i a l close, and 3) started in the past administrations.

According to Salceda, this program has to be supported with special powers to fast-track the implementation as this would provide an inclusive growth, which means reducing poverty from 21.6 percent of population in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022.

P25.00 nationwide | 6 sections 64 pages |

SAVOY AT MACTAN NEWTOWN Property giant Megaworld formally opened the 547-room Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, its third hotel under the homegrown Savoy Hotel brand, inside the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. This is the biggest hotel in terms of number of rooms in Mactan Island and the second biggest in Cebu province. Leading the opening rites were (from left): Grace Bartolome, general manager of Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown; Noli D. Hernandez, president of Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc.; Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso, chief operating officer, Megaworld; and Raymundo V. Melendres, managing director of Megaworld Hotels. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

‘If 2020 budget stalls, expect a non-operating BARMM’

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—A non-operating Bangsamoro government is likely to happen next year if the 2020 regional budget is not passed this year, Bangsamoro officials said, citing the urgency to hire new personnel to fill the large void that will be left by outgoing personnel of the

now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

All the 6,000 employees of the ARMM are working on holdover capacity until December only. A provision of the governing Bangsamoro Organic Law has prohibited the BARMM from rehiring in the next five years all ARMM employees who have resigned or retired.

The Bangsamoro spokesman, Naguib Sinarimbo, said the urgent pas-

sage of the budget before the year ends is necessary to avoid disruption in government operation.

“The urgency of that is, if we fail to make appointments and comply with the publication requirements of the positions within December, we will have a situation where will not have a government operating by January 2020; and we don’t want that to happen,” he said.

See “BARMM,” A2

@jearcalas

HE government’s rice tariff collection as of end-October has reached P20.727 billion, of which P11.44 billion will be allocated for the government’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for next year, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III revealed this in his speech during the 11th World Rice Conference in Makati City on Wednesday.

In a presentation, Dominguez said the government collected P9.283 billion in rice tariffs from January 1 to March 4, or prior to the implementation of the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law.

Following the effectivity of the new law, the government earned P11.444 billion from rice imports. Of the amount, P10 billion will constitute RCEF while the excess amount will bankroll the government’s cash assistance program for rice farmers. In a separate presentation at the same event, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla disclosed that total rice imports as of end-October has reached 2.991 million metric tons (MMT).

Citing data from the Bureau of Customs, Sombilla said 1.102 MMT

₧13B

The Department of Agriculture’s earlier projected rice tariffs collection this year under the RTL law of imported rice entered the country prior to the implementation of the RTL law while the remaining volume of 1.888 MMT were imported under the new rice trade regime.

Sombilla said total rice imports as of October 31 is already “150 percent higher than the average importation in the same period of the previous 10 years.”

The RCEF is a six-year P10-billion annual funding created by the RTL law to bankroll programs that would provide farmers with highquality seeds, machinery, easier credit access and relevant training to improve their productivity and become competitive against Vietnam and Thailand.

The fund will come from tariffs collected by the government from rice imports. The amount in excess of P10 billion will be allocated for programs like crop diversification and cash transfers. The Department of Agriculture earlier said that rice tariffs collection this year under the RTL law would reach P13 billion.

US 50.8010 n JAPAN 0.4661 n UK 65.3047 n HK 6.4892 n CHINA 7.2497 n SINGAPORE 37.3070 n AUSTRALIA 34.7580 n EU 55.9471 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.5466

Source: BSP (13 November 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, November 14, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

US officials brief Leni on anti-drugs effort

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By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

ICE President Leni Robredo met on Wednesday with US officials assisting the country in its antinarcotics campaign, and received inputs on how the Philippines can further improve its efforts in dealing with illegal drugs.

“They expressed their full support and cooperation to our campaign against illegal drugs. And as a friend of the Philippines, they will do everything to ensure that we will succeed in this fight.”—Robredo

While she did not go into details of her discussion, the Vice President said all of the officials shared the existing programs of the US government.

“The briefing that they gave was comprehensive,” she said, noting that the meeting was attended by officials from the US Embassy, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US State Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Agency for International Development.

“All of them shared about their programs here in the Philippines in relation to the campaign against illegal drugs,” reported Robredo, who

POEA limits types of OFW allowed in Libya

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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MID the ongoing civil war in Libya, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has further limited the categories of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) allowed to work in the African state.

POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia on Tuesday issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 13, Series of 2019 “clarifying” the provisions of MC 10.

MC 13 barred OFWs, who have an existing employment contract, but have already been

BARMM. . .

Continued from A1

The sense of urgency was heightened last week as Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim reshuffled two regional cabinet ministers and placed the budget and finance ministry under his direct supervision.

Sinarimbo said Ebrahim has instructed the Ministry of Budget, Finance, and Management (MFBM) to complete the preparation of the budget before November 14.

The proposed regional budget will be submitted to Ebrahim for review, after which he will convene his cabinet to finalize the 2020 budget proposal.

According to Sinarimbo, “the cabinet may be in session

Flagship projects. . .

Continued from A1

Japan and the United States, other ODA sources, are also expected to post slower growth next year at 1.9 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

The San Miguel effect

APART from slower growth, Ofreneo said it is also possible that the granting of San Miguel’s unsolicited proposal for the New Manila International Airport encouraged more businesses to participate in public infrastructure projects.

Ofreneo said this means the government needed to provide more options to allow them to come in and participate. “If Ramon Ang can do it, bakit hindi [why can’t] some other taipans?” he said.

away from Libya for “the past several years,” from going back to the North African country.

“This will ensure only BM [balik manggagawa] with live or continuing contracts will be allowed to return to Libya,” Olalia told the BusinessMirror in a SMS. Prior to MC 13, POEA allowed the deployment to Libya of all returning OFWs who are employed by companies with existing contracts with the government of Libya, the United Nations, other international organizations and international nongovernment organizations with operations in that country.

The new issuance further clarified that

to complete the preparations for the budget before the Chief Minister submits the budget of the government of the day as a cabinet proposal to the parliament.”

The Chief Minister was also expected to request the holding of a special session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on November 18 to deliberate on the proposed budget. The Bangsamoro Parliament holds regular sessions on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of every third and fourth week of the month.

Sinarimbo said the Bangsamoro government hoped to enact the 2020 Regional Appropriations Act on November 21 and have it published the following day.

“After it becomes effective after 15 days, we can proceed with hiring people for January. We need to commence the process of hiring people in December because we will need to publish Meanwhile, another reason for the increase in PPP projects in the flagship could be the need to improve project implementation.

A former government bureaucrat who requested anonymity said the President has yet to weigh in on the implementation issues at this point.

The former official said there could also be some “bureaucratic fear” surrounding project implementation, which may lead to charges filed by the Ombudsman and disallowances by the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Bureaucrats [are] not rewarded for decisive implementation, but charged for minor infractions and even if they make correct decisions,” the source said.

The source added, “bureaucrats about to retire do not want to take any risks for fear of losing their retirement benefits due to COA disallowances.”

The former government official also said some of the presidential appointees may lack the qualifications needed to implement projects and programs of the government.

With little capacity or incentive for the government agencies to implement, allowing the private sector to undertake projects may be a better option to ensure that projects are completed, the source said.

qualified OFWs who will be deployed to Libya will not be deployed or assigned within the 100-kilometer radius of Tripoli, where armed conflict persists.

It further required recruitment agencies with deployed OFWs in Libya to include POEA among the agencies to which they should submit reports.

Previously, recruiters were only required to report significant incidents affecting the employment, safety, and welfare of their deployed OFWs in Libya to the Philippine Embassy and/or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

vacant positions,” Sinarimbo said. The Regional Appropriations Act is one of the seven priority bills of the BARMM parliament that would set up the allotment for the BARMM offices.

The first of 500 ARMM employees were terminated as of October 31 and the second batch will end their services

by November 15. All the remaining ARMM employees will end their service by the end of December.

Earlier, on November 4, Ebrahim said Abdulraof Macacua will be out as Environment Minister to serve as the region’s Executive Secretary. Macacua will still serve in the oversight of the environment ministry. Eduard Guerra, a licensed architect, will move from his post as Finance minister to the Ministry of Public Works.

The MBFBM would be placed under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.

11 under PPP

BASED on the list obtained by BusinessMirror, of the 26 projects, 11 will be financed through various forms of PPP schemes.

Another 13 will be funded via PPP, but these are all unsolicited projects. The remaining two will be wholly funded by the private sector.

The list also showed that 50 projects will be funded through ODA and 22 will be funded by the national government.

One project still has no mode of financing while another one will be funded through the national budget and another institution. Comparing the list of 100 flagship projects to the original 75 projects, around 35 projects were obtained from the original list last updated in July 2019.

However, these 35 projects include two projects that had several components taken off the list of flagship projects.

Projects in the China Grant Bridges project include two items—the Binondo Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges—that were initially treated as individual undertakings in the list of 75 projects.

Another project is the Pasig River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project which contained five projects that were individual undertakings in the list of 75 projects. These projects are the North and South Harbor; Beata-FY Manalo; Palanca-Villegas; East-West Bank 2; and Blumentritt-Antipolo bridges.

Another project in the original list, the MRT-LRT Common Station Project, was renamed the Unified Grand Central Station in the revised flagship list.

last week accepted her designation

by President Duterte as the co-chairman of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (Icad).

A statement from the US Embassy said the meeting was made upon the request of Robredo, who was not only briefed on the US-Philippines counter-narcotics cooperation, but even on ongoing and potential USfunded programs aimed at reducing drug demand.

Robredo said she and the US officials talked about the need for the

Special powers. . .

Continued from A1

“Midway through President Duterte administration’s term, its economic and infrastructure teams have just finished reviewing the flagship BBB program to possibly include emerging 100 big-ticket projects being pitched by the private sector—although cautious not to commit any mistakes that would deem too accommodating to firms’ profits at the expense of taxpayers’ money,” he said.

The BBB program, launched in 2017, is aimed at ushering in the “golden age of infrastructure” in the country. It is the largest and broadest infrastructure spending program ever undertaken by any Philippine government in the last 100 years.

He said this program will catch up with its more vibrant neighbors by 2022 and would help achieve high-income economy status within a generation and middle-income status by 2022.

Salceda said the program is a work in progress but could be faster by easing procurement rigidities and empowering right of way.

The bill declares the existence of national importance for the immediate implementation of the flagship projects of the President.

Flagship manager

THE measure designates the chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) as flagship manager.

The bill also authorizes special modes of procurement while installing safeguards through the implementation of the EO on Freedom of Information

Underspending. . .

Continued from A12

“The issue is the underspending and the fact that only nine projects have been started is just a manifestation of this underlying problem,” Drilon said in an interview Wednesday, noting that “20 percent of our GDP is dependent on government spending.”

Therefore, Drilon stressed, “it is important that the budgeted expenditures should be disbursed, because that goes into our GDP, creates employment.”

He pointed to a publication of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) where“they recognized that underspending is a problem. They recognized it as a challenge that the government has to face. In several instances, they have cited underspending.”

Drilon said the DBM itself said the country’s real GDP slowed down to 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019, noting that “the slowdown is largely attributable to government underspending in the first quarter.”

Elsewhere in the DBM report, “it is underspending that is cited as a reason [for] why we are not meeting our program or target,” said Drilon, adding that the COA, in its report, stated that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has a disbursement rate of 34.1 percent in 2017 and 39.7 percent in 2018, and the Department of Transportation (DOTR) has a disbursement rate of 25.6 percent in 2017 and 23.8 percent in 2018.

Drilon added:“What does this mean? For every P100 budget, they are only spending, let’s say in the case of DOTR, P25.6. In 2017, they only spent P23 out of P100.”

Therefore, he stressed, the contribution of government spending to economic growth is not being met, “not because there are no funds available but because the fund appropriated is not being spent.

It is a simple as that.”

Budget. . .

Continued from A12

He recalled that as of September 30, 2019, a little over P261 billion of the national budget could lapse and revert to the National Treasury if these are not utilized by the end of the year. Moreover, the senator added the Department of Education, for instance, could lose up to P16 billion of its funds, as “it will be forced to return this to the National Treasury under the cash budgeting system.”

As a result, up to 2,933 classrooms would not be repaired or rehabilitated as scheduled; 593 schools will remain without electricity; up to 1,836,793 students

country to have clear baseline data on the drugs situation and the possibility of amending the Comprehensive Drugs Act in order to make it more responsive. They also discussed the need to strengthen programs geared toward drug use prevention and community-based rehabilitation.

“They expressed their full support and cooperation to our campaign against illegal drugs. And as a friend of the Philippines, they will do everything to ensure that we will succeed in this fight,” Robredo said.

and creation of a Congressional Oversight Committee.

The measure said an initial amount necessary to carry it out will be sourced from the current year’s budget of the concerned agencies implementing this Act and from National Government savings.

The bill also created a Congressional Oversight Committee, tasked with monitoring implementation of this act an exercise of the authority granted.

Meanwhile, among these projects are: Sangley Airport, Unified Grand Central Station, LRT 2 West Extension, Bicol (New Legaspi) International Airport, Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project, Metro Cebu Expressway Project, Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway, Boracay Circumferential Road, Sindangan-Bayog-Lakewood Road, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, Davao City Coastal Road Project, including Bucana bridge, Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road, Surallah-T’boli-San Jose Road, South Cotabato, Metro Manila BRT Line 1 (Quezon Ave), Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1, MRT 3 Rehabilitation Project, LRT 2 East Extension.

North-South Commuter Railway (PNR North 1), North-South Commuter Railway Extension (PNR North 2, PNR South Commuter), PNR South Long Haul, New Dumaguete (Bacong) Airport, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, New Cebu International Container Port, New Zamboanga International Airport, Mindanao Rail Project Phase 1, Subic Clark Railway, China Grant Bridges (Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge), Arterial Road ByPass Project Phase III (Plaridel Bypass), Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project, Guicam Bridge, Tawi-Tawi Interlink Bridges, Davao City Bypass Construction Project, Road Network Development Project in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao are also included in the list of projects.

Drilon said he asked officials concerned and was told, “There are many factors they say they meet and among which is the right-of-way problem. We cannot [have] excuses every year; there has to be a program so that we can accelerate our disbursement.”

Drilon debunked

IN debunking Drilon’s claim, Dizon said the Duterte administration has already spent a trillion pesos in infrastructure compared to P380 billion in the Aquino administration and P100 billion in the Arroyo administration.

But Dizon also conceded that they chose the wrong ones to highlight in the initial list of flagship projects.

According to the status of infrastructure flagship projects from the National Economic and Development Authority, nine were indeed ongoing construction, while only two were completed as of July 31, 2019, even though the Neda Board approved 37 out of 75 flagship projects.

Meanwhile, he stressed the need to revise the initial list of flagship projects as they wanted to be able to do more and speed up the infrastructure program in the second half of the term of the President.

“It’s still slow.We acknowledge that—it is still slow.We got to do it faster. We got to get these things done faster,” he said, adding that the biggest challenge for infrastructure implementation is still the right-of-way issue.

From 75 flagship projects in its initial list, the revised list now includes 100 projects.

Dizon said more than 20 projects which were mostly at the feasibility study stage were already “shelved” by the government as some of these were found out to be not yet feasible for now. “We don’t wanna build something that is not yet feasible as of this time. They could be feasible later on, but not yet as of this time.

So, we had to revisit and put in projects that are urgent that we can already start now,” he said. will not benefit from the milk feeding activity; and 2,485,388 students may not receive the vouchers they need for tuition under the Government Assistance and Subsidies program, Angara added. “For the Department of Health, it will mean that almost all of the 3,491 projects under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program will be delayed further.”

The senator raised concern that “if our measure is not approved, that means the DOH would have to wait for 2021 [at the earliest] before they can expect some movement on the same projects originally intended for 2019. For many sick Filipinos, that waiting time is much too long and could even prove to be fatal.”

Butch Fernandez

A4 Thursday, November 14, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

DA implements ‘stringent’ food safety measures on rice trading

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE Philippines has started implementing stringent food safety measures for rice to ensure that the staple sold in the market, whether home grown or imported, does not contain heavy metals and high levels of pesticides.

With these measures in place, the Philippines is unfazed of possible disputes that could arise if trade partners view the nontariff measures as hindering rice trade.

“We are not afraid [of any trade disputes] because we are after the food safety for every Filipino,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar told reporters on the sidelines of the 11th World Rice Conference in Makati City on Wednesday.

Dar said he has signed last November 12 a memorandum circular that would require local producers and importers to comply with heavy metal contamination and maximum pesticide residue rules for rice products to be sold in the domestic market.

The BusinessMirror broke the story that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has crafted a draft memorandum circular that would impose more stringent requirements for trading rice.

The rules cover heavy metal content, pesticide residue level, extraneous and filth contaminants, as well as microbiological parameters.

The BusinessMirror also reported that these food safety measures are seen by DA as a way to limit rice imports that has surged in recent months following the opening of the domestic market.

These food safety measures, government sources noted, would be additional requirements for interested rice importers, thus, making it more difficult for them to secure sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance.

The SPS-IC is a requirement for traders to be able to import rice under the new trade regime.

Experts like former Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano noted that such stringent measure could be a ground for possible trade dispute if it becomes a “trade barrier.”

Slowing down imports

DAR said since the DA started implementing stricter food safety measures, the monthly volume of imported rice has gone down to 85,000 metric tons this October from the average 254,000 MT from March to September.

“This is the result of better and stricter implementation [of food safety measures] before issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance,” he said.

“And we will continue to be strict, to elevate our measures before we issue the SPS-IC. These measures have been there but we are intensifying them,” he added.

Dar did not give a categorical answer if he sees a further slowdown in rice imports given the stricter requirements.

“It’s how they are able to respond to the very requirements before we issue the SPS-IC,” he said. “If it’s main harvest, I said that we should really make it stringent so that only few rice imports would enter to protect the farmers,” Dar added.

Dar said they have sent formal communication to the country’s rice trading partners, such as Vietnam and Thailand, informing them of the implementation of the stringent food safety measures. “We are hoping for a positive response,” he added.

Monetary Board Member Bruce Tolentino said implementing such kind of food safety measures should be “agreed upon” with the Philippines’s trade partners so that they won’t be put at a disadvantage. “The rules for issuing SPS should be agreed upon with our major trading partners, para hindi naman sila maagrabyado. In the way that trading system works, it is reciprocal. If pahihirapan natin sila eh di pahihirapan din nila tayo,” Tolentino told reporters in an interview.

“We will see what Vietnam and Thailand would say about the measures. There would be continuing dialogue because Vietnam and Thailand are also interested in trade and we are also interested in ensuring food safety,” Tolentino added.

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Tit for tat: PHL mulls over tariff imposition on Thai car imports

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

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HE Philippines is planning to impose tariffs on imported vehicles from Thailand in retaliation to Bangkok’s noncompliance to a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling invalidating its customs and fiscal measures on cigarettes from Manila.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said he is asking the Thai government to implement the WTO ruling declaring Bangkok’s tax treatment on Philippine tobacco exports violative of multilateral trading rules. Otherwise, the Philippines will be compelled to impose retaliatory measures, and it will target Thailand where it will hurt the most: vehicle imports.

“I talked to the minister a long time ago to implement it because there was that ruling already,” Lopez said on the sidelines of the 11th World Rice Conference on Wednesday.

“We try to convince first Thailand, but that is our next move. If Thailand will not take any action, we will be forced do the retaliatory move already,” he added.

Lopez disclosed the Philippines would most likely retaliate through the application of duty on Thai vehicle imports, shunning the option of controlling the volume of entry of such product under a quantitative restriction (QR) system.

“To me, tariff is preferred always than QR. Under a QR system, there are rent seekers. It will be difficult since the QR is subject to corruption—the regulatory part of it—and there’s no revenue. There’s an impact on the price in the end, but it will not capture what we call economic rent,” the trade chief explained.

“Whereas if that’s a tariff, there’s a clear bit of protection. There’s revenue [because of] the tariff rate. Tariff will usually be preferred over QR,” Lopez said.

Imported vehicles from Southeast Asian economies, including Thailand, are enjoying

duty-free entry to the Philippine market under the region’s trade deal. Combining 2014 to 2018 imports, automobile shipments from Thailand reached roughly 428,000 units.

Lopez is hoping Bangkok will just comply with the WTO ruling to prevent any retaliation on the part of Manila, which may just complicate the trade dispute further.

“We want to pressure Thailand that they have to implement it. Definitely, of this measure, we will have to study it. Preference wise, [I would want to use] tariff. As to what percent, we have to study that,” Lopez said.

In 2008 the Philippines requested consultations with Thailand on a number of Thai fiscal and customs measures affecting cigarettes from the Philippines.

Such measures include Thailand’s customs valuation practices, excise tax, health tax, TV tax, VAT regime, retail licensing requirements and import guarantees applied on cigarette importers. Manila argued that Bangkok administers in a partial and unreasonable manner that it breaches multilateral trading rules.

In 2011 the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body ruled in favor of the Philippines, ordering Thailand to align its fiscal and customs measures with WTO regulations.

Aside from retaliating, the government is evaluating the imposition of a safeguard measure on imported vehicles, targeting mostly units coming from Thailand and Indonesia, the country’s largest overseas sources of automobiles. The move was triggered by the petition filed by trade union Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance, which lamented the declining employment in the automotive industry, particularly in manufacturing.

Workers in the automotive industry lodged the petition to impose a safeguard on automobile to stop the alleged import surge of the product, as car makers are reportedly choosing Thailand and Indonesia as their investment destinations in Southeast Asia.

DA exec encourages ‘yuppies’ to venture into agri business

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

A

@jonlmayuga

N official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said young professionals could earn their first million within a year by venturing into agriculture, not bad compared to what young professionals receive as customer service representative of a business-process outsourcing (BPO) company.

At a news conference at the UP Bahay ng Alumni in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, on Wednesday, Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said young professionals, even after finishing a college degree not related to agriculture, can still become a successful farmer.

Natividad-Caballero was among the guests during a two-day conference dubbed “Knowledge Learning Market and Policy Engagement” (KLMPE) wherein the role of family farming in food security was highlighted.

Co-organized by the DA, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad), Food and Agriculture Organization and civil-society organizations, the event showcased models and innovations on family farming which supports the United Nation’s goal of ending poverty and hunger; achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture and to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

The official cited two classic examples wherein the newly graduates were able to make their first million in a small landholding and a capital lent to them by their aging parents.

According to Natividad-Caballero, the average age of farmers in the Philippines is 57.

However, she said that in many areas, because of the nature of their job, there are older farmers who still work in their farm. This, she said, is alarming considering that in some cases, the parents themselves are sending their children to college to find a high-paying job to escape poverty.

Natividad-Caballero, however, said farmers’ income varies depending on the farm, whether they are irrigated or rain-fed or the crops they are planted to—and how farming is practiced by the farmer.

But she said there are 101 ways to make farming profitable.

Venturing in agribusiness, Natividad-Caballero said, is one way of making huge profit that will make even college degree holders to do business in farming rather than become a

call-center agent in highly urbanized cities.

One farmer, Natividad-Caballero said, a call-center agent for three years, was challenged by his aging father to go into agribusiness.

She said the father gave his son 1 hectare of farm to use for his business and small capital to start his own business. The son, he said, cultivated solo papaya.

“In two years, he made his first million,” Natividad-Caballero said.

Another young millionaire, from Biliran, involves a father who doesn’t have a farm and whose children are young professionals. The father went to the Agricultural Training Institute to learn agribusiness.

The family worked together and made their farm productive, by producing food and running a restaurant where everybody in the family helped contribute their professional skills.

Natividad-Caballero said profitability is a big factor in making farmers stay in rural areas to do business in agriculture.

The DA, under the leadership of Secretary William Dar, she said visualizes agriculture and fisheries as productive and profitable through agribusiness venture.

“Agribusiness has to be inclusive, marketoriented and sustainable development,” she said.

This means not just one or two sectors will benefit. That’s why we are working with federations of cooperatives of grassroots organizations that have networks on the ground, they are organized, and have credit lines, Natividad-Caballero said.

The DA chief, she added, is working to enhance credit lines for these grassroots organizations that are viable and sustainable, to reach as many farmers to boost income and make Filipino farmers agricultural businessmen and businesswomen.

Aside from value-adding and venturing in food processing and marketing their products, farmers can venture into a public-private partnership to engage in other businesses with huge potential, like farm tourism, and linking with other stakeholders.

Tamara Jean Palis-Duran, Food and Agricultural Office assistant representative underscored the role of the farming family working together in ensuring food security.

Family farming, she said, like in the Philippines where many farmers are owners of small landholdings, need to work together as a unit to make their farms productive given its limited production capacity.

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, November 14, 2019 A5

DOF rejects rice tariff law amendment

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Department of Finance (DOF) has expressed opposition to proposals to amend the rice trade liberalization law, which removed the caps on imports and limited the government’s intervention in the domestic rice industry.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III on Wednesday said the Philippines will “never return to the old regime” wherein imports were controlled or limited.

“We will never return to the old regime of unstable rice supplies, high retail prices, profiteering and low productivity. This is not the future of our agriculture,” Dominguez said in his speech during the 11th World Rice Conference in Makati City.

“We should let the law do its work and give the economy time to adjust to further easing of rice prices for all Filipinos and support programs to lower production cost,” he added.

Citing lower retail prices and the decline in inflation rate, the DOF chief said Republic Act 11203 is delivering on its promise to Filipino consumers. He noted that the retail price of rice fell below P8 per kilogram due to the entry of cheaper imports.

“We will continue to do what is

necessary to make rice available and affordable for all while making the country’s rice sector viable, efficient and globally competitive. We are now only reaping the initial harvest of rice tariffication law,” he said.

Dominguez also disclosed that President Duterte has issued a “clear” order to unmask and prosecute unscrupulous traders and industry players who have been manipulating rice prices.

Review

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it is now more partial to reviewing RA 11203 to include provisions that would allow the government to calibrate or limit imports. The DA made the statement after imports that arrived in the Philippines as of October reached 2.99 million metric tons (MMT).

The DA said it expects total imports for 2019 to exceed 2.99 MMT as there are still a number of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances issued

by the government that have not been used by eligible traders and importers.

As the volume of imports has already exceeded the shortfall in local supply, the DA said it feels that there’s already “overimportation” of the staple.

The review of the law may take place one year after it took effect or

by March 2020 and may be undertaken by the DA and Sen. Cynthia A. Villar. Villar, who chairs the Senate Committe on Agriculture and Food, is the principal author of RA 11203, which took effect last March 5.

However, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar maintained his previous position that there is no need to amend the law in the near future.

“I have always maintained my position: give the law a chance to be implemented properly. The only time we should revisit it is if there’s a need to tweak provisions to make it more effective,” Dar told repoters on the sidelines of the conference.

The United States Department of Agriculture has earlier projected that the Philippines’s rice imports this year will reach 3 MMT. The anticipated volume is bigger than the 2.5 MMT projected for China this year.

Data reported by Beijing to the International Trade Centre (ITC) showed that China imported nearly 1.7 MMT of rice in January to September.

The Philippines was the world’s top rice importer in 2008, when

it was forced to purchase close to 2.4 MMT. The government had to import more so it could beef up its buffer stocks and sell cheap rice to the public.

The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that unhusked rice production in the third quarter fell by 4.53 percent to 3.05 MMT, from last year’s 3.196 MMT. The PSA also noted that during the January-to-September period, the price of palay went down by 26.49 percent as lower buying prices were offered by local buyers and traders.

“The presence of low-priced imported rice in the market also contributed to the drop in palay price,” it added.

Dean Foods files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization

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OP American milk processor Dean Foods Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is in advanced talks with Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA) about a potential sale.

Dean listed assets and liabilities of as much as $10 billion each in court papers filed in Houston, and said in a statement it has commitments for $850 million in bankruptcy financing from existing lenders led by Rabobank. The filing allows Dean to keep operating while it works on a plan to pay creditors and turn the business around.

Losses have piled up after Dean’s biggest customer, Walmart Inc., built its own milk plant. Dean says it’s the largest processor of fresh fluid milk and other dairy products in the United States, but the company has been squeezed by fierce competition and the rising price of milk, which has eroded profit margins.

Demand for cow milk has been weak, too, with nut milks and even bottled water cutting into its popularity. On top of that, retailers have been selling their own house brands of milk at a loss to increase store traffic, Hoai Ngo of Bloomberg

Intelligence wrote in a note.

Falling prices

DEAN shares have tumbled 79 percent this year, the worst performance among peers tracked by Bloomberg, and trading hadn’t resumed as of midday Tuesday. Its bonds dropped to fresh lows, plunging to as little as 14.5 cents on the dollar, according to Trace pricing data. As recently as January of last year, the bonds were trading at full value.

The Dallas-based company’s filing and debtor-in-possession financing reduces the recovery value

for debt holders and “could drive prices lower,” Ngo wrote.

A transaction between Dean and DFA is still under review, and no agreement for the purchase of Dean’s assets has been reached, DFA Executive Vice President Monica Massey said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. Other bidders may emerge during the bankruptcy process, Massey said, adding that DFA’s offer would be contingent upon various approvals, including a review of Dean Foods’ assets and clearance from US antitrust regulators. Bloomberg News

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A6 Thursday, November 14, 2019

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Suntrust Properties, Inc. shines bright on 22nd year with CSR initiatives

THE ELIANA

THE ARCADIA

S

LA RIVIERA

arts and crafts workshop for the children of the barangay. The related Bigas sa Basura program further allowed residents to exchange every kilo of recyclable item for a kilo of rice.

This very productive “day of malasakit” was made possible through the volunteers of Victory Christian Fellowship, volunteer unit owners of Suntrust Shanata, volunteer nurses and doctors, volunteer lawyers, Suntrust contractors, and members of the barangay council.

By Edwin P. Sallan

INCE its inception on November 14, 1997, Suntrust Properties, Inc. (SPI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Megaworld Corporation has led the way in providing affordablypriced homes and master-planned communities for the Filipino market.

22 years later, the company continues to turn dreams into reality not only by providing a home for every Filipino but also through laudable corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that focuses on improving quality of life.

Encouraged by Suntrust management to be involved in the company’s efforts to give back to communities, employees, contractors, salespeople and business partners were grouped into eight teams this year. Completing the rays of the SUN to carry out various activities for their chosen beneficiaries, each team was named after SPI’s existing and upcoming projects, with the teams’ chosen mythical creatures to represent them.

San Francisco Lycans spends day with the elders

THE San Francisco Lycans visited Bahay Ni Maria in Brgy. Sampiruhan in Calamba, Laguna.

Maintained and operated by the Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima, Bahay ni Maria houses over 30 lolas that receive basic necessities such as bedding, toiletries, medicines, food, and kitchen supplies to help in their day-to-day living.

The Lycans presented a dance number, a role play performance as they celebrated the birthday of one of the elders, much to the delight of the other lolas who were all smiles throughout and in the process did not make it easy for the Lycans to leave after the festivities.

A Magical Affair by the Arcadia Pixies

THE Arcadia Pixies chose to visit cancer patients in the National Children’s Hospital in Quezon City last Oct. 19. The team presented a dance number, hosted a storytelling and brought in clowns for a magic and puppet show to cheer up the children. PBB Otso housemate Yen Quirante, who is also a Suntrust condo unit owner herself also spent the day with the children. It was in-

deed a magical day for the children, parents, and staff of the hospital which filled the hearts of everyone in the team.

A gift-giving was done where children received toys and grocery packages while the hospital received electric fans.

Siena Hills Griffins raise funds with benefit concert

LE DOMINIQUE

Suntrust Ecotown Phoenix provides ray of hope for coastal communities

PARTNERING with Lakbay Sining Kabataang Pintor, Navotas LGU, and Barangay Council for a sustainable reformation program in coastal communities, the team opened their program with a painting workshop for kids and teens ages five to 15. This was followed on October 19 by a regular class to be conducted that will tackle strategies on keeping the coastal areas clean, waste management, project making which uses waste gathered from the coastline, and basic entrepreneurship. The activities will be culminated with a showcase of the participants’ artworks at the City Hall of Navotas this coming 2020.

A signed Memorandum of Agreement with the barangay was also secured by the team that will allow learning to be facilitated in vacant barangay facilities on weekends. Lakbay Sining Kabataan Pintor also pledged to support through free workshops with modules, art materials, school supplies, and a mobile classroom already provided by the team. Other resources include snacks and transportation allowances for volunteers.

The team also rehabilitated an old basketball court and set up a room that will be utilized for sports and recreation at Bahay Pag-asa in Dasmariñas, Cavite. This center houses children in conflict with the law.

Atty. Harry Paltongan, SPI president also graced the activity and encouraged the young boys to be better and responsible members of society as he also said that they are welcome to apply in the company.

The Eliana Adarna’s Alon ng Pag-asa

SUNTRUST ECOTOWN

SPI is the first private organization to hold an outreach program in the area. The Alon ng Pag-asa CSR initiative consists of four programs namely environment, livelihood, basic needs, and education. Gathering 250 volunteers from private organizations, LGUs, communities, and student groups who helped in the cleanup drive along Tanza, Cavite coastline, the team were also able to turnover cleaning supplies to the community.

About 150 households received groceries and gift bags while the children were treated to an arts tutorial and feeding program. School and art supplies were also provided to aid in their education. To help generate income for the local community, a bangka made of fiber glass and cash donation for purchase of fishing gears were also donated to the fishermen of Samahang Mangingisda ng Capipisa.

Le Dominique Dragons gives mystique blowout to Children of Joy

SAN FRANCISCO HEIGHTS

BRINGING 25 kids and adolescents of Children of Joy to Cyberville, a Suntrust community in Cavite, for a fun-filled pool party, this team opted to bring joy to kids neglected and exposed to violence in their early years. Le Dominique Dragons believe that a special day like this should help provide happy memories that these young tots will not forget for a long time. Donating musical instruments also helps in channeling these kids’ attention and energy to meaningful and recreational hobbies.

The beneficiaries received several gifts that included a five-kilo rice cooker and oven to help in their food preparation, two Bachendorff violins, ukulele, nine mattresses, four wall fans, kitchen and dining wares, toiletries, groceries, and P50,000 in cash.

La Riviera Chimera and their Malasakit Center

SEASCAPE

SIENA HILLS

RIGHT on the grounds of Suntrust’s soon-to-rise condominium residence project in Pasig City, the Chimeras have chosen to mount a Malasakit Center for future neighbors.

Through the assistance of Kapitana Vivero, residents of Brgy. Pinagbuhatan in Pasig were able to avail of free medical and dental checkups, free legal counseling or consultation, a livelihood seminar, and an

THIS team opted to mount a benefit concert to raise funds for several capsule CSR activities that included the sponsorship of four adults and four young scholars in TESDA, a Bible study group for the team and the company contractors, financial help in transportation expense of a cancer patient’s parent, a feeding program for 300 kids in Escolta, Manila as well as a livelihood program for the residents of San Nicolas.

For its partner, the team chose the Gospel Church of Manila (GCM) since it is more familiar with the area and was able to help in identifying the beneficiaries in addition to providing the venue and additional manpower.

On its first day, a feeding program and distribution of grocery bags with rice to the families took place in Escolta. Suntrust contractors also held a mini job fair as successful candidates were hired on the spot as construction workers.

The culminating activity, a Contractors’ Appreciation Day and awarding of the chosen beneficiaries for the TESDA program and financial aid for cancer patients took place on the second day, with attendees given loot bags. Through their own initiative, Siena Hills Griffins hopes to have nurtured the underprivileged in San Nicolas, their adopted community.

Gracing the event was Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco who happily shared with the cancer patients her mother’s inspiring story of being a cancer survivor. A volunteer in GCM in her younger days, Ibasco is still very much involved in charity work up to this date.

Seascape Hydra gives the gift of smile

GATHERING the company’s business partners, sales managers, and contractors, the team chose to partner with Operation Smile in shaping a child’s future in a big way. By sponsoring the surgery of children suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate, SPI helps fight bullying and discrimination, improve a child’s physical features, food intake and even speech thereby allowing them to confidently interact with society.

To send off the children undergoing surgery by batch starting November 8, a fun day was held highlighted by a tour of Museo Pambata. Business partners, contractors, Operation Smile and Suntrust officers and employees were present to participate in the games, share lunch with the children and their parents, and distribute loot bags. Team members also prepared an original composition intended to be Operation Smile’s official jingle.

These team activities serve as testaments to SPI’s willingness to give back and contribute to uplifting communities and the lives of Filipinos. By remaining true to its mission of building what the buyers need, Suntrust lives by its name not only as a trusted real estate developer but figuratively as “a sun that shines brightly to illuminate hope for the needy.”

News

BusinessMirror

A4 Thursday, November 14, 2019 A8

BuCor seeks DOH’s help amid rising inmates’ death at Bilibid

By Joel R. San Juan

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@jrsanjuan1573

HE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday said it would seek the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) to address the rising

number of inmate deaths at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa owing to the lack of sufficient medical equipment and staff.

NBP Hospit a l C h ief Henr y Fabro said that currently there are only 13 doc tors i n va r iou s p e n it e nt i a r ie s n a tionw ide w ith only five assigned in the BuCor to attend to the health needs of at least 18,000 prisoners in the maximum security compound.

Specifically, Fabro said, they would be needing the DOH’s assistance for additional doctors and in acquiring additional medical equipment for the hospital.

Fabro said at least one prisoner dies everyday in the maximum prison due to lack of medical assistance. “ T h at ’s w h y w e are asking help from

other agencies, imagine we only have four doctors who are going around four shifts.

In fact, we are going to talk to Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III to ask for doctors. They have a program, doctors to the barrios, maybe they could give us some,” Fabro said at the sidelines of a conference on prison health.

However, Fabro said he could not confirm the 29 deaths in the NBP due to various illnesses, which detained Sen.Leila M. de Lima wanted to be investigated by the Senate.

De Lima has filed Senate Resolution 208, seeking to investigate the 29 deaths of prisoners in the NBP, 10 of which was due to contagious pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis, 14 due to noncommunicable illnesses, and five fatalities still to be confirmed, within a 17-day period last October “due to lack of basic necessities and proper medical treatment.”

Fabro said the usual causes of death in the maximum prison are heart attack and chronic kidney diseases, among others.

Based on the records, Senior Inspector Paul Borlongan, medical officer of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, said the mortality rate at the BJMP ranges from 300 to 800 yearly as of 2015.

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Comval prepares for new name in Dec plebiscite as province bags awards on nutrition, pop control

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—Compostela Valley province bagged the highly coveted award on improving child nutrition and brought home five other awards in the population programs it was implementing.

For three years in a row, the province was bestowed the Green Banner Award this year, a significant distinction given to local government units that recorded the lowest child malnutrition incidence.

This year, it recorded only 2.9 malnutrition rate, the lowest in any province in Davao Region, composed also of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental. It also recorded a high of 95.18-percent compliance of nutrition actions during the Annual Monitoring and Evaluation of the Nutrition Programs conducted by the Inter-Agency Technical Working-Group to all provinces and cities in Davao region.

The provincial information office said the province rolled out programs since 2007, to address hunger and malnutrition, especially among children. These were the Adopt a Child, the Kusina ng Kalinga, supplemental feeding among children in their early development phase and, the provision of vitamins and other services to pregnant women.

It received the citation in 2016 for having the lowest malnutrition prevalence rate of 3.6 percent and, by 2017 it was handed the same award for its 2.9-percent malnutrition rate.

Malnutrition is one of the killer diseases in the country that claims 29,000 children deaths annually, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund study. A 2018 Philippine Information Agency re-

port said the Philippines loses approximately $4.5 billion, or P220 billion per year, “due to the effects of undernutrition, such as child stunting, anemia and iodine deficiency.”

This amount is equivalent to 1.5 percent of the Philippine gross domestic product in 2015.

In his speech accepting the award this year, Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy said “through the bayanihan of the employees of the provincial government, we were able to rescue many children from the bondage of hunger and poverty.”

Last week, the province also hauled six awards during the “3rd Biennial Population Congress” organized by National Population Commission in Davao City.

It received the Outstanding Local Population Office in the Implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program, the Outstanding Adolescent Health Information in the Entire Province for calendar year 2017 and 2018, Commendation for Having the Most Number of Adolescent Friendly Health Facilities in the Entire Province, the Recognition for Continued Implementation of a Localized Population Program, the Commendation for the Implementation of the Adolescent Health, and Development Program by Establishing the Adolescent Friendly Health Facilities (Teen Centers).

