The Manila Times | June 02, 2019 by The Manila Times

FORMER WORLD NO. 1 KAYMER SHARES MEMORIAL LEAD Golf Times E1

PH YOUTH GROUP WINS UN TILT

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CONTEMPORARY ARTIST FROM PH TO THE WORLD

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â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ SECTIONS PAGES â&#x20AC;˘ VOL. 120 NO. 2322 6 32

JUNE 2, 2019

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Thank you, Mongolia SUNDAY STORIES MARLEN V. RONQUILLO

FEW things about Mongolia, courtesy of a routine Google check: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It is a landlocked country, sandwiched between China and Russia (imagine a country with no access to the sea). â&#x20AC;&#x201C; With roughly 3 million people, it is the most sparsely populated sovereign state in the world despite its geographical spread and immensity. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It has very little arable land, and much of the country is grassy steppe. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Around 30 percent of the population are still nomadic, and horse culture is still â&#x20AC;&#x153; integral.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It is a cold, cold country.

EASY CATCH

ÂłRonquillo A5

P5-M Marawi funds spent for Hajj trips THE Commission on Audit (CoA) has called out the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) for transferring P5 million from rehabilitation funds for Marawi City to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to send internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their annual Islamic pilgrimage or Hajj. In its 2018 audit report, the CoA said the HUDCC transferred to the NCMF P5 million to sponsor Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IDPs, who were participants in the Hajj last year, a move that was not authorized by the OfkCE OF THE 0RESIDENT /0 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The purpose of the fund transfer was not among the authorized expenses enumerated in the original MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) between the OP and the HUDCC,â&#x20AC;? it added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The transfer of funds to NCMF for the purpose of sending IDPs to Mecca to attend the Hajj was contrary to the afore-cited provisions of PD (Presidential Decree) 1445 and 2018 GAA (General

ÂłTrips A8

Curtain falls on comedian Gary Lising, 78 VETERAN comedian Gary Lising died on Saturday at the age of 78. A series of tribute posts by his son Bugsy and brother Pompeii confirmed the news. Q Gary Lising â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just want to say how proud I am of my father. He left behind something most of us can only hope to achieve, he left behind a great legacy. I love you papa. I know you are in a place where there is no pain, no sufferingâ&#x20AC;Ś From the bottom of my heart, thank you papa... for everything. Until we meet again,â&#x20AC;? Bugsy posted along with a collage of their photos on his Facebook account. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farewell to you Gary Lising aka the king of green jokes, the stand up comedian and the pioneer of comedy. May you rest in peace,â&#x20AC;? Lisingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only son added. Bugsy said public viewing for Lisingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remains

A fisher gathers dead fish in the Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas on Saturday. Fishers in the province were hit by a massive fish kill attributed to low oxygen levels in the lake. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

US WARNS CHINA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Stop threatening Asian neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

INGAPORE: The United States warned China on Saturday against threatening its neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sovereignty and said Washington was investing in new military TECHNOLOGY IN THE NEXT kVE YEARS TO KEEP !SIA STABLE

Washington and Beijing have been vy- Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. ING FOR INlUENCE IN THE REGION WHICH HOSTS Ties between the two powers are once potential flashpoints such as the South again taking center stage at the weekend China Sea (West Philippine Sea), the Korean Singapore conference known as the Shan-

nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sovereignty and sows distrust of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions must end,â&#x20AC;? acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told the forum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Until it does, we stand against a myopic, narrow, and parochial vision of the future, and we stand for the free AND OPEN ORDER THAT HAS BENEkTED US ALL including China.â&#x20AC;?

ÂłChina A2

Manila to ship back trash to Hong Kong IN keeping with the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy to stop other countries from dumping their waste on the Philippines, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) is set to ship back to Hong Kong the tons of garbage it sent to the country in February. Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) port collector John Simon said they were instructed by MalacaĂąang to see to it that the garbage would be sent back to Hong Kong. The electronic trash arrived at the MICT subport in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Feb. 15, 2019.

The cargo, shipped by Hin Yuen Tech. Env. Ltd. and owned by Crowd Win Industrial Limited based in Pasay City, was abandoned. When the shipment was inspected, Customs authorities found 25,610 kilograms of crushed electronic devices such as computers and cellular phones. Simon said the electronic trash would be shipped back to Hong Kong on Monday. Aileen Lucero, the national coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said the electronic trash was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;trial shipment.â&#x20AC;? She said 70

ÂłTrash A2 Q Manny Pacquiao works the heavy bag during a training session at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City on Friday. PHOTO BY WENDELL ALINEA

AN ANGRY PACQUIAO AWAITS THURMAN the WBA super titlist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Talagang galit (Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really mad),â&#x20AC;? Fernandez told this writer when asked shortly KEITH THURMAN could be facing an after the three-hour workout. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nagalit angry Manny Pacquiao when the two dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ni [Thurman] World Boxing Association (WBA) welter(He was furious because of Thurmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weight champions clash to decide who statements) that [he will nail Manny to between them is the rightful owner of the THE #ROSS= AND THAT AFTER THE kGHT -ANNY 147-pound belt. g) LL TEACH HIM HOW A YEAR OLD kGHTER will disappear from the boxing scene.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I already felt it even when we first kGHTS u 0ACQUIAO DESCRIBED AS THE REGULAR worked since the day I arrived from BiWBA champion, kept on murmuring in col early this week when he (Thurman) between rounds from the time he worked tried to repeatedly do what, I supposed, the mitts with chief trainer Buboy FernanWILL BE WHAT HE LL DO COME kGHT NIGHT u dez until the initial plyometric exercises on Friday at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City. Buboy said. !CCORDING TO HIM THIS WAS NOT THE kRST â&#x20AC;&#x153;Masyadong mayabang (He is such a time in 13 years that Pacquiao had been braggart),â&#x20AC;? he repeatedly uttered within open in both his words and actions on hearing distance of several media men covering his training session, referring to ÂłPacquiao A2 BY EDDIE G. ALINEA

ÂłLising A2 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

gri-La Dialogue, which gathers defense MINISTERS AND TOP MILITARY OFkCIALS FROM around the world. While the forum is purely on security, the discussions are also being held against a backdrop of Chinese-US trade tensions and high tech rivalry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;China can and should have a cooperative relationship with the rest of the region... But behavior that erodes other

SM RECEIVES GRAND STEVIE AWARD SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin (right) receives the Most Honored Organization Grand Stevie from The Stevie Awards President Michael Gallagher. Forty-five SM winning campaigns nationwide were recognized in the prestigious 2019 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards at the gala night on May 31 held at the InterContinental Hotel in Singapore. From the 29-nation Asia Pacific region, a Grand Stevie Award is one of the most coveted recognitions given by the award-giving body that recognizes outstanding businesses for creating innovations in the work place.

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SUNDAY June 2, 2019

CoA flags housing council over delayed P12-M projects BY GLEE JALEA

HE Commission on Audit (CoA) has questioned the Housing and Urban $EVELOPMENT #OORDINATING #OUNCIL (5$## FOR FAILING TO FAST TRACK PROJECTS TOTALING 0 MILLION THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DELAYED FOR TWO YEARS â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have noted that as of Dec. 31, 2018, the HUDCC had several outstanding projects consisting of 11 survey work and set-up of one Human Resource Information System amounting to P11,536,182.23 and P178,304.00, respectively,â&#x20AC;? the CoA said in its 2018 report. The survey projects were located in Palawan, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Quezon, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Misamis Oriental and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte. An information system

is located in Manila. Based on the mobilization fees paid by the HUDCC to its contractors and the duration of the project, the CoA noted that all of HUDCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding survey works, consulting projects and an information system had been delayed from nine months to two years already, â&#x20AC;&#x153;depriving THE INTENDED BENEkCIARIES OF THE PROJECTS BENEkTS u As of December 2018, a survey project in Narra, Palawan, which started in October 2015 and was

supposed to end in May 2016, has been delayed for a total of 949 days because of a threat from a peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organization of destroying the surveying equipment. Survey projects in Teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Camp, Baguio City (delayed for 985 days); Balungao, Pangasinan (975 days); and Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City (793 days) have submitted the division plans, which are still subject for approval by the Department of Environment-Cor d i l l e r a Ad m i n i s t r a t i ve Re g i o n a n d other national and local government agencies. Meanwhile, other projects are either suspended or under spending validation from concerned local government units. The CoA noted that a memorandum of agreement made between responsible parties, the contractor or consultant, shall pay the HUDCC for liquidated damages

in an amount equal to one-tenth of 1 percent of the cost of delayed portion of services for every day of the delay. g(OWEVER VERIkCATION AND REcords from the management revealed that liquidated damages were not imposed [on] the contractors/consultant despite delays from nine months to two years,â&#x20AC;? it added. The agency was urged to develop a strategy that would strengthen coordination with government agencies in addressing issues surrounding backlog of projects, and impose liquidated damages as stipulated in their agreement. The HUDCC is mandated to oversee and fast-track through appropriate project schemes and contractual arrangements the implementation and development of housing projects in areas proclaimed as housing sites.

READY FOR SCHOOL A boy gets a hair cut two days before the start of classes. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said 27.8 million students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 would troop to schools on June 3. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE AGCAOILI

Lawmakers seek inquiry into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;biasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DoE official TWO lawmakers at the House of Representatives want Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola investigated for allegedly favoring power suppliers. Senior Citizen party-list Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. and Rep. Teodoro Montoro filed House Resolution 2577 on Wednesday seeking an investigation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in aid of legislation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by the House Committee on Energy, House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and other appropriate committees. The resolution stated in part that â&#x20AC;&#x153;there have been reports that [Delola], being a former executive in a power company, has been bias[ed] in favor of power suppliers as such an immediate investigation is required to avoid furtherâ&#x20AC;? alleged â&#x20AC;&#x153;derogation of authority and abuse by Assistant Secretary Delola.â&#x20AC;?

Through the resolution, the two lawmakers also sought to urge the committees â&#x20AC;&#x153;to remove from OFkCEu $ELOLA BECAUSE OF HIS ALleged â&#x20AC;&#x153;conflict of interestâ&#x20AC;? and alleged â&#x20AC;&#x153;serious irregularities in the performance of his function.â&#x20AC;? When sought for comment, Department of Energy (DoE) Undersecretary and spokesman Wimpy Fuentebella said in a text message that Delola â&#x20AC;&#x153;has been consistently fair in his dealingsâ&#x20AC;? as an assistant secretary of the DoE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The direction given to him and to all of us in the DoE is to be fair and make sure that the consumers are fully protected,â&#x20AC;? Fuentebella added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be that as it may, the DoE will be mindful of the observations from Congress and the public in general in order to improve our services to the people,â&#x20AC;? he said. REINA C. TOLENTINO

Q PACQUIAO FROM A1

acquitted himself for that defeat via a 10th round knockout after punishing Morales early on with left and right combinations. The third chapter of the threefight episode came easier, with Manny prevailing again in a thirdround KO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Manny felt such Thurman statements like crucifying him and erasing him from the face of earth were disrespectful, not only on his person as a Filipino but on God himself,â&#x20AC;? Buboy said. While he noted that this developMENT WAS GOOD FOR THE kGHT IT WAS bad for Thurman, who surely would be the recipient of Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrath. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maganda sa laban (Good for the kGHT BUT BAD FOR 4HURMAN BECAUSE siya ang bubuntunan ng galit ni Manny (he will be the recipient of Mannyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fury).â&#x20AC;? Buboy said that at the rate the training camp was going, the focus of the build-up program was on the weapons the eight-division champion and Philippine senator would utilize. Pacquiao and Thurman will SQUARE OFF IN A SORT OF A UNIkCATION encounter for the WBA welterweight crown on July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

An angry his hatred for an opponent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kilala naman natin si [Manny] (We know Manny), who is very soft-hearted sa kahit sinong kalaban (with whoever his opponent is). He used to even wish them good luck.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;But during our preparations for the [Erik] Morales fights 2 and 3, kitang-kita at ramdam namin sa training team ang galit niya (it was clear and we in the training team felt how angry he was with his rival),â&#x20AC;? he recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hanggang sa araw ng laban, ipinakita niya ang galit (Up to the day OF THE kGHT HE SHOWED HIS ANGER u -ORALES BEAT -ANNY IN THE kRST kGHT OF WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A TRILOgy for the WBC super-featherweight diadem and when the rematch was set, the Mexican future Hall of Famer made insulting remarks against Manny, like reminding the Filipino THAT HE WAS NOT THE ONLY kGHTER IN the ring with a kick in his mitts. 0ACQUIAO DISPLAYING THE BENEkT of the rigid preparations he had made that transformed him from a ONE DIMENSIONAL kGHTER WITH ONLY a powerful left in his arsenal to a double-barrelled puncher, handily

Q LISING FROM A1

Curtain falls Q TRASH FROM A1

PH to ship back trash container vans of trash were waiting to be shipped to Manila. Simon said the BoC had been vigilant in detecting garbage ship-

ments since last year, when tons of waste materials misdeclared as â&#x20AC;&#x153;recyclableâ&#x20AC;? materials from South Korea were unloaded at the MICT.

Q CHINA FROM A1

US warns China Washington has been pushing back against Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aggressive militarization of the South China Sea, where China rejects the conlICTING TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OF 4AIWAN Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Beijing is also regularly angered by US warships transiting through the Taiwan Strait, which it considers part of its territorial waters. Without naming any country, Shanahan referred to nations using a â&#x20AC;&#x153;toolkit of coercionâ&#x20AC;? to destabilize the region, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;deploying advanced weapons systems to militarize disputed areasâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;promoting state-sponsored theft of other nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; military and civilian technology.â&#x20AC;? For the first time since 2011, China has sent its Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe to the Singapore gathering. Wei is scheduled to speak on Sunday during which he is expected to respond to Shanahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarks.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Indo-Pacific is our priorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Shanahan said the US was investing heavily in new military technology to combat fresh threats and maintain its superiority and capability to defend its Asian allies.

He said North Korea â&#x20AC;&#x153;remains an extraordinary threat and requires continued vigilanceâ&#x20AC;? and stressed Washington would continue to meet its defense obligations to Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory to be reunified. g4HE )NDO 0ACIkC IS OUR PRIORITY theater. We are where we belong. We are investing in the region,â&#x20AC;? he added. /VER THE NEXT kVE YEARS THE 0ENTAGON WOULD INVEST gSIGNIkCANTLYu in programs needed to ensuring regional stability, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we talk about preparedness, we mean having the right capabilities in the right places to respond to crises, and to compete with and deter high-end adversaries,â&#x20AC;? the Pentagon chief said. While the US does not seek conflict, it knows that having the capability to win wars is the best deterrence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to ensure no adversary believes it can successfully achieve political objectives through military force,â&#x20AC;? he said. He said the Pentagon has requested $104 billion globally â&#x20AC;&#x201D; its most ever â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for research and development in the next kSCAL YEAR AND BILLION IN operational readiness.

About 50 container vans of waste materials shipped to Misamis Oriental in October last year have been sent back to South Korea. The remaining 5,000 tons of garbage are in the stockyard of the Verde Soko, the South Korean company, after the BoC issued a warrant of seizure

AND DETENTION FOLLOWING THE kLING of appropriate charges against the 3OUTH +OREAN kRM On Thursday, the Philippines sent back to Canada the tons of trash it shipped to the Philippines in 2014. CRIS DIAZ AND RAFFY AYENG

On Friday, Beijing warned that the US should not underestimate Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military during a meeting between Shanahan and Wei on the sidelines of the conference. Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said both had â&#x20AC;&#x153;reached some consensusâ&#x20AC;? on issues of common concern, adding that Wei â&#x20AC;&#x153;particularly emphasized the Taiwan issue.â&#x20AC;? China sees Taiwan as part of its TERRITORY TO BE REUNIkED DESPITE the two sides having been ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He (Wei) pointed out that the US has recently had a series of negative words and actions on this issue,â&#x20AC;? Wu said, adding that BeiJING WAS gkRMLY OPPOSEDu TO THIS â&#x20AC;&#x153;On the issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the US should not underestimate the determination, will and ability of the Chinese military.â&#x20AC;? On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte voiced rare frustration with China, urging progress on a code of conduct for the contested South China Sea, which he warned WAS BECOMING A glASHPOINT u D u t e r t e wa s d e l i ve r i n g a speech at an economic forum in Tokyo, but veered off script with remarks about the resource-rich sea, over most of which China claims sovereignty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love China... but it behooves upon us to ask, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Is it right for

a country to claim the whole ocean?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he said. Beijing and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations have for years tried to hammer out a code of conduct to govern the disputed waters, but the process has been slow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am sad and bewildered â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not angry â&#x20AC;&#x201D; because I cannot do anything,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just hope China will come up with this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;conductâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; soon.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The longer it takes,â&#x20AC;? he said, the greater the chance the sea WOULD BE A glASHPOINT OF TROUbles,â&#x20AC;? adding that France, Britain and the United States are already â&#x20AC;&#x153;testing the waters.â&#x20AC;? Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld criticism of Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansive claims to the sea â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But in April, he warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the sea, suggesting the possibility of military action if China touched it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;China says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is our land, this is our sea. Anyone who goes in there will just have to contend with us. Maybe with arms,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Duterte told the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asiaforum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My country is very small. I cannot afford to go to war with anybody, not only with China.â&#x20AC;? AFP

would begin on Monday at the Christ the King Green Meadows in Quezon City. Pompeii also broke the news of his brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death when he also wrote on Facebook: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am sad to inform some terrible news. We lost our beloved Gary Lising, my eldest brother, today. Gary, thank you for all the laughs and love, we will miss you deeply. But I know that your jokes will make God laugh. Rest in peace my dear brother.â&#x20AC;? Bugsy and Pompeii, however, did not reveal the cause of Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. Lising was one of the most popular comedians in the 1970s up to the late 1990s. He became a household name in TV gag shows such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Champoyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hoy Lisingâ&#x20AC;? with his brand of â&#x20AC;&#x153;green comedy.â&#x20AC;? An Economics graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, Lising moved to the United States where he

HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BACK

got his first start in comedy. He was a pool writer for several shows, including that of American comedian Bob Hope. One of his Manila vacations gave Lising an opportunity to be a comedian in his home country. Lising also starred in some comedy films such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Run Barbi Runâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alyas Boy Tigas.â&#x20AC;? Off-screen, he penned comedy books such as Golf, Erap and Other 4-Letter Words and Confessions of a D.O.M (Delightful Old Man), among others. Tributes and condolences from other comedians poured on social media â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh my. Sad day. Rip my dear friend Gary Lising,â&#x20AC;? Ogie Alcasid shared on Twitter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rest peacefully, Gary Lising, old pal. You were funnyâ&#x20AC;Ś sometimes. Irreverent, always. Keep â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em laughing in the Great Beyond!â&#x20AC;? wrote Leah Navarro in her Twitter account. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isang pagpupugay sa isang komedyanteng napakahusay. Gary Lising. Rest in peace,â&#x20AC;? Marc Logan also tweeted. CHRISTINA ALPAD

resident Rodrigo Duterte arrives in Villamor Air Base. MALACAĂ&#x2018;ANG PHOTO

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SUNDAY June 2, 2019

PH-Japan ties stronger â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Palace T BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

HE partnership between the Philippines and Japan is on â&#x20AC;&#x153;an even stronger footing,â&#x20AC;? MalacaĂąang said on Saturday, following President Rodrigo Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourday working visit to Tokyo.

Duterte arrived in Manila on Saturday after his successful participation at Nikkeiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo, where he also had a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Rodrigo Duterte capped his working visit to Japan on a high note, putting the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strategic partnership

with Japan on an even stronger footing,â&#x20AC;? the Palace said in a statement. During his meeting with Abe, Duterte agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, trade and investments, agriculture, labor, defense, maritime security and maritime domain awareness, people-to-people exchanges, and the pursuit of

just and lasting peace and progress in Mindanao. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President conveyed appreciation for Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renewed support for the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Build, Build, Build program, citing Japanese development assistance as the gold standard for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development cooperation with other partner countries,â&#x20AC;? the Palace said. It added that Duterte â&#x20AC;&#x153;lauded the Philippines-Japan partnership as one that empowers rather than fosters dependencyâ&#x20AC;? and is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;kind of relationship that we seek with other countries.â&#x20AC;? The two leaders also tackled â&#x20AC;&#x153;the modalities for greater cooperation in upgrading the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense capabilities, including in

maritime security and maritime domain awareness.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;They explored opportunities to tap the demographic complementarity between the two countries to drive economic growth, including the possibility of Japan opening its door to skilled foreign labor,â&#x20AC;? the Palace said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The leaders exchanged views on regional maritime security, nontraditional threats, ongoing efforts to secure peace in the Korean peninsula, supporting free trade, and advancing the rule of law, including in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea),â&#x20AC;? it added. The President welcomed Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh commitment of around ÂĽ25 billion for the development of Mindanaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s road network,

vocational training facilities and equipment, water supply development in the Bangsamoro region, and livelihood programs, among other projects. Citing the challenge of climate change at the 25th Nikkei International Conference, Duterte stressed that the destruction caused by natural disasters was more painful for developing nations and for the poorest of the poor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President urged for greater accountability among developed countries, stressing that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;when the lives of millions hand in a balance, there has got to be a way,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? the Palace said. Duterte also assured Japanese businessmen that the Philippines WAS gA SAFE AND PROkTABLE DESTINAtion for their investments.â&#x20AC;?

The President, according to the Palace, welcomed the plans of top Japanese and Filipino business executives â&#x20AC;&#x153;to invest and expand business operations in new sectors of the Philippine economy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President also met key Japanese tourism industry partners who expressed optimism in doing more business in the Philippines, affirming that the country has remained one of the preferred tourism destinations of Japanese nationals,â&#x20AC;? it said. Duterte brought home business deals from Japan amounting to $5.5 billion or P288.8 billion. The business agreements and pledges will mostly be in infrastructure, manufacturing, electronics, transport and power.

Killers of Dutch hostage will be pursued â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Panelo MALACAĂ&#x2018;ANG has vowed to â&#x20AC;&#x153;pursue to the ends of the earthâ&#x20AC;? the killers of a Dutch who was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu in 2012. Ewold Horn, 59, was shot by his guards when he reportedly attempted to escape during a rescue attempt by the military. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo condemned Hornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s killing and extended MalacaĂąangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sympathies and condolences to Hornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We condemn, in the strongest terms, the death of Mr. Ewold Horn, a Dutch national kidnapped and had been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf

Group since 2012,â&#x20AC;? Panelo said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We vow to pursue his killers to the ends of the earth until they are brought to justice,â&#x20AC;? he added. Horn, a photographer and birdwatcher, was kidnapped along with Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra while they were birdwatching on the remote southern island of Tawi-Tawi on Feb. 1, 2012. Vinciguerra managed to escape during an Army rescue in 2014. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., Armed Forces chief, also condemned the killing of Horn. CATHERINE S. VALENTE

LGUs lauded for effective healthcare programs FIVE local government units (LGUs) were honored for being Champions for Health Governance (CHG) for their effective and sustainable public health programs. 4HE kVE ,'5S WERE 3AN &ELIPE Zambales; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Cabatuan, Iloilo; Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat; and Kidapawan City, Cotabato. Each of the awardees received a grant of P100,000, which will be used to continue the healthcare programs. The awarding ceremony was held at the Office of the Vice 0RESIDENT IN 1UEZON #ITY WITH the Kaya Natin Movement, health care company Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) in the Philippines, the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation, and the Association of Municipal (EALTH /FkCERS OF THE 0HILIPPINES (Amhop). Harvey Keh, lead convenor of Kaya Natin; Beaver Tamesis, president and managing director of MSD; Clemenca Bondoc, Amhop president; and Dr. Enrique Tayag of the Department of Health graced the event. 4HE kVE WINNERS WERE SELECTED OUT OF THE TEN kNALISTS THAT INCLUDED San Gabriel, La Union; Kapangan, Benguet; Mina, Iloilo; Concepcion, Iloilo; and San Remigio, Cebu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all witnesses to the per-

severance, brilliance, innovativeness and leadership of our local chief executives and their dedicated health teams, in their unwavering commitment to provide universal healthcare to their people,â&#x20AC;? Tamesis said. In her keynote speech, Vice President Maria Leonor â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leniâ&#x20AC;? Robredo commended the winners, but reiterated that access to basic medical services is still a lingering problem in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we look at your accomplishments in health governance, we cannot deny the unfortunate reality: Access to quality basic medical services remains an elusive dream for many Filipinos,â&#x20AC;? Robredo said. She added that the issue should be treated a trenchant problem â&#x20AC;&#x153;that can only be solved if [everyone] dared to try.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of us in this room share this dream: That all our people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; rich or poor, young or old, man or woman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have equal access to healthcare. Thankfully, local chief executives like you are growing in number, showing your commitment to turn this dream into a reality,â&#x20AC;? Robredo said. The biennial award, now on its fourth installment, was launched in 2013 to recognize exemplary LGUs with the best healthcare practices. GLEE JALEA

A TOUCH OF YESTERDAY

Youth garbed in traditional FilipiĂąana and Barong pose during the Pista ng Pamana event held in Escolta Street in Manila. The week-long activity sponsored by HUB: Make Lab, a creative community in Binondo, showcased Philippine heritage. The event on Saturday featured fashion and style. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

SOTTO WARNS OF BIGGER MINORITY SENATE President Vicente Sotto 3rdÂ hinted on Saturday that a new and bigger minority bloc in the Senate is likely to emerge if he would be replaced as head of the chamber. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If ever that happens, the minority will become the majority. Because there are nine or 10 of us, and there are four in the minority. So, what does that add up to,Â e di â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yun ang magiging majority (it will become the majority),â&#x20AC;? Sotto said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pag pinilit nilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; yung sinasabi nila â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ni Tolentino at ni Marcos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pag pinilit nila â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yun, ang mangyayari magkakaroon ng bagong majority (If they will insist on what they were saying â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Tolentino and Marcos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if they will insist, that will result in the formation of a new majority). There will be a new majority, but it will definitely not be them,â&#x20AC;? he added, referring to

newly proclaimed Senators Francis Tolentino and Maria Imelda Josefa Marcos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pag meron kaming [siyam] at sumanib sa amin ang minorityÂ (If we have nine and the minority will join us), they cannot get the majority. We will remain the majority. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pag nangyari â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yun, mas maliwanag ang magiging independence [ng Senate] (If this happens, the independence of the Senate would be clearer),â&#x20AC;? Sotto added. On Friday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said many of his colleagues would stick with Sotto if there were indications that he would be replaced as Senate president. Marcos had said she would support Sen. Cynthia Villar if she seeks the Senate presidency, while Tolentino hinted that he would support a move for a leadership change in the Senate.Â Sen. Aquilino Pimentel 3rdÂ said To-

lentino was interested in heading six committees, including the Blue Ribbon and Justice committees, both chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon. Gordon said he would not relinquish his chairmanship of the two committees and advised the incoming senators to respect the â&#x20AC;&#x153;equity of the incumbentâ&#x20AC;? principle that puts premium in seniority in choosing major Senate committees. Â Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon advised the new senators to study well the process of legislating before seeking major committees. Â Villar had said she was not interested in the Senate leadership, but that she wanted to keep her chairmanship of the committees on agriculture and food, and environment and natural resources. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Oil firms impose hefty LPG price cut OIL companies imposed a hefty price cut for LIQUEkED PETROLEUM GAS ,0' PRODUCTS Petron Corp. slashed LPG prices by P6.25 per kilogram (kg) on Saturday. AutoLPG prices also dropped by P3.45 per liter. g4HESE RElECT THE INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT PRICE

of LPG for the month of June,â&#x20AC;? it said. Phoenix LPG Philippines Inc. also reduced the price of its Super LPG by P6.25 per kg and AutoLPG by P3.45 per liter. Meanwhile, Solane cut the price of its LPG by P6.09 per kg also on Saturday.

Prior to the price adjustments, an 11-kg cylinder of LPG was sold for P613 to P798 each. Last month, industry players decreased LPG price by 20 centavos per kg or about P20.20 per 11-kg cylinder. JORDEENE B. LAGARE

The crime of parricide Dear PAO, My officemate told me a riveting story about his belligerent neighbor in the province. According to my officemate, the incident happened during a drinking spree between his neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family members. The FAMILY STARTED GOOkNG AROUND but because of alcohol, the members became aggressive and ended up in a heated banter. After a prolonged argument, my OFkCEMATE S NEIGHBOR ENDED UP in a brawl with his own father and a cousin. The two latter eventually pulled out their bolo, but because they were drunk, they missed several times and only managed to hit the victim in the arms. The police eventually got to

both be charged with attempted parricide? Elerdita

legitimate or illegitimate, or any of his ascendants, or descendants, or his spouse xxx.â&#x20AC;? The charge was DEAR PAO QUALIkED AS AN ATTEMPTED CRIME Dear Elerdita, since, while there was an attempt From the situation you narrated by the offender to commence the and the details you provided, it felony by overt acts, the offender the crime scene and arrested appears that you are wondering was not able to perform all the the father and his nephew. What why two different charges were acts of execution by reason of BOTHERED ME AND MY OFkCEMATE kLED AGAINST TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED some cause or accident other than however, was the fact that the fa- in one incident. To understand the offenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own desistance ther was charged with attempted this situation, we must look into (Article 6, RPC). In other words, parricide, while his nephew was the nature of the criminal charge the crime was attempted parricide because the father involved was only charged with attempted involved. The father involved in this inci- not able to complete his act of homicide. The nephew was allegedly close to a judge in their dent was charged with the crime delivering a fatal blow due to his town, and we are wondering if of attempted parricide. Article drunken state. What is crucial in the crime this had anything to do with 246 of the Revised Penal Code of the different case against him, the Philippines (RPC) provides of parricide is the nature of considering that he assisted that parricide is committed by relationship between the ofhis uncle in attempting to kill â&#x20AC;&#x153;(a)ny person who shall kill his fender and the victim. The legal the latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son. Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they father, mother, or child, whether DEkNITION OF PARRICIDE SPECIkES

PERSIDA ACOSTA

the kind of relationship that must exist before a crime can be considered as such. And as mentioned above, a father and son relationship is among those included in the definition of parricide. Thus, it is only proper for the father to be charged with attempted parricide. If the offender is not related to THE VICTIM IN THE MANNER SPECIkED in the crime of parricide, then the offender cannot be charged with parricide. Thus, the nephew cannot be charged with parricide since he is neither an ascendant nor descendant of the victim. There is a legal justification as to why the nephew cannot be charged with parricide. It is the nature of relationship of the offender to the victim that de-

termines whether the crime can be considered parricide. The fact remains that the relationship of the nephew to the victim is not among the kinds of relationship SPECIkED IN THE CRIME OF PARRICIDE This, therefore, makes him liable for another crime instead of parricide. 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.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public AtTORNEY S /FkCE 1UESTIONS FOR Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

Opinion

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

The Sunday Times

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E d i to r i a l

Where there is a will

IPLOMACY, more than gamesmanship, has made possible the government this week winning its demand that Canada get back tons of trash that it shipped to the Philippines six years ago. Tact of a different kind it was, however, with the Duterte administration opting to observe international protocols, rather than pushing the garbage issue with Ottawa belligerently. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though, had seemed to take the matter less seriously than what had been expected of him, a defender of the environment that he was reputed to be. Trudeau was accused of delaying the repatriation of more than 60 trash-filled container vans, having pointed to a private firm from Ontario as the shipper of the unwanted cargo in an apparent bid to show that the issue was not really a concern of Ottawa. It was notable that Canada amended its regulations around hazardous waste shipments in 2016 to prevent any more such cargo ending up in other countries like the Philippines. But it did not make Trudeau move more decisively to end the dirty affair, a missed opportunity for him to underscore that his country cares for the environment as it does for the more than 900,000 Filipinos whom it had welcomed to its shores. After a number of deadlines that the Canadian government itself had set for the trip back home of the garbage elapsed without Ottawa committing to a specific date to bring home the trash to North America, President Rodrigo Duterte evidently decided that Trudeau pussyfooting about the issue called for a drastic action. It has to be pointed out that the President did not use the trash issue as a retaliation for Trudeau raising a howl over the allegedly extrajudicial killings in Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crackdown on illegal drugs. At the risk of breaking cordial relations between Ottawa and Manila, the President recalled Filipino diplomatic officials posted in the embassy in Ottawa and the consulates in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. The gamble worked, with the Canadian government finally sending a ship to the Subic freeport to load the garbage on Friday and immediately sailing back to Vancouver in a voyage that would take three weeks. It resulted in Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. ordering the recalled Philippine envoys also on Friday to return to their posts in the embassy and the consulates. That the President exercised his sovereign duty to assert the right of the country to determine what comes in and what goes out is an example of foreign policy pursued in the name of Filipinos and their interests, whether economic, social, political or environmental. It would probably embolden a number of countries that reportedly have become dumping ground for unwanted refuse to apply the Duterte gamble in also demanding that garbage should be disposed of by those who produce it. Arguably, local and foreign pro-environment groups played a significant role in resolving the garbage stand-off, and we believe their contribution should be acknowledged. The environment is not actually the winner in this dirty episode in Philippine-Canadian ties but Philippine sovereignty, And the Philippine government proved that where there is a will, there is a way, but that it would turn out in favor of the country only if its leaders put more bite into it.

SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2019

The Sunday Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 232

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL S. MALLARI, Sports Editor DINO RAY V. DIRECTO 3RD, Motoring Editor CONRAD M. CARIĂ&#x2018;O, Special Sections Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY, Assistant Business Editor MARIO F. FETALINO, Assistant Business Editor REMIA B. EUGENIO, Deskman (Regions) MARISHELLE R. MEDINA, Deskman 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.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Jesus said to his disciples: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;Ś So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Gospel of Mark, 16:15-16, 19

FAITH HEALER RICARDO SALUDO

deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.â&#x20AC;? So, before the last judgment and ODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Ascension Sunday mass salvation when Jesus returns, the READINGS PROVIDE A kTTING BACK- #ATECHISM WARNS OF A kNAL APOSdrop for the topic left over from last tasy or turning away from the faith. Not just heresy or the open weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conclusion to the two-part column on heresy accusations against and persistent denial of docPope Francis. The unanswered ques- trines, but apostasy, the rejection tion: How is this controversy advanc- of Catholicism or Christianity: the belief that Jesus Christ is the ing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan of salvation? For the answer, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go to divine Son of God who became Paragraph 675 of the Catechism man, died for our salvation, rose of the Catholic Church (CCC again, and will return in glory. Which might just be why our 675), the compendium of doctrines the faithful must profess. Lord himself asked his Apostles in Subtitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ulti- the Gospel of Luke, 18:8, speaking mate trialâ&#x20AC;?, the section predicts: of his return from heaven: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second coming the Son of man comes, will he the Church must pass through a find faith on earth?â&#x20AC;? This after kNAL TRIAL THAT WILL SHAKE THE FAITH promising Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vindication of of many believers. The persecution the righteous, â&#x20AC;&#x153;his elect, who cry that accompanies her pilgrimage to him day and night.â&#x20AC;? on earth will unveil the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mystery of Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the drill then, spelled iniquityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the form of a religious OUT IN OFkCIAL DOCTRINE AND INTI-

mated in Holy Scripture: Christ will return from heaven to bring kNAL JUDGMENT AND SALVATION TO ALL creation after a widespread falling away from the faith.

From controversy to apostasy? Now, will the controversy over alleged heresy by Pope Francis lead to this prophesied apostasy? The row hit a new high point last month in an open letter, now signed by more than 80 theologians and clergy, urging all bishops to investigate and admonish the Holy Father for statements and actions allegedly propagating heresy and undermining Church doctrine ( https://www.manilatimes.net/ heretical-pope-all-in-satans-andgods-plan/559954/). To be clear, there is no proven heresy or denial of Church teachings, let alone apostasy against the faith. But heresy or no heresy, there is already confusion and doubt, even at the very highest levels of the hierarchy. Consider Germany and Poland. In interpreting the controversial Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia (AL, Joy of Love), Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apostolic Exhortation on the fam-

ily, German bishops now allow divorced Catholics who remarry without their Church weddings being annulled, to receive communion. But Polish bishops right across the border still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more. In mid-2017, months after the dissenting theologians and clergy first wrote to bishops questioning Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pronouncements and actions, four leading Cardinals wrote him askING CLARIkCATION ABOUT kVE gDUBIAu or doubts regarding the same AL Chapter 8 (http://www.ncregister. com/blog/edward-pentin/full-textand-explanatory-notes-of-cardinalsquestions-on-amoris-laetitia). The four red hats wanted to know if Amoris Laetitia superseded past papal and Church teachings through the centuries, including the ban on communion for divorced but remarried Catholics, reiterated by St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. In the Jesuit journal La Stampa, theologian Robert Fastiggi asserted that Francis did not countermand existing doctrines, as other supporters argued (https://www.lastampa.it/2018/03/09/vaticaninsider/ RESPONDING TO THE kVE DUBIA FROM amoris-laetitia-itself-0wrtch9RS-

ÂłSaludoA5

The drug corporations that kill

IS name was Arnel. He was a bright, intelligent, fun-loving student, and he was brilliant at math. He wanted to be an engineer and work at the US Navy Base in Subic Bay. He was my student. But the fun and happiness went out of Arnelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, like that of so many other bright students, when his parents broke up. His father had found a bar girl from one of the hundreds of sex bars that was the only employment provided by the city administration to their eternal shame in those days. It was sin city, and the US sailors had to have their Filipina sex slaves, children and women, and drugs. It was a wild hedonistic TOWN kLLED WITH EROTICA AND CHILD and woman and drug abuse as seldom seen. That was one of the reasons I started and led a successful campaign to remove and convert the US bases to an economic zone. Despite rampant corruption at the start, it is now a resounding success. Family breakups and divorce are devastating for the children. They feel abandoned, confused and depressed. Ariel became despondent and was deeply sadDENED kLLED WITH DEEP EMOTIONAL pain. The shame of his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abandonment and hedonistic life hurt him. He stayed away from his friends; his concentration in class dropped; he lost interest in studying, became moody and despondent. He sought a damaging refuge in smoking marijuana. He was soon addicted. Like millions of people around the world, he was in pain, emotional and physical PAIN FREQUENTLY CAUSED BY THE INk-

who died from drug overdose of prescribed and illegal drug use was 16,849 in 1999, reaching 20,237 in 2017. More Americans have died from drug overdose than in delity, betrayal and the rejection of the Vietnam War. There were at others. Like many, he reached for least 400,000 Americans dead drugs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; legal and illegal. in the past 20 years as a result of Many see using painkillers as a overdose. Meanwhile, in Canada, form of self-medication. It is a more than 10,300 Canadians died SHORT kX BUT THE PAIN REMAINS as a result of an apparent opioidsThat is what causes addiction. related overdose between January Arnelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s addiction and that of 2016 and September 2018. many others of my students in The various drug companies St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High School, Olon- are pushing their dangerous gapo City made me determined drugs by giving gifts to doctors to provide a refuge and rehabili- to prescribe them frequently. It tation center for the young drug continues to create addictions. dependents. The Marcos regime Johnson & Johnson has been achad started to shoot them in the cused in a court case in Oklahoma hateful Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; war-on-drugs. of causing an epidemic of drug I began the Preda Foundation 45 deaths by â&#x20AC;&#x153;a cynical, deceitful years ago in 1974 to give sanctuary multimillion-dollar brainwashing and rehabilitation to the youth who campaign.â&#x20AC;? This was to spur sales found drugs as their only refuge. and promote use of its powerful Hundreds of youth and children pain-reliever drug fentanyl, a who are in dire circumstances are killer drug that is over-prescribed. being helped until today. Arnel was It is â&#x20AC;&#x153;the worst man-made health cured and became an engineer. crisis in the history of the country Millions of pills and tablets and the state,â&#x20AC;? Oklahoma Atare prescribed daily, and millions torney General Mike Hunter told more are available on the black the court. There are about 2,000 market. Drug pushers and dis- other court cases pending in the tributors are everywhere, only too USA against drug corporations. willing to get a new customer. One Cannabis or marijuana is one of of the biggest alleged drug pushers the most widely used drugs in the that is said to be destroying thou- world today. That is the drug that sands of lives are the pharmaceuti- Ariel fell for, and its effects on him cal corporations. were frighteningly traumatic. The They are accused of making inability of authorities to control powerful painkilling drugs and the availability of cannabis has then distributing these without caused some few governments care or warning that these are pow- to legalize it. This, some say, will erfully addictive and that overuse take the criminality out of its use can cause death. In the United or possession and keep teenagers States alone, the number of those and youth out of jail, and, hope-

REFLECTIONS

FR. SHAY CULLEN, SSC

fully, will reduce crime rates and depopulate prisons. But it is addictive, and people will steal to buy it. In the Philippines, the law is draconian. A person in possession of a small amount of marijuana can get 12 years in prison. A suspect in possession of a small amount of crystal meth, a powerful drug, can be shot dead in a fanatical campaign to end drug abuse. The growers have developed stronger and more potent strains and varieties of the Marijuana plant that are now ever more dangerous than before. A recent research study showed that teenagers who smoke marijuana frequently suffer a slow-down in brain development. This extraorDINARY kNDING OF THE RESEARCH THAT involved 4,000 students in secondary school in Canada showed THAT THE ABILITY TO THINK AND kGURE out problems had greatly deteriorated. Frequent smoking also created dependency and weaker self-discipline of the students. They fell almost three years behind their nonsmoking classmates. Marijuana is more damaging and toxic to the brain than alcohol. It can cause euphoria and after a pot session, depression follows. In another study, it has been CONkRMED THAT THE ACTIVE CHEMICAL in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal active ingredient, can cause schizophrenia. Killing suspects is not the answer. Drug use is a health challenge, and we have to care and help all those addicted by the pharmaceutical companies or irresponsible use of painkillers.

www.preda.org

The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Q RONQUILLO FROM A1

Thank you, Mongolia. Why did I present the fast facts about Mongolia? What is the relevance to us of this cold country of horsemen and tribes? We have to thank Mongolia. Had Mongolia been situated elsewhere Â&#x2021; AND NOT IN THE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we would have been the least competitive country in the whole region. The kulelat and cellar dweller, according to the ranking of the IMD Competitiveness Center, were it not for the existence of a pasture country called Mongolia in the Asian region. What about the other countries in the Asia-Pacific, the backward ones during the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s, a time when the Philippines was the second most competitive country in the entire Asia0ACIkC REGION 4HEY ARE ALL AHEAD OF US on the competitiveness scale. Some of these previously backward countries in the region are not only ahead of us; they are way, way ahead of us in the competitiveness ranking. 3O THE OFkCIAL BOAST FROM SOME GOVernment functionary, that we have to be proud of our improved ranking on competitiveness, cited the numbers without a realistic context. While we were ranked 46th of the 63 countries surveyed, putting that ranking in context and with a perspective will jolt us into this sad realization. That in THE ENTIRE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION WE WERE ranked second to the last â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a very embarrassing ranking. And we only

beat a country of nomads. Take note of this. In our own sub-region, the Asean, we were the CERTIkED CELLAR DWELLER kulelat, to use a more candid description. The top country in the ranking is within the Asean region, and this is Singapore. The IMD Center used 230 indicators to evaluate the 63 countries on how they met these benchmarks. Based on four general criteria: economic performance, government efficiency and that includes rule of law, business efficiency, and environmental sustainability/education. The IMD ranking cited our improvement in some areas. But not at a level that would put us at par with countries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; big or small Â&#x2021; IN THE !SIA 0ACIkC REGION ,ET us take note of the fact that IMD is essentially tracking economic competitiveness. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;rule of lawâ&#x20AC;? component in the benchmarks had a laser-like focus on the business fairness and ease of doing business, not on our record on human rights or basic human freedoms. Had IMD strayed into the area of human rights and basic human freedoms, we would have ranked lower than Mongolia. 4HE LEVEL OF OFkCIAL CORRUPTION WAS only measured to the extent that it was related to actions that hobbled or slowed-down the conduct of busi-

MAURO GIA SAMONTE compound contained enormous FACILITIES LIKE GYMS TRACK AND kELD and swimming pools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This was constructed during Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time?â&#x20AC;? I asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marcos did a lot of infrastructure development,â&#x20AC;? I remarked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a creation of law. But we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t own the land in the sense of the Torrens system. If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to use it anymore, then it goes back to the owner.â&#x20AC;? I recalled the case of the previous Capitol Building of Rizal, which used to be housed on a lot just a block away from ULTRA. In a talk with former Rizal Governor Ito Ynares, he disclosed that the Pasig property was returned to the Ortigases when Rizal decided to move its capitol to Antipolo City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a similar case to ULTRA,â&#x20AC;? I said. He agreed.

