THE MANILA TIMES | MARCH 02, 2019

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•• 5 SECTIONS PAGES • VOL. 120 NO. 140 28

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019

North Korea, US vow to keep talking HANOI: North Korea on Friday promised further negotiations with the US despite a spectacular failure to strike a nuclear deal at their Hanoi summit, with both sides keeping the door of diplomacy open.

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Reply to letters from readers First word

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OBSERVER YEN MAKABENTA

E columnists often reCEIVE NUMEROUS COMMENTS AND REACtions to the positions we take on issues.

I want to take time today to call ATTENTION TO SOME LETTERS THAT ) HAVE RECEIVED IN REACTION TO RECENT COLUMNS

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Why fear MVP?

T was IN MY LINE high OF SIGHT time businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who wants to be called MVP (for “Most Valuable Player),� was put in his place.

President Digong did that for the second time when he threatened to shut down MVP’s PLDT Inc. for not EXPANDING THE TELEPHONE HOTLINE TO Malacaùang for citizens’ complaints.

Pangilinan immediately became obsequious to Mr. Duterte. He said that he would address the President’s complaint.

RAMON T. TULFO

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Trusted since 1898

IN CASE OF AT TACK

US will defend PH – Pompeo T

HE United States will defend Manila in case of an armed attack in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Friday, as he warned that China’s island-building activities pose a threat to Philippine sovereignty.

ALLIES President Rodrigo Duterte (left) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during their meeting at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Thursday.

MALACAĂ‘ANG PHOTO

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Pompeo likens Duterte to Trump US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has likened President Rodrigo Duterte to US President Donald Trump, MalacaĂąang said on Friday.

Pompeo paid a courtesy call on Duterte on Thursday evening. The

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SCOUT RANGER Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal confer on Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao a medal that makes him honorary member of the Scout Ranger.

ÂłTulfoA5 REACH US AT: E-mail: newsdesk@ manilatimes.net Tel. Nos.: 524-5664 to 67 Address: 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

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PHOTO BY ROGER RAĂ‘ADA

UN WARNS OF ‘COMPLACENCY’ AS MEASLES CASES SOAR

PARIS: Just 10 countries were responsible for three-quarters of a global surge in measles cases last year, the UN children’s agency said on Friday, including one of the world’s richest nations, France.

Ninety-eight countries reported more cases of measles in 2018 compared in 2017, AND THE WORLD BODY WARNED THAT CONlICT

COMPLACENCY AND THE GROWING ANTI VACCINE MOVEMENT THREATENED TO UNDO DECADES OF work to tame the disease.

What’s inside WATER RATES TO GO DOWN DEMOCRACY BETRAYED

BY FLAWED CRITICAL THINKING

Antonio ContrerasA4

Catriona Gray’s homecoming days in divine dresses E1

EntertainmentD1

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Brace for monstrous traffic jams, – MMDA

NewsA2

JC DE VERA HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANGEL LOCSIN SET WALKOUT

g4HIS IS A WAKE UP CALL 7E HAVE A SAFE EFFECTIVE AND INEXPENSIVE VACCINE against a highly contagious disease — a VACCINE THAT SAVED ALMOST A MILLION LIVES EVERY YEAR OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES u SAID (ENRIETTA &ORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). g4HESE CASES HAVEN T HAPPENED OVERnight. Just as the serious outbreaks we

SHARP PHILS MARKS ITS 4 MILLIONTH TV PRODUCTION Sharp Philippines Corp. marked the production of its 4 millionth TV on Wednesday at the head office in Muntinlupa City. Headed by its president and general manager, Kazuo Kito, and graced by Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, the milestone was celebrated with employees and the younger generation to prove how far the company has come to be the longest running producer of TVs in the Philippines. Sharp employees gathered at the main production area where they witnessed the production of the 4 millionth TV. As part of the thanksgiving event, Sharp Philippines donated LED TVs to the City of Muntinlupa, Muntinlupa Fire Department and Muntinlupa Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, among others.

MOTORISTS and commuters should PREPARE FOR MONSTROUS TRAFkC JAMS IN Quezon City as the two-year closure OF THE 4ANDANG 3ORA lYOVER BEGINS ON Saturday night to make way for the construction of the Tandang Sora station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7.

4HE FOUR LANE 4ANDANG 3ORA lYOVER and intersection along CommonWEALTH !VENUE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELEVATED GUIDEWAY and a pocket track for the MRT 7. “This closure will run straight until 2020. We need to close these ;lYOVER AND INTERSECTION= BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY CAUSE HEAVIER TRAFkC and may hinder the MRT station construction,� Jose Arturo Garcia *R -ETROPOLITAN -ANILA $EVELOPment Authority (MMDA) general manager, said.

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News

˜ The Manila Times

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SATURDAY March 2, 2019

Water rates to go down C

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

USTOMERS of Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. can look forward to lower rates in April.

Patrick Lester Ty, chief regulator at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), said the board of trustEES APPROVED A TARIFF REDUCTION OF CENTAVOS PER CUBIC METER (cu.m.) for Manila Water and P0.07 per cu.m. for Maynilad.

For Manila Water customers,

households that consume 10 cu.m. or less will see a decrease of P1.21 in their monthly bill. Those conSUMING CU M WILL HAVE A 0 decrease, while those consuming CU M WILL HAVE A 0 DECREASE For Maynilad customers, households that consume 10 cu.m.

OR LESS WILL HAVE A CENTAVO

DECREASE CENTAVOS FOR THOSE consuming 20 cu.m. and P1.54 for those who consume 30 cu.m.

Ty said the foreign currency DIFFERENTIAL ADJUSTMENT &#$! for Manila Water and Maynilad DROPPED TO CENTAVOS PER CU M and 0.05 per cu.m. for the second quarter of the year.

FCDA is a tariff mechanism accorded to utility companies TO ADDRESS THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE gains and losses from the payment of concession loans and foreign currency denominated debts. It is ADJUSTED QUARTERLY Meanwhile, Ty said the MWSS-

Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) WOULD START SCRUTINIZING THE EXpenses incurred by the two water companies in June or July this year.

0ROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE INSPECTION OF THEIR kNANCIAL BOOKS INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF THE kRMS HISTORICAL ACTUAL CASH lOWS 4HIS WOULD BE THE kRST TIME THAT THE MWSS-RO conduct the regulatory kNANCIAL AUDIT WHICH IS USUALLY DONE EVERY kVE YEARS AS STIPULATED in the concession agreements of the agency with Manila Water and Maynilad.

Section 13.2 of the agreement states that books and records of

the concessionaires can be audited on an interim basis either by the agency or independent auditor. g4HEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNALED their cooperation.They will coOPERATE WITH US IN THE kNANCIAL audit,� Ty told reporters.

The MWSS-RO is planning to PUBLISH THIS MONTH ITS INVITATION to bid to commission an indePENDENT ENTITY TO DELVE INTO THE kNANCIAL BOOKS OF -ANILA 7ATER and Maynilad.

Ty said he was hoping to conDUCT THE kNANCIAL AUDIT ANNUALLY until his term ends in 2022.

Q DEFEND FROM A1

US will defend PH “As an island nation the Philippines depends on freedom, UNOBSTRUCTIVE ACCESS TO SEAS u 0OMPEO SAID IN A JOINT PRESS briefing with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin. “China’s island-building and MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE 3OUTH #HINA 3EA THREATEN YOUR SOVEREIGNTY

security and therefore economic LIVELIHOOD AS WELL AS THAT OF THE United States,� he said. “As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, AIRCRAFT OR PUBLIC VESSELS IN THE South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,� Pompeo stressed.

Pompeo’s comments marked THE kRST TIME ANY 53 OFkCIAL HAD publicly stated Washington’s intent to defend its poorly-armed ally speCIkCALLY IN THE lASHPOINT SEA A 1951 US-Philippine mutual defence treaty committed Manila and its former colonial master to come to each other’s aid in case OF AN gARMED ATTACK IN THE 0ACIkC area� on either party.

3ENIOR $UTERTE OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF THE PACT BEcause they were unsure whether it applied to the maritime row.

‘Have your back’ 0HILIPPINE TROOPS AND kSHERMEN HAVE FREQUENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT harassment by Chinese maritime security forces around some of the islands and reefs Manila occupies.

The US has said it is not taking SIDES IN THE DISPUTE OVER WATERS claimed by China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

(OWEVER 7ASHINGTON HAS ASSERTED ITS RIGHT TO FREELY SAIL OVER waters through which trillions of dollars in global trade pass through each year and which rePUTEDLY CONTAIN VAST MINERAL AND OIL RESERVES The Philippines used to be the STAUNCHEST CRITIC OF #HINA S EXPANSIVE CLAIMS OVER THE SEA But after his election in 2016 Duterte put the dispute on the BACK BURNER IN FAVOUR OF COURTING #HINESE TRADE AND INVESTMENT He threatened a split with the United States and called then President Barack Obama a “son of a whore.�

Relations are being rebuilt un-

der US President Donald Trump.

Locsin on Friday downplayed THE 0HILIPPINE GOVERNMENT S SUGGESTIONS FOR A REVIEW OF THE DEFENSE PACT SAYING IN ITS gVAGUENESS LIES the best deterrence.� g7E ARE VERY ASSURED WE ARE VERY CONkDENT THAT 5NITED 3TATES HAS

in the words of Secretary Pompeo and words of President Trump to OUR PRESIDENT WE HAVE YOUR BACK u Locsin said. “Ideally, mutual defense should COVER A PARTNER S BACK AS WELL AS its front.�

Locsin said he and Pompeo DISCUSSED THE gVITAL SUPPORT of the US to the AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) modernization program.� “Secretary Pompeo and I agree that it was in both our countries’ interest to ensure the alliance EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS OTHER NON traditional security issues such as humanitarian assistance, diSASTER RELIEF AND ABOVE ALL THE kGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFkCKING u he said. g7E SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE alliance must be able to ensure the unfailing mutual defense of our two countries; an arrangement that has contributed to regional peace, freedom, stability and prosperity.�

Pompeo and President Rodrigo Duterte held a closed-door meeting at the Kalayaan Lounge at Villamor Air Base on Monday night.

0ALACE SPOKESMAN 3ALVADOR Panelo said Duterte “highlighted prospects of stronger and more meaningful ties with the United States, particularly on defense and security, peace and order, regional stability, as well as the rule of law IN THE CONDUCT OF ACTIVITIES IN THE 7EST 0HILIPPINE 3EA TO PREVENT escalation of tensions among COUNTRIES INVOLVED u Panelo said there was still a need TO REVIEW THE -$4 BECAUSE THERE might be “kinks� in the treaty that NEEDED TO BE CLARIkED g7E WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE ;THE -$4= "UT WE ARE PLEASED TO NOTE that the US has made a policy statement with respect to attacks ON THE 0HILIPPINE VESSEL TO BE deemed as an attack to the US,� he said. “According to them, if there is an attack on us they will be protecting us or helping us in our defense. If there is a shooting war, then the US will be on our side.�

WITH AFP

Q LIKENS FROM A1

Pompeo likens Duterte two had a closed-door meeting at the Kalayaan Lounge in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Panelo said Pompeo voiced his fondness for Duterte during the meeting. “I remember when the President was talking about what he is doing for this country, even his controversial movements and his cursing. The Secretary of State said you are just like our President.

We all laughed,� Panelo said. “The style of the President, he is very frank. He fights against anyone.

Mr. Trump is like that, right? Against all flags,� he added.

In the past, Duterte called Trump his friend.

Like the Philippine leader, Trump is known to make strong and unorthodox

statements.

He is also known for making controversial statements, also like Duterte.

Last year, Duterte blamed Trump for the nine-year high inflation rate in the Philippines.

He said America raised its rates and import dues, which resulted in higher prices.

Meanwhile, Panelo said he was unsure if Duterte would accept the invitation of Pompeo to visit the US. “Duterte did not say anything. The problem with the President is, he cannot stand the temperature in the US. It is very cold there. He is having a hard time. The distance is also too far. The long haul, he does not want,� he added RALPH U. VILLANUEVA

NURSES’ CHAMPION Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go with nurses of the Navotas Hospital. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Go pushes higher pay for nurses AS PART OF HIS ADVOCACY TO ADVANCE healthcare in the country, aspiring senator and former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go on Friday said he would push for a bigger salary for nurses and additional benefits for barangay VILLAGE health workers g4HEY DESERVE TO BE PROPERLY compensated because they are ESSENTIAL IN THE DELIVERY OF CRUCIAL MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE GRASSROOTS in keeping our citizens healthy,�

Go noted.

(E SAID HE WOULD LEAVE IT TO THE GOVERNMENT TO DETERMINE THE appropriate increase in the salary of nurses.

According to Go, raising the nurses’ pay would entice them to work in the country instead of going abroad.

He issued the statement after HIS VISIT TO THE PEDIATRICS DEPART-

MENT OF .AVOTAS (OSPITAL WHERE NURSES RAISED CONCERN OVER THEIR current pay and inquired about the possibility of increasing their salary. g)MPROVE THE HEALTH SERVICES throughout the country. Alam niyo, sa kakaikot ko, marami pong mga ospital diyan na kulang ang mga hospital beds po.

Nakahilera sa labas ng wards po ‘yung mga pasyente, minsan, sa isang kama, two or three pasyente po dito ang nakahiga ) HAVE SEEN the lack of hospital beds. Patients are outside the wards,sometimes, one bed is occupied by two or three patients), Go narrated, INDICATING THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE BEDS TO public hospitals.

He said the Malasakit Center program would play a crucial ROLE IN IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT

the country.

The Malasakit Center, a program that Go started and is being implemented by the Duterte administration, aids indigent patients in acquiring quick medical and kNANCIAL HELP FROM GOVERNMENT arms such as Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Charity 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE $EPARTMENT of Health, Department of Social 7ELFARE AND $EVELOPMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES He is pushing for a law to be enacted to allow the establishment of MORE -ALASAKIT #ENTERS TO PROVIDE assistance to patients, particularly TO THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED Through such a law, Go said, the Malasakit Center program would be able to be continued beyond President Rodrigo $UTERTE S TERM OF OFkCE There are 26 Malasakit Centers across the country.

Senate needs new blood – Manicad

FORMER broadcast journalist and aspiring senator Rodrigo “Jiggy�

Manicad Jr. has urged voters to look at different political options in the May 2019 midterm elections.

Manicad made the statement as he called “for the infusion of new blood in the Senate to institute innovative ideas and creative solutions to address the country’s pressing problems.�

The former journalist, who is seeking a Senate seat for the first time, cited the need for reforms in the agricultural sector and in bilateral agreements with host countries for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “The Senate needs new blood, fresh ideas and the political will to institute reforms,� Manicad, one of the youngest contenders for the Senate, said.

He added that that new candidates could complement the experience offered by veteran lawmakers.

If elected into the Senate, Manicad said he would push for the establishment of Bagsakan Centers, farm-to-market roads, introduction of new technology to boost production, and technocrats in the Agriculture department instead of political appointees.

The Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Senate bet also wanted to bring an end to the “kafala� system in the host countries of OFWs. The “kafala� system is a practice prevalent in the Middle East wherein a migrant worker must have a sponsor in the host country prior to employment and arrival.

The sponsor, either an individual or a company, possesses substantial control over the worker.

Manicad said this system led to the abuse of workers. “Sa ganitong sistema, kawawa ang ating mga OFWs. Ang tinuturing nating mga hero ay tinatrato namang tila alipin sa kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan.

In this kind of system, our OFWs are pitiful. The people we look at as heroes are treated as slaves� he noted. “More has to be done to eradicate the oppressive system altogether,� the former journalist said.

Aside from Manicad, the other newcomers who are running for senator under the HNP are longtime top Duterte aide Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go, Ilocos Norte Gov. Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee�

Marcos, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato� de la Rosa and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong�

Mangudadatu.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE

Q TALKING FROM A1

NKorea, US vow to keep talking The high-stakes second meeting between the North’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump broke up in disarRAY 4HURSDAY WITHOUT EVEN A JOINT statement.

In the aftermath, each sought to blame the other’s intransigence for the deadlock.

Trump insisted Pyongyang wanted all sanctions imposed on it OVER ITS BANNED WEAPONS PROGRAMS lifted, and this was a bridge too far.

But in a rare late-night press BRIEkNG THE .ORTH +OREAN FOREIGN minister said Pyongyang had only wanted some of the measures eased, and that its proposal to close “all the nuclear production FACILITIESu AT ITS 9ONGBYON COMPLEX WAS ITS BEST AND kNAL OFFER Despite the stalemate, the .ORTH S OFkCIAL +#.! NEWS AGENCY reported Friday that the two leadERS HAD HAD A gCONSTRUCTIVE AND CANDID EXCHANGE u Relations between the two countries — on opposite sides of the TECHNICALLY STILL UNkNISHED +OREAN War — had been “characterized by mistrust and antagonism� for decades, it said. $ESPITE gINEVITABLE HARDSHIPS AND DIFkCULTIESu ON THE WAY TO FORGING A new relationship, KNCA described the Hanoi summit as “successful� and said Kim had promised Trump another encounter.

An unusually downcast Trump told reporters that he would “rather do it right than do it fast,� adding: g3OMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WALK AND THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE TIMES u

‘Billions of dollars’

of dollars.�

In return, Pyongyang was only offering to close “a portion of the 9ONGBYON COMPLEX u A SPRAWLING SITE COVERING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT facilities — and the North is BELIEVED TO HAVE OTHER URANIUM enrichment plants.

Trump had urged Kim to go “all INu TO SECURE A DEAL THE OFkCIAL said, adding Washington was willing to do so. g4HE WEAPONS THEMSELVES NEED to be on the table,� he added, POINTING TO BOTH 0YONGYANG S EXisting stock of atomic bombs and the ICBMs which can reach the whole of the US mainland.

But the process was continuing and Washington was “encouraged by the opportunities ahead OF USu THE OFkCIAL SAID g4HERE S still ample opportunity to talk.�

Kim began a two-day official VISIT TO 6IETNAM &RIDAY WHILE IN Manila, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters: “We are ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE SO WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION that will ultimately lead to peace and stability.�

The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of the pre-meeting EXPECTATIONS AND HOPES AFTER critics said their initial historic meeting in Singapore — which PRODUCED ONLY A VAGUE COMMITment from Kim to work “toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula� — was MORE STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE According to senior US ofkCIALS IN THE WEEK LEADING UP to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the liftING OF EFFECTIVELY ALL THE 5. 3ECUrity Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016.

Before that date, the measures WERE LARGELY FOCUSED ON PREVENTing technology transfers but more RECENT RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO SEVERAL LUCRATIVE INDUSTRIES ‡ COAL AND IRON ORE SEAFOOD AND TEXTILES

among others — in an effort to ‘Rollercoaster ride’ force concessions from Pyongyang. “It was basically all the sanctions Analysts said the failure to reach a EXCEPT FOR ARMAMENTS u A SENIOR 53 deal in Hanoi did not herald the OFkCIAL TOLD REPORTERS g)T TALLIES UP end of negotiations. to the tune of many, many billions “I don’t think it’s a disaster

and it doesn’t end the dialogue process,� said Chris Green of the International Crisis Group.

Trump could not afford to do “a quote-unquote ‘bad deal’� in Hanoi, he added. “I think it benEkTS HIM TO LOOK TOUGH TO STRING this out.�

But others pointed to a lack of preparation ahead of the meeting, with the two sides unable to bridge the gaps between them in time.

Former US ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens said the impasse “highlighted the imporTANCE OF WORKING LEVEL TALKS BUT simultaneously narrowed the range of options�.

Kim put “more emphasis� on SANCTIONS RELIEF THAN MOST OBSERVers predicted, she said, and mutual LIAISON OFkCES AND AN END OF WAR STATEMENT PROVED INSUFkCIENT TO persuade him to go further with denuclearisation.

Joel Wit and Jenny Town of the respected Washington-based 38 .ORTH PROJECT SAID THAT WHILE THERE had been fears beforehand that 4RUMP gWAS GOING TO GIVE AWAY THE STORE HE DID JUST THE OPPOSITE

holding out for a better deal�. g4HE TWO LEADERS ARE HEAVILY INVESTED IN THE PROCESS SO HOPEFULLY

THIS FAILED SUMMIT WILL JUST BE ONE more chapter in the rollercoaster ride that is the Trump presidency,� they wrote.

AFP

News

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SATURDAY

March 2,

2019

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NTC acts vs Momo Challenge

BY JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

4

HE .ATIONAL 4ELECOMMUNICATIONS #OMMISSION .4# HAS CALLED FOR A meeting to immediately address the so-called Momo Challenge, a viral online suicide challenge targeting children and adolescents.

The NTC invited representatives from agency members of the Committee for the Special Protection of Children to the meeting. Among those invited were officials from the Department

of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine National Police. Representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology,

the chairman of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center created under Republic Act 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012,� were also invited. “Momo� allegedly led an 11-year-old to commit suicide through online dares and threats.

The NTC can direct internet service providers to block websites being used to per-

petuate harmful content, as well as the commission of cyber crime like online harassment.

4HE $)#4 WAS URGED TO CONkRM the authenticity of reports of a Momo Challenge trend online urging children to commit harmful acts.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, at the same time advised parents to monitor what their children were watching online. “Even as we determine the veracity of these reports, I strongly encourage my fellow parents

THE Court of Tax Appeals’ Second Division has approved the compromise agreement between the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and ABS-CBN Corp. on the payment of P152.4 million in taxes. “After careful scrutiny of the documents submitted by the parties in support of the judicial compromise, the Court finds the same in order and in compliance with the established laws, rules and regulations,� the court said.

The P152.4 million covers the payment of 40 percent of the BASIC TAX ASSESSED FOR DEkCIENCY income tax, value-added tax and documentary stamp tax, and the amount equivalent to 100 percent of the basic tax assessed for the deficiency expanded withholding tax, compensation WITHHOLDING TAX AND kNAL WITHholding tax.

4HE AGREEMENT BECAME kNAL ONCE it was approved by the tax court.

The case arose from ABS-CB._~S DEkCIENCY INTERNAL REVENUE taxes for 2009.

REINA TOLENTINO

WARRIOR IN MANILA Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior docks at Pier 15 in Manila. Greenpeace is on a 16-day journey to drum up support for its campaign against plastic pollution.

PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

Chinese embassy denies ‘tit-for-tat’ policy illegal Chinese workers.

The Chinese embassy said it did not say that Beijing would adopt a “tit-for-tat� approach should the Philippine government deport the Chinese found working illegally in the country.

Chinese law enforcement agencies would continue to properly handle relevant issues concerning foreigners working illegally in

China in accordance with laws and regulations the embassy said in a statement.

China respects the laws and regulations of the Philippines regarding employment of foreign nationals in the country, and holds that Chinese should not stay or work illegally in foreign countries, including the Philippines, it added.

The embassy also said China hopes that the Philippine law enforcement agencies would continue to deal with relevant issues in accordance with the laws and regulations in a professional manner.

It added that the Chinese government always reminded the Chinese to observe Philippine laws and regulations.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

GOVT TO FILE RAPS VS GARIN, 19 OTHERS THE Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended the filing of charges against former Health secretary Janette Garin and 19 others over the deaths linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The panel of prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation on the first batch of Dengvaxia-related complaints found probable cause to formally charge Garin and former and current officials of the Department of Health with reckless imprudence resulting in ho-

line devices at home to regulate what children could watch and to check the validity of viral scare stories before sharing them online so as not to promote hoaxes. “This is a wake-up call for all of us to be diligent about the information our people, especially children, consume online. With the rise of technology, we face new and modern threats and challenges, so we must urgently respond and find innovative solutions and policies to ensure that the online world is a safe and truthful place for our children to thrive in,� she said.

Opposition woos Bulacan voters

Court OKs ABS-CBN’s P152-M tax agreement

THE Chinese embassy in Manila ON &RIDAY CLARIkED THAT #HINA ADheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries internal affairs.

4HE EMBASSY ISSUED THE CLARIkCAtion in reaction to the statement of Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo that China would be forced to adopt a “tit-for-tat� approach if the Philippine government deports

to monitor what our children are watching on different social media platforms and always communicate with them to avoid ANY HARM THAT MAY BE INlICTED on them as a result of potentially dangerous online content, she said. “May this serve as an urgent reminder to us parents to dutifully supervise our childrens online activities and ensure that they are aware of the dangers of not being discriminating in what they view or read online,� she added.

The senator urged parents to set up controls for different on-

micide.They include Vicente Belizario Jr., Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Gerardo Bayugo, Lyndon Lee Suy, Irma Asuncion, Julius Lecciones, Maria Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon and Mario Baquilod.

M e a nw h i l e , t h e c a s e s against Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, other executives from Sanofi Pasteur and all officials from distributor Zuellig Pharma were dismissed.

The DoJ said Garin and the other accused executed “inexcusable lack of precaution

and foresight when they facilitated with inappropriate haste the registration and purchase of Dengvaxia� and used the vaccine in implementing a mass immunization program.

The prosecutors said “circumventing various regulations in the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine� constituted proof of their reckless imprudence, a crime punishable by one up to six years imprisonment.

The government halted the immunization program

when Sanofi Pasteur admitted in November 2017 that vaccine recipients who had not been exposed to dengue might develop a more serious disease.

By then, according to the DoH, 891,295 children had been inoculated.

A second panel of prosecutors have yet to resolve the second batch of Dengvaxia-related complaints filed by the Public Attorney’s Office in behalf of the families of the alleged victims.

CATHERINE MODESTO

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN: Otso Diretso candidates wooed Bulacan voters on Friday, urging them to choose “truthful� candidates.

Bulacan is one of the vote-rich provinces, having at least 1.64 million registered voters.

Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay, and former Quezon Rep. Erin TaĂąada started the day with a short forum at the Bulacan State University in Malolos City, where they spoke with at least 400 students.

They then proceeded to Meycauayan for a short dialogue with some 250 multi-sector representatives.

During the dialogues, the opposition bets reiterated the challenge of reaching out to people with very limited resources. “Ang kalaban namin mga giant.

Ang kalaban namin may mga malalaking billboard. Pero sabi nga ni Miley Cyrus, It’s the climb, (Our rivals are giants. Our giants have huge billboards. But like what Miley Cyrus said, it’s the climb),“ Gutoc said.

Macalintal, Hilbay and TaĂąada took a swipe at some Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) candidates for prioritizing entertainment and lying about their credentials. “Hindi yan ang kailangan ng mga mamamayan (That’s not what the citizens need),â€? Macalintal said.

TaĂąada, who admitted that he had to take the bar exams thrice, said a senatorial candidate should be truthful even with his or her educational background, in an apparent swipe at Imee Marcos. “Ewan ko po kung bakit yung isang kandidato sa kabila ayaw niyang amining di siya nakatapos sa Princeton. Importante po ang integridad para sa ating lahat (I don’t know why this one candidate

does not like to admit that she did NOT kNISH HER DEGREE IN 0RINCETON Integrity is very important),� he said. “May mga tumatakbo hindi maisauli ang daan daang milyon, may plunder case, at may hindi man lang maging tapat sa nakuhang diploma. Yan ho ba ang mga gusto nating ihalal?

(There are candidates who refuse to return hundreds of millions of pesos, they are facing plunder charges, and there are those who are not even truthful about the diplomas they have received.

Do we want to vote for these people?),� Hilbay said.

He issued the statement after 0RINCETON 5NIVERSITY CLARIkED THAT Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos did not graduate from the institution.

The opposition candidates had challenged the Senate slate of HNP to a debate.

The Commission on Elections is studying the proposal of the opposition to officiate the debate with the administration-backed HNP. James Jimenez, spokesman of the poll body, said the debate would be a good opportunity for voters to know their candidates. It would also be a chance for Senate bets to present their platforms and stand on various issues confronting the country.

As this developed, candidates composed of labor leaders under Labor Win (Lawin) also challenged senatorial candidates of both HNP and Otso Diretso.

Lawin is composed of trade union champions and human rights advocates Ernie Arellano, Allan Montano, Neri Colmenares, Sonny Matula and Leody de Guzman.

GLEE JALEA AND WILLIAM DEPASUPIL

Pacquiao now a Scout Ranger BOXING icon and Senator Emmanuel “Manny�Pacquiao on Friday became a member of the Scout Ranger, one of the elite forces of the military.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. Led the conferment ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Col. Noel Detoyato, military public affairs chief, said making Pacquiao an honorary member of the Scout Ranger is an acknowledgement of his victory in his

recent match with American boxer Adrien Broner.

In December 2017, Pacquiao was promoted to full colonel as AN !RMY RESERVIST AFTER kNISHING his General Staff Course.

(E kRST BECAME A RESERVIST AS AN enlisted personnel with a rank of sergeant in 2006 .

Apart from being made an honorary Scout Ranger member, Pacquiao was also given the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Meritorious Achievement Medal.

DEMPSEY REYES

Failure to report stolen firearm Dear PAO, My pistol was stolen from our house. I am unable to report the theft of my pistol to the police due to my busy schedule. Will I be penalized for my inaction?

Philip Dear Philip, The law that addresses your situation is Section 40 of Republic Act 10591, or better known as “Comprehensive Law on Firearms and

DEAR PAO

PERSIDA ACOSTA Ammunition Regulation Act�: “Section 40. Failure to Notify Lost or Stolen Firearm or Light Weapon. — ! kNE OF 4EN THOUsand pesos (P10,000.00) shall

be imposed upon any licensed kREARM HOLDER WHO FAILS TO REport to the FEO of the PNP that the subject firearm has been lost or stolen within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of discovery. “Likewise, a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person holding a valid firearm license who changes residence

or office address other than that indicated in the license card and fails within a period of thirty (30) days from said transfer to notify the (Firearm and Explosive Office) of the (Philippine National Police) of such change of address�

(Emphasis supplied).

It is clear from the cited provision that failure on the part of the licensed firearm

holder to report to the FEO of the PNP within a period of 30 days from the date of discovery of the loss or theft shall subject the owner to a fine amounting to P10,000. In your situation, should you fail to report to the FEO that your pistol has been lost or stolen within 30 days from discovery thereof, you can be penalized with a fine of 10,000.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l Give tax reform a chance

C

ONTRARY to the worries expressed by numerous business groups and some government agencies and LAWMAKERS THE PROSPECT OF FEWER kSCAL INCENTIVES UNder the second package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Package (CTRP) is evidently not discouraging new investors in the Philippines. Those who are still opposed to it should turn their energy instead to helping implement it AS QUICKLY AND EFkCIENTLY AS POSSIBLE Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) head Ernesto Pernia drew that conclusion on Thursday after data from the various investment promotion agencies revealed that investment pledges skyrocketed in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Investment pledges logged by the Board of Investments (BoI), Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Bureau of Investments-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BoI-ARMM), and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) soared to P92.1 billion in the last quarter of last year. That is an astonishing 322 percent increase in pledges from the P21.6 billion registered in the same quarter a year earlier.

For full-year 2018, total investment pledges rose 69.3 percent to P179 billion from the P105.7 billion recorded in 2017.

Secretary Pernia stressed that if the provisions of the second package of the CTRP, known as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities or “Trabaho� Bill, were actually discouraging investors, the high level of investor interest in the Philippines indicated by the amount of investment pledges would not have been registered.

Under the Trabaho Bill, corporate income taxes would be incrementally reduced over the next several years, but as a trade-off, the large list of current tax incentives offered by the various investment promotion and other agencies would be rationalized and brought under centralized administration.

This would necessarily result in the removal of a large number of incentives, which is what business groups and investment boosters have balked at. “Investment pledges� as a metric are often considered INSIGNIkCANT AND THIS IS USUALLY JUSTIkABLE AN INVESTMENT pledge is not an investment in fact, and a certain amount OF THE PLEDGES IS NEVER FULkLLED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER Investment pledges are, however, actually a very good indicator of investor sentiment with respect to the Trabaho "ILL )NVESTMENT PLEDGES ARE FORWARD LOOKING THEY EXPRESS kRM INTENTIONS ALTHOUGH NOT ALWAYS TOTAL COMMITMENTS to invest in the Philippines at some future point. They are made on the basis of forecasts of the business environment at and beyond that future point, and take into consideration expected changes in laws and regulations, expected changes in market conditions, and so on.

Under those circumstances, investors who happen to be EYEING THE 0HILIPPINES MUST HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT kSCAL incentives will not be available, or will be limited. The Trabaho Bill, in effect, represents the worst-case scenario, with respect to kSCAL INCENTIVES IF THE PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SENSED THAT AN INVESTMENT WOULD BE PROkTABLE IN THAT CASE THE INVESTMENT PLEDGE would certainly be withheld. That is exactly what Secretary Pernia pointed out earlier, and he was correct.

4HE REFORM OF CORPORATE TAXES AND kSCAL INCENTIVES WILL HAVE NUMEROUS BENEkTS TO THE ECONOMY -ORE COMPETITIVE corporate tax rates, although the reduction will be modest, will help to attract more investors. A streamlined, relevant kSCAL INCENTIVE REGIME WILL ENSURE THAT ANY TAX PERKS granted will result in a substantial exchange of value, and WILL BENEkT BUSINESSES BY MAKING THOSE THAT ARE OFFERED easier to manage and claim.