Meanwhile, the Commission on Election has imposed a gun ban in Compostela Valley, as the province prepares for the provincewide plebiscite to ratify the proposal to rename it Davao de Oro. The gun ban covers the period November 7 to December 7, the date of the plebiscite.

Policemen were likewise directed to establish at least one checkpoint in each of the 11 municipalities.

FNI net income up 35% in Q3 2019

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

B

UOYED by the rise in nickel ore prices, Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (FNI) revenues and net income in the third quarter of 2019 had risen.

As of end-September, the second-largest nickel ore exporter in the Philippines recorded revenues of P4.79 billion, up 5.4 percent compared to the P4.54 billion in the first nine months of last year.

The company’s net income during the same period also jumped 35 percent to P804.95 million compared to the P595.43 million in the same period last year, attributed by company officials to favorable nickel ore prices in the global market.

The average realized price of nickel ore sold in the first nine months continued to improve at $19.88 per wet metric tons (WMT), up by 9.3 percent compared to last year.

“We are counting on the price of nickel to continue its upward momentum, especially with the Indonesian government’s recent decision to ban the export of nickel ore from next year,” Atty. Dante R. Bravo, FNI president said.

The volume of shipment for the nine months ending September 30, 2019, is down to 1.5 percent at 4.642 million WMT as against 4.711 million WMT of nickel ore for the previous period with the same number of 85 vessels.

This is due to management’s decision to ship more higher grade nickel ore to take advantage of better prices. The resulting product mix was 42-percent low-grade ore and 58-percent medium-grade ore in 2019 versus the previous period’s mix of 43-percent low-grade ore and 57-percent medium-grade ore.

These shipments sold solely to Chinese customers consisted of 1.953 million WMT low-grade nickel ore and 2.689 million WMT medium-grade nickel ore compared to 2.046 million WMT low-grade nickel ore, and 2.665 million WMT medium-grade nickel ore of the same period in 2018.

“We are delighted with our output as it marked a strong end to our operations for the year. But we shall continue to find ways to enhance our performance and be wellpositioned to take advantage of growth opportunities as we look to 2020,” said Bravo.

CBCP logo depicts unity in diversity

By Samuel P. Medenilla

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@sam_medenilla

IVERGENT b a c k grounds with a single harmonious goal.

This encapsulated the message of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official logo as it celebrates the Year of Ecumenism, Inter-Religious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples in 2020.

The logo shows two curved shapes barely interconnecting.

At its center is a blank space, which is shaped like a heart, with the words: “Dialogue Towards Harmony,” the theme for next year’s celebration.

“Even though the shapes are different, they follow the same direction. The logo is formed by two blocks distinguished by the

two colors,” CBCP explained.

One of the shapes is colored blue to represent the Pacific Ocean and the color of the Filipino islands, while the other is in red to represent the textile art of the indigenous peoples.

“These colors are the same colors as the Filipino flag,” CBCP said.

Finally, CBCP said the hear t “signifies the hum a n f r at e r n it y a nd respect for each other.”

CBCP’s 2020 celebration is part of its nine-year thematic preparation for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.

It will be led by CBCP’s Commissions Ecumenical Affairs; Inter-Religious Dialogue; and Indigenous Peoples.

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‘Deactivated’ OFW voters may be given chance to vote again

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

S

TARTING next month, “deactivated” overseas voters will soon be given the chance to participate again in the next election.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced it will once again start the reactivation of records of the concerned overseas voters from December 16, 2019, to September 30, 2021.

“Any registered overseas voter, whose registration record has been deactivated not later than December 16, may file with the Office for Filipino Overseas Voting [OFOV], the Post concerned or the Local Field Registration Center, a sworn application for reactivation of registration record stating that the grounds for deactivation no longer exists,” Comelec said in its Resolution 10619.

Those who will have their re-

activation application successfully processed will have their names included in the book of active voters.

The poll body deactivates the records of registered voters if they fail to vote in two consecutive elections.

OFOV earlier said it deactivated 313,101 registered overseas voters, who failed to cast their votes during the 2016 and 2019 elections.

For the duration of the reactivation of records, Comelec will also resume with its overseas voter registration.

During the said period, it will also provide the following services: accepting applications for correction of entry, change of name, or change of address within the post and country; requests for transfer of registration records from one post in a country to another post in another country or from a foreign country to the Philippines.

Thursday, November 14, 2019 A9

Ships deployed to Bajo de Masinloc to find 13 missing fishermen–PCG

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By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has embarked on a search and rescue operation to find some 13 fishermen who were reported missing after their fishing boat, FFB Three Sisters, sank near the waters of Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales last week.

PCG Spokesman Capt. Armand Balilo said the Coast Guard Station in Bataan has dispatched three ships, the BRP Tubbataha, BRP Ca-

pones and BRP Boracay, to spearhead the operation.

Balilo said one fisherman identified as Angelito Epetito Jr. was

successfully rescued few hours after they received a report about the incident. He was found afloat at Bajo de Masinloc by using an empty container.

According to Epepito, the FFB Three Sisters sank at around 3 a.m. on November 7 due to strong winds and big waves spawned by Tropical Cyclone Quiel.

The boat was sailing from Recto Bank going to Barangay Sisiman in Mariveles, Bataan, when it capsized.

Balilo said the rescued fisherman narrated that he was separated from the 13 fellow fishermen and was unable to regroup with them. He remained afloat for four days until rescue came, as the incident was only reported to the Coast Guard Station in Bataan through radio communication on November 11.

“PCG is also set to coordinate with the Chinese Coast Guard to seek information on the whereabouts of the 13 missing fishermen in the area,” Balilo said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has directed all of its local police and maritime units in areas where Tropical Depression Ramon is expected to pass to be ready to extend assistance to residents that would be affected by the storm.

The order was specifically issued to police units in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.

The order said the units must be alert and vigilant, and should be ready to provide assistance to the local government units, disaster management offices and residents.

DPWH inaugurates ₧31-million evacuation facility in Cagayan Valley

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has inaugurated a

P31-million evacuation complex in the Cagayan Valley, a facility seen to prepare the province in times of disasters and calamities.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the evacuation center in

Barangay Lallayug-Abut, Tuao, Cagayan is an eight-building facility that is equipped to provide ample assistance to the public in times of disasters.

The facility is equipped with various rooms for sleeping, dining, food

preparation, dishwashing, communication, religious practices and storage. It also has an infirmary.

Villar said he hopes that this infrastructure facility will help reduce casualties and deliver basic needs of

residents that will be affected by disasters in the area.

“Expect that the department will continuously exert our ultimate efforts to design and build resilient evacuation facilities all over the

country to aid fellow government agencies in response and relief operations,” he added.

The newly inaugurated facility is one of the the seven regional evacuation complexes in Cagayan.

Lucio ‘Bong‘ Tan Jr. Business Leader and passionaTe champion of sporTs he died novemBer 11, 2019 in san Juan ciTy aT The age of 53.

Bong is survived By his wife JuLie and sons Lucio Tan iii and KyLe Tan.

Condolences from the Cabangon Family & the Management & Staff of the aLC group of Companies

A10 Thursday, November 14, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

We can help solve the food waste problem

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HERE are more than 7 billion people on this planet, of which about a billion are currently starving. Yet, we annually lose and waste 1.3 billion tons of food, enough to feed 3 billion people. In three decades, the world population will reach 9 billion. Experts said food production by then must grow 70 percent to meet the growing demand. There’s a need to seriously start reducing food waste now if we hope to eradicate hunger and starvation on this planet.

Across global food systems, food waste is a big problem, posing a challenge to food security and environmental sustainability. Currently, no accurate estimates of the extent of food loss and waste are available, but the Food and Agriculture Organization, an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, said roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year—approximately 1.3 billion tons—gets wasted. FAO said food losses and waste amount to roughly $680 billion in industrialized countries and $310 billion in developing countries.

That’s why FAO is pushing for consumer education for behavior change, which, it believes, is key to decreasing food losses and waste, especially in rich countries. In the United States, for example, the US Department of Agriculture estimated food waste at between 30 percent and 40 percent of the food supply.

Based on calculations made by USDA’s Economic Research Service, 31 percent of food loss at the retail and consumer levels corresponded to approximately $161 billion worth of food in 2010.

Such amount of waste has far-reaching impact on society because food that could have helped feed poor families instead went to landfills. Furthermore, land, water, labor, energy and other inputs were used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing and disposing of the wasted food. In other words, wasted food also represents waste of resources, including the land, water, labor and energy used to produce it.

Fortunately, more than 70 countries recently pledged to do more to reduce the amount of food lost globally. The countries signed the pledge at an annual meeting of the Montreal Protocol where ministers, government officials and experts work on regulating man-made chemicals used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems that are harmful to the ozone layer. The meeting took place at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

Based on FAO’s data, about one-third of the world’s food is lost or wasted and the hope is that developing better methods to keep food cold while it’s stored and transported will reduce waste. The agency said poor refrigeration leads to the loss of about 9 percent of perishable food in developed countries and about 23 percent in developing countries, where millions of people suffer from malnutrition.

In the Philippines, where being poor means looking for your food on a garbage dump, more than 13 million Filipinos can’t afford three meals a day. This is sad considering that Filipinos also waste about 308,000 tons of rice every year. In Metro Manila alone, an estimated 2,175 tons of food scraps end up in trash bins on a daily basis. Much of this wasted food comes from restaurants.

Experts said one of the top contributors to food wastage is the lack of planning on the part of consumers. Sometimes people buy lots of food without making plans on when and how the food will be prepared for consumption.

Then they fail to remember using or preparing the food they buy. On the other hand, food is also wasted because people cook or prepare too much.

If there’s too much food than is needed, most of the time the excess food will go to waste.

The good news is that we have the power to help end the food waste problem. Just cutting our current household food waste, for example, will go a long way in helping solve the food waste problem. The logic is simple: No food gets wasted if people take the time to plan their food consumption.

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John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

S

INCE the middle of the year, every time I have been interviewed on the television channel ANC stock-market program, I have been asked about inflation, economic growth, and other fundamental factors. My response has been consistent.

The stock market is and would continue to totally ignore this data and information.

The day before—November 5— the most recent GDP numbers came in at a most favorable 6.2 percent, the Philippine Composite Index went up two percent or 157 points.

The next day the PSEi fell 191 points or 2.3 percent. This drop was attributed to the old reliable “profit taking” at best and “sell on news” at the worst.

The problem is that too many people put their faith in the “Best 100 Quotes about the Stock Market.” Only about seven of those are worthwhile. The rest are taken out

of context, worked really well before the invention of television, or had an expiration date of about one week to one year.

I particularly like “Buy when there is blood in the streets.” Anyone buying the Hong Kong stock market?

I prefer my wise old saying: “Buy when the blood in the streets has been washed away.” Who can forget the Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman who wrote the day after Trump was elected president, “If the question is when markets will recover, a first-pass answer is never.”

T

Highlighting Philcoman’s anniversary is the awarding of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso as The Management Man of the Year for 2019-2020; UP-Manila Prof.

Dr. Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, as The Management Woman of the Year, while San Miguel Corporation captured The Corporation of the Year Award.

These books are Breakaway, Greed & Betrayal, Power Grab, A Country Imperiled, and Imelda and the Marcos Legacy, which presents a bold and factual perspective on the presidency of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, his wife Imelda Romualdez Marcos, the martial-law period, the Edsa pocket revolt, the regime of President Cory Aquino and the subsequent administrations until that of Cory’s son, President Benigno “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III. The books present a factual recounting of history and defy accepted norms on historical personalities and traditional textbook views on

tion of Filipinos who may have to rely on other historical accounts to appreciate the characters of the nation’s previous leaders.

What prompted me to write the books were what came out mostly as distortions of historical events and the glorification of people who are supposed to be made to account for their sins of omission and comission.

In the post-Marcos years, I looked at the trials of plunders, corruptions, economic deprivation, gruesome human-rights violations, insurgencies, hundreds of killings involving journalists and serious problems of brownouts, flooding and horrendous traffic.

A Country Imperiled, for instance, sought to break the common notion

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Cecilio T. Arillo

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025.

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Printed by BROWN MADONNA Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 42 percent since then. The markets rarely do what the ‘experts’ think that they should.

Even actual hard number data is useless. It is a fact—well outside the statistical margin of error—that for nearly 100 years the New York stock exchange has been down more days when it rained in New York and up more days when the weather was sunny.

Trying to figure out why and how people spend and invest their money is a difficult proposition. That is why we have three-day sales at the mall.

In 2015, the PSEi was down by 5 percent. Yet, inflation for the year was a favorable 0.67 percent the economic growth came in at 6.1percent. In 2014, the index rose 24 percent with 3.6-percent inflation and 6.1-percent growth. For 2013 the PSEi was flat (up 1.32 percent) with 2.58-percent inflation and 7.1percent economic growth. Go check if any of the Best 100 Quotes about the Stock Market has it figured out. And do not say one thought like “Onli in da Pilipines.” This is the way the markets—all markets—work. The same is true about the idea of prices mov-

ing on “greed” and “fear” and that “Climb a wall of Worry” nonsense.

While it might appear that we humans are not much more sensible than a troop of drunken monkeys, we are all shrewd and incredibly smart when it comes to money. We can be manipulated and that is why the price is “only P19.95” and not “P20.00.”

However, there is a thin line for the stock markets when good external data is bad for stock prices.

Studies for the past 50 years in 30 markets worldwide show that a “too good” economy does not translate to rising stock prices. “Too high” economic growth means it is better to invest in a personal business and not the market. “Too low” and wealth stays in cash.

“Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks” and eventually she found “this porridge is just right.” Maybe 2020 cannot come soon enough.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Nonfiction books offer critical views on previous administrations

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror

MEMBER OF

PSE: When ‘good’ news is ‘bad’ news

DATABASE HE Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) will make available my nonfiction best-selling books published

by Amazon, one of the world’s largest publishing houses based in the United States, on November 23 at the Centennial Hall, Manila Hotel, in celebration of Philcoman’s 65th Founding Anniversary.

the nation’s past.

A Country Imperiled followed tradition of factual narrations of history as it sought to objectively demystify the Aquino couple, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. who was hailed as a martyr and Cory Aquino as an icon of democracy.

It also dissected nasty allegations leveled at the Marcos couple through a fair recounting of their actions, most of which were culled from declassified government documents and biased reporting of events.

The books, published one after the other, captured historical events straight for the new genera-

that corruption is the root of all evil in the country. While corruption is a valid issue, the mendicancy of the country and wrong economic policies were caused mostly by predation that the country’s leaders have allowed to persist.

In its incisive review of the ills of the economy, A Country Imperiled put on the spotlight the collusion between the Cory Aquino regime and most Makati-based big businesses and corporate predators who thrived on political patronage with the Aquinos. The book also exposed the role of the Church in the downfall of Marcos and the restoration of the old oligarchy.

It also examined the vindictiveness of the Cory Aquino administration that was exemplified by the targeting for demolition of the efficiently functioning ministries, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Human Settlements, particularly its Technological Resource Center, whose assets were dissipated and later abolished on the mere argument that these agencies were creations of Marcos.

As Philcoman’s current president, I offered through my books deconstruction of events as an interesting See “Arillo,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

China Telecom’s tower inside PHL military camp, act of treason?

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

P

ERHAPS today’s youth should watch the movie Midway, which is still showing in theaters as I write this. It vividly narrates how the United States and Japan, battled for control of Midway Atoll—a shambolic, autonomous territory of the US that up to now is the only island in the Hawaiian archipelago that does not belong to the state of Hawaii.

Between June 4 and 7, 1942, roughly six months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and bullied the Pacific, war planes from aircraft carriers Enterprise, Yorktown and Hornet of the US Navy’s Task Forces 16 and 17 ambushed and sank the mightiest of Japanese Navy’s carrier force. It was one of World War II’s most crucial naval battles that turned the tide in favor of the allied forces. It confounded Japan’s hopes of upending the US as a naval power.

I deem it vital to remind today’s generation about the importance of efficaciously applying intelligence at all levels of war. Even without the aid of today’s high-tech algorithm-based spying gadgets, US Navy intelligence led by Commander Joseph “Joe” Rochefort was able to brilliantly break Japanese codes, unearthing Japan’s ambitious plans to take over the 6.2-square-kilometer Midway Atoll.

At the core of the American victory at Midway was how the US Navy intelligence masterfully decoded the enemy’s attack strategy. This enabled the American forces to plan and execute their historic and successful naval trap.

In war, in card games, and in business, keeping plans, intentions, or tactics secret from everyone else—while enemies or competitors search for creative means to discover them—spells the difference between doom or success. It doesn’t need a genius to figure that out.

Now pray tell, why is the Philippine Army defending moves to open up its bases and camps to Chinese government presence through the installation there of a telecommunication company’s cell sites? Nothing to worry about, the Army says, despite warnings from experts that it would pry the country’s military secrets open and leave the country defenseless to spying.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on September 11, signed a memorandum of agreement with the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. (Mislatel), which sanctioned the company’s plan to “build facilities in military camps and installations,” or communication towers within AFP properties. Mislatel, recently renamed “Dito Telecommunity [Dito],” is a syndicate of Filipino businessman Dennis Uy’s holdings firm Udenna Corp. with a 35 percent stake, his listed company Chelsea Logistics with 25 percent, and the Chinese government-owned and -controlled China Telecom with 40 percent.

This development follows a pattern of capitulation to Chinese aggression in the contested West Philippine Seas. Practically all of President Duterte’s men remain convinced that China can be trusted because, as they chorus, China is a friend. But is it really? The world views China as a cunning superpower that uses its wealth and military coercion to debt trap small countries into submission.

Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio was on the dot when he criticized the government’s awarding of rare honors to outgoing Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. The ambassador, who is set to end his post this November, after serving in the Philippines for five years, was recently conferred by Duterte the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu, and granted by the House of Representatives the Congressional Medal of Achievement. The

Order of Sikatuna is usually given to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states “who have rendered conspicuous service in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.”

“Our national heroes who died defending our territory against foreign invaders must now be turning in their graves,” Carpio told lawyers in his recent speech at the UP Alumni Homecoming in Pasay City.

Carpio is one of the leading experts and staunch defenders of the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The apprehension felt by many sectors about the lopsided government deals that China seems to be enjoying in the country is understandable.

Not only has the state-owned ChinaTel, through its JV partner Dito Telecommunity, been able to obtain sites from military camps, Chinese President Xi Jinping has struck a deal with the Duterte administration to mutually embark on oil and gas survey in the disputed West Philippine Sea. This means that the Philippines is giving up its favorable arbitral ruling in the area.

There is also the case of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, which has taken in State Grid Corp. of China as one of its principal shareholders. SGCC’s Zhu Guangchao has been named NGCP chair, under whose control rests the corporation’s operation, maintenance and development of our country’s power supply and demand. Even hiring of the people at NGCP has to be cleared with SGCC officials.

In an ABS-CBN interview, maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said allowing “any form of control... as in...the joint oil exploration with China...may be a sign of giving up sovereign rights.”

Similar to China’s violation of the Philippines’s territorial rights in the West Philippines Sea, the state-owned ChinaTel’s foray into our country’s telecommunications industry through the Dito-ChinaTel’s memorandum of agreement with the AFP is seen as a threat to the Filipinos’ right to privacy and security of data.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. has echoed Magdalo Party-list Rep. Manny Cabochan’s position regarding “US, PHL security concerns due to issues of ‘national security,’ both domestically and from the US, on the ambitious digital infrastructure initiative of the country’s third telco player.”

The Philippines should heed the advice of key international analysts to be wary of entering into business deals with China. These experts point out that dominance of countries’ businesses and industries—from telecommunications to infrastructure and finance, etc.— point to a centralized program of the Chinese Politburo. China wants to be the undisputed global power, and it will strive to achieve its goal to the detriment of any other country’s rights.

Our government officials are mandated to put the Filipinos’ sovereign rights and freedoms first before their personal gains and any foreign country’s interests. Why are they now kowtowing to China’s trap of geopolitical dominance?

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

The end

Thursday, November 14, 2019 A11

machinations calls for resolution in an end that is a new beginning.

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

A

S we draw near the end of our liturgical year the thought of the end of things naturally comes to mind, too. And the end is among the central teachings Jesus gave His disciples at the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 21:5-19).

The temple, symbol of permanence THE temple in Jerusalem plays a major role in the gospel according to Luke: the angel appeared there to announce the birth of John the precursor of the Savior, the infant Jesus was presented in the temple where Simeon and Anna recognized Him as the awaited one, and it was there that the 12-year-old Jesus declared His total commitment to His Father’s will. And it was while people were admiring the magnificence of the temple, then still being renovated by Herod the Great, that Jesus chose to speak of the destruction of this human symbol of might and permanence, the jewel of the city he wept over (Luke 19:41ff). Foretelling what actually happened in 70 A.D. when the Roman troops under Titus

systematically devastated Jerusalem and its temple, Jesus Himself must have been saddened by the thought of the calamity to happen.

But the unthinkable destruction of the temple would only be a local component of a cosmic catastrophe, indicative of the apocalyptic end that entails the end of the world as we know it. This end when it finally comes is not intended primarily as a way of punishing the people. It is to be in fact the fulfillment of God’s grand design for humankind and the entirety of life. There is no need for a crystal ball to predict the destruction of the world; discernment tells us that there is no permanence in the physicality of the world, and there is no forever in the evil that we do. Future chaos as byproduct of the alienation between God’s will and human

Do not be deceived

JESUS took the occasion to give the people the correct perspective about present calamities and the real “end of the age” to happen. We must not make the mistake of deducing from the horrendous sufferings caused by natural catastrophes, man-made upheavals and even persecutions at any point in history that the end of the world is imminent. We should not be deceived by those pretending to know when and with what signs, even as we want to be ready for what is coming. Rather, news about horrific and abominable happenings should not just lead us to panic but to faith, awaiting the end to it all in the coming of the Lord.

In the present travails of the world and seemingly endless human problems, we need to understand that we can survive, for they are in fact opportunities for our faith. Before the end of the world comes, Christians can expect to suffer as a matter of course and to suffer much. “You will be hated by all because of my name”— handed over even by one’s own family and friends. But Christ’s followers should know that when sufferings come they are guaranteed aid from above, like the wisdom of Stephen irresistible to his enemies (Acts 6:1).

No labor constituency for trade policy?

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

employment is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.9 percent [or about twice its historic rate] and reach 2.6 million in 1985. At the end of the eight-year period, its contribution to total employment in the economy would reach about 15 percent.”

The foregoing never happened.

Instead, many manufacturing firms collapsed in the decade of the 1980s.

Of course, this decade also saw the collapse of the Marcos regime, which bequeathed the country with a mountain of debt accumulated by his cronies and the technocrats, who negotiated with the IMF-WB group for loans to finance the Marcos buildbuild-build infrastructure program.

So let’s take up another economic projection, this time the one used by the trade liberalizers in justifying the Senate ratification of Philippine membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). At the height of the ratification debates, the

government, through Neda, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture, came up with the following projected gains for the country: Stronger agricultural sector that would be able to create half a million new jobs a year and P60 billion a year in gross value added, and would transform the Philippines to become a major agricultural exporting nation; Stronger industrial sector that would be able to create half a million new jobs a year (as high as 700,000800,000 annually) and, more competitive “modernized industries,” plus an assurance that there would be “No dying industries” (for they would “mature” and adopt “new trading behavior”).

The Senate, in its Committee Report 702, summed up the situation as follows: the Philippines would be a major winner under the WTO. It warned that non-ratification would mean decline in industry and agriculture, rise in consumer prices and interest rate, budgetary deficit, employment deterioration and trade deficit.

As things turned out, the opposite happened. The Senate warning on the projected outcomes from non-ratification was what came about. As documented in the abovecited ILO study and other studies, including those made by the ADB and World Bank, the industrial

Year Award” based on different criteria set forth by the Philcoman’s board of trustees for outstanding achievements and distinguished track records respectively in academic, leadership, governance, social, behavioral and innovations in health care, economic environmental protection, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, business planning and strategic management.

Philcoman is a federation of professional and technological societies, management developments, institutions, academe, business enterprises and professional managers dedicated to the development of management and improvement of practices in all aspects of management the Philippine society.

Philcoman was founded in 1954, by 10 associations and organized

groups under the inspirational guidance of Dr. Lilian M. Gilbreth and Dr. Daniel M. Braum, (the latter was chief of the training branch, the US Government’s General Services Administration), both of whom were on the extended assignment in the Philippines, provided the inspirational guidance. Dean Cesar H. Concio was the founder and the first Philcoman President serving until 1963.

Affiliated with the World Council of Management, Philcoman has chalked up a continuing series of achievements in its 65th year history. In fulfillment of its mission to propagate the principles and practice of scientific management in the Asian region, Philcoman has hosted two international management congresses, conducted strategic management seminars and held the effective

Continued from A1

A

CCORDINGLY, SAP would help transform the economy to become productive, efficient and job-creating. So, given SAP’s lengthy history, it is only right to raise the question: has SAP, with its goal of job creation, developed a constituency among the trade unions, farmer organizations and other organized segments of the working population. This is a question that should have been answered by a recent ILO publication—“The impact of trade on employment in the Philippines: Country report” (2019).

Sadly, this ILO publication failed to address this question.

So what then is the answer? None.

One is at a loss looking for a major trade union federation or farmer organization openly endorsing the liberal trade economic policy being pushed by Filipino technocrats, from one Administration to another, since the 1980s.

The reasons are not difficult to find.

First, the projected gains from SAP and trade openness have not been realized. In 1979, the World Bank Mission which recommended the SAP program wrote: “Based on the Mission’s projection of nontraditional export growth of 18 percent p.a. and overall manufacturing growth of 8 percent p.a. in 1977-1985, the manufacturing sector as a whole would create close to 1 million [i.e.

960,000] new jobs, i.e., 120,000 jobs per year, which is more than one-fifth of the growth in the labor force [600,000 per year]…. In all, manufacturing

Arillo . . .

continued from A10

guide for legal researchers, as well as students out to write a factual recollection of the country’s historical eras.

The books are now available for worldwide distribution at Amazon’s Kindle and CreateSpace. Locally, they can be bought at Popular and Solidaridad bookstores or at Philcoman’s e-mail address.

Highlighting Philcoman’s anniversary is the awarding of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso as The Management Man of the Year for 2019-2020; UP-Manila Prof. Dr. Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, as the “Management Woman of the Year,” while San Miguel Corp. captured the “Corporation of the

Under the SAP, the economy has been liberalized, deregulated and now being privatized. But are there unions and farmer organizations rejoicing over this development?

Patient endurance will ensure victory, eternal life. Thus Christians will be giving testimony to their faith, and dead or alive “martyrs” by profession. Sufferings and struggles borne in fidelity and constancy are but birth pangs of the triumphant end.

Alálaong bagá, the end is actually referred to by us as “the day of the Lord”, the Parousia that will reveal the full glory of divine power and the triumph of God’s goodness.

The end will definitely be the culmination of the realization of our salvation in Christ Jesus. For that reason, as stressed by St. Luke, it will take time, a long time, in coming. The rich man went to “a distant country” after entrusting respective talents to his servants (Luke 19:11ff), and the vineyard owner “went on a journey for a long time” and would not be returning for a long while (Luke 20:9ff). The expectation of the early Christians for an immediate final coming of the Lord expressed in their Maranatha cry was driven precisely by their deep longing for that absolutely joyous and liberating end. True believers think of the end, not with dread, but with confidence and joy.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

sector shrunk in the 1980s-2000s.

In the case of agriculture, the outcome is worse: the Philippines has been transformed into a major net agricultural-importing country.

But thanks to the remittances of a growing army of overseas Filipino workers, the economy has survived and has even been posting positive growth numbers under an economic phenomenon dubbed by some economists as “consumption-led growth.” The economic sector that has been growing is the services sector, where jobs are generally short term and precarious in character.

The foregoing developments have naturally angered the trade union movement. A number of highly unionized domestic manufacturing industries, such as the textiles and rubber industries are gone. The once vibrant export-oriented garments industry also shrank, with total employment going down from over a million to just a hundred thousand or so. The big garments unions, such as Novelty, Karayom, Aris, and so on also disappeared. As pointed out in the 2017 ILO “Decent Work Country Diagnostics,” the number of workers enjoying benefits under registered collective bargaining agreements number around 200,000—in a country with 43 million workers (as of 2017)!

And in the export processing zones, unionism also has difficulty surviving. Most of the Philippine trade union complaints raised in the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association deal with labor problems in the EPZ-based industries.

Under the SAP, the economy has been liberalized, deregulated and now being privatized. But are there unions and farmer organizations rejoicing over this development? program on negotiation and conflict management, among others.

Phi lcoman’s v ision is t he recognized nationwide partnership of people and businesses inspiring outstanding leadership and cultivating highly productive workplaces while its mission to provide management and leadership development opportunities and related activities meet the needs of members and contribute to the effectiveness of sponsoring organizations.

Philcoman, in coordination with the Institute of Strategic & International Studies and other linkages, is dedicated to managerial excellence, personal and professional growth and leadership development.

To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

A12 Thursday, November 14, 2019

Infra pace ‘still slow,’ but ‘underspending’ belied

D

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM & Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ESPITE spending a trillion pesos in its massive infrastructure program, the Duterte administration is still “not happy” with the pace of implementation of its projects, deeming it “still slow.”

Presidential Adviser on Flagship Projects Vivencio “Vince” Dizon, concurrently the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and CEO, admitted on Wednesday that the government is not contented with its performance in its infrastructure program. This, he said, pushed them to revise the list of flagship projects under its P8-trillion “Build, Build, Build” program.

However, Dizon still disagrees w ith Senate Minor it y Leader Franklin Drilon’s remark that the Build, Build, Build program

CJ Bersamin gets death threats

By Joel R. San Juan

T

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have come to the rescue of retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin after the latter reported that he has received death threats.

SC Spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said Bersamin himself disclosed to him the threat but did not provide details as to where these are coming from.

Hokasa, however, said Bersamin was taking the matter in stride and “was in [his] normal and confidentself.”

He added, “I guess coming from a political family, they have encountered this scenario before and they would know how to handle it.”

Hosaka disclosed that the SC is providing the former chief magistrate security personnel, but begged off from giving the media more details for security reasons.

Bersamin comes from a political family in Abra whose members include former governor Estaquio Bersamin.

His brother, then-Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin and his bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, were killed on December 16, 2006, after attending his daughter’s wedding at the Mount Carmel Church in

TROPICAL STORM “RAMON” 390 KM EAST OF CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING NORTHERN AND CENTRAL LUZON as of 4:00 pm - November 13, 2019

Quezon City.

Lucas Bersamin, who was then an SC associate justice, executed an affidavit identifying former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera as the person with the strongest motive to kill his brother, who he said was a threat to the political plans of Valera and his wife.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said authorities are ready to provide security to the former chief justice if needed.

“If former CJ Bersamin needs protection from the National Bureau of Investigation, or he wants to investigate where the threat is coming from, we will help,” Guevarra said.

“We disagree that it is a dismal failure and the numbers I think speak for themselves.

Infrastructure spending is way, way up. In fact, more than double and this has resulted in gains in the economy. It’s very clear. But on the question of, ‘are we contented?’ the answer is no.”—Dizon

of the administration is a “dismal failure,” saying the increase in infrastructure spending has led to economic growth.

“We disagree that it is a dismal

failure and the numbers I think speak for themselves. Infrastructure spending is way, way up. In fact, more than double and this has resulted in gains in the economy. It’s very clear. But doon sa tanong na kontento ba kayo, hindi po [on the question of, ‘are we contented?’ the answer is no],” Dizon said in a Palace economic briefing.

“Kasi kung kuntento po kami, wala na kaming gagawin na pagrepaso ng listahan na ito. Basta bahala na lang kung ano nalang natapos. Kung kuntento po ang Pangulo at ang kanyang team. Pero dahil nga po di kami kun-

tento, nagkakaroon ng reasssessment [Because if we were satisfied, we wouldn’t be reviewing the list, and simply await whatever is finished. But because the President and his team are not contented, there was a reassessment],” he added.

Drilon raps ‘underspending’

RELATEDLY, Senate Minority Leader Drilon on Wednesday deplored government underspending by the Duterte administration, warning against its potential backlash on the economy.

See “Underspending,” A2

Early action on ’19 budget law validity extension vital

INVESTORS’ DRIVE SET AS MINDANAO READIES FOR WESM LAUNCH

AYING Congress may run out of time to pass the final version of a new P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, before lawmakers adjourn for their Christmas break on December 20, the Senate Finance panel chief asked his peers to frontload passage of remedial legislation extending the validity of the 2019 budget law beyond December 30, until a new annual budget is enacted into law next year.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said there is enough time in the legislative calendar for the two chambers of Congress to approve an enabling Senate Bill 1153 extending the validity of certain items of the 2019 national budget before lawmakers go on recess.

The senator clarified, however, there was “no need to hold” a hearing on Senate Bill 1153, since it was already set to be taken up in plenary for approval.

Angara aired confidence that senators, locked in plenary debates on the proposed P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget, can find a way to accommodate the enabling bill extending the validity of the 2019 budget “because of its urgency and importance.”

He stressed, “There’s a lot of time .... I don’t think there’s a reason to worry because we have about seven to eight weeks before the end of the year. Maipapapsa natin yan whether it’s a bill or a resolution.”

Angara was set to sponsor Senate Joint Resolution 9 on the extension of the validity of the capital outlay and maintenance and other operating expenditures of the 2019 national budget, which he and Sen. Imee Marcos jointly filed.

He said that “in light of a Supreme Court ruling on the case filed by the Ang Nars Party-list regarding the upward adjustment in the salary grade for entry level nurses, this made it necessary to file a bill for the extension of the validity of the 2019 national budget in place of the resolution.”

Angara added: “That’s because the Supreme Court has a decision, [the text of which has not yet been released], that a joint resolution cannot amend a law. So medyo taliwas yun sa dating practice ng kongreso na basta yung joint resolution dumaan ng three readings, pwede niya amyendahan yung batas [it’s contrary to the previous practice of Congress whereby a joint resolution that has hurdled three readings can already amend a law]; it has the force of law.”

Stressing the importance of the extension bill, Angara warns “precious funds might be spent and our people will experience even more delays in the infrastructure projects and social services promised to them.”

I

S

See “Budget,” A2

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

N preparation for the commercial launch of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao next year, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) has launched a two-month campaign to drum up investors’interest.

“In line with the upcoming launch of the WESM in Mindanao, we thought of conducting this campaign to provide operation updates and highlight the benefits of trading and participating in the WESM,” said Iemop President Jose Mari Bigornia.

Kicking off its series of roadshows and roundtable discussions, the Iemop along with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), conducted a dialogue with the power industry stakeholders of Mindanao in Marco Polo Davao the other day.

The first leg of the discussions was attended by top management officers from distribution utilities whose leadership and support are vital to the success of WESM in Mindanao, Bigornia said.

After the discussions, training roadshows will be conducted to prepare the WESM traders and settlement officers for day-to-day transactions via the WESM Trading Simulator exercises developed by IEMOP. “We found this endeavor to be a perfect opportunity to launch our Trading Simulator which immerses the participants to the whole process of the WESM—from the trading to the billing and settlement. It also offers different market-based scenarios which may help participants obtain a better understanding of how the WESM works,” Bigornia added.

After Davao, the roadshow and roundtable will be held in Cagayan de Oro and Manila this month and in December, respectively.

Alongside the campaign, trial operations are being held in Mindanao. Currently, 94 percent of the expected participants have already submitted their application for registration while 90 out of 106 expected facilities have yet

to complete their requirements.

Upon the launch of WESM Mindanao, the economic scheduling of power plants shall be implemented in order to meet the demand requirements for any given interval. WESM will also provide an alternative venue for generators and customers to buy or sell electricity in a bid to attract more investments in the region.

The IEMOP was established in September 2018, as the independent market operator committed to providing efficient and reliable market services and management. It further strengthened its pledge to the market participants by ensuring the readiness of the Mindanao participants prior to the market’s go-live implementation.

Following the transition into the independent market operator, the PEMC retained its role as the governing body of WESM, strengthening the culture of compliance among market participants and securing a level playing field for all WESM members, including the Mindanao players.

“We have been looking forward to the participation of Mindanao in the WESM. Through these series of events in November and December, designed to prepare the members for the power bourse, we expect to determine their level of readiness,” said PEMC President Oscar E. Ala. “We support the IEMOP’s efforts in providing this service to the Mindanao participants. We heard their concerns and, together with the IEMOP, we addressed what we could. Rest assured, we will elevate these apprehensions to the appropriate concerned agencies as we strive to build cohesive relationships among the power sector stakeholders,” added Ala. IEMOP also facilitates the registration of the new participants who are mandated by the law to join the WESM. To date, there are a total of 274 registered participants in Luzon and Visayas.

These are composed of 126 generation companies, 17 distribution utilities, 71 electric cooperatives, 56 directly connected customers, and four wholesale aggregators.

Mobile data traffic surge spurs PLDT 9-mo growth

T

HE surge in mobile data traffic in the first three quarters of 2019, propelled the growth of the wireless business of digital services provider PLDT Inc., the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Smart Communications Inc. President Alfredo S. Panlilio said the doubling of the mobile data traffic in the group’s network to 1.1 exabytes boosted mobile service revenues by a fifth to P52.6 billion, of which P34.5 billion was on mobile Internet revenues alone.

This, he said, aided in propelling the share of data and broadband to the parent company’s total service revenues, taking the lion’s share at 66 percent of the total revenue pie, or 6 points higher from 2018.

“Given the superiority of our LTE networks, our customers can pursue their digital passions and enjoy the best online video and

mobile games experience,” he said.

The growth in data usage is driven largely by the huge consumption of Filipinos of online videos, social media and games.

“Smart has always provided more Filipinos with access to digital platforms—from video streaming and now connecting to top socialmedia apps. We understand that access to these platforms enables them to enrich and celebrate their passions, and we want to make this experience as worry-free as possible for our subscribers,” PLDT SVP Oscar Enrico A. Reyes Jr. said.

To support the growing demand for data, PLDT has been investing heavily in developing its network.

It has ramped up the roll out of its 4G base stations in the country to 21,700 sites nationwide. The group has also laid out 307,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables throughout the Philippines. Lorenz S. Marasigan

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If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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B1

Coca-Cola PHL to install 10K solar panels in 2 bottling plants F

Citing projected power capacity crunch, Meralco prods ERC to act on its PSAs

By Lenie Lectura

C

@llectura

OCA-COLA Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) has tapped solar-power provider Buskowitz Energy for the installation of nearly 10,000 solar panels in two of its bottling plants, bringing to nine manufacturing sites utilizing renewable energy (RE).

The bottling arm of Coca-Cola in the country said some 7,000 solar panels, with a capacity of 2.8 megawatts, will be put up in Misamis Oriental. The second facility, located in Bacolod, will be made up of nearly 3,000 panels, totaling 1.1 MW. The installation will be completed next month.

To date, Coca-Cola sources over 60 percent of its total energy requirements from RE. Seven out of its 19 manufacturing sites use RE—particularly, geothermal energy—in the following areas: Laguna (Santa Rosa and Canlubang), Ilocos, Pangasinan (Calasiao), Cebu, Pampanga (San Fernando), and Bulacan (Meycauayan).

Moreover, since 2010 in its Calasiao, Pangasinan Plant, Coca-Cola has been using a biomass boiler which utilizes rice hulls instead of petroleum for fuel, in order to address a

significant portion of its power requirements.

These efforts form part and parcel of Coca-Cola’s Cleaner Energy 2.0 initiative, the company’s comprehensive energy road map toward its goal of becoming best in class in energy use ratio and clean energy use in Southeast Asia by 2023. The road map is among the company’s anchors for continuously working on responsibly managing its environmental footprint and sustaining efforts to improve operational efficiencies across the value chain.

“Our strategies in growing the business have always been aligned with our comprehensive sustainability efforts—this means growing the business the right way,” said Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, CCBPI director for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs. “Looking for ways to

maximize our renewable energy use is one of the important components of our road map. We are determined to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental footprint, alongside improving our capabilities to produce more beverages and refresh more people.”

Especially in a tropical country like the Philippines, solar energy is a very feasible RE to harness. It can produce electricity to power machines and equipment without the need to access other sources in the energy grid.

“As we move closer toward fulfilling our company’s targets regarding clean energy use, it is vital that we partner with entities who champion the same advocacies.

