BusinessMirror October 24, 2019

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Thursday, October 24, 2019 Vol. 15 No. 14

PCC to conduct probe into retail prices of rice

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE country’s antitrust regulator is stepping up its investigation into anticompetitive practices in the rice sector that may be preventing retail prices from falling sharply under a deregulated trade regime.

Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan on Wednesday said the agency is intensifying its examination of the possible collusion or abuse of dominant position within the rice sector.

Competition officials are curious as to why the retail price of rice

is not falling as fast as the farmgate price of palay.

Balisacan said the implementation of the rice trade liberalization law should cut the price of the staple to as low as P27 per kilogram, but prices have yet to come near that level seven months after the measure was

passed in March.

“There’s this issue in the market being raised about the possible anticompetitive practices and the observation that the retail prices of rice have not fallen as fast as the law [had] expected.

At the same time, some sectors are saying that farm-gate prices

“There’s this issue in the market being raised about the possible anticompetitive practices and the observation that the retail prices of rice have not fallen as fast as the law [had] expected. At the same time, some sectors are saying that farmgate prices have also fallen sharply following tariffication.”—Balisacan

have also fallen sharply following tariffication,” Balisacan told reporters in an interview.

“We need to look at those closely and we have to examine the market, the interplay of several factors and check whether those dynamics that you observe in the market are coming from anticompetitive practices,” the PCC chief added.

Continued on A2

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See “Slex,” A2

PESO exchange rates n

Wanted: New trade rules for a sustainable world Rene E. Ofreneo

laborem exercens

A

few weeks ago, key officers of the UN Conference on Trade and Development visited Manila to consult with Philippine government officials on the agenda for the 15th Conference of UNCTAD, to be held in Barbados in 2020. UNCTAD is a UN agency that reports to the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council on trade and development issues affecting developing countries. Accordingly, the goals of UNCTAD are to “maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis.”

Continued on A7

ADB to fund Palawan’s sustainable tourism menu

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

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DPWH sets Dec. 1 deadline on Slex work

UBLIC Works (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar said the construction work on the extension of the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) should be completed by December 1, a critical milestone that is seen to ease the current traffic congestion along the thoroughfare.

Currently, motorists experience traffic congestion along the northbound lane of the Slex due to the construction of the P10billion extension of the Skyway System to Susana Heights.

This triggered the closure of the outermost lane of the Skyway System’s A labang viaduct, resulting in heavy traffic that at times stretches all the way to the Mamplasan Interchange.

“We are just trying to fast-track the construction. Our target is by December 1, we can go back to the original traffic levels of Slex. It’s better that we do it now, because if we do it in the next few years, it will be harder due to the buildup in the area,” Villar said in a chance interview.

T he traffic congestion has earned the ire of so many motorists that the Toll Regulatory Board

P25.00 nationwide | 6 sections 54 pages | 7 days a week

WELCOME BACK, Nene Members of the Philippine Marines carry the casket of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel Jr. into the Senate building on Wednesday for the necrological service attended by past and incumbent senators. Story on A8. ROY DOMINGO

‘Faster growth impacts Metro Mla’s water source’

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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CONOMIC expansion will increase the water consumption of households and commercial establishments in Metro Manila and add more pressure to its existing water sources, according to a study presented at the National Convention on Statistics organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The study, titled “Impact of Gross

Domestic Product to Water Consumption of Manila Water [2010 to 2017]” was authored by Manila Water Co. Inc. analysts Adora Candyd Vilar and Minette Lois Morales.

The authors noted that in terms of east zone Metro Manila consumers, a 1-percent increase in GDP will hike the billed volume of water. “ We therefore conclude that among other ex ter nal fac tors, GDP is one of the drivers of billed volume, as the two were found

to be co-integrated,” the authors said.

The authors said that water consumption is based on a complex process that is influenced by many factors such as water supply restrictions, tariff structure and pricing.

The study supported previous research that showed higher GDP growth significantly increased municipal water use both in terms of percentage and volume.

See “Water,” A2

HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance environmental and sustainable tourism projects in El Nido and Coron in Palawan, two critical islands that government authorities have been monitoring since last year on pollution-related and easement concerns.

In a news statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the projects fall under its Transforming Communities Towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program, a coordinated effort by various government agencies and local stakeholders in partnership with multilateral development banks in implementing sustainable tourism destination development in the country.

Among the projects to be funded by a $100-million ADB assistance are vital urban infrastructure and services such as solid waste management, drainage and sanitation, and clean drinking water in El Nido and Coron. ADB will also help build the capacity of local stakeholders to protect and conserve healthy oceans and rehabilitate key biodiversity-based tourism sites. The projects are planned for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Palawan is known as the country’s ‘last ecological frontier’ and we want to ensure its rich marine ecosystem, particularly in El Nido and Coron, will be protected amid the rapid growth in tourist demand,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat after a meeting last week with ADB officials led by its Country Director for the Philip-

pines Kelly Bird.

For his part, Bird said, these projects are “critically important for the ADB because we share with the Philippine government the goal of seeing local economies thrive on an environmentally sustainable path.”

He added, “Tourism, when managed properly, can be a catalyst for inclusive development that can lift residents of El Nido and Coron out of poverty,” he stressed.

To implement the projects financed by the ADB, Romulo Puyat created a project steering committee composed of senior officials from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap); as well as the Departments of Finance, Public Works and Highways, the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, and Transportation.

A government task force led by Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año, and DOT’s Romulo Puyat, decided last August to keep El Nido open for tourism despite reports of high fecal coliform levels in several areas around Bacuit Bay. Instead, the task force closed off several outfalls located in Corong Corong, Cabugao, Masagana, and the El Nido Estero to swimming and boat tours.

The task force also threatened to close down hotels and resorts without DOT accreditation, and is monitoring the compliance of several establishments with easement ordinances, business permit regulations, and other environmental laws.

US 51.1520 n japan 0.4716 n UK 65.8582 n HK 6.5226 n CHINA 7.2271 n singapore 37.5483 n australia 35.0647 n EU 56.9117 n SAUDI arabia 13.6384

See “ADB,” A2

Source: BSP (23 October 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, October 24, 2019

It’s Justice Peralta who’ll replace Bersamin as CJ P

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

Augurs well for judiciary

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte has appointed Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta as the new Chief Justice (CJ), the Supreme Court’s spokesman announced on Wednesday, days after his appointment was prematurely reported on, prompting Malacañang to adopt a steely silence.

Peralta is replacing retired Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin.

“We would just like to confirm that the 26th Chief Justice of the Philippines is Chief Justice Diosdado Madarang Peralta,” said Supreme Court Spokesman Brian Hosaka in a briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea also confirmed Peralta’s appointment in a text message to reporters. Peralta’s appointment paper was dated October 23.

Along with Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Peralta got the top votes at seven from the Judicial and Bar Council in the shortlist they submitted to the President.

Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr.,

meanwhile, got four votes.

Peralta is the third Presiding Justice of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to be appointed the High Court. He was named as the 162nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in January 2009.

He became Sandiganbayan’s Presiding Justice in 2008.

He was previously appointed Presiding Judge of Branch 95 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

A native of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Peralta is an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas-Faculty of Civil Law where he was a working student and graduated in 1979.

He obtained his Economics degree from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in October 1974.

PERALTA

Peralta penned the 2016 ruling upholding the legality of the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

He also voted in favor of the June 2019 ruling granting retroactively the expanded good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, the legality of Senator Leila de Lima’s arrest, the martial-law declaration in Mindanao and the closure of Boracay for rehabilitation. Peralta also voted in favor of the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Malacañang expressed confidence that Peralta’s appointment will bode well for the Judiciary.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo has made many landmark decisions and, likewise, convicted the most number of accused involved in bigtime drug cases and other serious crimes.

“CJ Peralta has ser ved the Judiciary for more than three decades in various capacities: as a trial court judge, associate justice and presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan, and associate justice of the High Court,” Panelo said.

Panelo also said the Special Centennial Awards in the Field of Criminal Law was conferred on Peralta by the Supreme Court and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) “for his credible and no-nonsense management and expeditious disposal of hei nou s c r i mes a nd d r ug c a s e s …[w h i c h h a v e] v i s i b l y st reng t hened t he Ph i l ippi ne Cr imina l Justice System and helped bolster and maintain respect, trust and confidence in our criminal courts.”

SENATORS HONOR NENE PIMENTEL’S LIFE WORK Continued from A8

Resolution 168 also gave credit to the late Senate President Pimentel Jr.’s achievements as former ranking official who alternately served both the Executive Department and the Legislature.

The Senate Resolution affirmed “the Honorable Aquilino ‘Nene’ Quilinging Pimentel Jr. [was] a distinguished public servant, a fearless human-rights lawyer, parliamentarian, and legislator, a staunch defender of democracy, a family-oriented and religious man, and the Father of the Local Government Code.”

Moreover, Resolution 168 cited Pimentel’s sterling public service “in his almost five decades of illustrious and unblemished career as a public servant,” having served the government in various capacities.

“Thank you for helping him achieve his vision and goals as a legislator. Because of your support, he has left landmark legacies such as the Local Government Code and the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, among others,” Sen. Koko Pimentel said in his response to the eulogies.

“Public service was his passion, working on landmark legacies fulfilled him and made him happy. Thank you for working with him to realize his dream of a fairer, democratic and productive Philippines,” he added.

At one point, the younger Pimentel broke down and, between sobs, said, “We don’t want this [passing of a loved one] to happen, but it will happen and it has happened...That is life.”

Slex. . .

Continued from A1

(TRB) is now studying the implications of the bottlenecks along the Slex. It is currently evaluating

Dry palay. . .

Continued from A8

During the reference period, both prices of well-milled rice (WMR) and regular-milled rice (RMR) at the wholesale and retail levels declined.

The average wholesale price of WMR declined 16.4 percent year-on-year to P38.02 per kilogram. Likewise, it was slightly lower than the previous week’s level of P38.15 per kilogram, PSA data showed.

“Similarly, at the retail trade, the

Among his father’s best lessons for his children was that while people have no control of when they are born or die, “all we have control of is how we live our life,” and this summed up why the late senator inspired his children to do their beast.

In his eulogy, Sotto said Pimentel served as his mentor and was always accomodating whenever his counsel was needed.

“His humility, simplicity in style and decorum make us all proud that we were his friends. He will be greatly missed. He had been a leading light of this Chamber, not only in good times but also during trials and darkest moments,” Sotto said.

Equally emotional during the necrological service was Sen. Pia Cayetano who considered Pimentel as a father figure and a mentor.

“Tito Nene did great things, there is no doubt of that. But for me and those who knew him well, we remember him for the small things. For what is greatness without kindness? Without humility and compassion?

Traits I saw in my mentor and seatmate.

Beyond the brilliant legislator and defender of democracy that he was, I got to know a kind and gentle person,” a tearful Cayetano said in her eulogy.

For her part, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called Pimentel one of the country’s finest statesmen. She said Pimentel protected and defended the country and would have made a good president.

Former Sen. Jose Lina Jr. said the Philippines has lost a great Filipino and statesman who championed freedom, human

corrective measures, including a motorist discount on the Slex toll rates.

“We still haven’t arrived at a decision, but we will review the implications,” said Villar, who sits as the TRB’s vice chairman. average price of well-milled rice continued to decline as it dropped to P41.94 per kg or by 0.2 percent during the period from its P42.03 per kg in the previous week,” the PSA said in its weekly price monitoring report.

“On an annual basis, it continued to move down at a rate of 14.5 percent from the same period of the previous year’s level of P49.04 per kg,” it added.

The same downward trend was observed by PSA in the average wholesale and retail prices of RMR during the same period.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

rights and the pursuit of excellence in local governance.

Former Sen. Rene Saguisag, who was a human-rights lawyer during martial law, recalled his time with Pimentel when they both fought for democracy and a better government.

Like Sotto, former Sen. Orlando Mercado said Pimentel was his mentor and was actually the first to call for a total log ban.

And yet, when Mercado took a strong stand on the issue, Pimentel fully supported him and did not mind about who gets credit.

“Nene Pimentel was a happy warrior.

He lived long enough to nurture our civil liberties that he fought for and which he had been jailed. He will remain in our history as an indomitable comrade in the struggle against the dictatorship and a champion of good local governance,” former Senator Heherson Alvarez said.

Former Sen. Anna Dominique Coseteng said Pimentel helped shaped her views in her private life and work. She said Pimentel embodied the values of a nationalist and a warrior and that she was proud to have known him.

Also present during the necrological service were Former President Joseph Estrada, former Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence Go and former Senators Alfredo Lim, John Osmeña, Eddie Ilarde, Robert Jaworski, Loi Estrada, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Wigberto Tañada.

He noted t h at t h is some what temporary pain for motorists will bear much fruit, once the extension is completed on December 1.

The extension will give motorists direct access to and from the

ADB. . .

Continued from A1

Earlier, the DOT said it was also tapping some $300 million in financial assistance from the World Bank for infrastructure projects in Bohol, Siargao, Siquijor, Davao City and Samal Island.

Romulo Puyat said then, “we can keep promoting these destinations, but if they don’t have the proper infrastructure, are unable to manage disasters and crises, or the people don’t benefit from jobs that are tied to the tourism

The story of a nation

Much of the nation’s story the past half century may be gleaned from Pimentel’s life.

He first served as a Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention representing Misamis Oriental; mayor of Cagayan de Oro City (1980 to 1984); Batasang Pambansa Assemblyman (1984 to 1986); and Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government in concurrent capacity as Presidential Adviser and Chief Negotiator with the Muslim rebels (1986 to 1987).

As a member of the 8th Senate in 1987, Pimentel Jr. crafted significant laws, including the Organic Act of the Local Government Code, until 1992. He was elected to a new six-year term for the 1998 to 2004 Congress and served his third and last term from 2004 to 2010. His last government post was as member of the Consultative Commission which President Duterte created in 2018 to review the 1987 Constitution.

Pimentel Jr. was elected by his colleagues in two crucial positions: as the Senate President from November 13, 2000, to June 30, 2001; and as Senate Minority Leader from 2004 to 2010 and July 23, 2001, to June 3, 2002.

During his term as Senate President, the Senate registered an impressive record in terms of laws enacted, notably including the Public Employment Service Office Act (1999); Early Childhood Care and Development Act; the General Banking Law (2000); Electronic Commerce Act (2000); Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (2000); and the Sports Benefits and Incentives Act (2001).

Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), and will add an estimated 4,500 vehicles per hour capacity to the northbound expressway, and around 3,000 vehicles capacity per hour, southbound.

Lorenz S. Marasigan

activities in the area, then we are not really uplifting tourism and its targeted beneficiaries.”

She said, this way, the DOT will have a more “wholistic approach” to tourism development.

(See, “World Bank, ADB make available $400 million in loans for tourism projects,” in the BusinessMirror, October 3, 2019.)

Palawan has been reaping accolades this year, starting with its inclusion in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Islands Awards for 2019. It came in second after Bali, Indonesia. Earlier this month, Palawan was also chosen by readers of Condé Nast Traveler as among the Best Islands in Asia for 2019.

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PCC to conduct probe into retail prices of rice Continued from A1

The average retail price of well-milled rice fell close to 15 percent to P42.03 per kg in the last week of September, from P49.41 per kg in the same period last year, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This was also the lowest price of well-milled rice since the fifth week of July 2017, when it dipped to P41.95 per kg.

The average retail price of regular-milled rice also declined over 18 percent to P37.63 per kg, from P46.14 per kg, and was the lowest since the P37.57 per kg recorded in the third week of May 2017, PSA data showed.

The average farm-gate price of dry unhusked rice slumped to an eight-year low in endSeptember. The PSA reported average buying price of dry palay dropped over 29 percent to P15.83 per kg, from last year’s P22.36 per kg.

For Balisacan, the drop in retail prices is “too slow” when compared to the decline in farm-gate prices, and this should be probed by government agencies, the PCC included, as there could be parties taking advantage of the situation.

Asked if the competition body is looking at a possible case of collusion, Balisacan said: “That’s what we will find if we can find such evidence. There are already some leads; for example, the Senate has started and concluded its own inquiry and those were referred to us and that will be part of the basis.”

“What we want to do is understand fully well where these forces are coming from, whether they are coming from the way we

Rice subsidies. . .

Romualdez said, however, that despite the efforts made by the government to protect the local rice industry, large stocks of imported rice have depressed the buying price of local palay to levels way below the cost production.

Deputy Speaker for Finance Luis Raymund Villafuerte, another author of the resolution, said the government can purchase unmilled rice from local farmers, and convert them to rice for distribution to the 4Ps beneficiaryfamilies rather than give the subsidies as cash grants to target low-income households of the DSWD’s 4Ps.

‘Inefficient and costly’

In its position paper submitted to the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, Action for Economic Reforms (AER) President Jessica Reyes-Cantos recognized the necessity and urgency of government procurement of palay to help farmers affected by falling prices.

However, Cantos said the proposal to convert part of the CCT subsidy for rice into actual rice is inefficient and costly.

“The administrative cost is large, and the money from such could be better spent to directly help farmers. The poor anyhow will still be buying rice, rice being the main content of the food basket. The better way is to make the government-procured rice accessible (physically and financially) in the markets of the poor communities,” she said.

Cantos also recommended including in the joint resolution the utilization of rice tariff

Water. . .

Continued from A1

The authors applied these findings to the Philippine setting using water consumption in the east zone of Metro Manila and socioeconomic development represented by GDP. “Domestic water usage is categorized to have an inelastic demand; this conveys that regardless of the price the demand for the goods stay constant. To sustain the constancy of the demand it is crucial to have a model that could represent the future demand to enable sustainable water resource management,” the authors said.

At the sidelines of a water crisis hearing at the House of Representatives in August, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) advised Metro Manila residents to keep their water tanks on standby as the megacity is still at risk of a recurrence of the water crisis.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo D. David Jr. told the BusinessMirror that as the megacity expands, the more“water-stressed”it becomes.

David said each Filipino uses 120 liters per day. When this is multiplied by 14 million, Metro Manila’s current population, it translates to 1.68 million cubic meters (MCM) per day.

“For the last 10 years, the population and development of Metro Manila continued and yet you only have one source. Demand is increasing.

When populations double or triple, the demand for water is higher, sometimes five times or six

implemented the law, the tariffication or the way various market players are reacting to the law,” the PCC chief added.

Focus on postharvest

In a separate interview, PCC Commissioner Johannes R. Bernabe said the investigation’s focus is on the post-harvest portion of the rice trade, namely, millers, middlemen, traders and retailers. He said these players in the supply chain could be engaged in anticompetitive practices, and the PCC, as mandated by the law, is tasked to look into this.

“If some of them [traders] are in a dominant position or, worse, if they are engaged in cartelistic behavior, then they will exacerbate between farm-gate prices and retail prices,” Bernabe said.

“On the issue of whether tariffication is a good thing or a bad thing, the unanticipated effects, we leave that to the policy-makers.

What we should be concerned about is whether middlemen, whether because of their dominant position in certain relevant geographic markets or if they are engaged in some cartelistic behavior, should be investigated by the PCC and be taken to task for aggravating this price gap,” the PCC official added.

As part of its mandate, the PCC may request information from industry players to be used for its investigations, as well as do inquiries, surveillance and monitoring on certain individuals and groups possibly involved in anticompetitive practices.

Continued from A8

collections in excess of P10 billion for cash transfers for 2019 and 2020.

“The amount that is needed to effectively address the fall in palay prices is between P4.9 billion and P7.7 billion assuming a cash transfer of P5,000 or P7,000 each,” she said.

Cantos, citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) 2012 data, said there are about 1.5 million rice farmers cultivating lands 2 hectares and below.

Bulacan, Maguindanao, Pampanga, Sarangani and North Cotabato are the top provinces where palay buying price is below P17 per kilo.

“To align the cash transfers with the rice tariffication law’s objective of enhancing farmers’ productivity, the transfers will be given to qualified farmers who will till the land and make it productive. They should commit to associating themselves with existing organizations or organizing themselves. This is necessary for the consolidation and scaling up to achieve efficiency and productivity gains as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) programs aim for scale economies,” she said.

Also, Cantos said the NFA must dispose of rice in warehouses immediately even if sold at below market prices to cut losses from perishable rice and further lowering the prices for poor consumers.

“It also solves the logistical problem of procuring more rice as it provides more storage capacity,” she said. times more,” he added.

David said this is why the government should now seriously consider tapping another water resource for Metro Manila.

Months after Metro Manila went waterless for weeks during summer, water concessionaire Manila Water said it may again implement round of water service interruptions starting Thursday if the water level in Angat Dam continues to drop. Angat Dam is the primary water source of Metro Manila.

“As we have consistently warned since last week, since the water level at Angat Dam continues to decline, Manila Water will begin implementing rotational water service interruption on the evening of October 24,” the company said in its advisory.

“This is necessary because we want to ensure that the still-limited raw water supply will last even beyond the summer of 2020 since Angat Dam may not reach its ideal 212-meter level by the end of 2019,” it added.

As of October 23, data from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) showed that Angat Dam’s elevation was at 186.22 meters, still above the minimum operating level of 180 meters. The latest figure is slightly lower than the 186.44 meters recorded on October 22.

David noted the lowest level reached by Angat in the last 10 years was in 2010 when it reached 157.55 meters and the second lowest was recorded this year at 157.96 meters.

News BusinessMirror

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PNP vows to probe deaths of 461 suspects while under police custody in past 3 years

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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to resolve the reported deaths of at least 461 suspects while under police custody logged in the past three years under the Duterte administration.

“We will resolve everything. We will resolve it first internally,” said PNP Officer in Charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa on Wednesday.

Lawyer Alfegar Triambulo, inspector general of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP, earlier disclosed that the deaths of suspects while under the custody of the police were recorded from July 2016 up to August this year.

Triambulo also claimed that at least 70 percent of the IAS’s recommendation of sanctions against erring policemen were not acted upon by police officials.

The IAS is the investigating and disciplining authority of the PNP, although its decisions and recommendations are still subject of review by senior police officials. “ The IAS is our partner in maintaining discipline in the PNP.

Palace assures no need to worry about President Duterte’s health

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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ALACAÑANG has assured on Wednesday to inform the public about the result of President Duterte’s medical consultation after the Chief Executive experienced “unbearable pain in his spinal column near the pelvic bone” possibly caused by a motorcycle mishap last week.

Pending the official release of medical results by the Palace, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo reiterated that there is no need for the public to worry about the President’s health.

“His [President Duterte’s] consultation with a doctor is aimed at determining the medical condition of his body, as well as finding out whether his previous spinal injury from a past motorcycle accident has been aggravated by his recent fall. The President shall inform our countrymen on the result of his medical consultation,” said Panelo in a news statement.

While he may have to cut short his trip to Japan due to the searing pain, Panelo said the President was still able to endure it and even headed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to the wake of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Tuesday evening.

The President considers the late Senate President as his personal friend and recognizes his contributions as a public servant to the country, Panelo said.

Malacañang also said the President safely arrived in Manila last night, October 22, at 10:33 p.m. from his trip to Japan after witnessing Emperor Naruhito’s formal ascension to the throne in a formal, traditional and elaborate ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Duterte was supposed to go back to Manila on October 24.

Since he left Japan earlier than scheduled, he asked his daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Car pio to attend the two banquets—Emperor’s banquet and the Prime Minister’s banquet—on his behalf.

During the Emperor’s banquet, Panelo said the presidential daughter was able to meet and talk with Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako, as well as Japanese Minister Shinzō Abe.

“The IAS is our partner in maintaining discipline in the PNP. These issues have already reached the PNP and they were being acted upon by our officer in charge.”—Banac

These issues have already reached the PNP and they were being acted upon by our officer in charge,” said PNP Spokesman Chief Supt.

Bernard Banac.

Banac assured that all of the cases are being looked into and resolutions would be issued on them in due time.

“That’s the assurance given by General Gamboa,” he said.

Banac also assured the public that the PNP will remain transparent along with all of its actions on the cases. “Justice is needed here and due process will be followed,” he said. Rene Acosta

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, October 24, 2019 A3

Amid new reports of hazing, PMA issues call for ‘healing’

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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HE Philippine Military Academy (PMA) confirmed on Wednesday that the videos circulating on social media showing actual incidents of cadet hazing are “authentic” as it asked the public to allow the institution to correct its mistake and implement reforms.

The videos showing cadets being hazed apparently by their upperclassmen surfaced just weeks after the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio in a hazing and the admission of four other cadets in two hospitals in Metro Manila due to similar causes.

“The videos circulating in the social media involving our cadets were taken in 2017 and 2018. However, the offenses they committed were not, and never, will be sanctioned or tolerated in PMA,” said PMA Spokesman Capt. Cheryl Tindog.

“Last Monday night, we confined the five cadets involved at the holding center here in PMA for an immediate investigation utilizing the videos as tools and bases for an impartial inquiry. The other cadet in one of the videos was already discharged last year from the academy due to Honor Code violation,” she added.

In the aftermath of Dormitorio’s death wherein at least six cadets were held directly responsible and at least six senior and junior military officers named as indirectly accountable, the inspector general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a wide-ranging investigation at the academy.

The inspector general noted in its report that it found out at least 27 more cases of hazing.

Tindog said the country’s premier military school is working to stop hazing.

“The PMA has time and, again, declares our strongest form of mani-

festation of serious and sincere drive to eradicate maltreatment. Cases have been filed, drastic actions are being undertaken, and the reforms are being instituted to rid PMA of maltreatment. We fervently hope and pray that PMA will be allowed to make good with our commitments,” she said.

In the House of Representatives, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. asked the academy to temporarily stop its admission of cadets because it has not learned yet its lessons from cases of hazing.

“Suspend new cadet recruitment for just one year, during which time the AFP must overhaul the PMA of its misguided notion that hazing is necessary to mold good defenders of the people and the Constitution,” he said in a news statement.

On the other hand, the National Union of Students of the Philippines said the videos, and even reports, about hazing in the PMA proved that Dormitorio’s case is

not an isolated one.

“Given this grim reality, the union will not allow these same abusive elements to enter our schools to ensure our ‘safety and security.’ Moreover, we shall block their insistent demand to teach us ‘discipline and right conduct’ through the revival of mandatory ROTC,” it said.

Tindog admitted that the PMA itself is “battered with the stories that came out in the news.”

“We pray that the Filipino people will allow PMA to heal and the Corps of Cadets learn from its mistake,” she said.

“The PMA is not a perfect organization. She has in the ranks of the Cadet Corps misfits who need to be dealt with accordingly. We are working very hard in order for the measures and reforms being instituted to prosper and for the changes to continue to be implemented in order to address the problem from the roots,” Tindog added.

Court stops DOH, FDA from implementing ‘restrictive’ regulations on e-cigs, vapes

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REGIONAL group has confirmed that a Pasig trial court temporarily stopped the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from implementing an administrative order that would have imposed restrictive regulations on e-cigarettes or vapes.

Clarisse Virgino, a Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), said a

Pasig City Regional Trial Court issued a writ of preliminary injunction ordering Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque and Health Undersecretary and FDA Officer in Charge Rolando Enrique Domingo not to implement Administrative Order 2019-0007, entitled “Revised Rules and Regulations on Electronic Nicotine and NonNicotine Delivery System [ENDS/ ENNDS],” which was set to take effect on October 24, 2019.

“This means that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, importers and/or exporters of vaping products need not follow the provisions of the DOH-FDA administrative order unless the writ of preliminary injunction is lifted by the court,” said Virgino.

The court also ordered all other persons acting on, or for Duque and Domingo’s behalf or upon their authority not to implement the administrative order while the case is still

being settled, and not to exercise jurisdiction over vaping products.

The court concluded that there was an urgent need to restrain the imposition of the administrative order.  A writ of preliminary injunction is a provisional or ancillary remedy that is resorted to in order to prevent a threatened or continuous irremediable injury to the parties before their claims can be thoroughly studied and educated, Virgino explained.

“Its sole objective is to preserve the status quo until the merits of the case can be heard and decided by the court.” CAPHRA is an alliance of consumer organizations from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. It aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

briefs P.O.E.A.: FILE COMPLETE, ACCURATE REPORT ON OFW STATUS

LABOR GROUP HITS CAVITE ECOZONE LOCATOR FOR DECLARING ‘LOCKOUT’

RECRUITMENT and manning agencies that are found to be filing incomplete and sometimes even inaccurate reports on the status of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) they deploy to foreign lands will now be facing sanctions from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

In an advisory No. 30, Series of 2019, POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said some recruiters are still submitting incomplete reports to their office.

“Incomplete reports are deemed by this administration as not as compliant to POEA Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2018,” Olalia said.

Olalia reminded all recruitment and manning agencies to meet the requirement at the prescribed time so they could avoid possible penalties.

“POEA rules set the compliance period and if there is significant event involving OFW, report must be submitted within five days,” Olalia said.

“Noncompliance herewith warrants the institution of appropriate disciplinary actions and imposition of corresponding penalties provided under the rules,” he added. Samuel P. Medenilla

PHL, Japan, US conclude maritime training activity

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HE maritime exercise Sama Sama involving navies from the Philippines, Japan and the United States concluded on Monday following a weeklong activity, which further strengthened maritime interoperability among the three countries.

The training activity, which was also participated by the Philippine and US Coast Guards, culminated in Puerto Princesa City and it ended while US Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz was in the country.

Schultz assured the US Coast Guard’s continuing commitment to capacitate its Philippine counterpart by providing it with training and equipment.

The maritime exercise Sama Sama was designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance maritime interoperability.

“I could not be more proud of what we accomplished together,” Capt. Ann McCann, the deputy chief of Destroyer Squadron 7, the US Embassy quoted her as saying in a news statement.