No stranger to Philsports Then when he proceeded to relate that he was no stranger to the place anymore, having served as Chairman of Philsports earlier in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration, he segued into a non-stop narrative of his adventures, from the days of his boyhood when he went on a binge of running away from home with not a cent in his pocket, jumping from one ship to another, ending up in the far reaches of Samar where in one thrilling episode, all by his nine-year-old self, he braved the jungles of Ormoc in order to be able to cross over to Tacloban. For what purpose, he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. All he knew was that he wanted to get away from home and run on and on, with no thought of where to go and what to do. I sought that interview with the Philsport Chairman according to the standard norms of journalism: verify-

Capping the trade gap NEW WORLDS F (The IDSI Corner)

True to his words, Butch had me driven to as far as Taytay from where I could easily take a ride back to Antipolo. I had satisfaction a lot more than I had originally intended, which was to verify the truth in President Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s substitution issue. Not only did I get MY DESIRED VERIkCATION OF THAT ELECtion incident but I also found myself marveling at another horizon for writing a book â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this time on the many Fast forward splendored adventures of the man Butch graduated with a Liberal Arts WHO DIRECTLY kGURED IN CRAFTING A LOWLY degree, major in History and minor in city mayor into what now is turning Literature. No wonder that he writes. out to be a strong competitor for the And like every writer who gets so distinction of being the greatest presiPROLIkC ONCE UNWOUND "UTCH WENT dent the Philippines has ever had.

ORMER Socioeconomic Planning secretary Cielito Habito points out that we have ourselves to blame, and not external factors, if most of our Asean neighbors are uniformly increasing exports faster than their imports and the reverse is happening with us. There are many other factors THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A DEkCIT HERE are a few impactful items we can work on to improveâ&#x20AC;Ś Trade negotiations are very important as they define how and how much we can sell to each other. We need negotiators on our behalf, people familiar WITH THE INDUSTRIES THE QUANTIkcation of tradeoffs, politics, negotiation techniques, how to do bilaterals and group positions, etc. We need our negotiators to constantly accept input from industry practitioners for practical advice. A central trade repRESENTATIVE OFkCE LIKE THAT IN THE US will be useful to create a harmonized strategy for the country. The Train, taxes and incentives can be key to surplus or deficit in trade, especially since a country like ours has high cost. If the cost of operation is too high in our country, people will just import rather than produce and export, where they have to deal with added issues of labor, collections, complex taxation and operating difficulties. We should not take away the incentives of highly mobile industries that hire a lot of people, that while they may not pay as much in taxes, actually employ people, add to the economy and lift the burden off governmentâ&#x20AC;Ś e.g., in goods like wearables, shoes, or services exports like BPOs. While DoF plans to lower our corporate tax rate, our Asean neighbors already have lowered taxes and are still planning to lower them further. We do not HAVE TO MATCH EVERY BENEkT OF others; we need to be overall not much higher cost than the competitors, or giving some comPENSATING BENEkTS TO LOCATORS Logistic is key. Build, Build, Build is in the right direction by spending on infrastructure that increases our productivity or lowers our costs. Our trucks now can only do one to two turnovers a day BECAUSE OF TRAFkC WHILE OUR NEIGHbors do three or more round trips per day. We already have higher costs in food, electricity, storage, and labor; take longer in port; are subject to more uncertainty, so we need to review and improve in many other areas. Mass transit and rail for human travel as well as for transport of goods is crucial. One bus will replace more than 15 cars on the road, and rail will carry far more without taking up more road capacity. Education and training develop the pool of workers needed to produce, rather than burdens to be supported. Statistics for employment prospects in coming years should be provided to the public. More students need to TAKE COURSES THAT kT THEIR ABILITIES and lead to productive employment. Curriculums should be restructured early for specific employable skills and attitudes, solution seeking, higher match to industry. We need STEM and engineering graduatesâ&#x20AC;Ś at a quality that is useful sooner. We need more, better quality teachers, and to reward them much better. In agriculture, to have impact, we need corporate farming, planned storage and logistic facilitiesâ&#x20AC;Ś Land reform here overall has failed to raise pro-

IDSI (Integrated Development Studies Institute) promotes productive, multi-dimensional perspectives that are pro-development. It works with a global network of organizations and businessmen, scholars, government OFkCIALS MEDIA INSTITUTIONS AND universities. Its advocacies have RESULTED IN SIGNIkCANT CHANGES TO the agenda and decisions made by organizations, government and legislators. IDSI welcomes logical feedback and possibly opportunities for working together with compatible frameworks. (idsicenter@gmail.com)

bishops (<https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5983408/ Open-Letter-to-the-Bishops-ofthe-Catholic.pdf>). And if readers, EVEN DEVOUT ONES kND THEMSELVES turning the page amid doctrinal overload, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly how most of the faithful probably respond to these controversies over fundamental doctrines of the Church. Many just follow what local bishops say, like most Poles and Germans, differentiating practices in the Eucharist, the holiest of

uphold, many if not most people OFTEN ADOPT WHAT JUSTIkES THEIR PREferred behavior. Thus, what then wins out are teachings and practices catering for popular lifestyles, whether Christian or not. Jesus himself lamented this, saying that Moses allowed divorce because the Israelites resisted Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s law on indissoluble marriage (Mark 10:4-9). Now, if Catholicism morphs into a religion heeding manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishes, not Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, then that sounds like apostasy from the faith Christ

FOUNDED )NDEED IT WOULD FULkLL the Catechismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warning about â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Anti-Christ, a pseudo-mesSIANISM BY WHICH MAN GLORIkED himself in place of God and of his Messiahâ&#x20AC;? (CCC 675). This deception â&#x20AC;&#x153;already begins to take shapeâ&#x20AC;? when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claimed that humanity can attain in this world â&#x20AC;&#x153;the messianic hope which can only be realized beyond historyâ&#x20AC;? (CCC 767). In such a disoriented time, God Himself must come and set things right. Amen.

ness and enterprise. Still, IMD cited THE g CORRUPTION gISSUE AT THE OFkCIAL level. But the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;taraâ&#x20AC;? at the customs bureau and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;tongpatsâ&#x20AC;? that crooks at other government agencies impose on ordinary people have yet to be factored in. Anyway, we have to state this with conviction. Thank you, Mongolia. The IMD ranking on our competitiveness is more or less similar to the ranking given to us by another Europe-based business school, the Opus Dei-run IESE Business School, or the graduate school of business of the University of Navarra. The IESE makes it a yearly rite to list the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;smartest citiesâ&#x20AC;? based on roughly 10 distinct benchmarks, including as economy, technology, human capital, social cohesion, mobility and transportation, public management and urban planning. I distinctly remember a piece I wrote on the smart city rankings and Metro Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Global list of smart cities gives MM kulelat status,â&#x20AC;? The Manila Times, July 19, 2016). It said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where was Metro Manila? It was given a kulelat status, 145th out of the 181 cities surveyed. In contrast, the Vietnamese city named after Uncle Ho â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ho Chi Minh City â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was in the middle of the list with the Chinese cities of Canton and Shenzhen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why was Metro Manila among

the kulelats? It was viewed as failing the 10 distinct benchmarks used by the IESE.â&#x20AC;? Of course, the sheer stupidity of some of our policies that relate to the quality of human life is there for all the whole word to see. Take our policy ON TRAFkC ALLEVIATION AND COMPARE THAT policy with that of Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, which has been ranked by the IMD as the most competitive in Asia. I will say this for the nth time. The convoy of the Prime Minister of Singapore gives way to buses BECAUSE OF THE kRM BELIEF THAT MASS carriers should have preferential access to roads. Here, the MMDA wants to ban provincial buses from entering Metro Manila to free up the roads for cars and other private vehicles. Private vehicles, tens of thousands of them, choke the Metro Manila roads daily with an average load of 1-Â˝ passengers. Yet, the MMDA, instead of taking action against the private veHICLES WANTS TO BAN THE EFkCIENT CARriers, a policy that assaults transport science, data and sanity. Considering that mass mobility is now the fourth rail of democracy, the MMDA policy is a stark demonstration of how anti-science, anti-progress and anti-people many of our policies are. No wonder the ranking institutions have ranked us either consistently low or very, very low.

The many-splendored facets of the Philsports chairman â&#x20AC;&#x153;I MY SAY

T was a long walk,â&#x20AC;? I told the Chairman as we settled at the CONFERENCE TABLE IN HIS OFkCE 7HEN the guard at the main entrance of the Philippine Sports Commission complex denied entry to the taxi I had gotten for the trip, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take it as an issue; I could walk to my destination. It turned out, the #HAIRMAN S OFkCE WAS IN "UILDING A of the complex, which was at the back of the 8-hectare lot housing the facilities of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier institution governing amateur sports, and the distance I had gone through, including the miscues I got from people I came across with along the way, could easily sum up to a kilometer. For a 78-year-old, that foot travel was torture. But to meet Butch at the end of the journey was more than consolation enough. Butch had risen from his desk promptly as soon as his secretary ushered me in. Wow, I exclaimed to myself as I essayed the man while shaking hands with him. How huge and tall, standing to a height of nearly 6 feet, his physique evoking images of athletic heroes if he were in his prime. These traits you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to see often among government bureaucrats, they who are often invariably caricatured as creatures in short frames, bulging bellies and abrasive bearing. You know, the kind of people getting too much kLL OF 'OD S BLESSINGS DISPROPORtionate to their size. I thought, if this guy gets to be so blessed, then his physical attributes justify it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry,â&#x20AC;? he told me, perhaps sensing the veritable spasms I was trying to keep from showing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have you driven home from here.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;To Antipolo? No need,â&#x20AC;? I said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just to any point proximate where I can take a ride.â&#x20AC;? But, hey, I told myself. You havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t begun the interview and here you are already talking of going home. By way of getting started, I said I never expected that beyond its faĂ§ade which is more or less standard by all measures, the ULTRA

Opinion

ing second-hand information, which were, as far as my viewpoint is concerned, those found in Butchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book. But sitting down now with the man, my mind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mind you, my cinematic impulses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just found itself tinkering already with the idea of turning the unfolding narrative into a movie.

Flashbacks Here is a tot pursuing quests he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what, braving perils none of his peers would dare do, and then overcoming in ways not even adults could succeed in. I found myself asking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Butch the stuff of which heroes are made?â&#x20AC;? In one jump-ship episode, the ticket inspector discovers him and without much ado throws him into the water as the boat starts on its course. But my god, the boy doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to swim! So, then, what? Just get drowned? Not for the pre-adolescent Butch. It was some built-in mechanism in every man that enabled him to surmount THAT ONE DIFkCULTY I remembered the time when, precisely to check how such mechaNISM WORKS ) THREW MY kVE MONTH old second-born boy into the pool. For a few seconds, the infant went SQUIRMING UNDER WATER THEN kNDING HIS BEARING THE BOY lIPPED ON his back, clipped his head with his CLOSED kSTS AND IN THAT POSITION surfaced and nestled on the pool water top like swaying on a hammock while being sung a lullaby. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was thrown into the water, what should I do? Just drown?â&#x20AC;? Butch asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No. I must learn how to swim pronto or I will die.â&#x20AC;? In a moment, he was swimming to the next ship â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this time ready to be thrown into the water again if discovered. He knew how to swim already.

on unceasing in his narrative. On the issue of bare survival I fastforward to that period when Butch and wife Mercedes were starting to raise a family. He needed a job, and THE kRST OPPORTUNITY THAT CAME HIS WAY was to work as detailman (medical representative or medrep in current lingo) for a pharmaceutical company. Admittedly weak in Physics and #HEMISTRY HE lUNKED THE WRITTEN TEST But as the non-swimmer who learned how to float in water impromptu once upon a time, he refused to give up. He challenged the company president to hire him on the condition that he would perform better than the one that topped the written test or else he would be deemed resigned pronto. Impressed by Butchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adamant resolve, the company executive accepted his dare. And he was assigned to mind the Mindanao territory, providing him headquarters in Misamis. As per standard practice, he was immediately given the popular Volkwagen sedan necessary for him to carry out his task. Trouble was, he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to drive. Working overnight on the bare instructions on the manual accompanying the delivery of the vehicle, he familiarized himself with the rudiments of driving. By morning the next day, he was driving the pagong to his workâ&#x20AC;Ś

New horizons for writing a book

GEORGE SIY ductivity and can no longer do that since the average inherited farm size that used to be set at awards of 5 hectares have become 1 hectare â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and in the next generation each child inheriting some 2,000 to 3,000 meters almost guarantees the farm will fail. The educated children are no longer interested in farming and a majority will move to live in the city, so the average age of a farmer is nearly 60 years old! We need massive replanting of quality crops, especially as China and other countries are willing to import more than we can currently supply, and is opening added categories like durian. We have to improve our outmoded or nonexistent packaging and marketing techniques. Our buko pies are still in cardboard boxes and banana chips in plastic bag â&#x20AC;Ś ! GOODS DEkCIT CAN BE SOMEwhat countered by services surplusâ&#x20AC;Ś in tourism, process outsourcing, entertainment. A services surplus has a higher income left in the country than an equivalent goods surplus since the income percent retained in the country from a service industry is much higher than in goods. So we should take advantage of the tourism boom and improve our clustering and service levels to enhance our natural sites and people warmth advantages We need as frameworks, decision models that allow us to prioritize high yield-to-effort activity and projects, to integrate our solutions and incorporate multidimensional analysis, and to have strong execution. One way to improve this quickly is to work closely with private sector associations to pool talents in the planning, and reward well for good execution. Another is to use technology, to rely on programmed analysis and proCESS lOW !NOTHER REQUIREMENT is to set up parameters that will be monitored regularly to be the dashboard of improvements and create competition. As a country, we have all to spend less time and resources attending to politics, social media, and entertainment. Instead, more time should be spent on learning technology and getting things done, continually improving as we go.

George Siy is a Wharton-educated industrialist, international trade practitioner and negotiator, serving as director of IDSI. He has been invited as a resource person on economic and development issues for various business organizations, media, and academia. He has advised the Philippines and various organizations in the trade negotiations with Asean, Japan and the United States.

Q SALUDO FROM A4

Son of Man

when it was published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (Acts of the Apostolic See), the compilation of formal Vatican decisions and decrees, along with the Argentine bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guidelines (http://www. ncregister.com/daily-news/thepopes-endorsement-of-argentinasamoris-guidelines-what-it-means).

go5NGM9pyTm1L/pagina.html). Francis himself never addressed the dubia, at least not directly. )NSTEAD IN HE AFkRMED GUIDElines on AL Chapter 8 given to clergy by his fellow Argentine bishops, which did allow in certain cases communion for divorced, Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on your own but remarried Catholics. The Popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter became part of Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just one doctrinal issue among OFkCIAL TEACHING OR -AGISTERIUM many detailed in the open letter to

Sacraments. Others decide on their own which teachings to heed, like divorced and remarried Polish Catholics crossing the German border to receive communion. Plainly, if bishops disagree on major doctrines, leading to varied teachings and practices, or the FAITHFUL JUST kGURING OUT WHAT TO follow, the door opens to heretical ideas and ways spreading, led by bishops and priests â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-serving mind. For in choosing which tenets to

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Q RONQUILLO FROM A1

Capping the trade gap NEW WORLDS F (The IDSI Corner)

The many-splendored facets of the Philsports chairman â&#x20AC;&#x153;I MY SAY

Opinion

New horizons for writing a book

Q SALUDO FROM A4

Son of Man

Opinion

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t halt extinctions unless we protect water

Q A fisherman of the Abume community, Lake Volta, Ghana. NANA KOFI ACQUAH/INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

Q Pumping water by hand in midwestern Nepal. SATYAM JOSHI/USAID on the services provided by aquatic ecosystems are generally the poorest COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Global biodiversity and most marginalized in developloss has reached critical levels. One ing countries and consequently those million species of plants and animals hardest hit by biodiversity loss. However, all of us, both rich and are now estimated to be at risk of extinction. The window for action poor, depend on healthy ecosystems, is closing, and the world needs to so degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity pose an enormous urgently take note. Countries would do well to con- threat for everyone. About 35 per cent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sider this: our ability to preserve species hinges to a great extent on the biodiversity-rich wetlands, for exactions we take to protect freshwater ample, have been lost or seriously ecosystems. Safeguarding water for degraded since 1970. The annual the environment is critical for bio- VALUE OF THE BENEkTS THESE WETLANDS (freshwater and coastal) provide is diversity and for people. Freshwater ecosystems are major estimated at a staggering USD 36.2 biodiversity hotspots. We derive much TRILLION NEARLY DOUBLE THE BENEkTS value from them, even though we may derived from all the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forests. Sustainable management of aquatic not realise it. Wetlands purify drinking WATER kSH IS ONE OF THE MOST TRADED ecosystems (and of water resources in food commodities on the planet; and general) must aim to ensure that ecosyslOODPLAINS CAN PROVIDE VITAL BUFFERS tems continue providing these services. A key approach for reversing this THAT LESSEN THE IMPACTS OF lOODING The people who depend most trend centres on ensuring that waBYÂ CLAUDIA SADOFF

TER CONTINUES TO lOW IN A WAY THAT will sustain aquatic ecosystems, thereby supporting populations, economies, sustainable livelihoods, and well-being. This means maintaining the right quality, quantity and timing of water lOWS m WHICH SCIENTISTS CALL gENVIRONMENTAL lOWSu OR g% lOWSu FOR SHORT

Managing tradeoffs Water, through contributions to economic growth, environmental health and human well-being, plays a critical role in many of our broader sustainable development goals. It will therefore be necessary to consider some inevitable tradeoffs when planning for the sustainable management of water. Take the expansion of irrigation for more intensive crop production, for example, which is essential for ending hunger. The alternative to increasing irrigation

would be massive encroachment of agriculture on forests and other fragile ecosystems, thus undermining the protection of biodiversity. At the same time, increased irrigation will, by removing water from rivers and aquifers, inevitably have some negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The challenge is to maximize synergies and minimize tradeoffs, and to do so in ways that are transparent and eqUITABLE BASED ON SCIENTIkC EVIDENCE 5NDERTAKING DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF % lOWS HELPS MAKE THE TRADEOFFS EXPLICIT 4HE INFORMATION DERIVED FROM % lOW assessments can contribute to important discussions between different sectors and actors, helping to determine which outcomes are acceptable to society and likely to be sustainable.

E-flows assessment in action For more than a decade, the Interna-

tional Water Management Institute (IWMI) has been devising and steadily IMPROVING METHODS FOR % FLOW ASsessment. In a 2007 project, IWMI partnered with World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) to carry OUT THE COUNTRY S kRST EVER HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENTAL lOW ASSESSMENT FOCUSED on the iconic Ganges River. The Indian government subsequently incorporated the concept of % lOWS INTO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority. Working with partners, IWMI reSEARCHERS HAVE NOW DEVELOPED % lOW calculators, a family of software formaking rapid, assessments anywhere in the world from a computer. More recently, IWMI researchers HAVE FURTHER ADAPTED THEIR % FLOW calculator for specific river basins, such as those in western Nepal. As a RESULT OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS % lOW

assessment is now poised for wider application in diverse settings. In support of national efforts to better manage tradeoffs in water management, information provided by % lOW CALCULATORS CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO TRACKING gWATER STRESSu For instance, how much freshwater economic activities withdraw compared to the total renewable supply, and how much water should be left in rivers to maintain basic ecological functions and ecosystem services. Too much of our biodiversity depends on water for us to overlook sustainable water management as a key part of the solution to species extinction. The time has come for a more concerted effort to stem the loss of aquatic ecosystems and of the myriad species that inhabit them. IPS

Claudia Sadoff is Director General, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

FOCUS

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tiananmen: 30 years ago, protests engulfed China

Amid fentanyl crackdown, Mexico risks â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;balloon effectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

CHENGDU, China: Karl Hutterer stood on the rooftop of his hotel and watched AS #HINESE POLICE kRED TEAR GAS INTO the square and truncheon-wielding security forces moved in under the cover of night in June 1989. He was not anywhere near Tiananmen Square. Hutterer was more than 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) away in the southwestern city of Chengdu, one of many where thousands of citizens took to the streets during the tumultuous spring that shook China three decades ago. Beijing was the epicentre of student-led protests, with hundreds or possibly more than 1,000 killed by soldiers on June 4, 1989. But Huttererâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s testimony is a reminder that large-scale demonstrations had erupted all around China. g) SAW BODIES TAKEN WOUNDED or dead possibly, out of the hospital down the street from the MONUMENT u (UTTERER THEN A 49-year-old anthropology professor from the US, told AFP. One person gestured to a spot where someone was beaten to death, he said. According to The Tiananmen Papers, a set of leaked documents that allegedly cover internal Communist Party meetings and reports, protests ignited across more than 100 cities in China at the end of May. g4HIS WAS A NATIONWIDE MASS movement -- this was a peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement -- where everyone shared, at a bare minimum, a desire for more freedoms and more RIGHTS u SAID !NDREA 7ORDEN WHO TAUGHT %NGLISH AT THE (UNAN -EDICAL College in 1989 and witnessed mass protests in central Hunan province. But in part due to the lack of foreign media outside the capital, many stories from the provinces have been lost as Chinese authorities systematically erase and re-write history, and punish those who question it. g)T S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT COMPLETELY DISAPPEARS u 7ORDEN SAID

Protesting in solidarity Between April and June of 1989,

citizens from Lanzhou city in northwestern China to southern Guangdong province called for freedom of speech and railed against corruption -- galvanised by economic anxiety, government interference in their personal lives, and desire for democracy. But many also reacted to the events transpiring in Tiananmen Square. In Changsha, the capital of Hunan, Worden estimates at least 20,000 students demonstrated on May 17, carrying POSTERS SAYING g3UPPORT THE "EIJING HUNGER STRIKERSu A few days later in Changchun, northeastern Jilin province, several thousand factory workers marched to support the fasting students in the capital, said Tang Yuanjun, then an engineer at First Automotive Works (FAW) Group who participated in protests. As word spread about troops opening fire in Beijing, people across China braved the streets in solidarity and anger. g)T IS BECAUSE OF THEIR THE GOVernmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) cruelty that we were NOT AFRAID u $ING -AO ONE OF THE student leaders at Lanzhou University, told AFP. g7E FELT AN IMPLACABLE HATRED towards the government for going back on their word with STUDENTS u HE EXPLAINED On the night of June 4, Ding said he led other students to a bridge crossing the Yellow River, where they staged a quiet sit-in. g4HAT NIGHT THE WHOLE STUDENT BODY DID NOT SLEEP u SAID ANOTHER student protester from Lanzhou University, who requested anonymity. g7HEN WE HEARD THE NEWS THAT they had opened fire, we were FURIOUS u HE SAID ESTIMATING THAT at least several thousand people went out to block roads, bridges, and the railway tracks from troops.

Heavy price Many protesters and residents in the provinces paid a heavy price for their participation in the 1989 demonstrations.

Tang, the automobile engineer, was sentenced to 20 years IN PRISON FOR gCOUNTER REVOLUTIONARYu ACTIVITIES g)T FELT LIKE THE #ULTURAL 2EVOLUTION AS IF THAT HAD RETURNED AGAIN u said the 62-year-old, who was released after eight years and later lED TO THE 53 BY WAY OF 4AIWAN In Chengdu, death toll estimates vary from 10 to 300, according to g4HE 0EOPLE S 2EPUBLIC OF !MNESIAu A BOOK ON THE 4IANANMEN protests by Louisa Lim, who drew from leaked US diplomatic cables, a whistleblowing Communist Party member, and eyewitnesses. More than 100 students were taken to the hospital with head injuries, according to The Tiananmen Papers, which found that police had beaten many people with electric prods. Security forces worked on demONSTRATORS gWITH TRUNCHEONS AND KNIVES UNTIL THEY WERE MOTIONLESSu wrote Hutterer in notes dated June 10, 1989, that combine his own experience and secondhand accounts from friends. g%VEN PEOPLE WHO LAY ON THE ground and pleaded for mercy WERE CLUBBED u HE WROTE Thirty years later, Chinese authorities regularly scrub online posts about the Tiananmen protests, or punish efforts to memorialise them. In April, four Chengdu-based activists were handed prison sentences of between three and threeand-a-half years for advertising and selling alcohol with labels commemorating June 4. &OR THE GOVERNMENT *UNE IS gA SCAR IT CAN NEVER REVEALu SAID THE protester from Lanzhou University. While the Tiananmen protests MAY FEEL gVERY DISTANTu FOR THE younger generation, it has left a deep impression on those who experienced it, he said. g.O MATTER WHAT CAREER THEY have now, or what perspective they hold, or whether or not they STILL BRING IT UP u HE SAID gFOR OUR generation, this has left a deep MARK IN OUR MINDS u AFP

MEXICO CITY: President Donald Trump says Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new ban on all fentanyl-related substances will BE A gGAME CHANGERu IN THE DEADLY 53 OPIOID crisis, but experts warn it may just shift production elsewhere -- particularly Mexico. Under pressure from Trump, China on May 1 banned all chemical analogues of fentanyl, the synthetic drug at the heart of an overdose epidemic that is killing tens of thousands of people a year in the United States. Trump won the fentanyl concession as part of his trade war with China, which is allegedly the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading supplier of the powerful narcotic, along with designer drugs that mimic it and the precursor chemicals used to make all of them. "UT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFkCIALS AND ANTI NARCOTICS experts warn the ban will probably just push production to other countries -- including the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; southern neighbor, whose powerful drug cartels are ALREADY DEEPLY IMMERSED IN FENTANYL TRAFkCKING "LAME IT ON THE gBALLOON EFFECTu THE IDEA THAT BANning a drug is like trying to squeeze the air out of a balloon: it just moves somewhere else. 4HE 53 $RUG %NFORCEMENT !DMINISTRATION $%! is preparing for exactly that possibility. g)T S A BALLOON EFFECT !S WE PUT MORE PRESSURE ON China, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just send the chemicals over to Mexico TO MAKE FENTANYL THERE u A $%! OFkCIAL TOLD !&0 speaking on condition of anonymity. #HINESE SUPPLIERS WILL NOW LIKELY START SHIPPING gPRE PRECURSORSu ABROAD TO GET AROUND THE BAN HE SAID So many different substances can be used to make fentanyl, and the Chinese chemicals industry is so massive, that it will be impossible to regulate every potential source of the drug, he added. g4HEY LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO GENERATE TWO OR three (chemicals) to replace the one we just put CONTROLS ON u HE SAID g)T S GREAT THAT THEY DID THAT BUT A CHEMIST CAN GO back to what is uncontrolled, work that up to the PRECURSOR THEY NEED AND MAKE FENTANYL u

Circling home The balloon effect is what pushed narcotics producTION TO #HINA IN THE kRST PLACE EXPERTS SAY Responding to a crystal meth boom in the United States around the turn of the millennium, authorities imposed tougher controls on cough syrups and other LEGAL MEDICATIONS USED TO gCOOKu THE DRUG The new regulations hit American meth labs hard. But they gave Mexican cartels a new line of business -- leading them to develop connections with the chemical industry in China, which supplied them precursors for meth. Then, the opioid epidemic began to take hold in the United States, rooted in decades of over-prescription of addictive painkillers.

That led to tighter controls on prescription narcotics such as OxyContin, and so Chinese suppliers expanded into making fentanyl -- a potent narcotic up to 100 times stronger than morphine that has killed thousands of people in the US, including celebrity overdose victims Tom Petty and Prince. Soon, Mexican cartels were trafficking counterfeit pain pills into the United States made with Chinese fentanyl. With the Chinese ban now in place, Mexican criminal groups such as the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, whose current role in production is limited, have an incentive to onshore more of the FENTANYL SUPPLY CHAIN SAID %DGARDO "USCAGLIA AN organized crime expert at Columbia University. g4HE #HINESE BAN WILL CLEARLY CREATE AN EFFECT where smaller suppliers, including Mexico, scale up production to satisfy demand. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how markets WORK u HE SAID g0RODUCTION WILL ALSO EXPAND IN 0AKISTAN )NDIA .ORTH +OREA u HE ADDED "UT g-EXICO IN PARTICULAR HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM REGULATING ITS PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY u HE SAID g!ND IT S AN ENORMOUS ENORMOUS MARKET 3O IT S VERY possible fentanyl production will increase in Mexico WITH THE CRIMINAL STRUCTURES THAT ALREADY EXIST u

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;About to get complicatedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Upstart fentanyl producersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; main challenge will be matching Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scale, said Javier Oliva, a researcher at Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest university, UNAM. g0RODUCING FENTANYL REQUIRES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF pharmaceutical sophistication that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy to INSTALL IN -EXICO u HE SAID g5NLIKE METHAMPHETAMINES WHICH CAN BE PRODUCED HERE FENTANYL S CHARACTERISTICS AREN T SO BASIC u In fact, China became the go-to fentanyl supplier precisely because of the economic powerhouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sheer PRODUCTION CAPACITY SAID ANOTHER 53 OFkCIAL g$RUG TRAFkCKERS SOURCE THEIR DRUGS IN #HINA FOR THE SAME REASON EVERYTHING IS MADE IN #HINA u HE told AFP, also speaking on condition of anonymity. g7HY DON T WE MAKE SNEAKERS IN THE 53 ANYMORE for example? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not because we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make them in the US. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because the Chinese can do it cheaper, AND ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE u "UT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFkCIALS ARE ALREADY WORRIED about the implications a Mexican fentanyl boom would have, both for the United States -- where overdose deaths have surged from less than 17,000 in 1999 to more than 70,000 in 2017 -- and for Mexico -- where more than a quarter-million people have been murdered since 2006, in violence largely fueled BY THE SO CALLED gDRUG WAR u %XPERTS FEAR AN ALREADY GRUESOME SITUATION COULD now get worse. g)T S ABOUT TO GET COMPLICATED u THE $%! OFkCIAL SAID AFP

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

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Zamboanga City lacks 1,000 teachers ZAMBOANGA CITY: When the De partment of Education (DepEd) STARTS SCHOOL YEAR ON Monday, June 3, public kinder garten, elementary and second ary schools in this highly urban ized city would be facing an acute lack of close to 1,000 teachers, ACCORDING TO A TOP SCHOOL OFkCIAL 3CHOOLS $IVISION 3UPERINTEN dent Felix Romy Triambulo, in a news conference on Thursday at city hall, said the city, which boasts of 98 urban and rural learning centers, was direly in need of close to 1,000 men tors broken down into 296 for kindergarten and Grades 1 to 6; 554 for Grades 7 to 10 (Junior High School or HS); and 126 for Grades 11 and 12 (Senior HS). Triambulo noted that during the early enrolment period set by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones last January and February, a total of 228,795 learners â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 22,615 in kindergarten, 131,500 in el ementary, 62,960 in Junior HS, AND IN 3ENIOR (3 Â&#x2021; PRE enrolled during the period. 4HE SCHOOLS DIVISION CHIEF NOT ed that, based on latest planning analysis, the city â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whose total population had nearly reached 1 million people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; required 976 new teachers this coming school year, claiming that his request last school year for additional tutors from the DepEd central OFkCE WAS NOT GRANTED Considering the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

policy of nonrejection of en rollees, Triambulo directed all field school administrators to undertake appropriate emer gency measures to accept all LEARNERS IN ALL GRADE LEVELS BY among other things: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Increasing the number of students to 75 or more, defying THE $EP%D IDEAL TEACHER PUPIL ratio of 40 per class â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Adopting multigrade classes where one mentor handles a combined group of, say, Grades 1 and 2 learners m #ONDUCTING DOUBLE SHIFTING of classes, with the first class starting from 6:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and the next class from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Triambulo admitted the fore GOING STEPS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY BASIC EDU cation and could also result in more physical and mental harm to classroom teachers. g"UT WE HAVE TO INITIATE THESE drastic measures to ensure the EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF our school children, many OF THEM LIVING IN DEPRESSED areas,â&#x20AC;? he said. Triambulo appealed to local teachers, through their respec TIVE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND HEAD TEACHERS gTO GIVE LITTLE SACRIkCE for the sake of the academic welfare of their school children, some of whom may later become leaders of their communities.â&#x20AC;? ANTONIO P. RIMANDO

Female bar employee raped, killed in Pangasinan LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: Police Col. 2EDRICO -ARANAN THE PROVINCIAL police director, has ordered the Mangatarem police to conduct a DEEPER PROBE OF THE RAPE SLAY OF a female guest relations officer (GRO) and the arrest of a barangay VILLAGE COUNCILMAN AND HIS COM PANION WHO ARE BELIEVED TO BE responsible for the brutal crimes. Maranan issued his order after the body of Annalyn Lusong Can onizado of Barangay Poblacion, 0ORAC 0AMPANGA WAS RECOVERED BY RESIDENTS ALONG THE RIVER IN Barangay Tagac, Mangatarem town on Friday. Joseph Anthony Laranang of the -ANGATAREM MUNICIPAL HEALTH OFk CER WHO EXAMINED THE CADAVER SAID it had multiple injuries, indicating that she was raped and killed using a still unknown object. g3HE MAY HAVE FOUGHT BACK THAT is why she was killed,â&#x20AC;? he added. %LVIE #ANONIZADO WHO IDENTI kED THE VICTIM AS HER DAUGHTER

told police that she had been WORKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AS A GRO at the Althea 1 Canteen and Videoke Bar located in Barangay Sinulatan 2nd in Camiling, Tarlac. %LVIE SAID THAT ON -AY !N NALYN WAS INVITED BY &LORANTE Fortin Jr., incumbent barangay COUNCILMAN OF 4OCOC "ARIKIR AND his companion Rolando Bachar Moreno, an alleged drug supplier OF THE VIDEOKE BAR BUT !NNALYN failed to return until her body was found on May 31. It was learned that Fortin and THE VICTIM WERE TEXTMATES )NVESTIGATORS IN -ANGATAREM told The Manila Times that they FAILED TO INVITE &ORTIN AND -ORENO because both had not returned to their homes since May 27. The police admitted they could NOT kLE CHARGES AGAINST THE TWO SUS PECTS BECAUSE THEY LACKED EVIDENCE and that they were still waiting for witnesses to come forward. JAIME G. AQUINO

Regions IDPs in Marawi wish to be home for Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr M SUNDAY June 2, 2019

BY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

ARAWI CITY: After two years of living in crowded tents, temporary shelters and houses of relatives, internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most affected area want to be in their homes for Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr on Wednesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This will be the third Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr we will celebrate in tents and bunkhouses outside our homes,â&#x20AC;? Datu Meno Manabilang, leader of Sowara o Miyamagoyag, a group of about 200,000 IDPs, told The

Manila Times.

Manabilang, whose house at Marinaut was ruined during the kVE MONTH SIEGE OF -ARAWI BY THE Maute group in 2017, said he had no word adequate enough to ex press how they had been suffering, LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHEN they could return to their homes. He appealed to President Ro drigo Duterte to help them return to their communities and start REBUILDING THEIR LIVES TWO YEARS after war wrecked the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are still helpless and crying

to demand a new beginning, as we still hold on to the promise of the GOVERNMENT u -ANABILANG SAID g7E MAY BE SURVIVORS BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING SAVED u HE ADDED AS HE REITERATED their wish to spend the Eid in their homes.

Raps vs TBFM, NHA heads /N -AY -ANABILANG kLED A COMPLAINT BEFORE THE /FkCE OF THE Ombudsman against Task Force Bangon Marawi head Eduardo del Rosario and National Housing Authority General Manager Mar CELINO %SCALADA *R FOR GRAFT OVER delayed rehabilitation projects for -ARAWI SIEGE VICTIMS

A holiday for Muslims

President Duterte has declared Wednesay, June 5, a regular HOLIDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF %ID L Fitr, which marks the end of the -USLIMS MONTH LONG FASTING during Ramadan. But, although Wednesday is the declared holiday, it is not the exact date of Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr, WHICH MEANS g&ESTIVAL $AY OF Breaking the Fast,â&#x20AC;? when Mus lims assemble to perform ritual prayers, and meet friends and RELATIVES TO MEND RELATIONSHIPS AND FORGIVE EACH OTHER

Moonsighting on Monday The actual date of the Eid will be determined when the hilal, or new moon, appears on Monday, June 3, the 29th day of Ramadan. It was narrated that Moham mad, the messenger of Allah, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fast when you see the new moon [of Ramadan] and break your fast when you see the new moon [of Shawwal].â&#x20AC;? The moon sighting is done on

THE EVENING OF THE TH DAY OF EVERY MONTH TO DETERMINE WHEN WILL THE kRST DAY OF THE SUCCEED ing month be. If the new moon is sighted, the following day will be the first day of the next month; if not, the current month has to be completed for 30 days. As Ramadan started on May 6, the 29th day of the Holy Month falls on Monday, and on that day, Islamic religious authori ties and scholars will conduct the moon sighting. In the Bangsamoro region, the moon sighting will be led by the Darul Iftah Bangsamoro under the leadership Mufti Sheik Abu Hurairah Lidasan. If the moon is sighted on the EVENING OF *UNE THE MONTH OF Ramadan has to end the follow ing day. June 4 is the first day of Shaw wal, the next month to Rama dan, which in this case will be the Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr. If it is not sighted, Ramadan has to be completed on the 30th day, which is Wednesday, June 5; thus, it will be the Eidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Fitr.

Bacolod lawyer threatens to close road A BACOLOD City lawyer has threatened to close a major road leading to tourist sites in the city if the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would not pay him for using the land to build another road. Leon Moya demanded payment of P2.2 million for the use of his land in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City as a road for nearly 40 years. Moya threatened to close the

road next week if the DPWH would not pay what is due him as A PRIVATE LANDOWNER The road is considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;a tour ism roadâ&#x20AC;? as it leads to Cam puestohan Highland Resort in Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City and Bantug Lake Ranch in Barngay Alangilan, Bacolod City, which are both major tourism spots. Moya said he is already old, BUT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING

FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE USE of his land to construct the road linking Barangay Granada to Barangay. Alangilan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m turning 80 years old already AND ) HAVE PEOPLE WORKING FOR ME that need to be paid,â&#x20AC;? according to the lawyer. He said he had been following up the payment from the agency â&#x20AC;&#x153;on a regular season but it has fallen on deaf ears.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am telling the DPWH people to do their jobs and not just sit IN THEIR AIRCONDITIONED OFkCES AND WAIT FOR THEIR SALARIES EVERY 15th and 30th of the month,â&#x20AC;? Moya added. g) HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION that there is a check already,â&#x20AC;? he said, but added that he does not understand why the DPWH had not released it yet. EUGENE Y. ADIONG

RegionalDrugWatch SPECIAL POLICE DEPLOYED TO BAGUIO SCHOOLS BAGUIO CITY: The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said it would deploy special teams of law enforcers to different public schools to ensure the smooth opening of classes on Monday, and prevent untoward incidents that would compromise the safety of students in the Summer Capital. BCPO Acting City Director Police Col. Allen Rae Co said at least 100 local police would be assigned temporarily to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public schools. More than 100,000 schoolchildren are expected to go back to school on Monday. GABY B. KEITH

2 SUSPECTS FALL IN BATAAN BUY-BUST MARIVELES, Bataan: Two suspected drug traders fell into the hands of police as 40 sachets of shabu were confiscated from them during a buy-bust here on Friday morning. Police Master Sgt. Lloyd Opena said the arrested were Aaron Ninon, 40, and Erwin Leynes, 44, both from Barangay San Isidro, Mariveles. Ninon is an electrical lineman, while Leynes is a mason-carpenter. Opena said the two were nabbed after selling a sachet of shabu to a poseur-buyer in exchange for P1,000. Another 39 sachets were confiscated when they were frisked. ERNIE B. ESCONDE

P11.3-M SHABU SEIZED IN CEBU OPERATIONS A MOTORCYCLE-for-hire driver who yielded more than P11 million worth of suspected shabu was arrested in a buy-bust in Barangay Duljo Fatima in Cebu City on Friday. Police Capt. Francis Renz Talosig, chief of the Mambaling Police Station, said a poseur-buyer bought a medium pack of shabu for P50,000 from Richard Barbosa, 23, outside his house in Sitio Bayotan at past 9 p.m. Seized from him were another extra-large pack, seven medium packs and 10 large packs of shabu, all kept in a bag. The Dangerous Drugs Board value of the seized 1.6 kilo of shabu was estimated at P11,390,000. A background check revealed that Barbosa was tagged as the source of shabu of Ursulino Alfafara, who yielded half a kilo of shabu in a buy-bust on April 25. Talosig said Barbosa did not resist arrest and admitted his crime, as he was caught in the act. RHEA RUTH ROSELL

NEW BOARD MEMBERS

During the Annual National Council Meeting, the National Council of the BSP elected four regular members of the National Executive Board -- Cedrick G. Train, Leonides T. Son, Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara and Mayor Francis Frederick P. Palanca. They shall serve a term of three years.