And we are proud to have found one in Buskowitz Energy,” added the official.

James Buskowitz, CEO of Buskowitz Energy, has expressed his eagerness in being Coca-Cola’s partner in this project, as well as their support for Coca-Cola’s clean energy programs. “I believe this is a testament to Buskowitz Energy’s international standards of management and operations. We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with Coca-Cola Philippines as we strive for a greener Philippines,” Buskowitz said.

Coca-Cola’s energy efficiency initiatives have contributed to a 30-percent improved energy use ratio from 2014 to 2018, this means

the company has been utilizing less power even as it produces more beverages.

The company has also mapped out a top 20 Energy Savings Initiative which covers all aspects of energy consumption, to leave a more positive environmental impact. These efforts, and several other projects in the pipeline, are the initial steps to a wide-reaching transition to using clean energy more prevalently in CCBPI’s operations.

In addition to pursuing renewable-energy initiatives, Coca-Cola in the Philippines has delivered strongly on its environmental stewardship across the business and the value chain through its two other sustainability pillars: water and waste.

It has achieved 100-percent water replenishment in the Philippines, via its water-saving programs and waste water treatment in its operations, in addition to providing far-flung communities access to potable water through the Agos Program.

In 2018, Coca-Cola announced its World Without Waste global goal of collecting and recycling every bottle and can sold, by 2030. In the Philippines, Coca-Cola’s packaging footprint is 50-percent returnable glass bottles, while its PET bottles and aluminum cans are 100-percent recyclable. In June 2019, it launched the Viva! Eco-bottle, the first beverage bottle in the country made from 100-percent recycled plastic.

Megaworld income rises 15% on core businesses expansion

By VG Cabuag @villygc

P

ROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. on Wednesday said its income grew 15 percent to P13.68 billion during the nine months of the year ending September from last year’s P11.84 billion.

Consolidated revenues during the period rose 16 percent to P48.1 billion from P41.3 billion last year on the strong performance of its core businesses.

The company’s real-estate sales grew 11 percent for the period this year, ending at P30.7 billion from P27.6 billion last year.

As of end-September, Megaworld launched a total of P58.7 billion in new residential inventory, while res-

ervation sales reached P114 billion.

“Megaworld’s consistent growth across all business segments is a clear indicator of where the company is going, and we are very optimistic to finish the year strong. We have already introduced quite a number of real-estate projects this year, which reflects the kind of demand that we have been seeing since last year.

Megaworld will always be marketdriven, and as long as we see this type of demand on the ground, then we will continue to launch projects aggressively,” Kevin L. Tan, the company’s executive vice president, said.

The first three quarters saw its rental income from its offices and malls surging 19 percent to P12.4 billion from P10.5 billion last year, it said.

Megaworld, now the country’s biggest office landlord, said it will complete another 192,000 square meters of office spaces this year.

By the end of 2020, the company will breach the 2-million-squaremeter mark in its office space portfolio with the completion of new office towers in Uptown Bonifacio and McKinley West both in Taguig, Iloilo Business Park and Arcovia City in Pasig. The company is also set to build four new full-scale malls including the Capital Mall in Pampanga; Mactan Newtown Beach Walk in Cebu; Upper East Mall in Bacolod City; and Highland Mall in Cainta, Rizal.

All these new commercial properties are expected to be completed within the next three years.

“Our rental business remains

to be a key driver to our consistent growth, and we see this to become stronger in the coming years as we roll out more office and retail spaces in our townships across the country,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, hotel revenues rose 82 percent to P1.9 billion from last year’s P1 billion due to the increase in its hotel room capacity through the homegrown brands.

“In the long term, we see our hotel operations to be a major contributor to our growth as we continue to accelerate our hotel developments.

With over 3,500 hotel room keys, Megaworld is not just making its presence felt, but more notably, complementing the government’s thrust to attract 12 million international tourists by 2022,” Tan said.

ATI posts 9-mo Tobacco business lifts LTG income in 9 mos T Group Inc. (LTG), the holding Acquired (Ropa), the bank’s core inLiquor arm Tanduay’s income fell profit of ₧2.85B firm of most of the businesses come was at P6.21 billion, 33 percent 28 percent to P518 million from

S

USTAINED by the robust growth of international cargo in its Manila and Batangas ports, Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) ended September with a year-to-date profit of P2.85 billion, a 30.2-percent increase from the year prior, according to a statement on Wednesday.

During the same comparative periods, the listed port operator recorded a 14.8-percent rise in its revenues to P10.17 billion from P8.85 billion, as Manila South Harbor’s traffic grew by 12.3 percent to 960,000 twenty-foot equivalent units and the Batangas Container Terminal growing by 38.7-percent to 250,000 TEUs. Meanwhile, the company is also preparing for the expected surge in cargo during the December holiday season. It said it expects “no cargo flow bottlenecks with expansion programs in its gateway ports in Manila and Batangas taking traction in support of the growing Philippine economy.” In Manila, the port operator has added 5,000 TEUs in static cargo space after completing the second container yard’s extension recently.

Through 2021, the company is also adding 10,000 TEUs in capacity by expanding the main yard and the extension of some berthing facilities in its third pier.

The port in Batangas, on the other hand, has also doubled its annual capacity to 500,000 TEUs, after adding two more quay cranes, four rubber tired gantries and the expansion of its berthing and yard facilities. Lorenz S. Marasigan

L

of tycoon Lucio Tan, said its attributable net income rose 17 percent to P14.72 billion from P12.57 billion reported last year, as its tobacco business continued to expand.

Lender Philippine National Bank (PNB) contributed 25 percent of the total income to P3.64 billion, the tobacco business accounted for P9.57 billion or 65 percent of total income, and Eton Properties Philippines Inc. contributed P626 million or 4 percent.

Meanwhile, Tanduay Distillers Inc. accounted for P509 million or 3 percent, while Asia Brewery Inc. provided P254 million or 2 percent.

The company’s 30.9-percent stake in Victorias Milling Co. Inc. accounted for P148 million or 1 percent.

PNB’s net income under the pooling method was down 15 percent to P6.52 billion from P7.63 billion last year with the absence of large gains from the sale of real and other properties acquired. Excluding the gains from Real and Other Properties

higher than last year’s P4.65 billion.

LTG’s tobacco business under PMFTC Inc., the combined company of Philip Morris Philippines and Tan’s Fortune Tobacco, reported a net income of P9.61 billion 40 percent higher than the P6.86 billion last year. The improvement in the earnings is largely attributed to the volume mix in favor of premium Marlboro, it said.

“LTG is not against tax increases, but believes that the hikes should be moderate. Continual price increases to pass on higher excise taxes may result in further volume drops,” it said.

The industry’s volume was estimated at 109 billion sticks in 2012 and declined to an estimated 73 billion sticks in 2018, or a decrease of 33 percent over a six-year period.

Net income of Eton, the property developer, doubled to P629 million from last year’s P314 million. Total revenues were 29 percent higher with higher real-estate sales and leasing revenues.

P722 million last year. Revenues from liquor were 2 percent lower due to the 4-percent drop in volume which was partially offset by the increase selling prices by an average of P14 per case.

Meanwhile, revenues from bioethanol were 32 percent higher as volume increased by 18 percent.

As of end-September, Tanduay’s nationwide market share for distilled spirits was at 29 percent, higher than last year’s 28.3 percent. In the Visayas and Mindanao regions where most of Tanduay’s sales are generated, market share was at 68.8 percent.

Beverage arm Asia Brewery’s earnings for the period was also down 13 percent to P254 million from P291 million last year as the company’s operating expenses were 9 percent higher as the company spent more on advertising and promotions.

Revenues increased by 9 percent due to higher volumes of energy drinks, soymilk and bottled water. VG Cabuag

OLLOWING the successful auction via Competitive Selection Process (CSP) of Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) 1,7000 megawatts (MW) of required capacity, the utility firm is moving to ask regulators to approve the power supply deals.

In separate applications filed before the Energy Regulatory Commission, Meralco asked the ERC to “immediately issue a provisional authority and/or interim relief authorizing the applicants to implement the power supply agreements by December 26, 2019,” and after hearing on the merits, “render a decision approving the PSAs [power-supply agreements].”

Meralco appealed to the commission to act on the applications as soon as possible, citing the foreseen capacity deficit due to the expiration of its several PSAs by December 25, 2019.

“Thus, there is an urgent need for provisional authority and/or interim relief to implement the PSA by December 26. Otherwise, Meralco will be constrained to source its capacity deficit from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, thereby exposing its customers to volatile WESM prices,” it said in its applications.

The approval of the PSAs, added the utility firm, would redound to the best interest of the consumers since aside from the very competitive rate, the supply availability under the PSAs is guaranteed 100 percent as no outage allowance is prov ided therein,” added Meralco.

Meralco signed PSAs with First Gen Hydro Power Corp., Phinma Energy Corp. and South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) for the supply of 500-MW mid-merit capacity for five years, starting December 26, 2019.

First Gen’s contract capacity is for 100 MW with an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P5.1908/kWh and computed all-in Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE, VAT Inclusive) of P5.3989/kWh.

Phinma Energy’s contract is for 110 MW at all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P5.5858/kWh and computed all-in LCOE (VAT Inclusive) of P5.5858/kWh. SPPC’s contract is for 290 MW and has an all-in headline rate (VAT Inclusive) of P5.5347/kWh and computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P5.7527/kWh. The auction, via CSP, was held last September 11 in accordance with the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular requiring distribution utilities to procure power through CSP. The resulting prices from the CSP are significantly lower than their average generation cost today of around P5.88 per kWh (VAT inclusive). This will result in P4.4 billion annual savings for consumers for the next five years. This is equivalent to a rate reduction of around P0.13 per kWh for consumers, starting December 26, 2019.

Meralco also signed 1,200 MW of brownfield capacity last September 13 with Phinma Energy, SPPC and San Miguel Energy Corp. (SMEC).

Phinma Energy offered a contract capacity of 200 MW with an all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.7450 /kWh and computed allin LCOE (VAT Inclusive) of P4.8849 /kWh. SMEC submitted a bid for 330 MW at all-in headline rate (VAT inclusive) of P4.6314/kWh and computed all-in LCOE (VAT Inclusive) of P4.9299 /kWh. SPPC’s bid was for 670 MW and had an all-in headline rate (VAT Inclusive) of P4.6314/kWh and computed all-in LCOE (VAT inclusive) of P4.9300/kWh. They will supply Meralco starting December 26, 2019 until December 26, 2029.

Along with the results of first successful CSP, consumers are projected to enjoy total savings of around P13.86 billion per year, or a rate reduction of P0.41 per kWh. Continued on B2

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 14, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

November 13, 2019

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 PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE BDO LEASING COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

54.15 155 94.8 25.15 13.56 67.65 12.76 44.1 57.15 25.8 195.3 60.1 1.13 2 18.4 4.53 0.4 0.86 173.1 1.09

54.55 155.3 95 25.3 13.58 67.7 13.16 44.3 57.9 25.9 195.5 61.2 1.22 2.11 18.6 4.54 0.415 0.88 174.5 1.11

54.15 155 96 25.1 13.5 68.4 13.1 45.3 57.9 25.85 195.5 60.25 1.14 2 18.4 4.44 0.415 0.87 175 1.09

54.65 156 96 25.45 13.64 68.45 13.18 45.3 57.9 25.9 195.5 61.2 1.15 2.1 18.4 4.54 0.415 0.87 175 1.11

54.15 154.5 94.5 25.1 13.24 67.55 13.1 44 57.15 25.8 193 60.1 1.14 2 18.2 4.44 0.415 0.87 174.5 1.09

54.55 155.3 95 25.15 13.58 67.65 13.18 44.3 57.9 25.8 195.3 60.1 1.15 2 18.2 4.53 0.415 0.87 174.5 1.11

4130 1377250 1439230 26900 1255900 803860 12500 38000 460 4700 951940 6330 29000 8990000 15500 67000 40000 79000 1080 150000

225034.5 213583539 136733009 677325 17024676 54436585 164528 1686435 26559 121490 184642567 380545.5 33180 17983010 282920 300470 16600 68730 188585 164500

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

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

-14728.5 76053333 -15485324.5 7015622 3513137 1099595 -5160 -27189284 -17866020 -130875 -

2.7 1.23 37.1 0.24 24.3 78.3 342.2 18.92 4.97 4.07 10.94 32.7 7.87 13.6 3.89 91.05 15.12 5.05 8.77 7.24 90.25 0.64 46.2 213.2 45.15 8.98 12.78 1.78 11.84 1.89 5.35 0.136 153.9 1.27 65.1 70 2.61 5.5 15.06 10.52 14.28 16.9 9.46 1.04 1.08 2.07 5.1 5.2 2.17 8 1.44 0.94 7.96

2.71 1.31 37.2 0.247 24.35 78.4 347 18.96 4.99 4.2 11.1 32.8 7.88 13.7 3.9 103 15.14 5.06 8.78 7.29 91.7 0.65 46.45 213.4 49.95 9.19 12.8 1.79 11.86 1.92 5.47 0.137 154 1.28 68.65 73.35 2.62 5.56 15.2 10.54 14.4 17.26 9.58 1.07 1.1 2.1 5.31 5.29 2.18 8.01 1.47 0.95 7.97

2.77 1.32 37.75 0.241 24.35 78.5 347.2 19 5 4.12 10.92 33.4 7.8 13.7 4.1 90.65 15.14 5.04 8.7 7.25 90.45 0.67 47.5 219.8 48.95 9 13.06 1.76 11.8 1.97 5.49 0.128 156 1.3 65.1 73.65 2.52 5.88 15.2 10.5 14.2 16.98 9.6 1.08 1.09 2.1 5.11 5.2 2.19 8.1 1.44 0.97 8

2.77 1.32 37.75 0.247 24.5 78.5 347.2 19.2 5 4.2 11.1 33.45 7.9 13.8 4.1 103 15.16 5.3 8.81 7.29 91.75 0.67 47.5 220.4 49 9.19 13.06 1.83 11.88 1.97 5.49 0.137 156 1.3 65.1 73.65 2.62 5.88 15.2 10.52 14.4 17.26 9.6 1.08 1.1 2.1 5.11 5.2 2.21 8.1 1.48 0.97 8.4

2.68 1.25 37 0.24 24.25 78.3 341.2 18.9 4.96 4.12 10.92 32.6 7.8 13.6 3.88 90.6 15.12 5.03 8.7 7.24 90 0.64 46.15 212.4 45.1 9 12.76 1.75 11.8 1.89 4.9 0.128 150.1 1.27 65.1 68.05 2.52 5.5 15 10.4 14.2 16.6 9.5 1.05 1.06 2.08 5.1 5.2 2.16 8 1.43 0.95 7.86

2.71 1.31 37.1 0.247 24.35 78.4 347 18.92 4.97 4.2 11.1 32.8 7.87 13.7 3.9 103 15.14 5.05 8.78 7.25 91.7 0.64 46.2 213.2 45.1 9.19 12.8 1.79 11.82 1.91 5.47 0.136 154 1.27 65.1 70 2.61 5.5 15.1 10.52 14.4 17.26 9.5 1.07 1.1 2.1 5.1 5.2 2.18 8 1.45 0.95 7.97

4883000 12000 1383800 230000 565200 330830 86500 1913400 752700 19000 28100 552400 50400 135000 2980000 180 5802900 154200 737500 198600 266080 811000 140500 1331770 5000 6600 595500 6240000 626800 199000 115100 6080000 575480 5874000 300 450 2278000 89400 477900 116500 72800 1576600 11300 61000 633000 147000 10000 187700 5443000 86600 92000 116000 887700

13248790 15130 51409730 55400 13760035 25961594 29854668 36207632 3744569 78410 311170 18221565 394865 1847050 11786370 16436.5 87855560 777905 6477994 1440319 24335330 522770 6569800 286276128 227050 59509 7631800 11167910 7426912 381780 616144 812990 88568583 7548870 19530 31690.5 5882990 515736 7215908 1222122 1045920 27011040 108014 64500 682860 307330 51016 976040 11891810 694960 132650 110780 7237045

-673800 -32380045 -8204690 -24824238 -5244760 18025072 -2246512 -6685125 23610 436720 49259.9996 1950072 -53606 -2390175 -688783 -19472343.5 2632025 -124339616 3842468 354390 179654 -263106 -32680 -20021677 363450 1907120 3154388 -684398 -383260 -13875246 -7560 113880 3155990 25822 -825118

0.85 12.26 823.5 54.3 11.6 3.5 6.62 0.73 1.08 1.13 6.9 7.89 13.18 0.201 885 77.4 5.36 5.19 0.495 4.16 12.4 0.55 4.67 0.037 1.34 1.24 1055 164 0.84 220 0.222

0.86 12.4 824 54.4 11.62 3.51 6.89 0.74 1.1 1.15 6.92 7.9 13.36 0.208 902 77.5 6.29 6.68 0.5 4.17 12.42 0.58 4.7 0.038 1.38 1.25 1059 164.7 0.86 225 0.23

0.87 12.22 839 54.25 11.7 3.55 6.54 0.73 1.13 1.16 6.92 8.06 13.18 0.203 903 77.35 6.98 5.7 0.51 4.16 12.42 0.55 4.65 0.037 1.34 1.26 1068 163.8 0.84 220 0.23

0.87 12.5 839 55 11.72 3.55 6.89 0.74 1.13 1.16 6.92 8.07 13.18 0.204 903 78.4 6.98 6.92 0.52 4.16 12.5 0.58 4.7 0.037 1.38 1.27 1068 165.2 0.86 225 0.233

0.84 12.2 822.5 54.05 11.5 3.5 6.54 0.73 1.05 1.1 6.8 7.87 13.18 0.201 871 77.3 5.5 5.19 0.5 4.15 12.42 0.55 4.65 0.037 1.33 1.24 1051 163.4 0.84 220 0.23

0.86 12.42 824 54.4 11.62 3.51 6.89 0.74 1.1 1.15 6.92 7.9 13.18 0.201 902 77.5 6.29 5.19 0.5 4.16 12.42 0.58 4.7 0.037 1.38 1.25 1059 164 0.86 225 0.23

6355000 14200 574740 654550 17542100 505000 11400 256000 7599000 640000 2285000 17789100 3500 1340000 75210 607880 12700 368000 20000 451000 12196900 86000 6790000 300000 48000 231000 67420 40860 15000 370 120000

5425750 174802 476098800 35571183 203870024 1773960 78153 187660 8146930 713460 15755016 141290651 46130 270640 66851905 47133846 78959 2350620 10080 1871690 151600616 48210 31797380 11100 64340 289500 71248115 6709056 12800 82150 27870

-303680 11038 -176458645 -14498810 -74650626 -292110 1677577 -10535841 -6590 7132080 30094882.5 -74720 -4924814 3460910 12500 2914105 -1732884 53550 -

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.91 0.92 0.94 0.94 0.91 0.92 1538000 1421660 ANCHOR LAND 8.86 9.99 9.23 9.23 9.22 9.22 1400 12917 AYALA LAND 46.5 46.95 46.5 46.95 46 46.95 6290200 291459100 -133836005 BELLE CORP 2.01 2.02 2.05 2.05 2.01 2.01 418000 843890 -616979.9998 A BROWN 0.8 0.81 0.8 0.81 0.79 0.8 603000 481070 CITYLAND DEVT 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.87 25000 21750 CROWN EQUITIES 0.201 0.202 0.202 0.202 0.201 0.201 450000 90850 CEBU HLDG 6.3 6.35 6.48 6.48 6.34 6.35 78600 499021 123718 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.84 4.86 4.75 4.92 4.75 4.84 1726000 8388820 -1006030 CENTURY PROP 0.6 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.6 0.61 27383000 16857520 -469300 CYBER BAY 0.465 0.475 0.465 0.465 0.46 0.465 510000 236600 DOUBLEDRAGON 19.82 19.86 19.86 20.1 19.8 19.82 283300 5637192 -769088 DM WENCESLAO 10.12 10.22 10.22 10.22 10.14 10.22 33900 345780 EMPIRE EAST 0.46 0.465 0.48 0.48 0.455 0.46 1290000 591300 EVER GOTESCO 0.121 0.132 0.121 0.121 0.121 0.121 170000 20570 FILINVEST LAND 1.63 1.64 1.63 1.64 1.61 1.64 10517000 17098690 1560270 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.24 1.28 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 100000 125000 8990 HLDG 14.84 14.88 14.88 14.88 14.84 14.84 45600 677704 -179564 PHIL INFRADEV 1.43 1.44 1.42 1.45 1.41 1.43 1090000 1558910 -715150 MEGAWORLD 4.87 4.89 4.85 4.89 4.81 4.89 12537000 61112090 5295550 MRC ALLIED 0.28 0.285 0.29 0.29 0.28 0.28 5660000 1589750 PHIL ESTATES 0.395 0.415 0.395 0.415 0.395 0.415 40000 16200 PRIMEX CORP 2.03 2.04 2.02 2.06 2.02 2.04 1146000 2330650 ROBINSONS LAND 25.55 25.8 26.2 26.2 25.3 25.8 571000 14713390 -8415880 PHIL REALTY 0.37 0.38 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 40000 14800 ROCKWELL 2.2 2.28 2.21 2.22 2.2 2.2 107000 235470 SHANG PROP 3.21 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.29 3.29 1000 3290 STA LUCIA LAND 2.41 2.43 2.45 2.45 2.41 2.43 815000 1967660 241000 SM PRIME HLDG 39.15 39.25 39.75 39.75 39.1 39.15 6301700 247007110 -81174745 VISTAMALLS 5.32 5.49 5.49 5.49 5.32 5.32 21800 117960 SUNTRUST HOME 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.62 1.53 1.56 14310000 22595840 PTFC REDEV CORP 48.55 52.95 48 50 48 50 1000 49800 VISTA LAND 7.67 7.69 7.69 7.7 7.66 7.69 3097800 23811243 -2666439

SERVICES ABS CBN 17.9 18 18.16 18.3 18 18 67300 1215042 GMA NETWORK 5.26 5.28 5.26 5.28 5.26 5.28 50400 266069 MANILA BULLETIN 0.41 0.42 0.405 0.42 0.405 0.42 80000 33450 GLOBE TELECOM 1870 1874 1908 1909 1865 1870 52990 99485640 -35834310 PLDT 1099 1100 1101 1110 1100 1100 69365 76503870 -20099230 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.039 0.041 0.041 0.041 0.041 0.041 11000000 451000 IMPERIAL 1.71 1.79 1.73 1.73 1.72 1.72 15000 25900 ISLAND INFO 0.106 0.109 0.107 0.109 0.107 0.109 480000 51590 ISM COMM 4.68 4.69 4.73 4.73 4.68 4.68 1323000 6217030 1907920 JACKSTONES 2.29 2.42 2.28 2.28 2.28 2.28 1000 2280 NOW CORP 3.27 3.28 3.24 3.31 3.24 3.27 2211000 7242280 -29520 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.335 0.34 0.335 0.345 0.335 0.34 8080000 2735400 -20400 PHILWEB 2.96 2.97 2.99 3.04 2.96 2.97 251000 746620 -59500 2GO GROUP 10.2 10.22 10.1 10.32 10.08 10.22 13400 135594 CHELSEA 6.58 6.6 6.59 6.6 6.48 6.6 287800 1879683 -32115 CEBU AIR 95 95.4 94.7 95.45 93.4 95 37310 3521165 279892.5 INTL CONTAINER 123.5 124 122.4 124 122.2 124 503860 62283986 -357477 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.91 0.94 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 2000 1820 MACROASIA 19.2 19.22 19.8 19.8 19.22 19.22 143400 2764560 -1225804 METROALLIANCE A 1.05 1.15 1.05 1.05 1.04 1.04 19000 19800 PAL HLDG 7.93 8.17 8.23 8.23 8 8 20500 167160 HARBOR STAR 1.57 1.58 1.57 1.59 1.57 1.58 297000 467390 ACESITE HOTEL 1.52 1.57 1.57 1.61 1.52 1.55 26000 40240 WATERFRONT 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.66 0.67 993000 655660 CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.18 7.19 7.18 7.18 7.18 7.18 1400 10052 IPEOPLE 8.5 9 8.5 8.52 8.5 8.52 10500 89370 STI HLDG 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.67 0.67 107000 71740 BERJAYA 2.59 2.6 2.6 2.62 2.59 2.6 168000 436710 -2620 BLOOMBERRY 10.96 10.98 11 11.12 10.84 10.96 1858500 20460030 8055392 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.62 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 10000 27500 LEISURE AND RES 3.07 3.14 3.08 3.16 3.05 3.07 453000 1416350 9290 MANILA JOCKEY 3.4 3.44 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 113000 384200 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.68 0.66 0.67 1093000 729730 -526890 ALLHOME 11.28 11.34 11.34 11.34 11.24 11.34 5357300 60678518 -14445956 METRO RETAIL 2.36 2.37 2.44 2.46 2.36 2.36 1558000 3723650 -252280 PUREGOLD 38.5 38.7 38.4 40 38.3 38.5 789400 30557025 -11304845 ROBINSONS RTL 75.65 75.8 76.05 76.05 75.6 75.8 1008010 76,354,001.5( 36,993,396.5003) PHIL SEVEN CORP 130 158 158 158 158 158 10 1580 SSI GROUP 2.85 2.86 2.82 2.91 2.74 2.86 7608000 21657240 3913079.9997 WILCON DEPOT 17.8 17.82 17.68 17.96 17.54 17.8 4289500 76257404 48653970 APC GROUP 0.495 0.5 0.52 0.52 0.495 0.5 2251000 1132990 12790 EASYCALL 9 9.13 9.17 9.17 9 9 15200 136933 GOLDEN BRIA 419 430.8 432 432 419.2 419.2 310 130238 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.47 3130000 1460100 -219700 SBS PHIL CORP 8.93 9.29 9.12 9.12 8.94 8.94 24000 216540

MINING & OIL ATOK 11.56 12.24 12.24 12.24 11.58 12.24 15500 187164 APEX MINING 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.11 1.12 212000 236700 -113120 ABRA MINING 0.0017 0.0018 0.0017 0.0017 0.0017 0.0017 89000000 151300 ATLAS MINING 2.55 2.58 2.55 2.55 2.55 2.55 1000 2550 CENTURY PEAK 2.53 2.55 2.53 2.55 2.51 2.53 1201000 3032670 42949.9998 DIZON MINES 7.29 7.7 7.28 7.74 7.23 7.74 2400 17657 FERRONICKEL 1.87 1.88 1.81 1.87 1.8 1.87 19548000 36170240 1043140 GEOGRACE 0.204 0.208 0.209 0.209 0.204 0.208 190000 39040 LEPANTO A 0.104 0.105 0.104 0.105 0.103 0.105 760000 78940 MANILA MINING A 0.0088 0.0091 0.0088 0.009 0.0088 0.009 16000000 143400 MANILA MINING B 0.009 0.0093 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 4000000 36400 MARCVENTURES 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.06 1.05 1.05 424000 445710 21000 NIHAO 1.03 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.03 1.06 39000 40350 NICKEL ASIA 3.6 3.62 3.6 3.67 3.56 3.6 7897000 28516980 -1249890 OMICO CORP 0.48 0.5 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 25000 12000 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.81 0.83 0.82 0.84 0.81 0.83 990000 804660 PX MINING 3.39 3.4 3.36 3.4 3.36 3.4 100000 337720 SEMIRARA MINING 23.25 23.55 23.55 23.6 23.2 23.55 252000 5906360 424435 UNITED PARAGON 0.0059 0.0061 0.0061 0.0061 0.0061 0.0061 1000000 6100 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 20000000 240000 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.013 683600000 8886800 PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 7900000 86900 PHINMA PETRO 12.12 12.26 12.22 12.6 11.8 12.26 1926300 23529684 114574 PXP ENERGY 12.4 12.48 12.5 12.68 12.34 12.4 1649000 20628302 -3073836

PREFFERED

HOUSE PREF A 97.05 98 96.6 96.6 96.6 96.6 20 1932 AC PREF B1 503 508 508 508 508 508 2060 1046480 ALCO PREF C 101.1 104 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 6000 606600 DD PREF 100.6 100.9 101 101 101 101 10 1010 SMC FB PREF 2 997 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 40 40000 FGEN PREF G 109.5 110 109.5 109.5 109.5 109.5 620 67890 GLO PREF P 506 510 506 506 506 506 1110 561660 GTCAP PREF A 976 1000 980 980 975 975 4120 4037000 GTCAP PREF B 980 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 400 400000 LR PREF 1.01 1.02 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 50000 50500 MWIDE PREF 100.9 101 101.1 101.1 101 101 10500 1060518 PNX PREF 3A 100.8 102 101.9 102 101.9 102 6020 613540 PNX PREF 3B 108 109.5 109.5 109.5 109.5 109.5 130 14235 PNX PREF 4 1030 1031 1031 1033 1030 1031 5585 5759595 -20640 PCOR PREF 2B 1026 1035 1035 1035 1035 1035 5 5175 PCOR PREF 3A 1029 1050 1050 1050 1050 1050 245 257250 PCOR PREF 3B 1060 1079 1080 1080 1060 1060 5400 5735800 SMC PREF 2C 78 78.1 78.15 78.5 78.1 78.1 39870 3115443.5 SMC PREF 2D 75.05 75.1 75.1 75.1 75.05 75.05 34400 2582120 SMC PREF 2F 76.15 76.5 76.15 76.15 76.1 76.15 36400 2770530 SMC PREF 2G 75.25 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 390 29445 SMC PREF 2H 75.15 75.3 75.15 75.3 75.15 75.15 47040 3535362 SMC PREF 2I 75.15 75.8 75.8 75.8 75.7 75.7 200160 15152118 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

17.1 5.13

17.2 5.24

17.4 5.23

17.4 5.24

17.1 5.23

17.2 5.24

2200 48100

38050 251888

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.54

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 7.21 KEPWEALTH 13.28 XURPAS 1.05

1.59

1.54

1.54

1.52

1.54

131000

200990

-

7.23 13.3 1.06

6.89 13.88 1.07

7.23 14.3 1.08

6.88 13.28 1.04

7.23 13.28 1.06

2683800 2036500 3211000

19086656 27827236 3398270

1188437 287604 -

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

118.7

-22570 81588

119

119.4

119.4

118.7

119

5400

643101

9520

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DMCI income fell 11% in Jan-Sept on weak contribution of coal miner

By VG Cabuag

C

@villygc

ONSUNJI-LED DMCI Holdings Inc. said its net income fell 11 percent during the nine months of the year ending September to P9.3 billion from last year’s P10.4 billion, a decline still blamed on the weak contribution of its coal mining and power unit Semirara Mining and Power Corp.

For the third quarter alone, the company, however, booked a 47-percent jump in net income to P2.8 billion from P1.9 billion last year, mainly attributable to the normalized coal operations of Semirara Mining compared to 2018 when heavy rains in July and August caused a production slowdown.

Excluding a nonrecurring loss of P164 million in 2018 due to the share

in accelerated depreciation of Units 1 and 2 of Sem-Calaca Power Corp. and a one-time gain of P248 million this year mostly from the share in insurance proceeds received by Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp., DMCI recorded a 24-percent increase in third-quarter core earnings to P2.6 billion from P2.1 billion last year.

“We had a strong third quarter but we still expect negative growth for

the full year because of the scheduled shutdown of Calaca Units 1 and 2, low coal prices and lower construction accomplishments in our realestate business,” DMCI Chairman and President Isidro A. Consunji said.

For the nine months, core net income contributions from Semirara Mining dropped 14 percent year-onyear to P4.7 billion from P5.4 billion following a 17-percent decline in power generation and a 22-percent drop in coal prices.

DMCI Homes contributed P1.8 billion in core income, flat compared to last year due to the lower percentage of completion in ongoing projects.

Core net income contributions from affiliate Maynilad Water Services Inc. grew 6 percent to P1.6 billion from P1.5 billion owing to a 2-percent growth in billed volume, a 5.7-percent inflation rate adjustment and a 2.7-percent increase in basic charge.

Net income contributions from construction arm DM Consunji Inc.

declined by 30 percent to P664 million from P952 million as a result of right-of-way acquisition delays and the absence of variation orders realized from projects nearing completion.

Off-grid energy unit DMCI Power Corp. contributed P341 million, also almost flat from P337 million last year, due to the combined effect of lower electricity dispatch in favor of hydropower plants in Oriental Mindoro during the third quarter and the expiration of the company’s supply contract in Sultan Kudarat last December 2018.

DMCI Mining, which is mainly into nickel operations, recorded a 35-percent decline in net income contributions to P87 million from P133 million as the company shipped more lower-grade nickel at lower average selling price.

Contributions from DMCI Holdings and other investments during the nine months grew 8 percent to P185 million from P171 million due to higher interest income.

Lawmakers ask ERC to finish probe on Peco liability in electric pole fires

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

& Lenie Lectura @llectura

L

AWMAKERS on Wednesday asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to conclude its investigation into the complaint against the utility Panay Electric Co. (Peco) for its alleged failure to address the numerous incidents of fire affecting its electricity poles.

Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda and House Committee on Energy Vice Chairman Jericho Jonas B. Nograles of PBA Party-list said the ERC should exercise its power and responsibility over the incidents.

Former lawmaker and now Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas filed a complaint against Peco for its alleged failure to address the fires affecting its electricity poles.

Also, Treñas filed a complaint against Peco with the Office of the President after Peco repeatedly failed to act on his office’s verbal and formal requests for the utility to act on Ilonggos’ complaint against its burning electricity poles and exploding distribution assets.

“The authorities must look into the matter with dispatch to avert any further fire incident,” Baronda said in an interview.

According to Baronda, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has reported Peco’s alleged failure to maintain the quality of its distribution equipment like transformers. This, and the overloading of old electricity wires hanging overhead on city streets were tagged as the cause of nine incidents of fire in three days from October 19 to 21 alone.

Baronda said a formal ERC finding that proves Peco’s fault because of its failure to do maintenance or replace its aged distribution equipment and electricity poles could be enough basis for the ERC to cancel its two-year provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) or

permit to operate.

For his part, Nograles said the House leadership is monitoring the ERC investigation to ensure public safety.

Peco failed to renew its legislative franchise which expired last January 18.

The House and the Senate both awarded the legislative franchise to operate as Iloilo City’s distribution utility to More Electric and Power Corp. in December last year, ending Peco’s 95-year-monopoly in electricity distribution in the city. Under Republic Act 11212, which gave MORE the franchise, the ERC was authorized to issue Peco a two-year CPCN to ensure continuous electricity supply in the city until MORE completes the transition to full takeover as Iloilo City’s electricity utility.

ERC probe hangs

MEANWHILE, the ERC said Wednesday that it has yet to conclude its probe on Peco’s alleged failure to address the fire incidents affecting its electricity poles.

Peco has scheduled a news conference today (Thursday) to discuss the “recently completed” probe on the maintenance of the distribution lines of the Peco.

Peco had said it wants “to shed light on the situation” and “share the results of the findings and the outcome of the ERC hearing.”

ERC Spokesman Atty. Rexie Digal said in a text message on Wednesday, however, that the commission has yet to conclude its investigation.

“Inspection was conducted last week, until Friday. No findings yet. The inspection team is still preparing the report,” she said.

When asked about the possibility of the report coming out by Thursday, Digal said, “We need to wait what they will say during the presscon. [For all we know there won’t say anything about the] ERC part. [It might just be] about the procedure that was conducted, not about findings or results,

Citing projected power capacity crunch, Meralco prods ERC to act on its PSAs Continued from B1

In all, Meralco has lined up three CSPs: A five-year contract for 500 MW, a 20-year contract for 1,200-MW greenfield, with commercial operations date (COD) in 2024, and a 10-year contract for 1,200-MW brownfield, with COD in December 2019.

The 20-year contract for 1,200-MW greenfield will undergo a second auction. However, the Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to approve the terms of reference (TOR) crafted by Meralco.

ICSC backs DOE

A SENIOR advisor of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) is supporting the suggestions of the DOE for Meralco to allow more power firms to participate in the CSP that involves the supply of 1,200-MW greenfield capacity.

“In adherence to the prescribed spirit of free and fair competition, both existing and new power plants should be allowed to join Meralco’s upcoming bidding for a 1,200 MW,” said Atty. Pedro H. Maniego Jr., ICSC senior policy advisor.

Maniego, former chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board, and former chairman of the UP Engineering Research & Development Foundation, also said that Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s proposal to divide the Meralco supply requirement up for bidding into smaller sizes and to allow stacking of bids will, likewise, foster the desired competitive structure envisioned in Epira or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Cusi has provided inputs to Meralco on how the power-supply contract should be bidded out.

“Secretary Cusi’s instruction, once applied on all CSP, would give small power-generation companies an opportunity to bid and win portions of large supply requirements.

because we don’t have it yet.”

Nograles, vice chairman of the House Committee on Energy, said the ERC should exercise its power and responsibility to protect consumer interests.

In a resolution it issued in 2008 on the issuance

MUTUAL FUNDS

of CPCNs to distribution utilities, the ERC required all recipients of the permit to strictly follow the standards set under the Philippine Distribution Code and the Philippine Grid Code, including those that concern public safety and the quality of their equipment or face revocation of their CPCN.

November 13, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 257.78 9.04% 0.86% -0.45% 2.21% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.5047 11.12% 2.25% 0% 4.44% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.8844 6.26% -1.3% -2.16% -0.48% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9325 11.28% N.A. N.A. 3.5% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8716 12.84% N.A. N.A. 6.2% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.4544 11.87% 2.09% 0.01% 3.43% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,6 0.8773 12.47% -1.89% N.A. 4.85% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 112.98 4.29% N.A. N.A. -2.74% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.6271 14.94% 3.17% N.A. 6.91% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 546.04 13.86% 1.88% 0.05% 6.08% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.323 11.85% 2.69% 1.46% 5.5% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.9145 12.84% 3.65% 1.13% 6.23% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,1 1.0434 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3537 16.3% 3.99% 2.1% 7.96% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 893.93 16.31% 3.91% 2.03% 7.91% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.8971 11.47% 1.55% N.A. 4.31% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3114 12.25% 3.18% 1.12% 6.22% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0266 15.84% 3.77% N.A. 7.58% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7402 13.5% 5.11% 2.63% 6.84% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C 119.8515 16.66% 4.66% 3.05% 8.22% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B

$0.9933 6.37% 4.4% -0.04% 6.91% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.3197 8.33% 8.79% N.A. 19.41% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.5893 -0.08% -2.51% -3.71% -3.75% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.2631 6.42% -0.1% -0.52% 2.44% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6626 10.75% 2.16% -0.89% 4.7% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,5 0.2354 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3535 7.64% N.A. N.A. 3.77% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9758 11.13% 2.7% 1.19% 7.2% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.8291 14.11% 1.84% 0.47% 8.49% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 17.1339 12.87% 1.73% 0.37% 7.71% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.163 9.34% 1.91% 1.17% 4.53% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.9114 11.32% 2.74% 0.89% 7.12% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,2 1.0297 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,2 1.0175 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,2 1.0147 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9915 10.61% 2.18% 0.12% 7.57% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03787 9.14% 2.17% 1.94% 7.28% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $1.0055 7.05% 3.58% 0.22% 10.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7904 7.43% 6.44% 3.37% 14.56% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A,7 $1.106 6.37% 3.79% N.A. 10.05% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 355.98 4.09% 2.65% 2.27% 3.64% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A 1.9246 3.99% 0.44% -0.11% 3.52% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.1042 5.12% 5.3% 5.24% 4.3% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2138 4.32% 2.06% 1.91% 3.97% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3437 6.41% 1.87% 1.5% 6.29% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6086 3% 0.45% -0.05% 2.83% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.3343 12.98% 1.95% 1.63% 10.57% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.7545 8.26% 2.4% 1.56% 6.75% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9538 8.47% 0.84% N.A. 7.02% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.0444 10.85% 4.03% 2.48% 10.07% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6802 10.29% 3.39% 1.96% 9.11% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $466.06 4.42% 2.15% 2.81% 3.94% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є219.47 2.94% 1.36% 1.38% 3.2% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.2024 7.23% 2.56% 2.57% 6.81% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0257 3.63% 1.2% 1.21% 3.63% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7074 1.12% -0.94% 0.25% 1.02% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0914 6.88% 0.36% -0.89% 5.32% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.3795 11.56% 2.38% 3.04% 9.61% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0601727 5.75% 2.02% 2% 5.57% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.1329 9% 1.79% 2.5% 9.08% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 125.23 4.14% 2.74% 2.13% 3.6% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0275 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.246 5.96% 2.48% 1.56% 5.42% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2597 3.82% 2.84% 2.26% 3.32% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.035 2.11% N.A. N.A. 1.88% 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 AUGUST 1, 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.