“The time and resources invested here will pay dividends. While the exercise has ended, the skills, the knowledge and the relationships built here will only grow in value over time,” McCann added.

Earlier, US Navy Rear Admiral Joey Tynch, commander of the Logistics Group Western Pacific, who oversees security cooperation for the US Navy in Southeast Asia, said that Sama Sama showed the “evolution toward multilateral training and networked security.”

“We are strongest when we sail together,” said Tynch. “MTA Sama Sama gives us a great chance to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends, partners, and allies, the Philippine Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. We train together, so that together we can face threats to maritime security,” Tynch said. Rene Acosta

A LABOR group on Wednesday called for government intervention to address the alleged illegal means of economic zones locators in getting rid of labor unions.

In a news statement, Partido Manggagawa Chairman Renato Magtubo said they have monitored Sejung Apparel Inc. (SJI) of allegedly using the threat of a “lockout” in its ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiation deadlock with its unions.

Magtubo said the issue stemmed from the alleged lockout implemented by the SJI management, which is located at the First Cavite Industrial Estate in Dasmariñas, Cavite, after its workers decided to organize last August.

SJI cited lack of orders for the temporary closure.

“In August, workers voted to be represented by a union. Two weeks ago, the union submitted a proposal for a collective bargaining agreement,” Magtubo said. “After just a week, the company suddenly declared a temporary closure allegedly for lack of orders. Workers, however, contend that there [are still] pending order[s]...abruptly stopped by the management,” he added.

The issue prompted SJI workers to file a notice of strike at the Department of Labor and Employment. Samuel P. Medenilla

BFAR chief eyeing ‘modest’ 3% growth in fisheries output by ‘20

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing a “modest” 3-percent growth in fisheries production next year.

Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said he expects the fisheries subsector this year to sustain growth achieved in 2018 through various fisheries programs.

Sp e a k i ng du r i ng t he Spe c i a l Launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Land by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) on the occasion of the 10th year anniversary of the Climate Change Act in Quezon City, Gongona said the DA is pinning its hope on maintaining the current level of production in capture fisheries, while increasing production in aquaculture.

This means producing at least 4.55 million metric tons (MMT) of fish.

This year, he said, the projected output is 4.38 MMT, or growth in fisheries production of 2 percent, compared to the 2018 output of 4.35 MMT. According to Gongona, the DABFAR will focus on capacitating small fishermen in both the aquaculture

and capture fisheries subsectors to hit its target.

Capture fisheries production, he said, can be maintained at the current level despite the depleting fish stocks by “taking care” of the country’s municipal fishing grounds.

This, he said, will ensure enough fish to meet the local demand vis-a-vis the increasing population and hungry mouths to feed in the next 10 years.

Gongona spoke about State of Food Security in the Philippines and presented the DA’s Strategic Initiatives for Food Security.

A former official of the Philippine Navy with the rank of Commodore, Gongona underscored the importance of sustainable fisheries in ensuring the country’s food security. He said the Philippines has the resources, and capacity, to produce enough fish for local demand, as well as for exports.

“Fish is our future. We have the fifth-longest shoreline in the world.

We have seas bigger than the sea of China. In Southeast Asia, we are second only to Indonesia, and yet we get less. What is happening to our fisheries? In my common understanding of our situation, we need out-of-the-box thinking,” he said.

“Our solution is common sense.

Science-based recommendations, science-based solutions. We were

able to form a science adv isor y group. We have many policies when it comes to fisheries that are not sciencebased, hindi pwedeng puro political decisions,” he said.

According to Gongona, it is important to make fisheries profitable, noting that in the next 10 years, if the situation will not improve, like in the case of farmers, there will be no more Filipino fishermen.

Fishermen in the Philippines belong to the poorest of the poor sector of society because of dwindling fish catch and cost of going out to fish, including the need to buy gasoline for their bancas, food and water during fishing expedition among other “necessities.” Sometimes, a municipal fisherman would be lucky enough to bring home 5 kilograms of commercially viable fish.

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TheBroa

Business

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Feed the children or face perdition: P

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By Cai U. Ordinario

TIME bomb is ticking and expected to go off in three decades’ time. By spending a few more millions, however, the state can defuse it and reap a demographic dividend instead.

So say experts and officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

According to the Unicef, the Philippines must invest $1 billion in the next 10 years to avoid the triple burden of malnutrition: stunting and wasting; micronutrient deficiency; and, obesity. The peso equivalent of that amount, about P51.19 billion, is a billion pesos more than the worth of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 2 Contract Packages 4 (worth P32.7 billion) and 5 (P18.1 billion).

That proposed amount translates to an additional investment of $100 million annually, around P5 billion every year. The level of this investment is not that high considering the alternative: underinvestment or, worse, business as usual.

Filipinos stunted

IF the government continues on its “business as usual” stance, the Unicef said the Philippines stands to lose 3 percent of its GDP annually. This equates to $4.5 billion or P220 billion annually.

Clearly, according to Unicef Philippines Nutrition Specialist Rene Gerard C. Galera Jr., investing $100 million annually is cheaper, especially given that a third of Filipino children are already stunted.

“The cost of that is equivalent to one third of the damages by [Typhoon] Yolanda. So every year, [our] economy is losing that [amount]. So really, we have to consider that nutrition, as much as it’s an economic cost, we have to invest on it, too,” Galera said in a recent forum.

“That’s why it’s actually cheaper to invest in nutrition and you can do so much with [that amount],” he told the BusinessMirror on the sidelines of the forum.

Economic development

IN his recent speech, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito F. Habito said stunting, also known as nutritional stunting, is one of the major challenges to the country’s development. Habito said stunting, a reduced growth rate in human development, may make these children “mediocre” when they grow up or become workers with “low productivity.”

While the Philippine population remains young, reaping the full benefits of the demographic dividend from now until 2050 means having a strong and capable labor force. Habito said that if the working population are disadvantaged from a young age, the country’s demographic dividend could become a demographic time bomb instead.

In order to bring down food costs in the country, Habito stressed a need to pursue rice tariffication as well as veer away from rice self-sufficiency strategy. This will bring down commodity prices as well as free up public funds for other cash crops that have the potential to raise farmers’ incomes, according to him.

“If we don’t do something now, it could lead to a demographic time bomb rather than a demographic sweet spot,” Habito, professor at the Department of Economics of the Ateneo de Manila University, said.

Extent of the problem

THE Unicef report titled “State of the World’s Children 2019” showed malnutrition is a global problem.

The report stated that over 1 in 3 children are not growing well.

The report said this meant 149 million children under 5 years old

are stunted, nearly 50 million are wasted and 40 million are considered overweight.

Unicef added that over 340 million children are suffering from micronutrient deficiencies globally. This indicates that at least 1 in 2 children or half of the children’s population have a hidden hunger.

The report also stated that 42 percent of school-going adolescents drink carbonated soft drinks at least once a day and 46 percent eat fast food at least once a week.

From 2000 to 2016, the proportion of overweight children between 5 and 19 years of age doubled from 1 in 10 to almost 1 in 5.

Galera said based on these figures, the world is not on track to meeting the global targets on stunting, wasting and overweight by 2030. Based on Target 2.2 of Goal 2 on “ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promotion of sustainable agriculture” of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world must end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

The SDGs, to note, are a collection of 17 global goals set by the UN General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. The SDGs are part of Resolution 70/1 of the UN General Assembly, the 2030 Agenda.

Dangers of stunting

TARGET 2.2 stated the world must achieve the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons.

In terms of overweight and wasting, the global target is to bring this down to 3 percent by 2030, but 7.3 percent of children are still overweight and 5.9 percent are wasted. The target for stunting is 12.2 percent by 2030, but the current rate is 21.9 percent.

In the Philippines, the Unicef estimates that 2 percent of Filipino children under 5 years old are severely wasted and 7 percent are moderately and severely wasted. The data also showed 4 percent of under 5 year olds in the country are moderately and severely overweight.

In terms of stunting, the report stated that 33 percent of Filipino children are stunted. The incidence is higher among the poorest 20 percent at 49 percent. However, data showed even among the richest 20 percent, around 15 percent of children are stunted.

According to the Unicef, the dangers can be life-threatening in the case of wasting, and permanent, especially in the case of stunting.

Opportunity window

NATIONAL Nutrition Council (NNC) Executive Director Azucena M. Dayanghirang said stunting in children is already irreversible after a child reaches 2 years old.

Dayanghirang said stunting does not happen overnight. It is caused by “chronic hunger and malnutrition.” If mothers are also malnourished and stunted themselves, there is a higher tendency for their offspring to also be stunted.

Galera said this is the reason it is also important to remember that good nutrition starts in the first 1,000 days. This refers to the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life which begins in the womb and ends when the baby turns 2 years old. If children lack the nutrition they need at this time, they are likely to be stunted.

IN this October 2, 2010, children jostle and shove to get free porridge at Baseco Compound in Port Area, Manila. AP/PAT ROQUE

“This is why we’re calling the first 1,000 days the first window of opportunity because the brain development in that moment is never outpaced [in a lifetime]. Studies actually show that brain connections during that period are as fast as 1,000 connections per second,” Galera said. “So if we lose that moment, if we don’t support the child in their nutritional needs, the brain doesn’t form correctly.

That’s why there is this element of irreversibility because we lose that chance of making those meaningful connections.”

Usually correlated

DAYANGHIRANG said the stunting rate among 1-year-olds in the Philippines is 36.6 percent, which is twice as much as the 15.5-percent stunting rate among infants 6 months to 11 months old. She added that stunting rates remain at the 30-percent level or more

among children 3 and 4 years old.

She explained that stunting is not only about height. When children are stunted, they are not only deemed bansot—a local pejorative term for someone physically smaller for their age and underweight, but also have less developed brains. This physical characteristic compromises their ability to absorb lessons while in school and eventually makes them less productive workers.

“We would like to consider stunting as not just a physical impairment but rather as a brain or cognitive impairment,” Dayanghirang said. “There’s lack of nutrients in the development of the brain.”

She explained that the cognitive development is affected because the temporal lobe is usually affected.

“The temporal lobe [has a domain over] memory so, often, if a student is stunted, the child falls

asleep in class and would not be able to answer quizzes.”

Dayanghirang said this is one of the reasons street children can be very hostile.

“When they knock on our car windows and when we turn them away, they fight us back. This is because the impact of stunting is in the temporal lobe and that is where hostility lies. It is usually correlated,” she further explained. “The younger stunting occurs, the more risky their lives become.”

Resorting to accessible food

THE NNC said children are malnourished because of bad eating habits and, the Department of Health (DOH) and Unicef said, the absence of a nurturing environment represented by the family.

In terms of food, the NNC and DOH said high consumption of sodium-rich and sugar-rich foods can lead to malnutrition.

These kinds of foods are often processed foods with artificial coloring and flavoring as well as those high in trans fat.

Unfortunately, many families are looking for quick-fix solutions when feeding children and adults, DOH’s Anthony P. Calibo said.

There is a tendency for families to resort to accessible foods that may not have sufficient nutrition needed by children, especially those aged 0 to 2 years old, according to Calibo, officer in charge of the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Division.

The Unicef said this is common in cities where “many poor children live in ‘food deserts’ or in ‘food swamps.’ Those in the former face an absence of healthy food options while those in the latter are confronted with an abundance of high-calorie, low-nutrient, processed foods.

Calibo said preparing nutri-

aderLook

sMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, October 24, 2019

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PHL’s future hinges on fit workforce providing love and support for children. The Unicef said studies showed orphan children, while able to access nutritious food at the orphanage, have a tendency to also be stunted. This is because of the absence of family dynamics.

Further, the environment should be conducive to nutrition.

This means mothers should be able to continue breastfeeding even after six months. Currently, only 54.9 percent of Filipino infants are exclusively breastfed between 0 and 5.9 months.

Local action, global vision

THE Unicef said there is, above all, a need to view nutrition as a basic human right. The report stated that while the Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed 30 years ago, many children are still robbed of their present and their future because of malnutrition.

In the report, the Unicef called on governments to “put children first and combat malnutrition by recommitting to the right of all children—without exception— to food and nutrition as a human right.” This means “stimulating demand for healthy options, strengthening the supply of nutritious foods and improving children’s food environments.”

Further, the Unicef said, governments must place women and children’s well-being at the heart of government policy. Governments, the report stated, must craft policies and regulations that ensure women and children’s needs are addressed.

The Unicef said this includes the imposition of specific taxes on unhealthy foods such as those imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in countries like the Philippines. The tax on SSBs was part of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the first of five tax-reform packages to be signed into law. It took effect in January 2018.

Discuss reformulation

tious food is “not rocket science.”

It simply needs some creativity and does not mean cooking separately for adults and children, which can be very expensive.

Common fare

CALIBO said a common fare like tinola (chicken soup) can be good for both children 0 to 2 years old and adults. To make it palatable to children, adults need to mash the green papaya and shred the chicken so that children can eat it. It is also important to make sure the rice is soft enough for children to eat, Calibo said.

Dayanghirang added that when it comes to the consumption of processed foods like instant pancit canton, families can resort to adding vegetables like malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and kalabasa (West Indian pumpkin) to the pancit canton to make it more nutritious. Families also have the option

to add a cheap source of protein such as eggs to the dish.

“Globalization is shaping food options and choices: 77 percent of processed food sales worldwide are controlled by just 100 large firms,” the Unicef report stated.

“Poor families tend to select low-quality food that costs less.

Because of poverty and exclusion, the most disadvantaged children face the greatest risk of all forms of malnutrition,” it added.

Calibo added that if mothers were stunted children themselves, there is a possibility their own children will also be stunted. This makes achieving the country’s nutrition targets an uphill climb.

Higher stunting rates

THE NNC data showed the prevalence of malnutrition among mothers in the poorest quintile is 12 percent, while for the richest quintile, it’s only 2 percent. Stunting rates

of children are higher if mothers are underweight.

Data showed that for the 0-month-old to 6-month-old child, stunting is at 21 percent for those mothers who were underweight during pregnancy, and only 12 percent for those who had normal weight while they were pregnant.

For children 7 to 23 months old, stunting is at 44 percent, which represented those whose mothers who were underweight, while 31 percent of these children were stunted for those whose mothers had normal weight.

Stunting among children 24 months to 59 months old is higher among underweight mothers at 56 percent; it is 42 percent for children whose mothers were of normal weight.

“It’s easy to reverse the wasting,” Calibo said. “Because once you put a child under management of acute malnutrition, that

child reaches already the weight for length, or weight for height, similar to the body mass index in adults, they are no longer wasted.”

Intergenerational

HOWEVER, Calibo said it should be understood that stunting is intergenerational.

In the case of “an adolescent female who might probably get pregnant—and this adolescent female was also stunted when she was a child—the offspring may also be [probably] stunted,” Calibo said.

For this reason, families should consider the alternative where children will be used to eating unhealthy food, Calibo said.

This will not only undermine their health but also their future. He said this is why monitoring the growth and development of a child is very important.

This includes proper care and

IT can be noted that in January 2018, the Philippine government implemented an excise tax on sugary drinks equivalent to P6 per liter for beverages using purely caloric sweeteners and a higher P12 per liter for those using highfructose corn syrup, as mandated under the TRAIN law.

The Department of Finance (DOF) said this SSB tax helped lower the consumption of sweetened beverages by an average of 6.5 percent, with powdered concentrates registering the highest decline at 25 percent, based on the 2018 data from Euromonitor on the sales of beverage companies in the Philippines.

Moreover, the Unicef said there is a need to provide economic incentives for producers to supply safe and nutritious foods. This could mean lower rent, tariffs and utilities to reward firms that produce and market healthy foods.

“Incentives should also seek to increase the proportion of fresh fruits and vegetables available at markets, supermarkets and other points of sale, especially in lowincome communities and food deserts,” the report said.

The NNC said it intends to gather food establishments and manufacturers to discuss the reformulation of their products to ensure their nutritional value.

Dayanghirang told reporters there is a need to cut the salt content of certain products, especially those that are regularly consumed by the poor, such as pancit canton.

Required nutrition needs

DAYANGHIRANG said the NNC is also asking food establishments and other fast-food chains frequented by younger Filipinos to get involved in these discussions.

She said that by November and December, or by the first quarter of 2020, the NNC will establish the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network to pool food manufacturers and establish-

ments in producing healthy food for children, especially those 6 months to 2 or 3 years old.

The SUN Business Network aims to create food and labeling standards that food establishments as well as manufacturers will have to comply with to meet the necessary nutritional needs of children.

Apart from this, Dayanghirang said the NNC intends to work with local government units (LGUs) and other line agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) to promote better food options for Filipinos.

She said this will help prevent stunting, which can compromise the education and future employability of children. Stunting can be prevented if Filipinos become more conscious of the nutritional value of the food they consume.

Encouraging gardens

FURTHER, Dayanghirang said a whole-of-government approach is needed to promote good nutrition. She said agencies such as the DA can help by encouraging urban gardens.

She said urban gardens can help increase vegetable consumption, especially among pregnant women and their children. She said it is very easy to cook food such as pancit canton with simple vegetables to make them more nutritious.

Dayanghirang said the NNC also hopes to meet with agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to hire unemployed fathers of malnourished children to give them a means of livelihood through the various infrastructure projects of the government.

“Why do we have stunting, why do we have hunger and malnutrition? There are two ways: one is, they don’t have access to food, why? Because they don’t have money to buy food. [Another reason] is there’s no food available because [households are] geographically isolated and depressed area,” Dayanghirang said.

Dayanghirang said the NNC is also discussing with local government units regarding a “convergence” of programs that would lead them to cooperate more with key government agencies.

She said the NNC would like to “clone” LGUs who already have their own nutrition plans and programs in their areas such as key cities of Mandaluyong, Baguio, Davao, Taguig and Isabela. The list also includes Quezon Province.

Nutrition, health

CALIBO added that monitoring children’s progress is also important. This can be done through the Department of Education, particularly its completion rates and achievement tests. The Department of Labor and Employment can also help through annual data on human productivity.

“It’s difficult to generalize that the human productivity of the Philippines is actually compromised. [But] if this trend will not be reversed, maybe the next 20 years of adult workers would be the not-so-productive adult workers in the future,” Calibo said.

For these experts, nutrition is an important component of economic growth. Ensuring that the children of today are equipped with the best of everything—especially good nutrition—is already one way of ensuring the country’s bright future.

Promoting good health and nutrition, however, is not only about providing sufficient financial resources but also commitment. The commitment of governments and households to improve the present conditions of children will ensure that they have meaningful and fruitful lives.

A6 Thursday, October 24, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Lack of funding won’t stop UHC Law rollout

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ealth Secretary Francisco Duque III signed early this month the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law or Republic Act 11223, which will pave the way for the implementation of the awaited program that ensures holistic health care for more than 100 million Filipinos.

The UHC provides that all Filipinos will be automatic members of PhilHealth as direct or indirect contributors, and shall be eligible to “No Balance Billing” once admitted to basic or ward accommodations in hospitals.

Availability of basic ward accommodation in all facilities will be ensured through prescribed basic-private bed ratios—90:10 for public health facilities, 70:30 for public specialty health facilities, and a minimum of 10:90 for private health facilities.

Duque said every Filipino will be assigned to a primary care provider (health worker) who shall be the first health-care contact. Primary care providers will deliver free essential health services and will guide patients through the different health-care facilities.

When implemented effectively, the UHC will deliver to all Filipinos the health care they need, when they need it, without suffering financial hardship.

Although there is much work to be done to implement the UHC, particularly the funding challenge, government is definitely in the right direction toward achieving health for all Filipinos.

That’s because the UHC opens the door for every citizen to access comprehensive, cost-effective, and quality health services without causing financial hardship. But the realization of its benefits depends on the availability of funds. Here’s the problem: The UHC will need an estimated P257 billion in 2020. However, the proposed 2020 national budget approved by the House on third and final reading only allocates P166 billion for the UHC. Of that amount, P67.4 billion is allocated for PhilHealth, P9.5 billion for the deployment of health-care personnel to the provinces, P9.4 billion for medical assistance to poor patients, and P5.9 billion for health facilities.

Apart from lack of funds, a big stumbling block for the UHC is the shortage in the number of medical workers to sufficiently provide for the medical services to the country’s growing population (See, “Universal Health Care law: No grand cure to what’s ailing PHL health sector” in the BusinessMirror, July 11, 2019). The current ratio for public doctors is 1 to 20,000; the same ratio applies to nurses. For midwives, the ratio is 1 to 5,000. As of September 30, 2018, the Professional Regulation Commission has registered 141,067 doctors, 905,027 nurses and 176,832 midwives.

Duque, however, remains undaunted. He said the IRR signing is only the first step to the creation of a health system that works for all. “We will begin with a change in perspec­tive where health care is more than treating patients in our facilities. The health system will actively improve the health literacy, the health environment, the social determi­nants of health of every Filipino,” he said.

Although the Department of Health is scheduled to implement the UHC next year, Duque said the availability of budget for the program is still a problem, particularly on the succeeding years of its implementa­tion. “The funding problem remains to be big. But not in the first year,” he said. Current fund sources for the UHC include the DOH budget, PhilHealth premi­um contributions, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Despite the funding constraints, Duque said the DOH is ready to implement the program in 33 pilot areas. “I never said that there is enough money.

In fact, I’ve been saying there’s not enough money but it does not mean that the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law stops just because there is not enough funding. It will continue,” he said. “This is universal in scope but progres­sive in approach. So, there will be a progres­sive rollout.”

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BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

When the system breaks John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

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here are many issues that require our attention. There is the President’s health, of course. Everyone is watching the developments in vice presidential election protest, as well as the Barretto family telenovela. Criminal cops are “Ninjas” and cartoon movies are promoting Chinese geographical propaganda.

In the larger picture, “the system” is still working. All systems work until they don’t, and that is the grave danger.

Fortunately, our local pundits have all the questions to the problems that ail our nation even if they have few, if any, answers. However, that is fine also as it allows for some mostly sensible discussion. That, too, shows the system is working.

Yet, the situation that I have spoken of previously in Chile better be a wake-up call as to how quickly the system can break and fail.

The population of Chile is about 18 million. As I mentioned, the percapita gross domestic product is

$15,000 versus about $3,000 for the Philippines. In purchasing power, the numbers are $23,000 and $8,000, respectively.

Philippine economic growth is higher and inflation is lower, but Chile is not a “basket case.” Out of that 18 million, perhaps 10 percent of them feel economic hardship and are frustrated.

But it only took a few thousand people to throw Chile into complete chaos. Innocent people have died. Almost everyone else has had their lives heavily disrupted when people can’t go to work. Schools are closed. Grocery stores have been looted and burned. People

The Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice Committees should look into this

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are under martial law with tanks in the streets.

One commentator—Simon Black —described the situation this way: “They might be angry about certain issues, but they know that torching property and killing innocents won’t solve anything. Only a trivial fraction of a percent of the population is acting like cowards—the ones who steal a bunch of flat-screen televisions from the neighborhood electronics store. And they’re delusional enough to believe in their own righteousness—that their actions are justified as payback because of some economic injustice.”

While it may be impressive to see 1 million or 2 million protestors in Hong Kong, did they really believe that nonsense about “one country, two systems” being there to protect their interests and not for the benefit of Beijing?

The protesting youth are complaining about receiving death threats and doxxing (publically revealing personal information), but this is the reality. Over 400 police officers and 100 of their family members had their information exposed. According to South China Morning Post, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data

T

HE irrepressible Sen. Dick Gordon and other senators should look into why corruption and plunder are endlessly happening, not only in the police organization, but also in other government agencies.

In the just concluded probe by the two powerful Senate Committees— Blue Ribbon and Justice—headed

by Gordon, what we witnessed in the investigation of Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde is at best a publicity yarn with President Duterte as the principal target.

It’s funny that Albayalde is being blamed for a high-profile drugrelated case that happened during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. This is a case that should have been investigated, prosecuted and decided by the proper court six years ago.

Unless the senators, some of them with presidential ambitions and identified political Duterte enemies, really look deeper into the pervasive problem, they’ll only end up wondering why corruption and plunder

are again happening instead of being prevented by putting important people in jail.

Let’s look at the crimes and how they were committed, and why they should have been prevented in the first place by officials from the four independent constitutional commissions established by the 1987 Constitution to safeguard public funds from corruption and plunder, to choose the upright and dedicated people involved in governance, to monitor the three branches of government against corrupt officials, and to control and supervise employees in government against immoral and criminal acts.

These important government agencies are the Commission on Audit (COA), the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Ombudsman

and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), all with sweeping judicial and quasi-judicial powers to prevent the commission of corruption and plunder.

It can be legally and morally argued that some officials from these four constitutional agencies may have committed criminal negligence in the performance of their duties.

The basic principle that one does not only commit a crime by commission but also by omission applies to some of them.

Worse, many of them, particularly from the COA, the agency mandated by the Constitution to strictly audit and account public funds getting in and out of the National Treasury, appear to have colluded with those involved in the crime.

The question is who will now investigate these impeachable officials? Under the Constitution, the House initiates and investigates impeachable officers and if evidence is established, the Senate tries and punishes the culprits.

But you have a situation where most members of the Senate and House are themselves under public scrutiny for possible involvement in pork-barrel scams.

Will the Ombudsman do it and finish the job? But isn’t it also under scrutiny for gross negligence?

Under the Constitution, the

said it had received 557 complaints.

Of those, 402 cases (72 percent) involved police officers.

The point is that the system in both Chile and Hong Kong has broken down, and the results are horrible. Here is a silly but accurate example. The only thing that makes a stock exchange viable is active liquidity. The fact that a stockholder can always sell or buy at a price is only part of the equation. There must be active trading.

However, when daily total peso trading volume is 3 billion or 4 billion, we are in a danger zone. The last two initial public offerings were not good. Both came out way below the target price and Axelum Resources Corp. is still trading more than 10 percent below the IPO price. For AllHome Corp., the company spent nearly P700 million to support the offering price. That is not the way it is supposed to happen.

Systems can fail quickly and it can happen anywhere. Take nothing for granted. Be vigilant.

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.

office of the Ombudsman independently monitors all three branches of the government with powers to prevent, investigate and prosecute grafters and plunderers in government.

T he Come lec per iod ic a l ly screens out candidates for more than 17,000 elective positions, including those running for president, vice president, senator and congressman, and make sure that the Omnibus Election Code is directly followed.

Curiously, and this has not been corrected up to this writing, the Code itself appears to be encouraging the commission of corruption and plunder, particularly Section 100, which allows a presidential candidate to spend P10 per voter and another P5 if he or she is running under a legally recognized political party. This means P750 million based on 50 million voting population.

A senatorial candidate is allowed to spend P3 per voter and a congressman a little bit lower.

Can you imagine a law allowing a presidential candidate to spend P750 million for a position that pays a maximum salary in six years of only P3.8 million? It’s even a joke to run for president with this campaign budget.

See “Arillo,” A7

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Wanted: New trade rules for a sustainable world Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

E

stablished in 1964, Unctad helped develop the “System of General Preferences,” a system formulated by the developed countries to boost the trading capacity of the least developed countries by giving the latter’s export products special tariff treatment. In the 1970s, Unctad’s deliberations focused heavily on the proposals of developing countries for a “New International Economic Order” (NIEO).

The NIEO idea was partly inspired by the success of the oil-producing developing countries in asserting their rights over the production, trading and pricing of petroleum products. According to the proponents of NIEO, the world economic order was unequal because the metropolis (primarily North America and Europe) was able to reduce the Third World (a popular term then for developing countries) into “hewers of wood and carriers of water” through an unequal and unjust global trade arrangement. The neocolonial trade order then was a legacy of the prewar colonial arrangement in the three A’s —Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The NIEO framework calls for fair pricing for the primary or raw material products of developing countries, as well as assistance for the accelerated industrial transformation of these countries. Most of the NIEO supporters were active members of the so-called Group of 77 developing countries (the number has doubled since) and the anti-imperialist NonAligned Movement or NAM. Manila hosted the Unctad V Conference in 1979. Then-President Ferdinand Marcos openly aligned the Philippines with the G77 and NAM and the cause of “Third-Worldism.”

In his keynote speech, Marcos called

for the “restructuring of an antiquated economic order.” The speech was long in rhetorics but short on the specifics on how global economic restructuring could or should be done.

The irony is that in 1979, Marcos technocrats were negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank on a comprehensive “structural adjustment program” aimed at a total overhaul of the supposedly “protectionist” Philippine economic policy regime.

SAP included the downward restructuring of tariffs, liberalization of the rules on the entry of foreign investments and privatization of a number of government corporations and services. As an economic policy package, SAP was based on the neoliberal theoretical assumption that an allout program of trade and investment liberalization makes the economy more outward-looking, more efficient and more job-creating. In brief, the SAP program was the opposite of the NIEO idea, which sought greater protection to the home industry and agriculture of developing countries and adoption of industrial catch-up programs to gain parity with the West, now popularly referred to by CSOs as the “North.”

Somehow the NIEO idea and commodity nationalism espoused

by the G77 and NAM countries died down in the 1980s-1990s. Instead, neoliberal economic thinking, alternately called as the “Washington Consensus,” became dominant in policy circles. The 1980s-1990s also witnessed the Reagan/Thatcher-led “privatization” counter-revolution against any government involvement in the market. This was followed by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe. These developments were accompanied by the adoption by China, Vietnam and other formerly socialist countries of marketization as their development framework. And in 1994-1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established to promote the freer movement of goods, services and capital across national boundaries of member countries. Global capitalism was triumphant in these decades.