For all intents and purposes, the investment pledge data from the fourth quarter and the full-year 2018 removes the last rational obstacle to passage and implementation of the second tranche of the CTRP, and its critics should acknowledge and respect the evidence. ~

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 140

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor FELIPE F. SALVOSA II, Managing Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL MALLARI, Sports Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor JOMAR CANLAS, Chief of Reporters RENE H. DILAN, Chief Photographer DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO BLANCA C. MERCADO, #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net XXX NBOJMBUJNFT OFU t F NBJM OFXTEFTL!NBOJMBUJNFT OFU Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

Democracy betrayed by flawed critical thinking ON THE I CONTRARY

T is now a norm for every university, or institution of higher learning, to declare that the main goal of education is to instill critical thinking among its students. This is coupled with adhering to an outcomes-based education, or OBE, that focuses on life-long learning, where the classroom is ideally turned into a preparatory phase for active citizenship. Yet, as things are turning out, this ideal is being undermined by the migration

ANTONIO CONTRERAS of the curriculum away from the liberal arts and into the more utilitarian and instrumentalist modalities inherent in science, technology, engineering and math, which shifts the discourse towards the production of productive and highly skilled labor.

Joseph Schumpeter argued that key to a democratic practice for politics is the presence of quality political actors that include both citizen voters and their elected and appointed leaders. Thus, while professional bureaucrats and competent technocrats are necessary, what is also required are citizens who are ready to engage in meaningful political interactions.

It is here that Schumpeter asserted that such can only be achieved in a regime of open and fair political

discourse that celebrates tolerance of opposing voices.

Yet, this is not what is propagated as critical thinking in acaDEMIA !ND THIS kNDS ITS MOST VIVID manifestation in the way university scholars and professors have positioned themselves vis-Ă -vis Martial Law and the EDSA narrative.

To put it bluntly, universities have become a fertile breeding ground not for the deployment of authentic critical thinking,

ÂłContrerasA5

Q MAKABENTA FROM A1

Reply to letters from readers I will single out letters wherein the correspondent did not only COMMENT BUT ALSO RElECTED ON the issues I raised, and even went on to do a policy analysis and make policy suggestions.

EDSA narrative was edited In reaction to my column on the EDSA revolt (“Why the EDSA conundrum? Cory and revolution photo-shopped into EDSA coup,�

Manila Times , Feb. 28, 2019), reader Renato Ong sent me a startling report which, coming from an eyewitness ought to be factored into the accounts of the event.

He has quite a story to tell. I reprint Renato A. Ong’s letter below: “EDSA was edited. “It’s again my birthday and I can’t help but remember the one I had in 1986. On Feb. 24, 1986, the day before the end of the EDSA revolution. I will not get tired telling and retelling this story for it really happened. Yet very few people know about it.

And those who know it, and there are plenty, would rather keep their shame in silence. “It being my birthday, I woke up early and turned on the radio to check on what is going on at EDSA during the EDSA revolution. Living in San Juan and not very far from EDSA, I used to check on the activities before and after work‌ “4 a.m., June Keithley was blaring on the underground rebel shortwave that everybody then was tuned into, extolling everyone to go to EDSA as battle TANKS WERE CONkRMED TO HAVE LEFT Fort Bonifacio for EDSA to quell the people’s revolt. “Thinking that this is it, the final confrontation, or maybe not thinking enough, I readied myself for EDSA. Being the last of THE ROMANTICS OR IS IT JUST MY lAIR for the dramatic, I made my last will and testament on my paltry COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND JUNK JUST in case... If this would be my last day, might as well go out in style. ) HAD MY LEATHER JACKET AND SCARF Oh, come on, give me a break, it was a wet scarf that I would need when we get tear-gassed. Isn’t that how the script should read? “My pad was a relatively short

walk away from EDSA, and since it was 4 a.m., I proceeded on foot. Even with the curfew, everything seemed so peaceful walking along the length of Aurora Blvd. There were people moving around, cool weather, no vehicles on the road. It was glorious. I was thinking of the frenzy that must be happening on EDSA as for sure the people there must have heard the June Keithley broadcast too. Finally, I would be part of history, pictures OF ME IN MY VINTAGE LEATHER JACKET and blue scarf, either beaming or dead. Vive le revolucion. “The nearer I got to EDSA, the more I was confronted with people leaving the area. Droves of people, it seemed like a mass exodus‌. “By the time I reached EDSA, it was virtually deserted. The two to three million bayani ng %$3! WERE NOT THERE INSTEAD JUST a motley group not more than 20, one of them my friend Bobi Velenzuela, a mild-mannered gallery curator not known for his valor. Just the day before, I heard leaders of ATOM with their HIGHLY VISIBLE lAGS AND BANNERS

telling their group to split in three, with eight-hour shifts to ensure that they are on perpetual vigil 24/7. I wonder if they were part of our motley group of 20. “It was ridiculous, we formed the akbay-bisig to block the road, but there were not even enough of us to cover the road, WE DECIDED TO JUST COVER THE SIDE coming from Fort Bonifacio.

The foreign correspondents arrived with their cameras, another friend Manny Chaves was with them. But they were not taking any pictures of the empty Edsa.

There was a media blackout. I can go on and on‌ “Come daybreak we knew that the crisis was over, we sang the ‘Bayang Magiliw’ and ‘Ang Bayan Ko WITH TEARS LITERALLY lOWING ‘Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo ,’ pardon the dramatics but we could have died out there. Chants of ‘Allah Alakbar’ come after the ‘Bayang Magiliw’ as — only then did we know — many of our motley 20 were Muslims. Then and there I had this great respect for our Muslim brothers, willing to

die for their country even without the acknowledgment. “After that, then the airing of false news that Marcos had left the country. And it was only after then that the EDSA People Power bandwagon began to come back, in droves, by the truck-full, JOYFULLY SHOUTING @#O REE #O REE

HIGH kVING EVERYBODY @!NG MGA bayani ng EDSA,’ very proud in their bravery having toppled the ogre in MalacaĂąang, convenientLY FORGETTING THAT JUST AN HOUR AGO they were scampering away with their tails between their legs. “‘Co-reee Co-reee Co-ree,’ everybody was shouting happily.

EDSA was back to its carnival atmosphere once again. I was high-fiving them back too‌.

4EARS WERE LITERALLY STILL lOWING on my lonely walk back home. “There are big powerful institutions meddling with our affairs, WE JUST HAVE TO BE DISCERNING enough to ensure we are not being used as pawns for their own intentions. The EDSA revolution is a big, big lie, and the sociopoliticos lied to us and continue to lie to us. Being the leaders, for sure they must have known of what happened that Feruary.24, each and every one of them.

But they are not saying, instead continuing the epithets of a glorious people power revolt, using it for their political interests. All the ‘bayani ng %$3! lEEING THE scene in that inglorious dawn of February 24 are mum, hoping that the silence could cover up for their shame. And even the press is not saying‌â€?

Philippines: Our islands, your home Reader Willy Arcilla, a professor at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, sent me an enlightening comment and suggestion, in reaction to my column on the DoT tourism campaign (“Tourism slogan needs an overhaul, not repurposing,� Manila Times, Feb. 21, 2019).

His letter reads: “Thank you for your article questioning the continued use of ‘It’s More Fun...’ “ In fact, the DOT has conducted two studies by AC Nielsen and

Frost & Sullivan concluding that the past campaign did not fare well with foreign tourists from 12 different countries. “It appears that ‘It’s More Fun’ resonated more with Filipinos than foreigners, but the primary target is foreigners since Filipinos are already a captive audience, so to speak. “While we congratulate the new DOT for managing to attract 7.1 million tourists in 2018, the Philippines remains one of the lowest in the Asean compared to Thailand’s 40 million, Malaysia’s 30 million, Singapore’s 20 million, Indonesia’s 18 million and Vietnam’s 15 million. “I agree with you that the tourism campaign must emanate from the brand positioning of a country and I respectfully submit that the Philippines has far more to offer than ‘Fun.’ “What should be the brand positioning of our Brand Philippines and the Filipino people? “First, I agree with you that ‘It’s More Fun’ can be frivolous, but not only that, it can be an overpromise if not offensive to some foreigners because in marketing tourism, your competitor is also your customer.

So, instead of a Superior Claim vs other nations, perhaps we should offer a Superior Benefit. “Foreigners feel ‘At Home’ on our Islands and feel ‘Welcome’ in our homes. “Thus, allow me to share my humble idea: “Vision: To be the world’s most loved island destination. “Strategy: Island Branding or Island Tourism, where each island is unique and each island is a destination “Copy: “Discover the Philippines! g4HE 0EARLS OF THE 0ACIkC “A Country as Beautiful as Her People, “A People as Warm as Her Climate. “Welcome to the Philippines! “Our Islands, Your Home! “Wilfrido E. Arcilla, professor, Ateneo Graduate School of Business�

This is great stuff. I will return TO THE SUBJECTS AGAIN IN FUTURE

yenmakabenta@yahoo.com

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SATURDAY March 2, 2019

Q TULFO FROM A1

Why fear MVP? “I’m going to put more lines than the 20 mandated in the contract with the government and we will man it,� MVP said, probably wetting his pants.

The President had been complaining that the 8888 hotline to MalacaĂąang could not accommodate numerous complaints by citizens of corruption by government officials and employees.

The other time Digong put Pangilinan in his proper place was when the President told the businessman off for interfering in his governance.

If memory serves, Pangilinan had told Mr. Duterte to assert the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. To which Digong shot back, “Just remember you are only a puppet of the foreign-based Salim group while I am the elected President of the Republic of the Philippines.�

After that, MVP has been following the President around in his state visits like a puppy. I saw him in China, Japan and Korea. It was MVP’s way of saying that Digong is the boss.

MVP was feared by Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno “Noynoy kuyakoy�

Aquino 3rd because he’s supposedly a media titan.

Aside from PLDT, Pangilinan owns Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Philex Mining and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Through Metro Pacific, he holds major stocks in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Mandaluyong, Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan, Makati Medical

S

UNDAY, to begin with, already was torture. Midway through the day, I was barely done with the script of an audio-visual presentation to be shown as entry point to the test broadcast of the Manila Times Television Network, slated for 8 a.m. the next day, Monday.

The assignment was given to me Friday on a blank mind as to its theme: "After 33 years, may ipinagbago ba ?" “What’s it about?� I asked. “About EDSA,� I was told in a manner that seemed to deliver a reprimand: “Where have you been all this time? Monday, February 25, is the day of commemoration for the EDSA revolt that took place 33 years ago.�

In all candor, EDSA1 has, for me, long stopped to be a source of historical inspiration. That I didn’t expect EDSA1 to be the subject matter of the video project I was being assigned to do is just me being in character. !NYWAY ) GOT IT ALL SIMPLIkED BY ILlustrating that before Cory’s takeover in 1986, galunggong was selling at P6 per kilogram; after EDSA1, galunggong cost P12 per kg.

Forced to end Before I noticed it, time was a quarter past 8 — past the deadline for submitting the video to the television people for doing its job in the broadcast scenario.

We spliced the concluding visuals, vignettes of the EDSA1 revolt, on which was sounded over the concluding narration, dispensing with the American factor but rather focusing thus: “Corruption sa gobiyernong Marcos ang pinakamatingkad na dahilan kung bakit naganap ang EDSA Uno . Sa bagay na iyan, gumigiit sa pag-uusap ang ultimong tanong: Bayan ang nagalit, bayan ang nagpabagsak sa diktador, ang naluklok sa kapangyarihan, bayan din ba? �

Next visual shows Cory being sworn in as president.

Then superimposed on appropriate visuals is the ending narration, thus: “Nandiyan pa rin ang mga oligarchs. Mahirap pa rin ang mahihirap. At maya’t maya ang lipunan ay niyayanig pa rin ng ingay ng korapsyon sa pamahalaan.�

The ending visual: same

C e n t e r, D e l g a d o M e m o r i a l Hospital in Quezon City, Davao Doctors’ Hospital, Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City, and other hospitals.

Pangilinan has controlling stakes in Maynilad Water Services, North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), ManilaCavite Expressway (Cavitex), and Light Rail Manila Corp.

MVP, who loves to surround himself with hunks, owns TNT Ka Tropa, Meralco Volts and NLEX Road Warriors basketball teams.

But the most fearsome thing about Pangilinan — in the eyes of many politicians — is that he’s a big stockholder of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Business World and TV-5.

It’s no wonder that those media outlets are his rah-rah entities; they always report about him in glowing terms.

Yes, Mr. Duterte is right: MVP is just a dummy of Anthoni Salim of Indonesia who owns the Salim Group of companies.

So, why fear MVP the Billionaire when he’s made in Indonesia? *** Ok, you have a complaint against an abusive government OFkCIAL OR EMPLOYEE BUT CAN T GET through to the Malacaùang 8888 hotline because it’s always busy.

Then call my hotline at “Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo � 0998-7926304, 0936-933-0811, and the landline (02)621-8618.

Your call will be attended to immediately. You can also send an e-mail to my office through isumbongmokaytulfo@yahoo.com.

Better still, come to our office at On Target Media Concept and Public Service Office at Unit 2702, AIC Burgundy Empire Tower Bldg., ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

I and my angels (all-female staff) — as in Charlie’s Angels — are at your service.

Listen to my program every morning from 9 to 10 a.m. at Radyo Pilipinas (738 kHz), Monday through Friday.

We’d like to consider ourselves as the citizenry’s ombudsman’s office, different from the Office of the Ombudsman, which is government. *** I hate to say this as this might be misconstrued as blowing my own horn, but my “ Isumbong � is the original sumbungan ng bayan (citizens’ complaint and action center).

My “Isumbong� program started in 1991 at Radyo Veritas. It immediately caught fire because of its novelty. Other stations copied it.

I don’t want to mention the other programs that are copycats — they include my brothers’ programs now — but suffice it to say that I started citizens’ complaint and action centers manned by ordinary citizens and not by government people.

A caveat: Please don’t come to me with your personal problems like having an unfaithful spouse, quarrel with your lover or your neighbors, unpaid debts, financial difficulties.

You deserve to have that problem because of your bad choices; you should solve the

problem yourself and not pass it on to others.

But if you feel you were inapi or a victim of bullying by a policeman, traffic aide, a clerk in a government office that you transacted business with, an illegal recruiter and other scammers, then come to us.

We help without expecting anything in return. Our reward is good karma, which will come sooner than later.

Yes, I believe that whatever good you do for your fellow man comes back to you a hundredfold. *** Arnell Ignacio — comedian, actor, TV host — has resigned as deputy administrator of the Office of the Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an agency that helps overseas workers in distress.

Ignacio was a tireless worker at OWWA. He was at the airport every day (or night) to fetch overseas domestic workers who were repatriated after being oppressed by their Arab employers.

Arnell lent these unfortunate compatriots a shoulder to cry on.

But his position did not give him a paycheck to support a lifestyle long used to luxury.

One day he found that he could no longer afford to buy the expensive medicines for his sick father, he told me.

Arnell said he could still work for the Department of Labor and Employment as a consultant on a one-peso-a-year basis. “I really love to serve our people, Kuya Mon, but there are so many irresistible job offers outside,� he said.

Wow! The week that was MY SAY

MAURO GIA SAMONTE opening shot of galunggong , this time superimposed with the titles: “ Galunggong – P220/kg � together with the narration: “At ang galunggong ay P220 na ang kilo ngayon .�

I knew I sighed with relief inside. Counting from Friday when the assignment was given to me up to Monday when the video was done, I must have sat on the job for a total of roughly 72 hours — just that amount of being awake a man needs in order to be able to recover lost vigor and stay awake for the next 72 hours.

I slept that entire Monday, of course, but that was not much of a respite. Up ahead was my tracking of the campaign sorties of various senatorial candidates in my earnest desire to determine with my own barometer who would compose the Magic 12 in the May midterm elections for senators. A colleague has narrowed down the field to just four more slots being contended for, with the first eight already conceded winners, and includes three lady candidates, three plunder case defendants (“Pagnanalo pa naman ang tatlong iyan, putangina na talaga ang Pilipino ,� remarks a wellinformed denizen), one slain top character in a long-running telenovela, and one resigned cabinet member. I am inclined to disagree with this projection, but I cannot do it on the mere strength of what Mayor Guia Gomez terms as armchair analysis.

The San Juan mayor told that term to me lately when I asked her what chances JV Ejercito had in making it to the top 12. “JV’s performance in surveys is heartening,� the gracious, beauteous lady said. “Down at No. 16 before, he’s now up at a sliding scale between No. 8 and No. 12. But I’m no armchair analyst,� she added. “You are the columnist. You should know better.�

That sounded a challenge.

I embarked on a binge of attending political rallies. At the

Hugpong ng Pagbabago rally in San Andres Bukid on February 27, resigned Special Presidential Assistant Bong Go took pains to stress that in many a political rally, candidates are remembered more for their entertaining performance than for a litany of their accomplishments in office.

So, that must have been what prompted him to bring along Philip Salvador to do a Dolphyand-Panchito act with, which they did to a T, complete with a song rendition each.

The drug-buster Bato, rockhard though he must be, was prompted by the belly-navelbaring emcee (I didn’t bother to get her name) to do a comic skit which, while entertaining the crowd enough, didn’t seem to MAKE HIM kT IN WELL !T ANY RATE

setting aside the put-on entertainment, the proclaimed arch-enemy of drug lords declared, “ Ayoko nang magpatumpik-tumpik.

Naririto ako upang hingiin ang boto ninyo. Sinasabi, si Jinggoy nakagawa ng 600 na batas. Si JV, 60. Ako, zero. Pero sa panahon ng panunungkulan ko bilang PNP chief, libu-libong batas naman ang aking naipatupad.� (Without much ado, I am here to ask for your vote. It is said Jinggoy did 600 laws. JV, 60. Me, zero. But during my time as PNP Chief, I enforced thousands of laws.)

I thought that was nicely said, right from the heart.

Into the last half of the week, I had to shuttle from the Kamuning Bakery forum of Wilson Lee Flores to the monthly business meeting of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association (Creba) at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.

In the first forum, moderated by Wilson himself, panelists professor Ramon Casiple, senatoriable Butch Valdez and Gabriela spokesperson Johms Salvador discussed the implications of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s visit to the Philippines. For all the tight schedule that I had for the day, I made sure to attend the Wilson Flores affair because there I would get the chance to ventilate again what I already touched upon in the video I did for the Times Television test broadcast, which is the issue

of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the US and the Philippines. I cited the press conference Marcos had with the international media during his visit to Washington in 1982, declaring that as far back as that year, Marcos was already condemning that treaty, and yet what had we (“we,� referring to me and the panelists) done then? Go out into the streets, shouting “Down with Marcos!�

(Johms uttered a disclaimer; she was barely seven years old at the time.) I thought it was hypocritical for us to slam the MDT now when more than three decades earlier we sought the ouster of the President who was already advocating its abrogation.

Professor Casiple remarked, “Marcos could have abrogated it but he didn’t.� I was going to react, but Butch did it so well for me. The US was financially strangling the Philippines so that Marcos had not much choice then but to hold back on his punches as regards the MDT. But food for thought: By agitating for the ouster of Marcos, were we not actually being effectively in cahoots with the United States in perpetuating the ill effect of the MDT upon our national security and, in fact, sovereignty?

The second forum was a tame occasion. JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, was invited to the event together with Congressman Albee Benitez, his counterpart in the House of Representatives, to talk about RA 11201, or the "Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Act." JV called the law a landmark legislation geared towards ultimately solving the great backlog in the housing sector; the measure was recently signed

by President Duterte.

The Creba leadership are one in asserting that the passing the DHSUD law is one thing, implementing it is another. Formulating the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) for the DHSUD could be as rigorous as crafting the bill for it and getting it approved.

Who can do it better than the guy WHO AUTHORED IT IN THE kRST PLACE

Opinion

A5

We have not honored Lapu-Lapu enough AMBASSADORS’ T CORNER HE Philippines and Portugal are preparing for the quincentennial anniversary in 2021 of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines and the victory of Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan. Some people who know their world history will ask, why Portugal? Magellan undertook the circumnavigation of the world in the name of Spain. It was the Spanish flag he planted everywhere he went.

The strange places he treaded on were to acquire the names of Spanish royalty or of saints in the Spanish language. The Philippines was thus named after Philip 2nd of Spain.

But of course, Magellan was of Portuguese nationality and was only one of several navigators born in Portugal, and it was Portugal under its king, Henry the Navigator, that initiated the European Age of Discovery.

And certainly, the circumstances behind Magellan’s flying the Spanish flag have been part of his legend. He did not have much choice in the matter.

The Portuguese king refused to support his project, and it was his indomitable desire to sail on the adventure of his life that led him to turn to the Spanish king. It was Magellan’s

JAIME J. YAMBAO voyage that made the first European circumnavigation of the world. Why the italics will be explained below.

The title of the event in 2021 avoids describing Magellan’s accomplishment the “discovery� of the Philippines as did old history textbooks. How could he have discovered the Philippines when he found many people already there? Besides, the two works of Gavin Menzies, 1421: The Year Schina Discovered the World and 1434 : the Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance seem to diminish the importance to world history of the work of Magellan and the other European conquistadores.

They persuasively argue that the Chinese eunuch admirals of the great Chinese Emperor Zhu Di, WERE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY kRST circumnavigated the world a century before. Not Magellan, and none of the European conquistadores discovered any country.

ÂłYambaoA6

Q CONTRERAS FROM A4

Democracy betrayed by flawed critical thinking but for hatred and partisan views of history and politics. Critical thinking is supposed to be about making an objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. While objectivity may be hard to achieve, particularly on political issues, what is required is to teach students to have a healthy dose of skepticism towards what is apparent, assumed and dominant, and give equal spaces to the silenced voices, the unpopular and the radically different. In politics, this could only mean equipping students with the capacity to inquire into complex and controversial political issues by giving all sides equal opportunity. In THE kNAL ANALYSIS STUDENTS WILL have to make a political choice, and adopt a political position.

What the university endeavors, at least if it is true to its calling of propagating critical thinking, is to train students to base those choices and positions on a rigorous and balanced inquiry. In the end, the outcome of critical thinking is not an apolitical individual, but a politicized citizen but whose politics is not based on partisan propaganda and half-truths, but on a balanced, fair analysis of the political environment, both past and present.

Unfortunately, universities have miserably failed in this regard.

Instead of training students to be critical thinkers, they breed future citizens who hate without fully understanding what they are hating. This is the painful legacy of an academic landscape that has been dominated by people who were victimized by Martial Law, as former student activists, or former communist cadres who eventually returned to their studies or teaching positions, and therefore were consumed by their hatred towards the dictatorship.

The task of teaching students to think critically is a challenging one for teachers, for it means suspending one’s own biases and ideological persuasions, or if not, of articulating this only as an option for the student’s consideration. The politics inside the classroom is so imbalanced that critical thinking skills can only be honed when teachers and professors become more conscious of being guides on the side instead of being sages on the stage. The imperious authority of professors as content experts must yield to an environment that enables students to think on their own, but

with guidance from their teachers.

This is something that will be constrained when the professor comes in already with a strong bias in favor of one particular perspective or narrative and, instead of motivating students to think differently, would even penalize debate and disagreement.

One could just imagine the impact on the development of the critical thinking skills of a student of a professor who incessantly rants against Martial Law and the Marcoses, or of a school administration that requires students to participate in political rallies. The IMAGE OF SCHOOL OFkCIALS HOLDING events that are blatantly partisan, or making public statements that favor one particular narrative over another, can impress on students the view that the academic instituTION IN WHICH THEY kND THEMSELVES LOCATED HAS ALREADY UPHELD AN OFkcial, and an authoritative, position.

It doesn’t help that there is no attempt to balance this by opening the gates of the academic institution to competing voices and personalities. Imee Marcos was figuratively and literally shooed away by UP activists who practically told her that she had no right to step on its hallowed ground. What made it worse was when the president of UP, Danilo Concepcion, even apologized for appearing in the event which Ms Marcos also attended.

It doesn’t help when scholars who offer alternative perspectives are condemned as pariahs by their own peers. Anyone who appeals for a balanced view of Martial Law, and not even an outright favorable view of it, is derisively labeled as a historical revisionist. Pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos faculty members are forced to just keep quiet for fear of being marked as heretics in academia.

It is funny how a mere friendship with me, for example, is now deemed as odd and for which some of my friends are taken to task for even associating with someone like me who supports the President, albeit critically, and who voted for Bongbong Marcos. And these are academic scholars who would discourse publicly that they are teaching critical thinking to their students.

If these professors and teachers judge politics as simply a duality of allies and enemies, and nothing in between, it behooves us to ask how they can even teach their students to think critically.

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

Is the Comelec still capable of correctly deciding cases?

P

OINT of clarification first. When I mention the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this article, I am referring to the commissioners, either as part of the two divisions or as part of the en banc . I am not referring to the officers and employees of the commission in general. The rank and file, the junior officers and other employees of the Comelec have nothing to do with its quasi-judicial powers. It is only the commissioners who exercise this adjudication authority.

Why am I tackling this issue now?

Let us start with some actual events and instances.

Bogus party lists Sometime in October last year, when the filing of certificates of candidacy was at its peak, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon told reporters that the ballot for the 2019 polls might be very long because of the sheer number of partylist organizations.

Guanzon likewise admitted that some politicians were using the party-list system to be able to run for elective posts after their terms have expired, or that other members of their political clan were also running.

Guanzon also wanted relatives of incumbent officials or those running for elective positions to be disqualified from participating in the partylist elections ( https://www.philstar. com/headlines/2018/10/18/1861026/ comelec-sees-long-ballot-185-partylist-groups ).

It was also observed that there were bogus party-list groups. Guanzon claimed that the Comelec cannot do anything about it. Whose fault is it anyway? Of course, it’s the commission’s fault. They allowed the proliferation of these “fake� party lists by giving them accreditation, while denying the registration of “true� and “genuine�

H. R. Ocampo

I

ing the twin petitions filed by lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Glenn Chong.

In dismissing the petitions for disqualification against Pimentel, the Comelec relied solely in the case party-list organizations. I should know, of Abundo Sr. vs. Comelec. Abundo I have seen it myself.

Sr. ran for municipal mayor of Viga, Catanduanes, in four successive naDisqualified ‘nuisance’ candidate tional and local elections — in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. In 2001 and Lemecio Jesus “Lemy� Roxas, a profes- 2007, Abundo was proclaimed as the sional mechanical engineer, a candi- winning mayoralty candidate and date for senator of the Katipunan ng served the corresponding terms as Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), was mayor. In 2004, he was eventually disqualified by the Comelec from proclaimed as winner and occupied running for senator in the May 2019 the post of mayor for a period of elections. The reason — he does not a little over a year only. It is clear have the capability to wage a national that Abundo had not consecutively campaign. What is startling is that he served for three terms. The Comelec is part of the senatorial line-up of KDP, disqualified Abundo but the Supreme an accredited national political party. Court reversed the decision.

How come other members of the line-up In disqualifying Abundo, the Comelec OF +$0 WERE NOT DISQUALIkED 4HEY HAVE A used the doctrine in Aldovino Jr. Even the COUPLE OF OTHER CANDIDATES WHOSE kNANCIAL high court knows that the commission’s capability is way below that of Lemy Roxas’. decision in Abundo was wrong. It said, Was he singled out because his surname is “The Comelec’s case disposition and its “Roxas�? Surprising indeed. heavy reliance on Aldovino, Jr. do not Well, Lemy Roxas himself, in his commend themselves for concurrence.� interview with Net25 on January 29 Now, trying to redeem itself from the ( https://restream.io/ ), believes that Abundo case, Comelec used it to allow the seven commissioners were “paid� Pimentel to run for the third time as a senator. This is wrong. to disqualify him.

Below is a graphical illustration of If I were his lawyer, I would have questioned this decision all the way Pimentel’s consecutive terms, which up to the Supreme Court. The Comelec would have disqualified him outright made a colossal mistake in deciding from participating in the May 2019 this case. If a candidate is part of a midterm elections. political party, then it follows that he 0IMENTEL S kRST TERM WAS FROM !UGUST has the machinery of the party. Assum- 2011 to June 2013. His second term was ing a candidate cannot wage a national from June 2013 to June 2019. Thus, his campaign, the political party will carry third term would be from June 2019 to him. It’s as simple as that.

June 2025 — a blatant violation of the constitutional prohibition on term limits.

Pimentel allowed to run With this streak of bad decisions, we can ask ourselves if the Comelec is About two weeks ago, the commission still capable of correctly deciding cases. declared that Sen. Aquilino “Koko�

Pimentel 3rd “is eligible to run for allinsight.manilatimes@gmail.com senator in the May 2019 NLE,� dismiss- www.facebook.com/All.Insight.Manila.Times

ALL INSIGHT

AL S. VITANGCOL 3RD

N the University of the Philippines campus, there’s a residential area called Pook Amorsolo, named after Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972), the Grand Old Man of Philippine Art and kRST .ATIONAL !RTIST WHO REPRESENTED rural scenes in a romantic way and immortalized prominent people through his distinguishable portraits.

This particular part of Quezon City recognizes the important role that artists played in imagining the nation, with its streets named after important Philippine painters: Vicente Manansala (1910-1981) who pioneered cubism in the Philippines; Carlos V. Francisco (1912-1969), known as “Botong,â€? was THE MURALIST WHO INlUENCED MUCH OF how we imagine many episodes in our history; Dominador CastaĂąeda (19041967), another historical painter best known for his painting depicting the horrors of war; Antonio Malantic (18201885), an early portraitist; Damian Domingo (1796-1834), Father of Modern &ILIPINO 0AINTING WHO WAS THE kRST ONE to cross over from religious to secular themes during the Spanish colonial period; and Simon Flores (1839-1904), THE kRST &ILIPINO INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVER in art when he won silver medal at the Philadelphia Universal Exposition in 1876, apart from other subsequent international recognitions.

I live on campus in a street called H.R. Ocampo. Of all Filipino artists, I never quite figured out Ocampo, or more accurately, I never really understood abstract art in general. I still don’t and will never pretend to do. But many others admired his art that in 1991, he was inducted to the Order of the National Artists in 1991, 12 years after his death on Dec. 28, 1978.

Hernando R. Ocampo, Nanding, was born on April 28, 1911 in Sta. Cruz, Manila. He started to draw at seven, but his serious career in painting started when he was 23. He tried to study law at Letran in 1928 and commerce at the Far Eastern University in 1929, but stopped schooling in 1931. Ocampo WAS A WRITER kRST BEFORE AN ARTIST AND BEcame part of the Veronica Writers group which was formed in 1932 to challenge conventions in writing — “the classic severity of form and the picturesque but stagnant realism of local color story� — through experimentations in poetry and short story writing. The Veronicans were rejected in the mainstream magazines but were able to publish through their collection Story Manuscripts and their quarterly Expressions.

He then brought his being a Veronican in literature to the world of the visual arts. He was part of a group of painters who challenged classical and realist art

WALKING HISTORY MICHAEL “XIAO� CHUA to launch a new era of modern art in the country. This group, led by Victorio Edades, was composed of Carlos Francisco, Galo Ocampo, Diosdado Lorenzo, Vicente Manansala, Hernando R. Ocampo, Cesar T. Legaspi, Demetrio Diego, Bonifacio Cristobal, Jose S. Pardo, Ricarte M. Purugganan, Arsenio Capili and Anita Magsaysay-Ho. They eventually became known as the “Thirteen Moderns.�

Ocampo won fourth place in the Art Association of the Philippines Boys Town Carnival for an abstract painting titled “Break of Day.� It depicted two kGURES OF A MOTHER AND CHILD CARRYING pails in the direction of a white sunrise and electric posts that looked like crosses. In the background a dog scavenges a TRASH CAN 4HIS KIND OF IMAGERY DEkNES what was described as his transitional period (1945 to 1963) where his images were still recognizable and were evocative of the struggles of the postwar years, like the war planes in his “Mission Accomplished.�

But his art from the 1960s and beyond was described as part of his “Visual Melody Period� where, as Ryan Palad who manages the GSIS Museum writes, “His emotive sense of pessimism also gave way slowly to a newfound lyricism.�

Some have observed that any kid can do the kind of art he did, but he pioneered something in abstract art that made it possible for other visions to be possible.

According to Santiago Albano Pilar, “his art is an abstract expression that is Filipino, inspired by the lush tropical environment and by patterns and designs encountered by the average Filipino in his daily life.�

H.R. Ocampo’s art reminds us that there are other visions we should respect even if we don’t understand them. I may not totally understand his art, just as we would never understand all the geometric patterns of our indigenous art. As Ryan Palad said, “Think now about the bulol of the Cordilleras, or the Samal ‘Tree of Life’ which is appliqued onto a cloth and is displayed during festivities in Tawi-Tawi.

Think about the geometric designs in our baskets and blankets. See the designs on weapons such as kris, kampilan, or gonong. Look at the necklaces and bead work or the brass gador. Then reconsider Nanding’s artworks, for his abstracts are RElECTIONS OF THESE TRADITIONS u H.R. Ocampo’s art then, it may be argued, was not just modern, but a continuation of Philippine art traditions from ancient times and thus, part of our identity.

Q YAMBAO FROM A5

We have not honored Lapu-Lapu enough All of them were using copies of Chinese maps charted by the Chinese who were guided only by the stars, lunar eclipses, and pioneering knowledge of mathematics, astronomy and physics.

The first wave of Chinese explorations, which took the Chinese to Africa and the Americas, was put to a halt by Emperor Zhu Di because he blamed the undertaking for the misfortunes he suffered, including the Forbidden City being struck and reduced to rubble by lightning and his falling off a horse given to him by a grandson of Genghis Khan. In his anger, he ordered all records of the enterprise burned. The second and final wave brought the great eunuch navigator Zeng He to Italy, and Menzies credits his voyage for sparking the Renaissance by transferring the advances in engineering, among many others, of the Middle Kingdom to Leonardo da Vinci and other leading lights of the Renaissance. Halfway on its return journey, Admiral Zeng He’s fleet was caught up in a gigantic tsunami triggered by a comet falling to earth. While scant or no records of the reports of the navigators could be found in China, Menzies proves the journeys took place because of the maps they left in the places visited. The Chinese navigators had one purpose in common: to secure the deference of the peoples of the world for the Chinese Emperor. They left

copies of their maps so rulers would find their way in paying tribute to the Emperor and in going back home with the Emperor’s generous rewards for their obeisance.