"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."

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Thursday, November 14, 2019

B3

enters 26th day of protest Worsening Hong Kong violence Chile with national strike, huge marches could embolden hawks in China S

STUDENTS are surrounded by tear gas behind barricades during a clash with police at the Chinese University in Hong Kong on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Police fired tear gas at protesters who littered streets with bricks and disrupted morning commutes and lunch breaks Tuesday after an especially violent day in Hong Kong’s five months of anti-government demonstrations. STEVE LEUNG/HK01 VIA AP

F

OR two nights last weekend, Hong Kong lawmaker Lam Cheuk-Ting slept on a fold-out mattress on the floor of his office in the Legislative Council and ate congee delivered by his staff.

One of seven pro-democracy lawmakers who faced arrest for disrupting a legislative meeting in May to stop a bill allowing extraditions to mainland China, Lam challenged police to enter the complex and arrest him. They never did, and he voluntarily attended a court hearing on Monday without being detained like the others.

He took the drastic measure to resist what democracy advocates in Hong Kong see as a growing crackdown on elected leaders, one he fears could get even worse as the protests become more violent.

Many are worried that Beijing may exert its authority over the city to postpone district council elections set for November 24 or even bypass Hong Kong’s legislature to pass controversial national security legislation.

Beijing’s “strategies are very clear,” Lam, a former corruption investigator, said at his Legco office after his court hearing.

“They’re trying to adopt the hard line approach.”

Hong Kong saw a third-straight day of chaos on Wednesday, after police fired tear gas in the Central financial district on Tuesday to disperse protesters who blocked main roads. Elsewhere, they lit cars on fire, dropped heavy objects from bridges, threw marbles and makeshift tire spikes on the road and even brandished bows

and arrows—all a day after a man was set on fire.

“Over the past two days, our society has been pushed to the brink of a total breakdow n,” Hong Kong police senior superintendent Kong Wing-cheung told reporters on Tuesday. Hong Kong’s security chief, John Lee, warned Wednesday of “unthinkable” consequences if the violence continued.

Fresh debate

THE increased violence is reigniting a debate among demonstrators over the best strategy to achieve their political goals.

Some of the more shocking videos have gone viral in mainland China’s tightly curated social media, strengthening the hand of hawks in Beijing.

China’s top agency overseeing Hong Kong on Tuesday said it firmly supported Hong Kong’s government and police to act more strongly and effectively to punish crimes and restore order, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

On Saturday, Zhang Xiaoming, a top Chinese official overseeing Hong Kong affairs, reiterated that Beijing would ensure only loyal officials take the top political jobs in Hong Kong, including that of chief executive. He also revived calls to enact controversial national security legislation

that previously triggered mass protests.

The violent acts could allow Beijing to justify implementing a curfew, bringing in mainland police, imposing national security legislation or other moves that will allow President Xi Jinping to exert more control over Hong Kong, according to Willy Lam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Centre for China Studies who has authored several books on Chinese politics. “ T he v iolence they’ve d isplayed, the vandalism and so forth, they risk playing into the hands of Beijing,” Willy Lam said.

“Instead of liberalizing the political system of Hong Kong, Xi Jinping will do the opposite—he will tighten his grip.”

The debate over tactics in the pro-democracy camp goes back years, w it h some say ing t he peaceful sit-ins during the Occupy movement in 2014 failed to achieve anything. That view was furthered when Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam back in June ignored tens of thousands of peaceful protesters calling on her to drop a bill that would allow extraditions to China.

While Carrie Lam insisted on Monday that violence wouldn’t prompt her to bow to protester demands, she already did so on severa l occasions—inc lud ing when she shelved the extradition bill after protesters besieged the legislature.

Growing violence

OVER the months, police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons and in some cases live rounds. Protesters have thrown petrol bombs, vandalized businesses viewed as pro-Beijing, and sometimes violently con-

fronted outspoken opponents or those trying to undo their road blockades.

On Monday, after a police officer shot a protester in a video that went viral, some demonstrators lashed out. A man was set on fire after arguing with protesters, while a truck driver endured a gang beating while trying to remove a roadblock. The images were a far cry from scenes of church groups peacefully singing “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” when the protests began in June.

Many protesters justify the use of violence as necessary to counter abuses of power by the police.

They accuse officers of using excessive force, behaving unprofessionally, obstructing journalists, indiscriminately firing weapons and even committing sexual assaults—all of which police have said are under investigation.

A female Chinese University of Hong Kong student surnamed Lau, 19, who was participating in actions on campus on Tuesday, said protesters tried to use violence sparingly.

“People need to know that we don’t attack for no reason, there must be some kind of reason, that maybe you’re hurting us,” she said.

“But if there’s nothing happening, or you’re just a pedestrian, we won’t hit you or attack you like the police would.”

‘Unfortunate’ violence

ALBERT HO, a human-rights lawyer and former lawmaker, said both police and protesters were “totally out of control.” Still, he said, the protesters who used violence risk helping those who want harsher measures imposed.

“We strongly disapprove of using violence,” Ho said. “We are in disagreement with the protesters, that is absolutely not right.

We also don’t think it is right to have physical confrontations.

And we disapprove of throwing petrol bombs.”

Pro-democracy lawmaker Alvin Yeung said the violence is “very unfortunate” yet the background must be understood.

“When people get angry, they get radical,” he said. “This government has to face reality and understand that only a political solution can resolve everything and calm everybody down.”

Lam Cheuk-Ting, the lawmaker who slept in his office, said the first step toward a solution would be for the government to meet the demand of setting up an independent inquiry into the protests.

“This is a political catastrophe—you have to resolve it by political means, not by bullets or water cannons,” he said. “If we could finally have an investigation we could find out the truth.

We may still have a slim chance to start a new page in Hong Kong.”

Bloomberg News

TRUMP, ERDOGAN MEETING SLATED AS THORNY ISSUES STRESS RELATIONS

W

ASHINGTON—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Donald J. Trump will meet as relations between the two Nato allies are at their lowest point in decades, with Turkey rebuffing the US and turning toward Russia on security issues and Ankara facing a Washington backlash over attacks on Kurdish civilians during its incursion into Syria last month.

Erdogan and Trump have a difficult agenda on Wednesday that includes Turkey’s decision to buy a Russian air defense system and its attack on US-allied Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Their scheduled afternoon news conference, however, will give Trump a stage to counter the first public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry.

Trump says Turkey has been a critical US ally for decades, cites the strong economic upside to the relationship and maintains that the two countries have enough in common to

overcome their differences. Some in Congress say Erdogan should never have been invited to the White House in the first place.

Last month, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill to sanction senior Turkish officials and its army for the military incursion into Syria to fight the Kurds. Erdogan sees Kurdish forces in Syria as an extension of a separatist Kurdish group that’s been fighting inside Turkey since the 1980s.

In the Senate, two Democrats introduced legislation on Wednesday denouncing Turkey’s targeting of journalists, political opponents, dissidents, minorities and others.

They said the Turkish government had imprisoned more than 80,000 Turkish citizens, closed more than 1,500 nongovernment organizations on terrorism-related grounds and dismissed or suspended more than 130,000 civil servants from their jobs.

“This is not the time or place to be extend-

ing hospitality and exchanging niceties with a dictator,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat who sits on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees.

In October, Trump moved US troops in Syria out of the way of invading Turkish troops, a decision that critics said amounted to abandoning America’s Kurdish allies to be attacked.

“It has upended what was an oasis of stability, damaged US credibility and standing on the world stage and strengthened the hands of Russia, Iran,” and the Syrian government of Bashar Assad, Shaheen said.

Trump administration officials have said the president told Turkey not to invade Syria.

But when Erdogan insisted, they say Trump decided to move 28 Green Berets operating on the Turkey-Syria border so they wouldn’t be caught in a crossfire between Turkishbacked forces and the Kurds.

A State Department official said Trump is

not rewarding Erdogan with a White House visit, but is conducting diplomacy. The official said high-level consultations are needed because of the volatile situation in Syria that has displaced tens of thousands of people.

Amnesty International recently released a report documenting killings, human rights violations and possible war crimes caused by Turkey-backed forces in northern Syria.

“There has been a callous disregard for civilian lives, including attacks on residential areas,” said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA. “Over 100,000 people have fled this offensive and there are fears that the displaced are not getting access to food, to clear water, or to medical supplies.”

She said Trump must send a message to Erdogan that these actions and unlawful behavior must stop and that those responsible be held accountable. AP

ANTIAGO, Chile—Protests against social inequality continued for a 26th day with huge demonstrations across Chile and a national strike that brought much of the country to a standstill on Tuesday, while the value of the national currency fell to a record low.

Thousands of people marched peacefully in Santiago, congregating in the central meeting place of Plaza Italia waving the flags of Chile and the Mapuche indigenous group, with whistles and music rising in the air. After nightfall, the demonstrators lighted up the gathering with cell-phone screens and green laser light.

But groups of hooded protesters in the capital also fought with police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. A church in the Lastarria tourist district was ransacked and set on fire Tuesday night, and there were reports of looting at restaurants and shops.

The strike drew widespread participation across the country, generating a holiday atmosphere in many cities. Classes were canceled and some government offices scaled back their services. Some shop and restaurants also were looted.

The coastal city of Valparaíso ground to a halt, with government offices and public and private transport shut down. Protesters threw rocks at some shops in the morning, prompting many to remain closed, while hooded agitators erected barricades and looted. People hurled rocks at the Hotel O’Higgins, an iconic building in Viña del Mar, and ransacked one of the main grocery stores.

Large demonstrations also occurred to the south, in Concepción, where a government building was evacuated after a fire broke out. In Antofagasta, in the north, barricades impeded traffic, while in Punta Arenas, in the Patagonia region, hundreds of people took to the streets to express their anger.

Silvia Silva, a demonstrator in Santiago, called the strike “historic” and one that

“will mark a before and after in our country” as Chileans continue to push for a new constitution drawn up with the direct input of citizens.

“No more abuse. Today we are saying enough, in the most peaceful way possible, to politicians and to those who are in charge of drafting laws in our country,” said Luis Casas, who was at her side.

Karla Rubilar, the government spokesman, said, “A strike is not the road forward.”

Chile is one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America, but it is also one of the most unequal, with a swath of basic services privatized.

A student protest over rising subway fares October 18 has grown into a broad movement demanding reforms to education, health care and pensions. It has been a mostly peaceful movement, though there have been violent clashes between demonstrators and police.

Twenty people have been killed and the National Institute of Human Rights in Chile has documented more than 2,000 injuries.

The government of President Sebastián Piñera has responded with a package of social improvements, and on Sunday announced a plan to overhaul the constitution that was enacted during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. But Piñera’s proposals have not appeased protesters, who demand a bigger role in reformulating the country’s legal principles.

The demonstrations have had an economic cost, too. The National Chamber of Commerce Services and Tourism of Chile estimates up to 100,000 jobs could be lost.

On Tuesday, the Chilean currency continued its downward slide, hitting a record 800 pesos per US dollar. Prior to the demonstrations, it had hovered around 700 to 720 pesos.

It closed Tuesday at 781 pesos.

Treasury Minister Ignacio Briones said the depreciation “is a sign of the instability that we are experiencing.” AP

CHILEAN police clash with anti-government demonstrators during a protest in Santiago, Chile on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Students in Chile began protesting nearly a month ago over a subway fare hike. The demonstrations have morphed into a massive protest movement demanding improvements in basic services and benefits, including pensions, health and education. AP PHOTO/ESTEBAN FELIX

Signs mount that Qatar embargo may end as mediation gears up

E

F FORT S to re solve t he standoff between Qatar and a Saudi-led bloc are gathering momentum, with an upcoming soccer tournament in Doha helping to pave the way for a possible breakthrough, according to a Gulf official with knowledge of the matter.

The mediation is currently focusing on mending ties between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and will bring the United Arab Emirates on board later, the official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Saudi A rabia, the UA E and Bahrain have agreed to take part in the Gulf soccer cup in Qatar in November, more than two years after severing diplomatic and economic ties with their gas-rich Gulf neighbor.

A senior Saudi official said in Washington last week that Qatar has also started taking steps to repair relations with its neighbors.

As Saudi Arabia prepares for the blockbuster share sale of oil giant Saudi Aramco, signs are emerging that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to resolve conflicts that have cast a shadow over the kingdom’s political stability. To that end, Prince

Mohammed is also intensifying efforts to conclude the four-year war in Yemen.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia’s main ally, has already pulled out most of its troops from Yemen as it seeks to ease tensions with Iran after a string of attacks on oil targets in the region raised fears of an allout war.

The Saudi-led war in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and the crisis with Qatar were widely seen as signs of a more aggressive foreign policy by Prince Mohammed and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

The two countries, joined by Bahrain and Egypt, accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and being too close to their regional rival Iran, a charge Doha repeatedly denied. Previous attempts to resolve the crisis have failed despite mediation efforts by Kuwait and the US. Kuwait is playing a key role in the current push, the Gulf official said. The country, which has taken a more neutral stance in the feud, had urged Saudi Arabia to participate in the games as a goodwill gesture meant to dial down the frictions. Bloomberg News

Thursday, November 14, 2019

T

By Elijah Felice Rosales

HIS is the sad state of product standards in the Philippines: three in every five hardware stores sell substandard steel bars to unsuspecting buyers.

And industry experts believe these were produced from steelmaking equipment dumped from the People’s Republic of China.

As early as January of last year, the government was informed about induction furnaces being shipped to the Philippines from China. Beijing’s decision in 2017 to ban the use of induction for steelmaking left owners with no choice but to export their equipment to neighboring countries, particularly to Southeast Asian economies.

In a letter to Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu dated January 30, 2018, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi) sought a blanket ban on the import of induction furnaces from China.

Small-scale steel makers allegedly use such equipment to produce construction-grade steel.

The Pisi argued that induction furnaces should be used for what they are originally intended for.

The group appealed with Cimatu to ensure that induction furnaces in the country are utilized only for the manufacture of cast products, ferroalloys with specific properties and stainless steel.

Nearly two years later, Pisi never got either of its requests.

Exchanging a problem

IT’S not even a question for Pisi President Roberto M. Cola: induction furnaces should never be used for steelmaking. He said there’s a reason the Chinese government in 2017 directed steel makers to dismantle their induction furnaces, or else authorities will do it for them.

Induction furnace steel—in China called ditiaogang, or ground steel—is made by melting scrap metal in induction furnace facilities. Thus, the manufacturer has no effective control over the composition and quality of the product and, therefore, poses harm to buyers when passed off as standardcompliant.

As part of the nationwide crackdown, Beijing prohibited the sale of scrap to induction furnace operators to deprive them of their raw material for production.

Banks were then tasked to stop issuing loans to several steel manufacturers. These lenders were ordered instead to fund the operations of those conforming to state regulations.

By the end of the first half of 2017, the Chinese government was able to shut down capacity of roughly 120 million metric tons (MMT) per year of induction furnaces operated by more than 600 steel makers across China.

Upon power off, China virtually ended its problem with substandard steel bars. That’s when it also passed on the problem to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states, including and especially the Philippines.

Less costly?

COLA told the BusinessMirror that “when induction furnaces got banned in China, what happened is, the induction furnaces were transported to Asean.”

“It flooded the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Burma [Myanmar].

That’s the phenomenon today,” he explained. “Instead of exporting the product, what China is now exporting is the equipment. That’s the problem now.”

Small-scale steel makers, mostly based in the provinces, import these induction furnaces from China, as they are cheaper to buy and to operate compared to electric arc furnace, Cola said. Industry sources from both the government and the private sector also confirmed that buying a brand-new induction is less costly than investing in electric arc.

Cola estimated that savings

could go as high as 10 percent. This means the required investment for induction furnace is just $90 per ton compared to the electric arc’s $100 per ton.

However, there’s an anomaly.

Induction furnaces from China should be a lot cheaper than that since they were used beforehand and for a long time before the ban, the Pisi chief argued.

“The problem here is you are comparing the new against the scrap. Most of those from China are scrap value,” Cola told the BusinessMirror. “If you are to buy a brand-new induction furnace with same capacity and then same specification of an [electric arc] equipment, I think the induction furnace is priced nearly the same.”

Impurities of scrap

FOR Cola, the problem with induction furnace is that it’s designed to produce cast products and not construction-grade steel. As such, the equipment has no refining mechanism that removes the impurities, particularly phosphorus and sulfur, of scrap metal.

“Scrap has impurities, especially phosphorus and sulfur. It makes the steel brittle. Phosphorus brittles the steel and sulfur produces crack injury that’s why they must be controlled,” Cola explained. “Induction furnace can never do that. That’s its problem, and that’s the reason the quality [of its output] is inconsistent.”

On the other hand, electric arc furnace, which large-scale steel makers use, has the capacity to take out impurities during the refining process. The equipment even allows the manufacturer to add certain elements to the scrap to return it into its original composition, explained Ronald C. Magsajo, chairman of the statistics committee of Pisi.

“In electric arc, there is a refining process while you melt the scrap that removes its impurities,” Magsajo told the BusinessMirror.

“You can take out impurities or add certain elements to bring it back to its original composition. Induction furnace has no refining process.”

Steel bars processed in electric arc furnaces usually land in corporate projects, such as high-rise buildings and condominiums, and in public infrastructure, according to Pisi officials. However—and unfortunately for the buying public— those manufactured from induction furnaces almost always end up in hardware stores.

Business

HOUSE OF SUBSTANDARD STE

INTO PHL CONSTRU Induction furnace steel—in China called ditiaogang, or ground steel—is made by melting scrap metal in induction furnace facilities. Thus, the manufacturer has no effective control over the composition and quality of the product and, therefore, poses harm to buyers when passed off as standard-compliant.

Jumping imports

DURING the Duterte administration, the country became the 17thlargest steel importer across the globe.

According to the Global Steel Trade Monitor, Manila’s steel imports last year jumped 1 MMT to 9.1 MMT, of which nearly half came from China at 4.3 MMT. Imports from Russia came far second with 1.7 MMT to lead Japan with 726,000 MT, Vietnam with 387,000 MT and Taiwan with 383,000 MT.

The monitor also reported the country’s steel consumption in 2016—the year Duterte assumed office—doubled to 9.1 MMT, from 4.2 MMT in 2015, while imports rose over 153 percent to 8.1 MMT, from 3.2 MMT. A year later, consumption went up to 9.5 MMT, but imports stayed at 8.1 MMT. The deficit was filled in by domestic production that picked up to 1.4 MMT in 2017 from 1.1 MMT in 2016.

“Production in 2017—the latest year for which data is available—increased 27 percent to 1.4 million metric tons from 1.1 million metric tons in 2016. Apparent consumption—a measure of steel demand—has increasingly out-

paced production since 2009. The gap between demand and production remained relatively stable between 2009 and 2013, but widened rapidly since 2014 to reach -8.1 million metric tons in 2017,” the monitor read.

Aquino to Duterte

STANISLAV5 | DREAMSTIME.COM

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TheBroa

DEMAND is expected to keep on growing until 2022 as government economists decided in October to expand the list of flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program from 75 originally to a hundred.

For the first half of the Duterte administration, the Philippines imported a total of 23.58 MMT of iron and steel, of which more than one-third, or 8.45 MMT, was brought in last year, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Under Duterte, the country is purchasing iron and steel products from abroad five times faster than it did under the previous leader-

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sMirror

OF CARDS: EEL FINDS WAY

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, November 14, 2019

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RUCTION SECTOR without them knowing it. And as tragic as it may sound, Cola warned the only time they will know that the steel bar was substandard is when it’s too late.

JAHANGIR ALAM ONUCHCHA | DREAMSTIME.COM

Own monitoring

ship. For the first three years of the Aquino administration, the Philippines imported 4.72 MMT of iron and steel based on PSA data.

This is what induction furnace operators are taking advantage of under Duterte: the heightened demand for steel, particularly for reinforcing bar, shortly known as rebar.

Rebar is the most commonly used steel product in the construction industry, as its function is to produce tension in concrete to help hold it in a compressed state. Reinforced concrete gives structures— infrastructure, buildings, houses, among others—the necessary integrity mandated under laws on product standards and consumer welfare, as well as building codes.

Late realization

INDUSTRY data gathered by the BusinessMirror showed the country’s steel consumption last year reached an all-time high 10.35 MMT, of which nearly 44 percent,

or 4.52 MMT, was rebar.

Pisi’s Cola said buyers of steel bars are roughly divided into two sections: the corporate market and the reseller market. As such, of the 4.52 MMT of rebar distributed to the public last year, an estimated 2.26 MMT went to private-sector buyers contracted to do corporate projects, while the other half ended up in hardware stores selling to consumers.

“The problem lies in the reseller market because this is where direct selling to consumers takes place.

You can never do testing here. It’s a technical problem, difficult to distinguish [the standard compliant with substandard],” Cola explained. “In the corporate market, every truck of delivery is tested and sampled. There is no way substandard steel can slip through here.”

Buyers, especially those in the regions, could be purchasing from their trusted hardware stores underweight or undersized rebars

LAST year Pisi officials traveled around the archipelago to conduct their own monitoring of the market. In its test-buy operations, the group tapped selected people to pose as unsuspecting customers purchasing rebar for, say, the construction of their house.

The rebar samples collected from the nationwide test buy were then brought to the Department of Science and Technology’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) for quality and safety evaluation.

Magsajo, Pisi’s statistics chief, disclosed that rebars from 41 of the 63 hardware stores covered by the monitoring activity failed to pass required standards based on the MIRDC’s findings. Most of the substandard rebars were either underweight or undersized, while some failed to meet minimum requirements in terms of tensile strength, elongation and lug height.

“We conducted test buys in 2018. Randomly, we go to a store, purchase a rebar, then bring it to the MIRDC for testing. We have it tested straight up. We found out that around 60 percent of the stores at that time sell substandard rebars.

[The results of] these test buys were submitted to the DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] under Undersecretary Castelo because the Consumer Protection Group is under her jurisdiction,” Cola said.

In documents shared with the BusinessMirror, the Pisi wrote at least five letters to the DTI between December of last year and August of this year. In those letters, the group reported the sale of substandard rebars in La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, Mindoro, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga.

Various mechanisms

TRADE Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo confirmed there is a proliferation of substandard rebars in the reseller market, but said the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB)—an attached agency of the DTI—is a step ahead in hunting down their retailers.

For the first half of this year alone, the FTEB destroyed a total of 57,250 pieces of substandard steel products, valued at roughly P6.46 million, according to data obtained by the BusinessMirror. As such, its first-semester confiscation already topped its combined capture from 2016 to 2018 of 3,543 pieces of noncompliant steel, amounting close to P500,000.

“There is always a possibility that some importers or manufacturers will attempt to manufacture and/or import substandard steel products to save costs. However, DTI has mechanism in place to prevent such problems,” Castelo said in an interview with the BusinessMirror. “Proliferation of substandard construction materials is being prevented through the regular enforcement and monitoring ac-

tivities conducted by DTI-FTEB.” As to the manufacturing side, Castelo said the DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) has been conducting surprise audits of steel plants around the archipelago. Since 2016, the agency tasked to issue Philippine Standard (PS) licenses to manufacturers was able to audit the mills of 13 PS licensees for steel bars, three of which were recommended for cancellation on stopped production or nonproduction of the specific product.

Last year the BPS also suspended the PS license—and, therefore, the right to operate—of Wan Chiong Steel Corp. after it found the Pampanga-based firm of producing deformed rebars. The steel maker had to put up its steel products for quality and safety testing at least thrice—failing to pass on the first two tests—before it retrieved its PS license in May, according to Castelo. Its substandard steel bars were destroyed in June.

Expert opinion

PISI officials have nothing against the DTI’s ongoing crackdown on manufacturers and resellers of substandard rebars. They just think it’s futile.

“The best way of course is to ban [induction furnaces],” Magsajo put bluntly. “The DTI is tasked to watch over the reseller market, and it should be strict in that area. The corporate players can guard themselves on their own, but the buying public cannot. To be fair [with the DTI], it has a lot of products to monitor. Some products may be bumped off for the other, but the agency has to at least be consistent.”

According to Cola, almost 80 percent of the steel products that failed to comply with required standards based on MIRDC’s findings were produced from induction furnaces. He said the PS license of these substandard rebars showed they were manufactured by smallscale steel firms infamous for operating induction furnace facilities, which China banned in 2017.

“The rebar, as a mandatory product, you have to get a license to manufacture. For you to get a license, you need to have a unique logo in your bar, which you register. When a steel product encounters a problem, when the structure it built collapses, the manufacturer can be identified. We knew [these substandard rebars] were made from induction furnaces based on their logo,” the Pisi chief explained.

However, only China is on the Pisi’s side in its appeal to prohibit the use of induction for steelmaking. Expert opinion, both from the government and the private sector, points the substandard problem to the process, not the equipment.

SteelAsia, UK Cares

COLA and Magsajo are both executives of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., the country’s largest steel maker that has an annual production capacity of 2.1 MMT of rebar.

SteelAsia is the first and lone steel manufacturer in the Philippines certified to conform with the standards set by the United Kingdom Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (UK Cares).

Steel makers certified by UK Cares can export steel bars to the UK and former British colonies without be-

ing required to undergo their products in quality and safety assessment, Cola said in explaining what the certification provides.

However, in a statement sent to the BusinessMirror, UK Cares itself said it assesses all forms of steel-production processes—whether that be electric arc or induction— in terms of quality and regulatory standards, determining in the certification the performance of the output rebar and what it can offer to the construction supply chain.

In an e-mail, UK Cares said: “The Cares assurance process is a proven, independent means of assessing product taking into account a wide range of factors. Cares certification is only issued to reinforcing steel products which have met these standards and have been inspected by our expert auditors.”

“Regardless of the process involved in product manufacture, it is vital that the assurance of steel products entering the market is carried out independently in this way, as Cares assurance delivers vital confidence to specifiers and consultants procuring these materials for their projects,” the Kentbased certification body added.

Method of production

THE question stands: will the government grant Pisi’s appeal and prohibit the use of induction furnace for steelmaking? No, not yet.

“There is none yet [final policy on induction furnace] because the method of production is not looked into until recently when we received the Asean directive encouraging governments to ban the use of induction furnaces,” Castelo said. “We also see manufacturing plants with brand-new induction furnaces that they purchased from China. There is no prohibition against the use of induction furnaces as of this time.”

The BusinessMirror learned the DTI and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had a meeting on September 11. During the meeting, the two offices agreed on seven deliverables geared toward formulating the government’s policies for tighter environmental and product standards in steelmaking.

The DTI and the DENR agreed, among others, to undertake up to 60 days of surveillance and study of local and imported billets and steel products from induction and electric arc.

The two offices also decided to arrange visits for their high-ranking officials to steel plants that make use of electric arc furnaces and induction furnaces, inviting also the environment and trade chiefs. Further, there will be demo sessions of steel-making practices wherein BPS auditors will observe to learn which are critical to see during audit.

Actual vs underdeclaration

IF there’s any hope for Pisi and electric arc furnace operators, it’s that two high-ranking officials of the DTI are in favor of banning the use of induction furnaces for steelmaking.

One of the trade officials saw the condition of workers inside induction furnace facilities—it’s a sweatshop in these factories. The trade official bared that workers there don’t wear protective gear in

spite of extreme exposure to scrap metal, combustion and mixed chemicals.

The other trade official described the induction process as “garbage in, garbage out,” wherein the quality of the scrap is carried over in the output steel bar since the furnace has no refining mechanism. As such, this trade official said it’s just right to ban the use of induction furnaces for steelmaking. If the government allows such technology to flourish, the trade official argued it is complicit in putting people’s lives at risk.

In July the Board of Investments (BOI) rejected the application of Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corp., operating in Misamis Oriental, to become a new domestic producer of steel bar using coreless electric furnace smelting technology. The BOI denied the steel maker’s registration on numerous concerns, one of which is the industry’s report that banned induction furnaces from China are being shipped to Southeast Asian economies.

The BusinessMirror also learned the applicant declared a yearly production capacity of 27,000 MT in obtaining its environmental compliance certificate (ECC). However, its actual production capacity is 300,000 MT every year. Apparently, the firm underdeclared its capacity in order to secure its ECC from the regional and not the national office of the DENR, where requirements are more difficult to secure.

Unsuspecting buyers

THE Pisi has so far tested rebar samples from 164 hardware stores across the country this year. Of this total, nearly 38 percent, or 62 retailers, were found selling substandard rebars.

The Pisi found one sample of an underweight 16-mm steel bar, manufactured by a Valenzuelabased firm, in a hardware store in earthquake-prone Baguio City.

A 16-mm steel bar of 6 meters of length should weigh roughly 9.48 kilograms. However, the product bought from the Baguio City retailer was lacking nearly 1 kilo in weight. This means the product is substandard.

According to Cola, the Valenzuela-based firm is among the several induction furnace operators whose factories are situated in Central Luzon and within the periphery of Metro Manila. Bulk of the output of these induction furnaces are delivered to hardware stores in the regions, going as far north as the Cordilleras, and are sold to unsuspecting buyers, he added.

Cola emphasized that what Pisi is asking from the government is a blanket ban on the use of induction furnaces for steelmaking, but still allowing them to be utilized for what they were originally made for.

Until a definite policy is issued on the use of induction furnaces, a tragedy may just be waiting to happen for millions of people all along believing structures they live in or visit were built using quality materials.

Cola appeared to hate that he has to say this: “At least China was right on this one.”

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Thursday, November 14, 2019

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

World Bank cuts back project in China’s restive Xinjiang

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EIJING—The World Bank is cutting back a $50 million project in China’s restive Xinjiang region following a review prompted by allegations of abuses.

A statement from the bank on Monday said it would close a component of the project to support vocational colleges involving partner schools that were the subject of the abuse claims.

It said although visits to the partner schools “did not substantiate the allegations,” they were too widely dispersed to be properly monitored for adherence to bank standards.

“In addition, the project will be placed under enhanced supervi-

sion to ensure that all applicable Bank standards are adhered to,” the bank said.

The statement said a review was ordered after “serious allegations” about the partner schools were received in August, but did not describe them in detail.

“The World Bank’s work is driven by core principles of inclusion, with special consideration for the protection of minorities and other vulnerable peoples,” it said.

“When allegations are made, the

World Bank takes them seriously and reviews them thoroughly.”

While the partner schools account for just 1 percent of the project’s financing, the move is politically significant because China has been criticized for confining more than 1 million members of Muslim minority ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

China says they are being offered training to reduce poverty and extremism. Critics say they are political reeducation camps where inmates are held indefinitely without due process, subject to abuse, and forced to renounce their traditional religion and culture while pledging loyalty to Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

China is normally highly sensitive to any hint of criticism over its policies toward minorities, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet.

However, asked about t he bank ’s decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said it sought to “facilitate management and reduce the supervision cost of the projects.”

The bank consulted with China on the adjustments and its report found the allegations against the sister schools to be untrue, Geng said.

The World Bank project aims to upgrade the curriculum, teacher skills and post-graduation employment opportunities offered by five long-established public vocational colleges in Xinjiang, the bank said.

World Bank lending to China has been cr it ici zed since the country is now the world’s second-largest economy and is itself a major lender to poor nations, usually at market interest rates. AP

Czechs seen signing $631-M deal to buy 12 US military helicopters by year-end

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RAGUE—The Czech defense minister says the government is planning to sign a deal with the US government by year’s end to purchase 12 military helicopters.

Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar says the deal is worth 14.6 billion Czech crowns ($631 million) and the helicopters are to be delivered in 2023 to replace the obsolete Soviet-made Mi-24s.

The Czechs will get eight UH1Y Venom choppers and four AH-1Z Vipers from US maker Bell Helicopter.

Metnar said on Tuesday the contract includes equipment, ammunition, spare parts and training of personnel.

He said the deal best covers the need of the Czech air forces.

AP

IN this April 17, 2017, file photo released by US Marine Corps, an AH-1Z Viper prepares to land at the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, California. On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, the Czech defense minister says the government is planning to sign a deal with the US counterpart to purchase 12 military helicopters. The Czechs will get eight UH-1Y Venom chopters and four AH-1Z Viper ones. CPL. HARLEY ROBINSON/US MARINE CORPS VIA AP

Venice mayor sees climate change-driven disaster as city floods

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HE mayor of Venice said that he would declare a state of emergency as the second highest tide ever recorded hit the Italian city following heavy rains.

The tide reached 187 centimeters and will have a lasting impact on the city, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said. “These are the effects of climate change,” he said in a Twitter

post. Brugnaro called the situation “dramatic,” posting videos and photos of high tides lifting boats onto land and flooding landmarks.

There were several images showing St. Mark’s Square submerged in water and people wading through the streets in knee-deep water.

A 2017 report by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable

WORLD’S THIRST FOR OIL TO KEEP GROWING UNTIL 2030s–IEA

France supports European bank mergers before key meeting

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ARIS—An important global energy forecast says the world’s thirst for oil will continue to grow until the 2030s and climatedamaging emissions will keep climbing until at least 2040.

In its annual long-term outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) called on Wednesday for “strong leadership” from governments to bring down emissions.

It forecasts that growing demand for SUVs could negate the environmental benefits of electric vehicle growth. And it says current investment in renewable energy is “insufficient” to meet the needs of growing populations, notably in cities across Asia and Africa.

The IEA forecast global oil demand of 106.4 million barrels a day in 2040, up from 96.9 million last year.

The IEA’s World Energy Outlook is increasingly important to governments because of its relevance to climate policy. AP

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RANCE added to the growing chorus of lawmakers and executives seeing consolidation as an avenue to revive Europe’s ailing banks, ahead of a key meeting that may jump-start a plan to create a single market for the industry.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, speaking in an interview in Paris on Tuesday, said mergers to create “critical-size, global actors” in European finance would be a “good thing.” He backed a call by German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to complete the project for a banking union that would make such deals easier. “Everything that is giving sense to the European Union—to this exceptional market of 500 million consumers—in trade, norms and finance, is welcome,” he said in the interview at his office in an upscale neighborhood on Paris’ Left Bank, while declining to discuss the proposal in detail.

“At every level, it’s important that Europe takes stock of its power.”

Scholz last week signaled Germany may give up its opposition to a key part of the plan for European banking integration as lenders such as Deutsche Bank AG struggle to compete a decade after the financial crisis.

But his proposal has yet to be endorsed by the government in Berlin, while a key condition—stricter rules on banks’ sovereign debt holdings—has already irked Scholz’s

Economic Development warned that Venice will be underwater within a century if climate change isn’t slowed and adequate defenses aren’t put in place.

The official Twitter account of the City of Venice, public transport company Azienda Veneziana della Mobilita SpA and members of the public were using the Italian hashtag #acquaalta to post updates

Italian counterpart.

The banking union project will be discussed in more detail at a December meeting of European finance ministers, who want to finalize a road map so national leaders can start negotiations next year. After seven years during which fiscally conservative northern European countries have been deadlocked with neighbors in the south, progress may be slow.

Then there’s the question of who would do the consolidating. France has, in the past, tried to protect key companies and industries from foreign takeovers. Philippe suggested French banks may be in a strong position to acquire rivals once the regulatory framework is in place.

‘I will rejoice’

“I KNOW some French banks have a reputation of being very innovative and, for some, very competitive,” he said. “If their growth strategy includes alliances, mergers or acquisitions with European or non-European institutions, if these are smart and wellcrafted operations, I will rejoice.”

While Societe Generale SA has indicated that it would be interested in playing a role in European banking consolidation, the lender is undergoing a radical restructuring to shrink its investment bank. BNP Paribas

about the situation on social media. Acqua alta translates to high waters in English.

The incident is the latest in a slew of environmental disasters to occur as evidence of climate change shows up around the world. Earlier this week, more than 70 fires raged across New South Wales in Australia, damaging property and killing people. Bloomberg News

SA is seen as being in a stronger position to play a role in European consolidation and was two years ago linked with a possible bid for Germany’s Commerzbank AG. France, while backing consolidation in the banking sector, believes its institutions are in a position to be buyers rather than targets, an official in the government said.

Consolidation could include foreign stakes in a French bank, but the country’s national champions are solid enough to be the ones buying others, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Europe’s banks have fallen behind their Wall Street peers since the global financial crisis in 2008, as stricter regulation and negative interest rates erode profitability.

Even US competitors such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have said Europe would benefit from a local banking champion.

Mustier’s view

JEAN PIERRE MUSTIER, the chief executive officer of UniCredit SpA, said in an interview that consolidation in European banking is dependent on higher stock prices because firms need to raise capital for deals. UniCredit was among firms seen as a possible suitors for Commerzbank earlier this year after the German lender’s merger talks with Deutsche Bank broke down. Bloomberg News

FEDERAL Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference in Washington on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. The Federal Reserve cut rates for the third time this year. AP PHOTO/SUSAN WALSH

Powell to testify before Congress as Fed pauses interest rate cuts

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A SHI NGTON —Federal Reser ve Chairman Jerome Powell is due to testify on Wednesday in Congress about the outlook for the US economy, giving his perspective two weeks after the Fed cut interest rates for a third time this year.

The Fed signaled after its October 29 and 30 meeting that it would probably hold off on any further cuts as long as the economy stays healthy and inflation moves closer to the central bank’s target of 2 percent.

The three cuts, which lowered the interest rate the Fed controls to a range of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent, were intended to offset drags from slower global growth and the US-China trade war.

Powell is scheduled to appear on Wednesday before Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. He and other Fed officials have said they believe the cuts are working, as lower borrowing costs have encouraged more Americans to buy homes and splurge on appliances and electronics.

Broader measures of the economy suggest that growth remains solid if not spectacular. The unemployment rate is near a 50-year low of 3.6 percent and hiring is strong

enough to potentially push the rate even lower. Inflation, according to the Fed’s preferred gauge, is just 1.3 percent, though most Fed officials expect it to move higher in the coming months.

Many Fed officials in public comments this month have voiced support for Fed policy and have expressed confidence in the economy.

Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said in an interview on CNBC last week that “if the economy continues to perform as we expect” than the Fed is likely done cutting rates, “but we need to see.”

Kashkari is one of the most dovish officials on the Fed’s 17-member policymaking committee, though he doesn’t have a vote this year.

John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and several other Fed officials last week said that the three cuts have left the benchmark interest rate low enough to support growth.

Most analysts forecast that the Fed will hold rates steady when it meets next month. But some economists expect growth will slow in the coming months and the Fed will likely have to cut again next year. AP

Oil falls again after Trump damps trade-deal optimism

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IL fell for a third day as President Donald J. Trump failed to provide any fresh details on trade negotiations with China, disappointing investors who had been hoping for some progress toward a limited deal.

Futures dropped as much as 0.4 percent in New York after losing 0.8 percent over the previous two sessions. Phase one of a trade agreement could happen soon, but the US would substantially raise tariffs if a deal can’t be reached, Trump said in a speech to the Economic Club of New York. American crude inventories are forecast to have risen by 1.5 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey, adding to concerns over a looming supply glut.

Oil investors are pinning their hopes on some form of trade deal to help revive consumption and soak up new supplies of crude from the US, Brazil, Norway and Guyana that are set to hit the market next year. Over the longer term, global oil demand will hit a plateau around 2030 as more efficient cars and electric vehicles usher in the end of the hydrocarbon era, the International Energy Agency said in a report released on Wednesday.

“A removal of the tariffs would be the quickest way to return the world to its pre-trade war economic momentum and shore up oil demand growth,” said Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights in Singapore.

“Some folks do wonder why the market has to react to the smallest headline on intentions, but that’s now the nature of the beast.”

West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 7 cents to $56.73 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 11:26 a.m. in Singapore. It settled 0.1 percent lower on Tuesday after swinging between gains and losses earlier.

Brent for January delivery dropped 12 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $61.94 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe Exchange. The global crude benchmark traded at a $5.14 premium to WTI for the same month.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had planned to sign “phase one” of the trade deal at a conference this month in Chile that was canceled. A new site for the signing hasn’t been announced. US locations for the meeting that had been proposed by the White House have been ruled out, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the discussions aren’t public.

If the US inventories forecast is correct, it would be eighth increase in nine weeks.