However, not everyone is happy with globalization. Joseph Stiglitz, a former World Bank chief economist and economic adviser of President Bill Clinton, wrote in Globalization and Its Discontents (2002), that some of the neoliberal ideas that guided the IMF, World Bank and the WTO were flawed. Laissez-faire economics was at the roots of the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, the Russian economic collapse (under the IMF’s “shock therapy” treatment), and the widening poverty among the working people because the neoliberal “trickle-down economics” hardly trickles down. Neoliberalism leads to greater concentration of capital and inequality in society. Stiglitz argued that the “profit motive,” guided by the “invisible hand” of the market, does not always lead to “efficient outcomes,” especially if “information is imperfect and markets incomplete,” which is often the case in developing countries.

The reality is that globalization has generated so much discontents across the globe, in both developed and developing countries. Globalization is good for the multinationals

Brexit has the British fleeing to Europe

By Leonid Bershidsky Bloomberg Opinion

F

ive years ago, I emigrated to Germany from Russia, because it had abandoned any pretense of wanting to be a European country.

Now, I’m watching in amazement as Britons—people we Russians have long considered the epitome of Europeanness—are doing the same, in droves, for the same reason.

It’s well known that tens of thousands of United Kingdom citizens have obtained second passports from Ireland as insurance against a postBrexit loss of the European freedom of movement. But that’s only part of the story. Far more British citizens are applying for passports in other European countries than had been doing so before the Brexit referendum; they’re also moving to these countries in numbers not seen in a decade.

The number of Britons acquiring the German nationality, for example, has jumped from hundreds to thousands a year. There are so many of them they no longer get a traditional ceremony when they receive their German passports.

In 2014, five times as many Russians as Britons became naturalized Germans. The situation has reversed today: In 2018, 6,640 UK nationals

Arillo . . .

continued from A6

In recent years, expenses for senatorial posts ran to billions of pesos.

The implication is that when you get elected as senator, the first order of the day is to recoup or recover your expenses and along the way, comes pork barrel of every size, shape and color.

For its part, the CSC, with the new Administrative Code of

obtained German passports, compared with 1,930 Russians. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) international migration database, after Brexit passed, the naturalizations of Britons also went up sharply in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, although the absolute numbers are smaller there than in Germany.

While Britons getting second passports from Ireland mostly aren’t going anywhere, there’s a substantial jump in UK emigration to the rest of the European Union.

While Britons migrated to the continent in similar numbers in the mid2000s, about half of those emigres were moving to Spain, which marketed itself aggressively to retirees (and enjoyed a housing boom as a consequence). Today, the geography of the UK emigration is much more diverse. And, as with naturalizations, continental Europe is receiving significantly more UK nationals than Russians.

Data from the OECD are only available through 2017. But Daniel Auer of the Berlin Social Science Center, who is working on a study of recent UK emigration with coauthor Daniel Tetlow, projects that the number of UK citizens moving to other EU countries increased to

more than 75,500 in 2018, and will go up to almost 84,000 this year. That would be an absolute record.

The numbers are bigger than those reported by the UK Office of National Statistics for the outward migration of UK citizens—according to the ONS, net out-migration in the 12 months ending in March 2019, reached 52,000. But Auer considers OECD data and his extrapolations from national statistics in Germany, Spain and Ireland more accurate than British data, which is based in large part on passenger surveys.

It’s true that Britons face a lot less bureaucracy than Russians when they want to move to EU member states. And, unlike Russians, they are allowed dual citizenship in Germany, while the UK is still an EU member. But I still can’t help my incredulity as I look at the numbers.

Russia is a corrupt country run by an authoritarian ruler who invades neighboring states, and it’s much poorer than the UK. It fits the profile of a country of emigration much better than Britain does.

According to Gallup data from the end of last year, 34 million people worldwide would want to move to the UK, and only 8 million to Russia. And yet, the UK appears to be beating my country of birth at driving people away.

1987 (EO 292), is constitutionally mandated to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and courtesy in the civil service.

Arguably, scams happened because of the breakdown of morale and discipline, and this is largely traceable to criminal negligence.

Briefly, the government accumulated budgets for the past 33 years (1989-2019) is estimated at more than P100 trillion, with over P10 trillion of this going to pork barrel scams.

Looking back, it is not just the previous presidents, the budget secretaries, the senators and the congressmen who have allowed the likes of, for example, Janet LimNapoles to thrive but the constitutional oversight people, as well and as a consequence, finger-pointing and buck-passing became the order of the day, further endangering the State.

So what else is new?

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

The free-trade one-size-fits-all liberalization formula is clearly a narrow antidevelopment formula. The world should cast aside the neoliberal ideology of unregulated markets in favor of a more flexible, balanced and calibrated program of liberalization, and protection in the economy on a sector-bysector basis as needed.

with a “global reach” but is bad for the millions of workers in virtually all countries. The International Trade Union Council criticized globalization because of the Race to the Bottom phenomenon, which results from the efforts of multinationals and big corporations to roll back workers’ rights wherever the MNCs or subsidiaries operate, subvert unionism and evade paying minimum wages, and other labor entitlements. Thus, in 1999, the combined force of the trade unions, farmer associations, civil society organizations, Church groups and governments of some developing countries shut down the WTO Ministerial in Seattle, in what has been hailed as the “Seattle Revolt.”

Subsequent WTO Ministerials in Cancun, Hong Kong, and so on were also shut down despite a rebaptized WTO program called as “Development Round” for developing countries. And the latest ironic development: the President of the WTO’s founding country, the United States, is now openly attacking the WTO and is subverting WTO’s viability by withdrawing support to the WTO’s dispute settlement body.

Clearly, globalization, as envisioned by the neoliberalizers in the 1980s-1990s, has lost its appeal. The neoliberal world economic order is in disarray.

Now back to Unctad 2020. To the trade unions and CSOs consulted by the Unctad representatives, a major proposal raised is for Unctad 2020

Thursday, October 24, 2019 A7

to tackle the needed transformation agenda. The challenge today is how to transform existing globalization by making global trade fair, balanced and inclusive. The free-trade onesize-fits-all liberalization formula is clearly a narrow antidevelopment formula. The world should cast aside the neoliberal ideology of unregulated markets in favor of a more flexible, balanced and calibrated program of liberalization, and protection in the economy on a sector-by-sector basis as needed.

This, in essence, is the meaning of the “special and differential treatment,” a proviso in the WTO repeated nearly a hundred times in the WTO’s own founding document.

SDT means not all countries are created equally and each has the right to pursue and plan development based on one’s level of development. This means trading arrangements should be concluded based on the principle of mutually beneficial exchanges, not an abstract free-trade system or an inflexible zero-for-zero tariff system, which benefits mainly the big and powerful. This also means investment programming and campaign for FDI should be based on a country’s real development needs for technology, market, value addition, etc.

A guiding reform principle should be how to put people at the center of development. This means officially abandoning the neoliberal Friedmanesque framework of economic planning and programming based literally on the abstract notion of free trade, on the so-called free interplay of global market forces unmindful of the impact of such interplay on people’s lives and jobs.

Putting people at the center means there should be policy coherence in terms of economic, social, labor and, yes, environmental policies.

Putting people at the center means there should be policy coherence at the national, regional and global levels. For example, global labor, human and environmental standards

should be enshrined in regional trade agreements like the Asean + 3 (Ten Asean countries plus China, Japan and Korea), or Asean +3 + 3 (including Australia, New Zealand and India). These standards should have enabling national laws and programs in the individual countries.

Putting people at the center means the global and regional financial institutions, such as the World Bank, IMF and ADB should likewise change their lending policies by adopting the above principles as lending guidelines. Lending should be in support of people’s development and capacity building, not lending to squeeze developing countries further through onerous debt obligations and policy conditionalities.

Likewise, there should be bolder and more pro-people reforms in the financial system at the national, regional and global levels. The primary purpose of financial institutions must be to provide responsible and sustainable financial services for society, not to make profits for shareholders. This means bringing back the original purpose of banking as a mediator of financial service in support of productive consumption, production and circulation in the economy. There should be greater transparency in the operations and supervision of financial institutions, which can be achieved at minimal cost if the financial employees and their unions are mobilized for this purpose. One approach is the taxation of short-term selling, as such activity is obviously speculative and subversive of economic stability; on the other hand, society can provide incentives to investments that are truly directed toward job-creating productive activities.

In short, Unctad 2020 should try to look for pro-people solutions in changing the architecture of global trade, finance and development.

There should be a people-centered re-balancing of the economy—at the industry, national, regional and global levels.

God vindicates the humble Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Alálaong Bagá

O

nly in Saint Luke do we find the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector at prayer in the temple (Luke 18:914). We must read it carefully to avoid clichéd and superficial interpretation that may not reflect what the evangelist intended to share with us.

The Pharisee We have made this name synonymous with hypocrisy. This negative connotation of the term originated perhaps from the fact that Jesus did upbraid Pharisees on several occasions. An example is when some Pharisees sneered at Jesus after He taught the parable of the dishonest steward; He told the Pharisees: “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).

Nonetheless not all, not even most, of them can be said to deserve the ill repute that the whole sect had fallen into. Luke himself makes the distinction about Pharisees who were good: One day some Pharisees sought out Jesus to tell Him, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill You” (Luke 13:31). We also read in Acts about the Pharisee Gamaliel, “a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,” who cautioned the Sanhedrin to moderation when the apostles appeared before the body (Acts 5:34-39).

Pharisees were rigorous observers of the law and respectable models of piety admired by the public.

What the Pharisee in our gospel reading says is undeniably true: he abhors sin, fasts twice weekly, and

The Pharisee and the tax collector typify two basic attitudes in relationship with God. One thought himself to be in good standing with God, better than ordinary people. The other confesses himself to be a sinner in the sight of God. The first asks nothing from God, while the second prays for mercy. And the last receives justification from God, while the first not. pays a tenth part of his entire income as tithes. He is no mere showoff. His problem is rather, Luke points out, that he is convinced of his own righteousness and despises everyone else. Symptomatically, he positions himself prominently at the forefront of the temple court where men pray. He is at prayer, yet he is actually turned toward himself and is completely turned on by his own goodness. Is he giving thanks to God or just delighting in himself? His contempt for others is by the way of accentuating his own righteousness.

The tax collector

HE is the type of the sinner. His business is dedicated to injustice and impiety, motivated by greed.

He collects the taxes for the Roman

occupiers, paying them a fixed sum and squeezing in turn from the people his high profits. Very unpopular with the public who despised these tax collectors for having prostituted themselves to the gentiles, the man in the parable nevertheless finds time to pray to God. He honestly recognizes that he is a sinner. He naturally hang back, and he dares not even raise his eyes to heaven. He beats his breast as he begs, “Oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He experiences the total poverty of a sinner; he can only await the forgiveness of a compassionate God. Instead of trying to stand tall before God, he humbly and penitently looks into his conscience and faces the truth of his utter dependence on divine mercy.

Alálaong bagá, the Pharisee and the tax collector, a study in contrast, typify two basic attitudes in relationship with God. One thought himself to be in good standing with God, better than ordinary people.

The other confesses himself to be a sinner in the sight of God. The first asks nothing from God, while the second prays for mercy. And the last receives justification from God, while the first not. God wants the Pharisee to see himself after all he has accomplished that he is nothing but “a useless servant” (Luke 17:10), just as the tax collector sees himself as a sinner in need of forgiveness.

The truth is we are all sinners who must pray from the depths of our hearts, “Oh God, be merciful to me!” We do this at the beginning of every celebration of the Eucharist. God heeds the prayer of the truthful and lowly sinner, and gives him forgiveness and salvation. For justification is His gift, and not a product of human accomplishment.

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.

A8 Thursday, October 24, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

23 groups to get farm gear from PhilMech under RCEF

M

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

ALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said it has initially chosen 23 groups to receive modern farm implements that were bankrolled by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Carlene C. Collado, officer in charge of Department of Agriculture-Region 10, made the announcement during the 26th Farmers’ Field Day and Technology Forum in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Of the initial batch of beneficiaries, Collado said 10 came from the

province of Bukidnon.

Bukidnon is regarded as Davao region’s food basket due to the large tracts of farm lands in the province.

Among the farm implements distributed by the government to the beneficiaries were hand tractors,

tillers, rice seeders, transplanters, irrigation pumps, mechanical dryers and rice mills.

He said these farm implements could be used not only for rice cultivation but also for planting other crops.

Collado said he is hopeful that more farmer-cooperatives from Bukidnon will qualify for RCEFfinanced program of PhilMech, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

“For local [farmers’] associations, which are interested [to avail themselves of RCEF], you may consult the PhilMech later for the policies and the IRR [implementing rules and regulation] of the program,” he said.

The creation of RCEF was mandated by Republic Act 11203, or

the rice trade liberalization law, which removed the quantitative restriction on imports and converted these into tariffs.

Under the law, the P10-billion RCEF will come from tariffs collected from rice importers. Half of the RCEF will go to PhilMech for its farm mechanization program.

RA 11203, which took effect on March 5, limited the government’s intervention in the local rice market as it disallowed the National Food Authority from selling lowerpriced rice.

The law also made it easier for traders to import rice as they only needed to secure sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry if they want to purchase it from abroad.

Dry palay farm-gate price dips to new 8-yr low

T

HE avera ge f a r m- gate price of dry palay fell to a fresh eight-year low in the first week of October just as the country enters the main harvest season for the crop, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

Preliminary figures released

by the PSA on Wednesday showed that average farm-gate prices of dry palay declined by 28.82 percent to P15.56 per kilogram from P21.86 per kilogram last year.

Likewise, it fell by 1.64 percent from end-September’s average quotation of P15.82 per kilogram.

The latest average farm-gate

NORTHEASTERLY SURFACE WINDFLOW PREVAILING OVER LUZON as of 4:00 pm - October 23, 2019

price of dry palay is now the lowest since the P15.48 per kilogram recorded in the second week of November 2011.

The farm-gate price of palay is expected to further slide in the coming weeks as rice harvest peaks, coupled with the unhindered influx of imported staple in the domestic

market.

From October 2 to 8, the PSA recorded the lowest average farmgate price of palay in ARMM at P12.50 per kilogram, while the highest prevailing quotation was observed in Central Visayas at P19.10 per kilogram.

See “Dry palay,” A2

Banks cool to BSP’s 28-day TDF

By Bianca Cuaresma

B

@BcuaresmaBM

ANKS showed less interest in the 28-day term deposit facility (TDF) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as bids declined during Wednesday’s auction following weeks of oversubscription.

Before the auction on Wednesday, bids for the BSP’s offering were oversubscribed as the excess liquidity from the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts had stimulated the appetite of banks for the facility.

For 28-day term deposits, the total tenders hit P37.686 billion on Wednesday, falling into the undersubscription territory as the volume offered was P40 billion during the week. This week’s overall tenders was P2.119 billion lower than last week’s P35.52 billion.

However, bids for the seven-day term deposits were still oversubscribed by about P12.5 billion as the total tenders hit P32.563 billion during the week. The volume offered was P20 billion. This was, however, P6.622 billion lower compared to the P39.185 billion tenders in the previous week.

The same is true for the 14-day term deposits, as the medium-term offering remain oversubscribed during the week with total tenders hitting P30.34 billion. The volume offered was P30 billion for the week. The figure is lower than the P35.52 billion in bids recorded in the previous week.

Earlier, BSP Sector-In-Charge Illuminada Sicat attributed the banks’ preference for the BSP’s deposit facilities to the implementation of the reduction in reserve requirements on November 1.

Sicat said the increase in available liquidity in the financial system owing to higher disbursements by the national government is also influencing sustained bids.

The TDF is one of the BSP’s liquidity absorption facilities to manage circulation in the economy.

As banks bid to park funds in the BSP’s facility, the TDF effectively siphons off a part of this structural liquidity from the financial system to bring market rates closer to the BSP’s main policy rate.

SENATORS HONOR NENE PIMENTEL’S LIFE WORK

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, joined by wife Helen Gamboa, leads his peers in handing over Senate Resolution 168 to his family, led by his widow Lourdes “Nanay Bing” Pimentel, and son Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The resolution honored the late former Senate leader and constitutionalist, and expressed deep sympathy to his family. ROY DOMINGO

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

W

ITH his widow’s newly composed song playing in the background as his casket was escorted into the session hall, former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel Jr. returned Wednesday morning to the place where he had worked for 18 years. Past and present senators held necrological services hailing a democracy icon whose political career of over five decades straddled both dissenting and setting up the building blocks for a progressive, equitable nation.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III led seven other senators in recalling the best of Pimentel’s life and work, citing among others Pimentel’s legislative legacy as father of the 1991 Local Government Code and the enactment of the Organic Act creating the

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Pimentel, 85, died last Sunday (October 20) due to pneumonia and lymphoma complications. A statement sent to Senate media said his remains will be flown to his hometown in Cagayan de Oro after Wednesday’s Senate necrological rites but will be brought back to Manila by Friday.

In simple rites, Senate President Sotto III presented to the Pimentel family a Resolution expressing the Senate’s “profound sympathy and sincere condolences” that was coauthored by all senators. Senate Resolution 168 was received by his son and namesake, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on behalf of his mother, Lourdes or “Nanay Bing,” and sisters—Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn PimentelGana, Ma. Petrina, Teresa and Lorraine—and brother Aquilino IV. Continued on A2

House panel Oks bid to allow rice subsidies to be used to buy palay

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

T

@joveemarie

HE House Committee on Agriculture and Food on Wednesday approved a substitute joint resolution urging Congress to authorize the use of the rice subsidies of government agencies for the procurement of palay from Filipino farmers.

Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, the panel chairman, said the unnumbered joint resolution will be transmitted to the plenary when session resumes on November 4.

Enverga also said his committee will ask President Duterte to certify the joint resolution as urgent for its smooth approval.

The unnumbered joint resolution substituted House Joint Resolution 16 and House Resolution 322 filed

by Deputy Speaker for Finance Luis Raymund Villafuerte, and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Tingog Sinarangan Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, respectively.

The joint resolution urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to directly buy back palay of the local farmers for the Rice Subsidy Program instead of cash.

The resolution said the NFA had reported having 209,525.15 metric tons of imported rice in custody as of August 22, 2019. It procured

locally 5,864,007 bags of palay at 50 kilos per bag or 293,200.35 MT. Currently, the resolution said the warehouse of NFA is already full, noting that the problem of oversupply is expected to worsen from September to October, the peak palay harvest season.

Under the 2019 budget, the total allocation for rice subsidies amounts to P33.9 billion for rice subsidies.

For his part, Romualdez, author of the resolution, said bulk of the subsidy is given to the beneficiaries of the DSWD’s 4Ps. He said the 4Ps grants the beneficiaries rice subsidy in the form of financial assistance of P600 per month, equivalent to 20 kilos of rice. Earlier, the DSWD said P6.97 billion remained undisbursed under the rice subsidy program.

Moreover, Romualdez also pointed to P 2.89-billion rice subsidy programs for military uniformed personnel, such as the provision of 20 kilos of rice per month, in the form of financial assistance, to the uniformed personnel of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In February 2019, Republic Act 11203 entitled, “An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice, and for Other Purposes” was enacted to help support the local rice industry specifically by creating a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

See “Rice subsidies,” A2

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 24, 2019

B1

PLDT sees boost to international data capacity when undersea cable system ‘Jupiter’ is done

D

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

IGITAL services provider PLDT Inc. will effectively increase its international data capacity by the third quarter of 2020, when its latest undersea fiber-optic cable system called Jupiter is set to be completed.

Alfred S. Panlilio, who sits as the chief revenue officer of PLDT, said the company has “finalized

the technical and management agreements” with its consortium partners for Jupiter, a fiber link to

the United States and Japan that will cost the company a whopping P7 billion.

“This project will enable us to further improve the capacity and resilience of the country’s international connectivity and, thus, continue to deliver unparalleled world-class Internet service to our customers,” he said. Jupiter spans 14,000 kilometers from its Philippine landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte, eastward to Japan and westward to the US. It will add 22Tbps of capacity for the eastern segment, and another 17.6Tbps for its western section.

“This investment is of strategic importance given that a significant amount of content are downloaded by data users from servers abroad, particularly from the United States and Japan,” Panlilio said.

Jupiter uses an “open cable model,” which allows consortium members to increase their capacities by investing in terminal technologies that boost data throughput, depending on the demand from the consumer side.

“This new model in constructing international cable systems will allow us to be more agile and responsive to the needs of our customers,”

Nestlé to buy more beans from local farmers

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

N

ESTLé Philippines Inc. is poised to buy more of its coffee beans from local farmers as it rolls out its new buying scheme next month.

On Wednesday, Nestlé Assistant Manager Benedict A. Ella announced at the 26th Farmers’ Field Days and Technology Forum in Malaybalay, Bukidnon that they will be implementing their Robusta 2 buying scheme in November to get more local coffee beans for their popular international coffee brand Nescafe.

“With this new model we could expect to increase the volume of coffee beans that we buy from local farmers by 15 percent,” Ella told BusinessMirror in an ambush interview.

Relaxed standards

Under the buying scheme, Nestlé raised the moisture threshold of the coffee beans it buys from

Cityland gets SEC’s green light to sell ₧1.4-B debt

P

ROPERTY developer Cityland Development Cor p.

(CDC) on Wednesday said it secured the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the selling of its P1.4 billion worth of commercial papers.

In its disclosure, the company said it secured the order during the SEC’s meeting on October 22.

The company filed its registration papers for the debt sale in August.

Proceeds will be used to finance the funding requirements of the company, it said.

The company reported a 41-percent growth in its net income for the first half of the year to P385.18 million, from last year’s P272.69 million.

Consolidated revenues grew 22 percent to amount to P1.25 billion from last year’s P1.02 billion.

Sales rose 17 percent as of end June to P852.24 million from P727.42 million last year, attributed to higher sales and percentage of completion of several projects.

As of June 30, CDC contributed 70 percent of the total revenue on sales of real-estate properties.

Pines Peak Tower II was completed in May 2019 and contributed significantly to the group’s total sales reaching P337.02 million. VG Cabuag

12 percent to 12.5 percent or 13 percent.

“This will allow coffee farmers.... to dry their coffee beans at a shorter time before they could sell it to us. This means lower cost and more profits for them,” Ella said in his presentation.

Nestlé also opted to relax its restrictions on the coffee beans it buys.

“Before, we had 10 factors that we look for in a coffee bean before we decide to buy it. Now there are only two: there should be no presence of foreign matter and black beans in the beans that will be sold to us,” Ella said.

Ella, however, admitted the new buying scheme will still not allow them to completely eliminate their need to import coffee beans.

Supply aspect

Nestlé Corporate Affairs Executive Ma. Angela B. Wassmer said they currently still import 75 percent of their coffee bean requirements from Vietnam and Indone-

sia. Only 25 percent comes from local farmers.

Wassmer said they are now trying to address this through their Project Coffee + project, where they provide quality coffee plants, training on agronomic practices such as grafting, pruning, rejuvation, and organic and inorganic fertilization.

The project, to run from 2018 to 2020, covers 1,500 coffee farmers from Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon with the goal of raising their average coffee bean harvest to one metric ton per hectare.

Currently, the average yield for both provinces is only around 235 kilos.

Slow but surely

Wassmer said most of their participants still have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to achieving the one metric ton target.

She said only a few have so far doubled their yield to 477 kilos. Still even fewer are those who were able to go beyond the said target.

Among these exceptional coffee farmers is Benrose “Ben” Subasco of Barangay Masiag, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, who managed to register a 2.7-metric ton yield in a single harvest season. The feat made Subasco one of Nestlé’s few coffee ambassadors.

Nestlé East Sultan Kudarat area agronomist Arturo Aquino said they expected no harvest surge from their beneficiaries since it usually takes time before coffee plants manifest the effects from better farming practice.

“That is why it [Project Coffee +] demands perseverance and consistency before it shows any improvements on the yield from the farmers,” Aquino said.

Aquino, however, said they are hopeful that with the both Robusta 2 and Project Coffee +, they were able to lay down the ground work to increase the amount of their locally purchased coffee beans so it will make up at least of their 50 percent of their overall demands.

Petron subsidiary posts double-digit H1 hikes in sales volume, net income

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ETRON Freeport Corp. (PFC), a subsidiary of Petron Corp., reported double-digit sales and profit growth for the first six months of the year.

For the first half of 2019, the company registered a 14-percent increase in sales volume of 10.5 million liters while net income grew 20 percent to P48.7 million.

PFC’s performance shows that in an environment where the playing field is leveled, oil companies, or any business for that matter, can thrive.

PFC operates service stations inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone where

locators are exempt from national and local taxes, including excise taxes. Fuel intended for free-port zones are tax-free.

“It is worth noting that while PFC’s Subic stations continue to grow, domestic volume for the rest of parent Petron has been declining,” it said.

Subic Freeport allows locators to engage in healthy competition where players offer prices at almost the same level.

However, outside the free-port zone, various reports would show significantly large retail price disparities of as much as P10 to

P15 per liter on average, a clear indication that smuggled oil continues to flow in various parts of the country.

Petron said it will continue to push for a level playing field in the industry where illicit trade, which deprives government of muchneeded tax collection and consumers of quality fuel products, is not allowed to thrive.

The oil company added that its operations in Subic show that deregulation and competition will only truly work if rules on taxation and even product standards are fairly applied to all. Lenie Lectura

PPA deploying 80 new port officers ahead of ‘Undas’

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HE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will deploy 80 new port police officers to different terminals in the country ahead of the commemoration of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the agency’s chief said on Wednesday.

Jay Daniel R. Santiago, who leads the port regulator, said his group is tapping neophyte port police officers to augment the security force in 115 PPA-operated ports across the Philippines.

“Ports serve as our gateways to progress, both internationally and locally, and it is a must that these ports function normally and efficiently in order not to disrupt the delivery of service to our people,” he said.

Santiago noted that the deployment of additional port police officers is part of the agency’s initiative against the “continuous threat of terrorism.”

The PPA keeps its security

strategies on a par with global standards by implementing techniques from the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It is also currently aligning its security processes with international safety and security protocols, including the International Ships and Port Facility Security Code.

“We will never compromise the safety and security of our ports,” Santiago said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

PLDT Vice President for International Submarine Cable Networks Genero C. Sanchez explained.

Consortium members for Jupiter include Amazon, Facebook, SoftBank, PCCW Global and NTT Communications.

“Jupiter not only provides increased capacity going to businessrelevant markets, it, likewise, adds strategic diversity options out of multiple international cable system routes and cable landing stations which businesses can choose from,” Juan Victor I. Hernandez, who heads the company’s enterprise business, noted.

Aside from Jupiter, PLDT also studies two new international cable systems to further increase its capacity through 2023. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the two systems will link the Philippines easterly from Davao and Baler to Singapore and Japan via Indonesia, and westerly from Batangas to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Including Jupiter, PLDT currently has a network of 17 international cable systems, some of which will be retired in the next few years, as they have already maxed out their capacities.

SoftBank unveils $9.5-billion WeWork rescue, gets 80% stake

W

eWork has secured a $9.5 billion rescue package from SoftBank Group Corp., a deal that hands 80 percent of the company to the Japanese conglomerate while capping one of the more dramatic business debacles in recent memory.

The transaction announced in Tokyo on Wednesday marks the end of an era for the troubled coworking giant, which raised money at a $47-billion valuation in January, pulled out of a botched initial public offering (IPO) attempt last month and is now valued at less than $8 billion in the bailout.

WeWork’s arc—from one of the world’s most valuable start-ups to surrendering much of the company in an emergency bailout—has captivated Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

Founder Adam Neumann will now leave the company’s board as part of the package, to be replaced by SoftBank executive and newly appointed Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure.

Neumann is set to walk away from the deal with as much as $1.2 billion in WeWork stock, a $500-million credit line from SoftBank and a roughly $185-million consulting fee, people familiar with the matter have said.

The deal with SoftBank, which includes $5 billion in new financing and an acceleration of a $1.5 billion existing commitment, grants a reprieve to WeWork parent, We Co., which was on track to run out of money as soon as next month. The company has been racing to slash costs since it pulled its IPO in September, and is expected to fire thousands of employees this month.

“This is exactly the reason why people are suspicious about actual valuations of unicorn companies,” said Mitsushige Akino, an executive officer with Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. “There will be a lot of SoftBank investors that will think it’s crazy to invest this much money into one company.”

The capital infusion doesn’t give SoftBank a majority of voting rights and WeWork will be treated as an associate, not a subsidiary. That might allow SoftBank to wield influence at WeWork without having to show all of its liabilities on the balance sheet.

SoftBank’s shares fell 2.5 percent in Tokyo on Wednesday, their biggest drop in three weeks, but off earlier lows. As part of the deal with SoftBank, the company will offer to buy as much as $3 billion from existing shareholders, from the fourth quarter. Neumann will be allowed to sell nearly $1 billion of stock to SoftBank, a person familiar with the matter has said. The deal will enable him to retain his billionaire status, according to calculations by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

That rich exit package has incensed a work force facing job cuts.

The SoftBank rescue was one of two options the WeWork board was considering to keep the company afloat. The other alternative was a $5-billion debt package presented

by JPMorgan Chase and Co., which people familiar with the proposal said would have been one been of the riskiest junk-debt offerings in recent years, including $2 billion of pay-inkind bonds yielding 15 percent.

As recently as last month, the company appeared to be headed to the public markets. But investors balked at the company’s unusual governance structure and rapid rate of spending. According to its IPO paperwork, WeWork lost $900 million in the first half of this year alone. It’s on the hook for some $47 billion in future rent payments, thanks to its model of raising money to rent office space that it renovates and then leases to companies. That’s fueled a high cash burn rate that’s spooking investors. The chilly public market reception prompted the company to oust Neumann as CEO last month and pull its IPO, while it tried to find a way to profitability. But making money may prove difficult. The company considers only 30 percent of its office space to be “mature,” which typically means generating steady revenue. It could face costs that approach $1 billion to renovate new space it has already secured. Some leases and projects, including one plan for a 36-story lease in a Seattle tower, have been scuttled as the company has floundered.

