BusinessMirror October 03, 2019 by BusinessMirror

DBM ALLOCATES P1B FOR HOG FUND By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE government has set aside P1 billion to compensate backyard raisers whose pig herd would be culled as part of efforts to control the spread of the African swine fever (ASF), a senior agriculture official said on Wednesday. Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan made this pronouncement during the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food inquiry into the country’s ASF outbreaks. Cayanan also revealed that the Duterte administration has approved the creation of the National ASF Task Force (NATF) during the last Cabinet meeting.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) official said the P1-billion indemnification fund for backyard raisers who will be forced to depopulate their farms was greenlighted in the same Cabinet meeting. Cayanan made the disclosure after he was asked by Magsasaka Party-list Rep. Argel Joseph T. Cabatbat if the DA has sufficient funds to address the ASF outbreaks and to compensate hog raisers. ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that is fatal to hogs but is not harmful to humans. “In the activation of the National Task Force, together with it is the budget of P1 billion for indemnification, which is only for backyard raisers,” he said during the hearing. “Backyard raisers produce about 65

percent of the country’s total hog population. The P1 billion could cover only 5 percent [of the total backyard hog raisers],” Cayanan added. He said it was Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado who said that the national government has enough money to provide the P1 billion for the compensation of hog raisers. Cayanan said the indemnification fund would only cover backyard hog raisers since they comprise the bulk of the country’s pork producers and they lack support, particularly in the implementation of biosecurity measures. All of the 14 ASF outbreaks that the DA confirmed took place in backyard farms. See “Hog fund,” A2

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Thursday, October 3, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 358

DOE orders oil firms to explain pricing gaps T

By Lenie Lectura @llectura & Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has issued show-cause orders to oil companies and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) dealers to compel them to explain discrepancies in their latest price adjustments, as lawmakers pushed for an investigation into possible predatory pricing. Oil firms were given until Monday (October 7) and LPG dealers until this week to reconcile the gaps —the first time in three years between the private sector’s and the government’s estimates. “In v iew of t he appa rent

difference in the oil price rollback calculations between the Department of Energy [DOE] and oil firms, we issued show-cause orders [SCOs] to 13 oil companies yesterday afternoon [1 October],” the DOE said. “Under the SCOs,

recipients would have until Monday [7 October] to formally respond to the department.” Regulators have kept close watch of fuel pricing since the September 14 drone attacks damaged key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia,

“We were just surprised. Historically, our computations would match. This is the first time over the last three years [that the estimates of private business and the DOE had a big variance].” —Pulido

knocking out 5 percent of global supply and driving up prices of world crude. The Philippines imports nearly all of its crude oil requirements. After imposing a whopping P2.35 a liter price hike days after the Saudi attacks, local oil companies this week reduced gasoline price by P1.45 per liter, diesel by P0.60 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter. See “Oil firms,” A2

Pork supply dip in PHL to impact inflation

See “Pork supply,” A2

PESO exchange rates n

Surging Asia failing to meet SDG targets Rene E. Ofreneo

laborem exercens

as Asia’s century arrived? In 2000 or at the turn of the millennium, Asia was widely predicted to eclipse Europe and North America in economic strength. Led by emergent China, Asia had already then become the world’s factory, able to churn out a galaxy of household and office items, such as furniture, appliances, utensils, toys, office supplies and so on that flooded the world market. Continued on A7

Govt may forge deal with Hanjin white knight by end-’19 By Cai U. Ordinario

ITCH Solutions, the research arm of Fitch Group, warned of a potential decline in pork supply in the Philippines up until 2020 due to the African swine fever (ASF), and cautioned about the possible effects of the animal disease on inflation. In a research note, entitled “African Swine Fever: SE Asia Food Inflation Risks As Disease Spreads,” Fitch Solutions announced that is has slashed the pork production numbers for 2020 of three Asian countries due to the onset of the ASF. These countries include the Philippines, as well as Vietnam and China. The Philippines, according to Fitch Solutions, will see its pork production fall to 1.6 million metric tons, 1.5 percent lower than the forecast for 2019. Vietnam, however, will see a bigger decline of 3.7 percent to 2.3 million metric tons and China, a projected 5-percent decline to 5.9 million metric tons. “For the Philippines, seven ASF cases have been reported since July 2019 and over 7,000 pigs have been culled,” Fitch Solutions said. “Given that over 60 percent of the country’s pig population are located in backyard farms, where

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VALUES ADVOCACY Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the launch today (October 3) of the ninth year of Fortune Life Insurance Company’s Values Advocacy Program. Fortune Life and its partner agencies are, together with Briones, paying tribute to teachers and school officials who have promoted by their works the values of hard work and discipline imparted by the ALC Group of Companies founder, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua. Story on page A8.

Automation creates new jobs for tech sphere in PHL By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ITH the Philippines undergoing some sort of baptism of fire under the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRE), job automation is expected to be a trend across different industries, a socially painful initiative that may displace 18.2 million employees.

However, according to McKinsey & Co. Managing Partner for Southeast Asia Kaushik Das, this may also present an opportunity for the Philippines to create new jobs in the tech sphere. “Automation has an impact on societies and people, and if you don’t get ahead of this, this could create a huge social unrest. In the Philippines, because of tech trends, around 40 percent

to 50 percent of jobs will be impacted,” he said. The agriculture sector is seen to take the biggest blow, with 6 million jobs at stake. This is followed by retail and wholesale at 3.6 million, manufacturing at 2.4 million, transportation at 1.6 million, administrative and support at 1.1 million, and construction at 900,000 jobs. See “Jobs,” A2

@caiordinario

HE national government will likely reach a deal with a non-Chinese foreign investor for the Hanjin shipyard in Subic, Zambales, by December, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said on Wednesday. In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the Department of Finance (DOF) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) are currently in the final stages of talks with the white knight. If the talks fail, Eisma said Hanjin creditors, which include the government, still have other options, as many foreign firms have expressed interest to operate the shipyard. “Actually, right now negotiations are ongoing between the creditor banks and the proposed white knight. Supposedly, the creditor banks told me, by the end of the year, hopefully they will reach a deal,” Eisma told reporters on the sidelines of the Senate hearing. “It’s not a Chinese company, but a foreign company. Right now, what I know is it’s a shipbuilding company. Right now, [negotiations have been] locked in. If it fails, there’ll be another lock-in with other interested parties in line,” she added. One of the reasons many foreign firms are interested in Hanjin, Eisma said, is that its asset value is close to $2 billion, while its debts only reached $411 million. Apart from this, the land the shipyard stands on is close to 300 hectares. The SBMA official said this is attractive even to firms that

are not into shipbuilding. “There’s a long line of interested firms. A lot of firms have expressed their interest to take over the operations of Hanjin and these are not just in shipbuilding but in various businesses,” Eisma said. She said, however, that if the negotiations with the white knight prove successful, the firm will be able to hire back thousands of displaced Hanjin employees. Also, she said the white knight will benefit from the training former Hanjin employees received, as well as the existing world-class facilities in the shipyard. At its peak, Eisma said Hanjin had 33,000 employees. While it was winding down its operations, the shipyard retained 3,000 workers. Currently, only 300 workers remain in the shipyard. “What’s nice about the Hanjin facility is that it’s world class. The company put up training facilities just for their talents. If another shipbuilder will operate there, which is likely, it will need the talents [developed by Hanjin],” she said. Hanjin filed for corporate rehabilitation in January, as it struggled to pay $412 million in loans to five domestic banks. Since then, three foreign investors have expressed interest in acquiring the country’s largest shipyard. The list of interested parties include Dutch firm Damen Group, French company Naval Group, a consortium of American corporations and two Chinese ship manufacturers. Since 2006, South Korea’s Hanjin invested over $2.3 billion in its Subic shipyard and delivered 123 cargo ships as of the end of 2018.

US 51.8610 n japan 0.4814 n UK 63.8150 n HK 6.6125 n CHINA 7.2813 n singapore 37.4475 n australia 34.7572 n EU 56.7048 n SAUDI arabia 13.8255 Source: BSP (2 October 2019 )

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A2 Thursday, October 3, 2019

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2 PHL fishers dead in Taiwan bridge collapse

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene & Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE bodies of two Filipinos were retrieved early Wednesday from under the collapsed Nanfangao Bridge in Taiwan, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco). Relatives confirmed that two of the three missing Filipinos were inside one of the fishing boats pinned by the bridge. Three Indonesians also remained missing, said Meco Director for Administration Gerry de Belen.

He was quoted as saying the authorities are still engaged in retrieval operation. “They are finding it difficult to lift half of the fishing vessel that is still submerged. That part was hit worst by the structure.” Meco head Lito Banayo, in a text

message to the BusinessMirror said “two Filipinos pronounced dead after bodies were retrieved this dawn, some 19 hours after the accident happened.” “One other Filipino still has to be retrieved. Yesterday, four injured Filipinos were discharged from the hospital after treatment, one other with wound.” The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday confirmed the death of two Filipino fishermen from the tragic collapse of a bridge in Taiwan. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Taiwan identified the fatalities as Andree Abregana Serencio and George Jagmis Impang. “Our Polo, through welfare officer, already notified the families

of the victims,” Labor Information and Public Service Director Rolly M. Francia said in a statement. “We will assist in the repatriation of human remains and to process all benefits and entitlements arising from the accident,” he added. He said Impang’s kin is already assured of benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) since the seafarer is an active member of the agency. In the case of Serencio, who is an inactive member of Owwa since 2017, Francia said Owwa is still determining what benefits could be extended to his beneficiaries. Another Filipino seafarer, Romulo Ilustrisimo Escalicas Jr., is currently still missing and the sub-

‘Cash reward is for informants, not for police’

LAWMAKER on Wednesday slammed the long suspected practice of some police who split up the cash rewards among themselves as some sort of incentive bonus. Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said the bounty for information on crime suspects is for informants, not for the police who investigate the crimes and hunt down the suspects. Garbin has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to explain before the lower chamber its distribution of the P35-million reward raised for the capture of the killers of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe. Batocabe, a mayoral candidate in Dagara town in Albay, and his police escort, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, were killed while they were leaving a gift-

Oil firms. . . Continued from A1

giving event in Barangay Burgos in Daraga last December 22. “The moment the total of P35 million was turned over to the PNP, the laws on cash rewards, witness protection, custody of funds for public purposes were in play. Nowhere in any of our laws and regulations does it say the informants’ bounty are incentive bonuses for any police officer or any so-called ninja cop,” Garbin said in a statement. Of the P35-million bounty, P20 million was from the Office of the President, P13 million from the Representatives in the 17th Congress, and P2 million from the Provincial Government of Albay. “Where is the P35 million? It is possible that the money was pocketed by unscrupulous policemen, just like the ninja cops accused of filching drugs

Oil firms, for their part, said on Wednesday they will make public their side as soon as available.

LPG prices, meanwhile, increased by P4.50 per kilogram (kg). Also, auto LPG prices went up by P2.50 per liter. “Based on DOE’s computation, however, ‘mas mababa po yung rollback nila for about 22 cents for gasoline and 6 cents for diesel. LPG increase, mas mataas po yung in-inform nila kumpara sa dapat iakyat based sa LPG world market. We’re also asking LPG suppliers and importers to explain in three days,” said DOE Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III. Per the DOE’s numbers crunching, therefore, the public should have benefited from bigger reductions in prices than what the fuel and LPG players gave them. The show-cause orders, Pulido said, would provide these companies the opportunity to explain how they arrived at their respective oil price rollback calculations. The agency stressed that the explanations will be thoroughly evaluated.

Unbundling

Historically, the computations arrived at by the DOE and the oil companies have been the same. “We were just surprised. Historically, our computations would match. This is the first time over the last three years,” said Pulido. He refused to name the 13 oil firms, saying this was necessary in order “to protect the integrity of the process.

Oil firms, however, are against this because, among others, they would have to reveal their so-called industry take amid a deregulated environment. While the DOE is barred from implementing the circular, Pulido said the agency said they will recommend amendments to the oil deregulation law. “The government cannot dictate the prices. DOE-DOJ task force to

Similar computations

Meanwhile, the DOE, once again, stressed the importance of the proposed oil price unbundling policy which was stopped by the courts. The DOE circular requires oil companies to unbundle their price adjustments. They should submit a report to the DOE with a detailed breakdown of their import costs, tariffs, biofuel costs, oil company take components, and other essential cost components that contribute to the changes in retail prices. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said these enhancements would provide the DOE and other relevant government agencies with data necessary to formulate proactive and appropriate policy initiatives for the benefit of consumers and the downstream oil industry. Furthermore, the data provided will support the DOE-DOJ (Department of Justice) task force investigations on reported incidents of anticompetitive behavior.

Oil firms versus unbundling

Pork supply. . . Continued from A1

ASF has a tendency to spread quickly [as demonstrated by China], we believe there is a strong possibility that the disease could continue to spread over the coming quarters,” it added. Fitch Solutions also warned that this widening pork supply gap in Asia is putting inflationary pressure on food prices. “The rise in pork prices and food price inflation so far has been the most spectacular in China. Pork prices will soon start to rise in Southeast Asia as well,” Fitch Solutions said. Inflation in the country averaged at 3 percent in the first eight months of the year. This is within the 2 percent to 4 percent target range of the Bangko

they confiscated? These ninja cops are experts at gaming the system because they fully control the system. Congress must unmask these criminals in police uniform,” Garbin said in a statement. “That they are even called ninja cops is a verbal assault on the revered role of ninjas in the history of the Japanese people. The real Japanese ninjas were men and women who lived by a code of honor and service. The Filipino ninja cops and other corrupt police are the exact opposite because they are devoid of honor,” he added. According to Garbin, it was not the first time for the police to have custody of rewards for informants. Even before Presidential Decree 1731, it has been the practice of government and some in the pri-

vate sector to entrust informant rewards to the police. PD 1731 is the prevailing law on informant rewards. House Bill 3507 was filed in the 16th Congress and HB 3532 in the 17th Congress to put in place a “Community Informant Reward Program” to update PD 1731. Garbin filed a resolution to probe the P35-million cash reward. The lawmaker said he wants a transparent online system for informants’ cash rewards, so any citizen can find out in real time, where the funds are, where it is deposited, who has custody of it, and who are responsible for it. “Such a system can be scaled up to apply to all public funds, to every peso and centavos of the funds of the Filipino people,” he said.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

investigate anti competitive practices.” The DOE, through the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC), is also pushing for the importation of cheaper fuel. “We consider this as a mid-term step. It’s part of a longer step. We are preparing a bill that we intend to introduce to Congress where we will ask for the legislation of a strategic reserve,” said Pulido.

diesel and P1.75 per liter on kerosene for the week resulting in the highest increase for 2019," she said. Quimbo said the spike in fuel prices took place allegedly as a result of the Saudi Arabia supply crisis. “The oil price increase took effect 19 days after the drone attacks, despite the mandatory requirement to maintain a certain level stock, pursuant to DOE Department Circular 200301001,” she said. “Given that the requisite stock of refiners is at least 30 days per Department Circular No. 200301001, the stock being sold right now should be insulated from the supply problem brought about by the Saudi Arabia crisis,” Quimbo added. The lawmaker also said oil companies are required to report price adjustments to the DOE on the basis of the cited pricing formula, which uses parameters that do not vary by firm (such as the Mean of Platts Singapore [MOPS], exchange rates, and tax rates), that are calculated on a weekly basis, and despite the fact that importation is not necessarily on a weekly basis. “The DOE pricing formula and policies relating to it may be facilitating tacit collusion or parallel pricing, thereby unnecessarily increasing prices to the detriment of consumers,” she added. Section 14 of the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998 mandates the DOE to monitor and publish daily international crude oil prices, as well as follow the movements of domestic oil prices.

House probe

In the House of Representatives, a lawmaker has asked the Committee on Energy to conduct an inquiry on the sudden recent increase in fuel prices with an end view of passing legislation to stabilize fuel prices. In House Resolution 390, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo sought an investigation on the legality, necessity and determination of the propriety of these sudden fuel price increases for purposes of accountability. She said investigation is also needed to study the passage, or amendment of pertinent legislation, and the propriety of DOE pricing policies perceived to be facilitating the tacit collusion of oil companies for purpose of revising policies and passage of pertinent legislation. Citing the minutes of a recent Senate Committee on Energy hearing, Quimbo said representatives from oil companies admitted that the country has enough fuel supply and may readily source refined and crude oil from other countries should tensions in the Middle East intensify. "Despite this pronouncement, oil companies simultaneously announced a price increase of P2.35 per liter on gasoline, P1.80 per liter on

Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for this year. For September, the BSP Department of Economic Research earlier said inflation could have fallen between 0.6 percent and 1.4 percent. This means that BSP’s models point to an assured deceleration from the 1.7-percent inflation rate in August. The BSP’s forecast signals the fourth consecutive month that inflation will decelerate and will yield an average ninemonth inflation print of 2.8 percent to 2.9 percent for this year. In their recent monetary policy meeting, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the potential impact of the ASF outbreak on food prices is being considered as an upside risk to inflation over the near term, along with volatility in oil prices due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Bianca Cuaresma

Hog fund . . .

Continued from A1

Money for pigs

At P3,500 per head, the P1 billion will cover approximately 300,000 heads. The country’s total hog population as of July 1 stood at 12.7 million heads, 8 million of which were raised in backyard farms. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has been requesting for the fund since the first quarter to ensure that the government will be able to indemnify raisers should ASF strike their farms. When the government started depopulating farms in Rodriguez, Rizal, in mid-August, the DA did not have enough funds to indemnify hog raisers. Cristy Clasara, a DBM director, said during the hearing that the P1 billion will come from the government’s unprogrammed funds. Clasara also disclosed that the department is set to release the special allotment release order (Saro) for the P18 million that the DA will tap to compensate hog raisers in Rodriguez, Rizal. She added that the DBM is also processing the Saro for the P5-million indemnification fund for Region 3.

ject of the ongoing search and rescue operations in Taiwan.

Survivors released

Earlier on Wednesday, Banayo said in a radio interview that one of the fatalities’ bodies was found past midnight while the other was found at about 4 a.m. He said rescuers were still searching for a third Filipino, a day after the accident in Yilan where five others were also injured. Four of the survivors have been released from hospital after being treated for minor injuries; the fifth survivor remained in hospital with fractures. The DOLE identified the survivors as: Julio S. Gimawa, Jason N. Villaruel, Allan H. Alcansano, John

Charter. . .

Continued from A8

“The consensus is we need to lift these restriction limiting foreign investments,” said Rodriguez. Currently, three pending measures seek to amend certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution. These measures also seek to change the country’s form of government from presidential to federal system. In House Concurrent Resolution 1, Rodriguez said the clamor and sentiment from a broad cross-section of society seeking a review of certain provisions in the 31-year-old Philippine Constitution, to make it more attuned and responsive to the demands of present conditions, have not only been sustained but affirmed, with more people supporting the

Jobs. . .

Continued from A1

Accommodation and food services trailed behind at 864,000 jobs, education at 336,000, finance at 245,000, health care at 156,000 and some others accounting for 960,000 jobs. Each sector has an automation potential that spans between 28 percent and 61 percent, which pertains to the likelihood of new technologies being introduced to replace human capital. “A lot of their work will change and 18.2-million jobs will be impacted. A lot of other jobs will stay, but the job description will change. This has a potential to create social problems, but all these forces will also create new jobs,” Das explained. This, however, requires the Philippines to upskill its work force to replace the potential job loss and meet the growing demand for tech workers, he said. “Government and companies need to get ahead in re-skilling their people,” Das said.

Player in Asean economy

This may be a prerequisite for the Philippines to continue on treading a steady growth trajectory of roughly 6 percent per year. Das said the Philippines, in the next decade or two, will be the second-largest contributor to the Asean

DA. . .

Continued from A8

Growers Multi-purpose Cooperative; Nueva Ecija Seed Grower Multi-purpose Cooperative; South Nueva Ecija Seed Growers Multipurpose Cooperative; and West Visayas Federation of Multi-Purpose and Seed Producers Cooperative. The five cooperatives are all accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry’s National Seed Quality Control Services. “They have outstanding track records and have been in the business for a long time. None of them are newly registered and they continue to step up their game to produce high-quality seeds that will help farmers to be productive,” the DA said. “The 2 million bags of seeds that they will produce will be a tremendous boost to elevate the level of productivity in the countryside,” it added. The seeds procured by the government from the seed producers will be distributed to rice farmers in 57 provinces identified to have

Vicente Royo and June B. Flores. A video tape of the event taken by Taiwan’s Military News Agency dramatically shows the 140-meter long single-arch bridge tumbling down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunged into the water in Nanfangao, on Taiwan’s east coast. The Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency (NFA) had initially said that the oil tanker that passed the bridge on Tuesday had caused the collapse, with the truck falling onto the fishing boats underneath. The steel arch supporting the bridge from above remains intact, but frayed steel strands or “hangers” could also be seen from the video.

platform of President Duterte. According to Rodriguez, he considered the version of the Consultative Commitee in filing the measure. The Consultative Committee, chaired by former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and its senior member, former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., was tasked to review the 1987 Constitution. It transmitted to the Office of the President its proposed changes to the Charter in July 2018. Its main provision is to create 18 federated regions with more autonomy to control and utilize their revenues. Moreover, Rodriguez’s resolution seeks a presidential bicameral-federal system of government. He also wants the two chambers to convene into a Constituent Assembly to consider the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution. economy, only next to Indonesia. “The Philippines will be a significant part of the Asean economy,”he said. “It will outgrow other Asean countries.” The drivers for this, Das said, are mid to large companies, which the Philippines is “blessed with.” McKinsey estimates that the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is expected to create up to $3.7 trillion in value to global manufacturing, underlying the tremendous opportunities that successful, holistic technology-enabled transformation can bring. “McKinsey sees great promise for Filipino corporates in the age of disruption. The Philippines has been identified as a recent accelerator in a region of outperformers. This will see global trends hitting the shores of the Philippines in the next decade, and the country must leverage these opportunities to ‘future proof’ its growth, especially with the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” McKinsey Singapore Senior Partner Vinayak HV said. He that with the market now facing increasing digital disruptions, businesses need to develop a strategic response to adopt and harness new digital capabilities to stay ahead of the game. “A pivot toward digitally or technologically enabled transformation is no longer a question of if, but when,” he said. high potential for competitiveness. The eligible farmer-beneficiaries should be listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Each farmer could receive a maximum of four bags of inbred seeds depending on farm size for the October to December planting season, according to the DA. “This is based on the size of area harvested, yield level, cost of production and share of irrigated area. Also, the municipalities and cities must have an annual area of more than 500 hectare for the dry season 2019-2020,” it said. The DA said the BPI will “constantly” monitor and oversee the seed growers to ensure that they comply with protocols and guidelines for seed production. Also, the Philippine Rice Research Institute will assist the rice farmers achieve their optimum yield potential. The creation of the RCEF was mandated by the rice trade liberalization law, which took effect on March 5. The P10-billion fund will bankroll various programs for improving the productivity of planters who will have to compete with cheaper imports.

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PHL debt stock reached $78.824B in 2018–WB By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ow- and middle-income countries need better sources of investment to boost economic growth and address their development needs, according to the World Bank (WB). In its latest Inter nationa l Debt Statistics 2020, WB said tot a l e x ter n a l debt bu rden s among low- and middle-income countries have risen to $7.8 trillion in 2018. The report showed excluding debt stocks in top 10 borrowing countries, external debt rose 4 percent. The Philippines debt stock reached $78.824 billion in 2018. “To grow faster, many developing countries need more investment that meets their development goals,” World Bank Group President David Malpass said in a news statement. “Debt transparency should extend to all forms of government commitments, both explicit and implicit. Transparency is a critical part of attracting more investment and building an efficient allocation of capital, and these are essential in our work to improve development outcomes.” Compared to other Southeast Asian countries included in the report, in terms debt stock growth, the Philippines posted a growth of 5.97 percent in 2018. This is higher than the growth of the external debt stock of Indonesia at 5.628 percent and Vietnam, 3.848 percent. However, it remains slower than the global average of 11.94 percent, as well as the 17.89 percent posted by Cambodia and 7.398 percent, posted by Thailand. The report stated that the 10 largest borrowers are A rgentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey. “Debt stocks were driven up by a 15-percent jump in China, fueled by investor appetite for renminbi-denominated assets,” the World Bank said in the same statement. The report also showed that net debt inflows to low- and middle-

income countries from multilateral creditors surged 86 percent, principally due to the International Monetary Fund’s support for Argentina. Excluding that loan, net inflows from multilateral creditors to other low- and middle-income countries were unchanged from the previous year. Lending from non-Paris Club creditors to countries eligible to borrow from the WB’s International Development Association (IDA), its fund for the poorest countries, slowed. T he share of new commitments from non-Paris Club bilateral creditors fell to 17 percent (a continued decline from 43 percent in 2010) while the share held by Paris Club bilateral creditors remained steady at 12 percent. “Although on average the external debt burden of low- and middle-income countries was moderate, several countries have been on a deteriorating debt trajectory since 2009, the report indicates,” the WB said. “The share of low- and middleincome countries with debt-toGNI ratios below 30 percent has shrunk to 25 percent, down from 42 percent 10 years ago. Similarly, the share of countries with high debt-to-export ratios has climbed,” it added. Bond issuance by low- and middle-income countries—a primary source of external financing for some countries—fell 26 percent to $302 billion in 2018 amid heightened global uncertainty, tighter capital markets, and credit ratings downgrades. However, Sub-Saharan countries excluding South Africa issued a record-high $17 billion in bonds. Issues in 2018 were characterized by longer maturities and all were oversubscribed. Net financial f lows to lowand middle-income countries— including both debt and equity—slipped 19 percent in 2018 to $1 trillion. Excluding China, which accounts for half of net debt flows and 43 percent of net equity flows, net financial flows to low- and middle-income countries tumbled 28 percent.

US visa of alleged ‘drug queen’ Guia Gomez-Castro canceled

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) has disclosed that that the US visa issued to suspected drug queen Guia Gomez-Castro has been canceled in a bid to bring her back to the country. The cancellation was made upon the request of the justice department lodged with the US government. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar earlier claimed that Castro left the country for Bangkok, Thailand, on September 21, then flew to Taiwan and then to the United States on September 25. “The Bureau of Immigration [BI] is now working with US Immigration authorities to effect her deportation to the Philippines,” DOJ Undersecretary and Spokesman Markk Perete said. The BI earlier confirmed that Castro was allowed to leave the country because she has no derogatory record that would bar her from doing so. “We have so far verified only one case and it is with the MTC [Metropolitan Trial Court] at QC [Quezon City],” Perete said referring to the violation of the anti-bouncing check law case against Castro. Castro, who is one of the priority targets of the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, was a former barangay chairman in Sampaloc, Manila. Meanwhile, Eleazar said they are now looking into the circumstances that led to the dismissal of the drug complaint earlier filed against Castro The case against Castro was filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, for violation of Section 15 and 16 of Republic Act 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. Section 15 refers to sale, administration, dispensation, delivery, transportation and distribution of regulated drugs, while Section 16 refers to possession or use of regulated drugs. Joel R. San Juan

Thursday, October 3, 2019 A3

Customs breaches ₧10-B rice tariff collection target for ’19 By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

he Bureau of Customs (BOC) has already exceeded its P10billion rice import tariff collection target for this year. “Yes, we have already reached P10.7 billion as of end-September,” Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday. His confirmation came as the BOC is working with the Department of Agriculture and the Tariff Commission on the possible imposition of safeguard duties on

rice imports to protect the farming industry. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said last month that they are eyeing to raise tariffs on imported rice as early as mid-October in a bid to arrest an oversupply of the staple. As of September, Dar said, they have already imported 2.4 million tons since March. Despite the plan to double the current rice import tariff of 35 percent, Maronilla said, they think they would still be able to hit P15 billion even if the volume of rice imports would decrease.

“If they [importers] are going to shoulder [the additional 30 percent to 35 percent safeguard duties], then we’ll still have the same volume, then so much better. But if the volume decreases even by half of our projected price, I think we will still be able to make it because we are going to collect double the duties,” he said. Under the rice trade liberalization law, or Republic Act 11203, the tariff revenues in excess of the P10 billion shall be earmarked by Congress and included in the General Appropriations Act for the following year.

CA affirms ruling vs Coast Guard officer for misuse of P67.5-M cash advance By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the Ombudsman’s decision ordering the dismissal from service of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official for his involvement in the anomalous utilization of cash advances in 2014 amounting to P67.5 million. In an 11-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez, the CA’s Fifth Division denied the petition for review filed by Mark Franklin Lim II, special service officer of the PCG, seeking the reversal of the decision issued by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (OMB-Moleo). The July 19, 2017, decision found him guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and dismissed him from government service. The case stemmed from the separate criminal and administrative complaints filed by OMB-Moleo against several officers of the PCG, including Lim for malversation of public funds through falsification under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended; violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act, in relation to RA 9184 or the Gov-

ernment Procurement Reform Act (2003); and serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The complaints specifically alleged that in 2014, the PCG released various special cash advances (SCAs) to 21 special disbursing officers (SDOs) in the total amount of P67,533,289.73. From this amount, P500,000 was released to Lim supposedly for the procurement of office supplies and information-technology (IT) equipment. The complaint was based on Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) dated April 15, 2015, issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) after conducting a review of the liquidation reports and confirming reported anomalies in the utilization of PCG funds, particularly on the liquidation of cash advances and reimbursements of expenses in 2014. The COA found that cash advances made by PCG officers named in the complaint, did not have the required documentary support via Office Orders designating the recipients as SDOs, in violation of a COA Circular requiring heads of agencies to grant SCAs only to duly designated disbursing officers. The COA discovered that the addresses of some dealers/suppliers were not indicated in the sales

and cash invoices, and official receipts and that upon confirmation and validation by COA, some of these dealers/suppliers denied the transactions or issuing invoices or receipts. In denying the complaint, Lim pointed out that he was designated as SDO of the Special Service Office (SSO) on March 15, 2013, and was authorized to disburse a maximum of P500,000. He insisted that the questioned emergency purchase was properly supported by valid receipts and was justified under the Yolanda relief operation of the PCG. Lim also claimed that he never participated in any spurious transaction for the liquidation of his cash advances; that he relied in good faith on the regularity in the performance of duty of his subordinates and the suppliers’ representatives; and that only a portion of the amount in the disbursement report, or the total amount of P77,166.25, was included in the AOM having questionable receipts. He argued that signatories to a questioned document do not automatically become conspirators to a crime; that as SDO with subordinates, it was not his duty to canvass, inspect and receive purchased items; and that his approval or certification of the docu-

Embattled Albayalde says he won’t quit as PNP chief

Moreover, the law also provides that these excess tariff revenues shall be allocated for rice farmers’ financial assistance, titling of agricultural rice lands, expanded crop insurance program on rice, and crop diversification program. Last month, National Statistician and Civil Registrar Dennis S. Mapa confirmed that average farm-gate price of unhusked rice have gone up from P8 per kilogram to P10 kg, particularly in Luzon. Meanwhile, the average farmgate prices of wet palay have reached P14 per kg to P18 kg in other provinces, such as those in the Visayas.

hilippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday said he has no intention to resign from his post, noting that he still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Duterte despite allegations dragging him to the “ninja cops” issue. “Abogado ang ating President hindi po ’yan nagde-decide based on accusation at naging piskal ’yan. [Our President is a lawyer. He is not the type to decide based only on accusations as he also served as a fiscal.] He acts on the basis of evidence, kaya sabi niya [that’s why he said] he will leave that Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday (October 2, 2019) said he has no up to Secretary [Eduardo Año] intention to resign from his post amid allegations dragging him to the issue of rogue police officers involved in of DILG [Department of the In- recycling seized illegal drugs. Albayalde was relieved as Pampanga provincial police chief in 2014, over irregularities terior and Local Government]. in an antidrug operation in Mexico town involving his subordinates. PNA File photo Alam n’yo naman ang ugali ng ating Pangulo pag talagang ayaw ka na niya, ayaw ka na niya [You know against illegal drugs. the President’s attitude. If he doesn’t like you, he really doesn’t “It also affects the campaign against crimes and corruplike you],” Albayalde said in a radio interview. tion. These attacks are directed against our reputation, inAlbayalde, who served as Pampanga provincial police chief cluding me, who leads the war on drugs. You be the judge. at the time of the assailed anti-drug raid, was relieved from See it for yourselves,” the PNP chief said. his post due to command responsibility. Meanwhile, PNP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said The 13 erring cops were ordered dismissed but the penalty there is no need for a loyalty check within the police ranks. was reduced to demotion after a motion for reconsideration “We do not see the need for a loyalty check for now. The was filed on March 14, 2016. whole PNP is in full support of the leadership and we are supAlbayalde, who is up for mandatory retirement on Novemporting our President as the Commander in Chief,” he told a ber 8, said it would be up to the President to decide on his fate. news briefing on Wednesday at Camp Crame, Quezon City. “I will wait for the President’s decision and I will wait Banac said while many police officers are saddened by for [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año’s decision,” Albaythe recent events, they continue to fulfill their mandate. alde said in a separate television interview. “Whatever they On Tuesday, President Duterte said he will await results of say, as I have said, I am expendable,” he added. investigations by the Senate and Interior Secretary Eduardo Albayalde said the attack against him affects the Año before deciding on whether or not to fire Albayalde over PNP as a whole, including the government’s campaign his alleged involvement in the ninja cops issue. PNA

ments prepared by subordinates was purely ministerial in nature. However, the CA held that there was no reversible error on the part of the OMB-Moleo in holding that petitioner and the other PCG officers failed to comply with the requirements under RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “Petitioner failed to prove that the items purchased were absolutely indispensable and urgent to dispense with the requirement of competitive bidding; and that the PCG paid the lowest or most advantageous purchase price,” the CA said. The appellate court added that the OMB-Moleo correctly noted that the purchased items were not urgent in character but were actually regular and foreseeable office supplies and IT equipment. “Petitioner’s bare allegation is self-serving and does not constitute evidence. It is basic in the rules of evidence that bare allegations, unsubstantiated by evidence, are not equivalent to proof,” it added. The CA also pointed out that considering Lim’s professional background and years of service in the government—whose duties include the approval or disapproval of procurement transactions—“he was expected to exercise utmost responsibility and fidelity in the discharge of that duty.”