Stockpiles were at 446.8 million barrels as of November 1, the highest since mid-July. The official data from the Energy Information Administration is due on Thursday in Washington. Bloomberg News

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

RCBC lists P7.5-B fixed-rate bonds

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By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

IZAL Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC) announced that it successfully listed P7.5 billion of its three-year Fixed Rate Bonds on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEx).

The offering carries a coupon rate of 4.426 percent per annum and will be due in November 2022.

Strong demand from investors resulted in an order book of more than two times oversubscribed, allowing the bank to upsize the total offering amount to P7.5 billion. The public offering was completed last November 6.

“The success of the transaction is a testament of investors’ trust in the bank,” said RCBC Senior Executive Vice President and Treasurer Horacio

E. Cebrero III. RCBC said proceeds from the issuance would further aid the growth of its assets and strengthen its liquidity.

The bank’s bond issuance forms are part of its P100-billion Bond and Commercial Paper Program, which was increased earlier in July. The transaction marks the third time that the bank has tapped the peso bond market, with the first being its P15-billion Asean Green Bond Issuance in February, followed by its

P8-billion Asean Sustainability Bond Offering in June.

The latest bond offering brings the total amount raised by RCBC to P30.5 billion for 2019, a record amount demonstrating investors’ confidence in the various initiatives RCBC has undertaken to support its growth.

Standard Chartered Bank acted as the sole arranger andbookrunner for this transaction.

Lynette Ortiz, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank, said that it was “more than an opportune time” for RCBC’s issuance given constructive market conditions.

“The success of RCBC’s issuance is demonstrative of how receptive investors have become to banks with quality credit,” Ortiz said. She added that RCBC’s transaction would further contribute to the deepening of the Philippine Debt Capital Markets space.

Last week, RCBC reported that it posted a 41-percent increase in its net income in the first nine months of the year. Its net income rose to P4.5 billion in January to September, up

from the P3.2 billion the bank reported in the same nine-month period in 2018.

“Our double-digit income growth is a reflection of the bank’s prudence in tapping the right prospects in the market, while expanding capacity and enhancing customer experience in the core business,” said RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo.

The bank’s interest income from loans and receivables expanded by 24 percent to P24.1 billion during the period on account of higher average loan volume of key select markets.

Loans to consumers, which include mortgage loans, automobile loans and credit cards, increased by 18 percent to P126.3 billion. Gross outstanding credit-card receivables also grew 43 percent to P27.9 billion as of September. This is on the back of an 836,000 card base, higher by 26 percent last year’s.

The bank also reported that its loans to small and medium enterprises continued to grow year-on-year by 20 percent to P64.8 billion.

New Zealand unexpectedly holds interest rates; Kiwi jumps

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EW Zealand’s central bank left interest rates unchanged— defying widespread expectations of a cut—saying there are signs the domestic economy will stop slowing and that inflation will pick up. The local currency jumped.

“Economic developments since the August statement do not warrant a change to the already stimulatory monetary setting at this time,” the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) said Wednesday after holding the official cash rate at a record-low 1 percent. “We will add further monetary stimulus if needed.”

The RBNZ’s surprise move Wednesday adds to evidence of a global policy shift after the Federal Reserve signaled a pause in late October and Australia’s central bank held steady last week; all three banks have cut rates by 75 basis points this year. New Zealand was first in the mini-easing cycle when it began lowering rates in

May, and said it wants to assess the impact of earlier reductions before adding further stimulus.

“We still think the bank remains too optimistic on the prospects for growth,” said Ben Udy, an economist at Capital Economics in Singapore.

Udy correctly predicted the RBNZ would hold rates on Wednesday, and expects the central bank to cut twice more next year to 0.5 percent.

The New Zealand dollar jumped three quarters of a United States cent after the announcement. It bought 64 cents at 3:38 p.m. in Wellington, up from 63.35 cents before the statement. Two-year swap rates rose as much as 21 basis points and are currently trading 18 basis points higher at 1.22 percent. The 10-year bond yield gained as much as 18 basis points and is currently 13 basis points higher at 1.49 percent.

New projections for the overnight cash rate continue to signal some

chance of a cut next year, according to the central bank’s policy statement.

The projections show the average OCR dropping to 0.90 percent in the first quarter of 2020.

The monetary policy committee’s decision was reached by consensus, according to a record of the meeting also published Wednesday.

Cut debated

“THE committee debated the costs and benefits of keeping the OCR at 1 percent versus reducing it to 0.75 percent,” it said. “The committee agreed that both actions were broadly consistent with the current OCR projection. The committee agreed that the reduction in the OCR over the past year was transmitting through the economy and that it would take time to have its full effect.”

The RBNZ is betting that the easing it has delivered this year, including a surprise 50-point cut in August, will

revive economic growth in 2020, helping inflation return to the midpoint of its 1-percent to 3-percent target.

Most economists were forecasting a cut on Wednesday and had anticipated more easing next year, after inflation expectations dropped and the labor market slowed. “[Wednesday’s] decision shows that the RBNZ is not afraid to stare down financial markets,” said Dominick Stephens, New Zealand chief economist at Westpac Banking Corp. in Auckland. “The RBNZ will act on its assessment of the data rather than following markets.”

New Zealand’s economy has cooled, with annual growth slowing to 2.1 percent in the second quarter from 3.2 percent a year earlier. Subdued business confidence has damped hiring and investment, while manufacturing and exports have suffered as the US-China trade war stokes concerns about global growth. Bloomberg News

Thursday, November 14, 2019 B7

Valenzuela warehouses closed for tax violations

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HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday temporarily closed the various warehouses in Valenzuela City for tax law violations.

Through its Deputy Commissioner Operations Group; Revenue Regional Office 5—Caloocan City and Revenue District Office 24—Valenzuela City, the BIR padlocked the warehouses of the Gett Enterprises, Polymountain Industrial Corp. and Yaflex Hardware Inc. The BIR said it conducted tax compliance verification drive (or tax mapping) activities on October 15 to inspect compliance of business establishments with registration, invoicing, bookkeeping, and other rules and regulations of the tax agency.

The results of the investigation showed that the warehouses of the three establishments were not compliant with the registration requirements prescribed in the Tax Code.

Section 115(b) of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines, as implemented through the Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 03-2009, authorizes the BIR to suspend or close the business operations

of a taxpayer for a period of not less than five days for failure to register; issue VAT (value-added tax) official receipts or sales invoices; file correct VAT returns; or pay the correct taxes.

The closure order was signed by the BIR Deputy Commissioner Group Arnel Guballa after the establishments failed to comply with the registration requirements specified in Section 236 of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines, as amended.

The operation was headed by Guballa, together with the representatives from the Department of Finance; Regional Director Ma. Gracia B. Javier; Assistant Regional Director VC Cadangen; regional division chiefs; Revenue District Officer Rufo B. Ranario and other revenue officers, pursuant to the Oplan Kandado Program of the BIR. The BIR started implementing a nationwide Oplan Kandado program in January 2009.

Under the program, business operations of noncompliant taxpayers will be suspended and their establishments will be temporarily closed if they will be found to have violated certain tax laws. PNA

B8 Thursday, November 14, 2019

PhilHealth assures continuous access to benefits for Mindanao earthquake victims

Moving Up Holdings, Inc., Child Haus Manila empower children battling the Big C

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ANCER, even in this modern day and age, is seen almost like a death sentence. To call it a difficult disease is an understatement because it attacks not only the body but also the spirit. It is conquerable but not without the support and the resources that, unfortunately, not many have.

And so it can seem incredibly unfair that little children whose only worry should be what games to play next and how to study best for that upcoming quiz would also be targets for cancer, their innocence and laughter seemingly dimmed by this cruel disease.

But within their small bodies, these little faces carry massive amounts of courage that can surmount any obstacle even the Big C. Helping them in this fight are Moving Up Holdings, Inc. and Child Haus Manila, who have made it their mission to help these young warriors.

In a recent charity celebration, the two powerhouses came together to honor the children of Child Haus and to show them that there is still a rainbow even in the stormiest of skies.

It was an afternoon filled with food, fun, and inspiration with celebrity guest and advocate Iya Villana. Sharing words of positivity, Child Haus Manila staff member Dydee Castillo thanked

everyone who came and let them know the importance of continued support, sharing "even just your presence today motivates our warriors because of the love that stems from coming together and giving them the time and attention they deserve.�

Being an entirely non-profit organization, Child Haus supplies a home for indigent children seeking cancer treatment who might otherwise have no connections and no place to go. They not only push the advocacy for better cancer awareness but also go into great lengths to givetheir children the utmost care both

financially and emotionally. But it can only do these through donations, such as those extended by generous patrons like Moving Up Holdings, Inc. "Our involvement with Child Haus Manila comes from a shared desire to bridge these children towards a healthier, happier, and cancer-free life. Partnerships like this are powered more so by the hope that these children instill, and it is through their smiles and laughter that we are pushed to continue these efforts for their brighter tomorrow," Amit Borsok, CEO of Moving Up Holdings, Inc., explained

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NDIVIDUALS and their families needing medical care treatment in areas recently affected by three succeeding strong earthquakes may continuously have access to health care benefits especially during times of fortuitous events.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) made the assurance following reports that several victims were injured in consecutive quakes that rocked Cotabato and affected several nearby areas in Mindanao including Davao Del Sur, Sarangani, and Cities of Davao, Kidapawan and Koronadal.

While PhilHealth members may continue to experience responsive health care benefit access, non-members can likewise avail themselves of the PhilHealth benefits even if confined in nonaccredited facility subject to certain conditions as specified in PhilHealth Circular 34, s. 2013.

This policy, which is in accordance with the provision of special privileges to those affected by fortuitous events stipulated in the said Circular, covers members, nonmembers and their dependents; admission to accredited or non-accredited facilities that are DOH-licensed or DOH-certified; and

Christmas at the SM Mall of Asia

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HE SM Mall of Asia recently launched its Christmas festivities opening doors to amazing activities to bring happiness and cheer to its shoppers. This began with the lighting of the 60 foot Christmas tree with live performances by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and UST Choir and the first ever state-of –the-art Indoor and Music Lights Show.

treatment and management by accredited or non-accredited health care professionals who are duly licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

It also cover claims for medical treatment done as an outpatient or inpatient relative to the direct and indirect effects of the fortuitous event within the Health Care Institution or an improvised/satellite facility; and patients transferred from or managed by health care personnel from accredited facilities in an evacuation area, or improvised health care facilities.

In addition, the policy extends to certain privileges like exemption from the 45 days annual benefit limit, Single Period of Confinement (SPC) and the less than 24 hour confinement policies; extension of filing up to 120 days, payment of premium contributions or extension of coverage, reimbursement for both referring and receiving health care institutions; priority in the processing of claims, extension of the deadline for submission of health care facility reports and extension of accreditation of providers, as applicable.

Editor: Jun Lomibao • mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Sports BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 14, 2019

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THE Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma (0) celebrates with his teammates as Anthony Davis dunks over the Suns’ Ricky Rubio. AP

LAKERS LOOKING GOOD P

B D B The Associated Press

HOENIX—Kyle Kuzma was out on the floor in the crucial final minutes on Tuesday night when his teammates made the extra pass and found him at the three-point line. Both times, he never hesitated to take the shots that splashed through the net and pushed the Lakers to a 123-115 over the Phoenix Suns.

Nobody looked happier than Anthony Davis and LeBron James. They’ll take all the help they can get.

“Welcome back,” Davis said they told Kuzma.

Davis had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Kuzma added a season-high 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting to push the Lakers (82) to their best 10-game start since 2010, and bounce back from a home loss to Toronto on Sunday.

James added 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Phoenix (6-4) trailed for a big chunk of the fourth quarter but pushed ahead 113-111 on Devin Booker’s fastbreak layup with 3:29 left. The Lakers responded with three straight 3-pointers— one from James and two more from Kuzma—to lead 120-113 and put the game out of reach.

MEMPHIS’ James Wiseman dunks next to Oregon’s Shakur Juiston during the second half of their game in Portland on Tuesday. AP

Kuzma missed the first four games of the season this year because of an ankle injury he suffered during the summer while playing for USA basketball. He averaged 18.7 points last season but was scoring just over 10 per game until Tuesday’s outburst.

“I’ve just got teammates who believe in me,” Kuzma said.

“We all believe in each other. We’re a team and we pick each other up.”

Los Angeles dominated in the paint with 70 points. Dwight Howard came off the bench to score 12 points and grab nine rebounds in 20 minutes. The Lakers had 39 assists on 51 made field goals.

“That is the secret for us,” Lakers Coach Frank Vogel said. “If you truly commit to the extra pass offensively and playing for each other, we are going to be near unbeatable. That was a really good team we beat tonight—that’s a really good win.”

The Suns were led by Ricky Rubio and Booker, who both scored 21 points. Aron Baynes added 20 and Dario Saric had 18.

“Down the stretch we have to be better,” Booker said.

“Rebound better, execute better. We didn’t do that tonight.

Davis scored 14 points as the Lakers took a 60-58 halftime lead. James added nine points and eight assists.

The Lakers’ three-point barrage in the final minutes ended a

very close game for most of the night. Neither team ever led by double figures, and there were 29 lead changes and 14 ties.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau that was the most lead changes in a Suns game since 2009.

Davis had another productive game despite taking “a shot” to the ribs during the first quarter. He went to the locker room to get it wrapped, but quickly returned and shot 9 of 17 from the field. Davis said he wasn’t sure if he’d play against Golden State, which is a quick turnaround on Wednesday. The 6-foot10 forward said he would see how his body responded in the morning.

“I just want to play,” Davis said. “It’s tough for me to lead from the sideline.”

Phoenix’s Kelly Oubre Jr. had a rough night, scoring just one point in 19 minutes. He shot zero of 5 from the field, including zero of 4 from three-point range. The bad shooting night snapped a career-high streak of scoring in double figures for 22 consecutive games.

Trae Young scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the fourth quarter and added 11 assists to lead Atlanta past Denver, 125-121.

Young finished seven points shy of his career high set March

1, against Chicago last season. He was 13 of 21 from the field and finished 8 for 13 on 3-pointers.

Jabari Parker had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Alex Len scored 17 for the Hawks.

Will Barton led Denver with 21 points, Jokic had 20 and Paul Millsap added 19.

TJ Warren scored 11 of his 23 points in the third quarter to lead Indiana past Oklahoma City, 111-85. Malcolm Brogdon had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the surging Pacers, who have won seven of eight, including four straight.

Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points, Deonte Burton had 13 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 11 points and six rebounds for the Thunder, who have lost three of four and remained winless on the road.

Joel Embiid scored 27 points, including the go-ahead dunk with 13.2 seconds remaining, to lift Philadelphia over Cleveland, 98-97. Josh Richardson added 17 points and Ben Simmons had 15 for Philadelphia, which won despite missing 30 of 38 threepoint attempts.

Jordan Clarkson and Kevin Love each had 20 points to pace Cleveland. Collin Sexton added 18 points.

MEMPHIS, WISEMAN SEE ACTION 1 GAME, THEN IT’S BACK TO COURT J

AMES WISEMAN has one more game before heading back to court with his attorneys as they take on the NCAA in a highstakes battle to keep the 7-foot-1 freshman playing in what could be his only year with the Memphis Tigers, one that could prove costly for the university.

The nation’s top-rated recruit has been ruled likely ineligible by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits from Penny Hardaway—before the former National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star was hired as Memphis’ coach. But Wiseman has played two games under a temporary restraining order issued after his attorneys sued college sports’ governing body.

Wiseman has not said much, and after an 84-72 loss to No. 14 Oregon on Tuesday night, said repeatedly, “I can’t speak on it.”

The next step in this legal action comes Monday, two days after Memphis hosts Alcorn State on Saturday. Wiseman’s attorneys will be in a Tennessee chancery court before the same judge who granted the temporary restraining order.

This time they’ll be asking for an injunction allowing Wiseman to keep playing.

It is unclear how this will end.

Wiseman, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds against Oregon, could play the entire season as the case winds through the courts. There could be a settlement with the NCAA where Wiseman sits out a few games. Or when the dust settles, the NCAA could slap Memphis with violations, fines and sanctions for games Wiseman played in or even postseason bans.

The university is supporting his lawsuit even while named as a defendant. Both Memphis’ President Dr. M. David Rudd and athletic director Laird Veatch have made clear Wiseman will keep playing despite the NCAA’s rare statement it believes the freshman is “likely ineligible.”

“The university chose to play him and ultimately is

responsible for ensuring its student-athletes are eligible to play,” the NCAA wrote on Twitter while Wiseman played his first game under a court order.

Don Jackson, an Alabama-based attorney who has represented other student-athletes in NCAA eligibility cases, said Tuesday he’s happy to see a university decide state laws are superior to NCAA regulations. Jackson believes student-athletes are entitled to due process.

“Candidly, I’m thrilled to see this university take this approach,” Jackson said. “It would be gratifying if other universities had the guts to do the same. They don’t.”

Atty. Robert G. Johnson helped get then-Oklahoma State pitcher Andrew Oliver reinstated in 2009. Oliver also sued when ruled ineligible, and Johnson has studied Wiseman’s lawsuit.

“I’m 100 percent convinced there is no violation here,” Johnson said. “Backwards, forwards, upside down, however you look at it.” Wiseman’s lawsuit states that Hardaway disclosed he gave $11,500 in moving expenses to help the player’s family move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017—before Wiseman played at East High School as a junior for Hardaway.

The university said in a statement that Wiseman didn’t know about the money given to his family.

Hardaway was hired by his alma mater as head coach in March 2018. Wiseman committed to Memphis and Hardaway in November 2018, as the gem in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for Hardaway. The lawsuit says the NCAA declared Wiseman eligible in May after months of investigation.

Wiseman’s attorneys say the NCAA said Wiseman is ineligible because Hardaway is considered a booster after he made a $1-million donation to the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. So under NCAA guidelines for boosters, Hardaway’s 2017 gift to the player’s family was impermissible.

Atty. Michael L. Buckner believes the NCAA has a case, noting the governing body will get its first chance at Monday’s hearing to argue. The initial paperwork was filed late on a Friday afternoon with the temporary restraining order signed about an hour before Memphis tipped off against Illinois-Chicago.

Buckner said attorneys for the NCAA also could appeal or argue to move the case to federal court. The NCAA also could detail what led the organization to reverse its original decision on Wiseman’s eligibility.

“The NCAA is going to be divulging everything in order win this case,” Buckner said. “And are you sure you want all that stuff out there? Are you sure you want how coach helped out financially and probably other ways. That’s something people don’t understand. Once you get into a legal process, it’s not just going be one-sided. Your side is going to be exposed, as well.”

The risks include Wiseman’s chance to play college basketball and chase a national title while improving his future earnings.

As a virtual lock to be a top pick—if not the first pick—in next year’s NBA draft, Wiseman could leave after his freshman year.

Memphis faces potential NCAA sanctions that could impact the program long after Wiseman leaves, including postseason bans, which would affect future recruiting.

Jackson said the NCAA’s restitution rule was designed to punish schools and student-athletes to keep issues out of courts, often with discipline coming after a player has left campus.

Memphis and its fans know that only too well.

The NCAA vacated the Tigers’ record 2007-08 season after ruling Derrick Rose academically ineligible in a decision that came down after he concluded his lone season and was in the NBA. Memphis was ordered to take its national runner-up banner down from the rafters at the FedExForum and hide it away.

Memphis also had its 1985 Final Four appearance vacated. AP

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Business

Thursday, November 14, 2019

PFF head vows to stage more youth events

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Spo

ITH a big global brand expected to back the country’s professional football league in the next three years, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta vowed to come up with more programs that will benefit the age-group players in the future.

Araneta said the impending sponsorship of Qatar Airways to the Philippines Football League will allow the PFF to allot funds for a national Under-17 tournament starting next year.

“We want to start the Under-17 tournament next year,” he said, noting that the PFF had also begun holding a national Under-15 tournament this year that is now in its final stages.

“We really have a lot of football activities coming in and I want to see that this is being implemented properly. We are not neglecting players in the age-group level. In fact, we have been revitalizing our grassroots program to find more homegrown talents in the country.”

On top of the national Under-17 tournament, Araneta said the PFF will also hold Under-16 and Under-18 regional tournament for girls as part of its thrust to develop women’s football. The PFF chief hopes these tournaments will lead to improved performances for the age-group teams in international tournaments.

Araneta is seeking a fresh term as president in the PFF elections on November 29. He reportedly has the support of 25 of the 32 regional football association representatives when he announced his candidacy in Bacolod City, the hometown of presidential hopeful, Ricky Yanson.

In his eight years as the country’s top football executive, Araneta steered the country’s men and women’s national teams to its highest Fifa ranking. The PFF was also feted by the Asian Football Confederation three times for its grassroots programs.

Araneta is hopeful the entry of Qatar Airways will trigger more support from local companies to football.

PSC TO HOST UNDER-13 FOOTBALL TOURNEY

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HILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has announced plans for a new national football tournament for under-13 players to be held next year at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Ramirez said the tournament supports the “Football Para Sa Lahat” development program of the country’s various Football Associations (FAs).

He announced last Monday at the launch of the Luzon Cup football tournament for Under-12 players spearheaded by the Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa) and the Central Luzon Football Association (CLFA).

The Luzon Cup will be held from November 21 to 24 at the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex in San Jose, Tarlac. The Luzon Cup is supported by the Tarlac provincial

and local governments and the Department of Education.

Ramirez delighted the FAs and football enthusiasts present at the launch with his surprise announcement of a new national agegroup tourney, with the PSC chair expressing his gratitude for the FAs’ efforts to promote sports development in the regions.

He said the new tourney can feature the champions of the Nofa Cup, Mindanao Cup, and the coming Luzon Cup, age-group tournaments backed by the Nofa and its partner FAs. “We will offer Rizal Memorial Stadium for the national championship to add some support, para tuluy-tuloy na kayo,” Ramirez told the enthusiastic crowd. The PSC chair bared that he has a special affinity for football, as his grand daughter based in the US

competes at a high level for a spot in the US age-group teams.

Ramirez noted the Nofa’s efforts under its President Ricardo “Ricky” Yanson, Jr. to partner with other FAs throughout the country to replicate Nofa’s successful Football Para Sa Lahat development programs in the Visayas.

In cooperation with fellow football associations and football stakeholders, Nofa has been organizing tournaments for Under-12 and Under-13 boys, beginning with its own Bacolod-based Nofa Cup which has completed four successful editions since 2015.

In October, the Davao Central Football Association and Nofa successfully held the Mindanao Cup in Davao City for 16 Under-12 teams, with Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte in attendance.

Yanson thanked Ramirez, saying a new national age-group tourney in Manila will be the perfect cap-stone to the triangle of Bacolod, Davao, and Tarlac age-group tourneys put up by the FAs. “Our dream, through Football sa lahat, is to support more tournaments and activities for all age groups. We want more Filipinos to enjoy football,” said Yanson.

CLFA General Secretary Ed Flaminiano said the upcoming Luzon Cup is a significant development. “Malaking bagay ito para sa amin sa Central Luzon at sa buong Luzon dahil for the past three years, there have been no tournaments in Central Luzon,” said Flaminiano of the Luzon Cup, which is expecting 16 teams, including Mindanao Cup champion the Bukidnon Football Association team.

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez supports the “Football Para Sa Lahat” development program.

SOUTH SETS PACE T EAM South came away with a pair of lopsided victories and charged back in two matches to wrest a 4-2 lead over North in opening four-ball of The Duel-North versus South VI at Santa Elena Golf Club here on Wednesday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Multi-titled Tony Lascuña combined superbly with first-timer Nilo Salahog as they dominated Michael Bibat and Jun Bernis from start to finish to fashion out a 6&5 romp, while Rufino Bayron and Jhonnel Ababa posted a similar convincing 4&3 victory over James Lam and Fidel Concepcion to give the three-time champions an early cushion in the three-day tournament featuring the top players on the Order of Merit

Asean hoops 10th edition unfurls with 3-game sked

T TEAM South’s Tony Lascuña and Nilo Salahog have fun on the green. ROY DOMINGO

(OOM) ranking after the 10th Philippine Golf Tour season.

The Northerners, who upstaged their star-studded counterparts from the Visayas and Mindanao in the foursomes and four-ball on their way to scoring a three-point win at John Hay last year and cutting the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-sponsored series’ lead to 2-3, did fight back to draw level at two matches but Team South won the last two pairings to take charge in better-ball play.

“We dominated them,” said Lascuña, who hit four birdies inside 8 feet on Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 12 in ideal conditions in a solid team-up with Salahog, No. 11 in the OOM who delivered four birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 8 and 10 from 10 feet.

Down two matches, North struck back behind Justin Quiban and Eric Gallardo, who ripped Zanieboy Gialon and Jerson Balasabas, 4&2, and Keanu Jahns and Gerald Rosales, who crushed Jay Bayron and Reymon Jaraula, 3&2. But the Southerners of Coach

Charles Hong regained control as Elmer Salvador and Jaraula recovered from a shaky start to edge Ira Alido and Mars Pucay, 2&1, and Arnold Villacencio and Rene Menor won the last hole to complete a 2-up reversal over Jobim Carlos and Joenard Rates.

“Nothing really went wrong.

They just played so good,” said North Coach Cookie La’O, who will be switching players for new combinations in a bid to stir up play in the tough alternate shot format event of the country’s version of the Ryder Cup organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. “We changed up some teams for tomorrow’s [today] foursomes and hopefully we’ll be able to mount a comeback.”

Action is expected to heat up as play shifts to foursomes (alternate shot) today (Thursday) with Hong keeping his combinations intact and La’O testing three new team-ups in an attempt to gain momentum and confidence heading to the deciding 12 singles matches Friday.

Select NBA games air on CNN PHL

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HE National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday that select games will be available on national freeto-air channel CNN Philippines.

Beginning on Saturday, CNN Philippines will televise select games and feature highlights across their various news programs including Sports Desk and News Night.

“Weekends just got better with the return of live NBA games on national television through CNN Philippines,” NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson said.

“Filipino fans now have a choice of watching our games across a variety of platforms including television, computers and mobile devices via social media and NBA League Pass,” he added.

CNN Philippines is available on free-toair television on Channel 5 for Zamboanga, Channel 8 for Bacolod, Channel 9 for Manila, Cebu and Davao, and Channel 12 for Baguio.

Cable subscribers could check their local providers for more information on channel listing. NBA League Pass will deliver unrivalled access to NBA games and programming live and on-demand, while providing downloadable content, exclusive features and more. Fans in the Philippines could subscribe to League Pass offerings, including the annual package by visiting watch.nba.com and downloading the official NBA App on the App Store and Google Play.

Additionally, Globe, PLDT and Smart subscribers could bundle NBA League Pass offerings with their data services, which includes the League Pass, Team Choice and 3-Game Choice packages in monthly pricing options, and a weekly pricing offer for the League Pass package.

NBA League Pass offerings on Globe are available through its official store on Lazada and Shopee.

HE 10th season of the Asean Basketball League kicks off this weekend with a threegame schedule.

The Taipei Fubon Braves hosts Mikh McKinney and the Macau Black Bears for their ABL debut and also the league’s season opener on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Braves boast a lineup featuring National Basketball Association veterans OJ Mayo and Sim Bhullar along with local stars Lin Chih-Chieh, Tseng Wen-Ting and Joseph Lin. Charles Garcia will serve as the team’s third import.

Last season’s scoring champion McKinney will lead the Macau Black Bears, who signed two new imports—Kenny Manigault and Brandon Edwards.

The Taipei Fubon Braves will play for the second day in a row as they face the visiting Kuala Lumpur Dragons (formerly Westports Malaysia Dragons) at home. The game is scheduled at 4 p.m.

The Dragons brought in former Formosa Dreamer Will Artino for the season. He helped the Dreamers to the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs last season with averages of 20.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Veteran and ABL pioneer Loh Shee Fai will also be returning to the team.

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas will debut a retooled roster as the team faces Mono Vampire in Thailand on November 17 also at 4 p.m.

Alab will have a virtually new roster as Brandon Rosser and Lawrence Domingo are the only holdovers from the previous season.

Former ABL Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman was originally set to rejoin the team this season but had to return to Puerto Rico due to family matters.

Former Mono Vampire point guard Jason Brickman is also suiting up for Alab this season, his first time as a local.

He will be joined by local prospects Jeremiah Gray and Jordan Heading.

Mono Vampire have kept their core intact with Tyler Lamb, Freddie Lish, Moses Morgan, Chitchai Ananti and Mike Singletary returning to the squad.

orts

sMirror

Pole vaulters eye 1-2 finish in Games

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ILIPINO-AMERICANS Natalie Uy and Alyana Nicolas will be shooting for a 1-2 finish in women’s pole vault of the 30th Southeast Asian Games athletics competitions.

Uy and Nicolas are now in the United States in the final phase of their preparations for the SEA Games slated from November 30 to December 11, at the 20,000-seat New Clark City Athletics’ Stadium inside the sprawling 9,500-hectare complex.

“Natalie and Alyana are serious and hardworking athletes, who always want to improve and push the envelope,” Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Philip Juico said.

Juico said Uy is in Arkansas training under Sam Bell of the well-known Arkansas-based Bell Sports, while Nicolas is in San Jose, California, training under 1991 SEA Games gold medalist, Fil-Am pole vaulter, Edward Lasquete.

Uy first made waves in the country during the National Athletics Open in March at the Ilagan City Sports Complex, where she clinched the pole vault gold with a record 4.12 meters right in her first try to shatter an 11-year national women’s standard of 4.11 meters recorded by Deborah Samson at the 2008 California Regionals.

Nicolas grabbed the silver with 3.8 meters. A month later, Uy captured a bronze medal in the Asian Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar, where she reset her own Philippine record with her 4.20 meters behind Chinese star Li Ling’s 4.61 meters and Xu Hiquin’s 4.36 meters.

That was the same Asian tournament where Ernest John Obiena vaulted to the Philippines’ only gold medal with a leap 5.70.

In the coming SEA Games, the 24-year-old Uy wants to match her personal-best of 4.30 meters, which she tallied last year in Spain where she spent most of her training while waiting for her Filipino citizenship.

MORDIDO

QUIZON

Quizon, Mordido out to defend chess crowns

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ANIEL QUIZON and Kylen Joy Mordido will defend their titles in the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships set from December 9 to 16 December at the Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Batangas.

The tournament is organized by Saturnino Belen Jr. of Active Chess Center for Asia under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Holding the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships in the Philippines will give more opportunities for our talented juniors and girls to earn international chess titles,” Belen said.

Quizon earned his International Master title and a GM norm in last year’s Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championship in Gangneung, South Korea.

Mordido earned her Woman International Master title and a Woman GM norm after winning the girls division in the same tournament.

Expected to participate in Malvar are juniors and girls under-20 players from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and host Philippines. The tournament will be a 9-round Swiss System.

For registration inquiries and fee to join this international event, interested players may call Chief Organizer Ricky Navalta at 0917329-1150 and 0920-923-1150.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

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TIGERS IN FINALS B R R B

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ENZO SUBIDO hit a clutch three-pointer and University of Santo Tomas (UST) sent University of the Philippines (UP) packing with an epic 68-65 victory to advance to the Finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With a first-quarter cushion gone and UP gaining all the momentum it needed to possibly arrange a return trip to the championship series, Subido refused to let go and sank a cold-blooded triple over the outstretched arms of Bright Akhuetie with 23.6 seconds left to pull the Growling Tigers to a 66-65 lead.

The Fighting Maroons had their chances to either take the lead or force overtime, but both tries went off the mark as the España-based squad and half of the 18,543 fans in attendance turned to a frenzy.

Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Subido added 14 points built on four 3-pointers .

“That’s a good game. We have

SUPPORT UP FOR ATHLETES

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ASTERCARD is rallying for support for Filipino athletes competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting from November 30 to December 11.

Just like how it was done for the Australia Open and Rugby World Cup, Mastercard has signed up as an official sponsor of the SEA Games.

Through the partnership, Mastercard aims to elevate the SEA Games’ experience through a series of activities and promotions that will engage Filipino cardholders to support the country’s athletes and the Games.

Cardholders of a valid Philippineissued Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid card could enjoy 10 percent off when purchasing tickets with a minimum spend of P1,000 for the SEA Games through www.smtickets.com or at any official SM Tickets outlet.

to credit Coach Bo [Perasol] and his staff for the adjustments they made,” UST Head Coach Aldin Ayo said. “It was really a tough adjustment we tried to counter.”

Truly, the Growling Tigers had a solid start and sprung to an 18-6 lead in the first quarter.

But unlike in the first game where the Fighting Maroons were denied any shade of hope, UP uncorked an 11-4 rally which brought them to within 24-27 with three minutes left in the second quarter.

UP turned the tables around in the fourth quarter when Jun Manzo’s floater tied the count at 57 and Juan Gomez de Liano’s jumper made it a two-point lead for the Maroons.

Rhenz Abando’s fast-break lay-up brought UST to 63-65 with 1:07 left.

It didn’t help UP when the Maroons fell to consecutive turnovers—the first a shot-clock violation and the other Ricci Rivero’s five-second inbounds blunder. The Growling Tigers were quick to capitalize as Subido drained his crucial trey and Chabi Yo iced the game with two freethrows with 4.4 second remaining.

Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy scored 12 points, while Abando finished with 11 points as UST marched to its first Finals since Season 78 where it lost to Far Eastern University. Akhuetie had a team-high 16 points for the Fighting Maroons, who were denied a Finals rematch with the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Game One of the Finals is on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

LETRAN Coach Bonnie Tan admits he’s new to championship games.

Tan draws support from Letran alumni

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UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’s Rhenz Abando soars high to stop University of the Philippines’s Ricci Rivero.

NONIE REYES

Shooters target top spot in SEA Games T HE Philippine shooting team is hopeful of a big performance in the 30th Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by the Philippines after performing strongly in the recent 14th Asian Shooting Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) officials said they are satisfied with the results of the Doha meet, especially in men’s shotgun trap team competition.

Shotgun shooter Carlos Carag, who had the best score of 114 for the men’s trap, along with Hagen Topacio’s 113 and Eric Ang’s 110, resulted to a 337 total to finish seventh out of

the 14 Asian teams which competed.

It was a score that hit the best mark in Southeast Asia this year. Carag and Topacio met the minimum qualifying standard to qualify among the candidates for universality place in next year’s Tokyo Olympiad.

Jethro Dionisio, who was also seeking to meet the minimum quota score(MQS), was one shot short with his 111 effort.

Ang and Topacio already met the MQS in the Southeast Asian shooting or SEASA championships early this year in Jakarta.

Trap coach Fernando Mercado said that the men’s Trap team’s score is equivalent to the

gold medals in both the individual and team competition in the SEA Games.

The eight other Filipino shooters who competed in the Asian Championships were the rifle team of Olympic solidarity scholars Jayson Valdez and Amparo Acuña, Denise Basila and Sean Jayfred Ocampo; and the pistol team of Shanin Lyn Gonzales, Juliette Rose Arellano, Marcelo Gonzales and Angelo Michael Fernandez.

The team was headed by PNSA VP Irene Garcia along with rifle coach Julius Valdez, shotgun coach Fernando Mercado, pistol coach Susan Aguado and armorer Mario Dasalla.

ETRAN got everything it needed from the bench to steal Game One of the best-of-three Finals against defending champions San Beda University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament on Tuesday.

Bonnie Tan, who is in his first year as the Knights’ head coach, said he welcomed all hands he needed heading for the Finals.

Tan, also the team manager of Philippine Basketball Association team NorthPort, admitted that he needed help in his first time coaching in a Finals.

“I am not ashamed to tell my players that this is my first time coaching in a Finals game,” Tan said. “I got some encouraging words from some of my friends.”

So who were on hand to give Tan that helping hand?

Ginebra ace and the team’s General Manager LA Tenorio was on hand to give Tan the full support.

On hand were former Letran skipper Beau Belga, NorthPort Coach Pido Jarencio and ex-Letran Coach Jeff Napa. Count San Miguel Corp. Sports Director Alfrancis Chua in.

“We got some encouraging words from our friends that are legends and PBA players,” Tan said. “They all gave significant pointers in championship games like this.”

Letran court general Fran Yu made stellar plays in the crucial minutes of Game One. Tan said that Yu’s performance was greatly influenced by his staff, who are experienced point guards themselves.

“Actually, aside from LA [Tenorio], our [assistant] coaches are all point guards,” Tan said. “They we’re a great help.”

Ryniel Berlanga

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Sports BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 14, 2019

POLICE SEEK RACIST FANS IN UKRAINE SHAKHTAR’S Brazilian player Taison (right) reacts as he leaves the pitch after he was red-carded for his reaction on racial abuse, as Dynamo Kyiv Mykola Shaparenko (third from left) calms him down. AP

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HARKIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian police want to identify and find about 20 Dynamo Kyiv fans as part of an investigation into racist abuse directed at Shakhtar Donetsk player Taison.

The Brazilian midfielder left the field in tears after reacting to the abuse in Sunday’s game by showing an obscene gesture and kicking the ball in the direction of Dynamo’s fans.

The referee took the players off briefly and then gave Taison a red card for his reaction once the game resumed. World players’ union FIFPro and antidiscrimination campaigners have called for that card to be rescinded.

Police in the city of Kharkiv, where Shakhtar plays, said on Tuesday they have opened criminal proceedings on allegations of “violation of citizens’ equality” due to race, nationality, religion or disability. Taison, who has played eight times for Brazil, said on Instagram on Sunday he “will never stay quiet after seeing such an inhuman and despicable act.”

The Fare Network, which campaigns against discrimination in soccer, welcomed the police announcement and advised the Ukrainian soccer association to overturn Taison’s red card.

“We welcome the police investigation and await the outcomes of action by the criminal justice system in Ukraine.

But this should not exempt football authorities from doing their part,” Fare Spokesman Pavel Klymenko said. “The UAF should immediately rescind the red card given to Taison. And it goes without saying the UAF should apply strong measures against the perpetrators.”

FIFPro Spokesman Alex Duff said the organization had joined the Ukrainian players’ union in writing to the UAF “asking for Taison’s red card to be overturned.” FIFPro is also asking for an investigation into the fans’ behavior and how match officials handled the situation.

FIFPro launched a similar campaign in Italy in 2017 when Ghanaian player Sulley Muntari was red-carded in Italy for walking off the field in protest at racist abuse. The Italian soccer federation overturned a one-game ban for Muntari in that case.

The UAF said Monday it would issue a “fair verdict” on the case but hasn’t given a date for a disciplinary committee hearing.

The UAF also praised Dynamo players who supported Taison and tried to persuade fans to stop the abuse.

SON IN FINE FORM

IT has been a roller-coaster month so far for Son Heung-min but the Tottenham Hotspur forward reports for World Cup

qualification duty against Lebanon in good form as South Korea seeks a return to winning ways.

South Korea drew 0-0 in an almost empty stadium in North Korea last month to stay atop Group H on goal difference in the second round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Only the top team in each of the eight groups and the four best second-place teams progress to the next stage of Asian qualifying. There had been concerns in Seoul that Son could arrive for Thursday’s game in Beirut distracted by his involvement in a horrible ankle dislocation suffered by Andre Gomes in an English Premier League game against Everton on November 3.

Son, shown a red card—later overturned on appeal—for his tackle, was visibly distressed and offered counseling by Tottenham. However, three goals in his subsequent two games—two against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League and the other against Premier League rival Sheffield United last weekend—suggest that the 27-year-old Son is focused and on form.

“Son is looking good for his club, scoring in consecutive games and he is ready to show his quality against Lebanon,” South Korea Coach Paulo Bento said during the team’s training camp in Abu Dhabi. “We are preparing well for what should be a

Top teams in good shape for Euro qualifying climax COULD Cristiano Ronaldo fail to qualify for a major tournament? AP

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ITH the Netherlands missing out on Euro 2016 and Italy absent from the World Cup in 2018, some of Europe’s traditional soccer powers have surprisingly failed to advance to recent major international tournaments.

Don’t expect any big shocks when qualification for next year’s European Championship wraps up over the coming days.

Six teams—Belgium, Spain, Italy, Poland, Russia and Ukraine—have already booked their places in the tournament and the remaining 14 automatic qualifiers will be determined after the final group games.

World champion France, European champion Portugal, and heavyweights, such as Germany, England and the Netherlands are in good shape to finish in the top 2 in their respective groups, ensuring spots in the Europe-wide finals taking place in June and July. There are big opportunities for Europe’s so-called lesser soccer nations, too. Finland, for example, needs only to beat Liechtenstein to qualify for its first major tournament.