(On the basis of Menzies’ research, the Chinese, it seems, could lay historical claim not only to the features of the South China Sea but almost the whole world!)

I am glad that the coming event is billed as a celebration at the same time of the victory of Lapu-lapu in the Battle of Mactan. I am reminded of the universal howl that greeted Spain’s announcement in the late1980s of the celebration of Columbus’ discovery of the Americas. Why celebrate the destruction of the peoples and cultures of the Americas that Columbus’ voyage led to? The title of the celebration was changed to the "Encounter Between Two Worlds."

I hope that the 2021 observance will finally give justice and full meaning to the heroism of Lapu-Lapu.

Magellan was not able to complete the circumnavigation of the world because LapuLapu killed him in battle and it was left to his deputy, Juan Sebastian Elcano, to reap the credit for it. In the Magellan saga, especially as told by Europeans, Lapu-Lapu is depicted as a contravida , if not some anonymous savage. Even among some Filipinos, Lapu-Lapu has a negative image. A joke makes

him unpopular among tourism people because he killed the country’s first tourist!

At the risk of being considered humorless, I must point out that Magellan was not a tourist.

With the extreme discomfort characteristic of sea voyages in those times, his purpose in traveling could not have been pleasure. If people then had the means of communications that we have now, they would have known the sinister purpose of his voyage. It was to deprive the discovered peoples and lands of their freedom. It was conquest.

Magellan would not have been allowed to come over. If a visa is issued him, it would have to be under restrictions such as those limiting the visas of the explorers of Benham Rise.

Magellan and his crew would be welcomed and accompanied everywhere by an armed guard and/or their local counterparts.

In hindsight, Magellan’s landing on our shores put the Philippines at a most dangerous juncture in the history of the archipelago. The moment began more than two centuries of thralldom under Spain, more than two centuries of suffering and atrocities under Spanish administrators and friars. The mistake of most Filipinos then, except for Lapu-Lapu and his followers, was precisely that they treated Magellan like a tourist. They treated him with the hospitality that since then would be characteristic and

proverbial about the Filipinos.

Rajah Humabon and his ilk did everything so that Magellan and his crew would go back to their places of origin, telling people what fun it was in the Philippines.

How Lapu-Lapu conducted himself and what he accomplished that April 1521 was truly exceptional. He saw Magellan and his men for what they were, strangers with dubious designs on the people and territory hosting them. He refused to be bribed into conversion to Christianity, knowing what that implied to his ancestors’ culture and way of life. He would do battle with the invaders, no matter that his opponents wore body armor and had superior weapons. Some people wonder whether it was Lapu-Lapu himself or his soldiers who killed Magellan. No matter. In those days, chieftains always led the charge. It was not his weapon in hand that killed Magellan.

It was a superior strategy that won the day: humble poisoned arrows were first directed at the arms and legs of Magellan and his men, parts of the body not covered by armor. Then holders of swords, lances, and scimitars approached and surrounded Magellan and his men, delivering the coup de grace.

Noting how the other conquistadores died, one would find the death of Magellan quite extraordinary. Of all of them, Magellan was the only

one to die in the hands of a native freedom fighter. In all of what was to be the colonized world, in Latin America, Africa and Asia, it was only LapuLapu who succeeded in killing a conquistador. One could thus only credit Lapu-Lapu with rare intelligence and valor considering what transpired upon the arrival of other conquistadores in South America.

(Somewhere in the wilds of South America a minor explorer is said to have been cornered by the natives, killed and eaten by them. This killing must be separated from that of Magellan. Lapu-Lapu’s was an act of heroism, while that of those natives was sheer savagery.)

Elsewhere, in South America and Africa, superstition, ignorance and naivetĂŠ led people to their destiny as a colonized and enslaved people. Mistaking the conquistadores and their men for superior beings, even descendants of the extraterrestrial beings speculated then till today to have visited the earth in ancient days to build the pyramids and runways visible only from the air, the natives welcomed the visitors, let their defenses down, and were swiftly massacred. Because they were always accompanied by friars, the conquistadores were mistaken for holy men. Others died from epidemics caused by microbes transplanted from Europe by the visitors.

O.D. Corpuz reports that in

the first century of colonization, the population of the Philippines was decimated by the hard labor of building galleons and infrastructures for the new colony. The deadly process of colonization was delayed by almost half a century.

The survivors of the Battle of Mactan scampered to safety to their galleon, and Magellans’ fleet without its commander hastened on their way back to Spain. Life expectancy being much shorter in those days, the Spaniards apparently came back only after the coast was clear of Lapu-Lapu, and they only had to deal with the likes of Humabon.

What happened to the body of Magellan? It is said that Humabon tried to ransom the body of his friend but failed.

Magellan was decapitated. His head was mounted on a stick.

Lapu-Lapu kept it on display, to warn future explorers and sundry what would become of them if they dared invade the Philippines.

Considering what the heroism of Lapu-Lapu accomplished, naming places of international importance after him, such as the airport of Cebu is surely fitting. Naming a fish after him, albeit gloriously delicious, is indeed not enough.

May the coming celebration let future generations of Filipinos better and fully realize what a great hero and champion of freedom Lapu-Lapu was!

Regions Measles, dengue cases up in Cordillera

˜ The Manila Times

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

B

BY DEXTER A. SEE

AGUIO CITY: Health authorities in the Cordillera Region reported that measles and dengue cases DRASTICALLY INCREASED DURING THE kRST SEVEN weeks of 2019.

The Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DoH#!2 REPORTED A WHOPPING percent increase of measles cases compared to the same period last year, while it recorded a 71 percent rise in dengue. )T SAID MEASLES CASES WERE reported regionwide, as against THE CASES FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN Baguio City recorded the high-

est number of measles cases with

"ENGUET WITH !BRA WITH

!PAYAO WITH EIGHT )FUGAO AND -OUNTAIN 0ROVINCE WITH kVE CASES each and Kalinga with two cases.

But health experts claimed there were no measles-related deaths reported in the region during the reckoning periods.

Last year, Apayao and Ifugao recorded the highest number OF MEASLES WITH kVE CASES EACH

Baguio with four, Benguet with three and Abra and Kalinga with one case each.

According to the health officials, the age range of those who contracted measles was from one month to 39 years old, with a median of 4 years wherein more males or 53 percent were affected. )T ADDED THAT OR PERCENT of the total cases were vaccinated, while 111 or 54 percent of the reported cases were not vaccinated, and 11 or 5 percent of the cases were unknown.

The health department explained that there were 65 laboraTORY CONkRMED MEASLES CASES WITH OR PERCENT WERE FEMALE AND OR PERCENT MALE AND MOST cases have ages less than 9 months OLD OR ABOUT PERCENT

Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children given the measles vaccine, the disease still killed more than

PEOPLE A YEAR MOST UNDER THE AGE OF kVE Meanwhile, some 957 dengue fever cases were reported since *ANUARY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO cases regionwide during the same period last year.

At least three reported dengue-related deaths were recorded in Cordillera.

4HE $O( #!2 OFkCIALS NOTED the clustering of dengue cases in some municipalities in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, as well as the Mountain Province, which exceeded the reported

epidemic threshold that caused alarm among health personnel in the said areas.

(EALTH OFkCIALS ADVISED THE PEOple to ensure that their immune system is strong by eating the right kind of food, having the right exercise and the right attitude toward dealing with whatever situation to protect them from acquiring the dreaded viral infection.

Dengue fever is caused by any of the four zero types of dengue viruses wherein all strains were present in the Cordillera.

Health experts warned that dengue cases might reach widespread proportions if preventive measures or control are not adopted.

Among the symptoms of dengue fever are sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes,

A7

serve joint and muscle pains, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and skin RASH WHICH APPEARS TWO TO kVE days after the onset of fever.

(EALTH OFkCIALS NOTED THAT THE symptoms were sometimes mild AND COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR lU OR another viral infection. Younger children who never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults, but serious problems can develop. These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock and death.

Firearms seized in home of Cebu drug lord’s partner SLAIN Philippine Navy photo shows the vastness of Simisa Island off Sulu’s Bangungui town where security forces raided and killed one Abu Sayyaf bandit (inset) and captured two others.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ASG BANDIT KILLED, 2 OTHERS NABBED IN LATEST SULU CLASH ZAMBOANGA CITY: Security forces clashed with pro-Islamic State (IS) Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits, killing one gunman and capturing two others in Sulu.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Philippine Navy regional chief, said troops were still pursuing on Friday about a dozen more militants on Simisa Island off the town of Banguingui in Sulu.

He said the operations against the Abu Sayyaf on the forested island started on FebRUARY AND WERE CONTINUING WITH VARIOUS military units deployed to track down the lEEING BANDITS Soldiers reportedly recovered the body of THE SLAIN GUNMAN INCLUDING AN )3 lAG CELL PHONES WEAPONS AND kVE MOTORBOATS THE bandits were using in their terror activities. “The neutralized ASG member remains UNIDENTIkED (E WAS KILLED WHEN ELEMENTS OF ND -ARINE #OMPANY &ORCE 2ECON

Group encountered about 15 ASG under Salip Mura,� Medina said.

No casualty from the military was reported.

But Medina said the two captured bandits, Abdu Mohammad and Nurlinda Sulaiman, were being interrogated by the military. “The intensive military operations and SELlESS DEDICATIONS OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS

particularly the Fleet-Marine Forces in Sulu, led to neutralization and apprehension of !3' MEMBERS AND THE RECOVERY OF kREARMS and water crafts,� Medina said, lauding the troops for the successful campaign.

The military blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the spate of ransom kidnappings and for aiding foreign suicide bombers in attacking a Catholic cathedral in Jolo in January THAT KILLED CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS AND WOUNDED OTHERS AL JACINTO

“In the recent years, we have STARTED REAPING THE BENEkTS OF THE sardine closed season as demonstrated by the consistently positive growth in sardine production. From

SARDINE CATCH INCREASED FROM AROUND THOUSAND METRIC TONS TO THOUSAND METRIC TONS IN

AND IN IT REACHED THOUsand metric tons,� he said. “Catch of other fish species aside from sardines also inCREASED BY PERCENT FROM TO BASED ON THE MONITORED landed catch of the National Stocks Assessment Program of BFAR Region 9,� Gongona added.

Nationinbriefs CARAGA INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN VS SWINE FEVER

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte: The Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-Caraga) has intensified its campaign against African Swine Fever (ASF) to prevent its spread in the area. On Thursday, DA-Caraga conducted a stakeholders forum on ASF in Butuan City in line with the nationwide campaign recently launched by the agriculture department to prevent the entry of ASF in the country. Veterinarians and swine raisers from provinces in the region joined the one-day forum spearheaded by the Livestock Section of DA-Caraga, with the support of the Regional Veterinary Quarantine Service of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DABAI) in the region. “The Philippines is still free from the said virus that already affected 15 countries in Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia,� emphasized Dale Franco Llentic, the regional veterinary officer of DA-BAI in Caraga. Around 95 percent of hog production in Caraga is controlled by backyard raisers and only 5 percent of hog production is supplied by commercial raisers in the area. A high percentage of supply of hog and meat products in the region is being imported from local markets in Mindanao. In the same event, DA-Caraga Livestock Program Coordinator Edelmira Luminaris made an assurance that strict quarantine measures were being implemented in ports and the other point of entries in the region. Luminaris also appealed to the public to follow

He said the fishing ban did not only result in higher sardine population, but also increased the SIGHTING OF BIG AND HIGH VALUE kSH species like tuna, which feed on SMALL kSHES LIKE SARDINES Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that total LOCAL kSH PRODUCTION GREW BY percent last year. )N THE kRST QUARTER OF THE BFAR predicted that the country’s kSH PRODUCTION WOULD LIKELY EXPAND BY MORE THAN PERCENT ON the back of intensified support from the Department of Agriculture, particularly extended loan

table in the living room, which SHOWED 0 ALLOWANCE PER month and the expenses of Misa who was unemployed.

Misa, her two children — a boy AND A GIRL AGED kVE AND SIX YEARS OLD — and her household helper were inside the house during the raid. “Sabalones is the father of Misa’s two children,� Batobalonos added.

Misa, whose house was under surveillance for more than one month, lived in the house for more than two years upon Sabalones’ permission.

The subdivision’s security guard INFORMED THE POLICE OFkCERS THAT Sabalones was seen visiting Misa’s HOUSE AT ABOUT A M ON &RIDAY But Misa denied Sabalones visited her, saying she and the wanted drug suspect had separated since she gave birth to their second child.

Misa also told the police that she had no knowledge on why THERE WERE kREARMS HIDDEN ON TOP of the cabinet.

RHEA RUTH ROSELL

Governors laud Bam’s support to LGUs

BFAR opens sardines fishing season in Zambo THE Bureau of Fisheries and !QUATIC 2ESOURCES "&!2 OFkCIALLY DECLARED OPEN ON &RIDAY THE kSHING season for sardines in the waters off Zamboanga Peninsula, followING A THREE MONTH kSHING BAN TO allow the undisturbed reproduction of sardines.

BFAR National Director Eduardo 'ONGONA SAID COMMERCIAL kSHERS may now resume their operations in the waters of East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay. Gongona explained that the annual moratorium on sardine fishing had greatly helped the sardine industry.

CEBU’S most wanted drug suspect, Franz Sabalones, will face charges OF ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF kREARMS and explosives after the police raided the house of his live-in partner in Minglanilla town, south Cebu on Friday. !N - RIlE WITH MAGAZINE AND live ammunition; a caliber .45 pistol with magazine and live bullets; a KG9 sub-machine gun pistol with magazine and 17 live bullets; and a hand grenade were found on top of the cabinet at the master’s bedroom OF THE HOUSE OF 7ENEFREDA -ISA

at Modena Subdivision, Sitio Estaca, Barangay Tunghaan, .

The raid stemmed from a search warrant issued by Judge Leopoldo CaĂąete of the Regional Trial Court 24# "RANCH IN "ARILI #EBU Senior Insp. Alejandro BatoBALONOS OFkCER IN CHARGE OF THE Provincial Intelligence Branch of Cebu said the house was registered under Misa based on the records of the subdivision.

He said they found a printed ledger (bondpaper) on top of a

credits to farmers and farmers’ cooperatives and establishment of cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

In order to sustain positive GROWTH 'ONGONA SAID CLOSED kSHing season should be maintained and efficiently implemented to also help attain the government’s TARGET OF PERCENT FISH SUFFICIENCY BY YEAR “We believe that when we protect our municipal waters, we protect not only our commercially-imPORTANT kSH STOCKS LIKE SARDINES BUT THE ENTIRE kSHERIES INDUSTRY u HE said. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

quarantine procedures being implemented by authorities to make the region and the whole country free from ASF. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

COURT CONVICTS EX-WESTERN SAMAR GOVERNOR, 2 OTHERS OF GRAFT

THE Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has convicted former Western Samar governor and now Samar 2nd District Rep. Milagrosa Tan, and two other former officials of graft in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of electric fans, assorted goods and medicines in 2002. In a 57-page decision promulgated on Friday the court sentenced Tan, then-Provincial Administrative officer Rolando Montejo and Reynaldo Yabut up to 10 years in prison in one count of graft and another eight to 15 years in prison in another count, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. The court, in part said, Tan “used her office to orchestrate the scheme to do away with the public bidding for all the purchases subject of these cases‌â€? Meanwhile, it also meted Tan and Montejo up to 15 years in prison with perpetual disqualification from holding public office in another six counts of graft in connection with the supposed purchase of desk fans from a supplier owned by Yabut without the public bidding and non delivery of goods. Tan directed “accused [then-General Services Officer Aurelio] Bardaje Jr. and [then-GSO Record Officer and Inspector Numeriano] Legaspi to just sign the inspection reports and by pre-

THE League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) found a dependable ally in Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam�

Aquino 4th in terms of welfare for local government units (LGUs) and their constituents.

The LPP recently thanked Aquino for working to restore around P2.358 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for LGUs in the 2019 national budget.

In its General Assembly Resolution 2019-01 dated Feb. 27, 2019, the LPP acknowledged Aquino’s role in restoring the budget, which was scrapped after the issuance of Department of Budget and Management’s Local Budget Memorandum 77-B that significantly decreased the IRA of 70 provinces. “Senator Bam Aquino fully supported the LGUs’ appeal to restore the P2.358 billion IRA decrease and sponsored the proposed amendment of the LPP in the general provision on the IRA,� the resolution said.

The resolution was signed by LPP Secretary General Edgar Chatto, National Chairman Al Francis Bichara and National President Ryan Luis Singson.

The LPP requested Aquino, vice chairman of the Committee on Finance, to help restore at least P1.475 billion to cover the IRA decrease due to DBM’s memorandum.

In his speech during the LPP’s general assembly, Aquino said he requested the Committee on Finance to include the entire amount of P2.358 billion. “All of us in the Senate are willing to help ensure that the local government units can address the issues and problems of your constituents in the provinces,� Aquino told the governors.

He also announced during the assembly that the IRA for 2019 had been raised to P575.5 billion, which is significantly higher than last year’s IRA of P522.7 billion.

With a higher IRA, Aquino said the amount allocated to development projects and disaster reduction and management would also increase.

He added that the LGUs could earmark more funds for the establishment of Special Drug Education Centers, which he believes is a more effective solution in addressing the drug menace in the country.

selecting the suppliers for the items purchased,� part of the decision said. But the court acquitted Bardaje and Legaspi of the graft charges, as well then-Provincial accountant Romeo Reales and then-Provincial Budget officer Maximo Sison Jr. The decision was penned by Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto, which was concurred in

by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz, who leads the Sandigabayan’s Fourth Division, and Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz.

REINA C. TOLENTINO

KUDARAT’S MOST WANTED SLAIN

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives in Sultan Kudarat killed a man wanted for various crimes after he engaged the police officers in a gunfight in Maguindanao. Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, police regional director for the Soccsksargen Region or Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12) on Friday identified the suspect as Tenti Taup Mangarin, alias Commander Winston, top most wanted suspect in Sultan Kudarat. Senior Supt. Reynaldo Celestino, Sultan Kudarat police provincial director, led serving of arrest warrant for murder against Mangarin in Sitio Kamalig, Barangay Meti, Datu Blah Sinsuat town. Rasco said Mangarin was involved in the burning of heavy equipment owned by Jargon Construction Co., the killing of school principal in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao, as well as the series of robbery incidents in the towns of Kalamansig and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat. Recovered from Mangarin were two M-16 Armalite rifles, magazines and ammunition for M-16 rifle.

JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

A8

News

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Elevator collapses in Makati, 21 injured

BY NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

T

WENTY-ONE persons were injured on Thursday night after an elevator in the PBCom Tower in Ayala Avenue, Makati City fell more than 40 levels.

Senior Supt. Rogelio Simon, Makati police chief, said the elevator started to malfunction at the 47th level. The elevator abruptly stopped at each floor, but the doors closed very quickly, preventing passengers from getting off.

PBCom management said the elevator “descended rapidly FROM THE TH lOOR THE DESCENT triggered the emergency break system.� It added that the elevator was carrying 32 passengers, which was beyond its maximum

capacity.

JC Roldan, a Building Management System (BMS) operator at PBCom, said the emergency brake was not working.

Fourteen passengers were brought to the nearest hospital.

Of these, 11 are employees of tech company Huawei Technology, nine are Chinese, two Malaysians and two Filipinos.

The nationality of the other three were unknown.

Those injured had lumps and bruises.

PBCom said the building adminstration would shoulder the medical expenses of those injured.

The incident prompted the Makati City government to conduct a rigorous inspection of all elevators to ensure compliance with the safety requirements provided for in the National Building Code of the Philippines.

Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay said “Building owners and administrators are responsible for ensuring that all elevators in their building are well-maintained.�

FIRE PREVENTION MONTH Firefighters from different bureaus in Metro Manila hold a parade at the Quirino Grandstand on Friday to formally open Fire Prevention Month.

PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

FRIEND OF THE ELDERLY

Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go greets one of his supporters who showed up at his rally in San Andres, Manila.

Go to open more Malasakit Centers FORMER special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte and aspiring senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go vowed to establish more Malasakit Centers and create programs to strengthen the government’s war against illegal drugs if he wins in May. Go reiterated his promises during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) rally at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila on Wednesday. “We will push for the establishment of more Malasakit Centers in provinces and major cities, as well as in remote areas in the country,� he said.

The Malasakit Center is a onestop shop that gives patients ready access to free medicine and financial assistance from different government agencies, including the Philippine CharITY 3WEEPSTAKES /FkCE 0HILIPpine Health Insurance Corp., Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Go said that if elected to the Senate, he would sponsor measures to further strengthen the government’s drug campaign, including the return of the death

penalty for heinous crimes involving illegal drugs. “We will not stop until our society is drug-free and crime-free,� he said. “We will strengthen the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency through allocation of more funds to broaden the agency’s operations, procure necessary tools, and put in place various safety training programs for its personnel,� Go added.

He also vowed to push the creation of Anti-Drug Abuse Council at the barangay (village), municipal, city and provincial levels. Currently, the councils operate based on a memorandum circular issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Go’s legislative agenda include programs for agricultural development, accessible housing, improved health service delivery, free education, long-term sports development, localized peace talks, anti-drug and crime drive, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, establishing a senior citizens commission and the creation of a Department of overseas Filipino workers

Enrile vows consumer Isko Moreno seeks better health care for Manilans protection, food security FORMER vice mayor Francisco “Isko� Domagoso Moreno, who joined the race for mayor in Manila, vowed to prioritize education and give Manilans better healthcare services and housing for displaced urban settlers if he wins in May. Moreno, who resigned as undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said that if elected, he WOULD WORK FOR THE EFkCIENT PROvision of basic services, including the grant of pension for senior citizens.

In an interview with The Manila Times, Moreno said there was a need to implement programs for the most basic of needs. “Why can’t this be done? Do they (city OFkCIALS NO LONGER HAVE THE DRIVE to improve the city? Leaders must have the energy, drive, vision, aspirations for the city and its inhabitants.�

Also running for Manila’s top post are former president Joseph “Erap� Estrada and former senator Alfredo Lim, who also served as Manila mayor.

Moreno said that if he wins, he

Q TRAFFIC FROM A1

Brace Garcia said about 100,000 motorists who traverse Commonwealth Avenue daily would be heavily affected by the closure OF THE lYOVER EEI Corporation, the private contractor responsible for the MRT 7 construction, said the demolition of the Tandang Sora lYOVER WOULD START ON THE THIRD week of March.

It is among the three stations targeted by the Department of Transportation to be completed kRST TO ALLOW PARTIAL OPERATIONS

would put in place infrastructure projects that would maximize land USE AND REDUCE TRAFkC CONGESTION in the city by introducing an in-city vertical housing program.

He would also address the waste management problem of the city by improving garbage collection and having an incentive program for barangay (village) clean-up, and provide permanent job opportunities through the Metro Aide Program.

Moreno said he would also introduce the Pagkain sa Basura (Food from Garbage) Program through the collection of recyclable materials and trading them into coupons for free food through the Kadiwa Store which he plans to bring back.

Through the Pagkain sa Basura Program, he also plans to establish a Materials Recovery Facility.

Moreno said he is running for mayor to give back to the city and

to return to his roots.

A former actor, Moreno served in Manila’s first congressional district in 1998. After three terms, he ran for vice mayor in 2007 and served for two consecutive terms.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him chairman of the board of the North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail) until his resignation in October 2017. In May 2018, he was appointed DSWD undersecretary.

Before he became an actor, Moreno did odd jobs in Tondo. He was a garbage collector, like his father, and was also a pedicab driver.

He was discovered by a talent agent and became an actor while studying Marine Engineering at the Philippine Maritime Institute in 1992.

He entered politics in 1998 and graduated with a management degree at the International Academy of Management and Economics.

He took crash courses on local legislation and finance at the University of the Philippines, and earned a law degree from Arellano University.

OFELYN DATUIN AND REVA MARCELO

MMDA Command Center chief Edison Nebrija said motorists in Fairview, Batasan, Katipunan and Elliptical Road would also be experiencing bumper-to-bumper trafkC ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOURS Affected motorists will be diverted to a temporary U-turn slot 700 meters away from the Tandang Sora intersection, which would be kNISHED THREE MONTHS AFTER THE closures.

In the meantime, Nebrija said affected motorists would be diverted to a temporary U-turn slot around 500 meters away from the Tandang Sora intersection.

Vehicles coming from Katipunan Avenue should turn right on Commonwealth Avenue (Fairview bound) and take the U-turn

slot near Home Depot and then turn right again to Tandang Sora Avenue.

For those coming from Tandang Sora, they should turn right on Commonwealth and take the Uturn slot near Microtel and then turn right again to Katipunan.

The MRT 7 project involves the construction of a 23-kilometer railway system, which will come with 14 stations from North Avenue in Quezon City to the City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

The MMDA also warned of HEAVY TRAFkC IN OTHER PARTS OF -ETRO Manila as several roads would undergo repairs starting 11 p.m. tonight until Monday morning.

The warning stemmed from an advisory of the Department

of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that the southbound lanes of C-5 Road after Lanuza Avenue and in front of SM Aura would undergo reblocking for the third straight week.

The southbound lane of EDSA Lagarian Creek before Ermin Garcia, the second innermost lane, will also be closed for repairs.

Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard (going to Cubao, Quezon City) and Ramon Magsaysay Bridge to Pureza Street will also be closed.

The MMDA advised motorists TO AVOID THE AREAS lAGGED BY THE DPWH and use alternate routes instead, until all affected roads would be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday.

NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

Q Former vice mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno Domagoso.

PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

FORMER Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday said the cities of Malabon and Navotas were relevant to his platform on consumer protection and food security. The four-term senator, who is seeking to return to the Senate in the May elections, held a motorcade in Navotas and Malabon, which he considered his second homes. “These two cities are important to me because they form a major fishing hub that provide fish, a basic commodity, to Metro Manila and beyond,� Enrile said. “As part of my platform, I intend to ensure the protection of consumers and to better manage the prices of basic commodities, including fish,� he said.

The motorcade passed through the villages of Tugatog, Tonsuya, Longos, TaĂąong and San Agustin in Malabon; and North Bay Boulevard North and South, Bangkulasi, Navotas West, and Sipac-Almacen in Navotas. “I’m very happy to see the support of

voters from Malabon and Navotas who, despite the heat, have come out to join my campaign,� Enrile said.

He recalled growing up in Malabon after leaving a remote village in Cagayan. As a child born out of wedlock, Enrile grew up with his mother, the daughter of a fisher, in the province prior to meeting his father. “I met my father after the war and he brought me to his home in Malabon where I met all my half-sisters and half-brothers. When I arrived, I was treated like family and felt really loved,�

Enrile said.

He also mentioned his commitment to protect Filipinos from the rising costs of electricity and fuel, especially with an “energy crisis� looming in the horizon.

The veteran lawmaker also paid a courtesy call later in the day to Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, who is running for reelection in the upcoming local elections.

BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

Q MEASLES FROM A1

cases are experiencing unrest or CONlICT &RANCE SAW ITS CASELOAD jump by 2,269.

The resurgence of the disease in some countries has been linked to medically baseless claims linking the measles vaccine to autism, which have been spread in part on social media by members of the so-called “anti-vax� movement.

The WHO last month listed “vaccine hesitancy� among the top 10 most pressing global health threats for 2019. “Almost all of these cases are preventable and yet children are getting infected even in places where there is simply no excuse,�

Fore said. “Measles may be the disease, but all too often the real infection is misinformation, mistrust and complacency.�

Other nations included on Unicef’s top 10 list of cases increases were Yemen, Venezuela, Serbia, Madagascar, Sudan and Thailand.

AFP

UN warns are seeing today took hold in 2018, lack of action today will have disastrous consequences for children tomorrow.�

Measles is more contagious than tuberculosis or Ebola, yet it is eminently preventable with a vaccine that costs pennies.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) last year said cases worldwide soared nearly 50 percent in 2018, killing around 136,000 people.

Ukraine, the Philippines and Brazil saw the largest year-onyear increases in cases. In Ukraine alone there were 35,120 cases — nearly 30,000 more than in 2017.

Brazil saw 10,262 reported cases after having none at all the year before.

While most of the countries that experienced large spikes in

ASIAN STOCKS: V S h a n g h a i 1 . 8 0 %

V S i n g a p o re 0 . 2 4 %

P51.70 TO $1

PSEi 7,641.77 DOWN 0.83%

What’s inside PH’S BIGGEST FIRMS SHOW TRAIN’S SUCCESS – DOF

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PH NICKEL OUTPUT SEEN REBOUNDING

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PH RESORTS SHELVES FOLLOW-UP-ON OFFERING

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US ECONOMY GREW 2.9% IN 2018 BUT BOOM FADING

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www.manilatimes.net S e o u l (c l o s e d )

V To k yo 1 . 0 2 %

V Jakarta 0.88%

MONEY TALKS

V Hong Kong 0.63%

B2

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SATURDAY MARCH 2, 2019

Business Times

CURRENCY RATE

B1

W B a n g ko k 0 . 7 3 %

MSCI rebalancing tagged as stock market falls anew T

HE stock market fell for a third straight day on Friday, hitting a two-month low as investors responded to an MSCI rebalancing that favored Chinese shares.

The bellwether Philippine Stock %XCHANGE INDEX 03%I TOUCHED THE 7,500 level during intra-day trading before paring losses to end the day down by 0.83 percent or 63.72 points

TO 4HE BROADER !LL 3HARES DECLINED BY PERCENT OR POINTS TO kNISH AT

Friday’s close was the lowest since THE 03%I OPENED THE YEAR AT

“Investors sold heavily in reaction to the announcement that the MSCI will RAISE THE INCLUSION FACTOR FOR #HINA ! shares from 5 percent at present to 20 percent by end-November,� Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said.

'LOBAL STOCK INDEX COMPILe r M S C I l a t e o n T h u r s d ay a n nounced that it would significantly raise China’s profile in a key equi-

TIES BENCHMARK A MOVE EXPECTED TO help normalize the country’s often volatile markets and attract billions in investment.

4HE 53 BASED kRM WHICH LAST YEAR added 236 China-listed large-cap stocks TO ITS %MERGING -ARKETS )NDEX FOR THE first time, said it would quadruple those shares’ weighting in three stages between May and November.

ÂłFalls B2

The future of P2P Borromeo 2.0-4.0 inflation targeted for 2019-2022 MOBILITY W is new MATTERS LandBank ROBERT SIY president THE government has decided to KEEP ITS INlATION TARGET AT PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT and has also decided to retain the range up to 2022, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said late on Thursday.

#%#),)! Borromeo, the former Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) chief, is the new president of Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank).

In a statement, LandBank announced that Borromeo took her oath on Friday as its 10th presiDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER (CEO).

Borromeo was transferred to LandBank from the DBP last

ÂłLandBank B2

In a statement, the central bank reported that the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had “decided TO KEEP THE CURRENT INlATION TARGET at 3.0 percent Âą 1.0 percentage point for 2019–2020 and to set the

INlATION TARGET AT PERCENT • percentage point for 2021–2022.�

The range “continues to be an appropriate quantitative representation of the medium-term goal of price stability that is optimal

ÂłTargeted B2

PH manufacturing PMI drops in Feb THE country’s manufacturing sector remained sluggish last month, an IHS Markit/ Nikkei survey found, with new order growth the weakest in seven months.

Survey results released on Friday showed the seasonally adjusted 0URCHASING -ANAGERS )NDEX 0-) HIT A SIX MONTH LOW OF IN &EB-

RUARY ‡ THE LOWEST SINCE !UGUST 2018 — from 52.3 in January.

The PMI is a composite inDEX THAT REPRESENTS THE WEIGHTED average of new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery time and stocks. Readings above SIGNAL AN EXPANSION BELOW THAT a contraction.

Factory output improved marginally from January due to stronger demand, new branches, and machinery. Last month’s production level, however, remained below the series average.

Purchasing activity was also still weaker than average. IHS Markit/

ÂłPMI B3

HEN Point-to-Point (P2P) buses first appeared on a pilot basis in December 2015, there were many skeptics. One view was that more buses on the road will CREATE MORE TRAFkC !NOTHER VIEW WAS THAT IT WOULD BE TOO DIFkCULT for car users to give up convenience of a private motor vehicle. Some believed buses would be mostly empty and unused.

Skeptics were proven wrong by the enthusiastic public response.

Buses were new, clean and comfortable; with no incentive to pick up passengers, drivers drove safely; Wi-Fi was standard; and low-entry buses were accessible even for persons with disabilities.

More importantly, buses operated ON A kXED SCHEDULE AND LEFT ON

time, whether full or not—a normal practice in developed cities, but a novelty for the Philippines.

One important selling point was the P2P buses had faster travel times than buses that stopped for passengers along the way. With “non-stop� service, P2P buses were almost as fast as driving your own car—plus you saved fuel, tolls, parking fees and stress of driving.

You can use the time on the bus to be productive or to rest, sleep or surf the internet. Commuting

ÂłMobility B3

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Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

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SATURDAY March 2, 2019

PH’s biggest firms show Train’s success – DoF

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

T

HE performance of the country’s biggest COMPANIES BEST SHOWS THAT THE kRST PACKAGE of tax reforms is “a hundred-percent success� in boosting the spending power of Filipino consumers, the Department of Finance (DoF) said. “Ninety-nine percent of individual taxpayers enjoy reductions in their personal income tax (PIT) rates. Filipinos earning below $4,500 annually are now exempted from paying personal income taxes while workers earning above it now receive about a month’s extra take-home pay each year from the deductions in their tax rates,� Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd was quoted as saying during the recent PhilipPINE %CONOMIC "RIEkNG IN /SAKA

Japan. “To emphasize that point, by correcting the tax rate for our average wage earners, we have basically given out a 14th month pay annually,� Dominguez added.