The SoftBank deal paves the way for the Japanese conglomerate to take a larger role at the troubled startup. SoftBank asked Claure, the former CEO of Sprint Corp., last month to look for ways to cut costs and raise revenue at WeWork. After Neumann’s ouster, WeWork Executives Sebastian Gunningham and Artie Minson were appointed as co-CEOs, with a similar mandate to refocus on the core business.

SoftBank had already committed more than $10 billion to the startup before the rescue package. Its latest effort to shore up its troubled investment comes at a delicate time: SoftBank is currently working to raise another, larger version of its $100-billion Vision Fund, the massive tech fund that made bets in Silicon Valley so large that it changed the start-up ecosystem. SoftBank was also an investor in Uber Technologies Inc., which is down by more than a quarter since its May IPO. SoftBank’s losses from its recent investments could run into the billions of dollars.

Founder Masayoshi Son is likely to address the subject when the company reports quarterly earnings on November 6. Bloomberg News

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 24, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

October 23, 2019

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

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

404730 163088475 182114518.5 2803555 6216946 116569759.5 332800 2513660 263817.5 1310 642665 74352649 9468.5 18330 17630 5572 432430 80640 114750 910 17745 27800 93740

-34368009 99951135.5 -1088110 628172 -27873507 -811010 -88540 -305535 1971583 -12425 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.83 2.84 2.78 2.85 2.7 2.83 23615000 66078170 1.3 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.29 1.32 169000 221580 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 39.2 39.25 38.8 39.3 38.6 39.2 568600 22225415 0.265 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.265 0.27 2960000 798100 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 24.7 24.8 24.8 24.9 24.6 24.7 566300 13993535 FIRST PHIL HLDG 79 79.15 79 79.45 78.9 79 145350 11,483,840.5( 363.4 364 364 364.8 362.8 364 101210 36805874 MERALCO MANILA WATER 19.94 20.05 20 20.2 19.94 20.05 1376200 27530023 5.04 5.05 5.1 5.1 5.04 5.05 583500 2947755 PETRON PHX PETROLEUM 10.84 11 10.86 11 10.86 11 46100 503974 PILIPINAS SHELL 33.55 33.6 33.45 33.85 33.3 33.55 114900 3861140 7.31 7.37 7.35 7.38 7.31 7.31 10400 76546 SPC POWER AGRINURTURE 15.12 15.38 15.7 15.78 15.14 15.38 571700 8778908 4.33 4.34 4.38 4.39 4.33 4.34 2569000 11166970 AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA 17.62 17.8 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1 100 1810 CENTURY FOOD 15.38 15.4 15.5 15.52 15.32 15.38 374700 5766998 5.53 5.66 5.54 5.67 5.53 5.66 10300 57387 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.74 8.86 8.75 8.87 8.65 8.86 2945400 25886569 7 7.01 7 7 6.99 7 579000 4052896 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 91.6 93 91.5 93 91.5 93 55600 5123220 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.68 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.67 0.69 446000 304880 48.5 48.9 48.5 48.5 48.45 48.5 69900 3390110 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 225.2 225.8 227 227 223.6 225.2 346370 77996450 47.05 54 55 59 50 54 1710 88300 LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG 9.8 10 10.08 10.08 9.8 10 12400 122196 MAXS GROUP 13.2 13.3 13.38 13.38 13.18 13.3 85000 1122264 0.187 0.192 0.192 0.192 0.192 0.192 70000 13440 MG HLDG PEPSI COLA 1.75 1.77 1.77 1.78 1.73 1.75 2627000 4612570 11.16 11.18 11.3 11.5 11.16 11.18 95100 1068788 SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO 1.92 1.93 1.95 1.98 1.92 1.92 1304000 2522720 RFM CORP 5.12 5.14 5.14 5.14 5.12 5.14 8100 41494 157 157.2 159.1 159.1 156.9 157.2 939770 148059825 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 1.27 1.28 1.25 1.28 1.24 1.28 2096000 2654890 2.42 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 1000 2500 VICTORIAS CONCRETE A 67 70 70 70 70 70 20 1400 CONCRETE B 74 76.7 76.9 76.9 72.15 76.7 136040 10216580 2.62 2.65 2.64 2.65 2.62 2.65 791000 2081490 CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.8 5.99 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 2000 11600 15.3 15.34 15.5 15.5 15.2 15.3 8500 129900 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 10.34 10.38 10.4 10.4 10.3 10.38 284300 2940952 HOLCIM 14.78 14.84 14.8 14.84 14.78 14.84 244100 3620666 17.32 17.66 17.24 17.68 17.24 17.66 660800 11,579,660( MEGAWIDE PHINMA 9.2 9.5 9.4 9.5 9.22 9.5 22900 214642 1.1 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.1 1.13 97000 108340 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 1.15 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.14 1.16 1090000 1254460 CROWN ASIA 2.05 2.11 2.05 2.11 2.05 2.11 101000 211460 5.15 5.19 5.16 5.16 5.15 5.15 3600 18560 LMG CHEMICALS PRYCE CORP 5.38 5.41 5.4 5.41 5.38 5.41 54200 291888 30.6 31 31.6 31.6 30.6 30.6 1800 56040 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 2.46 2.5 2.52 2.53 2.45 2.5 14147000 35430590 INTEGRATED MICR 8.06 8.07 8.07 8.14 8.05 8.06 82500 665274 1.49 1.5 1.49 1.52 1.46 1.51 93000 137130 IONICS PANASONIC 5.11 5.43 5.12 5.43 5.12 5.43 2300 11869 1 1.02 1 1 1 1 40000 40000 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 8.59 8.6 8.7 8.7 8.59 8.6 179800 1551411

-11122890 -38280 9844700.0002 -5868690 5,538,629.5003) -1577508 -2041159 -65087.0001 659045.0003 -22140 272682 108990 -2755126 12184211.9999 -700000 -24020.5 3268900 -21262174 847772 323570 -840780 -24172572 223530 -527620 81050 -258454 8,091,467.9996) -33450 -91460 -46860 -393920 84656 -646579

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

54.05 146.8 96.95 24.9 12.16 71.5 12.8 44.5 58.2 117 26.1 199 59.15 1.13 1.93 18.52 4.77 1.26 760 0.9 177.3 1850 1.09

0.91 12.56 865 54.5 11.7 3.68 0.69 1.13 1.14 6.6 8.86 13.06 867 5.63 73.85 0.48 4.3 13.52 0.58 4.89 0.038 1.46 2.81 403 1008 164.4 218.6 0.22 0.225

57 146.9 97.15 24.95 12.2 71.6 12.98 44.7 58.25 131 26.15 200 59.95 1.16 2.04 18.6 4.87 1.27 765 0.91 177.5 1865 1.14

0.92 12.8 865.5 54.85 11.72 3.69 0.71 1.14 1.19 6.65 8.89 13.38 869.5 5.65 73.95 0.5 4.35 13.54 0.6 4.9 0.039 1.47 3 434.8 1014 165 220 0.225 0.237

57.3 147.5 97.6 25 12.2 71.9 12.8 45.45 58.3 131 26.15 200.6 59.15 1.16 1.89 18.6 4.7 1.26 765 0.91 177.5 1850 1.09

0.92 12.84 869 54.85 11.98 3.65 0.7 1.13 1.16 6.63 8.98 13.38 880 5.63 73.5 0.49 4.31 13.6 0.61 4.99 0.039 1.46 2.95 403.2 1005 166 219.8 0.22 0.228

57.3 147.5 97.6 25 12.22 71.95 12.8 45.8 58.3 131 26.8 200.6 59.2 1.16 2.04 18.6 4.87 1.26 765 0.91 177.5 1860 1.09

0.92 12.86 869 54.85 12.06 3.7 0.71 1.14 1.16 6.66 8.99 13.38 880 5.65 73.95 0.5 4.31 13.78 0.61 5.02 0.039 1.5 2.98 403.2 1014 166.1 220 0.225 0.228

57 145 95.95 24.9 12.14 71.05 12.8 44.5 58.15 131 26.05 198.3 59.15 1.1 1.89 18.52 4.7 1.26 765 0.91 177 1850 1.09

0.9 12.5 862.5 54.35 11.7 3.62 0.69 1.12 1.16 6.55 8.86 13.38 863 5.63 72.35 0.48 4.3 13.52 0.59 4.81 0.039 1.44 2.95 403 1002 164.4 219 0.22 0.228

57 146.8 97 24.95 12.2 71.6 12.8 44.5 58.25 131 26.1 200 59.2 1.11 2.04 18.52 4.87 1.26 765 0.91 177.5 1860 1.09

0.91 12.78 865.5 54.85 11.7 3.69 0.71 1.14 1.16 6.65 8.89 13.38 869.5 5.65 73.95 0.5 4.3 13.54 0.6 4.9 0.039 1.47 2.95 403 1014 164.4 220 0.22 0.228

7100 1113330 1877060 112300 510300 1632040 26000 55900 4530 10 24600 372450 160 16000 9000 300 90000 64000 150 1000 100 15 86000

4276000 235000 147330 708270 4028700 502000 232000 537000 100000 993100 3990400 23400 57600 232500 1200730 226000 66000 601700 44000 22703000 3900000 373000 18000 290 600915 88720 2820 270000 500000

3894100 2939038 127541995 38771327.5 47604876 1840150 160950 605910 116000 6567674 35563926 313092 50070265 1309435 88491100.5 109820 284370 8171310 26010 111759190 152100 548700 53340 116874 602862670 14663136 619600 59450 114000

-659640 -45218330 22994198 -202724 76580 2671398 5525237 -12042 -24571590 -1284100 28532071.5 -55940 2702126 -36010270 505395280 -6912723 4388 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.86 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.86 0.88 878000 765030 -22730 9.43 10.18 9.3 10.18 9.3 10.18 3900 36358 ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND 48.9 49 48.65 49 48.65 49 4139400 202563190 44241855 1.79 1.8 1.75 1.8 1.75 1.8 47000 84300 ARANETA PROP BELLE CORP 2 2.02 2.02 2.03 2 2 454000 912140 -549630 A BROWN 0.82 0.84 0.81 0.84 0.81 0.84 237000 197070 0.85 0.87 0.86 0.87 0.85 0.85 138000 119920 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.202 0.203 0.204 0.204 0.203 0.203 220000 44680 4.53 4.54 4.58 4.58 4.53 4.54 92000 417310 -122580 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.57 0.58 25706000 15021850 219819.9998 CYBER BAY 0.465 0.475 0.455 0.47 0.455 0.47 2330000 1087600 20.55 20.8 20.9 20.9 20.55 20.8 47600 984515 336770 DOUBLEDRAGON DM WENCESLAO 9.95 9.97 9.81 9.98 9.81 9.95 145200 1444029 964609 0.435 0.44 0.445 0.445 0.43 0.435 1870000 812100 -751000 EMPIRE EAST 1.6 1.61 1.6 1.61 1.59 1.6 5209000 8346540 -6147140 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 1.2 1.21 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 252000 302400 14.8 14.82 14.9 14.9 14.8 14.82 284300 4210564 -274546 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.41 1.43 805000 1141410 4.46 4.68 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 2000 9000 KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD 4.87 4.88 4.88 4.88 4.8 4.87 17525000 84963910 15598930 MRC ALLIED 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.295 0.3 4150000 1237550 -3000 0.41 0.44 0.41 0.41 0.4 0.4 50000 20400 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 2.04 2.06 2.14 2.15 2.02 2.06 991000 2051610 25.55 25.7 25.55 25.7 25.5 25.7 788000 20208235 9337660 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.37 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 10000 3800 ROCKWELL 2.3 2.31 2.3 2.32 2.27 2.3 153000 351100 3.21 3.29 3.26 3.32 3.26 3.3 58000 189890 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.69 2.65 2.68 266000 709000 13400 38.5 38.75 38.3 38.75 38.05 38.75 4032000 155547075 43988570 SM PRIME HLDG 5.56 5.68 5.74 5.74 5.56 5.68 90000 507867 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.94 0.91 0.91 816768000 743260590 712622500 7.66 7.68 7.72 7.73 7.66 7.68 3227000 24786804 -12418948 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 18.8 18.9 18.9 19 18.8 18.9 58200 1098432 5.17 5.22 5.25 5.27 5.16 5.22 303800 1586763 GMA NETWORK MLA BRDCASTING 12.52 15 12.54 12.54 12.52 12.52 1300 16282 1900 1920 1880 1920 1880 1920 48935 93320170 33898115 GLOBE TELECOM PLDT 1111 1112 1120 1124 1112 1112 68550 76495890 -8390030 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.041 0.043 0.042 0.043 0.042 0.043 1500000 63500 0.109 0.112 0.109 0.109 0.109 0.109 90000 9810 ISLAND INFO ISM COMM 4.88 4.89 4.85 4.9 4.84 4.89 1922000 9368910 58260 2.49 2.5 2.58 2.65 2.49 2.5 58000 146920 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 3.34 3.35 3.09 3.35 3.09 3.35 13613000 44378900 418980 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.33 0.335 0.33 0.335 0.325 0.335 10710000 3525350 -325000 3.03 3.05 3.06 3.1 3.03 3.05 354000 1080490 -176650 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 10.4 10.6 10.68 10.68 10.34 10.5 7500 78568 6.83 6.84 6.82 6.9 6.8 6.83 348100 2373002 -117933 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 94.25 94.8 94.3 95.65 93.5 94.8 191370 18018649 -6312597 INTL CONTAINER 122.7 123 123 123.7 121.1 123 1318130 162067121 85241402 13.52 15.34 13.52 13.52 13.52 13.52 200 2704 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.9 0.93 0.91 0.91 0.9 0.9 146000 131490 18.66 18.68 18.74 18.76 18.68 18.68 76000 1424172 -692244 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.1 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.14 21000 23940 PAL HLDG 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.1 8.1 2300 18850 1.62 1.63 1.64 1.65 1.58 1.62 313000 500590 48000 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.54 1.58 1.55 1.55 1.55 1.55 7000 10850 10.02 11 11.26 11.26 11.26 11.26 100 1126 GRAND PLAZA WATERFRONT 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.69 0.66 0.68 486000 326820 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.91 7 7 7 7 7 600 4200 901.5 920 920 920 920 920 20 18400 FAR EASTERN U IPEOPLE 7.9 8 7.88 8 7.88 7.9 19000 150180 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.68 0.68 4004000 2722720 -2628200 STI HLDG 2.39 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.39 2.39 51000 121900 -119500 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 10.26 10.3 10.4 10.4 10.24 10.26 676500 6953648 -4855060 2.99 3.04 3.02 3.02 2.99 3 505000 1514920 6000 LEISURE AND RES MANILA JOCKEY 3.32 3.42 3.4 3.42 3.29 3.42 85000 286800 4.87 5.14 5.14 5.14 5.14 5.14 5000 25700 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.69 100000 68150 ALLHOME 11.54 11.56 11.56 11.56 11.52 11.56 5819300 67191816 -25036648 2.4 2.41 2.4 2.41 2.39 2.41 120000 287960 -2370 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 40.3 40.8 41.2 41.2 40.3 40.3 116600 4729820 -2541250 75.7 76 77 77 75.6 76 826150 62734159 -8681314 ROBINSONS RTL 139 144 139 139 139 139 70 9730 9730 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 2.55 2.57 2.67 2.67 2.54 2.57 2058000 5319740 -403840.0001 16.4 16.42 16.4 16.42 16.32 16.4 1007800 16521022 1240888.0004 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.53 0.54 0.57 0.57 0.54 0.54 20595000 11227900 -2647990 9.64 9.69 9.2 9.71 9.2 9.69 269400 2555006 EASYCALL GOLDEN BRIA 430.2 439.6 430.2 430.2 430.2 430.2 50 21510 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.51 0.53 0.54 0.54 0.51 0.51 13182000 6923060 162180 8.63 9.23 8.67 9.23 8.6 9.23 29700 261605 SBS PHIL CORP

MINING & OIL ATOK 11.72 12.26 12.26 12.26 12 12.26 1300 15652 1.13 1.14 1.13 1.14 1.12 1.14 192000 216910 -1130 APEX MINING ABRA MINING 0.0016 0.0017 0.0016 0.0017 0.0016 0.0017 9000000 15200 2.51 2.55 2.51 2.51 2.51 2.51 10000 25100 ATLAS MINING CENTURY PEAK 2.6 2.62 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 310000 806000 DIZON MINES 7.46 7.8 7.42 7.81 7.41 7.81 2300 17522 1.68 1.69 1.67 1.69 1.66 1.69 2777000 4685990 596710 FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE 0.203 0.209 0.202 0.209 0.202 0.209 180000 36930 0.106 0.108 0.108 0.108 0.107 0.108 1270000 136440 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.108 0.11 0.109 0.11 0.108 0.11 180000 19470 MANILA MINING A 0.0092 0.0096 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 2000000 18600 0.0087 0.01 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 6000000 55800 -55800 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.13 1.15 1.13 1.15 1.13 1.15 18000 20360 1.03 1.06 1.04 1.07 1.03 1.06 221000 227860 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 3.89 3.9 3.92 3.96 3.82 3.9 4056000 15791650 -1710570 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.85 0.86 0.84 0.86 0.84 0.86 4000 3380 3.6 3.64 3.64 3.68 3.6 3.6 229000 828900 36070 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 23.3 23.5 23.15 23.5 23 23.5 3143700 72729880 20033420 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 7500000 82500 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1500000 16500 PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 30000000 330000 10.76 10.84 10.6 11.02 10.32 10.76 1175500 12637988 873156 PHINMA PETRO PXP ENERGY 12.3 12.32 12.14 12.34 12.14 12.3 162700 1995542 -190846

PREFFERED

AC PREF B1 498 500 500 500 500 500 2000 1000000 100.3 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.3 100.3 12240 1228742 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 990 996 993 993 990 990 1000 991150 970 991 970 970 970 970 590 572300 GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B 970 971 970 971 970 971 550 534000 LR PREF 0.99 1 1 1 1 1 3000 3000 100.9 101 101 101 101 101 1080 109080 MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B 106.9 108 108 108 108 108 120 12960 1050 1055 1055 1055 1055 1055 15 15825 PCOR PREF 3B SMC PREF 2C 78 78.3 77.95 78.05 77.9 78 18980 1480479 SMC PREF 2D 75.1 75.8 75.1 75.1 75.1 75.1 490 36799 75 75.4 75.6 75.6 75 75 13400 1005717 SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F 76.6 76.8 76.6 76.65 76.6 76.6 25000 1915005 75.4 75.6 75.45 75.6 75.4 75.6 11300 852530 SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I 75.6 75.7 75.7 75.7 75.7 75.7 135400 10249780 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

17.9 5.03

18 5.04

17.8 5.05

18 5.05

17.8 5.04

18 5.04

608500 774500

10835040 3906639

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

1.54

-336600 -

1.58

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

ITALPINAS 6.7 KEPWEALTH 11.66 2.58 MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS 0.89

6.75 11.78 2.75 0.9

6.69 11.38 2.77 0.9

6.75 11.96 2.79 0.91

6.61 11.38 2.77 0.89

6.7 11.66 2.78 0.9

201800 802300 7000 656000

1345768 9432990 19430 591000

-38196 -

FIRST METRO ETF

118.8

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS 118

118.7

118.8

117.6

118.8

9310

1099747

-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Trilateral deal ends standoff over Tadeco biosecurity site

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By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Davao del Norte provincial government, Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc. and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has finally signed the compromise deal ending the standoff over the threatened removal of Tadeco’s biosecurity facility in one of the country’s biggest banana plantations.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol announced on Tuesday night that the parties have already inked the deal, a result of two-week intense negotiations to resolve the

conflict “which nearly resulted in a bloodshed.”

“Political adversaries [Davao del Norte] Gov. Edwin Jubahib and former Congressman Anton Lagdameo, along with the representative of Bu-

Cor, Director Gerald Bantag, shared coffee in the Office of the Chairman of Mindanao Development Authority before signing the agreement in front of members of the media and officials of MinDA,” Piñol said in his post.

Tadeco Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Zeus Vadil signed the agreement for Tadeco while Lagdameo, as president of Anflo Industrial Group, represented the Floirendo family during the signing as witness. In explaining the details of the agreement, Piñol said the agreement stipulated that the roads inside the 5,000-hectare plantation will be opened to commuters and vehicles—a core issue raised by Jubahib.

“It also allowed Tadeco to retain its biosecurity facilities while BuCor will maintain its security personnel at the gates,” he said.

Piñol said there will be a ceremo-

nial opening of one of the two roads today (October 24) where passersby will be allowed without the previously required Gate Pass.

He said the parties also agreed to submit the document to the Regional Trial Court of Tagum City and seek the dismissal of the cases on the dispute.

Two weeks ago, the Panabo City Regional Trial Court granted Tadeco’s prayer for a 72-hour temporary restraining order against the removal of the firm’s biosecurity facility.

The court argued that Tadeco was able to prove that removing the facilities will expose its banana plantation to Fusarium wilt.

Davao del Norte is infected with Fusarium wilt and has since been placed under quarantine by the Bureau of Plant Industry, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

SSI launches e-commerce site for Zara

Z

AR A, the Spanish clothing retailer, on Wednesday launched its e-commerce in the country, as it beefs up its online presence.

In the Philippines, Zara is exclusively distributed by International Specialty Concepts Inc., a unit of Tantoco-led SSI Group Inc. SSI said Zara will use an integrated model of stores and online presence, as customers can choose between picking up their orders at any of the nine stores in the country or at accessible drop points across the Philippines, or home delivery.

Pick up of items in store is free,

and pick up at home and at drop points is free on orders over P2,995.

Deliveries will be made within one to seven working days, or up to three days in Metro Manila.

“Customers will have the possibility of returning purchased items free of charge at stores or from home collection within a 30-day period,” the company said.

Zara’s online store is designed to operate on any mobile device, using any browser and by means of its application, available in both iOS and Android versions.

Payments can be made on delivery as well using major credit

Peco touts ₧1.1-B innovation spending on power in Visayas

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HE Panay Electric Co. (Peco) has earmarked P1.1 billion for its innovation spending aimed at building and promoting sustainable energy practices in Visayas.

Peco Head of Public Engagement and Government Affairs Marcelo Cacho said in a press briefing that the Iloilo-based power distributor will put up three new power substations to cater to the growing demand in Visayas.

“We estimate that in the next 10 years it’s about P1.1 billion. There will be new substations dedicated to Megaworld, Gaisano and Western Land,” said Cacho.

“For Megaworld’s substation, it will be the biggest substation we will be putting up because it’s a 70-hectare development that will cost P135 million. The Gaisano substation is about P70 million to 80 million, and the Western Land is about the same. The rest will be spent for smart meters and other equipment,” he added.

Cacho said Peco has initiated a few innovations in energy distribution that will ultimately benefit our customers. “While the future of energy is in the power choice, the good news is that the future is now starting to happen here in the Visayas, particularly in Iloilo.”

Peco has launched its Smart Metering project, the benefits of which to customers include prepaid metering, real-time wireless meter reading, automatic disconnection and reconnection, and an overall lowering of rates due to customer load profiling.

“Smart Metering also empowers

the customers through an online Web portal where they can see their meter readings real time, with meter reading updates every 15 minutes, we are now testing the online portal which will be launched next year,” he said.

Some 2,000 smart meters have already been installed and another 2,000 will be delivered within the year. The company has earmarked P205 million for the next five years to replace old meters into smart meters.

Cacho also reported that Peco has introduced Net Metering, in which power consumers can install solar panel systems in their homes. With this, the consumers can throw back to Peco any excess power generated by their solar panels which will then be credited to their regular electricity bill.

“Our Net Metering system further gives our consumers the power of choice, because now they can choose to generate their own electricity and save money in the process,” Cacho noted.

Peco is also on board with the Department of Energy (DOE) smart grid project. “A smart grid is an electric system enhanced with innovative digital technologies that detect problems in the system and initiate self-healing processes,” Cacho explained. “With the smart grid, consumers can experience improved reliability, better service and greater control over their energy use.”

Another Peco innovation in energy distribution is the “Pasa-Kuryente” service, which allows solar panel owners to pass on to other consumers any excess power their system has generated. Lenie Lectura

cards, including Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and PayPal SSI, or short for Stores Specialists Inc., is expanding its retail format offerings, after it either closed or scaled down some of its stores in the country. The group has a growing e-commerce presence, and operates

mutual funds

online sites for Gap, Banana Republic, Beauty Bar, Lacoste, Payless, Superga, Dune London and Lush.

SSI has also expanded into the hospitality industry with unique restaurant concepts, such as SaladStop, Shake Shack and Crystal Jade, which is opening early next year. VG Cabuag

October 23, 2019

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 255.86 3.94% -1.51% -0.24% 1.45% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.4976 7.71% 2.29% 0.2% 3.94% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.8943 1.72% -3.21% -1.9% -0.22% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.9547 8.92% n.a. n.a.

5.96% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8675 6.66% n.a. n.a.

5.7% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 5.4364 7.04% 0.4% 0.2% 3.09% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6 0.8724 6.94% -3.59% n.a.

4.27% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 113.99 3.3% n.a. n.a.

-1.87% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 52.2881 9.31% 0.51% n.a.

6.23% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 543.21 9.2% -0.45% 0.22% 5.53% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.3147 6.95% 0.69% 1.35% 4.84% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 38.7056 8.1% 1.51% 1.27% 5.66% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.0394 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 5.3159 10.48% 1.3% 2.16% 7.2% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 887.58 10.5% 1.21% 2.09% 7.14% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.8957 7.53% -0.58% n.a.

4.15% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 4.2974 8.75% 0.86% 1.34% 5.88% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 1.0195 10.06% 1.13% n.a.

6.83% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.7265 8.84% 2.63% 2.81% 6.45% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 119.0128 10.83% 1.96% 3.12% 7.46% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.9724 3.88% 2.39% -0.31% 4.66% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.2968 6.17% 7.68% n.a.

17.34% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities 1.5977 -1.5% -3.77% -3.45% -3.24% ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.2622 4.26% -1.34% -0.33% 2.4% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6588 6.92% 0.83% -1.07% 4.55% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,5 0.2366 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Grepalife Balanced Fund Corporation -a 1.3496 5.08% n.a. n.a.

3.47% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9676 9% 1.14% 1.3% 6.75% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.8059 11.42% 0.09% 0.57% 7.84% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 17.0423 10.91% 0.09% 0.49% 7.13% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.1545 0.62% 1.37% 4.12% 6.27% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.8989 8.91% 0.91% 1.02% 6.78% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,2 1.0237 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,2 1.013 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,2 1.0099 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.9887 9.22% 0.45% 0.53% 7.27% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03825 10.58% 2.24% 2.11% 8.36% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $0.9924 6.12% 2.09% 0.14% 8.61% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.7643 6.54% 5.63% 3.61% 13.77% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,7 $1.1076 6.25% 3.36% n.a.

10.21% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 355.28 4.11% 2.49% 2.28% 3.44% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9206 3.4% 0.17% 0% 3.3% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.0911 4.98% 5.26% 5.22% 3.86% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2127 4.69% 1.6% 1.96% 3.92% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3375 5.7% 1.58% 1.49% 6% Grepalife Fixed Income Fund Corp. -a P 1.6087 2.35% -0.64% -0.02% 2.83% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.3123 14.72% 1.24% 1.74% 10.01% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.7503 8.6% 2.12% 1.55% 6.63% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.9522 9.35% 0.26% n.a.

6.84% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.0369 10.51% 2.89% 2.43% 9.8% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.6796 9.81% 2.31% 2% 9.07% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $465.92 4.49% 2.02% 2.81% 3.91% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.86 3.14% 1.26% 1.46% 3.38% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2022 7.31% 2.33% 2.52% 6.8% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 4.03% 1.06% 1.21% 4.03% Grepalife Dollar Bond Fund Corp. -a $1.7122 1.3% -1.47% 0.28% 1.3% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.0956 7.11% -0.08% -1.26% 5.72% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.3999 12.66% 2.03% 3.16% 10.55% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.060236 5.89% 2.04% 2.04% 5.68% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.166 10.01% 1.52% 2.67% 10.23% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 125.02 4.2% 2.7% 2.11% 3.42% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.0255 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.2435 6.07% 2.41% 1.52% 5.21% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2576 3.87% 2.82% 2.23% 3.15% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0341 2.16% n.a. n.a.

1.79% a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is January 3, 2019. 2 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 3 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 4 - Launch date is August 1, 2019.

5 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.).

7 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.

com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, October 24, 2019

B3

Turkey-US sparring escalates as bank spurns New York court

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urkey is snubbing US demands for one of its biggest banks to face charges that it helped Iran evade sanctions amid escalating tensions fueled by Turkey’s incursion into northern Syria.

US prosecutors charged Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS last week with enabling a sanctions-evasion scheme that helped Iran tap $20 billion in frozen foreign oil sales revenue sitting in foreign bank accounts, at a time when the US was trying to maximize leverage over the country in negotiations to abandon its nuclear program.

The timing of the indictment led Turkish officials to dismiss the charges as false and politically motivated. The bank and its US lawyers have refused to accept a legal summons or acknowledge US legal authority in the matter.

At a hearing on Tuesday, no lawyers or executives showed up to represent the bank. A day earlier Turkey named a former executive at the bank, who’d been convicted in the US, to head the Istanbul stock exchange.

Tensions between Turkey and the US have heightened since President Donald J. Trump ordered the removal of US troops from northern Syria, opening the door for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to send his forces to attack Kurds in the region.