Senate, House take one-month recess By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

he Senate and the House of Representatives, adhering to its approved calendar, adjourned their plenary sessions on Wednesday for a monthlong recess, even as the Senate leadership clarified that its working committees were authorized to conduct public hearings in aid of crafting legislation during the break. Regular sessions resume on November 4. “It is business as usual at all regular, standing, oversight and special committees of the Senate,” Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said after filing the resolution enabling all Senate committees to “conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during every recess of the Senate to have a continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations.” For his part, Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon pointed out that all standing committees of the Senate, except the Blue Ribbon Committee, could not hold hearings on a resolution that was not read in the plenary and referred to a committee in the process of passing proposed legislations, noting that only the Blue Ribbon panel can hold hearings on its own even without a resolution filed. Before the adjournment on Wednesday, the Senate adopted Resolution 154 authorizing all working committees to conduct inquiries on “issues of national interests to aid in crafting relevant legislation.” Resolution 154 also authorized the committees “to issue subpoena, or subpoena duces tecum, to any person, corporation entity or its officers to testify and/or produce such documents which maybe needed in the meetings, hearings or consultations of the committees.” It also encouraged committees “to immediately file committee reports based on the outcome of its studies, hearings or investigations to the Senate in its regular and special sessions, and to regard all pending measures with utmost urgency for the consideration of its immediate passage by the Senate.” The resolution, among others, cleared the way for the Senate Committee on Finance to continue conducting public hearings on the Palace-proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for next year, also known as the National Expenditure Program for 2020.

A4 Thursday, October 3, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

ADB, Infra Asia sign infra funding and devt pact By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

N a bid to plug Southeast Asia’s infrastructure deficit, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Singapore-based Infrastructure Asia have signed an agreement to develop bankable and sustainable infrastructure projects in the region. In a news statement, the Manila-based multilateral development bank said the agreement will launch the Innovative Finance Lab for Sustainable Infrastructure to help governments and state-owned institutions develop good infrastructure projects. ADB Director General for Southeast Asia Ramesh Subramaniam said innovative and green finance approaches could be used to plug the $210 billion annual infrastructure investment needs of Southeast Asia until 2030. “Southeast Asia faces significant financing gaps in meeting its infrastructure needs, including for climate-change mitigation and adaptation costs,” Subramaniam said. “We need innovative financing approaches to mitigate risks in infrastructure projects and better leverage public funds, so that many more funds are catalyzed from private and institutional sources to support greener, cleaner and timely infrastructure development,” he added. Through the initiative, stateowned enterprises, as well as regional and municipal governments in Southeast Asia can improve their institutional, financial, and governance capacities for developing innovative and green infrastructure programs and projects. The Innovative Finance Lab for Sustainable Infrastructure, a virtual space supported by a biannual event in Singapore, aims to gather stakeholders across S out he a st A si a to e xc h a nge knowledge. The lab will also help them improve their policy-making capacities, and adopt innovative and green finance models in local infrastructure projects. “Projects structured with better financial and technical elements, along with good partnerships, are

key to helping improve the bankability of Asia’s sustainable infrastructure projects,” Singapore Infrastructure Asia Executive Director Seth Tan said. “Through this collaboration with ADB, Infrastructure Asia will work in close consultation with the international financing, credit enhancement, and technology ecosystem in Singapore to improve municipalities and state-owned enterprises’ access to private capital,” he added. The lab will also serve as a capacity-building platform for the Asean Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF), which was launched in April 2019 to develop green infrastructure projects across Asean by catalyzing public and private capital and technologies. The ACGF is part of the Green and Inclusive Infrastructure Window, launched by Southeast Asian governments, ADB, and major development financiers under the Asean Infrastructure Fund, a regional financing initiative established in 2011 that has committed $520 million for energy, transport, water and urban infrastructure projects across the subregion. ACGF aims to mobilize around $1.3 billion from a number of sources, including the Asean Infrastructure Fund, ADB, the German development cooperation through KfW, the European Investment Bank, the Republic of Korea, and Agence Française de Développement. The facility is also supported by other entities, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Global Green Growth Institute, and the Overseas Private Investment Corp. The agreement between ADB and Infrastructure Asia was signed during the Asia Infrastructure Forum in Singapore by Subramaniam and Tan. Infrastructure Asia is a Singaporean agency with the mandate of supporting Asia’s economic and social growth through infrastructure development. In 2018, ADB made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Economy BusinessMirror

Philippines’s ranking in geothermal energy generation slides to third after Indonesia

By Lenie Lectura

@joveemarie

HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday filed a bill establishing a fiscal regime for the mining industry. In House Bill 5022, Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda said his proposal pushes for an equitable imposition of royalty on mining operations within and outside mineral reservations. Under the proposal, a 3-percent royalty tax shall be imposed on large-scale mining operations within a mineral reservation. The bill also said a margin-based royalty tax shall be imposed on large-scale mining operations outside mining reservation areas, ranging from 1 percent to 5 percent. The bill said small-scale mining operations shall be exempt from the payment of royalty. Currently, the law requires payment of royalty fees only in mining sites declared as mineral reservations.

Trust fund

THE measure also proposed the creation of the Natural Resource Trust Fund, a sovereign wealth fund for use by local governments where mines are located. “On top of providing funds for rehabilitation of abandoned mines, prior to the enactment of Republic Act 7942, the fund accumulates resource revenues from mining operations, and extends their benefits to the next generations through educational programs, technological and research programs, health services, and disaster risk reduction management initiatives,” Salceda said. Under the bill, the trust fund from the annual payment of mining contractors to the Bureau of Internal Revenue of an additional amount of 2 percent based on gross output for large-scale metallic mining

@llectura

EOTHERMAL industry stakeholders gathered Tuesday to discuss how the Philippines can attain additional geothermal capacities after the country’s ranking dropped to third as the world’s largest geothermal producer. After many years of placing second in the world ranking, the Philippines now ranks third after Indonesia. The United States of America occupies the top slot. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Robert Uy, in his keynote speech during the First Philippine International Geothermal Conference held in Taguig City, noted that the country’s attractive geothermal areas are already developed. The Philippines, he stressed, is known for hosting world-famous facilities like the Tongonan Geothermal Project (700 megawatt) in Leyte and the MakBan Geothermal Projects (490 megawatt) in Batangas. Aside from the Nasulo geothermal power plant and Maibarara geothermal power plant, there were no significant developments realized since the enactment of the Renewable Energy (RE) law in 2008. Even with the very large potential of the country in terms of geothermal resources, Uy said, there are still glaring reasons for the decline in geothermal investments: lack of

potential investors who are willing to take the risk, unattractive incentives package compared to other countries, a privatized energy sector and tedious permitting processes. “I look at this as a challenge for us to continue exploring geothermal energy sources locally, especially now that we are at the crossroads of balancing our energy needs and responsible utilization of energy resources with respect to the environment,” he said. “It is also the main reason why we are all here today. For that, we thank the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines [NGAP] headed by its president, Joeffrey Caranto for organizing the first-ever Philippine Geothermal International Conference,” Uy added. “We do hope that through events like this, we will have more avenues to discuss where we are now and what can we do to get to where we want to be years from now. Let us proceed to the third wave in Philippine geothermal growth,” said the DOE official. Caranto, who is also the assistant vice president of the country’s largest

geothermal producer Energy Development Corp. (EDC), for his part said that one of the geothermal industry’s biggest hurdle is tariff. “Tariff obviously is a big hurdle because we don’t have FiT [Feed-intariff] in geothermal” unlike in other RE sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass. FiT is an incentive provided to RE developers. Caranto cited other hurdles. “There’s a lot of hurdles on infra, transmission line especially up in the mountains, civil works, security. Also, one setback of the RE law and deregulation is that we don’t have long-term PPAs [power purchase agreements] anymore. If you look at Indonesia, they can sign up PPA contracts up to 25 years. They also have a lot of incentives that help the private industries develop geothermal.” EDC President Richard Tantoco urged industry stakeholders “to be bold, to experiment and innovate in order to discover new things” notwithstanding the risks involved. “We need to take risks in order to gain the reward. We need to be ambitious. The geothermal industry needs to have aggressive ambition in order to grow. Geothermal is needed because it’s 24 by 7 power,” he said in his speech. A geothermal player normally spends between $30 to $50 million just to explore potential geothermal resources. It cannot recoup its investment should exploration work turns out unsuccessful. The DOE official, therefore, suggested during the conference to look into sources that are beyond conventional like medium to low enthalpy and acidic geothermal energy source. “The DOE is also procuring MT

equipment for geophysical surveys. With this and the technically capable personnel from the Geothermal Energy Management Division, the DOE has now the capabilities to conduct preliminary exploratory studies that can prequalify geothermal areas and significantly reduce the resource risk. With this lessened risks, we envision that investing in geothermal energy development will be more palatable for both local and international developers,” Uy added. “Rest assured that the Department of Energy will study on how the government sector can provide assistance to the development of such sources through both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives,” he said. Caranto said the industry is closely coordinating with the DOE “to come up with some sort of regulations or incentives that will also help the industry.” “For the last 15 years, there’s not so much geothermal developments. If you look at our energy mix, you cannot find other renewable that’s baseload other than hydro and geothermal. If you look at conventional energy resources, they’re very expensive, he pointed out. They’re up in the mountains, Permits are very difficult to obtain. But if you look at nonconventional, low temperature…they’re closer to communities, lower elevation areas. Economically, it’s easier to develop and it’s nearer to transmission lines. Everywhere else in the world, they’re developing low enthalpy systems, why are we not doing it? Because we’re focusing on high temp systems because it’s how we started. We are good in that area,” the EDC official pointed out.

Govt strengthens drive against illicit cigarette makers

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported on Wednesday that it has destroyed over a billion-peso worth of illegally owned and operated cigarette-making equipment and counterfeit cigarettes in Misamis Oriental and Leyte. In a news statement, the tax agency said the seized goods included raw materials and packaging supplies used for cigarette manufacturing.

House bill proposal: Fiscal regime for mining industry By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

which shall be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury within the first quarter of the succeeding income year. The bill said failure to comply with this obligation would warrant immediate suspension or closure of the mining activities of the contractor concerned. To ensure utmost care in fund handling, the bill said the fund shall limit discretionary spending until the next administration. “The fund shall be used by local government units to support educational programs, technological, research programs of local relevance, disaster risk management, rehabilitation of abandoned mines, and health services programs of the communities directly affected by mining activities,” Salceda added. The bill also optimizes revenues from mining agreements through an auctioning system to be established by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The measure acknowledges that mining operations deleteriously affect the carrying capacity of the environment to the detriment of future generations. The measure optimizes revenues from mining agreements through an auctioning system, to be established by the MGB. This will minimize awarding of mineral agreements based on asymmetrical information, first-come, first-served system, and patronage politics. Moreover, it shall promote investments in mineral-rich areas through an online portal open to the public. The measure institutionalizes the nation’s participation in the Philippine Extracive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) provided under DENR Administrative Order 2017-07 requiring full public disclosure in the mining industry, particularly in revenue collection and tax payments.

It can be recalled that Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III ordered the BIR and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to “keep a tight watch” over the illicit cigarette trade due to impending higher excise taxes under the “sin” tax reform measure. “We are aware that with the increase in sin taxes, there will be greater incentive for evasion. This is the reason we have heightened our

vigilance against the manufacturing and trade of illicit cigarettes,” Dominguez said. The finance chief added that one cigarette-making equipment can produce up to 20,000 sticks per minute. The BIR earlier formed a “strike team” tasked to run after illicit manufacturers and traders. “The destruction of these machines

is mandated by law to ensure that these devices can never be used in pursuing illegal manufacturing of cigarettes,” said Cagayan de Oro Revenue Regional Director Nuzar N. Balatero. Government operatives said the illegal tobacco trade has shifted from smuggling cigarettes to producing locally counterfeit brands using undocumented cigarette-making machines acquired mostly from China. Jove Moya

Study shows women of childbearing age are likely to drop out of labor force

OMEN who are at the peak of childbearing age are likely to drop out from the labor force, according to a study commissioned by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Neda said in the study “Determinants of Female Labor Force Participation in the Philippines,” it includes women aged 25 to 29 years old. The study also said with this, the gender gap in the labor force participation rate (LFPR) remains at 30 percent, the widest in the region. “The results underline the need for policy reforms that would counter stereotyped gender norms and discrimination in the workplace, including an extended paternity leave and stronger enforcement of the Telecommuting Act,” Neda said in a news statement. While the LFPR rate estimate does not include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Neda said even if they are included, the LFPR will not improve by much. The study stated that if the estimated 1.2 million female overseas workers in 2017 were added to both the working age population and the labor force, the LFPR of Filipino women in the overseas and domestic labor markets would reach 48 percent in 2017. Data showed that currently, married men are more likely to participate in the labor force by 11 percentage points more compared to never married men and 5 percentage points more

compared to men who are separated, annulled or widowed. By comparison, currently married women have a lower likelihood to participate in the labor force by 12 percentage points relative to never married women and by 10 percentage points relative to women who are separate, annulled or widowed. The presence of young children aged three years and below is also associated negatively with labor force participation for women and is not significantly related with men’s labor force participation. Neda said there is a positive marginal effect of children in the school ages which may indicate the need for women to augment family income to defray for educational expenditures. “While [a] high level of participation is largely maintained for the men until it declines in the age period toward compulsory retirement, the pattern for the women exhibits a decline in labor force participation rate in the peak childbearing period of 25 to 29 years old,” Neda said. “This may indicate the higher likelihood of women to withdraw from the labor force for marriage, childbirth and child-rearing. The disruption in active economic participation during this phase of the life cycle is observed only for women and not for men,” it added. In March, it was reported that nearly 11 million Filipinas have stopped looking for jobs in January as they were

forced to just stay in the house and perform domestic duties, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). PSA Assistant National Statistician Wilma A. Guillen told the BusinessMirror that the there were a total of 28.87 million Filipinos who are not in the labor force in January 2019. This was a 7.64-percent increase from the NITLF of 26.82 million in January 2018. Nearly 40 percent of the total or 10.569 million is composed of women who preferred to stay at home to attend to their duties to their families and own households. However, this was a 2.15 percent contraction from the 10.8 million posted in January 2018. The total of those in the NITLF due to household or family duties reached 11.604 million, a 0.16-percent increase from the 11.585 million in January 2018. Only 1.034 million of these individuals were males, a 32.06-percent growth from the 783,000 recorded in January 2018. Data also showed that some 10.119 million of the NITLF included those aged 15 and over who are not looking for work because of schooling. This was 9.22-percent growth from the 9.265 million recorded in January 2018. Further, Guillen said, those aged 15 to 24 years old who were NITLF reached 9.875 million in January 2019, a 6.58-percent growth from 9.265M in January 2018. Cai U. Ordinario

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BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 3, 2019 A5

A6 Thursday, October 3, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Weathering the coming global economic storm

he World Trade Organization said on Tuesday that global trade is forecast to weaken this year to its slowest pace since the depths of the Great Recession because of the US-China trade war. The WTO expects volumes of traded goods to rise 1.2 percent in 2019, well below the 2.6 percent estimate it issued in April and the weakest growth rate for world trade since 2009. In an interview with The Associated Press, WTO Chief Roberto Azevêdo said: “The darkening outlook for trade is discouraging but not unexpected. Further rounds of tariffs and retaliation could produce a destructive cycle of recrimination.” The WTO forecast followed an earlier warning issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said that global trade tensions, continued uncertainty and rising prospects for a no-deal Brexit are sapping the strength of the world economy, which faces a “precarious” 2020. It said trade conflicts are undercutting investment and weakening manufacturing, and urged countries to avoid using tariffs to resolve their differences. Wikipedia said the Great Recession was a period of general economic decline observed in world markets during the late 2000s and early 2010s. The scale and timing of the recession varied from country to country, and the IMF has concluded that it was the most severe economic and financial meltdown since the Great Depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States. The WTO’s forecast is bad news for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries caught in the crossfire of the intensifying US-China trade war. For these countries, the problem is how to protect themselves as the geopolitical giants clash. Global pundits have said an intensified US-China confrontation would be economically devastating for the two giants, but more so for the US allies in Asia, countries that are deeply interdependent with China in trade and commerce. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the prospect of a technological or economic Iron Curtain coming down is alarming for countries whose economic interests pull one way while their security interests pull another. Yet, the only way to get countries such as Singapore to reduce their dependence on Beijing is to vastly deepen the possibilities for economic, financial and technological integration within the US-led coalition. Here, America presently seems like an uncertain partner, at best. The adverse effect of the Great Recession that ignited the 2008 global financial crisis was felt in the Philippines from the fourth quarter of 2008 until the first quarter of 2009. The country suffered because of its economic dependence on the US, the world’s largest economy. The Great Recession affected the Philippine economy in three ways: exports drastically declined, remittances of Filipino overseas workers have slowed and foreign direct investments greatly declined. As the Philippines is strongly connected to both the US and China’s economic umbilical cords, we will be affected by the gloomy global trade outlook and a weakening world economy. President Duterte’s five-day visit to Russia could not have been timed better, especially with the prospect of enhancing and expanding our economic relations with Russia, an oil producing country. Reports said Russian policy-makers have started to view the Philippines as a linchpin in their strategy to economically engage the Asean bloc. This change in perspective has been triggered by the country’s economic vibrancy in recent years. Duterte may yet find a way to further spur the country’s economic growth amid the global gloom. Since 2005

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Comfort zone or painful gain? John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

hat are you willing to do to get what you want as an individual or as a nation? Certainly, most everyone says that they want to be rich. But most people are not willing to step outside their “comfort zone” of potentially going to prison to rob a bank.

That might seem an extreme example, but in truth it is not. The reality is that you have to put everything in total context and that is particularly true to a nation. It is certainly acceptable and maybe even necessary to criticize whatever government you have to put up with. But if you are going to start comparing the Philippines—or any other country for that matter— with another nation, you have to look at and then accept the total package. Therefore, it becomes completely intellectually dishonest to make comparisons that are out of context. And it is annoying. I find this particularly true when people whine and

complain that the Philippines should be more like Thailand or Vietnam. In fact, these people know that they are full of carabao dung because they often say that the Philippines should learn from these two nations and “adopt their best practices.” Again, “best practices” are part of a package. Granted that I am not a big fan of “democracy” as practiced in the 21st century. I am more into “hereditary absolute monarchy.” I am thinking along the lines of a familycontrolled corporation, like the SM or Ayala group of companies. The “hereditary” part comes from building on a long legacy that the “family” wants to continue into the future.

President Duterte’s trip to Russia coincides with a significant event

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You bring in outside directors to offer another perspective but control stays with the people that have a vested interest in the two or three generations. But that is another story, I suppose. Thailand has a “constitutional monarchy” but, in fact, it is a “military dictatorship.” The elected civilian government lasts only as long as it screws things up, which requires the military to completely take over. It has done it three times since the Philippines’s “Edsa People Power Revolution.” Every three months—after Vietnam reports its economic numbers, including foreign investment—a large group of Filipinos starts wailing that the Philippines should take Vietnam’s best practices. Like most other nonsense, it looks sort of good on paper, but only if you are willing for some painful gains. One of their best practices the Philippines could follow is to eliminate private ownership and control of land. In Vietnam, the government owns all the land. That fact really helps in getting public works projects completed quickly. If the government wants to build a highway, they do not have to put up with the costly and time-consuming

database

NKNOWN to many people, President Duterte’s trip to Russia coincides with one of the most significant events in the country’s history 34 years ago this month when thenFirst Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos brought the image of Our Lady of Fatima to be consecrated with the Liturgical Service in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. Mrs. Marcos recalled: “That was October 1985, the month of the Holy Rosary. As I left the Church together with a large retinue of Catholic bishops from the Philippines, a spray of snow descended on my face and before I could wipe it out, an old woman from nowhere sidled close and whispered: ‘Madam, for the blessings you have brought to Russia by opening our Church to honor the Virgin Mother, much will be exacted from your life!’” “Those words,” said Mrs. Marcos, “were indeed prophetic. In a few months, we were forced into exile, and shortly thereafter, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics began to dissolve and the freedom of

religion was restored along with other fundamental liberties throughout what was once the solid bastion of communism.” “It symbolized in a way the sacrifices expected of my own life, the life of my husband and the lives of my children, our country and our people,” Mrs. Marcos said. “But despite years of sustained and officially sanctioned indoctrination,” she said, “the masses have not been tricked into losing all reverence for the late President Marcos. The masses persist in measuring succeeding leaders against the Marcos benchmark. Are they resolute and politically willful? Are they able to stand up to the Americans? What

“The masses persist in measuring succeeding leaders against the Marcos benchmark. Are they resolute and politically willful? Are they able to stand up to the Americans? What were they able to build? What did they do for the homeless, the landless, the illiterate, the sick and the poor?” were they able to build? What did they do for the homeless, the landless, the illiterate, the sick and the poor?” To this day, one often hears among the common folk: “Mabuti pa noong panahon ni Marcos [It was better during the Marcos era].” Coming from humble citizens who presumably suffered under his rule, this accolade is more precious to the Marcoses than many a formal tribute. “The Marcos era was indeed better in many ways, for the leadership was of higher quality, and loftier commitment. From the dawn of prehistory, Malakas and Maganda [Strong and Beautiful] have journeyed to lead their progeny across perilous period, with not just survival in mind, but a superior future,” said the book A Country Imperiled in Chapter 8 (Cruelty that men do) that I wrote in 2011 for Amazon, one of the world’s largest publishing houses based in the US.

annoyance of “right-of-way” negotiations. Imagine how quickly Metro Manila transportation could move forward. Vietnam has a great track record in attracting foreign investment. Of course, foreign investors can import everything they want virtually dutyfree. No Vietnamese company is ever going to complain about unequal treatment. Bring in enough foreign money and the government will let you use their land for free. Another little twist that helps Vietnam’s economy is that a Vietnamese cannot invest abroad or even buy a condo in San Francisco without direct and specific government approval. If you make money in Vietnam, it stays in Vietnam. So, which best practices should we adopt to have higher growth and more foreign investment? The Philippines would, probably, have to start by doing away with that “free election” idea. And any criticism of the government would have to stop also. But as we all know, “no pain, no gain.”

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.

Prof. Teodoro A. Agoncillo, the late eminent historian, in his 637page History of the Filipino People, never referred to President Marcos as a dictator. Here’s what Agoncillo said: “The mortal life of President Marcos came to an end on September 28, 1989. But his death did not put a stop to the obsessive efforts of his foes to stigmatize him for perpetuity. The pseudo-gods have consigned him to perdition. “There is an explanation: Marcos the man is dead, but his legacy lives on. While his people continued to govern and be governed through the barangays, Marcos lives. While citizens continue to oppose communist control, Marcos lives. While the poor clamor for a return to the socialized pricing of basic commodities, the control of housing rentals, the protection of Philippine industries from foreign competitors, and the regulation of key industries, like petroleum and power distribution, Marcos lives. While the people demand a leadership that gets things done over the protests of privileged minorities, Marcos lives. In the form of these legacies, Marcos is indestructible. “Unable to erase President Marcos from the nation’s memory, his enemies have resorted to editing history See “Arillo,” A7

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Singapore has some tough advice for the US and China

On being dutiful servants Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Alálaong Bagá

By Hal Brands | Bloomberg Opinion

hese are fraught times for Asia-Pacific nations caught in the crossfire of the intensifying US-China rivalry. I recently wrote about how one longtime US ally, the Philippines, is repositioning itself between Washington and Beijing. But Manila is hardly alone in trying to protect itself as the geopolitical giants clash. Singapore confronts a similar challenge, which was thrown into relief by an interview that its prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, gave last week. Lee’s remarks may rankle some US analysts. Yet they highlight the dilemmas faced by weaker states— and point to some imperatives of success for America. First under the legendary Lee Kuan Yew, and now under his eldest son, Singapore has pulled off a shrewd balancing act in a contentious neighborhood. Singapore’s dynamic economy has been buoyed by Chinese trade and investment, and its population is mostly ethnic Chinese. Yet getting too close to a powerful China can be dangerous, so Singapore’s government has long viewed Washington as a critical counterweight to Beijing’s power. As that power has increased in recent decades, so has Singapore’s security cooperation with the US. Singapore’s armed forces regularly train with (and in) the US, and Singapore hosts the US Navy’s Logistics Group Western Pacific as well as deployments of littoral combat ships and P-8 maritime surveillance planes. US aircraft carriers conduct port visits in Singapore, a visible reminder that Washington takes an interest in the country’s security. Singapore remains officially neutral; unlike the Philippines, it does not have a treaty relationship with the US. Yet, if the Philippines is an ally that acts like a partner, as a senior US official once put it, Singapore is a partner that acts like an ally. This Singaporean balancing act was underscored by Lee’s interview with the Washington Post. Building on a speech he gave in May, at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Lee gave a warning to America and China alike. The trend toward seeing the USChina competition as “a conflict between two systems, almost two civilizations” is “very worrying,” he said. The US should not delude itself into thinking that pressure can bring about the collapse of the Chinese Communist Party; it should bear in mind that an economic and technological divorce between the world’s leading powers would create an impossible situation for America’s friends “so deeply enmeshed with the Chinese.” If the US insists that these countries choose sides, it might not like the results: “Where is your part of the world, and who will be in your system?” At the same time, Lee acknowledged that China’s behavior has become more truculent, due to rising geopolitical ambitions and growing internal difficulties. He also argued that China can no longer act like a developing country, but must bear its “share of responsibility upholding and supporting the global system” that has made it so rich and powerful. If a disastrous geopolitical showdown is to be averted, “statesmanship, consistency, perseverance and wisdom” will be required from both sides. Some of Lee’s comments are a bit grating, from an American perspective. He implies a certain moral equivalency between the US and China, and alludes only obliquely to Beijing’s horrifying abuses of the Uighurs in Xinjiang. Other aspects of his comments reflect an attitude better suited to 2005 than 2019: It is abundantly clear by now that China just won’t become a “responsible stakeholder” in an American-led system. Yet Lee’s comments shouldn’t be dismissed, because they illuminate three critical issues the US will face in rallying an international coalition to counter Chinese power.

Singapore remains officially neutral; unlike the Philippines, it does not have a treaty relationship with the US. Yet, if the Philippines is an ally that acts like a partner, as a senior US official once put it, Singapore is a partner that acts like an ally. First, a larger confrontation with China will be economically painful for US—but it could be economically devastating for America’s key allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific, all of which are deeply interdependent with Beijing in commercial, financial and technological terms. The prospect of a technological or economic Iron Curtain coming down is alarming for countries whose economic interests pull one way while their security interests pull another. To be sure, the US can’t compete successfully with China unless its friends become less dependent on Beijing: Some selective decoupling from the Chinese economy is important, even if wholesale decoupling remains implausible. Yet the only way to get countries such as Singapore to reduce their dependence on Beijing is to vastly deepen the possibilities for economic, financial and technological integration within the US-led coalition. Here, America presently seems like an uncertain partner, at best. Second, Lee underlines the dangers of combining hardline rhetoric with inconsistent policy. Many countries in the region were quietly happy for the Trump administration to take a tougher approach to China, but now they worry that the administration is better at talking competition than walking it. For example, Washington has pressured its friends in the AsiaPacific and elsewhere to avoid reliance on Chinese 5G technology, but efforts to provide alternatives have lagged far behind. Asia-Pacific countries have been jerked back and forth by the unexpected US effort to cripple Huawei Technologies Co., and then subsequent indications that Washington might relax its sanctions on the Chinese telecom giant. The US has increased its defense budget and revived the “quad” (a security and diplomatic mechanism involving the US, Australia, Japan and India), yet Trump has derided America’s alliance commitments to an unprecedented degree. An unreliable America does a small, exposed Singapore no good, and won’t be very effective in winning the loyalties of frontline states over time. Finally, Americans need to keep in mind that different messages will appeal to different parts of a prospective counter-China coalition. I have argued before that embracing the deep ideological conflict between liberal and illiberal forms of government is essential to rallying democratic countries to the cause. But other governments will find this argument less persuasive. Singapore is, after all, a police state, albeit a comparatively benign one. Other key partners, such as Vietnam, are deeply authoritarian. These countries may not be interested in making the world safe for democracy. But they do value selfdetermination—the idea that they should be able to work out their own destinies free of coercion and intimidation. That’s the sort of message that can be broadly effective in the Asia-Pacific, because it’s a concept that both liberal and friendly illiberal regimes can get behind.

he last two Sundays we were focused on the issue of the proper use of earthly goods. Now we are reminded of the constancy and hard work expected of us as disciples of Jesus with real faith in God (Luke 17:5-10).

Daunting standards Christian discipleship, as we have repeatedly seen, operates on standards that are daunting. Saint Luke in his Chapter 17 sets off with the minimum expected of the followers of Jesus: one must not give scandal to others causing them to sin, and one should be ready to assist and correct another, and be always willing to forgive. Hearing these stringent demands, the apostles could only gasp out to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” These moral requisites of discipleship truly necessitates a strong faith. Jesus’ reply reassures them that in fact even a small amount of genuine faith can do wonders. Not that faith is like magic that enables us

so-to-say to control God so that we program and accomplish sensational feats. Rather, in faith we are simply cooperating with God in what He is accomplishing in and through us. By faith we are ordinarily responding to God’s initiative within the context of our personal relationship with Him. In God’s grace we can indeed usually and responsibly reprove and forgive others readily, as well as be not a scandal but a model to others. As ordinary by the grace of God as Jesus’ vivid and hyperbolic comparison with ordering a mulberry tree to be uprooted and replanted in the sea. This extreme language, to stress the possibility of the impossible in God’s power, minces with the very difficult

Thursday, October 3, 2019 A7

task of uprooting a tree with an extensive root system and also with the unlikely event of a tree transplant in the sea.

Faithful, dutiful servant

The servant in the parable works all day in the fields and afterwards still has chores to do in his master’s house. Not only double-tasking as a farm hand and a domestic help, but actually being on duty all the time is the picture of the servant that is intended. All this is his workload and what is expected of him. And for being so, he should not be reckoning with a bonus from his master. “So should it be with you”—the followers of Jesus must realize that they are on 24-hour duty in this world. At no point can the work for the kingdom of God be halted or put on hold. There is no time out for the followers of Jesus; there is no rest for the weary. And no crowing and self-congratulation either, for they are simply doing what is expected of them. Even if they avoid at all time giving scandal to others, or always forgive those who wrong them, no special gratitude is due them because they are only doing what they are supposed to do. They should actually see themselves as “unprofitable”

servants, to whom nothing extraordinary is due because they are just doing their ordinary duties. Alálaong bagá, no amount of service on our part can be the guarantee of our salvation. What we do could never merit God’s gift of eternal life. Grace is always gratuitous, and faith in truly needed even to see that it is God’s power that makes possible the impossibility of our own total love and fidelity. The words of Jesus deflate the pride of those who boast of their personal accomplishments in God’s service. This pharisaical attitude of listing down one’s virtues and good deeds (like the older son in the gospel narrative three Sundays ago) makes relationship with God commercial and dependent principally on one’s performance and not on divine love and goodness. Our security and ultimate value is in the love of God, whose goodwill we do not lose when we no longer produce. The faith we ask for guides us to trust God’s unconditional love and to proclaim and share it with the world. 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.