BSP holds 63rd Annual Council Meeting THE Boy Scouts of the Philip pines (BSP) held its 63rd An nual National Council Meeting (ANCM) in Pili, Camarines Sur from May 29 to 31, 2019. 4HE EVENT IS AN ANNUAL GATHERING OF KEY OFkCIALS OF THE MOVEMENT S REGIONAL OFkCES ITS LOCAL councils, and members of the .ATIONAL %XECUTIVE "OARD During the meeting, the council

RECEIVED ANNUAL REPORTS FROM THE BSP national president, the national treasurer and the secretary general as to the accomplishments of the organization in the past year. It also elected four new mem bers of the Board, the highest POLICY MAKING BODY OF THE "30 to replace those whose member ship will expire. BSP Secretary General Rogelio

Villa Jr. said the highlights of the meeting, aside from the report of the president and the treasurer, were the awarding of the court OF HONOR TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND professionals for their notable contribution to the scouting MOVEMENT AND THE ANNOUNCE ment of winners of the Search for Outstanding Scoutmasters and the Search for Outstanding Coun

cil and Regional Commissioners. Villa added that the annual meet ing was one of the most important CALENDARED EVENTS FOR BOTH THE PRO FESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEERS IN SCOUTING g4HE !.#- IS AN AVENUE FOR the key persons in the scouting MOVEMENT TO DISCUSS MATTERS AND RESOLVE ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AIMED AT ADVANCING THE INTEREST OF scouting,â&#x20AC;? he said.

SM Foundation donates school building in Balanga BALANGA City, Bataan: SM Prime Holdings through 3- &OUNDATION ON &RIDAY TURNED OVER TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT A FULLY FURNISHED TWO STORY building with four classrooms. This is in addition to the 19 old buildings at the historic Balanga Elementary School in Barangay Talisay that was the former garrison of the Japa nese Imperial Army during World War 2. The school is also considered as the pioneer

SCHOOL IN "ATAAN HAVING STARTED IN IN A makeshift building. Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia thanked the SM Foundation for building all classrooms with complete desks and chairs, and a toilet in each. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The SM Foundation also donated books, school supplies and computer sets. Teachers, parents and the whole of Balanga City are thanking SM,â&#x20AC;? the mayor said.

The new school building has 200 armchairs WITH FOR LEFT HANDED STUDENTS FOUR TEACHER S desk sets, 16 wall fans, 8 blackboards, 4 wall clocks and 4 toilets. Grade 6 pupils will be using the new building when classes start on June 3. Balanga Elementary School has a school population of 2,442. ERNIE B.ESCONDE

News Bill punishing owners MMDA: Economic losses of warehouses used as drug dens pushed from traffic woes rising A8

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

BY NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said economic losses DUE TO CHRONIC TRAFkC GRIDLOCKS IN -ETRO -ANILA MIGHT SHOOT UP TO 0 BILLION DAILY IN IF NO INTERVENTIONS WERE MADE Citing a study conducted by the *APAN )NTERNATIONAL #OOPERATION !GENCY *)#! WITH WHICH THE MMDA partnered last year, MMDA Command Center chief Edison â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? Nebrija said the gradual growth of economic losses was alarming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those [amounts] would build us roads and bridges and infra-

STRUCTURES )T S REGRETTABLE THAT THE losses are growing just because of TRAFkC u HE SAID *)#! SAID THE ECONOMIC COST OF transportation in Metro Manila had risen to P3.5 billion a day in 2018. The Japanese agency assessed losses by studying the economic cost of transportation, referring to vehicle operating cost

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and time cost spent by drivers and passengers in Metro Manila. Without interventions, the trafkC PROBLEM WOULD WORSEN THROUGH the years, it added. Nebrija said public scrutiny ON HIS AGENCY S TRAFkC REDUCTION schemes and measures had been a challenge. Among these were the High Occupancy Vehicle Lane policy, WHICH kNED MOTORISTS FOR NOT OBserving carpooling and the provincial bus ban. Both measures have been suspended after lawmakers voiced their opposition. Even the point-to-point measure for UV Express vehicles, a policy of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

(LTFRB), was facing suspension because of the opposition of the House of Representatives, Nebrija added. He said one of the major causes OF TRAFkC WERE THE MALLS SITUATED IN major thoroughfares such as Commonwealth Avenue, C5, Marcos Highway and EDSA, where at least 17 shopping malls were located. MMDA data showed that the number of vehicles increase by 15 to 20 percent during â&#x20AC;&#x153;Berâ&#x20AC;? months and the holiday season. Last year, 10,000 additional cars were registered every month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re adding more cars each day on the road and that would be hard for us,â&#x20AC;? Nebrija, who is also THE %$3! TRAFkC CHIEF SAID

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday said he would push the passage of a bill that seeks to penalize owners of warehouses used as laboratories and storage in the manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs. 'ATCHALIAN SAID HE WOULD REkLE IN the 18th Congress Senate Bill 1225, a measure that seeks to amend Section 8 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.â&#x20AC;? He explained that under the bill, owners or lessors of houses, buildings, warehouses or any edikCE UTILIZED AS STORAGE FACILITIES OR laboratories for the manufacture of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors or essential chemicals face the penalty of imprisonment ranging from 12 years and one DAY TO YEARS AND A kNE FROM P100,000 to P500,000. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This bill is another weapon in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arsenal in the anti-drug campaign,â&#x20AC;? the lawmaker SAID g)T SEEKS TO PLACE THE ONUS ON the property owner or lessor to ensure that his property and premises are not utilized as a clandestine laboratory for the manufacturing or storage of dangerous drugs or chemicals used as raw materials for these banned substances.â&#x20AC;?

He added that under the bill, the maximum penalty shall be imposed on the owner, lessor or person having the authority to lease the property, if such person had prior knowledge that the property and its premises would be utilized to manufacture or store dangerous drugs. )F THE PROPERTY IS GOVERNMENT owned, government officials or employees who fail to observe the requirement of diligent inspection mandated under the bill shall be subjected to absolute perpetual disQUALIkCATION FROM PUBLIC OFkCE IN addition to the maximum penalty imposable. )F THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY A PARTnership, corporation, association or any juridical entity, the person liable under the law shall be the partner, president, director, manager, trustee, estate executor or administrator, or their duly authorized representative. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the passage of this bill, it is expected that owners will be more circumspect in leasing their properties because of the liability they will face under the law,â&#x20AC;? Gatchalian said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Drug manufacturing activities should be abated under this initiative.â&#x20AC;? JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

De Lima bewails plight of Marawi residents

EYES ON THE POT

Children cheer as a boy prepares to strike the pot during the Museolympics organized by the Intramuros Administration. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

Q TRIPS FROM A1

P5-M

propriations Act), considering that said activity was not in accordance with the purpose for which the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Funds [were] intended for,â&#x20AC;? the report said. The HUDCC refused to respond to the CoAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s queries and only stated that the purpose of the transfer was for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;social healing of the victims of the Marawi siege.â&#x20AC;? The HUDCC, which operates under the OP through Executive Order 90 (series of 1986), executed

a MoA on April 13, 2018, wherein the OP allocated P500 million to the HUDCC for the operational budget of the TFBM to rehabilitate and reconstruct the war-torn Marawi City. The TFBM was created under Administration Order 9, dated October 7, 2017, as an inter-agency task force for the recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities headed by the HUDCC chairman. Section 4 of PD 1445 states that â&#x20AC;&#x153;trust funds shall be available and MAY BE SPENT ONLY FOR THE SPECIkC purpose of which the trust was created or the funds received.â&#x20AC;? The P500 million was only for

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mayor Joy knows what to doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is confident that his successor, Josefina â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joyâ&#x20AC;? Belmonte, is capable to run the city government and deliver what she promised during the campaign period. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mayor Joy can handle her job very well. We know her intention [and goals] for the city,â&#x20AC;? Bautista said. Belmonte defeated District 1 Rep. Vincent â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bingbongâ&#x20AC;? Crisologo, her closest rival. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to build 3,000 new classrooms. So far, we have built 2,000 and Mayor Joy will have to contribute 1,000 more.Â We built 800 kilometers of roads, including drainage to avoid flooding. More new roads are needed,â&#x20AC;? Bautista said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mayor Joy knows what to do to complete all of these projects,â&#x20AC;? he added. Belmonte had pledged to build vertical condominiums for informal settlers, free hospitalization and school supplies to elementary pupils. JAIME R. PILAPIL

repairs, maintenance and other operating expenses (P230 million); relevant equipment for the TFBM project management office (P6.4 million); emergency capital expenditure for clearing operations (P60 million); augmentation for PRIORITY PROJECTS IDENTIkED BY THE TFBM (P193.6 million); and provision of technical assistance to local government units in the formulation of a comprehensive land use plan through a MoA between the HUDCC and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (P10 million). The CoA called on HUDCC to ensure that all disbursements from the

trust funds were â&#x20AC;&#x153;in accordance with the intended purpose,â&#x20AC;? and to return the transferred fund to the TFBM. %ARLIER THIS WEEK OFkCIALS OF THE National Housing Authority (NHA) and the HUDCC, who were also heading the TFBM, were charged with graft over the delay in implementation of rehabilitation projects in Marawi. The CoA earlier also called out THE /FkCE OF #IVIL $EFENSE FOR ONLY spending P10,000 out of a P36.9million donation it received for the victims, two years after the armed CONlICT IN THE )SLAMIC CITY ENDED GLEE JALEA

SEN. Leila de Lima on Saturday bewailed the pitiful plight of some 100,000 residents of Marawi City who continue to live in tents two years after the Maute Group left the city in ruins. De Lima, who is detained in Camp Crame on drug-related charges, said the government should not neglect its obligation in addressing the plight of internally DISPLACED PERSONS )$0S )N ITS REPORT ISSUED ON -AY THE )NTERNATIONAL #OMMITTEE OF THE 2ED #ROSS )#2# NOTED THAT over 100,000 people had remained homeless and unable to reclaim their normal lives despite several aid efforts by the government in Marawi City. )#2# 0HILIPPINE DELEGATION head Martin Thalmann said the displaced people of Marawi, who were left with â&#x20AC;&#x153;invisibleâ&#x20AC;? scars due to the delay in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehabilitation now â&#x20AC;&#x153;want to stand on their own feet again and stop depending on assistanceâ&#x20AC;? because they â&#x20AC;&#x153;have grown tired and frustrated.â&#x20AC;? Thalmann added that those staying in evacuation areas or with their relatives continue to encounter problems in getting drinkable water, sustainable livelihood and permanent shelters. De Lima said the government should reassess if the combined efforts of concerned government agencies and private and foreign donors were properly applied

to ensure the rehabilitation and REBUILDING OF LIVES OF )$0 FAMILIES â&#x20AC;&#x153;The issues in the war-ravaged city, especially involving shelters and livelihood, remain unheeded. )T S HIGH TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT to analyze and rethink their strateGIES TO kND OUT IF THESE CAN TRULY rehabilitate Marawi,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hindi makatarungan na dalawang taon na ang nakalipas pero libo-libong residente pa rin ng Marawi ang patuloy na nagdurusa. Ang malala pa dito, ang iba sa kanila ay diumanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y araw-araw na tinitiis ang manirahan sa mga maliliit na tents habang wala silang katiyakan kung kilan sila makakauwi sa kani-kanilang tahanan )T IS NOT JUSTIkABLE THAT AFTER TWO YEARS thousands of residents of Marawi City continue to suffer. The worst part of this, some of them have to endure living under small tents with no assurance on when they could go back to their respective homes),â&#x20AC;? she added. )N -ARCH THIS YEAR SEVERAL RESIdents of Marawi City staged a rally to show their desire to return to their homes. )N DE ,IMA kLED 3ENATE Resolution 512, urging the appropriate Senate committee to look into the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to the humanitarian crisis in Marawi, especially among the sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

PACKED Inmates at the Quezon City Jail rest cheek by jowl on Saturday. Officials hope to decongest the facility with the construction of a new jail that is expected to be finished in two years. PHOTO BY ROGER RANADA

Business Times Q keep in view Business leaders to watch out for

Patricia Marina Villavicencio-Lago Managing Director First Foods

Email: bizreports@manilatimes.net

At 9, she was already doing the work rounds of her fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s burgeoning restaurant empire. So, it was a no-brainer the eldest daughter of Vicvic Villavicencio of Kamayan fame joined the family trade. With his recent passing, she promises to continue his legacy.

Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girl

BY LEAH C. SALTERIO Photos by Mindy Gana WORKING for the family business did not prove to be a hard task for Patricia Marina â&#x20AC;&#x153;Piaâ&#x20AC;? Villavicencio-Lago, eldest daughter of the late Vicvic V. Villavicencio, founder of the Triple V Group (now rebranded as First Foods). It came naturally for Pia. After all, her dad unarguably shaped the urban dining landscape with the eat-all-you-can concept of his iconic restaurant chains â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kamayan, Saisaki and Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Pia began her stint in the backend at nine years old. She did the rounds of every department â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from receptionist to dispatcher to purchaser in the wet market â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and learned the nitty gritty through the years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every summer, my brother (Veejay) and I worked in the restaurants,â&#x20AC;? Pia recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was after college that I went in full-time with the company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since I grew up in the restaurant environment, joining First Foods came very naturally to me. I knew what was going on and the people involved in the day-to-day operations. I also knew the direction to which our company was headed, since these were things my dad would share with me and my siblings.â&#x20AC;? First Foods reinvented Filipino dining, promoting the buffet trend in its establishments. Says Pia: â&#x20AC;&#x153;First of all, we named one of our restaurants Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, not only to honor fathers, but to keep in mind their usual adMONITION TO @kNISH YOUR FOOD DON T WASTE YOUR FOOD kLL YOUR PLATE WITH ONLY WHAT you can eat.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That was my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constant reminder to us. With Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant, our customers were reminded of this great and important lesson. So, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no leftoverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; diner was rewarded with a half-price discount. The lesson taught at our dining table was learned by all.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second, the dining public was given the opportunity to enjoy the luxury of high-priced hotel buffets at almost half the price,â&#x20AC;? she adds. Other restaurants, noting the droves of CUSTOMERS lOCKING TO &IRST &OOD S VENUES followed suit with their own versions, spurring the growth of food establishments and a lively dining scene.

SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2019

ABOUT M ME ROLE MODEL Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been inspired by my dad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his kindness and generosity, hard work and love for family.

FIRST PAYING JOB At Triple V (now First Foods), I was paid P250 for the entire week.

MORNING RITUAL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

I wake up early, say goodbye to my kids before they leave for school, then get ready for work, which starts at 8 a.m.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Competition, habits, preferences, the economy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all contribute to the challenges of running a restaurant. You need to adjust quickly and not be afraid of change.â&#x20AC;?

Q The Villavicencio brood with their late father Vicvic V. Villavicencio (center) and mother Maridel (behind him); from left, standing: Veejay, Bokie and Cara; from left, seated: Victoria, Mara and Pia; below: Pia with Executive Chef Fernando Llona and Vice President Lani Mendoza

Pia observes: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year, competition, dining habits, preferences, the economy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all contribute to the challenges of running a restaurant. You need to be quick to adjust and not be afraid of change. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to have the mindset to be ready for changes, and more so, create the change to stay ahead of the rest. One has to learn from the competition and always do a better job.â&#x20AC;? First Foods has managed to stay on top of the dining game for more than four decades, more so now with its growing chain of restaurants. Kamayan, along Pasay Road (now Chino 2OCES !VENUE IN -AKATI #ITY WAS THE kRST restaurant opened by First Foods in 1977. It eventually closed down to give way to the CONSTRUCTION OF THE 3KYWAY lYOVER 3AISAKI ALONG %$3! OPENED IN WHILE THE kRST Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at SM Megamall opened in 1993. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kamayan and Saisaki have since joined Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

world buffet at SM Megamall, Glorietta 3, West Avenue, Manila and EDSA branches,â&#x20AC;? Pia reports. Sambo Kojin Smokeless Grill features Japanese buffet, sushi and Korean specialties. It opened an Eastwood branch in 2010. Other branches are in West Avenue, SM Southmall, SM Megamall and SM Fairview. Ogetsu Hime, the Best of Japan, which offers Matsusaka Beef and premium sushi, opened in 2013 at SM Aura. There is another branch at SM Megamall. Number 1 Barbecues opened at SM East Ortigas branch in 2017. Other branches are located at SM North EDSA, SM Marikina and SM Southmall. The blend of â&#x20AC;&#x153;cooperation from a solid teamâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;passion for perfectionâ&#x20AC;? is the reason for First Foodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longevity and success in the highly volatile food and beverage arena, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one person has all the answers,â&#x20AC;? Pia says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even my dad was open to suggestions from anyone, regardless of position in the company or the family. All ideas were welcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You just had to be wise in choosing which one you would pick up and use for the good of all.â&#x20AC;? First Foodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal, according to Pia, is to feed Filipinos with excellent cuisines, and to give them the ultimate experience of happy and memorable dining. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing our guests leave the restaurants with big smiles on their FACES CONTINUOUSLY TAKING SELkES DANCING and singing with our musicians inspire us to keep on doing better.â&#x20AC;? Pia credits her dad for being a great teacher. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He always shared what he knew and was very happy when you succeeded,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He told us to not be afraid to take risks, not be afraid of change and adjust quickly when needed. But more important, he advised us â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to treat your people well and take care of their families.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? The older Villavicencio, who was an avid BIG GAME kSHERMAN WAS MORE A MENTOR than a boss, his daughter points out. That trait she applies in the workplace. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like my dad, I allow the staff to decide and learn from their mistakes. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only way. I am proud to be called his daughter for many reasons, but I am most proud when I hear people say he is a good man, a kind and generous one.â&#x20AC;? Pia also learned from her dad early on

I can multitask. I am organized. Some say Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m OC (obsessive-compulsive), but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also not afraid to delegate.

LIFE FACT I can cook even without any formal training. I learned just watching my dad.Â

TIME SPENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA About one to two hours a day. I check Facebook and Instagram when I am in the car or at night. that giving up was never an option. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do what we have to do and make sound decisions on what is best for our company, our people and our family. We keep on learning and adjusting, trying new things and daring to go the other way if need be. We also have to remember to respect one another.â&#x20AC;? Although heavily involved in First Foods, Pia makes sure to spend quality time with her husband, Dwight, and children, Riana and twin boys Lorenzo and Enrico. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eating is what we enjoy best, so we continue to eat out not just in our own restaurants, but in all other restaurants, too,â&#x20AC;? Pia discloses â&#x20AC;&#x153;We like trying the new ones that open, whether it may BE IN A kVE STAR HOTEL OR ON THE STREET CURB u Sundays have always been â&#x20AC;&#x153;sacredâ&#x20AC;? for the Villavicencio clan, whose members are in constant bonding mode, whether attending Mass or eating out. Pia says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our family is very close and we know what is happening TO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME 3OME kND THAT weird, but it works for us.â&#x20AC;? Losing their patriarch in April proved to be a challenging time for Pia and her family, and their First Foods family, as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was the face and the heart of our company and he was well loved by our personnel,â&#x20AC;? Pia declares. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Losing him affected, not just our family, but our entire company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But he prepared and equipped us well to face whatever the future has in store for us. His wisdom, his management style, his insights have been passed on to us, his CHILDREN AS WELL AS TO OUR OFkCERS MANAGERS and supervisors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were given the freedom to decide on things, discern and act at the right time and in the right way. We will be sure to continue with his legacy. g) AM CONkDENT THAT WE WILL MAKE HIM proud.â&#x20AC;?

Business Times

Ë&#x153;Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

Editor: Edwin P. Sallan Email: edwin.sallan@manilatimes.net

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Master of laws and finance

DoFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quixotic crusade against the evil weed I

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

ON THE RISE

Ian Drilon was part of the legal team, which paved the way for the entry of Filipino business players into one of the largest e-commerce platforms in Asia BY YUGEL LOSORATA

EING a bar topnotcher may put pressure on the person proving that such accomplishment will translate to success commensurate to the usual bragging rights. Christian Drilon, a lawyer who ranked second in the 2014 edition OF WHAT IS BILLED THE MOST DIFkCULT licensure exam, addressed the challenge and made sure he would go the distance, albeit, literally. He went on to pass the New York Bar Exams after obtaining his Master of Laws degree from, drum rolls please, Harvard Law School. A business-oriented law expert with a keen eye on e-commerce, Drilon is currently specializing in Securitization and Structured Finance at the International Capital Markets department of Allen & Overy LLPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s .EW 9ORK OFkCE (IS WORK FOCUSES ON the structuring and implementation OF COMPLICATED kNANCIAL TRANSACTIONS FOR INVESTMENT BANKS AND kNANCIAL institutions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel lucky to be a part of a law kRM THAT TRULY EMBRACES AND ENCOURages the use and development of technology to deliver better legal services,â&#x20AC;? Drilon explained. Well, it took his brilliance, more than luck, to be now making big waves in the financial capital of the world. At only 32, Drilon has come a long way after completing his undergraduate degree in Management Engineering, (with a Minor in Marketing), at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2009 and then his law degree at the same school where he

Q Christian â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Drilon eventually graduated valedictorian. Obviously, much was expected when Drilon, a nephew of Senator Franklin Drilon, took the bar. In fact, his famous uncle cajoled him to SURPASSING HIS OWN TOP THREE k NISH which he did in 1969. And so he ended up a notch higher and missing the top spot by the skin of his teeth after scoring 84.45. First placer Irene Mae Alcobilla scored 85.5. Interestingly, Ian, as he is known to friends, got more than enough media exposure even as a runnerup. Why not, he broke the record of a relative, who, as of the current congress, is the only senator who has served all four major leadership positions in the Senate. The younger

Drilon then proceeded to taking his claim to fame beyond Philippine shores which is a remarkable statement by itself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On taking the bar I relied on what I studied and learned during law school. Review was just review and I prioritized enough sleep in the months leading to it,â&#x20AC;? he recalled. Drilon was part of the legal team, which paved the way for the entry of Filipino business players into one of the largest e-commerce platforms in Asia. He also guided one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest social networks in carrying out different local projects, including the rollout of a free Wi-Fi program and the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.

He was likewise involved in some landmark public listings in the Philippine Stock Exchange, namely, the $400 million (around P19.5 billion) initial public offering (IPO) of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. in October 2016, the $120-million (P6billion) IPO of home improvement and construction supplies retailer Wilcon Depot, Inc. in March 2017, and the $40-million (P2-billion) follow-on offering of semiconducTOR kRM #IRTEK (OLDINGS 0HILIPPINES Corp. in November of the same year. He was also a member of the Philippine team for 51Talk operator China Online Education Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s listing in the New York Stock Exchange in June 2016. Drilon assessed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having had the honor of working with some of the best lawyers in the Philippines has allowed me to smoothly transition TO WORKING IN A WORLD CLASS kRM u Pursuing his dream of graduating from Harvard Law School, which he nailed last year, was part of the business plan, so to speak. It was beyond the expectation of many who saw him excel in one of the top universities in the Philippines. This celebrated fellow was among the Filipino lawyers taking up postgraduate studies at select universities IN THE 53 WHEN KEY kGURE #LARO #RIStobal was reported to have met some of them at the Philippine Center in New York. Drilonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional and legal experience equipped him with the right expertise in handling tough responsibilities. He related, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although the laws and types of transactions vary greatly BETWEEN MY CURRENT AND FORMER kRMS what remains consistent is the level of professionalism, competence and work ethic of my colleagues.â&#x20AC;? Certainly, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of consistency that characterizes his laudABLE KNOWLEDGE IN THE kELD OF LAW AND kNANCE

Davao business district to house proposed La Salle campus WHAT better way to establish a business district than by bringing in high quality education in the area. This is the apparent mindset behind the partnership between YHEST Realty and Development Corp. and De La Salle University (DLSU) which seeks to develop for the latter a continuing education program inside the recently launched Davao Global Township (DGT). DGT, located in Matina, Davao City is visualized as a near-future central business district. The memorandum of understanding was signed last Monday, May 27 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall Roof Deck of De La Salle University, Manila, attended BY KEY kGURES FROM BOTH SIDES INCLUDing YHEST President and Chief ExecuTIVE /FkCER &REDERICK 9USON AND $,35 President Br. Raymundo Suplido. The campus will be named DLSU Villa Abrille Center for Professional Development, with the aim of attracting professionals and students to the area. This project targets to develop a pioneering program catering to â&#x20AC;&#x153;capacitybuilding for future critical trends.â&#x20AC;? 9USON A kFTH GENERATION DESCEN-

dant of Davao businessman Juna Villa-Abrille, noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This has always been the vision of our family. To have partners like DLSU embarking on new projects with us complements todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting times for Davao and the Philippines.â&#x20AC;? The facility will be erected at 1 Corporate Center which is part of DGTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phase 1 set for completion in 2022. DGT, under the YHEST joint venture and to be developed and managed by leading regional developer Cebu Landmasters Inc., was OFkCIALLY LAUNCHED JUST LAST -ARCH The Villa-Abrille family is among the oldest clans in Davao, which lease COMMERCIAL OFkCES AND BUILDINGS )TS INlUENCE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERTISE LED TO THE LAUNCHING OF $AVAO S kRST residential subdivision in 1952 and the construction of Davao City Golf Club. Last year, the latter was closed to make way for the Township. YHEST Director and CLI Chief OpeRATING /FkCER *OSE &RANCO 3OBERANO pointed out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We envision DGT to be the central business district with

Q Davao Global Township

a dynamic lifestyle that will provide economic and social value to Davao.â&#x20AC;? During the event hosted by socialite Johnny Litton, DGT was presented to members of the media via an audio visual presentation that greatly showcased the splendor of the vision, capped off by the Center for Professional Development, described as a joint project gearing towards sustainability. Everyone agrees to the idea that DLSU, one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading educational institutions, will likewise bring added prestige to the Php33 billion DGT. Ground works on Phase 1 has already commenced.

The 24-story corporate center will BOAST WORLD CLASS OFkCES CRAFTED TO ADdress progress and business growth. The DLSU Villa Abrille Center for Professional Development is projected to be a haven for the young entrepreneurial, with the burgeoning Davao City as its vibrant backdrop. Yuson added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This Center is our way of giving back. Education is something you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t steal from anyone. It should make Davaoneos proud.â&#x20AC;? That the Davao City golf course is being turned into a business-empowered ABODE IS A kNE STRIKING LOOK INTO THE future of a city worth-moving in. YUGEL LOSORATA

T is considered neither fashionable nor politically correct in this enlightened age to argue against a measure intended to reduce or eliminate tobacco use, but the borderline irrationality displayed by Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez in his zealous campaign to rid the BEN Philippines of the noxious stuff puts one in the awkward position KRITZ of having to do just that. Despite reliable evidence to the contrary and contrary to even basic logic, the Department of Finance (DoF) has continued to insist that a higher sin tax on tobacco products can achieve the divergent objectives of stamping out tobacco use and providing revenues for the soon to be implemented Universal Health Care (UHC) program. The current tax, which has been incrementally raised from P30 per pack of cigarettes to P35 over the past couple of years, is not achieving either of those goals. Smoking rates have only moderately declined, and tax revenues have consistently fallen short of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s targets; the UHC program, according to the DoF, is currently facing a funding gap of more than P400 billion over the next five years. Perhaps recognizing that contradiction, Dominguez has lately focused more on the anti-tobacco aspect of the sin tax than its revenue generating objectives. Of the several bills introduced in Congress to raise the sin tax, Dominguez favored the one that would impose the largest immediate increase, from P35 to P60 per pack, with a nine percent annual increase after that. Although he did acknowledge the need for more revenue, Dominguez stressed that it was his intention to â&#x20AC;&#x153;killâ&#x20AC;? the tobacco industry, and that the current tax was not achieving that. Better economic conditions and higher wages meant that smokers were able to easily afford the moderately higher price of cigarettes at the P35 tax rate, he explained, thus the tax must be made higher than the rate of income growth. And what of the livelihoods of tobacco farmers that would be eliminated by a draconian tax measure? Dominguez was largely unsympathetic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not producing a good product you should not do it,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[The land] can be used for many other things, corn, sorghum, fruit trees. Those are better products.â&#x20AC;? A certain amount of the sin tax revenues shared with the four tobacco producing provinces, about P15 billion annually under the current tax scheme, could be earmarked for crop diversification, he added. That just about everything Dominguez said was wrong should be a reminder to policymakers to make choices based on objective judgment rather than sentiment. First, the Finance chief needs to be disabused of the notion that sin tax rates and smoking prevalence are correlated, because they are not. Numerous studies have been done to try to find the connection, and have uniformly concluded that the effect of higher sin taxes are usually so small as to be statistically insignificant. A 2014 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, for instance, found that a tax increase of 100 percent would only decrease adult smoking rates by at most 5 percent. Second, conversion of tobacco farms to ones that produce â&#x20AC;&#x153;better productsâ&#x20AC;? is a serious technical and financial challenge, one Dominguezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glib comments seem to indicate the government is in no way prepared or capable to manage. As a crop, tobacco is very hard on the soil in which it is grown; once an area is planted in tobacco, the extent to which the crop leaches nutrients from the ground renders it unusable for anything other than tobacco for a number of years, unless massive intervention with fertilizers is carried out. Tobacco farmers in the US who have tried to diversify their crops have only been modestly successful; according to a recent article in the journal Farm Progress, about the only crop that seems to work well in place of tobacco in the prime growing areas of Virginia and North Carolina is cabbage. The dismissive â&#x20AC;&#x153;just plant something elseâ&#x20AC;? suggestion also overlooks the profitability of tobacco. Being a tough crop, tobacco can withstand conditions that cause many other harvests to fail, and sells at a much higher farmgate price than almost every alternative crop. Even if a local farmer can successfully harvest a different crop, he will still be penalized by a significant drop in income. That is why most tobacco farmers in the US, who are changing their business, are not switching to different crops. Staying with tobacco and finding different markets for it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is useful as feed stock for biofuels, and in pesticide manufacture â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or getting out of farming altogether and converting their land to solar energy production. Finally, the DoF chief just cannot seem to escape the economic klein bottle of assuming revenue from a source that, by intention if not by rational design, should constantly decrease. Using revenue generated by the tobacco growing sector to fund that sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destruction is illogical; even if successful, the lower profitability of replacement crops would irretrievably remove much of that sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value. Tobacco is a high-value commodity for which demand is highly inelastic, and in that sense is a good source of tax revenue. So long as the revenue is viewed as potentially variable, budgeted based on actual receipts rather than projections, other more effective programs to curb smoking such as educational programs for young people, and enforcing age and other restrictions on its use can be carried out in parallel to tax collection efforts. The result would be something of a happy medium, probably not at all satisfactory to anyone, but the most practical outcome that could be achieved.

ROUGH TRADE

ben.kritz@manilatimes.net

Estate tax amnesty

EATH and taxes. This pretty much sums up Revenue Regulations (RR) 6-2019, issued by the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), implementing the estate tax amnesty provisions of Republic Act (RA) 11213, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tax Amnesty Act of 2019â&#x20AC;? or Tax Amnesty Act. The regulations take EFFECT kFTEEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ITS publication, which will be on June 15, 2019. The regulationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s date of effectivity is crucial, as the estate tax amnesty may be availed of by taxpayers within two years from June 15, 2019. Under RR 6-2019, taxpayers are given a one-time opportunity to settle estate tax obligations through an estate tax amnesty program that will give reasonable tax relief to estates with outstanding estate tax liabilities. Who are covered by the estate tax amnesty program? These are the estate of decedents who died on or before Dec.

31,2017, with or without tax assessments issued, whose estate taxes remain unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2017. The regulations, however, provide for exceptions to the coverage: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Estates with delinquent estate tax liabilities WHICH HAVE BECOME kNAL AND EXECUTORY and those covered by the Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Properties involved in cases pending in appropriate courts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Falling under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Commission of Good Government â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Involving unexplained or unlawfully acquired wealth under the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and other related laws â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Involving violations of the AntiMoney Laundering Act

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Involving tax evasion and other similar offenses under the Tax Code â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Involving felonies of frauds, illegal exactions, and malversation of public funds and property. The estate amnesty tax rate is 6 percent, imposed on the decedentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total net taxable estate at the time of death without penalties at every stage of transfer of property. Note that the minimum estate amnesty tax for each decedent shall be P5,000. In this regard, â&#x20AC;&#x153;gross estateâ&#x20AC;? under the REGULATIONS IS DEkNED AS ALL PROPERTIES and interests in properties of the decedent at the time of his death as well as properties he transferred during his lifetime. On the other hand, â&#x20AC;&#x153;net estateâ&#x20AC;? refers to the gross estate less all allowable deductions

THE FINE PRINT

RON ARRIESGADO

as provided in the Tax Code. The allowable deductions have been conveniently enumerated in the regulations (as Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;?), for ease of reference. As to the procedure for availing of the estate tax amnesty, an Estate Tax Amnesty 2ETURN %4!2 SHALL BE kLED BY EITHER THE EXECUTOR LEGAL HEIRS OR BENEkCIARIES WITH THE ")2 2EVENUE $ISTRICT /FkCE 2$/ having jurisdiction over the last residence of the decedent. In case a nonresident DECEDENT THE %4!2 SHALL BE kLED WITH THE RDO where the executor is registered, or at the executorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal residence. The duly accomplished and sworn ETAR, Acceptance Payment Form (APF), and the complete documents as enumerated in the ETAR, shall be presented to the concerned RDO for endorsement of the APF prior to the payment of the estate amnesty tax with the appropriate BIR authorized agent bank (AAB). Note that only a duly endorsed APF will be received

by the AAB for purposes of payment of the amnesty tax. After payment, the ETAR, APF, proof of payment and the complete documentary requirements shall be submitted to the RDO in triplicate copies. Afterwards, a g#ERTIkCATE OF !VAILMENT OF THE %STATE Tax Amnestyâ&#x20AC;? shall be issued by the conCERNED 2$/ WITHIN kFTEEN CALENDAR DAYS from the receipt of the ETAR with the accompanying documents discussed above.

Ron Arriesgado is a tax lawyer, a transfer pricing specialist and is a partner at the LMA Law Offices in Makati City. He has managed and resolved taxation issues of local and multinational entities; resolved various tax assessment cases issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue; and provided clients with the proper tax strategies to cancel or substantially lower tax assessments, among others.

Ë&#x153; The Sunday Times

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SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Sunday Business & I.T.

B U S I N E S S U P D AT E

Q Soma Somasundaram, Infor chief technology officer

Infor extends growth momentum BY JING GARCIA

INGAPORE: Leading cloud software provider )NFOR POSTED BILLION IN PROkT FOR kSCAL year (FY) 2018, with a total revenue growth of 7.1-percent, making the company one of the largest provider of enterprise software and services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Infor is doing quite well, investor confidence is high,â&#x20AC;? said Soma Somasundaram, Infor chief TECHNOLOGY OFkCER AT THE RECENTLY concluded Infor Executive Summit 2019 held in the island city-state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In THE LAST NINE YEARS ;)NFOR= HAS BEEN very product-focused and that is important to us because if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

have the engineering chops, if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have great capabilities in the products, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thrive in the cloud as a service provider.â&#x20AC;? The New York City-based tech company offers a suite of applicaTIONS FOR THE ENTERPRISE FROM knancials, supply chain and manufacturing, healthcare to retail, and

human resources and customer relationship management. The company has over 68,000 customers globally, with over 16,000 employees. Subscription revenue growth is at 34.4 percent, with 8,800 plus cloud customers. In the Philippines, Infor has a large presence with their research and development (R&D) facility located at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can see that we poured a ton of money into R&D. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent almost $4 billion in R&D in the past six to seven years. Everything focused on business applications,â&#x20AC;? said Somasundaram. The R&D facility in the Philip-

pines has around 2,200 employees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the largest R&D team that I have in the company.â&#x20AC;?said Somasundaram. Helen Masters, Infor senior vice president and general manager for !SIA 0ACIkC FOR HER PART SAID g7E had a great year, our FY19, which kNISHED !PRIL ;IS= ABSOLUTELY ON the number that we are planning to, to achieve the growth, doubledigit growth in all factors, yes, we are very excited that we are on schedule.â&#x20AC;? Most of the upward trend was attributed to the cloud, with over 30 percent year-on-year growth, according to the Infor executive. The company also grew and con-

tinue to grow their on-premise at 8-percent market growth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our customers in each region ;IN !SIA 0ACIkC= ARE GETTING MORE mature in their cloud adoption, and each region has different challenges,â&#x20AC;? said Masters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have as part of our solutions the localization add-ons embedded in our core technology for each of the region, because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all very special.â&#x20AC;? As for the on-going trade dispute between China and the US, the lady executive said they were working closely with thousands of their customers in China. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not certainly walking away from China,â&#x20AC;? said Masters.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be not in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best interest for them to completely walk away. They are two very large powers and I hope they would come into an agreement.â&#x20AC;? Prior to the summit, research and advisory firm Gartner has positioned Infor in the Leaders quadrant of the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems for its ability to execute and its completeness of vision; while market intelligence and advisory services company IDC recognized Infor as a Leader in the )$# -ARKET3CAPE 7ORLDWIDE 3AA3 and Cloud-Enabled Asset-Intensive EAM Applications 2019 Vendor Assessment March 2019 report.

Incident response: Key factors CISOs should consider MAXIM FROLOV VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL SALES AT KASPERSKY LAB AS attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, 86 percent of chief information security officers (CISOs) agree that cyberincidents within their companies are inevitable. So, it comes as no surprise that the majority, 76 percent believe the speed and quality of incident response (IR) are the most important factors when measuring their performance. This means that heads of information technology (IT) security departments are now focused not only on preventing attacks, but also on identifying issues in time to minimize the damage. While having IR as a process is a necessity, CISOs still face the dilemma of organizing it. There are five factors IT security leaders should consider when choosing how to organize IR in their organization:

Shortage of qualified professionals

IR consists of four stages. The first is preparation to ensure all responsible employees know how to act upon attack. The second phase involves incident detection. Next, an IR team should eliminate the attack and recover any affected systems. After an issue is resolved, the IR strategy should be reviewed based on this experience to mitigate similar cases happening again. These diversified activities call for different professionals. Unfortunately, these specialists are in short supply. According to Kaspersky Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s survey, 43 percent of CISOs find it difficult to find a malware analyst, 20 percent to find specialists that could respond to attack, and 13 percent couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find threat hunters. Another issue is employee retention. Specialists know they are in demand and could easily switch to a rival organization if offered a higher salary. Because of these factors, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increasingly hard for companies to employ a team internally that could conduct the entire IR process.

Choosing suitable outsourcers

IR is often misunderstood as jumping into the remediation phase when an incident happens. However, the IR process starts even before an attack has occurred and isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over when it stops. In general,

Choosing a contractor is also not a trivial task. To be effective, an outsourced team should cover all the important competencies of IR namely, threat

research, malware analysis and digital forensics. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that outsourcers have vendor-neutral certificates to prove a skill base. Also, ask about their experience in the role. The more they work for multiple customers in a variety of industries, the more chance they regularly come across typical incidents and could find similarities in seemingly different cases. For companies in strictly regulated industries, there may be additional restrictions when selecting outsourced responders. They would, therefore, only be allowed to choose from incident responders that meet specific compliance requirements.

businesses are realizing that they have to prioritize cybersecurity spending. Some organizations find a flexible outsourcing model more cost-effective, as it allows them to pay only for the service received. However, for enterprises that deal with numerous incidents, having IR in-house is a must. Nonetheless, they could still find a more cost-effective model when they employ first-level responders. This internal team should be able to analyze the incident first and either handle it according to procedures or escalate to external experts.

Synergy with IT department Cost of incident response Establishing in-house IR is costly. The organization needs to pay a salary to full-time employees with rare and expensive skills. They also need to purchase solutions and services (threat intelligence) required for threat hunting, data analysis and attack remediation. However, the average cost of experiencing a data breach globally is increasing as well â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with breaches now amounting to $1.23 million on average for enterprises (up 24 percent from $992,000 in 2017). With the cost of IT incidents on the rise,

When an incident happens, the IT team may choose to shut down infected machines to reduce the impact. However, for responders, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to collect the evidence first â&#x20AC;&#x201D; meaning the â&#x20AC;&#x153;crime sceneâ&#x20AC;? should be left untouched for a while after an incident. Collecting logs and storing them for only three months, and disconnecting infected machines make the life of IR teams more difficult. To avoid such discrepancies, the internal IR team should prepare special tailored guidance for their IT colleagues or introduce special training for any IT specialist who needs more than simple cyberse-

curity hygiene knowledge, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require in-depth security skills. This initiative would ensure that both the internal and external team are on the same page.

Delays in putting response into action Organizations that outsource IR could establish the processes faster, as an external IR team is always on hand to step in and resolve an incident when needed. However, this comes with potential pitfalls. For instance, a company and the third party must sign contracts and create agreements before any work is carried out. This could lead to a delay in incident response. In our experience, a customer team often comes back to work on a Monday to discover that the company was breached during the weekend. For several days they try to handle the issue on their own. As they realize that they cannot cope, they decide to turn to external experts. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friday. So, the company tries to approve all the agreements in a hurry before the next weekend, so that they could finally let the IR team get to work. If an organization has an internal team they could better evaluate each case and delegate responsibility quickly.

Curbing the imminent onslaught of climate change D

IRE predictions of the severe impacts of global warming beginning year 2030 have elicited varied responses from the international community. A New Yorker piece warns that due to the destruction of their habitat, individual species are going extinct, which could threaten mankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very existence over the long haul. A separate essay on climate change in Forbes advances the more buoyant perspective that climate change could be this generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest impetus towards innovation and the related drive for game-changing entrepreneurship. The Philippine Climate Change Commission has started to make a difference in what may be considered the contemporary poster child on the scale of the havoc wrought by climate change. The

TECH SPACE TONY MAGHIRANG Commission is pursuing a proposal entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Modelling Locally Driven Water Resilience Through Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Small Island Regions in the Haiyan Corridor.â&#x20AC;? It is also fast-tracking the development of an incentives system for enterprises that generate green jobs. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the legal action to determine the accountability of 47 cement, coal, oil and gas companies worldwide, whose contribution to climate change allegedly violated the Filipinosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; basic rights to life, water, food and self-determination. Arguably, in

this case, the international pursuit of justice is foreshadowed by the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory at the International Criminal Court against Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intrusion in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Future prospects look bleak. More so when the countdown to extreme global warming by 2030 is ticking. It would be easy to fall into despair. Time is not exactly on our side and time-honored approaches to environmental protection such as tree planting may not be up to the enormous challenges ahead. In the search for innovative solutions to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change, the conversation seems to leave out the fact that the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population now stands at 7.7 billion plus people. Each of us could

contribute to carbon emissions and add unnecessary wastes on land, sea and air. On the other hand, everyone could adopt a green habit that curbs his contribution to global warming. Who knows? Unabated carbon accumulation might lead to a tipping point that could give rise to runaway global warming. That should be enough incentive for every human being to keep his carbon footprint at a minimum. Governments around the world are doing their share in crafting environment-friendly policies, programs and projects. Their actions follow from expressed national development goals to combat climate change and its impacts as signatories to the Paris Agreement. .ATIONS MEET EVERY kVE YEARS TO

measure and assess their accomplishments against their targets. The latest update shows that the world itself is nowhere near on track to avoid the 1.5-degree rise in temperature thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a precursor to global warming and its grave consequences. The massively carbon emitting industries, meanwhile, seem to be taking their sweet time to undertake unprecedented initiatives to meet their own sustainability targets including the reduction of their climate change footprint. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a scenario built around the projection that carbon-based fuel would be extremely expensive in the near future. This would compel most industries to realign their demand for energy, for instance, to new unconventional sources that tap technologies, which help reverse rather than

escalate the global warming trend. The forward thinking situation assumes that a cooperative spirit would befall all nations and all of mankind, and the benefits would be equally shared and enjoyed. History has shown, though, that the control of vital resources like energy is a political act. He who owns the gold, in the present case the supply of energy and other vital resources, makes the rules. 4HAT SENSE OF gME kRST AGAINST all-oddsâ&#x20AC;? is clearly conveyed by the lackluster participation of some countries in the international cooperation to combat global warming. Whatever happened to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Save Earth, save yourself, save the future?â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the next ten years to kGURE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS EXTRAORdinary mess.