The incursion spurred the US to sanction Turkey with Trump writing a letter last week to Erdogan imploring him not to be a “tough guy” or a “fool.”

Erdogan reportedly threw the letter in the trash.

Earlier, Trump threatened Turkey in a statement on Twitter.

US authorities had been pursuing a

criminal case against the bank for at least a year, seeking to impose a massive financial penalty for its role in the scheme. But the case idled for months amid diplomatic wrangling until the charges were filed along with other sanctions last week.

Federal prosecutors with the Manhattan US attorney’s office have now deemed Halkbank a “fugitive,” and told US District Judge Richard M. Berman they may seek contempt sanctions if the bank fails to respond to renewed demands for its presence in court. Halkbank has no employees or offices in the US, though it does have a correspondent bank account and shares that are listed and traded as American depositary receipts in US markets.

The judge said he would consider the request but also said he wanted to give the bank two weeks to review the matter and reconsider its position.

If Turkey’s current position on the issue is any indication, it may take more than two weeks: on Monday, it named a former Halkbank executive who was convicted in a US trial over the sanctions scheme as the new chief executive of the Istanbul stock exchange.

The executive, Mehmet Hakan Atilla, was released from US custody in July.

In making the appointment, Turkish finance minister Berat Albayrak, who is also Erdogan’s son-in-law, said Atilla was the victim of an “unjust conviction.”

Bloomberg News

Putin enters contest for Africa after humbling US in Mideast

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fter restoring Russia as a key power in the Middle East, President Vladimir Putin is turning his attention to Africa to raise Moscow’s profile in the struggle for geopolitical influence.

Putin hosts leaders from more than 50 African states on Wednesday in Russia’s first conference with the continent, underlining a Kremlin push to rival the US, the European Union and China as strategic players in the resource-rich region.

“Russia is increasingly looking to Africa as a region where it can project power and influence,” said Paul Stronski of the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The power vacuums created by a lack of Western policy focus in recent years” are giving it “an opportunity to curry favor.”

The two-day summit in Sochi cohosted with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the current African Union chairman, is an effort to revive former Cold War relations, when African regimes often allied with Moscow in the ideological contest with the US before the Soviet Union’s collapse. It’s “an unprecedented, benchmark event,” Putin told the state-run Tass news service in an interview published Monday, calling stronger links with Africa “one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities.”

Still, there’s a sense Russia is coming late to the continent after China and other states including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates filled a vacuum left by the erosion of Communist-era ties.

Russia’s $20-billion trade volume with Africa in 2018 was dwarfed by the EU’s €300 billion ($334 billion) and China’s $204 billion, and was about a third of the US’s total.

Moscow’s “influence will grow but it will be incremental rather than exponential,” said Ronak Gopaldas, director at Signal Risk in South Africa, a risk-management firm. “I don’t think they’ll come anywhere close to matching Chinese influence in Africa.”

Renewed focus

As in the Middle East, where Putin leveraged his successful Syria intervention to bolster Russia’s standing at the US’s expense, the Kremlin is exploiting Washington’s fading influence even as President Donald J. Trump’s new Prosper Africa strategy seeks to reverse the decline.

While it’s never been entirely absent from Africa, the Kremlin’s renewed focus has largely involved a two-pronged strategy so far, shoring up unstable regimes through informal military contractors while offering defense and energy cooperation to other states.

Russia signaled its capabilities by sending

two Tu-160 “Blackjack” strategic nuclear bombers that were due to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday, the first time they will have landed on the continent.

“We are ready to engage in competition for cooperation with Africa,” Putin said in his interview.

“We see a number of Western states resorting to pressure, intimidation and blackmail” in attempts to regain “lost influence and dominant positions in former colonies.”

Russia, which has written off $20 billion of African debts, plans to offer financing to states with little access to capital markets. It has also inked defense-cooperation accords in recent years with about 15 African nations. State atomic energy operator Rosatom Corp., meanwhile, is seeking contracts across the continent including in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.

Still, Russia can’t match China’s financial firepower. Chinese President Xi Jinping last year announced $60 billion in loans and other financing at a Beijing conference with African nations, three years after pledging a similar amount.

‘Niche player’

“Russia is now a niche player and its playing in the energy arena and security area,” said Steven Gruzd, head of the South African Institute of International Affairs’ Governance and Diplomacy Program in Johannesburg. It hopes offering African nations closer economic and political ties “will get it more support in forums like the United Nations,” he said.

Putin showed his potential last year when the UN issued a waiver for Russia to arm and defend the government of the Central African Republic, which sought help after its former colonial master, France, ended a three-year peacekeeping mission.

Even so, he’s faced setbacks. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa froze a multibilliondollar nuclear power project with Russia after he took office last year. Protests against longtime Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who enjoyed Kremlin backing despite an international arrest warrant against him for alleged genocide, led the military to oust him in April and share power with the civilian opposition.

The Wagner mercenary group of Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, which has been fighting in Syria, is offering security services in Sudan and the CAR in exchange for gold and diamond concessions. It’s active in other mineral-rich African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is present in Libya in support of military leader Khalifa Haftar, who’s battling the UN-backed government in Tripoli. Bloomberg News

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A travel adventure with Juan for Fun at SM malls

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OU don’t have to travel far to ‘experience’ some of the country’s tourist destinations!

SM Supermalls, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, launches “Juan Fun Adventure,” a picturesque activation that brings best-loved destinations closer to more Filipinos through IG-worthy ‘Travel Pods.’ With the first stop at SM City San Lazaro, the travel adventure will be going on a caravan starting October 15 until April of 2020, in select Metro Manila SM malls.

“As we make malling more fun in the Philippines, we bring top local destinations closer to our shoppers. Thanks to this

collaboration with the DOT, our mallgoers can have picture-perfect moments without having to travel far,” said SM Supermalls chief operating officer Steven Tan. Featured tourist destinations include Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Mayon Volcano in Albay, Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, the Sirao Farm in Cebu, and Aliwagwag Falls in Davao, among others. Juan Fun Adventure at SM will also have talks on eco-travel tips and must-have eco-travel products for more exciting and nature-friendly travels.

Juan Fun Adventure is part of SM and DOT’s Malling is More Fun in the Philippines campaign.

Check for updates at https://www.

smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ smsupermalls.

East Time! A Mini 4WD race tournament bares winners

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AST September 28, 2019, East Time! Mini 4WD Race Tournament successfully concluded their event with more than 300 attendees coming from all over the Philippines exceeding their expected number of participantsone of the biggest gathering of Tamiya enthusiasts in the country.

“We set a pre-registration for this event so we can estimate how many attendees we’ll be expecting but it came as a surprise that with pre-registrants alone, we already

hit our target.” Jonathan Cruz, Project Head for the East Time! Mini 4WD Race Tournament happily shared.

Evidently, the Tamiya tournaments at present is very male dominated, when asked about plans on catering a younger audience, Mr. Cruz revealed that their next event will be dedicated for kids with an objective of making Tamiya racing a family bonding activity. “With our dream of taking these Tamiya tournaments nationwide, we hope to also influence people of all age and gender. As Tamiya continues to introduce new products and technology, it will surely get everyone more interested to the craft.”

Cruz said. The entire Eton Centris Complex was in high-speed mode as racers spent almost 24 hours tinkering and modifying their race cars in the hopes of bagging the P120,000 cash price and the very sought after Tuffcase.

Out of the 300+ competitors and after an allnighter race, here are the declared winners per category.

Speedtech: Champion: Jan Philip Taeza (Nueva Vizcaya); 1st Runner Up: Orlando

Seachon III (Cainta), and 2nd Runner Up: Joseph Dominic Salcedo Zamuco (Pangasinan) Prostock FM: Champion: Leonel Laurente (Makati); 1st Runner Up: JB Avenido (Bulacan); and 2nd Runner Up: Leonel Laurente (Makati) Prostock Non-FM: Champion: Justin Mariano (Cavite); 1st Runner Up: Thirdy Dealca (Quezon City); and 2nd Runner Up: Jervin Carino Super High-speed: 3WD Category: Best Time: Derric Recilla Palomares (Muntinlupa); 2nd Best Time: Marvin dela Cruz (Bulacan); 3rd Best Time: John Paul Suba (Caloocan City); and 4th Best Time: Mark Jayson Daez (Quezon City) 4WD Category: Best Time: Charles Coyoca (Cavite); 2nd Best Time: Charles Coyoca (Cavite); and 3rd Best Time: Eljay Rol (Valenzuela City) Catch the full coverage of East Time!

Mini 4WD Race Tournament on ABSCBN Sports and Action. For updates on other Tamiya related events, follow RDM Racing Hub on Facebook.

PES GATHERING. Past presidents, advisers, founders, and major partners of the Philippine Economic Society (PES) gathered on October 4 at Misto Restaurant, Seda Vertis North, Quezon City. Among those present were Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Representative Stella Luz Quimbo, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, Monetary Board Member Felipe Medalla, Philippine Competition Commission Chair Arsenio Balisacan, National Scientist Raul Fabella, Social Weather Stations President Mahar Mangahas, former UnionBank President Victor Valdepeñas, and ChinaBank Vice President Alexander Escucha, among others. Also in attendance were the current officers and members of the PES Board of Trustees, led by its President Lawrence Dacuycuy, Secretary Justine Diokno-Sicat, and Treasurer Faith Christian Cacnio.

The PES also invites all interested practitioners, educators, and students of economics to its 57th Annual Meeting and Conference on November 7, 2019 at the Novotel Manila, Araneta City, Quezon City. This year’s theme is Rethinking Development Strategies: Integrating Technology, Promoting Competitiveness, Reinvigorating Industries. More information about the upcoming conference can be found in the PES website, www.economicsph.org.

STRENGTHENING BUSINESS EFFICIENCY AND SECURITY. Eastern Communications, in partnership with global allies DOSarrest and Cloud Sigma, introduces its newly upgraded and most advanced Cloud Service and Cyber Defense as part of High-Tech promise to provide the best and right solutions to businesses that aim for utmost productivity and efficiency without compromising security.

Eastern Communications joined forces with international cloud service provider Cloud Sigma to launch its public cloud solutions providing the full spectrum of infrastructure and IT Services, offering enterprise-class hybrid cloud servers in Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Australia. With changing cyber threat landscape, the telco also partners with Canada-based cybersecurity solutions provider DOSarrest, equipping Filipino companies against cyberattacks.

Eastern Communications’ upgraded Eastern Cloud Service and Cyber Defense are now available in the market. For more information, visit www.eastern.com.ph. In photo, from left: Eastern Communications Product and Innovation Head Edsel Paglinawan, Co-Coordinatior Atty. Aileen Regio, DOSarrest Platform Specialist Scott Girbav, CloudSigma CEO Robert Jenkins, Eastern Communications Co-Coordinator Ramon Aesquivel during the launch of upgraded Eastern Cloud Service and Cyber Defense.

PARALYMPIAN’S WISH TO DIE GRANTED

Marieke Vervoort poses for a photo as she holds her silver medal at a press conference during the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in Brazil in September 2016. AP

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Sports BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, October 24, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

aralympian Marieke Vervoort said when the day arrived, she had signed the euthanasia papers and was prepared to end her life.

That day came Tuesday in her native Belgium, her death confirmed in a statement from the city of Diest.

Vervoort, 40, won gold and silver medals in 2012 at the London Paralympics in wheelchair racing, and two more medals three years ago in Rio de Janeiro.

In an interview attended by the Associated Press at the Paralympics in Rio, Vervoort described living with unbroken pain from an incurable, degenerative spinal disease.

She talked of sleeping only 10 minutes some nights, described severe pain that caused others to pass out just watching her, and detailed how sports kept her alive.

“It’s too hard for my body,” Vervoort said in the 2016 interview. “Each training I’m suffering because of pain.

Every race I train hard. Training and riding and doing competition are medicine for me. I push so hard—to push literally all my fear and everything away.”

Vervoort was a strong advocate of the right to choose

euthanasia, which is legal in Belgium. Like training hard, she said it gave her control and put “my own life in my hands.”

“I’m really scared, but those [euthanasia] papers give me a lot of peace of mind because I know when it’s enough for me, I have those papers,” she said.

“If I didn’t have those papers, I think I’d have done suicide already. I think there will be fewer suicides when every country has the law of euthanasia.... I hope everybody sees that this is not murder, but it makes people live longer.”

Vervoort also had epileptic seizures and had one in 2014 when she was cooking pasta and spilled boiling water over her legs. That resulted in a four-month hospital stay.

A loyal Labrador named Zenn began staying with her, pawing her when a seizure was about to occur.

Zenn also pulled her socks out of the sock drawer, she said, and helped carry groceries home when Vervoort bought too much.

“When I’m going to have an epileptic attack, she

warns me one hour before,” Vervoort said. “I don’t know how she feels it.”

Vervoort said she kept pushing back the day of her death, knowing it could come anytime—as it can for anyone. She said she can be pain-free one minute, and nearly pass out a few minutes later.

“You have to live day by day and enjoy the little moments,” she said. “Everybody tomorrow can have a car accident and die, or a heart attack and die. It can be tomorrow for everybody.”

Vervoort called herself a “crazy lady.”

She talked of flying in an F-16 fighter jet, riding in a rally car, and she was curating a museum of her life going back to at least 14 when she was diagnosed with her rare illness.

She had spikey hair and wanted to be remembered as the lady who was “always laughing, always smiling.”

“I feel different about death now than years ago,” Vervoort said. “For me I think death is something like they operate on you, you go to sleep and you never wake up.

For me it’s something peaceful.” AP

KAWHI AND CLIPPERS SMOKIN’ HOT IN L.A.

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By Beth Harris

The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard hit seven straight shots in one stretch, creating a run for the Clippers that his new teammates quickly joined.

“It’s a great sign of leadership,” Coach Doc Rivers said. “He talks with his game.”

Leonard began a new career chapter Tuesday night, scoring 30 points to go with a strong bench effort in a 112102 victory over LeBron James and the Lakers in the teams’ season opener.

Leonard chose the Clippers because he wanted to come home and his family was on hand.

“All those emotions went through me again,” he said.

Lou Williams added 21 points and Montrezl Harrell had 17 off the bench when the Clippers began their 50th season overall and 36th in Los Angeles as the once unlikely but now favorites to win the franchise’s first National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.

“It’s one of 82 [games],” Rivers said. “Next question.”

Leonard won his second NBA title last season in Toronto.

The Lakers showed off their new 1-2 punch of James and Anthony Davis. Davis scored 25 points, making 9 of 14 free throws, and James had 18.

“For us, we’re both aggressive,” Davis said. “Sometimes we kind of miss each other. I missed him a couple times and he missed me, so just trying to figure it out.”

Danny Green outscored them both with 28 points, including seven 3-pointers, in the highest-scoring debut by a Laker in franchise history.

Leonard got it done without his personal recruit Paul George, sidelined indefinitely while rehabbing from a pair of off-season shoulder surgeries.

“It’s just the first game of the season, so it’s going to take the season and mistakes and success to get us on the same page,” Leonard said.

Wearing a black tuxedo jacket and bow tie, George received a mixed reaction when introduced in the playoff-like atmosphere at Staples Center, where the Clippers were the home team for the first of four meetings in the arena the teams share.

“Their fans were very loud early and I thought our fans took over from that point on,” Rivers said. “It’s great for the city.”

The Clippers’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench, 60-19. Last season, Williams and Harrell were the NBA’s highest-scoring reserve duo, and they picked up where

they left off.

“This bench is going to be better this year than even last year,” Rivers said.

It came down to the fourth quarter, and the Clippers dominated.

Tied 85-all, they opened with a 19-7 run to go up 104-92. Five different players scored and Leonard assisted on Maurice Harkless’s 3-pointer.

James had three of the Lakers’ six turnovers in the fourth, when Harkless and Leonard each

blocked shots by Dwight Howard.

“That was just very careless and they capitalized off of it,” James said.

With four-and-a-half minutes left, Lakers fans chanted “Let’s go, Lakers! Let’s go, Lakers!” while others hit the exits.

“The NBA’s back and everyone’s trying to have the narrative of it’s a rivalry game and it’s a huge test,” James said, “but I think both teams are not where they want to be.

We have a lot of room to improve.”

The Lakers erased a 14-point deficit in the third, led

by Danny Green’s 18 points. He capped a 15-0 run with his fifth 3-pointer before JaMychal Green’s 3-pointer pulled the Clippers into an 85-all tie heading into the fourth.

The Clippers outscored the Lakers, 40-29, in the second quarter, buoyed by 16 points from Leonard. He made seven straight shots on a variety of moves—pull ups, fadeaways, a cutting dunk.

The Lakers raced to a 13-2 lead, their largest of the game. James scored over Leonard and he later heard “MVP! MVP!” chants while sinking his first free throws of the season.

The Lakers shot 53 percent from the floor in the first quarter, while the Clippers missed shots and had a basket by Williams taken away when the Lakers challenged a foul call on Howard.

The rivalry was on early with a male fan shouting “Go Lakers!” during the national anthem, drawing big cheers while Clipper fans booed.

“It was everything I expected,” Davis said. “Very anticipated game and it was fun.”

As part of the NBA’s crackdown on fan behavior this season, cards carrying a message from league security were on seats located courtside and the first couple rows back. They reminded that every fan is required to comply with the league’s fan code of conduct and anyone who acts inappropriately may be subject to ejection and-or revocation of their tickets.

The public address announcer reminded fans before both halves about minding their manners.

Kawhi Leonard shows a great sign of leadership as the Clippers make LeBron James and the Lakers look bad on opening day. AP

Defending champions in hard-fought victory T

ORONTO—The Toronto Raptors slipped on shiny new rings, unfurled a championship banner, then got their title defense started with a hard-fought victory.

Fred VanVleet scored a career-high 34 points, Pascal Siakam fouled out with 34 points and 18 rebounds, and the defending champion Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 130-122, in overtime on Tuesday night in the NBA’s season-opening game.

“Pascal and Freddy, they are the young core, they are the guys who will carry this thing on,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “I’m so happy for those guys to go out and perform like tonight. We’ll see them grow all year.”

Lowry scored 22 points, including a pair of free throws that put Toronto in the lead for good, and Serge Ibaka had 13 as the Raptors won their seventh straight season opener and posted their eighth win in nine meetings with the Pelicans.

“It’s very fun to be in the position that we’re in where we just won it but we’re kind of on the climb again,” VanVleet said.

Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday tied it at 122 by making a pair of free throws with 2:23 left in overtime. Lowry answered with his foul shots, VanVleet hit a corner three, and Lowry also connected from long range to cap a decisive 8-0 run.

“They made a couple of big plays at the end that gave them separation,” Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry said. “That was the difference in the game.”

Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and Josh Hart had 15 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans,

which began the season without No. 1 pick Zion Williamson. JJ Redick scored 16 points, Nicolò Melli had 14 and Holiday added 13.

The Pelicans made 19 turnovers, leading to 22 Toronto points. Twelve of New Orleans’ turnovers came in the second half and overtime.

“We played hard, but we’ve also got to play smart,” Gentry said. “We didn’t play smart down the stretch there.”

Lowry made a pair of free throws to tie it 117-all with 29 seconds left in regulation, and Toronto’s Norman Powell grabbed the rebound on a missed shot

by Holiday, giving the Raptors one last shot with 8.9 seconds to go.

Powell got the ball, but his long 3-pointer hit the back of the rim and bounced out, sending it to overtime.

Before the game, the Raptors received the biggest championship rings in NBA history and unfurled a banner celebrating their six-game triumph over Golden State last June.

“I have to start lifting more weights so I can carry it around,” VanVleet joked.

The Raptors lost NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, and also saw guard Danny Green leave for the Lakers.

Before the game, Gentry said losing a star player doesn’t always hurt a team’s fortunes.

“Bryce Harper is gone, too, but where are the Nationals?” Gentry asked rhetorically about Washington’s World Series baseball team. “I wouldn’t count these guys out just yet.” AP

TORONTO’S Kyle Lowry (7) and Terence Davis try to control the ball as New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday watches during the first half of their game on Tuesday. AP

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Business

Thursday, October 24, 2019

University of the Philippines’ Jun Manzo harasses National University’s Migs Oczon. NONOY LACZA

SPORTS PLUS

Why no Neymar in Ballon d’Or list PARIS—Too many injuries. A Champions League ban for insulting match officials.

Hitting a fan after losing the French Cup final. Agitating for a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar’s absence from the list of 30 Ballon d’Or candidates was explained Tuesday by France Football magazine which organizes the prestigious award.

The magazine said events in what it called Neymar’s année noire (black year) justified his failure to be nominated for the first time since 2010.

On the field, Neymar was injured and missed many key games, including Brazil’s Copa America title run and PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 exit against Manchester United.

Neymar was suspended for PSG’s first two Champions League group-stage games this season for insulting the match officials who gave Man United a decisive stoppage-time penalty.

The Paris-based magazine also criticized the “summer soap opera” of Neymar’s failed attempts to force a move from PSG back to his former club Barcelona.

Neymar has never won the Ballon d’Or. He was third in 2015 and 2017. AP

Top Asian player banned 5 months KUALA LUMPUR—Asia’s reigning player of the year has been banned for five months for confronting a referee in the Asian Champions League semifinals.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) banned Abdelkarim Hassan, the left back of Qatari champion Al Sadd, from all its club competitions until March 20.

Fifa says Hassan will be able to play at the Club World Cup in Qatar in December, which will include Al Sadd. He can also play in domestic games.

Hassan reacted aggressively after being shown a yellow card for a foul in the first half of Al Sadd’s 4-1 first-leg loss to Saudi club Al Hilal in Doha on October 1.

The AFC says the defender “was expelled by the referee for an act of violent conduct against a match official.”

The five-month ban removes Hassan from this year’s Asian Champions League and three group games in the 2020 edition. Al Sadd already qualified as Qatar league champion, which also earned a Club World Cup place as the host nation’s domestic title winner.

Hassan won the AFC’s 2018 award as the best player based in Asia. He helped Qatar win the 2019 Asian Cup in February and played in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. AP

‘Track them like they’re terrorists’ ROME—After five cases of racist chants in eight rounds of Serie A, the Italian soccer federation is considering employing advanced listening devices used in anti-terrorism operations to identify offending fans.

Federation President Gabriele Gravina has detailed “a passive radar device that uses directional microphones to determine the source of the noise. It can immediately determine who is making a racist chant—or it can illustrate the trajectory of fireworks.”

Gravina adds that the tool being considered requires two panels per stadium section, is not overly expensive and is made by an Italian company.

He said the only obstacle is Italy’s privacy laws, “because [the device] can also listen to private conversations inside the stadium.”

The federation is coordinating with the Interior Ministry with the aim of testing the tools during Italy’s European Championship qualifier against Armenia in Palermo, Sicily, next month.

Offensive chants have been aimed this season at Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Franck Kessie (AC Milan), Dalbert Henrique (Fiorentina), Miralem Pjanic (Juventus) and Ronaldo Vieira (Sampdoria).

Lukaku, Kessie, Dalbert, and Vieira are all black. They were targeted with monkey chants. Pjanic, a Bosnia international who is white, was called a “Gypsy.” AP

Jet Spikers down Army volleybelles

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ARCHERS PLAY VILLAIN D

e La Salle needed some lucky break to play villain to the Final Four casting with a thrilling 80-79 win over University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

What seemed to be a cruise for the Green Archers got disrupted with a heavy retaliation from the Growling Tigers in the third period.

Although the Taft-based squad sprung to a 12-point lead in the halfway mark of the third, rookie forward Rhenz Abando—who was thought to be abandoning UST—shouldered the burden in the final frame with constant bombardment from the outside.

Unfortunately, Abando’s last attempt from beyond the arc was deemed as a two-pointer to the dismay of the fans in yellow.

UST’s loss ruined its ambition—along with University of the Philippines (UP)—to join the

unbeaten Ateneo in the Final Four picture.

The Growling Tigers dropped to a 7-6 win-loss record and its setback delayed the Fighting Maroons’ instant spot in the semifinals even though they beat the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 80-77, earlier in the day for an 8-4 card.

The loss of the España side, however, gave De La Salle a chance to contend without complications for the semifinals.

“As we all know the standings are very tight.

The team responded well today and played with urgency,” Green Archers Coach Gian Lazaro said.

Jamie Malonzo scored a career-high 23 points, and also had seven rebounds and three steals as the Green Archers moved to 6-6.

Aljun Melecio contributed 18 points and six assists, while big man Justine Baltazar tallied 14 points and 11 boards. Brandon Bates was as efficient with a 10-15 sheet.

Earlier in the day, Far Eastern University (FEU) displayed tons of composure at endgame

to eliminate Adamson University, 63-60, to stay in good position at 7-6.

LJ Gonzales, Wendell Comboy and Ken Tuffin all unloaded 11 points to help the Tamaraws withstand the late effort of the Soaring Falcons.

Jerrick Ahanmisi, Lenda Douanga and Aaron Fermin each chipped in 10 points as Adamson University blew its chance for a playoff run at 4-8.

NU, meanwhile, manhandled UP, 109-33, to stay at the top of the women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs, thus, extended their winning streak to 92 games.

The Lady Bulldogs started hot for an 18-2 on the way to a 35-9 first-quarter advantage. Their lead ballooned to 36 at halftime, 51-15, and grew further to 75 points numerous times in the payoff period.

“I’m just happy that our first group delivered from the opening minutes of the game. They had

the momentum going and everybody was into our game plan,” said coach Pat Aquino, who drew 65 points from his starters.

Rookie Camille Clarin topscored for NU with 20 points on top of five rebounds, while Congolese center Rhena Itesi added 16 points, eight boards, three steals and two assists.

Lulu Ordoveza led the Lady Maroons with eight points and four rebounds as they fell to 1-11 in the standings.

Adamson University, meanwhile, rose to solo third after escaping Far Eastern University (FEU), 61-59.

The Lady Falcons picked up back-to-back wins to improve to 8-4—one-and-a-half games ahead of the Lady Tamaraws, who lost their second straight game.

Mar Prado followed up her 40-point output last Sunday with 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Falcons, while Lhyn Bilbao tallied 21 points and eight rebounds.

More brands sought to invest in fast-growing eSports industry

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CHIANG MAI-BOUND Members of the Fil-Chinese Basketball Veterans

Association, led by Terry Que of Rain or Shine and Jimi Lim of Ironcon Builders (third and fourth from left), pose during a recent practice. The other members of the team are Achit Kaw, Chingka Lee, Joel Gomez, William Lao, Zotico Tan, Andrew Ongteco, Antonio Go and Roberto Poblete. Coached by former Letran star Jerry Gonzales and former Philippine standout Elmer Reyes, the FVCBA team leaves for Chiang Mai, Thailand, next week to compete in the Asean Seniors Basketball Championship.

Verstappen tamed since F1’s summer break

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EXICO CITY—Max Verstappen and Red Bull were riding high at Formula One’s summer break. The driver and team have been in a funk ever since.

And returning to a favorite track in Mexico City may not get them out. Not with Ferrari and Mercedes flying around the track and Lewis Hamilton taking aim at a career sixth season championship.

Red Bull and Verstappen appeared ready to rumble with Mercedes over the stretch run of the season when Verstappen stormed to wins in Austria and Germany, then took pole position in Hungary. Only a late-race strategic move for new tires allowed Hamilton to hunt him down over the final laps to snatch victory in Budapest.

With that run of form, Verstappen and Red Bull were on the rise with an increasing powerful

Honda engine.

But driver, team and engine haven’t challenged for the checkered flag ever since.

Ferrari has flexed considerable muscle with three races win and Mercedes took the last two. Verstappen, meanwhile, has been stuck in neutral or worse with two retirements and one podium finish in the last five races.

The return from the summer break saw Verstappen knocked out of the Belgian Grand Prix after a first-turn collision with Sauber’s Kimi Raikkonen on the opening lap. A bolting start in Honda’s home race in Japan was scuttled when Verstappen again made contact with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and retired early.

Leclerc later said it was his fault, but Verstappen’s race was done and he lands in Mexico City having been outscored by recently-

Ronaldo: Age is just a number

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ristiano Ronaldo reassured Juventus supporters and his legions of fans worldwide that at 34 he’s not ready for retirement yet.

“Age is just a number. It does not mean that at 34, 35, 36 you are at the end of your career,” Ronaldo said at a news conference ahead of Juventus’ Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Tuesday. “I can show that with my performances, how I play, the way I play, the way I still feel good, sharp, thinking about the game, more mature. This

makes the difference.”

In the second season of a four-year deal at Juventus, Ronaldo had sparked concern among his fans when he said in an interview published a few weeks ago that he was starting to enjoy seeing himself “outside of football, so who knows what will happen in the next year or two?”

Ronaldo recently scored his 700th goal as a professional while on international duty with Portugal and has been nominated for a record sixth Ballon d’Or award—which would break his tie of five with Lionel Messi.

eta.us has encouraged more brands to invest in the space and support amateur players through its online platform to sustain the growth of the Philippine eSports industry.

ESports is now the biggest marketing draw in the global entertainment stage, overtaking television last year and already double the value attracted by digital music and film box office combined.

Global brands, such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz have already entered the fray given that 75 percent of the market demographic is comprised of people below the age of 35, and about half comprised of ages between 21 to 35.

Beyond multinational companies, there is also money available for team and event sponsorships from regional and local brands which want to get into eSports but are challenged as they are not familiar with eSports and gaming.

Alan Chou, chief executive and cofounder of meta.us, is trying to bridge that gap as his company connects brands with eSports sponsorship opportunities.

“Brands want to reach the eSports demographic but need transparency and confidence in the vendors they select and

assurance that they will get an ROI. Our platform meta.us is built to do exactly that,” Chou said.