Surging Asia failing to meet SDG targets

corporations from the Philippines, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh are now on the list. Also, the big Asian firms have diversified into technology, finance, logistics and infrastructure. They are now transforming the region’s economy into a services-led one, with manufacturing now accounting for a smaller share of the economy. The most dramatic development is on the digital side of the global economy. Wrote McKinsey: “Asia is online and booming. Today it already accounts for half [2.2

billion]of the world’s Internet users; China and India alone account for one-third…the region’s enormous pools of digital consumers support a flourishing and innovative technology sector. China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are among the most digitally advanced nations in the world. China has joined these ranks with startling speed. In ecommerce, for example, China accounted for less than 1 percent of the value of worldwide transactions only about a decade ago; that share is now more than 40 percent. Penetration of mobile payments among China’s Internet users grew from just 25 percent in 2013 to 68 percent in 2016. Three of China’s Internet giants— Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent—are building a rich digital ecosystem now rowing beyond them.” Mesmerizing. Is this indeed Asia’s 21st century? For majority of the working people of Asia, the answer is a likely no. There is no significant positive transformation in their lives. In fact, ESCAP said that Asia is on course to “to miss all” the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations as the global indicators of growth and development. ESCAP stands for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. In its Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report for 2019, ESCAP wrote that the “region needs to fasttrack progress or reverse negative trends regarding all Sustainable Development Goals to achieve the ambition of the 2030 Agenda.” Asia is lagging in realizing some of the SDG targets and even failing in meeting the other SDG targets. The 17 SDGs are: (1) zero hunger, (2) no poverty, (3) good health and well-being, (4) quality education, (5) gender equality, (6) clean water and sanitation, (7) affordable and clean energy, (8) decent work and economic growth, (9) industry, in-

novation and infrastructure, (10) reduced inequality, (11) sustainable cities and communities), (12) responsible consumption and production, (13) climate action, (14) life below water, (15) life on land, (16) peace, justice and strong institutions, and (17) partnership to achieve the foregoing goals. ESCAP’s summary of the SDG scorecard for Asia is as follows: n Progress is below 2000 levels for clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), decent work and economic growth (Goal 8), and responsible consumption and production (Goal 12); n No or little progress on zero hunger (Goal 2), industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9), reducing inequalities (Goal 10), sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11), climate action (Goal 13), life below water (Goal 14), life on land (Goal 15), and peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16); n Progress is insufficient on no poverty (Goal 1), good health and well-being (Goal 3), quality education (Goal 4), gender equality (Goal 5), and affordable and clean energy (Goal 7); n Slow progress in strengthening partnerships (Goal 17); n More than half of Asia-Pacific’s total employment is in the informal sector; n In a few countries, some 15 to 20 percent of children from ages 5 to 17 are engaged in child labor; n On average, 2,000 people die every day in traffic accidents in the region; and n 325 million people still live without electricity. Is the Philippines a mirror of the above Asian paradox? The economy is surging GDP-wise, and yet most of the GDP targets listed above are unlikely to be met by the country, not in 2030 (the UN target year) and probably not even in 2040 (the target year of Neda’s AmBisyon Natin 2040).

history textbooks that demonized him as a tyrant, a dictator, a fascist, an American puppet, a thief, a murderer, a crook.” In contrast, Dr. Sonia M. Zaide’s 241-page Philippine History and Government, has a six-page chapter on “the Marcos Dictatorship” which consistently quoted President Marcos as a dictator. Here’s an excerpt: “President Marcos became a dictator for 14 years—from 1972 to 1986…a dictator is a ruler who has total power…a dictatorship is the opposite of a democracy. So while President Marcos was a dictator, democracy died in our country from 1972 to 1986. “The 1973 Constitution was [sic] amended 22 times during the

Marcos dictatorship during [sic] 1973, 1976, 1981 and 1984. Some provisions were never followed. It was a very strange constitution because President Marcos could ignore it. In short, Marcos ruled as a dictator who was above the law…” Dr. Zaide’s book has been approved for use in Philippine high schools. It is only one of the many publications instilling in the minds of the youth the fiction that President Marcos was “a dictator who was above the law.” The mis-education is obvious, given the odious application to the term “dictator.” Newsweek’s story citing Mrs. Marcos one of “History’s 11 Greediest people” has been repeated many times over by her detractors. Even

the Guinness Book of Records mentioned her and President Marcos as thieves. Mrs. Marcos reacted and said: “Genghis Khan was on the Newsweek list too, and he was the greatest conqueror of mankind. I did not conquer the world with weapons but with peace. Greedy? I plead guilty to being greedy for the true, the good and the beautiful,” she told a group of lifestyle editors in 2009. What about the shoes her critics have repeatedly dished out to spite her. “At least they did not find skeletons in my closets” she said.

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

N 2011, the Asian Development Bank formally declared that the 21st century indeed shall be Asia’s century, and that this will be a reality by 2040 or thereabouts (See, ADB, Asia 2050: Realizing the Asian Century, 2011). To ADB, this means that Asia, which accounts for 60 percent of the world’s population, will reassume its economic dominance in the world in three decades, a position it held three centuries ago. ADB illustrated this crosscentury pendulum in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Source: Graph reproduced from Asia 2050 (ADB, 2011a, p. 3). The latest assessment on Asia’s rise came from McKinsey Global Institute, a multinational research institution. In its recent publication (Asia’s future is now, July 2019), McKinsey declared that Asia’s arrival came much earlier. It observed that homegrown Asian multinationals are now dominating the financial boards of the world. In 1997, Asia accounted for 36 percent of the 5,000 largest global firms; in 2017, the Asian share was up to 43 percent. China accounts for the huge increase, but McKinsey noted that

Arillo . . .

continued from A6

to depict him as an arch-villain–evil, vain, oppressive, beyond redemption, universally loathsome. “They have denigrated the medals his war exploits won him, as fakes. They have dragged him and his wife to various American courts on charges of plunder and massive human rights violations. In trials by publicity, the Marcoses stand convicted of atrocious acts, which approximate crimes against humanity. “They have demonetized the onepeso coin bearing his image, and all paper bills bearing his New Society catchphrase. They have produced

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

A8 Thursday, October 3, 2019

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Congress discretion on Charter caps nixed

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House of Representatives should exercise great caution in inserting “unless provided for by law” in several sections of the 1987 Constitution, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said, as a House panel opened deliberations on pending proposals to amend the Charter.

In a position paper, the government think tank said the amendment “unless provided by law” opens up windows for legislative play with regard to concessions to

foreign entities. “ The proposed changes are subtle, but the potential impacts are immense. Although still subject to congressional discourse and

translation, great caution must be exercised in protecting national patrimony and public interests, while pursuing developmental goals,” the PIDS said. On the proposed amendments related to natural resources, the PIDS said all the proposed amendments involve a simple clause “unless provided by law.” “The key point is whether Congress should be given the flexibility to decide on whether the nationality restriction should be lifted or not,” it said. “Allowing Congress to legislate laws on nationality in the utilization of natural resources is a better way to deal with the issue than by the way of Constitution. Complex technical, social and economic issues related to resource use cannot be resolved by a

fundamental law, but it can certainly be addressed by a suitably crafted law with IRR [implementing rules and regulations],” it added. However, the PIDS said the provision on the ownership or use of public agricultural lands by private corporations, which is limited to corporations 60 percent owned by Filipino citizens, is consistent with the Investment Code of the Philippines, “However, it may need to be reviewed together with proposals to lift the requirement of Filipino citizenship for foreign direct investments.” On the proposed amendment “unless otherwise provided by law” to education, science and technology, and the service industries, the PIDS said this proposal will give Congress the power to legislate laws that could liberal-

ize the ownership of educational institutions in the Philippines. The Constitution currently provides that at least 60 percent of educational institutions should be owned by Filipinos, other than those established by religious groups and mission boards. “Amending the Constitution to provide Congress the power to propose legislation on these matters could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives the government ample time to study the implications of liberalizing the ownership of educational institutions,” it said. “However, on the other hand, there is also a danger that these proposed measures might suffer the same fate of other constitutionally mandated laws, which languished in the committee level of Congress

for decades,” it added. Meanwhile, the PIDS expressed support for the proposal relaxing the restrictive provisions of the Constitution, saying the Philippines has one of the most restricted environments for foreign investment. “We support the call for studying areas where the Philippines can relax investment restrictions,” it said.

Consensus on 60-40

During the hearing of the House Committee on Constitutional A mendments on the Charter change proposal, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said there is already a consensus among members of his panel to lift the 60-40 restriction in the Charter. See “Charter,” A2

DA inks ₧433-M rice-seed deal Fortune Life LOCSIN ORDERS FILING By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has inked a P432.78-million deal with the country’s top seed growers to kick-start the government’s seeddistribution program via the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). The DA said it forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with five

seed growers’ associations and cooperatives for the seed component of the RCEF. The deal accounts for 21.64 percent of the P3-billion allocated for the RCEF seed program. Under the MOA, the seed growers will supply 25 percent, or about 500,000 bags, of the 2 million bags of inbred rice seeds to be distributed to farmer-beneficiaries of the program. The DA said the seed program of the RCEF started on October 1,

LOW PRESSURE AREA 880 KM EAST OF INFANTA, QUEZON as of 4:00 pm - October 2, 2019

the same day the MOA was signed. “The 2 million bags of seeds, each containing 20 kilos, will be planted to around 1 million hectares of rice land, and will benefit 1 million rice farmers in the country,” the DA said on Wednesday. The seed growers’ associations and cooperatives that signed the MOA are: Pangasinan Organic Seed Growers and Nursery Multipurpose Cooperative; Isabela Seed See “DA,” A2

Advocacy Program fetes tutors

OF DIPLOMATIC PROTEST OVER AYUNGIN SHOAL

ORTUNE Life Insurance Company pays tribute to teachers today by conferring the Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Award named in honor of its founder to recognize the outstanding performance of eight teachers, including three honorable mentions and five school officials at the launch of the ninth year of its Values Advocacy Program. The program, held by Fortune Life Insurance in partnership with the Education department and advocacy organization MaryLindbert International, promotes the teaching of the values of hard work and discipline to public school pupils. Lessons are based on the life story of Ambassador Cabangon Chua who overcame poverty by embracing these values. The Values Advocacy awarding program is also held by Fortune Life and its partner agencies to celebrate National Teachers’ Month which started on September 5 and culminates on October 5 with National Teachers’ Day and World Teachers’ Day. The awarding ceremony of “Gintong Parangal Para sa Guro,” now on its eighth year, highlights the acknowledgement of teachers, division supervisors and principals who worked assiduously in promoting the program’s advocacies. This year’s awardees are Cecilia S. Custodio, PhD, Ernesto P. Dizon, PhD, both of Bulacan; Markson B. Mejia of Sorsogon City; Ronaldo C. Reyes of Tabaco City and Joenary D. Silao of South Cotabato. Honorable mention awardees for this category are Guillermo J. Flores, PhD, of Bulacan; John Patrick G. Lazaro of Eastern Samar and Gabriel T. Vargas II of Malabon City. Gintong Parangal Para sa Pamumuno, now on its third year, is awarded to higher school officials from different schools division and district offices. The awardees for this category are Jenilyn Rose B. Corpuz, PhD, CESO VI of Manila; Melody P. Cruz, PhD, of Pasay City; Bianito A. Dagatan, PhD, CESO V of Cebu City; Imelda Sabornido, PhD, of Bayugan City and Felix Romy A. Triambulo, PhD, CESO VI of Zamboanga City. Winners will be receiving cash prizes, certificates and trophies to be awarded by Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones together with Fortune Life President and CEO D. Arnold A. Cabangon, Fortune Life EVP and General Manager Evelyn T. Carada and MaryLindbert International President and CEO Erlinda Legaspi. Briones, the guest of honor and keynote speaker of the event, will be accompanied by some DepEd undersecretaries and directors. Officers and other special guests from DepEd, the ALC Group of Companies, and MaryLindbert International are expected to take part in this year’s VAP Celebration.

LOCSIN PNA By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

OREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. has ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest against China amid reports it was sending bigger ships and blocking resupply missions for Philippine soldiers at Ayungin Shoal. Locsin was irked when informed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has said it will defer any decision to file a protest to the Department of Foreign Affairs. “I’m in Moscow. Do I have to fly home to file the goddamned diplomatic protest myself? That’s the military speaking. Not some friggin civilian media outlet, File Now!” Locsin tweeted. Locsin is in Russia as part of President Duterte’s entourage during his five-day official visit. The President’s plane and his delegation touched down at the Vnukovo Military Base Airport at 3:25 a.m. (8:25 a.m. Manila time) Wednesday. “We are not here to be confrontational. We are not going to engage any country in particular,” newly appointed AFP chief Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, was earlier quoted as saying. He added that the important thing as far as violations are concerned, “is the military’s ability to report and address these in a diplomatic manner.” When pressed further if the AFP, under his leadership, will simply allow the continued presence of China inside the country’s maritime waters particularly in the West Philippine Sea, Clement only said that these

Chinese ships will definitely be out there forever. It was the Washington-based think tank Center For Strategic and International Studies, through a brief released by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), that informed the AFP about the Chinese presence in areas contested by Manila in the West Philippine Sea. AMTI said that China is now sending larger but lightly armed coast guard vessels to patrol around Ayungin Shoal, Luconia Shoal in the Spratlys and Panatag Shoal up north. Netizen JoeAm noted that Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) is where the Philippines mans an outpost on the grounded rusty ship Sierra Madre, which has been reported to be on the receiving end of harassment by Chinese ships during multiple passes in recent months. Locsin replied: “I don’t know if a grounded bucket still qualifies as a navy ship, but the Marines are Marines and if they get hurt that triggers the Mutual Defense Treaty and World War III which frankly isn’t all as bad as it’s cracked up.” The Palawan-based Western Command, which has operational and security jurisdiction over the country’s western front, is directly tasked to protect and defend the country’s maritime domain in the Kalayaan Island Group. Small contingents of marines, sailors and airmen are currently on forward deployment in nine Philippine-occupied areas in the disputed region, which is also being claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

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Duterte favors bigger LGU take in natl tax collection By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CIT Y—President Duterte said he favors a bigger national revenue share for local government units (LGUs) to allow them wider elbow room to meet the needs of their respective constituents. T he President ’s st atement came on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling in July last year that entitled LGUs to have an expanded share of national taxes. “Tutal magamit ninyo [anyway you can use it] for anything. It is to your advantage,” Duterte told the 69th National Executive Board Meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) here on Friday. “Tama siguro talaga ang Supreme Court that you deserve more and from our sources ang inyong share [The Supreme Court is right after all that you deserve more and from our sources of your share].” He lauded the effort of city mayors to guarantee the delivery of appropriate government services to their constituents. “With your dedication to serve your respective constituents, I am confident you can address the growing needs of

our people and provide them the opportunity to lead meaningful lives.” The President said his administration was working on other key reforms to bring down poverty in the communities by pursuing an aggressive infrastructure program and maintaining peace and order at the local level. He encouraged city mayors to continue working with the national government “by crafting and implementing local policies that will benefit their constituencies.” As former mayor of this city, Mr. Duterte has made bold decisions like imposing a ban on mining activities in the city. As chairman of the regional development council, he also asked the national government to refrain from granting permits to foreign mining companies to exploit the gold in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley. He said all the benefits of the gold mines in the area should go to Filipino small miners. At the meeting of the League of Cities, he expressed his gratitude to the LCP’s National Executive Board “for reaffirming your commitment to uphold good governance, serve with integrity and accountability, and strictly observe judicious spending of public funds.”

Birds of all species are for all of us to watch, appreciate–DENR exec By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

N official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday urged the public to help protect migratory birds against unscrupulous individuals who see them either as pets or food. “These birds are for [our] eyes to see and appreciate. They are not for food or pets,” said Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, the concurrent director of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau. Calderon has issued a public advisory announcing the annual bird migration season. During the southward bird migration season, the Philippines is visited by thousands of migratory birds to escape the cold weather and take refuge in warmer regions. The birds stop briefly to feed and rest in wetlands—swamps, marshes, intertidal and coastal areas, rivers, ponds, lakes, as well as forests throughout the country. Hunting of wildlife is illegal and punishable under the provisions of Republic Act 9147, or the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, or Wildlife Act, Calderon said. The annual southward bird migration season begins in September and extends until February of the following year. During the period, the DENR and its partner conduct the annual bird count as part of a global effort to monitor

their population. During the annual bird count, Calderon said, DENR partners—bird watchers and photographers—are also expected to document the number of birds and species that visited the Philippines. “We are more excited to see critically endangered species, or new species of birds, being recorded or photographed,” he said. Calderon warned the public that hunting them for the illicit pet trade, or for food, is also “unsafe” as there is a possibility that the birds are carriers of diseases, like the dreaded avian influenza, or bird flu virus. Transfer of the virus to domestic birds eventually can endanger the country’s highly vulnerable poultry industry. Migratory birds are also ecosystem indicators. These birds tend to stay only in areas where there is plenty of prey to feed on—insects which show that an area is ecologically healthy—and safe. The Philippines is a signatory to the Bonn Convention, or the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and the Ramsar Convention, which aims to protect wetlands of international importance—feeding grounds of critically endangered migratory bird species. The Philippines has several Ramsar sites, including the the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, a popular bird-watching site in Metro Manila that is threatened by proposed landconversion projects in Manila Bay.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, October 3, 2019 A9

Marikina River free of ASF virus, fishes safe for human consumption, mayor says By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

ARIKINA City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Wednesday declared that Marikina River is free from the African swine fever (ASF) virus and that the fishes are safe to eat.

“Based on the ASF virus analysis of the Laguna Lake Development Authority [LLDA], Marikina River tested negative for ASF,” the mayor said. There were a total of 65 pig carcasses retrieved from the Marikina River since last month. The carcasses

started to surface on September 12. Teodoro said that they were wondering why there were dead pigs floating in the river, saying there’s no piggery or slaughter house along the river bank. The mayor said that their hard work paid off in retrieving the car-

casses of the pigs “that’s why the level of contamination is not so much.” “We were able to remove 65 carcasses from the river,” he added. The LLDA took water samples from three stations, namely, Circulo Verde in Pasig; boundary of Jesus de la Peña and Santa Elena; and Bayabas Street in Barangay Nangka. The clinical laboratory report submitted to the local government of Marikina was signed by LLDA General Manager Jaime Medina. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) told Teodoro that the fishes in the city’s river are safe to eat. The report of BFAR showed that pollutants in Marikina River increased but not to the point that it went beyond the regula-

tory limit of the Food and Drug Administration. The BFAR test showed that there is no longer presence of salmonella, staphylococcus aureus and E.coli. Teodoro also informed around 300 fishermen about the good news. “I lifted the fish ban based on the report conducted by BFAR. Iyon ang naging [That was my] basis…to lift the fishing ban. Fishermen and residents are now allowed to fish and swim in the river,” the mayor said. T he probe seek ing to find where the pig carcasses came from is still ongoing. Teodoro assured that people behind the dumping of pig carcasses in Marikina River will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Manila Water warns customers of higher water rates if SC maintains its Aug ruling By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

ANILA Water has asked the Supreme Court to reverse its August decision directing the company along with water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services to pay a fine amounting to almost P2 billion for violation of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act. In a 55-page motion for reconsideration, Manila Water through lawyer Alejandro Alfonso Navarro said the Court may also consider remanding or referring to the Court of Appeals or the Office of the Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or any appropriate government agency the case for a determination of factual issues, their liabilities and correct fines to be imposed. The company argued that contrary to the findings of the Court, the petitioner complied with the provisions of Section 8 of the Clear Water Act (CWA). In August, the SC affirmed the Court of Appeals’ ruling which found the Metropolitan Waterworks and

Sewerage System (MWSS), Maynilad and Manila Water liable for violation of Section 8 of the Philippine Clean Water Act. The provision requires MWSS and the two concessionaires to provide wastewater treatment facilities and to connect sewage lines in all establishments, including households, to an available sewerage system within five years upon the effectivity of RA 9275 on March 6, 2004. However, Manila Water insisted that under Section 8 of the Clean Water Act, its obligation is simply to connect sewage lines existing at the time of the effectivity of the law to then-available sewerage systems within five years from the law’s effectivity on March 6, 2004. The petitioner said the SC decision interprets Section 8 of the Clean Water Act to mean that it must unconditionally comply with all its obligations under the concession agreement within five years from the law’s effectivity. “In other words, the Decision folded-in the 40 -year per iod for petitioner Manila Water to comply with its obligations under the concession agreement

to a mere five years, when the said period under Section 8 of the Clean Water Act was only intended for the interconnection of sewage lines to sewerage systems existing and available in 2004,” it noted. T he Manila Water pointed out that even Congress recognizes the “immensity” of the task to provide complete and centralized sewerage system under the Clean Water Act, by mandating not one but several government agencies to implement its provisions, namely, the DENR, Department of Public Works and Highways, and various local government units. “ Therefore, the only reasonable conclusion is that petitioner Manila Water, as a private entity, cannot be required to assume obligations beyond those set forth in its concession agreement. To require petitioner Manila Water do so will not only violate the principles of non-impairment of contracts but will also undeniably constitute arbitrary exercise of police power, contrary to the established tenets of due process,” the water concessionaire said. The Manila Water also warned

that the accelerated establishment of a complete centralized sewerage system is expected to cause huge an increase in water prices by P26.70 per cubic meter or a 780. 18-percent increase in current water rates. “ This exponential increase in water prices will eat into the already meager savings of the average Filipino household in Metro Manila [which stands at P6,333.34 per 2015 survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority]. The situation paints an even dire picture if one is to consider the hefty fuel price hikes of recent days, the inflation which is projected to lie somewhere between 0.6 to 1.4 percent for September...” the company noted. It told the Court that as of December 31, 2018, Manila Water has reportedly spent a total of P38.5 billion for wastewater projects, higher than the P36.9 billion collected in sewer charges. Under its concession agreement, the Manila Water said it is allowed to recover operating, capital maintenance and investment expenditures efficiently and prudently incurred from its customers.

Waze ties up with key cities for traffic congestion solutions By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

AVIGATION app Waze has allowed governments to access traffic data on its platform via the cloud to help them analyze transport patterns and create solutions for chronic congestions, such as that in Manila. Dani Simons, who heads the public sector partnerships office at Waze, said through its data platform called Waze for Cities, governments may collaborate to beat the traffic congestion in their cities by using the crowdsourced traffic data

from the navigation app. The platform is directly integrated with Google Cloud, which allows over 1,000 partners globally to “create visualizations” for more efficient traffic management. “Waze has been a pioneer in sharing data with cities and working with them to improve infrastructure and fight traffic. But over the past five years, the landscape has changed. Cities have more data than ever, but they want better tools to analyze it and be able to put it to use to improve their streets,” she said. Simons explained that the integration with Google Cloud

affords Waze for Cities partners to seamlessly organize, store, interpret and share transportation data and insights. “Waze for Cities Data partners will no longer need to build their own tools or have different systems for different data sources. The integration with Google Cloud will make it easy to view Waze for Cities Data and layer in other transportation-related data sources to see the full picture of mobility trends in one place,” Google Cloud Director for Product Management Sudhir Hasbe added. A side f rom Google C loud ,

partners have access to data warehouse tool BigQuery and data visualization tool Data Studio, which, together make data interpretation easier. “With the integration to Google Cloud, it’s now simpler than ever for cities to access Waze data on traffic conditions. As a Waze research partner, our team is excited to work with even more local governments, transport agencies, and development banks, to leverage Waze data for developing smarter and more effective transport policies,” Thinking Machines Data Science CEO Stephanie Sy said.

New Palace executive order seen boosting DOLE’s targets vs anti-child labor By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ITH the recent institutionalization of the National Council Against Child Labor (NCLC), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it now has a higher chance of addressing the backlog in its anti-child labor targets. In a text message, DOLE’s

Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director Ma. Karina Trayvilla said they are hopeful the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 92 will allow them to finally be on track on their goal to profile 560,000 child laborers by 2021. “We are hopeful that we will be able to meet the target for 2020,” Trayvilla told the BusinessMirror in an SMS. Under the Philippine

Development Plan (PDP) 20172022, DOLE should be able to profile and assist 175,000 child laborers next year. But as of June, DOLE was only able to profile 85,582 of its 265,000 target from 2017 to 2019. Federation of Free Workers Vice President Julius Cainglet blamed this to the lack of institutionalization of the NCLC, which left anti-child labor programs not a priority

agenda of the administration. Prior to the issuance of EO 92, he said, the NCLC has “limited in mandate, resources and coordination as it operates under a mere memorandum of agreement [MOA] between and among its member government agencies, trade unions, employers and non government organizations [NGO].” Trayvilla said one of the reason, why they are falling behind their

profiling targets is the lack of funds for them to hire more community facilitators for it. For 2019, she said, they were given P115 million for employing community facilitators. But during the budget hearing of DOLE in Congress last month, it was revealed that only the Department of Budget and Management decided to cut the program’s funding by P100 million.

Trayvilla said they are optimistic the said removed budget will not only be restored, but even increased with the signing of EO 92. “The EO will help ensure budget allocation and funding support; enhance coordination among partners; clarify responsibilities; further improve on data generation, sharing and analysis, and further intensify implementation,” Trayvilla said.

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Thursday, October 3, 2019

PSE spends ₧445M in buyback program

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

HE Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) on Wednesday said it spent some P445.1 million in its share buyback program still being held by the brokers. The amount is 83 percent of its P532.01-million budget, aimed at bringing down the brokers’ ownership to 20 percent. The Exchange’s report said those

who sold back their shares to the PSE represent 2.41 million common shares, which will revert to the PSE as its treasury shares. The PSE bought the shares at P183.93 apiece. PSE’s

shares were last traded at P176.50. The PSE’s shares were suspended from trading for one hour as a result of the said report. There’s still no word if it was able to bring down the brokers’ ownership to the limit. Under the plan, the PSE will use cash to buy back the shares but will book these as treasury shares. It will then create 3.5 million preferred shares, which are nonvoting and nonconvertible. The PSE can also redeem the said shares beginning on its third year. “The nonvoting preferred shares shall only be issued to brokers. The terms and conditions of issuance

and nonvoting preferred shares to brokers, including the dividend rate thereof shall be fixed by the board of directors,” the PSE said earlier. The PSE, however, needs the approval of its shareholders before it can proceed with the creation of the preferred shares. It will also need to amend its articles of incorporation to reflect such change. As of early this year, the brokers still own 26.44 percent of the exchange, or still above the mandatory 20-percent cap of ownership of a particular sector. The PSE said earlier it is in “earnest efforts to comply with the

20-percent industry limit provided by the Securities Regulation Code.” In March last year, the PSE was able to bring down the brokers’ ownership to about 21.71 percent, shortly after listed its 11.5 million shares in stock rights offer to existing shareholders, a measure intended to pull down brokers’ ownership to the minimum requirement. It, however, was not able to count many of the shares still being held by brokers’ principal shareholders and related parties lodged in omnibus client accounts. The PSE raised P2.98 billion from the measure, proceeds of which was supposed to be used for the acquisi-

tion of PDS, or short for Philippine Dealing System, among others. To date, the PSE still has not bought the PDS, which owns the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., the operator of the fixed- income trading platform. “The Exchange configured its trading system to automatically prevent the posting of a buy order for PSE shares from accounts that will push it over the 20-percent threshold, or if it is still below 20 percent but the matching of the buy order will cause broker industry ownership to breach the 20 percent level,” Ramon Monzon, PSE president, said earlier.

SEC orders Scentko World, Brendahl to cease their operations SM Prime to open 3rd mall in Pangasinan province

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued cease-and-desist orders against Scentko World Corp. and Brendahl Cruz Holdings Inc., directing them to stop soliciting investments from the public using a buy-and-earn program. “The Commission will institute appro-

priate administrative and criminal action against any person/s or entities found to act as solicitors, information providers, salesmen, agents, brokers, dealers or the like for and in behalf of the subject corporations,” the SEC’s order said. The SEC issued the order on September 24

against Scentko World and its parent Brendahl, its officers, directors, representatives, salesmen, agents and any and all persons claiming and acting for and in their behalf. Continued on B3

HOPPING mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. will open its third mall in Pangasinan on Friday, following the success of its two SM City malls in the province. The company said it will open SM Center Dagupan, becoming the company’s 74th mall. The new mall has a size of 23,000 square meters in gross floor

area, bringing the combined size of the three SM malls in Pangasinan to 145,000 sq m. SM Prime said the new mall will complement the first two SMs in the province, in Rosales and in Urdaneta. “Dagupan City is considered as Pangasinan’s industrial hub and the most highly urbanized city.

The addition of SM Center Dagupan in this progressive and vibrant city will attract more local and international tourists, further boosting the growth of the local economy,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

Continued on B3

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 3, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

October 2, 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 CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

55 137 91.4 24.95 6.11 11.94 67.1 12.8 20.9 43.6 57.05 26.5 194.1 59 1.11 18.3 5.12 0.41 0.9 176.3 1826

56 138.3 91.6 25 7.95 12.12 67.7 12.98 22.2 44 58.45 26.95 194.2 59.05 1.16 18.6 5.19 0.42 0.91 178.1 1879

56 143.7 92 25.05 7.95 11.94 67.75 13 20.9 43.6 58.55 26.2 187.3 59.8 1.19 18.3 5.2 0.41 0.93 178 1880

56 143.7 92.35 25.05 7.95 12.12 68.35 13 20.9 43.8 58.55 26.95 197 59.8 1.19 18.3 5.2 0.41 0.93 179.6 1880

56 137 91.05 24.9 7.95 11.88 67.1 13 20.9 43.45 57 26.2 187.3 59 1.11 18.3 5.11 0.41 0.91 176.5 1880

56 137 91.6 25 7.95 12.12 67.1 13 20.9 43.6 57 26.5 194.2 59 1.11 18.3 5.19 0.41 0.91 176.5 1880

100 1981930 1347910 79000 200 556100 872490 5400 100 74600 2050 23300 500940 251710 20000 11500 43500 60000 543000 270 5

5600 273931012 123370752.5 1973485 1590 6631926 58990890.5 70200 2090 3249255 117103.5 618970 97243078 14853088 22280 210450 223951 24600 494730 48119 9400

INDUSTRIAL

-146438106 -8638764 -742495 1210958 -12280716.5 -482065 14991323 -8212841 -210450 -488230 -

ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER AGRINURTURE CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 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 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS PANASONIC SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

1.29 37.25 0.242 24.35 79.15 357 19.98 5.01 4.29 2.11 10.84 32.4 7.35 15.8 17.6 14.6 5.91 8.71 7.07 91 0.67 46.95 220.8 8.26 12.8 1.7 11.3 1.92 5.05 0.123 145 1.19 69 75 2.39 6 15.3 10.5 14.4 18.26 10.1 1.03 1.03 2.01 5.45 3.33 5.3 30.75 2.48 7.8 1.49 5.25 1.01 9.03

1.3 37.3 0.25 24.7 80.15 360 20 5.03 4.45 2.12 11.1 32.45 7.4 15.86 18.76 14.7 6.05 8.74 7.08 91.8 0.68 47.45 221 8.78 12.82 1.72 11.32 1.93 5.14 0.125 146.1 1.2 69.95 76 2.4 6.14 15.48 10.7 14.5 18.72 10.14 1.05 1.04 2.07 5.48 3.52 5.34 32.5 2.49 7.96 1.59 5.48 1.02 9.04

1.29 38.85 0.246 24.7 80 369.8 20 5.04 4.45 2.26 10.9 32.55 7.48 15.8 19 14.28 5.7 8.89 7.1 89.1 0.67 47.8 220 8.26 13 1.74 11.38 1.98 5.05 0.124 149.5 1.15 68.2 76 2.45 6.14 15.22 10.76 14.22 18.26 10.14 1.04 1.05 2.03 5.41 3.51 5.27 31.6 2.38 8 1.5 5.48 1.01 8.68

1.3 38.85 0.25 24.7 81 369.8 20.1 5.05 4.45 2.27 11.1 32.55 7.48 15.8 19 14.78 6.14 8.9 7.1 91.8 0.68 48 221.8 8.26 13 1.74 11.38 2.06 5.05 0.124 149.5 1.21 70 76.05 2.45 6.15 15.58 10.88 14.5 18.78 10.14 1.1 1.06 2.03 5.6 3.52 5.3 32.5 2.49 8.04 1.59 5.48 1.02 9.15

1.29 37.25 0.246 24 79 357 19.96 5 4.45 2.1 10.82 32.35 7.32 15.5 19 14.18 5.7 8.71 7.07 87.25 0.67 46 218.4 8.26 12.3 1.69 11.3 1.92 5.05 0.124 143.9 1.14 68.2 76 2.34 6.14 15.16 10.5 14.22 18.22 9.64 1.03 1.02 2.01 5.35 3.51 5.27 31.6 2.28 7.8 1.48 5.48 1.01 8.68

1.29 37.25 0.25 24.7 80.15 357 20 5.01 4.45 2.12 11.1 32.4 7.4 15.8 19 14.6 6.05 8.71 7.08 91.8 0.68 47.5 220.8 8.26 12.86 1.72 11.32 1.93 5.05 0.124 145 1.2 70 76 2.4 6.14 15.48 10.7 14.5 18.26 10.14 1.05 1.04 2.01 5.48 3.52 5.3 32.5 2.49 7.8 1.59 5.48 1.02 9.04

80000 841200 1760000 970500 1202140 192150 2171100 775400 4000 31178000 108100 189500 10000 347600 100 923900 155900 2470300 812200 266070 351000 11400 594020 1600 108500 1410000 633400 2393000 4000 300000 1660020 13567000 120 720 3165000 141100 36400 278600 94800 205000 88200 172000 6317000 102000 517400 13000 24200 2400 8529000 381100 17000 200 21000 1277100