France, the World Cup winner last year, is tied on points with Turkey in Group H and will secure a top-2 finish by beating Moldova on Thursday. In case of an upset in that game in Paris, the French have another shot at qualification at Albania on Sunday.

Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, is guaranteed to advance in the defense of its title with wins over Lithuania at home and Luxembourg away—the bottom two teams in Group B. England needs one win from its final two games—at home to Montenegro on Thursday and away to Kosovo on Sunday—to top Group A. And in Group C, Germany and the Netherlands are tied on points and need a maximum of four points from their final two qualifiers. Both have to play Northern Ireland, which is three points behind in third place.

The last four qualifying spots for the 24-team Euros will be decided in the playoffs in March.

RONALDO’S CHALLENGE

COULD Cristiano Ronaldo fail to qualify for a major tournament?

UEFA would hate to see the Portugal star miss out, but his team has lacked a spark in qualifying and is eight points off Group B leader Ukraine. Portugal is favored to beat Lithuania on Thursday and Luxembourg on Sunday to secure second place.

Still, there’s little margin for error. Dropped points could allow Serbia to overtake, forcing Portugal into the playoffs.

ENGLAND LANDMARK

ENGLAND will be playing its 1,000th men’s international in the match against Montenegro and the occasion will be marked in a number of ways, including recognizing the notable contributions of former players and managers. Players will wear individual “legacy numbers” on their jerseys. England Manager Gareth Southgate is hoping a line can be drawn following scenes last month when his players were racially abused by some Bulgaria fans during England’s 6-0 win in Sofia. The game was stopped on two occasions by the referee. England’s match away to Montenegro in March was also marred by racist chanting toward England’s black players, notably Raheem Sterling.

“The players will want to move on, really,” Southgate said. “I think, for all of them, they dealt with it brilliantly and it would be wrong not to discuss it at all but I know that they want to get on with the football.” Kosovo, which was accepted as a member of UEFA and Fifa only in 2016, is third in the group and could secure automatic qualification with a win at the Czech Republic on Thursday and a draw against England.

FINALLY FINLAND?

FINLAND is the only Nordic team never to have qualified for a World Cup or a European Championship. That could all change this week.

The Finns are second in Group J, five points clear of both Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will join Italy in advancing to the finals with a win at home against last-placed Liechtenstein on Friday or if Bosnia fails to beat the Italians. Finland’s second chance, if needed, comes against Greece on Monday.

Finland is coached by a primary school teacher, Markku Kanerva, who led the country to a first ever European Under-21 Championship in 2009 and is impressing with the senior team a decade on. Teemu Pukki has seven goals in qualifying as the team looks to go further than it ever did with past greats such as Sami Hyypia and Jari Litmanen. AP

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tough game against a tough opponent. We know that we have to be focused against Lebanon.”

The South Koreans, aiming for a 10th successive World Cup appearance, have not forgotten a humiliating loss in Beirut in 2011.

Australia also returns to the site of past painful defeats. Despite scoring 15 goals in their first three games on the road to Qatar, the Socceroos could slide off top spot in Group B if there is a third successive loss to Jordan.

Coach Graham Arnold, who in charge during Australia’s loss to Jordan in January’s Asian Cup, is expecting another difficult game in Amman as the Socceroos bid for a fifth successive World Cup appearance.

“We know what their strengths are, and we know what their weaknesses are,” Arnold said. “We know that they’ll sit deep in a block and we’ve been working on that for the last three camps on how to break that type of game down.”

Asia’s other three representatives at the 2018 World Cup are also on course to progress to the next stage of qualification, although Iran needs to bounce back from a loss last month to Bahrain that ended its unbeaten run in World Cup Asian qualifiers that stretched back to 2012. AP

FIFA BANS PERUVIAN SOCCER OFFICIAL FOR LIFE

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ENEVA—A South American soccer official acquitted of racketeering in the United States has been banned for life

by Fifa for taking million-dollar bribes.

Fifa said on Tuesday its ethics committee judges found “overwhelming evidence” Manuel Burga got or was promised a total of $6.6 million in bribes linked to marketing deals for the Copa America and Copa Libertadores.

Fifa also fined Burga 1 million Swiss francs ($1 million).

Burga signed contracts as president of the Peruvian soccer federation that were used as evidence by American authorities to get guilty pleas and convictions from other senior officials at South American soccer body Conmebol.

He was cleared of a racketeering conspiracy charge in December 2017, days after Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil were found guilty by the same court. Burga had been detained in Peru for one year awaiting his transfer to the United States after a Department of Justice indictment was unsealed in December 2015.

After the criminal trial verdict was announced, Burga said he would go home to Peru and resume his career as a lawyer.

Almost two years later, Fifa ethics committee said Burga’s guilt in its investigation was “particularly serious” and he showed no awareness of wrongdoing “in spite of the overwhelming evidence against him.”

Fifa’s detailed verdict said Burga agreed to receive bribes of $400,000 for each of four Copa Libertadores competitions from 2010 to 2013, and a total of $5 million for four Copa America tournaments from 2015 to 2023.

In other Fifa ethics verdicts on Tuesday, two former Conmebol general secretaries from Argentina were each banned for life and fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1 million).

Eduardo Deluca held the CEO-like role from 1986 to 2011, and José Luis Meiszner succeeded him through 2015. Both were also indicted by American justice authorities in 2015.

More than 40 soccer and marketing officials, and commercial agencies have been indicted, convicted or made guilty pleas in the sprawling investigation centered in Brooklyn on people linked to international soccer and Fifa. More than $200 million has been forfeited to US authorities.

Some who pleaded guilty several years ago are still awaiting sentence. They include former Fifa Vice President Jeffrey Webb, a Georgia-based banker from the Cayman Islands. AP

God of radiant light

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EAR God, Your word is our peace. Give us the consolation of the spirit as we pray: God, come to our aid. Prosper Your Church’s efforts to advance unity, evangelization and ecumenism. Support efforts to end practices of abortion, promote pro-life movements and inspire us to reach out to women in unwanted or crisis pregnancies. Satisfy the needs of caregivers, protect the rights of those with mental illness, and give peace to all who suffer. May God bless us with peace, grant us restful slumber, and surround us with love and mercy, through Jesus our brother. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

ALL IN ANGSAI

A Tibetan youth sits at the base of a natural cave formation (clockwise); peaks reach toward the sky; Tibetan prayer flags are seen during a clear day; clouds hover over the mountainous landscape; a Tibetan woman attends to a child.

Life BusinessMirror

REELING: SINGING FOR LIFE: PAUL SORIANO’S ‘MAÑANITA’ IN TOKYO D4

Thursday, November 14, 2019

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PHOTOS: AP

D.O.T./TPB BRINGS TOGETHER THE PHILIPPINES’S BEST AT PHILIPPINE TRAVEL MART 2019

DRIVEN by its commitment to give domestic tourism a boost, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), took the lead in bringing together all 17 regions, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as part of its participation at the Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) 2019, to showcase and sell the best of each region’s tourism products under one venue.

Organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc., PTM is the longest-running travel trade exhibition in the Philippines, attracting more than 250 exhibitors and close to 50,000 visitors.

TPB’s support of the event aims to attract more domestic travelers through the promotion of the country’s rich culture, natural attractions, and products, while supporting a sustainable business environment socially equitable for local communities.

S.I.A. LAUNCHES TAITTINGER CHAMPAGNE IN FIRST CLASS

China aims to build its own Yellowstone on Tibetan plateau

By CHriStina LarSon & emiLy WanG The Associated Press

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INING, China—There’s a building boom on the Tibetan plateau, one of the world’s last remote places. Mountains long crowned by garlands of fluttering prayer flags are newly topped with sprawling steel power lines. At night, the illuminated signs of Sinopec gas stations cast a red glow over newly built highways.

Ringed by the world’s tallest mountain ranges, the region long known as “the rooftop of the world” is now in the crosshairs of China’s latest modernization push, marked by multiplying skyscrapers and expanding high-speed rail lines.

But there’s a difference: This time, the Chinese government wants to set limits on the region’s growth in order to implement its own version of one of the US’s proudest legacies—a national park system.

In August, policy-makers and scientists from China, the United States and other countries convened in Xining, capital of the country’s Qinghai province, to discuss China’s plans to create a unified system with clear standards for limiting development and

protecting ecosystems.

Zhu Chunquan, the China representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a Switzerland-based scientific group, notes that the country’s economy has boomed over the past 40 years. But priorities are now expanding to include conserving the country’s key natural resources.

“It’s quite urgent as soon as possible to identify the places, the ecosystems and other natural features” to protect, Zhu says.

Among other goals, China aims to build its own Yellowstone on the Tibetan plateau.

Zhu serves on an advisory committee providing input on the development of China’s nascent national park system, expected to be officially unveiled in 2020. Chinese officials also have visited US national parks, including Yellowstone and Yosemite, and sought input from varied organizations, including the Chicago-based Paulson Institute and the Nature Conservancy.

The ambition to create a unified park system represents “a new and serious effort to safeguard China’s biodiversity and natural heritage,” Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm says.

One of the first pilot parks will be in Qinghai, a vast region in western China abutting Tibet and sharing much of its cultural legacy. The area also is home to such iconic and threatened species as the snow leopard and Chinese mountain cat, and encompasses the headwaters of three of Asia’s great waterways: the Yangtze, Yellow and Mekong rivers.

“This is one of the most special regions in China, in the world,” says Lu Zhi, a Peking University conservation biologist who has worked in Qinghai for two decades.

While construction continues at a frenzied pace elsewhere on the Tibetan plateau, the government already has stopped issuing mining and hydropower permits in this region.

But a key question looms over the project: Can China marry the goals of conservation and tourism, while safeguarding the livelihoods and culture of the approximately 128,000 people who live within or near the park’s boundaries, many of them Tibetan?

“China has a dense population and a long history,” Zhu says. “One of the unique features of China’s

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Like January in November: Much of US braces for record lows CHICAGO—Air from Siberia—yes, Siberia—is heading toward a huge chunk of the United States and it could set record-low temperatures from Texas to New England.

National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Donofrio said Saturday that the weather service’s National Digital Forecast Database

indicates that some 200 records might fall between Monday and Wednesday.

For example, the Tuesday expected high of 23 degrees (-5 Celsius) at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport would be a full 5 degrees (3 degrees Celsius) lower than the record-low set in 1995, he said.

The cold front was expected to

move through the Upper Midwest and the northern Plains on Sunday, and then continue southward and eastward on Monday and Tuesday, sending temperatures plunging below freezing all the way south to the Gulf Coast. It will bring January-like temperatures to some locations that are as much as 30 degrees (17 degrees

Celsius) colder than normal for this time of year.

Donofrio said the leading edge of the system was expected to bring some snow last weekend and on Monday, Veterans Day. Although the snow was expected to taper off on Monday, temperatures are forecast to keep falling. AP

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) customers can now enjoy the exquisite taste of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne in First Class. Produced by the prestigious family-owned champagne house Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is produced only in the best years, composed exclusively of Chardonnay grown in five Grand Crus vineyards, and only first press wine (the cuvée) is used to give it absolute guarantee of quality. With strict criteria governing its production and a long maturation period of eight to 10 years, the bottles are not produced in large volumes, making it a rare and celebrated wine.

“Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is a refined, elegant vintage champagne with an impressive minerally finish.

Featuring this champagne is part of Singapore Airlines’ commitment to working closely with the best wineries in key regions around the world, such as Taittinger, to offer an increased variety of wines directly from the source,” said wine expert Jeannie Cho Lee. In selecting the champagne, SIA’s Wine Panel, comprising world-renowned wine experts Michael Hill-Smith, Cho Lee and Oz Clarke, conducted blind tastings of wines from many of the world’s most famous wine regions, before deciding upon Comtes de Champagne for its exceptional quality and taste.

Taittinger Deputy Managing Director Clovis Taittinger said: “We are extremely honored to accompany Singapore Airlines in their quest of perfection. We put lots of passion to make some of the best wines in the world and hope all SIA First Class passengers will enjoy their flights with our sophisticated and elegant wines.”

Each year, more than 350,000 bottles of champagne are served on SIA flights. Comtes de Champagne joins two prestige cuvées in First Class, Dom Pérignon and Krug Grand Cuvée, which continue to be well-received by customers.

Comtes de Champagne is being served on flights to Auckland, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, Melbourne, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo (Haneda) until February 2020, before being rotated to other routes.

Aside from the introduction of Comtes de Champagne, other upcoming First Class enhancements include special edition unisex amenity kits with a new series of the iconic crystal fishes from renowned luxury French crystal maker Lalique.

Next year, First Class customers can also look forward to an enhanced caviar service that will be expanded to more flights.

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Thursday, November 14, 2019

Entertaining BusinessMirror

Put down that takeout menu: Stir-fry basics for home cooks F

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Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Travis Barker, 44; Josh Duhamel, 47; Patrick Warburton, 55; Harland Williams, 57.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You’ll have a lot to think about this year. The changes that come your way will not turn out as expected. Practice moderation and avoid getting involved in ventures that you cannot afford emotionally, physically or financially. Question any offer that requires you to trust someone else to handle your personal or professional affairs. Your lucky numbers are 8, 14, 22, 28, 31, 33, 42.

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By Katie Workman The Associated Press

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look over documents carefully before you sign. Dealing with institutions will put you in a vulnerable position if you don’t have expert advice. Evaluate every aspect of whatever situation you face before you make a commitment. Personal changes are apparent. HHHH

OR every home cook happily tossing together a stir fry at home, there are a dozen would-be stir fryers wanting to make chicken-broccolisugar-snap-pea stir fry, and then sheepishly reaching for the takeout menu.

Stir-fry technique has many people intimidated.

But if you can slice and stir, you can stir fry.

So, let’s break it down, review the basics, and get everyone on their way to stir-fry success.

DIRECTIONS 1. READ THE RECIPE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. The ingredients, the steps, everything. Getting a sense of the order of events so you know what’s coming will make you more confident as you cook.

2. PREP ALL THE INGREDIENTS BEFORE YOU START COOKING. Stir-frying goes quickly, so make sure your ingredients are all cut and ready to roll. You don’t want to realize suddenly that you still need to mince the garlic that’s supposed to be sauteeing along with the broccoli.

3. MAKE SURE YOUR INGREDIENTS ARE OF SIMILAR SIZE. Most stir fries involve fairly small-cut ingredients added in stages, sometimes in batches, so everything ends up properly cooked at the same time. When chopping broccoli for instance, or cubing chicken, try and make all the pieces roughly the same size.

4. FEEL FREE TO SWAP OR SUBSTITUTE INGREDIENTS. If you want broccoli instead of sugar snap peas, great!

Again, just make sure the vegetables you sub in are cut comparably and have a similar density, therefore a similar cooking time. Or adjust the time as needed: Sliced carrots will need more cooking time than spinach, for instance, so add a few minutes to the cooking time, or add them earlier in the recipe. Cubed pork can be used in place of chicken, tofu can be swapped in for shrimp—most stir fries are flexible.

5. A SKILLET MAY BE BETTER THAN A SMALL WOK. The bowl-shaped pans sold as woks are not always the best answer for a home cook. Because there is a lot of sloped side area to a wok, there isn’t much flat bottom sitting directly on the heat. I like using a very large skillet, so the food in the pan is less crowded and gets a better distribution of heat. If you do want a wok, get a big one!

6. MAKE SURE THE PAN IS HOT. You need high heat to get the best flavor from the ingredients in a stir fry.

And you need the pan to be hot before the ingredients hit it, so they have a chance to sear a bit, locking in color and flavor.

7. COOK IN LAYERS AND BATCHES. The secret to great stir fries (and lots of other cooking methods, like frying and sautéing) is to not crowd the pan, and to leave the food alone between stirs. Giving individual pieces of food a chance to come in direct contact with the hot pan on a continuous basis is the difference between nicely browned pieces and a pile of steamed food. That’s why many stir-fry recipes call for cooking ingredients separately or in batches. And because stirfry food is cut small, cooking goes quickly. So doing it in stages and batches, and then combining it all at the end adds only a handful of extra minutes.

8. ADD THE SAUCE AT THE END. Only once your ingredients are cooked do you want to add any liquid.

Otherwise, you wouldn’t really be stir frying, but

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b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your past experience will pay off when it comes to your work and your relationship with your peers. Taking charge and making sure that things get done on time will result in an unexpected opportunity or unusual proposition. HH

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An emotional situation will have an impact on your relationship with someone. Take the time to listen to what’s being said and you’ll be able to bring about the changes that will enhance your relationship and enrich your life. HHHHH

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t feel you have to conform to the way other people do things. Use your imagination to come up with an idea that will take others by surprise and help you stand out from your peers. HHH

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you can dream it, you can become it. Change begins within and can turn your day into an exciting new start. Trust your instincts and believe in your ability to conquer your fears and achieve your goals. HHH

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t let what other people do bother you. If someone overreacts, give them space. Concentrate on the things you can accomplish. Get together with people who share common interests. Gathering information will help you improve your position. HHH

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Expand your mind; you’ll learn something that will help you get ahead. Short trips will lead to engaging conversations with people who can motivate you to try something new. A physical activity will lead to selfimprovement. Romance is encouraged. HHHHH

braising or poaching. A bit of cornstarch mixed into the sauce will allow it to thicken as it simmers.

9. MAKE SOME RICE. It’s nice to have something to soak up that sauce. Choose any kind of rice you like: white, brown, jasmine, basmati, whichever.

Noodles, especially Asian noodles, are another nice base for stir fries.

INGREDIENTS HERE are a handful of condiments called for in many Asian recipes. Once you get to know them, you can play with them like mad. n SOY SAUCE. Indispensable in Asian cooking (and interesting in non-Asian recipes, as well).

It packs a rich, salty taste, and is brewed from soybeans and wheat. You can choose regular or less-sodium soy sauce, and if there are gluten intolerances in your family, go for tamari, which is similar but without wheat. n SESAME OIL. Made from toasted sesame seeds, this oil has a nutlike and aromatic flavor. It’s often added at the end of cooking to preserve its wonderful flavor. It’s strong, so use in small amounts. Chili sesame oil is a nice way to add that sesame flavor and some heat at the same time. Keep it in the fridge to keep it from getting rancid. n HOISIN SAUCE. A thick, somewhat intense sauce made from ground soybeans and some kind of starch,

seasoned with red chilies and garlic. Vinegar, Chinese five-spice and sugar are also commonly added. n CHILI GARLIC SAUCE. Versatile, spicy and garlicky, as the name suggests. It’s got a slightly rough texture, and a dose of tanginess from vinegar. n OYSTER SAUCE. Made from oyster extracts combined with sugar, soy sauce, salt and thickeners.

This thick, dark brown sauce is a staple in Chinese family-style cooking. Another way to add saltiness and umami (savoriness) to stir fries. n FISH SAUCE (NAM PLA IN THAI). A basic ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisines, particularly Thai and Vietnamese. It has a pungent odor, but when used in cooking, the flavor is much milder. The aroma comes from the liquid given off by anchovies that have been salted or fermented. This is the kind of thing you might want to keep to yourself until your kids have eaten and enjoyed fish sauce in a recipe.

TWO ITEMS TO KEEP IN THE FRIDGE: n GINGER. Fresh ginger is one of the greatest ingredients in stir fries. Spicy, bracing, uplifting. It’s an easy way to add bang-for-your-buck flavor. n GARLIC. Usually finely minced, sometimes thinly sliced.

The base of garlic and ginger heated together in oil is a sign of a terrific stir fry in the making. n

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emotions will take over if you get into a conversation with someone regarding your responsibilities.

Look for an innovative way to deal with anyone questioning your abilities or what you are doing. HH

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Get together with old friends or relatives and share memories. You’ll discover something about your past that will change your point of view. An affectionate gesture will surprise you. HHHH CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Accept inevitable changes. Don’t give someone the wrong impression. Be willing to look at new data, concepts and suggestions, and figure out a way to incorporate what you are offered into your plans.

HHH

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your heart into whatever you are working toward; an opportunity will come your way. A physical change will encourage better health, greater confidence and compliments. Romance will enrich your life and lead to positive lifestyle changes. HHH

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Emotional manipulation will get you into trouble. Stick to the truth and question any information you are given that appears to be incomplete or unlikely.

Don’t share information that may be used against you or to take advantage of you. Protect passwords. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are inventive, outgoing and colorful.

You are determined and assertive.

‘subliminal messages’ BY DAVID ALFRED BYWATERS The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Critical ___ 5 Nascar driver 10 Touched down 14 Viking Ship Museum’s world capital 15 Now, in Spanish 16 Fabricated 17 Cap brim with a college logo?

20 November birthstone 21 Continent where Malala Yousafzai was born 22 Common shade tree 23 Canonized people, briefly 24 Messy BBQ item 27 Prolific Swiss mathematician 29 Vocalist hired to promote sports equipment?

33 Palindromic band or rhyme scheme 36 Computer classroom 37 Labor day worker 38 Like many WNBA players 39 You miss 100 percent of the ones you don’t take 42 Use yarn 43 Japanese metropolis 45 Art museum vase

6 Words of understanding 4 47 Puppies and kittens to choose between?

51 Masculine prefix 52 Be in debt 53 “Now it’s clear!”

56 Amusement 58 “___ on Down the Road” (The Wiz song) 60 Successors of francs 62 Prom garment in a pop-up?

66 Defraud 67 Small boat contents?

68 Poker fee 69 Eyelid affliction 70 Cosmetician Lauder 71 Like this Across answer DOWN 1 Water barriers 2 Fancy neckwear 3 Applies carelessly, with “on” 4 Word after “baking” or “diet” 5 Bash into 6 Tuna type 7 “Cola” lead-in 8 Wiped out

9 Part of a circle’s area formula 10 French friend 11 Sci-fi weaponry 12 Object of pagan worship 13 Long-___ project 18 Book after II Chronicles 19 Logically acceptable 25 Bad things 26 Dull 28 Fancy mushrooms 29 Like Kosovo and Montenegro 30 “What’s all this ___?”

31 Fashion designer Saab 32 Assign a PG-13 to, say 33 Mounted on 34 Part of a triangle’s area formula 35 Without subtlety 40 Wynken, Blynken and Nod, e.g.

41 *** precipitation 44 Certain viper 48 Red + yellow 49 Puzzling problems 50 Requirement 53 Bowl that can fit many dishwashers?

54 Radio show figures 55 Good thing

6 Little lies 5 57 Ton or teaspoon 59 Maryland, e.g., in Marseille 61 Eurasian river 63 ___ out a living 64 Thoroughfare: Abbr.

65 Alter the color of

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, November 14, 2019

D3

FROM left: Words from Mommy Grace on her daughter Gwyneth’s experience on SAM; Meagan with Teacher/Owner Michelle Enriquez during her SAM trial class; Words from Mommy Mildred on her daughter Nicole’s experience on SAM

Wonderful white Christmas at Diamond Hotel THE holidays have officially rolled in at Diamond Hotel Philippines (www.diamondhotel.com). At their recent annual Christmas tree lighting, attendees from all over could hardly contain their excitement to witness the glorious lighting of the white, whimsical, 25-foot Christmas tree at the hotel lobby.

For the event’s highly anticipated moment, guests of honor Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and his family joined Diamond Hotel General Manager Vanessa Ledesma-Suatengco at the podium for the ceremonial tree lighting. Kids from the Remedios Training Center, with their parents and guardians, joined the festivities. The Pansol Choir filled the air with Christmas carols as the event unfolded, while the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Co. transformed the lobby into a stage of motion and color with their zestful performances.

Over scrumptious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests were charmed with the magnificence of the hotel’s yuletide accoutrements, with the interiors festooned with snowy, rustic leaves, stylish ornaments of silver and gold, and reindeers reminiscent of glittering ice sculptures. The tree, in its splendor, was strung in white and gold finery, adorned with crystals and pearlized ornaments. This year’s classic color palette bears a symbolic desire for harmony and peace in the modern world, as well as value for inner lightness in a season that celebrates giving, reflection and selflessness.

True to the spirit of generosity, Diamond Hotel, which looks out from Roxas Boulevard to the famed Manila Bay, carries on with the tradition of choosing a charitable institution to support through Christmastime. Kanlungan ni Maria, a nonstock, nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding abandoned, sick and impoverished elderly, is this year’s beneficiary. Guests are invited to donate P300 to their cause and, in return, have their generosity honored with a Christmas ornament bearing their name at the Charity Trees at the lobby.

Can math learning be effectively ‘enriched’?

MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

J

UST a quick poll: Would you prefer the statement “The child is good in math” or “The child loves math.” When I was growing up, being good in math seemed an inborn trait. Conversely, if a student had difficulty in math, it seemed this weakness was set for life.

I still remember when I was in Grade 1, I was guided at home to get a brown cardboard to write the multiplication table from one to 10. Then I was taught to memorize it in Fukien. The sing-song melody made it more relaxing, but I still found it difficult when it reached “6” onwards. I also remember dreading word problems. I would rather memorize the form than analyze the problems. I was good in math if you look at my grades, but I cannot say I loved math.

In the summer of my second grade, I heard the school was going to offer advanced math classes for free. I quickly signed up. That year, I felt math was a breeze because the advanced knowledge gave me confidence. The concepts were not new, so I felt comfortable with the drills. I was also able to apply these concepts to word problems with less fear.

Unfortunately, because enrolment for this advanced math program was low, the school did not repeat it in the following years.

When I became a parent, I hoped for my kids to have a “relaxed” and enjoyable journey with math. I did not want them to develop an aversion by forcing them to do drills. When I taught numbers, I used dots first, not numeric symbols. For my firstborn, I did not see it necessary to enroll her to any enrichment classes. But in a traditional school environment, this is not necessarily an advisable route to take. I have shared my daughter’s difficult experience in past articles. In a nutshell, in first grade basic math skills and drills were already expected. My daughter not being prepared resulted in quite a stressful experience for Meagan. The teacher asked me if I was sending her to Kumon or enrichment classes, as most parents did.

I was lucky that a mom referred me to a Sakamoto

center. I was even luckier to have found a loving and patient math enrichment teacher, Mrs. Yao, for Meagan. Did Meagan “like” going to enrichment classes? To be honest, it was difficult to convince her.

But I knew math was a fundamental skill and I was aware that I was “late” in introducing the skill. And so I served as that constant disciplinarian/cheerleader for her to go. Today, at Grade 8, she is the MTAP representative of her school. More than that, she truly loves math.

For my son, I knew better. I knew math should be introduced early. I was lucky the Montessori school he went to was also a Kumon Center. Although the drills weren’t always the most fun to do, I was lucky that the teachers and Marcus’ nanny were great morale boosters for him. He started enrichment at 3.5 years old. The choice for Kumon was rooted in proximity and the teachers. His math school journey was quite relaxed. Later on, Marcus progressed to more problem-solving enrichment classes. I realize today that enrichment is preparation. Enrichment, when chosen correctly, can be playful and memorable for our kids. The key is finding the age- and skillappropriate program and a great teacher. I am lucky my kids have been with their math enrichment teacher for more than five years now. He spends time to know their interests from Pokémon characters to their favorite Lego collector series.

Today, there are so many programs to choose from.

One of the programs that was recently introduced to me is the SAM program. This is the world’s largest Singapore math enrichment program with over 190 centers in 18 countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and now the Philippines.

The program does not promote mastery by repetition and drills. Instead, they train mastery by developing skills, such as critical thinking, heuristics, logical reasoning, metacognition, modeling techniques and situational word problems.

They place huge emphasis on nonroutine word problems that require comprehension and thinking to answer. In addition, they incorporate games, toys and visualization techniques in teaching. As a result, students who used to dislike math have become quite attuned to mathematics.

They designed a comprehensive SAM training system to ensure that certified trainers deliver a quality learning experience for your child. Research has shown that early exposure to math concepts and skills will enhance your child’s confidence in math in later years. SAM’s holistic approach to mathematics

combines classroom learning and worksheets practice to give each child an early advantage in math.

In 2016, Enrich Asia Philippines Management Inc. brought in the program and opened their first franchise center in the Philippines. In a few years, they have grown to over 50 franchise centers nationwide. Meagan had a trial SAM class last October. Teacher Michelle Enriquez, the owner of the center, administered an assessment and discussed areas of improvement.

For more inquiries, you can contact Gail Perez at 0917-5826867 for the SAM center nearest you. n

FREE TALK ON BABY SIGN LANGUAGE, SLEEP TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS

TOP hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www. makatimed.net.ph) invites parents and parents-to-be to a free series of lay forums, titled “Pregnancy & Beyond.”

On November 16, participants can learn about Baby Sign Language, Baby Sleep Training, Baby Led Weaning, First Aid for Babies and Spotting Red Flags: Developmental Delays at the 8th Floor Auditorium Tower 2, Makati Medical Center.

MakatiMed’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been offering this series of lay forums with the Department of Pediatrics since 2010, to promote pre- and postnatal care, safe infant care practices, breastfeeding and pediatric development.

Aside from learning from the experts and a chance to socialize with other parents-to-be, attendees are treated to giveaways, product discounts, raffle prizes, and a hefty lunch.

Interested moms-to-be can contact 88888-999 local 3757 for inquiries and other details.

China aims to build its own Yellowstone on Tibetan plateau Continued from D1 national parks is that they have local people living either inside or nearby.”

Yellowstone is widely considered the world’s first national park. After it was created in 1872, the US government forced the Native Americans who lived in the area to resettle outside the park boundaries, in keeping with 19th-century notions of wilderness protection. But countries that establish park systems in the 21st century now must consider how best to include local populations in their planning.

China has previously undertaken vast resettlement programs to clear land for large infrastructure projects, such as Three Gorges Dam, which left many farmers in new homes without suitable agricultural fields or access to other livelihoods. But in developing the national parks, the government is giving conservation-related jobs to at least a swath of people living in the Qinghai pilot

park—called Sanjiangyuan—to stay and work on their land. The “One Family, One Ranger” program hires one person per family for 1,800 yuan a month ($255) to perform such tasks as collecting trash and monitoring for poaching.

Kunchok Jangtse is a Tibetan herder who earns money cleaning up rubbish through the program.

He has an additional volunteer position installing and maintaining motion-activated camera traps, which help scientists monitor endangered species in Qinghai. “Our religion is connected with wild animals, because wild animals have a consciousness and can feel love and compassion,” he says.

From his main work raising livestock and collecting caterpillar fungus for folk medicines, Kunchok Jangtse says he can make about 20,000 yuan ($2,830) annually. He is grateful for the additional income from the ranger program, but hopes his main livelihood won’t be impeded—and that he won’t eventually be forced to leave.

“I’m not a highly educated person, and I am very concerned it may bring many difficulties in my life if I would switch my job and move to another place,” he says. The creation of protected areas is not a new idea in China. In fact, roughly 15 percent of the country’s land already is assigned to a bewildering patchwork of local and regional parks. But many existing reserves are simply parks on paper, run by various agencies without enforceable guidelines.

In contrast, the national parks system is being designed from the ground-up to incorporate global best practices and new science.

Ouyang Zhiyun, deputy director at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Research Center for EcoEnvironmental Sciences, was the lead scientist for a recent sweeping National Ecosystems Assessment that used 20,000 satellite images and 100,000 field surveys to examine how China’s land changed between 2000 and 2010.

Now Ouyang is drawing upon that work to map

priority areas for conservation and advise park planners, focusing on habitats of endangered species that live only in China.

“If we lose it here, it’s gone,” he says.

The first parks to be formally incorporated into China’s national park system will showcase the country’s vast and varied landscapes and ecosystems—from the granite and sandstone cliffs of Wuyishan in eastern China, to the lush forests of southwestern Sichuan province, home to giant pandas, to the boreal forests of northeastern China, where endangered Siberian tigers roam.

When it comes to ecology, few countries have more to lose, or to save, than China.

“A huge country like China, literally determines the fate of species,” says Duke University’s Pimm. n Larson reported from Xining and Beijing, and Wang reported from Xining and Angsai. AP video producer Olivia Zhang contributed to this story.

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Show BusinessMirror

Thursday, November 14, 2019

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‘Kings of Reality Shows’ depicts Ariel Villasanta as struggling artist

BELA PADILLA as Edilberta in Paul Soriano’s Mañanita

By Leony r. GarCia TV and comedy show addicts would surely remember comedians Ariel Villasanta and Maverick Relova of the defunct comedy duo Ariel and Maverick. The wacky tandem, famous for their stylish get-ups and oversized accessories, tickled people’s funny bones in such comedy-reality TV shows as Totoo TV and The Misadventures of Maverick and Ariel.

Ariel recently surprised the entertainment press when he appeared before them minus Maverick to promote their movie, Kings of Reality Shows, which was filmed 10 years ago. Initially titled First Ever Ever Movie Hollywood or Else (Ang Pinakamahabang Title ng Movie sa Balat ng Lupa), the movie finally hits cinemas in November 27 after getting shelved while it was in its final stretch of filming.

“Where is Maverick?” was the big question of the day. Ariel said his partner has intentionally turned his back on showbiz and even on their friendship. Ariel said: “Let’s give him some more time. Maybe he’ll come back soon, or at least show himself to me. I’m not closing on our friendship.”

Aside from comedy TV shows with Maverick, Ariel also made movies via Joaquin Bordado (2008) and Alyas Batman en Robin (1991).

The cousin of TV host-comedian Joey de Leon, he also starred with his mother, Elvie Villasanta (who died in February 2013), in Mommy Elvie’s Problematic Show and Mommy Elvie @ 18.

Ariel said he has no words for why his last movie with Maverick was not released, but he decided to push through with the film of his original concept, despite lacking in funds. He said he asked financial help from big personalities so that he could buy the rights to Kings of Reality Shows from GMA Films. He acknowledged the great help of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Sen. Bato de la Rosa, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, Rep. Strike Revilla and (wife) Chaye Cabal-Revilla, Raffy Tulfo, Mocha Uson, Joey de Leon, Coco Martin, Regine Tolentino, Jose Manalo, Empoy Marquez, Jasmine Trias, Suzette Ranillo, Cristina Decena (Ariel’s ex-wife), and the late Eddie Garcia and German “Kuya Germs” Moreno. They, too, appear as themselves in the movie, according to Ariel.

Kings of Reality Shows is the first reality movie in the Philippines that documents Ariel and Maverick’s journey to the US 10 years ago, while they were trying to audition for American Idol Season 7. Since the film was canned, Ariel picked up the story where it left off and proceeded to write his true-to-life story.

“It’s about a struggling artist, which is me, who did everything to the point of asking financial help from several personalities. I had to make loans with my house as collateral to finish this movie. This is dedicated to my mommy Elvie and all struggling artists,” said Ariel.

Produced, written and directed by Ariel, Kings of Reality Shows starring Ariel and Maverick is released under Solar Films and Lion’s Faith Production.

“What I like about the story is it’s not your typical scripted movie that requires one to memorize the lines. This one is very spontaneous,” said Ariel.

Ariel said he is playing his last card for this movie: “Whatever happens, I will be thankful. I don’t want to regret later. Ayokong dumating ’yung araw na nasa wheelchair na ako, sasabihin ko: ‘Bakit di ko sinubukan o lumaban?’ So I hope moviegoers would spare the time to watch it.”

JENIFFER MARAVILLA and Jeremiah Tiangco

Singing for life: Paul Soriano’s ‘Mañanita’ in Tokyo REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

The credits started to roll to no music. From the audience there was only silence. I know that the Japanese, as an audience, can be polite, but I have also witnessed walkouts (Akira Kurosawa’s Rhapsody in August screening in the venerable Iwanami Hall for the �irst time comes to mind). But here, I was in EX Theater in Roppongi, Tokyo, for the world premiere of Paul Soriano’s Mañanita and savoring the silence around me.

As soon as the last name disappeared from the screen and the screen had turned blank and black, a wave of applause came onto the hall. It was a huge applause and the questions that came a�ter it would prove the wild appeal of the Philippine entry to the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival.

T

HE film Mañanita opens with a windswept vista of rolling hills, each mound covered by grasses and shrubs, disturbed every now and then by old forests. The view is pastoral and calm. Then the camera moves to a profile of a person, who turns out to be a young woman.

She is on her st0mach and is holding a gun. She is a sniper aiming at a target who is in a hut farther down. It is early morning, and a lamp is the only light distinguishing the tiny home from the ground and the grass. Slowly, as the sun comes out, we see the man in the house moving with an old gas lamp glowing within. He steps out and the woman, her face up close, tightens her grip around the gun. She aims at the man, and the camera goes closer to her face. It is an attractive face, but one marred by long exposure to the sun and the night—she looks ragged. There is also a slash of scars on one side of her face.

The woman is Edilberta and she works with the government.

The next scene implies she is not with the government anymore. She has ceased to be a sniper or an assassin.

She has become an alcoholic. The work has traumatized her into a habit of drinking, getting drunk and—all tensed up—always ready to burst into anger or flame. She picks a fight easily and whenever

a man tries to pick her up, she shows the other side of face with all the keloids and scars of an ugly job.

It seems nothing good is going to come out of her, but Edilberta persists on working. On one of those nights, she receives a call. Someone out there needs her. The money is good and the feeling of revenge, now all welled up, is the sweetest inspiration for Edilberta to make the long journey.

Mañanita, as the title of the film, does not refer to killing or vengeance. It is a song that became popular among what were called then as “Cursillistas,” members of a Catholic movement who would serenade their member celebrating their birthday.

Sung after midnight of the early morning, the song was aimed at waking up the celebrant and being reminded of the dawn as the sign of hope and new life.

Mañanita in this film is, however, more about the pioneering practice of policemen in a village in Davao where they serenade the drug lords or drug users so that they may have a change of heart and surrender.

It was an act too good to be true but it was done, a version of the more the dangerous tokhang. With the latter, authorities knock (katok) on the door and demand the surrender of anyone.

Songs abound in the film, so-called folk songs and Filipino folk-rock music, constantly play in the background. The lyrics are counterpoint commentaries on the events transpiring onscreen.

The songs are caustic not so much of what they say, but of what they cannot say about the imagery on the screen.

It is rare for a Filipino film to express its story through gaps and silences. But Mañanita is able to accomplish this through a narrative told mainly by a silent camera, rather than talkative dialogues.

Fissured, the actions of the individuals in the film matter as they make us wait for a resolution or a closure that never comes.

What will she do? What will happen to her?

The answer that comes closest to a finality comes by way of a call. The person Edilberta is obsessed with has been found.

It is when Edilberta receives a call asking her to make the long journey that the noise and chaos of the city gradually ease. In a shot under a lamppost, Edilberta waits for the cab, which takes her to the bus. From that bus terminal, she starts her search for the terminus of something she only knows. She does reach an isolated place, secures weapons and meets up with a contact. She walks and walks, and yet, she seems not to reach a place. Not even when she gets a lodging place. Not even when she encounters a leader

Top 12 ‘The Clash’ finalists bared AFTER a series of dramatic eliminations and surprising twists, GMA’s original musical competition The Clash has announced its top 12 finalists.

All set to prove they are worthy of their finalist seats are: Al Fritz (Cavite), Aljon Gutierrez (Oriental Mindoro), Antonette Tismo (Parañaque), Clark Serafin (Cebu), Janina Gonzales (Parañaque), Jeniffer Maravilla (Malabon), (Cavite), Lorraine Galvez (La Union), Nef Medina (Cavite), Sassa Dagdag (Pampanga), Thea Astley (Qatar)

and Tombi Romulo (Cavite).

The finalists have been battling it out for weeks, but The Clash Panel—composed of vocal powerhouse Lani Misalucha, balladeer Christian Bautista and top comedian Ai-Ai de las Alas—are looking forward to fiercer musical face-offs as the competition progresses.

“It’s actually very exciting because now that the competition is becoming more intense, even viewers are having a hard time choosing among the Clashers. All of them are very determined to win and they

have what it takes, we can see that. So we’re looking forward to seeing a lot more from them,” shared Lani.

“We’ve got a good set of top 12 finalists. All of them are very talented and we’ve seen them give outstanding performances, but at the end of the day, this is a competition and they have to show us more to make it all the way to the end,” said Christian.

For Ai-Ai, this is the beginning of their “real” fight, “Exciting lalo ang show dahil eto na ’yung totoong laban. Habang

kumokonti sila, dapat mas ibigay pa nila ’yung best nila. Tsaka marami pa silang twists na aabangan, pati mga viewers natin, kaya ’wag silang bibitaw sa The Clash.”