With more than a decade in the gaming and eSports business—first at Microsoft Xbox and later as the director of Publishing for Southeast Asia at Blizzard—Chou has a unique insight into the needs of both players and teams, and of brands.

Chou observed that it is difficult for players, tournament organizers and brands to connect with each other, limiting opportunities for eSports talent to play consistently and reach their full potential.

“The discovery and development of talent is an area that is missing in eSports and we would like to address that with mass amateur leagues that give a systematic way for players to play, get better, and develop a track record of performance,” he said.

The audience for eSports is growing. According to Newzoo, a leading provider of games and eSports analytics, the projected global viewership for eSports this year will be 453.8 million, which is likely to grow about 15 percent annually.

Newzoo estimated that for 2019, eSports will see a 9.6-percent increase in revenues of USD152 billion.

promoted teammate Alex Albon since Belgium.

The fade has led to some frustration.

Verstappen’s father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, has complained to Dutch media that Red Bull and Honda are not only losing momentum this season but could be facing a “lost year” behind Mercedes and Ferrari in 2020, as well.

Could Mexico City revive Red Bull? Max Verstappen doesn’t think so. He said this week that a podium finish, not a victory, is probably the best Red Bull can shoot for.

That would be quite a letdown.

Red Bull has dominated the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez the last two years.

Hamilton clinched consecutive season championships in both, but it was Verstappen slicing the thin air at 7,400 feet (2,255 meters) to

a pair if easy victories.

“The last two years have been pretty special there with the wins,” Verstappen said this week.

Verstappen’s exquisite handling around the track’s twists and tight turns through its iconic stadium played to Red Bull’s strengths. But its long straight out of the starting grid sets up for a power battle between Ferrari and Mercedes this year.

“It’s a good track for us normally. I expect it to be a little bit more difficult this year because of Ferrari’s pace,” Verstappen said, “but I think we can still have a very good race,” he said. AP

But Ronaldo said he’s more interested in winning a treble with Juventus.

“We want to win Serie A, we want to win the Cup, the Champions League,” he said. “Juventus should think big.... We are going to try to win all the trophies, we know it will be difficult, especially the league and the Champions League, but I think it is possible. Everything is possible.

“In terms of individual, I have nothing to

say as this is individual. It is not the most important thing,” Ronaldo added. “The most important is the collective awards. If you win the collective awards you have more chance to win the individual awards.... The Golden Ball is for me in second place.” AP

Cristiano Ronaldo: “Age is just a number. It does not mean that at 34, 35, 36 you are at the end of your career.” AP

hilippine Air Force held off PacificTown Army, 28-26, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24, on Wednesday in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Veterans Judy Ann Caballejo and Dell Palomata powered the Jet Spikers with 15 attacks as they notched their seventh win against nine losses to end their 2019 campaign at fifth spot.

Joyce Cases added 13 points, May Pantino had 13 points and 25 excellent digs, Wendy Samana finished with eight points and 19 excellent sets for Air Force.

The Lady Troopers tried to mount a comeback as they stole the third set, 28-26, but that wasn’t enough to stop the Jet Spikers from getting their poise back in the fourth set.

The Jet Spikers played minus star player Jovelyn Gonzaga who is with the national pool in a training camp in Japan.

“I motivated the players to win because their key player wasn’t around,” Air Force Coach Jasper Jimenez said.

Ruby Tubino led the Lady Troopers with 14 points, Nerissa Bautista had 12 points, while Joanne Bunag finished with 10 points and 21 excellent digs, Alina Bicar contributed 10 excellent sets.

The Lady Troopers lost their seventh straight match and dropped to a 6-11 card.

Ryniel Berlanga

Fajardo, Almazan share PBA honors

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HE big men are lording it over in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup. June Mar Fajardo and Raymond Almazan made their presence felt inside in leading their respective teams to crucial victories in the period October 14 to 20, earning for them as PBA Press Corps-Cignal Co-Player of the Week.

This marks the second straight time two players shared the distinct honor after Troy Rosario of TNT KaTropa and Alaska’s Jeron Teng last week.

Rosario almost earned the citation again but fell one vote short of tying Fajardo and Almazan.

The 29-year-old Fajardo scored 19 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and issued four assists as San Miguel rallied past Columbian Dyip, 113-107.

Fajardo scored nine of his output in the fourth quarter as he teamed up with import Dezmine Wells in overhauling an 82-91 deficit in the final eight minutes to steer the Beermen to their first victory over the upset-conscious Dyip in three outings this season.

The Beermen improved their record to 5-1 overall for solo second. Not to be outdone, Almazan finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds as Meralco turned back Blackwater, 106-97. It’s the second time this conference that

the former National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP out of Letran had been named Player of the Week.

The Bolts remained at fourth place with a 4-2 card.

Other considered for the weekly honor were the Barangay Ginebra trio of Japeth Aguilar, Stanley Pringle, and Scottie Thompson, Kiefer Ravena and JR Quiñahan of NLEX, and Blackwater’s Mac Belo and Mike DiGregorio prior to his trade to TNT KaTropa.

orts

sMirror

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Northern Luzon golf regionals up

COURSE RECORD PUTS SHIN IN DRIVER’S SEAT

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ational team mainstay Sean Ramos and Korean Kim Seo-yu face tough challenge in pursuit of backto-back title drive in the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship unfolding on Friday at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

Ramos nipped Josh Jorge by one to snare the Elite Am men’s crown at Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga last year with the former all set for a repeat against a strong field led by Dan Cruz, winner of the recent Cangolf Amateur Open, Aldo Barro, Joaquin Gomez, Rodolfo Brobio and Jonar Austria.

Ramos is also using the tournament as part of his buildup for the 30th Southeast Asian Games, also set at the Luisita layout, where he will team up with Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus and Luis Castro to spearhead the country’s gold medal bid against the crack Thailand squad.

Kim also seeks to make it two-in-row in the 54-hole tournament organized and conducted by the NGAP in cooperation with Luisita Golf and Country Club although the Korean, who nipped Bernice Olivarez Ilas in sudden death to clinch the title last year, braces for a fierce duel with the likes of Rianne Malixi, Sophia Blanco, Laurea Duque, Kayla Nocum and compatriot Kwon Tae-yon.

Malixi, for one, is shooting for a third championship this year after claiming the overall crown in the Philippine Junior Amateur Open at Sherwood Hills Golf Club. She also won Philippine Amateur Open Match Play plum, also at Luisita, both last April.

Meanwhile, August Cruz also goes for a title repeat in the men’s division Group I (Hcp 7-12) of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments, and serving as part of PLDT Group National Amateur Tour while a wide open battle is seen in Group I (Hcp 13-above) among Titus Aguilar, Gary Manotoc, Alex Mendenilla, Alan Pasion and Marc Maceda, among others.

Meanwhile, Santa Elena and Eastridge gear up for a showdown in the semifinal round of the first NGAP Inter Club Match Play Team Championship with Canlubang and Riviera clashing in the other side of the Final Four set Saturday, also at Luisita.

Equestrian series unfurls in Makati

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n an unprecedented season sponsorship of equestrian events in the country, Equestrian Philippines Inc. takes the title banner for a series of competitions of the Manila Polo Club through the EquestrianPH Indoor Championship Series 2019 set this weekend in Makati.

The indoor season runs annually from September to December at the club’s indoor arena that features world class footing, keeping competitions protected from the rains that come during this time.

A leading provider of equestrian training, management and competition services, EquestrianPH has forged a partnership with the country’s premier equestrian venue for the sponsorship of three show jumping competitions.

A points system will be applied to determine an overall series champion and champions in each height category—0.65m, 0.75m, 0.90 m, 1.00 m, 1.10 m and 1.20 m.

“Series are very important in the development of our jumping riders, as you can create a progression of technical difficulty over a certain period that sees to their constant improvement as the challenges become greater, resulting in stronger, more competitive human and equine athletes as you go along,” EquestrianPH President Carissa Coscolluela said.

It is also the first time that series championship titles will be awarded per category.

“Definitely, we recognize those who excel at the top level, but as in any sport, you need to cultivate young or new talent, so you need to give them something realistic and reachable to work toward as they progress through the levels, offering well-earned rewards as the hit key achievements,” Coscolluela added.

The first leg of the series is dubbed Spooky Spectacular, coinciding with the Fifth Manila Polo Club Showjumping Competition on Saturday.

The Halloween-themed event encourages riders to compete in costume, with prizes being awarded for best costumes, as well as for the usual competition placings. Riders placed first in their respective height classes will earn 10 points, those placed second will earn six points, and those placed third will earn two points.

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icah Shin took charge in a day of torrid scoring at Summit Point, coming away with a four-birdie spree on both nines to set a new course record 64 and seize a one stroke lead over Thai Donlaphatchai Niyomchon at the start of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Summit Point World 18 Challenge in Lipa City on Wednesday.

The lanky Korean-American actually came into the $100,000 Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Asia event without any expectations, following a so-so showing in his return stint on the local circuit two weeks ago but thrived in the privacy of one of the early flights and racked up three straight birdies from No. 3 to spark a binge on a course that features 18 of the world’s most renowned golf holes.

“I had not been playing well lately and came here just trying to get back my feel,” said Shin, who shared 12th place in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic of the PGT in Davao and tied for 18th in the CAT Open of the PGT Asia at Luisita last week following a long campaign abroad.

But Niyomchon charged back in one of the late flights with four birdies at the back for a 65 as he moved past erstwhile second-running Joe Knox of England, who shot a frontside best 30 spiked by an eagle on No. 9 for a 66.

Filipino-German Keanu Jahns, who finished second to Tony Lascuña in the ICTSI Apo Classic of the PGT three weeks ago, also rallied with four birdies in the last seven holes at the front to shoot a 67 to tie Aussie Jack LaneWeston, Japanese Rio Morio, Brett Munson of the US and reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla at fourth.

A couple of foreign bets pulled to within striking distance of Shin but faltered at the finish with American Sam Gillis blowing a seven-under card with a triplebogey on the par-four No. 8 for a 68 and Taiwanese Yang Fei Hao squandering a six-under card with three

Micah Shin conquers Summit Point with a course record 64.

bogeys in the last five holes for a 69.

Defending champion Joenard Rates, likewise, put himself in the mix with a bogey-free 68 for a share of ninth with Rufino Bayron, Rico Depilo, Anthony Fernando, Kammalas Namuangruk of Thailand and Gillis, while Yang dropped to joint 16th with former Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas, Bebe Bouahom of Laos, Sydney Chung of the US, Fidel Concepcion of Australia, PGT Pueblo de Oro winner Reymon Jaraula, former Aboitiz Invitational winner Damien Jordan, also of Australia, obscure Teodoro Osabel, Japanese Yuta Sudo and Lindsay Renolds of Canada.

But Shin’s sizzling start stood out from among the 43 players who turned in under par rounds at the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout.

The Davao-based shotmaker, who has posted three big victories the last three years—the CAT Open in Luisita in 2016, in a regional tour event in 2017, and in The Country Club Invitational last year—missed five fairways in hot conditions but flashed superb iron shots to reach two of the five par-5s, four of which he birdied.

He kept an unblemished card by saving par on the par-4 No. 15, the only green he missed in a day when the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout yielded 43 under par scores in the absence of the wind.

“A couple of 65s were posted here last year, so his [Shin’s] 64 stands as the new course record,” said Summit Point General Manager Vic de Guzman.

Shin actually flubbed a four-footer for birdie on the opening hole but banged in a birdie from just about the same distance on the third to ignite a run, that included a three-footer on the next, a five-footer on No. 5, a tap-in on the seventh, and another four-footer on No. 10.

He missed two eagle chances on Nos. 14 and 16 then closed out with another “gimme” on the 18th to match his career-best eight-under card he shot during the first round of the Resorts World Masters at Southwoods.

PHL volleybelles prepare for SEA Games in Tokyo camp

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he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) sent the national women’s volleyball team to a training camp in Japan, in preparation for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The government’s funding arm for sports, through its Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and the board of commissioners, released P1.7 million for the 12-day camp meant to boost the squad’s bid in the Games set from November 30 to December 11.

The team left for Tokyo on Saturday,

where it will test its mettle against prominent club teams like Kashiwa Angel Cross, Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Gunma Bank Green

Wings and Hitachi.

The nationals would also clash with collegiate teams like Nittai University and Aoyama University.

“We know that Japan is the gold standard in Asian volleyball. They may not be tall, but they are quick, tactical and very disciplined,” said Ramirez, a former basketball coach at Ateneo de Davao before leading the government sports agency.

“That’s why we’re throwing our all-out support to this training camp. We feel that with just the right training program and exposure winning a medal in the SEA Games will be very possible,” he added.

Despite its massive popularity, the women’s volleyball team has yet to stand out in the international arena.

After winning a bronze medal in the 23rd SEA Games in Bacolod City in 2005, the Nationals failed to join in the next four stagings of the meet before making a return in the 28th edition in Singapore in 2015, and the 29th edition in Kuala Lumpur, in 2017.

This time, the Nationals have a golden chance of winning, not only because the tournament will be held in the country, but also because of the emergence of some top-tier talents like FilipinoAmerican spiker Kalei Mau and middle blocker Majoy Baron.

Mau announced her arrival with a strong performance in the Asean Grand Prix, while Baron emerged as the Best Blocker when the country clinched the bronze medal in the first leg in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand, and the second leg in Santa Rosa in Laguna.

Aside from Mau and Baron, also part of the trip are veterans Mika Reyes, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, Frances Molina, Alyssa Valdez, Rhea Dimaculangan, Dawn Macandili, Mylene Paat.

Also included were rising stars Maddie Madayag, Eya Laure, Kat Arado and Jia Morado.

Shaq de los Santos is the Head Coach with Kungfu Reyes and Brian Esquibel as deputies.

TRY ‘RIDEE’ AT NEW CLARK CITY P

“Ridee” is ecologically friendly, comfortable, affordable, safe and fun

hilippine-based Mobility Service Provider PT Autozentrum Inc. (PTA) recently inked a partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to provide the public with an enhanced mobility experience at New Clark City through an electric kick board sharing service called “Ridee” in time for the 30th South East Asian (SEA) Games.

PTA is launching Ridee as part of the company’s mission to provide comfortable mobility for everyone. It is a company that offers mobility service that is ecologically friendly, comfortable, affordable, safe and fun.

“This partnership is a great opportunity to start an innovative means of urban transportation in the Philippines beginning at its new and smart metropolis, New Clark City. It is our pleasure to support BCDA through this project. We plan to expand rapidly in other

strategic places within the country soon,” Alfred Roa, CEO of PT Autozentrum said.

BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon noted that this service is in line with the inclusive character of New Clark City, the country’s first smart, green and fully resilient metropolis.

“We are glad to offer the people a new mobility experience that is comfortable and convenient during the SEA Games, while being protective of the environment.

We thank PTA for supporting our commitment of building cities for people. The walkable and bikeable New Clark City is the perfect place for this service,” Dizon said.

New Clark City-Phase 1A which is 99-percent complete, houses the SEA Games-ready Athletics Stadium and Aquatics Center. Out of the 530 events events slated for the biennial games, 92 will take place in New Clark City.

Top US NCAA golf coaches bring winning act to Manila

T DreamBig Founder and CEO Akshay Maliwal and Head of Events Operations Thera Reyes address questions from the media. ROY DOMINGO

HREE Ivy League coaches make a rare visit in the country next month for an exclusive training camp and juniors golf tournament at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite.

Chris Massoletti of University of California-Berkeley, Richard Mueller of Columbia University and Andrew Larkin of University of California-Los Angeles— US NCAA Division I coaches—will arrive on December 17 and 18 to supervise the 2019 Gold Series Golf Camp organized by the DreamBig Events in partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP).

Besides a hands-on training from renowned US

coaches, around 40 to 60 participants from all over the country will also get the opportunity to book a ticket to the prestigious Future Champions Golf (FCG) Callaway World Championships in California next year through the Golf Series Challenger Manila Qualifier slated on December 16 and 17, at the same venue.

Two to five FCG slots in several age groups will be at stake in the Manila qualifiers with a personalized report from the visiting college coaches serving as precious added incentive that would boost their resume in pursuing a college golf and pro-career in the future.

“It’s the first time in history of the Philippines that three prestigious US coaches are coming here. Bringing them to Asia, and especially here is exciting for me. It’s about bringing international training to a local experience,” said DreamBig Founder and CEO Akshay Maliwal, a former UCBerkeley golfer himself. Giving the budding Filipino golfers a taste of international training and a shot at competing against the world’s best young golfers in the FCG championships, however, is just part of Akshay’s vision for over a million studentathletes in Asia. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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PART OF THE GAME Tessa Jazmines tessa4347@gmail.com

Fourth Quarter Sparks SOMETHING wicked this way comes in the local sports scene. And all we have to do is watch.

1. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is back, for one. And all those who put their lives on hold since June can now begin to inhale and exhale again, and start living. The 2019 to 2020 season of the National Basketball Association started off with a spectacular toeto-toe at Staples Center between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. And although many expected the Yellow and Purple to prevail, the Kahwi-ful Clippers got the better of the LeBron-Anthony Davis-Dwight Howard fully loaded crew.

If you were wondering where you could watch more of the NBA in the following days, now that the games are no longer being televised on the usual channels (ABS-CBN S+A, Solar TV or Fox News), here’s where you can be part of the most exciting basketball action in town.

The NBA announced that select 2019 to 2020 NBA regular-season games will be livestreamed in the Philippines for free (!) on Facebook Watch and Twitter. Games will also continue to be available on NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service.

Starting Wednesday, select games will be available to fans in the Philippines for the first time across the league’s accounts on Facebook (NBA Philippines) and Twitter (@NBA_Philippines), providing live and on-demand access to one game per day during NBA Tip-Off Week from October 23 to 29, and one game every Monday and Thursday from October 31 onwards.

2. It’s almost Final Four Season in the collegiate leagues. The San Beda Red Lions have made a clean sweep of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eliminations and are the first to head to the Finals—just chilling till the Lyceum Pirates, the Letran Knights, the San Sebastian Stags or the Mapua Cardinals decide among themselves who will be part of the semifinals cast.

In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), it’s the Ateneo Blue Eagles who are leading the way—not yet officially an automatic finalist, like San Beda. But looking more and more like it every day. Just yesterday the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons qualified for Final Four status, but the official quartet and who will have twice to beat advantage is still an open ball game. UP at the time of writing still has a deed to solo second. But the UST Growling Tigers are breathing down their necks and the Far Eastern U Tamaraws, including the De La Salle Green Archers are all alive and kicking. Only the National University Bulldogs, the University of the East Warriors and the Adamson Soaring Falcons are out of the equation.

But when the Cheerdance Competition takes place on November 17, all universities are in the running again, albeit in this choice spectacle sport cum entertainment category.

3. Still in November, ONE Championship returns with an interesting twist. After its bombastic all-flags martial arts fest in Japan entitled ONE: Century, ONE action shifts to Manila with ONE: Masters of Fate.

What to look forward to? An All Filipino main event. It will be Joshua Pacio of Team Lakay versus Rene Catalan of Catalan Gym. Not just a confrontation between a young northern hero (Pacio) and a much older but tough southern fighter (Catalan), it pits the Lakay martial arts way against the Catalan Fighting System.

“Pacio is only human,” Catalan said of “Passion” Pacio. “I’m 100 percent focused on getting this belt. It’s every fighter’s dream to become a world champion. I’m hungry and determined to win the title.”

Pacio wants a victory because he wants to inspire his Lakay Brothers to rise again and get back on top. “My preparations for my next bout are great,” Pacio said. “We’ve been working on some of my weaknesses and strengthening the weapons in my arsenal. Anything can happen, especially that my opponent is a veteran in combat sports. [Catalan is 40 years old, Pacio is 23.] [But] I have been preparing for this bout for a long time, and we have seen improvements. There are still a lot of things I need to learn and perfect, but I will make sure that I will be well-rounded in Manila,” he concluded. Fellow Lakays Eduard Folayang and Geje Eustaquio will also fight in Masters of Fate. The younger Catalan, Robin, will also fight in the undercard.

4. And if November has come, can the Southeast Asian Games be far behind? Barely a month and a week before the start of the most ambitious SEA Games of all (530 events, 56 sports in multiple venues across Luzon), the question still is. Are we ready? Have the preparations sidelined by delays (because of Phisgoc versus old POC conflicts) been brought up to date? Have all the equipment be procured? Will all the venues be finished and polished in time? We are optimistic that they will be, because the athletes are ready.

5. And then in December and January 2020, junior golf and junior tennis will get a developmental boost. DreamBig Events, a sports events company dedicated to providing a positive, motivating and challenging platform for young athletes living in Asia to improve their sporting skills is bringing world-class golf coaches for the first time in Asia. Its Gold Series Golf Camp, headlined as The Road To US College Golf, is open to junior golfers aged 12 to 18 years old, and will be held at the Orchard Golf & Country Club on December 17 and 18, 2019. In January, the same sports events company is doing the same thing for junior tennis, with a camp and a competitive tournament that will determine young talents’ universal tennis ranking (UTR).

“This is an exceptional opportunity for young [athletes] to interact with world-class coaches and glimpse the future of how their game can evolve and take them to places they’ve never been before,” said Akshay Maliwal, founder and CEO of DreamBig Events. “These camps do not just hone young athletes’ skills, they introduce and familiarize athletes with the college recruiting process and lets them experience, even for two days, a day in the life of a college athlete at a top academic and athletic university,” Maliwal added.

DreamBig Events has been working with coaches from top NCAA Division 1 and Division 3 universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, New York University, Tufts and Carnegie Mellon University, Claremont-Mckenna, Johns Hopkins University, among others, for the last three years.

MAX-IMUM EFFORT!

By Ronald Blum

The Associated Press

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OUSTON—He could have been Mad Max on a night his best was missing. Instead, he fenced and fought, shuffled and juggled.

And so did the Washington Nationals bullpen.

As the Houston Astros kept clawing within one big hit of a comeback, Max Scherzer and the Nationals just held on.

Scherzer got through five innings of Max-imum effort for a 5-4 victory in Tuesday night’s opener, becoming the first pitcher to win a World Series game for a Washington team since Earl Whitehill against the New York Giants in 1933.

Unable to overwhelm, Scherzer threw a bit of the ol’ razzle dazzle that included 112 pitches, nine full counts and six stranded runners.

“They grinded me apart. Pitch count was out of control, and that’s a credit to what they were able to do and constantly put pressure on me,” said Scherzer, who threw just 42 pitches out of his windup. “I was just not going to give in. I had to continue to bounce sliders and changeups in the dirt because I just did not want to give up another run.”

Nationals Manager Dave Martinez followed the onceunconventional and now by-the-postseason-book method of tapping starters for big-moment relief, bringing in Patrick Corbin for the sixth, the first of four heartburn-inducing relievers.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner and seven-time All-Star, Scherzer is seeking his first Series ring at age 35.

His only previous time on baseball’s biggest stage was a nodecision in Game Four for Detroit as San Francisco completed a four-game sweep in 2012.

He fell behind quickly against the Astros, walking George Springer, allowing a first-pitch single to José Altuve and giving up a two-out, two-run double to Yuli Gurriel, a flat fastball that hit high off the left field wall.

Scherzer stranded one in the second by throwing a

Max Scherzer and the Nationals—his teammates Juan Soto and Victor Robles praising the heavens—hang tough in the series opener. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, October 24, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

changeup past Springer for a called third strike, runners at the corners in the third by getting Carlos Correa to swing over a slider and two on in the fourth by getting Altuve on a soft groundout to first. Only in the fifth, when Corbin already was warming up, did Scherzer pitch a 1-2-3 inning.

“I didn’t lose the ball game,” Scherzer said, crediting catcher Kurt Suzuki for his pitch selection. “If I had to throw it in the dirt, I had to, just to keep from making a mistake in the middle of the zone.”

Corbin, who may start Game Four on Saturday, worked around a single in the sixth.

“At this point, you might as well pitch in games instead of bullpens,” he said.

Tanner Rainey was next and gave up a home run to

Springer leading off the seventh, an inning that ended when Daniel Hudson struck out Yordan Álvarez on three pitches to leave the bases loaded.

“That was intense, man,” said Hudson, a veteran of two Tommy John operations who was jobless in the final week of March, then signed with Toronto and was dealt to Washington on July 31. “It’s been a crazy ride, man, for sure. It’s been a wild six months but I’m just so happy to be in this situation with these guys.”

Springer hit a run-scoring double off Hudson on a hanging slider in the eighth, a ball that just missed becoming a tying, two-run homer and glanced off the glove of a leaping Adam Eaton at the right field wall. Springer might have gotten to third had he not taken a few hops

out of the batter’s box, thinking had homered again, and he might have been able to tag up and score on Altuve’s fly to right. Kyle Tucker initially tagged up at second on the long drive, which also might have prevented Springer from having a chance to reach third.

Instead, he was left at second and became the Astros’ 11th stranded runner when Michael Brantley sliced an opposite-field liner to left off Sean Doolittle, leaving Houston three for 12 with runners in scoring position.

When Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth that ended with Correa’s soft flyout to center, it was just the second 1-2-3 inning for Washington, which could exhale for the first time all game.

Doolittle and the Nationals’ relievers have been maligned for their 5.68 regular-season ERA, 29th among the 30 clubs.

Iran banned from world judo for refusing to face Israel foes

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AUSANNE, Switzerland—Iran was banned from international judo competitions Tuesday for refusing to let its athletes fight Israeli opponents.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) imposed an indefinite ban on Iran’s team until it promises to end a longrunning boycott of Israel.

The IJF’s disciplinary commission said the ban will stand “until the Iran Judo Federation gives strong guarantees and prove that they will respect the IJF Statutes, and accept that their athletes fight against Israeli athletes.”

The commission said Iran broke rules on nondiscrimination and the manipulation of competition results.

The ruling comes after 2018 world champion Saeid Mollaei walked off the Iranian team in August, saying he had been ordered to lose matches and withdraw from competitions so as not to face Israelis.

The IJF accused Iranian government officials of putting pressure on athletes including Mollaei, who is now in hiding in Germany and could potentially go to the Olympics as part of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) refugee team.

According to the commission, Iran accused Mollaei of making false claims in order to “speed up his change of nationality process” and denied he had ever come under government pressure. The commission says it found that argument to be untrue.

Iran has already missed some events because it was provisionally suspended last month pending the full disciplinary ruling.

The IJF has previously said any measures taken against Iran won’t apply directly to next year’s Olympics, because athletes are technically entered by the Iranian Olympic Committee, not the national judo federation.

However, qualifying for the Olympics depends in large part on world ranking points from IJF events.

Iran can appeal the IJF ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The measure comes at a time when the IOC is pushing back against boycotts and other political demonstrations in sports.

In June, IOC President Thomas Bach criticized governments who “clearly abuse sport for their political purposes,” noting a case in May of a Tunisian court blocking four Israelis from competing at the taekwondo junior world championships. AP

Shepherding God

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EAR God, You guard us like a shepherd guards the flock. In faith we pray: Bring us to life by the light of the Gospel, oh God. Inspirit the baptized to study and embrace the social teachings of the Church. Heal those who suffer relationship wounds or the betrayal of a trust. Console the grieving and gladden them after their sorrows. May the word of God in all its richness dwell in our hearts and minds, through Christ, now and always. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

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

SCENES from Hong Kong’s popular tourist destinations, from Hong Kong Disneyland to Victoria Peak, in the wake of sustained anti-government protests that has shaken this international hub for business and fun. PHOTOS: AP

Life BusinessMirror

In protest clouds, Hong Kong tourists see silver lining

BY JOHN LEICESTER | The Associated Press

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ONG KONG—No tiresome wait for hugs and kisses from Mickey and Minnie Mouse. No queue at all for Hyperspace Mountain, where thrill-seekers are so scarce that Star Wars’ Admiral Ackbar speaks to himself in the dark.

Tinker Bell gazes out over rows of empty seats on the train to Hong Kong Disneyland that was far busier before tourists were scared off by anti-government protests shaking this international hub for business and fun.

That’s tough for local business but great for Disney fans like Yunice Tsui and her seven- and four-yearold daughters, adorable in Minnie headbands. With an annual pass to the park she’s already toured nine times, Tsui is better placed than most to size up the body-blow to Hong Kong visitor numbers from the often violent demonstrations, now in their fifth month. Before June, you’d generally queue for more than 30 minutes for each ride. For the last few times since July, we’ve been here about two-to-three times, every time it’s about a five-to-six minute wait to queue up for a ride. There are certainly less people, I would say 60 percent less. Kids are very happy because after a ride, they can go queue up for another one and play again.”

The impact of the protests on tourism is verging on catastrophic for Hong Kong, one of the world’s great destinations and geared up to receive 65 million visitors a year.

On Victoria Peak, restaurants with knockout nighttime views of the city’s neon-lit skyscrapers stand empty. The snaking lines of tourists for the clicketty-clacketty 19th-century tram to the top are now just a memory.

The Dragon Boat Carnival in June, when protests started: canceled. A Wine & Dine Festival scheduled for the end of this month: scrapped, too. Hong

MOMMY NO LIMITS: WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON PARENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS? PART II D3

Kong received 2.3 million fewer visitors in August compared with a year earlier, largely trips that people from elsewhere in China are no longer making to the semiautonomous Chinese territory.

September visitor numbers, due October 31, are unlikely to be any better, given recent protest-related violence and chaos.

“It’s deserted,” said Dyutimoy Chakraborty, who runs the Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen & Bar opposite the Peak Tram. The tram now closes at 10 pm instead of midnight, because of “potential demonstrations and protests in the nearby area.”