103750 31587990 439400 23841285 96352456.5 69308280 43432963 3883205 17800 67808740 1194280 6142075 74460 5474956 1900 13244630 920737 21,702,318( 5750351 24004374 235720 538740 130740092 13216 1373246 2409630 7184230 4693370 20200 37200 242323961 16243080 8292 54725 7576570 866553 556644 2958830 1368830 3778774 873402 179960 6558650 206420 2844916 45730 128224 76880 20490100 2992093 25810 1096 21220 11524586

-58500 -9043740 2817865 -21536679.5 -16292264 -15451122 -736806 -41990.0002 -166044 1893320 -2960 1484050 3717760 -900137.9999 6,409,975.0003) -4435573 -1653570 332240 34865978 -25548 89080 251336 -62632905 1253609.9997 38060 334946 -1279964 -208678 -411322 10500 45910 -270160 -0 -57580 1381160 -240984 32747

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 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.88 13.22 856 52.45 10.6 3.49 6.68 0.7 1.13 1.15 6.59 8.45 13.38 0.219 833 5.65 70.45 0.5 4.37 13.94 0.56 4.83 0.039 1.3 1.27 983 168 0.86 223.2 0.222 0.231

0.9 13.52 856.5 52.5 10.68 3.5 6.94 0.72 1.14 1.18 6.62 8.49 13.4 0.221 835 5.72 70.5 0.51 4.38 13.98 0.58 4.88 0.04 1.35 1.28 986 169 0.88 230 0.226 0.24

0.89 13.42 879 53.2 10.8 3.48 6.94 0.75 1.12 1.15 6.74 8.17 13.4 0.222 843 5.65 72.2 0.5 4.38 14.1 0.58 4.94 0.039 1.3 1.28 978 170.4 0.89 224 0.224 0.24

0.92 13.72 879.5 53.5 11.18 3.49 6.94 0.75 1.15 1.18 6.74 8.53 13.4 0.222 843 5.66 72.2 0.51 4.38 14.1 0.59 4.94 0.039 1.35 1.28 988 170.6 0.89 224 0.226 0.24

0.88 13.36 856 52.3 10.6 3.45 6.94 0.7 1.12 1.15 6.54 8.17 13 0.22 830 5.65 69.15 0.495 4.37 13.92 0.55 4.79 0.039 1.3 1.27 977.5 167 0.86 224 0.222 0.24

0.89 13.52 856 52.5 10.6 3.49 6.94 0.72 1.14 1.18 6.59 8.45 13.4 0.221 835 5.66 70.5 0.51 4.37 13.94 0.59 4.83 0.039 1.35 1.27 983 168 0.88 224 0.222 0.24

11480000 18100 358590 512840 8839000 839000 300 371000 537000 8000 368900 9066500 74400 500000 74500 332900 2078410 888000 1063000 4909500 1147000 8754000 3500000 81000 9000 782330 247800 33000 10000 580000 10000

10230460 245262 309980845 27002298.5 95298988 2912430 2082 263300 607500 9230 2427162 76595425 994428 110290 62225805 1881002 146583987.5 443075 4645390 68523914 639140 42568130 136500 105610 11460 769191915 41894011 28940 2240000 129380 2400

-1737880 -92093285 -7400917 -33098030 -373860 -1173308 -17556327 -246154 19800 -8943920 -631222 -5018117 -4134010 6571262 134200 -18246980 -19500 461168960 -20972476 1617280 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.87 0.88 0.9 0.9 0.86 0.89 833000 727800 AYALA LAND 46.95 47 48.15 48.15 47 47 9208500 436079550 -273306080 BELLE CORP 2.05 2.07 2.08 2.08 2.05 2.05 627000 1289050 -24589.9999 0.81 0.82 0.82 0.83 0.8 0.82 2083000 1684420 820 A BROWN 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 10000 8400 -840 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.213 0.216 0.213 0.213 0.212 0.213 1220000 258860 -4260 CEBU HLDG 6.05 6.28 6.2 6.28 6.2 6.28 1000 6216 4.65 4.66 4.65 4.7 4.62 4.65 166000 773380 -93060 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.53 0.55 2879000 1556740 -484940 CENTURY PROP CYBER BAY 0.38 0.395 0.38 0.395 0.38 0.395 20000 7750 20 20.3 20.35 20.35 19.94 20.3 136100 2731599 412383 DOUBLEDRAGON 9.7 9.71 9.6 9.7 9.59 9.7 593400 5749658 5276361 DM WENCESLAO 0.44 0.45 0.445 0.445 0.44 0.44 350000 154600 EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND 1.49 1.5 1.54 1.56 1.5 1.5 36127000 54586230 -34222170 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.19 1.2 1.2 1.22 1.19 1.19 166000 198040 15.02 15.04 15.04 15.08 15.02 15.02 235000 3529966 -1372900 8990 HLDG 1.34 1.35 1.33 1.36 1.31 1.35 1200000 1593390 -28140 PHIL INFRADEV KEPPEL PROP 4.3 4.71 4.71 4.71 4.71 4.71 20000 94200 4.45 4.47 4.45 4.53 4.4 4.45 61174000 272974380 -48799130 MEGAWORLD 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 0.3 0.305 3990000 1199900 -3050 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.415 0.44 0.41 0.42 0.41 0.42 110000 46100 -42000 PRIMEX CORP 2.02 2.04 2.05 2.05 2 2.04 117000 238120 24.15 24.5 24.6 24.75 24 24.5 1389200 33696970 654950 ROBINSONS LAND 0.37 0.38 0.375 0.385 0.375 0.375 150000 56450 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 2.28 2.3 2.29 2.32 2.28 2.3 165000 378970 3.22 3.29 3.2 3.29 3.13 3.29 62000 199460 22400 SHANG PROP 2.58 2.6 2.54 2.6 2.49 2.6 1918000 4871570 STA LUCIA LAND 36.35 36.45 36.8 36.95 36.25 36.45 6841700 249526300 -3069075 SM PRIME HLDG VISTAMALLS 5.75 5.79 5.79 5.95 5.71 5.79 59200 344715 0.88 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.87 0.89 126000 110960 SUNTRUST HOME 7.69 7.7 7.7 7.72 7.68 7.7 1324900 10204174 -3090056 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 18.24 18.28 18.24 18.36 18.16 18.28 227900 4148280 GMA NETWORK 5.16 5.17 5.16 5.22 5.16 5.17 69500 359943 11.56 15.02 15.02 15.02 15.02 15.02 100 1502 MLA BRDCASTING 1786 1793 1826 1826 1785 1793 59395 106709095 -15255675 GLOBE TELECOM 1120 1124 1120 1124 1102 1120 46725 52106295 -17631685 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.045 0.046 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.045 3000000 135000 5.71 6.05 6.1 6.1 6.05 6.05 200 1215 DFNN INC 1.76 1.87 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.76 16000 28160 IMPERIAL 0.108 0.11 0.109 0.11 0.108 0.108 1590000 173140 -85020 ISLAND INFO ISM COMM 4.98 5 5.01 5.12 4.91 5 1437000 7173400 -101980 NOW CORP 2.66 2.68 2.66 2.73 2.66 2.66 1345000 3613980 -119910 0.325 0.33 0.33 0.335 0.325 0.33 3740000 1220050 TRANSPACIFIC BR 3.01 3.02 3.02 3.02 3 3.02 426000 1281670 -51140 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 9.8 10 9.8 10 9.8 10 2100 20760 1000 ASIAN TERMINALS 17.22 18.5 18.24 18.5 18.24 18.5 1596300 29117812 -92500 6.73 6.74 6.82 6.9 6.73 6.73 684000 4640858 -654614 CHELSEA 89.95 91.15 89.6 91.95 89.6 89.95 84700 7620980.5 3832477 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 115.5 116 121.7 121.7 115.5 115.5 1847240 214981247 -88450793 13.58 14 14.1 14.1 13.98 14 5500 76980 LBC EXPRESS 0.91 0.93 0.95 0.95 0.91 0.91 21000 19150 LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 18.38 18.4 18.38 18.5 18.38 18.4 411700 7594086 2148506 METROALLIANCE A 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 2000 2300 7.88 8.25 7.95 8.1 7.88 8.1 7800 61698 PAL HLDG 1.54 1.56 1.58 1.59 1.54 1.56 429000 666580 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.72 1.73 1.73 1.73 1.72 1.72 15000 25870 0.053 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.052 0.053 11160000 590780 -26500 BOULEVARD HLDG 10.28 11.8 10 11.86 10 11.84 2100 23050 GRAND PLAZA 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.68 0.66 0.66 345000 228440 WATERFRONT STI HLDG 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.68 2756000 1874250 -1744900 BERJAYA 2.29 2.35 2.28 2.35 2.28 2.35 23000 53630 10.6 10.7 10.68 10.72 10.4 10.7 6647400 70820982 7196918 BLOOMBERRY 2.82 2.89 2.89 2.91 2.8 2.89 59000 169870 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 3 3.01 3.01 3.03 3 3 243000 729350 30000 MANILA JOCKEY 3.35 3.49 3.35 3.5 3.35 3.49 47000 162110 4.8 5.02 4.82 4.82 4.8 4.8 9000 43310 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.7 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.7 0.71 212000 150270 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.35 2.37 105000 247770 -103460 METRO RETAIL 38.2 38.75 37.95 38.8 37.8 38.2 2630700 100381295 -26551745 PUREGOLD 76.5 76.6 78 78 76.1 76.5 178300 13664396 -6528121.5 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 135.6 140 140 140 135.4 135.4 130 18062 2.71 2.72 2.82 2.82 2.71 2.72 1085000 2966060 1141450 SSI GROUP 16.58 16.6 16.5 16.66 16.4 16.6 7728900 128285324 3571584.0003 WILCON DEPOT 0.6 0.61 0.6 0.63 0.58 0.61 14528000 8801740 -1519800 APC GROUP EASYCALL 9.32 9.58 9.3 9.77 9.3 9.6 5300 49589 430.2 435 422 460 419.4 430.2 31790 13973924 GOLDEN BRIA 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.53 0.53 8225000 4429300 PRMIERE HORIZON MINING & OIL ATOK 11.44 11.9 11.78 11.9 11.4 11.9 18400 214692 APEX MINING 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.13 1.15 709000 814530 0.0016 0.0017 0.0016 0.0017 0.0016 0.0017 14000000 22500 ABRA MINING 2.59 2.63 2.62 2.62 2.59 2.61 703000 1829280 CENTURY PEAK 7.55 7.8 7.97 7.97 7.53 7.8 1300 9937 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 1.56 1.57 1.6 1.63 1.56 1.56 5577000 8848240 -133810 GEOGRACE 0.226 0.235 0.234 0.236 0.225 0.235 110000 25350 0.108 0.11 0.105 0.11 0.105 0.11 910000 97560 LEPANTO A 0.11 0.111 0.105 0.111 0.105 0.111 550000 59450 -8800 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.009 0.0095 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 8000000 72800 0.0092 0.0097 0.0096 0.0097 0.0092 0.0097 28700000 271300 MANILA MINING B 1.12 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.12 1.12 88000 99430 MARCVENTURES 1.1 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.09 1.13 45000 49940 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 3.79 3.8 3.81 3.93 3.7 3.8 8563000 32856850 -14042560 OMICO CORP 0.54 0.55 0.51 0.54 0.5 0.54 196000 100230 -4320 0.86 0.89 0.87 0.89 0.87 0.89 81000 70510 ORNTL PENINSULA 3.55 3.65 3.68 3.68 3.55 3.55 786000 2812040 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 22 22.05 22.1 22.6 22 22.05 2044700 45062415 -8546550 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.011 4600000 51100 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 400000 4400 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 7300000 80300 7.98 8 8.5 8.55 7.98 8 941400 7672661 -440315 PHINMA PETRO 11.5 11.54 11.34 11.52 11.26 11.5 506500 5782884 391776 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 96.9 99.6 96.5 99.5 96.5 97.1 3300 320720 AC PREF B1 501 511 501 501 501 501 10 5010 503.5 504 504 504 503.5 503.5 940 473755 AC PREF B2 100.1 103 100.5 103 100 103 20020 2009320 ALCO PREF B 100.5 101 101.5 101.5 101 101 300 30350 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 995.5 997.5 995 995 995 995 5400 5373000 107.5 109.7 107.6 107.6 107.5 107.5 3820 410685 -107500 FGEN PREF G 500.5 509 505 505 505 505 980 494900 GLO PREF P 0.99 1 1 1 1 1 15000 15000 LR PREF MWIDE PREF 100.2 101.5 101.5 101.5 100.2 100.2 10560 1061205 100.2 102 102 102 102 102 200 20400 PNX PREF 3A 107 108 108 108 108 108 100 10800 PNX PREF 3B 1000 1026 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000000 PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 3A 1045 1055 1050 1050 1045 1045 5100 5354500 1062 1081 1062 1062 1062 1062 1015 1077930 PCOR PREF 3B 77.7 77.8 77.8 77.9 77.8 77.8 43100 3354400 -950380 SMC PREF 2C 74.95 75 74.95 74.95 74.95 74.95 700 52465 SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E 75.1 75.6 75.5 75.5 75 75.1 18500 1391525 75.9 77 76 77 75.9 77 17580 1346079 SMC PREF 2F 75.3 76 75.6 75.6 75.3 75.3 5000 376675 SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H 75.5 76 75.5 75.5 75.5 75.5 5000 377500 76 76.6 76.6 76.6 76 76 140020 10644282 SMC PREF 2I PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR

17.36

17.98

17.4

10000

174000

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.53

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ITALPINAS 6.26 9.78 KEPWEALTH XURPAS 0.9

1.65

1.52

10000

15200

6.37 9.8 0.91

6.59 9.62 0.91

6.59 10 0.92

6.25 9.62 0.9

6.37 9.8 0.91

920900 334300 734000

5850891 3298732 668920

100142 -

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

114.2

-174000

115.3

116

116.3

114.2

16660

1918081

13782

www.businessmirror.com.ph

For limiting tenants’ Internet choice, developers fined ₧27M

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has slapped a fine of over P27 million on two mass housing developers for imposing a sole Internet service provider (ISP) on unit owners and tenants, making this the first abuse of dominance case closed by the agency. In a statement on Wednesday, the PCC said it imposed terms and conditions on Urban Deca Homes Manila Condominium Corp. and on its parent entity 8990 Holdings Inc. to comply with competition law. This marks the closure of the first abuse of dominance case in the country. The firms are directed to immediately cease their admitted misconduct of anticompetitive practice, pay a fine of P27.11 million within 30

days and comply with conditions of settlement. PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan said the agency’s decision puts a precedence that it will spare no one should in the drive against anticompetitive behavior. Urban Deca Homes and 8990 will be monitored regularly for compliance and subjected to further fines and penalties for any breach. “This is a landmark case for the

PCC that successfully resolved to stop an anticompetitive practice, restore competition in the affected market and set as example to deter other businesses from employing similar exclusive dealings,” Balisacan said. “Competition—or lack of it—can be felt at home, at work and in one’s daily activities. The residents may have chosen Urban Deca as their address, but the condo developer should not limit the choices of residents for other services,” he added.

Residents complain

In a statement of objection in March, the PCC charged Urban Deca Homes and 8990 with abuse of dominance for imposing a sole ISP on its unit owners and tenants. Residents in Urban Deca Homes condominiums complained the inhouse ISP’s service was “slow, expensive and unreliable.” Further, they were prevented by the developers of the condominium from applying for other ISPs. Instead of objecting to the PCC’s charge, Urban Deca Homes and 8990

pleaded to correct their anticompetitive practice through a motion for settlement negotiated between May and July, which was subjected to public comments in August before the agency firmed up a decision. The primary complainants were residents of Urban Deca Homes in Tondo, but the terms of settlement apply to all eight of the firm’s projects in Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Bulacan, Cavite, Iloilo and Cebu. Abuse of dominance, Balisacan argued, is a violation of Section 15 of the competition law, prohibiting exploitative and exclusionary conduct that substantially lessens consumer choices. “Let this be a warning to businesses that abuse their market power by elbowing out competitors for their own gain. This case shows that the PCC is serious about addressing anticompetitive practices that have long been considered par for the course in different industries. Unscrupulous businessmen can only expect the PCC to pursue more cases of a similar nature in the future,” the PCC chief cautioned.

Damosa wooing more Mindanao investors to Anflo industrial hub

AMOSA Land Inc.’s premier industrial hub Anflo Industrial Estate Corp. is targeting to get more manufacturers to invest in Davao to follow through the over P17 billion worth of capital netted by the region last year. DLI Head Ricardo F. Lagdameo on Wednesday said Anflo is becoming a first option for firms wanting to locate in Mindanao. Multinationals, including Del Monte, are choosing the economic zone in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, as their expansion site for their local operations. “After seeing what industrial parks in the country comprise of, we saw an opportunity to leverage our mother company Anflocor’s strength in agriculture and endeavor [to] take on the role as the industry’s innovator,” Lagdameo said in a statement. According to Lagdameo, among the roster of locators operating in Anflo at present is Del Monte, one of the world’s largest agricultural firms. Japan-based Packwell, a global leader in the design and production of packaging paper used for famous brands, such as Godiva Chocolates and electronic cigarette IQOS, is also putting up its plant there. On the local level, homegrown firm First Panabo Tropical Foods of Sagrex, famous for its export quality banana-based products, is also doing business in Anflo. Manly Plastics Inc. agreed to oc-

cupy a 1.1-hectare space in Anflo. Manly is the plastic supplier for food and beverage items, hastening the production of packaging products in Mindanao, instead of sourcing them from distant Luzon facilities. The partnership with Manly puts Anflo in touch with its clients, including Datu Puti, Gatorade, Boysen, Toyota, Nissan, among others. Lagdameo said DLI is determined to get more firms to locate in Anflo in the face of rising capital inflow in the Davao region. Last year the region captured a total of P17.2 billion of investments, a figure seen to increase this year largely due to the presence of multinationals there that can promote the economic zone to foreign firms. With this inflow, Anflo, which is now on its second phase, has entered into 14 partnerships and is looking at getting more investors to locate in its zone. “With Davao as a prime spot for trade and agriculture, we have foreseen that building facilities, such as economic zones, industrial estates and ready built warehouses, would also attract companies to come in quicker and more efficiently. Our familiarity with the landscape and expertise in leading their investments moving forward urges our potential partners to trust us with their valued assets,” Lagdameo said. Locators in Anflo are estimated

Subic intl airport may host more commercial flights by mid-2020 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) may start accommodating more commercial flights by mid-2020, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the navigation equipment they have procured are already being delivered. Eisma said the new navigation

equipment was purchased to replace those that were taken out of SBIA and deployed to other airports. When SBIA was “cannibalized,” flights to the airport stopped. “The navigational aids that we bought are already starting to be delivered to be in place, so I’m hoping that by December, all that will be already installed and operational. Our target, [me and Transportation] Secretary [Art] Tugade, is [that by the] middle of 2020, everything will be in place,” Eisma said. Continued on B3

to generate about 6,000 jobs to the Davao labor force once all of the operations there are in full swing,

mutual funds

contributing to the region’s manpower and employment rate of 96.9 percent. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

October 2, 2019

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 249.47 1.49% -2.4% -1.09% -1.08% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.5243 9.4% 2.62% 0.68% 5.8% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.8955 1.9% -3.37% -2.09% -0.19% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.9321 6.48% n.a. n.a. 3.45% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8445 4.54% n.a. n.a. 2.9% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.318 3.98% -0.63% -0.55% 0.85% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6 0.8513 4.44% -4.82% n.a. 1.74% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 116.07 -0.56% n.a. n.a. -0.08% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 50.9431 6.57% -0.33% n.a. 3.49% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 530.38 6.67% -1.24% -0.62% 3.04% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.2796 4.52% -0.46% 0.56% 2.04% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 37.702 5.72% 0.46% 0.47% 2.92% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.0111 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 5.1761 7.71% 0.38% 1.29% 4.38% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 864.13 7.74% 0.27% 1.22% 4.31% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.8965 8.03% -0.54% n.a. 4.24% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 4.1961 6.02% 0.05% 0.47% 3.38% 0.21% n.a. 4.03% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9928 7.29% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.6487 7.37% 1.78% 1.72% 4.22% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c,2 115.8497 8% 1.02% 2.24% 4.61% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9454 -7.03% 1.09% -1.12% 1.75% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.2834 -1.68% 6.95% n.a. 16.12% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6047 -1.29% -3.9% -3.45% -2.82% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.2638 4.02% -1.55% -0.39% 2.47% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6215 5.32% -0.05% -1.74% 3.08% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,8 0.2312 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Grepalife Balanced Fund Corporation -a 1.3335 3.19% n.a. n.a. 2.24% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9453 7.52% 0.61% 0.89% 5.55% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.7483 9.04% -0.63% 0.1% 6.21% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.8009 8.87% -0.53% 0.02% 5.61% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.1244 4.76% -0.03% 0.89% 2.67% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.8387 6.82% 0.18% 0.45% 5.13% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,4 1.0043 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,4 0.9917 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,4 0.9883 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.9732 6.13% -0.25% -0.25% 5.59% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03848 9.75% 2.23% 2.45% 9.01% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $0.9805 -0.47% 1.29% -0.3% 7.31% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.7403 1.44% 5.06% 3.13% 13.05% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.11 3.35% 3.15% n.a. 9.9% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 354.47 3.79% 2.26% 2.3% 3.2% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.9171 3.19% 0.09% 0% 3.11% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.0868 5.12% 5.32% 5.25% 3.72% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2124 4.42% 1.37% 2.06% 3.91% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3368 5.46% 1.45% 1.57% 5.97% Grepalife Fixed Income Fund Corp. -a P 1.6088 2.11% -1.07% 0.27% 2.84% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.302 12.77% 0.81% 1.95% 9.75% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.7371 7.8% 1.42% 1.51% 6.26% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.9518 8.22% -0.15% n.a. 6.8% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.0286 9.73% 2.38% 2.63% 9.5% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.6781 9.54% 1.83% 2.21% 8.97% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $465.14 4.4% 1.82% 2.89% 3.73% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.37 3.34% 1.25% 1.53% 3.62% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1987 6.94% 2.07% 2.55% 6.48% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 4.03% 0.92% 1.54% 4.03% Grepalife Dollar Bond Fund Corp. -a $1.7151 0.91% -1.94% 0.55% 1.47% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.0992 6.69% -0.31% -0.97% 6.07% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4092 11.06% 1.7% 3.64% 10.98% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0601174 5.69% 1.91% 2.09% 5.47% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1612 9.26% 0.97% 3.07% 10.07% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 124.74 4.11% 2.65% 2.08% 3.19% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,5 1.0227 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.2399 5.68% 2.34% 1.46% 4.91% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2555 3.88% 2.81% 2.2% 2.98% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0331 2.21% n.a. n.a. 1.69% 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 - Adjusted due to cash dividend issuance last January 29, 2018. 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last June 5, 2018. 3 Launch date is January 3, 2019. 4 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 5 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). "While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

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UPS drones win FAA milestone permission to take off shackles

NITED Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) won US certification to fly drones under regulations similar to those for airlines, a milestone that allows the company to vastly expand airborne deliveries.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the courier permission to use delivery drones at hospital, university and corporate campuses with few restrictions, for example, letting operators fly the aircraft at night and over people. Current regulations prohibit drone flights after dark, above people, beyond the remote pilot’s line of sight and at weights heavier than 55 pounds. “We believe now there are hundreds of campuses across the United States where we’re going to be able to offer this solution,” UPS Chief Transformation Officer Scott Price said in an interview. “We’re pretty confident we’re going to be at the forefront of trialing the various models.” The FAA’s decision, announced Tuesday, is a big step forward in the move toward routine drone shipments. The devices promise to reduce carriers’ costs as the surge of e-commerce increases demand for home delivery, which squeezes profit margins because there are fewer packages per location than at business addresses. So significant is the FAA certification that UPS Chief Executive Officer David Abney plans to mark the occasion by ringing a bell at the company’s headquarters that is re-

served for corporate milestones, such as big mergers. The Atlanta-based company said it has already made more than 1,000 revenue-generating test flights at the WakeMed hospital campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, recently including the first beyond the operator’s line of sight. UPS expects to roll out more drone deliveries in advance of more expansive drone-delivery regulations that are expected in 2021.UPS, eventually, will make residential deliveries with drones, most likely in rural and suburban areas, Abney said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. In one scenario, drones would be launched from the top of a delivery truck to make shipments, while the driver continues on the route. The drones would return to the vehicle, ready to be loaded with another package, he said. “We’re excited about where we are. We’re way ahead of anyone else,” Abney said. “But, there’s much more to come and UPS is going to lead the way.”

FAA regulations

The FAA certification comes under Part 135 of FAA regulations, which requires extensive manuals, training routines, maintenance plans and a

In this June 24, 2019, file photo, a UPS aircraft taxis to its hangar area after arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas. UPS says it won government approval to run a drone airline, and it plans to expand deliveries on hospital campuses and eventually other industries. United Parcel Service Inc. said on Tuesday, October 1, that its drone subsidiary was awarded an airline certificate last week by the Federal Aviation Administration. AP PHOTO/TONY GUTIERREZ

safety program. The designation for UPS also makes it easier to obtain exemptions at locations other than campuses. UPS demonstrated that its drone operations met the FAA’s “rigorous safety requirements” for the air carrier certificate based on test flights and extensive documentation, the US Transportation Department said. “This is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement. UPS, which operates 564 owned and leased traditional airplanes, is interested in drone deliveries of parcels, as well as heavy cargo, Price said. The company plans to announce strategic partnerships with drone makers, the designers of traffic management systems and customers, such as retailers.

Huawei phones had bootleg access to Google apps? Not anymore

NE of Huawei Technologies Co.’s biggest trade war headaches has just gotten worse, as an unofficial work-around to the Trump administration ban on using Google apps and services has been quashed. Security researcher John Wu published an illuminating post on Tuesday that explained how users of Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro were able to manually download and install Google apps, despite a US blacklisting that prohibits the Chinese company from using American components and software. The process allowed the Mate 30 Pro (along with the basic Mate 30) to run popular apps, like Google Maps and Gmail that otherwise would not be permitted. In the wake of Wu’s revelations, the Mate 30 devices lost their clearance to manually install Android apps, as reported by a number of smartphone experts. Only Google is able to make that kind of change

through what’s known as its SafetyNet anti-abuse check. “Although this ‘backdoor’ requires user interaction to be enabled, the installer app, which is signed with a special certificate from Huawei, was granted privileges nowhere to be found on standard Android systems,” Wu wrote on Medium. Google declined to comment for this story. An easy-to-use app enabling the installation of Google apps and services on the Mate 30 Pro, called LZPlay, had emerged alongside the device’s release, however it has disappeared after Wu’s posting. The researcher said in his findings that “it is pretty obvious that Huawei is well aware of this ‘LZPlay’ app, and explicitly allows its existence.” Huawei said in an e-mailed statement it has had no involvement with LZPlay. Effectively, the change makes sure that the US ban on Google ser-

vices for the Mate 30 Pro is ironclad—and many of the users outside of China who might have obtained or imported the device will now have only the bare Android-based Huawei user experience. At the heart of Huawei’s problems is the Google Play Store, a system-level app that’s part of Google’s licensed bundle, which opens access to the full panoply of Android applications. With it on board, an Android device can more effectively compete with Apple Inc.’s iPhone and App Store, equipped with globally popular apps like YouTube, Instagram, Netflix and Spotify. Without it, no matter how great its specs and performance, an Android device is a tough sell for US or European customers. The US trade ban has been damaging to Huawei because it undercuts the company’s ability to compete in the premium smartphone market in Europe, which had been one of its growth drivers. Bloomberg News

SEC orders Scentko World, Brendahl to cease their operations Continued from B1

The two firms were further enjoined from transacting business involving the funds in their depository banks, and from transferring, disposing all related assets for the benefit of investors. The regulator also told them to shut down their Internet presence where solicitation activities are mostly done. Under its investment scheme, the firm entices the public to buy perfume and beauty products in exchange for cash sales rewards equivalent to 400 percent of the purchase price. A member is promised a return of P20,000 for buying a package

worth P5,000. A member may receive the promised return in more or less 30 days, without having to resell the products, depending on how soon Scentko World can recruit new members. Aside from the cash sales rewards, an existing member may receive a referral fee equivalent to 10 percent of the amount invested by the new member. Evidence gathered by the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department showed that the firms sold and offered for sale securities, in the form of investment contracts, to the public without the necessary license from the Commission. Scentko World misrepresented the incorporation of Brendahl to claim that it had a secondary

license from the SEC. On social media, the firm claimed that Brendahl would soon buy a rural bank, or could even put up its own bank. The SEC said it has not obtained any secondary license. The regulator said the buy-and-earn scheme of Scentko World satisfies the elements of an investment contract, where there is investment of money in a common enterprise with expectation of profits derived primarily from the efforts of others. The act of the company in allowing its members to discuss, orient and make members of the public familiar with its schemes and inviting them to join through Facebook and YouTube constitutes public offering, the agency said. VG Cabuag

“We don’t limit ourselves by weight. We don’t limit ourselves by use case,” Price said.

Traffic management

Drone adoption has been slow going as authorities wrestled with how to regulate the devices. Early drone deliveries, such as those conducted by UPS and other companies assist authorities and couriers to address challenges, such as creating a traffic management system and testing technology for the unmanned aircraft to avoid objects in flight. Alphabet Inc.’s Wing, an offshoot of Google, received partial approval to operate as a small commercial airline in April. The company announced September 19, that it will begin delivery tests in Virginia in a partnership with FedEx Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. Amazon.com Inc. unveiled a so-

phisticated drone design in June and said it hoped to begin testing it soon. The online retailer hasn’t commented on whether it is seeking similar FAA approvals. A handful of businesses have received approval to fly beyond an operator’s line of sight in FAA test programs. Matternet, which has flown its delivery drones in densely populated areas in Switzerland, has partnered with UPS on the courier’s health-care service. UPS has also partnered with Zipline to deliver medical supplies in Africa. Matternet was founded to develop networks of drones that can deliver “at a fraction of the time, cost and ecological footprint of any transportation method,” said CEO Andreas Raptopoulos. “Our technology has the power to transform health care and the world of logistics at large,” Raptopoulos said. UPS’s certification “is bringing us one step closer to this reality.” UPS already is proving that it can deliver products faster and cheaper by drone, Price said. WakeMed will be able to keep antivenom medication at a central location and send it by drone to where it’s needed, reducing the cost of keeping inventory at several buildings. Abney says that UPS will have a central control center in which operators can monitor preprogrammed flight path of multiple drones. Drone deliveries have huge potential, Price said, though he declined to speculate how much revenue they will be able to generate. “It wasn’t too long ago that people thought selling books online was a niche business,” he said. “The world needs to not limit what is the future because I think there is massive opportunity here.” Bloomberg News

Subic intl airport may host more commercial flights by mid-2020 Continued from B2

Eisma said the SBMA is actually in talks with a major budget airline that is keen on using the Subic airport. She is also setting up a meeting with airline manufacturer Boeing and logistics giant FedEx for the full operation of SBIA. Currently, Eisma said, the SBIA has accommodated United States military 747 aircraft, as well as several flight schools. The SBMA chief also said the SBI A recently hosted maintenance and repair operations for a major aviation firm operating in the region.

Finding niche “I have to find a niche on where Subic can specialize, maybe chartered f lights, maybe domestic flights of smaller airplanes until we build at that credibility and the capacity. And we hope that with all the technology in place already, we’ll be able to convince several airlines [to locate], because it’s all about business,” Eisma said.

In August, Eisma said aviation services provider Aviation Concepts Technical Services Inc. (ACTSI) started serving clients for maintenance, repair and overhaul services at the SBIA. The ACTSI provides hangar parking, corporate jet maintenance, repair and overhaul, as well as aircraft corrosion preventive solutions at its Subic hangar. ACTSI, the maintenance arm of Falconer Aircraft Management Inc., which is an affiliated firm of International Container Terminal Services Inc., has upgraded close to 18,000 square meters of hangar space at the SBIA for this purpose. The ACTSI hangar accommodated a 2010 Gulfstream Aerospace GIV-X (G450), which is more than 89-feet long and with a wing span of more than 77 feet. A helicopter was also parked inside the facility. The ACTSI, which has signed a 25-year lease agreement with the SBMA, also hopes to leverage the SBIA’s 9,000-feet long runway for easy takeoffs and landings for its large-sized aircraft clients.