Sunday Business & I.T.

SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2019

www manilatimes.net

Editor: Jing Garcia

COMPUTEX 2019: Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest tech expo BY IRA JAMES

AIPEI: Computex 2019 officially kicked-off earlier this week to highlight new technology trends, which are shaping our future tech: Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Blockchain and a healthy growth of innovative tech startups. With around 5,508 brands and companies showcasing THEIR LATEST TECH IT RElECTS A 10-percent growth of exhibitors compared to last year. Keynote speakers from technology giants AMD, Intel and Microsoft graced Computex 2019 to share their insights on how the next generation of computing will drive innovation in our data-centric world. Intelligent computing, intelligent cloud and edge advancements were all achieved by technology revolutions by these companies, and among the speakers were Dr. Lisa Su, AMD president and chief executive; Gregory Bryant, Intel senior vice president and Nick Parker, Microsoft corporate vice president. Computex 2019 also focused on connecting global startups through their InnoVEX Forum. Startups from 25 countries showcased their world-leading innovative technologies and applications. At the opening ceremony, Premier Su Tseng-chang, minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee, and John Jorritsma, mayor of Eindhoven, the Silicon Valley of the Netherlands, opened the event with their presence and started the three-day startup activity. â&#x20AC;?InnoVEX demonstrates a variety of innovative technologies, including smart healthcare, green technology and AR (alternate reality), VR (virtual reality) applications, and a complete tandem of Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upstream and downstream manufacturers to build a startup ecosystem,â&#x20AC;? said Premier Su, during his opening remark. )N THIS kVE DAY EXHIBITION #OMPUTEX 2019 brought together Taiwanese and international information and communication technology (ICT) suppliers and startups to showcase integrated technologies and the latest products that will open up new business opportunities and create new heights for the ICT industry.

AMD unveils 3rd-Gen Ryzen, Navi Graphics As expected at Computex was the announcement from Dr. Lisa Su on the unveiling of new AMD Ryzen processors and Radeon Navi graphics cards among the cipmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s updates. Emphasizing that they were making big bets on high-

UBLIC outrage this past week focused on the decision of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) on six of its students â&#x20AC;&#x153;in possession of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;voyeuristicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; images of PSHS female students which had been uploaded and shared online without the victimsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; consent.â&#x20AC;? Parents, teachers, students and concerned citizens protested against the Board of Trusteesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initial decision to allow all six students to attend the graduation ceremony, even after two school committees recommended against it. The PSHS board reversed its decision a few days later, by not allowing the six students involved in the controversy to march at the graduation rites on May 29. Three students would receive their diplomas, while three would only get CERTIkCATES OF COMPLETION OF the six-year program.

Computex 2019: Kingston demos upcoming SSDs FOR over three decades, memory storage products and technology solutions provider Kingston continues to develop industry-leading products and technology solutions with great performance, reliability and consistency. This year during Computex, Kingston aimed to show high-performance storage products for consumer and enterprise, as well as embedded solutions, which power products found in your everyday life.

Next-generation SSDs KC2000 M.2 NVMe PCIe Solid State Drive (SSD): Using the latest controller and 96-layer 3D TLC NAND, it offers superior read/write speeds, improving the workflow in desktop, workstations and high-performance computing systems. It also supports end-to-end data protection to ensure the dataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. Data Center 500 Series Enterprise SSDs: DC500R is optimized for read-intensive applications, while DC500M is optimized for mixeduse workloads. Both SSDs implement strict Quality of Service (QoS) requirements to ensure predictable I/O performance and low latencies. A2000 M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD: The upcoming SSD features a 4 Channel Gen 3 x 4 controller and 3D TLC NAND. With a built-in NVMe driver, it supports various systems, especially notebook PCs as it uses lower power consumption and gives off less heat.

Kingston IPC solutions Meanwhile, Kingston continues to offer rock-solid reliability and maximum performance for system integration and IPC system builders. Kingstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 percent tested products come with full BOM control and Product Change Notification, meeting strict quality standards and delivering outstanding service to our OEM and industrial clients.

Embedded solutions

performance leadership: Starting with their process technology. Poised to give the best of what the industry has to offer, AMD is proud of their 7nanometers (nm) process which is made possible by the best in the semiconductor industry, TSMC. Next are their bet on their high-performance cores: Modern and capable as possible, the Zen 2 and Navi are DEkNITELY THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE INDUSTRY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Putting the best technology in the best silicon, in the best package, in the best

system,â&#x20AC;? said Su. The upcoming 7 nm AMD Radeon RX 5700-series graphics cards will feature high-speed GDDR6 memory and support for the PCIe 4.0 interface. During the keynote, Su showcased the power of RDNA and one of the new AMD Radeon RX 5700-series graphics cards in a head-to-head comparison with a RTX 2070 card running a Strange Brigade gameplay demo, beating the competition delivering an average of 100 FPS gaming.

4HE kRST 3+5 S OF THE 28 SERIES ARE expected to be available in July 2019. Learn more at the AMD E3 livestream event on *UNE AT P M 0ACIkC TIME Computex 2019 concluded successfully having 42,925 international visitors and buyers from 171 countries establishing a standard in technology trade shows around the world that connects businesses and industry supply chains, as well as opening up opportunities for more innovation in the tech ecosystem.

Kingstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embedded solutions include eMMC, eMCP, ePOP and DRAM components. The embedded solutions are widely used in consumer electronics such as robotic vacuums, notebooks and smart speakers, among many other devices.

Moving forward LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALK #SOCIAL NOEMI LARDIZABAL-DADO I recall a similar indignation IN WHEN kVE HIGH SCHOOL students from St. Theresaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C o l l e g e ( S TC ) C e b u , we r e prohibited from joining their graduation rites. Five students involved in the controversy uploaded photos on Facebook showing them in bikinis and with alcohol and cigarettes. They could not take part in the baccalaureate Mass and the graduation rites that would have capped their high school lives. The school based the sanction imposed on the students on t h e p r ov i s i o n s i n t h e STC Handbook. One rule stipulates that students should not be â&#x20AC;&#x153;posing and uploading pictures

on the internet that entail ample body exposure.â&#x20AC;? Having studied in STC Cebu, I am aware of how strict the school could be. The vagueness of â&#x20AC;&#x153;ample body exposureâ&#x20AC;? leaves the interpretation up to whoever is looking at the pictures. This allows school authorities such a broad latitude and allows for arbitrariness, the subject of controversy. The students also said they â&#x20AC;&#x153;were deeply hurt and criedâ&#x20AC;? after being scolded by the OFkCIALS WHOM THEY ACCUSED OF humiliating them with abusive language, calling them â&#x20AC;&#x153;easy, drunks and addicts.â&#x20AC;? Two years later, the Supreme Court Third Division denied a petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas data kLED BY PARENTS OF TWO OF THE kVE SANCTIONED STUDENTS In resolving the case, high court also reminded social networking users to be cautious and aware of the risks they expose themselves to when they engage in cyberspace

activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Information, otherwise private, voluntarily surrendered by them could be opened, read or copied by third parties who may or may not be allowed access to such,â&#x20AC;? the Supreme Court added. These two incidents are similar in the sense that both involved students violating the schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s code of conduct. But the PSHS issue is different since it could involve a violation of Republic Act 9995 Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 or the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anti-Photo and Video......â&#x20AC;? if THE VICTIMS kLE A CASE -Y FRIEND Michelle Estor raised a question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What does is it say about us as parents, as decision makers, and as a society, when young women who are judged as immoral for the clothes they wear and for their foolish decisions suffer the exact same punishment as these sexual predators, who not only betrayed the trust of friends, but who actually committed crimes

and violated laws? if not for the relentless vigilance of the students, the parents, and the alumni, these predators would have been marching now in the same hall where their victims would have cowered in unjustikED SHAME u The STC Cebu girls in 2012 didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand a chance. What I find disappointing is the statement of PSHS. The PSHS Board urged the media and the public â&#x20AC;&#x153;to respect the privacy and maintain the dignity of our scholars and not aggravate the issue further, which unnecessarily puts those childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future at risk.â&#x20AC;? Sorry, PSHS Board of Trustees, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sexual misconduct and harassment are not private issues, they are problems that everyone faces,â&#x20AC;? Betty Romero, my other friend, called out. For every sexual predator, a mother, father, friend, school or a community enabled, tolerated or allowed them to go

unpunished. While the names of the students should remain private, what happened at PSHS needs to become part of a national conversation. This is to ensure the future and safety of all young women and men, not just PSHS students. The Board added that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone should move forward from this incident and provide the needed support to the students and the PSHS community.â&#x20AC;? The way to move forward is continuing the conversations, NO MATTER HOW DIFkCULT IT IS Education and awareness on the consequences to both girls and boys in such situations must continue. My friend adds that â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is a need to keep this topic alive until things change, until victim blaming stops, until young men realize that they should never share photos of the young women who trust them.â&#x20AC;?

World China hikes tariffs on US goods B The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

EIJING: China on Saturday increased tariffs on billions worth of US goods as it prepares to unveil a blacklist of â&#x20AC;&#x153;unreliableâ&#x20AC;? foreign companies that analysts say aims to punish US and foreign firms cutting off supplies to telecoms giant Huawei. Beijingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move hits $60 billion worth of US goods with new puniTIVE TARIFFS RANGING FROM kVE TO percent, and comes in retaliation for Washington raising punitive tariffs ON BILLION IN #HINESE GOODS TO PERCENT Washington and Beijing resumed their trade battle last month when trade talks in the US ended without a deal, with American negotiators ACCUSING #HINESE NEGOTIATORS OF RENEGING ON PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS The countries have exchanged tariffs on $360 billion in two-way TRADE SO FAR The tit-for-tat tariff war has been upstaged in recent weeks by Wash-

INGTON S MOVE TO BLACKLIST #HINESE tech giant Huawei over national security concerns, threatening the kRM S GLOBAL AMBITIONS 4HE 53 #OMMERCE $EPARTMENT placed Huawei on an â&#x20AC;&#x153;entity listâ&#x20AC;? on grounds of national security on May 16, a move that curbs its access to US-made components it needs FOR ITS EQUIPMENT ! DAY REPRIEVE WAS LATER ISSUED (ITTING BACK #HINA S COMMERCE ministry said Friday it would release its own list of â&#x20AC;&#x153;unreliable entitiesâ&#x20AC;? that break their commercial contracts and STOP SUPPLYING #HINESE kRMS g&OR #HINA S COUNTERMEASURES what we say, we do,â&#x20AC;? said anchor

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

+ANG (UI ON #HINESE STATE BROADCASTER ##46 S PRIMETIME NEWS SHOW THAT AIRED ACROSS MULTIPLE #HINESE STATIONS &RIDAY g4ALK AND OUR DOOR IS OPEN &IGHT AND WE LL kGHT TO THE END u SAID +ANG #HINA S COMMERCE MINISTRY SAID it would roll out the detailed measures against companies on the list SHORTLY NOTING FOREIGN kRMS THAT break contracts, cut off supplies or take other discriminatory measures AGAINST #HINESE FIRMS WOULD BE INCLUDED â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mostly aimed at Huawei suppliers, Intel, Qualcomm, !2- IF ANYTHING IT S PROBABLY aimed at non-US companies, so European, South Korean and Japanese companies that may be trying to decide how strictly to apply the US ruling,â&#x20AC;? said Andrew Polk, an ECONOMIST AT 4RIVIUM #HINA #HINA WANTS TO MAKE IT A MUCH MORE DIFkCULT CHOICE TO CUT OFF SUPPLIES TO (UAWEI HE ADDED

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potentially putting companies in a situation where they are forced to choose between the US AND #HINA AND THAT COULD DEkNITELY BACKkRE ON THEM u SAID 0OLK #HINA S STATE OWNED TABLOID the Global Times said the new list would â&#x20AC;&#x153;work as deterrent forming A PROTECTIVE BARRIER AROUND #HINESE COMPANIES u g#HINA IS READY TO WAGE A PROtracted economic and trade war with the United States,â&#x20AC;? the nationalist PAPER SAID IN AN EDITORIAL &ORMER #HINESE OFkCIALS WARNED Friday that the trade war could last DECADES â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is quite clear now that this is no longer a trade dispute and will extend much more broadly to punitive economic measures that each side CAN INlICT UPON EACH OTHER u SAID #HRISTOPHER "ALDING A #HINA EXPERT AT THE &ULBRIGHT 5NIVERSITY 6IETNAM adding it was reasonable to expect FURTHER ESCALATION BY EACH SIDE â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is quite possible there will be

SIGNIkCANT COLLATERAL DAMAGE HERE u "ALDING SAID Speaking at a defense and security conference in Singapore on Saturday, the acting US defense secretary said Huawei was â&#x20AC;&#x153;too closeâ&#x20AC;? to "EIJING CREATING gTOO MUCH RISK u â&#x20AC;&#x153;The integration of civilian busiNESSES WITH THE MILITARY IS TOO CLOSE #HINA HAS NATIONAL POLICIES AND LAWS where data is required to be shared,â&#x20AC;? 0ATRICK 3HANAHAN TOLD THE FORUM

Tariff hike 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP MORE than doubled punitive tariffs on BILLION IN #HINESE GOODS TO percent last month, and launched the process to hit nearly all remainING IMPORTS FROM THE !SIAN GIANT #HINA RESPONDED BY INCREASING TARIFFS kVE PERCENT TO PERCENT ON !MERICAN PRODUCTS 3ATURDAY WORTH BILLION IN TRADE The list includes beauty products, sports equipment, musical instru-

ments, wine, condoms, diamonds, WOOD FABRIC AND TOYS Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tariffs appear to HAVE ALREADY HAD AN IMPACT ON #HInese manufacturing activity, which contracted more than expected last MONTH 7HILE 4RUMP INSISTS #HINA WILL pay billions in duties, experts note that US consumers and importers bear the brunt of tariffs on products COMING INTO THE 5NITED 3TATES â&#x20AC;&#x153;The United States remains an IMPORTANT EXPORT MARKET FOR #HINA but its importance is declining,â&#x20AC;? said Wang Shouwen, who was on #HINA S NEGOTIATING TEAM ACCORDING TO OFkCIAL NEWS AGENCY 8INHUA He emphasized the trade warâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EFFECT ON #HINA S ECONOMY WOULD BE gCONTROLLABLE u g)F THE 53 WANTS TO FORCE THE #HInese to make concessions by engaging in unilateralism and putting on extreme pressure, this is impossible,â&#x20AC;? SAID 7ANG ACCORDING TO 8INHUA AFP

SKorea urges restraint after missile test SINGAPORE: 3OUTH +OREA S $Efense Minister Jeong Kyeongdoo on Saturday fended off calls to step up pressure on North Korea after it test-fired MISSILES LAST MONTH Jeong told an annual security conference in Singapore that the tests were being investigated and a conclusion is within REACH â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are discussions whether or not it is a short-range balLISTIC MISSILE 4HERE IS A PERSPECtive that it is a Russian Iskander missile, or it is a new tactical BALLISTIC MISSILE u HE SAID â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are data that we can verify, and we are working off those data to make sure we have A VERIFICATION u Jeong was responding to a question on whether the tests were a violation of a military agreement between South and North Korea last September to halt acts of aggression against EACH OTHER He said the North was â&#x20AC;&#x153;in fact acting within the boundariesâ&#x20AC;? of the agreement and tensions between their militaries â&#x20AC;&#x153;have been LOWERED TO A SIGNIkCANT EXTENT u â&#x20AC;&#x153;So currently the actions done by the North Korean regime have the intent to carry out the peace process through DIALOGUE AND TALKS !ND ) BElieve thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the hidden intent behind the lines in terms of THEIR MISSILE LAUNCHES u Jeong called on the international community to â&#x20AC;&#x153;assure North Korea that the decision to denuclearize is indeed the

RIGHT DECISION u He said that South Korea sees humanitarian aid and the lowering of military tensions as ways â&#x20AC;&#x153;to lead North Korea into CONVERSATION AND AWAY FROM THE WAYS OF THE PAST u North Korea itself has defended the launches, saying it was exercising its right to selfDEFENSE The US and Japan say the short-range ballistic missile TESTS ON -AY AND WERE A VIOLATION OF 5 . 3ECURITY #OUNCIL RESOLUTIONS 4HE TESTS ended a pause in launches that BEGAN IN LATE AND CAME amid deadlocked negotiations to rid North Korea of nuclear WEAPONS *APANESE $EFENSE -INISTER Takeshi Iwaya, who spoke at the same session on Korean security, stressed that a strict implementation of sanctions against North +OREA WAS NECESSARY He specifically directed his comments at South Korea, #HINA AND 2USSIA â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to enhance surveillance on a global scale while strengthening effort locally to ensure the full implementation OF SANCTIONS u )WAYA SAID Earlier Saturday, US Acting 3ECRETARY OF $EFENSE 0ATRICK Shanahan told the Shangri-La $IALOGUE CONFERENCE THAT .ORTH Korea â&#x20AC;&#x153;remains an extraordinary threatâ&#x20AC;? and has â&#x20AC;&#x153;neared a point where it could credibly strike regional allies, US territory, and our forward-deployed FORCES u AP

PLAYTIME

This undated picture released from North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on June 1, 2019 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) visiting the 250-mile Journey for Learning Schoolchildrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palace in Jagang province in North Korea. AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS

Kin of boat tragedy victims visit accident scene BUDAPEST: South Korean relatives of victims of the Budapest boat tragedy on Friday visited the scene of the accident which left seven dead and MISSING AFTER A SIGHTSEEING BOAT SANK The ill-fated Mermaid carrying mainly South Korean tourists overturned and capsized in pouring rain late Wednesday, seconds after colliding with a much larger cruise ship on the $ANUBE RIVER Rescuers looking for the missing are battling strong currents with Seoul requesting that the search BE EXTENDED FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE $ANUBE g7E HAVE kRMLY DECIDED THAT WE WON T GIVE UP OUR HOPES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF kNDING survivors,â&#x20AC;? South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foreign Minister Kang +YUNG WHA TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN "UDAPEST Kyung-wha arrived in the city with an emergency task force and on Friday visited the site of the crash along with her Hungarian counterpart

HK TO CULL 4,700 PIGS After second swine fever case found HONG KONG: Hong Kong will cull 4,700 pigs after African swine fever was detected in an animal at a slaughterhouse close to the

border with China, the second such case in a month in the crowded financial hub. The animal came from a farm in the southern Chi-

nese province of Guangdong and importation from mainland China has been suspended until fur ther notification, Sophia Chan,

SAFE MEAT?

Shoppers buy frozen meat at a stall after fresh pork sold out at a market in the Mong Kok district in Hong Kong on June 1, 2019. AFP PHOTO

0ETER 3ZIJJARTO ,ATER IN THE DAY OFkCIALS ESCORTED THE RELATIVES of victims, who had also arrived on Friday, to THE RIVERBANK 4HE PROSPECTS OF kNDING ANY MORE SURVIVORS ARE SEEN AS VERY SLIM Only seven people are known to have surVIVED SO FAR 4HOSE MISSING INCLUDE A SIX YEAR old girl and the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hungarian captain and a crew member, while seven South Korean TOURISTS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED Police said Thursday they had detained the YEAR OLD 5KRAINIAN CAPTAIN OF THE LARGER SHIP THE 6IKING 3IGYN FOR QUESTIONING gIN RELATION TO @ENDANGERING WATERBORNE TRAFkC RESULTING IN MULTIPLE DEATHS u The captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer, Balazs Toth, told Hungarian news agency MTI that his client, who HAD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE gDENIED HAVING

Secretary of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food and Health Department said on Friday night. The government-run slaughterhouse in Sheung Shui will be closed for cleansing and disinfection, she added. Last month around 6,000 pigs were culled after the virus was detected in a pig imported from a farm in the same province. Supply from across the border was temporarily suspended for a week during the disinfection of slaughterhouse. Pork is a staple of Chinese cuisine, with space-starved Hong Kong importing the majority of what it consumes from the mainland. After African swine fever spread across more than half of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provinces last year, Hong Kong banned imports from any Chinese farm where the virus had been detected. Chinese officials have said hundreds of thousands of pigs were culled in a bid to stop its spread â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an effort that has also seen restric-

committed a crime or not having respected all THE RULES u g(E HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT (E REGRETS he did not have the means to avoid the acciDENT u HE SAID 4HE 6IKING 3IGYN ITSELF LEFT "UDAPEST WITH A new captain on Friday and reached the HungarIAN CITY OF %SZTERGOM ACCORDING TO LOCAL MEDIA Some survivors have described their terrifying ordeal as the Mermaid sank almost immediATELY AND THEY WERE PITCHED INTO THE DARK WATERS Some were able to grab on to rescue buoys and watched in horror as fellow passengers STRUGGLED TO STAY AlOAT â&#x20AC;&#x153;The current was so fast and people were floating away but the rescue team did not COME u YEAR OLD WOMAN IDENTIkED ONLY BY her surname Jung, told the Korean news agency 9ONHAP AFP

tions on transporting pigs from affected areas. With some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most densely populated streets, Hong Kong remains on high alert to diseases. In 2003, some 300 people died during an outbreak of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS). The virus is not dangerous to humans but is fatal to pigs and wild boar. Meanwhile, South Korean troops stationed along the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last Cold War frontier have been put on high alert in the face of a new infiltration threat from the nuclear-armed North â&#x20AC;&#x201D; fever-stricken wild boar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to focus on preventing wild boars in the Nor th from entering our territory,â&#x20AC;? the Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon said on Saturday after visiting a pig farm near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the two countries. Pyongyang told the World Organization for Animal Health that 77 out of 99 pigs had died from the disease at

a farm near the China border, according to Seoulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural ministry. The ministry said Friday that the disease is â&#x20AC;&#x153;highly likelyâ&#x20AC;? to hit the South, and the government has ordered fences to be erected at farms along the border to prevent possible contact between pigs and wild boars. Seoul believes Pyongyang raises some 2.6 million pigs across 14 state-run farms. The outbreak could worsen food shortages in the impoverished North, where, according to the World Food Program, its output last year hit the lowest level since 2008. In the South, there are about 6,700 pig farms across the country, and pig farming accounts for 40 percent of the total livestock industry. In 2011, a devastating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease hit the entire Korean peninsula and resulted in the culling of nearly 3.5 million cattle, pigs and other animals in South Korea alone. AFP

World

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Saudi king slams Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;terrorist actsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MECCA, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s King Salman slammed Iran over recent attacks targeting the kingdom, describing the incidents on Saturday in a speech before Muslim leaders gathered in Mecca as â&#x20AC;&#x153;terrorist actsâ&#x20AC;? that threaten global energy supplies. It was the monarchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strongest words yet since tensions spiked in recent weeks between the two regional heavyweights. Iran had a representative present at the 57-nation summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, but its top leadership did not attend. The Islamic summit drew politiCAL kGURES AND HEADS OF STATE FROM countries spanning Africa, the Middle East and Asia. They come with widely varying policies and priorities, but share a common reverence for the AlAqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, KNOWN AS THE kRST g1IBLAu BECAUSE Muslims prayed toward it before the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca. Despite sharp differences between OIC member-states on a GAMUT OF ISSUES A kNAL STATEMENT by the group stressed support for a future Palestinian state, as well as the rejection of any deal or plan that prolongs Israeli occupation and undermines the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The language stood in contradiction to the Trump administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in recognition of it as Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, as well as a still undisclosed White House plan already rejected by the Palestinian leadership. Glimpses of the plan suggest it sidelines or ignores the longstanding goal of Palestinian independence. A meeting next month in Bahrain aimed at rallying Arab economic support for the plan is being boycotted by the Palestinian Authority, but Saudi Arabia and the UAE are attending amid growing ties with Israel in the face of shared enemy Iran. The US recently sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf as tensions run high. The escalation stems from the Trump administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to withdraw the US from Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuclear deal with world powers last year and impose crippling economic sanctions on the country. Speaking to leaders from OIC countries, King Salman opened

the summit saying the world must kGHT THE SOURCES AND FUNDING OF terrorism around the world. He then said the alleged sabotage of four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in past weeks represents a â&#x20AC;&#x153;grave dangerâ&#x20AC;? TO THE SECURITY OF MARITIME TRAFkC and regional security. He blamed Iranian-backed terrorist militias of being behind a subsequent drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We emphasize that these subversive terrorist acts are aimed not only at the kingdom and the Gulf region, but also on the security of navigation and energy supplies to the world,â&#x20AC;? King Salman said. Iran denies being involved in the incidents. Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President Hassan Rouhani had his own message for OIC leaders ahead of the summit, urging them to stay focused on the rights of Palestinians. In a letter published online Friday, Rouhani said Muslim leaders should not let the importance of Palestinian statehood be â&#x20AC;&#x153;marginalizedâ&#x20AC;? in the face of the Trump administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forthcoming Israeli-Palestinian plan. Rouhani also noted in the letter he was not invited to the Islamic summit, but expressed Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s readiness to work with all Muslim leaders to confront the White Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deal of the Century.â&#x20AC;? King Salman told OIC leaders that the rights of Palestinians remains the cornerstone issue of the organization, which was formed 50 years ago in response to an extremist arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem, one of Islamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sacred sites. He said the mosque remains under occupation and threat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We reiterate with emphasis the rejection of any measures that infringe upon the legal STATUS OF !L 1UDS !L 3HARIF u King Salman said, referring to east Jerusalem and the mosque compound. Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said any peace deal that does not include an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital will be rejected by the OIC body. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall not accept the rewriting of history, exchanging justice WITH ECONOMIC BENEkTS AND DISregarding dignity and legitimacy,â&#x20AC;? he told the OIC summit. AP

12 dead in Virginia indiscriminate shooting

ASHINGTON, D.C.: A municipal employee sprayed gunfire â&#x20AC;&#x153;indiscriminatelyâ&#x20AC;? in a government building complex on Friday (Saturday in Manila) in the US state of Virginia, police said, killing 12 people and wounding four in the latest mass shooting to rock the country. The shooter was also killed after an extended gun battle with responding officers, in a scene that â&#x20AC;&#x153;best could be described as a war zone,â&#x20AC;? Virginia Beach police chief James Cervera told a news conference. The shooting happened just after 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), when the gunman entered one of the buildings at the Virginia Beach municipal complex and â&#x20AC;&#x153;immediately began to indiscriminately fire on all of the victims,â&#x20AC;? Cervera said. One victim was killed outside in his vehicle, while the others WERE FOUND ON ALL THREE lOORS OF the building. Police upgraded the casualty toll to 12 dead and at least four wounded Friday night, after earlier reporting 11 dead and six wounded. The shooter was armed with a CALIBER HANDGUN kTTED WITH A sound suppressor, and he reloaded

multiple times with extended magazines, Cervera said. 4HE FOUR RESPONDING POLICE OFkcers â&#x20AC;&#x153;stopped this individual from committing more carnage in that building,â&#x20AC;? he added. Police unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the suspect after he was shot, Cervera said. Authorities did not release the shooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name or speculate on his motives, aside from saying that he was a longtime employee of the public utilities department. The wounded included a police OFkCER WHO WAS SAVED BY HIS BULletproof vest. All were undergoing surgery Friday night.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Surrealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The building where the shooting took place in Virginia Beach â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a city of 450,000 people about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast

of Washington â&#x20AC;&#x201D; housed the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES OFkCES and can have 400 people inside at any time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach,â&#x20AC;? Mayor Bobby Dyer told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people involved are our friends, co-workers, neighbors and colleagues.â&#x20AC;? Megan Banton, a public utilities employee, told local television station WVEC that during the chaos she and about 20 coworkers hid in AN OFkCE WHERE THEY USED A DESK to wedge the door shut. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just wanted to try to keep everybody safe as much as we could and just trying to stay on the phone with 911, just because we wanted to make sure (police) were coming. They couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come fast enough,â&#x20AC;? she said, adding that it felt like â&#x20AC;&#x153;hours.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We heard gunshots. We kept hearing gunshots and we kept hearing the cops saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Get down.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Banton said it felt â&#x20AC;&#x153;surrealâ&#x20AC;? to HAVE A MASS SHOOTING IN HER OFkCE building, and having survived it she just wanted to go home and hug her family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have an 11-month-old baby at home and all I could think about

was him and trying to make it home to him,â&#x20AC;? she said.

150th mass shooting President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting and was monitoring the situation, the White House said. According to the Washingtonbased Gun Violence Archive monitoring group, Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shooting was the 150th mass shooting in the United States this YEAR DEkNED AS A SINGLE EVENT IN which four or more people are shot or killed. Despite the scale of gun violence across the nation, gun ownership laws are lax and efforts to address the issue legislatively have long been deadlocked at the federal level. Among Democrats, the response to the shooting was especially pointed, with many of the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s White House hopefuls weighing in on the gun violence crisis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another horrific shooting shocks the nation, this time in Virginia Beach,â&#x20AC;? Pete Buttigieg tweeted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Already, this much is clear: it is unacceptable for America to remain the only developed country where this is routine. We must act.â&#x20AC;? AFP

TORCHED

The entrance of the US embassy in Tegucigalpa burns on Friday (Saturday in Manila) after being set on fire by demonstrators of the education and health sectors protesting against government reforms. AFP PHOTO

Worldinbriefs TRUMP TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE RE-ELECTION BID ON JUNE 18 WASHINGTON, D.C.: US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Saturday in Manila) that he would formally announce his bid for re-election at a June 18 rally in Florida â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a state that was key to his victory in 2016. Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife Melania, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen will also be part of the evening event in Orlando at the Amway Center arena, Trump said on Twitter. The event is largely symbolic â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Trump has made it clear since taking office that he planned to run again in 2020, has held multiple campaign rallies and has already raised tens of millions of dollars. Trump will launch his campaign against the backdrop of mounting Democratic calls for his impeachment, including by several of the nearly two dozen members of the opposition party seeking to unseat him. The election will take place on November 3, 2020.

ELTON JOHN BLASTS RUSSIAN CUTS OF GAY SEX SCENES IN â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ROCKETMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MOSCOW: Elton John has slammed the removal of gay sex scenes from the Russian version of the musical biopic of his life â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rocketmanâ&#x20AC;? as â&#x20AC;&#x153;cruelly unaccepting.â&#x20AC;? Film critics who watched a preview on Friday said the local distributor had censored some scenes for legal reasons. In a joint statement with the filmmakers, the superstar said he only became aware of the cuts on Friday. In a statement publishes on his Twitter account, John said â&#x20AC;&#x153;That the local distributor had found it necessary to edit out certain scenes, denying the audience the opportunity to see the film as it was intended is a sad reflection on the divided world we still live in and how it can still be so cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people.â&#x20AC;? Russia has a dire record on LGBT rights and a controversial law bans the promotion of â&#x20AC;&#x153;non-traditional sexual relationshipsâ&#x20AC;? to minors, though it is not clear why this would apply to the 18-rated film.

HAITIAN INVESTIGATORS SAY PRESIDENT IN â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PORT-AU-PRINCE: A panel of judges on Friday (Saturday in Manila) accused Haitian President Jovenel Moise of being at the center of an â&#x20AC;&#x153;embezzlement schemeâ&#x20AC;? that siphoned off Venezuelan aid money meant for fixing roads. In a report, the High Court of Auditors said that in 2014 the Haitian government gave two companies, which had the same payroll and staff, contracts to upgrade a road. One of the businesses was Agritrans, a banana farming concern headed by Moise until his election in 2017, which received more than 33 million gourdes ($700,000) to fix the road. Calling it â&#x20AC;&#x153;nothing more than an embezzlement scheme,â&#x20AC;? the court said the two companies â&#x20AC;&#x153;made the same commitments separately on the same dates.â&#x20AC;? They also found that Moiseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company received a cash advance nearly two months before the contractâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signing, which the judges said amounted to â&#x20AC;&#x153;collusion, favoritism and embezzlement.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Trump doubles down on Mexico tariff threat WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump escalated his abrupt tariff threats against Mexico on Friday (Saturday in Manila), triggering alarm about the likely economic fallout, spooking global markets and raising the prospect of US trade wars on multiple fronts. Trump unexpectedly announced his readiness to levy tariffs on all Mexican imports, BEGINNING AT kVE PERCENT STARTING *UNE AND rising monthly to as high as 25 percent until -EXICO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES THE lOW OF ILLEGAL immigration. Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday that his country was â&#x20AC;&#x153;doING OUR JOBu TO STOP THE lOW OF UNDOCUMENTED migrants to the United States, and warned Trump that hitting his neighbor with tariffs would be a lose-lose game. But the US leader then doubled down on his THREATS SAYING IN A lURRY OF TWEETS THAT g-EXICO has taken advantage of the United States for decades.â&#x20AC;? The impact of new tariffs would be devastating for Mexico, which sends 80 percent of its exports to the US. Lopez Obrador reminded his American counterpart the tariffs would also take a heavy toll on the United States, whose largest trading partner so far this year is Mexico â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thanks mainly to Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade war with China. Earlier this month Trump, angered by what he deemed unfair Chinese trade practices, raised punitive duties on $200 billion in Chinese imports. Beijing has promised retaliation. Effects of the Mexico tariffs would ripple across multiple economic sectors, including the

automobile industry and agriculture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No good can come of coercive measures... These (tariffs) would not be good for Mexicans, but they would not be good for Americans either,â&#x20AC;? said Lopez Obrador. He said his government would act prudently, and a delegation led by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard had already been sent to Washington for talks. Ebrard is expected to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday. g7E WILL BE kRM AND WE WILL DEFEND THE dignity of Mexico,â&#x20AC;? Ebrard said. A State Department spokeswoman said Ebrard and Pompeo spoke by phone on Friday, but gave few details. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We maintain an ongoing dialogue and close cooperation with Mexico on a wide range of issues, including border security efforts,â&#x20AC;? she said. Trump, meanwhile, only stepped up his Twitter attacks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mexico must take back their country from the drug lords and cartels. The Tariff is about stopping drugs as well as illegals!â&#x20AC;? he fumed.

Market turmoil Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s startling announcement of the new tariffs came the same day he started the process of ratifying the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada, the USMCA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an agreement that now may be under threat. Global markets slumped over the latest trade war threat. The top three US markets all closed down

1.3 percent or more, with some automakers SKIDDING kVE PERCENT Shares in Tokyo lost 1.6 percent, European markets were also hit, and the Mexican peso dropped 2.5 percent against the dollar. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the powerful Democrat who has a key say in whether Congress takes up the USMCA in the coming weeks, slammed the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move as â&#x20AC;&#x153;recklessness.â&#x20AC;? Even some senior Trump aides opposed his plan, notably Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, NBC reported, citing a source close to the White House. Republican allies in Congress also warned Trump not to damage a vital trade relationship over border concerns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a misuse of presidential tariff authority and counter to congressional intent,â&#x20AC;? said Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, one of several Republicans to oppose Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan. US industry groups voiced their disapproval, too, with the Business Roundtable warning Trump that unilateral imposition of tariffs â&#x20AC;&#x153;would be a grave error.â&#x20AC;? 4HE 53 #HAMBER OF #OMMERCE SAID A kVE percent tariff on Mexican imports, which last year totaled $346.5 billion, would amount to a $17 billion hit on US consumers and businesses. Should the tariffs tank the USMCA, â&#x20AC;&#x153;that would have serious consequences for the three countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; economies,â&#x20AC;? Ana Maria Salazar, an expert on US-Mexico relations, told Agence France-Presse. AFP

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advertising@manilatimes.net 524-5664 local 121, 3105895 and 3105582

w w w.manilatimes.net (Lower Agno) which is being managed by Petitioner for San Roque 0XOWL 3XUSRVH 3URMHFW E\ YLUWXH RI 3' DQG /DNH /DQDR $JXV 5LYHU and Pulangi Watershed Area which Petitioner has a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE AVAILMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARGE/SHARE FROM THE UNIVERSAL CHARGE FOR THE REHABILITATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHED AREAS (PLAN 16)

11. Plan 16 still forms part of the original 10-year Integrated Watershed Master Plan (IWMP) which was approved by the National Power Board last 27 September 2018 as per Resolution No. 2018-040. Likewise, Plan 16 is crafted with reference to the previous proposed plans submitted for the approval of the Honorable Commission; 12. Aside from maintaining the objectives of the previous proposed plans submitted to the Honorable Commission, Plan 16 particularly seeks WR DWWDLQ WKH UHKDELOLWDWLRQ WKURXJK YHJHWDWLYH PHDVXUHV RI KHFWDUHV UHGXFWLRQ RI VHGLPHQWDWLRQ DQG VRLO HURVLRQ LQVLGH 3HWLWLRQHUÂśV reforestation areas of at least 2,880 tons/year (Sapalco, S.R., 1981); LQFUHDVH ELRGLYHUVLW\ LQ WHUPV RI VSHFLHV ULFKQHVV DQG Ă&#x20AC;RUD DQG IDXQD population thru conservation and ecotourism programs; Strengthening and sustaining of 9 Bantay Watershed Task Force Group created purposely for the protection and conservation of the watershed areas; VXVWDLQLQJ WDSSLQJ PRUH WKDQ YROXQWHHUV WR DXJPHQW WKH H[LVWLQJ watershed protection personnel; employment of more or less 1,000 individuals from the local community; and, provide income through livelihood projects and produce from the established plantations;

ERC CASE NO. 2019-021 RC NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION, Applicant x-------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 14 March 2019, Petitioner National Power &RUSRUDWLRQ 13& ÂżOHG D Petition dated 08 March 2019, seeking the availment of the Environmental Charge (EC)/Share from the Universal Charge (UC) for the proposed operations plan for Calendar Year 2019, referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plan 16â&#x20AC;?, for the rehabilitation and management of watershed areas.

3ODQ FRPSOLHV ZLWK (5& &DVH 5HV 1RV 6HULHV RI ZKLFK requires Petitioner to conduct consultation with the Local Government Units (LGU) and LGAs where projects will be situated. Reference is made with those of the environmental projects of the LGUs and LGAs so that no duplication in the funding of projects will occur. Concerns of the stakeholders are brought to the attention of concerned WAT and WKLV VHUYHV DV WKH ODWWHUÂśV JXLGH LQ WKH SDFNDJLQJ RI 3ODQ 7KLV DOVR ensures the support of the LGUs and the local communities for the proposed project;

The pertinent allegations of the said Petition are hereunder quoted as follows: 1. Petitioner is a government owned-and-controlled corporation created DQG H[LVWLQJ XQGHU DQG E\ YLUWXH RI 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R DV DPHQGHG (NPC Charter), ZLWK SULQFLSDO RIÂżFH DGGUHVV DW 13& 2IÂżFH %XLOGLQJ Complex, Quezon Avenue Corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City; where it may be served with notices and other processes of the Honorable Commission;

14. In order to attain the objectives of Plan 16, Petitioner would need to avail and utilize the funds from the UC-EC amounting to a total of TWO HUNDRED FORTY MILLION FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SEVENTEEN PESOS 78/100 (PhpP240,425,017.78), as shown in the Consolidated Financial Summary attached as Annex C. This was computed based on existing rules and regulations prescribed for government projects.

2. 8QGHU WKH 13& &KDUWHU SDUWLFXODUO\ 6HFWLRQ SDUDJUDSK 1 WKHUHRI Petitioner is vested with the power to exercise complete jurisdiction and control over watersheds surrounding the reservoir of plants and/or projects it constructed; To further strengthen its jurisdiction and control over watersheds, Executive Order (EO) No. 224 was issued on 16 July 1987, wherein Petitioner was granted complete jurisdiction, control and rehabilitation over the following watershed areas and reservations: (1) Upper Agno Watershed Reservation as covered by Proclamation No. 548; (2) Angat Watershed Reservation as covered by Proclamation Nos. 505 and 599; &DOLUD\D /XPRW :DWHUVKHG 5HVHUYDWLRQ DV FRYHUHG E\ 3URFODPDWLRQ 1R 0DNLOLQJ %DQDKDZ *HRWKHUPDO 5HVHUYDWLRQV DV FRYHUHG by Proclamation No. 1111; (5) Buhi-Barit Watershed as covered by 3URFODPDWLRQ 1R 7LZL *HRWKHUPDO 5HVHUYDWLRQ DV FRYHUHG E\ 3UHVLGHQWLDO 3URFODPDWLRQ 1R 4.

Accordingly, Petitioner became responsible for the management, protection, development, and rehabilitation of the aforementioned watershed areas, including but not limited to the following: (1) Enforcement of forestry laws, rules and regulations governing the Integrated Management of Watershed Reservation under Ministry 2UGHU 1R 6HULHV RI ,GHQWLÂżFDWLRQ RI DUHDV ZKLFK UHTXLUHG LPPHGLDWH UHKDELOLWDWLRQ DQG GHYHORSPHQW Preparation of plans and programs using the integrated multiple use concept of Watershed Management for the maximum utilization of Watershed resources; (4) Formulation and/or implementation of measures to prevent denudation of the forest cover and siltation of existing reservoirs; (5) Public education and information drive to create awareness among the populace of the importance of forest resources and watershed areas; (6) Promotion of the development and conservation of existing vegetative cover; (7) Formulation of plans and development programs for resettlement and relocation; (8) Coordination with other government agencies/instrumentalities, religious and civil groups in undertaking forest conservation measures in watershed areas; (9) Afforestation, reforestation and physical rehabilitation measures in critically denuded watershed areas; (10) Development, maintenance and management of free farms within adequately vegetative watershed for the production of transmission line poles;

15. In compliance with Section 2 (b), Article II of the Rules, Petitioner furnished a copy of the instant petition to the Sangguniang Panlungsod DQG 2IÂżFH WKH &LW\ 0D\RU RI 4XH]RQ &LW\ ZKHUH 3HWLWLRQHU SULQFLSDOO\ operates, and publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation. (Attached as Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oâ&#x20AC;? are proofs of service and publication of the Petition.) WHEREFORE, premises considered, Petitioner prays that the instant petition be APPROVED by the Honorable Commission. Petitioner prays for other just and equitable relief. Finding the instant Petition WR EH VXIÂżFLHQW LQ IRUP DQG VXEVWDQFH ZLWK WKH required fees having been paid, the Commission hereby sets the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentations, pretrial conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and venues: DATE and TIME 13 June 2019 (Thursday) 7ZR RÂśFORFN LQ WKH afternoon (2:00 P.M.) 20 June 2019 (Thursday) 7HQ RÂśFORFN LQ WKH morning (10:00 A.M.) 27 June 2019 (Thursday) 7HQ RÂśFORFN LQ WKH morning (10:00 A.M.) 09 July 2019 (Tuesday) 1LQH RÂśFORFN LQ WKH morning (9:00 A.M.) 18 July 2019 (Thursday) 7HQ RÂśFORFN LQ WKH morning (10:00 A.M.)