The Clash is hosted by Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose, together with Journey Hosts Rita Daniela and Ken Chan.

Under the helm of director Louie Ignacio, the journey of each Clasher unfolds on prime time every Saturday after Daddy’s Gurl, and every Sunday after Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko on GMA.

of a cult. Nothing makes sense of Edilberta and, yet, we are interested in her. What makes us stay with this troubled and lonely woman is her intensity and focus, of which we are shown at the beginning.

Film readers may be tempted to call this film inaccessible. It is this inaccessibility, however, that regains the point for a film that threatens first to be an action film. As it turns out, Mañanita has deeper, inner actions. It is also easy to describe the film as a character study, but this belies the other elements in the film—the hills and dales captured by a majestic camera work and, as stated, the music landscape credited to Len Calvo, Mikko Quizon and Emerson Texon.

Making possible this interiority is this actress named Bela Padilla. She stares out onto us and we can almost hear her voice. Her presence is one that lingers. It is as if she is confronting a world of confessionals. It has been a long time that I have seen a film whose narrative is told keenly through the camera and by a person who is not afraid to be afraid of the assault of cinema and its varied lenses.

Gifted with a beautiful face, the kind that calls attention to skin and cheekbones and allure, Padilla loses her physical beauty as an ex-deal with the beauty of her physicality. She runs and stops, tired and exasperated it seems of herself. She allows herself to be seductive, but she also allows her admirer to see the ugly side of her face. It is said her scars, which have become keloids, hurt when she is under stress, but whatever pains Padilla manifests for her character, they are pains deeper than any scar can inflict or remind.

We always say the camera has fallen in love with the beauty of an actress when the cinematographer spends long minutes on her face. In Mañanita, the camera (or the director of photography) appears to tell us that a crucial part of the plot of this film is in the mouth, eyes, those furtive gestures of a brave, young actress named Bela Padilla.

As for the filmmaker, let me say this that, with due respect to the many films he has done, Soriano is the greatest discovery for this year in Philippine cinema. He is not scared to be inaccessible because he knows he can tie all these loose ends. And what a tying up! Toward the end, the Edilberta of Padilla changes her mind, but we know her life will always be interminable. Soriano offers us a rare film where there are no preconditions for winning, no promise of a happy ending. Soriano, thus gives us an ending that will make us happy because life, as always, is a boundless universe of hits and misses and one cinema concedes to honor that.

This serious, intense kind of filmmaking is what we can see in Mañanita, a film not of mornings, but of evenings that cannot recognize dawns. Bleak and pensive, some Japanese journalists during the world premiere of the film called it fukai, or deep.

I don’t know if we can gather thousands of moviegoers in this country to watch a film with depth. In Tokyo that night, there were obviously converts to the Paul Soriano school of directing, from a country that has developed fandoms for Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz. Interestingly, the screenplay of Mañanita is credited to Diaz and Soriano.

Ronnie Lazaro is in a very short, but memorable, role as a cult leader. Lazaro is deranged and we feel that even when he speaks of all the good values in life.

Mañanita is produced by Ten17P and Viva Films. It was the film in competition in the recently concluded Tokyo International Film Festival. n

Envoys&Expats

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, November 14, 2019 E1

Czech marks sweet spot in trade, commerce

T

By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

HE Philippines and the Czech Republic have established solid ties and friendships since the 18th century, which started with the unique bond between Dr. Jose Rizal and Prof.

Ferdinand Blumentritt.

Today, these links are even bolstered by brisk economic, trade and commercial activities, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Embassy of the Czech Republic’s Trade Counselor Benjamin Ziga.

According to Ziga, his country’s embassy in Manila “continuously strives to improve, enhance and, most important, enrich our bilateral relations.” He noted that historically, the two countries have a deeper connection than one would think, although a huge, continental divide spans both.

The Czech Embassy official stated that in recent years, there was an observable intensity in economic and

trade cooperation shared by the two countries, “with tangible results.”

Below is a recent exchange between the BusinessMirror and the affable gentleman from the Czech Republic: ENVOYS&EXPATS: Please give a brief intro of the Czech Republic’s engagement with the Philippines in recent years.

ZIGA: On the government-togovernment front, we see many positive steps within the range of bilateral agreements that have been signed in the past few years.

Economic and defense cooperation pacts formalized in 2017

have already entered into force, creating an official engagement platform to discuss specific trade and defense-cooperation matters.

Both these documents provided structures for joint economic and defense committees that both took place in Prague this year. There were undersecretaries from the departments of trade and industry, as well as national defense who led delegations to the Czech Republic, and these manifest our mutual striving for deeper relations.

Currently, a few more agreements and memoranda are being discussed with respective departments. These are the very documents and processes that help propel our relationship toward new horizons on the economic, social and political level.

In the past three years, we also witnessed the entry of significant products from the Czech Republic, such as lager-type beer brands from southwestern Bohemia that are available around the islands, or even tractors that are currently being promoted to farmers around the Philippines.

There are activities furthering development cooperation that are very important to us. We have wit-

nessed many successful projects that utilized the instruments available from the Czech government.

For example, there were visits from our experts on diary development and implementation, installations of water-treatment plants, and humanitarian aid allocated for resilient housing around the Philippines.

The recent years have also seen the largest increase of Filipinos traveling to the Czech Republic not only as tourists, but also for employment.

As a response, our government was able to open our labor market to more than 1,000 Filipinos yearly through programs aimed at increasing the employment of Filipino nationals.

We still remain strong also on the cultural front, with movie screenings and book translations that bring closer our cultural commonalities.

We noticed that the embassy is putting more focus on trade and business during Ambassador Jana Šedivá’s current post, in contrast to her predecessor Jaroslav Olsa’s term, where there were more efforts in cultural exchanges seen. Is this observation accurate?

I think that observation really

depends on the [observer]. As an economic and trade counselor, my agenda is mainly to focus on the business side of our involvement.

However, our culture-sharing efforts are still going strong.

Besides our literary efforts, there are also Czech movies being played in the Philippines. This year, we will fly in a music band from the Czech Republic.

At the same time, there is no doubt that modern economic diplomacy is playing a more important role in today’s bilateral engagements, and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects that in a positive and adequate manner.

Our embassy has grown considerably in the past three years, so you can see that our efforts are being more spread out, and, perhaps, some of the trade and business projects are being more visible. Her Excellency Jana Šedivá is an experienced diplomat, who understands the importance of striking the balance and utilizing the combined effects of culture, business development, as well as consular aspects on our bilateral relations with the Philippines.

We fully understand that Filipinos are a very cultural people with

strong business communities. As a matter of fact, I believe they will see more events and activities that will combine the cultural, as well as business relations together, which is part of our modern diplomacy.

The embassy recently organized an information, communications and technology (ICT/IT) forum with local industry stakeholders. Please share with us why the Czech Republic is concentrating its efforts in that area, and your thoughts on the response from the Philippine side.

The Czech Republic is considered as one of the countries in Europe that has a thriving IT sector due to its highly developed infrastructure, advanced technologies and strong drive to improve the sector. Through the conference, we aimed to open doors for better cooperation with the Philippines, which also has a booming IT sector, and is expected to have a fast-paced growth, as well as development. This, as local and foreign investors enhance their businesses to create more technological innovations. (See related story.)

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, November 14, 2019

CZECH TECH

‘ICT:’ Investing in Czech technologies

T

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

@brownindio

from a major software company, he revealed, suggested to work closer with local partners to get the feel of the Philippine market.

“Definitely, there’s a lot to be done [in building] the network. We have to do it, because the market is big,” were his thoughts.

HE Czech Republic is recognized as one of Europe’s top sites for information and communications technology (ICT/IT) investments, as manifested by the influx of high-value projects from the world’s top companies.

Further, the Central European country also puts a premium on its ICT sector by allocating a significant amount of its gross domestic product to related expenditures.

Currently, the country known as “Czechia” is keen on promoting its technologies to the Philippine market by offering great potential, since it is embarking on beefing up and modernizing its infrastructure.

In a recent group interview with the BusinessMirror on the sidelines of the “Czech Connect 2019: Bridging the Czech and Philippine IT sector,” officials from ICT firms, such as Kentico Software, Y Soft Corp., Avast by Kaizen Internetworking, Flowmon Networks and Adastra Business Consulting (Adastra) expressed their optimism that local industries will adopt Czech ICT products and services to improve operations.

ICT: Big business

“FOR us, it is very positive. We came here originally working with [a financial technology (fintech) firm]. Since then, [a major commercial bank] has become a big client for us. We have five engagements with them, and we’re looking substantially for more of that. We hope to close five big targets within this year,” Adastra Director of Business Development Daniel Geller said.

“The great part about digitization and automation is that all financial institutions in the country are accepting them. They know they cannot do things the traditional way.

That will lead down to minimization of their operations. You have all these fintechs chewing their way on the edges of the banks, and they know it is a matter of time before it is all gone,” Geller added.

He said the banks will need Adastra’s business solutions to face the challenges of digitization and “avoid extinction.”

For their part, Avast President Mark Campos explained that priority is to convert their free users to premium accounts to grow the business, then venture into corporate accounts. He said Avast is currently working with resellers to win enterprise-type clients.

Y Soft Corp. Managing Director Adam O’Neill pointed out that capitalizing on the demand for network security and government IT infrastructure of the Philippines will be very interesting for his company: “We will be in those areas for the next 12 months.”

Meanwhile, Country Manager Lubos Milan stated that Flowmon is “extremely positive” in the country’s business environment, as partners are ready to pursue projects for the government and

New wave of 4IR

PANEL discussion with Czech IT companies

OFFICIALS from the Embassy of the Czech Republic led by Ambassador Jana Šedivá (third from left) and Trade Counselor Benjamin Ziga (right)

the private sector.

“We are currently investing our time educating our current partners and providing them support,”

Milan said. He added that, while demand for IT services in the country is huge, Flowmon is capable of delivering to clients.

As Milan furthered, Flowmon is also preparing micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to shift into using the service-provider model designed to give more flexibility and efficiency With 99.6 percent of registered local businesses belonging to the MSME category, Milan is excited about the prospect of the market’s huge size.

“It is practically an inclusion strategy, and [Flowmon wants] all of them in,” he explained.

The country manager added that organizations could offer managed-provision services, or those that don’t require them to get additional technical people to manage or administer their operations. “To address the overwhelming demand in the Asean region, we made Manila as our regional center,” he pointed out.

Kentico Software Territory Sales Manager Nicholas Tan feels the need to engage clients and build the network in the Philippines to get a bigger share of the market. A partner

THE five companies introduced cutting-edge technologies to the Philippine market and met representatives of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and from the Philippine IT sector who shared perspectives on the current local IT situation.

The gathering was filled with presentations of companies who discussed the technologies they offer that can aid in better marketing and user engagement, increase smart businesses and employee empowerment through productivity and creativity, general security and network securities, and operative consultancy that assists companies—primarily financial institutions—in their digitization process.

In her remarks to open the event, Ambassador Jana Šedivá noted, “With the combined efforts of the Czech Republic and the Philippines, I believe, together, we can overcome barriers, adapt to the new wave of the Industrial Revolution, and adopt the innovations into further enhancing our businesses and economies.”

Through the conference, the Czech Republic aimed to open the door for better cooperation with the Philippines which also has a booming IT sector, and is expected to exhibit a fast-paced growth and development, as local and foreign investors enhance their businesses to create more technological innovations.

Czech marks sweet spot in trade, commerce Continued from E1

With the aim to bridge the link between the two countries, this conference brought five Czech companies that presented their products and services to the Philippine IT sector in response to the growing demand for innovation and connection.

The response of the local companies has been great. Many connections were made, and some even led to concrete projects. We are constantly being asked for details of the next edition of the Czech Connect. I’m rather confident that this conference will come back to Manila in greater size in 2020.

Aside from ICT, where are the areas of interest or focus in trade relations between our countries? How is the Joint Economic Committee progressing?

Allow me to start with some numbers. With the bilateral trade between the Czech Republic and the Philippines since 2015, it would be difficult to miss the steadily rising imports that cause the current negative trade balance between our nations. The imports from 2015 to 2019 increased by almost $195 million—a staggering 77-percent growth, which reached $444 million!

Unfortunately, the export numbers are fluctuating around $110 million. In 2018, the Philippines became the 52nd-largest partner

of the Czech Republic in terms of overall trade turnover. In this regard, I’m pleased to report that your country is positioned higher than Indonesia. I’m happy to see that there is an increase of the typical products and services that are reaching the shores of Philippines.

It would be interesting to note that many top Manila hotels are decorated with Czech chandeliers and custom glass installations.

Hydropower turbines are being delivered to large Filipino energy companies as a source of renewable energy. Major hospitals are using medical beds or incubators that were produced by Czech companies. Czech muesli biscuits are on the shelves of popular supermarkets. Of course, I’m always happy to see that our lager beers are being poured around the popular restaurants and bars.

In terms of services, Czech companies consult their counterparts in transportation, microfinance and aviation. We continue our activities in water-treatment technologies that have a huge potential especially for the distant communities.

The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) continues to identify more sectors, and we are looking forward to the next meeting in Manila.

Some Philippine government officials traveled recently to the Czech Republic. Please tell us about that engagement.

We can have a look at the recent travels based on the documents I mentioned above. In terms of the Agreement on Defense Cooperation, our journey from signing of the agreement in 2017 is already paved with many positive interactions. Czech companies had a robust presence at the 2018 Asian Defense, Security and Crisis Management Conference in Manila. Undersecretary Raymundo Elefante also visited the Czech Republic’s Future Forces Forum.

Of course, we have recently concluded the inaugural Joint Defense Committee in Prague, led by the Undersecretary for National Defense Cardozo M. Luna. In the summer of 2019, the largest city in the Czech Republic, Brno, hosted the famous International Defense Fair, or IDET, 2019, which was attended by a delegation from the Philippines.

In terms of the JEC, we were happy to host it in the Czech Republic. For the first time, delegates from our countries met in Prague to discuss strengthening cooperation in trade and other related areas, such as investments, agriculture, transportation and environment, among others. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vladimír Bärtl and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo headed the JEC that took place on March 29, in Prague.

Kindly describe how you started with your work with

the embassy in the Philippines.

Observing the robust growth of the Philippine economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic decided to strengthen the economic and trade section of our embassy in Manila in 2016, with the aim of providing better assistance to companies and investors. Bringing in additional personnel would help to conduct development and economic projects.

Between 2014 and 2016, I served as an economic and development diplomat at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Kabul, Afghanistan. As my tour of duty was ending in this challenging yet very interesting post, I was offered to join the team in Manila and took on the newly created position.

To be honest, it was rather an easy decision, as I viewed the Philippines as a natural step in my early career. I wanted to stay in Asia and continue to strengthen the relations of the Czech Republic beyond the traditional markets, such as the European Union.

After three years in the Philippines, I do not regret this decision for a second. I met great people, learned about the region and, of course, experienced its beautiful nature. All these are worth the challenges.

Tell us about your stay in the Philippines so far. What have you grown fond of during your stint here?

THE Embassy of the Czech Republic’s Trade Counselor Benjamin Ziga: Modern economic diplomacy is playing a more important role in today’s bilateral engagements.

I think many diplomats or expats here will agree with me that the amount of positive energy is unbelievable. It is from the everyday walk when you are greeted by the wide smiles of the doormen, to our engagements with businessman that are eager to know how we can cooperate.

I have been privileged to be in Manila for more than three years and, in that time, I have made many friends and grew very close to the Filipino culture that is actually not that distinct from ours. We do love being outdoors, eat rather heavy food and, of course, socialize over a well-chilled beer.

On the other hand, I get to en-

joy activities that are not available in the Czech Republic. Ours is a landlocked country, so being surrounded by seas is something I always appreciate when I have a chance to get out of Manila. As a diver, I cannot say enough about the underworld of the Philippines that is truly unbelievable. I do hope to come back here, no matter if it will be on official or unofficial capacity.

Speaking of beer, which tastes better: the one from the Philippines, or that of Czechia?

I never hesitate to have some good Philippine lager. However, Czech beer is really the best in the world!

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com |Thursday, November 14, 2019 E3

COMMUNITIES AND VOLUNTEERISM

Singtel staff join Globe sustainability efforts

V

OLUNTEERISM knows no boundaries, geographical or otherwise; global citizens are better together and should care for the planet as one.

With this in mind, employeevolunteers from Singapore Telecoms Ltd. (Singtel) visited the Philippines again to take part in the eighth overseas volunteering program hosted by Globe Telecom.

The group of six Singtel and 13 Globe volunteers went to the Iba Botanicals eco-village in Zambales to plant acacia, kakawati (madre de cacao), langka (jackfruit) and kasuy (cashew nuts) in areas that have been widely deforested.

Iba Botanicals is the operational partner of nonprofit organization The Mead Foundation and provides crucial project-management and operational oversight activities for all reforestation and environmentrelated projects happening in and for the said town.

Globe and The Mead Foundation share a common goal with regard to “rainforestation.” The latter has been working closely with the Aetas of Zambales to help in replanting trees

volunteers conducted a Brigada Eskwela activity at the ADBSA Aeta School (Jesmag Iba) in the area.

They also learned that creativity could always flourish by receiving hands-on experience: from weaving of bamboo bags and baskets, to lahar pottery making.

Empowering communities

in the province’s bare forest areas while providing livelihood opportunities to members of the community.

Impactful, sustainable efforts

THE Mead Foundation’s Executive Director Ben Mead affirms that the “partnership is aligned with our goal for impactful, sustainable efforts that provide transformational change, conservation of the environment and sustainable development.

The Mead Foundation is very happy to be partnering with Globe for this rainforestation effort of our denuded forests. We are also very excited to show the volunteers around Zambales, and are enthused to see how their efforts will greatly help the community.”

Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly C. Crisanto said, “We are happy to partner with The Mead Foundation and for the opportunity for

GLOBE Telecom and Singtel volunteers team up to plant different species of indigenous trees at the Vetiver Terraces in Iba, Zambales.

Globe and Singtel volunteers to be part of this journey where they can help with environmental sustainability while [knowing] the indig-

enous communities. By investing on environmental protection and partnering with various organizations concentrating on reforesta-

tion programs, we hope to do our share in mitigating the drastic effects of climate change.”

Aside from tree planting, the

Czech Republic aids typhoon-stricken areas via app

SINGTEL volunteer Ronnie Bin Shani affirmed: “It’s eye-opening and heartwarming to be part of this program, knowing that our efforts can have a long-lasting impact on the community.”

Globe and the Singtel Group are also unified in a common vision to empower communities, especially the marginalized, by creating platforms that will fulfill their potential, ensure their security, and integrate them with society.

The local telecommunications firm is also thankful to Singtel volunteers for coming to the country and sharing their skills to drive positive and sustainable change to the communities where they operate.

“We share the Singtel Group’s goal of enabling the inclusion and well-being of people, especially those who are disadvantaged. We are here to help them realize their potential and improve their lives,” Crisanto further stated.

Disabled volunteers to share mission in intl confab

T

AT the Tibay Balay app event, with Deputy Head of Mission Jana Peterková BUILD CHANGE

T

HE Czech Republic’s humanitarian aid with Build Change and its nonprofit partners to improve the local capacity of shelter response programs following Typhoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut) successfully concluded on September 30.

The P7-million project that started in December 2018 also worked directly with local communities to strengthen or rebuild storm-damaged houses due to Ompong, which struck the Philippines in September 2018. The howler was responsible for at least 127 fatalities and $627 million worth of property damage, making it the fourth-costliest Philippine typhoon of all time.

Build Change worked in Ca-

gayan and Benguet provinces on a shelter-repair program to help 700 households and 200 builders. In Kalinga and Apayao, the focus of Build Change’s assistance was on quality new construction.

Overall, the project resulted in more than 800 safer buildings, 4,000 safer people, at least 250 new jobs, and 1,017 people directly trained in resilient building techniques.

One of the additional project outcomes was the creation of a mobile application by Build Change for the Google Play store, Tibay Balay. It helps homeowners in the Philippines to self-assess their homes and determine the way to fix them before the next disaster strikes. The application was unveiled at an event on September 5,

TIBAY Balay app home screen

attended by the Czech Embassy in Manila’s Deputy Head of Mission Jana Peterková.

Training for resiliency

ACCORDING to Ambassador Jana Šedivá, “The frequency of typhoons and other disasters in the Philippines requires that homeowners, their communities, and the nonprofits that support them be all trained in resilient building. This project has rebuilt affected communities and taught construction techniques that will prevent unnecessary loss of lives and property in the future.”

Build Change Country Director for the Philippines Kate Landry agrees: “With the creation of the new mobile app Tibay Balay, any homeowner can quickly assess their

house and understand what needs to be done to keep their family and property safe. It is our hope that these homeowners who lost so much [with Mangkhut] can restart their lives, knowing their homes are safe.”

Foreign humanitarian assistance is an integral part of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy. It aims to prevent injuries and loss of lives, alleviate suffering and to restore basic living conditions of people after an emergency, as well as mitigate long-lasting consequences of emergencies while preventing their occurrences and negative consequences.

Living, learning in safety

IN past years, the Czech Republic Embassy has also provided humani-

tarian assistance, especially to those greatly affected by Typhoon Nina (international code name Nock-ten) in the Bicol region in 2016, and previously, by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) in Eastern Samar in 2014.

Meanwhile, Build Change prevents loss of lives and properties in earthquakes and windstorms. Because of its efforts to strengthen buildings in the past 15 years, 332,000 people are now living and learning in safer homes and schools.

Now in 18 countries, Build Change’s primary focus has expanded from post-disaster prevention to combat the crisis of substandard housing that, according to the World Bank, will impact an estimated 3 billion people by 2030.

HE 2019 International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) Asia Pacific Regional Conference, which celebrates diverse facets and forms of volunteerism around the globe, is set to host Philippine advocates who will present key insights on their research on Filipino deaf volunteerism and women empowerment from November 11 to 16 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Spearheaded by Thailand-based host organization Volunteer Spirit Network, the six-day biennial convention will soon inaugurate its 16th edition, with “Unlocking the Power of Volunteering” as its theme.

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School (DLS-CSB) of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) Center for Deaf Esteem and Formation (CDEAF) Coordinator William Sidayon Jr. will highlight the hearing-impaired volunteers’ efforts that have contributed, and continue to create, immense positive impact.

Sidayon’s study, “Make the Invisible, Visible: Deaf Volunteers in the Philippines,” focuses on CDEAF’s social responsibility and outreach programs that have taken an important role in the social development and self-esteem of participating hearingimpaired students. He will, likewise, share a broader perspective on the subject and give possible action plans for the improvement of the campaign, thus encouraging active participation among their community.

DLS-CSB Center for Social Action (CSA) Institutional Outreach Coordinator Catherine Panganiban, who has presented on employee formation through volunteerism in a previous IAVE Asia Pacific Regional Conference, will return this year to speak on women empowerment alongside her copresenter, DLS-CSB School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management Faculty Member and Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Judilyn P. Ricasio, an active educator for the community service programs of the college.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

E4 Thursday, November 14, 2019

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EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

VETERANS DAY United States Deputy Chief of Mission John Law (left) and Defense Undersecretary Ricardo A. David lead the wreath-laying rites at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, on Monday during Veterans Day, a US federal holiday observed annually every November 11. The memorial honors and remembers those who have served in the US Armed Forces. The war memorial contains the remains of 17,058 Filipinos and Americans who died in the Pacific, China, India and Burma during World War II. PNA/AVITO C. DALAN

VR EXHIBIT Ambassador of Australia Steven J. Robinson (center) talks to two survivors

of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) from Tacloban City, during the press launch of the virtual-reality exhibit, Yolanda’s Ground Zero in 360, at the Glorietta 4, on November 8. Nonprofit group Postcards From Disasters is staging a VR tour into the typhoon’s landfall area six years after its onslaught. PNA/GIL CALINGA

Germany commemorates reunification, fall of the ‘Wall’

F

ROM the mass demonstrations in East Germany in 1989, that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall, to its inevitable reunification with West Germany a year after that marked the end of the Cold War, the Federal Republic of Germany has since been at the forefront of international relations.

November 9 marked the 30th anniversary of that historic event. On one hand, freedom and democracy have become paramount in Germany.

It has become a strong advocate of human rights and democratic values, while proving to be a reliable and globally oriented partner to many actors through its emphasis on international cooperation and multilateralism.

With reinvigorated economic and political strength, Germany and its people, according to its embassy in the Philippines, welcomed a new era committed to fostering peace, as well as promoting democracy, freedom and human rights. With a dynamic

emphasis on multilateralism and international cooperation, Germany is prepared to address the new global challenges that lie ahead.

Moreover, the embassy said, Germany remains a reliable international partner to the world and a dependable bilateral partner to the Philippines.

At the recent local commemoration of her country’s Day of Unification, Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel acknowledged the essential roles Germany’s institutions in the Philippines play in actively fostering strong relations existing between the two nations: from trade and investments, to political and

AMBASSADOR of Germany Anke Reiffenstuel (right) and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo

development cooperation, as well as cultural, academic and peopleto-people exchanges.

“People-to-people contacts,” added Reiffenstuel, “are the foundation and backbone for the strong bridges, the successful cooperation

and [strong relations binding] our two countries.”

The ambassador is convinced that the spectrum of German-Philippine relations is broad and will be further strengthened by cooperation between both countries.

Conductor leads tribute to composer F

COUSTEAU

RENCH conductor Michaël Cousteau led the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) in offering a grand tribute to his legendary compatriot-composer Hector Berlioz at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on October 25.

Entitled Berlioz and Friends, the concert commemorated the 150th death anniversary of Berlioz, widely regarded as the inventor of the modern orchestra.

To officially open the event, soprano Rachelle Gerodias and baritone Park Byeong-in performed an exceptional rendition of the French national anthem La Marseillaise arranged by Berlioz for orchestra.

The PPO, under the baton of Maestro Cousteau that featured soloist Rey Casey Concepcion on viola, performed a selection of works of Berlioz and his contemporaries through a program that included Harold in Italy, Op. 16; Romeo and Juliet: Love Scene, as well as Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod and Lizst’s Les Preludes.

In line with the French Embassy’s continuing advocacy to encourage as well as deepen cultural and artistic exchanges between France and the Philippines, Cousteau also took the occasion, while in Manila, to conduct a musical lecture on the life and legacy of Berlioz as part of the monthly Les Jeudis culturels (Cultural Thursdays) at the Alliance Française de Manille, then led a master class at the University of Santo Tomas’s Conservatory of Music.

Ambassador Nicolas Galey also hosted an intimate dinner in his residence for Cousteau, which was attended by personalities from the cultural sector.

PORTUGUESE FLAVORS Honorary Consul of Portugal Antonio Rufino (right) welcomes

guest Chef João Correia (second from left) at an exclusive night of Portuguese cuisine at Mirèio in Raffles and Fairmont Makati, with the hotel’s Cluster General Manager Bernd Schneider (left) and Executive Chef Anne Cecile-Degenne. Correia is the executive chef of Altis Avenida in Lisbon.

Russia hails former foreign minister

T

HE Federation of Russia, through its embassy in the Philippines, recently extolled the accomplishments of its former foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov, as the incumbent Sergey Lavrov said his predecessor’s tenure was of “special importance” for his country’s diplomats.

This transpired as a book about Russia’s foreign minister in the late 1990s was recently released, entitled The Unknown Primakov: Memoirs.

According to Lavrov’s article in Russian Business Guide, Primakov’s appointment marked a turning point in the country’s foreign policy, “when conditions were created for the restoration of Russia’s international standing.” “[He] knew better than many others that its unique geographical location and centuries-long history, as well as its huge potential and its status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, predetermined its independent and multidirectional foreign policy,” Russia’s current foreign minister said.

Primakov, as Lavrov noted, was never on the side of confrontation. The former believed that dialogue with Russia is only possible on equal terms, and that international relations must be

PRIMAKOV WIKIPEDIA.ORG

based on international law.

Russia’s ex-foreign minister’s work style deserves particular mention. Despite a busy schedule, Lavrov shared that Primakov “never lost sight of the smallest details of international developments,” and went deep into the most complicated and controversial issues. This discipline he drilled down to his subordinates.

“He detested cliché solutions, [as well as] superficial and ill-considered opinions and views,” Lavrov narrated.

United States’s former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, Lavrov recalled, praised Primakov for having a clear vision of national interests.

USAID enhances DOH training through e-learning

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

T

HE United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), recently launched the DOH Academy’s e-learning platform to facilitate health workers’ core training through standardized online learning modules.

The first of its kind in the Philippines, the e-learning platform went live during a ceremony led by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and USAID Acting Mission Director Patrick Wesner on October 25.

USAID, through its Human Resources for Health 2030 Project in the Philippines, took the lead in developing the Web portal and transferred its administration to DOH in September 2019.

Wesner stated, “We are proud of our partnership with the DOH to develop an elearning platform as an alternative training method to bolster the competencies of Filipino health workers across the country.” he said According to the mission director, the USAID believes that innovation presents new

opportunities to respond to critical development challenges that impact millions of people around the world.

The acting mission director also praised the DOH for allocating resources to manage the online system and to produce 20 additional e-learning modules.

The US government, through USAID, partnered with the DOH to strengthen the development, deployment, training and management of the health work force to ensure an adequate number of health human resources who are fully equipped to deliver Universal Health Care (UHC).

For his part, Duque explained, “The DOH e-learning platform allows health workers to access learning modules anytime and anywhere. This will save travel time [while enabling] trainers and health workers to spend more time attending to their patients.”

The DOH and USAID also codeveloped a module that explains the UHC law and its implications for health workers. Both agencies had earlier collaborated in developing e-learning modules on tuberculosis, family planning, adolescent health and data governance.

BusinessMirror

Health&Fitness

WHEN YOUR HEART SLOWS DOWN

November 14-20, 2019

THE BEST CALORIE BURNING WORKOUTS

VADYMVDROBOT | DREAMSTIME.COM

MAKE EXERCISE COUNT:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month observed with Project Pink

‘F

EAR and anxiety” are not diseases but they can be factors that will put you at risk of dying as these cripple and hinder women from seeking medical help from experts. This is one of the key messages that cancer survivors and experts would constantly remind the Project Pink Fora attendees to combat the increasing mortality rate of breast cancer.

In observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October, City Savings Bank (CitySavings) has intensified its campaign through Project Pink. The said corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative contributes to the health and wellbeing aspects of the sustainable development goals, specifically in the areas of reducing the mortality from noncommunicable diseases and promote mental health.

“Increasing rates of death is not due to the incurability of breast cancer, but because it is diagnosed at a later stage, which makes it hard to cure,” said Ronald de los Reyes, program coordinator of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.—Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (Rafi-Ejacc), one of the partner organizations of the bank in Central Visayas.

Albert Villaceran, an attendee from Madridejos District in Bantayan Island, Cebu, braved the crowd and was one of the few men who decided to join the forum, despite the perception that the activity is for women. When asked of his key takeaway, he said, “Yes, breast cancer can affect men, too. And early detection is as important to men as it is to women. The testimonies from those who survived breast cancer and the lecture by the oncologist were helpful in opening our eyes about this disease.”

A free medical mission followed

2 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

where close to 200 teachers from Madridejos District availed of the clinical breast examination and pap smear conducted by trained volunteer midwives from The Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP)-Cebu Midwife Clinic, Inc. (ICMCI) and Rafi-Ejacc.

Aside from Central Visayas, CitySavings also conducted Project Pink in various parts of Northern and Southern Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR), Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Northern and Southern Mindanao where almost 2,300 teachers attended.

Dr. Rosalinda Pulido, Head of Saint Frances Cabrini Medical Center Cancer Institute in Batangas said that teachers are one of the best audiences to discuss about breast cancer. “It is not common for companies to take their CSR programs this serious. It was a breath of fresh air that CitySavings is doing this for breast cancer awareness. It was well-thought of to have teachers as the attendees, as they are the perfect sources of information and they can spread awareness to their peers, as well” she shared.

Conducted annually by CitySavings with partner organizations and oncologists, Project Pink has raised awareness to over 4,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd) since 2017.

CitySavings is the thrift bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines and a member of the Aboitiz Group. It is one of the largest thrift banks in the country and provides a range of mass market finance products and services such as salary loans to public and private school teachers, pension loans to GSIS and SSS pensioners, OFW loans, seafarer loans, motorcycle loans, and traditional deposit products.

The bank now has more than 100 branches nationwide.

Health&Fitness

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MAKE EXERCISE COUNT:

THE BEST CALORIE BURNING WORKOUTS M

AKE exercise count with these fatscorching, calorie burning workouts. This post from the Reader’s Digest shares 15 workouts that burn the most calories, according to science.

1Fast-paced running.

RUNNING is one of the most simple athletic endeavors humans can do, mainly because no equipment is needed—technically not even shoes (though our 21st -century living environment calls for them). Running for an hour at 8mph burns 1,074 calories per hour for a 200-pound person, according to fitness expert Chris Ryan, CSCS, CPT. Because it requires a serious amount of energy to move this fast and places quite a lot of demand on your cardiovascular system, most of us can’t sprint or run too fast for too long. “The best way to incorporate this exercise is to do 10 to 20 second sprints (or 100 meters to 200 meters, if on a track) and then jog or walk for 60 seconds,” said Roger E. Adams, PhD, Houston-based dietitian and nutritionist, and founder of eatrightfitness.com.

“Keep repeating these intervals until you’ve had enough, or until your sprints look like jogs.” Hoping to maximize your workout even more? Add a weighted vest to your sprints. This will drive up your calorie burn and is much safer than holding dumbbells or using ankle weights.

2Jumping rope.

There’s a reason some of the world’s greatest boxers have relied on jumping rope to train their footwork and increase their heart rate. “Jumping rope can burn upwards of 1,074 calories per hour and is an excellent workout for the whole body,” said Ryan. “Even just a few minutes of jumping rope can get your lungs burning and heart racing.” One of the best parts of these calorie-torching exercises, you can do it almost anywhere, anytime, though few of us can handle it for more than a few minutes straight.

“The best way to incorporate jumping rope into your exercise regimen is to do intervals,” said Adams. “Jump rope for a specified number of reps, say 100, then walk around or in place for 60 seconds.

4 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

Then repeat this interval until you’re too tired to jump effectively.” If you can jump rope for several minutes straight, go for it! Otherwise, use the interval approach for maximum results. A jump rope is one of those great pieces of portable fitness gear to pack on your next vacation.

3

Taekwondo. When it

comes to martial arts exercises that burn mega calories, Taekwondo takes the black belt, burning about 937 calories per hour for a 200-pound individual. Similar to wrestling or boxing, Taekwondo is a self-defense exercise that originated in Korea and has been around for about 2,000 years. Typically, you’d perform the exercise by competing against another person across from you, who is trying to weaken your technique and cause you to let your guard down. “The exercise emphasizes speed, power, concentration, reaction force, and breath control among its guiding principles, truly taking on an otherworldly athletic mindset, and transforming mind and body to one powerful weapon,” said Ryan. However, many people rest quite a bit between movements, so in order to keep this mode of exercise at the top of the calorie-burning spectrum, minimize rest periods and go directly into each of your movements.

4Vigorous swimming.

You’ve probably heard that swimming, though low-impact and relatively accessible for nearly all individuals regardless of age or injury, burns serious calories—and that’s no lie. Vigorous, or high-intensity, swimming can burn upwards of 892 calories an hour for a 200-pound person. In addition to its therapeutic benefits and fine balance between strength and cardio, one of swimming’s ancillary benefits is simply being in water. “Your body normally runs at 98.6 degrees, but the average pool temperature is usually around 80 degrees—so your body burns calories just by trying to keep you warm and make up for the near 20-degree difference,” explained Ryan. Want to burn

TSYHUN | DREAMSTIME.COM

When it comes to workouts, go big or go home. That’s why we tapped hard data along with the experience of top trainers to bring you the workouts that clock the biggest, baddest burn.

even more calories? Try wearing resistance gloves or using a dead-leg stroke to essentially take your legs out of the mix. Also, finding a cooler-than-normal pool or body of water to swim in will really jack up your caloric burn as your body burns more calories to stay warm.

5Running up stairs.

Nothing quite puts the hustle in a hard-earned workout quite like running up a set of stairs. Not only is it great for muscle building and improving your cardiovascular fitness level, but it’s also a serious calorie-scorcher. Running stairs can burn upwards of 819 calories per hour for a 200-pound person. “Stair running essentially elevates the heart rate while the heart and lungs pump more blood and oxygen, resulting in a higher caloric burn than doing the same distance on flat ground,” explained Ryan. Your speed, number of steps, and the height of the steps will all factor in to determine your overall calorie burn.

“Keeping a faster pace up the stairs and walking down is the safest approach,” said Samantha Clayton, physical trainer and senior director Worldwide Fitness Education, Herbalife Nutrition.

“You can vary your upward speed to increase the intensity level or, if you have the coordination, taking two steps at a time will make your muscles work harder and, therefore, increase your calorie burn. The more steps you climb overall, the harder your body is working.

6Jogging.

Even at a relatively easy pace like 5 miles an hour, which is just above walking speed for most people, jogging is an excellent way to burn a high amount of calories.

In fact, a 200-pound person can burn 755 calories per hour when running at this relaxed speed. Because it’s a fullbody movement, running works a great

deal of muscles at the same time and challenges your cardiovascular system.

It’s also a fairly easy exercise to fit into people’s schedules because; most of the time, all it requires is some running shoes and pavement. “If you’re looking to add a little more caloric burn during your workout, try upping the incline a few percentages for short bouts of hills during your workout,” said Ryan. “This helps increase the intensity of the workout, but also shifts the position of the foot strike to mimic an undulating path or trail, which becomes a much more functional way to attack a workout.”

7Tennis.

Considered by many to be the ultimate form of “athletic chess,” tennis is an excellent way to burn serious calories. This is mainly because of the amount of fast-paced spurts of running and body movement required in a match. “What makes tennis so challenging is the rapid deceleration and acceleration that’s required for you to be good at the sport,” explained Ben Boudro, CSCS, owner of Xceleration Fitness in Auburn Hills, Michigan. “The ball movement is very unpredictable and when you have unpredictable requirements, you challenge your brain and muscles to contract as fast as possible to move your body and get in position.” Doing this for just five minutes will put a serious tax on your body, and doing it for an hour could burn upwards of 728 calories for a 200-pound person. “If you’re looking to get even more caloric burn from tennis, consider adding in lightweight compression shorts or weighted vest,” suggests Ryan. “Working out with just 5 pound to 10 pounds of added weight can enhance your workout significantly.” As a bonus, tennis balls come in awfully handy beyond the court.

(To be continued next issue) Source: www.bewellbuzz.com

FITNESS RULES

By Greggy H. Romualdez

FOUR MILLION FILIPINOS HAVE UNDIAGNOSED EYE PROBLEMS

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TEERASAK AINKEAW | DREAMSTIME.COM

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.2 billion people around the world suffer from vision impairment.

Half of them, according to a WHO report, do not receive the care they need for conditions like near and farsightedness, glaucoma and cataracts.

In the Philippines, The Department of Health (DOH) reported a high number of Filipinos with various eye conditions: 1.1 million with cataract, 400,000 with uncorrected error of refraction, almost 300,000 with glaucoma, and 200,000 with maculopathy.

Additionally, and this is quite alarming, is that there are over 4 million Filipinos living with undi-

ALEXEY ROTANOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

ISION is certainly one of the most dominant of our senses. Waking up in the morning ushers in our use of sight. Our daily activities, including our respective fitness routines depend heavily on our sense of sight.

agnosed eye problems that need to be addressed. An undiagnosed condition is a most dangerous one as it may lead to complications, and in extreme cases, cause blindness.

The DOH added that although the prevalence of bilateral blindness due to cataracts and errors of refraction has decreased in the past years, there are still thousands of Filipinos with moderate to severe vision impairment.

“We are fortunate that these diseases can be treated with surgery or prescription eyeglasses. These can also be easily prevented with regular consumption of vitamin A, injury prevention, and immunization for measles and rubella that cause vision impairment,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

The good news is that in line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, the DOH is gearing toward providing comprehensive eyecare services, integrating eye care within local health systems, and responding to emerging eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

“Through the primary care provider network that will be institutionalized under UHC, we hope to bring easy access and seamless referral to ophthalmic units, comprehensive eye centers, and national ophthalmic specialty centers. These health facilities will be capacitated to deliver the appropriate eye-care services,” Duque explained.