SM Prime to open 3rd mall in Pangasinan province Continued from B1

SM Center Dagupan, which will open with 90 percent of space lease-awarded, will feature shopping, dining and entertainment destinations, including SM Hypermarket, SM Appliance Center, Ace Hardware, Watsons, Surplus, Miniso and Simply Shoes, among

other well-liked brands and shops. SM Center Dagupan is along the busy MH Del Pilar Street and is close to major education, health and government institutions in the city. It will have more than 400 car park slots, as well as bus terminal slots for added convenience for the mall’s and city’s guests. VG Cabuag

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Network war: Like always, GMA, ABS-CBN both claim to top ratings

OMPETITORS GMA Network Inc. and ABS-CBN Corp. claimed separately on Wednesday that they led the ratings war on different areas last month, with the latter asserting dominance across the Philippines, and the former in its bailiwick areas in the Greater Manila Area. Citing data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the Gozonled network said it was able to beat its rival, after gaining a 31.7-percent average audience share in Urban Luzon versus its competition’s 30.7-percent share. In Mega Manila, it scored an average of 31.7 percent, a 3.6-point difference versus the Lopez-led network’s 28.1 percent. Urban Luzon accounts for 72 percent of all urban TV viewers in the country, while Mega Manila represents 60 percent of all urban households in the Philippines. GMA, likewise, led the morning block with 24.9 percent of people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 24.1 percent; and the evening block with 34.9-percent share compared to its rival’s 32.3-percent share.

ABS-CBN’s claim

In a separate statement, ABS-CBN said it continued to be the No. 1 network in the country with an average national audience share of 45 percent versus its rival’s 31-percent share in September, citing data from Kantar Media. The Lopez-led entertainment and multimedia conglomerate also claimed leadership in Metro Manila and Mega Manila, where it scored an average audience share of 41 percent and 36 percent, respectively, against GMA’s 25-percent and 31-percent share. ABS-CBN also attracted more viewers than GMA in other areas. It won the ratings game in Total Luzon with an average total-day audience share of 41 percent, versus GMA’s 34 percent; in Total Visayas with 57 percent versus GMA’s 24 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 51 percent, versus GMA’s 28 percent. GMA bases its claims to leadership from Nielsen data, which has a nationwide sample size of 3,500 urban and rural homes. The Lopez-led network sources its data from Kantar Media, which uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population. Lorenz S. Marasigan

DENR stops operations of CDO Food Sphere Inc. in Batangas

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a cease-and-desist order to CDO Foodsphere Inc. for failing to address the foul odor emanating from its manufacturing plant in Malvar, Batangas. Such failure to address the problem, which started last year, is a violation of the company’s environmental compliance certificate, regulators said. The CDO dated September 26, 2019, was issued by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 4A against the company, which operates a 60,000-square meter manufacturing plant in Malvar town. The facility produces more than 93,000 metric tons of processed meat products a year. The latest order was received by CDO Senior Vice President Arnold Alvarez. The company has 15 days from receipt to file a motion for reconsideration with the EMB-Calabarzon. In stopping the operations of the CDO Malvar plant, the EMB-Calabarzon Regional Director Noemi Paranada cited the “foul odor” emanating from its rendering area and wastewater treatment facility, which “causes environmental impacts and poses nuisance to public health and safety.” Jonathan L. Mayuga

TheBroa

Business

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Shoe sector still standing solid a

By Dennis D. Estopace | Senior Editor & Elijah Felice Rosales | Reporter

Photos by Bernard Testa

HEN you kick off your shoes to relax on October 4, remember Ferdinand E. Marcos and Mateo Evangelista. The former awarded the latter as the country’s best shoemaker, known locally as sapatero, in a nationwide competition that kicked off the Shoe Industry Day on that day 50 years ago via Proclamation 614. The trophy for Evangelista’s work sitting somewhere inside the Marikina City Hall makes his son Noel jut out a chest and raise high his chin. “Tatay ko gumawa n’yan [My father did that],” the younger Evangelista told the BusinessMirror—the same thing he says every time he sees the trophy. He said the trophy represents not only his parents’ love for hard work, specifically in making shoes. Evangelista said this is the reason he decided to continue the business that his parents—Mateo and Crescencia Chua Evangelista—built from scratch in the eighties on the same lot in the middle of Daang Bakal, Marikina. “Dati, manggagawa lang ng sapatos ang mga magulang ko. Dito mismo sa lugar na ito, sa pabrika na pinsan niya ang may-ari,” Evangelista said. “Sa umpisa nangangamuhan–subcon—sila sa iba. Magtatatak ng ibang brand [My parents worked for my uncle who owned

the factory. My uncle was subcontracting for other brands].”

Daang bakal

MAYOR Marcelino R. Teodoro cites Evangelista’s C-Point shoe factory as a symbol of how the city fought to continue what he calls Marikina’s heritage. “Ang may-ari nito, anak ng dating sapatero at nag-aareglo. Malaki na ang kanyang pagawaan pero, nung tinanong ko s’ya bakit ayaw nya lumipat sa ibang mas malaking lugar, sabi n’ya dito na sya nagsimula at nabuhay sa lugar na ito [The owner of this factory is a son of a former shoemaker and trader. He already has a large factory so I suggested to him to move to another factory, but he replied that this is where he started],” Teodoro told the BusinessMirror at the C-Point showroom. According to Teodoro, Daang Bakal was formerly the site of an old railroad line. “So alam mo kung anong uri ng buhay mayroon ang mga nasa riles ng

tren. Pero nakita ninyo ngayon, narito ang isa sa pinakamaunlad na pagawaan ng sapatos [You could imagine what kind of life people living along railroad tracks have. But now, you can see this is where we have one of the most progressive shoemaking factories],” he said.

Engaging trade

ACCORDING to Teodoro, he considers the shoe industry of Marikina as thriving. “[The industry] is not slowing down. It’s true that there are no big players entering the market [and only enterprises of] small-scale and medium-scale.” For the former congressman, the basis for that assertion is the entry of entrepreneurs entering the industry. Teodoro said the number of shoe manufacturers in Marikina has doubled in the last two years. He said during his first year in office, only 150 to 170 shoe manufacturers were registered in the local government unit’s Business and Permits Office. Teodoro said today there are now 400 registered shoe manufacturers. “We have also seen a resurgence of second generation up to fourth generation of shoe manufacturers,” he told the BusinessMirror. “This means they are continuing the craft, the industry their fathers and grandparents built.” That is true for Evangelista, who said that after working as a shoemaker for 28 years, his father retired and tried on his own with a capital of P20,000 ($384.71 at current exchange rates). That was already considered a fortune in the ’80s, according to Evangelista. They were able to sell 40 pairs on their first few months. From just a handful of workers, the Evangelista family-owned business grew their workforce to

PHOTO shows Marikina Mayor Marcelino R. Teodoro (sitting) and C-Point owner Noel Evangelista (left, in blue shirt) with guests on September 17 at the C-Point showroom on Daang Bakal Street, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City.

15 up to a hundred. His factory currently employs more than a hundred workers who produce about 500 pairs a day.

Not easy

ACCORDING to Evangelista, it wasn’t that easy, especially after trade was liberalized when the Philippines joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). “As a result, Philippine footwear manufacturing, which was concentrated in Marikina, would now have to contend with imported substitutes,” Joel Q. Tanchuco of the De La Salle University (DLSU) wrote in his paper. “The rapid shift in market conditions induced massive displacement and adjustments in the Marikina footwear industry,” Tan-

chuco said in “Liberalization and the Value Chain Upgrading Imperative: The Case of the Marikina Footwear Industry.” Evangelista remembers that in the new millennium, the Marikina footwear industry saw the flood of imported and cheaper shoes. “Na-overwhelm ang mga Pilipino sa dami ng murang sapatos. Hirap na hirap kami sa production, pagpapalakad at mga orders. Yung mga nagdidikta kasi yung mga umoorder; sila nag-a-aprove ng style, design [The market was overwhelmed with cheap imports. We had difficulties in production, management and meeting orders, especially since those who ordered from us dictate our production: they approve the style, design and number of pairs],” he explained.

It also didn’t help that Republic Act 8762, or the Retail Trade Liberalization Law (RTLL), was enacted in the Year 2000. Today, Evangelista and Teodoro would have to face a new challenge as officials move to amend the RTLL.

New players

TRADE Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, who avows he is a champion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), has been issuing policies that he claims will make doing business in the Philippines easier and less costly for both local and foreign firms. This stand will be tested once the proposed amendments to the RTL law are deliberated on in Congress. Lawmakers from both cham-

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, October 3, 2019

amid challenges of liberalization Innovations introduced

bers are moving to open up further the retail trade sector, which is strongly opposed by local retailers and manufacturers. They said liberalizing retail trade will expose MSMEs, including city-based industries, to heavy competition with large foreign retailers that will surely hit them with a death blow. Lopez set the record straight: capital requirements will not be removed in the new retail trade law; it will be just lowered to allow more foreign players to enter the Philippines. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has proposed to trim the minimum paid-up capital for foreign retailers to $300,000 from $2.5 million (P130.03 million at current exchange rates) at present. “The micro and small enterprises are still protected under the proposed law because we are pushing for setting the paid-up capital requirement in the vicinity of $300,000. That’s about P15 million. Our definition of a business with P15-million capitalization is either a micro or small enterprise,” Lopez said in an interview with reporters. “What we are opening up in the revised retail trade law is the medium-sized level and up. We will still protect the micro and small, whatever happens,” he added.

Influx of foreigners

HOWEVER, in Senate Bill (SB) 921 authored by Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the minimum paid-up capital

mandated from foreign investors is set at $200,000, which is just about P10.4 million. “There is a need to revisit the requirements of the retail trade liberalization law to truly liberalize and incentivize investments in the retail sector. Currently, the law requires a minimum paid-up capital of $2.5 million for a 100-percent ownership of a retail establishment,” Gatchalian said in SB 921’s explanatory note. “These requirements, along with other barriers, have resulted in the Philippines lagging behind other Asian countries in terms of developing a regulatory regime favorable to foreign investment,” he added. For Lopez, the liberalization of retail trade is a double-edged sword. As much as it will tighten the competition in the sector to the disadvantage of small manufacturers, the trade chief said it will also open up opportunities on the other end. With the further opening up, government economists are projecting an influx of foreign-owned malls and department stores into the Philippines, which Lopez said will provide more spaces for domestically produced items.

Shops, stores

DATA from the Board of Investments (BOI) showed only 22 foreign retailers have invested in the country’s retail sector since the passage of the retail trade law in 2000. Accord-

ing to state officials, as much as the liberalization law should have been a vehicle for job creation, the opportunity for employment is reduced without such investments. Further, less stores are, therefore, available for local manufacturers to supply with their goods, reducing their chances of getting wider market presence and share. “If I were a producer, I should support the new retail trade law because it will provide me with more market and retail shops to sell to. I will have more market access for short. If I have a good product, I can always supply them with good ones or open up my own. As long as my products are of good quality, may that be shoes from Marikina or from abroad, it will sell wherever store and whatever the policy is,” Lopez added. “What is important for citybased industries is to maintain the competitiveness of their items,” the trade chief argued.

Enough protection

IN the face of a looming tighter competition, Lopez said the DTI has in place mechanisms that can help MSMEs in domestic industries raise their production and competitiveness. One of the programs that MSMEs can utilize is the shared services facilities (SSF) project of the agency. Under the SSF, the DTI provides MSMEs with machineries, equipment, tools, among others, to

help them grow their productivity, accelerate their competitiveness, encourage their graduation to being an exporter and address gaps and bottlenecks in their supply chain. As of August, a total of 11 SSF projects have been launched by the DTI in the whole of Metro Manila. Among these projects is the SSF high-value custom made leather goods in Marikina City, providing shoemakers there with machines for the manufacturing of leatherbased shoes. “For any competition, we can expect a reaction, [especially] if you are opening up a system. Again, there is enough protection for the smaller guys, but the bigger guys, they can face competition. After all these years, if large firms cannot face competition, then they are most likely inefficient,” Lopez said. “What’s important is we keep our support for MSMEs when we are enacting measures that will liberalize certain sectors. For Marikina, we have already poured in at least P50 million for the shoemakers there as of this year,” the trade chief added. As of September, the move to liberalize retail trade is awaiting committee deliberation in the Senate, while it is up for plenary debate in the House of Representatives.

Local support

EVANGELISTA considered trade liberalization as also an opportunity and challenge for the industry. “Kung hindi ganun, hindi kami magbabago ng teknolohiya; naging inspirasyon namin na maging globally competitive [If it were not for trade liberalization, we wouldn’t have changed our technology. It became our inspiration to be globally competitive],” he said. According to Teodoro, the Marikina footwear industry is “not merely surviving but thriving economically.” “[It is also thriving] in terms of design and innovation. It is clearly evolving in a sense, even in the use of materials. There are now collaborations being done,” the mayor said. “Meaning, they are getting local materials from regions and other provinces and we infuse that in our shoes.” Teodoro cited as example: malong from Davao is being used as an upper of high-fashion ladies’ shoes and a wood carving from Paete, Laguna, is now being used as a takong (heel). “So this is part of the innovation that we are experiencing now in the shoe industry.”

EVANGELISTA said he also introduced automation and tweaked production methods. But while automation led to fewer workers, this led to better yield in production. And even if they also offer customized shoes, like for members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that require a certain sole height and finish, Evangelista said their core business is mass production. Because C-Point is Marikina’s model of a Shoe Tourism program, Evangelista said they have produced other leather products like belts, fridge magnets and wallets. Later on, they plan to sell T-shirts, leather bags, leather key chains—all the “allied industries so we can be really a one-stop shop,” he added. C-Point now has 15 branches in Marikina, Bulacan and Quezon City. According to Teodoro, the shoe industry tourism program is aimed at allowing people to “experience the shoe you are buying: how it is being made, learn the story of the owner and the artisans who made the shoes.” “You not only see a factory or how shoes are being made, you can find a showroom. The owner himself will offer you a tour of his factory, showing the line of the production from the raw material and how it will be cut and assembled and how it will become into a shoe, a functional footwear.”’ Teodoro hopes other shoe manufacturers will follow soon.

Joint efforts

EVANGELISTA and Teodoro said the level of revival the shoe industry has reached today couldn’t have been realized without the partnership of the private sector and the government. Evangelista cited the support of their association, which provides seminars with topics like avoiding wastage and marketing opportunities. He said the LGU provides the market linkage. They were allowed to participate in the DTI’s caravan where they introduced to other regions Marikina’s shoes, according to Evangelista. “Nakikilala muli ang industry ng sapatos sa Marikina [The shoe industry in Marikina became known again].” Teodoro said he considers the LGU’s role as supporter to players in the industry: “to [lend] support [to] the efforts, the initiatives [and] in all their actions.” “We try to listen and learn from them what they need most,” he said. Teodoro said shoemakers asked for a place where they could showcase their craft. Initially they hosted shoe bazaars near the area in city hall where there are many people congregating, especially during school openings, Christmas and times when economic activity increases. “But we cannot forever do bazaars. So we decided to put up a permanent area for our shoe manufacturers,” Teodoro said, noting that the Marikina Shoe Trade Fair site will be opened by January next year. He explained this area is open all-year round and would have 52 retail brands located under one outlet. The Marikina Shoe Trade Fair

site is being put up at the East side of the Marikina Sports Complex. “One can also order wholesale or in bulk not only for shoes but also for leather goods,” Teodoro said.

Addressing issues

ACCORDING to Teodoro, the Marikina shoe industry is not yet gunning for overseas markets. “We’re going local and we’re targeting the regional markets,” Teodoro said. The mayor explained that, currently, there’s a huge requirement for footwear. He noted that based on DTI’s record, the country’s total importation is at 250 million pairs annually. He said about 170 million pairs are imported from China. “But in terms of durability, you can only wear it for three to four months. Here in Marikina, we guarantee, at least, you can use Marikina shoes for a year to two years.” C-Point is offering a lifetime warranty on the shoes it sells. “The problem of the industry is, first, marketing: how we are going to position Marikina-made shoes in the global and local market,” Teodoro said. “So we have a two-pronged approach in this matter.” The local executive said the first issue is quality while the second is durability. “We might find some imported shoes are reasonably or lower-priced. However, in terms of durability, they could not be compared with that of Marikina-made shoes.”

Heritage, hopes

TEODORO said the shoe industry also needs a steady supply of skilled and qualified labor. Hence, the LGU is building the Shoe Technology School with classes on making shoes, shoe patterns and design, branding, marketing, entrepreneurship and management. Currently, the mayor said, they are undertaking accreditation of the course from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) so that the school can issue national certificates. The curriculum, Teodoro added, would be considered a four-year degree course that is focused on shoemaking. He explained a graduate can use a national certificate in applying for a job. Evangelista, who graduated with a degree in BS Biology, said while offering classes to future shoemakers is good, there’s still no replacing the experience of being raised by shoemakers. “Hindi ko kasi maatim na ganito mangyari sa industriya namin, lalo na ako dahil lumaki ako sa sapatusan. Kaya nung dumating yung trade liberalization, tinanggap namin yung hamon; lumaban kami para sa industriya [I couldn’t bear to see the industry die, especially for somebody like me who grew up in this industry. That’s why when trade liberalization came, we accepted the challenge. We fought for the industry.]” Teodoro, doesn’t see his supporting the shoe industry as a legacy. “I see it as an imperative; a necessary action. I need to do the necessary program for the shoe industry to preserve it as our heritage, as shoemaking is heritage to Marikina. Shoemaking has been and still is part of our life.”

b6 Thursday, October 3, 2019

U.S. blocks goods from 5 countries for suspected forced labor

ASHINGTON—The Trump administration on Tuesday announced it is stopping imports of clothing, gold, diamonds and other items believed to have been produced with forced labor by companies based in Brazil, China and Malaysia, as well as some gold mined in eastern Congo and diamonds from a region in Zimbabwe. An official at US Customs and Border Protection, Brenda Smith, said her agency issued orders to immediately detain the goods at US ports of entry for further investigation. The move comes amid a wide-ranging trade dispute between the US and China, which has led to new tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods. Smith says the “message here is that one of the ways the US and China can collaborate together is to ensure that forced labor is not used.” She said the companies can reexport the detained shipments or submit information to show they’re legal. T he compa n ies sa nc t ioned a re Bonechar Carvão Ativado Do Brasil Ltda; Hetian Taida Apparel Co. Ltd. in Xinjiang, China, and WRP Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia. The action also covers gold mined at small artisan mines in eastern Congo and rough diamonds from the Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s government in a statement called the US decision “a blatant and shameless lie.” The Marange region was in the spotlight a decade ago over alleged army killings of artisanal miners and forced labor. The fields are now commercially mined. AP

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Global trade to see weakest growth since Great Recession

ENEVA— Global trade is forecast to weaken this year to its slowest pace since the depths of the Great Recession due to the USChina trade war, the World Trade Organization (WTO)said on Tuesday.

The WTO said it expects volumes of traded goods to rise 1.2 percent in 2019, well below the 2.6 percent estimate it issued in April and the weakest growth rate for world trade since 2009. The organization said estimates for 2020 show growth dropping to 2.7 percent from 3.0 percent, but it warned that still de-

Front from left, David Malpass, President of the World Bank, Roberto Azevedo, director general of the World Trade Organization, Angela Merkel, German chancellor, Jose Angel Gurria, secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and David Lipton, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arrive for a press conference after a meeting of the heads of international economy and finance organizations at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. AP Photo/Michael Sohn

pends on resolving trade disputes. The United States and China are in a wide-ranging dispute that has led to new tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of traded goods. There is little expectation of an imminent resolution to the

disagreement, which continues to sap economic growth. “The darkening outlook for trade is discouraging but not unexpected,” said WTO chief Roberto Azevêdo. The WTO sees continued risks from the trade wars, saying that “further rounds of tariffs and retaliation could produce a destructive cycle of recrimination.” The organization noted that some economies are slowing

anyway while other outstanding trade issues, such as Britain’s exit from the European Union, are adding to the uncertainty for businesses trading goods. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is heading toward recession, said the friction around Brexit showed why Europe had no reason to be haughty about the US-China trade dispute. “We’ve been negotiating for

three years over Britain’s orderly exit, and this is causing us great uncertainty, too,” Merkel said after a meeting on Tuesday in Berlin with WTO’s Azevêdo and the heads of four other international economic organizations. “This exit is meant to happen on October 31, and many businesspeople still don’t know today what their supply chain is going to look like in the future,” said Merkel. AP

US economy slowdown spurs concern it’s nearing stall speed

he United States economy is losing speed, something that has economists wondering how slow the economy can go and still avoid crashing into a recession. Whereas growth below 2 percent used to almost guarantee the economy would subsequently contract, some economists now reckon the US can wobble around 1 percent to 1.5 percent without falling over. The decline in the economy’s so-called stall speed is a relief after data released on Tuesday signaled the weakest manufacturing sector in a decade. It still leaves the Federal Reserve under pressure to cut interest rates and President Donald J. Trump facing challenges heading into next year’s election. Whether the longest expansion in history remains intact may ultimately depend on whether consumers are able to maintain spending enough to offset the slump in manufacturing amid the US-China trade war. “Suddenly, the idea of stall speed is much more important today than it has been for most of the expansion,” said Stephen Gallagher, chief US economist at Societe Generale SA. “The economy is running on one engine, and that’s the consumer.” At Commerzbank AG, currency strategist Ulrich Leuchtmann told clients in a report on Wednesday that “the fact that stall speed is becoming an issue of common interest” may undermine demand for US assets. Taking a page from aviation, in which the stall speed is the slowest a plane can fly while still maintaining a level flight, the economic equivalent is the point at which growth is no longer self-sustaining.

Consumer response

That happens when consumers

and companies pull back in the face of the lackluster economic performance. “When economic actors become sufficiently concerned—whether justified or not—a mild slowdown can easily become worse,” Eric Lascelles, chief economist at RBC Global Asset Management Inc., wrote in a report last month. The outlook for growth has indeed softened, with the manufacturing sector already slipping into a recession during the first half of the year, capital investment weakening and job gains moderating. Analysts expect growth in gross domestic product to slow to 1.7 percent next year. In expansions dating back to the 1940s, real GDP growth below 2 percent was almost always followed by a recession, according to Lascelles. Now, he and other economists expect the economy can avoid buckling at that pace. A reduced stall speed means growth can be slower and monthly payroll gains can be softer and still sustain the expansion.

Growth potential

The stall speed has largely declined because the potential growth rate of the economy has slowed. The two concepts are closely tied. Potential growth is the pace at which the economy can expand without inflation heating up. Right now, the Fed sees potential growth at 1.9 percent. Predictions by the Congressional Budget Office for the rate have also come down over time. It’s eased amid demographic changes like slower population growth and softer productivity gains. “The problem here is if potential growth is slowing, what constitutes a rapid expansion today is very different than what it

looked like maybe 40 years ago,” said Michael Gapen, chief US economist at Barclays Plc. And the expansion has been lackluster. Since the end of the recession in 2009, GDP has increased about half as much on a percentage basis as it did during the 1991-2001 expansion, the nation’s second-longest. Wage growth has remained subdued and inf lation has repeatedly missed the Fed’s 2 percent target.

More vulnerable

Most economists predict the economy can stay above their self-defined stall speed level next year, but Joachim Fels and Andrew Balls of Pacific Investment Management Co. expect growth to slow to about 1 percent in the first half of 2020. “While a recession is not our base case, it doesn’t take much to tip over an economy that is moving along at stall speed,” Fels and Balls wrote in the report last week. While a slower stall speed means the economy can expand at a more subdued pace without signaling imminent recession, the bad news is that it doesn’t mean the US is less exposed to a downturn. Lower potential growth “tells you that a shock that we may have experienced before the crisis which may not have tipped you into recession could certainly do so now,” said Matthew Luzzetti, chief US economist at Deutsche Bank AG. As economic growth withers, fiscal and monetary stimulus, provided that they are employed in a timely fashion, can give the economy much-needed lift. But policy-makers at the Fed and in Congress have less room to keep the nation from hitting stall speed—or possibly accelerating out of it. Bloomberg News

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Israel begins Netanyahu’s pre-indictment corruption hearing

ERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-awaited pre-indictment hearing on corruption charges began on Wednesday in Jerusalem, as a jittery political world eagerly sought clarity on his legal standing amid the stalemate that followed the country’s second inconclusive election of the year. Netanyahu is currently struggling to prolong his lengthy rule by building a unity government with his primary opponents, the centrist Blue and White party, who refuse to partner with him because of the serious crimes of which he is suspected. Israel’s attorney general has recommended charging Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing, calling them part of a media-orchestrated witch hunt. The allegations against him include suspicions that he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of champagne and cigars from billionaire friends, offered a critical publisher legislation that would weaken his paper’s main rival in return for softer treatment and allegedly used his influence to help a wealthy telecom magnate in exchange for favorable coverage on a popular news site. Netanyahu has long promised he’d clear his name in the hearing. A team of his lawyers arrived at the Justice Ministry in Jerusalem to argue that all charges should be dropped. “We are going to present not only the evidence everyone is aware of but also new evidence. We are sure that once we present our findings there will be no choice but to close the case,” Netanyahu attorney Amit Hadad said, upon entering the hearing. “We believe and know that at the end of the day all the three cases must be closed.” The sessions are expected to extend over four days. It could take several weeks for the attorney general to render his final decision. However, legal experts say the likelihood of an

In this Wednesday, September 25, 2019, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in Jerusalem. For the sixth time in his lengthy political career, Netanyahu has been tasked by Israel’s president to form a new government. This time it’s no mere formality, but rather a daunting endeavor that looks like mission impossible. AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner

indictment is very high, given the mountains of evidence collected by police over years of investigations and the prosecution’s seeming consensus of pursuing a trial. Although, Netanyahu would not be required to step down if charged, he will face heavy pressure to do so. Already, he hasn’t been able to muster the required 61-seat majority in parliament to build a coalition government and faces stiff resistance from those he will need to back him. President Reuven Rivlin selected Netanyahu last week as the candidate with the best chance of forming a government. That move came after Rivlin failed to broker a unity government between Netanyahu and, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in recent days. A unity government appears to be the preferred option for both sides, but they remain far apart on who should lead it first and what such a constellation would look like. Netanyahu and Gantz were slated to meet again Wednesday before Gantz abruptly canceled, signaling the likely breakdown of the talks. AP

EOUL, South Korea—North Korea fired a ballistic missile from the sea on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, a suggestion that it may have tested an underwater-launched missile for the first time in three years ahead of a resumption of nuclear talks with the United States this weekend. The North Korea missile flew about 450 kilometers (280 miles) at a maximum altitude of 910 km (565 miles) after liftoff from an unspecified place in the waters off the North’s eastern coastal town of Wonsan, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analyzing details of the launch, it said. Japan lodged an immediate protest against North Korea, saying the missile landed inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. If confirmed, it would be the first North Korean missile that has landed that close to Japan since November 2017. US State Department Spokesman Morgan Ortagus, traveling with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Rome, said the US calls on North Korea “to refrain from provocations, abide by their obligations under UN Security Council resolutions, and remain engaged in substantive and sustained negotiations to do their part to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and achieve denuclearization.” South Korean militar y of f icials wouldn’t officially disclose whether the

missile was fired from a submarine, a barge or another possible platform. But during an emergency National Security Council meeting, council members placed weight on the possibility that North Korea performed a submarine-launched missile test and expressed “strong concerns” over the North Korean move, according to South Korea’s presidential office. Missiles launched from submarines are harder to detect in advance. Some experts say North Korea is attempting to raise the stakes and ramp up pressure on the US before their nuclear negotiators meet on Saturday. “The North is trying to convey a message that time is not on the side of the United States and that it could take a different path if the working-level talks don’t go the way it wanted,” said Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. The Joint Chiefs of Staff statement said the weapon fired Tuesday is believed to be a “Pukguksong-class” missile. It refers to a solid-fuel missile that North Korea testedlaunched from an underwater platform in 2016, with the hope that it could, eventually, be a part of its submarine weaponry. That missile flew 500 km (310 miles), and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said at the time that his country had gained “perfect nuclear-attack capability.” North Korea has been trying to develop the ability to fire ballistic missiles from

Trump, Republicans sharply split on China U

nited States lawmakers harshly criticized China’s Communist Party, drawing a sharp contrast with President Donald J. Trump’s congratulatory message to counterpart Xi Jinping on the People’s Republic’s 70th anniversary. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said the occasion served as a reminder of the “many millions of lives lost under Chinese communist rule.” On Tuesday, Xi presided over a military parade showcasing weapons designed to counter US might, while pro-democracy demonstrators battled police in the former British colony of Hong Kong. “Xi Jinping’s China looks disturbingly like a modern version of Maoist China,” McConnell said. Fellow Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Ben Sasse called attention to the Hong Kong protests, with Cotton saying the dissent shows the price of “a ghoulish 70 years of Chinese

North Korea fires ballistic missile days before resuming US talks

People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea’s missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. North Korea fired projectiles toward its eastern sea, South Korea’s military said, in an apparent display of its expanding military capabilities ahead of planned nuclear negotiations with the United States this weekend. The sign reads: “North Korea launched an unspecified missile.” AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

Thursday, October 3, 2019

submarines, though the tests needed for that appear to have been put off while it has been engaged in nuclear diplomacy with the US since early last year. When North Korea’s news agency in July publicized photos of a newly built submarine and said its operational deployment “is near at hand,” some outside experts said it was the North’s biggest submarine with several launch tubes for missiles. An estimated 70 other submarines possessed by North Korea only have launch tubes for torpedoes, not missiles, according to the experts. Cha said flight data provided by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff suggested that it was more likely that the North tested the same type of missile it fired in 2016, instead of a new weapons system. Japan also confirmed the North Korean missile launch. It earlier said North Korea fired two missiles but later corrected itself and said there had been a single launch and perhaps the missile broke into two parts. Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono said the missile fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. He called the launch “a serious threat to Japanese national security.” Kono also said the launch without advance warning was an “extremely problematic and dangerous act” for the safety of vessels and aircraft. Kono declined to say whether it was a submarine-launched missile. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the launch and said it violated UN resolutions that ban North Korea from conducting any launch using ballistic technology. “We will continue to cooperate with the US and the international community, and do the utmost to maintain and protect the safety of the people as we stay on alert,” Abe said. The launch may also be seen as a way for North Korea to express its displeasure over South Korea displaying for the first time some of its newly purchased US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets at its Armed Forces Day ceremony on Tuesday. The North has called the F-35 purchases a grave provocation that violate recent inter-Korean agreements aimed at lowering military tensions. Cha stressed the North Korean launch demonstrated its expanding ability to strike allies South Korea and Japan, not the US mainland. AP

Communist Party control.” Trump offered only a message of congratulations in a tweet Tuesday morning: The parade in Beijing and the protests in Hong Kong highlighted the underlying divides between the US and China, even as they work to resolve their yearlong trade war. In Tiananmen Square, Xi rolled out the fruits of efforts to erode American military dominance in the Western Pacific, including a new ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle and a stealth fighter. Hong Kong, meanwhile, saw some of its worst violence since protests erupted against a now-scrapped proposal to allow extraditions to main-

land China almost four months ago. Police shot and wounded an 18-yearold student who was engaged in a scuffle with a group of riot police in the city’s northwestern area of Tsuen Wan, the first time a demonstrator had been hit by a bullet during the unrest. The police’s use of force against protesters, including tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons, has drawn international criticism. Both chambers of the US Congress are advancing legislation that would require an annual review of whether Hong Kong remains sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to justify special trading status. “Today, Chinese tyrants celebrated 70 years of communist oppression with their typically brutal symbolism: by sending a police officer to shoot a pro-democracy protester at point-blank range,” said Sasse, who represents Nebraska. Police said their officers’ lives were “under serious threat” and protesters ignored warnings before the weapon was fired. The injured protester had the bullet removed in operation and was expected to survive, even though he remains in critical condition, local broadcaster Cable TV reported.

While Trump has received bipartisan praise for taking a stronger stance against China’s trade practices and theft of intellectual property, some lawmakers from both parties have urged him to hold China accountable for human-rights abuses. The two countries are also negotiating a trade truce after scaling up tariffs that are beginning to drag on economic growth in both countries. In a speech to the United Nations last week, Trump urged Xi to find a peaceful solution to the unrest in Hong Kong. “How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the world in the future,” Trump said at the time, before praising Xi. Senator Pat Toomey, a free-trade Republican, said human-rights violations are “systemic” in China and that “the Orwellian surveillance state constructed by Xi should give everyone pause.” Representatives Liz Cheney—a member of the House Republican leadership—and Mike Gallagher said the anniversary wasn’t “a day for celebration” and called it “an opportunity to remember the victims, past and present, of the Chinese Communist Party.” Bloomberg News

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Clark Marriott celebrates the best of Germany in the Philippines

Mactan, Cebu, opens first Pororo-themed indoor park and rooms

INCE Clark Marriott Hotel’s opening at the Clark Freeport Zone, the first and only internationally branded 5-star hotel in Clark, Pampanga and north of Manila has become a top of mind among business and leisure travelers, including locals. And in continuing this tradition of firsts, the globallyrecognized hotel chain brings yet another first to Clark. Clark Marriott, one of five Marriott properties in the Philippines, brings the authentic flavor of Germany to Clark, Pampanga with its first-ever Oktoberfest from October 11 to 12, 2019 at 6pm at an air-conditioned tent at the back of the hotel. This will be the first and only authentic German Oktoberfest in Clark and the first time that a festival of this kind will be held in the free port. The festival promises two exciting nights where festivalgoers, foreign and local, can experience a taste of Germany. Festivalgoers will be treated with free-flowing Weihenstephan beer, one of the finest German wheat beers, and will be provided their fills of German food. While Munich-based Oktoberfest band that performs in all over Asia, Anton Show, will take over the fun and entertainment. Tickets to the festival are priced

at only Php2,500 that will also delight each festivalgoer with complimentary German beer mugs and other freebies. The hotel will raffle off overnight stays and dining gift certificates. “It is basically bringing one part of Germany to Clark that our guests and the Kapampangan can enjoy – German Oktoberfest that is truly worth experiencing first. We hope to

continue bringing more firsts to our valued guests, partners, and even our associates,” said Goeran Soelter, Clark Marriott General Manager. To know more about the hotel, call +63 45 5985000 or visit www.clarkmarriott. com. And to keep up on our latest offerings, follow Clark Marriott Hotel on Facebook, @clarkmarriott on Instagram, and @clark_marriott on Twitter.