3HWLWLRQHUÂśV MXULVGLFWLRQ DQG FRQWURO RYHU ZDWHUVKHGV ZDV DJDLQ recognized and reiterated in 5HSXEOLF $FW 1R RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001â&#x20AC;? (EPIRA) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), particularly Section 6 (c), 5XOH RI WKH ,55 ZKHUHLQ 3HWLWLRQHU LV PDQGDWHG WR FRQWLQXH WR be responsible for watershed rehabilitation and management; 6. Under the EPIRA, Petitioner is entitled to the Environmental Charge (EC) equivalent to one-fourth of one centavo per kilowatt-hour sales (P0.0025/kWh), which forms part of the Universal Charge (UC). This environmental fund is intended solely for watershed rehabilitation and management and is being managed by Petitioner under existing arrangements. In order to avail said EC, Petitioner is required to submit to the Honorable Commission a petition for availment of the UC-EC in relation to the proposed watershed rehabilitation and management projects on or before March 15 every year. Hence, this petition;

VENUE

ACTIVITY

(5& 0DLQ 2IÂżFH 15th )ORRU 3DFLÂżF &HQWHU Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Jurisdictional and Expository Presentation

Gladiola Hall Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet

Expository Presentation

Pre-Trial Conference and Evidentiary Hearing

BOHOL 2ND DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE VII Ubay, Bohol INVITATION TO BID MAY 28, 2019 The Department of Public Works and Highways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bohol 2nd 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH through its herein. The Department of Public Works and Highways now invites bids for the project below: Project Description Contract ID Contract Duration Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) PhP Source of Fund

19HC0155 100 Calendar Days PHP 29,400,000.00 Regular Infrastructure FY 2019

The BAC is conducting the public bidding for this Contract in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). To be eligible to bid for this Contract, a contractor must meet the following major requirements: (a) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership/corporation with PCAB license for size Range Medium A License Category B, (b) completion of similar contract costing at least 50% of the ABC, and (c) Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) at least equal to the ABC. The DPWH will use non-discretionary â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass/failâ&#x20AC;? criteria in the eligibility check, SUHOLPLQDU\ H[DPLQDWLRQ RI ELGV HYDOXDWLRQ RI ELGV SRVW TXDOLÂżFDWLRQ DQG DZDUG ,I DW WKH WLPH RI WKH SRVW TXDOLÂżFDWLRQ SURFHGXUH WKH %$& YHULÂżHV WKDW DQ\ RI WKH GHÂżFLHQFLHV LV GXH WR WKH FRQWUDFWRUÂśV IDXOW RU QHJOLJHQFH SXUVXDQW WR E LL F of the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act. No 9184 (2016 RIRR of RA 9184), the Procuring Entity shall disqualify the contractor from the award without any right to reimburse fees and incidental cost paid for the procurement of infrastructure contract subject of the Bid. The schedule of key procurement activities for this Contract is shown below: Activity 1. Issuance/ Downloading of Bidding Documents

Time MAY 29, 2019

2. Pre-Bid Conference 5HFHLSW E\ WKH BAC of Bids

JUNE 4, 2019 10:00 A.M. Deadline: JUNE 17, 2019 10:00 A.M. Deadline: JUNE 17, 2019 2:00 P.M.

4. Opening of Bids

Place Hard copies at BAC Secretariat, DPWH Bohol 2nd 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH 8ED\ Bohol. Downloadable from DPWH Website www.dpwh.gov.ph and PhilGEPS website www.philgeps.gov.ph BAC Secretariat, DPWH Bohol 2nd District (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH 8ED\ %RKRO BAC Secretariat, DPWH Bohol 2nd District (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH 8ED\ %RKRO Conference Room, DPWH Bohol 2nd 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH 8ED\ %RKRO

Bidders shall pay the BAC a non-refundable fee of PhP 25,000.00 for the Bidding Documents, upon securing hard copies of the Documents. Bidders that download the Documents from the DPWH/PhilGEPS website shall pay the fee upon submission of their bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bohol 2nd 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the bidding process any time before the Contract Award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders, in accordance with the provisions of Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR. Any request for additional information concerning this bidding shall be directed to the following. For further information, please refer to: PRIMITIVA E. ABAN Procurement Engineer 'HSDUWPHQW RI 3XEOLF :RUNV DQG +LJKZD\V 5HJLRQDO 2IÂżFH 9,, Bohol 2nd 'LVWULFW (QJLQHHULQJ 2IÂżFH Ubay, Bohol Email address: dpwhbohol2@yahoo.com

07 0D\ -XQH

1) 7KH SHWLWLRQHUÂśV QDPH DQG address;

3ODQ LV FUDIWHG LQ RUGHU WR LQWHQVLI\ DQG VWUHQJWKHQ 3HWLWLRQHUÂśV undertakings to address the issue on the uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas. For the past 16 years (2002-2018), Petitioner has embarked on non-stop greening initiatives in its various watershed areas which have gained acceptance and cooperation by its stakeholders. In line with the Greening Program of the National *RYHUQPHQW 3HWLWLRQHUÂśV :DWHUVKHG 0DQDJHPHQW 'HSDUWPHQW WMD) and its Watershed Area Teams (WAT) are committed to reforest idle/ open and denuded areas and promote the use of indigenouos species (Rainforestation) in its greening projects. Alongside with the greening programs, WMD intends to raise planting stocks primarily to share DQG GLVSHUVH WR TXDOLÂżHG EHQHÂżFLDULHV WR SODQW WUHHV LQ WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH communities;

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with UHVSHFW WR WKH VXEMHFW PDWWHU RI WKH FDVH PD\ ÂżOH WKHLU 2SSRVLWLRQ RU &RPPHQW thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Petitioner rest its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

10. Plan 16 covers the six (6) watersheds over which Petitioner has complete jurisdiction and control by virtue of EO 224, San Roque Watershed

: 19HC0155 : CONVERGENCE AND SPECIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMCONSTRUCTION/IMPROVEMENT OF ACCESS ROADS LEADING TO SEAPORTS- ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO TALIBON PORT VIA SAN JOSE BRGY. SAN FRANCISCOREVILLES ST., BRGY. POBLACION, TALIBON, BOHOL Contract Location : TALIBON, BOHOL

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may EHFRPH D SDUW\ E\ ÂżOLQJ ZLWK WKH &RPPLVVLRQ D YHULÂżHG 3HWLWLRQ WR ,QWHUYHQH at OHDVW ÂżYH GD\V SULRU WR WKH LQLWLDO KHDULQJ DQG VXEMHFW WR WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV XQGHU Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

2) 7KH QDWXUH RI SHWLWLRQHUÂśV LQWHUHVW LQ WKH VXEMHFW PDWWHU RI WKH SURFHHGLQJ and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3ODQ LV FRPSRVHG RI SURJUDPV DQG SURMHFWV VSHFLÂżHG LQ 6HFWLRQ 1 of Article II of the Rules and Procedure Governing the Utilization and Disbursement of UC-EC (Rules) with the proposed modes of procurement in implementing the same. In particular, Plan 16 involves the following programs and projects: (1) Watershed Protection and Law (QIRUFHPHQW :DWHUVKHG 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ :DWHUVKHG 5HVRXUFH Development; (4) Personnel and related administrative/logistical expenses; (5) Tools, materials and equipment repair, maintenance and/ or acquisition; (6) Project audit and/or third-party evaluation; (7) Training/ livelihood projects. These programs and projects were recommended by the concerned WAT. And the same were reviewed and evaluated by the +HDG 2IÂżFH :0' (Attached as Annexes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mâ&#x20AC;? are the proposed plans of the WATs assigned in Angat, Buhi-Barit, Caliraya-Lumot, LakeLanao Agus River, Mak-Ban, Pulangi, San Roque, Tiwi, Upper Agno and WKH :0' +HDG 2IÂżFH ZKLFK IRUPV DQ LQWHJUDO SDUW KHUHRI

Contract ID Contract Name

(SGD)JUNIBE C. FROILAN BAC Chairman

In support of the instant Petition, Petitioner hereby submits the proposed operations plan for Calendar Year 2019 (hereinafter referred to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plan 16â&#x20AC;?) for the availmenmt of the UC-EC for the rehabilitation and management of the watersheds. (Attached as Annex â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? is the Executive Summary of Plan 16 which forms an integral part hereof);

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

Drillon Hall Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research (SEARCA) College, Los BaĂąos, Laguna College of Education Ampitheater Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Tibanga, Iligan City (5& 0DLQ 2IÂżFH 15th )ORRU 3DFLÂżF &HQWHU Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

A statement of the relief desired.

The name and address of such person; Âˇ

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon. (This space was intentionally left blank.) All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Petition may request from Petitioner that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Petitioner is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Petition and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Petition DQG RWKHU SHUWLQHQW UHFRUGV ÂżOHG ZLWK WKH &RPPLVVLRQ during the standard RIÂżFH KRXUV WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO, AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners CATHERINE P. MACEDA, ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN and PAUL CHRISTIAN M. CERVANTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 22nd day of April 2019 in Pasig City. JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal Service 07 -XQH

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EDITORS AND DESKMEN Competencies â&#x20AC;˘ Excellent command of written and spoken English â&#x20AC;˘ Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline (e.g. political science or economics with journalism experience) â&#x20AC;˘ Experience in editing news, analytical reports and columns â&#x20AC;˘ Strong news judgment and familiarity with local issues, as well as an understanding of relevant world affairs â&#x20AC;˘ $ELOLW\ WR ZULWH DQG HGLW ZLWK Ă&#x20AC;DLU DQG VSHHG WR PHHW WLJKW deadlines â&#x20AC;˘ )DPLOLDU ZLWK 0LFURVRIW 2IÂżFH VRFLDO PHGLD DQG VHDUFK engines â&#x20AC;˘ Ability to lead and organize a team well â&#x20AC;˘ Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization REPORTERS Competencies â&#x20AC;˘ Excellent command of written and spoken English â&#x20AC;˘ Degree holder preferably in journalism, communications, or related discipline â&#x20AC;˘ Ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts in government and the private sector as source of information and analysis â&#x20AC;˘ Ability to identify the angle of news from a raft of available information or seek out information to build a solid news story â&#x20AC;˘ Familiarity with local issues and an understanding of relevant world affairs â&#x20AC;˘ $ VHQVH RI VSHHG DQG DFFXUDF\ LQ ZULWLQJ DQG ÂżOOLQJ UHDO time stories to the news desk to meet tight deadlines â&#x20AC;˘ Knows Microsoft Office, social media and search engines â&#x20AC;˘ A good team player, but is able to work independently within the perimeters of a given assignment â&#x20AC;˘ Good attitude, willingness to adjust to new systems and ability to respect authority within the organization Interested applicants, please send a full resume, specifying your subject of expertise, with links to samples of online work or appropriate attachments. Please email your resumĂŠ at: hrd@manilatimes.net, or you may apply personally at 2/F Sitio Grande Bldg., 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila (Formerly TRB Bldg.), or you may call Irish de Guzman at 524-5664 local 122.

SSUNDAY U N DAY JUNE 2,, 2019

Public Square

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publicsquare@manilatimes.net

RWM, ABS-CBN team up for Bantay Langis environmental project P

REMIER lifestyle and tourism destination Resorts World Manila (RWM) forges a new path in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmentally sustainable operations through a partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. Bantay Kalikasan for the foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bantay Langis Project. The Bantay Langis Project is an advocacy and media campaign that seeks to inform the public of the dangers of improper handling and disposal of used industrial and engine oil. The project asks companies like RWM to donate used industrial oil for proper treatment, recycling, or disposal. Once a donation is CONkRMED !"3 #". S $%.2 REGistered oil treater and recycler, Genetron International Marketing, determines the monetary value of used oil, reprocesses it, and remits the proceeds to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. Bantay Kalikasan. As a tourism and lifestyle brand,

Q During the contract signing (from left) Atty. Domingo Clemente Jr., EMB-NCR regional director; Engr. Gretchen Fontejon-Enarle, Pollution Control Association of the Philippines vice president for external affairs; Stephen Reilly Resorts World Manila chief operating officer; Engr. Geri-Geronimo SaĂąez, DENR-EMB Hazardous Waste section chief; Susan Afan, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation managing director; and Engr. Jocelyn Panen, Genetron International Marketing technical sales director. RWM will be donating its used kitchen oils from the many kitchens within its vast complex. In a signing ceremony witnessed by Environmental Management Bureau-National CapiTAL 2EGION 2EGIONAL $IRECTOR !TTY $OMINGO #LEMENTE *R 27- BECAME THE kRST INTEGRATED RESORT in the Philippines to sign up for

the Bantay Langis Project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That we are pioneering this move towards environmental SUSTAINABILITY IS kTTING AS WE ARE celebrating our 10th year as the integrated resort industry pioneer,â&#x20AC;? says Stephen Reilly, RWM COO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;RWM welcomes tens of thousands of people a day, and many of them dine in our restaurants

which means that we use thousands of liters of kitchen oil per day to meet their orders. Through this Bantay Langis partnership, we have a better way of disposing of our used oil while helping communities win through the ABS-CBN Foundation.â&#x20AC;? For more information, visit www.rwmanila.com/csr.

Beko PH tribute to Filipino Moms MAY 10, 2019, Beko PH treated the mothers with a free make up sessions and sumptuous treats as THEIR WAY TO CELEBRATE -OTHER S $AY when they participated at the Appliances exhibit at the activity center of Robinson Magnolia in Quezon City. More than 30 participants enjoyed the festivities and attended BY $YEUN :APANTA ASSISTANT GENERAL manager for Beko Bhagiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Trading Corporation. !CCORDING TO :APANTA g7E ARE here to make the lives of the mothers more relaxing while still doing the household chores. Our appliances ARE TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN EFkCIENT IN-

novative and environment friendly. We know how busy our stay home Moms and our working Moms but with the help of Beko Appliances, were giving them more time to have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;meâ&#x20AC;? time and to celebrate them, we are treating them today for three days with a free make up sessions from the professional make up artists.â&#x20AC;? Parents can choose from a variety of products under Beko, from fridges and dishwashers to ovens and rangehoods, Beko have appliances to suit any lifestyle, kitchen layout, and design. For more information, visit www.beko.ph.

Q Mom Remy Bondad andÂ Dyeun Zapanta, assistant general manager for Beko Bhagiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Trading Corporation.

Hone the next big startup with QBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Startup Roadshow THE future of Philippine startups looks bright with the Philippines national ranking up by 16 positions, according to the recently released StartupBlink Ecosystem Ranking Report. To continue this momentum, QBO Innovation Hub, the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first public-private sector initiative which aims to connect, transform, and empower Filipino startups, holds the Startup Roadshow starting this May. The roadshow aims to inspire innovators and enable communities throughout the country through sessions on startup business concepts and tools, ideation, design thinking, busi-

ness model canvas, and local ecosystem mapping. Facilitated by highly experienced QBO members and startup founders, the workshops are designed to be fun and engaging to spark the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; creativity as they kickoff their startup journey. The event also features panel discussions and networking opportunities for those wanting to connect with fellow tech leaders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The local startup ecosystem continues to grow due to susTAINED CONkDENCE IN THE COUNTRY S economy, technological advancements, and newly-introduced regulations such as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Innovative Startup Actâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which seeks to pro-

ers like Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero, *UAN 'OMEZ DE ,IAĂ&#x201E;O AND "RIGHT Akhuetie among others joined the Press Conference and gladly ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM $:-- &ASTBREAK (OST "OYET *AVELANO Sison and The Manila Times Business Writer Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas while for Manila MPBL are Arce, team owner Roman Ang, -YKE $YKE #HRIS "ITOON *OLLO 'O Carlo Lastimosa and Marvin Lee. The MLM & health and wellness distribution company owners decision came easily as both are UP alumnus and Sam is into

Q QBO Innovation Hub staff in one of the Startup Roadshows. mote ease of doing business in the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? says Katrina Chan, director of QBO Innovation Hub. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all helpful in creating a healthy business environment

for Filipino entrepreneurs, there are more opportunities to bring cutting-edge ideas to life.â&#x20AC;? For more information, visit http://www.qbo.com.ph/.

the four-year course. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish to provide every Las 0IĂ&#x201E;ERO ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH THE opportunity to obtain diploma from a four-year college education for free to help them reach their goal,â&#x20AC;? Mayor Aguilar said. -AYOR !GUILAR ALSO $&#!-#,0 IT president, said they already have 400 enlisted and screened applicants as of this Friday, May 24, while she ENCOURAGE OTHER INTERESTED ,AS 0IĂ&#x201E;EROS to avail of the scholarship program.

fering accessibility with more than 70 malls nationwide. We are grateful for this renowned recognition as a result of our teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard work and commitment to excellence, which is inspired by the continued patronage of our loyal customers,â&#x20AC;? said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls COO. The esteemed award is just the latest achievement in a roster of SM Supermallsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; milestones this year, including a recent win at the 2019 Asia0ACIkC 3TEVIE !WARDS 3TEVIES WITH a total of 45 awards, more than any other Philippine company this year. 3- S !SIA 0ACIkC 3TEVIES INCLUDed 2 gold, 23 silver, and 20 bronze awards. With this, SM bested its own record and won more than twice of its !SIA 0ACIkC 3TEVIE !WARDS LAST YEAR )N 2018, SM won 21 Stevies. 4HE !SIA 0ACIkC 3TEVIE !WARDS Gala was on May 31 at the InterContinental Hotel in Singapore.

Why you should book activities for your trip abroad early PREPARING an itinerary for your trip can help you save on expected expenses. Now that you have the list, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to book your tickets and activities. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why you should do that way before your trip: Skip the long lines. If you are going to a country with famous attractions such as the UniVERSAL 3TUDIOS AND $ISNEYLAND EXPECT long queues for tickets. To spare yourself from stressing over getting in line kRST YOU CAN BOOK IT HASSLE FREE WEEKS or months ahead. This way, you can spend more time actually exploring these attractions instead of wasting your precious vacation time. Get connected as soon as you land. Not many countries have free WiFi in almost every corner. You may want to spare yourself the trouble of looking for free WiFi, or the shock induced by an enormous bill when you use mobile data for roaming. Go around hassle-free. You can also book transportation tickets in advance. You can buy tickets, or stored value cards such as Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Octopus Card which you can use in trains, buses, ferries, and other

modes of transportation. Save money with exclusive discounts. One of the best things about booking tickets in advance is that you can save money with the discounts you score when you book early. One site that allows you to do this is Klook, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading travel activities and services booking platform. On top of the discounts, Klook also partnered with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to offer exclusive deals for BPI credit and prepaid cardholders. If you are a BPI cardholder, you can enjoy up to P1,200 off on all tours and activities at Klook when you book using your BPI credit or prepaid card. *UST MAKE SURE TO BOOK VIA BIT LY bpiklookgoals or the Klook Mobile App using the promo codes BPIGOALS600 and BPIGOALS1200. So if you have an upcoming trip in (ONG +ONG 4AIWAN *APAN +OREA Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, 6IETNAM OR EVEN IN %UROPE 53! or Australia, book your activities UNTIL *UNE TO AVAIL OF THESE exclusive discounts.

THE man who has given you all the best deserves only the best this Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $AY $IAMOND (OTEL 0HILIPPINES SALUTES ALL $ADS UNCLES GRANDFATHERS AND FATHER kGURES WITH A PREMIUM staycation getaway and an array of irresistible dining offers to enjoy after a long day of being super. 'IVE $AD THE PRIVILEGE OF UNWINDING IN LUXURY ON HIS DAY OFF WITH THE $AD S $AY /FF 2OOM 0ACKAGE &OR A $ELUXE Room with complimentary breakfast FOR TWO $AD CAN RELISH A MUCH NEEDED staycation with access to superior facilities at the Health Club and Spa, 30 percent discount in all restaurants, 20 percent discount on massage and laundry, and other grand perks, including a Special Pulutan Platter with

1 round darft beer at Bar27 to grant him the total royal treatment. For more information, visit www.diamondhotel. com for the best guaranteed rates and STAY FROM *UNE TO

Soul-good soul food sports and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why they also supported the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The two are also good friends with the Starsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team manager Neil Arce and player Marcy Arellano who were all happy to be with Fron-

trow International many partners as the company is hailed as one of the best in the Philippines right now as proof with many awards received recently from different local and international award giving bodies.

DFCAMCLP-IT offers 500 scholars for information system course 4(% $R &ILEMON # !GUILAR -EMORIAL #OLLEGE OF ,AS 0IĂ&#x201E;AS m )NSTITUTE of Technology is offering 500 scholarship slots for its new course on information system this school year 2019-2020. Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the Bachelor of Science in Information System (BSIS) course was opened only this incoming school year after the Commission on Higher Education approved the city governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application for PERMIT FOR THE $&#!-#,0 )4 TO OFFER

SM Supermalls has won the Most Honored Organization Grand Stevie Award, the most coveted award given by the prestigious Stevie Awards, which recognizes outstanding businesses for creating innovations in the work place. The leading developer and operator of malls in the Philippines and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia, SM Supermalls garnered a total of 67 award points which enabled it to clinch the illustrious award. SM SuPERMALLS WON !SIA 0ACIkC 3TEVIE !WARDS m OUT OF THE WINS BAGGED by Philippine companies and out of more than 900 nominations for innovative achievements in the entire !SIA 0ACIkC REGION THIS YEAR â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to remain true to our vision of offering family fun experiences at SM, we continuously strive to innovate and deliver exciting events for our valued customers, while of-

Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day off at Diamond Hotel PH

UP Maroons for Frontrow THE University of the Philippines basketball team, UP Maroons and the Manila Stars of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) signed a contract with the award winning, Multi Level Marketing -,- $IRECT 3ELLING #OMPAny, Frontrow International, headed and attended by its Chief Executive /FkCER 3AM 6ERZOSA AND 0RESIDENT Raymond â&#x20AC;&#x153;RSâ&#x20AC;? Francisco. Among those present in the event were UP head coach Bo 0ERASOL WITH 2ICKY $ANDAN 0OCH *UINIO 2ODNEY 3ANTOS 4HE PLAYERS are in full force also as star play-

SM Supermalls wins â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Most Honored Organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The general admission test was conducted on May 30 and 31 at the $&#!-#,0 )4 CAMPUS AT $ANDELION 3TREET $OĂ&#x201E;A -ANUELA 3UBD 0AMPLONA ))) ,AS 0IĂ&#x201E;AS #ITY ACcording to Ms. Eugenia Guerra, SCHOOL S /FkCER )N #HARGE #LASSES WILL START ON *ULY The new course is an addition to the existing four-year courses being OFFERED AT THE CITY COLLEGE THE $&#!-CLP, such as Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Financial Management,

Human Resource, and Marketing. $&#!-#,0 ACCEPTS A TOTAL OF 1,000 scholars every school year enrolled in various courses where for THE PAST YEARS HAVE PRODUCED CERTIkED public accountants who were among the Top 10 board passers. ,AS 0IĂ&#x201E;AS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE free and quality education from preschool to college, including technical and vocational training courses, with corresponding assistance to for livelihood opportunities.

2!-!$!. ENDS ON *UNE AND many Muslims will re-emerge charged and renewed from this solemn season of praying and fasting. How to stay recharged and feeling light... even after Ramadan? In Sunan an-Nasaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i we read-- â&#x20AC;&#x153;And the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are continuous, even if they are few.â&#x20AC;? A life of regular prayer and fasting is a good habit for many-- Muslims or non-Muslims alike. Starting and breaking the fast the proper way is critical knowledge to stay fit and strong, while on the wings of soul RElECTION AND BODY CLEANSING Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why oatmeal remains a favourite â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;suhourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; food for Ramadan and for fasting. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Suhourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the keynote pre-dawn meal that is allowed, after which no food intake is permitted for the day until sunset. Who says oatmeal is boring? With todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brands pressing on to be ver-

satile to keep customers from brandswitching, various types of oats have flourished. An all-time favourite is Whole-grain Rolled Oats, with its CHUNKY GOODNESS AND NUTTY lAVOUR AND WHOLE GRAIN HEALTH BENEkTS &OR PEOPLE on the go who prefer instant preparations, there is Instant Oatmeal (just add water!). For customers preferring the goodness of chunky oats but at a shorter cooking time-- there is Quick-Cooking Oats. All these oat variants are available with Australia Harvest Oatmeal-- an affordable brand that is very popular AMONG HARD CORE HEALTH AkCIONADOS

Sports

SSUNDAY JJUNE 2, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Q Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (No. 43) blocks a shot by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (No. 23) during the second half of Game 1 of basketball s NBA Finals on Friday in Toronto. AP PHOTO

ORONTO, Canada: Pascal Siakam achieved his late dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream of playing in the NBA. Now every game the Cameroonian forward plays for the Toronto Raptors is dedicated to his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memory. Siakam scored a career playoff high 32 points to power the Raptors over the defending champion Golden State Warriors 118-109 in Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opener (Friday in Manila) of the NBA Finals then promptly admitted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just doing it for my dad.â&#x20AC;? Half a day later, the 25-year-old African star was still thinking of his father, Tchamo Siakam, who died from injuries in a 2014 auto accident before seeing his youngest of four sons realize the family dream. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger than basketball and every night I go out there, I have a bigger purpose and I play for something bigger than just basketball,â&#x20AC;? Siakam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what make it special that every night Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m out there, no matter the result, no matter how many points I score, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m playing for something bigger than myself.â&#x20AC;? Siakam had three older brothers who played major US college basketball but Pascalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in the sport only came in his teens ahead of his big break being discovered in an African Basketball Without Borders camp. He wound up at New Mexico State when his father died and his mother, Victorie, pushed him not to return home for a funeral but keep working on making his dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream a reality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of adversity, I went

through something that I considered the hardest moment of my life when my dad passed away,â&#x20AC;? Siakam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was in college and just away from my family. Thank God I had the supp o r t of my teammates a n d coaches in college that helped me go through it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But it was definitely one of the toughest moments in my life, and not being able to go home for the funeral and all that. So it was definitely a moment where it kind of tested me as a man, just being able to go through that and using that as a motivation, something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to push me to do better things for my family, for myself, for my dad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a turning point in my life, just going through that type OF ADVERSITY )T DEkNITELY MADE ME the person I am today.â&#x20AC;? Siakam, taken 27th by the Raptors in the 2017 NBA Draft, is the person who writes â&#x20AC;&#x153;R.I.P. Dadâ&#x20AC;? on

Cameroonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Siakam overcame dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death to live NBA dream

his shoes during the NBA playoffs and one who wonders if his father would be proud to see all that he has achieved, three wins from becoming an NBA champion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a question I ask myself every single day and I know I wish I had the answer,â&#x20AC;? Siakam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know people always tell me that I know heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proud of you, and I kind of want to hear it from

his mouth and I think it would be really cool.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A burning desireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Siakamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work ethic that amazes Toronto coach Nick Nurse, having watched him train harder to become not only an NBA player, but a threat to become among the very best, his 32 points serving notice the best is yet to come.

Q Quinn Cook (No. 4) of the Golden State Warriors speaks to head coach Steve Kerr in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors during Game One of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 30, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. AFP PHOTO Siakamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32-point performance for Toronto in the opener, vows a more aggressive style Sunday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can do a lot better in executing and there are some adjustments we can make,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to be more aggressive. Aggressiveness starts with me and everybody else will follow. If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on my heels, everyone else is on their heels. g!LL kVE GUYS GOT TO DO A BETTER job of just being physical, being alert, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be all right. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re champions. We understand what it takes. People hold us to a higher standard, but we hold ourselves to an even higher standard.â&#x20AC;?

Rust shaken off Curry, who has sparked Golden Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attack with forward Kevin Durant out with a calf injury, said a 10-day break between games and being unfamiliar with the Raptors contributed to the Warriorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; loss. g4HE kRST HALF AFTER THAT DAY break it was a little bit sloppier than we might have thought and a little bit more rust that we had to shake off,â&#x20AC;? Curry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that complicated what we need to do differently â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just play better, take away easy buckets for them and control momentum a little bit better.â&#x20AC;?

Warriors star Durant will miss Game 2 of NBA Finals TORONTO, Canada: Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant will miss Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second game (Monday in Manila) of the NBA Finals with the strained right calf that has sidelined him for the past six games. Durant is the leading scorer in the playoffs for the Warriors, averaging 34.2 points with 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists a contest. But the Warriors were 5-0 without him until losing 118109 to Toronto in Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening game of the best-ofseven championship series. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kevin is not going to play Sunday,â&#x20AC;? Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s near impossible for him to play on Sunday.â&#x20AC;? The 30-year-old superstar, Most Valuable Player of the past two NBA Finals, will become a free agent at the end of the playoffs but hopes to return and help Golden State to a

third consecutive NBA crown before deciding his future. Kerr gave no indication of a timetable for Durantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return. Game three will be Wednesday at Oakland with game four two days later on the Warriorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; California home court. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still progressing,â&#x20AC;? Kerr said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ready to play he will play. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our approach.â&#x20AC;? Kerr said Durant must rejoin the club for at least one practice before he will be reinstated to the lineup. Andre Iguodala, who has spent more time on the court in Durantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence, appears set to play in game two Sunday after suffering a left leg injury in game one and undergoing an MRI on Friday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seems to be doing well,â&#x20AC;? Kerr said of Iguodala, the NBA Finals MVP in Golden Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 title run. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I talked to him and he said he felt pretty good.â&#x20AC;? AFP

good player in this league.â&#x20AC;? Siakam, whose lanky frame and impressive speed make his a challenge for any defender, is constantly looking for ways to improve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned a lot and I know I have a lot to learn,â&#x20AC;? Siakam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the advantages for me. I know I have so much to learn. I have to grow. Just try to be a little bit smarter and learn something every night.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Raptors superfan Drake confronts Warriors stars

Warriors seek answers after NBA Finals loss to Raptors TORONTO, Canada: Confident despite losing their NBA Finals opener, the defending champion Golden State Warriors say they must hustle faster defensively and reduce mistakes to defeat the Toronto Raptors. Seeking their third consecutive title and fourth crown in kVE YEARS THE 7ARRIORS HAD WON 12 consecutive playoff series openers before falling 118-109 Thursday, gaining hard-earned wisdom for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game two. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re down 0-1 but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the end of the world,â&#x20AC;? Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve proven our resiliency and ability to win games we need to, answer the bell and learn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They obviously played well but OUR CONkDENCE REMAINS THE SAME Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just come out, play hard, get game two and take it from there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like the vibe that we have in the locker room in terms of everybody focusing on what they need to do differently and the overall energy bump we need to have to go steal game two.â&#x20AC;? Warriors coach Steve Kerr has stressed fast-moving defensive work because he sees familiar challenges in how the Raptors play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Transition defense is where it starts. We were just careless getting back,â&#x20AC;? Kerr said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a team that can push the ball from a lot of different positions and plays fast, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be vigilant every possession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If anything, they remind me of us.â&#x20AC;? Warriors forward Draymond Green, who took the blame for Pascal

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen anything like that before. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty big stage for a guy to put that kind of performance on,â&#x20AC;? Nurse said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has a big engine with lots of energy that enables him to play with a certain speed, athleticism and enables him to work very hard every single day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Give the kid the credit. He has worked his tail off. He has really got a burning desire to be a very

Green agrees the Warriors will be able to better compete against a team that has the speed and quick-strike ability of their reptilian namesakes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got our conditioning back,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a bit rough after 10 days off. Now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a feel for them. We know what we can do better. I like where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at. Yeah, we lost but I think we kGURED SOME THINGS OUT AND WE LL be better next game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our rotation has got to be betTER 7E VE GOT TO lY AROUND A LITTLE bit more. We can still play better and I know we will.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Want to see you fallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; But the Warriors also have a new appreciation for the Raptorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; speed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very fast, a little faster than it even looks on tape,â&#x20AC;? Green said. g4HEY DEkNITELY HAVE A LOT OF SPEED Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different once you see it and once you feel it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So now that we got a feel for it, we know how to adjust. We know how important it is.â&#x20AC;? The Warriors accept that all of Canada, and much of the United States, want them dethroned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People in the States are rooting against us because we beat all their teams,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at the top, no oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever cheering for you to stay there. They want to see you fall. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just kind of the mind of most human beings.â&#x20AC;? AFP

TORONTO, Canada: Toronto Raptors rapstar superfan Drake taunted Golden State stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson during the Canadian clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory over the defending champion Warriors to open the NBA Finals. Drake, a Toronto native who is a courtside regular at Raptors games, exchanged words with Green as Golden State walked off the court following Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 118-109 victory Thursday (Friday in Manila) in the best-of-seven series opener. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother me â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Drake talking on the sideline, so many people make a big deal out of it,â&#x20AC;? Green said Friday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is what it is. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fan. He talks and it gets more attention because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drake.â&#x20AC;? Drake was wearing an old Raptors jersey of Curryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, Dell Curry, who played for the Raptors and retired in Toronto. He picked at Stephen Curryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair when the two had a brief courtside chat during a timeout. And he seranaded Thompson with one of his more mellow songs that the Warriors guard said he wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play now, despite being a Drake fan, because he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;in kill mode right now trying to get these four gamesâ&#x20AC;?. The confrontations came in the wake of the NBA having a discussion with Drake about his antics after he rubbed the shoulders of Raptors coach Nick Nurse during AN %ASTERN #ONFERENCE kNALS PLAYOFF game against Milwaukee. The most intense moments of Drakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest escapades came when Green, walking off the court, yelled at Drake, who responded with choice words of his own in a confrontation that never became physical. g)T WASN T REALLY A SCUFlE BECAUSE ) didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hit him and he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hit me, and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push him and he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push me,â&#x20AC;? Green said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We talked. We barked a little bit, but I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily CONSIDER THAT A SCUFlE u 'REEN ALSO WAS THE kRST TO DEFEND Drake for being able to interact more with players than the usual fan, even another courtside ticket buyer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So many people are complaining about it, like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let any other fan do that,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Green said Friday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah, any other fan is just not Drake, so they probably shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to do that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just kind of how the cookie crumbles. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked his ass off to be who he is. We all

know when you do that, you get more leash than others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much talk the NBA needs to (take action). No, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. He worked to be who he is. You should get more leash. But I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun for me.â&#x20AC;? Drake wore a band on his left arm to cover tattoos he sports with the names and numbers of Curry and injured Golden State star forward Kevin Durant. Curry went to speak to Drake during a timeout, when the rapper picked what was described as a piece of lint from Curryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair. Thompson had said on the eve of game one he would skip â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hotline Blingâ&#x20AC;? and Drakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft R&B songsâ&#x20AC;? TO STAY INTENSE FOR THE kNALS So after a technical foul was whistled against Thompson in the fourth quarter, Drake sang â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hotline Blingâ&#x20AC;? as the Warriors guard walked past him. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he liked how his team handled the intense atmosphere of Toronto fans without mentioning Drake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our guys responded well. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to playing on the road, hostile environments, all that,â&#x20AC;? Kerr said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we played our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; game ... but the crowd will never have anything to do with that with this team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Canadian fans are so nice that even when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re harassing us they do it in a very polite manner.â&#x20AC;?

NBA drew line for Drake Before the game, NBA commissioner Adam Silver explained how the league had spoken with Drake, AN OFkCIAL AMBASSADOR FOR THE 2APtors, about his actions, not wanting to encourage other fans who might want to copy such actions. g4HE LEAGUE OFkCE HAD CONVERSAtions directly with Drake and his manager and I think we ended up in a good place,â&#x20AC;? Silver said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We certainly appreciate his superfan status. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want fans, friend or foe, contacting an NBA coach during a game... I think those can lead to dangerous situations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We understood that in this case, given Drakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship to the team, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the same as just any fan who happened to be courtside touching a coach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But at the same time I think there are appropriate lines that shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be crossed in terms of how a competing team is addressed.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Nascar

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

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Truex overcomes early problems to win Coca-Cola 600 C

ONCORD, N.C.: Martin Truex Jr. gave team owner Joe Gibbs another reason to celebrate at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 4RUEX OVERCAME AN EARLY lAT TIRE AFTER HITTING THE WALL THEN BROKE TO THE FRONT ON A WILD kNAL RESTART AND WON THE #OCA #OLA FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR SEASONS 3UNDAY NIGHT )T WAS THE PERFECT CAP TO A LAND MARK WEEK FOR 'IBBS AND HIS RACE TEAM 4HE THREE TIME 3UPER "OWL CHAMPION COACH WAS VOTED INTO THE .!3#!2 (ALL OF &AME ON 7EDNESDAY ALONG WITH TWO OF HIS RACE TEAM S CHAMPIONSHIP DRIV ERS IN "OBBY ,ABONTE AND 4ONY 3TEWART "UT ACCORDING TO 'IBBS IT WAS 4RUEX IN HIS kRST SEASON WITH *'2 WHO DELIVERED THE PROGRAM S BIGGEST MOMENT g7HAT WAS 7EDNESDAY u 'IBBS RESPONDED WHEN ASKED IF THE RACE VICTORY WAS BIGGER THAN THE (ALL OF &AME 'IBBS BROKE INTO LAUGHTER WHEN REMINDED ABOUT HIS HONOR g/BVI OUSLY ) M EXCITED ABOUT TONIGHT u HE SAID WITH A SMILE !ND 4RUEX PROVIDED MUCH OF THE EXCITEMENT (E SLID INTO THE 4URN WALL DURING THE kRST STAGE OF .!3#!2 S LONGEST EVENT DAMAGING HIS TIRE AND SEEMINGLY PUTTING HIS CHANCES IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY "UT CREW CHIEF #OLE 0EARN RADIOED HIS DRIVER THAT

THINGS WERE NOT THAT BAD AND TO STAY CALM AND REMAIN FOCUSED g) THOUGHT @7E RE DONE (OW WE GOING TO kX THIS THING u 4RUEX SAID g) DIDN T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS BUT THE GUYS WORKED HARD kXED IT UP u 4HAT STEADIED 4RUEX THE REST OF THE WAY ESPECIALLY NEAR THE END WHEN HE DROVE LOW DURING A FOUR WIDE kGHT FOR THE LEAD ON THE kNAL RESTART AT #HARLOTTE -OTOR 3PEEDWAY (E HAD AN EASIER TIME IN THE RACE WHEN HE LED OF LAPS 4RUEX SPRANG OUT LOW AND SHOT INTO THE FRONT PAST +YLE "USCH 2YAN .EWMAN AND $AVID 2AGAN WHO STRETCHED FOUR ACROSS THE TRACK g9OU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN u SAID 4RUEX WHO LED LAPS THIS TIME 4RUEX HELD OFF DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION AND 4EAM 0ENSKE DRIVER *OEY ,OGANO Â&#x2021; AND AGAIN PREVENT OWNER 2OGER 0ENSKE FROM BECOM ING THE kRST TO HELM WINNERS AT THE )NDIANAPOLIS AND #OCA #OLA ON MOTORSPORTS BIGGEST DAY 4 H I N G S BEGAN WITH ,EWIS (AM ILTON S ROUS ING WIN IN

THE -ONACO 'RAND 0RIX WHICH HE DEDICATED TO HIS LATE FRIEND AND CHAMPION DRIVER .IKI ,AUDA .EXT 3IMON 0AGENAUD GAVE 0ENSKE HIS TH )NDY VICTORY IN A THRILL ING DUEL OVER THE kNAL LAPS WITH !LEXANDER 2OSSI g&OR US IT S THE WILDEST RACE WE VE EVER WON u 0EARN SAID 4RUEX WAS HAPPY TO PROVIDE HIS BOSS ANOTHER WIN g4O THINK A GUY CAN BE IN THE 0RO &OOTBALL (ALL OF &AME AND THE .!3#!2 (ALL OF &AME JUST TELLS YOU HOW SPECIAL 'IBBS IS AND ) M SUPER HONORED TO DRIVE FOR HIM u 4RUEX SAID 0EARN SAID THE CAR WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY THE EARLY RUN INTO THE WALL AND IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE PITS TO kX THE ISSUES 3TILL IN VICTORY LANE 0EARN COULDN T BELIEVE HIS TEAM CAME OUT ON TOP g)T WAS CRAZY TO SEE THE CAR BE THAT GOOD AND BE THAT BANGED UP u HE SAID 0ENSKE DRIVER "RAD +ESEL OWSKI WON THE kRST TWO STAG ES AND APPEARED TO HAVE THE STRONGEST CAR "UT HE

SLIPPED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK DURING THE THIRD LAP SEGMENT AND NEVER CHALLENGED FOR THE VIC TORY (E kNISHED TH "USCH WAS THIRD #HASE %LLIOTT FOURTH AND 2ICKY 3TENHOUSE *R kFTH ,OGANO SAID 4RUEX HAD THE FASTER CAR IN THE RACE )F ,OGANO HAD GOT TEN TO 4RUEX S OUTSIDE HE MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO MOVE IN FRONT HE SAID 4RUEX gKNEW THE SAME THING u ,OGANO SAID g(E DID A GOOD JOB DEFENDING HIS POSITION u TAKE CAUTION: 4HERE WERE CAUTIONS IN THE #OCA #OLA THE MOST AT THIS EVENT IN YEARS 4HE SLOWDOWNS INCLUDED BREAKS BETWEEN STAGES BUT SLOWED THINGS ENOUGH THAT THE EVENT TOOK MORE THAN kVE HOURS TO COMPLETE ALLSTAR ISSUE: !LL 3TAR RACE WIN NER +YLE ,ARSON HAD HOPED TO BUILD OFF HIS MILLION WINNING RUN AT #HARLOTTE A WEEK AGO IN THE )NSTEAD HE LOST GRIP IN THE kNAL STAGE HIT #LINT "OWYER T O

Q Martin Truex Jr. poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. AP PHOTOS

START A WRECK THAT COLLECTED SEVEN DRIVERS ,ARSON SAID THE FAULT WAS HIS g5P AND DOWN DAY FOR US u ,ARSON SAID g) kNALLY PUT MYSELF IN A GOOD SPOT FOR ABOUT A LAP AND ) SCREWED THAT UP u ,ARSON HAS NOT WON A .!3#!2 POINTS RACE SINCE 2ICHMOND IN 3EPTEMBER A SPAN OF RACES GIBBSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TIRE PROBLEMS: )T WASN T A COMPLETELY PERFECT WEEK FOR *OE 'IBBS 2ACING 7HILE 'IBBS MADE THE .!3#!2 (ALL OF &AME THIS WEEK ALONG WITH TWO OF HIS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVERS IN "OBBY ,ABONTE AND 4ONY 3TEWART THEIR 4OYOTAS HAD SOME ON TRACK PROB LEMS %RIK *ONES WAS OUT OF THE RACE AFTER JUST LAPS WHEN HIS CAR SLID HARD INTO THE WALL AND DAM AGED HIS RIGHT FRONT TIRE 4RUEX HIT THE WALL ON LAP L WHILE

OUT FRONT WITH A TWO SECOND LEAD )T WAS $ENNY (AMLIN S TURN IN THE SECOND STAGE AS HE HIT THE WALL WHILE NEAR THE FRONT (AMLIN SPUN OUT AGAIN ON THE kNAL LAP TO kNISH TH )N THE 8FINITY RACE 3ATURDAY 'IBBS RACER #HRISTOPHER "ELL WON THE POLE AND LED OF THE kRST LAPS WHEN HE BRUSHED THE WALL HIT TIRE CAUGHT kRE AND HE COULDN T CONTINUE NEVER FORGET: .!3#!2 HELD A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE AS CARS WERE LED INTO THE PITS AND HALTED $RIVERS TURNED OFF THEIR ENGINES AND FANS STOOD QUIETLY DURING SECONDS OF SILENCE AS PART OF THE -EMORIAL $AY SOLEMN CEREMONIES UP NEXT: 4HE -ONSTER %NERGY .!3#!2 #UP 3ERIES GOES TO 0O CONO NEXT 3UNDAY AP Q Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. on May 26, 2019.