“Normally, there would be a huge queue,” Chakraborty said on a recent weeknight. “Since the protests started, it has been like this.”

The eatery has lost nearly half of its weekday business, he added.

“You think of what you could have made and what you are making at the moment,” he said. “That difference, yes, it hurts.”

Protester leaflets advise, “You’ve arrived in a broken, torn-apart city,” and the protests have, at times, caused monumental disruptions of traffic and public transport.

But even when the protests have involved hundreds of thousands of people, they’ve generally been confined to only a few areas in this semitropical former British colony of 7 million.

And the tourists who come anyway are finding bargain-basement hotel rates, two-for-one deals, easy late checkouts and other sweeteners.

Visiting this month from Taiwan, where he works as a teacher, South African traveler Winand Koch paid the equivalent of just $65 per night for a room in a comfy hotel that was charging nearly quadruple that rate when he first checked a few months back. Of all his trips to Hong Kong, the two-day stay with his sister, Betro, was “one of the best,” he said.

“I’ve never seen Hong Kong this quiet before,” he said. “We didn’t have to queue anywhere. We could get

in everywhere.”

Trundling along with suitcases through crowds of demonstrators, hoping to catch a train to the airport a day after protest violence shut down the entire rail network, Koch said he’d enjoyed being “part of history.”

“By accident ran into the protest today,” he said.

“But it was fun, actually, the people were all friendly, helping us through... they even gave us masks.”

Aside from the risk of stumbling unawares into street battles and clouds of police tear gas—as some tourists have to their coughing, spluttering dismay— Hong Kong remains a pleasant city. Visitors of either sex needn’t think twice about venturing out late at night or while wearing valuables. For the moment, the US State Department still only recommends that visitors exercise extra caution. A similarly worded travel advisory from the British government says, “Most visits are trouble free.”

Edgar Ruiz said he flew from Mexico “just to see the protests.”

“I wanted to experience it firsthand. This is big!” he said. “I want to be telling people that I was here when this happened, because it is going to be major in history.” Even some Hong Kong residents are enjoying a respite from the usual floods of visitors, mainly from mainland China. The number of total arrivals has almost doubled over the past decade, from 36 million in 2010 to 65 million last year.

Up on the Peak, Hong Kong-born Isaac Mercado, a 26-year-old banking analyst, was luxuriating in the unusual emptiness.

“We used to have a quiet city,” he said. Now, with fewer visitors, “I get the chance to explore more a bit on my own, and not be crammed with loads of tourists. So, it’s getting more like my home, rather than a tourist city.”

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Tour of the Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan AN upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land, including Egypt and Jordan, invites all Christians to a firsthand experience of the place where Jesus Christ was born, lived, died and rose from the dead. Important sites in the pilgrimage include Bethlehem, Jerusalem (with many historical and biblical sites, including the Dead Sea, Masada, Herod’s mountain top palace and fortress; Mount Olives, Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane, etc.) and Galilee (Chapel of Flagellation; the Church of Holy Sepulcher; Mount of Beatitudes; Capernaum, Cana, Mount Tabor, and Church of the Transfiguration, etc.).

The pilgrimage also includes Egypt, featuring the Pyramids of Giza, the Papyrus Museum, Sinai, Dead Sea, the lowest spot on Earth; Saint Catherine’s Monastery, and Jordan to marvel at the rose red city of Petra, half as old as time; the winding “Sig,” an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone to the Treasury, one of the most elegant remains of antiquity carved out of solid rock; and Mount Nebo, the burial place of Moses.

A pilgrimage chaplain will accompany the group. More information is available from pilgrimage coordinator, writer/book author Visitacion “Chit” R. de la Torre at 8815-6925, 88154938, 0918-9159337, or chitdelatorre19@gmail.com.

■ The Associated Press video journalist Mstyslav Chernov contributed.

Cebu Pacific offers ‘every’ Juan more flexibility with latest flight add-on JETSETTERS and travel experts all recommend planning for trips in advance to get the best deals and make the most of precious vacation days.

No matter how prepared one is, however, there can be unforeseen situations that may make it necessary rebook flights, such as last-minute meetings, unpredictable weather or traffic conditions, or disapproved vacation leaves.

Guided by this feedback from its customers, the Philippines’s leading carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) introduces CEB Flexi—a flight add-on that gives travelers the flexibility to rebook their flights up to two times, for a minimal fee.

Available since October 22, CEB Flexi gives passengers the freedom to rebook flights

until two hours before departure, offering convenience and peace of mind. This add-on can be purchased during booking through www.cebupacificair.com or the carrier’s official mobile app. “CEB Flexi is a great complement to year-round low fares as it provides the power and option to rebook flights should the need arise.

We encourage passengers to book in advance to avail of great low fare deals, and now we also provide the ability to change travel dates, thus giving peace of mind that the flights they booked won’t go to waste,” said Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and customer experience.

Compared to current rebooking fees, CEB

Flexi is 60 percent cheaper, and travelers only have to pay the difference in fare (if applicable).

The add-on is priced at P499 for domestic flights, P799 for international short-haul flights, and P1,099 for international long-haul flights. Along with the rollout of CEB Flexi, all new flights booked starting October 22 will be nonrefundable.

CEB Flexi is the newest add-on that Cebu Pacific passengers can avail, giving the power to choose conveniences that best fit their travel needs. Other options include prepaid baggage allowance, inflight meals and buy-on-board snacks, seat selection, travel insurance and the CEB WiFi kit.

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Thursday, October 24, 2019

Entertaining BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Shenae Grimes, 30; Eliza Taylor, 30; B.D. Wong, 59; Kevin Kline, 72.

Happy Birthday: Stay calm and be intent on doing what’s right; it will help offset any attempts others make to rile you. Separate the way you feel from what you need to do in order to reach your goal. Speak up, but don’t shout. Get your facts straight and initiate your plans with confidence. Know what you want to achieve.

Your lucky numbers are 7, 18, 21, 25, 33, 36, 42.

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep moving forward, regardless of what others do. Your intent should be to get things finished so you can engage in new projects. Deter others from taking advantage of you or pressuring you to take care of their responsibilities. HHH

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cake

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Step up and be proactive. Refuse to let someone’s bad mood or temper get in the way. Bring about change that encourages you to be a better person.

Handle partnerships fairly and strive for equality in all your dealings. HHH

Ice-Cream Banana Bread

Going bananas over your banana cake I

t’s soft, sweet and easy to prepare. What’s not to love about a banana cake? A staple at many homes, a delicious banana cake can be the perfect way to start your day at work or spend a cozy weekend afternoon at home. It also got an immense universal appeal—banana cake always hits the sweet spot no matter your age.

This comfort food’s simplicity makes it not only a no-fail treat, but also a perfect canvas for your kitchen adventures.

And when you’ve got a mix as easy and reliable as the Maya Oven Toaster Banana Cake Mix, letting your creativity run free won’t be as daunting as it seems. Along with these easy recipes from The Maya Kitchen (www.themayakitchen.com), you can transform your everyday banana cake into an exciting new dessert.

When the days get hot and you need a decadent treat to cool down, Ice-cream Banana Bread is the way to go. First, use Maya Oven Toaster Banana Cake Mix to bake a classic banana cake. Simply mix oil, eggs, milk and mashed bananas in a bowl. Then, add the mix and blend. Bake the batter for 30 to 35 minutes. Once it’s ready, cut it up into three pieces, then layer some ice cream in between. Place it in the freezer for one to two hours, then drizzle on some chocolate sauce for your new favorite frozen delight.

For a creamy medley of flavors, make some Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cake. To create the special glaze, mix together confectioner’s sugar, peanut butter and milk in a bowl until the mixture turns smooth. Then spread the glaze onto your banana cake. For an extra nutty texture, top your dessert with some chocolate or peanut butter chips.

You can also enjoy your banana cake in quick nibbles.

Banana Cake Bites make for a very flexible dessert as they can be served at your next party, stored in a food container for

an office snack, or enjoyed while watching a movie at home.

Make the sauce by mixing some brown sugar and butter.

Microwave and add in some rum and vanilla extract. Add a teaspoon of the mix into the muffin pan, covering each with a slice of banana. Sprinkle with chopped cashews and set aside. Then, create your banana cake separately. Drop the batter into the muffin pan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Once they’re golden brown, flip them upside down and voila! You have a cute, scrumptious Banana Cake Bite.

Of course, feel free to go just a little bananas over these very easy treats you can whip up in the kitchen.

Ice-Cream Banana Bread 1/3 cup oil 2 pieces egg 1/2 cup milk 6 pieces banana ripe and mashed 2 pack Maya Oven Toaster Banana Cake Mix 230 grams 1 pint vanilla flavored ice cream 1 pint chocolate flavored ice cream Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Grease and line 9 x 4 loaf pan. Set aside.

In a bowl, mix oil, eggs, milk and mashed bananas.

Mix well. Add banana cake mix and mix until well blended.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let it cool for five to 10 minutes and remove banana bread from the pan. Slice banana bread into three parts. Line the loaf pan with plastic wrap and place the bottom part of the banana bread, then pour and spread the vanilla flavored ice

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Some behindthe-scenes talks will take place. Don’t offer too much personal information. Protect against being used or letting someone involve you in gossip that could end up hurting your reputation. Say little and listen carefully to what’s being said. HHH

cream, then put on top of the ice cream the mid part of the banana bread, then pour and spread the chocolate flavored ice cream, then lastly, put the top layer of the banana bread.

Cover the ice-cream banana bread with plastic wraps and place it in the freezer for one to two hours or until the ice cream freeze again.

Slice ice-cream banana bread and drizzle it with chocolate sauce. Serve.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cake 1 pack Maya Oven Toaster Banana Cake Mix 230g 1 piece egg 2 pieces ripe banana mashed 3 tablespoons vegetable oil ¼ cup water Peanut Butter Glaze: 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 tablespoons milk peanut butter chips or chocolate chips for topping Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Grease and line an 8 x 3-inch loaf pan. Set aside. In a bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, mashed bananas, oil and water. Pour batter in prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until cake is set and lightly golden brown.

In a bowl, mix together glaze ingredients until smooth.

Drizzle prepared glaze onto cooled cake, top with peanut butter chips and/or chocolate chips, as desired. n

Online promo for scrummy treats ONE of the fastest-growing brands under Jollibee Foods Corp., Mang Inasal is on its way toward launching its 600th store soon.

To create more excitement on this milestone, Mang Inasal has embarked on a digital activation promo that began with the opening of its 595th store at WH Olongapo City on September 13.

Here, Mang Inasal collaborated with Filipino visual artist Paulina Luz Sotto for a movable Pinoy jeepney installation artwork, reflecting the restaurant’s journey toward becoming a national icon in the quick-service restaurant industry. For over 15 years now, Mang Inasal has become a favorite among Filipinos who look for truly satisfying, value-for-money Pinoy meals.

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): Lend a helping hand and make a difference. Your input will encourage others to support your actions and pitch in. The connections you make will lead to an unusual opportunity that should not be ignored. Positive change is heading your way. HHHH

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Watch what others do, but don’t get involved. It’s important to keep your distance from anyone showing signs of bad behavior or indulgence. Problems with relationships should be handled without letting emotions like anger take over. Do your own thing. HHHHH

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Communication is the road to success. Set up meetings, discuss pending problems, negotiate for what you want and show good faith by offering incentives. Much can be accomplished. Take pride in what you do, and you’ll gain respect. HHH

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Consider what you need to accomplish, and put a plan in place that will limit anyone’s meddling. A change of heart will lead to an adjustment that will settle your emotions and point you in a direction that is better for you. HHH

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Alter the way you treat others, and you will change the dynamics regarding important relationships. Showing confidence in those around you will encourage the same in return. Teamwork will help you achieve what you set out to do. HHH

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Look past any differences you have with others, but don’t forget the past. Trust has to be earned, not bought. A change in your inner circle will help you establish a stable lifestyle with less stress and pressure.

HHHHH

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look, see and do. Bring about the changes that make you happy. Say what’s on your mind; you’ll be able to persuade others to help you to turn your ideas into something concrete. Romance is highlighted. HHHHH

The jeepney art installation will move from the 595th store to the 600th store.

Customers who dine at these Mang Inasal stores can take their selfies or groupies at the Pinoy jeepney installation artwork and post them at the official Mang Inasal Facebook page. Set the image to public and use the hashtags #MIRoadto600 and #MangInasalJeep. Ten entries will be chosen randomly per new store opening, each winning Mang Inasal gift certificates worth P600. More information is available at www.manginasal.com.

Mang Inasal Olongapo store franchisee Eugene Y. Go (left) with special guests Richard Antonio, John Michael Javelosa and Gilbert Chua.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a waitand-see approach to handling money, legal and health issues. Do your research and make connections with experts instead of listening to someone who claims to know a lot but usually leads you on a wild-goose chase. HH

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): An investment will pay off. Don’t neglect your personal papers. The updates you make will be advantageous. Look for ways to cut your overhead, as well as unique ways to bring in more cash. HHHH Birthday Baby: You are steadfast, loyal and passionate.

You are resourceful and kind.

‘bookends’ by paul coulter The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Forum garments 6 Dog biter 10 ___ Dhabi 13 Home 14 Afro-Cuban dance 16 Bit of ink 17 Perform a flashy flying maneuver 19 Boat pronoun 20 Olin of Chocolat 21 “You’ve got mail” co.

22 “Er...”

24 Repeatedly 28 Spread horizontally 30 Taqueria legumes 31 Raises up 33 Nevertheless 34 13th director DuVernay 37 Be behind 38 Nasdaq debut 40 New Mexico Rep.Haaland 42 Garage sale label 43 “Welcome” site 44 Boat with pairs of animals 46 Flipper’s action

8 Mediterranean Sea tourist destination 4 50 Like some dermatology patients 51 Demi Lovato hit with the lyric “Being so bad got me feelin’ so good” 56 “Shh!” 57 Yang’s counterpart 58 Denmark-based shoe brand 61 Actress Hagen 62 Verbatim 66 Feel lousy 67 Take responsibility for something 68 Gave medicine to 69 ___ Moines 70 Boys 71 Chips in DOWN 1 Far-fetched, as a tale 2 Cousin of a bassoon 3 Change one’s eating regimen 4 Sponsored magazine content 5 Unit for a DJ or a tennis player 6 A/C cooling agent 7 Crib notes?

8 Moody music genre 9 Blood-typing letters

0 Baffled 1 11 Religion founded in Persia 12 Vols’ school 15 Like bee colonies 18 Word of agreement in Japanese 23 Booker T.’s bandmates, with “the” 25 Not pro 26 Call for 27 Tinder user, e.g.

28 For ___ the Bell Tolls 29 “Field of Dreams” state 32 Where the rain stays mainly in the plain, in song 34 By hook or by crook 35 Caesar’s farewell 36 Got older 39 Short pasta 41 Den denizen 45 Bush cricket 47 Like some caps 48 Anger 49 How one must win in table tennis 51 Team 52 Certain navel 53 Iranian money

4 Prepares flour for a recipe 5 55 Palindromic singer/peace activist 59 Northern Montana native 60 Numbers in Vegas 63 Mail-carrying bird in Harry Potter books 64 Molecule hidden in “internal” 65 Food stat Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, October 24, 2019

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FROM left: Ms. Fernandez and Zhuang Lao Shi were the teachers who helped Marcus overcome his shy nature; Ms. Sua, Meagan’s Social Studies teacher for multiple years, supporting Meagan at her first try at a speech elocution contest in Grade 6; Mrs. Yao, Meagan’s first math enrichment teacher, who devoted literally morning and afternoons every Thursday just to let Meagan catch up on her first grade math skills.

Wake up to the truth about ‘dream schools’ THE college admissions scandal—which recently led to a 14-day prison sentence for actress Felicity Huffman— exposed a group of wealthy parents’ obsession with getting their kids into the “right” school. Prosecutors say the families paid bribes, faked test results and pretended their kids were athletes to get them into selective colleges.

Unfortunately, many less affluent families also fall for the delusion that some schools offer golden tickets for their children’s futures, says Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of The College Solution. Whether it’s an Ivy League college or a high-priced “dream school,” too many people believe certain educations are worth endless effort, stress—and debt.

“Because somehow these are magical schools,” O’Shaughnessy says, describing the fantasy. “If your child gets in, their lives will be paved with gold.”

In reality, the colleges your kids attend matter far less than the majors they choose, and multiple studies have shown elite schools don’t offer any extra payoff for most graduates.

Inflated expectations can even lead to worse outcomes, including higher dropout rates.

Here are the most important facts to know as you navigate the college admissions process and decide how much to spend: n MOST COLLEGES ACCEPT MOST APPLICANTS. The frenzy around college admission—and the notion that it’s hard to get into a “good” school—focuses mostly on deeply flawed ratings systems and a handful of institutions that admit a fraction of their applicants, such as those involved in the college admissions scandal: Stanford University, which accepted less than 5 percent of applicants last year, Yale University (6 percent), University of Southern California (11 percent) and Georgetown University (14 percent ).

Looking at 2017 data, Pew Research Center counted just 46 schools with admission rates under 20 percent. Only 17 schools had single-digit admission rates. By contrast, 80 percent of the 1,364 colleges and universities Pew studied admitted half or more of those who applied. And 53 percent admitted at least two-thirds of their applicants.

Kids who don’t get into one of the 46 highly selective schools typically have plenty of other good options. n SELECTIVE DOESN’T MEAN BETTER OUTCOMES. Elite schools don’t produce happier or more successful people.

A 2014 study of nearly 30,000 college graduates found no correlation between a college’s admissions rate and future job satisfaction or well-being. Earlier studies by the late Alan Krueger of Princeton and Stacy Dale at Mathematica Policy Research found students who were admitted to highly selective colleges but who attended schools elsewhere usually did just as well financially.

Elite schools did increase incomes significantly for black, Hispanic and low-income students, and those whose parents didn’t graduate from college, Krueger and Dale found. Another group of researchers, however, discovered that highly selective schools didn’t have a lock on helping disadvantaged students. Many of the schools that increased opportunities the most for low-income students were much lower cost public universities, such as the California State University and City University of New York systems. n MAJORS MATTER MOST. Parents mistakenly believe brand-name schools impress employers and lead to more opportunities. Researcher Paul Hill, who analyzed millions of admissions and salary records for student loan lenders, didn’t find that to be true. Consistently, a graduate’s major had a far bigger impact, says Hill, president of Job Search Intelligence in Los Angeles.

“A kid with a degree in cyber security is going to come in at three times the salary of someone who graduated from Harvard with a soft degree, you know, liberal arts, humanities, whatever,” Hill adds, who also heads the nonprofit Educate to Career, which offers college admission and outcome data to families. “The skill set is what matters, not the name [of the school] on the diploma.” n ‘REACH’ SCHOOLS CAN BE RISKY. Counselors and parents often encourage seniors to apply to “reach” schools, colleges where a student’s test scores, class rank, grades or other qualifications are below the school’s average. The idea is that even though the odds are against admission, students might get lucky.

Getting into one of these schools may not be a blessing, however. Hill found that students in the bottom 25 percent of those admitted typically get less generous financial aid packages, and are more likely to drop out or flunk out. At most colleges, he says, scrambling for a place at a school that doesn’t really want your kid can backfire into a higher bill and a discouraged student.

“Parents get fixated on getting their kid into the best school possible,” Hill says. “They’re setting themselves up for frustration.” AP

What’s your view on parent-teacher relationships? Part II mommy no limits

maye yao co say

mommynolimits@gmail.com

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AST week, I shared my struggles and experiences with my kids’ school life. I shared how I evolved to acknowledging the vital role teachers play in my children’s development. This week, let me share the general principles I have arrived at in fostering a more collaborative relationship with teachers.

1. A perfect school is a myth. No school is perfect; no parent is perfect; and no child is perfect... which is “perfectly” fine (love the appropriateness of this adverb) because the world our kids will enter is definitely not perfect.

Similarly, we need to accept that our kids’ teachers, despite not being perfect, are trying their best. They are learning things along the way. When the teacher is young, we fear their lack of experience. When the teacher is older, we fear their inflexibility. I try to pick up the good things in both situations. I always remember my Grade 2 teacher, Ms. Liu, who was on her first year of teaching. She was handling fairly straightforward Chinese Reading and Language classes, but managed to motivate us with fun rewards.

Thirty-one years later, I was so lucky she was able to teach my son when he was also in second grade. Now,

she is a bit older and stricter but still has the same love for her students.

2. School life is real-world practice for our kids. I am often asked which I think is a good school. Personally, I choose schools for the values the institution can teach my children. This implies that the school’s culture and rules aid my efforts in instilling the values I try to develop at home. So at the onset, I knew I had to abide by the school’s style of administration. I can ask. I may not agree with all of them. My kids might be affected negatively by some rules, but the minute they step in school grounds, that is the set of societal rules that applies. I want my kids to know that rules apply to everyone—that if they choose to break any of them, they must be ready to face the consequences of their actions.

I also believe that school is the best place for our kids’ to see how X efforts bring that Y results for them. This enables them to see their strengths and weakness in subjects and learning skills, and hopefully discover that optimum “effort” formula for themselves. Whether my child gets a low, average or high grade has always been peripheral; what I ask of them is to know how they got there. I believe this makes them own up to their work early on. It is also a good preparation for them to become self-sufficient adults one day.

3. Parent-teacher cooperation vs. collision results in more accountable children. As it is in the real world, things do not always go our way.

At times, we even feel that what is “right” is so relative. I always tell my kids to start with their core right or wrong. If they feel they are right, they should voice it out.

Meagan has always been an overly candid child.

She used to feel so misunderstood because she felt

she was just telling the truth. Whenever she got misinterpreted and called to their guidance office, she would just keep quiet. One time she did not speak up for the false accusations one of her classmates made against her. In the end, she received a very heavy blow of punishment from the school. It was painful for me as a parent to see all her hard work in academics, sports and leadership set aside by the school. But I knew it was a teaching moment. I told her it is not enough to be right, you need to be able to communicate and make your points. If there were actions you did that might have been misinterpreted, reflect if it was worth doing them to begin with.

As I said these words, I kept close and hugged my daughter. It was not said in an “I told you so” moment, nor was it a tirade on the school’s decision. It was stated as a “done” moment that she needed to rise from and do better.

Amid all these, the school and I were in open communication. We may have not seen all points eye to eye but in the end, they assured me that they had my daughter’s best interest at heart. I thought to myself then, “Meagan is young. It is better for her to learn these life lessons now.” It has been a few years since that incident. Recently, I was able to touch base with the principal during orientation. She commended Meagan for her vast improvement. I thanked the school for supporting Meagan in MTAP, basketball and fencing.

In the end, our kids can only benefit from school the most if we as parents let the school perform their tasks on education and formation. As long as you are assured that the school has your child’s best longterm interest at heart, in my experience there is truly much to gain with having a more collaborative parent-teacher relationship. n

WalterMart is a truly local retailer which supports local farmers through their collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. In fact, WalterMart was the only supermarket that helped local farmers with the oversupply of mangoes by making WalterMart a venue to sell mangoes at farmgate prices.

WalterMart Supermarket Managing Director Joanne Lim-Co warmly welcomes the very first brand ambassador of WalterMart, Marian Rivera-Dantes, with Mascot Wally during the “I Love WalterMart” launch campaign at W Mall Macapagal.

WalterMart’s new logo at its Subic, Zambales, mall

Celebrity mom Marian Rivera at ‘I Love WalterMart’ launch WalterMart recently launched the “I Love WalterMart” campaign at W Mall Macapagal with celebrity mom Marian Rivera-Dantes.

“As we celebrate our 27th year, we welcome Marian Rivera-Dantes as our very first WalterMart ambassador,” says WalterMart Supermarket Managing Director Joanne Lim-Co. “We chose Marian because we admire her in so many ways—as a dedicated wife, a hands-on mom, and a role model to so

many. We also salute her for her many advocacies including championing locally made products.”

Consumers have been avidly patronizing WalterMart (www.waltermart.com.ph), as it continually seeks to provide a complete and happy shopping experience to more customers, besides uplifting the lives of the communities it serves.

Marian shares the four reasons why she loves WalterMart Supermarket. n Marian was amazed with WalterMart

Supermarket’s online delivery for groceries.

“It will help you save lot of time and money everyday, especially with moms like me,” says Marian. n From fresh produce, bakery, beauty and baby section to imported items, you’ll find everything you need inside WalterMart Supermarket. “Even the egg surprise toys of my daughter Zia are available with many versions,” Marian adds. n WalterMart always gives the best deals for Marian and her family everyday,

every time. You can also enjoy great discounts with WalterMart with special packed items, especially now that holiday is just around the corner. n Marian loves the fact that WalterMart makes shopping a breeze with its aisle markers to help you easily find the items you need. It also has in-line counters to make shopping faster and easier. But what she loves most is WalterMart’s staff who are ready to answer queries and guide her all the time.

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Thursday, October 24, 2019

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‘Fukushima, mon Amour’ THE German film Fukushima, mon Amour was among those screened in the recently concluded third edition of Cine Europa in the Ateneo de Naga University.

REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

W

HAT was a Japanese film doing in Cine Europa? The film Fukushima, mon Amour is really a German drama film set in Tohoku, the northern part of Japan which experienced the 9-magnitude earthquake in 2011. A great part of the dialogue in the film is in Japanese, with a sprinkling of English and German. There is of course the language of images, which makes this quirky, odd story a compelling and, sometimes, heart-tugging film.

The story starts with a young German woman dreaming of herself committing suicide by hanging. It is almost predictive, that scene, but where it will take place, we do not know. That lack of knowledge about the direction of a film that one is tempted to address as predictable is strangely the power of this narrative about two strangers in a strange land.

Marie is part of an organization of clowns with the aim of entertaining the refugees from the great earthquake in that part of Japan. As all the young women and men have already left the place, the evacuation area is populated by mostly old women.

These old Japanese women remain polite when the clowns arrive and do their stunts, which are abstracted given that the ideas seem to come from a culture different from the women in the audience.

But the Japanese women persist in listening to the stories, following the instruction. There is nothing to do in the area and anything, anything at all, will entertain them. When Marie introduces hula hoops, the middle-aged women and the old women follow her even as they do not have the skills to do the tricks and the dance.

A grouchy old lady is less polite. She is confrontational with Marie. Together, with Marie not able to see her leave the camp alone, they travel to the zone where human beings are not allowed. A nuclear reactor damaged by the earthquake and the tsunami that ravaged the countryside has brought about radiation in the area. But Satomi, the Japanese lady, is bent on returning to the area for that is where her home is.

Marie helps Satomi rebuild the house. Even in that miserable, dark place, Satomi makes it a point to remind Marie that, as a European woman, she does not have the grace to go through even the daily rituals Japanese women have to go through. But Marie learns.

The plot involving a Japanese and a Westerner, with the latter depicted as clumsy beside the more gracious Japanese, is old. In Fukushima, mon Amour, this unlikely tandem is pushed to its limits by making the Japanese woman a geisha, accomplished in many things the European woman would never

even aspire to have.

The isolation of the place, however, awakens a deeper bond between Satomi and Marie. The two are both wounded souls, with Satomi ready to claim the burden of grief and Marie seemingly too irrational to recognize the anguish that pushes her down. The surface strength of Marie brings her closer to what she feels to be the inner control of Satomi. And yet, many things are still to be revealed that will render the two women vulnerable.

Orientalism rears its seductive but facile appearance when Satomi is pictured to be strongly and uniquely the opposite of the European Marie.

Is the German director Doris Dorrie romanticizing once more the Asiatic female?

There is no clear answer to that question. What we do get as the narrative unfolds is a series of original scenes that gradually paint the landscape where two women are struggling with their own demons and battling the angels of beautiful feelings that fly out every now and then. The reality of returning to a home that does not look anymore a home because the neighbors are gone becomes less real as the apparitions of ghosts.

“You attract ghosts because you are unhappy,” Satomi tells Marie. The Japanese woman speaks of ghosts the way Marie speaks of her own sorrows. In return, Marie shares with Satomi her desire to be

relieved of the burdens of the past, the sadness of her own existence. And yet, Satomi assures Marie that this is her life and there is no way out of this.

In another retelling, the conversation between the two could have accrued into Zen platitude and Buddhist seminars. But Fukushima, mon Amour has enough shadow to allow the light to filter in easily.

It is in the gloom, in the furtive and quiet gestures of a dance, that the two women begin to learn about themselves. Even the act of self-immolation is not granted a shining moment. Marie, in an effort to prevent Satomi from hanging herself, cuts the branch that will make possible any person’s personal death wish. It is an act so practical that we are tempted to call that decision the product of Western/European pragmatism. That action of Marie, however, is full of humor and poignancy.

As Marie, Rosalie Thomass has the height and allure that enable the creation of a comic actor— without the comic relief—who will forever be considered bungling by Satomi. She tries to drink tea in the Japanese way, but the effort is just too much. We are Marie listening to Satomi lecturing on “you and the cup of tea.” We become Marie watching Satomi who watches us make mistakes, all from the Japanese perspective.

As Satomi, Kaori Momoi, the elegant actress who has appeared in films of Kurosawa and Shimamura,

is the reason why, with amazement, we accept the words of Satomi. Her Satomi is as bleak and spare as the landscape that should not be allowing humans and homes. It is this Satomi also that allows us to believe in the story of destruction as only that, physical annihilation. The greater loss and ravages are created by people and their loves. Art brings in further complications.

There is the third character that makes the film Fukushima, mon Amour unforgettable: it is the land, the zone full of radiation, the horizon that has the memory of the earthquake and huge waves.

In 1959, Alain Resnais made a film, called Hiroshima Mon Amour. The story uses Hiroshima as a locale, but is not about the atomic bomb and war.