ORORO Park recently opened its doors on the province's resort island of Mactan. Located at Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark in Lapu-Lapu City, the theme park is based on the popular Korean children television show "Pororo the Little Penguin." The park has several locations in Asia including 11 in South Korea. This is the brand's 18th park in the world. Interactive games, which mostly are a first in the Philippines, are to be unveiled this September. Perfect for kids and kids-atheart, the Pororo Park consists of more than 20 fun games and activities which include Petty’s Merry-go-round, Eddy’s Sliding Car, Pororo Train, Tutu’s 5D Rider, Sliding Ball Pool, Crong’s Jungle Gym, Rodi’s Racing Game, Digital Sketch, Pororo Fishing Zone, an Aqua Play Zone, an indoor Giant Slide and so much more! The Pororo Park is part of Jpark Island Resort’s expansion. It's also in the process of finishing a new building that will add 200 more rooms in its portfolio. The expansion

also goes beyond Cebu and the brand is building a bigger resort in Panglao, Bohol. Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu also transformed 40 of its existing rooms into Pororo-themed suites. The rooms are adorably designed like the theme park, even the hallways are inspired by the show. It's like stepping into Pororo's world. Other fun activities inside Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark Mactan, Cebu include Mini Golf, Giant Chess, Go Kart Bikes, a Kids Club and a whole lot more. Souvenir shops and a photo souvenir counter are also readily available for all guests. Bring the entire family now and experience the elusive mix of fun and luxury at a promo price! For full introductory promo details of Pororo Park access and rooms, you may directly check @jparkislandresort on Facebook. For more information contact (+63 32) 494 5000 / (+63 32) 380 0000, visit www.jparkislandresort.com or email rsvn@ jparkislandresort.com.

By Pat Graham

The Associated Press

OHA, Qatar—Gold medal secured, Noah Lyles took a lap around the sparsely filled stadium with a big decision weighing on him—vanilla or Oreo milkshake? He just couldn’t decide between the two flavors as a reward after winning the 200-meter title on Tuesday night at the world championships. “That’s how I’m going to celebrate my season,” Lyles said. And what a season it was for the charismatic, fun-loving 22-year-old Lyles, who’s

‘IT’S MY TIME’ Sports BusinessMirror

providing just the boost track and field needs in this post-Bolt era. Just don’t refer to him as the new Usain Bolt, though. “I’m me,” said Lyles, who dyed his hair silver for the big occasion. “And if you like me, I’ll happily entertain you. It’s my time.” He certainly took a little bit of time to take over the race. Trailing going around the bend, Lyles kicked it into gear to pass Adam Gemili of Britain, Lyles finished in a time of 19.83 seconds to beat an exhausted Andre de Grasse of Canada by 0.12 seconds. Alex Quiñonez of Ecuador was third. Even behind that late, Lyles, who grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, wasn’t the least bit concerned. “It was one of those situations where I knew I had to get out, and I saw they were moving on the turn and I just started pumping my arms on the turn. I knew I could sling off and grab the momentum,” Lyles explained. “Because no matter where I am in the race, I will always be able to come back.” After the race, the party was on. Lyles waved the American flag, kneeled a few times and kissed the track. It was rather subdued for the sprinter known for his dynamic dance moves. Perhaps, he’s saving his best stuff for 10 months from

| Thursday, October 3, 2019

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

now at the Tokyo Games. At this version of the championships, he threw his energy into winning the 200. Now that the box is checked, he’s thinking bigger: Running the 100 and 200 in Tokyo. It could be quite a showdown with teammate Christian Coleman, who won the 100 at worlds and then skipped the 200. He plans to double, as well. Same with de Grasse, who did both at worlds and took bronze in the 100. “I will be ready when Tokyo 2020 comes,” de Grasse said. As a reminder of his goal—to win gold—Lyles put it into his phone and muttered it to himself over and over while he was driving. When it finally happened, he didn’t know how to really react. “It’s like something you’ve imagined so many times in your head, that one you actually active it it’s like I thought, ‘We already did this?’” Lyles said. “Finally, to have done it feels unbelievable. It does feel good that I’m at the end of the season and we came out with the ultimate victory, which is a gold medal.” His championships aren’t over. He’ll likely team with Coleman and Justin Gatlin as part of the US 4x100 men’s relay team. Lyles was coy on his relay leg. “That’s a secret,” he said. “I can’t be giving up US confidential information.” De Grasse began to take notice of Lyles last season. “He reminded me of my younger self, the way he runs,” said de Grasse.

Noah Lyles of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s 200 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. AP

Salazar slapped with lengthy doping ban D

OHA, Qatar—Renowned track Coach Alberto Salazar, who trained four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, along with a gold medalist and other top contenders at this week’s world championships, has been kicked out of the competition after being handed a four-year ban in a case long pursued by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Usada said in a news release early Tuesday that an arbitration panel decided on the four-year penalty for Salazar and endocrinologist Jeffrey Brown for, among other violations, possessing and trafficking testosterone while training top runners at the Nike Oregon Project (NOP). Brown did consulting work for the NOP and was a personal physician for some of the runners. Among the seven runners listed as members of Salazar’s team are Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won the 10,000-meter gold medal on Saturday night, and is entered to run later this week in the 1,500; and Donavan Brazier and Clayton

In this August 21, 2015, file photo, track Coach Alberto Salazar watches a training session for the upcoming World Athletic Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. AP

Murphy of the US, each of whom are scheduled to run in the 800-meter final Tuesday. The Usada ban went into effect Monday, and track’s governing body, the IAAF, moved quickly to revoke Salazar’s credential for the final six days in Doha. The Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees anti-doping in track, notified the NOP athletes that they could not associate with their coach because of his ban. In a statement released by NOP, Salazar said he was shocked by the arbitration outcome, and that he would appeal. He said throughout a six-year investigation, he and his athletes “endured unjust, unethical and highly damaging treatment from the Usada.” “The Oregon Project has never and will never permit doping,” Salazar said. Nike supported him, putting out a statement saying that the arbitrators’ reports illustrate “the amount of care Alberto took to ensure he was complying with the World Anti-Doping Code.” Hassan said she was aware of the Usada investigation when she joined Salazar’s team “and have always had a clean conscience, knowing we are being monitored to the absolute fullest by Usada and” the World Anti-Doping Agency. “I am saddened by the timing of Usada as it brings my championship out of balance,” she said. The existence of the long-running Usada investigation became public after a 2015 report by BBC and ProPublica that detailed some of Salazar’s practices, which included use of testosterone gel and infusions of a supplement called L-carnitine that can greatly enhance athletic performance. Usada said it received information from 30 witnesses, including distance runner Kara Goucher and a former NOP coach, Steve Magness. Goucher left NOP in 2011, and in the ProPublica piece, she called Salazar a “sort of a win-atall-costs person and it’s hurting the sport.” Magness was sent down to Brown’s office in Houston for an L-carnitine

infusion to see how effective it was. He left NOP in 2012. After the ban was announced, Magness sent out a tweet that said: “Tell the truth. Own your mistakes. Choose the difficult path.” Farah, who runs for Britain, worked with the Nike Oregon Project while he was racking up six world and four Olympic championships. During that period, UK Athletics did its own investigation into Salazar and gave Farah the OK to continue working with him. Farah parted ways with Salazar in 2017, saying he wanted to move back home. On Tuesday, Farah released a statement saying he has “no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules or crosses a line.” Salazar also coached Galen Rupp of the US, a 2012 and 2016 Olympic medalist, who, in the past, has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The 61-year-old Cuban-born coach was a college star at Oregon, who went on to win four major marathon titles, in New York and Boston, from 1980-82. Usada’s dogged pursuit of him in a difficult case that never directly implicated any of his athletes was a reminder of how track’s doping issues stretch well beyond the Russian scandal that has overtaken the sport over the last several years. The other four Salazar athletes in Doha this week are from Ethiopia (Yomif Kejelcha), Germany (Konstanze Klosterhalfen), Australia (Jessica Hull) and the United States (Craig Engels). Usada said it relied on more than 2,000 exhibits between the two cases and that proceedings included nearly 5,800 pages of transcripts. “The athletes in these cases found the courage to speak out and ultimately exposed the truth,” Usada CEO Travis Tygart said. “While acting in connection with the Nike Oregon Project, Mr. Salazar and Dr. Brown demonstrated that winning was more important than the health and well-being of the athletes they were sworn to protect.” AP

James overcomes thyroid disease to win 400 D

JAMES

OHA, Qatar—Kirani James barely knows the names of his fellow 400 runners anymore. They sure know him. The 2012 Olympic champion from Grenada is feeling healthier after two years of dealing with an autoimmune disease. He turned in the fastest time of 44.94 seconds in the opening round of the 400 meters on Tuesday night at the world championships. His competitors sure noticed. “You’ve got to respect a champion [like him] because they’re the ones that laid the foundation for us,” American Fred Kerley said. In 2017, James struggled with fatigue and dropped 20 pounds before being diagnosed with a thyroid condition called Graves’ disease. It’s taken some time, but he’s back

to his ideal running weight of 175 pounds—he added 20 pounds as they figured out the proper medicine dose—and looking to collect another world title. He won the 400 at the 2011 world championships when he was just a teenager. Now 27, James is competing against a new generation of sprinters that have blossomed in his two-year absence (he did run an occasional meet). “I’m seeing names and going, ‘Who is this guy? Who is this guy? And who is this guy?’” said James, who earned an Olympic silver in 2016 on a night when South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk broke the world record. One name James should know: American Michael Norman, who’s one of the favorites and had the secondfastest time (45.00) in the opening round.

REGGAE BEAT

His dad is a Jamaican musician who’s been in reggae bands. He’s a Japanese 400-meter runner who marched to a different beat—sprinting. Get to know Julian Jrummi Walsh, the sprinter who was born in Jamaica, grew up in Japan and is focused on

competing for his country at the Tokyo Games. “I’m really excited,” Walsh said of the possibility. His father, Emanuel Walsh, is a well-known singer and drummer who has worked with quite a few bands, including one titled Black Blood that’s “really good,” his son reported. Ever consider playing the drums or singing like pops? “No,” he said, smiling. “Running. I like running.”

TAKE A BREAK?

Ethiopian track officials have a stern warning for their marathoners: Take on the heat in Doha and then take off three months. The federation said the decision was prompted by concerns for the athletes’ health and any who break the rules face “severe consequences.” Despite starting the event at night, the sweltering conditions for the women’s marathon led to 28 of the 68 starters to drop out, including all three Ethiopians. The men’s marathon is set for a minute before midnight on Saturday. The conditions are expected to be around the same as the women’s race when at the finish it was 88

degrees (31 oCelsius) with a heat index of 105 (40).

DOUBLE PLANS

In Doha, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas will race only the 400. In Tokyo, her ambitions become even bigger—to tackle both the 200 and 400. That is, if she can get the Olympics officials to alter the schedule. She said her country has petitioned to make that happen. At the moment, the start of the 400 and the final of the 200 are both on August 4. Miller-Uibo won the 400 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. A switch is not unprecedented. Before Rio, US Track and Field successfully petitioned the IAAF to amend the competition schedule for Allyson Felix. But Felix finished fourth in the 200-meter final at the US Olympic Trials, one spot out of the Rio mix. She did make the Olympic squad in the 400 and captured silver behind Miller-Uibo. “We’re hoping they can make a little change for us,” said Miller-Uibo, who advanced Tuesday to the 400 final. “We’re definitely looking forward to it.” AP

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Thursday, October 3, 2019

FLAME COMES TO PHL lopez

bautista

By Jun Lomibao

UALA LUMPUR—This is where the countdown to the Philippine hosting of the Southeast Asian Games starts to get fever pitch, if not ecstatic. A formal Handover Ceremony of the symbolic SEA Games Flame from previous host Malaysia to the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) is scheduled at the historic Bukit Jalil National Stadium at the heart of Malaysia’s capital starting at 9 a.m. (same time in Manila) on Thursday. Taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez and boxer Ian Clark Bautista, both veteran internationalists,

carrion

kiram

will represent the present crop of Filipino sports heroes in the ceremony that will also be graced by Philippine Olympic Committee women in sports head Cynthia Carrion and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Celia Kiram. They will represent POC President Abraham Tolentino and PSC Chairman William Ramirez, respectively. Phisgoc President and COO Ramon “Tats” Suzara will also be at the forefront, along with New Clark City Athletes Village Mayor Arrey Perez and Capas (Tarlac) Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan— when Malaysia Olympic Committee President Norza Zakaria transfers the sacred flame to a symbolic lantern that will be flown to the Philippines on the same day for the traditional

suzara

Torch Relay that kicks off in Davao City. “Malaysia hosted one of the best SEAG editions and we will do our best to be at par—if not better—when the Games come to the Philippines,” Kiram said. “And we are very thankful for the warm welcome the Malaysians have accorded this small delegation for this major ceremony.” The Philippines is hosting the Games—set from November 30 to December 11 in multiple venues in Clark, Subic, Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Laguna, Batangas and La Union—for the fourth time after 1981, 1991 (when the country finished two gold medals short of the overall championship) and 2005 (when Filipino athletes reigned supreme for the first time since joining the Games in 1977).

perez

oting the pitifully low resources channeled into long-term programs for developing Filipino athletes, four senators have authored a bill to establish a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS). It will be a “dedicated national high school offering a secondary course with special emphasis

on developing the athletic skills of the students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development,” said Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, one of the lead authors, adding that the school seeks to train and develop future generations of world champion Philippine athletes. In sponsoring Senate Bill 1086 Tuesday for plenary consideration, Gatchalian said, “Ultimately, the end in view of this legislation is to unleash the potential

“As we receive the flame from Malaysia, we also receive the responsibilities that comes with hosting the flame in our country,” Suzara said. “Malaysia has always been supportive of us and we thank them for being a patient teacher and wonderful friend.” “The flame handover is an important symbolic ceremony showing the turnover of responsibilities from past host to present,” said Phisgoc ceremonies Director Mike Aguilar, adding the Torch Relay from Davao City would include stops in Cebu City, Clark, Senate, House of Representatives and Malacañang. Kuala Lumpur 2017 Games mascot Rimau gets to meet Pami, the official mascot of

of young Filipinos who have shown early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-related career.” Coauthors of the proposal are Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Juan Edgardo Angara and Pia Cayetano. The PHSS is envisioned to be a world-class educational and athletics facility to be constructed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Gatchalian said.

catacutan

the Philippine 30th SEA Games, during the ceremony. The Philippine SEA Games have as Platinum sponsors Ajinomoto, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., MG Cars, Philippine Airlines, Skyworth and CooCaa; Gold sponsors MasterCard, Milo, Pocari Sweat, NLEX, PInco and Rzaer; Preferred sponsors Asics, SM Lifestyle Inc. and BMW; Prestige sponsors Molten and Mikasa; Banking Partners Chinabank and PNB. Media Partners Bombo Radyo, Star FM, CNN, United Neon and DOOH; Host Broadcaster NEP; and Official Broadcaster Sports and Action, TV 5, Cignal, ESPN and PTV 4.

Gatchalian: High School for Sports ‘crucial’ to develop Pinoy athletes By Butch Fernandez

‘NC’ elims resume

The PHSS will be under the supervision of the Department of Education, which, Gatchalian said, “has already expressed its unequivocal support for the establishment of the school.” As proposed, the Board of Trustees of PHSS will be chaired by the secretary of Education and Philippine Sports Commission chairman will serve as PHSS vice chairman. The PHSS board will be composed of the director

ETRAN and San Sebastian College—teams with Final Four potentials—square off with separate opponents in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. The Knights, No. 3 with a 9-6 wonlost card, take on the eight-placed Arellano University Chiefs at 2 p.m., while the Stags, No. 4 with a 7-6 card, face the Jose Rizal University Bombers, also No. 8, at 4 p.m. The Knights cruised past the Chiefs-72, behind Jerrick Balanza’s 31 points and are favored to repeat to keep their semifinals hopes intact. But the Knights are coming off a loss to unbeaten defending champion San Beda Red Lions (15-0), giving the Chiefs some ray of hope. The Stags, on the other hand, blasted the Bombers, 82-51, in opening their campaign this season. The Stags, however, have yet to recover following consecutive defeats, the last to cellar-dweller Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 79-75, last Friday. Ryniel Berlanga

of the PHSS, one representative each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and three representatives from different POC-accredited national sports associations to be nominated by their respective associations and appointed by the chairman of the board. Gatchalian described the establishment of the PHSS as “the crucial first step toward achieving Philippine excellence in international athletics and providing our athletes with the support that they deserve as our representatives on the international stage.”

orts

sMirror

ony Lascuña kept his fiery form coming off a big Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Asia victory in Taiwan, sizzling with a seven-under 65 to open a huge three-stroke lead over surprise challenger Gerald Rosales at the start of the ICTSI Apo Challenge at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City on Wednesday. Lascuña actually fumbled with a bogey on the par-three 11th when he kicked off his campaign at the backside of the quaint layout where he grew up, worked as a caddie and honed his skills. But after shaking off his early struggle, there was no stopping one of the best players to have come out of the country’s spawning ground of golf talents. He birdied the par-five 13th from 6 feet, closed out his backside stint with three straight birdies, stretched his birdie-binge to four with another feat on the first hole, birdied the third next and holed with back-to-back birdies in hot conditions. With a 32-33 start, the 48-year-old shotmaker took control of the 78-player starting field which came into the P3-million event put up by ICTSI upbeat of their respective chances and ready to stop whatever momentum Lascuña had gained from his triumphant campaign abroad last Sunday that snapped a two-year title spell for one of the country’s multi-titled players. “I played relatively good, everything’s in place,” said Lascuña, now on track to ending a two-year title spell on the PGT. “I just hope to sustain my form in the next three days.” Rosales, a former winner of the all-local Philippine Open at Riviera in 2000, earlier found himself a bewildered clubhouse leader with a 68, highlighted by five birdies in the last seven holes at the front, until Lascuna came in with his scorching round. Despite his strong rally, Rosales rued his daylong struggle on Apo’s last line of defense but remained hopeful of finally snapping a long, long drought on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 C3 “I three-putted the first hole and missed putts from close range on Nos. 12 and 15,” said the former amateur hotshot. Save for a couple of players, the homegrown talents cashed in on their local knowledge of the flat but challenging layout with Jhonnel Ababa, winner at PGT Del Monte two weeks ago, rebounded from a bogey-bogey miscue from No. 12 with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to card a 70 for joint third with another Davaoeño amateur Elee Bisera and Michael Bibat, while Ferdie Aunzo, Ramil Bisera and Rufino Bayron, who also call the Apo their home, churned out identical 71s to share sixth place with Nilo Salahog and Dutch Guido van der Valk, winner of the kickoff leg of the milestone 10th season of the PGT in Cebu last June. But while Lascuña and Ababa lived up to pretournament hype, the other fancied players groped for form with Pueblo de Oro leg winner Reymon Jaraula mixing three birdies with the same number of bogeys for a 72 for joint 11th with 11 others, including reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla and Fil-Am Sean Talmadge, who dished out an impressive joint 17th finish in Taiwan. Ira Alido, who has turned in a number of top 5 finishes in the last few legs of the PGT, failed to recover from a double-bogey mishap on No. 1 as he fumbled with three more bogeys against three birdies for a 74 that dropped him to joint 30th that includes American Lexus Keoninh, while Jay Bayron, another local ace itching to redeem himself from a string of mediocre finishes here and abroad, bogeyed four of his first 11 holes and had a roller-coaster finish of three birdies against two bogeys in the last six holes for a 75 in a tie with the likes of former PGT Asia leg titlist Joenard Rates and another local ace Elmer Salvador. Worse were American Tarik Can, winner of the Aboitiz Invitational of PGT Asia at Wack Wack last month, and defending champion and reigning PGT OOM winner Jobim Carlos, who limped with six-over 78s for joint 55th and in danger of missing the 40-plus ties cut in this eighth leg of the PGT backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology.

Del Rosario fumbles in Taiwan

IAOLI County, Taiwan—Pauline del Rosario recovered late to salvage a 72 and trail a hot-finishing HsiaoLing Wu by five even as the rest of the Pinay bidders struggled in the first round of the Party Ladies Golfers Open at the National Golf and Country Club here yesterday. Chasing her second LPGA Tour of Taiwan (TLPGA) crown in three years, del Rosario failed to get going tackling the up-and-down layout for the first time, bogeying Nos. 4 and 14 while flubbing a couple of birdie chances. But she finally found her rhythm and touch at the finish, birdying the last two

to save a 37-35 for joint 15th in the $100,000 championship co-sanctioned by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. for the second straight year. Daniella Uy, who ended up tied at 45th here in the first Ladies PGT event held overseas last year, rebounded from a double-bogey miscue on No. 6 with back-to-back birdies from No. 12. But the former Junior World titlist wavered at the finish, dropping strokes on two of the last three holes to settle for a 74. Cyna Rodriguez, out to improve on her 39th place effort last year, also failed to bounce back from a 39 start and

More prizes up at Ladies Cup

LASCUÑA SIZZLES WITH 65

Tony Lascuña back at the familiar spot with a scorching 65.

turned in a 76 while rookie pro Chanelle Avaricio blew an early one-under par card with two bogeys at the front and failed to break a bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie run at the back with three bogeys in the last four to drop to joint 55th with Rodriguez and six others. Marvi Monsalve shot herself in the foot with an 80 and in danger of missing the 50-plus ties cut of the closing leg of the seventh season of the country’s premier ladies circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc. Wu, who ranked down at 45th in the current TLPGA Order of Merit, opened her bid with two birdies at the back and bucked a bogey on No. 2 with four birdies, including three in the last four to grab the first day honors in the fifth

TLPGA and LPGT-sanctioned tournament this year. She stood two shots clear of compatriot Ching-Ling Chang, Lee Tai-Ling and Hsieh Yu Ling, who all shot 69s as the hosts dominated the early going of the event with Chia Wen Tai missing grabbing solo second with two bogeys in the last six holes at the front for a 70. Other two-under par scorers were Thai Mookharin Ladgratok and Malaysian Genevieve Ling I-Rynn, while Lin Tzu Chi, TLPGA’s No. 4 and winner of the last two TLPGA events, lost her momentum and stumbled at the finish with a 37 for a 71 for joint eighth with fellow Taiwanese Lee Hsin, Chen Cih-Hui, Chiu Ling Ti, Hsuan Cheng and Thais Pattaporn Mounchoo and Arpichaya Yubol, winner of the Manila Ladies Masters at Manila Golf Club last April.

he organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter spices up the hunt for prizes in the 14th Highlands Ladies Cup unfolding on Saturday at Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club with three-day/two-night packages for two in Palawan and Boracay added to a four-night Asian cruise for hole-in-one feats. Baron Travel is putting up the Coron package, inclusive of breakfast and round-trip transfers, for an ace on No. 3 while the Boracay trip, courtesy of Regent Travel, is up for grabs on No. 5. A Wenger wristwatch is also staked as hole-in-one prize on No. 12. The Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel has earlier put up the Singapore-Port Klang-Phuket-Singapore package for ace on No. 17. If nobody scores a hole-in-one, all prizes will be raffled off. Over 150 players are vying in the annual 18hole tournament, backed by DIA BAM Inc., W Group and Pacific Online as Diamond sponsors and Auto Nation Group, ComWorks-Martin Leyeza, San Miguel Corp., Security Bank, Smart Communications, Powerball Gaming and Royal Caribbean Internatiol as Platinum backers, which will have a shotgun start and will be played under the System 36 scoring format. For details, call Midlands Golf Services at 0917-8865226 (members) and Analaine Blas at 0966-713-5199 (nonmembers). To be disputed are titles in various divisions, including the centerpiece ladies division and the men’s Classes A, B, C and seniors category, of the event supported by Gold sponsor IMG and Silver backers Baron Travel, CIF by Unilever, New Golden City Builders, PLDT SME, Petron, Regent Travel, SHA-WRAP, SM Prime Holdings and Wuhan Fibrehome. Making up the Bronze sponsor roster are Wee Community DeveloPERS, AgriKultura Pilipina, Asia Brewery, Burlington Socks, C-Mon Trading, CaraDerme, Champion, Chroma Hospitality, Concrete Masters, DellaSolare, Dickies, Eagle Eye Int’l., Fiorella Chocolates/WinWin Biscuits; Fitness First Alabang, GAC Motor PH, GRAB, H&E, Holland Blooms, Honda Cavite, Inquirer Golf, Kawsek Inc., Marie France, Microtel by Wyndham, NoliSoli, Orocan, Parola Maritime Agency, RCW Construction, Ruiz Jewelry, Santi’s/ Werdenberg International Corp., Studio 337, Sunset at Aninuan Beach, Vermogen Golf Store, Wenger Watches and Wireless Services Asia Inc.

ESPORTS AS A DEGREE? GAME! L

By Kevin Chan

ONDON—On their first week in class, a group of students is playing a first-person shooter video game in a sleek new digital studio. It’s their introduction to the degree in eSports they’ve all enrolled in. The group clicking away on their mouses are at the University of Staffordshire, one of several UK and US schools launching programs aimed at capitalizing on the booming industry’s need for skilled professionals. Ryan Chapman, 18, said his parents were “skeptical at first” about studying eSports, or competitive multiplayer video gaming. “But now they understand how big the industry is growing, the pace it’s growing at. They’re now really all for it because it’s a great industry to start to get into,” said Chapman, who was among the students in the lab playing Counter-Strike, one of the most popular eSports games. The University of Staffordshire last year launched its bachelor’s and master’s eSports programs, in which students mainly learn marketing and management skills tailored to the industry. This autumn, it’s expanding the program to London while other schools are also debuting eSports degree courses, including Britain’s Chichester University, Virginia’s Shenandoah University, Becker College in Massachusetts and The Ohio State University. In Asia, where eSports has seen strong growth, schools in Singapore and China offer courses. The global eSports market is expected to surge to $1.1 billion this year, up $230 million from 2018 on growth in sponsorships, merchandise and ticket sales, according to Newzoo. The research firm expects the global eSports audience to grow in 2019 to about 454 million as fans tune in on livestreaming platforms, such as Twitch and Microsoft’s Mixer. ESports tournaments have become a cultural phenomenon and now rival traditional sports events in size and scale. Big competitions are held in arenas where thousands of fans watch big-name professional video gamers compete for lucrative prize pools. ESports leagues have franchises in North America, Europe and Asia. The biggest names, such as Fortnite superstar Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, can earn millions in prize money and livestreaming deals. ESports are even set to be a medal event at the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in November. Dozens of US colleges have offered varsity level eSports competitions for years. But some schools are taking it a step further by adding courses as the industry’s boom drives demand for professionals who know how to, for example, organize eSports tournaments.

In this photo taken on September 17, 2019, Ryan Chapman and other students starting Staffordshire University’s eSports degree course play “Counter-Strike” in the school’s new London digital studio. A number of UK and US universities are launching degrees in eSports, or competitive multiplayer video gaming, to capitalize on the booming industry’s growing demand for skilled professionals. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

| Thursday, October 3, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Murray gets second win after hip surgery

New niche degrees partly highlight the changing economy, but they also reflect the “need to communicate to parents and students that there will be a job waiting for someone once they earn a degree,” which may include hefty tuition fees and student loans to pay for them, said Joni Finney, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Research on Higher Education. She worried that some degrees are too specialized and that some schools are launching them to offset falling enrollment. “It’s really up to the faculty of those institutions to step up and say, ‘You know, a degree in business will cover these kinds of jobs,’ rather than saying we have a degree in a certain job category,” Finney said. Becker College formally launched its Bachelor of Science in eSports management this month after an initial “soft release” last year. “It’s no longer kids playing games in their basement,” said Alan Ritacco, dean of Becker College’s School of Design and Technology. The top eSports players now earn almost as much as the highest paid stars in traditional sports like golf or tennis, he said. The schools emphasize that their courses aren’t about just playing video games. “People are unaware of the industry that goes behind eSports,” said Matt Huxley, a lecturer at Staffordshire University’s Digital Institute London, a new outpost in tech hub Here East that the university, which is based near Birmingham, England, opened so students could be closer to companies in the capital. Huxley, who teaches a class on organizing tournaments, said learning about eSports was akin to studying sports management. “If you were to go and study to be a director of football you’re not playing football, you’re learning the business behind how [player] transfers work, how you run a stadium and all those kind of operational things.” Chichester University hired former pro gamer Rams Singh, known as R2K, as a senior lecturer for its program, which includes playing games, such as Fifa and League of Legends as part of the course. Ohio State is poised to launch an eSports and game studies undergraduate major that will include the application of games to health and medicine. A business focus helps to ease worries among students and parents about paying tuition for degrees that have no track record. In Britain, standard tuition fees are set at £9,250 ($11,430) a year while the US programs charge as much as $36,000 a year. “There’s always going to be risks but I have zero regrets,” said Ellis Celia, 26, who is also starting the Staffordshire course. The industry “can only go up at this point,” she said.

The Associated Press

EIJING—Andy Murray continued his positive return to singles play after hip surgery with a 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7) win over 13th-ranked Matteo Berrettini of Italy in the first round of the China Open on Tuesday. The former top-ranked Murray, who had a hip resurfacing operation in January, fired eight aces and saved five of seven break points to pick up his second tour-level singles

compatriot Cameron Norrie, who beat Chile’s Cristian Garin on Monday. Also in Beijing, top-seeded Dominic Thiem defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-1 to reach the second round, while American John Isner upset seventh-seeded Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3. In the women’s tournament, top-ranked Ash Barty advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Yulia Putintseva. The topseeded Australian, who has been nursing a calf injury, received a first-round bye after reaching the Wuhan semifinals last week. The Roland Garros champion hit 23 winners and seven aces in her first career victory in Beijing. “I think there were times where it was pretty good and

win since returning in August. Murray defeated Tennys Sangren in the opening round of the Zhuhai Championships last week, before losing to eventual champion Alex de Minaur in the second round. “Last week was a big step for me. Now I just need to try and get the matches, get them consistently, so that I’m used to playing three, four matches in a week,” Murray said. He will next play British

there were times where it was challenging,” Barty said. “Overall pretty happy with how it went today, how we were able to get on a roll in the second set a little bit there.” Naomi Osaka of Japan extended her win streak to six as she eased past Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-0 in just 59 minutes. In her second match since winning the Pan Pacific Open in Osaka two weeks ago, the fourth-seeded Osaka won 91 percent of first-serve points while saving the only break point she faced. Also on Tuesday, seventhseeded Petra Kvitova beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-4 while No. 16-seeded Caroline Wozniacki had a 6-4, 6-0 straight-set victory over Christina McHale. AP

Andy Murray of Britain hits a return shot against his compatriot Cameron Norrie during their second round of the men’s singles match in the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond Court in Beijing on Wednesday. AP

The drama continues Tessa Jazmines tessa4347@gmail.com

PART OF THE GAME The intense and much-abbreviated Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines is now half done and we did get a lot of insights, surprises and rude awakenings! This season’s basketball tournament has been avidly watched, much raved about and commented on. It is, perhaps, one of the most intriguing seasons that have come to pass. After just 26 days, here are some headlines about Season 82. 1. Ateneo Stays Perfect. As expected, the Ateneo Blue Eagles remain head and shoulders above the competition with a 7-0 perfect record heading into the second round. Held aloft by the Tab Baldwin system— unselfish team play and moving like one cohesive unit— the Eagles have simply been unstoppable, no matter that they almost got tripped by the dangerous University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on September 11. Despite being taken out of their comfort zone now and then— evident during the UST game and the first half of the game against the UP Fighting Maroons—the Eagles always manage to right themselves and proceed as planned. Their poise is exquisite. Hence, the brooms they wield at the end of the first round. 2. National U Finally Wins. The National University Bulldogs have been the sayang boys of Season 82. For some

reason or other, perhaps, a planetary alignment, perhaps, some playful tricks played by a naughty Greek deity, the Bulldogs have had a string of awful losses almost all just by a single point, first to Adamson, then to La Salle, then to UST, UP and Ateneo, NU finally broke into the winning column when they played the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on September 25. And they punctuated that win with a 61-39 statement win over the embarrassed Tamaraws. NU lost again to the University of the East whom they played on the last game day of the first round, but the curse has been lifted. This team of the future knows what its pitfalls are and knows what needs to be done when the second round begins. The Bulldogs play the De La Salle Green Archers first on Sunday, October 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 3. One-and-Dones. This seems to be the season of the one-and-dones. NU might have started the trend last year with Troy Rike, who only played for one season and took up masteral classes to qualify. This year, half of the league has one-and-dones. Count ‘em: Val Chauca for Adamson U, Rey Suerte for UE, Jaybie Mantilla for UP and Jaime Malonzo, Keyshaun Meeker and James Laput for De La Salle University. The advantage of one-and-dones is that they are like a shot in the arm that will jump-start that school’s campaign. So far, Chauca, Malonzo and Suerte have stood out among the one-and-dones, astounding UAAP fans with their explosiveness, energy and skill.