Tyler Reddick powers to XďŹ nity race victory at Charlotte

Q Tyler Reddick raises the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. on May 25, 2019. AP PHOTO

CONCORD, N.C. : Tyler Reddick won the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday after taking the lead for good on a restart with 15 laps to go. The defending Xfinity champion led 110 of 200 laps to win for the second time this season and the second time in three races. He finished more than two seconds ahead of Justin Allgaier. Jeffrey Earnhardt was third, followed by Noah Gragson and Justin Haley. Reddick, a 23-year-old in his first season with Richard Childress Racing, had had eight consecutive top four finishes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has a talent,â&#x20AC;? owner Richard Childress said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He will be a superstar in the (NASCAR) cup division and we want

him to do it for RCR.â&#x20AC;? Reddick showed that at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On a hot, humid afternoon where several competitors including lap leaders Christopher Bell and Brandon Jones were sliding into the wall, Reddick kept himself cool and collected. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I felt great all race long,â&#x20AC;? Reddick said. Reddick moved in front for on the lap 72 and held on to win the second of three stages. He was ahead much of the final, 110-lap stretch and made it through several restarts. He gambled during one caution period, coming in to take four tires to fall off the lead. Reddick bounced back quickly to pass

John Hunter Nemecheck and pull away from the field. Reddick fell behind Cole Custer on a restart with 23 laps to go before a final caution â&#x20AC;&#x201D; brought out by a spinning Josh Williams â&#x20AC;&#x201D; bunched the field. Reddick broke from the group quickly as Custer spun his wheels and fell behind. No one had enough to catch Reddick, who won for the fifth time in 62 career Xfinity races. Reddick said he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been so consistent since he was a 10-year-old racing karts in California. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awesome,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully, it means the next couple are going to keep rolling this way.â&#x20AC;? Reddick figured to get a challenge

from Bell, who won the pole by nearly two-tenths of a second and looked like a strong bet to win his second straight Xfinity race and fourth of the season. Bell took the opening stage and was running strongly until things went wrong at the end of the raceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second segment as hit the wall in turn four while running second and damaged his right front tire. Bell stayed out on the track despite losing track position as his tire shredded and caught fire in the pits. Bell hurried out of his car as his tire burned. The car went behind the wall for good. Reddick prevailed on a hot, humid day where temperatures climbed to

the mid-90s and car cockpits were close to 130 degrees. Earnhardt was slumped against his car after getting out, catching his breath and trying to cool off. Earnhardt was taken the infield care center where he was checked out and released. Austin Dillon, the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner, took part in the Xfinity race, but exited the car during a caution with 40 laps left due to the heat. Dillon will start fourth in Sunday in NASCARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest race. Gragson said he came through the heat â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and 300 miles of racing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in good condition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was kind of questioning my conditioning,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not so much now.â&#x20AC;? AP

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What happens in a time speed distance rally? TURBO A TIMES FTER destroying the myths of the time speed distance (TSD) rally in my column last May 26, let us concentrate on what really goes on inside the car during this on-time, all-the-time fun run. Our 3rd Mabuhay Independence TSD Rally will be held on June 9 that would be a half-day event around Metro Manila and Cavite, home of the Philippine Revolution. We are happy to note that there are quite a number of new participants that are running in this event. After our practice sessions, they were all smiling and pledged to support our exciting events with their families, too. Here are some of our TSD rally procedures that every crew would have to know before they compete. Some good crews had won RALLIES IN THEIR kRST OUTING AND WE hope this would help you win TSD rallies in the future.

Practice and synch As in all events, the crews that practice often would be the favored ones. In our orientation and practice sessions, we explained the basics of the TSD rallies like route and time navigation. Since this is an on-time, all-the-time rally, the competitor who understands how to get to the destination and calculate the perfect time would have the upper hand. Thus, it is important that you get your team to practice as often as possible. The crew would have to bring at least a digital clock or stopwatch that has the seconds indicated on its face. They would need one for the timer and another inside the car for the driver and route navigator to see during the event. Another important reminder is to synch the timepieces with the OFkCIAL TIME All the marshals and rally timing systems would be following THE OFkCIAL TIME AND YOU SHOULD too. Our TSD rally format slaps a 1-point demerit for every 1 second that you are either early or late in a checkpoint. Thus, it would be useless to compete if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have your stopwatches and digital clocks all synched with that of the OFkCIAL ONE

Time calculation One of the most important members of the crew is the timer, and he/she is the one who would have to calculate the perfect time for each action point in the road book. The timer is also the one who would punch in at the right time at checkpoints. The timer is easily the most stressed member of the crew and the one that you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk to in the car! The timer would need to have a good array of equipment. Aside from a clock/stopwatch, the timer needs to pay attention to the copy of the road book and the permitted speed vs distance table. Aside from that, a simple calculator is needed to help get the total time. Because of this, our teammate told us that he uses a tray to hold all those gadgets and had taped them on to it. What a great tip! The speed vs distance table would easily give the time required for a given distance and average speed indicated in the road book. However, not all values are listed in the table and the timer must memorize the formula of TSD: time = (distance x 60)/average speed. This

would give the time in minutes and convert it to seconds, with the result multiplied by 60. This would provide the correct perfect time for all required points.

Route navigation The TSD rally is also following an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amazing Raceâ&#x20AC;? format, with THE ROAD BOOK GIVEN kVE MINUTES before the event. For those who are not familiar with rally routes, THE BOOK WOULD DEkNITELY MAKE you feel lost in translation with its tulip route drawings and various codes used. However, once you are familiar with it, you would get a lot of good information needed for the event, like the average speed, distances in total and interval columns plus landmarks that are very helpful when you get lost. The biggest problem facing the navigator is that no other gadget is allowed inside the car, and, thus, the crew is limited to the original speedometer with the odometer gauge to coordinate with the road book. Because of this, our navigator Lindy has to stay at the back of the Mini to look at the small odometer and read the gauge that is in front of the driver. It is not ideal but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only way to see where we are going in the rally. Another problem is that the odometer has a range of 100 meters before it changes. Due to this limitation, the crew usually gets lost when we go around very technical paths like parking lots that have roads near each other. There are a lot of things that can happen in 100 meters, and the crew that can navigate around this would move forward the leaderboard!

Driving on time The driver plays an important role as he is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nutâ&#x20AC;? behind the wheel and controls the pace. The driver should be willing to obey the route and time navigators and be patient enough to accept mistakes from the hardworking crew. Also, the driver should be good enough to drive at a fast pace if required or temper his right foot if they are traveling way ahead of the scheduled stop. The driver should also be looking for unannounced checkpoints that are all over the place and help the navigator in identifying them. Since most of the hidden time controls are in waiting sheds where jeepneeys, tricycles and buses stop, it is easy to pass them, leading to a big penalty. The driver is the only one that could keep the car in the race by driving within the prescribed low average speeds, thus avoiding getting a ticket by the police or worse, getting into an accident that will lead to a DNF (did not finish). !S A kNAL TIP THE WINNING TEAM IS not the fastest team but the one that can work together and not fall apart when they are faced with problems. They should not get lost, should get there on time and be present for the post-event celebrations. Believe me â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the experience and stories would last forever!

Motor Sports

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Q Estefano Rivera leads the pack during the third race of the third round of the current Formula V1 season. The third race was held at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Batangas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rivera recounts thrilling FV1 win BY MIKE POTENCIANO

ARTING and gymkhana champion Estefano Rivera won the thrilling third round of the Formula V1 race held at the Batangas Racing Circuit recently amid stiff competition and a delayed start from bad weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We actually had great pace before the races and we were pretty confident with the upcoming races,â&#x20AC;? explained Rivera, who also races in the Toyota Vios Cup. g7E HAD A VERY GOOD kGHT WITH Japanese champion Ryo Yamada and luckily, we held on to win the third round. This was really a hard race weekend and in the end, we took the kNAL WIN FOR THE TEAM u HE ADDED The younger member of the rac-

ing Rivera family, Estefano, had to dig deep to match the skills of FV1 Japanese champion Yamada, who drove for the Clean Fuel Team. Yamada exerted his dominance in THE kRST RACE AND FENDED OF THE CHALLENGES OF 2IVERA TO TAKE kRST PLACE Rivera was still happy to take second IN HIS kRST RACE IN THE &6 CAR OF THE Obengers Racing Team. Meanwhile, the next generation racer of the legendary Ramirez family,

Stefan Ramirez, came home in third TO TAKE HIS kRST PODIUM IN THE SERIES In the second race, a car in front of Rivera spun that forced him to turn his car to avoid hitting the wayward car. From the back of the grid, Rivera worked extra hard to take third place behind winner Yamada and Ramirez, who finished in first and second, respectively. A very frustrated Rivera only had the last race to do well in front of the crowd and his team. Right before the start of the third race, there were technical issues and a slight drizzle that delayed the start. However, Rivera kept his cool and drove right behind the leaders. On the fourth lap, a big accident, involving actor Dominic Roque, took place, forcING THE RED lAG TO BE WAVED At the restart, Rivera was able to keep Yamada at bay and, unfortu-

NATELY THE *APANESE kGURED IN AN INCIDENT THAT GAVE THE kNAL LAPS TO an unchallenged Rivera. Raymond Ronquillo of Front 2OW 2ACING 4EAM kNISHED SECOND and Jussi Hoikka of Cowl-Thule Racing came in at third. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Obengers Team worked hard on set-up and made sure the car was 110-percent ready for each race. I dedicate this win to my team and of course, our team principal, Cosco Oben,â&#x20AC;? Rivera said. The Amateur Division was won also by Obengers Teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young driver Alex Brown, who was racing FOR THE kRST TIME OUT OF KARTING The 16-year old champion dominated all three races of his class and impressed everyone with his skills. The next races will be held on July 20 to 21 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bye Nikiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: Austria says farewell to F1 icon Lauda VIENNA: Thousands of mourners, including motor racing world champion Lewis Hamilton, bid farewell to Formula One legend and Austrian national hero Niki Lauda at a ceremony in Viennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic cathedral on Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all loved and admired Niki. We admired his courage, his will, his strength, his love,â&#x20AC;? said Austrian-born actor and former California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, during the packed funeral mass at St. Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cathedral. Lauda, who died on May 20 at the age of 70, was three-times world champion whose track victories and comeback from a horrific crash enthralled race fans worldwide. He suffered horrific injuries on August 1, 1976 when, having already won five races that season, his vehicle burst into flames on the Nuerburgring in Germany. He had severe burns to his face and hands, and inhaled toxic fumes which damaged his lungs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goodbye, world champion! Thank you for everything,â&#x20AC;? Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen told the mourners, who in addition to Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family and hundreds of VIP guests, also included onlookers from all over Austria and further afield. The guests included other Formula One heavyweights, such as Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas, as well as French former F1 driver Alain Prost, Austrian former F1 driver Gerhard Berger, and former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who was removed from office by a no-confidence vote this week.

Trademark red cap Songs that were reportedly Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorites â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amazing Graceâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fast Carâ&#x20AC;? by Tracy Chapman and John Lennonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagineâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were played. Many in the crowds both inside and outside the cathedral wore red caps similar to the ones that became Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trademark, which he used to cover the scars from his accident.

Q The coffin of late Austrian three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda is seen in a hearse in front of the Stephandsdom (St Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cathedral) in Vienna on May 29, 2019. AFP PHOTO A Ferrari flag could also be seen. pay their respects, taking photos and which people in the western part of Lauda won the driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; world champion- laying flowers. her country had been able to receive in ship in 1975 and 1977 with Ferrari and Communist times. in 1984 with McLaren. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;An example for Austriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the era of the Iron Curtain, he Even after his retirement, Lauda was always a role model for us... He was remained a firm fixture on the racing It is the first time a sports star has unreachable, like a god, to us,â&#x20AC;? she said. circuit, most recently becoming nonreceived such an honour in the Gothic Lauda died at the University Hospital executive chairman at Mercedes F1 in Roman Catholic cathedral, a distinction Zurich in Switzerland, nine months after 2012. He was also instrumental in bring- previously accorded only to dignitarundergoing a lung transplant. ing in Hamilton. ies such as the archbishop of Vienna, The family has not yet said where After the mass, pallbearers carried Cardinal Franz Koenig, and the former Lauda will be buried, but they have rethe coffin outside, as bells rang out and crown prince of the Austrian-Hungarian portedly turned down an offer from the thousands looked on. empire, Otto von Habsburg. city authorities for an honorary grave in The procession was accompanied by â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole world says today: Bye, Niki!â&#x20AC;? Viennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sprawling Central Cemetery. Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family, Hamilton, and former tabloid Oesterreich said on its front page. Lauda also underwent kidney transdrivers such as Prost and German-born Among the mourners queueing outplants, where one of the kidneys was Nico Rosberg. side the cathedral, Roland, a 41-yeardonated by his last wife, a former flight Earlier, the casket had arrived with a old technician from Vienna, hailed attendant with whom he had twins, a police motorcade. Lauda as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an example for Austriaâ&#x20AC;?. boy and a girl, in 2009. And Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s widow Birgit along with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though he faced very difficult Lauda also has three other sons from two of his sons placed his helmet on top circumstances, he never complained,â&#x20AC;? he previous relationships. of the coffin, which stood surrounded by told Agence France-Presse. Besides racing, Laudaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second passion flower wreaths and a portrait of Lauda Imre Varga, 63, who had come all was aviation. He founded and then sold sporting his famous red cap. the way from Hungary, said she used several airlines with his latest, LaudamoMourners then slowly filed past to to watch Lauda on Austrian television, tion, going to Ryanair in 2018. AFP

SATO STILL GETS REDEMPTION IN INDIANAPOLIS 500 INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: While Takuma Soto did not emerge the winner of the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26 (May 27 in Manila), his third PLACE kNISH WAS ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM redemption as the Japanese started from the 31st position. Satoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s racing motto is â&#x20AC;&#x153;No attack. No chance,â&#x20AC;? and he proved that by trying to get a better position during the last 10 laps of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indianapolis 500. In the

last 10 laps of the race, the Japanese was in third place behind Simon Pagenaud of France and Alexander Rossi of the United States, the 2016 champion. Pagenaud won the 2019 Indianapolis 500, while Rossi took second place. Sato, the 2017 Indianapolis 500 champion driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, even took the lead by Lap 36 by stretching his fuel longer than the other drivers.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My race, [at] one stage it looked really tough,â&#x20AC;? Sato said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got some LITTLE ISSUES AFTER THE kRST PIT STOP SO WE had to come back [and pit again on Lap 40], and then I think it got a lap down in 31st place.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we had to [put our] head down the job and recalculate. Our team did a GREAT JOB TO STRETCH THE kELD AND THEN GET back to the pack. I think it took more than 100 laps,â&#x20AC;? he added.

After falling behind to 19th place after a pit stop, Sato took the lead anew ON ,AP BEFORE MAKING HIS kNAL PIT stop on the next lap. The timing of that stop couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been better since a yellow flag waved again on Lap 178 for a six-car incident. 3ATO TOOK THE ,AP RESTART IN kFTH PLACE but quickly passed Ed Carpenter and Josef Newgarden to battle it out for the podium. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it was brilliant and after the

restart, it was very exciting. Got up to P6 SIXTH 0 kFTH 0 FOURTH AND kNALLY got P3 (third), and then I got everything I had,â&#x20AC;? he added. Sato was quick to congratulate his crew for the effort to get him back from 31st place to within grasp of another Indianapolis 500 win. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge credit to the team, engineering side, and the boys worked so hard,â&#x20AC;? he said. THE TIMES

Sports

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

The Sunday Times

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Borja, Corpuz shine anew in Alaska Fortified IronKids BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

UBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE: Zedrick James Borja snared his second STRAIGHT !LASKA &ORTIkED )RON+IDS TITLE in the centerpiece 13-14 years old boys category on Saturday morning at the WOW Recreation and Activity Center here. Borja, who ruled the previous IronKids edition at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, registered 18 minutes and 21.9 seconds,beating twin brothers Jose Maria Tayag (18:40.1) and Juan Miguel (18:41.3) in the 400-meter-swim and 3-kilometer-run race. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is my last race in the IronKids. A big farewell for me as I won in my age category,â&#x20AC;? said the TriGear standout Borja. The national developmental team member from San Pedro, Laguna broke away in the eightloop swim, clocking in 5:53â&#x20AC;&#x201D;almost half a minute ahead of the Tayag twins. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy because since I was nine years old, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m already participating in IronKids. I was just a kNISHER THEN "UT EVENTUALLY MY performances leveled up,â&#x20AC;? he said. Borja, a Grade 8 student in San Beda-Alabang, bared his intention to continue his multisport career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will next join competitions by TRAP (Triathlon Association of the Philippines) and sprint distance races. I will be turning 15 and soon Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in the category of junior elites.â&#x20AC;? In the girls 13-14 division,

,ADY 3AMANTHA *HUNACE #ORPUZ emerged victorious with a time of 19:01.4, besting Lahainah Digermo (22:04.6) and Princess Julianne Patilan (22:26.2). #ORPUZ TALLIED EVENT BEST MARKS of 5:54 in the swim and 12:23 in the run to defend her IronKids Subic silverware and bag her third overall crown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always think of winning to get sponsors. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I train everyday,â&#x20AC;? said the incoming Grade 7 student of the Bright Beginnings Learning School in La Union. Other winners were Michael 'ABRIEL ,OZADA AND !UBREY 4OM (11-12), Darrell Johnson Braim Bada and Alyssa Khim Cabatian (9-10), and Arthur Emmyel Zulueta and Mikayla Miracle Salada (6-8). A total of 351 participants competed in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third IronKids swim-run race. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a good experience for them. Even if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become professional athletes later on in their lives, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for them to ESTABLISH A kTNESS REGIMEN )T S A healthy habit that they can take with them into adulthood,â&#x20AC;? said race director and renowned triathlete Ani De Leon Brown.

Q Lady Samantha Jhunace Corpuz CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Q Zedrick James Borja

Fierce duel up as CT IRONMAN 70.3 fires off TWELVE pros of varying styles and strengths set out for the same mission â&#x20AC;&#x201D; emerge on top of the pack in the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay presented by Big Boss Cement, which unfolds today in Subic. Despite crowning himself as the toughest following his impressive victory in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first full IRONMAN (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42k run) also here last year, Nick Baldwin of Seychelles finds the 1.9km swim-90km bike-21km run race a different kind of challenge requiring a different kind of approach and game plan against perhaps some of the best bets in the sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Competing against some of the race favorites like Tim Reed and Tim Van Berkel will be a great test and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure it will be a great race for the spectators,â&#x20AC;? said

Baldwin on the eve of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. which drew close to thousand entries from 41 countries vying in various divisions. The compact field in both the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pro divisions also brace for a battle of staying power on a practically new course with temperature tipped to hit 35-degree high during the closing run stage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An undulating course combined with the heat makes it a true test. I just hope I can put all my knowledge into helping me have a great race,â&#x20AC;? said Reed, a former three-time world champion who has reigned here in Subic in other endurance races. Boosting the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cast are Sam Betten and Conor McKay, also from Australia and Colombiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rodrigo Acevedo and Oli Sten-

ning of Great Britain. Like Reed, Dimity Lee Duke also hopes to cash in her overall familiarity of Subic, having raced in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s triathlon capital many times over although the veteran campaigner looks forward to a fierce duel with Caroline Steffen, New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Laura Wood, Manami Iijima of Guam and Lisa Tyack, also from Down Under. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am fortunate to have raced this course over a number of yeaers so I hope this will put me in a good position (to win),â&#x20AC;? said Duke. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Subic Bay is a great venue and it will be a great test in the heat,â&#x20AC;? said Steffen. For details, visit www.ironman703subicbay.com or the Facebook page Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay and

@im703subicbay on Instagram and Twitter. Official event hashtags are #CenturyTunaIM703 #im703subicbay. Backing the event are Big Boss Cement (presenting sponsor), venue host Subic Bay, bike leg racing partner NLEX SCTEX, Black Arrow (official courier and logistics partner) Hoka (official footwear), Gatorade, TYR, Gu, Lightwater, Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salon, Prudential Guarantee, ONE Cignal, the Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTri.com, Finisher Pix and Active. Close to thousand triathletes will also battle it out for top honors in various divisions, including the Asian Elite and the 12 age group categories. It also features relay competitions for male, female and mixed teams.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Incredibleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nadal into last 16 on 10th anniversary of Soderling shock PARIS: Rafael Nadal described some of his tennis as â&#x20AC;&#x153;incredibleâ&#x20AC;? on Friday (Saturday in Manila) after surviving a blip to continue his bid for a recordextending 12th French Open title with a third-round win over David Goffin, ten years to the day since his shock 2009 exit to Robin Soderling. The 17-time Grand Slam winner bounced back after an excellent third

SET FROM "ELGIAN TH SEED 'OFkN TO win 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and take his astonishing Roland Garros win-loss record to 89-2 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those two defeats coming against Soderling in the last 16 a decade ago and against Novak Djokovic in 2015. Nadal maintained his record of never having lost in the first week in Paris, although he withdrew injured before the third round in 2016.

He powered 38 winners past Goffin on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a last-16 clash with either Argentinian Juan Ignacio Londero or home hope Corentin Moutet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first set and a half was really fantastic, incredible. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to play so well. I did everything perfectly. Serving. Almost all the time I was attacking,â&#x20AC;? said the defending champion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was controlling the direction, the height of the ball, the width, the length of the ball. I was moving

into the ball, and my opponent could not find any place to be.â&#x20AC;? His third set blip was only the second set Nadal had dropped at the tournament since his 2015 quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic. Goffin has now lost all four of his clay court meetings with Nadal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was not easy because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing so far back,â&#x20AC;? said the 28-year-old Belgian. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It looks like you have hit the ball too slow, you know, because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a wall, five metres behind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And it looks like you serve 120

kph, and then it looks like you hit with a soft ball because it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so fast and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behind and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing so heavy. So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy to make a winner.â&#x20AC;? Goffin looked totally outclassed IN THE kRST TWO SETS BUT CLAIMED HIS kRST EVER SET AGAINST .ADAL ON CLAY AND THE kRST THE 3PANIARD HAD DROPPED AT Roland Garros since last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarterkNAL WIN AGAINST $IEGO 3CHWARTZMAN But Nadal refocused and clinched victory in the fourth set when Goffin fired a backhand wide after a single break of serve in game four. AFP

Are the Blackwater Elite for real? W

HEN Aris Dimaunahan took over the head coaching job of the Blackwater Elite at the start of the Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup this 44th Season of the PBA, he brought with him new idea of how to do the task put on his shoulder. Make the players happy and make the team happy. Dimaunahan had been, after all, a long-time assistant to two previous chief tacticians who came before him and, thus, feel how it is to handle the job. In the Philippine Cup, the Elite could come up with an embarrassing 2-wins9-losses card despite major changes the MANAGEMENT HAD EFFECTED AS SHUFlING the roster and even the coaches, etc. That was coming from a 4-0 start the team fashioned out in the Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup a year before, or a conference prior to the 2019 Philippine Cup. The whole team, he diagnosed, was unhappy, to say the least. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The team was sad, downhearted, so ) THOUGHT MAYBE THE kRST THING ) MUST do was to make the boys happy, para maging masaya rin ang samahan,â&#x20AC;? Dimaunahan related to this writer. But how could he do it? Dimaunahan, himself a former player in both the amateur and professional rank lived it, preached it. In the locker room, in preparation, practice games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told them to be happy and enjoy what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing. Love it. Love their teammates. Enjoy and be happy with each other. Be one happy family,â&#x20AC;? he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Yun lang . And soon, naging masaya na kami. We became one big happy pamilya. Nagbibiruan, nagkikilitian,â&#x20AC;? he bared. The ideal relationSHIP BETWEEN TEAMMATES WAS DEkNED BY a 3-0 start and although Dimaunahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charges failed to equal their 2018 predecessorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 4-0 start following a loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters last Friday, their new coach, who came from LIpa City in Batangas knows they will be able to BOUNCE BACK AND FULkLL THEIR MISSION OF advancing the playoffs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simple lang naman ang target namin. Advance to the next round, then to the next and so forth and so on,â&#x20AC;? Dimaunahan, father of two girls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Christian and Channel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to former actress wife Jane (Zialcita) said. Aris and Janeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broods follow in their fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s footsteps. The eldest Christian is majoring in accounting at National University where she plays basketball while Channel is a Grade 10 student at the University of Santo Tomas where she is carrying the Glowing Tigresses colors in local schools tournaments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not searching for the stars yet. One conference at a time lang muna hanggang sa umabot kami sa kung saan namin kayang abutin,â&#x20AC;? Dimaunahan, WHO TOO WAS kVE YEAR ASSISTANT COACH of the Lady Bulldogs related. Despite Blackwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial setback against the Fuel Masters, Dimaunahan, who played for UST in the UAAP and St.Benilde in the NCAA before donning

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

EDDIE G. ALINEA

the Barangay Ginebra uniform in the PBA, believes the current crop of the Elite has what it takes to be at par with the pro-leaguesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; big-timers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The team is still young and with the newly-acquired character and playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attitude na huwag lang magbago, tingin ko may paglalagyan,â&#x20AC;? he diagnosed. Indeed, it looks like this Blackwater team has completely distanced itself from the same team that won only two games and wound up last in the seasonopening conference. Import Alex Stepheson and rookie Bobby Ray Parks are proving to be the difference-makers. Before their game against Phoenix and despite poor free-throw shooting (he avarages only 50 percent from the stripes) Stepheson showed heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gem of an import that netted him a 25-points per game average, 25.67 rebounds and 2.67 blocks. Parks, son of the late seven-time best import Bobby Parks, on the other hand, is showing he deserves to be in truly !SIA S kRST PLAY FOR PAY LEAGUE AVERAGING 23.67 points aside from 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.33 steals an outing. Allein Maliksi, Mac Belo and Mike Digregorio have also done their ample share, making Dimaunahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maiden conference a memorable one, so far. Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arsenal is equally wellstocked â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if not more. The Elite took temporary solo lead in the league standings after a 118-110 triumph over Columbian Dyip that lifted their record to 3-0. They also own overtime wins over the Meralco Bolts and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

Golf

E1 SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Former world res No. 1 Kaymer shares Memorial lead W ASHINGTON: Former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer, seeking his first win since his 2014 US Open triumph, shared the halfway lead at the US PGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Memorial Tournament Friday (Saturday in Manila) with rookie Lee Kyoung-hoon and Troy Merritt. G e r m a n y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s K a y m e r, n o w ranked 186th in the world as he battles his way back from wrist and shoulder injuries, birdied all FOUR OF THE PAR kVES AT -UIRkELD Village in Dublin, Ohio, rolling in a five-footer at the par-five seventh â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his 16th hole of the day â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to take a one-stroke lead. But he bogeyed the par-four ninth, where he was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker, his four-under par 68 giving him a nine-under total of 135. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been five years pretty much since I was leading the US Open in 2014, so it would be nice to get a little bit of reward for all the work I put in the last two or

three years,â&#x20AC;? Kaymer said, adding that while not much has changed in his game in recent weeks, his attitude is â&#x20AC;&#x153;more relaxedâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was trying to force it a little bit, the success,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And obviously we all know in golf what happens. You try to pull back, but the frustration comes out because you work hard, everything is there, you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the scores on the scorecard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the results, so you need to change something,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding that stepping away from social media and other distractions had helped him break that cycle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That automatically makes you more aware, makes me more conscious and I think leads to more calmness,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It helped me.â&#x20AC;?

South Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lee positioned himself for a weekEND RUN AT A kRST 53 0'! Tour title with a bogey-free kVE UNDER PAR Merritt, a two-time tour winner who is working his way back after having surgery to remove a rib in January, had an eagle and six birdies in a six-under 66. Merritt teed off early and fully expected someone to move past him atop the leaderboard. Kaymer was the only one to do it but he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We put ourself in a good position for this weekend,â&#x20AC;? said Merritt, who had surgery in January to remove a rib that was positioned so close to his clavicle that it pinched a vein and caused a blood clot. The leading trio were one stroke in front of three-time major-winner Jordan Spieth, who carded a 70 for 136. Australian Adam Scott carded a TO HEAD A GROUP OF kVE PLAYERS on 137 that also included Rickie Fowler and Emiliano Grillo.

US PGA MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SCORES LEADING second-round scores on Saturday in the US PGA Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio (USA unless noted, par 72): 135 - Troy Merritt 69-66, Lee Kyounghoon (KOR) 68-67, Martin Kaymer (GER) 67-68 136 - Jordan Spieth 66-70 137 - Bud Cauley 67-70, Patrick Cantlay 68-69, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 69-68, Adam Scott (AUS) 71-66, Rickie Fowler 69-68 138 - Andrew Putnam 68-70, Danny Willett (ENG) 69-69, Marc Leishman (AUS) 67-71, Austin Cook 71-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 75-63 139 - Vaughn Taylor 67-72, Kim Si-woo (KOR) 69-70, Xander Schauffele 69-70 140 - Sam Ryder 69-71, Kevin Streelman 72-68, Brian Harman 71-69, Ryan Moore 65-75, Gary Woodland 69-71, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 70-70, David Lipsky 70-70 AFP

Q Martin Kaymer of Germany hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Saturday in Dublin, Ohio. AFP PHOTO

Rose blooms On a day that saw Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Justin Rose charge up the leaderboard with a spectacular nine-under par 63, Tiger Woods was spinning his wheels with an even par 72 that was marred by an ugly double BOGEY AT THE PAR kVE TH Woods was comfortably in the fairway, but found deep greenside rough. After two poor chips he

kNALLY PUT THE BALL WITHIN kVE FEET then missed the putt for bogey. Woods, seven shots off the lead, hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t abandoned hope of nabbing a sixth Memorial title. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seems like everyone is bunched together,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just need to get something going in the front NINE WHERE THE PINS ARE DEkNITELY gettable tomorrow.â&#x20AC;? Rose played his way into contention as he rebounded from

A THREE OVER PAR kRST ROUND (E PLAYED THE LAST kVE HOLES OF THE front nine in six-under with two eagles and two birdies and picked up four more birdies coming in to lie three strokes off the lead on 138. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The two eagles on the front kind of kick started everything,.â&#x20AC;? Rose said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I kept just pushing myself to keep trying to go as low as I could. It was a great day.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Pagunsan aims high at PGT Cebu Invitational Pueblo cruises to 9-pt Luzvimin romp REY PAGUNSAN hopes to draw some spark from his recent triumph in the National pro-am as he slugs it out with the leading players on the Philippine Golf Tour and a slew of foreign invitees in the ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational unfolding on Wednesday at Club Filipino de Cebu golf course in Danao City. The veteran Pagunsan ended a long title spell, but in team play, when he partnered up with top amateur Aidric Chan to rule the Delimondo National pro-am at Taal Splendido last month with the former national team standout expecting a tougher challenge in individual play in the upcoming 72-hole championship kicking off the four-leg Visayan swing of the milestone 10th season of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier circuit put up by ICTSI. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tough task given the depth of the field. But my ball striking has been pretty good and I gained a lot of confidence from my recent win. I just hope to get off to a strong start and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see what happens,â&#x20AC;? said Pagunsan. Jhonnel Ababa, who emerged on top in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rain-shortened CFdC inaugurals, headlines the

crack roster that includes Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Jerson Balasabas, Michael Bibat, James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates, Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo,

2UkNO "AYRON -ARVIN $UMANDAN and Albin Engino. Jay Bayron, who tied for 27th in the recent Taiwan Open, the kRST 0'4 !SIA EVENT ABROAD IS also in the fold along with multi-titled Tony LascuĂąa, who is seeking to snap out of a long slump due to

Q Rey Pagunsan CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

poor form and hand injury. Five invitees are also expected to make an impact in the event, including former PGT Asia leg winner David Gleeson of Australia, Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman George Twyman and Jack Sullivan, another talented shotmaker from Down Under. Other foreign aces vying in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. are Aussies Fidel Concepcion, Japanese Ryui Hashimoto, Kei Matsuoka and Makoto Iwasaki, Koreans Kim Young Hyun, Park Jun Sung and Hwang Myung Chal, Swedes Andreas Johansson and Oscar Karlsson, Lexus Keoninh and Charles Lee of the US, Argentine Emilio Parodi, Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia and Thai Pachara Sakulyong. From Cebu, the circuit moves to Bacolod Country Club on June 12-15, then to Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on June 19-23, then to Iloilo Golf and Country Club on June 26-29.

Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Higa maintains lead at US Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open MIAMI: Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mamiko Higa birdied her final hole in fading light to maintain her lead at the US Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open where the second round was delayed for two hours due to thunderstorms and then suspended because of darkness. The 25-year-old Higa, who is ranked 49th in the world, kept a one-stroke lead from the first round when she shot the lowest debut round in tournament history with a six-under 65. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was really happy because I could finish up a tough day with a birdie,â&#x20AC;? said Higa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was so happy.â&#x20AC;? Higa rolled in a birdie on the par-five ninth hole Friday (Saturday in Manila) or an even-par 71 and a two-round total of six under 136 to lead American Jessica Korda, who shot a bogey-free three-under 68. There were 45 players still on the Country Club course in Charleston, North Carolina when play was suspended. The players had to endure a two hour weather delay which included lightning striking a large elm tree along

the 18th fairway. There were several people standing nearby when the bolt hit but no one was injured. Higa is the first Japanese player to lead the tournament since 2011 when Mika Miyazato shot a 67 to top the leaderboard heading into the weekend. Gina Kim, who shot a 72, and Celine Boutier, who was at four under on the tournament with four holes to go in her round, are tied for third. Several of the Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top players are just a couple strokes back of Higa, including Australian Lee Min-jee (69) and two time US Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open winner Park In-bee (70), who are both at two under. World No. 8t and the top ranked American Lexi Thompson is at three under overall with two holes to go. Higa struggled with four birdies and four bogeys in a mixed round on Friday. She made consecutive bogeys to start her back nine but recovered with back-to-back birdies on the holes No. 4 and 5 before adding another birdie on the par-five No. 9. Korda, who was one of the early

starters, also began on the back nine. Her round featured birdies on two of the three par fives and another the par-three 17th.

Seeking first major Korda is seeking her first major championship win but said she is going to need some luck. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what you play for,â&#x20AC;? said Korda. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the same time, I feel a lot of luck is always a big part of winning a major championship, making the most putts and the least amount of mistakes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really hard to win out here. I think everybody can see that, watching us week in week out. Solid golf will always put me up top. If I have a chance, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll try to take it.â&#x20AC;? Among those left to finish Saturday are defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who is two over with two holes to go. Nelly Korda, the sister of Jessica, is at three under overall and tied for fifth with three holes to play in the second round. AFP

Q Mamiko Higa of Japan hits her tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Championship at the Country Club of Charleston on Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina. AFP PHOTO

PAMELA MARIANO and Alethea Gaccion put in another pair 50-point efforts to power Pueblo de Oro to a nine-point victory over Cebu Country Club in the 2019 Luzvimin Invitational golf tournament at the CCC layout in Cebu City late Friday. Mariano matched her opening round output of 53 Molave points while Gaccion shot a third straight 50-point game as the Pueblo ladies, who also drew a pair of 42 points from Marife Carmichael and Juliane Borlongan, churned out their best score in three days â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 187 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to turn a shaky two-point lead into a nine-point romp in the premier Diamond division. Pueblo de Oro, which moved up the ladder after claiming the Pearl division in 2015, pooled a 554, including a 186 and 181, to BEAT #EBU #OUNTRY #LUB kNISHED with a 545 after a 180. Crystal Neri took the cudgels for the hosts with 52 points while Mary Kim Hong added 48 points but Jyra Wong and Riko Nagai could only chip on 41 and 39 points and Catrina Martinez groped for 37 and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t count after scoring 43 and 45 points IN THE kRST TWO DAYS OF THE EVENT sponsored by Champion and organized by the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf Association of the Philippines. It was actually the second straight championship for Mariano, who also led Del Monte to victory in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the annual tourn a m e n t b a c k e d by H e n n a , San Miguel Corp., Diamond Motors, Quest Hotel, Cebu Country Club, Ayala Land Premier, Celium Fibre, Derma C, Gothong Lines and Vermogen. Del Monte, led by Martina MiĂąozaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 56 points, shot the tournament-best 195 to place third at 542 while many-time champion Manila Southwoods struggled to kNISH FOURTH AT AFTER A 6ALLEY 'OLF ENDED UP kFTH AT after a 164 followed by Fernando Air Base (140-414), Club Filipino (126-390), Rancho Palos Verdes (127-380), Sta. Elena (110-321) and Eagle Ridge (107-319). Valley Golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mariel Tee, however, foiled Mariano and Gaccion in their chase for individual hon-

ORS IN #LASS ! kNISHING WITH points for a 160 total. Mariano TOTALED WHILE 'ACCION kNished with a 150. Ruby Hamis of Camp Aguinaldo 1 took the Class B title with a 128 despite a 39 with Ia Bakunawa of John Hay (43-121) and Myung Seon Park of Palos Verdes (39-119) placing second and third, respectively. Leonila Patricio of Orchard assembled a 103 after a 33 and nipped Club Filipinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mercedita Bejar (35-103) in the countback for Class C plum. Mencie Millionado of Aguinaldo 2 placed third with a 102 after a 34. Tagaytay Highlands, meanwhile, completed a wire-towire triumph in Emerald category, assembling a 166 for a 476 and a 23-point victory over Camp Aguinaldo I, which made a 149 for a 453. Marianne Bustos led the Highlanders for the second straight with 48 points while Chesca Imperial shot 40 points and Farah Imperial and Gilda Medestomas added identical 39 points. Forest Hills came in third with a 438 after a 142 while Camp John Hay and Alabang scored 144 and 145 for 417 and 406, respectively. Villamor, on the other hand, rallied from third spot to snatch the Ruby crown with a closing 140 for a 402, edging Orchard, which scored a 136 for a 400, by two as two-day leader Manila Golf faded with a 119 and slipped to third with a 391. Grace Labastida, Anna Katrina Yupangco, Maria Dorkas Guerrero AND -YLENE $OLONIUS kRED 34 and 33, respectively, to anchor Villamorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stirring come-frombehind victory. Camp Aguinaldo 2, with Millionado shooting 34 points, Robie Ann Ramirez and Anita Salivio scoring identical 32 points and Leah Espino-Holder chipping in 26 points, also ran away with the Pearl division diadem with a 124 for a 355 for a 37-point rout of Baguio Country Club, which pooled a 328 after 111 with Bacolod and Victorias placing third and fourth with 106-314 and 98-275, respectively.

Golf

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Q Jack Nicklaus (left) talks with Tiger Woods after Woods won the Memorial golf tournament on June 3, 2012 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. AP PHOTO

Nicklaus part of the major discussion again

BY DOUG FERGUSON

UBLIN, Ohio: Jack Nicklaus AND 4IGER 7OODS HAD THEIR kRST conversation about rivalries while in South Africa for the Presidents Cup in 2003, right around the time Woods was about to get his fourth rival in Vijay Singh.

The message Nicklaus preached FROM EXPERIENCE THAT DAY -AKE SURE youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re part of the conversation.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still true. 7OODS IS THE -ASTERS CHAMPION And that makes Nicklaus part of

the conversation again. All it took was one major â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially because Woods had gone YEARS AND kVE SURGERIES SINCE HIS last one â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to consider the possibility of Woods reaching the Nicklaus standard of 18 professional majors. For so many years, Nicklaus was asked more about whether Woods could break his record than about the golf ball. And then the injuries piled up, and the questions stopped. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kind of nice,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said

Tuesday. Nicklaus smiled, because he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind talking about it. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the conversation again, even though it has been 19 years since he played all four majors. He spoke about winning his kNAL MAJOR IN THE -ASTERS AT AGE A TIME IN HIS LIFE WHEN HIS interests were divided between golf and business. Nicklaus won two majors when he was 35 and two when he was 40, and he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t kND IT ANY MORE DIFkCULT THE OLDER

he was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought winning them at age 40 was just as easy as winning them at 20,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only difference was that I knew what I was doing at 40 and I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure what I was doing at 20. I got lucky when I was 20 because talent carried me through there. But at age 40 I had to be smarter because I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the talent I had at 20. I suppose I had the talent, I just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to get it out of me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I think as you get older you accommodate your aches and pains,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But you get smarter, too.â&#x20AC;? And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what makes Nicklaus curious about whether Woods can catch or surpass him. He remembers how miserable Woods looked at the Champions Dinner on the Tuesday night beFORE THE -ASTERS Â&#x2021; g(E WAS not a happy camper,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a few weeks before a lastditch effort to heal his back with fusion surgery. Nicklaus described Woods as â&#x20AC;&#x153;almost cockyâ&#x20AC;? at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dinner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had an abundance of confidence he would play well,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. Nicklaus says he only watches the majors, and even then he isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully engaged in front of a TV. After hitting the honorary tee shot Thursday morning, he WENT kSHING IN THE "AHAMAS (E was on his boat Sunday morning DURING THE kNAL ROUND CHASING AFTER BONEkSH (E CAME BACK JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE -ASTERS TURN IN Woodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favor at the par-3 12th HOLE WHERE &RANCESCO -OLINARI lost his two-shot lead with a tee shot into Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move again,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was fun to watch. It was fun watching his mind work. It was fun watching how he thought, and how I thought he was thinking, and how I would have thought.â&#x20AC;? And he watched the players around Woods make it easier for him with mistakes that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be made on the back nine Sunday in the majors.