Implemented at the start of 2018, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law raised taxes on petroleum prod-

ucts and car sales, among others, in exchange for lower personal income tax rates.

The Finance department estimates that the law has given 99 percent of the country’s workers a total of P103 billion in extra INCOME COMBINED IN THE kRST THREE quarters of 2018, or an average of P12 billion a month.

Dominguez said that since Train’s implementation, retail giANTS REAL ESTATE kRMS AND BANKS such as Jollibee Foods Corp., Ayala Land Inc., SM Prime HoldINGS "$/ 5NIBANK )NC AND Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.. all reported double-digit growth IN SALES AND HIGH PROkT MARGINS He added that published data SHOWING THE SIGNIkCANT GROWTHS in sales and income of corporate giants in the real estate, fastfood

and banking industries are strong indications that Filipinos have STARTED TO BENEkT FROM THE 4RAIN Law by way of their greater purchasing power.

For instance, Dominguez acknowledged that Jollibee Foods Corp., the Philippines’ largest fastfood chain and globally recognized brand, posted sales of about $2.9 billion in 2018, 16 percent higher than the 2017 sales level.

Its net income also increased by 17 percent to $158 million in 2018 compared to a year ago.

Ayala Land Inc., the Philippines’ premier and oldest property company engaged in the planning and development of large-scale, integrated estates, posted an 18-percent increase in sales in 2018 to $3.11 billion year-on-year. Its net income also rose 16 percent to $558 million, he added.

SM Prime Holdings, the Philippines’ owner of the biggest and most number of malls in the country as well as the secondlargest high-rise condominium developer, posted sales of almost $2 billion in 2018, up 17 percent compared to 2017. SM Prime’s net income jumped by 17 percent to $616 million last year, driven

mainly by its new mall openings in the provinces, Dominguez added. “The Philippines’ leading commercial banks also posted strong interest income growth on the back of strong customer loan GROWTH IN THE kRST NINE MONTHS OF u HE SAID &OR ONE "$/ 5NIBANK )NC THE LARGEST BANK IN the Philippines in terms of assets, saw its interest income rise by 20 percent to $1.4 billion on the back of an 18-percent customer loan growth, he explained.

He also emphasized that Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, also reported its interest income grew by 13 percent to almost BILLION IN THE kRST NINE MONTHS of 2018 on the back of a 16-percent customer loan growth. Its net INCOME IN THE kRST THREE QUARTERS rose 18 percent to around $352 million versus the same period a year ago, he said.

Earlier, the DoF said government revenues from tax measures under Train totaled P41.9 BILLION IN THE kRST NINE MONTHS of 2018. However, the JanuarySeptember Train revenues fell 5.4 percent short of the P44.3-billion target for the period.

Tariffication law to cut rice smuggling PH nickel output seen rebounding PHILIPPINE nickel mining production may slightly rebound this year to 2028 as suspended mining firms are expected to resume operations, a Fitch Group unit said.

In a report released Friday, Fitch Solutions said that while the sector realized an average of 22.7 percent decline in production from 2016 to 2018 due to closure of open-pit mining, it would “begin rising again this year.�

The optimism was being buoyed by the decision of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu to lift the ban on open-pit mining. Instead, the affected firms were just suspended indefinitely until they ensure to meet environment compliance. /NCE THEY SETTLED PREVIOUS violations, they may start their productions, the DENR chief also said in November last year.

Some of the firms mandated to cease operations by former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez in 2017 were Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., Krominco Inc., Mt. Sinai Exploration and Development Corp., Libjo Mining Corp., Wellex Mining Corp. 1 and 2, Carrascal Nickel Corp., and AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp. “We expect Philippine production to slowly rise over the coming years as currently suspended mines become operational once more,� Fitch Solutions said.

Nickel production in the Philippines is expected to grow by an average of 1.7 percent year-on-year over 2019 to 2028, it noted.

Fitch Solutions said domestic miners, including SR Metals, Global Ferronickel, Nickel Asia Corporation and CTP Corp. are expected to still rule the nickel production. “Nickel Asia, in particular, will remain the driver of nickel production in the Philippines, especially as its Taganito and Cagdianoa mines, the first and second largest in the country respectively, have not been hit by the recent closures and suspensions,� it added.

LISBET K. ESMAEL

THE tariffication law is crucial in the government’s campaign against rice smuggling, the Department of Finance (DoF) said yesterday.

In a press conference, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino said the law is the most important weapon as it removes the incentives to smuggle rice.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte recently, the tariffication law provides for the removal of import restrictions on rice with tariffs; lifting of quantitative restrictions; and allowing the National Food Authority (NFA) to procure its buffer stock from the country’s farmers. The law also mandates the creation of a rice comprehensive enhancement fund which provides for P10 billion annually for six years to ensure that duties

collected from imported rice will help local farmers. “Before, because the volume of imports were controlled, and few are benefiting on the previous importation regime, the incentives are bigger because artificially the prices are high.

Now, because the price will come closer to the world price or regional price, the incentives to smuggle were lessened,�

Lambino said.

Lambino said the rice tariffication act aims to bring down smuggling cases to as low as possible. “In rice, the biggest incentive for smuggling was the artificially high price of rice in our retail markets. Without tariffication, the incentive was so high. But now that we have tariffied, the imported price will be [shouldered] by the importer plus

a manageable tariff that will go to the farmer[s], the main incentive for smuggling was removed,� said Lambino.

He added that the government’s move to liberalize the importation of rice is helpful. Because anyone can import rice as long as they are willing to pay tariff, the incentive to smuggle was taken out, he said. “What would you do to the stock you will hoard if there is much supply and more will come in because anyone can already import? They [traders] will lose money,� he added. “So, it brings about good behavior, in other words. We have set up our import rules so that we can strengthen force to follow the law rather than break the law,� Lambino said.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

1.20 percent higher, or 18.51 points, at 1,564.84.

Also Friday, a private gauge showed factory activity in China improved last month and beat It will also add 168 new mid- expectations, providing hopes for caps and 27 stocks from the tech- stability in the world’s number two heavy ChiNext board. economy.

The inclusion is expected to Tokyo, meanwhile, climbed SPUR FOREIGN INVESTMENT INlOWS one percent thanks to a weaker as institutional funds buy shares yen, while Hong Kong added 0.6 of the China-listed companies — percent. known as “A-shares� — to match Sydney rose 0.4 percent, Singatheir portfolios to MSCI. pore and Wellington each edged Foreign investors sold a total of up 0.3 percent and Jakarta put on P5.26 billion worth of Philippine 0.9 percent. Taipei and Seoul were shares on Friday compared to P3.6 closed for public holidays. billion in purchases, resulting in Traders brushed off a negative net foreign selling of P1.64 billion. lead from Wall Street that came Limlingan said the rising repre- AFTER DATA SHOWED THE 53 ECONOMY sentation of China A shares could grew in the fourth quarter at a have shifted demand from the much slower pace than the previlocal market. ous three months but was much Chinese stocks endured an up- better than forecasts. and-down session on Friday but 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP S the Shanghai Composite Index chief economic adviser Larry closed 1.80 percent up, or 53.06 Kudlow cheered markets after he points, at 2,994.01. told CNBC “progress has been terThe Shenzhen Composite Index, RIkCu ON THE #HINA 53 TRADE TALKS

China’s second exchange, closed and while he said there was still

work to be done he thought the two sides were “headed toward a remarkable historic deal�.

The news soothed worries on TRADING FLOORS AFTER 53 4RADE Representative Robert Lighthizer appeared to temper expectations for an agreement.

Meanwhile, in a separate comment, Philstocks Financial Inc. research associate Piper Chaucer Tan SAID 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP and North Korean leader Kim Jong 5N S FAILURE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT in a meeting in Vietnam had also weighed on investor sentiment.

"OTH SIDES HAVE GIVEN CONlICTing reasons for the failure, though Pyongyang said it agreed to continue “productive� discussions on denuclearization.

All sectoral indices dropped in Manila, with the mining and oil index down the most by 1.56 percent.

More than 1.65 billion issues were traded valued at P8.47 billion.

Losers led winners, 114 to 64, while 60 issues were unchanged.

FROM REPORTS BY AFP AND ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

“Borromeo rejoined LandBank as its second woman President on March 1, which incidentally starts the celebration of Women’s Month. She is also the second in career position to take the reins of LandBank,� the lender said.

Borromeo previously served as ,AND"ANK OFkCER IN CHARGE FROM August to November 2016.

Meanwhile, new heads for DBP and Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency (PhilExim) also TOOK THEIR OATHS OF OFkCE ON &RIDAY In a statement, the Department of Finance said that former Philippine Guarantee Corp. President AND #%/ %MMANUEL (ERBOSA WAS also sworn in as DBP chief.

Alberto Francisco Pascual Pascual, meanwhile, took over the helm of PhilExim from Herbosa.

The Finance department pointed out that under an executive ORDER %/ ISSUED BY $UTERTE LAST year, the guarantee functions of the government would be merged with PhilExim as the surviving entity. g!S MANDATED UNDER THE %/ THE merged entity is renamed Philippine Guarantee Corp. and will take over the guarantee functions, programs and funds of the Small Business Corp., the administration of the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool, and the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund,� it said.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Q FALLS FROM B1

MSCI

Q LANDBANK FROM B1

Borromeo February 15 by President Rodrigo Duterte.

She replaces Alex Buenaventura who served as LandBank president since November 11, 2016.

Borromeo will serve Buenaventura’s unexpired term, which will end on June 30, 2019.

She was said to have been sworn in by Finance Secretary and LandBank Chairman Carlos Dominguez 3rd during a special board meeting at the the bank’s head office in Malate, Manila.

Entrusted with financial responsibility Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation’ –C. Everett Koop

T

HE travails of being a parent present great opportunities for learning and praxis. Being a REGISTERED kNANCIAL PLANNER MYself, I have been exposed to deTAILS OF SOUND kNANCIAL PLANNING for persons and families: managing cash and debt, planning investments, insurance, preparing for retirement, and preparing for children’s education.

But knowing one thing is entirely different from experiencing it yourself. When one gets to be married, be a parent and a husband at that, the family is being entrusted to you. And this is where life gets better—and more challenging.

As soon as my wife gave birth ON OUR kRST CHILD THE REALITY OF preparing financially for our family’s future became all the more imperative. I had a term insurance worth P1 million at the time, but with the change of my marital status and the arrival of our newborn, it suddenly was INSUFkCIENT 4HINKING ABOUT MY child’s future and my wife, I sought out to increase my insurance coverage—as affordable as our budget can take, and with as much protection as I can get.

Quality education comes with a price nowadays, and computing back then how much it would cost my child’s, I knew that savings is not enough.I have to secure the amount required as soon as possible should something happen to me. Back then, I computed that a tuition fee in a good school will cost around P150,000 per semester by the time that baby will be in college, and this amount still does not include other expenses such as miscellaneous fees, books, allowances, rent, etc. The coverage I had back then really was INSUFkCIENT Moreover, my wife is just beginning her practice as a physician, and I will want to leave some amount of money to support her all the more should something happen to me.

After much studying and comparing products, it was providential that my former boss--who is a bank manager—has offered ME A PRODUCT THAT kTS PERFECTLY into what I needed: maximum insurance protection relative to its cost. I availed of it right away.

With the additional coverage, I was more confident that my family’s expenses shall not be disrupted in case of my death.

But insuring oneself is just one part of being financially responsible for the family. Storing enough savings for the rainy DAYS IS A MUST 0RUDENT kNANCIAL

MONEY TALKS

REINZIE BIOLENA planning recommends 3 to 6 months’s worth of expenses as emergency fund.

Building-up the appropriate level of emergency fund remained both a challenge and a target most especially when income and expenses are almost at the same level. But it had to be done. It was not easy, pooling TOGETHER ONE S kNANCES FOR A COMMON PURPOSE /UR AGREEMENT right before marriage helped a lot. We already talked how we WILL HANDLE OUR FAMILY S kNANCES My wife has an eye on details and has a knack for budgeting and bargaining. We thus agreed that she will be handling our family’s money while I handle the excess FUNDS 3HE IS THE CHIEF kNANCE OFkCER AND TREASURER WHILE ) THE CHIEF INVESTMENT OFkCER !FTER MUCH SACRIkCE TOIL AND arguments on handling money, WE WERE kNALLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE our desired level of emergency fund: six months’s worth. But as the amount of the fund is quite substantial, placing all of it in just a savings account bearing 0.25 percent interest will be such a waste. But not when there are other instruments that can give a higher return and can still be practically as liquid. We thus spread our emergency fund into a passbook savings account, a time deposit account and a money market fund. This approach lets us maximize the earnings potential of our idle funds, as the returns of the last two are almost double that of an ordinary savings account.

Insurance coverage: check.

Emergency fund: check. The bedrock of our finances has been established and as such, we are then able to plan for our other goals in life: saving up for her clinic, building up and allocating for our land purchase, and saving up for our children’s education.

The list is just the start of a very extensive one. But whatever the goals or circumstances in life, being entrusted with a little angel and my own family means being RESPONSIBLE IN OUR kNANCES FOR now and the long years to come.

Rienzie P. Biolena is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. He’s also Chartered Wealth Advisor (CWA) and chief kNANCIAL PLANNER OF 7EALTH!RKI and Consultancy, a financial PLANNING kRM ,EARN MORE ABOUT PERSONAL kNANCIAL PLANNING AT the 75th RFP program in April 2019. To inquire, e-mail info@ rfp.ph or text to 0917-9689774.

and weather disturbances that affected food supply.

Inflation expectations have since stabilized, it said, and nonmonetary measures implemented for the Philippines given the cur- by the government will also adrent structure of the economy and dress fresh supply shocks and outlook of macroeconomic condi- the food/farm sector’s structural tions over the next few years,� it problems. added. ,OW AND STABLE INlATION WILL Following last year’s surge, contribute to economic growth the BSP reiterated that it ex- that is expected to be supported pected consumer price growth by improved productive capacity to return to target over the and the government’s “Build Build medium term.

Build� program, the central bank )NlATION WHICH AVERAGED continued. percent in 2018, hit a nine-year Economic managers are aimhigh of 6.7 percent in September ing for 7.0-8.0 growth this year and then eased beginning No- following last year’s below-target vember. It fell further in January, 6.2 percent, which observers have hitting a ten-month low of 4.1 BLAMED ON HIGH INlATION percent.

Lastly, the central bank said it The BSP has said that it expects remained commited to maintainINlATION TO AVERAGE PERCENT ing price stability conducive to in 2019 and ease further to 2.98 a balanced and sustainable ecopercent in 2020. nomic growth.

The central bank again ac“Going forward, the BSP will knowledged that recent infla- continue to monitor closely tion developments were largely price developments and ensure driven by “transitory supply that the monetary policy stance side factors such as crude price remains appropriate in keeping volatility, tax hikes imple- INlATION WITHIN TARGET u IT SAID mented at the start of 2018 MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

Q TARGETED FROM B1

2.0-4.0

Corporate News PH Resorts shelves follow-on offering ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

P

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

H Resorts Group Holdings Inc. has deferred its planned P12-billion follow-on offering (FOO) after receiving suggestions that it should pursue other funding plans. )N A REGULATORY kLING ON &RIDAY

PH Resorts President Raymundo Martin Escalona said the decision to postpone the offering

came after the listed company’s roadshow and marketing efforts provided insights on “more strategically alternative options for

funding needs.�

It emphasized, however, that it was still eager to push through with it, with Escalona adding that it “shall keep the PSE (Philippine Stock Exchange) informed of PH Resorts’ further plans once we have determined the new timetable for the offering.�

Under the FOO, PH Resorts planned to sell up to 1.786 billion common shares with an overallotment option of up to 267.95 million at a target price

range of P3.65 to P5.84 each.

Proceeds shall be used to finance the design, construction, and development of the kRST PHASES OF ITS TWO INTEGRATED casino resorts: The Emerald on Mactan island in Cebu province’s Lapu-Lapu City, which is EXPECTED TO BE kNISHED IN and Clark Resort in Pampanga province’s Clark Freeport Zone, which is due for completion IN Excess proceeds shall be used

to fund the expansion of the Donatela Hotel on Bohol province’s Panglao island, as well as for general corporate purposes.

The company had picked CLSA Ltd. and UBS AG’s Singapore branch as international underwriters, and China Bank Capital Corp. as the domestic lead underwriter for the offering.

The PSE gave the go-signal for the FOO on February 13 after the Securities and Exchange Commission gave theirs on January 24.

B3

Formerly Philippine H2O Ventures Corp., PH Resorts transformed into a holding firm of Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy to hold his investments in tourism-related developments.

Uy acquired last year a 62-percent stake in Philippine H2O from listed Jolliville Holdings Inc. as his vehicle to list PH Resorts.

3HARES OF 0( 2ESORTS GREW BY CENTAVOS OR PERCENT TO kNISH at P5.18 apiece on Friday.

PH firms, CNOOC join Volkswagen PH aims for 50% sales growth forces for LNG project PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc., CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd. and state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Batangas province.

In a disclosure, the listed independent oil company reported that the Phoenix Petroleum President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Uy, CNOOC G&P Chief Finance Officer and Vice President Wu Zhengxing, and PNOC President and CEO Reuben Lista signed the deal in Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s presence at his department’s office in Taguig City.

The MoU would allow the three firms to explore and discuss business opportunities and cooperation in relation to the equity investment in Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc. and other companies in RELATION TO THE PROJECT 0./# FACILITIES AND BANKED GAS MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE energy projects. “We warmly welcome the potential addition of PNOC in the LNG hub project we have been planning to venture on with CNOOC G&P,� Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Officer Henry Albert Fadullon said. “The LNG hub is a crucial project that will provide longterm solutions for our coun-

try’s energy needs, and the strategic alliance among our companies will further secure the continuous development of this venture,� he added.

Tanglawan – the joint venture of Phoenix Petroleum and CNOOC G&P, a subsidiary of the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) – is expected to break ground within this year the facility’s regasification and receiving terminal that is capable of holding 2.2 million tons yearly.

The project also includes developing a gas-fired power plant with an installed capacITY OF UP TO MEGAWATTS Phoenix Petroleum had said Tanglawan, which received the notice to proceed on the facility last December, aimed to begin the LNG hub’s comMERCIAL OPERATIONS BY The facility would help support demand for a clean, competitive and environmentfriendly energy source in Luzon, and provide energy security for the country, it added.

Established in Davao City IN AND LISTED ON THE Philippine Stock Exchange in *ULY 0HOENIX 0ETROLEUM is into trading and marketing refined oil products, including liquefied petroleum gas AND LUBRICANTS OPERATING OIL DEPOTS AND STORAGE FACILITIES and offering hauling and intoplane services.

Phoenix Petroleum’s shares ENDED FLAT AT 0 ON &RIDAY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

Q PMI FROM B1

PH manufacturing PMI drops in Feb Nikkei said that new orders “rose solidly� in February but the rate of growth was the softest since July. g.EARLY PERCENT OF PANELLISTS SAW HIGHER FACTORY ORDERS MENtioning new clients and larger volumes of repeat orders. At the SAME TIME PERCENT OF kRMS REGISTERED A FALL IN WORK u IT SAID /VERSEAS DEMAND INCREASED FOR THE kRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS AS THE NEW EXPORT ORDERS INDEX ROSE ABOVE THE NEUTRAL MARK ON the back of higher customer orders. The overall rate of expansion, however, was still modest. “Weaker new business growth led to a lower headline PMI in February,“ IHS Markit economist David Owen said. “That said, the survey also pointed to an increase in export orders for the first time since August, suggesting that softer demand signals were predominantly from the domestic market,� he added. “There is little cause for concern though, with the PMI having been relatively strong over the last few months.�

Employment, meanwhile, slightly went up after posting a decline in January as higher new orders resulted in more jobs.

IHS Markit/Nikkei said other companies reported hiring workers to replace those that had recently resigned.

The survey also noted that manufacturers continued to increase their selling prices last month. “Output charges set by Filipino manufacturers rose solidly in February. However, the rate of inflation was slightly weaker than in January, continuing the trend of softer price rises compared TO MOST OF &IRMS THAT RAISED THEIR FEES GENERALLY LINKED this to higher raw material prices,� Nikkei said.

Owen said that with inflation easing and growth in employment, “manufacturers will likely see improved business conditions ahead.�

2ESULTS OF THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT MOST MANUFACTURING kRMS continue to be upbeat as 63 percent of respondents expect activity to improve in the next 12 months driven by new projects, business development, and strong economic conditions.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

VOLKSWAGEN Philippines is looking to increase its sales “by at least 50 percentâ€? — or more than 2,000 cars — this year as it sees the country’s automobile industry to improve. “We need to better our 2018 sales performance‌by at least 50 percent. [R]iding on the wave of what is expected to be an industry recovery, we are confident that we can achieve this,â€? new Volkswagen PH President Felipe Estrella 3rd said during an event in Pasay on Thursday night.

Sales of the German automaker’s local unit remained flat at 1,363 units last year, according to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and Truck Manufacturers Association.

For January, sales dropped by 54.5 percent to 50 units from 110 in the same month in 2018 — which Estrella shrugged off, saying it was a “carryover effect from last year.�

He anticipates sales to bounce back within the first quarter and stay on track of reaching its 2019 sales target. “I think [that] if you see the sales number of the industry going up, it’s probably an indication that the tide is turning,� Estrella said.

Volkswagen PH is banking on its Santana sedan and GTS models to again drive sales this year after contributing more than 30 percent of the total in 2018. “If you get behind the Santana, you’ll really feel the difference,� he said, explaining that the model provides excellent “drive experience,

durability and German design.�

Other models in Volkswagen PH’s portfolio this year are the Lavida, Tiguan and Lamando — all manufactured in China.

Two more sport utility vehicles are expected to be introduced this year, Estrella said.

At least four dealerships will open this year to expand the company’s market reach, according to him.

Volkswagen PH currently has nine dealerships, the latest being the one in Santa Rosa City, Laguna province on Friday.

Volkswagen PH is among the companies in the Ayala-led AC Industrials Technology Holdings Inc.’s automotive portfolio. Others are Honda Philippines Inc., Isuzu Philippines, KTM Motorcycles and Kia Philippines.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

Lawsuit filed by Bangladesh, RCBC confirms THE Rizal Commercial Banking #ORP 2#"# CONkRMED ON &RIday that the Bangladeshi central BANK IN .EW 9ORK HAD kLED A CASE against it. “Based on news reports, a case was filed in New York against RCBC and other parties. The bank has not received the summons, although we understand that other defendants have been served,�

RCBC said in a disclosure.

The Yuchengco-led lender did not provide more details on the case, which stemmed from the illegal transfer of $81 million from the New York Federal Reserve of the Bangladesh Bank to the RCBC branch on Jupiter St. IN -AKATI #ITY IN Earlier, RCBC said the case was “nothing more than a thinly

veiled PR campaign.� “Based on what we have heard, this suit is completely baseless,�

RCBC lawyer Tai Heng Cheng said.

He also doubted the Bangladeshi central bank’s seriousness in recovering the money, saying “they would have pursued their claims three years ago and not wait until days before the statute of limitations.�

Bangladesh has only recovered just about $15 million.

The lawyer also said that, besides its allegations, the Bangladesh Bank did not have the right TO kLE THE LAWSUIT IN .EW 9ORK

since none of the defendants are in the United States.

The lawsuit “is nothing more than a political stunt by the Bangladesh Bank to try to shift

blame from themselves to RCBC,� he added. “A review of the facts shows that Bangladesh Bank’s errors, omissions and lapses in security protocols are the cause of its loss.�

Cheng believes the central bank has concealed information from its own investigation and continue to try to blame others despite admitting their own culpability. “RCBC had nothing to do with the theft of the funds and has cooperated fully with every investigation into the matter,� he said.

The Philippines imposed in A RECORD MILLION kNE on RCBC after investigating its role in the cyberheist.

Maia Deguito, the Jupiter St.

branch manager, was found by the Makati Regional Trial #OURT ON *ANUARY GUILTY of eight counts of money laundering, and sentenced to four to seven years of imprisonment for each count.

She was also ordered to pay a MILLION FINE 4HE CONkRMATION CAME DAYS after Razon-led Bloomberry Resorts Corp. told the Philippine Stock Exchange that it would defend subsidiary Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc., which WAS ONE OF kRMS AND INDIviduals named as defendants in the lawsuit.

RCBC shares ended flat at 0 EACH ON &RIDAY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO WITH ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Q MOBILITY FROM B1

The future of P2P was no longer wasted time.

Soon, car owners were leaving their cars at home and using P2P buses to get to their destinations. In a survey of P2P bus riders going from North EDSA to Makati, 27 percent of passengers reported they chose the bus instead of using their private cars.

In the survey of Alabang to Makati 0 0 PASSENGERS OVER PERCENT WERE former car users. P2P services improved mobility and alleviated road congestion by facilitating a “modal shift�— reducing the number of cars on the road by converting car users into public transport users. ! BUS CARRYING OR MORE PASSENgers consumes much less fuel, produces less pollution and occupies less road space than if the same number of people were transported by private cars.

With fewer cars on the road, the remaining vehicles move faster.

As P2P buses became more popular, queues started to lengthen at P2P terminals. During peak hours, EVERY 0 0 BUS WAS kLLED TO CAPACITY The Department of Transportation (DOTr) responded by adding more routes and more buses. At last count, there were 33 P2P bus routes AND OVER 0 0 BUSES OPERATING in Greater Manila.

But the P2P service is not without issues. If you visit the P2P social MEDIA SITES YOU WILL kND A GROWING number of unhappy customers with common complaints: (a) buses that do not follow their posted schedULES B BUS TRIPS THAT ARE ARBITRARILY

CANCELLED C BUSES THAT STOP AND PICK UP PASSENGERS ALONG THE WAY (d) long passenger queues and not ENOUGH BUSES AND E BUSES THAT ARE SLOW AND STUCK IN TRAFkC. To attract and retain customers, the P2P service should maintain standards and deliver higher quality. If services don’t match customer expectations, P2P users will go back to using their cars and we will all be worse off.

Three service attributes help to preserve the loyalty of P2P users — availability, frequency and speed.

Availability is crucial. If you have

CUSTOMERS BUT YOU HAVE ONLY SPACE FOR MANY CUSTOMERS WHO show up will be disappointed. If kNDING A SEAT ON THE BUS IS TOO MUCH OF A DAILY GAMBLE PEOPLE WILL kND A more reliable alternative and you will end up losing your customer base.

Frequency is a big factor in service quality. Today, most P2P buses have long intervals between buses OF MINUTES TO ONE HOUR EVEN during peak hours. If there is a long interval between buses, there is less margin for error — the passenger is forced to be at the bus terminal earlier to grab a seat or else suffer a long wait for the next bus.

A frequent service gives the customer a lot more convenience and lEXIBILITY IN PLANNING HER TRAVEL A bus service that dispatches a veHICLE EVERY MINUTES WILL BE A LOT more attractive than a service that DEPARTS EVERY MINUTES OR EVERY

HOUR 7ITH A MINUTE INTERVAL A passenger knows that if she misses a particular bus, the next bus will come along in just a few minutes.

Travel time is another important component of service quality.

While P2P buses are comfortable, THEY ARE STILL STUCK IN TRAFkC ALONG with everyone else, making travel time long and unpredictable. Imagine if P2P buses can arrive reliably at their destinations in one-third of their current travel time.

To achieve the above improvements, LTFRB, as the road transport industry regulator, should ensure that P2P operators comply with two key conditions of their franchise: (a) All P2P operators are required to have enough buses in operation to offer a maximum 10-minute interval between buses during peak hours m AM m PM GOING IN THE DIRECTION of demand. Today, none of the P2P routes comply with this requireMENT AND (b) All P2P operators are required to have a facility for advance ticketing and seat booking via internet and mobile phone.

These two important franchise conditions, if met within the next six MONTHS WILL DELIVER A SIGNIkCANT IMprovement in service quality, attracting even more car owners to use a bus.

Over the medium term, recognizing that buses carry many more passengers than private cars, P2P buses (and other high capacity public

transport) should be accorded priority in the use of road space.

If possible, a dedicated lane should be established for buses, liberating THEM FROM TRAFkC AND FRICTION WITH private motor vehicles. /N A DEDICATED LANE THE MINute P2P bus ride from North EDSA TO -AKATI WILL BE REDUCED TO minutes. When car users sitting in SLOW TRAFkC SEE A 0 0 BUS ZIPPING by, you know what they will be thinking: “I’d be there by now if I had taken the bus.�

With faster travel speeds, the P2P service can have more round trips and more passengers in a day, improving ITS EFkCIENCY AND kNANCIAL VIABILITY With greater ridership, P2P fares can be lowered while maintaining or EVEN INCREASING PROkTABILITY A P2P service with more availability, higher frequency and shorter travel time is one of the best tools to improve mobility for all. Filipinos will have a more comfortable and convenient TRAVEL OPTION 0 0 OPERATORS WILL GAIN A LARGER AND MORE STABLE CUSTOMER BASE more car users will leave their cars at HOME OUR CITIES WILL HAVE LESS CONGEStion, less pollution, and a healthier, happier population. All achievable within this administration.

Robert Y. Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate.

He can be reached at mobilitymatters.ph@yahoo.com or followed on Twitter @RobertRsiy

Foreign Business China ‘regrets’ WTO US economy grew 2.9% ruling on farm subsidies in 2018 but boom fading W B4

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

ASHINGTON, D.C.: The US economy kicked into high gear last year in the wake of sweeping tax cuts but slowed in the final months, suggesting the boom had begun to fade, according to government data released Thursday (Friday in Manila).

the transition was eased by the plunge in gas prices.�

4HE kRST QUARTER OF HOWEVER

faces “real headwinds,� he noted, such as recovering fuel prices, a five-week government shutdown and sluggish business investment in machinery and equipment.

The non-partisan Congressional "UDGET /FkCE PREDICTED LAST MONTH the US economy would see respectable but markedly slower growth of PERCENT THIS YEAR AS THE TAX CUTS AND kSCAL STIMULUS WEAR OFF

facturing sector, which contracted for the third month in a row.

Trump’s trade war also took a nasty bite out of US growth in the third quarter as Washington and "EIJING EXCHANGED PUNISHING TARiffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, a dispute both sides say they are now close to resolving.

Falling international trade subtracted two percent from the overall economy in the third quarter. !ND IN THE kNAL THREE MONTHS OF the year, areas that had seen a poststimulus boost appeared to be slowing: businesses investment in factory The trade war bites building slowed to its lowest level in But Trump said Thursday the US a year, and non-defense government economy was now “better than ever.� spending contracted by 5.6 percent, “Our economy is probably as ITS BIGGEST DECREASE IN kVE YEARS The weak housing sector, which good as it has ever been. We are just doing great, we are setting has seen falling sales and slowing records,� Trump said to troops in construction, also shrank 3.5 percent, A HANGAR AT %LMENDORF !IR &ORCE its third quarterly contraction in a row.

4HE kVE WEEK GOVERNMENT SHUT"ASE IN !NCHORAGE !LASKA WHERE his plane stopped to refuel on the down, most of which fell in January, likely had little impact on the way back from Vietnam. “You are looking at a country GDP data, as the work stoppage now that is doing better than ever,� mostly fell in January, and will NOT SHOW UP UNTIL THE kRST QUARTER he said.

Wall Street was largely unmoved /FkCIALS ESTIMATE IT TOOK A MEAGRE by the numbers, with stock prices 0.02 percent slice out of economic finishing lower, in part due to output but could have had larger AFP somber data from China’s manu- effects indirectly.

BEIJING: China said on Friday it “regrets� a World Trade Organization ruling in Washington’s favor over a dispute on Chinese subsidies to wheat and rice producers.

The decision comes as the world’s top two economies try to hammer out an agreement to settle a long-running trade row that has rattled global markets.

The United States in 2016 alleged that China doled out $100 billion in “market price support� for wheat and rice as well as corn production, above levels agreed to at the Geneva-based WTO. “The expert group did not support the Chinese position on the calculation of the subsidy level for our minimum purchase price policy on wheat and rice.

The Chinese side regrets this,� the commerce ministry said in a statement.

China is the world’s largest producer of wheat and rice, holding significant sway over world markets.

WTO experts said they had found that each year from 2012 to 2015, China’s

market price support for wheat, Indica rice and Japonica rice “exceeded its 8.5 percent de minimis level of support for each of these products�. “Government support for domestic agriculture, guaranteeing farmers’ income, and maintaining food security are common practices in all countries and permitted by WTO rules,� the ministry said in the statement attributed to the head of its treaty and law department. “China has always respected WTO rules and will carefully evaluate the expert group’s report, and properly handle it according to the WTO dispute settlement procedures,� it said.

Both sides have up to 60 days to appeal Thursday’s ruling.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue earlier hailed the ruling as a “significant victory for US agriculture� saying they hoped China would quickly come into compliance.

AFP

Cooling in the fourth quarter ALSO POINTED TO SIGNIkCANTLY SLOWER growth this year, as many economists now forecast, even though the White House continues to predict robust growth will continue unabated. '$0 EXPANDED BY PERCENT IN 2018 compared to 2017, according to a Commerce Department report, up from 2.2 percent the prior year and approaching the target set

by President Donald Trump.

Last year’s pace matched growth in 2015, which was the highest since 2005.

With businesses facing a sudDEN WINDFALL IN TAX CUTS AMID increased government spending, growth zoomed higher as companies built factories and stockpiled inventories, according to the Commerce Department report that was delayed by a month due to a shutdown of the federal government. $EFENSE SPENDING GREW PERcent last year, the biggest increase

in nine years.