4. New Rivalries? Ateneo-La Salle remains to be the gold standard of rivalries in the UAAP. But this season— largely due perhaps to last season’s happenings—fans filled up the MOA Arena and the Araneta Coliseum for two games in particular : UP versus Adamson U and UP versus Ateneo. Last year, the second game of the Final Four between the Soaring Falcons and the Fighting Maroons was pure box office. When the Maroons escaped that tight game in overtime, UAAP history was made with UP reaching the UAAP finals for the first time in 32 years. Likewise, the ensuing Finals confrontation between the mighty Ateneo Blue Eagles and the underdog UP Fighting Maroons made the Araneta Coliseum burst at the seams. This year, much inured to series like Game of Thrones and Money Heist, UAAP fans seem addicted as well to sequels of Season 81. UP and Adamson played a down-the-wire, OT game with UP giving AdU a déjà vu experience. Ateneo repeated their dominance of UP in their first encounter for Season 82 with a 26-point lead, their biggest lead over any opponent in the first round. 5. Lights, Camera, Action. The drama in a UP-Ateneo game runs high. Last Sunday, September 29, UP Head Coach Bo Perasol got ejected after an altercation with referee Jaime Rivano. Perasol lost it when the referee called a third foul on Maroon Bright Akhuetie followed by a technical foul, resulting in three free throws that made the still by then manageable Ateneo lead balloon to 10. Perasol entered the court and had to be restrained by his players and some coaching staff, after which he was slapped with two technicals that resulted in his ejection. But the drama didn’t end there. Monday, Perasol was meted a three-game suspension, a shocker for many who thought the number was too harsh. Perasol’s camp said they would appeal the decision. If the decision stays, Perasol would be nowhere near the bench when UP plays FEU, UE and UST on October 6, 12 and 16. How will this development affect the performance of the current No. 2 seed in the UAAP? Tune in to the next episodes. The drama continues.

God of the cosmos

EAR God, You teach us Your hidden wisdom and grant us true freedom in Christ Jesus. In hope we pray: God, make Your Church a sign of unity in Christ. Heal divisions among Christians, other religions and within the Church. Advance fruitful dialogue among the laity, clergy and religious. Strengthen Your Church’s action for the poor and the youth at risk. May the cross and resurrection of Christ Jesus be to us a source of blessing and life. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

GENTOO penguins stand on rocks near the Chilean station Bernardo O’Higgins, Antarctica. Airbnb is offering a handful of tourists concerned about the environment a chance to help participate in scientific research on how to help preserve it with an all-expense paid trip to Antarctica.

Life BusinessMirror

REELING: TELLING STORIES OF MAGIC AND REALISM FROM SINE NEGRENSE D4

Thursday, October 3, 2019

FEW other places can engage both body and mind. Walk or bike around the island while enjoying the historical sites in Corregidor.

BEYOND HISTORIC: THERE’S MORE TO CORREGIDOR

Airbnb to train volunteers for science research sabbatical BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY The Associated Press

EW YORK—Airbnb is offering a handful of people concerned about the environment a chance to participate in scientific research on how to help preserve it during an all-expense paid trip to Antarctica. The Antarctic Sabbatical (www.airbnb. com/sabbatical), as the travel company is dubbing it, will give five people the opportunity to study how widely microplastics have infiltrated the region. Over a month’s time in December, they’ll be trained in lab work in Chile, collect snow samples in Antarctica, climb key glaciers and even visit the South Pole. Scientist Kirstie Jones-Williams, who will be helping to train and guide the volunteer researchers, says the goal of the program isn’t to create more scientists, but more so global ambassadors on the dangers of pollution and more. “The science itself that we’re doing isn’t enough,” she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “Actually, one of the biggest threats to our sort of natural environment isn’t necessarily the lack of information that we have...but it’s more the disenfranchisement that can occur with policy-

makers, and apathy and eco-fatigue. “One of the main things is to get a bunch of people that can take the messages that we learn back to their respective countries,” she said. It’s the second offering in Airbnb’s sabbatical program, which offers its users a chance to take time to do more than see the sights, but actually do some good. Earlier this year, Airbnb selected five people to spend three months in Grottole in southern Italy to help preserve the way of life in the town, which is in danger of disappearing. Airbnb’s Chris Lehane says both sabbaticals are part of the company’s larger goal of more eco-friendly travel and to raise awareness of tourism’s global footprint. “Airbnb is not going to solve climate change, but we all have a responsibility to do what we can and use our capacity to help take steps forward,” said Lehane, senior vice president of global policy and communications. “A lot of travel in the world takes place in and around big events,” he said. “Can we find ways when people are going to travel around these big events, to make them much more sustainable?” No scientific background is required to be selected for the Antarctic trip: However, a love of the

environment and the ability to complete some of the physical tasks, such as collecting samples, climbing glaciers and enduring bitter cold, is paramount. “It is hard to work in cold environments so people that...perhaps, work well under pressure, work well when they’re tired, that’s actually quite key,” JonesWilliams said, “and to actually ask questions, and people that are really hungry to get as much as they can out of this experience.” “It’s really people that kind of respect the scientific process,” she added. The five will stay in Airbnb’s in Chile for their training for about two weeks and will stay at a camp provided by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions in Antarctica for about a week or so. Airbnb will partner with Ocean Conservancy to use the research for advocacy. Nick Mallos, a conservation biologist and ocean debris specialist for Ocean Conservancy, called it an “incredible opportunity,” and noted that the group has long worked with “citizen science volunteers” to help clean up the environment. “We’ve seen the power of when you train and empower individuals to perform science, they can generate invaluable information and data that ultimately then can form solutions,” he said. ■

Have luggage, go discover FROM left: Samsonite Philippines Country Manager Mike Corpuz; SSI Group Inc. President Anton Huang; Samsonite International S.A., President for Asia Pacific and Middle East, Subrata Dutta; and General Manager for Samsonite Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines Satish Peerubandi

WE live in a world that is continuously evolving to give us more experiences, creating connections that allow us to go beyond the ordinary and where traveling has become much more accessible to anyone at any time. Our big wide world is waiting to be discovered, and global luggage brand Samsonite (www.samsonite.com.ph) urges everyone to take on the challenge and make the first step with the perfect travel companion. Inspired by its commitment to create smart, durable, and lightweight solutions for purposeful travelers, Samsonite launched its new and first-ever global integrated campaign, “Born to Go,” which celebrates a growing “on-the-go” mindset where today’s young travelers look for authentic experiences and seek out ways to live out their life as they explore the urban cities in an adventure like no other. In the Philippines, the brand is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc., Rustan Marketing Corp. and Landmark Management Services “For 11 decades, Samsonite has delighted consumers with its products. This is the heritage that Samsonite brings to the market. We have introduced a lot of firsts to the market, making travel easier through our meaningful innovations, and we do all this to support the fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle of consumers. This is what the Samsonite Born to Go campaign is all about,” shares Samsonite Philippines Country Manager Mike Corpuz.

Various collections were featured during the launch of the campaign, all of which are part of the Samsonite’s 2019 Fall/Winter offerings. From the latest innovative and durable suitcase collections to smart cases and backpacks with builtin USB charging ports, Samsonite not only lightens heavy traveling, but also makes traveling a way of life. Among the collections showcased at the launch were Evoa, Samsonite’s evolutionary hardside suitcase that brings design to a whole new level and is touted to be the

MENTION Corregidor and images of old canons, hero statues and war remnants may come to mind. However, there’s more to this 358-kilometer historical island than just being a stopover for school fieldtrips: in recent months, it has reinvented itself as an exciting tourist destination in its own right. Whether you’re a history buff, a beach lover, an adventure seeker, or even an art enthusiast, Corregidor’s endless possibilities will definitely inspire you to rediscover this beautiful island. Here are a few of what the Isle of Valor offers. A RICH TAPESTRY OF HISTORY WITHOUT a doubt, Corregidor Island is considered as among the most notable heritage sites filled with tremendous historical and cultural value. As the site of two of the most heroic and crucial battles in World War II, it continues to hold special significance to all Filipinos for everything that it symbolized. A few of the must-visit historical sites include Malinta Tunnel, the last stronghold of Philippine and American military forces versus invading Japanese soldiers in World War II; the Mile-long Barracks, touted as the world’s longest military barracks; the Japanese Memorial Garden, which serves as a praying ground for the relatives of deceased Japanese soldiers; and the Pacific War Memorial Museum, which has a museum and a dome-shaped shrine and park. For great sights and captivating stories, join the historical tram tour, a four-hour tour on board the tranvia. NONSTOP ACTION FOR BOTH MIND AND BODY IF you want to explore the island at your own pace, you can opt to walk through history, literally, by going from one historical spot to the next. Apart from being able to stay longer at an area of your choosing, you can also take as many selfies as you want, with a historical site as your backdrop— and achieve your target number of steps, as well. Another option is to go biking around the island. Pedal across the glorious Mile-Long Barracks, whiz past Battery Hearn, or race your friends to South Beach in style. Not only is biking great for your cardiovascular health, it can also afford you views you would not otherwise see while on a guided tour. Those looking for more adrenaline rush can join the adventure hikes—there are easy to advance trails available depending on your skills and stamina. Gear up to discover secret caves and tunnels, and prepare to explore areas that the tranvias cannot reach, such as the Wheeler Tunnel and Battery Hanna. Feel the thrill as you reach the farthest tip of the Corregidor Island’s head and bask in the exquisite views of Conchita Island and the Bataan Peninsula. PARADISE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART WHETHER you’re a budding lensman or a pro-level camera fiend, Corregidor Island provides you that much-needed shift in subject matter. Forget the usual beaches and the stale shoebox-architecture sensibilities of the Metro. With plenty of natural light to go around and some of the most breathtaking views the country has to offer, it is a true-blue photographer’s haven, with its diverse flora and fauna, early modern architecture, and unique wartime ephemera. In addition, Corregidor Island also features sketching walks, wherein a group of illustrators go on a guided tour of scenic locales to draw.

best suitcase for all travelers; Evoa Tech, which boasts of all the stunning features of Evoa with added innovative tech solutions and enhanced efficiency, flexibility, and security to create an even more premium travel experience to customers; Lite-Box, Samsonite’s most up-to-date Curv collection that is built to meet the expectations of the discerning traveler looking for the best materials combined with a contemporary design; and the Openroad collection of bags that combine multifunctionality with contemporary design.

AN ISLAND SANCTUARY BEYOND war, beyond history, Corregidor Island remains a slice of paradise as evidenced by its multifarious flora and fauna. The well-maintained former camp and base is teeming with fruit-bearing trees. After a spell of rain, the roads are carpeted in yellow blooms. Monkeys and geckos are constants in the hilly borders. When the skies clear out, an array of birds dot the atmosphere, among them whitecollared kingfishers, zebra doves, Asian glossy starlings and Eurasian tree sparrows. If you are looking for a destination that is packed full of new sights, extraordinary adventures, and stimulating experiences, make sure to include Corregidor Island in your travel bucket list.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Entertaining BusinessMirror

Use salmon’s skin to stop it from drying out, release fat

By America’s Test Kitchen The Associated Press

TARTING salmon with the skin side down in a pan is a neat way to cook fish. The skin protects the fish from drying out. The skin also releases fat into the pan, which is then used to cook the second side until it is golden brown, no extra oil needed. To help keep the fish from sticking and allow the fat to puddle under the fish (and not just around it), sprinkle a thin layer of salt and pepper over the cold pan before adding the fish. And make sure to use a nonstick pan.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Seann William Scott, 43; Neve Campbell, 46; Gwen Stefani, 50; Chubby Checker, 78. Happy Birthday: Look for constructive ways to deal with difficult people and situations. Your patience will help you maintain balance and encourage others to meet your demands as long as you are willing to pitch in and contribute physically, as well as mentally to get things done. This is a year of remembering and acknowledging the past, making amends and moving forward. Your lucky numbers are 6, 11, 19, 24, 30, 39, 44.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You can bring about change, but make sure you are doing so for the right reason. If your motives are based on an emotional vendetta, you aren’t likely to get what you expect or want. HH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t look at change as negative. Look at where the change is heading long term before you decide to disrupt the events taking place. Going with the flow will lead to a prosperous ending if you are helpful. HHHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Mull over the past and the instances that have led to where you are heading. It will pay to be more accommodating and to offer alternative suggestions that benefit not only you but those you work with or for. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Protect against accidents, injuries and arguments. It’s to your benefit to get along and to find solutions to any problem that crops up. Now is not the time to make a fuss or to show signs of excessive behavior. HHH

hands. Sprinkle tops of fillets with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook salmon over medium heat, without moving salmon, until fat begins to puddle around fillets and skin begins to brown, six to eight minutes. Use tongs and spatula to carefully flip fillets. Cook, without moving fillets, until center of each fillet registers 125°F on the instant-read thermometer, six to eight minutes. Turn off heat. Transfer fillets, skin side down, to serving platter.

Cover platter with aluminum foil. Cook maple syrup mixture in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally with rubber spatula, until thick and syrupy, four to six minutes (sauce will be very bubbly when it thickens). Turn off heat. Spoon glaze evenly over salmon. Serve with lime wedges. Chef’s note: To flip fish, gently slide spatula under fish to loosen skin from skillet, then use tongs to flip fish. n

Rise and shine with these cozy breakfast spots at Shangri-La Plaza BREAKFAST is the most important meal of day for a reason. It’s the perfect time to get energized, breathe before working on the day’s to-dos and enjoy some much-needed me time. And, Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong has a strong offering of bistros and cafés that early birds swear by. From US Angus Beef Tapa to Eggs Benedict, 26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf guarantees a wide selection of must-try healthy morning fare and tasty desserts that can be paired with its signature coffee and tea brews—served all-day long. Those looking for hefty breakfast servings should go to Wobbly Pan pronto with its well-loved Spanish breakfast staples like Tortilla Paisana, an omelette dish with potatoes and ham, as well as local faves, such as Boneless Milkfish, and Chorizo Frito and Eggs. Café Lyon has an extensive breakfast menu which includes classics, such as Country Breakfast with all the breakfast must-haves like hash browns and bacon, Dome Breakfast which has Italian sausages and eggs paired with garlic rice or toasted bread, and Banana Caramel Waffles for those craving for something sweet to start the day. Whether it’s a busy weekday morning or slow weekend brunch, enjoy a good rise at Shangri-La Plaza (www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial).

By Eugenia Last

Ingredients: 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon lime juice, squeezed from 1 lime 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced Salt and pepper 4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets 1 lime, cut into wedges

In medium saucepan, combine maple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice and garlic. Set aside. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in even layer. Place salmon fillets, skin side down, in skillet. Wash your

Today’s Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Engage in activities that will give you a chance to do a bit of networking. Mixing business with pleasure will allow you to share your ideas, concerns and professional goals with like-minded people while you build support and alliances. HHHHH

SWEET AND TANGY GLAZED SALMON Servings: 4 Start to finish: 35 minutes (Prep time: 10 minutes)

Cooking equipment: Medium saucepan 12-inch nonstick skillet Tongs Spatula Instant-read thermometer Serving platter Aluminum foil Rubber spatula Large spoon

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Set up meetings or visit someone who has a positive effect on you. Greater stability will come about if you are open to change. Sometimes taking a unique path can be an eye-opening adventure that leads to unexpected benefits. HHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t leave your chores or responsibilities in someone else’s hands. Be smart with your time, and be detailed and prompt when dealing with others. A personal, financial or physical risk shouldn’t be considered. Strive for equality and self-sufficiency. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll crave change, but that doesn’t mean you should jump into something without giving it a thorough check. Slow down and consider the emotional implications that can unravel if you make a choice that is not based on facts and figures. HHHHH

i j

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t feel you have to share your secrets with others. Pick and choose what you say and do carefully. Know what you are capable of and how to get what you want. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your determination will prove to be advantageous when it comes to impressing others with unique solutions. A change will do you good but may not be as welcomed by someone close to you. HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take care of contracts, settlements and money matters. Tidy up any loose ends that could cost you come tax time. Deal with institutions, government agencies and anyone who could pose a problem for you in the future. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An investment will help change the way you handle your money moving forward. A position that interests you will offer clout, as well as opportunities and favors from people in high places. HHH

US Angus Beef Tapa with Egg and Rice at 26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Birthday Baby: You are cautious, discreet and perceptive. You are secretive and intelligent.

Tortilla Paisana from Wobbly Pan

‘capitalists’ by david poole The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Capture 4 Like many eBay items 8 Heart’s quartet 14 Columbus sch. 15 Caramel candy brand 16 MLB div. with Jays and Rays 17 The Santa Clause star 19 Envied or lusted, say 20 Tall tales 21 Opposite of guzzled 23 Pulitzer-winning author Jennifer 24 The Producers star 28 Capital of Kansas 30 Calendar lengths: Abbr. 31 How loud the TV is, for short 32 Animated alley denizen of 1960s TV 35 Abbey resident 36 Some actors...like the four in this puzzle, when their names are written in uppercase letters 39 Up to the task 41 One side in the Brexit vote 42 Poseidon’s domain 43 PC corner key

5 Mall directory listings 4 49 De-Lovely star 53 Comic actress Martha 54 Drowsy dwarf 55 “Minecraft” fan, e.g. 56 Bracketology? 59 The Man in the Iron Mask star 61 Each 62 One may be diet 63 Family gathering room 64 Gadget used on a lemon 65 Skier’s surface 66 Had sushi, say DOWN 1 “Just a little longer” 2 Hard Italian cheese 3 Unjust verdict, slangily 4 Parts of Google search results 5 Fa-la link 6 Colleague of Ruth and Sonia 7 Coffee mate? 8 One of the Seven Sisters colleges 9 Some sci-fi characters 10 Tennis great Ivan 11 U-Haul rental

2 Ending for “Taiwan” or “Vietnam” 1 13 Part of PST: Abbr. 18 Actress Bening of 20th Century Women 22 Drummer’s asset 24 California wine valley 25 The Bard’s river 26 Nice way to turn someone down? 27 Deer family animal 29 Seoul’s peninsula: Abbr. 33 Compass creation 34 Mature, as cheese 35 Hanukkah centerpiece 36 Many a central European 37 Zap with a stun gun 38 Sch. near Harvard 39 Set, as a price 40 Spelling contest 43 Interweave 44 Kebab holder 46 Best Western alternative 47 Shoelace hole 48 Tranquil 50 Archipelago unit 51 Bridge declaration

52 Stocking fabric 55 Chew (on) 56 Whirling toon 57 King Kong or Donkey Kong 58 Greek letters near the end of the English dictionary 60 Brouhaha

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Thursday, October 3, 2019

From left: With Ms. Ting, my Grade 5 teacher in Saint Jude; Meagan in the Mini Library and Playplace in honor of Manang Eyang, at the Barangay Center in San Quintin, Pangasinan; with Ms. Sally Villavicencio at Saint Pedro Poveda College in one of my classes last year.

‘When teachers’ eyes are smiling...’: Part II mommy no limits

maye yao co say

mommynolimits@gmail.com

AST week, I shared my enriching experience with aspiring licensed professional teachers at the review center Mindgym Philippines these past few months. I get repeatedly asked by my family, my classmates and friends: Why do I do this to myself? The usual question is “Don’t I already have enough to do?” This week, let me share in more detail the “why” of my pursuit of education. I chose to title this column series after this Teachers’ Day song because I think it fits my source of comfort growing up. As a child, I was raised to put a smile in teachers’ eyes. Maybe because I was raised by my grandaunt, who was a teacher before she moved to a relative’s business. I remember she would teach me to bring two roses, from my assigned plant in the house, to give to my teachers in kindergarten. It came to a point when it became automatic. I remember when I had four Dunkin Donuts Munchkins in my lunch box, I would eat two and give one each to my advisers. My first experience with teachers was in Chiang Kai Shek at age four. I had most fun with paints and recitations. I was picked up by my nanny, Manang Eyang, every day. When I got a star, she would buy me Chippy. When I got home, my sa-ko po (grandaunt) would tutor me. On that first year of matriculation, I managed to receive two gold certificates, one for art and one for academics. I have kept the certificates and

more than that, I even still have the envelope where the certificates were placed. Throughout my grade school years in a traditional school, I came across teachers who had varying degrees of affinity and impact on me. I can say the teachers who had the biggest effect on me were those who stretched my abilities and allowed me to be my own person. My second-grade teacher Ms. Liu rewarded me with Care Bears when I got the highest scores in class and gave me a lot of class chores. Ms. Rafael gave me my first chance to be class president. Mrs. Contreras even invited me to her house just to train me in my first declamation contest in third grade. Ms. Bautista and Mrs. Yao gave me opportunities to perform and organize programs. Ms. Ting and Mrs. Benito, my Grade 5 teachers, pushed me to get the highest average I could get in grade school which was a 96 for my final average. And of course Ms. Haw and Mrs. Manrique, my grade school graduation advisers, guided me to pursue every academic and extracurricular activity that led me to top our graduating class. My few months in New York further solidified my gratitude to teachers. Mrs. Hicks, Mrs. A, Mr. Fleiser, among others, spent after-school hours on my remedial classes given that I entered the second half of the school year. By the end of the year, Mr. Fleiser pushed me to take AP classes. Mrs. Hicks acknowledged me as Outstanding in Math. She even gave me a chance to have my own official tutee. Poveda is truly providence for me. From Mrs. Winnie Cometa, Senora Villanueva, Mrs. Ang, Mr. Cedre, Ms. Java and so many more great teachers, I can say they are my “gate-openers.” I entered the school “in protest”: from my parents’ decision to cut my American dream, I ended up being grateful for the multiple opportunities beyond academics. I realize today how important curriculum is. The Individual Work (IW) system’s constructive approach to subject

teaching translated to developing my leadership, and collaborative and creative skills. This open approach further extended to me trying out theater, heading the World Youth Day for our school, and even establishing the first Acolyte Ministry in School. Even now, Ms. Villavicencio continues to guide me. She gave me the idea and the chance to finish my second major in Education. Why do I share all these? I share these to express my utmost gratitude to people who were not related to me by blood but who nonetheless put their hearts to know me. They have made me better than even what my own family expected of me. Maybe it was them being my “caring metrics” that has motivated me to do my part in hopefully also “brightening” someone’s future. This is the first part of my “why.” The deeper sense of my why lies in this simple story of my nanny, Manang Eyang. She never graduated from grade school. She lived within very simple means. Yet, she managed to build a house for her parents and help produce four graduates in her family. Most became teachers; one became a lawyer. Every so often, when I was already working, she would go to me and ask me if I had any giveaways like umbrellas. She would give these to motivate the kids in her neighborhood in San Quintin, Pangasinan, to study. When she became sick and eventually passed, I became friends with her relatives. One of them was Ching, a public-school teacher in high school. She helped me immortalize my nanny’s unconditional love and patience to kids into a small play center in their barangay. She even brought my family to see the classroom where she teaches in one of our annual visits to San Quintin. It makes me think. If my spinster nanny, who had so little, gave so much to people, I knew in my heart, as the closest thing she had for a daughter, she would want me to continue this path of education. What, when or how?...I am yet uncertain. But for whom, I am certain it is for all my “teachers” in life. n

Trip to Louisiana winner Nichael Joseph A. Muncal with Popeyes Philippines Chief Operating Officer Rami Chahwan.

Popeyes fried chicken lover wins trip to Louisiana AVID fried chicken lover Nichael Joseph A. Muncal won a five-day, four-night stay for two to Popeyes’ hometown in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, from the Pop-a-Trip contest at the Popeyes Arcovia City restaurant (www.popeyes.ph). The trip comes with hotel accomodations, round-trip tickets, and pocket money of $500. Four lucky individuals were also given free supply of Popeyes fried chicken for the next couple of months. Chin Chin Obcenaand Mary Rose Bautista were each awarded a year’s supply of free Popeyes Fried Chicken, while Jemalyn Bunao and Elena Leong each won six months’ and three months’ supply of Popeyes fried chicken, respectively. The winners were drawn in a raffle held during the grand opening of Popeyes in Arcovia City. The unveiling of the hip and more vibrant restaurant also launched the much-anticipated biscuits, Cajun fries, and the world-famous Popeyes fried chicken. This signature fried chicken offering is juicy (but not greasy), made fresh daily, and packed with distinct Cajuninspired flavors from Louisiana, USA.

Unicef Philippines National Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits children in BARMM UNICEF Philippines National Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to express Unicef’s support to BARMM leaders to make children the centerpiece of their policies and decision-making. His visit also serves as Unicef Philippines’s kick-off event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most universally accepted human-rights agreement in history. “I am pleased to be here to witness firsthand the dramatic changes happening in the BARMM region with children and young people’s participation to make sure their voices are heard. I applaud the Bangsamoro government for consulting children and young people and hearing the solutions they can offer,” the longest-serving Unicef Ambassador said. Admired by Filipinos, Gary V met with BARMM officials, members of Parliament, and local government officials in Upi, Maguindanao. He also met children at a day-care center and elementary school, and was introduced to the tri-peoples of Muslim, Christian and settler

communities. He interacted with Teduray children and learned about their unique and colorful culture. He capped off his visit with a concert to inspire the children and young people of Upi. Bangsamoro children, including indigenous children, are among the poorest in the country. Child poverty, or the proportion of children living in poor households, is highest of all regions in the country at 63 percent (ARMM figure), twice higher than the national average at over 31 percent (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2015). This means that over 1.5 million children out of 2.5 million children in BARMM are living below the basic needs poverty line. Working with the new BARMM government, Unicef is playing a significant role—to secure the highest level of commitment to a childfriendly, gender-sensitive and sustainable future, through programs that put the most vulnerable and at-risk children and young people at the center of advocacy, policies and decisions; emphasize adolescent/youth leadership to promote a culture of peace;

strengthen the role of religious leaders; strengthen capacities for at-scale impact across all provinces; expand social protection for the poorest families and use data and evidence to highlight gaps and mobilize action; and support participation of children in matters that concern their future. Unicef works closely with the concerned ministries, particularly with the ministries of local government, education, social services and health, among others, to protect and promote the rights of children most in need. “Unicef is committed to supporting a peaceful and united Bangsamoro as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Gary’s visit aims to shed light on the exciting developments happening in BARMM and the active role that children and young people are playing in ensuring that the child right’s agenda is heard, loud and clear. We thank the leaders for ensuring that there are venues for young people to express their views,” Unicef Chief of Mindanao Field Office Andrew Morris said.

UNICEF Philippines National Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits children at the daycare center in Upi, Maguindanao.

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Thursday, October 3, 2019

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NEW TRAILER OF MARTIN SCORSESE’S ‘THE IRISHMAN’

ROBERT DE NIRO, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman , an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics. Directed by Scorsese, the cast includes Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jack Huston, Kathrine Narducci, Jesse Plemons, Domenick Lombardozzi, Paul Herman, Gary Basaraba and Marin Ireland. With a new trailer just released, The Irishman begins streaming on Netflix on November 27.

Telling stories of magic and realism from Sine Negrense REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

‘Y IN this undated handout photo taken from the Sussex Royal Instagram account, Britain’s Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex visits the memorial to a murdered South African student as a “personal gesture” after “closely following the tragic story.” AP

Meghan visits memorial to murdered South African woman JOHANNESBURG—Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has visited a memorial to a young South African woman whose rape and murder inspired thousands of people to protest the country’s high rate of sexual violence. In a quiet stop during a royal tour, Meghan tied a ribbon to the memorial at the post office where 19-year-old university student Uyinene Mrwetyana was attacked last month. The assault has led outraged women to march in the streets in major cities and rally behind an online campaign called #AmINext. A post on the royals’ Instagram account called the death “a critical point in the future of women’s rights in South Africa” and said the visit was “personally important” to Meghan. AP

‘YOU’RE GOOD-LOOKING:’ UKRAINE’S LEADER WOOS TOM CRUISE KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine’s leader isn’t just trying to charm US President Donald J. Trump—he’s set his sights now on Tom Cruise, too. Mission impossible? Maybe not—Cruise is studying possible Ukrainian locations for an upcoming film, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office. Zelenskiy tapped his roots as a TV and film comedian when hosting Cruise in the Ukrainian presidential headquarters Monday night. As Cruise walked in, he said “You’re goodlooking!,” according to video excerpts released Tuesday by his office. The Hollywood star laughed and said “it pays the bills.” Zelenskiy joked about how exhausting it is to be president, and mentioned the stalled peace process for conflict-ravaged eastern Ukraine. The video excerpts included no mention of Trump or the US impeachment inquiry in which Ukraine plays a starring role. AP

OU have no models for cinema to rely on but your own. If you do not have one, then you have to create it.” I was in Ayala Mall in Bacolod as I mentioned these two ideas. “It is both scary and freeing: scary because there is no one to talk to for inspiration; freeing because you are on your own in your search for your own film vision,” I continued, talking to the audience of young filmmakers and their friends. It was the last night of Sine Negrense. I was there as one of the jurors with Jag Garcia of Saint Benilde and Massah Gonzalez-Gamboa, a filmmaker and cultural worker. A night before the awards night, Adrian Torres, festival director, had asked me if I could give a short talk to inspire the participants. That night, I cautioned the filmmakers from Negros Occidental not to be inspired by the films from Manila. They should inspire themselves. It is their turn to tell their stories. The stories that were recognized that night proved to be enduring and original. Except for a film, called When Sugar Lost Its Sweetness, the entries were not interested anymore in talking about the old issues of sugarcane. These new filmmakers are already exploring other themes, other topics. Two films for me stood out among the entries. One was an entry to the Intercollegiate and the other to the Open categories. Both come from the same city, Sagay, a city that is about 60 kilometers from Bacolod City. Both received major awards. James is the story of a young man with a common name and a face that could only be described as hard-featured. Like any young man, James also gets attracted to pretty girls. One girl named, Unique, is kind to James, which made the young man even fall in love with her. A chance to use a potion, or lumay in Hiligaynon, makes James see the possibility that he may soon find a girl to love him. The next scene shows the girl waiting for James to come, and James appearing more handsome now. We thought all the while that the potion has caused the transformation but it is not the case: James does not use the potion. He is proud to be what he is.