Woods followed that 15th major by missing the cut in the PGA Championship two week ago at Bethpage Black. Woods wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as prepared, from the emotional toll OF kNALLY WINNING ANOTHER MAJOR to feeling sick enough that week to play only nine holes of practice. The next chance is the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where Woods won by 15 shots when he was 24. Nicklaus said Woods is one of the favorites, though he said the competition is deeper â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Brooks Koepka, anyone? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy for Woods to dominate like he once did. Nicklaus also recalled another moment this year, when he played with Woods and President Donald Trump in early February, which showed why it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He played just fantastic, but his neck was bothering him,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sitting there, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ReALLY (E SHOT AND EVERYTHING was just perfect. But he said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I have a little problem with it.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Woods played at Riviera and -EXICO #ITY AND THEN DECIDED TO sit out Bay Hill as a precaution because of a sore neck. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to have a lot more of those problems,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all have a lot of those problems. But if you manage them and you know how to take care of yourself, you know how to pace yourself, you can do that. He canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just do everything everybody asks him to do. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got to be a little SELkSH !ND THAT S /+ u Nicklaus never ruled out that Woods could reach 18 majors or beyond, even when Woods went two straight years without even playing majors. If Woodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; back holds out, Nicklaus suspects Woods has 10 more years of competing. Can he do it? Nicklaus hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed his answers. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want his record broken, but he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want Woods to not have a chance because of bad health. Woods is one major closer. He still has three to go. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a topic again. AP

Differences in Opens shown through exemptions BY DOUG FERGUSON DUBLIN, Ohio: The distinction between golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two oldest championships goes beyond one being played on links courses in the UK and the other being played in the United States. They also have a different reach, which can lead to a different idea of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open.â&#x20AC;? The U.S. Open likes to consider itself the most democratic of the four major championships because roughly half of the 156-man field has to go through qualifying. This year, 76 players were exempt from qualifying, including the special invitation for two-time champion Ernie Els, meaning slightly more than half of the field will have to go through 36-hole qualifying to get to Pebble Beach. Sixteen of the 76 players â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 21 percent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were exempt by reaching the Tour Championship at East Lake. For international players who are not PGA Tour members, the only way to avoid qualifying is to be in the top 60 in the world three weeks before the U.S. Open. Otherwise, there are 36-hole qualifiers in America, England and Japan. The British Open considers itself the most international major, and it shows in the way the field is comprised. One exemption was awarded the winner of the Argentina Open (Isidro Benitez). Another was given to the winner of the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup on the Japan Golf Tour (Yosuki Asaji). The Open gives exemptions to Order of Merit winners from tours in South Africa (Zander Lombard), Australia (Jake McLeod), Asia (Shubhankar Sharma) and the leading two players from Japan (Shugo Imahira and Shaun Norris). McLeod previously earned a spot in the Open Qualifying Series, while Sharma was previously eligible as the top 30 in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour. The British Open takes the top 30 players from the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour, along with taking up to five players from the current points list on both tours through June 23. Add it up and the British Open can exempt as many as 100 players for Royal Portrush this year. The next step for the USGA is to bring the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open closer in line with the open nature of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. The U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open, which starts this week at the Country Club of Charleston, had 97 exempt players this year. Starting next year, the USGA is eliminating all exemptions related to the LPGA Tour money list. Instead, the top 75 from the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world ranking â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at the close of entries and the final ranking before the championship â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be

exempt. Previously, the top 50 in the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world ranking automatically qualified. Also, the top 30 from the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Race to CME Globe on the LPGA Tour will be exempt. The USGA says the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open has averaged just over 90 exempt players over the past five years. Those numbers are expected to decrease slightly under the revised exemption categories next year.

TIGHT SCHEDULE The Memorial is two weeks after one major, two weeks before another. Jack Nicklaus is happy with the field â&#x20AC;&#x201D; seven of the top 10 in the world, including Tiger Woods as the Masters champion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though he is missing the top two players in Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson. Koepka and Johnson will be in the RBC Canadian Open next week. Koepka likes to play the week before a major, while Johnson is an RBC ambassador. Johnson has played the Memorial every year that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been eligible. The Canadian Open was moved from late July to the week before the U.S. Open in a major overhaul to the schedule to finish the season ahead of football. Nicklaus thinks it is too condensed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think this new schedule is going to hurt a lot of tournaments,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a big fan of what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing.â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus believes it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be long before players will build their schedule around the four majors, The Players Championship and a few World Golf Championships. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be the season,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play some stuff on the outside of it, but the tournaments in the middle are going to be hurt. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sitting in a good spot. Brooks would play here if he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the PGA Championship two weeks ago.â&#x20AC;?

US OPEN PRIZE MONEY Players will be competing for a seven-figure prize for the first time at the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open this week. The USGA announced Tuesday it is raising the prize money at the U.S. Open to $12.5 million and at the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open to $5.5 million. The purse for the U.S. Open is the largest of the four majors and equal to The Players Championship. Notable about the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open â&#x20AC;&#x201D; always the largest purse on the LPGA Tour â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is the winner getting $1 million. John Bodenhammer, the senior managing director of championships for the USGA, says the purse increase is an ongoing effort to create an experience for players â&#x20AC;&#x153;commensurate with the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious championships.â&#x20AC;?

JACKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WATCH Jack Nicklaus came away with his first Rolex when he played in the 1966 World Cup in Japan, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been on his left wrist ever since. And now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to auction, with the proceeds going to the Nicklaus Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Care Foundation. The auction will be Dec. 10 in New York. Nicklaus wore it Tuesday at the Memorial, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also taking the gold Day-Date watch to Pebble Beach for the U.S. Open to drum up publicity ahead of the auction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the very first watch I ever owned, and the only watch I wore for every professional tournament Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won,â&#x20AC;? Nicklaus said. That starts with 1967, when the watch

was delivered to him. He wore it for 53 of his PGA Tour victories and 12 of his 18 majors.

DIVOTS Jan Stephenson has chosen actress Jane Seymour to introduce her when she is inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame during the U.S. Open. Billy Payne has selected his successor at Augusta National, club chairman Fred Ridley, while Retief Goosen has selected Gary Player and Dennis Walter has chosen Jack and Barbara Nicklaus. The host for the induction will be Terry Gannon. ... NCAA champion Maria Fassi has received an exemption to play in the Marathon Oil Classic on the LPGA Tour. Fassi makes her pro debut this week at the U.S. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open. ... There were no ties among the top six

GOLF NOTES

finishers at the Senior PGA Champions, the first time that has happened on the PGA Tour Champions since the Boca Raton Championship in 2018.

STAT OF THE WEEK Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger, Curtis Strange and Raymond Floyd are the only players to win the Memorial and then add a major championship later that year.

FINAL WORD â&#x20AC;&#x153;Would 82 be a major achievement? Absolutely. No question about that. But you ask Tiger, which he would rather win, 82 or 18, I think you might get a different answer.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jack Nicklaus, comparing the record 82 PGA Tour victories by Sam Snead and his record 18 majors. AP

ON THE MEND Justin Rose is parting ways with his longtime caddie as Mark â&#x20AC;&#x153;Foochâ&#x20AC;? Fulcher continues to recover from heart surgery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After an amazing 11 years with Fooch, our successful run has finished for now, as Fooch is required to take an indefinite leave of absence on caddying to focus on his health and well-being after the heart procedure earlier this year,â&#x20AC;? Rose said in a statement on Twitter. Rose said doctors have told Fulcher that more recuperation is needed. Fulcher had surgery in January on the mitral valve in his heart. He returned at the Masters. Rose said he had â&#x20AC;&#x153;no doubtsâ&#x20AC;? they would work together again.

Q Justin Rose putts on the ninth green, with caddie Mark Fulcher and Francesco Molinari in the background, during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas on May 25, 2019. AP PHOTO

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.)

Golf

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

FOR announcements on tournaments, rankings and other golf-related events, email the sports editor at pgs_mallari@manilatimes.net mes net

The Sunday Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Coca-Cola Charity Golf raises over P3M for CSR projects

Q The Philippine delegation to the ATI Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World 2019 last May 21 to 23 in Jakarta, Indonesia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

10 Pinoy jungolfers shine in ATI Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World 2019 BY JEAN RUSSEL V. DAVID TEN Filipino junior golfers posted PODIUM kNISHES IN THE !4) #IPUTRA Golfpreneur Junior World 2019 on -AY TO IN *AKARTA )NDONESIA 4HE FEAT GAINED *OSH *ORGE 0AOLO "ARRO ,AUREA $UQUE ,AIA "ARRO *ET (ERNANDEZ 3EAN 'RANADA 2IANNE -ALIXI %AGLE !CE 3UPERAL 3ANTINO 0INEDA AND 2EESE .G

ENTRY TO THE PRESTIGIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP SANCTIONED BY THE *UNIOR 'OLF 4OUR OF !SIA *'4! (ERNANDEZ COPPED THE #LASS " BOYS FIRST RUNNER UP PLUM AND THE *'4! SECOND RUNNER UP TROPHY WHILE 'RANADA CLINCHED THE #LASS " BOYS SECOND RUNNER UP HONORS 3UPERAL EMERGED AS SECOND RUNNER UP WITH THE LOWEST SCORE

IN SECOND ROUND WITH A TWO UNDER PAR IN #LASS " GIRLS WHILE .G TOOK THE SECOND RUNNER UP HONOR IN GIRLS #LASS # 4HE &ILIPINO JUNIOR GOLFERS CAMPAIGN IN THE TOURNAMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EFFORT OF THE *UNIOR 'OLF &OUNDATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES *'&0 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE .ATIONAL 'OLF !SSOCIATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES

*UNIOR /RDER OF -ERIT *//- POINTS WERE EARNED BY JOINING CERTIkED *'&0 EVENTS HELD USUALLY ONCE A MONTH IN DIFFERENT GOLF CLUBS IN THE COUNTRY *UNGOLFERS ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES IN *'&0 TOURNAMENTS TO EXCEL IN A COMPETITIVE SPORT WHILE CREATING A FUN ENVIRONMENT AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND CHARACTER

2nd CobraFil-Am golfer named to USA Puma collegiate all-tournament team Scramble Golf Tournament opens June 19 THE ND #OBRA 0UMA 3CRAMBLE 'OLF 4OURNAMENT WILL TEE OFF ON *UNE AT THE "EVERLY 0LACE 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB IN -EXICO 0AMPANGA 4HE TOURNAMENT WILL ONLY ALLOW TO COMPETE THE kRST TEAMS TO REGISTER %NTRY FEE IS 0 PER TWO MAN TEAM 4EAM COMPOSITION WILL BE A TWO MAN PLAY WHICH CAN EITHER BE MALE MALE FEMALE FEMALE OR MALE FEMALE 4HE MINIMUM COMBINED HANDICAP IS AND THE MAXIMUM IS BASED ON THE *UNE UNIkED NATIONAL HANDICAPPING SYSTEM 2EGISTERED PLAYERS CAN ENJOY A SPECIAL RATE OF 0 PER PRACTICE ROUND FOR ONE MONTH !N ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO *OHOR "ARU -ALAYSIA AND A CHANCE TO COMPETE IN THE #OBRA 0UMA 2EGIONAL 'OLF 4OURNAMENT AWAITS THE LOW GROSS AND LOW NET TEAM CHAMPIONS

&), !M :ACH $EA A GOLF SCHOLAR OF "ELLEVUE #OLLEGE WAS RECENTLY NAMED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS .ORTHWEST !THLETIC #ONFERENCE .7!# !LL 4OURNAMENT 4EAM 7ITH HIS ROOTS FROM !RGAO AND "ARILI #EBU :EA PILOTED THE "ELLEVUE MEN S GOLF TO A THIRD PLACE OVERALL kNISH AT THE .7!# 'OLF #HAMPIONSHIPS WHICH ENDED IN -AY AT THE (OME #OURSE IN $UPONT 7! 4HE TOURNAMENT WAS WON BY .ORTH )DAHO #OLLEGE )N THE TWO DAY EVENT THE &IL !M GOLFER SHOT EVEN PAR TO kNISH TIED FOR kFTH OVERALL IN THE INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS 4HE .7!# IS PARTICIPATED IN BY COMPETING COLLEGES ,IKEWISE :ACH DISPLAYED SPLENDID PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS TWO DAY EVENTS THIS YEAR (E SCORED AND HELPED THE "ULLDOGS LAND FOURTH PLACE AT THE 3POKANE ,EAGUE -ATCH AND TALLIED AND kFTH OVERALL IN THE .7!# ,EAGUE -ATCH "ELLEVUE IS HANDLED BY +EITH -ICKLE .7!# #OACH OF THE 9EAR AND THREE TIME &OREST 2IDGE 3CHOOL #OACH OF THE 9EAR 4HE

#/#! #/,! "EVERAGES 0HILIPPINES )NC ##"0) AND THE #OCA #OLA &OUNDATION 0HILIPPINES )NC RECENTLY HELD THE #OCA #OLA #HARITY 'OLF #LASSIC WHICH RAISED APPROXIMATELY 0 MILLION IN SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS FROM ATTENDEES AND VALUABLE PARTNERS 4HIS SHARED ACHIEVEMENT AS ONE #OCA #OLA FAMILY SIGNIkES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BENEkCIARIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRYÂ&#x2021;AS IT ATTESTS TO #OCA #OLA S AIM TO GO BEYOND GOOD IN CHANGING PEOPLE S LIVES FOR THE BETTER 4HE FUN FILLED CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT WHICH WAS HELD AT THE 3TA %LENA 'OLF #LUB IN 3TA 2OSA ,AGUNA SIGNALS THE RETURN OF A TRADITION THAT BEGAN IN ONLY TO BE DISCONTINUED FROM TO 4HIS YEAR THE MEET WAS REVIVED IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE INTO HELPING #OCA #OLA FURTHER ITS GOAL OF BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES 4HE EVENT ATTRACTED MORE THAN PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING #%/S AND TOP OFkCIALS OF SOME OF THE COUNTRY S LEADING COMPANIES ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES g4HE TOURNAMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FUN AND FORGING STRONGER TIES WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR #OCA #OLA TO BE IN THE 0HILIPPINES FOR YEARS u SAYS 'ARETH -C'EOWN 0RESIDENT AND #%/ OF #OCA #OLA "EVERAGES 0HILIPPINES )NC 4HIS DAY IS ABOUT CAMARADERIE AND MALASAKIT AS WE WORK TOWARD A COMMON GOAL ) AM VERY PROUD THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY Â&#x2021; AS ONE #OCA #OLA FAMILY Â&#x2021; ARE HERE TODAY TO MANIFEST THEIR SUPPORT FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES WE WILL BE HELPING u 2EPRESENTATIVES FROM #OCA #OLA S TOP CUSTOMERS SUCH AS -C$ONALD S 3HAKEY S !RMY .AVY 3- %NTERTAINMENT ,IFESTYLE &AMILY -ART 0HOENIX AND WERE AMONG KEY PARTICIPANTS MANIFESTING THE STRENGTHENING OF OUR SHARED GOALS 2EPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTNERS IN THE BUSINESSÂ&#x2021; SUCH AS )NDORAMA 0HILIPPINES

(INO -OTORS 0HILIPPINES #ORP -ARSH 0HILIPPINES )NC 3AN -IGUEL 9AMAMURA 0ACKAGING #ORP AND &IRST 'EN #ORPORATIONÂ&#x2021;LIKEWISE TOOK PART IN THE CHARITY EVENT #LASS #HAMPIONS AND /VER ALL #HAMPION 4HE MOUNTING OF THE 'OLF #LASSIC COINCIDES WITH #OCA #OLA S CELEBRATION OF YEARS IN THE 0HILIPPINES AND IS ONE OF THE MANY TANGIBLE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE #OMPANY STRIVING TO BE A POSITIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITIES IT OPERATES IN 4HE PROCEEDS OF THE #OCA #OLA #HARITY 'OLF #LASSIC WILL BE USED FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEkT CHILDREN SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN ##"0) S HOST COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE #OCA #OLA &OUNDATION 0HILIPPINES )NC IS A CHARITABLE AND NON STOCK NON PROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED FOR CHARITABLE AND SOCIO CIVIC PURPOSES 5PON COMPLETION OF ITS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THE &OUNDATION WILL RELEASE A REPORT DISCLOSING THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED AND LIST OF COMMUNITIES BENEkTED BY THE CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT !BIDING BY THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY THE &OUNDATION AND ##"0) WILL BE ISSUING A REPORT DETAILING THE DONATIONS MADE DURING THE 'OLF #LASSIC #OCA #OLA #HARITY 'OLF #LASSIC WINNERS #LASS ! #HAMPION &RANK 'ARCIA !CE 3TEHMEIER *OHN ,AUREL 9AYI %SQUADRO POINTS #LASS " #HAMPION 2ODOLFO !BAYA $ELMAX #ORPORATION 2UDY DELOS 2EYES $ELMAX #ORPORATION -ONCI #IRUJANO "0) .IKO 3ANTIANO "0) POINTS #LASS # #HAMPION 4OTAL )NFORMATION -ANAGEMENT #ORPORATION *OSE -ARI !NTUÃ&#x201E;EZ 3TEPHEN *ARVIS "OB 0ANGAN 6IRGILIO 6ILLAR POINTS /VERALL 4EAM #HAMPION *OSE , E O N A R D O 4A Ã&#x201E; A D A 0 R I M O 0EÃ&#x201E;ARANDA 7ILFREDO 6ILLANUEVA 3'6 &ABIAN DELOS 3ANTOS 3'6

Q Zach Dea fine-tunes his swings at Bellevue CONTRIBUTED PHOTO "ULLDOGS HAS PRODUCED THE LIKES OF 2ICHARD ,EE WHO IS NOW IN THE 0'! 4OUR )N HIGH SCHOOL :ACH PLAYED WITH THE (AZEN (IGHLANDERS 6ARSITY WHICH PLAYED IN THE 'OLD -OUNTAIN ,EAGUE kNALS )N &EBRUARY $EA SHOWED A DIAMOND IN THE MAKING IN HIS MAIDEN VOYAGE AT THE TH 7%XPRESS 2(& #UP AT #ANLUBANG 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB 4HE EVENT SHOWED POWERHOUSE AMATEURS FROM 0HILIPPINES 53! AND 3OUTH +OREA 4HE 53! BASED GOLFER HAD

SUCCESSFULLY MADE YARD DRIVE YARD THREE WOOD SHOT YARD IRON STINGER (E IS PLANNING TO MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE 0HILIPPINES THIS YEAR TO FURTHER HARNESS HIS ABILITIES 4HE YEAR OLD u LAD IS TAKING A PRE DENTISTRY COURSE :ACH S GRANDPARENTS #ECILY &ILOMENO %SPINA AND THE LATE 7ILLIAM %SPINA ARE FROM #EBU #ECILY WAS REMARRIED TO RETIRED 53 .AVY %D DE *ESUS FROM -ANILA (IS PARENTS ARE -ARK $EA AND THE FORMER #OOKIE &ILOMENO %SPINA

Q Overall Team Champion: (Left to right)Â Primo PeÃ±aranda, lawyer Fabian delos Santos (SGV), Jose Leonardo TaÃ±ada and lawyer Wilfredo Villanueva (SGV) CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

NGAP to hold SEA Games qualifying tilt THE National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will hold a two-stage qualifying tournament for the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that the country will be hosting in November. The event, open to all amateur Filipino golfer will be played at the Hacienda Luisita Golf and Country Club on June 4 to 7 and June 10 to 13. Participants must be

in a good standing with the NGAP and must satisfy all the requirements imposed by the governing body. Players must have a valid handicap index of 5.0 or lower issued by a bonafide golf body as of May 1. The qualifier will be composed of two stages of 72 holes each using stroke play. Stage one will accept the first 40 players to register; wherein the

top 12 players and ties within 10 strokes of the leading score will advance to the second stage. The stage two of the qualifier will determine the top three players which will form the 2019 SEA Games team as set by the committee. Entry fee for the qualifying tournament is pegged at P3,000. For inquiries, contact NGAP at 7065926.

APRIL WINNERS

The winners of the April 2019 Manila Southwoods Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Monthly Tournament on April 28 in Carmona, Cavite. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

16th Golf for Kidney Care opens June 3 Independence Day Charity Golf unfolds July 4 THE TH 'OLF FOR +IDNEY #ARE WILL UNFOLD ON *UNE AT THE 6ALLEY 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB IN !NTIPOLO 2IZAL 4HE ANNUAL CHARITY TILT AIMS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR INDIGENT KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS

4HE EVENT IS ORGANIZED BY THE +IDNEY &OUNDATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES IN COOPERATION WITH THE HOST CLUB &EE FOR NON MEMBERS IS 0 INCLUSIVE OF GREEN FEE DRI kT GOLF SHIRT RAFlE ENTRY BREAKFAST LUNCH

AND BEERS #LUB MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN A 0 OFF ON THE PLAYING FEE 4HE TOURNAMENT WILL USE A -OLAVE POINT SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE UPDATED 5.(3 HANDICAP %VENT STARTS AT A M TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHOTGUN TEE OFF AT A M

THE TH !NNUAL )NDEPENDENCE $AY #HARITY 'OLF 4OURNAMENT WILL TEE OFF ON *ULY AT THE 7ACK 7ACK 'OLF AND #OUNTRY #LUB IN -ANDALUYONG #ITY /RGANIZED BY THE 5NITED 3TATES %MBASSY #LUB 53%#

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 53 %MBASSY 'OLF #LUB PROCEEDS OF THE TOURNAMENT WILL FUND 53%# CHARITABLE OPERATIONS FOR THIS YEAR %NTRY FEE FOR THE TOURNAMENT IS PEGGED AT 0 -ULLIGAN

FEE IS 0 FOR FRONT AND BACK NINES EXCEPT THE PUTTING GREEN /N COURSE REGISTRATION STARTS AT A M &OR INQUIRIES EMAIL THE ORGANIZERS AT USEMBASSYCLUBMANILA GMAIL COM

The Sunday Times

Inspiration. Celebrity. Style. June 2, 2019 Volume 118 | No. 94

NASSER LUBAY

Contemporary artist from PH to the world •

LITERARY LIFE

FILIPINO CHAMPIONS

ARTS AWAKE

Pinoy writers mourn author Palanca F2

PH youth group wins UN tilt F3

‘The Spectre of Comparison’ comes homee F8

Literary Life SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Pinoy writers mourn, pay tribute to Palanca BY ALVIN I. DACANAY

EMBERS of the Philippine writing community expressed sorrow over and offered tributes to Clinton Palanca, the award-winning fictionist, essayist and food critic whom many consider as among his GENERATION S kNEST WHO PASSED AWAY ON -AY AT THE AGE of 45. (IS WIFE ,OURDES 'ORDOLAN LED THE TRIBUTES CALLING HER HUSBAND Â&#x2021; WHOM SHE DESCRIBED AS A gKINDRED SPIRIT FRIEND CHEF TRAVEL PARTNER CREATIVE SOULu Â&#x2021; IN A &ACEBOOK POST AS gA MAN OF MANY WORDS BUT THERE SEEM TO BE TOO FEW WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU u ! CONTEMPORARY AND FRIEND OF 0ALAN CA PRIZE WINNING kCTIONIST !NGELO 2 ,ACUESTA PENNED HIS FOR THE %SQUIRE 0HILIPPINES WEBSITE WRITING THAT g#LIN TON TAUGHT US HOW TO LIVE RICHLY THAT IS TO SAY TO LIVE LIFE IN ALL WAYS AND SEE EVERYTHING FROM ALL SIDES (E HAD CERTAINLY DONE MORE THAN TEACH ITÂ&#x2021;HE DEMON STRATED IT u g#LINTON SHOWED US HOW TO KNOW THINGS THE ONLY WAY THEY MUST TRULY BE KNOWNÂ&#x2021;DEEPLY FULLY WITH EQUAL PARTS DISTANCE AND SURRENDER WITH AN ABSO LUTE UNDERSTAND ING OF THAT EVER

PRESENT MOMENT IN WHICH THE THING HAPPENS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEN TENCE THE PREPARATION OF A DISH THE ARRIVAL OF A MORSEL ON THE TONGUE THE SHAPING OF AN OPINION THE PERFECTION OF A CRAFT u HE ADDED /NE OF THOSE WHO SHARED ,ACUESTA S TRIBUTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WAS NOVELIST ESSAYIST AND SCHOLAR #RISTINA 0ANTOJA (IDALGO WHO PRAISED 0ALANCA AS gONE OF THE BEST WRITERS OF HIS GENERATIONu AND WROTE THAT gTHERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS KIND OF SORROW u -AN !SIAN ,ITER ARY 0RIZE WINNER -IGUEL 3YJUCO WAS ANOTHER WRITING ON &ACEBOOK THAT #LINTON gCAST SUCH AN ELEGANT SHEEN ON EVERY THING HE TOUCHED AND HE TOUCHED ON SO MANY THINGS Â&#x2021; WRITING FOOD ALL MANNER OF ARTS COL LECTIBLES EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE u g4O ME HE SHOWED HOW TO LIVE FULLY HOW TO APPRECIATE WHAT WAS kNELY WROUGHT HOW TO LOVE DEEPLY AND WITHOUT HESITATION Â&#x2021; ALL OF WHICH PREPARED ME TO NOW APPRECIATE AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AS IT SHOULD BE 4HERE S NOBODY LIKE HIM AND NEVER WILL BE u HE ADDED &OR THEIR PART JOURNALIST (OWIE 3EV ERINO WROTE THAT 0ALANCA S gHEART WAS AS BIG AS HIS TALENT u WHILE POET AND MAVERICK kLMMAKER +HAVN DE LA #RUZ LAUDED HIM IN &ILIPINO AS THE kNEST kC TIONIST AND ESSAYIST IN %NGLISH IN THEIR BATCH AND gTHE GREAT BEYOND u

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Most impressiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; "ORN IN 0ALANCA FINISHED ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL AT THE 8AVIER 3CHOOL IN 3AN *UAN #ITY AND Q Clinton Palanca. PHOTO FROM LOURDES GORDOLANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

HIS 0HILOSOPHY AND % N G L I S H , I T E R A T U R E degree at Ateneo de -ANILA 5NIVERSITY IN 1UEZON #ITY (E LATER earned a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s de gree in Sociology and a doctorate degree in &OOD !NTHROPOLOGY FROM THE 5NIVERSITY OF /XFORD AND 3/!3 5NIVERSITY OF ,ON DON RESPECTIVELY IN THE 5NITED +INGDOM )N 0ALANCA TOGETHER WITH 'INA !POSTOL AND *AIME !N ,IM PUBLISHED AN AN THOLOGY EDITED BY POET 2ICARDO - DE 5NGRIA titled #ATFISH !RRIV ING IN ,ITTLE 3CHOOLS WHICH CONTAINED HIS NOVELLA g)DENTIFICA TIONS u AND COLLECTED HIS EARLY SHORT STORIES in ,ANDSCAPES One STORY IN THAT BOOK g4HE !PARTMENT u WON THE 0ALANCA PINES AND THE 0HILIPPINE $AILY )NQUIRER AWARD IN Â&#x2021; ONE OF THREE HE WHERE HE HAD A WIDELY FOLLOWED COLUMN HAD EARNED THE OTHERS BEING THE ES IN THE PAPER S LIFESTYLE SECTION (IS LATER BOOKS FOCUSED ON FOOD 4HE SAY g)N 0ARIS u ALSO IN AND THE -AD 4EA 0ARTY 4HE 0LEASURES OF 4ASTE SHORT STORY g4HE 7INDOWu IN (IDALGO WROTE ON ,ANDSCAPES -Y !NGKOK S .OODLES WHICH GATH BACK COVER THAT 0ALANCA gMAY WELL BE ERS CLASSIC RECIPES FROM THE #HINESE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE IN THE COUNTRY 4HE AMONG THE YOUNG 'ULLET $ISPATCHES â&#x20AC;&#x153;TO ME, HE SHOWED HOW ON 0HILIPPINE &OOD WRITERS BECAUSE OF HIS MASTERY OVER LAN TO LIVE FULLY, HOW TO and 4HE -ALAGOS "OOK OF #HOCOLATE

GUAGE AND THE FOR APPRECIATE WHAT WAS WHICH FEATURES PHO midable intelligence THAT INFORMS HIS kC FINELY WROUGHT, HOW TOGRAPHS BY .EAL /SHIMA. (E ALSO TION u !ND AUTHOR TO LOVE DEEPLY AND PUBLISHED #HINESE AND 0ALANCA WITHOUT HESITATION â&#x20AC;&#x201D; (ALL OF &AME INDUCT &ILIPINOS (UA &EI WITH SCHOLAR *ONA EE *OSE 9 $ALISAY *R ALL OF WHICH PREPARED WROTE IN HIS ESSAY ME TO NOW APPRECIATE THAN #HUA g4HE &ILIPINO 3HORT 0ALANCA IS SUR 3TORY IN %NGLISH !N AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE VIVED BY ,OURDES 5PDATE FOR THE @ Su AS IT SHOULD BE. THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AND THEIR TWO CHIL THAT g;F=OR SHEER GIFT D R E N T O O N E O F OF LANGUAGE #LIN NOBODY LIKE HIM AND WHOM HE WROTE AN OPEN LETTER PUB ton Palancaâ&#x20AC;Ś seems NEVER WILL BE.â&#x20AC;? MATCHLESS u ADDING LISHED ON THE %S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; MIGUEL SYJUCO QUIRE 0HILIPPINES THAT WITH HIM gTHE LANGUAGE IS OFTEN THE WE B S I T E O N * U N E MATERIAL THE STORY IS NOT SO MUCH IN TITLED g! ,ETTER TO -Y THE SPIDER BUT THE WEB u $AUGHTER 4HE 4HINGS IN ,IFE 9OU 0ALANCA LATER VENTURED INTO FOOD WRIT 3HOULDN T &ORGET u (IS WAKE IS BEING HELD AT THE .ATIONAL ING PENNING ESSAYS AND REVIEWS ON THE SUBJECT FOR VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS INCLUD 3HRINE OF /UR ,ADY OF -OUNT #ARMEL IN ing 4HE -ANILA 4IMES %SQUIRE 0HILIP .EW -ANILA 1UEZON #ITY UNTIL 3UNDAY

BOOK REVIEW

Moyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Peacock Emporium reminds us to live in the now SUZANNA Peacockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marriage can only be described as stagnant. !FTER kNANCIAL TROUBLES REQUIRE HER AND HER HUSBAND TO MOVE BACK TO HER HOMETOWN SHE WELCOMES A MUCH NEEDED DISTRACTION BY OPEN ING UP A SHOP IN THE BUSY MARKET PLACE )T IS HERE THAT *OJO -OYES SETS THE STAGE FOR AN ARRAY OF COLORFUL CHARACTERS TO IMPACT 3UZANNA S life in 4HE 0EACOCK %MPORIUM 0ENGUIN PAGES !THENE &ORSTER IS A BEAUTIFUL RICH WILD CHILD WHO NEVER MET A CHALLENGE SHE DIDN T ACCEPT OR A RULE SHE DIDN T BREAK +NOWN AS gTHE LAST DEB u !THENE TAKES GREAT PLEASURE IN TOYING WITH THE EMOTIONS OF HER MANY SUITORS BUT ONLY ONE IS DEEMED LUCKY ENOUGH TO kNALLY CATCH THE EYE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS !THENE $OUGLAS &AIRLEY (ULME CON

SIDERED HIMSELF THE HAPPIEST MAN ON THE EARTH WHEN !THENE AGREED TO BE HIS BRIDE "UT TWO YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE !THENE LEAVES $OUGLAS ON A WHIM ULTI MATELY SENDING HIM INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION AFTER HEARING THE NEWS OF HER DEATH 4HREE DECADES LATER !THENE S DAUGHTER 3UZANNA STARES AT THE PORTRAIT OF HER MOTHER THAT SITS AGAINST A WALL IN 4HE 0EACOCK %M PORIUM )T S A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT SHE DOESN T FULLY BELONG TO HER FAMILY EVEN THOUGH HER FA THER AND HIS WIFE LOVE HER DEARLY )NSTEAD OF PROCESSING THROUGH THESE COMPLICATED EMOTIONS 3UZANNA THROWS HERSELF INTO THE SHOP INTENTLY LISTENING AS HER EMPLOYEE *ESSIE DELIGHTS CUSTOM ERS WITH HER CHARM AND WIT !LTHOUGH SHE KEEPS A LOW PRO

THE Literary Life page of The Sunday Times Magazine is now accepting contributions of new, original and unpublished short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, preferably in English, from emerging and established writers. Works must be encoded in Microsoft Word using the typefaces Arial, Times New Roman, or Palatino Linotype, font size 12 and letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11 inches),

kLE THERE IS ONE WHO SEES STRAIGHT THROUGH 3UZANNA !LEJANDRO S SENSITIVE PERSONALITY MAKES IT EASY FOR 3UZANNA TO OPEN UP WITHOUT EVEN TRYING 3HE CONkDES IN HER NEW FRIEND ABOUT HER NEED TO BE INDEPENDENT HER DESIRE FOR gSOMETHINGu TO CHANGE AND THE HEAVINESS SHE FEELS CAUSED BY HER LATE MOTHER S SHADOW 4HE 0EACOCK %MPORIUM IS FULL OF UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TURNS THAT PROMPT THE READER CONSIDER HIS OR HER OWN PAST 7HATEVER CHALLENGES YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DETAILS OF THAT TIME DO NOT HAVE TO DICTATE THE PRESENT 2EMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED BUT MORE IMPOR TANTLY LIVE IN THE NOW AP 4HE 0EACOCK %MPORIUM costs 0 AND IS AVAILABLE IN LEADING Q This cover image released by Penguin Books shows The Peacock Emporium. PENGUIN VIA AP bookstores. and saved in either .doc or .rtf format. Each short story and creative nonfiction piece should be between ten (10) and twenty (20) pages (double-spaced), while each poem should be limited to only one (1) page (single-spaced). Works littered with glaring grammatical and typographical errors will not be considered. Send your works to the literary editor, Alvin I. Dacanay, at literarylife[at]

POETRY

Sunday Spread BY MARK ANGELES 3UNDAY SPREADS LIKE BUTTER /N WARM PANDESAL kRST OF kVE &ROM THE BROWN PAPER BAG (E TOOK THE SECOND ONE OUT

(ACKS IT IN HALF WITH BARE kNGERS &ROM THE SAME HANDS THAT GATHER 'ARBAGE FROM OUR NEIGHBORS 4HRICE A WEEK EVERY MORNING

(E SUMMONS THE HOUSEHOLD 7ASTE ON A kRST NAME BASIS 7E RESPOND WITH OUR TRASH Â&#x2021; 7ELL KEPT BAGS THAT HIDE STINK 4HOUGH NO BETTER AT COVER UP 4HAN CONCEALING MACHINATIONS )N GLOSSY SMILES OF CANDIDATES

7ITH THEIR DECAPITATED HEADS 2EPEATED IN TARPS FOR THE ELECTION (E TAKES THEM WITH SMALL BILLS !S PAYMENT Â&#x2021; JUST ENOUGH &OR HIS 'RADE -ATH Â&#x2021; !ND lEES TO HIS kariton. .O ONE KNOWS HOW OFTEN (E WASHES HIS WORN GLOVES /R WHOSE HANDS kRST WORE THEM /R IF THEY STINK TO HIGH HEAVEN !FTER ALL WHO AMONG US CAN DENY 4HE ODOR THAT TOIL LEAVES ON OUR SKIN 4HE MARKS OF VIOLENCE IN REPETITION

/F REVERBERATING FATIGUE ,ET HIM ENJOY HIS 3UNDAY SPREAD 2ESPLENDENT BUT TENTATIVE (ARD EARNED AND HONEST ,ET HIM MANGLE HIS BREAD AS HE PRAY 9ET SOFTLY FOR SPOIL 4O COME UPON THOSE LIVING ON PREY

CCP selects 10 fellows for VLF 15 program THE Artist Training Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is pleased to announce the 10 fellows accepted to the Virgin Labfest (VLF)15 Writing Fellowship Program, which will run from June 25 to July 7, 2019. They are Carlo Ceroov M. Aguila, Jane Frances C. Cartalla, Kristine Angel C. Cerva, Migy Cornejo, Bernice Claire D. Dacara, Alicia Anne N. de Ocampo, Maria Vilma Estrellado, Jobert Landeza, Noel Abada Pahayupan and Micah Andre Gozum Santos. The two-week writing program, which deals with the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage, is part of the CCPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to train young and aspiring playwrights. It consists of lectures, script critiquing, writing sessions and interactions with known playwrights, directors and selected actors. The fellows will be mentored by award-winning playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, and given access to all Virgin Labfest 15 plays and selected rehearsals as part of their mentorship. The program will culminate in a staged reading of the fellowsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works directed by Dennis Marasigan at the CCP Bulwagang Amado Hernandez on July 7 at 6 p.m. This reading is free of charge and open to the public. The Virgin Labfest 15 Writing Fellowship Program is a project of the CCP Artist Training Division of the Arts Education Department.

For further inquiries, call (632) 832-1125 local 1605 or send an email to ccp.artist.training@ gmail.com.

manilatimes[dot]net. Kindly put the genre and title of the work in the emailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subject line (example: Short Story: Dead Stars). Authors whose creative works are published in the magazine agree to have these included in literary anthologies that The Manila Times may conceive and publish in the future. Full copyright ownership of the works shall remain with their respective authors.

Filipino Champions The Sunday Times

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

PH youth group wins Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice award in UN SDG Action Campaign A BY ARLO CUSTODIO

PHILIPPINE youth organization won the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice awa r d i n t he U n i t e d Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Action Campaign held last month at the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany.

The 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines (YFPH) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a community of youth advocating for the achievement of the SDGs in collaboration with various VHFWRUV Â˛ ZDV DOVR RQH RI WKUHH Ă&#x20AC;QDOLVWV in the Mobilizers category, where 2,000 applications from 142 countries were chosen for all seven categories. As a Mobilizer, YFPH is one of the organizations that have mobilized individuals, organizations and networks for collective action for the SDGs. The other categories were Visualizers, Storytellers, Campaigners, Connectors, Includers and Creatives. The SDG Action Campaign by the United Nations recognizes individuals and organizations that advance the global movement for the SDGs in the most innovative, impactful and transformative way. YFPH is anchored to the 2030 Youth )RUFH RI WKH $VLD 3DFLĂ&#x20AC;F 5HJLRQ ZKLFK was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Volunteers. In his acceptance speech of the award, YFPH national convenor and 2030 Youth Force Asia Pacific co-founder Jules Guiang expressed optimism of achieving SDGs by going be\RQG WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;QHV RI WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ â&#x20AC;&#x153;We should go beyond our circles, beyond the pople that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re working with, tap the untapped because at the end of the day, in the remaining 11 years, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important thing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we go beyond our networks right now and go to the grassroots a nd tap a l l people whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working in the past decades. [It is important] to recognize also their efforts and make them aware that they are also contributing to the Global Goals,â&#x20AC;? the PTV host-anchor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are young today but we assert our role because the future is for us and the future is about us. Yes, we are not superheroes but yes, we are volunteers. We are not paid in this job, but seeing that by 2030 our world will be transforned, that is beyond any compensation that we can get. So the 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines, DQG WKH $VLD 3DFLĂ&#x20AC;F ZH ZLOO FRQWLQXH

ENNY Lin Granados MaaĂąo Ngai is one of those people who command the room with their radiance. The former beauty queen, crowned Miss Mabalacat 1998, has not aged a day and look as stunning as she was during her early years of modeling and pageantry. Jenny ZDV RQH RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW ZRPHQ WR HPERG\ not just beauty but intelligence as well. Born in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Jenny graduated with honors from the University of the East with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management. While being a scholar in college, she was also a vice president of her Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student College Government and an active SK Councilor and a Barangay Corporate Secretary in one of the districts of Manila where she grew up. Her stint in the world of modeling and pageantry started when she was discovered by an ad agency when she was 17 years old at her loloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s canteen in their apartment in Manila. This soon led to print ads for big companies such as Avon, Jag Jeans, and Johnson & Johnson to name a few. But Jenny was never content and soon pursued a corporate career. Â´$IWHU FROOHJH P\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW JRDO ZDV WR enter the corporate world no matter how good the perks were and the seemingly easy income I made from modeling and pageantry. I wanted to be different from the others and I aimed to face a new challenge which was to become a woman in the corporate world,â&#x20AC;? she shared.

2030 Youth Force in the Philippines national convenor Jules Guiang (second from left) joins other winners from around the world in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign in Germany. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

The 17 SDGs aim to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, promote economic growth, and uphold peace, justice and strong institutions.

YFPH core group members and volunteers.

to activate our youth leaders. We will continue to collaborate with sectors and we will continue to educate for impactful action,â&#x20AC;? Guiang concluded. Winning the Visualizer award was Safecity of India; Storyteller â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Humans and Climate Change Stories, Switzerland; Creative â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Make Art/Stop AIDS: Youth Art and Global Health Center Africa, Malawi; Connector â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The plastic bank by @IBM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; #Haiti, #Philippines

and #USA; Campaigner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;A White 'UHVV 'RHVQÂˇW &RYHU 7KH 5DSHÂľ E\ Abaad, Lebanon; Includer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Transforming Lives Make Senses For Everyone by Paralympic Games; Mobilizer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; "Follow The Money" by Abuja, Nigeria.

About UN SDGs In 2015, 193 member-states of the United Nations, including the Philip-

pines, adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals. These goals build on the successes and misses of the preceding Millennium Development Goals or MDGs (2000 to 2015). These new 17 goals, also covered by the 2030 Agenda alongside the Paris Climate Agreement, aim to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, promote economic growth, and

uphold peace, justice and strong institutions, all through a multi-sectoral approach that calls for collaboration and partnerships. The SDGs have been incorporated in the Philippine Development Plan 2017 to 2022 and would pave the way for the achievement of Ambisyon Natin 2040. ,QWHUHVWHG SDUWLHV PD\ Ă&#x20AC;OO XS WKH membership form at https://tinyurl. com/2030YFPHMembership.