But in the October-December period, growth tapered down to an annual rate of 2.6 percent, a SHARP DROP FROM PERCENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND PERCENT in the second.

Still even the slower fourthQUARTER EXPANSION WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED AS ECONOMISTS HAD predicted lackluster consumer spending over the holiday period would take a deeper cut.

The robust full-year growth could simultaneously lend support to Trump and to his critics, showing unmistakable economic gains last year, amid brisk job creation, but indicating it may have been a temporary boost purchased with SKYROCKETING GOVERNMENT DEkCITS “In short, this is not a bad performance,� Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote in a note to clients. “Growth had to slow as the BOOST FROM TAX CUTS FADED THOUGH

Amazon urged to return to New York

China stocks rise on MSCI decision Gap to split into two firms, close 230 stores

NEW YORK: Top business leaders, lawmakers and others are urging Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos to reconsider his decision not to move forward with plans for a new headquarters in New York, to build an “exciting future� for the city.

In an open letter to appear in Friday’s edition of The New York Times, the 80-odd signatories -- from bank CEOs to church leaders and the head of US airline JetBlue -- acknowledged the “rough� public debate that thwarted the project, but chalked it up to “New York charm.�

In mid-February, Amazon abandoned its plans for a new headquarters in New York, to be located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, blaming opposition from community leaders angry at the huge subsidies on offer. “New York attracts the best, most diverse talent from across the globe. We are a dynamic new center of the country’s most inclusive tech economy,� the open letter said. “We all hope you reconsider and join us in building the exciting future of New York.�

They said the online retail giant’s proposed New York campus would be a “tremendous benefit to residents and small businesses in the surrounding communities.�

Also on the list of signatories are several current members of Congress representing New York.

Long Island City was one of two locations chosen last year for Amazon’s so-called “HQ2� -- the other project in the suburbs of the US capital Washington will move forward.

The online retail giant had promised the sprawling complex would create 25,000 jobs in New York -- and possibly 40,000 by 2034 -- in exchange for nearly $3 billion in state and city incentives.

The New York plan had been endorsed

by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

But it ran into fierce opposition from some local politicians and community activists, including newly elected Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district borders the New York site.

But those who signed the open letter wrote: “A clear majority of New Yorkers support this project and were disappointed by your decision not to proceed.�

The letter says Cuomo would “take personal responsibility� for getting state approval of the project.

The New York Times has reported that Cuomo, a Democrat, has had several meetings with Amazon leaders in a bid to reverse the decision.

Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the letter. AFP

SHANGHAI: Chinese shares rose FriDAY AFTER GLOBAL STOCK INDEX COMPILER -3#) SAID IT WILL SIGNIkCANTLY RAISE #HINA S PROkLE IN A KEY EQUITIES BENCHMARK A MOVE EXPECTED to help normalise the country’s often volatile markets and attract billions in investment.

4HE 53 BASED kRM WHICH LAST year added 236 China-listed large-cap stocks to its Emerging -ARKETS )NDEX FOR THE kRST TIME

said late Thursday it would quadruple those shares’ weighting in three stages between May and November.

It will also add 168 new midcaps and 27 stocks from the techHEAVY #HI.EXT BOARD -3#) INCLUSION IS EXPECTED TO SPUR FOREIGN INVESTMENT INlOWS as institutional funds buy shares of the China-listed companies — KNOWN AS g! SHARESu ‡ TO MATCH their portfolios to MSCI. Chinese stocks endured an upand-down session on Friday but THE 3HANGHAI #OMPOSITE )NDEX closed 1.80 percent up, or 53.06 POINTS AT

The Shenzhen Composite )NDEX #HINA S SECOND EXCHANGE

closed 1.20 percent higher, or POINTS AT

-3#) HAD RESISTED ADDING ! shares for years due to concern over Chinese corporate governance, Beijing’s meddling in markets, restricted foreign access to stocks, and their high volatility.

But China has moved to modernise and open up its markets, which MSCI cited as key factors in the latest decision. “The strong commitment by Chinese regulators to continue to improve market accessibility... is another critical factor that has won the support of international institutional investors,� said Remy Briand, MSCI’s managing director. ! SHARES NOW ACCOUNT FOR JUST 0.71 percent of the Emerging -ARKETS )NDEX BUT THAT WILL INcrease to 3.3 percent by November, MSCI said.

Firms related to China but not traded there already make up more THAN PERCENT OF THE INDEX HOWever, due to the inclusion years ago of heavyweights like Wall StreetLISTED !LIBABA AND "AIDU AND Hong Kong-listed Tencent.

‘Very excited’ Chinese stocks tanked in 2018 but have rebound around 18 percent this year as trade-war fears subside and the government has rolled out a series of marketsupporting policies.

Bao Ting, a strategy analyst with Great Wall Securities, said MSCI’s latest decision could lure an additional $70 billion in FOREIGN FUNDS INTO ! SHARES g!TTRACTIVE #HINESE STOCK VALUations and looser monetary

policies will lure more foreign capital,� she said.

China has long shielded its markets but in recent years has widened foreign access to increase ITS GLOBAL kNANCIAL FOOTPRINT It also plans to launch a Nasdaq-style tech board in Shanghai to deter big Chinese start-ups from listing abroad.

Many shares already in THE -3#) INDEX OR WHICH WILL BE included gained on Friday.

Industrial and Commercial "ANK OF #HINA ROSE PERcent to 5.85 yuan and China Construction Bank added 2.23 PERCENT TO YUAN Fibreglass producer China Jushi gained 2.83 percent to 11.27 yuan and feedstuffs producer Guangdong Haid Group rose 1.55 percent to 26.85 yuan.

In housewares, Zhejiang Supor JUMPED PERCENT TO YUAN AND 7UXI ,ITTLE 3WAN ADDED 0.81 percent to 55.80 yuan.

Fund management company T. Rowe Price welcomed MSCI’s decision, saying the greater global scrutiny could nudge Chinese companies toward better corporate governance. g7E ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE opportunity set in this market and its growing relevance to INVESTORS OUTSIDE OF !SIA u SAID Eric Moffett, manager of T. Rowe 0RICE S !SIA /PPORTUNITIES &UND AFP

NEW YORK: Gap Inc. on Thursday announced plans to split into two companies and shutter 230 stores in a makeover that showcases its hot “Old Navy� chain and deemphasizes its slumping namesake brand.

Shares surged around 25 percent in aftermarket trading following the announcement of the division into “Old Navy� and the unnamed “NewCo,� which will comprise Gap, Banana Republic and the company’s other brands. “Following a comprehensive review by the Gap Inc. Board of Directors, it’s clear that Old Navy’s business model and customers have increasingly diverged from our specialty brands over time, and each company now requires a different strategy to thrive moving forward,� Gap Inc Board Chairman Robert Fisher said in a statement. “Pursuing a separation is the most compelling path forward for our brands,� he added.

'AP #HIEF %XECUTIVE !RT 0ECK

who will lead NewCo, said the revamp was made with an eye towards positioning the businesses FOR THE FUTURE ALMOST EXACTLY years after founders Doris and Don Fisher launched the company with A SINGLE STORE ON /CEAN !VENUE IN San Francisco that also sold record albums. “We are focused on value creation

and have no sort of emotional attachment to a particular combination of these businesses,� Peck told an analyst conference call.

Including all its chains, Gap Inc. had about 135,000 employees as of February 2018 and 3,688 stores globally as of November 2018, acCORDING TO SECURITIES kLINGS Old Navy will continue to be led by the brand’s chief Sonia Syngal once it becomes a standalone company. Originally launched BY 'AP IN /LD .AVY OFFERS apparel that generally comes in at a lower price point than at Gap or Banana Republic.

Gap reported full-year comparable sales of positive three percent AT /LD .AVY VERSUS A DECLINE OF kVE percent at Gap and a gain of one percent at Banana Republic.

T h e c o m p a ny p l a n s 2 30 more Gap store closures globALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS the company works “to revitalize the Gap brand by re-engaging WITH CUSTOMERS AND EXPANDING ITS loyal customer base, leveraging the multigenerational, democratic appeal of the brand,� Gap said in a press release.

The move comes as the US retail sector faces stiffening pressure FROM !MAZON AND OTHER ONLINE retailers as e-commerce eats up a greater share of retail sales. AFP

Huawei invites foreign media to see for itself on spy claims SHANGHAI: Chinese telecom giant Huawei has issued an unusual invitation to foreign media outlets to visit its facilities and meet staff as the company pushes back against global pressure arising from US accusations that it spies for Beijing.

Huawei on Thursday purchased full-page adverts in major US newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post to invite US media to visit its Shenzhen headQUARTERS IN SOUTHERN #HINA NEXT WEEK EXTENDING A SIMILAR WELCOME TO !&0 ON &RIDAY Bearing the headline “Don’t believe everything you hear�, the advert was attributed to Huawei board director Catherine Chen. “I am writing to you in the hopes that we can come to understand each other better,� it said. “In recent years, the US government has developed some misunderstandings about us. We would like to draw your attention

Q The Huawei Mate X foldable smartphone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona on Feb. 28, 2019. AFP PHOTO to the facts.�

US President Donald Trump’s administration has in recent months ramped up efforts to block Huawei, the leader in 5G technol-

ogy, by urging allies to avoid the Chinese powerhouse, claiming that national security interests are at stake.

Huawei has responded in recent

weeks by coming out in public to state its case with a directness unusual for a major Chinese company. )TS YEAR OLD FOUNDER 2EN Zhengfei, who previously rarely spoke to foreign media, has granted repeated interviews since the start of the year to deny that Huawei is a mole for China’s Communist government. /THER (UAWEI OFkCIALS HAVE HIT back by highlighting US government eavesdropping that was EXPOSED BY FORMER 53 .ATIONAL 3ECURITY !GENCY CONTRACTOR %DWARD Snowden.

Huawei’s chairman Guo Ping forcefully pushed back at the US accusations this week in a keynote address at the mobile industry’s biggest annual global event in Barcelona. “The US security accusation against our 5G has no evidence.

Nothing,� he said.

The issue has escalated with

the arrest in Canada in December of Ren’s daughter, Huawei Chief &INANCIAL /FkCER -ENG 7ANZHOU

who is accused of violating US sanctions against Iran and faces AN EXTRADITION HEARING THIS MONTH 4WO (UAWEI AFkLIATES ALSO HAVE been charged in the United States with trade theft for stealing robotics technology from T-Mobile and OFFERING kNANCIAL REWARDS TO STAFF who stole secrets from rivals.

The open letter avoided those issues, focusing instead on how the huge company’s systems have contributed to global connectivity.

It invited media outlets to visit its facilities. “On behalf of Huawei, I would like to invite members of the US media to visit our campuses and meet our employees,� it said, providing an email address for arranging visits. “Don’t believe everything you hear. Come and see us. We look forward to meeting you.�

AFP

˜ The Manila Times

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Health Industry

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

B5

EDITOR: Conrad M. Cariño

MDH expands cancer treatment M

BY CATHERINE A. MODESTO

ILLIONS lose their lives to cancer yearly, according to the World Health Organization. In 2018, it was responsible for 9.6 million deaths globally, with 80,000 coming from the Philippines. It has been one of the top causes of morbidity among Filipinos.

With that in mind, the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) has expanded its cancer care treatment services by introducing radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to damage cancer cells’ DNA and destroy their ability to

grow and divide, helping control symptoms from the disease and increase the survival of patients with advanced cancer. MDH already has an advanced technology called the Vitalbeam radiotherapy system, which was developed by Varian and Siemens Healthineers,

a medical technology company.

The radiation therapy system, which falls under palliative care is a “game-changer,” as it has the capacity to fast-track treatments of PATIENTS WITHOUT SACRIkCING gACcuracy and precision,” according to Mario Juco, medical director of MDH. This makes possible the RapidArc mode — one of the features of the VitalBeam system — said Oliver Perez, representative from the Siemens Healthineers.

The equipment has built in imaging tools that have the c a pacity to identify in five minutes the targeted tumors

in hard-to-detect areas of the body, such as the brain and spinal cord, Perez added. g4HESE ARE SIGNIkCANT REDUCtions in treatment time. Many patients will spend a whole lot less time lying still, immobilized on a hard surface,” said Antonio Villalon, head of the MDH Cancer Institute.

“A VitalBeam system can deliver dose with tremendous precision. Itsaccuracy is made possible by a sophisticated architecture that synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, beam shaping and dose delivery, performing accuracy

checks every ten milliseconds throughout a treatment. It can be used for radiotherapy treatments including image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and RapidArc radiotherapy,” Perez said.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy served as an added value to the hospital, as it already provided chemotherapy and surgery, Juco said.

However, he admitted that radiotherapy did not guarantee that the patients’ tumor would shrink, but it was a good palliative care option for it might

SIGNIkCANTLY MANAGE THEIR SYMPtoms and reduce their pain and suffering.

Vitalbeam seeks to offer oncologists a myriad of treatment options for challenging radiotherapy-treatable cases, such as cancers of the head/neck, breast, prostate, lung, liver and pancreas, Perez said.

Teresa Sy Ortin, MDH Radiation-Oncology Department head, said the hospital’s cancer center might “comfortably” accommodate up to 60 patients per day.

The system is now available at MDH’s new Cancer Institute that began operations in January.

HEAVY METAL ROCK MAY NOT CAUSE VIOLENCE IT’S no secret that heavy metal music can be a bit morbid and macabre. Because of its loud and rowdy characteristics, heavy metal music is often associated with violence. Some heavy metal music is said to be inciting teenagers to commit murder and suicide. Bands are also accused of being devil worshippers, Satanists and trying to pervert kids, and using music to confront mortality, pain and suffering.

Various cases of heavy metal artists committing suicide or heavy metal fans committing crimes make people wonder, is there really a link between heavy metal music and suicide or criminality?

“I cannot and will not conclude that heavy metal music effect on criminality simply because a criminal incident has many elements or factors to consider which outweighs a person listening to music, such as intention, opportunity, dynamics or the individuals in each roles including risks, and the like. It is simply stereotyping and prejudicial, which is against any ethics or law,” said Candy Mauricio, certified management consultant and licensed counselor.

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal music — or simply metal — is a genre of rock music often characterized with high energy, distorted guitar, yelling or growling vocals, and head banging.

Popular heavy metal artists include Metallica, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, Pantera, Anthrax, Megadeth, Scorpions, Deftones, Marilyn Manson, Death Angel, Korn, among others.

Of 20 musicians listed by OC Weekly namely Ouorthon, Mike Scaccia, Nick Menza, Bill Tolley, Wayne Static, Jani Lane, Paul Gray, Mayhem Dead, Mitch Lucker, Bianca ‘Butthole’ Halstead, Chi Cheng, Peter Steele, Chuch Schuldiner, Lemmy, Ronny James Dio, Jeff Hanneman, Oderus Urungus, Randy Rhoads, Cliff Burton, and “Dimebag” Darrel Abott; three reportedly died from heart problems, six from accidents, five from alcohol and drugs, one from depression, one from suicide, three from health problems, one from smoking, and one was murdered.

Ranker.com also listed 27 famous musicians who committed suicide with two deaths stemming from alcoholism, four from drugs, eight from health-related factors, and two from mental problems.

Fifteen of them suffered from depression.

How music influences a person

Music, as defined by dictionary, is vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion.

Being an expression itself, it can resonate with individuals with similar sentiments.

“For example, when we are heartbroken, we may find ourselves listening and ‘feeling’ particular love songs similar to the situation we are dealing with. On another note, when we are not heartbroken yet are fond of sad love songs, we also find ourselves somehow getting back to that particular state of being broken hearted or sometimes scared to get into ‘serious’ relationships. Why? We need to understand that the energy stimulates our brain and aligns with our mind, soul, and spirit to trigger our decisions as expressed in our actions. When I say ‘stimulates,’ I mean ‘influencing,’” explained Mauricio.

Mauricio used a “friend” as a classic example who can influence a person in making a particular decision, going on a diet, shopping, taking a course or even getting into a relationship.

“However, the effect of this influence to our action is dependent on us — on how much we will let it affect our decision. I think this perception was strong in the 1980s when

people thought heavy metal was encoded with secret messages,” Mauricio added.

Underlying factors

In an article published by CNN.com, it was stated that heavy metal is often used as a scapegoat to distract one from more complicated societal problems.

With that, it’s easy to see where journalists, parents and religious groups get their ideas from by just scanning the lyrics of any heavy metal band worth its salt will often reveal some gaspinducing subject matter.

But for metal musicians, death, blood and mayhem, in its various guises, are all simply part of the act, part of “the show.”

“Although recent researches concluded young heavy metal fans are five times more likely to self-harm or attempt suicide, the research also caveat that this requires interpretation within the wider context of public concern around alternative subcultures and their impact on the mental health of young people,” said Mauricio.

It can also be noted that there are several underlying factors leading metal artists to commit suicide, either from deteriorating health, illnesses, depression or prolonged use of drugs and alcohol, or some mental illness.

‘Exposure’ to criminality

As to the link between criminality and heavy metal music, Mauricio revealed they investigated the background of people who had committed a crime. She added the common historical element was their “exposure” to it — either their parents, relative or neighbor did it and was not caught or they witnessed such event — personally or through media and the effect or aftermath of the crime was something “tolerable” to their regard.

They also looked into the basic elements of a crime: desire, ability and opportunity. The individual who may have been exposed to the crime may find it desirable because it augments their needs — could have given them food on the table, means to buy medicine, among others.

“I’d like to emphasize on this point the idea why we know we are only catching the small-time criminals who have limited ability such as snatching, hold-ups and pushing drugs yet are not able to stop syndicates who have greater abilities to synchronized crimes. Lastly, opportunity is given by the environment when the ‘right’ timing is determined by the person to commit the crime,” she explained.

“Because criminality as mentioned above requires elements and/or factors that are not just in consideration of the person to commit such act, it will definitely be stereotyping and/or prejudicial to spot a criminal,” Mauricio added.

On another note, individuals during their childhood don’t necessarily show telltale signs unless they talk about their fantasies or make believe to be, for example, a robber, serial killer and the like.

“You may then need to further examine the child’s desire to in such role/s and determine the required way to ‘process’ such thoughts with him or her,” said Mauricio.

When it comes to reversing the negative effect of a certain type of music to a person, Mauricio stressed that it might be addressed by the brain through neuroplasticity, a characteristic of the brain that allows it to regenerate.

“With regards to unlearning, for some behavior modification techniques, this includes replacing what we want to unlearn with something new to learn. For example, instead of just stopping smoking, it suggests you learn breathing exercises. With these in mind, if we feel that heavy metal music is influencing to the point that it is affecting you towards a negative act, stop listening to it and explore new genres of music,” she concluded.

MYLENE C. ORILLO

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Medical doctor Teresa Rosalie del Valle, a medical specialist of the Department of Health National Center for Mental Health, discusses the implication and intervention for substance abuse to participants of the three-day training on Mental Health Global Action Program held at the Eurotel Vivaldi in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday. The activity will enable government doctors to provide interventions to patients with mental, neurological and substance use disorder. PNA PHOTO

Doctors restore confidence in vaccination PHILIPPINE Medical Association member-doctors from Metro Manila and Luzon gathered on 4HURSDAY TO HELP RESTORE CONkdence on vaccination amid the measles outbreak.

The measles outbreak was attributed to low vaccination rates caused by the significant loss of confidence from the Dengvaxia issue.

In her lecture at the forum, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Executive Director and medical doctor Lulu Bravo encouraged doctors to help restore public trust, confidence and acceptance on vaccination for health care workers by communicating the value of vaccination.

“Because now amid the controversies — hysteria, the chaos and then the [measles] outbreak,” Bravo said.

She stressed that vaccination could reduce the risk of getting sick or dying in higher risk popu-

lations such as children. Bravo cited the contrast between the number of recorded deaths from the measles outbreak from in the past two months and no deaths from 2005 to 2010.

A survey conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in 2018 showed a steep decline of confidence on vaccination to 32 percent from 93 percent in 2015.

For her part, medical doctor Anna Lisa Ong Lim, president of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PID30 SAID THAT THIS IS THE kRST TIME people got scared of vaccination.

“Never ko narinig (I haven’t heard), in the past how many years in the public sector as a physician in a public hospital yung dahilan na ‘kasi natakot ako sa bakuna.’ Ngayon ko lang yan narinig (the reason that ‘because I’m scared of vaccination.’ This is

THE kRST TIME ) VE HEARD OF IT u she said in an interview.

“How many measles vaccine is known to be very safe when in fact we’ve used it for more than YEARS WITHOUT ANY SIGNIkCANT issues being raised against it,” Lim added.

She further said studies have proven that measles vaccines could be used to children as young as six months.

While the measles vaccination is usually prescribed for ninemonth-old month babies, Lim said that during an outbreak, it is recommended to administer them to a younger age of six months.

She also stressed the need to re-administer the measles vaccine at a later age, and that the ideal vaccination during the outbreak should be one dose at the age of six months and another at the age of one year and above.

Furthermore, there is no overdose for measles vaccine as in

cases parents forget their children have been previously vaccinated.

With the measles outbreak, Lim said that there was a need to intensify vaccination campaigns. She said that latest World Health Organization findings revealed the Philippines had only vaccinated 10 percent of the eligible population, but the target during an outbreak is 95 percent. ,OWER CONkDENCE TO VACCINAtion, also affected vaccination rates of other diseases such as polio, pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.

Lim, however, noted that lower vaccination rates may also be attributed to other factors such as accessibility.

Members of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations and Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines also attended the event.

DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

Seniors urged to get pneumonia shots AS part of the Department of Health’s (DoH) Expanded Program on Immunization, a total of 3,500 senior citizens were recently given free vaccination against pneumonia in Calasiao, Pangasinan and Bago City, Negros Occidental.

To prevent the spread of the pneumonia infection among the elderly, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) was given to adults aged 60 years and above, who are prone to age-related impairment of the immune system.

Ronia Aragon, a medical specialist and development management officer of DoHIlocos Region (Region 1), said that the government advocates protection against pneumonia because it could lead to serious illness. Pneumonia remains as one of the top five leading causes of deaths in the Philip-

pines, according to DoH. “We should get protection and the most effective way to combat pneumonia is through vaccination. All senior citizens should get immunized,” Aragon said in Filipino in her lecture during the event held at Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.

John Lee Gacusan, senior head program officer of DoH-Region 1, said vaccination among the elderly was provided in Section 4 of Republic Act 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”

Calasiao Mayor Armand Bauzon, for his part, thanked DoH for supporting the health programs of the municipal government, particularly for senior citizens. “We have already tripled the budget of the Municipal Health Office. Every year, we increase it because we

believe we should give attention to people’s health, including the senior citizens,” he added.

Nona Obando, head nurse of the City Health Office of Bago City, said that in the past years, pneumonia persisted as one of the top causes of deaths among elderly and children in the city.

“When the free vaccines from the DoH arrived, cases of pneumonia have dropped in Bago City,” she said.

Obando said that at first, the elderly in Bago feared immunization because they believed that getting an “injection” wouldcause pain.

“In the end, they availed of the free immunization. They started going to our health center to get vaccinated,” she said, adding that so far, there were no negative reactions observed among those given the anti-pneumonia vaccines.

City officials of Bago showed support for DoH’s Expanded Program on Immunization by holding their own vaccination activity at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center.

Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo said the city government was one with the national government in its goal to promote the health of senior citizens in the city.

In private clinics, the cost of one dose of pneumonia vaccine ranges from P4,000 to P5,000.

The DoH’s Expanded Pneumococcal Immunization Program covers all senior citizens aged 60 to 65 years old.

Pangasinan and Negros Occidental are two of the provinces and key cities across the country that proactively implement local programs supporting of vaccination.

B6

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

World

˜ The Manila Times

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DESPITE US-NKOREA SUMMIT COLLAPSE

Moon vows closer ties with North

S

EOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Friday his government planned to discuss with the United States the possibility of restarting joint inter-Korean economic projects to induce nuclear disarmament from North Korea.

-OON S COMMENTS DURING A NATIONALLY TELEVISED SPEECH CAME A DAY AFTER A HIGH STAKES NUCLEAR SUMMIT BETWEEN 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP AND .ORTH +OREAN LEADER +IM *ONG 5N COLLAPSED OVER WHAT THE !MERICANS SAW AS EXCESSIVE .ORTH +OREAN DEMANDS FOR SANCTIONS RELIEF IN EXCHANGE FOR LIMITED DISARMAMENT STEPS .ORTH +OREA INSISTED IT HAD ASKED ONLY FOR PARTIAL SANCTIONS RELIEF IN EXCHANGE FOR SHUTTING DOWN ITS MAIN NUCLEAR COMPLEX &OREIGN -INISTER 2I 9ONG (O ALSO SAID 7ASHINGTON HAD WASTED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT gMAY NOT COME AGAINu AND THE .ORTH S POSITION WON T CHANGE EVEN IF THE 5NITED 3TATES OFFERS TO RESUME TALKS 4HE BREAKDOWN IS A SETBACK FOR -OON WHOSE DESIRE FOR CLOSER RELA-

TIONS BETWEEN THE +OREAS HINGES ON A NUCLEAR BREAKTHROUGH BETWEEN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND .ORTH +OREA 7HILE -OON HAS PRIORITIZED STABILIZING RELATIONS WITH THE .ORTH AMID THE LARGER NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS

HIS DOVISH APPROACH HAS CAUSED DISAGREEMENTS WITH 7ASHINGTON

WHICH SEES ECONOMIC PRESSURE AS ITS MAIN LEVERAGE WITH 0YONGYANG g) VOW TO HELP USHER IN AN ERA OF A PEACE DRIVEN ECONOMY ON THE +OREAN 0ENINSULA u SAID -OON WHO PREACHES THAT 3OUTH +OREA SHOULD BE IN THE gDRIVER S SEATu IN INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE .ORTH (OWEVER IF THE NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS DERAIL -OON COULD POTENTIALLY FACE A SERIOUS DILEMMA OVER WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE .ORTH OR JOIN ANOTHER 53 LED PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT

)N A SPEECH IN 3EOUL COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF A +OREAN UPRISING AGAINST *APANESE COLONIAL RULE -OON MADE A NATIONALISTIC CALL FOR INTER +OREAN COOPERATION

WHICH HE SAYS WOULD DRIVE PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND .ORTH +OREA -OON SAID HE WOULD gCONSULTu WITH THE 5NITED 3TATES ON RESUMING OPERATIONS AT AN INTER +OREAN FACTORY PARK IN THE .ORTH +OREAN BORDER TOWN OF +AESONG AND RESTARTING 3OUTH +OREAN TOURS TO THE .ORTH S SCENIC $IAMOND -OUNTAIN RESORT )T S IMPOSSIBLE FOR 3EOUL TO RESUME THE PROJECTS UNDER THE CURRENT 53 LED SANCTIONS AGAINST THE .ORTH -OON ALSO PROPOSED THE CREATION OF A JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE +OREAS AIMED AT DEVELOPING THE .ORTH S CRIPPLED ECONOMY WHICH HE SAID WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITH PROGRESS IN THE .ORTH S DENUCLEARIZATION g7E WILL CLOSELY COMMUNICATE AND COOPERATE WITH THE 5NITED 3TATES AND .ORTH +OREA SO AS TO HELP THEIR TALKS REACH A COMPLETE SETTLEMENT BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE u HE SAID g0ROGRESS IN INTER +OREAN RELATIONS WILL LEAD TO THE NORMALIZATION

OF .ORTH +OREA S RELATIONS WITH THE 5NITED 3TATES AND *APAN EXPANDING INTO A NEW ORDER OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN .ORTHEAST !SIA u 7HILE -OON HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO MAKE AMBITIOUS NEW PROPOSALS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE .ORTH WHILE MARKING THE CENTENNIAL OF AN ADMIRED HISTORICAL EVENT HIS SPEECH ENDED WITHOUT MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FRESH PLANS ON INTER +OREAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES -OON SPOKESMAN +IM %UI KYEOM DID NOT GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER WHEN ASKED WHETHER THE BREAKDOWN OF THE (ANOI SUMMIT FORCED -OON TO MODIFY HIS PROPOSALS -OON SAID THE 5NITED 3TATES AND .ORTH +OREA STILL MADE gMEANINGFUL PROGRESSu IN (ANOI AS CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN 4RUMP AND +IM *ONG 5N WOULD HAVE gENHANCED MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND BUILT MORE TRUST u 53 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE -IKE 0OMPEO SAID IN -ANILA 0HILIPPINES

ON &RIDAY THAT THE .ORTH +OREANS DEMANDED gFULLu SANCTIONS RELIEF IN TALKS IN (ANOI CONTRADICTING 2I

WHO SAID THE .ORTH ASKED ONLY FOR PARTIAL RELIEF g4HESE ARE GLOBAL DEMANDS FOR THE DENUCLEARIZATION OF .ORTH

GOODWILL VISIT

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (left) and Vietnam’s President Nguyen Phu Trong attend a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace on Friday in Hanoi, Vietnam. POOL/ AP PHOTO AS A COUNTRY LIKE ANY OTHER AND 6IETNAM IS +IM S FOURTH FOREIGN DESTINATION IN LESS THAN MONTHS

AFTER NOT LEAVING HIS BORDERS FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS FOLLOWING HIS INHERITANCE OF POWER (E HAS TRAVELLED TO #HINA FOUR TIMES FOR MEETINGS WITH 8I *INPING

WALKED ACROSS THE BORDER WITH 3OUTH +OREA FOR A SUMMIT WITH 0RESIDENT -OON *AE IN AND WENT TO 3INGAPORE FOR HIS kRST SUMMIT WITH 4RUMP "UT FOR PROTOCOL PURPOSES +IM S TRIPS DO NOT RANK AS STATE VISITS AS HE IS NOT .ORTH +OREA S HEAD OF STATE‡HIS GRANDFATHER +IM )L 3UNG RETAINS THE TITLE OF %TERNAL 0RESIDENT EVEN THOUGH HE DIED IN )NSTEAD +IM IS OFkCIALLY CHAIRMAN OF THE RULING 7ORKERS 0ARTY OF +OREA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE 3TATE

WOULD EVER VOLUNTARILY DEAL AWAY AN ARSENAL HE MAY SEE AS HIS STRONGEST GUARANTEE OF SURVIVAL 7HILE -OON FOCUSES PREDOMINANTLY ON .ORTH +OREA ISSUES

CRITICS SAY HUGE PROBLEMS ARE BEING MISHANDLED AT HOME INCLUDING A DECAYING JOB MARKET FALLING BIRTH RATES AND DEEP AGE GENDER AND POLITICAL DIVIDES (WANG +YO AHN

FORMER 3OUTH +OREAN PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE ,IBERTY +OREAN 0ARTY CRITICIZED -OON FOR OVERSELLING A gROSY FANTASYu ON THE .ORTH S DENUCLEARIZATION AND THAT PEOPLE S HOPES ARE NOW TURNING INTO UNEASINESS g3OUTH +OREA LOSES THE MOST FROM THE (ANOI SUMMIT ENDING WITHOUT AGREEMENT u SAID !LISON %VANS AN ANALYST FROM )(3 -ARKIT g7ITHOUT PROGRESS ON .ORTH +OREA -OON S DOMESTIC AGENDA BECOMES HIS ONLY METRIC OF SUCCESS FOR VOTERS WHO HAVE ALREADY CRITICIZED HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILING TO DELIVER ON ECONOMIC METRICS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT u -OON HAD HOPED TO FOLLOW THE 4RUMP +IM MEETING WITH HIS OWN FOURTH SUMMIT WITH +IM PREFERABLY IN 3EOUL A PROSPECT THAT NOW LOOKS MURKIER AP

Bangladesh to stop accepting refugees

NKorea’s Kim kicks off official Vietnam visit

HANOI: North Korean leader Kim *ONG 5N KICKED OFF AN OFkCIAL VISIT TO 6IETNAM ON &RIDAY THREE DAYS AFTER ARRIVING IN THE COUNTRY FOR A NUCLEAR SUMMIT WITH 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP THAT ENDED deadlocked. +IM PUT ASIDE THE TROUBLED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PAGEANTRY OF A FORMAL DIPLOMATIC OCCASION IN (ANOI WHERE ‡ ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER AND CLOSE AIDE +IM 9O *ONG ‡ HE WAS RECEIVED BY 6IETNAM 0RESIDENT AND #OMMUNIST 0ARTY CHIEF .GUYEN 0HU 4RONG 4HE SMILING LEADER WALKED BEFORE ROWS OF CHILDREN WAVING 6IETNAMESE AND .ORTH +OREAN lAGS OUTSIDE THE MUSTARD YELLOW COLONIAL ERA 0RESIDENTIAL 0ALACE BEFORE INSPECTING AN HONOUR GUARD 4HE LONG ISOLATED .ORTH IS INCREASINGLY SEEKING TO PORTRAY ITSELF

+OREA AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO PEACE AND STABILITY AND A BETTER LIFE FOR THE .ORTH +OREAN PEOPLE AND A LOWER THREAT

A DENUCLEARIZED .ORTH +OREA u 0OMPEO TOLD REPORTERS 4HERE HAD BEEN HOPES IN 3EOUL THAT 4RUMP AND +IM WOULD REACH A DEAL THAT MEANINGFULLY REDUCES .ORTH +OREA S NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY AND SOFTENS SANCTIONS AGAINST 0YONGYANG WHICH WOULD GIVE -OON MORE ROOM TO PUSH HIS AMBITIOUS IDEAS ON INTER +OREAN ENGAGEMENT !SIDE OF RESTARTING THE +AESONG FACTORY PARK AND 3OUTH +OREAN TOURS TO $IAMOND -OUNTAIN THE +OREAS ALSO ASPIRE TO RECONNECT THEIR RAILWAYS AND ROADS -OON HAS DESPERATELY TRIED TO MAINTAIN AN IMPRESSION THAT THINGS ARE HEADED TOWARD THE .ORTH S DENUCLEARIZATION TRYING TO KEEP HARD LINERS IN 7ASHINGTON AT BAY AND A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE OF DIALOGUE ALIVE 4HAT COULD BECOME MUCH HARDER TO DO IF THE 5NITED 3TATES AND .ORTH +OREA STRUGGLE TO PUT THEIR NEGOTIATIONS BACK ON TRACK AND AMID GROWING DOUBTS ON WHETHER +IM

!FFAIRS #OMMISSION ALTHOUGH HE IS MOST WIDELY REFERRED TO AS THE g3UPREME ,EADER u 4HE .ORTH S STATE +#.! NEWS AGENCY DESCRIBED IT AS AN gOFkCIAL GOODWILL VISITu TO 6IETNAM #URIOUS ONLOOKERS LINED THE STREETS &RIDAY TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF +IM THE kRST .ORTH +OREAN LEADER TO VISIT 6IETNAM SINCE +IM )L 3UNG IN "UT NOT ALL WERE IMPRESSED g4HE SUMMIT FAILED ) DON T KNOW HOW MUCH 6IETNAM HAS SPENT ON THIS BUT IT MUST BE A LOT u (ANOI RESIDENT 4U -AI

TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE g) DON T LIKE EITHER 4RUMP OR +IM u 4HE .ORTH +OREAN LEADER IS ALSO DUE TO MEET THE SOUTHEAST !SIAN COUNTRY S 0RIME -INISTER .GUYEN 8UAN 0HUC AND THE HEAD OF ITS RUBBER STAMP PARLIAMENT .GUYEN

Thi Kim Ngan.