Acted out by the most endearing performers, the short film James takes the opposite direction commonly taken by other young filmmakers. In many films made by young filmmakers, it is common to see body-shaming as bringing about depression. James resolves to claim a name that is common, even with a personality that is invisible. A film becomes magical when somewhere in its narrative one encounters the distillation of the most complex of emotions. We see this in that scene where James, standing hidden by a tree, looks with longing and just a tinge of jealousy at his favorite girl together with a boy of more physical charm. And yet, it is this declaration of James about his ordinariness that transforms him into the handsome man full of love and self-respect, with a trembling sadness tucked into that battered heart. We gave James the Jury Prize for the Intercollegiate category. Eddie de la Peña directed James, from the screenplay of Kyla Alcantara. Cinematography is by Alexis Jabaybay. A woman who floats is the subject matter of the film in the Open Category that took practically all the awards that night. Buding, Ang Babayi na Naglutaw (Buding, The Woman Who Floated) is the title of the film about a woman who levitates while alone in her home. Buding’s husband works in another city and stays away most of the time. He does so even though Buding is pregnant. The floating woman is discovered by three persons: a candle-seller, a rugby-sniffing neighbor, and the husband of Buding herself. There is a fourth witness to this apparition but he comes in at the end. Edited with such frenzy, the scenes seem to tumble into each other as if in a rush to relay the plot. The candle-vendor opens the scene in hysteria, with her scene bleeding into that of the male neighbor who is not credible enough given his drug problem. The husband comes in to complete this deranged and disjointed Greek chorus commenting on what they have seen. The town policeman is the willing, and yet, grouchy listener to the fantastic descriptions of the three persons. In between the phantasmagoria of the narrative, the film brings us to the vendor who sells candles that double as curse and holy water to effect changes on behavior. She recalls how she has observed the changes in the demeanor of Buding. She follows Buding one day and sees the young woman floating above her bed. The addict stumbles upon the home of Buding; through the slats on the wall of Buding’s home, now almost shrouded in flame and smoke, he looks on at the woman suspended by some force stronger than any hallucinogen. Structured with a prologue and an epilogue, the film Buding tempts us to mark it as an incursion into magic realism. That, however, is a facile way of

reading the film. I see Buding as really the kind of discourse we employ when we want to talk about women in the margins. The trope of a woman who floats so that she could be talked about reeks more of politics rather than of mere influential aesthetics. It is a bravura film, with a story that rightfully comes from a region where realism—like poverty and violence— is a bitter truth to savor. And what a fantastic cast! Having visited Sagay recently under the Film Development Council of the Philippines Film School, I was pleasantly shocked to realize that the riveting performance of the candle-vendor and official gossip was played by Helen Arguelles. The actress works with the local government. Helen was given the Best Supporting Actress for the performance. The Best Supporting Actor also came from Buding and this was in the person of Archel Lacre, who played the addict. As Buding, Camille Escaro fleshed out this intensely quiet character, this woman who floated because there seemed to be no home and reality to ground her. I talked to Camille and praised her for allowing the director of photography to fill out the character of Buding. In the end, it is the camera that really tells the story. In the epilogue, which is more of a coda, the policeman is shown alone walking through the neighborhood. Is he doing his own investigation? We do not know. But as he turns around the corner, he looks up and registers the most puzzling of reactions. With a combination of shock, surprise and glee, Milton Dionzon as the policeman reminds us that his legendary skills in local cinema is no exaggeration. For the Open Category Buding, Ang Babayi na Naglutaw won the Best Picture prize. It also received the honors for Best Director; Best Screenplay for Mark Raymund Garcia; Best in Production Design for David Dadivas; Best Cinematography and Best Editing for Nathan Bringuer; and Best Musical Score for Carlo Tiangson. Ang Laswa ni Lola Mame secured the Best Actress for Erlinda Villalobos; and Best Sound Design for Vincent Joseph Entuna and Zchelmer Gambia. The Jury’s Choice for the Open Category went to Forever. The Audience Choice awardee was Pula. Best Film for the Intercollegiate Category went to Kuntento. The film also won the top honors for Director, Cinematography, Editing and Sound Design for Charlton Jocson; Best Screenplay for Charlton Jocson, Shane Tabuga and Blaise Uy; and Best Actor for Marco Cornejo. Kon Ngaa Koton Kendi ang mga Panganod won the Best in Production Design for John Macadangdang; Sin-o ang Kataw was awarded the Best Musical Score. Tanya Lopez and Adrian Torres are the two creative forces behind Sine Negrense. ■

‘The Cellist and the Apprentice’ THE National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation Inc. recently held its pocket home concert The Cellist and the Apprentice, which showcased NAMCYA winners: Dr. Renato Lucas, the three-decade principal cellist of Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and presently the president of NAMCYA who demonstrated the beauty of traditional Filipino music together with Joshua Ethan Dakanay, 2018 First Prize NAMCYA

winner; and Michael Valenciano, pianist and second place, 2018 Junior Piano Category. They played classical music—“Salud d’Amour, Op.12” (Greetings of Love), “Le cygne” (The Swan), plus Filipino works, along with “Cavatina” and “Romanza” cello duelo. The Cellist and the Apprentice was held at Alabang 400 Village Clubhouse and attended by residents from the village plus some guests.

MICHAEL VALENCIANO (from left), pianist; Dr. Renato Lucas, president of NAMCYA; Chingay Lagdameo, chairman of NAMCYA; Joshua Ethan Dakanay, cellist; Roberto Bunyi, president of Alabang 400 Homeowners Association Inc.; and Carmelo “Meloy” Casas, president of CTC Foundation

Envoys&Expats

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, October 3, 2019 E1

Japanese master conductor brings classical music closer to Filipinos

By Cesar Cruz Jr. | Contributor

IRECTING a musical presentation is no small feat. Conducting involves the difficult task of guiding a number of instrumentalists through nonverbal communication: via hand gestures and the use of a baton, which are especially noticeable during an orchestral performance. It is this field of endeavor that Yoshikazu Fukumura, the musical director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), has endeared himself to local audiences of classical music. The mission to bring the PPO to a new level of musical heights is the goal of former music director of the Tokyo City Ballet Co., Kyoto Municipal Symphony and Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra. Fukumura has built a solid reputation of committing himself to shape newer orchestras in Asia. Satisfaction for him comes in the form of

continuous guest appearances in a number of major Japanese orchestras, aside from making recordings as well as conducting festivals and subscription concerts for countless musical companies. Across the continent, this native of Tokyo believes in the capacity of the PPO to be among the elite orchestras in this side of the world. “My goal is to make them first in Asia. I think it is possible. Filipino musicians are very talented,” the Japanese maestro said in an exclusive interview with Envoys&Expats. He envisions the PPO, an all-Fili-

pino orchestra, as already playing at a level above many orchestras in Asia, coupled with the fact that its music still continues to improve. Among the Filipinos he admires include pianist Raul Sunico, violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. and trumpeter Raymond de Leon.

Conductor extraordinaire

WITH commanding presence, the maestro directed the country’s leading orchestra in its first performance during its 37th concert season on September 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’s (CCP) Main Theater. The handpicked program consisted of timeless classical pieces, such as “Don Giovanni Overture” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “C Major” by Sergei Prokofiev and “Symphony No.7, Op. 70, D minor” by Antonin Dvorak. The cherry on the cake of the program was the “Piano Concerto no.3, op. 26” of guest pianist Noriko Ogawa, whose “ravishingly poetic playing,” as described by The Telegraph, is a force to be reckoned with in the music world. (Related story on E2. – Ed.) Throughout the ebb and flow of the entire performance, the PPO exhibited intense concentration as

members played their respective instruments with great mastery. In the end, the maestro’s uncompromising ways have reaped rewards. It has set the bar high for the succeeding concert series, billed as Gold Classical Music Treasures.

‘Music of the people’

IT is evident that there are no signs of slowing down for the Japanese master conductor. Aside from making the CCP his home, Fukumura and his crew also get to travel around Metro Manila and across the country to bring the “music of the people” to where they are. Among the many places they have visited include Bohol, Antique and Palawan. “It is my duty, and also I am very interested,” was his reply when asked about their outreach concerts. They have played in various settings: in schools, churches and auditoriums of different provinces. These engagements never fail to fire up the spirit of the dutiful maestro. Just recently, on September 27, the PPO brought their brand of exquisite music to the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila. “I am very impressed by the

Filipino audience. They are very warm. Honestly, I’m very impressed by the county and the people,” the Japanese confirmed. And aside from concerts outside the CCP, he is able to harness his deep connections in the music industry to good use. In fact, he was able to bring in young blood, such as the likes of Japanese-American violin superstar Ryu Goto, to guest in PPO’s concert season in the past. The said move brought much attention to the local orchestra, especially from among the younger generation.

Musical beginnings

THE versatile conductor did not start off as the strict and highly disciplined individual he is now. He sheepishly described himself as being naughty during his youth. Thus, his enrollment in one of Japan’s top music schools by his parents was a means of directing his path and creative energies, as well. Fukumura eventually found his calling in music, as he studied its many disciplines: piano, trombone and conducting. “The piano is basic. If one can play it, that person has a lot of opportunities to be able to play differ-

ent kinds of music. The piano is an important instrument to learn,” the maestro shared. He recalled he was only 22 years old when tried his hands on conducting with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. The compositions where he weaved his baton then were “Tchaikovsky No.4, Oxford Symphony, and Miroirs” by Maurice Ravel. Thirsty for knowledge, the young Fukumura constantly shuttled between Japan and Italy to learn more on the subject of conducting and composing. “There was a great conductor in Rome: Franco Ferrara. He would shout at me if I made a mistake,” Fukumura vividly recalled. “But I consider him an excellent conductor. I am very happy to have studied with him.” To this day, unmistakable mannerisms of the Italian conductor have rubbed off to the former Japanese understudy whenever the latter would ascend the podium. As for composing, he studied under Maestro Jacob Napoli at the Santa Cecilia Academy of Music in the Italian capital. Continued on E3

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, October 3, 2019

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Intl pianists enchant Manila, the world

AESTRO Yoshikazu Fukumura shared the stage with fellow Japanese musician and world-renowned pianist Noriko Ogawa on September 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, as the latter shared her musical prowess to a wider Filipino audience as a guest soloist for the 37th season-opening concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Earlier, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Koji Haneda hosted a mini-concert at his residence on September 11 that featured Ogawa, who is based in London. The eloquence and mastery of Ogawa thoroughly radiated in her performance of a curated selection of famous classics: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Turkish March,” Frederic Chopin’s “Waltz Op. 18,” Robert Schumann’s “Traumerei” [from Kinderszenen], Franz Liszt’s “La Campanella,” Toru Takemitsu’s “Rain Tree Sketch,” Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” George Gershwin’s“Rhapsody in Blue,” and an encore performance of Erik Satie’s “Je Te Veux.” A longtime friend of Haneda, Ogawa has an illustrious career spanning across multiple appearances with major European, Japanese and American orchestras. “Her various stints as competition judge and active involvement in her advocacy for the welfare of children with autism comprise her impressive résumé,” according to the Embassy of Japan in Manila.

Hungary, UP fete composer

RECENTLY, the Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines, in cooperation with the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music, presented Károly, Jenő And Franz: An Evening of Chamber Music of Goldmark, Takács and Liszt, which featured the Lozada Piano Trio on September 25 at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium. The concert commemorated the 117th birth anniversary of Hungarian-born composer, pianist, conductor, music researcher and educator Jenő Takács, who served as chairman of the Composition and Piano Department at the UP College of Music

from 1932 to 1934. His achievements and efforts to preserve Philippine culture, as well as his contributions to Philippine music pedagogy and research, according to the embassy, “reflect the cultural diplomacy between Hungary and the Philippines.” Said cultural ties between the two countries were immortalized in a historical marker unveiled by Ambassador Dr. József Bencze and UP officials at the UP College of Music before the concert. The Berliner Phonogramm-Archiv sent Takács to research on Philippine indigenous music and instruments. These collected works, which are archived in Berlin, are included in Unesco’s Memory of the World Programme since 1999. The concert served as the Philippine premiere of “Trio–Rhapsodie, op. 11” by Takács, “Piano Trio in E Minor, op. 33” by Károly Goldmark and “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9 in E Major, S. 379” by Franz Liszt. Violinist Ralph Waldo Taylan, cellist Giuseppe Andre Diestro and pianist Ena Maria Aldecoa of the Lozada Piano Trio took centerstage and brought to life the aforementioned enduring piano trios, which were played in celebration of the 103rd anniversary of the UP College of Music and the life of Takács, who also lived for the same number of years.

Belgian, German pianists in town UPON the invitation of Ambassador Michel Goffin, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium on September 8 also hosted a master class and salon recital of Librecht Vanbeckevoort, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition. An official “Steinway artist,” Vanbeckevoort has performed worldwide in major concert ven-

BELGIAN pianist Librecht Vanbeckevoort

LONDON-based world-renowned pianist Noriko Ogawa

GERMANY’S Moritz Ernst

ANIWAY “Manila” Adap and Spanish concert pianist Alberto Urroz perform at the Terras Sem Sombra festival in Portugal. TERRAS SEM SOMBRA/DFA

ues, and with first-class artists as a soloist. His solo repertoire includes more than 35 music concertos, featuring all Beethoven works for piano with orchestra, as well as piano concertos with Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Saint-Saens, Ravel, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, among others. He has released 11 albums, with two piano concertos by Liszt and other live recordings. Hosting her first Concert at the

Residence, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel introduced renowned German pianist Moritz Ernst on September 5, who was in Manila to conduct master classes in UP. The embassy described the engagement with Moritz as an evening “filled with mesmerizing classical and contemporary music played elegantly.”

Filipina soprano in Portugal

MEANWHILE, in Lisbon, Portu-

gal, the municipality of Cuba in the Alentejo region played host to the unique musical duo of Filipina soprano Aniway “Manila” Adap and Spanish concert pianist Alberto Urroz in May at the Cuba Municipal Auditorium. The full-house concert, Coração Viandante: Canções de Amor e de Embalar no Oriente e no Ocidente (Traveller Heart: Songs of Love and Lullabies from the East and West), revealed to the audience the tradition of lyrical singing in the

Philippines throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and placed it in parallel with European and North American music. Under the auspices of Portugal’s famous itinerant festival, Terras Sem Sombra (Lands Without Shadow), the duo wowed the audience with their varied repertoire, which included Filipino kundimans and lullabies, as well as European operatic favorites. Adap, who is currently based in Madrid, has won several Philippine and international singing contests beginning in 2002. She studied singing at the Conservatorio Profesional de Musica in Madrid, and has since triumphed in the world of opera where she distinguished herself as one of Montserrat Caballé ’s favorite disciples. The Filipina soprano is also well known for her composition Unidos por La Diversidad the anthem of the campaign against racism in football, which premiered at the 2004 Barcelona Olympics. DFA

Palestinian musician travels around PHL in personal sojourn

AGUIO CITY—A Palestinian oud player just ended his two-monthlong sojourn to Europe and Asia with performances at the Tam-awan artist village and a restobar over the weekend, which included a lesson in playing Cordilleran nose flutes from a well-revered local musician. Thirty-three-year-old music teacher George Kandalaft amused patrons at the Tam-awan Village Café as he provided an hour-long musical display of sheer talent playing Arabic tunes, his own improvisations, and the popular Game of Thrones theme to cap off his twomonth journey. Armed with a short-neck oud, a musical instrument akin to the European lute, Kandalaft tried to capture the feeling of a mix of the audience at the artist village, which was drenched with rain brought about by the monsoon’s downpour and the previous Tropical Storm In-

eng on a lazy Saturday afternoon. “Will try to capture your [feelings, and those of mine], under this rain,” the Palestinian declared, who has released original and improvised music while teaching oud playing in Israel. The oud is a short-neck type of lute, which is a pear-shaped stringed instrument with 11 or 13 strings. “All I want to do is promote Arabic music and fuse it with [modern world tunes]” said Kandalaft, who has been playing professionally at 16.

Traveling musician

THE Palestinian traveler learned to play oud as a two-year-old in his hometown of Nazareth, making him a town mate of Jesus. But he has since moved to the more popular city of Jerusalem to pursue his dream of playing and promoting world peace. He studied music at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance

Greece, then in Thailand. He set foot in the Philippines late last month, where he stayed in the cities of General Santos, Davao, Cebu, Puerto Princesa and, finally, in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. The Palestinian musician finally arrived in “cooler” Baguio City, where he was met by torrential rain, as well as a priest, Father Earle Cuna, who served as his guide.

Mixed adventure

PALESTINIAN George Kandalaft (left) introduces the oud (or lute, in Europe) to the University of Baguio’s music instructor Ben Sokkong in a meetup at Tam-awan Village in Baguio City. A college music teacher, Kandalaft recently toured the Philippines as he tried to enjoy the country’s natural beauty while introducing his country‘s music to other people. PIGEON LOBIEN/PNA

at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as music therapy at the University of Haifa. As a music teacher, he is proud of three students who have fol-

lowed in his footsteps. They are now also playing and teaching oud to a younger generation. Kandalaft left Israel on June 21 for Italy and found his way to

IN all the places he went, Kandalaft mixed adventure with the wonders of human companionship and sharing, especially in the aspect of culture. The musician-traveler explored the mountains, as well as the seas, being a licensed scuba diver in Israel. He played oud in a Las Piñas City church, where parishioners accorded him with a certificate of appreciation. In Laoag City, he played for

schoolchildren who sang the popular hit “Buwan,” with his accompaniment that drew cheers among the audience. The song has become his favorite Filipino ditty since he heard the kids sing such. Kandalaft’s two-month journey was documented in the Lonely Traveler, which is actually his fourth being in Tam-awan. He also displayed his familiarity with popular culture, being well versed in pop music by playing the Game of Thrones theme during performances. Kalinga-born Ben Sokkong, formerly of the University of the Philippines and is now a music teacher at the University of Baguio, later met with Kandalaft at Tam-awan to share notes on their music. Each tried a hand on their instrument of choice. He summed up his sojourn by saying, “[The Philippines] is such a beautiful place, and wonderful to experience.” Pigeon Lobien/PNA

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com |Thursday, October 3, 2019 E3

DESIGN + SUSTAINABILITY

Danish global firm gets into ‘green’ design

By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

HE Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) has invited Denmark’s world-renowned Jacob Jensen Design (JJD), through the Trade Council of the Royal Danish Embassy in Manila, to join the International Design Conference 2019. JJD-Greater China CEO Manuel Veiga Aldemira said his company “is one of the oldest and most awardwinning design consultancies in the world.” Aldemira shared that JJD is in “a journey to enable and empower inventors, entrepreneurs and corporations around the world and provide them with tools to become industry leaders, while it creates products and services that shape a world we all want to live in.” He added, “The company has the will and intention to share our design philosophy and practice with as many communities as possible.” The CEO said JJD considers the country an important player in the region, and that they would like to be part of this community as a key design contributor to industries: “With the nation’s rich tradition, diversity in culture, crafts and design, the Philippines has all the potential to leverage on design to achieve sustainable growth.” He said their link with Denmark’s Trade Council would enable them to meet with potential local business partners, “who are positioned to add value to design and creativity, and maybe even take their Filipino brand into global expansion.”

Going local

THE BusinessMirror asked DCP Executive Director Maria Rita O. Matute about their major role in this endeavor. She said they work with Filipino manufacturers to help them find markets for export. Matute said DCP has recently collaborated with 62 companies during the National Trade Fair,

“whose products we encourage to be more green and sustainable.” “We created a collection toward more sustainable design using natural products as a unique selling proposition and enabling these companies to book sales.” She added that when Filipino companies saw their advertisement for “green design,” they were consulted so that their own products could have a sustainable collection. DCP’s executive director also revealed an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry, “Go Local,” which companies could adapt and develop for the National Trade Fair. “From the Go Local platform, they can spread their products to duty-free shops as nontraditional souvenirs from the Philippine markets,” Matute added. She clarified that the DCP does not dictate on the kind of materials to be used in local products, but rather acts as a catalyst of all of these developments. Matute further revealed that they helped develop piñapel, an agricultural waste from the harvested pineapple leaves, which could be converted into commercial paper. “Instead of importation, we converted the leaves into packaging cartons, giving farmers added income.” “It gives us an immense sense of accomplishment,” Matute shared. For her, the most important aspects of design is the end of a product’s life: “When considering a product—aside from its attractiveness to consumers and the right price—we ask: ‘What do we do at the end of its life?’”

EVENT Host-Facilitator Jodinand Aguillon (from left), Jacob Jensen Design’s Sebastien Maleville, Unspun’s Kevin Martin, Design Center Philippines Executive Director Maria Rita O. Matute, The Mills Fabrica’s Alexander Chan and Material ConneXion’s Dr. Andrew Dent

She said this is a part of the ethics of a designer: the aspect of injecting simple changes—whether it is the choice of material, or how the product is put together, or the consideration of other products out in the market, or its partnerships with organizations.

Product life (re)cycle

IN other words, Matute’s DCP is already considering how to recycle a product, which compelled this reporter to ask Aldemira if JJD considers the stage of recycling in their products while they are still in the design stages. (Recycling wastes is a major headache among governments across the world. A recycling plant in Korea, one of the most advanced in Seoul, still finds the disposal of 120 models of television problematic. Each has its own unique way of dismantling so that usable parts,

Japanese master conductor brings classical music closer to Filipinos Continued from E1

Worldwide acclaim

AMONG the many accomplishments of the Japanese conductor was being a runner-up in the 1976 John Player International Conductor Competition in England. As his career took off, Fukumura came to prominence in Japan as the regular conductor and narrator of the popular NHK TV Concert Series, Music of the World. He has directed several performances in Europe: the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, Sicilian Symphony in Palermo, Budapest Symphony, and the music company where he started, Santa Cecilia Orchestra. The same achievement holds true in Latin American cities that have accorded him with recognitions, national medals, and the title of being the musical director of a great number of concerts. Fukumura has also collaborated with countless symphonies in that side of the world: “My favorite place is Havana, Cuba. I got to work with the national symphony when I won

PHILIPPINE Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Director and Principal Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura

a prize in a competition there. My connections then led me to Caracas, Venezuela. I’ve been to all the countries [there] ever since.” At 73 years of age and more than half a century later when he first wielded a baton, Fukumura is a sterling example of what kaizen, a Japanese concept of constantly improving oneself, can achieve. Throughout his career as a conductor, he has kept the fire of his passion burning, never

resting on his laurels, and helping musicians the world over achieve their true potential. Coincidence or not, the PPO has struck gold with this musical director and principal conductor, as the CCP currently celebrates its 50th anniversary. When the PPO finally becomes the best orchestra in Asia, it will truly be music to this Japanese master conductor’s ears.

like rare earth and valuable metals, could still be saved for other purposes.) Aldemira said JJD is also aware of this problem, so that when they make some of their products, “a certain store could be able to take an old version back and encourage them to buy a new version.” “There needs to be an understanding that a product’s life has no end, because its components still remain. You have to think about what you want to do with it.” “So we’re not using second hand or used [products] anymore; we are simplifying material types, simplifying the design to enable, while also making sure that, if one has been pulled apart, the materials themselves are safe to be disposed.” The JJD CEO affirmed that, for a certain type of product that they design, there is already a recycling system in place, while mak-

ing sure their designs will fit into that process. “It’s not easy certainly, but it requires certain knowledge and understanding of the design.” According to Aldemira, it is the responsibility of the designer and the company to explain that their products could be recycled, “and I wonder if, at some point, companies could be held responsible for those products.” He said some apparel companies are already thinking about proper waste disposal of their products by placing tiny tags into the fabrics, so that they may know where a certain item goes and try to track it. If they are able to, then they can try to retrieve it. Aldemira hinted at another idea being considered by manufacturing companies, which is to “lease products, rather than own them.” “If you could find [an electronic]

product, give it back to [its manufacturer.] They could probably use the raw materials.” The JJD executive said some companies are already into this practice, like carpet and car manufacturers. “Certainly. Yes, there are some products that are worthwhile [considering]: They tend to be higherpriced, where you spend quite a bit of money, and then you keep them for a little while.” The challenge, he explained, is getting rid of new material things properly about six months after they were purchased. This is a red flag, considering low-cost products like single-use plastics and consumables, are plentiful. That is so, Aldemira said, because disposal of cheap products should be in easily accessible locations for dropping off, “as consumers are lazy. We don’t have to worry about stuff.”

Dutch govt to pilot cycling project in Iloilo

LOILO CITY—The government of the Netherlands will bring in planners and consultants to help this city’s local government to strengthen its infrastructure for cycling. The plan is brought about by the foreign country’s confidence in the potential of this highly urbanized city in terms of sustainable urban planning, said Kevin C.D.G. Punzalan, senior policy officer at the Economic and Public Affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Philippines, in his recent visit. “We will bring here the Dutch Cycling Embassy, a public-private partnership composed of the government of the Netherlands and private consultants when it comes to urban planning and cycling,” Punzalan said in an interview. He said that the Netherlands is one of the countries interested in sustainable cities and urban planning, and they saw Iloilo as of the best models in the Philippines. Likewise, the embassy saw that the local government is one of the progressive cities in terms of infrastructure for cycling. “This is significant, because the Dutch Cycling Embassy operated before in Asia only in Japan. The Philippines will be the first Southeast Asian country to be the location of the bike workshop, and we are very proud to bring them here,” he added. The Dutch Embassy will be organizing a workshop on October 7 and 8, dubbed “Think Bike Workshop” that will be participated in by about 25 participants in the tourism and

THE Netherlands will bring in the Dutch Cycling Embassy that will facilitate a workshop to strengthen Iloilo City’s infrastructure on cycling. RANDY JAVIER FADRIGO/PNA

planning offices of the local government and the transport sector. City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia revealed that the proposed workshop seeks to promote a cycling culture, reduce traffic jams and fight climate change. “As the Dutch Embassy visits, Iloilo City— the country’s rising biking capital and most bike-friendly community—welcomes this tourism plan to conduct a cycling workshop to review and discuss the different cases and situations within cycling societies,” she said. She added that the activity would be a public-private partnership of different organizations and companies, as it will enable Iloilo to be an urban cycling community. During the two-day engagement, partici-

pants will have a bike tour to showcase the best practices of Iloilo City and identify elements that are needed to be done or for improvement. Their outputs will be presented to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, together with Dutch envoy Saskia de Lang on October 9. “We hope that the province and city of Iloilo will take up the plan and begin to implement it. The Netherlands will be happy to support [its] implementation,” Punzalan added. “As the city grows and becomes sustainable, more Dutch businesses would like to see Iloilo as the location of their operations, or a place where they can visit. So the more we highlight Iloilo as a whole, the more the Netherlands and the Dutch people will be aware of it,” he said. Perla Lena/PNA

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EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

QATAR VISA CENTER The government of Qatar inaugurated its visa center in the Philippines to facilitate the processing of visa and employment applications of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the NU Mall of Asia Building in Pasay City on September 25. The activity was led by (front row, from left) Major General Abdulla Salem AlAli, Presidential Adviser on OFWs Abdullah D. Mama-o, Ambassador of Qatar to the Philippines Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki, Adviser of the Minister of Interior Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Director of Visa Support Service Department Ali Mohammed Al Meer (center, back row), Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs labor experts, as well as other dignitaries. BEN BRIONES/PNA

CINE EUROPA 2019 The European Union’s Delegation to the Philippines Chargé d’affaires Thomas Wiersing underscored the importance of film as a cultural diplomacy tool to strengthen people-to-people links between the regional bloc and the country during the opening of Cine Europa 22 on September 18. RICO H. BORJA/PNA

Russia reiterates readiness to boost PHL’s defense assets

TEACHER FOR A DAY Ambassador Steven J. Robinson AO describes the state of friendly relations between Australia and the Philippines before Grade 10 students of the Navotas National High School on September 19. The activity was organized by nongovernment organization Teach for the Philippines, in celebration of the National Teachers’ Month. JOEY O. RAZON/PNA

Israel boosts employment, agri research for Filipinos

RAFAEL HARPAZ (second from left) and his wife Shulanit (left) meet with MMSU officials MARCO LEO A. MAGNO, MMSU STRATCOM/PNA

PRESIDENT Duterte and Ambassador Igor Khovaev PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/PNA

RUSSIA’S Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Aleksey Gruzdev PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE/PNA

HE Russian government has reiterated its commitment to help the Philippines strengthen its defense capabilities, ahead of the second visit of President Duterte to Russia on October 1.

ister of Industry and Trade Aleksey Gruzdev as “very useful and timely,” as it coincides with Duterte’s trip to Russia. The transcontinental country is eyeing new fields of trade and investment cooperation with the Philippines as these seek to diversify economic relations between the two countries. “This time, we decided to focus on several sectors, including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment; infrastructure, mainly airport development; and railways. We also decided to learn [about] deepening cooperation in the power sector, including energy,” Gruzdev said in a press conference. The minister said his two-day stop in Manila also aimed to “diversify trade and economic relations.” “Our trade and our economic relations, unfortunately, are not that diversified as we wish to be. The same thing goes to the Philippines’s exports to Russia. We need to identify new sectors [and] new possibilities,” he added. The Russian official, who is also cochairman of the Joint Russia-Philippines Commission on Trade and

“Our country is committed to [help the Philippines increase its] defense capabilities,” Ambassador Igor Khovaev told reporters. “We are open to many options; we are ready to supply sophisticated arms and weapons to help [your] country in staff training, [on] joint drills and exercises. We are ready to coordinate our efforts and, of course, we want to transfer our best technologies in all of the developing countries,” he said. One of the common threats faced by both Russia and the Philippines is terrorism. To recall, Duterte’s first visit to Russia in 2017 was cut short after violent extremists from the Maute group attacked and seized Marawi City.

The engagement between the two nations in the field of defense has improved over the past few years after the signing of the Philippine-Russia Agreement on Defense Cooperation and the Agreement on Military-Technical Cooperation in 2017. During the Chief Executive’s upcoming Russia trip, Khovaev shared that Moscow is hoping to “diversify” its cooperation with Manila. The envoy said Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Sochi and are expected to sign a number of agreements.

Minister’s visit beneficial

IN another matter, Khovaev considers the visit of Russian Deputy Min-

Economic Cooperation, hopes that his visit “would evolve into contracts, agreements and joint cooperation.” Gruzdev added their government would like to share its expertise in railroad and underground construction with the Philippines, as their country “is one of the leaders in the sector,” adding that Russia has about 85,000 kilometers of railways stretched in the state. This could also be a means to help in the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, Gruzdev noted. He also said the two-way trade between Russia and the Philippines “is developing quite rapidly.” “In line with the statistics last year, we’ve witnessed a growth of 100 percent in our trade turnover, reaching the level of $1.2 billion—much more than the previous year. Both exports and imports are growing,” Gruzdev said. The Russian trade minister attended meetings with top officials of the Departments of Health, Transportation, Trade and Industry, as well as more than 15 companies from the local business sector. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

Envoy: Aussie education aid in Bangsamoro continuous

HE Australian government continues its efforts to advocate for quality education in the Philippines, specifically in the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao, through its education assistance program, according to Ambassador Steven J. Robinson AO. “Australia has been looking particularly in the south of the Philippines, and [trying to know] how we can support the BARMM [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

in Muslim Mindanao] in terms of education, because education provides people with opportunities and options in their life,” he told reporters at the sidelines of his participation in the “Teach for a Day” program at the Navotas National High School. “If Australia can assist in providing that foundation through the creation of schools and reforms in the curricula, as well as ways to upskill the teachers, then that’s a tremendous contri-

bution we’re very proud to be able to make,” he added. The envoy said Australia is “doing an enormous amount of work” with the BARMM government, particularly in the area of education. At present, efforts are ongoing to give returnees and fighters an opportunity to reintegrate themselves into mainstream society. “We have particular programs on educational pathways to peace, which are all about [giving] peo-

ple, who have been fighters, future options for their life, particularly in terms of vocational education. We’re deeply involved in that with the [Philippine] government,” he said. For the period between 2017 and 2020, the Australian government has allotted $12 million for the Australian Partnerships for Peace program, which aims to support longterm stability and development in conflict-affected areas of Muslim Mindanao. Joyce Ann Rocamora/PNA

T least a thousand jobs will be opened for Filipino workers within the State of Israel’s tourism industry by the end of the year. In a media interview, Ambassador Rafael Harpaz said the Philippines was the first that his country signed an agreement with to fill hotel and restaurant job openings in its country. “We decided to open Israel to a limited amount of overseas workers all over the world. We start with 2,000; 1,000 of them will be Filipinos,” he said on the sidelines of the water technology forum in Makati City. With the increasing tourist arrivals to Israel every year, Harpaz noted they saw a lack of workers in their tourism industry prompting them to seek overseas jobs with Filipinos as priority. “Why Filipinos? Because you have the best service in hotels and restaurants,” the ambassador added. Israel has prioritized Filipinos to work and stay in their country due to the “good relationship” established between government leaders of the two countries. It is also “grateful” for the service provided by at least 40,000 Filipino caregivers to their families, he added. This developed following President Duterte’s visit to Israel in September 2018, as he signed the bilateral labor agreement improving and regulating the recruitment process, and the rights of overseas Filipino workers, while drastically reducing placement fees. It involves governmentto-government hiring process, so that private recruitment agencies are not necessary. In an earlier report, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Nathaniel Imperial said the labor cooperation agreement would “hopefully ensure that the exploitative placement fees that are being charged to our workers would be substantially reduced, if not eliminated.”

Academic agri research

IN Batac City, Ilocos Norte, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Israel will conduct collaborative activities, in-line with academic enhancement programs and agricultural research. In a meeting early in September, Harpaz said that aside from these tie-ups, the meeting also aimed to find more common ground to nurture a strong relationship between Israel and the MMSU. Harpaz said he longed to visit MMSU when he was in Manila “since the day I heard about President Shirley C. Agrupis’s leadership when she assumed office two years ago.”

AMBASSADOR Rafael Harpaz expects at least a thousand jobs will be opened for Filipino workers in Israel’s tourism industry by December. PNA/CHRISTINE CUDIS

He said Israel is always willing to help Filipinos in times of calamities, such as in 2013 when Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines. “We also have a very close relationship when it comes to counterterrorism, since this has now become a global threat to the national security [of both countries],” Harpaz added. The Israeli diplomat said he wanted to build a closer tie-up with the university when “I saw some of your programs and what you are doing in research.” “I will try to see what Israel can do to help you as we try to collaborate in these areas,” Harpaz said. Harpaz revealed that when President Duterte went to Israel, “I heard him talk about your country’s programs in agriculture, fisheries and information technology. When I saw that these are contained in your programs, I realized that they were exactly the ones we considered in our discussions.” Harpaz said he wanted to focus on commercial technologies that can build start-up technologies in smart agriculture in the Philippines that could effectively mitigate climate change. The university previously sent two agriculture students to Israel for the Agricultural Training Program from 2005 to 2006, where they learned commercial pomology production technologies. Records also showed that in the 1990s, MMSU had sent five researchers to Israel for a series of training under the said country’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. These were in-line with agricultural techniques, agrometeorology and hydrometeorology, as well as urban-rural development, which enabled them to manage the university’s agriculture-based research projects and enterprises. Also, MMSU Main Library now maintains the Israel Information Center, with resource materials coming from the embassy of the Holy Land. Christine Cudis and Reynaldo Andres/PNA