Solar light for better living THE THOUGHT JUNKIE CARLA BIANCA RAVANES-HIGHAM -HQQ\ÂˇV Ă&#x20AC;UVW MRE ZDV DW WKH 3KLOLSSLQH Stock Exchange where she was soon recommended to work for one of the telecom paging giants of the late 1990s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Infocom, the maker of Motorola, Infopage, and Nextel. With her determination and eagerness to learn, Jenny rose through the ranks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from Customer Service Associate to Marketing and then Sales. Her stint with the Sales team opened the doors for her to be at the executive RIĂ&#x20AC;FH RI WKH FRPSDQ\ ZKHUH IDWH OHG KHU to meet the company owner, chairman and CEO Canadian-Chinese businessman William Ngai who eventually became her husband. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been married for nearly 20 years and we have three boys named after him â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Wilson who is 14, Williard who is 6, and our youngest, Willman, 4 years old. My husband molded me and made me the strongest version of myself,â&#x20AC;? she informed. Today, Jenny continues to be an entrepreneur and has recently ventured into the solar business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never imagined I will be in the solar business. It all started when my husband took a small solar-powered device from his solar company from China to the Philip-

Jenny Lin Granados MaaĂąo Ngai

pines when he visited a mining site. My husband saw the conditions of those in the country who still do not have electricity. I was impressed by one of his solar devices which was a small device that produced electricity and can be charged by solar energy. The small device can simultaneously power up lights, fans, charge mobile phones, and even play music via FM radio, USB and Bluetooth,â&#x20AC;? she continued. Jenny immediately saw the many possibilities that the device would bring to her fellow Filipinos.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told my husband how helpful the device would be for Filipinos, especially those in the provinces. I asked his factory in China to send over a few units RI WKH VPDOO VRODU GHYLFHV DQG DW Ă&#x20AC;UVW , sold them to raise funds for a chapel I was putting up in a province.â&#x20AC;? The results were incredible, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was well received. My key selling points were: portable solar, free clean electricity and no more brownout.â&#x20AC;? Since its initial success, Jenny and her husband enhanced the device to make it even better. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At that time, my husband and I were already in the solar business but we were more focused on doing the big solar farms where additional investment was required to have land space to install the big solar PV panels. I told him that we can change the trend by having just one solar device for each house to resolve the power problems of every Filipino, particularly those living in the rural or off-grid areas where electricity is not just expensive but also scarce,â&#x20AC;? she explained. This is the story behind SunSmart solar devices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; inspired by the Philippines and the Filipinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of life. This soon became Jennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, it is more than just making SURĂ&#x20AC;WV EXW P\ JRDO RI PDNLQJ D SRVLWLYH corporate impact by contributing solutions to problems our fellow Filipinos face while taking care of our planet. As

a solar entrepreneur, it is essential to further develop innovative solar technology and solutions that will not just be capable in the moment but also useful and sustainable in the long term,â&#x20AC;? the enterprising beauty queen asserted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My ultimate goal for the company is to be able to implement more of its Vision â&#x20AC;&#x201C; To Do, To Go and To Create a 100-percent all-renewable-powered development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is possible with the right technology such as SunSmart. We hope to stabilize the cost of electricity, resolve HIĂ&#x20AC;FLHQWO\ DQG HIIHFWLYHO\ SRZHU SURElems of the country, overarch the goal of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions that harms the environment and contribute on the long term global climate change adaptation programs,â&#x20AC;? she stressed. As an inspiring woman, Jenny was asked what she wished to impart to other women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a woman like me who works LQ WKH VDPH Ă&#x20AC;HOG DV P\ KXVEDQG P\ forever partner in almost everything. I would say that the same lessons Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned from my children applies for every relationship. And that is also the virtue of patience, understanding and forgiveness which is the supreme totality of love. May every woman be reminded of these virtues of love whenever we face a battle in our relationship with our men. After all, we are more capable of doing and being more than the woman in us,â&#x20AC;? she ended.

Cover Story The Sunday Times

SUNDAYJUNE 2, 2019

COVER AND INSIDE PHOTOS BY DJ DIOSINA ADDITIONAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASSER LUBAY

NASSER LUBAY

Contemporary artist from PH to the world is yet untitled. It is a combination of obscure creatures in a micro universe, like planktons and microorganisms that bloom into flowers, bright-colored snakes and leaves with microscopic eyes, and the light blue-colored patterns representing people as depicted in the old Hotmail Messenger, plus dimensional and geometrical figures as influenced by his engineering background. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I go back to a speical moment when I paint a certain piece, to immortalize it. Also I always tackle rebirth as ongoing process, like it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter how many times you make mistakes, you can always start all over again and keep learning until you reach the right end,â&#x20AC;? he told The Sunday Times Magazine. He said that his inspiration for his YHU\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW IRUPDO SDLQWLQJ LQ WKH same piece he submitted for the Celeste Prize, was in fact how they were as students at Mapua â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that when they got drunk then vomitted afterwards, they became like their new selves again back into soberness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a continuous rebirth,â&#x20AC;? he said.

BY ARLO CUSTODIO

T has been almost 10 years since the Senate passed a resolution congratulating and commending Filipino artist Nasser Lubay for winning second in the Celeste Prize 2009 art competition held at the Alte AEG Fabrik in Berlin, Germany on September 26 that year.

Only 27 then, Lubayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rebirthâ&#x20AC;? was an abstract painting in watercolor measuring 43 inches by 55 inches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Within the painting, there lies the agony of a man whose life has been at war for his very existence. Though conĂ LFWV DUH JURZLQJ ZLWK LPPHQVH IHDU KH has to purge a new life form and seek a better world with dreams. Rebirth for a new life, world and dreams,â&#x20AC;? the description of the work read. Fresh from his win, the artist from Candelaria, Quezon then participated in the Become Kuala Lumpur Design Week in Malaysia and the Junto Al Pasig exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The following year he joined the 2nd Animamix Biennial at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, Taiwan. On his return to the Philippines, he was chosen as one of Jollibeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Ambassadors, cited for his achievement in the arts.

The Sunday Times

magazine TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA Editor ALVIN I. DACANAY Literary Editor CHRISTINA ALPAD IZA IGLESIAS Staff Writers ARLO CUSTODIO Deskman *** PETER NATHANIEL S. BAGA MARJORIE T. DIZON ENRICO D. BERATA JOANNA C. UMADHAY HORACIO MAKABENTA Layout Artists *** DANTE FRANCIS M. ANG 2ND President & CEO *** Telephone: 524-5664 to 66 Telefax: 521-6897 â&#x20AC;˘ 521-6872 Subscription: 528-1319 www.manilatimes.net Website lifestyle@manilatimes.net E-mail

The ~Manila Times is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

Measuring seven feet by nine feet, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Braveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was assessed by Town & Country Magazine as one of the most valuable works at Art Fair Philippines 2019 fetching a price of P2.6 million.

From passion to vocation

,Q KH EHFDPH SDUW RI WKH 2QGarte International Artist Residency in Akumal, Mexico. Most memorable among his solo VKRZV ZDV LQ DW $UWH 3LQWXUD Gallery in Mandaluyong titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nursery of Curiosities,â&#x20AC;? which showed a rich sense of color and dense imagination. At the opening of the exhibit, an original composition â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nursery of Curiositiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Themeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by award-winning composer Jesse Lucas was also unveiled. He has since joined various group exhibitions, including the Florence BiHQQDOH LQ ,WDO\ +LV ODWHVW SDUWLFLpation was at the Monomyth Art Fair 3KLOLSSLQHV LQ )HEUXDU\ DQG $UW ,Q 7KH 3DUN LQ 0DUFK Lubay, who studied Mechanical Engineering and Multimedia Arts and Science at the Mapua Institute of Technology (now Mapua University) in Intramuros, Manila, is a self-taught multi-media artist creating masterpieces with bright colors that evoke mysticism which the viewer may interpret according to his perception. Also the co-founder of arts-and-performance company Artist Playground and the creative services manager of WKH HQWHUWDLQPHQW Ă&#x20AC;UP 7DOHQW )DFWRU\ Inc., Lubayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement in the arts is beyond canvas and it shows in his works as a visual poet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We all have these little stories that have powerful meanings. Through these, I try to capture and embrace the feelings and ideas so that I can share the experience to everyone. In most cases, it heals me and I hope it does the same with everyone else,â&#x20AC;? he said then RI KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW VROR VKRZ Describing his art, Lubay said he is inclined to paint his perpetually evolving encounters and reimagined moments, frustrations and exaggerations that he tries to compress and expand in KLV UHĂ H[LYHO\ FRQMXUHG LPDJHV â&#x20AC;&#x153;My art is a new semi-abstraction created through psychedelic processes, but as I explore my skills and sensibilities, I am interested in the melding of traditional aesthetics and contem-

Lubayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) then, saw her sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artistic potential early on as he colored all the books around the house and GUHZ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV RQ WKHLU ZDOOV ZLWK FUD\RQV +H UHFHLYHG KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW DUW LPSOHPHQW gift of a watercolor set in tubes and brushes from his mom when he was in Ă&#x20AC;UVW JUDGH /DWHU KH ZDV JLIWHG ZLWK DQ oil paint set. From there he nurtured his talent, and his teachers entered him in art contests where he usually won. Many of his works show life in early stages, like seeds sprouting and organisms interacting with each other, mainly because of his early observations and experiences as a farm boy in Misamis Oriental until he was in third grade, up until the family moved to 4XH]RQ ZKHUH KH Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG HOHPHQWDU\ and high school. As an artist he said that experiences JUHDWO\ LQĂ XHQFH WKH RXWFRPH RI RQHÂˇV work. For him, it was an early fascination with Earth Science, poring on the books and researching about the subject even if not required at school, adding that he was spellbound by the elements. He puzzled his friends, teachers and relatives with his threedimensional art way back then, asking how he did all that. Not knowing what he wanted in college, he related that he tried to get into Computer Engineering just so he could own a family computer, but instead he settled for Mechanical Engineering along with his high school friends from Quezon. Not much into academics, he did just enough for him to study and pass, until he realized that his course was not what he wanted. He was already in his fourth year when he decided to shift to Multimedia Arts. His biggest challenge early on was GUDZLQJ KXPDQ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH face, but quickly learned a technique which he heard somewhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard that maybe Leonardo Da Vinci used a mirror when he painted Mona Lisa, and so they say that the famous piece was actually a self-portrait. I tried to do the same â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not to do a self-portrait but how to translate the

With Celeste Prize founder Steven Music (second from left) and team.

Tour of the Berlin Wall that used to divide Germany into the Socialist East and Democratic West. porary visual outcomes. I allow my mind to wander freely and unceasingly, HYHQ WR JHW ORVW LQ WKH PRPHQW Ă X[ RI imagination and small epiphanies until they produce visual marks that yield their own resonance and sense of meaning,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

Cosmic germination, micro universe Asked why he is into the theme of cosmic germination with hints of fear and horror, Lubay relayed to The Sunday Times Magazine his ability to expand KLV JUDPPDWLFDO Ă XHQF\ WR D SXUHO\ Ă&#x20AC;JXUDWLYH ZRUOG

With Celeste Prize 2009 Jury Former Senator of Arts Germany Adrienne Goehler and London curator and art critic Mark Gisbourne. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am an artist. I paint to express the positive side of life so people will always be inspired to reach their goals too,â&#x20AC;? he said. His work â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brave,â&#x20AC;? a huge painting measuring seven feet by nine feet was assessed by Town & Country Magazine as one of the most valuable works at $UW )DLU 3KLOLSSLQHV IHWFKLQJ D SULFH RI 3 PLOOLRQ 8VLQJ YLEUDQW colors, he put in texts and his own thoughts onto the canvas and eventually painted over it. Almost a mural, Lubay said the piece, which took him D \HDU WR Ă&#x20AC;QLVK LV PRUH DSSURSULDWH WR be displayed in a large space such as museum than in a private home. His present work, still wet during the pictorial for this cover story

Cover Story The Sunday Times

SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2019

‘Untitled 103’.

‘Aquarium. ‘

‘Genesis.’

The Celeste Prize THE Celeste Prize for international art was first given in 2006 by an organization established by former British Broadcasting Company (BBC) second correspondent in Rome, Steven Music. Having graduated from Bristol University in the United Kingdom with Bachelor of Social Science degree in Politics, Music worked as a journalist in London covering energy affairs for Petroleum Argus as well as collaborating with Reuters and the Financial Times in the 1980s until the ‘90s. In 2001 until 2006, the former journalist ran Albero Celeste, a contemporary art gallery in Italy, after nearly nine years working as a “runner” with galleries in Europe for contemporary and modern artists. Seeing the need for a universal platform for contemporary artists to showcase their works, he created the online community

Celeste Network in 2007. Besides the Celeste Prize for international art, the Visible White Photo Prize was established in 2012. The Premio Celeste for Italian artists, meanwhile, was in existence from 2004 to 2014. The community presently has 75,000 members coming from countries all over the world, visited by 8,000 art lovers every day. Music continues to organize exhibitions, events and prizes around the world. The mission of the Network is to help artists show their works around the world to thousands of contemporary arts professionals in an active and stimulating community. Without economic sponsor, prizes that total 33,000 euros come from entry fees of participants, which immediately redistributed also to pay for programming and administering the network.

Abstract painting ‘Rebirth’ in watercolor measuring 43 inches by 55 inches won Second Prize for the Filipino artist in the Celeste Prize 2009 competition held in Berlin, Germany.

Recognition from Jollibee as Youth Icon Yumbasador for Art. The artist (seating, second from right) during the recognition from the Philippine Embassy in Italy for the participation of Filipino artists in the 2017 Florence Biennale. basic form of the human face onto canvas as what I saw in the mirror,” Lubay half-laughed of his anectode. He related that the combination of his colors doesn’t follow tint theories but he glances at the color chart once in a while to balance the hues, as some part of the painting may be drowned by too much of a certain shade. His absorption into microverse was validated by the “Ant-Man” Marvel Comics hero, where the shrunk world is presented in a normal paradigm for viewers as the character enters countless “subatomic universes” with cybernetic power to make telepathic communication with other creatures in the realm. As such, many of his works have themes along that line. Those familiar with Lubay’s works, particularly associates and habitues at Artist Playground, see how he foments the idea of irreversible growth and germination. “Intently, he underlines such beginnings in the history of life, such as formative stages and the natural process of growing of being and becoming. In this instance, art, like in nature, ripens or demonstrates fruition over necessary periods of time,” they said of their friend. Some international publications that featured him and his works include Singapore’s Surface Asia Magazine, USA’s Art Tour International Magazine and Netherlands’ 1340 Curated International Art Magazine. He was also cited in the article “Art Trek: Showcase of PH Art in Singapore” in the Department of Foreign Affairs News. Besides painting, the boyish-looking artist is a web/graphic designer and exhibition director for District Gallery too, charmed by the works of others. “I have no set of standards when choosing a piece. I go by instinct. I just choose what I feel at the moment what I think is good for the exhibition and concept,” he shared, emphasizing that he goes for modern expressionism. Of his art, Lubay averred that his reflections in canvas reveal some imaginings and ruminations, triggered by his past and ongoing experiences conflated with reality. He is also interested in creating images that he could

Kids living around Intramuros naturally gravitate to the artist as he does a sketch in front of his alma mater. His unique way of encouraging children to pursue art is by giving his implements to the most interested kid in the group after the session.

Exhibition day at Ondarte International Artist Residency Mexico with guests and host Maribel Bianchi (right).

At Di Legno Gallery exhibit in Singapore.

Cousin Elsa awarding the young painter as Best Artist in elementary. not explain, more curious in researching into visual effects revealed by feelings and body movements. “I crave to learn and share these behavioral concepts to further any moral understanding in doing things that still have no meaning,” he verbalized. “My art is a puzzle made up of everything around me. I paint to bring about an unlikely world in a poetic way from my heart not only through colorful VKDSHV DQG ÀJXUHV EXW DOVR D GLIIHUHQW dimension within ourselves. Life is full of fascinating things, neither good nor bad, and to understand this wisdom is one of the most beautiful things one can enjoy in this existence. This is what I want to share, this magical vision, to everyone in this part of the universe,” the award-winning contemporary artist in closing told The Sunday Times Magazine.

At the Florence Biennale, October 2017.

Haraya Project personal art outreach program.

Lola Azon walks the young artist during high school graduation (left) and with mom Susan back in kindergarten.

Fun Times The Sunday Times

»horoscope

THE SUNDAY CROSSWORD

Oo-ee, Baby!

By Merl Reagle June 2, 2019

...“All right, you two — switch places” This puzzle is part of Merl's best-of series 1 6 9 13 19 20 21 22 23 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 39 41 43 44 45 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 67 68 69 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80

ACROSS Sonora flora Cabinet dept. Caesar’s “check it out!” Walked with purpose Football-game results? Golden Girls first name Home-run-hitter’s run Feed off of Early basketball star? Sword-swallower’s favorite lunch? Brief periods Shade tree Electrical units Attired Ulu wielder: abbr. Beer-taster’s concerns Macbeth’s “check it out!” Calendar abbr. St. Louis’s ___ Bridge Some flooring “___ see it ...” Fabrication What the Bambi-onvideo salesman did? Useless to talk to Longtime Denver QB Cleo portrayer Stinging insect Looks back in anger Ex-African dictator 90 Down model Not the foggiest Island east of Java Baloney Longer for Lenore Vergil escorted him down Isn’t budging Yard greenery Actor Edward James ___ Tennis great Laver All-commercial channel: abbr. Squirrel’s perch French soup ingredient The Badger St. “Leave ___ me” Melodious ... not Automated, in prefixes Understanding answers Big name in blenders La ___ (city in 73 Across, on the Mississippi)

81 What Addams Family members do each morning? 84 Michigan, for one 85 “But what ___ know?” 87 Loooong times 88 SNL “The Donald” portrayer 89 Thriving times 90 St. John of the Cross was one 93 Hope 95 With it 98 Fancy wheel features 99 Wheedle 101 Part of HRE: abbr. 102 Utah lily 103 The “ah ... ah ... AH ... ” before the “CHOO”? 107 Name for a cleaningup-after-your-dog product? 109 Sodium ___ (NaI) 110 Lasher author Rice 111 Cartoon collectible 112 Bowling alley button 113 New World symphony composer 114 Underworld river 115 Charlie Weaver’s town, Mt. ___ 116 Golden Boy playwright 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

DOWN Crusader’s need Land units All a rooster wants? Party drinks It means “somewhat” ___ from the blue Like some math progressions Door sound Engrave Cartoonist Robert of “Keep on Truckin’” fame Thicket WWII theater Bad sportsmanship at an orthography contest? Radial surface Foxx of sitcom fame Popeye’s love Unknown Jane Printing measures

Gift givers! For info on Merl’s books, visit www.sundaycrosswords.com. 1

19 24

71 76

64 69

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Go ahead and take charge. Make powerful requests and listen for what’s wanted and needed. What’s missing that might make a difference?

83 88

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Creative expression flows like a river. Pursue long-range goals. Look outside the box for new views and perspectives. Learn valuable tricks and techniques. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 9 -- The venture you’re considering has long-term profit potential. Draw upon hidden resources. Take advantage of a lucky break. Act on your well-laid plans.

59 63

81 85

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

32 39

Today’s Birthday (06/02/19). Create dreams to share with a partner this year. Financial discipline is key. Summer windfalls support you to surmount a shared financial hurdle. Shared accounts and investments rise next winter, before you adapt to a change with personal income. Together you can get whatever you need.

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103 104 105

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CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Find a quiet spot to think. Keep a low profile, and consider your options before making a move. A dream long-held seems within reach. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Your friends come through for you over the next few days. Your team comes to the rescue. Make future plans and connections. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Professional opportunities arise that offer tempting possibilities.

24 26 29 32 33 35 36 37 38 40 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 51

Steppenwolf author Sgts., e.g. Scandinavian city Country singer Albert Hotel founder César Winged monster Goal of the Rat Lobby? Noted Nathan Diamond experts ___ angle (inclined) Vermont’s Attorney General? Commandment word Put on “Tickle Me” dolls Those women, in Nice Singer Sheena Sen. Kefauver George Gershwin anthem: “___ of Mine, America”

57 Language of nerds? 58 California beach town 61 Mountain lions 62 Organ offerer 63 Watch site 64 Bone opening? 66 Salon offering 70 Apt name for an average Joe 72 Elliptical pattern 73 Talked in the library 74 Getaway spot 75 Rights org. 76 Pitfall 78 Possesses 79 Eyeball 82 Elaborate fake 83 Duck Soup principal 86 Mountain in Thessaly 90 Japanese car maker 91 Common excuse 92 Trite 94 Insinuate

96 Florida bird 97 Places for sentries 98 Israeli prime minister of the 1970s 100 Financial page abbr. 102 Zipped

103 104 105 106 107 108

Mr. Caesar Calendar abbr. Tokyo’s old name Spanish article AT&T rival Ft. Knox contenido

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O L E S EOV I RR EG E L M H T A I T O R A P P T E I I N K T RU E R A P EQ S S DO P E A URN S COY A S D Y OR A NGE L OE S I D E S

H A H A A V E S U L A R S S N E E U S T I N AM I N T L E L E E N Y RU T W I T H S A CR A P R A I N A S A X R L I N A S T RO L L E A R L Y R F E N R Z ON E O L D S E K E S

SUDOKU

SUNDAY June 2, 2019

Apply creative solutions to solve a puzzle. Use something you’ve been saving. Take on new responsibilities. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Take someone beloved on your next adventure. Positive transformations can occur. Follow the news, as hidden opportunities underlie twists and turns in the road. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Ask for more, and get it. Keep generating positive income and cash flow. Invest in quality materials and long-term profitability. Collaborate for common gain. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Be receptive to romance. Compromise and share. Get creative for a beautiful experience. Choose privacy over publicity. Enjoy the company of an interesting partner. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Practice your moves for strength and endurance. Feed your engine high-octane fuel. Recharge with restorative routines. Energize your mind, body and spirit with nature. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Make time for matters of heart and passion. Persuade another with grace and humor. Have fun with people you love. Kindle a fine romance. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Prioritize family fun. Make delicious messes, and clean them up. Domestic arts and crafts satisfy. Reap a bountiful harvest from earlier care and love.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @lindablack. For more astrological interpretations visit Linda Black Horoscopes and 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.

Arts Awake SUNDAY June 2, 2019

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Filipino folk dancers join Thai King coronation THE Bayanihan National Folk Da nc e C ompa ny joi ne d t he people of Thailand in the Arts and Cultural Performance in Celebration of the Royal Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn, led by the Ministry of Culture of Thailand, through the National Commission for Culture and the $UWV 1&&$ IURP 0D\ WR LQ %DQJNRN The ceremony was participated by renow ned cu ltu ra l dance troupes from Association of S outheast A sia n Nat ion s (Asean) member-states, China, -DSDQ DQG .RUHD The Royal Coronation Ceremony was considered as one of the most prestigious occasion s i n T ha i la nd, w ith the main venue located on the most highlighted spot in Bangkok, with the Grand Palace as the EDFNJURXQG Multi-awarded both nationally and internationally, the Bayanihan showcased the best of the Philippines and the story of the Filipinos through music DQG H[TXLVLWH GDQFHV In appreciation and recognition of their pioneering efforts and international success in the realm of Filipino dance, Bayanihan has been declared as the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; National Folk 'DQFH &RPSDQ\ As de facto Ministry of Cultu re of the Ph i l ippi nes, the NCC A joi n s its cou nter pa r t agencies in the region to promote Asean identity and awareness through various cultural engagements that highlight a people -or iented and people FHQWHUHG UHJLRQ

PH delegates in Asian civilization conference DELEGATES from the Philippines, through NCCA), participated in the celebration of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations led by the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China on 0D\ WR LQ %HLMLQJ The event aims to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation among Asian countries with the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;exchange and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community RI D 6KDUHG )XWXUH Âľ The opening ceremony was participated by a marching EDQG DQG GDQFHUV IURP $VLDQ countries and other invited FRXQWULHV RXWVLGH WKH UHJLRQ The Philippines was represented by Cultural Center of the Ph i l ippi nes (CCP) Vice President Chris Millado and Meah Ang See of Kaisa Foundation du r i n g the Cu ltu ra l Tourism and People-to-People ([FKDQJHV )RUXP Filipino performers included Celso de L eon, hor n player from the Man ila Symphony Orchestra; Williane Rose Ducay and Lew Gian Jose Yee of the Council of Filipino Dancer s; a nd L a h i n g Bat a n ga n 'DQFH 7URXSH Fashion designer Leonora Cabili and Maria Asuncion Guadalupe of Filip+Inna showcased the indigenous weaves and fabULFV RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV D u r i n g t h e g a l a p e r fo r m a nc e , world- c l a s s a r t i s t s f r om A s i a n e nt e r t a i n me nt i n d u s t r y r e n d e r e d p e r fo r mances with Aicelle Santos sining â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nais Koâ&#x20AC;? composed by Nat i o n a l A r t i s t fo r Mu s i c 5\DQ &D\DE\DE

The Sunday Times

NCCA, CCP pay tribute to 7 new National Artists S EVEN exemplary individuals who were conferred the National Artist Awards by President Rodrigo Duterte in MalacaĂąang in 2018 were given a tribute DW WKH &XOWXUDO &HQWHU RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV &&3

Visual artist Lauro â&#x20AC;&#x153;Larryâ&#x20AC;? Alcala, theater advocate Amelia LapeĂąa-Bonifacio, music master Raymund â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ryanâ&#x20AC;? &D\DE\DE Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHU .LGODU 7DKLPLN architect Francisco MaĂąosa, literary writers Resil Mojares and Ramon Muzones were declared National Artists, joining the league of Filipino artists who have received the highest recognition EHVWRZHG E\ WKH QDWLRQ National Artist for Literature and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Virgilio Almario said that accepting the National Artist Award means to embody being a National Artist â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;a pillar for the national arts and role model to the VHFWRU ZH DUH SDUW RI Âľ He related his experiences of wearing the heavy gold medallion while giving speeches, his name announced on plane rides and being asked questions or for his opinions on issues by the media or those from the academe â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all these because of the honor bestowed on the artist, which are part of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Filmmaker Kidlar Tahimik SUDLVH DQG UHVSHFW IRU DQ DZDUGHH &&3 &KDLUPDQ 0LVV 8QLYHUVH Margie Moran-Floirendo acknowledged the contribution of the National Artists to the preservation and enhancement of WKH )LOLSLQR KHULWDJH â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have forged new paths in the directions for the future generations of artists, while at the same time preserved DQG HQKDQFHG RXU ULFK KHULWDJH 7KH\ have embodied the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest ideals in the humanities and aesthetic expressions,â&#x20AC;? the beauty queen-turnedSDWURQHVV RI FXOWXUH DQG WKH DUWV VDLG She thanked the National Artists â&#x20AC;&#x153;for reminding everyone that there are endless possibilities and opportunities in the Ă&#x20AC;HOG RI DUWV DQG IRU WHOOLQJ WKH SHRSOH WKDW there is more to arts than meets the eye, Theater advocate Amelia LapeĂąa-Bonifacio that art is more than just a hobby, it is a SDVVLRQ LW LV D ZD\ RI OLIH Âľ techniques of Asian theater arts and puppetry, she enriched the Philippine Get to know the Artists FXOWXUDO KHULWDJH LQ GUDPD She successfully synthesized a myr7KURXJKRXW KLV \HDUV RI FDUWRRQLQJ iad of rich puppet traditions from Alcala utilized his comic strips to spice Southeast Asia, earning for herself the up the Filipino lives with witty illustra- title â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grand Dame of Southeast Asian tions, featuring over 500 characters &KLOGUHQÂˇV 7KHDWUH Âľ in about 20 comic strips serialized in Cayabyabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse compositions, YDULRXV SXEOLFDWLRQV which exhibit both mastery of compoHis iconic work â&#x20AC;&#x153;Slice of Life,â&#x20AC;? which sition technique and spontaneity, has had been circulated for decades, helped made a great impact in the Philippine KLV DYLG UHDGHUV DQG IROORZHUV WR Ă&#x20AC;QG PXVLF LQGXVWU\ +LV PXVLF UHĂ HFWV WKH their sense of self amid the not-so-good exuberance of life and human happienvironment and situations Filipinos ness, thus capturing the very essence H[SHULHQFH +H DOVR PDGH WZR PXUDOV RI RXU )LOLSLQR VRXO ,W HPERGLHV WKH and inspired the production of six motion )LOLSLQR YDOXHV DQG VRFLDO H[SHULHQFHV SLFWXUHV EDVHG RQ KLV FDUWRRQ FUHDWLRQV His learned, skillful, and versatile muLapeĂąa-Bonifacio established the sical style spans a wide range of genres: Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, which from conservatory or art compositions helped place the Philippines on the world such as concert religious music, symWKHDWHU PDS 6KH ZURWH SOD\V EDVHG phonic work, art song, opera and concerto on materials culled from painstaking to mainstream popular idioms in the researches and had been involved in the music industry and in live contempoSURGXFWLRQ DQG GHVLJQ RI SXSSHWV rary multimedia shows (musical theater, She was instrumental in the surge GDQFH DQG Ă&#x20AC;OP of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theater in the PhilipKidlat Tahimik strongly believes SLQHV WKURXJK WKH PDJLF RI SXSSHWU\ WKDW WKH Ă&#x20AC;OPV DQG WKH Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHU DUH Drawing upon the untapped wealth RQH +H KDV FRQWLQXDOO\ LQYHQWHG of Philippine and Asian folklore and himself through his cinema, and so experimenting with various forms and KLV FLQHPD LV DV VLQJXODU DV WKH PDQ

Music master Raymund 'Ryan' Cayabyab PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Kidlat has epitomized the possibilities RI DOWHUQDWLYH PRGHV RI Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNLQJ DQG WKH DUWLVDQDO IRUP RI SURGXFWLRQ 7KH PRGH RI PDNLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP H[hibited Kidlat Tahimikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intense independence as an artist and, at the VDPH WLPH WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP LWVHOI FDOOHG IRU Filipinos to actively live out their independence and not allow their culWXUH WR EH LPSHULDOL]HG E\ WKH ZHVW )URP WKH V XQWLO KLV UHWLUHPHQW in 2015, MaĂąosa courageously and passionately created original Filipino IRUPV VSDFHV ZLWK LQWULFDWH DQG UHĂ&#x20AC;QHG GHWDLOV 7KURXJK WKH \HDUV KH VXFFHVVfully and even playfully constructed these forms and spaces into masterSLHFHV IRU ERWK WKH SRRU DQG WKH ULFK He passionately and painstakingly developed the use of indigenous materials, bamboo, coconut, rattan, capiz and various kinds of inlay and applied DOO WKHVH LQWR Ă&#x20AC;UVW FODVV DUFKLWHFWXUDO Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHV IXUQLWXUH DQG IXUQLVKLQJV The buildings he designed included the Tahanang Pilipino (or the Coconut Palace), internationally awarded Amanpulo Resort with its deconstructed â&#x20AC;&#x153;bahay kubosâ&#x20AC;? style, and the San Miguel Building with its rice terraces-like green balconies DQG Â´WXNRGÂľ LQZDUGO\ VODQWLQJ ZLQGRZV An educator, scholar, essayist and Ă&#x20AC;FWLRQLVW DQG FXOWXUDO OLWHUDU\ KLVWRULDQ 0RMDUHV LV RQH RI WKH OHDGLQJ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV LQ UHJLRQDO OLWHUDWXUH DQG KLVWRU\ As founding director of the Cebuano Studies Center, an important research institution which placed Cebu in the research and documentation map, he pioneered Cebuano and national idenWLW\ IRUPDWLRQ $V D OHDGLQJ Ă&#x20AC;JXUH LQ cultural and literary history, he netZRUNHG DFWLYHO\ LQ PDQ\ RUJDQL]DWLRQV For over 50 years, Mojares has pubOLVKHG LQ GLYHUVH OLWHUDU\ IRUPV Ă&#x20AC;FWLRQ essay, journalism, scholarly articles, and books) across a wide range of discipline

(literature, history, biography, cultural VWXGLHV DQG RWKHUV 7R GDWH KH KDV published books (three more in the press) and edited, co-edited, or co-authored 11 books, and written numerous articles for SRSXODU DQG VFKRODUO\ SXEOLFDWLRQV Muzones was a Hiligaynon poet, essayist, short story writer, critic, grammarian, editor, lexicographer, and novelist who authored an unprecedented FRPSOHWHG QRYHOV 6RPH RI KLV ZRUNV represent groundbreaking â&#x20AC;&#x153;firstsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Hiligaynon literature such as the feminist â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang Bag-ong Maria Clara;â&#x20AC;? the roman a clef â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maambong Nga Sapat 0DJQLĂ&#x20AC;FHQW %UXWH Âľ WKH FRPLF Â´6L 7DPEORWÂľ WKH SROLWLFDOO\ VDWLULFDO â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si Tamblot Kandidato Man (Tamblot is $OVR D &DQGLGDWH Âľ WKH LQVWDOOment longest serialized novel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dama de 1RFKH Âľ WR DPRQJ RWKHUV Hailed by his peers as the longest UHLJQLQJ WR DPRQJ Â´WKH WKUHH kings of the Hiligaynon novel,â&#x20AC;? Muzones brought about its most radical changes ZKLOH XVKHULQJ LQ PRGHUQLVP :LWK D OLWHUDU\ FDUHHU WKDW VSDQQHG \HDUV WR KLV HYROXWLRQ FRYHUV WKH ZKROH history of the Hiligaynon novel from its ULVH LQ WKH V WR LWV GHFOLQH LQ WKH V During the joint NCCA-CCP tribute, the artists were honored through SHUIRUPDQFHV RI WKHLU RZQ ZRUNV LapeĂąa-Bonifacioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s puppet play â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sita & Rama: Papet Ramayanaâ&#x20AC;? was performed by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas; Cayabyabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s composition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paraisoâ&#x20AC;? originally sung by Smokey Mountain was performed by Esang de Torres and WKH $WHQHR &KDPEHU 6LQJHUV ZLWK 0U Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son Toma conducting the orchestra; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cordillera Suiteâ&#x20AC;? dance performance by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group; and staged reading of a scene from Muzonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Margosatubigâ&#x20AC;? by Audie Gemora, Bong Cabrera and Shiela 9DOGHUUDPD 0DUWLQH]

National Artists and their representatives (from left) Larry Alcala's widow Guadalupe, LapeĂąa-Bonifacio, Cayabyab, Francisco MaĂąosa's widow Denise, Resil Mojares, Ramon Muzones' son Rex and Kidlat Tahimik.

Arts Awake The Sunday Times

June 2, 2019 SUNDAY

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Spectre of Comparisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; features paintings and installations by renowned artists Manuel Ocampo and Lani Maestro. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

' T H E S P E C T R E O F CO M PA R I S O N '

A tribute to Rizal's â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Noli Me Tangereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; A

BY NIKA ROQUE

FTER making the Philippines proud at the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy in 2017, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Spectre of Comparisonâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which features the works of renowned artists Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo, and curated by Joselina "Yeyey" &UX] Âł LV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ KRPH IRU DOO )LOLSLQRV WR VHH The exhibit, currently on view at WDON EHIRUH WKH H[KLELW RSHQLQJ the Museum of Contemporary Art and Both Maestro and Ocampo have Design (MCAD) in Malate, Manila, been based in Canada and the USA mainly took inspiration from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Noli Me respectively, where they went to Tangere,â&#x20AC;? the classic Filipino novel by graduate school and received presti1DWLRQDO +HUR -RVH 5L]DO JLRXV DZDUGV In fact, the exhibit title is based on This in mind, the artists explored a line in the novel, â&#x20AC;&#x153;el demonio de las WKH GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW YLHZV DQG UHĂ HFWLRQV RI comparaciones,â&#x20AC;? which speaks about two very different geographical areas Rizal and his protagonist Crisostomo ZKLOH MX[WDSRVLQJ WKHP 0DHVWURÂˇV Ibarraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exneon and inper ienc e i n te teractive inD F D U U L D JH s a l l at ion s st As he looks matched out at the with Oconly Botania m p o â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s c a l Ga r den signature of Man i la, pai nti n gs, h e r e m e m - Maestroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;These Hands,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2017, installation re resulting to bers the nu- with blue neon (reproduction) t different two merous gari d e a s t h at best compledens of Eub m e nt e a c h URSH $W WKDW RWKHU point, Rizal R For Maethought that stro, he could st her two neon pieces never look n are consisat European a tent with gardens in what she the same way usually creDJDLQ u Maestroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 'No Pain Like This Body,' 2010/2017, ates, whereâ&#x20AC;&#x153;I saw the installation with ruby red neon (reproduction) in she either work of Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo, who lifts words or quotations from literary are very important immigrants, who SLHFHV RU ZULWHV KHU RZQ 7R EH VXUH have practiced art outside of the Phil- the multimedia artist is very interLSSLQHV $QG , WKLQN WKHVH DUH YHU\ HVWHG LQ WH[W DV YLVXDO DUW ,Q IDFW important points for us to realize that her blue piece bears the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you the way art is practiced goes beyond must take my life, spare these hands,â&#x20AC;? WKH LGHDV RI ERUGHUV DQG QDWLRQDOLVP from the poem â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flowers of Glass,â&#x20AC;? by The exhibition counters the idea of this )LOLSLQR ZULWHU -RVH 3HUH] %HGX\D Another attractive installation with sort of nationalism that is happening currently,â&#x20AC;? shared Cruz at the artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;No pain like this body,â&#x20AC;? is lifted from

a book by Harold Sonny Ladoo, who with The Sunday LV IURP 7ULQLGDG Times Magazine. Ocampo (left) and Maestro â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I first came to Canada I â&#x20AC;&#x153;My artistic style is I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t IRXQG WKLV ERRN >E\ /DGRR@ , UHDG LW KDYH D VW\OH 3DLQWLQJ LV D ODQJXDJH (center) with Senator Loren Legarda, an advocate for bringing and I was just so amazed at how this DQG LW DOUHDG\ H[LVWHG ZD\ EHIRUH PH art to a wider audience. writer used the English language to Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of choosing and not 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG KDYH D SDYLOLRQ , VSHDN DERXW KLV KLVWRU\ ,WÂˇV VLPLODU WR LQYHQWLQJ Âľ WKH DUWLVW FRQWLQXHG the social-realism of the cabins in the In addition, Ocampo said the ex- wish we could always have this kind 3KLOLSSLQHV Âľ UHFDOOHG 0DHVWUR hibit present old and new works, â&#x20AC;&#x153;[For of thing for younger artists as well, for â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was just amazed at how he used this exhibit,] Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken images from them to be able to show their work,â&#x20AC;? language â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little ittle bit like Taglish the Philippine-Am Philippine-American War, from WKH SDLQWHU HQGHG in terms of its creeFrancisco Goyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ative expression orr â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; T h e S l e e p o f Homecoming LQQRYDWLRQ ,W MXVW W Reason Produces stayed in my head,â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;? 0RQVWHUV Âˇ 7KLV The Department of Foreign Affairs, the VKH FRQWLQXHG was after I did a National Commission for Culture and the Apart from herr residency in the $UWV WKH 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH RI 6HQDWRU /RUHQ /HJDUneon pieces, Mae-Goya Museum in da, and the De La Salle-College of Saint stro also created d France and I was Benilde played large roles in bringing another interactivee invited to make the exhibit to Venice and taking it back installation, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feltt a body of work KRPH WR 0DQLOD /HJDUGD LQ SDUWLFXODU has been a leading advocate a and vithat it would bee sionary in pushing for siona nice to have someetthe Philippines thing more cohe-tto participate in sive to the show ass the renowned art th opposed to a two-HY HYHQW SHU VRQ VKRZ , Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot leave conversation with h contemporary art con Manuel, I thoughtt for the elite, to those it would be nice to Ocampoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Twelfth Station,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; oil, who can travel and h ave s ome t h i n g acrylic, and collage on canvas, 173 x pay airfare to relt h at l i n ke d ou r 127 cm (1994) ZRUNV WRJHWKHU 6R ish the t brilliance of I was commissioned to do a new piece that was in conPhilippine curators Phil and I constructed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;meronmeron.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? and artists, a so I promversation with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meronmeron,â&#x20AC;? or the benches in a Goya paintise tha that we will always the middle of the exhibit, did not only LQJ Âľ bring them home,â&#x20AC;? exbring together the artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; works but pressed the senator durFinally, Ocalso invited people to stay and pause ampo shared Ocampoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LQJ WKH UHFHSWLRQ LQJ WKH â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;T LQ WKH SODFH 8QH[SHFWHGO\ 0DHVWUR that the im- cand acr ylic oonr ta Imperiales ,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even as I leave the Senc a nv a s m (2019 , 30 0 x o il ) began seeing writings and drawings ages from the by June 30, which ate seat b 20 0 RQ WKH EHQFKHV E\ YLVLWRUV means that funding agent PhilippineMeanwhile, renowned painter Ocam- American War were inspired by for the Bienalle will be gone, po is known for creating paintings that American magazines and posters from I have the commitment of mix religious iconography, views of so- WKH WLPH Â´7KH LPDJHV ZHUH SRUWUD\- P\ FROOHDJXHV LQ WKH 6HQDWH 6LQFH , ZLOO ciety and politics, historical references, ing Filipinos as primitive, animal-like be in the lower house, I promise artists, WKH SXQN FXOWXUH WH[W DQG FDUWRRQV VDYDJHV ,W WDONV DERXW KLVWRU\ DQG DOVR curators, and the cultural community of â&#x20AC;&#x153;I get references from magazines DERXW WKH SUHVHQW WLPH Âľ our beloved country that art and culture RU WKH LQWHUQHW :LWK VRPHWKLQJ WKDW â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very glad that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s here because ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR EH VXSSRUWHG Âľ catches my eye or interests me, I try to few Filipinos saw what was shown in The Spectre of Comparison is on develop the image and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of 9HQLFH RU LQ RWKHU SDUWV RI WKH ZRUOG view until July 20 at the Museum of WULDO DQG HUURU XQWLO LW ZRUNV 0RVWO\ Growing up as an artist in the Philip- Contemporary Art and Design, De the painting paints itself,â&#x20AC;? explained pines, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve only heard about these La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Ocampo in a separate interview WKLQJV ,ÂˇP SURXG WR UHSUHVHQW WKH 0DODWH 0DQLOD

The Manila Times hosts Intramuros on-the-spot live painting contest for new artists THE Manila Times, the oldest English daily in the country and longtime resident of Intramuros, is hosting a spot-painting contest and exhibit that showcases both the beauty of the Walled City and the talent of EXGGLQJ DUWLVWV Dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Intramuros on Canvass: On the Spot Live Painting Event and Exhibit,â&#x20AC;? the competition is open to all artists â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of any background â&#x20AC;&#x201D; regardless of age or FKRVHQ PHGLXP 7KHUH ZLOO EH DEVR-

OXWHO\ QR UHJLVWUDWLRQ IHH From June 12 to 31, registered participants can go around Intramuros and paint on the spot whatever part of WKLV KLVWRULF FLW\ WKH\ ZLVK WR KLJKOLJKW During this period, The Manila Times will send out photographers around Intramuros to document painters and feature them in the daily LVVXH RI WKH QHZVSDSHU The works will then be curated by no less than Jeffrey Consumo â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the painter taught the late President

Cory Aquino to paint â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and exhibited at The Manila Times building for WKH SXEOLF WR VHH Additionally, all works will be offered IRU VDOH XQOHVV DQ DUWLVW ZLVKHV QRW WR â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it is important for The Manila Times to support the arts, to give new and unknown artists a platform to promote their works because there is simply so much Filipino talent out there and there are very few channels by which they can promote their talent,â&#x20AC;? shared The Manila Times

President and CEO Dante Francis Â´.OLQNÂľ $QJ QG â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope that by doing this, it serves to do just that and consequently, promote Intramuros because Intramuros KDV VR PXFK WR RIIHU Âľ KH DGGHG Ang also offered that, The Manila Times has long wanted Intramuros WR FRPH WR OLIH )LQDOO\ ZLWK WKH projects of the new administration headed by Guiller Asido â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Intramuros Museum and the Intramuros Night Market, among

RWKHUV Âł WKH FLW\ LV VHHLQJ D UHYLYDO If this growth continues, Ang said WKH SRWHQWLDO FDQ EH LPPHDVXUDEOH â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to add to that by doing this IXQ HYHQW ,PDJLQH LI D FLW\ OLNH 9LJDQ can put Ilocos Sur on the map, what PRUH ,QWUDPXURV Âľ $QJ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ VKDUHG To register, artists can visit The Manila Times at 2nd Floor, Sition *UDQGH %OGJ $ 6RULDQR $YH ,QWUDPXURV 0DQLOD )RU FRPSOHWH GHWDLOV FDOO CHRISTINA ALPAD