(E IS EXPECTED TO LAY WREATHS AT THE (O #HI -INH MAUSOLEUM AND WAR MARTYRS MONUMENT ON 3ATURDAY AHEAD OF HIS PLANNED DEPARTURE BY TRAIN FOR THE MARATHON RETURN JOURNEY HOME +IM UNDERTOOK A KILOMETRE MILE TWO AND A HALF DAY RAIL JOURNEY THROUGH #HINA TO 6IETNAM TO ATTEND THE SUMMIT 4HE STREETS OF (ANOI HAVE BEEN LINED WITH HEAVY SECURITY ALONG WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND ARMOURED VEHICLES FOR THE SUMMIT AND SOME SAID IT WAS EXHAUSTING WORK g)T S TIRING WE VE BEEN ON HIGH ALERT FOR TWO WEEKS NOW u A POLICE OFkCER TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE g) REALLY WISH IT WOULD END SOON AS IT REALLY DISRUPTS PEOPLE S LIVES u

AFP

UNITED NATIONS, United States: Bangladesh told the UN Security Council on Thursday (Friday in Manila) that it will no longer be able to take in refugees from Myanmar.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told a council meeting that the crisis over the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya sheltering in his country had gone from “bad to worse� and urged the council to take “decisive� action.

Around 740,000 Muslim Rohingya are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state during a military campaign in 2017 that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. “Here, I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar,� said Haque.

Under a deal reached with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take back some of the refugees, but the United Nations insists that the safety of the Rohingya be a condition for their return. “Is Bangladesh paying the price for being responsive and responsible in showing empathy to a persecuted minority population of a neighboring country?� asked the foreign secretary.

After five trips to Myanmar, UN envoy Christine Schraner Burgener reported “slow progress� in efforts to help hundreds of thousands of Rohingya return home and warned that Myanmar’s elections next year could worsen the crisis.

The Swiss diplomat, who was appointed in April as UN envoy for Myanmar, said UN agencies had been given “insufficient� access to help prepare the return of the Rohingya.

Myanmar appeals for patience Myanmar’s Ambassador Hau Do Suan insisted his government was taking

steps and appealed for patience.

He spoke of “huge physical as well as psychological barriers� in the way of allowing the refugees’ return and stressed that “it takes time and patience as well as courage to build trust and confidence among different communities in Rakhine.�

China, which has close ties with Myanmar’s former military junta, insisted that development aid could help ease tensions in Rakhine and made clear the council should not get involved in addressing the refugee crisis. “It is up to the two countries to work out a solution,� said Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wu Haitao.

In December, Britain circulated a draft resolution that would have forced Myanmar to roll out a strategy for addressing the Rohingya crisis, but China threatened to veto the measure, according to diplomats. “We are very disappointed that there hasn’t been more progress on getting the refugees back,� said British Ambassador Karen Pierce. “The scale of what has been done to the Rohingya Muslims and the allegations of crimes against humanity really mark this out as one of the most terrible events of this century so far,� said Pierce.

The UN envoy warned that the election campaign “could add to the domestic complexities� in Myanmar, which is still struggling with a democratic transition after 50 years of military rule.

Myanmar’s de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been criticized for failing to speak out to defend the Rohingya, is seeking to consolidate her position ahead of the 2020 vote.

Myanmar’s military dominates the Buddhist-majority nation, holding a quarter of seats in parliament and controlling three ministries, making their grip on power firm despite political reforms which began in 2011.

AFP

8 dead in Indonesia mine collapse as excavator digs for survivors BOLAANG MONGONDOW, Indonesia: 2ESCUERS AT A COLLAPSED )NDONESIAN GOLD MINE BROUGHT IN A HEAVY EXCAVATOR TO THE PERILOUS SITE ON &RIDAY AS THEY RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO REACH MORE THAN MINERS STILL TRAPPED UNDERGROUND 3EARCH TEAMS HAD BEEN FORCED TO USE SPADES AND EVEN BARE HANDS FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE AT THE REMOTE SITE ON 3ULAWESI ISLAND THAT HAS KILLED AT LEAST EIGHT FEARING THAT A WRONG MOVE INVOLVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE "UT THREE DAYS AFTER THE 4UESDAY NIGHT COLLAPSE AUTHORITIES SAID THEY HAD DECIDED TO USE AN EXCAVATOR TO HAUL AWAY DEBRIS AS THEY TRY

TO GET FOOD AND WATER TO THE MINERS BELIEVED TO STILL BE ALIVE g7E WERE AFRAID TO USE IT BECAUSE IT MIGHT TRIGGER ANOTHER LANDSLIDE OR SEND DEBRIS TUMBLING ONTO THE TRAPPED MINERS u LOCAL DISASTER OFkCIAL !BDUL -UIN 0APUTUNGAN TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE g"UT NOW WE VE GOT THE PERMISSION FROM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO USE IT DESPITE THE RISKS u HE ADDED -ORE THAN THREE DOZEN PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE TRAPPED AT the mine.

2ESCUERS HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH A HANDFUL OF VICTIMS WHO HAVE CRIED FOR HELP FROM THE DEPTHS OF the mine.

4HE DEATH TOLL ROSE TO EIGHT ON

RESCUE CONTINUES

Rescuers carry a survivor of a collapsed mine on a stretcher in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi, Indonesia on Thursday. AP PHOTO &RIDAY THE DISASTER AGENCY SAID EST VICTIM BUT OFFERED NO DETAILS ON THE LAT! MINER DIED OF BLOOD LOSS 4HURS-

DAY AFTER HIS LEG PINNED UNDER ROCK

WAS AMPUTATED AT THE SCENE !RMY AND DISASTER AGENCY PERSONNEL HAVE RELIED ON ROPES TO NAVIGATE THE STEEP MUDDY AREA AS SURVIVORS WERE CARRIED AWAY IN MAKESHIFT STRETCHERS TO WAITING VEHICLES 3OME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAULED OUT OF THE MINE ALIVE SINCE THE ACCIDENT INCLUDING THE AMPUTEE WHO LATER DIED 6ICTIMS HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR CUTS AND BROKEN BONES AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL IN THE "OLAANG -ONGONDOW REGION OF .ORTH 3ULAWESI

WHERE kVE MINERS WERE KILLED IN $ECEMBER AFTER AN ILLEGAL GOLD mine accident.

4HE MINERAL RICH 3OUTHEAST !SIAN NATION HAS SCORES OF UNLICENSED MINING SITES AND SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE ROUTINELY FLOUTED 4HIS WEEK S ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN SUPPORT BEAMS AT THE UNLICENSED SITE COLLAPSED ACCORDING TO THE DISASTER AGENCY ) N M I N E R S D I E D AFTER A MUDSLIDE ENGULFED AN ILLEGAL GOLD MINE IN 3UMATRA S *AMBI PROVINCE ) N P E O P L E D I E D WHEN A MINESHAFT COLLAPSED ON *AVA ISLAND AND MINERS DIED ON 3UMATRA ISLAND WHEN A MUDSLIDE ENGULFED A MINE IN *AMBI PROVINCE AFP

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Worldinbriefs 7.0 MAGNITUDE QUAKE HITS PERU

LIMA: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck southeastern Peru on Friday but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. It hit in the Andes region in a sparsely populated area. The US Geological Survey said the epicenter was at a depth of 257 kilometers (160 miles). The agency said most big quakes in South America occur at a depth of 70 kilometers or more. The quake hit at 0850 GMT about 27 kilometers northeast of the town of Azangaro, near the border with Bolivia. Peru is located in a seismically active region, and on January 14 last year a quake measuring 7.3 killed two people and toppled buildings near the southern city of Arequipa.

SINGAPORE TO BUY FOUR F-35S JET FIGHTERS

SINGAPORE: Singapore plans to buy four US-made F-35 jet fighters to update its ageing current fleet, the defense minister said on Friday. The city-state, which has one of Asia’s bestequipped militarily, announced in January it had opted for the Lockheed Martin jets over rivals from Europe and China, and planned to first buy a small number before deciding on a full fleet.

Giving an update on the plans, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament that Singapore “will request an initial acquisition of four F-35s, with the option of a subsequent eight if we decide to proceed.�The current price of an F-35 ranges from $90 million to $115 million.

NATO CHIEF SAYS BLOC PREPARING FOR MORE RUSSIAN MISSILES

SOFIA: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the military alliance needs to be ready for a world with more Russian missiles, after a UN warning that the global arms control system is collapsing. Stoltenberg told reporters during a visit to the Bulgarian capital Sofia that NATO does not want a new Cold war and a new arms race. He calls on Russia to come back into compliance with the INF (IntermediateRange Nuclear Forces) treaty. Stoltenberg said we need to be prepared for a world without the INF treaty and with more Russian missiles. The US began the process of exiting the key missile treaty last month in response to Moscow’s deployment of a new missile the 9M729 that NATO says breaches the pact. In response, Russia announced its own withdrawal from the cornerstone treaty signed in 1987, which banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. The crisis has sparked fears of a new arms race in Europe.

AFP

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

World

B7

Pakistan to release Indian pilot as ‘peace gesture’

W

AGAH, Pakistan: Pakistan was set to free a captured Indian pilot Friday in a “peace gesture� aimed at lowering temperatures with its nuclear arch-rival, after rare aerial raids IGNITED FEARS OF A DANGEROUS CONlICT IN South Asia.

Thousands of Indians, some WAVING lAGS AND SINGING GATHERED AT THE FAMED 7AGAH BORDER CROSSING TO GIVE 7ING #OMMANDER !BHINANDAN 6ARTHAMAN A HERO S WELCOME AFTER TENSIONS WITH .EW $ELHI OVER +ASHMIR ESCALATED THIS WEEK TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL IN YEARS !BHINANDAN WHO HAS BECOME THE FACE OF THE CRISIS WILL BE HANDED BACK TO )NDIAN OFkCIALS AT THE BORDER ON &RIDAY AFTERNOON

0AKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER 3HAH -EHMOOD 1URESHI SAID )N .EW $ELHI THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS RELEASE WAS SEEN AS A DIPLOMATIC VICTORY WITH )NDIAN

LEADERS WELCOMING THE PILOT S RETURN BUT ANNOUNCING THEY WOULD REMAIN ON gHEIGHTENEDu MILITARY ALERT SHOWING LITTLE SIGN OF DE ESCALATING THE RIVALRY !BHINANDAN WAS SHOT DOWN OVER +ASHMIR ON 7EDNESDAY AFTER A DOGkGHT IN THE SKIES OVER THE DISPUTED (IMALAYAN REGION WHICH SENT TENSIONS BETWEEN )NDIA AND 0AKISTAN TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS IN YEARS AND ALARMED WORLD POWERS

WHO ISSUED CALLS FOR RESTRAINT g!S THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SAID AS A PEACE GESTURE AND TO DE ESCALATE MATTERS THE )NDIAN PILOT WILL BE RELEASED 3O TODAY THIS

AFTERNOON HE WILL BE RELEASED AT 7AGAH u 1URESHI TOLD A JOINT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT &RIDAY ! DIPLOMATIC SOURCE TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE THE HANDOVER WAS EXPECTED BETWEEN P M 0AKISTANI TIME '-4 !BHINANDAN S PARENTS WERE GIVEN A STANDING OVATION BY FELLOW PASSENGERS AS THEY BOARDED A lIGHT TO !MRITSAR NEAR 7AGAH TO WELCOME THEIR SON 4HE HIGHLY SYMBOLIC 7AGAH CROSSING GATE IS FAMED FOR HOSTING AN ELABORATE DAILY CEREMONY BY )NDIAN AND 0AKISTANI SOLDIERS AT SUNDOWN 4HOUSANDS CROWDED IN EARLY ON THE )NDIAN SIDE &RIDAY CLUTCHING SWEETS AND GARLANDS PLAYING DRUMS AND BRANDISHING PAINTINGS AND SIGNS CALLING FOR PEACE -EDIA ON THE 0AKISTANI SIDE WERE BEING STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES AROUND KILOMETERS ONE MILE FROM THE BORDER 4HE SURGING TENSIONS HAD

PROMPTED 0AKISTAN TO CLOSE DOWN ITS AIRSPACE DISRUPTING MAJOR ROUTES BETWEEN %UROPE AND 3OUTH !SIA AND GROUNDING THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS WORLDWIDE g7E WILL OPEN OUR AIRSPACE AT PM '-4 TODAYu FOR lIGHTS AT THE )SLAMABAD 0ESHAWAR

+ARACHI AND 1UETTA AIRPORTS #IVIL !VIATION !UTHORITY #!! SPOKESMAN !AMIR -EHBOOB TOLD !GENCE &RANCE 0RESSE 4HE REST OF THE AIRSPACE WOULD BE OPENED gGRADUALLYu HE SAID 4ENSIONS REMAINED HIGH HOWEVER ESPECIALLY IN +ASHMIR WHERE BOTH COUNTRIES kRED BARRAGES OF SHELLS ACROSS THE DE FACTO BORDER AT ONE ANOTHER LEAVING AT LEAST ONE DEAD AS THE TROUBLED REGION BRACES FOR RENEWED HOSTILITIES 1 U R E S H I M E A NW H I L E A N NOUNCED HE WAS BOYCOTTING A MEETING OF THE /RGANIZATION OF )SLAMIC #OOPERATION /)# HELD IN !BU $HABI AS )NDIA HAD BEEN INVITED AFP

SSATURDAY AT URDAY MARCH 2,, 2019

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Security Bank employees paint school building in Davao del Norte

Veteran broadcast journalist joins PTV 4

Q Ceasar Soriano (second from left) joins PTV4.

Q The 75 volunteers after the school painting activity in Panabo National High School.

A

BOUT 75 employees from 10 different branches of Security Bank in Davao volunteered to paint the twostory, six-classroom school building funded by Security Bank Foundation for Panabo National High School in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The school painting activity was

one of the annual employee volunteerism programs conducted by the bank to provide an opportunity for Security Bank employees to give back and be personally involved in Security Bank Foundation’s “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project� which aims to construct

classrooms for public schools in need of new learning facilities. “What we are doing here today is our way of giving back to the communities we serve,� said Rafael Simpao, Jr., Security Bank Foundation chairman. “This is our way of telling them from our

heart ‘You deserve better’.�

Volunteers painted the classroom walls and grills, corridors and stairways, while employees also helped repaint the existing armchairs of the school that will be used in the school building donated by the foundation.

Nuwa Manila receives 2nd Forbes five-star award NĂœWA Manila, one of the three luxury hotels at City of Dreams (COD) Manila, recently received its second Five Stars recognition in the 2019 Forbes Travel Guide (FTG), joining other Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd.’s properties which collectively received a total of 85 stars across all its properties. “It is with great pride and honor for NĂźwa Manila to receive the prestigious Forbes Five-Star Award for the second consecutive year after 2018,â€?

Kevin Benning, COD’s COO said. “This recognition reflects our colleagues’ hard work and unwavering commitment in creating luxury and signature experiences and delivering the highest standard of personalized service in all aspects, supporting the vision of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho to make Melco a benchmark of

Pilipinas� and “Isyu One-on-One.� “Magandang Gabi Pilipinas�

(MGP) is a one-hour public affairs show that aims to provide more detailed and accurate information on projects, programs, SERVICES OF A SPECIkC GOVERNMENT department or agency or nongovernment organization.

Meanwhile, “Isyu One-on-One� is a straightforward and truthful interview with personalities to dig deep into the issues, bring out the facts, and get across all audiences the answers and updates on relevant matters or concerns in the province on leadership and government.

Over 500 patients benefit from Nickel Asia’s 20th medical-surgical mission

Q Nuwa Manila team toasts to the hotel’s Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award for the second consecutive year. luxury in the hospitality industry.�

The Forbes Travel Guide, a global authority on luxury travel also recognized Hyatt Regency Manila, Nobu Hotel Manila, and NĂźwa Spa Manila with Four-Star ratings, like last year. Overall,

the FTG, whose independent rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas is well-respected as a premium ranking in the travel and hospitality industry, accorded 13 Melco properties WITH &IVE 3TARS AND kVE HOTELS WITH

Four Stars—with a record-breaking total of 85 stars, the top number of stars received by any integrated resort operator in Macau and Asia.

For more information -visit www. cityofdreamsmanila.com or www.

DoLE holds forum on OSH for youth workers LABOR Undersecretary Ana Dione (holding microphone) encourages employers, as well as youth workers to make it a habit of observing occupational safety and health in workplaces during a talk show at the Stakeholders Forum on Sustaining Actions on OSH for Young Workers, held at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, in Makati City, on February 21.

7KH 'R/( VHQLRU RIÂżFLDO LV MRLQHG

by CNN Philippines reporter Ruth Cabal (extreme left) as moderator, together with the representatives from the youth and labor sectors.

Q Volunteer-surgeons perform a surgical procedure on a beneficiary patient.

ABOUT 597 surgical cases were given treatment during Nickel Asia Corp.’s (NAC) 2019 Medical-Surgical Mission held in the company’s mining communities in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island and Rio Tuba in Palawan from February 13 to 19. g3OME RESIDENTS FROM FAR lUNG VILlages (barangay) continue to dilly-dally in seeking medical help,� said Bimbo Almonte, medical doctor for the RTN leg of the mission. “They have vari-

OUS CONCERNS RANGING FROM kNANCIAL and logistical issues. Our goal as a responsible member of these mining communities is to totally eliminate any unease the communities may have of these medical procedures.�

NAC’s mission began 20 years ago in Rio Tuba Nickel Mining (RTN), the NAC subsidiary in Palawan. Eight years later, themissionwasextendedtocoverSurigao del Norte and Dinagat Island where three other NAC subsidiaries are based.

Samsung holds ‘Summer Sale Away’ promo 6800(5 LV MXVW DURXQG WKH FRUQHU which means it’s time for Samsung’s Summer Sale Away promo.

From February 1 to March 31, Samsung will give discounts of up to 20 percent off on its products.

On top of these huge savings, three lucly winners will be rewarded with D ÂżYH GD\ IRXU QLJKW $VLDQ FUXLVH with three of their loved ones to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Every P5,000 worth of purchase of registered Samsung Digital Appli ances is worth one entry so families can get more chances of winning.

With Samsung’s Digital Ap pliances, families can make this summer the best one yet.

For more information, visit samsung.com/ph.

Pfizer helps build homes, rebuild lives in Bohol THE October 2013 earthquake in Bohol left over 14,500 structures totally destroyed and over 348,000 people displaced. To help assist the families in the areas affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Habitat for Humanity Philippines is aiming to rebuild 8,063 earthquake-resilient homes across 17 of the hardest hit towns in Bohol.

In support of local disaster recovery and rehabilitaTION EFFORTS 0kZER 0HILIPPINES &OUNDATION )NC 00&) funded the construction of 60 homes in the municipality of Antequera through Habitat for Humanity. “Rebuilding homes for those affected by such local disasters provides much more than just a physical structure. We are creating a new beginning for the residents of these communities, bringing people together in support of one another. We are not just building houses, we are rebuilding communities,� said Noel Borlongan, Pfizer Philippines Foundation Inc. president.

Q One of the new homeowners, Tita Elias, hosts the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 18, 2018 at her new home, attended by Vicente Delector Jr., Jasmine Ong, and Judith Dionisio of Habitat; PPFI Program Manager Geoffrey Garcia; and PPFI President Noel Borlongan.

LWUA inks deal for Zamboanga water project THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) enters into multi-million-peso deal with private contractors to build sewage treatment plants and water and sewer system for the Zamboanga City Water District. The contracts, amounting to about P190 million and 290 million respectively, were signed recently by LWUA Acting Administrator Jeci Lapus (seated, 3rd from left) at his office in

VETERAN broadcast journalist Ceasar Soriano has joined the government-owned station PTV 4 as a news anchor and producer of two new public affairs programs. “We are thankful that Mr. Ceasar Soriano is with us and that big production companies like Great Czar are trusting PTV4 with their programs,� said Julieta Lacza, the NETWORK S OFkCER IN CHARGE Soriano was a former reporter and chief of the Mindanao News Bureau of ABS-CBN. Presently, Soriano is the anchor and producer of two new public affairs programs—�Magandang Gabi

Balara, Quezon City with LWUA Acting Deputy Administrator for

Finance Service (seated extreme right) and contractor representa-

tives from Mactan Rock Industries, Inc. and Verzontal Builders, Inc.

QC launches Metro Manila’s first preemployment financial aid program QUEZON City Public Employment 3ERVICE /FkCE 1# 0%3/ ANNOUNCED its recent launch of the first preEMPLOYMENT kNANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROgram in the National Capital Region.

Grants are available for Quezon City residents from indigent families, including fresh graduates.

Applicants must be graduates of public high schools or the Alternative Learning Systems (ALS).

According to Councilor Donato Matias, author of City Ordinance 2576-2017 that established the

PRE EMPLOYMENT kNANCIAL ASSIStance program, the city government appropriated P500,000 for the project’s initial fund.

Residents who want to avail of the one-time assistance should submit to the QC-PESO their resume, certikED LIST OF PRE EMPLOYMENT REQUIREments from prospective employers, CERTIkCATE OF INDIGENCY INDICATING the purpose of issuance) and, if APPLICABLE A CERTIkCATION FROM THE barangay certifying the applicant as a registered skilled worker.

Sports

C1 SSATURDAY MARCH 2, 2019 M

www.manilatimes.net

Harden explodes for 58 points as Rockets rally to beat Heat

L

OS ANGELES: James Harden delivered his seventh career 50-point, 10-assist performance Thursday (Friday in Manila) as the Houston Rockets edged the Miami Heat 121-118.

With Harden in a three-point shooting slump over the last few games, the Rockets have been depending on their reserves to help get the job done.

But Harden reasserted himself Thursday in front of a home crowd of 18,100 at the Toyota #ENTER kNISHING WITH POINTS

10 assists and seven rebounds on a night when the Rockets had to once again tinker with their roster because of injuries. “I wanted to be aggressive and continue to attack the rim,� Harden said. “I took my shots when I had the opportunities.�

He got some help down the stretch from Austin Rivers (17 points) and Chris Paul, whose jumper with 46 seconds left followed a failed Harden three-pointer and extended the lead to three.

Coming into the game Harden was just three for 31 from beyond the arc in his previous three games.

(ARDEN HAS THREE POINT ASsist games this season. He had his streak of consecutive 30-point games snapped at 32 on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. “We get the stat sheet at the end of the game, and I saw he had

u TEAMMATE 2IVERS SAID g!LL OF us were like, ‘He had that many points?’ We had no idea he had

that many points. That’s a lot of points. He was incredible.�

Last month Harden scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a 114-110 win over the lowly New York Knicks.

Miami grabbed a 113-103 lead on a Goran Dragic three pointer with 6:18 remaining, but Houston answered with a 14-0 run to take the lead.

Miami had seven players scoring in double figures with Dragic and Kelly Olynyk scoring 21 points apiece.

4HE (EAT SHOT PERCENT overall but went cold at the wrong time, posting only 20 points on six-for-17 shooting in the final period. “We were lackadaisical on defence, especially in that second quarter,� Harden said. “They GAINED CONkDENCE AND KNOCKED down shots. They were just too comfortable, so we had to pick the pressure up in the second half, create some turnovers and energy with our defence.�

The Rockets were without regulars Eric Gordon (knee), Kenneth Faried (hip) and Iman Shumpert (calf).

Elsewhere, Aaron Gordon TALLIED POINTS AND REbounds as the Orlando Magic

snapped an 11-game losing streak to beat the Golden State 7ARRIORS The two-time defending NBA champion Warriors blew an 11-point lead en route to losing their second game in as many nights, after they fell to THE -IAMI (EAT WHEN veteran Dwyane Wade nailed the game winner at the buzzer on Wednesday.

Terrence Ross scored 16 points, D.J. Augustin got 14, while Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and 13 rebounds to help Orlando beat the 7ARRIORS FOR THE kRST TIME SINCE December 2012.

Stephen Curry scored 33 points, Klay Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins each had 21 for the Warriors, who rested Kevin Durant and ended up paying for it.

Curry goes cold Curry sank only one basket in the fourth quarter. g#ONSIDERING THE WAY WE kNished the third quarter, we were

PH BASKETBALL OFFICIALS SAY ‘NO ASSURANCES’ CLARKSON WILL PLAY IN WC THE Philippines said Friday there were “no assurances� NBA star Jordan Clarkson will suit UP FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM AT THE BASKETBALL World Cup, due to strict eligibility rules.

The Cleveland Cavaliers guard wants TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT AFTER lYING THE lAG FOR THE 'ILAS 0ILIPINAS AT LAST YEAR S Asian Games, but the team is trying to manage expectations. “It is everybody’s personal wish that Jordan Clarkson will be part of this team in the World Cup. (But) there are no assurances or guarantees that that will happen,� Philippine Basketball Federation honorary chairman Manny Pangilinan told reporters.

Under rules set by FIBA, the sport’s international governing body, only one player per team who acquired legal nationality by naturalization or by any other means after reaching the age of 16 can take part in the tournament.

Filipino-American Clarkson, 26, obtained his Philippine passport after he turned 16.

The team already include former Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche, who won his Filipino citizenship by law.

Federation president Al Panlilio sketched a potential unpleasant outcome where Gilas may end up having to choose between Clarkson and Blatche, their two best players.

Blatche starred in the Philippines’ defeat of Kazakhstan in Astana last weekend that won the national team their World Cup spot.

Panlilio said they are pushing through with their appeal for FIBA to allow Clarkson to play as a local. “Everybody is following that FIBA rule.

Because of that rule, even other players are considered naturalized even if they are really Filipinos,� Panlilio told AFP. Team coach Yeng Guiao said bringing Blatche and Clarkson together in the team would increase the odds of success for the Philippines, the 31st-ranked

Q Jordan Clarkson AFP PHOTO

team in the world, in the August 31-September TOURNAMENT IN #HINA “All of us want him in the team, every single one of us, but it is really up to our bosses what we can do about it,� Guiao added.

AFP

Q Houston Rockets’ James Harden (No. 13) goes up for a shot as Miami Heat’s Josh Richardson defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday in Houston. AP PHOTO pretty much in control of the game,� Curry said. “But we missed a lot of shots and didn’t get any stops so it’s a frustrating way to end. This is a tough one.�

The Magic shot just five-of-23 from the field in the third quarter and trailed 81-70 going into

the fourth. They led by eight points at halftime.

Ross nailed a three pointer in THE FOURTH TO SPARK A RUN (IS kNAL THREE POINTER OF THE GAME

WITH LEFT MADE IT Also, Bojan Bogdanovic scored A SEASON HIGH POINTS AND THE

Indiana Pacers overcame KarlAnthony Towns’ dominating offensive performance for Minnesota TO BEAT THE 4IMBERWOLVES Towns had 42 points and 17 rebounds, scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the kRST QUARTER AFP

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Sports

TheËœManila Times

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

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Nietes vacates WBO super flyweight title F

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS

OUR-division world champion Donnie “Ahas� Nietes has vacated the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super lYWEIGHT BELT SAYING HE WANTS BIGGER kGHTS

Nietes’ move has also cancelled his supposed rematch with compatriot Aston Palicte this year.

Nietes told The Manila Times last WEEK THAT HE IS WILLING TO SACRIkCE HIS WBO belt so he can take on bigger names among them ex-champions Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, Roman “Chocolatito� Gonzalez of Nicaragua and World Boxing Council champion Srisaket Sur Rungvisai of Thailand. “I’m very much willing to sacrifice my world title for my dream fights,� said Nietes.

Nietes has sent a letter to WBO President Francisco Valcarcel informing him of his decision /N &RIDAY THE YEAR OLD kGHTER from Murcia, Negros Occidental also released a statement to the media announcing his decision. He said he wants to give Palicte a chance to

Q Donnie “Ahas� Nietes CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

shoot for the world title. “After thinking hard about it for a long time, I have decided to vacate my WBO SUPER lYWEIGHT BELT ) FEEL IN MY HEART that there is no point to do the rematch with Aston Palicte after the controversial draw,� reads Nietes’ statement.

Nietes believes he soundly beat Palicte despite the split draw. The Philippines’ longest reigning world champion beat Japanese Kazuto Ioka on December 31 in Macau to capture the vacant WBO belt.

It was his fourth world title. g) HOPE TO SEEK BIGGER kGHTS WITH THE world champions of the other organizations. It may or may not happen but I believe this is the right decision under this situation. Also, I would want to give my fellow Filipino Aston Palicte a chance TO kGHT FOR THE WORLD TITLE TO BRING PRIDE and glory to our country.�

SAN CARLOS CITY DOMINATES BPINOY FUTSAL

ILOILO CITY: San Carlos City ruled the under-15 girls futsal tournament of the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg after a 2-1 thumping of Cebu Province on Friday at the West Visayas State University Covered Court here.

Goalkeeper Jessa Mae Lehayan delivered the game-winning goal via a long volley late in the second half, towing San Carlos to victory. “It’s a big win for us because we are first-timers here in the Batang Pinoy,â€?said San Carlos head coach Dennis PeĂąalosa. “We started strong. I told the girls to stay strong until the end. And we made it,â€? he added.

Tiffany Trinidad netted a free kick to give San Carlos an early lead but Rae Mikella Tolentino scored an equalizer for Cebu Province late in the first half.

With barely three minutes left in the tight game, Lehayan sent a long shot past opposing goalie Maria Andrea Evangelista to seal the crown.

With the win, San Carlos booked a ticket to the Batang Pinoy national championships slated in October. “This (qualification for the nationals) is a big boost for the players and the LGU (local government unit) also,â€?said PeĂąalosa.

Peùalosa’s team, which is com-

Q The San Carlos City’s futsal girls under-15 team revel after ruling the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg on Friday at the West Visayas State University Covered Court. PHOTO BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA posed of seven lady booters from Julio Ledesma National High School and five from Tanyon Academy, swept all its games in the elimination round.

San Carlos crushed Pontevedra (3-1), Iloilo City (9-3), Cebu Province (4-1) and Bayawan City (15-0) in the round-robin eliminations to grab the top seed and arrange a finals fixture against the second-seeded Cebuanos.

In the league type U13 boys category,

Negros Occidental took home the trophy after winning six games against a loss.

The Negrenses capped their title run with a 7-1 romp over Barotac Nuevo.

In boxing at the Dungon A Jaro Covered Court, little-known Bobon, Northern Samar stole the spotlight by snaring two gold and two silver medals.

Fernando Lacana Jr., 14, knocked out Cebu City’s Bienjemar Codoy to rule the boys’ light flyweight while Darwin

Sevillano, also 14, scored a unanimous decision over Negros Occidental’s Dante Montales in the boys’ pinweight class.

Bobon coach Esteban Sosing was surprised to see his wards from a lowly municipality beat their counterparts from powerhouse cities. “Even I can’t understand how we are defeating the strong teams here,�said Sosing.

Meanwhile, host Iloilo City is on its way to capturing the overall

championship in the regional qualifiers with only one day left in the weeklong sportsfest.

As of 9 a.m. on Friday (March 1), Iloilo City was leading with 46-38-35 gold-silver-bronze medal haul followed by defending champion Cebu City with 3242-44 and Cebu Province with 32-20-33.

In chess at the Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym, Iloilo City’s Kimberly Calaste copped her second golf after winning the under-12 girls standard with six points, one point ahead of La Carlota City’s Yzabelle Noriel Nabor.

Other victorious woodpushers were Bacolod City’s Tyrone Yao (U15 boys standard), Cebu Province’s Alphecca Gonzales (U15 girls standard) and Iloilo City’s Anton Benedict Bebit (boys U12 standard).

In volleyball at the Central Philippines University, reigning Batang Pinoy national champion Cebu City cruised past Iloilo, 26-24, 28-26, to rule the boys division while Iloilo City smashed Negros Occidental, 25-14, 25-13, to conquer the girls side.

In arnis at the Iloilo Science and Technology University, Lapu-Lapu City scooped 12 gold medals in the forms competitions while Iloilo bagged seven.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Kyrgios outlasts Wawrinka to reach Acapulco semis

ACAPULCO, Mexico: Australian Nick Kyrgios, unfazed by stern words from vanquished Rafael Nadal, produced another gritty win over Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Mexico Open.