Staying fit and healthy will most certainly include taking good care of our eyes, and making sure any vision related disease or condition is given immediate attention. Providing comprehensive eye-care services under the UHC once implemented will certainly make inroads toward the prevention of blindness in the Philippines.

Sport nutrition tidbits: Amway Philippines launched its first energy drink under its sports and nutrition brand, XS, a first among its direct-selling competitors. The zero-sugar, zero-carb energy drink contains only 10 calories (250 ml can) and is loaded with 50 milligrams of caffeine, six B-vitamins, L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine and Taurine. An energy drink such as this may be a good way to jumpstart your workout on days that you need an extra kick of energy.

This product though, will not be available in stores and may only be purchased exclusively from the network of Amway business owners worldwide.

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 5

NATASHA GOULBOURN FOUNDATION

CELEBRATES HOPELINE ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW NAME, NEW PARTNERS, NEW PROJECTS

By Ruth Anne de la Cruz

T

HE Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raise awareness about depression, recently celebrated the 13th anniversary of Hopeline, its 24/7 crisis hotline and announced that the foundation is changing its name to NGF Mindstrong. This came as reports indicated that in the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60 percent worldwide, to the point where a life is lost to suicide every 40 seconds.

What is more alarming is the fact that the suicide rate among children aged 10 to 14 has nearly tripled from 2007 to 2017. In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death of children aged 10 to 14, teenagers aged 15 to 19 and young adults ages 20 to 24. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 14 to 55.

“Suicide rates in the Philippines is rising and depression incidences are at an all time high and we at NGF and our crisis Hopeline experience more and more calls every day,” related Jean Goulbourn, NGF founding president and executive director. “We have so far saved more than 300,000 lives.”

There is not much data in the Philippines about suicide and depression but in 2012, 3.3 million Filipinos or 33 percent of the total population suffered from depressive disorders and nearly eight in 10 of the reported suicide cases in 2012 were males.

“We are calling on all Filipinos to help us bring the issue, especially depression to light, breaking free from the stigma, the shame and the fear. Knowing about depression can decrease the risk of suicide,” Goulbourn added.

The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation was established in 2007 and named after Goulbourn’s daughter Natasha who committed suicide in 2002. It aims to promote a better understanding of depression and its devastating effects such as suicide, its symptoms, and the important fact that it can be treated or event prevented. Hopeline was one of the first projects that the foundation initiated when it was created.

However, in June 2019, the Department of Health announced that it had withdrawn all support for Hopeline. It was asked to vacate their old office located at the National Center for Mental Health and has since moved to a private location in

6 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

NGF MindStrong Chairman Jun Sy and NGF Founder Jean Goulbourn pose with the poster promoting the November 18 benefit concert to raise funds for Hopeline.

JIMMY BAUTISTA, former President of the Philippine Airlines and now the Chairman of the NGF Advisory Board, speaks about his role in the foundation.

ACTOR Paolo Avelino speaks about his suicide attempt and how two of his friends saved his life.

Pasig. This was one of the main reasons why the foundation decided to rename itself NGF Mindstrong. This would enable the foundation to request for funds from foreign entities.

“In spite of the challenges that we face as we celebrate our 13th year, there is a need to scale up Hopeline because we only have 20 responders and the best way to deal with people who reach out to us is to keep in touch with them,” said Julio “Jun” Sy, the foundation chairman. “We need to keep in touch with them because this is still the most effective way to stop suicide.”

TOOTSY ANGARA (from left), NGF MindStrong Director for Special Projects; actress Iza Calzado; and Sheila Suntay, President of the You Only Live Once (YOLO) Foundation

A second project that NGF will be pushing in 2020 is Mindstrong, a training program for guidance counsellors because they are the first responders who will give peer counselling. While private schools have their own guidance counsellors. Out of the 25,000 public schools, only 800 of them will have a semblance of a guidance counsellor. The foundation will reach out to local government units so that they can build a counselling system so that public-school children can go to their local health centers for the first response.

Together with the “You Only Live Once” or YOLO Foundation headed

by Sheila Suntay, NGF will role out the Wellness Emotional Resilience program at La Salle High School where Homeroom Guidance will be made part of the curriculum of Grade 4 and Grade 12 students. The objective of this program is to build the student’s self-esteem and to build them physically in sports to help them conquer their problems.

Suntay was tagged the second ambassador of hope. She formed the YOLO foundation after she lost her 20-year-old son to suicide 18 months ago. She made it her advocacy to

push for mental health and said she “was ready to go head on against society until they accept us.”

“We all have a responsibility to save lives and let us be there for those who have depression because your mere presence is enough to heal a grieving spirit,” Suntay said.

“Be there for them and watch yourself help save a life.”

On November 18, NGF Mindstrong will be staging a benefit concert called “Beyond the Blues with the Beatles.” The songs of The Beatles will be interpreted by Bituin Escalante, Jon Santos, Nicole Asensio and Michael Williams and will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the New World Hotel in Makati City. Proceeds of the concert will go directly to Hopeline responders and the maintenance of the crisis hotline.

Also present during the press conference to show their support for the foundation were Jimmy Bautista, the former Philippine Airlines president and currently a member of the NGF advisory board, actor Paolo Avelino who recalled his suicide attempt and actress Iza Calzado who spoke briefly about her experience with her mom who committed suicide.

RADYO KLINIKA

By Marou Pahati-Sarne

WHEN YOUR HEART SLOWS DOWN

A

NORMAL heart beats at 60 to 100 per minute. But when your resting heart beats lower than 60 (except when you’re an athlete or engaged in sports activities), and you start experiencing frequent dizziness, lack of energy and fainting spells, you might already be experiencing a heart disease called bradycardia.

The rhythm of a human heart is controlled by a natural pacemaker.

It is called the sinus node, which is located in the right atrium (upper chamber) of the heart. The sinus node is responsible for producing electrical impulses that fires the heart to beat. These electrical impulses push the atria to contract and pump blood and oxygen into the ventricles (lower chamber of the heart). The whole process produces the oxygen, which will be sent to the lungs and the whole body—the right ventricle of the heart contracts and sends the oxygen-poor blood to the lungs and the left ventricle sends oxygenrich blood to the body.

But when the electrical signals slow down or are blocked, bradycardia sets in.

Among the causes of bradycardia are the following:

n Inflammatory diseases like lupus and rheumatic fever; n Hemochromatosis or the build-up of iron in the organs; n Complication from a heart surgery; and n Medicines or drugs for psychosis, high-blood pressure or heart rhythm disorders.

n Bad habits like smoking, drinking alcoholic drinks, taking illegal drugs and eating too much fatty and sugary food, which could lead to obesity; n High blood pressure; n Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea; n Congenital heart defect; n Degeneration of heart tissue due to aging; n Hypothyroidism; n Myocarditis or infection of the heart tissue; n Damage to heart tissues from a lingering heart disease or a sudden heart attack n Hardening of the arteries in the heart or arteriosclerosis; n Imbalance of electrolytes and mineral-related substances for conducting electrical impulses;

In very young children, bradycardia happens when they often get the flu, which is caused by the coxsackie virus, also known as viral myocarditis. The coxsackie type A virus causes herpangina or painful blisters in the mouth, throat, hands and feet. This is most commonly known as hand, foot-and-mouth disease. While the coxsackie type B virus causes epidemic pleurodynia or fever, lung and abdominal pain with headache that lasts up to 12 days.

These two types of coxsackie virus can cause heart problems, which will eventually lead to the abnormal deceleration of the heartbeat.

Dr. Joey Montemayor, cardiologist-surgeon and a lawyer said to Radyo Klinika that modern technology has a solution for the slow

beating or the misfiring of the sinus node of the heart.

A cardiac (electronic) pacemaker is inserted under the skin on the chest, below the collarbone of the patient, to take the job of the failing sinus node.

Montemayor said that this is a self-contained battery-operated unit that sends electrical stimulation to the inner wall of the right ventricle of the heart to return the heart beat to normal.

Montemayor said that the pacemaker is a tiny device that has a microcomputer chip inside and detects if the heart rate is below the normal level. It fires electrical impulses to make the heart beat faster. The shell of the pacemaker is made of titanium and the whole device can last from 10 to 15 years.

Several advancements in the modern pacemakers include: wireless remote monitoring system, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-safe, longer battery life, models with single-chamber, transcatheter-delivered and leadless pacemaker system.

Montemayor assures that a per-

son with cardiac pacemaker can live a normal and active life. And they need not worry about using their mobile phones and microwave oven.

Here's a simple way of finding out if your heartbeat is slower than the normal. Press the index and middle fingers on the underside of the opposite wrist, below the thumb. Gently press it down until you feel the pulse. Count the beats for a minute (30 seconds) and multiply it by 2. For an accurate reading of your resting heart rate, sit quietly for at least 10 minutes before taking your pulse.

Montemayor holds clinics everyday except Wednesday at the Philippine Heart Center in the morning and Room 3210 of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in the afternoon. Contact him at: 0918.700.6476.

Radyo Klinika is a KBP Golden Dove awardee for Best Radio Magazine Program in 2016. For queries and requests for interview, please e-mail: marou70@gmail.com or send your message to the Facebook Page: Radyo Klinika.

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 7

20 FITNESS TIPS TO KEE YOUR WORKOUT ON TR

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S the cold weather sabotaging your fitness routine? This post from PopSugar lists 20 everyday fitness tips that will help you reach your fitness goals.

Can’t seem to make it to the gym these days? Stop with the excuses, and let these 20 lazy-girlapproved tips keep you on track all season long.

1Keep it short:

Always opt for a short and intense workout over a longer one where you don’t push yourself. Hiit it, then quit it.

2Get it out of the way: Start your day with a workout so you don’t have a chance to skip it later. This one is great for all the procrastinating lazy ladies out there.

birds, one 3Two stone:

Cardio and strength training don’t have to happen separately. Combine them in one workout like this 30-minute printable for a killer workout.

8 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

4

Hit the floor: Yes, you

can lie on the floor and still get an awesome workout. These lazy-girl-approved moves are proof.

5

Double TV time: Your

commercial breaks are mini workouts that add up after an hour or two of your favorite shows. Try this three-minute workout the next time you want to binge on the tube.

6

Socialize: Grab friends for

your next class. Scheduling a fitness date will make you more likely to stick with the game plan.

No one likes to bail on someone they love.

7Pack up early:

Get your gear ready to go the night before your workout. That way you don’t have to rush around right be-

fore your workout...or end up skipping it altogether.

your 8Change commute:

Ride your bike or walk for a portion or all of your commute. Making things active will help you burn calories and keep you off public transportation for as long as possible.

the 9Multitask mundane:

You can always sneak in some exercise. Move through calf raises when you’re standing in a long line or waiting for the bus, and move through this two-minute workout you can do while brushing your teeth.

12Drink up:

More water helps your body burn more fat, and being properly hydrated improves your workout performance. Sip on H2O all day long.

13Make it routine:

When your workout feels like second nature, you won’t be as tempted to skip it. Keep your routine consistent every week, and start feeling results.

14Lift a little:

If you’re all cardio and no strength training, you’re not going to see the changes you’re after. These beginner-friendly dumbbell exercises are a great place to start.

10Enjoy your snack: 15Go for 10: The right pre-workout snack can fuel you up for better performance at your next workout.

Try one of these and enjoy.

Even if you’re not going to commit to a full workout, take 10 minutes work out. Short workouts still count!

11Go slow:

16Stay caffeinated:

You don’t have to look like the Energizer Bunny during every workout. Turn up the resistance, slow things down, and you’ll feel the burn bigtime.

Too tired to hit the gym? Turn up with a few sips of coffee or green tea.

You’ll get your energy back on track, and caffeine has been linked to better workout performance.

EP RACK 6

17

Cruise your feed:

7

8

10

12

Start following fitness stars like Kayla Itsines and Hannah Bronfman, who will fill up your Instagram feed with a ton of motivation. It’s hard not to want to work out after looking at these ladies!

18Hire outside help:

Sign up for boutique classes with an awesome instructor, or hire a personal trainer for a handful of sessions at the gym. They’ll keep you on track and revitalize your routine.

19Reward yourself:

All work with no reward does not suit the lazy girl. Whether it’s a piece of chocolate, new gear, or one hour of pure relaxation, give yourself a gold star after you put in the work.

You need those seven to nine hours every night to keep you energized throughout the day and during your workout—just another good excuse to linger a little longer.

14

PHOTOS BY DREAMSTIME.COM

20Stay in bed:

20

Source: www.bewellbuzz.com

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 9

MARIAN RIVERA-DANTES ON BEING A HOMEMAKER

By Nazarene Leyco

M

ARIAN RIVERA-DANTES is one of the most admired faces in show business, not just for her beauty but also for her bankability as an actress and an endorser.

After marrying one of GMA Network’s leading actors Dingdong Dantes, Rivera-Dantes in many interviews said that her family life will be her top priority. And now that she has two kids, Rivera-Dantes has constantly proven that her family comes first before anything else.

At the signing of her contract renewal with Beautederm Corp. and press conference held in Quezon City last week, Rivera-Dantes shared how she is enjoying her life as a wife, mother, advocate, artist and endorser.

She might have so much on her plate but according to her, the joy of being mother to her kids is priceless.

She shared how she manages her time being a wife and a mom to their kids. “I am a very hands-on mom and wife. Though I have people to help me, I make it point that I am the one running everything in my home. I tell my helpers what dishes to cook or what chores to be done. Of course our house can be a little messy, of course I have kids in the house and I want them to enjoy what it’s like to be a kid,” Rivera-Dantes shared.

Since she got pregnant with their first baby, Rivera-Dantes has temporarily stopped accepting any teleserye or movie offers since she wants to focus more on raising her kids.

“Dong and I agreed that if one of us is doing films or TV series, the other one should be attending to our kids and home. Since my second baby is just few months, though there are offers, I still want more time to spend

10 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

with my kids,” she quipped.

She added that she and Dingdong want to give their kids a normal life where they could enjoy what other normal kids do. Her eldest, Zia is already gaining popularity since she has several endorsements but according to Rivera-Dantes, they want to lessen the exposure of the kids in social media, and this step is toward their goal to let their daughter and son enjoy their years as normal children.

“I’ve been really blessed by God and I am really thankful for everything that I have. I don’t want any negativity to surround my family and me. I know that I will age, beauty can fade and even popularity so I just want to be happy, to be a blessing to others and just to spread love.”

Meanwhile, the partnership between Beautéderm and Rivera-Dantes started last year and it was a massive success that broke social media records and trended in almost every news platform in the country.

Beautéderm was founded and established in 2009 by its President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan. The company embodies Rhea’s principle that beauty begins by taking care of one’s self, and by doing so a person will become more healthy and shall exude beauty not only in the outside but in the inside as well.

As one of today’s top leaders in the beauty and wellness industry, Beautéderm prioritizes safety and effectiveness above all with its FDA Notified

products, which only uses natural ingredients that are perfectly synergized to deliver the fastest and most effective long term and sustainable results. A consistent Superbrands awardee, some of the flagship brands of Beautéderm are Beautéderm Skin Set which includes its patented soap, toner, day cream and night creams; Beautéderm’s Purifie Facial Wash; and Beautéderm’s Origin Senses perfume line for men, as well as a new set of fabulous products, such as Beauté Balm, Au Revoir Skin Soothing Oil, and Cristaux Gold Elixir Serum—all of which are top-selling products in the market today. Currently, Beautéderm has physical stores throughout the country and one in Singapore, and has almost a thousand resellers and distributors both locally and internationally.

Reverie by Beautederm Home is an exquisite line of home scents—from soy candles to room and linen sprays— created by Beautéderm in close collaboration with Marian.

The Reverie line of Beautéderm Home includes Into The Woods (Bamboo Scent), Smells Like Candy (Cherry Scent), Time To Bloom (Fresh Rose Scent), Something Minty (Eucalyptus Scent), and Rest

& Relaxation (Lavender Scent).

“I am so happy to represent Beautéderm Home,” said Rivera-Dantes.

“Beautéderm Home is like a family to me. I literally feel like I’m at home every time I’m with them and every time I work with their team. Rhea has always made me feel so comfortable and my partnership with her is really something that is very dear to my heart. I am grateful that Beautéderm Home has renewed me for another year and I am humbled for the trust that they are giving me.”

Tan on the other hand has very exciting news. “Beautéderm Home and Marian are currently developing new products that will be added to the line due to the success of Reverie,” says Rhea. “We at Beautéderm really felt the ‘Marian fever’ when we launched her last year and we continue to feel that now because of the very good sales of Reverie. We are ecstatic to have her onboard and we can’t wait to work with her again for another fruitful year.”

For more exciting news and cool updates on both Marian Rivera-Dantes and Beautéderm Home, follow @beautédermcorporation on Instagram and like Beautéderm on Facebook.

SMHCC: BASTION OF SUCCESS AND LEADERSHIP

T

HE strength of the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) as a company not only lies in having a competent work force, established processes, and a clearly defined mission statement.

It also rests in having a woman leader with an empathetic approach who inspires the rest of the team to be better than their best. Such is SMHCC’s President Elizabeth T. Sy.

Positioned at the helm of the company, Sy lends a listening ear, an open mind and an understanding perspective. Her leadership style is ultimately focused on others. It is about guiding them in a direction that will allow them to find their purpose and “reason for being” in the workplace. Her intent is to unite, and not divide; to find remedies, and not faults; and more importantly, to influence one another positively.

Without a doubt, with a positive and an encouraging kind of leadership, employees are empowered and produce optimistic results. It is therefore not a surprise for Sy to be the recipient of this year’s SKAL International Tourism Personality Award for the Hotel Category. SKAL is a professional organization composed of tourism leaders around the world whose aim is to promote global tourism and camaraderie.

The awards are given to individuals who unselfishly offered their services to further promote and develop the tourism industry.

ETS, as everyone in the SMHCC regards her, is a visionary, an active board of trustee of the World Wildlife Fund, the designated honorary consul general of Iceland in the Philippines and the pillar behind the

SMHCC’s robust growth. She has been a catalyst in shaping the future of the tourism and hospitality business of the SM Group, one of the Philippines’s largest conglomerates with a market value of over $20 billion. She is the driving force that catapulted the development and operations of the hotel and convention centers of the SM Group, which has spurred a massive growth from two hotels and one convention center in 2008 to eight hotels and five convention centers today. The SMHCC portfolio of hotels includes Conrad Manila, Radisson Blu Cebu; Taal Vista Hotel; Pico Sands Hotel; Park Inn

by Radisson Hotels in Davao, Clark, Iloilo and North Edsa; and the Convention Centers in Manila, Davao, Taguig, Bacolod and Olongapo. Under Sy’s leadership, this encouraging growth has further propelled SMHCC’s goal to double its portfolio throughout the country within the next five years.

A solid future thus lies ahead for the SMHCC as it continues to expand its brand footprint across the Philippine archipelago. With an ardent leader f laming with passion and an enterprising vision to build and operate hotels and convention centers that take

SMHCC’s President Elizabeth T. Sy.

pride in Filipino warmth and hospitality, the SMHCC is poised to be a brand powerhouse and stronghold that seeks to create an indelible mark in the country’s tourism industry, guided by its mission to be the leading hotel and convention company in the Philippines.

The SMHCC was established in April 2008 with the primary purpose of developing and managing the hotel and convention properties of the SM Group, one of the Philippines’s largest conglomerates with a market value of over $20 billion. The SMHCC is guided by its mission to be the leading hotel and convention company in the Philippines and its vision to build and operate hotels and convention centers that take pride in Filipino warmth and hospitality.

The SMHCC’s encouraging

growth has propelled the company’s goal to double its portfolio throughout the country within the next five years. It is geared toward becoming a brand powerhouse that ultimately seeks to create an indelible mark in the country’s tourism industry.

Currently, the SMHCC portfolio is comprised of eight hotel properties with a combined inventory of 1,960 rooms and over 38,000 square meter. of leasable convention space. The list of properties under SMHCC includes Taal Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Pico de Loro, Conrad Manila, Radisson Blu Cebu, Park Inn by Radisson Davao, Park Inn by Radisson Clark, Park Inn

by Radisson Iloilo, Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa and the SMX Convention Centers and Trade Halls.

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 11

BULLETIN BOARD

LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR LIGHTS UP THE SEASON WITH RECYCLED TREE COMPETITION

CHRISTMAS AT THE SM MALL OF ASIA THE SM Mall of Asia recently launched its Christmas festivities opening doors to amazing activities to bring happiness and cheer to its shoppers. This began with the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree with live performances by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and the UST Choir and the first ever state-of-the-art Indoor and Music Lights Show. Photo shows Santa leading the celebrations underneath the tree amid the confetti.

CHRISTMAS is a season of colorful traditions and joyful memories. But this time of the year also comes out with a lot of trash that brings forth so much harm to the environment. In fact, Philippines is the third-largest contributor of ocean plastics at 500,000 tons per year, a report from an international environmental group said.

Thus, as its way of giving back, the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar skips the usual artificial Christmas tree and launched the “Christmas Tree-Cycle Competition,” which aims to promote environmental conservation in the entire province of Bataan.

Launched last October 15, the competition, which is open to all the municipalities of Bataan, encourages the locals to unleash their creativity, camaraderie, and leadership while saving mother Earth.

Each of the 12 participating municipalities and city will come up with a 20-feet Christmas tree made solely from recyclable materials. Contestants must ensure that their trees and ornaments are weather-proof.

These trees will be displayed within the vicinity of the Las Casas starting on December 7 for the grand reveal and heritage resort’s official lighting ceremony.

Marivent Resort Hotel Inc. President Paul Kerr said, “We really wanted to tap all the Bataeñoes and get them involved in this meaningful project. We can make a big difference if all of us are working toward one goal—and that is to have a Green Christmas.”

“Moreso, when we make our trees ourselves, from the recyclable materials to how

it will actually look, we pack a whole lot of meaning into it. That’s what we want to achieve. The whole making-the-tree experience that this competition can provide to each municipality means so much more than getting a ready-made Christmas tree, he added” The competition’s grand winner will receive P200,000, while the runner’s up will get P100,000 and P50,000 respectively. Non-winners will still take home P10,000 each.

Additionally, Las Casas will also be launching its Chorale Competition that will feature a total of 12 groups from the 11 municipalities and one city of Bataan.

Positioned as Bataan’s biggest amateur chorale competition, this does not only promote performing arts, but becomes an avenue to showcase the local’s vocal talents.

Remaining finalists will have a final showdown in a Christmas concert titled “A Christmas Carole” on December 15, the first day of the traditional simbang gabi at Sanctuario de San Jose.

For more information, visit www.lascasasfilipinas.com or Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on Facebook and Instagram.

WONDERFUL WHITE CHRISTMAS AT DIAMOND HOTEL THE holidays have officially rolled in at Diamond Hotel Philippines. During its annual Christmas Tree Lighting, attendees from all over could hardly contain their excitement to witness the glorious lighting of the white, whimsical, 25-foot Christmas tree at the hotel lobby.

For the climactic moment of the event, guests of honor Mayor Francisco Domagoso and his family joined Diamond Hotel’s General Manager Ms. Vanessa LedesmaSuatengco at the podium for the ceremonial tree-lighting. Kids from the Remedios Training Center, with their parents and guardians, joined the festivities.

The Pansol Choir filled the air with Christmas carols as the event came to its height, while The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company transformed the lobby into a stage of motion and color with their zestful performances.

Over lavish cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests were

12 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

charmed with the magnificence of the hotel’s yuletide garb, with the interiors festooned with snowy, rustic leaves, stylish ornaments of silver and gold, and reindeers reminiscent of glittering ice sculptures.

True to the spirit of generosity, Diamond Hotel carries on with the tradition of choosing a charitable institution to support through Christmastime. Kanlungan Ni Maria, a nonstock, nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding abandoned, sick and impoverished elderly, is this year’s beneficiary. Guests are invited to donate P300 to their cause and, in return, have their generosity honored with a Christmas ornament bearing their name at the Charity Trees at the lobby.

For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offers, follow the hotel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @DiamondHotelPh.

BULLETIN BOARD

A CHIC AND FABULOUS CHRISTMAS CENTURY Park Hotel (CPH), one of Manila’s finest hotels in Manila, recently held their Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the hotel’s Atrium Lounge.

CPH owners Dr. Lucio Tan and wife Carmen Tan led the lighting ceremony of the 30-feet. Christmas tree to the delight of hotel employees, guests and media friends.

This year, the hotel is showcasing Modern Chinoiserie, a fusion of Eastern and Western elegance that perfectly balances symmetry and style, combining modern and traditional artistry. Pink and blue ornaments infused with gold trimmings were accentuated with Chinese designs, lending a unique Christmas vibe to the hotel. It is also a fitting homage to the hotel’s Chinese roots.

Carolers from the Children’s

TRADITION LIVES WITH THE GOLDEN GOOSE AT LUNG HIN THE Golden Goose returns to Lung Hin this November, as the beloved Cantonese delicacy shines the spotlight on fine Cantonese cuisine once again.

Coming from the renowned and centuryold recipe of guest chef Billy Cheong, the Hong Kong classic comes back to showcase the treasured flavours of Cantonese gastronomy.

Celebrate this premium roasted dish in quarter, half, and whole portion sizes. A speciallycrafted set menu is also available together with Lung Hin’s signature dishes to indulge in. Such dishes include Steamed Seafood Dumplings with Caviar, Steamed Whole Japanese Scallop with Minced Garlic in XO Sauce and Poached Garoupa with Wild Mushroom in Fish Stock.

Savour the taste of the Golden Goose from November 2, 2019 to February 3, 2020.

Log-on to www.marcopolohotels.com for more details.

Joy Foundation Inc. sang Christmas carols to the guests, making the event more festive.

The event was made more memorable with the presence

of newly crowned queens, Miss Earth 2019 Nellys Pimentel from Puerto Rico, Miss Earth Fire 2019 Alisa Manyonok from Belarus and Miss Earth Water 2019 Klára

Vavrušková from Czech Republic.

As the event marks the countdown to Noche Buena, Deli Snack also launched its elegant selection of Christmas Hampers starting from P2,780 net which includes delectable delis, sublime breads, jams and satisfying wines.

“Our theme this year is about striking a balance between being modern and traditional. This truly reflects the Century Park Hotel spirit since we have been in the industry for more than 40 years yet we keep innovating to embrace the everchanging times. It has been a memorable 2019 and all credit is due to our employees, clients, friends and media partners. We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for making us your home away from home,” said CPH General Manager Anthony Tan.

ALFRED’S CELEBRATIONS BUFFET TOAST to holiday traditions of gettogethers with family and friends at Alfred’s Celebrations Buffet, where overflowing spirits and bubbly pair nicely with a delightful dinner spread.

Start and end the celebration with Champagne Delamotte Brut, a perfectly blended French Champagne that makes a good aperitif or accompaniment to a fruit dessert. Make your spirits bright with plenty of cocktails to choose from including Margarita, Negroni, Sangria, Caipirinha, Mojito, Amaretto Sour and Moscow Mule.

Taste luxury and decadence with every bite of the Foie Gras Macarons, reward yourself with Raclette, melted Swiss cheese best paired with rye bread, boiled potatoes and cornichons, and enjoy the juicy flavors of Roast Beef Tenderloin with Clams and Chorizo Linguini.

Mesclun Salad and Salmon Gravlax are also served alongside Grilled Octopus Skewers, Parsley Prawn Tempura and Tartlets filled with Chicken and Chestnut Puree.

Alfred’s Celebrations Buffet is available at Makati Diamond Resi-

dences for four Fridays, November 22 and 29, and December 6 and 13, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at P2,500 net per person.

Book a table for Alfred’s Celebrations Buffet today by sending an e-mail to dine@makatidiamond.com.

NEW WORLD MANILA BAY HOTEL IS YOUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS THE Yuletide season is a wonderful time for families and friends to reconnect and enjoy the festivities. While it’s said to be the busiest season of the year, find time to relax, savor the holiday flavors and appreciate the moment that you can create joyful memories together.

Spend the Yuletide season with the family and make this year an extra merry one.

Book now and avoid the holiday rush. Stay overnight in our comforting rooms and suites located in the heart of Manila where the spirit of the holidays is alive. The Home for the Holidays room package includes buffet

breakfast for two, complimentary in-room internet access and 50-percent discount at Market Café.

Eat, drink and be merry. Relish in classic holiday dishes which include the famous

Christmas ham, the perfect roast turkey, Christmas Yule log cake and other holiday treats! The Yuletide Buffet is available on December 24 to 25 for P3,500 per person.

Celebrate the season with delicious Cantonese flavors at Li Li. Feast on any six-course set menus featuring traditional Christmas flavors flared up with premium ingredients or bring the whole family for a decadent All You Can Eat Dim Sum featuring classic favorites and carefully handcrafted specialties.

Feel the joy of the season where it feels like home. For reservations and inquiries, e-mail dining.manilabay@newworldhotels.com.

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 13

HEALTHY FINDS n 6TH CARDINAL SIN TEACHERHEALER AWARDS NIGHT HELD

ESTABLISHED in 1993, the Cardinal Sin TeacherHealer Awards Night continues to recognize those that have greatly contributed in training CSMC residents and fellows, as well as given exceptional care to patients who entrust their lives to the hospital. These individuals strengthen the hospital’s servant leadership and sustain its brand as an exceptional institution that tirelessly stands proudly today. Last October 30, 2019, doctors from different fields gathered in the 6th Cardinal Sin TeacherHealer Awards Night at the Crowne Plaza in their best formal attires.

Among the 125 attendees are the likes of Dr. Eduardo Mercado who advocated the creation of the ceremony and was a past recipient of the prestigious award in 1995, Mr. Augusto P. Palisoc Jr. who is the president and director of Metro-Pacific Hospitals Holdings, Inc. and his Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle DD, who is the current Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Philippines.

The night highlighted the awardees’ accomplishment, milestones and contributions to Cardinal Santos Medical Center. The first awardee of the night was Dr. Mary N. Chua who was a hematologistoncologist during her prime. Despite her present condition, she didn’t lose her vigor and went on to remind those present to be grateful to the people

n PHILHEALTH ASSURES

CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO BENEFITS FOR MINDANAO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

INDIVIDUALS and their families needing medical care treatment in areas recently affected by three succeeding strong earthquakes may continuously have access to health-care benefits especially during times of fortuitous events.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) made the assurance following reports that several victims were injured in consecutive quakes that rocked Cotabato and affected several nearby areas in Mindanao including Davao del Sur, Sarangani, and Cities of Davao, Kidapawan and Koronadal.

While PhilHealth members may continue to experience responsive health-care benefit access, non-members can likewise avail themselves of the PhilHealth benefits even if confined in nonaccredited facility subject to certain conditions as specified in PhilHealth Circular 34, s. 2013.

This policy, which is in accordance with the provision of special privileges to those affected by fortuitous events stipulated in the said Circular, covers members, nonmembers and their dependents; admission to accredited or nonaccredited facilities that are DOH-licensed or DOH-certified; and treatment and management by accredited or nonaccredited health-care professionals who are duly licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission.

It also cover claims for medical treatment done as an outpatient or inpatient relative to the direct and indirect effects of the fortuitous event within the Health Care Institution or an improvised/satellite facility; and patients transferred from or managed by health-care personnel from accredited facilities in an evacuation area, or improvised health-care facilities.

14 Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019

who support them and especially to the Lord who blessed them with amazing minds. The second awardee was Dr. Cecil Z. Tady who is a passionate pulmonologist who never stopped learning and continues to inspire more doctors to be compassionate and more faithful to their vows.

“A doctor is a teacher. A teacher is first a learner.

Doctors learn from other experts but they also learn from their patients. Better listen and learn. Our clients are our best teachers too. Their honest feedbacks teach us to be better healers,” Cardinal Tagle remarked.

CSMC produces top-notch Caring Cardinal Leaders ready to provide excellent health care and world-class medical training. The Teacher-Healer Awards are bestowed upon those who go above and beyond their duties and open-heartedly extend their healing to the marginalized. It is through events like these that these notable figures are appreciated and given recognition for being exemplary. They are the pride of the hospital and motivation for the rest of the work force to aspire toward selfless giving of genuine service.

In addition, the policy extends to certain privileges like exemption from the 45 days annual benefit limit, Single Period of Confinement (SPC) and the less than 24 hour confinement policies; extension of filing up to 120 days, payment of premium contributions or extension of coverage, reimbursement for both referring and receiving health-care institutions; priority in the processing of claims, extension of the deadline for submission of health-care facility reports and extension of accreditation of providers, as applicable.

In these trying times, PhilHealth assures that public that despite of these seemingly insurmountable situation, the state-health insurance company remains committed to its promise of providing the best quality health-care services for every Filipino people.

pines is particularly concerned for the well-being of children,“ said World Vision’s National Director Rommel Fuerte, In the morning of October 16, magnitude 6.3 earthquake of tectonic origin, hit the province of North Cotabato, with the epicenter located in the town of Tulunan. Days after, another quake of greater magnitude occurred from almost the same location. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a 6.6-magnitude earthquake, followed by another equally strong quake on October 31 at 6.5 magnitude with a shallow depth of 2km which triggered more destruction and risk in the province.

Based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC, November 5), the series of earthquakes affected about 188,583 persons or 37,716 families in Regions 11 and 12. Over 28,070 persons are currently taking shelter in 32 evacuation camps. Meanwhile, there are 1,493 more families being served outside of the evacuation centers.

“They are in a state of shock and as per report Cotabato is going to be more susceptible to aftershocks in the coming days. We are appealing to our partners and fellow Filipinos for support so that we can respond to the immediate needs of displaced children and their families. We can do more together”, added Fuerte.

A total of 1,075 schools were damaged, including about 26 totally damaged. According to the Department of Education, more than 3 million students are affected due to suspension of classes. Today, childfriendly spaces will be set up to provide psychosocial support to help children cope from the calamity, while temporary learning spaces will also be provided in coordination with the affected schools.

Complementing the government’s massive emergency operations in the province, World Vision

n WORLD VISION

LAUNCHES RESPONSE TO MINDANAO QUAKE

FOLLOWING the recent earthquakes in southern Mindanao, child-focused development and humanitarian agency World Vision launches its relief operations for the affected people of Northern Cotabato, including the city of Kidapawan and the hard-hit towns of Makilala and Tulunan.

“We are committed to support the governmentled response in Mindanao. World Vision in the Philip-

HEALTHY FINDS complements and provides nonfood items, such as hygiene kits (bath and laundry soaps, toothbrushes and toothpastes, sanitary packs, nail cutter, undergarments and malong or tube skirt), jerry cans, nonfood items (mosquito net, mats and blanket), emergency shelter kit (tarp and rope) among others.

Through the generous support of donors, World Vision aims to initially help 1,000 families or 5,000 individuals.

To know more about World Visions work and how to help our fellow people affected by the Mindanao Earthquake, please visit https://wvph.co/DonateforCotabato.

cholesterol in the body, which ultimately helps in the disease prevention. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids are also said to break down arterial plaque, a substance that clogs arteries and increases blood pressure. Consequently, in eliminating the plaque, blood pressure is also controlled.

3. IT LOWERS THE OCCURRENCE OF BLOOD CLOTS. AS you might already know, blood clots can be a hazard to your cardiovascular system. Good thing there’s something that can help curb this off—that is, the frequent intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which, as mentioned earlier, are abundant in sardines in the Philippines. The reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure ultimately helps in preventing stroke and atherosclerosis or blocked arteries.

4. IT HAS ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES. STUDIES reveal that the regular intake of calcium and vitamin D is extremely helpful in inhibiting some types of cancers. And as you might have guessed, sardines in the Philippines are rich in calcium and vitamin D.

n DEBUNKING A MYTH:

WHY CANNED SARDINES IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU

IN the Philippines, sardines are extremely popular.

Everyone’s probably already accustomed to seeing a can of sardines in supermarkets, in sari-sari stores, in advertisements, and, of course, in one’s treasured kitchen. People might not automatically equate sardines with being healthy (especially if you consider how affordable it is); but a can of sardines is actually teeming with health and nourishment that your body desperately needs.

Here are 10 reasons why canned sardines are good for you:

1. IT’S AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS. ONE of the best things about sardines is that they’re full of vitamins and minerals.

Listed below are some of the vitamins and minerals that you can get from sardines: Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 helps in preventing heart attack and stroke, and also does wonders to your skin by inhibiting wrinkle formation.

Coenzyme Q10. This nutrient is an antioxidant that can boost your immune system.

Calcium is vital for keeping your bones healthy.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is hard to acquire in foods, and sardines are one of the best sources of this vitamin. Vitamin D aids in bone growth.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

B vitamins are indispensable for a healthy nervous system. Religious intake of vitamin B also helps in the normal production of blood cells.

Iron and Phosphorous. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, while phosphorous aids your kidney in flushing out toxins.

2. IT HELPS PREVENT HEART DISEASES. SARDINES are bursting with omega-3 fatty acids, which can aid in the prevention of heart illnesses. According to research, omega-3 fatty acids split the bad

among other things.

Since sardines are virtually everywhere, it can be tricky to find the best sardines in the Philippines, especially when there are dozens of sardines’ manufacturers to choose from.

Mega Global’s line of canned and bottled sardines—better known as Mega Sardines—is recognized all over the world for their high quality, are the product of painstaking work and technological innovations that start right from the time the fish are caught until the sardines reach customer’s tables.

With its trademark 12-hour catching-to-canning process that ensures freshness, the elimination of human hands touching the fish to ensure sanitation, and other innovative practices, Mega Sardines has continuously invested in upgrading and integrating its operations to ensure that it offers the high quality and best value for its customers.

For more information on Mega Global, visit http:// megaglobal.com.ph and/or connect through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/megaglobalcorp/.

5. IT PROMOTES STRONGER BONES. AS stated in the previous point, sardines are a brilliant source of calcium. And, of course, calcium aids in strengthening the bones and preventing certain illnesses (such as osteoporosis).

6. IT REDUCES THE RISK OF MACULAR DEGENERATION. AGE-RELATED Macular Degeneration (AMD) often occurs in middle-aged people. This disease may eventually lead to loss of vision.

According to some research, the consumption of fish—especially sardines—may help in reducing the likelihood of contracting AMD.

7. IT STIMULATES HEALTHIER SKIN. SARDINES consist of essential fats that play a massive role at the cellular level of the skin cells. Aside from lessening redness and inflammation, you’ll also end up with beautiful and healthy skin!

8. IT LESSENS INSULIN RESISTANCE. INSULIN resistance is probably the top manifestation of diabetes you’ll need to look out for. When your body is insulin-resistant, most of the insulin in your body is not being consumed efficiently. The result?

Your body ends up with more glucose than it actually needs, more glucose than what there should be.

The good thing is that according to some research, insulin resistance may be avoided by munching on sardines.

9. IT’S FILLED WITH ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES. SARDINES have a good helping of selenium, which aids in neutralizing the free radicals in your body, as well as protecting your organs from harm.

10.IT’S PACKED WITH PROTEINS. SARDINES are suffused with proteins. To refresh your memory, proteins are composed of amino acids, which are called the vital building blocks of life. After all, your body utilizes them to build your muscles,

n IT’S TIME TO FIND

WELLNESS IN THE CITY OF LOVE

ESCAPE the stress and reconnect while away from the hustle of the urban terrain. Now is the time to pamper yourself with a loved one over a much deserved wellness indulgence that covers best accommodation options coupled with spa treatments you’ll truly enjoy!

Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, the City of Love’s first and biggest international hotel offers superb room bundles a weary traveler needs. Enjoy the hotel’s excellent and modern rooms tied up with a relaxing Filipino Hilot massage to soothe those sore muscles.

Other than that, have the option to choose between a rejuvenating chocolate or rose body scrub or a hydrating facial to regain a much-missed glow using all-natural organic concoctions. For your convenience you may opt to avail this in your chosen abode, spa room or perhaps the hotel’s outdoor massage canopy for a more relaxing experience. Afterward, you may refuel over a carefully selected four-course meal that will be delivered straight to your room for either lunch or dinner. Then next day before you discover the wonders of the city, its beaches and other attractions, power up with a satisfying international breakfast buffet waiting for you at the Runway Kitchen, the hotel’s all day buffet restaurant.

For reservations, please visit www.courtyardiloilo. com or call (033) 330-7600 for assisted bookings.

Let your entire visit to Iloilo allow you to reconnect with yourself, find inspiration and get you pumped up to stay on top of your game.

Health&Fitness November 14-20, 2019 15