It is about two lovers conversing. I am tempted, like a graduate student finishing a small paper, to call Fukushima, mon Amour a homage to that older film. As with the French film, this German film recalls the great earthquake almost like a bad dream and not a cautionary tale about disaster and the tapping of nuclear energies, which remains one of humankind’s follies.

■ Fukushima, mon Amour was one of the �ilms screened in the recently concluded third edition of Cine Europa in the Ateneo de Naga University. The �ilm has another title: Grüße aus Fukushima or Greetings from Fukushima.

Jane Fonda returns to civil disobedience for climate change

Janine Gutierrez wins Best Actress at 2019 QCinema international filmfest SHOWBIZ royalty and GMA leading lady Janine Gutierrez received her first-ever Best Actress plum at the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival’s Asian Next Wave Competition for her exceptional performance in the psychological thriller Babae at Baril.

Janine breathed life into the challenging character of a saleslady in a local department store who discovers a gun at her doorstep and uses it to turn her life around. As the story unravels, viewers saw a different and neverbefore-seen side of the GMA Artist Center star as an aggressive and vengeful woman.

Overwhelmed by the recognition, Janine paid tribute to all Filipino women in her acceptance speech: “Para sa lahat ng babaeng lumaban at

patuloy na lumalaban, thank you po.”

Janine also hopes more women will be empowered through the film: “I’m very grateful for this award, lalo na sa mga taong naniwala at naniniwala sa akin. Iba talaga ’yung kuwento ng pelikula, ipapakita niya ’yung katotohanan na nangyayari dito sa Pilipinas na baka hindi nakikita ng ibang tao.” Babae at Baril also won the Gender Sensitivity Award while its director, Rae Red, was named Best Director.

In August, Janine’s indie film with fellow GMA actor Benjamin Alves, Dagsin, was shortlisted to be the Philippine entry to the Oscar’s International Film Feature Category. Janine will also star in the upcoming romantic-comedy film If We Don’t Make It.

WASHINGTON—Inspired by the climate activism of a Swedish teenager, Jane Fonda says she’s returning to civil disobedience nearly a half-century after she was last arrested at a protest.

Fonda, known for her opposition to the Vietnam War, was one of 17 climate protesters arrested Friday at the US Capitol on charges of unlawful demonstration by what she called “extremely nice and professional” police.

Fellow actor Sam Waterston was also in the group, which included many older demonstrators.

Now 81, Fonda said she plans to get arrested every Friday to advocate for urgent reduction in the use of fossil fuels.

She hopes to encourage other older people to protest, as well.

Getting arrested in 2019 poses some entirely new challenges, Fonda told The Associated Press in an interview. These days, “they use white plastic things on your wrists instead of metal handcuffs, and that hurts more,” she said.

“The only problem for me is I’m old,” Fonda said. After her first arrest last week, she had trouble getting into the police vehicle because she was handcuffed behind her back and “had nothing to hang on to.”

On Friday, Fonda emerged from a cluster of officers and stepped smartly into the police wagon, her hands cuffed in front of her.

“Thanks, Jane!” some of the protesters called out.

A HALF-CENTURY after throwing her attention-getting celebrity status into Vietnam War protests, 81-year-old Jane Fonda is now doing the same in a US climate movement where the average age of protesters is 18. AP

“What would you tell President Trump?” someone in the crowd yelled to her earlier, as she and other protesters stood on their platform in front of the Capitol. “I wouldn’t waste my breath,” she shouted back, drawing laughter.

The rally drew at least a couple of hundred people, young and old.

While Fonda has taken part in many climate demonstrations, she said Greta Thunberg’s mobilization of international student strikes and other activism, along with the climate writing of author Naomi

Klein, prompted her to return to courting arrests for a cause.

Fonda cannot remember precisely which cause led to her last arrest in the 1970s.

She said her target audience now is people like her who try to cut their plastic use and drive fuel-efficient cars, for instance, but otherwise “don’t know what to do and they feel helpless,” she said. “We’re trying to encourage people to become more active, across the age spectrum.” AP

Envoys&Expats

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, October 24, 2019 E1

PHL, Spain: Marching together thru culture

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HE Philippines owes part of its identity to Spain. No doubt, over 300 years under the Spanish Empire have left a mark on the soul of our people, despite distance and the passage of time.

That essence still pervades through the Spanish culture, whose reach and influence are kept alive through the local arm of Instituto Cervantes.

Thus, it is of no surprise that the Manila branch has been vigorous in keeping Spain’s imprint in the Philippines apparent. For one, Spanish is well embraced by Filipinos who enlist to imbibe the language, whose words and terms, obviously or otherwise, were derived from Español or classic Latin.

In fact, according to Director Javier Galvan, the center of Instituto Cervantes in Manila is now second in the world in terms of enrollments in learning Spanish.

According to Galvan, “For the past

10 years, Manila has always been in the top 5 among the centers in the Instituto Cervantes network.”

Of late, Instituto CervantesManila has staged quite a number of cultural events, including the launch of a book on literary great Miguel Hernandez and the ongoing Pelicula 2019: Spanish film fest, among others.

The following is an interview with Galvan on Instituto Cervantes’s endeavors in the local scene, which keeps Spain’s legacy in the country very much alive through culture.

EN VOYS&E XPATS: Please describe your role in Instituto Cervantes-Manila and the path toward your appointment as di-

rector of the center.

GALVAN: My role is the same as the directors of other cultural organizations: to represent the institution with our partners, outline our strategies, program activities according to those strategies, and to coordinate the work of our team in the different areas.

We also work on establishing partnerships with local institutions and companies, as well as with European and Latin American counterparts, since these two continents are very much connected with Spain geographically and culturally.

Directors of the Instituto Cervantes centers are appointees. I obtained my appointment for Manila in 2001 and served until 2006. I’ve had different assignments within the institution: in Algeria, in the headquarters in Spain, and in Morocco.

Recently, I was appointed anew to the center here.

What are Instituto Cervantes’s current projects and activities to further promote Spanish culture in the Philippines?

There are two main areas of culture that we would like to promote:

one is Spanish-era heritage in the Philippines; the other is contemporary Spanish culture.

The first one is related to our common history. We want to highlight the value of those cultural contributions related to the common heritage. There were, of course, negative aspects—but there were many positive things, as well.

The memory and identity of Spain cannot be understood without the Philippines and Latin America, just like the memory and identity of the Philippines cannot be understood without Spain and Latin America.

There is a common history between Spain, the Philippines, and Latin American countries.

But we look to the past to understand the present and prepare for the future, a time when we expect the Philippines and Spain to walk together. And for this, we work on projects in collaboration with Philippine institutions.

The other main line is related to contemporary Spanish culture. We want to show what present-day Spain is to the Filipinos. Spanish society is very dynamic, and the country is doing well in many fields.

We also try to link the Philippines to European and Latin American culture, which are the two continents representing the different cultures which we belong to, similar to how the Philippines is very much connected to Spain, the neighboring Asian countries, and the United States, which gave a very interesting feature to Filipino culture. It is a melting pot of cultures.

We have to work on establishing the links between the different cultures to which we belong, and I think studying the interactions of the Chinese, the Filipinos and the Spanish, and the fusion of these cultures, would be very interesting. Just like the Philippines, Spain is also a blend of many cultures.

How would you describe the cultural engagement between Spain and the Philippines? Has it changed over the years, especially during the 1900s up to this time?

Yes, logically there has been an evolution. In the first half of the 20th century, even though the Philippines was under the rule of the Americans, Spanish imprint was very strong—

in language and in many aspects of culture. There were many Spaniards and mestizos still living in the Philippines.

In fact, the Golden Age of PhilHispanic Literature took place in this period, specifically from 1903 to 1966. Sadly though, the Americans had succeeded in erasing part of this cultural influence, which contributed to the decline of Spanish presence in Philippine culture, especially with the next generation.

Another factor is that after the Second World War, many mestizos and Spaniards who were living in Manila—the ones expected to carry on Spanish tradition to the next generation—had died. They were either massacred during the war, or they fled to other countries.

As an architect, one of the things that pain me is the devastation the war caused in cities that previously had this Spanish influence.

Numerous buildings constructed during the Spanish era were destroyed. People left these ruined cities and moved on to other areas to start anew.

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, October 24, 2019

PHL ethnomusic echoes loud in Madrid

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ADRID—More than a hundred people at the Palacio de Cristal in this city’s Retiro Park in September performed Philippine National Artist for Music José Maceda’s seminal piece Udlot-Udlot.

Under its umbrella program Archipelago 2019, the Reina Sofia Museum spearheaded the concert, which featured experimental music throughout the world. The UdlotUdlot performance was organized in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, the Spanish Embassy in Manila and the University of the Philippines-Center for Ethnomusicology.

Composed in 1975, Udlot-Udlot is a music piece designed for performance in an open-air venue for hundreds or thousands of performers.

Around 800 people in UP heard the piece that year. It had other notable performances in San Francisco in

2003, and in Suita, Japan, in 2010.

The performers—some of whom were from different music schools in Madrid, while a few had no background in music—used traditional bamboo instruments used in the Philippines that were especially crafted for the concert. Rhythmic sounds were created using the wooden instruments and vocals.

The Reina Sofia Museum’s description of Udlot-Udlot said: “The work is a key part not only of this composer’s career, but also the ensemble of aesthetic performances which, on an international level and not always interconnected, altered the traditional relationship between stage

PHL Embassy-Madrid holds business, investments seminar

COMMERCIAL Counselor Froilan Pamintuan (standing) led a presentation to representatives of Spanish companies on Philippine investment regulations and incentives. MADRID PE

V

ALENCIA—The Philippine Embassy in Madrid coorganized a business and investment seminar in July at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Valencia.

The chamber hosted the seminar, which was organized and coordinated through the embassy and Philippine Honorary Consul in Valencia Atty. Manuel Carrion.

Ambassador of the Philippines to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier led the Philippine delegation at the event. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mikhal C. de Dios, Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris Commercial Counselor Froilan Pamintuan and Atty. Carrion provided ample support.

In his opening speech, Chamber of Commerce of Valencia President José Vicente Morata noted Asia’s rapid economic development, then stated that Spain could not afford to miss out on the extensive commercial opportunities in the region.

Morata added that the European country’s special historic link with the Philippines could be the bridge in bringing both countries closer, particularly in terms of trade.

For his part, Lhuillier described the impressive economic growth of the Philippines and highlighted some of the most important government projects such as the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. He invit-

ed Spanish entrepreneurs to look more closely at the Philippines’s growth prospects and advantages in comparison with the rest of Asia and to seriously consider investing in the country.

De Dios gave a brief overview of the Philippine economy and a demographic profile of Filipino consumers and the domestic market, while touching on the country’s export priorities and various points of interest for potential investors. He also went into detail about tourism potential and attractions.

Pamintuan delivered a more detailed presentation on legal and technical considerations for incoming investors, as well as mentioned Philippine government incentives and mechanisms for bringing in interested foreign parties. He also described the basic process for setting up a business in the Philippines.

Presentations from Spanish companies followed suit. The International Business Association Logistics firm explained to the attendees the process of exporting goods to the Philippines, while QEV Tech shared its experiences in trying to enter the Philippine e-vehicle market.

A reception and networking event where embassy representatives addressed queries and concerns from individual companies in greater detail followed the presentations. DFA

PERFORMERS at the Udlot-Udlot concert in Retiro Park. MADRID PE

and sound in the 1960s and 1970s.”

Maceda was an ethnomusicologist who composed numerous pieces using Southeast Asian instruments and collected audio recordings of traditional music in the region. In 2007, his collections were inscribed in the Unesco’s Memory of the World Register, as submitted by the UP Center for Ethnomusicology and nominated

by the Philippine government.

The UP Center for Ethnomusicology summarizes the National Artist’s career as revealing a “continuous search for answers to questions about music and beyond its boundaries. In the process of expanding his perceptual field, he discovered gray areas and gaps in orthodox musical understanding, which he sought to address

in the context of wider philosophical and aesthetic domain.”

It added, “Taking a cue from this perspective, Maceda turned to the aesthetic and structural parameters of non-Western musical practice, most specifically Southeast Asian village traditions, where he found natural answers and solutions to his quest of breaking through the

frontiers that shackled conventional musical understanding.”

During the introduction of the piece, an acknowledgment was also made regarding the history of the Palacio de Cristal, a metal and glass structure built in 1887 for the Philippine exhibition. It now serves as one of the city’s most famous landmarks. DFA

PHL, Spain: Marching together thru culture

INSTITUTO Cervantes’s Director Javier Galvan at the opening ceremony of the 18th Pelicula Spanish Film Festival.

Continued from E1

Yet, in the latter part of the 1900s up to the present, Filipinos started to rediscover and appreciate the Spanish ingredient of their culture. And upon realizing that the blend of cultures is what makes their own culture very rich and unique, they began to appreciate the importance of the Spanish ingredient in their identity.

Furthermore, in an increasingly globalized world, some Filipinos found out that the ability to speak in Spanish can improved their income when working for foreign companies.

Nowadays, I see more Filipinos experiencing Spanish culture much more actively and positively than in the last century.

Do you feel that the essence of Spain still pervades in the daily lives of Filipinos?

There are many aspects in the daily lives and culture of the Filipinos that prove that Spanish is definitely part of their culture, even though they might be unaware of it. For one, many Filipinos have names and surnames that are Spanish. There are words and expressions in the different Filipino languages that come from Spanish.

But there also are intangible things that have somehow come as a result of Spanish influence, like town fiestas as a way to engage with the

neighbors and other people. There are also a lot of things that we have in common, such as the close family ties and hospitality toward foreigners.

Finally, Filipinos are said to be more like Latin Americans than Asians, and somehow this is the Spanish ingredient in Filipino culture.

How important is culture in current times?

Culture is fundamental in modern life. Knowledge of another’s culture is the best tool for different people to get to know each other better. If you understand another person’s beliefs and points of view better and appreciate their culture, you are less likely to be hostile to each other. Enemies are often created due to lack of understanding of the other’s culture, and that means that culture is fundamental for peace.

In a global world, culture is even more important because it is what frames identity. And in a global world, it is important to maintain one’s identity while at the same time, share it with the others. In this sense, culture becomes fundamental as a main tool for diplomacy: to help us avoid conflict and enable us to work together.

The European Union is a proof of that. Up to the mid-20th century, the European powers were destroying each other. Upon the creation of

the European Union, the countries became partners. We share many things in common. Culture is among them. Now, conflict between the major European countries is no longer possible.

Please give us an idea of Instituto Cervantes’s preparations for the Quadricentennial.

Our preparations are part of a commission created in Spain especially created for the commemoration of the fourth centennial, which coordinates the activities around the world. It is important to note that when we study this historical event, it is not for the sake of looking back to the past, but because we are learning which characteristics of that expedition can be useful today and for the future. The scientific aspect of that expedition brought about better knowledge of the world: geographically of course, and also environmentally.

Here, we collaborate with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and other institutions to program activities within the frame of this commemoration.

We are looking forward to organizing a congress, which will enable Spanish scholars in those fields to get in touch with the Filipino scholars, similar to what we did during the Miguel Lopez de Legazpi commemoration.

Your thoughts on Instituto Cervantes’s reach and your reappointment: I wish to impart that, not only does the center in Manila handle the activities in the Philippines, but we also coordinate the activities of our branches in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi.

The challenge however is bringing Spanish to all the islands and making it accessible to all Filipinos. This is not yet possible, since we do not have teachers sufficiently trained to teach Spanish all over the archipelago.

Also, another important task is to enhance cultural cooperation with Filipino institutions, to come up with joint projects that are co-organized and co-funded with Filipino organizations. We would like the Philippines to be a part of the projects, not just spectators from the sidelines. It’s like baking a cake for your friend to eat, or baking a cake with a friend and eating that cake together. Which process facilitates friendships better? Finally, I would like to express that I am very happy to be back in the Philippines. During the span of 12 years, from the time I ended my term as director in 2006, until now that I have been appointed again, I can see how society has progressed and how education will continue being a main driving force for the development of the country where I feel at home, and which I consider as my second home.

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com |Thursday, October 24, 2019 E3

FILM FEATURES

Spanish film fest moves to UP Diliman

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NSTITUTO Cervantes is currently holding the second leg of the Película Spanish Film Festival in Cine Adarna of the University of the Philippines-Diliman on October 23 and 24, with a selection of films from the first year of the festival scheduled to be screened in their original Spanish version and subtitled in English.

Now on its 18th edition, the festival will kick off at 5 p.m. with Salvador Simó’s animated film Buñuel en el laberinto de las tortugas (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles). Combining animation with actual footage of Luis Buñuel’s groundbreaking documentary Tierra Sin Pan (Land Without Bread), this movie depicts the filming process of the said documentary in 1932, in the county of Las Hurdes in Extremadura, Spain. It was preselected by the Spanish Film Academy for the upcoming Oscars.

At 7 p.m., the Argentinean black comedy El cuento de las comadrejas (The Weasels’ Tale), which won the Premio del Público or Audience Choice Award of PelÍcula 2019, will be screened.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Juan José Campanella, this movie is loaded with caustic humor and revolves around the lives of four legends of cinema who are past their prime.

On October 24, at 5 p.m., the festival will continue with the multi-awarded Spanish drama directed by Lino Escalera in 2017: No sé decir adiós (Can’t Say Goodbye). The film is about a daughter and her estranged father, both of whom cannot accept his impending death.

Lastly, at 7 p.m., the series

will conclude with the screening of Isabel Coixet’s latest film, Elisa y Marcela (2019). Based on a true story, the movie tells about two women who attempted to get married in Galicia, Spain, in the beginning of the 20th century. To achieve it, one of them had to adopt a male identity. It was the first same-sex marriage in Spain after the age of the Roman Empire.

In its first leg in Greenbelt 3, Película 2019 offered a lineup of films ranging from romance (Elisa y Marcela), comedy (El mejor verano de mi vida, Litus, Matar a Dios), drama (Quién te cantará), thriller (El reino, 70 Binladens), animation (Buñuel…), and documentary (Apuntes para una película de atracos). Aside from its lineup of movies in different genres, PelÍcula’s first leg also showed Latin American cinema, with feature films from Argentina (Mi obra maestra and El ángel) and Colombia (El Piedra).

After its UP Diliman stint, Película 2019 will come to a close with two more selection series in the cities of Iloilo and Davao.

Tickets are free of charge. Visit Instituto Cervantes’s Facebook page: InstitutoCervantesManila for the schedule, lineup of films and further information on the festival.

VARIOUS stills from the featured movies

Manila short-play festival all set in November PHL Embassy-Madrid joins 1st Asean movie fest in Spain

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

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ADRID—The Philippine Embassy in Madrid coorganized the first edition of the Asean Film Festival in Spain on October 2 to 6.

The noncompetitive event was jointly organized by the Asean Committee in Madrid composed of the embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, the Asia Film Industry in Spain and Latin America, and the Spain Moving Images Festival.

In the meeting, Indonesian Ambassador to Spain Pak Hermono, in his capacity as current chairman of the Asean Committee in Madrid, addressed press representatives and presented the joint trailer for the films submitted by the participating embassies.

The Asean Film Festival was the first of its kind to be held in Spain, with 10 feature-length films submitted for screening at the Cine Estudio

N ASEAN Committee in Madrid Chairman and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Spain Pak Hermono presents the joint trailer and lineup for the first Asean Film Festival. MADRID PE

of the Circulo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s most prominent cultural institutions.

The Philippine entries to the festival included Director Denise O’Hara’s work Mamang and Percival Intalan’s Distance, which were both shown in 2018. DFA

OW on its fifth season, Short+Sweet Theatre Festival Manila promises to be sweeter this time around as it further fortifies the country’s strong ties with Australia.

This year’s fair will feature 45 10-minute plays, 14 of which fall under the “Wildcard” category, and 31 as main stage showstoppers.

“In today’s [era] of ‘instant everything,’ telling a story on stage in 10 minutes, [before] an audience going through a roller coaster of many stories and many emotions, is pretty exciting. If you find something that is not to your taste, you just need to hang on… [The next film will be oncue in] just for 10 minutes,” festival Codirector Vaishali Ray said during the event’s press launch at the Australian Embassy’s headquarters in Makati.

Presented in Filipino or English,

the featured short plays are a good mix of comedy, drama, horror and other genres that will appeal to a very wide group of viewers.

“Short+Sweet is a great opportunity for emergent talent, because it encourages a new breed of writers, directors and actors. And it provides a large audience and venue for new work,” averred Joonee Garcia, who is also one of the festival’s codirectors.

The global organization of short plays aims to empower the youth through theater. It has become a learning ground for students who were part of the production team.

Hence, the Australian Embassy in the Philippines is deeply involved in this festival that showcases the uniquely homegrown Filipino talent, according to Australian Embassy Counselor for Political and Public Affairs Clare Duffield.

“Our support for Short+Sweet this year comes as part of the program that we’ve been running all year at the embassy, which is called ‘Australia Now Asean 2019,’” she said.

Despite differences, Duffield noted that the Australian youth and their counterparts from the “young and dynamic market” of Southeast Asia are what unite them as one.

“We’re really pleased to support Australia Now, the umbrella program that we’re using now to connect and encourage young thinkers, innovators and creatives across the region,” she explained.

Appreciative of the embassy’s constant backing of the festival since its inception in 2014, Ray emphasized that their alignment “is just perfect, in both focusing on the youth, while connecting and creating leaders through this art medium.” Started in Sydney in 2002 by Mark Cleary, Short+Sweet now has several stops across more than 10 Australian cities and overseas, including India, the Middle East, North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Japan and Ireland have joined the bandwagon lately.

The film fest is closing in on New York soon.

Presented by Rude Mechanicals Theatre Co., in collaboration with The Performing Arts and Recreation Center, or PARC Foundation, the 2019 Short+Sweet Theatre Festival Manila will be shown in three weekends next month: Wildcard Set 1 and Main Show on November 9 and 10, Wildcard Set 2 and Main Show on November 16 and 17, Finale on November 23, as well as Gala and Awarding, November 24.

“Part of the proceeds from Short+Sweet will go to PARC Foundation and Rude Mechanicals to help more underprivileged kids get an art education,” Garcia revealed.

“We’d like to invite everyone to come and watch the Short+Sweet short-play festival happening this November at the PARC Foundation in San Juan.”

Tickets are available at the venue and via Short+Sweet Theatre Festival Manila Facebook page. Prices range at P300 (Wildcard), P350 (main stage), and P1,200 (season all-access pass).

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

E4 Thursday, October 24, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

Japan lauds gymnast’s gold-medal triumph

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NVOY of Japan to the Philippines Koji Haneda hosted a ceremony on October 17 for an Ambassador’s Commendation to 2019 International Gymnastics Federation (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, or FIG) World Artistic Gymnastics Championships gold medalist Carlos Yulo, who also secured a spot for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the same competition.

The commendation recognized Yulo’s efforts in enhancing the relationship between Japan and the Philippines. Yulo has been training in Japan since 2016 with Japanese Coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

In a statement, the Embassy of Japan narrated Yulo’s journey from a young age, where he was part of the gymnastics team of the National Capital Region. The athlete

was already garnering medals in numerous local and national competitions.

The Japan Gymnastics Association to the Philippines dispatched Kugimiya to help coach its national team. He first saw Yulo in 2014 and was amazed by his level of skill. The coach knew that with the right kind of training, Yulo has what it took to win an Olympic medal. When

AMBASSADOR Koji Haneda and International Gymnastics Federation World Artistic Gymnastics Championships gold medalist Carlos Yulo

Kugimiya’s coaching duties in the Philippines ended, he went back to Japan and brought the young gymnast with him.

Adjusting to life in Japan was not easy for Yulo: he had to balance both schooling and training every day, as he also had to learn

Japanese. Furthermore, the gymnast’s shy personality made it difficult for both him and Kugimiya to communicate with each other.

Thus, Kugimiya suggested that Yulo start a diary where the latter would write in Japanese. Kugimiya checked the journal not only to see how Yulo can improve in the language, but also to check his true feelings about training. The diary served as a tool for them to communicate and understand each other better.

Kugimiya’s care for Yulo is not just one of a coach to his athlete, but is also something akin of a parent to their child. As they lived in the same apartment, Kugimiya directly took care of Yulo’s living expenses, while ensuring that the athlete ate healthily.

Despite having to balance his duties as assistant professor in Teikyo University with coaching and taking care of Yulo, Kugimiya continued to do it because, according to him, the “fun times made it enjoyable.” The coach genuinely believed in Yulo’s potential and saw his hard work.

Yulo returned the favor through his loyalt y and gratitude for Kugimiya’s strictness and care. He even turned down scholarships and offers from other countries so that he can continue training under his Japanese mentor.

Their teamwork built inside and outside of training is something not many coaches and athletes have, and had yielded excellent results.

In 2018, the Japan Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee helped further Yulo’s training in Japan by supporting him through the Olympic Solidarity program. Getting into the games and winning a medal is not just Yulo’s goal, but also Kugimiya’s.

The embassy hopes that its support will help both to achieve their objectives, and that Yulo will continue to give glory to the Philippines.

Among those who attended the awarding ceremony were the ambassador’s wife Ihoko, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion-Norton and Kugimiya.

EHEF 2019 takes Filipino students on a journey to academic excellence F OR Filipinos, a chance to study abroad and obtain a world-class higher education remains a dream.

But with the help of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines and the EU member-states’ embassies, this goal can now become a reality.

In what is, perhaps, a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity is a close possibility, as the European Higher Education Fair 2019 (EHEF) will take place at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City on October 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will feature more than 30 universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Repub-

lic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

This year’s theme, “Study in Europe: EUr Journey to Excellence,” establishes the EU’s position as an outstanding center of quality and excellence in higher education.

Pursuing postgraduate studies in the bloc offers many advantages and possibilities.

According to the delegation’s embassy, the EU is an excellent destination for academic and scientific research programs, as well as a provider of an ideal atmosphere for scholarly activities. Most EU universities offer specialized and advanced study courses in engineering, architecture, social

EUROPEAN Union Delegation to the Philippines Charge d’Affaires Thomas Wiersing (front row, fifth from left), with the European Higher Education Fair 2019 stakeholders and ambassadors.

sciences, arts and humanities, as well as information technology.

Other tangible benefits of an educa-

tional experience in the EU include learning new languages, immersing in diverse cultures, and joining an international

network of students and peers.

The EU also provides scholarship schemes to foster student mobility and academic excellence, such as the Erasmus+ program, which encourages students from partner-countries to take higher education courses in the region. This year alone, 66 Filipino students have been awarded scholarships that will allow them to take Master of Arts courses in various EU universities.

More than 400 Filipino students have already pursued their academic dreams in several European member-states and have successfully made their mark in their chosen fields.

EHEF enables students to interact directly with EU universities and HEI representatives to gain comprehensive information about their study programs. They can also look forward to country presentations from EU member-states and listen to testimonials from EU alumni and past Erasmus+ scholars.

UNDP report: PHL’s economic prize at $82B by 2030

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HE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines recently released the “Better Business, Better World: Philippines Report,” which highlights an economic prize worth more than $82 billion across the country by 2030, alongside large environmental and social benefits that can be achieved through the shift to sustainable business models.

The report details the most significant business opportunities aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) in four key areas of the Philippine economy: cities and mobility; energy and materials; food and agriculture; as well as health and well-being. These opportunities have the potential to create 4.4 million new jobs by 2030.

It also follows the global flagship report “Better Business, Better World,” which was published by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC) in 2017.

Said report revealed that pursuing 60 sustainable and inclusive market “hot spots” in just four key investment opportunities could create $12 trillion in business value by 2030—equivalent to 10 percent of forecast gross domestic product—and generate up to 380 million jobs, mostly in developing countries, by 2030.

UNDP Philippines worked closely with SYSTEMIQ Ltd., which supported

the BSDC and the development of the flagship report, then applied the same methodology while framing around the Philippines’s context and sustainability issues. Guided by a Steering Committee composed of senior officials from the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as experts Guillermo M. Luz and Rafael C. Lopa. SYSTEMIQ Ltd., with support from AlphaBeta, conducted intensive research and case studies to produce the report.

UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Titon Mitra highlighted the rationale behind the report by emphasizing: “We have a real opportunity to mobilize the available inert substantial private capital in the country to achieve the SDGs. The challenge is not in the lack of funds, but rather [their] effective application. The report provides a basis for companies to transition from corporate social responsibility to doing well and doing good.”

Mitra continued, “The size of the economic prize is staggering, creating both a win-win situation and a means to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs. The private sector is the engine not only for economic growth, but also for sustainable development. Better businesses

need a better world, and we can’t have a better world without better businesses.”

To drive commitment and further actions following the finalization of the report, UNDP and SYSTEMIQ Ltd. recently facilitated deep-dive sessions with CEOs, senior executives and sustainability officers of four top conglomerates in the Philippines. Discussions focused on identifying new investment areas, the requirements to maximize the opportunities presented and to gain commitments toward fulfilling the vision of the report.

SYSTEMIQ Ltd. Senior Advisor Gail Klintworth noted, “SDGs, as a lens for business growth, is the most exciting investment opportunity of the decade.

Investment opportunities linked to the SDGs are predicted to grow exponentially ahead of other sectors.”

For his part, Luz explained: “Meeting the SDGs has normally been seen as a corporate philanthropic exercise. But looking at a business model for achieving them may be our best bet at succeeding. This is a case of doing good and doing well.”

As part of its mandate to establish meaningful partnerships in line with impactful innovations, UNDP Philippines will continue to work with the aforementioned government agencies and other organizations to effectively disseminate the report to more companies and businesses all over the country.