A day after his dramatic comeback victory over 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, Kyrgios out-lasted Wawrinka 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 to book a meeting with John Isner for a place in the final.

Third-seeded Isner defeated eighth-seeded Millman 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4) in a three hour, five minute marathon on Thursday night.

Kyrgios once again took a twisting path to victory. The drama started in the very first game, when Kyrgios took an awkward fall and badly scraped the knuckles of his racquet hand.

As he received mid-game treatment the crowd grew restive, provoking the unpredictable Australian.

With the problem tended to, Kyrgios closed out the game, the set going with serve until Kyrgios seized upon a couple of loose points from Wawrinka to gain the break and the set 7-5.

A tense second set saw Wawrinka break Kyrgios at love for a 5-4 lead. But Kyrgios broke back as they went to the tiebreaker -- Kyrgios vociferously defending himself when the umpire seemed to find his “let’s go� call to Wawrinka hostile.

Wawrinka won the tiebreaker to force a deciding set that saw Kyrgios break for a 3-2 lead he wouldn’t relinquish, although before it was over he would exchange words with a critical spectator and provoke Wawrinka by having the trainer on yet again.

Unable to convert two match points against Wawrinka’s serve, Kyrgios closed it out in an explosive 10th game, and insisted he relished it all despite complaining of debilitating cramps. “I love it,� he said. “I actually play better when the crowd’s against me.�

Kyrgios had already brushed aside Nadal’s complaint that he lacked respect “for the public, the opponent and himself�.

That came in the wake of their second-round match -- during which Kyrgios complained of illness, produced an underarm serve and, finally, taunted fans who booed his win. “To come out yesterday against Rafa and pull together that three hour performance after getting food poisoning was massive,� Kyrgios said. “To back it up against Stan .... “I was cramping like crazy toward the end of the third set,� he added. “I was just trying to scull any sort of fluids and hit the ball as hard as I can it and it ended up working.�

Zverev into semis Second-seeded Alexander Zverev made it through to the semi-finals for the second straight year with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Australian Alex de Minaur.

Zverev, who improved to 4-0 against de Minaur, hasn’t dropped a set in three matches. He fired 13 aces and broke the Aussie once in each set to line up a clash with Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who downed American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-2.

In women’s action, fifth-seeded Sofia Kenin of the United States battled back from a break down in each set to beat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

AFP

Magnolia guns for first win in lone CDO game

MAGNOLIA will attempt to nail its first win when it battles Meralco today in Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Xavier U n i ve r s i t y g y m in Cagayan De Oro City.

The Hotshots will face the Bolts in the lone game at 5 p.m.

Meralco is coming off an 85-86 loss to Columbian Dyip. “I think we need to start a run in this very important game for us and get our rhythm,� said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero. “There’s a little room for mistakes, but I told them to focus on one game. It’s still a long way to go but we need to start winning now.�

Aldrech Ramos, healed from a hamstring injury, will join today’s action.

Paul Lee and Mark Barroca are also expected to play for Governors’ Cup defending champion Magnolia after seeing action with Te a m P i l i p i n a s a g a i n s t Qatar and Kazakhstan in the sixth and last window of the FIBA Asian qualifiers last week.

Meanwhile, Meralco, with 2-4 win-loss record, is determined to snap a two-game losing run. “Painful loss last game, but what's important is we don’t lose our focus against Magnolia,� said Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo. “We think that whether 0-3 or 3-0, Magnolia is always a tough team to play. They’ve just had a tough time after coming from a championship, but I think they are prepared and focused because they were able to rest for few weeks.�

Chris Newsome is averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in six games for the Bolts.

JOSEFT. RAMOS

Q Jio Jalalon of Magnolia (No. 5) attempts to score against San Miguel Beer’s Billy Mamaril (No. 2) and Terrence Romeo during a Season 44 PBA Philippine Cup game at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA MEDIA

BUREAU PHOTO

Sports

˜ The Manila Times

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‘Gut-wrenched’ Wie upbeat on injury after Singapore pullout

KOREANS SEEK TO DOMINATE TCC LADIES

Q Lee Jeong Hwa CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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La Salle guns for 4th win vs UP

DE La Salle University aims to stretch its lead when it takes on University of the Philippines (UP) in Season 81 University INGAPORE: Michelle Wie said she had been Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament cleared of serious injury on Friday after a today at the Araneta Coliseum. The three-time defending champions painful hand problem forced her “heartLady Spikers shoot for their fourth straight breaking� withdrawal from the HSBC Women’s win against the Lady Maroons at 4 p.m.

World Championship as defending titleholder. after University of Sto. Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) clash at 2 p.m. The American, in her second tournament back after La Salle will face a UP squad that is rarwrist surgery, lasted just 14 holes of Thursday’s opening ing to rebound from a 25-21, 22-25, 16-25, round in Singapore before calling it quits at 10 over par.

20-25 loss to UST last Sunday.   “Feeling absolutely gut-wrenched right “Even the second-stringers of UP are now,â€? Wie posted on Instagram, revealing that strong. UST defeated them so we’ll prepare hospital scans had ruled out structural damage. on how we can beat them as well,â€? said La “I was so ready to be pain-free Salle’s multi-titled coach Ramil De Jesus. De Jesus will bank on veterans May Luna, Aduke Ogunsanya and rookie Jolina Dela that I ignored a couple of warning signs late last Cruz to spearhead the Taft-based volleyweek,â€? said Wie. belles’ attack. “But I hit a shot on 8 that caused my hand to be La Salle needed career-best efforts from in a really vulnerable position resulting in a bad Luna, Ogunsanya and Dela Cruz along with lARE UP !FTER THAT SHOT ) FELT A STRONG NERVE IRRITA- Lourdes Clemente’s crucial points to hold off tion and it kept getting worse as I tried to play on.â€? National University, 25-10, 20-25, 27-25, 25By the time Wie abandoned her her title 22, for its third win in a row three days ago. defense, her round had included a double bogey On the other hand, UP is expected to followed by a triple bogey. have setter Ayel EstraĂąero back in the “Being in that amount of pain, I was scared that I could fold after sorely missing her services in its possibly do further damage,â€? posted the 2014 US Open previous loss due to food poisoning. winner, calling the withdrawal “heart-breakingâ€?.

The Godfrey Okumu-mentored State U “Luckily the surgery site looks like it’s heal- will also pin its hopes on Isa Molde, Tots ing great. However, it looks like I’m dealing Carlos and Justine Dorog. with some nerve entrapment due to tendon Meanwhile, UST (2-1) guns for a maiden INlAMMATION u SHE ADDED winning streak this season against the “Will keep an eye on it the next skidding FEU (1-2). week and will re-evaluate where Milena Alessandrini smashed a careerI’m at after that.â€? high 22 points on 19 attacks and three World number one Ariya blocks to power the Golden Tigresses to Jutanugarn of Thailand shared their second victory at the expense of the A kVE WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD AS shorthanded UP. round two got underway UST coach Kungfu Reyes vowed that his AFP EspaĂąa-based squad will try to sustain its on Friday. triumphant ways. FEU, however, is eager to stop a twogame losing slide. The Lady Tamaraws squandered a two-set lead en route to Sirisampant and Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang.

Japanese Rino Kotake, Shino Miyata, Eri Joma, Ayaka yielding to Ateneo, 25-14, 25-19, 21-25, The $100,000 The Country Club Ladies Invitational will not only feature world No. Morimitsu, Natsuki Kishikawa and Saya Aono.

Other foreign players out to spring a surprise 2 Sung Hyun Park but also a slew of Korean aces ready to stamp their mark 18-25, 12-15, last Sunday. Meanwhile, the par-72 Tom Weiskoph-designed in the 54-hole championship backed by Custom on the richest-ever tournament on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

In the men’s division, leading FEU (3-0) Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, layout, spruced up to championship condition, is exHwang Ye-nah, who held off then amateur Princess Superal to stakes its unbeaten slate against UST (2-1) at pected to play longer than its 6461 yardage with win the ICTSI Ladies Open at Southlinks, the first LPGA of Taiwan KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and M.Y. Shokai 8 a.m. while cellar-dwellers La Salle (0-3) and the elite field testing it one last time on March 5 Technology, Inc. are Indonesian Tatiana Wijaya, co-sanctioned event in 2015, then cruised to a wire-to-wire UP (0-3) collide for a breakthrough victory. for the tradition pro-am tournament.

Valerie Tan of Brunei, Diane Luke of Malaysia, and triumph at the ICTSI Champion Tour at Mt. Malarayat in 2017, JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â is back in the hunt, together with former Philippine Ladies Amateur Open titlist Lee Jeong Hwa, who put on a pair of stirring comebacks to sweep the two Champion Tour events at Splendido and Southwoods in 2016.

Focus will also on the young Hwang Min-jeong, who marked her pro debut in grand fashion, beating a host of Thailand top guns and Superal to clinch the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic title last January.

That should make the South Koreans the marked players in the March 6-8 event at the challenging The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, which serves as the fifth leg of the 2018-19 LPGT season and third stop of the LPGA of Taiwan.

Meanwhile, for details and reservations for tickets to the TCC Ladies, contact Jocelyn Duque at 09157974751 or email lpgtinvitational@gmail.com.

But Park, 26, remains the prime target of a stellar international field eager to earn a crack at the coveted crown and the top $17,500 aside from the bragging rights as the winner of the inaugural championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Park, who recently signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Solaire Resort & Casino, is expected to come into the event in top form, having primed up in the Honda LPGA in Thailand last week and in the on-ongoing World Women’s Championship in Singapore where is among the leaders.

But she will be as much tested as the rest of the field, which includes Taiwanese aces Babe Liu, Hsin Lee, Tzu-Chi Lin, Chia-Pei Lee and Ching Huang, who won the Champion Tour leg at Midlands last year, along with Thai stalwarts and former LPGT winners and TLPGA campaigners Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Renuka Suksukont, Wannasiri

S

Q Michelle Wie AFP PHOTO

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

Maroon booters survive Bulldogs for first win UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) kicked off its title defense with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over National University (NU) in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s football on Thursday at the Far Eastern University-Diliman Football Field in Quezon City. Veteran midfielder JB Borlongan hit the game-winning free kick early in the second half as the Maroon Booters fought back from a goal down for a victorious start to the season. UP took maximum points to land on the fourth spot of the eight-team table with three matches at hand. The Maroons dictated the offensive tempo, coming up with 13 shots (six on-target) against the Bulldogs’ 10 attempts (four on-target). That proved to be the difference as the State U held on for the breakthrough victory.Â

NU dropped to No. 6 with two points on two draws against a loss. Meanwhile, University of Sto. Tomas remained atop the standings but only with a superior goal difference after settling for a 2-2 standoff with Far Eastern U. UST stayed at No. 1 with six points on a win and three draws, just ahead in goal difference over the streaking University of the East (UE). The Tamaraw Booters fell to No. 3 with five markers on a lone win and two draws. UE struck its second consecutive victory at the expense of De La Salle University, 1-0. The Red Warriors ascended to No. 2 with six points on two triumphs against a defeat while sending the Green Booters down to No. 5 with three markers on a win against two setbacks. JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA Â

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SSATURDAY AT U R DAY MARCH 2, 2019

Entertainment www.manilatimes.net

JC de Vera had nothing to do with Angel Locsin set walkout

BY IZA IGLESIAS

A

BS-CBN actor JC de Vera broke his silence to set the record straight amid reports about his involvement on primetime star Angel Locsin’s walkout from the set of their series, “The General’s Daughter.�

4HE ISSUE WHICH kRST SURFACED ON the entertainment news site Pep.ph, alleged that Locsin ranted against their director Manny Palo who unloaded a barrage of expletives following a scene she taped with de Vera.

While a host of other speculations have since emerged — from an incident between Locsin and a disrespectful production staff to Locsin herself causing problems for the show from repeated tardiness — de Vera, of course, only picked up on the story claiming his involvement.

In a round table interview select members of media including The Manila Times Entertainment, de Vera siezed the opportunity to clear his name. “A lot of us were asleep when [the incident] happened so we were all clueless about when we woke up,� the 32-year old actor began his statement. “Kaya kung

the walkout. Asked as far as knew what happened after Locsin left, he said they were still able to resume taping the remaining scenes for the day that did not involve the actress. “Ang nakakita lang ata that time is yung mga production staff.

Noong nagising ako, hindi na ako masyadong nagtanong kasi I realized everyone kept silent din about it. Kumabaga

hindi dapat siya pag-chismisan or pag-usapan, and bilang

what really happened,� he added.

Coming to the defense of Locsin nonetheless, de Vera revealed, “But nagsend siya ng text message sa lahat saying she was sorry and pasensya na sa abala. Sabi ko personaly, ‘Okay lang, I understand. Kung

ano man ‘yung nangyari, syempre malaking misunderstanding lang.’ “And after that, tuloy-tuloy naman ang taping. Maraming scenes ang pwedeng kuhanan na wala siya kasi the time na nangyari ‘yun, malalaking eksena yung mga kinukunan, all star cast kaya nandoon kami lahat.�

De Vera further gave his take on the story that Locsin and the director had a tiff causing her to walk out. But he did not deny Palo does raise his voice every now and then when taping which is only common among directors. “As far as I know, Direk Manny was also clueless that time ‘nung nagising kami on what happened.

But ang masasabi ko lang ay hindi madali i-mount yung mga eksena namin. Every scene that we do in The General’s Daughter ay mahirap talaga. So hindi natin

maiiwasan na lahat nagiging

emotional and stressed out because everyone’s working underpressure,� he said.

tatanungin niyo ako kung ano talaga nangyari, hindi ko po alam. Kahit itanong niyo sa set namin, iisa lang ang sagot ng mga tao doon [about me]: “Tulog si JC.�

To set the record straight, de Vera further declared he had no scenes with Locsin on the day of

malaki ang respeto namin kay Angel, wala din gustong magtanong

Q For JC de Vera, it will just be best for everyone to move on from the issue as he has done.

Hindi maiiwasan yung ganun kasi gusto lang talaga namin pagandahin yung palabas namin and lahat kami very focused dun.

Kaya hindi talaga maiiwasan na tumataas ang emosyon ng mga tao every now and then especially

Eat, drink and sleep movies for life T

HE centennial celebration of the birth international event that they would normally of Filipino Cinema in the country called not have access to. “Sandaan� kicked-off in full blast recently In the middle of the aforesaid workshop, with the Film Development Council of the Liza casually asked a French resource speaker, Philippines (FDCP) gathering together in a #HARLOTTE $ElASSIEUX 6IGUIER TO HELP FUND A more symbolic way at least 89 small and big stalled FDCP project to which the latter forced kLMMAKERS AND ARTISTS OF THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AT for good tentatively agreed. Winking at her the ritzy Samsung Hall, SM audience, Liza gamely onfessed Aura Premier in Taguig City.

THAT PUTTING PROSPECTIVE kLM Said film artists were funders on the spot sometimes bestowed each a trophy works wonders for her. for bringing honors to the While disclosing half of country by winning last FDCP’s responsibilities in said YEAR IN kLM COMPETITIONS international partnership as AROUND THE WORLD 4HREE ! LIST kLMS STOOD the main implementing agency, Liza moreover out from the rest, namely Brillante Men- this early has set her sights on the coming doza’s “Alpha, The Right To Kill,â€? Shireen Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) which will Seno’s “Nervous Translationâ€? and Treb Mon- take place from September 12 to 18 in more tera 2nd’s “Respeto.â€? than 900 theaters The celebration was nationwide, except highlighted with an evocthe so-called speative “Sandaan Medleyâ€? cialty cinemas. showcasing memorable Ac c o r d i n g t o music from various moher, the PPP invies the past 100 years of tends to showcase Filipino cinema. a diverse variety Bare bones and all, the of elevated genres successful kick-off was that emulate Filimore than remarkable on pino sensibilities the part of FDCP Chairand culture, while man Liza DiĂąo. This gave at the same time far more doses of adrenaembracing comline to keep her going mercial and even until the culmination of global appeal. the centennial celebration Q FDCP Chairman Liza DiĂąo leads the centennial As a banner proand beyond. gram of Sandaan, celebration of Filipino cinema.

From her most impasshe thinks this is an sioned speech, one can see and feel almost OCCASION TO MAKE kLMS THAT WOULD DEkNE THE beyond doubt the fruits of her labor as gleaned &ILIPINO kLM INDUSTRY AS IT CELEBRATES ITS TH from the blueprint she elaborated before a rapt year. This is the challenge posed to new and audience aimed at lifting the movie industry DARING kLMMAKERS BY ,IZA $IĂ„O WHO EATS

from stagnation. This is in stark contrast to the drinks and sleeps movies for life. projects of her predecessors whose accomNNN PLISHMENT REPORTS WERE AT MOST INDEkNABLE GUESS WHO? Versatile actor (VA) isn’t that and nebulous. big in stature, but his acting competence is Shortly after the kick-off, Liza had to oversee more than acknowledged in the industry. Rethe country’s breakthrough partnership with cently, he broke up with his girlfriend who is Animation Du Monde in Manila which was a minor beauty queen. Now he is seen nightly co-hosted by Alliance Francaise de Manille. The drinking and wasting his time away till mornkVE DAY LECTURE WORKSHOP DEMO WAS SET UP BY ing at a billiard hall around Morato Street in !NNECY AND THE -)&! FOR YOUNG kLMMAKERS TO Quezon City. acquire funding, co-production deals, or work Clue: He was discovered in a reality search collaborations including taking part in an and hails from the south.

CAVEAT GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

since we even go on location to Tarlac, to Batangas at pumapasok

na walang tulog.�

One thing’s for sure though, de Vera continues to have the utmost respect and admiration for Locsin, whom he further describes as one of the most humble actresses she has encountered. “The following taping day after WHAT HAPPENED kT TO WORK ‘Nung day na yun, lahat ng eksena sa kanya and nagawa namin ng maayos

na nasa normal yung emosyon ng mga tao,� he shared. “Angel is one of the most humble superstars na nakatrabaho ko.

Very thankful ako kay Angel kasi

nga ganun siya sa amin. Siguro dahil nga gusto niyang maging successful ang palabas niya, she makes it a point na very comfortable siya with everyone and vice versa so we can all perform at our best at masabayan ang galing niya. “It must be the pressure—mahirap nga naman siya yung General’s Daughter and face niya yung nagiisa sa poster. So kami, bilang support, syempre we want to give our best for her para kahit papano, mabawasan ang pressure sa kanya. “[Despite the issue] never siya nagbigay ng sakit ng ulo. She’s very professional, and yung sinasabi nila about being late, kahit nga sa province ang taping namin, and the call time is 7 a.m., nandun siya ng 5 or 6.�

For JC de Vera, it will just be best for everyone to move on from the issue as he has done. After all, the set is back to normal and just like any workplace, even TV sets have bad days now and again.

D1

Coco Martin’s latest good deed Actor pays for hospital and burial expenses of indie actor Kristoffer King

C

OCO Martin is truly one good King who was part of the cast of soul. He offered to shoulder g.AKAW u A SHORT kLM "ELARMINO the hospital and burial expenses of co-directed. his good friend, Nakaw won sevindie actor Kristeral awards and offer King, who reconitions awards died February 23, including Best Diissuing a check rector for Belarmino worth P230,000. at the Short & Sweet Coco and Film Festival 2017 in Kristoffer were together in the Hollywood and Best Fiction Film movies “Masahista,� “Serbis,� at the 3rd Minikino Film Festival “Tirador� “Noy� and “Beauty and in Indonesia, while competing at the Bestie. He also gave his friend the Oscar Qualifying Film Festival a chance to appear in the in Belgium and the Asiana Intertop-rating senational Short FFilm Festival ries “FPJ’s Ang in Korea.

Probinsyano.� o.�

It is still set Kristofto compete at fer’s family ly th the Landshut in turn were re Short Film surprised Fes Festival 2019 to find outt in G Germany at how deep in March.

M their son’s Belarmino friendis at attending the ship was festiv festival and he with the Q 'Primetime King' Coco Martin assur assured that the famous actor. ctor. seven-m seven-minute short Coco’s generosity erosity was heavenkLM WI kLM WILL BE A TRIBUTE sent as the late indie actor’s wife for Kristofer since the sad fate that Nikki needed to settle the hospital befell Nakaw’s lead actor had come bill in full before they could even to the festival organizers’ attention.

SECURE +RISTOFFER S DEATH CERTIkCATE Belarmino also said that even NNN before working with Kristofer, he !WARD WINNING SHORT kLM DIREC- already admired him as an actor. tor Arvin Belarmino, who was one He considers it an honor to have of the judges at the 2018 National worked with him and that he is Digital Arts Awards on February now a part of actor’s legacy in the 26, fondly remembered Kristoffer 0HILIPPINE INDIE kLM HISTORY

ROVING EYE RO RICKY CALDERON CA

Q Then indie actor himself for director Brillante Mendoza (standing, center), Coco Martin (third from right) became very good friends with Kristoffer King (seated, leftmost) until the latter's untimely death.

INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

D2

Funtimes

SATURDAY March 2, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

GUARANTEEING THE CONTRACT

Declarer does not have the advantage of seeing the defenders’ cards when he is playing a hand, but he is nevertheless expected to do as well in the majority of deals as if he had actually seen the opposing hands.

In most situations, declarer does not have much trouble meeting this goal.

Many hands play themselves, so to speak, and declarer attains par without much bother. But other hands do

» CROSSWORD

require a modicum of skill, and it is these that pose a challenge to the serious student of the game.

To demonstrate, take this case where South finds himself in five hearts and gets a chance to display his wares. After a spade lead, how should declarer play the hand?

If we examine the East-West cards, it seems South is destined to go down regardless of what he does. He takes two club finesses, both of which lose, and, since a diamond loser is inescapable, he finishes down one.

This result can be attributed to bad luck, of course, but actually, South should not rely on the hope that one of the club finesses will win. He should adopt the line of play that guarantees the contract regardless of how the defenders’ cards are divided.

The issue can be settled at trick one.

On the king-of-spades lead, South plays low from dummy and discards a diamond from his hand! West’s next play does not matter. Let’s assume he leads another spade.

Declarer discards another diamond on the ace, cashes the ace of diamonds and ruffs a diamond. He then crosses to dummy with a trump and ruffs dummy’s last diamond.

The stage is now set for a surefire endplay. Dummy is entered with a trump, and a club is led and finessed.

West wins, but whatever he returns gives declarer the contract. ©2019 King Features Syndicate Inc.

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

Solution to puzzle

By Samantha Weaver

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/02/19). Your career prospects expand this year. Weave a tight network for mutual support. Fall in love anew this summer, before a shift with a community project. Together you win this winter, before reaching a turning point in your love life. Listen to your heart.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Share what you’re learning with your colleagues and partners. Friends are a big help. Give thanks for the support you receive, and count your blessings.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Take on new responsibilities for love, money or both. Career opportunities arise through a heart connection. Put a sweet spin on your marketing pitch.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Explore and investigate possibilities over the next two days. Close a deal or sign papers.

Make sure the numbers balance. Enjoy a private moment.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Pay bills and manage financial logistics today and tomorrow. Changes require budget revisions. Keep saving your pennies. Squirrel away a trickle that grows over time.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Listen generously to your partner. Your attention is appreciated. It could even get romantic.

Partnership and collaboration come easily over the next few days.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Energize your physical labors, work and fitness practices. You’re growing skills and strength. Pay attention to details, and adjust your technique to suit the conditions.

» SUDOKU

• It was French-German physician, philosopher and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer who made the following sage observation: “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

• You might be surprised to learn that famed lover and heartbreaker Casanova eventually became a librarian.

• In parts of Illinois, it was once illegal to put a cake in a cookie jar.

• If you’ve ever yelled out a warning in panic — “Stop!,” “Run!,” “Don’t!”

— you’ve used a monepic sentence; that is, one that is complete with just a single word. Of course, at the time you probably weren’t concerned about the grammatical nature of your utterance.

• If you’re like the hypothetical average person, your mouth will create 10,000 gallons of saliva over the course of your lifetime.

• It’s been reported that the country’s first pizza parlor was in New York City — naturally. It opened in 1885, but barely got by. In 1895, it was sold for a mere $200 — small change even in those times.

• The bearded vulture is the only known animal whose diet is made up almost exclusively of bone.

• It’s a well-worn trope that men refuse to stop and ask for directions when they’re lost. That point of view might seem to be supported by the results of a survey conducted by the American Automobile Association, which found that just 34 percent of male drivers admit to stopping to ask for directions. However, the same survey found that only 37 percent of women did the same. *** Thought for the Day: “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti © 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Relax and enjoy having fun with people you love. Romance is a distinct possibility. Play games, sports and contests. Practice your creative arts.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Sink into domestic comforts. Focus on family events and gatherings. Organize to manage home renovation or repairs. Cook up a delicious feast with dear people.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Express what’s in your heart. Articulate your message into words, images or music. Creativity flowers. Write, film and broadcast. Your greatest strength is love.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Cash flows with greater velocity today and tomorrow. Don’t forget to get terms in writing. Provide excellent service. Customer satisfaction equals rising sales.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Pursue a personal passion project for a few days. Follow your heart. Don’t worry about money; don’t spend much, either. You’re looking good.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Private meditation soothes your ruffled feathers. Reflect on the past, and envision the future you want next. Rest and restore your spirit with harmony or silence.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

PAGE FROM THE PAST

Today, we look back at an old front page of The Manila Times, the oldest national daily that was founded on October 11, 1898. (Note: This image was adjusted to fit the page.)

SSATURDAY AT U R DAY M MARCH ARCH 2, 2019

Lifestyle

D4

www.manilatimes.net

Bringing art to everyday living M OST bustling cities are noted for their skyscrapers, busy avenues and throngs of peoPLE RUSHING TO AND FROM THEIR OFkCES 4HESE cities, in all respects, have indeed become concrete JUNGLES BUT NOT -AKATI .OW THE MASTER PLANNED CITY has become a thriving, dynamic community, one that nurtures not only progress and productivity, but also AN APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS

More than just being an economic capital, Makati has always been a center for art, integrating into its development key venues for art such as the Ayala Museum and The Link Carpark in Ayala Center which serves as the home of the annual Philippine Art Fair. The recent 8th edition last February was even bigger, with more than 44,000 visitors and more talented artists — both local and international —who joined the roster.

This year, aside from artworks that was exhibited at the 2019 Art Fair, there were also a display of Japanese Artist Shinji Ohmaki’s “Gravity and Grace,� capturing the imagination of enthusiasts through the manipulation of iron, LED lights, and

stainless sheets. Ohmaki has established his reputation through the vibrant play of space and materials, blending his practice with characteristic design on architectural setting, which blurs physical borders and injects personal interpretation. This can be viewed at the fountain area of Tower One and Exchange Plaza until March 13.

As a call to attention for the preservation of the seas, Olivia D’Aboville and Neal Oshima have also collaborated on an aweinspiring mixed media installation entitled “Plastics in Our Oceans�, which tackles human’s abuse of plastic. One version of this art piece can be found at the Greenbelt pond behind Ayala Museum and at the newly constructed bridgeway connecting

The Landmark to The Link Carpark.

Even after the Art Fair, one can continue to appreciate the original works of today’s most talented artists in its pedestrian underpasses, walkways, streets and parks. And as Filipinos’ appreciation for arts continues to grow, Makati will continuously provide more venues where people can appreciate art in its various forms. To name a few, walkways and underpasses around Makati are being redeveloped and will soon feature new mural designs. Circuit — Makati’s newest node — will soon have a performing arts theater with 1,500 seats. This will be completed in 2020 and will host international and local performances. It will also serve as a venue for international art exhibits.

Whether it is a walk to work on the decorated footbridges, taking Instagrammable photos, or enjoying an exhibit or performance, Makati is the perfect venue for discovering art. Through incorporating design and dynamism, one can work, live, and play in the country’s top commercial district, surrounded by vibrant COLORS THAT RElECT MODERN LIFE

Q Ayala Land Head of Marketing for Corporate Brand and Strategic Landbank Management Cathy Bengzon, Japanese artist Shinji Ohmaki, Olivia D’Aboville and Neal Oshima.

Q Shinji Ohmaki, Neal Oshima and Olivia D’Aboville.

Q Shinji Ohmaki and Ayala Land Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

Q Ayala Land SVP Me-Ann Dy, Art Fair’s Lisa Periquet, Trickie Lopa, Mind Set Art Center Director Queena Chu, Shinji Ohmaki and Ayala Land Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

Q ‘Plastics in our Oceans Landmark-The Link Bridgeway’ by Olivia d’Aboville and Neal Oshima.

Q ‘Plastics in our Oceans’ by Olivia d’Aboville and Neal Oshima.

Q ‘Gravity and Grace’ by Shinji Ohmaki.

I Q Helen Ong, Rupert Jacinto, Ramon Orlina, Tina Jacinto, Czarina Ong-Camus and Sheree Chua.

A glorious 75th birthday for Ramon Orlina

T was some enchanted evening crooned Ningning who had to remain in Hamburg. a happy guest at Ramon Orlina’s 75th They each gave touching tributes to their birthday celebration held at Casa Juico by dad (Ningning via a surprise video) for Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon the inspiration that he is to them in his City. It was well attended by some 280 passion and love for life and for his art. guests, who the celebrant considered, The guests were surprised by this hidden among his close and bejewel of an events venue loved friends and relatives Las Casas de Acuzar with including VIPs: National the beautifully restored Artist Frankie Sionil Jose art deco mansion (of forand Tessie Sionil Jose, mer owners the Juico famNational Artist Ryan and ily) and it’s well-trimmed Emmie Cayabyab and the gardens and trees. It was Honorable Ambassador Sung Kim of the designed by architect Pablo Antonio and United States of America. successfully renovated and embellished by In his welcome speech he said with can- Jerry Acuzar of San Jose Builders. dor, “Lay Ann tells me to say it is my 75th The evening began with a Thanksgivbirthday because ing Mass presided ... the truth will set

by Fr. Anton CT me free! I admit Pasual. Afterwards that I have been shy guests were treated in the past about to a sumptuous telling my age, but and elegant buffet I realize now, that

by Margarita Fores to reach this mileof Cibos and enstone in life, is an Q Hi! Society and husband George Sarakinis. tertained to clasenormous blessing, sical music of the and a time for a confession ‌ and big Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra under celebration! the baton of conductor Jeffrey Solares, folAnd so, I thank God for 75 years of His LOWED BY ROCKIN S MUSIC OF "LOOMkELDS goodness, love and protection. And I thank band when dancing started and lasted till God for all of you here. You are important the late evening. to me, because you have touched my life, To add more excitement to the evening IN MEANINGFUL AND SIGNIkCANT WAYS 9OU THE CELEBRANT RAFlED OFF A STUNNING /RHAVE EITHER INlUENCED ME INSPIRED ME lina sculpture in carved green glass and motivated me, or helped and supported 3 beautiful pendants donated by Hoseki. me, in many different ways and in various 0ROCEEDS OF THE RAFlE WERE DONATED TO VARIaspects of my life�. ous charities close to his heart.

His children Naesa, Anna, Michael and It was a delightful 75th birthday celebrason-in-law RJ were present to celebrate this tion with joyous and wonderful moments momentous occasion save for daughter to remember for years to come.

HI! SOCIETY BECKY GARCIA

Q Ramon and Lay Ann Orlina with their children (standing) Michael and Anna Orlina, Naesa and RJ Miso.

Q Lulu Carrasco, Farnkie and Tessie Sionil Jose and Tom Carrasco.

Q Ingrid Santamaria, Tina Jacinto, Frannie Jacinto. Belen Lizaso and Rupert Jacinto.

Q Lulu and Ricci CastaĂąeda.

Q Nestor and Marithel Vinluan, Maryanne and Cid Reyes, Raul and Belle Isidro.

Q Danny Dolor and Tony Pastor.

Q Dolly and Atty Sigfrid Fortun and Joanne Rae Ramirez.

E1

SATURDAY MARCH 2, 2019

EDITOR Tessa Mauricio-Arriola STAFF WRITERS Christina Alpad & Iza Iglesias DESKMAN Arlo Custodio

M I S S U N I V E R S E 2 0 1 8 C AT R I O N A G R AY

Q FINALLY! Philippines got to see Catriona Gray in the now iconic Mak Tumang Mayon Volcano-inspired flaming red lava gown she wore when she was crowned Miss Univese 2018 at the ‘Raise Your Flag’ homecoming concert on February 24.

Her homecoming days in divine dresses

BY ARLO CUSTODIO

1

S

INCE the very start of the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Thailand, Catriona Gray has proudly showcased Filipino culture and artistry through the power of fashion.

3

6

All hail the Fashionable Queen!

1. and 2. Perfect in peach at her homecoming media conference on February 20.

3. and 4. In Mak Tumang’s genius Sampaguita-inspired modern Filipiniana at Pasay City on February 21.

5. Radiant at her homecoming parade at the Araneta Center on February 23.

6. Sophistication combined in this Perla Oriente gown on February 24.

PHOTOS BY RUSSELL PALMA, RUY MARTINEZ AND GERARD SEGUIA

(ER kRST MAJOR AND IMPACTFUL STEP IN THIS DIRECTION WAS IN HER BREATHTAKING ,UZ6I-INDA ENSEMBLE AT THE .ATIONAL #OSTUME PRESENTATION OF THE -ISS 5NIVERSE PAGEANT IN $ECEMBER EMERGING ON STAGE WITH A GIGANTIC PAROL BACK PIECE A NUDE BODYSUIT WITH INTRICATE 0INTADOS PATTERNS AND HANDMADE BRASS ACCESSORIES AND A 4 BOLI HEADDRESS

RESPECTIVELY SYMBOL2 IZING THE ISLANDS OF ,UZON 6ISAYAS AND -INDANAO 4HE AMBITIOUS CONCEPT WAS PAINSTAKI N G L Y P U L L E D OFF TO PERFECTION TO REALIZE #ATRIONA S GOAL OF REPRESENTING T H E C O U N T R Y S DIVERSE CULTURES IN VERY SPECIFIC AND ARTISTIC ELEMENTS g) WANT TO REPRESENT THE 0HILIPPINES IN ALL FORMS 7HEN PEOPLE SEE THE 0HILIPPINES SASH IT S JUST A WORD ON A SASH BUT REALLY

WE RE MADE UP OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES ;WITH SO MANY= DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO OUR CULTURE u SHE TOLD $YAN #ASTILLEJO OF !"3 #". BACK THEN DURING THE PRE PAGEANT ACTIVITIES IN "ANGKOK 4HAILAND $ESIGNED BY *EARSON $IMAVIVAS WHO EARLIER CREATED HER -ARANAO 0RINCESS COSTUME FOR THE .ATIONAL #OSTUME SEGMENT OF "INIBINING 0ILIPINAS IN VERY CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH 'RAY HER MENTOR #ARLOS "UENDIA AND SHOE DESIGNER *OJO "RAGAIS THE ,UZ6I-INDA WAS SUCH A SHOWSTOPPING LOOK THAT IT DULY MERITED ATTENTION FROM 6OGUE 4HAILAND AS WELL AS PA GEANTRY AkCIONADOS AROUND THE WORLDWIDE WEB g+UYA #ALOY "UENDIA HAS THIS PASSION FOR THE COUNTRY HISTORY ARCHITECTURE AND THE ARTS

BECAUSE OF THEATER BACKGROUND 3O WHENEVER ) HAVE AN ARTISTIC VISION

) ALWAYS GO TO HIM AND WE FEED OFF EACH OTHER S ENERGY 3O ;THIS COSTUME= JUST CAME UP THAT WAY u 'RAY EXPLAINED 4WO DAYS LATER DURING THE PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW 'RAY DONNED A MODERN ORANGE &ILIPINIANA TOP AND )FUGAO SKIRT

ALSO CREATED BY $IMAVIVAS ! CAMISA AND SAYA OUTkT MATERIALS FOR THE &ILIPINIANA DRESS SOURCED FROM AUTHENTIC LOCAL FABRIC WAS CRAFTED BY NATIVE TRIBES 4HE BUTTERlY SLEEVES WERE HANDWEAVED

BY THE )NABELS OF )LOCOS

WHILE THE SLIT SKIRT MADE OF +ALINGA FABRIC ORIGINATED FROM THE )SNAGS OF !PAYAO

The slo-mo twirl and ‘girl on fire’ "Y $ECEMBER OF THE PAGEANT S DURATION 'RAY WAS ON kRE CAPTURING THE UNIVERSE WITH HER NOW TRADEMARK SLO MO SLOW MOTION TWIRL AT THE 3WIMSUIT #OMPETITION NEVER SEEN OR DONE BEFORE

EVEN BY THE WORLD S TOP MODELS (ARDLY LEAVING A GAPING AUDIENCE TO kGURE OUT HOW THE WORLD SEEMED TO STOP WHEN -ISS 0HILIP-

PINES TOOK A TURN 'RAY MESMERIZED THEM ANEW WITH HER SIGNATURE LAVA WALK FOR THE ,ONG 'OWN COMPETITION ‡ AND IN THE DRAMATICALLY INTRICATE )BONG !DARNA INSPIRED GOWN DESIGNED BY THE EMERGING TOAST OF THE 0HILIPPINE FASHION INDUSTRY IN THE YOUNG AND TALENTED -AK 4UMANG

g(E REALLY TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKE THIS GOWN WITH EVERY STONE HAND PLACED u 'RAY SHARED

gSO WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT JUST THE EFFORT AND LOVE THAT WENT INTO THIS DRESS ) FEEL SO PROUD AND HO NORED TO WEAR IT u #OME THE PAGEANT AT "ANGKOK S )MPACT !RENA ON $ECEMBER

&ILIPINOS PARTICULARLY AWAITED WITH SUCH EAGERNESS WHAT 'RAY WOULD WEAR SHOULD SHE REACH THE kNALS

AND THEY WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED AS SHE BLAZED ON -ISS 5NIVERSE S RUNWAY A STANDOUT AND A PATRIOT HER GOWN SYMBOLIZING THE VERY TREASURE OF HER PROVINCE 4 !LBAY WITH 4UMANG S MAJESTIC LAVA GOWN !T THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF 4OP FINALISTS

'RAY ALREADY BECAME THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE I N F L A M I N G RED AMID HER FELLOW CANDIDATES ‡ -ISSES 3OUTH !FRICA

6E N E Z U E L A

6IETNAM AND 0UERTO 2ICO ‡ W H O F O R SOME TWIST OF FATE WERE ALL DRESSED I N S H A D E S OF SILVER !S SUCH IT WAS ALMOST A SIMPLE VALIDATION IN THE &INAL 1UESTION AND !NSWER PORTION THAT THE JUDGES CHOSE THE 0HILIPPINES #ATRIONA

'RAY AS SHE S THE WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO -ISS 5NIVERSE $EMI ,EIGH .EL 0ETERS OF 3OUTH !FRICA 4HAT DAY THE YEAR OLD &ILI PINO !USTRALIAN BEAUTY SEALED HER FATE TO BECOME THE FOURTH -ISS 5NIVERSE FROM THE 0HILIPPINES AFTER 0IA 7URTZBACH WIN IN

-ARGARITA -ORAN IN AND 'LORIA $IAZ IN

4HE FOLLOWING DAY ON HER )NSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

'RAY THANKED HER FELLOW &ILIPINOS FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING 5 SUPPORT WHILE REVEALED THAT WHEN SHE WAS YEARS OLD

HER MOTHER

.ORMITA 2AGAS -AGNA YON OF /AS

! L B A Y H A D T H E M O S T P R O P H E T I C DREAM‡ T H A T S H E W O U L D J O I N T H E - I S S 5NIVERSE P A G E A N T

IN THE FUTURE AND WIN THE CROWN IN A RED DRESS )N NUMBERS THE NOW FAMOUS LAVA GOWN WAS DESIGNED BY ONE -AK 4UMANG PEOPLE TO PIECE TOGETHER THE ACCESSORIES FOR MORE THAN HOURS AND A TOTAL COST OF 0 MILLION FOR MATERIALS ALONE

Tumang’s story /N THE DAY OF THE PAGEANT

4UMANG POSTED ON )NSTAGRAM HIS DESIGN AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE 0HILIPPINE BET IN THE TH EDITION OF THE WORLD S MOST PRESTIGIOUS BEAUTY PAGEANT 7ITH THE TITLE g-AYON &IERY AND ,OVELY 0ERFECTION u HE WROTE g4ODAY

#ATRIONA IS COMING HOME 3HE IS CELEBRATING HER ROOTS ‡ SHE IS CELEBRATING !LBAYÜ 4HE PROMINENT AND ICONIC -AYON 6OLCANO IS THE PENULTIMATE INSPIRATION FOR THIS CREATION )T IS DUBBED AS THE @PERFECT CONE BECAUSE OF ITS SYMMETRIC CONICAL FORM &OLK TALES HAVE IT THAT IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE MYTHOLOGICAL HEROINE @$ARAGANG -AGAYON "EAUTIFUL ,ADY $ESPITE ITS PULCHRITUDE IS THE FACT THAT IT IS THE MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO IN THE 0HILIPPINES ERUPTING NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST HALF A MILLENNIUM #ATRIONA CAN BE CONSIDERED AS THE MODERN DAY $ARAGANG -AGAYON 3HE EMBODIES THE &ILIPINA S BEAUTY INTELLIGENCE AND BURNING PASSION 4HIS LADY IS DEkNITELY ON kREÜ 7ATCH HER ERUPT RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES AND LET THE LAVA OF GRACE

GOODNESS AND HOPE lOW u #ATRIONA PLANED IN AT A PRIVATE HANGAR IN .!)! ON $ECEMBER AND MET INDEED WITH OF OVERlOWING LOVE !FTER SPENDING OVER A MONTH AT -ISS 5NIVERSE S HEADQUARTERS IN .EW 9ORK THE VERY SAME HIGH FROM A QUEEN AND COUNTRY UNITED IN GOODNESS AND HOPE FILLED THE NATION ANEW ON HER OFkCIAL HOMECOMING ON &EBRUARY

WHOSE BACK TO BACK ACTIVITIES 4HE -ANILA 4IMES ,OOK "OOK CHRONICLES TODAY IN -ISS 5NIVERSE #ATRIONA 'RAY S DIVINE DRESSES

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Catriona perfect as Tourism Ambassador

Catriona conquers the Universe with beauty, fashion, confidence and compassion

$%0!24-%.4 OF 4OURISM $/4 3ECRETARY "ERNADETTE 2OMULO 0UYAT WAS ALL PRAISES FOR -ISS 5NIVERSE #ATRIONA 'RAY AS THE LATTER EXPRESSED FULL SUPPORT FOR THE REFRESHED g)T S -ORE &UN IN THE 0HILIPPINESu BRANDING CAMPAIGN g7E THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE 5NIVERSE THROUGH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS THAT INDEED IT IS MORE FUN IN THE 0HILIPPINESÜ !ND FOR THAT MATTER WE CAN MAKE IT MORE FUN FOREVER u SAID 3EC 0UYAT IN LEADING HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES IN WELCOMING 'RAY AT THE $/4 OFkCES ON &EBRUARY 3EC 0UYAT CONkRMS THAT #ATRIONA WILL HAVE A CONTINUING ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF THE COUNTRY AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION AND THAT THE "ICOLANA BEAUTY QUEEN HAS COMMITTED TO kND TIME TO GO AROUND AND EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF THE 0HILIPPINES 7EEKS PRIOR TO THE -ISS 5NIVERSE COMPETITION 'RAY TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO PRODUCE A SERIES OF VIDEOS FEATURING VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING )NTRAMUROS

!LBAY ,EYTE AND #OTABATO 3EC 0UYAT PRESENTED THE LATEST &ILIPINO PRIDE A BAMBOO

T

HE H E latest latest Filipino Filip pino pride pride planed planed in unannounced 15, u nannounced on February Feb bruary 1 5, days EARLIER HER OFkCIAL HOMECOMING LI FFOR H Fk I L H I MEDIA CONFERENCE ON &EBRUARY -EDIA COVERING THE .INOY !QUINO )NTERNATIONAL !IR PORT .!)!

WERE SURPRISED OVER 'RAY S ARRIVAL

ALL THE MORE THAT SHE WAS SIMPLY DRESSED IN A WHITE LONG SLEEVED BLOUSE AND JEANS AND CARRYING HER OWN BAGS WHILE WAITING FOR THE REST OF HER LUGGAGE AT THE CAROUSEL 1UICK TO ASSIST THE YOUNG NATIONAL TREASURE

'RAY WAS VERY GRACIOUS FOR THEIR HELP SHOWING ONE AND ALL THAT THE -OST "EAUTIFUL 7OMAN IN THE 7ORLD CAN REMAIN UNCHANGED AND SIMPLE AND HUMBLE AS EVER &IVE DAYS LATER 'RAY RETURNED TO THE VERY VENUE IN .OVOTEL (OTEL !RANETA #ENTER WHERE SHE WAS GIVEN A SEND OFF FOR HER kRST OFkCIAL MEDIA CONFERENCE ON HOME GROUND AS -ISS 5NIVERSE .ATURALLY THE NUMBER OF MEDIA COVERING HER OFkCIAL HOMECOMING MULTIPLIED A DOZEN TIMES WITH EVERYONE EAGER TO SEE THE NEW -ISS 5NIVERSE IN THE lESH AND LISTEN TO HER MESSAGE FOR THE NATION SHE TRULY MADE SO PROUD ! VISION IN ARTFULLY MODERNIZED &ILIPINIANA PANTSUIT HER SOFT FEATURES WERE ONLY MADE MORE APPEALING BY THE SWEETEST SHADE OF PEACH WHILE HER DIAMOND ANDPEARL STUDDED -IKIMOTO CROWN SPARKLED AS BRIGHTLY AS THIS GENUINE

LADY S PERSONALITY 7ITH THE MEDIA HANDED PIECES OF PAPER FOR THEIR QUESTIONS

WHICH WERE PICKED FROM A BOWL AND READ OUT BY -ISS 5NIVERSE RD 2UNNER 5P 3HAMCEY 3UPSUP 'RAY ACED EVERY ONE OF THEM WHICH RANGED FROM THE TRIVIAL TO THE CONTROVERSIAL !SKED SPECIkCALLY ABOUT THE PAGEANT kNALS AND WINNING THE CROWN

SHE HONESTLY RECALLED g*UST TO DESCRIBE THAT MOMENT IT WAS REALLY CRAZY 9OU RE KIND OF BLOCKED UP INTO YOUR OWN ROAD AND SUDDENLY THE SPOTLIGHT COMES ON AND IT S ALMOST LIKE IT WAS JUST ME AND ;-ISS 3OUTH !FTRICA= 4AMARYN ALONE IN THE ROOM g) WAS SAYING TO HER @) M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND ) KNOW YOU LL DO AMAZING WHATEVER HAPPENS 4HEN SHE TOLD ME @9OU TOO BABE YOU TOO u

$ESPITE THE LONG JOURNEY WHERE THOUSANDS OF &ILIPINOS LINED THE STREETS FOR A GLIMPSE OF 'RAY SHE LOOKED FRESH AS EVER THIS TIME IN -AK 4UMANG S SAMPAGUITA INSPIRED MODERN JUMPSUIT TERNO %XPLAINING THE CONCEPT OF THE DESIGN ON HIS &ACEBOOK TREATISE TITLED g3AMPAGUITA ! 0ROMISE &ULkLLED u 4UMANG WROTE ANEW g4HE SAMPAGUITA IS THE NATIONAL lOWER OF OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY m THE 0HILIPPINES ,EGEND HAS IS THAT ITS ETYMOLOGY WAS DERIVED FROM THE &ILIPINO WORDS @SUMPA KITA WHICH MEANS @) PRO MISE YOU 4HIS ORNAMENTAL lOWER IS AN INHERENT PART OF OUR LANDSCAPE SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL

Queen’s parade 4HE FOLLOWING DAY ON &EBRUARY

NO TRACE OF JET LAG COULD BE SEEN ON 'RAY S LOVELY FACE AS SHE BOARDED HER SPECIAL -ISS 5NIVERSE lOAT STARTING FROM THE &ILM #ENTER NEAR THE 3OkTEL (OTEL GROUNDS IN 0ASAY #ITY AND kNALLY ENDING AFTER FOUR HOURS AT !YALA !VENUE IN -AKATI #ITY

Q With Vice President Leni Robredo and Binibining Pilipinas Chair Stella Araneta (photo below).

g)NTERESTINGLY THIS lOWER HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE CONCEPT OF @#OMING (OME 9OU KNOW YOU ARE HOME WHEN ITS DISTINCT SWEET AND AROMATIC FRAGRANCE TICKLES YOUR OLFACTORY SENSE -OREOVER

THE lOWERS ARE USUALLY SLUNG AND MADE INTO LEIS WHICH ARE USED TO WELCOME DIGNITARIES OR ARE BEING PEDDLED IN FRONT OF CHURCHES SO AS TO BECOME OFFERINGS %RGO IT IS BUT kTTING THAT WE WELCOME OUR 1UEEN WITH 3AMPAGUITAS ADORNED WITH !NAHAW ‡ OUR NATIONAL LEAF #ATRIONA WILL WEAR THIS 0HILIPPINE 4ERNO WHICH IS CALLED @#ALLADO SIMILAR TO 0IÄA "ARONG EMBROIDERED GOWN WITH STYLIZED 0ANUELO AND -ARIPOSA

SLEEVES 7ELCOME HOME #ATRIONAÜ 4HANK YOU FOR THE FULkLLED PROMISE OF MAKING THE &ILIPINO PEOPLE PROUDÜ -ABUHAYÜu !ND AS 4UMANG ENJOINED THE NATION THE THRONGS WHO WAITED FOR THE g1UEEN OF THE 5NIVERSEu TRULY AND TOUCHINGLY MADE HER FEEL BACK HOME )N RETURN 'RAY NEVER TIRED OF SMILING WAVING THROWING lYING KISSES AND EVEN DANCING TO THE DELIGHT OF THE PATIENT AND JOYFUL CROWD 4RAFFIC LITERALLY STOOD STILL FOR FOUR HOURS BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE WITH STRANDED MOTORISTS ONLY TOO HAPPY TO CLICK A CELL PHONE PHOTO OF THE QUEEN /N &EBRUAARY 'RAY WAS HONO ORED BY ANO OTHER PARADE ‡ TOWARD ‡ T H E V E R Y P PLACE WHERE H HER JOURNEY TTO THE -ISS 5 N I V E R S E CCROWN ALL B E G A N A T TTHE !RANETA #ENTER IN # #UBAO 1UE# Z O N # I T Y $RESSED IN $ AA BLUEGREEN SINGLE SLEEVED GOWN WHOSE INSPIRATION 4UMANG TOOK FROM THE ALON OR WAVES OF THE 0HILIPPINE SEA /F THESE MAJOR HOMECOMING MOMENTS 'RAY WROTE IN HER )NSTAGRAM ACCOUNT g0HILIPPINES

YOU BROUGHT ME TO TEARS 4HE LAST TIME ) PARADED AROUND THEARANETACENTER WAS AS "INIBINI FOR BBPILIPINASOFFICIAL NATIONAL PAGEANT NOW TO BE CELEBRATING WITH YOU ALL AS MISSUNIVERSE 4O SEE HOW FAR OUR JOURNEY HAS TAKEN US ) AM EXTREMELY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO HAVE GIVEN TRUE MEANING TO FEELING @THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE &ILIPINO PEOPLEÜ u AC

TUMBLER AS TOKEN TO SYMBOLIZE $/4 S ADVOCACY OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND A BUCKET LIST OF MUST VISIT PLACES g#ATRIONA S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE $/4 S EFFORTS ALONG THE LINES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO CULTURAL PRESERVATION WILL MOST CERTAINLY HELP US PROMOTE THE CULTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT u THE TOURISM CHIEF SAID 4HE NEW -ISS 5NIVERSE SAID SHE PLANS TO VISIT ALL THE COUNTRY S TOURIST DESTINATIONS 3HE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN WITH $/4 OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS A MORE DEFINED ROLE IN THE REFRESHED BRANDING CAMPAIGN WITH EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT g0ROMOTING THE 0HILIPPINES IS SOMETHING ) VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT REALLY BECAUSE ) FEEL IF PEOPLE ONLY KNEW WHAT WE HAD TO OFFER THE LEVEL OF INTEREST WOULD JUST SPIKE AND ) FEEL WE HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO SHARE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD ) HOPE THAT IN MY OWN WAY OF BEING -ISS 5NIVERSE ) COULD WORK IN PROMOTING THE 0HILIPPINES NOT ONLY THROUGH FASHION BUT IN EVERY FACET THAT ) CAN u THE &ILIPINO !USTRALIAN BEAUTY QUEEN SAID

Q Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat welcomes Miss Universe 2018 as an ally in the agency’s ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ campaign.

Q A moment with her proud parents Normita and Ian.

Q At her Senate courtesy call, welcomed by Senators Tito Sotto, Nancy Binay and Gringo Honasan.

Q The most beatiful girl in the world is most at home in Tondo, Manila where she has long pursued her advocacy for children’s right to sustainable education.

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Q Maymay Entrata

Q Pia Wurtzbach

Q Venus Raj

Q Shamcey Supsup

Q Ariella Arida

Filipinos raise flag with Catriona Gray in tribute special ‘Raise Your Flag’ now a song given life by KZ Tandingan and Kritiko

BY ARLO CUSTODIO

M

AKING it to Top 20 (second to be called after -ISS 3OUTH !FRICA FROM THE !SIA 0ACIkC AND Africa cluster) when pageant host Steve Harvey asked what she would name her song dedicated to her Miss Universe experience, Miss Philippines Catriona Gray replied, “I’ve always felt the love and the support of the Filipino people, and I think I brought half of my country here tonight! I would name the song, ‘Raise Your Flag,’ because I stand here not as one, but as 104 million Filipinos!�

Her statement reverberated around the globe, drawing praise not only from Filipinos who were at the venue of the pageant in Bangkok, at home and abroad, but other people watching the contest on television e ev s o aand d livestream vest ea via v a satellite. sate te.

the Miss Universe coronation.

The segment, anchored by Maymay Entrata, had the crowd screaming when the “Pinoy Big Brother Lucky 7� winner stutted with her own lava dress, created by Tumang for the event. Donning creations of local designers, past Miss Universe Philippines titleholders of the decade — Ve n u s Raj (2010), Shamcey Supsup (2011), Ariella Arida (2013), MJ Lastimosa ( 2 01 4 ) , Q KZ Tandingan (right) amazed and amused by Filipina beauties who raised Maxine the Philippine flag in the interational stage. FACEBOOK PHOTO/KZ Medina TANDINGAN (2016), Rachel Peters It was a moment of celebration of Fili- (2017) and Miss Universe 2015 Pia pino culture and oneness that may have Wurtzbach. Only Janine Tugonon (2012) anazed other races. was not able to make it as she’s currently On February 24, Gray was given a trib- working in the US. ute special by ABS-CBN (broadcaster of Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe) Funny moments in an event aptly titled “Raise Your Flag For Catriona Gray� given free for the Adding fun to the excitement was Vice public to watch.

Ganda’s sit-down interview with Gray.

Hosted by Boy Abunda, international She wore the third gown created for her by singing sensations TNT Boys, Jed Madela, Tumang, which was intended for the Thai and Morisette Amon performed numbers Night Gala Dinner, but the candidates backed by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic were instead provided silk dresses.

Orchestra. Rock icon Bamboo likewise The half-hour segment had the host serenaded the beauty queen. asking questions if beauty queens are like Highlighting the event was the the rest of the mortals who also make fashion show where Gray sashayed the “utot� or remove “tinga� from their teeth stage in the same red lava gown cre- WITH THEIR kNGERS ated by Mak Tumang she wore during The crowd went wild when the co-

n Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray shares stage with past Filipina Miss Universe delegates. PHOTOS BY RUY MARTINEZ median said, “Bagay pala tayo sa isang frame, ano?� as he caught a glimpse of a monitor on the side of the stage. “Vice and Cat. Ay, parang puwede tayong tandem!

Nung nanalo si Pia, nakapakasuwerte ko kasi pinagbigyan ako ni Pia Wurtzbach na sumama sa pelikula ko,� he said, referring to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) blockbuster “Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad.�

“Baka puwedeng tayo naman ang susunod?� Ganda asked, to which

Gray agreed. “Vice and Cat — ang pangalan ng team-up natin, ‘VaCat’!� he said, making the audience roar.

Another interesting part of the segment WAS WHEN 'RAY WAS kELDED THE SAME QUEStion asked of Margie Moran in the Miss Universe 1973 pageant, on what to do in case she had one million dollars.

While Moran said she’d buy house and lot, as it’s something she can’t afford on her own, and live in it with loved ones, Gray said she’d use it for her Young Focus advocacy, to build structure for the children of Tondo to be able to continue with their education.

Gray’s parents also came surprising her because in the morning she and her mom were still texting to each other and she thought they were still in Canada.

Closing the show, KZ Tandingan performed along with Kritiko for the rap part of g2AISE 9OUR &LAG u OFkCIALLY TURNED INTO A SONG FROM 'RAY S -ISS 5NIVERSE ANSWER TO THE kRST question asked of her in the pageant.

Q Vice Ganda grills the Queen of the Universe.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Tandingan said of the iconic debut of the song: “Catriona sang ‘Raise Your Flag’ during the reprise even though she didn’t even actually knew the song. She only heard it once during rehearsals hours before the show but baam! She killed it. Even harmonized to the melody I’m singing! What can’t she do? Congratulations Queen!�

Raise Your Flag For Catriona Gray airs on March 10 on ABS-CBN.

Perla Oriente Designer Mak Tumang explains the aqua green and cream gown he created, show-

CASED AS THE kNALE ATTIRE OF 'RAY “Pearl of the Orient Seas is the byname given to our beautiful country, the Philippines. Even our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal referred the country with this sobriquet in his poem: ‘Mi Ăşltimo adiĂłs.’ Aside from the fact that our country is one of the largest producers of pearls, the Philippines is truly a gem! It is beautiful, enchanting and captivating. Indeed a high value and rare pearl! “This piece in itself is an extolment of the Philippines. May we always be proud of our roots. May we always treasure and cherish it as this is and will always be our ‘Bayang Magiliw... Perlas ng Silanganan.’ â€?

Miss U franchise stays with BPCI BACK in December, when newly crowned Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray came home two days after the pageant in Thailand for a charity event, rumors flew high and thundered loud that the LCS Group of former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit� Singson had snapped the Miss Universe franchise from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. headed by Stella Marquez-Araneta.

The rumors became stronger and seemed credible because for one, Singson almost singlehandedly produced the Miss Universe 2016 pageant in Manila, where 2015 winner Pia Wurtzbach bequeathed her crown on home soil. Secondly, no less than Miss Universe Organization (MUO) gave him the title Mr. Universe, and awarded him with an honorary sash as such. Third, Gray flew in from Bangkok aboard Singson’s jet. Fourth,

he announced that he helped in producing Miss Universe 2018 and already arranged the holding of Miss Universe 2019 in South Korea. Fifth, he himself said that the franchise was already his.

Not only the issue became a concern for beauty pageant aficionados, but moreso the remorseful feeling that BPCI had been so successful in fielding candidates to various beauty pageants around the globe — and not just Miss Universe where Gray became the fourth Filipina winner, after Wurtzbach, Margarita Moran and Gloria Diaz (see main story) — then losing the franchise to a relatively new player just because the latter has more moolah to spend.

MUO announcement On Gray’s early arrival on February 15 for her

homecoming, MUO made an announcement the followng day that the Araneta Group, the parent company of BPCI, will continue to organize the search for the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Universe pageant.

In the same announcement, MUO credited Singson, as well as his daughter Richelle Singson-Michael, for working “tirelessly on behalf of Filipinos everywhere� to hold the 65th Miss Universe pageant in Manila in January 2017.

In an apparent reference to speculation that it had nearly handed the Miss Universe franchise to Singson’s group at one point, MUO also confirmed that it has “explored many opportunities to enhance [Binibining Pilipinas] and grow it into a dynamic, multi-faceted platform.�

MUO added it will “continue to work with the

Araneta Group [for Binibining Pilipinas] while seeking to modernize and grow the brand into more than a one-day special� instead.

It said LCS “has agreed to support us in our efforts to do so.�

Singson’s rejoinder Singson sent a rejoinder on February 18, and as quoted by ABS-CBN, he said he is “thankful and honored for the statement made by MUO� recognizing him and the LCS Group’s contribution to the success of the organization and its various initiatives.

He confirmed the same in his statement, saying, “I am excited to work with the Araneta Group and all our partners in developing Miss Universe in the Philippines further, as well as welcoming the

candidates to Vigan City this year.�

A popular tourist attraction for its colonial era architecture, Vigan (located in Singson’s home province) was also one of the destinations of Miss Universe 2016 delegates. “The Miss Universe pageant has always been about the empowerment of women so this I am always in full support of,� the former governor, and now head of the League of Councilors in the Philippines, said.

Founded by Stella Marquez-Araneta (who was the first-ever Miss International in 1960 representing Colombia), BPCI has been holding its annual national pageant since 1964. Besides Miss Universe, BPCI also holds the franchises to Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, Miss Globe, and Miss Intercontinental.

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Q It’s the hefty yellow bauble that definitely stole her look — Lady Gaga wears Tiffany’s most precious diamond to the Oscars.

Q Everyone’s pretty in pink! (From left) Gemma Chan in Maison Valentino, Marie Kondo in Jenny Packham, Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet both in Fendi.

Pinks and warrior metallics among Oscar fashion highlights Graham’s best in gold was Danai Gurira in textured Brock Collection. She called her gown with black detailing “a beautiful take on a strapless princess look.� Gurira wore “just the right amount of jewels,� including sleep droplet earrings by Fred Leighton.

The look, Graham said, was ornate, luxe and elegantly red carpet perfect.

BY LEANNE ITALIE

N

EW YORK: Lady Gaga sported the Tiffany Diamond around her neck and Glenn Close wore 40 pounds of gold dress to the Oscars. Charlize Theron rocked a bob in transformative dark brown and *ENNIFER ,OPEZ WAS kT FOR BATTLE IN A HEAD TO TOE MIRROR The guys took it mosaic on a mighty silver dress.

Q Take a bow to the bob – Charlize Theron’s rocking new ‘do.

Hollywood’s fashion show Sunday in Los Angeles (Monday morning in Manila) went technicolor AND SOFT RUFlY AND CLASSIC )T SHOWED OFF PINK AND red, white and black, all in plenty of tulle, chiffon, crepe and velvet.

Theron donned Dior in dusty periwinkle, a color called “unexpected� by People’s style and beauty director, Andrea Lavinthal. Regina King “looked so elegant in her perfectly-tailor white gown� by Oscar de la Renta, and Lopez took Lavinthal’s best-dressed spot.

Some highlights as the awards season comes to a close:

Lady Gaga Q Style warrior Jennifer Lopez in Tom Ford’s mirror mosaic masterpiece.

Q Glenn Close may not have won best actress, but she won the carpet in this golden gown by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera.

Her platinum locks were high in a side-swept updo. Her Alexander McQueen gown had an Old Hollywood feel, with long gloves to match. But it was the hefty yellow bauble around her neck that stole her look.

Weighing in at 128.54 carats, the 142-year-old diamond from a South Africa mine is one of the world’s largest yellow diamonds and rarely worn.

In fact, it was only the third time it has been worn AND THE kRST TIME IT HAS APPEARED AT A MAJOR AWARD ceremony and on a red carpet. “From Lady Gaga debuting Tiffany’s most precious diamond to Charlize Theron dripping herself in Bulgari earrings, necklaces and bracelets, bling is most certainly back,� said Joyann King, executive digital editor for

shoulder silk crepe creation by Elie Saab Couture to present the best picture award.

Overall, major pink gowns, including Angela Bassett in custom Reem Acra, were showstoppers.

The warriors Lopez, with Alex Rodriguez at her side, was ready for battle in a long-sleeve silver Tom Ford gown that stood out for its chunky embellishment. “Tom Ford famously only dresses one star every season on the red carpet. When it comes to rocking a mirrored metallic sheath, no one could possibly work the look more elegantly right than Jennifer Lopez,� said People’s Lavinthal.

Brie Larson and Emma Stone were ALSO kERCE ,ARSON IN SILVER #ELINE BY Hedi Slimane. It was a sparkly halter look with a high neck, another trend of the evening. The Lopez look also included a high neck.

Stone was in burnished Louis Vuitton with structured short sleeves THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN lIGHT Glenn Close may not have won a best actress statuette, but she won the carpet in a gold gown with long sleeves and a long cape by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera.

Harper’s Bazaar.

Gaga’s diamond was previously worn in 1957 and by Audrey Hepburn in 1961 publicity photos for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.�

Gaga was more Old Hollywood than her the shock-flash on which she built her dressing cred. “She really toned down the theatrics during award season but not at the expense of her style,� said Channing Hargrove, a fashion news writer for the millennial-focused site 2EkNERY COM

Nicholas Hoult wore lopsided lapels with a side sash piece, thanks to Dior Men by Kim Jones. There was color, including Stephan James in red velvet custom Etro and David Oyelowo in custom Etro done in green velvet.

And then there was Billy Porter, dressed in a custom tuxedo and a tuxedo ball gown combined, by Christian Siriano.

The dudes took risks and they paid off.

Chadwick Boseman wore Givenchy Haute Couture, designed by Clare Waight Keller. It was a play on classic tails, with the tail hanging nearly to the ground, in a Japanese design embellished with black and blue beads and sequins.

Jason Momoa wore pink Fendi, telling The Associated Press it was likely the last custom look Karl Lagerfeld designed for Fendi before he died last week. “I loved all of the black men who were not afraid to shy away from texture,�

Hargrove said.

Siriano said on E! that Porter’s dress was pulled together in a week, using the “Pose�

ACTOR S ASSISTANT AS A kT MODEL “Billy looked great,� Hargrove said.

So did Spike Lee, in purple from head to nearly toe. On his feet were golden custom Air Jordans.

AP Q Showstopper! Billy Porter in a custom tuxedo and a tuxedo ball gown designed by Christian Siriano.

Parade of pink

QMore metal on these mighty mavens — Brie Larson and Emma Stone.

It came in a variety of shades, from a honeysuckle pink lace gown by Jenny Packham worn by declutter guru Marie Kondo (she HAS A .ETlIX SERIES TO THE TIERED CONFECTION donned by Kacey Musgraves, by Giambattista Valli Couture.

King said Gemma Chan’s voluminous bright PINK 6ALENTINO #OUTURE DRESS WITH A HIGH RUFlE neck “stole every fashion editor’s heart.� And, bonus, it had pockets.

But Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper’s, said Chan’s large and loose dress proved that hugging every curve “does not always a successful Oscar red carpet gown make.�

King said Musgraves’ gown “may have had ONE TOO MANY RUFlES TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY FOR years to come.�

Julia Roberts wore a draped magenta one-

Q Nicholas Hoult pulls off a suit with lopsided lapels and a side sash piece from Dior Men by Kim Jones.

Q Wonderfully dressed forever!

Wakanda’s Chadwick Boseman in Givenchy Haute Couture by Claire Waight Keller.